11 things to do with teens in the justice system this week, i ' m highlighting posts from our first year to help you focus on creative ways to help teens in the justice system and in recovery learn skills that will help them live crime - free and drug - free lives. here ' s 11 things you can do with teens in your justice system : - read books together. don ' t scoff - this really works, even with kids who aren ' t great readers. the model i have in mind is changing lives through literature. find out why the chief juvenile probation officer in bristol county, ma loves the program. on a related note, many teens also benefit from writing poetry. - reward teens when they do things right. a community - based prevention program in canada and maine, where police hand out " positive tickets " to kids caught doing things right, and not just when they break the law, has shown encouraging results. can it be modified for your community - - or your juvenile program? - teach them to cook. teens in a culinary program in a juvenile probation camp in l. a. county made a gourmet meal for area bigwigs. - give them cameras so they can tell their own stories. teach them to use digital media - - who knows? they might end up making a powerful documentary film, as these inmates in a juvenile jail did. - teach them yoga. a program in oakland, ca, offers 70 yoga classes per week to at - risk youth ( follow the link and scroll down to the ninth bullet ) ; they learn self - control and calm. - put them to work at a museum. a program in the u. k. hooked up youth in the justice system with a local vintage car museum. - connect them with a caring adult. try the 4c coalition at the reclaiming futures site in seattle for a mentoring program that targets kids in the justice system - - similarly, or contact our reclaiming futures site in dayton, ohio, which has recruited over 100 " natural helpers " from the community to work with teens in trouble with the law. - put them to work reforming the juvenile justice system. for example, the center for court innovation had youth in the system collect information from famlies, youth, and juvenile justice system professionals about why it is that so many teens and caregivers caught up in the system have no idea how it works. what they came up with wasn ' t child ' s play : their recommendations - - if followed - - could dramatically improve outcomes. - ask


it is that so many teens and caregivers caught up in the system have no idea how it works. what they came up with wasn ' t child ' s play : their recommendations - - if followed - - could dramatically improve outcomes. - ask teens to map community resources. organize teens to do something positive for their peers and their community by mapping positive activities for youth and other resources they need. - train youth to do anti - violence outreach. don ' t think it can be done? that ' s exactly what clemmie greenlee has done in nashville. - train them to support their peers in recovery. connecticut turning to youth & families is building networks of teens and young adults who help their peers be successful in recovery from drugs and alcohol. ( and they ' re happy to consult with you. ) - here ' s a good example of what * not * to do with teens in the justice system : increase their exposure to the justice system, which increases their risk to recidivate. but that ' s exactly what a & e ' s new reality tv show, " beyond ' scared straight, ' " is doing. the show puts teens in contact with adult prison inmates in an attempt to terrify them into “ going straight. " check out these facts about the program from the coalition for juvenile justice ( cjj ).


extreme weather map shows 3, 527 monthly weather records shattered in 2012 top ten states with greatest percentage of locations with record - breaking heat : tn, wi, mn, il, in, nv, wv, me, co, md new york, jan. 15, 2013 / prnewswire - usnewswire / — in 2012, there were at least 3, 527 monthly weather records for heat, rain and snow broken by extreme weather events that hit communities throughout the u. s., according to an updated interactive extreme weather mapping tool and year - end review released today by the natural resources defense council. the 2012 tally exceeds the 3, 251 records smashed in 2011 and catalogues these record - breaking extreme events in all 50 states. new this year, the interactive map at www. nrdc. org / extremeweather also ranks all 50 states for the percentage of weather stations reporting at least one monthly heat record broken in 2012. the ten states showing the highest percentage with new heat records are : tennessee ( 36 % ), wisconsin ( 31 % ), minnesota ( 30 % ), illinois ( 29 % ), indiana ( 28 % ), nevada ( 27 % ), west virginia ( 26 % ), maine ( 26 % ), colorado ( 25 % ), and maryland ( 24 % ). especially hard - hit regions include the upper midwest, northeast, northern great plains, and rocky mountain states. “ 2012 ′ s unparalleled record - setting heat demonstrates what climate change looks like, ” said kim knowlton, nrdc senior scientist. “ this extreme weather has awoken communities across the country to the need for preparedness and protection. we know how to reduce local risks, improve our lives and create more resilient communities. now our leaders must act. ” because these monthly weather records compete against prior records set over at least the last 30 years at each location, the 3, 527 monthly records - broken highlight notable patterns of extreme weather in the u. s. and in fact, from 1980 through 2011, the frequency of weather - related extreme events in north america nearly quintupled, rising more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, according to international insurance giant munichre. in 2012, americans experienced the hottest march on record in the contiguous u. s., and july was the hottest single month ever recorded in the lower 48 states. as a whole, 2012 was the warmest year ever recorded in the u. s., according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration ’ s


contiguous u. s., and july was the hottest single month ever recorded in the lower 48 states. as a whole, 2012 was the warmest year ever recorded in the u. s., according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration ’ s ( noaa ) state of the climate report released last week. noaa has also estimated that 2012 will surpass 2011 in aggregate costs for u. s. annual billion - dollar disasters, and munichre also recently revealed that in 2012, more than 90 percent of the world ’ s insured disaster costs occurred in the u. s. some of 2012 ′ s most significant weather disasters include : - the summer of 2012 was the worst drought in 50 years across the nation ’ s breadbasket, with over 1, 300 u. s. counties in 29 states declared drought disaster areas. - wildfires burned over 9. 2 million acres in the u. s., and destroyed hundreds of homes. the average size of the fires set an all - time record of 165 acres per fire, exceeding the prior decade ’ s 2001 - 2010 average of approximately 90 acres per fire. - hurricane sandy ’ s storm surge height, 13. 88 feet, broke the all - time record in new york harbor, and ravaged communities across new jersey and new york with floodwaters and winds. the cost of sandy reached an estimated $ 79 billion with at least 131 deaths reported. there are proactive steps government decision - makers can take to minimize the impact on communities increasingly vulnerable to climate change. nrdc encourages all states to undertake the following key actions to protect public health : - enact plans to limit carbon emissions from power plants, vehicles and other major sources of heat - trapping pollution ; coupled with increased investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy. - emergency planning must incorporate risks from climate change. states and local governments should develop, prioritize, support and implement comprehensive climate change mitigation plans to address climate risks. - the federal emergency management agency ( fema ) must also prioritize addressing and preparing for climate change by providing guidance and resources to state and local governments. for more information about 2012 ′ s record - breaking extreme weather events, see : - nrdc ’ s 2012 extreme weather mapping tool - kim knowlton ’ s blog : http : / / switchboard. nrdc. org / blogs / kknowlton / - frances beinecke ’ s blog : http : / / switchboard. nrdc. org / blogs / fbeinecke / - rocky kistner ’ s


china starts construction of panda breeding center as early as next month, chinese authorities will begin the construction of a new mega - breeding facility for giant pandas in the wolong nature reserve, says the official xinhua news agency. the announcement came after last year ’ s 8. 0 - magnitude earthquake leveled much of their former habitat in a protected region of the southwestern sichuan province where most of their captive pandas had previously been held. the reserve ’ s communist party boss huang jianhua revealed that the new base would be located about 10 kilometers ( 6 miles ) from the former site and that the new site had been selected on account of its optimal environmental conditions. “ the pandas will be comfortable living here as it is not far from the former base, ” explained huang. a “ safety is the priority, ” he later added. estimated costs for the new center are currently at a whopping 1. 6 billion yuan, ( or 230 million us dollars ), with national authorities in hong kong footing the majority of the bill, said huang. last year ’ s quake killed five staff members and one panda, while an additional two pandas were seriously injured and one remains missing. following the may 12 disaster, most of the pandas were temporarily transported to a breeding nearby center in ya ’ an city, while others were taken to various other zoos around the country. a the report said that six of the young pandas remained behind in small houses on the reserve. the wolong facility first opened in 1980 as the largest panda breeding center in the world and a home for other endangered species. a the reserve was home to 142 captive pandas “ “ some 60 percent of the world ’ s total population. experts estimate that there are about 1, 600 non - captive pandas living in the wild in china, a the majority of them inhabiting the sichuan province, as well as northern parts of the shaanxi and gansu provinces.


a resolution of the humanitarian situation is the most urgent concern for sri lanka, but there is a politics behind this war that must be understood to guide solidarity from outside. it dates back to the decades prior to and following sri lanka ' s independence from colonial britain. the tragedy of sri lanka is characterised by two destructive nationalisms. on the one hand, we have sinhala buddhist nationalism and its mobilisation by successive regimes in their bid for state power. on the other hand, the tigers, with their most extreme interpretation of tamil nationalism, have dominated the tamil political scene. this ethnicisation of politics is the legacy of colonial reforms, whereby sinhala nationalists appropriated state institutions, followed by discriminatory legislation against minorities, particularly on citizenship, language policy and access to education during the decades after independence in 1948 ( see deirdre mcconnell ). the attacks on the tamil minority also took on violent form with periodic pogroms, culminating in the july 1983 riots and the government - engineered massacre of more than 2, 000 tamils. this led to the mushrooming of tamil militancy, with thousands of youth taking up arms against the state. while there were a number of tamil militant groups during the early 1980s, by 1986 the tigers had all but eradicated the other tamil militant groups, staking their claim for ' sole representation ' of the tamil community. the tigers went further in isolating both themselves and the tamil community, not only by the massacre of sinhalese civilians, beginning in 1985, but also by the ethnic cleansing of the entire muslim population in the north, numbering about 75, 000 people, and the killings of muslims in the east, including the 1990 massacres in two mosques during prayer, resulting in at least 150 deaths. these two destructive nationalisms reinforce each other and together have produced a deadlock trapping both communities. the ensuing political crisis has been deepened by the effects of 25 years of war. the warring parties have both sought military solutions to the problem, undermining efforts to resolve the conflict through a democratic and inclusive process that would bring all those concerned to the negotiating table. since abrogating the ceasefire agreement in the latest phase of the war, the rajapakse government has again chosen the military option, sidelining the political process. in the past couple of years, the centre stage of sri lankan politics has been dominated by the discourse of war, including that of ' war on terror '. this has given the most recalcitrant sinhala buddhist nationalist forces new vigour. in the past,


