this famous temple to the god of healing and the sun was built towards the middle of the 5th century b. c. in the lonely heights of the arcadian mountains. the temple, which has the oldest corinthian capital yet found, combines the archaic style and the serenity of the doric style with some daring architectural features. temple of apollo epicurius at bassae isolated as it is in a conserved environment, the temple of bassae is an outstanding example of a hellenic votive sanctuary in a rural setting. it represents a unique artistic achievement, remarkable for its archaic features ( elongated surface, an exceptional proportion of 15 columns on the longer side and 6 columns on the facade, and a north - south exposure ), and for its daring innovations ( the use of ionic and corinthian orders for a doric edifice, the variety of materials used, and the originality of the layout of the cella and the adyton ). the temple was dedicated by the inhabitants of philagia to apollo epicurius, the god - healer who had come to their aid when they were beset by the plague. its ruins rise majestically to 1, 130 m high in the mountainous region of arcadia in the heart of the peloponnese, near andritsaina. built in the second half of the 5th century bc ( c. 420 - 410 bc? ), it belongs to the first generation of post - parthenonian edifices. pausanias admired its beauty and harmony and, moreover, attributed it to the architect ictinos, although contemporary archaeologists have been unable to provide confirmation. with its elongated dimensions ( 39. 87 m by 16. 13 m ), the peripteral structure is built mainly in grey limestone of local origin. the outer colonnade of the hexastyle temple respects an extremely strict doric order ( the metopes are not sculptured ). inside, however, fine - quality sculpturing blends with a more sophisticated architectural style. the front of the pronaos and the opisthodomos, with two in antis columns, restate the doric order. in the cella, however, a series of embedded ionic columns stand against low support walls. on the southern side, where an adyton is located, the last two ionic columns standing in the cella at the far end of the oblique walls flank one corinthian column which stands alone in the centre of the temple. the decoration is


the southern side, where an adyton is located, the last two ionic columns standing in the cella at the far end of the oblique walls flank one corinthian column which stands alone in the centre of the temple. the decoration is notable, particularly by virtue of the different materials used : the walls and the bases and tambours of the columns are limestone, and the ionic capitals and the corinthian capital are in doliana marble, as are the sculptured metopes of the exterior frieze of the cella, the plates of the ionic frieze which runs along the inside of the sanctuary, the guttae, the roof supports and the roofing tiles. the capital of the central column of the temple of bassae is the most ancient conserved corinthian capital, and as such the temple may be considered a model for all ' corinthian ' monuments of greek, roman and subsequent civilizations. being located away from the city, the temple long remained undiscovered. a french architect came upon it accidentally in 1765 and brought it to the attention of the academic world. the first archaeological investigation in 1812 was profitable but at the same time prejudicial for the integrity of the site. the discovery of the ionic frieze ' s 22 sculptured plates ultimately divested the site of these remarkable sculptures, which were acquired in 1814 by order of the future king george iv of england and transferred to the british museum along with the corinthian capital. deprived of decorations of exceptional quality ( a centauromachy and an amazonomachy ), the temple of bassae was carefully restored in 1902, but in 1965 the critical state of the monument called for renewed renovation. source : unesco / clt / whc


monday, november 5, 2012 climate change : sandy as a teachable moment how to make hurricane sandy a teachable moment by richard h. schwartz, ph. d. in the aftermath of hurricane sandy, the prime concern now must be to help the many people who are suffering greatly from its effects. at the same time we should not miss an opportunity when appropriate to respectfully and cordially increase awareness of the many important lessons related to the monstrous storm. 1. climate change can have disastrous consequences. in addition to the tens of millions of people who are greatly suffering due to hurricane sandy, please also consider how food prices are spiking because the us corn crop was devastated as almost 2 / 3 of the us is suffering from drought, and the many houses lost and acres of forests destroyed due to severe, widespread wildfires in many states. also, there are great potential dangers at a time when glaciers all over the world and polar icecaps are melting far faster than the worst - case projections of climate scientists. 2. we may be facing a new normal, with severe heat waves, droughts, wildfires, wild fires, and storms that are more frequent and more severe. hurricane sandy is the type of “ extreme climate event ” that global warming models predict. while some are in denial about the planet warming, we should consider that every decade since the 1970s has been warmer than the previous decade ; the ten warmest years since temperature records have been kept have occurred since 1998 ; july 2012 was the single hottest month for the us since such records were kept in 1995. 3. it is essential that saving the planetary environment become a central focus for civilization today. unfortunately, climate change was not even mentioned in the 2012 us presidential and vice presidential debates. 4. the federal government, through fema, can play a very important role in responding to disasters. however, if mitt romney had his way, there would be no fema and we would have to depend for help on the profit - driven private sector. also, the ryan budget would reduce funding for fema as well as many other programs that americans depend on, mainly to continue and increase tax benefits for the wealthiest americans and highly profitable corporations. 5. republicans are generally in denial about the tremendous dangers from climate change, despite a very strong consensus in over a thousand peer - reviewed articles in scientific journals and dire warnings by scientific academies all over the world that climate change is a major threat, largely caused by human activities, and despite the many wake - up calls we have been receiving in


signaling is defined by yvain as " a method of conveying information among not - necessarily - trustworthy parties by performing an action which is more likely or less costly if the information is true than if it is not true ". some signaling is performed exclusively to impress others ( to improve your status ), and in some cases isn ' t even worth that. in other cases, signaling is a side - effect of an otherwise useful activity. for example, if doing something is easy for one type of person and hard for another type of person, you might do that thing just to get people to think you ' re the former type of person, even if the thing isn ' t in itself worth doing. this could explain many facets of human behavior, and reveal opportunities for reducing waste. not all signaling is about abilities. signaling can also be about personality, current emotional state, beliefs, loyalty to a particular group, status within a group, etc. by robin hanson - do helping professions help more? and gifts hurt - excess signaling example - a tale of two tradeoffs - why signals are shallow - " we all want to affiliate with high status people, but since status is about common distant perceptions of quality, we often care more about what distant observers would think about our associates than about how we privately evaluate them. " - signals are forever - least signaling activities? - what is signaling, really? by yvain - think before you speak ( and signal it ) by wei dai - declare your signaling and hidden agendas by kaj sotala - modularity, signaling, and belief in belief by kaj sotala


administratively, yunnan is divided into 16 prefectures. some of those are autonomous prefectures for various ethnic groups. for the traveller, yunnan can be divided into seven regions : regions of yunnan kunming prefecture without a doubt the heart of yunnan province. you will likely pass through here whether or not you want to in yunnan ( not that it is a bad thing! ) central yunnan west of kunming and where the hills start becoming more rugged. this is a very popular region for backpackers. it includes dali prefecture and chuxiong prefecture eastern yunnan filled with the gorgeous scenery of the rolling hills of neighboring guizhou and guangxi transforming into the high, hilly plateau of yunnan. this area includes many tourist sites not regularly visited by backpackers. it includes zhaotong prefecture, qujing prefecture and wenshan prefecture southeastern yunnan amazingly diverse, in one day you could pass through arid badlands, lush pine forests, barren hills and tropical rainforests. the urban centres in this area of yunnan are very compact and it is quite easy to get around from city to city to see the sights. it includes yuxi prefecture and honghe hani and yi autonomous prefecture southern yunnan geographically and ethnically part of southeast asia, but politically part of china. jungle covers most of the terrain and this is probably the best region of china to escape the winter. it includes simao prefecture and xishuangbanna, a major tourist area western yunnan home to some very rugged, off - the - beaten - path terrain. once the location of the famed burma road, it is now one of china ' s most alluring destinations. it includes lincang prefecture, baoshan prefecture, dehong prefecture and nujiang prefecture northwestern yunnan a chunk of ancient and historic tibet within yunnan ' s provincial boundaries. many travelers come here to experience tibet without having to enter the actual province and follow the road to west sichuan. you will find towering mountain ranges and fascinating local culture here. it includes lijiang prefecture and diqing prefecture its name literally means south of the clouds. the province is one of the most diverse in china. the northwest of the province is heavily influenced by tibet, with whom it shares a border. the south is influenced by its proximity to laos and myanmar. the province is famed for its multitude of ethnic groups, whose diverse customs can still be seen today. of china ' s fifty - five officially recognized ethnic minorities, twenty - five can be found in yunnan : about one - third of the population is not ethnic han - chinese. the official language of yunnan is


whose diverse customs can still be seen today. of china ' s fifty - five officially recognized ethnic minorities, twenty - five can be found in yunnan : about one - third of the population is not ethnic han - chinese. the official language of yunnan is mandarin chinese ( or putonghua as it is known ). the region is home to a plethora of dialects from chinese, tibetan and thai language families. yunnan is home to many minority groups who each have their own different language. local towns will often have their own version of mandarin which are sub - dialects of the south - western dialect of mandarin common to yunnan, guizhou and sichuan. despite a heavy accent, the local dialect of chinese is very similar to northern mandarin with only minor regional differences in grammar and pronunciation. until 2005, kunming was accessible by rail from hanoi, vietnam via a narrow - gauge railroad built by the french. the chinese section of this rail route is now closed, though, so the best way to get down to the border is by bus to hekou ( from where you can cross the border to lao cai and take the train to hanoi ), or by air from kunming directly to hanoi. there is a railway from hanoi to nanning, guangxi, and one with some sensational scenery from nanning to kunming. another rail route reaches kunming from central china via guiyang, guizhou, and a third one comes south to kunming from chengdu, sichuan. all of these train routes offer spectacular scenery, with long stretches of bridges and tunnels. wujiaba airport in kunming is the biggest airport in yunnan which is very near the urban, the taxi fare is about 10 - 15 rmb if you want to go to any place of kunming from the airport. kunming has non - stop service from beijing, xiamen and other chinese cities. there are also flights to southeast asia. laotian airlines and the consulate are both in the camellia hotel, kunming. bus, by thumb there are multiple roads from laos into yunnan. it ' s not too hard to hitchhike, but it will take some time because of the often abyssmal road conditions and inept drivers. if coming from luang namtha, laos, bus services are available to jinghong in xishuangbanna, yunnan. from luang prabang, laos, a daily bus leaves at 7 : 00am for around 400, 000 lao kip. it arrives at the long distance bus station in kunming very early in the


