the idea of the hypernova was first proposed by dr. bohdan paczynski of princeton university. he wanted to explain the gamma ray burst s that typically last a few second s at a time, come from seemingly random directions in space, and have the potential to produce more energy than anything else in the rest of the universe for a few seconds. the first remnants of such an explosion were identified by q. daniel wang of northwestern university, using work done by dr. you - hua chu of the university of illinois at urbana - champaigne as a base. the two remnants he identified reside in the galaxy m101 in the ursa major constellation. they have been given the easily memorable names ngc5471b. the former is a nebula that is expanding at at least a hundred miles a second while the latter is one of the largest pieces of supernova wreckage known at 850 light year s across. both are about ten times brighter than any known supernova remnants in our galaxy little is known for sure about these powerful explosions, although it is suspected that they are the product of the collapse of extremely massive stars or their collisions with superdense objects such as neutron stars. both relationships also imply that hypernovae probably have something to do with the formation of black holes. aside from the physics that i ' m not going to butcher by trying to explain, these relationships have been deduced primarily from the locations of gamma ray bursts ' points of origin as well as the locations of various remnants of hypernovae, which both tend to be in areas of intensive star formation. said areas are also hotspots for the formation of neutron stars, black holes, and other associated objects. another hypernova that may come to play an important role in our lives in the near future is eta carainae. while it is not yet a hypernova, it is suspected that it will probably become one relatively soon due to its unstable patterns of brightness and dimness over the past 150 years that has culminated recently in an intensive brightening spell. it now radiates around 400 million times as much light and energy as the sun and is brightening in a way that astronomers do not understand. on the bright side, though, if it does explode again, it will probably be too far away ( 7500 light years ) to hurt those of us who are protected from gamma ray bursts by an atmosphere. if, however, you are an orbital satellite or have any friends who are orbital satellites, i ' d be very frightened indeed. a really cool picture of eta


chapter vi. arrival at the lake. " it sleeps among a hundred hills where no man ever trod, and only nature ' s music fills the silences of god. " after going about two thousand three hundred miles up this serpentine river, we discovered the entrance to the lake. many had been the conjectures and counsels of would - be advisers when we started. some said that there was no entrance to the lake from the river ; others, that there was not sufficient depth of water for the steamer to pass through. on our port bow rose frowning rocks of forbidding aspect. drawing nearer, we noticed, with mingled feelings of curiosity and wonder, that the face of these rocks was rudely carved by unmistakably indian art. there were portrayed a rising sun, tigers ' feet, birds ' feet, etc. why were they thus carved? are those rocks the everlasting recorders of some old history - some deed of indian daring in days of old? what these hieroglyphics signify we may never know ; the workman is gone, and his stone hammer is buried with him. to twentieth century civilization his carving tells nothing. no indians inhabit the shores of the lake now, perhaps because of this " writing on the wall. " with the leadsman in his place we slowly and cautiously entered the unexplored lake, and thus for the first time in the world ' s history its waters were ploughed by a steamer ' s keel. soon after our arrival the different guards were told off for the silent watches. night shut in upon the lake, and all nature slept. the only lights on shore were those of the fire - flies as they danced through the myrtle boughs. the stars in the heavens twinkled above us. now and again an alligator thrust his huge, ugly nose out of the water and yawned, thus disturbing for the moment its placid surface, which the pale moon illuminated with an ethereal light ; otherwise stillness reigned, or, rather, a calm mysterious peace which was deep and profound. somehow, the feeling crept upon us that we had become detached from the world, though yet we lived. afterwards, when the tigers [ footnote : jaguars are invariably called tigers in south america. ] on shore had scented our presence, sleep was often broken by angry roars coming from the beach, near which we lay at anchor ; but before dawn our noisy visitors always departed, leaving only their footprints. early next morning, while the green moon was still shining ( the


our presence, sleep was often broken by angry roars coming from the beach, near which we lay at anchor ; but before dawn our noisy visitors always departed, leaving only their footprints. early next morning, while the green moon was still shining ( the color of this heavenly orb perplexed us, it was a pure bottle green ), each one arose to his work. this was no pleasure excursion, and duties, many and arduous, lay before the explorers. the hunter sallied forth with his gun, and returned laden with pheasant and mountain hen, and over his shoulder a fine duck, which, unfortunately, however, had already begun to smell - the heat was so intense. in his wanderings he had come upon a huge tapir, half eaten by a tiger, and saw footprints of that lord of the forest in all directions. let me here say, that to our hunter we were indebted for many a good dish, and when not after game he lured from the depths of the lake many a fine perch or turbot. fishing is an art in which i am not very skilled, but one evening i borrowed his line. after a few moments ' waiting i had a " bite, " and commenced to haul in my catch, which struggled, kicked, and pulled until i shouted for help. my fish was one of our paraguayan sailors, who for sport had slipped down into the water on the other side of the steamer, and, diving to my cord, had grasped it with both hands. not every fisher catches a man! lake gaiba is a stretch of water ten miles long, with a narrow mouth opening into the river paraguay. the lake is surrounded by mountains, clad in luxuriant verdure on the bolivian side, and standing out in bare, rugged lines on the brazilian side. the boundary of the two countries cuts the water into two unequal halves. the most prominent of the mountains are now marked upon the exhaustive chart drawn out. their christening has been a tardy one, for who can tell what ages have passed since they first came into being? looking at mount ray, the highest of these peaks, at sunset, the eye is startled by the strange hues and rich tints there reflected. frequently we asked ourselves : " is that the sun ' s radiance, or are those rocks the fabled ' cliffs of opal ' men have searched for in vain? " we often sat in a wonder of delight gazing at the scene, until the sun


aplomado falcons are rare birds. so rare, in fact, that no one really knows how many exist. their historic range extended from casual visits to tierra del fuego north to northern mexico and southern texas, new mexico and arizona. fossils of their pleistocene predecessors have been found in what is now called ecuador and peru. no one even knows how many lived the united states. we do know that by the early 1960s none were residents in the united states. a vicious combination of ddt and elimination of the native grasslands had eradicated them. some survived in northern mexico but very few. a breeding program begun in 1977 has released about 500 aplomados in northern mexico and southern texas and southern new mexico. the remaining natural grasslands of the chihuahuan desert are natural habitat for them. one of the many good things ted turner has done with his life is make available one of his new mexico ranches for a release program. this ranch is just south of the bosque del apache wildlife refuge in central new mexico and at least one of the falcons has made its way there. we saw it day before yesterday and here are photos. it is a juvenile and it was making the acquaintance of a raven. given the intelligence of ravens, we wondered if the raven knew how rare aplomados are and just wanted to look at one “ up close and personal. ” we ’ re sorry the birds are so small in the photo but they were a long way away and the adapter which fits the camera to our spotting scope was even further so this is the best we got. we ’ ll return again soon and try again, hopefully before this bird grows out of its juvenile coloring.


tree ownership brings with it the responsibility to manage each tree to minimize risks associated with environmental hazards and aging. following these three simple rules will make for safer trees ; ( 1 ) systematic inspection, ( 2 ) treating problems quickly, ( 3 ) removing a tree when it ' s risk outweighs its value. the tree examination maintaining a tree health issues is a fairly simple process and should be done slowly and systematically. pick a spot where you can see the entire tree and on a day with appropriate weather and sunlight conditions. that inspection should include these three major tree sections - the crown ( branches and foliage ) ; the trunk ( tree stem ) ; the roots ( within the critical root zone ). printing my quick guide how to check a tree ' s health can help with this and also be used for note - taking. some sources suggest a tool kit to use including binoculars, trowel, rubber mallet and a yardstick. this is certainly appropriate but, in my opinion, not really necessary. using these tools can give clues that yield information to one who knows how to interpret those clues. i have found that most serious problems can be readily found without the kit by any observant tree owner. i will now describe the most serious conditions. you should try to identify the tree species group ( oaks, elms, birches, etc ) as they have unique risks and tolerances to certain conditions. tree conditions of major concern defective root conditions : roots can become defective by a failure of the soil and by root failure. it is important to know the difference. soil failure happens when soil particles lose the the ability to hold the root system in place. saturated and waterlogged soils combined with high wind can cause this. serious saturation problems may call for a drainage correction. obviously, root failure is a major defect to contend with. roots that are severed, decayed or otherwise damaged can cause failure. check for large roots that have died, are decayed, have been cut or broken, or are confined, restricted or strangling the tree ' s main stem. leaning trees may have a root problem and should be taken seriously when soil is " mounding " opposite the leaning side. multiple trunks : tree failure can occur where a tree forks at or near the ground. inside that fork, a weak union is possible and can cause the union to separate. not all unions are problems. a solid union is when there is a well developed " u " and / or where there are upturned ridges between trunks, stems and branches.