years, the centre stage of sri lankan politics has been dominated by the discourse of war, including that of ' war on terror '. this has given the most recalcitrant sinhala buddhist nationalist forces new vigour. in the past, when the political process was being pursued, albeit temporarily, these forces from time to time were sidelined. now they have an important role in the heart of government. likewise the ltte has time and again scuppered attempts at a settlement by successive sri lankan governments, the indian government with its intervention in the mid - 1980s and more recently the international community in the form of the norwegian brokered peace process. it has remained inflexible in its quest to achieve military objectives and an exclusively tamil independent state. it systematically assassinated independent tamil politicians and intellectuals, including neelan tiruchelvam and kethesh loganthan, two of the most engaged constitutional scholars, as the tigers did not want the political process to find any traction within the tamil community. after 25 years of war, however, the ltte ' s armed campaign has sapped the energy of the tamil people, who are desperate for the war to end. for them, the ltte ' s armed campaign for its secessionist project has not been a liberatory process. it has held its writ over the people it purports to represent with brutal and total control, crushing all dissent, and using them only to feed off as resources, practising extortion and the forced recruitment of child soldiers. the tamil people ' s experience of their self - styled leaders has in many ways made them lose faith in the armed campaign for secession, and the tamil constituency that is voicing a dissenting position vis - a - vis tamil nationalism and the ltte ' s military objectives is a growing one. reframing the national question one way to break the deadlock spawned by the two destructive nationalisms is to reframe the ' national question ', as the problem is historically known in sri lanka. this would necessitate going beyond any formulaic solution based on the ' right to self - determination '. some intellectuals are indeed reframing the problem as a question of the minorities ' share in state power and the protection of the political rights of minorities against a majoritarian state. this reframing of the issue as one of minorities gains importance given the assertion of separate identities by the muslim and up - country tamil communities, both of which were marginalised by the rhetoric and deadlock of the two nationalism


a majoritarian state. this reframing of the issue as one of minorities gains importance given the assertion of separate identities by the muslim and up - country tamil communities, both of which were marginalised by the rhetoric and deadlock of the two nationalisms, not to mention the caste, class and gender concerns within the tamil and sinhala communities that are repressed by nationalist politics. democratisation and a political solution with the victory of president chandrika kumaratunga on a peace platform in 1994 after 17 years of united national party ( unp ) rule, the devolution debate made significant progress in understanding and seeking to reolve the problem of minorities. the draft constitution of 2000 and the experts ' committee majority report of 2006 submitted to the all - party representative committee - appointed by president rajapakse and deliberately undermined by the president himself early on in the process - provided solid foundations for a new constitutional order. this would need to clearly demarcate powers for the provinces, limit executive interference, loosen the centralised character of the state, remove the executive presidency and create a bicameral legislature with greater representation for minorities at the centre. while the contours of a political solution may be apparent to the intellectual community that has been at the centre of the devolution debate, there are two major problems that will hinder any progress. first, there is the lack of political will on the part of the rajapakse government, which seems more interested in giving centrality to sinhala buddhist majoritarianism. and second, there are serious concerns over the deterioration of the democratic health of the country in the context of war politics and the rajapakse government ' s attempt to entrench an authoritarian oligarchy. the issue of democratisation has not historically been one that tamil politics has engaged in seriously. this may be in part because of the ltte ' s brutal culture, but it was also the case with tamil moderates prior to the tigers ' emergence. an important lesson from sri lanka ' s post - colonial history, however, is that a political solution is unlikely to work if democracy in the country is under attack. there is also the corollary that the brazen attacks the minorities as practiced by the current regime are linked to the attacks on democracy that affect the sinhala community as well. the issue of the hour is as much about democratisation as it is about finding a political solution : one is unworkable without the other. the task at hand, then, is the construction


on democracy that affect the sinhala community as well. the issue of the hour is as much about democratisation as it is about finding a political solution : one is unworkable without the other. the task at hand, then, is the construction of a consensus among the minorities, who include the tamils and muslims but also caste minorities, the economically marginalised, the rural poor in the sinhala community and so on. tamil nationalism, due to its exclusivist politics, alienated the other minorities and large sections of the sinhala communities ; a minorities ' consensus would seek the opposite and work towards coexistence within an inclusive vision. historically, there have been frequent calls for a ' southern consensus ', meaning now a consensus between the two major political parties, the slfp and the unp, as a way of arriving at an agreement towards a political solution and the two - thirds majority in parliament necessary to change the constitution. while such an agreement on a far reaching political solution would be welcome, the historical failure of sri lanka ' s elite to forge the consensus necessary to build a stable bourgeois democratic state and the current political scene, with the ascendancy of sinhala buddhist nationalism, does not bode well. nevertheless, calls by the powerful international actors towards a ' southern consensus ' and a political process towards constitutional reform would be one important way of checking the rapidly deteriorating environment. a minorities ' consensus, on the other hand, would be an attempt at a bottom - up approach, beginning with the marginalised, to rekindle a national debate on a political solution and democratisation. the tragic history of sri lanka points to no easy solutions. the long march towards peace and justice may have to begin with the difficult process of building social movements but it will also require solidarity. that is, solidarity to dislodge destructive nationalisms, the militarisation of state and society, to support efforts at democratisation and to challenge authoritarianism. over the decades the powerful tamil diaspora and the emerging sinhala diaspora have reinforced the dynamic of destructive nationalisms through both financial and political support. the unconditional support for the tigers by large sections of the tamil diaspora can even be witnessed today in many of the protests in western capitals, with slogans such as ' prabhakaran is our leader ' and ' we want tamil eelam '. feeding such nationalism goes hand in hand with the silencing of other minorities who came under brutal attack by the tigers. furthermore, it also reflects the irresponsible minds


not just solidarity, but solidarity that is constructive and responsible. ahilan kadirgamar is an activist with the sri lanka democracy forum and contributing editor of himal southasian magazine. viva siva now in his eighties, a sivanandan remains an important figure in the politics of race and class, maintaining his long - held insistence that only in the symbiosis of the two struggles can a genuinely radical politics be found. by arun kundnani background to brutality the resumption of sri lanka ' s bloody civil war following the government ' s unilateral abrogation of the ceasefire with the tamil tigers last year has seen killing and other abuses on a massive scale. deirdre mcconnell examines the background to the continuing conflict between the country ' s sinhalese majority and its tamil and other minorities can ’ t you see the writing on the wall with hundreds of civilians killed and a quarter of a million people trapped by the current fighting, lonan alvaro considers the humanitarian cost of sri lanka ' s 25 - year long conflict the brighton pay dispute : the union view gmb union organiser rob macey puts the workers ' side of the argument the pay dispute at brighton council : a green view davy jones, green party parliamentary candidate for brighton kemptown, gives his view of a dispute that has caused huge debate among green party members in the city and across the country jeremy hardy thinks … about the right to exist ' we ’ d all say a person has a right to a home, but we wouldn ’ t say their home has rights. ' back to the fragments lynne segal, one of the authors of the seminal 1979 socialist - feminist text beyond the fragments, reflects on its lessons for today turkey : a people imprisoned once seen as a moderate party, the akp government in turkey is using anti - terrorism legislation to unleash a wave of repression against the left and the kurdish movement. tim baster and isabelle merminod spoke to activists in the country


substance comparatively opaque to x - rays, which appears lighter on x - ray film and allows a body structure that does not normally contrast with its background to be seen clearly on the film. common contrast media include barium sulfate and iodized organic compounds. they are given by the route that introduces them into the structure to be examined — swallowed or as an enema for the digestive tract, inhaled for the respiratory tract, or injected for blood vessels and for organs and tissues they supply. serious reactions to contrast media are not infrequent. seealso diagnostic imaging. learn more about contrast medium with a free trial on britannica. com. iodine based contrast media such as urografin or omnipaque is used most commonly in radiology, due to its relatively harmless interaction with the body. it is primarily used to visualise vessels, but can also be used for tests of the urinary tract, uterus and fallopian tubes. | ionic | | diatrizoate ( hypaque 50 ) | | ionic monomer | | 300 | | 1550 | | high osmolar | | ionic | | metrizoate ( isopaque coronar 370 ) | | ionic | | 370 | | 2100 | | high osmolar | | ionic | | ioxaglate ( hexabrix ) | | ionic dimer | | 320 | | 580 | | low osmolar | | non - ionic | | iopamidol ( isovue 370 ) | | non - ionic monomer | | 370 | | 796 | | low osmolar | | non - ionic | | iohexol ( omnipaque 350 ) | | non - ionic | | 350 | | 884 | | low osmolar | | non - ionic | | ioxilan ( oxilan ) | | non - ionic | | low osmolar | | non - ionic | | iodixanol ( visipaque 320 ) | | non - ionic dimer | | 320 | | 290 | | iso osmolar | these often appear in the form of barium sulfate. barium is mainly used in the imaging of the digestion system. negative contrast always occurs in a gas, usually as one of the following : examples of the use of negative contrast medium are as follows : although rare, it is possible to be allergic to contrast media. reactions can range from minor to severe, in the worst case scenario,


