rights, which has spread from canada to the u. s. ecm recently covered idle no more speakers in san diego, including local kumeyaay members. by sarah hales - ried ( reprinted with permission of san diego loves green ) march 28, 2013 ( ottaway, canada ) - - after over two months and 1600 kilometres ( approx. 994 miles ) of walking, the journey of nishiyuu - a cree word meaning “ the people ” - reached cam - nada ' s parliament hill, in ottawa, on monday, march 25. that same day, bernard valcourt, minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, formally welcomed eight first nation communities into canada ' s first nations land management regime. story and photos by miriam raftery, video by paul kruze march 22, 2013 ( alpine ) – “ this truly is a game changer for east county, ” said joe terzi, chief executive officer of the san diego tourism authority, at a vip grand opening last night of the $ 36 million, five - story hotel at viejas casino & resort in alpine. he hailed the new resort as a “ great new addition to the san diego region ” that will help east county benefit from tourism that drives san diego ’ s economy. dignitaries and community leaders from across our region turned out for last night ’ s occasion. a second opening for the public, including a free world premier performance of the cirque - style show “ rise ”, will be held on saturday night, march 23 along with fireworks to celebrate east county ’ s landmark new addition. view our exclusive video, see our photo gallery and read details of this landmark occasion below. march 18, 2013 ( el cajon ) – sycuan casino in el cajon has agreed to serve as presenting sponsor of the 12th annual san diego advertising fund for emergencies ( safe ) fundraiser and party from 6 to 9 p. m. on thursday, march 21, at the ivy rooftop lounge atop the andaz san diego, 600 “ f ” st., in the gaslamp district in downtown san diego. safe is a volunteer, non - profit organization ( 501c3 ) that provides confidential financial assistance to local advertising and marketing professionals and their families facing a life crisis emergency. the fundraiser will feature food, networking, entertainment and a silent auction to benefit safe grant recipients. cost to attend is $ 50 per person, $ 30 per person for students, or $ 70 per person at the door. for tickets and more information, visit www. aboutsa


, networking, entertainment and a silent auction to benefit safe grant recipients. cost to attend is $ 50 per person, $ 30 per person for students, or $ 70 per person at the door. for tickets and more information, visit www. aboutsafe. org. reader ’ s editorial : smoking blunderbuss — illegal failure to consult with tribal peoples dooms giant solar and wind plants across west by robert lundahl march 10, 2013 ( solana beach ) — chris clarke ' s recent article deconstructs a video clip from the film, " who are my people? " http : / / www. kcet. org / news / rewire / solar / filmmaker - blm - lax - on - native - consultation - over - solar - projects. html it is important for the public ( us ) to get our heads around the idea that the federal government is legally responsible to native people. in this case to uphold processes involving consultation when construction projects impact historic grounds, where there was a village, burials, where there is an area historically, or in the present day used by native peoples, in spiritual or traditional practices. by miriam raftery march 8, 2013 ( san diego ) – troy teague, former executive director of the la posta gaming commission, pled guilty today to embezzling $ 57, 000 from the la posta band of mission indians. the plea was made before magistrate judge jan adler, u. s. attorney laura e. duffy announced. the la posta casino ( photo, left ) shut down in october 2012. a letter written by tribal council chairwoman gwendolyn parada to employees stated that the casino, located off i - 8, would close “ due to its current financial situation, ” 10 news reported. the smallest of san diego county ’ s casinos, at its peak la posta employed approximately 100 people. speakers see parallels between destruction by energy companies in our region to environmental degradation, erosion of protections for people around the world by miriam raftery january 31, 2013 ( san diego ) – idle no more, a movement for the rights of indigenous people and environmental protections that began in canada, has spread around the world and has now taken root here in san diego. earlier this month, members of local native american tribes met convened at a forum sponsored by activist san diego to share their concerns and invite all people to join the movement. “ we must stand up to unite, to respect the mother earth, ” dennis alto, a viejas tribal member, said. “ we are


at a forum sponsored by activist san diego to share their concerns and invite all people to join the movement. “ we must stand up to unite, to respect the mother earth, ” dennis alto, a viejas tribal member, said. “ we are not just addressing the red nations ; we are addressing all people. ” the idle no more movement arose in canada as a protest against the canadian government passing bills which enabled the government to control lands reserved for native people and reduce environmental protections for lakes and rivers. tar sands, pollution from mining and other sources are polluting the waters and the lands. tribal members draw parallels to what is happening in the u. s., where mining, dams, and now large - scale wind and solar projects are ravaging the environment, destroying cultural resources and the way of life for many indigenous americans. ca native american heritage commission issues report backing viejas and quechan claims of ocotoillo wind site harm to sacred sites commission urges ca attorney general to file suit if mitigation requests not met update february 12, 2013 : a hearing set for february 15 in san diego has been postponed. by miriam raftery january 22, 2013 ( ocotillo ) – the california native american heritage commission ( cnah ) has issued a report in support of the viejas band of the kumeyaay indians and the quechan indian nation claims that the bureau of land management failed in its duty to protect cultural resources including human remains and sacred sites at the ocotillo express wind facility. the draf staff report details a disturbing pattern by the blm, pattern energy and a project archaeology consultant of ignoring tribal concerns and failing in its duty to protect cultural resources. the tribes petitioned the nahc to investigate and conduct a public hearing to consider tribal requests to declare the entire 12, 500 acre site a ‘ sanctified cemetery ’. tribes also seek to have the project halted to assess damage and want agencies to consult with tribes to agree on mitigation measures to prevent further harm to a broader region. the case has broad national significance, with hundreds of millions of acres of public lands slated for renewable energy projects. the nahc has cancelled a public hearing that had been scheduled at the state of california building on front street in downtown san diego for february 15, offering no explanation for the indefinite postponement. by miriam raftery january 21, 2013 ( san diego ) – on friday, january 18, u. s. district court judge gonzalo curiel heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the quechan tribe


for the indefinite postponement. by miriam raftery january 21, 2013 ( san diego ) – on friday, january 18, u. s. district court judge gonzalo curiel heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the quechan tribe of the fort yuma indian reservation against the u. s. department of the interior and bureau of land management, as well as pattern energy and other defendants. the suit contends that the federal government failed to protect native american cultural resources, including sacred sites, when it allowed the ocotillo wind energy facility to be built. moreover, quechan contends that the federal government ' s reclassification of protected lands to accommodate the wind project was arbitrary - - and that a similar decision to industrialize almost any public lands regardless of damage to resources could be done if the government ' s action is allowed to stand. by miriam raftery u. s. district court judge gonzalo curiel heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the quechan tribe of the fort yuma indian reservation against the u. s. department of the interior and bureau of land management, among others. the suit contends that the federal government failed to protect native american cultural resources, including sacred sites, when it allowed the ocotillo wind energy facility to be built. december 22, 2012 – ( san diego ) - - members of the viejas band of kumeyaay indians have voted in a new tribal council, returning five of seven incumbents, including chairman anthony r. pico. voting took place saturday, december 15 at the viejas tribal hall. members of the new tribal council are as follows ( i = incumbent ) : chairman : anthony r. pico ( i ) vice chairman : robert “ cita ” welch ( i ) secretary : anita uqualla ( i ) treasurer : sam q. brown ( i ) councilmember : raymond “ bear ” cuero ( i ) councilmember : adrian k. brown councilmember : ernest “ chuka ” pingleton december 18, 2012 ( san diego ) - - for the 10th consecutive year, the sycuan band of the kumeyaay nation, owners of the sycuan resort & casino in el cajon, sponsored the national multiple sclerosis society ’ s free annual family holiday party for people with ms, as well as their family members and caregivers. the national ms society in san diego said more than 600 people attended the 2012 event held on sunday, dec. 9 at the san diego community concourse


free annual family holiday party for people with ms, as well as their family members and caregivers. the national ms society in san diego said more than 600 people attended the 2012 event held on sunday, dec. 9 at the san diego community concourse golden hall in downtown san diego. the holiday party featured a brunch, entertainment and gifts for children delivered by one of santa ’ s helpers. sycuan has sponsored the annual event since 2003. december 13, 2012 ( san diego ) – as an air of excitement and anticipation hung over the 37th annual stoney & rob ’ s holiday party and fundraiser, the curtain was raised on the stage of the dreamcatcher at viejas casino last week to reveal more than 7, 000 toys that will go to needy families in the area. the exact number this year was 7, 217 — more than twice the 3, 000 gifts raised last year by team members and guests at viejas casino and outlets. november 29, 2012 ( el cajon ) – a native plant garden tour will take place in the water conservation garden at cuyamaca college, 12122 cuyamaca college dr. west, el cajon on december 1 at 10 : 30 a. m. the native plant tour, guided by garden docent, jan tubiolo, explores the lifestyle of the kumeyaay indians in southern california and the tremendous role native plants played in every aspect of their lives. by miriam raftery november 29, 2012 ( la mesa ) – viejas firefighters, clad in uniforms, santa hats and reindeer antlers, rolled into action at target in grossmont center today to stock up on toys for needy local children. more than 80 viejas tribal government staffers donated funds to purchase 30 bicycles. “ we ’ re here because we want to bring a little bit of joy to some kids who may need that, ” viejas tribal chairman anthony pico told ecm. “ we know what it ’ s like to be poverty stricken and perhaps to have christmas with no gift. it means so much more when you know where you ’ ve come from and where you ’ re going. ” he smiled, adding with a santa - like twinkle in his eye, “ these are some of the most fun times of the year. ” by ariele johannson november 20, 2012 ( alpine ) - - viejas tribal leaders, casino executives, civic and community leaders, and guests came together for an outdoor topping off ceremony on wednesday, november 13, 2012. more than 100 people assembled in front of