, a weak union is possible and can cause the union to separate. not all unions are problems. a solid union is when there is a well developed " u " and / or where there are upturned ridges between trunks, stems and branches. problems are more likely when stem unions are cracked, decayed and has included bark ( ingrown bark between two trunks ). weak branch attachment : findingweak branch attachments will take a little more time and keener observation skills. these attachments usually occur where older limbs have broken off and where sprouts have developed off these breaks. as the weak limb sprouts grow larger, they gain weight and can fail at any time. signs of a weak branch attachment are included bark at the branch union, branches that grow off topping cuts, branches with abrupt 90 degree bends, species with a tendency for branch failure ( hackberry ) and where a branch is as large as its attached stem. cavities and decay : decay is in every tree and introduced at the point of an injury. it is caused by a fungal infection which causes the breakdown of wood cells and overwhelms the ability of the tree to compartmentalize that particular area. cavities develop as the wood deteriorates and may be visible on the outside or in an unseen interior section. signs of decay include mushrooms and conks, loose bark, dead branch stubs, trunk bulges, ants and nesting holes. hangers and suspended branches : hangers are limbs that have broken but remain attached to another limb or broken off the tree stem. a suspended branch is one that is detached but " hung up " in the living material. these aerially suspended branch hazards should be taken seriously and removed, especially if there is property and potential traffic below. the removal of hangers should be carefully completed and any remaining part of a live branch removed using proper pruning methods. cracks : cracks can occur at the point of a major fork or where a tree flaw undermines the structure. cracks can form from traumatic stress and usually separates along the wood grain. they are of major concern when they occur along the main tree stem or on major branches and when long and deep. signs of a crack needing attention is one running deep and long, is opposite or connected to decay / cavity or among multiple cracks. deadwood : some deadwood is seen on most trees in one form or another. and more easily identified during the growing season. obviously, the tree safety hazard issue increases as the size of the branch or limb


decay / cavity or among multiple cracks. deadwood : some deadwood is seen on most trees in one form or another. and more easily identified during the growing season. obviously, the tree safety hazard issue increases as the size of the branch or limb increases. again, if you have targets that can be harmed under the tree, removing deadwood should be done as soon as possible. deadwood also could mean that the tree has a health issue. dying limbs and branches often indicates root damage on that same side. so you know the problem! now what? most of these problems will take major tree work if not corrected when the tree is very young. an aging tree becomes more and more massive and outgrows the ability of the owner to do the work safely. you should only attempt to do the work required if the tree is small, easily handled and in reach of the ground. attempting tree work yourself may cost more than you bargained for and get you hurt too boot! always get a second opinion on your evaluation. there are professional arborists in the business that will gladly help you in the decision making process. their cost may be well worth the expense and prevent a weekend job that could conceivably turn into a tragic mistake. try visiting the international society of arboriculture ' s web site to find a certified arborist in your area.


academic performance and college aspirations suffer when harassment goes unchecked the gay, lesbian and straight education network, or glsen, released its most recent national school climate survey in 2003. for the first time, the bi - annual study reported a direct relationship between in - school victimization, grade - point averages ( gpas ) and the college aspirations of lgbt students. at the same time, more than 4 out of 5 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( lgbt ) students reported being verbally, sexually or physically harassed at school because of their sexual orientation. key findings of the 2003 national school climate survey include : to download a free copy of the survey and key findings document click onto the ' related documents ' notepad to the right. - unchecked harassment correlates with poor performance and diminished aspirations : lgbt youth who report significant verbal harassment are twice as likely to report they do not intend to go to college and their gpas are significantly lower ( 2. 9 vs. 3. 3 ). - supportive teachers can make a difference : 24. 1 % of lgbt students who cannot identify supportive faculty report they have no intention of going to college. that figure drops to just 10. 1 % when lgbt students can identify supportive staff at their school. - policymakers have an opportunity to improve school climates : lgbt students who did not have ( or did not know of ) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40 % more likely to skip school because they were simply too afraid to go. - harassment continues at unacceptable levels and is too often ignored : 84 % of lgbt students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. 82. 9 % of students report that faculty never or rarely intervene when present. glsenis national school climate survey is the only national survey to document the experiences of lgbt students in americais schools and has been conducted bi - annually since 1999. the 2003 survey includes responses from 887 lgbt middle and high school students from 48 states and the district of columbia. key findings, the complete survey and additional information about methodology and demographics may be obtained by calling glsenis communications department at 212 - 727 - 0135 or by visiting www. glsen. org. glsen, or the gay, lesbian and straight education network, now in its 10th year, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. glsen envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity / expression.


how the heart opens : sacred geometry and the new science of compassion - the heart ' s labyrinthine electrification : 1. dimple, 2. ' turn inside out " from dan winter 12 / 3 / 2000 the essential thing we have learned about phi / golden ratio harmonics from years of harmonic analysis of ekg during bliss, is that indeed the completion of the ' turning inside out ' process is the new science of compassion. what is marvelous for those interested in labyrinth studies is that work is precisely the topo map to how to turn inside enacted outside you, so that you can do it ( compassion ) inside you. the animation of turning inside out on the 7 color moebius map of the origin of matter, co - defines the 7 spin ( symmetries ) of the tetra ( as seen in the heart muscle geometry ) and when projected onto ' flatland ' ( 2d ) codefines the labyrinth ( animation below ). when this turning inside out ness of both the heart electrification and the labyrinth is mapped going to it ' s limit or boundary or final 3d fractal symmetry, we literally get the animation of the holy grail. the essential point for teaches of the ultimate map to successful turning inside out ness ( labyrinth ), is to translate the topological skill learned kinesthetically from the labyrinth - into what you do inside your heart when you choose to feel someone outside as if they were inside. this is the ' new sacred geometry how does phi / golden mean based recursion now imagine the heart learning the teachable skill we have called compassion, like a child learns how to digest foods.. 1 at a time.. creating this electrical ratio in the heart harmonics.. directly. 618 phi from the above graphic, in the heart!.. made visible with heartlink labyrinth creating and walking with intent, on the land can sort magnetic tangles ( geopathic zones ), can help re - draw ground water into magnetic flowering, help with dyslexia, with creativity, begin to embed your back yard and bio - region into the global magneto - gravitiv fractal.. with thanks to marty cain, who teaches the profound relation between where the labyrinth turn points lie, and the flowering of the underground water, and the healing of the land and those who... " by turning and turning they come round right ". for labyrinth building : magnetic map of your back yard if you had to do the actions necessary to be born, the first move you ever made, was


of the land and those who... " by turning and turning they come round right ". for labyrinth building : magnetic map of your back yard if you had to do the actions necessary to be born, the first move you ever made, was to turn inside out.. when the ectoderm and the endoderm ( ( turning inside out ) ) then you know the egg is going to become a fetus.. to begin the dimple ( vortex ) deepens, as the spin added by sperm, learns the geometry of recursion : now if you needed a mnemonic device in order to remind you of the kinesthetic feeling of walking around on the surface of the moebius which is the donut turning inside which makes the dimpling sustainable you might find a way to project the 7 color donut map ( codefining the 7 spins of the tetra ).... onto a flat surface ( flatland ).. like shadows on the wall of plato ' s this would give you the 7 circuit next, starting with the " greek key ", which is the inside then outside stepping of the flamenco we add a turn to arrive a the 7 circuit cretan / minoan labrinth.. a kinesthetic mnemonic to weave the spin path to turning inside out into body memory.. from 1d.. greek key to 3d... 7 color donut.. learning to lead magnetic paths to recur ( turning inside out ), is the memory of how to sort them.. and thus give them el ( turn ) into the eye ( focus ) of labyrinths are also a great way to help your horse center, and you to be centered on your horse.. sue ann foster ' s labyrinth, in carmichael california.. dowse to turn at ley water dome points start with a magnetic map and feed the rose petaling of the magnetic lines.. get landscape elemental to sit on your shoulder whispering.. stone circle implies labyr.. basic dowsing skill to feel magnetism is to feel life.. notice that biodiversity of heirloom seeds.. creates capacitive joy ( access to newness ) for genes monocultured grains scream.. all hunger for implosion, because all want to touch return to sacred geometry master


the acrimony directed at sugar, in all its forms, has taken a particularly bitter turn of late, with the suggestion that sugar is a poison and should be regulated as such through some combination of taxes, product bans, and dose restrictions. is this rational, or maybe just a bit crazy? let ' s chew on it. excess dietary sugar is irrefutably harmful. the calories provided — whether from sucrose, high - fructose corn syrup, or any other variant — are empty, carrying no nutritional benefit to offset the cost, and they contribute to weight gain and obesity. the glycemic effect of sugar — its tendency to raise blood sugar, and in some cases insulin — can further contribute to extra pounds and obesity, as well as hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, and ultimately, diabetes. such, by and large, is the epidemiologic indictment of sugar. there is, as well, an indictment based on dietary guidance : americans eat considerably more, on average, than the 10 percent of daily calories that authorities such as the world health organization, the american heart association, the institute of medicine, and the dietary guidelines advise should come maximally from added sugars, and the 25 percent that should come from total sugars. and there is even a biochemical indictment, based on the fact that high levels of sugar, and perhaps fructose in particular, can be linked to vital organ injury. most notably it has been tied to liver damage resembling the effects of alcohol, as described most vividly and adamantly by robert lustig of the university of california – san francisco. all of which seems to suggest we should just go ahead and convict sugar as a toxin, and regulate it. but i don ' t think it is, and i don ' t think we should. sugar is a native part of the homo sapiens diet. babies get it first from breast milk, and virtually all humans also consume fruits as part of their native diet. glucose floats in the blood and must remain above a particular concentration at all times or a person will succumb to nausea, fainting, seizure, and, without prompt remediation, death. if adequate sugar is not consumed, the body will make " sugar " in the liver from any nutrient source available to maintain that crucial level in the bloodstream. so sugar cannot be avoided entirely. and then there is the question : what will people wind up eating instead? soda isn ' t the only product that can


