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Corporate News Smartphones What is Li-fi and why it’s better than Wi-fi For layman , Li-Fi does not transmit data via radio waves, but rather through the light. What is The Technology and Scope This OWC technology uses light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a medium to deliver networked, mobile, high-speed communication in a similar manner to Wi-Fi.The Li-Fi market is projected to have a compound annual growth rate of 82% from 2013 to 2018 and to be worth over $6 billion per year by 2018. Visible light communications (VLC) works by switching the current to the LEDs off and on at a very high rate, too quick to be noticed by the human eye. Although Li-Fi LEDs would have to be kept on to transmit data, they could be dimmed to below human visibility while still emitting enough light to carry data. The light waves cannot penetrate walls which makes a much shorter range, though more secure from hacking, relative to Wi-Fi. Direct line of sight isn’t necessary for Li-Fi to transmit a signal; light reflected off the walls can achieve 70 Mbit/s. Li-Fi has the advantage of being useful in electromagnetic sensitive areas such as in aircraft cabins, hospitals and nuclear power plants without causing electromagnetic interference. Both Wi-Fi and Li-Fi transmit data over the electromagnetic spectrum, but whereas Wi-Fi utilizes radio waves, Li-Fi uses visible light. While the US Federal Communications Commission has warned of a potential spectrum crisis because Wi-Fi is close to full capacity, Li-Fi has almost no limitations on capacity. The visible light spectrum is 10,000 times larger than the entire radio frequency spectrum. Researchers have reached data rates of over 10 Gbit/s, which is much faster than typical fastbroadband in 2013. Li-Fi is expected to be ten times cheaper than Wi-Fi. Short range, low reliability and high installation costs are the potential downsides. Bg-Fi is a Li-Fi system consisting of an application for a mobile device, and a simple consumer product, like an IoT (Internet of Things) device, with color sensor, microcontroller, and embedded software. Light from the mobile device display communicates to the color sensor on the consumer product, which converts the light into digital information. Light emitting diodes enable the consumer product to communicate synchronously with the mobile device. One part of VLC is modeled after communication protocols established by the IEEE 802 workgroup. However, the IEEE 802.15.7 standard is out-of-date, it fails to consider the latest technological developments in the field of optical wireless communications, specifically with the introduction of optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (O-OFDM) modulation methods which have been optimized for data rates, multiple-access and energy efficiency. The introduction of O-OFDM means that a new drive for standardization of optical wireless communications is required. The standard defines three PHY layers with different rates: The modulation formats recognized for PHY I and PHY II are on-off keying (OOK) and variable pulse position modulation (VPPM). The Manchester coding used for the PHY I and PHY II layers includes the clock inside the transmitted data by representing a logic 0 with an OOK symbol “01” and a logic 1 with an OOK symbol “10”, all with a DC component. The DC component avoids light extinction in case of an extended run of logic 0’s. The first VLC smartphone prototype was presented at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 7–10 in 2014. The phone uses SunPartner’s Wysips CONNECT, a technique that converts light waves into usable energy, making the phone capable of receiving and decoding signals without drawing on its battery. A clear thin layer of crystal glass can be added to small screens like watches and smartphones that make them solar powered. Smartphones could gain 15% more battery life during a typical day. This first smartphones using this technology should arrive in 2015. This screen can also receive VLC signals as well as the smartphone camera. The cost of these screens per smartphone is between $2 and $3, much cheaper than most new technology. About the author Profile photo of Rakesh Bhatia Rakesh Bhatia Leave a Comment Powered by keepvid themefull earn money
Sunday, August 28, 2011 Neighborhoods in semi-urban settlements Pilgrim housing in Mecca NOTE, added 2015: This paper is now published. New, rapidly growing places can reveal the patterns and processes of urbanization, sometimes more clearly than traditional cities. I have a group of students working right now on neighborhood organization in what we are calling "semi-urban settlements." This category describes newly-formed residential places, typically with a special purpose, that have rapidly grown into large settlements. If these settlements exhibit neighborhood organization (and it appears that most or all of them do), this would support the notion that neighborhoods are a fundamental component of human settlement. A second level of analysis focuses on neighborhood dynamics. Are neighborhoods in semi-urban settlements homogeneous or heterogeneous in terms of various social parameters? That is, do they have clustered ethnic or religious groups? Are they formed by the bottom-up actions of residents acting on their own, or are they formed by the top-down actions of authorities who plan and administer these places? And once established, is life in these places more influenced by bottom-up or top-down forces? We hope to find some answers to these questions. Black Rock City, home of Burnng Man So what semi-urban places are we including in our sample? Here is our current list (subject to modification): Periodic settlements: • Pilgrimage sites. Where do all those pilgrims stay when they arrive at their destination for several days of worship or relaxation? There is a big literature on pilgrimages as processes, but very litle on the temporary housing in the destination city. • Festivals. Burning Man and other annual events bring large numbers of people together for short, intense periods of interaction and activity. Black Rock City, the annual settlement for Burning Man, does have neighborhoods (see my paper on the archaeological study of neighborhoods), but what about other festivals? • 19th century camp meeting • Camp meetings. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of people were drawn to temporary cities in the woods in nineteenth century America. Did they organize themselves into neighborhoods? Large-scale contemporary camps: • Refugee camps. The creation of spatially separate neighborhoods is part of the design standards for refugee camps, partly for Chinese disaster camp reasons of logistics and partly to keep hostile ethnic and national groups apart. • Disaster camps. Less is known about whether neighborhoods are found in disaster camps or not. Temporary concentrations of nomads: RV "neighborhoods" at Quartzsite ? • Plains Indian aggregation sites.What happens when nomadic peoples gather in once place for some time? For example, when the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho gathered at Libble Bighorn to oppose Custer's force, did they arrange themselves into "neighborhoods" by tribal group? • Winter RV campsites. RV sites like Quartzsite are the modern equivalent of Plains Indian nomadic aggregation sites. Can these patterns at Quartzsite in Arizona be considered neighborhood-like social units? Japanese internment camp, Arizona Practical settlements (see "the city as practical machine") • Company towns. Whether 19th-20th century industrial towns (like Pullman in Chicago), or ancient Egyptian workers villages, specialized production-oriented settlements share a number of spatial and social characteristics. Do those characteristics include neighborhood organization? • Military camps. As a specialized settlements, established by authorities for some kind of practical task, military camps have some similarity to company towns. Do they have neighborhoods? • Internment camps. When large groups of people are forcibly settled in a restricted location that has been built for that purpose, do they form neighborhood-like groups? We will look at the data from Japanese internment camps in the western United States during World War II. We may also include informal settlements (squatters settlements) and some other settlement types in our project.We think that by investigating neighborhood dynamics at these varied kinds of "semi-urban" places, we can achieve two ends. First, we may illuminate aspects of the social and spatial organization of these settlements. Second, we hope that these cases will help us understand urban neighborhood dynamics in general. Part of the impetus for this study is to explore some of the themes of our recent joint article . Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Race, ethnicity, social class: Are most urban neighborhoods homogeneous or heterogeneous? Many modern cities are segregated by race, class, or other parameters, and mixed neighborhoods seem rare. Most people believe that this is not a good situation, for many reasons. Much effort is devoted to trying to reduce the degree of segregation, and there is much research about how to do this. Some writers suggest that in the distant urban past, there were more mixed neighborhoods, and homogeneous neighborhoods are a modern phenomena. Others suggest that traditional cities always had neighborhoods organized by ethnicity or class or occupation. What is the truth here? What do we know about the extent of social clustering in premodern and nonwestern cities? When people who are alike cluster in neighborhoods, is this because they prefer this arrangement and make decisions to bring it about? Or are they forcibly clustered into ghettos, and then prevented from moving by laws and other top-down practices? Or perhaps such patterns arise as byproducts of other actions and decisions? If we study these things for premodern cities, can we derive any lessons for modern urbanism? These are some of the questions that motivate a research project I am involved in called "Urban organization through the ages: Neighborhoods, open spaces, and urban life." It is part of a series of transdisciplinary research projects at Arizona State University called "Late Lessons from Early History." One of whose goals of this program is to make comparisons between modern and past societies and try to draw lessons for modern society. If you have followed this blog, you will know one of my main purposes here is to explore connections and comparisons between premodern and modern cities. Not only do I write about both modern and ancient cities, but I often compare them or use examples from both categories to make a point. Our research project has six principle investigators, representing the disciplines of anthropological archaeology (yours truly), sociology, geography, and political science.Our first joint article was published over the summer: York, Abigail, Michael E. Smith, Benjamin Stanley, Barbara L. Stark, Juliana Novic, Sharon L. Harlan, George L. Cowgill, and Christopher Boone (2011) Ethnic and Class-Based Clustering Through the Ages: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Urban Social Patterns. Urban Studies 48(11):2399-2415. I'd like to be able to say that we have solved the historical puzzles of urban social clustering and segregation, but alas, we have only made a modest contribution. We describe our transdisciplinary and comparative approach to the problem; we discuss a number of drivers or forces that contribute to social clustering at the neighborhood level, and we give a few examples of how these have played out in different historical and geographical settings. We use the term "clustering" because the word "segregation" has considerable baggage in modern parlance, with implications that limit its application to premodern cities. There was ethnic clustering in many premodern cities, for example, but the dynamics were quite different from modern racial segregation. Clustering is a more neutral term, better for comparative analysis. One of our conclusions is that there was no single "traditional" form of social clustering. Many writers over the years have assumed that modern western cities developed out of a prior pattern of traditional cities (sometimes traditional means seems to mean medieval, sometimes early modern, sometimes Classical Greece or Rome). If we can understand the traditional situation and how it changed with modernization, this will help us understand modern cities. But there was never any single "traditional" pattern. Another conclusion is that patterns of social clustering vary greatly, both within and between urban traditions. There is no such thing as a "typical" medieval European urban pattern; some medieval cities had homogeneous neighborhoods, some had mixed neighborhoods. There was no typical "Aztec" pattern or "Islamic" or "Chinese" pattern. Cities varied in their neighborhood organization within cultures or within urban traditions. And a third conclusion of our paper is that there are many causes or drivers of clustering, and in any given city several of these are likely to play a role. We organize them into four broad categories, each of which has several individual drivers: 1. Macro-structural forces (capitalism, globalization, etc.) 2. The state (laws, policies, actions of governments) 3. Local regimes and institutions (real estate markets, zoning, local elites) 4. Bottom-up processes (individual choice, chain migration, neighborhood self-regulation). Our next job is to refine our scheme and apply it to a greater number and range of case studies, with more systematic and in-depth analysis. Stay tuned.
Sound Engineer Qualifications A sound engineer must understand audio equipment. A sound engineer must understand audio equipment. If you're passionate about the music industry and love producing music, a job as a sound engineer might be the high note of your career. A sound engineer, often known as an audio engineer, is responsible for the audio equipment and systems used in concerts, live productions, fashion shows, business conventions, church services, live recordings, music videos, television and radio broadcasts. Some sound engineering companies require formal education in the field, but most require hands-on experience with audio equipment and technical knowledge of audio systems. Even though a formal education beyond high school isn't required to become a sound engineer, some companies prefer job candidates who have a bachelor's degree in audio engineering, sound production or a related music field. Among schools with sound production programs are the University of Indiana, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of Miami. Training programs at universities or vocational schools and internships with sound engineering companies are beneficial to people who want to be sound engineers. . Technical Experience Previous experience and technical training with sound equipment is usually a pre-requisite for a sound engineering job. According to Cal Performances at the University of California Berkeley, an audio engineer applicant must have extensive experience with sound mixing consoles, on-stage monitors and digital consoles. Technical knowledge setting up audio systems, the ability to trouble-shoot audio problems, an understanding of lighting basics and knowledge of how various types of acoustics enhance performances is also required. Missouri State University reports that an audio engineer usually operates more than 20 feet of controls and monitors hundreds of equipment configurations. Leadership Traits A sound engineer works with a production crew to create the best sound experience possible. Strong leadership traits -- scheduling rehearsals, supervising workers, training new employees, communicating deadlines, managing band members and working collaboratively on projects -- are usually necessary for the job. Cal Performances suggests that strong customer service skills, excellent organizational and time management skills, multi‐tasking abilities and task delegation efforts help a sound engineer maintain a high level of productivity. Since sound engineering is a fast-paced environment, you must be able to prioritize demands, respond calmly to ever-changing situations and work under pressure to meet deadlines. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for a sound engineer technician was $56,100, as of 2011. The highest paying industries were the motion picture and video industries, with audio engineers making an average salary of $73,500 per year. Sound engineer technicians in performing arts companies and sound recording industries had average annual salaries of $44,000 and $55,700, respectively. About the Author Photo Credits • Jupiterimages/ Images
Breakthrough in lung cancer research Wednesday 22 December, 2010 Australian and international researchers have announced a potential breakthrough in lung cancer research - linking it to a genetic mutation for which blocking drugs already exist. Associate Professor Gavin Wright, the director of surgical oncology at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne and a member of the Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group, headed the Australian research team. The implications of this are exciting as one of the drugs has already been successfully tested in mice seeded with human lung cancer cells. Clinical trials using the drugs will start next year to test whether the drugs can be safely and effectively used to treat people. "I don't think it's hyperbole to say this is probably the biggest finding in lung cancer research to date," Associate Professor Wright said. "This cancer happens in patients for whom we really don't have anything, apart from chemotherapy." The study involved researchers from Australia, Germany, the US and other countries, who together recruited patients with lung cancer and collected 1,000 tumour samples, which they genetically analysed. Results indicated that up to 25% of squamous cell carcinomas featured far too many copies of a gene called FGFR1, that plays a role in healing. Professor Wright said the over-expression of the gene caused uncontrolled cell growth. The discovery may only be relevant to about 10% of all lung cancers, but Professor Wright said lung cancer's high prevalence meant significant numbers of people stood to benefit. The study has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Professor Wright has provided the following information in response to frequently asked questions about this research: Is the new disovery a wonder drug? No. This important discovery is actually a DNA abnormality in a gene called FGFR1. This abnormality is found in about a quarter of all squamous cell lung cancers. It allows the cancer to grow endlessly and spread to other parts of the body. This type of abnormality is relatively simple to target with a certain class of drugs. Whilst there are at least two drug compounds that were co-incidentally invented and stored for future use, they are not yet available for treatment, and have not had sufficient human trials for safety and effectiveness. Is this FGR1 gene abnormality inherited? No. The DNA abnormality of this gene only occurs in the lung cancer itself. It is not in the person's normal cells and cannot be passed on to children of the person with lung cancer. Additionally lung cancer itself is not hereditary, and there is no requirement for genetic testing of children or siblings. Will this discovery help all lung cancers? No. This FGFR1 gene defect appears to only happen in squamous cell lung cancers. We believe it occurs in 20% to 25% of cases of squamous cell cancer. The drugs to be trialled will only help patients whose lung cancers have the specific FGFR1 gene abnormality. Who gets squamous cell cancers? Squamous cell lung cancers are most common in former smokers and current smokers. They also occur occasionally in non-smokers. It is not passed on to children of patients with lung cancer. Are there different gene abnormalities for lung adenocarcinoma? Yes. Two DNA or gene abnormalities have so far been discovered in the other common type of lung cancer - adenocarcinoma. There is currently treatment available for these abnormalities in mainstream practice and in ongoing clinical research trials. The most common abnormality is called EGFR mutation, which is treated with erlotinib (Tarceva®) or gefitinib (Irressa®). It is usually in non-smokers and people of East Asian ancestry, and more common in females. It is found in 10% to 15% of adenocarcinomas. The less common abnormality is called ALK rearrangement, which is treated with crizotinib. It also mainly occurs in non-smokers. It is found in 4% to 5% of adenocarcinomas. When will the human trials of the drug for FGFR1 abnormality begin? The earliest human trial will probably commence towards the middle of next year. This will be a "Phase 1" trial, which means that a limited number of people will receive varying doses of the drug to assess cancer shrinkage, look for side effects, and determine the maximum dose tolerated by humans. Only after the best dose is determined can larger trials begin. Who would be eligible for FGFR1 trials? Because this would be initially an experimental drug, patients would only be invited into the FGFR1 trials if they have the following: 1. Cancer has been proven to be squamous cell lung cancer by a tissue biopsy. 2. Testing of their tumour by the St Vincent's Pathology laboratory proves the cancer has the FGFR1 gene abnormality. 3. The cancer has already been treated with current best therapy. 4. The cancer has been proven by biopsy to have returned (relapsed). 5. There has been no response to standard chemotherapy, or the tumour has returned despite previous standard chemotherapy. Can I go on the trials if I don't live in Melbourne? Yes. Provided that you are eligible for the trials (see above) and you are willing to travel to Melbourne for all initial assessments and specified follow-up appointments. The trial drug will be a tablet that will be supplied and taken each day at home in between visits. Unfortunately, there is no government financial assistance at the moment for travel specifically for a clinical trial. What would the various trials involve? The Phase 1 trial would involve a small number of patients taking our "best guess" of the correct dose. If there are no side effects, a small number of patients will receive a higher dose. This will continue until several patients in one dose group suffer side effects (e.g. skin rash, diarrhoea) that make that dose intolerable. We would then decide that the next lower dose is the correct dose, as long is it actually shrinks the tumour. The next trial would be a "Phase 2" trial, which uses the correct dose in a larger number of patients. This confirms whether the drug is effective, and double-checks that the side effects are only minor. The final trial is a "Phase 3" trial, in which patients who have not yet had chemotherapy will randomly receive either the FGFR1 treatment drug or standard chemotherapy. If this trial confirms the new drug is superior to chemotherapy (less side effects and/or more effective), then it will become the standard treatment for squamous cell lung cancers with the FGFR1 gene abnormality. Why can't my specialist prescribe the drug right now? The drugs are currently experimental. Their full side effects are unknown. It is unethical to prescribe a drug without first submitting it to proper clinical research trials. Should I go in the trial if there's no visible tumour after my recent treatment? No. If your tumour is in remission or undetectable on scans after your recent treatment then no further treatment is recommended. Should your cancer return (relapse) in the future, you might be eligible for one of the trials, provided you meet the other eligibility criteria (see above). Are there other trials for lung cancer treatment in the meantime? Yes. The best place to search for a clinical trial that suits your particular lung cancer and situation is the Victorian Cancer Trials Link run by Cancer Council Victoria. Will there be other gene abnormalities identified for lung cancer in the future? Most likely yes. The technology we have used to make this discovery is still being used to look for other, less common, gene abnormalities. This further research will depend on future research funding and the availability of suitable lung cancer tissue specimens. Can I have a consultation regarding treatment or research trial options for my squamous cell lung cancer? Yes. If you have a referral from your general practitioner, you may request a consultation in my consulting rooms by telephoning (03) 9419 2477. Can I donate money to help with this research? Yes. Donations can be made to help with this and future related research by contacting St Vincent's Foundation by telephone 03 9288 3365 or email Please specify that you wish your gift to be used for the Clinical Lung Cancer Genome Project. Updated: 22 Dec, 2010
How to Prevent Industrial Fires Use a three-phase accident investigation process to identify basic causes and take corrective action. William Fries admits he was shocked. Fries, director, property services, Loss Prevention Department, Liberty Mutual Group, thought he had seen and heard it all during his time with the company, but this was a new one. During a routine inspection, he asked a safety director at a pulp and paper mill if it had a frequency problem with fires. He was relieved to hear that the company had never had a big fire. His happiness was short-lived as the safety director went on to explain that once a week, a certain machine would cause a dust explosion, a small flash fire. The safety director tried to reassure Fries, telling him that the vigilant machine operator had a garden hose standing by and he "takes care of it." "What if the operator was on break? What if he went to lunch or the bathroom when the flash fire occurred? That small controllable fire could take the entire plant down," said Fries, his voice rising with disbelief. "Those kinds of stories really shake me up." Experts agree that there is no such beast as a fireproof facility. Too many elements are involved to make those kinds of claims. A host of factors -- building design and materials, machinery, wiring, fire supression systems, emergency response programs, alarm systems, inspection and testing of fire response equipment and systems, chemicals on site, training, housekeeping, end products -- can work alone or combine to impact on fire resistance and prevention. But there are a number of ways, said Fries, to avoid courting disaster like the safety director at the pulp and paper mill. Protection and Prevention Protection ensures that a minor event &emdash; a small containable fire in a trash can, for example &emdash; does not turn into a catastrophic event which can devastate a business, the lives of workers and a community. Prevention ensures that the trash can fire does not ignite in the first place. Fries cites one example of such an event: An electric eraser used by drafters at one company was stored in such a way that the nose of the eraser pressed against the side of the drawer. The contact caused the eraser to switch on and vibrate. The constant friction caused the eraser to overheat and start a fire which spread throughout the room, fueled by the stacks of papers and plans used by the drafters. "If that eraser had been properly stored, that fire would never have occurred," noted Fries. "Fires usually start small. Processes become so familiar that the workers lose respect for them, become a little bit careless, and that's all it takes." The answer, said Fries, is prevention. Experts focus on several aspects of prevention -- good housekeeping, good work habits, employee training and workplace inspection -- as ways to avoid minor events and major catastrophes. According to figures from Factory Mutual, three-fifths of fires and nearly three-fourths of property damage could be avoided through preventive maintenance and frequent inspection and testing of equipment and electrical systems; taking proper safety precautions during maintenance operations; and using caution around open flames. "Many of the fires we've responded to were due to inadequate work practices -- such as cutting and welding operations without a fire watch [keeping a close watch on an area in which hot work has been conducted for several hours after the work has been completed]. Others were at areas which weren't cleaned up, did not have flammables and combustibles properly stored or had grease or oil-soaked floors," said Scott Dornen, a fire chief at Atlantic Richfield Co.'s (ARCO) Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, facility and a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. According to Dornen, such incidents at his location have declined in recent years due to several factors. At the height of construction on the Alaska pipeline, ARCO had as many as 120 contractor companies on site, all with different safety policies and procedures. Many of those companies are gone, and with less construction and fewer operations and employees, the opportunities for fires and explosions have diminished. "It's the difference between the number of fires in a city of 100,000 people versus a city of 1 million people," noted Dornen. He added that many of the companies with which ARCO now contracts have improved their maintenance, inspection and housekeeping, in part because of the high standards ARCO maintains for its own operations. For example, before new facilities are constructed at ARCO or a new process undertaken, the building plans go through an extensive design review which includes the use of a 1-to-24 inch scale model. All engineering controls to prevent and protect against fire and explosion are examined. Dornen helps review the layout of fixed protection, such as sprinkler and alarm systems, to make sure it is more than adequate to meet the challenges of the operations planned for that facility. The scale models help Dornen and the safety department, with whom he closely works, look for things like blocked emergency exits, dead-end aisles and walkways, locations of storage areas for chemicals and inventory which are away from potential ignition sources, and emergency escape routes. Through the use of such models, they can also examine the placement of fire walls and doors to make sure that fires can be contained in specific areas. Building in Fire Safety In addition to planning fire safety into the design of new facilities and processes, experts suggest a close evaluation of the materials used to construct new buildings and/or maintain older ones. Determining the fire protection factors for buildings and materials can seem daunting, but James Martin, a property team leader with the Loss Control Group, ITT Hartford Group, notes that many business insurers are willing to advise their clients about fire prevention and protection. He offers up this list of questions that safety professionals, building engineers and emergency response personnel need to be able to answer about their workplace: • What are the structural building materials? • Do they meet or exceed current NFPA, Underwriters Laboratories and industry standards, as well as state and federal codes? • Are there adequate, properly marked emergency exits? "I've seen situations where the water supply was shut off at the street, but the sprinklers still showed water pressure on the inside valves. Anyone inspecting that system would think it was working. If they tested it, they would discover there was no water," said Martin. Finally, said Martin, get upper management involved and proactive about fire safety. If management focuses attention and resources on fire prevention and proactive maintenance, employees will understand that fire safety, good maintenance and housekeeping are important parts of their jobs. The True Cost of Fire While no one wants to suffer through a fire, management might balk at some of the expenses associated with fire prevention and protection, cautioned experts. The cost of emergency response drills, building scale models, providing employee training, purchasing state-of-the-art fire protection systems and materials for new buildings and retrofitting older buildings with fire suppression systems can be high. But experts agree that it is money well spent. Figures from the National Fire Protection Association show that each year, some 85,000 fires occur in the workplace, causing an annual average of 89 deaths to employees and customers and a whopping $1.856 billion in direct property damage. And that does not take indirect costs, which can double or triple the damage amount, into consideration. "The cost of a fire or explosion is much greater than the dollar amount of the damage," explained Mark Blank, engineering team leader, Factory Mutual System, Chicago. "Imagine a group of sales people about to sign a big production deal who are left hanging because the production line had to shut down as a result of a fire and they can't promise a delivery date. It could take years to build back the business that is lost when buyers turn to other suppliers." He said that he has seen more than one corporation relocate operations from burned-out facilities to other facilities rather than rebuild, and has seen companies take insurance payments and rebuild in other cities or states where the costs of doing business are lower. "I've seen companies with only one facility go out of business because between the lost business and production downtime and the amount of the loss which they couldn't recover through insurance, they couldn't afford to rebuild. Plus, mortgage bills and tax bills keep coming in, even when production is stopped," said Blank. By all means, said Blank, purchase insurance. But, he added, the best insurance is prevention. "The U.S. has the highest fire incidence rate of any country in the world and the smallest regard for fire. We tell kids not to play with fire and matches, but as adults, we seem to forget why it's a bad idea. It's sad because fires would not occur if people would just take the time to take precautions to prevent them," he said. Not all fire prevention strategies involve expensive equipment or extensive remodeling. According to Lawrence Oldendorf, who has 40 years experience in fire protection and prevention and is president of Fire and Safety Engineering Services, Burbank, Ill., one of the least expensive and most effective ways to prevent fires is through good housekeeping techniques. According to him, as many as 90 percent of all fires are caused or fueled by unneeded combustibles. While combustibles can include oil-soaked rags and trash, it goes much further than that. "Extra packing boxes stored in the wrong place -- close to ignition sources -- are combustibles. Chemicals stored near work areas instead of in flame- and explosion-resistant drums and cabinets are combustibles," said Oldendorf. "Bottles of alcohol stored on every desk in a cleanroom are combustibles." He noted that while it is easier to store bottles of cleaners and chemicals close to work sites, it is a dangerous practice. It is also dangerous to store containers of flammable, reactive and explosive chemicals in shipping cartons, unless the containers or cartons are flame-resistant. "Storage boxes are inexpensive and storage cabinets can be expensive," said Oldendorf, "but the cost of a fire is much more expensive." To cut down on costs, he suggests keeping extra inventory of flammables to a minimum. Less storage space is needed, said Oldendorf, and potential fuel sources for a fire are decreased. Other suggestions from Oldendorf include: Mark Blank, engineering team leader at Factory Mutual System's Chicago office, said that the biggest challenge he faces is making people understand the concept of "hot" work. "People don't have fires every day. They think that it won't happen to them, that they don't do anything which could contribute to a fire," said Blank. What they don't understand is that any time they have open flames, sparks or hot surfaces, they have a potential fire hazard. Cutting torches, propane torches, welding and grinding operations, portable drills and internal combustion engines are all ignition sources. Throw in some fuel &emdash; wood, paper, rags, oil, chemicals, alcohol, gasoline &emdash; and it is a fire waiting to happen, said Blank. "A cutting torch can reach 2,000 degrees. That's plenty hot to ignite just about anything," he commented. Any time a maintenance operation involving cutting, grinding or welding is undertaken, he suggests conducting a step-by-step review of the process. Preparation for hot work is extensive, noted Blank. A 35-foot distance is needed between the hot work and combustibles. Anything which cannot be moved should be covered with a welding tarp. If the work is being conducted in a building made of materials which can burn, then the walls, floors and possibly ceilings in the area need to be covered or treated with flame retardants. "You have to understand that you are bringing a very hazardous operation into a place not suited for it," said Blank, comparing it to lighting a cigarette in a dynamite factory. Once the hot work is completed, the work is not over. At least one person needs to be designated as a fire watch. He or she stands guard over the area for an hour to watch for smoke or flames; makes sure that no flammables are brought back into the area; and checks that the area remains closed off until the threat of a stray spark or flame has passed. The area should continue to be closely monitored -- inspected every 20 minutes or so -- for an additional 3 hours. For that reason, Blank suggests doing hot work at the beginning of the day or at the beginning of shifts. He also suggests assigning an employee to be a fire watch even if the work is conducted by an outside contractor. "An outside contractor might be very competent in his line of work, but not very knowledgeable about fire protection and hazards at the facility. The contractor might have different priorities and might just think that it's costing him money to have one of his people stand watch rather than work on another job," said Blank. He said he encourages building owners to retain the responsibility for providing a fire watch and permitting the area for hot work. "People don't understand the risk that exists. It might take less time to take a cutting torch to a pipe, but there is a much greater potential exposure. You have to ask: Is it safe? If the answer is no, then don't do it," counseled Blank. Employees should be trained to do the following: • Learn the location of alternative exits from all work areas. • Post emergency phone numbers on or near all phones. Employers must: • Conduct regular fire drills. • Include disabled employees in the fire emergency planning process. Source: National Fire Protection Association Occupational Hazards, November 1996, page 44 TAGS: Archive Hide comments Plain text • No HTML tags allowed. • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
What do you mean by" bank reconciliation"?, Accounting Basics A Bank reconciliation manipulates cross verifying the entries in the cash book(bank balance)with that of pass book. Mostly the reasons for disagreement of cash book with that of pass book are as follows: 1.cheques placed but not collected by bank. 2.cheques issued but not offered for payment. Posted Date: 3/30/2013 3:28:45 AM \| Location : United States Related Discussions:- What do you mean by" bank reconciliation"?, Assignment Help, Ask Question on What do you mean by" bank reconciliation"?, Get Answer, Expert's Help, What do you mean by" bank reconciliation"? Discussions Write discussion on What do you mean by" bank reconciliation"? Your posts are moderated Related Questions Q. Define the accounting process ? The accounting process offers financial data for a broad range of individuals whose objectives in studying the data vary widely. Bank officia i have an assignment fro perdisco platform managing general entries of basic accounts will u guys be able to help with it Draw a stem-and-leaf plot for the data set. (Enter numbers from smallest to largest separated by spaces. Enter NONE for stems with no values.) Data set A: The annual wages of emp Question 1 Write a short note on the following with example a. Activating budgets b. Reversing journals c. Memorandum vouchers d. Optional vouchers e. Creating Bill of Materials Q. What is Intangible Assets? Intangible assets consist of the nonmonetary, noncurrent, nonphysical assets of a business. Companies should charge the costs of intangible assets Q. Explain about pegboard system? One more innovation in manual systems was the one write or pegboard system. Beside creating one document and aligning other records under it o The owner's equity of Logan's company is equal to one quarter of the total assets. Liabilities equal $60,000. What is the amount of owner's equity? Accounting Principles are the rules and guidelines that companies should follow when reporting and accounting financial data. The general set of accounting principles are the gener A Use the CPS data to calculate mean log(wage) for women and men. log(wage) is coded as the variable LNWAGE and the variable FE is coded 1 for female and 0 for male.) First use the
Worms and HOTBIN composting Worms and HOTBIN compostingA question we often get asked is; do I need to keep my Wormery now I have a HOTBIN? The simple answer is no and the key benefit is that the HOTBIN can compost both food waste and garden waste. Therefore you can save space, reduce costs and still keep your food waste out of landfill. So what is worm composting? So what is HOTBIN composting? The HotBin is a simple design that helps maximise what nature does by bringing together the right conditions to make hot composting easier. It does this by providing effective aeration between the bottom air inlet plate and the air outlet rotating valve, removing excess water through the valve as steam and allowing you to control the rate of heat loss. You can compost 100% of all domestic food waste in the HOTBIN without inherent problems with odour, vermin and flies. This includes left over meals, plate scrapings, meat, fish, small bones, bread, cakes, pasta and rice. Your food and garden waste will be turned into rich organic matter for the garden every 90 days. Worms in the HOTBIN? You do not need to add worms into the HotBin however you can – either directly by adding into the base layer (which is cooler) or inadvertently by adding worm eggs and worms into the bin via small bits of soil and old compost . Most of the worms and worm eggs will be killed by high temperatures (>45C) but a some will find there way down into the base layer and continue to work on the base layer compsot. However, worms can be beneficial to composting and can be added if you want to. But a word of warning do not add them into the upper active layer (60°C will kill them) only add worms via the hatch panel where the compost will be cooler. Worms will help to decompose waste and leave mucus in the compost which is proving beneficial to soil fertility. As the HOTBIN is no ordinary composting bin as you can use it to recycle than just vegetable kitchen waste in it. The hot temperatures achieved during hot composting make composting all food waste in the HOTBIN a safe home composting system that recycles a whole lot more than just potato peelings. So if you were thinking about a Wormery as a form of recycling food waste why not consider a HOTBIN as it composts both your food and garden waste together. Leave a comment Filed under Compost, Compost Bins, Products Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
From Vietnam To Syria: The Big Lie Has Killed Millions. By Jerry Alatalo United States President Lyndon Johnson lied through his teeth to the world on August 4, 1964. Johnson was not only criminally responsible for initiating the Vietnam War based on a “false flag” deception – the Gulf of Tonkin incident – but was a major force behind the murder of President John F. Kennedy. Estimates of Vietnamese deaths range from 2-4 million, and 59,000 Americans perished in the many years of horrific war after Johnson’s Big Lie. Among Johnson’s other crimes related to “false flag” operations designed for instigating war, he colluded with Israeli officials in the U.S.S. Liberty attack (Summer 1967), where Israeli forces received orders to destroy the vessel and kill all U.S. personnel on board. It was the conspirators’ plan that Egypt would be falsely blamed, necessitating U.S. military involvement, and would have worked but for a Liberty naval officer’s ability to configure a crude communications setup (the Israeli attack knocked out all communications equipment) allowing transmission of a message for help, defeating the conspiracy. (One of the survivors of the U.S.S. Liberty attack of 1967 commented here on a past post dedicated to the historic scandal that “…Johnson wanted us all dead.”) Johnson – had the U.S.-Israeli false flag operation been successful and all U.S. personnel been killed – had prepared plans to drop a nuclear weapon on Egypt’s largest city Cairo, making it the 3rd use of nuclear weapons on a population in world history after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These are just a few examples of Lyndon Johnson’s profoundly criminal, heinous actions, others of which may never see the light of day, and are important to remember when attempting to measure the level of danger humanity faces today. (Thank you to TheLBJLibrary at YouTube) ne could describe the United Nations Security Council as a form of world courtroom in the sense that members sitting around the table are effectively presenting their views in a lawyer-like fashion. Perhaps, like in a typical court setting, United Nations Security Council meetings need an international panel of respected, retired men and women judges to preside over proceedings. Given that all members of the Security Council are certainly aware of history and horrendously consequential false flags like the Gulf of Tonkin, Colin Powell’s telling of the Big Lie in 2003, etc., the lack of any time devoted to members wishing to ask questions of other members is detrimental to any efforts at arriving at the truth about the most serious situations on Earth. What is noticeable, and worrying, about the statements by U.N. representatives of U.S., U.K. and France in meetings after the Idlib chemical attack of April 4 is their total silence on the possibility that terrorists may have carried out the attack in a false flag operation, despite their knowledge of history. Their silence on that possibility goes as far as not even acknowledging such historically verified events have occurred in the past, while at the same time not responding specifically to those making the legitimate assertions. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley was second-to-last to deliver a statement, followed by Syria’s Ambassador Bashar al Jaafari speaking to close the meeting. At the end of her statement, Ms. Haley directed her words to Mr. al Jaafari. Remember that in previous meetings convened to discuss the Idlib chemical attack, Ms. Haley warned the United States was willing, prepared and able to act alone, and that – after Donald Trump ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles into Syrian territory – she again warned the U.S. was willing to do more. In that light, people should consider the seriousness of the current state of world affairs. The greatest chance for preventing what could become a catastrophic military escalation in Syria lies in an international demand for Donald Trump to provide any and all evidence he says proves Syrian forces carried out the Idlib chemical weapon attack. Ms. Haley said: “To Assad and the Syrian government – you have no friends in the world after your horrific actions. The United States is watching your actions very carefully. The days of your arrogance and disregard of humanity are over. Your excuses will no longer be heard. I suggest you look at this vote very carefully, and heed its warning.” It is impossible to conclude otherwise but that Ms. Haley, in this April 2017 meeting of the United Nations Security Council, issued a direct, unambiguous, explicit threat of war against Syria. The Syrian representative’s statement following being threatened with war, unfortunately, will most likely never be seen or discussed on any Western corporate media platform or inside governmental bodies. If that weren’t unfortunate enough, the important detailed relevant facts he presented will never become responded to by the U.N. representatives from America, the United Kingdom, and France. The question becomes: “If the truth cannot be sought and discussed at the United Nations Security Council, where on Earth can it be?” The resolution authored by U.N. officials of the P-5 (Permanent Security Council states, holding veto power) U.S., U.K. and France contained language they knew would become vetoed by the P-5 Russian Federation (P-5 China abstained), because it would legitimize the attack by the U.S. of Syrian territory, violating the United Nations Charter and international law. Either U.S. President Donald Trump responds to increasing demands from around the Earth to make public any and all of his evidence – or humanity is witnessing another massively destructive, criminal, and morally reprehensible Big Lie. Time for humanity to act is of the essence. (Thank you to The Syria Mission to the United Nations at YouTube) Syria’s UN Ambassador: “This Theatrical Farce Must End.” By Jerry Alatalo un-2Alphabet Communications during United Nations Security Council meetings have devolved into an embarrassing form unworthy of the world’s highest-standards deliberative political institution. After nearly six (6) years of war in Syria between the government and largely paid mercenary terrorist soldiers, the ongoing battle of narratives about the reality in that nation has intensified and sunk down to the point of historic shame. Perhaps of the multiple reasons for the war the major cause of the conflict that started in March 2011 was the decision by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to decline a proposal from officials of Qatar to run natural gas pipeline infrastructure to deliver gas from Qatar to the lucrative European market. Assad decided instead to approve a similar ($multi-billion) pipeline project to Europe for transporting gas from Iran, which shares the same gigantic natural gas field with Qatar. That decision prompted the individuals and/or groups who wanted the Qatar pipeline project built to immediately initiate war by mercenary terrorist proxy armies against the Syrian government and military, with the goal of overthrowing Assad. Before the terrorist war began in 2011 many will remember Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and others sharing the refrain of “Assad must go”, but without mentioning the true reason(s) for their assertions – making the false claim Assad was “killing his own people” instead of the truth: paid mercenaries were killing Syrian civilians, police and military to destabilize the government to the point of Assad’s downfall from power, in virtually the same manner lies became used to bring about the 2011 destruction of Libya, with that the overthrow and murder of Muammar Gaddafi. Another example of historic deception with catastrophic negative consequences came in 2003 and the U.S./UK-led invasion of Iraq, based on the intentional lies about Saddam Hussein’s “weapons of mass destruction” and his “involvement with al-Qaeda and 9/11”. One could go back further to 2001 – September 11, 2001 to be precise – for the biggest false flag lie of them all, and the birth of the now 15-year long bogus “war on terror”. It’s safe to assume the yet-to-be-prosecuted criminals behind the 9/11 mass murder events were behind the destruction that followed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. One can see a pattern of immense deception that correlates with the revelations provided by U.S. General Wesley Clark years ago when he described Pentagon plans to invade and overthrow seven (7) nations/governments in five (5) years, including Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Iran. Unfortunately, the immense deception has persisted to this day, and is now found in its disturbing pervasiveness inside the United Nations Security Council itself. In the United States lying in front of Congress is a very serious crime, that of perjury, with severe punishment for any person convicted. Given the diametrically opposed narratives on Syria put forth at United Nations Security Council meetings, it seems clear that some member state representatives are either sadly misinformed or outright lying. Perhaps the United Nations needs to establish rules of conduct for the Security Council on perjury similar to the U.S. Congress. Had such severe penalties for perjury been in place at the United Nations before the infamous “weapons of mass destruction” presentation of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, it’s probable the historic tragedy of the Iraq War would never have started in 2003. Absent penalties for perjury at the United Nations, it has become difficult for people around the Earth to gain a true awareness of highly important events. Recognition of the fact that lies told in the Security Council originate from some of the world’s wealthiest, most powerful, and “politically connected” individuals and groups – and that global media mega-corporations have nearly unbreakable ties to those possessing such immense power – it falls upon the shoulders of all those concerned with morality, justice and peace to take right action and bring forward the truth. Syrian Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari is correct. For the sake of the people of Syria, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, humanity and future generations: “This theatrical farce must end”. (Thank you to Secundus Silent at YouTube) Syria: United Nations, World At Moment Of Truth. By Jerry Alatalo cropped-world-map1.jpgAlphabet After calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and France walked out of the meeting while Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari addressed the council. The video below recorded Dr. Jaafari’s address with English translation. The official transcript/record of the Security Council’s over 2-hour meeting is available on the United Nations webite, and here is Dr. Jaafari’s statement to the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) spoke in Arabic. With regard to the comments by the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, one of the three States that called for this meeting, asserting that Syria is broken and about to die, I would like to reassure him that Syria has never been broken. His words are tantamount to the dream of Satan to reach Paradise, mere dreams or wishful thinking. They are not worthy of a permanent member of the Security Council. As for the three permanent members together, they sounded as if they were rediscovering the wheel. They discovered that the Syrian Government was trying to recapture Aleppo. What a great discovery! As if Aleppo were a town in Djibouti or Afghanistan — or in Brazil, for that matter. I reassure them that the Syrian Government will recapture the entire city of Aleppo. If the countries’ of the permanent members of the Security Council each have one capital, we have two capitals, Damascus and Aleppo. If Shakespeare or the pioneers of the Theatre of the Absurd, Jean Genet, Adamov, Kaf ka, Kierkegaard and Georges Shehadeh, were to appear among us again, they would have written better tragedies and better plays than they did in their time. They would have never listened to the lies that are similar to King Lear’s lies. Some of them are mourning the deaths of the very persons that they killed with their own hands. They weep crocodile tears. The same three permanent members that called for this urgent meeting have aborted a presidential statement 13 times by striking the Arab-Syrian Army, in error, or through other actions. But when a French terrorist named Mohammed Merah wreaked havoc in the French city of Toulouse, he was killed by 300 hundred bullets at the hands of the security forces. They did well. However, in Syria we did not call that French terrorist a moderate or an individual belonging to a moderate opposition group. Even if Spain were to give away the Basque region — or France Corsica; or Great Britain Scotland or the United States Texas — the Syrian Government will never relinquish one inch of its territory, in accordance with international law. At the request of certain Council members, we have gathered here today in their attempt to come to the rescue of armed terrorist groups that they falsely call the moderate armed opposition. They do that whenever indications point to the possibility that these groups, under attack from the Syrian Arab Army and their allies, face defeat. They forgot the crime committed by the Nur al-Din al-Zanki rebel group when they beheaded Abdullah Issa, the Palestinian child, before everyone’s eyes. At that time, that rebel group was in control of the Handarat refugee camp with the Al-Nusra Front. We believe that the call for this urgent meeting is a message from the countries that called it to the Al-Nusra Front and the other terrorist groups, namely, that their support and political cover will continue unhindered,and that the weapon of terrorism that puts pressure on the Syrian Government and its allies will continue to be effective. Based on our constitutional responsibility to protect our citizens from the acts of armed terrorist groups, which have inflicted suffering on our people in Aleppo, the military operation by the Syrian Army and its allies that began two days ago includes efforts to safeguard the lives of our citizens. They were advised to stay away from positions of the armed terrorist groups and to take all measures to facilitate their evacuation and secure the basic needs of a dignified life. Those measures included even those who were deceived into taking up arms against the State. On the other hand, the terrorist groups continue to prevent civilians from leaving Aleppo, with a view to using them as human shields. We know that Aleppo has more than 2 million inhabitants, with 750,000 persons in east Aleppo. At the same time, my country condemns the use of internally prohibited weapons. We stress that all military operations conducted by the Syrian army and its allies on Syrian territory abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the Council’s resolutions on combating terrorism. We denounce the fabricated accusations levelled by certain members of the Council, in addition to senior United Nations officials, against the Syrian army and its allies through alleging that they use internationally prohibited weapons or that they deliberately target civilians. It is indeed odd that the Secretary-General and his senior aides would level such fabricated and untrue accusations, which rely on false accounts from individuals who are terrorists. They also ignore clear evidence pointing to the repeated use by armed terrorist groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, of chemical weapons against military personnel and civilians and to the seizure of a chlorine gas factory situated 40 miles from Aleppo. I have received information that terrorists disguised as Syrian military personnel are plotting to use dangerous phosphorous-based materials against Syrian civilians. The goal is that Syrian military personnel, as has happened in the past, will be accused of committing such crimes. They are trying to influence the Council and public opinion by distributing photographs. That dangerous chemical material is located in six barrels in a warehouse situated 20 kilometres from Aleppo. On 6 September, that warehouse housing yellow phosphorous material was visited by two United States experts. They then left for Turkey. I am relaying to the Council the information that has been given to me, as with hundreds of other items of information in connection with terrorist activities in my country. Those who commit war crimes in Syria are well-known. They are the ones who killed 200 civilians in the town of Manbij, bombed a school for the deaf in Raqqa and targeted the Syrian army in Deir ez-Zor. They are backing Da’esh and providing all kinds of support for the hundreds of thousands of terrorists who have been brought to Syria from more than 100 countries — according to the reports of the Secretary-General to the Council over numerous years. More than anyone, we want an end to the bloodshed in Syria and to the prolonged suffering of the Syrian people. Accordingly, we welcomed the United States-Russia agreement on fighting Da’esh and the Al-Nusra Front and their allies — differentiating between the Al-Nusra Front and what is known as the “moderate” armed opposition groups — and ceasing hostilities for one week. While we were committed to the agreement, those who employ terrorist groups in Syria told them to reject the agreement. Immediately thereafter, more than 20 armed terrorist groups rejected it, including the Nur al-Din al-Zanki and Al-Nusra groups, as well as the Ahrar Al-Sham. That rejection was accompanied by targeting the Syrian army on the Castello Road and at various other positions. They violated the agreement 300 times before it expired, leading to the martyrdom of 200 civilians and 157 military personnel, as well as to hundreds of seriously injured victims. In a deliberate attempt to sabotage the agreement, the military aircraft of what is known as the international coalition led by the United States bombarded the positions of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces fighting Da’esh in Deir ez-Zor. That is not the first time that these groups have committed such crimes. It is truly deplorable that certain members of the Council, in addition to senior United Nations officials, including the Secretary-General, continue to call upon the Syrian Government and its allies to adhere to the cessation of hostilities — despite all kinds of evidence on the ground proving that since the beginning, those countries have been backing armed terrorist groups, which have never wanted and will never want this endeavour to succeed. That was made abundantly clear by the violations of the agreement by the armed terrorist groups and the so-called international coalition, which were directly or indirectly involved. Worse still is that the United States shirked the responsibility of its main obligation, namely, to differentiate between the Al-Nusra Front and those groups that it insists on classifying as moderate armed opposition groups. That has led to undermining all the progress achieved over five years of the war imposed upon our country, clearly showing the lack of a political will on the part of those who sponsor terrorism to stop the bloodshed — as if the objective were to neutralize the Syrian forces instead of finding a solution. Is it not now time for those on the Council who continue to deceive themselves and public opinion to desist from protecting and supporting what they refer to as the moderate armed opposition? All such armed groups are only the different sides of the same coin — terrorism — which has had a boomerang effect, with attacks, terrorist activities and extremist ideologies in those members’ capitals, owing to their flawed policies and practices. Wouldany representative in this Chamber dare to justify the support given by Council members for four years in the form of hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of tons of weaponry to the Nur al-Din al-Zanki terrorist group, which beheaded that Palestinian child — an event that the Security Council is lamenting today? That faction revealed the falsehood of Council members’ political media campaigns that claim that the faction is a moderate opposition when it declared that it belongs to he Al-Nusra Front. It is incumbent on certain members of the Council to stop their exploitation of the Syrian people’s suffering, which they created themselves through their military, political and financial support. The politicization of the Syrian crisis will lead only to the prolongation of the crisis and the worsening of the plight of Syrian people, in the service of well-vested narrow interests, far removed from humanitarian goals. Our commitment to fighting terrorism goes hand in hand with our commitment to reaching a political solution through intra-Syrian talks to be decided by Syrians themselves, who should decide the future of their country without any foreign intervention.With regard to solutions imposed from abroad, they are completely and categorically rejected by the Syrian Government. In that regard, we underscore that any political solution can be successful only if it provides the necessary conditions through intensified efforts to fight terrorism and by advancing reconciliation processes, which have been successful in many of other regions. The international community must therefore understand that the real war against terrorism has not yet begun. The advent of the Syrian victory is imminent. This victory will further the implementation of Security Council resolutions and the maintenance of international peace and security. I have information with regard to what has happened in Deir ez-Zour. The following is the UN description of what Dr. Jaafari said in the meeting, and an unofficial, for information purposes only summation. BASHAR JA’AFARI (Syria) said three of the Council’s members had behaved as though they were reinventing the wheel, while with lies being told, crocodile tears shed and 13 violations of a Council presidential statement committed through the bombing of Syrian Armed Forces and other targets. Aleppo was not just a town, but one of Syria’s capital cities and just as the United States would never give up Texas, his Government would never relinquish an inch of its territory. With a view to protecting citizens from armed terrorist groups, the Syrian Armed Forces and its allies had responded, including taking measures to help civilians leave Aleppo, which had a population of 2 million. Condemning the use of internationally prohibited weapons, he denounced allegations made by certain Council members about his Government’s use of such weapons and the deliberate targeting of civilians. The armed groups’ actions, including their seizure of a chlorine gas factory 40 kilometres from Aleppo, had meanwhile been ignored. He referred to a report that terrorist groups were now planning to use phosphorous gas and blame its use on the Syrian Armed Forces, he underlined that his country had continuously reported such illegal acts to the Council. Welcoming the recent United States-Russian Federation agreement, he said his Government supported the ceasefire. Yet, those States that were “employing” terrorist groups in Syria had seen that more than 20 armed groups had rejected the agreement, including Nusrah Front, thereby sabotaging the ceasefire. The international coalition had bombarded the Syrian Armed Forces, who were positioned to fight Da’esh. While some Council members and senior officials had continued to call on the Government to support progress, he said the reality on the ground clearly demonstrated that it was the terrorist groups and their supporters that were hampering such efforts. As a result, those efforts had been undermined, showing the absence of the required political will to find a solution of those who were sponsoring the bloodbath. It was time for the Council to stop the moderate armed groups, whose actions amounted to terrorism. He asked if any member in the Chamber would have the courage to stop Nur al-Din al-Zanki, an armed group that had declared allegiance to Nusrah Front. The Syrian people’s suffering must end, and the politicization of the crisis would only prolong the crisis. Mr. DE MISTURA, responding to one question that he called “clearly precise” and “clearly erased” by the Russian Federation’s delegate, said he was guided by resolution 2254 (2016). He had in the past witnessed refusals for active direct talks from the agency that did set preconditions. He said he did ask the Ambassador who was also the representative of the Government in Geneva if they wanted to have at that time direct talks with current delegations. “You, Mr. Ambassador did indicate that you did not want to discuss with terrorists or their representatives.” The political process could not be hostage to the security environment. During “that special day” on 9 September of long, detailed discussions with the Russian Federation and United States, he said he made a statement that said that the United Nations hoped that its implementation would facilitate renewed efforts to reach a Syrian-owned and -led arrangement. Regarding when he would send the invitation for renewed talks, he said it would be for direct talks. Mr. JA’AFARI (Syria) said that when the Geneva II conference was held with a view to preparing for the Geneva IV conference, Jordan was tasked with determining which groups were terrorists and which were not, and Saudi Arabia with who pertained to the opposition and who did not. Yet, neither Jordan nor Saudi Arabia had prepared such a definition. Terrorists were invited to the Geneva conference, but they were excluded afterwards because everyone found out they were terrorists. “Syrians went to Geneva and would return to Geneva to engage in an inter-Syrian dialogue, not an inter-terrorist dialogue,” he said. The Special Envoy had to gather that information. His Government was not prepared to negotiate with terrorists; it would only negotiate with one united opposition that truly desired a Syria without any external interference. “The Syrian Government is prepared to return to Geneva and to resume the dialogue, but not with the deaf, the mute, nor the blind. We want to resume the dialogue with nationals like us who don’t have an external agenda and engage with Governments that use them in cheap tricks.” In regard to the over five (5) years of wars, killing and destruction which has devastated Syria, and while discovering, specifying and acknowledging those guilty of major war crimes – the United Nations and the world has reached an absolute, profound and decisive moment of truth.
