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Investigation Findings
Why the Canadian National (CN) Railway's freight train failed to stop was unclear. A wrong-side signal problem was eliminated, leaving human error as the only possible cause. However, since the head-end crew of the freight train did not survive, it was not clear why they had erred. However, enough of their remains were found that testing was able to rule out drugs or alcohol as the cause.
Criticizing the "Railroader Culture"
A commission of inquiry investigated the crash. Justice René P. Foisy, from the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, held 56 days of public hearings and received evidence from 150 parties. The inquiry report was published on January 22, 1987. Instead of condemning any 1 individual, it instead condemned what Foisy described as a "railroader culture" that prized loyalty and productivity at the expense of safety.
As an example of this disregard of safety, it was noted that the crew of that train had boarded the locomotive at Edson "on the fly." While the locomotive was moving slowly through the yard, the new crew would jump on and the previous crew would jump off. While this method of changing crews saved time and fuel, it was a flagrant violation of safety regulations requiring a stationary brake test after a crew change. Management claimed to be unaware of this practice, even though it was quite common. |
The so-called sharing economy is something many people are extremely familiar with, especially in more developed countries. Whether they know it under this name or not, there’s no denying that this type of economic organization has become one of the main ways in which people consume collaboratively and save money in the process. The sharing economy in emerging markets is a completely different story.
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There, this practice is older than the platforms and products that we now use for sharing economy. Today, we’re going to explore this concept and look at its potential in emerging markets.
What Is the Sharing Economy?
First of all, before getting into the applications of the sharing economy in emerging markets, it would be useful to take a closer look at what it actually entails. Well, people use this term to describe many things. Most commonly, it describes an economic activity based on online transactions. The term has a broad understanding, and it doesn’t only refer to peer-to-peer economy, but also to B2C economy.
You can find it under many names, from collaborative consumption, to shareconomy, to peer economy. As you can tell from these names, sharing economy is all about transactions between consumers. The internet facilitates all of these transactions. What people exchange differs enormously. It can be goods, it can be services, it can be information, and so on.
The Potential of the Sharing Economy in Emerging Markets
Now that we’ve established what sharing economy is, let us begin to explore what it could mean for markets in developing countries. The main advantage of sharing economy, no matter what country you take as an example, is that it allows people who are not part of a centralized network to connect via technology and have access to resources they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. It’s a completely different thing from owning something. In today’s increasingly peer-to-peer based economy, sharing or renting makes much more sense than owning.
Sharing economy is all about getting access to new opportunities, new assets, new skills, and so on. Plus, you can do everything with the help of your smartphone, as opposed to a central intermediary agency. Which is why it has the potential to help develop emerging markets. By developing the economy and generating more income, it can help people who struggle with unemployment and those who need help accessing finances.
Urban Development
Another benefit of bringing sharing economy in emerging markets is that it could help urban development. Local entrepreneurs would be more motivated to put their ideas into practice once they have the means to do so, people would collaborate more, they would share spaces, and so on. Which is why the best place to start applying the concept of sharing economy is the city. Cities abound with people who are willing to share their things with other people. This would bring about civic innovation and help develop the cities.
Human Connection
One of the dangers of focusing too much on technology is that humans could disappear from the picture. Once more, sharing economy helps prevent that. How does it do that, you ask? Well, by making sure that humans have an important role to play in the economy of developing countries. Also, by ensuring that communication between individuals is not entirely lost. After all, we’re talking about an economy based on sharing. This means that human relationships are at the center of it. You can’t share something with someone or exchange goods with them without communication.
group of people working together
That is not to say that developing cities shouldn’t understand the importance of technology and use it in order to grow. The trick to a successful application of an economy based on sharing is to know how to use technology yet still focus on human interaction, and how to determine individuals to work together towards a common goal – that of improving their life and the life of the city they live in. Technology should merely be a means of achieving this, not the end goal to which people aspire.
Finally, sharing economy in emerging markets can help people become more sustainable, more resilient, and more able to use technology in order to develop. Sharing economy doesn’t have to be sudden. It can start small, with shared transportation for instance.
The Challenges of Sharing Economy in Emerging Markets
Despite the certainty that sharing economy would help emerging markets tremendously, the shift towards such an economy has been slow. One of the main reasons why is because developing countries don’t have easy access to technology. As we’ve mentioned previously, this type of economy relies on technology, so it can’t function without it. Not only that, but people must also know how to use technology for sharing economy. This is not a skill they can learn if they don’t have access to it and can’t afford it. While developing countries are no stranger to a certain form of sharing economy, this is not something they choose to adhere to, but rather have to.
Final Thoughts
While the sharing economy is one of the main ways of doing business in developed countries, developing countries are still struggling to integrate this type of economy into their cities. Even if most countries know the concept in itself, its application is entirely different. For instance, some countries have to rely on sharing goods and services because they are forced to, or because their culture relies on sharing. However, they don’t do that via the internet, and this happens mostly in small areas where the community is close-knit.
Truly bringing this type of economy to developing countries would be a huge step forward for them, as we hope we managed to show in today’s article. It’s not just that it would help their markets develop. It would also provide people with employment, encourage them to explore their creative ideas, determine them to communicate with one another, and so on. While there’s still a long way to go before developing countries can fully enjoy the benefits of this economy, the fact that more and more countries are becoming aware of it is an important step forward.
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While many food and nutrition myths start with some string of truth attached (maybe one small and poorly designed study led someone to shout a “truth” from the mountain top) some have no scientific backing at all, but have made their way around as fact. We’re busting a few common food myths you may have heard so that you can feel confident in your food and nutrition knowledge the next time someone tries to sell you on one of these common food myths!
Eat Negative Calorie Foods to Fill up and Lose Weight
The idea that some foods require more energy from our bodies to process than they contain has created the concept of “negative calorie foods”. Common foods that are lumped into this category include: Carrots, celery, apples, lettuce, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables that have a high water content.
While we do burn energy when we chew food, and additional energy to process and digest food, it is likely much less than any of these foods contain. No current studies can confirm that any of these specific foods create a deficit, but based on the energy used to digest certain nutrients, we can assume that the deficit does not exist.
To process any given nutrient, we have been able to conclude that energy used to process foods is about 5–10% of the calories the food contains for carbs, 0–5% for fat and 20–30% for protein. Since most of the supposed “negative calorie foods” contain mostly carbs and water, the likelihood that we are spending more than we are taking in just by eating them isn’t good.
Most of these foods are very nutritious and can be an excellent part of your diet. Just don’t expect them to “not count” in terms of the energy they will provide to you.
7 common nutrition myths busted | Nutrition and Therapy Negative Calorie Foods
Organic Foods are More Nutritious Than Conventional
There are many reasons why someone may or may not choose to eat organically grown foods. Some of these reasons may include the safety of the food, the impact on the environment and the nutrition provided by the food.
When it comes to the nutritional value that a food provides, Sanford University completed an evaluation of 250 studies that looked at the nutritional differences between organic and conventional products.
The researchers found only a few consistent differences between the two options. Some produce had slightly higher phosphorus levels, and the omega-3 content of organic dairy and chickens out ranked the conventional animal products. There were no other significant differences in nutritional value discovered.
While you may decide organic makes sense to you for other reasons (or not), you can save your money if you are just trying to pick the most nutrient packed product.
Eating 5-6 Small Meals is Better For You Than 3
The idea that eating frequent small meals is best for your metabolism and/or weight loss has been swirling around for decades. While this may be a great strategy for some, it is not necessarily the best way of eating for everyone.
A short term weight loss study (with 51 participants) compared two groups of people eating the same number of calories, with one group eating small meals every 2-3 hours and the other group eating three meals per day. Over 6 months, both groups lost equal amounts of weight.
It’s important to note that this study did not look at long term weight loss, but was focused on the difference between small frequent meals versus three square ones per day.
The key is to avoid getting too hungry when you head into your meal. This often leads to overeating and a stuffed, uncomfortable feeling. Finding the best strategy to do this is unique to each person as no one way of eating is best for everyone.
Low Carb is the Best Way to Lose Weight
Your BFF went low carb and lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks! This seems miraculous, but there is a great explanation for why it happens (and it’s actually not that impressive).
When someone cuts carbs from their diet, they are automatically shedding water weight. This is why the weight loss happens so quickly at first with these types of diets. This is also why the weight comes back just as fast as soon as the carb intake is ramped back up.
For many of us, going low carb isn’t the best option. For one, many foods that contain gut-healthy fiber are high in carbohydrates. Your digestive tract may not be too happy with the decrease in fiber, which can lead to things such as constipation, increased cholesterol levels, and may impact your immune system by throwing your gut-microbiome “out of whack”.
Eggs are Only Healthy if You Skip The Yolk
When it comes to eggs, the yolk and the white are as different in nutrient content as any two things can be. The whites are full of protein, and a tiny amount of potassium. That’s pretty much it. The yolk, on the other hand, is a gold mine of nutrition.
Along with the fat and cholesterol that the yolk provides (which is the reason they have so long been feared) they are also good sources of vitamins and minerals as well as being a significant source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which provide protective benefits for eyesight.
The American Heart Association changed their recommendation in recent years to include eggs, at an average of 1 per day, as a part of a healthy diet. So eating 2-3 eggs at a time, 2 to 3 days per week, is perfectly fine- yolk and all.
7 common nutrition myths busted | Nutrition and Therapy Egg Yolks
Detoxes Are a Great Way to Reset Your System
One of the most unnecessary and expensive common food myths is that you should use a “detox” to cleanse toxins, detox your organs, and otherwise “reset” your body.
Unless you get hooked up to a machine 2-3 days per week to do this for you, your kidneys do a fabulous job of detoxing your body all on their own. If they couldn’t, no magic potion or powder could save you. Just ask anyone who has kidney’s that do not work as they should, as they require a treatment called dialysis (where a machine filters their blood several times a week instead of their kidneys) not a detox or a cleanse.
In addition to your kidneys, your liver removes toxins on the daily. It packages them up nice and neat like and sends them out of your body without the need for an expensive laxative dressed up as a “detox juice”.
To keep your kidneys and liver functioning the way they should, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and avoid over-doing it on alcohol and drugs that can lead to liver damage if not taken appropriately.
7 common nutrition myths busted | Nutrition and Therapy Detoxes
Processed Food is Bad For You
With the hype of “clean eating” and “natural” foods, it is no wonder processed food has such a bad rep. While eating too many of some preservatives can be detrimental to your health, avoiding all processed food is not necessary.
When we think of what a processed food is, we often think of a frozen TV dinner or a can of sodium-laden soup. While these are processed, and contain preservatives, so are canned peaches, beans, whole-wheat bread, frozen cut green beans, and hummus (among many other healthful and nutrient rich foods).
Unless you are self-sustained, growing and eating your own food straight from the ground, avoiding processed foods is not feasible nor is it necessary.
When it comes to preservatives, the kind and amount used in any one food is safe for us to consume. Eating too much of any one type can lead to over consumption of potentially detrimental nutrients such as nitrites or sodium.
These are only 7 of the common food myths you have likely heard. What other myths have you busted?
7 common nutrition myths busted | Nutrition and Therapy
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out: Choosing Your Next Diet? Ask Yourself These Questions and Learn to Love Your Mom Body
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Can we make science more approachable?
Think of the following scenario. You are in the pub, having a drink and meet some new people. The first thing they ask is, “So, what do you do?”. What do you reply to this? How do you put words together that would make sense to the person in front of you? I usually have a mild panic trying to assess the level of biological understanding of the person in front of me and lead with “I am training to be a clinical scientist, at the genetics laboratory in our hospital”. I then wait to see if they ask follow-up questions or are just satisfied with moving on to pub talk.
In terms of genetics, we can all agree that it is a subject that is not that well known or understood. What we do is not a “normal” profession in terms of being a nurse, banker, or sales assistant. But that is true for all other specialised science-y professions, people are not always aware of our specialisms and what we do. Explaining our day-to-day life to someone that has never heard of it can be a challenge.
So let’s run a quick Root Cause Analysis on our issue. (Remember these three words for your OSFAS people.)
Our Root/Problem: Science is not as visible or understood as other fields.
Source of our problem:
• Awareness
• People think science is complicated & hard
• “Bad Teachers”
• Jargon
• Science stereotypes
• Culture
Our Solution: There is definitely not one right answer/solution for this. Mainly, we need to improve our Science Communication skills and volunteer our time to our cause. So here are some points I think everyone should consider when thinking about this.
First and foremost, you have to try and share your love of science. Just talking about the problem will not solve anything. Volunteering your time is an excellent way to improve awareness or influence people. This can be achieved by participating in science festivals, running outreach activities for schools and children in your area, becoming a STEM ambassador or even sharing something science-y on your social media. Taking part in Healthcare Science Week activities is an excellent example. Believe in what you do and share your love and enthusiasm about science.
Communication of science to the public is more complicated than one might think. We can go into a lot of details about the modes of communication but I do not believe that I am an expert to really try to explain them. There are three basic models to consider.
• The deficit model: the notion that the public’s scepticism about science derives from the lack of science knowledge. In this model, the communicator would attempt to “educate” the audience in order to achieve their goal.
• The contextual model: Similar to the deficit model, but the communicator tries to understand their audience in order to appropriately adapt their style.
• The participation model: Where the scientists and the public participate equally in the form of discussions or debates.
So you now have a time and a date and you are thinking about how to share your science. For this there are three main things to consider:
1. Know your audience
You have to adjust your style and pitch your communication to the right level for your audience. Appropriate considerations would be age, social background, profession and their interests. You might want to think about your language style as well as your communication style. Bombarding people with information and hoping they will understand it is not always the way to go. So assess your audiences background and knowledge and then plan your communication strategy.
Your audience.png
2. Know your message:
Make sure you know what you want to communicate. Make sure your message is relatable to your audience and be ready to answer questions like “So what?” or “Why should we care?”. Be knowledgeable about your field and share your knowledge in a way that your audience can relate/identify towards.
3. Know your medium:
This is the way you want to communicate your ideas. This might be a hands-on activity, a blog post, a poster, a stand in your local department store. Try and break down complex ideas with visual aids and drawings, or design a game to explain something. The options are endless. All you need is a little bit of imagination and time. As Joe wrote a couple of months ago, STEP outside of your box!
One last thing to consider…
Our Language
The way we speak and promote our work is paramount. It is easy to get lost in our science-y jargon and keep talking for hours to our peers. But what is normal for us, might be “rocket science” for someone else.
I recently went to an evening lecture in our hospital, by Naked Scientists founder, Chris Smith. Whoever hasn’t heard about the Naked Scientists have a look at their website. They started as a Cambridge-based science podcast (5 Live) and have now developed into a wonderful community which promotes science in such an amazing and effective way. Mainly what struck me at that talk though, was the way Dr Smith spoke. The manner of his language and the words he used. Everything was explained so calmly, with no complicated words so everyone can understand it. There were a lot of jokes, some videos of their experiments and a lot of audience interaction. All these are points I want to take on board when I am doing any outreach or science communication projects. But the way we speak is not a natural skill for everyone. I especially find it hard to explain things sometimes (might be because English is my second language).
I started thinking of ways we can improve our lay language. This is by no means an extensive list or scientifically proven ways that work. Just suggestions of how you could potentially train your lay language.
1. Books: There are so many popular science/non-fiction books from amazing authors/scientists that have put their knowledge into simple words for everyone to understand. You can read (or listen) to such books to gain an understanding of a new topic or get a feel of the language they use to convey their message. Some interesting ones might be:
• Sapiens
• Epigenetics Revolution
• What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
2. Podcasts & Science Programmes: Bored during your commute? Why not browse myriads of podcasts, listen to people discuss hot science topics and pick on their tone and use of lay language.
3. Events & Talks: Go out of your normal routine and try and attend interesting events and talks in your area. You might get to meet some interesting people and practice your lay skills.
4. Interesting resources:
Take home message from this:
Share your love for science.
Even if it just inspires one child to become a scientist, you have done something good for this world.
Thanks for reading.
Author: Adriana
I am a trainee Clinical Bioinformatician based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. I am all for increasing genomics awareness in and out of healthcare and interested in bioinformatics and cancer genomics.
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Exorcising Images of the American West
A review of Katherina Olschbaur's 'The Divine Hermaphrodite'
The Mantle Image Katherina Olschbaur Elysian Park
Katherina Olschbaur, Elysian Park (Diptych), 2019, oil on canvas
Could images ever be illegitimate? The American West has always had an ambiguous relationship to pictorial images, as it was practically invented by the European eye, under whose influence and inspecting gaze it remains. This isn't an exaggeration: the metaphysical dimension in the vision of Caspar David Friedrich and the German romantic movement traveled from Dusseldorf to California, in the person of Alfred Bierstadt, a German-American painter, who in the middle of the 19th century, was commissioned to travel to the Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, to depict the West. Bierstadt, for his part, like Turner, was a painter of the industrial revolution and where Friedrich saw the Sublime, Bierstadt saw the Gold Rush. In his famous painting “Glacier Point Trail” (1873), he wanted the viewer to see actual gold. In an exhibition of his work a few years ago at the Yale University Art Gallery, the curator writes that in the 19th century, people from the American Northeast, living in cities, found in Bierstadt's work the vicarious pleasure of communing with nature, a landscape 'untouched by civilization', and an American frontier, “forever pristine.”
That was the first (self)image of the American West. A mythical barren land with no people, almost waiting to be conquered. That this image endured for so long, at the expense of the real ones, comes as no surprise: The real image of the California Gold Rush was one of exploitation, expropriation, and genocide. But this parasitic relationship between California and European, “German(ic)” images has outlived the colonial imagination, and become a sort of parallel imaginary of modernity. The American West, commodified by the East as a binary, this outer border of reality codified by the sensibility of Romanticism, and yet wildly capitalist, paradoxically suffers from a traumatic amnesia, as if its history began with Bierstadt's images and not with geological deep time. It is blocked from direct access to history – and also far away from the pastiche neoclassical architecture of Capitol Hill and the Jewish irony of New York – therefore it seeks historical images in order to reinsert itself in tradition. When Katherina Olschbaur, an Austrian painter trained in the Viennese academy, relocated to Los Angeles in 2017, it would become obvious that white flight also took place in the opposite direction.
The Mantle Image Katherine Olschbaur The Divine Hermaphrodite
As an artist never fully indoctrinated in the orthodoxy of German expressionism – the pictorial image had to be cleared up completely after all – Olschbaur still sought narrative points inside ruined painterly architectures of the 20th century and found these to be constantly collapsing, either abandoned sites of history (Jerusalem, Walter Benjamin, the Holocaust) or too ambiguous to be called memory (obscure literary references, exile, belonging). Olschbaur's painterly solution to the dead end of (mostly male) Newmanesque but painfully crafted and rather emotionless canvases of European academic painting, at a time when post-internet wasn't heard of outside the United States, was not a return to history - that would be a false melancholy. Instead, she abstractly circumvented the apolitical space of color fields by means of re-activating spatiality in general, and problematizing its modernist positions. As an artist, without a specific sense of temporality embedded in her practice, she engaged in a kind of surface painting with sculptural notes, highly innovative, but that still nevertheless, reeked of tradition. And by tradition we mean not just the past, but also the borders of history: Greece, Rome, empire.
The artist's arrival in California signaled a transition that would find its richest manifestation yet in “The Divine Hermaphrodite,” an exhibition that following the broken trail of a Janus-faced image, would take place in Berlin – perhaps the place where it would be understood the least. For Olschbaur, in the years prior to this exhibition, working in California meant acquiring a cinematic eye, and by cinematic we mean not only the self-referential cycle of images on a loop, but also the possibility, forever denied to Europeans given their role as the victimizers of the world, to view history as popular culture or literary genre: entertainment, fantasy, drama. And this is a process that has been repeated in every generation with cultural production from Europe. When German filmmakers, or actually Eastern European with Austrian passport, such as Curtiz or Lubitsch arrived in Hollywood they brought with them the political theater of the world, and what they encountered was primarily an audience. It's not that El Dorado didn't come from Europe after all, but the difference was that the status of higher culture had been demolished and only entertainment remained.
The Mantle Image Katherine Olschbaur The Divine Hermaphrodite
So from this point onward it was possible, Olschbaur found, to paint from nothing, whatever one wanted and without foundations. There's also a risk of collapse here, a risk of failure but it is modernity, there was nothing under the foundation after all. And without carrying the superstructure of Western civilization on your shoulders, it would become possible to be liberated especially from oneself. And with this great anxiety, with the vertigo and the eventual fall, one would learn to stroll in daytime as if under the Arcades, experiencing advertising and pleasure, the deepest capitalist alienation, without the authority of the museum, without the authority of the world. But here we return to the American West's longing for European modernism: The lack of historicity translated into a puritan American ideal of transparency and directness, a certain inviolable ethics of seeing—the square, the line, the grid, a mathematical ideal of abstraction where everything is under control—demanded from the European image, its ancestor, a dramatic angle, high-contrast lightning and episodic narrative in cinema.
Similarly, in Olschbaur's work, the grandiose buildings of the past disappeared with the past itself, and gave way to a suspended state outside of world-time, as if on the long roads of Wim Wenders, without destination at all; a sort of cyclical repetition of food, sex, capitalism, law enforcement and estrangement. Once the Baroque ruin no longer needed to be traumatically re-enacted again and again, absurd mythologies begin to emerge in Olschbaur's painting, but yet these characters are not necessarily new. In her earlier tableaux, the derelict theatrical stages were a unified narrative about conservative politics in general and the abyss of memory in Europe in particular; now with the stage destroyed (here making a vague reference about Sontag and Sarajevo, a reading that we have shared for over a decade), there's no stratagem at the artist's disposal but to release the actors. These actors, nevertheless, are not American, they're neither Hopper's loners nor the overtly aestheticized depictions of Mary Cassatt; these half-bodies are characters in an Elizabethan drama, with limited freedom of movement, and always facing the audience, at the very opposite end of introspection.
What is required from artists in the tradition is innovations within a classical framework – this translated here into flashbacks, dream sequences and deceptive narration. Anything that could counter the linearity and in a way, the immortality of American democracy. Once physical space is completely deconstructed (the Greek temple disappears in the highway), an ambivalence about psychic spaces remains, and this is where Olschbaur, instead of releasing her hermaphrodite characters into the freedom of the streets, more tightly controls their appearance into dialectics of domination and submission. It is here where power and the absence of power can be presented in a clearer manner than in the ruin, and the impossibility of a resolution leaves us with something infinitely less than high-art: pure seduction. But this hyper-sexuality is counter intuitive to the puritanism of the new world. On the stage, or in this case on the canvas, the gestural and body spontaneity, so central to American cinema, gives way in Olschbaur, to a highly formalist construction of images. And great formalism, comes at the expense of great tensions. Contemporary anxiety is translated in reverse; embodied onto archetypes.
The Mantle Image Katherine Olschbaur The Divine Hermaphrodite
Two strange dissimilar forces are in conversation here: the provincial cosmopolitism of Central Europe and the globalized provincialism of the Americas. While these powers are not comparable, it is the impossibility to reach out for history's beginning from the perspective of the technological imaginary, what enables the artist to break out from the ghosts of Gombrich and Panofsky, and imagine the past and the history of art not as the teleology of Greece and Rome (via the Christian Renaissance) toward modernity and colonialism at the deep heart of European expressionism, but as a more primeval, violent and irrational history, with cycles of progress and decay. It is in this sense of ambiguity that entirely subjective painting becomes ultimately possible, but as Olschbaur sets to prove, not without conditioning. An open-ended narrative, such as that of the diptych “Elysian Park,” a centerpiece in the exhibition, fluctuating between animal and human, male and female, violence and submission, requires a complex mythology and cannot simply be explained away by accounting for its constituting parts.
There's a taxonomy of abstraction always at work here, the temptation of universals is just too big to avoid. It brings the work almost to the point of dissolution, but the aspect of narration still stands tall. It is no coincidence that a new wave of migration would bring European artists to the American West again, at the same time that zombie formalism was charting the map for yet another end of painting. It was a part and parcel of the necessity to abandon abstraction as a language in order to escape from the aesthetics of ultra high network architecture, to which all of minimalism has been condemned for eternity for two decades now. The Elizabethan drama in Olschbaur's work, like a puppet theater, set up at a drive-in cinema, serves to simultaneously humiliate the roots of expressionism by bringing it down to the most simplistic, popular and cinematic pictorial language available, while at the same time, it pays reverence to this selfsame tradition, by handing over the reconstitution of the language of painting to the European eye and sensibility once again, and having exhausted the limits of abstraction twice in a row.
The Mantle Image Katherine Olschbaur The Divine Hermaphrodite
“The Divine Hermaphrodite,” on the other hand, and according to Aaron Moulton, is also a fallout from grace, or at least from a heightened state of both sexuality and consciousness; something that is calling for the 'occult'. To reveal in this case, is not necessarily to manifest or to make apparent, but to shift the symbolic order. If the Minotaur is no longer in the labyrinth of the palace, if he were to be no longer a threat, who would he/she be? What would be their gender? What story would they tell about themselves in the absence of Theseus? Paradoxically, again, the primitivism is a sign of both the artist's distance from the Greco-Roman past of European art, and of her place in tradition – the art historical references here are too obvious to mention. One knows the basic strokes of this language to be regal, and almost legalistic in the tradition of the masters, but the palette has gone berserk, between night diners, traffic jams, caravans, the casual and colorful racism of contemporary America and the false dawns of Olschbaur's friend, the painter Robert Yarber. Painting as negotiating, as compromising, and distributing grief, without healing, without power and without cure.
It is impossible to live through this. It's Los Angeles after all, without an element of magic, but because magic exists only on television, we are left with the basics: witchcraft, ritual, and hope. It is of course not known to the audience that like a Baldwin in Istanbul, Olschbaur becomes a white painter, and an ambassador of tradition, only on the shores of the Americas, where everything is possible, and one could never be white enough for Austria, regardless. In this movement across different cultures there's a constant creation of newer identities and personae in the artist's work that mesmerize the audience, and for good reason. It is in this Dionysiac intoxication of Olschbaur's Golems, like when Medea is about to murder her children, that we live for a moment in complexity. Different truths are possible, and so are complicated lives, incomplete origins, absurd deaths, terrifying destinations. We have lived as ambiguously, irrationally, rapidly as we possibly could have. Nothing else remains – the remaining hours are empty time.
"The Divine Hermaphrodite" was on show at GNYP Gallery, Berlin, March 16 - April 20, 2019.
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Software and Applications (non-game)
Computer Terminology
What is ERP?
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April 27, 2013 11:33AM
ERP stands for "Enterprise Resource Planning" and is a series of computer packages/modules which link together to provide support for the day to day running of a business. A small company may invest in a few modules (say payroll and accounts) and a larger company perhaps would need more (for example a stock keeping/ordering package). Typically the modules run from a common database, with updates on one package impacting others. Training in the operation of the new software must be given and the company is tied to one supplier for all modules.
Rather than having to learn and pay for developments in different supplier software for Payroll, inventory, Accounting, Inventory, HR, and other core areas, a proper ERP software allows you to grow when you need to, and run off one system but with the ability to communicate to more mainstream programs if needed. Its usually not cloud based as most companies are aware of the importance of onsite accounting and inventory programs (security of data and speed) and the size of the system is usually something preferred to have onsite.
An ERP system that is able to be customized is thought to be best as every business is different and some of the larger very expensive ERP software systems are just too extensive or off the mark for small to medium Businesses.
BEST YOU-TUBE VIDEO EXPLANATION BELOW: shows a fantastic 2 minute explanation, this its a great short video on What is ERP? |
Septic bursitis
Septic bursitis (infectious bursitis) is an infection of the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion and lubricate an area where tissues—including bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, or skin—rub against one another. Common sites of septic bursitis are the tips of the elbows and the kneecaps.
It may be hard to tell the difference between inflammation in a bursa (bursitis) and infection in a bursa (septic bursitis). Symptoms of septic bursitis may include:
• Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the area of the infected bursa.
• Fever.
• Swollen glands near the infected bursa.
Antibiotics and drainage (either drainage with a needle or, sometimes, surgical drainage) are required to treat the infection. Sometimes this requires a hospital stay for intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy or surgery. |
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The three phases of gastric secretion
This flowchart shows the three different phases of gastric secretion. The top panel shows the cephalic phase, the middle panel shows the gastric phase and the bottom panel shows the intestinal phase.
Gastric secretion occurs in three phases: cephalic, gastric, and intestinal. During each phase, the secretion of gastric juice can be stimulated or inhibited.
The cephalic phase (reflex phase) of gastric secretion, which is relatively brief, takes place before food enters the stomach. The smell, taste, sight, or thought of food triggers this phase. For example, when you bring a piece of sushi to your lips, impulses from receptors in your taste buds or the nose are relayed to your brain, which returns signals that increase gastric secretion to prepare your stomach for digestion. This enhanced secretion is a conditioned reflex, meaning it occurs only if you like or want a particular food. Depression and loss of appetite can suppress the cephalic reflex.
The gastric phase of secretion lasts 3 to 4 hours, and is set in motion by local neural and hormonal mechanisms triggered by the entry of food into the stomach. For example, when your sushi reaches the stomach, it creates distention that activates the stretch receptors. This stimulates parasympathetic neurons to release acetylcholine, which then provokes increased secretion of gastric juice. Partially digested proteins, caffeine, and rising pH stimulate the release of gastrin from enteroendocrine G cells, which in turn induces parietal cells to increase their production of HCl, which is needed to create an acidic environment for the conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin, and protein digestion. Additionally, the release of gastrin activates vigorous smooth muscle contractions. However, it should be noted that the stomach does have a natural means of avoiding excessive acid secretion and potential heartburn. Whenever pH levels drop too low, cells in the stomach react by suspending HCl secretion and increasing mucous secretions.
The intestinal phase of gastric secretion has both excitatory and inhibitory elements. The duodenum has a major role in regulating the stomach and its emptying. When partially digested food fills the duodenum, intestinal mucosal cells release a hormone called intestinal (enteric) gastrin, which further excites gastric juice secretion. This stimulatory activity is brief, however, because when the intestine distends with chyme, the enterogastric reflex inhibits secretion. One of the effects of this reflex is to close the pyloric sphincter, which blocks additional chyme from entering the duodenum.
The mucosal barrier
The mucosa of the stomach is exposed to the highly corrosive acidity of gastric juice. Gastric enzymes that can digest protein can also digest the stomach itself. The stomach is protected from self-digestion by the mucosal barrier . This barrier has several components. First, the stomach wall is covered by a thick coating of bicarbonate-rich mucus. This mucus forms a physical barrier, and its bicarbonate ions neutralize acid. Second, the epithelial cells of the stomach's mucosa meet at tight junctions, which block gastric juice from penetrating the underlying tissue layers. Finally, stem cells located where gastric glands join the gastric pits quickly replace damaged epithelial mucosal cells, when the epithelial cells are shed. In fact, the surface epithelium of the stomach is completely replaced every 3 to 6 days.
Questions & Answers
what is variations in raman spectra for nanomaterials
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Crow Reply
what about nanotechnology for water purification
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I think
what is the stm
Brian Reply
How we are making nano material?
what is a peer
What is meant by 'nano scale'?
What is STMs full form?
scanning tunneling microscope
how nano science is used for hydrophobicity
what is differents between GO and RGO?
what is Nano technology ?
Bob Reply
write examples of Nano molecule?
The nanotechnology is as new science, to scale nanometric
Is there any normative that regulates the use of silver nanoparticles?
Damian Reply
what king of growth are you checking .?
Stoney Reply
why we need to study biomolecules, molecular biology in nanotechnology?
Adin Reply
what school?
biomolecules are e building blocks of every organics and inorganic materials.
anyone know any internet site where one can find nanotechnology papers?
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sciencedirect big data base
Introduction about quantum dots in nanotechnology
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what does nano mean?
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Source: OpenStax, 101-321-va - vertebrate form and function ii. OpenStax CNX. Jul 22, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11850/1.1
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Making career exploration fun and relevant for middle school students: why it matters.
In accordance with the State of Texas House Bill 5 (HB5), which states that students must be exposed to career pathways in order to help them choose a high school endorsement path during their high school years, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD implemented a seventh grade Skills for Success class.
For the last three years, I have taught the Skills for Success class (a district requirement for seventh graders), which incorporates the use of Kuder Navigator® to support students' education and career exploration and planning.
The district had set up the particular lessons to be done in a workbook format. At the end of the lessons, the students are required to do a group PowerPoint on a career that they have chosen.
When I first began teaching the class, I knew that if I just allowed the students to team up randomly, issues would arise. I also didn't want to bore the students or myself with hearing about the same job over and over again.
How to make it work for you and your students.
One of the first things that I have my students do in Navigator is take the Kuder Career Interests Assessment® and the Kuder Skills Confidence Assessment®.
I take the students first and second pathways suggested by the career interest assessment results and write them down. Then I group the students based on similar pathways. From there, I use a handout that lists the National Career Clusters® that are listed in O*NET as well as sample job titles within each cluster.
The last component is that no two students in the same group can have the same job. Students are given one day each week to work as a group.
I also have them sit as a group because I know that as they are trying to find information, it makes more sense for them to help one another, as someone in the group would have an idea of where to locate that specific career information.
What do I want to be when I grow up?
One of the lessons directs the students to look up colleges. I tell them that they need to figure out where they are going to learn how to enter whatever the career field that they have chosen. This becomes a true eye opener for students.
I work in a district where most parents have degrees or a skilled trade making very good money. So these students are looking to do the same. But the reality of how long it will take and how much it will cost was a complete mystery to them. It's this level of research that served the most value.
For example, let's just take teaching. Some students have no idea that you have to pick a grade and subject matter. Some just think it's as simple as getting a degree in teaching. They don't realize that once you pick a grade and discipline, you still have to do student teaching or internships and take and pass certification exams.
So having them actually sit down and discover this really expands the use of Navigator and the knowledge that students are able to gain from it.
Preparation for the future.
The last thing I've added to the assignment is a way to allow students who do not want to present in front of the class to still earn a 100. With the business certification and degrees that I have, I know the importance of professional dress.
Once training and degrees have been earned, students still have to go and get the job. In a world of casualness, many have forgotten to teach kids about professional dress. It's not just looking nice for church or a wedding, and it surely isn't what you would wear to prom. So I explain and provide examples of what professional dress is.
I ensure that the students are crystal clear that this is extra credit, that no one is required to go buy anything based on saying “Ms. Keith said I had to,” and that I am the judge and jury.
Any kid making an attempt to dress nicer than they normally do gets extra points, but only those who dress in professional clothes are awarded the extra ten points.
Doing it right the first time.
As a business education teacher, I created a template that students can use and print the template slides in their packets for reference on how to build the presentation.
As I go over the template I also explain that they are preparing presentations, not book reports. I emphasize that I don't want slides riddled with tons of information.
Students are allowed to use PowerPoint, Google Docs, Prezi, or any other presentation software.
The end results show that students are learning a lot about what they potentially would like to become and gaining an understanding of how what they do now affects not only their high school careers, but their potential life career and choices.
About the author.
Makisha Keith
Dr. Makisha Keith is a business education teacher at Corbett Junior High School in Schertz, Texas. Now in her ninth year working in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District, Dr. Keith is a certified EC-12 Principal in Texas, and is certified in 6-12 business education in Texas and Mississippi. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in organizational management, and a doctoral degree in educational administration. Prior to joining the faculty at Corbett, Dr. Keith was a business education teacher and cheer coach at San Marcos High school. She began her career in the banking industry.
1. best practices
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The Burger Court (1969–86)
Criminal Law and Procedure
What is the exclusionary rule and how did the Burger Court limit it?
The exclusionary rule is a principle that holds that evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, cannot be used to convict a defendant. In other words, the exclusionary rule excludes evidence that is illegally obtained. The famous saying attributed to Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo explained the exclusionary rule as “the criminal goes free because the constable has blundered.” It was (and is) considered controversial because it sometimes means that a guilty person can go free.
The Burger Court limited the exclusionary rule in its 1984 decision U.S. v. Leon by holding that the rule would not apply when a police officer acted in reasonable good faith on the validity of a search warrant. The good faith exception provides that “evidence need not be suppressed when police obtain the evidence through objective good faith reliance on a facially valid warrant that later is found to lack probable cause.” Under the Fourth Amendment, the police need probable cause to obtain a search warrant. The good-faith exception means that sometimes even if the search warrant was not backed by probable cause, the exclusionary rule will not apply and the evidence obtained through execution of the search warrant can be used at trial. The Court did not eliminate the exclusionary rule. The Leon exception applied to some search warrants that were found lacking in probable cause. The Court noted several exceptions to the good-faith exception, including: (1) where the magistrate issued the warrant based on a deliberately or recklessly false affidavit; (2) where the issuing magistrate failed to act in a neutral and detached manner; (3) where a warrant is based on an affidavit so lacking in evidence of probable cause as to render official belief in its existence entirely unreasonable; and (4) where a warrant is so devoid of information that the executing officers cannot reasonably presume it to be valid.
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Covered in ivy and open to the elements, Dunollie Castle stands on a rocky hilltop at the entrance to Oban Bay. In winter, its ruined walls bear the brunt of storms blowing in from the Atlantic, but on a clear day there are panoramic views across the Firth of Lorn, past the low-lying islands of Lismore and Kerrera, and out towards Mull.
Ferries, trawlers, cruise ships, research vessels and fishing boats regularly pass below the Castle as they sail in and out of Oban’s sheltered harbour. It’s an idyllic scene… but 1,300 years ago, occupants of the fortress would have witnessed the sails of longships bearing Viking raiders into their homeland, and their feelings wouldn’t have been quite so comfortable.
It’s believed that a Bronze Age hill fort was the first settlement on the rocky outcrop; later, in the 7th and 8th centuries, Dunollie became a base of power for the rulers of Dalriada, a Gaelic kingdom which extended throughout Scotland’s west coast and the islands, and across the sea to much of Ireland. The menace from the north was ever-present, as Viking seafarers targeted rich monasteries and laid waste to the surrounding homesteads, killing many of the inhabitants and taking others back to Scandinavia as slaves. For the Gaelic people, the stronghold at Dunollie must have provided a powerful vantage point and a protective presence overlooking the bay.
400 years later, control of the lands had been seized by Somerled, a warrior of mixed Gaelic and Viking descent who established a dynasty of rulers known as the Lords of the Isles. Somerled gave Dunollie to his son, Dougall, who held most of Argyll including the islands of Mull, Lismore, Jura, Coll and Tiree. From Dougall sprang the Scottish clan MacDougall.
Excavations in 1978 yielded ‘stratified finds’ that date to the late 7th and early 8th centuries. A second phase of building came in the 13th century when Ewan MacDougall, the third chief of the MacDougalls, built a castle on the site. However, the existing ruins date mostly from the 15th century. Canmore, the database of the RCAHMS, states that Dunollie comprises a tower house with a courtyard and the remnants of an outer enclosure. There were four main storeys, each consisting of a single apartment.
“The entire wall-head is now ivy-covered but traces of a parapet walk can still be seen.”
For many centuries after Dunollie was built, the balance of power in Scotland rested on the edge of a sword. Aspiring rulers were ambitious, greedy and ruthless, and castles were designed to withstand a siege. According to Canmore, “the wall in the north-east, overlooking the most vulnerable sides of the promontory, is 2.3 metres thick.”
Over the years, the MacDougalls’ fortunes waxed and waned; they were stripped of their lands in 1308 after opposing Robert the Bruce, only to have them returned by John Stewart of Lorne; then, in 1644, Dunollie was captured by the Marquis of Argyll, a staunch Covenanter who lent his support to Cromwell during the British Civil War. After the restoration of the monarchy, Dunollie was returned to the MacDougalls in 1661.
In 1746 the MacDougalls abandoned the castle and built Dunollie House, just down the hill. This is now the venue for an exhibition, telling the turbulent story of the Jacobite rebellion and its effect on the MacDougall family. It also houses the Hope MacDougall Collection, a vast array of traditional everyday items ranging from agricultural tools to sewing machines.
Oban seafront from ferry (Dunollie far left)
Oban Bay, with the Cathedral on the left
Dunollie Castle is still owned by the MacDougalls, and is freely accessible in daylight hours.
Just a few miles to the north is Dunstaffnage Castle, another MacDougall fortress. I hope to get there very soon and bring you a report!
All images copyright © Colin Woolf |
Why you should let your dog sniff on their walks
Dog sniffing on walk
When you take your dog out for a walk it can be frustrating and time-consuming when they stop to smell what seems to be every single item they come across, whether this is the grass, the path, a lamppost, flowers, bins, or other dogs. Although it can lead to a slower walk, these “scent walks” can be really beneficial for your dog.
When humans go for walks, they are mainly driven by sight. We explore our surroundings by looking at what is around us. Dogs work differently. Their dominant sense is their smell and they have millions more scent receptors than humans, meaning you should not underestimate the power of your dog’s nose.
Allowing your dog time to smell on their walks keeps them mentally stimulated and can reduce the chance of them becoming frustrated or bored. It can also relax them as well as tire them out. It is a simple thing you can let your dog do and some dog owners do not realise the benefits of it.
Dogs use their sense of smell not only to explore but also to communicate and make decisions. Because it is such an important tool for them, it is important that owners give them enough time to use it to explore their surroundings. The majority of a dog’s life is determined by its owner: when the dog is allowed to eat, when to play and when to go outside is all decided for them. Allowing them to smell on walks at their own pace gives your dog choices and an element of freedom.
If you are in a suitable area, allowing your dog briefly off their lead will allow them to enjoy this sense of freedom even more, although they can still enjoy the sense of freedom if they are on the lead.
You may notice your dog sniff other dogs when they pass each other. This is extremely common, especially sniffing another dog’s bottom. This exchange can almost be compared to the human equivalent of a handshake. It is a form of greeting where they get to know the dog and their distinct smell. Your dog may also sniff the ground, which can be an indication that they are showing the other dog that they are not a threat. Because of the clever way they use sniffing for communication, it is important you give them the opportunity to do this.
It is not only on their walks that you can encourage the sniffing behaviour. You can also let them forage for food in the garden. Scattering dry dog food in the grass and allowing them to hunt for the food is a low cost and effective way to offer them the stimulation required by allowing them to sniff out their food. If it is a rainy day or they are inside for a long period of time, there are snuffle mats you can buy that encourage the same behaviour.
Although you want to encourage sniffing, dogs would smell each individual thing they encounter if you let them. Try commanding your dog to sniff and then when they lose interest praise them for sniffing and continue your walk. Over time you can then use sniffing as a reward for good behaviour.
By understanding the importance of scents when you take your dog for a walk you can ensure that you can provide them stimulation both in terms of physical exercise but also mentally. Although we need to make walks fit into our busy lives, you also need to think about what types of walk will benefit your dog most. It is easy to assume a faster, shorter walk will be most efficient as it is easy to fit in and will tire your dog out quickly, however try and mix this up with longer, slower walks that allow your dog a sense of freedom to explore all their senses.
For advice on dog care, training, behaviour therapy and more, please visit our articles page which is full of free advice.
About the author
Dr Shahad Mohammed
Veterinary Physiotherapist
National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists |
Install efficient appliances and fixtures
When investing in large household appliances and fixtures, use the government's Energy and Water Ratings (stars) to guide you to the most efficient products to save money.
The cost of energy and water is rising and the effect is increasing. Large household appliances (including fridges, clothes dryers and dishwashing machines) and toilets, taps and showers consume the bulk of our household energy and water.
The Federal Government's Water Rating site notes that replacing a single-flush toilet with a water-efficient dual-flush system will reduce household water use by around 1000 litres per year, as well as saving $50 each year over the life of the system.
Similarly, the product comparison charts in the Federal Government's Energy Rating site shows that the difference in the ongoing operating costs between an average family fridge (two-door, 300+ litre volume) with an Energy Star Rating of 2½ and a similar fridge with an Energy Star Rating of 5 (out of 6) is between $750 and $1,000 over a 15 year period, depending on use and the cost of electricity.
Start thinking medium to long-term and invest more now to get the most energy efficient appliances and fixtures. You'll reap the environmental and financial benefits for years to come.
How to do it now!
When you're in the market for large appliances and fixtures use the 'star labelling system' to inform your understanding of the operating costs of your home.
Energy and water ratings and consumption measures
Both the Water (1-6 stars) and Energy (1-10 stars) Rating systems use a combination of a star rating system and an energy/water consumption estimate to determine the efficiency of the appliance or fixture.
Energy labelling
IIt is mandatory for all of the following electrical products sold in Australia to have an approved energy label:
• air conditioners
• clothes dryers
• dishwashers
• refrigerators and freezers
• televisions
• washing machines
An energy use comparison table of all the products in the above categories is available, with more information about the energy labelling system, on the Energy Rating site.
Water labelling
All of the following water products sold in Australia must have an approved water label:
• dishwashers
• flow controllers
• showers (1-3 stars)
• tap equipment
• toilet (lavatory) equipment
• urinal equipment
• washing machines
A water use comparison table of all the products in the above categories is available, with more information about the water labelling system, on the Water Rating site.
Campaign to have the energy and water labelling programs expanded
Both of the above rating programs don't cover the full range of products available. Campaign for these programs to apply energy labels to all products used in the home. As well, request that the current labels are extended to indicate the embedded energy and water of a product (i.e. the energy and water required to manufacture the product), which would allow you to view the full environmental impact of your purchase.
The modern demand for Flat screen TV’s is huge, and as the screens get larger and larger, so too does the energy usage, making some TV’s one of the most energy consuming appliances in the house.
Plasma or LCD?
Generally, but not always, LCD TV’s are more energy efficient than plasma TV’s. This is especially true when they include the LED back projection technology that consumes one-quarter to one-third the power of an equivalent sized LCD flat screen.
Buying a TV
When buying a TV it pays to check the power in watts on the label on the back of the TV – the higher the number the faster it consumes energy - 150 watts or less is low in consumption. Also look out for an energy star label. This is different to energy-rating label for most household appliances. It shows you that you can set the TV to automatically go into sleep mode and/or that it uses reduced power in stand-by mode.
Stand-by power
Many appliances including TVs may still be consuming energy even when they are switched off. While this can be convenient, standby mode can make up to
10 per cent of your household energy use. Switch off appliances at the wall. While not all appliances can be switched off, switching off a computer overnight can save an enormous amount off your energy bill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Why is this action important?
Science is telling us that we need to live more sustainably. To do this we must aspire to the efficiencies found in nature. This action is intended to help people understand the lasting benefits of sustainability and to be informed when purchasing energy efficient appliances and products.
Global warming, droughts, dead river systems and species extinction are all results of our overuse of natural systems and their consequent decline. A major factor in rescuing the effects of our consumptive habits is our ability to develop and broadly deploy more efficient technology. Reducing the amount of energy and water needed to support our households is a powerful way to ease this pressure on our precious natural systems.
A stable global environment and the availability of fresh water are central to human health and prosperity. Clean, fresh water from the tap is, for most people in the world, a luxury. As the Australian water supply is stretched, recycled and sterilised at the expense of our waterways stagnant rivers, we expose ourselves to toxic algae, chemically treated water and an increased vulnerability to severe drought. Many people across the globe are not so lucky, and a lack of clean water and associated diseases kills tens of millions of children each year. So water wisely, and conserve this precious resource. |
Flood Defense
Flood Defense is so important to the entire world right now. We must rev up our efforts to deal with both the rising sea levels, and the increased precipitation resulting from climate change.
Our leaders need to take action to prevent the floods and rising sea levels due to melting polar caps. We can pay for it now or we can pay for the clean up later.
It is high time we start to harness the water coming off the polar ice caps before it goes into the water and it is up to the world leaders to make this happen. We must spend the money now to gather this melting ice before the water does all the damage it will inevitably do, which will cost billions, in the end, to clean up.
Global warming isn’t going away and will only intensify, causing a rapid increase in rising sea levels. How many storms can take place before the oceans, rivers and lakes become so polluted with debris and chemicals that they are a hazard to marine life and people alike.
With our all technology, we should be able to manage our waters better so that millions of people get the water they need, while others have too much.
Redirect the water or move the people!
We need to start breaking down the borders of the world and share the land. As more and more land becomes locked in a pattern of flooding, it will have to be abandoned. Countries around the world need to absorb the displaced people on a larger scale.
Weirs (Low Head Dam)
Levee for flood defense
Mangroves for flood defense
Mangroves anchor shorelines
Rock Armour
Methods of controlling floods
United Nations Framework on Climate Change |
Muséum d'histoire naturelle
The musée d’histoire naturelle is one of the first public museum founded just after the French Revolution. The collections are from rich and private natural history exhibition rooms. The collection on zoologie presents species such as mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, shells and butterflies from around the world.
An important part of the museum is dedicated to local wildlife with mammals, coastal birds, predatory birds from the Pyrenees and local fishes. The museum is an essential environmental model. It allows to learn about the évolutions of species and increases public awareness of the disappearance of many species due to human activity.
Accommodation nearby
Latest news onMuséum d'histoire naturelle |
Reptile 'cousins' shed new light on end-Permian extinction
Washington, May 6: A new study has found that the end-Permian extinction may not have been as catastrophic for some creatures as previously thought.
Led by the University of Bristol, an international team of researchers studied the parareptiles, a diverse group of bizarre-looking terrestrial vertebrates, which varied in shape and size.
However, as the quality and completeness of the fossil record varies considerably, both geographically and stratigraphically, palaeontologists need to find a way to "join the dots" and piece together the fragments of a complex mosaic to give a more satisfactory and better picture of ancient life's diversity.
The team led by Dr Marcello Ruta of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, including scientists from Germany, Brazil and North America, used the evolutionary relationships among known parareptiles to produce a corrected estimate of changing diversity through time.
"Evolutionary relationships can be superimposed on a time scale, allowing you to infer missing portions of past diversity. They are powerful tools that complement and refine the known record of extinct diversity," Ruta said.
"If you visualize evolutionary relationships in the form of branching diagrams and then plot them on a time scale, new patterns begin to emerge, with gaps in the fossil record suddenly filling rapidly," Ruta stated.
Juan Cisneros of the Universidade Federal do Piaui, Ininga, Brazil said: "It is as if ghosts from the past appear all of a sudden and join their relatives in a big family tree - you have a bigger tree.
Co-author Johannes Muller of the Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin added: "Researchers who investigate changing diversity through time have a huge battery of basic and advanced analytical and statistical methods at their disposal to study patterns of diversification and extinction.
"Classic text-book views of waxing and waning of groups through deep time will certainly benefit, where possible, from the use of evolutionary thinking," Muller said.
University of Washington's Linda Tsuji, also part of the research team, said: "This is the first time that the history of parareptiles has been examined in such detail.
The new findings are published online in the journal Palaeontology.
Copyright Asian News International/ |
According to John
Chapter 21
1. At what sea do the events of chapter 21 take place? What is another name for this sea? Had Jesus said he would appear to the disciples in this particular region? (Mt. 26:32, 28:7)
2. How many of the disciples were together on this occasion? Give the names of five of them.
3. Who announced that he was going fishing, and then who went?
4. Where was Jesus and where were these disciples when they first saw him on this occasion? Did they recognize him immediately?
5. Who first recognized him?
6. What did Peter do that was so characteristic of him?
7. Describe the events related in the following passages, focusing particularly upon Peter's role: Mt. 14:28-30, Mt. 16:21-22, Mt. 17:4-5, Mt. 26:31-35, Jn. 18:10-11, Jn. 20:2-8. Which of the following character traits do you see in Peter in these instances:
overly sure of himself
talks a better game than he plays,
8. After they had eaten, What did Jesus ask Peter?
9. Does Jesus mean, "Do you love me more than you love these other disciples" or "Do you love me more than you love these fish" or "Do you love me more than these love me"? Had Peter ever acted like he thought he loved Jesus more than the others did? (See especially Mt. 26:33, and notice that Jesus' question comes just after another incident where Peter's enthusiasm is on display.)
10. There are two distinct words translated "love" in Jn. 21:15-21. These words overlap in meaning, and indeed are sometimes used as synonyms. However, they can have a different connotation.
One is the word used in Mt. 5:44, "Love your enemies." Does this mean feel all warm and fuzzy about your enemies? Does it mean to "like" your enemies? What does it mean? Sometimes this word is used of willed love that is not contingent upon reciprocation. (see Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 5:25). It is not a love that must be kindled by the goodness of the one loved. This word is
agapw (or in uncontracted form as you would find it in a lexicon, agapaw).
Although either word can be used of affection, the other word can have especially the idea of affection. In fact, it is sometimes used in the sense of "kiss." This word is
filw (or in uncontracted form as you would find it in a lexicon, filew)
Follow the flow of the text and discuss whether or not it seems that John means to make a distinction between the two words here:
Jesus says to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love (
ag-) me more than these?
He says to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love (
fil-) you.
He says to him, Feed my lambs.
He says to him again a second time, Simon son of John, do you love (
ag-) me?
fil-) you.
He says to him, tend my sheep.
The third time, He says to him, Simon son of John, do you love (
fil-) me?
Peter was grieved because the third time he said to him, do you love (
fil-) me?
11. Why did Peter become grieved? Do you suppose Peter had thought he was asserting even more than Jesus was asking?
12. When there is a difference in the meaning of the two words, which one can run hot and cold depending on externals, for example, how one is being treated by another?
13. What did Jesus tell Peter about the manner in which Peter would die?
14. If the exchange between Jesus and Peter in verses 15-20 was Jesus' way of calling Peter's attention to his need to grow unto a love that would carry him through what he would suffer as the time of his death approached, which kind of love is it that Peter needed to further develop? Why?
15. How did Peter respond to Jesus' words about his death? (Careful: Note that all of verse 20 is just an identification of the disciple whom Peter saw. Peter's response to Jesus' words about his death begin in verse 21.) Have you ever reprimanded a child only to have the response come back, "What about him/her?" If so, what do you tell the child? What did Jesus say to Peter? (vs. 22)
16. What rumor got started as a result of Jesus' response?
17. Read 2 Peter 1:12-15. In what verse does Peter allude to Jesus' words about how Peter would die?
18. Read 2 Peter 1:14-21 and 1 Peter 4:12-19. Does it seem that Peter developed the love for the Lord he needed to have to face death bravely and confidently? What incident in Peter's earlier years might you especially contrast with the faith you see in his later years as he anticipates his death? |
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Top 12 Tech Domain of the Future
The basic approach of work has seen a vast change over decades. The emergence of digital platforms and automation has altered the way things used to be perceived and portrayed. The fast pace of things being made and brought to the notice of customers was a wonder few decade back. Technology developing artificial intelligence has promised to increase the productivity of human workforce and thereafter leading to economic development. It also aims to enhance convenience and efficiency of the labourers.
Let’s concentrate on 12 Tech jobs that are going to rule the future job market.
First, Robotics. Many movies have portrayed the future time where there are no humans but instead robots taking their place. Every work of human being carried out by Robots. The imagery is not new but definitely alarming. Professionals involved in this field are accountable to form the design of robots, put them into test and after all evaluation build robots. Such robots which could be purchased at an economical rate and easy to maintain yet be extremely productive and safe to use, are increasingly expected out of the engineers. This gift of science is expected to simplify whole bunch of complicated time consuming work.
Second, Drone Pilots. Drones are basically aircrafts without a human pilot. Such instruments are facing elevating demand as it could be put to a wide range of utility. Imagine an aerial view of a cricket ground; it is obtained using a Drone. It further can be utilised to gather data related to the weather condition and various intelligent piece of information relating to it. The main man operating and controlling the Drone and hereafter efficiently providing the desired information is termed as a Drone Pilot.
Third, 3D Printing Technician. The technology of 3 dimensional printing uses computer supported designs in order to print items in several layers. The technician mainly set the overall printing schedule.