" in the liver from any nutrient source available to maintain that crucial level in the bloodstream. so sugar cannot be avoided entirely. and then there is the question : what will people wind up eating instead? soda isn ' t the only product that can be artificially sweetened. doughnuts, danish, and muffins can, too. but the starches these foods are made of often have a higher glycemic index than sugar itself. though researchers have demonstrated that improving the overall quality of the diet is powerfully good medicine for both health and weight, to date, the " one nutrient at a time, " or onaat, fallacy has led to nothing but compounded troubles. we added oat bran, cut fat, cut carbs, yet still got fatter and sicker each time. if sugar is regulated, it could open the floodgates to artificially sweetened everything, leading people to eat even more products that are unsound in other ways. we could well repeat the follies of nutritional history. there are better ways to go, like measuring the overall nutritional quality of foods with a validated scoring index, such as nuval ( www. nuval. com ), which i helped develop and is now being licensed to retail grocery chains around the country, like hy - vee, meijer, and price chopper. nuval places a suitable emphasis on sugar, along with starch, glycemic load, artificial sweeteners, and every other nutrient property that truly matters. in addition, financial incentives ( or disincentives ) could be tied to such a metric. health insurers for years have been offering better rates to companies offering wellness programs and to employees who use them. incentives that reduce the cost of the most nutritious foods could be provided by those currently paying the much higher costs of disease care : insurance companies, employers, and the government. the public, too, can be better educated about the abundance of added " stealth " sugar in seemingly unsweet foods. do we eat too much sugar? yes. can policy help fix that? again, yes. but to suggest that sugar is the only thing wrong with the modern diet and a poison is a distortion that risks both distraction and backlash. to take a slight liberty with the yiddish for " crazy, " it ' s a bit misugarna! hungry for more? write to firstname. lastname @ example. org with your questions, concerns, and feedback. david l


jailed for freedom pin grade range : k - 12 resource type ( s ) : artifacts, primary source date posted : 9 / 3 / 2008 in january 1917, members of the national woman ' s party ( nwp ) became the first people to picket the white house. protesting the government ' s failure to pass a constitutional amendment enfranchising women, nwp members, led by alice paul, began picketing the white house. their purple, white, and gold banners asked president woodrow wilson, " mr. president what will you do for woman suffrage? " and " mr. president how long must women wait for liberty? " tolerated at first, the " silent sentinels " were increasingly seen as an embarrassment to the administration. as the united states entered the first world war, the nwp pickets ' banners often pointed out the hypocrisy of fighting for democracy and freedom in europe while denying it to women at home. in june 1917, the d. c. police began arresting picketers for obstructing sidewalk traffic. over 150 women were sentenced to terms ranging from 60 days to six months in the occoquan workhouse. when their demands to be treated as political prisoners were ignored, they went on hunger strikes and were forcibly fed. the publicity surrounding their ordeal generated public sympathy for the suffragists and their cause. in december, 1917, at a meeting in their honor, the pickets who had been jailed were presented with small silver pins in the shape of prison doors with heart - shaped locks. the national museum of american history owns three " jailed for freedom " pins that belonged to lucille calmes, amelia walker, and alice paul. the nineteenth amendment to the constitution enfranchising women was ratified in august 1920. use this investigation sheet to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning. historical thinking standards ( grades k - 4 ) historical thinking standards ( grades 5 - 12 ) united states history standards ( grades 5 - 12 )


heather cox richardson in 1938 superman sped into this galaxy from the planet krypton to save humanity. he and his superhero friends oversaw the chaos of the late 1940s, as america first fought world war ii and then struggled to adjust to demobilization. superman and his friends then swept through the skies as the u. s. armed for the cold war. while superman matured, the late 1940s and early 1950s brought chilling fear to americans that the nation was slipping, losing ground to the russians, falling apart. so many children — and adults — were reading comics that critics carped that comics themselves were part of america ’ s moral decline. in 1953, 6. 5 comics were sold for every one person in the country. more than 90 % of children admitted to reading them. in 1954 the psychiatrist fredric wertham published the seduction of the innocent, detailing how comic books dragged impressionable youths into crime, violence, and homosexuality. the book used anecdotes to prove that batman, for example, promoted a gay lifestyle. the seduction of the innocent was such a sensation that wertham became the go - to man for information about the danger of comics, and the industry itself, which scorned wertham, felt obliged to bow to pressure from his acolytes. to preempt government censorship, the comics magazine association of america developed the comics code authority, which banned violence, sex, and disrespect for authority in comic books. under the comics code, good must always triumph over evil, and any treatment of sexuality had to emphasize the sanctity of marriage. wertham died in 1981, and his archives opened to researchers in 2010. carol tilley, a scholar of library science at the university of illinois, dug immediately into wertham ’ s files on the seduction of the innocent. she found that wertham had comprehensively fudged his data. wertham used no citations, and excised from his notes the full portraits of the children he claimed were victimized by comics. his 13 - year - old “ dorothy ” refused to go regularly to school because she admired sheena, queen of the jungle and crime comics. in fact, dorothy had other attributes that undoubtedly affected her school attendance : she was a sexually active runaway with a reading disability who belonged to a gang. another 13 - year - old — a boy this time — admired batman for what he and robin might be doing in their spare time ; in fact, the boy had been sexually assaulted and preferred


remember that these lists are only suggestions. we strongly recommend that you review the entire list of workshops to find the ones that suit you best. f - 3 exhibitor : components of a complete language arts program aspects of a comprehensive language arts program including : phonics and phonemic awareness ; spelling ; vocabulary and word study ; reading strategies, fluency, and comprehension ; grammar, usage, mechanics ; and written composition. resources in each area for struggling learners. a thumbnail look at what speaker ’ s top picks offer and what audience would most benefit from each. f - 6 how to begin homeschooling planning your homeschool and getting started. complying with the law, including filing the required online form pi - 1206. a - 1 exhibitor : choosing textbook - based curriculums for your family overwhelmed by all the homeschool curriculums available? brief descriptions of basic facts and features of a number of textbook - based curriculums including a beka, ace, alpha omega, bob jones, christian liberty press, mystery of history, pandia press, power basics, singapore, and story of the world will be presented to help you decide which components might work well for your family. a purchased textbook curriculum can serve as a core for one or more subject areas and serve as a springboard in a rich and varied homeschool program. a - 3 exhibitor : tuning up your science toolkit learn how the jason project, immersion learning, engineering is elementary, and stop for science improve student performance, are interdisciplinary, and provide a wonderful introduction to science, technology, engineering, and math for kids of all ages. b - 4 how to choose a style of homeschooling that works for you confused by all the different styles of homeschooling that are available? basic information about four different styles : purchased curriculum, unit studies, eclectic, and unschooling. how you can choose a style that works well for you and your family. making changes when necessary. for both new and experienced homeschoolers. c - 2 exhibitor : overview of curriculum choices for science and math an overview of choices available to help you decide which are best for your family. math options include bob jones, key to, mathletics, math - u - see, right start math, saxon, singapore math, teaching textbooks, and thinkwell. science options include curriculum with creation - based, evolutionary, and origins neutral programs including alpha omega, apologia, bob jones, power basics, pandia press r. e


start math, saxon, singapore math, teaching textbooks, and thinkwell. science options include curriculum with creation - based, evolutionary, and origins neutral programs including alpha omega, apologia, bob jones, power basics, pandia press r. e. a. l. science, real science 4 kids, and singapore science. d - 4 setting priorities for our homeschools homeschooling is more than academics. keeping " the big picture " in mind so we can help our children grow into well - rounded, contributing adults. acquiring thinking, business, character, and communication skills and others. remembering that parents are in the best position to make these decisions for their families, that there isn ' t one set of priorities that every family should use or aspire to, and that one big advantage to homeschooling is that parents ( and not the public schools ) take responsibility. more workshops by time slot - friday, 7 : 15 - 8 : 30 pm : f workshops - saturday, 8 : 30 - 9 : 30 am : a workshops - saturday, 9 : 50 am - 10 : 50 pm b workshops - saturday, 1 : 30 - 2 : 30 pm : c workshops - saturday, 2 : 50 - 3 : 50 pm : d workshops more workshops by category to help you choose workshops, click on a category that interests you and look over the list. remember that these lists are only suggestions. we strongly recommend that you review the entire list of workshops to find the ones that suit you best. - basic subjects - encouraging learning - choosing curriculum - ways to homeschool - beginning homeschooling - workshops for parents and kids - life skills and problem solving - homeschooling young children - for teens and parents of teens - special interests and passions - support for parents - of particular interest to mothers - of special interest to dads - workshops by exhibitors - family activity workshops - legal and homeschooling freedoms


with etymological history tracing the roots of the word " language " back to the middle english, old french and latin words for " tongue, " the very nature of language is tied to ideas of communication and expression. the common thread in all of the varying definitions of language is the concept of rifts between individual people, animals, even inanimate objects and how those gaps may best be bridged. inherent, however, in this idea of connection and communication is the separation that language may often imply by its very definition. beyond the conflict in definition, the idea of language raises serious questions in regard to where it falls in terms of medium, media, and mediator. the varying manifestations of language fit with different theories of media as demarcated by peirce, mcluhan, lacan, and saussure. in its most basic form, language is the primary mode of communication - - the expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas to another. different subsets of language are defined by speech and vocal patterns, written systems, and the specialized vocabulary or phraseology required by particular professions, as well as non - verbal systems ranging from body language and kinesics to communication between animals to the modes and systems in which computers exchange data. one definition in the oxford english dictionary refers to language as " applied to methods of expressing the thoughts, feelings, wants, etc. otherwise than by words. " under this category may fall dance, facial expression, and other commonly accepted conditions [ see movement, face ]. one example of non - verbal communication worth considering is the cinema of the silent era [ see film ]. often, a dye wash would be employed to add visual interest to the black and white film stock used at the time. each color came to take on a specific meaning that would not change from film to film : blue came to mean night, red danger, pink dawn, etc. additionally, a stylized gesture system came to take the place of spoken words, allowing emotions to be understood without speech and only a periodic use of titles. language systems of this definition may be comprised of any socially understood practice : flowers may take on specific meanings, the movements of a lady ' s fan held a particular meaning in regency england, colors, movements, as well as what one may consider unarticulated sounds. this definition of language aligns itself most clearly with the writings of peirce. peirce ' s theories of semiotics examines the divisions of words and communications into doctrines by which a sign or idea is communicated to an


