find this vine in our yard every year. if you see the seeds, remove and trash them. the best control is close monitoring of at - risk sites and of course your own yard and uprooting of the plant before going to seed. this is a similar control method to garlic mustard, except you do not have to remove the plant if you get it early enough. keeping an eye out for emerging invasives such as mile - a - minute is an ongoing activity. however in some blighted areas so dense with invasives that they are impenetrable, detecting emerging invasives is difficult. this is a situation where a blighted area can become a source of more blight. in one such area of morris park, an infestation of mile - a - minute was found after chopping through the thorny, dense thickets of the invasives wineberry and multiflora rose. these two species can pierce through clothing and skin, easily drawing blood, tearing clothes, and causing pain as well as itching and irritation. the multiflora rose has thorns that will grab, rip and penetrate clothing and skin, while the wineberry has needle - like spines that can remain in your clothing and skin. these two species grow in thickets, with tall, arching growth habits, where the tip of the plants can actually root themselves several feet away. in an infestation, this behavior creates fence - like enclosures that are very difficult to enter. above is mile - a - minute that has been able to grow and produce seed. this is a picture of the ugly remains left behind. we were physically unable to monitor this site by the thorny thickets and visually obscured from it by the dense entanglement of japanese honeysuckle that has been choking the nearby bushes and small trees. it took a really cold december day to get near these dormant plants and begin exploring what was growing in the area. the discovery of the mile - a - minute was disturbing to see. enough is enough. we had to do something about this mess! the first order of business was to remove the multi - flora rose and the wineberry by pulling them out of the ground with the help of digging tools and very thick gloves. these plants were then chopped up with clippers and scattered about, just off the site, so there is no big ugly pile of plant material left behind that will stifle the growth of native plants. the uprooted plants will then die on site and they will decompose back into the


scattered about, just off the site, so there is no big ugly pile of plant material left behind that will stifle the growth of native plants. the uprooted plants will then die on site and they will decompose back into the soil maintaining the bio - mass of the forest. then the japanese honeysuckle vines which were climbing up the small trees and shrubs and covering the ground in a dense matte were all pulled up as well. below is a ‘ before ’ picture of the site from the main trail. below is a picture of wineberry, showing its spines, color and habit, all with the backdrop of the late december light. below is the multiflora rose. the thorns on these branches are as sturdy as they look, firmly attached to the stiff plant, they have little give and lots of shredding power if moved across them at a hiking pace. moving through a thicket of this is also an easy way to get ticks and become susceptible to lyme disease. this is not an environment we want to have so close to the densely populated rowhouse neighborhood of overbrook. you can see how this plant creates an impenetrable thicket. the stems are as stiff as they look, the older ones with a woody stiffness. in a thicket, the criss - crossing of the stalks makes them even more like a barbed - wire fence. approaching the mechanical eradication of these plants, the outer portions are snipped down with a clippers until just about a foot remains above ground. when all of the infestation is clipped down and the stalks are dispersed, than the lower portions can be removed from the ground by using digging tools to loosen the roots and then gently pulling and tugging on the roots until most of them can be teased out of the ground. the plant will then die above ground. any portions of roots left in the ground may re - grow in the ensuing years, so the site will need to be monitored, as is usually the case in any eradication effort. after the roots are removed, we intuitively put the soil back in place and cover it with leaves, with the idea to do as little disturbance as possible, only displacing what we absolutely must. it also looks better. often, a disturbed forest never looks right. it seems overcrowded and entangled or on the opposite side of the spectrum barren and depleted, depending on the blighting condition. a healthy or restored forest has a ‘ comfortable ’ look to it : we