de Glossar Inherent brightening effect Quantity of scattered light occurring in a medium entirely free of turbidity. Certain applications of turbidity measurement, such as the monitoring of iron oxide content in power plant water circuits, the monitoring of drinking water filtration, and the measurement of dust particles in exhaust gases, require the detection of extremely low solids concentrations. Because the intensity of the light scattered by the few particles present is very low, the limitations of the scattered light principle are shown up by these applications. For the reasons stated in the following, it is not possible to reach the zero value, i.e. the point at which all light is absent. For one thing a p amount of light will always occur in the medium measured as a result of molecular scatter and the presence of residual particles, and for another the flow cell will always be susceptible to so-called instrument stray light. • Molecular scattered light occurs because of scatter on the water molecules, or strictly speaking the density fluctuations created by molecular motion. At 550nm, it is on the order of 0.016 FNU = 16 mFNU. • The residual particle scattered light is created by particles remaining in the liquid because they cannot be filtered out. The empirical value of water which is filtered according to the ISO standard is less than 5 mFNU. Together with the molecular scattered light, this means that such water exhibits total scattered light of 20 mFNU ±10% at 550 nm and 9 mFNU ± 10% at 860 nm. • The instrument stray light is the quantity of light produced in the flow cell even in the case of a theoretically pure medium, mainly because of reflection at the windows. Creation of stray light (S) at flow cell windows. The amount of instrument stray light is an indication of the optical quality of a turbidimeter. In the Sigrist process turbidimeter for pure water, the instrument stray light is virtually eliminated by using a suitably designed flow cell. Certain turbidimeters permit the electronic suppression of the inherent brightening effect by means of zero-point correction with "ultrapure water". The trouble with this system is that residual particle concentration and the instrument stray light can vary. Thus the zero point set is uncertain and can yield negative values in the event of even slight overcompensation. Scattered light reading (S) as a function of the formazine addition (FNU) for various inherent brightening effect corrections. (a) water turbidity not corrected (Sigrist) (b) water turbidity corrected exactly: 0.019 FNU (theoretical) (c) water turbidity over-corrected: 0.03 FNU (zero-point setting) (d) water turbidity over-corrected: 0.05 FNU (zero-point setting) Sigrist turbidimeters indicate the inherent brightening effect unfalsified, something the user can check at any time with properly filtered water. {{selectedCountry.Name}} {{country.Name}} {{vendor.BusinessAreasString}} {{area.Name}} Main Office
Dismiss Notice Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Composite Function 1. Sep 14, 2009 #1 If f(x) = x3+3x2+4x+5 and g(x)=5, then g(f(x)) = ? 2. Relevant equations 3. The attempt at a solution I don't know if I am correct. g(f(x)) = g(x3+3x2+4x+5)= 225? I plugged 5 into the equation. Am I right? 2. jcsd 3. Sep 14, 2009 #2 If you plugged 5 into f(x), then you calculated f(5) = f(g(x)), since g(x) = 5. You want to find g(f(x)), which means plug f(x) into g(x). If you're having trouble, maybe ask yourself, what's g(1), g(10), g(1000)? Once you see a pattern, then g(f(x)) shouldn't be much harder. 4. Sep 14, 2009 #3 How do I plug a function into an integer? Would g(f(x)) just be 5? 5. Sep 14, 2009 #4 User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Gold Member g(x) isn't an integer. It's called a constant function. And yep, g(f(x))=5. Similar Discussions: Composite Function 1. Composite functions (Replies: 4) 2. Composite functions (Replies: 4) 3. Composite functions (Replies: 3) 4. Composite functions (Replies: 21) 5. Composition functions (Replies: 14)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Contrapositives are confusing 1. Apr 16, 2015 #1 I'm a bit confused on how to apply contrapositives... This isn't for homework but I'm attempting to show that if n^2 + 2 is prime that 3\|n. I'm wondering if this is an appropriate time for me to show the contrapositive of the statement to be true, therefore the original statement to be true. Contrapostive: if 3 does not divide n, then n^2+2 is not prime. I know how to show this contrapositive to be true... Am I doing this right? 2. jcsd 3. Apr 16, 2015 #2 User Avatar Science Advisor Similar Discussions: Contrapositives are confusing 1. Basic contrapositive (Replies: 29) 2. Exponent confusion. (Replies: 2)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Do not understand concept of Riemann geometry. 1. Mar 31, 2015 #1 Hello I do not fully grasp the concept of Riemann geometry.Please can you use mathematical descriptions but explain them because I am only a 10 year old but of course I know significantly the theories of dimensions. Thank you. 2. jcsd 3. Mar 31, 2015 #2 User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Education Advisor 2016 Award Riemannian geometry is a very advanced branch of mathematics. To grasp them, you need to know general topology, differential topology and linear algebra. So you should probably learn that first. Similar Discussions: Do not understand concept of Riemann geometry. 1. Riemann Geometry (Replies: 5)
Modeling, a Montessori Concept Essential for Raising Kids Joshua Aromin Joshua Aromin When it comes to raising children, sometimes you don't have to say a word. Modeling behavior can sometimes be the strongest way to teach. We sat down with Primary teacher Sharmila Rawal to talk about modeling, why it's important and how it occurs naturally not just in the Whitby classroom, but in our everyday lives. It's definitely not the catwalk. I think a good explanation would be what a grownup does, rather than what they say. Joshua Aromin: How would you explain what modeling is? Sharmila Rawal: It's definitely not the catwalk. I think a good explanation would be what a grownup does, rather than what they say. Actions speak louder than words. It's a cliché, but I definitely believe that if you are acting a certain way, children emulate you. I feel that we have a huge responsibility, especially since we have the very young ones, to behave in a way that we want them to behave, and that is what I think of as modeling. JA: Where does modeling come from, that concept or idea of modeling? SR: It's a very, very old idea that Maria Montessori thought of. She was way ahead of her time when she was thinking about modeling and she was teaching children and she observed in Italy many, many years ago that children copied everything she did, and she thought that this was a wonderful concept and a wonderful way of teaching them without using words. A lot of the Montessori lessons are actually done without the use of words, and the child is watching you and focusing more on what you're doing and not zoning you out when you're talking to them. JA: How does that works in the classroom? SR: It works in many different ways. I think it works when we're all sitting at circle as a community; we model how we sit, how we interrupt, how we raise a quiet hand, because we teach respect that way too. If we're all talking at the same time, we can't all be heard. We're talking about, "How do you think we can do this? How can we solve this problem? Because you're all adding such valuable content, but I can't hear any of you." Then they'll say, "Let's raise a quiet hand." If a teacher does this, sometimes when we're all sitting at the circle, one of the teachers will raise their hand. In the beginning of the school year it's very, very important that we model the right way of talking to each other. For example, we speak to each other in a very respectful manner. We wait, the hand on the shoulder, the older kids model this for the younger kids. It's not just the teachers, but it's our Primary 3 students who've been in a classroom for three years. It's very powerful. JA: What would you tell a parent who would like to practice this outside of the classroom? SR: Sometimes we're all busy doing what we're doing, it's very easy to say something to a child. But children have a way of zoning us out because we're always talking to them. For example, when you're driving in the car, don't text and drive, be focused on what you're doing because when your child is ready to learn to drive, they'll be following what you've modeled for them all these years. It's something that I experienced with my own daughter. I was very, very concerned about her learning to drive. As a mother, you're worried because you know that there are very mad people on the road, so you think, "Oh my goodness, how is she going to navigate all of that?" But I took a deep breath, and my husband and I felt a sigh of relief because she drove like us. Thankfully we stopped at all the stop signs and we weren't on our phones, we never texted and drove, and I think it was a much more powerful message for her than us telling her, "Don't be doing this, don't do that." It's something that we did over so many years. JA: It's interesting that modeling is not something just specific to the age group that you teach. How old are the kids that you have in class? SR: They range from age three (first years) to age six (third years). It's not just the teachers and the grownups, it happens within the class. We see the fruits of our labor in the third years so to speak, because they are teaching the first years what to do and it's not something that we have to tell them to teach, it just comes intrinsically within them. They'll say, "No, let me show you how to do this." Or, if they're coloring, they'll come and sit next to a first year and they'll start doing and then I see the children observing them. Link to download the I didn't realize how powerful it was until I actually saw it in action. Being a Montessori teacher, that just was amazing for me to watch. We talk about a classroom normalizing in the first few months of the classroom and it comes from our third years, our role models, our leaders, our mentors in the classroom, and we always talk about that. We talk about the pen is mightier than the sword. We have all these clichés, but modeling being a cliché is such a powerful one, and people should know that they don't have to talk all the time. I love talking but sometimes when I give a lesson, the children will be so mesmerized they will spontaneously clap once the lesson is over because all they've been doing is observing how I do things. JA: You mentioned that the older students start to model as well. Is that something that you do anything to encourage that or is it kind of organic, where they do it anyway? SR: No, it's very organic. The older kids learn from being models as well. For example, you're a third year and you're sitting next to a first year and you behave inappropriately at circle time. You watch how many people will copy you and it's not the right modeling behavior. It's a powerful tool because you don't even need to say anything to the third years. Sometimes they look at you and they notice what's happened, and it's not what we want in the classroom, so we don't even need to say anything and now when we talk about the third years and their roles and their responsibilities and we ask them, "What's so important?" The children themselves will say, "So-and-so copied me when I did this." And we don't need to say anything. But I think it's a cycle of being in the classroom and observing that brings them to that point, not necessarily us speaking overtime. JA: And just to counter that, at what point would you have to step in to say something? SR: If that behavior continues, and the third year hasn't noticed the power of that negative behavior, then we will draw them aside and we'll say, "Did you see how so-and-so copied what you were doing and is that what we want them to learn?" And immediately they will realize. Sometimes during single subjects, we're much stricter with the classroom because our teachers only have half an hour with the kids and we want them to learn as much as possible, so that's when we would step in. JA: Any last thoughts about modeling? SR: It is the most powerful tool that we have in our parenting tool belt because you don't need to do anything. You just need to think about, "How do I want this child to be? Do I want them to see me pushing at the checkout line? Do I want them to see me being polite, being respectful?" Joshua Aromin Joshua Aromin Josh is the Content Marketing Coordinator for Whitby School. A former magazine editor, Josh first drew an interest in journalism after the 2004 Boston Red Sox won the World Series, wanting to someday be on the field for a championship, while having subpar baseball skills. His desire to become a sportswriter eventually faded and he developed an interest in memoirs and human interest stories. Today, Josh strives to tell the stories happening at Whitby School through writing, photography and video.
By Rick Smilow, President of ICE The largest appetite for food in America is found at our landfill sites. That is where much of the estimated 70 billion pounds of food waste in our nation goes each year. Internationally, it’s estimated that one-third of food produced worldwide, worth around US $1 trillion, gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems. The United Nations Environment Programme “waste facts” include: • In the United States, 30-40% of the food supply is wasted, equating to more than 20 pounds of food per person per month. • Nationally, organic waste is the second highest component of landfills and the largest source of methane emissions (a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming). Meanwhile, up to 14% of Americans have food insecurity and globally, millions of people are at best, malnourished and at worst, starving. With all of the issues that the world faces today, food waste may seem like a benign problem but it’s linked to much larger global problems and presents a great opportunity to help address hunger and economic insecurity both today and in the future. Zero Food Waste Food enters the waste stream at many links along the chain of food production and consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 40-50% of food waste comes from consumers and 50-60% from businesses. One of the major causal factors in America is that quality standards at the retail level are largely based on appearance. Growers, farmers, supermarkets and retailers throw out produce with minor blemishes believing that those products won’t sell. Fortunately, there are companies of all sizes addressing this issue. Here are a few to take note of. Imperfect is a California-based company that sources from growers across the state and delivers boxes of imperfect and discounted produce, via a subscription service, directly to customers’ doors for $12-$18 per box. The startup’s goal is to repurpose produce that retailers and distributors reject while helping to generate extra revenue for farmers and making local produce more affordable. Another good example of a company dedicated to effective waste management of produce is Snact, in Kent, England. Snact buys unwanted produce from British farmers that is either “too big, too ugly or simply too abundant.” They blend this unwanted fruit into a smoothie of sorts, then dry the mix into snackable “fruit jerky.” Snact Team (photo credit: Snact) One of ICE’s major suppliers, Baldor Foods, is gaining national attention for its leadership in tackling food waste. They are leading the charge on finding innovative uses for typically discarded food scraps and “reshaping perceptions of what is truly worthy of going in our landfills.” Their food scraps, such as vegetable and fruit trimmings, have been rebranded as “SparCs” and are now being sold to a wide range of customers including restaurants (for their stocks), juice companies and animal feed producers. Some of the world’s largest companies are participating in food waste initiatives. Walmart found it expedient to dump an entire carton of eggs if one was cracked, rather than replacing the damaged egg with one of equal freshness. Now the company is testing a program that uses a laser system to etch individual eggs with product information, enabling workers to easily substitute a new egg with the same specs. If adopted nationally, Walmart projects that the system could save roughly five billion eggs a year from premature scramble. Chefs across the country are putting into practice the “no food waste” ethos. Dan Barber, chef-owner of the acclaimed restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns and founder of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, NY, made waves when he launched wastED: an organization that hosts pop-up events devoted to the theme of food waste and re-use. Asked about his upcoming wastED pop-up, Barber explained, “Let’s take the trend for juicing. What happens to all the pulp that’s leftover in the juice-making process? It gets thrown away. So we’ve taken it and repurposed it into a vegetable burger — a juice pulp cheeseburger in fact.” (“New York’s Biggest Food Waste Chef Is Bringing Pulp Burgers to London,” Munchies, Feb. 24, 2017.) Meanwhile, on the west coast, chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson are developing a fast-food chain called Loco’l. Unlike the typical fast-food joint, Loco’l will serve more wholesome foods while cutting costs by minimizing food waste — integrating what would otherwise be scraps (such as meat trimmings and veggie ends) into the recipes for regular menu items. zero waste food For its part, ICE is committed to supporting the movement to eliminate food waste. In fact, we’ve partnered with The New School to host the innovative Zero Waste Food conference on April 28-29, bringing together visionary chefs like Massimo Bottura and Missy Robbins to explore ways to minimize food waste. Sustainability is one of our most significant long-term challenges. Food professionals have the opportunity to make an impact by creating more sustainable food networks. Click here for more information on the Zero Waste Food conference — and buy your tickets today! Leave a Reply
November 14, 2013 Commentary, Matthew 28:11-20 It is Sunday morning, the Jewish Sabbath is over. It is probably still dark when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary leave for the cemetery to clean and prepare the body of Jesus for the customary burial. They are concerned about the stone that seals the tomb, yet they press on, arriving at the tomb a little before sunrise. They think Jesus is dead, but this Man of Miracles has more miracles to work. As they approach the tomb, the angel of the Lord descends from Heaven. His appearance has a three-fold effect. First he causes and earthquake which rolls the stone away from the sepulcher. Second, the battle-hardened soldiers are frightened to the point of fainting. They will not stop the women from entering the tomb now. Third, the women are frightened. But not as weak as the soldiers, they neither faint nor flee. Now the angel addresses the women. His words make it clear that the women do not believe Jesus has risen from the dead. “I know ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.” He now invites the women to see the tomb, where a second angel appears and both repeat this most singular and important announcement, “He is not here, but is risen” (see Luke 24:6). These women are shocked and amazed. Three days ago they saw their loved one tortured to death. They had believed in Him as the Messiah. They didn’t understand very much of what He said, but they saw His works and they believed in Him. When He died, their faith died with Him, but not their love. They still grieve over their loss, and they still perform their customary duties for Him. It is love that leads them to do this. Now an angel appears to them. He must have been an apparition of great power, for the soldiers, who could fight and kill and conquer in hand to hand combat, faint dead away. This is yet another shock to these grieving women. No wonder his first words to them are, “Fear not” (Mt. 28:5). Note what the women see. They see the soldiers standing guard, and they see them fall to the ground in fear. They see the earth quake. They see the stone roll away from the tomb. They see the angel descend. They see another angel in the tomb. They see that the body of Christ is gone. Note what they do not see. They do not see Jesus. They do not see Him in the tomb, nor do they see Him leave the tomb after the stone is rolled away. Why? Because Jesus is already risen when they arrive. He rose from the dead and left the tomb alive before the stone was rolled away. He did not need to stone moved to get out of the tomb. He passed through the stone walls as easily as He stilled the storm and walked on water before His crucifixion. He did not need man or angel to get Him out of the tomb. He spoke truly when He said to His disciples, “I lay down my life, that I may take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17 and 18). Why, then, is the stone rolled away while they look on in fear? To let the women, and later, the disciples, see into the tomb. To let them see that Christ is not there, not dead, not finished. He is alive.
There was an error in this gadget Thursday, March 3, 2011 Sodium Silicate Polymer Lab Investigation How do you make a sodium silicate polymer? That is the question we answered in our latest lab investigation. This is my hypothesis (what I thought was going to happen): If you mix ethyl alcohol with a sodium silicate solution, then you will make a polymer because when sodium silicate is added to ethyl alcohol, silicate chains form and the oxygen atoms of the silicate are replaced by ethyl. In order to find out if this hypothesis was supported, we mixed 12mL of sodium silicate with 3mL of ethyl alcohol. A polymer was formed, thus proving our hypothesis to be correct. We then rolled up the polymer into a ball, and went through some rebound tests. Then we froze the polymer ball, and went through the rebound tests once again. Below is a graph showing our results: As with our first lab, once the polymer was frozen, it bounced slightly lower. When we compared our results with the group behind us, we discovered that our ball bounced slightly higher, and was smaller in diameter. Our ball turned out pretty good, but not very easily. At first we thought we might even have to start over because the polymer would not form. We had to put it under a lot of water because it got squished when we were rolling it. The polymer was squishy and moldable, but only if you touched it. Otherwise it stayed firm and held it's shape. It was sort of white, and also see through. It looked very similar to an ice cube or frozen water. Sort of like this: After we froze the ball it became almost completely white and opaque. We had originally done a lab about polymers that involved borax and glue, where we also made a polymer. Below is a diagram that I created to compare and contrast the two polymers: Carbon is the basis of much life on Earth, the next best thing, as many believe, would be silicon. Silicon has an equal number of electrons in it's outer shell as carbon. This means that silicon can also create four bonds just like carbon. Certain types of carbon molecules (like carbon dioxide) derive from silcon. Silicone polymer is a synthetic polymer created with silicon. It is a plastic polymer as well. It is similar to plastics, since it is a plastics polymer. I know that a chemical reaction has taken place between two mixed liquids when they change their state of matter. For example, when borax solution is mixed with glue solution, a chemical reaction occurs and the mixture becomes solid instead of liquid. Same with ethyl alchol and sodium silcate. I could find out what liquid was pressed out of the mass of a crumbled solid as I formed the ball by looking at it, and studying it. Also by smelling it, and if I knew what had been used to create the ball, I could probably make a hypothesis as to what it was. When I compared my group's polymer ball with another group's, I discovered that the other group's "super ball" was a lot larger in diameter, and it also bounced a lot lower. After the other group's ball was frozen, it's highest bounce was 10cm, and ours was 14cm. 1. KIRAN GLOBAL CHEMS LIMITED which started with the manufacture of a single product, Sodium Silicate for making detergents has increased manufacturing quantities multifold through several manufacturing units. The industrial usage in various applications has also widened. The 3,00,000 tonnes mark has been touched making it the largest manufacturers of Sodium Silicate in India and that has been achieved through the network of 32 manufacturing units spread across India. Potassium Silicate Producers, Potassium Silicate India, Potassium Silicate Africa, Potassium Silicate Electrode, Soda Ash India, Sodium bi Carbonate India. For More details visit Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid
533 498 62 64 Istanbul, the capital of the world ayasofya by eraa"If there had been only one state in the world, Istanbul would have been its capital" Napoléon Bonaparte. Istanbul, Byzantion or Constantinople. You can use any of these names to call the city. During its long history, it housed three great empires, all of which left so many uncompared works. Mosques, churches, sinagogues, palaces, cisterns, fountains, aquaducts, bridges are only very few of them. Eventhough it is not the capital of modern Turkey, Istanbul is now the cultural and economical center of the country. It is the city where the hearth of the country is beating. It offers an endless story. Istanbul is the only city in the world streching over two continents. That's why Istanbul has always been in danger of being captured by different civilizations. The name of the city derives from Greek words "eis-tin-poli" pronounced as "is-tim-poli" which means "towards the city". During the Roman Era, the city was named as Constaninople or Constantinapolis "the city of Constantine" after it was declared as the capital of Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire. After the fall of Constantinople, the city had various names such as Konstantiniyye (arabic) and Pây-i Taht (persian) The name of Istanbul has been in use since the 19th century. According to the sources the earliest construction of a settlement took place in Istanbul in 667 BC and it was founded by Byzas. One of the names of the city, Byzantion, is derived from this first founder. In the 5th BC the city fell under the rules of Persians which continued for two-hundred years until the arrival of Alexander the Great 336 BC. In the first century BC the Roman Era began in the history of the city after a big debate between the emperors, Septimus Severus and Pescennius Niger. The strategical position of Byzantion attracted Constantine the Great in 330 AD and he founded Nova Roma o Constantinople and divided the Roman Empire two parts in 395 AD, Rome in the west and Constantinople "Eastern Rome". Because of its position between two continents it reached its golden age and was leader in the region on commercial and cultural activities however the city fell down when the Ottomans came and conquered the city in 1453. The name of Constantinople was used in Europe until the 19th century. The fall of Constantinople was the end of the Middle-Era. The city was conquered by Mehmet II. on 29th of May 1453 after the big conflicts of the Ottomans. Mehmet II. gained a new name "Fatih" meaning "conquerer". sultanahmetDuring the time of the Ottomans, many things changed in accordance with the necesseties and traditions of Islam. Many of the churches built by the Byzantines were converted into mosques. Ottomans always respected to holy places. Instead of destroying the Byzantine churches, they carried on using these places as they used to be but for a different religion. Meantime, Ottomans built their own mosques, medressehs (muslim theological schools), fountains, palaces, houses etc. Modern Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 29th of October 1923 and the capital of the new country was moved into actual capital of Ankara. The original city was just at the point where Halic "Golden Horn" is today located. But now it streches on a wide area both in European and Asian sides with its total population of 17 millions. What to see in IstanbulkizKulesi Today Istanbul holds so many cultural, historical buildings, some of which are listed below: As stated at the beginning, Istanbul offers an endless story. Hundreds of books have been written for it and to be continued. You can find some more information on the following link:
But despite years of repeated efforts, the problem continues. So when Nahant facilitator Brian Ritter heard of other natural preserves using goats to tackle the problem, he decided to give it a try. Twenty-four goats from Wisconsin were delivered in late May, and the change has been phenomenal. "We put them in an area in early morning, and when we came back in the afternoon to check on them, I just couldn't believe how much they had cleared," said Amy Loving, a naturalist at the center. "In the morning, you couldn't see through the understory, it was so filled with brush. But in the afternoon, you could see daylight. "They've done a lot more work than we were expecting. It's unbelievable the amount of work they are doing and how cost-effective it is. They've been wonderful." The goats are kept inside a portable fence that is moved every day and a half to two days to make sure they have plenty of fresh food. In addition to garlic mustard, other invasives are poison ivy, reed canary grass, wild grape and soft woods, such as boxelder and mulberry trees. The goats are being rented for $2 a day through Friday and are part of a three-year pilot project funded by grants. Benefactors include Cargill Inc., the Riverboat Development Authority and an area family with an interest in the marsh, Loving said. One question the staff hopes to answer is whether, after three years, some of the invasives actually stop coming back. That is, not only to have the goats chew them down in a given season, but also to kill them off entirely. If that is the case, maybe Nahant will try to get its own goats, Loving said. Nahant is a wetland area in west Davenport owned by the city and administered through a consortium of groups.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013 George Herman Ruth Jr., or Babe Ruth (1895-1948), is arguably the greatest baseball player of all times. He was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season (1927), and this record stood for 34 years until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961. Ruth's lifetime total of 714 home runs at his retirement in 1935 was a record for 39 years, until broken by Hank Aaron in 1974. His lifetime batting average was 0.342, and he made 2873 hits, and 714 home runs. I find this quote inspiring: Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back. -- Babe Ruth The Babe only connected with a little more than 3 out of 10 pitches, and yet this is the 10th highest average in baseball history. You do not need to do the job perfectly. Just keep persevering, without even looking at what is accumulating, and you may be surprised. Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Fun with Language This poem made me smile. Asylum for the Verbally Insane Author unknown We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, Yet the plural of moose should never be meese. Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always called men, Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen? If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth? Then one may be that, and three would be those, Yet hat in the plural would never be hose, And the plural of cat is cats, not cose. We speak of a brother and also of brethren, But though we say mother, we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim! Friday, May 17, 2013 A Study with the Story Template Part Two The "hidden need" of the protagonist is an emotional lack that he solves during the course of the story. I first heard this term from Angela Hunt and Nancy Rue at a writing conference where I attended their first "NANGIE" instructional class in 2005. The hidden need not only hurts the protagonist, but most ideally it also hurts those around him or her. Some examples of this hidden need might be someone who is afraid to confront others, or who loves money more than family, or who is unconsciously arrogant. The hidden need triplet describes 3 specific stages in which this flaw is actually solved in your protagonist: 1. Demonstrating the hidden need 2. Solving the hidden need 3. Demonstrating that the hidden need is solved These stages normally occur in the second half of act two, right after the midpoint, and often form a "mini-story" to give a break from the excitement and story ramifications of the midpoint. Let me use the movie U571 to demonstrate. It's a movie made in 2000 about a submarine crew in WW2 that wants to capture a Nazi Enigma machine (story goal). If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it! It's very exciting and beautifully done. Stage One: Demonstrating the Hidden Need Tyler is the second in command who likes to be a "big brother" figure to those under him, but is afraid to lead. Right after the midpoint disaster in which the captain is killed, he finds himself in command of a crippled ship. The men are worried. Tyler admits to them that he doesn't know what they're going to do. This scene starts at 55.1% of the whole. Stage Two: Solving the Hidden Need The chief petty officer takes Tyler aside and privately tells him to never, ever say to the crew again that he doesn't know what to do. The captain, the chief petty officer says, is an awesome figure, and must always present a strong presence in order to give courage and inspire loyalty and confidence in his men. Tyler listens carefully. This scene starts at 58.9% of the whole. Stage Three: Hidden Need is Demonstrated to be Solved The Americans surface and see a small Nazi plane flying overhead. Since they're on a German Uboat, Tyler tells his sailors to wave as if they are also Germans. One of Tyler's sailors orders the one manning the guns to strafe the Nazi plane, but Tyler orders him not to. There is hesitation but the gunner holds his fire, the sailors wave, and the Nazi plane seems to be fooled as he flies past. Then Tyler turns and punches out the sailor. "This isn't a democracy!" he growls. This scene starts at 60.5% of the whole. Near the Darkest Moment when the Hidden Need is again Demonstrated Close to the darkest moment, Tyler needs a functional torpedo tube, but it's underwater and for anyone to fix it will be dangerous and likely fatal. Tyler orders one of his crew to go in there and FIX it, darn it, and do it now! This scene starts at 93.2% of the whole. I could show you this same pattern in story after story after story. I included the percentages not to be rigid and say your hidden need triplet MUST occur here, but instead to give you an idea of the natural reliability of its placement. My student Emily was amazed to verify how closely different points of a story (not just hidden need triplet) tended to fall. This is another subject, however. The hidden need triplet is a specific sequence of actions that solves the hidden need. Just having a protagonist with a hidden need suddenly acting better at the darkest moment is not the same, and will not have the same resonant effects. When designing or editing your story, make sure that your protagonist has some sort of flaw that needs to be healed. Then, demonstrate clearly exactly how it is healed. By doing this your story will carry a strong emotional punch. Tuesday, May 14, 2013 A Study with the Story Template Part One One of my high-school students, Emily, did a school project using my story template algorithm. Her goal was to examine classic and non-classic stories to find any differences in the story structure. She decided to use just movies since the analysis is quicker, although still not trivial: for each story she broke it into a list of scenes, timed each scene, then calculated percentages of whole for duration and placement. Her definition of a classic was a film that had been adapted from a novel, had one or more sequels, and/or was recognized as the epitome of its genre. Furthermore, the original novel or film must have been made at least 25 years ago (1985 or earlier), since it takes at least about a generation to be recognized as a classic. Non-classics were films in that same time period that did not fit the "classic" criteria. She tried to choose films from a variety of genres. She chose well-known movies: Charlotte's Web Prince Caspian Tuck Everlasting High Noon Raiders of the Lost Ark Heaven Can Wait War Games To analyze these movies, Emily studied the story template and then broke it down into 16 specific testable points. After doing her research, and contrary to all of my expectations, she found a real difference in structure between the classics and non-classics. 15 of the 16 points were present in all the stories. However, 1 of the points was present in 6 out of 7 classics, but in none of the non-classics. This blew me away. When she did a Fisher's exact t-test for binary data on the presence or absence of this one variable in identifying a classic, in a two-tailed test (which is harder to reach significance), she had a p value of 0.03, considered significant. (The p value means that if you did this test 100 times, in 3 out of 100 trials you would expect to obtain these results by chance. Scientific standards typically accept a p < 0.05 to be considered significant, meaning that the scientist is probably measuring a real phenomenon). This result indicates the presence of this one story point is highly correlated to having a "classic" whereas its absence means it is linked to being a non-classic. These aren't clean statistics since the original project design looked for 16 variables. The likelihood with this many variables is that one might reach a level of significance with one of the variables just by chance. However, 1) none of the other points changed -- they were all present in both classics and non-classics; and 2) this point makes a lot of sense to me that it might distinguish the lasting stories from the throwaways. At the minimum, it seems to be important to remember to include this point. It sure can't hurt. I'm sure you're wondering what this variable is? Well, this blog entry is already long, so I'm going to save that till Friday. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what you think it might be. Happy writing. Friday, May 10, 2013 You Become Who You Wish to Be This is a powerful thought. Tuesday, May 7, 2013 Length Matters Many middle writers figure that their writing is so good it doesn't matter if their ms is a little long. "Those are just guidelines,” the writer thinks. “Everyone will love it. Anyway, look at Stephen King with those monster books he puts out all the time.” Well, yes, Stephen King does get away with long stories. Stephen King is also a proven author who could sell his grocery list if he wanted some quick cash. As a never-published author, you, dear writer, are not Stephen King. You need to follow the rules. Rule-of-thumb length estimates are as follows: 20-40K for a novella. 50-80K for some genres, especially romance. 70-100K for most novels. 100K is pushing it. Unless you are going to a house that says it’s OK, DO NOT try to sell them a ms over 100K. They will laugh at you. Before you submit to a house, look up their length guidelines so you have specific information, and then stick to these like glue. (And remember in your ms to avoid clichés like the plague :-) ). There are two good reasons that manuscript length is a hard and fast rule. The first reason is that an overlong manuscript is typical of poor writing: passive voice, descriptive rather than active prose, too many adjectives and adverbs, imprecise story execution, and so forth. This is not to say that your manuscript DOES have these problems, just that a long manuscript will cause the editor to suspect your technique likely needs improvement. You’ll be starting out a reading with a strike against you. The second reason is that long books are expensive to print. Although publishers bring provocative written works with valuable messages to an audience, ultimately for them a book is a product. Their ultimate goal is to make money. They are inundated each year with hundreds or thousands of unpublished manuscripts. Imagine that you are an editor and have two manuscripts before you. They are both written by newbies with comparable platforms, qualifications, and skill. The messages of both are strong. One is 80K, and the other is 110K. You figure with the longer one you will have to charge more money per book and/or accept a smaller profit margin. Your profit margin on any book is already small. Which one will you take? As ebooks continue to take a larger market share, and print books become less popular, it’s true that cost for publishing a long book may become less important. Even so, readers tend to gravitate towards shorter rather than longer works. And don’t forget that poor writing tends to lengthen prose. Drill this in: LENGTH MATTERS. An editor is not going to make an exception for you because of an amazing story. Friday, May 3, 2013 The Trick is in the Selling Since I teach at conferences and other places, I run into many writers who want to be published. Their writing quality ranges from perfection to scribbles, but most fall into what I call the "middle writer" level -- good writers who are nevertheless missing techniques that will push their writing to a truly professional level. These middle writers are, naturally, eager to be published, and frankly think they're ready to be published. In my opinion, they're not quite there. Rather, they're passing through a stage that all writers go through. This stage is fraught with danger with the easy availability now of publishing oneself. I feel like a broken record with publishing advice, but can't stand to see good people taken advantage of. So here goes, one more time. First, let me tell you my story and why I think I can give advice. A few years ago I was at the middle writer stage when I signed with my dream agent. Sadly he turned out to be a nightmare: he told me he'd showed my ms to a number of publishers, did not give me a list, then abruptly broke all contact with me. (I know he actually did show the ms since I had a telephone call from an editor asking questions). If you know anything about the biz, you'll realize I was screwed with finding another agent since I didn't know who'd seen the ms. Shortly after that I experienced a health crisis so was not able to write for a long time due to depression. My options were to change the title and hunt for another agent, write another book with which to piggyback my ms, or self-publish. I put on my publisher's hat and looked at my ms with fresh eyes. Not only was it way too long and therefore too costly to publish with a reasonable book price, but it had many middle writer errors that needed to be cleared up. My friend Jane edited the durn thing and taught me through her critiques how this is done. Once she'd finished I took the next year compulsively editing. I cut the ms from 117K to 89K, changed passive voice, got rid of adverbs, rabbit trails, and so forth. It took me five or six passes before I was happy. I hired a book packager (Archer Ellison, a fantastic company that I recommend without reservation) to design a cover, and hired my friend Chris to copyedit and typeset. Both companies did an outstanding job. Then I formed an LLC and put up Lever for sale in 2009. I've worked with a friend/consultant with my company but mostly do this myself. A year or two later, when ebooks started becoming big, I searched for someone to format my book but only found usurious places, so I figured out how to do this myself. I've since opened an epublishing branch of my company so that others can epublish their books without being ripped off. By 2009 I was able to write again. My next book wasn't working out though so I took a detour to study story structure. After puzzling out story structure, then coaching would-be novelists in a class at the local high school and clients from the library, I was ready to write Template. I did this in three months (since I'd worked with this stuff for so long) and put Template up in 2011. I have been amazingly blessed and gratified to hear from so many people who have found Template helpful. This has been so exciting for me. As a side benefit, Lever has also sold a few copies. I am happy to announce that I will be publishing another person within the year, and hope to soon develop Taegais into a full-blown professional publishing company. While I'm not yet officially looking for submissions, I always keep my eyes open for something excellent. OK, so back to the middle writer syndrome. As I mentioned before, I believe 100% of people who continue to write go through this stage, and it is a noble place to be. The middle writer is a skillful writer who works hard and is beginning to see people (mostly critique partners) actually like their work. The downside is that it is tempting for the middle write to think he's better than he is. The middle writer typically sends queries and mss to agents, but has had disappointing results -- maybe a request for something, but it usually ends up in a dead end. The middle writer then hears enticing stories about writers like John Locke and Amanda Hocking, self-publishers who have sold (literally) a million books. Come-hither advertisements for subsidy publishers in writing magazines tell this writer how he can take control to publish his book instead of waiting for the glacial pace of traditional publishers. My advice: I am aware of only one subsidy company, my friend Chris' company Yav Publications, that will not rip you off. I've also heard good things about amazon's DIY company Create Space. You can read about what to look for in subsidy publishers in Mark Levine's book The Fine Print of Self Publishing. But if you MUST self-publish then consider forming a company to do it yourself. If you need help in getting started, please write to me and I'll set you on the right direction. It's not nearly as difficult or as complicated as you may think. But here's some more advice: remember that it is relatively easy to package an attractive book. The hard part is selling it. If your writing is only at the middle level, your book will not give the reader as exciting an experience as he craves, and he will be less likely to recommend you to his friends. It is REALLY HARD to sell books. For middle writers I always recommend ignoring the outlier stories and keep working to make your writing fabulous. Don't prematurely publish your work, because you will damage both it and your writing reputation. Keep working till you jump to the next level. Then when it's time to publish, you'll be ready.
Monday, 3 March 2014 The Nymphs Nymphoi are female spirits of the natural world and considered minor goddesses by some. They are the guardians and sculptors of nature and are responsible for not only the growth and well-being of the earth, but its beauty as well. Streams, caves, valleys, springs, groves; even individual trees are said to have a residing Nymphai; and though not immortal, they are very long-lived and often reside on Mt. Olympos with the heavenly gods. The word ‘nymphe’ means bride, still Nymphoi are rarely described as being married, it is perhaps a reference to their potential at becoming the wives, nurses, lovers and mothers of gods and heroes, many of whom and are of great importance in Greek myth, religion and genealogy. They are also the companions and counterparts to the wild male nature spirits such as the Kentauroi, Satyroi and Panes who are near-constantly chasing after them. They are often depicted or referred to as bees and honey is one of their favorite offerings. They are well known for their healing abilities, gifts of inspiration and eloquence and their prophetic and divinatory powers. There are countless Nymphoi, some believe each tree, each rock, each stream has their own connected to it, and while most are not named in myth some do figure prominently. Ekho, who fled from Pan and fell in love with Narcissus; Eurydike, the wife of Orpheus who died and was almost given a second life; Thetis, the Okeanid mother of Akhilles and Mintha; the lover of Haides and there are countless more Nymphoi who have small or large roles in the mythic history of the Greek religion. Worship of the nymphs was very integral to Greek religion, a person would respect all the gods but may have a closer relationship with the numerous Nymphoi of their local surroundings, the beings who effect their day-to-day lives. They may also pay cultus to a Nymphoi ancestress or to an important nymph from myth and lore that was reputed to come from near-by locations. There were also people who devoted their entire lives to the Nymphoi; men who spied the spirits dancing in the sunlight would become entranced with serving them. These hermit-mystics, called nympholepts would build and maintain shrines and holy places for the Nymphoi, pour them libations, bring offerings of honey, jewelry, shells and astragaloi (the knucklebones used in divination). They would develop a deep relationship with their Nympai and would refer to them as sisters, wives and lovers. The role brought with it heighten senses, eloquence and divinatory skills. Some however, viewed the relationship as an illness, a madness brought on by possession. There are many categories and sub-categories of Nymphoi in the Greek religion, though none are without some flexibility. An Okeanid may also be a classified as a goddess or even a titan; a Naiad worshiped as the spirit of a prophetic springs as well as the dryad of the tree which grows from it. Some Nymphoi may not belong to any class and simply called the Nymphai daughter of a god; others are part of groups that hold particular places in myth and cult and receive special titles such as the Hesperides and Heliads and Horae while still others are the followers of a specific deity and receive titles to indicate their presence in their retinue, this includes the Amnisiades, sixty virgin-followers of Artemis and the Maenads, followers of Dionusos. The oldest of all of the Nymphai, the Okeanides are the three-thousand daughters of Okeanos, the vast fresh-water river that encircles the world and Tethys the protogenoi (first-born being that emerged from Khaos at the dawn of time) of all fresh water that ran under the earth. They are responsible for the sources of all fresh water on the earth. They often act as attendants of goddesses (Klymene, for example is a handmaiden of Hera and Peitho of Aphrodite), nurses of the gods (Thetis fostered both Hera and Hephaistos) and nurses of nature itself. They are also often married to Potamoi (river-gods) and are mothers to many other types of nymphs. Types of Okeanides include: · Nephelai- the Okeanides of rain-clouds. They rose up Okeanos daily carrying fresh water to the skies in their pitchers made of clouds and used the water to fill the rivers and water the earth. · Aurai- the Okeanides of cool, moist breezes and daughters of the Anemoi (the winds). · Boukoloi- (often merged with Epimelides) are Okeanides of grassy pastures andwho fed and protected herds of the cattle, sheep and goats and were good friends of shepherds. These Nymphai have snow white hair and are also the guardian of apples and fruit trees. (The word ‘melos’ in means both fruit-tree and sheep.) · Hekaterides- the Okeanides of country dance (possibly non-temple based fertility rituals). · Leimonides- Okeanides of flowery meadows. · Anthousai- Okeanides of flowers. o Leiriopids- are Anthousai of lilies o Ionides- are Anthousai of violets o Rhodes- are Anthousai of roses · Alsaeids- Okeanides of valleys. · Echidnae - snake tailed protectors of the vinyard · Naiades- (also called Hydriades) are the Okeanides of the earthly sources of fresh-water. Many are daughters of the various Potamoi and husband of mortal kings and heroes and were very important in the family trees of the royal houses of the Greek world; others became the wives of gods. Many sons of Naiades founded cities or islands and named them for their mothers. There are sub-categories of Naiades as well: o Pegaiai- the Naiades of springs who are worshipped for their gifts of healing and poetic inspiration. o Krinaiai- the Naiades of fountains. o Potameides- the Naiades of rivers and streams. o Limnades or Limnatides, the Naiades of lakes. o Eleionomai , the Naiades of marshes. o Avernales, the Naiades of the underground rivers. o Heleionomi, Naiades of the Marches Dryades are the Nymphai of trees and forests; some Dryades are Naiads and are worshiped as the tree that sprouts from the banks of rivers and springs. The Dryades are long lived but not immortal and lived only so long as their tree survives. There are several classes of Dryades: · Oreiades- the Dryades of the high mountain forest, especially mountain pine and ash. · Meliai- the Dryades of the ash-trees who were born when the blood of castrated Ouranos fell upon the earth. These Nymphai married the men of the Silver Age and birthed the Bronze Age men who were violent and crafted spears from their mother’s branches. They are likely the same as the Melissae, Nymphai of honey and honey bees. · Alseides – nymphs of sacred groves · Aulonides – nymphs of glens · Napaiai – nymphs of vales · Hamadryades- the Dryades of poplar and oak trees. · Maliades (or Epimelides)- the Dryades of apple trees and other fruit trees. · Daphnaie- are the Dryades of laurel trees. · Aigeiroi- are the Dryades of black poplar. · Ameploi- are the Dryades of grape vines. · Balanis- are the Dryades of acorns. · Karyai- are the Dryades of hazels. · Kraneiai- are the Dryades of cherry-trees. · Moreai- are the Dryades of mulberry bushes. · Pteleai- are the Dryades of elms. · Sykei- are the Dryades of fig trees. · Pterides- are the Dryades of ferns Haliai are the Nymphai of the sea and shoreline, waves, fish, sea-caves, and beaches. Most are daughters of sea gods, though some may be the daughters of Okeanos – these Haliai would guide fresh-water through the salty sea. Haliai were often in the retinue of sea gods and rode upon dolphins, Ketoi (sea-monsters) or fish tailed animals (including Hippokampoi, fish-tailed horses; Aigikampoi, fish-tailed goats; Leokampoi, fish-tailed lions; Pardalokampoi, fish-tailed leopards and Taurokampoi, fish-tailed bulls). · Nereides are the fifty Haliai daughters of Nereus and Doris (they are also called the Doriads after her) two ancient sea deities. The Nereides are shape-shifters and often aided fishermen and sailors and were especially worshiped in port towns. Lampades are the Nymphai of the underworld and are torchbearers in the retinue of Persephone and Hekate and other chthonic deities. Many were daughters of the underground river gods. Asteriai are the Nymphai of the stars. Many, such as the Pleiades and Hyades, (both groups being daughters of the Titan Atlas). • Astra, are the Asteriai of the wandering stars (planets). • Astrothesiai, are the Asteriai of constellations. • Zodiakos, are Astrothesia of the zodiac constellations. Menai are the nymphs of the fifty lunar months in the four year Olympiad and are the daughters Selene conceived by the sleeping Endymion. Male Nature Spirits There are also many male nature spirits in the Greek religion, most often being hybrids of animals and humans. They are generally very lusty creatures and spend most of their time chasing Nymphai and women. In art they are generally seen sporting giant phalli and represent the active aspects of nature’s fertility. • Kentauroi- a tribe of creature that are men from the waist up with the lower bodies and four legs of horses, sometimes with pointed ears and snub noses. They are often rowdy and savage creatures, though some were wise and civilized teachers. The word Kentauroi may break down into the equivalent of ‘cow-boy’ and it may be that the Kentaur of myth had a precursor in an early nomadic herding culture. • Kyprian Kentauroi- the bull horned Kentaurs in the train of Dionusos. They were born when Zeus’ semen fell upon Kyprus in his attempt to seduce Aphrodite. There are female Kentaurs (called Kentaurides)though they are rarely mentioned in myth. Some murals have shown them in the train of Dionusos with infant Kentaurs chasing after them, or being defended by Kentaurs as wild animals attack. • Ikhthyokentauroi, two Kentaurs with fish tails instead of hind legs and lobster- claw horns on their foreheads. • Satyroi- rustic spirits of the countryside. They are often seen in the retinue of Dionusos, Rhea, Hermes, Gaia, and in the company of Nymphoi. They are men with the tail of a horse, the ears of a donkey and upturned pug noses. The name Satyroi seems to come from the phrase ‘moving to and fro in the wine trough’ and they were probably the mask men who crushed the grapes which were used to make wine. • Seilenoi are elderly Satyroi and were often seen in the retinue of Dionusos, they are the sons of Seilenos and fathers of Satyroi and Oreiades. • Satyriskoi- are child Satyroi • Paniskoi - "little Pans"; half goat, half man o Panes- sons of the god Pan. Many of the Panes were attendants and messengers of Dionusos and Hermes and other rustic gods. • Tritones – fish or dolphin tailed Daemons of the sea. Most were similar to the son of Poseidon, Triton though some had viscous teeth, red eyes and seaweed hair. There are images of tritonesses as well, though these are rare No comments: Post a Comment
Thursday, August 31, 2006 Automatic double tracking (ADT) [One of the many ways the Beatles changed music.] Automatic double tracking (ADT) was an electronic system designed to augment the sound of voices and instruments during the recording process. It used linked tape recorders to create an instant and simultaneous duplication of sound which could then be captured on tape. During the 1950s it was discovered that doubletracking lead vocals in popular song recordings gave them a much stronger and more appealing sound (especially for singers with weak or light voices). First pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect. However, until the invention of ADT it was necessary to record the vocal tracks twice, with the second vocal in synchronisation with the first -- a process which was both tedious and exacting, and might require several takes and rewinds. ADT was invented specially for The Beatles on April 6, 1966 by Ken Townshend a recording engineer employed at the EMI Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, London. He developed it mainly at the instigation of John Lennon, who hated the tedious doubletracking sessions and regularly expressed a desire for a technical solution to the problem. In essence, Townshend's system used two studio tape decks which were connected to the recording console, and to each other. As a vocal was being recorded onto the first tape machine, specially installed connections simultaneously fed the signal from the record head of the first deck into the record head of the second deck, onto the tape, out from the playback head of the second deck and back into the record head of the first. If the playback heads of the two decks were precisely the same distance from their respective record heads, the voices would be recorded in perfect unison. However, the doubletracking effect relied on the almost inaudible millisecond delays between the guide vocal and the doubletracked vocal. This was achieved naturally in the old system, because it was in practice impossible for even the best singer to precisely duplicate a previous vocal. Geoff Emerick, an EMI balance engineer who began working with the Beatles during the recording of the LP Revolver, was able to introduce the fractional delay required by adjusting the variable speed oscillator (VSO) that controlled the speed of the motor on the second tape deck, so that the tape ran slightly slower than on the first deck. With this slight delay now introduced, the signal coming out of the playback head on the first deck would be audibly 'doubled', but the delay was not enough to cause the vocals to be noticeably out of sync. An alternate method of creating the required delay, if the second deck did not have a variable speed motor, was to simply apply pressure to the rim (or 'flange') of the feed reel on the second tape deck to slow down the tape speed. This led to the invention being dubbed 'flanging' by The Beatles, who were thrilled by Townshend's invention and used it throughout the Revolver LP and on all their subsequent recordings. The invention of ADT soon led to the development of other related studio effects, besides flanging, including chorus and phasing. ADT quickly became a universal practice in popular music and since its invention it has become rare to hear popular music recordings that do not use it, especially on vocal tracks. Although the tape-based ADT system has since been superseded by digital sound processing technology, doubletracking is still a common production technique. Wednesday, August 30, 2006 [Also be sure to check out the site for the Portman-related movie of the same name.] (from the noun fan and the affix -dom, as in kingdom, dukedom, etc.) is a subculture composed by like-minded fans (aficionados) characterized by a feeling of closeness to others who share the same interest (Thorne&Bruner 2006). Such a community of keen aficionados can share a common interest in a wide selection of phenomena, such as authors, hobbies, genres or fashions. Fandom as a term can also be used to refer to the single interconnected social network of these individual fandoms, many of which overlap. While the term is applied to social networks surrounding many novelty interests, it has its roots in appreciation for science fiction. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the object of their fandom; this is what differentiates them from those with only casual interest. The objects of a fandom typically relate to the arts, sports or entertainment. For example, it would be unusual to refer to an accountant who is very interested in the details of accounting as a "fan" of accounting. The plural fen is often self-applied in science fiction and related fandoms. This is an example of fannish jargon. Members of a fandom associate with one another, often attending fan conventions (such as science fiction conventions), and publishing and exchanging fanzines. Today, these communities are often online, especially for less well-known source material. Some fans also write fan fiction, stories based around the universe and characters of their chosen fandom. Some also dress in costumes ("cosplay") or recite lines of dialogue either out-of-context or as part of a group reenactment. Such activities are sometimes known as "fanac," an abbreviated form of the phrase "fan activity." The term is also commonly associated with anime/manga. Serious fans of this subject are also called otaku. Fanac is an abbreviation for "fan activity" which arose within science fiction fandom. It consists of such activities as editing zines, writing fanfic, attending cons and cosplay. Monday, August 28, 2006 [When a general just won't do.] A generalissimo is a commissioned officer of the highest rank; the word is often translated as "Supreme Commander" or "Commander in Chief". It is an Italian superlative substantive, which grammatically would actually be disallowed in Italian (superlatives can be made with adjectives only). When used as a noun, the correct sense is "General of the highest degree" (or commander in chief of the entire armed forces of a specific country); as an adjective, the closest English form is "most general," but the concept is best expressed by the grammatically incorrect expression "most generalest." The term "Generalissimo" in English has come to refer to a kind of ruler who has ascended to that position by a military coup. In most developed English-speaking countries, the term commonly evokes the image of corrupt dictatorships and so-called "banana republics." The dictator Francisco Franco, Chief of State of the Spanish State, also held the title Generalísimo de los Ejércitos Españoles, or "Generalissimo of the Spanish Armies", a title which expressed his supreme command of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the Spanish State. Chiang Kai-shek also used the term (although he was technically a general special class or "five-star general") as did Joseph Stalin; the latter, however, was appointed to the position on June 27, 1945, at the conclusion of World War II and did not use it as a title to designate his position of commander in chief, but rather bore it as a title of rank, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, above the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. The Japanese title of Shogun is in a way comparable to that of generalissimo. Friday, August 25, 2006 Jews for Jesus [Sometimes they hand out fliers and such...] Jews for Jesus is a Christian Evangelical organization based in the United States. It was founded in 1973 by Moishe Rosen, an ordained Baptist minister of Jewish heritage who self-identifies with the Judaic tradition. The long-term goal of Jews for Jesus is one of religious conversion of all Jews to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah — a position which is usually characterised as Christianity and is incompatible with Judaism (see Schism between Jews and Christians, Anti-Judaism, Supersessionism, Dispensationalism). The organization claims to be "one of the most extensive evangelistic outreaches to Jewish people in the world today." While Jews for Jesus is based in the United States, they have also sent their branches as far afield as Ukraine, Germany, France, England, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Russia, and South Africa.... Jews for Jesus' official mission statement is "to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide." They claim that belief in Jesus as Messiah is a fulfillment of the prophecies of Hebrew scripture. Rosen argues that Christianity is the fulfillment of scriptures.... Jews for Jesus is widely opposed by both Jewish groups (secular and religious) and Christians who oppose attempting to convert Jews. Many Jewish groups see Jews for Jesus as a thinly-veiled attack on Judaism, while many Christian churches, particularly the more liberal denominations, see Jewish religious practice as valid in and of itself and thus object to evangelizing Jews. Another criticism of the group is that one of the most important Jewish principles of faith is the belief in one God and one God only with no partnership of any kind, and it is therefore impossible to profess Judaism and believe in Jesus at the same time. The Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, an umbrella organization that includes Muslims, Jews, and church groups from the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches, has condemned Jews for Jesus as promoting activities "harmful to the spirit of interreligious respect and tolerance." The conference is opposed to religious proselytizing in general. The conference also denounces the group's "deceptive proselytizing efforts", stating that when practiced on "vulnerable populations" such as the young or the elderly, these efforts are "tantamount to coerced conversions." (2) The Rev. Clark Lobenstine, a Presbyterian (PCUSA) minister and executive director of the Conference, has stated that his group condemns Jews for Jesus and other messianic Jewish groups by name because they "go beyond the bounds of appropriate and ethically based religious outreach." (3) Rick Ross, an alleged "cult expert", has been critical of the organization as well and has included them on his website.(5) The Board of Governors of The Long Island Council of Churches, a group that is opposed to proselytizing of Jews in general, voiced similar sentiments in a statement that "noted with alarm" the "subterfuge and dishonesty" inherent in the "mixing [of] religious symbols in ways which distort their essential meaning", and named Jews for Jesus as one of the three groups about whom such behavior was alleged.... Jews for Jesus defends its actions against these charges, stating: Jews for Jesus is a member of numerous evangelical Christian groups: The World Evangelical Alliance, Canadian Council for Christian Charities, Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association, Evangelical Alliance of Great Britain, Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism, National Association of Evangelicals, The Internet Evangelism Coalition, and the World Evangelical Fellowship.... Thursday, August 24, 2006 [The fear of getting stuck.] It is estimated that at least 10% of American adults are trypanophobic, and it is likely that the actual number is larger, as the most severe cases are never documented due to the tendency of the sufferer to simply avoid all medical treatment.... Wednesday, August 23, 2006 [You thought you knew what this meant. You had no idea.] Flatulence is the presence of gas under some degree of pressure, in a confined space. The term is normally used of the presence of gas in the digestive tract of mammals. However, a balloon is flatulent as is a fizzy drink until the gas is released by opening the bottle containing it. [1] Though confused by the word's use as a euphemism for 'fart', flatulence is distinct from flatus, which is the release of such confined gas. [2] The distinction becomes very important in cases of bloat. In the animal digestive tract, the gas is produced by symbiotic bacteria and yeasts.... is a Latin word meaning a puff or blowing of a gas such as air. Flatulence is a French noun derived from flātus, which as a medical term means 'accumulation of gas in a natural cavity'. [3] More generally, flatulent means 'of a windy nature' or 'full of air and wind'. By extension, foods such as beans may be called 'flatulent', as they generate gas in the digestive tract which then becomes flatulent as it is liable to produce flātūs - puffs, blows and breathing, via the œsophagus (gullet) and mouth or via the anus. Flatulence is therefore a tendency to produce puffs and blows so the word can be applied to the character of a haughty person or to the wolf of the Three Little Pigs story, as well as to the more usual use in alluding to a physiological tendency to break wind. 'Meteorism' is a near-synonym of flatulence in the medical sense. However, it may arise from a blockage which prevents the escape of gas. It is therefore not strictly, a synonym. It is derived from Greek rather than Latin. It will have influenced English by way of the writings of Hippocrates, whose works were long a major influence on the thought of western medical doctors. It is a 'flatulent distension of the abdomen with gas in the alimentary canal' [4], and is used as a synonym of bloat in veterinary use. The Greek original, μετεωρισμοσ (meteorismos), means 'being raised up, swelling' [5] alternatively, 'elation, excitement of mind'.... [6] Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Cat righting reflex [Despite this, it's still dangerous to leave a cat near an open window. Be careful!] The cat righting reflex is cat's innate ability to orient themselves as they fall so as to land on their feet, often uninjured. The righting reflex begins to appear at 3-4 weeks of age, and is perfected at 7 weeks. They are able to do this as they have an unusually flexible backbone and no collarbone. After determining up from down visually or using their vestibular apparatus (in the inner ear), they rotate their upper body to face downwards and their lower body follows. In addition to the righting reflex cats have a number of other features that will reduce damage from a fall. Being small, having a light bone structure, and thick fur decreases their terminal velocity. Furthermore, once righted they may also spread out their body to increase drag and slow the fall to some extent. A falling cat's terminal velocity is 60mph whereas a falling man in a free-fall position is 130mph. At terminal velocity they also relax as they fall which protects them to some extent on impact. Padded paws will also soften impact. Using their righting reflex, cats can often land uninjured. This is, however, far from always the case, and cats can still break bones or die from falls. In a study (in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association) of 132 cats that had fallen from buildings, it was found that cats were most likely to die if they had fallen about seven stories.[citation needed] Below that height they may not have reached terminal velocity and would hit the ground with less force. However, if falls were further than seven stories the chance of cats dying also decreased as they had more time to right themselves, spread to increase drag, and relax. Wednesday, August 09, 2006 Problem of evil [A dilemma indeed!] In the philosophy of religion and theology, the problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the existence of evil or suffering in the world with the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent God or Gods. An answer to the problem of evil is called a theodicy.... Epicurus is generally credited with first expounding the problem of evil, and it is sometimes called the Epicurean paradox (or the riddle of Epicurus). In this form, the argument is not really a paradox or a riddle, but rather a reductio ad absurdum of the premises. Epicurus drew the conclusion that the existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of the Gods. More generally, no paradox or problem exists for those who do not accept the premises, in particular the existence of a benevolent god or Gods. Epicurus himself did not leave any written form of this argument. It can be found in Lucretius's "De Rerum Natura" and in Christian theologian Lactantius's "Treatise of the Anger of God" where Lactantius critiques the argument.... The biblical book of Job is, perhaps, the most widely known formulation of the problem of evil in Western thought. Other books of note include Psalms 1 and 82, and Ecclesiastes (Koheleth).... Many terms and concepts must be decided upon before the problem of evil may be sufficiently analyzed. This is due to the nature of religious belief. • Who or what is God? For example, the problem of evil changes radically depending on whether God is a personal God, as in most forms of Christianity, distant Gods, as was the case in ancient Egyptian religions, as well as whether there is only one (monotheism) or many Gods (polytheism). (See also demiurge) • What is evil? A frequent error is the notion that an omnipotent God would be able to make an agent morally free yet incapable of doing evil to others. This is an error because no amount of power can allow one to make a logical contradiction true. (See the Omnipotence Paradox) To what extent would God desire to spare people from evil? It is, perhaps, too hasty to assume that not experiencing any evil or harm is in the best interest of the universe.... The fifth century theologian Augustine of Hippo mounted what has become one of the most popular defences of the existence of God against the Epicurean paradox. He maintained that evil was only privatio boni, or a privation of good. An evil thing can only be referred to as a negative form of a good thing, such as discord, injustice, and loss of life or liberty. If a being is not totally pure, evil will fill in any gaps in that being's purity. This is commonly called the Contrast Theodicy — that evil only exists as a "contrast" with good. However, the Contrast Theodicy relies on a metaphysical view of morality which few people, even theologians, agree with (that good and evil are not moral judgments). In On Free Choice of the Will, Augustine also argued that Epicurus had ignored the potential benefits of suffering in the world. However, it is pointed out that an omnipotent God could give the world any benefits derived from suffering without those in the world having to suffer.... Some critics of this argument say that beings which are not omnipotent do not have freedom of choice in any case. But others say that free will should be understood as "wanting" and "trying" but not necessarily "getting". For example, not everyone has the ability to become a successful Major League Baseball player, even though they have the freedom to try. Another argument is that the choices a person can make are determined by one's inherent nature. If someone were naturally good, he would still have some degree of free choice. Many people who have enjoyed this partial free will have lived their lives without causing suffering or other evil. Why wouldn't God make everyone predisposed to being good? Why would he make some who are predisposed to performing evil acts? The other side of this argument is that there "are no" naturally good people. All people are capable of both good and evil acts. An individual does either good or evil acts, depending not only on their inherent nature, but also upbringing, experiences, morals, choices, circumstances, society, and many other factors. The same group of people might be good or evil depending on the society they live in. Additionally, some critics note that if a god simply cannot create people that are both entirely good and enjoy free will, then it cannot be considered all-powerful.... A unique response to the problem of evil comes from the ill-defined body of early Christian belief known as Gnosticism. Many Gnostics claimed that the god of the Jewish Bible or Old Testament who created the world, is not God, but an inept, though highly powerful, being that they call the Demiurge. They view him as a malicious being who made the world of matter and flesh as a prison to hide humanity's true spiritual nature. Hence, part of their answer to the problem of evil is that the true God, whom they sometimes call "the True Father," did not in fact make this world of suffering, evil and pain. However they do not provide an explanation for why the true God would allow another being to create them instead, and in such an evil manner. Wednesday, August 02, 2006 1995 Chicago heat wave [Pardon the absence; staying cool.] The 1995 Chicago heat wave led to approximately 600 heat-related deaths over a period of five days. It is now considered to be one of the worst weather-related disasters in Chicago history. The scale was shocking, although the event itself may not have been that unusual. Eric Klinenberg, author of the 2002 book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, has noted that in the United States, the loss of human life in hot spells in summer exceeds that caused by all other weather events combined, including lightning, rain, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.... The temperatures soared to record highs in July with the hottest weather occurring from July 12 to July 16. The high of 106° F (41° C) on July 13 set the record for the warmest July temperature since records began at Midway Airport in 1928. Nighttime low temperatures were unusually high (upper 70s and lower 80s °F - about 25 °C) as well. Record humidity levels also accompanied the hot weather. Because of the nature of the disaster, and the slow response of authorities to recognize it, no official "death toll" has been determined. However, figures show that 739 additional people died in that particular week above the usual weekly average. Further epidemiologic analysis presented by Eric Klinenberg (author of Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago) showed that blacks were more likely to die than whites, and that Hispanics had an unusually low death rate due to heat. At the time, many blacks lived in areas of sub-standard housing and less cohesive neighborhoods, while Hispanics at the time lived in places with higher population density, and more social cohesion.... A contributing factor in the heat wave is an effect called an urban heat island. Urban heat islands are caused by the concentration of buildings and pavement in urban areas, which tend to absorb more heat in the day and radiate less heat at night into their immediate surroundings than comparable rural sites. Therefore, built-up areas get hotter and stay hotter. Other aggravating factors were inadequate warnings, power failures, inadequate ambulance service and hospital facilities, and lack of preparedness. City officials did not release a heat emergency warning until the last day of the heat wave. Thus, such emergency measures as Chicago's five cooling centers were not fully utilized. The medical system of Chicago was severely taxed as thousands were taken to local hospitals with heat-related problems. In some cases, fire trucks were used as substitute ambulances. Another powerful factor in the heat wave was that a temperature inversion grew over the city, and air stagnated in this situation. Pollutants and humidity were confined to ground level, and the air was becalmed and devoid of wind. Without wind to stir the air, temperatures grew even hotter than could be expected with just an urban heat island, and without wind there was truly no relief. Without any way to relieve the heat, even the inside of homes became ovens, with indoor temperature exceeding 90 °F (33 °C) at night. This was especially noticeable in areas which experienced frequent power outages. At Northwestern University just north of Chicago, summer school students lived in dormitories without air conditioning. In order to ease the effects of the heat, some of the students slept at night with water-soaked towels as blankets.