unarticulated sounds. this definition of language aligns itself most clearly with the writings of peirce. peirce ' s theories of semiotics examines the divisions of words and communications into doctrines by which a sign or idea is communicated to an outside party. each of the above mentioned methods of communication reflects to a varying degree what peirce sees as the key to sign theory : making known an abstraction ( peirce, 98 ). while utilizing diverse methods of embodying particular emotions and ideas, each of these subsets of language works toward what peirce defines as being a sign : each " stands for something, its object " ( peirce, 99 ). the object may be an emotion, a state of mind, or an idea. the method of representation may vary from speech to movement to creating a unified system of color. conversely, however, language may create barriers as it strives to create open communication. the oxford english dictionary defines language first and foremost as " the whole body of words and of methods of combinations of words used by a nation, people, or race. " exclusion of others becomes inherent in this conception of language. as it bonds some together, language may separate others along the lines of nationality, class, and race. speech patterns may reveal more about a person speaking than the words themselves. in shakespearean texts, the speeches ( and often, the dialogue ) of noble - born characters are written in blank verse. lower born characters, by the class expectations of elizabethan england, would ( with notable exceptions ) be uneducated, with comic relief found in their blatant malapropisms and grammatical blunders. unlike the rhythmic lines of their social superiors, these characters speak in prose, often using contemporary slang and more vulgar sexual innuendos. in this instance, the very nature of their speech is a language in and of itself, speaking far more than their words about their birth and position in society. by this definition, the role of language changes from a mediator of ideas between two parties, to approach marshall mcluhan ' s definition of media. to mcluhan, " the media is the message " ( mcluhan, 7 ). in this case, language has the ability to say more than the content of its words : the language itself is revealing. for mcluhan, media is never as isolated as one might think, and the very use of media itself becomes key to the content of what is being communicated. out of this theory comes mcluhan ' s famous


the language itself is revealing. for mcluhan, media is never as isolated as one might think, and the very use of media itself becomes key to the content of what is being communicated. out of this theory comes mcluhan ' s famous supposition that the message and the media are one, and neither can be separated from the other. such is the case in this way of looking at language : the content and the mode of communication are braided - - interlacing and inseparable, language here ceases to be a method to be utilized by a mediating power, becoming a media unto itself, using the mediator as much as the mediator may use language. moreover, when viewed in this light, the failures of language are brought to the fore in the discussion of expression. as a tool to express abstract ideas, peirce describes semiotics as " eminently fallible " ( peirce, 98 ). while a sign may hold a specific connotation to the mediator, the same sign may have a very different meaning to the transmittee of any given message. when dealing with language, one deals with the removal by varying degrees of what one hears to the original thought. before one may understand what another has to say, that other must find words for his thoughts, which must be understood ( bringing up issues of word choice and connotation ). the room for error is great, and grows with each step away from the original, abstract thoughts like a game of " telephone. " the gaps in our ability to fully and truly express an abstraction are unquestionable. these holes in language, however, are reminiscent of the failure of lacan ' s " natural reality " ( lacan, 4 ) to be completely sufficient. lacan describes the experience of a young child, learning about the world through empirical experience but still too young to possess the intellectual capabilities to truly understand what he sees. for lacan, the moment this baby first sees ( and recognizes ) itself in a mirror, the pieces of himself that he has seen ( arm, leg, hand, foot, torso ) come together as a whole. the whole that he sees, however, is not really what he is - - rather, it is a reflection. the mirror gives truth and hides reality in the same moment. echoing the tendency of lacan ' s mirror to render incomplete what it seems to make whole, language may divide where it seems to unite, leave questions when it seems to give answers. just as the baby


truth and hides reality in the same moment. echoing the tendency of lacan ' s mirror to render incomplete what it seems to make whole, language may divide where it seems to unite, leave questions when it seems to give answers. just as the baby can never see its true self - - only the reflection in the mirror - - language can never fully express one ' s abstract thought to another. somewhere in the translation from idea to articulated thought to spoken or written word to what is understood by the audience, something will be lost. language presents a challenging conundrum to the student of media theory. able to unite and divide at the same time, the greatest divine gift and the ultimate punishment, the very mythology of language manifests the duality of the definitions and contrasting ideas. the transmission of a thought is almost as difficult to trace and describe as it is to successfully perform. in his course in general linguistics, saussure puts forward the difficulty in ascribing words to represent objects and ideas. the relationship between the signified and the signifier is arbitrary. the meaning in the relationship comes from a learned association. for example, the word " tree " in and of itself does not resemble or call to mind the actual thing one would find in a forest. the reader knows the meaning because he has been taught over a lifetime that the tall brown and green plant one chops for wood and sits under for shade is " tree. " for all intents and purposes, however, " tree " might just as easily be replaced with " zebra " or " bob. " this randomness in nomenclature raises an entirely new set of questions : if language is nothing more than a commonly accepted system of signs, an arbitrary relationship between signs and realities, communication is bound to be rife with confusion. beyond its compound definition, the variances that arise in concept make language distinctly hard to categorize. language is unique in the sheer number of forms in which it may exist ; language crosses the boundaries of visual ( pictogram, hieroglyph, sign language, alphabetic writing, character languages ) and aural ( speech ). as with many things that relate to media theory, it is hard to write a hard and fast rule for language to firmly place it under the category of " media " or " mediator. " christopher nolan ' s 2001 film memento drives home the point that even when one may feel in control, it is still possible that the power relations are not what they appear. similar issues of a confused dynamic of who


" or " mediator. " christopher nolan ' s 2001 film memento drives home the point that even when one may feel in control, it is still possible that the power relations are not what they appear. similar issues of a confused dynamic of who is controlling who is brought up in the 1999 wachowski brothers ' film, the matrix, making an interesting metaphor for the issues raised in the idea of language. as with the changing status of language as medium, media, and even mediator, the matrix raises the question of what happens when roles are reversed, and what was thought of as the tool becomes the operator. the matrix also brings the question of computer language to the fore. computer code is commonly accepted as a language. what are the implications of humanity being reduced to binary code? if such is the case, who is there left to decipher said code? these questions, while unanswerable in many respects, shape our perception of the thoughts that surround media theory and the very words in which we are able to express and discuss these ideas. when the very tools we require to shape our thoughts and discussion must be debated, what effect will this debate have on the discussion itself? how can we speak of anything if we are unsure of the nature of our own words?


correlation - based learning is, as a whole, often called hebbian learning. the hebb rule ( 10. 2 ) is a special case of a local learning rule because it only depends on pre - and postsynaptic firing rates and the present state wij of the synapse, i. e., information that is easily ` available ' at the location of the synapse. recent experiments have shown that the relative timing of pre - and postsynaptic spikes critically determines the amplitude and even the direction of changes of the synaptic efficacy. in order to account for these effects, learning rules on the level of individual spikes are formulated with a learning window that consists of two parts : if the presynaptic spike arrives before a postsynaptic output spike, the synaptic change is positive. if the timing is the other way round, the synaptic change is negative ( zhang et al., 1998 ; markram et al., 1997 ; bi and poo, 1998, 1999 ; debanne et al., 1998 ). for some synapses, the learning window is reversed ( bell et al., 1997b ), for others it contains only a single component ( egger et al., 1999 ). hebbian learning is considered to be a major principle of neuronal organization during development. the first modeling studies of cortical organization development ( willshaw and von der malsburg, 1976 ; swindale, 1982 ) have incited a long line of research, e. g., linsker ( 1986b ) ; obermayer et al. ( 1992 ) ; linsker ( 1986a ) ; kohonen ( 1984 ) ; miller et al. ( 1989 ) ; mackay and miller ( 1990 ) ; linsker ( 1986c ). most of these models use in some way or another an unsupervised correlation - based learning rule similar to the general hebb rule of eq. ( 10. 2 ) ; see erwin et al. ( 1995 ) for a recent review. correlation - based learning can be traced back to aristoteles 10. 2 and has been discussed extensively by james ( 1890 ) who formulated a learning principle on the level of ` brain processes ' rather than neurons : when two elementary brain - processes have been active together or in immediate succession, one of them, on re - occurring, tends to propagate its excitement into the other. a chapter of james ' book is reprinted in volume 1


rather than neurons : when two elementary brain - processes have been active together or in immediate succession, one of them, on re - occurring, tends to propagate its excitement into the other. a chapter of james ' book is reprinted in volume 1 of anderson and rosenfeld ' s collection on neurocomputing ( anderson and rosenfeld, 1988 ). more than 50 years later, hebb ' s book ( hebb, 1949 ) of which two interesting sections are reprinted in the collection of anderson and rosenfeld ( 1988 ) was published. the historical context of hebb ' s postulate is discussed in the review of sejnowski ( 1999 ). in the reprint volume of anderson and rosenfeld ( 1988 ), articles of grossberg ( 1976 ) and bienenstock et al. ( 1982 ) illustrate the use of the rate - based learning rules discussed in section 10. 2. kohonen ' s book gives an overview of some mathematical results for several generic rate - based learning rules ( kohonen, 1984 ). for reviews on ( hippocampal ) ltp, see the book of byrne and berry ( 1989 ), in particular the articles of sejnowski and tesauro ( 1989 ) and brown et al. ( 1989 ). cerebellar ltd has been reviewed by daniel et al. ( 1996, 1998 ) and linden and connor ( 1995 ). further references and a classification of different forms of ltp and ltd can be found in the nice review of bliss and collingridge ( 1993 ). for the relation of ltp and ltd, consult artola and singer ( 1993 ). a modern and highly recommendable review with a focus on recent results, in particular on spike - time dependent plasticity has been written by bi and poo ( 2001 ). the theoretical context of spike - time dependent plasticity has been discussed by abbott ( 2000 ). © cambridge university press this book is in copyright. no reproduction of any part of it may take place without the written permission of cambridge university press.