a disturbed forest never looks right. it seems overcrowded and entangled or on the opposite side of the spectrum barren and depleted, depending on the blighting condition. a healthy or restored forest has a ‘ comfortable ’ look to it : we can see the trees, the shrubs, and short plants growing along the forest floor. no one thing dominates the landscape. we could walk through it if we had to. we can see through it to an acceptable degree. when we remove the invasives from an infested section of the park, it looks better, and in just a few short years it looks great! our adventures clearing the invasive thicket revealed a whole series of other invasive trees and vines that were growing amidst the multiflora rose and the wineberry. we encountered and removed close to 100 specimens of tree of heaven ( ailanthus altissima ) saplings and seedlings, japanese angelica tree ( aralia elata ), and about 50 vines of english ivy ( hedera helix ). these plants were removed by pulling and tugging, getting as much of the roots out as possible, and then placing them above ground, spread about just off of the disturbed and currently - being - restored site, where they will die, their roots unable to reach soil. above is the root of the tree - of - heaven. as we work, we have learned to identify the plants we are saving and removing, from the leaves, the stems and the roots. as we move along through each species, they become more and more easy to distinguish. the roots of the ailanthus are very pale, and often have the 90 degree angle in saplings. the bark is smooth with a silvery - tan appearance and large, pale heart - shaped leaf - scars as shown the second picture above help distinguish this tree in its sapling stage. this ailanthus tree has such an iconic presence in the city of philadelphia, that it is easy to distinguish once you start focusing in on it. it always helps to consult with those in the know, like your local municipal authority and parks and rec official who may deal with problematic invasive species daily and is more than willing to educate you on the ones that grow in your area of concern. in fact, we were not only educated about them, but the philadelphia parks and rec department took our invasive tree problem so seriously that they came out and applied basal bark herbicide to the infestation of a maturing cluster of tree - of - heaven in the area that we are now working on.


but the philadelphia parks and rec department took our invasive tree problem so seriously that they came out and applied basal bark herbicide to the infestation of a maturing cluster of tree - of - heaven in the area that we are now working on. these maturing trees were reaching forty feet in height and were throwing out thousands of seeds every year. the trees are now all dead and have fallen down. now we have to monitor the site and pull out the hundreds of seedlings that sprout every year. above is the root of the japanese angelica tree ( aralia elata ). this problematic invasive has also required the partnership with the philadelphia dept of parks and recreation. their application of garlon4 ultra, around the base of the trees in february 2011 and 2012 has resulted in the death of these maturing trees, which were also producing thousands of seeds per year, and now there are the resulting thousands of seedlings growing, which we will have to be pulling for as long as we are able. once both of these species have reached maturity, it is very difficult to eradicate them manually, and the use of herbicides becomes necessary. the reason for this is that these trees develop large underground root systems that are capable of re - sprouting aggressively even if the above - ground plant is removed by a volunteer. we appreciate our partnership with the city of philadelphia in that they can eradicate the larger specimens and infestations and we as volunteers can focus on the details of completing a thorough environmental restoration, which can often evolve into a tedious but necessary ongoing inspection and maintenance of each site. as we ventured further into the depths of this highly disturbed site, we discovered the invasive shrub, burning bush ( euonymus alatus ). we yank it out gently, getting all the roots and toss it off site where it will die, or hang it from an adjacent tree or shrub. above is the roots of the invasive exotic shrub, euonymus alatus, burning bush, just pulled out from the ground here in morris park. we see this invasive shrub in many sites in morris park and within the fairmount park system, and would love to have all of the time and resources to pull it out! above, we see the invasive tree, ailanthus altissima, the tree - of - heaven, multiflora rose, ( thin green stalks ), wineberry, mile - a - minute, and japanese honeysuckle, all of them growing together in a mass of invasives. this dead tree -


, the tree - of - heaven, multiflora rose, ( thin green stalks ), wineberry, mile - a - minute, and japanese honeysuckle, all of them growing together in a mass of invasives. this dead tree - of - heaven was one of the ones sprayed with garlon 4 ultra in a basal - bark application in late february 2011 by philadelphia parks and rec. this infestation of tree - of heaven, japanese angelica tree, japanese honeysuckle, burning bush, english ivy, multiflora rose, wineberry, mile - a - minute and garlic mustard will take us all winter to remove. whenever we have time, an hour here and an hour there, we are out there, getting some sunlight, some exercise and something accomplished. the scene in the back - ground, adjacent to the site we are currently working on pictured above and below, was at one time full of these same invasives that covered the forest floor, the shrub layer and climbing up the trees, now all gone. when we first pulled them all out five years ago, it wasn ’ t as pretty, but now those plants have rested on the forest floor, decomposed into soil, and are being slowly transformed into native plants under our watchful eye. we monitor this partially restored site for invasives every year, and pull out the mile - a - minute vine whenever we see it. please let us know if you have seen this vine or have a problem with it in the natural area near you!