in a gas, usually as one of the following : examples of the use of negative contrast medium are as follows : although rare, it is possible to be allergic to contrast media. reactions can range from minor to severe, in the worst case scenario, resulting in death. mild ( no treatment necessary ) moderate ( treatment necessary, but no intensive care ) severe ( life - threatening, intensive care necessary ) contrast media is never given to a patient unless a doctor is present to assist should an allergic reaction occur. patients are usually screened before being given contrast, by means of a series of questions. these typically include an allergy history and a history of any asthma and diabetes. it has been recommended that metformin, an oral antidiabetic agent, be stopped for 48 hours following the intravascular administration of contrast media and that the use of metformin not be resumed until renal function has been shown to be normal. the reasoning is that if the contrast medium causes kidney failure ( as happens rarely ) and the person continues to take metformin ( which is normally excreted by the kidneys ), there may be a toxic accumulation of metformin, increasing the risk of lactic acidosis, a dangerous complication. however, guidelines published by the royal college of radiologists suggest this is not as important for patients who receive < 100mls of contrast media and have normal renal function. if renal impairment is found before administration of the contrast, metformin should be stopped 48 hours before and after the procedure.. association of pancreatitis with administration of contrast medium and intravenous lipid emulsion in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. ( case report ). jan 01, 2003 ; abstract : computed tomography is widely used to diagnose acute pancreatitis. iodinated contrast medium lengthens the duration of... patent no. 7, 477, 929 issued on jan. 13, assigned to siemens for living body contrast medium flow forecasting method ( german inventors ) feb 26, 2009 ; alexandria, va., feb. 26 - - ernst klotz of uttenreuth, germany, and annabella rauscher of erlangen, germany, have developed a...


the national center for atmospheric research - community climate system model ( ncar - ccsm ) is used in a coupled atmosphere - ocean - sea - ice simulation of the last glacial maximum ( lgm, around 21, 000 years ago ) climate. in the tropics, the simulation shows a moderate cooling of 3 °c over land and 2 °c in the ocean in zonal average. this cooling is about 1 °c cooler than the climap sea surface temperatures ( ssts ) but consistent with recent estimates of both land and sea surface temperature changes. subtropical waters are cooled by 2 - 2. 5 °c, also in agreement with recent estimates. the simulated oceanic thermohaline circulation at the lgm is not only shallower but also weaker than the modern with a migration of deep - water formation site in the north atlantic as suggested by the paleoceanographic evidences. the simulated northward flow of antarctic bottom water ( aabw ) is enhanced. these deep circulation changes are attributable to the increased surface density flux in the southern ocean caused by sea - ice expansion at the lgm. both the gulf stream and the kuroshio are intensified due to the overall increase of wind stress over the subtropical oceans. the intensified zonal wind stress and southward shift of its maximum in the southern ocean effectively enhances the transport of the antarctic circumpolar current ( acc ) by more than 50 %. simulated ssts are lowered by up to 8 °c in the midlatitudes. simulated conditions in the north atlantic are warmer and with less sea - ice than indicated by climap again, in agreement with more recent estimates. the increased meridional sst gradient at the lgm results in an enhanced hadley circulation and increased midlatitude storm track precipitation. the increased baroclinic storm activity also intensifies the meridional atmospheric heat transport. a sensitivity experiment shows that about half of the simulated tropical cooling at the lgm originates from reduced atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.


one of the drawbacks investors and utilities have found with solar and wind power is that they are “ variable. ” simply put : they can ’ t generate electricity when the sun ’ s not shining or the wind isn ’ t blowing. that ’ s problematic because we ’ ve grown accustomed to getting energy whenever we want it. flick a switch and the lights should go on, regardless of whether it ’ s sunny or windy outside. in the past, utilities believed that they had to compensate for this variability by installing more traditional, fossil - fueled power plants. the more wind or solar power on the grid, the thinking went, the greater the need for backup generating facilities to be there when the wind or sun wasn ’ t. enter rmi ’ s energy & resources team. over the past year, senior consultant lena hansen has led a series of research projects to rethink the implications of wind and solar ’ s variability. in the process, she and her colleagues are re - evaluating the economics of putting more renewable energy on the grid. the key, according to hansen, is for utility managers to think of all their wind and solar installations as a portfolio. “ no person would invest in just one stock, ” says hansen. in the financial markets, most people forego the huge risks and potentially large gains of owning shares of one company for the reduced risk and smaller rates of return of owning shares in multiple companies, she explains. hansen argues that the same should go for utilities investing in wind and solar. “ by diversifying the portfolio of sites, you mitigate variability, ” she says. “ put another way, the wind blows differently in different locations. so spread out your resource to reduce total variability. ” the trick is to balance risks and rewards. very windy and very sunny sites produce more power than sites that are less windy or less sunny. but they also tend to be more variable. ultimately, explains hansen, utility managers have to make a tradeoff between variability and power output. however, by modeling a bunch of geographically spread - out sites, hansen and her colleagues hypothesized, utilities can start to make educated guesses about the optimal portfolio — one that maximizes power generation and minimizes variability. to test the hypothesis, hansen and former rmi fellow jonah levine compiled hundreds of tables of meteorological data for a one - year period, then set about looking for overlaps in the times when the wind is blowing. as it turned out, 2004 data were the most complete, enough to model what would happen at 63 sites across


of tables of meteorological data for a one - year period, then set about looking for overlaps in the times when the wind is blowing. as it turned out, 2004 data were the most complete, enough to model what would happen at 63 sites across the great plains. “ the basic idea, ” explains levine, “ was to look for a complementary effect. ” simulating wind sites over a large geographic area should have decreased variability in the whole system without adversely affecting power output. the results were promising. overall, hansen and levine noticed decreases in system variability for all the portfolios they studied. those findings spurred a second study, conducted earlier this year, that combined both wind and solar resources in one portfolio. the team ’ s hypothesis was that just as wind tends to blow differently in different places, the sun often shines when there is no wind. using data from the national renewable energy lab and levine ’ s study, hansen and ert fellow bryan palmintier simulated 43 wind and solar sites throughout the midwest. all 43 sites were within the midwest reliability organization ’ s ( mro ) area of responsibility regarding the grid. mro is one of nine north american electric reliability regions, comprising minnesota, north dakota, nebraska, as well as portions of montana, south dakota, iowa, wisconsin, the upper peninsula of michigan, and two canadian provinces. after running the numbers, they found that variability in the whole system went down by 55 percent compared to the average of all sites studied. surprisingly, those results bore out whether they looked at the entire study group, or as few as six optimally selected sites. “ if you look at the average wind or solar site alone, there ’ s a good amount of time each day that it ’ s not generating electricity, ” explains palmintier. “ but if you combine all the wind and solar sites together, you find that 90 percent of the time you can get seven megawatts out ” of facilities that at peak production might generate 100 megawatts. that increase in electric output may sound small, but palmintier contends that it ’ s substantial enough to get utilities to think differently about their investments, especially if paired with programs to help users better manage the times at which they draw power from the grid. to bolster these findings, the rmi team then expanded their analysis, first over a longer time period and then over a larger geographic area. for mro, hansen and her colleagues simulated what would happen if they took into account three years of data. the findings were essentially the


the rmi team then expanded their analysis, first over a longer time period and then over a larger geographic area. for mro, hansen and her colleagues simulated what would happen if they took into account three years of data. the findings were essentially the same as those from the first simulation, meaning that under “ normal ” weather patterns, the “ optimal ” portfolio of sites still reduced variability by the same amount. also, the composition of the optimal portfolio didn ’ t change much between the one - year and three - year simulations that the team did, explains josh traube, a fellow with the energy & resources team. three - quarters of the sites that were in the optimal one - year portfolio were also in the optimal three - year portfolio. and even if the three - year simulation were constrained to the sites chosen by the one - year simulation, the electrical output and variability stayed relatively similar. this means utilities don ’ t necessarily have to gather multiple years of data to make an informed decision about where to site the wind or solar installations in their portfolios. “ at least in this example, if you were to do only a one - year analysis, you wouldn ’ t penalize yourself unnecessarily, ” says traube. the next step was to expand the simulation to include most of the great plains. using additional data from the southwest power pool and the electric reliability council of texas, traube and hansen simulated the power output and variability for 63 sites. their conclusions : increasing the size of the study area tends to decrease variability as well. much like the previous simulation, these results could be obtained with an optimal portfolio of as few as eight sites. for hansen, this last finding is crucial. if you ’ re a utility, she explains, “ you don ’ t have to spend all your money on a huge number of sites to get the really big benefit ” of a diversified portfolio. ultimately, the rmi team hopes its research will demonstrate to utilities how to put more solar and wind on the grid. there ’ s a financial incentive to decrease wind and solar ’ s variability, says hansen. if utilities can rely even a little more on power from these installations, they won ’ t have to make as large of capital expenditures on coal or natural gas plants. “ the industry needs to properly understand the value ( or conversely the cost ) of variability, ” she says. during the spring, the team presented their findings at the power - gen renewable energy & fuels conference, the american solar energy society ’ s annual conference,


this preparation describes the production of a tertiary alcohol from a grignard reagent and a ketone. the reaction is performed in a reflux apparatus which has a calcium chloride guard tube inserted in the top of - place a 250 cm3 three - necked round - bottomed flask, a double - surface water condenser, a tap funnel and a guard tube containing anhydrous calcium chloride in an oven at 120oc for an hour or - what is a double - surface condenser, and why is it needed? - a double - surface condenser has a water jacket both on the outside and through the centre of the condensing tube. it is needed where, as here, the condensed liquid is very volatile. - what is the purpose of the guard tube? - the guard tube prevents water vapour from entering the apparatus from - why is the apparatus and the reagents dried? - grignard reagents react easily with water. any moisture present will prevent the reaction from occurring. - allow the apparatus to cool, and assemble it as a refluxing apparatus with the guard tube in the top of the condenser, a tap funnel in the second neck of the flask and a mechanical stirrer in the third neck. the apparatus should be clamped so as to leave room for the use of a cooling bath of iced water around the flask if necessary. - why might the apparatus need to be cooled during the reaction? - the reaction is exothermic. - place in the flask 6. 2g of magnesium turnings ( those for the preparation of grignard reagents ) and 100 cm3 of dry ether. place 27 cm3 of dried 1 - bromobutane in the tap funnel. - justify the quantities used. - there is 0. 25 mol of magnesium and 0. 25 mol of 1 - bromobutane ( density 1. 28 g cm - 3 ), this being the 1 : 1 ratio in which the reactants - what is used to dry the ethoxyethane? - sodium metal. - what is used to dry the 1 - bromobutane? - anhydrous potassium carbonate. - run in about half of the 1 - bromobutane and stir briefly. when the mixture has settled, drop in one or two small crystals of iodine so that they rest on the surface of the magnesium - do not stir. the reaction should begin within a few minutes ;