Fourth, Self Driving Cars. Automated cars will just be the stepping stone of driverless transportation systems where just a push of a button would start the car and the artificial intelligence in it would drive it to the destination. After successful installation of the technology in personal vehicles, it won’t be a wonder to extend the same to various public vehicles.
Fifth, Smart Cities. It is a city designed by putting information and communication technology to use. It aims to efficiently elevate the functioning of services like transportation & energy and cause a reduction of overall wastage.
Sixth, Smart Farming. Similarly applying advanced technology to agriculture is aimed at efficient increase in productivity.
Seventh, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. These are the two tools which will be the main driver of anything electronic. ML equips computers to learn by itself without physical programming.
Eight, Virtual Reality. It is artificially generated duplication of the real world and further leads to the creation of an audio visual virtual environment. It facilitates communication with the characters in the virtual space.
Ninth, Nano Science. The domain involves study of microscopic nanites which operates at high speeds. Functioning at the microscopic scale these nanites are capable of diagnosing, then treating and finally cure various diseases through proper eradication of the virus or bacteria. Its utility can be extended to food and environment.
Tenth, Cyber security. With the increasing instances of cyber crime and data stealing, the rise in demand of the profession is not surprising.
Eleventh, Holographic. It basically encompasses 3 dimensional entertainments and is applied in games like chess, movies, maps, manuals, catalogues and many more.
Twelfth, Holophones. These are simply phones incorporated in a wrist watch. No wonder the future might see microchips fitted in these connecting various persons.
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Nashville Great Books Discussion Group
A reader's group devoted to the discussion of meaningful books.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Montaigne almost single-handedly invented the essay format. This alone would make many people avoid reading him. That’s too bad, because Montaigne has a lot to say about a lot of things. Maybe just what many people need these days: the wise old uncle we never had. Unlike reading philosophy, Montaigne’s essays give insight into the man, not just the thinker. Reading Montaigne is to know what kind of man he is. No one else writes quite like him.
Losing a close friend early in life makes friendship a topic that Montaigne takes very seriously. His own (very) close friendship with a man named Etienne Boetie is the standard he uses for measuring all relationships. Montaigne goes through several types in order to show what real friendship is not. A parent and child cannot experience real friendship, for example. There’s too much at stake in the parent-child relationship, not to mention the age gap. According to Montaigne real friendship “cannot exist between them because of their too great inequality”. The blood kinship prohibits any voluntary relationship freely chosen by both parties. For the same reason Montaigne believes that real friendship cannot exist between siblings either. He says that “Father and son may be of entirely different dispositions, and brothers also.” (Maybe we should add sisters here too.) Montaigne points out that we’re born into a specific family with specific parents and specific brothers and sisters. We have no choice in the matter. But we do choose our friends. That makes a real difference. We can change friends whenever we want, but we’re stuck with mother and father and brother and sister forever. For better or for worse.
We also take spouses “for better or for worse” so would that count as one of Montaigne’s real friendships? Well, no. Montaigne doubts whether real friendship can ever exist between men and women, either inside or outside of marriage. Why? Two reasons. First, Montaigne believes that women just aren’t capable of sustaining the kind of friendship he has in mind. That’s blunt and maybe women have a different view. But there’s a second, perhaps stronger reason: sex. Montaigne thinks that even under the best of circumstances there will always be sexual tension between men and women that can’t translate into sincere friendship. He says that “in love there is nothing but a frantic desire” and friendship would destroy the attraction. Montaigne is emphatically not opposed to this kind of attraction. Quite the opposite. He appreciates a beautiful woman as well as sex and openly states that he prefers “for the bed, beauty before goodness.” That’s also the root of the reason why Montaigne thinks homosexuals can’t experience true friendship. Any sexual relationship cancels out the possibility of true friendship. According to Montaigne’s reckoning sexual desire is a burning flame. Friendship is a warm glow. And they are mutually exclusive.
So where does that leave us? Montaigne’s ideals for true friendship are high, perhaps impossibly high for most people. But Montaigne isn’t most people. His friendship with Boetie sets this standard: “I think it was some ordinance from heaven.” Normal people can’t compete with that. Ordinary friendships by Montaigne’s definition are mere “acquaintanceships and familiarities, formed by some chance or convenience.” That may be true, but many modern people are comfortable enough with normal friendships and may feel distinctly uncomfortable with the intensity of a friendship like the one proposed by Montaigne. He seems to be reaching out to us across time and saying: “if you were better people, you would have better relationships. Try harder.” A final exam question: Is this the wisdom of the ages speaking, or just an eccentric old uncle who hasn’t changed with the times and is now an embarrassment to the family?
Friday, February 09, 2007
I have known all that you said: I knew,
I knew when I transgressed nor will deny it.
In helping man I brought my troubles on me;
I can win no pity: pitiless is he
that thus chastises me, a spectacle
bringing dishonor on the name of Zeus...
I know that he is savage: and his justice
a thing he keeps by his own standard
As soon as he ascended to the throne
that was his father's, straightway he assigned
to the several gods their several privileges
and portioned out the power, but to the unhappy
breed of mankind he gave no heed, intending
to blot the race out and create a new.
Against these plans none stood save I: I dared.
I rescued men from shattering destruction
I caused mortals to cease foreseeing doom...
I placed in them blind hopes
...hated of all
the gods that enter Zeus's palace hall,
because of my excessive love for man.
spare you?
Worship him, pray; flatter whatever king
is king today; but I care less than nothing
for Zeus. Let him do what he likes,
let him be king for his short time: he shall not
be king for long.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
AESCHYLUS: Prometheus Bound
Some literature seems to grow over time. I first read Prometheus Bound as a college student and understood immediately what it was all about. It was obviously an allegory about the older generation (aka Zeus) trying to muzzle the artistic and spiritual freedom of the younger generation (aka Prometheus). To me, Prometheus was a great romantic poet who posed a dire threat to a decrepit social order, so he had to be crushed. Prometheus was like Shelley or like, well, me. Zeus was an old fogey. He represented an established order, like T.S. Eliot or Richard Nixon or somebody. According to this reading, Prometheus is a scapegoat and suffers unjustly.
Years passed and a funny thing happened to the play: it grew. Several layers of meaning either sprouted out of it or glommed on to it by the passage of time. Now I was reading almost a totally different play. It wasn’t at all about youthful artistic freedom (whatever that means) or breaking the bonds of tyranny, it was really about spreading chaos and anarchy versus the maintenance of an established orderly society. Here we have a traitor (Prometheus) willing to literally overturn Heaven and Earth to get his own way. He boxes in the authorities (Zeus) until there’s no alternative left but to punish the rebellious (Prometheus) in order to maintain safety and stability for the rest of the gods. Reading it this way, Prometheus was guilty of treason against his own kindred and got exactly what was coming to him.
Which one of these readings is correct? Maybe both are too extreme. For example, why is Prometheus so sure that he’s right and Zeus is wrong? Is it worth risking civil war to find out? Who gets to decide these things? And Prometheus is certainly courageous to make a stand against blatant injustice. But is it courageous to make a stand against overwhelming force, or is that just plain foolish and stubborn? These are the kinds of questions a younger reader must grapple with. A middle aged reader faces different dilemmas: Zeus has to punish Prometheus in some way. Why? Because he (Zeus) was the new king and Prometheus challenged his authority. If he did nothing the other gods might rebel too. On the other hand, was Prometheus’ punishment too harsh? Is there a better way to handle youth without totally crushing its spirit? Would a better leader have been able to gain his objective without resorting to brute force?
Years ago a seed was planted in my mind: the image of an immortal god chained to a rock for 500 years. From that seed sprouted all kinds of questions that have evolved over time: What is the nature of authority? How can we tell when it’s being abused? What is the purpose of punishment? What happened to faith in the ancient Greek gods? Why did it die away? These questions are seeds from within the text and they sprouted from reading the text itself. But other issues glom on from outside the text, coming from my own experience of life. As time passes the play becomes more complex and its questions pop up in the oddest places. For instance, the other day I heard a clacking-clacking in the woods and discovered two young bucks butting antlers for dominance. Is this the way conflict is settled in the real world – through brute force? I suspect that one of these years, close to the end of life, I’ll set aside questions of authority and punishment and brute force. I’ll be more interested in a bigger question at that point: what is death like? And yet another reading of the play may be revealed: What would it be like, really, to be immortal? Would I want to be immortal if it meant spending the next 500 years chained to a rock? I’m not sure. But I am sure of one thing - Aeschylus knew the important questions in life. And he knew how to write good plays too, plays that tend to grow along with you.
-- RDP
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is by far the oldest work we’ve read in the Great Books program. It was as remote in time from Augustus Caesar as Caesar is remote from us. It even pre-dates the call of Abram by Yahweh. The story of Gilgamesh has a long ago and far away tone. And yet, for all its remoteness in time and space and language, the story has a distinctly “western” feel to it. Of course many of the ideas that we’ve come to embrace as westerners (monotheism, democracy, scientific inquiry for example) aren’t yet fully developed. That’s what makes it seem so long ago and far away. But the seeds of later western thought are already present in this long poem. The roots of the West are deeply embedded in Mesopotamian culture by 2000 B.C.
There are many examples connecting the story with western culture. The Epic of Gilgamesh contains a flood narrative, a couple of temptation scenes, a snake that steals the life-giving plant, interpretations of dreams and other stories that echo in the pages of Genesis, Exodus and other books of the Old Testament. But American culture also echoes some of the themes from Gilgamesh. Modern readers contemplating the friendship and adventures of Gilgamesh and Enkidu see the precursors of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. When we read about Enkidu in the wilderness, we glimpse the western fascination for characters like Tarzan or the castaway Robinson Crusoe or the mountain man Jeremiah Johnson. When we read about Gilgamesh’s journey to the underworld we are reminded of the travels and adventures of Odysseus. And the slaying of the monster Humbaba brings the medieval legend of Beowulf to mind. So, many western archetypes are already present in this earliest of epic poems. We recognize them as we might recognize the photograph of some distant relative. They’re pale versions from the past being presented to us now in translation, somewhat like a shadow play or through a glass, darkly.
But even though it’s a story from 4000 years ago, modern readers can still identify with both the characters and the scenes. Gilgamesh, for example, is a city boy from Uruk. Uruk is a word that may look foreign to our eyes and sound foreign to our ears, but listen to a description of the city: “Enter Uruk…where costumes bright are worn, where it is always time to party, where merry music never fades, where graceful girls do ever play with toys and boys and men; for in the night these revelers do their best to rule the town.” Of course this is a translation meant to make sense to modern readers, but the message is clear in any language: Uruk is a party town (kind of like Las Vegas) and Gilgamesh is perfectly at home there. Enkidu, on the other hand, is a country boy, the innocent rural dweller minding his own business and living in harmony with nature. Until one of the Uruk girls gets to him. Using sex as a lure, Shamhat persuades Enkidu to leave his country-bumpkin ways behind and come live in Uruk. That’s where Enkidu meets Gilgamesh and that’s when the adventures begin. These weren’t ordinary men. Men like these were probably the ones spoken of in Genesis when it says “There were giants in the earth in those days…mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Gilgamesh and Enkidu became for Sumerian culture what King Arthur and Sir Lancelot later became for English-speaking culture – legendary heroes, perhaps real men once, but now forever lost in the mists of time.
However, to recommend this book merely as a prelude to the rise of western civilization would be a great disservice. It touches on most of the basic issues human beings face throughout all ages: love, sex, death, friendship, government, and nature in very few pages. For this reason alone, Gilgamesh is a masterpiece in its own right.
-- RDP |
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Movember- the hairiest month for men’s health, is the world’s largest movement for men’s health. It is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of various cancers, such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer….and also of mental health issues like depression. We need to know that more men die from prostate cancer than women from breast cancer. Sadly 1 in 8 min will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. We need to create awareness about this and also help men live longer, healthier and happier lives.
Prostate Gland Issues :-
The prostate gland is the male reproductive organ, the size of a walnut. The main function of the prostate gland is to help with the production of semen ( the fluid that transports sperm). It produces a thick, white fluid that is liquefied by a special protein known as prostate-specific-antigen (PSA). The fluid is mixed with sperm, produced by the testicles, to create semen.
Three main conditions can affect the prostate gland:
- Prostate Enlargement:
It is a very common condition associated with aging. 1/3rd of men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of prostate enlargement. If the prostate becomes enlarged it can place pressure on the urethra. This makes it harder for the bladder to empty.
An enlarged prostate can cause the following symptoms :-
a) Make it difficult for you to start urinating
b) Weaken the flow of urine or cause ' stopping and starting'
c) Cause you to strain to pass urine
d) Cause you to urinate more frequently, making you get up frequently at night
- Prostatitis ( inflammation of the prostate) :
In this often misunderstood condition, the tissues of the prostate get inflamed, i.e. red and swollen.
Symptoms of prostatitis include :-
a) Pelvic pain
b) Testicular pain
c) Pain while ejaculating
d) Pain in the perineum ( the area between the anus and the back of the scrotum), which worsens with sitting
-Prostate Cancer :
It is the most common type of cancer in men. Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men who are 70 years old or over. This type of cancer progresses very slowly. In fact, men can live many years without any symptoms or treatment; rather, they die with it, instead of from it.
Symptoms of prostate cancer ( often very identical to prostate enlargement) :-
a) An urge to urinate more often ( especially at night)
b) Need to run to the washroom
c) Straining or taking a very long time to urinate
d) Weak urinary outflow
e) Feeling that your bladder has not emptied completely
-Food and diet :
- Eat foods rich in phyto-estrogens like soy beans, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, peas, garlic and flax seeds.
- Lycopenes found in tomatoes have a protective effect against prostate cancer.
- Zinc found in fish, shellfish, seeds and eggs
- Fibre-rich foods
- Fennel (saunf)
Make a mix of 2 tbsp curry leaf powder, 1 tbsp amchur, 1 tbsp pomegranate seed powder, 6 tbsp fennel, 1 tbsp dried basil, 1 tbsp dried thyme and 1 tbsp mace. Eat 1 tsp of this mix every morning.
Stay blessed with good health .…always !!!
Warm regards,
Charmaine D’Souza
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Theories of Ayurveda
The entire science of Ayurveda is based on the ‘Five Great Elements’ (Panchmahabhuta) theory. These five elements are earth (prithvi), water (jal), fire (agni or tej), air (vayu) and ether or space (akash). Just as in nature, we too have these five elements in us. When any of these elements are present in the environment, they will in turn have an influence on us. While we are a composite of these five primary elements, certain elements are seen to have an ability to combine to create various physiological functions.
Ether and air combine to form what is known in Ayurveda as the Vata doshaVata governs the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force that directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.
Finally, it is predominantly the water and earth elements that combine to form the Kapha dosha. Kapha is what is responsible for growth, adding structure unit by unit.
Another function of the Kapha dosha is to offer protection. These ratios of the doshas vary in each individual; and because of this, Ayurveda sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity.
Dosha according to the principle of constitution of the physical body in ayurveda, one of the three vital bioenergies (vata, pitta, kapha) condensed from the five elements, the doshas are responsible for the physical and emotional tendencies in the mind and body and along with the seven dhatus (tissues) and three malas (waste products) make up the human body. The attributes of the doshas and their specific combination with in each individual help determine the individual’s physical and mental characteristics, while imbalance among the doshas is the cause of disease.
Vata dosha - Air
The Vata dosha is the most important of the three doshas. This is for two reasons. First, if Vata becomes imbalanced for long enough and sufficiently enough, it can also cause the other two doshas (Pitta or Kapha) to become imbalanced. It can even cause both Pitta and Kapha to become imbalanced. Secondly, Vata is the main driver or mover of the body, including the other two doshas, all the tissues and all of the waste products.
Vata provides the following functions:
1. All eliminations: fetus, semen, feces, urine, sweat, and a few others
2. Assists with all the various metabolisms in the body
3. Controls all of the various movement of body (both physical & mental), including such things as respiration, heart beat, motivation and contraction of muscles, relays all sensory input from the various sense organs to the brain.
Pitta dosha – Fire
Pitta provides the following functions:
1. Metabolism - at all the various levels from digestion of food to transformation of all other material
2. Thermo genesis - maintains the proper body temperature
3. Vision - converts external images into optic nerve impulses
4. Appetite - the feeling of hunger and thirst
5. Comprehension - of information into knowledge, also reasoning and judgment
6. Courage & Braveness - to face the situation
7. Complexion - gives color and softness to skin
Kapha dosha – Earth
Kapha provides the following functions:
1. Strength - to perform physical tasks
2. Moistness & Lubrication - to prevent excessive friction from occurring between the various parts of the body
3. Stability - to add the necessary grounding aspect to both mind and body
4. Mass & Structure - to provide fullness to bodily tissues
5. Fertility & Virility - to produce healthy offspring
Benefits of Ayurveda (small list)
· ayurveda is not only treatment, it is a way of life
· has no side effects
· gives happy, healthy disease free long life
· makes you Tension Free
· relaxes mind
· provides knowledge about life
· tells about good and bad dietary effects to life
· tells the way for moksha, with keeping good health status
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SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips
What Is a Good ISEE Score?
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a standardized test for students in grades 2 through 12 take to apply to many private schools. ISEE score reports are known for containing a lot of information, most of it not very intuitive. So what do these scores mean? Which are the ones schools care about? And what is a good ISEE score? Read on for the answers to all these questions!
How Does ISEE Scoring Work?
There are four scored sections on the ISEE:
• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• Mathematics Achievement
There is also an essay section, but it isn’t scored by the ISEE. Instead, it’s forwarded to the schools the student applied to so that the schools themselves can review it. The ISEE score report students receive will have several scores for each section of the test. Most students receive their ISEE test scores between seven to ten business days after they complete the test, and ISEE test scores are automatically sent to the schools you’ve selected.
Raw and Scaled Scores
For each section, students will receive a scaled score from 760 to 940. How are these scores calculated? For raw scoring, each correct answer on the ISEE is worth one point, and no points are gained or lost for skipping a question or answering it incorrectly. The raw score is the sum of correctly-answered questions.
That raw score is then scaled. Scaling is done to account for differences in difficulty between different test dates. So if an ISEE exam in December is more difficult than one given in October, the students taking the December exam won’t be penalized for taking the harder test because the scaling will even out the differences in difficulty. The scaled scores are those that are between 760 and 940.
Percentile Rankings
You'll also receive a percentile rank for each of your section scores. Percentile ranking ranges from 1 to 99, and it is determined by how your scaled ISEE scores compare to the scores of other students in the same grade who have taken the ISEE in the past three years. The higher the percentile ranking, the better you did compared to other test takers. If you received a percentile score of 58, then you scored as well as or higher than 58 percent (and lower than 42 percent) of the other students in the group.
Stanine Scores
Stanine scores are based on percentile rankings, and they separate test takers into nine groups. As with percentile rankings, the higher a student’s stanine score (from 1 to 9), the better the student did on the ISEE. It provides a simple way for parents and schools to see how a student’s ISEE scores compared to other test-takers’ scores. As you can see in the chart below, most students score in the middle range, 4 to 6.
Stanine Score
What Is the Average ISEE Score?
There isn’t data on what an average score is for the scaled scores of 760 to 940, but the percentile ranking and stanine scores for the ISEE are calculated so that the average score on the ISEE corresponds to the average value of each of these rankings. So the average ISEE test-taker has a percentile ranking of 50 percent and a stanine score of 5. Scores/percentiles higher than this are above average, and scores lower are below average.
Slightly over half (54%) of students who take the ISEE receive one of the middle scores of 4-6. It’s rarer to receive a score on either end of the spectrum. Only 23% of students receive a score of 1-3, and another 23% receive a score of 7-9. Only 4% of students receive a stanine score of 9, and 7% receive a score of 8.
How Do Schools Use ISEE Scores? What Is a Good ISEE Score?
It’s important to remember that ISEE scores are only one component of a student’s application, and they are rarely the most important piece. Schools also consider an applicant’s school grades, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, essays, etc. Low ISEE scores can be made up for in other parts of the application, and even outstanding ISEE scores likely won’t be enough to get a student admitted into a competitive school if the rest of the application is weak.
Another important factor to be aware of is that many students score lower on the ISEE than they and their parents might expect. There are two reasons for this. First, the ISEE is likely one of the most difficult tests the student has taken, and some of the information will simply be beyond their current knowledge. Second, the cohort that takes the ISEE tends to be academically stronger than the average student body, so that skews the averages. It’s not uncommon for a student who is used to scoring in, say, the 80th percentile on statewide exams to get closer to a 50th percentile score on the ISEE. Therefore, receiving an average score on the ISEE doesn’t mean the test-taker is an average student.
But how does this impact how schools look at ISEE scores, and what is a good score on the ISEE? The data schools are most interested in are the stanine scores. The scaled scores are not particularly useful information, and percentile scores can be too specific and cause admissions teams to split hairs over minutia (Is a percentile score of 77 really that much better than a percentile score of 75?).
Stanine scores separate students into nine groups, which makes it easy for them to be compared to other test-takers as well as average ISEE scores.
So what is a good ISEE score, one that will get a student accepted into a private school? That highly depends on the school. For many schools, ISEE test scores of 4 or higher are seen as acceptable. Other, more competitive schools, prefer scores of 7 or higher. In general, a score of 3 or lower will be seen as a weak area of a student’s application, and a score of 7 or higher will be seen as a strong score for nearly all schools (some elite institutions prefer scores of 8 or 9 but will accept students who score lower than that).
For most schools, ISEE scores of 5 or higher are high enough for the applicant to be considered for admission, although remember that the other parts of the student’s application must be strong as well for them to be admitted.
Summary: What Is a Good Score on the ISEE?
What is a good ISEE score? The ISEE is a standardized test many private schools require applicants to take. Students who take the test are scored in four areas, and they’ll receive several different types of ISEE test scores: scaled scores, percentile rank, and stanine scores.
Stanine scores (which range from 1 to 9) are the most important and are the scores schools pay the most attention to. But what is a good score on the ISEE? A score of 5 or higher will be enough to put students in the running for most schools, although some elite private schools want applicants to have ISEE test results of 7 or higher.
What's Next?
How does the ISEE differ from the SSAT? Learn about the similarities and differences between the two exams in our ISEE vs SSAT guide
Ready to start your ISEE practice? We've collected all the best ISEE practice resources for you to begin your studying.
How many AP classes should you take in high school? How many APs do you need to impress colleges? Get your answer in our guide on how many AP classes to take.
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Do Intelligent Machines Make Intelligent Students?
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‘Smart devices are making our kids dumb’, has been a strongly held view of many. But it couldn’t be more wrong.
Artificial intelligence and intelligent machines have crept into our daily lives so stealthy, we hardly notice it happening. Much of the time we are oblivious to how these systems have affected the information we interact with on a daily basis. Google manipulates the data it presents to us based on location, Amazon makes recommendations based on our searches and purchases and effectively all ads we see are geared towards our own interests and preferences.
In the same vein, these kinds of intelligent systems have the capacity to change how we find, interpret and use data in schools and academia. Evidently, AI technology has radically changed how we interact with information and as it continues to evolve and develop with new and integrated technology, students in the future can anticipate vastly different educational experiences than those of today.
Image Source: Statista
In fact, a recent study from eSchool News found that the use of AI in education will grow by 47.5% by 2021 as we move into an ever-increasingly interconnected world. This increase will see a drastic shift away from static learning in the confines of a classroom whereby knowledge and skills are measured on a one-size-fits-all assessment basis. It will see the generation of a higher calibre of skilled students, each better informed about what their job prospects will look like and each having individual and personalised study programs.
Tirelessly working tech companies are making movements towards applying AI in education on a grander scale. WorkFusion is already helping organisations with smart automation platforms that can assist in the grading and filling processes in classrooms. Automation of such administrative tasks is ultimately the first step towards improving the education industry and effectively allocating more time for teacher-student relations.
As things stand, the current model of education is fundamentally lacking the capacity to produce a highly-skilled workforce. As we move closer and closer to a totally digitalised world, so too must the next generation become ‘digitalised’. Today, 73% of employers report a lack of skills in their industry. Further, according to the BBC, 65% of today’s children will work jobs that do not yet exist. In order to allow for a seamless transition into the digital world, sufficient structural reforms in education are necessary for the preparation of the next generation of the workforce.
Artificial Intelligence Technical Solutions
The development and application of AI and machine learning in education can contribute to enhancing and refining the skills needed in the future world economy. Our future will be more intelligent than ever and intelligent machines are needed to produce intelligent students. As the ecosystem moves towards AI and machine learning, so too should our educational models.
University 20.35 is the first unique and innovative training course to provide opportunities for professional development, by creating individual educational trajectories and tracking digital skills profiles using AI. The educational process in its entirety was designed and planned using artificial intelligence.
The model is based on a simple premise, where educational trajectories for each student are selected in a personalised manner. As participants of this course are trained both online and offline, at any moment, they can make a decision based on the recommendations that take into account their digital footprint, that of others and the educational material provided to them. Hence, the University 20.35 platform allows for a conscious choice and personal development trajectory for everyone in the digital economic environment.
“Our aim is to create a flexible digital education system, not even of tomorrow, but for the day after, based on the unique Russian educational AI, which will enable quick training of these specialists and teams in order to solve complex problems” said Dmitry Peskov, head of University 20.35.
Not only is the use of intelligent machines expected to create the most intelligent students, but anticipations, in this case, are on a grander scale. Participants of the university’s project – Island 10-22 are expected to become the leaders of technological change and highly demanded specialists in the labour market for the technical economy. They will be the substance which fills the gap between the lack of technical skills and the digital strategy.
Intelligent machines, using AI, can collect each students’ digital footprint during educational processes to confirm the students’ skills. From here, gaps in the knowledge are detected, as are strengths in the students’ skillset. The intelligent machine can then confirm or refute whether a trajectory module tutor is able to efficiently transfer skills to the students. Amendments can be made to existing trajectories as the transfer of required knowledge is based on the students’ existing skills diagnostics and educational background. Essentially, it holds the capacity for precise and impeccable efficiency gains.
Big machines are able to collect, analyse and manipulate big data. The collection of big data on students professional and educational backgrounds, combined with an analysis of student activity, allows the university to craft and recommend the best development path to the student. From here, we can only expect a higher calibre of students.
Following the collection of the students’ digital footprint, AI modified educational processes have the ability to generate what would be the students’ digital twin. Within the realms of education, a digital twin is essentially a replica of the students own physical profile. The near to real-time digital replica of the student’s progress will represent the student’s knowledge and skills. It can also be modelled to take into account what the student forgets, and the skills we are practising. It is precisely this information of our fluctuating (diminishing and strengthening) knowledge, that can be a starting point for a proactive educational program.
Educational AI certainly has a way to go in terms of its development. At its current developmental rate, students in the future will be able to study where and when they want, using whichever platform they want. This is likely to result in mobile devices becoming the main delivery modes of education. Gone will be the days of the traditional classroom setups as we move towards a more interactive style of working and learning. As a result of the increased use of digital and smart devices, we will see mass contributions to the gathering and circulating of big data by storing digital footprints. Going forward, this increase in available data will improve the application of AI in education.
In short, artificial intelligence has the capacity to completely refute the argument that smart devices and machines are making our kids less intelligent. When applied strategically to education, it has thus far, automated administrative tasks, introduced personalised learning to the extraordinarily generic syllabus that exists today, and puts students on a personal development pathway based on their digital footprints.
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Through Hole (Thru-Hole) PCB Assembly Services
Thru-hole (or through-hole) technology involves drilling holes into a printed circuit board where leads can be attached. Compared to surface mounting, it is an older technology.
Despite the fact that it is an older process, there are benefits to thru-hole PCB assembly. The through-hole mounting process creates stronger bonds between a circuit board and its components, leading to products that are more durable and more resistant to shock and impacts.
Whether or not through-hole PCB assembly is the right choice — or the only choice — for your application will depend on a number of factors. EMSG can provide a thorough consultation that helps determine the best way to proceed, whether you are developing a prototype or manufacturing a product.
Benefits of Through-Hole Assembly
Today, surface mounting is the more common form of assembly in many diverse industries. However, PCB through-hole assembly still plays a vital role when it comes to building circuits meant for certain types of equipment — especially those that must undergo high levels of stress or operate at high speeds and extreme temperatures. The reason manufacturers use thru-hole PCB assembly for these types of products is the variety of benefits it offers, including: thru hole pcb assembly and process
• Strength of Bonds. Through-hole assembly involves sticking required components through a circuit board and then attaching them with a metal solder, which makes the connection between the circuit and its components strong. It’s crucial for all the parts of the circuit to remain intact as you use an electrical piece of equipment. That’s why its strength makes through-hole assembly the better option for high-risk electrical equipment than other methods such as surface mounting.
• Durability. Stronger bonds between the circuit and its components indicate better durability and the capacity to handle harsher conditions without substantial wear and tear or damage. If you’re looking for an assembly method suited to aerospace industries or the use of heavy machinery, thru-hole assembly is the ideal option and will hold up more easily than others. A durable electrical circuit will last a long time, perhaps even saving you more frequent replacement expenses.
• Reliability. The last thing you need is to spend your time worrying about whether or not your circuit assembly will hold each time you use a piece of machinery. When you use through-hole PCB assembly solutions, you can eliminate this uncertainty thanks to the reliability of drilling and soldering technology. A reliable product can ease your concerns and help maintain a high level of efficiency for your operations, which is necessary for a harsh or fast-paced environment.
Potential Applications
Because of its unique benefits, through-hole technology has multiple possible applications. The investment of additional time and money required to complete through-hole PCB assembly makes it best for large components such as transformers, semiconductors and electrolytic capacitors. The extra security it provides makes it a good option for any product that must withstand high levels of mechanical or environmental stress as well as high power and high voltage conditions.
Military and aerospace applications prefer thru-hole mounting for precisely these reasons. In situations where safety depends on properly functioning equipment, taking the extra steps to through-hole technology critical components is a necessity. As well, through-hole technology can be useful for product prototyping, where the testing process routinely subjects completed units to extreme conditions.
Through-Hole Characteristics
When someone uses through-hole assembly, they start with a PCB and the PCB components. Then they drill holes into the board that are the ideal size to fit component leads. Once the leads are placed in the holes, they are attached to the board through the process of soldering, which holds them firmly in place and creates a strong, durable bond. This is the defining characteristic of through-hole assembly that makes the method so reliable and allows it to continue serving multiple types of industries.
A thru-hole assembled PCB may have many components attached to it, and there are two main kinds of components that engineers use during this process. These include:
• Axial Leaded Components. Usually, the most noticeable characteristic of an axial leaded component is its symmetrical shape. This type of component often has a shape similar to that of a cylinder, with one lead or several leads protruding from both ends. When each wire ending is fitted through a hole, the axial component lies low on the circuit board and can occupy a wider or shorter space depending on how you position the leads. These pieces may include components such as resistors, inductors and capacitors.
• Radial Leaded Components. Radial leaded components also typically come in the form of cylindrical or rectangular box-shaped figures and include different forms of capacitors, resistors and inductors. However, the main difference between these components and axial leaded components is that the former items have leads that protrude from one side rather than sticking out of both ends. Because of their overall appearance and make-up, attaching these pieces to your PCB board takes up less space than using axial leads, but also offers less placement flexibility.
Our Through-Hole PCB Assembly Services Thru hole PCB assembly services from experts
Different applications demand different through-hole technology equipment. To better serve our diverse group of clients, EMSG has invested in some of the most advanced soldering and assembly tools on the market today. We are fully qualified to manufacture printed circuit board assemblies to the IPC-A-610 requirement in both leaded and RoHS specifications.
Depending on your project needs, we can provide either fully automated through-hole assembly or semi-automated through-hole assembly services for runs of up to 50,000 units.
Thanks to our production capabilities, we are often brought in at the prototyping stages of a project. However, we also perform electronic contract manufacturing and testing as necessary. Our clients include government contractors and private manufacturers, all of whom count on EMSG for fast turnaround times, excellent customer service and industry-leading engineering expertise. We are happy to provide initial consultations by phone or email or to meet with you in person.
Quality Standards for Through-Hole Assembly
When we provide our through-hole PCB assembly services to clients, we strive to adhere to IPC quality standards every time because we know how important it is to keep electrical components as safe and efficient as possible. It’s crucial to understand common defects in through-hole assembly PCBs, as well as how to avoid them and build strong, durable products.
Solder joint quality makes a huge difference in the overall quality of the through-hole assembled PCB structure. The soldering is what makes the product because it is the process that holds everything together — specifically, the board and its components. Defects of the solder joint include issues such as:
• Inaccurate placement of components
• Fractures
• Nonwetting
• Short Circuits
• Lead Protrusion
• Corrosion
Meanwhile, it is possible to prevent and protect against these types of issues and more by practicing diligence and committing to accuracy when placing components and soldering the leads. The proper soldering technique includes inserting the wire into the hole, and then using heat on the lead, the pads and the hole. When you apply the solder, it should melt into a liquid and fill up the hole until the solder spills out and covers both ends of the board surrounding the hole.
As a member of IPC, we endeavor to hold up their standards and values when it comes to this complex, delicate process so that we can continue to offer reliable services. IPC’s aspiration goals on standards read, “IPC will be the most respected organization known for its leadership and global footprint in providing standards and quality programs supporting the electronics industry,” a statement we stand behind as supporters of high-quality electrical products.
Our Equipment
We perform most automated through-hole assemblies using the Universal 6287A axial insertion machine, which places components in their proper place on your circuit board with speed and accuracy. We use the Contact Systems CS400C to construct high mix through-hole production, of which EMSG currently has eight machines operating over two shifts. Whether our clients need quick turnover, small or high-volume assemblies, we can meet the necessary requirements.
After component assembly, EMSG uses automated machines to remove the need for manual soldering. These include the Hollis Future I machine, which has the capacity to work with circuit boards up to 18" square, and Ace KISS-103 machines that offer programmable soldering options.
Automated Through-Hole PCB Assembly
Why assemble your PCBs using manual through-hole technology when you can have a through-hole PCB assembly company automate and streamline the process? More and more industries use automated technology in manufacturing industries today than ever before. Automated through-hole PCB assembly allows machines to place and solder PCB components faster than employees could do the job manually, which is why the practice of combining manual and machine assembly has become so widespread.
We have a variety of machines that make assembly faster and more efficient. We automate processes using equipment such as the Universal 6287A axial insertion machine, the Hollis Future I SMT and the Ace KISS-103. We are constantly working to integrate new ways to maximize safety, productivity and effectiveness at our company so that we can deliver you high-grade equipment components.
In addition to our machines, we have over 50 individual workstations with ESD protection to maximize safety. We use both technology and human hands to help ensure that the soldering process runs smoothly and that the PCBs we develop and their components will create a strong, durable bond.
thru hole mounted printed circuit board
Partially automated through-hole assembly saves time and finances while lowering the risk of errors in production. This leads to the use of more reliable equipment and machinery in industries on a global level, which has a positive impact on security and efficiency. As a result, automation has fundamentally changed PCB manufacturing and will continue to influence it for years to come.
Testing Through-Hole PCBs
A large part of manufacturing and assembling PCBs involves the process of testing the products once they have been completed. Living up to quality expectations is important to our company, which is why we have implemented a thorough, accurate testing and inspection method into our business operations.
Assembling electrical components and delivering them to customers without first running them through careful inspection leaves room for error and increases the risk of equipment malfunctions, which slows down operations for businesses. Our automated testing and inspection system catches defects before PCBs go out the door and prevents these types of issues.
At EMSG, we use a 2 Mirtec MV-3L optical inspection system that searches for mechanical and manufacturing issues in new PCBs.
Using all these tools, we can accurately detect many types of defects in the design and construction of the PCB through-hole assembly board, such as damage or cracks, inaccurate component placement, incorrect polarity and other potential issues. We only allow our customers to purchase our through-hole assembled PCB services after we have completed the inspection process.
With EMSG’s PCB thru-hole assembly services, you can focus on other elements of your industry or company by trusting us to build and test critical electrical components for your equipment. Our thorough testing process protects your investments and helps ensure that the PCBs we offer will act as long-term solutions for your industry.
Working With EMSG
Based in York, we are available to provide thru-hole assembly services for clients in Pennsylvania and beyond, including all major East Coast cities and the D.C. Metro area. Our 20,000-square-foot facility is ISO 9001-certified and FDA-registered for medical device assembly and related sanitary manufacturing.
Let us work with you to turn your vision into a marketable product. Since 1995, we have been a partner to demanding commercial and industrial clients requiring reliable PCB assembly services. To learn more about how we can help, contact our head office at 717-764-0002, complete our contact form or book an appointment at your convenience.
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Seyed Mosque
Seyed Mosque
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This monument is located in ‘Masjid Seyed’ Street. Seyed Mosque was establishment in 13th Century AH in Muhammad Shah Qajar era. It has about 8075 square meters demesne. Calligraphy in Seyed Mosque were done by Mohammad Bagher Sharif Shirazi.
Elements of this mosque can be divided into four main doors, two large hall, two small dome and a large dome, two large courtyards, four upper floors, three porches, and one large minaret, and more than five cells and several atriums.
Seyed Mosque is located on the south side of ‘Masjid Seyed’ Street, this valuable and renowned work is among the best of the 13th century in the study of architecture and tile art, especially knitting, masonry and colorful tiles. The construction of the Seyed Mosque began under the supervision of the late Hojatoleslam Sayyid Mohammad Bagher Shafti. But he deceased before completing his work on the mosque so that deceased's children and grandchildren continued the rest of his wish.
After the Safavi extinction, the tile and the mosque’s construction in general were severely interrupted by the recession that was affecting our country's economy. Therefore, if we say that once the ‘Seyed’ started building the mosque; he renewed the constructions of the mosques in Iran. Architecture and tile work played an important role in Iran. For example, in Iranian traditional house, luxury hotel in Iran and to compare boutique hotels in Iran; the building that has most delicate tile work is more popular.
The northern entrance of the mosque, which is the main entrance, is a double door with two platforms of Persian stone, the sides of which are decorated with tiles, colors, flowers, beetles and inscriptions on the third line (Solce style). These inscriptions contain verses from the Holy Quran.
The southwestern lobby, which is also a remodeled entrance, is decorated with colored tiles, inscriptions, and spiritual sentences. The inscriptions on this passage have been written by Mohammad Bagher Shirazi, the great calligrapher of the Qajar era. The southeastern lantern shines in the alley. The south porch is in front of the dome. The east and west porches are located in front of the mosque's winter dormitory.
On the east and west sides there are four porches. Around the porches, some cells were built for religious science students. Around the porches, you can see beautiful calligraphies. There is also a famous clock which is located on the south porch of the mosque.
To the northeast of the mosque is the tomb of Hojat al-Islam, in front of it you can see the tomb. Inside this monument and porch is adorned with tile and plaster decorations. Above the entrance to the tomb of the Hojat al-Islam some sentences from holy Quran is written by Artists.
Seyed mosque is one of the masterpieces of Qajar architecture due to the presence of very interesting decorations of flowers, shrubs and slims, and the existence of a masonry line and other arts.
An anecdote about Seyed mosque
As it was mentioned, this huge mosque was built by Hojat al-Islam Seyed Muhammad Baqer Shafti. There is a true narrative in the history of it, which is worth to be mentioned.
When Seyed Muhammad Baqir Shafti founded this great mosque, some people asked him: "You were very poor and handcuffed, how could you build this huge mosque?"
He said: "When the famine came and people ate curd and cat meat to survive, I was dying of hunger and famine like others. I took all that I had saved up and went to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread. Crowds gathered in front of the bakery. I gave all of my money and bought a loaf of bread. When I was returning home, a dog was lying on the ground and she was starving out of hunger, also her children were dying.
I thought to myself; if I die I am only one life; but this female dog has several puppies and if she dies all of her puppies will die too. So, for God's sake, I broke the bread and put it in front of the dog. I stood and watched to see what was going on.
The female dog ate the bread; and her breast was filled of milk; in conclusion her puppies began to eat. At that moment I saw the female dog raise her head to the sky; and I felt this female dog is praying for me.
I came to my house and lay down facing the Qiblah and I put a cloth on my head. I said prayers and told my testimony. About an hour passed. Someone came to my door and asked, "Are you Sayed Shafti?" I said yes.
He said, "I'm a businessman." I had brought a ship of clothes from India. I promised to God to dedicate twenty Tomans as soon as I reach Iran in health.
I have come now to make up my vow, and to give you this money. I was very surprised because the twenty Tomans was a huge deal that I had never dreamed of. I asked him, "What can I do with all of the money?" He suggested - you take some of this money - and hand the rest of it to me as partnership of a textile importing, that is, to share in its profits and losses. I accepted the offer.
That person would give me a lot of money every time he imported textiles from India.
I decided to use this money to build a mosque in the Bidabad neighborhood with the money, so I built it.
I showed a little merci to a poor dog, but God rewarded me with huge deal of wealth.”
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How diabetes diets and carbohydrate counting resemble
Now it is a very popular fact that diabetes is associated with blood sugar levels. It might be any kind of diabetes such as type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. If you have diabetes, you have to be aware about ideal blood glucose levels for you. You need to face the task of managing the rising sugar levels inside your good diabetes life blood. Obviously, appropriate medication, exercise and a healthy diet are going to help you. Your physician also underlines the same principle. He/she may suggest you follow a diabetes diet regime and do carbohydrate counting to restrict carb intake. Listed here are few things that prove how diabetes diet and carbohydrate counting benefits you.
Where can we locate carbohydrate? We can find carbohydrates in almost all the foods we typically eat. Whenever we eat food that contains carbohydrates, our body instantly turns it into glucose. Glucose, which is also known as blood sugar, works as fuel within our body. For that reason, the blood glucose level inside our body depends upon our carbohydrate intake. Being a diabetic, if you are able to control the carbohydrate consumption, it is easy to control the amount of blood sugar. Here comes the concept of carbohydrate counting. It’s nothing but a scientific approach towards meal planning.
Generally speaking, eat what we want to eat. Our food also relies on lifestyle. We eat pastas, meats, seafood, white wheat, chocolates, vegetables, and a number of other things. The foods contain specific amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, mineral, fiber, etc. We are nevertheless, oblivious with what the foods we eat contains. We just choose the foods that interest our palate. As a diabetic patient it is important to remember concerning the contents of the various foods you consume. It is crucial in controlling your diabetic condition.
The theory carbohydrate counting allows you to become aware of the contents of what food you’re eating. It is proving to be very popular among diabetic patients world wide. It is divided in three steps. In the initial step it makes awareness concerning the basics of the carbohydrate counting idea. Whilst in the next step, it can help to build the relationship between blood glucose level, medication, food, and exercise. In the third step it helps to produce consciousness about the ratio concerning carbohydrates and insulin. The third step is very useful to monitor type 1 diabetes.
You must understand how to count the amount of carbs in your meals. Suppose your breakfast consists of two slices of bread, small cup of milk and an apple. How do you know the intake of carbohydrates? In general, each of these things contains one carb. This means you eat four carb in your breakfast. In accordance with carbohydrate counting one carb is the same as 15 grams of carbohydrates. It indicates you eat 60 grams of carbohydrates as part of your breakfast. Nowadays, companies manufacturing foods for diabetics mention the amount of carbohydrate on the labels itself. You can make reference to the label to know your carbohydrate intake, if you find it tough a dietitian will also help you understand it.
There’s a similarity in between low carbohydrate diabetes diets as well as carbohydrates counting concept. The very idea of low carbohydrate diabetes eating habits are based on constraints or limitation on carbohydrates intake. On the whole, it permits you to use up 60 grams of carbohydrates per day. In the carb counting method no food is barred in place of reducing foods it controls the volume of carbohydrate intake by simply counting the carbohydrate content in every food you eat. So, you can obtain carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fats by enjoying foods you want. |
The Disappearing Notion of “Childhood”
The word “childhood” means something different to each and every one of us. Here at SMQ, the majority of our cases involve children and we deem it important to keep up with how the understanding of “childhood” changes as our society develops.
Over the years, childhood has been understood as the period of time in a human’s life where they are in a process of becoming an “adult”. Children are often seen to live in a sphere of innocence and are at a stage of life where they are dependent on adults. There is a form of separation that is seen between adults and children, whereby adults are responsible for children and in most situations make decisions on their behalf. In our cases concerning care proceedings, parents are often given shared parental responsibilities with the Local Authority over their child. This indicates that during the “childhood” stage in a person’s life, one may not be deemed to have the ability to have responsibility over themselves.
There are two key ways childhood is viewed, either as a product of biological immaturity or as a social construction. The latter stems from the idea that no one has the same definition of childhood. The meaning of childhood differs across societies and even within the same society the definition of childhood may differ. Factors which affect the difference between the reality of one’s childhood include religion, class, ethnicity and gender.
In our jurisdiction we have a Western view of childhood. This view centres around the idea that a child is an innocent agent who has no involvement in the adult life or world. Children are to be protected at all costs. This can be seen through our various laws and polices regarding the safeguarding and protection of children. For example, one key legal principle which is significant in care proceedings is the Paramountcy Principle found in Section (1) 1 of the Children Act 1969 . This has been interpreted to mean the “first and only consideration” in the case of J v C [1970] . This means that in care proceedings, the child’s rights and interest is to be made the “first and only consideration” throughout the proceedings. Indeed, this principle illustrates how important we place the rights and interest of children and the extent we go to protect them.
However, is the idea that children are innocent agents unable to make their own choices an unrealistic life view in our current modern day?
One factor that has contributed massively to the change in the notion of “childhood” is social media. The media has exposed children to the “adult world” faster than previous years. It is harder for adults and parents to protect children from the dangers of the “dark web”. Often times this exposure causes children to grow up faster and diminishes their innocent view of the world. Subsequently leading to less of a separation between the adult life and the “childhood” stage. Indeed, another area of the “adult world” that the media has exposed children to is the world of politics. Children have been seen to engage and play an active role within politics. For example, Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old girl who is a climate activist who has been involved in various Summits in relation to environmental challenges. At her young age she is already a public figure in the world of politics.
Therefore, can we really say that children are merely innocent agents completely dependent on adults? Or in actual fact, as the notion of “childhood” disappeared in our modern-day society.
As a firm where family values are paramount to our team members, we think not only the vulnerabilities but also the strengths of children should always be considered in legal proceedings.
By Oyin Arikawe
Student Intern – University of Reading
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Tech Tool of the Month: Adobe Spark Video Part 1
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Tech Tool of the Month
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Adobe Spark Video is a part of the Adobe suite. Create beautiful and brilliant videos in a few minutes. You can begin by using a template or start from scratch. There are prompts to follow as you begin to create and add slides, text, videos, photos, music, and more. Adobe Spark Video has over 1 million images to use (or you can add your own). Select the soundtrack that you like the best, and Spark will add the cinematic motion to your story. You have options for the font, theme, and many other components of the story. Create however many slides you wish to include and click play! When finished, you can publish and share it on social media or save it to your device. Adobe Spark Video allows you to create a professional-looking video with no design experience needed!
Applying the Triple E Framework
The Triple E Framework, created by Dr. Liz Kolb, is built on the belief that “effective technology integration begins with good instructional strategies and not fancy tools.” Dr. Kolb wrote a book on the topic: Learning First, Technology Second. Technology can be used to Engage in learning goals, Enhance learning goals, or Extend learning goals. We can use this framework to decipher why we are using specific tools in the classroom. Here is a rubric we can use to evaluate Adobe Spark Video (and any others) using the Triple E Framework. Use the rubric as you decide if a tool is a good fit with your learning goals and why you should (or shouldn’t) use the technology tool in the lesson.
• Engage in learning goals: The students are more focused on the task because Spark Video is allowing them to easily create videos that represent the content learning goals (for example, sharing a video related to an invention of the inventor). The students are more focused on the task because they are working at their own pace and creating the video. The students are more motivated to begin the learning process since they get to make decisions and are actively involved in choosing what to include in the video. There are no games, badges, or extras to distract from the process of learning.
• Enhance learning goals: By using Adobe Spark Video to create videos, students are able to share concepts, questions, and information. Videos allow students to assess their comprehension and to demonstrate a more sophisticated understanding of the topic by creating their own original work. Videos allow students to use technology to make connections to understand concepts and ideas. Students are using higher-order thinking skills to organize their thoughts and words for the video. Creativity is also included as they have the option to add sounds, text, videos, voice narration, and more.
• Extend learning goals: Dr. Kolb describes extended learning as an opportunity for students to learn outside of their typical school day, connect and collaborate outside of the regular school day, and as a bridge between the school day and real-life experiences. Completing (and sharing) Spark videos outside of the classroom would fit in with flipped or blended learning. Students could also work collaboratively in class, working in small groups would be a very purposeful choice, as fewer devices would be required, and students could help each other through the steps of the assignment. We are preparing our students for a world that doesn’t exist yet; however, most jobs do require independent motivation and knowledge of technology. Adobe Spark Video requires students to organize their thoughts and to create a purposeful video presentation related to the content. In future classes (and jobs), students are also likely going to need to be able to organize their thoughts and steps required to complete projects.
SAMR Connection
The SAMR Model, by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, suggests that technology implementation has four levels. We can use this model as a guideline to analyze how we are incorporating technology tools in the classroom. Adobe Spark Video fits at both the levels of Modification and Redefinition.
• Modification: The level of modification allows us to make the activity something more integrated with technology, meaning the activity could not even be done without technology. Adobe Spark Video offers students an option to share their understanding by creating a video. This could not be done without technology.
• Redefinition: The highest level of SAMR could be reached by sharing students’ final projects and offering feedback to others. Students could also add voice narration to the video and other multi-media to redefine the final project. Once the videos are created, have individuals (or cooperative learning groups) share the URLs to their videos with the class. The teacher could also share the videos on the class website for students (and families) to view.
Don’t miss Part 2 of the Tech Tool of the Month: Adobe Spark Video. We will discuss how to use the tool and provide classroom use ideas. In the meantime, let us know in the comment section below how you have used Adobe Spark Video in your education setting.
About the author: Melissa Henning
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The Financial Express
Industrial revaluation in developing nations
Redefining land and labour concept
Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Shahadat Hossain | Published: February 16, 2020 20:54:08
Representational Image Representational Image
Although any production function comprises four elements (i.e. land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship), the geneses are land and labour. Capital has become a core element for the production function lately and as an instrument to cheaply exploit land and labour. Land has a deeper connotation than its simplistic denotation as the surface of the earth. Any form of natural resources (land, water, air, mineral, etc) used for the production form the fundamental part of land as far as the modern concept of the production function is concerned. The fertility, importance, availability, human desire and other factors (both tangible and intangible) provide the value weightage for natural resources. As such, one type of resource used in the production or consumed as a product may be more valuable than the others. Also, same kind of natural resources may have different value for their different productive fertilities. Man-made concept, initiative or investment may also add value to particular natural resources. With public investments, for instance, in infrastructures, utilities, and communication, natural resources including land in one location may present more fertility and a stronger relation with other production factors, and thus may become more valuable than the other. This increased value is often a product of public investment and therefore a proper public policy is necessary to do distributional justice and to ensure economic development without compromising the broad societal and environmental objectives. A poor policy environment on the other hand may lead to many forms of natural resources (i.e. air, water, natural wealth, etc.) to be taken as 'for granted' for many production functions severely undervaluing, devaluing or without any valuation. While the fair price for natural resources and its link to real productivity is debated, there is at least a value determined for it and for the public investment made to create such values.
Labour, which includes both trade and sectorial skills, now has become very sophisticated and diversified like hi-tech, smart-tech, soft, and hard skills. The skills and their schemata have also a temporal dimension - once a super hi-tech skill may be considered as hard skills today. Given that hi-tech labour is seen as qualitative element for the production, its holders receive more benefits than those holding the hard skills of labour. Despite it is hard to determine which form of labour has more contribution to the production and thus should receive more benefit, hi-tech labours are always overly paid compared to the hard skills counterpart who suffer and strive under hardship. The cost for labour is dependent on the labour market condition, which is influenced by e.g. labour policy, negotiation with trade unions, liaisons, and fiscal consolidation and other economic policy measures promoted by the external institutions.
Availability of capital depends on a number of factors including a nation's international account recorded in the balance of payments. Problems/deficits in the balance of payments are addressed by economic policy measures like adoption of policies to attract foreign investments or devaluation of national currency to boost exports and thus build up the current reserves. Since the industrial revolution, the increased international economic integration means that a nation's problems in the balance of payments is also concern of the others. This allows the external institutions like Bretton Woods Institutions - the institutions founded to expand the reach of western capitalism in the name of the protection of the global economic order (IMF), financing the post-WWII reconstruction works and lately as lender for development projects for shared prosperity - to intervene in shaping the economic policies of the nation in question, softly named, in the form of policy advice. Given that the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank are the lender of last resort for the nation experiencing problems in the balance of payments, its government has little choice but to follow the 'letter of intent' or the demanded 'priority actions' to access loans and grants from these external institutions.
Conditions attached to international loans and grants (e. g. fiscal consolidation, private sector promotion and depth servicing) severely restrict public policy space of the borrowing nation's and its ability to finance infrastructure and social services. For example, the Bank's promotion of the 'Maximising Finance for Development' approach that advocates addressing development challenges with private sector solutions forces the governments of the borrowing countries to allow the use of public resources by the private sector to pursue its objectives (World Bank 2017, 2018). Similarly, the IMF's promotion of labour flexibilisation and the systematic weakening of labour rights have already created a labour market where labour can be accessed cheaply and under flexible employment relations. Easy access to labour and the availability of public resources (including public natural resources) may reduce the capital necessity for production by private sectors and thus support production and economic growth. Such economic growth however severely disturbs a state's capacity to delivering core public services, catering for social objectives, and meeting the human rights obligations. Public resources are now drained to benefit the global economy costing the social, environmental, equity concern and local priorities at the local or national level.
Loss of public and natural resources are common to the developing countries that are trying to boost economic growth. Lack of bargaining power, skills, and poverty mean for them either a sacrifice of public and natural resources or their undervalued use in the economic production for survival. The necessity to improve foreign currency reserve and thus an adjustment in the balance of payments problems means promotion of export-oriented production by making the labour forces cheap and by hugely costing the public and natural resources. In other words, the short-term national financial gains are nothing but a long-term negative consequence for the natural and human resources. This might also help the ruling elites to take advantages but not necessarily for the county and its mass people and of course not for long term. Here, the capitalist concept supported by the international institutions provides this gain to benefit the global economy, while a poor national public policy means that these financial gains benefit the ruling elites costing the mass population in the long run - among others, the loss of public services and high level of inequality are some common outcome.
An example of such export-oriented production is the readymade garment (RMG) that, for a country like Bangladesh, has become the number one industry for foreign currency earning. The RMG production consumes a number of natural recourses (e.g. water, air, minerals) that are either public property given with subsidy or even free as for granted to promote cheap and competitive production. Cheap labour of hard skills supplements. Given that the real gain of a nation comes from a proper use of public and natural resources to ensure a balanced growth in all aspects of life including social, environmental and economic, draining public resources only for economic growth does not show any sustainable long-term promise. A proper public policy in this regard is necessary to prevent the irreversible loss.
Gazi Mahabubul Alam is Professor, Department of Economics, East West University, Dhaka.
Shahadat Hossain is with Spatial Planning, Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany
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Build Your Own Catapult
My next Little Passports writing assignment was about homemade catapults. Right up Trevor's alley!
plastic spoon, tongue depressor, cork, 2 rubber bands and pom poms
Use the rubber bands to connect the spoon to the tongue depressor. Slide the cork under the neck of the spoon. Put a pom pom in the bowl of the spoon and you're ready to go!
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some important safety considerations. Never point a catapult at people or animals. Launch soft items, such as pom poms, cotton balls, or marshmallows. Choose a clear area, such as the backyard, where nothing will be broken or damaged.