xishuangbanna, yunnan. from luang prabang, laos, a daily bus leaves at 7 : 00am for around 400, 000 lao kip. it arrives at the long distance bus station in kunming very early in the morning the next day ( around 5 or 6am depending on the driver ). the road conditions on the laos side both from luang namtha and luang prabang are at times sketchy and definitely mountainous to cause some people discomfort but get smoother on the china side and are much improved from awhile ago. from vietnam, the border crossing is from laocai, vietnam, to hekou, china. the rail route from hekou to kunming remains closed, so the only public transport option is by bus. the ride lasts roughly 10 hours, tickets cost around 135rmb and departure times are as following : 8 : 45am, 1050am, 1230pm, 100pm, 550pm, 555pm, 600pm, 605pm. golden peacock shipping company runs a speedboat three times a week on the mekong river between jinghong in southern yunnan and chiang saen ( thailand ). passengers are not required to have visas for laos or myanmar, although the greater part of the trip is on the river bordering these countries. everything and everywhere is accessible by bus from kunming. dali takes about four hours, lijiang seven, zhongdian twelve. generally, the transport network is built as hub and spoke, so the easiest way of getting to a smaller place is to travel to next biggest town near it, change and maybe change again. you can now reach most larger towns in yunnan by day bus. there is a large collection of bus schedules, taken at bus stations all around the province, at. kunming is also the hub of train transport in yunnan. day and night trains now go both to dali and lijiang. otherwise trains are of little importance to tourists inside the province. bicycle touring in yunnan is a very good way to explore the local landscape and many cyclists from world have done this. the dian - zang highway ( yunnan tibet highway ) is one of the best cycling routes in china, and many cyclists gather together to explore the landscape and ethnic minority culture. you can hire bicycles in some cities, like lijiang and dali. it is possible to delivery your bike by train or bus. yunnan cycling a local cycling website. the caves of the liujng ( wenshan region ) the stone forest ( kunming region ) hike the me


cities, like lijiang and dali. it is possible to delivery your bike by train or bus. yunnan cycling a local cycling website. the caves of the liujng ( wenshan region ) the stone forest ( kunming region ) hike the mekong ( lancang ) river soak in the hot spring waters at anning - 34 km from kunming for the game of go ( chinese : weiqi ), the best chinese stones are yunzi ( 子 ), yunnan stones. they are quite different from japanese stones, and much cheaper. the flower and bird market in kunming is a good place to pick up a set, and it is possible to visit the factory near kunming. see the yunzi article on the go players ' wiki, sensei ' s library. puer tea. puer tea ( ) is a local favorite of yunnan. guo qiao mi xian, meaning " crossing the bridge " noodles, is a local style of steamy noodles with a variety of vegetables, meats, and usually a raw quail egg. the price of guo qiao mi xian is from rmb 3 to 15 or higher, which determines what types of dishes you are given to add to the mix. yunnan people eat lots of spicy food, nearly each dish you order in a restaurant is very spicy, so if you don ' t like spicy food, you should tell the waiter or waitress first, in mandarin : wo bu chi la, which means i don ' t eat spicy food or wo bu xi huan la cai, which means i don ' t like spicy food. the tofu in shi ping county / 石 / is very famous. the sauerkraut in xinping county is famous. xinping is a yi nationality autonomous county in yuxi city. rubing, yunnan goat cheese, is one of the two cheeses ( the other being yak cheese ) traditionally produced in china. its quite soft and doesn ' t taste as strong as western ones. it is usually served fried with vegetables, musrooms, or meat. laonaiyangyu ( grandmother ' s potatoes ) are another yunnan favorite. while potatoes are usually called tudou in the rest of china, yunnan calls them yangyu ( yang is a term often designating imported or foreign things, so supposedly potatoes were called ' yangyu ' because they were not originally part of chinese agriculture and diets but were a food choice adopted from foreigners ). laonaiyangyu


the evidence for a rapid shift in state of the terrestrial atmosphere - ocean system over the last two centuries ( see figure 1 ) requires a deep time perspective, beyond events of the day. tracing the original blueprints of anthropogenic effects on the terrestrial environments takes us back at least a million years to the time when – according to research released this month – the first compelling evidence for human use of fire was found. of all life forms which ever existed, only the genus homo acquired the skill of igniting and transporting fire. this gave homo not only warmth, cooking and protection from animals, but a high degree of power over nature. prehistoric hominids burned large parts of the biosphere and, more recently, combusted carbon and hydrocarbons derived from fossil biospheres up to 400 million years old. the high intelligence underlying human inventions has been variously attributed to a large brain size ( chimpanzees ~ 395 grams ; australopithecus apheresis ~ 430 grams ; homo ergaster ~ 850 gram ; homo sapiens ~ 1350 grams ) and a high brain / body mass ratio ( ~ 1 / 40 ). however, sperm whales brains weigh ~ 8000 grams and elephant brains over 5000 grams. mice have a brain / body mass ratio similar to that of humans ( 1 / 40 ) and small birds a higher brain / body mass ratio ( 1 / 12 ). a more confident parameter of human intelligence is the high ratio of the neocortex ( frontal intelligence lobe ) to medulla ( lower “ mammalian ” part of the brain stem ) in the human brain ( lemurs ~ 10 ; monkeys and apes 20 - 50 ; humans 105 ). theories which try to explain the uniqueness of humans invoke its bipedal nature, language and the use of stone and bone tools. in these respects, however, pre - homo sapiens hominids were hardly unique. many animals are bipedal and some use tools. termites design articulate nests, insects have a sophisticated language ( such as the bee ’ s dance ), meerkats make special calls, whales and dolphins echo - locate and birds have navigation systems. however, homo ’ s ability to ignite fire constitutes an exclusive blueprint not shared by any other life form, with far - reaching consequences. this facility was allowed by the potentially flammable terrestrial environment where hominids emerged, inhabiting plant - rich land surfaces surrounded by phytoplankton - rich oceans where photosyn


any other life form, with far - reaching consequences. this facility was allowed by the potentially flammable terrestrial environment where hominids emerged, inhabiting plant - rich land surfaces surrounded by phytoplankton - rich oceans where photosynthesis produces an oxygen - rich atmosphere and plant decay results in formation of carbon - rich surface deposits and derived peat and coal deposits. the evolution of land plants in the late silurian ( ~ 420 ma : vascular plants such as cooksonia and baragwanathia ) and in the permian ( 299 – 251 ma : cycads and ginkgo ) led to the accumulation of carbon as cellulose in trees and grasses, soils and bogs, methane hydrate and methane clathrate. during tropical greenhouse gas - dominated eras ( silurian - carboniferous – 443 – 299 ma ; early mesozoic – 251 – 65 ma ) there were extensive fires from lightning, volcanic eruptions and underground peat fires. diagnostic optical refractive indices allow scientists to estimate fire frequency ( see figure 2 ) from charcoal remains. in the permian atmospheric oxygen exceeded 30 %, a level at which even moist vegetation becomes flammable, as represented in charcoal concentrations as high as 70 % in coal. when humans harnessed fire, it elevated the species ’ oxygenating capacity by many orders of magnitude as we utilized the solar energy stored in plants. as the use of fire, and subsequently of combustion, have grown, this increased planetary entropy ( in physics – a measure of the degree of disorder and chaos of a system ) to levels approaching those triggered by the geological events, including those resulting in the major mass extinctions in geological history. the splitting of the atom achieves yet higher levels of entropy. likely the mastery of fire has been driven by necessity. there were abrupt environmental shifts when mean global temperatures varied during glacial - interglacial shifts by about ~ 5°c and local temperatures by larger amounts. humans had to find refuge in relatively protected sub - tropical shelters, such as the east african rift valleys. early paleolithic evidence for human - lit fires includes hearths containing charcoal, burnt bones and red clay shards heated to 400°c and higher temperatures. widespread use of fire in the late paleolithic is indicated by charred logs, charcoal, reddened areas, carbonised grass stems and plants and wooden implements hardened by fire. a likely advantage of cooking was the enhanced supply of protein, allowing an increase in brain size ( homo ergaster ~ 850 grams ; homo sap


