the movie " avatar " for the inhabitants of pandora, a fictional moon orbiting the gas giant prometheus. how the catalog was created the habitable exoplanets catalog sets up a matrix of 18 pigeonholes based on temperature and mass : planets in the hot zone would be too close to their parent suns for water to exist in liquid form. water would exist only as ice in the cold zone, but could take liquid form in the warm zone. the catalog sets up six categories of planetary mass : mercurians ( think mercury ), subterrans ( mars - size ), terrans ( earth - size ), superterrans ( up to 10 times as massive as earth ), neptunians ( neptune - size ) and jovians ( jupiter - size ). to figure out which planets fit which categories, the catalog draws upon a variety of resources, including the kepler database of candidates, the extrasolar planets encyclopaedia, the exoplanet data explorer, the earth similarity index, the habitable zones distance metric and the global primary habitability index. the initial classification of more than 1, 600 confirmed planets and yet - to - be - confirmed candidates puts only 16 potential worlds in the habitable categories — that is, warm subterrans, warm terrans and warm superterrans. but that list will grow : the kepler team announced today that its tally of candidates has risen to 2, 326, based on the first 16 months of the space telescope ' s mission. forty - eight of those candidates are said to lie in their stars ' habitable zones. " the tremendous growth in the number of earth - size candidates tells us that we ' re honing in on the planets kepler was designed to detect : those that are not only earth - size, but also are potentially habitable, " natalie batalha, kepler ' s deputy science team lead at san jose state university, said in a nasa news release. " the more data we collect, the keener our eye for finding the smallest planets out at longer orbital periods. " mendez and his colleagues are working on software to keep the habitable exoplanets catalog updated. " the computers are doing the job, " he told me. " i am trying to automate everything, but it takes time. " right now, the world in the database that ' s judged most similar to earth is a candidate known as koi 736. 01, which is 1, 750 light - years away and is


to automate everything, but it takes time. " right now, the world in the database that ' s judged most similar to earth is a candidate known as koi 736. 01, which is 1, 750 light - years away and is estimated to have a surface temperature of 55 degrees f ( 286 kelvin ). but the top prospect for surface habitability is koi 255. 01, a warm superterran that ' s 1, 169 light - years away with a surface temperature of 86 degrees f ( 303 k ). some researchers believe super - earths can be even more conducive to life than earth. gliese 581d, a world that orbits a red dwarf just 20 light - years from earth, shows up among the sweet 16 on both lists. the search revs up so what ' s next? " i hope this database will help increase interest in building a big space - based telescope to observe exoplanets directly and look for possible signatures of life, " jim kasting, a planetary scientist from penn state, said in the planetary habitability laboratory ' s news release. a habitability index could help scientists set the priorities for future observations, but they don ' t necessarily need to wait until a new super - space telescope is launched. during the kepler conference, the california - based seti institute announced that it was once again searching planetary systems for radio signals that could serve as evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. some of kepler ' s planetary candidates are among its first targets. " for the first time, we can point our telescopes at stars and know that those stars actually host planetary systems — including at least one that begins to approximate an earth analog in the habitable zone around its host star, " jill tarter, director of the institute ' s center for seti research, said in a news release. " that ' s the type of world that might be home to a civilization capable of building radio transmitters. " tarter and her colleagues makes use of the allen telescope array, a network of radio antennas in northern california that had to be put into hibernation due to money troubles. the seti institute was able to restart work at the array thanks to contributions made by the public through the setistars. org website, as well as funding from the u. s. air force to assess the array ' s utility for space situational awareness ( that is, monitoring the skies for hazardous asteroids and space debris ). tarter said the highest priority would be given to kepler


as well as funding from the u. s. air force to assess the array ' s utility for space situational awareness ( that is, monitoring the skies for hazardous asteroids and space debris ). tarter said the highest priority would be given to kepler planets that are located within their stars ' habitable zones. but the search for extraterrestrial intelligence won ' t stop there. " in seti, as with all research, preconceived notions such as habitable zones could be barriers to discovery, " she said. " so, with sufficient future funding from our donores, it ' s our intention to examile all of the planetary systems found by kepler. " more about the planet quest : - which alien worlds are most livable? - city lights could point to e. t. ' s home - super - earth on the ' edge of habitability ' - interactive : how scientists search for planets - astronomers find 18 alien planets, and they ' re huge connect with the cosmic log community by " liking " the log ' s facebook page, following @ b0yle on twitter and adding the cosmic log page to your google + presence. you can also check out " the case for pluto, " my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


a customized artificial jawbone built with a 3 - d printer has allowed an 83 - year - old woman to continue breathing, chewing, and chatting away, a team of european scientists announced. the first - of - a - kind jaw reconstruction was accomplished with a printing technique called laser melting where layers of a metallic powder are built up and fused together with a laser. in this case, the powder is titanium. once built, the entire artificial jawbone was coated with a type of ceramic that made it compatible with body tissue. university of hasselt a researcher holds up a replica of a lower jawbone that was created with 3 - d printer that was implanted in an 83 - year - old woman. the design, production and processing of the implant was done digitally in just two hours. other implant building methods can take up to two days, the university of hasselt in belgium noted. the rapid construction technique allowed the team to address a rapidly progressing infection in the woman ' s lower jaw that required complete removal of the bone in order to retain an open airway. they decided to go with the 3 - d printed jawbone for the sake of speed and functionality. other options would have led to either a non - functional lower jaw or required a lengthy surgery and recovery time. during surgery, the patient ' s deteriorating jawbone was removed and replaced with the custom implant. one day after the operation, she had normal function and was able to talk and swallow. the completed implant weighs about 107 grams, which is around 30 grams heavier than a natural bone, the team reported. the difference, they said, is manageable for the patient. in a statement, team member jules pouken from the university of hasselt likened the feat to man ' s first step on the moon : " a cautious, but firm step. " the team explained the procedure during a press conference in belgium on feb. 3. more images and details are available from the university of hasselt. only time will tell whether 3 - d printing will revolutionize the medical profession, but this feat marks rapid advancement in a field that seemed futuristic just a few months ago. more on 3 - d printing technology : - 3 - d printers may soon fix broken bones - robot spider crawls out of 3 - d printer - the wild possibilities of printing food - chocolate printer crafts sculptures from cocoa as the over - 65 population expands, new gadgets and systems will allow seniors to live at home and receive improved healthcare. from sleep - sensing beds to robots piloted by grandchildren


interesting case. from the wikipedia article, an average white dwarf has a mass of ~ 0. 6 msun and a radius of ~ 0. 015 rsun. if we want it to have the same effective temperature as the sun, and earth to end up with the same insolation, then the size a of the orbit is determined by the scaling relation originally posted by xibalba rsun ^ 2 / ( 1 au ) ^ 2 ~ ( 0. 015 rsun ) ^ 2 / a ^ 2 = = = > a ~ 0. 015 au ~ 2 * 10 ^ 9 m which is only five times the distance to the moon. tidal forces depend on mass and the inverse cube of distance, which gives us in terms of the lunar tidals : ftidal ~ ( ( 1. 2 * 10 ^ 30 kg ) / ( 7 * 10 ^ 22 kg ) ) / 5 ^ 3 ftidal | lunar ~ 1. 5 * 10 ^ 5 ftidal | lunar instead of a tidal bulge on the order of a metre, it would be on the order of 100 km. meaning that until tidal lock is achieved, the only permanent bodies of water would be lakes with sufficiently steep sides. anything with shallow sides, including the oceans, would lose its water to two big blobs which would do their best to remain stationary with respect to the new sun while the planet rotates along underneath them. i guess life better stays in those sealed bunkers for the duration. the ordinary scaling law for time to tidal lock is something like tlock ~ ( 10 ^ 10 years ) / ( ( trot in days ) ( ftidal / ftidal | lunar ) ^ 2 ) ~ ( 1 year ) / ( trot in days ) where trot is the original ( unlocked ) day - length with respect to the tide - inducing body. unless earth spins a lot faster upon capture than it does now, the result is on the order of 1 year. if, on the other hand, earth spins a lot slower, which seems like the more likely scenario to me, then the day - length would be mainly determined by the year - length, which works out on the order of 1 day ( as in 24 hours ), funnily enough. mind you, i ' m not sure if this situation might not be too extraordinary for the scaling relation to apply in that form. it assumes that the combination of atmospheric and ocean tides and planetary deformation is sufficient to actually dissipate rotational energy into heat at the maximal rate,