- adulthood is commonly thought of as beginning at age 20 / 21 ; middle age commences at about 40 and old age at about 60 - adults asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up, because they are looking for ideas - society should see the need for education of every age, including adults. - every time i see an adult on a bicycle, i no longer despair for the future of the human race. - if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. ( rachel carson ) - study is the bane of childhood, the oil of youth, the indulgence of adulthood, and a restorative in old age. ( w. s. landor ) - historically, adulthood began with puberty. now there is biological adulthood and social adulthood. - a new period of life is emerging in which young people are no longer adolescents but not yet adults. - an adult - sized tree house - a child ' s access to interesting adult conversations - we all start adult life with an eagle and a dove inside us. the eagle is strong and decisive ; the dove is peaceful and nurturing. as we grow in maturity, the two birds coalesce into one. we can act decisively with kindness, we can show strength and gentleness simultaneously. keep your eagle compassionate and your dove fearless. « back to the list of categories


iraq dumps daylight saving time in 2008 for the first time in many years iraq will not observe daylight saving time, which usually falls on april 1 each year. the decision to cancel daylight saving time in 2008 was made at a meeting for iraq ' s council of ministers recently. a change of times for some citizens, the abolition of daylight saving time marks another change that comes with the political changes over the past few years. however, there are also claims that there is no relationship between the daylight saving cancellation and governmental changes, as the decision was a matter of science. according to aswat al - iraq ( voices of iraq ), a spokesperson from the prime minister ' s office said the kurdistan regional government stood in conformity with the iraqi government ' s decision to abolish daylight saving time. a spokesperson for the kurdistan regional government confirmed that its decision to cancel daylight saving time coincided with the iraqi government ' s choice on that matter. the iraqi government ' s decision to abolish daylight saving time aimed to increase energy efficiency through means such as minimizing airconditioning usage. the cancellation of daylight saving time shortens periods of daylight in the summer, especially during warm days when energy usage for cooling systems could increase. many citizens, including some students and workers, have welcomed the decision, declaring it as ' ' useful ' '. however, with the change came opposing opinions. some citizens believed the abolishment of daylight saving time would be difficult because it was integrated into their lives for so many years. still, there are those who believed that life would be less complicated without daylight saving time as there would be less confusion and interruption associated with time, including changes to schedules and food preparations. iraq ' s recent daylight saving history in the past, daylight saving was used in iraq as a means to reduce the consumption of electrical energy in labs, factories and in domestic environments. the addition of the extra hour in the afternoon meant that the use of lighting was reduced. for many years, many parts of iraq which included the capital city of baghdad moved the clock forward by one hour on april 1 to reflect daylight saving time. iraq returned to standard time to mark the start of the winter months on october 1 each year. working hours in government institutions were scheduled from 8am to 3pm, except for the ministry of higher education and the ministery of health, when working hours finished at 2pm. dates of daylight saving time 1982 – 2007these are the dates daylight saving time started and ended in baghdad since iraq first observed dst in 1982.


the ministry of higher education and the ministery of health, when working hours finished at 2pm. dates of daylight saving time 1982 – 2007these are the dates daylight saving time started and ended in baghdad since iraq first observed dst in 1982. | year | | start date | | end date | | daylight duration | | 1982 | | may 1 | | oct 1 | | 21 weeks and 6 days | | 1983 | | mar 31 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 2 days | | 1984 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1985 | | apr 1 | | sep 29 | | 25 weeks and 6 days | | 1986 | | mar 30 | | sep 28 | | 26 weeks | | 1987 | | mar 29 | | sep 27 | | 26 weeks | | 1988 | | mar 27 | | sep 25 | | 26 weeks | | 1989 | | mar 26 | | sep 24 | | 26 weeks | | 1990 | | mar 25 | | sep 30 | | 27 weeks | | 1991 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1992 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1993 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1994 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1995 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1996 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1997 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1998 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 1999 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2000 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2001 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2002 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2003 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2004 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2005 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2006 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | | 26 weeks and 1 day | | 2007 | | apr 1 | | oct 1 | |