johannson november 20, 2012 ( alpine ) - - viejas tribal leaders, casino executives, civic and community leaders, and guests came together for an outdoor topping off ceremony on wednesday, november 13, 2012. more than 100 people assembled in front of the new five - story viejas hotel, amid the noise of hammers, drills, and construction workers ’ shouts. this month, the much - anticipated viejas hotel enters its final construction stages. the non - smoking viejas hotel with valet parking is scheduled to open in the spring of 2013. viejas casino, owned by the viejas band of kumeyaay indians, is one of the most successful tribal casinos in california. by miriam raftery november 12, 2012 ( boulevard ) — at the latest boulevard planning group meeting, community members including native americans shared heart - wrenching stories of how the nation ' s quest for renewable energy is upending their lives, dividing their communities, imperiling their health, and threatening their futures. as in ocotillo, where a wind project has anguished tribal members and residents with destruction of cultural and environmental resources, the community of boulevard now faces an onslaught of massive " green " energy projects on public, tribal and private lands. tule wind project ’ s turbines on ridgelines will be “ deadly ” for golden eagles in san diego county, wildlife biologist predicts october 29, 2012 ( san diego ’ s east county ) – wildlife biologist jim wiegand, vice president of save the eagles international, has sent a letter to bureau of indian affairs ’ regional director amy dutsche warning that the tule wind project will be “ deadly ” for eagles in our region. october 22, 2012 ( alpine ) – a u. s. navy veteran planning to retire soon hit a jackpot worth $ 501, 430. 49 on a wheel of fortune slot machine at viejas casino. the winner, who is from san diego, chose to remain anonymous. he hit the early - retirement jackpot while playing a $ 1 wheel of fortune progressive slot machine on saturday morning, october 13, at viejas casino. jpa is first in california involving a native american tribe by miriam raftery october 18, 2012 ( el cajon ) – the viejas band of kumeyaay indians and heartland fire training authority this week announced that they have entered into a historic joint powers agreement ( jpa ). “ this jpa finally allows viejas to have a seat at the table and have a full and meaningful partnership with other fire agencies that we ’ ve


training authority this week announced that they have entered into a historic joint powers agreement ( jpa ). “ this jpa finally allows viejas to have a seat at the table and have a full and meaningful partnership with other fire agencies that we ’ ve worked with for years in a very productive way, ” said viejas fire chief don butz. “ ultimately, this benefits the entire region, since wildfires and other natural disasters do not recognize geographic, political or other borders. we are all stronger and better protected when we work and train together. ” october 14, 2012 ( pala ) – a coalition fighting to stop out - of - town investors from developing a garbage dump in gregory canyon near pala will rally at the pala rey youth camp on saturday, october 20 from 10 : 00 a. m. to 2 : 00 p. m. on october 20. robert smith, chairman of the pala band of mission indians and shasta gaughen, epa director of the pala indians will be among the speakers and honored guests. the event will also feature traditional bird singing to protect gregory canyon as well as information on the fight to save the sacred mountain, which includes rock paintings and a medicine rock. blistering desert solar meeting : destruction of native american sacred sites and lack of consultation dominate blm begins rio mesa project eis process to strong opposition over desert solar siting story and photo by robert lundahl september 17, 2012 ( blythe, california ) - - the bureau of land management scoping meeting for the rio mesa solar plant outside blythe, california likely caused heartburn for the blm, applicant brightsource, and related subcontractors and agencies last thursday. by miriam raftery september 21, 2012 ( san diego ’ s east county ) – a new documentary directed by robert lundahl provides an unprecedented look at how fast - tracking of federal energy projects is having devastating impacts on native american cultural sites, destroying sacred landscapes and geoglyphs thousands of years old. view film trailer : http : / / planet - rla. com / who - are - my - people - film - trailer / the film has enjoyed the support of native american elders, including sr. alfredo figueroa ( yaqui / chemehuevi ), rev. ron van fleet ( mohave ), phil smith ( chemehuevi ), and preston arrow - weed ( kumeyaay / quechan ), who appear in the film. by miriam raftery september 17, 2012 ( alpine


. ron van fleet ( mohave ), phil smith ( chemehuevi ), and preston arrow - weed ( kumeyaay / quechan ), who appear in the film. by miriam raftery september 17, 2012 ( alpine ) – what could be more heavenly than a day at alpine ’ s new spa for a stressed - out news editor and her assistant? with high hopes, mayan and i headed out to native dreams day spa in the viejas outlet center, where our expectations were met and exceeded by the excellent services and products as we savored an afternoon of pampering and primping. september 19, 2012 ( alpine ) – viejas casino, southern california ’ s premier gaming, dining and entertainment destination, on september 14, set a new guinness record for the world ’ s largest blackjack table. the record was set at 9 : 45 a. m. september 13, as six guests sat at a massive blackjack table measuring just over 2, 226 square feet and played a hand of blackjack with chips and cards that were ten times the size of the actual viejas blackjack chips and cards. philip robertson, an official “ adjudicator ” for guinness was on hand to confirm the measurements and witness the hand of blackjack … and the new record was officially certified amid a rousing round of cheers and applause from viejas team members and guests in the dreamcatcher at viejas casino. september 12, 2012 ( el cajon ) – the heritage of the americas museum presents “ native american song cycles and creation stories in southern california ” with steve elster, ph. d. on september 22 at 1 : 00 p. m. in the museum conference room. tribal members throughout the region will sing and speak as they give a rendition of their stories. the cost of admission is $ 5. 00, however museum members and children are free. the museum is located at 12110 cuyamaca college drive west, el cajon. for more information call the museum at 619 - 670 - 5194 or visit www. cuyamaca. edu / museum.


spend or save? it ' s the age - old question facing anyone with a checkbook and a piggy bank. now, policymakers are applying the same concept to the public ’ s consumption of power. while states continue to pursue and promote greater use of renewable power to help address global climate change and energy shortages, many also are looking at efficiency as a policy tool to help them achieve the same goal. call it the piggy bank approach. this spring, two states adopted standards to achieve energy savings through greater efficiency at the utility and consumer levels. in february, new mexico gov. bill richardson signed legislation strengthening the state ’ s efficient use of energy act. the legislation directs electric and gas utilities to provide cost - effective and achievable energy - - efficiency resources to their customers. mirroring the state ’ s renewable portfolio standard, which requires utilities to derive a minimum amount of power from alternative energy sources, the law also establishes an efficiency standard for providers. electric utilities must achieve a savings of at least five percent from their 2005 sales levels through efficiency measures by the year 2014. that number increases to 10 percent by 2020. to meet the requirements of the changes, utilities in new mexico could fund and implement a variety of programs, such as rebates for energy - efficient appliances, compact fluorescent lamp exchanges and home weatherization assistance. the law also declares that it is necessary to provide financial incentives for energy efficiency and load - management resources and that energy - efficiency programs must be cost effective and less expensive than pursuing new sources of supply. following new mexico ’ s lead, vermont also has approved a bill that will promote energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the state. vermont ’ s energy efficiency and affordability act of 2008 creates a new $ 4 million fuel - efficiency fund that will be financed from existing revenues and from the sale of emission credits. among other things, the new law expands net metering to include renewable energy systems up to 250 kilowatts in capacity, up from only 15 kilowatts, and allows for combined heat and power systems up to 20 kilowatts in capacity. the bill also doubles the cap on net - metered systems to 2 percent of the peak demand as of 1996. it allows farms to have rickall their electric meters consolidated on paper into one net - metered system, and it allows groups of buildings, such as a school district or town center, to also be consolidated on paper into one net - metered system.


the rocky mountain institute ( rmi ) has launched a new online calculator to help architects, designers, and builders achieve carbon emission reduction goals for new construction and retrofit residential and commercial projects. called green footstep, the free carbon calculator allows designers to address multiple sources of carbon emissions over a building ' s lifetime and estimate the impact of specific design decisions in the quest for carbon neutrality. in addition to carbon neutrality and net - zero site energy performance goals, green footstep also helps designers comply with the u. s. green building council ' s leed energy credit guidelines and the goals of architecture 2030 ' s 2030 challenge. green footstep gives designers the tools to make more informed design decisions by allowing them to estimate a building ' s life cycle carbon footprint. the program accounts for a project site ' s intrinsic carbon storage and weighs it against the carbon emissions generated by site preparation, construction, and operation of the building. users can see the areas in which their projects fall short of carbon reduction or energy performance goals and make changes accordingly. " green footstep allows designers to adjust design targets, such as building energy use intensity and incorporating more renewables, that will get the building out of carbon debt, edging the building closer to carbon neutrality, " says michael bendewald, the rmi analyst who developed the calculator, in a statement announcing the online tool. rmi recommends designers, builders, architects, and other users employ green footstep for a project as early as the pre - design phase and then test multiple target design changes, as necessary, throughout the design process. users simply input project information — including location, site characteristics, and building characteristics — and the program generates a carbon emissions building performance report. the green footstep web site also offers building case studies revealing how the program has helped other projects reach carbon reduction goals. by creating a free account, users can input project information and goals, save them, and revisit them to make changes or updates. to learn more about using green footstep, click here. stephani l. miller is associate editor of residential architect magazine.