logs, charcoal, reddened areas, carbonised grass stems and plants and wooden implements hardened by fire. a likely advantage of cooking was the enhanced supply of protein, allowing an increase in brain size ( homo ergaster ~ 850 grams ; homo sapiens ~ 1350 grams ). over hundreds of thousands of years, gathered during long nights around camp fires, captivated by the flickering life - like dance of the flames, humans developed curiosity, imagination, insights, cravings, fears, premonition, legends, aspiration for immortality and beliefs in deities and gods. oldest expressions of cultural and spiritual creative minds may date back to 350, 000 years ago, although this remains unconfirmed. as climate conditions stabilized in the early holocene, around 8000 years ago, agriculture and production of excess food allowed these ideas to be manifested through both the creative and destructive activities of civilizations. the stabilisation of climate allowed cultivation of crops, enhanced by smelting of metals and crafting of ploughs. extensive burning and land clearing associated with agriculture, from about 10, 000 years ago, culminated with the combustion of fossil fuels. bill ruddiman suggests the rise in co₂ in the mid - holocene reflects land clearing, fires and agriculture, defining the onset of an anthropocene era. he wrote, “ a wide array of archaeological, cultural, historical and geologic evidence points to viable explanations tied to anthropogenic changes resulting from early agriculture in eurasia, including the start of forest clearance by 8000 years ago and of rice irrigation by 5000 years ago. ”. however, other authors define the onset of the anthropocene at the dawn of the industrial age in the 18th century. they attribute the mid - holocene rise of greenhouse gases to natural perturbations during the interglacials, for example the 420 - 405 thousand year old holsteinian interglacial. according to this definition the anthropocene is characterized by greenhouse gas emissions levels exceeding those of any earlier geological period ( see figure 3 ). since the 18th century, burning fossil fuels and clearing land increased atmospheric carbon content by 237 billion ton carbon ( gtc ). the present atmospheric carbon concentration is 820 gtc at present, an increase of some ~ 39 % relative to the original level of 590 gtc. of the additional co₂, approximately 42 % stays in the atmosphere which, together with other greenhouse gases, led to an increase in the atmospheric energy level of ~ + 3. 2 watt / m2 and of potential mean


the original level of 590 gtc. of the additional co₂, approximately 42 % stays in the atmosphere which, together with other greenhouse gases, led to an increase in the atmospheric energy level of ~ + 3. 2 watt / m2 and of potential mean global temperature by + 2. 3 degrees celsius ( see figure 1 ). approximately - 1. 6 watt / m2, equivalent to - 1. 1°celsius, is masked by industrially emitted sulphur aerosols. the significance of human mastery of fire in terms of the consequences of enhanced entropy has been underestimated. human respiration dissipates two to ten calories / minute. a camp fire releases more than 100, 000 calories / minute, but the output of a 1000 megawatt / hour power plant expends more than 2 billion calories / minute and nuclear fission orders of magnitude higher. this amounts to an increase in entropy on the scale of geological events. while complexity increases in conurbations, the rise in atmospheric energy and heat due to the release of greenhouse gases associated with exothermic combustion results in a series of extreme weather events ( http : / / www. ipcc - wg2. gov / srex / ), droughts, floods and storms, degrading natural habitats. according to ancient greek mythology, fire was stolen from the gods by the titan prometheus, who breathed it into human clay figures. from our modern perspective, this legend and related stories in other traditions acquire a special meaning. for an intelligent species to be able to explore the solar system planets but fail to protect its own home planet defies explanation. for a biological species to magnify its entropic effect on nature by orders of magnitude, developing cerebral powers which allow it to become the intelligent eyes through which the universe explores itself, hints at yet unknown natural laws which underlie life, consciousness and complexity.


german composer, performer, and conductor felix mendelssohn would have turned 204 on february 3rd. while he was acclaimed during his short life of 38 years, only a fraction of his works continued to be performed after his death. wrti ’ s susan lewis looks at mendelssohn and his musical impact. lewis : his violin concerto is one of the works that survived the centuries. yet his contributions to music, says mendelssohn biographer r. larry todd, were much more significant than many people realize : todd : he was, of course, one of the great pianists of his age, arguably the leading organist of the entire century. he was also – it ’ s not well known - a violinist and violist. he could pick up a part in his own octet and play that, and of course he was one of the seminal conductors of the 19th century. he was one of the first conductors to conduct using a baton. susan lewis talks with r. larry todd about the genius of mendelssohn. lewis : mendelssohn ’ s performance of the st. matthew passion at its 100th anniversary in 1827 helped spark the 20th - century bach revival, says philadelphia singers music director david hayes. hayes : most people thought bach was a composer you studied – he was an intellectual composer. the idea of performing bach, was, sort of, you know, crazy. why would you perform bach? but mendelssohn was the first to really turn around and say, hey, these great works of bach - the st. matthew passion – we should perform these works. lewis : mendelssohn ’ s own compositions included symphonies, concert overtures, concertos, chamber music, choral works, piano and organ music, and songs. but todd says that after mendelssohn died, much of this music was not performed due to anti - semitism and changing musical tastes. mendelssohn scholar r. larry todd and philadelphia singers music director david hayes speak with wrti ' s susan lewis about the long - neglected music of german composer felix mendelssohn and his sister, fanny mendelssohn hensel. a conversation with violinist leila josefowicz. the macarthur fellowship ( so - called genius award ) recipient speaks with jim cotter about her new role as artist - in - residence with the philadelphia orchestra. susan lewis considers lesser - known works of 19th - century composers felix mendelssohn and his sister fanny hensel as the philadelphia singers prepares a weekend concert in rittenhouse square


are you going duck hunting this weekend? the sept. 27 opening date, a week earlier than the traditional first saturday in october, is intended to give hunters more opportunities to kill ducks. early migrants, such as blue - winged teal and wood ducks, are more likely to be available to hunters, because they head south when cold winds begin to blow. to make it easier to kill birds, the dnr relaxed bag limit restrictions, increasing the mallard hen bag from one to two and the wood duck limit from two to three. the total daily bag limit is six ducks, the most allowed under the federal waterfowl harvest guidelines. dnr wildlife officials say making it easier to kill ducks isn ' t a biological issue, because the state now has about half as many duck hunters as it did 30 years ago. however, back then minnesota had more places to hunt ducks and many more ducks. as an example, 30 years ago, the dnr conducted an annual count of opening day hunters at my favorite cook county swamp. while the hunting at this northwoods pothole didn ' t compare with the action at a western prairie slough, it was good enough to draw hunters year after year. these days, perhaps two or three hunting parties start the season on the swamp and consider themselves lucky to come home with a bird or two. and the hunting isn ’ t much better at many once - popular marshes across the state. it should be noted that many years ago, before this writer was old enough to go duck hunting, minnesota had what was known as an early teal season, which opened in september and was intended to give hunters an opportunity to shoot only blue - winged teal. alas, they shot other ducks, too, leading to the discontinuation of the early hunt. the rules today ' s wildlife officials are relaxing to give hunters a better crack at the ducks were pioneered by an earlier generation of waterfowl biologists. back then, minnesota supported a large breeding duck population and wildlife managers tried to protect those precious local birds. for years, shooting hours on the opener were from noon to 4 p. m. for the remainder of the season, once ducks knew hunting season was open, shooting hours began one half hour before sunrise, when ducks are most active. closing time remained 4 p. m. to protect hen mallards, which are especially vulnerable to late afternoon shooting. the 4 p. m. closure remains in place for the first nine days of the season. for decades, learning to identify ducks in flight to


remained 4 p. m. to protect hen mallards, which are especially vulnerable to late afternoon shooting. the 4 p. m. closure remains in place for the first nine days of the season. for decades, learning to identify ducks in flight to avoid shooting hens has been a conservation cornerstone of duck hunting. the former one hen mallard limit was intended to allow hunters a " mistake " bird. while it is just one duck, the 2011 shift to two hen mallards in the bag is a symbolic step away from “ don ’ t shoot hens ” conservation ethic. some say the same about the decision to raise the wood duck bag limit from two to three, because not enough is known about how the hunting harvest affects the overall wood duck population. yesterday ' s waterfowl managers would also be uncomfortable with opening the hunting season in september. neither young - of - the - year nor post - molt adults are fully feathered then, which means they are slow - flying and difficult to identify. for those reasons and because they believed protecting local ducks was important, the old - timers thought it was best to hold off on hunting until october. that said, canadian hunting seasons open as early as sept. 1, though there is much less hunting pressure there. does relaxing duck hunting regulations mean the minnesota dnr has suddenly given up on ducks? no. in fact, many familiar with the agency would say wildlife division is strongly biased toward ducks and may even devote too much of its energy to waterfowl management. a cynic might say the continuing decline in duck abundance and interest in duck hunting threatens the continued existence of the dnr ’ s waterfowl management bureaucracy. in that context, relaxing the rules to make it easier to kill ducks could be partly construed a matter of bureaucratic self - preservation. far more likely, the dnr ' s decisions are motivated by a sincere desire to provide better hunting and a sincere belief that doing so won ' t hurt duck populations. after all, dnr commissioner tom landwehr is an avid duck hunter and once served as the agency ’ s wetlands program coordinator and worked for ducks unlimited as well. still, it is troubling to see the agency move away from long - standing hunting rules. present duck populations are healthy, but the habitat upon which they depend is increasingly threatened by development. political support for wildlife and hunting is on the wane. barely a century old, the conservation of wildlife is still a new and radical concept in america. as such, it retains a


most active stories - the louisiana coast : last call — the shape we ' re in now - the louisiana coast : last call — how we got this way : the mississippi river - bring your own presents : ' virginia ' - dirty diapers pile up in portland recycling bins : ' it ' s not pretty ' - as with dalai lama today, pope ' s visit to new orleans 25 years ago came amid violence wed january 4, 2012 feds to rein in use of some antibiotics on animals the food and drug administration is moving to stop the use of some antibiotics on animals. the agency wants to prevent overuse of these drugs so that bacteria don ' t develop resistance to them. the announcement affects antibiotics called cephalosporins, drugs used widely to treat things like pneumonia or skin infections in people. cephalosporins are especially useful for children with infections ; unlike other antibiotics, like fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, there aren ' t any restrictions for for pediatric use of cephalosporins. they also are important for treating bacterial meningitis and bone, urinary tract, and upper respiratory system infections. but veterinarians use them, too. they treat dairy cattle that are sick with salmonella. and in the poultry industry, broiler and turkey chicks can get injected with these antibiotics before they ' re even hatched so they won ' t get sick from e. coli and other poultry diseases later. some 80 percent of antibiotic drugs in the united states were sold for use in food animals, according to the fda. many of those are used to help animals grow faster and prevent infections from breaking out on big farms. today ' s announcement on cephalosporins doesn ' t affect those antibiotics in feed. still, the more the cephalosporins are used, the greater the chances that they will stop working because bacteria can become resistant to them. that has long been a concern of many public health experts, including the pew health group. pew said in a press release today that while " the fda has approved cephalosporins to treat some infections in food animals, the drugs often are administered in ways not specifically approved by the agency. " this " extralabel " use of antibiotics by livestock producers is linked to the emergence of resistant bacteria, or superbugs, that have infected tens of thousands of people, according to david wallinga, a physician at the institute for agriculture and trade policy and a member of the keep antibiotics working coalition. today, the