Trevor experimented with several different methods of launching pom poms, starting with the catapult on the ground.
He discovered he improved his accuracy by holding the catapult upright.
There are so many ways to use this catapult for family fun! Set up hoops or buckets with points for each pom pom that lands inside. Use the catapult and pom poms in place of bocce balls. Draw chalk targets on the garage door and try to storm the castle. What other games can you dream up?
Another Creative Way to Give Money
Trevor and I are forever trying to think up new, creative ways to give money as a gift. Here's the latest, a tin of money:
Materials: an empty tin, dollar bills, scotch tape
Begin by taping the bills together, end to end. It's the same technique as for making the Dollar Bill Dispenser.
Accordian fold the bills so that they fit in the tin.
Tape the the end of the final bill in the stack to the bottom of the tin.
Tape the end of the first bill in the stack to the top of the tin.
Close the tin. You can wrap it, or add a ribbon or a bow, or give it just as it is. Who wouldn't want to receive a tin of money, right?!
Water Glass Xylophone
My latest assignment for Little Passports was to write about musical jars and the science of sound. Even though Trevor has made a water xylophone before, he was more than willing to do it again while I took pictures. This time, he used water glasses instead of plastic containers.
Step 1: Fill five glasses with decreasing amounts of water.
Step 1a: Apologize to rabbit for conducting science experiments in the dining room during his naptime. Explain to rabbit that if he wants to sleep undisturbed, he should not choose the room with the best lighting conditions.
Step 2: Use a metal rod (or wooden dowel) to tap each of the glasses. Add or subtract water to each until they are all in tune.
Step 3: Add food color to each tuned glass.
Step 4: Play a song! You can play Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Hot Cross Buns, and many other simple songs with five or fewer notes. Add more glasses to play songs with a wider range!
Step 4a: Catch rabbit listening to music with interest.
That's all there is to it!
Kitchen Science: How to Make an Eggshell Disappear
Have you ever done the classic experiment where you remove the shell from a raw egg, keeping the egg intact? I'd done it before, but Trevor hadn't, so when I had the chance to do the experiment and write about it for Little Passports, I jumped on the opportunity!
Day 1
Put two eggs into a clear container and cover them with vinegar.
You'll see bubbles immediately. Why? Vinegar is acidic, and the calcium carbonate that makes up eggshells is basic. The vinegar breaks the calcium carbonate into calcium and carbon dioxide, which is the bubbling you see.
Incidentally, those lightning bolts? After spending a ridiculous amount of time searching for a matching lid awhile back, I took out ALL my containers and used a Sharpie to draw matching shapes on each container and lid. All identical containers get the same shape. It is easy to tell at a glance if the lids fit, which has significantly reduced kitchen rage. But I digress.
Put the lid on the container and store it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Day 2
Take the container out of the fridge and remove the lid. Wow - foamy!
That foam is the calcium of the eggshells.
At this point, you can proceed on to the next phase of the experiment if the eggshells are completely dissolved. We rinsed our eggs and they were indeed shell-less, but Trevor insisted we add more vinegar and let them sit overnight a second day just in case. I'm all about letting him direct our hands-on science, so I agreed... even though I kinda needed the photos promptly so I could write the article with a looming deadline. Oh well - one day doesn't matter nearly as much as letting Trevor direct his own learning.
Day 3
We rinsed the eggs again and this time Trevor was convinced that the shells were completely gone. He gave an egg a tentative squeeze while I cringed. Fortunately, the membranes are pretty strong.
Trevor put each egg into a separate glass. He filled one with water and the second with corn syrup.
One difference was apparent immediately. Water and corn syrup have different densities. Trevor has done a lot of experimenting with density, but if he hadn't, this would have been a great opportunity to explore why things sink or float.
We put the eggs back into the fridge for 24 hours.
Day 4
Check out the eggs now! That's corn syrup on the left and water on the right.
Trevor used a slotted spoon to remove each egg. The one in water was firm and plump, while the one in corn syrup was flabby and shrunken.
Trevor wasn't quite ready to figure out why. He wanted to play with the corn syrup for awhile. No problem - he's learning through play.
While he continued to play with the corn syrup, I rinsed the corn syrup off the egg. Here are the two eggs side-by-side on the table. Remember, they started out looking identical.
Here they are in Trevor's hands.
So what happened? The egg's membrane is selectively permeable. It allows small molecules, like water, to pass through, but blocks larger molecules, like the sugar in corn syrup. Egg whites are about 90% water, so as water passed freely through the membrane of the egg in water, it ended up taking in some water and becoming more firm. Corn syrup is about 25% water, so much of the water in the egg whites passed through the membrane into the corn syrup, resulting in the shriveled appearance.
We placed both eggs into water and returned them to the fridge overnight. Would the shrunken one plump up? Yes!
Day 5
The final step of our experiment was to break the membranes and see if the eggs looked different than a standard raw egg. One option would have been to break them over a bowl or the sink, make observations, then throw out the egg. We went for the other option:
This was something I hadn't tried before, so I was eager to see what would happen. It was fascinating the way the yolk and some of the white came out just like it normally would. But a lot of the white was very watery and spread all over the frying pan. The membrane sat there like a burst balloon. I fished it out, then cooked the egg completely. We scrambled the second egg. Finally, it was time to taste....
Yuck! The vinegar that removed the eggshell was clearly made up of small enough molecules to pass through the selectively permeable membrane. Well, now we know!
Kitchen science is so much fun!
The Last (?) Post about Cub Scout Belt Loops
Never say never, but I *think* this is my last post about Cub Scout Belt Loops, aka the Academics and Sports Program that ended in May 2015. I'd wanted to scrap photos of a few of the sports Trevor tried for the first time in pursuit of belt loops, separate from the 2-page summary layout I'll be making of his Bear Year. This is what I made:
A photo on a skateboard, a photo on horseback, and a lot of journaling about the many sports that he might never have tried without the structure of the Academics and Sports Program.
Parrot Yarn Painting
Kid-Size Knitted Beanie
Remember my very first attempt at loom knitting? Here's my second project, a kid-size beanie using Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted Yarn.
This hat was made with a single skein of yarn. I've always called this type of yarn 'color-changing' but apparently the correct term is 'self-striping.' Either way, it's so cool! This shade is called Parrot.
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Like the previous beanie, I made this using the Oval Loom Knitting Set by Leisure Arts. This time I used the smaller of the two ovals to make a kid-sized beanie.
Ultimate Oval Loom Knitting Set
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It was ridiculously easy to do. In fact, I started it at one of Trevor's friend's birthday party on a Friday night, and finished it the next day at another friend's birthday party! The project is easy enough that I could mindlessly knit while chatting with the other parents. Amazing, since it's only my second project ever.
It's a little too small for Trevor to model, and I haven't seen my niece (the intended recipient) since completing it. So you'll just have to imagine how it looks on an adorable 3-year old. I still have half of the skein of yarn left, so I'm strongly considering making her a matching scarf, or possibly a mini beanie for her doll.
Thanks to Leisure Arts and Premier Yarn for providing me with the materials to make this project!
Bancroft Garden Mosaic Mural
Steve, Trevor and I did something super cool on Saturday. We joined in a community build workshop to create a mosaic mural for the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. The completed mural, designed by artist Donna Billick, will consist of two parts, each 20 feet long and 4 feet high. Billick's paintings of the murals were on display, along with some of the plants we'd be creating in clay.
The first step was selecting what specific item from the mosaic we wanted to make. The designs were sketched out on 20' x 4' sheets of paper; once we decided what we wanted to make, volunteers carefully cut out the pattern.
Our family decided to work together to make the large cactus in the middle of this photo. It had to be cut into four pieces so that it could fit in the kiln.
The next step was getting clay.
Once we got our clay, we had to roll it to 3/4" thick. It was important to make sure it was wide enough for the pattern.
Then we traced around the pattern. Here Trevor is working on the base of the cactus.
Before going any further, we scratched the location number of our piece into the back side of the clay. It's important that the people who will be installing the mural can figure out how it all fits together! We flipped them right side up and used a variety of tools to add texture to our pieces. Steve is adding ribs to the top of the cactus.
There were a lot of people participating. We arrived early in the morning, and people just kept coming. It's great to see so much interest in a community project like this!
After our cactus parts were sculpted, they had to sit in the sun for ten minutes or so. We took the opportunity to stroll through the adjacent park. We came back and added white slip to the pieces. Once the slip had dried completely, it was ready for underglaze. We looked up our cactus in a reference binder to try to choose as accurate glaze colors as possible. We started with a dusty green.
We added some gray shadows and lime highlights, being careful to make all four pieces as similar as possible.
Our last step was using the back of our paintbrushes to add a zillion tiny white dots on each rib of the cactus to mimic its spines. Here I am with the middle of the cactus, ready to go dry in the sun.
We had so much fun working together!
I couldn't resist getting a quick picture of our cactus, loosely pieced together.
These pieces, along with all the others, will be fired and glazed with a clear coat. Then sometime next spring or summer, they will be installed on the soon-to-be-built Visitor and Education Center at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. It's going to be really hard to wait, but so exciting when we can finally see it completed! Stay tuned! |
Researchers say proteins found in squid can be used to make alternatives to plastic.
Squid grasp their prey using suction cups on their tentacles and arms. The cups are equipped with sharp "ring teeth" that hold the food in place. The teeth are made from proteins that are similar to silk, and these have become the subject of scientific interest in the last few years.
An example of the thread made from SRT proteins.
Demirel says these natural materials are biodegradable -- and could provide an "excellent" alternative to plastics.
The SRT proteins can be produced in the laboratory using genetically engineered bacteria, which means they don't need to use any squid. The process is based on fermentation, using sugar, water and oxygen.
'Self-healing' properties
According to the researchers, SRT proteins have "remarkable properties" and materials made from them are elastic, flexible and strong. They also have thermal, self-healing and electrical conducting capabilities, which gives the potential for some new applications.
Scaling up
"I am a polymer scientist and want to minimize plastic pollution and create environmental sustainability," explains Demirel. |
Get involved
5 Misconceptions about Latinos
Every culture has its own traditions and customs which shape the way people behave. Have you ever stared at a person and sensed a Latino vibe but you weren’t sure? There are a lot of misconceptions and erroneous stereotypes surrounding the Latino community, however at the same time there are things that are not so far away from the truth. Here are five things that might have popped into your mind when hearing the word Latino.
So, let’s gets started…
Numero uno: They are always late
Many people blame Latinos of being late all the time and immediately know that these friends would be the last ones to show up anywhere. Of course, there are exceptions, but most of the time this is true our inner clocks don’t work the same way as many individuals and this is a cultural thing. A party that starts at 10 usually means that you should be there at 11 or 12 so if you are constantly getting angry with your Latino friends for being late just hang in there.
Numero dos: They are really emotional and passionate
Usually Latinos are really expressive people and are not afraid to speak their mind. However, telenovelas are not a realistic representation of the Latino community so if you are using that to get a mental picture of how a Latino should act don’t. I assure you telenovelas is the exaggerated representation of the things that wouldn’t happen in our daily life. Yet they are really exciting to watch, if you haven’t you definitely should!
Numero tres: They are expected to be very good at dancing
When people know you are a Latino they immediately assume you are a great salsa dancer or an expert in dancing reggaeton. Dancing is really an important part of the Latin-American culture as music has been present the daily life of the majority since they were born.
dancing latino
Numero quarto: They must be from Mexico
Most people would immediately assume that someone that is a Latino is Mexican. I can assure you that any Latino will be called Mexican at some point in their lives, somehow these two words have become synonyms of each other. But this is wrong and usually would get the person really annoyed, so if you meet a Latino please keep in mind that Mexico is not the only country in Latin America think about Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, El Salvador.
flags in steeet
Numero cinco: They all look the same
Usually most people think that Latinos have brown hair, brown eyes and a brownish skin and that they look really similar to each other. However, with so many Latin countries all over the world it is impossible to generalize. Sometimes you will get a very big surprise with the diversity of individuals who are in the Latino community and the person you would least expect can be in fact part of it.
Written by Fiorella Morales – PR Committee |
Corporate Finance in Its Very Simple Form Term Paper
Pages: 8 (2316 words) · Bibliography Sources: ≈ 3 · File: .docx · Level: College Senior · Topic: Economics
Corporate Finance
In its very simple form, the cost of money can be defined as "interest that could be earned if the amount invested in a business or security was instead invested in government bonds or in time deposit." The cost of money is thus, at the same time, the interest rate receive, but also an opportunity cost by which the investors changes the return he can obtain on his business or security and choose the return for a government bond or time deposit.
Before discussing the cost of money, one also has to refer to the opportunity cost as this is also an opportunity cost. The idea behind the opportunity cost is related to the matter of choices and economical alternatives that an individual has. As needs are unlimited and resources limited, the individual will also need to prioritize and make choices between the different things to be purchased. At a simple, household level, this will probably be a choice between buying pizza or eating in for dinner (McConnell, 2004). At a more complex level, the choice will be between investing in research and development or investing in expanding the markets. At this investment level, the choice is between putting the money into a business, for the return coming out of that, or deciding to take a riskier path and put the money in the bank for the deposit returns.
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The cost of opportunity also means another additional thing. Going for one alternative instead of another alternative is equivalent, generally, with renouncing 1 unit of the alternative being given up on for 1 unit of the alternative which is retained and chosen (McConnell, 2004). However, this can vary: sometimes 2, 3 or more units of one thing can be considered as the reasonable cost of the alternative. This means that the cost of opportunity can be calculated as an approximate proportion of the cost of another alternative.
Going back to the initial definition of the cost of money, the alternatives that need to be judged here are (i) investing in a business and (ii) investing the money into a time deposit or governmental bond. Let's take each of these in part and see how each can be evaluated in terms of several factors, including risks or the revenues generated in each case.
Term Paper on Corporate Finance in Its Very Simple Form, Assignment
In the case of investing in a business, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration. First of all, if the business is started from the very beginning, the investors will have important starting costs. If this is a bricks and mortar business, the investors will need to consider the initial costs of starting the business, such as selecting a location, purchasing the merchandise, arranging administrative details like rent and other related costs etc.
On the other hand, the simple investment of the money in a time deposit is almost cost- free: generally, most banks charge nothing when opening a deposit (they cannot, since this is their actual source of business and the way they acquire the funds they can use in their activity) and little or no sums when taking the money out of the deposit. The investment with time and money into opening the deposit is equal to zero as compared to the time and money allocated into starting an individual business.
At the same time, the investor can also consider investing into a security, which is virtually the equivalent of investing in a business that is already set up and where the investor is simply putting in the money, sometimes without being part of the decision making process. The cost here in terms of time and money is similar to that of opening a deposit: usually there are specialized individuals who can take care of these investment details so that the investors are really not using any of their time, only the money they decide to put in the business.
This brings us to one of the most significant differences between investing in securities or a business and putting the money in a time deposit, with a great impact on the cost of money: risks associated with the two forms of investment. As an initial assertion, it should be clear that the risks associated with investing in securities or in businesses, either initial or existing ones, are higher than the option of simply depositing the money into a bank deposit of any kind.
There are several reasons for this. The main one is that the time deposit can basically be affected only by a reduced amount of external factors and risks. These include the bank's bankruptcy and the potential decrease of the interest rates for the respective deposits, which will minimize returns. The bank's bankruptcy is not necessarily a full risk, however: many governments guarantee a certain amount of the sum that can range from $5,000 to even higher. This guarantee means that the individual investor will not lose his or her money even in the case of the bank's bankruptcy.
The second risk that may affect a bank deposit is the risk of decreases in the interest rate. The interest rate generally follows certain cycles (Keown, Martin and Petty; 2006) determined by the macroeconomic perspective of the government. Usually, an increase in interest rates is used when the macroeconomic outlook reflects a potential increase in consumer prices and prognoses potential inflationary pressures. The mechanism is as follows: inflationary pressures are generally affected and produced by an increase in consumer demand and increased investments on the market.
The third risk that may affect the cost of money or the interest rate is given by the effect that the inflation can have on the return obtained from a portfolio. In a nutshell, this can be understood by the fact that if the interest rate is lower than the inflation rate during that respective year, the net gain on the portfolio invested in the bank will be negative. This is why sometimes the real inflation rate is calculated, reflecting the actualized interest rate, adjusted for inflation levels (Keown, Martin and Petty; 2006), given a better perspective on things.
There is also a correlated factor that affects the discussion of cost of money/interest rate as this is affected by inflationary pressures and the rate of inflation. The fact that the interest rate may be even equal to the inflation rate does not reflect a positive situation for the investor, because he would still have his money blocked for the period of time until his deposit matures, without being able to use that money to invest in something else or to simply purchase products and services.
This is related to the time value of money. An individual would rather have the money now to spend rather than receive it some time in the future. This reflects the fact that he will be able to use the money for a decision he makes in the present rather than save it for a decision to be made some time in the unforeseeable future. This is why the cost of money will also need to incorporate in its final value the idea of the time value of money as well, besides considerations on risk, alternatives or the inflation rate.
Time has another very important effect on the cost of money and on determining the interest rate. If the period of the deposit is longer, the interest rate is also likely to increase. The reason for this is given by the fact that inflation is likely to increase in time, but also because it will be more difficult to predict what is likely to happen in the future, as compared to it being much easier to understand a shorter period of time from a financial and economical perspective. There are also higher risks of default from the banks.
The alternative, as reflected by the cost opportunity mechanism previously discussed, is that the investor will do something else with his money rather than spend it on the market either purchasing products or investing in existing or new business. In order to temper this investment on the market, an increase in interest rates by the central bank will create a potentially viable alternative for the investor: spend the money in a bank deposit. At the same time, increasing the interest rate also increases the cost of credit, which will limit business.
However, with business risks, these tend to be significantly higher, as are the costs of investing in securities. Market factors have a significant impact on the evolution of the price of securities. At the same time, additional market factors, such as the presence of competitors on the market or a potential economic recession that will decrease the demand on the market, will affect the business and lower the returns obtained by the investor.
This brings us to the direct relationship between risk and return, an important factor in determining the cost of money as well. It is generally accepted that the higher the risk, the greater the return that an… [END OF PREVIEW] . . . READ MORE
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Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Monetary Enslavement: A Historical Monstrosity Born With the Bank of England
El Cofre cultural castellano 13.12.2012 Prof. Giacinto Auriti Translated by: Jpic-jp.org
Banks are now accused of being the root of all evils, from the economic crisis to the enslavement of the market: the author of this article demonstrates that this claim is well founded.
The blood of banks is money, both desired and despised without a clear idea as to why that is, yet, this truth exists and is serious. It all starts with the Bank of England and the issuance of the pound, when the gold coin was replaced by paper money. Without agreeing with everything, this article sheds light on some fundamental ideas. When gold was the currency, in fact, the bearer was the owner. With paper money, without knowing it, those who own it become the debtors: paper money is issued by central banks in the form of a loan, so that the money in circulation is, from its inception, fraught with the debt to the central banks.
Goethe said that " The best slave is the one who thinks he is free.". This principle is particularly true in the current monetary system.
The citizen has the illusion of owning the money that he has in his pocket, while he is no more than a debtor. The bank, in fact, issues money only by lending it, making it so that money and debt circulate together.
The sign of monetary enslavement is due to the fact that the property is birthed from the bank or, rather, the banker who issues loans, and loans are the owner's prerogative.
Money, however, should actually be born as property of the citizen because it is he who, accepting it, creates its value; so much so that, if a governor were to print money on a desert island, that money would have no value since, in the absence of the community, there would be no collective decision to give it value. Like every unit of measure (and money is a measure of value), the currency is also a based off of an agreement.
When the coin was gold-based, those who found nuggets of gold, took them without becoming indebted to the gold mines. Today instead of the mine, there is the central bank, instead of the nugget, a piece of paper, and instead of property, there is debt.
One cannot understand how such a historical monstrosity (born in 1694 with the Bank of England and with the issuance of the pound) has been possible, if one does not start from the definition of the coin as an instrument (dung) of the devil. The truth of this definition has already been noticed by St. Francis of Assisi, when he forbade his beggar brothers to receive offerings in currency. Now let's see how this can be verified using the very words of Satan, words found in the Gospel itself.
In the Gospel, Satan speaks three times. After Christ’s fast in the desert, Satan tells him: "Turn these stones into bread." For most, these words must be interpreted as one of Christ’s temptations, since he was hungry and eating bread would satisfy this basic need. This interpretation is not acceptable because temptation is always relative to a sin and eating bread after forty days of fasting is morally irreproachable.
Therefore, the justification of Satan’s words must be understood in a different way. Christ himself tells us how to interpret them when, responding to Satan, he says (Mt 4, 4): "It is written that not by bread alone does man live, but from every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord.”
What is surprising from Jesus’ statement is the novelty of the proposal, which had never been considered by interpretation theorists: that is, to deduce the meaning of his words not by their literal meaning, but from the mouth of the one who utters them. Those words had come from the mouth of Satan; if we wanted to interpret them literally, we would have to take into account a hypothesis, although absurd, that Christ accepted Satan's proposal and turned the stones into bread. In such a case, Satan could say to Christ: "You can eat bread thanks to me since I have given you the advice to transform stones into bread." Then Christ would have transformed himself from the "owner" into the "debtor" of his bread.
If we observe carefully, this hypothesis is revealed punctually in the issue of nominal currency.
When the central bank issues the currency by lending it, it induces the community to create its value by accepting it, but contextually expropriates it and indebts it for equal value, exactly as Satan would have done if Christ had accepted the invitation to transform stones into bread. If we place paper instead of stone, gold instead of bread and Satan instead of banks, we realize that the issuance of sterling gold-paper and all successive nominal coins has all the characteristics of Satan’s temptations.
With the creation of the Bank of England and the system of central banks, all the peoples of the world have transformed themselves from owners into debtors, inevitably insolvent of their own money. The bank, in fact, lending an agreed upon amount through the act of emission, charges 200% of the actual cost of the money. Humanity thus advances in a condition inferior to that of animals. Animals do not have property, but they also do not have debts.
We are defaulting our understanding that anyone can lend money, except those who issue it. With the currency-debit, humanity has been degraded to such an extent that it is the cause of the phenomenon of "insolvency suicide", a social disease that is unprecedented in history. This confirms the prophecy of Fatima: "The living will envy the dead."
Satan’s temptations cannot be accurately evaluated if their global context is not considered. Particularly significant in this sense is the third temptation (Mt 4: 8-9): "He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and then said to Jesus, all this I will give you, if you surrender and worship me." To surrender and worship means to put Satan on the altar instead of God. This explains why Satan’s worshipers fundamentally and necessarily deny the Catholic Eucharist.
The fact that Protestantism is based on the rejection of the Catholic Eucharist and has supported the creation of central banks as promoters of the currency-debit speaks for itself. In fact, the British Parliament passed the Test Act in 1673 - the Law of Proof - the decree declaring the illegality of the Eucharist and of the Catholic transubstantiation.
It is not by chance that in 1694 the Bank of England was founded, which then issued the sterling with the purpose of transforming a symbol of nothing into a currency and thus, inaugurating the gold-foil era.
The subordination of religious power to political power was not born by chance when the King of England also became head of the Anglican Protestant religion, disrupting the hierarchical order of the Holy Roman Empire in which political authority was autonomous and ethically subordinated to religious sovereignty.
It is no coincidence that, when Protestantism entered continental Europe, it did not found a church, but a bank: the Protestant Bank whose president, Neker, became an adviser to Louis XIV.
It is no coincidence that all the Catholic monarchies of old Europe disintegrated due to the debt without compensation that was owed to the bankers through the new satanic currency, issued by these bankers, which cost nothing. In fact, the kings themselves could have issued it on their own for free and without incurring debt.
It is no coincidence that in Switzerland the system of being both bankers and Protestants governs.
It is no coincidence that the essential difference between the Holy Roman Empire and the British Commonwealth is the currency. In the former, the bearer is the owner of the currency, and in the latter, he is the debtor.
It is not by chance that, after the elimination of God from the altars through the denial of the Catholic Eucharist and the foundation of the Bank of England, the Commonwealth reached an extension of 22 million and 750 thousand square kilometers in 1855. Today everyone is part of the Commonwealth. Everyone belongs to a "monetary colony".
Satan, the prince of this world, is someone serious: he keeps his promises to destructive ends. After the evil has been done, he grants his worshipers dominion over all of the peoples of the world.
With these premises, Satan’s temptation when he exhorts Christ to throw himself from the top of the temple of the Holy City is also explained. He who owns all of the world and all of the money in the world, be it because he owns it or because it belongs to creditors, does not seek sovereignty and wealth because he already possesses them, he only craves praise. And with that, this temptation is also justified.
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la storia dei trabocchi teatini
The Origins
There are many different hypotheses about the origin of the “trabocchi”. Some historians claim even that they are the outcome of the inventiveness of the people of the Phoenicians.
Certainly among the oldest manuscripts about the “trabocchi” of the Abruzzo Region there is that one signed by father Stefano Tiraboschi belonging to the Celestinian order. In “Vita Sanctissimi Petri Celestini”, describing the stay of Pietro da Morrone at the monastery of San Giovanni in Venere (1240-1243), he wrote about the visit of Pietro da Morrone on the panoramic viewpoint, to admire the sea below “punteggiato di trabocchi” (dotted with trabocchi).
According to other scholars the origins of the trabocchi date back to some French families which moved to Abruzzo, after the devastating earthquake of the Capitanata of San Severo (Foggia) in 1627. The strong shocks generated a strong tsunami that devastated the coasts of Abruzzo causing thousands of deaths.
According to other theories, these ingenious machines originated by the cunning of some farmers which, out of necessity, were forced to fish by eliminating the unknowns related to the use of the boat.
According to others, their construction dates back to the settlement of Jewish families around the end of the 18th century.
According to the most reliable hypothesis, the origin of the “trabocchi” dates back to 1700, when, after a large deforestation of the Teatine coasts to develop the plantation, were employed some Dalmatian labors, which moved there together with their families. The largest group of these families has as surname “Vri” that, in the future, was changed to “Valentine”. Not surprisingly, still today, this is the most used surname among the owners of the “trabocchi” in the Abruzzo coast.
Also about the name of “trabocco” there are various opinions. Some people state that it derives from the “trabocchetto” that streches out to the fish that, unaware of the presence of the net on the bottom, is caught by pulling it up. Other people claim it can derive from the control system that activates the ropes. According to other people, the term derives from the similarity with the press used in the oil-mills for the pressing of the olives.
The well-known poet Gabriele D’annunzio from Pescara was so much fascinated by the “trabocchi” that he wanted to rent in 1889 a villa near the “trabocco Turchino” in San Vito Marina. In his famous novel “Il trionfo della morte” (The triumph of death) of 1894, there is a detailed and memorable description of these wonderful structures.
Originally, the main purpose of the “trabocco” was to avoid going sea fishing on a boat, thus avoiding also the adverse weather and sea conditions in the area. The net (a Libra) is sinked by using the large antennae and a complex system of ropes. Then, it is hoisted when you see the school of fish. It is a sight fishing, which uses the flow of fish moving along the ravines of the coast. Once trapped the fishes, two men raise the net, with the capstan, while two other men control the arrival of the school of fish.
Over time, the structure of the “trabocchi” has changed. Thinner beams have replaced the previous ones. As already mentioned, after the second world war the “trabocchi” remained unused. As a result, there was the loss of the workers, mainly due to the introduction of new fishing techniques. Some years ago, they became attractions for tourists. Over the centuries the “trabocco” has become the symbol of the Abruzzo coast, thus replacing its ancient role of a means of subsistence for fishermen.
Some “trabocchi” have been restored in recent years thanks to the public funding, such as the Abruzzo Regional Law nr 99 dated 16/9/1997. Several “trabocchi”, destroyed by the coastal storms and never rebuilt, were included in the State Plan by some municipalities and they were rebuilt as they were in the past.
Some historical images of the trabocchi coast
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Archaeologists Uncovered a Mysterious Circle of Mammoth Bones
The ancient structure, a complete circle of bones from more than 60 mammoths, could have been used in rituals and for shelter.
by Becky Ferreira
Mar 17 2020, 4:52pm
The site at Kostenki 11. Image: Alex Pryor
In an email, Pryor said that it is not yet possible to estimate how many humans occupied the site, but it was likely not a permanent settlement.
“We have just started a second phase of research that aims to shed further light on the activities carried out inside the circle, particularly focusing on the role of food storage at the site,” he said.
“If at least some of the mammoth were hunted, this is going to generate a lot of food from each kill. Therefore, preserving and storing that food could be a really significant part of what humans were doing there.”
Another view of the site. Image: Alex Pryor
These Russian plains are infamous for harsh winters in modern times, so it is mind-boggling that humans clearly persisted there in “a period of intense cold when similar latitudes in Europe were already abandoned in the face of the Last Glacial Maximum,” according to the study.
“These trees were perhaps critical to human persistence in this region, while other such areas of Northern Europe were abandoned,” the team said.
Ultimately, archaeologists will need to conduct more research in both the field and the lab to unlock the secrets of these ancient humans. But one thing is obvious right now: These people must have been extraordinarily resilient and resourceful in order to construct such elaborate bone structures in the midst of the frigid Ice Age steppes.
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Voltmeter vs ammeter
From Holdenpaedia
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==Voltmeter vs Ammeter:==
The trouble with an Ammeter is that it reads 0 when the electrical system is working perfectly, 0 when all the electrical load is turned off and 0 when the Ammeter is busted.
Since an Ammeter can only report that the Battery is discharging, being recharged or having the same Voltage on each side of it (balanced situation) it can also read 0 when both the Battery Voltage and Alternator Voltages are low.
A Voltmeter reports the Car's System Voltage which will ideally be 14 Volts at all times. If the Alternator fails, the Voltmeter will drop fast. If the Alternator or Regulator goes overvolt, you will immediately see the Voltmeter's needle hit a danger area on the Gauge.
Because a Voltmeter only places a tiny load on the Electrical System it can be placed quite a distance from the Battery or Alternator and still give an accurate reading.
You can determine the Battery's state of charge by lowering the Engine RPM when the car is in Neutral. If the Voltage drops rapidly the Battery is undercharged. If the Voltage remains high for a lengthy period, the Battery has been recharged.
A Voltmeter tells the whole story, whereas an Ammeter at best can only tell half the story,
that is when it isn't being completely misleading.
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Today 297 libraries, 265 clubs, 16 museums, a picture gallery, 2 State Theatre, 6 cultural and rest parks, 25 child music and art schools act in the Autonomous Republic.
Ethnic structure
According to the list of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's population which making out in 1970, its population was 202.187.
According to the result of the making out a list of population in January 27-February 4, 1999, population of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were 354.072 (350.806
Azerbaijani, 2.282 Kurd, 517 Russian, 215 Turkish, 140 Ukrainian, 51 Tatar, 17 Armenian, 11 Lezghin, 2 Georgian, 1 Talish, 30 other members of the nations.
Nakhchivan is the one of the oldest area of Azerbaijan which has old history and rich material culture monuments. Here natives had a sedentary life and have busied various farming and art fields. It called "Nakhchuan", or "Nagshechahan".
Nakhchivan showed as "Nagshechahan" in some Persian and Turkish sources. The word of "Nakhchivan" comes from Turkish origin. Some researchers give it some meanings such as "Nakhsuana" in Greek language, "Nakhch" in Pahlavi language, "Nashava"in Arabic language or the land of Oghuz braves Akhchivan-Nakhchivan. Final researches give the meaning of the Nakhchivab" as "Nahhunte" in the language of Elam. We can think that its first name as Nahhuntevan because of the old toponimic name "Van". Then this name changed its form as Nakhchivan by local Turkish natives.
Nakhchivan is the most famous and oldest city of the East. İt is miee than 3500years old. We can meet first written source about Nakhchivan in C. Ptolemy’s "Geographia". He wrote by informing that it is a city of İi century B.C."Naksuana is the centre of the Vaspuraqa which has huge area. This country consists of 37 nahiyas, one of them is Naksuana". Final researches show that this city created before B.C in the middle of İi century(1539).
Nakhchivan which is situated on the Big Caravan Road, destroyed by Sassanids in III century of B.C. The silver coins which were written "Nakhch" on them and belongs to Sassanid were created in the Sassanid’s' Mints at from the first half of VI century to the first half of Vii century.
Nakhchivan Khanate
After the cuicide of Nadir Afshar in 1747, about 20 independence feudal khanates created in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan Khanates divided into two groups in the West and North:
In North: Shaki, Guba, Gandja, Baku, Darband, Nakhchivan, Shirvan, Talish, İravan, Salyan, Garabagh, Javad.
In the West: Tabriz, Urmiya, Ardabil, Khoy, Garadagh, Sarab, Maragha, Maku. İn the middle of the XVIII century, Haydarkhulu Khan who was the leader of Kangarli tribe announced himself as a khan of Nakhchivan. Nakhchivan Khanate consisted of Nakhchivan, Sharur, Ordubad, Mehri, Khagan and others. In 1787 Kalbali Khan became Nakhchivan Khan. During the period of Khanates revival happened in Nakhchivan.
During the period of first Russia-İranian(1805-1813), according to the Gulustan contract Nakhchivan was under the occupation of İranian Government. During the period of the second war Russia-İranian(1826-1828) the Russian Army in 1827 occupied Nakhchivan. Uniting of Nakhchivan to Russia finished with the Turkmanchay contract between Russia-İranian in 1828. Nakhchivan in 1841 became the Khaza centre. Its area belonged to Georgia Imeratia in 1841, but from 1850 it belonged to Irevan province which was under Azerbaijani Government.
Nakhchivan during the Soviet Union Period
During the period of Bolshevik's government in Azerbaijan on July 28, Nakhchivan Soviet Socialist Republic was created. Nakhchivan Revolution Committee was selected as high organ. Revolution Committee announced Nakhchivan the component part of Azerbaijan. According to the contract which signed in Moscow between Moscow-Kars, with the condition that Nakhchivan would not be compromise to a third country, was decided that it would be under the wing of Azerbaijan. Moscow and Kars contracts had useful importance for saving areas of Nakhchivan. In the period of Soviet Union some areas of Nakhchivan were given to Armenia, by the way economic, social relations were prevented. Nakhchivan was called as Nakhchivan Soviet Socialist Republic from 16 March in 1921, Nakhchivan land to on March 1923, Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic on February, 1924, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from November 17, 1990.
Azerbaijan and its component part Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, for earning independence fought in a long time. The destroy process of Soviet Union brought Garabagh events to setting on fire again and fighting between Azerbaijanis and Armenians. On January 19, 1990, Soviet Army by the way of entering to Baku for preventing independence action gave birth to bloody genocide. Russia-Armenia Army occupied Kerki village of Nakhchivan AR and attacked intensive along border 8hours before this event. Hundreds of Azerbaijanis were killed. High Soviet of Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic couldn't take warranty for saving boundaries, by the way of taking Moscow and Kars contracts main things, took decision about getting out from being a member of Soviet Union Republic. This was the beginning of the actual collapse of the Soviet Union.
Like other lands of Azerbaijan Armenians were habituated as other lands of Azerbaijan in Nakhchivan too, after being under the Government of Russia. As we know, armenians in 1828 from western Azerbaijan, Tabriz and cities around of them, in 1929-1830 Arzurum and cities around of it, were habituated in Nakhchivan and İravan. Since 1905, the massacre had taken place between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nakhchivan. Since 1917, they have made territorial claims to Nakhchivan Autonomous State.
According to the legal status of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, it is Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan within the state. Its area is 5.5 thousand square kilometres and a population is 384.5 thousand (2007). İslam is the dominant religion, the local and official language is Azerbaijan language, Nakhchivan is the capital city, the higher person is the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The constitution of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic based on the first constitution of Azerbaijan which was adopted on November 12, 1995, on April 28, 1998, in the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic it was, on 29 December of the same year it was approved in the National Assembly of the Azerbaijan Republic and it came into force on 8 January, 1999. According to the first Article of the Constitution, the Autonomous Status of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was determined by the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic and the contracts between Moscow and Kars in 1921.
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic by the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Repiblic independently settles the issues which attributed to it. In Autonomous Republic State Government is based on the principle of separation of powers; the legislative power shall be exercised by the Parliament of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic the Supreme Assembly, The executive power by the Cabinet of Ministers of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, judicial power by the courts of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
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What Causes Skin Dryness?
The Glands of the Skin
Sebaceous glands are simple alveolar glands that are found everywhere in our body except on the palms of our hands and soles of our feet. These glands secrete oily and lipid rich secretions known as the sebum. Sebum is typically secreted in a hair follicle or occasionally into the body surface. Sebum softens and lubricates the skin. It also decreases the skin’s permeability to water and is quite bactericidal so it also protects the skin from foreign bodies that come in contact to it. Sudoniferous glands are also known as the sweat glands. These are well distributed over the entire body except on the nipples and potions of the external genitalia. There are over 2.5 million sweat glands in a person.
Two Subtypes of Sweat Glands
Our sweat glands or the sudoniferous glands have two subtypes. These are the Eccrine and Apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are more numerous than apocrine glands. They are prominent on the palms of our hands, soles of our feet, and on our forehead. These glands are simple, coiled, tubular glands. The ducts of the eccrine glands empty into a funnel-shaped pore of the skin surface. The function of the eccrine gland is to dilute watery solutions of some salts, including sodium, vitamin C, antibodies, small amounts of nitrogenous wastes such as urea, uric acid and ammonia, and also lactic acid in our skin. The normal pH of sweat is 4-6, creating a film on the body known as the acid mantle which protects the skin.
Apocrine sweat glands are found primarily in the axillary, pubic and anal regions of the body. They are also found in the facial region of men only. These are larger glands than the eccrine type. The ducts of apocrine glands empty into hair follicles. The sweat secreted by apocrine glands is thicker than the ones secreted by eccrine glands because it contains more lipids and proteins. When it is degraded by epidermal bacteria, foul odor can be produced. This is also known as body odor which is sometimes difficult to remove in some cases. Good hygiene care now becomes imperative since it can be smelled. Antibacterial soaps should be used in order to remove the bacteria causing odors. Using perfume will only mask the smell for a while but will not solve the problem. Apocrine glands become more active during puberty. More secretion of apocrine glands are actively secreted during times of pain, stress and sexual activity. To some people, this may have pheromone like function. The apocrine glands plays no role in thermoregulation or keeping the homeostasis of body temperature.
Fluid Balance in the Body
One function of our skin is to maintain fluid balance. The outermost part of our skin is called the stratum corneum. This corny layer of the skin has the capacity to absorb water, thereby preventing an excessive loss of water and electrolyes from the internal body and retaining moisture in the subcutaneous tissues. When skin is damaged, for example, in the case of a burn, large amounts of fluids and electrolytes may be lost rapidly. A person having burn on the skin may be bound to having circulatory collapse that may lead to shock and death. The skin is a very protective barrier with this feature but the skin is not completely not permeable to water so there still can be losses. Small amounts of water continuously evaporate from the skin surface. These losses cannot be measured because it is due to the metabolism of the body. This evaporation is called insensible fluid loss or insensible perspiration and this amounts to up to 600 milliliter daily to a normal person. This fluid loss is variable with several factors such as climate and environment. A person with fever have more insensible fluid losses through evaporation. When the body temperature goes back to normal when the fever is gone, more losses occur when the person perspires due to sudden change in body temperature. That is why it is imperative to keep fluid and electrolyte balances in our daily lives in order to maintain good health and good skin integrity.
Prolonged skin dryness can lead to other skin diseases such as dermatitis or may lead to sores and cracking of the skin. When the skin is dry, the protective mechanisms of the secretions it produces is lessened and so the functions it brings are also diminished. Skin then becomes more prone to having infections and wounds.
When the body’s glands fail to keep the moisture and hydration of the skin, this is the time to use moisturizers and balms that will help prevent further dryness or cracking of the skin. Just make sure that these doesn’t cause further symptoms and damage to your skin. It is always a must to see a dermatological specialist to ensure that you are treating your dry skin safely.
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Saturday, February 12, 2005
Cedarland - A look at the ancient and modern history of Lebanon. Features geography, economy, government, Phoenicians, Maronites, the Lebanese Civil War, and resources.
From the site:
History knew Lebanon from the earliest of times and never forgot it. No other country can match it in volume of historical events and in their relevance to world progress. Small in size, Lebanon has been massive in influence and its people can rightfully claim to be true benefactors of many ages. A few miles north of Beirut, where the Mount Lebanon touches the sea, the face of the rock of the Dog River gorge bears nineteen inscriptions in almost as many languages. Beginning in ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian, continuing in Greek and Latin, and ending in French, English, and Arabic. The inscriptions record at this narrow pass where native mountaineers took their decisive stand, the military feats of foreign invaders. The first to leave such a mark was Ramses II some 1300 years before the birth of Christ; followed by many other notables such as Esarhaddon, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Caracalla, Saladin, Baldwin I, Napoleon III, General Allenby, and General Gourand. Through these records we can gain a tiny glimpse of the awesome past of Lebanon.
The ancients seem to have regarded Lebanon as a place where the abnormal happened, a land of prodigies, of rare coincidences and curious events. They had good reason for doing so. The rapid growth of early religious frenzy and strange natural phenomena observed in the mountains had given the country a strange and provoking reputation. Even today Lebanon has not lost its strangeness. The pleasure which one derives from its striking natural beauty or the sheer scale of its ancient monuments is repeatedly sharpened by a sense of the curious and the unusual. The Adonis River still runs blood red to the sea, and the modern scene offers spectacles as bizarre as anything the Romans wondered at. Lebanon is a land where the imagination can run wild, standing in the surf at Tyre in the very spot where Richard the Lion Heart disembarked, one can picture Alexander inspecting his most difficult conquest. Sitting under a cedar tree on Mount Sannine watching the night sea mist roll in across the bay where St. George killed his dragon it is easy to understand why the Crusaders where inspired into not only making him their patron but also the patron of their distant lands.
Friday, February 11, 2005
History of Suriname
History of Suriname. This is an overview to the history of the South American nation of Suriname.
From the site:
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Japan, Korea and 1597: A Year That Lives in Infamy
Japan, Korea and 1597: A Year That Lives in Infamy - Excerpt of a New York Times article detailing Japan's invasion of Korea in 1597 and Korean resentment lingering from it.
From the site:
"Frankly speaking, I think there is a risk" of Japan some day again attacking its neighbors, said Ryu Gu Che, an ethnic Korean in Kyoto, and he suggests that the best way of reducing the risk would be for Japan to acknowledge and repent the savagery symbolized by the Ear Mound.
"So although 400 years have passed," he said, "I think both peoples should study this episode and learn some lessons."
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
From the site:
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
'I helped Goering escape hangman'
'I helped Goering escape hangman.' Has the mysterious death of infamous Nazi war criminal Goering been solved? How did he get the cyanide that allowed him to cheat the gallows hours before his scheduled execution? This report from the Times of London offers a strong possibility that the mystery has been solved.
From the site:
A FORMER American guard at the Nuremberg Tribunal claimed yesterday that he had smuggled in the poison that allowed Hermann Goering, Hitler’s second-in-command, to escape the hangman’s noose.
Herbert Lee Stivers, 78, a retired sheet-metal worker from Hesperia, California, broke almost six decades of silence to appear to solve one of the great mysteries of the Second World War.
“I gave it to him,” Mr Stivers, a former US Army private, told the Los Angeles Times. He said he smuggled the cyanide capsule to Goering after befriending a beautiful, dark-haired German woman outside the court.
Goering committed suicide in his cell in a military prison on October 15, 1946, just hours before he was to be executed for war crimes. The commission that investigated his death found that he had taken his own life by swallowing potassium cyanide.
State Certification Requirements for History Teachers
State Certification Requirements for History Teachers. This article deals with how history teachers are certified to teach in American schools. It also looks at "out-of-field" teachers who instruct students in history without being formely trained in the discipline.
From the site:
Monday, February 07, 2005
History of Papua New Guinea
History of Papua New Guinea. This is a good summary overview of the history of the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. It is probably just me but I think they have a neat flag.
From the site:
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Gondar the Camelot of Ethiopia
Gondar the Camelot of Ethiopia - Includes legends associated with Gondar, comparisons to Camelot, description of its castles, Fasiladas and other rulers of the Gondar Period, and medieval paintings. Also has pictures of castles and paintings. The format of the text is strange but it is readable if you work at it.
From the site:
Famous though Gondar may be, however, no one knows exactly why Fasilidas chose to establish his headquarters there. Some legends say an archangel prophesied that an Ethiopian capital would be built at a place with a name that began with the letter G. The legend led to a whole series of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century towns - Guzara, Gorgora and finally Gondar. Another legend claims that the city was built in a place chosen by God. Apparently, He pointed it out to Fasilidas who was on a hunting expedition and followed a buffalo to the spot.
Flanked by twin mountain streams at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters Gondar commands spectacular views over farmlands to the gleaming waters of Lake Tana thirty-five kilometers to the south. The city retains an atmosphere of antique charm mingled with an aura of mystery and violence. An extensive compound, near its center contains the hulking ruins of a group of imposing castles like some African Camelot. The battlements and towers evoke images of chivalrous knights on horseback and of ceremonies laden with pageantry and honor. Other, darker, reverberations recall chilling echoes of Machiavellian plots and intrigues, tortures and poisonings. |
Sunday Book-Thought 113
As the 1960s wore on, images of women interacting with machines became less literal and, in the process, more freighted with additional meaning. Instead of focusing on a relatively plain-looking feminized workforce, whose presence was simultaneously meant to stand in for low-cost labor and to recede into the background as the viewer considered the computing system, women started to become a subject of the advertising themselves. In earlier advertisements, women were often faceless accessories to the machine, but this trope began to lose favor as the
sixties progressed.
In many later images, the formula is reversed: The machines recede or disappear while the woman remains, this time facing the viewer. At a certain point, advertising imagery began to focus more on the fact that managers were buying a system for managing and maximizing labor rather than just a machine. Although this had been implicit in earlier advertisements, in the later sixties it became explicit. Women pictured in the ads retained their importance as a shorthand representation of workers who conveyed all the benefits, and few of the downsides, of modern office labor, but now that message became even more critical to the sales pitch. Women’s labor itself was being marketed explicitly as an essential part of the computing system.
Marie Hicks, Programmed Inequality: How Britain Discarded Women Technologists and Lost Its Edge in Computing (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2017), p. 122.
Sunday Book-Thought 106
There is a core to the meaning of life, as the poet would like to portray it, which is the same for all ages. Thus, there is something eternal about a great poet. But man is simultaneously a historical creature. When a new social order has been instituted and the meaning of life has changed, the poets of the preceding epoch no longer move us as they once moved their contemporaries. This is our situation today. We are awaiting the poet who can speak to us about our sufferings, our joys, and our struggles with life!
Wilhelm Dilthey, ‘The Historicity of Poetic Technique’, in Poetry and Experience (Selected Works: Volume V), trans. by Louis Agosta and Rudolf A. Makkreel, ed. by Rudolf A. Makkreel and Frithjof Rodi (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1985), pp. 160-173 (p. 173). |
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Atomic AssistanceHow "Atoms for Peace" Programs Cause Nuclear Insecurity$
Matthew Fuhrmann
Print publication date: 2012
Print ISBN-13: 9780801450907
Published to Cornell Scholarship Online: August 2016
DOI: 10.7591/cornell/9780801450907.001.0001
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Have International Institutions Made the World Safer?
Have International Institutions Made the World Safer?
(p.207) Chapter 9 Have International Institutions Made the World Safer?
Atomic Assistance
Matthew Fuhrmann
Cornell University Press
This chapter examines whether the policies instituted by the international community, led by major powers such as the United States, to separate the peaceful and military uses of the atom have been effective. In particular, it evaluates the degree to which the safeguards established by the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty have made a difference in terms of making it more difficult for countries to exploit peaceful nuclear assistance to build nuclear weapons. It also considers whether such safeguards have weakened the relationship between peaceful nuclear assistance and nuclear weapons program initiation by focusing on the cases of Syria and Japan. It shows that in practice, nuclear safeguards have had a relatively modest effect in reducing the dangers of atomic assistance for nuclear weapons proliferation. Atomic assistance increases the likelihood of nuclear weapons pursuit regardless of a state's status in the nonproliferation regime.
Keywords: peaceful nuclear assistance, Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons program, Syria, Japan, nuclear safeguards, nuclear weapons proliferation, nonproliferation
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WebGL model view projection
This article explores how to take data within a WebGL project, and project it into the proper spaces to display it on the screen. It assumes a knowledge of basic matrix math using translation, scale, and rotation matrices. It explains the three core matrices that are typically used when composing a 3D scene: the model, view and projection matrices.
The model, view, and projection matrices
Individual transformations of points and polygons in space in WebGL are handled by the basic transformation matrices like translation, scale, and rotation. These matrices can be composed together and grouped in special ways to make them useful for rendering complicated 3D scenes. These composed matrices ultimately move the original model data around into a special coordinate space called clip space. This is a 2 unit wide cube, centered at (0,0,0), and with corners that range range from (-1,-1,-1) to (1,1,1). This clip space is compressed down into a 2D space and rasterized into an image.
The first matrix discussed below is the model matrix, which defines how you take your original model data and move it around in 3D world space. The projection matrix is used to convert world space coordinates into clip space coordinates. A commonly used projection matrix, the perspective matrix, is used to mimic the effects of a typical camera serving as the stand-in for the viewer in the 3D virtual world. The view matrix is responsible for moving the objects in the scene to simulate the position of the camera being changed, altering what the viewer is currently able to see.
The sections below offer an in-depth look into the ideas behind and implementation of the model, view, and projection matrices. These matrices are core to moving data around on the screen, and are concepts that transcend individual frameworks and engines.
Clip space
In a WebGL program, data is typically uploaded to the GPU with its own coordinate system and then the vertex shader transforms those points into a special coordinate system known as clip space. Any data which extends outside of the clip space is clipped off and not rendered. However, if a triangle straddles the border of this space then it is chopped up into new triangles, and only the parts of the new triangles that are in clip space are kept.
A 3d graph showing clip space in WebGL.
The above graphic is a visualization of the clip space that all of the points must fit into. It is a cube two units on each side, with one corner at (-1,-1,-1) and the opposite corner at (1,1,1). The center of the cube is the point (0,0,0). This two cubic meter coordinate system used by clip space is known as normalized device coordinates (NDC). You may encouter that term from time to time while researching and wokring with WebGL code.
For this section we will put our data into the clip space coordinate system directly. Normally model data is used that is in some arbitrary coordinate system, and is then transformed using a matrix, converting the model coordinates into the clip space coordinate system. For this example, it's easiest to illustrate how clip space works by simply using model coordinate values ranging from (-1,-1,-1) to (1,1,1). The code below will create 2 triangles that will draw a square on the screen. The Z depth in the squares determines what gets drawn on top when the squares share the same space. The smaller Z values are rendered on top of the larger Z values.
WebGLBox example
This example will create a custom WebGLBox object that will draw a 2D box on the screen.
WebGLBox constructor
The constructor looks like this:
function WebGLBox() {
// Setup the canvas and WebGL context
this.canvas = document.getElementById('canvas');
this.canvas.width = window.innerWidth;
this.canvas.height = window.innerHeight;
this.gl = MDN.createContext(canvas);
var gl = this.gl;
// Save the attribute and uniform locations
this.positionLocation = gl.getAttribLocation(this.webglProgram, 'position');
this.colorLocation = gl.getUniformLocation(this.webglProgram, 'color');
// another square it won't be drawn
WebGLBox draw
WebGLBox.prototype.draw = function(settings) {
var data = new Float32Array([
//Triangle 1
settings.left, settings.bottom, settings.depth,
settings.right, settings.bottom, settings.depth,
settings.left, settings.top, settings.depth,
//Triangle 2
settings.left, settings.top, settings.depth,
settings.right, settings.bottom, settings.depth,
settings.right, settings.top, settings.depth
// Use WebGL to draw this onto the screen.
// This function is for illustration purposes only.
var gl = this.gl;
// Create a buffer and bind the data
var buffer = gl.createBuffer();
gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, buffer);
gl.bufferData(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, data, gl.STATIC_DRAW);
gl.uniform4fv(this.colorLocation, settings.color);
// Draw the triangles to the screen
gl.drawArrays(gl.TRIANGLES, 0, 6);
// The individual position vertex
attribute vec3 position;
void main() {
gl_Position = vec4(position, 1.0);
Next, to actually rasterize the data into pixels, the fragment shader evaluates everything on a per pixel basis, setting a single color. The GPU calls the shader function for each pixel it needs to render; the shader's job is to return the color to use for that pixel.
precision mediump float;
uniform vec4 color;
void main() {
gl_FragColor = color;
With those settings included, it's time to directly draw to the screen using clip space coordinates.
var box = new WebGLBox();
First draw a red box in the middle.
top : 0.5, // x
bottom : -0.5, // x
left : -0.5, // y
right : 0.5, // y
depth : 0, // z
top : 0.9, // x
bottom : 0, // x
left : -0.9, // y
right : 0.9, // y
depth : 0.5, // z
Finally, for demonstration that clipping is actually going on, this box doesn't get drawn because it's entirely outside of clip space. The depth is outside of the -1.0 to 1.0 range.
top : 1, // x
bottom : -1, // x
left : -1, // y
right : 1, // y
depth : -1.5, // z
The results
View on JSFiddle
The results of drawing to clip space using WebGL.
Homogeneous coordinates
gl_Position = vec4(position, 1.0);
The position variable was defined in the draw() method and passed in as an attribute to the shader. This is a three dimensional point, but the gl_Position variable that ends up getting passed down through the pipeline is actually 4 dimensional — instead of (x, y, z) it is (x, y, z, w). There is no letter after z, so by convention this fourth dimension is labeled w. In the above example the w coordinate is set to 1.0.
The obvious question is "why the extra dimension?" It turns out that this addition allows for lots of nice techniques for manipulating 3D data. This added dimension introduces the notion of perspective into the coordinate system; with it in place, we can map 3D coordinates into 2D space—thereby allowing two parallel lines to intersect as they recede into the distance. The value of w is used as a divisor for the other components of the coordinate, so that the true values of xy, and z are computed as x/wy/w, and z/w (and w is then also w/w, becoming 1).
A three dimensional point is defined in a typical Cartesian coordinate system. The added fourth dimension changes this point into a homogeneous coordinate. It still represents a point in 3D space and it can easily be demonstrated how to construct this type of coordinate through a pair of simple functions.
function cartesianToHomogeneous(point)
let x = point[0];
let y = point[1];
let z = point[2];
return [x, y, z, 1];
function homogeneousToCartesian(point) {
let x = point[0];
let y = point[1];
let z = point[2];
let w = point[3];
This evaluates to: [Infinity, Infinity, Infinity].
The clipping of points and polygons from clip space actually happens after the homogeneous coordinates have been transformed back into Cartesian coordinates (by dividing by w). This final space is known as normalized device coordinates or NDC.
To start playing with this idea the previous example can be modified to allow for the use of the w component.