the coal question a notion is very prevalent that in the continuous progress of science some substitute for coal will be found — some source of motive power as much surpassing steam as steam surpasses animal labour. the popular scientific writer dr. lardner, in the following passage of his treatise on the steam engine, contributed to spread such notions — in him, as a scientific man, inexcusable. * 13 " the enormous consumption of coals, produced by the application of the steam - engine, in the arts and manufactures, as well as railways and navigation, has, of late years, excited the fears of many as to the possibility of the exhaustion of our coal - mines. such apprehensions are, however, groundless. if the present consumption of coal be estimated at sixteen millions of tons annually, it is demonstrable that the coal - fields of this country would not be exhausted for many centuries. " but, in speculations like these, the probable, if not certain, progress of improvement and discovery ought not to be overlooked ; and we may safely pronounce that, long before such a period of time shall have rolled away, other and more powerful mechanical agents will supersede the use of coal. philosophy already directs her finger at sources of inexhaustible power in the phenomena of electricity and magnetism. the alternate decomposition and recomposition of water, by magnetism and electricity, has too close an analogy to the alternate processes of vaporization and condensation not to occur at once to every mind ; the development of the gases from solid matter, by the operation of the chemical affinities, and their subsequent condensation into the liquid form, has already been essayed as a source of power. in a word, the general state of physical science at the present moment ; the vigour, activity, and sagacity with which researches in it are prosecuted in every civilized country ; the increasing consideration in which scientific men are held, and the personal honours and rewards which begin to be conferred upon them : all justify the expectation that we are on the eve of mechanical discoveries still greater than any which have yet appeared ; and that the steam - engine itself, with the gigantic powers conferred upon it by the immortal watt, will dwindle into insignificance, in comparison with the energies of nature which are still to be revealed ; and that the day will come when that machine, which is now extending the blessings of civilization to the most remote skirts of the globe, will cease to have existence,


. some distinct sources are of inconsiderable importance, such as the fall of meteoric stones, the fall of rocks, or the heat derivable from sulphur, and other native combustible substances. the internal heat of the earth, again, presents an immense store of force, but being powerfully manifested only in the hot - spring or the volcano, it is not available to us. the tides arising from the attractions of the sun, earth, and moon, present another source of power, which is, and often has been, used in one way or another, and shall be considered. the remaining natural sources of force are the complicated light, heat, chemical and magnetic influences of the sun ' s rays. the light, or chemical action, is the origin of organic fuel, in all its forms of wood, peat, bitumen, coal, & c. ; while the heat occasions the motions of the winds and falling waters. the electricity of the air and the thunder - storm, and the electric currents of the earth, are probably secondary effects of the other influences. among these several manifestations of force, our choice must, in all reasonable probability, be made. now it will be easily seen that nature is to us almost unbounded, but that economy consists in discovering and picking out those almost infinitesimal portions which best serve our purpose. we disregard the abundant vegetation, and live upon the small grain of corn ; we burn down the largest tree, that we may use its ashes ; or we wash away ten thousand parts of rock, and sand, and gravel, that we may extract the particle of gold. millions, too, live, and work, and die, in the accustomed grooves for the one lee, or savery, or crompton, or watt, who uses his minute personal contribution of labour to the best effect. so material nature presents to us the aspect of one continuous waste of force and matter beyond our control. the power we employ in the greatest engine is but an infinitesimal portion withdrawn from the immeasurable expense of natural forces. * 14 but civilization, as liebig said, is the economy of power, and consists in withdrawing and using our small fraction of force in a happy mode and moment. the rude forces of nature are too great for us, as well as too slight. it is often all we can do to escape injury from them, instead of making them obey us. and while the sun annually showers down upon us about a thousand times as much heat


of nature are too great for us, as well as too slight. it is often all we can do to escape injury from them, instead of making them obey us. and while the sun annually showers down upon us about a thousand times as much heat - power as is contained in all the coal we raise annually ; yet that thousandth part, being under perfect control, is a sufficient basis of all our economy and progress. the first great requisite of motive power is, that it shall be wholly at our command, to be exerted when and where and in what degree we desire. the wind, for instance, as a direct motive power, is wholly inapplicable to a system of machine labour, for during a calm season the whole business of the country would be thrown out of gear. before the era of steam - engines ; windmills were tried for draining mines ; " but though they were powerful machines, they were very irregular, so that in a long tract of calm weather the mines were drowned, and all the workmen thrown idle. from this cause, the contingent expenses of these machines were very great ; besides, they were only applicable in open and elevated situations. " no possible concentration of windmills, again, would supply the force required in large factories or iron works. an ordinary windmill has the power of about thirty - four men, * 15 or at most, seven horses. many ordinary factories would therefore require ten windmills to drive them ; and the great dowlais ironworks, employing a total engine power of 7, 308 horses, * 16 would require no less than 1, 000 large windmills! in navigation the power of the wind is more applicable, as it is seldom wanting in the open sea, and in long voyages the chances are that the favourable will compensate the unfavourable winds. but in shorter voyages the uncertainty and delay of sailing vessels used to be intolerable. it is not more than forty years since passengers for ireland or for the continent had sometimes to wait for weeks until a contrary wind had blown itself out. such uncertain delays dislocate business, and prevent it from proceeding in the rapid and machine - like manner which is necessary for economy. hence the gradual substitution of steam for sailing vessels. in the steam boiler, indeed, we have the veritable bag of æolus ; and thus, though steam is a most costly power, it is certain, and our sea captains are beginning to look upon wind as a noxious disturbing influence. in a well - established and connected


have the veritable bag of æolus ; and thus, though steam is a most costly power, it is certain, and our sea captains are beginning to look upon wind as a noxious disturbing influence. in a well - established and connected system of communications, there is little or no use, and often a good deal of harm, in reaching a place before the appointed time. thus there is a tendency to decline the aid of sails even when the wind is favourable and strong, and, unless for the purpose of saving fuel, a point little attended to as yet, it cannot be said that there is any benefit to be derived from sails equivalent to their trouble and cost. it is certainty that is the highest benefit of steam communication. the regularity and rapidity of a steam vessel render it an economical mode of conveyance even for a heavy freight like coal. the first cost of a steam collier is five times as much as for sailing colliers of equal tonnage. but then capital invested in the steam vessel is many times as efficient as in the sailing vessel. a steam collier can receive her cargo of 1, 200 tons at newcastle in four hours, reach london in thirty - two hours, discharge by steam hydraulic machinery in ten hours, and return to newcastle with water ballast within seventy - six hours for the round voyage. a single collier has been known to make fifty - seven voyages to london in one year, delivering 62, 842 tons of coal with a crew of twenty - one persons. to accomplish the same work with sailing colliers would require sixteen vessels, and 144 hands. * 17 the same necessity for regularity may be still more clearly seen in land conveyance. a wind - waggon would undoubtedly be the cheapest kind of conveyance if it would always go the right way. simon stevin invented such a carriage, which carried twenty - eight persons, and is said to have gone seven leagues an hour. * 18 sailing coal - waggons were tried by sir humphrey mackworth at neath about the end of the seventeenth century, and waller eulogizes these " new sailing waggons, for the cheap carriage of his coal to the waterside, whereby one horse does the work of ten at all times ; but when any wind is stirring ( which is seldom wanting near the sea ), one man and a small sail do the work of twenty. " * 19 nearly a century later richard lovell edge - worth spent forty years ' labour in trying to bring wind carriages into use. but no ing


is seldom wanting near the sea ), one man and a small sail do the work of twenty. " * 19 nearly a century later richard lovell edge - worth spent forty years ' labour in trying to bring wind carriages into use. but no ingenuity could prevent them from being uncertain : and their rapidity with a strong breeze was such, that, as was said of stevin ' s carriage, " they seemed to fly, rather than roll along the ground. " such rapidity not under full control must be in the highest degree dangerous. " nothing could at first sight have seemed more improbable than the success of the steam locomotive over the atmospheric locomotive. the power of the air, which was absolutely gratuitous, was proved to be capable of impelling railway carriages as effectually as the power of steam, generated by coals which were procured at a great cost, and were brought from a considerable distance. but the conditions under which the force of the atmosphere could be applied were so onerous that the invention ceased to present the character of an aid, and its use has consequently been discontinued. " * 20 it is the characteristic of certainty which led brindley strongly to prefer canals to improved river navigations. rivers he regarded as only fit to feed canals, and as being themselves subject to floods and droughts, he characterised them " as out of the power of art to remedy. " * 21 many of brindley ' s finest engineering works on the bridge - water canal were directed to warding off the interference of river floods. yet even his great canal was subject to be frozen up in winter and to be let dry for repairs in summer, and we could not tolerate the inconvenience and loss which a stoppage of traffic would now occasion in our large and nicely - jointed system of trade. uncertainty will for ever render aerial conveyance a commercial impossibility. a balloon or aerial machine does not enjoy like a ship the reaction of a second medium. it is subject to the full influence of the wind. thus, even if an aerial machine could be propelled by some internal power from fifty to a hundred miles an hour, it could not make head against a gale. to say nothing of the facts that balloon travelling must be dangerous, that it is really dependent on the use of fuel, and cannot, as far as we can yet see, ever be rendered practicable or cheap, it is, beyond all this, subject to natural uncertainty necessarily precluding its general use. atmospheric