( dailyrx news ) kids that live in homes where their parents use methamphetamines are often abused and neglected. foster care interventions can help place the child in a better environment. a recent study reported spikes in foster care admissions due to methamphetamine abuse in the us. researchers recommend a tailored plan for handling kids that have been removed from situations due to methamphetamine use in the home. scott cunningham, phd, assistant professor of economics, at the hankamer school of business at baylor university, and keith finlay, phd, assistant professor of economics, at tulane university, co - authored a study that looked into the foster care admission rates of children belonging to methamphetamine users. the research team said the reason they chose to investigate this topic is that foster care caseloads have nearly doubled over the last 30 years. from the 1986 to 2010, the us foster care population went from 280, 000 to 408, 000. social workers and police officers have claimed that parental methamphetamine use is a contributing factor in the increased caseload, but research was needed to prove this claim. researchers looked at the data from 1995 to 1999 for foster care admissions and treatment facility admissions for methamphetamine abuse. they discovered that for every 1 percent rise in methamphetamine use, there was a 1. 5 percent increase in foster care admissions. dr. cunningham said, “ our findings suggest strongly that the social costs of parental meth use include child maltreatment and growth in foster care placements. ” “ to address this, child welfare policies should be designed specifically for the children of meth - using parents. ” “ given the large social costs of meth use on child maltreatment, policymakers face a significant challenge to reduce its use. regions with intensive meth use should consider greater resources for meth treatment and child welfare services. ” when the methamphetamine ingredient, ephedrine, was made no longer available over the counter in 1995, there was a dip in methamphetamine usage for the following six months. later restriction of pseudoephedrine in 1997 resulted in another dip in methamphetamine usage. these restrictions caused a 4 percent decline in methamphetamine usage. neglect and abuse were generally reported in methamphetamine specific foster care admissions. these types of maltreatments need special plans for intake, treatment and placement to best serve the health and safety of the child


- highest ratings quality : we ' ve got the awards to prove it! - fastest shipping - no - hassle returns - usa support techs - best value - our guarantee chevy s10 pickup blower motor resistor what is a blower motor resistor and where is it located? the blower motor resistor, also commonly referred to as an a / c blower motor resistor or a heater blower motor resistor, is an important component to your vehicle ’ s hvac ( heating, ventilation, air conditioning ) system. while a blower motor is what actually forces the hot or cold air through ducting and your car ’ s interior vents into the cabin, the resistor is what regulates the speed of the blower fan by reducing voltage going to the fan. it allows you to vary the settings of the blower motor so that you can lessen the amount of air that comes into the cabin, as opposed to only being able to have it blasted at you. the blower motor resistor works between a vehicle ’ s heater and a / c controls and the blower motor and is typically attached under the dash to the heater ducting near the blower motor to help keep it cool while in use. basically, there are two types of blower motor resistors – one that uses coil wires and one that uses transistors and a circuit board. the wire - type, which is more common in older cars, uses a different size coil of wire for each fan speed with different resistances, while the transistorized blower motor resistor, found in more modern cars, consists of a printed circuit board with a fully integrated circuit. blower motor resistor failure on most vehicles, the highest blower motor speed setting bypasses the blower motor resistor to give the fan full vehicle voltage ( typically between 12 and 14. 4 volts ). if the blower motor still works on high, but will not work on any other speed, it usually points to a bad blower motor resistor. since the part gets hot and draws a lot of power from the electrical system, a failed blower resistor may also melt part of the wiring harness when it fails. when a blower motor starts to go bad, it can draw more power than the resistor is rated for and cause it to fail. lastly, a malfunctioning heater core can leak coolant into the car and damage the blower motor and resistor as well. replacing a bad blower motor resist


power than the resistor is rated for and cause it to fail. lastly, a malfunctioning heater core can leak coolant into the car and damage the blower motor and resistor as well. replacing a bad blower motor resistor replacing a bad blower resistor typically requires only a screwdriver or wrench to unbolt it from the hvac ducts. in the case of a burnt or melted connector, the replacement will be a bit more involved. while soldering and shrink wrapping the new connector is the best method, crimping the new pigtail in place will also suffice. need a blower motor resistor replacement? without a properly functioning hvac blower motor resistor, your car or truck will not be able to blow hot or cold air through the interior vents on lower settings, and will work only on one speed – high. this of course can get pretty annoying rather quickly and you will likely be itching to fix the problem immediately. luckily, if you are in need of a replacement blower motor resistor for your car, truck, suv or van, then you have come to the right place. at 1a auto, we carry a full line of high quality, aftermarket replacement blower motor resistors for many makes and models. at 1a auto, shopping for an aftermarket replacement blower motor resistor is easy - we ' re here to help you select the right part for your vehicle! call our customer service toll free at 888 - 844 - 3393 if you have any questions about our products, warranty, compatibility or to purchase, or you can buy online. bring your heating and a / c blower system back to good working order and purchase a replacement resistor from 1a auto today! welcome to 1a auto.... we employ usa based, knowledgeable support technicians. they ' ll help you through your project. we always make sure you get the right part. and we boast the industry ' s most generous returns policy. you won ' t find a company more passionate about auto parts than 1a auto.


web guide - plants botany. com, the encyclopedia of plants botany. com " provides information regarding the general description of the plants, the various methods of cultivation, such as indoor or outdoor planting, soil and temperature requirements, pruning, and other important details, the means of propagation ( seeds, cuttings, division, etc. ), and the different varieties and hybrids. " searches the web for plant topics. texas threatened and endangered species texas parks and wildlife site : includes links to federal and state regulations, as well as pictures and fact sheets on many of the endangered species of texas. wildflowers in bloom this site is a cooperative project between wildseed farms and the texas horticulture program. it features pictures and growing information for dozens of texas wildflowers, as well as seed sources and links to other wildlflower sites on the internet. better homes and gardens - - gardening page learn the scientific and common names, the characteristics, and the planting and care suggestions for some of the more common annuals, bulbs, perennials, vegetables, and herbs. the site also includes articles, links to related resources, and a free email newsletter. this gardening site has articles, monthly regional gardening updates, and lots of gardening products for sale. the information is free, although the products are not. plantadvisor. com - southwestern deserts edition plantadvisor. com has lists of plants arranged by common or botanical name, by sun requirements, and by use. the site also features an advisor section in which you can find out which plants would suit your desired planting location. agriculture network information center ( agnic ) " agnic is a distributed network that provides access to agriculture - related information, subject area experts, and other resources. it was established by an alliance of the national agricultural library, land - grant universities, and other organizations committed to facilitating public access to agricultural and related information. " the agnic site includes links to agdb ( a database of 1000 + web - based agricultural resources ) and agricola ( a database of descriptions of millions of agricultural articles and books ). usda ' s agriculture fact book the agricultural fact book is a handy reference tool that offers information about us agriculture and describes all usda programs. it also provides useful information about food safety, nutrition, rural issues, research, education, and natural resources. it ceased publication in 2001 - 02, but is useful for historical research. for up - to - date statistics, see agricultural statistics below. agricultural statistics is published each year to meet