m not sure if this situation might not be too extraordinary for the scaling relation to apply in that form. it assumes that the combination of atmospheric and ocean tides and planetary deformation is sufficient to actually dissipate rotational energy into heat at the maximal rate, which seems questionable. assuming that it does, the power output would be vast : ptidal ~ erot / tlock ptidal ~ ( 1 / 2 i w ^ 2 ) / ( ( 1 year ) / ( trot in days ) ) ptidal ~ ( 1 / 2 ( 2 / 5 m r ^ 2 ) ( ( 2 pi ) / trot ) ^ 2 ) / ( ( 1 year ) * ( 1 day ) / trot ) ptidal ~ ( 7 * ( 6 * 10 ^ 24 kg ) * ( 6 * 10 ^ 6 m ) ^ 2 ) / ( ( 3 * 10 ^ 7 s ) * ( 10 ^ 5 s ) * trot ) ptidal ~ ( 5 * 10 ^ 26 kg m ^ 2 / s ^ 2 ) / trot ptidal ~ lsun / ( trot in seconds ) i ' m not sure where all these numerical coincidences come from, but that aside, it does give one quite a good sense of scale : the earth has about one ten - thousandth the surface of the sun, and trot should be on the order of one hundred thousand, so for the earth to dissipate that amount of power, it would have to output only one order of magnitude less power per unit surface than the sun does. since black - body power output scales with t ^ 4, that means more than half the temperature of the sun. and as rock begins to melt by as little as 1, 000 k, this would directly liquify the upper portions of the planet. assuming the interior has been frozen solid in the interim, one ends up with a sort of inverted planet whose surface is hotter than its core. in the long run, what is of more practical import is that this might just be hot enough to boil away ( away as in all the way into space ) all of our water, even in as little as that one year we ' re talking about. as i said, the planet might well not actually have the capacity to dissipate power at that rate, so things might not get quite that bad. the price for that, though, would be a longer time to lock, so the not - quite - that - bad conditions would last a lot longer. conclusion : unless the planet is already


we have long known that many of our customers have had success growing peonies in the warmer parts of usda zone 8 and 9. however due to the extreme and unprecedented conditions seen in some areas of these zones in the last two years, we recently contacted some very experienced growers in these parts of the country for some concrete advice on getting peonies to thrive there. if you grow any types of peonies in zone 8 or 9 and would like to add to our growing advice, we would love to hear from you! growing peonies in dallas, tx ( usda zone 8 ) typical bloom time : late february to early march for tree peonies. herbaceous peonies begin to flower around april 1st. recommend types of peonies to grow : growers have had success with all types of peonies, tree, herbaceous and intersectional. ( intersectional peonies are also known as itoh hybrids. ) the last two brutal summers have had extreme weather conditions. in the 2011 drought and 2012 ′ s unprecedented heat wave, all plants have suffered. one gardener reported that over the last two summers, many plants in her well established gardens failed to survive the stress. these include hydrangeas, modern rose hybrids, and some tree peonies. tree peonies which had thrived for 6 - 7 years in the ground died due to drought related stress. however, this very experienced gardener reported that her ‘ snow lotus ‘ tree peony has done exceptionally well despite the drought. in fact, she said that it is the only tree peony which she would unequivocally recommend for gardeners in her area. her specimen is nearing 10 years old, is 4. 5 ′ tall and produced 26 blossoms last year. it makes sense that ‘ snow lotus, ’ which is a cultivated variety of the wild species paeonia rockii is more drought and stress tolerant that other types of tree peonies which have been hybridized under more favorable growing conditions. the native range of p. rockii is northwestern china, particularly in gansu province, a very arid region which averages just 12 ” of rain a year! this is less than half of the rainfall which dallas, tx received in the drought of 2011. growers in hot, arid parts of the country interested in growing tree peonies are then recommended to consider the rockii or gansu chinese tree peonies. some of our favorites include : cup of shining night, black tornado, blue jade in three colors,


, arid parts of the country interested in growing tree peonies are then recommended to consider the rockii or gansu chinese tree peonies. some of our favorites include : cup of shining night, black tornado, blue jade in three colors, purple butterfly in the wind and pink lotus. herbaceous peonies do not pose any special challenges and are widely grown in this area. best planting time : either november - december, or late january - february. site selection : its best to plant peonies in warmer climates so that they receive a little protection against very hot summer afternoon sun. as we recommend for all planting zones, morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. if this is not possible, than plant peonies near a large shrub so that they are afforded a little protection from the very hot sun. watering : in spring and summer, at least two deep waterings a week with supplemental drinks in between as necessary. this is doubly important for newly planted peonies. pests and diseases : nothing significant. other tips : remove any remaining tree peony leaves in the beginning of november. for herbaceous peonies, cut foliage to the ground at this time as well. when planting herbaceous peonies make sure that the ‘ eyes ’ or buds are basically at the surface with only a very lite layer of soil or mulch covering them. peonies in northern california ( usda zone 8b to 9 ) typical bloom time : the following detailed bloom sequence was observed over the course of a decade in sebastopol, ca. - p. tenuifolia and assocaited hybrids such as ‘ early scout ‘ bloom in late february to early march - chinese tree peonies in mid - march - japanese tree peonies and p. lutea in early april - interesectional peonies peak from may 1st - 10th - p. lactiflora type herbaceous peonies from mid - may to early june. recommend types of peonies to grow : consult a detailed zone map, such as sunset ’ s magazine garden zone guide for more accurately determining your planting zone. this index is much more detailed than the usda ’ s zones. for instance, both san francisco and sebastopol, ca are both classified as usda zone 8. however, while tree and interesectional peonies do well in san francisco without any special attention, herbaceous peonies are a challenge there. just a little north, and still within the same


both classified as usda zone 8. however, while tree and interesectional peonies do well in san francisco without any special attention, herbaceous peonies are a challenge there. just a little north, and still within the same usda planting zone in sebastopol. in addition to tree and intersectional peonies, the majority of herbaceous peonies are proven to grow very well, with the exception of some very late season varieties. we have heard from a gardener who has good success growing the earlier blooming types of herbaceous peonies in san francisco. her trick is to empty a bag of ice on top of her dormant plants once a week in december and early january. this gives the plants the necessary chill time to bloom. best planting time : late november to early february. site selection : planting in a half - sun / half shade location is ideal. in sunnier locations, peony leaves will become scalded in the summer. in the warmer areas of zone 9, work with micro - climates within your garden to find cooler planting areas. planting in cold air pockets such as at the base of hills can extend the growing range. watering : in zone 8b one or two deep waterings per week in the summer as necessary. take special care of newly planted peonies. in the warmer parts of zone 9, late spring, summer and early autumn irrigation is required. this is best accomplished by hand or drip irrigation at approximately one gallon per plant every other day with good drainage. mulching aids in decreasing evaporation loss. pests and diseases : march rain can cause botrytis outbreaks. based on the amount of rain, several treatments with either actionovate or copper - sulfate may be necessary. gophers do not eat peony roots, however they will eat nearly every other root in the garden. their tunnels can damage peony roots. other tips : force dormancy on intersectional and herbaceous peonies by cutting them to the ground in november. remove any remaining leaves for tree peonies at this time as well, be careful not to cut the woody stems, remove only the leaves and leaf stems. trimming the leaves off mimics the deciduous leaf drop in colder areas and cycles the plant into producing new flower buds. peonies must have a rest period without foliage.


the article i linked to entitled improving the reading rate of low performers and is loaded with insights regarding the teaching of lower performers. the frustration of slow readers trying to improve the reading rate of very low performers can be a frustrating experience for both learner and teacher. the learner typically knows that the goal is to read faster, without making a flurry of mistakes, and the learner tries, but the added effort most frequently leads to word guessing, word skipping, word stuttering, and to greatly increased physical signs of high energy, such as clenching their fists, taking deep breaths, and even sweating. the student knows how to try hard physically and thatʼs what he does. but it doesnʼt work for reading faster. what teachers observe the teacher may also notice that the studentʼs performance is not predictable from one day to the next. the typical pattern is for the learner to perform “ better ” on one day, and be very happy with his performance and the praise the teacher issues, but almost certainly, he reverts to his old habits on the next day and does poorly. the teacher often concludes from observations that whatever it is that causes improvement is there one day and gone the next. the bottom - line conclusion is that something is wrong with the learnerʼs learning mechanisms. this conclusion is thoughtful and comes after the teacher has tried different approaches for improving rate - accuracy. the basic rule teachers need an approach that permits students to show them through their reading behavior how much and how fast they can improve. the basic rule is that if students are properly motivated to read faster and donʼt, the reason is they canʼt. students respond logically we donʼt want the task of learning to read a little faster to become an effort like sisyphus trying to roll the rock out of the pit but never succeeding. this step is built around the fact that students respond to data. they are realistic. they know when they are failing and when they are progressing. if they receive good evidence they are doing well, and meeting reasonable expectations, they will keep trying and persist when they regress or when the material they read becomes a little more difficult. if they canʼt see evidence of progress, they will tend to draw a conclusion we donʼt want them to draw — “ i am a failure ; i canʼt do it. ” the article describes the new program in detail and can be used by classroom teachers now, so there ' s no need to wait to use it.


back in the day, say twenty years ago, the darwinists were saying the sea level rise because of the end of the ice age occurred circa 10000 b. c., conveniently in line with plato ’ s report that atlantis went under at 9600 b. c. incidentally, yet atlantis has been said by the darwinists to be nonsense, no huge island in the atlantic, but was it that, or the coastlines of the western mediterranean and eastern atlantic, as plato did indeed say, with the atlantean plain of his report the plain of southern spain south of the sierra nevada and morena mountains, where were the richest mines in the ancient world? bank it, the mountains of southern spain were the big source of the mineral riches for atlantis, with her coastal ruins now submerged off tarifa ( place of tariffs ), ceuta, zahara de los atunes, cadiz ( named after gades ), rota ( named after ashteroth ), and chipiona, all of spain, and ruins submerged in the gibraltar area off morocco, and other submerged ruins west to scilly off cornwall england, and east to the submerged ruins off sleima, malta, and reports even off western italy, the eastern edge of the historical atlantean empire wrote plato, submerged since the end of the ice age, which clearly ended much later than the darwinists are telling us, unless you want to believe the bronze age extended back to 10000 b. c., like the movie? the pressure is on the darwinists because of the submerged ruins, they ’ ve begun to admit that “ some ” of the end of ice age sea level rise occurred much later than 10000 b. c., but how much they can ’ t seem to decide, for they know the evidence is that the ice age ended rapidly, with catastrophic meltwater flooding and the entombment of millions of mammoths in mud then frozen in the north, and the evidence today of underfit river valleys, that the rivers ’ flows were much greater in the past, greater than the flows during the ice age even, with the end of the ice age snowmelt, at least in the rivers which sourced from the ice age snowpack regions, such as the mississippi and the volga. and be certain to see http : / / genesisveracityfoundation. com.