it is really dependent on the use of fuel, and cannot, as far as we can yet see, ever be rendered practicable or cheap, it is, beyond all this, subject to natural uncertainty necessarily precluding its general use. atmospheric or terrestrial electricity has, no doubt, suggested itself to some as a source of power. the thunder - cloud, the aurora borealis, and the earth - current of the telegraphic wire, are natural manifestations of electric power, which might possibly be utilized. but such secondary forces are altogether inconsiderable in amount, compared with the forces of heat and wind, from which they doubtless arise. in fact, they are scarcely sensible, except during thunder, auroral or magnetic storms, when they become destructive, and interrupt our telegraphic communications. we should no more think of waiting for a magnetic storm to move our engines, than brindley would have thought of waiting for a mountain torrent to float his canal boats. the first essential of a motive force is constancy ; natural electricity, on the contrary, possesses all the characteristics of uncertainty and extreme irregularity, which are most opposed to utility. we meet, however, a constant and manageable source of force in water power. the water - wheel, or the turbine, possesses a natural tendency to uniformity of motion, even more perfect than that bestowed on the engine by watt ' s " governor. " water power is, in this respect, the best motive power, and is sometimes used on this account, where a very delicate machine requires to be driven at a perfectly constant rate. when an abundant natural fall of water is at hand, nothing can be cheaper or better than water power. but everything depends upon local circumstances. the occasional mountain torrent is simply destructive. many streams and rivers only contain sufficient water half the year round, and costly reservoirs alone could keep up the summer supply. in flat countries no engineering art could procure any considerable supply of natural water power, and in very few places do we find water power free from occasional failure by drought. the necessity, again, of carrying the work to the power, not the power to the work, is a disadvantage in water power, and wholly prevents that concentration of works in one neighbourhood which is highly advantageous to the perfection of our mechanical system. even the cost of conveying materials often overbalances the cheapness of water power. the splendid katrine water mills recently constructed by mr. fairbairn are in the best natural circumstances, and give a nominal


the perfection of our mechanical system. even the cost of conveying materials often overbalances the cheapness of water power. the splendid katrine water mills recently constructed by mr. fairbairn are in the best natural circumstances, and give a nominal power of 100 horses at an annual cost of 1, 260l. but mr. fairbairn calculates that an equivalent force from coals, at 7s. per ton, would only cost 1, 400l., and the difference is probably more than balanced by the cost of conveying raw materials and products to and from the mill, with the possibility, too, of an occasional scarcity of water during drought. * 22 it is usually possible, with more or less labour, to procure water power artificially, to store it up, and convey and expend it where we like. those who are acquainted with sir w. armstrong ' s beautiful apparatus for working cranes, dockgates, and performing other occasional services, will probably allow that the most perfect conceivable system of machine labour might be founded on hydraulic power. imagine an indefinite number of windmills, tidal - mills, and water - mills employed to pump water into a few immense reservoirs near our factory towns. water power might thence be distributed and sold, as water is now sold for domestic purposes. not only all large machines, but every crane, every lathe, every tool might be worked by water from a supply pipe, and in our houses a multitude of domestic operations, such as ventilation, washing, the turning of the spit, might be facilitated by water power. the first suggestion of a system of storing and distributing power seems to be due to denis papin, the french refugee engineer, the same who suggested the use of the steam - engine piston. * 23 in the transactions of the royal society for the year 1687 * 24 he described a method of prolonging the action of water - wheels by drawing and forcing air through tubes, which seems to involve the principle of the boring machines of the mont cenis tunnel, the new coal - cutting machine, and pneumatic and hydraulic apparatus generally. and it was bramah, a second french engineer, domiciled here, who first showed in practice the wonderful capabilities of hydraulic power. and so controllable, safe, clean, and irresistible is hydrostatic pressure, either of air or water, that, now our mechanical skill in construction is sufficiently advanced, it must come more and more into use. we might almost anticipate


and so controllable, safe, clean, and irresistible is hydrostatic pressure, either of air or water, that, now our mechanical skill in construction is sufficiently advanced, it must come more and more into use. we might almost anticipate from its wide adoption a perfect utopian system of machine labour, in which human labour would be restricted to the simple direction of the hydraulic pressure. but before indulging in imaginary approximations to perfection, it is well to inquire into the several conditions of possibility. to the capabilities of hydrostatic pressure there is perhaps physically speaking scarcely a limit, but commercially speaking our command of water power, or hydrostatic power, in whatever form, is nearly limited to our command of steam. it is steam that presents us with hydrostatic power in its most abundant and available form. water power in uniform abundance is to be had, in this country at least, only through steam ; and all experience points to the fact that, instead of water being a possible commercial substitute for steam, it is steam that from its first use has been a substitute for water power. a brief consideration of the history of the steam - engine will put this fact in the clearest light. though water power had been in use since the time of the romans, a great want was clearly felt in the seventeenth century of some new power, antithetical to water power, so to speak, and capable of overcoming it, so that drowned mines might be pumped dry, and water might be raised to furnish artificial water power, where a natural supply was not to be had. the earliest explicit patent for a new engine was directed to the raising of water, * 25 and the " exact and true definition " of the marquis of worcester ' s engine clearly expressed a similar purpose. " there being indeed no place but either wanteth water, or is overburdened therewith... by this engine either defect is remediable. " hence the marquis calls his invention a " stupendous water commanding engine, " and truly regarded it as a new primum mobile which was to overcome the force of falling water. his appreciation of the value of water power is shown by his remarkable motto : * 26 — " whosoever is master of weight is master of force, " and consequently, " said he, " to him all forcible actions and achievements are easy, which are in any wise beneficial to, or for, mankind. " savery had no less correct and exalted notions of what his engine


" and consequently, " said he, " to him all forcible actions and achievements are easy, which are in any wise beneficial to, or for, mankind. " savery had no less correct and exalted notions of what his engine might accomplish by simply overcoming the gravity of water. it generated an universal motive power ; for he said, " i have only this to urge, that water in its fall from any determinate height, has simply a force answerable to, and equal to the force that raises it ; " * 27 and he hints at " what may yet be brought to work by a steady stream and the rotation, or circular motion of a waterwheel, " and " what use this engine may be put to in working of mills, especially where coals are cheap. " now during the greater part of last century the steam - engine did perform the duty alluded to ; it did pump up water and furnish artificial water power for turning mills and winding coals from mines. at the coalbrookdale iron works it accomplished an inestimable service by enabling darby to maintain and increase the blast of his new coal furnaces, an atmospheric engine being used to return the water from the lower to the higher mill - pond. * 28 had not the introduction of the crank, flywheel, and governor by watt, enabled us to communicate equable circular motion directly from a steam - engine to a machine, the water - wheel supplied with water by an engine would to this day be the source of motive power. as it is, of course steam power used directly is cheaper than steam power used indirectly. water power is now only used where a natural fall is easily available. such falls had in general become monopolised property from time immemorial, and naturally became the seats of factory labour, half a century or more ago. but it was the steam - engine which alone could allow the growth of our factory system, as seen in the fact that steam power employed in factories now exceeds water power six - fold. in 5, 117 textile factories existing in the united kingdom in 1856, the power employed consisted of, * 29 — the water - wheel, moreover, has, by the continued exertions of our great engineers, from smeaton down to fairbairn, been carried near its mathematical maximum of efficiency, whereas the engine yet gives us only a fraction of the power it may be made to give. the improvement of the engine has, in fact, caused it to be substituted successively in many


fairbairn, been carried near its mathematical maximum of efficiency, whereas the engine yet gives us only a fraction of the power it may be made to give. the improvement of the engine has, in fact, caused it to be substituted successively in many mills before worked by water ; and could its efficiency be again doubled, as is not impossible, hardly could the best water power in the country withstand the superior economy of steam. the predominance of steam over water is seen in many other instances. it is a steam - engine that is used to supply water power for sir w. armstrong ' s apparatus, as at the liverpool and birkenhead docks. a handsome and lofty building will be seen near the birkenhead great float, containing a reservoir of artificial water power thus obtained. again, it is only the engine that can supply water for the manufacturing and domestic uses of our great towns like manchester and london. our factories, printworks, sugar refineries, breweries, and other works, find it a matter of immense cost and difficulty to get a plentiful supply of water from wells and pumping engines, or from natural sources. and if we can hardly supply our boilers with water, how can we dream of ever using water, instead of steam, in the cylinder, and as the motive power? the predominance of steam is further seen in its actual substitution for the windmill, or the tidal mill. wind - cornmills still go on working until they are burnt down, or out of repair ; they are then never rebuilt, but their work is transferred to steam - mills. yet the grinding of corn is a work most suitable to the variable power of the wind. again, if there is anything which could be cheaply done by wind, it is the raising of large masses of water where occasional irregularities are of no consequence, the rain and wind mostly coming together. yet the windmills long employed to drain the lincolnshire fens, as practised in holland, were at last superseded by powerful steam - engines, on the recommendation of mr. rennie. * 30 tidal mills are no novelty. one is mentioned in the first page and column of the domesday book as existing at dover. a tidal pump was long moved by the current under old london bridge, and supplied the city with water. a tidal corn - mill, too, of very ingenious construction, subsequently existed at woolwich. * 31 not long ago sir robert kane, in his " industrial resources of ireland, " * 32 supposed