- bromobutane and stir briefly. when the mixture has settled, drop in one or two small crystals of iodine so that they rest on the surface of the magnesium - do not stir. the reaction should begin within a few minutes ; the reaction mixture should be allowed to reflux gently with cooling as necessary using an ice - water bath. during this time add the remaining 1 - bromobutane in small portions. - what is the purpose of the iodine crystals? - the iodine initiates the reaction. ( it is often said that it is catalytic, but it cannot be recovered from the reaction mixture at the end - it is chemically changed, so is not really catalytic. ) - when the preparation of the grignard reagent is complete the liquid in the flask will be cloudy and of a greyish colour. place in the tap funnel a solution of 18. 5cm3 of dried propanone in 19 cm3 of dried ethoxyethane. stir the mixture in the flask rapidly, and add the propanone solution slowly, cooling the flask in ice if necessary. this reaction is vigorous. when all the propanone has been added the mixture should be allowed to stand overnight. - why is the propanone dried? - water ( with which propanone is miscible in all proportions ) would decompose the grignard reagent to give an alkane. - suggest a suitable drying agent for propanone. - anhydrous potassium carbonate or anhydrous calcium chloride. - decompose the product by pouring the reaction mixture on to 150g of crushed ice, stirring well. dissolve the precipitated magnesium compounds by the addition of 10 % aqueous hydrochloric acid with stirring until the precipitate has disappeared. transfer the mixture to a separating funnel, and run off and keep the lower aqueous layer ; transfer the ethoxyethane layer to a suitable flask. - what is the precipitated magnesium compound? - magnesium hydroxide. - which ions are present in the aqueous solution after treatment with - magnesium ions, and bromide and chloride ions. - return the aqueous layer to the funnel, and wash it with 15cm3 of ethoxyethane. keep the aqueous layer as before, combining the ethoxyethane solution with that separated earlier. repeat the washing of the aqueous layer with 15cm3


, and wash it with 15cm3 of ethoxyethane. keep the aqueous layer as before, combining the ethoxyethane solution with that separated earlier. repeat the washing of the aqueous layer with 15cm3 of ethoxyethane twice more, combining all the washings with the original solution. - why is the aqueous layer washed with ethoxyethane? - the product alcohol is significantly soluble in water, so the washing with fresh ethoxyethane removes some of the dissolved alcohol. - why is the aqueous layer washed three times with 15 cm3 of ethoxyethane rather than with one 45 cm3 portion? - the alcohol in the aqueous layer is in equilibrium with that in the ethoxyethane layer. it can be shown that three washings are more efficient at removing the alcohol rather than one washing with the same total volume of ethoxyethane. this is a general principle in solvent extraction. - add some anhydrous potassium carbonate to the ethoxyethane solution, and leave to stand until it is clear. - what is the purpose of adding potassium carbonate? - it is a drying agent. - what is the significance of the liquid becoming clear? - wet organic liquids that are not water miscible are cloudy ; the clearness shows that the ethoxyethane solution is now dry. - transfer the ethoxyethane solution to a clean distilling flask, and distil off the ethoxyethane using a warm water bath. - why is a warm water bath used to heat the flask? - ethoxyethane vapour is explosive in air, so no naked flames must ever be used anywhere in a room where ethoxyethane is being used. - when all the ethoxyethane has been removed, fractionally distil the remaining liquid using an electric heating mantle, collecting the fraction that boils between 137 - 141oc. - why is the range between 137 - 141oc chosen? - the product alcohol boils at 139oc so distils over in this - why is an electric heating mantle used? - a boiling water bath would be too cool, and although the ethoxyethane has been distilled off there is still enough vapour around to make the use of flames dangerous.


the hoary marmot ( marmota caligata ), the alaska marmot ( m. broweri ), and the woodchuck ( m. monax ) are the three species of marmots that live in alaska. the hoary marmot can be found at the bases of active talus slopes in the mountains of central, southeastern, and southwestern alaska. it also occurs down to sea level along some areas of the coast. the alaska marmot lives in similar talus habitat throughout much of the brooks range. the woodchuck digs its den in loess ( wind - deposited soils ) along river valleys in the dry lowlands of eastcentral alaska. general description : large relatives of the squirrel, the hoary and closely related alaska marmots weigh 10 pounds ( 4. 5 kg ) or more and may exceed 24 inches ( 61 cm ) in total length. the woodchuck weighs between 2 and 6 pounds (. 4 - 2. 7 kg ). they may grow to be 20 inches ( 50. 8 cm ) long. the animals attain their maximum weight in late summer, when they accumulate thick layers of fat that will sustain them through winter hibernation. body shape is similar in all three species : head short and broad, legs short, ears small, body thickset, tail densely furred, and front paws clawed for digging burrows. hoary and alaska marmots are predominantly gray with a darker lower back and face and a dark, reddish tail. the hoary marmot has a white patch above its nose and usually has dark brown feet, giving it the latin name caligata, meaning “ booted. ” the alaska marmot does not have a white face patch, its feet may be light or dark, and its fur is much softer than the stiff fur of the hoary marmot. a uniform reddish brown, the woodchuck has an unmarked brown face. the name woodchuck originated as a cree indian word used to describe a number of similar - sized animals and does not describe characteristics of the woodchuck ' s behavior or habitat preference. life history : in alaska, all marmots mate in april or may. about a month later, two to six young are born hairless and blind. the young disperse two months after birth and may breed for the first time when they are 2 or 3 years old. marmots may live to 5 years or more. they feed on grasses, flowering plants, berries, roots, mosses, and lichen


disperse two months after birth and may breed for the first time when they are 2 or 3 years old. marmots may live to 5 years or more. they feed on grasses, flowering plants, berries, roots, mosses, and lichens. hoary and alaska marmots make their summer homes on the bases of active talus slopes, where the rocks protect them from predators and provide lookout stations. woodchuck dens may be up to 30 feet long, are dug in the loamy soils of river valleys in interior alaska, and end with a chamber containing a large grass nest. most marmot dens have a main entrance with a mound of dirt near the hole and a number of concealed entrances. marmots are social animals. although each family has a separate burrow, these burrows are located near each other, forming a colony. true hibernators, marmots enter a state of torpor in winter during which all bodily functions are reduced. hoary marmots and woodchucks hibernate alone in the same burrows in which they spent the summer. to protect themselves from the cold, they plug the tunnel leading to the nest chamber with a mixture of dirt, vegetation, and feces. they emerge from their winter hibernation in april or early may to find food and mates. adapted to the harsher winter climate of the brooks range, alaska marmots create a special winter den which has a single entrance and is characteristically located on an exposed ridge that becomes snow - free in early spring. the entrance is plugged after all colony members are inside, and no animals can leave until the plug thaws in early may. consequently, alaska marmots mate before they emerge from their winter den. these dens are relatively permanent for each colony, and some are used for more than 20 years. because hibernation begins in september, most marmots in alaska spend two - thirds of each year locked in their winter dens. marmots are most active in early morning and late afternoon, although they may leave their burrows during other daylight hours. marmots need wind to control mosquito levels and rarely venture out on calm days. the alaska marmot marks its territory by rubbing its face and glands on rocks and along trails. the hoary marmot probably marks its territory in the same way. the pelt colors of marmots help them blend with the lichen - colored rocks or rusty - brown soil of their surroundings. nevertheless, marmots remain alert for


. the hoary marmot probably marks its territory in the same way. the pelt colors of marmots help them blend with the lichen - colored rocks or rusty - brown soil of their surroundings. nevertheless, marmots remain alert for predators including eagles, foxes, coyotes, wolves, and bears. when the alaska marmot is alarmed, it produces a slurred, low - pitched warning call. the alarm call of both hoary marmot and the woodchuck is a loud whistle. they also hiss, squeal, growl, and yip. in areas where marmots are hunted by humans, they have learned to remain quiet when humans approach. good climbers and swimmers, woodchucks may also take to trees or water to avoid predators. marmots often secondarily benefit other animals and plants. abandoned marmot holes can become homes for small mammals. in moderation, their digging and defecation loosen, aerate, and improve the soil. alaska natives have long relished marmot meat and used its thick coat for warm clothing. although these wary animals are difficult to approach closely, persistent observers are rewarded by the fascinating sight of a marmot community. the northern flying squirrel ( glaucomys sabrinus yukonensis ) is a gliding ( volplaning ) mammal that is incapable of true flight like birds and bats. there are 25 subspecies across north america with interior alaska being the most northern and western limit of the species ' range. the generic name, glaucomys, is from the greek glaukos ( silver, gray ) and mys ( mouse ). sabrinus is derived from the latin word sabrina ( river - nymph ) and refers to the squirrel ' s habit of living near streams and rivers. general description : adult flying squirrels average 4. 9 ounces ( 139 gm ) in weight and 12 inches ( 30 cm ) in total length. the tail is broad, flattened, and feather - like. a unique feature of the body is the lateral skin folds ( patagia ) on each side that stretch between front and hind legs and function as gliding membranes. this squirrel is nocturnal and has large eyes that are efficient on the darkest nights. eye shine color is a distinctive reddish - orange. flying squirrel pelage is silky and thick with the top of the body light brown to cinnamon, the sides grayish, and the belly whitish. habitat requirements : flying squirrels require a forest mosaic that includes adequate denning and feeding areas. den sites