- about aca - about chiropractic - member center - insurance resources - assistance by claim type - coding and billing - practice resource center - best practices / policies - for insurers - ethical practice - local liaison program - chiropractic networks action ctr. - patient resources - saca member center - saca programs - saca calendar - prospective students - saca leadership - meetings & education - contact us stroke : know what to do although most people who suffer strokes are older, stroke can occur at any age. especially prone to stroke are people with unhealthy lifestyles — those who smoke, stick to poor diets, and don ’ t exercise. stroke is also associated with people who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, alcohol abuse, diabetes, or have a family history of stroke or an abnormal heart rhythm. african - americans have a much higher incidence of stroke, as well. in the united states, strokes are the most common cause of disability and the third most common cause of death in adults. what is stroke? stroke is caused by a lack of blood supply to a portion of the brain, which causes that portion to die within just a few minutes. this lack of blood supply, also known as ischemia, results in long - term neurological effects because the cells in the brain do not regenerate. the outcome of stroke depends on the person ’ s age, general health, the region of the brain affected by the stroke, the type of stroke, and the extent of the brain damage. common long - term effects include difficulty speaking, poor memory, altered emotions, poor recognition of previously familiar objects and people, amnesia, deformities of the extremities, and difficulty with movement, including weakness and paralysis. the weakness and paralysis often affect one side of the body — usually opposite the stroke location. some of the effects can be permanent, while others may resolve with time and treatment. what are the warning signs of stroke? sometimes people experience a “ pre - stroke ” — a shortterm lack of blood supply to the brain, also called a transient ischemic attack. the loss of blood supply lasts from seconds to just a few minutes and does not result in permanent damage. this condition is often a precursor to a full - scale stroke, so any symptoms associated with it should be investigated immediately. warning signs of stroke include any of the following : sudden difficulty speaking ( slurred speech ) or understanding what people are saying sudden onset of confusion or altered mental


to a full - scale stroke, so any symptoms associated with it should be investigated immediately. warning signs of stroke include any of the following : sudden difficulty speaking ( slurred speech ) or understanding what people are saying sudden onset of confusion or altered mental status, such as loss of consciousness, or not recognizing people who should be familiar sudden numbness or tingling on one side of the face or body, or both sudden onset of dizziness or unsteadiness, loss of balance or coordination, or both sudden difficulty walking or standing upright sudden severe headache sudden severe unexplained upper - neck pain sudden trouble with vision or sight. what should i do if i have any of the symptoms? if you, your friend, or a family member is having any symptoms, seek medical care immediately : dial 911 or have someone take you or your friend to the nearest emergency room. do not let the person with the symptoms drive or stay home. try to remember the time of onset of your symptoms and what symptoms you ’ re having. this information will help the treating doctors provide the best possible care for you. remember : the sooner you seek emergency medical assistance, the better the chances of minimizing the damage from a stroke. the person with the symptoms should seek medical care even if : not all symptoms are present. the symptoms go away after a short time. he or she has the symptoms with no real pain. he or she denies the symptoms. what is the treatment for stroke? there are generally three separate stages of treatment for stroke : prevention, therapy immediately after stroke, and post - stroke rehabilitation. stroke prevention is based on treating underlying risk factors ( see tips below ). acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening. these include anticoagulants that help break up or prevent further formation of blood clots and efforts to support the person ’ s vital functions, such as breathing. post - stroke rehabilitation helps overcome some of the disabilities that result from the brain damage. for most stroke patients, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy form the base of a rehabilitation program. is there risk of stroke from neck manipulation? neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. although some reports have associated upper highvelocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the connection. while we don ’ t know the actual incidence of stroke associated with highvelocity upper neck manipulation, the occurrence does appear to be rare, based upon


##rtebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the connection. while we don ’ t know the actual incidence of stroke associated with highvelocity upper neck manipulation, the occurrence does appear to be rare, based upon the clinical reports and scientific studies to date. the chiropractic profession is actively researching stroke and neck manipulation and available safe alternative conservative therapies. it has also been suggested, for example, that sudden severe upper - neck pain and / or headache, which may indicate a pre - stroke condition, could cause someone to visit a doctor of chiropractic. in addition, some regular everyday activities, such as stargazing, rapidly turning the head while driving, and even having a shampoo in a hair salon may cause aneurysm — a widening of an artery resulting from the weakening of the artery walls — of the neck arteries, resulting in stroke. these events remain very difficult to predict. if you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper - neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms, so that he or she can provide the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider. there are various head and neck positions and forms of joint movement. depending on your clinical condition, joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, soft - tissue techniques, and other therapies can also be recommended. if the issue of stroke concerns you, do not hesitate to discuss it with your doctor of chiropractic.


new technologies make new ways of learning possible. with computational technologies, ideas of control, sensing, and feedback can be made accessible and exciting to learners as young as six or eight years old. this talk presents a brief history of the ideas, prototypes, and research that led to lego mindstorms, the immensely popular robot construction kit, launched just two years ago but easily thirty years in the making. lego mindstorms has its roots in the pioneering work on the logo programming language begun by dr. seymour papert in the 1960s. papert was perhaps the first to suggest that children should program computers, then an absurdly radical idea. this notion led to papert ' s theory of learning called " constructionism " which suggests both that ( 1 ) learning is an active process of building ideas which is unique and personal for each learner, and ( 2 ) this journey can be greatly facilitated when the learner builds things - in - the - world which become social and shared objects of reflection. papert ' s logo programming language, the later lego / logo system, and ultimately lego mindstorms all inherit from this set of ideas. the talk will conclude with a technological discussion of mit crickets, the latest in this line of design toys for learners. crickets are tiny programmable bricks that can interconnect in myriad ways, and employ an unusual virtual machine / compiler architecture that will be described in detail. - " metacricket : a designer ' s kit for making computational devices, " f. martin, b. mikhak, and b. silverman, ibm systems journal, volume 39 numbers 3 - 4, 2000. presents the mit cricket, a tiny embedded controller created for kids but valuable as a prototyping tool for professional designers who aren ' t necessarily engineers. full published paper available at - " to mindstorms and beyond : evolution of a construction kit for magical machines, " f. martin et. al, in " robots for kids : exploring new technologies for learning, " a. druin & j. hendler, editors, morgan kaufman, 2000. the paper from which this talk takes its name, describing the history of the ideas and prototypes which led to the lego mindstorms product, and our further work and motivations behind developing the crickets. a pre - publication draft is available from - " design, story - telling, and robots in irish primary education, " f. martin, d. butler, and w. gleason, presented at the ieee systems, man,


tue 11 aug 2009 when i hear people say something like “ i ’ ll try and do it better ”, i inwardly wince. when i hear people use a word like ironical ( instead of ironic ), i die a little death. however, in the latter case at least, it turns out that my annoyance could be misplaced, and in fact, the “ - ic ” versus “ - ical ” question is a bit of an unresolved mystery. in fact, it seems like it points to some weirdness going on in the english language. the problem arises because you can turn many nouns into adjectives by adding a various suffixes. some common ones are the “ - ic ” suffix ( e. g. history becomes historic ), the “ - ish ” suffix ( e. g. book becomes bookish ), the “ - al ” suffix ( e. g. nation becomes national ), and the “ - y ” suffix ( e. g. box becomes boxy ). however, suffixes can be added to other suffixes, and you can easily end up with abominations. why do we need words like ironical, symmetrical, or problematical, when ironic, symmetric and problematic are already doing a fine job? i admit that there are a few places where the “ - ic ” and “ - ical ” adjectives have different meanings, such as historic ( al ) or economic ( al ). however, it seems that solid differences are the exception, rather than the rule. i recently came across this study by stefan th gries, which takes a deep look into the literature on this matter and also draws new conclusions based on a statistical investigation of a large corpus of english texts. the conclusion that i came to, after reading it, was that differences between the “ - ic ” and “ - ical ” adjectives seem to vary between regions and across time. sometimes the variants of an adjective move further apart and then move closer together again. they are words that are pegged to the meaning of the underlying noun, but by dint of being separate words, have separate lives. it reminded me of the theory of genetic drift. at least, to the extent that as difference in utility between using the “ - ic ” or “ - ical ” variant is so slight, it may be essentially random population effects that could be driving the frequency of using a particular variant for a particular purpose. some variants happen to become sufficiently popular for a particular use, and that meaning becomes stuck


pain relievers could be spiking your blood pressure tuesday, march 20, 2012 doctors and patients need to be aware of risks, tau researcher cautions diseases such as kidney failure and endocrine tumors are among the suspects causing high blood pressure — but could the common pain relievers in your medicine cabinet be the culprit? according to prof. ehud grossman of tel aviv university ' s sackler faculty of medicine and the sheba medical center, many common over - the - counter and prescription medications are underlying causes of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and aneurisms. the chemical components of the drugs can raise blood pressure or interfere with anti - hypertensive medications, he explains. and while many medications can cause this drug - induced hypertension, both patients and doctors remain dangerously uninformed. his recent research was published in the american journal of medicine. weighing the treatment options " in diagnosing the causes of hypertension, over - the - counter drugs like ibuprofen are often overlooked, " says prof. grossman. patients often assume that because a medication can be obtained without a prescription, it ' s relatively harmless. but that ' s not always the case. many of the medications that are linked with a rise in blood pressure are quite widely used, says prof. grossman, whose research provides an overview of which medications are related to high blood pressure. examples include contraceptive pills, various anti - depressants, anti - inflammatory pills to control pain. and bacterial antibiotics. though high blood pressure is a known side effect of many of these medications, doctors do not always account for them in their treatment plans, and they don ' t inform patients of the potential risks associated with these medications. it ' s ultimately the doctor ' s responsibility to weigh treatment options and present the best course for their patient should issues of hypertension arise, prof. grossman says. doctors may be advised to decrease the dosage of the drug, or add an anti - hypertensive drug to the treatment regime, he says. in any case, awareness on the part of both doctors and patients needs to be raised. " many physicians don ' t account for this, and some don ' t even know about it. it ' s their responsibility to be informed and make sure that their patients are aware that this is a possibility. " cost and benefit though much of the time a course of treatment can be altered to account for the dangers of hypertension, that isn ' t always