williams v. california a lawsuit that established safety and materials requirements for california schools. on august 13, 2004, governor arnold schwarzenegger announced the settlement of williams v. california, a lawsuit filed on behalf of thousands of california ' s public school students who were denied equal educational opportunity. williams legislation established new standards and accountability mechanisms to ensure that all california public school students have textbooks and instructional materials and that their schools are clean, safe, and functional. it also took steps toward assuring all students have qualified teachers. a team of researchers, affiliated with ucla ’ s idea, investigated the statewide impact of williams legislation on california ’ s lowest performing schools. using a mixed methodological approach, the study documents the progress made during the first two years of williams implementation : 2004 - 05 and 2005 - 06. data for this investigation were provided through surveys, county office of education annual reports, school accountability report cards, and interviews. teacher misassignment and english learner monitoring data were made available through the california commission on teacher credentialing. the qualitative case - study design involved site visits to twelve decile 1 - 3 schools throughout the state ( southern, central, and northern california ) during the fall of 2006. williams v. california : the statewide impact of two years of implementation — the report drawn from this study — provides a comprehensive discussion of these quantitative and qualitative analyses. the report investigates the impact of the williams settlement legislation on decile 1 - 3 schools by seeking answers to the following questions : - since the enactment of the williams legislation, has access to textbooks and instructional materials increased for public school students in california? - since the enactment of the williams legislation, has access to clean, safe, and functional schools increased for public school students in california? - since the enactment of the williams legislation, has access to appropriately certificated and assigned teachers increased for public school students in california? the report can be accessed at www. decentschools. org


tarangnan is politically subdivided into 41 barangays. on the earlier part of the 18th century, tarangnan was the first settlement of the jesuits missionaries in the island of samar. even before the explusion of the jesuits, moro raids have already begun as early as 1750. samar though was not their major target because of its poverty. most of its coastal settlements were often attack by moros as they return to their bases in mindanao and sulu after raiding affluent places in luzon, bicol and west visayas. hence, for greater safety, the people settling in tinago, now tarangnan, moved to an interior site called dapdap. in the second half of the nineteenth century, the island of samar experienced a commercial boom especially in abaca with imports and exports of said products. moro raids in the island have declined due to the presence of spaniards. as the spaniards settled in samar, they saw the need of all w eather seaports and easy communications for their commercial activities and political administration. this development paved the way for the convergence of the inhabitants into the old town site of tarangnan where transport was relatively accessible. the settlement of tarangnan indeed, was growing at a much faster pace than the pueblo of dapdap. taking into consideration of the island ’ s commercial boom with prospect of tarangnan as a trading center and its religious vigilance over dapdap, gov. enrique chacon on june 21, 1881 wrote his superiors recommending the transfer of the poblacion suggesting that the poblacion be transferred from dapdap to tarangnan due to the former ’ s poor accessibility, unavailability of land area for expansion and its unsanitary environment. on april 1, 1884, tarangnan was declared as one of the municipalities of the province of samar by means of royal decree by the king of spain, king alfonso i the municipality of tarangnan has forty - one ( 41 ) duly constituted barangays with a total land area of approximately 10, 417. 1435 hectares, having a population of 18, 791 based on the 1995 nso data. the municipality is geographically situated in the west portion of the island of samar, bounded on the east by the municipality of pagsanghan, in the south by the capital city of catbalogan and on the west by the samar sea or maqueda bay. tarangnan is accessible by either land or sea. the distance of the poblacion


as americans we are all connected to each other about the way we do one thing : how we govern ourselves. the three dominant religions in the world are also about one thing : how we govern ourselves. in other words, there is a connection between religion and government — therefore national and international politics ; therefore war — that will not go away. in other words, religion lies like a force underneath the major wars we have going on today, and those brewing. studying the history of government, the founders of our country found that, one way or another, people always seemed to end up directed by a thumb not their own. thumbs were even found directing what god was heard to say! the founders were determined to reverse this condition. they wanted to create a country made up by people with the ability to lift themselves out from under a directing thumb. they devised a set of rules to live by that would give them that ability. the rules were devised to keep the thumb in its place. as americans, we pledge allegiance to those rules. allegiance is an invisible force, like gravity. like gravity, it works through the body — its only downfall. the rules extend protection even to god from thumbs directing what god was heard to say! when the thumb is kept in its place direction can come from other parts of our anatomy. the rest of the hand, for example. the rest of the body : the whole body is open to direction. eyes and ears are all about direction. so are legs. legs listen to gravity, eyes to light, ears to sound. and heart, lungs, liver,..? all are open to direction. as muslims, christians, and jews, what god was heard to say comes to us through our religion, from which those rules to live by have set us free. we have to remember why : thumbs were even found directing what god was heard to say! it remains for us to use that freedom.


born sep 6 1919 - died sep 27 2011 medical cardiac pacemaker patent number ( s ) 3, 057, 356 wilson greatbatch invented the cardiac pacemaker, an innovation selected in 1983 by the national society of professional engineers as one of the two major engineering contributions to society during the previous 50 years. greatbatch established a series of companies to manufacture or license his inventions, including greatbatch enterprises, which produces most of the world ' s pacemaker batteries. his original pacemaker patent resulted in the first implantable cardiac pacemaker, which has led to heart patient survival rates comparable to that of a healthy population of similar age. born in buffalo, new york, greatbatch received his preliminary education at public schools in west seneca, new york. in 1936 he entered military service and served in the atlantic and pacific theaters during world war ii. he was honorably discharged with the rating of aviation chief radioman in 1945. he attended cornell university and graduated with a b. e. e. in electrical engineering in 1950. greatbatch received a master ' s from the state university of new york at buffalo in 1957 and was awarded honorary doctor ' s degrees from houghton college in 1970 and state university of new york at buffalo in 1984. although trained as an electrical engineer, greatbatch primarily studied interdisciplinary areas combining engineering with medical electronics, agricultural genetics, the electrochemistry of pacemaker batteries, and the electrochemical polarization of physiological electrodes.


at 8. 4 x 12. 4 micrometers, the world ' s smallest advent calendar was created in a lab late one night in germany. the motivation for the work was that the researchers wanted to have " a nice picture of christmas to put on our homepage. " " we waited until normal business was done for the day in the clean room, " said phd student daniel neumaier at the university of regensburg, one of the three collaborators on the project. " then we went in and did it. we were just having fun. " he said the creation took about two hours. on the randomly - numbered calendar, the doors for the first six days of december are open, revealing six different images, including santa claus, a bell, a snowman and a church. the smallest images on the calendar are the glass panes on the church windows, which measure about 20nm. at the bottom of the calendar, the researchers finished with a wish : " merry christmas wish from nanonic " in german. it would take about 5 million of the calendars to fit on a postage stamp. nanonic is the start - up company founded by the three doctoral students, which supplied the computer program that guided an electron microscope in this project. using the electron microscope, the scientists etched a semiconducting wafer coated with a material called " poly ( methyl methacrylate ) " ( pmma ). by breaking the bonds of the pmma, they etched the lines and images on underlying semiconductor. later they improved the contrast with an ion beam. one of the collaborators, dieter weiss, thinks that the advent calendar is the smallest in the world, but explains that he doesn ' t know for sure. " i searched on google and could find nothing smaller, " he said. the researchers admit that other labs around the world could create similar nano - scale images, which are used primarily for scientific research, and not art. via : chemistry world