. flying squirrel pelage is silky and thick with the top of the body light brown to cinnamon, the sides grayish, and the belly whitish. habitat requirements : flying squirrels require a forest mosaic that includes adequate denning and feeding areas. den sites include tree cavities and witches ' brooms. tree cavities are most numerous in old forests where wood rot, frost cracking, woodpeckers, and carpenter ants have created or enlarged cavities. witches ' brooms, clumps of abnormal branches caused by tree rust diseases, are the most common denning sites of flying squirrels in interior alaska. about november or december, when temperatures begin to drop sharply, flying squirrels move out of cavities and into brooms. in the coldest periods of winter, they form aggregations of two or more individuals in the brooms and sleep in torpor. feeding areas preferred by flying squirrels contain fungi ( mushrooms and truffles ), berries, and tree lichens and may be in either young or old forests. dried fungi cached in limbs by red squirrels are sometimes stolen by flying squirrels. flying squirrels probably get water from foods they eat and rain, dew, and snow. constant sources of free water ( lakes, ponds, and watercourses ) do not appear to be a stringent habitat requirement. in a year ' s time, a flying squirrel in interior alaska may use as many as 13 different den trees within 19. 8 acres ( 8 ha ). on a night foray, a squirrel may travel as far as 1. 2 miles ( 2 km ) in a circular route and be away from its den tree for up to 7 hours. it may change den trees at night and move to different ones more than 20 times over a year, staying in each for a varying numbers of days. den trees with brooms are used more than twice as much as trees with cavities. fairly dense, old closed - canopy forests with logs and corridors of trees ( especially conifers ) that are spaced close enough to glide between are needed for cover from predators. high quality flying squirrel habitat can be a community mosaic of small stands of varying age classes in which there is a mix of tall conifers and hardwoods. part of the mosaic must be old coniferous forest with den trees containing witches ' brooms, woodpecker cavities, and natural cavities for nesting sites. riparian zones provide excellent habitat in all coniferous forest associations. life history : flying squirrels in alaska may


old coniferous forest with den trees containing witches ' brooms, woodpecker cavities, and natural cavities for nesting sites. riparian zones provide excellent habitat in all coniferous forest associations. life history : flying squirrels in alaska may breed anytime from march to late june, depending on length and severity of the winter. the female can breed before 11 months of age and give birth at about 1 year of age. gestation requires about 37 days, so the young are born from may to early july. one litter of two per year is probably the usual case for alaska, but they are known to have litters ranging from one to six in other parts of their range. at birth, the young flying squirrel ( nestling ) is hairless, and its eyes and ears are closed. development is slow in comparison with other mammals of similar size. their eyes open at about 25 days, and they nurse for about 60 to 70 days. by day 240, the young are fully grown and cannot be distinguished from adults by body measurements and fur characteristics. mortality rate for flying squirrels 1 and 2 years old is about 50 percent, and few live past 4 years of age. complete population turnover can occur by the third year. individual flying squirrels nest in tree cavities, witches ' brooms, and drays. in interior alaska, most brooms and cavity entrances have southerly exposures. nests in cavities are usually located about 25 feet above the ground but may range between 5 and 45 feet. flying squirrels excavate chambers in witches ' brooms and line them with nesting materials. a dray nest is a ball - like mass of mosses, twigs, lichens, and leaves with shredded bark and lichens forming the lining of the chamber. flying squirrels build drays entirely by themselves or modify the nests of other species ( e. g., bird nests, red squirrel nests ). the dray is usually positioned close to the trunk on a limb or whorl of branches with its entrance next to the trunk. most drays in alaska are probably conifers. food habits : the flying squirrel is omnivorous. while little is known about its diet in alaska, the food it consumes in other parts of its range include mushrooms, truffles, lichens, fruits, green vegetation, nuts, seeds, tree buds, insects, and meat ( fresh, dried, or rotted ). nestling birds and birds ' eggs may also be eaten. those observed foraging in the wild in


, lichens, fruits, green vegetation, nuts, seeds, tree buds, insects, and meat ( fresh, dried, or rotted ). nestling birds and birds ' eggs may also be eaten. those observed foraging in the wild in interior alaska ate mushrooms ( fresh and dried ), truffles, berries, tree lichens, and the newly flushed growth tips on white spruce limbs. in spring, summer, and fall the diet is mostly fresh fungi. in winter it ' s mostly lichens. flying squirrels are not known to cache fungi for winter in alaska, but they are known to do so elsewhere in their range. witches ' brooms and tree cavities would be likely places to find their caches. predators and parasites : owls, hawks, and carnivorous mammals prey on flying squirrels. primary predators are probably the great horned owl, goshawk, and marten due to their common occurrence and widespread range in alaska ' s forests. three different flea species may infest a single squirrel. economic and ecological value : flying squirrels are important to forest regeneration and timber production because they disperse spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi like truffles. truffles are fruiting bodies of a special type of fungus that matures underground. they are dependent upon animals to smell them out, dig them up, consume them, and disperse their spores in fecal material where the animal travels. the animal serves to inoculate disturbed sites ( e. g., clearcuts, burned areas ) with mycorrhizae that join symbiotically with plant roots and enhance their ability to absorb nutrients and maintain health. the flying squirrel ' s ecological role in forest ecosystems, therefore, gives it economic value. in addition, they may be important prey for a variety of hawks, owls, small carnivores, and furbearers like marten, lynx, and red fox. many alaskans value flying squirrels just for their interesting habits and aesthetic qualities. management considerations : logging for house logs, wood for fuel, and lumber can have devastating effects on flying squirrel populations if clearcut size is too large or if some scattered tall conifers in large cuts are not retained as cover and for travel across the open spaces. management should include retention of other squirrel species in shared habitats. snags with woodpecker holes or other natural cavities and coniferous trees with witches ' brooms must also be maintained in managed forests in order to provide adequate habitat for flying squirrels.


include retention of other squirrel species in shared habitats. snags with woodpecker holes or other natural cavities and coniferous trees with witches ' brooms must also be maintained in managed forests in order to provide adequate habitat for flying squirrels. the red squirrel ( tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) makes itself quite conspicuous with its lively habits and noisy chatter. cone cuttings on stumps or rocks are common and tracks in snow are numerous where this squirrel occurs. it can be found in spruce forests over most of alaska and has a wide range in north america. it occupies a wide variety of forest habitat, occurring in the hardwood forests of eastern north america and the coniferous forests of the west and north. general description : the active rodent averages 11 to 13 inches in length ( 28 - 33 cm ), including tail, and is a rusty - olive color on the upper parts of its body with a whitish belly and underparts. in summer, a dark stripe on the side separates the upper rusty color from the white of the belly. the bushy tail is often a lighter orange or red with light tipped hairs. life history : red squirrels are solitary but pair for mating in february and march. females usually breed when they are 1 year old. three to seven young are born after a gestation period of 36 to 40 days. the young are born blind and hairless, weighing about ¼ ounce at birth. they are weaned at about 5 weeks but remain with the female until almost adult size. the young leave the female and are independent during their first winter. this means that they have to be successful at gathering and storing a winter ' s supply of food. behavior : much of the red squirrel ' s time in the summer is spent cutting and storing green spruce cones. there may be several bushels of cones stored in a cache. caches may attain a diameter of 15 to 18 feet and a depth of 3 feet. red squirrels also cache mushrooms on tree branches. they eat seeds, berries, buds, fungi, and occasionally insects and birds ' eggs. they are busy collecting and storing food from early morning until dusk and also on moonlit nights. nests may be a hole in a tree trunk or a tightly constructed mass of twigs, leaves, mosses, and lichens in the densest foliage of a tree ( making the nest almost completely weatherproof ). a loose mass of twigs and leafy debris in a high tree is used as a “ fair weather ” nest. their ground burrows, also known as midden


in the densest foliage of a tree ( making the nest almost completely weatherproof ). a loose mass of twigs and leafy debris in a high tree is used as a “ fair weather ” nest. their ground burrows, also known as middens, are used mostly for food storage. there is usually one large active midden in each territory with perhaps an inactive or auxiliary midden. the home range of red squirrels is about ½ to 1 acre, and each squirrel knows its territory well. each squirrel has several nests in its territory and always seems to know which retreat is nearest. territorial behavior seems to be most rigid during caching of food and relaxes somewhat in the spring. the red squirrel is active all year but may remain in its nest during severe cold spells and inclement weather. they are agile climbers and, being extremely curious, will often attempt to enter buildings, upsetting anything they can move and gnawing on woodwork. once in a house or cabin, they can be very destructive, tearing out insulation and mattress stuffing for use as nesting material and caching food stores in any available niche. predators : the main predators of red squirrels are hawks, owls, and marten. other predators may occasionally take a squirrel but are not serious threats. around populated areas, one of the predators is the domestic housecat. human use : the red squirrel is used to a limited extent by man for food and fur. squirrels may be small but the meat is good eating. in parts of canada and alaska the pelts are sold for their fur. red squirrels may damage trees, cutting off twigs by the bushel, but they are also helpful because they distribute and plant seeds of spruce and other trees. the arctic ground squirrel ( spermophilus parryii ) was named " tsik - tsik " by the inupiat eskimos on account of a call this little rodent makes when it is alarmed? tsik - tsiks are found in both arctic and alpine tundra. they fatten themselves on seeds, mushrooms and berries — almost doubling their body weight over the summer — in preparation for fall hibernation. although they insulate their winter burrows with grasses and block the entrances with dirt, winter temperatures inside the burrows still fall well below 0° f. during hibernation, the body temperature of the arctic ground squirrel drops from 98. 6° f to 26. 4° f — that ' s below the freezing point of water and is the lowest known body temperature of any living mammal