, and supplied the city with water. a tidal corn - mill, too, of very ingenious construction, subsequently existed at woolwich. * 31 not long ago sir robert kane, in his " industrial resources of ireland, " * 32 supposed tidal mills to be capable of supplying motive power to ireland. the application of the tides to machine labour is rendered difficult on account of their variation from day to day. to gain a constant head of water always available we must either construct elaborate and costly high and low tide basins, or else we must use the variable tidal wheel to pump up water into a great reservoir. the estuary of the dee is one of the places best adapted to give a vast tidal power, and an anonymous but apparently able engineer has calculated what power might be utilised there. * 33 he considers that the equivalent steam power might be had at a capital cost of £4, 000, 000, a sum wholly insufficient to provide the tidal works. hence he concludes that the tidal scheme would be at least commercially impracticable, and he doubts whether it would be at all possible mechanically speaking to construct embankments and tidal basins on loose sands. and whatever schemes of this sort be proposed we should remember that the tendency of tidal docks and reservoirs to silt up is an insuperable objection in cost. engineers, from the time of brindley, have constantly found that there is nothing more nearly beyond the remedy of art than the silting up of harbours, docks, and reservoirs. the great new birkenhead docks are threatened with this evil, and a tidal mill and reservoir constructed on the opposite side of the mersey about half a century ago was soon abandoned for a similar reason. it will, therefore, appear obvious that if we are to have a water power millennium of machine labour, which is physically possible, it must yet be using steam as the ultimate source of power. to go on to other suggestions, we may notice the very prevalent opinion that the electro - magnetic engine will some day supersede the steam - engine. such an engine, however, must be worked by an electro - positive metallic element as the source of power. now it is coal or fuel only by which we can smelt ores and obtain the metal required for the engine, and it is demonstrable that we should get far more force by using coal directly under a steam - engine boiler, than by using it to smelt metals for an electro - magnetic engine. after the exposure of the claims of such an engine


, and it is demonstrable that we should get far more force by using coal directly under a steam - engine boiler, than by using it to smelt metals for an electro - magnetic engine. after the exposure of the claims of such an engine by baron liebig, * 34 i need not dwell upon it. the predominance of steam, too, is shown most clearly in the fact that the steam - engine is used conversely to turn faraday ' s magneto - electric machines, and supply electricity for telegraph purposes, and for illuminating lighthouses. and while force is found to be the cheapest source of electricity, it is impossible that electricity should be the cheapest source of force. the electro - magnetic engine might be found a convenient device for applying or concentrating force in some particular circumstances, but the force must ultimately be furnished by coal. hitherto we have considered mechanical force only, but it is obvious that if coal were used up we should want some source of heat as well as force. a favourite notion is to employ wind, water, or tidal mills to turn magneto - electric machines, and by the stream of electricity produced to decompose water, thus furnishing a continuous supply of artificial gaseous fuel. such a plan was proposed in the times during the discussion on the french treaty. but an answer, attributed to dr. percy of the school of mines, soon appeared, showing the amount of fuel derivable to be inconsiderable. the waste of power must be vastly greater in such a process of transmutation than in the system of artificial water power which we have considered. besides, if uniform experience is to be trusted, a steam - engine would be a much more economical means of turning the magneto - electric machines than either a wind, water, or tidal machine. we should therefore only use coal in a roundabout manner to generate a less valuable fuel. for the hydrogen gas generated, though in some instances valuable, would in general be immensely less convenient than coal. for equal weights, it gives about four times as much heat as coal, but hydrogen is so light that for equal volumes it gives one five - thousandth part as much heat. to compress it in a small space would require more force than the combustion of the fuel itself would furnish, and gas companies do not find it convenient to compress their gas. hydrogen too has so much higher a diffusive power than coal - gas, that it could hardly be retained in gasometers or ordinary


the fuel itself would furnish, and gas companies do not find it convenient to compress their gas. hydrogen too has so much higher a diffusive power than coal - gas, that it could hardly be retained in gasometers or ordinary pipes. even the loss of coal - gas by leakage is said to be nearly twenty - five per cent. of course it is useless to think of substituting any other kind of fuel for coal. we cannot revert to timber fuel, for " nearly the entire surface of our island would be required to grow timber sufficient for the consumption of the iron manufacture alone. " * 35 and i have independently calculated, from the known produce of continental forests, * 36 and the comparative heat - producing values of timber and coal, * 37 that forests of an extent two and a half times exceeding the whole area of the united kingdom would be required to furnish even a theoretical equivalent to our annual coal produce. practically, however, there are inconveniences about the use of timber that would altogether prevent it from nourishing a large manufacturing system. wood fuel is superior to coal in the single case of the iron smelting furnace ; but in most other uses, the greater bulk of wood, and the large areas of forest land over which it is spread, necessarily render it a costly and inefficient fuel compared with coal. peat, or turf, again, may no doubt be turned into fuel ; but, in spite of what has been said in its favour by sir r. kane, * 38 all experience shows that it is immensely inferior as regards cost and efficiency to coal. it is usually full, too, of phosphorus and sulphur, and thus has not even those advantages of purity which render timber so valuable for the iron blast furnace. petroleum has of late years become the matter of a most extensive trade, and has even been proposed by american inventors for use in marine steam - engine boilers. it is undoubtedly superior to coal for many purposes, and is capable of replacing it. but then, what is petroleum but the essence of coal, distilled from it by terrestrial or artificial heat? its natural supply is far more limited and uncertain than that of coal, its price is about 15l. per ton already, and an artificial supply can only be had by the distillation of some kind of coal at considerable cost. to extend the use of petroleum, then, is only a new way of pushing the consumption of coal. it is more likely to be an


and an artificial supply can only be had by the distillation of some kind of coal at considerable cost. to extend the use of petroleum, then, is only a new way of pushing the consumption of coal. it is more likely to be an aggravation of the drain than a remedy. coal has all those characteristics which entitle it to be considered the best natural source of motive power. it is like a spring, wound up during geological ages for us to let down. just as in alluvial deposits of gold - dust we enjoy the labour of the natural forces which for ages were breaking down the quartz veins and washing out the gold ready for us, so in our seams we have peculiar stores of force collected from the sunbeams for us. coal contains light and heat bottled up in the earth, as stephenson said, for tens of thousands of years, and now again brought forth and made to work for human purposes. the amount of power contained in coal is almost incredible. in burning a single pound of coal there is force developed equivalent to that of 11, 422, 000 pounds weight falling one foot, and the actual useful force got from each pound of coal in a good steam - engine is that of 1, 000, 000 lbs. falling through a foot ; that is to say, there is spring enough in coal to raise a million times its own weight a foot high. or again, suppose a farmer to despatch a horse and cart to bring a ton of coals to work a portable engine, occupying four hours on the way. the power brought in the coal is 2, 800 times the power expended in bringing it, and the amount of useful force actually got from it will probably exceed by 100 times or more that of the horse as employed in the cart. in coal we pre - eminently have, as the partner of watt said, " what all the world wants — power. " all things considered, it is not reasonable to suppose or expect that the power of coal will ever be superseded by anything better. it is the naturally best source of power, as air and water and gold and iron are, each for its own purposes, the most useful of substances, and such as will never be superseded. of course i do not deny that if our coal were gone, or nearly so, and of high price, we might find wind, water, or tidal mills, a profitable substitute for coal. but this would only be on the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread. it


our coal were gone, or nearly so, and of high price, we might find wind, water, or tidal mills, a profitable substitute for coal. but this would only be on the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread. it would not enable us to keep up our old efficiency, nor to compete with nations enjoying yet undiminished stores of fuel. and there is little doubt, too, that a century hence the steam - engine will be two or three - fold as efficient as at present, turning the balance of economy so far the more in favour of those who then possess coal, and against those who have to resort to water or wind. this is a point which i must insist upon as finally decisive of the question. the progress of science, and the improvement in the arts, will tend to increase the supremacy of steam and coal. any mechanist knows that the water - wheel and the windmill have been brought, by the exertion of our engineers, brindley, smeaton, rennie, telford, and fairbairn, near to their mathematical limit of efficiency ; so that we can do little more than improve the mechanical construction, and gain some small percentage of additional power by reducing the friction of the machinery. the steam - engine, on the other hand, at least equally admits of improvement in mechanical details ; but beyond this, in the principles of heat and vapour, we see clearly the possibility of multiplying at least three - fold the efficiency of fuel. if there is anything certain in the progress of the arts and sciences it is that this gain of power will be achieved, and that all competition with the power of coal will then be out of the question. in short, the general course of science and improvement will only lead us the more to regret the limited extent of our coal resources. but let us further remember that coal is now a pre - eminent gift in our actual possession, whereas if any wholly new source of power be some day discovered, we have no reason to suppose that our island will be as pre - eminently endowed with it as with coal. mr. babbage has applied his rare genius to this question, and what he has once said is incapable of improvement. passing over the period which this work considers, when coal will be scarce here and plentiful elsewhere, he has thrown his thoughts forward to the time when coal will be scarce everywhere. heat, he thinks, may then be got from the hot springs of ischia. " in iceland,