- posted january 22, 2013 by this ireport is part of an assignment : fight, bleed, die - equality? no - hhanks, cnn ireport producer we are in a new era or so we are told. it was evident during monday ' s inaugural speech by president barack obama accepting the trust of the us of a for a second term. the president made history by use of the term " gay " twice during his address to the nation. he also placed the stonewall riots of 1969 in new york city, reputed to be the start of the gay rights movement, on the same footing with the civil rights milestones of seneca falls for women ' s rights and the selma march for african - american rights. yet, as historic and how flourishing the rhetoric, which placed the fight by the glbt for equality in america by the president on the front page, it does not match up to the reality on the ground. out military service members may now openly fight in wars and battles deemed in the national interest. out members may now bleed to uphold and protect the constitution of the united states. out gay and lesbian military personel may die to ensure our freedoms guaranteed under the bill of rights. but when it comes to legal same - gender spouses having the same rights, benefits and privileges as those of opposite - gender spouses, the military and department of defense says, " no. " yes, thanks to president obama, unlike when i was in the air force, men and women no longer have to keep their sexuality in the " closet ". being out and proud is no longer an impediment to service to the nation. but, as many news reports attest in the last week and lawsuits filed in federal court over the last year, equality is still not a reality for out service members and their legal same - gender spouses. unlike opposite - gender spouses, same - gender spouses cannot recieve a military identification card. same - gender spouses are denied medical benefits and cannot seek treatment at military hospitals. same - gender couples cannot receive housing allowances offered to opposite - gender couples. from medical benefits, access to clubs and associations, base commissary privileges and so much more, these are denied to the loved ones who are legally wed same - gender spouses. the army cites that the uniform code of military justice does not provide for an exception for sexual orientation in the anti - discrimination statute. the marine corps by contrast, when it comes to clubs and associations, is pressing those civilian


same - gender spouses. the army cites that the uniform code of military justice does not provide for an exception for sexual orientation in the anti - discrimination statute. the marine corps by contrast, when it comes to clubs and associations, is pressing those civilian, but military support organizations, to open the doors to same - gender spouses if those associations want to continue to meet and operate on base. the department of defense has come out in defense of the army ' s stand. while the president talks about acceptance and furtherance of equality for same - gender couples, he has not proposed legislation to change the ucmj. the president has not sent any guidance to the dod to allow or provide for equality of same - gender spouses. talk is fine, but it is action that matters. the president ' s administration has dropped defending the 1996 defense of marriage act ( doma ) in court. but at the same time, the president has not sent legislation to congress to repeal doma. the president continues to allow his departments to discriminate against same - gender couples across the nation even in states where same - gender couples enjoy legal status. the supreme court in march will take on doma. how the court rules may either advance equality or will push the fight for equality back for a decade or more. it is time for more than just lofty speeches. it is time for action to ensure that all americans are treated equally and fairly under the law. from the cornfield, while i still believe whether to grant legal status to same - gender and opposite - gender couples falls under states rights and authority, the federal government has no business denying equality especially after a state has granted that equality. it is time for a lot less talk and a lot more action from president obama on the federal level and especially with same - gender military spouses. if our out military members can fight, bleed and die for our country, their loved ones, those spouses keeping the home fires burning deserve to be treated equally under the law.


john nott, the chef for the duke of bolton, who resided in st. jamess ’ s street, wrote this charming introduction to his cookbook, which was published in 1723 and is now in the public domain. a learned man, nott ’ s french inspired recipes show that vegetables, such as carrots and new varieties of asparagus and spinach, which were brought from overseas, were becoming more plentiful on tables. he also makes frequent mention of marmalades, blanc - manges, creams, biscuits, and sweet cakes. * the cookbook includes two peacock recipes and a collection of 13 red currant recipes. he seems to have been a fairly - read and intelligent man, and cites, in the course of his work, many celebrated names and receipts. thus we have : — to brew ale sir jonas moore ’ s way ; to make dr. butler ’ s purging ale ; ale of health and strength, by the viscount st. albans ; almond butter the cambridge way ; to dress a leg of mutton a la dauphine ; to dress mutton the turkish way ; to stew a pike the city way. dr. twin ’ s, dr. blacksmith ’ s, and dr. atkin ’ s almond butter ; an amber pudding, according to the lord conway ’ s receipt ; the countess of rutland ’ s banbury cake ; to make oxford cake ; to make portugal cakes ; and so on. - old cookery books, w. carew hazlitt, 1902 in regard to the cookbook ’ s title, it is interesting to note that an extravagant use of sugar in recipes was a sign of the wealth and status, as sugar remained a luxury item for most people until well into the 19th century. * * nott told hostesses who served desserts ( there should be as many dishes of dessert as courses offered ) to make the table arrangement perfectly symmetrical in design and color, and provided an illustration of the ideal dessert “ pyramid ”. nott included bills of fare for every month of the year. below is the one he created for january. note the absence of vegetables. nott ’ s 18th century recipe for hot milk chocolate ( said to be rich and delicious ) : 1 quart milk 4 ounces chocolate without sugar 1 / 8 ounce fine sugar 1 / 8 ounce flour or starch salt to taste mix, dissolve and bring to a boil before serving hot. nott ’ s recipe for a posset, the 18th century version of a nightcap :


zechariah 12 - 14 is the second oracle of the second half of the book of zechariah. the first half of zechariah contained eight visions ( zechariah 1 - 6 ) and four messages ( zechariah 7 - 8 ). the second half of zechariah comes in the form of two oracles ( the hebrew term only occurs in zechariah 9 : 1, 12 : 1 and malachi 1 : 1 ). the first ( zechariah 9 - 11 ) promised a restored israel — both judah and ephraim — but delayed the promise due to the rejection of yahweh ’ s appointed shepherd. the second oracle ( zechariah 12 - 14 ) envisions a bright future for israel and uses apocalyptic ( eschatological ) language to describe the day when god will realize his promises for israel. zechariah 12 - 14 falls into two halves with a transitional poem between them. the first half ( zechariah 12 : 2 - 13 : 6 ) describes the triumph of israel in the wake of their mournful laments and their subsequent cleansing. the second half ( zechariah 14 ) envisions a day of rejoicing when even the nations of the earth will worship yahweh and everything will be inscribed “ holy to yahweh. ” the transitional poem ( zechariah 13 : 7 - 9 ) celebrates the redemption of the remnant of israel. zechariah 12 - 14, then, narrates the final disposition of israel in god ’ s eschatological agenda. structurally, zechariah 12 : 1 functions as a superscription for the whole oracle containing a doxological or liturgical affirmation of yahweh while the term “ behold ” ( hinneh ) identifies new sections. the language recalls the creative work of god, particularly in the isaianic tradition ( cf. isaiah 42 : 5 ; 44 : 24 ; 45 : 12 ; 51 : 13 ) : stretching out the heavens, laying the foundation of the earth, and forming the spirit of humanity within them. this liturgical memory underscores god ’ s universal claim upon the heavens and earth as well as upon all humanity ( including the nations ). further, it emphasizes god ’ s ability to actualize what is promised concerning israel. moreover, and perhaps most significantly, the imagery shapes this new work of god which is the stretching, laying and forming of a new


humanity ( including the nations ). further, it emphasizes god ’ s ability to actualize what is promised concerning israel. moreover, and perhaps most significantly, the imagery shapes this new work of god which is the stretching, laying and forming of a new creation — a new humanity upon a new heavens and new earth in a new jerusalem ( cf. isaiah 65 : 17ff ). god is about to repeat his creative work which means redemption for israel, the nations and the whole earth. the hebrew phrase, literally translated “ and [ it ] shall be on that day … ” occurs three times in zechariah 12 - 13 — at 12 : 3, 12 : 9 and 13 : 2. this is a structural device for the first half of the second oracle in zechariah 9 - 14. the first half of the oracle is thereby divided into three messages : ( 1 ) the renewed status of israel, particularly judah, jerusalem and the house of david ( zechariah 12 : 2 - 8 ) ; ( 2 ) the mourning of israel over the pierced one ( zechariah 12 : 9 - 13 : 1 ) ; and ( 3 ) the cleansing of israel from idolatry and false prophecy ( zechariah 13 : 2 - 6 ). zechariah 12 : 2 is a thematic or thesis sentence for the first movement within zechariah 12 - 13. judah and jerusalem will be besieged by the nations but the nations will stagger from their encounter as a person drunk with wine. as the succeeding verses recount, this will be a “ day, ” that is, an eschatological or apocalyptic day. it is the vision of an ultimate future, the goal of god ’ s work in israel. it is an “ end - time ” vision of the “ day ” of redemption. on that day ( 12 : 3 ), jerusalem will be an “ immovable rock. ” the nations will hit a brick wall. the nations are powerless before jerusalem. on that day ( 12 : 4 - 5 ), yahweh will blind the horses and their riders from among the nations but will benevolently and graciously keep a watchful eye upon judah. the leaders of judah will recognize that yahweh is the god of jerusalem. on that day ( 12 : 6 - 7 ), the leaders of judah will consume the surrounding peoples like grass in a wildfire or a firepot deposited in a woodpile. jerusalem will be safe. yahweh will preserve the


america ' s digital divide is narrowing in some respects, mainly due to the rise of mobile computing, but other metrics indicate that it is solidifying along income, age, and educational lines, according to a new report from the pew internet project. some 63 percent of u. s. adults now access the internet through a mobile device like a cell phone, laptop, ereader, or tablet, pew reported in asummary of its survey of 2, 260 adults aged 18 and older conducted between july 25 and aug. 26, 2011. the rise of mobile has helped to narrow the digital divide between white americans and minorities, according to pew. " even beyond smartphones, both african americans and english - speaking latinos are as likely as whites to own any sort of mobile phone, and are more likely to use their phones for a wider range of activities, " the report stated. all told, some 88 percent of american adults own a cell phone, while the breakdown of ownership for other types of mobile devices capable of internet access was 57 percent for laptops, 19 percent for ereaders, and 19 percent for tablets. the study also found that adults in their thirties and forties were more likely than younger respondents to say they owned an ereader or a tablet. the rate at which smartphone users access the internet with those devices also broke down along demographic lines. younger smartphone owners, minorities, those with lower income levels, and less educated respondents were " more likely than other groups to say that their phone is their main source of internet access, " according to the study. while mobile devices have given some groups of americans more access to the internet than they had when pew first began studying internet usage patterns in 2000, there still exists a stark line between internet haves and have - nots that closely parallels broader patterns of wealth disparity in the country, and also tracks with educational levels, the use of english, and age of respondents. a full fifth of american adults don ' t use the internet at all, according to the pew report. looming large among that group were " [ s ] enior citizens, those who prefer to take our interviews in spanish rather than english, adults with less than a high school education, and those living in households earning less than $ 30, 000 per year. " half of those respondents who said they don ' t go online told pew that " they don ' t think the internet is relevant to them. " somewhat shockingly in such a wired age, most non - internet users said they