the name is derived from the word was saaffat with which the sura begins. the subject matter and the style show that this sura probably was sent down in the middle of the makkan period or perhaps in the last stage of the middle makkan period. the style clearly indicates that antagonism is raging strong in the background and the holy prophet and his companions are passing through very difficult and discouraging circumstances. the dishelievers of makkah have been severely warned for their attitude of mockery and derision with which they were responding to the holy prophet ' s message of tauhid and the hereafter and for their utter refusal to accept and acknowledge his claim to prophethood. in the end, they have been plainly warned that the prophet whom they are mocking and ridiculing will overwhelm them in spite of their power and pelf and they will find the army of allah encamping in the very courtyards of their houses ( vv. 171 - 179. this notice was given at a time when there appeared no chance whatever of the holy prophet ' s success and triumph. the muslims ( who have been called allah ' s army in these verses ) were being made the target of severe persecution. three - fourths of their population had already emigrated and hardly 40 to 50 of the companions were left with the holy prophet in makkah who were experiencing all sorts of the excesses with utter helplessness. under such circumstances, in view of the apparent conditions, no one could believe that the holy prophet and the handful of his ill equipped companions would ultimately attain dominance. the people rather thought that the new movement would end and be buried in the ravines of makkah. but hardly 15 to 16 years had passed when on the conquest of makkah precisely the same thing happened of which the disbelievers had been forewarned. along with administering warnings, allah in this surah has done full justice also to the theme of inducement and instruction in a balanced way. brief but impressive arguments have been given about the validity of the doctrines of tauhid and the hereafter. criticism has been made of the creed of the mushrikin to show the absurdity of their beliefs ; they have been informed of the evil consequences of their deviations, which have been contrasted with the splendid results of the faith and righteous acts. then, in continuation of the same, precedents from past history have been cited to show how allah had been treating his prophets and their followers


evil consequences of their deviations, which have been contrasted with the splendid results of the faith and righteous acts. then, in continuation of the same, precedents from past history have been cited to show how allah had been treating his prophets and their followers : how he has been favouring his faithful servants and punishing their deniers and rejectors. the most instructive of the historical narratives presented in this surah is the important event of the pious life of the prophet abraham, who became ready to sacrifice his only son as soon as he received an inspiration from allah. in this there was a lesson not only for the disbelieving quraish, who waxed proud of their blood relationship with him, but also for the muslims who had believed in allah and his messenger. by narrating this event they were told what is the essence and the real spirit of islam, and how a true believer should be ready to sacrifice his all for the pleasure and approval of allah after he has adopted it as his faith and creed. the last verses of the surah were not only a warning for the disbelievers but also a good news for the believers who were passing through highly unfavourable and discouraging conditions on account of their supporting and following the holy prophet. in these verses they were given the good news that they should not be disheartened at the hardships and difficulties they had to encounter in the beginning, for in the end they alone would attain dominance, and the standard bearers of falsehood, who appeared to be dominant at the time would be overwhelmed and vanquished at their hands. a few years later the turn the events took, proved that it was not an empty consolation but an inevitable reality of which they had been foretold in order to strengthen their hearts.


sci - tech : the wondrous world of science understanding ‘ chicken talk ’ having contented birds is the desire of every poultry farmer, as that translates directly to higher productivity. the degree of contentment of chickens can be judged by the sounds they make. modern computer technologies are now being used to decipher the various sounds and gauge the extent of contentment from them. scientists at the georgia institute of technology and the university of georgia have teamed up to examine various sounds and scientifically determine the level of stress in an experimental chicken barn. different levels of stress were first created by increasing the temperature in the barn or spraying various levels of ammonia and recording the various sounds produced, thereby developing correlations between stress levels and the nature of sounds. the volume and pitch of the sounds as well as the speed at which they are repeated are then analysed by computers after they have been recorded. the work is aimed at developing an automated software that will continuously monitor and determine stress levels within chicken barns through a real time audio - feed. specific problems would be automatically detected and the situation rectified through a control system in a timely manner without the need of human intervention. this should result in increased productivity and profitability for the farmers. hover cars — and cars of tomorrow the german automobile manufacturer volkswagen has built a prototype of the car of the future that will travel while hovering above the road on a cushion of air, never touching it. the “ hover car ”, as it is called, is the result of an initiative launched by the german company in china, known as the “ people ’ s car project ” ( pcp ). ideas about novel cars were invited and some 33 million persons visited the website. as a result 119, 000 new and novel ideas were submitted. from them, the hover car is one of the three ideas that were selected by volkswagen to actually build prototypes. another related development in cars was to use a compressed air cylinder to power a car instead of a combustion engine. india ’ s auto giant tata motors had acquired the license to manufacture this car from motor development international ’ s ( mdi ) in luxembourg in 2007 and the project has now entered its second final phase. the kevlar cylinder in the car will need to be filled with compressed air, that will carry it for 200 - 300 kilometres before a refill is again needed. the cost of running it will be a fraction of that for running normal combustion engines. meanwhile, work on improving engine efficiencies continues. the husband and wife team of john


it for 200 - 300 kilometres before a refill is again needed. the cost of running it will be a fraction of that for running normal combustion engines. meanwhile, work on improving engine efficiencies continues. the husband and wife team of john and helen taylor are known for being “ the world ’ s most fuel efficient couple ” because they have already won 40 world records for fuel efficient cars. now they have another record — the longest distance travelled of 2, 616 kilometres ( fuel efficiency of 84. 1 miles per gallon ). the record was set while driving a stock 2012 volkswagen passat. with growing global water shortages and decreasing availability of cultivable land caused by the huge increases in the world population ( that has now crossed seven billion ), scientists are constantly striving to come up with more new efficient ways of growing food plants. these plants should have higher productivity but need lower amounts of water, fertilizer, nutrients and pesticides to grow. an interesting solution to the problem has been found by the purdue university researcher burkhard schulz. he has discovered that a certain chemical can be used to reduce the size of the plant without reducing the yield. schulz found that propiconazole, a common fungicide, can be used to create smaller and sturdier corn plants that produce more kernels but consume less water, fertilizer and nutrients to grow. the fungicide is claimed to be harmless to humans as it is commonly sprayed on golf courses to treat fungal dollar spot disease. the chemical works by disrupting steroid production in the plants, responsible for their growth. buildings that clean the environment the museum of modern art ( moma ) is in the process of setting up an outdoor architectural project at queens in new york that will pluck pollutants from the air while providing shade, shelter and water. the technology has been developed by the us architectural firm hwkn. the project, known as wendy, employs a fascinating architecture with spikes protruding at different angles with an external fabric skin treated with nano - particles of titanium dioxide that capture and neutralise pollutants. it has been claimed that each such installation would be equivalent to removing the pollution caused by 260 cars on the roads. such “ environmentally friendly shelters ” installed along the roads may be tomorrow ’ s answers to reducing road pollution.


academic integrity is of the utmost importance at deerfield academy and must be one of the guiding principles in the life of every student. at the core of academic integrity is a bond of trust between teacher and student. by affixing his / her name to a piece of work, students pledge that, unless properly cited, the work is entirely their own. academic dishonesty in all its various forms is broad and complex, and no policy on academic integrity can list and describe every possible transgression. the academy expects that each student will work to understand this complexity and will adhere to the highest standards of honesty. if there is doubt about the guidelines for academic integrity, students should discuss questions with a teacher. plagiarism is the use of another person ’ s ideas or work without proper acknowledgment. the source of the plagiarized material may, for instance, be another student ’ s paper, an encyclopedia, a scholarly text, or an internet site ; the source does not change the degree or seriousness of the plagiarism. plagiarism usually occurs in two forms : 1 ) copying and 2 ) receiving outside writing help. the first form of plagiarism ( copying ) may consist of the following : - copying or gaining any other advantage from another student during a quiz, test, or examination situation - exact copying of an author ’ s text without the use of quotation marks - using an author ’ s words, sentences, or passages — even with omissions or changes in wording — without proper acknowledgment - using an author ’ s argument or points from an argument without proper acknowledgment the second form of plagiarism occurs when students receive unacknowledged help in preparing an assignment. such outside help includes proofreading, editing, and assistance from, but not limited to, parents, proctors, tutors, or classmates. while students are encouraged to discuss assignments with faculty and other students, all writing should be a student ’ s own. again, when in doubt, students should acknowledge any help they receive. a student will receive a failing grade for any assignment in which plagiarism occurs. in order to ensure adherence to this policy and to resolve questions of authorship, the academy reserves the right to electronically screen papers and other submitted work for authenticity. if ever in doubt, students should speak with their teachers and document their sources. resubmission of work ( submission of the same work for two courses ) when a