##hrenheit. when the shivering and shaking stops, body temperature drops back to the minimal temperature. this type of hibernation is rare among mammals and scientists are still studying this unique physiological behavior. in denali, ground squirrels are active from late april to early october, but the sexes and age - classes show some differences in their annual activity patterns. adult males are usually the first to emerge from hibernation. they dig their way through the snow and stay relatively close to their burrows until the snow cover melts. breeding occurs in may and a single litter of 5 to 10 pups is born in june. the young develop rapidly and usually emerge from their burrows in mid - july. by late summer, young abandon their natal burrow and occupy a neighboring, empty burrow or excavate a new one. adults start hibernating as soon as they have enough body fat to survive the winter, often in late august when plenty of foods are still available. it is probably safer to enter hibernation early, even when foods are accessible, than to remain on the surface vulnerable to predators. youngsters, however, take much longer to find foods and put on body fat and they are often active until late september. this means that youngsters are more vulnerable to predation than adults. the diet of arctic ground squirrels is diverse and opportunistic. they eat many types of vegetation including the leaves, seeds, fruits, stems, flowers, and roots of many species of grasses, forbs, and woody plants. they also eat mushrooms and meat from freshly killed animals ( including ground squirrels ). because they are active only during the short subarctic summer, arctic ground squirrels must be efficient foragers. as summer progresses, they put on a tremendous amount of fat stores for the winter and often double their body weight by the time they enter hibernation in fall. the social behavior of arctic ground squirrels is complex. this species is highly territorial and squirrels may kill other squirrels over territorial disputes. however, other related females in the colony often care for orphaned youngsters. further, territorial behavior lessens during late summer, and male squirrels may move between colonies or establish colonies of their own. so many different predators eat arctic ground squirrels that adolph murie called them the " staff of life " in denali. they are one of the most important summer food sources for golden eagles, gyrfalcons, foxes, and grizzly bears.


at bryce canyon national park, erosion has shaped colorful claron limestones, sandstones, and mudstones into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles, and mazes. collectively called " hoodoos, " these colorful and whimsical formations stand in horseshoe - shaped amphitheaters along the eastern edge of the paunsaugunt plateau in southern utah. hoodoos formed over thousands of years by the same processes that form the features of surrounding parks. water, ice ( at varying intervals ) and gravity are the forces that form bryce canyon. dolomite, limestone and siltstone are very hard and form the protective caprock on most of the spires. frost wedging is the erosional force that breaks apart the harder rocks. mudstone is the softest rock in a hoodoo and is easily identified because it forms the narrowest portion of the pinnacles. as mudstone moistens it erodes easily and will run down the sides forming a stucco or protective coating. every time it rains the stucco is renewed. eolian or wind forces erode at slow rates. if wind does not erode the stucco layer fast enough it will renew before eolian erosion affects the rock. for this reason wind has little to no affect on hoodoo formation or destruction. bryce canyon national park is named for pioneer ebenezer bryce who came to the paria valley with his family in 1875. he was sent by the church of jesus christ of latter - day saints because his skill as a carpenter would be useful in settling this area. bryce built a road to the plateau top to retrieve firewood and timber. he also built an irrigation canal to raise crops and animals. local people called the canyon with the strange rock formations near ebenezer ' s home " bryce ' s canyon ". the bryces moved to arizona in 1880, the name remained. as southern utah developed, reuben and minnie syrett - - who homesteaded just outside the present park boundaries - - brought their friends to see the intricately eroded stone formations. by popular demand, they developed sleeping and eating facilities on the canyon rim. they called their establishment, " tourist ' s rest. " when the area was set aside as a national monument in 1923, the union pacific railroad bought out the syrett ' s interests and began to construct bryce canyon lodge intending to make the bryce canyon area part of their new " loop tour " of the southwest. the syrett ' s then built " ruby ' s inn " on


a collection of informative and interesting articles absolutely free - start sharing your knowledge today! home | submit articles | login online since year 2000 the images of back children in gwendolyn brook ' s poetry : a studyby : p. suresh kumar r. panneerselvam | category : education | submitted : 2012 - 04 - 13 08 : 18 : 42 in between, her poetic achievement is marked by gradual and progressive ascent. she became the first african american poet to win the pulitzer prize in 1950, membership of the academy if arts and letters un 1976, winning if two guggenheim awards, poet laureateship of illinois in 1968, the award by the national endowment for arts in 1989, jjeffrson lectureship by the national endowments of the humanities in 1994, the national medals of arts award in 1995, the " first woman " award from the federal government in 1999, and more than fifty honorary decorates from various colleges and universities. brools ' s creative output extends over a period of six decades. her poetry is distinctive not only in her handling of multiplicity of forms but also in her craftsmanship. she has committed herself to the ideals of social justice for her race and sex as well as ro the aesthetics of art. the issues of racism and an authentic identity have been the recurrent themes of african american writers. witnessing the growth of black literature by stages - form anger to defiance, to protest, to recognition, to search for identity, and to reconciliation, brooks wrote poetry that was at once potent, provocative, poignant, and starling, a poetry that resisted racism, asserted black consciousness, and upheld the black values, a poetry that instilled a new faith in self - reliance and dignity, and a poetry that can be a source of inspiration of succeeding generations writers. a study of brooks ' s poetry will be incomplete without a study of her poetry for children, who also encounter the same kind of racial discrimination which the adult balcks are subjected to in the racially prejudiced america. before 1967, brooks published only one volume of poetry ofr children : bronzeville boys and gorls ( 1956 ). the book consists of thirty - four poems, which are illustrated by ronnai solbert. all these poems portray the individual experiences of thirty - seven children, but brooks is objective and detached in her portrayal of these boys and girls. in poems written in couplets, the first line rhymes with the second, the third line rhymes with the foruth, and so on : i have a secret place


children, but brooks is objective and detached in her portrayal of these boys and girls. in poems written in couplets, the first line rhymes with the second, the third line rhymes with the foruth, and so on : i have a secret place to go. not any one may know. and sometimes when the wind is rough i cannot get there fast enough brooks is sensitive to the prosodic features of language : the loudness in the road and laughs away from me. it laughs a lovely whiteness, and whitely whirs away, some other where, still white as milk or shirts. so beautiful it hurts. the compound image " flitter - twitter " defines the delicate motion of the snow. the onomatopoeic words " sushes " and " hushes " convey the power of the silent and quite snow to quell " the loudness in the road. " " loudness " suggests the traffic and noise, which stand in opposition to the silence of the world of nature. the irregular length of the lines suggests the irregular but the motion of the snow. further, brooks ' s poems for children cannot be categorized as nonsense verses. on the contrary, they are sensible verses. though they appeal to our imagination, the children in her poems do not live in a pastoral, romantic, or idealized world. they are always the poor black children living in the urban ghettos. they suffer poverty and entrapment. in gwendolyn brooks : poetry and the heroic voice, melhem argues that brooks " acknowldges no cruel children but implies cruelty, the indifference that sanctions poverty and compels children to be prematurely involved in adult problems " ( 95 ). brooks ' s description of the bleak experience of children is an compiled protest against the socioeconomic injustices that they encounter. in " john, who is poor, " brooks depicts the poverty of the black boy, john, who lives with his widowed mother. she request the children in the neighborhood to sympathize with him, and share their eatables with him : oh, little children, be good to john! - who lives so lone and alone. whose mamma must hurry to toil all day. whose papa is dead and done. give him a berry, boys, when you may, and girls, some mint when you can. ( 1 - 6 ) but the poet dies not know " when his hunger will end, no yet when it began " ( 7 - 8 ). brooks makes it clear that


boys, when you may, and girls, some mint when you can. ( 1 - 6 ) but the poet dies not know " when his hunger will end, no yet when it began " ( 7 - 8 ). brooks makes it clear that racial oppression is the causes of the sufferings of the black children. but her criticism is not overt. further, she is objective in her description of their poverty, in keeping with the mood of the 1940s and1950s, she beloved that the whites would help the blacks solve their problems. but it took about eleven years, for her, from the year of her publication of bronzeville boys and girls ( 1956 ), to realize that the whites remained indifferent to the problems of the blacks. after 1967, brooks published three volumes of poetry for children : alones, the tiger who wore white gloves, and children coming home. in aloness ( 1971 ), a reflective poem of fifty - one lines, brooks projects a child ' s experience of solitude. the drawings by leroy foster present an appealing little black boy. the nine postures of the boy are indicative of this none different moods. unlike bronzeville boys and girls, which is written in quatrains and couplets with rhyme, aloneness is written in free verse without rhyme. it is written from the point of view of the black boy, who defines loneliness as the pain of being alone : " loneliness means you want somebody. / you have not planned to stand somewhere with other people gone. / loneliness never has a brought color. perhaps it is gray " 1 - 3 _ ). as the speaker is a child, the images are simple. the child imagines that the couloirs of loneliness are " gray. " the implied idea is the child ' s association of the color of loneliness with the4 black people ' s collective loneliness in the racially oppressive america. the child defines aloneness / solitude as the pleasure of beings alone : " but aloneness is delicious " ( 9 ). he compares aloneness with " a red small apple " ( 12 ). then he turns to the image of a pond. aloneness is " like loving a pond in summer, " a simile that graphs the child ' s experience of place and time ( 15 ). nowhere does the poem mention about racial discrimination. but the poem is educational in tone. brooks ' s aim is to develop a positive sense of identity among blacks. while aloneness is in free verse, the tiger who wore white gloves or what you are you