, when coal will be scarce here and plentiful elsewhere, he has thrown his thoughts forward to the time when coal will be scarce everywhere. heat, he thinks, may then be got from the hot springs of ischia. " in iceland, " he continues, * 39 " the sources of heat are still more plentiful ; and their proximity to large masses of ice seems almost to point out the future destiny of that island.... in a future age power may become the staple commodity of the icelanders. " power is at present our staple commodity, and mr. babbage clearly saw, more than thirty years ago, that with our coal power must pass from us. among the residual possibilities of unforeseen events, it is just possible that some day the sunbeams may be collected, or that some source of force now unknown may be detected. but such a discovery would simply destroy our peculiar industrial supremacy. the study of electricity has already been zealously cultivated on the continent with this view, — " england, " it is said, " is to lose her superiority as a manufacturing country, inasmuch as her vast store of coals will no longer avail her, as an economical source of motive power. " * 40 and while foreigners clearly see that the peculiar material energy of england depends on coal, we must not dwell in such a fool ' s paradise as to imagine we can do without coal what we do with it. notes for this chapter lardner, on the steam engine, 7th ed. 1840, p. 8. see " economy of manufactures, " § 17, et passim. in this exquisite work mr. babbage anticipates the modern doctrines of the relations of the natural forces. life of telford. telford ' s memorandum book, p. 671. truran on the iron manufacture of great britain, p. 242. c. m. palmer, report of the british association, 1863, p. 697. see a curious account in the british museum, under the name stevin, 1652. smiles ' engineers, vol. iii. p. 73. plutology ; or, the theory of efforts to satisfy human wants. by w. e. hearn, ll. d. professor of political economy in the university of melbourne, 1864, p. 199. this work appears to me both in soundness and originality the most advanced treatise on political economy which has appeared, and it should be familiar to every student of the science


professor of political economy in the university of melbourne, 1864, p. 199. this work appears to me both in soundness and originality the most advanced treatise on political economy which has appeared, and it should be familiar to every student of the science. smiles ' engineers, vol. i. p. 458. fairbairn on mills and mill - work, p. 89. see p. 103. no. 186, p. 263, jan. 1687. see the patent of 1631, in rymer ' s fœdera. harleian miscellany, vol. iv. p. 526. miner ' s friend, pp. 28, 29. see chap. xv. chadwick, report of the brit. assoc. 1861, p. 210. smiles ' engineers, vol. i. p. 67. first edition, p. 105. see the journal " engineering, " 30th march, 1866, p. 195. letters on chemistry, no. 12. taylor ' s archæology of the coal trade, p. 176. percy ' s metallurgy, vol. i. pp. 71, 72. watt ' s chemical dictionary, article fuel. industrial resources of ireland, 1st ed. chap. ii. economy of manufactures, 3rd ed. 1833, § 465. liebig ' s letters on chemistry, no. 12, p. 154. end of notes return to top


teaching stories have been used since ancient times to illustrate a point, teach an important lesson, or make the listener think. eight shifts for wellness includes teaching stories intended to provoke thought on the life lessons they illustrate. below are a few teaching stories. think about situations in your life that may be relevant to what the story is about. what is the gift you have the opportunity to receive from it? how can the teachings be applied in future situations you may encounter? how can you use the knowledge and insight you get from the story to have a positive impact on your well - being and the well - being of others? good luck? bad luck? in ancient times a farmer lived in china with his son. they had an old horse they used to till their fields. one day the horse got loose and escaped into the hills. each of the villagers came to the farmer to express their sorrow for his misfortune. they said, “ what bad luck for you that your horse ran away. ” the farmer responded, “ bad luck? good luck? who knows? ” a few days later the horse returned and was followed by eight wild horses. the villagers came to express their glee and said, “ how lucky you are. ” the farmer responded, “ good luck? bad luck? who knows? ” a week later his son was riding one of the wild horses and was thrown to the ground and broke his leg. once again the villagers came to express their condolences and said, “ how unlucky you are that your son broke his leg. ” the farmer replied, “ bad luck? good luck? who knows? ” a few days later the emperor ’ s soldiers came to the village to order all the young men to join the army for an upcoming war. the farmer ’ s son was not taken because he had a broken leg. the villagers came rushing to the farmer to congratulate him that his son was not taken into the army and they told him, “ how lucky you are to have such good fortune. ” the farmer replied, “ good luck? bad luck? who knows? ” an old cherokee was telling his granddaughter about a fight that is going on inside each of us. he said it is between two wolves. one is evil : it is anger, envy, jealousy, greed, and arrogance. the other is good : it is peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, and compassion. the granddaughter thought about it for a minute and then asked her grandfather, “ which wolf wins? ” the grandfather simply


skip to main content more search options a member of our team will call you back within one business day. if the kneecap is “ off track ” even slightly ( a tracking problem ), it can cause uneven pressure on the back of the kneecap. this can cause pain and difficulty with movements, such as walking and going down stairs. below are some common causes of kneecap pain. sometimes the cartilage on the back of the kneecap or in the groove of the thighbone is damaged. damaged cartilage can ’ t spread pressure evenly. uneven pressure wears down the cartilage even further. sometimes a muscle or ligament in the knee is pulled the wrong way. or the kneecap may be pushed too hard. then the kneecap may move partly out of the groove ( subluxation ). it may even move completely out ( dislocation ). patellar tendinitis ( “ jumper ’ s knee ” ) occurs when the quadriceps muscles are overused or tight. during movement, the patellar tendon absorbs more shock than usual. the tendon becomes irritated or damaged. plica bands are tissue fibers that some people have near the kneecap. they usually cause no problems. but sometimes they can become irritated or inflamed.


on 10 september 2012, orphan designation ( eu / 3 / 12 / 1044 ) was granted by the european commission to endocyte europe b. v., the netherlands, for folic acid to be used with n - [ 4 - [ [ ( 2 - amino - 3, 4 - dihydro - 4 - oxo - 6 - pteridinyl ) methyl ] amino ] benzoyl ] - d - gamma - glutamyl - ( 2s ) - 2 - amino - beta - alanyl - l - alpha - aspartyl - l - cysteine for the diagnosis of positive folate - receptor status in ovarian cancer. - what is ovarian cancer? ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries ( two organs in the female reproductive system that produce eggs ). most ovarian cancers occur in women over the age of 50 years. due to the absence of symptoms in the early stages of the disease, the majority of patients are diagnosed when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. most ovarian cancers are ‘ folate - receptor positive ’. this means that the surface of the cancer cell contains high amounts of a receptor, which folic acid ( a vitamin required for cell division ) attaches to. this receptor can be targeted for treatment. ovarian cancer is a life - threatening disease that is associated with poor long - term survival. - what is the estimated number of patients eligible for diagnosis of positive folate receptor status in ovarian cancer? at the time of designation, the number of patients eligible for diagnosis of positive folate receptor status in ovarian cancer was estimated to be not more than 1. 3 in 10, 000 people in the european union ( eu ) *. this is equivalent to a total of not more than 66, 000 people, and is below the ceiling for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10, 000. this is based on the information provided by the sponsor and the knowledge of the committee for orphan medicinal products ( comp ). * disclaimer : for the purpose of the designation, the number of patients affected by the condition is estimated and assessed on the basis of data from the european union ( eu 27 ), norway, iceland and liechtenstein. this represents a population of 506, 300, 000 ( eurostat 2011 ). - what methods of diagnosis are available? at the time of designation, there were no satisfactory methods of diagnosing positive folate - receptor status in o


liechtenstein. this represents a population of 506, 300, 000 ( eurostat 2011 ). - what methods of diagnosis are available? at the time of designation, there were no satisfactory methods of diagnosing positive folate - receptor status in ovarian cancer in the eu. existing methods were limited to detecting the presence of ovarian cancer cells. they included vaginal examination to check for any visible abnormalities of the womb or ovaries. in addition, blood tests and ultrasound were used to help identify masses in the abdomen. if a mass was discovered, the patient underwent surgery to determine the nature of the mass. - how is this medicine expected to work? folic - acid injections are used to improve the image on scans for diagnosing positive folate - receptor status in ovarian cancer. it is given before the injection of another medicine that is radioactive and also contains folic acid. the radioactive medicine can enter the cancer cells by attaching to their folate receptors and once inside it emits radiation which can be seen as an image on a scan. the folic - acid injections are given before the radioactive medicine as this has been shown to improve the quality of the image on the scan. this is because the folic acid attaches to many receptors in non - cancer cells, thereby ensuring that more of the radioactive medicine attaches to the receptors on the cancer cells. - what is the stage of development of this medicine? the effects of folic acid have been evaluated in experimental models. at the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with folic acid in patients with ovarian cancer were ongoing. at the time of submission, folic acid was not authorised anywhere in the eu for the diagnosis of positive folate - receptor status in ovarian cancer or designated as an orphan medicinal product elsewhere for diagnosing this condition. in accordance with regulation ( ec ) no 141 / 2000 of 16 december 1999, the comp adopted a positive opinion on 23 july 2012 recommending the granting of this designation. - opinions on orphan medicinal product designations are based on the following three criteria : - the seriousness of the condition ; - the existence of alternative methods of diagnosis, prevention or treatment ; - either the rarity of the condition ( affecting not more than 5 in 10, 000 people in the eu ) or insufficient returns on investment. designated orphan medicinal products are products that are still under investigation and are considered for orphan designation on the basis of potential activity. an orphan designation is not a marketing author


more than 5 in 10, 000 people in the eu ) or insufficient returns on investment. designated orphan medicinal products are products that are still under investigation and are considered for orphan designation on the basis of potential activity. an orphan designation is not a marketing authorisation. as a consequence, demonstration of quality, safety and efficacy is necessary before a product can be granted a marketing authorisation. | active substance | | folic acid to be used with n - [ 4 - [ [ ( 2 - amino - 3, 4 - dihydro - 4 - oxo - 6 - pteridinyl ) methyl ] amino ] benzoyl ] - d - gamma - glutamyl - ( 2s ) - 2 - amino - beta - alanyl - l - alpha - aspartyl - l - cysteine | | disease / condition | | diagnosis of positive folate - receptor status in ovarian cancer | | date of decision | | 10 / 09 / 2012 | | orphan decision number | | eu / 3 / 12 / 1044 | review of designation the committee for orphan medicinal products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation. sponsor ’ s contact details : endocyte europe b. v. prins bernhardplein 200 1097 jb amsterdam telephone : + 31 20 521 4777 telefax : + 31 20 521 4821 for contact details of patients ’ organisations whose activities are targeted at rare diseases see : - orphanet, a database containing information on rare diseases which includes a directory of patients ’ organisations registered in europe ; - european organisation for rare diseases ( eurordis ), a non - governmental alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases.