- national scientific council on the developing child - national forum on early childhood policy and programs - global children ' s initiative - frontiers of innovation - science of health and development initiative - students, education and leadership development advancing the science of learning, health, and behavior the center ' s distinguished scholars lecture series is open to all university students, faculty, and the general public and provides a venue to interact with distinguished scholars whose creative research has made significant advances in the field of child development. this series spotlights these leaders ’ bold contributions to the science of child development and the implications of their research on the worlds of education, policy, public health, medicine, justice, and economic development. the series analyzes how their research catalyzes new ways of thinking across disciplines to inform policy and practice. the neurobiology of social behavior development pat levitt, ph. d. science director, national scientific council on the developing child provost professor of neuroscience, psychiatry & pharmacy ; director of the neuroscience graduate program at the keck school of medicine, university of southern california tuesday, april 9, 2013 ; 4 : 30 - 6 : 30 p. m. boylston hall, harvard yard jack p. shonkoff, m. d. julius b. richmond famri professor of child health and development, harvard school of public health and harvard graduate school of education professor of pediatrics, harvard medical school and boston children ' s hospital director, center on the developing child at harvard university this lecture was co - sponsored with the conte center at harvard university, and was free and open to the public. a video recording of this lecture will be available on this page in the coming weeks. humans are highly interactive socially, and early in life must learn the meaning of cues in their environment that are essential for developing social skills and controlling emotions. but not all individuals develop these skills to the same extent. there are striking individual differences in the quality of social behavior in typically developing children and in those with neurodevelopmental disorders. there is also great diversity in the quality of social behavior across — and within — other species. but how does social behavior develop? improved understanding of this developmental process can help us identify children who are at greater risk for a range of poor outcomes in school, at work, and in building healthy relationships with others — and to design innovative approaches that positively influence the development of social skills. this presentation focused on research that examines the development of social behavior in humans and animals and how it relates to certain types of early learning, and discussed how the research


relationships with others — and to design innovative approaches that positively influence the development of social skills. this presentation focused on research that examines the development of social behavior in humans and animals and how it relates to certain types of early learning, and discussed how the research can chart a way forward to better understanding of the biological basis for individual differences. pat levitt, ph. d., received his undergraduate degree from the university of chicago and his ph. d. in neuroscience from the university of california, san diego. he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at yale university. dr. levitt has held leadership positions at several medical schools, including associate dean of graduate studies at the medical college of pennsylvania, chairman of the department of neurobiology at the university of pittsburgh school of medicine and director of the vanderbilt kennedy center for research on human development. named a mcknight foundation scholar in 2002, dr. levitt also was a merit awardee from the national institute of mental health and recently completed his term as a member of the national advisory mental health council for the national institute of mental health. he is an elected fellow of the american association for the advancement of science ( aaas ), and the dana alliance for brain initiatives. he serves as science director of the national scientific council on the developing child and director of the marino autism research institute. he is a member of a number of scientific advisory boards for foundations and university programs, and also is a member of six editorial boards of basic and clinical neuroscience journals. dr. levitt ’ s research focuses on the development of brain architecture that controls learning, emotional and social behavior. his human genetics and basic research studies focus on understanding the causes of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, and how genes and the environment together influence typical and atypical development. dr. levitt has published over 225 scientific papers and is a frequently invited speaker at national and international scientific seminars and conferences. he also is an avid participant in business and policy forums that promote investments in the health and education of brain and child development. dr. levitt presents to state legislatures and to business groups, and in 2007, he spoke at the summit on america ’ s children for house majority leader nancy pelosi. past lecture series


see also : origin of ancient chinese horses from ancient dna anim genet. doi : 10. 1111 / j. 1365 - 2052. 2009. 01950. x multiple maternal origins of native modern and ancient horse populations in china lei cz, su r, bower ma, edwards cj, wang xb, weining s, liu l, xie wm, li f, liu ry, zhang ys, zhang cm, chen h. summary to obtain more knowledge of the origin and genetic diversity of domestic horses in china, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial dna ( mtdna ) d - loop sequence diversity from nine horse breeds in china in conjunction with ancient dna data and evidence from archaeological and historical records. a 247 - bp mitochondrial d - loop sequence from 182 modern samples revealed a total of 70 haplotypes with a high level of genetic diversity. seven major mtdna haplogroups ( a - g ) and 16 clusters were identified for the 182 chinese modern horses. in the present study, nine 247 - bp mitochondrial d - loop sequences of ancient remains of bronze age horse from the chifeng region of inner mongolia in china ( c. 4000 - 2000a bp ) were used to explore the origin and diversity of chinese modern horses and the phylogenetic relationship between ancient and modern horses. the nine ancient horses carried seven haplotypes with rich genetic diversity, which were clustered together with modern individuals among haplogroups a, e and f. modern domestic horse and ancient horse data support the multiple origins of domestic horses in china. this study supports the argument that multiple successful events of horse domestication, including separate introductions of wild mares into the domestic herds, may have occurred in antiquity, and that china cannot be excluded from these events. indeed, the association of far eastern mtdna types to haplogroup f was highly significant using fisher ' s exact test of independence ( p = 0. 00002 ), lending support for chinese domestication of this haplogroup. high diversity and all seven mtdna haplogroups ( a - g ) with 16 clusters also suggest that further work is necessary to shed more light on horse domestication in china.


other american holidays the bohn collection also contains menus celebrating uniquely american holidays — lincoln ’ s birthday, washington ’ s birthday, and the 4th of july — with their colorful graphics matching the theme of the event. the celebration of george washington and abraham lincoln ’ s birthdays on february 22 and 12 respectively was incorporated into formal banquets held in grand hotels in a number of american cities in the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century. both men held hero - like status among the american public, with washington revered as the “ father of our country ” and lincoln ’ s leadership during the war between the states and his tragic death ensuring his immortality. in fact, some lincoln menus in the collection also featured quotes from the late president as well as patriotic songs of the period honoring his work. menus honoring washington and lincoln typically featured special desserts that celebrated the honoree. patrons might dine on “ game pie a l ’ independence ” before they sampled sweet dishes such as “ washington cream cake, ” “ washington roll with cognac sauce, ” or “ valley forge ice cream ” when celebrating the birthday of our first president. those diners perusing a menu in celebration of lincoln ’ s birthday might quench their thirst with “ log cabin punch ” before digging into a dish of “ lincoln pudding. ” both types of menus featured a dessert specialty called “ washington pie ” but there is no indication as to whether it contained cherries, a fruit indelibly associated with the president who could not tell a lie. some july 4th menus featured dishes with a patriotic theme as well. a menu from the hotel savoy in kansas city, missouri, allowed diners to chose from among dishes such as “ broiled mackinaw trout style 1776 with potatoes saratoga, ” “ spring lamb chops a la w. j. bryan ” ( showing their political colors in support of the 1900 democratic candidate for president ), and “ martha washington pudding ” with a lemon cream sauce for dessert.


support common core literacy with electronic resources what ’ s the key to student success? reading! the state library electronic resources can help students become college and career ready and help teachers implement common core literacy standards by providing access to online encyclopedias, journals, ebooks and more. for example, the reading standards for informational text emphasize the special skills needed when reading for factual information, whether for school or personal interest, in all formats. world book online offers help in this area by providing read aloud, videos, and article subheadings to help readers stay on track. articles also give links to other articles or supplemental material if readers want more information. sirs discoverer, sirs issues researcher, and proquest provide informational articles about a broad variety of topics. issues researcher has read aloud and research tools to help students process what they read, especially “ my analysis ” and “ note organizer. ” special features in discoverer and issues researcher include maps and interactive websites. proquest helps researchers narrow their topics by suggesting topics and giving limiters such as date and format. gale virtual reference library provides access to selected multi - volume titles in many subject areas. recently added titles that support common core reading and research are titles like the nine volume junior worldmark encyclopedia of world cultures, the four volume encyclopedia of foods and recipes of the world and the five - volume encyclopedia of native american tribes. the south dakota state library ’ s e - resources, available at library. sd. gov, can help your students meet common core literacy standards and enhance learning for all ages. the state library electronic resources coordinators are available to provide training to your staff either in person or online. contact the state library at ( 800 ) 423 - 6665 or either of the electronic resources coordinators : jane healy at ( 605 ) 295 - 3174 or julie erickson or ( 605 ) 295 - 1994.


dragons are creatures with nearly unlimited life spans. they can survive for long periods of time, and no one has found a dragon that has died of old age. adolescence is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling ’ s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. once they hit adolescence, hatchlings change quickly, maturing to their full forms in only 2 years. dragons don ’ t communicate with each other verbally, but they will growl to scare off predators and frighten prey. young dragons will emit an extremely high - pitched squeal when they are frightened. to communicate, they use telepathy with each other and to speak to other creatures. ridgewing dragons live just below the snow level on the upper slopes of mountains. they are a friendly, playful breed and enjoy dancing in wind currents near their homes or plummeting down into valleys from great heights. their wings, by far their most striking feature, grow in fin - like ridges along their backs. while their bodies lack markings to blend better with their surroundings, a ridgewing ’ s wings have bright markings in the colors of the flowers that grow in their mountain habitat. occasionally different - colored individuals can be found, but they are rare because their striking coloring offers little protection.