Lightning Safety: Separating Fact From Fiction Published: . Updated: . This week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week--a good time to ask yourself if you know how to separate fact from fiction when protecting your family from lightning strikes. 10TV was on the Ohio State campus in 2012 when school employees were cleaning up from a lightning strike. Lightning hit Stillman Hall, causing bricks from the building to fall to the ground. But could it happen to that building again? Can lightning strike the same place twice? The answer is "yes." Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if the object is something tall, pointy and isolated like a downtown skyscraper. For example, the Empire State Building is hit by lightning more than 100 times each year according to the National Weather Service. But what if the storm has passed and skies are clearing? Are you safe from lightning when the rain stops? The answer is "no." Even when the rain has ended, lightning can strike several miles or more from the thunderstorm cloud. A good rule of thumb is to wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside. Seeking shelter inside is the best bet in a storm, but are you 100% safe from lightning in your home? That answer is also "no.” But it doesn't stop there inside the home. Since lightning can travel though metal plumbing, be sure to avoid taking showers or baths during a thunderstorm. That means you don't want to lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls Here is a list of more lightning facts and safety tips courtesy of the National Weather Service: • Over the last 30 years, the U.S. has averaged 51 lightning fatalities per year. • Only about 10% of people struck by lightning are actually killed. The other 90% must cope with varying degrees of discomfort and disability, sometimes for the rest of their lives. • Typically, the vast majority of lightning victims each year are male (in 261 instances from 2006-2013, 81% of lightning fatalities were male and 19% were female).
Pre-diabetes, high blood glucose, doesn't have to lead to type 2 diabetes. Find out how to reduce the risk of developing diabetes with a pre-diabetic diet. Having elevated blood glucose levels can lead to type 2 diabetes if you don't change your lifestyle. Most people with pre-diabetes don't display any symptoms and switching to the pre-diabetic diet in time can help in preventing getting a very serious disease. Pre-diabetes is diagnosed with three types of tests: fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the A1C test. These are usually administered to adults over 45, but younger people who are overweight should also get tested if they also have another risk factor, like a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure. If you're at risk, you should start the pre-diabetes diet as soon as possible to prevent developing type 2 diabetes which has a much stricter diet. Pre-diabetics can reduce their risk of developing the disease by losing 7% of their body weight and exercising moderately for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The pre-diabetes diet also plays a very important role in aiding with weight loss. Pre-Diabetic Diet Pre-Diabetic Diet Basics Eating the right carbohydrates is the most important element of the pre-diabetes diet, that can help you avoid the much more restrictive diabetic diet plan. Refined and processed carbs lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. That's why whole grains are a great choice for the pre-diabetic diet, helping replace white bread, rice, pasta and sugary foods. Full of fiber, whole grain helps you feel fuller for longer and also help with weight loss, while having a natural regulating effect on blood sugar. Eat more oatmeal, whole grain cereals, whole grain pasta, whole grain rice and baking goods made from whole-grain wheat flour. Fruits and vegetables are the other important part of the pre-diabetic diet. The best ones for you include dark green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and kale, along with orange vegetables like carrots, pumpkins and winter squash. Lentils, peas are important legumes, along with kidney, black, pinto and garbanzo beans. Pre-Diabetic Diet Portion Control for the Pre-Diabetic Diet Losing up to 7% of your body weight can be faster when you're using the right portion control. Overweight people who practice portion control are much more likely to lose at least 5% of their body weight in two years, while almost the third of people who do not, can actually gain more weight. In a pre-diabetes diet, it's also important to space your meals throughout the day and avoid very heavy meals, especially in the evenings. You might also like: Low Glycemic Diet Plan Vitamins that Aid Weight Loss The Spectrum Diet
Back to History of Astrology page Through the Doors of Greece Alexander the Great was born, history tells us, the son of King Philip II of Macedon. Legend has it, however, that the boy's real father was a King of Egypt, Nectanebus, among whose accomplishments was the art of summoning immense armies out of thin air. In 356 BC, the planets informed him that his enemies would triumph over him, however efficient his aerial forces, so he packed his bags and made off, heavily disguised, to Macedon, where he set up as an astrologer and ingratiated himself at court. While the king was away, Nectanebus, with the aid of wax dolls and other magical means, transported himself into the queen's bedroom disguised as the god Ammon, to whose blandishments Olympias naturally felt bound to accede. She became pregnant. When her term came, Nectanebus came to her room and set up at her bedside a tablet made of gold, silver and acacia wood, which stood on a tripod and consisted of three belts - one with Zeus on it, surrounded by the thirty-six decans; then one bearing the twelve signs of the zodiac; and on the innermost the Sun and Moon. To these he fitted eight precious stones showing the positions of the planets. He begged her not to give birth until these were propitious - and when they were, with a flash of lightning and a thump of thunder, Alexander was born. We are not told of King Philip's reaction on returning to discover the fait accompli; and indeed other accounts suggest that he and the queen merely employed an astrologer to tell the new-born child's fortune. But of Alexander's later successes, history tells us at length. Nectanebus is said to have become Alexander's tutor, using as text-book The Secret of Secrets, a book by Aristotle, later lost. This, among other things, circulated a knowledge of and respect for astrology. It did Nectanebus no good, however, for when the child was 12 years old he tipped the astrologer over a cliff to prove that he could not foretell the time of his own death. But at least it apparently provide tips for the future world general - such as that he should never take a laxative except when the Moon was in Scorpio, Libra or Pisces, and that severe constipation would result were he to be unwise enough to take one while the Moon was in Capricorn. It has always been understood that Alexander made use of astrology throughout his campaigns, though whether because he believed in it, or knew that others believed, and took advantage of the fact, is far from clear. It seems unlikely that he almost alone among educated people of his time placed the influence of the planets at naught - although one or two philosophers did so: Eudoxus (c 408-355 BC), for instance, the inventor of the geometrical theory of proportion, who demanded that 'no credence should be given to the Chaldeans, who predict and mark out the life of every man according to the day of his nativity'. And the Greek Academy under Carneades and Clitomachus, in the 1st century BC, was to set itself firmly against divination, magic and astrology. But they were in a tiny minority. In general, as the historian Gilbert Murray was to put it, 'astrology fell upon the Hellenistic mind as a new disease falls upon some remote island people'. Through such outposts as Daphnae, a Greek settlement in Egypt between 610 and 560 BC, and especially through the ports of Egypt opened to Greek ships after 640 BC, travelling Chaldean astrologers descended on Greece in considerable numbers, bringing with them the apparently age-old wisdom they had hoarded, which was received warmly by Greeks already better practised in mathematics and astronomy than they. If any evidence was needed of the fact that much astronomical and astrological lore came directly from Babylonia to Greece, we have only to look at the names of the planets. When the Greeks first recognised these, they called them Herald of the Dawn (Venus, noted even by Homer for its brightness, although sometimes it was called Vespertine, as the star of the evening), the Twinkling Star (Mercury), the Fiery Star (Mars), the Luminous Star (Jupiter), and the Brilliant Star (Saturn). But after the 4th century, these names begin to disappear, and others take their place - Aphrodite, Hermes, Ares, Zeus and Cronos. It seems almost certain that the reason is that by then the Chaldeans had arrived with their barbaric names for the planets - Nebo, Ishtar, Nergal, Marduk and Ninib. The Greeks simply substituted their own deities' names for the foreign ones - so today we call the planets by names that are English renderings of Latin translations of Greek translations of the original Babylonian ones! One of the reasons for astrology's success in the Greek world may well have been the atmosphere during the period after Alexander's death, when the ancient ideal of the Greek republic was being replaced by the concept of universal monarchy. Religion was in a sense internationalized, and the worship of the planets and stars as deities became stronger as the cities lost their individual powers and personalities. The planets spread their influences indiscriminately, and such philosophers as Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, believing that nothing was determined by chance (indeed, that there was no such thing as chance) emphasized in the 4th century BC the idea that earthly happenings were rigidly determined by natural laws. What then was more obvious than that the planets, coolly moving in their predetermined courses, were the governors of events? There is also, of course, the Greek expertise at astronomy and mathematics, and ingenuity in constructing machines to match that expertise: Ptolemy describes the construction of an astrolabe, an instrument for measuring the positions of the stars; and a little machine with geared wheels, discovered in the sunken wreck of a vessel of the 1st century BC, seems to have been devised to work out the motions of the planets. If some Greek ideas about the constitution of the solar system were distinctly eccentric (Ptolemy's not least so) their grasp of mechanics and mathematics was brilliant - much more so than many historians of the 18th century believed. If we can safely ignore Philostratus' claim (made in the 3rd century AD) that astrology was known and practised in Greece as early as 1184 BC, it is certainly the case that Hesiod, a poet who lived in the 8th century BC, paid attention to the positions of the planets and stars in his Works and Days. In this long poem he suggested among other things that they should be used to predict good times at which to start certain tasks. The Greeks pioneered enormous developments in astronomical theory. Aristotle disproved Anaximander's theory that the Earth floats freely and without support; Pythagoras was probably the first man to 'know' (if without proof) that the world was one of the planets, and round. This theory, first put forward it seems by Philolaus of Thebes at the end of the 5th century BC, was based on intuition rather than on reason, but the guess was an important one. It was clear by this time, too - at least to some astronomers - that the Sun was much larger than the Earth, and therefore probably the latter was not the centre of the universe. And by 230 BC, Aristarchus of Samos, centuries before Copernicus, argued that the Earth and all the planets revolved in circles round the Sun, the Earth turning on its axis once in twenty-four hours. But the time was against him, and only his colleague Seleucus accepted his theory, which otherwise sank like a stone - although Copernicus was heartened, pursuing it in his own age, to find evidence of an ancient conviction of the hypothesis. The Greeks seem to have adopted the zodiac as early as the 6th century BC; it may have been Democritus, round about 420, who popularized it and the idea that the planets influenced man as they travelled through the signs. It is said that he spent much time in Egypt and the east; certainly he visited Persia, and he may have been more decided in advancing his view that the planets governed men's lives than any Greek before him. He agreed with Zeno that nothing could happen in the world by chance. It has been claimed that he gave the zodiac signs their Greek names, although other historians have suggested that Anaxagoras, born in lonia about 500 BC, may have had a hand in that - he was an adventurous astronomer, the first to explain that the Moon shone because of the reflected light of the Sun. He was thrown out of Athens, where he lived for thirty years, for attempting to rationalize astronomy, and teaching rationalist theories about 'the things on high'. The Greeks, who sacrificed to the Sun and Moon, were outraged at his suggestion that they were paying court to a 'fiery star' and a lump of earth. Many reports of early astronomical/astrological feats by the Greeks must be regarded with suspicion. It has often been suggested, for instance, that Thales predicted a solar eclipse that occurred in 585BC, thus ending a battle between the Lydians and Medes, who stopped fighting in sheer surprise. This seems unlikely. The knowledge simply did not exist by which it could have been done, although it is possible Thales might simply have made a spectacularly successful guess. There is a little more substance, perhaps, in Pliny's report that Cleostratus of Tenedos observed the zodiacal constellations as they appeared behind Mount Ida towards the end of the 6th century. But it is only on looking at the calendars devised by Eudoxos of Cnidus (c 408-355 BC), a Greek scientist and astronomer, that we definitely find use being made of the Greek zodiac (it was he who, in the Phainomena, divided the ecliptic into twelve equal signs). Between the 5th century BC and the birth of Christ, astrology appealed to various sections of Greek society, among them not only philosophers and scientists, but such men as Hippocrates, the physician and 'father of medicine', who taught astrology to his students so that they could discover the 'critical days' in an illness. He is said to have remarked that 'any man who does not understand astrology is a fool rather than a physician'. And the young intelligentsia often took an intense interest in the subject; when Plato visited Dionysus' school, he saw two pupils arguing with great vigour about the theories of Anaxagoras, illustrating their argument by imitating the sweep of the ecliptic with their arms. Aristophanes in The Clouds ridicules the study of astrology as one of the cults of the Athens upper classes. It was, as might be expected, a Chaldean - Berosus, a priest of Bel Marduk at Babylon - who in about 260 BC came to the island of Cos, where there was a medical school at which Hipparchus had taught, and set up there a formal school of astrology which was perhaps the earliest such establishment. He seems to have used for his textbook a treatise called The Eye of Bel, which existed in the form of seventy tablets in the library of Assurbanipal, but was compiled much earlier, in the 3rd millenium BC, for Sargon I - or so it was said. Berosus also wrote an enormous history of his homeland, Babylonica, covering some five hundred thousand years from the creation of the world to the death of Alexander the Great, setting out in it a considerable amount of astronomical/astrological lore: about the Great Year, for instance, and the theory that earthquakes were caused by planets being in conjunction with the Sun. He also predicted a cataclysmic world disaster when all the planets were in conjunction in Cancer: the earth would become mud during an inordinate flood, and the world would eventually be covered with water, sweeping away all human life. Berosus was famous in his own time, and it is said that Athens raised a statue of him with a golden tongue, to pay tribute to his oratorical skills. He was succeeded on Cos by Antipatrus and Achinapolus, who taught medical astrology, and seem to have been the first non-Babylonian astrologers to experiment with the idea of drawing up a horoscope for the moment of conception rather than birth. They worked a good deal on the ancient aphorism, preserved in Hermetic literature, to the effect that the sign occupied by the Moon at the moment of conception would be in the ascendant at the time of birth. Interestingly Dr Eugen Jonas, a Czechoslovak psychiatrist, did a great deal of work on the same theory in the 1960s, claiming to be able to predict by the tropical position of the Moon at the time of conception the sex of a child, before birth. The Communist government banned his work in 1970, before his full evidence could be published. Dimly, we hear of other visiting Chaldean travellers to Greece: Soudines, for instance, a visitor to the court of Attalus I, King of Pergamum, who compiled lunar tables which were used for centuries, and one of the earliest lapidaries, associating various precious stones with certain planets and signs. By now, many Greeks were quick to adopt the new celestial theory: Epigenes of Byzantium, Apollonius of Myndus and Artemidorus of Parium all boasted of having been instructed by Babylonia priest-astrologers. Kidenas, who probably lived in the second half of the 3rd century BC, seems to have been responsible for some Babylonian astronomical discoveries, and perhaps was a tutor of Berosus himself (though one of the problems is that the dates of many of these early astrologers are extremely uncertain). Then there was Aratus, a contemporary of Berosus, who in about 276 BC versified the Phainomena of Eudoxos, producing a poem which became required reading for generations of Greeks, with its account of the planets, the zodiac and the other constellations, and its concluding advice to meteorologists: Study the Signs together through the year, Then never of the weather shall a guess Make random nonsense, but assured forecast. Innumerable Greek and Roman commentators published their own editions of Aratus. A misty figure with the name Critodemus appears briefly in a list of the founders of the Greek astrological tradition given by Firmicus Maternus a Latin writer of about AD 356, in his De erroribus profanorum religionum, among purely imaginary personages such as Hermes, Orpheus and Nechepso. This kind of thing plagues anyone attempting to trace astrological history. Was Critodemus imaginary too? Or did he indeed construct the horoscopes he is said to have drawn up? There is a treatise ascribed to him, Horasis, from which later astrologers learned: one, Hephaistion, relied utterly on his astrological formula for determining whether a child would be still-born. Gradually, astrological lore was being drawn together into a more or less coherent body of knowledge. This did not mean, however, that it was free of contradictions, or that it developed with any more coherence than other theories about the nature of the universe. In the three centuries before the birth of Christ, splits occurred between astrologers which continue to this day. Perhaps the chief one concerned free will. On school of 'scientific' astrologers took a severely empirical view: everything was predetermined, and the movements of the planets were, so to speak, geared to coming events. Another, the 'catharchic' school, believed that some things were predetermined, but by no means all. If you studied the planets' movements sufficiently minutely you could, by seizing a propitious moment bring about success when to act at another might provoke disaster. Free choice meant the right to chose the moment at which to start a project, conceive a child, be born. There was, by now, a very strong association between certain planets and certain terrestrial events and characteristics. The strongest, of course, was between the Sun and life itself. As one astrologer put it: The Sun, which nourishes the seeds of all plants, is the first also to gather from them the first fruits as soon as he rises; for this gathering of his uses his rays, if one may employ the term, like immense hands. What indeed are hands for him but those rays that gather in the first place the suavest emanations of plants? The different quality of sunlight at different times of the day is now a matter of scientific record, here stated with imagery that is specifically Egyptian. Mars is associated by the same ancient astrologer with war, Venus with love, Mercury with speed and messages, and so on. These associations were not only regarded as traditional, but as matters of scientific fact, although the mythical associations between the planets and ancient legend were still preserved, so that Saturn was also Cronos, Jupiter was still Zeus (there is a horoscope dated AD 8, in which Cronos is in the sign of the Bull, Zeus in that of the Crab, Ares (Mars) in that of the Virgin, and so on). The consensus was that two planets, Jupiter and Venus, were on the whole benevolent, and two were antagonistic, with Mercury neutral. The degree of their influence was geared to their position relative to Earth and the Sun, which was in the middle of the planetary family with Mars, Jupiter and Saturn above, and Venus, Mercury and the Moon below. The lower planets were humid, and colder the further they stood from the Sun. Humidity was thought to be a female element, so the upper planets were believed to be masculine, while Venus and the Moon were feminine, with Mercury a hermaphrodite. As the astrological theory grew more complex, so it became more difficult to resolve anomalies and confusions; and as astronomy developed it became difficult always to fit the known facts to the mythical characteristics. The zodiac signs, too, caused some confusion; the Greeks saw Aries, for instance, as a character in the legend of the Golden Fleece, while astrologers who had learned from the Chaldeans had to accept it as the Ram of Ammon. Aries naturally tended to preside over the fortunes of wool merchants; but since the Golden Ram lost its fleece, it also tended to provoke sudden disasters in the wool trade! Despite the fact that there were innumerable difficulties in the way of a practical valuation of the interpretations offered by the astrologers, some people continued to take the subject very seriously indeed - not only the Seleucids, Lagids and Attalids, but smaller states such as Commagene, under King Antiochus I (c 8o BC). A former antagonist of Pompey, then his ally in the civil war, who repelled an attack on Samosata by Mark Antony (and Antony, incidentally, is said to have been spied on by an astrologer employed by Cleopatra), Antiochus is interred in a giant tomb on the summit of Nimrud Dagh, 7000 feet above sea level, covered with carvings in relief which provide a fascinating anthology of astrological beliefs of the time. Here Greek and Iranian gods became one: Mithra is Apollo, Ares is Hercules, Zeus is Oromazdes. On the western terrace outside the tomb is a great relief of a lion covered with stars, and with the Moon and three planets: Jupiter near the head, Mercury in the middle and Mars at the tail - the planets associated with Zeus, Apollo and Hercules. This is believed to be a visual interpretation of a horoscope for 6 July 62 BC - the day on which Antiochus was crowned after his reinstatement by Pompey. As we turn from Greece towards Rome, where astrology really took its place at the very centre of political events, it is to the city of Alexandria that we must look for a sight of the man who drew together all the skeins of astrological thought of his day and did his best to rationalize them in one book. After the death of Alexander, who founded the city, King Ptolemy Soter - Ptolemy 1 (323-285 BC) - had founded a sort of university at Alexandria, at which the scholars of the city could meet to further their studies. Four hundred years later, the most famous astrologer of ancient times, Claudius Ptolemaeus - Ptolemy - arrived to teach there. Ptolemy is of course known chiefly as a mathematician, astronomer and geographer, who despite his conviction that the Earth was the centre of the universe around which all other heavenly bodies revolved, devised an astronomical system that was to be adopted by the whole of Europe for centuries. His Syntaxis made a great point of insisting on simplicity - no point in inventing complex systems to explain a phenomenon when a simple one would do - and on verification of observation. Astoundingly, without the aid of a telescope, he catalogued 1022 separate stars (compared with the 840 or so catalogued by Hipparchus). The Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy's lengthy astrological textbook, the first really substantial textbook to come down to us complete, is a compilation of the astrological lore of previous centuries, and was written sometime between AD 161 and 139, when he was working in Alexandria. It is in four books, and begins with a rational enough argument: since it is clear that the Sun and Moon have an effect upon terrestrial life (through the seasons, the movements of the tides, and so on), it is surely well to consider the effects the other heavenly bodies may have. Then, in what is admittedly a giant leap, he proposes that since it is clearly practicable, by an accurate knowledge of the points above enumerated, to make predictions concerning the proper quality of the seasons, there also seems no impediment to the formation of similar prognostications concerning the destiny and disposition of every human being, for ... even at the time of any individual's primary conformation, the general quality of that individual's temperament may be perceived; and the corporeal shape and mental capacity with which the person will be endowed at birth may be pronounced; as well as the favourable and unfavourable events indicated ... Ptolemy takes what is an extremely realistic view of the subject, despite his obvious partisanship; he admits, for instance, that the science is imperfect, not only because some astrologers are simply bad astrologers, but because there are other influences than astrological ones to be considered. However, since no weakness is imputed to a physician because he enquires into the individual habit of his patient, as well as into the nature of the disease, no imputation can justly attach to the professor of prognostication because he combines the consideration of species, nurture, education and country with that of the motion of the heavens; for as the physician acts but reasonably in thus considering the proper constitution of the sick person as well as his disease, so, in forming predictions, it must surely be justifiably allowable to comprehend in that consideration every other thing connected with the subject, in addition to the motion of the heavens, and to collect and compare with that motion all other co-operating circumstances arising elsewhere. Completing Book One of the Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy then begins to summarize the workings not only of the Sun, Moon and planets, but of certain fixed stars, going into technical detail. In Book Two, he sets out to 'confine the whole doctrine within the limits of natural reason', delineating two chief areas in which astrology can be of use to man - the general (concerned with entire nations, countries or cities) and the particular (concerning individuals). He relates the dispositions of nations to astrology by pointing out that their people seem to have different temperaments, which can be related to the climate of their countries; such climates being, of course, a matter of the heat of the Sun. The people of the extreme north, for instance, who live 'under the Bears', or close to the arctic circle, have their zenith far distant from the Zodiac and the Sun's heat. Their constitutions, therefore, abound in cold, and are also highly imbued with moisture, which is in itself a most nutritive quality, and in these latitudes is not exhausted by heat; hence, they are fair in complexion, with straight hair, of large bodies and full stature. They are cold in disposition, and wild in manners, owing to the constant cold ... Book Two concludes with a passage on how to interpret eclipses, and on the significance of meteors (which is wholly meteorological). In Book Three, Ptolemy turns to personal astrology. He is clear about the difficulty of obtaining an accurate birth time let alone the possibility of noting down the correct time of conception. Both depended on astronomical observation, using an astrolabe, or on having a water clock (and even these, he says, have been known to be leaky and therefore inaccurate!). He is not manic about the choice to be made between working from the time of conception or of birth; ideally, both should be noted. But after all, the conception may in fact be said to be the generation of mere human seed, but the birth that of man himself, since the infant at its birth acquires numerous qualities which it could not possess while in the womb, which are proper to human nature alone. There are detailed instructions about the interpretation of a birth chart or horoscope, and accounts of just what the good astrologer can expect to be able to discover. The physical appearance is certainly one ingredient. The baby born when Saturn is 'oriental' (or in the eastern half of the birth chart) would be of a yellowish complexion and a good constitution, with black and curled hair, a broad and stout chest, eyes of ordinary quality, and a proportionate size of body, the temperament of which is compounded principally of moisture and cold. Should he [Saturn] be occidental [in the west of the chart], he makes the personal figure black or dark, thin and small, with scanty hair on the head, the body without hair but well-shaped, the eyes black or dark, and the bodily temperament consisting chiefly of dryness and cold. Illnesses could be foreseen, and therefore guarded against, by studying the birth chart; so could the qualities of mind of the growing individual. A heavy emphasis on the 'tropical' or 'cardinal' signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) would generally dispose the mind to enter much into political matters, rendering it eager to engage in public and turbulent affairs, fond of distinction, and busy in theology; at the same time ingenious, acute, inquisitive, inventive, speculative and studious of astrology and divination. The 'fixed' signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius), if stressed, make the mind just, uncompromising, constant, firm of purpose, prudent, patient, industrious, strict, chaste, mindful of injuries, steady in pursuing its object, contentious, desirous of honour, seditious, avaricious and pertinacious. Those born with an emphasis on the 'bicorporeal' or 'mutable' signs, (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces) would have minds that were variable, versatile, not easy to be understood, volatile and unsteady, inclined to duplicity, amorous, wily, fond of music, careless, full of expedients, and regretful. But the planets also play their part in shaping the character. Saturn, for instance, in a certain relationship with Venus in the birth chart, and if 'exalted' (well-placed within a sympathetic sign), made men averse to women, and renders them fond of governing, prone to solitude, highly reserved, regardless of rank, indifferent to beauty, envious, austere, unsociable, singular in opinion, addicted to divination and to religious services and mysteries, solicitous of the priesthood, fanatical and subservient to religion, solemn, reverential, sedate, studious of wisdom, faithful in friendship, continent, reflective, circumspect, and scrupulous in regard to female friendship. On the other hand if not in association with Venus, and ill-placed, Saturn could make men licentious and libidinous, practisers of lewdness, careless, and impure in sexual intercourse; obscene, treacherous to women, especially to those of their own families; wanton, quarrelsome, sordid, hating elegance, slanderous, drunken, superstitious, adulterous and impious; blasphemers of the gods and scoffers at holy rites. Book Four continues the interpretation of various aspects of the birth chart - how to discern a baby's future wealth, rank and employment; the probable nature of his or her marriage, and attitude to sex. For instance Mars placed distantly from Venus and Saturn but in proximity to Jupiter would make men 'pure and decorous in sexual intercourse, and incline them to natural usages only', while if Mars was supported by Venus, they 'will become highly licentious and attempt to gratify their desires in every mode'. The Tetrabiblos was enormously influential in its time, and for centuries after. Other astrologers, such as Hephaestion of Thebes, Paul of Alexandria and Julius Firmicus, used it, and saw it as a seminal work. Even today it is read by astrologers, not merely because some of its precepts are part of astrological heritage, but because it offers cogent arguments to support its theory. For instance, Ptolemy grasped the nettle of the Precession of the Equinoxes, pointing out that 'the beginnings of the signs are to be taken from the equinoctial and tropical points. This rule is not only stated very clearly by writers on the subject, but it is also evident by the demonstrations constantly afforded, that their natures, influences and familiarities have no other origin than from the tropics and equinoxes ...' In other words, it is the 30 degree section of the ecliptic within which planets may be placed that matters, and not the fact that certain constellations may or may not be behind them. Yet that hoary old argument is still raked up, despite the fact that Ptolemy settled it firmly two thousand years ago. Some astrologers, who like to view the subject mystically rather than practically, have found Ptolemy somewhat dry and uninspiring. Yet he could be intoxicated, like so many of the astronomers of his time, by the sheer romance of the universe: 'Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day; but when I follow the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth; I ascend to Zeus himself to feast me on ambrosia, the food of the gods.' Ptolemy's sheer enthusiasm no less than his certainty has always been infectious to generations that followed him; but it is also true that many passages of the Tetrabiblos read today with a peculiarly modern air, in view of the most recent discoveries of previously unsuspected cosmic rays and gravitational effects between the planets. Its errors of fact are no more (indeed, no less) than those of any scientific treaties of its time; and it is a model of the best of its kind. We have only to compare it with other astrological books of roughly the same period to see its superiority. Take, for instance, the existing fragment of the Salmeschnaiko, another influential textbook, full of generalizations: ... This period makes many find their livelihood as advocates, others as wizards, many as singers of gods and kings, and many as translators of languages ... Many, however, also consume the substance of others. [The Lord of Flame] makes many passive homosexuals, and many cohabiting with their aunts and stepmothers so as to debauch them. It is not easy to discover just how far astrology was used by the Greeks at a personal level. Eudoxos, in the 4th century BC, condemned horoscopes used for personal predictions, and Theophrastus, a little later, was surprised to hear from the Chaldeans that they claimed to be able to predict events in the lives of individuals as well as making weather forecasts. Ennius (239-169 BC) is the first Latin writer to mention the people who write down the signs of heaven Noting the Goats or Scorpions of great Jove And other monstrous names of horrid shapes Climbing the Zodiac ... and Cato, who died in 149 BC, warned the manager of his farm not to consult travelling Chaldeans. Stoicism, when it became the fashion in Rome, must have been responsible for an early interest in astrology, too. It is perhaps fair to guess that the forecasts made for Romans during the early centuries after Christ were of much the same sort as those devised for the Greeks in the centuries before: it is simply that more of the former have survived. These Roman examples are extremely various, as Jack Lindsay points out in his exhaustive Origins of Astrology (1971). Few of them, however, attempt to predict the future. Presumably this was done, if at all, in conversation with clients, and on the basis of lengthy files of notes kept by astrologers, showing the positions of the planets at birth and the subsequent career of the subject, as well as of physical characteristics. A man born on 14 December became a deputy-governor but annoyed his superior and ended up working in a quarry with prisoners. Another, born on 23 April 104, had short arms. Yet another was ill and had a close escape at sea, but was saved thanks to the benevolent position of Saturn. Most astrologers have kept notes of that sort, building up dossiers relating the positions of the planets at the birth of an individual to subsequent events or to physical characteristics. Someone born on 10 November 114 had in his forty-second year 'quarrels and confusion and notoriety through a woman', and two years later 'the violent death of a slave and crisis of his father, and accusation of ignoble descent and rape. But he received help and gifts from friends ... ' Someone else, born on 21 January 116, was effeminate and 'had unmentionable vices, for Capricorn is lascivious and its ruler [Saturn] was in the Bull, the sign [which would indicate the kind of] weakness, and the Scorpion indicates the kind of lewdery.' Not unsurprisingly, he seems to have been drummed out of his high position in the army after some undefined incident. By AD 188 Vettius Valens of Antioch, the well-known astrologer, had amassed a fine library of horoscopes, and sets out over a hundred of them in his Anthologiae, illustrating the interpretation of birth charts, and stressing that it is as a result of the detailed examination of how the planets have worked in the life of his clients that he has become so practised and accurate an astrologer. His life is the first we have that can be compared to the lives of other professional astrologers throughout the following ages: he continually recorded his findings, occasionally wrote textbooks (his Teacher's Manual is, alas, lost), and had continually to defend himself against attacks both from other astrologers and from lay antagonists. But if many astrologers, through the latter centuries BC in Greece and in the early years of the Roman empire, practised relatively quietly with lay men and women who had only the lowest rank in society, we find for the first time in Rome detailed accounts of the part they played in influencing the politics of a country through high-placed clients. For the next eighteen hundred years astrology was to be part of the personal and political lives of most rulers and of their people.
Tags: obama \| emissions \| cuts \| trump \| wins Obama Sets Stage for Huge Emissions Regs, Unless Trump Wins Image: Obama Sets Stage for Huge Emissions Regs, Unless Trump Wins Sunday, 15 May 2016 08:13 AM Oil-and-gas producers have a financial incentive to make sure methane doesn't leak from wells and pipelines. Yet the release of methane has become a well-documented global problem—once it joins the atmosphere, it becomes a potent greenhouse gas that's responsible for a quarter of the Earth's extra heat. 1. It's like closing 11 coal-burning plants. The oil-and-gas industry is the largest emitter of methane, and the U.S. is the world's largest oil-and-gas producer. It's responsible for about 10 percent of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, according to Mark Brownstein, vice president for the climate and energy program at the Environmental Defense Fund. Less dirty than coal, natural gas has helped reduce the U.S. rate of emissions significantly over the past decade as power generators shifted fuels. That said, Brownstein's group says Obama's new rules will have the same effect as closing 11 coal-burning power plants. The energy industry opposes the new rules because of their expected cost, suggesting they "could put [the] shale energy revolution at risk," according to an American Petroleum Institute statement. Shale oil and gas gave Americans an extra $1,337 to spend in 2015, according to the trade group. Still, an EPA analysis of the new regulations suggests the environmental benefits will outweigh compliance costs by as much as $160 million by 2025. The new rules also set up what could be the next phase of fossil fuel regulation. The Environmental Protection Agency included an "information collection request," which asks the public what technology and practices would best cut emissions from existing facilities, which are currently exempt from the new rules. The next phase may or may not happen ... 2. … Depending on who wins in November. A Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders administration would likely try to protect Obama's climate-and-energy legacy, including these new rules. The EPA would take in the public comments prompted by the information request and possibly use them to retrofit the existing system, through more rulemaking. Once rules are finalized, it's harder for a new president to uproot them. A Donald Trump administration, for example, would need to initiate a regulatory process to undo Obama's finalized regulations. Given the policy positions the Republican has staked out on energy and the environment, it's reasonable to assume he'd try. 3. Could it be a trend? When Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Washington in March, he and Obama locked arms on this issue. Trudeau, leader of the world's fourth-largest oil-and-gas producer, vowed to make the same cuts in methane pollution that Obama's EPA was already finalizing. A U.S.-Canadian agreement has a distinct neighborly feel. But on a larger scale, diplomacy matters when it comes to controlling climate change. There's no way for nations to enforce pollution cuts on each other. The 195-nation climate agreement reached in Paris may never have happened without a U.S.-China pact the year before. The world won't begin to reach its climate goals without a sense that "everybody's doing it." "This is a big deal," said Brownstein of the Environmental Defense Fund, "It now also sets a precedent for global action." 4. Thank the military. Americans sat frozen in front of their television sets in 2010, watching 60,000 barrels of oil shoot daily from an underwater well into the Gulf of Mexico. Methane is different from oil: You can't see it. The largest gas leak in U.S. history, in California's Aliso Canyon between October and February, likely dwarfed the BP Plc spill in terms of global warming. The new government rules will require technology that's largely already available. For example, pressurized natural gas powers all sorts of pneumatic devices throughout the oil-and-gas industry. Many of these "high-bleed" instruments can be replaced with new "low-" or "no-bleed" alternatives. 5. We're not out of the woods. Climate change has advanced to a point where diplomacy and incremental government regulation aren't enough to close the enormous gap between current emissions and what's scientifically desirable. Royal Dutch Shell Plc Wednesday issued an upbeat report, "A Better Life With a Healthy Planet," that nonetheless shows in charts like the one below how far the world is from a safe emissions pathway: This chart is a picture of the global climate challenge. The light blue line is what unchecked emissions look like—bad scene. Shell has produced two simulations. Its "Oceans" scenario (dark blue) projects late adoption of clean-technology, keeping carbon dioxide emissions relatively high through the middle of the century. Its "Mountains" scenario (green) sees natural gas supplant coal and the eventual success of technology to catch CO2 from power plants and bury it; that emissions pathway is consequently lower. Neither approaches the more aggressive goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 centigrade, as recommended in the Paris Agreement. If world leaders are serious about what climate scientists are telling them, rules like these may become more commonplace. If they're not—the results over time may be hard to watch. © Copyright 2017 Bloomberg News. All rights reserved. 1Like our page Oil-and-gas producers have a financial incentive to make sure methane doesn't leak from wells and pipelines. Yet the release of methane has become a well-documented global problem-once it joins the atmosphere, it becomes a potent greenhouse gas that's responsible for a... obama, emissions, cuts, trump, wins Sunday, 15 May 2016 08:13 AM Newsmax Inc. America's News Page © Newsmax Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Galicia is a the region in Spain right above Portugal in the northwest corner of Spain. This region has an incredibly dense history and intricately woven cultural fabric. I learn new stuff about it everyday and will continue to post insights as they come. I won't bother restating what's already online, so if you want to read more by someone smarter than me, click here. Gallego is the regional language here, although everyone speaks Spanish as well. It is a mix of Spanish and Portuguese. The languages are very similar-so much so that I don't understand how children keep them separate when they learn them. The government has mandated that schools use both in class. Public documents and signage come in both which makes for a bit of a confusing time for us sometimes. The kids in my class often speak to me in gallego, and my teacher has to continually remind the, "Por favor, speak Spanish to her."There is a series of advertisements made by a grocery chain here that are on youtube. Here is one (click here) and if you watch them on youtube, you can click on others in the series on the right hand side of the page. These are in gallego so I don't understand it all, but they have been explained to us by several Spaniards. They are a celebration of all things that make Galicians unique (much like a video in the south would focus on the use of y'all, grits, front porches, hunting, etc.). Some of the points they poke on: -Galicians are super laid back and answer everything with "Bueno…" (meaning good, well, yeah…) -They are so laid back you never know if they're coming or going -They always state the obvious (where the little granny says "You fell down.") -They always answer a question with a question -One saying they always use is "Malo sera"--kind of like a "Don't worry, it could be worse." And of course they end with the battle cry "Vivamos como galegos!" (Let's live like Galicians!) We have been inundated with their hospitality. Most of the time when we ask where something is, they say, "Bueno, just walk with me," and totally change their direction to just escort us there. The generosity of families like my director's and the Morales Iglesias has made all the difference here. People are always patient with our fumbling through our Spanish. Many times when we thank someone for some act of kindness or their help with something they say, "Well, if I were in a new country, I'd want someone to do the same for me." Mastery of the golden rule. This means one of the biggest things I will take away from here will be that if I ever meet a new foreigner in the states again I will have a much better idea of how I can help them. Vigo In terms of geography, Galicia is one of the most beautiful, mystical places I've ever been. Vigo (the nearby big city) is on the bay and is pretty industrial with a large industry centered about shipping/ship building (I think?). Our first few days were spent there enjoying being able to see the Atlantic flash through cracks in buildings as you stroll the streets. The drive from Vigo to Ourense (whole post on Ourense coming soon) goes through rural areas in the mountains. Because of all of the rain here, everything is lusciously green. It's sort of like Oregon greenness meets Alabama ruralness combined with some of Colorado mountains and rivers. It is called the Land of Rivers. It rained a lot of the fist two weeks, which is normal for here, but we have had almost a whole week of sun. The first time we saw sun after so much rain, I almost wept. We have made every effort to be outside this week to take advantage of the light. Everytime we talk to people about how we're new here and will be here through May they say, "Uff (a super common expression), el invierno aqua!" (Ah, the Winter here!). I can't lie to you, this strikes fear in me every time. I'm hoping it's over-exhaggerated because I don't do cold weather well! My main hope is that I can see the rain with their eyes here because they say, "La lluvia es rate" (The rain is art)--and I like art. The regions of Spain all have very distinct cultural elements. Therefore, much of what I have seen is mores "Galician" and not necessarily "Spanish." When I venture out into Spain, I'll report back on those differences.