//Redefine the triangles to use the W component
var data = new Float32Array([
//Triangle 1
settings.left, settings.bottom, settings.depth, settings.w,
settings.right, settings.bottom, settings.depth, settings.w,
settings.left, settings.top, settings.depth, settings.w,
//Triangle 2
settings.left, settings.top, settings.depth, settings.w,
settings.right, settings.bottom, settings.depth, settings.w,
settings.right, settings.top, settings.depth, settings.w
Then the vertex shader uses the 4 dimensional point passed in.
attribute vec4 position;
void main() {
gl_Position = position;
top : 0.5, // y
bottom : -0.5, // y
left : -0.5, // x
right : 0.5, // x
w : 0.7, // w - enlarge this box
depth : 0, // z
top : 0.9, // y
bottom : 0, // y
left : -0.9, // x
right : 0.9, // x
w : 1.1, // w - shrink this box
depth : 0.5, // z
top : 1, // y
bottom : -1, // y
left : -1, // x
right : 1, // x
depth : -1.5, // z
The results
View on JSFiddle
Model transform
Placing points directly into clip space is of limited use. In real world applications, you don't have all your source coordinates already in clip space coordinates. So most of the time, you need to transform the model data and other coordinates into clip space. The humble cube is an easy example of how to do this. Cube data consists of vertex positions, the colors of the faces of the cube, and the order of the vertex positions that make up the individual polygons (in groups of 3 vertices to construct the triangles composing the cube's faces). The positions and colors are stored in GL buffers, sent to the shader as attributes, and then operated upon individually.
Finally a single model matrix is computed and set. This matrix represents the transformations to be performed on every point making up the model in order to move it into the correct space, and to perform any other needed transforms on each point in the model. This applies not just to each vertex, but to every single point on every surface of the model as well.
In this case, for every frame of the animation a series of scale, rotation, and translation matrices move the data into the desired spot in clip space. The cube is the size of clip space (-1,-1,-1) to (1,1,1) so it will need to be shrunk down in order to not fill the entirety of clip space. This matrix is sent directly to the shader, having been multiplied in JavaScript beforehand.
CubeDemo.prototype.computeModelMatrix = function(now) {
//Scale down by 50%
var scale = MDN.scaleMatrix(0.5, 0.5, 0.5);
// Rotate a slight tilt
var rotateX = MDN.rotateXMatrix(now * 0.0003);
// Rotate according to time
var rotateY = MDN.rotateYMatrix(now * 0.0005);
// Move slightly down
this.transforms.model = MDN.multiplyArrayOfMatrices([
position, // step 4
rotateY, // step 3
rotateX, // step 2
scale // step 1
this.locations.model = gl.getUniformLocation(webglProgram, 'model');
And finally the uniform is set to that location. This hands off the matrix to the GPU.
In the shader, each position vertex is first transformed into a homogeneous coordinate (a vec4 object), and then multiplied against the model matrix.
gl_Position = model * vec4(position, 1.0);
Note: In JavaScript, matrix multiplication requires a custom function, while in the shader it is built into the language with the simple * operator.
The results
View on JSFiddle
Using a model matrix
• Try moving it outside of clip space.
• Add a rotateZ matrix.
Divide by W
The shader code looks like this.
// First transform the point
vec4 transformedPosition = model * vec4(position, 1.0);
// How much effect does the perspective have?
float scaleFactor = 0.5;
float w = (1.0 + transformedPosition.z) * scaleFactor;
// Save the new gl_Position with the custom w component
gl_Position = vec4(transformedPosition.xyz, w);
The results
View on JSFiddle
Filling the W component and creating some projection.
See that small dark blue triangle? That's an additional face added to our object because the rotation of our shape has caused that corner to extend outside clip space, thus causing the corner to be clipped away. See Perspective matrix below for an introduction to how to use more complex matrices to help control and prevent clipping.
If that sounds a little abstract, open up the vertex shader and play around with the scale factor and watch how it shrinks vertices more towards the surface. Completely change the w component values for really trippy representations of space.
Simple projection
var identity = [
1, 0, 0, 0,
0, 1, 0, 0,
0, 0, 1, 0,
0, 0, 0, 1,
//> [2, 3, 4, 1]
Then move the last column's 1 up one space.
var copyZ = [
1, 0, 0, 0,
0, 1, 0, 0,
0, 0, 1, 1,
0, 0, 0, 0,
//> [2, 3, 4, 4]
var scaleFactor = 0.5;
var simpleProjection = [
1, 0, 0, 0,
0, 1, 0, 0,
0, 0, 1, scaleFactor,
0, 0, 0, scaleFactor,
//> [2, 3, 4, 2.5]
The last line could be simplified to:
Then factoring out the scaleFactor, we get this:
w = (4 + 1) * scaleFactor
In the box demo, an additional computeSimpleProjectionMatrix() method is added. This is called in the draw() method and has the scale factor passed to it. The result should be identical to the last example:
CubeDemo.prototype.computeSimpleProjectionMatrix = function(scaleFactor) {
this.transforms.projection = [
1, 0, 0, 0,
0, 1, 0, 0,
0, 0, 1, scaleFactor,
0, 0, 0, scaleFactor
Although the result is identical, the important step here is in the vertex shader. Rather than modifying the vertex directly, it gets multiplied by an additional projection matrix, which (as the name suggests) projects 3D points onto a 2D drawing surface:
// Make sure to read the transformations in reverse order
The results
View on JSFiddle
A simple projection matrix
Perspective matrix
The reason to flip the z axis is that the clip space coordinate system is a left-handed coordinate system (wherein the z-axis points away from the viewer and into the screen), while the convention in mathematics, physics and 3D modeling, as well as for the view/eye coordinate system in OpenGL, is to use a right-handed coordinate system (z-axis points out of the screen towards the viewer) . More on that in the relevant Wikipedia articles: Cartesian coordinate system, Right-hand rule.
Let's take a look at a perspectiveMatrix() function, which computes the perspective matrix.
var f = 1.0 / Math.tan(fieldOfViewInRadians / 2);
var rangeInv = 1 / (near - far);
return [
f / aspectRatio, 0, 0, 0,
0, f, 0, 0,
The four parameters into this function are:
An angle, given in radians, indicating how much of the scene is visible to the viewer at once. The larger the number is, the more is visible by the camera. The geometry at the edges becomes more and more distorted, equivalent to a wide angle lens. When the field of view is larger, the objects typically get smaller. When the field of view is smaller, then the camera can see less and less in the scene. The objects are distorted much less by perspective and objects seem much closer to the camera
The scene's aspect ratio, which is equivalent to its width divided by its height. In these examples, that's the window's width divided by the window height. The introduction of this parameter finally solves the problem wherein the model gets warped as the canvas is resized and reshaped.
A positive number indicating the distance into the screen to a plane which is perpendicular to the floor, nearer than which everything gets clipped away. This is mapped to -1 in clip space, and should not be set to 0.
A positive number indicating the distance to the plane beyond which geometry is clipped away. This is mapped to 1 in clip space. This value should be kept reasonably close to the distance of the geometry in order to avoid precision errors creeping in while rendering.
In the latest version of the box demo, the computeSimpleProjectionMatrix() method has been replaced with the computePerspectiveMatrix() method.
CubeDemo.prototype.computePerspectiveMatrix = function() {
var fieldOfViewInRadians = Math.PI * 0.5;
var aspectRatio = window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight;
var nearClippingPlaneDistance = 1;
var farClippingPlaneDistance = 50;
this.transforms.projection = MDN.perspectiveMatrix(
The shader code is identical to the previous example:
Additionally (not shown), the position and scale matrices of the model have been changed to take it out of clip space and into the larger coordinate system.
The results
View on JSFiddle
A true perspective matrix
View matrix
While some graphics libraries have a virtual camera that can be positioned and pointed while composing a scene, OpenGL (and by extension WebGL) does not. This is where the view matrix comes in. Its job is to translate, rotate, and scale the objects in the scene so that they are located in the right place relative to the viewer given the viewer's position and orientation.
Simulating a camera
This makes use of one of the fundamental facets of Einstein's special relativity theory: the principle of reference frames and relative motion says that, from the perspective of a viewer, you can simulate changing the position and orientation of the viewer by applying the opposite change to the objects in the scene. Either way, the result appears to be identical to the viewer.
Consider a box sitting on a table and a camera resting on the table one meter away, pointed at the box, the front of which is pointed toward the camera. Then consider moving the camera away from the box until it's two meters away (by adding a meter to the camera's Z position), then sliding it 10 centimeters to the its left. The box recedes from the camera by that amount and slides to the right slightly, thereby appearing smaller to the camera and exposing a small amount of its left side to the camera.
Now let's reset the scene, placing the box back in its starting point, with the camera two meters from, and directly facing, the box. This time, however, the camera is locked down on the table and cannot be moved or turned. This is what working in WebGL is like. So how do we simulate moving the camera through space?
Instead of moving the camera backward and to the left, we apply the inverse transform to the box: we move the box backward one meter, and then 10 centimeters to its right. The result, from the perspective of each of the two objects, is identical.
<<< insert image(s) here >>>
The final step in all of this is to create the view matrix, which transforms the objects in the scene so they're positioned to simulate the camera's current location and orientation. Our code as it stands can move the cube around in world space and project everything to have perspective, but we still can't move the camera.
Imagine shooting a movie with a physical camera. You have the freedom to place the camera essentially anywhere you wish, and to aim the camera in whichever direction you choose. To simulate this in 3D graphics, we use a view matrix to simulate the position and rotation of that physical camera.
Unlike the model matrix, which directly transforms the model vertices, the view matrix moves an abstract camera around. In reality, the vertex shader is still only moving the models while the "camera" stays in place. In order for this to work out correctly, the inverse of the transform matrix must be used. The inverse matrix essentially reverses a transformation, so if we move the camera view forward, the inverse matrix causes the objects in the scene to move back.
CubeDemo.prototype.computeViewMatrix = function(now) {
var moveInAndOut = 20 * Math.sin(now * 0.002);
var moveLeftAndRight = 15 * Math.sin(now * 0.0017);
// Move the camera around
var matrix = MDN.multiplyArrayOfMatrices([
// Exercise: rotate the camera view
this.transforms.view = MDN.invertMatrix(matrix);
The shader now uses three matrices.
After this step, the GPU pipeline will clip the out of range vertices, and send the model down to the fragment shader for rasterization.
The results
View on JSFiddle
The view matrix
Relating the coordinate systems
At this point it would be beneficial to take a step back and look at and label the various coordinate systems we use. First off, the cube's vertices are defined in model space. To move the model around the scene. these vertices need to be converted into world space by applying the model matrix.
model space → model matrix → world space
The camera hasn't done anything yet, and the points need to be moved again. Currently they are in world space, but they need to be moved to view space (using the view matrix) in order to represent the camera placement.
world space → view matrix → view space
Finally a projection (in our case the perspective matrix) needs to be added in order to map the world coordinates into clip space coordinates.
view space → projection matrix → clip space
• Move the camera around the scene.
See also |
Home > Technologies and Science, The Brain > Creativity and the Human Brain
Creativity and the Human Brain
Light bulb inside brain, idea concept. 3D renderingCreativity. It’s harder to define and measure than intelligence but is equally (or perhaps more) important. Why? Creativity occurs in many places and has many forms: imaginative solutions to everyday problems; life-changing breakthroughs in science, technology, and mathematics; masterpieces in literature and art.
What else? The act of creation is involved at every step of human-induced disruptive change. It is through such acts that most new and great things start. Bottom line, creativity is the foundation for much of the progress of humanity and society.
But what is creativity? To keep things simple, consider the dictionary.com definition: “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.”
Next, how do you measure it? Not so easy and more subjective than measuring intelligence. Although there are others, the most commonly used series of tests are the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). (1) Not perfect, but not influenced by race or socioeconomic status and good enough to allow meaningful research into creativity and the brain.
So, creativity and the brain. What is happening in the brain during that “aha” moment? What allows one to have a flash of insight, to originate truly innovative new ideas? Whatever it is that generates that spark, can we create it and/or control it? These are some of the questions that brain research is investigating.
First, some “history.” Until recently, the common tools for studying the brain during that moment of creativity were positron emission tomography (PET) scans and electroencephalograms (EEG). A key study using these techniques in 2001 showed brain activity and changing interconnections taking place in both frontal lobes during the “creative” moment: “Reorganization in both frontal lobes (BA 8–11,44–47) is of major significance as is the functional integration of brain structures of both brain structures of both hemispheres.” (2) In other words, things are not as simple as “right-brain” being the creative side. Both sides of the brain are involved. This was a first step in connecting creativity and brain function.
Now fast forward to the era of advanced neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A 2013 study at Dartmouth using fMRI identified multiple regions of the brain interconnected by widespread and changing networks of neurons among these regions as important for creativity. (3) In their own words: “We do not know how the human brain mediates complex and creative behaviors such as artistic, scientific, and mathematical thought. Scholars theorize that these abilities require conscious experience as realized in a widespread neural network, or ‘mental workspace,’ that represents and manipulates images, symbols, and other mental constructs across a variety of domains…The present work takes advantage of emerging techniques in network and information analysis to provide empirical support for such a widespread and interconnected information processing network in the brain that supports the manipulation of visual imagery.”
A good summary of this study and a number of other neuroimaging findings at this point in time can be found in a chapter of the book The Neuroscience of Creativity. (4) In the words of the authors relating to creativity: “Contrary to popular belief, specific brain regions are not committed to specific functions” (i.e., it’s not as simple as left-brain right-brain). And they go on to highlight studies that show creativity and intelligence are not the same, each having a different brain network.
The present. At the beginning of this year, a new fMRI study by Roger Beaty et al made headlines, partly because the study showed the ability to predict creativity. (5) As they state, “We identified a brain network associated with creative ability comprised of regions within default, salience, and executive systems—neural circuits that often work in opposition. Across four independent datasets, we show that a person’s capacity to generate original ideas can be reliably predicted from the strength of functional connectivity within this network, indicating that creative thinking ability is characterized by a distinct brain connectivity profile.” They go on to summarize their findings: “People who are more creative can simultaneously engage brain networks that don’t typically work together.” In their words: “What this shows is that the creative brain is wired differently.”
We end with that thought and the finding that intelligence and creativity are not the same. But what about genius? A topic for another day.
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How Does a Family Work as a System in Promoting Health to Its Memebers
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s theory is grounded on satisfying needs in order of: 1) physiological needs (lunch breaks, wages, etc), 2) safety needs (medical insurance, job security, etc), 3) social needs (sense of community, social events, etc), 4) esteem needs (recognize achievement, show appreciation, etc), and 5) self actualization (provide challenges, opportunity to reach potential, etc).According to Maslow, a person starts with meeting physiological needs and must work up to self-actualization.An important limitation to note is that “there is evidence that contradicts the order of needs specified by the model.
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Furthermore, “some cultures appear to place social needs before any others” (Netmba 3). The most important implication for management in Maslow’s theory is the manager’s ability to recognize the needs level at which the employee is operating in order to motivate. For example, if a group or individual is operating on the basic needs of physiological and safety, a good levering tool for motivation would be to offer an office party once a goal is met. Theories 3 Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory is a “content theory” similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory.
Herzberg suggested a two-step approach to understanding employee motivation and satisfaction including hygiene factors and motivator factors. Hygiene factors ensure that an employee does not become dissatisfied. These include, but are not limited to, wages and salaries, policy and administration, quality of supervision and inter-personal relations, working conditions, and job security. “Meeting hygiene factors does not lead to high levels of motivation” (Value Based Management 1). Motivation factors lead to psychological growth and job satisfaction.
These include, but are not limited to, status, advancement opportunity, gaining recognition, responsibility, stimulating work, and the sense of personal growth and achievement in a job. Motivation factors must be present to motivate an employee into higher performance. Management should “focus on rearranging work so that motivator factors can take effect” (Cuthers, 2). He said this could be done through job enlargement, job rotation, and/or job enrichment. For example, in a low hygiene-high motivation situation, workers are challenged but salaries and work conditions are not up to standards.
By adding some hygiene factors, such as a slight increase in wages and a cleaner, safer working environment, management would be motivated and have fewer complaints. Theories 5 McClellan’s Need Theory David McClellan proposed that an individual’s needs are specific and acquired over time and life experience. Most of these needs can be classified as achievement, affiliation, or power. “A person’s motivation and effectiveness in certain job functions are influenced by these three needs” (Peace 2). People who measure a high need for achievement are less likely to take risks because they seek to excel.
They prefer work with a fair probability of success and need regular feedback to monitor their progress. Affiliation seekers value pleasant relationships with others and have a high need for acceptance. They prefer jobs with a lot of personal interaction and tend to conform to their work group. Employees who have a high need for power fall into two categories – personal power seekers and institutional power seekers. Those who want personal power tend to direct others. Those who prefer institutional power “want to organize the efforts of others to further the goal of the organization” (Peace 3).
McClelland’s theory allows for the shaping of a person’s needs and management should learn to recognize different profiles. For example, a person with a high need for personal power will probably fail in a position that is associated with a high need for affiliation. Theories 6 McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y Douglas McGregor proposed two theories founded on the premise that the “management’s role is to assemble the factors of production, including people, for the economic benefit of the firm” (Netmba 1). Both Theory X and Theory Y attempt to explain employee motivation. Theory X assumes that people work only for money and security.
They dislike work, have no ambition, resist change, and do not care about organizational goals because they are self-centered. Management approaches under Theory X range from a hard approach (essentially an environment of command and control) to a soft approach (hoping that employees will cooperate). Both approaches, McGregor later reveals, are inappropriate because Theory X is incorrect because it relies on lower needs as levers of motivation. Theory Y is based on esteem and self-actualization. These higher-level needs are never fully met and are great tools for motivation.
Under Theory Y, people are self-directed and committed to objectives, and they will seek responsibility through creativity and ingenuity. “Here lies the opportunity to align personal and organizational goals by using the employee’s own quest for fulfillment as the motivator” (Netmba 2). McGregor acknowledges that not all employees are mature enough to function at the Theory Y level and might need more elements of Theory X management until further developed. Theories 7 Expectancy Theory The Expectancy Theory by Vroom is a perception-based theory about the associations people make toward expected outcomes.
In addition to the internal needs of employees and their efforts to fulfill them, Vroom classifies effort into three categories of effort (arising from motivation), performance, and outcomes that must all be linked. Within these categories are three variables: Valence, Expectancy, and Instrumentality. According to Arrod, expectancy is the belief that increased effort will lead to increased performance. In order to excel here, the employee must have the right resources, skills, and support. Instrumentality is the belief that if you perform well, a valued outcome will be received.
This requires clear understanding between performance and outcome, trust in those who decide the outcome, and transparency of the process that decides who gets what outcome. Valence is the importance an individual places on the expected outcome. Vroom stresses that all three variables are essential for positive motivation. “The idea is that the individual then changes their level of effort according to the value they place on the outcomes they receive from the process and on their perception of the strength of the links between effort and outcome” (Arrod 2).
Basically, an individual needs to know – 1) if I work harder, this will be better, 2) if I do a good job, there is something in it for me, and 3) Is it worth it. For example, offering benefits of additional time off to an individual may not be worthwhile if he was expecting an outcome of a bonus for his performance. Theories 8 Skinner’s Reinforcement Theory Reinforcement theory is grounded on the shaping of behavior through controlling consequences. Any behavior that brings about a consequence is termed an operant behavior.
An operant behavior is learned through associated consequences that can include positive and negative reinforcement and punishment. In order to be effective, reinforcement needs to be continuous or intermittent. Positive reinforcement results in the repeating of a desired behavior. For instance, Sally works in collections for an auto-finance company. She is expected to make a minimum of 300 phone calls daily. The company provides incentive (a 5% commission) on every additional 25 phone calls per day where money is collected.
This motivates her to make more productive use of her time by rewarding her on a continuous basis (every paycheck may include commission). Negative reinforcement results when an undesirable consequence is withheld, with the effect of strengthening the probability of the behavior being repeated. For example, John is working hard to increase sales in his territory of Highland Park, which is followed by a decision not to reassign him to an undesirable sales route of Oak Cliff. He is likely to continue exerting the efforts necessary to stay in the area in which he is most productive.
Punishment, often confused with negative reinforcement, attempts to decrease the probability that a particular behavior will be learned and repeated (Barnett 2). It is a common reinforcement tool, but experts agree that it should only be used if positive and negative reinforcement are not effective. Theories 9 References Arrod. Co. UK. (2006). Expectancy Theory of Motivation. Retrieved 9/15/08 from http://www. arrod. co. uk/archive/concept_vroom. php Barnett, Tim. (2004). Reinforcement Theory. Retrieved 9/15/08 from http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management Cuthers, Joshua. (2006). Motivation in Theory – Herzberg Two Factor
Theory. Retrieved 9/15/08 from https://tutor2u. net/business/people/motivation_theory_herzberg. asp NetMBA. (2007). Theory X and Theory Y. Retrieved from http://www. netmba. com/mgmt/ob/motivation/mcgregor Peace, A. (2008). McClellan’s Theory of Needs. Retrieved from http://motivationcentre. blogspot. com Value Based Management. (2008). Motivation Factors. Retrieved 9/15/08 from http://www. valuebasedmanagement. net/methods back. Plagiarism Warning The essay examples on Anti Essays are for research purposes ONLY. Do NOT submit an essay example as your own. If you use any information from a sample essay, please cite it.
MLA and APA citations can be found at the bottom of this free essay. Citations MLA Citation “Theories Of Management”. Anti Essays. 30 Nov. 2011 <http://www. antiessays. com/free-essays/20897. html> APA Citation Theories Of Management. Anti Essays. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://www. antiessays. com/free-essays/20897. html Related Essays Role Of Manager Creating Value Corperate… Hrm Vs Personnel Management Theory Of Management Rights Frederick Taylor: Hero Or… Fayol’s Management Theory Organizational Behavior… The Role Of a Manager Classical And Neo…
How to cite How Does a Family Work as a System in Promoting Health to Its Memebers, Essays
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When you understand your home’s electrical grid, you gain the ability to manage your home better. You will have more clarity when something goes wrong. And you will feel better when talking to technical staff. In the very least, you’ll be able to join in the conversation.
You don’t have to know every single detail of how the system works. What’s important is that you know what each main component does. You should also have a grasp on how each part fits together.
The Electric Meter
The electric meter has a simple job. It’s designed to tally the amount of electricity you use each month. This is reported as kilowatt hours, with the symbol kWH.
Typically, your meter is found outside your home. This allows the billing company to read it without having to access your property. The meter is connected directly to your main electricity pole or underground source.
The Main Breaker Panel
The main breaker is found as the next component connected to the meter. The size of the main breaker dictates how much electricity a home can use. Its purpose is to cut off your supply in case of an overload. This will help prevent the risk of electrocution or a fire. Keep in mind that in older homes you may find fuses instead.
Each room has a circuit running from the main breaker. The same goes for hard-wired electrical appliances such as water heaters and furnaces. You will usually find labels indicating where each circuit supplies the electricity.
Just like the main breaker, the circuits have smaller breakers. These breakers will flip off if the circuit is overloaded. If the home uses fuses, the fuse will burn out, and you’ll have to replace it.
Your Home’s Circuits
What you’ll find next is wires running from the circuit breakers to the rest of your home. These wires carry the electricity supply to your appliances and back to the electrical source. You may notice that each wire contains additional ones within.
The red and/or black wire carries electricity to your rooms and appliances. The white one brings it back to the panel. The bare wire is known as the ground wire, designed as a safety measure to work with the circuit breaker in case of a short circuit.
When it comes to dealing with electricity, your safety is of paramount importance. Now that you know what the various components are, you should be better at avoiding danger. At the same time, you can use this information when discussing repairs or installing a new circuit.
Nevertheless, it’s still to have someone ready to assist you in case of an emergency. If you’re looking for a reliable company., that’s available 24/7, you’re in the right place. Piper Electric have been serving homes and families for over 35 years. If you need some work done on your circuit, get in touch now for a free estimate. |
For those of us who are intrigued by words or phrases, there is a Purim law found in the Shulchan Oruch or Code of Jewish Law that language-wise is worthy of further ponderance:
“Whoever sticks his hand out to take (money), we give him.” One would do well to ask why the editor of the Shulchan Oruch didn’t specify: “If a poor man approaches you” or “Whoever is in financial need?” The term sticking out a hand, whether phrased in Hebrew or English, is worthy of discussion. Let’s do English.
Sticking out a part of one’s anatomy makes for perfect Purim parlance. The difference between the annihilation of the Jewish people and the preservation of the Jewish people depended upon Esther’s preparedness to stick her neck out for her people, both figuratively and literally. No different than Moses, Esther could have continued to live the lap of luxury. Taking his own initiative, Moses went out to his enslaved Israelites and took up their cause. Although the prince of Egypt never proclaimed such, he was in effect telling the downtrodden masses “You are my brethren… ”
Esther was no Moses. Neither was she a Jonah, who attempted to hightail it out of town to escape responsibility. Yet, only with the slightest prodding on the part of Mordechai, Esther decided to cast her fate to the wind (and if I perish, I perish). Like Moses, Esther realized that she had to decide whether she was part of the Jewish people or whether she should remain insulated from them, thanks to the walls of the royal palace. Given the King’s fickle nature, Esther was well aware of the distinct possibility that she would soon be resting her pretty little head on the chopping block, awaiting the effects of the executioner’s ax. Poetic justice was served, however. Esther stuck out her neck; the King extended his scepter.
Esther stuck her neck out and saved the day. Had the Jews merely stuck their tongues out at Haman and his countryman once they gained the upper hand, it would have saved us much consternation. But the Jews in the Purim story did much more than stick their tongues out. In fact, they did much more than exact revenge. Bear in mind, that not one drop of Jewish blood was spilled. Yet, the Jews were not content to hang Haman and his ten sons. In Shushan alone, they went and slew hundreds, while elsewhere in the kingdom they slew 75,000 of our enemies. As much as our people are to be applauded for not plundering, shouldn’t we be perturbed and even abhorred for actions and behavior that were way out of proportion and defy revenge, much less justice? Perhaps, we can make some sense of what our ancestors did by employing the following reasoning. The Jews of Persia stuck their tongues out at adversaries. We of later generations must learn to stick our tongues out at adversity.
Have you ever wondered why Mordechai is referred to as Mordechai the Jew? Not once is Esther referred to as Esther the Jewess! Could it be that unlike Esther as well as all other coreligionists, Mordechai earned that title of distinction? Is it possible that Mordechai earned the title Jew for what he did to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all other Jews? Put differently, Mordechai was the only Jew who earned the right to stick his chest out with pride, because of how he acted. It wasn’t that Mordechai was proud to be a Jew (an accident of birth), it was that Mordechai had every right to be proud for stepping up to the plate as a Jew. If Haman was deserving of the nefarious distinction to be referred to as an Agagite (Esther 3:1), then surely Mordechai was worthy of the praiseworthy distinction to be referred to as a Jew.
While the graggers twirl, perhaps a moment or two are in order to reflect on the messages and teachings of the Purim Megillah. Perhaps, Purim reminds us how necessary it is for us to stick our neck out for our people. Esther averted catastrophe by being prepared to do so. Perhaps Purim cajoles us to stick our tongues out at adversity as we take the necessary measures to confront adversity and destroy it. Perhaps Purim challenges us to stick our chests out, as a reward for stepping up to the plate. Only then, will the gladness and joy mentioned regarding the Jews in the Megillah take on real significance for Jews of this generation, as well.
As a teenager, I recall reading in Mad Magazine, that Hitler was alive and well, running a used Volkswagen dealership in Bayonne, New Jersey. While I’d like to consider myself of a different caliber than the writers at Mad Magazine, I cannot help but speculate what would happen, if Haman, and not Hitler were alive today. No used Volkswagen dealership for Haman, of that I am sure. Haman in my musings, would be serving in the U.S. Congress, having been elected by the large Iranian constituency in Nassau County, Long Island. And since a leopard does not change his spots, (Jeremiah 13:23), Haman would be voicing his utter contempt for Jews. As an added feature, Haman would also be making known his diatribe against Israel. Oddly enough, I would not be troubled by any of Haman’s comments, however factually incorrect and ludicrous they would be. What would give me agita though, would be those who would rise up to protect Haman from well-founded criticism and well deserved reprimand.
Given those Jewish voices that were recently heard in the media, however few they have been, protecting a freshman Congresswoman’s ill-advised comments about Jews and Israel, I cannot help but feel, that those very same Jewish voices that spoke up in defense of the freshman Congresswoman, would have weighed in similarly on Haman’s defense as well. Their comments would in all probability be not all that different than the three paragraphs that follow:
In no way was Congressman Haman anti-Semitic. He was merely pointing out how terribly unhealthy the relationship is between the United States and Israel. If Congressman Haman is guilty of anything, it is that he did not speak out four years ago, when an Israeli Prime Minister had the chutzpah to lecture Congress and tell Congress how it must deal with yet another foreign country. This was Congressman Haman’s beloved Iran that the Israeli Prime Minister was vilifying. Are we Americans so heartless, that we cannot feel Congressman Haman’s pain?
Surely, Congressman Haman possesses neither hatred nor prejudice against Jews or any other people. Surely, Congressman Haman possesses neither hatred or prejudice against Israel or any other country. Otherwise, how could he have been elected to Congress in the first place? I’m not asking that you necessarily agree with Congressman Haman’s well thought comments about American Jews and Israel. I’m asking that as Americans, you accord him honor and respect. After all, isn’t that what freedom of speech is all about in this country?
As, a Jew, I strongly condemn, anti-Semitism, whether it comes from Congressman Haman or from the person behind the counter at the bakery, where I shop. Let us not however, equate anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the “Shanda Government” in Israel. When Congressman Haman said, “it’s all about the Benjamins baby,” his remarks were taken out of context. What Congressman Haman meant to say, is that American Jews have no right to support an apartheid, fascist, government that treats its Arab citizens worse than the way the Nazis treated our people in World War II. As an American, as a Jew, I implore you! Let us never deny Congressman Haman, the right of legitimate debate and certainly, the right of free speech.
Congressman Haman apologized to me the other day – not only for the words he used – he apologized to me as a Jew. He did not have to. I admire him for that. I want to tell you, that being a Jew, is to be welcoming to the stranger. And I want to tell you, that Haman is from Iran. Who are we to call him out for anti-Semitism? Yes, anti-Semitism is a huge problem, but so too is the way we view the Ayatollah, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei and his government. Shouldn’t we Jews serve as an example to learn from other cultures, rather than criticize them? As Jews who know only too well what it’s like to be a refugee, how dare we treat Congressman Haman, a refugee himself, in such a condescending fashion! It is we who owe Congressman Haman an apology. Let us seek to establish dialogue with Congressman Haman. Let’s work toward peoplehood, peace and good. Let us seek love, understanding and coexistence. Why can’t we all just get along?
As one who takes the message of the Megillah very seriously, I pray that next week’s grating sounds of the graggers, penetrate the auditory nerves of groggy Jews who make it a point to defend those who vilify Jews and the Jewish State, for it is they who ultimately they pose the greatest danger in what they say.
Pooh pooh Purim if you must. Dismiss the likelihood of Jews gaining an upper hand to such an extent that, in the city of Shushan, our people executed 300 of the enemy and then proceeded to annihilate 25,000 Persians throughout the rest of the country, if you are so inclined. Just don’t tell me that there is nothing to be learned from the Book of Esther.
Instead, I ask that the following three realities resonate over the raucousness of centuries of cacophonous graggers:
As Jews, we take great comfort in the fact that we have never handed the enemy complete and total victory. As a people, we have become intoxicated with soundbites such as: “They wanted to exterminate us. They couldn’t. They lost. We won. Let’s eat.” When it comes to the enemies of our people, the sobering reality is that just as they failed to obliterate us, so too did we fail to obliterate them. As a result, the descendants of Haman are still very much alive. One in particular is Haman’s 21st century grandson, Sayyid Al Hosseini Khamenei, the current Ayatollah. And yes, every time he speaks about launching nuclear missiles aimed at Israel, I cannot help but feel that Haman sheps nachas.
As Jews, we delude ourselves with an attitude of “it can’t happen here” or “it can’t possibly happen to me.” Knowing that his ward possessed such an attitude, Mordechai minced no words when he told Esther: “Do not think that you will be able to escape in the King’s palace any more than the rest of the Jews…you and your father’s house will perish.” Esther wasn’t the first to think that she was safe, even though her people were not. Rarely, if ever, does the enemy draw distinctions when it comes to Jews. Prudent Jews, in my opinion, will always have a valid passport (I have passports from two countries) with at least one thousand dollars cash at hand. If my Israeli cousins living in Dolev (known as occupied territory to the rest of the world as well as to some Jews) own an apartment in Petach Tikvah because they fear that the time may come when they are uprooted by the Israeli government, then what makes us so smug? There are those who believe that all Jews – regardless of where they reside – live in occupied territory. Governments change, times change, and moods of the people change.
As Jews, we make noise. Our parents and grandparents hesitated to speak up, fearing anti-Semitic backlash, but we – their children and grandchildren – make ourselves heard – often louder than any grogger. We champion causes. We sign petitions. We demonstrate. As praiseworthy as exercising the freedom that is ours as Americans is, it behooves us to prioritize our causes. Are the causes that we take up in any way harmful to us as Jews in the long run? Have we examined these causes to make sure that they are not in any way antithetical to Judaism? Do we realize that social justice should not always be viewed as an absolute, in that social justice is not in any way impervious to the zeitgeist? However noble it is to “hammer out danger,” it’s equally if not more noble to ascertain that danger truly exists, and to fully understand the ramifications of hammering out that danger. It’s quite possible that a more insidious danger lurks to replace the danger that is being hammered out.
The Purim costumes and masks have served their purpose. The graggers have been put away. The megillahs are once again stored for another year. But the realities remain:
Haman is alive and well in the body of Sayyid Al Hosseini Khameinei of Iran.
Governments are as fickle as their leaders. Ahashuerus is alive and well in the body of any number of rulers who stand for nothing but will listen to anyone.
As Jews, we have been silenced for so long that there are those of us who appear to be intoxicated with the need to speak up and be heard. As Jews, let us remind ourselves that the obligation of discernment must supersede demonstrations, petitions, and taking up causes. Let’s make sure Haman sheps no nachas. Let’s do everything in our power so that the naches is shepped by Mordechai. |
HPV and Cancer, with Howard Bailey, MD
December 1, 2016
Download MP3 (21.7 MB/13:33)
In today’s podcast, Dr. Howard Bailey will discuss human papillomavirus, or HPV, and explain why it’s associated with certain types of cancer. He also discusses HPV vaccines, and how they can help lower the risk of these cancers.
Dr. Bailey is the Director of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, and a professor of Medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. ASCO would like to thank Dr. Bailey for discussing this topic.
Dr. Bailey: This is Dr. Howard Bailey of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, and on behalf of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, we're going to discuss aspects of human papillomavirus or HPV, and its relationship to cancer, and what are the various options and considerations that people should consider relative to lessening, or limiting, or stopping their risk of developing human papillomavirus or HPV associated cancers. First off, human papillomavirus or HPV is a virus that is common in that the vast, vast majority of us have been exposed to it in various ways.
It is a virus that is basically transmitted through intimate contact, most commonly related to sexual contact, and it's a virus that preferentially infects cells of the skin or of the lining of areas, whether it's the lining of our genitalia, the lining of the cervix, vagina, penis, et cetera, and also skin in other areas. These types of viruses, again, are transmitted, and then they can either provide active infections or just remain latent and not provide an infection. An active infection from the human papillomavirus means that the virus has incorporated itself into the DNA or the genetic structure of our normal cells. And how it leads to problems are that there are certain of the HPV viruses that have a very strong ability to change the way normal cells behave and in fact change those cells into cancerous cells because of the HPV infection.
HPV has many different strains or what are called genotypes—more than a 100 different types. But the main ones that we are interested in—we as patients or physicians—pertain to the viruses that are associated with either warts, whether they are common warts that you get on your hands or feet, or warts that are associated with sexual contact, which people call venereal warts. Those are not the HPV types that cause cancer, but they do cause these warts, and the most common ones that you hear about are the strains 6 and 11. But unfortunately there are multiple strains or types of the HPV virus that cause cancer. The most common types are 16 and 18, and then there are multiple others—anywhere from 5 to 8 others—that compose the vast majority of other cancer-causing HPV types. So these types, when you get exposed and have an infection, if this infection continues, they can lead to the development of cancer. And the type of cancers that are caused by HPV are predominantly cervical cancer, where all of our information both whether in the United States or worldwide implies that all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
The next most common type, and it's increasing especially in the United States, are types of oral cancers. This is especially true in men where, as an example, in the United States the number of men with oral cancers caused by HPV will in the next 5 to 10 years exceed the number of woman developing cervical cancer from HPV. To give you an example of numbers worldwide, there's probably a half million cases every year of cervical cancer that are caused by HPV. In the United States that number is smaller—approximately 10,000 to 20,000 cases and a bit higher—and the number of oral cases, again, is starting to gradually meet that and as mentioned exceed that. But there are other cancers that are caused by HPV as well, and again it is related to the type of exposure, intimate exposure. So penile cancer are frequently caused by HPV, cancers of the vagina or vulva are caused by it, and also types of anal cancers can be caused by it. So because of this, and because unfortunately there are many men and woman who die of these cancers, there's been great interest in how we might be able to stop, or block, or prevent, or treat these HPV infections.
Over the last numerous years, there's been the development of vaccines against HPV infections. A precedent for this for, again, us as patients or providers is the fact that there are other viruses that cause cancer, and an example is hepatitis. Hepatitis B is a very common infection in parts of the world. Certainly, it occurs in the Unites States and North America, but it is very common in Asia. And in Asia because of so many people with Hepatitis B infections, there was and is a high rate of cancers caused by Hepatitis B, mainly of the liver. Many years ago—approximately 20 years ago or so—various public policies were put in place in Asia to vaccinate against Hepatitis B at a very early age. And doing that, what we're starting to see is that the numbers of people developing hepatocellular or liver cancer are starting to dramatically decline, because they're preventing these infections that cause the cancer. So with that model in mind, we've been developing across the globe HPV vaccines, and there are 3 different HPV vaccines approved in the United States and in other parts of the globe.
These HPV vaccines essentially provide protection to boys or girls, or men and women, as long as they get the vaccine before they ever develop the HPV infection. So the point I want to make is the vaccination does not treat an existing infection. But all of our data and experience says it's incredibly successful at preventing the HPV infection, and all of our data and experience says that if you prevent the infection, you will prevent the later development of cancers. The vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Association vaccinates against 9 different of the HPV strains. And the key thing to note there is, by this wider coverage, that is vaccinating against approximately 90% of all the potential causes of cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, penile, et cetera.
So there, again, is a lot of desire and need on our part to continue to expand and improve upon this HPV vaccination. And again, as I mentioned earlier, the reason for this is the fact that all of our evidence and data shows that if you get this vaccination before exposure, you will not then get these infections that cause cervical cancer or oral cancer. So that's why it is recommended. It's recommended by ASCO. It's recommended by any and all of the major societies, whether it's pediatric societies or gynecologic societies, primary care, etcetera, that all boys and girls should get this vaccine. Again, the data to-date also implies and shows that it's been safe. Now that's not to say that there can't be side effects from the vaccine shot. The most common is pain or discomfort at the shot. But studies following literally multiple thousands of boys and girls, and young men and young women, there has been no evidence in these studies that those who did not get the vaccine versus boys, girls, men, and women who did get the vaccine, that there was any difference in other illnesses or diseases. So our experience strongly supports and implies that the vaccines are safe. Again, the reason we are recommending that so strongly is the fact that there are far too many men and women dying of cancers related to HPV.
The reason it's recommended, again, at a young age is two-fold. As I stated earlier, the vaccine is only effective if you receive it before you get exposure. So to be blunt, for us, whether as parents, or patients, or community members, that principally means getting the vaccine given before people are engaging in sexual activity. But the other key reason for it is that there is very strong evidence and experience that when the vaccine is given to boys and girls at a younger age, the response to it, the strength of the response, if you will, is greater than when it's given at 18, or 19, or 20 years of age. So those are the reasons why we strongly recommend to parents, or guardians, or family members, that young boys and girls receive the HPV vaccine. It provides the best response, and it's the most effective time to give it before anyone is contemplating intimate activity at that time.
In terms of testing for HPV, there is more and more done mainly for women when it comes to cervical cancer screening, where HPV testing can be done to see if you have evidence of an HPV infection that's associated with cancer development. That's something you should discuss with your physicians or providers relative to that.
Ultimately for any of us, whether it's ourselves or family, the things that we should be asking our providers related to the HPV vaccine is, again, just what we've discussed. Why is it important? What are the reasons that we should consider vaccination? And obviously, as I've described, it has to do with the prevention of cancer. Again, those of us who deal with cancer patients on a daily basis cannot stress enough the fact that preventing cancer is clearly easier and more successful than trying to treat people with advanced cervical cancer, or oral cancer, or the other cancers caused by this. So you should ask about that. You should ask about, what is the schedule for HPV vaccination?
Again, from the American Society of Clinical Oncology standpoint, we want to and need to find better ways to keep people from suffering from, and more importantly, dying from these cancer types. And clearly, our experience and the precedent with other virus-caused cancers say that the best way to do that is prevent ever having this infection that cause cancer. So with that in mind, that's why the American Society of Clinical Oncology strongly supports us implementing and getting more young boys and girls to undergo the HPV vaccine. Clearly again, questions or concerns you might have, are things you should discuss with your provider.
ASCO: Thank you, Dr. Bailey. To learn more about HPV and cancer, please visit www.cancer.net/hpv. And for more expert interviews and stories from people living with cancer, visit the Cancer.Net Blog at www.cancer.net/blog.
|
Classical music
Responding to catastrophe with culture
Orchestras are re-affirming Western culture and values with symbolic music at this year's BBC Proms
Books, arts and culture
POLITICS intruding on culture can be unnerving. Stalin restricted Shostakovich’s work in the name of state order. The Third Reich’s appropriation of Wagner prompted Israel to adopt an unofficial ban on his music. But music often leaves a greater legacy than diktats and propaganda. Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture”, composed after Stalin’s death, is remembered today as a towering symbol of freedom from musical dictatorship, and Israel’s unofficial ban on Wagner was cast aside by Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Staatskapelle orchestra in 2001. Two years earlier Mr Barenboim had set up the West-Eastern Divan orchestra—comprised principally of Israelis and Palestinians—in order to show that differences may be settled through understanding and co-operation, ideas best expressed through the collected study and performance of great music.
Music has an unusual ability to promote rapport and pleasure in the wake of catastrophe. After the lorry attack in Nice, Sakari Oramo, the conductor at the first night of the BBC Proms, a series of classical concerts, preceded his scheduled programme with a rendition of “La Marseillaise”. The scene was a moving one: the entire Albert Hall rose to its feet and met the piece’s conclusion with rapturous applause. It was reminiscent of the feeling in “Casablanca” (1942) when “La Marseillaise”, sung by all those at Rick’s club, overpowers the voices of the Nazis. There was something life-affirming about an orchestra comprised of multiple nationalities playing French music under a Finnish conductor in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
This was not the first time the Proms had altered the programme in the wake of catastrophe. Along with “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Adagio for Strings”, the BBC added the finale of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony—“Ode to Joy”—to their final-night celebrations after the attacks on September 11th 2001. This showed Western unity and defiance through Western high culture, a perfect piece for such a task. Nicholas Kenyon, then the director of the Proms, said that the finale was “a true mirror of the ability of music to uplift and unify”. Beethoven’s final symphony demonstrates togetherness and power through its sheer scale, combining choral with symphonic and requiring a large number of musicians. The same could be said then for pieces such as Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” but it is also Beethoven’s text that sets his titanic symphony apart. Schiller’s words epitomise unity: “Alle Menschen Werden Brüder”—all men become brothers. Frequent allusion to “Freude” and “froh”—joy and glad—inspires jubilation. Beethoven’s own words come before Schiller’s poem in the score, addressing listeners as “Freunde”—friends. The piece is aimed at all who will hear it, as opposed to one nationality alone. The music therefore rallies together people of an identity (Western) instead of a country.
Attacks have rocked America, Belgium, France and, most recently, Germany. No single national anthem can serve to rally us all. Paris and Ansbach were attacks on culture, focusing on musical events; Nice was an assault on identity, focusing on Bastille Day celebrations. Both culture and identity should therefore be used by the West in response. “Ode to Joy” should be used again to spearhead a cultural retort to Islamic State. The piece is able to encapsulate Western values, culture and identity for a simple reason: its popularity shows that the West has arguably chosen it to symbolise its society. Beethoven’s 9th is played at the Proms every year; it has been used in films from “Sister Act” to “Die Hard” and it is the official anthem of the European Union. Everybody recognises the tune. Beethoven is a giant of Western art, through his life demonstrating the power of defiance by working through deafness and on his deathbed.
On Sunday 24th July the acclaimed Russian director Vladimir Jurowski led the London Philharmonic orchestra and choir in a Proms performance (pictured) of Beethoven’s masterpiece. Had this concert been dedicated to victims of terrorism and labelled as a show of Western defiance it could have been argued that politics had intruded—the tone of the whole concert would have been altered. However, finding space for the “Ode to Joy” again at this year’s final night would be an example of culture embracing politics, as the concert would remain primarily a celebration of the culmination of over a month of music. The current political climate, particularly in Britain, is one of uncertainty and division. A piece able to inspire solidarity, assertive in its claim to be the standard-bearer for Western values, could prove timely at the last night of the proms, broadcast live on BBC One and Two.
Life-affirming music has no nationality. Yet it defines an identity of Western liberal values undeterred by terror, bringing comfort to those who hear it. If it reaches out to the threatened in politics, it may give the comfort they need. Just as Shostakovich lived to celebrate the demise of Stalin, through Beethoven we may persevere until the demise of terror.
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Laboratory Exercises in Zoology - 1st Edition - ISBN: 9780408578509, 9781483192499
Laboratory Exercises in Zoology
1st Edition
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Authors: H. S. Luker A. J. Luker
eBook ISBN: 9781483192499
Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
Published Date: 1st January 1971
Page Count: 268
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Laboratory Exercises in Zoology serves as a teaching aid for students studying for Advanced level Zoology or Biology. This book provides exercises concerned mainly with physiology and some dissection techniques. Organized into 12 parts, this book begins with an overview of diffusion of molecules or ions from a region of high concentration to a region of relatively low concentration. This text then discusses the breakdown of complex molecules, which is achieved by a series of hydrolyses catalyzed by the digestive enzymes produced by the glandular cells of the digestive system. Other chapters consider the various stages involved in making permanent stained preparations. This book discusses as well the requirements for animals in the laboratory. The final chapter deals with the rate of growth of an organism. This book is a valuable resource for students studying zoology and biology. Teachers and biology laboratory technicians will also find this book extremely useful.
Table of Contents
Part A: Physical and Chemical Investigations
1. Diffusion
2. Osmosis
3. Chemical Investigations of some Organic Compounds
3.1—3.4 Chemical Tests for Proteins
3.5—3.15 Chemical Tests for Carbohydrates
3.16—3.22 Chemical Tests for Lipids and their Constituents
3.23—3.24 Chemical Tests for Two Vitamins
4. The Behavior of Colloids in Solution
Part B: Enzymes
1. Activity of Digestive Enzymes
2. Activity of Oxidizing and Reducing Enzymes
3. Factors Affecting the Rate of Enzyme Action
Part C: Microscopical Preparations
1. Notes on the Process of Making Permanent Stained Preparations
2. A Simple Staining Technique for the Differentiation of the Nucleus and Cytoplasm
3. A Permanent Preparation of Teased Striated Muscle Fibers
4. Examination of Locust Testes to Show the Nuclei During Meiosis
Part D: Methods of Management and Culture of Some Animals in the Laboratory
1. General Requirements for a School Animal Room
2. Management of the Stock
3. Cultural Methods
Part E: Genetics
1. Terms Used in this Section
2. The Value of Chi-Squared
3. Breeding Experiments with Drosophila
3.1 —3.4 Monohybrid Inheritance
3.5 —3.8 Independent Assortment
3.9 —3.10 Independent Assortment and Linkage
3.11—3.14 Sex Linkage
4. Breeding Experiments with Mice
4.1 —4.10 Monohybrid Inheritance
4.11—4.14 Dihybrid Inheritance
4.15—4.17 Sex Linkage
5. Breeding Experiments with Tribolimi
5.1 —5.4 Monohybrid Inheritance
5.5 —5.6 Dihybrid Inheritance
Part F: Nutrition
Section I—Feeding Mechanisms
1. The Ingestion of Particles and Formation of Food Vacuoles in Paramecium
2. Observation of Feeding and the Passage of Food Particles in Daphnia
3. Feeding in Hydra. Investigation of the Structure and Function of the Tentacles
4. The Feeding Mechanism of Locusts
5. Suggestions for the Observation of Feeding in Xenopus
6. Fluid Feeders
Section II—Analysis
1. Chromatography as a Technique for Analysis
Part G: Respiration
1. The Production of Carbon Dioxide During Respiration
2. Measurement of Respiratory Quotient
3. Measurement of the Vital Capacity of the Lungs of Man
Part H: Circulation. The Structure and The Properties of Blood
Section I—Circulation
1. Observation of Capillary Circulation
2. Investigation of Exercise on Pulse Rate
3. An Indirect Method of Measuring Human Arterial Blood Pressure Using a Sphygmomanometer and a Stethoscope
4. Effect of a Rise in External Temperature on the Rate of Contraction of the Dorsal Blood Vessel of Nereis Diversicolor
5. Effect of Chemicals on the Rate of Heart Beat of Daphnia
Section II—The Structure and Properties of Blood
6. A Red Cell Count Using a Haemocytometer
7. Determination of the Hemoglobin Content of the Blood Using the Haldane Hemoglobinometer
8. Blood Grouping
9. The Clotting of Blood
Part I: Locomotion
1. Movement in the Protozoa
2. Movement of the Earthworm
3. Movement in Nereis
4. Movement in Insects
5. The Gastrocnemius Muscle-Nerve Preparation
Part J: Excretion
1. Instructions for the Removal and Examination of a Nephridium from the Earthworm
2. Examination of the Malpighian Tubules of Locusta
3. Test for Urea
4. Estimation of Urea in Urine
5. Tests for Some Inorganic Constituents of Urine
6. Murexide Test for Uric Acid
Part K: Response to Environmental Stimuli
1. The Effect of Light on a Flagellate Culture
2. Responses of a Turbellarian to Different Light Intensities
3. Reaction of Lumbricus to Different Light Intensities
4. Phototactic Responses of Porcellio Scaber
5. Examination of the Changes in the Chromatophores of Xenopus with a Change in the Background
6. The Avoiding Reaction of Paramecium in Response to the Presence of Chemicals
7. Chemotactic Responses of a Turbellarian
8. Demonstration of Kineses in Porcellio Scaber
Part L: Growth. Development. Regeneration
1. Investigation of the Rate of Growth of Carausius Morosus
2. Suggestions for Investigating the Growth and Development of Locusta
3. A Simple Method for the Examination of the Early Larval Forms of Cyclops
4. Growth and Development of the Trout
5. Larval Development in Rana or Xenopus
6. Development of the Chick Embryo
7. Measurements of the Growth Rate of Individual Mice from one Litter
8. Regeneration in Planarians
Appendix 1 References, Further Reading and Visual Aids
Appendix 2 Table of Chi-Squared
Appendix 2 Atomic Weights Of Some Common Elements
Appendix 3 Tables of Logarithms and Anti-Logarithms
No. of pages:
© Butterworth-Heinemann 1971
1st January 1971
eBook ISBN:
About the Author
H. S. Luker
A. J. Luker
Ratings and Reviews |
5 Powerful Essays Advocating for Gender Equality
Gender equality – which becomes reality when all genders are treated fairly and allowed equal opportunities – is a complicated human rights issue for every country in the world. Recent statistics are sobering. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 108 years to achieve gender parity. The biggest gaps are found in political empowerment and economics. Also, there are currently just six countries that give women and men equal legal work rights. Generally, women are only given ¾ of the rights given to men. To learn more about how gender equality is measured, how it affects both women and men, and what can be done, here are five essays making a fair point.
Take a free course on Gender Equality offered by top universities!
“Countries With Less Gender Equity Have More Women In STEM — Huh?”Adam Mastroianni and Dakota McCoy
This essay from two Harvard PhD candidates (Mastroianni in psychology and McCoy in biology) takes a closer look at a recent study that showed that in countries with lower gender equity, more women are in STEM. The study’s researchers suggested that this is because women are actually especially interested in STEM fields, and because they are given more choice in Western countries, they go with different careers. Mastroianni and McCoy disagree.
They argue the research actually shows that cultural attitudes and discrimination are impacting women’s interests, and that bias and discrimination is present even in countries with better gender equality. The problem may lie in the Gender Gap Index (GGI), which tracks factors like wage disparity and government representation. To learn why there’s more women in STEM from countries with less gender equality, a more nuanced and complex approach is needed.
“Men’s health is better, too, in countries with more gender equality”Liz Plank
When it comes to discussions about gender equality, it isn’t uncommon for someone in the room to say, “What about the men?” Achieving gender equality has been difficult because of the underlying belief that giving women more rights and freedom somehow takes rights away from men. The reality, however, is that gender equality is good for everyone. In Liz Plank’s essay, which is an adaption from her book For the Love of Men: A Vision for Mindful Masculinity, she explores how in Iceland, the #1 ranked country for gender equality, men live longer. Plank lays out the research for why this is, revealing that men who hold “traditional” ideas about masculinity are more likely to die by suicide and suffer worse health. Anxiety about being the only financial provider plays a big role in this, so in countries where women are allowed education and equal earning power, men don’t shoulder the burden alone.
Liz Plank is an author and award-winning journalist with Vox, where she works as a senior producer and political correspondent. In 2015, Forbes named her one of their “30 Under 30” in the Media category. She’s focused on feminist issues throughout her career.
“China’s #MeToo Moment” – Jiayang Fan
Some of the most visible examples of gender inequality and discrimination comes from “Me Too” stories. Women are coming forward in huge numbers relating how they’ve been harassed and abused by men who have power over them. Most of the time, established systems protect these men from accountability. In this article from Jiayang Fan, a New Yorker staff writer, we get a look at what’s happening in China.
The essay opens with a story from a PhD student inspired by the United States’ Me Too movement to open up about her experience with an academic adviser. Her story led to more accusations against the adviser, and he was eventually dismissed. This is a rare victory, because as Fan says, China employs a more rigid system of patriarchy and hierarchy. There aren’t clear definitions or laws surrounding sexual harassment. Activists are charting unfamiliar territory, which this essay explores.
“Men built this system. No wonder gender equality remains as far off as ever.”Ellie Mae O’Hagan
Freelance journalist Ellie Mae O’Hagan (whose book The New Normal is scheduled for a May 2020 release) is discouraged that gender equality is so many years away. She argues that it’s because the global system of power at its core is broken. Even when women are in power, which is proportionally rare on a global scale, they deal with a system built by the patriarchy. O’Hagan’s essay lays out ideas for how to fix what’s fundamentally flawed, so gender equality can become a reality.
Ideas include investing in welfare; reducing gender-based violence (which is mostly men committing violence against women); and strengthening trade unions and improving work conditions. With a system that’s not designed to put women down, the world can finally achieve gender equality.
“Invisibility of Race in Gender Pay Gap Discussions”Bonnie Chu
The gender pay gap has been a pressing issue for many years in the United States, but most discussions miss the factor of race. In this concise essay, Senior Contributor Bonnie Chu examines the reality, writing that within the gender pay gap, there’s other gaps when it comes to black, Native American, and Latina women. Asian-American women, on the other hand, are paid 85 cents for every dollar. This data is extremely important and should be present in discussions about the gender pay gap. It reminds us that when it comes to gender equality, there’s other factors at play, like racism.
Bonnie Chu is a gender equality advocate and a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur. She’s the founder and CEO of Lensational, which empowers women through photography, and the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy.
About the author
Emmaline Soken-Huberty
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Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Memorial Day
Beginning at sundown usually in mid-April, Israel and Jews worldwide observe Yom HaShoah, Israel Holocaust Memorial Day, honoring the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were brutally murdered at the hands of the Nazi regime. What is the Yom HaShoah meaning? During the observance, flags are flown at half mast, and at 10 a.m., air raid sirens sound throughout the country and Israelis stop wherever they are to observe a two-minute silence of solemn reflection. Learn more about this dark and tragic time through our many resources.