a pressure sore ( bed sore ) is an injury to the skin and / or the tissues under the skin, caused primarily by constant pressure. people confined to a bed or chair and unable to move are at greatest risk for developing pressure sores, which form most often in bony areas such as the hips, heels, or tailbone. pressure sores develop when constant pressure reduces blood supply to an area of skin and tissue. oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood cannot reach the cells in the tissue, causing the cells to die. pressure sores can range from mild reddening of the skin to severe tissue damage that extends into muscle and bone. these sores are difficult to treat and slow to heal. for people who are confined to a bed or chair or are unable to move, changing positions frequently and distributing body weight evenly will relieve pressure on any one area of skin. eating a balanced diet with adequate protein promotes healthy skin, as does keeping skin clean and free of body fluids or feces. moisturizing dry skin with good - quality lotions will keep the skin from drying out and cracking, which makes it vulnerable to pressure sores. healing a pressure sore depends on relieving the pressure on the area. treatment for pressure sores includes changing positions frequently to restore blood flow to the tissue and washing the sore daily. unaffected tissue around the sore should be kept clean and dry to prevent further damage. removing dead tissue and applying medicated ointments or creams will help reduce the risk of infection. emedicinehealth medical reference from healthwise to learn more visit healthwise. org © 1995 - 2012 healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, healthwise for every health decision, and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise, incorporated. find out what women really need. most popular topics pill identifier on rxlist - quick, easy, find a local pharmacy - including 24 hour, pharmacies


since the beginning of the unrest in the syrian arab republic, the world health organization has been working with the ministry of health, the syrian arab red crescent and partners to address the acute and chronic health needs of syrian populations affected by the crisis. this includes the provision of ambulances, the refurbishing and equipping of four mobile health clinics, and medicines and medical supplies for treating approximately 700 000 people. as the crisis continues into its 18th month, however, severe shortages in medicines and pharmaceutical products are being reported inside the country. more than 90 % of medicines in the syrian arab republic were locally produced before the unrest began in february 2011. since then, economic sanctions and an increase in operational costs have negatively affected the production of medicines and pharmaceutical products. the recent escalation of clashes has impacted pharmaceutical plants in rural aleppo, homs and rural damascus, where 90 % of the country ’ s plants are located. many of these plants have now closed as a result of the ongoing clashes and increased cost of fuel. syrian ministry of health statistics show that prior to the unrest, 52. 7 % of the population was receiving treatment for gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, renal diseases and cancer. many of these patients are still dependent on locally produced medicines that are now no longer obtainable, and the reported shortages could have catastrophic results. urgently needed medicines identified by the world health organization and the syrian ministry of health include those for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, thalassemia and cancer, as well as medicines for kidney disease. there is also an urgent need for chemical reagents for blood screening tests to ensure the safety and quality of blood used in surgical and trauma care in hospitals. the world health organization has released a statement to the international community, donors and partners calling for contributions to covering health - related needs within the syrian arab republic. read the statement in arabic | english.


software and simulation laboratory the software and simulation laboratory is where software technologies are demonstrated and hands - on software prototyping and testing carried out for the benefit of esa projects and industry. it consists of equipment and computer installations to develop and test software as well as simulators and ground support equipment used in the development and verification of space systems. what is software simulation? software is a critical component of space systems, both space and ground. as more functions and intelligence are implemented in software, its design and reliable operations have become a complex and highly demanding task. the flight software onboard a typical modern spacecraft stretches to hundreds of thousands of lines of code, while programs of similar elaboration oversee supporting ground systems. software of such complexity demands careful verification to guarantee that it operates correctly and does not endanger the achievement of the space mission. software is intangible, but errors or omissions buried within it have very real effects, having led to the partial or complete loss of space missions. the software and simulation laboratory provides independent verification and validation of software developed for space. in addition the laboratory also evaluates more efficient and reliable methods for designing software in future. as well as being an important mission component, software is also a vital work tool. the laboratory develops computer simulations both graphical, interactive 3d simulations of space hardware as well as simulations of satellite systems and missions which have many uses through an esa project ' s life cycle, from initial design through to operational planning as well as training of astronauts and ground personnel. software is also extensively used for ground - based testing of space hardware, as essential part of the so called electrical ground support equipment ( egse ). the egse can be connected to a satellite and check its correct performance by analyzing its responses to commands as if it were in orbit. last update : 29 september 2009


researchers at the georgia tech research institute ( gtri ) have developed a novel iphone application that may enable persons with parkinson ' s disease and certain other neurological conditions to use the ubiquitous devices to collect data on hand and arm tremors and relay the results to medical personnel. the researchers believe the application could replace subjective tests now used to assess the severity of tremors, while potentially allowing more frequent patient monitoring without costly visits to medical facilities. the program – known as itrem – could be offered later this year by the app store, an apple inc. website that sells iphone applications. but itrem will first undergo a clinical study at emory university and must receive any required approvals from the food and drug administration. " we expect itrem to be a very useful tool for patients and their caregivers, " said brian parise, a research scientist who is principal investigator for the project along with robert delano, another gtri research scientist. " and as a downloadable application, it also promises to be convenient and cost - effective. " itrem utilizes the iphone ' s built - in accelerometer to collect data on a patient in his or her home or office. the application directly tracks tremor information currently, and in the future will use simple puzzle games to record tremor data, which will then be processed and transmitted. the researchers expect the clinical trial to show that data gathered by the program would allow physicians to remotely monitor the degree of disability, progression and medication response among patients with tremor - related conditions. in addition, itrem offers a social component that allows people to share stories, pictures and data. itrem ' s developers are working with the advanced technology development center ( atdc ) to form a startup company based on itrem and future applications that might take advantage of iphone capabilities. atdc is a startup accelerator based at georgia tech that helps georgia entrepreneurs launch and build successful technology companies. the gtri team plans ongoing development of itrem ' s interface, based on responses from doctors and patients. they ' re also investigating other consumer technologies with diagnostic potential, including the tiny gyroscopes now available in some cellular phones. future developments will include the addition of several other parkinson ' s related tests and investigation of gait analysis in a joint effort with the university of south florida and the james a. haley veterans ' hospital in tampa, fla. additional developments may utilize the phone for detecting and analyzing dyskinesia, a movement disorder. more than 10 million people in the u. s. have tremor - related disease, including


a. haley veterans ' hospital in tampa, fla. additional developments may utilize the phone for detecting and analyzing dyskinesia, a movement disorder. more than 10 million people in the u. s. have tremor - related disease, including parkinson ' s, essential tremor and multiple sclerosis, delano said. data collected by itrem could enhance research on tremor disorders, in addition to supporting treatment for current patients, he added. most current measurement techniques used by doctors are subjective and are performed infrequently, delano said. complex diagnostic procedures such as electroencephalography and electromyography are objective and thorough, but are rarely performed because they ' re lengthy, expensive and require a clinical setting. the result is that little data about tremor has been available to track the effectiveness of medication and therapy over time. by contrast, he said, the ease of gathering tremor data with itrem could help lead to a significant expansion of research in this area, as a wealth of objective data is collected and analyzed. " even factoring in the cost of an iphone, using itrem is likely to be more convenient and less expensive for patients than office visits, and the data are accurate and abundant, " delano said. a clinical study involving itrem use is expected to start soon at emory university ' s movement disorder clinic. the study will be led by dr. stewart factor, a researcher in the field of parkinson ' s disease at the emory school of medicine. the gtri development team presented a paper on itrem in january at the 2011 international conference on health informatics. delano explained that the development of itrem was linked to his own diagnosis with parkinson ' s disease several years ago. he eventually became frustrated with the subjective approaches commonplace in the characterizing of patient tremor symptoms. " currently, doctors observe tremor during office visits and rate it on a subjective scale of zero to four. that approach seemed outdated to me, considering all the technology now available, " delano said. " my wife heather, who ' s an engineer, remarked that maybe that we could try putting some accelerometers on my arm. that made me think of the accelerometer in the iphone – and here we are. " aaas and eurekalert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to eurekalert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the eurekalert! system.