explore careers - job market report translators translate written material from one language to another. interpreters translate oral communication from one language to another during speeches, meetings, conferences, debates and conversation, or in court or before administrative tribunals. terminologists conduct research to itemize terms connected with a certain field, define them and find equivalents in another language. sign language interpreters use sign language to translate spoken language and vice versa during meetings, conversations, television programs or in other instances. translators, terminologists and interpreters are employed by government, private translation and interpretation agencies, in - house translation services, large private corporations, international organizations and the media, or they may be self - employed. sign language interpreters work in schools and courts, and for social service agencies, interpretation services, government services and television stations, or they may be self - employed. community interpreter, conference interpreter, court interpreter, interpreter, legal terminologist, literary translator, localiser, medical terminologist, sign language interpreter, terminologist, translator, translator adaptor, translator - reviser. - translate a variety of written material such as correspondence, reports, legal documents, technical specifications and textbooks from one language to another, maintaining the content, context and style of the original material to the greatest extent possible - localize software and accompanying technical documents to adapt them to another language and culture - revise and correct translated material - may train and supervise other translators. - identify the terminology used in a field of activity - conduct terminological research on a given subject or in response to inquiries for the preparation of glossaries, terminology banks, technological files, dictionaries, lexicons and resource centres, and add to terminological databases - manage, update and circulate linguistic information collected from terminological databases - provide consultative services to translators, interpreters and technical writers preparing legal, scientific or other documents requiring specialized terminologies. - interpret oral communication from one language to another aloud or using electronic equipment, either simultaneously ( as the speaker speaks ), consecutively ( after the speaker speaks ) or whispered ( speaking in a low whisper to one or two persons as the speaker is talking ) - provide interpretation services in court or before administrative tribunals - may interpret language for individuals and small groups travelling in canada and abroad - may interpret for persons speaking a native or foreign language in a variety of circumstances - may train other interpreters. sign language interpreters perform some or all of the following duties : translators, terminologists and interpreters specialize in


canada and abroad - may interpret for persons speaking a native or foreign language in a variety of circumstances - may train other interpreters. sign language interpreters perform some or all of the following duties : translators, terminologists and interpreters specialize in two languages, such as french and english, the official languages of canada. they may also specialize in another language and one of the official languages. the main areas of specialization include administrative, literary, scientific and technical translation. interpreters may specialize in court, parliamentary or conference interpretation. - translate sign language to a spoken language and vice versa either simultaneously or consecutively. sign language interpreters work in french and langue des signes quebecoise ( lsq ) or in english and american sign language ( asl ). st. john ' s, mount pearl, arnold ' s cove, bay roberts, bishop ' s cove, carbonear, conception bay south, gulch, gull island, harbour grace, north river, spaniard ' s bay, torbay, upper island cove, wabana, birchy nap, chamberlains, codner, doyles, foxtrap, goulds, greeleytown, kelligrews, lance cove, lawrence pond, manuels, newton, north pond heights, peachytown, riverdale, talcville, topsail, upper gullies jobs for translators, terminologists and interpreters in avalon peninsula region job opportunities from job bank and contributing job sites are updated daily. there are currently no job offers available in avalon peninsula region for this occupation. where to look for job opportunities job postings can be found in many places : on the internet, on community bulletin boards, at job fairs or in newspaper help wanted sections. information about available work is often circulated through managers, employees and business associates, as well as through family, friends and acquaintances. networking link opens in a new window is one of the best ways to search for jobs. rss job search feed subscribe to the canada ’ s national job bank ' s rss job search feedlink opens in a new window and receive automatic job posting updates for the location and occupation you have selected. - date modified :