Holocaust Overview
It is difficult to remember the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, where six million innocent souls perished simply because they were Jewish. But to not remember and talk about the Holocaust is even more dangerous since "those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Use the following resources as a starting point to help you understand not only what happened during the Holocaust, but also to know why we must never forget.
Voices from the Ashes
Keeping the voices of the Holocaust alive and strong is one significant way that we can, like Elie Wiesel, "never be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation."
My Grandfather's Holocaust Story
Fellowship writer Yonit Rothchild shares the harrowing story of how her grandfather, Max Grinblatt, survived the Holocaust and how his experiences shaped him — and their entire family.
How We Can Respond
Simply remembering the Holocaust and its victims is no longer enough. Find out how you can help care for Holocaust survivors, many of whom struggle today with bitter memories and crippling poverty, through offering prayers, providing lifesaving assistance, or learning how to stand against anti-Semitism.
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Insert Surname 4
Thejudicial review acts as the Supreme Court’s power in the UnitedStates in declaring the actions of the government and the laws of thegovernment as unconstitutional. It gives the Supreme Court to dictatewhat is legal based on their interpretation of the constitution inthe United States. The constitution in the United States thus existsto empower the court to ensure that the State is aligned to theSupreme’s court decisions. The Supreme Court supporters bring whatAlexander Hamilton writes. The federalist papers were written toexpound on the new government.
Thepaper aims to provide about 30 examples that are written in thefederalist in supporting the Supreme Courts’ argument that it willhave power over the judicial review, provide examples that supportthe argument that the founding fathers intended for the Supreme Courtto have power, describe how each of the statement justified theassumption that the founders just intended to be a judicial reviewand finally conclude the essay with an opinion, reason for theopinion and the problems and the benefits with court having powerover the state government
Examplesin Federalist supporting the argument that the Supreme Court willhave power over the judicial review
Thefundamentals of the federal judicature have been pointed out clearlywith the existing confederation’s defects. One of the basicexamples where the Supreme Court will have power over the judicialreview is through the mode of appointing judges, the occupancy bywhich they hold their position, the judiciary authority partition andthe way they relate with different courts. Asthe mode of appointing the judges, it is the same as appointing theofficers of the union in general.Hamilton presents the example in Monarch where it is an excellentbarricade to prince despotism.
Concerningthe mode of appointing the judges and Union officers, the occupancythrough which the judges occupy their offices concerns officeduration, responsibility precaution and providing support. All thejudges appointed by U.S. are to hold offices during good behaviors.The standard of good behavior from continuing into the office of themagistracy is one of the modern and most valuable improvements inpractice of the government. The federalist warn against giving muchpower to other government levels and all the system branches andstate clearly that the judicial branch is necessary in checking thepower of other levels.
Thejudicial review allows the court to determine the legality andillegality of their system based on court’s interpretation of theconstitution. Thus, empowering the Supreme Court to order the stateto abide by Supreme’s court decision is imperative. The SupremeCourt has weakened the state government and other national governmentbranches. For instance, the government has failed to abide byAffordable care act where the court has ordered them to do so.
Therights advocate of the State are convicted that the States exists asequal partner in the federal system of the government and that, therewas no intention by the state to be submissive to the nationalgovernment. The article III of the constitution gives the SupremeCourt power over the judicial review. The judiciary from the natureof its actions, whoever considers diverse power department mustperceive where it will be the least dangerous to the constitutionpolitical rights since it will be leas in capacity to injure or annoythem.
Theexecutives dispense the honor and hold the community sword. Judiciarycannot be compared as the weakest department of power that it cannothave control of the two. It proves through oppression of anindividual may proceed now and then the court of justice.If the power to judge is not separated from the executive andlegislature’s powers, then there is no liberty. If the legislativebody is part of the constitutional judges, it is not a naturalpresumption. Constitution as regarded by Hamilton must be regardedby the judges as a basic law. It thus belongs to them in establishthe meaning of act proceeding from the legislative body.
Hamilton’sexample that founding father intended Supreme Court to have power
Thefounding fathers never intended the Supreme Court in U.S to havepower over the judicial review over the States. The supporters of theSupreme Court having the power to bring review in the judicially, thestandard of good behavior for office continuance has been the mostmodern improvement in government practice. It is an excellent barrierin monarchy to prince despotism. Alexander Hamilton defined theSupreme Court as the power of the judicial review. The main purposeof power is to have a check on the legislature where the courtbarricades the oppressions and encroachment of the representativebody. To have an upright, steady and an impartial lawsadministration, the court has power to rule on state laws throughjudging against the constitution. Hamilton set the definition ofpower with the feeling of fear of the court taking the power from theexecutive and legislative branches unfounded on court basis as toweak.
Justificationfor a judicial review by the Founders
Althoughthe judicial review was greatly supported by the founding fathers,back then, it was not the questioned power that it has become. Thereexists controversy about the use of power and scope though no onedenies the power. For the founding fathers, there was considerablecriticism theoretically of the judicial review and actions of thepoliticians that was directed towards it. The judicial supremacymight not have achieved in the earlier debate. The defense of thereview against the change being undemocratic implied that the powerdid not intend the judicial supremacy over the legislature butsupremacy of the fundamental popular over both. The review gaveeffect to the people’s will in the constitution over the transientwill that was represented by the executive and legislature. The earlyfounders pointed the limits that flowed from the very nature of thejudicial power.
Judicialreview was greatly supported by the founding fathers. The review actsto declare the action by the government. Up to today, the SupremeCourt has power over the judicial review since the powers arise fromlaw judiciary and thus, the court must be given power to exercisewhat is mandated of the. The court having power over the stategovernment can interfere with acts of the subordinate and superiorauthority of a derivative and original power. Alsoon the pretense of repugnancy, the court might substitute theirpleasures to the intentions of the constitution. The advantages ofthe judges having power are a requisite in guarding the rights ofindividual and constitution from the effects of ill humors orparticular conjuncture influence. |
Mise En Scene Essay
Submitted By Moses-Vincent
Words: 4050
Pages: 17
Charles Matthews
Com 209
Art of the film Midterm
Professor Pucci
1. Mise – en – scene are one of the most frequently used terms in film analysis , which means literally translates as putting on stage , or staging. The term comes from the theatre, where it designates everything that appears on stage such as the set design, lighting and character movement. In film studies, mise-en-scene often has a vague meaning, it is either used in a very broad way to mean the filmed events together with the way those events are filmed or it is used in a narrower sense (closer to its original theatrical meaning), to designate the filmed events. In the book Understand Film Studies this term will be used in its narrower sense to mean what appears in front of the camera. In other words if it is on the screen and if it’s a physical object recorded by the camera, then it is part of the mise-en-scene.
2. Low Key lighting and high key lighting are terms that explain the lighting presented in the film. Low key lighting is a style of lighting for photography, film and television. Low key lighting in films are when part of the set is lit with lighting. This was also used in order to partly conceal the cheapness of the set and its small size. Low key lighting often uses only one key light optionally controlled with a fill light or a simple reflector. Low key light makes the contours of an object more noticeable by throwing areas into shade while a fill light or reflector may illuminate the shadow areas to control contrast. Low Key lighting has a higher lighting ratio than high key lighting. Like light key lighting high key lighting is also a style of lighting used in film, television and photography. High key lighting aims to reduce the lighting ratio present in the scene. This was first originally done for technological reasons , since early television and film did not deal well with high contrast ratios , but now it is suggested that high key lighting can bring and upbeat mood. High key lighting is usually quite homogenous and free from dark shadows. The advantage to high key lighting is that it doesn’t require adjustment for each scene which allows the production to complete the shooting in hours instead of days. The major step back is that high key lighting fails to add meaning or drama by lighting certain parts more prominently than others. It is also an overall lighting design that uses the fill light and backlight to create low contrast between brighter and darker areas. It can be used for both daylight and night scenes. Lower lighting can show a number of darker moods, from horror films to their being sadness being show in a film. Brighter lighting usually stands for happiness and soft lighting stands for romance. Different light colors, created by filters, can also change the mood in a film. Lighter colored filters express a more sanguine mood as for darker colored filters hint at gloom.
3. An art director is someone who is responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, movies and television productions. They create the overall design and direct others who develop artwork or layouts. About 12 percent of art directors work for advertising and public relations firms. They also design or select the sets and décor of a film. Initially their jobs were simply to create a background in which action of the film was to unfold. Art directors built entire worlds inside movie studios. More recently some art directors have become production designers whose job is to coordinate the look of an entire film. Art directors make the film environment unique by developing a visual concept around which sets, props, lighting and costumes are designed to work together. They make the environment of the film unique by creating the overall design of a project and direct others who develop artwork and layouts.
4. Classical cutting scene breaks a storyline into that sequence of shots that most inspire emotions. Classical… |
The first stage is called Pre-trigger stage or the dormant stage. In this stage viruses lie dormant, and does not do any destruction. (This act is also similar in the biological virus.) It is hard to detect a virus in this stage.
The second stage called Trigger stage is the one in which virus performs any destruction. A trigger can be made to set off at a given time, given number of times a program is run, physical condition of disk, specific date or time, any other event or just anything which might have been thought of by its developer.
Once this trigger goes off, the destructive action mentioned in the virus program executes to carry out the destruction. This is said to be the final stage as it causes actual damage it is supposed to do.Virus program enter into the system either by way of copying the carrier programs (exe,com, bat, sys & similar files) or copying anything from a disk with infected boot sector or partition table or even through E-mail or Website contents. Also, the replication activity of viruses is transparent to the user.
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Robby Young's Hearing Aid Center - Coachella Valley, CA
Man can't hear in a crowded restaurant.
Sometimes when a person has a hard time hearing, someone close to them insultingly says they have “selective hearing”. Maybe you heard your mother accuse your father of having “selective hearing” when she believed he might be ignoring her.
But actually selective hearing is quite the talent, an amazing linguistic task executed by teamwork between your brain and ears.
Hearing in a Crowd
Perhaps you’ve encountered this situation before: you’ve been through a long day at work, but your friends all insist on going out to dinner. And of course, they want to go to the noisiest restaurant (because they have amazing food and live entertainment). And you strain and struggle to follow the conversation for over an hour and a half.
Perhaps, you rationalize, the restaurant was just too noisy. But… everyone else appeared to be having a fine go of it. The only one who appeared to be having difficulty was you. So you start to ask yourself: what is it about the crowded room, the cacophony of voices all battling to be heard, that causes hearing impaired ears to struggle? It seems as if hearing well in a crowd is the first thing to go, but why? Scientists have begun to uncover the solution, and it all starts with selective hearing.
Selective Hearing – How Does it Work?
The scientific term for what we’re broadly calling selective hearing is “hierarchical encoding,” and it doesn’t happen in your ears at all. This process nearly completely occurs in your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study carried out by a team at Columbia University.
Scientists have recognized for some time that human ears basically work like a funnel: they send all of the raw data that they collect to your brain. That’s where the real work takes place, particularly the auditory cortex. Vibrations caused by moving air are translated by this part of the brain into perceptible sound information.
Because of comprehensive research with CT and MRI scans, scientists have known for years that the auditory cortex plays a crucial role in hearing, but they were clueless regarding what those processes really look like. Scientists were able, by utilizing unique research techniques on individuals with epilepsy, to get a better understanding of how the auditory cortex discerns voices in a crowd.
The Hearing Hierarchy
And the insight they found out are as follows: the majority of the work performed by the auditory cortex to isolate distinct voices is accomplished by two different parts. They’re what allows you to sort and intensify specific voices in loud settings.
• Superior temporal gyrus (STG): At some point your brain needs to make some value based decisions and this occurs in the STG after it receives the voices which were previously separated by the HG. Which voices can be safely moved to the background and which ones you want to pay attention to is figured out by the STG..
• Heschl’s gyrus (HG): This is the part of the auditory cortex that manages the first phase of the sorting routine. Heschl’s gyrus or HG breaks down each unique voice and separates them into distinguishable identities.
When you begin to suffer with hearing problems, it’s harder for your brain to differentiate voices because your ears are missing specific wavelengths of sound (low or high, depending on your hearing loss). Your brain isn’t supplied with enough information to assign individual identities to each voice. It all blends together as a result (which makes discussions tough to follow).
New Science = New Algorithm
It’s common for hearing aids to have features that make it less difficult to hear in a crowded situation. But now that we know what the fundamental process looks like, hearing aid manufacturers can integrate more of those natural functions into their instrument algorithms. For example, you will have a greater capacity to hear and understand what your coworkers are talking about with hearing aids that help the Heshl’s gyrus and do a little more to separate voices.
Technology will get better at mimicking what occurs in nature as we discover more about how the brain really works in conjunction with the ears. And that can lead to improved hearing success. Then you can concentrate a little more on enjoying yourself and a little less on straining to hear.
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Ways to control the plastic waste! - Seeker's Thoughts
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Ways to control the plastic waste!
Humans produce about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. That's nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Since the 1950s, the rate of plastic production has grown faster than that of any other material.
Around 180 governments on 10th May 2019 agreed on a new UN accord to regulate the export of plastic waste, some eight million tonnes of which ends up in the oceans each year.
The Geneva meeting amended the 1989 Basel Convention on the control of hazardous wastes to include plastic waste in a legally-binding framework.
Plastic pollution is equal to the weight of humans
More than 99% of plastic is produced from chemicals derived from oil, natural gas, and coal- all of which are dirty, non-renewable resources.
If current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic industry could account for 20% of the world's total oil consumption.
Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled about 12% has been increased, while the rest - 79% has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment
Which is the most common form of the Plastic?
Cigarette butts- whose filters contain tiny plastic fibers- were the most common type of plastic waste found in the environment in a recent global survey.
Drinking bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, grocery bags, drink lids, straws, and stirrers were the next most common item.
Human uses these products every day, without even thinking about where they might end up.
Did u know?
Rising in plastic use since the 1950s
From the 1950s to the 70s, only a small amount of plastic was produced, so plastic waste was relatively manageable. But by 1990s, a plastic waste generation had more than tripled in two decades, following a similar rise in plastic production. And then in the early 2000s, plastic waste rose in a single decade it had in the previous 40 years.
Plastic pollution is killing oceans organisms
There are micro-organisms in the sea and they produce 10% of the world's oxygen. They are under threats because of the increasing amount of plastic in the ocean.
Prochlorococcus - A photosynthetic organism - they are capable of photosynthesis; they are widely available o Earth and help by carbon cycling. It is also a source of food for marine species. However, the plastic has threatened the organism.
In recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, Biology scientists study the effects of plastic on these micro-organisms.
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They found two different types of plastic - Grey plastic grocery bags and PVC matting which was left in seawater for five days. This process leached chemicals from the Plastic, which was then used testing.
They found that plastic affects the organism's growth, the way they conduct photosynthesis and their genes. The study says that if they are affected, then the larger community of plankton will also be affected on a larger scale.
Plastic has been estimated to cause $13 billion in economic damages, however, the effect on these micro-organisms will incomparable.
Use of plastic in India
India consumes an estimated 1.6 million of plastic annually, 43% is plastic manufactured for single-use packaging material that will mostly find its way into garbage bins.
In all, 80% of total plastic produced in India is discarded according to the report in Down to Earth that cites data provided by PlastIndia Foundation.
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Plastic waste ends up choking landfills, drains, and rivers which flows into the sea where it is ingested by marine animals. It leaches into soil and water contaminating the natural environment with poisonous dioxins.
An estimate shows over 60% of about 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated daily. This huge amount of trash is being released into the environment especially through Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghan river system.
This river system is on the UN map of 10 rivers worldwide that collectively carry the bulk of the plastic waste into the ocean.
India consumes and produced Much more plastic than It reports
Thus, the CPCB estimate of plastic waste generated in India in 2017-18 - 660,787.85 tonnes, enough to fill 66,079 trucks at 10 tonnes a truck does not reflect the situation in more than 60% of India's states and Union Territories.
In 2016-17 too, CPCB received these from only 25 regional pollution boards. The total plastic waste generation fugues for that year was estimated at 1.6 million tonnes or 160,000 truckfuls.
The CPCB has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to enforce the implementation of the plastic waste management ruled by non-compliant states.
On March 12, 2019, the NGT ordered all of them to ensure that reports are furnished to CPCB by April 30, 2019.
Failure is to be punished with a penalty of Rs 1 crore per month, to be paid to the CPCB, the NGT stated.
Plastic wastes have been threatening to the climate, oceans, plants, birds, and drinking water as it is included in daily use products.
The most devastating elements of this pollution are that the plastic takes thousands of year decay. As a result, fish and wildlife are becoming intoxicated. Consequently, the toxins from the plastics have entered the food chain threatening human health. Humans are the primary source of producing and using plastics.
US's Berkeley Lab creates PDK, a fully Recyclable Plastic
In the USA a team of researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has designed a fully recyclable plastic which can be disassembled into its constituent parts at the molecular level.
The Discovery was reported in journal named - Nature Chemistry
Scientist have created a next-generation plastic that can be fully recycled into new material of any form, shape or colour without any loss of performance or quality.
The name of newly created recycled plastic is POLY (Diketoenamine), or PDK.
The function of Poly Diketoenamine or PDK
Scientists have discovered a new way to assemble plastic which unlike earlier takes recycling into consideration from a molecular perspective. It means that this recyclable plastic can be disassembled into its constituent parts at molecular level.
Unlike conventional plastic, the monomers which make PDK plastic could be easily recovered and freed from any compounded additives just by dunking the plastic material in a highly acidic solution.
The acid then breaks down PDK polymers into monomers and also allows monomers to be separated from entwined chemical additives that give plastic its actual look and feel.
Way forward
There are certain ways to reduce plastic, and there has to be constant efforts. There is no denying that plastic collection has reduced in Bengaluru according to some reports, but there is much more to be done.
Awareness campaigns are constant need
There has to be endless awareness campaign until people rise from slumber to bring owns shopping bags the usefulness of these thin and easily ripped bags are extremely limited. On individual level, with the help of certain influencers, people should stop buying plastic water bottles.
Same goes with straw use, there needs to be an attitude shift to a say no to straws plastic straws.
Technological shift
There is a need to switch from, disposable diapers to the cloth. Or diaper companies should use material which can be degraded easily in an environment without polluting it.
The majority of plastic waste is generated in the kitchen; there can be glass containers/ metal containers at place of the plastic one.
Addressing the issue of Waste Plastic
Waste plastic from packaging of everything from food, cosmetics, and groceries to goods delivered by online platforms remains unaddressed.
Municipal Authorities should change working
It will take a paradigm shift in the manner in which waste is collected and handled by municipal authorities to change this.
Proper implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016
Although the rules were notified in the same year, amended later and given high visibility by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, not much has been done to take the process forward.
Local Bodies should be more involved
At the very least, local bodies should consult manufacturers or importers to assess the problem.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Delaying such a measure has created the anomalous situation of small producers of plastics facing the ban, while more organized entities covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility clause continue with business as usual.
There are more thousands of ways to control plastic pollution. Comprehensive plans are needed to spread awareness among people to reduce plastic pollution.
What are the international efforts to regulate the plastic pollution?
Basel Convention
During the Basel Conference of the Parties from 29 April to 10 May 2019, Governments amended the Basel Convention to include plastic waste in a legally-binding framework which will make global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated, whilst also ensuring that its management is safer for human health and the environment.
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To Althea From Prison Richard
Lovelace (1649) "To Althea, from Prison" by the Cavalier poet Richard Lovelace is considered one of the most beautiful and balanced lyric poems in English. The famous line from its final stanza "Stone Walls do not a Prison make" supports a theme not original to Lovelace, that physical confinement may be transcended by imagination. Lovelace experienced imprisonment for his Royalist sympathies on more than one occasion, so he knew of what he wrote. In this carefully constructed poem he celebrates the fact that the human will has the capacity to triumph over adversity. Considered the finest of the "prison poems," it is valuable for its simple expression of a complex truth.
Each of Lovelace's four stanzas contains two quatrains and a rhyme scheme of ababcdcd, with repetition of Liberty as the concluding word. The first three stanzas open with the word When, and in each seventh line, the speaker compares himself to another being, over whom he triumphs in his feelings of liberation. only in the concluding stanza does he note the being who shares his feelings of victory, an angel. He uses imagery that supports his theme of spiritual freedom.
In the first stanza he describes "Love with unconfined wings," which "hovers within my Gates," or his metaphorical prison. He fantasizes that Althea arrives at the prison grates to "whisper" her love, and he notes his only "fettered," or chained, state is when he lies "tangled in her hair." Even "Gods that wanton in the Aire / Know no such Liberty." The second stanza employs imagery of flowing wine, by reference to Cups that flow so freely they may be compared to the Thames itself. He describes a time of celebration when are "our careless heads with Roses bound, / Our hearts with Loyal Flames." Again the prisoner imagines drowning his "thirsty grief" in wine during a time when all celebrants toast one another's health. He concludes that stanza by reflecting on the notion of the flowing river and the drunkenness that accompanies times of joy. Even "Fishes that tipple in the Deep, / Know no such Liberty."
The third stanza features a singing bird, the "linnet," to which the speaker compares himself as he sings "The sweetness, Mercy, Majesty, / And glories of my King." Alliteration helps emphasize the positive aspects of his ruler, making clear the speaker feels his incarceration is a worthy sacrifice. Not only will he sing, he "shall voice aloud" the king's goodness and his potential for greatness with the effect of "Enlarged Winds that curl the Flood," which "Know no such Liberty." The emotions of loyalty and devotion to his cause grant the speaker more freedom than the strongest winds, which obviously roam at will.
The imprisoned speaker makes his summary pronouncement in the final stanza, "Stone Walls do not a Prison make, / Nor Iron bars a cage," stressing that it is not physical confinement that defeats a man, but rather a lack of mental freedom. Instead of suffering in prison, "Minds innocent and quiet take / That for an Hermitage," meaning his prison becomes a refuge, allowing him to expand his thoughts. Lovelace concludes his poem with four lines of shining simplicity that summarize his truth:
If I have freedom in my Love,
And in my soul am free;
Angels alone that sore above,
Enjoy such Liberty.
By referencing angels and heaven, Lovelace elevates human love and imagination to a divine level, reminding readers that God created men superior to the angels and in his image. Rarely has a poet so concisely and skillfully undercut the power of his oppressors. Lovelace demonstrates through his art his topic, that of the power of the imaginative word.
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• berylla
When love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates figurative language?
5 years ago
What is the genre of althea, from proson?
1 year ago
• Stella
What type of poem is to althea from prison?
1 month ago
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The Fed does not set mortgage rates
Later today the Federal Reserve Bank Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to hike short-term interest rates. Contrary to popular belief a Fed rate hike could actually help mortgage rates improve.
To understand why one must consider the reason why the Fed is hiking rates in the first place.
The Fed has a dual mandate which is to maintain:
1. maximum employment
2. stable prices and moderate long-term interest rates
Interest rate hikes are a tool the FOMC uses to help stabilize prices (AKA curb inflationary pressure). Inflation is the primary enemy of mortgage rates because it erodes the purchasing power of the money used to repay the loan.
Consider if you were planning on lending someone money today and deciding on what rate of interest to charge. If you were informed that the value of the money repaid to you in the future would have less purchasing power due to inflation you would be prudent to add that additional cost into the interest rate.
As the Fed hikes short-term interest rates it should theoretically prevent future inflationary pressure which is good for home loan rates.
The FOMC does not directly set mortgage rates. The rate they control is called the Federal Funds Rate and practically speaking has a very obscure function (it is the interest rate charged between banks to lend reserve balances for overnight depository requirements).
As the chart below shows there is no direct correlation between the Federal Funds Rate and mortgage rates.
As you can see from December of 2014 to December 2017 the Federal funds Rate increased from ~.25% to ~1.25% as a result of four separate rate hikes. At the start of that time period conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates were averaging 4.00% and now? Still ~4.00%.
It’s important to note that the FOMC’s comments and actions can send ripple waves through the financial markets and can influence the direction of mortgage rates, for better or worse, but the Fed does not directly control the rates provided on home loans. |
24 December 1545 – Henry VIII’s Last Speech to Parliament
Posted By on December 24, 2013
Henry VIII On 24th December 1545, King Henry VIII made his final speech to Parliament. Historian Robert Hutchinson describes it as “both measured and compelling”, and writes of how Henry wanted “to impart a stern message” to all of his subjects. Lord Chancellor Thomas Wriothesley would normally have given the address, but Wriothesley was unpopular at this time and the King wanted to address Parliament instead.
In this speech, Henry VIII chastised the Lords and the Commons for the divisions regarding religion, saying:
“Yet, although I with you, and you with me, be in this perfect love and concord, this friendly amity cannot continue, except you, my lords temporal, and you my lords spiritual, and you my loving subjects, study and take pains to amend one thing, which is surely amiss, and far out of order, to the which I most heartily require you; which is, that charity and concord is not among you, but discord and dissension beareth rule, in every place. St. Paul saith to the Corinthians, in the thirteenth chapter, charity is gentle, charity is not envious, charity is not proud, and so forth, in the said chapter. Behold then what love and charity is amongst you, when the one calleth the other heretic and anabaptist, and he calleth him again, papist, hypocrite, and pharisee. Be these tokens of charity amongst you? Are these the signs of fraternal love between you? No, no. I assure you, that this lack of charity amongst yourselves will be the hindrance and assuaging of the fervent love between us, as I said before, except this wound be salved, and clearly made whole.”
He then moved on to addressing the clergy:
“I must needs judge the fault and occasion of this discord to be partly by the negligence of you, the fathers, and preachers of the spirituality… I see and hear daily, that you of the clergy preach one against another, teach, one contrary to another, inveigh one against another, without charity or discretion. Some be too stiff in their old mumpsimus, other be too busy and curious in their new sumpsimus. Thus, all men almost be in variety and discord, and few or none do preach, truly and sincerely, the word of God, according as they ought to do. Shall I now judge you charitable persons doing this? No, no; I cannot so do. Alas! How can the poor souls live in concord, when you, preachers, sow amongst them, in your sermons, debate and discord? Of you they look for light, and you bring them to darkness. Amend these crimes, I exhort you, and set forth God’s word, both by true preaching, and good example-giving, or else I, whom God hath appointed his vicar, and high minister here, will see these divisions extinct, and these enormities corrected, according to my very duty, or else I am an unprofitable servant, and an untrue officer.”
He concluded by imploring them all to remember the true meaning of God’s word and to treat each other like brothers, putting their differences to one side:
“I am very sorry to know and hear how unreverently that most precious jewel, the word of God, is disputed, rhymed, sung, and jangled in every alehouse and tavern, contrary to the true meaning and doctrine of the same; and yet I am even as much sorry that the readers of the same follow it, in doing, so faintly and coldly. For of this I am sure, that charity was never so faint amongst you, and virtuous and godly living was never less used, nor was God himself, amongst christians, never less reverenced, honoured, or served. Therefore, as I said before, be in charity one with another, like brother and brother; love, dread, and serve God (to the which I, as your supreme head, and sovereign lord, exhort and require you); and then I doubt not, but that love and league, which I spoke of in the beginning, shall never be dissolved or broken between us. And, as touching the laws which be now made and concluded, I exhort you, the makers, to be as diligent in putting them into execution, as you were in making and furthering the same, or else your labour shall be in vain, and your commonwealth nothing relieved.”
You can read the full speech in the appendix of Volume I of “Dodd’s Church History of England from the Commencement of the Sixteenth Century to the Revolution in 1688” – see link in Notes and Sources below..
This was Henry VIII’s last appearance before Parliament, although he didn’t die until January 1547.
Notes and Sources
17 thoughts on “24 December 1545 – Henry VIII’s Last Speech to Parliament”
1. Sonetka says:
Ah, Henry, you won’t be the last one to make that complaint! Though admittedly, the message of “shape up OR ELSE” would have made a much stronger impression coming from Henry VIII than from many other people.
Thank you for the selections and source; I had heard vaguely of this speech before but had never read any of it. It’s easy to forget the fact that Henry, for all his many faults, was an educated, gifted man with a compelling presence — it must have been something to watch him speak.
1. Mary the Quene says:
Sonetka, very good point about how easy it is to forget the reasons “Good King Hal” was beloved. In the text of this speech, I see the form of his daughter’s “I will not make windows into men’s souls” comments.
Claire, thank you for making this Henry VIII speech available to us!
2. BanditQueen says:
I admire Henry for making this speech; it is obviously wise and heart-felt and it is meant to attempt to draw the waring factions in the court together. It was a last attempt to get them to work as one for the good of his young heir as Henry sensed he was dying and would not face Parliament again. His speech was met with approval, respect and probably an applause. The nobles still saw Henry with awe; but a new age was dawning, one that the old King would never have recongnised. The words fell on stoney ground and were strangled by the weeds of the court who just would not put their own quarrels and petty ambitions aside. Henry’s attempt to unify and bring uniformity to the faithful of England was not going to bare fruit; human beings do not think in that way. I think Henry saw the future in the eyes of those before him, but he still wanted to end on a note that would be recalled as one of the great speeches of history. It is appropriate that it was given on Christmas Eve, as this is a time when we should put our differences aside in a symbolic rememberance of the birth of Christ. Enjoining the lords and commons and spititual to love one another as Christ taught was brave and I believe at that moment Henry meant it. I just feel it is a grave sadness that he did not give this speech ten years earlier and then lead with a true example.
3. Dawn 1st says:
To me it was a speech that came from the heart of a King who knew he was dying and leaving behind a vulnerable young heir, hopefully paving the way for a more settled and unified country for Edward to rule.
But I personally do think the ‘discord’ he was talking about that was very apparent in his court and country, was created by him.
I like to think he realised this, possibly regretted his more radical past actions. That he tried to recompense, and mend all that was broken as he got closer to his end with this plea for compassion and charity amongst his subjects.
A marvellous speech, but delivered too late by a fading Ruler to bring about any improvement.
1. The discord was widespread at the time-Europe was full of it-Martin Luther had hit home, and Europe was fed up with pontiffs who seemed more interested in temporal power than in the spiritual. That said, the Popes were not entirely to blame for their temporal concerns, but the contentious nature of Italy at the time, and the rivalries among the monarchs for power there certainly share the blame for the situation.
4. jed says:
Charity, discretion, the meaning of God’s word, love, dread, serve God, Most precious jewel, the word of God. What a vain, conceited, wicked hypocrite. It’s a wonder the house didn’t fall about laughing. When he had his health and strength, Henry VIII couldn’t abide the word of God and was quick to bend and override it when it suited him.
The fool was obviously panicked by the state he was leaving the kingdom in when his boy took over, as his men were without doubt a reflection of himself and his cruel hypocrisy. Even then, close to death, he washed his hands of any blame and blamed his men instead.
‘Good King Hal’ my ass.
1. Linda says:
Totally on the money. He made his subjects live in fear, executed how many innocent people, including two wives (one a queen) and yet had the delusional nerve to give such a speech as this?
5. I think JED ‘s response to the speech of Henry VIII was somewhat harsh. Henry was a deeply religious man all his life and in reality a devout Catholic. However in order to secure his divorce and produce a male heir he had to accept the influence of the reformers and as such King Edward VI had to be brought up protestant. Had the Pope granted the divorce I believe Henry would have remained a Catholic and the country would have remained loyal to Rome.
When one looks at the history of England prior to Henry VIII long lasting wars followed either a weak King or a minority rule. Hence the War of the Roses. I believe he was desperate to avoid that possibility at all costs, and thus his break with Rome.
1. Linda says:
He did far worse; executing a queen and another wife. It has even been postulated that Katherine Parr might very well have met the block had he lived.
A his a man who called for charity while being the most violent tyrant. Even in violent times, he was particularly brutal. I’m sure none wept when he passed.
6. Daniel McBride says:
Blaming everyone but himself. Evil pos.
1. Banditqueen says:
That doesn’t mean his plea was not sincere. Henry needed the Lords to stop destroying each other because he suspected he hadn’t long to live and he needed security, unity and concord for the safe ascension of his nine year old heir. Why are people so cynical when someone appeals for peace and harmony? Even if Henry was partly to blame, he had given them uniformity in order to bring both sides together and the Bible as a map for life, not for them to use for their own agendas. This was a real, urgent and heart felt appeal and one of the greatest speeches made by any monarch, including the do no wrong, Queen Elizabeth.
7. Julie Clarkson says:
Thank you Claire for sharing King Henry’s final speech to Parliament!!
I am moved that at he was so eloquent and honest considering all of the infirmities he was suffering from!
Genuine concern and love for his commonwealth are obvious and with all his faults still admirable!!
Thank you once again.
8. Christine says:
He knew there was rivalry amongst them, all trying to get that that next step up the ladder, it is a reproachful lamentable speech and one which he knew would be his last, he knew he did not have long on this earth and was trying to tell them to be honest and worthy, he must have trembled at the thought of his young son being left to reign at so tender an age, he must have been full of regret for his lost children and knew that his first born prince Henry had he lived would have been in his mid twenties and he would not have been so afraid of leaving his crown and kingdom behind, as he approached death he must have looked back over his reign and I believe he did have some remorse for how he had treated his first two wives and maybe for executing the young and rather heedless Catherine Howard, their only crime really was being human and he must also have regretted the deaths of Cromwell and More, it was a eloquent heartfelt speech and he meant every word, yet there is an eloquent of hypocrisy in it as he was chastising them also for using the word of God in vain, yet he had used God as an excuse throughout his tumultuous reign to get what he wanted and explain his actions, but what of that, he was King Henry V111 chosen and anointed by him to rule as sovereign Lord over his island kingdom, God understood the actions of King Henry V111! Merry Christmas to you Claire Tim and family and a merry Christmas also to everyone on the Anne Boleyn Files.
9. Charlene says:
No wonder he was surrounded by the greedy and corrupt; he’d killed or scared off all the honest men with his wanton violence, paranoia, and towering rages.
10. Banditqueen says:
I know that Henry had turned into something of a tyrant in his last few years, but it is not fair to judge his intentions in this speech by some of those unfortunate actions. His last speech was about what he hoped for from his son’s reign and advisers. Henry knew that he was dying, he knew this was his last Parliament, he was feeling his mortality and maybe some regrets. I don’t believe that he was being a hypocrite. He was expressing a hope and asking for unity. What is wrong with that and why the need for snide remarks when someone expresses hopes for the future, even if they may have fallen short of that ideal? Henry had aimed to create a sense of unity and uniformity in his church but it failed as he did not bank on people having different ideas. Well monarchs didn’t. Most of them were out of touch. Most of them are still out of touch. He hoped everyone would accept his reforms and agree. Elizabeth wanted the same thing, but again not everyone agreed. Henry himself was the victim of the discord and factions at his court, both through the rise and fall of his wives, three of whom were promoted by family or supporters, then attacked by the other side. Another was raised by Conservative support but was lucky to escape attack as she gave Henry a son. The nobles who had lost their heads did so partly down to factions and revenge able to manipulate a pliable King. Henry may indeed have made the final decisions, he alone in the end was to blame, but along the way the hotbed of intrigue found him easily susceptible to persuasion when it came to bringing a rival up for treason. A series of accidents and marital disasters had left him vulnerable and suspicious. Now he was at the end of his life, maybe he could set a scene to ensure his son made a fresh start. This speech is about that hope, not what Henry had done or failed to do, but the hope of peace and unity in his court, around a new King, whom he believed could achieve that religious and political unification.
11. Dale C. Rice says:
Henry VIII was a man used to having his own way and lived in a world accustomed to giving way to the Kings demands. It must have been a moment of great revelation that despite his power over life and death of his people that he could not compel the good behavior between men and women who to have known that their behavior toward one another would be noted by the KING. I see him coming to the close of his life’s work believing he had done all that he could to secure the future with a son only to brought to the realization his hope lay in a weak son, physically and two strong but able daughters. I hear a kind of resignation in this speech and I thank the writer for bringing to our attention. It was my first reading sad to say…but I will no doubt review it again as Mary Boleyn is now listed as my 13th great grandmother. DCR
12. Dale C. Rice says:
Sorry missed the word SHOULD have known
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There's no question that a roll of raffle tickets, a great prize, and some hard work can do wonders for a worthy cause. But there's one cause, in particular, that benefits even if it's not the focus. That's because raffles aren't just friendly, they're eco-friendly!
Trees Are the Answer
One of the great things about raffle tickets is that, if made properly, they produce little waste. If done correctly, any paper that isn't used when the tickets are printed can be used to produce the next batch, and so on and so forth. Less waste means less paper, and less paper means more tickets from fewer trees! Since Raffle Tickets can be created and ordered online, this also cuts down on the amount of paper being used – not to mention the amount of time you can save!
Earth, Wind, and Fire
Here's another thing to consider when thinking "green" for your raffle: Where does the energy come from to both create and transport the tickets? Advancements in alternative energies like solar and wind power mean that raffle tickets can be produced using renewable energy. Delivery companies also have alternative sources to turn to, like natural gas, which cuts down on the world's consumption of oil.
Earth Day, Every Day
Limiting waste and using renewable energies can go along with any raffle – but what about one that makes being Earth Friendly the focus? Imagine Raffle Tickets that are designed to look like small trees, or perhaps featuring a small image of an endangered species? Tickets could be purchased with bags of recyclables instead of money. There could be smaller prizes, like a tree planted in the winner's name. As for the grand prize, a home visit from a designer or architect who specializes in green homes would be great. If a car sounds better, make it one that gets great gas mileage, or go one step further and make it a hybrid!
No matter what the focus or prize, there's always more than one winner in a raffle: the lucky ticket holder and the environment! |
What Chances Does Life In Multiverse Have?
MultiverseArtistic impression of a Multiverse / Credits: JAIME SALCIDO
Scientists believe that there are more universes other than the one that we live in and that combined, all those universes are “multiverse.” The dark energy accounts for over 68% of the total energy in the universe. That same energy could be causing its accelerating expansion, which is low. The amount of the dark energy, lower than previously thought to be in the previous theories about the origin of the universe, is a factor which results in life existing in the universe, however, is there life in multiverse that we don’t know about?
Given that there is life in our universe, our universe is considered a lucky one, especially because more dark energy would mean that the universe’s expansion rate would be much higher, causing matter to be diluted to form stars and planets. In such a scenario, life as we know it wouldn’t be able to form, as the universe would be dead, like the rest of the universe, which in theory has higher amounts of dark energy.
A recent renewed simulation of the universe shows dark energy levels are hundreds of times higher than observed in our universe and that they wouldn’t affect the formation of stars and planets. That being said, life in multiverse would likely be possible in some other universe within it.
Jaime Salcido, a postgraduate student at Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology in the United Kingdom, and lead author of a research paper on the subject, said in a statement Sunday: “For many physicists, the unexplained but seemingly special amount of dark energy in our universe is a frustrating puzzle. Our simulations show that even if there was much more dark energy or even very little in the universe then it would only have a minimal effect on star and planet formation, raising the prospect that life could exist throughout the multiverse.”
Other than raising the possibility of life in multiverse being possible, there is another result that came with the simulation of the cosmos related to the multiverse theory which is the last paper of the late Stephen Hawking. The theory itself tries to explain the anomaly between the theoretical and observed amounts of dark energy to the universe, as well as its relation to how stellar and planetary bodies start to form.
“The multiverse was previously thought to explain the observed value of dark energy as a lottery — we have a lucky ticket and live in the universe that forms beautiful galaxies which permit life as we know it. Our work shows that our ticket seems a little too lucky, so to speak. It’s more special than it needs to be for life. This is a problem for the multiverse; a puzzle remains,” Luke Barnes, a research fellow at Western Sydney University, Australia, and coauthor of the paper, said in the statement.
Nevertheless, the simulation doesn’t mean that the multiverse theory is debunked. However, it suggests that there could be a yet unknown law of physics which could provide a good explanation about the amount of dark energy that has really been observed in our universe. There are two research papers that explain the simulation’s findings published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
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Process Addictions
process addictionAddictions that are characterized by acting out a process are called process addictions. Unlike a substance addiction, process addictions rely on carrying out a process step-by-step in order to achieve a euphoric state, where as substance addictions depend on the substance itself to do the work of creating a high. Process addictions award the addict the same rush of dopamine that one would get from an addictive substance. It is simply achieved through different means. Some of the most common process addictions are as follows:
• Sex. The process of having sex or participating in sex related activities is highly addictive to some people. Sex achieves a rush of dopamine that many sex addicts spend a great deal of time, money and energy seeking. Everyone gets pleasure from sex but some people become obsessed with having it.
• Gambling. The excitement and uncertainty of gambling can create an addiction within many people. The risk factor and the chance factor become some people’s personal fascination that they cannot quit. Gambling addicts are known to spend every cent they make on gambling.
• Video Gaming. Having an obsession with video gaming can strike any age, from adolescent to mature. Video game creators go to great lengths to make video games more and more immersive, and they have become highly addictive to a number of people.
Internet. Since the emergence of the internet, a number of people have begun using it compulsively and arranging their lives around it. It is highly entertaining and informative, which makes it difficult for anyone to put aside, but for people prone to addiction, the internet can prove irresistible.
• Cell Phones. Like the internet, cell phones are another life altering piece of technology that provide entertainment, communication and information to their owners. At first, cell phones are merely habit forming, but a number of people have taken habit to addiction by obsessing over their cell phones.
• Work. The term “workaholic” emerged to describe people who are obsessed with their professional endeavors. A workaholic is in the habit of putting their work above their family, friends, health and personal responsibilities This is considered a very real and detrimental addiction.
• Exercise. One may think that exercising is a healthy thing to de addicted to, but when someone is prioritizing exercise over their loved ones and life responsibilities, it requires intervention.
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Europe Part-1 - Remote Sensing Application - Completely Remote Sensing, GPS, and GPS Tutorial
Europe Part-1
It may come as a surprise to learn that many geographers consider Iceland to be a part of an extended Europe. It was settled by Europeans centuries ago and still has Danish roots. But, geologically, Iceland lies at the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. It sits atop one of the few places where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent spreading zone of volcanic origin, extends over a wide area above the sea surface. Take a look at this satellite image taken in summer when the winter snow have melted (but some of the white is a permanent icecap, shown again on page 17-5).
Iceland in summer.
Iceland has become a popular place for tourist visits. The Icelandic nation has a population of about 330,000 people. Its capital is Reykjavik, on its southwestern shores. Here is an ASTER image along with an aerial photo:
ASTER image of Reykjavik.
Aerial view of part of Reykjavik.
In a sense, this next image also belongs to Europe. The Canary Islands are a part of Spain but lie in the Atlantic off the coast of Morocco. The island of Tenerife is built as a volcano (called Teide) rising as an offshoot of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is seen here as a SIR-C image:
SIR-C image of Tenerife, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Another volcanic island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is St. Helena, shown here in an astronaut photo from the International Space Station. St. Helena was the British island where Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I was sent by the European allies into exile following his defeat in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. He remained on this bleak landscape until his death in 1821.
The island of St. Helena, Napoleon's resting place until his body was eventually returned to Paris.
Now to Europe proper.
Most of us are familiar with the shape of Europe and its surrounding regions from our geography lessons since our grade school days. Now here is what that continent (continuous with, but arbitrarily separated from, Asia) looks like as seen in a physiographic map (greens imply significant vegetation; browns could either mean less vegetation, as in Russia, or, in Africa, desertlike conditions):
Europe, from Iceland to the Balkans and western Russia, as depicted in a physiographic map.
Here is an up to date map of Europe that shows the countries from the British Isles to Russia.
To assist those who are not too familiar with the locations of Europe's major cities, we provide this map:
Map of the cities of Europe.
As we might cross the Atlantic Ocean in a spaceship, the first land we might see if enroute to, say, London is the British Isles. Here is a satellite view, looking east (top), of these great islands (Britain-Scotland-Wales and Ireland), with the continental coastline from about Normandy to southern Norway:
A satellite view, looking southeast, of the British Isles and the western European coastline.
Here is a map showing the major cities in the British Isles:
The British Isles.
Ireland, the "Emerald Isle" so dear to every Irishman, has been colored green in this next scene by projecting the TM Band 4 image through a green filter. The upper eastern part of the island is Northern Ireland, at the end of the Belfast Lough (actually, a marine bay). The large inland lake to the west is Lough Neagh. In this June image, late spring, the Irish countryside is truly a rich green almost everywhere. The Republic of Ireland occupies the larger part of the land. Its capital, Dublin is on the coast just below center right. The large island in the Irish Sea is the Isle of Man. The jutting land peninsula in top right is the tip of the Scottish mainland, at the Mull of Galloway.
The Emerald Isle - Ireland- in a natural color TM rendition.
The above image is much like one produced from SRTM radar data used to determine elevation. Low areas (central valleys) appear in green; higher, more hilly to mountainous terrain are in shades of brown:
The topography of Ireland as determined by SRTM radar data.
A bit of the charm of Ireland appears in this photo of Clifden, a resort town on the west coast in County Galway:
Clifden, on Ireland's west coast.
Dublin on the Irish east coast is quite familiar to American Irish who journey back to the land of their forekin. Here is Dublin as seen by SIR-C radar (Section 8):
SIR-C radar color composite of the Greater Dublin area of eastern Ireland.
And the center city as seen by SPOT:
SPOT image of central Dublin
And here it is "up close and personal", looking down O'Connell Street, the city's main thoroughfare:
Dublin, Ireland.
Ireland has always been a favorite destination for Americans, many of Irish ancestry and others who seek its enchantment as tourists. A must-see is the rugged west coast of the Republic of Ireland. A favorite of most visitors is the Ring of Kerry, which follows the coastline around the Iveragh Peninsula, in County Kerry. This SIR-C radar image shows the entire Peninsula, with a hint of the hilly terrain that marks its interior; below it is a typical scene along the Ring:
The Iveragh Penisula in County Kerry, Ireland.
Part of the Ring of Kerry; the Parknasilla Resort is the large building.
The British Isles have a special meaning to many Americans. From an historical standpoint, England especially is cherished, since it can rightly be called the "Mother Country". We look at southern England next in an unusual situation: a thick cover of snow blankets most of the landscape, a relatively rare event owing to the normally milder climate afforded by warm ocean currents.
Snow-covered British Isles; MODIS image.
The demographic structure of the main cities of the southern British isles is well-defined by seeing it at night, as it is displayed by its lights:
The urban areas of the British Isles, defined by their bright lights.
One of the great cities of the world is London, shown here in this scene that covers part of southeast England. The Thames Estuary is conspicuous. The countryside, in this March 1973 Landsat image, has just begun to "green up" as field crops and grasslands resume growth. Besides greater London (blue, near center), other well known smaller cities, among them Oxford and Reading, are hard to discern. The dark, vegetation-poor area in the upper right is East Anglia, whose rocky soils inhibit extensive farming. Through London itself passes the Prime Meridian (0°) for the global latitude-longitude coordinate system.
London in the springtime; a cropped Landsat MSS scene.
This ASTER image zeroes in on Greater London and surrounding countryside. The Parliament area shown two images down is near the center. The green areas to the west are St. James Park and Hyde Park.
ASTER image of London, October 12, 2001.
This annotated astronaut photo taken from the International Space Station shows many of the famed landmarks within the central city.
Astronaut photo of central London taken in April 2005 from the ISS
Americans feel a special kinship with England, despite our revolt against our "Motherland", its monarchy system, and unrepresented TAXES. But England's Kings and Queens remain through today. Here is the London home of royalty, Buckingham Palace, as seen by an OrbImage satellite:
OrbImage satellite view of Buckingham Palace.
London's fame and its tie to Americans' heritage will prompt us to spend a bit more time in looking at some of its landmarks. Greater London's area is among the largest in Europe. The image most of us conjure up when asked to visualize London will include the Parliament Building and Big Ben.
Ground photo of the Parliament buildings on the River Thames.
The Quickbird satellite has taken high resolution images of the Parliament buildings, the nearby bridge across the Thames, and the Jubilee Park rededicated in 2000 (Millenium Park) with its huge Ferris Wheel (400 ft high) known as the London Eye.
Part of London including the Parliament building.
An enlargement, taken at another time, shows both the Parliament buildings and the great Wheel in a different orientation than above.
Parliament and the London Eye Millenium Ferris Wheel.
Much of the same area seen in these two space images is identified in this map:
Map of the Parliament and government buildings areas in London along the Thames.
See if you can find the following in the images: Parliament buildings and Westminster Abbey; St. James Park; Waterloo Station; Charing Cross Station; Her Majesty's Treasury; St. Thomas Hospital. We show below a photo of perhaps the visual symbol of London, Big Ben and the Parliament buildings:
Aerial photo looking to the northwest from Westminster Bridge
Beyond the Thames and the government buildings, present day London is acquiring a modern look, with tall buildings (but few skyscrapers). Some tall buildings noted on the north side of the Thames in the space imagery take on a somewhat different perspective when seen in this color aerial oblique photo:
Aerial photo looking northeast from the Hungersford Bridge towards the Charing Cross Station district.
Two of the largest cities in England are Manchester and Liverpool, seen here in big versions (hopefully, to allow labeling to be read) of Google Earth images:
Manchester, England and surroundings
Liverpool, England.
In much of Scotland are the Scottish Highlands, low mountains that experience glaciation. They are a large part of this scene from space, with well known towns indicated by the annotation.
Much of Scotland as seen from space.
The northern and western parts of Scotland are mountainous (reaching altitudes above 1300 meters [4000 ft[). The Scottish Highlands (part of the great alpine chain that includes the Appalachians) are a popular tourist destination.
The lake country in the Scottish Highlands.
In the history of modern Geology, this is a famous region where many of the 19th Century concepts about metamorphism were developed. The Highlands are divided by the Great Glen Fault, a dextral strike-slip fault (west side has moved southward) around which the west block moved about 100 km southward. The fault localizes valleys and lakes, the most famed of which is Loch Ness (guess who lives in it?) at the north end. Here is a Landsat subscene showing the fault and the Highlands (Grampian Mts. at bottom center and Northern Highlands in upper left):
The Scottish Highlands; the Great Glen fault is the slanted linear trend left of center.
The mountains west of Loch Ness were once part of the present North American crustal block whereas those to the east belong to the Eurasian block. These blocks came together about 400,000,000 years ago as a supercontinent that has since split apart. The Great Glen fault is of that age. The fault itself is a zone of weakness where a river carved out a valley that was occupied by glaciers as late as 10000 years ago. Glacial deposits blocked the northern outlet causing the post-glacial runoff to collect into the deep Loch Ness. Here is another view from space together with an aerial view of the south end:
Loch Ness, from space.
Loch Ness, looking north.
In the western Highlands is the large Ardnamurchan Peninula, where the concept of a "ring dike complex" was first developed. Here is the area from space:
Ardnamurchan in the western Scottish Highlands.
The capital city of Scotland, the upper half of the British Isles, is Edinburgh (pronounced "Ed-in-bruh locally but "Ed-in-buro" by Americans). This is an ERS-SAR view, somewhat enlarged. Note the blackish oval feature in from the right center. That is the famed "Arthur's Seat", which was a key aid to the Scot James Hutton who is credited as the one who laid the foundation of modern Geology.
Edinburgh, Scotland as seen by the ERS SAR radar; the eastern edge of the Scottish Highlands appears in the upper left.
Less colorful but also informative is this Landsat image of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth:
Satellite image of Edinburgh and other areas around the Firth of Forth.
The old city of Edinburgh has a low skyline. Its wide streets help to make it an especially attractive city. Here is a view:
Edinburgh, Scotland; the Edinburgh Castle is at far right.
Across the North Sea from England and Scotland lies the northwestern part of the Netherlands, or Holland. The scene below reveals one of the great engineering feats by any nation. Much of the land was once under water or has been created by backfill. The great inland bodies of water were known as the Zuider Zee after they enlarged following breaches in the 13th century of the line of present day barrier islands known as the West Frisian Islands. In 1932 a 25 km (16 mile) barrier dam was completed to divide this water into the Wadden Zee (north) and Ijssell Meer (south). The change in flow facilitated drainage that reclaimed landmasses such as Flevoland, known as polders; these show up a bluish-gray areas. Some of the many Dutch canals are visible. Amsterdam, Holland�s largest city (in blue tones, near bottom center), lies along a major canal to the sea at the bottom of the silty Meer.
The lowlands and polders of Holland
This Envisat image shows Amsterdam near the top and Europe's largest port, Rotterdam, in the lower left:
Envisat image of part of Holland.
This Landsat subscene provides a closer look at Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside
Amsterdam and surroundings.
Look at the inner city, shown as a series of semi-circles. The map reveals their identity
Map of central Amsterdam; the blues are canals.
Amsterdam is a city of canals and travel by boat is common, but bicycles as well as cars are also much used.
A canal in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam and some other parts of Holland are on reclaimed land. Seawall dikes protect these areas, some being below sealevel. Two other cities in Holland are well known - Rotterdam (on one of the distributaries at the mouth of the Rhein) and the Hague (Gravenhage):
Rotterdam, SPOT image
The Hague, on the Dutch coast; SPOT image.
The capital of Belgium (and Headquarters of NATO) is Brussels, seen first in a Landsat image and then by SPOT:
Brussels, Belgium.
SPOT image of Brussels.
Nestled among Belgium, Germany, and France is the Duchy of Luxembourg, a small independent country. Here is a view obtained by the SPOT satellite:
Luxembourg in a SPOT image.
France has long been a major, generally stable part of Europe. Here is the entire country as seen in a satellite mosaic; below it is a map of the provinces of France (equivalent to the states in America):
Satellite image of France.
The French Provinces.
The queen city of Europe - in terms of beauty - is Paris, France. We have already taken a thorough visual tour of Paris on page 4-4, which you can check out as a refresher. As a reminder, here is a SPOT image of the City of Lights. Then we will show some other images of France:
Paris, France as seen by SPOT.
First we examine a very famous area off the English Channel - the beaches of Normandy, the scene of the Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944 (see the movie "The Longest Day"), and part of the Cherbourg Peninsula:
Normandy, France; Landsat image.
This is a map of the five landing beaches and a satellite strip showing Omaha and Utah beaches (both attacked by American troops):
Map of the Cherbourg Peninsula and Normandy beaches, with attack code names
Omaha and Utah beaches.
This next photo can be labeled "What was Eisenhower thinking when this was chosen?" It shows the cliffs at Omaha Beach and remnants of fortifications on the flat land above.
Aside from Paris, there are few really large cities in the French interior. One of the smaller is Clermont-Ferrand on the Allier River which passes through the Auvergne:
Landsat image: Clermont-Ferrand. |
Relay control in sendmail for roaming users
Last Update 2001-06-02
Relay control is based on either the recipient address or the origin of an e-mail. The first is very simple to control, but the second can be a problem: what is the origin of an e-mail? This can either be based on something simple like the connecting host (IP address/name) or it can use SMTP STARTTLS / AUTH as implemented in sendmail 8.11 / 8.10, which allows users to authenticate themselves to enable relaying without requiring any of the "hacks" listed below.
In this document some hacks are described to provide less sophisticated forms of authentication which do not use SMTP AUTH. The best of these methodes is called POP-before-SMTP.
Authorize relaying based on authentification provided by a modified POP daemon
POP-before-SMTP requires a modification to a POP daemon, some utilities, and a simple addition to the sendmail configuration. This is an idea from John Levine, described by Scott Hazen Mueller. It has been implemented by Neil Harkins and John Levine .