health and fitness : your heart month action plan heart disease, sometimes called coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of death in the united states. it is responsible for nearly 600, 000 deaths each year, mostly from heart attacks. millions more are at increased risk because of certain biological and behavioral risk factors. some of these risk factors cannot be changed, such as age, sex, and family history, while others can be altered to reduce risk. these modifiable risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity. since february is heart month, this is an ideal time to assess your own risk of heart disease and take steps to improve your health. here is a heart month action plan : 1. assess your risk. if you haven ’ t done so recently, you should see your doctor to have your risk factors evaluated. this includes tests for blood glucose and blood lipids ( including total, ldl, and hdl cholesterol and triglycerides ), measurement of your blood pressure and body weight, and an assessment of other health factors such as your family history, whether you smoke, and your level of physical activity. you may be able to find a health fair or other event in the community at which you can have many of these measurements made, but only your doctor can help you determine the best course of treatment given your personal risk profile. 2. be active everyday. the benefits of as little as 30 minutes per day physical activity are well - established and impact heart disease risk in a multitude of ways. physical activity helps with weight control, lowers blood pressure, improves blood lipids, and prevents and treats diabetes. think of this as a great health “ deal. ” by modifying one risk factor – inactivity – you can also promote beneficial changes in four others – obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. there is no other treatment, drugs included, that can have such a broad impact on reducing heart disease risk! 3. improve your diet. if you are like most americans, your diet is too high in saturated fat, salt, and added sugar and lacking adequate whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fiber. this type of diet is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. all of these conditions are risk factors for heart disease, so you may literally be eating your way to a heart attack. changing what you eat to include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low - fat


high cholesterol, and diabetes. all of these conditions are risk factors for heart disease, so you may literally be eating your way to a heart attack. changing what you eat to include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low - fat meat and dairy and minimizing added sugars, fat, and processed foods can help you lose weight and prevent or treat high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 4. quit smoking. there is no way around this one – quit! ask your doctor about prescription medications that can make quitting easier. nicotine replacement therapy in the form of patches, gum, and lozengescan help manage cravings and are available over the counter. ultimately, though, quitting smoking is a behavior change that takes motivation, willpower, and time. but it is worth it – your risk of heart attack goes down within days and can drop 50 to 70 percent within five years after quitting. the potential impact of these steps is great. knowing which risk factors are most concerning can help you and your doctor make the most effective treatment decisions. even modest changes in diet and activity can lead to improvements in risk factors and reduced heart attack risk. the best news is that you can start today by putting down your next cigarette, going for a walk and eating a healthier dinner. your heart will be glad you did. brian parr, ph. d., is an associate professor in the department of exercise and sports science at usc aiken where he teaches courses in exercise physiology, nutrition and health behavior.


allergy to peanut and tree nuts is the most common food allergy in adults and children. however, since most children start eating other foods first, allergies to other foods such as egg and cows ' milk protein typically present before nut allergies. while children often grow out of other allergies, only around 20 % of children with nut allergies resolve. this means that 4 out of 5 children with nut allergies will continue to have these allergies as an adult. in some people, the allergy may become less severe with age, but in 20 %, it can become worse with time. peanut allergy is becoming ever more commonplace, with recent studies showing that the rate of peanut allergy has doubled over a 5 year period both here in europe and in the united states. peanut allergy is estimated now to affect 1 in 50 young infants, and tree nut allergy also seems more common. the reason for this increase is not fully understood, but is in line with the general increase in all forms of allergy including asthma, eczema and hayfever. the majority of allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts are mild. hives ( nettle rash ), eczema and vomiting are the most common complaints in children. however, some allergic reactions to peanut or tree nuts can be severe, causing difficulty in breathing due to asthma or throat swelling, or a drop in blood pressure. this is known as anaphylaxis, and allergy to peanut or tree nuts is one of the most common triggers. in any case where an allergic reaction to a nut is suspected, the patient should be referred by their general practitioner to an nhs allergy clinic for testing to confirm the diagnosis. testing can be done by skin prick tests or blood tests. a food challenge test may be performed if the diagnosis of nut allergy is in doubt. this is a safe procedure provided it is undertaken in a specialist allergy centre with experienced medical staff. not only will this procedure confirm an allergic reaction, but it will also provide an opportunity to assess how severe an allergic reaction could occur if one accidentally came in contact with peanuts. peanut ( arachis hypogaea ) is a member of the legume ( bean ) family. other members of this family include soya beans, lentils and garden peas. it is rare for a peanut allergic person to react to soya or other beans and legumes, but many peanut allergic people will also be allergic to other tree nuts, for example brazil or


include soya beans, lentils and garden peas. it is rare for a peanut allergic person to react to soya or other beans and legumes, but many peanut allergic people will also be allergic to other tree nuts, for example brazil or hazel nuts, which are genetically unrelated. peanuts grow from the ground rather than on trees, and are sometimes referred to as ground nuts. many commonly used foods contain peanut extracts, but although hydrogenated vegetable oil may occasionally have a peanut source, it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. hydrogenated vegetable protein may rarely have a peanut source, and this may cause an allergic reaction in an extremely sensitive individual. tree nuts are actually a type of seed from plants, and come from a wide variety of different botanical families such as rosaceae ( almonds ), anacardiaceae ( cashews ), proteaceae ( macadamia nuts ) or lecythidaceae ( brazil nuts ). the distinction between tree nut and seed is not always clear. we often think of seeds as small seeds - like sesame seed, sunflower seed, poppy seed or pumpkin seed. in fact, coconut ( including the husk and inner white flesh that we eat ) is also a seed, albeit a very large one! this may explain why coconut is considered to be a tree nut in usa but a seed elsewhere. cross reactivity is a term used to describe when the protein allergen to which a person is sensitive is present in several foods, resulting in that person being allergic to those different foods. some people react only to one type of nut, for example peanut. others are known to react to different types of nuts. even though peanut and tree nuts may look and taste similar, the proteins present in peanuts are scientifically very different to those in tree nuts. that means that one can be allergic to peanut only, a tree nut only, several tree nuts or any combination of peanut and a few tree nuts. studies have shown that children allergic to peanut are more at risk of other food allergies, including to tree nuts. while certain cross reactivities are common ( for example, cashew nut and pistachio ), in general cross reactivity is difficult to understand and harder to predict. unless you know that you do not react to certain nuts, it is best to avoid all nuts, especially because foods containing one nut are more at risk of contamination with another nut. most people with peanut or tree nut allergies are able to eat seeds without problem. both coconut and pine nuts are


nuts, it is best to avoid all nuts, especially because foods containing one nut are more at risk of contamination with another nut. most people with peanut or tree nut allergies are able to eat seeds without problem. both coconut and pine nuts are seeds rather than nuts, and the majority of nut - allergic people can eat them. see our factsheet on sesame and seed allergy for more information. what about peanut oil ( arachis oil ) and other nut oils? the allergic component of the peanut is the protein, which the body identifies as an alien substance and thus overreacts to. on the other hand, oils contain fats rather than proteins. researchers have concluded that refined peanut oil will not cause allergic reactions for the overwhelming majority of peanut allergic individuals, and if anyone does suffer a reaction it is likely to be mild. refined peanut oil appears to carry a low or no risk. but it is up to individuals themselves or their parents to weigh the evidence and make up their own minds. unrefined ( crude ) peanut oil should be avoided by peanut allergic people, as the process by which the oil is made means that low levels of protein can contaminate the oil. most other nut oils are unrefined and should therefore be avoided by people allergic to tree nuts. some skin preparations may contain arachis ( peanut oil ). while some researchers have investigated whether there is a link between the use of these creams and the development of peanut allergy in some children, there is no actual evidence that this occurs. however, it seems reasonable for people allergic to peanut to avoid skin preparations and cosmetics known to contain arachis / peanut oil, if they choose to. there are 3 stages to managing a food allergy : - identify and avoid the cause ( if possible ) - recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction - know what to do if it happens again all people identified as having ( or suspected of having ) food allergy should therefore be referred to an allergy specialist, in order to achieve this. many people with an allergy to peanut or tree nut will be prescribed an adrenaline auto - injector device. this is because nut allergy is the most common food to cause severe anaphylactic reactions ( although most reactions to nuts are not severe ). doctors usually prescribe the adrenaline pens for nut allergies because there is no test which can predict who is at risk of anaphylaxis. since adrenaline when giving for food allergy is very safe and effective, they are


severe ). doctors usually prescribe the adrenaline pens for nut allergies because there is no test which can predict who is at risk of anaphylaxis. since adrenaline when giving for food allergy is very safe and effective, they are used as a crucial step in management. always carry your auto - injector ( s ). if you have to use your adrenaline injection then you must go to hospital for observation. additional strategies include : - wear a ' medic alert ' or similar bracelet or medallion - inform work colleagues, catering staff, occupational health staff, teachers and first - aiders about your allergy. - avoid the foods that cause your allergy totally - do not risk testing for the presence of your allergen in food by eating a small amount - remember that tiny quantities of the allergen can cause a severe reaction. - make sure you have an allergy management plan, and tell others where it is. keep a copy of it with any medications you have been given for an allergic reaction. - take any medication prescribed for your reaction promptly if symptoms begin. then call an ambulance or go to hospital immediately ( do not travel alone ). reactions to peanuts or nuts can be life threatening. once diagnosed it is important that nuts and all sources of nuts are excluded from the diet at all times, unless an allergy specialist has told you otherwise. manufacturers are definitely improving labelling but you still have to find out a lot about the content of foods yourself. some foods obviously contain nuts while in others, nuts may be a hidden ingredient. peanut is a member of the legume family and is classified as a vegetable. your doctor may occasionally tell you to avoid foods such as peas, beans, lentils and other legumes. high risk foods should only be introduced with the supervision of a doctor or dietician. never reintroduce peanuts into the diet without medical supervision. peanuts are a very popular food and often included in confectionery, biscuits and indian / chinese / asian / thai food. even with the most strenuous efforts it may not be possible to avoid them. contaminations through the use of some production lines or the same utensils can occur. the food industry takes these issues seriously and many voluntarily label food as “ contains peanuts ” or “ may contain trace of peanuts ”. the second statement is not always very helpful. in restaurants and “ take - aways ” inclusion of peanuts is a potential hazard particularly where peanuts are a staple, but peanut butter has been found to