airline industry : help me, help you image source : boston globe think airline industry. think major polluters. airlines emitted more than 418 billion pounds of carbon dioxide last year. they also create " diesel shuttles that circle the terminal road, [ leaving ] thousands of tons of toxic emissions in a compact area of the city. " not to mention that with the financially strapped industry, adopting creative, eco - friendly projects that cost more and have a longer payback are completely off the table. until now. usa today reports that airports across the us are ready to kick it up a notch, adopting aggressive environmental strategies to improve public perception, and hopefully save a little green in the process. in the past, airports were designed to be aesthetically pleasing and " comfortable " for passengers, but not necessarily energy efficient or environmentally responsible. one reason attributed to this is because the airline industry is so financially troubled that they need immediate results and environmental projects do not always give immediate returns. with such a transient community, its hard for airports to not automatically choose the easily, disposable options or leave lights on all night for the one or two people that might be in a terminal. now the industry is taking another look at green improvements to not only help airports cut costs, as well as improve the image of the airline industry, and also improve public health. electrical upgrades 6 foot tall wind turbines are added to the top of boston ' s logan airport, estimated to produce 100, 000 kilowatt - hours of electricity each year, roughly 3 % of current energy use. most airports have huge plots of land with which they can and are installing huge solar arrays. fresno ' s yosemite airport installed an 11, 700 panel solar array that now covers 40 % of its daily electrical needs. seattle and denver airports are both looking at composting coffee grounds and biodegradable wastes. waste oil will also be hauled away and used for fuel and pet food. yum. denver airport now has 22 different waste streams of recyclables. de - icing fluids are being collected, mixed with melted snow and then reused as anti - freeze and for grey water in toilets. atlanta ' s hartsfield - jackson airport upgraded all toilets and urinals to use fewer and in some cases half of the water, saving 44 million gallons of water each year. roads and transportation boston ' s logan airport rewards hybrid drivers with preferred parking spaces and cleaner fuel taxis get front of the line privileges, a program also used at san francisco international airport.


the goal of this group is to keep us all updated about what each one is doing to celebrate world diabetes day, november 14. celebrated every year on november 14, world diabetes day is a campaign led by the international diabetes federation and its member associations. it was created in 1991 by idf and who in response to growing concerns about the escalating threat of diabetes worldwide. world diabetes day became an official united nations day in 2007. this year sees the first of a five - year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes. the world diabetes day campaign calls on everyone to understand diabetes and take control. for people with diabetes, the campaign slogan is a message about empowerment through education. for governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes. for healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence - based recommendations are put into practice. for the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications. the need for diabetes education diabetes can be difficult. the disease imposes life - long demands on the 250 million people now living with diabetes and their families. people with diabetes have to make a multitude of decisions related to managing their diabetes. they need to monitor their blood glucose, take medication, exercise regularly and adjust their eating habits. furthermore, they may have to face issues related to living with the complications of diabetes and may be required to make considerable psychological adjustments. the future health of people with diabetes is largely based on the decisions they take. because people with diabetes must deliver 95 % of their own care, it is of paramount importance that they receive ongoing, high - quality diabetes education that is tailored to their needs and delivered by skilled health professionals. the world diabetes day campaign aims to establish access to diabetes education as a right for all people with diabetes. the need for prevention at present, type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. the environmental triggers that are thought to generate the process that results in the destruction of the body ’ s insulin - producing cells are still under investigation. type 2 diabetes, however, can be prevented in many cases by helping and encouraging those at risk to maintain a healthy weight and take regular exercise. world diabetes day will promote greater awareness of the risk factors for diabetes and encourage best - practice sharing in diabetes prevention. the campaign will ask diabetes stakeholders to call on un member states to follow through on the promise of un resolution 61 / 225 on diabetes and develop national policies for


promote greater awareness of the risk factors for diabetes and encourage best - practice sharing in diabetes prevention. the campaign will ask diabetes stakeholders to call on un member states to follow through on the promise of un resolution 61 / 225 on diabetes and develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their healthcare systems. under resolution 61 / 225, the un has invited all member states, relevant organizations of the united nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non - governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe world diabetes day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of diabetes and related complications, as well as its prevention and care, including through education and the mass media. in 2008, there was a total of 1, 108 monuments lit up in blue around the world as part of the wdd monument challenge. the usa accounted for 42 of them ( less than 4 % ). considering the us accounts for … continue 329, 040 minutes, 329, 040 moments so dear. 329, 040 minutes — how do you measure, measure volunteers? in smileys, in tears shed, in counsel, in cups of coffee. in units, in carb counts, in laughter, in strife. in 329, 040 minutes – how … continue reading diabetes hands foundation has always relied on partners and advisors to increase its understanding of the diabetes space, in order to better serve people touched by diabetes. today this is as true as ever, as we proudly announce the expansion … continue reading