rotavirus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. it can be a serious condition in young children. fortunately, there is a rotavirus vaccine that has been proven effective at preventing this infection. one of the first rotavirus vaccines was associated with an increased risk of intussusception in first few weeks after vaccine. intussusception is a condition where intestines folds on itself and cause a blockage or damage to the intestines. it is the most common abdominal emergency in children under 2 years of age. this original rotavirus vaccine was removed from use and newer versions of rotavirus appear to be much safer. researchers from the united states wanted to assess any remaining risk of intussusception with the newer generation of rotavirus vaccines. the study, published in journal of american medical association, did not find an increased risk of intussusception in infants receiving the rotavirus vaccine. about the study the retrospective cohort study included 786, 725 doses of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine ( rv5 ) of which 309, 844 were first doses. infants included in the study were aged 4 - 34 weeks who received the vaccine between 2006 - 2010. researchers then gathered historical data on rate of intussusception in children who did not receive vaccines during this same time period. this value was called expected case rate and was compared to rate of intussusception in children with vaccine to. intussusception developed in : - 21 infants that had received vaccine vs. 20. 9 infants without vaccination ( not significant ) during 1 - 30 days after vaccine - 4 infants with vaccine vs. 4. 3 infants without vaccination ( not significant ) during 1 - 7 day window after vaccine how does this affect you? rotavirus vaccine is an effective method of reducing incidence and serious side effects of a rotavirus infections in infants. its use has been associated with significant reductions in the number of infants needing medical care for these types of infections. this type of study is an observational study which can decrease its reliability. however, there was a large number of infants in this trial and side effects for vaccines are carefully monitored. the lack of difference is a safe assumption of the vaccine ' s safety. the cause of intussusception is not clear. while past rotavirus vaccines were associated with a small increase in risk, viral infections may also be associated with intussusception. so an unvaccinated child ' s increased risk of rotavirus


pityriasis rosea is a common skin rash. it occurs most often in children and young adults. the rash is scaly and reddish - pink. it may first appear on the back, stomach, or chest. the rash can then spread to the neck, arms, and legs. the rash may last for several months. it will usually go away on its own. talk to your doctor if you have a widespread rash. the cause of pityriasis rosea is unknown. it may be caused by viruses or certain medicine, such as antibiotics or heart medications. if you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to pityriasis rosea. they may be caused by other health conditions. symptoms associated with pityriasis rosea include : - feeling ill — you may feel ill like you are getting a cold just before the rash appears. having a herald patch — often the first lesion to appear. - large, oval, scaly patch that is often on the back, stomach, armpit, or chest. - lesions found on the back tend to form a “ christmas tree ” pattern. - more lesions that appear after several days. mild to severe itching of the lesions — not typically itchy, but may occur in some patients - itching worsens when the body overheats. this may happen during physical activities or after taking a hot shower. - skin redness or inflammation - feeling tired and achy if symptoms last for more than three months, contact your doctor. your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. a physical exam will be done. you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders. a specialist can usually diagnose pityriasis rosea by looking at your rash. - blood tests - skin scrape - skin biopsy — removal of a sample of skin tissue from the lesion to test for pityriasis rosea there is no cure for pityriasis rosea. the rash will usually go away on its own. treatment may be able to relieve some of the symptoms, such as itching. treatment options include the following : medications to relieve itching and inflammation caused by pityriasis rosea include : - antihistamine pills - steroid pills - steroid creams or ointments - calamine lotion - avoid physical activities that can raise your body temperature. this can make itching worse. - avoid hot baths or showers. oatmeal baths may also soothe the itching. - sunlight or medical treatment with artificial ultraviolet


seeing red, or green - chemistry of color vision dr. ali zand is researching the chemistry underlying our ability to perceive colors and its implications on color blindness. at first glance, dr. ali zand ' s research on the chemistry of color vision defies the very foundation of the art world, where red, blue and yellow are the " primary colors " from whence all other colors are made. in the chemistry world, the colors are determined by red, blue and green proteins - heresy to those schooled in the universally accepted theory of the color wheel. according to zand, associate professor of chemistry at kettering university, the human eye perceives all colors based on three colored proteins ( rhodopsins ) : red, blue and green. before all the artists and art majors start rioting in the streets, take a moment to consider the chemistry that backs up zand ' s claim. " why humans see different colors is based on how these proteins react in the cone cells of the eye, " he said. " there is only one chromophore ( one molecule ) that is responsible for a chemical reaction that takes place in the eye allowing humans to see, " zand said, " that molecule is retinal, a form of vitamin a. " retinal combines with a protein called opsin to form rhodopsin, the chemical entity ( protein ) responsible for vision. opsins are found in the rod and cone cells of the eye. zand ' s research is concerned with the question ' if there is only one molecule involved in vision, how can that one molecule allow us to see so many different colors? " to find out, zand, and dr. babak borhan, associate professor of chemistry at michigan state university and his research group, collaborated to engineer a protein that could mimic rhodopsin ' s response to chemical and physical changes. they had to engineer a surrogate protein because rhodopsin is a membrane - bound protein that could not easily be separated and purified for research purposes. " rhodopsin has to stay within the membrane to maintain its conformation ( shape ), " said zand. " we engineered a protein called cellular retinoic acid - binding protein ii ( crap ii - who said scientists don ' t have a sense of humor? ) to use in research. " to understand the importance of this crap ii protein, it ' s necessary to explain the process of vision. when the light hits the eye


( crap ii - who said scientists don ' t have a sense of humor? ) to use in research. " to understand the importance of this crap ii protein, it ' s necessary to explain the process of vision. when the light hits the eye it passes through the cornea, the lens and the vitreous fluid. those three objects focus the light on the tissue lining the inner part of the eye, which is the retina. the retina is made up of thousands of rod and cone cells that are activated through the absorption of light by rhodopsin. inside of the active site of opsin is 11 - cis - retinal. the chemical structure of cis - retinal has a bend in its carbon structure that straightens out ( becomes more planar ) when light is absorbed. this causes a cascade of events. rhodopsin is a g - protein coupled receptor ; it binds itself to and activates the g - protein called transducin. when rhodopsin absorbs light, transducin releases a subunit of its molecular structure called the alpha segment. the alpha segment attaches itself to another protein leading to cascade of events resulting in closure of calcium ion channels within the cell. this causes a gradient in ion concentrations inside the cell versus outside the cell, initiating an electrical impulse that leads to a neurotransmitter release into a synapse. the neurotransmitter is picked up by another neuron and the neuron transmits the signal to the brain resulting in a visual image. ' the rod cells are very sensitive to different shades of light and darkness ; and cone cells are actually the cells that allow humans to see color ', said zand. the rod cell has an outer segment that has various membranous discs containing a seven - alpha - helical protein ( seven alpha helixes that are bound together like a barrel ) called opsin. cone cells possess the same discs, but they are part of the actual cell membrane of the cone cell, notdisconnected from the plasma membrane as in the rod cells. in the cone cell there are three different types of opsins : red opsin, blue opsin and green opsin. the wavelength where retinal absorbs light is different for each. the blue rhodopsin absorbs at 420 nanometers ; green rhodopsin absorbs at 530 nanometers and red rhodopsin absorbs at 570 nanometers. there may


is different for each. the blue rhodopsin absorbs at 420 nanometers ; green rhodopsin absorbs at 530 nanometers and red rhodopsin absorbs at 570 nanometers. there may be only one chromophore ( retinal ), but because the proteins are a little different, the way the retinal is attached to a protein has a great deal of affect on its wavelength of absorption. " color blindness results when the absorption wavelengths of red rhodopsin and green rhodopsin are closer together. red and green rhodopsin are 96 percent sequence identical, " said zand. all the rhodopsins have about 348 amino acids and two oligosaccharide ( sugar ) chains. human red and green cone proteins differ by only 15 amino acids. hence, the color blindness arises from either mutations or lack of one or more of the opsin proteins. although color vision deficiencies are termed color blindness, in reality it is simply a reduced ability to distinguish between colors. most people who are color blind cannot distinguish between red and green because mutations in red rhodopsin can lead to shift in absorbance from 570 nm to 530 nm and vice versa. these individuals can, however, distinguish between blue and red or blue and green because blue absorbs at a much lower wavelength. however, they cannot distinguish between red and green. " there are people who lack cone pigments or within whim the opsins within the cone cells are non - functional, and they can only see shades of black, white and gray, " zand said, " but it ' s very rare. " scientists have proposed many different theories to explain why this one molecule absorbs light at three different wavelengths and allows us to see different colors. one theory is related to how the protein arranges itself around the retinal and the bend inthe carbon structure of retinal. when the structure is bent, the carbons are not on the same plane. the more bent the structure the more blue - shifted the light absorption is going to be. another hypothesis relates to the point at which retinal attaches to opsin. at the attachment point there is a nitrogen molecule with a positive charge. because the positive charge requires a counter ion - a negative charge, the location of that negative charge is very crucial. the retinal becomes more planar in the active site as the distance between the positive and negative charges