Some utitilities are necessary to create a map for the rules in the file. Here are some of those:
Since there are several broken rulesets available which cause the volunteers at additional work, here is a ruleset for sendmail 8.9 and beyond which is very simple:
Notice If you use sendmail 8.10 (or beyond), the default for this hack is to require a tag (POP:) for each entry in the map. To turn this off, you need to use:
define(`POP_B4_SMTP_TAG', `')
The old HACKs for 8.8 have an option _POPAUTH_
Other Solutions for POP-before-SMTP
Authorize relaying based on the sender address
This is a Bad Idea as cf/README points out:
Allows relaying if the domain portion of the mail sender
is a local host. This should only be used if absolutely
necessary as it opens a window for spammers. Specifically,
they can send mail to your mail server that claims to be
from your domain (either directly or via a routed address),
and you will go ahead and relay it out to arbitrary hosts
on the Internet.
However, sendmail 8.10 and later versions provide a slightly better feature:
Allows relaying if the mail sender is listed as RELAY in
the access map. If an optional argument `domain' is given,
the domain portion of the mail sender is checked too.
This should only be used if absolutely necessary as the
sender address can be easily forged. Use of this feature
requires the "From:" tag be prepended to the key in the
access map; see the discussion of tags and
FEATURE(`relay_mail_from') in the section on ANTI-SPAM
Use the mailserver of the ISP
There is yet another, very simple solution: roaming users can also try to use the mailserver of the ISP through which they connect to the internet. In this case they usually are authenticated by dialing into the ISP. |
Education Literacy Math Reading Writing
Peter, Paul and Mary vs Paul, Peter and Mary?
by Robert John Stevens, May 30, 2016
Today I emailed my good friend Dr. Melvin J. Luthy and asked some questions about ordering words in a list, and obtained his permission to publish his responses:
Q. Should Peter, Paul and Mary have named their group Paul, Peter and Mary—listing their names from one to two syllables?
A. No, not necessarily. The issue is more one of rhythm. As a title of the group, the rhythm works well. There are two two-syllable words functioning as “bookends” to the single-syllable word. It is difficult for us to consider other orders for these words because they are so engrained in our minds from hearing them so much. Had one of them been a three-syllable name, they might have opted for a different word order.
Q. It is difficult to differentiate between how we order:
Peter, Paul and Mary
Sales, Business and Personal Letters
A. “Sales, Business, and Personal Letters” is a perfect example of “shorter to longer” in a list. It meets all the criteria of order and rhythm.
Q. I am hesitant to ask this question again: Why then is Sales, Business, and Personal Letters good order and rhythm but Paul, Peter and Mary isn’t?
A. It probably isn’t, but this phrase has been repeated in our ears so many times that it has become to feel natural. Maybe they argued about whose name should come first, and Peter won the argument. Actually, because there are only two syllables in two words, vs. three, it seems to work very well. If one of them had been three syllables, it wouldn’t work well.
It just occurred to me that it is probably the alliterative “p” sound in the sequence that is the most deciding factor in the word order. It adds to the rhythm.
Persuasion Writing
Why remove the emotional parts of persuasive writing?
If extreme negative emotions come through in persuasive writing then it will be ignored or marginalized by very the audience for which it is directed.—Glen Mella, former president of Control4, May 21, 2015
I asked Dr. Mel Luthy to rewrite Glen’s quote and here’s what he sent me:
If your persuasive writing is too emotional, it may lose credibility with those for whom it is intended.
A word of caution: If your persuasive writing is too emotional, it may defeat your purpose and
alienate your audience.
Discretion is the better part of valor.—Shakespeare |
Everyone in the World Should Be Taxed on Their Energy Footprint
In another instance, a civil servant for the United Nations lives in the diplomatic district of the capital of a developing nation. Despite her strong commitment to improving the world, her work- and play-spaces remove her from the society she’s supposedly serving, while revolving around a carbon-heavy diet of jet travel and imported goods and experiences.
Both these lifestyles, hatched in the 20th century and continued in the 21st, show disregard for ecological costs associated with global networks, alongside a culture of wasteful consumption. Yet such behaviours have only increased: a third example represents the 21st century’s remote workers, freelancers and consultants. Employed as web-designers, interpreters or editors, they boost mobility by leveraging online jobs, cheap airline tickets, powerful passports and unregulated sharing technologies such as Airbnb and Uber.
This fluidity of movement allows this class, to which I belong as both a freelance journalist and a former UN official, to transcend the 20th-century model of a white-collar job tied to the country of residence and taxed income, and relocate away from expensive London, Geneva or Hong Kong to affordable peripheral foreign capitals such as Lisbon or Hanoi. But the money saved comes at the expense of massive energy outlays associated with disposable, socially detached living, and the kind of frequent international travel required to tap into the cost benefits achieved by inhabiting cheaper nearby countries. Members of this class show scant consideration for the huge environmental footprint their transnational lifestyles incur, and their calculations are driven by financial rationale and market-driven competition.
So, if our current tax systems don’t penalise damage to the planet and can be side-stepped by the nomadic, hybrid lifestyles unlocked by technology, one solution could be to shift from disconnected national taxation systems to a collaborative global regime, whereby individuals are charged on the basis of their personal energy footprint. Those eating and living locally, rarely travelling on airplanes, and using recycled or multi-purpose materials would be taxed less than high-living internationals fuelling their lifestyle with imported products and jet travel. Equally, those whose job requires frequent travel and a high-energy footprint would pass the tax bill on to their employers, compelling companies to factor ecological impact into their bottom line.
Imagine being able to access a real-time summary of all your energy choices over your smartphone, not unlike a calorie-counting or ebanking app but vastly more omniscient. It would allow individuals and companies alike to follow, in a simplified way, how and why they are taxed on a range of retail consumer and travel transactions.
The system, administered by an international body, would know – and charge tax payers accordingly – for choosing, say, a bottle of mineral water shipped over from France over a locally bottled one. It would also track consumption, and reward retrospectively: refunds would flow when packaging gets recycled instead of ending up in landfill.
Once established, this would be a tax system of synchronised complexity, simultaneously tracking a multitude of transactions across the planet in supermarkets, airports, real-estate agencies and gas stations. Construction companies would get taxed on the quantity of materials and their transported distance, and penalised for the surplus discarded. Those anxious to acquire the latest cellphone would find their passion reflected in their tax bill. All legally sold products – from electronics to cans of beer to houses – would be fitted with sensors tracking the energy generated in their creation, transport, consumption and disposal. The value assigned at the end of the process would be split between the producing company and the consumer.
Empowered by artificial intelligence, this new form of taxation would track off-base comportment, too. For example, when estimating the charges incurred by a holidaying tax payer, the system would take into account the distance travelled, mode of transport (trains generally being more energy-efficient than airplanes) and the total amount of energy consumed. Choosing to leave the hotel air-conditioning on throughout one’s stay, or to take a hot-air balloon sightseeing trip rather than a hike, or to consume foreign-grown rather than local foods would all contribute towards a higher tax bill. Thoughtfulness would always be rewarded.
The futuristic-sounding technology supporting this system has existed for some time, whether in the form of RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips, nanobots or interconnected sensors hooked up to the Internet of Things and verified by blockchain, a form of triple-entry accounting also known as a distributed ledger. The only innovation would be in bringing them together in an integrated, global structure.
Undoubtedly, there is something massively intrusive about a digital panopticon capable of tracking our every move and choice in a personalised, real-time manner. Concerns could be managed through a more limited version based on a comprehensive consumption tax that would slowly fold out into the fuller system.
But companies and intelligence agencies have already deployed this technology for years – with our explicit or implicit consent – when tracking consumers and criminals. Rather than hiding behind platitudes, would it not make sense to embrace technology’s power, and reach for the mass good by consciously encouraging ourselves to live more responsibly, while initiating a public debate on how our data is shared and among whom?
An energy footprint-based tax system would accelerate our transition to a regenerative economy and help us fight climate change. The system holds societal advantages, too. Taxing us on the basis of our energy consumption counters the creation of migration choke-points, and encourages local innovation by downplaying imports, while reducing the kind of inequality between more and less economically developed countries that was baked into our global system of trade and consumption. It would compel the 1 per cent to pay its rightful tax share by eliminating avenues of evasion such as moving to tax havens or renouncing citizenship. Finally, the tax would encourage us to demand that transnational corporations behave ethically, by annulling the partial economies that they pass on to us, and which encourage our silent consent.
Iason Athanasiadis
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Types of Dance Styles
List of dance style categories | Videos & Descriptions
Dance is one art which everyone appreciates and love doing. There are numerous dance forms, which differ on the basis of language, geographical location and religion. Dance is the best way to lift your mood and forget your worries. Scroll through the article to learn about various dance styles and categories.
Most Popular Dancers of All Time
S.No Popular Dancers
1 Mikhail Baryshnikov
2 Rudolf Nureyev
3 Madhuri Dixit
4 Joaquín Cortés
5 Gene Kelly
6 Martha Graham
7 Shakira
8 Madonna
9 Hrithik Roshan
10 Michael Jackson
Ballroom Dance Styles
Originated in Italy, ballroom dance styles are swept over other parts of the Europe and United Estates. Here’s a list of various ballroom dance styles:
1. Waltz – This dance form was originated in the mid-19th century and got popular under the musical influence of the famous composer Johann Strauss. It is a graceful and slow two-person dance, which represents a gold standard and the most famous dance of the ballrooms around the world.
2. Tango – This dance style was created in the Argentinean region of Rio de la Plata. It is a fascinating sensual and energetic style.
3. Cha-Cha-Cha – This dance form is a rhythmic dance style that originated from Latin America, which managed to merge both the slow and energetic movements in a beautiful way.
4. Rumba – This Cuban dance is popular for its sensual hip movements of dance partners. Since its creation in 1930s various types of Rumba were created, like Cuban Rumba, Catalan Rumba, Flamenco Rumba and African Rumba.
5. Samba – It is a famous dance and musical genre that originated in Brazil. It is a partner dance, where most steps are danced with a slight downward bouncing or dropping action.
African-American and Traditional Jazz dances
6. Swing – This dance form is similar to the jazz and swing music of the 1920s-1930s.This dance style has many variations, like Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, West Coast Swing and Rock and Roll.
7. Tap Dance – This dance style was first introduced during the 1920s. This dance form includes the sounds of tap shoes hitting the floor as a form of drumming. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal tip or “tap” on the heel and toe.
8. Moonwalk – This dance form displays the illusion of walking backwards. It was first performed by pop icon Michael Jackson in March 1983, and later became one of the popular dance moves around the world.
Worldwide Dances / Latin dances
9. Salsa – Salsa is of the famous dances in Latin America, North America, Europe and Australia. It is a very sensual dance form, which includes energetic movement and innovative choreography that was influenced by Mambo, Changuyi and Rumba.
10. Flamenco – This famous Spanish dance gained its popularity only in the 18th century. It is a magical and energetic fusion of singing, guitar playing, dance and handclaps.
11. Country / Western Dances – The country dance form is made not from a single dance but includes many other dance forms and styles that can be performed to country-western music. This dance form includes strong dance floor etiquette and has the ability to perform multiple dances styles on a dance floor at a single time.
12. Folk Dance – Folk dances represent the musical and cultural heritage of religion or country. Folk dance or traditional dance is popular all around the world in hundreds of unique variations and styles.
13. Belly dance – One of the most famous oriental folk dances in the world, Belly dance is an expressive dance form that originated from Egypt. This dance technique includes the complex movement of the torso and entire body utilizing sudden percussive movements and fast shimmies, shivers and vibrations of the hips or the ribcage.
Professional performance dance
The professional dance was first introduced in the early years of Italian Renaissance when music, dance, arts and poetry started to become popular.
14. Ballet– Ballet is the most highly technical and famous of all performance dances. It was originally created in the 15th century in Italy during the Renaissance, but it gained popularity in countries such as France and Russia. This dance form is characterized by light, graceful movements and the use of pointe shoes with reinforced toes.
15. Contemporary dance– This dance form is a highly complicated type of modern performance dance that was created in the mid-20th century as an alternative to classical dance styles. It focuses on free leg movement, disordered choreography, unpredictability, strong stress on the torso, multiple and simultaneous actions, non-standardized costumes, improvisation, dramatic sets and lighting.
Hip-hop & Funk dance
Hip-hop and funk were evolved from the music style that was first introduced during the 1970s. These dancing styles found a great foothold in the United States, France, United Kingdom and South Korea.
16. Breakdance – This dance form is one of the most athletic dances in the world. Breakdance is danced solo and requires talented dancers to perform the series of freeform dance or athletic movements alongside break-beat, hip-hop or funk music.
17. Locking – One of the famous variations of hip-hop and funk dance is “locking”. The core technique of this dance style is to suddenly stop and hold the position in the middle of the dance, and then suddenly resumes the dance.
18. Popping – Popping is another variation of the funk street dance from the 1960s and 1970s that gained popularity all around the world. The technique includes quick contrasting and relaxing of muscles that will create the feeling of a jerk throughout the body.
Modern Dances
Electronic and rock music gave birth to modern dance forms like House, Punk, Rave and Disco dance.
19. House dance – House dance is based on house music which was born in New York and Chicago clubs. This social dance form is popular all over the world.
20. Disco dance – This super easy dance form became popular in the 1970s. Fans of this music often wore extravagant and sexy clothing while dancing any rules or boundaries.
21. Bollywood dance – Bollywood movies and Bollywood dance has promoted Hindi dance music to the world. This dance form is characterized by Bollywood dance by incorporating choreographies, energetic movements, and dances that involve a large number of participants.
Summing Up
Dancing is an important part of many cultures around the world. Each dance form has its unique beauty, but all of them are united by their common goal of artistic expression and the celebration of the human body.
What is the hardest dance form in the world?
Ballet dance, Aerial dance, Tango dance, Synchronized swimming dance, Capoeira dance and several more are considered to be the toughest dance styles to learn and master. Its exertion level is tremendously high that only a few skillful dancers are pursuing these dance forms.
What is krumping dance?
It is a street dance popular in majority parts of the United States, characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated, and highly energetic movement. This dance form is often related to gang life and “to express raw emotions in a powerful but non-violent way.
Where did the shuffle dance come from?
The Melbourne shuffle is a rave dance that developed in the 1980s in Melbourne. This dance form is typically performed in electronic music. |
Everyone has that one friend who can seemingly eat anything yet not gain a single pound. The underlying reason is their metabolism rate, which is - lucky for them - above average. Most people digest food and convert it to energy at a normal pace, meaning that if they eat more than their bodies consume, they end up gaining weight. There are, however, steps you can take to speed up the process naturally. Find out top 10 tips to boost your metabolism.
1. Eat More Proteins
Different foods have varying effects on your metabolism levels. Scientifically, this is known as the thermic effect of food, or TEF. A higher TEF means that your body needs more energy to digest calories and process nutrients. One of the foods with the highest thermic effect is protein. Protein makes our body work more than other foods to properly digest it; it can increase our metabolism rate by around 30%, whereas other food types only do so by 5% to 10%. Moreover, protein leaves you feeling full and energized.
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Kashrut | Keeping it kosher Rabbi Altshul and Miriam Bell
Food has always played an important part in Jewish life and many popular dishes are associated with the Jewish kitchen … think of chicken and matzeball soup in the west and hummus and falafel in the east. Writer Miriam Bell and Rabbi Samuel Altshul have outlined the dietary laws and rituals that guide Jewish food preparation.
Food has always played an important part in Jewish life and many popular dishes are associated with the Jewish kitchen …Think of chicken and matzeball soup in the west and hummus and falafel in the east. But what makes Jewish food particularly Jewish? The answer would have to the Jewish dietary laws known as “Kashrut” or kosher.
These dietary laws originate from Genesis which says that mankind was intended to live only from the produce of the land. This was later extended to include meat from all animals as long as the blood was not consumed. Later again, this was limited to the meat of cattle, certain poultry and certain fish.
Like modern dietary trends, such as the “macrobiotic diet”, the basic idea behind a kosher diet is that what we eat is what we become. It is also informed by the concept that everything we eat has significant influence on both our physical and our spiritual wellbeing. Additionally, the idea that it is necessary to harness physical fancies to try to sanctify life plays a part in the kosher diet.
Six braided Challah on traditional platter. Baked 5 June 2009 by Emily Wiese and Aviv Hod © Wikimedia Commons
Ritual slaughter (shechitah)*
To be kosher, meat has to be processed correctly before it is cooked. Only animals that have cloven hoofs and chew the cud and known kosher species of birds are acceptable for ritual slaughter. Only a person with specialised skills – a shochet – is allowed to conduct the slaughter, and they must do so with respect and reverence for the life of the animal.
Only animals reared for consumption from the outset can be slaughtered, and those animals have to be 100% fit to qualify. The slaughter itself is done with an special, extremely sharp knife which ensures the animal dies instantaneously. Post-slaughter, the animal is opened up and inspected for internal sickness.
After inspection the animal is split into pieces and veins and forbidden fats are removed. Again, this can only be done by a specially trained person and requires scrupulous handiwork. The meat then goes through a process of soaking, salting and final washing to draw out any remnants of blood before it is ready for consumption.
It is acceptable for the kosher consumer to eat fish as long as they have both fins and scales. However, no other type of seafood is acceptable – including eggs from non-kosher fish such as lumpfish and sturgeon.
Separation of milk and meat
In Biblical text, there are three cautions not to “cook a kid in its mother milk!”. For this reason, milk and meat are strictly separated in Orthodox households. Not only are the two not eaten in the same meal, a waiting period ranging from one to six hours is observed between ingesting the two. (This depends on local tradition: in New Zealand it tends to be three hours.)
This separation also means that separate cooking equipment, plates and cutlery are used for the two categories. The kitchen of an observant Jewish family will often feature two cupboards with identical contents but in different colours designated for milk or meat.
Food is often referred to as being either milchish/fleisish, taking from the Yiddish for “like-milk” and “like-meat”, or chalavee/basaree from the Hebrew terms for the same.
Vegetables, fruit, natural produce and eggs belong to a neutral category called parve which can be used with both milk and meat. Although fish is also considered parve, it is not cooked with meat and, in some traditions, it is not cooked with milk.
The strict separation of milk and meat creates problems when making cheese. Traditionally, most cheese is made using natural enzymes from calf stomach. As this is a combination of milk and meat it presents a special challenge to kosher cheese production. However, most modern kosher cheese is produced with enzymes derived from vegetables.
Wine is part of many Jewish rituals, and is a symbol of joy and happiness. According to kosher standards, wine has to be produced under the strictest supervision. This is done because, historically, wine has been used in the religious rites of many cultures and the thought of consuming something sanctified to a foreign deity is an abomination to observant Jews.
Processed foods
Modern food production results in many products which have an animal origin or another unsuitable background. It is not usually possible to simply read a label to find out if a product is kosher. Rather, a product needs to have been fully investigated and certified as kosher by an appropriate agency. If this has occurred, the product will feature a small symbol on the label for easy identification by the kosher consumer.
Tarnapol © Wikimedia Commons
Tarnapol (kosher certification) image sourced from
Most countries have their own rabbinical agencies to inspect and approve food production facilities. International kosher symbols (“Hechshe”) which can be found in NZ are OU (Orthodox Union, USA), OK (USA), London Beit Din, Beit Din of South Africa and Kosher Australia.
New Zealand also has its own kosher agency, and Auckland its own Jewish Deli. The Kosher Kiwi Licensing Authority provides kosher supervision of the highest international standard to kosher consumers around the world.
Image above header: Photograph reproduced here with permission from photographer Stephen Robinson. © JoM
1. * See further articles on controversy over shechitah:
2. New Zealand Jews plan to fight for shechitah []
3. Partial victory in New Zealand in fight over shechitah ban []
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As a rule, when the people are disposed to struggle, the task of socialists is to help them prepare and organize their political campaigns most carefully. (This was motivated by a discussion regarding Karl Kautsky’s political legacy.)
Julio Huato
This note was motivated by an interesting discussion on Doug Henwood’sFacebook page regarding Karl Kautsky’s political legacy. A prior version of the post ended in item 15. The remainder was updated on 3/11/2019.
1. One can learn from history, but more than that is required to build socialism. It will take a gigantic leap in mass creativity to resolve the singular, novel problems the struggle faces today, let alone those that it will face tomorrow.
2. To learn from history means two things: (1) to study it in light of the present needs of the struggle and (2) to socialize this knowledge (i.e. to help working people appropriate this knowledge) in and through today’s struggles as widely and deeply as possible.
3. In principle, the more educated, organized, and united the working class is before taking the reins of the State, the more likely to withstand the tsunami of opposition that will be unleashed against it.
4. However, while the task of socialism is to endow the workers’ movement with the sharpest historical consciousness and careful political planning, the struggle will necessarily be subject to a host of surprising circumstances or shocks and, more importantly, to wild swings in the people’s energy and morale.
5. It is incumbent upon the leadership of the movement (and there will be a leadership, though better if it is committed to historical self-effacement) to anticipate these ebbs and flows in the disposition of the people and prepare conditions by careful organization and planning to increase the chances of success in each of the struggles.
6. As a rule, when the people are disposed to struggle, the task of socialists is to help them prepare and organize their political campaigns most carefully. While it is a responsibility of socialists to warn people when their movements are misguided, make them aware of potential difficulties and risks, socialists should not seek to discourage or demoralize the people, but rather be supportive of them in their struggles.
7. When people are most demoralized, the task of socialists is to go back to the basics in terms of the preparatory work of organization from the bottom up, drawing the hard lessons from prior experience. This preparatory work consists of helping the workers organize to carry out local, temporary, narrow, concrete struggles to improve their living and working conditions within the confines of the existing social order. It is only on the basis of a substantive development of this basic-level organization that the workers get themselves ready to take up broader political struggles.
8. A democratic socialist State will seek to minimize the use of coercion even against its most ruthless adversaries, because the productive forces spent in coercion are diverted from the most essential tasks of reconstructing social life. While seeking to minimize coercion, a democratic socialist State, with due respect to its own laws, must be ready and willing to use coercion decisively against those who may take illicit action to disrupt the social order under construction. The rulers will not, except in isolated individual cases, respond to persuasion. They will only answer to the language of coercive power or credible threat thereof.
9. The material content of all social power is cooperative labor power. The highest form of social power flows from labor cooperation elicited by logical and factual comradely argument. Cooperation elicited by coercion, by psychological manipulation, or by exploiting necessity leads to lower forms of social power that wind up backfiring.
10. To minimize coercion, the workers need to (i) enlighten themselves (i.e. appropriate extant science and technology subordinating them to their needs), (ii) build up and strengthen their organization (i.e. develop a complex organizational ecosystem, with overlapping networks of working-class mutual support), and (iii) unite broadly while fostering division, disorganization, and demoralization among the rulers.
11. Ability to disrupt the social order is cheap. The social order itself is already highly disruptive of human life and of the metabolism between human society and the rest of nature. Entropy is not our friend. Organization is. Ability to construct a new social order, to reorganize social life on a new democratic basis is dear. Again, the ability of people to consciously structure a new social order depends on their self enlightenment, organization, broadest unity, and militancy.
12. The ultimate concern of the ruling class is not profit but profit-making, i.e. the social order they rule. Their real concern is not quantity, i.e. the speed with which their capital grows, but quality, i.e. their ability to exploit labor recurrently, which requires the permanent fragmentation and impoverishment of the direct producers: the workers.
13. As a consequence, any serious political challenge will confront the kitchen sink, i.e. the ruling class will seek to sabotage, disrupt, disunite, throw a monkey wrench in economic and social conditions overall, and then blame socialism for the mess. The rulers will resort to terror with 100% certainty, and the most serious and formidable terror is not that of paralegal thugs, but the terror of the State apparatus. Hence the need to conduct the struggle in ways mindful of the essential need to win over the rank-and-file workers in the State apparatus.
14. The working class should be fully aware of what a serious social transformation entails. It is the high responsibility of working-class leaders to help people gain awareness of this fact demonstrated by history many times over and confront it by drawing the necessary practical conclusions from it.
15. Any serious social transformation will elicit a brutal response by the rulers. Again, the rulers will seek to derail the transformation. The rulers need not wait passively until the working class develops its power fully before it tries to abort their political development. At which particular points may the rulers intervene to disrupt this development is a contingent issue. The rulers may panic or they may sleep at the wheel. To exemplify, new forms of fascism do not require that the working class represents a clear and present challenge to the social order as in 1930s Weimar. It suffices that the challenge appear to the rulers as a concrete possibility.
16. What should the nature of the interplay between State and political formation of the working class (i.e. the party) be during the construction of a democratic socialist society? (By “the party” I do not mean here a single organization claiming the monopoly of political representation of the workers at the exclusion of other organizations, but their actual political formation, perhaps in the form of several organizations vying for the workers’ political representation.)
17. In principle, the difference between these two institutions is clear. The State stands as the legal and political organization of society as a whole. The party seeks to represent the interest and goals of the workers as a class, an overwhelming majority of society, but not the whole of it.
18. In the transition to socialism, the State represents the legal and political organization of the whole of society. But, unlike the myths of bourgeois political representation, there should be no pretense here that society constitutes a harmonious unit. The rights of capitalists are respected within the confines of existing law, and their rights as individuals and as citizens (including here their political freedoms, human rights, etc.) should be inviolable. But capital as a social relation is not acceptable, because it is inimical to the workers and to the survival of humanity.
19. However, the State represents a social body divided into classes and groups in a structural, mutual, irreconcilable antagonistic relationship. There is a strong temptation among social-democrats to pretend that this is not the case, to idealize the State as floating above class conflict, to downplay social antagonisms as fruits of a misunderstanding that can be resolved through dialogue, etc. This attitude can only lead to confusion among workers — though rarely among capitalists.
20. Yes, there may be temporary stops along this path of development, some of these stops will be relatively prolonged as some cycles in the class struggle take whole generations, but a society engaged in a process of socialist construction will be always seized by an ongoing internal conflict that can only end for good with its complete disintegration (whether or not capitalism can be restored is another question) or with the consolidation of a global socialist order.
21. In the process of construction of socialism, the internal social antagonism finds temporary resolutions in impasses or, rather, the forms of resolution of the conflict are temporary compromises (de-facto and/or de-jure) that reflect a relatively stable balance of forces between classes, but these compromises will be revised in the longer run.
22. Changes in the population and its composition, changes in the character and extent of the productive forces of labor (including here changes in environmental conditions), and spiritual changes in society will end up stressing and exhausting these relative stable compromises, and new political crises will ensue. There should be no confusion about the irreconcilable character of the opposition between the social classes.
23. The construction of socialism is a painstaking, Sisyphean process that requires an intense collective focus and organizational effort. Disrupting this process, something that the class adversaries will insistently pursue, is relatively easier. The conditions to blow the planet to pieces or to restore a capitalist society (not necessarily a stable or highly functional one) are those that lead to the disorganization of the workers, their division and disarray, their impoverishment, and their ideological retreat to mutual prejudice, sexism, racism, ethnic nationalism, religious bigotry, individualism, etc.
24. Even if its representatives are in highest office, the party seeks to advance the interest of the workers, and such interest — as evidenced in periods of acute political crises — is diametrically opposed to the interest of the capitalists. There is no guarantee of success in the process of building socialism, but a key element is concentrated attention on political conditions, on the strengthening of the workers’ party, on the development of its leadership position in society by taking the intellectual, moral, and political high road. From the viewpoint of the party, State actions and policies are not technical matters; they are eminently political in that they alter the class balance of forces. For example, in economic policy-making, to the party, the notion of “efficiency” translates as: No squandering of productive forces devoted to building socialism!
25. Of necessity, the relationship between State and party is complex. As the leading political party in society, its role is not to administer the State or govern. Its role is not to usurp the official functions of the State but to lead and mobilize society — chiefly through intellectual, moral, and political suasion — and thereby the machinery of the State, which remains subject to its own norms and procedures, to take the steps needed to build democratic socialism. If successful, this process will lead to the gradual dismantling of the State as a separate structure, the absorption of its “political” functions by the associated producers.
[Julio Huato is a member of the Steering Committee of the Union for Radical Political Economics and of the editorial board of the journal Science & Society; received a Ph D in finance and international economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, a master’s in economics from the New School for Social Research, and a BA in economic planning from the Universidad de La Habana; teaches economics at St. Francis College; originally from Mexico, has lived in Brooklyn, New York since 1997.]
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The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization provides a liberal arts education in new global realities and their connections specifically to history of culture in the Near East and Central Asia. A detailed and critical knowledge of ancient and modern languages of these regions is of utmost importance for a better understanding of their rich cultural heritages, and development of language skills requires cultural-historical knowledge. This includes the following:
• Development of language skills, including proficiency in ancient languages of the Near East, and proficiency in modern foreign languages of the Near East and Central Asia, involving all four language skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening).
• Expansion of student understanding of cultural diversity through study of languages, literature, religious, and other cultural aspects of the ancient and modern Near East and Central Asia:
• Close textual and hermeneutic studies of ancient languages and texts.
• Classical and modern literature.
• History of culture.
Additionally, NELC focuses on the development of student abilities in:
• Critical analyses of texts.
• Thorough understanding of historical and cultural contexts.
• Integrative and critical thinking.
• Analytical writing.
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How to Blur Water
To blur water you need to work with slow shutter speeds which result in longer exposures - this means you need to use a good sturdy tripod. The amount of blur you create with the water depends on two things; the speed the water is moving and your choice of shutter speed. To achieve the blurred water you could use either Aperture or Shutter priority or Manual modes on your camera. A good place to start would be Shutter Priority mode with a shutter speed of 1/10th of a second.
Bracket your exposures
Experiment with the level of blur you can achieve at exposures of 1, 4 or 10 seconds
Use a Neutral Density filter
In bright conditions, to ensure that you can get slow shutter speeds, think about using a Neutral Density (ND) filter to stop light entering your camera. To get very long exposures in bright light, you may need an extreme ND filter, such as a Lee Filter Big Stopper, which blocks 10 stops of light.
Cover the eyepiece
When shooting with very long exposures, best practice would be to cover the viewfinder eyepiece, this reduces the chance of unwanted light entering the camera.
Use a polariser
You can use a polariser to either reduce or enhance the reflections on water. Polarisers also act as a 2-3 stop ND filter, allowing you to have slighter longer exposure times.
Choose a slower shutter speed
If you use a shutter speed close to 30 seconds, the water should blur completely, giving almost mirror-like reflective capabilities. Think about using this in your image, especially if you have lots of light sources which could be reflected.
Keep an eye on the tide
When working near water, particularly if it is tidal, make sure you are aware of the tide times and your route back - tides come in faster than you think and it is easy to get cut off. Fast flowing waterfalls and rivers can also be dangerous, so be aware of your footing as wet rocks pose a slip and trip hazard. |
It’s time to vote out flawed Electoral College system
Owen Murphy ’19, Editor-in-Chief
The election of Donald Trump in 2016 revealed a massive failure of the American government: the Electoral College. The Electoral College determines the President based on the winner of the majority of the 538 votes cast by the members, who represent the votes of each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The distribution of electors is based on the number of representatives, including senators, that the state sends to Congress, plus three for DC.
This mechanism has damaged the American political system from nearly its conception, but the election of Donald Trump without the majority of Americans’ votes, compounding George W. Bush’s recent similar election, has finally forced the issue of electoral reform into the political consciousness of America.
The Electoral College system is broken; there are no two ways about it. It is destructive to the American people that the government is meant to serve and the American ideals that the government is meant to embody.
It is argued by some that the Electoral College should be maintained because it serves as a safeguard against the ability of the majority to oppress the minority; however, the current system does not amount to a defense of the rights of the minority, but, rather, it is an attack on the authority of the majority.
It is obviously necessary to limit the power of the majority, but when arbitrating the conflict between majority rule and minority rights, it is indefensible to resolve the matter by allowing minority rule. In addition, the Electoral College gives greater weight, not to every minority, but to a single specific minority that populates only certain states, where the dominant opinions often differ strongly from those of the majority.
Two of the last three presidents were initially elected by a minority of the voters. In fact, presidential votes in some less populated states count for more than three times that of voters in some more populated states. Indeed, it has even been demonstrated that candidates could theoretically win in the Electoral College with less than 25 percent of the votes of Americans. Such a system is antithetical to American values of equality and representation.
The ability of any president to govern with the approval of only a minority of the people ensures that the priorities of the majority can be subordinated to the priorities of that vital minority, to the detriment of the American people as a whole.
While these problems have become evident to much of America, the solutions are less obvious. Many reformers have proposed a simple shift to a popular vote in which the victor is chosen by the majority of votes. This seems like a reasonable proposal that would eliminate the chance of minority rule. However, a reformation of the electoral system is an opportunity to not only stop minority rule, but also to allow for the addition of new beneficial features.
The best plan currently proposed is the creation of a ranked choice voting system. This would allow voters to rank their choices of candidates for president. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated from the race, while the votes they received would be redistributed to the next ranked candidate for each vote.
This type of election process would allow for the growth of third party voting because the ability to rank will mean that voters can choose to vote for third party candidates without revoking their support for candidates from the two major parties. Candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties would likely continue to dominate the election field, but minor parties and, more importantly, their ideas would grow in influence on the national stage.
Ranked voting would better demonstrate the actual opinions of the American people to their representatives by allowing voters to express their agreement with minor party platforms without endangering the election of the voters’ prefered major party candidate. This would accelerate the incorporation of minor party ideas into the major parties because the influence of those ideas would be more obvious. The major parties’ platforms would grow closer and closer to what the American people actually support.
Such a system would eliminate the inequality of power inherent to the Electoral College and make the office of the president as representative as possible of the desires of the American people. The current system, which fails to support the will of the majority of Americans, threatens the legitimacy of the American republic. To maintain the faith of the American people in their government, America must reform the Electoral College. |
Gdp is not a perfect measure
Also, economists are at best neglectful of a measure like GPI genuine progress indicator. As mentioned above, current production is counted. For example, a small elite might enjoy political liberty and extreme wealth while the vast majority are effectively enslaved and live in abject poverty.
As a result, GNP may have risen, but the welfare of the U. Four major studios were hit with lawsuits this year over their accounting of royalties dating all the way back to the s.
How asset-price inflation and economic growth differ
Katrina destroyed homes, businesses and resorts. If government spends more — even if inefficiently — output goes up. Investment in housing construction is also included.
Bevor Sie fortfahren...
Definition of gross domestic product GDP: Statistical frameworks are intended to summarise what is going on in our complex society in a few easily interpretable numbers. Furthermore, childcare by mothers at home does not count although it contributes to the quality of life Therivel,p.
Gini coefficient
If housing is rented, the value of the rent is used to measure the value of the housing services. To answer the question if GDP is a good measure of economic activity, it has to be clarified which predictable factors influence this activity and whether they are considered by GDP or not.
So we can say that inflation is a factor in calculating real GDP. There are certain situations wherein using GNP is useful, but if used improperly, it can confuse and deceive. The word nominal refers to the units the production is measured in, namely the current currency of the country in question.
These studies, for instance, verify and quantify what should be obvious: Indeed, it is the most widely reported statistic in every developed economy. Nevertheless, GDP is also criticized because it does not consider facts such as income distribution and the impacts for the environment by the economic growth McDowell et.
It was never designed to become a measure of the country's well-being, but sinceit has been exactly that. Government spending is also on the way down — thank you, fiscal cliff and sequestration — so that part of GDP is falling, too.Problems in Measuring the Cost of Living •The CPI is an accurate measure of the selected goods that make up the typical bundle, but it is not a perfect measure of the cost of living.
Is the GDP a perfect measure of economic well-beingAnd How it measure economics well being?
Substitution bias The GDP Deflator versus the Consumer Price Index. Explain why GDP is not a perfect measure of economic well being of a nation. By definition the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is a measure of the income and expenditures of an economy.
Also, it can be defined as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a. GDP is not a perfect measure of well-being because it does not include the value of leisure, it is not adjusted for pollution or other negative effects of production, and it is not adjusted for changes in crime and other social problems.
Even though it is not a perfect measure, economists can use real GDP to i) compare how the value of the goods and services produced in China have changed over the past 10 years ii)look at the length of recessions and expansions in the United States.
"Although such methods are not perfect, they also are not susceptible to the same problems as GDP." Other imperfect but helpful measurements include statistics on education, nutrition and sanitation.
Economists can also measure costs for the same basket of goods in different countries to compare purchasing power and adjust GDP.
GDP no doubt is a good measure of the value of output produced by an economy but it is not regarded as a good indicator of the welfare or happiness of the citizens of its country.
GDP 'not sufficient' for measuring economic wealth
There are certain serious problems in relying solely on national income statistics.
Gdp is not a perfect measure
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The Gift Of Giving: Why Random Acts Of Kindness Are Good For You
Extra reasons to be sound.
“That’s my good deed done for the day.” How often have you professed this to a friend and how did you feel when you said it? Chances are you felt pretty pleased with yourself, because doing good for others actually makes us feel pretty great ourselves, so much so that scientists have nicknamed it The Helper’s High.
Plus, get this. In an age that favours self care, it’s interesting to note that a 2007 study carried out by University of Louisville found that contrary to popular opinion, we actually get a bigger buzz doing things for others than we do when we seek pleasure for ourselves. Good deeds, therefore, may be the best self care of all.
What’s more, science has also discovered that good deeds pay massive dividends for our health too. Various studies have found that altruism, when we put other people’s needs before our own, has a massively positive impact on our wellbeing, helping to reduce stress, strengthen our immune systems and even lower high blood pressure. Truth is, anger and hostility have a hard time existing when we’re being kind, and the absence of negative emotions can only mean good things for our health.
Volunteering with a charity is one way to spread a bit of kindness (Pic: Instagram/Inner City Helping Homeless)
Make a difference
But what is it about good deeds – like giving up your seat on the bus for a stranger or buying a coffee for the person next to you in the queue – that gives us the warm and fuzzies? “Acts of kindness act as a reward system to people,” explains psychologist Dr Jolanta Burke. “We subconsciously know that doing good will make us feel better about ourselves, therefore, acts of kindness act as both motivation to make us feel better and a reward afterwards.” Basically? Being sound boosts our self esteem.
“Another reason may be due to the return on investment,” Jolanta explains.
Kindness is associated with other beliefs such as karma, whereby people do good so that in the future they will be rewarded for it, which makes them feel better. It is also linked to morality; knowing what it means to do good and actually doing it are two different things. Subconsciously, doing good is associated with being a ‘better’, more superior person, therefore acts of kindness make us feel good about ourselves.
There’s an element of social acceptance going on here too. “It can also be associated with status, for some people,” says Jolanta. “For example, being seen as a good person at work can enhance our group status. Interestingly, when we do something nice for someone, we like them more, so this bonding works both ways.”
But, full disclosure, Jolanta warns that you shouldn’t necessarily be doing random acts of kindness with your own satisfaction in mind. “Doing interventions with an intention to enhance our happiness can actually reduce it,” she notes. In other words, it’s got to come from a genuine place, not a selfish one.
Buy a colleague (or a stranger) their morning coffee
Chain reaction
That’s a tactic Karen, 34, uses when she’s in a bit of a fouler. “It’s when I’m in my worst moods that doing something kind for someone else helps me the most. When I’m in that kind of mindset, it’s absolutely the last thing I want to do, but it definitely makes me feel better.
Sometimes when I’m stuck in really bad traffic in the mornings and feel myself getting angry, I muster up a feeling of kindness in me and I let a couple of waiting cars out in front of me. That might sound mad to some people, but it switches my focus from being angry and irate and having no control of the situation, to actively doing something positive and kind that will make someone else’s morning a little less stressful.
“Does it make the traffic go away? No, but it does make me a little less bothered by it and I feel good for having made someone else’s day just that little bit easier.”
Small gestures like these can create a lasting impression on the recipient – I polled some friends on the random acts of kindness they’ve encountered and they recalled with fondness the times when strangers paid for their parking, complimented their outfit, and even ran across the street to give them an umbrella when it was raining – but can this really spur a chain reaction of good deeds?
Jolanta is dubious. She explains that “People like to be seen as good-doers and for many, receiving is harder than giving.” (True that. How often have you reluctantly accepted a compliment or told your friend you couldn’t possibly let her pay your half of the brunch bill?) “Receiving creates guilt,” Jolanta notes.
Thus you have motivation to keep giving it to others in order to reduce it. A less cynical view might be that the recipients of acts of kindness have enhanced levels of positive emotions, especially if an act of kindness was unexpected, therefore, it allows them to act more altruistically, as giving to others is more likely to happen when we are in a good mood.
Give someone a compliment, whether you know them or not
Random to regular
Psychology aside, we could all do with being a bit more kind to each other, so how can you make kindness a regular habit? “Firstly, I wouldn’t overdo it, as it may become a chore for us and have the opposite effect,” advises Jolanta. “However, if people want to make it part of their lives, I recommend that they select one day a week, which will become their Act Of Kindness day and when in the shower, they come up with ways in which they can do good today.”
See, “clustering your acts of kindness into one day is most beneficial,” Jolanta explains. “The research recommends three big acts of kindness or five small ones done all in one day to see a positive boost to your wellbeing. Spreading all these acts of kindness throughout the week would not make as much of a difference to your wellbeing.”
Truth is, we live in a pretty scary world where negativity and nastiness can often run riot and that’s why we need kindness more than ever – and perhaps why it seems to have a bigger impact than ever before. Bottom line, being a little nicer to each other can’t hurt. Mahatma Gandhi said to be the change you want to see in the world, and kindness is definitely somewhere to start.
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Blog-Making brain healthy decisions PART 2
Making Brain Healthy Decisions Part 2
Previously, we discussed how the quality of your decisions determines your success in all that you do. That is why one of the steps of our online program focuses specifically on improving your decision-making abilities.
As promised, here are 6 more helpful tips you can use to make better brain healthy decisions every day:
1. If we want our children to make better decisions for their lifetime we need to do a much better job of taking care of their brains.
The brain is not fully efficient until we are twenty-five years old. To avoid disrupting early brain development, help young people avoid smoking, substance abuse, brain trauma, a lousy diet, stress and poor sleep.
2. People who struggle with addictions may also have ADD or ADHD. When left untreated, a person has less ability to control his or her impulses, setting them up for significant health problems, poor decisions, and early death.
Natural ways to treat ADHD, include intense aerobic exercise, a very healthy diet, a multiple vitamin, fish oil, and supplements (such as green tea, rhodiola, l-tyrosine) or medication to enhance prefrontal cortex function.
3. Being overweight is damaging to your prefrontal cortex, and can have a negative impact on the decision-making part of the brain.
Getting your weight under control, starting now, will help you enhance your health and longevity.
4. Practicing self-control is a good exercise to strengthen your prefrontal cortex. The more you use it the stronger it gets.
To develop your prefrontal cortex, you can practice saying no to the things that are not good for you and over time you will find it easier to do.
5. Low levels of omega three fatty acids have also been associated with ADHD, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity – all brain issues that lead to poor decision-making.
You can optimize your omega-3 fatty acid levels by eating more fish or taking fish oil.
6. Keep a journal. On one piece of paper write down the specific goals you have for all the main areas of your life. Then ask yourself every day, “Is my behavior getting me what I want?”
This simple but profound activity can be of tremendous help in encouraging better daily choices that add up to a better life.
You have a choice about how you respond to life and the decisions that are a part of every day. Amen Clinics has helped tens of thousands of people improve their brain health. If you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from an evaluation, contact us today or call 888-288-9834.
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1. How do I order the brain fit games? says:
Need help with memory loss. My memory seems to be getting worse. Need to do as much aci can to stop this degeneration. I’m taking supplements and watching what I eat.
2. Carol says:
We love the following supplements: green tea, rhodiola, tyrosine and S-Ame ! Thus, wondering what does that convey about brain type?
3. Christine Sullivan says:
I was in a drowning incident when I was nine in a river in Hobart Tasmania..I am now 59..I was not examined at the time, as I regained consciousness naturally in the rescue process , vomited and didn’t seem affected. There was a foamy light pink froth in the vomit..
That year I had bad dreams, and was bullied at school, so much from staff and in the playground that I developed tonsilitis and was sick so much throughout the year, that I was forced to stay back and repeat the third year..with the bullying teacher.
From that year, I seemed unable to concentrate, was more forgetful , couldn’t comprehend what I read, and also could not understand mathematics..I shut down until grade six..where I was bought out of myself with a great teacher, a nun, who seemed to understand all the children better..
There was encouragement and challenges and responsibilities given to each of us, and mine was to be a leader and also to act in plays, I had a good voice and sang well from an early age in competitions as a solo singer at age 6 and with my young cousins in duos and trio harmony performance where we were awarded…I went on to become a successful singer in Australia,
I have always thought there was something wrong with me , and could not comprehend what I read until I was 27..
There is more to the story, so I put it down to the stress, trauma neglect and ignorance of my upbringing..I was also bullied at Kindergarten before the drowning,and my mother kept me at home..My mother was 38 when she became pregnant with me, she was a heavy smoker, and didnt know she was pregnant, for a while she was also depressed as was her mother,. I told her I had not many memorys of her as a child, and she said, She wanted me to die and when something happened to me , like the drowning etc she would feel shocking guilt..
I was alone a lot as a child, and played alone, ran away twice as a very young child , my siblings were much older, my brother 12 years older and my eldest sister 20 years older..
A saving grace was a grandmother. my sister and her friends and when they were home the games with my brothers..
My mother wasn’t violent, but neglectful and resentful as was her mother..Her mother also became paranoid and sicker after each child, she had eight children, no help etc
I had an abortion at 16, once again I was alone, it was illegal in Tasmania, and I had to fly to Melbourne with my young boyfriend to have an abortion, our choice..
My mother would have destroyed our lives even more, by making leave school and marry..
As a singer I always had to have the lyrics on stage in case of a black out from anxiousness..this rarely happened on stage..
Singing was also a saving grace..I have much to be grateful for. but would like more answers..My family wont talk about anything ..Should I have a brain scan here in Australia ? The other little boy in the incident who was only three, did suffer brain damage, and the family moved out of the neighbourhood and I never heard from them again..Very sad..
Am I just suffering from anxiety due to upbringing or was this hereditary ? My father was also a chain smoker, but I think this was because of Mums constant verbal abuse and scapegoating..Mum was definitely depressed and my siblings have had issues with alcohol., gambling, workaholics, perfectionism, asthma, excema, and nervous breakdowns..My fathers side of the family had no mental illness, that we are aware of..Recently I was hospitalized after fainting and heavy heart papitations with a suspected heart attack and it was only too much coffee and anxiety from this..I am also intolerance to Salicylate, which at the time I was abusing a lot..Salicylate is in many healthy foods, so blueberries etc., so my diet though restricted to bland colours give me the nutrients I need….
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Jerusalem temple menorah
Menorah is also an hebrew word and it mean a lamp.
The first Menorah was inside the holy Temple in Jerusalem , it was a golden menorah with seven branches.
the menorah considered a Jewish symbol and a symbol for the israel state.
In many Arсhаеоlоgісаl ѕіtеѕ that were discovered ancient соіnѕ were found dесоrаtеd bу іmаgеѕ seven branches menorah Mеnоrаh.
The first menorah in the holy temple had seven branches. Each branch symbolized one day of the week and it burned olive oil. The second menorah also had seven branches, but when the first and second Temples were destroyed seven-branched menorahs were no longer used. Seven-branched menorahs are available in today’s modern times though, in honor of and as a reminder of the first menorah.
The Menorah and the Temple
First and foremost, the Menorah, as mentioned earlier, is written about in the Bible regarding the portable sanctuary in the desert and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Meaning, explicit instructions are given to Moses by G-d regarding the construction of a seven-branched candelabrum that was made of gold and was called Menorah.
The Menorah is described as being made of a one piece of gold which is quite mind-boggling considering the intricate detail on the Menorah- flowers, knobs, and almond-shaped cups; not to speak of six symmetrical branches, three on either side of the central vertical branch. There is a difference of opinions among Biblical commentators as to the shape of the branches- with some saying they were semicircular and others saying they were round.
The Menorah and Hanukkah
The Hanukkah Candle holder associated with the Rabbinical holiday of Hanukkah is a nine-branched candelabrum, as opposed to the seven-branched candelabrum associated with the Temple. The Menorah is lit on each of the eight nights of the festival of Hanukkah (the ninth candle is used in order to light the other candles and is placed either higher or lower than the other candles so as to differentiate between them) so as to commemorate the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Temple after the Jewish people successfully revolted against the Seleucid monarchy. When the Jewish people entered the Temple they found only enough oil to light the Menorah for a single day but the oil lasted for a miraculous eight days. In celebration of this, Jewish people light the Menorah on each of the eight days of the Hanukkah festival.
The Menorah and the State of Israel
In 1948, the symbol of the Menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side was selected as the official emblem of the State of Israel. The image is based on the depiction of the Menorah as it appears on the Arch of Titus in Rome.
The symbol of the Menorah experienced a reawakening after the State of Israel adopted it as its official symbol and since then it has become a global symbol that represents Jewish pride, the richness of Jewish history and the belief in ultimate good despite the trials and tribulations that make up the Jewish people’s past.
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The Origin Of The Oldest English Cup Competition
< Back to Blog The Origin Of The Oldest English Cup Competition
The Origin Of The Oldest English Cup Competition
Date : September 06,2019
Author : Jake Woodward Categories :
Origin Of The Oldest English Cup Competition
Ancient Football
People have been playing football, or at least a primitive form of it since the Han Dynasty, where a leather ball filled with feathers was kicked around. The ancient Greeks and Romans had their versions of the game as well. It is speculated that the Romans brought these rudimentary versions of the game to the British Islands when they invaded them, and this essentially, was how football was brought to English soil. It would take centuries to take what the invaders had brought to develop into football. Sources say that in medieval England, an inflated pig's bladder was used as the ball.
Matches were often violent and unorganized, and sometimes entire villages took part. By the mid 17th century, football had more or less evolved into the refined modern game we know and love today. The sport was trendy in public schools, and on the evening of October 26th, 1863, the Football Association was founded. This was also when football and rugby were established as two separate games. The FA would act as a regulatory body, laying down the rules of the game.
First FA Cup
Where there is an organized sport, there is bound to be some competition. The first ever football competition ever held was the Youdan Cup. It was held four years before the first ever FA cup and was played between February and March 1867, in Sheffield, England. It was the first ever knockout football tournament.
The tournament got its name from Thomas Youdan, a local theater owner who sponsored the competition. Twelve teams took part, and the game was played in compliance to Sheffield Rules, rather than The Laws Of The Game, which was established by the FA. The finals were held on the 5th of March, 1967, Shrove Tuesday - a holiday for working-class men. It took place between Hallam FC, the second oldest football club in the world and Norfolk FC. Hallam won by two rouge goals. A playoff was later held on the 9th, which Norfolk won. To pay homage to its legacy, since 2015, youth academy teams compete in The Youdan Trophy.
The Longest Running Cup Competition
The longest running club competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, contemporarily known as the FA Cup, took place four years later, in November 1971. Ever since then, the tournament has been played every single year, except during the two World Wars. There were a total of fifteen teams, all of which mostly comprised of former public school students. The finals took place on the 16th of March where the Wanderers beat Royal Engineers 1-0. This year's FA Cup would be its 148th season.
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Shandong Gansu Qinghai Ningxia Hebei Liaoning Shaanxi Shanxi Inner Mongolia Henan Beijing Tianjin
China's Great Wall
Great Wall
The Great Wall is China's best known historical monument. Stretching 1,674 miles [2,694 kms] it has formed China's northern boundary for thousands of years. With impassable mountains forming the border to the west and south-west, and the sea to the east it is the northern boundary that has always posed the main threat to China. In ancient days, the nomadic people of the northern steppes were illiterate; herding grazing animals for a living. Occasionally groups would use their superior horsemanship to advantage by raiding Chinese towns for silk and lacquer-work. Sometimes these raids were large enough to threaten the Chinese Empire. In 166BCE 140,000 horsemen came within 100 miles [161 kms] of the capital Chang'an.
Great Wall, tower
Great Wall in China, near Beijing
Fortress and Great Wall
In Chinese the Great Wall is called Chang cheng long fortress or Wan li Chang cheng ten thousand li long fortress although it actually measures 12,000 li (Li is a Chinese unit of distance of 0.5km). The term ‘fortress’ does seem strange for a wall but the Great Wall was always more than just a wall; with watchtowers in clear view of each other, continually manned, there were requirements for food and other supplies for the thousands of people defending it. So it was more like a community strung out in a long line than a bare wall. When defenders spotted an enemy a beacon fire was lit which soon propagated to the next in the chain - by smoke (from burning wolf dung) during the day and by fire at night. The beacons alerted defenders to send out help from the closest fort, similar to what can be seen in the Muster of Rohan in the Lord of The Rings film.
Like other Great Walls around the world, a wall is just as much about keeping people in, as keeping 'barbarians' out. Without a well maintained border people would be free to evade justice and taxes by just crossing the border whenever they wished. It also has a key symbolic role of marking the border so people definitely knew if they were inside or outside China.
Great Wall
Great Wall 1994. Image by Teresa Ray
Great Wall, Beijing
The 'Arrow Buckle' section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu near Beijing
The wall was not all built at one time, much of what people see at Badaling near Beijing is a modern 1950s and 60s restoration of a Ming dynasty rebuild of an original wall. For many hundred of miles the wall has not been well maintained and is in a state of dilapidation. There are also 'gaps' in the wall, it was never a continuous feature. Far away in the Gobi Desert where stone and wood were not to hand, layers of pounded soil and reeds made an adequate alternative as rain is so rare. So only the easternmost 500 miles [805 kms] from Ningxia looks like the modern image of the Great Wall. There are a few viewing locations open to vast numbers of tourists along the route including: Badaling 达岭; Mutianyu ; Huanghua Cheng ; Simatai ; and Jinshanling .
The chief architect of the Great Wall was Qin Shihuangdi - the First Qin Emperor of China who conquered the kingdoms making up China. One of his many initiatives for nation-building was patching up and linking the various walls that had been built over the preceding centuries. Previously, in the Warring States period, many of the kingdoms had built walls to defend themselves. He ordered General Meng Tian to use up to 300,000 slaves to build new and strengthen existing walls. About 500 million tons of material make up the wall. For the Qin dynasty and those that followed, the Wall marked the division between the civilized world and the barbarians outside. The ‘Great Wall’ as it is understood today (the brown line on the map) stretches from Shanhaiguan on the Yellow Sea (near QinHuangDao, Hebei) all the way to the 嘉峪 Jiayuguan Jade Gate, Gansu in the depths of the Gobi desert. A plaque at Shanhaiguan proclaims it as 'Tian xia di yi guan' the First pass under Heaven, identifying it as the edge of the civilized world. The tower at the western end at Jiayuguan, Gansu was built in 1372 on the orders of the first Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang; the walls are 38 feet [12 meters] high and (800 yards [732 meters] long. The story goes that the fort's construction was so carefully planned that only one brick was left over when completed.
Nu Mengjiang
Many legends are told of the making of the Great Wall evoke the hardship of the hundreds of thousands who were forced into service to build it. The emperor used conscripted labor and many families lost their men to the endeavor. Of particular concern was the burial of the many who died building it, a very strong cultural tradition dictated that the body should be returned to the ancestral burial ground, but most were just interred under the Wall itself. Nu Mengjiang's husband was one such conscript. Nu Mengjiang went to seek out her husband and after much searching was told he was buried beneath the Wall. After three nights of Nu Mengjiang's sad and lonely vigil, the Wall split open revealing the bodies of the dead including her husband clasping the other half a jade hairpin she carried with her. Heartbroken she threw herself into the sea. A temple at Shanhaiguan commemorates the legend.
Great Wall
Photo by Georgio , available under a Creative Commons license .
Built to take five horsemen riding abreast with regular watch towers and forts, the Great Wall was designed to impose itself on the landscape. This led to some to hypothesize that it could be seen from the Moon long before space travel. This did not turn out to be true, the Great Wall is only a few yards wide, and features that small can not be seen from such a distance. The suggestion was probably triggered by the apparent discovery of canals on Mars .