berlin ( ap ) - - a meteor exploded in the sky above russia on friday, causing a shockwave that blew out windows injuring hundreds of people and sending fragments falling to the ground in the ural mountains. here ' s a look at those objects in the sky : what ' s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite? meteors are pieces of space rock, usually from larger comets or asteroids, which enter the earth ' s atmosphere. many are burned up by the heat of the atmosphere, but those that survive and strike the earth are called meteorites. they often hit the ground at tremendous speed - - up to 30, 000 kilometers an hour ( 18, 642 mph ) according to the european space agency. that releases a huge amount of force. how common are meteorite strikes? experts say smaller strikes happen five to 10 times a year. large impacts such as the one friday in russia are rarer but still occur about every five years, according to addi bischoff, a mineralogist at the university of muenster in germany. most of these strikes happen in uninhabited areas where they don ' t cause injuries to humans. what caused the damage in russia? alan harris, a senior scientist at the german aerospace center in berlin, said most of the damage would have been caused by the explosion of the meteor as it broke up in the atmosphere. the explosion caused a shockwave that sent windows and loose objects flying through the air in a radius of several kilometers. by the time the remaining fragments hit the ground they would have been too small to cause significant damage far from the site of impact, he said. is there any link to the asteroid fly - by taking place later friday? no, it ' s just cosmic coincidence, according to european space agency spokesman bernhard von weyhe, who says asteroid 2012da14 is unrelated to the meteorite strike in russia. when was the last comparable meteorite strike? in 2008, astronomers spotted a meteor heading toward earth about 20 hours before it entered the atmosphere. it exploded over the vast african nation of sudan, causing no known injuries. the largest known meteorite strike in recent times was the " tunguska event " that hit russia in 1908. even that strike, which was far bigger than the one that happened over russia on friday, didn ' t injure anyone. scientists believe that an even larger meteorite strike may have been responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago. according to that theory, the impact would have thrown up vast amounts of dust that


friday, didn ' t injure anyone. scientists believe that an even larger meteorite strike may have been responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago. according to that theory, the impact would have thrown up vast amounts of dust that blanketed the sky for decades and altered the climate on earth. what can scientists learn from friday ' s strike? bischoff says scientists and treasure hunters are probably already racing to find pieces of the meteorite. some meteorites can be very valuable, selling for up to €500 ( $ 670 ) per gram depending on their exact composition. because meteors have remained largely unchanged for billions of years - - unlike rocks on earth that have been affected by erosion and volcanic outbreaks - - scientists will study the fragments to learn more about the origins of matter. harris, of the german aerospace center, says some meteorites are also believed to carry organic material and may have influenced the development of life on earth. what would happen if a meteorite hit a major city? scientists hope never to find out, but they ' re still trying to prepare for such an event. von weyhe, the european space agency spokesman, says experts from europe, the united states and russia are already discussing how to spot potential threats sooner and avert them. but don ' t expect a hollywood style mission to fly a nuclear bomb into space and blow up the asteroid. " it ' s a global challenge and we need to find a solution together, " he said. " but one thing ' s for sure, the bruce willis " armageddon " method won ' t work. "