natural lawn care | healthy lawn basics new reel lawn mowers tips for sustainable lawn care natural lawn care supplies connect with us email newsletter : sign up | lawns do more than make your yard look good. lawns absorb water, which helps reduce storm runoff and improve water quality. lawns also have a significant cooling effect, provide oxygen, trap dust and dirt, promote healthful micro - organisms, prevent erosion and filter rainwater contaminants. | lawn care, however, has come at a high cost to the environment. according to the u. s. national wildlife federation : | much of the environmental cost associated with lawn care can be avoided. the only way to reduce a dependence on chemical fertilizers is to develop a healthy lawn, which is naturally resistant to weeds, insects and diseases. if you need to fertilize your lawn more than once a year, consider these ways of improving the natural health of your lawn : improve the soil the first step is to test the soil ' s ph - it should read between 6. 5 and 7. 0, which is slightly acidic. soil that is too acidic will need a sprinkling of lime ; sulfur can be added to soil which is not acidic enough. you can buy a ph tester ( see below, this page ) for $ 40 - $ 60. another solution is to have your soil tested professionally ; first call your extension office - they often provide soil testing as a free service. lawns grow best in loamy soils that have a mix of clay, silt and sand. too much clay in the soil mix, or heavy use, can compact the soil and prevent air and nutrient flow. compacted soil may need aeration, a process of lifting small plugs of turf to create air spaces in the soil. for best results, rent an aerator or hire a lawn service to do the job - this will remove " finger size " plugs which improves aeration. aeration is best done before top dressing and fertilizing. organic matter, such as compost and grass clippings, will benefit any type of soil ; it lightens soil which is heavy in clay, and it builds humus in sandy soils, which helps retain water and nutrients. some lawn mowers are equipped with mulching attachments which break up the clippings and disperse them as you mow. choose a locally adapted grass grasses vary in the type of climate they prefer, the amount of water and nutrients required, shade tolerance and the


are equipped with mulching attachments which break up the clippings and disperse them as you mow. choose a locally adapted grass grasses vary in the type of climate they prefer, the amount of water and nutrients required, shade tolerance and the degree of wear they can withstand. ask your local garden center to recommend grass which is best adapted to your area. 3. mow often, but not too short giving your lawn a " marine cut " is not doing it a favor. surface roots become exposed, the soil dries out faster and surface aeration is reduced. as a general rule, don ' t cut off more than one - third of the grass at any one time. most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2. 5 and 3. 5 " tall. when the lawn is finished growing for the season, cut it a bit shorter to about 2 ". this will minimize the risk of mold buildup during winter. 4. water deeply but not too often thorough watering encourages your lawn to develop deep root systems which make the lawn hardier and more drought - resistant. let the lawn dry out before re - watering ; as a rule of thumb, the color should dull and footprints should stay compressed for more than a few seconds. when watering, put a cup in the sprinkler zone ; it should get at least one inch ( 2. 5cm ) water. most healthy lawns require only 1 " of water per week. the best time for watering is early morning - less water will be lost to evaporation. ideally, it ' s better to water the first half - inch or so, then wait for an hour or two before watering the second half - inch. 5. control thatch build - up thatch is the accumulation of above - soil runners, propagated by the grass. this layer should be about 1 / 2 " ( 1. 25cm ) on a healthy lawn, and kept in balance by natural decomposition, earthworms and microorganisms. too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. before resorting to renting a dethatcher, however, effort should be made to improve aeration to control thatch buildup. aeration brings microorganisms to the surface that will eat most of the thatch. if you don ' t aerate, the roots stay near the surface, contributing to thatch buildup. when you aerate once a year it breaks down the thatch, allowing the roots to get deeper in


eat most of the thatch. if you don ' t aerate, the roots stay near the surface, contributing to thatch buildup. when you aerate once a year it breaks down the thatch, allowing the roots to get deeper in the soil. this leads to thicker grass which naturally kills weeds too. while a dethatcher will reduce thatch buildup, it can strip and thin the grass so much it reduces competition for weeds allowing them to germinate easier. you can also reduce thatch with a steel rake. for different grass types how long can you wait between waterings before the lawn starts to go brown? 12 - 21 days : bahia grass, buffalo gass, bermuda grass, st. augustine grass, centipede grass 8 - 12 days : carpet grass, fine fescue, kikuyu grass, seashore paspalum, tall fescue, zoysia 5 - 7 days : ryegrass, kentucky bluegrass, bentgrass the fine - leaved fescues ( grass blades ) as well as the " common " types of kentucky bluegrasses, such as park and kenblue, require less water, fertilizer and cutting than turf - type perennial ryegrass or many of the newer " improved " types of kentucky bluegrass. source : university of georgia, college of agricultural and environmental sciences ' next - generation ' reel lawn mowers times have changed. push mowers ( reel mowers ) used to be heavy, clunky contraptions which required great effort in cutting the lawn. a new generation of reel mowers has been designed, however, which operate much more effectively with a fraction of the effort. the added benefits include a good light exercise and quiet, pollution - free lawn care. consider the advantages of a reel mower : reel mowers shear the grass rather than tearing it. most rotary mowers tear the grass which leaves the tips shredded, and the tips soon turn brown. a sheared cut gives a greener lawn, and is preferred by lawn care professionals. quiet. you can cut the lawn anytime without disturbing the neighbors or the wildlife. listen to the birds as you cut the lawn! non - polluting. the savings in fuel is significant to both the environment and your wallet. no more dead spark plugs, messy oil changes or stored fuel. easier. today ' s reel mowers are lighter, easier to push and more effective than the old push mowers. the light weight also makes it easier to


wallet. no more dead spark plugs, messy oil changes or stored fuel. easier. today ' s reel mowers are lighter, easier to push and more effective than the old push mowers. the light weight also makes it easier to move from front to back yard, or lift into a pickup. low maintenance. aside from the occassional drop of oil and blade sharpening, there ' s little maintenance required. some models have blades made of hardened steel which do not require sharpening. these blades will last up to ten years before needing replacement. inexpensive. with prices ranging from $ 100 to $ 350, the cost of a reel mower is less than half that of a lower - end power mower. you have a small to medium size lawn, switching from a gas mower to a reel mower may be the biggest environmental savings you can make from your home. if your lawn is large, you can use a reel mower for small or isolated sections, or for a helper to use. whenever your reel mower is being used, the result is cleaner air. article : switching to a reel mower - a first hand experience changing from power to push. a reel mower online you can buy a reel mower from eartheasy ' s online store. click any of the links here to see some different models. click to see our collection of reel and electric mowers. brill razorcut 38 reel mower american 7 - blade 16 " reel mower scott ' s classic reel mower | tips for sustainable lawn care | | how to spend less on fertilizer, pesticides and water, and save energy and time on lawn maintenance. | water early in the morning. much of the water from daytime watering is lost to evaporation. avoid overwatering your lawn - it ' s more damaging than underwatering. • leave clippings on the lawn. sometimes referred to as " grass - cycling ", this provides nutrients ( nitrogen, phosphorus, water ) equivalent to one application of fertilizer. clippings do not cause thatch. mulching mowers are also available which help the clippings hide in the grass. for effective grass cycling, wait until the lawn is 3 " tall, then set the mower height to remove 1 ". the clippings left on the lawn will quickly disappear from view. of course this technique also saves hauling yard waste to the landfill - some states have banned yard waste from landfills. for more information


set the mower height to remove 1 ". the clippings left on the lawn will quickly disappear from view. of course this technique also saves hauling yard waste to the landfill - some states have banned yard waste from landfills. for more information, read our article grasscycling - the easiest way to nurture your lawn. • observe the weeds. dandelions thrive at a ph level of about 7. 5, and are a sign to add gardeners sulfur to lower the ph. clover and medic are sign that your lawn may be nitrogen poor, and needs compost or a nitrogen - weighted fertilizer. • sharpen mower blades at least once a year. you can tell when your mower blades are dull by looking at the grass tips. if they are brown and ragged, your blades are dull. sharp mower blades not only make your lawn look greener, they help develop a healthier lawn. • fertilize once or twice a year. this is sufficient for an attractive lawn. cool season grasses are semi - dormant in the summer ; fertilizing during summer will be ineffective. fertilizing in early fall promotes vigorous lawn growth the next spring. • use a fertilizer with time - released, water insoluble nitrogen. these fertilizers are less likely to burn your lawn with excess nitrogen, and slow - release allows the roots to absorb the nutrients as needed. in most instances, choose fertilizers containing at least 35 % - 50 % of their nitrogen supply in the " slow - release " form, such as sulfur - coated urea, methylene urea or various natural organic products. with fast - acting fertilizers, some nutrients are washed away with watering or rain, and the wasted fertilizer pollutes ground water supplies. • convert your lawn to a drought - resistant, low - maintenance eco - lawn. convential lawn seed was originally developed to be fast - growing for the purpose of feeding livestock. " eco - lawn " grass seed is a drought - resistant blend of grasses that requires little or no mowing and no fertilizer. to switch to this kind of lawn, simply cut your existing lawn as short as possible and overseed with eco - lawn seed. • control lawn weeds with corn gluten. a nontoxic byproduct of corn processing, corn gluten kills weed seedlings within days of application. it also adds nitrogen to your soil. just one application, before