The Yonge Street Riot: Significance of Criminalization and Dissent Through analyzing facts, depictions, and representations of the Yonge Street Riot of 1992, it is clear that there are many underlying theoretical and conceptual frameworks that can be applied to this event. To refresh our memories of this event, the Yonge Street riot was an act of dissent in response to police brutality and police racism. The trigger was the acquittal of four white police officers in Los Angeles after the beating of Rodney King. Furthermore, another black man, Raymond Constantine Lawrence, was shot four times in the chest by a police officer within the same time frame of the Rodney King beating (Lawton 1992). The core of the Yonge Street riot exhibited the racialized elements that are evident in Canada along with other countries as well including Los Angeles. According to Gordon (2006), when specific people have been racialized or become gendered in a certain way, they have been excluded from full citizen rights. Although this process seems to be essential for the formation of the state (Gordon 2006), it is still infringing on the rights of those who have been victims of racism and police brutality. With respect to the Rodney King beating, the enormous amount of controversy that arose from this event relates to the racism and inequality displayed by the state. Even with solid evidence – the beating of Rodney King being videotaped – the police officers were still acquitted. Rodney King was not treated with respect to his rights nor was he given justice. Moreover, the police shooting of Raymond Constantine Lawrence was the eighth police shooting of a black person in Toronto since August 1988. The yonge street riot was an attempt made by citizens to show the state that racism and police brutality that was bestowed upon Rodney King will not be accepted in Canada. Furthermore, the shootings occurring in Toronto is another concern and will also be given no tolerance by citizens. These events display the notion of “exclusion” through the lens of racism. The protests and acts of dissent display the peoples’ attempt in eliminating being labelled as “the other” and possibly move towards building a nation of impartiality. Although the protest transformed into a destructive riot, the main cause was a fight against racism and nothing more. The notion of inclusion/exclusion proposed by Rose (2000) becomes evident in this event. Being included or excluded can have a great effect on an individual, groups, or society/community as a whole. Everyone, whether they are included or excluded, are subject to control (Rose 2000). On the one hand, there are strategies that seek to reaffiliate the excluded and on the other hand, there are strategies which deem affiliation impossible for certain individuals and sectors, and seek to manage these anti-citizens and marginal spaces through measures which seek to neutralize the dangers they pose (Rose 2000: 330). In relation to the Yonge Street riot, exclusion is distinctly evident. There was no attempt made to use reaffiliation as a strategy. The main strategy utilized during this riot was that of neutralizing the dangers that the dissenters posed. The protestors were seen as a threat from the very beginning of the event. With most protests, including the Yonge Street riot, there is a distinction between the “us vs. other” phenomenon. You are either with us or against us. This phrase goes hand in hand with the mentality of the state. Those who commit acts out of disobedience are seen as the non-citizens who become excluded and are therefore labelled the “other”. This shows that there are power dynamics that are present during this event. The state is seeing the protestors as the “others”, and therefore, they are automatically being socially excluded. Protesting is a form of dissent, which shows resistance, which in turn is essential to power. During the Yonge Street riot, everyone who was involved in any part of the protest eventually became powerless. Their exclusion made it clear that the state/police had the upper hand and the protest’s origin was no longer given any recognition. The protestors were called hooligans and the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC) – who were the initial peaceful protestors – were immediately deemed deviant. In the midst of all the commotion, the main issues at hand had become invisible and all those involved became labeled as the ‘non-citizens’. The criminalization of dissent during this event gives recognition to state power. According to Rose (2000), ‘actualarism’ is possessing the knowledge of risk, however, that same knowledge is what is empowering you to avoid those risks. In relation to the Yonge Street riot, a group of people stood up for what they believed in, but in the end they were given little or no recognition of their fight against racism. The main portrayals of this event show violence, deviance, and coercive policing. The way that the police responded to this event portrays the controlling nature of the state through the police force. With the numerous representations of this protest, it has shown the many ‘risks’ that must be taken in order for you challenge something that is wrong. During this event, those who took the risk are not recognized for their ability to challenge the wrongdoings of the state. Everyone has the freedom of expression and the right to challenge something they believe to be incorrect. It becomes problematic when even given these rights, people begin to have second thoughts about standing up for what they believe in. This is where it becomes clear that we are all being targeted by power (Foucault 2009) but the main question still remains: is there any way out? Foucault, Michel. 2009. “Security, Territory, Population.” Lectures at the College de France 333-358. Gordon, Todd. 2006. “Producing Capitalist Order: Police, Class, Race, and Gender.” Cops, Crime, and Capitalism 29-51. Lakey, Jack. 1992. “Raging Mob of Hooligans riot, loot, and battle police.” The Toronto Star, May 5, Retrieved December 9, 2012 (( Rose, Nikolas. 2000. “Government and Control.” British Journal of Criminology 40:321-339. 1. […] Two days prior to the rally, a white plain-clothed police officer in Toronto shot and killed Raymond Constantine Lawrence, a 22-year-old Black man, who police alleged was dealing crack. Lawrence was the fourteenth Black […] 2. Hey Msingh29 I think you have some great insights about the State’s Colonial intents on racializing and criminalizing of dissenters that counter their hegemonic agenda. This event is still fresh in people’s minds and I believe that you provided a good analysis, especially with your inclusion of Rose’s theories on inclusion/exclusion. We can see, through the process of “othering”, that the state has not changed its agenda since the times of Colonial settlement (with their treatment of the Aboriginals and their troubled fiduciary relationship). Ultimately, I think your strongest point came in your last line – where you bring up Foucault’s theory of power and ask us whether there is a way out. With the power of the state, and their intents on criminalizing acts of dissent that counter their hegemonic practices, we are placed under the watchful eye of the state. They will not allow any activities that threaten their status quo, and I believe the case you explored is a great example of this. Good Work! 3. Dear msingh29, Great job in your criticall analysis of the yonge street riots, I really enjoyed it. I like how you talked about inclusion and exclusion. You say that it doesn’t matter if you are excluded or included you are still being controlled. I disagree with you on that because there is a difference, the people that are excluded, they know that they are controlled, where as the people that are included they don’t know that they can get in the excluded category if they commit a crime. It is not a conspiracy theory but the ones that don’t believe that the government is using surveillance technology of sorts to gather information and therefore extend control over them are highly mistaken and those people are usually in the included category. You talk about freedom of expression and how you have to second guess yourself when you are committing an act of dissent. I would like to expand on that and to say that if a person does decide to use what was technically granted to them when he or she were born, the freedom of speech, he or she might and probably will be hypothetically relocated from the list of included in society into the excluded, the rebels of society and its norms. You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s %d bloggers like this:
Bullfight: The Pas de Deux Ricardo B. Sanchez Pin It Fancy Foreword by Rosa Olivares. The unrivaled drama of bullfighting, with its rigorous combination of athleticism and artistry and its requisite display of grace under pressure, ignited Hemingway's imagination and inspired him to write his classic work on the subject, "Death in the Afternoon." That same inspiration took hold of photographer Ricardo B. Sanchez, moving him to create the most unique and elegant record of what is and has always been one of the most controversial "sports" practiced by man. Some contend that bullfighting remains one of the most artful and sophisticated means by which some cultures celebrate the bravery of the hunter. This ancient ritual illustrates the complex relationship between predator and prey, between culture and nature. Here, Sanchez's vividly arresting artworks and text reflect this exquisite "pas de deux," where the bull and the bullfighter trace the lines and forms of their existence with each pass. The accompanying texts describe the steps of the bullfight representing broader relationships between nature and humans. Here is a distinctively beautiful and enlightened visual and intellectual study of the intersection of tradition, culture, art, and nature in an ancient rite so exquisitely and intricately recorded that one can actually see why so many revere bullfighting as an art form: it truly is a pas de deux. ISBN: 978-0-9832702-1-8 176 pages; 12 x 10"; landscape hardcover; 110 4/c photos Ricardo B. Sanchez
You are not supposed to understand that. The English Language derived from Latin, we use Latin letters. Rumour has it that in Latin, no punctuation was used and we can see this in wax tablets. Punctuation was not needed if one had context. That’s understandable, I’m sure ‘Grandma’ was never really intended to be supper. But what do we know from this? It is thought that hieroglyphics were deciphered with a political advantage, the same can be true that own views were placed into Latin and other old translations during the Renaissance (when people found an interest in older histories). For example, telling the masses the discovery of a race, which acted in a particular way, glorifying them and then concluding how they are ‘not so different from us’ kind of demonstrates an ideal living through the romanticism and glorification of the past. Take this as something to think about. We don’t know what happened, most of history is wrong. There is no right because selecting, collecting and analysing anything is a social process. All three or just one as selecting a topic of study is always a social process influenced by one’s experiences, interests and lessons. However, this is not bad, just do not accept anything. If you ever “thought it always happened differently” then thats good, keep thinking that because you are no more right than anyone else. If you ever see wrong, act on it. If you ever think “no” then don’t do it. “I don’t care if CCTV caught him stealing the bike Mr Thomas, he said he didn’t”. Don’t be that voice that accepts what you hear. Challenge it, research it because what we hear is not the truth. He said he didn’t cheat? Girl, give me his phone. The CCTV, the phone, they are other sources and other areas of life where people search for answers themselves. Criticise the big aspects of life, it does not matter who Shelly spent her night with. Instead, investigate the news, that great objective narrator of politics. Who remembers the talk of British relations with Iraq before they turned evil in 2003? You don’t because it was never mentioned although it was hugely important. Another example is that children in China are taught of the Japanese invasion and creation of Manchuria, in 1932-3 but Japanese students are never told of this travesty which still causes some governmental tensions. Don’t accept the news or anything else you are just told. In public history we get told that the non-historians of the public, are told a false history. It is hard to convey the different interpretations of the past because you need different historical contexts just to convey one. Instead, one idea is told, usually a simple one, and that is taken as what happened in the past. “Notice what you are not being told”
Malang is a city located in the province of East Java, Indonesia. It is located 90 km south of Surabaya and is the second largest city in East Java after Surabaya. Malang is known as one of the educational objectives prominent in Indonesia because many universities and polytechnics public and private -known to all of Indonesia and became one of the goals of education are in this city, some of which the most famous is the University of Brawijaya University of Malang, and University of Malang. Another name of this town is the city of flowers, because in ancient times Malang is considered very beautiful and pretty with lots of trees and flowers that thrive and grow beautiful and lush. Malang also dubbed Parijs van Oost - Java, because the beauty of the city like the city "Paris " in eastern Java. Moreover, Malang also earned the nickname Zwitserland van Java because of the beauty of the city is surrounded by mountains and the landscapes are neat, equaling the Swiss state in Europe. Malang is also gradually is known as a shopping city, because of the many malls and factory outlets scattered around the city. This is what makes the city of Malang is widely known to have uniqueness, namely because of its resemblance to the city of Bandung in West Java province, including in terms of geography, the nickname, and the development of the city.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 Put your thinking cap on Critical and deep thinking. How do we get students to do this? Regurgitation of information is great for Trivial Pursuit but what about thinking, relating, and understanding information? I always strive to get kids to THINK about things. How does what I am teaching relate to them? This can be a challenge but one I enjoy trying to manipulate. For the past few weeks, my fifth/sixth grade students have been comparing Wikipedia to our databases for formal research purposes. I find that when I try and teach them how to evaluate resources I get the automatic nodding heads and "uh huh" probably to appease me. I discovered a few years ago the best way to get kids to understand what I am saying is to have them figure it out for themselves. So I informed them I was going to give each pair of students a random topic. One of them was going to evaluate Wikipedia and the other was going to use one of the databases. They were going to become teachers. As a class they needed to decide on a concrete grading method. They created a checklist and developed the criteria they were going to use for grading. Once they did this, I typed up their sheets and they were given their topics. Students warily printed out articles from the sources. Many were nervous at the amount of pages spitting out of the printer. I let them know, for this project, it was important to actually print the articles so they could dissect and share thoughts and results with their partner. The following week students grabbed highlighters and underlined words, sources, checked multi-media, updated editions and all sorts of things. Noisy conversations were held with colorful articles strewn everywhere. I think it looked like being on the stock market floor during trading time. Deep and critical thinking was happening. Kids were validating their opinions and sharing them. Presentations were interesting. Only three students in the entire 5/6 grades decided to defend Wikipedia. I felt like I was in a courtroom hearing them validate their thoughts and grades. For the most part, the students reflected on what they had read and how it would work as a resource for a research paper. Collaboration and conversations had happened and were continuing to do so. The following week I showed them an article I had seen about a sting operation in regards to reliability and journals accepting scientific papers. We had a discussion regarding the repercussions of the article. Students really began to see the impact and difficulty of recognizing reliable resources. I was asking them to do HARD work, and they knew it! They also rose to the challenge and some good problem solving and out of the box thinking occurred. I will keep hammering away at how we disseminate information and use it. Hopefully, you too, can have some meaningful conversations with your child about how much information we receive and how we can THINK about it in our very fast-paced world. QW Who wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? WOW eerie: adj Definition: spooky
Why Chaos? Conditions for Chaos Necessary conditions for a set of evolution equations (assumed to be first order differential equations) to show chaos are: Kirchoff's equations for the circuit, involving equations for the voltages V1 across C1, and V2 across C2, and the current I through the inductor Lsatisfy these requirements The d.c. operating point (I0 ,V0 ) is the intersection of the "load line" of slope -1/R with g(V). There are actually two possibilities, at positive and negative values. For suitable circuit values these stationary solutions are unstable to growing oscillations about the dc point. Since g(V) is locally linear, the amplitude of the oscillations will continue to grow, until the voltage somewhere in the cycle reaches the kink in g(V) at Vc. The d.c. resistance in the circuit then becomes positive over part of the cycle, saturating (if we are lucky!) the growth. A typical observation will be oscillations where the voltage V1 oscillates about one of the two d.c. operating points V0 (or -V0 ) with an amplitude large enough to swing the voltage past the kink at Vc (or - Vc ). It is hard to predict the effect of the non-linearity: Does the periodic orbit persist or does it break down to chaos? Which of the routes to chaos occurs? What is the nature of the chaotic dynamics? Observation on the physical circuit or the simulation shows that the periodic orbit undergoes several period doubling bifurcations (I managed to see up to period 16 in the physical circuit), and then becomes noisy. At first the noise is weak (as expected for the period doubling route to chaos), perturbing the main oscillation about V0 , but eventually, as parameters change to increase the nonlinearity, the dynamics begins to switch randomly back and forth between oscillations about V0 and then -V0 . In this regime the chaotic dynamics is quite reminiscent of Lorenz chaos. If we rescale the variables the equations are quite reminiscent of the Lorenz equations, except that the product nonlinearities there are replaced by the piecewise linear function of a single variable here. [Return to Home Page] This page needs a plugin that reads embedded latex. Last modified 18 August, 2009 Michael Cross
Common Weakness Enumeration A Community-Developed List of Software Weakness Types CWE/SANS Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Errors CWE-823: Use of Out-of-range Pointer Offset Weakness ID: 823 Abstraction: Base Status: Incomplete Presentation Filter: + Description Description Summary The program performs pointer arithmetic on a valid pointer, but it uses an offset that can point outside of the intended range of valid memory locations for the resulting pointer. Extended Description While a pointer can contain a reference to any arbitrary memory location, a program typically only intends to use the pointer to access limited portions of memory, such as contiguous memory used to access an individual array. Programs may use offsets in order to access fields or sub-elements stored within structured data. The offset might be out-of-range if it comes from an untrusted source, is the result of an incorrect calculation, or occurs because of another error. If an attacker can control or influence the offset so that it points outside of the intended boundaries of the structure, then the attacker may be able to read or write to memory locations that are used elsewhere in the program. As a result, the attack might change the state of the software as accessed through program variables, cause a crash or instable behavior, and possibly lead to code execution. + Alternate Terms Untrusted pointer offset: This term is narrower than the concept of "out-of-range" offset, since the offset might be the result of a calculation or other error that does not depend on any externally-supplied values. + Terminology Notes Many weaknesses related to pointer dereferences fall under the general term of "memory corruption" or "memory safety." As of September 2010, there is no commonly-used terminology that covers the lower-level variants. + Common Consequences Technical Impact: Read memory If the untrusted pointer is used in a read operation, an attacker might be able to read sensitive portions of memory. Technical Impact: DoS: crash / exit / restart If the untrusted pointer references a memory location that is not accessible to the program, or points to a location that is "malformed" or larger than expected by a read or write operation, the application may terminate unexpectedly. Technical Impact: Execute unauthorized code or commands; Modify memory If the untrusted pointer is used in a function call, or points to unexpected data in a write operation, then code execution may be possible. + Observed Examples Invalid offset in undocumented opcode leads to memory corruption. Multimedia player uses untrusted value from a file when using file-pointer calculations. Spreadsheet program processes a record with an invalid size field, which is later used as an offset. Instant messaging library does not validate an offset value specified in a packet. Language interpreter does not properly handle invalid offsets in JPEG image, leading to out-of-bounds memory access and crash. negative offset leads to out-of-bounds read untrusted offset in kernel "blind trust" of an offset value while writing heap memory allows corruption of function pointer,leading to code execution negative value (signed) causes pointer miscalculation signed values cause incorrect pointer calculation values used as pointer offsets a return value from a function is sign-extended if the value is signed, then used as an offset for pointer arithmetic portions of a GIF image used as offsets, causing corruption of an object pointer. invalid numeric field leads to a free of arbitrary memory locations, then code execution. large number of elements leads to a free of an arbitrary address array index issue (CWE-129) with negative offset, used to dereference a function pointer "buffer seek" value - basically an offset? + Relationships NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s) Development Concepts (primary)699 Research Concepts (primary)1000 ChildOfCategoryCategory465Pointer Issues Development Concepts699 CanPrecedeWeakness BaseWeakness Base125Out-of-bounds Read Research Concepts1000 CanPrecedeWeakness BaseWeakness Base787Out-of-bounds Write Research Concepts1000 CanFollowWeakness BaseWeakness Base129Improper Validation of Array Index Research Concepts1000 + Research Gaps Under-studied and probably under-reported as of September 2010. This weakness has been reported in high-visibility software, but applied vulnerability researchers have only been investigating it since approximately 2008, and there are only a few public reports. Few reports identify weaknesses at such a low level, which makes it more difficult to find and study real-world code examples. + References [REF-7] Mark Dowd, John McDonald and Justin Schuh. "The Art of Software Security Assessment". Chapter 6, "Pointer Arithmetic", Page 277.. 1st Edition. Addison Wesley. 2006. + Maintenance Notes There are close relationships between incorrect pointer dereferences and other weaknesses related to buffer operations. There may not be sufficient community agreement regarding these relationships. Further study is needed to determine when these relationships are chains, composites, perspective/layering, or other types of relationships. As of September 2010, most of the relationships are being captured as chains. + Content History Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource 2010-09-22MITREInternal CWE Team Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource 2011-06-01CWE Content TeamMITREInternal updated Common_Consequences 2012-05-11CWE Content TeamMITREInternal updated References More information is available — Please select a different filter. Page Last Updated: May 05, 2017
Thursday, 28 November 2013 Lecture Overview: Notions of censorship and truth The indexical qualities of photography in rendering truth Photographic manipulation and the documentation of truth Censorship in advertising Censorship in art and photography Uses the same negative over and over to change the image and say something else. Showing the importance of manipulation and how this can change an image taken at one time. As their is no universal truth to what he is saying it can be seen as not important, but the message is the same. ‘Five years before coming to power in the 1917 October revolution, the Soviets established the newspaper Pravda. For more than seven Decades,until the fall of Communism, Pravda, which Ironically means “truth”, served the Soviet Communist party by censoring and filtering the news presented to Russian and Eastern Europeans’ He is eradicated from history here, as he fell out of favour. Photography has been manipulated from the beginning of its time. Due to photoshop it has become more of an everyday thing to see photo manipulation. Similar style to adbusters, twisting the advertising industry. Who censors advertisers? Her legs were elongated for the cover shot, but later pictures show this manipulation. Photography from the iraq war showing how two images can create a different scene. The photographer complained when they were published. Robert Capa - a pseudonym created for a photographer to work under. Was working alongside the socialist working against the franco regime. A suitcase was found with negatives of the work, the contact sheets show the point at which the soldier dies, but for years it has been dubious. In spain fighting stops on both sides for a siesta. The photograph was staged at lunch time, but the opposite side shot the soldier, thinking it was tactics. So the photo is real death, in a false setting. A poetic image to accompany the photo. Adds to the image. Persuasion - ‘a deliberate and successful attempt by one person to get another person by appeals to reason to freely accept beliefs, attitudes, values, intentions, or Tom L. Beauchamp, Manipulative Advertising, 1984 Questions that a certain image with a certain caption cam change the way we view it. Jean Baudrillard ‘Whereas representation tries to absorb simulation by interpreting it as false representation, simulation envelops the whole edifice of representation as itself a simulacrum. These would be the succesive phases of the image: It is the reflection of a basic reality. It masks and perverts a basic reality. It masks the absence of a basic reality. Peter Turnley, The Unseen Gulf War, December 2002, at This is written between the first and second gulf wars. It discusses the fact that photographers in the war were controlled by the US forces, and therefor were censored in how they could convey a truth. What we are given is what we are wanted to see. Peter Turnley, The Unseen Gulf War, December 2002, at He has written this to not convey his poitn of view, but to offer a thought that we as the viewer need to undertstand what images we are given. “It is a masquerade of Information: branded faces delivered over to the prostitution of the Jean Baudrillard, The Gulf War Did not Take Place, 1995, p.40 ‘It is the de-intensified state of war, that of the right to war under the green light of the UN and with an abundance of precautions and concessions. It is the bellicose equivalent of safe sex: make war like love with a condom! On the Richter scale, the Gulf War would not even reach two or three. The build up is unreal, as though the fiction of an earthquake were created by manipulating the measuring Claiming the Gulf war was ran as more of a media spectacle. Even the time it started coincided with western time for coverage. He attempted to show images of the war. Similar point that the start of the war was too conveinient. That the news released is from the pentagon. An-My Le ‘Suppose that a picture of a young woman inserting a chocolate bar into her mouth makes one person think of fellatio, but someone else says that this meaning says more about the observer than it does the picture. This kind of dispute, with its assumption that meaning resides in a text quite independently of individual and group preconceptions, is depressingly common in discussions on advertising … as the picture does not in fact depict fellatio, but something else, what the dispute comes down to is whether everyone, a substantial number of people, a few obsessed individuals, or one particular person, understand it this way. Without an opinion poll, the dispute is unresolvable, but it is really quite improbable that such an interpretation will be individual’ Became famous for it's sexual ambiguity. Does it say something about the advertisers or the person that makes the connection to fellatio. Questioning notions of racism, sexuality, illness. The top right is depicting a dying aids sufferer, but it also resembles christ. In a very christian country it caused a huge stir. Effectively the advert getting banned can generate as much publicity as it staying in place. Can there be anything as innocent as the birth of a child? But this advert was banned, suggesting otherwise. Huge billboard campaign. Which caused widespread offence. The main issue was that a nipple was visable. The image and ecstacy from the model was less important that a slight nipple. It also was allowed to run in editorials on a vertical page. This was seen as less offensive. The foot in this image was used in a monty python sketch, This period of art is where figure were being anatomically challenged in paintings. Germain Greer - Wrote about this painting. It is a mother and son, but the intimacy is slightly questionable in our society. As it is a painting and seen in classical tradition it is seem as acceptable. Highly sexualised images of young girls. Hint towards sexual intensity that may have, or may be about to happen. Recreating of a classical painting for a record cover. The singer was 15, which raises questions about cultural perceptions of pedodfilia. Asks the question wether candy cigarettes should be available to buy. Documents her family growing up. It has been questioned wether this is damaging the the children, and should be made available. The children have since grown up, and have said they had no problem with the images, To them it was something innocent and sweet. The sensationist view that would be expected of the daily mail. The gallery was closed down for 4 days while the police investigated the images. Brooke Shields at around 9-10 years old. Her mother allowed the photoshoot and the image was published in a magazine. The police advised the image be pulled, so this sticker was used to cover up the image. To readjust the balance Brooke Shields did a shoot as a grown woman as a way of reclaiming her own body.
Monday, November 19, 2007 Amount Is And Amounts Are Hi everyone! I didn't get to post yesterday as I was so tired from the Baguio trip, all I wanted to do was lie down and take it easy. I'm getting pretty busy these days but I will constantly update this blog. Anyway, here's today's post: While checking a bunch of papers today, I came across several instances of people writing, "the amount are." I think what's causing this problem is the assumption that the word amount is a collective noun, hence, being able to take the plural and the singular. Fact is, amount is not a collective noun, which means it has a plural and a singular form. So, if you're using amount (singular), the verb is singular as well-- "the amount is." However, if you're talking about several amounts (plural), then, "the amounts are." Here are some examples: The amount that we must pay is not as big as I thought. The amounts of raw materials needed for this project are varied. Is this the correct amount of flour? Are these amounts of flour, sugar, and chocolate chips the right ones? Thanks for reading, everyone! No comments:
Friday, September 9, 2011 Why Care About Prairies? Tuscawilla Prairie Why Care About Prairies? 1. The prairie ecosystem, unique to North America, is an important part of our natural heritage 2. Only 1% of the original prairie land remains -- 99% of prairies are gone 3. Because so little of their native habitat remains, many prairie plants and animal are very rare, endangered or extinct 4. There is still lots to learn about the prairie ecosystem and how it is impacted by natural processes 5. The prairie is home to many kinds of beautiful flowers and hardy grasses; some prairie species may have important uses for science 6. Millions and millions of bison used to roam the prairie; they are America's largest land mammal Linda Blondheim Thanks for following along on the journey with us. 1 comment: 1. Too bad we have not been very good stewards of the land...thank you to you all for helping us to appreciate it:)
tricks for writing better essays 10 Topics For Your Essay About Smoking Cigarettes One of the first things that you will have to do when writing an essay is to decide on a topic to write your paper on. When the main topic is smoking cigarettes, this is too broad of a topic to write a solid paper on it. Therefore, you will need to make sure that you choose a topic that is more direct and any of these topics will work out better for you. 1. Cigarette smoking and teens 2. Changing the smoking habits 3. How smoking bans in restaurants affects the public 4. Is there less people smoking now than ten years ago 5. How can we end smoking for good 6. Effect of electronic cigarettes on smoking habits 7. What causes people to smoke cigarettes? 8. Is smoking a gateway to other drugs? 9. Why has smoking become a social habit? 10. What can be done to reduce the effects of smoking? Use these topics for your paper or use the list to come up with your own topic. It is important that you choose a topic of your own. You want to be able to find a topic that you find interesting. If you find an interesting topic, you will find that it is easier to write your paper. Once you have chosen your topic, develop your thesis. It will be the focus of your paper. Make sure that your paper focuses on proving this thesis. The body of the paper will work to prove the thesis. All of the supporting details will focus on this statement. Create an outline to keep yourself organized. It is the best way to ensure that you are getting all of the information that you want in there and to keep all of the topics out that won’t help you prove it. This is the best way to create that flow that a great paper has. Remember that you need to direct your reader through the process. You want them to understand why you believe your thesis. It is the best way to focus your attention on proving that point. Check this website. It is a great place to find more topics and get additional help on writing an essay about smoking cigarettes. They can help you ace this assignment and give you some information on how to handle future assignments. It is the best way to learn how to effectively express your ideas now and in the future.
Mary Queen of Scots The most talked about Queen in British History was Scottish Queen Mary, Born in 1542 and died in 1567. Mary was brought up in France but by birthright was the rightful Queen to the Scottish throne although England at this time did not recognize Scottish rule she could very well have been the Queen of England as well, she was thought to be quite human for Royalty at that time, she had a passion for people. Mary was crowned after her Father James IV had passed away just as Mary was still in her infancy. Henry the VIII of England and Henry the second of France acknowledged the rights of the Scottish throne and tried to get Mary to marry one of their sons when she was of age at that time it was believed to be 13 upwards a girl was able to marry. Mary sailed to France from her retreat at Dunbarton Castle, England had invaded Scotland just for a change, the King of France at the time offered Mary a safe haven and also offered troops to oppose the English. the condition was that Mary married his son Francois in France. Francois and Mary were married in 1558 at NotreDame Cathedral Mary was 15 her husband was 14. Part of the contract was that Mary would sign the crown over to her husband if she dies without a successor. Mary indeed became the Queen of France, her husband passed away at an early age leaving her a widow at 18! and because of no successors she was stripped of her crown and without choice had to return to Scotland. Mary arrived back to a very different Scotland she had left at the age of 5, the country was in the middle of reforamtion, Mary was Prodistant and caused a bit of a stir amongst both religions on her return. At this time Elizabeth the first was Queen of England, she tried in vain to have Mary married off to various suitors however Mary had other plans to perhaps marry a European to again establish rights to the throne. In 1566 Mary gave Birth to James IV after marrying Lord Darnley. After the murder of her personal friend rizzio in front of her, Mary knew her time was short, her husband had murdered her friend and had many women even during their short marraige. A plot was taken against Darnley a bomb was set in his residence and although he escaped the explosion he was found strangled in the grounds. After an uprising in Scotland, Mary managed to get away and was sheltered in Dunbar castle with her then lover the Earl of Bothwell. The excecution of Mary Queen of Scots At 24 Mary was taken prisoner and held in Lochleven castle she was given the choice to either abdicate or face death so her son James IV could reign in her place but she manged to escape and raised an army but she was defeated by the Earl of Moray. Against all advice she decided to seek refuge in England with her cousin Elizabeth the first, even knowing how her cousin Elizabeth feared her for her rights to the English throne, Mary was imprisoned in various Castles for over 19 years. she never saw Scotland on her son again. A plot was made up which meant that Mary had intentions of Plotting for the death of Elizabeth , this was manufactured by Elizabeths advisors. Mary was beheaded in 1587 at Fotheringay Castle. 1. Despite many movies depicting otherwise Mary and Elizabeth NEVER met in person 2. If either Mary or Elizabeth had been a man there would have been no issue regarding the crown as they could have married and settled all differences. 3. In 1603 when Elizabeth died "the virgin queen" Marys son James IV took over the English throne, and United the Scottish and English under one rule. 4. Elizabeth was buried in Westminster Abbey, Mary in Peterborough grounds, After his succession James had his Mother exhumed and placed in Westminster Abbey not far away from Elizabeth but in much better surroundings! Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger... Popular posts from this blog THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN. (Scottish History.)
Study your flashcards anywhere! Download the official Cram app for free > • Shuffle Toggle On Toggle Off • Alphabetize Toggle On Toggle Off • Front First Toggle On Toggle Off • Both Sides Toggle On Toggle Off • Read Toggle On Toggle Off How to study your flashcards. H key: Show hint (3rd side).h key A key: Read text to speech.a key Play button Play button Click to flip 14 Cards in this Set • Front • Back Explain Fick's Law of Diffusion. F=P/A - Amount of gas that flows across a sheet of tissue is proportional to the area of the sheet, and inversely proportional to its thickness. So A/T x D D=solubility of gas/square root of MW (ie for asthmatics u can add helium to decrease the density which decreases the turbulence, making it more laminar flow, which in turn increases velocity. Also, any disease that increases the thickness (pulm edema, interstitial fibrosis) because hypoxia b/c fick's principle gas exhange cannot happen! So you want a large surface area that's very thin. Capillaries are wrapped around alveoli.There are 300 million alveoli with a surface area of 85 square meters! AIRFLOW - air is sucked in by the negative area created by the muscles of the chest wall. (-P = 2 cms H2O to generate a flow rate of 1 L/sec) Inspiration - diaphram contracts and descends, intercostal muscles raise the ribs and spread them apart. This creates the - P. When the air hits the alveoulus the cross sectional area increases dramatically, and since flow is inversely related to area... the flow drops to the point that the air is virtually at a standstill in the alveolus. What is the conducting zone and the respiratory zone? As we go down the bronchi the A increases, while the F decreases, and the P stays the same. -Conducting Zone: smallest a/w's w/o alveoli. They constitute the anatomical dead space, with a volume of about 150 mls. Trachea - 0 Bronchi - 1-4 Bronchioles - 5-16 (7th G = area of maximum resistance) Terminal Bronchioles - @ 16 -Respiratory Zone: resp bronchioles have occasional alveoi budding from the walls, and alveolar ducts which are completely lined w/ alveoli. Resp Bronchioles - 17-19 Alveolar Ducts - 20-22 Alveolar Sacs - 23 How does pulmonary circulation work? The pulmonary circulation is a low resistance circuit, b/c the walls of pulm artery and its branches are extremely thin, and contain relatively little smooth muscle. P=FxR b/c R is low a MPAP of only 20 cm H2O (15 mmHg) is needed for a flow of 6 L/min, which is the CO for RV. *R is low in the pulm capill and F of air is slow. Thus each RBC only spends 3/4 sec in capillary network, traversing only 2 or 3 alveoli, but it's enough! Bronchial Circulation supplies the conducting system, but this blood cannot get oxygenated. This accounts for the pumonary venous O2 saturation being less then 100%. What are the factors affecting the caliber of pulmonary vessels? 1. Pressures around them: As lungs expand, ^V so decreased P, larger vessels are pulled open by the traction of expanding lung parenchyma 2. At higher lung volumes the alveolar pressure compresses the capillaries. 3. Recruitment - pulm vascular R may decrease by an increase in BF. Opening capillaries that are normally closed. 4. The Critical Opening Pressure - if the lung is collapsed... pulm a. P must be raised to several cms above downstream P to cause F. 5. Pulm Vascular R increases w/ alveolar hypoxia, due to cx of small pulm a.'s. 6. Nitric Oxide - potent selective pulmonary vasodilator. (Used in newborns with persistant pulm HTN) What happens at different lung volumes? Low Lung Volumes - Alveolar vessels are larger, making R lower at LLVs. But since extra-alveolar vessels are smaller, R is greater b/c there's nothing to pull them open. High Lung Volumes - has the opposite effect. The high alveolar air P causes alveolar vessels to get squashed. But due to traction the small extra-alveolar vessels are pulled open creating a decreased R. What is the function of surfactant? The lung is a collection of 300 million bubbles whose surface tension tends to reduce their surface area - making them predisposed to collapse. This inherent instability is countered by surfactant, a phospholipid produced by type 2 pneumocytes, which lines the alveoli. Neonates can be administered surfactant (surfactant is not produced by the body until 4-7 months) What are some of the ways the lungs are protected from direct exposure to the outside environment? 1. The nose has cilia which filter large particles, causing a sneeze. 2. The cough and gag reflex prevent us from inhaling or aspirating secretions or foreign substances. 3. The ciliated columnar epithelium of the bronchial tree has mucous glands and goblet cells that secrete mucous. The cilia beat to propel this mucous towards the oral cavity, like an escalator, carrying debris from the lower a/w's to the trachea to be coughed up or swallowed. What are some other functions of the lungs besides for CO2 and O2 gas exchange? 1. Acts as a filter: filters small clots before they get reach the brain or heart. 2. Metabolism of vasoactive substances - Peptides such as Angio I are converted to Angio II by ACE which is located in small pits on the capillary endothelial cells. 3. ACE also inactivates bradykinin 4. Metabolism of bronchoactive substances - such as leukotrienes, which are breakdown products of archidonic acid and play a role in asthma. 5. The lung produces immunoglobulins, particularly IgA in bronchial mucous which helps fight infection. 6. The lung contains mast cells that produce heparin. How does the compliance curve work?** V on the y-axis, P on the x-axis. Normally it looks like a stretch out S. But if there is lung thickening (^pulm venous P, pulm fibrosis, alveolar edema) then the S is lower and to the Right. So it takes more P to get V. But if there is a thin lung (aging, emphysema) the S curve shifts to the Left. Meaningt takes less P to gain V! In the case of diving there is an increase in pressure to work against (reynold's # goes up) so you mix lower density gases to get less turbulence. It's also important to remember that lung vessels constrict with hypoxia! What is Boyle's Law? What are the muscles used in inspiration? (related topics) Inspiration is an active, involuntary process during quiet breathing. Boyles Law - states that V is inversely proportional to P at a constant temp. So since V increases around decreased P, Bulk Flow occurs from high P to low P. The 2 muscles effecting inspiration together cause a decrease in pressure in the thoracic cage, causing air to rush into the lung by bulk flow. 1. The diaphragm - which moves into the abd cavity, ^ dimen of chest cavity. 2. The external intercostal muscles - pulling the ribs forward and up and swinging the ribs outward and increasing lateral diameter. (as a side note: narrow a/w's cause a decrease in flow) What occurs during expiration? Expiration is passive during quiet breathing. The lungs and chest wall are elastic and tend to return to equilibrium after actively expanded during inspiration. Expiration can be active during exercise, while blowing up a balloon or trombone, or Hyperventilating due to anxiety. Active expiration use 2 muscle groups: 1. Muscles of the abd wall - such as rectus abdominis, internal/external obliques, and transverse abdominis: together they push the diaphragm up, decreasing thoracic volume. 2. The internal intercoastal muscles - tightens the chest by pulling the ribs downward and in. Limiting volume will increase pressure, forcing air out of the lungs (Boyle's Law). What is Poiseuille's Law? Poiseuille's Law - R=Driving P / Flow or R = P diff btwn mouth and alveolus / Flow Poiseuille's Law applies to pressure-flow characteristics for laminar flow, where stream lines are parallel to the sides of the tube. THP: Poiseuille's Law tells us that radius impacts resistance significantly. For example, if radius is halved, resistance increases 16 fold. Seen w/ kids who get inflammation/edema. There a/w is small to begin with... add inflammation and decrease in radius becomes very significant. What is the significance of Turbulent Flow? Turbulent Flow: occurs at branch points along the resp tree, and any areas of pathological obstruction or increased resistance to airflow, such as bronchospasm and edema. TF does not have the high axial velocity of laminar flow and the P gradient needed is proportional to the square of the FR. Density of a gas in TF is important b/c the higher the D, the higher the P drop for a given flow. (High D=Low Flow) Using heliox reduces the P gradient needed to sustain flow, and thus reduces WOB in conditions where flow is turbulent. What is Reynold's #, and what is it application? The calculation of Reynold's Number helps determine whether flow is laminar or turbulent. Turbulence occurs when Reynold's # exceeds 2000. In most areas of the Resp tract flow is transitional. Reynold's # includes in it's equation: radius, velocity, density, and viscosity. The site of max a/w resistance... 7th generation bronchioles.
Edit Module Old Shaky Photography by Jadrian Klinger The Walnut Street Bridge has been a source of discussion for a large part of its 125-year existence. No one seems to know when it acquired the affectionate title of “Old Shaky,” but it may hark back to the days when trolley cars rattled across its metal spans between 1893 and 1936, allowing passengers to transit between the east and west shores of the Susquehanna River before it later became a walkway for pedestrians and bicyclists. Since 1996, it has been only a memory for those perambulators either on foot or pedaling between City Island and Wormleysburg. The western span of the bridge today stands forlorn with a sizable gap where three of the bridge sections are gone, drawing one’s attention to it like a missing incisor in a hockey player’s smile. And, not only that, the effect is emphasized by a pair of enormous white plastic barriers, looking like milk jugs on steroids at either end of the breach. It is an absurd incongruity that spoils the elegance of one of the most important historic bridges in the United States. The Walnut Street Bridge is significant because it is the longest known truss bridge remaining that employs the unique Phoenix columns designed and built by the Phoenixville Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Originally it had 15 truss spans and an overall length of 2,820 feet with two segments: an east channel bridge consisting of four 175-foot spans and three 240-foot spans crossing from Harrisburg to City Island and a west channel bridge consisting of seven 175-foot spans crossing from City Island to Wormleysburg. It is the finest and largest surviving example of the standardized Phoenix wrought-iron truss bridges produced by the company from 1884 to 1923. The superstructures of the Walnut Street Bridge were prefabricated at the company’s plant at Elizabethtown, Pa., shipped to the site and erected. The bridge reflects a technological advance in the expansion of transportation infrastructure in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1972, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a historic bridge in the United States. Originally constructed as a reaction to a toll monopoly created by the fee for transiting the Camelback Bridge (replaced by the Market Street Bridge) downriver, the Walnut Street Bridge was constructed and operated under the ownership of the People’s Bridge Company as a toll bridge until it reverted to the control of the Pennsylvania Highway Department (now PennDOT)in 1954. It provided both automotive and trolley crossing of the Susquehanna until the structure was weakened during the flooding of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Agnes in 1972, after which it was restricted to pedestrian traffic. Surprisingly, evidence of the trolley system exists where the narrow-gauge rails are exposed through the asphalt on City Island between the east and west channel sections of the bridge. As a result of a massive snowfall and subsequent melting in 1996, the western channel lost three spans due to ice and debris in the river. Following the January 20, 1996 disaster, PennDOT spent nearly $6 million to repair and restore the east channel section of the bridge between Harrisburg and City Island, as well as mitigating the damage to the west channel. A civic group rallied to form the Peoples Bridge Coalition with the intent of raising the $12 million or more that it would take to restore the west channel segment. By 2008, the Peoples Bridge Coalition had raised $1 million toward that goal. Since 1996, a variety of engineering, transportation and economic development studies have been commissioned regarding the resolution to the problem of what to do with the west channel span of the Walnut Street Bridge, but virtually no action has been taken to restore the missing sections. In a 2010 study created by the Delta Development Group, Inc. of Mechanicsburg, Pa. for the Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County, it was noted that, “Even with the importance of this structure and the attention given to it in these reports, the bridge suffers from lack of support. The bridge is owned by PennDOT, which lacks the funding to support its essential and vehicular bridge functions. The missing spans, while within the City of Harrisburg, are out of sight to city leaders (their vision blocked by City Island), and the restored eastern spans are seemingly sufficient to accommodate access to City Island.” Wormleysburg ambitiously constructed a plaza at the western entrance to the Walnut Street Bridge, breaking ground in 2009, that includes an attractive brick approach to the bridge next to the Harrisburg Seaplane Base with fencing and landscaping to replace the blistered asphalt and overgrowth that existed there. It does not allow access to the bridge, but does allow a view of the white milk jugs marking the western end of the structure. Lobar Associates, Inc. of Dillsburg, Pa. constructed it at a cost of $212,000. As an indicator of how much the cost of things has risen in the past century, it is interesting to note that the entire cost of the Walnut Street Bridge in 1889 was $197,000. The cost of the plaza was funded through grants from both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Cumberland County. In 2011, it was announced that the Peoples Bridge Coalition was disbanding and that a new organization, the Walnut Street Bridge Society would be formed to advocate the restoration of the west channel spans. The proposed new group was expected to seek legal status as a formal nonprofit (the Peoples Bridge Coalition was an ad hoc committee with no legal nonprofit status, although they attracted a million dollars) with grants and financial support channeled directly to the organization. Apparently members of the Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) expressed interest in getting involved with the Walnut Street Bridge Society. However, Renee Custer, executive director of HYP says, “I do not have information on this effort, which must have been discussed prior to my hiring. At this time, HYP is not involved in this effort.” Presently there are no plans by PennDOT to pursue replacement of the western spans of the Walnut Street Bridge. According to Greg Penny, community relations coordinator for PennDOT Engineering District 8, “After the eastern spans were repaired in 1996, a study was undertaken to look at options for the western spans. At the end of a public involvement period in 1998, the consensus was to rebuild the western spans with new/modern materials and methods but to keep the same appearance. Unfortunately, the price tag at the time was about $12 million. With the glaring unmet needs that we had (and continue to have) with our bridges, we couldn’t justify that kind of money on the western spans. There were many more compelling transportation needs and priorities that are more heavily traveled than restoring those spans as a pedestrian bridge.” With the apparent loss of both public and government interest in completing the missing spans of the Walnut Street Bridge, the question remains: whither Old Shaky? Perhaps it’s time to look for new and creative ways of generating funds to complete what has been lost. Apparently it is possible to obtain “surplus” bridges from PennDOT. These are state-owned historic bridges that cannot be repaired or rehabilitated within PennDOT’s Bridge Management System that are, cost-wise, insignificant. The costs associated with moving, rehabilitating and re-erecting them are considerable. And, generating the funds for acquiring and replacing the missing spans on “Old Shaky” may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Add your comment: Edit Module
What If It Happened Again? What We Need To Do To Prepare For A Nuclear Event Atomic cloud over Hiroshima. By 509th Operations Group via Wikimedia Commons Danielle Andrew 12 Apr 2017, 19:49 As we observe the 70th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it may seem like the threat from nuclear weapons has receded. But it hasn’t; the threat is actually increasing steadily. This is difficult to face for many people, and this denial also means that we are not very well-prepared for nuclear and radiological events. The Conversation I’ve been studying the effects of nuclear events – from detonations to accidents – for over 30 years. I’ve been involved in research, teaching and humanitarian efforts in multiple expeditions to Chernobyl- and Fukushima-contaminated areas. Now I am involved in the proposal for the formation of the Nuclear Global Health Workforce. Such a group could bring together nuclear and non-nuclear technical and health professionals for education and training, and help to meet the preparedness, coordination, collaboration and staffing requirements necessary to respond to a large-scale nuclear crisis. Any nuclear weapon exchange or major nuclear plant meltdown will immediately lead to a global public health emergency. The Ebola outbreak taught the world that we should have resources in place to handle a major health emergency before it happens. What would a Nuclear Global Health Workforce need to be prepared to manage? For that we can look back at the legacy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the nuclear accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. The Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall after the blast. Maarten Heerlien/Flickr, CC BY-SA What happens when a nuclear device is detonated over a city? Approximately 135,000 and 64,000 people died, respectively, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The great majority of deaths happened in the first days after the bombings, mainly from thermal burns, severe physical injuries and radiation. Over 90% of the doctors in nurses in Hiroshima were killed and injured, and therefore unable to assist in the response. This was largely due to the concentration of medical personnel and facilities in inner urban areas. This exact concentration exists today in the majority of American cities, and is a chilling reminder of the difficulty in medically responding to nuclear events. What if a nuclear device were detonated in an urban area today? I explored this issue in a 2007 study modeling a nuclear weapon attack on four American cities. As in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the majority of deaths would happen soon after the detonation, and the local health care response capability would be largely eradicated. Full Article If you liked this story, you'll love these This website uses cookies
• Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month How is the role of the family and domestic affection explored in Frankenstein Extracts from this document... How is the role of the family and domestic affection explored in Frankenstein? In Shelley's novel Frankenstein, she explores many different themes which run throughout. She presents these themes through the characters and their actions, and many of them represent occurrences from her own life. Several of the themes present debateable issues and Shelley's thoughts on them. Three of the most important themes in the novel are birth and creation, Family and alienation and family and the domestic affections. One of the major themes discussed by Shelley in the novel is birth and creation. She does this through the main character, Victor Frankenstein, who succeeds in creating a 'human' life form. In doing this, Frankenstein has taken over the roles of women and God. Shelley discusses how Frankenstein has used his laboratory or 'workshop of filthy creation' as a kind of 'womb' as he has worked on his creation. He also refers to his task as his labour, suggesting that he has literally given birth to his creation. "After so much time spent in painful labour" and "the passing of time from when Victor first began his creation and finished it is also significant." ...read more. The child's father shoots him, as the father probably fears that the creature will harm his child "when the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired." After experiencing all of these things, the monster longs for love and compassion more than ever, but realises that he will never be accepted by human life forms. Due to this, the monster retaliates with violence, stating "I am malicious because I am miserable" This means that he is only violent because he wants to escape the alienation he faces, but as being violent is how people act toward him, he will act the same way to people. The monster insists that Victor make him a female companion to end his misery, but Victor tears the female to pieces before it is finished. The monster retaliates by killing Elizabeth, who is Victor's female companion; in a two rights make a wrong kind of way. Shelley seems to be criticising the way in which people alienate others because of their looks. This is how the monster reflects the theme of alienation in the novel. The theme of family and the domestic affections is also demonstrated in Frankenstein. ...read more. They have their own fixed pattern, and they do not let anybody interfere with this, or threaten it. When the creature arrives in their home, the DeLacey family does not give him a chance to speak about why he is there. Instead they drive him out immediately so that he will not interfere with their lives. "Overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel." This shows how hurt the creature was that the DeLacey's reacted so badly when he tried to speak to the blind father. He realises that no matter how good his language is, people will never get past his looks, and he will always be excluded from family life. It is because of this that the monster devotes himself to the destruction of the ideal family. This is how Shelley criticises the family and ideal domesticity in the novel. Mary Shelley discusses the themes of birth and creation; alienation; and family and the domestic affections, in Frankenstein. These themes represent incidents which occurred in her own life, in those around her, or debateable issues of the time. The themes discussed show Shelley's thoughts and feelings on these issues, and present the reader with interesting points to think about and reflect upon their own lives. ...read more. The above preview is unformatted text Found what you're looking for? • Start learning 29% faster today • 150,000+ documents available • Just £6.99 a month Not the one? Search for your essay title... • Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month See related essaysSee related essays Related GCSE Mary Shelley essays 1. How are family and domestic affection explored in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Cornelius Agrippa was a man of great understanding, a man who every budding scientist would look up to, and admire. Victor does just that, and Cornelius takes a shine to the boy with a new found interest in his studies. Storms would have been more frightening in the nineteenth century because again, people wouldn't have known as much about them as scientists do today. The one time when the weather is calm when Frankenstein meets his monster is when the monster tells of his travels. 1. Mary Shelly's Frankenstein is a story that explores issues of isolation, domestic affection and ... All of this, while seemingly idyllic, gave Victor a sense of godlike importance, "bestowed on them by Heaven," like a gift from God. Everything in his life revolves around him, and the only thing that really matters in the world, as he perceives it, is himself and his happiness. 2. How is the role ofFamily and Domestic Affection explored in Frankenstein? The worst of these were the suicides of her half-sister, Fanny Imlay, and Shelly's wife, Harriet. After the suicides, Mary and Shelley reluctantly married. Fierce public hostility toward the couple drove them to Italy. Initially, they were happy in Italy, but their two young children died there. • Over 160,000 pieces of student written work • Annotated by experienced teachers • Ideas and feedback to improve your own work
What natural science says about echolocation. Echolocation appear in the game to warn you when you get to close to for instance rocks or the heat of black smokers. Some animal species use echolocation for orientation. Whales and dolphins (collectively called cetaceans) cannot rely on their vision only to communicate or forage. Instead they use sound to explore their water world. Dolphins produce click-sounds and when an echolocation click strikes a target (such as a fish) a proportion of the click bounces back and is detected by the dolphin. The dolphin can work out how far away the fish is from the time it takes the click that was sent out to return. If the dolphin keeps producing clicks and receiving the echos, it will get information back about the speed and direction that the fish is moving. An echolocating dolphin can detect a 2.5cm object from 72 metres away! If the dolphin is far from the target it will produce clicks at a slow rate. The closer the dolphin gets to a target, the faster the clicks bounce back and the faster the dolphin sends out more clicks to detect the object the clicks are bouncing off. (Source: http://www.cbmwc.org/education/echo.asp) Echolocation is also part of the deep sea research tool kit in the MAR-ECO project Echosounders are the “eyes” of the marine scientists Lowering the echosounder to a thousand metres depth. Cruise journal June 9, 2004 Findings by help of the echosounder. Cruise journal June 15, 2004 Other websites on echolocation About toothed whales’ echolocation on wikipedia About echolocation at “How stuff works”
Fertility Preservation of Sperm and Eggs in the Embryology Lab Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis. It is a struggle just to survive. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, all of which can impact fertility. It is imperative that a newly diagnosed cancer patient consult with a physician as soon as possible to discuss fertility issues and the options for fertility preservation. For many years, men undergoing cancer treatment have been able to store sperm for long periods with great success. Since the 1980s, embryo freezing has been available to women with a life partner or sperm donor and pregnancy rates following transfer of these frozen embryos has steadily improved. Only recently, however, has egg freezing become a real option for women, thanks in particular to a new technology known as vitrification, or flash freezing. Frozen eggs can be stored for many years. Once thawed, the eggs can be fertilized using a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI (“ick-SEE”), in which an embryologist microscopically inserts a sperm cell into the egg. If fertilization is successful, the embryo can be grown in culture for several days before being transferred to the woman. This technology is still new, and the number of babies born from frozen eggs still ranges between 1500 – 2000. Survival of thawed eggs ranges from 35-90%, depending on the study. Fertilization of thawed eggs ranges from 70-90%, but pregnancy rates range in different studies from 5%-50%. This technology continues to improve. Just like in a regular IVF cycle, an egg or embryo freezing patient must take medications that stimulate egg growth for up to two weeks, and then undergo an outpatient procedure for egg retrieval. Under ultrasound guidance, we visualize the ovaries and insert a needle into the follicles to extract the eggs. Any mature eggs can be frozen to be fertilized at a later date. Alternatively, we can fertilize the eggs with sperm in the lab (in vitro) and the resulting embryos can be frozen and used at a later date. If a patient’s period stops (amenorrhea) during chemotherapy, egg and embryo freezing will be impossible until menses return. In some cases, amenorrhea may be a temporary phenomenon that resolves spontaneously after chemotherapy is finished. But, especially in older woman and/or those taking more toxic medications, amenorrhea may be permanent. And even if menses do return after cancer treatment, fertility may still be compromised at a much younger age than expected. It is recommended that young survivors maintain an awareness of their fertility status after cancer treatments. Some patients prefer alternatives to egg and embryo freezing. One option involves taking Lupron simultaneously with chemotherapy. Lupron causes the brain to stop stimulating the ovaries, putting the eggs in a quiescent state that some have theorized may make them more resistant to the harmful effects of chemotherapy. The literature is mixed on the success of this treatment, but it may provide some benefits. Elective Fertility Preservation You are born with all the eggs you are ever going to have. Unlike sperm which are constantly regenerating, the number of eggs in a woman’s ovaries decreases over time, from approximately 1-2 million eggs at birth, to 300,000 – 500,000 eggs at puberty to approximately 25,000 eggs at age 37. This is why fertility decreases with age, and why young women get pregnant with greater ease. Despite this fact, many women today are postponing childbearing in order to pursue educational or career goals, for other personal reasons or simply because they haven’t met “the one.” Oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, is revolutionary technology for these women, allowing them to preserve their fertility and save their eggs now for use at a later date. Egg freezing involves going through most of the same steps as a regular IVF cycle including ovarian stimulation, monitoring with ultrasounds and bloodwork and egg retrieval. Following the retrieval, the eggs are then frozen for use at a later date. The use of oocyte cryopreservation for elective and medical reasons has become quite widespread. In addition, published data show that pregnancy rates from frozen eggs seem to approximate pregnancy rates in fresh IVF cycles, at least for eggs frozen from women 37 years old and younger. For women who have a male partner and are not in a position to have children yet, or for women who would rather use a more proven technology, embryo cryopreservation is also available for elective fertility preservation. In these cases, eggs are fertilized following retrieval and are the resulting embryos are then frozen approximately 3-5 days later. If you think that egg freezing might be a good option for you, please contact us for a consultation with one of our specialists. Schedule a Consultation Schedule Consultation
Today’s Google doodle pays homage to the photography of Eadweard J. Muybridge, pioneering photographer and inventor of the zoopraxiscope. If he had somehow survived to witness the multimedia era, Muybridge would be marking his 182nd birthday. The running horse video, which replaces the Google logo today, comes from Muybridge’s most famous photographic experiment. Renowned for his landscape photography in the Yosemite Valley, Muybridge took on the challenge put forward by railroad baron, and former California governor Leland Stanford to answer a long-standing equine mystery. Stanford, founder of the eponymous university, was among those who contended that at a certain moment in a horse’s gait the animal “flew,” with all four legs in the air. It would take Muybridge six years—with an intermission abroad after acquittal for the “justifiable homicide” of his second wife’s lover—to answer the question photographically. Using more than a dozen cameras along a racetrack, electronically timed apparatuses with a shutterspeed of about 2/1000 of a second, Muybridge confirmed Stanford’s suspicions. On October 19, 1878, Muybridge’s photographs of the galloping horse, Abe Edgington, made the cover of Scientific American. The associated article noted, “every one interested in the physiology of animal action, not less than artists and horse-fanciers, will find the photographs of Mr. Muybridge indispensable.” Though his relationship with Stanford would later turn rocky, Muybridge continued to photograph humans and animals in motion for the remainder of his career, contributing several important series while working with the University of Pennsylvania between 1884 and 1887. He also lectured on animal motion and used his zoopraxiscope, a lantern projection machine that turned rapidly through photo slides, to illustrate his talks. The device is considered an early contribution to the then-nascent technology of videography.
Which Birds Eat What and When? Part One: Fruits Viburnum with berries–Photo by Linda Brazaitis As I mentioned a couple of blog posts ago, I am leaving a lot of seed heads on my end of season perennials in hopes that the seeds will become bird food. Since I’m only a beginner birder, I’m doing this without any real understanding of who will eat it and when—and why certain seed heads or fruits stay on the plant so long. So it was serendipitous that the last program in my Naturalist Training at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, given by Master Naturalist Dr. Ed Lignowski, included some details about which birds eat what and when, from mid-summer through winter. Dr. Lignowski focused on how specific fruiting plants and birds had co-evolved, so that the plants provided fruit for the birds and the birds dispersed the seeds by pooping them out in a location away from the parent plant. While Dr. Lignowski didn’t specifically talk about plants that don’t produce what we think of as fruits, being “only” seed heads, his information provides a framework from which you can make your own observations and gain an understanding of what needs various plant foods are meeting for birds. I will have to do research on the seeds I am leaving on my plants for a future blog post, or this one will be too long. It makes sense that birds who are about to migrate need to chow down and stock up on energy for their trip (they may do this several times, during stops along the way). What became clearer from Dr. Lignowski’s presentation was that these birds cannot just chow down on whatever is around—they specifically need foods that are high in lipids. So, these birds aren’t the ones eating the blueberries, blackberries, black cherries, and service berries that ripen from mid to late summer, since these fruits are “characterized by high sugar/low fat content.” It is resident birds, not migratory birds, that eat these fruits—and the fruits become ripe just as the resident birds switch off eating the main flush of insects in spring. Just a quick aside—did you know that even hummingbirds have a diet that is 80% insects? The availability of insects that can serve as food, especially an abundance of caterpillars, is crucial to most birds’ ability to successfully rear their young. Getting back to plant food. With these high sugar fruits, just as for humans, it is the change in fruit color that signals to the birds that the fruit is ripe. For example, blueberries go from green to pink to dark purple as they ripen, which, due to co-evolution, also coincides with the readiness of the seed inside the fruit to be dispersed by a pooping bird. A separate group of especially “high quality” fruits ripen just in time for fall migration, including spicebush, flowering dogwood, sassafras and Virginia creeper. These fruits are those high in the lipids which provide energy for migration and are not sweet enough to be attractive to mammals, so there is less competition for them. The migrating birds feed “voraciously” and “deposit seeds locally,” otherwise known as pooping the seeds out in the area surrounding the plants that the fruits originated from. The migratory birds are tipped off to the ripening of these high-lipid fruits by “foliar fruit flags”—a change in leaf color that quickly alerts the birds where to go for ripe fruit. It seems New Jersey’s own Dr. Ted Stiles first did a study of these foliar flags. Marcia Bonta, a naturalist with more than 300 articles and 9 books to her credit, followed onto his work in explaining that fruits high in lipids rot quickly, so it is crucial that the plant attract birds to eat the fruit while the seeds are still viable. (Appalachian Autumn, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994). Thus, the plant needs a clearly visible signal in the form of the foliar flags to get birds to the fruits just in time. Still other plants provide food for resident birds during or at the end of winter, including hawthorns, chokeberry, poison ivy, viburnum, and winterberry holly. These fruits are “low quality” in terms of concentrated energy, being low in lipids, and thus are passed up by migratory birds. While the fruits are on the plants from fall through winter, anyone with a winterberry holly knows that birds often don’t get around to eating them until the end of winter/early spring, suggesting there are more desirable foods around, even for resident birds. Obviously, these fruits must not be prone to easy rotting, as they often remain on the plant for months. Robins eating fruit in January–Photo by Randy Carone Pileated Woodpecker with grapes–Photo by Mary Anne Borge (https://the-natural-web.org) As this picture of a yellow-rumped warbler eating poison ivy fruit shows, some of the latter fruits are eaten by birds that are semi-resident and semi-migratory. Yellow-rumped warblers live in our area from fall through spring, then summer further north of us. Yellow-rumped Warbler with Poison Ivy Fruit Yellow-rumped warbler with poison ivy berries–Photo by Mary Anne Borge (https://the-natural-web.org) See Mary Anne Borge’s blog at https://the-natural-web.org/ for more bird and other photos. Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Genital Herpes - Symptoms What are the symptoms of genital herpes? The first time you are infected with genital herpes simplex it is called the primary infection. This may, or may not, cause symptoms (described below). Following a primary infection, the virus is not cleared from the body but lies inactive (dormant) in a nearby nerve. In some people, the virus 'activates' from time to time and travels down the nerve to the nearby skin. This causes recurrent symptoms of genital herpes if the primary infection was in the genitals, or recurrent cold sores if the primary infection was around the mouth. It is common not to develop any symptoms Most people never develop any symptoms when they are infected with the virus. At least 8 in 10 people with genital herpes simplex virus do not know that they are infected. (Or, they only have a short bout of very mild symptoms which is not recognised as genital herpes. For example, just a slight area of itch or a small red area which soon goes.) In such people, the virus stays inactive in the root of a nerve that supplies the genitals, but never causes recurrent episodes of symptoms. However, even people who do not develop symptoms may, on occasions, have virus in their genital area and therefore be infectious to sexual partners. In fact, this is how many genital herpes simplex infections are passed on. A first episode of symptoms At first you may feel generally unwell with a mild fever and aches and pains. Groups of small, painful blisters then appear around your genitals and/or back passage (anus). They tend to erupt in crops over 1-2 weeks. The blisters soon burst and turn to shallow, sore ulcers. Genital herpes woman (Wiki) Genital herpes man Images above via Wikimedia Commons The glands in your groin may swell and feel like lumps at the top of your legs. It is common to have pain when you pass urine, especially in women. In women, a vaginal discharge may occur. Women may also have blisters and ulcers on the neck of the womb (cervix) at the top of the vagina. The inside of the back passage may also be affected. The ulcers and blisters can last up to 10-28 days and then gradually heal and go without scarring. Sometimes less typical symptoms occur. For example, you may just have a small raw area, one or two small ulcers, or just an area of irritation with nothing to see. Sometimes symptoms last just a few days. Note: sometimes a first episode of symptoms appears months or years after being first infected. This is why a first episode of symptoms can occur during a current faithful sexual relationship. You may have been infected months or years ago from a previous sexual partner who did not realise that they were infected. It is not clear why some infected people develop symptoms, some don't and some have a first episode of symptoms months or years after first being infected. It may be something to do with the way the immune system reacts to the virus in different people. Recurring episodes of symptoms After the first episode, further episodes of symptoms occur in some people from time to time. This is called recurrent infection. It is not clear why the dormant virus erupts from time to time. Recurrences tend to be less severe and shorter than the first episode. It is more usual to have 7-10 days of symptoms with a recurrence, unlike the longer phase of symptoms that may occur during the first episode. Most people do not develop a fever and do not feel particularly unwell during a recurrence. A tingling or itch in your genital area for 12-24 hours may indicate a recurrence is starting. The time period between recurrences is variable. Recurrences tend to become less frequent over time. In people who have recurrences, their frequency can vary greatly. Some people have six or more a year. For others it is less frequent than this. On average, people tend to have 1 to 4 recurrences per year during the first two years after the first episode. Some people do not have recurrences at all after a first episode of symptoms. Some people can identify some things that may trigger a recurrence. Such triggers include sunlight, physical illness, excess alcohol, or stress. If you can identify a trigger, it may be helpful to try to avoid this in the future, if possible. Did you find this information useful? Thanks for your feedback! Why not subcribe to the newsletter? We would love to hear your feedback! Dr Mary Harding Peer Reviewer: Dr Helen Huins Document ID: 4255 (v46) Last Checked: 12 October 2015 Next Review: 12 October 2018
Short Essay: What’s beneath Jupiter’s clouds? For centuries, Jupiter has confounded both astronomers and outer space enthusiasts alike. The questions abound: Why does Jupiter emit more heat than it receives from the sun? What exactly is The Great Red Spot? Is Jupiter really a planet, or is it simply a failed star? And my favorite question: what lies beneath the clouds? When I was a student 20 years ago, I remember seeing the old textbooks depicting Jupiter’s surface as a meandering mountain range. Based modern knowledge, this is completely incorrect. Scientists generally describe Jupiter as a very enigmatic gas giant, one where underneath all those clouds are two “oceans”, one a gargantuan ocean of liquid hydrogen and the other an ocean of a substance completely foreign to earth: metallic liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen is theorized to reach a metallic state under enough pressure. When visiting a Connecticut mall back in 1987, I happened upon a book that showed a terrifying depiction of what Jupiter’s “surface” might look like. The sky was black, save for the constant cackling of lightning overhead and the feeble attempts of the distant sun to poke through the thick atmosphere. The endless dark, yet clear, oily blue-green ocean of liquid hydrogen showed a world where no humans could ever possibly live. We’ve tried to send space probes into Jupiter’s surface to learn more about it, and what Arthur C. Clarke postulated in 2001: A Space Odyssey came true. The staggering pressure of the Jovian atmosphere (estimated to be about three million times stronger than what we experience on earth) crushed the probes while they were still far from the “ocean”. This begs the question: will we ever know what lies beneath Jupiter’s atmosphere? Furthermore, is its core just a giant, earth-sized diamond, as Clarke also postulated in the book? We may never know, but it’s always fun to speculate. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
The 2014 FIFA World Cup is the 20th tournament of the International Men's Football (known as soccer in the US), and it just started in Brazil on June 12th. It's too bad that the most populous country in the world, China, did not qualify in the qualifying competition. Purportedly, China is where the soccer game originated at least 2,200 years ago, and FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football) agrees. Although England should be credited with organizing the contemporary game in 1863, according to FIFA's website, 'The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise from a military manual dating back to the second and third centuries BC in China.' The world's first soccer ball was a leather ball filled with feathers and hair, and the game was called 'Tsu' Chu,' which literally means 'kicking ball.' The player was not permitted to aim at his target unimpeded, but had to use his feet, chest, back and shoulders while trying to withstand the attacks of his opponents. Use of the hands was not permitted. China's own historical archives documented the popular game favored by the people of the Qi Kingdom (319 BC - 201 BC), which was located in the present-day Shantung province in northern China. The game continued to be mentioned in the subsequent dynasties in China. This ancient painting portrays an all-star Chinese soccer team in a soccer field which they shared with dogs and birds. (via Even Marco Polo mentioned the Chinese game in his travelogue. (Come to think of it, Marco Polo might have been one of the world's earliest travel bloggers.) Ancient Chinese women also enjoyed the game too. I'm glad ancient China invented soccer, but I also feel relieved that the modern players aren't wearing the same cumbersome costumes. Today's soccer hunks definitely wear better fitting uniforms.