going green with renewable energy find out how to make energy - efficient, green business choices, and which green businesses to support. green power is the term for energy sources that are not only renewable, but that also offer the most environmental advantages. these are in sharp contrast to non - renewables like oil and coal that are in limited supply and cause the highest environmental impact to find and use. more companies than ever are focusing on ways to make their business green by becoming more energy efficient, and using renewable energy sources to power their operations. energy efficient options for businesses there are several renewable green power options that businesses can consider. the best option for any given business depends on the type of company it is, and what the company wants to accomplish by becoming a green business. possible sources of renewable energy and green power include : - biomass ( organic matter ) - solar ( sun ) - geothermal ( heat from below the earth ’ s surface ) - hydropower ( moving water ) " with green power, you ' re thinking more of electricity - producing technologies, " says emily r. hickey, program coordinator for the renewable energy program at the wisconsin energy conservation corporation. " so that would be solar electric, also called photovoltaic or pv, and wind electric power. " solar and wind energy are most common and often the easiest sources of renewable energy to implement, says hickey. solar panels can be installed just about anywhere — on a south - facing section of a roof, on roof racks, and even on poles near a building. wind turbines are a little trickier, says hickey. " you have to have enough open space " to operate them, she says, and turbines have to be mounted at least 30 feet higher than any other obstructions within 500 feet, meaning trees, buildings, and other tall structures. " otherwise, the quality of wind isn ' t as strong for producing power, " hickey notes. " there are also zoning regulations to consider with a wind project and a significant permitting [ process ], so wind is often easiest to permit in a rural area. there are other technologies as well, like bio - gas, which is rather farm specific, and more industrial type technologies like biomass combustion, " says hickey. these types of renewable energy require that the green business produce waste that is safe to burn. a wood cabinet or flooring manufacturer would be a good candidate for biomass combustion, for example, because they have a wood waste product that could be burned for fuel to provide energy to power the business. dairy and other


waste that is safe to burn. a wood cabinet or flooring manufacturer would be a good candidate for biomass combustion, for example, because they have a wood waste product that could be burned for fuel to provide energy to power the business. dairy and other farms could consider bio - gas because the methane produced by manure can be used to power the farm — and there ' s no shortage of manure available for collecting on livestock farms. how green business works electric companies across the united states often power businesses and homes by burning coal and other non - renewable methods. one alternative, solar energy, uses solar panels to capture sunlight and convert it to energy to provide power to businesses or homes that would normally have gotten it from a local electric company. similarly, wind turbines capture wind energy and convert that into power. these green power methods are cleaner and better for the environment than burning coal or natural gas, and wind and sun are renewable energy resources — we ' ll never run out. they ' re also easy to use, don ' t cause pollution, and don ' t require any destruction to the environment to get. which businesses have gone green? a number of major u. s. companies have already invested in green power, including : - pepsico ; pepsi americas, and the pepsi bottling group - johnson & johnson - whole foods to find more green businesses, see the national " green pages. " costs and benefits of green business why would a business want to switch to renewable energy sources and become a green business? not only is it good for the environment, but it ' s also good for business, says hickey. being a green business, especially one with a very visible renewable energy source like solar panels or wind turbines, is great for public relations. it also raises public awareness about renewable energy sources. what could be holding companies back? shortsightedness. there ' s an ultimate cost savings involved in switching to a renewable energy source, but the upfront investment is often pricey — roughly between $ 8, 000 and $ 9, 000 per kilowatt of energy that the system provides, says hickey. depending on how much energy it needs, a company would have to purchase anywhere from 2 to 50 kilowatts to completely or partially power the business. paying back the original investment can take 10 to 20 years, says hickey. but many companies understand that investing in renewable energy is worth the time it takes to recoup their investment. green power is about doing the right thing for the public and for the environment.


born : 20 february 1902 died : 22 april 1984 birthplace : san francisco, california best known as : nature photographer of the american west ansel adams ' s stark, detailed photographs of yosemite national park are among the most recognizable images in the world. adams was a piano player who turned his attention to photography in the 1920s, inspired by the wilderness of central california. by the end of the 1920s he was earning a living from his photography, thanks largely to his association with the sierra club. in the 1930s and ' 40s his reputation grew and he spent a good deal of time in new york, advancing his career as an artist while working as a commercial photographer to pay the bills. he wrote many technical works and encouraged museums and colleges to add photography departments, but didn ' t achieve financial success for his art until late in life, when his images of yosemite and the american southwest became icons of both 20th - century photography and environmental awareness. like guitarist les paul, adams was known both as a technical innovator and a lifelong workhorse ; he kept taking photos up until his death at age 82. extra credit : according to a biography by william turnage, " when adams was only four, an aftershock of the great [ san francisco ] earthquake and fire of 1906 threw him to the ground and badly broke his nose, distinctly marking him for life. " copyright © 1998 - 2013 by who2?, llc. all rights reserved. more on ansel adams from fact monster : information please® database, © 2007 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved.


dwarfism, condition in which an animal or plant is less than normal in size and lacks the capacity for normal growth. dwarfism is deliberately produced and perpetuated in certain species ( e. g., in breeding miniature dogs and cultivating dwarf plants ). among humans, dwarfism usually results from a combination of genetic factors and endocrine malfunction. it can also be caused, however, by acquired conditions, such as kidney disease. pituitary dwarfism is caused by an insufficiency of the pituitary growth hormone ( hypopituitary dwarfism ). typically, the pituitary dwarf stops growing in early childhood but retains normal body proportion, mental capacity, and sexual development. pharmaceutical companies are cloning human growth hormone to stimulate growth in children afflicted with hypopituitary glands. this type of dwarf, who is completely normal except for size, is commonly called a midget. cretinism is a type of dwarfism accompanied by mental retardation and distortion of the body, resulting from an insufficiency of thyroid hormone. unlike cretinism and pituitary dwarfism ( which are thought to be caused by a combination of heredity and endocrine malfunction ), achondroplastic dwarfism is the result of a completely hereditary, dominant genetic trait. typically, the growth of the limbs is stunted, but the size of the trunk and mental capacity are normal. humans who range in height from 2 to 4 ft ( 5. 08 – 10. 16 cm ) are generally classified as dwarfs. however, small size that is an inherited characteristic of race ( such as among african pygmies ) is not considered to be dwarfism since the individuals in such groups are physiologically normal. the columbia electronic encyclopedia, 6th ed. copyright © 2012, columbia university press. all rights reserved. more on dwarfism from fact monster : see more encyclopedia articles on : pathology


( bpt ) - historically, the term “ digital divide ” has referred to the gap in technology levels between developing and first world countries ; however, it ’ s truly the divide between the more affluent and the underprivileged. while the divide has a worldwide reach, it ’ s important to remember that the gap is growing in america, too. improving technology in schools – and how it ’ s used in learning – is an important topic because it offers students a more effective way to achieve, fully preparing them to be skills - ready for a successful future. today, the majority of schools in america have computers of some kind. still, many schools, particularly rural schools and those with a high percentage of minority students, lack reliable internet access or have old computers that aren ’ t compatible with current software. concerned parents, teachers and educational leaders are rallying for change. providing students with modern, mobile computers and access to the internet at school and at home promotes hands - on learning that engages students. when children are interested and excited, the learning process comes naturally. across the country, one - to - one programs – meaning one computer is supplied for each student – are gaining interest and receiving funding. some districts have even approved byod programs, or bring your own device programs, that allow students to bring their own technology ( i. e. laptops, tablets, smartphones ) from home to use in the classroom. these technology enhancements are creating a 21st century classroom environment that focuses on today ’ s students ’ needs. rather than the teacher lecturing at the front of the classroom, students are taking the lead by exploring different topics, answering their own questions, and interacting with peers and their teachers by accessing information through technology. benefits abound : according to project red, an education research organization that analyzes technology in the classroom, schools with one - to - one programs have higher test scores, better graduation rates and fewer discipline problems. students aren ’ t the only ones that come out ahead – teachers benefit from technology, too. it actually enhances the teacher ’ s ability to connect with students, expands access to instructional material and allows the teacher to facilitate a richer, more meaningful classroom experience. for all the benefits of better classroom technology, funding can be an issue. while adding computers, maintaining hardware and software, and funding ongoing technology support can be costly, there is also the potential to save money through improved efficiency. in fact, according to project red, adding effective classroom technologies can result in increased efficiency and cost reductions – even when


, maintaining hardware and software, and funding ongoing technology support can be costly, there is also the potential to save money through improved efficiency. in fact, according to project red, adding effective classroom technologies can result in increased efficiency and cost reductions – even when maintenance costs are included. for example, instructional materials contribute to this cost savings. traditional paper textbooks can be costly and become outdated quickly. digital content offers one effective solution to this problem by giving students and teachers access to the most up - to - date materials online, bringing the world into the classroom and often at a fraction of the cost. online courses, assessment and professional development are additional areas where cost savings can quickly add up. how to spearhead a technology change in the classroom whether you are a parent who wants computer access in your child ’ s classroom or you ’ re an educator who wants to enable an improved learning experience through better technology, here ’ s how you can start the conversation and make a difference : 1. use the k - 12 blueprint. found at www. k12blueprint. com and sponsored by intel corporation, this website is a free resource for planning and implementing technology initiatives in districts. you ’ ll find a plethora of useful information, including practical guidelines, funding advice, curriculum considerations and real - world success stories. 2. involve the people who care. start discussions with fellow parents, teachers, principals and even the educational board to create a vision and plan. discuss specific reasons for the technology improvements and benefits for the students as well as staff. 3. explore professional development opportunities. how we teach with technology is just as important as having technology in the classroom. ensure teachers in your community have the professional development opportunities they need so their students are learning with technology in the most effective way possible. 4. be patient to overcome challenges. technology isn ’ t a one - time investment – computer maintenance, software upgrades and continued professional development are important. providing teachers training and creating a support network can be a time commitment. patience and persistence are key to the success of eager students. technology in the classroom can help close the digital divide within the u. s., but it ’ s up to parents, grandparents, teachers, schools and entire communities to work together to make change a reality. when used properly, technology can provide students with a stronger education, paving the way for future innovations and research.