. • control lawn weeds with corn gluten. a nontoxic byproduct of corn processing, corn gluten kills weed seedlings within days of application. it also adds nitrogen to your soil. just one application, before weeds emerge, reduced weed survival by 60 %, according to research at iowa state university. after several years, this method provides as much as 90 % weed control. see our page on corn gluten for more info, online sources and product names. • keep pesticide / herbicide use to a minimum. pesticides kill the soil organisms which contribute to a healthy lawn. the sooner you remove harsh chemicals, the faster your soil will recover. repeated past use of toxic chemicals may have destroyed the microbiotic life that exists in healthy soil ; it will take time, at least a season, for the soil to begin to recover. if lawn chemicals are used, clean out pesticide and fertilizer applicators and empty containers on the lawn, where the residue will be utilized. do not clean out on sidewalks or driveways, or residue will go directly into water supplies. • ' spot - treat ' weeds with vinegar to minimize herbicide use. where only a few scattered broadleaf weeds such as dandelions or plantain are present, consider spot - treating individual weeds with household vinegar rather than applying a broadcast treatment of an herbicide over the entire lawn. mix 5 parts white vinegar, 2 parts water, 1 part dish soap, and apply with a hand pump sprayer. ( vinegar can burn grass and garden plants, so be sure to spot treat weeds only. ) physically pulling or cutting weeds is also effective ; remove as much of the root system as possible to reduce the chance of regrowth. • reseeding or over - seeding? if you are adding seed to cover bare spots or a thin lawn, use hardy perennial ryegrass and drought - tolerant fescue seed mix. alternately, reseed with a drought - tolerant, low - maintenance eco - lawn seed. • problem with lawn grubs? for lawn grubs, there is a natural remedy called milky spore. the granules are spread on the soil and cause the grubs to contract a disease that kills them. only the grubs are affected, leaving beneficial organisms unharmed. milky spore multiplies over time and will sit inactive, waiting for grubs to infect. one treatment is said to last 40 years. the grubs are actually the larvae of japanese


the suit made its way to the 9th circuit court of appeals, which found that the forest service grossly exaggerated demand for tongass timber and failed to explore options for cutting trees outside of the forest ' s pristine roadless areas. the court ordered the agency to rewrite the management plan. " the forest service should be cutting taxpayer losses instead of cutting roadless areas, " said tom waldo, the earthjustice attorney who represented the plaintiffs. " the settlement agreement protects the roadless areas of the tongass until the forest service completes the new forest plan, so the trees will still be standing in the places that are most important for hunting, fishing, wildlife, recreation, and tourism. that makes it possible to adopt a new plan that will protect the remaining wild, natural areas of the forest, that will recognize the greatly reduced demand for logging on the tongass, and that cuts the huge taxpayer losses that the tongass suffers every year. " waldo also sounded a note of caution about the future : " unfortunately, the forest service has now proposed a new draft plan that would allow logging at a level about six times the current demand, located overwhelmingly in roadless areas. we can hope that public outrage will persuade the agency to reject this misguided proposal, but if the agency continues in this direction, we will be there to defend the roadless areas of america ' s premier rainforest. " the forest service is accepting public comment on its new management plan until april 30, 2007. the tongass national forest spans 17 million acres in southeastern alaska and is the world ' s largest temperate rainforest. the forest is home to old growth spruce, hemlock, and cedar forests, wolves, bears, salmon, moose, bald eagles and many other plants and animals. the forest also provides fish and game for subsistence use by alaska natives. most roadless areas in the tongass were protected by the clinton era roadless rule until the bush administration came into office and reopened the areas to logging at the insistence of the timber industry and alaska ' s two senators and single congressman. the tongass is also home to the biggest timber subsidies in the nation, with american citizens losing roughly $ 45 million a year to subsidize logging companies in the area - - mostly by building new, unneeded roads. since 1982 congressional handouts for logging in the tongass national forest have cost taxpayers nearly $ 1 billion. the lawsuit was brought by the organized village of kake, natural resources defense council, southeast alaska conservation council, sierra club, the wilderness society, national


| genetically engineered sugar beets | | the genetic engineering of our agricultural products has created serious environmental problems and numerous questions about health and safety. the great majority of genetically engineered ( " ge " ) crops are engineered to be resistant to a specific weed killer, glyphosate ( known commercially as " roundup, " owned and marketed by monsanto ). these crops, known as " roundup ready, " allow farmers to apply large quantities of glyphosate to their fields without harming the crop, but this practice accelerates the evolution of herbicide - resistant " superweeds. " farmers then apply greater and greater quantities of roundup to try to kill these weeds, and when this fails, they use even more toxic herbicides. also, the ge crops themselves can cross - pollinate or become mixed with other related crops nearby, contaminating their conventional or organic counterparts. the u. s. department of agriculture, through its animal and plant health inspection service, approved for commercial production genetically modified sugar beets without assessing the environmental, health, and economic impacts of these roundup ready beets, to the dismay of organic farmers, conservationists, and food - safety experts. earthjustice sued the usda on behalf of organic seed producers and conservationists to get the deregulation of genetically - modified beets reversed until a full environmental impact statement is performed. in september 2009, the court agreed the usda had violated the law and must prepare an eis. earthjustice is now seeking an injunction to stop further production of the sugar beets in the meantime. | cement kiln emissions challenge | | this lawsuit challenges the epa ' s continued refusal to set mercury emissions standards for cement kilns, in violation of the clean air act. the epa estimates that more than 100 cement kilns emit over 23, 000 pounds of mercury each year. | | northern spotted owl critical habitat | | the fish and wildlife service approved several timber sales in areas nominally protected as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. earthjustice sued to stop the sales. in february 2007, the ninth circuit court of appeals ruled that the fws violated the endangered species act when it approved the sales. | inyo county rs 2477 quiet title act intervention | | earthjustice intervened in a case to defend designated national park wilderness in death valley from being opened to highway construction and vehicle use. | | challenge to national clean air standards for airborne particulates | | on october 17, 2006, the environmental protection agency


the expense of junior water rights holders and stream flows for fish. the law redefined " municipal water supplier " to include any private developer with connections for 15 or more homes and allows these developers to benefit from expanded rights granted retroactively to municipalities. it carried out these changes without the state department of ecology ' s usual review of the impacts of the expansion of a water right. the law therefore violated the due process rights of water - rights holders. it also violated the separation of powers by retroactively overruling a decision of the washington supreme court. in june 2008, a judge ruled that the state legislature overreached by redefining developers as " municipal water suppliers. " | juneau access | | this suit challenged the approval of a highway project that would have extended the road north of juneau, alaska, through an inventoried roadless area in the tongass national forest to a new ferry terminal. the road threatened key wildlife areas, including bald eagle and steller sea lion habitat, as well as important recreation, subsistence, and cultural resources. | | county line timber sale | | forest guardians and several nearby landowners are challenging a back - country timber sale adjacent to a wilderness area in southwestern colorado that would ruin an area prized by hunters, fishermen, hikers, and mountain bikers. | startup, shutdown, and malfunction ( ssm ) reconsideration | | toxic air pollution from refineries, chemical plants, incinerators and other large industrial plants can increase to as much as ten times allowable levels during startup, shutdown, and malfunction events. nonetheless, epa ' s regulations exempted plants from toxic emission limits during these periods. moreover, though epa requires plant operators to prepare a plan for minimizing emissions during these highly polluting periods, epa did not require plants to comply with their plan and allowed the plan to be kept secret from the public. in december of 2008, as a result of this lawsuit, this loophole was closed by a federal court. industry groups appealed the decision, and in march 2010, the u. s. supreme court refused to review the case, effectively ending litigation. | teck cominco / lake roosevelt | | teck cominco metals operates a smelter ten miles north of the us - canada border. this smelter has contaminated lake roosevelt, in washington state, and parts of the upper columbia river with toxic heavy metals. earthjustice filed a " friend of the court " brief in support of the colville


of the us - canada border. this smelter has contaminated lake roosevelt, in washington state, and parts of the upper columbia river with toxic heavy metals. earthjustice filed a " friend of the court " brief in support of the colville tribe to enforce an order issued to teck cominco to study and assess the pollution. | wyoming elk feedgrounds | | the state of wyoming operates 23 winter feedgrounds for elk, many of them on federal lands. these feedgrounds artificially concentrate elk populations, which fuels the spread of diseases such as brucellosis and creates the prospect of a major chronic wasting disease epidemic. conservationists sued to compel long overdue environmental analysis of alternatives to elk - feeding in wyoming. in july 2009 the 10th circuit court of appeal ruled that the four elk feed grounds on land managed by the bureau of land management are exempt from a new environmental impacts analysis, due to an old memorandum of understanding agreed to by the blm and the state of wyoming. however, as a result of this lawsuit, the u. s. forest service prepared an environmental impact statement examining the impacts of feed grounds within the bridger - teton national forest. | pesticide testing on humans | | the epa issued a rule on pesticide testing on humans that favors the chemical industry and does not meet the scientific and ethical standards recommended by the national academy of sciences and outlined by the nuremberg code after world war ii. in june 2010, the epa settled this lawsuit and agreed to propose a new rule that would significantly strengthen scientific and ethical protections for tests of pesticides on humans. under this agreement, a proposed rule must be issued for public comment by january 2011. the settlement still requires court action to become effective.