≡ Menu Heating Controls, Timers and Thermostats The amount of energy you put into your house, in the form of domestic heating, is the same amount of energy you are losing through the walls windows and roof. If your house was perfectly insulated, just a single lightbulb would heat your house hotter and hotter… but there is no such thing as perfect insulation. So, we need to heat the house according to the losses, and as we make the house warmer, the energy losses build up. If we left the heating on all day and all night, the cost would be phenomenal, and most of the time, simply wasted. So, we need a system to control the heating so its on when we need it, and off when we don’t. Heating controls can vary all the way from the simple timer (switching the heating on shortly before you get up, and off when you are at work, turning the water heating on for your morning shower) to complex computer and remote controlled systems that can respond to changes in your work pattern and changes in the weather. Controls can be used to reduce the overall size of your heating system, with possible efficiency savings if you can set your system so that it heats the hot water when you don’t need your radiators on, for example. Timers can switch on, and more importantly, switch off heating when you don’t need it, and manual overrides can then be used to warm things up when you are at home unexpectedly. Most people are familiar with the concept of the thermostat that switches off the heating when a certain temperature is reached, but fitting thermostats to individual radiators can offer more precise control, allowing you to keep bedrooms slightly cooler than living rooms, and to turn down kitchen radiators when the oven is heating the room anyway. Modern technology has opened up many more possibilities, allowing you to switch on your heating via the internet as you leave work, so its warm when you get home, or switching the heating back on from your ski resort as the weather forecast suggests its getting very cold back home, or even letting the weather forecast itself decide on when to start heating your home. Precise control, so that you only heat the rooms you need to when you need to and to the correct temperature, will save huge amounts of energy in your home. Turning down your thermostat by one degree can save 300kg of CO2 per year, and each extra degree of heat adds 8% to your bill. We generally heat our home hotter in the winter than the average warm summers day… Return to Heating System Measures
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! An interesting question 1. Sep 24, 2009 #1 Ok so here is a brainteaser, you should get it in your second attempt at the max., else consider yourself poor at math :biggrin: An ant is in one corner of a cube shaped room. (say one of the bottom corners on the floor). The ant decides to go to the opposite corner on the roof, which would fall on the diagonal of the cube. Unfortunately, the ant cannot fly, else it would have taken the body diagonal route of the cube to reach there. But the ant is most tired, and it wants to take the shortest route possible. Help the ant out! Attached Files: 2. jcsd 3. Sep 24, 2009 #2 walk diagonally (at 22.5°) along the floor to the middle of the opposite face and then walk diagonally (at 22.5°) up to the opposite corner. A total walking distance of approximately 2.16 times the length of the cube face. 4. Sep 25, 2009 #3 spot on! 5. Sep 25, 2009 #4 Gib Z User Avatar Homework Helper Have I misunderstood the question? Why not walk diagonally to the corner directly below the End, and then go up. Walking distance is sqrt 2 + 1 times the cube length, approx 2.1415 times the length. 6. Sep 25, 2009 #5 walking till the midpoint of the opposite face and then straight to the point end gives you a total distance of sqrt((2a)^2+a^2) = sqrt(5)a = 2.23606a walking on the bottom diagonal and then straight up to End is a distance of (sqrt(2)+1)a = 2.414a>2.3606a 7. Sep 25, 2009 #6 Gib Z User Avatar Homework Helper My bad, something exploded in my brain as I used digits of pi for sqrt 2. 8. Sep 25, 2009 #7 If the sides of the cube are unfolded to a flat surface, the ant's shortest path will be a straight line 9. Sep 29, 2009 #8 thats exactly the logic! i was asked this question as a part of my mathematics aptitude some time before undergrad, and I was stumped at the time Similar Discussions: An interesting question 1. Interesting question (Replies: 8) 2. Interest/loan question (Replies: 2) 3. An Interesting Question (Replies: 27) 4. Interesting Question (Replies: 0)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! I Bayard Alpert Gauge X-ray limit 1. Jun 9, 2016 #1 User Avatar When the cathode emits electrons which are accelerated towards the grid, usually on its way it will ionise a molecule in the vacuum. However at a certain low pressure there are too few molecules and therefore the electron will hit the grid and emit an x-ray. My question is, wouldn't electrons create x rays even when not at the x ray limit? 2. jcsd 3. Jun 14, 2016 #2 Have something to add? Draft saved Draft deleted Similar Discussions: Bayard Alpert Gauge X-ray limit 1. X-rays & Electrons (Replies: 2)
• Journal Article Beyond the sticker price: including and excluding time in comparing food prices Yang, Y., Davis, G. C., & Muth, M. (2015). Beyond the sticker price: including and excluding time in comparing food prices. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 102(1), 165-171. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.114.101444 BACKGROUND: An ongoing debate in the literature is how to measure the price of food. Most analyses have not considered the value of time in measuring the price of food. Whether or not the value of time is included in measuring the price of a food may have important implications for classifying foods based on their relative cost. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to compare prices that exclude time (time-exclusive price) with prices that include time (time-inclusive price) for 2 types of home foods: home foods using basic ingredients (home recipes) vs. home foods using more processed ingredients (processed recipes). The time-inclusive and time-exclusive prices are compared to determine whether the time-exclusive prices in isolation may mislead in drawing inferences regarding the relative prices of foods. DESIGN: We calculated the time-exclusive price and time-inclusive price of 100 home recipes and 143 processed recipes and then categorized them into 5 standard food groups: grains, proteins, vegetables, fruit, and dairy. We then examined the relation between the time-exclusive prices and the time-inclusive prices and dietary recommendations. RESULTS: For any food group, the processed food time-inclusive price was always less than the home recipe time-inclusive price, even if the processed food's time-exclusive price was more expensive. Time-inclusive prices for home recipes were especially higher for the more time-intensive food groups, such as grains, vegetables, and fruit, which are generally underconsumed relative to the guidelines. CONCLUSION: Focusing only on the sticker price of a food and ignoring the time cost may lead to different conclusions about relative prices and policy recommendations than when the time cost is included
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 When interacting in class, teachers with low expectations tend to: Wait less time for the student to answer a question. Call on the student less frequently to answer a question. Inappropriately reinforce an incorrect answer of the student. Prematurely give the student the answer or call on somebody else Withhold helpful clues and fail to repeat or rephrase the question. Give briefer and less informative feedback to the student's questions, Interrupt more quickly when the student makes mistakes. NOTE: I recieved this information from Donnie Smith. No comments:
What is Acne Acne is a common skin condition that most often appears during the teenage years. Commonly known as pimples, acne usually appears on the face but can also happen on other parts of the body such as the back, shoulders, neck and chest. Even though most teenagers experience acne at some point, it is a condition which can also affect adults. Acne is universal -- it affects males and females almost equally -- and occurs in every race. The proper name for acne is Acne Vulgaris. It is characterized by lesions that break out on the skin. The lesions can be whiteheads, blackheads, or cysts which form because of clogged pores. It is most commonly seen during puberty, because it is at this time that the body produces an abundant supply of an oily substance called sebum. Sebum is needed to keep the hair and a skin soft and lubricated, but during puberty the body produces more sebum than is needed. This excess can clog pores and leave the skin feeling oily. Another change that occurs during puberty is the excess production of follicle cells. The dying cells can quickly build up and combine together with sebum to form whiteheads. This mixture of oil and dead cells creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which results in redness and swelling in the afflicted area resulting in pimples.
Watchdog says radioactive water at Fukushima an emergency Highly radioactive water seeping into the ocean from Japan’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is creating an “emergency” that the operator is struggling to contain, an official from the country’s nuclear watchdog said on Monday. Countermeasures planned by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) are only a temporary solution, he said. TEPCO’s “sense of crisis is weak,” Kinjo said. “This is why you can’t just leave it up to TEPCO alone” to grapple with the ongoing disaster. “Right now, we have an emergency.” TEPCO said it is taking various measures to prevent contaminated water from leaking into the bay near the plant. In an e-mailed statement to Reuters, a company spokesman said TEPCO deeply apologized to residents in Fukushima prefecture, the surrounding region and the larger public for causing inconveniences, worries and trouble. “If you build a wall, of course the water is going to accumulate there. And there is no other way for the water to go but up or sideways and eventually lead to the ocean,” said Masashi Goto, a retired Toshiba Corp nuclear engineer who worked on several TEPCO plants. “So now, the question is how long do we have?” Contaminated water could rise to the ground’s surface within three weeks, the Asahi Shimbun said on Saturday. Kinjo said the three-week timeline was not based on NRA’s calculations but acknowledged that if the water reaches the surface, “it would flow extremely fast.” A TEPCO official said on Monday the company plans to start pumping out a further 100 tons of groundwater a day around the end of the week. The regulatory task force overseeing accident measures of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which met Friday, “concluded that new measures are needed to stop the water from flowing into the sea that way,” Kinjo said. Tritium is far less harmful than cesium and strontium, which have also been released from the plant. TEPCO is scheduled to test strontium levels next. The admission on the long-term tritium leaks, as well as renewed criticism from the regulator, show the precarious state of the $11 billion cleanup and TEPCO’s challenge to fix a fundamental problem: How to prevent water, tainted with radioactive elements like cesium, from flowing into the ocean. (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Leave a Reply
Drainage and Erosion Inspection Services All SSC consultations, assessments, and installations are performed by a licensed professional soils engineer or scientist. These professionals have over 35 years of combined design and contracting experience. Our engineer will perform an assessment of the current situation and provide design solutions for: Wet Basements & Moist Foundation Walls Wet basements or crawl spaces are often sources of immediate and long-term problems. Standing water inside and/or seepage into residential crawl spaces and basements can cause frustrating problems for the homeowner. These problems can be both immediate and long term. Wet basements and crawl spaces are sources of high humidity, which can produce surface condensation, mildew and fungi, musty odors, and an unhealthful environment. Such moisture can cause deterioration of floor joists, beams, sub-flooring, insulation, and electrical-mechanical systems. SSC engineers can assist homeowners with wet basements and moist foundation walls in assessing the source and extent of the problem and in finding a remedy. Cause of wet basements and crawl spaces Most wet basements or crawl spaces are caused by surface water that is not adequately drained away from the foundation wall. Sources of this water include the following: • Improperly installed window wells. • Roof water if no guttering is present or the gutters are clogged. • Excessive watering of flower beds and shrubbery around the foundation wall • Rainwater runoff from the adjacent lawn, walks, or driveway areas if the landscaping forces water to drain toward the house instead of away (i.e., negative drainage conditions). • Nearby creek(s) may overflow during storm runoff and either directly flood basement or crawl space areas, or contribute to the groundwater, which may become sufficiently high to cause seepage into the basement or crawl space area. • Improperly installed, clogged, collapsed, or leaky drains may not allow downspout water or foundation wall water to escape. • Underground drains leading away from downspouts may not have sufficient slope to carry water away. • Damp or wet basements and crawl spaces may be caused by ruptured water or sanitary lines either just outside the wall or under the house. Soil Erosion Soil Erosion is the loss of soil from the ground surface. It is a process that is always occurring but it can happen faster if we misuse the land or if the ground surface is not adequately protected with vegetation and drainage swales. The rate of erosion can be increased by removing or limited plant cover, poor grading plans, wind, frost and rain and water runoff. Two of the most common types of soil erosion are water and wind erosion. Water or splash erosion is the detachment and airborne movement of small soil particles caused by the impact of raindrops on soil. Sheet erosion is the result of heavy rain on bare soil where water flows as a sheet down any gradient carrying soil particles. Where precipitation rates exceed soil infiltration rates, runoff occurs. Gully erosion results where water flows along a linear depression eroding a trench or gully. Wind erosion is the movement of rock and/or sediment by the wind erosion can be reduced by installing windbreaks near the problem area. This includes the planting of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation, usually perpendicular or nearly so to the principal wind direction. The wind causes dust particles to be lifted and therefore moved to another region. Wind erosion generally occurs in areas with little or no vegetation, often areas where there is not enough rainfall to support vegetation. An SSC engineer can design a solution to stabilize the ground surface and prevent further surface erosion. Stream and Shoreline Stabilization Streambank and Shoreline Stabilization is the process of protecting a stream or other body of water by re-shaping and stabilizing the bank. Where stream banks are eroded, they are re-shaped and seeded, and sometimes protected with rock rip-rap or seeded with bio-engineering materials. Stabilizing the stream bank or shoreline protects water quality, improves fish habitat, and the vegetation provides habitat for birds and small animals. If animals are a problem, fencing restricts access to the bank or shore and there for prevents soil from eroding. An SSC engineer can analyze your stream and design a solution for restoration and continued stabilization.
Women in Dáil Éireann 1923-1937 A marked contrast between the contribution in the Dáil and that in the Seanad was to distinguish the participation of the eleven women who entered the Houses of the Oireachtas between 1922 and 1937. In general, the level of debate among women in the Seanad was marked by a confidence which was superior at all times to that of the women in the Dáil. Deputies, it would appear, participated in public life more for symbolic reasons deriving from family connections than from any motivation arising from their own political ambitions. Their outstanding contribution to the Dáil lay in their solid enduring support for the political parties to which they belonged. Both Deputy Bridget Redmond (Cumann na nGaedheal) and Deputy Mary Reynolds (Cumann na nGaedheal) were elected following the death of husbands who were Dáil Deputies. The brothers of Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll (Cumann na nGaedheal) and Margaret Pearse (Fianna Fáil) were widely revered as symbolic nationalist figureheads by the political parties which they represented. Mary Reynolds and Mary Pearse who were elected in 1932 and 1933 respectively, did not speak on any issue in this period, while Bridget Redmond occasionally commented on local Waterford questions. Deputy Redmond spoke against the 1937 Constitution, but only at the insistence of women's organisations, and was absent for much of the debate. While Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll and Helena Concannon (Fianna Fáil) contributed on a more regular (though by no means impressive) basis, neither initiated any legislation in respect of women, or played any significant role during debates on such legislation. Both Deputies, however, endorsed women's responsibilities towards maternal and domestic duties. Collins-O'Driscoll tended to exalt the traditional tasks of Irish womanhood, and, in 1925, regretting the changing times, she recalled that 'In the days of my youth it was regarded as a qualification for matrimony that a woman should be able to make her husband's shirts.' The promotion of rural domestic economy schools ... was continually urged by Deputy Helena Concannon. In 1936 the Deputy declared that 'Everybody has his or her own way of solving Ireland's ills. My method would be to make these rural domestic economy schools general, spread them all through the country and make a course of six months compulsory on all Irish girls before they would be allowed to marry.' When the more difficult problems of female sweated labour, infant mortality or infanticide were raised in the Dáil, such issues were ignored by both women. Mary Clancy, 'Aspects of women's contribution to the Oireachtas debate in the Irish Free State, 1922-1937' in Maria Luddy & Cliona Murphy (eds.), Women surviving, Dublin, 1990, p. 207. 1. What kind of source is this? List two kinds of evidence the author used for her research. 2. What is the attitude of the author to the participation of women in politics? 3. Suggest three likely reasons why so few women were elected to the Dáil in the years 1923-1937. 4. Comment briefly on the attitude of women deputies to women's issues, according to the author. 1. Write the speech you would make in the Dáil on women's issues during that period. 2. Interview a woman currently involved in politics. contents index
This presentation was given by John Abbott as the keynote speech to the Canadian Child Care Federation’s Linking Research to Practice: Second Canadian Forum held in Ottawa in November 1999. Note: the ideas in this speech are developed much further in the Initiative’s Policy Paper which is available as a PDF file. Politicians in many lands are quick to claim that education is at the top of the political agenda. What does that mean? For most people education seems a strangely boring topic. Search through Chapters and you are likely to find the education section in some out-of-the-way comer. Few of the books on the shelves are best-sellers. Yet there is more material now about the nature of human learning than at any previous time. It’s found in books all over the shop – in cognitive science, neurobiology, evolutionary psychology, cultural anthropology, information sciences, management studies, economics, philosophy, pedagogy and religion. There is so much about learning that it seems impossible to keep up with the research. Why, therefore, do we have a “crisis” in education? Is it that all teachers, in every country, have suddenly started to underperform? Or is it that teachers, administrators, departments of education, ministers, prime ministers have simply failed to move into the rest of the bookshop to study what is now known about human learning? Humans are born to be intelligent, to learn. Our brains give us our superiority. Each brain is an example of the most remarkable, complex organism in the entire universe. We each have more neurons in the brain than all the trees in all the forests of both North and South America combined. More significantly, we each have more synapses, or potential neural connections, than all the leaves in all the forests throughout the world! Over millions of years of evolution, natural selection has favored those members of our species who have developed brains best able to relate and adapt to their immediate environment – to learn. Strong evidence suggests that our brains have not changed in essential form in 30,000 years. About 100,000 years ago, when humans started to talk, our brains started to grow. This increased the size of our skulls. Every other mammal delivers its young with its brain virtually fully developed. But if the human were to do the same, women would have to carry their babies for 27 months! Evolution compromised. Humans deliver babies at nine months with brains only some 40 per cent fully formed. Here’s the magic. The human brain comes equipped with a whole series of intellectual predispositions to learn incredibly rapidly from our environment. Providing, that is, they are properly stimulated at the stage immediately after birth. A Hunger to Make Sense “Learning is a consequence of thinking”(David Perkins, Smart Schools, 1992.) This is a simple and profound truth. Thinking – not simply instruction. When I was about 10 years old, my parents employed a man to do odd jobs. Old MacFadgen was a brilliant carver. Each Friday, after finishing his work, he would show me the little wooden figureheads he had made. I became hungry to do the same thing but he told me if I wanted to learn how to carve, I’d first have to learn how to sharpen a chisel. So for several weeks, I learnt to sharpen chisels. Next, he produced some strange bits of wood with very contorted grain. He told me I had to learn how to work the grain of the wood, and for weeks that is just what I did. One day, he told me I was ready to start carving and he let me go. By the time I was 13, in a boarding school, I was quite a good wood carver. In those days, you could not go to university without Latin and my Latin teacher was even more bored with Latin than I was. I failed Latin three times and had six weeks to go until I could take the exam for the last time. Meanwhile, I had been chosen to represent the UK as a schoolboy woodcarver at an international exhibition. My morale soared and then crashed: woodcarving was not recognized by the school. If I was a better woodcarver than anyone else, why couldn’t I learn Latin? The simple answer was that I wasn’t in charge. That afternoon I went to my Latin teacher and explained that I would not attend class but would teach myself. For six weeks, I memorized vast chunks of Caesar’s Gaelic War, Virgil’s Aeneid. I passed Latin, but six months later I had forgotten most of it. However, I still woodcarver That is because learning has to do with a hunger to make sense of something. The whole brain, including the emotions, has to be engaged. We all have such stories that taught us that learning and schooling are not synonymous. Our neural structures and our inherited predispositions predate formal schooling by at least 29,500 years! I love the excitement of learning; I delight in the company of active young minds working things out for themselves, but for years I was frustrated by the institutional hurdles that get in the way of learning. I was so uncomfortable as a head teacher that in 1985, my conscience wouldn’t let me continue to preside over a system I didn’t believe in anymore.
World War Z Test \| Final Test - Medium Max Brooks Buy the World War Z Lesson Plans Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________ Multiple Choice Questions 1. What does Jesika Hendricks have a hard time dealing with after the war? (a) That her parents had cryptic conversations about her. (b) That her parents died while others lived. (c) That people no longer care about the environment. (d) That many of the dead are not remembered. 2. What is the name of the German version of the Redeker Plan? (a) Prochnow Plan. (b) Nuremberg Plan. (c) Hamburg Plan. (d) Katterbach Plan. 3. Who, according to Chapter 8, is the only individual to believe what Maria Zhuganova's nation claims about religion? (a) The Archbishop of Moscow. (b) Maria Zhuganova. (c) Clergyman Ryzhkov. (d) The Roman Catholic Pope. 4. Maria Zhuganova tells the narrator he is being used to tell Russia's story. Why? (a) So other countries can follow Russia's religious example. (b) So other countries don't forget the work that Russia did in winning the war. (c) So other countries can see that Russia is again strong and powerful. (d) So other countries will know peace. 5. What does Kondo Tatsumi hope to find? (a) Spiritual enlightenment. (b) A way to recover his old personality. (c) A middle road. (d) A home and family. Short Answer Questions 1. What about Tomonaga Ijiro does Kondo Tatsumi disagree with? 2. Why do Jesika Hendricks and her family go north? 3. What does Todd Wainio admit at the end of the novel? 4. Where is T. Sean Collins located in Chapter 8? 5. What is Todd Wainio's most vivid memory? Short Essay Questions 1. Why do the different people have such different reactions to life after the war? 2. How are Jesika Hendricks and Mary Jo Miller different in the way they place blame in Chapter 8? 3. Explain the importance of royalty during the war, according to Allen Forbes. 4. What was Terry Knox's perspective of the war? 5. Why did the narrator speak to so many different people during the story? 6. Explain how Jesika Hendricks and her parents were able to survive the winter. 7. How is Maria Zhuganova coping with life after the war? 8. What do Philip Adler and Jurgen Warmbrunn have in common in Chapter 8? 9. Explain why the pass in India needs to be destroyed, according to Sardar Khanin. 10. Explain the importance of Tomonaga Ijiro to Japan after the war? (see the answer keys) This section contains 1,022 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) Buy the World War Z Lesson Plans World War Z from BookRags. (c)2017 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved. Follow Us on Facebook
Biofeedback is useful for monitoring many physiological systems and raising your body awareness, its responses to the environment, and improving your ability to identify how thoughts are linked to our bodies reactions in stressful circumstances. Biofeedback uses tools to monitor physiological responses and display them in real time. For example, biofeedback might use signals of your heart rate and provide visible or auditory feedback to make you more aware of your physiological responses…in a way you may not have been aware before. Like a pitcher learning to throw a ball across a home plate, the biofeedback trainee, in an attempt to improve a skill, monitors the performance. When a pitch is off the mark, the ballplayer adjusts the delivery so that he performs better the next time he tries. When the light flashes or the beeper beeps too often, the biofeedback trainee makes internal adjustments which alter the signals.
Forgotten Weapons: The Nazis' Desperate Attempts to Curve a Bullet With their backs up against the wall, Germany thought it might be useful to shoot around corners. Most Popular A U.S. Ordnance officer testing a Krummlauf with grenade launcher attachment. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below The Krummlauf is a perfect example of Germany's late-war obsession with impractical secret weapons to turn the tide of the World War II—which actually had the effect of diverting critical resources to outlandish ends. It is a curved barrel device that was clamped onto the end of an MP-44 rifle to allow soldiers to shoot over obstacles without exposing themselves to return fire. It might be an interesting idea, but it's surely not going to change the outcome of the Battle of Berlin. Most Popular Actually, development of the Krummlauf began in 1943, when early testing was done to attached a curved 20mm barrel to an 8mm rifle. The idea was to use the curved 20mm section as a sort of trough to redirect the bullets. It was assumed that a curved barrel that was actually the same diameter as the bullet would cause too much stress and friction to work—but that notion was disproven in later tests. It turned out that a standard diameter barrel actually worked much better. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Two different versions of the Krummlauf were made. One had a 30° bend to the barrel, and was intended for infantry use. The other had a much more severe 90° bend, and was intended for mounting in armored vehicles. The vehicle model was designed so the rifle could sit in a vertical position, which would take up the minimum amount of space. The curved barrel went through a port in the vehicle's armor and could be swiveled around. Reportedly it was first intended for use in the Elefant tank destroyer, which had no mounted machine guns. The Krummlauf would give the crew a way to shoot at enemy soldiers trying to approach the vehicle with explosives or incendiaries. An example mount and vehicular Krummlauf survives today in the Koblenz museum in Germany. 90 degree Krummlauf in vehicle mount . The infantry model is more commonly seen today. Its barrel was a total of 14 inches long, with a 4 inch straight barrel, then a 5.5 inch curved section, and then another 4.5 inches of straight barrel. It included a large mirror to allow a soldier using it to see where the gun was pointing while maintaining a standard hold and cheek weld. A front sight was mounted on the end of the Krummlauf, and a rear sight was located just behind the mirror. U.S. military testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground after the war showed that bullets usually would break in half at the cannelure when fired through the device, making it useless for anything but very close ranges—although that was not really a problem as very close ranges were the intended use of the weapon in the first place. A series of vent holes were drilled into he initial straight section of the barrel to relieve some of the gas pressure as the bullet entered the curved section, although this did not prevent the device from having a service life of only a few hundred rounds. More from Popular Mechanics:
You & Your Health: Oppression You & Your Health: Depression You & Your Health: Oppression You & Your Health: Oppression Dr. Vwoke Akpubi on depression Dr. Vwoke Akpubi (MB BS, MRCPsych) – Advertisement – In these times of economic depression with losses of jobs and finances, more and more people are turning up at the GP complaining of being “depressed”. But what exactly is this amorphous illness called depression. What is depression? Depression is a clinical syndrome in which there is a decrease in positive well-being, lack of interest in usually pleasurable/enjoyable activity and loss of energy or fatigue nearly every day. The lowering of mood is different from that of someone who is sad or distressed as the low mood persists for up to two weeks as against a few days for someone who is sad or distressed. In addition the person who is depressed loses self-esteem has inappropriate guilt feelings, becomes lethargic and may feel suicidal. What causes depression? Most depression is endogenous i.e. no clear causative factor can be pinpointed. However in some cases depression can be “reactive” as a result of negative external factors such as bereavement, loss of social status, reduction in finances etc. interestingly there is evidence that being a refugee immigrant or someone with indeterminate status has been shown to increase the propensity to depression. – Advertisement – How else can a person be identified as being depressed? In addition to the features stated above there is also loss of appetite with consequent weight loss, loss of appetite for sexual activity, low mood worse in the morning and getting slightly better as the day goes on . Sleep is also disturbed with nightmares and increased frequency of sleep paralysis( known as ogun oru in south west Nigeria and kanashibari in Japan, where the individual wakes up from a dream and finds that he is unable to move his hands and feet and feels an oppressive presence or weight on his/her chest.) There is also increased frequency of anxiety and panic attacks. In severe depression the person may become psychotic with delusions of guilt, punishment, shame or a belief that internal organs like the intestines is rotting away. Can depression be treated? Depression is treated very easily and effectively treated using medication known as anti-depressants. These medicines correct an imbalance of certain chemicals (e.g. serotonin, dopamine) found in the brain that occurs when an individual becomes depressed. Some individuals can be treated using only psychological techniques like cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). However most individuals respond to a combination of biological (tablets) and psychological techniques. It is however important to recognise these symptoms early and begin treatment as the longer a person stays depressed the harder it becomes to treat the depression. Can people who are depressed recover fully and live normal lives? Yes. An individual adequately treated can achieve his/her former level of functioning and lead their normal lives. It is important to adhere strictly to the guidance provided by your GP or Psychiatrist as regards treatment and follow up care. There are no comments Add yours
The Cold War The Cold War between the United States and its allies against the Soviet Union and its allies started right after World War II ended — we will deal with the exact start in a later post — and supposedly ended with the fall of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991. Some authorities contend that the Cold War started with the rise to power of the Communist Party in Russia at the end of World War I. That was indeed an early version of the Cold War, which involved the United States, Britain, France, Italy, and Japan sending troops to fight against the Communist government in a Civil War that occurred with the fall of the Czar in Russia. And near the beginning of the Second World War several leaders, such as Harry Truman, maintained that we should support Germany if it looked like the Soviets would win, and support the Soviet Union if it looked like Germany would win, in a hope that both countries would destroy each other. Nevertheless, the Soviet Union was allied with the United States during World War II and so the Cold War did not start in all its glory until that war ended Cold War 1950 The operative aspect during the Cold War was what is called the Long Sextile between Neptune and Pluto. Pluto is an oddity among the planets since its orbit is very eccentric so that at some times it travels much faster than at other times, and once every 250 years it goes inside the orbit of Neptune so that it is no longer the outermost planet. That happens appropriately when, since Pluto is considered to be the ruler of the sign Scorpio, the planet is in the sign Scorpio. This happened between January 1979 and February 1999, with Pluto closest to the sun (perihelion) half way between those two dates. As the result of this, the sextile between the two planets lasted a very long time, and it will return in another decade, but that is an important topic for another time. As a result, this is called the Long Sextile. Cold War 1980 The first two charts illustrate a typical sextile between the two planets , one from 1950 near the beginning of the Cold War,and one for 1980, thirty years later when the Cold War had warmed up again. In both charts notice the blue line representing a sextile between the planets Neptune and Pluto. But the real proof is in the graphical ephemeris shown below. This graphical ephemeris covers a fifty year period, between 1944 and 1994, and shows in the sixth harmonic just two planets, Neptune and Pluto. We know that in a sixth harmonic chart, planets that are exactly sextile show as conjunctions, or lines that are together in the graphical ephemeris. From the graph we can see that the two planet first came close together in 1946 or 1947, stay close together until they finally separate in 1991 or 1992, mirroring the extent of the cold war that lasted all those years. We also notice that the lines get very close together in he early Fifties, just as the Cold War was getting intense with the successful Communist victory in China, the Korean War, the first successful atomic bomb explosion by the Soviets, and in the United States McCarthyism. The other time the planets are very close together is in the early Eighties with President Ronald Reagan, when defense spending greatly increased, when he talked about the military plan called “Star Wars” and helped the fights in El Salvador and Nicaragua. The Cold War 1945-1991 Also notice that the two lines, representing Neptune — blue– and Pluto — red in the late Sixties, early Seventies are further apart. This is when President Richard Nixon was practicing the policy of détente with the Soviet Union. One important treaty negotiated during this period was called SALT I for Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. This was in the works between late 1969 through 1972. On May 26, 1972 an Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was signed between Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev. Also in this period was the famous “Nixon Goes to China” moment when Richard Nixon when to “Red” China, something that was unheard of before then, and the subsequent recognition of China by the United States and then the admission of mainland China to the United Nations, something that had been blocked (mostly by the United States) since 1949. In fact, it was because the Soviet Union was not in the United Nations Security Council in 1950 to protest the exclusion of China from that body that allowed the United States to have the United Nations approved the start of the Korean War. As we’ve seen previously, a midpoint involving the three outer planets represents a watershed moment. For the midpoint that indicates the start of the Cold War, this is certainly true. It was a bifurcation point in the flow of time, where the future was radically different that it would have been without the Cold War. The Cold War has affected the whole world and the way it behaves, in ways unimaginable and not really seen at the time it started. But by now the “official” Cold War has been over for almost a quarter century. We are living in a post Cold War world, but the effects of the Cold War has changed the way we response to most everything. America has always had enemies, someone it could dominate and rail against, someone that the people at home would draw together against. For much of the early years of the country the enemy was Great Britain, the country it was a colony of for a long time, and finally rebelled against. The US then had another war against that country a quarter century later. But by the time of the Spanish-American War, the enemy was that by then decrepit empire Spain. This served as an enemy until the Huns in World War One intervened. But at the end of that war there was the Russian Revolution and they became the official enemy, a status that has endured even though the official Cold War has supposedly ended. One historian (Gordon Wood, The Idea of America) has an interesting theory as to why the Russians were so hated after their Revolution. For over a century after the American Revolution, America is where anyone considering a more democratic country would look. It was almost as if the definition of revolution was illustrated with a map of America. But after the Russian Revolution, this was no longer the case. After that act, when people though of revolution, they thought of Russia. We were no longer the top dog in the Revolution-definition business. Russia had stolen America’s thunder, and America was not about to allow that to happen. After the Soviet Union ceased to exist, America searched for another enemy to take its place. The first choice was the menace of drugs, come to steal out precisions bodily fluids. That audition did not go over too well, and fortunately 9/11 allowed America to bring back a bogeyman that Ronald Reagan declared war on 20 years earlier, but this time it seemed more real and was brought home to Americans on their television screens, the window to reality. This new threat was terrorism, and so a War on Terrorism was declared. Some people pointed out the difficulty in declaring war on a noun, and that terrorism was a tactic, and some even pointed out that America was the largest purveyor of terrorism, but none of those arguments held much sway with the American people. In fact, the argument became are you for the country or for the terrorist, just like in previous times the question was are you for us or the Communist. It was a black and white world. It won’t be for several hundred years, when we are able to look back at the Cold War as a historical period and not as a entity which has just recently passed, and maybe not really, that we can see this period is one of insanity. It changed drastically where money was spent, so that trillions were sent to defense companies, making their owners very wealthy, which reduced the amount of money available for most of the people. As President Eisenhower said “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” These days that certainly sounds like Communist propaganda, and the person who said is not fit to be allowed in society, but Eisenhower was a Republican President and a war hero of the Second World War. That one quote shows how much things have changed in the last sixty years. We are now in the post Cold War world, but having the Cold War as such a prominent feature of the world for so long — 45 years — has changed the way people think. Our first response to any problem is to send in the weapons, if not “boots on the ground” then at the very least a few bombs, missiles, or drones. The world has developed so that the killing of strangers because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time does not seem worthy of comment, and the interception of all personal messages seems perfectly normal. In fact, supporters will often give praise, or at least find an excuse, when their leader does any of that. 2 thoughts on “The Cold War 1. Pingback: Presidential Mistakes \| 500 Year Party 2. Pingback: History Repeats \| 500 Year Party Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel • » • Games, Toys, and Hobbies» • Toys for Kids How To Get Started in Model Railroading Part 3 of 3 - Model Trains Updated on July 17, 2012 True scale dimensions and accurate detail are the marks of a model train True scale dimensions and accurate detail are the marks of a model train \| Source It's a model, not a toy In this last installment of How To Get Started in Model Railroading, we'll look at the differences between toy trains and model trains. It is difficult to pick out the one key difference between what is considered a toy train and what is considered a model train. I suppose the mist significant would be scale proportions. Model trains are exact scale replicas of the real world prototype. Toy trains are not. Model trains are built to be operated in prototypical fashion, just like the real trains. Model train layouts can be elaborate works of art that take years to complete and are often the pride and joy of the modeller. To take nothing away from toy trains, there is a different level of appreciation and art in the world of model trains. For instance, the average toy train enthusiast is not likely to count the number of rivets on the side of a steam locomotive's boiler to check accuracy. A model railroader on the other hand wants a high degree of accuracy and is likely to make sure that his model is not just a representation of the prototype but an exact scale replica. Where to start While I'd rather not recap scale and gauge again, I will say that the scales in which model railroaders operate range from super-tiny Z to rather large G. Finding the right scale for you to model in will depend on how much space you have for a layout, how you want to operate your trains, and how much money you want to spend. If you think of HO Scale 1:87 as the middle of the road, you can fit almost twice as much N Scale and almost four times as much Z Scale in the same space as an HO layout. Conversely, you could go larger with On30 (a narrow gauge form of O that operates on HO track) or 2-rail O Scale, which are O scale trains that run on two rails instead of the traditional 3. (Basically they use DC power instead of AC and the track look more realistic.) Both of these take up more room. As for G Scale, while there are several different scales within G to model, these modellers tend to set up outdoors where space may not play as big a factor. Once you've picked a scale and a space to set up, you're next step would be to choose a theme. You can go with a layout based on a real world operation or a purely fictional railroad that has no real connection to an actual railroad. When I modeled in HO, my layout was based on transition-era (steam to diesel) operations on the New Haven railroad. This gave me the opportunity to run a broad mix of equipment and take advantage of some really cool first generation diesels that were painted and decorated for the New Haven. My branch line was a loosely based on the prototype - the New York, New Haven & Hartford's Watuppa Branch that ran between Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts. I designed a point to point layout with a main line that had hidden reverse loops. I hid the loops so you would not see the train turning around, it helpd keep the illusion of a real railroad. To ensure that I was building things the right way and operating the right way, I did some research at the local library (in New Bedford) to gather information on the New Haven's trackage, yards, towers and operations in Southeastern Massachusetts between 1938 and 1955. You do not need to obsess over every detail when choosing model trains, though most people who do opt for the scale replicas are doing so out of a love for making models and scale miniatures. If you do not want your train time to involve making realistic trees, or fake water that looks real, or weathering cars to simulate years of exposure to the elements, model railroading may not be for you. If you do want to have the most realistic setup you can create, you are on the right track. Models have intricate detail Models have intricate detail \| Source Toy trains can look real, but are not close to the prototype Toy trains can look real, but are not close to the prototype \| Source This HO Scale M1 Class locomotive has amazing detail This HO Scale M1 Class locomotive has amazing detail \| Source This Lionel AC6000 is 3-rail O Scale; It is a 1:48 scale model that runs on traditionally toy train track What to watch for Generally speaking, all model trains of the same scale will operate together. Since there is always an "unless" to touch on a few exceptions to the rule. There is a standards issuing body, the NMRA, which issues guidelines for everything from couplers to wheels, to the number a chuffs a locomotive should have when equipped with sound to simulate its prototype. At a high level, anything within the same scale that conforms to the NMRA standard should be compatible. With that said, here are a few of the grey areas: Couplers - The NMRA coupler standard has changed over time. For HO and N scale, it used to be a plastic hook coupler known as the X2f. Once prototypical knuckle couplers became more prevalent in the marketplace, and manufacturers began using them on ready to run equipment, the standard changed to knuckle type couplers. The standard essentially says that couplers have to be to scale and should be a certain height off the rails. It does not dictate how they should operate or what they should be made of. You can find plastic and metal knuckle couplers on the market. You can also find coupler heights that vary. You may find that some couplers, such as those made by Kadee are more realistic than the ones made by Bachmann. Some are more reliable than others and not all work perfectly with each other. MTH has developed an operating knuckle for their line of HO trains that will open via remote control in the same way the knukles on their O gauge counterparts work. Track - Not all track systems are the same. For scale modelling, prefabricated track is available in various lengths and as pre-made switches and turnouts, crossings, etc. Ties can be wood or plastic and may be quite detailed and realistic looking. Popular in some scales is hand laying track, a tedious process where, just like in real life, a roadbed is prepared, ties are laid, and rail is installed. Instead of using a sledge hammer or track laying machine, you are pinning the track to the ties with teensy little nails. Track also comes in different "codes". The Code refers to the height of the rail. The most common in prefabricated track is Code 100. The most realistic looking is Code 83. Code 100 track is slightly thicker than Code 83 where the top of the rail is higher above the ties. Because of the difference in height, the two can cause problems when installed together. Operating systems - It's sort of like the Mac vs the PC here. The NMRA standard for digital operation is DCC (Digital Command Control). The manufacturer bucking the trend is MTH, which has incorporated their popular DCS (Digital Control System) in to their HO locomotives. A DCS system can operate trains equipped with DCC decoders. A DCC system can operate trains equipped with DCS electronics. There are compatibility issues though. A DCS controller can take advantage of all the features of DCC electronics. A DCC control can not take advantage of all the DCS electronics. Of course, there is always the old fashioned analog DC transformer, which is compatible with everything. Toy Trains or Scale Models? Which do you prefer? See results There is so much more to get in to when it comes to model trains. If you carefully pick your scale based on your space, operational requirements and level of commitment, you will enjoy a creative enriching hobby for years to come. You are not limited with scale models to "true to life" modelling. You can combine scale equipment and operating techniques with a toy train style layout. Lionel and MTH, as well as other, make traditional style equipment in scale dimensions. You are sure to enjoy the hobby, no matter which direction you choose. 0 of 8192 characters used Post Comment No comments yet.
ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel How to Recharge Alkaline Batteries Updated on November 21, 2012 How to recharge a used Alkaline battery The label says: “do not recharge. May leak or explode.” Yes, they may leak or explode when charged but you may charge them. Note: This article is based on experience and experiments, and other people’s experience on charging these types of batteries. When trying to charge Alkaline batteries, always assume that they will leak and explode so, take precaution. Move anything valuable or flammable away from the cells. By explode, we mean pop. Alkaline batteries are not life threatening when they explode. Just don’t touch it while it does and do not ingest the substance that comes out of it. You’ll need: - Multitester, or volt and ampere meter - Battery receptacle - Alligator clips connected to wires - DC source, like a cell phone charger - Diodes (any diode) and/or resistors First, assemble a circuit such where the (+) terminal of the battery is connected to the (+) terminal of the DC source. Arrange the circuit that will run 50-100mA through the battery. A combination of diodes and resistors is suggested. What I use when I charge alkaline batteries are LEDs, six of them arranged in parallel with a 5.7volts source with 600mA max current output. This arrangement runs 50-60mA through the batteries. At 50-100mA, you need to charge the cells the entire day. And what’s good with this configuration is that the voltage drops as the batteries are getting charged. You’ll never fully charge them this way but it decreases the change of a battery leak or explosion. Use the voltmeter to monitor the voltage of the cells. When they are about to reach 1.8volts, disconnect them and wait for the voltage to drop before reconnecting. Batteries can explode or leak when they reach above 1.8volts. While it’s still below, you are safe. Check the temperature too. If it’s hot or warm, disconnect it and wait for it to cool down. Do this until the batteries gives of 1.65volts or more when disconnected. You can charge at a very high current but you need to keep on watching the batteries using the above procedure. It speeds up the charging process but increases the risk of leaking and exploding. Battery brands also have different reactions to recharging. Some can handle an afternoon at 150mA while others will pop. Alkaline Battery Recharging is still an experimental technology. There is always a chance of a leak whatever you do so take precautions when recharging. Why would you still go for Alkalines and risk a leak when there are NiMH batteries? It’s because alakalines can hold their charge for up to 5 years. NiMH discharges to 0% in two months. Alakline Batteries are more reliable this way even if they only hold about 1500mAh. 0 of 8192 characters used Post Comment • leakeem profile image leakeem 5 years ago from Earth Yes. It really needs to be monitored, both voltage and temperature, or else. . . poof. . .it pops up. Thanks for the comments! • profile image dkmayo 5 years ago A very interesting hub. I gather you must monitor it, so the battery does not get overcharged. • backporchstories profile image backporchstories 5 years ago from Kentucky Great info! What I am amazed at is how you can retrieve double A batteries out of the big nine volts battery and ends up being cheaper. Sometimes they try to pull wool over the consumers eyes, but some of us keep our eyes wide open! Glad you stressed the precautions too!
Role Mobile Technology Play In The Network Society. The aim of this essay is to discuss the role mobile technology play in the network society. Network Society: “The network society concept emphasizes the form and organization of information processing and exchange.” (Van Dijk, 2006: 20). Mobile technology has changed human history. It allows us to stay connected regardless of our geographical location. The implications of this are huge: not only is it incredibly convenient to be able to make a phone call wherever you are, but it’s also crucial to be able to make a phone call when you need to most; namely, during an emergency situation. Because of this, mobile technology has literally saved lives. Besides these obvious implications, there are also more subtle ways by which mobile technology has helped mankind. Consider that mobile devices are commonly used in the medical industry to enhance and simplify how things are run. We owe a great deal of gratitude to mobile devices. Through phone calls, SMS messaging, mobile Internet browsing and many more avenues, we’ve been able to stay connected as a society and keep in touch both in times of relaxation and in times of need. Mobile devices have truly touched the lives of millions. Regardless of their specific form, the last few decades have seen an unparalleled rise in the availability of these technologies among the public. In 1985, for example, there were a total of 340,000 cell phone subscribers in the United States. In 2012, there are now 5.9 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide. This shift in the span of only 27 years has had a dramatic effect on how people relate to one another. In previous eras, for example, there was a clear line between the “public” and “private” spheres of daily life. Because communication technology could only be transmitted in very specific forms like a television set or radio signal, people interacted with the technology in limited bursts. The news cycle was geared to produce a compendium of relevant stories at specific times, leading to more thoughtful and well-researched presentations. Because the hardware was somewhat costly, people tended to gather in groups to experience presentations together. When the presentation was over, people would turn off the technology and return to their particular social grouping without the expectation of further media interference. In our present society, mobile technology is never “off” in the same way that it used to be only a few decades before. While people can elect individually to participate with the technology, the public/private boundary has become very hard to differentiate. Cell phones, which allow people to connect to the internet, are designed to remain receptive to messages unless their battery has died. The natural human urge to connect with others is now a constant option, instead of an occasional luxury. The presence of older communication technology such as radio or television in people’s lives does not have the same significance that it once did, although it still plays a role. Increasingly, communication technology is viewed as a kind of platform. A radio show might be more popular than a television show, or vice-versa. People accord relevance to content, not necessarily the platform on which it is found. This has forced content providers to become increasingly competitive in terms of branding themselves in the market in order to attract attention. Television competes with Twitter competes with radio competes with memes on the internet. There is no center in the communications technology universe, only a constantly revolving door of options. The consumer chooses what content appeals to him, and the benefit to the communication technology provider is therefore second-hand. This is partially why the rise of wireless technology may ultimately become the distinguishing factor in who influences major communication shifts. Much like electricity, without wireless access many people will be unable to access the content. However, the sheer numbers of people who are actively participating in communications technology by virtue of owning cell phones makes it unlikely that only one provider will be able to capture all wireless communications. Because cell phones and tablet computers have evolved so quickly, it is likely that smaller markets will be able to create sophisticated “off-grid” technologies that use a specialized form of wireless signal to transmit messages to a select group, much as the London rioters of 2011 sent each other private messages over their Blackberrys or iPhones. It is now a norm to see mobile phones in educational and learning environments such as the school ground. Once an isolated learning environment, now a constant connection to outside distractions and interruptions. A survey of 1,000 young people aged 11–15 years found that 90% had their own mobile phone (Kendall 2001). Of those young people owning a phone; the majority (73 percent) had their mobile phones on during the class and a further 13 percent said that they had received a call or message since the class had begun. This shows the change from a student who should be focusing and learning, that is now distracted and socializing. The usage of mobile phones may be altering, in a profound way, the structure of leisure time. It has changed the idea of ‘killing’ time when you would read a newspaper, book or magazine. Now, killing time can be more productive by communicating with someone, planning things or even checking emails (Fortunati, 2002). Regardless of what the future holds, the present is very much an environment influenced by communication technology. It is not an uncommon sight to see someone walking down a crowded street, completely absorbed by the display of their smart phone. The way we choose to connect with people has become largely mediated by communication technology. Most of us, perhaps not surprisingly, have accepted this transition without question. Van Dijk, JAGM. 2006. The network society: Social Aspects of New Media. 2nd edition. London: Sage Publication. Fortunatia L. 2002, Information, Communication & Society. 5th edition. Udine: Routledge Publication. The Role of Communication Technology in Today’s Society. Retrieved from [ Accessed March 24 2014]. Mobile Technology. Retrieved from [Accessed 24 March 2014] Importance of mobile technology in our society. Retrieved from [Accessed 25 March 2014]. The impact that social media has on societal and individual relations. The aim of this essay is to give the impact that social media has on societal and individual relations. Social media has changed the way people interact with each other forever. Social media first existed as an invention created in 1975 known as email, which is still used today (Owyang, 2009). However social media has advanced in to using a profile to give information about a user and his or her interests, and has integrated the use of email. Now social media involves sharing stories, photos, and involves the use of applications as well as messaging to communicate with others. This type of social media did not become popular until the year 2003 when MySpace and Friendster were launched. Shortly after Facebook was launched but was not open to the general public until 2006, which has become the number one social media site today (Owyang, 2009). These networks have many positive effects such as remaining in contact with friends, meeting new people, providing educational benefits, as well as the convenience of mobilly accessing it. Also there are some negative effects which include identity theft, cyber bullying, decreased social interaction in real life, and social isolation. Increase in mobile social media could possible cause future health problems. The first type of social media created was Email, which was invented in 1975 (Email). Since then social media has advanced into a profile with numerous features that can be used and has integrated the use of email. Now social media is changing the way the world interacts with people, and has provided many useful tools for the world to use. Still these social networks are continuing to advance to provide better features for users, and these popular sites will continue to grow in size. Even though social networks can have negative effects such as wasting time, it also affects people positively by allowing people to communicate and remain in contact with friends in a much easier way. (Owyang, 2009) In the article “Are social networking sites good for our society?” (ProCom,2009) social networking is defined as “an online community that allow people to develop profiles of their backgrounds and interests, communicate with friends and strangers, and share thoughts, photos, Internet links, music, and more (p.1). Once a social network is joined users are prompted to identify others in the system with which they have a relationship known generally as “friends.” Social media sites vary greatly with the features they have to offer, and is what makes each site different from the other.”Six Degrees” was the first major social network, similar to social media today, to be launched and was launched in 1997 (Bhutkar, 2009). Social media as it is today did not become popular until 2003 when Friendster MySpace and LinkedIn were launched. Then in 2004 Facebook was launched but was only open to college students with a valid university email. Facebook remained a college only network for two years before it opened to the general public in 2006. Since then Facebook has become the number one social media site (Bhutkar, 2009). Social media sites allow people to communicate and remain in contact with friends as well as meet new people. These sites allow people to find others with similar interests that they can create a relationship with and get to know one another. Groups can be joined or formed to meet people with similar interests, and views. Social media allows for creative expression by using tools such as messaging to post ideas and stories (Are social networking sites good for our society). Users also share poems, interest in music, TV shows, hobbies, photos, and many other things. Event invitations can be made and sent to friends rather than having to mail invitations and friends can also rsvp for an event on the site. Not only is it used to talk to friends, but it is also used to discuss educational topics. Social media is said to increase a person’s quality of life, and can reduce health risks. Many people report that they have not had any negative experiences with social media, and schools are starting to look at it as an educational tool (Thelwell, 2006). The use of social media helps improve technological skills of students, and exposes them to many diverse views about things. It also has helped with communication skills, and allows the learning of cultures from users all over the world. Also students use social media to discuss homework topics with peers online, and to get help on assignments (Reid, 2009). Sixty percent of students on social networks have said that they talk about education, and 50 percent specifically talk about school work assignments. These students seem to have an extraordinary set of traditional and 21st century skills including communication, creativity, collaboration, and leadership skills and technology proficiency. Parents are expecting schools to take advantage of using online social media to educate children, but to do so in a safe way. Some public schools have created a secure social network for its student to be able to communicate with other students, and to do so in a more safe way (National School Board Association, 2007). Social media does not just benefit individuals, but it also benefits businesses as well. These sites allow businesses to advertise and market services to a large audience, and a profile is free to set up (Gillin, 2008). Numerous businesses have created profiles that provide detailed information about the business to advertise in a low cost way (Roberts, 2008). Businesses will gain more attention on social networks because the business profile is available to for all users of the social network to see. Also businesses like to use social networks to learn what potential employees are like, and make decisions based on the information provided on the person’s profile (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007). Social media has its advantages and its disadvantages like everything else does. The sites are continuously advancing, and changing to fix the negative problems.There are still problems that need to be fixed, but it seems that the positive effects outweigh the negative effects. Social media is a very valuable tool that can be used to meet new people, and allow people to remain in contact with friends. Even though it can waste time, social media positively affects the world by allowing people to communicate, and remain in contact with friends in an easy and convenient way. Are social networking sites good for our society? (2009). Social Networking Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Bhutkar, G. (2009, January 29). Users on Social Networking Sites. Journal of HC Vistas, Retrieved March 9, 2014, Retrieved from Email: The First -and Largest- Social Network « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang \| Social Media, Web Marketing. (n.d.). Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang: Web Marketing, Social Media. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Gillin, P. (2008). Business anywhere, anytime. Computerworld Communications Brief, 1-5. . Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Reid, K. (2009, November). The rise of social networking sites. Education Journal, 119, 22. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Thelwall, M. (2008, January 25). Myspace, Facebook, Bebo: Social Networking Students. ALT Newsletter, January 2008(11). Retrieved from,0,w Thomas, W. (2004). Cell phone health effects: busy signals think twice before you place that call.Alive. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Investigations/Articles/cellphones.htm
Category: OCD Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been proven to be one of the most effective treatment options for OCD. This method teaches people to confront their fears. The more one tries to avoid their obsessions, the more worse they get. It teaches different ways of thinking, behaving and reacting to situations. This method allows for them to eventually get used their obsessions until they no longer face the anxiety. I recently read an article in which researchers wanted to test a theory that an internet based OCD can be a cheapter and more effective way to treat OCD. The article suggested that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective but access to CBT therapists are limited. They decided to develop a internet based CBT (IBCT) in which patients could log onto the website and work with written self-help material and homework assignments as a way of self-help. They would still have the ability to work with an online CBT therapist and it would increase a patient’s access to CBT. Participants were chosen from physicians and mental health professionals and self-referral. Information was posted on a clinic’s website. In order to be a participant in the experiment, they had to agree to a consent form which stated that they had to agree to undergo psychological treatment and they also had to have no history of CBT treatment for 2 years prior. 23 patients received 15-weeks of the IBCT program that consisted of psycho education, cognitive restructuring and exposure response prevention. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale was used to assess the patients before and after treatment They concluded that IBCT reduced OCD symptoms and improved the patient’s general functioning after the 15 week program. They believe that IBCT has potential but there has to be more controlled trials in order to validate the method. There are many signs and symptoms of OCD but there are a few common ones: Obsessions or compulsions are not due to medical illness or drug use Fear of dirt or contamination of germs Need for order and exactness Causing harm to another Making a mistake Excessive doubt and need for reassurance Constant bathing, showering or washing hands Repeating words or phrases Constant counting while performing routine tasks Repeatedly checking things (locks) Touching doorknobs Eating food in an order Performing tasks a number of times I wanted to share a personal story about one of my family members. My mother suffers from OCD and it is really hard on her sometimes. Things in my house have to be clean and spotless and if they are not, she worries. Everyday she comes home, she starts to clean the house. When something is not clean, she the thought cannot leave her mind and it stresses her out to the point where she can’t sleep or can’t focus on other things. This causes her to be stressed and it can take a toll on her sometimes. It is sad to see her go through it and I try to help her cope in certain ways. I feel that the best things for someone is support from family and friends because they know that they are understood and that people are there to help them. Because I have been there for her, she tends to not worry as much or i’ll help her out as best as I can to keep things clean so she does not have that in her mind constantly. OCD Causes The causes of OCD are not fully understood and even not known that much. However, some believe that biological and enviornmental factors may have a factor in the development of OCD. Biological Factors: Neurons in our brians communicate and work together in order for our bodies to function normally. Neurons communicate with neurotransmitters to help move electrical signals from neuron to neuron. One neurotransmitter, called serotonin, may have low levels that can in turn cause OCD. Also, serotonin imbalance may also be inherited. If a parent has the low imbalance, they can spread it to their children. Another biolocial factor could be an infection called Streptococcus that can develop into OCD if it is recurrent and untreated. Enviornmental Factors: There are several factors that can trigger OCD. Such factors include abuse, death of a loved one , work and school problems, illness and many other forms of stress that an individual may go through. OCD Video As i come in contact with you, my fear you, which I have tried to supress with time consuming rituals only to make you stronger and stronger Now we are face to face I am terrified As the tears run down my face it came to my realization You are nothing to be afraid of. As I was researching the victims of OCD, I came across this poem and it really got to me. Many people constantly claim “I have OCD” as a joke but what many do not realize is that it is something that people have to deal with everyday and it takes their lives away. They have to struggle so much to try and overcome this but they cannot. This poem helped me to see that it causes fear in it’s victims and for someone to realize that it’s nothing to be afraid of really is an inspirational quote and I hope that those who are trying to overcome this can one day feel this way too. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has always been one of my favorite anxiety disorders to learn about. OCD is a disorder in which an individual deals with persistent unwanted feelings, ideas, thoughts, obsessions or behaviors that cause them to carry out compulsions. I have always thought that living this way can be very difficult for the individual. They are constantly carrying out compulsions because they cannot help themselves. I know that it is hard to want to do something but try so hard not to. I have had some experiences with people who have OCD and I know that there are a lot of television shows and movies that show what this disorder looks like. I am excited to research and post some of these so that everyone can get a visual look of how hard this disorder is for someone.