After the Qin dynasty the succeeding Han extended the wall to the west to defend the new territories they had conquered (the Gansu corridor). Over the next few hundred years the Great Wall served mainly as a border marker and little was done to keep it in good repair. It was only on the reunification of China under the Sui dynasty that the Wall was repaired and strengthened using as many as a million men as laborers. It served its purpose well for many centuries, but when the Mongols invading it kept them out for only a few years (1211-1215). When the Mongol dynasty came to power the wall lost any strategic value as Mongolia and China were united and it began to fall into disrepair again.
Ningxia, Great Wall, ruin
Ming re-build of the Great Wall
During the following Ming Dynasty paranoia about possible attacks from the north led to a military expedition northward by Emperor Zhengtong in 1449. It led to a humiliating defeat brought on by incessant rain and poor leadership. An estimated 500,000 troops took part, and it ended up with the capture of the Emperor himself and the massacre of the Army. This debacle led many to favor a strengthening of the Great Wall to block any further trouble and forget any ideas of conquest north into Mongolia. The new line of the wall did, in places, follow a different line to the original Qin wall. The crippling expense of the wall was a subject of great debate, construction started in 1455 and continued sporadically until the fall of the dynasty in 1644. Rather than the low, earth built walls in the western section the Ming walls were chiefly of stone. Each section was allocated to a district within China who had to supply the conscripted labor - thy would form a mini-community as the wall was built. At strategic points it was not just a single line of wall but made of two or more parallel walls. The average height was 24 feet [7 meters] and 21 feet [6 meters] thick at the base. The core was filled with earth and rubble while the top was lined with three of four layers of brick. A carriage could ride along the top of the wall. A series of cannons were mounted along the wall to defend it.
Gansu, Jiayuguan, camel
Camels in front of Jiayuguan Fort, Gansu
Manchu invasion
All this effort proved pointless in the end. The fall of the Ming dynasty to the Manchus who lived beyond the wall was fueled by internal strife as much by foreign assault from beyond the Great Wall. It was the rebellion led by Li Zicheng that sparked the demise of the dynasty. Li was born at Yan'an, Shaanxi (later to become Mao's wartime base) and rebelled against excessive taxes and oppression. His revolt soon gathered mass support at a time of hardship due to famine, he stormed the ancient capitals of Luoyang and Kaifeng. Li then declared himself leader of the new 'Shun dynasty ' at Xi'an in 1644. Meanwhile the Ming troops were deployed away in the north-west to hold off a possible Manchu invasion and were unable to prevent Li's revolt reaching Beijing. When Beijing fell, the Ming General Wu Sangui fatefully formed an alliance with the Manchus to defeat Li and restore the Ming dynasty. With the Ming Emperor now dead, the Manchu troops took advantage and after defeating Li promptly installed themselves as the new dynasty. The Great Wall with all its impressive defenses, still in process of construction, designed for just such an eventuality had played no part in the overthrow, the Manchu army had been let through the gates with open arms.
The great Wall today
With the extended northern area under Qing control, including Mongolia the Great Wall once again lost strategic value and was not maintained. It was only 400 years later, with the foundation of the People's Republic that the Wall came back into importance. Partly due to the great impression made by the Wall on foreign dignitaries it became a symbol of China's longevity, strength and historical achievement. Sections near to Beijing were then restored to ‘pristine’ condition while other sections have been left to rot and these form the ‘rough wall’ that can still be seen today. There are many conservation works in progress to restore the great length of the wall, but as it takes one man a year to rebuild 875 yards [800 meters] - it's going to take a long time. Back in the heat of the Cultural Revolution during the attack on the 'four olds', the wall itself suffered, a section of the Wall at Gubeikou was dismantled to build PLA barracks, but this policy was swiftly reversed and this section rebuilt. Mao took the Great Wall as living proof that the Chinese could undertake massive construction projects and succeed. It was Mao who said ‘He who does not visit the Great Wall is not a real man; and he who does not love the Great Wall is not a hero’.
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The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Pan (god)
1. A wide, flat receptacle used around the house, especially for cooking
2. The contents of such a receptacle
3. A cylindrical receptacle about as tall as it is wide, with one long handle, usually made of metal, used for cooking in the home
4. A deep plastic receptacle, used for washing or food preparation. A basin.
5. A wide receptacle in which gold grains are separated from gravel by washing the contents with water
6. a specific type of lake, natural depression or basin. They are sometimes associated with desert areas
7. Strong adverse criticism
8. A loaf of bread
9. The base part of a toilet, consisting of a bowl and a footing
10. A human face, a mug.
11. The bottom flat part of a roofing panel that is between the ribs of the panel
12. A closed vessel for boiling or evaporating as part of manufacture; a vacuum pan.
13. The part of a flintlock that holds the priming.
14. The skull, considered as a vessel containing the brain; the brain-pan.
15. A recess, or bed, for the leaf of a hinge.
16. The hard stratum of earth that lies below the soil; hardpan.
Noun (etymology 2)
Noun (etymology 3)
1. A part; a portion.
2. The distance comprised between the angle of the epaule and the flanked angle.
3. A leaf of gold or silver.
1. To wash in a pan (of earth, sand etc. when searching for gold).
2. To disparage; to belittle; to put down; to criticise severely.
3. With "out" (to pan out), to turn out well; to be successful.
4. To beat one's opposition convincingly.
Verb (etymology 2)
1. to turn horizontally (of a camera etc.)
2. to move the camera lens angle while continuing to expose the film, enabling a contiguous view and enrichment of context. In still-photography large-group portraits the film usually remains on a horizontal fixed plane as the lens and/or the film holder moves to expose the film laterally. The resulting image may extend a short distance laterally or as great as 360 degrees from the point where the film first began to be exposed.
Verb (etymology 3)
1. To join or fit together; to unite.
The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: pan
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Controversies in the Earth Sciences
Reading Assignment: Alaskan Glaciers and Antarctic Ice Sheets
"Hey you guys!" graphic
How much water is in a cubic kilometer of water?
The volumes discussed in studies like these (for example, the amount of ice loss, the amount of meltwater produced, etc.) are given in cubic kilometers. Do you have any sense about how much water is in a cubic kilometer? Here's a little estimation that puts this into perspective
Video: Cubic Kilometer (3:44)
Cubic Kilometer
Click here for transcript of Cubic Kilometer.
PRESENTER: When I try to picture really big or really small numbers, I like to break it down into something else that I can understand a little better just so that I have some idea of what's going on.
In this lesson, we read a paper by this group of scientists, and they estimated that between the 1950s in the 1990s, Alaskan glaciers lost an average volume of around 50 cubic kilometers of water every year. And then between the 1990s and the early 2000s, those same glaciers lost closer to 100 cubic kilometers per year of water. Do you have any idea how much water is in a cubic kilometer, much less several cubic kilometers? Let's do a little calculation to try to put that into perspective.
What if I took one cubic kilometer of water and I wanted to apportion that water out for the entire world so that every single person in the world would get some of that cubic kilometer. How much water would everybody get? Well, we can do that calculation.
If I have one cubic kilometer, that is a box with 1,000 meters on a side. So that equals 1,000 times 1,000 times 1,000 meters. That is 1 billion cubic meters. And I also know that in one cubic meter, there are 1,000 meters.
So if we have 1 billion cubic meters, and there's 1,000 liters in each cubic meter, that means we have 10 to the 12th meters of water in a cubic kilometer. Now's a good time for me to give a shout out to my 12th grade government teacher from Blacksburg High School, Karen Colson, who explained to our class that she thought that one of the reasons Jimmy Carter did not get elected to a second term is because he tried to convert this country to the metric system. And we all know how well that worked-- not very well. So I don't think most people can actually even picture what a liter probably is. But all of us non-scientist, milk-drinking Americans probably know what a gallon looks like. It looks like this. And there's about four liters in every gallon.
So if I have 10 to 12 liters and I divide that by 4 to get gallons, then that's about 0.25 times 10 to the 12th gallons. And as of late 2012, there were about 7 billion people in the world, so we just have to divide this number by 7 billion. And we'll figure out how many gallons of water everybody is going to get.
And that number is this. We can write this in a much more normal way by just moving this decimal three places over to take care of this exponent. And what we find out is in each person in the world gets about 36 gallons if we had one cubic kilometer of water and we apportion that up over everybody.
But remember, in this paper we're not talking about one cubic kilometer of water. We're talking about between 50 and 100 cubic kilometers of water every year. That is a lot of water, my friends.
Credit: Dutton
The contribution of land glacier melting to global sea level rise has been explored in a recent study of Alaskan glaciers. In this study, airborne laser altimetry was used to determine the mass and thickness of over fifty glaciers. This method is a huge improvement over previous studies that have used complicated and imprecise mass-balance calculations to estimate the rate of glacial melting. The results of this new study show that Alaskan glaciers contribute more meltwater than was previously thought and are losing mass faster than was previously thought. When you read these papers, think about how the results of this study will be incorporated into global climate models.
Then, read a paper that is about climate modeling in which researchers construct a model that does a better job of fitting the sea level and temperatures of the past than has previously been accomplished. The key was adding in warming ocean currents, a warm atmosphere, and a chain reaction of collapsing ice shelves.
As usual, for the Alaskan glaciers paper, I recommend reading the accompanying Perspective (Meier and Dyurgerov, 2002) first, then reading the scientific paper (Arendt et al., 2002). For the modeling work, I recommend reading the accompanying News Focus first (Tollefson, 2016) and then the scientific paper (DeConto and Pollard, 2016).
• Meier, M. F., & Dyurgerov, M. B. (2002). How Alaska affects the world. Science, 297(5580), 350.
• Arendt, A. A., Echelmeyer, K. A., Harrison, W. D., Lingle, C. S., & Valentine, V. B. (2002). Rapid wastage of Alaska glaciers and their contribution to rising sea level. Science, 297(5580), 382
• Tollefson, J. (2016). Trigger seen for Antarctic collapse. Nature, 531, 562.
• DeConto, R.M. and D. Pollard (2016). Contribution of Antarctica to past and future sea-level rise. Nature, 531, 591.
Questions for discussion:
• What are the specific causes of sea level rise and how are these causes measured?
• What factors contribute to predictions of future sea level rise? How does the new data detailed in Arendt et al.'s study impact sea level rise calculations? How does the new model in DeConto and Pollard's study impact sea level rise predictions?
• What are the difficulties involved in making measurements of ice volume? What are the different methods used and how do they work?
• How is past sea level reconstructed?
Participating in the discussion
The discussion component of this activity will take place over Week 1 of this lesson and will require you to participate multiple times over that period.
1. Enter the "Alaskan Glaciers and Antarctic Icepapers" discussion forum.
2. You will see the questions above already there
3. Respond to a question that hasn't already been chosen by another student. If all questions have already been addressed, then select a question where you can further the discussion and post there.
4. Return to the discussion periodically to read your classmates' postings and to respond by asking for clarification, asking a follow-up question, expanding on what has already been said, etc.
Grading criteria
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What Happens To Demonetized Notes?
Author – Vidhi Bubna
Image Courtesy – Indiatimes.com
This morning, I was sitting on the couch and sipping coffee when my father left for work. However, his daily routine from the past one month has changed; he goes to the bank first to get the old currency exchanged and then to his office. Since the demonetization drive made by the Indian government two months ago, we all are tired of standing in long queues in banks and ATMs to get our money exchanged.
While we analyze and debate the implications and after effects of demonetization, have we ever wondered what happens to the old demonetized notes that are deposited in the banks? The status of India’s largest currency notes of INR500 and INR1,000 have been reduced to only paper and they will be recycled to produce other things.
The government has collected about 18 billion notes of old currency, amounting to INR8 trillion. Previously, the government just chose to burn the demonetized money, but the humungous volume of the current drive would add to massive pollution. So the Reserve Bank of India is now seeking contracts with hardboard manufacturers and it is selling old, shredded notes to them so that they are recycled. This is a more efficient way of disposing the old notes rather than burning and it reduces the carbon footprint.
RBI has begun verifying and purchasing 40 note shredding machines in 19 different cities across India. These imported machines can shred and destroy about 250,000 notes in an hour. The notes are shredded at the rate of INR250 per metric ton and the RBI shreds about 60 tons of notes per week. This initiative by the government is not only cost effective, but it also saves the by preventing burning.
RBI’s Kerala branch in Thiruvananthapuram has already sent the shredded currency to a hardboard factory in Kannur. The factory uses 5% of the paper pulp from shredded notes to be mixed with 95% wood pulp for producing hardboard. If it gets the concentration of recycled paper wrong, the end product will not be usable. This is because the currency notes have a very hard pulp that makes them very difficult to recycle.
So far, the factory has received 140 metric tons of shredded currency notes. For every 100 kg of hardboard produced, only about 6 kg is made up of the old shredded notes, which are also used to make calendars, files and other stationary. You could end up buying cheap hardboard that is made up of the shredded old currency that once held immense value and now it is used for crafts!
The shredded currency is also sent to Dubai to produce furniture items like photo frames, mirror frame backing, book shelves and drawer bottoms. They are also converted into biomass briquettes to be used as fuel for factory boilers. Biomass briquettes have a less negative impact on the environment, since they are made of renewable materials and do not deplete natural resources.
Different qualities of paper can produce different amounts of biofuel. Paper that has not been recycled often produces a lot more energy, since it goes through electric machines, high temperatures and a lot of heat that causes its energy to reduce. The old currency notes are very hard and to convert them to bio-mass briquettes, a lot of energy is used and they undergo a lot of heat. This results in them having less energy. Converting old notes to biomass is better than burning them and it may be a little costlier than simply burning the notes. However, the long term cost of burning the notes as fuel is high on the environment, so it is better to recycle them.
People have previously burnt demonetized notes in countries like Sweden to protect themselves from the cold. There have been various countries which simply burn the notes. Technology that can recycle old notes is expensive and very few companies possess such technology. The company chosen by the government in Kerala is the only one that has the machine to recycle old currency notes in India. This initiative taken by the government to recycle old notes sets an example for the entire country and depicts the importance of recycling resources.
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How to Overwinter Japanese Maples in Pots
Japanese maples are a beautiful tree that are cold hardy down to zone 5b if grown in the ground. However, potted Japanese maples tend to lose heat in the pots and are generally only cold hardy down to zone 6b. By planning to overwinter your potted Japanese maple inside, you can grow potted Japanese maples in much colder areas. By insulating the pot and, in very cold climates, adding a little extra heat, your potted Japanese maple should survive the winter and be ready for placement outside in the spring.
Measure the circumference of your potted Japanese maple. If you don't have a cloth sewing tape measure, wrap a piece of string around the top of the pot and cut the string to the circumference of the pot. Measure the length of the string.
Cut a piece of bubble wrap twice as long as the circumference of the pot. The bubble wrap should be at least as tall as your Japanese maple's pot.
Tape one end of the bubble wrap to the pot using duct or gaffer's tape. Packing tape may work, but the adhesive may come loose in cold temperatures. If you use packing tape, use extra tape to ensure proper adhesion.
Wrap the bubble wrap around the pot twice. Secure the loose end using duct tape, gaffer's tape, or packing tape. If you are using packing tape, use extra tape to secure the bubble wrap to prevent it from unrolling as the temperature drops.
Water your tree thoroughly. Water helps retain heat over the winter.
Place your potted Japanese maple in an unheated garage or shed. Although the upper parts of the tree are quite tolerant of cold, the roots can be damaged if exposed to temperatures lower than 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing the tree in a garage or shed will protect the tree from cold winds that can draw excess heat out of the pot. If your garage or shed drops below 14 degrees for days at a time, consider using a heating pad under the pot on low to prevent root temperatures from dropping too low.
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As the seasons change some of the crops that have been moving along to maturity are ready for harvest. If you have a black walnut tree or know where one is growing, you will find that the tree has dropped its crop on the ground. This happens annually in September or October. Then if you are fond of black walnut cookies, ice cream, etc., you only need to pick them up. But wait – there is a lot more work to be done.
The nuts you harvest may be greenish, yellowish or black. Eventually they all will turn black. The first chore is to remove the outer hull to expose the actual walnut. Many are the folk tales about how to achieve this. Some foragers say to put them on your driveway and drive a vehicle over them. They can be soaked in water until the hulls are soft and then rubbed off. If that is your choice be sure to wear gloves or your hands will become the color of the hull. So what you are dealing with is handling each nut that you have harvested to get the hull removed.
Once the hulls are off, the nuts will need to dry. You will note that your walnuts are extremely hard. If you spotted a worm (larva) as you were hulling, don’t worry. Those nuts are so hard a larva cannot make its way in. It is recommended that the nuts dry for at least two weeks at a fairly warm temperature if possible. They can be stored in the shell if that is your preference. However they may keep better if they are shelled out and refrigerated or frozen. They will keep a few months in the refrigerator and longer in the freezer otherwise the oil in the nuts becomes rancid. Shelling walnuts is not a labor for the faint-hearted. Cracking the shells open takes a heavy duty nutcracker or a vise. Using a hammer may not be at all effective. After the shells are cracked, the nut meats can be picked out for your culinary uses. Discard any that are discolored or not fully developed.
The flavor of black walnuts is more intense than English walnuts so a lesser quantity can be used in recipes. If you would like to grow your own tree, there are several cautions. The black walnut (Jugla nigrans) produces a compound called juglone which is toxic to many garden vegetables so be sure to plant your tree a distance from your garden. The hulls contain tannins which are the compounds that stain your hands and everything else they come in contact with. After the nuts are hulled, the hulls should be disposed of and probably not in your compost pile if you put the compost on your vegetable garden. Many compost piles would not thoroughly degrade the juglone.
You can purchase black walnut meats for cooking usually through online sources at about $15 per pound. But think of the fun you would miss!
Submitted by Pat Smith, Licking County Master Gardener Volunteer
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The importance of vocational learning at school
When businesses and training providers work with schools new doors can open for young people, says Fay Gibbin
There’s no question that some students thrive outside of a classroom environment and are motivated by learning that’s clearly linked to an occupation and real experiences. However, more needs to be done by those in industry, training providers and government to provide a greater awareness at secondary school level of the opportunities available to students.
For example, at Busy Bees Training, we recently held our annual Greens to Gourmet competition, which challenges food technology students from secondary schools across the West Midlands to create nutritious, wholesome dishes in a ‘ready, steady, cook’ style challenge. This tests not only their catering skills but also their ability to work under pressure and in a real-kitchen environment. This kind of initiative allows young people to stimulate their minds in ways that might not be possible in a classroom environment.
Undoubtedly, it’s crucial that students continue to acquire key skills through a combination of classroom-based learning and practical activities, and many are able to do this through their secondary education. However, I know from personal experience that schools are under so much pressure as it stands to deliver exceptional standards that providing every student with the time to think about their future learning route might not be possible. Therefore, it falls with training providers and businesses to work collaboratively and with schools to provide opportunities that give a taste of life outside of the classroom.
Reality shows
There are multiple benefits to providing students with vocational learning experiences; the main one being to give young people the confidence to realise their potential. We need to ensure their minds are stimulated and the options are given to students at an early stage in their development so they are able to make informed decisions about the various vocational routes available to them. So, how can this be done in a way that captures young people’s imaginations and provides them with excitement for the future?
Vocational learning gives students context to their learning through real experiences that they can relate to. Some people naturally excel in the classroom arena and that’s great, but for others, they need to be inspired through learning that is geared towards an occupation.
We need a united effort across a broad spectrum of industries to show students the opportunities available to them. Responsibility doesn’t just fall with one provider, company or government department here. Providing talks, open days or taster sessions should all be on the agenda as part of a collaborative approach, working with schools to inspire students to understand how and why a vocational learning route could benefit them.
Practical experience
In a latest government survey of UK employers, 210,000 organisations said they had at least one position but not the skills or talent required to fill it. That’s six percent of all employers facing a skills shortage, a fair increase from the 150,000 reported in 2013. This only furthers the appetite by employers to find skills that can only be acquired by working in industry and training as you learn, as opposed to the more traditional higher education route.
Vocational learning experiences can be teased into secondary school life. This isn’t about simply plugging apprenticeship courses but to practise exactly what such training preaches – giving students the opportunity to try a new experience. Through hands-on experiences, such as workshops, competitions, and challenges, we can offer young people the freedom to express themselves and bridge the gap between education and employment.
In 2014/2015, the number of people participating in an apprenticeship in the UK stood at nearly 900,000, but more can be done to encourage pre-16 students to think about future vocational training opportunities by informing them of the many benefits they provide and positioning them as equal in value to a degree. There is much more that can still be done by those in industry to help young people of today realise their potential. For some individuals, it is only when they reach the age of 16 that they begin to consider the career options available to them. Vocational learning opportunities should be woven throughout a child’s journey through secondary school, particularly in subjects that have a focus on practical skills, inspiring them to develop a passion for their chosen area of study and consider a more hands-on route to a successful career.
Fay Gibbin is a training manager at the BB Training Academy.
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Bible Commentary: Leviticus 16
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Bible Commentary
Leviticus 16
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The Day of Atonement
While the term “Day of Atonement” is nowhere mentioned in this chapter, we know that this Holy Day is the one referred to here based on the fact that the events described were to transpire on the 10th day of the seventh month (verse 29). And according to Leviticus 23:27 Leviticus 23:27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation to you; and you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.
American King James Version×
, this is the date of the Day of Atonement. There is, of course, a clear “atonement” theme running throughout Leviticus 16, that very word being used 16 times in the chapter. Further explanation of the rich meaning behind the actions that were carried out on this day is given in the supplementary reading.
Supplementary Reading: The Day of Atonement: Removal of Sin’s Cause and Reconciliation to God, God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
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Faith and Apollo 8
Christmas Eve 2018 marks 50 years from time of the Apollo 8 mission to the Moon. There are a lot of interesting background stories behind the early years of NASA and the Apollo missions. One of those stories happening in the background is about the role that Christian faith had in the mission. Apollo 8 in particular has a special place for the role of faith because while orbiting the Moon the astronauts read from the book of Genesis. So the effort to go to the Moon was more than a scientific effort, more than just exploration, for those open to it, it was also man finding a part of God’s glory. In going to the Moon, orbiting it, and returning to Earth, human beings experienced a number of things they hadn’t done before. People had never left Earth and entered orbit around another body in space. People had never seen the dark side of the Moon before. People had never orbited the Moon and returned to Earth. The experience of the astronauts had a major influence on people back on Earth. To see the Moon in the sky from Earth is routine. But to see the Moon from lunar orbit and look back on the Earth from there was an awesome experience that we should not forget. (This lead to the famous picture called “Earthrise,” which was taken while the astronauts were in orbit around the Moon.)
Earthrise picture from Apollo 8, 1968.
Today many do not remember those events, so it is worth taking time to remember. In 1968, I was 10 years old and like everyone else, I was watching the Apollo mission on TV. The Apollo program was an answer to John F. Kennedy’s challenge to America during the time of what has been called the “space race.” The “race” was with Russia because Russia had made it to space before America. So the challenge from President Kennedy was to deliver men to the Moon and return them safely to the Earth before the decade of the 1960’s ended. At the time he issued this challenge, the United States was behind Russia in the space race. So, NASA was endeavoring to catch up with and surpass the Russians.
In September 1968, the Russian spacecraft called Zond 5 traveled to the Moon, orbited it, and returned safely to the Earth. But Zond 5 did not carry cosmonauts, instead it carried other life forms to find out what the effect of the radiation of space would be to them. Zond 5 carried bacteria, meal worms, flies, plants, seeds, and two tortoises. Zond 5 followed a couple of failed attempts to orbit the Moon and return to the Earth. But Zond 5 did successfully return and it splashed down in the Indian ocean. The tortoises survived. The tortoises may have had a rough ride on the way back because the spacecraft lost its attitude control, which probably made it spin out of control some.
In December of 1968 the lunar lander module was not yet ready and NASA wanted to catch up with the Russians. So NASA advanced the schedule and made the mission for the astronauts to orbit the Moon with just the “command module” and return to the Earth. The Russians sent several spacecraft to the Moon in the late 1960’s and early 70’s but they never sent men. The Russians never sent cosmonauts to the Moon. It really was a very dangerous thing to do. The Apollo 8 spacecraft had to travel about 234,000 miles from Earth orbit to get to the Moon. Then they had to change their trajectory to get into orbit around the Moon. Traveling to the Moon they were moving at about 2,300 miles per hour and they had to slow down but not too much. It took them 68 hours to travel to the Moon. If they went to slow they could crash into the Moon. If they were not close enough to the Moon or they were moving too fast they could miss the Moon or maybe get into the wrong kind of orbit and then not be able to make it back to Earth. They orbited the Moon 10 times over a period of 20 hours.
Two memorable parts of the Apollo 8 mission were the picture taken of Earth while orbiting the Moon and the astronauts reading from the book of Genesis. The picture was a beautiful picture showing the blue Earth in the black background of space. This came to be called “Earthrise.” It was a very inspiring picture and made people talk about how good our planet was. It motivated people to want to take care of Earth. Reading Genesis was a surprise to many people. NASA only told the astronauts “say something appropriate.” But the astronauts couldn’t decide what to say, so they started asking others to come up with an idea of what to say. To hear the story, listen to the podcast below. But I think it was a wonderful reminder of God and a beautiful thing to read from Genesis.
It took many people to make the Apollo 8 mission a success. Someone estimated it took 400,000 people. Over the years it has become evident that many people connected to the space program are Christians. During the Apollo years there was a group of people who voluntarily set out to pray for NASA’s missions. They called themselves the Apollo Prayer League. It was not “sponsored by NASA” but a behind the scenes effort from people of faith. There are a lot of quiet behind the scenes efforts of people of faith. They don’t do it for recognition or fame.
There were other expressions of faith during the Apollo years as well. There was James Irwin for example. He was a geologist and he collected lunar rocks on the Apollo 15 mission. After his Apollo years he became an outspoken Christian and a creationist. He wrote a book called More Than Earthlings: An Astronaut’s Thoughts for Christ-Centered Living. In that book he makes this statement:
“I am now more than an earthling, because I have walked on the moon. Being on the moon had a profound spiritual impact upon my life. Before I entered space with the Apollo 15 mission in July of 1971, I was…[a] silent Christian, but I feel the Lord sent me to the moon so I could return to the earth and share his Son, Jesus Christ.”
Other astronauts expressed their faith in other ways. Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 took communion on the Moon. Edgar Mitchell went to special effort to take the Bible to the Moon, in microfilm form. There is a book about this effort called The Apostles of Apollo. Another astronaut who is a Christian is Shannon Lucid, a woman. She was on five space flights during the years of the Space Shuttle. One of these included spending some time on the Russian Mir space station. She has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and for a time she held the record for a non-Russian spending the most hours in space. She was part of a special conference in China where some Christian scholars and others went to China to present information to the Chinese government on Christianity. It was called “The Future Impact of Christianity on China.” I knew about this event because another person who is a friend of mine, Dr. Paul Ackerman, was also involved with the trip. Dr. Ackerman is a retired Psychology professor. Shannon Lucid was one of the people on this trip who spoke at this conference. She has a connection to China because she was actually born there as a child of Christian missionaries. Paul Ackerman was not allowed to present the paper he wrote for this conference but he was able to hand out some copies of it. I made a webpage for it on my website, called Christian Principles in Human Affairs. It is very worth reading.
The Apollo program was an example of a major project in which many people, some people of faith and some not, worked together to achieve something great. Christians and nonchristians can work together and respect each other. We can learn from these examples as we continue to explore God’s creation.
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Ancient dating sayings and proverbs
07 Feb
The hoisting of balloons was often, for the infantry, a sign that a major attack was imminent, though nowadays 'What time does the balloon go up? 'Ballpark is the American term for the playing area of a baseball match. Porter, 1862-1910), the American humorist and short-story writer, with reference to the Honduras. Banana implies an easy reliance on basic agriculture and backwardness in the development of modern industrial technology.The idea behind a ballpark figure is that of a ball being hit within the playing area where it can be seen, as distinct from being hit out of the ballpark - both out of sight and high-scoring. The word bandy originates from an Old French word bander, which was used in an early form of tennis and meant to 'hit a ball to and fro'.Banks have always had a reputation for dependability and from this sense arrives the expression to bank on Initially this meant the grace of the Holy Spirit imparted by baptism: 'he [Jesus] shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire' (Matthew, ) is one of many biblical metaphors comparing the action of God with that of fire in refining and purifying (especially metals) or destroying.Later the expression was used, again theologically, of martyrdom by fire as an equivalent to baptism (in securing admission to salvation).Finally, it was applied to a soldier's first experience of being under fire in battle.This last sense gave rise to the modern usage An Americanism first found in print in a book by Davy Crockett, the folk hero and Congressman, in 1833.
ancient dating sayings and proverbs-63ancient dating sayings and proverbs-66
John Major, the Prime Minister, launched this ill-fated phrase, albeit with the best of intentions, in a speech to the Conservative Party Conference in 1993: 'The message from this conference is clear and simple. The Conservative Party will lead the country back to these basics, right across the board: sound money, free trade, traditional teaching, respect for family and the law.' This expression was coined by Lord Beaverbrook, then British Minister for Aircraft Production, in a speech in honour of the 'unsung heroes' of the war effort, made on March 24, 1941: 'To whom must praise be given? The commentator referred to these squares when describing the progress of play, enabling the listener to visualise it more clearly.
The term backblock is found in 1850, referring to those territories of Australia split up by the government into blocks for settlement.
The more isolated and sparsely populated areas of the Australian interior are also known as the bush.
While it may be true that commentators used the phrase 'back to square one', it would not have meant what it now means: soccer is a game of rapid movement and there is little sense of starting again after useless effort.
There is, however, an alternative origin in board games such as Snakes and Ladders in which certain throws of the dice do indeed take the players back to square one, wiping out the progress they have made. |
The country of the Horn of Africa is currently battling outbreaks in two vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Ethiopia, Africa
To date, 2,190 suspected measles cases were reported in 61 separate outbreaks in Ethiopia, of which 929 cases were confirmed positive. The majority of the cases were from Nejo and Nole woredas of West Wellega zone (Oromia) and Kola Tembien woreda of Central Tigray zone (Tigray). Twenty eight per cent of cases were children under-5 and 33 per cent of those affected were above 15 years of age.
In addition to measles, an outbreak of diphtheria was reported in Alle and Konso woredas (SNNPR) on 25 February. As of 7 March, there were 31 suspected cases and six deaths. Investigations to determine the extent of the outbreak are on-going.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It is widespread in many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia. Measles begins with a fever that lasts for a couple of days, followed by a cough, runny nose,conjunctivitis (pink eye), and a rash. The rash typically appears first on the face, along the hairline, and behind the ears and then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about 4 days before their rash starts to 4 days afterwards.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for prevention: the first at 12 months of age, and the second between ages 4 – 6.
Complications from measles are more common in children younger than 5 years old and adults 20 years and older. Complications can include diarrhea, ear infection and pneumonia. Death can occur from severecomplications and the risk is higher among younger children and adults. There is no treatment for measles. Bed rest, fluids and fever control are recommended. People with complications may need treatment for their specific problem.
Diphtheria is a dangerous respiratory disease is caused by a potent toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria is extremely contagious through coughing or sneezing. Riskfactors include crowding, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization.
Diphtheria can be treated and cured successfully withantitoxin and antibiotics if started early enough. The prevention of diphtheria is through vaccination. |
Greek Guide
Mount Olympus Zeus Greece Ancient Greek Historical Sites
Mighty Mount Olympus was the heavenly home of the gods in ancient times and still inspires thousands of visitors who flock here from all over the world to tackle the tough trek to the highest peak in Greece. The entire area was declared Greece's first national park in 1937 and consists of eight peaks including the "Throne of Zeus" at 2909 metres and Mytikas which has the highest summit at 2919 metres. You don't need any special climbing experience to take on Olympus but you do need to be fit, properly equipped and have a good head for heights!
The park is located 100 kilometres to the south west of Thessaloniki. The main base for hikers is the village of Lithoro, on the eastern border of the park. Regular bus services connect the village with Athens and Thessaloniki and there's a train station nine kilometres outside Lithoro. Most Greek travel agents arrange excursions to Mt Olympus with accommodation included (a hotel bed in Lithoro and a basic bunk in the mountain refuges that provide welcome overnight pit stops for hikers). Climbing Olympus has become such a major attraction that if you pitch up without a reservation in July or August you may have difficulty finding a bed for the night.
Once you take to the mountain trails you'll quickly realise why the ancients believed this was the sacred home of Zeus, the king of the gods, his wife Hera, brothers Poseidon and Hades, sisters Demeter and Hestia and children (Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes and Hephaestus). This magnificent mountain range is home to around 1700 plant species, many of which are unique to Olympus. The mountainsides are cloaked in dense forests of pine, beech, oak and cedar trees which harbour various wildlife including wolves, bears and lynx. The slopes are buried beneath two metres of snow in winter and only accessible to the most experienced climbers even in July the snow lurks in shadowed corners and crevices.
Ordinary mortals shouldn't attempt to reach any of the peaks outside the months of June to October and even then poor weather conditions can make hiking extremely hazardous. But in good weather and armed with a strong constitution, sturdy walking boots, high protection sun cream, snacks and water you'll be able to conquer Mytikas with a couple of days of hard hiking. Many young backpackers and super fit types dash up and down in a day but you really need at least two or three days to take in the full beauty of the mountain range.
Visit the EOS (Greek Alpine Club) office in Lithoro for details of trails, mountain refuge reservations and advice about weather conditions.
While you're in the area take the time to visit ancient Dion at the foot of Mt Olympus, just north of Lithoro. New discoveries are still being made at this fascinating archaeological site where sacred sanctuaries of the gods, superb mosaics, an ancient theatre and a vast public bath complex have been uncovered. Musical and theatrical performances are held in the restored theatre every August during the Festival of Olympus. |
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
The Reality of 'Ethical Experience'
Good & Evil, Right & Wrong, Morality, Ethics; these make up a huge part of what it means to be human, to be a thinking, rational & emotional being. From the rules of politeness and decency in our small personal interactions with others, in the struggle between good guys and bad guys that fills our entertainment and our view of history, in our personal ethical choices or lack of them as consumers, our political discussions dominated by arguments about fairness and social justice, to our awareness of great moments of good and evil in our world. Considerations of morality make up a huge part of our mental landscape, our daily lives and our culture and we all have a keen sense of right and wrong, even if we only deploy it in reference to the good we do and the wrong other people do to us. And moral judgements and issues range from the almost entirely trivial to the most unbelievably important issues in the world.
We almost all understand morality, and the basic nature of right and wrong, even if we disagree about some details. Ethics is an immensely practical affair; as universal, commonplace, and often feeling as fiercely real as the physical rocks and trees and other things of the world we live in. The way we 'work out' morality is also equally practical. We see 'moral' value and right and wrong in the world around us in the same way we see colours. We don't reason it out from logical first principles like abstract mathematics. Even small children or the makers of children's TV can be better people and teach clearer moral lessons that the most wise of moral philosophers. There is no connection between how much you have studied Ethics and how ethical you are.
Despite this though too much reasoning about Ethics and Morality seems to approach the subject as though it were abstract mathematics or metaphysics. Starting from first principles and abstract definitions philosophers work out ethical systems and then apply them, fully formed, to real experience; often finding real experience a disappointment when it does not measure up to the neatness of theoretical vision. But this is the totally wrong way to do it. Maths has some very particular features. We all understand very basic mathematical notions like space and number, but once we go into almost any detail quite precise study is needed to go any further to even be able to imagine the possibility and understand the concepts of more advanced ideas. No-one, or almost no-one, just trips over the ideas of group theory or set theory, or differential equations unless they have them painstakingly explained. In complete contrary to this, one meets and experiences the ideas of good and evil everyday without the need for much explanation. These ideas are given and transparent in a way that experience of our ordinary world is, and experience of morality is, but Mathematics, Metaphysics, and even the abstractions of Science are not.
Like I said, there is no such connection with studying philosophical Ethics and experiencing Morality, or even knowing what is the moral thing to do. All we can say is that people who study ethics have a better grip of the principles and 'laws' behind every-day moral awareness and decision making, but they are certainly not generally any better at doing it. This is totally unlike Maths, but there is something it is very like. And that is the relationship between ordinary experience of the world and natural science. In the ordinary living world we act, we live, we see, we hear, we feel, we experience and do a whole host of other things entirely competently without understanding the physical principles behind them, and neither do we need to have their concept explained to us to experience them.
Even if we talk about studying natural Science what this gives you is an understanding of those principles that lie behind such experience, but you don't in any way need it to live and experience the world and even amass knowledge about it. Understanding physics doesn't make you a good walker, understanding optics doesn't help you see better, understanding Newton's laws on gravity isn't essential for bungee jumping. (Note this is definitely not to say that understanding those scientific laws cannot help with these activities. Considering our analogy that would make studying ethics particularly pointless if true.) But there is the same fundamental relation between Ethics and moral experience as there is between experience of the physical world and Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
At this point the obvious counter-argument to my analogy to the natural sciences is that objective scientific principles can be read out of nature, tested, measured, confirmed, whereas moral principles are less accessible. This is obviously true. I certainly don't claim that moral and physical knowledge are the same, but neither are they as different as they perhaps appear. We are so used to knowing so much about every facet of our world, but not so long ago this was not the case. Going back further than a few centuries the physical world, as much as the moral, was a confusing mass of phenomena, in which for a very long time it proved impossible to latch onto any firm principle, before light began to truly dawn in the 16th Century. Coming from the opposite direction there is a surprisingly widespread and accepted consensus on fundamental ethical truths and values (if often wildly differing applications) both across our society and all human societies. These two facts belie attempts to establish a crude dichotomy between the idea of a physical world from which one can read off, objective confirmable laws and a moral in which we have only subjectivism, relativism and personal opinion.
What I think this all means is that the reality of 'Ethical Experience' has to be put right at the centre of any investigation into morality. We can deny whether Ethics and Morality has any fundamental and essential reality. We can argue over the details of our moral intuitions and experiences, like ten people giving their ten different eye witness accounts of the same car crash. But we cannot deny the reality of that ethical experience, of the experience of value we 'see' in others, of our intuitive reactions to ethical situations and new ethical ideas, and the, again, different feelings and judgements that come through learning of great moral heroes or villians, or of the way people have morally acted in extreme situations.
Ethical Experience, the basic substance of moral intuition and experience is given to us, it is something that forces itself on us as we go about our ordinary lives, whether we want it or not, and as such it bears a totally different relationship to us and our understanding than rationalist abstractions like Mathematics or most philosophy. And it is this basic ethical experience in every part of our lives that must be at the fundamental basis of any attempt to understand morality, good and evil, or our concepts of meaning, Good and value in the world in general, in the same way that our experience of the physical world must always lie at the basis of our scientific theories.
As far as studying Ethics goes this means that we must attempt to clarify our ethical and moral understanding by studying closely the vast quantity of data that reveals itself through this reality of ethical experience, in its many forms from the trivial and everyday to the vast and truly profound. I think that what this means is that it would be wise, instead of adopting the rationalist, abstract and systematic approach of Mathematics, to approach Ethics with more of the empirical, practical and even piecemeal spirit of natural science. By analysing the structure and nature of Ethical experience we will not at first give a conclusive yes or no answer to the massive moral issues that plague our society but, like with natural science, by advancing over the world we experience inch by inch with a fine tooth comb we should be able to build up our knowledge in a more secure manner, as on a sure foundation, rather than racing to build our house only to find it rests on sand.
I believe that a piecemeal, one bit at a time, approach could give a better hope of understanding each individual and differing part of our ethical experience in its own right. We need a descriptive approach to Ethics that looks at our lived ethical experience and from that attempts to describe and understand what morality is like, and only from that builds up to the abstract laws that define and explain that moral reality. Rather than a prescriptive approach that starts with a particular metaphysical bias, whatever that may be, and attempts to force our experience to conform to that, discarding bits where they do not fit. Only the first, bottom up approach, can do justice to the messy, real nature of ethical experience. The second, top down approach can only ever whitewash over the beauty, detail, richness and colour of that Ethical experience that makes up such a large part of our human life, whatever the particular metaphysical bias it chooses to start with. And hence only the first approach can be a complete basis for any truly thorough attempt to understand the role morality plays in human existence. And examples of the second, despite their undoubted wisdom in this or that instance, should be generally rejected as insufficient.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
The Giant Blind Spot of Human Rights NGOs - By Ziya Meral
The Persecution of people on the basis of their religion is one of the largest, most serious and most widespread forms of Human Rights Abuse in the World. But it receives far too little attention from Human Rights campaigners because these campaigners and organisations are overwhelmingly European or North American and hence are overwhelmingly secular. They are either ignorant of religion or just don't particularly care, compared to almost any other cause. This blinds them to the suffering faced by hundreds of millions of people.
Ziya Meral says it much better than I could . . . .
The one thing that he doesn't say explicitly (though he does hint at it through his examples) is that it is overwhelmingly Christians being persecuted, hundreds of millions of them. This is something we should all be aware of, and something that gets even less exposure than religious persecution generally. This is because most Christian or Christian-heritage countries have strong religious freedom, while most Non-Christian countries, whether Atheist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or other, don't. And even in the 'Christian' countries where persecution does occur, it is generally authoritarian governments persecuting Christians and churches who they view as a threat to their control.
(By saying this I don't mean to detract from his main point that we ALL are biased towards carrying more about human rights violations against people like us, and ignoring ones against people unlike us, rather than on the objective basis of how bad things are. And this is something we should all be consciously aware of. Christians are just as bad at this as anyone else. But it is right to note the largest actual real-world example, the collective blindness among almost organised human rights advocates towards persecution on basis of religion, and the fact that by far the largest real-world example of this is the frequently horrifyingly violent persecution of Christians around the world. )
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
The UK Needs an Economic Growth Strategy . . . . so here it is! (2nd half)
This is a continuation of Part 1, found below. Basically, it's widely admitted that our economy is faltering and the government needs to do more to boost growth. I think it needs to do this, but in a manner that stays within the plans for cutting the deficit that is current government policy, the so-called Plan A. I've tried to cover every major area the government could act on to boost and secure long term growth in our economy, to give the (also so called) Plan A+. If there's anything I've missed or where you disagree with me, let me know. What do you think?
6) Radical Tax Reform.
Spending money efficiently is one side of the equation. Raising it efficiently is the other. 40% of UK GDP goes through the tax system every year. With £600 billion a year going through the tax system how efficiently this is done makes a difference of many billions of pounds a year. Because tax rates are so high their application to some economic areas but not others can have a powerful effect, distorting price structures and skewing economic activity on no particular rational or even deliberate basis. Almost all other public services in the UK have been thoroughly critiqued and over-hauled numerous times over the last 50 years. Our tax system, on the other hand, has not. As it is not something that is tangible, and because it so directly involves money, which means with any change the losers shout a lot more loudly than the winners, there is a powerful incentive to not look at it too closely, and to not change it. This is the so-called tyranny of the status quo. This means our taxation system is a mix of what is practical with layers of historical accident and political expediency plastered on top.
This is not necessary though. IFS, the renowned think tank, has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the UK tax system, recently published as the Mirrless Review, looking at how the tax system could be designed to raise revenue with the minimum distortion to the economy while still retaining most of its traditional structure, and while achieving objectives of redistribution most efficiently. It outlines significant changes to Income Tax, VAT, Corporation Tax, Council Tax, Business Rates, Capital Taxes and the taxation of savings and financial services. These would remove numerous distortions thus saving the economy several billion pounds and raising billions more in additional revenue. They would also cohere remarkably with many of the other measures I have mentioned. Changes to Income Tax and NI would complement deregulation saving businesses hundreds of millions in costs; the over-haul of council tax and business rates would complement planning reform driving more efficient use of land and property; rationalisation of green taxation would cut the cost of Green Policy; a Financial Activities Tax would cut the cost of finance for businesses while making it more expensive for individuals to get into debt. In fact the possible effects of these changes are so considerable, especially with our current deficit crisis, that I mean to go over them in detail in a future article.
7) Secure Radical Banking reform.
The ease of access to money makes a huge difference to the real economy and in a modern economy the circulatory system that disperses the supply of money is the banking system. The global recession was begun by a credit crunch that unsurprisingly most badly hit the heavily indebted developed economies. This disaster was compounded by the necessity of investing vast amounts of public money 'bailing-out' some of the major banks. To secure a reliable stream of finance for businesses, to ensure a healthy financial sector (a significant part of the economy), and to ensure that the disastrous bailouts are never repeated, radical banking reform is an essential pro-growth measure.
The government's program of banking reform has three branches. The Bank Levy to raise extra tax from the financial sector, to disincentives the riskier forms of funding in major institutions. The 'Merlin' agreement to go some way to reigning in bank bonuses and securing lending to the real economy, and the Vickers Report to reform the structure of the banking industry. This report has recommended the 'Ring-fencing' of major banks, separating retail banking from investment banking. Retail banking is storing saving and lending money from and to individuals and businesses, what most of us think of as banking. Investment banking is the more high-octane, esoteric end of banking, investing in funds, shares, Derivatives, CDO's, currency and commodity speculation etc, often involving large amount of money being bet for very brief periods to secure very low margins of profit, but done over and over again making vast amounts of money very fast. Separating investment and retail banking will remove the risk of having to bail-out investment banking in order to secure the essential retail functions they are attached to. It would also incentivise major banks to shift emphasis onto retail banking and away from investment banking, due to the implicit government guarantee attached to retail and not investment banking and thus should increase the flow of funds to retail banking and thus reduce the cost to customers, i.e. the wider economy. It is essential these measures should be pushed through and implemented. There is also a possible argument that more needs to be done to reform accountability and transparency in pay and bonuses in the wake of the decidedly mixed impact of 'Project Merlin', but I don't have anything particular to say about that.
8) Secure Greater Investment: Including Green, Big Society and Regional Investment Banks.
One of the issues consistently raised as holding bank the economy is the difficulty small and growing businesses face gaining finance and investment, especially in developing industries and more deprived areas. Various proposals have been made to help rectify this problem by setting up various small, dedicated investment banks that would be commercial banks, initially funded by the state, that would be focused on leveraging funds to invest in certain industries or areas. The government has already committed to establishing a Green Investment Bank and a 'Big Society' Investment Bank. The first would be focused on investing in green technologies, especially for power generation, and the second would focus on investing in social enterprises and socially responsible projects.
Various think tanks have suggested setting up regional investment banks to help fund private sector growth in particular regions. They would focus on financing sustainable growth in their particular region, with the suggestion that people in those regions would be more willing to place their savings with such a bank, knowing it went back into financing the economy in their own region. This would follow a similar model used with success in various European countries such as Germany. One question these ideas bring is how would these banks be initially financed? There has been considerable discussion among government about whether the Green and 'Big Society' Banks should be true Banks, able to borrow and lend and leverage their initial capital. There has been reluctance to let them do this for fear these debts would be added to general government debt. This seems a slightly odd objection though. When the bailouts occurred the government and ONS started quoting (for the first time) a figure for government debt specifically excluding financial interventions, and this figure has been used as the 'proper' national debt ever since. There's no obvious reason why such a distinction couldn't be made for these targeted investment banks, assuming they would pass into mostly private ownership as their success occurred.
Quantitative Easing has been suggested as a further, more radical solution for funding. The Bank of England has already run £200 billion of Quantitative Easing, basically printing money electronically. The BoE's previous scheme involved buying government bonds from various banks. There are question marks as to whether this actually worked though. Banks largely took the money to bolster their assets, rather than actually increasing lending, a phenomenon Keynes called 'pushing on string'. With the economy struggling so much again there have been calls for further QE. The problem with QE is that it also raises inflation, which is already high at 4.5%. One possible proposed solution is to engage in more limited QE but aim it more directly at the economy. A £50 billion QE program could be lent directly to businesses through a government investment agency, either a new fund or the government's existing network of regional development agencies, or more radically using it as original capital for the 'Big Society Bank', 'Green Bank' and a network of regional investment banks that could then leverage out that money to raise further finance. This would hopefully have a greater economic impact but because of the smaller over-all amount of money a considerably smaller impact on Inflation.
9) Boost Government Investment +£5 bn
(Possible Business Investment +1£bn. Possible Science Investment +£1bn).
The measures so far outlined involve cutting costs to the economy, boosting the efficiency of public sector spending, boosting the supply of finance and lending to the economy and loosening monetary policy. All possible within the confines of the spending cuts and tax rises of the Coalition's Plan A, without any problem. Slightly more difficult policies that start to scrape up against the edges of that plan are also possible though. It is widely agreed by economists that government Investment is by far the most economically efficient from of government spending when it comes to boosting the wider economy, both in the short term and in improving the long term capacity for growth. In particular most of the loss of output in the recession came from a collapse in private Investment. If the government is going to undertake any financial stimulus at this point as the economy struggles then it makes a lot of sense to do it through boosting Investment.
The government's original spending plans contained some £17 billion of cuts to investment, about a 25% cut. This is somewhat understandable politically, as people don't tend to complain about possible future construction projects not happening, compared to schools and hospitals having their budgets cut. But economically it's silly. The government is already talking about straining every sinew in Whitehall to bring forward infrastructure projects to begin as soon as possible. But it's still rejecting boosting the spending available. This makes no sense. If there are identified projects that would boost the economy, in transport infrastructure, power generation, etc, then they should be begun now, especially if it makes the difference to the economy falling back into self-reinforcing recession. The government could increase investment by £5 billion each year to 2015, boosting the economy now and our capacity for growth in the years to the future.
Obviously pulling back on spending cuts threatens to break the confines of Plan A. But not directly. The government has two 'Plan A' fiscal targets that it has committed to meeting. Firstly, balancing the structural, current budget; And secondly, debt falling as a percentage of GDP, both by 2015-16. The structural, current budget is the budget excluding 'cyclical' spending (the result of short term increases in unemployment caused by economic slump), and excluding investment. In other words the government can increase Investment spending without affecting this target. Obviously increasing investment spending risks missing the target for debt to be falling as % of GDP. But if the extra spending boosts growth and hence GDP, especially if the economy is teetering on the brink, then it may actually help hit that target both in year and through boosting the capacity for growth in each year to come.
There are other possibilities for boosting our core capacity for growth. Instead of, or in addition to, boosting state investment the government could take measures to boost private investment, such as increasing the generosity of tax credits offered for investment, in the hope this would encourage cautious firms to invest. Another suggestion has been boosting the Science budget, regarded as key to future innovation, development, research etc. Currently it has been protected in cash terms, meaning a roughly 10% real cut to 2015. It could be protected in real terms (a relative boost of £800 million) or increase it further (by say £1 billion). Both of these measures would possibly boost long-term growth, but they are more difficult because they are both current, rather than investment spending and hence risk both of the government's targets, unless they contribute a significant boost to GDP over the next 4 years.
10) Rush Increase in Personal Allowance to £10,000.
If increasing Investment spending is not enough there are one final group of possibilities for boosting growth, and that is increasing government spending or cutting taxes. But obviously this goes straight against the confines of Plan A. But there are ways of minimising the danger of missing those essential government targets while supporting demand and confidence in the short-term. Research indicates that the most effective forms of stimulus are investment and tax cuts directed at poorer workers, as the poorer you are the higher proportion of your income you spend rather than saving and hence the more money actually spreads into the economy.
This offers an obvious solution to stimulate the economy in a manner that coheres with the Coalition's already stated aims. That is raising the Personal Allowance for income tax to £10,000. Now there is no space in the financial calculations, but the government could still push on with this extremely popular policy. They inherited an allowance at £6,500 and they've already increased it to £8,000, but they could announce in the Autumn financial review that immediately from 2012 the allowance will go up to the £10,000 target. They could also use the mechanism, used before, of reducing the 40% rate threshold by an equivalent amount so the top 15% (in income) don't benefit. This would give a £400 tax cut to millions of working households and cost about £9 billion. (Or if they don't think they can afford that raise the allowance by £1000 giving everyone a £200 tax cut and costing £4.5 billion.) I would also suggest at the 2012 budget following this cutting the top rate of tax from 50%->45% (assuming the forecasts for its revenue are accurate), in order to remove the possible damage caused by this uncompetitive rate of tax.
This would give a roughly £10 billion stimulus to UK consumption, which could give consumption the shot in the arm it needs to avoid collapse and, due to its crucial role to supporting the economy in general, the wider economy as well. The question is how this can be justified without breaking apart the essential constraints of Plan A. Firstly, the government currently has some leeway on this. Last estimates state that the government will hit its target a year early in 2014, and by 2015-2016 will overshoot it by 0.6% of GDP, about £8 billion. The government could formally abandon this aim to hit the target a year early, shift its aim to 2015, and spend that putative £8 billion overshoot now. It could also commit to making up the £10 billion committed now through the proceeds of the radical tax reform already outlined; immediately beginning the preparations needed to merge NI and Income Tax and bring in new House Value Taxes, A Business Land Tax, and Financial Activities Tax in 2014; to replace taxes currently on land, property and financial services, boosting revenue in time to hit the government's targets with new, economically efficient, rationally designed taxes, replacing the rubbish we currently have. Other moves could include looking again for cuts to such areas as generous benefits for the elderly that have so far escaped the axe.
All this would act essentially as not so much a genuine fiscal loosening but only a net shift of tax rises, from the start/middle of the Plan to nearer the end 2014 or so, when hopefully the economy will be in better shape to supply the tax revenue necessary, and doing so in manner that coincides precisely with the Coalition's already stated promises and objectives. These calculations also ignore any hoped for stimulus effect. If the economy is on the edge of decline these measures may be enough to hold it steady, and in that case the £10 billion (hopefully temporary) fiscal damage would do much less damage than a genuine second economic slowdown. The government has made much of denying charges of economic dogmatism, claiming there is 'flexibility' in its plans. Well, if that is true now is certainly the time to use it. Some government spokespersons have characterised this flexibility by saying the government would allow the natural stabilisers, rising welfare spending due to unemployment, falling taxes, etc, caused by a slowdown to occur. But this is to have everything backwards. What point is there spending more money to slow the economy's descent once it has started falling? Surely it is better to spend the same money now to try to stop it from falling in the first place? (If we are currently convinced that we will have to spend the money one way or the other.)
11) One final thing: Co-ordinated International Action.
This last heading is so obvious that it almost doesn't need mentioning. The major threat to our economy currently doesn't come from our own spending cuts but from the poor state of the world-wide economy. A rising tide lifts all boats. A receding tide leaves everyone stuck in the mud on the bottom. The largest cause of instability in the world economy today is the Eurozone debt crisis. Since the initial bold moves in May 2010 there has been no solution worthy of the name to come out of the Eurozone as the crisis deepens and deepens. Either Greece must be allowed to default, or it must be given the money it needs for as long as it needs it until it can restore growth. There is no 3rd option, and the failure to whole-hearted commit to one or the other, or indeed both, is what is doing the most part of the damage. Markets are forgiving of a good plan or a bad plan. What they scare at is prevarication, hesitation, being told things that everyone knows to be unsustainable nonsense, or the obvious sight of no coherent or credible plan at all. And bits of each of these is precisely what the EU has given them to the point where it is actually threatening the entire world economy.
So, firstly, the Eurozone nations need to get off their backsides and commit absolutely unequivocally to one of these solutions f they want to protect the Euro, or they must eject Greece as soon as possible. Secondly, the USA's politicians need to come down to planet earth, admit that the fear that the USA will be unable to repay its debts is the biggest threat to their recovery, whether that comes from future unsustainable spending, or madmen bringing their country to the edge of default in the here and now. Agree a serious long-term deficit reduction plan that includes both major tax rises and spending cuts and start to take a systematic look at the economic health of their country, rather than promising simplistic, magical solutions whether of one off stimulus bills or pointless tax cuts. To be honest in both cases politicians need to admit that it is their incompetence that has allowed things to get so bad, and that they need to massively shape up.