| ecological preparation for natural disasters | | sunday, 28 october 2012 00 : 00 | written by john potter | article | if you ’ ve experienced a hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster, you know firsthand about the accompanying loss of life and property. but natural disasters also take their toll on the environment in ways both apparent and insidious. widely strewn garbage and wreckage often change the look and feel of a place ; sometimes even the most familiar areas are rendered unrecognizable. with hurricanes and tornadoes, there is also defoliation. and in the case of flood, tsunami, volcanic eruption and earthquake, the ground itself can be redistributed — modifying the actual topography. in almost all extreme natural - disaster situations, possessions and the materials from which homes are made are flung far and wide. suddenly the way a person has lived becomes very public in a strange way. many possessions will never be found and any non - biodegradable items may lie unnoticed for years, profoundly affecting the ecology of an area. an ounce of prevention the second method of handling the problem of dispersed garbage and wreckage is to live as green as possible. if a person ’ s home is made from eco - conscious materials and most of their possessions are biodegradable, they lessen the impact of having that stuff spread across a large area. as an example, it ’ s not uncommon to have a shed in the yard. as most sheds are far less robust than a home, it ’ s more likely a shed will be destroyed. therefore, it ’ s a good idea to stock the shed with eco - conscious cleaning materials, paint strippers and the like rather than the alternatives in case they end up scattered across your neighborhood. taking the proper precautions for a natural disaster reduces the chance of damage to your home, which reduces possible environmental degradation resulting from your home ’ s destruction. the unprepared may improvise effective solutions to problems, but they may not be good for the environment or their own safety. a little preplanning can make a world of difference in both your survival and the health of your environment. help the earth, spread the word : share this article with family and friends by clicking on the " email this " or " share this " links below right. then see today ' s top stories. copyright ecohearth. all rights reserved. reprint policy


an excellent site for tefl teachers to recommend to their students, featuring a whole host of interactive games and tests as well as regular sections on conversational english, dealing with telephone conversations and grammar. the monthly e - mail newsletter takes the idea further, providing a wider range of tips and responding to specific requests from students. designed by world ort in conjunction with the national grid for learning, this site is designed to offer a free englsh language course for refugees and immigrants in the uk. the exercises and online tasks are all beautifully designed and can be used as stand alone activities or within a classroom environment. internet grammar of english free for anyone logging on from a uk educational institution, this excellent site offers a detailed and clear course in english grammar for undergraduates. as well as a glossary and guide to every aspect of grammar, there are simple but effective tests to help reinforce learning, making it of use for tefl and a - level students as well as teachers. the research group which created the site also has its own site, survey of english, offering a corpus of spoken and written english. the internet arm of it ' s magazine, this site can be used either as a revision and reinforcement resource for students working at home, or in a more structured way in the classroom, since each activity is accompanied by extensive notes for teachers. other features of note include a regular e - zine, an exhaustive links section and a penpal section for those looking for a suitable correspondent. created by the british council, and available in a bewildering range of languages, this site is an unmissable resource for language teachers involved with children of any age. simple word games, poetry, songs, lyrics and stories are all available as resources to support a lesson or as standalone activities. this is not simply a resource site, however, and also gives advice on finding a suitable language course depending on your country of origin. an outstanding site. a website devoted to vocabulary learning strategies which encourage students to develop good language habits by keeping well - organized and personal notebooks.


for audio version click here. every great story reruns in cycles throughout history. for instance, the original story of thanksgiving has to do with the pilgrims who escaped bondage to be free here in this country. this story is not original at all. there is a great story several hundred years prior to the pilgrims. it ’ s known as the exodus, when the jews were led out of bondage into freedom by god through the leadership of moses. the main event that set the jewish people free is called the passover. god ’ s death angel was sent through the country of egypt to kill the first born. only those who had applied the blood of a lamb over the doorpost were “ passed over ” and their lives saved. so, the jewish people to this day celebrate this feast as a time of moving from bondage to freedom. the story continues today. we all have issues that bind us and weigh us down from the past. what we ’ re looking for is to be free. well, jesus fleshes out the answer today to our freedom. his answer began way back at the time of the first passover and it ’ s all tied up in a couple of agreements. the first agreement was made through moses, when god gave him the law. the jewish people entered into an agreement with god to keep his law and become a blessing to the world. every jewish passover dinner throughout the centuries has celebrated this agreement as they remember that what god did for them in setting them free. about 800 years after the exodus and the giving of the law of moses a prophet by the name of jeremiah ministered to the jewish people. through jeremiah god revealed that there would someday be a second agreement. whereas the law of moses was written on stones, the second agreement would be written in the hearts of man. a little over 600 years later jesus was celebrating the feast of the passover with his disciples. and, at this dinner he fleshed out this second agreement with these early disciples. the christians call it “ communion ”, but jesus referred to it as a covenant supper. he was actually making a covenant ( an agreement ) with his disciples to be connected until he returns. he was also leading them into an agreement with one another to be connected in jesus. this covenant supper was a powerful experience for these disciples. and, if we properly understood it as an agreement with jesus and with one another, we might experience the same kind of dynamic. so, what ’ s your story? how does your story recycle this same story -


experience for these disciples. and, if we properly understood it as an agreement with jesus and with one another, we might experience the same kind of dynamic. so, what ’ s your story? how does your story recycle this same story - line of the exodus and passover as well as the early celebration of the pilgrims at the first thanksgiving dinner? it ’ s all about being free! so, what is it that has had you in bondage throughout your life or most recently in your experience? whatever it may be, jesus wants to film a rerun in your life. he wants to forgive you of those bad choices and entanglements and set you free. listen to luke ’ s words in the thirteenth chapter of acts : " therefore, my brothers and sisters, i want you to know that through jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of moses. today on this thanksgiving holiday you have lots to celebrate. you are forgiven and you are free. i don ’ t know about you, but that makes me feel absolutely whole and acceptable before the lord. to me, that ’ s thanksgiving! wednesday, november 22, 2006 for audio version click here.


09. 08. 2011the tradition of ramadanwhich image of god determines the ritual behaviour? the islamic month of fasting began last monday – in europe too, where the majority society still knows far too little about the holy practice, which is a religious duty of all muslims and one of the " five pillars of islam ". emel zeynelabidin says that for this reason, posing questions that are free of fear and born of interest is now a matter of great urgency the fact that fasting during the month of ramadan has been practiced by muslims every year for 14 centuries is singular and an almost unbelievable accomplishment. it is a phenomenon of ancient, religious ritual that has endured to this day and that, upon first glance, cannot be logically explained by science. in my view, neither muslims nor non - muslims give this phenomenon the attention it deserves. today, if i as a female muslim who is very familiar with the fasting ritual owing to my upbringing, talk to my non - muslim friends about the particulars of ramadan, and list for example the groups of individuals who are exempt from the obligation to fast, i am met with total ignorance. if muslims and non - muslims are supposed to have experienced a social rapprochement in recent decades, what exactly has occurred during this time? time for reflection, time for self - discipline : for more than a billion muslims, the fasting month of ramadan began on monday ( 1 august ) a practical discussion of the many different realities of life would enhance mutual understanding and create the trust necessary to jointly further the processes of social rapprochement between muslims and the rest of the world. gestures of respect towards ramadan expressed through media statements by german politicians, have unfortunately so far failed to achieve this. an obligation to renounce muslim fasting involves renouncing all food, drink and sex. these days, the list also includes smoking. the daily fast begins at dawn and ends at sunset. ramadan takes place during a lunar calendar month. this is why every year, the date moves back around 10 days in the gregorian, or solar calendar. in the summer, when the sun sets later, the fasting days are much longer than in winter. exempt from this annual duty are children, pregnant women, those required to nurse babies, menstruating women, travellers, but also sick people. but renunciation is not acquittal : adults are required to make up for any fasting days lost. ramadan provides the opportunity to reflect on what it


required to nurse babies, menstruating women, travellers, but also sick people. but renunciation is not acquittal : adults are required to make up for any fasting days lost. ramadan provides the opportunity to reflect on what it means to endure hunger and thirst, and to control one ' s sexual urges. many draw the necessary strength to do this from the sense that the fasting is a collective group activity. as a practising muslim, force of habit and upbringing meant i felt perfectly comfortable with my rituals. i had no reason to question exactly what i was doing. and if conflicts and pressures should arise as a result of what i was doing, then it was all simply part of the " earthly trial ". open interest in faith these days, i view these things from a different perspective and am left wondering why the " excluded " non - muslim majority society, which is generally inquisitive and open to debate, does not enquire what it is perhaps missing out on. curiosity must be aroused in this context, so that questions can be posed by all ; questions that are free of fear and born of interest. which image of god determines the ritual behaviour? muslims believe in a connection between actions and their consequences in this life, but also in the afterlife. in an edition of the monthly german - language " islamische zeitung " ( islamic newspaper ), readers discover that " ramadan is every year a debt that one has with god and that one must pay back, in other words an obligation to him. " free from religious compulsion : the valuable experiences surrounding the ramadan ritual should occur not out of obedience and subordination to a prescribed obligation, but of one ' s own volition and out of sincere conviction, writes emel zeynelabidin the article goes on to explain that ramadan is a preparation for a reward in paradise, a reward that is described as a paradise garden and a house in paradise. for after all, " allah makes things easy on judgement day if one has done something for him. " so this is about a specific image of god, who demands that people make sacrifices so that he can reward them with a promise of paradise, a promise that can only be an unknowable and remote prospect for us all. i am irritated by the idea of having to do something for an almighty god to gain his favour. in the case of fasting during ramadan i ask myself the simple question of how, with the benefit of modern insight, such a physically stress