peanuts ” or “ may contain trace of peanuts ”. the second statement is not always very helpful. in restaurants and “ take - aways ” inclusion of peanuts is a potential hazard particularly where peanuts are a staple, but peanut butter has been found to be the “ secret ingredient ” in some dishes. no one can guarantee complete avoidance of any food allergen. all food which you do not prepare yourself must be considered somewhat suspect, but with the correct medication ( adrenaline or antihistamines ), the risk incurred is minimal provided you use it immediately and then go straight to hospital. all of the major supermarket chains in this country provide “ free from ” lists. it is possible to get a list of own brand foods which do not contain peanuts, but companies do change the ingredients in processed foods, sometimes without stating that this has occurred. it is best to read the list of ingredients on processed foods, even if you have eaten it without problems before. if in doubt of the contents of any product, contact the manufacturer before trying it. what you can do? - write to your local supermarket for a list of products which they consider to be nut free. - keep to brands which are either labelled as nut free on the packet or are guaranteed as nut free by the manufacturers ' lists. - do not eat anything you are not sure about. check directly with the manufacturer. - make your own cakes & biscuits, using a known and safe source of oil or fat e. g., corn oil, sunflower oil or olive oil. - if you use adrenaline always take it with you. - take ' safe ' foods to parties. - give the people who will be providing your meals notice of the foods you can or cannot eat, i. e. restaurants, friends, relatives. - people cannot help prevent your allergic reaction if they are not aware you are allergic to nuts or peanuts. - never take a waitress ' s word that a food is safe, always talk directly to the chef, and ascertain what type of cooking oil has been used. - plain foods are safer. check no nut products have been used. - try and use the same restaurants so you can build up some trust with the staff. - always carry your rescue medication, antihistamines, adrenaline autoinjector pens with you. be prepared to be firm when discussing your allergy in restaurants / bars etc. this is called being aggressivelypolite! for many people an allergy just means a rash, not a potentially life threatening condition. use yourmed


##or pens with you. be prepared to be firm when discussing your allergy in restaurants / bars etc. this is called being aggressivelypolite! for many people an allergy just means a rash, not a potentially life threatening condition. use yourmedic alert emblem to get peoples attention if necessary. state that you wear this because your reaction canbe very severe. if you do have a reaction in a public place, you must inject yourself first and delegate someoneto call an ambulance. if you must go to the toilet because of vomiting or diarrhoea, do not go alone, takesomeone with you. do not go off quietly by yourself because you are embarrassed. blended oils, unrefined / gourmet peanut, arachis and groundnut oils. all biscuits, almonds, coconut biscuits, macaroons, or nut oils. peanut butter, chestnut puree, chocolate and hazel spread, praline spread, sweet mincemeat. christmas cake, fruit cake, stollen, marzipan containing cakes, carrot cake, passion cake, cakes bought in delicatessen, cakes containing vegetable oil. crunchy nut cornflakes, fruit & fibre, muesli, shreddies, fruitful, etc., dips & sauces pesto sauce, waldorf salad. nut loaf, vegeburgers, sausages. ( some products may be ok - check labels ). nut yoghurt, nut ice - creams, cakes, puddings containing nuts. nuts, nougat, nut brittle, halva, snickers, topic, fruit & nut, bounty, toblerone, liquorice allsorts, pralines, florentines. always check labels. some chinese foods e. g. satay. it is also advisable to avoid creams and shampoos containing nut extracts. always check the labels on all food purchased sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil home made biscuits made with known source of oil. jam, marmalade, honey. home made cakes containing known ingredients. cakes guaranteed to be nut free by manufacturers. weetabix, shredded wheat, wheat, cornflakes, rice, krispies etc. last updated : march 2012


philosophies guiding research types of research research projects usually fit into one of four main categories of research : type 1 – positivist / postpositivist ; type 2 - social constructivist ; type 3 - pragmatic and type 4 - participatory ( which will be discussed in more detail in the following sections ). this is because researchers have different world views or belief systems which guide them in their research, influencing the decisions they make about how to conduct their studies, what counts as valid knowledge, what is the right way to obtain that knowledge, how it should be analysed ( e. g. using quantitative or qualitative - based methods ) and what their own role in the process is. the various approaches to research are sometimes called research paradigms. the whole issue of paradigms can be traced back to kuhn ’ s 1970 influential book “ the structure of scientific revolutions ”. for quite some time, the two main paradigms were the positivist / postpositivist paradigm ( linked to quantitative research ) and the constructivist paradigm ( usually associated with qualitative research ). a few decades ago, there were huge methodological debates as to which of the two paradigms was right. some researchers argued that only the positivist / postpositivist paradigm was “ real science ”. others argued that it was not suited to the study of complex human and social issues. this debate came to be known as the paradigm wars and there was an “ incompatibility theory ” which stated that the two approaches were irreconcilable due to their very different underlying philosophies. the postpositivist tradition emerged in the 19th century based on the work of writers such as compte, mill, durkheim, newton and locke. they challenged the positivist attempts to seek “ absolute truth ” arguing that this was not appropriate when studying the behaviour and actions of people. this led to an acceptance that absolute truth can never be found and that research evidence is not infallible or perfect. researchers attempt to look for and describe associations, as well as cause and effect relationships. this is an ongoing process, whereby positive findings form the basis for additional research. data which does not support their theory may result in necessary revisions followed by additional testing. according to the social constructivist paradigm, people try to make sense of the world they live in. through interaction with other people, they develop subjective understandings and meanings of their experience and they do this within a specific social,


this is a christmas hardback with tremendous sales potential. " engines of war " tells the dramatic story of how the birth of the railways shaped how wars were fought and won, facilitating conflict on a previously unimaginable scale. before the nineteenth century, armies had to rely on slow and unreliable methods of transportation to move soldiers and equipment during times of conflict. however, as christian wolmar demonstrates in this book, the birth of the railway in the early 1830s would transform the theatres of war. " engines of war " spans more than a century and takes in all the engagements in which railways played a part, including the crimean war, american civil war, both world wars, the korean war, and the cold war - with its mysterious missile trains. it shows that the ' iron road ' not only made armies far more mobile, but also greatly increased the scale and power of available weaponry. in doing so, wars were fought across wider fronts and over longer timescales, with far deadlier consequences. christian wolmar reveals how the extent and intensity of war increased during this period as a result of this fast and efficient transport and shows how the railways - a fantastic generator of wealth in peacetime - became a weapon of war exploited to the full by governments across the world, facilitating conflict on a scale that was previously unimaginable. from armoured engines with their swiveling guns to track sabotage by way of dynamite, railway lines constructed across frozen siberian lakes and a boer war ambush involving winston churchill, " engines of war " is christian wolmar ' s most ambitious and original book yet, confirming his reputation as our leading transport historian. it is suitable for fans of simon winchester, peter ackroyd, andrew roberts, anthony beevor, patrick bishop and christian wolmar ' s " the subterranean railway ", " fire and steam " and " blood, iron and gold ".


| expand the learning library | there are 15 books to choose from, including favourite characters from thomas to toy story and winnie the pooh. each has a different theme and introduces different learning concepts and skills. see all tag junior books. | smart pen | connect the tag junior to a computer to download each book, then it detects tiny markings on the surface of each page to precisely read words, recognise characters and other elements. | full of surprises | as well as reading the story, the pen reacts to other elements on the page, helping kids identify and learn about different characters and objects. | a great way to start exploring books | touch the tag junior to the words on the page to hear the story read aloud, in lively character voices. | more ways to learn | each tag junior book introduces a different preschool skill — such as the alphabet, counting or social play — through 24 playful activities and more than 130 audio responses. open - ended questions and fun sound effects encourage children to take charge, as they touch any part of any page to bring words, pictures or activities to life! | designed with young children in mind | the tag junior book pal has been designed to allow children to grip with their palm, as children are still developing their fine motor skills and find this easier to use rather than a pen shape. you can even personalise tag junior book pal with your child ' s name or nickname. | connect and share achievements | connect the tag junior to leapfrog learning path to see specific play and learning information based on your child ' s use of the toy, including areas where they are making progress or need more support. email updates provide tailored learning tips, and you can share your child ' s progress and achievements with friends and family on facebook. | suitable for ages 2 - 4 | | requires 2 aaa batteries ( not included ) | | discover more at the leapfrog store | learn more about the other great learning toys in the leapfrog range at the leapfrog store. this product ' s forum active discussions in related forums search customer discussions


friday, june 27th 10 : 30am - 12 : 30pm russell senate office building room 253 what aspects of the gulf coast transportation infrastructure, and new york city water infrastructure, are most vulnerable to climate changes in progress and anticipated? what specific manifestations of climate change are anticipated along the gulf coast and in nyc? how will people and ecosystems be affected by the impacts of climatic change on the transportation infrastructure in the gulf region and on the water infrastructure in nyc? what are the ripple effects of these changes likely to be regionally? what options do people and governments have in coping with the suggested changes? how resilient are the gulf coast and nyc to anticipated climate changes? dr. anthony socci, senior science fellow, american meteorological society michael j. savonis, air quality team leader, federal highway administration ( fhwa ), washington, dc savonis powerpoint html version dr. cynthia rosenzweig, senior research scientist, nasa goddard institute for space studies, columbia university ’ s earth institute, new york city, ny rosenzweig powerpoint html version reports sited in presentation : “ the potential impacts of climate change and variability on transportation systems and infrastructure – the gulf coast study, phase i ” synthesis and assessment product 4. 7 climate change science program dot center for climate change and environmental forecasting gulf coast transportation : coping with the future climate affects the design, construction, safety, operations, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and systems. the prospect of a changing climate raises critical questions regarding how alterations in temperature, precipitation, storm events, and other aspects of the climate could affect the nation ’ s roads, airports, rail, transit systems, pipelines, ports, and waterways in the region of the u. s. central gulf coast between galveston, texas and mobile, alabama. this region contains multimodal transportation infrastructure that is critical to regional and national transportation services. more broadly, what happens in the gulf region will no doubt, have ripple effects nationwide and internationally, as was evident in the aftermath of hurricane katrina. historical trends and future climate scenarios were used to establish a context for examining the potential effects of climate change on all major transportation modes within the region. climate changes anticipated during the next 50 to 100 years for the central gulf coast include warming temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased storm intensity. the warming of the oceans and decline of polar ice sheets is expected to accelerate the rate of sea level rise globally. the effects of sea level rise in most central gulf coast counties will be exacerbated by the sinking of the land