If that wasn't enough miracles to be hoping for at once: thirdly, Global leaders should agree a massive global, selective stimulus, re-balancing plan, whereby surplus, or low deficit, fiscally stable countries boost spending and their deficits and high-deficit, fiscally unsustainable countries cut theirs. Ideally by sufficient amounts to equal the reduction in demand in countries like the US, UK, Greece, Ireland, Portugal etc; or if this can't be achieved, by as much as possible. Now obviously the UK government does not get to decide whether these do or do not occur, so it is perhaps slightly unfair to file them under the heading of a growth plan. But it can certainly throw its considerable international weight behind calling for them, and hence perhaps offer some of the global leadership that has been so sorely lacking recently.
With that I think that I have covered about every single major area of policy that the government could and should cover. In fairness in many of these things are stuff the government is already trying or considering doing, but many are not. None of these things are particularly esoteric, but they will all annoy someone and involve fighting political battles, but the government cannot afford not to. If the economy tanks again they will go down with it, and so will we all (to a degree). But follow through on all these areas and the government will put us in the best economic shape to face the 21st Century we can be in, for better or worse. But what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? And do you think there are any obvious areas I've missed? |
Dry Skin on Hands and Feet
Everyday, we touch, move and do many things with our hands and feet. We become productive with our hands and feet. Little as we know, they are the busiest parts of the body and often times are subjected to many harmful things in the environment. Our hands and feet also need caring and pampering. Most people would want to have flawless hands and feet despite them being subjected to many activities in our daily lives.
Dry skin does not look attractive. It can be itchy and uncomfortable to the beholder. Anyone, if given a chance, would love to transform their hands and feet into something smooth and lovely to touch. Soft, smooth skin is always attributed to young age, as in babies. Dry skin can never be attractive to touch. It ca be a major turn-off.
Thick and Thin Skin
Dry skin cause is always attributed to the overall hydration of the person. Another factor is the skin types on the hands and feet that differ from the other parts of the body. There are two skin types—the thin skin and the thick skin.
Thick skin is found on the soles of the feet and palms of the hand and corresponding parts of the fingers and toes. It is 1 millimeter in the eyelids and 1.5 millimeter in the epidermis, or the outer lining of the skin. Thick skin has five layers of epidermis that is called, “strata”, which means, “sheets.” Stratum basale is the base and deepest layer of epidermis. The second layer is the Stratum spinosum which consists of 8 to 10 layers of cells. The third layer is the Stratum granulosum, which is 3 to 5 cell layers thick. It contains keratin and granules containing a waterproofing agent. The fourth layer is called the Stratum lucidum, which consists of dead keratinocytes. The fifth and last layer is called Stratum corneum, which consists of 20 to 30 layers of flat, highly keratinized ded cells. It protects the skin from mechanical abrasion. Its cells can absorb impacts and simply flake off if necessary. It prevents pathogen entry. It functions to prevent dessication or drying out of the skin. It is also called the “cornified layer”. Cornification is the process by which cells in the stratum basale divide and then advance upward, becoming more and more keratinized and less alive. This makes the skin thicker.
Thin skin is found everywhere else I nthe body and contains only four layers. It does not contain the fourth layer, stratum lucidum.
What Causes Dry Skin in Hands and Feet?
All dressed up to kill. Killer heels?
Dry skin on hands and feet may occur because of friction. The skin has its own mechanism to protect itself from frequent friction. In reaction to constant friction, the layers of the skin undergo the process of cornification and doubles or triples its thickness to make the skin stronger and withstand further abuse. This becomes what we call a callous formation. However, the dry skin that has lead to callous may be very painful. Simply walking can cause soles of feet to sore and make walking a difficult task. Severe dryness can cause the skin to break and have cracks. Cracked skin when subjected to movement may cause it to bleed or further tissue damage. Cracked skin also can be itchy. Further scratching may aggravate the skin condition and may lead to another skin problem or a wound. The heels of the feet seem to be parts that are more prone to have dry skin due to wearing of shoes. The pressure brought about by the stretching of the foot every time a person steps down aggravates the dryness. Articles such as socks and hosiery aggravate the problem as certain synthetic materials dry out the skin even more. Shoes and hosiery are confining the shoes and prevents fresh air to circulate. Heat and friction and sometimes presence of fungal skin infections may further dry the skin and cause fissures. The weather and humidity also affects the condition of the skin. Prolonged hot showers or saunas as well as long exposure to highly chlorinated pool water can contribute to the cause. Eczema, diabetes, and fungal infections can also cause the dryness of the soles of the feet and adjacent parts. Foot and walking defects and allows inappropriate weight bearing on a particular part of the sole causing imbalanced pressure while walking. Examples of this are flat foot, pronation, and high arches. Obesity is also a huge factor because the heavier the individual, the more pressure and weight the feet needs to endure.
Thanks to shock absorbent shoes and sandals but still, a heavy load.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Skin and Cracked Heels
Itchiness, feelings of skin tightness, pain, peeling or flaking, skin discoloration such as turning yellowish or brownish in color, signs of inflammation, painful soles of the feet while walking, bleeding from cracks, fungal skin infections.
Treatment and Management
A pumice stone used for callous exfoliation.
A podiatrist is a foot expert that can help you in the treatment. Exfoliating the thick callouses carefully is best done by a podiatrist. Avoid over exfoliating to prevent secondary wound abrasions. Avoiding ill fitting shoes will help prevent callous formation. A physical therapist can help and guide you in proper weight bearing, gait, and posture when standing and walking. Hand washing and proper foot hygiene can be a good preventive measure. Applying moisturizers such as lotions and petroleum jelly can help moisten and soften the affected areas.
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2 Factor Authentication [2FA]
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2 Factor Authentication or “2FA”, is defined as an additional layer of security requiring information that verifies the owner, and nobody else, is accessing their account.
Whether or not you have a strong password, your accounts can still be hacked. Two Factor Authentication can be the final barrier that keeps your accounts safe from hackers.
2FA, works like this:
1. You log into an account with your username and password.
2. The website asks you to provide a six-digit number.
3. Your phone displays a six-digit number, valid for thirty seconds.
4. Type it into the website and you’ve successfully logged in.
Many websites use 2FA, including Lastpass, Amazon, Facebook, Protonmail and, of course, cryptocurrency exchanges.
The two most common 2FA services are Authy, Google Authenticator and regular text messages. While all are free, I highly recommend Authy.
IMPORTANT: Text message 2FA is weak:
I would never use text messages for 2FA. That’s because there are many horror stories of phones getting hacked and their 2FA messages directed to a hacker’s phone. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to do. Instead I use the Authy application on my phone and computer. Setting up Authy fully explained in my guides.
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Evans Water Engineers
Environmental Impacts of Hydropower
Small and micro-hydro projects do not have anything like the local impacts of large multi-megawatt storage hydro schemes. There are arguments for even these large scale developments in the right locations because they do save a lot of carbon emissions, but the potential for serious local environmental and social conflicts is very real. Saving CO2 emissions and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels must take a high priority, but installing many smaller ‘run of river’ hydro plants can capture almost as much energy but without the conflicts. So why hasn’t this been done in recent years? Well, simply because our financial and political ‘lords and masters’ would rather be photographed ‘cutting the ribbon’ at the opening of a 1000MW hydro plant than a 100kW plant in the ‘back of beyond’! When I started proposing such schemes in public meetings where I shared the platform with the pro-nuclear government representatives of the day, I was chided with the accusation that I wanted a return to some ‘Halcyon Hibridean Hovel’, times have certainly changed in the rhetoric if not in the actual deeds.
The impact of a small-scale hydropower installation may be significantly less than for a large scheme but they should non the less be examined. It should also be noted that with good design there can be positive benefits to the environment in addition to the CO2 reductions. The main impacts relate to the ‘system’ itself and the physical structures and items of plant. There are impacts that relate to the on-going operation of the plant, the construction phase and decommissioning in the unlikely event of the plant no longer being required. The most significant impacts can be on the fish population, so I will deal with it in detail. At risk of offending some fishermen, it should be pointed out that fishing in a parallel commercial interest to hydro and whilst the hydro engineer’s intention should be to minimise the impact on fish, the very nature of angling is to catch and usually kill fish. Having been brought up with a fishing rod I have no particular argument against sport fishing, but I will take issue with anyone who suggests that fishing interests have any particular environmental interests other than to further their own sport. That is not to suggest that the majority of anglers don’t hold strong environmental views, because I know that they do. A senior EA official put a value of a single salmon on the Thames at £10,000. I can well understand this because it is the ‘expectation’ of catching this elusive creature that spurs anglers to pay their licence fee, but at that price make damn sure you don’t kill it if you do catch it or it will be the world’s most expensive lunch!
Migratory fish, as I have already mentioned are a major consideration. With regard to migratory species the main question is whether they can pass unharmed through the particular waterpower ‘device’ or whether they will have to be excluded from the device and diverted by another channel. If the fish are excluded by means of a suitable screening system, then the nature of the turbine is not relevant to any fishery questions but the method of avoiding it is.
Intake screens are straightforward on high head piped projects since there is no possibility of fish passing through the turbine so have to be excluded right at the start of the pipeline. Projects with leats (channels) and a pipeline are more complex since it is necessary that fish moving down stream that are drawn into the lead, have a safe route back to the main stream without the risk of becoming stranded half-way.
Leat schemes with a fall greater than about 10 metres may have a problem with finding a safe route that cannot dry out, but each situation should be considered on its own merits. Remote screening systems may be difficult to maintain and power if they require mechanical operation, so it may also be appropriate to have a screening system part way along a leat where it is accessible. Care will necessary if any portion of the channel is drained for maintenance or by accident, again so fish aren’t stranded.
Fish-passes and ladders are a fairly complex matter to get right, not least because fish often do not do what is expected and move up and down a stretch of river or channel irrespective of what their general migration may be. I have also witnessed sea trout passing freely over obstacles deemed impassable by fishery officers and others swimming up through turbines whilst they are running at full power.
Fish diversion devices are in my opinion useless, and this is simply because they can fail if there is a loss of power to the acoustic device or bubble screen. A success rate of even 90% would mean that if several hydro projects were present on a particular river, the chances of a fish surviving all the plants would be small. I leave it to others to argue the case in favour of such systems, but I remain to be convinced.
Fish screens must be of fine enough mesh to physically exclude any fish of a size and/or type that would be killed or injured if it went through the turbine. The water velocity approaching the mesh of the screen needs to be sufficiently low for the fish to be able to escape to a ‘safe passage’. Failing this there is a case that if a fish was sucked onto a screen, for example a ‘rotating drum screen’ they should be washed off again without injury in the shortest possible time.
Back-washing screens are the only ones where fish can survive after being drawn onto the mesh and any mechanical cleaner would obviously injure or kill the fish. Overflow screens of the bar or Coanda type need to have enough surplus water to at least keep the surface wet and free from debris at the bottom edge, otherwise fish may slide down and get tangled in a mass of debris at the foot of the screen.
Depleted reaches of a river will have flows that are agreed and controlled by the EA licence agreements. It is my opinion that very simple systems should be employed to maintain and measure flows. Calibrated notches that give the agreed compensation flow for a particular river level or a calibrated intake that allows the licensed flow to be taken according to the flow in the river. Care needs to be taken if the flow being taken by the turbine changes rapidly and causes fish to become trapped in pools as the water level recedes.
The construction of a new leat or the restoration of an old one can have significant benefits for the aquatic habitat. The increased wetted perimeter offered by the new channel acts as new habitat, and combined with the hydraulic necessity for low velocities and an alignment that usually has more sunlight, the weed growth and associated ecology is abundant during the summer months when the hydro plant may not be functioning at all. There has been the tendency to specify that leats be closed down completely or to a very small ‘sweetening flow’ in the summer, and this may be a mistake. The decision should be taken on ecological grounds as opposed to bureaucratic ones as is sometimes the case.
Overshot waterwheels are amongst the most friendly devices, as fish simply fall into the buckets and are transferred with no change of pressure to the lower level. Should a fish jump out of a bucket, it will land in the tail-race. By the same token the Bonnaud Noria operating as a prime-mover (waterwheel in the form of a chain) will have even less impact on fish. High breastshot wheels or Norias should be satisfactory if attention is paid to the water entry so that fish cannot become trapped between the device and the inlet flume.
Hydrodynamic Screws in common with backshot and undershot waterwheels are more difficult to make fully fish friendly on account of the ‘pinch points’ and ‘shear’ between the water and the ‘concave’. The much published ‘hydrodynamic screws’ usually pinch points at the inlet and ’shear’ between the water and the concave. Provided that the concave is very smooth and the clearances between the screw and the ‘concave’ are very tight, the performance will be reasonable, but as soon as the surfaces become rough due to corrosion (in the case of mild steel) or abrasion (in the case of concrete) the position will be somewhat different. Even a very small gap will undoubtedly result in small fish, lampreys and eels being minced.
The Archimedes Screw is a little different in that there is no pinch point at the entry and no ‘shear’ between the water and the ‘concave’ since the concave rotates with the screw (true Archimedes Screw). The smoothness of the outer drum and the flutes of the screw are only relevant in terms of the body of water passing over it. Should an eel or lamprey attach itself to the outer drum it will not be minced but be carried over into the next slug of water progressing down the tube.
Fish-Friendly turbines are only applicable low heads because fish passing through will be subjected to a change in pressure, and this should ideally be to be kept within what a fish might experience naturally going over a waterfall or passing through rapids. My own design criteria are that it should present no greater danger to a fish than natural migration. A fish ascending or descending a river will encounter natural obstructions that are sharp and irregular, whereas the turbine passages are smooth and streamlined. The turbine has no pinch points and the guiding inlet parts are well away from the turbine runner that is very low running and has no sharp edges. The way that any fish meets the runner is more akin to passing through a revolving door, but without the possibility of getting caught between the rotating part and the stationary part.
My personal objectives, and I accept that they are my own feelings, are that a well-engineered hydro scheme, whether high or low head, should be almost unnoticeable to the untrained eye. This is relatively easy for high head projects where the powerhouse can literally be buried, leaving only an access door visible. The tendency to build a square modern structure with a token slate roof and a security fence is a tragedy. If a building has to be above ground, then it should fit in with the locality, and if this is rustic dry-stone construction, that’s what it should be, not a square, flush pointed building like a public lavatory. As for erecting large signs about it being an environmentally friendly project, what about the signs! Low head sites are more difficult, partly because of the need on many sites to house equipment above the maximum flood level, though tanking the powerhouse so that it can be submerged isn’t usually a problem.
Waterwheels when installed in conjunction with an existing mill house or a new building of traditional design, can add to the general aesthetics of an area. I regret that installing any ‘Hydrodynamic Screw’ or ‘Archimedes Screw’ is a total abomination in most picturesque areas. The only visual parallel, along with the obligatory safety fencing is a sewage treatment works. Problems that have already been encountered including safety of the public, vandalism blockage and noise, rather outweigh the supposed visual fascination of watching it go round. If it is to be an item of entertainment or education in an urban environment, there may well be a good case for their use, but in quiet rural locations the only true aesthetic solution is to bury whatever you choose to install.
Any heavy construction work will bring with it a host of potential environmental impacts from water pollution, noise, dust and general annoyance to neighbours. I can only suggest that great attention is paid to how the project is carried out and that you give as much warning to neighbours about what to expect. The safety of the construction staff and the public at large is dealt with in more detail under ‘project management’.
Rupert Armstrong Evans
Managing Director |
The Complex
On Monday, the news broke that the National Security Agency has been actively intercepting French telephone calls and email traffic — collecting over 70 million French calls in a single month, according to Le Monde. Turns out this is only the latest surveillance operation in a long, long history of America spying on France. A ...
AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images
Turns out this is only the latest surveillance operation in a long, long history of America spying on France. A newly declassified intelligence document reveals that the NSA and its antecedents have been intercepting French communications and breaking French codes and ciphers for more than 70 years.
Monday’s Le Monde report may have generated enormous controversy in France, leading the French foreign minister to call in the U.S. ambassador and read him the riot act. But it’s hardly a new development. American eavesdroppers began listening on France during World War II. They continued doing so during the Cold War. The NSA even spied on France during the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
A 1947 top-secret code-word NSA document, titled "The General Cryptanalytic Problems," reveals that in April 1941, eight months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a small U.S. Army code-breaking unit, headed by French linguist Herrick F. Bearce, began trying to solve the diplomatic codes and ciphers of the Vichy French regime headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain, which had actively collaborated with Nazi Germany since the fall of France in 1940. A few months earlier, in January 1941, U.S. Army and Navy listening posts had begun intercepting Vichy diplomatic radio traffic between France and its colonies in North and West Africa, Martinique, Madagascar, Indochina, French Guiana, Djibouti, and St. Pierre et Miquelon off the Canadian coast.
Success quickly followed, indicating that the French codes and ciphers were not particularly secure. The report shows that Bearce’s cryptanalysts broke their first Vichy French code, designated FBT, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack in mid-December 1941. The size of Bearce’s section grew by leaps and bounds as his cryptanalysts, with considerable help from their counterparts in Britain and Canada, solved several dozen Vichy encryption systems with increasing ease. The Army continued to read all of the Vichy French codes and ciphers being used until Pétain’s regime collapsed following the Allied landings in North Africa in November 1942. Within a matter of weeks, Vichy communications traffic disappeared from the airwaves except for occasional cables to the sole French colony controlled by Vichy in French Indochina (in what is now Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia).
After Pétain’s Vichy government collapsed, in April 1943 the U.S. Army code breakers turned their attention to the diplomatic codes and ciphers then being used by America’s nominal ally, Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s Free French government in exile, which was based in London but maintained embassies in the United States and elsewhere around the world. The report shows that in October 1943, the U.S. Army’s French code-breaking specialists, then headed by Maj. William F. Edgerton, solved the first of de Gaulle’s most important diplomatic cipher systems, designated FMD. In the months that followed, a half dozen other Free French diplomatic ciphers were solved.
With the solutions of these systems, decrypted French diplomatic traffic became the single most important source of intelligence information being produced by the U.S. Army’s code-breaking unit after Germany and Japan. By the time Japan surrendered in August 1945, the U.S. Army’s code breakers had broken or were working on the solution to 60 French diplomatic or military code and cipher systems, including nearly all of the high-level encryption systems used by de Gaulle and his top ministers to communicate with French diplomats and generals around the world.
The amount of intelligence information produced from decrypted French diplomatic traffic was enormous and incredibly valuable. For example, the French FMT diplomatic code, which the U.S. Army broke in February 1945, proved to be an intelligence bonanza for the United States since the messages encrypted in the system contained all of the high-level diplomatic traffic between Paris and the French delegation at an April 1945 conference in San Francisco that led to the establishment of the United Nations. In other words, the State Department officials at the San Francisco conference knew everything about the French negotiating positions even before the conference began.
But that is not the extent of the surprises contained in the newly declassified report. Buried all the way at the back of the document is a nine-page chapter titled simply "Assistance From Espionage," which describes in some detail how the FBI and the predecessor to the CIA, then known as the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), stole countless foreign code books and cipher materials in order to help the Army’s code breakers at their work.
It turns out that much of the success enjoyed by the Army’s code breakers against the French codes and ciphers during World War II was because FBI and OSS burglars repeatedly broke into French embassies in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere around the world to steal French cryptographic materials. These "black-bag jobs" proved to be enormously useful in allowing the Army to break French codes and ciphers. The report states (p. 302) that "The French Section has been the recipient of more compromised [stolen] material than any other language group [within the Army code-breaking organization]," with the document showing that FBI and OSS burglars surreptitiously copied at least nine French codes and ciphers between 1941 and 1945.
But this is only the beginning of a story that has yet to be told. It might surprise people to learn that the NSA and its partners in Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have never stopped intercepting French diplomatic and military communications, or trying to break French codes and ciphers, since the day Japan surrendered on Aug. 14, 1945. The NSA’s intercept operators monitored French military communications in Indochina in the 1950s, as well as French military and diplomatic traffic during the Algerian insurgency in the 1960s. Much of what the U.S. intelligence community knew about the Israeli nuclear weapons program in the late 1950s and early 1960s came from intercepted French communications. And when the French government led the fight in the United Nations against the U.S. government’s plans to invade Iraq in 2002 and 2003, the NSA was listening then as well.
France may be a friend and ally of the United States, but that means very little in the U.S. intelligence community, where spying on America’s friends is as much a fact of life as spying on America’s enemies. As senior U.S. intelligence officials are fond of saying, "We have no friends, only targets."
DocsPt1 by Noah Shachtman
DocsPt2 by Noah Shachtman
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Introduction to Git
Here we will explain how to get started with Git so that you can work collaboratively on code at the hackathon.
What do I need?
There are two main things you need:
1 - Git
2 - GitHub Account (This can be substituted for others such as GitLab or BitBucket)
If you're on windows you can either use the Github GUI application or Git command line version. As the command line version is global across Windows, Linux and Mac we will describe that here.
Note for Mac Users: Git comes pre-installed, however it maybe installed with a previous version, instead of the current version
Lots of Integrated development environments (IDE's) like Atom and VS Code have their own inbuilt GUI systems for Git integration. These are again out of scope here for now.
Creating a Repository
Repository Name
After logging into GitHub you can create a new repository by clicking the + symbol at the top right. You should be presented with a form like screen asking for a repository name, if you already have your hack idea name you can enter it here or if not you could use the hackathon name (aka "HackSheffield 5"). These names don't need to be globally unique but must be different to any repository you've made before.
Enter in a short description of your hack here if you have one, this will be shown at the header of your repository and can be changed at any time so don't worry about not putting one in yet.
You now have infinite Public and Private repositories, a public repository can be seen by anyone whilst a private repository is just for you. Public repositories still require collaborators or pull requests to be changed by other people.
We will be creating the repository from scratch so no need for any of these settings to be changed. A file named "" will be displayed at the front page of your repository and therefore can be used as a manual or title page. A .gitignore file can be used to select certain files in your repository to never commit such as files with passwords in. Licenses can be used to explain to a user what the can and can't do with your code.
Click Create
Now click create and you have made a repository!
Linking your project to GitHub
With a repository now on github we can link this to a local folder.
Create a local project folder
First make a folder either using folder explorer or finder etc... or using the terminal/cmd/console you can use the command cd to change directory (aka cd Desktop) and then using mkdir (aka mkdir HS5) to create the folder. You'll need to then cd into that folder again (aka cd HS5).
Initialise local folder
We now need to tell git that this is where our repository lives. We intitalise this by using the command git init after cding to our folder.
First commit
To begin we will make a file in our new git repository, you can do this using notepad or in console using vim/emacs/nano, the fastest method is to echo directly into the file using echo "# testRepository" >> We can then tell git we want to add these changes using git add or if you'd like to add all files in the folder git add ..
These additions then need to be boxed into a commit using git commit -m "First commit", here the -m stands for message and "First commit"is what these changes will be labeled as in GitHub.
Currently our folder doesn't know which repository to send this to and so we have to link the folder to our repository, int GitHub you should find the repository remote at the top labelled "Quick setup". Take the link shown there (Best to start with HTTPS) and type git remote add origin followed by the link (aka git remote add origin You should only ever need to run this command at setup of a repository.
Now git know what we want to commit and where to all we have to do is push or commits to GitHub, we do this using git push origin master. Telling git we want to push our origin to the master branch.
You should now be able to see your code in GitHub after you refresh the page!
Add collaborators
Collaborators can be added in: Settings -> Collaborators.
Where you should be able to search for their GitHub accounts.
Later commits
To add more things to the repository there are three things you need to follow:
git add .
git commit -m "Message"
git push origin master
Medium Git
Merge conflicts
Merge conflicts happen when two people try to change the same file lines resulting in conflicting code. To fix these one contributor needs to act to mediate these conflicts to choose which code should stay and what is un-needed.
Many IDEs (definitely Atom and VS Code) have inbuilt systems to help deal with merge conflicts.
The best thing to do first is to find out where the issues are, the best method of doing this is git status. Most of the time you will see Both modified next to a file name, sometimes a file may have been deleted in another branch.
The easiest method is to use an IDE, start by finding the offending file(s), in Atom and VS Code the sections of code will be highlighted with buttons to select local or remote or both changes to be kept. Use your best intuition to change the code to what is best.
Uh Oh
In the case you've messed up the merge conflicts and things don't work you can abort the merge at any point to return to the pre-merged state using git merge --abort
After the code is working as desired a normal commit cycle of add, commit and push will send the merged file to GitHub.
Creating a branch
git checkout -b "BranchName"
git push origin BranchName
git checkout master
git merge BranchName
Pull requests
Fork the repository you want to Pull Request using GitHub Fork button at the top right of the repository. Clone the repository to your PC using git clone RepositoryLink where the Repository link is the link found in your forked repository clone button.
Create a branch using git checkout -b "BranchName"
Push changes
git add .
git commit -m "Message"
git push origin BranchName
Pull Request
On the repository you would like to accept your PR you should see a green banner with a button exclaiming change. Follow the pull request section until you enter your code for a review.
Your code may be accepted or asked for changes depending on if your code meets the requirements. Simply make the changes and commit again, you may however be required to request a review from your previous reviewer.
Advanced Git
Make a Pull Request and contribute! |
Insomnia Overview
Insomnia is most often thought of as both a medical sign and a symptom that can accompany several sleep, medical, and psychiatric disorders characterized by a persistent difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep or sleep of poor quality.
Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. Insomnia can be grouped into primary and secondary insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful in insomnia that is present for a long duration.
Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. Insomnia can be grouped into primary and secondary, or comorbid, insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful in insomnia that is present for a long duration.
Initial Overview based on Wikipedia entry Jan. 3, 2016
The National Institute of Health (NIH) webpage on Insomnia (Medline Plus) is here.
Insomnia can be short term (up to three weeks) or long term (above 3–4 weeks); it can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability and an increased risk of heart disease and automobile related accidents.[5]Insomnia, also known as trouble sleeping, is a sleep disorder in which there is trouble to fall asleep or to stay asleep as long as desired. While the term is sometimes used to describe a disorder as diagnosed by polysomnographic oractigraphic evidence, this is often practically defined as a positive response to either of two questions: “do you experience difficulty sleeping?” or “do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?”
Insomnia can be grouped into primary and secondary, or comorbid, insomnia.[6][7][8] Primary insomnia is a sleep disorder not attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause.[9] It is described as a complaint of prolonged sleep onset latency, disturbance of sleep maintenance, or the experience of non-refreshing sleep.[10] A complete diagnosis will differentiate between free-standing primary insomnia, insomnia as secondary to another condition, and primary insomnia co-morbid with one or more conditions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful in insomnia that is present for a long duration.[11] Those who are having trouble sleeping sometimes turn to sleeping pills, which may help, but also may lead to substance dependency or addiction, and long-term worsening of sleep, if used regularly for an extended period.[12][13]
DSM-5 criteria
The DSM-5 criteria for insomnia include the following:[14]
Predominant complaint of dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality, associated with one (or more) of the following symptoms:
1. Difficulty initiating sleep. (In children, this may manifest as difficulty initiating sleep without caregiver intervention.)
2. Difficulty maintaining sleep, characterized by frequent awakenings or problems returning to sleep after awakenings. (In children, this may manifest as difficulty returning to sleep without caregiver intervention.)
3. Early-morning awakening with inability to return to sleep.
In addition,
4. The sleep difficulty occurs at least 3 nights per week.
5. The sleep difficulty is present for at least 3 months.
6. The sleep difficulty occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep.
7. The insomnia is not better explained by and does not occur exclusively during the course of another sleep-wake disorder (e.g., narcolepsy, a breathing-related sleep disorder, a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder, a parasomnia).
9. Coexisting mental disorders and medical conditions do not adequately explain the predominant complaint of insomnia.
Types of insomnia
Insomnia can be classified as transient, acute, or chronic.
Transient insomnia lasts for less than a week. It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severedepression, or by stress. Its consequences – sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance – are similar to those of sleep deprivation.[15]
Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of less than a month. Insomnia is present when there is difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or when the sleep that is obtained is non-refreshing or of poor quality. These problems occur despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep and they must result in problems with daytime function.[16] Acute insomnia is also known as short term insomnia or stress related insomnia.[17]
Chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a month. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder. People with high levels of stress hormones or shifts in the levels of cytokines are more likely than others to have chronic insomnia.[18] Its effects can vary according to its causes. They might include muscular weariness, hallucinations, and/or mental fatigue. Chronic insomnia can cause double vision.[15]
Patterns of insomnia[edit]
Symptoms of insomnia:[19]
• difficulty falling asleep, including difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position
• waking during the night and being unable to return to sleep
• feeling unrefreshed upon waking
• daytime sleepiness, irritability or anxiety
Sleep-onset insomnia is difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night, often a symptom of anxiety disorders. Delayed sleep phase disorder can be misdiagnosed as insomnia, as sleep onset is delayed to much later than normal while awakening spills over into daylight hours.[20]
It is common for patients who have difficulty falling asleep to also have nocturnal awakenings with difficulty returning to sleep. Two thirds of these patients wake up in middle of the night, with more than half having trouble falling back to sleep after a middle of the night awakening.[21]
Early morning awakening is an awakening occurring earlier (more than 30 minutes) than desired with an inability to go back to sleep, and before total sleep time reaches 6.5 hours. Early morning awakening is often a characteristic of depression.[22]
Poor sleep quality
Poor sleep quality can occur as a result of, for example, restless legs, sleep apnea or major depression. Poor sleep quality is caused by the individual not reaching stage 3 or delta sleep which has restorative properties.
Major depression leads to alterations in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, causing excessive release of cortisol which can lead to poor sleep quality.
Nocturnal polyuria, excessive nighttime urination, can be very disturbing to sleep.[23]
Subjective insomnia
Main article: Sleep state misperception
Some cases of insomnia are not really insomnia in the traditional sense. People experiencing sleep state misperception often sleep for normal durations, yet severely overestimate the time taken to fall asleep. They may believe they slept for only four hours while they, in fact, slept a full eight hours.
Potential complications of insomnia.[24] Source: Wikipedia
Symptoms of insomnia can be caused by or be associated with:
• Use of psychoactive drugs (such as stimulants), including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine,amphetamines, methylphenidate, aripiprazole, MDMA, modafinil, or excessive alcohol intake.[25]
• Use of or withdrawal from alcohol and other sedatives, such as anti-anxiety and sleep drugs like benzodiazepines.[25]
• Use of or withdrawal from pain-relievers such as opioids.[25]
• Previous thoracic surgery.
• Heart disease.[26]
• Deviated nasal septum and nocturnal breathing disorders.[27]
• Restless legs syndrome, which can cause sleep onset insomnia due to the discomforting sensations felt and the need to move the legs or other body parts to relieve these sensations.[28]
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), which occurs during sleep and can cause arousals of which the sleeper is unaware.[29]
• Pain,[30] an injury or condition that causes pain can preclude an individual from finding a comfortable position in which to fall asleep, and can in addition cause awakening.
• Hormone shifts such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause.[28]
• Life events such as fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress, birth of a child and bereavement.[28]
Gastrointestinal issues such as heartburn or constipation.[31]
• Mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, dementia,[32] and ADHD[33]
• Disturbances of the circadian rhythm, such as shift work and jet lag, can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Chronic circadian rhythm disorders are characterized by similar symptoms.[25]
• Certain neurological disorders, brain lesions, or a history of traumatic brain injury.[34]
• Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.[35]
• Abuse of over-the counter or prescription sleep aids (sedative or depressant drugs) can produce rebound insomnia.[25]
• Poor sleep hygiene, e.g., noise or over-consumption of caffeine.[25]
• A rare genetic condition can cause a prion-based, permanent and eventually fatal form of insomnia called fatal familial insomnia.[36]
• Physical exercise. Exercise-induced insomnia is common in athletes in the form of prolonged sleep onset latency.[37]
Sleep studies using polysomnography have suggested that people who have sleep disruption have elevated nighttime levels of circulating cortisol andadrenocorticotropic hormone They also have an elevated metabolic rate, which does not occur in people who do not have insomnia but whose sleep is intentionally disrupted during a sleep study. Studies of brain metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET) scans indicate that people with insomnia have higher metabolic rates by night and by day. The question remains whether these changes are the causes or consequences of long-term insomnia.[35]
Alcohol is often used as a form of self-treatment of insomnia to induce sleep. However, alcohol use to induce sleep can be a cause of insomnia. Long-term use of alcohol is associated with a decrease in NREM stage 3 and 4 sleep as well as suppression of REM sleep and REM sleep fragmentation. Frequent moving between sleep stages occurs, with awakenings due to headaches, the need to urinate, dehydration, and excessive sweating. Glutamine rebound also plays a role as when someone is drinking; alcohol inhibits glutamine, one of the body’s natural stimulants. When the person stops drinking, the body tries to make up for lost time by producing more glutamine than it needs. The increase in glutamine levels stimulates the brain while the drinker is trying to sleep, keeping him/her from reaching the deepest levels of sleep.[38] Stopping chronic alcohol use can also lead to severe insomnia with vivid dreams. During withdrawal REM sleep is typically exaggerated as part of a rebound effect.[39]
Like alcohol, benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam and diazepam, are commonly used to treat insomnia in the short-term (both prescribed and self-medicated), but worsen sleep in the long-term. While benzodiazepines can put people to sleep (i.e., inhibit NREM stage 1 and 2 sleep), while asleep, the drugs disrupt sleep architecture: decreasing sleep time, delaying time to REM sleep, and decreasing deep slow-wave sleep (the most restorative part of sleep for both energy and mood).[40][41][42]
Opioid medications such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine are used for insomnia that is associated with pain due to their analgesic properties and hypnoticeffects. Opioids can fragment sleep and decrease REM and stage 2 sleep. By producing analgesia and sedation, opioids may be appropriate in carefully selected patients with pain-associated insomnia.[30] However, dependence on opioids can lead to long-term sleep disturbances.[43]
Risk factors
Insomnia affects people of all age groups but people in the following groups have a higher chance of acquiring insomnia.
• Individuals older than 60
• History of mental health disorder including depression, etc.
• Emotional stress
• Working late night shifts
• Travelling through different time zones[1]
Cortisol is typically thought of as the stress hormone in humans, but it is also the awakening hormone.[44] Analyzing saliva samples taken in the morning has shown that patients with insomnia wake up with significantly lower cortisol levels when compared to a control group with regular sleeping patterns.[45] Further studies have revealed that those with lower levels of cortisol upon awakening also have poorer memory consolidation in comparison to those with normal levels of cortisol.[46] Studies support that larger amounts of cortisol released in the evening occurs in primary insomnia. In this case, drugs related to calming mood disorders or anxiety, such asantidepressants, would regulate the cortisol levels and help prevent insomnia.[47]
Many postmenopausal women have reported changes in sleep patterns since entering menopause that reflect symptoms of insomnia. This could occur because of the lower levels of estrogen. Lower estrogen levels can cause hot flashes, change in stress reactions, or overall change in the sleep cycle, which all could contribute to insomnia. Estrogen treatment as well as estrogen-progesterone combination supplements as a hormone replacement therapy can help regulate menopausal women’s sleep cycle again.[48]
Low levels of progesterone throughout the female menstruation cycle, but primarily near the end of the luteal phase, have also been known to correlate with insomnia as well as aggressive behavior, irritability, and depressed mood in women.[49] Around 67% of women have problems with insomnia right before or during their menstrual cycle.[50] Lower levels of progesterone can, like estrogen, correlate with insomnia in menopausal women.[48]
A common misperception is that the amount of sleep required decreases as a person ages. The ability to sleep for long periods, rather than the need for sleep, appears to be lost as people get older. Some elderly insomniacs toss and turn in bed and occasionally fall off the bed at night, diminishing the amount of sleep they receive.[51]
In medicine, insomnia is widely measured using the Athens insomnia scale.[52] It is measured using eight different parameters related to sleep, finally it is represented as an overall scale which assess an individual’s sleep pattern.
A qualified sleep specialist should be consulted in the diagnosis of any sleep disorder so the appropriate measures can be taken. Past medical history and a physical examination need to be done to eliminate other conditions that could be the cause of the insomnia. After all other conditions are ruled out a comprehensive sleep history should be taken. The sleep history should include sleep habits, medications (prescription and non-prescription), alcohol consumption, nicotine and caffeine intake, co-morbid illnesses, and sleep environment.[53] A sleep diary can be used to keep track of the individual’s sleep patterns. The diary should include time to bed, total sleep time, time to sleep onset, number of awakenings, use of medications, time of awakening and subjective feelings in the morning.[53] The sleep diary can be replaced or validated by the use of out-patient actigraphy for a week or more, using a non-invasive device that measures movement.[54]
Workers who complain of insomnia should not routinely have polysomnography to screen for sleep disorders.[55] This test may be indicated for patients with symptoms in addition to insomnia, including sleep apnea, obesity, a risky neck diameter, or risky fullness of the flesh in the oropharynx.[55] Usually, the test is not needed to make a diagnosis, and insomnia especially for working people can often be treated by changing a job schedule to make time for sufficient sleep and by improving sleep hygiene.[55]
Some patients may need to do a sleep study to determine if insomnia is present. The sleep study will involve the assessment tools of a polysomnogram and the multiple sleep latency test and will be conducted in a sleep center or a designated hotel. Specialists in sleep medicine are qualified to diagnose the many different sleep disorders. Patients with various disorders, including delayed sleep phase syndrome, are often mis-diagnosed with primary insomnia. When a person has trouble getting to sleep, but has a normal sleep pattern once asleep, a delayed circadian rhythm is the likely cause.
In many cases, insomnia is co-morbid with another disease, side-effects from medications, or a psychological problem. Approximately half of all diagnosed insomnia is related to psychiatric disorders.[56] In depression in many cases “insomnia should be regarded as a co-morbid condition, rather than as a secondary one;” insomnia typically predates psychiatric symptoms.[56] “In fact, it is possible that insomnia represents a significant risk for the development of a subsequent psychiatric disorder.”[2]Insomnia occur in between 60% and 80% of people with depression.[57] This may partly be due to treatment used for depression.[57]
Knowledge of causation is not necessary for a diagnosis.[56]
Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day can create a steady pattern which may help to prevent or treat insomnia.[1] Avoidance of vigorous exerciseand any caffeinated drinks a few hours before going to sleep is recommended, while exercise earlier in the day is beneficial. The bedroom should be cool and dark, and the bed should only be used for sleep and sex. These are some of the points included in what doctors call “sleep hygiene”.
It is important to identify or rule out medical and psychological causes before deciding on the treatment for insomnia.[58] Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be as effective as medications for the short-term treatment of chronic insomnia. The beneficial effects, in contrast to those produced by medications, may last well beyond the stopping of therapy.[59] Medications have been used mainly to reduce symptoms in insomnia of short duration; their role in the management of chronic insomnia remains unclear.[6] Several different types of medications are also effective for treating insomnia. However, many doctors do not recommend relying on prescription sleeping pills for long-term use. It is also important to identify and treat other medical conditions that may be contributing to insomnia, such as depression, breathing problems, and chronic pain.[60]
Non-pharmacological strategies have comparable efficacy to hypnotic medication for insomnia and they may have longer lasting effects. Hypnotic medication is only recommended for short-term use because dependence with rebound withdrawal effects upon discontinuation or tolerance can develop.[61]
Non pharmacological strategies provide long lasting improvements to insomnia and are recommended as a first line and long term strategy of management. The strategies include attention to sleep hygiene, stimulus control, behavioral interventions, sleep-restriction therapy, paradoxical intention, patient education and relaxation therapy.[62] Some examples are keeping a journal, restricting the time spent awake in bed, practicing relaxation techniques, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule and a wake-up time.[60] Behavioral therapy can assist a patient in developing new sleep behaviors to improve sleep quality and consolidation. Behavioral therapy may include, learning healthy sleep habits to promote sleep relaxation, undergoing light therapy to help with worry-reduction strategies and regulating the circadian clock.[60]
Music may improve insomnia in adults.[63] EEG biofeedback has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of insomnia with improvements in duration as well as quality of sleep.[64]
Sleep hygiene is a common term for all of the behaviors which relate to the promotion of good sleep. These behaviors are used as the basis of sleep interventions and are the primary focus of sleep education programs.[65] Behaviors include the use of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol consumption, maximizing the regularity and efficiency of sleep episodes, minimizing medication usage and daytime napping, the promotion of regular exercise, and the facilitation of a positive sleep environment.[65]Exercise can be helpful when establishing a routine for sleep but should not be done close to the time that you are planning on going to sleep. The creation of a positive sleep environment may also be helpful in reducing the symptoms of insomnia. In order to create a positive sleep environment one should remove objects that can cause worry or distressful thoughts from view.
Stimulus control therapy is a treatment for patients who have conditioned themselves to associate the bed, or sleep in general, with a negative response. As stimulus control therapy involves taking steps to control the sleep environment, it is sometimes referred interchangeably with the concept of sleep hygiene. Examples of such environmental modifications include using the bed for sleep or sex only, not for activities such as reading or watching television; waking up at the same time every morning, including on weekends; going to bed only when sleepy and when there is a high likelihood that sleep will occur; leaving the bed and beginning an activity in another location if sleep does not result in a reasonably brief period of time after getting into bed (commonly ~20 min); reducing the subjective effort and energy expended trying to fall asleep; avoiding exposure to bright light during nighttime hours, and eliminating daytime naps.[66]
A component of stimulus control therapy is sleep restriction, a technique that aims to match the time spent in bed with actual time spent asleep. This technique involves maintaining a strict sleep-wake schedule, sleeping only at certain times of the day and for specific amounts of time to induce mild sleep deprivation. Complete treatment usually lasts up to 3 weeks and involves making oneself sleep for only a minimum amount of time that they are actually capable of on average, and then, if capable (i.e. when sleep efficiency improves), slowly increasing this amount (~15 min) by going to bed earlier as the body attempts to reset its internal sleep clock. Bright light therapy, which is often used to help early morning wakers reset their natural sleep cycle, can also be used with sleep restriction therapy to reinforce a new wake schedule. Although applying this technique with consistency is difficult, it can have a positive effect on insomnia in motivated patients.
Paradoxical intention is a cognitive reframing technique where the insomniac, instead of attempting to fall asleep at night, makes every effort to stay awake (i.e. essentially stops trying to fall asleep). One theory that may explain the effectiveness of this method is that by not voluntarily making oneself go to sleep, it relieves the performance anxiety that arises from the need or requirement to fall asleep, which is meant to be a passive act. This technique has been shown to reduce sleep effort and performance anxiety and also lower subjective assessment of sleep-onset latency and overestimation of the sleep deficit (a quality found in many insomniacs).[67]
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Main article: Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia
There is some evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is superior in the long-term to benzodiazepines and the nonbenzodiazepines in the treatment and management of insomnia.[68] In this therapy, patients are taught improved sleep habits and relieved of counter-productive assumptions about sleep. Common misconceptions and expectations that can be modified include: (1) unrealistic sleep expectations (e.g., I need to have 8 hours of sleep each night), (2) misconceptions about insomnia causes (e.g., I have a chemical imbalance causing my insomnia), (3) amplifying the consequences of insomnia (e.g., I cannot do anything after a bad night’s sleep), and (4) performance anxiety after trying for so long to have a good night’s sleep by controlling the sleep process. Numerous studies have reported positive outcomes of combining cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia treatment with treatments such as stimulus control and the relaxation therapies. Hypnoticmedications are equally effective in the short-term treatment of insomnia but their effects wear off over time due to tolerance. The effects of CBT-I have sustained and lasting effects on treating insomnia long after therapy has been discontinued.[69][70] The addition of hypnotic medications with CBT-I adds no benefit in insomnia. The long lasting benefits of a course of CBT-I shows superiority over pharmacological hypnotic drugs. Even in the short term when compared to short-term hypnotic medication such as zolpidem (Ambien), CBT-I still shows significant superiority. Thus CBT-I is recommended as a first line treatment for insomnia.[71] Metacognition is also a recent trend in approach to behaviour therapy of insomnia.[72]
Internet interventions
Despite the therapeutic effectiveness and proven success of CBT, treatment availability is significantly limited by a lack of trained clinicians, poor geographical distribution of knowledgeable professionals, and expense.[73] One way to potentially overcome these barriers is to use the Internet to deliver treatment, making this effective intervention more accessible and less costly. The Internet has already become a critical source of health-care and medical information.[74] Although the vast majority of health websites provide general information,[74][75] there is growing research literature on the development and evaluation of Internet interventions.[76][77]
These online programs are typically behaviorally-based treatments that have been operationalized and transformed for delivery via the Internet. They are usually highly structured; automated or human supported; based on effective face-to-face treatment; personalized to the user; interactive; enhanced by graphics, animations, audio, and possibly video; and tailored to provide follow-up and feedback.[77]
There is good evidence for the use computer based CBT for insomnia.[78]
Many insomniacs use sleeping tablets and other sedatives. In some places medications are prescribed in over 95% of cases.[79] The percentage of adults using a prescription sleep aid increases with age. During 2005–2010, about 4% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over reported that they took prescription sleep aids in the past 30 days. Prevalence of use was lowest among the youngest age group (those aged 20–39) at about 2%, increased to 6% among those aged 50–59, and reached 7% among those aged 80 and over. More adult women (5.0%) reported using prescription sleep aids than adult men (3.1%). Non-Hispanic white adults reported higher use of sleep aids (4.7%) than non-Hispanic black (2.5%) and Mexican-American (2.0%) adults. No difference was shown between non-Hispanic black adults and Mexican-American adults in use of prescription sleep aids.[80]
As an alternative to taking prescription drugs, some evidence shows that an average person seeking short-term help may find relief from taking over-the-counterantihistamines such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine.[81] diphenhydramine is widely used in nonprescription sleep aids such as Benadryl, and doxylamine is used in nonprescription sleep aids such as Unisom (USA), Unisom 2 (Canada), and, in some countries, including Australia, is marketed under the names Restavit and Dozile. It is the most effective over-the-counter sedative currently available in the United States, and is more sedating than some prescription hypnotics.[82] Antihistamine effectiveness for sleep may decrease over time, and Anticholinergic side-effects (such as dry mouth) may also be a draw back of these particular drugs. While addiction does not seem to be an issue with this class of drugs, they can induce dependence and rebound effects upon abrupt cessation of use.
Melatonin is another non-prescription option, available in some countries labeled “dietary supplement”. Melatonin is a hormone synthesized by the pineal gland, secreted through the bloodstream in the dark or commonly at nighttime, in order to control the sleep cycle.[83]
Evidence for ramelteon, a melatonin receptor agonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration, looks promising.[84] It and tasimelteon increase sleep time due to a melatonin rhythm shift with no apparent negative effects on the next day.[83][85] Most melatonin drugs have not been tested for longitudinal side effects.[85] Prolonged-release melatonin improves quality of sleep with minimal side effects.[86][87]
Studies have also shown that children who are on the Autism spectrum or have learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or relatedneurological diseases can benefit from the use of melatonin. This is because they often have trouble sleeping due to their disorders. For example, children with ADHD tend to have trouble falling asleep because of their hyperactivity and, as a result, tend to be tired during most of the day. Children who have ADHD then, as well as the other disorders mentioned, may be given melatonin before bedtime in order to help them sleep.[88]
Because insomnia is a common symptom of depression, antidepressants are effective for treating sleep problems whether or not they are associated with depression. While all antidepressants help regulate sleep, some antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, mirtazapine, and trazodone can have an immediate sedative effect, and are prescribed to treat insomnia.[89] Amitriptyline and doxepin both have antihistaminergic, anticholinergic, and antiadrenergic properties, which contribute to both their therapetuic effects and side effect profiles, while mirtazapine’s side effects are primarily antihistaminergic, and trazodone’s side-effects are primarily antiadrenergic.Mirtazapine is known to decrease sleep latency (i.e., the time it takes to fall asleep), promoting sleep efficiency and increasing the total amount of sleeping time in people with both depression and insomnia.[90][91]
Agomelatine a novel melatonergic antidepressant with sleep-improving qualities that does not cause daytime drowsiness,[92] is licensed for marketing in the European Union [93] and TGA Australia.[94] After trials in the United States its development for use there was discontinued in October 2011[95] by Novartis, who had bought the rights to market it there from the European pharmaceutical company Servier.[96]
Normison (temazepam) is abenzodiazepine commonly prescribed for insomnia and other sleep disorders.[97]
The most commonly used class of hypnotics for insomnia are the benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are not significantly better for insomnia than antidepressants.[98] Chronic users of hypnotic medications for insomnia do not have better sleep than chronic insomniacs not taking medications. In fact, chronic users of hypnotic medications have more regular nighttime awakenings than insomniacs not taking hypnotic medications.[99] Many have concluded that these drugs cause an unjustifiable risk to the individual and to public health and lack evidence of long-term effectiveness. It is preferred that hypnotics be prescribed for only a few days at the lowest effective dose and avoided altogether wherever possible, especially in the elderly.[100]
The benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic medications also have a number of side-effects such as day time fatigue, motor vehicle crashes and other accidents, cognitive impairments and falls and fractures. Elderly people are more sensitive to these side-effects.[101] Some benzodiazepines have demonstrated effectiveness in sleep maintenance in the short term but in the longer term benzodiazepines can lead to tolerance, physical dependence, benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuation, and long-term worsening of sleep, especially after consistent usage over long periods of time. Benzodiazepines, while inducing unconsciousness, actually worsen sleep as — like alcohol — they promote light sleep while decreasing time spent in deep sleep.[102][103] A further problem is, with regular use of short-acting sleep aids for insomnia, daytime rebound anxiety can emerge.[104] Although there is little evidence for benefit of benzodiazepines in insomnia compared to other treatments and evidence of major harm, prescriptions have continued to increase.[105] This is likely due to their addictive nature, both due to misuse and because — through their rapid action, tolerance and withdrawal — they can “trick” insomniacs into thinking they are helping with sleep. There is a general awareness that long-term use of benzodiazepines for insomnia in most people is inappropriate and that a gradual withdrawal is usually beneficial due to the adverse effects associated with thelong-term use of benzodiazepines and is recommended whenever possible.[106][107]
Benzodiazepines all bind unselectively to the GABAA receptor.[98] Some theorize that certain benzodiazepines (hypnotic benzodiazepines) have significantly higher activity at the α1 subunit of the GABAA receptor compared to other benzodiazepines (for example, triazolam and temazepam have significantly higher activity at the α1subunit compared to alprazolam and diazepam, making them superior sedative-hypnotics – alprazolam and diazepam in turn have higher activity at the α2 subunit compared to triazolam and temazepam, making them superior anxiolytic agents). Modulation of the α1 subunit is associated with sedation, motor-impairment, respiratory depression, amnesia, ataxia, and reinforcing behavior (drug-seeking behavior). Modulation of the α2 subunit is associated with anxiolytic activity and disinhibition. For this reason, certain benzodiazepines may be better suited to treat insomnia than others.
Benzodiazepine-like Hypnotics
Drugs that may prove more effective and safer than benzodiazepines for insomnia is an area of active research.[108] Nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic drugs, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon, zopiclone (Imovane), and eszopiclone (Lunesta), are a class hypnotic medications that are similar to benzodiazepines in their mechanism of action, and indicated for mild to moderate insomnia. Their effectiveness at improving time to sleeping is slight, and they have similar — though potentially less severe — side effect profiles compared to benzodiazepines.[109]
The use of antipsychotics for insomnia, while common, is not recommended as the evidence does not demonstrate a benefit and the risk of adverse effects is significant.[110][111] Concerns regarding side effects is greater in the elderly.[112]
Orexin antagonists
Suvorexant is FDA approved for insomnia, characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance.[113] It exerts its therapeutic effect in insomnia through antagonism of orexin receptors. The orexin neuropeptide signaling system is a central promoter of wakefulness. Blocking the binding of wake-promoting neuropeptides orexin A and orexin B to receptors orexin receptor type 1 and orexin receptor type 2 is thought to suppress wake drive.[113]
Alternative medicine
Some insomniacs use herbs such as valerian, chamomile, lavender, cannabis, hops, Withania somnifera, and passion-flower. L-Arginine L-aspartate, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, and delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) may also be helpful in alleviating insomnia.[114]
Disability-adjusted life year for insomnia per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002. Source: Wikipedia
Disability-adjusted life year for insomnia per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002. no data
less than 25
more than 80
A survey of 1.1 million residents in the United States found that those that reported sleeping about 7 hours per night had the lowest rates of mortality, whereas those that slept for fewer than 6 hours or more than 8 hours had higher mortality rates. Getting 8.5 or more hours of sleep per night increased the mortality rate by 15%. Severe insomnia – sleeping less than 3.5 hours in women and 4.5 hours in men – also led to a 15% increase in mortality. However, most of the increase in mortality from severe insomnia was discounted after controlling for co-morbid disorders. After controlling for sleep duration and insomnia, use of sleeping pills was also found to be associated with an increased mortality rate.[115]
The lowest mortality was seen in individuals who slept between six and a half and seven and a half hours per night. Even sleeping only 4.5 hours per night is associated with very little increase in mortality. Thus, mild to moderate insomnia for most people is associated with increased longevity and severe insomnia is associated only with a very small effect on mortality.[115] It is unclear why sleeping longer than 7.5 hours is associated with excess mortality.[115]
Insomnia is 40% more common in women than in men.[116]
The National Sleep Foundation’s 2002 Sleep in America poll showed that 58% of adults in the U.S. experienced symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week or more.[117] Although insomnia was the most common sleep problem among about one half of older adults (48%), they were less likely to experience frequent symptoms of insomnia than their younger counterparts (45% vs. 62%), and their symptoms were more likely to be associated with medical conditions, according to the poll of adults between the ages of 55 and 84.[117]
As explained by Thomas Roth,[2] estimates of the prevalence of insomnia depend on the criteria used as well as the population studied. About 30% of adults report at least one of the symptoms of insomnia. When daytime impairment is added as a criterion, the prevalence is about 10%. Primary insomnia persisting for at least one month yields estimates of 6%.
The topic of insomnia is discussed in many cultural contexts.[118][119]
The word insomnia is from Latin: in + somnus “without sleep” and -ia as nominalizing suffix.
Classification and external resources
SpecialtySleep medicine
ICD10F51.0, G47.0
ICD9-CM307.42, 307.41, 327.0,780.51, 780.52
Patient UKInsomnia
See also
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Further reading
• Ellis, J. J., Hampson, S. E., & Cropley, M. M. (2002). Sleep hygiene or compensatory sleep practices: an examination of behaviours affecting sleep in older adults. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 7(2), 156-161. doi:10.1080/13548500120116094
• Passarella, S., & Duong, M. (2008). Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. American Journal Of Health-System Pharmacy, 65(10), 927-934. doi:10.2146/ajhp060640
• Insomnia Charles M. Morin and Geneviève Belleville, Scholarpedia, 3(4):3314. doi:10.4249/scholarpedia.3314
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From 1800 to 2000, planning, engineering and architecture, served to create a vast expansion of the urban world. It was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the consequences of this act turned elusively unpleasant. Now over eighty-five percent of Americans and half the world live in the midst of it and it remains a vague notion.
The Albemarle Report is exploring methods of participation for a small number of participants from neighborhoods to regions forming a global community. The contributors may not share a common set values but are willing to retain the right of building common interests. The three regions below can be anywhere in the world. The story can move from the Inwood neighborhood near Sherman’s Creek to a review of the regions response to climate change and the national response in initiatives such as the Green New Deal.
The articles listed under these geographic headings lead to others, and still others. They are like the trillions of leaves from billions of trees that gather energy, share their reach to the sun, and fall to nurture an unknown future.
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