. i am irritated by the idea of having to do something for an almighty god to gain his favour. in the case of fasting during ramadan i ask myself the simple question of how, with the benefit of modern insight, such a physically stressful and socially potentially inflammatory practice can be ascribed to an almighty god who only has the best intentions for his flock. omnipotence, as i imagine it, should really have other criteria and yardsticks of perception, judgement and approach than we people. this inconsistency presents us with a great challenge, a need for explanation that we must finally meet head - on. working and studying make you hungry. during lifetime of the prophet muhammed, people lived in the desert and were not by any means subjected to the same physical and mental challenges we face in our daily lives today. in europe, where public life is not led in accordance with islamic codes, working people and students who are fasting face considerable physical and mental stress. just as the ramadan smoking ban was declared by a religious ruling, a similar ruling should be issued to add working people and students in a non - muslim society to the list of groups exempt from the fasting rule. after all, clerics agreed that professional footballers should be exempted from fasting due to the nature of their job. teachers and doctors could say a great deal about the physical problems of their pupils and patients. between joyous fast - breaking and gluttony : breaking the fast after sunset, also known as " iftar ", is usually celebrated with opulent meals often enjoyed with friends and family. the 30 - day fasting period is traditionally brought to an end with a three - day festival ( " eid al - fitr " ) historical accounts from the time of the first muslims report of years of great shortages, when the faithful had to be content with eating nothing but dates during ramadan. in any case, people for the most part lived by the dietary recommendation of muhammad himself, to reserve a third of one ' s stomach for water, a third for food, and leave the remaining third free for breathing. these days, unfortunately, the end of a fasting day results in consumption of unhealthy amounts of food, tantamount to gluttony. consistent renunciation as a behavioural yardstick for self - discipline is an important therapeutic experience. it can make you physically very strong, be a key ingredient of self - control, train decision - making ability and confirm one ' s own strength


##y. consistent renunciation as a behavioural yardstick for self - discipline is an important therapeutic experience. it can make you physically very strong, be a key ingredient of self - control, train decision - making ability and confirm one ' s own strength of will. viewed from this perspective, this temporary renunciation of food and pleasurable activities, a renunciation of the urge to meet natural needs, is an important method with huge benefits. will and faith are all that count but does every healthy adult have an equal need to pursue such a method? when clerics created a collective movement by decreeing a religious ritual as an unshakable duty, are there other interests at play? ideally for me, these valuable experiences should occur not out of obedience and subordination to a prescribed obligation, but of one ' s own volition and out of sincere conviction, and where possible, lead to a learning process of self - knowledge and exemplary social competency. however, the permanent pressure of obligations imposed by the islamic legal system makes scope for self - determined action hugely difficult. in this context, even the koran warns against self - deception and hypocrisy. there is a great need now for some clarity to be shed on this contradiction, with the courage for honesty. just as it does every year, after four weeks of the fasting ritual comes the long - awaited end of ramadan. celebrations will go on for three days, and many of the negative aspects so worthy of debate will be forgotten again. the sweet - talking that surrounds the advent of ramadan every year is far too one - sided and does nothing to create a basis for discussion that would establish a different, namely better quality of faith for future generations. how many more of these ramadan months have to begin before on the one hand, non - muslims ask questions of fasting muslims in order to understand, and on the other hand muslims ask critical questions in examination of their religious imagination? © qantara. de 2011 emel zeynelabidin, born in 1960 in istanbul and raised in lower saxony, germany, is a journalist whose special focus areas are questions of contemporary islam and inter - religious dialogue. translated from the german by nina coon editor : lewis gropp / qantara. de


cheating in online games | | this article has multiple issues. please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. cheating in online games is an activity that modifies the game experience to give one player an advantage over others. depending on the game, different activities constitute cheating and it is either a matter of game policy or consensus opinion as to whether a particular activity is considered to be cheating. johan huizinga defines cheating as the action of pretending to obey the rules of the game, while secretly subverting them to gain advantage over an opponent. cheating reportedly exists in most multiplayer online games, but it is difficult to measure. the internet and darknets can provide players with the methodology necessary to cheat in online games, sometimes in return for a price. mods are modifications to games that are intended to change the gameplay experience. sometimes, mods are intended to give players an advantage over other players who are not using mods. hacks are attempts to modify the game as it is running. under most countries ' laws, hacking is illegal, and can result in criminal prosecution. bots and software assistance aimbots and triggerbots an aimbot ( sometimes called " auto - aim " ) is a type of computer game bot used in multiplayer first - person shooter games to provide varying levels of target acquisition assistance to the player. while most common in first person shooter games, they exist in other game types and are sometimes used colloquially with a triggerbot, which shoots automatically when an opponent appears within the field - of - view or aiming reticule of the player. aimbotting relies on the fact that each player ' s client computer receives information about all the other players, whether they are visible from the player ' s position on the playing field or not. targeting is simply a matter of determining the location of any opponent relative to the player ' s location, and pointing the player ' s weapon at the target. this targeting works regardless of whether the opponent is behind walls or too far away to be seen directly. if the game being played allows bullets to penetrate surfaces with minimal / reduced damage ( such as games in the call of duty franchise including and released after the original modern warfare ), the code can be manipulated to cause the bullets to penetrate an infinite amount of material and damage can be adjusted to guarantee a kill regardless of where the bullet lands. this severely magnifies the unfair advantage the aimbot would provide. some servers allow spectating [ also referred to as kill - cam ], or seeing the game from the viewpoint of the


to guarantee a kill regardless of where the bullet lands. this severely magnifies the unfair advantage the aimbot would provide. some servers allow spectating [ also referred to as kill - cam ], or seeing the game from the viewpoint of the active players. recording of gameplay actions is also often possible. if someone was using a targeting aimbot, the bot would be plainly obvious to the spectator as unnatural exact position tracking. some aimbots and triggerbots are blatant while others attempt to hide from spectators the fact they are being used through a number of methods. one being a delay in the firing, to hide the fact it shoots the instant an opponent is in the cheater ' s crosshair. some triggerbot programs allow the user the ability to toggle on or off depending on whether the mouse is held down or released. the hacker can also set the aimbot to a key in order to turn it on and off with a " press of a key ". artificial lag in the peer - to - peer gaming model, lagging is what happens when the stream of data between one or more players gets slowed or interrupted, causing movement to stutter and make opponents appear to behave erratically. by using a lag switch, a player is able to disrupt upload from the console to the server, while their own console queues up the actions performed. the goal is to gain advantage over another player without reciprocation ; opponents slow down or stop moving, allowing the lag switch user to easily outmaneuver them. from the opponents ' perspective, the player using the device may appear to be teleporting, invisible or invincible, while the opponents suffer delayed animations and fast - forwarded game play, delivered in bursts. some gaming communities refer to this method as " tapping " which refers to the users " tapping " on and off their internet connection to create the lag. the term " lag switch " encompasses many methods of disrupting the network communication between a console and its server. one method is by attaching a physical device, called a hardware lag switch, to a standard ethernet cable. by flipping the switch on and off, the physical connection between the console and the server is disrupted. the newest generation of gaming consoles has built in protection against lag switches in the form of voltage detectors, which detect a change in voltage when the switch is flipped. some manufacturers have taken counter measures to bypass or trick this detector. this can also be achieved by simply unplugging the ethernet


protection against lag switches in the form of voltage detectors, which detect a change in voltage when the switch is flipped. some manufacturers have taken counter measures to bypass or trick this detector. this can also be achieved by simply unplugging the ethernet cord going to the console, causing a disruption in the player ' s internet connection. other methods, called a software or wireless lag switch, involve using a computer program. in this method, the cheater runs an application on a computer connected to the same network as the console. the application hogs the network bandwidth, disrupting the communication between the console and its server. however, one cannot do this for an unlimited amount of time. usually, having no internet connection for 30 seconds will cause one ' s character / player to be kicked from the game due to inactivity / no internet connection. in the peer - to - peer gaming model, lagging refers to a player with a faster connection flooding an opponent ( s ) using a basic denial - of - service attack outside the game structure. look - ahead cheating is a method of cheating within a peer - to - peer multiplayer gaming architecture where the cheating client gains an unfair advantage by delaying his actions to see what other players do before announcing its own action. a client can cheat using this method by acting as if it is suffering from high latency ; the outgoing packet is forged by attaching a time - stamp that is prior to the actual moment the packet is sent, thereby fooling other clients into thinking that the action was sent at the correct time, but was delayed in arrival. a partial solution is the lockstep protocol. maphack is a generic term that refers to a method or third - party program that enables a user to see more of a level than intended by the developer. a maphacker is a user that deliberately executes such a method or program in the context of a relevant game, whilst maphacking is the act of such. a common aspect of real - time strategy games is the player ' s partial limitation or complete inability to see beyond the visibility range of individual game objects that are under their ownership ( typically units and structures ), this concept is controlled by a mechanism known as the fog of war. maphacking usually enables the user to bypass this mechanism, either by removing it entirely and / or by rendering objects through the fog that would not normally be visible. in multiplayer modes, this allows for a distinct advantage against the other players that are subject to the intended settings. the advantage gained can