does the poem mention about racial discrimination. but the poem is educational in tone. brooks ' s aim is to develop a positive sense of identity among blacks. while aloneness is in free verse, the tiger who wore white gloves or what you are you are is rhymed like " bronzeville boys and girls. " the poem is illustrated by the drawings of timothy jones. it is a beast fable. unlike aloneness, which is indirectly didactic, the tiger is directly didactic, offering strategies for survival. the title implies human folly. the tiger wears white gloves to be fashionable, but his companions ridicule his strange behavior. the theme is self - acceptance and pride : that tiger flock aqnd wisely wearing what ' s fiercr as the face. s not whitness and lace. ( 15 - 23 ) the " tiger " represents the black people. " whiteness " represents the spurious standards of beauty established by the whites. as a metaphor, " gloves " represents phenomena like the black people ' s return to hair - straightening, which, for brooks, means aping the white values. the idea is that black is that black people should develop their own attributes and esteem them. as a realist, brooks always portrays what the blacks experience in society. despite her commitment to black consciousness, she has not forgotten the continuous bleak experiences of the black - adults as well as children. the volume children coming home! 1991 ), brooks ' s children do not live in a romantic or an idealized world. they encounter social and economic injustices. in the prefatory poem, " after school, " brooks delineates the odds against children : * not all of the children * come home to cookies and coca. * one will be shot on his way home to warmth, wit and wisdom. [ t / o ] * one teacher mutters " my god, they are gone, " [ t / o ] * one is ripe to report ten people to the principal. [ t / o ] * one whispers " the little black bastards. " the poem attests to the simplicity of her poetry written after 1967. in this dramatic monologue, written in a child ' s voice, brooks has abandoned lyricism and rhyme, and " deliberately abandoning the formal virtuosity that characterized her earlier work, brooks represents children ' s voices through a seemingly simple, declarative method... ( flynnn494 ). the image of the innocent child exposes the evils of the social practices


virtuosity that characterized her earlier work, brooks represents children ' s voices through a seemingly simple, declarative method... ( flynnn494 ). the image of the innocent child exposes the evils of the social practices. brooks ' s intention behind the exposition is to make the children " seek out their own strength " ( 495 ). brooks. gwendolyn. bronzeville boys and girals. new york : harper, 1956. - - -. aloneness. dotroit : broadside, 1969. - - -. the near - johannesburg boy, and other poems. chicago : david, 1987. - - -. the tiger who wore white gloves : or you are what you are. chicago : third world. 1987. - - -. children coming home. cchicago : david, 1991 flynn, richard. ' the kindergarten of new consciousness ' : cwendolyon brooks and the social construction of childhood. " african american review 34. 3 ( 2000 ) : 483 - 99. melhem, d. h. gwendolyn brooks : poetry and the heroic voice. kentucky : up of kentucky, 1989. article source : http : / / www. saching. com / about author / additional info : comments on this article : ( 0 comments so far ) • affiliate marketing in clickbank and product promotional methods • used kitchen equipment - consider buying them at recycle shops • speech development of infants traced to their exposure to auditory feedback • the quest for excellence latest articles in " education " category : • adolescence educational problem and remedies • regulations and the future of trade and investment in cameroon • how to get good marks in exam • ensure harm to the client in electronic banking • education system in india. • the time to prepare is now for the next disaster • benefits of online english classes important disclaimer : all articles on this website are for general information only and is not a professional or experts advice. we do not own any responsibility for correctness or authenticity of the information presented in this article, or any loss or injury resulting from it. we do not endorse these articles, we are neither affiliated with the authors of these articles nor responsible for their content. please see our disclaimer section for complete terms. copyright © 2010 saching. com - do not copy articles from this website. | | home | disclaimer | xhtml | |


pageant of the popes, by john farrow,, at sacred - texts. com italy and france and spain all struggled to control the next conclave and the latter two powers did not hesitate to try and enlist the aid of caesar borgia. but happily the sinister creature was not as active at this important time as he could have been ; for he was yet weak from his illness. " i had counted on the death of my father and had made every preparation for it, " he lamented, " but it never occurred to me that i should have at the same time to fight death myself. " however he threw his influence to favor the candidate of the french king. but to thwart him there now returned to rome, after an exile of nearly ten years, the antagonist of his father, the experienced and veteran cardinal giuliano della rovere who, friendly though he himself had been with the french, warned the cardinals that if a frenchman were elected the papacy faced the danger of being returned to avignon. there seemed then every chance of a deadlock but this prospect was so distasteful to the sacred college that a name hitherto not mentioned was quickly presented and acclaimed and a month after alexander ' s death the cardinal francesco piccolomini, nephew of pius ii, became pope pius [ paragraph continues ] iii. he was sixty - four years old and was a hopeless invalid ; this latter circumstance was probably the real reason that won for him the votes of the conclave for his tenure was expected to be short. nor were the macabre expectations disappointed. he died in less than a month but during that brief time displayed much charity and kindness and announced reform to be his aim. there was no deadlock at the next conclave for by bargain and by bribe cardinal della rovere secured for himself thirty - seven of the thirty - eight votes in proceedings that did not extend a full day. after long years he had finally won the tiara and triumphantly taking the name of julius ii he set out to restore the strength and possessions of the papal states. this was no easy task, for alexander had left a sad confusion of debts and trouble, and great properties rightfully belonging to the church were in the clutches of his son. the republic of venice was noisily claiming romagna, spain was occupying sicily and naples, and the french, ever resolved to maintain a foothold in italy were willing to resort to arms against any who would oppose them. julius had been given a domain bankrupt in treasury and bereft of defence


of venice was informed, " it has been our steadfast purpose to restore to the church the territories of which she has been despoiled ; to this we hold fast, and shall ever do so... nothing shall induce us to desist from demanding the restitution of these places... therefore we again admonish your highness with all paternal kindness, and command you in the name of the lord to do freely and at once that which in justice you are bound to do. " the venetians were obstinate but in the end julius was victorious and the banner of the papal states was unfurled again over the coveted places. meanwhile the decline of [ paragraph continues ] caesar borgia was startlingly rapid and the man who had been so flamboyantly master of all italy soon found himself without friends or troops. julius placed him under a form of arrest and then he was released but only to be imprisoned again. after a captivity of two years he escaped and a few months later was killed whilst fighting with the army of his french brother - in - law. the intrepid and impatient pope would allow nothing to stand in the way of his plans and he marched with his troops and led them to victory at orvieto and perugia and urbino. other times the fortunes of war would turn but he was no poltroon and to the despair of less hardy members of his suite he would remain with the warriors, sharing their dangers and discomforts and inspiring them with example. to fit his policies he made and discarded allies as quickly as he made decisions and so the french were invited to assist him vanquish the venetians and in turn, when the french became too demanding, he enlisted the support of other nations including the venetians, to drive the french back to france. before his election he had promised the cardinals that they should have some rights of consultation but any projected opposition from this body was made ineffectual by the creation at various times of twenty - seven new cardinals. a few discontented wearers of the red hat were induced by two irate monarchs, louis xii of france and the emperor maximilian, to a foolish rebellion. both rulers, with designs of their own upon italy, were alarmed at the pope ' s attempts at independence and at their instigation the renegade cardinals convoked a council at pisa. the scheme was a pitiful failure. a small number of churchmen did finally assemble but the townspeople were so hostile that the pseudo - council was forced to adjourn


at their instigation the renegade cardinals convoked a council at pisa. the scheme was a pitiful failure. a small number of churchmen did finally assemble but the townspeople were so hostile that the pseudo - council was forced to adjourn and continue its futile mummery at another place. the world was weary of this brand of schism and the activities of the rebels never achieved importance save as a temporary annoyance to the pope. it might have been otherwise if the french had gained the final victory and indeed for a gloomy time it appeared they would. a series of brilliant successes were achieved by the soldiers of louis, aided by those of the emperor, and there was strong likelihood that rome would be sacked. further gloom came when the strain imposed upon the overworked pope had the expected result and he was stricken by an illness so grievous that the physicians pronounced his recovery impossible. arrangements were made for his funeral and a panic descended upon the city when the news was known. " never, " wrote the venetian ambassador, " has there been such a clang of arms round the death - bed of any former pope ; never has the danger been greater than it is now. may god help us! " to the amazement of all and to the dismay of his enemies the pope recovered and quickly restored order to rome with an iron hand. he was not yet discouraged and with typical determination he set out to win even at this apparently hopeless stage. and win he did for by extraordinary diplomatic skill he succeeded in inducing maximilian to withdraw his support and separate his troops from the french army. furthermore the emperor, suddenly alarmed at the prospect of a french - controlled italy, permitted swiss soldiers to pass through his dominions. the swiss had come in answer to the pope ' s pleas and it was they who decisively routed the french. a wild joy prevailed in rome and thunderous adulation was heard when julius returned to the vatican. " never, " reported the observant venetian envoy, " was any emperor or victorious general so honored on his entry into rome as the pope has been today. " julius ii. reigned 1503 to 1513. click to enlarge pope julius ii. this is the man who climbed up on the scaffolding to argue with michael angelo. see pages 229 to 235. no details seem to miss the attention of this prodigious worker. the vexations and colossal labors of his martial campaigns and political efforts did not hinder a keen interest in the establishment of the bishoprics in