World Map Maps of World World Maps North America Maps South America Maps Europe Maps Asia Maps Australia and Oceania Maps Africa Maps USA Maps World Atlas Location Maps of the World Cities Maps Cities of the World World Flags Latitude and Longitude Landkarten der Welt Ancient \| Medieval \| Modern \| Contemporary \| Online Map Home > Modern > Agostino Codazzi World Map of Modern Era Agostino Codazzi Agostino Codazzi, also known as Agustin Codazzi, was born on 11th July, 1793 in Lugo, which is now in Italy. After receiving primary education, he studied philosophy. He joined the army of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810 and graduated as an artillery officer in 1813. Agostino Codazzi is also said to have participated in the battles of Ulm, Dresden, Leipzig, Lutzen and Bautzen. After the decline of the Napoleonic empire, he went to Constantinople. From Constantinople, Agustin Codazzi and his friend Captain Constant Ferrari embarked on a journey to northern Europe. He started for a journey across Moravia, Russia, Denmark, Polland, Greece, Sweden, Prussia, Wallachia and Holland. Agostino Codazzi returned to Italy in 1822 and bought a farm near Lugo in association with another countryman. However, after staying there for 3 years he decided to return back to America in the year 1826. He is known to enter the service of the Republic of Colombia. He started his work on atlas and the geography of Venezuela in 1832. Agostino Codazzi married in 1834 and the great map maker died on the 7th of February in the year 1859. For more information you can refer to:
Dismiss Notice Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Correction formula 1. Jun 7, 2010 #1 so imagine you have an airplane traveling at an axis projecting a signal vertically down along AF axis and you have some point O on AF axis and a refference angle Sun-O-Plane . the plane gets affected by some rolling motion at a certain known angle.... now the axis shifts to A'F' and O become O' I drew a little picture to show my idea. I'm trying to come up wit a correction formula to find out what the new Sun-O'-Plane angle would be .The sun could be at any position. and the information known would be the S-o-P angle along with the planes altitude. any feed backs guys would be great =) 2. Relevant equations 3. The attempt at a solution Attached Files: • m.jpg File size: 11.5 KB 2. jcsd 3. Jun 7, 2010 #2 I'm not sure exactly what you mean. is the distance PO and PO' the same? Or are we to assume O and O' are on the ground (meaning the height doesn't vary)? If the first case is correct then your shaded region should be an isosceles triangle. If the second case is correct then you would have a right triangle. and in both cases one leg of the triangle is completely vertical. So, which case is it? Or am I way off? 4. Jun 7, 2010 #3 PO is different from PO' and O and O' lay on ground level which truely makes the shaded triangle right angled. also the height does not varry ! The signal is projected vertically down at first than at an angle when roll motion takes place. thank you... Last edited: Jun 7, 2010 Similar Discussions: Correction formula 1. Background correction (Replies: 1) 2. Formula help (Replies: 1) 3. Formula Conduction (Replies: 1)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! A Why so big of a difference in cross section by different sources? 1. Nov 21, 2016 #1 if you look up the cross section in Janis books, usually for same reaction, different cross sections are quoted by different laboratories. For example, the values of thermal neutron capture reaction 9Be(n, r)10Be: EAF-2010, 0.0075b ENDF/B-VII.1, 0.01b JEFF-3.1.2, 0.0088b JENDL-4.0, 0.0085b TENDL-2011, 8.17b Obviously, the first 4 sources quote very similar values, but the the last source TENDL-2011 quotes a so different value, it is almost 1000 times than previous 4 sources. How this happen? Which value should be trusted when design? Attached Files: 2. jcsd 3. Nov 21, 2016 #2 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member My guess TENDL-2011 is using different unit. 4. Nov 21, 2016 #3 I checked the online version of Janis books, see http://www.oecd-nea.org/janisweb/book/neutrons/Be9/MT102/renderer/263 [Broken]. There TENDL-2011 has been replaced with TENDL-2015. The new experimental data is in agreement with the other experiments. So, probably the data "TENDL-2011" contained some error. Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2017 5. Nov 22, 2016 #4 User Avatar Gold Member there were more than 1 cases where TENDL-2011 gave very weird results compared to others (even some numbers seemed to be buggy)... I am amazed that people actually recorded them.... Have something to add? Draft saved Draft deleted
Thursday, September 16, 2010 Thomas Jefferson Koran Snopes on the Thomas Jefferson Koran seems to be true. What an interesting story. WHEN KEITH Ellison was sworn into office as a congressman, he wanted to swear on a Quran instead of a Bible, so they used Thomas Jefferson's Quran, which they borrowed for the occasion from the Library of Congress. The story behind Jefferson's Quran, and what he did with it, is an instructive look at the power of accurate knowledge. It began before Jefferson was president. He was then the American ambassador to France, and he was disturbed by what was happening in the Mediterranean. For centuries, the "Barbary Coast Pirates" had been raiding ships passing through the Mediterranean. These were not "pirates" in the sense that we usually think of them. They weren't rogue agents acting independently. They worked for the governments of the North African countries. They would steal the ship and return to their countries, confiscating the booty aboard the ship, most of which added to the wealth of the Islamic state. They also took the ship's crew members captive and ransomed the ones they could. Most of that money also went to the Islamic government. The crew who could not be ransomed were sold into slavery. Many European countries wanted this to stop, of course, to which the leaders of the North African countries replied, "All you have to do is pay us a certain amount of money annually, and we will not attack ships from your country." Many European countries paid the tribute. It was cheaper than going to war. Of course, that was a short-term, self-defeating solution, since paying the tribute made the North African Muslim countries more powerful and more capable of terror, plunder, and mayhem. The Tripoli Muslim ambassador was very straightforward. He said, basically, "That's what we do. We are commanded to do so by Allah." Jefferson later wrote that the Tripoli ambassador told him, "It was written in their Koran that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every mussulman (Muslim) who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to Paradise." And when he became president, he formed the United States Navy, created the Marine Corps, sent them to the shores of Tripoli, and soundly defeated the Muslim warriors. This brought an end to the "Barbary Coast Pirates." This was the first foreign war fought by the U.S. and military aggressiveness of Islamic countries remained contained and weakened for over a century. It's amazing what a little accurate information can do. Read more: Thomas Jefferson's Quran. George said... Thanks for the information about Jefferson's Quran. More of us need accurate information. A Lady's Life said... George - We still have pirates out there doing the same thing, to this day.Whose to say what religion they are? Hind said... This is very interesting, indeed. However, islam never teaches to fight or attack those who are in peace with u. Some historical information are sadly biased to serve in deforming the image of some ppl, exactly like the modern media and its war against Islam. I just wanted to clarify this point... :) A Lady's Life said... Hind - Thanks :) This is what all muslims say except the ones who speak the truth. They tell a different story.I believe them because I've been to that part of the world and seen for myself. We have seen people having their heads chopped off, women stoned for adultery and kept uneducated and 12 year old children are married off crying, to old men , sold for money. They go all the way to Thailand to buy them and they sit watching sex acts in private rooms in places like Patpong. Not very religious. Once you join the Islamic faith, you cannot leave.They will not feed you unless you join their faith.People are kept poor and angry. Even Arafat stole from his people and died a rich man while his people starved. It's a very different interpretation of peace than what we are used to. You look at the hikers being kept in Iran for making a mistake. The woman was let go because she was sick and even in jail, she was not allowed to wear her own clothes. Another American woman soldier was threatened to have her hands and feet cut off for wearing shorts. I myself began to worry when I got off a plane to walk to see an islamic airport. There was nothing there except walls and ceramic tiles and a hole in the floor for a toilet.Yet the soldiers were standing with guns and cigarettes, unshaven and they presented a physical threat to European women. Especially if they were blond. In our world, we are allowed to investigate and ask questions about religion, In the Islamic world no one is allowed to discuss Muhammad. Secrets are kept because to disclose them, would mean people would leave the faith or rebel against it. Its another world and I have to say I didn't like it much.But these were my experiences and this is my opinion. On a lighter side,I like the food and most people I meet here in Canada are nice. Haddock said... Some historical information here.
Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diet Q&A Share \| 1. About how many Americans have celiac disease? Has this number increased in recent years? Although there are estimated to be nearly 3 million Americans with celiac disease, and incidence of celiac have risen four fold since the 1950’s. Unfortunately about 95% remain undiagnosed. Why? Celiac disease is rarely considered by physicians, it currently takes about 6 years for a patient to receive a celiac diagnosis on average. Additionally, emerging research suggests that conditions such as gluten sensitivity, a condition affecting an additional 18 million Americans, are also apart of a much bigger picture than once thought.   Until now, little has been known about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. However, scientists hope that recent breakthroughs and greater awareness will lead to better diagnosis of both conditions. NFCA is working to gain 1 million diagnosed celiacs by 2015 by educating primary care providers about the signs and symptoms of celiac disease. For information and to help NFCA in this effort visit: http://www.celiaccentral.org/CMEtoolkit/rev–2/ 2. How do you know if you have celiac disease? NFCA’s website has an online symptoms checklist that can help determine if your health problems or symptoms may indicate celiac. The first step to getting diagnosed is as easy as asking your doctor for a simple blood test to check for celiac disease. It is very important to continue eating a normal gluten containing diet before being tested. If the blood test comes back positive, your doctor will then follow up with a small intestine biopsy, which is currently the most definitive way to test for celiac disease. 3. Can you have celiac disease and NOT experience any symptoms? Yes, some individuals may have asymptomatic celiac disease. In fact, 38% of patients are asymptomatic.  In these cases, the undamaged part of their small intestine is able to absorb enough nutrients to prevent symptoms. However, people without symptoms are still at risk for the complications of celiac disease including other autoimmune disorders, infertility, neurological disorders, and cancer. 4. If I have celiac disease, are family members also at risk? Yes, celiac disease is one of the most common genetic disorders in the country. • Prevalence of Celiac in first degree relatives: 1 in 22 • Prevalence of Celiac in second degree relatives: 1 in 39 Family members may have Celiac Disease without experiencing symptoms and should be tested every year or so. 5. What is a gluten-free diet and what foods are gluten-free? A gluten-free diet means avoiding all foods and beverages containing wheat, barley, and rye. That also includes ingredients like malt that derive from gluten containing grains. While the gluten-free diet may seem restrictive, believe it or not most things on the food pyramid are naturally gluten-free including: fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, legumes, diary, and even some starches such as rice, potatoes, and yams. And yes, you can even have chocolate! 6. Is there any amount of gluten that is safe to eat if you have celiac disease? The gluten-free diet is a lifelong commitment for people with celiac disease. Eating any amount of gluten, no matter how tiny, can cause damage to the villi of the small intestines and prevent patients from absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream. 7. Once someone with celiac disease goes on a gluten-free diet, will they get better right away? Due to the harmful and sometimes prolonged effects gluten exposure, those with celiac may have severe nutrient malabsorption issues, and low levels of essential vitamins and minerals. Consulting a doctor or nutritionist during this critical restoration process is encouraged, as it may take up to two years to completely heal. 8. Where do buy gluten-free food? Grocery stores and food distributors nationwide are responding to the skyrocketing demand for gluten-free products. NFCA’s website lists many locations that have dedicated gluten-free sections to help you easily identify products that are safe for a gluten-free diet. There are also several online retailers for gluten-free products to explore. 9. How do I eat gluten-free on the go? Keep energy bars, trail mix, nuts, and/or gluten free crackers everywhere! Your car, gym bag, and pocketbook are perfect places to store some emergency gluten-free goodies- just in case! 10. Are there benefits to eating gluten-free if you do not have celiac disease? While research is ongoing, those suffering from autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis are finding that adopting a gluten-free diet can alleviate many of their symptoms as well. There ARE benefits to eating a healthy diet, embracing foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, meats, and dairy, which are naturally gluten-free and low processed foods. Have a question? NFCA Is Here To Help! The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to driving diagnosis, improving quality-of-life, and working with leading researchers to better understand celiac disease and find a cure. NFCA’s website offers free, comprehensive information and support materials for patients, their families, health care providers, food industry professionals, and anyone with an interest in celiac disease and gluten-free living! For information, visit the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) website. Related Items Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diet Q&A About Celiac Disease and the Gluten-Free Diet About Celiac Disease and the Gluten-Free Diet Dining Out on a Gluten-Free Diet: 5 Tips for Success Gluten-Free Diet 101: Reading Labels Leave your comments
Calgary Population 2017 The population of Calgary (2017) is 1,235,171. This makes Calgary the third largest city in Canada, the largest city in Alberta, and the 20th largest city in North America. Latest data from Statistics Canada shows that the population of the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area was 1,440,000 in 2015. The Calgary CMA is home to 4% of people who live in Canada. Calgary is the fastest growing city in Canada. Its population grew by 32% between 2005 and 2015. Calgary is located in the south of the Canadian province of Alberta. It is approximately 50 miles east of the Canadian Rockies and about 180 miles south of Edmonton, the Capital City of Alberta. This article contains detailed information about Calgary demographics, covering both the city of Calgary and the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area. Calgary Census Metropolitan Area Population The city of Calgary is the largest part of the Calgary Census Metropolitan area. There are two other cities in the Calgary CMA, Airdrie (population: 42,564) is and Chestermere (population: 14,824). The Calgary CMA also contains a number of smaller towns and a First Nations Reserve (the Tsuu T’ina Nation). Although the city of Calgary is the third largest city in Canada, the Calgary CMA is only the fourth largest CMA in Canada. This is because Vancouver, which is a smaller city than Calgary, has a larger metropolitan area. The two largest census metropolitan areas by population in Canada are Toronto and Montreal. Calgary Population Growth As noted above, Calgary is the fastest growing city in Canada. The Calgary CMA population grew by 32% between 2005 and 2015. The Calgary population growth rate is slightly higher than the rate of growth in Edmonton, the other major city in Alberta, which was 31% over the same period. However, Calgary’s population growth is three times as high as the average rate of growth across Canada. By 2041 the population of the Calgary CMA is projected to grow to 2.4 million. Much of this population growth is likely to occur just outside of the city boundaries in suburban commuter towns like Airdrie. The table below lists the population of Calgary every five years since 1891. Year Population % Change 1901 4,091 n/a 1906 11,967 192.5% 1911 43,704 265.2% 1916 56,514 29.3% 1921 63,305 12.0% 1926 65,291 3.1% 1931 83,761 28.3% 1936 83,407 -0.4% 1941 88,904 6.6% 1946 100,044 12.5% 1951 129,060 29.0% 1956 181,780 40.8% 1961 249,641 37.3% 1966 330,575 32.4% 1971 403,319 22.0% 1976 469,917 16.5% 1981 592,743 26.1% 1986 636,107 7.3% 1991 710,795 11.7% 1996 768,082 8.1% 2001 878,866 14.4% 2006 988,193 12.4% 2011 1,096,833 11.0% 2016 1,235,171 12.6% Note: Data provided by Statistics Canada, except for 2016, which is an estimate based on the Calgary Government’s 2016 Civic Census. Calgary Population Density The city of Calgary covers 825.29 km². Based on the city’s 2011 population, which was 1,096,833, its population density was 1,329.0 people per km². The Calgary Census Metropolitan area covers 5,107.55 km². With a population of 1,214,839 in 2011, the Calgary CMA population density was 237.9 people per km². Calgary Languages Seven in every 10 people (70.9%) in Calgary speak English as their first language. Eight in every 10 people (80.3%) speak English most often at home. A further 1.5% people speak French as their first language. Just over a quarter of people in Calgary (25.3%) speak another non-official language. Other / Non-Official Language25.3% The most commonly spoken other languages in Calgary are Tagalog / Filipino (2.6%), Punjabi (2.6%), Chinese (2.3%) and Spanish (2.0%). Just 7.2% of people in Calgary are English – French bilingual. People aged 20 to 44 (8.7%) are most likely to be bilingual, and people aged over 65 (4.3%) are least likely to be bilingual. People whose first language is French (88.7%) are almost 14 times more likely to be bilingual and people whose first language is English (6.4%). Ethnicity in Calgary Visible Minority Group30.1% The most common ethnic group in Calgary is White (67.3% of the population). Nearly a third (30.1%) of Calgary residents reported in the 2011 census that they were members of a Visible Minority Group. The largest of these groups were South Asian (7.5%), Chinese (6.8%), Filipino (4.4%) and Black (2.9%). A further 2.7% of the population of Calgary is Aboriginal. Métis are the largest aboriginal group, they make up 1.4% of the population, followed by First Nations with 1.2% of the population. Inuit and other aboriginal peoples make up the remaining 0.1% of the population. When asked about their ethnic origin, 24.12% of people in Calgary reported that it was English. This was followed by Canadian (19.96%), Scottish (18.49%), German (15.51%) and Irish (15.34%). A further 9.33% of people reported that their ethnic origin was French and 7.19% reported that their origin was Chinese. Note that people were able to select more than one group of ethnic origin. Religion in Calgary Based on the 2011 census Christianity remains the largest single religion in Calgary. 54.9% of respondents reported that they were Christian. No religion32.3% Almost a third of people (32.3%) reported that they had no religion. This was followed by Islam (5.2%), Sikh (2.6%) and Buddhist (2.1%). Resources and further reading Unless otherwise noted, demographic data in this article is provided by Statistics Canada, who conduct a nationwide census every five years or the City of Calgary, who conduct an annual civic census. Pin It on Pinterest Share This
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Hannah - A Woman of Prayer - Historical Background The first book of Samuel covers a period from the birth of Samuel, last of the judges, to the death of Saul, the first of the kings of Israel.This is a period of about 115 years; from about 1100BC to 1010BC. The author is unknown except it is believed that a part of the book was written by Samuel.Not all of the book could have been written by him because it records his death (I Samuel 25:1).Also, I Chronicles 29:29 lists who another author of this book could have been.In the beginning of the first book of Samuel we find a woman named Hannah, who is only mentioned in the first two chapters. Family Background We do not know who her parents were or what city she was from.Her early life is not recorded only her family life after her marriage. Chapter 1 1 SAMUEL 1:1-2 1 Now there was a certain man of Ramath-aim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: Verses 1-2 - Hannah's husband, Elkanah, was a Levite and belonged to a priestly tribe, the Kohathites (1 Chron. 6:33-38).He was a priest who followed the common custom of polygamy.His wife, Peninnah, could have children but his wife, Hannah, was barren. Levites - God provided in the Law that the Levites would not have an assigned territory but live throughout the land in each of the tribes. Barren - There were many barren women throughout the Scriptures who later conceived children who became great men: Rachel-Joseph and Benjamin Manoah's wife-Samson Elizabeth-John the Baptist 1 SAMUEL 1:3 Verse 3 - as was the yearly custom, Elkanah went to sacrifice in Shiloh. Shiloh - was a small Old Testament village about 20 miles north of Jerusalem. It was important because it served as the religious center for the Hebrew people during the period of judges before the kingdom was united under the leadership of David. Sacrifice - was a sacrifice based upon the system of sacrifice that was set up for their worship in the Temple.(see Richard Booker's book, The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread). 1 SAMUEL 1:4-5 Verses 4-5 - Elkanah gave his wife, Peninnah, and her sons and daughters their portion of the sacrifice. But to Hannah, the one whom he loved most, he gave more - or possibly the best portion. 1 SAMUEL 1:6 Verse 6 - Elkanah loved Hannah but Hannah was barren. One of the only rights that a woman had at this time was the right to bear children - it was considered God's blessing - the more children, the more you were blessed by God. So many times, when a woman was barren - she was not blessed by God and the blame went to God - for shutting up her womb.Apparently, Peninnah could see how much more Elkanah loved Hannah, and so she began to make remarks toward her.She possibly viewed Hannah as a rival that lived in her house. 1 SAMUEL 1:7 Verse 7 - The cruel remarks were not just a one time occurrence.Every time that Elkanah went to offer a yearly sacrifice, Peninnah made cruel remarks to Hannah. It is not recorded that Hannah sought revenge or that any kind of conflict happened - only that these remarks hurt Hannah and she wept and did not eat. 1 SAMUEL 1:8 Verse 8 - At this particular time, the remarks which were made by Peninnah caused Hannah to weep and Elkanah noticed.He knew that Hannah, like all women of this time, grieved because she had no children.But apparently, he did not know about the cruel remarks because, even though he saw her weeping, the questions he asked her indicate he assumes that she is grieved because of being barren. 1 SAMUEL 1:9-10 Verses 9-10 - Hannah was the fourth woman in the Bible who was barren and grieved because of it. Sarah - (Abraham) laughed when she was told of having a son Rebekah - (Isaac) her husband prayed for her Rachel - (Jacob) in her grief, demanded of Jacob Give me children or else I die. Hannah - (Elkanah) took her problem to God. Hannah was very prayerful and went to the Temple.The priest, Eli, was sitting at his seat by the Temple door.In the ancient Mid-East it was the custom for certain officials to place a stool or a seat in a courtyard or near the gate of the city where they could sit in judgment. They would sit in these judgment seats and hear cases or complaints.These seats had no backs, which may be why Eli was sitting near a post. 1 SAMUEL 1:11 Verse 11 - The prayer that Hannah offered to God is recorded in this verse. In her prayer, she made a vow/covenant with the Lord, If thou wilt remember me...give me a man child...then I will give him razor…upon his head...what is she promising God? Not only to give him back to the Lord but to dedicate him to God. This type of vow is called The Nazarite vow.The Nazarite vow was an oath taken to abstain from certain worldly influences and to consecrate oneself to God.Among the Jews, the vow was an option for most persons; it could be taken for a short period of time or for life. Nazarites expressed their dedication to God by: 1. Abstaining from all intoxicating drinks and grape products 2. Refusing to cut their hair 3. Avoiding contact with the dead 4. Refusing to eat food regarded as unclean (Numbers 6:3-7) When the specified period of time was completed, the Nazarite could appear before the priest for a ceremony of release.Nazarites who broke their vows could be restored only by observing specific restoration rites (Numbers 6).Some of the persons that took this vow in the Old Testament include Samson and Samuel.In the New Testament because of his self-denying life-style, John the Baptist was believed to have been a Nazarite.To be a Nazarite, one had to have a disciplined life and a strong commitment to God.Notice:Hannah made this promise of dedication to God before she was pregnant. 1 SAMUEL 1:12 Verse 12 - As Hannah prayed to the Lord, Eli watched her and watched her lips. Her prayer was apparently silent - Eli could hear no words. 1 SAMUEL 1:13 Verse 13 - The Jews were a very festive people - and because Eli heard nothing, he assumed that she was drunk. 1 SAMUEL 1:14 Verse 14 - Eli did not ask if she had been drinking, but just assumed because of the celebration all around that she had been. 1 SAMUEL 1:15 Verse 15 - Hannah replied that she was a woman of a sorrowful spirit because of her circumstances (barren/being reminded by the other wife). But notice in her response to Eli, Hannah took her sorrow to God. She chose not to allow her circumstances to make her a bitter person but turned to God. 1 SAMUEL 1:16 Verse 16 - The daughter of Belial means worthless,has an evil affiliation. 1 SAMUEL 1:17 Verse 17 - Eli's response was typical of a priest, Go in peace - the Lord will grant your request. 1 SAMUEL 1:18 Verse 18 - Now Hannah felt better - her burden was lifted. She ate, and her countenance changed. 1 SAMUEL 1:19 Verse 19 - When the Lord answered her prayers in the Scriptures, the term the Lord remembered her is used. 1 SAMUEL 1:20 Verse 20 - A miracle has occurred to a barren woman named Hannah.She had a son and named him Samuel, asked of the Lord. 1 SAMUEL 1:21-22 Verses 21-22 - The time came to go for the yearly sacrifice at the Temple.The last time Hannah was there she poured her heart out to the Lord but this time she requested that Elkanah go without her. 1 SAMUEL 1:23 Verse 23 - To her request, Elkanah agreed. 1 SAMUEL 1:24 Verse 24 - It is recorded in other Jewish writings that Hannah nutured Samuel and weaned him until about three years old (2 Maccabees 7:27).But when the time came Hannah took gifts: three bullocks, 1 ephah of flour (about 65 bushels) and a bottle of wine. 1 SAMUEL 1:25 Verse 25 - As part of her thanksgiving and worship to God, the bullock was sacrificed by Eli (as a priest that was his ordinance to perform). 1 SAMUEL 1:26-28 Verses 26-28 - Hannah, a woman of great faith and love, spoke to Eli. 1. She identified herself 2. Reminded him of her prayer and told of God’s answer 3. She repeated her part of the covenant – to lend Samuel to the Lord for as long as he should live. Chapter 2 1 SAMUEL 2:1-10 Verses 1-10 - Hannah's entire prayer is recorded The horn symbolized like a rock - power, strength, protection. There are many scholars who believe that the term horn used by Hannah in her prayer was a reference to the coming of the Messiah and some believe that because of this Hannah could have been a prophetess. 1 SAMUEL 2:11-17 Verse 11 - Elkanah went to Ramah to his house.He left Samuel to be taught by Eli and minister to the Lord. 1 SAMUEL 2:18-19 Verses 18-19 - Samuel grew and ministered before the Lord. During his younger years (it's not recorded how long a period of time) while Samuel was living in the Temple, Hannah visited him. She made a coat that she took for him each year. 1 SAMUEL 2:20 Verse 20 - Eli, the priest, blessed Elkanah and Hannah. 1 SAMUEL 2:21 Verse 21 - Because Hannah had been faithful and had lent or given Samuel which was her best and her first the Lord blessed her with more children (3 sons and 2 daughters).The story of Hannah, as found in the Scriptures, now ends.She is not mentioned again in the Old Testament or in the New Testament. The lessons we can learn by studying the life of Hannah: 1. God sometimes withholds blessings until we are submissive to His will. 2. We can handle all things with God - even cruel and thoughtless remarks. 3. God answers prayers. 4. When we covenant with the Lord, and we honor our part, God will send His blessings. 5. In everything, we should rejoice. Links to this post: Create a Link << Home This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?
“I Had Not Known Myself:” A Poignant Narrative Moment in Pride and Prejudice "I Had Not Known Myself:" A Poignant Narrative Moment in Pride and Prejudice \| Lexie WinslowJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) is one of the most successful love stories in print. It has been adored by readers and lauded by critics from its publication through today. It is continuously appealing, a beautiful Cinderella story, with more substance to it than most. The main characters are memorable, and the supporting cast is extensive, allowing the reader to be engaged through multiple readings. Austen’s novel is a victory for the written word, describing places, situations and people that are thoroughly accurate, while simultaneously telling a transcending, accessible love story. Especially important to its success is the unassuming realism of the text: the reader can appreciate an era long over, while still finding passages to relate to in a modern way. At heart, Pride and Prejudice is a moving romance, but in large part the eventual triumph of love is so satisfying because of the deep progression the characters experience along the way. The supporting sentiments, such as dislike, resentment and shame, signify the growth of the characters as they endeavor to achieve a perfect love. Through her superb narration, Austen captures the struggles of self-improvement, and this work remains the standard of the genre. Upon writing Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen inherited an established legacy of realism, and in her novel of manners she capably unites many of the strengths distinctive to the authors preceding her, resulting in a work that surpassed them all in quality and popularity. Ian Watt’s literary critique, The Rise of the Novel (1967), catalogs the relative successes of three eminent eighteenth-century novelists, Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding, in their efforts to define the English realist novel. He articulates their task in terms of accuracy: “particularization of time, place and person; …a natural and lifelike sequence of action; …style which gives the most exact verbal and rhythmical equivalent of the object described” (Watt, 291). Moreover, the exercise is about chronicling the lives of multi-dimensional characters. The heroes and villains alike have flaws and temptations as well as virtues and triumphs, and replace the stock characters that populated romances, morality tales, epics, and other established genres of fiction. The plots are liberated from conventional heroic cycles or supernatural influences. Watt particularly appreciates the style of Richardson, for his insights on individuals, and Fielding, for his story lines. The two exemplify a tension between a story driven by relationships and one driven by events; the difference between narrating from an inner or outer perspective. Watt clearly values the contributions by both authors to modern literary techniques, and concludes his long reflections and analyses with the declaration that Jane Austen, a few generations later, united their strengths to achieve “the full maturity of the genre” (Watt, 296). The bulk of the credit for Austen’s success must go to her usage of the narrator. Watt offers no shortage of praise for her talents on that particular, declaring that her narrative voice is able to observe tender reflections as well as biting irony, and still “not seem to come from an intrusive author but rather from some august and impersonal spirit of social and psychological understanding” (Watt, 297). Watt has a fondness for Austen’s narrator in Emma, but accedes that it is surely executed to the best of her abilities in Pride and Prejudice. Austen seamlessly switches between earnest character revelations, amusingly honest descriptions, and sharp irony in her narration of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s treasured love story. The narrative voice is an indispensable tool in Pride and Prejudice’s stunning depictions of a wide spectrum of sentiments, and validates the work as a rich commentary on human nature. The narrator’s insights are honest and humorous, but always contain a sense of care; its effectiveness is apparent by how dear the book is to so many readers. Among the main characters as well as the supporting ones, there is a sense of intimacy, since the narrator discloses so much about the proclivities, faults and merits of the people in Elizabeth’s world. There are multiple instances of the union of impeccable narration and memorable events in the course of the famous story. One of the most beautiful and articulate passages of close narration within this novel is arguably Volume the Second, Chapter 13, in which Elizabeth Bennet digests the information in Mr. Darcy’s letter. Before receiving the letter, Elizabeth has proven herself to be playful, observant, and confident in her own opinions. Even with the apparent shortage of respectable role models, she exudes ladylike manners and genuine affability. She particularly delights in discerning her companions’ characters, and considers herself accomplished at it. Due to this assuredness, Elizabeth is thoroughly surprised by Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal, but it is his subsequent letter that truly shakes her self-awareness to the core. In his message, he touches on topics concerning many of Elizabeth’s favorite people, and though it takes her several attempts to read and understand the entirety of his missive, her opinion of the others and, more importantly, of herself is completely altered by the time she is finished. The first portion of the letter regards Darcy’s scheme to separate Bingley before any regrettable engagement to Jane Bennet could be finalized. His words are callous and boastful. He explains that Bingley had often formed fleeting crushes on other women, but concedes that his friend had truly started to love Jane. He defends his actions with the inaccurate assertion that Jane’s “heart was not likely to be easily touched” (Austen, 195). Most hurtful of all, his bitterness builds to the declaration that the greatest impetus for their parting was “the total want of propriety” (Austen, 196) displayed by the other Bennets. Elizabeth’s patience for Darcy’s terse explanations is pushed to the breaking point, as “his account of the real, the worst objections to the match, made her too angry to have any wish of doing him justice” (Austen, 201). His description of her family passes discourteous and borders on cruel, and reinforces all of Elizabeth’s predispositions: namely, that he is a self-important man, whose words merit indignation and rejection. The narrative voice in this passage effectually portrays the urgency and tumult of Elizabeth’s reactions, as she processes the first portion of the letter. Though she hesitates, Elizabeth resigns to continue reading the rest of the letter, which is composed with a marked difference in tone and sincerity. The glib superiority abundant in Darcy’s account of Bingley and Jane is replaced by the guarded, pained narration of Wickham’s bad conduct and the danger once posed to Georgiana. As Elizabeth moves to that part of the note, the narrator describes that “her feelings were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition… astonishment, apprehension, even horror oppressed her” (Austen, 201). Elizabeth’s struggle to process the revelation of Wickham’s evil character is manifested physically as well, as she banishes the letter to her pocket only to unfold it hastily again. Soon after, she endeavors to fashion reasonable arguments against Darcy’s assertions. The more thought she pays to the allegations, however, the more fault she finds in Wickham’s behavior: his complete lack of long-term acquaintances, the paucity of actual good deeds besides his friendly manner, and his rushed intimacy upon first meeting her. “She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions with his conduct” (Austen, 203). The narrator perfectly captures the spectrum of emotions Elizabeth moves through, once her doubt of Wickham begins. She feels heartsick over his history with Miss Darcy, and grows thoroughly embarrassed of all her interactions with and feelings towards him. It dawns on her, how capriciously she allowed herself to esteem Mr. Wickham and hate Mr. Darcy, “pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance” (Austen, 205). Elizabeth realizes her failure as a judge of character, the particular trait that she most liked about herself. She takes stock of her behavior, soberly regretting how often she discounted Jane’s generous forbearance, and admitting, “vanity, not love, has been my folly” (Austen, 205). These revelations, unexpected in themselves and from the most surprising source, rush upon her, and she burns with humiliation. It is one thing to have unwittingly given Mr. Darcy hope of an attachment, but quite another to discover the total impropriety of her actions over so many months. This moment of awareness is seminal for Elizabeth, a swift and private instance of reckoning. When she rallies, she resolves to discard her impudent prejudices, and returns to the beginning the letter with a fresh eye. In this penitent and honest state of reflection, she recants her previous stubbornness, and acquiesces to the shameful truth: as she considered that Jane’s disappointment had, in fact, been the work of her nearest relations, and reflected how materially the credit of both must be hurt by such impropriety of conduct, she felt depressed beyond anything she had ever known before. (Austen 205) This insight, adeptly simple, is an incredibly formative moment for Elizabeth. It is absolutely true that she has never known such a degree of sadness or turmoil before. Elizabeth’s family is intact; there is no hint of any bereavement in her past. She has always lived within the comfortable security of Longbourne, with her flawed yet loving family and the colorful friends in the neighborhood. She has never actually known loss, deprivation, or severe disappointment. Now, appraising herself and her relations with objectivity, she is able to understand the full scope of last six months’ failures; most especially, she feels the cruelty inflicted on Jane, the most virtuous of all, by the others’ vices and shortcomings. The emotion of the preceding speech about misjudging Wickham and Darcy is surpassed by the understated, effectual narrative voice. This small chapter bears so much consequence because it is the turning point in her relationship with Darcy. From the moment they met, they had been misinterpreting each other abominably, creating an unwarranted dislike in one and an unwanted attraction in the other. In the disastrous proposal at Hunsford, and soon after in Darcy’s letter, both of them say honest yet hurtful things. Darcy realizes his mistake about Jane, and reels from the biting appraisal of his incivility and haughty pride. Likewise, Elizabeth learns the truth about Wickham, and feels for the first time disappointment and shame over her own conduct, as well as her hopes for the future. They both depart from Kent cowed by the unpleasant reflections on character and behavior. It is from this event, the conflagration of love and animosity and errors and honesty, that Darcy and Elizabeth are able to improve themselves, and finally deserve each other when they are united in the end. The greater fanfare may belong to Darcy’s transformation, but it is important to acknowledge that Elizabeth learned from him as well, and went through a corresponding progression of self-awareness. With the inclusion of this moment of heartache, the eventual victory of sentimental love is truly perfect. Works Cited Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Carol Howard. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Watt, Ian. The Rise of the Novel. London, UK: Chatto & Windus LTD, 1967. Image via Austen Prose Speak Your Mind
miriam_e: from my drawing MoonGirl (Default) miriam_e ([personal profile] miriam_e) wrote2015-05-02 08:05 am fossil fuels, and reducing the need Almost every technology we have relies upon fossil fuels. We need to work out ways to break that chain of dependency. I don't count using oil to make plastics as an example of a bad thing, but I do see the use of oil as fuel to run the processes in making that plastic as bad. Plastics are amazing materials that we should value more. Correctly used they are light, flexible, resilient, non-toxic, and can last thousands of years, potentially being handed down to our descendants. Using them for disposable items is obscene. We could use solar furnaces instead of oil and coal for almost all industrial processes that currently require fossil fuels, but it does require effort. And it would help to have a government which is not corrupt and whose heads are not buried in the sand. The most important change is to design our buildings properly. We've been building them badly for thousands of years and it feels like we've learned almost nothing over that time. They are our biggest standing consumer of energy -- much worse than transport. We need to insulate and light them sensibly so that they need as little additional heating, cooling, lighting, and shading as possible. It is actually easy to do. ● Clerestory lighting and skylights, and ponds or other reflective surfaces oriented correctly outside windows can greatly reduce the need for artificial lighting. ● Insulation and passive convection heating and cooling, can vastly reduce energy needs, especially if a sunroom is used to gather heat in cold climates, and appropriately calculated roof eaves ensure light is admitted in winter, but not summer. Strategic placement of deciduous trees can also help in this respect. ● Building underground, if designed with sensible lighting and heating/cooling can bring great improvements to many aspects of homes and commercial buildings: - better thermally insulated - greater thermal mass (so they change temperature slowly) - much better sound insulation (play the drums without upsetting the neighbors) - double use of your land (you can still use the land on the "roof") - safety from bushfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and if designed right, even floods - better protection from thieves and other hostile invaders Any other thoughts? greylock: Raist (Default) [personal profile] greylock 2015-05-03 06:03 am (UTC)(link) Kinda related, but there is a company called Foyson Resources which is investing in a 50tph pilot plant at Berkley Vale that is aiming to take waste plastic and basically re-cracking it to convert it back to liquid hydrocarbons. The same process is supposed to use the syngas to power the plant. It's an interesting take on recycling. Hasn't been proven, of course. Thought you might be interested. Including steel production? I was going to argue that you need coking coal, but apparently it is possible with arc furnaces. There's no reason I can find that suggests solar can't do that, but I spent five minutes on google. The main issue with coal production is that it's primarily used in poorer countries, (and India and China), where they are looking for the cheapest and easiest means of hooking up the population. Add it (or char) are also burnt in homes. I'm wondering how resilient a distributed solar network would be in terms of flood/fire damage. I must look into that. The new Tesla battery is interesting. We've been waiting for something like that before looking seriously at solar, but I am also curious how much "resource shifting" will happen as a result. I gather some home solar panels have a high failure rate, plus the raw materials like graphite, scandium and lithium need to come from somewhere, so there's something of a risk that - purely at the mining level - we'll swap digging up the Hunter Valley for digging thumping great holes in Fifield. Not great for population density issues. I'd love an underground house. greylock: Raist (Default) [personal profile] greylock 2015-05-04 11:33 am (UTC)(link) I'm also a little disappointed they are concentrating primarily on producing fuel, mostly diesel, as far as I can see. Sadly, there's just more of a ROI on that. I'm not surprised they're keeping quiet. I suspect the tech won't work. The kinds of people investing in it.... worries me. It suggests other, smarter people have doubts. If we could move most mining and refining (and possibly some manufacturing) off Earth we would eliminate some of our planet's worst burdens. I've researched a few articles on 'space mining' and there are a few issues. The first is obvious. Do we really want to mine the moon, or asteroids? Do we trust NASA or anyone to move an asteroid into orbit? Because as soon as we can do that, we're pretty much in mass driver territory. The second, the transportation costs are pretty rubbish for bulk commodities (iron ore and bauxite) because they are so common on Earth. Even at the good old days of $150/tonne they're not viable. The electricity goes to the wealthier members of those societies, not the poor, he was saying. True, that. They're looking at electrifying in PNG (around Ramu) which could give three million people access to power (gas fired) using the income from PNG LNG. Which is nice. China is closing down its coal-powered generators in Beijing and coal demand generally has fallen by about 10% recently, I believe. I'd be wary of those numbers. Not the trend, but specifics. China has all the benefits of 1960s era environmental issues, and a 21stC economy. Plus a central government. I suspect a lot of people will do the same and the dopey power companies will suddenly find they killed the goose that laid golden eggs. I consider grid connection a net social good. Not everyone will have renewables, and it's good to have redundancy. You simply build down instead of up. True, but you can only go down so far. Edited 2015-05-04 11:33 (UTC)
There was an error in this gadget Friday, January 28, 2011 Creature Feature: Gorgonopsids. Oh, furries. Why is it that your fursonas, despite being so "varied," tend to loop back to felids, canids, raptors and dragons? If you really want to be intimidating and predatory, go for something so weird, yet close enough to a modern carnivore that it creates an 'Uncanny Valley' effect. Uncanny Valley'd! Like this thing. What the hell is this thing? That menacing-looking beast is a gorgonopsid (family Gorgonopsidae). Like Dimetrodon, it was not a dinosaur, but a mammal-like reptile called a synapsid. Synapsids were the way, way ancient ancestors of every mammal known today. Gorgonopsids were one family of many mammal-like reptiles present throughout ancient history. Every single one of them looked like something out of a horror flick. Even though the name "gorgonopsid" literally means "gorgon-eyed," with jaws like that, who cares about the eyes? Gorgons also had huge tusks (which is not usually acknowledged in most modern media); gorgonopsids have saber-teeth and long, sturdy jaws to work with them. Their sizes ranged from being dog-sized carnivores to bear-sized behemoths (e.g. Inostrancevia); regardless of how big they were, those jaws would have torn a nice chunk out of their prey. As stated in my Dimetrodon entry, differentiated teeth like this are usually a sign that a given skull is at least a proto-mammal. Gorgonopsids were wiped out in the Permian-Triassic extinction. In case you do not know your history of the world, the Triassic period was the first chunk of the Mesozoic, featuring relatively small dinosaurs. Gorgonopsids went extinct before that; despite being in the 'prehistoric animal' category, they never met a dinosaur. These creatures never got to compete with the big dinosaurs that most people know and love (or even the little ones). Synapsids are often overlooked in the modern media, but gorgonopsids got a fair amount of screentime on the British television show Primeval. It looks like a neat show, to say the least. Past and future superpredators entering the present day and causing damage? Count us in. One of these. Black with bright purple stripes. Nobody knows what skin covering this creature had, so feel free to go nuts with fur, skin, and scales. GOGOGO, furry community! Next time: A bat? Sure. Why not? No comments: Post a Comment
The Tengyur or Tanjur (Wylie: bstan 'gyur) ('Translation of Treatises') is the Tibetan collection of commentaries to the Buddhist teachings, or "Translated Treatises". The Beijing version covers 3,626 texts in 224 volumes, but numbers vary depending on the version. Woodblock printing, Sera, Tibet Young monks printing scriptures. Sera Monastery, Tibet. 1993 Woodblock printing, Sera, 1993 Printing the scriptures. Sera Monastery. The Buddhist Canon To the Tengyur were assigned commentaries to both Sutras and Tantras, treatises and abhidharma works (both Mahayana and non-Mahayana).[1] Together with the 108-volume Kangyur (the Collection of the Words of the Buddha), these form the basis of the Tibetan Buddhist canon. "The Kangyur usually takes up a hundred or a hundred and eight volumes, the Tengyur two hundred and twenty-five, and the two together contain 4,569 works."[2][3] As example, the content of the Beijing Tengyur:[4] • Sutras ("Hymns of Praise"): 1 Volume; 64 texts. • Commentaries on the Tantras: 86 Volumes; 3055 texts. • Commentaries on Sutras; 137 Volumes; 567 texts. 1. Prajnaparamita Commentaries, 16 Volumes. 2. Madhyamika Treatises, 29 Volumes. 3. Yogacara Treatises, 29 Volumes. 4. Abhidharma, 8 Volumes. 5. Miscellaneous Texts, 4 Volumes. 6. Vinaya Commentaries, 16 Volumes. 7. Tales and Dramas, 4 Volumes. 8. Technical Treatises, 43 Volumes. The Bon Tengyur The Tibetan Bon religion, obviously under the influence of Buddhism, also has its canon literature divided into two sections called the Kangyur and Tengyur but the number and contents of the collection are not yet fully known. Apparently, Bon began to take on a literary form about the time Buddhism began to enter Tibet.[5][6] • Schlagintweit, Emil (2006) Buddhism in Tibet: Illustrated by Literary Documents and Objects Of Religious Worship With An Account Of The Buddhist Systems Preceding It In India ISBN 1-428-64999-9 • Stein, R. A. (1962) Tibetan Civilization. First English edition - translated by J. E. Stapleton Driver (1972). Reprint (1972): Stanford University Press, Stanford, California ISBN 0-8047-0806-1 (cloth); ISBN 0-8047-0901-7 • Tucci, Giuseppe. The Religions of Tibet. (1970). First English edition, translated by Geoffrey Samuel (1980). Reprint: (1988), University of California Press ISBN 0-520-03856-8 (cloth); ISBN 0-520-064348-1 (pbk) 1. Tucci, Giuseppe (1970) p. 259, n. 10 2. Stein, R. A. (1962) p.251 3. Schlagintweit (2006) pp.78-81 4. The Tibetan Canon by 5. Tucci, Giuseppe (1970) p. 213 6. Stein, R. A. (1962) pp. 241, 251. External links eo:Tanjurru:Данджур sv:Tanjur zh:丹珠爾 Ad blocker interference detected!
Sunday, 11 October 2015 The Religion of the Rus – Germanic and/or Slavic Polytheists Artist: Vsevolod Ivanov. Source: In the early 10th century a devout Muslim diplomat was sent by the powerful Abbasid Caliph to teach the intricacies of Islam to a king of the Volga Bulghars, deep inside Russia, who had recently converted – possibly so he could enlist the help of the Caliphate in his struggles to defend his kingdom against the nearby Jewish Khazars. This Arab traveller is now commonly known as Ibn Fadlan and he has become famous for his account of the polytheistic peoples he encountered on his journey, especially the Turks and the Rus – both peoples would, respectively, become Islamic and Christian within a century or so of his account. The Rus were (most scholars believe) originally Vikings who, over a roughly 200 year period, assimilated with the Slavs of Russia and gave their name to that great nation. The 12th century Russian Primary Chronicle is the primary source for this assertion. We also have corroborating evidence from, inter alia, another Muslim called Ibn Rustah, a Persian scholar who authored an encyclopedia that was completed in 913 – his entry relating to the Rus is thought to derive from an anonymous source dating from the 860s, and in it he seems to suggest the Rus and the Slavs are distinct from each other when he writes: “The Rus raid the Saqaliba [an Arabic term with multiple connotations, it can be used to specifically denote Slavs, or as a general term denoting northern Europeans], sailing in their ships until they come upon them. They take them captive and sell them in Khazarin and Bulkar [ie, to the Khazars and the Turks]. They have no cultivated fields and they live by pillaging the land of the Saqaliba.”* Ibn Rustah then goes on to describe the Rus in a way that is entirely consistent with what we know of Vikings: “They earn their living by trading in sable, grey squirrel and other furs. They sell them for silver coins which they set in belts and wear around their waists. … The men wear gold bracelets. They treat their slaves well and dress them suitably, because for them they are an article of trade … If one of them has a quarrel with another, it is referred to the ruler, who settles it as he sees fit. If they do not agree with his settlement, he orders the difference to be settled by single combat … They have great stamina and endurance. They never quit the battlefield without having slaughtered their enemy. They take the women and enslave them. They are remarkable for their size, their physique and their bravery. They fight best on shipboard, not on horseback [ibid at 126-127].”
This article, Canadian Soldier, was written by Sith Venator. Please do not edit this fiction without the writer's permission. General DescriptionEdit 420px-Ben Carmine- A Canadian Soldier in the Battle Field. The Canadian Soldier, also known as Stormtroopers,was the standerd Soldier in the Canadian Army. After Kesh, a new renewable energy resource only discovered in North America, Canada became a superpower on Earth along with Mexico, allowing them to create better equipment allowing the Canadian Soldier to become the feared enemy to the Coalition of Red Nations.They also participated in the North American Wars against the United States and Mexico. They wore standard Canadian armor, which was tough enough to take a .50 Calliber pistol round to the helmet without failing. The StormTroopers also had the standard issue weapon, the M1400 that fired 7.62x54mm bullets & fired one thousand rounds per minute, and was equiped with a new Chainsaw Bayonet. During the Great Human War Canada sided with the United Nations and some members of their armed forces became Spartans. • In World War I the Stormtroopers were specialist military troops which were formed in the last years of the war as the German army developed new methods of attacking enemy trenches, called "infiltration tactics". • Thier armor is based off the Cog soldier armor from the Gears of War series. Ad blocker interference detected!
Friday, July 26, 2013 Do You Know The Most Dangerous Things Present In Cigarettes Chemicals and other harmful materials go into making each cigarette. Consumers are educated about the harmful effects of smoking. Long-term smoking has been proven to cause cancer and other ailments to the body. Though consumers are aware of the harmful effects, most are unaware of what harmful chemicals are in cigarettes to cause these outcomes to begin with. According to the American Lung Association, there are over 50 cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes. The most common agent found in cigarettes is nicotine. This substance is considered an addictive drug, according to WebMD. Nicotine is also used as a powerful insecticide. Even products such as electronic cigarettes that help people quit smoking have been shown to prolong nicotine addiction and promote it in individuals who have never smoked before. Benzene or Benzopyrene Benzene is a hydrocarbon chemical that is created from burned coal or petroleum. Benzene is used as a solvent to manufacture cigarettes. This chemical is colorless and has been known to be a carcinogen that causes leukemia. Acetone is mostly used in nail polish remover. It has a strong and pungent odor with a chemical compound that is strong enough to remove paint stains from walls. Acetone is also found in cigarettes. Tar is used in the production of cigarettes. Tar is most commonly used to pave the streets you drive on. Even though cigarettes have filters, this substance is still drawn into the lungs with each puff on a cigarette. Fungicides and Pesticides Cigarettes do not just have chemical solvents used in cleaning the house, but cigarettes also have pesticides and fungicides that you would use in your home or a medical lab. Some of the more common pesticides and fungicides found in cigarettes are arsenic (rat poison), naphthalene (used in mothballs) and formaldehyde (used to embalm bodies and prevent decomposition). Chemical Cleansers Cigarettes have also been shown to contain several chemical cleansers that you would use around your home to clean things like your toilet. Ammonia is a popular ingredient found in cigarettes -- which is used in a variety of household cleansers. Other Items Aside from chemicals that are used to produce and create a cigarette, there are other items that can be found in a cigarette as well. Items such as dead bugs, dirt, manure or soot can be found in a cigarette as well, according to Illinois Department of Public Health. Related posts Chewing tobacco contains chemicals just like cigarettes.Chewing tobacco, also known as smokeless tobacco or spit tobacco, comes in shredded or packed tobacco leaves that users put between their ch... Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals.Tobacco is not the only component of a cigarette. Tobacco manufacturers add more then 4,000 chemicals to cigarettes to enhance the flavor or give cigarettes... Electronic cigarettes look like the real thing and produce smokelike vapors.Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health and can potentially lead to lung cancer, but smoking electric or e-cigarett... Tobacco isn't the most harmful part.Two main forms of tobacco-free cigarettes exist---herbal and electronic. Herbal cigarettes replace tobacco with a variety of herbs, while electronic cigarettes... Cigarettes are addictive, but fake ones can help you quit.If you're a smoker then you know the addictive powers of nicotine -- and that trying to quit isn't easy. Smokers are usually addicted to t...