molecule with a positive charge. because the positive charge requires a counter ion - a negative charge, the location of that negative charge is very crucial. the retinal becomes more planar in the active site as the distance between the positive and negative charges increases. therefore, it is hypothesized that the negative charge and positive charge are very close in blue rhodopsin whereas they are far apart in the red rhodopsin. zand and the researchers at michigan state university have engineered the crap ii protein to bind to retinal instead of retinoic acid, and they are currently looking at whether they can prove these hypotheses by measuring how twisted the molecule is within the active site as well as trying to mimic the rhodopsin in changing the positions of the negative charges. their tests will attempt to show if a shift in the absorption from red to green to blue can be accomplished by merely changing the position of the counter - ion ( negative charge ) within the protein active - site, or by causing different twists in the retinal. could unraveling the chemistry underlying our color vision enable science to chemically alter someone ' s eye so they could see color if they were colorblind? " the only way that could be done is through stem cell research or gene therapy, by inoculating the eye with stem cells that would eventually differentiate into rod and cone cells possessing healthy proteins enabling the person to see color, " said zand. for all those artists who still insist the primary colors are red, blue and yellow, zand sympathizes, but said yellow is merely " green " with envy. written by dawn hibbard


you ' re in the middle of a meeting at work, but your mind keeps drifting to the parent - teacher conference you have tonight... and the car you have to pick up at the shop on the way home... and how you wish you hadn ' t skipped lunch because the rumbling in your stomach is driving you nuts. then, suddenly, you ' re back in the moment, hoping nobody noticed your brief " departure. " it may seem as if your brain is always on the go. and it is. the brain not only controls what you think and feel, how you learn and remember, and the way you move and talk, but also many things you ' re less aware of — such as the beating of your heart, the digestion of your food, and yes, even the amount of stress you feel. like you, your brain is quite the juggler. anatomy of the nervous system if you think of the brain as a central computer that controls all bodily functions, then the nervous system is like a network that relays messages back and forth from the brain to different parts of the body. it does this via the spinal cord, which runs from the brain down through the back and contains threadlike nerves that branch out to every organ and body part. when a message comes into the brain from anywhere in the body, the brain tells the body how to react. for example, if you accidentally touch a hot stove, the nerves in your skin shoot a message of pain to your brain. the brain then sends a message back telling the muscles in your hand to pull away. luckily, this neurological relay race takes a lot less time than it just took to read about it. considering everything it does, the human brain is incredibly compact, weighing just 3 pounds. its many folds and grooves, though, provide it with the additional surface area necessary for storing all of the body ' s important information. the spinal cord, on the other hand, is a long bundle of nerve tissue about 18 inches long and ¾ inch thick. it extends from the lower part of the brain down through spine. along the way, various nerves branch out to the entire body. these make up the peripheral nervous system. both the brain and the spinal cord are protected by bone : the brain by the bones of the skull, and the spinal cord by a set of ring - shaped bones called vertebrae. they ' re both cushioned by layers of membranes called meninges as well as a special fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. this fluid helps protect


the skull, and the spinal cord by a set of ring - shaped bones called vertebrae. they ' re both cushioned by layers of membranes called meninges as well as a special fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. this fluid helps protect the nerve tissue, keep it healthy, and remove waste products. the brain is made up of three main sections : the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. 1. the forebrain the forebrain is the largest and most complex part of the brain. it consists of the cerebrum — the area with all the folds and grooves typically seen in pictures of the brain — as well as some other structures beneath it. the cerebrum contains the information that essentially makes us who we are : our intelligence, memory, personality, emotion, speech, and ability to feel and move. specific areas of the cerebrum are in charge of processing these different types of information. these are called lobes, and there are four of them : the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. the cerebrum has right and left halves, called hemispheres, which are connected in the middle by a band of nerve fibers ( the corpus collosum ) that enables the two sides to communicate. though these halves may look like mirror images of each other, many scientists believe they have different functions. the left side is considered the logical, analytical, objective side. the right side is thought to be more intuitive, creative, and subjective. so when you ' re balancing the checkbook, you ' re using the left side ; when you ' re listening to music, you ' re using the right side. it ' s believed that some people are more " right - brained " or " left - brained " while others are more " whole - brained, " meaning they use both halves of their brain to the same degree. the outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cortex ( also known as " gray matter " ). information collected by the five senses comes into the brain from the spinal cord to the cortex. this information is then directed to other parts of the nervous system for further processing. for example, when you touch the hot stove, not only does a message go out to move your hand but one also goes to another part of the brain to help you remember not to do that again. in the inner part of the forebrain sits the thalamus, hypothalamus


only does a message go out to move your hand but one also goes to another part of the brain to help you remember not to do that again. in the inner part of the forebrain sits the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. the thalamus carries messages from the sensory organs like the eyes, ears, nose, and fingers to the cortex. the hypothalamus controls the pulse, thirst, appetite, sleep patterns, and other processes in our bodies that happen automatically. it also controls the pituitary gland, which makes the hormones that control our growth, metabolism, digestion, sexual maturity, and response to stress. 2. the midbrain the midbrain, located underneath the middle of the forebrain, acts as a master coordinator for all the messages going in and out of the brain to the spinal cord. 3. the hindbrain the hindbrain sits underneath the back end of the cerebrum, and it consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. the cerebellum — also called the " little brain " because it looks like a small version of the cerebrum — is responsible for balance, movement, and coordination. the pons and the medulla, along with the midbrain, are often called the brainstem. the brainstem takes in, sends out, and coordinates all of the brain ' s messages. it also controls many of the body ' s automatic functions, like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion, and blinking. the basic functioning of the nervous system depends a lot on tiny cells called neurons. the brain has billions of them, and they have many specialized jobs. for example, sensory neurons take information from the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin to the brain. motor neurons carry messages away from the brain and back to the rest of the body. all neurons, however, relay information to each other through a complex electrochemical process, making connections that affect the way we think, learn, move, and behave. intelligence, learning, and memory. at birth, the nervous system contains all the neurons you will ever have, but many of them are not connected to each other. as you grow and learn, messages travel from one neuron to another over and over, creating connections, or pathways, in the brain. it ' s why driving seemed to take so much concentration when you first learned but now is second nature :


. as you grow and learn, messages travel from one neuron to another over and over, creating connections, or pathways, in the brain. it ' s why driving seemed to take so much concentration when you first learned but now is second nature : the pathway became established. in young children, the brain is highly adaptable ; in fact, when one part of a young child ' s brain is injured, another part can often learn to take over some of the lost function. but as we age, the brain has to work harder to make new neural pathways, making it more difficult to master new tasks or change established behavior patterns. that ' s why many scientists believe it ' s important to keep challenging your brain to learn new things and make new connections — it helps keeps the brain active over the course of a lifetime. memory is another complex function of the brain. the things we ' ve done, learned, and seen are first processed in the cortex, and then, if we sense that this information is important enough to remember permanently, it ' s passed inward to other regions of the brain ( such as the hippocampus and amygdala ) for long - term storage and retrieval. as these messages travel through the brain, they too create pathways that serve as the basis of our memory. movement. different parts of the cerebrum are responsible for moving different body parts. the left side of the brain controls the movements of the right side of the body, and the right side of the brain controls the movements of the left side of the body. when you press the accelerator with your right foot, for example, it ' s the left side of your brain that sends the message allowing you to do it. basic body functions. a part of the peripheral nervous system called the autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling many of the body processes we almost never need to think about, like breathing, digestion, sweating, and shivering. the autonomic nervous system has two parts : the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for sudden stress, like if you see a robbery taking place. when something frightening happens, the sympathetic nervous system makes the heart beat faster so that it sends blood more quickly to the different body parts that might need it. it also causes the adrenal glands at the top of the kidneys to release adrenaline, a hormone that helps give extra power to the muscles for a quick getaway. this process is known as the body ' s " fight


might need it. it also causes the adrenal glands at the top of the kidneys to release adrenaline, a hormone that helps give extra power to the muscles for a quick getaway. this process is known as the body ' s " fight or flight " response. the parasympathetic nervous system does the exact opposite : it prepares the body for rest. it also helps the digestive tract move along so our bodies can efficiently take in nutrients from the food we eat. the senses. your spouse may be a sight for sore eyes at the end of a long day — but without the brain, you wouldn ' t even recognize him or her. pepperoni pizza sure is delicious — but without the brain, your taste buds wouldn ' t be able to tell if you were eating pizza or the box it came in. none of your senses would be useful without the processing that occurs in the brain. sight. sight probably tells us more about the world than any other sense. light entering the eye forms an upside - down image on the retina. the retina transforms the light into nerve signals for the brain. the brain then turns the image right - side up and tells us what we are seeing. hearing. every sound we hear is the result of sound waves entering our ears and causing our eardrums to vibrate. these vibrations are then transferred along the tiny bones of the middle ear and converted into nerve signals. the cortex then processes these signals, telling us what we are hearing. taste. the tongue contains small groups of sensory cells called taste buds that react to chemicals in foods. taste buds react to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. messages are sent from the taste buds to the areas in the cortex responsible for processing taste. smell. olfactory cells in the mucous membranes lining each nostril react to chemicals we breathe in and send messages along specific nerves to the brain — which, according to experts, can distinguish between more than 10, 000 different smells. with that kind of sensitivity, it ' s no wonder research suggests that smells are very closely linked to our memories. touch. the skin contains more than 4 million sensory receptors — mostly concentrated in the fingers, tongue, and lips — that gather information related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and send it to the brain for processing and reaction. because the brain controls just about everything, when something goes wrong with it, it ' s often serious and can affect many different parts of the body. inherited diseases, brain disorders associated with mental illness, and