pages 229 to 235. no details seem to miss the attention of this prodigious worker. the vexations and colossal labors of his martial campaigns and political efforts did not hinder a keen interest in the establishment of the bishoprics in the new world ; a legate from an important court, a soldier with news from the army, a missionary returned from a remote place, all alike received his rapt interest. laws and statutes were examined with meticulous care and the machinery of civil law was made less cumbersome. roads and bridges were built or repaired throughout the papal states and long needed measures were taken to protect the farmers and their crops from the avarice of the overlords and from the depredations of their soldiery. no matter how great the burden of his anxieties the pope somehow in the interest of his subjects found the time to write such letters as he wrote to one of his governors : " a citizen of bertinoro has complained to the pope that the castellan has taken wood from him and injured him in other ways. let the castellan and his abettors be punished without fail and take care that no harm comes to the complainant. " nor did the realm of art escape the interest of the amazing man. surpassed even were the examples of predecessors in this respect and his intense antipathy to all things connected with the borgia name did not prevent him from continuing with projects commenced in alexander ' s reign. bramanti, the architect, was given the task of rebuilding st. peter ' s basilica into a structure vast and magnificent and it was the beginning of the great edifice which stands today. michael angelo was called to rome and the world is aware of the splendid results produced by that inspired summons. the genius of rafael and the prowess of his gifted colleagues flowered under the warmth of papal encouragement and subsidy. julius had a rare sympathy for the artistic mind and he understood well, as he put it, " the humors of such men of genius. " when michael angelo had rushed from rome in a rage swearing that he would leave his work uncompleted an astonished and shocked official in florence told him, " you have behaved towards the pope in a way that the king of france himself would not have ventured upon. there must be an end of this. we are not going to be dragged into a war, and risk the whole state for you. go back to rome. " the obstinate artist took his time but finally returned and when he appeared before julius


there must be an end of this. we are not going to be dragged into a war, and risk the whole state for you. go back to rome. " the obstinate artist took his time but finally returned and when he appeared before julius a prelate thought to save him from the expected wrath by pleading, " your holiness should not be so hard on this fault of michael angelo ; he is a man who has never been taught good manners, these artists do not know how to behave, they understand nothing but their art. " the pope turned the full force of his anger upon the unfortunate cleric. " you venture, " he roared, " to say to this man things i should not have dreamt of saying. it is you who have not manners. get out of my sight, you miserable, ignorant clown. " from this time on there were no great differences between the pope and the great man of art, although there were many noisy arguments. court attendants would marvel at the sight of their formidable master abandoning all dignity and clambering up the dusty scaffolding which festooned the sistine chapel. a grimy hand to help him would be extended by the busy genius, sometimes irritated at being interrupted, and there the two would discuss the details and progress of the superb frescoes. after julius had secured temporal strength and independence and brought order and prosperity to the states of the church his restless mind became occupied with the gigantic problem of sorely needed church reform. he had already issued a pungent bull against simony in papal elections and now he assembled in rome, after a year of careful preparation, a heavily attended council of the church. by this time the exhausted and aged pontiff was nearing his end but what he wished to say was read by a cardinal. the congregated dignitaries of all nations were told frankly the critical time had come when drastic measures had to be taken to correct the dreadful state of church discipline. would that he had lived longer to employ the full force of his vigor on this project. but his time was run and he was soon on his death bed. even there the great, if imperfect pope, weakened though he was, behaved as his usual self, calmly giving the necessary instructions for his funeral, uttering measured words of farewell to his weeping friends, and arranging prayers to be said for his soul. he then died and " rome felt that the soul which had passed from her had been of royal mould, " recorded a friend. " i have lived forty years in this city, but never yet


and arranging prayers to be said for his soul. he then died and " rome felt that the soul which had passed from her had been of royal mould, " recorded a friend. " i have lived forty years in this city, but never yet have i seen such a vast throng at the funeral of any former pope. the guards were overpowered by the crowds insisting on kissing the dead man ' s feet. weeping they prayed for his soul, calling him a true pope and vicar of christ, a pillar of justice, a zealous promoter of the apostolic church, an enemy and queller of tyrants. " the bull against simony was read aloud at the next conclave and such elaborate precautions were taken to prevent the odious practice that no suspicion of this nature can darken the memory of the next pope, the thirty - eight year old giovanni de medici who became leo x. certainly a factor to contribute heavily to his winning the majority of the votes was his membership in the powerful florentine family : although it is true that his life was without scandal and it is also true that to fit him for high ecclesiastical rank he had received a special and comprehensive education from a carefully selected group of distinguished tutors. he was the son of one of the most strong and colourful figures of the renaissance, lorenzo de medici, the ruler of florence who was called the magnificent. at thirteen years of age he had been given the dignity of the cardinalate although up to the time of his elevation to the papacy the extent of his clerical progress was a deacon ' s orders. after receiving the acclaim of the conclave he was ordained priest, consecrated bishop two days later, and then solemnly and with splendor given the tiara on the steps of the now half demolished basilica of st. peter. the debris of the broken structure was a strangely fitting background for his coronation because the rebuilding of this edifice provided the incident which in this reign was to bring unparalleled sorrow and disaster to the catholic church. to provide the funds for the erection of the new st. peter ' s, indulgences were unfortunately offered for money and in germany an outraged augustinian friar protested vigorously by writing a series of ninety - five theses against such abuses and nailing his manuscript to the door of the castle church at wittenberg. the name of the friar was martin luther, the fateful day was the 31st of october 1517, and the historic and so tragically symbolic wielding of hammer against church door occurred in the fifth year of leo '


the castle church at wittenberg. the name of the friar was martin luther, the fateful day was the 31st of october 1517, and the historic and so tragically symbolic wielding of hammer against church door occurred in the fifth year of leo ' s reign. and it was an event which, while receiving instantaneous attention throughout germany, failed to cause alarm or immediate interest in rome. the storm had broken, the most critical time in the long history of the church had arrived, and there was nought but apathy on the part of the pope. absorbed in the unsavory intricacies of his politics and pleasures, leo failed to recognize the importance of luther ' s initial deed and there can be little excuse for his catastrophic lethargy. there was no lack of warning. for years past the clamor for reform within the church had been steadily increasing throughout europe and matching this spirit in growth and volume was contempt for ecclesiastical authority. at the council which his predecessor had inaugurated and which had continued on into his own reign, lengthy and complicated resolutions had been proposed and accepted ; but, as a layman who attended the council complained, " we have heard a great deal about the making of laws, but very little about their observance. " in many ways the new pope seemed to resemble alexander vi rather than julius. his family was enriched and given favours whenever possible and his court, thronged by artists and writers and frivolous noblemen, was that of a gay and youthful prince rather than that of the bishop of rome. the delights of the banqueting table, the amusements of dramatic pageants, the mummery of buffoons, the thrill of the hunting field, all these things occupied the time and interest of the man who was pope when luther began his attack and who, endowed with the tastes and principles of his family, wove a mesh of political activities which kept him continuously embroiled with the various rulers of europe. deceit and treachery were the habitual characteristics of this dangerous game as played by him and consequently when he tried to raise funds for the prosecution of a new crusade, the response from the nations was mostly a cynical indifference. a florentine statesman who frequently served and advised him was niccolo machiavelli whose name has endured as a synonym for subterfuge and intrigue of the basest type. so it was not unnatural that antipathy to rome fattened upon the lavish duplicity which was presented as papal diplomacy. the unreal


to commit the murder while attending the pontiff but fortunately for the latter, who trusted few men, a letter was intercepted and the evil scheme revealed. swift punishment came to the physician and to petrucci. both were executed along with a few accomplices, but the other guilty cardinals, perhaps because of the pope ' s charity or, more probably, because of the influence of powerful friends, were neither hung nor strangled but merely fined heavily, deprived of their electoral privileges, and banished from the city. such conditions brought strong discontent everywhere and particularly in germany where luther found willing audiences, not because of the soundness of his theology, but because of the appalling abuses permitted and practised by those whom he attacked. the traffic in benefices, the ceaseless appeals from rome for money, and the harsh fact that in germany most of the great bishoprics were possessed by scions of royalty and nobility, overshadowed the efforts of those who were desperately working for reform from within the church. such men there were but, as is common, virtues and good deeds were submerged beneath the vices and wrongdoings of the spectacularly wicked ; and despite the many examples of sincere vocations, the lamentable state of church discipline was a fact acknowledged and deplored on all sides. more and more the cupidity of the roman court was being resented and a steadily increasing spirit of nationalism was adding force to this feeling. " from his own dominion, " went the words of a widely circulated pamphlet, " streams of wealth flow in to the pope as to no other christian prince ; yet we have to pay for palliums, and send asses laden with gold to rome, and exchange gold for corn, and rest content with blood - lettingspardon me, i mean with indulgences! [ paragraph continues ] woe to this monster of avarice which is never satisfied! the craftiness of the florentine discovers a thousand devices, each one more execrable than the last. let german freedom be mindful not to become tributary, and not to pay tithes. " such sentiments as these were echoed vigorously by the type of humanists, extreme and violently anti - christian, who at this time possessed great influence in the german universities. their brand of philosophy frankly glorified paganism and of course viewed all activities of the church with repugnance and contempt. " the pope is a bandit, " wrote one of the leaders of this movement, " and the church is his army. " about