Common Names: Dragonfly, blue darner, green darner, clubtail, skimmer Scientific Names: families Aeshnidae, Gomphidae, Libellulidae; order Odanata Dragonfly nymphs are quite large and live in lakes, ponds, and very slow portions of rivers. Nymphs live as long as three years, swimming around and eating other insects. Like damselflies , dragonfly adults emerge out of the water. Unlike damselflies they are such good flies that they are seldom taken by trout. There can be exceptions, however. I've seen spent dragonflies thick on the water--and eight-pound native rainbows rising to eat them. In general, though, the nymphs are far more important than the adults. There are three types of dragonfly nymphs that western fly anglers should be aware of. The appearance and behavior of each are radically different. The "climbers" (the family Aeshnidae) have a longer, more tapered body. They search for their prey, moving about by jet propulsion: they take in water through their mouth and expel it through their anus (I know, I know; you had a cousin who did that). This causes them to move in spurts. So a good tactic is to cast an appropriate nymph and use the count-down-and-retrieve presentation, moving the fly with 6-12 inch strips with a pause between each strip. This is type of dragonfly nymph that is most commonly imitated by fly anglers. The second type of dragonfly is the "sprawler" (the family Libellulidae). Sprawlers are boxy in appearance, being wider and shorter than their Aeshnidae cousins. As you might expect from their couch potato shape, they're not very active. Instead, they lie in ambush on the bottom. When unsuspecting and unlucky prey comes along, they spring up and nail it. Sprawlers are naturally camouflaged, so choose an imitation that is the same color as the lake bottom where you are fishing. Let the fly sink to the bottom and sit there. Then give it a quick spurt, like a nymph leaping from ambush to inhale an unfortunate midge larva. If that doesn't catch the interest of a passing trout, let the fly settle back down and try again. Or retrieve the fly very slowly, with a hand-twist retrieve. And try to stay awake. The third type is the "burrower" (the family Gomphidae). Like the sprawlers, nymphs are broad and flat. They live in sediment and ambush their prey. Tactics are similar to those for the sprawlers. NYMPH COLOR: Browns, olive-browns ADULT SIZE: 45-85 mm (1-3/4 to 3-1/4 in) ADULT COLOR: Body--blue, green OTHER CHARACTERISTICS: Nymph--large and stocky. Adult--holds wings to the side when at rest. More About Dragonflies Dragonflies by Jeff Morgan. Click on the fly name to see the pattern. Click on the presentation to learn how to do it. Nymph Carey Special 4-8 Browns, dark olive, grays count-down-and-retrieve, wind drift Lakes; backwaters and slow sections of rivers Lake Dragon 4-8 Browns, dark olive, grays
Women under English law Many Old English lived in tower houses in 1500 but the wealthy and powerful lived in large castles with impressive fortifications. They had stables, gardens, orchards, fishponds, and mills. They imported furniture, tapestries, clothes, jewellery, ornaments and wine from the Continent and many employed Gaelic bards and harpists to entertain and impress their guests. Rich women enjoyed many privileges but political, economic, legal and religious aspects of life were male centred. 1. The Old English were descendants of the ____ who arrived in Ireland in the ___th and ___th centuries. 2. Write a brief note on the Fitzgeralds of Kildare, the Fitzgeralds of Desmond and the Butlers of Ormond. 3. Discuss briefly any two aspects of Old English society in Ireland that appear to have been male-centred. 4. Write a paragraph on the consequences for women of descent in the male line. 5. Write a paragraph on the consequences for men of primogeniture. 6. In what circumstances might the birth of daughters be greeted with especial dismay? 1. Research one of the larger castles in Ireland. 2. Organise a class visit to a large castle. 3. Research any Old English family. 4. Research marriage settlements. 5. Research the topics of bride-price, dowry, jointure. 6. 'The birth of a daughter was often greeted with dismay.' Suggest three of the most important changes that have occurred in Ireland so this is no longer the case. 7. Research a country in our own time where the birth of a baby girl is still greeted with dismay. Suggest the social or economic conditions that appear to lead to this reaction. contents index
Study your flashcards anywhere! Download the official Cram app for free > • Shuffle Toggle On Toggle Off • Alphabetize Toggle On Toggle Off • Front First Toggle On Toggle Off • Both Sides Toggle On Toggle Off • Read Toggle On Toggle Off How to study your flashcards. H key: Show hint (3rd side).h key A key: Read text to speech.a key Play button Play button Click to flip 48 Cards in this Set • Front • Back What are some diseases that Herpesviruses are responsible for Herpes simplex (fever blister) Herpes zoster (chicken pox and shingles) Infectious mononucleosis Burkitt's lymphoma Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Childhood exanthema Kaposi's sarcoma Pleural effusion lymphoma What virus family can be identified by the presence of double-stranded DNA in the core of the virion, and an icosahedral capsid containing 162 capsomeres assembled in the nucleus. The outer envelope is derived from nuclear membrane of the host. Relatively unstable at room temperature Herpesvirus family What three viruses are in the Herpesvirus alpha group HSV-1 Herpes simplex virus VZV Varicella-zoster virus What three Herpesviruses are in the Beta group CMV cytomegalovirus HHV-6 Human herpesvirus What two Herpesviruses are in the gamma group EBV Epstein-Barr virus KSHV/HHV-8 Kaposis's sarcoma herpes virus or human herpes virus 8 What Herpesvirus group has variable host range, relatively short reproductive cycle and is effective in the destruction of the infected cells. They also establish latency primarily in sensory ganglia Alpha group What herpesvirus group has a restricted host range, with a long reproductive cycle and the infected cells are frequently enlarged Beta group What Herpesvirus group efficiently infects lymphocytes and frequently enters latency after infection, resulting in the transformation of the cells Gamma group What does the herpesvirus tegument do It contains a trans-activator which turns on immediate early genes What virus causes labial lesions (cold sores), skin lesions, keratitis, and encephalitis What virus causes genital lesions, severe diseases in neonates, during pregnancy, and in immunocompromised patients What virus causes chicken pox (primary) and shingles or zoster (recurrence) What virus is a major cause of birth defects (mental retardation), deafness, causes mononucleosis-like syndrome and causes retinitis, colitis and life-threatening pneumonitis in immunosuppressed patients What virus causes infectious mononucleosis and has a strong associating with Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphoproliferative disorders--polyclonal or monoclonal B-cell lymphoma (in immunosuppressed hosts), also hairy oral leukoplakia, a productive infection What two viruses cause roseola infantum What virus is a simian virus indigenous to Asian monkeys that can result in fatal encephalopathy in humans Herpes simiae (Herpes B) Do all herpesviruses establish latency What virus docks by first binding to heparan sulfate molecules on the cell surface, then viral glycoproteins on the envelope associate with cell surface proteins, resulting in fusion of the virus envelope to the cellular membrane and entry of the capsid What is the cell receptor for EBV CD21. Binding of EBV to cell surface receptors can induce cell signaling and activation which facilitates expression of cellular genes required for transcription, DNA replication, and virus production What is the temporal organization in replication and temporal transcription of HSV Immediate early genes (alpha) are expressed before the onset of protein synthesis, and delayed early (Beta) genes and late (gamma) genes, which require protein synthesis for their expression. Alpha gene products turn on Beta gene products, which in turn activate gamma gene expressions, but at the same time shut off alpha gene expressions What does the VP16 component of HSV do It serves as a transciptional factor to turn on alpha gene products What is unique about immediate early mRNA expression in Herpesviruses It requires no viral protein synthesis and proceeds in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors What type of proteins do delayed early genes usually encode Proteins that are involved in DNA replication What type of genes are conserved in all herpesviruses Delayed early genes Where does Herpesvirus assembly take place In the nucleus of the infected cells What viral gene product can switch the EBV from latent to lytic Zebra or Zta. It is a trans-activator and may be a useful anti-viral target to prevent reactivation of EBV Where is HSV latency established Neurons. Virus enters axon and undergoes retrograde transport to the neuron's nucleus Where does HSV-1 latency occur Neurons in trigeminal and cervical ganglia Where does HSV-2 latency occur Neurons in sacral ganglia Where does VZV latency occur Neurons and non-neuronal cells in sensory ganglia, trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia Where does EBV latency develop Where does CMV latency occur Monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells Where does HHV-6 latency occur Monocytes, CNS, Salivary glands Where does HHV-8 latency occur B-cells, vascular endothelial cells/spindle cells (KS tumors), prostate glands, saliva What are some things that can induce Herpes virus latency reactivation Tissue injuries, hormones, stress, and temperature, most likely via a transcriptional switch How is HSV-1 transmitted Close personal contact (mucosal surfaces/abraded skin) How is HSV-2 transmitted Close personal contact, sex How is VZV transmitted Airborne respiratory droplets, contact with lesional skin How is CMV transmitted During child delivery (perinatal infection), through breast feeding, close personal contacts, blood transfusion, organ transplantation Primary infection during the first six months of pregnancy poses the greatest danger to the fetus via transplacental infection How is EBV transmitted Salivary exchange, respiratory aerosols How is HHV-6 transmitted Intra-familial, mother to child, saliva How is KSHV/HHV-8 transmitted Sexual intercourse, whole blood transfusion, organ transplantation How does Acyclovir prevent Herpes infection Viral Thymidine kinase phosphorylates it, where it becomes ACG-ppp and inhibits viral DNA polymerase What is Acyclovir used for Recurrent HSV and VZV infection What antiviral is used in life-threatening CMV infection in immune-compromised patients Ganciclovir. It may cause neutropenia and thrombocytopenia What do Phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) and Phosphonofomate (PFA, Foscarnet) inhibit Herpes DNA polymerase What is Foscarnet used for HSV and CMV infection What two Herpes viruses don't have effective therapies available
Does Coffee Help You Concentrate? Coffee is a daily habit for more than half of all American adults, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Although it’s a complex brew that contains antioxidant flavonoids and a variety of other bioactive compounds, most of the benefits associated with coffee -- including the way it enhances cognitive function -- are due to caffeine. Because of coffee's potential risks during pregnancy, expectant mothers should avoid it or speak to an obstetrician regarding coffee consumption. Cognitive Benefits • It’s not surprising that more than two-thirds of coffee-drinking Americans choose to consume the beverage at breakfast time -- caffeine is a psychoactive substance that stimulates brain activity. It targets several parts of your brain, including your adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a brain chemical that decreases brain activity; when caffeine blocks these receptors, it and other brain-stimulating chemicals -- including dopamine -- can flow freely. A scientific review published in “Food and Chemical Toxicology” concluded that caffeine reduces fatigue, increases alertness and improves the performance of simple tasks that require sustained attention. The Right Amount • The amount of caffeine you get from coffee depends on how the beans are roasted, how you prepare them and how much you consume. Drip-brewed coffee generally supplies between 65 and 120 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup. Consuming 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day -- or roughly 300 to 400 milligrams of caffeine -- is considered moderate and has been associated with positive effects. People used to a higher intake may need more to achieve the same effects, however, while those sensitive to caffeine may only benefit from smaller amounts. Drinking too much coffee can make you jittery, anxious and less focused, which may decrease your ability to concentrate. Related Searches • Photo Credit Brejeq/iStock/Getty Images Promoted By Zergnet You May Also Like • Coffee & Weight Loss When it comes to weight loss, people tend to look for the easiest way out. Dieting pills and energy drinks promote caffeine... • How to Like Coffee If you haven't said it, you've heard it been said--"This tastes like dirt." Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in... • Can You Lose Weight Drinking Coffee? To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume over a set period of time. The caffeine in a cup... • Things That Help You Focus In a world that emphasizes everyone being everywhere at once, and being on phone calls while answering emails and instant messaging people... • Scents That Help You Concentrate Aromatherapy involves using scent to help improve psychological and physical health. The sense of smell is directly connected to the brain, and... • Drinks to Help You Focus On some days, people feel mentally and physically drained. When experienced this type of fatigue, it may be difficult to focus on... • Coffee Makers That Take Liquid Concentrated Coffee Capsules Coffee makers that use liquid concentrated coffee generally are larger machines that are intended for commercial or office use. These devices have... Related Searches Check It Out 13 Delicious Thanksgiving Sides That'll Make Turkey Insignificant Submit Your Work!
Skip to main content Irish English: to give out about someone or something? 3. Give out in Ireland commonly means to scold or complain: You can give out to someone, or just give out. It’s often intensified in different ways, e.g. He was giving out stink to them. (phrasal verb) From Stan Carey's fun list How is it used? I heard this a lot - sometimes as a warning to drop a contentious subject 'Will you quit giving out about that now' - more often in amusement 'well he would never stop giving out about how much the loved the job - then one day he didn't turn up for work and that was the last we saw of him .... Popular posts from this blog What is Globish? Why is English not the official language of England?
You're in: Panda Security > Home Users > security-info > Classic Malware Classic Malware This section will analyze how Malware has evolved since the concept first appeared in 1949 to the present day. In the beginning In 1949, Von Neumann established the Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata, where he presented for the first time the possibility of developing small replicating programs able to control other programs with a similar structure. Although the concept could have thousands of legitimate applications in computer science, it is easy to imagine negative applications of the theory outlined by Von Neumann: computer viruses, programs that replicate themselves as often as possible, increasing their population exponentially. In 1959, in Bell Computer’s laboratories, three young programmers: Robert Thomas Morris, Douglas Mcllroy and Victor Vysottsky created a game called CoreWar, based on the theory of Von Neumann and in which programs fought between each other, trying to occupy as much memory as possible and eliminating opposing programs. This game is considered the precursor to computer viruses. In 1972, Robert Thomas Morris created the first virus as such: Creeper, which could infect IBM 360 on the ARPANET (the predecessor of the Internet) and show an on-screen message saying “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can”. To eliminate it, a virus called Reaper was created to search for it and destroy it. This is the true origin of today’s antivirus programs. Throughout the 80’s, as PCs became more popular, more people became tech-savvy and began to experiment with their own programs. Here we began to see the first dedicated developers of damaging programs and in 1981, Richard Skrenta wrote the first widely-spreading virus: Elk Cloner, which displayed a poem after the infected computer had restarted 50 times. In 1984, Frederick B. Cohen first coined the phrase computer virus, in a study defining it as “a program that can `infect' other programs by modifying them to include a possibly evolved copy of itself”. In 1987, the Jerusalem or Friday 13 virus appeared which was able to infect .EXE and .COM files. It was first reported in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and became one of the most famous viruses in history. In 1999 the Happy worm, developed by Spanska, began a new trend in malware which has continued to the present-day: the sending of worms via email. In 2000 the rapid propagation and massive infection of the LoveLetter (I love you) virus reached the headlines around the world. This worm was also spread via email and used social engineering techniques to trick users. This was the beginning of the era of large-scale epidemics, which reached its climax in 2004. This was the year that saw the emergence of worms like Mydoom, Netsky, Sasser, or Bagle, designed to cause widespread alarm and largely successful in that purpose. This was the worst year for these kinds of epidemics, but curiously, also the last. Malware creators began to realize that their abilities could be used for more than just making headlines… they could also make money. The Sea Change In 2005, cyber-crooks began to realize that malware creation could become a profitable business model Among the most lucrative types of malicious code are banker Trojans. This type of malware is designed to steal confidential details, particularly related to online banking, and is often propagated through exploits, spam or other malware which downloads the banker Trojan onto computers. Other latent threats related with the malware business model include spyware and adware, where some software firms allow users to use an application in exchange for monitoring their Internet activity. As mobile phones and other mobile devices have become more popular, they have also become a target for the malware industry. In 2004 Cabir.A and ComWar.A emerged as the first examples of malicious code designed to target these devices. ComWar.A not only spread through Bluetooth but also through MMS messages, sending itself to its victims’ contacts. Nowadays there is malware designed for all the most widely-used platforms: Symbian, PocketPC, Palm, etc, and propagation channels include SMS, MMS, IrDA, Bluetooth, etc. The most frequently targeted operating system today is still Windows 32-bit. As we mentioned previously, malware creators have seen the financial potential for their activity and as Windows accounts for 90 percent of the market, it is easy to see why it is the focus of their attention. Perhaps another obstacle for creators of malware for Linux and Macintosh is related to the medium/high level of knowledge of users of these types of platforms, and so social engineering, the main method of propagation, will not be as effective as with other users. You can get more information about all this malware on the following links:
Family Health Guide You are here ADHD: Therapy Therapy can be important in treating ADHD, either alone or with medication. Many parents object to giving their children drugs before first trying other strategies. Others start with therapy and then progress to therapy plus medication, often when school becomes more complex and challenging. A good doctor will work with you to find the treatment strategy best suited for your family and your child. (Get help starting your search.) Individual and family sessions with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other counselor specializing in ADHD can help children and families deal with the anger and frustration it can cause and create a more positive environment for working on coping strategies. Behavioral Modification Medication can help a child focus, but behavioral techniques will give him (and you!) concrete methods to help change his behavior, often through charts that provide visual reminders and offer rewards for positive actions, like remembering books or standing quietly in line. (For some sample free charts for every age group, go to the Association for Comprehensive Neurotherapy) [[link:]] Children, parents and teachers or caregivers can learn behavioral therapy techniques from psychiatrists, psychologists, or other counselors (sometimes called coaches) who specialize in ADHD. Parent training Kids with ADHD don't always respond typically to common parenting techniques. If you ask them to set the table, and they don't do it, they may need a warning or two before you lower the boom. Parent training provides ADHD-specific strategies for discipline as well as teaching organization and problem-solving skills. Some tips on parenting children with ADHD include: Reinforce natural consequences of actions Most children will learn from their mistakes, but ADHD children may not make the connection between actions and consequences the way parents expect. Most kids who, for example, swing from a second story banister and break an arm will know not to do it again. An ADHD child may come home from the ER, climb back up on the banister, cast and all, and break his other arm. ADHD children who push, shove and annoy other children can be puzzled when they don't have friends. Even if it seems obvious, parents should stress (in a positive and loving way) the cause and effect relationship between a child's behavior and results. Use positive discipline While with non-ADHD children parents often can simply correct misbehaviors, with ADHD kids it is better to focus on teaching and reinforcing good behavior rather than waiting for mistakes. For instance, don't just give a time out for pushing on the playground, give your child praise or a sticker for playing appropriately. Be clear and consistent This is a good idea with all children, but essential for those with ADHD, who can't intuit what parents want if it isn't spelled out clearly for them. Don't say "Play nice!" Instead tell your child "Do not hit or push. If you do, we'll have to leave the park." Don't say "Behave for Grandma" but instead "Only walking is allowed in Grandma's house" or "Last time at Grandma's you drew on the walls. She was sad and you had a timeout. Here is your paper. It is the only thing you are allowed to draw on." Support groups Peer support can give families coping with ADHD encouragement, advice and information. Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD) lists local affiliates, many of which offer support groups, on its website,
WASHINGTON — Astronomers say they have discovered a hot, star-popping galaxy that is far, far away – farther than any previously detected, from a time when the universe was only about 400 million years old. By employing a new technique, astronomers exposed a time period they’d thought was impossible to observe with today’s technology. They used the Hubble Space Telescope to find the light wave signature of an extremely bright galaxy 13.4 billion light-years away, according to a study published Thursday by Astrophysical Journal. It shatters old records for distance and time in a big way, and may remain the farthest that can be seen for years, until a new space telescope is launched, the astronomers said. With that light signature, astronomers produced a photo of this galaxy that’s fuzzy and deceptive in color. It appears darkish red and indistinct, when in reality it’s so hot it is bright blue, but the light has traveled so long and far that it has shifted to the end of the color spectrum, to dark red. And that fuzziness masks an incredible rate of star formation that’s 10 times more frenetic than our Milky Way, said study co-author Gabriel Brammer, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute. “We’re getting closer and closer to when we think the first stars formed … There’s not a lot of actual time between this galaxy and the Big Bang,” Brammer said.
Home Calendar Holidays the United States Statehood Day Statehood Day in the United States Statehood Day in Kentucky and Tennessee, in the United States, is held on June 1 each year. It celebrates the states' admissions as the 15th and 16th states. Hawaii’s Statehood Day is on the third Friday of August. Statehood day Tennessee flag Statehood Day promotes the importance of civic involvement. Statehood Day promotes the importance of civic involvement. ©iStockphoto.com/dieter Spears What Do People Do? Various events are organized, usually at historic sites and museums, in Kentucky and Tennessee. Activities include re-enactments of historical events, displays on Native American life as well as live music performances. Demonstrations of colonial cooking and crafts are also held on this day. Many events are held on a weekend close to June 1 so families can attend. Public Life Statehood Day is not a federal public holiday in the USA but it is an observance celebrated in Kentucky and Tennessee. Schools, post offices, stores and other businesses are open as usual and public transit services operate to their usual schedule. There may be some local congestion or road closures around large parades. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, and the original 13 states joined the Union, as the United States was known, on that date. On March 4, 1791, Vermont became the 14th state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state to join and on June 1, 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state of the Union. Statehood Day is annually held on June 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution in Kentucky and Tennessee. It is also an opportunity to remind the citizens of these states of the importance of civic involvement. The state flags and seals of Kentucky and Tennessee are common symbols of Statehood Day. The flag of Tennessee is a rectangle with the proportions 3:5 and consists of a red background with a thin blue stripe on the vertical edge of the flag furthest from the flagpole. The red and blue parts are separated by a thin white line. In the middle of the flag is a blue circle surrounded by a thin white ring. Three white five-pointed stars nearly fill the blue circle. The three stars represent the three Grand Divisions of the state: East Tennessee; Middle Tennessee; and West Tennessee. The Tennessee state seal depicts the Roman numeral 16 (XVI), as Tennessee was the 16th state to join the United States, and a riverboat to symbolize the importance of transport along major rivers in the state. A plow, a sheaf of wheat and a cotton stalk to represent the role that agriculture plays in the state's history and present economy. Other symbols include: the passion flower (state wildflower); the iris (state cultivated flower); the tomato (state fruit); the tulip poplar (state tree); the mockingbird (state bird); the bobwhite quail (state game bird); the largemouth bass or 'bigmouth' (state sport fish); the raccoon (state wild animal); and the firefly, or lightning bug beetle, and the lady beetle, ladybug or ladybird beetle (state insects). The flag of Kentucky has a navy blue background. The state seal is at the center of the flag and is surrounded by the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" and goldenrod, the state flower. The state seal has a white background with an image of two men shaking hands in friendship and the state motto: "United we stand, divided we fall". The men represent Native Americans and European settlers. Other symbols of Kentucky include: the cardinal (state bird); the brachiopod (state fossil); the grey squirrel (state wild animal); the blackberry (state fruit); and coal (state mineral). Statehood Day Observances WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday TypeWhere It is Observed TueJun 12010Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee WedJun 12011Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee FriJun 12012Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee SatJun 12013Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee SunJun 12014Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee MonJun 12015Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee WedJun 12016Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee ThuJun 12017Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee FriJun 12018Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee SatJun 12019Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee MonJun 12020Statehood DayLocal observanceKentucky, Tennessee Quick Facts Statehood Day marks the anniversary of the dates that Kentucky became the 15th state and Tennessee became the 16th state of the United States. Statehood Day 2017 Thursday, June 1, 2017 (local in Kentucky, Tennessee) Statehood Day 2018 Friday, June 1, 2018 (local in Kentucky, Tennessee) Name in other languages Statehood DayEnglish Día de la estadidadSpanish יום הקמת המדינהHebrew يوم إقامة الدولةArabic 건국의 날Korean Statens dagNorwegian Tag der EigenstaatlichkeitGerman List of dates for other years Related holiday Other holidays in June 2017 in the United States United Nation Holiday on June 1, 2017 Fun Holiday on June 1, 2017 You might also like Total Solar Eclipse in the US Total Solar Eclipse in the US The Apocalypse is near - again!
Home > Featured Articles > Fertilizing your trees without growing your budget Long before there were arborists and landscape architects, trees and plants grew vibrant and healthy with little to no assistance from humans. So why do we fertilize our plants and trees now, when they have been growing successfully on their own for thousands, even millions, of years? Fertilizing your trees without growing your budget By Nicole Slaydon Unfortunately, urban sprawl and continuous development often has a negative impact on the natural environment of trees and plants. Housing and commercial developments, side-walks and paved roads, and damage from droughts and other natural and manmade disasters can result in diminished nutrients in the soil, reduced surface areas for root systems, and limited access to water and other stimulants necessary for trees and plants to thrive. Luckily, in the past 100 years, we found a way to correct the inadequacies we’ve caused in nature and the soil with advanced fertilizing technologies. We may not be able to undo all the damage, but with a bit of know-how and superior fertilizing practices, your trees and plants can thrive in today’s challenging environment. Back to the basics – what kind of fertilizer do I need? Like all living things, plants depend on several different elements to grow. Most basic fertilizers are primarily comprised of a plant’s three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). In addition to these elements, you can also find secondary plant nutrients, such as calcium, sulfur and magnesium, in most basic fertilizers. Premium fertilizers can also add copper, zinc, manganese and iron. Organic or biologically based fertilizers also include other components that represent the best of nature itself, such as mycorrhizae and beneficial microbes. Mycorrhizae are specialized fungi that form mutually beneficial relationships with plant roots and trap minerals, nutrients and water to help promote plant growth and health. Beneficial microbes are specific and naturally occurring microbial strains selected for their individual contribution to plant performance. They are included in biological fertilizers to improve the color of plants, increase nutrient uptake, and improve root density and mass. Fertilizing methods – the when, how, and where No matter what kind of fertilizer you use, getting the right nutrients to the tree roots is the most important task. One very effective method is to use a controlled-release fertilizer; this type can be a granular fertilizer that is either sprinkled onto the soil near the root ball or dug into the soil before planting. “Use controlled-release fertilizer once or twice a year,” said Kristi Woods, Roots Plant Care senior scientist. “These fertilizers are easy to apply, and work best when you want a slower release of nitrogen.” If you’re looking for a quicker response, a soluble — or liquid — fertilizer will give you visible results faster than a slow-release granular. One of the most effective ways of applying a soluble fertilizer is through injection feeding. A special injection “wand” or “rod” with a garden hose attached to it is used to inject the fertilizer and water directly into the tree root zone. “For the best results, start close to the tree and move out in a grid-like pattern until you reach the drip line,” explains Woods. Woods recommends using a soluble fertilizer when you see visible signs of stress such as small or yellow leaves, loss of leaves too early in the year, or overall reduction of plant growth and vigor. As for timing, fall fertilizing can add a much needed boost if you’ve forgotten in the spring, when fertilizing is most effective. Common (mis)assumptions First and foremost, Woods notes that in her experience, the worst assumption people often make about fertilizing is that it is not necessary. “I think most homeowners believe once the tree is planted and living, it’s the best it can get” she explains. “Fertilizing on a regular basis will improve the tree, and most times you’ll see that improvement in the same season — especially if you fertilize in the spring.” Furthermore, you’ll continue to see additional benefits for several years after you begin fertilizing. “Other benefits from fertilizing, such as a taller, larger tree and fuller canopy, become more obvious as the years go by,” she said. Woods also warns that herbicides used on lawns can negatively impact trees. Most herbicides are targeted to broadleaf plants like trees, and can also build up in the soil over time. Leaf curling, disfiguration and discoloring are signs from the tree that there is an excess amount of herbicides in the soil. Tips for healthy trees on a tight budget As the world scrambles for ways to off-set the rising costs of, well, everything, arborists are also looking for ways to keep trees healthy and vibrant while keeping costs to a minimum. “Applying a general lawn fertilizer may be effective enough fertilization for your trees,” Kristi Woods suggests. “A well-rounded and biological fertilizer will keep your lawn green and healthy while also giving a helpful bump to your trees.” Woods also recommends tree spikes for those trying to cut costs because “if you’re looking for something less expensive and easy to apply, tree spikes can be applied once a year and release nutrients slowly over time.” Being proactive about fertilizing your trees will result in healthier, more vibrant plants, and could ultimately end up saving your plants in times of stress. Give your trees the best chance at success by fertilizing at the right times, the right way, and with the right products. Nicole Slaydon is senior communication coordinator for Roots Plant Care Group, a division of Novozymes Biologicals, Inc. For more information, visit www.rootsinc.com About The Staff
Patches Of 'Black Ice' Can Send Cars Sliding January 29, 2000\|By DENNIS O'BRIEN Daily Press NEWPORT NEWS — Sun-thawed snow and nighttime temperatures in the teens and single digits create their own driving hazards, even on plowed streets. Among the worst threats: black ice. It's a transparent, wet, thin sheet of ice on otherwise dry roadways that's as slick as oil and can hurl even the most skilled drivers into collisions. Its physical properties aren't different from those of ordinary ice. It's just particularly dangerous because it's difficult to see. Although they can face it at any time, particularly on bridges or in shady spots on roads, drivers generally encounter black ice just after sunset and in the early morning, when shallow pools of water begin to freeze or melt. And during those times of day when ice is right about at the freezing point, it is especially treacherous. "When the ice is first formed, it's at its slipperiest," said Georjeane Blumling, spokeswoman for AAA of Tidewater. Samuel Colbeck, a senior research scientist at the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab in Hanover, N.H., explained. "The reason that ice or snow is slippery at all is because what you're really sliding on is water," Colbeck said. For example, Colbeck said, it's easier to ski on snow than on sand because the snow generates a lubricant,Ewater. The friction between skis and snow generates just enough heat to slightly melt the top of the snow and form a thin layer of water between the two surfaces. The friction between tires and road also generates heat. When hot tires hit ice, the top layer of ice melts, generating a thin layer of water to lubricate the "interface" between tire and ice. Thirty-two degrees is as hot as ice can be without melting. Friction-warmed tires melt a layer of it on contact, creating enough lubricant for tires to slide. On the other hand, when ice is very cold, it absorbs heat and won't melt, Colbeck said. Traction is so diminished when ice is wet that it takes cars twice as far to stop when it's 32 degrees out than when its 0 degrees, Blumling said. Black ice or not, slick spots can crop up on any road, and drivers should be prepared to face them. "The best advice we can give drivers is: Focus attention as far ahead as possible and have plenty of space between the vehicle in front of you," Blumling said. "That way you can see what the other driver's doing, and if they hit ice, you'll have plenty of time to react." Instead of a set distance between cars, AAA recommends drivers keep timed intervals. Pick a landmark -Ea tree, street sign or other roadside stationary object -Eand note when the car in front passes it. Then begin counting the seconds it takes before your car passes the same object. "With these kind of conditions, especially in the neighborhoods, a good 20- to 30-second cushion is best," Blumling said. If your car does hit an icy patch and begins to slide, do not slam on the brakes, Blumling said. Apply the brakes to a point just before they lock up, release the brakes, pump them again and repeat. That ways the tires will still roll and have opportunities to regain traction while the car slows down. In cars equipped with antilock brakes, which pump automatically, drivers should apply the brakes as they normally would. And, as they normally should, drivers should buckle up, Blumling said. "People should wear safety belts, especially in this kind of weather," Blumling said. "We have seen over and over again how people in even minor accidents are seriously injured when they don't wear their seat belts." Daily Press Articles
Chapter 7 Quiz Videos Art Part 1: Genes, Chromosomes, and Heredity Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes Review 1. reproduction involving meiosis and is important in many multicellular organisms. 2. Chlamydomonas gametes are and consist of two types, though there is no genetic difference between the types. 3. Maize is a (sporophyte contains both male and female parts) plant that exhibits alternation of , with a dominant stage and a stage. 4. Sexual development in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is determined by the ratio of chromosomes to sets of . 5. In the mode and mode of sex determination, gametes from the sex determine the sex of the progeny. 6. Humans possess chromosomes: 22 pairs of and two chromosomes. 7. of the X chromosomes (failure to segregate) during meiosis results in sex chromosome such as syndrome and syndrome. 8. Other sex chromosome abnormalities include and aneuploidies. 9. In humans, the region on the chromosome is necessary for male development. 10. In mammalian females, one of the two X chromosomes in each cell is randomly during embryonic development and can be seen as a compact body. 11. A female heterozygous for an X-resident gene may exhibit a phenotype. 12. Sex determination in Drosophila depends on the of chromosomes to autosomes; loss of an X during development can result in a bisexual fly called a . 13. Many reptiles exhibit -dependent sex determination (TSD), which can be one of three modes. bio3400 Home +space -space Oct 7, 2008 Print Print
The United States offers a wide range of options to the international student and opens a new world of opportunities to grow personally and professionally. US universities are renowned for their facilities, faculty and resources. Course choices are very flexible and one can easily move from one college to another. University admission requires completion of 12 years of primary and secondary education culminating in a high school diploma. Admissions criteria involve the students’ GPA, class ranking, and scores at the Scholastic Aptitude Test I (SAT I) and the American College Test (ACT). International students need to submit a high school equivalency report from a foreign credential evaluation agency. Students who have completed high school can pursue post-secondary education at a college or university leading to a bachelor’s degree in a field of concentration known as a major. There are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study. International students can transfer to a US college or university by submitting a course-by-course evaluation report that shows the equivalence of the courses completed in their country in terms of U.S. courses, semester credit hours and grades. After obtaining an initial undergraduate degree a student can proceed to the second stage of university education which consists of the Master’s degree, as well as other postgraduate Diploma or Certificate courses. Master’s programs are designed for two years of full-time study, which includes the completion of a research thesis. Many graduate and law schools do not require experience after earning a bachelor’s degree to enter their programs; however, business school candidates are usually required to gain a few years of professional work experience before applying. Students who want to advance their education beyond the master’s level in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the student’s educational background. The Ph.D. degree is awarded after writing a dissertation on an original piece of significant research and successfully defending the work before a panel of faculty members who specialize in the discipline. The doctoral degree is designed to train research scholars and, in many cases, future college and university faculty members. Certain courses like law, dentistry, pharmacy and medicine are are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor’s degree depending on the program. These professional fields do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment. Some of these programs have formal apprenticeship procedures like residency and internship which must be completed after graduation.
Find this Story Print, a form you can hold Wireless download to your Amazon Kindle Look for a summary or analysis of this Story. Enjoy this? Share it! The Virginians by [?] Henry Esmond, Esq., an officer who had served with the rank of Colonel during the wars of Queen Anne’s reign, found himself at its close involved in certain complications, both political and private. For this reason Mr. Esmond thought best to establish himself in Virginia, where he took possession of a large estate conferred by King Charles I. upon his ancestor. Mr. Esmond previously to this had married Rachel, widow of the late Francis Castlewood, Baronet, by whom he had one daughter, afterwards Madame Warrington, whose twin sons, George and Henry Warrington, were known as the Virginians. Mr. Esmond called his American house Castlewood, from the family estate in England. The whole customs of Virginia, indeed, were fondly modelled after the English customs. The Virginians boasted that King Charles II. had been king in Virginia before he had been king in England. The resident gentry were connected with good English families and lived on their great lands after a fashion almost patriarchal. For its rough cultivation, each estate had a multitude of hands, who were subject to the command of the master. The land yielded their food, live stock and game. The great rivers swarmed with fish for the taking. Their ships took the tobacco off their private wharves on the banks of the Potomac or the James River, and carried it to London or Bristol, bringing back English goods and articles of home manufacture in return for the only produce which the Virginian gentry chose to cultivate. Their hospitality was boundless. No stranger was ever sent away from their gates. The question of slavery was not born at the time of which we write. To be the proprietor of black servants shocked the feelings of no Virginian gentleman; nor, in truth, was the despotism exercised over the negro race generally a savage one. The food was plenty; the poor black people lazy and not unhappy. You might have preached negro-emancipation to Madame Esmond of Castlewood as you might have told her to let the horses run loose out of the stables; she had no doubt but that the whip and the corn-bag were good for both. Having lost his wife, his daughter took the management of the Colonel and his estate, and managed both with the spirit and determination which governed her management of every person and thing which came within her jurisdiction. After fifteen years’ residence upon his great Virginian estate the Colonel agreed in his daughter’s desire to replace the wooden house in which they lived, with a nobler mansion which would be more fitting for his heirs to inherit. His daughter had a very high opinion indeed of her ancestry, and her father, growing exquisitely calm and good-natured in his serene declining years, humoured his child’s peculiarities and interests in an easy bantering way. Truth to tell, there were few families in England with nobler connections than the Esmonds. The Virginians, Madame Rachel Warrington’s sons, inherited the finest blood and traditions, and the rightful king of England had not two more faithful little subjects than the young twins of Castlewood. At Colonel Esmond’s death, Madame Esmond, as she was thereafter called, proclaimed her eldest son, George, heir of the estate; and Harry, George’s younger brother by half an hour, was instructed to respect his senior. All the household was also instructed to pay him honour, and in the whole family of servants there was only one rebel, Harry’s foster-mother, a faithful negro woman who never could be made to understand why her child should not be first, who was handsomer and stronger and cleverer than his brother, as she vowed; though in truth, there was not much difference in the beauty, strength, or stature of the twins. In disposition, they were in many points exceedingly unlike; but in feature they resembled each other so closely that, but for the colour of their hair, it had been difficult to distinguish them. In their beds, and when their heads were covered with those vast ribboned nightcaps which our great and little ancestors wore, it was scarcely possible for any but a nurse or a mother to tell the one from the other child.
Saturday, May 11, 2013 The Death of Socrates A Note The Death of Socrates by David One of the great tropes of the Western Tradition is the Death of Socrates. Mountains of philosophical literature have been written about and it can be argued that Plato’s entire philosophical system was based on it. In the end it boils down to a jury being convinced that the charges were true and convicting him. The charges according to Diogenes Laertius were as follows: The charges are horribly vague and the penalty seems a bit drastic to put it mildly. However the trope that Socrates died for the spirit of free inquiry and because he valued his integrity above all else is one up held by the Western tradition to this day. A rather different view however can be taken from the sources. Setting aside for the time being the vagueness of the charges. Exactly what is introducing new gods and corrupting the youth? Since Athens' like so much of Greece had in the past and would in the future accept new Gods and religious practice just what was Socrates thought of has doing? As for corrupting the youth what did that mean. Just talking to them? The problem is why was Socrates charged? Well here a little context is in order about our sources. The two main sources about Socrates are Plato and Xenophon both of whom produced in their writings defences or what are called Apologies of Socrates.2 In fact much of their writing is in fact a defence of Socrates. Those are the main sources in antiquity there were other defences of Socrates by his disciples and even some writings justifying the trial and sentence but that has not survived what we have are defences written not by sober minded historians but highly partisan accounts by true believing disciples.3 This being the case it cannot be taken for granted that we have been given all the germane facts related to the trial of Socrates. Later accounts like the third surviving Apology written by the 4th century C.E., Philosopher Labinius are philosophical exercises not worth taking even slightly has telling us anything about the trial of Socrates or what he supposedly said.4 In fact one of the most intractable problems in the history of philosophy is the so-called Socratic problem. Just how much of the actual Socrates is there in the writings of Plato and Xenophon? The problem would undoubtedly be much worse if we had the writings of Socrates’ many other disciples many of whom wrote dialogues with Socrates has a character. In fact even Aristotle wrote such dialogues. Since Socrates’ disciples disagreed on so much its likely their different Socrates would have also. Be that as it may the fact is Plato’s and Xenophon’s Socrates don’t agree on a lot and seem like two different people. Plato’s Socrates seems far too smooth, polished and erudite, whereas Xenophon’s Socrates seems more real but at the same time is almost hopelessly banal and conventional. Both are hard to believe has real portrayals of a real man and both seem mere mouth pieces for the thoughts of Plato and Xenophon respectively. If Socrates is a mere sock puppet I fear we must abandon any idea of finding the “real” Socrates except in the most general over all sense. And this effects what we can get from the words Plato and Xenophon put into Socrates mouth during the trial. Plato was present during the trial it seems, Xenophon was not, but even so since Plato invented dialogues of conversations both before and after the trial we can rest assured that Plato’s apology was equally invented by Plato. As for Xenophon’s speech that he put into Socrates’ mouth that was also equally invented. In both cases the Apologies were written long after the events and designed to justify Socrates not to give a true recording of what Socrates said. The fact that they conflict with each other doesn’t help the argument that they tell us what was said. In antiquity it was common for Historians to put invented speeches into people’s mouths. The idea was that the speeches would be what the writer thought was appropriate for that person to say at that time. Resemblance to what the person actually said, assuming they said anything, was usually beside the point. The result was that speeches are generally dismissed by modern historians has being of little historical value. It appears that Plato and Xenophon were doing the same thing here. They were giving Socrates what they thought he should have said, not necessarily what he did say.5 This being the case the Apologies as sources for what the trial was actually about are dubious and frankly not to be trusted in the slightest. Taking the above in mind and accepting the fact that virtually all of our surviving information about the trial and death of Socrates comes from Socrates’ ardent disciples which given the conventions of their society would be anxious to justify Socrates and put the words they thought he should have said in his mouth not the words that he did say perhaps the following is a tenable reconstruction of what actually happened. First since all of sources agree on the nature of the charge, introducing new Gods and corrupting the youth, that is probably what Socrates was actually charged with. But why was he charged with that? The answer was that the charge was a substitute for far graver charges. In Athens such charges were heard by jurors and in a case like this the charge was heard by a jury of 501 adult male citizens. Guilt was determined by simple majority vote. The fine or punishment was decided by a majority vote also separately. If someone was found guilty the accuser would suggest a penalty then the condemned would suggest a penalty and the jury would vote for one or the other. There were no judges and no professional Lawyers or advocates in these trials although you could have someone speak on your behalf. Witnesses could be called and questioned.6 Athens had recently gone through the long Peloponnesian war, which it had lost. During the war there had been in 411 B.C.E., an oligarchic coup, which briefly and brutally replaced the democracy. After the war was over Athens had imposed on it by Sparta the brutal rule of the so-called thirty tyrants. (403-402 B.C.E.) During their, thankfully, brief rule several thousand citizens and non-citizens had been killed. The Thirty had been overthrown and the Democracy restored. Then a little while later, c. 401 B.C.E. there had been an attempted oligarchic coup. Now why is this important? Simply because Socrates’ disciples tended very strongly to be oligarchic in sympathy and at least some of Socrates’ disciples were involved in these coup attempts. At the very least they despised the democracy and supported oligarchic rule in Athens.7 Now in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Thirty tyrants Athens passed a law declaring an amnesty for acts relating to the coup and its hideous aftermath of mass terror by the Thirty tyrants. The amnesty was never revoked. Among several followers of Socrates involved in the Thirty tyrants was Critias, who dominated them and was a devote follower of Socrates. The man was also apparently quite ruthless and vicious. He was killed in the fighting that put an end to the Thirty tyrants. Rather interestingly Socrates, unlike many others stayed in Athens and there is no record of any active opposition by him or much of verbal disapproval of the Thirty tyrants.8 The lack of opposition to the Thirty tyrants is suggestive. Both Plato and Xenophon go to some lengths to try to dissociate Socrates from the blood spattered Critias. But the stories that they give of his alleged disapproval are shall we say in the end not convincing. If Plato and Xenophon agree on one thing about Socrates it is that he did not like Athenian democracy and that he approved of oligarchic rule. The stories that they give about Socrates’ opposition to the Thirty tyrants have been accepted by many on faith. Why should we believe stories that are so feeble if real. Rather than leave the city in disgust at the actions of Critias and the other Thirty Tyrants Socrates stayed in Athens. There is not one particle of evidence that he actively opposed the tyranny and the stories about his alleged opposition are feeble and read like desperation in trying to find something for Socrates’ benefit. Thus supposedly to implicate Socrates in their crimes the Thirty sent Socrates and some other Athenians to arrest someone. Supposedly Socrates just went home. The man was killed. Even if true the just went home is not exactly heroic. The addition that the Thirty might have killed him if the regime hadn’t been overthrown begs the question if that is the case why didn’t Socrates leave aside from not being believable in the first place. In fact what it reads like is that Socrates was accused of during the reign of the Thirty Tyrants of being involved in their crimes by being involved in the arrest of one of their victims. The lame defence which sounds woefully unconvincing is that Socrates just went home. That sounds like a desperate addition to a damning story and singularly unconvincing. And if Socrates did take part in the arrest ordered by the Thirty Tyrants then he was a supporter.9 The other story told by Xenophon about Critias telling Socrates that he could no longer engage in “Socratic” dialogues is also feeble. Aside from the fact it looks made up to say that Socrates was oppressed by the Thirty. The singularly pathetic nature of Socrates’ "opposition" is all too clear. According to Xenophon Socrates tried to negotiate with the Thirty by means of semantic quibbling over what he was actually forbidden to do. It is interesting that even according to Xenophon Socrates being forbidden to do what he lived for, earnest dispute, was not enough to get him to leave Athens ruled by the Thirty Tyrants.10 Of course the possibility must be raised that Xenophon’s incident much like the previous one never actually happened but was at least partially fabricated to excuse the embarrassing fact Socrates stayed in the city. It is interesting to record that later on accusing someone of having stayed in the city during the reign of the Thirty tyrants was a familiar means of blackening someone’s reputation.11 In the case of Socrates he was it appears accused of more than just staying in the city he was accused and likely believed to have participated in the crimes of the regime. And frankly given the truly lame attempts by Xenophon and Plato to excuse Socrates' behavior by creating very weak stories of opposition to the Thirty I suspect that in reality Socrates was indeed involved in supporting the Thirty and probably in its crimes and that Plato, by almost entirely ignoring it, and Xenophon, by making up stories, suppressed that fact has much has they could. When Socrates was accused in the aftermath of the attempted oligarchic coup of 401 B.C.E., of bringing in new Gods and Corrupting the youth those were a mere substitute for what was the real reason, not just the fact he had been the teacher of Critias and other dangerous and intriguing oligarchs but that he had been involved in the crimes of the Thirty. All of this put Athenians on edge and put Socrates at risk despite the amnesty passed by the Assembly. So being unable to charge Socrates for crimes committed during the reign of the Thirty he was charged with an offence that was both vague and a catch all. It is likely that the accused did not actually intend to kill Socrates. They meant to punish him for being involved in the Thirty and inspiring his disciples to be oligarchic sympathizers who tried to destroy the democracy. Given this atmosphere of fear it is surprising that the vote to convict was apparently so damn close, according to Plato, 280-221 to convict. During the penalty phase Socrates apparently truly antagonized the jury because they voted 361-140 to sentence him to death.12 In fact it is likely that Socrates completely flubbed his defence certainly the he blew the penalty phase. Certainly it is unlikely he uttered the brilliant philosophical speech that Plato gives him in his Apology or even the prosaic speech that Xenophon gives him. Instead according to Diogenes Laertius he did as follows: ….and when the judges were assessing what he should suffer or what fine he should pay, he proposed to pay 25 drachmae. Eubulides indeed says he offered 100. [42] When this caused an uproar among the judges, he said, "Considering my services, I assess the penalty at maintenance in the Prytaneum at the public expense."13 It is stuff like that that that makes one think it likely that Socrates was as Xenophon records him wanting to commit suicide by judicial murder.14 For as Xenophon says: Socrates was so arrogant in court that he invited the juror’s ill-will and more or less forced them to condemn him.15 If Xenophon a devote follower of Socrates says this we can take it as likely true. As it does not reflect well on Socrates at all. Whether or not Socrates did this deliberately or just from being clueless I don’t know. Although given that it appears that Socrates was apparently a highly intelligent man it would appear to be deliberate. Or is it possible that Xenophon appalled that Socrates could have muffed it decided Socrates looked better if he said he did it deliberately? As it is it appears to be quite plain that Socrates could have even after the trial fled into exile. He did not; he chose to stay in Athens and play the martyr. So we have Socrates’ death by hemlock. Of course the fact that it appears that Socrates was accused of a substitute crime in place of his real alleged crimes, performed under the Thirty Tyrants in no way gainsays the fact that the charge is an embarrassingly vague grab bag from which no one was safe. That these crimes were vague to the point of uselessness perhaps explains why there seems to have been few prosecutions under it at the time and why considering everything the jury was reluctant to convict. But it appears that Socrates may have pissed off the jury during the initial argument. How I may go into another time. Although remembering that Xenophon’s and Plato’s words are not Socrates and perhaps they bear no resemblance to what Socrates said at all! Much more firmly based is the notion that Socrates basically insulted the jury during the penalty phase of the trial, enough to get a large section of those who voted to acquit to vote for the death penalty! However there is the likelihood that behind all the rhetoric of bringing new gods and corrupting the morals of youth is the possibility if not probability that Socrates had blood on his hands for involvement in the regime of the Thirty Tyrants if not other oligarchic conspiracies. It was not the simple fact he had taught Critias and other oligarchic / blood thirsty tyrants but the likelihood that he was personally involved in their atrocities that was in the juries mind and thus the actual charge was a mere cover for the what the jury truly thought Socrates was guilty of. Involvement in the crimes of the Thirty tyrants. Of course men should be tried for what they are actually charged with not for other crimes which they are not charged with. So the Trial of Socrates remains a miscarriage of justice.16 1. Laertius, Diogenes, Life of Socrates in Lives of Eminent Philosophers, s. 40, at Perseus Here. 2. See Plato, Apology in Great Dialogues of Plato, Mentor Books, New York, 1956, pp. 423-446, and Crito, pp. 447-459, & Phaedo, pp. 460-521, and Xenophon, Apology, in Xenophon: Conversations of Socrates, Penguin Books, London, 1990, pp. 41-49. (It is called in the book Socrates’ Defence.). 3. Stone, I. F., The Trial of Socrates, Anchor Books, New York, 1988, pp. 9-19, Waterfield, Robin, Introduction, in Xenophon, pp. 5-26. On the vagueness of the charges see Mac Dowell, Douglas M., The Law in Classical Athens, Cornell University Press, London, 1978, p. 197-199. 4. Labinius, Apology, in Editor, Calder, William M., The Unknown Socrates, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Wauconda IL, 2002, pp. 47-110. 5. Finley, M. I., Socrates and Athens, in Aspects of Antiquity, Second Edition, Penguin Books, London, 1977, pp. 60-73, Waterfield, Stone, pp. 9-26. 6. Mac Dowell, pp. 33-40, 235-259. 7. Stone, pp. 140-156. For ancient accounts see Diodorus, Library of History, Book 13, ch. 38-39, at Lacus Curtius Here, Xenophon, The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenika, Anchor, Books, New York, 2009, Book 2, ch. 24-39, pp. 52-76. 8. IBID, Stone, pp. 153-154. For more about Critias as a thinker see the collection of fragments by him and some ancient writings about him in Editors, Dillon, John, & Gergel, Tania, The Greek Sophists, Penguin Books, London, 2003, pp. 217-265. 9. The man Socrates is accused of being involved in the arrest of was Leon of Salamis. This story can be found at Plato, Apology, p. 438. Also see Stone, pp. 113-114. 10. The story can be found in Xenophon, Conversations of Socrates, Book 1, ch. 2, pp. 78-80. See Stone, pp. 158-160. 11. Stone, pp. 153-154. 12. p. Laertius, s. 40. Gives 281 as the votes for conviction and records that 80 more votes were for the death penalty, meaning 361 voted for it. Stone, pp. 181, 187. For reasons that are not clear Stone gives the figures of the vote to convict as 280 and to inflict the death penalty as 360. He seems to forget that Athenian juries numbered in cases like this 501 not 500. However in fairness the sources do refer to juries of 200, 500, 1000 and 1500 even 6000! It appears that they are rounding down from 501, 201, etc. See Mac Dowell, p. 39-41. 13. Laertius, s. 40. 14, Xenophon, Apology, pp. 47-49. One of the most annoying things about Xenophon’s Socrates is how Xenophon goes to extraordinary lengths to portray Socrates as a boring, thoroughly conventional Athenian conservative. 15. IBID, p. 49. 16. It can be argued that Socrates was in fact guilty of the charges against him. Although given the vagueness of the charges virtually anyone could potentially been found guilty “reasonably”. The charges are still too vague. Pierre Cloutier No comments: Post a Comment
Lau Chong-Fuk, Chinese University of Hong Kong Science, Religion and Philosophy A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory The teleological or design argument for the existence of God is a central doctrine in Judeo-Christian theology. Although Hume offered a penetrating criticism of the teleological argument, arguments such as Paley’s watchmaker analogy were met with widespread acceptance. The complexity of living organisms seems to be inexplicable without appealing to an intelligent designer. Even Kant, who had attempted to refute all traditional proofs of the existence of God, had to concede that “it would be not only discomfiting but also quite pointless to try to remove anything from the reputation of this [teleological] proof” (A 624/B 652). However, Darwin’s theory of evolution offers an alternative explanation, which has been confirmed again and again with overwhelming scientific evidence. Yet, Darwin’s theory is often considered a threat not only to the belief in a creator God, but also to various religious doctrines, resulting in a serious conflict between science and religion. The creation-evolution controversy has attracted a good deal of public attention. In recent years, a watered-down version of creationism called intelligent design (ID) has been particularly influential. ID proponents try to formulate their anti-evolutionary ideas using more scientific-looking terms, thereby pretending to be neutral on the nature and identity of the designer. This paper will give a critical analysis of the concepts and arguments of ID and argue that ID fails to qualify as a scientific theory. It will also examine the conditions of a legitimate design inference, explaining why the design inference used by ID and creationism is illegitimate. page 1/1