storm intensity. the warming of the oceans and decline of polar ice sheets is expected to accelerate the rate of sea level rise globally. the effects of sea level rise in most central gulf coast counties will be exacerbated by the sinking of the land surface, which is accounted for in this assessment. warming temperatures are likely to increase the costs of transportation construction, maintenance, and operations. more frequent extreme precipitation events may disrupt transportation networks with flooding and visibility problems. relative sea level rise will make much of the existing infrastructure more prone to frequent or permanent inundation – 27 percent of the major roads, 9 percent of the rail lines, and 72 percent of the ports are built on land at or below 122 cm ( 4 feet ) in elevation. increased storm intensity may lead to increased service disruption and infrastructure damage : more than half of the area ’ s major highways ( 64 percent of interstates ; 57 percent of arterials ), almost half of the rail miles, 29 airports, and virtually all of the ports are below 7 m ( 23 feet ) in elevation and subject to flooding and possible damage due to hurricane storm surge. consideration of these factors in today ’ s transportation decisions and planning processes should lead to a more robust, resilient, and cost - effective transportation network in the coming decades. new york city : preparing for climate change new york city ( nyc ) represents one of the ﬁrst substantial efforts to undertake climate - change planning for infrastructure changes in a large urban area. notable characteristics of the nyc system are that it is a mature infrastructure system, that its managers are skilled at dealing with existing hydrologic variability, and that there are many potential adaptations to the risk of climate change in the nyc water supply, sewer, and wastewater treatment systems. capitalizing on this expertise and experience, the work of the climate change task force of the nyc department of environmental protection, has focused on the water supply, sewer, and wastewater treatment systems of nyc. the task force included representatives from all of the operating and planning bureaus in nycdep along with experts from columbia university ’ s center for climate systems research ( ccsr ) and other universities and engineering firms. a key element of the process was that it was agency - wide, allowing the development of an integrated climate change program throughout the entire organization. the agency - wide approach provides organizational benefits even beyond climate change planning in fostering communication among bureaus within the agency. as part of the task force, agency, private - sector partners, and climate scientists developed climate information and adaptation assessment frameworks. the


agency - wide approach provides organizational benefits even beyond climate change planning in fostering communication among bureaus within the agency. as part of the task force, agency, private - sector partners, and climate scientists developed climate information and adaptation assessment frameworks. the climate information framework consists of current and historical climate observations, downscaled climate change scenarios from global and regional climate models, projections of how risks of extreme events ( including hurricanes, nor ’ - easters, heat waves, droughts, and floods may change ), and focused analyses of sea - level rise and storm surges, including recent ice - sheet melting. the major product of the nycdep task force is a climate change assessment and action plan for the agency. the agency will continue to work with climate scientists to improve regional climate change projections, enhance dep ’ s understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on the department ’ s operations, determine and implement appropriate adaptation to dep ’ s water systems, and inventory and manage greenhouse gas emissions. establishing climate indicators is important to provide mechanisms for tracking the dynamics of a changing climate. michael j. savonis has 25 years of experience in transportation policy, with extensive expertise in air quality and emerging environmental issues. he has served as air quality team leader at the federal highway administration ( fhwa ), since 1996. for the past 16 years, mr. savonis has overseen the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program which invests more than $ 1. 5 billion annually to improve air quality. he directs fhwa ’ s transportation / air quality policy development, research program, and public education. he received dot ’ s silver medal in 1997 and fhwa ’ s superior achievement award in 2004. mr. savonis was instrumental to the creation of the dot center for climate change. he is co - chair of the transportation research board ’ s climate change subcommittee, was a member of the air quality committee 1999 - 2004, and served as chair of the subcommittee on transportation control measures, 2000 - 2004. he is author of several papers on climate / air quality, including : the gulf coast study, synthesis and assessment product 4. 7, climate change science program ; toward a strategic plan for transportation air quality research, 2000 - 2010, transportation research record ; and clean air through transportation : challenges in meeting the national ambient air quality standards, report to congress. mr. savonis holds a master ’ s degree in regional planning from cornell university and a bs in chemistry from the state university of new york at buffalo. dr. cynthia


: challenges in meeting the national ambient air quality standards, report to congress. mr. savonis holds a master ’ s degree in regional planning from cornell university and a bs in chemistry from the state university of new york at buffalo. dr. cynthia rosenzweig is a senior research scientist at the goddard institute for space studies at columbia university. her primary research involves the development of interdisciplinary methodologies by which to assess the potential impacts of and adaptations to global environmental change. she has joined impact models with global and regional climate models to predict future outcomes of both land - based and urban systems under altered climate conditions. advances include the development of climate change scenarios for impact and adaptation analysis, and the application of impact models at relevant spatial and temporal scales for regional and national assessments. recognizing that the complex interactions engendered by global environmental change can best be understood by coordinated teams of experts, dr. rosenzweig has organized and led large - scale interdisciplinary, national, and international studies of climate change impacts and adaptation. she co - led the metropolitan east coast regional assessment of the u. s. national assessment of the potential consequences of climate variability and change, sponsored by the u. s. global change research program, and was the lead scientist on the new york city department of environmental protection climate change task force. for the intergovernmental panel on climate change fourth assessment report, she was a coordinating lead author on the assessment of observed changes and responses in natural and managed systems. the results of this assessment found that physical and biological systems on all continents and in most oceans are already being affected by recent human - caused climate changes, and that climatic effects on human systems are emerging. she is a recipient of the guggenheim fellowship and is a fellow of american association for the advancement of science. she leads the climate impacts research group at the goddard institute of space studies, whose mission is to investigate the interactions of climate ( both variability and change ) on systems and sectors important to human well - being. dr. rosenzweig received her ph. d. in plant, soil, and environmental sciences from the university of massachusetts in 1991. she earned an m. s. in soils and crops from rutgers university and a ba in agricultural sciences from cook college. she has authored or co - authored over 80 peer - reviewed scientific articles and authored or edited eight books. back to top


jr. analytical grammar is a program intended to introduce the ideas of english grammar to younger students. it is designed to be taught in an eleven - week grammar “ season ” in either 4th or 5th grade. created in response to parent requests for grammar materials for younger students, it covers the same material found in the first ten units of analytical grammar, but the exercises are shorter and the reading level is lower. it is also more " interactive " as far as the parent is concerned. rather than the student reading notes, the " notes " are really a series of questions and activities designed to help the child understand the grammatical concepts. the program is divided into eleven units ; each taxes about a week to go through. each unit builds on the one before, so students use what they ' ve already learned to master the next concept. our junior version is a gentle, easy introduction to the concepts of english grammar. it is straightforward to teach and fun for both teacher and student. jr. analytical grammar covers : - all the parts of speech and parts of the sentence - classic sentence diagraming jr. analytical grammar includes : - teacher “ talking points ” for students - plenty of exercises to practice skills - short writing activities that reinforce concepts - tests to evaluate progress - complete answer keys and useful ( but brief! ) teacher notes you have no items in your shopping cart.


search through the catalogue of ancient history books : buy this book thank you for supporting us by purchasing your books through ancient history encyclopedia! the bronze age is the second part of the three - age system ( stone age, bronze age, and iron age ) for classifying and studying prehistoric societies, particularly the ancient societies of the mediterranean and near east. more broadly, the bronze age of any culture is the period during which the most advanced metalworking ( at least in systematic and widespread... [ continue reading ] the punic wars were a series of conflicts fought between the forces of ancient carthage and rome between 264 bce and 146 bce. the name punic comes from the word phoenician ( phoinix in the greek, poenus from punicus in latin ) as applied to the citizens of carthage, who were of phoenician ethnicity. as the history of the conflict was written by roman authors... [ continue reading ] bronze was significant to any culture that encountered it. it was one of the most innovative alloys of mankind. tools, weapons, armour, and various building materials like decorative tiles made of bronze were harder and more durable than their stone and copper ( " chalcolithic " ) predecessors. initially bronze was made out of copper and arsenic to... [ continue reading ] according to legend, ancient rome was founded by the two brothers, and demi - gods, romulus and remus, on 21 april 753. the legend claims that, in an argument over who would rule the city ( or, in another version, where the city would be located ) romulus killed remus and named the city after himself. this story of the founding of rome is the best known but it... [ continue reading ] the italian peninsula or apennine peninsula is one of the three peninsulas of southern europe ( the other two being the iberian peninsula and balkan peninsula ), spanning 1, 000 km from the po valley in the north to the central mediterranean sea in the south. the peninsula is bordered by the tyrrhenian sea on the west, the ionian sea on the south, and the adriatic... [ continue reading ]