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Another Quake Swarm At Katla And Whispers Of Impending eruption [UPDATED 3-5-2012] Katla volcano has had over 16 quakes in the caldera area in the last 36 hours. 11 of these were in the last 12 hours as of this writing, with most a bit under mag 1.0, but some almost to a 1.9 magnitude. The largest eent was a 2.1 mag quake slightly outside the caldera. Harmonic tremor is also being detected at the volcano, again raising the specter of a Katla eruption. Whether or not it's going to be a small event like the 2011 minor eruption remains to be seen, but one thing is becoming abundantly clear. Katla is waking up, and it will erupt soon. My guess based on constant observation of this volcano and reading Icelandic blogs and media reports is that Katla will likely have an eruption either this year, or sometime next year. As there are no instruments that can tell us the location of the magma in the chamber, or how much is being injected, it is very hard to tell, if not impossible to predict what will happen. If history is any guide, we might be expecting a very large eruption sometime soon. But then again, looking to history for apparent patterns in volcanic activity is something we humans do, even if it truly means nothing in reality. A large Katla eruption has been expected after its neighbor blew up in 2010. Eyjafjallajökull has been characterized by some volcanologists as being slightly connected to Katla's magma chamber via a lateral dike-like structure. Historically speaking, each recorded eruption at Eyjafjallajökull was followed usually within months by a Katla eruption. But this sort of proves how historical "patterns" may not always be so. It has since been almost two whole years since Eyjafjallajökull erupted, and despite the tiny eruption from Katla (which may have been a result of left over magma from Eyjafjallajökull's eruption via the lateral dike I mentioned), Katla has remained restless, but non-eruptive as some people predicted. Time will tell, but it's probably a good time to start really keeping a close eye on what's going on at Katla, especially for Iceland and Europe. Due to its location next to Eyjafjallajökull, it is quite possible that a large ash producing event from Katla would have very similar effects on the Eurozone that Eyjafjallajökull did when it exploded. This could easily cause more economic hardship to Europe, at probably the worst time to do so if it were to erupt rather soon. I'm going to be keeping my eyes peeled on Katla this week, and if more activity occurs, you'll hear about it here! Another swarm of quakes were recorded today at the Katla caldera. 4-5 quakes ranging from less than 1.0 to around 1.5 occurred within an hour period. Again, this is most likely more magma dike intrusion into the caldera system. Monday, February 27, 2012 El Hierro Eruption Continues At Low Level While the harmonic tremor readings are nearly flat, and visuals on the surface of the ocean have been few and fr between, the El Hierro submarine eruption is continuing at a low rate. For the last few days, the "jacuzzi" and stain area have made faint appearances, and water temperatures over the vent are still high enough to generate a steamy haze over the vent area. Today the jacuzzi area is a bit stronger, even though harmonic tremor is about the same as it has been for the last week or so. The earthquakes to the West of the eruption zone have been continuing, varying from up to 20 quakes per day, down to a low of about 7. They are getting shallower in this area, indicating the possibility of more magma movement possibly to a different area. This could explain why "Bob" (the unofficial name for the submarine volcano) has shown minimal activity, because magma may be finding another route through the crust. It could also be that "Bob" is simply re-pressurizing, and the renewed jacuzzi and heat activity could indicate that the cone itself is heating up again and getting ready for another round of eruptive activity. Only time will tell. This could simply be underwater cooling and degassing, but this would not account for the activity today (the ocean is a GREAT heat sink, especially for cone building events such as this). There have been regular scientific expeditions to the eruption area, with several scientific vessels taking bathymetry readings, and sonar scans of the ocean floor. From what I've read on Earthquake-report.com (they are fortunate enough to have a local reporting for them and taking daily photos), an ROV missions is planned in the near future to take direct video of the vent area, however due to currents and sometimes bad weather, they haven't had much luck getting the remotely operated vehicle deployed yet (they are insanely expensive, so they will always err on the side of caution when it comes to this equipment). So until we have direct observations from the sea floor, it is hard to tell what the state of the eruptive cone is in at this time. All we can infer from tremor, and surface observations is that this eruption is continuing at a low level as it has been for the past week or so. This could change at any time. In a previous post about El Hierro, I pointed out the similarities between El Hierro and the Hawaii island chain. While Earthquake-report.com picked up on this idea as well, they erroneously compared this eruption to that of Kilauea, instead of its newer and less active neighbor, Loihi. The surface eruption on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is unimpeded by ocean water, and is able to create stable channels for lava to flow onto the surface. Loihi (first detected in eruption in 1996) is a submarine volcano SW of the Kilauea summit, and has periods of activity followed by long periods of dormancy, and has a lot of the same characteristics of the El Hierro submarine eruption. While it is my belief that El Hierro, like Hawaii, is a "hot spot" type volcanic system, the dynamics are different from Hawaii. The chemical makeup of the lava is different, the location is certainly different, and instead of an underwater shield volcano (like Loihi), this seems to be a mere cone building event not separate from the main volcanic system at El Hierro. Hot spot volcanic systems like the Hawaiian and the Canary islands can have long period of eruption like Kilauea, or short periods of strong activity... really the range of activity these spots are capable of is huge. El Hierro might be entering a phase of long term activity given the quakes, their locations, and the duration of what people thought was probably going to be a very small event. This is a volcano still worth watching, and is of great scientific interest. ***UPDATE 2/27/2012* Activity at El Hierro is unchanged. Low and almost nonexistent harmonic tremor, coupled with light degassing and small jacuzzi visible. Probably the actual eruption of "Bob" the underwater cinder cone is over. However GPS data indicates uplift of the island of El Hierro itself, and quakes are clustering at the northern end of the island. El Hierro appears to be inflating, and it is not unreasonable to think that another cone building event, possibly on the island itself, may occur in the future. When is impossible to say. More Activity at Salton Sea (Salton Buttes) California The Salton Sea is shaking. Over the last few weeks, many very shallow tremors have been occurring on the fault line that runs through this SE California farming town. The largest events so far have been around 3.5 in magnitude, and are clustering on the SE shore of the Salton Sea, just East, and overlapping, the Salton Buttes; lava domes that were extruded along this spreading fault line some 5,000 years ago. The Salton Sea is home to a geothermal power plant, as well as having the unfortunate location of being right on top of a spreading rift that includes the Cerro Prieto volcanic center, near where the Easter 2010 Southern California quake struck, shaking San Diego County and Mexico with a 7.2 magnitude quake. The region has shown many quakes since the 7.2 quake, most of these fault stress adjustments and minor slippage events. It is likely that Southern California will experience heightened seismicity for decades. This is actually good for Southern California since tectonic stresses are being released slowly. When quakes stop in this area, it's time to worry about another big one like the Easter quake. Fortunately for Californians, our buildings are built to withstand up to a magnitude 8.0 quake with little to no damage. The same cannot be said for the majority of Baja California and Tecate, which experienced heavy damage from that quake. As the Salton Buttes are classified by CalVO as an extreme risk for future eruption, the general consensus seems to be that volcanic activity in the area is expected in the future, however the area is currently not monitored by CalVO. It is for that reason that I'm planning to go to the area to look for myself to see if there is anything strange like gas fissures, plant kill, or heightened activity of the various mud volcanoes in the area. Other indicators of rising magma could be dying fish in the lake, however that's actually pretty common since the lake is one of the most polluted on the planet. The Salton Sea is surrounded by agriculture, and ghost towns, where abandoned cars and other vehicles, as well as garbage and toxic waste, were carelessly tossed into the Salton Sea. The agriculture activity is responsible for a lot of the pollutants and toxins in the lake. It is common to see dead fish and other animal life on the shores of this lake. Locals would probably rather starve than eat the fish out of that lake. So dead fish int he lake would not be a good indicator of activity, unless an extraordinary amount of fish ended up washing to shore. In any case, I hope to have some pictures and direct observations of this area soon... gas has now climbed to an astonishing $4.59 a gallon for 87 octane and is expected to rise sharply in the coming days/weeks. So if you'd really like to see some firsthand pictures, video, etc, please do feel free to toss me a couple of bucks on my Google Donate button, which will go directly to this planned trip. I'll probably end up going anyway, but it would make a difference to me if the readers of this blog chipped in for the trip... there is something going on out there that hasn't happened in a while, and I, like you, am quite curious. Costa Rica's Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Erupts Rincón de la Vieja, Costa Rica's largest volcanic complex, is experiencing an eruptive phase after 14 years of quiescence. Tremor and explosive activity has been reported by Wired.com Eruptions blog, and local Costa Rican news sources. The explosions were not damaging to surrounding areas, and are reported to have been contained inside the most active (middle) crater of Rincón de la Vieja. Volcanologists say that this is not the result of new magma being injected into the crater, rather this is a phreatic eruption. Phreatic eruptions occur when water seeps into cracks or fissures, and comes into contact with cooling magma or superheated rock, which in turn causes the water to flash into steam, creating enough pressure for an explosive event. These types of eruptions are considered to be one of the least dangerous types, however they are still quite dangerous as they can occur with little to no warning. These types of eruptions generally do not generate any seismic signals until they actually occur, and are not able to be predicted. They are typically small eruptions, however larger phreatic eruptions, more specifically, ones that can create a 'maar' have occurred in many other volcanic systems, such as the Soda Lakes maars in Nevada, or the Ubehebe craters. It is probable that this will be some of the only activity for now from Rincón de la Vieja for a while, unless new magma is injected into the chamber. It is anyone's guess at the moment as to if this has occurred or will occur. However the Costa Rican government would be wise to excersize caution, as a 1966 eruption caused a very large, VEI 3 sized eruption, which produced many deadly pyroclastic flows. An earlier eruption in (around) 1820 BC produced a much larger VEI 4 size eruption, which produced the Río Blanco tephra layer, was the largest eruption of the volcano that we know of. Rincón de la Vieja is the site of geothermal drilling and exploitation. Rincón de la Vieja does have the potential for extremely explosive events, and it is looking like the volcano is awaking from its slumber... at least for a little while. It is entirely possible that after these phreatic explosions, that will be all and the volcano will go back to sleep. I for one wouldn't plan any trips to the summit any time soon, and would opt to admire the volcano from a good distance! Sunday, February 26, 2012 More Shallow Quake Swarming At Salton Sea (Salton Buttes) The tectonic activity continues at the Salton Sea (Salton Buttes) fault area in California, as many tremors at very shallow depths (some have an odd depth recorded of 0.00 km) in the same region as the previous swarm, directly on the 'corner' of a transform fault line. Activity in the area has been elevated since a 7.2 mag quake struck the Mexico/Southern California region in August of 2010. This area of activity is on the same fault line. These quakes are most likely tectonic in nature and not related to magma intrusion, however the area is a geothermal development area, and does have several small rhyolitic lava domes which are exposed on the South shores of the Salton Sea. The area has mud volcanoes, and at least one geothermal power plant. The newly minted CalVO (California Volcano Observatory) classifies the Salton Buttes area as a high risk for future eruption, so they seem to think the area will most certainly see volcanic activity one day. Given the seismicity in the surrounding area, from San Diego county up to Los Angeles County, it is clear that the faults in the area were shaken up by the 7.2 Easter quake. This can be a good thing, or a bad thing. The more energy slowly released by some fault lines can diffuse crustal tension and prevent larger earthquakes from occurring... but they can also create tension at other faults that are not in motion, such as the Los Angeles area of the San Andreas Fault, which has shown very little activity since the large quake south of the border. It is good advice to keep an eye on this quake swarm. The USGS has so far not released any statements on what the cause of the quakes are, from minor tectonic activity to possible dike intrusion, so I'll keep most of the speculation to a minimum. If USGS has any info on this current swarm, I will update this post. *UPDATE 2/23/2012* CalVO does not monitor the Salton Sea as of yet, so there will probably not be any incoming USGS analysis to these events. A 3.0 magnitude tremblor struck the swarm region on the 20th of February, as well as a continuing swarm of smaller quakes at very shallow depths of less than 1 KM. Something is going on over there, I might actually take a trip to the lake and quake area to see if there is any indication of gas release or plant kill. Gas is close to $4 a gallon, and in some areas is much higher (almost $4.50/gal) so I'll need to see if I can afford such a trip. This area is getting more interesting by the day. *UPDATE 2/26/2012* A magnitude 3.2 quake struck the same region today,a s well as several smaller tremblors. These also took place at depths of less than 2km, with the shallowest quake at a depth of .10km. Gas prices are horrendous right now so I will need to wait until this weekend to make a trip out there to see what's going on with my own eyes. Hopefully nothing out of the ordinary and just the normal "California shuffle". Friday, February 24, 2012 Volcanoes and Doomsayers Humanity as a whole has either revered, or feared volcanoes depending on the culture experiencing this geological process. Some cultures deify volcanoes and associate them with various gods, while others fear volcanoes as a malevolent and destructive force. Science has explained a great many mysteries of volcanic processes since the dawn of man, but with progress on the scientific front comes resistance from the spiritual front. Such has been the case since anything resembling the scientific method has been used. From religious fundamentalists who believe in the "End of Days", to conspiracy theorists who postulate that governments around the world can actually make volcanoes erupt, volcanoes in the media have had a bad rap since nearly the beginning of written language. My blog, which is really catching on thanks to news organizations, other bloggers, and enthusiasts (my blog has recently overtaken several in Internet ratings, probably due to the fact that I actually vet my information, and check my spelling and grammar!), is dedicated to the idea that science and the scientific method are better used to explain the reality in which we live than say, spiritual or pseudo-predictive opinions. That all being said, I find it both amusing and frightening that information about volcanoes is used in the realm of spirituality to frighten or persuade people into believing that the end times is upon us. Let this be said and understood. The Earth IS billions of years old. It HAS hosted many generations of life from single celled organisms to macroscopic life forms that inhabit and in some cases dominate the planet on which we live and grow. From amoebas to dinosaurs, from small simians to humans, this planet has a rich (and provable via the fossil record) history of life over countless and unfathomable amounts of time. This time has been filled (on this planet) with geological events, cosmic events, and plenty of important biological events. To consider that we are in some way special and unique in this span of time is, in my view, wholly foolish. We are but specks of dust in the grand scheme of the cosmos, and our planet is unique. Volcanoes are definitely powerful forces. They do indeed inflict destruction on civilized man, but also provide benefits of which news and religious organizations often fail to recognize. Why, we might not even exist if it weren't for the volcanic chemistry set that the Earth is made of. Volcanic soil produces some of the most fertile land that we are capable of farming due to the minerals that it creates. Volcanic processes create new land and real estate. They fuel our economies in some cases when benign eruptions draw tourists to our towns. They create some of the most spectacular and awesome landscapes that we've come to know and love (take my banner on my page for example, a panorama I took of Crater Lake in Oregon during a gorgeous day!). Or how about the materials we use to make cement, roads, bar-b-que pits, rock gardens, and more? Yes, volcanoes can and do visit the occasional mass destruction on our planets inhabitants. But they do give as good as they get. If this planet had no volcanoes, we wouldn't even exist. So before anyone goes on a tirade about "the impending eruptions of super volcanoes" or "Anak Krakatau (or as the less informed know it, Krakatoa) is going to wipe out all life in the Southern Hemisphere", you may wish to re-think your position on volcanoes. After all, chances are 100% that the ground you are standing on had an igneous origin, or that the materials you use in every day life are created by volcanoes. We as humans tend to build structures and societies where the land can produce crops, and the scenery is impressive. And it is no coincidence that this usually means that you're building on a former area of intense volcanism, due to the resources that are derived from volcanoes. We currently generate power, farm crops, harvest cinders for gardens and building materials, chemicals like sulphur and gases, pumice for soaps and exfoliation products, even toothpaste... the resources we actually get vs what we give back from volcanoes are one sided in our favor. So before demonizing volcanoes and blaming them for an impending apocalypse, try and think of all the things they provide that make your life easier, and then think about how absurd it is to think that a volcano will (at least in our lifetime) end life on the planet as we know it. Chances are good that aside from a volcanoes small radius of destruction, that in the end, everyone benefits. That's the truth of the matter. Thursday, February 23, 2012 Katla Volcano Showing More Tremor Katla volcano in Iceland has been showing more harmonic tremor pulses as well as minor earthquake swarms within the caldera. This has been typical of Katla for almost a year now ever since it's very minor eruption in mid 2011. Icelandic scientists are quite sure this is minor magma dike intrusion into the caldera system. Katla will erupt in the future, however when is anyone's guess, but it will be sooner rather than later. The winter in Iceland usually calms geological processes while the ice accumulates, but during spring/summer, the massive amounts of ice start to disappear, making it easier for gases to escape and making the potential for volcanic activity a bit higher. Some scientists believe that melting glaciers on volcanoes can initiate a 'rebound' effect on volcanoes that were covered in ice, resulting in a volcano that is able to erupt more easily. The rebound effect can be seen in the USA's Great Lakes region, an area of former glaciation that is rising geologically very fast (around a couple of cm a year) after the ice sheet retreated following the last ice age. This leads scientists to assume that in Iceland, volcanic activity can actually be affected by the seasons. While this has not been 100% proven and made scientific cannon, it is a compelling theory. Scientists have long theorized that the continent of Greenland might be hiding 'suppressed' volcanoes under the vast plains of ice that make up most of the continent. Again, this has never been proven as the ice is far too thick for a geological readout. But Katla doesn't seem to mind the ice and snow. Last year it had a minor subglacial eruption (or what is firmly believed to be one) that resulted in glacier outburst floods and damage to a bridge and road. This occurred despite the massive glacier on top, and has erupted before through many meters of ice. I'm not entirely sure Icelandic volcanoes are affected much by being capped with Ice. Grimsvotn volcano doesn't seem to mind the ice either. The swarm today was particularly strong at Katla, with over 15 quakes within the last 24 hours, all under magnitude 1.5. but clustered very close to each other in the caldera. Check out the swarm below. Sunday, February 19, 2012 Alaska'a Kanaga Volcano Raised To Alert Level Yellow Alaska's Kanaga Volcano in the Aleutian Islands is showing signs of activity according to seismicity and observations made by AVO. The latest report states: Kanaga's last eruptive phase was in 1994-1995, and produced large ash plumes reaching up to 20,000 meters. Saturday, February 18, 2012 Japan's Mt Fuji May Be Preparing To Erupt Volcano-Report.com is reporting that Japan's Mount Fuji (Fujiyama) volcano is showing signs that it is getting ready to erupt. While translating Japanese to English using Google translate leaves much to be desired in terms of readability, the news story (in Japanese) appears to be saying that fumerolic activity and steam emissions have increased, with an unclear anecdote about a 50m wide "new" crater. The only picture I was able to find (below) was a bit grainy, and appears to be showing a snow-less crater on a very snowy mountain. I cannot personally confirm whether or not this is actually a picture of Fuji as there are no other identifiable landmarks in the photo. Image from Japanese media of a supposed "new" crater on Mt. Fuji (Fujiyama) Following the Japanese 9.0 megaquake, there was a magnitude 6.4 quake slightly West of Fuji at it's base. Other quakes of smaller magnitudes (4.0-5.5) have also struck within 50km of Fuji. While it is unclear from the photos if this is truly a new flank eruption of Fuji (I imagine if the weather was cloudy that people might not notice, but the volcano is easily seen from a great many cities in Japan from a great many angles), the photo does not seem to have an ash layer over the snow. The recent eruption of Mt Etna in Sicily occurred in a supposedly similar fashion, with a cone building flank eruption producing lava flows on a snowy landscape. The ash was clearly visible on the snow for many days. Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707, in what is considered its largest historical eruption. This eruption was characterized by a massive flank explosion that left a very large crater on the East side of the mountain. This eruption devastated villages nearby, and was strong enough to cover Tokyo with ash. Many current communities in the area are actually built on thick historical lava flows from this event. Nobody alive has ever seen Fuji erupt, but they all know the stories from well-kept records of that period, and the last eruption was very well documented in Japanese historical archives. Over 100 cinder cones and vents dot the landscape around Fujiyama, highlighting the unpredictable nature of eruptions from this volcano. Fuji could start out with a cone building phase, and enter into a more explosive phase, or this could be all that happens at Fuji for the next hundred years. If any new information comes available, I will update this blog immediately. Friday, February 17, 2012 NASA MODIS Satellite Captures Remote Eruption Some volcanoes are simply too remote, or obscure to have regular monitoring by human eyes. That's where NASA's MODIS satellite comes in to fill the gap. From monitoring volcanoes in Alaska's Aleutian islands, to the most remote volcanic islands like Ascensión, MODIS has been able to capture remote volcanoes doing their thing while nobody's watching. MODIS just captured the very remote and uninhabited Tinakula island in a steam emitting eruptive phase. This would have gone unnoticed by us humans if not for the satellite. Image from NASA MODIS Satellite of Tinakula in eruption. The isolated volcano is surrounded by a series of small coral atolls, and sits about 20 miles NNW of Nendo Island of the Solomons. The island was not always uninhabited. An eruption in 1840 produced catastrophic pyroclastic flows that covered the entire island, and annihilated the small indigenous population that called it home. No efforts by anyone have been made to re-establish a population (gee, I wonder why?). The volcano is frequently seen in eruption by passers by, and has been since colonial times. NASA's MODIS satellite has been busy lately keeping track of the slowly erupting Cleveland Volcano in Alaska, as it continues to be on alert level Orange (out of green, yellow, orange, red) as it effuses a slowly growing lava dome at its summit. AVO speculates that the slow eruption could burst into a more explosive phase at any time, so flights over the volcano are not permitted at this time. MODIS has thermal sensors to detect heat anomalies, ash emissions, and steam. With a high resolution telescopic camera, the images it is capable of producing are highly detailed. It is capable of seeing wavelengths that our eyes cannot, which proved useful in detecting lava flows from Nyamuragira volcano in the Congo, as well as the new eruption of the long dormant Nabro volcano in Eritrea. Thursday, February 16, 2012 El Hierro Volcano Eruption Winding Down After 3-4 days of continually weak harmonic tremor at El Hierro volcano, it appears that the eruption is starting to wind down on the underwater cone. This does not mean that the risk of further activity, or other eruptive vents opening is over. Over the last few days, around 20 or so earthquakes a day have been recorded to the West of "Bob" (the tentative name for the underwater cone), gradually rising from 20KM beneath the surface, to 7KM yesterday, indicating a rapid dike intrusion. The GPS data shows a stable (not deflating) surface, which indicates that the magma chamber is still quite loaded. Currently, the harmonic tremor at El Hierro is at a very weak level, with very minute occasional spikes (most likely those spikes are related to the earthquake activity to the West, and not from the vent itself), with the trend going lower and lower. This of course could indicate that the vent has collapsed and is simply re-pressurizing, and is merely gearing up for more action, but as the tremor has been gradually decreasing to the point it is now, my guess is that the vent is sealing up to the point where it can no longer erupt without some massive pressure from the magma chamber. If anything further happens at El Hierro, rest assured I will cover it. For now, it may be time to finally say, "Bob has gone to sleep" *UPDATE 2/17/2012* Last evening, there were some images captured of nighttime smoking lava stones seen on camera, a bit to the East of "Bob", even while harmonic tremor remains nearly flat, proving once again that HT readings often do not correspond to actual lava emissions. HT is flat again today, although there was a 2.5 mag quake in the area which residents probably felt a little bit. There is no visible stain on the oceans surface, however a research boat and her crew reported smelling sulphur directly over the vent. It's really anyone's guess at this point as to what the situation looks like. It could easily be a "pillow lava" flow going on at the ocean's floor with occasional rising lava balloons (gas filled lava blobs that combust on the the ocean surface). Pillow lavas typically do not emit underwater "smoke" nor do they release a large amount of gas (it's more like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube, and is fascinating to watch video's of). At least this is my theory. If anything else happens, I will post another update. *UPDATE 2/18/2012* Tremor still extremely low, but surviving. It is probable some activity is occurring underwater, however any activity is weak with no visible "jacuzzi" area, and there has been no visual observations of lava balloons, or a stain. Current webcam views show a calm blue sea, with no disturbances. Earthquakes however continue to pick up, with approximately 20 quakes a day over the last few days, and a 3.3 magnitude tremblor this morning. This definitely says that there is still a large, and active magma chamber underneath the island that probably has more in store. With the final collapse of "Bob" and cessation of eruptive activity, it is entirely possible that the magma must find another way to the surface in another location. With the locations and depths of the current quake swarms, it looks a bit likely that this might end up being off of El Hierro's SW coastline, directly W of the main vent. This could end up being the last post about El Hierro for a while, as other volcanoes demand attention. Wednesday, February 15, 2012 New Earthquake Swarm in Katla Volcano Katla volcano in Iceland had a swarm of quakes within the caldera region today, with the largest magnitude hovering around 2.5. Quake swarms have been a common occurrence in the volcano since its small, but damaging eruption in 2011 where a glacial outburst flood (jokullhlaup) destroyed some public infrastructure (bridges). Blogger Jon Frimann, who is typically the best direct source for Icelandic volcanic events, has been monitoring what he considers to be magma dike intrusion beneath Katla since this eruption. Katla volcano was expected to have a large eruption after the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, but has since proven that attempting to predict volcanic eruptions of any kind is a foolish endeavor. Many Icelandic scientists have been quoted as saying, "It's not a matter of if, but when". We are on the "when" stage of an eruption for Katla now. Katla has the potential of generating huge eruptions (of a probable VEI 3) if it was to get a large injection of magma into its chamber. Currently, it appears that if this is indeed magma dike intrusion (which is definitely a strong possibility with this volcano), the intrusion appears to be quite minor. It is probable that any eruption from Katla at this time may be very small, as larger magma intrusions generate much larger quakes. However, if magma is able to create a solid and consistent channel to the surface, there is the possibility for a stronger eruption. Katla volcano is overlain by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, many meters thick. So an eruption of Katla would likely be a repeat of the Eyjafjallajökull conditions where hot magma/lava hits glacial ice and creates a large and fine ash cloud. This of course waits to be seen. Below is the tremor graph for today's quakes, showing both the location and timeline for the quakes. Image copyright Iceland Met Office. An earthquake swarm also occurred at the Hengill volcanic area, but this is mainly due to geothermal power development in the area. This is quite similar to the seismicity at the Clear Lake volcanic field in California, USA. Golden Trout Creek Volcanic Field Experiences More Earthquakes The quake swarm at Golden Trout Creek in California has added several new tremors today in what is looking more and more like magma dike intrusion. The quake area (as shown in a previous post) is less than a mile away from two separate hot springs; Joran Hot Springs, less than 1 mile from the swarm area, and a thermal area to the West of the quake region (or what appears to be one on satellite). The quakes started out at depths of around 8KM, and in the course of one day have progressed to a magnitude 2.3 at a depth of 3.8KM. There were four magnitude 2.0 or greater quakes today in the area, with many smaller tremblors dotting the area. Aside from the obvious trend in quakes getting shallower, the area being very near thermal hot springs begs the question, "Is this Pleistocene/early Holocene volcanic center having a magma intrusion"? My guess at this point is yes, however the newly minted CalVO (Formerly LVO) has yet to publish any analysis. This area does have active fault lines, and it could be that this is only tectonic, however the area is known for at least 4 monogenetic cinder cones, and a random cone building event may not be out of the question. I do try not to speculate, as many other bloggers have done, in the name of good journalism and science, but the trend is starting to look very convincing. Image from Google Earth with USGS overlay detailing the location, magnitude, and depth of the most recent quake. If this does turn out to be an eruption (keep in mind, if this is magma, it still has around a mile or so to go before it breaches the surface), it would be the first in California in nearly a century. The last eruption of any kind occurred at the Lassen Volcanic Complex in Northern California in 1915, when one of the Sierra Nevada range volcanoes entered into a two year long eruptive cycle. To my knowledge, that is the only eruption in California you can actually find (black and white) pictures for. This could easily turn out to be nothing, and the area is so remote, people would not be in harm's way whatsoever. If anything, this might turn out to be a nice tourist attraction for thrill seekers, much like the tourist who flew to Iceland during the April 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull (I'm too lazy right now for the umlauts, sorry Nords!). This would be pretty great for California, as my home state depends heavily on tourism for a lot of its revenue. However, wishful thinking does not an eruption make, and only time will tell. *UPDATE 2/15/2012*** A 2.3 magnitude quake occurred today at a depth of only 3.8KM (2.36 mi) indicating a strong, and rising source of seismicity. If more quakes occur in the same location at even shallower depths, I would start thinking that this is definitely volcanic related activity. **UPDATE 2/24/2012* Another round of tremors hit the same region today, this time at a LOWER depth of 8.0 km (down from 5.0). Three quakes ranging from mag 1.7-2.1 occurred within a 24 hour period in the same location as the previous quakes. Eruption at El Hierro Slows, But Quakes Increase The harmonic tremor at El Hierro has been extremely low for the last couple of days, but the volcano is still weakly erupting magma, and mostly degassing. However there were a record of over 20 earthquakes yesterday and into today, with the quakes becoming shallower and shallower, possibly a precursor for another vent in the SW part of the island off the coast. The magma chamber is not done yet with El Hierro. The harmonic tremor is at a low point due to probable vent collapse, and re pressurization of the chamber (think of it like putting your thumb, or a cork, in a running garden hose, but on a much more massive scale). The pressure will build up and the eruption of the current vent will either resume, or the magma will find another route to the surface. It is anyone's guess where and when, but it seems likely that the new vent if it does pop up will be to the West of the current cone (Bob). The current tremor and analysis from El Hierro volcanologists confirm this, and now the island waits to see the next phase of this historic event. More than likely, this will result in another submarine cone building event. If another cone/fissure does erupt in another location, you can be pretty sure that the first cone (Bob) will stop erupting as magma diverts to an easier route. This may be already taking place, with harmonic tremor so low, and quakes so numerous and shallow, it could very well be that "Bob" is dead. This would actually end up being a good thing for the village of La Restinga as their main port and tourist spots have remained closed out of an abundance of caution, and all sea faring routes have been cut off. This has hit the economy hard. An eruption to the West of "Bob" would be of minimal consequence to business, especially if "Bob" is confirmed to be done erupting and the government re-opens boat traffic to La Restinga (not to mention the hotels and cafe's). Monday, February 13, 2012 El Hierro Tremor Increases, Activity Resumes After a two day break from anything major at El Hierro, the volcano is gradually picking up steam again. Tremor for today shows a very slowly increasing amplitude, and webcam images show a very prominent stain with jacuzzi area once more. Some smoking stones could be seen on the water's surface. Seismograph from IGN for today which shows slowly increasing harmonic tremor. The activity at El Hierro is hard to predict, and even harder to forecast. At this point, the eruption is clearly a much longer term eruption than scientists could have expected, and it appears to have no real end in sight. Earthquakes and tremor are persistent, and the cone shows no signs of stopping its growth any time soon. I am awaiting the results of the latest survey of the cone to see whether or not it is getting much closer to the surface. At last glance, it was approximately 35M below the sea surface, but the cone has suffered several collapses so this is probably no longer accurate (could be higher, or lower). There have been a couple rumors (but they are ONLY rumors) of thermal areas being detected on the terrestrial island, but this has NEVER been confirmed. A good NASA snapshot could easily kill that rumor, and one will probably come along eventually. *UPDATE 2/9/2012-2/10/2012* The tremor is still increasing, while surface activity remains unchanged. What this means at this time is unknown, but could indicate further magma injection into the El Hierro magma chamber. This has been steadily increasing since early yesterday until now, with tremor showing no signs yet of abating or decreasing. This probably means further underwater explosive activity will occur within the next day or so. The reinvigorated tremor readings from IGN can be seen below. *UPDATE 2/11/2012* The tremor at El Hierro is decreasing again, after three days of moderate and sustained tremor. A stain is still visible on the water surface, and a jacuzzi area comes and goes. Decreasing tremor at El Hierro today. *UPDATE 2/13/2012*** The harmonic tremor readings at El Hierro volcano in the Canary Islands have been erratic the last couple of days. Frequent fluctuations between medium-strong, to barely readable have been the pattern the last couple of days. This most likely indicates an unstable cone/fissure vent, and consistent magma pressure on the vent. Currently, tremor is low, but picking up, suggesting that the volcano is slowly clearing whatever obstruction may be in the vent. Below is the current tremor readings for today. 4.3 Magnitude Quake Hits Clear Lake/Geysers Geothermal Field A much larger quake than normal hit the Clear Lakes/Geysers Geothermal Field area on Monday at about 4:30am, in an area that has seen much elevated seismicity since the development of the geothermal field for power plants. This is one of the largest and most productive geothermal energy sites in the world, with smaller quakes being pretty common due to drilling and the pumping of water into the hot rocks beneath the volcanic field. The quake was a magnitude 4.3 and shook up the entire region as you can see in the below screenshot from Google Earth with the USGS overlay/Shakemap overlay. Google Earth/USGS Overlay screenshot of the quake area with the shake map overlay enabled. This particular quake was extremely shallow, at less than 0.40km beneath the surface. This quake is most likely a result of the geothermal drilling in the area, although this is a few magnitudes greater than what is normal in the area. Typically, quakes in this region don't exceed much more than a 3.2, and those are pretty rare. The newly minted CalVO (California Volcano Observatory, formerly Long Valley Observatory) classifies Clear Lake as a high threat based on the surrounding population, history of Holocene eruptions, and the presence of an active geothermal system. It has been added to the new California volcano monitoring system. It is unclear at this time whether this is purely a geothermal event caused by power plant development, or if this is tectonic (this is an area that is part of the San Andreas fault line), or if this could mean some magma movement below. This area has not had a magmatic or phreatic eruption in a very long time (probably over 10,000 years). The Clear Lake field is classified as active based on geothermal activity, and a large silicic magma chamber provides the heat source used to power the steam turbines at the geothermal plants. So there is magma down there (most likely what scientists refer to as 'crystal mush'), but it is apparently much too cool to erupt. This event was not likely related to dike intrusion or injection of fresh magma (the event was much too shallow), and more than likely is a result of underground steam explosions or rock fracturing/slippage. If any USGS analysis comes out I'll post a link to it. Keep your eyes on Clear Lake in the meantime! Saturday, February 11, 2012 Large Swarm Of Earthquakes Occurring at Salton Sea, CA The Salton Sea/Salton Buttes area, approximately 100 miles from San Diego and San Diego County, is experiencing a long duration earthquake swarm along one of the regional fault lines. The quakes are centered at and around the SE shore of the Salton Sea lake, near to some geologically fresh obsidian domes that were erupted in the area around 9,000 years ago. The area is known for very active seismicity, and it is entirely possible that the quakes on the fault are related to magma dike intrusion, however the quakes are very shallow, indicating this is probably only tectonic in nature, as any magma at shallow depth would produce things like dying crops (the area is heavily agricultural), probable C02 emissions, and eventually ending up in some sort of eruptive activity (possibly phreatic or dome building). This is not occurring at the moment. Above screenshot from Google Earth with USGS Real-time overlay. This shows the relative distance of the Salton Sea to San Diego, one of California's most populous and affluent cities. This screenshot from Google Earth with the USGS Real-time overlay shows the largest event in the last few days, a 3.0 quake, at shallow depth. In the second picture, you can see the tectonic fault as a red line. This is a transform/spreading fault. The quakes occur on a stress point for these faults, so these are probably purely tectonic in nature. The USGS and newly formed CalVO (California Volcano Observatory, formerly LVO, the Long Valley Observatory) does classify this area as a "High to Very High Threat Potential" for future eruption. The statement from their new web page says this: "The Salton Buttes lie within the Salton Sea Geothermal Field located about 145 km (90 mi) southeast of Palm Springs in Imperial Valley, California. The geothermal system is fueled by heat emanating from zones of partially molten rock (magma) deep below the Earth’s surface. Eruptions occurring about 400,000 years ago were followed by a long lull in volcanic activity until about 18,000 years ago. The most recent eruptions, which took place about 9,000 years ago, started explosively, then progressed to relatively gentle effusion of dense, glassy-looking (obsidian) lava domes. The Salton Sea Geothermal Field, which currently produces enough power to supply about 325,000 homes, has persistent small to moderate earthquakes related to the geothermal system and to movement along regional faults. Monitoring of earthquake activity began in the 1930s, and the dense seismic network installed in the 1970s is operated by the USGS and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The available data are insufficient to establish a pattern of volcanic activity to determine the likelihood of eruption. The high heat flow from the area and relatively young age of Salton Buttes, however, attest to the potential for future eruptions." The region was recently destabilized by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake centered just 40 miles south of the Salton Sea, near Mexico's Cerro Prieto volcano, which also hosts a large geothermal area. Reports from people living near the epicenter told of fountains of sulphuric and foul smelling red water geysers occurring in farmlands during the quake, which ended up contaminating much of the farmland in the Mexicali area. This fault is the same fault line as the Salton Sea, and has seen hundreds of quake occurrences a day since the 7.2 magnitude quake. This, to me, says that this is probably the fault line still in motion, but could coincide with geothermal/magmatic movement. In any case I will be keeping a close eye on the Salton Sea, and may even pay it a visit since I actually live in San Diego, and it wouldn't be too much of a drive (gas is VERY expensive out here at the moment however, almost at $4/gal)... about two hours or so. Hopefully, this is purely tectonic and the people out there can relax. If anything new occurs, I will update this post. Thursday, February 9, 2012 Site Updates Over the next few days I will be making some format changes to the Volcano Science and News Blog, including better navigation, explanation of myself, donation, and other policies, and eventually including my "favorites" link to provide you with the same resources that I use on a daily basis. I will also be looking for a way to share my Google Earth database that I have been working on painstakingly for years, for your pleasure and maybe your research projects. Keep your eyes peeled and stay tuned. My aim is to make this one of the most useful sites for all things volcano on the Internet! New Guinea's Karkar Volcano Spews Ash The Smithsonian GVP (Global Volcanism Program) reports that an eruption from Karkar volcano island off the coast of New Guinea has erupted, sending a possible ash plume upwards of 10km. Karkar has had historical eruptions in the past, mainly from a cone constructed within a large caldera. Most eruptions have been restricted to the inner caldera, and most have been minor phreatic events, and cone building events, so highly explosive activity is somewhat new in terms of human observation. Outside the caldera, you can find several tuff rings, maars, and cinder cones that are currently highly vegetated and probably very old. There have been no historical reports of flank eruption from this shield volcano. The GVP report did not provide many details in regards to this eruption, but here is their statement nonetheless. "KARKAR Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific) 4.649°S, 145.964°E; summit elev. 1839 m Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that a possible ash plume from Karkar rose to altitudes of 7.6-10.7 km (25,000-35,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E on 1 February. Geologic Summary. Wednesday, February 8, 2012 Large Earthquake Swarm at Reyjanes Ridge, Iceland A large and long duration earthquake swarm hit the Reykjanes ridge of the SW coast of Iceland today, and is ongoing. The largest events were slightly above 3.0 magnitude, with many smaller events. The Reykjanes Ridge is part of the underwater seafloor spreading system that occurs between the North American plate, and the European plate, and is prone to frequent submarine eruptions and seismicity. It is unclear at this time from reading bad Icelandic translations from Ruv.is whether they are saying this is an eruption, or simple seismicity (I suspect the translated word "eruption" is misplaced in this article, and might mean "swarm", but as I do not speak the language, that's a guess!). Tremor Graph from Reyjanes Ridge. Image copyright Iceland Meteorological Office. Locations of the earthquake swarm (SW). Image copyright Iceland Meteorological Office. Judging from the placement, location, and size of these quakes, it could be reasonable to assume that an underwater eruption might be occurring, however the depths, weather, and other factors could easily prevent direct observation, and volcanologists would have to infer an eruption from instrument readings (which can sometimes lie). At this point, nothing has been confirmed nor denied. The GVP characterizes this area as such: There are no volcanoes on the Reykjanes ridge that have breached the sea surface in historical time. There is a small 'chunk' of an island along the ridge that was formerly (most likely) a volcanic feature that has since been eroded to a steep walled 'plug', named Eldey, which has the sad distinction of being the last known location of the 'great auk', a penguin-like bird that was hunted to extinction, and the last known living specimens strangled and their eggs squashed by careless hunters. The Wikipedia article on this bird is particularly sad. I will keep my eyes peeled on the Reykjanes ridge for the time being, and post updates if anything new develops. Italy's Mt Etna Eruption Intensifies Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, Italy's most active volcano, is in an eruptive phase again, with explosions occurring minute to minute. The webcam shows many explosive events occurring, with lava appearing quite brightly on the images. The image refreshes about twice a minute, and is not a live 'stream' so it is unfortunately difficult to get a real great picture of what's going on there. The eruptions seem to be emanating from a large cone/fissure system near the summit. Etna has more or less been continuously active throughout human history, with frequent lava flows, cone building episodes, and paroxysmal events that keep residents on their toes. Eruptions are frequent, and occasionally dangerous, although by and large this volcano poses no threat to the surrounding community, which occasionally has to deal with "vog" (volcanic gas fog) and light ash fall on surrounding towns. Enjoy watching the web camera, if you can't be there in person to witness the eruption! Mount Cameroon in West Africa Erupts Mount Cameroon, West Africa's highest volcano, displayed a brief amount of explosive activity, according to a report from OfficialWire.com. Mount Cameroon is Cameroon's most active volcano, one of many in a SW-NE trending line which include the also deadly and famed Lake Nyos. Cameroon's last major eruption in the 1999 resulted in a long pahoehoe lava flow that stopped just short of the coast. While some reports of volcanic activity out of Africa are mistaken for wildfire, or plain false, Cameroon's frequent activity and reports from the area are typically accurate. There have been several "less than credible" accounts of some eruptions in Africa, like the supposed eruption in Nigeria around a year ago that turned out to be not only false, but politically motivated (the villagers were feeling a bit neglected by their government, so their local news fabricated a story about a volcanic eruption in an area not known for any previous volcanism). This is unfortunately common in Africa, a continent gripped by poverty, hardship, and militaristic rule. Whether the Smithsonian GVP publishes this activity in their weekly volcanic eruption update remains to be seen (they publish their weekly reports on Wednesday at about 12PM PST typically). This was the only article I found that cites this activity, however Africa does not have a well-equipped news corps, so reports from the area are typically few and far between, and sometimes full of speculation. (From Smithsonian GVP): Monday, February 6, 2012 Powerful Tremor This Morning At El Hierro, Then Significant Decline Early morning at El Hierro displayed lots of activity at the volcano, as seismic tremor more than tripled the average of the past few days. After this long (3-4 hour) period of heightened activity, the tremor has ground to a near halt for the last 12+ hours. This has become quite the pattern at El Hierro, where there will be periods of heightened explosiveness underwater, followed by a day or so of quiescence, with violent resumption of activity for a few hours after the pause. I would assume that given this pattern, there will most likely be more activity tomorrow morning. The current tremor graph below: El Hierro has been a confusing volcano to watch as it has stopped and started its eruptive phase several times. It is unclear at this point whether or not this will be the main event at the volcano, or if there is more in store for this island. There have been rumors of thermal anomalies on the actual island as of late (as per a video on Earthquake-report.com) that are UNCONFIRMED, and probably bogus, as well as rumors of a 2nd vent in the El Golfo region of the island (the North shore). Due to depths off the North shore, this has never been confirmed. The magma chamber under El Hierro has seismic implications of being quite large, not by any means a monogenetic cinder cone eruption. It is likely that this eruption, and activity at El Hierro as a whole, may continue for some time. After the activity this morning, El Hierro has been pretty quiet. Late afternoon observations showed a weak stain, and high surf, which has washed a lot of the discolored water away from the vent area. When the ocean calms down, activity will likely be more apparent. As I suspected, given the pattern of eruption so far for El Hierro, tremor has indeed again picked up some 24 hours after the last spurt of activity started. The eruption is currently producing elevated tremor, and the occasional flaming lava balloon can be seen on the water surface. Below is today's tremor reading, where you can see the nearly perfect 24 hour relation that has been the case for the last week or so. The volcano will probably have 2-4 hours of high tremor, collapse the vent again, and re-pressurize about 20-25 hours later resulting in the resumption of tremor... let's see if this pattern holds! Saturday, February 4, 2012 Tremors at Eyjafjallajökull and Katla (Iceland) Today Several small quakes struck Eyjafjallajökull today, as the seismic swarm continued at Katla caldera in Iceland. Two small flank tremors and one at the summit hit Eyjafjallajökull within the last 12 hours. Numerous other small tremors have also continued under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier capping Katla's caldera system. Several volcano moitoring scientists, agencies, and bloggers have noted the unrest under Katla, and suspect that minor dike intrusion is occurring under the volcano. The quakes and tremors under Eyjafjallajökull are small, but four have occurred within the last 12 hours. Numerous tremors can be seen under Katla. None of these quakes exceed magnitude 3.0. In the case of Eyjafjallajökull, it is entirely possible these are not volcanic quakes, rather they could be structural adjustments to the volcano due to it having had a recent eruption (April 2010), and further settling of the volcano on the crust. GPS deformation charts are not available to look at at this time, so it is unclear if inflation or deflation is occurring. Looking at the Iceland Met Office website, all GPS data looks flat on all sites, so their equipment may not be functional at this time (I blame the weather). It will be interesting to keep an eye on, nonetheless. Eyjafjallajökull caused havoc for air travel to and from Europe during its eruption that began in April of 2010. It was a fascinating eruption to watch, as it started out with a somewhat benign and beautiful fissure eruption on its NE flank (in an area known as Fimmvörðuháls) between the main summits of Eyjafjallajökull and Katla. This eruption lasted around a month, and became quite a tourist attraction, with a great webcam view for a time. After the cone ceased to erupt, there was a short lull in activity from the volcano, before it erupted suddenly and powerfully from its main summit caldera. The eruption was actually rather minor for an Iceland volcano, but due to prevailing winds, and the latitude of the eruption, Europe and Europe's airspace was choked with ash. This resulted in a months long ban from air travel, while Europe and other parts of the world bemoaned Eyjafjallajökull and the severe inconvenience it brought upon them. Celebrities were stranded, industries were paralyzed, and in the end, Eyjafjallajökull caused billions of dollars to be lost due to economic damage. Iceland volcanoes have a violent history. Some of its eruptions have been devastating on a global scale, especially the famed Laki fissure eruption that covered a large part of Iceland in volcanic basalt lava, and unleashed incredible amounts of sulphur dioxide into Earth atmosphere for years. This caused a worldwide famine, global cool down, and some say it was actually responsible for sparking the French Revolution! And eruptions from Hekla are famed for the terror they caused to ancient Vikings, who referred to it as "The doorway to Hell". This has made any news about Iceland volcanoes hot topics for tabloid news, and the usual rabble like Fox or the BBC/Daily Mail. Eyjafjallajökull is NOT currently erupting, nor is it expected to again any time soon. However, volcanoes do have a habit of reminding us that they cannot be predicted in the first place, so vigilance is important with volcanoes, especially the ones that have erupted in historical time. So to be clear, there are NO eruptions currently going on in Iceland, and nothing is imminent. It looks like Katla might be reloading, as well as Grímsvötn (American name). But neither has erupted yet this year. Thursday, February 2, 2012 Alaska's Mount Iliamna May Be Erupting Indications from USGS seismographs, and the corresponding Google Earth Plugin suggest that an eruption is either about to take place at Iliamna volcano in Alaska, or is already occurring. Earthquake plots from the last week until now seem to indicate rising and frequent tremor, with apparent explosions on the seismographs. Iliamna is not near any population center, and Alaska is currently experiencing extremely cold weather (down to -48 C) which would hinder anyone or anything from making good direct observations of this remote volcano. It is probable that no observation via satellite, eyewitness, or airplane will be available for some time due to the harsh weather cycle this year. It is highly unlikely that during this period any visual observations could be made except by aircraft seeing an ash plume, which may or may not occur. Below is a screenshot from Google Earth, with the USGS Real Time Overlay, where you can see quakes within a week (most magnitude 1.1-2.8) in yellow, and the more recent (and larger, up to mag 3.0) coded in orange, denoting a quake in the last 24 hours. These all occur at relatively shallow depths, and are directly beneath the summit, and along the flanks at lower depths. This indicates a rise in magma, and a possible eruption. These signals and the depths at which they are occurring can only mean magma intrusion, as this is a subduction zone, and most non volcanic quakes in the region happen at a much deeper depth (around 210km), not less than 1km. Subduction zones create an exteme amount of energy which heats the rock and creates magma plumes. The volcanoes of the Aleutian arc are very similar to the volcanoes of the Cascades and Indonesia in this respect. AVO has stated "Since the middle of January 2012 there have been a sequence of earthquakes with several greater than magnitude 2. It is common to have earthquake swarms in the vicinity of Iliamna and the ongoing activity is being closely monitored by AVO seismologists.". They are aware of the current seismicity. Image from Google Earth with USGS overlay. You can see the localization of the quakes here. The seismographs from AVO seem to also indicate activity at the volcano. If it has not erupted already, there has CERTAINLY been a large intrusion of magma into its chamber, and will erupt soon. Image of AVO seismograph for the last 24 hours. Clearly indicating possible dike intrusion. Keep your eyes on Iliamna volcano. Especially the AVO seismographs. Unfortunately, this volcano does not have an active webcam to go with the seismograph, and people are very unlikely to be mounting an expedition to this volcano during the inclement weather that Alaska is experiencing right now. Indeed, the only report aside from this one (AVO would never speculate on their volcanoes without proof after all) would be from pilots. So for now, I'll say this. I absolutely suspect an eruption is either taking place at Iliamna currently (or already has), or it will happen very soon. If there are any updates to this from any official source, I will update this post. It appears via seismograph that constant harmonic tremor is now taking place at Iliamna volcano (see above seismograph image). After several large 3.0+ earthquakes, it does appear Iliamna may be erupting, or that there is further magma intrusion into the volcano. If AVO confirms this, it will be the first eruption of Iliamna since the 1950's. Wednesday, February 1, 2012 El Hierro Eruption Back to Full Force The eruption at El Hierro has gained much strength since yesterday. There is consistent harmonic tremor, lots of lava stones floating to the surface of the water, and increased gas emissions. The eruption is now back to the same strength more or less than when it began some months ago. The eruption has had short periods of quiescence as the magma chamber re-pressurizes and explodes after multiple collapses of the underwater vent system. Below is a live JPG of the current harmonic tremor for today. The past few days have seen a dramatic rise in both tremor and surface activity. For the past two days, smoking lava stones could be seen on the live webcam at La Restinga, and CO2 emissions have been steadily rising once again. By all indications, this will be a long eruption with many pauses, but ultimately resulting in either the birth of a new Canary Island. Keep your eyes peeled for its first appearance soon!
06/07/2013 02:02 pm ET Updated Aug 07, 2013 Government Secrecy and the Nation's Security In recent weeks, a series of disclosures has raised important issues about how the Obama administration deals with the inherent tension between government secrecy and government accountability. Revelations about the government's secret investigation of the phone records of the Associated Press and of Fox News reporter James Rosen, its secret access to private phone records held by Verizon, and its secret PRISM initiative that gives the government access to the records of international Internet providers all raise fundamental questions about government transparency and the state of American democracy. These disclosures pose at least three central issues: (1) Is the government's action unconstitutional or otherwise illegal? (2) Is the government's action, even if constitutional and lawful, nonetheless bad public policy? (3) Is the government's decision to keep such actions secret legitimate in a free and self-governing society? With respect to the first question, my tentative conclusion, based on the facts that have been made public, is that these government actions are neither unconstitutional nor otherwise unlawful under existing law. Although I would personally like to see the interpretation of the Constitution and the state of federal legislation changed in particular ways that might alter this conclusion, it seems reasonably clear to me that these actions, though controversial, do not in any obvious way violate current law. With respect to the second question, I simply do not know enough to make an informed judgment about whether these actions reflect sound public policy or unwarranted government overreaching. The plain and simple fact is that the very secrecy of these actions makes it difficult, if not impossible, for responsible members of the public to make thoughtful decisions about whether these actions reflect a proper balancing of the competing interests in individual liberty and national security. To make sound evaluations about such matters, we would need to know much more than we do about the ways in which these programs are carried out and the actual importance of the programs in protecting the national security. Secrecy stands in the way of such judgments. This brings me to the third issue: secrecy. All of these actions were meant to be secret. Neither the targets of the investigations nor the American people were meant to know what the government was up to. In a self-governing society, government secrecy is presumptively illegitimate. Our elected representatives are just that -- our representatives -- and we are entitled to know what they do in our name. This is at the very heart of self-governance. The notion that we should blindly "trust" our public officials to do what is best for us is naïve, reckless and irresponsible. Such an approach invites illegitimate, inefficient and self-interested governance. Even well-meaning public officials make bad policy decisions because of political and personal self-interest. Indeed, if government officials are permitted to keep their actions secret from the American people, all sorts of mischief is possible. Human nature being what it is, we can be sure that, in the long run, secrecy can -- and will -- be used by public officials (who are no better or worse than the rest of us) to hide stupidity, corruption, partisan abuse, discrimination, ineptitude, and outright criminality. As I said before, government secrecy is presumptively illegitimate. But note the word "presumptively." Government secrecy is presumptively, but not absolutely, illegitimate. Despite the grave dangers of government secrecy, there are undoubtedly circumstances in which secrecy is essential. Most important in terms of the issues now confronting us, government secrecy may at times be necessary for the government to be able to keep the nation safe. To offer a simple example, suppose the government taps the phone of a suspected terrorist in order to learn the identities of his co-conspirators. If the government were required by law to disclose the wiretap to the suspect before it is instituted so the suspect can challenge its legality, this would defeat the very point of the wiretap. Similarly, if the government has a covert operative inside a terrorist cell, secrecy is essential to enable the agent both to gather information and, perhaps, to survive. These simple illustrations suggest the dilemma. Why does the government want secrecy when it examines the phone records of a reporter in order to determine the identity of the government employee who unlawfully leaked classified information to the reporter? On the one hand, the government may want to be free to do this in secret for the illegitimate reason of avoiding the hassle of a bitter public fight with the press over the legality or wisdom of its action. On the other hand, the government may legitimately want to do this in secret because it wants to catch the leaker and it recognizes that if it informs the reporter of the investigation, and the reporter then challenges the investigation in court, the leaker will likely learn that he is under suspicion and either flee or immediately leak additional classified information before he can be arrested. The problem is that, in the real world, government officials, like all of us, often have mixed motives for our actions. Sorting them out is extraordinarily difficult. Nonetheless, because of the demands of a self-governing society, we should operate on the assumption that government secrecy is presumptively illegitimate and that the government should be legally authorized to act in secret (this includes classifying information) only when there is a clear and overriding justification for secrecy. This requirement should be taken seriously. Moreover, when the government does act in secret, it should always have in place careful checks-and-balances that prevent self-interested or misguided (even if well-meaning) public officials from abusing their authority to keep information from the American people. This is why the Fourth Amendment ordinarily requires the police to obtain a search warrant from a neutral and detached judge before invading an individual's privacy. That same principle should apply whenever government officials claim the awesome authority to act in secret. "Trust us" is simply not a recipe for good government. 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