if you ' re an athlete, during summer vacation, you may be tempted to slack off from the rigorous training needed to stay in shape. however, last - minute conditioning for fall sports could contribute to serious sports injuries. whether you aspire to be a professional athlete or you play sports for fun, follow these tips for safe summer training. remember to drink plenty of water to avoid muscle cramping or heat - related illness. fluids should be consumed frequently during strenuous activity and within a half hour of training. if you wait until you ' re thirsty, you ' re already far behind. it will be difficult to catch up during your conditioning or training. one way to determine if you ' re drinking enough water is the color of your urine — it should be clear. if it ' s dark yellow, you ' re not drinking enough. conditions related to a lack of fluids include : these are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that usually occur in the muscles being exercised, such as the legs or arms. symptoms include a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, possibly a low - grade fever and hot, red, dry or sweaty skin. people with heat exhaustion may look pale and feel faint or nauseous. this is a serious and sometimes fatal condition in which your body is unable to sweat and regulate its temperature. symptoms include rapid heartbeat, unusually high or low blood pressure, fainting, rapid and shallow breathing, confusion, irritability and loss of consciousness. avoid rigorous workouts during the peak temperatures of 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. some athletes think the heat makes them tougher. that ' s true only if your body is already in top condition. otherwise, you could be at risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke. even high school athletes need to stretch their muscles before strenuous exercise as a way to prevent muscle injury. proper stretching lengthens or " loosens " muscle tissue, making it less prone to trauma and tears. pre - workout warm - ups become more important with age, but they help reduce the risk of injury at any age. proper nutrition is important to maintaining your body ' s peak performance. for endurance sports such as football or track, eat plenty of carbohydrates such as bread, cereal and potatoes, which turn into glucose and the energy you ' ll need. start slowly if you ' re not already in shape. increase your workout regimen gradually, by no more than 10 percent a week. reviewed by health care specialists at ucsf medical center. this information is


they really do! a new study reveals that the way that the visual centers of men and women ' s brains works is different : men have greater sensitivity to fine detail and rapidly moving stimuli, but women are better at discriminating between colors. in fact, most of the people who are colorblind are men. in the brain there are high concentrations of male sex hormone ( androgen ) receptors throughout cerebral cortex, especially in the visual cortex, which is responsible for processing images. androgens are also responsible for controlling the development of neurons in the visual cortex, meaning that males have 25 % more of them than females. researchers compared the vision of men and women over 16 from both college and high school, including students and staff, all of whom had normal color vision and 20 / 20 vision either naturally or when corrected by glasses or contact lenses. when the volunteers were required to describe colors shown to them across the visual spectrum it became obvious that the color vision of men was shifted, and that they required a slightly longer wavelength to experience the same hue as the women. the males also had a broader range in the center of the spectrum where they were less able to discriminate between colors. when other psychologists analyzed data from a series of visual recognition tests, they discovered that women are better than men at recognizing living things and men are better than women at recognizing vehicles. psychologist isabel gauthier says, " these results aren ' t definitive, but they are consistent with the following story : everyone is born with a general ability to recognize objects and the capability to get really good at it. nearly everyone becomes expert at recognizing faces, because of their importance for social interactions. most people also develop expertise for recognizing other types of objects due to their jobs, hobbies or interests. our culture influences which categories we become interested in, which explains the differences between men and women. " face recognition abilities are exciting to study because they have been found to have a clear genetic basis, and many studies conclude that abilities in face recognition are not predicted by abilities in object recognition. but this is usually based on comparing faces to only one object category for men and women. " is there some sort of reason for this? researcher israel abramov says, " the evolutionary driving force between these differences is ( not ) clear. " we can agree to disagree about politics, music and art - - but one thing we can ' t disagree about is the fact that unknowncountry. com needs your support if we ' re going to continue to bring you great edge news and


jerusalem, dec. 31 ( upi ) - - excavations for a highway renovation in israel have uncovered rare remains of ritual objects and a 3, 000 - year - old temple, archaeologists say. israel ' s antiquities authority said ruins of a structure were found at tel motza west of jerusalem, including massive walls and an east - facing entrance suggesting the building was a temple, the jerusalem post reported. aligning the entrance with the sun ' s rays to illuminate a ritual object placed within the temple would " symbolizing the divine presence within, " archaeologist ann eirikh said. a square structure believed to be an altar was discovered along with a nearby cache of objects including decorated pedestals, pottery vessels, fragments of chalices and clay figures of humans and domesticated animals, researchers said. " the finds recently discovered at tel motza provide rare archaeological evidence for the existence of temples and ritual enclosures in the kingdom of judah in general... prior to the religious reforms throughout the kingdom, " eirikh said. around the time of hezekiah and isaiah, known as the first temple period, judaism abolished many ritual sites in order to conduct ritual practices solely at the temple in jerusalem, she said. | additional science news stories | mesa, ariz., june 19 ( upi ) - - a construction worker was killed early wednesday when a bridge collapsed outside phoenix, officials said. college park, md., june 19 ( upi ) - - university of maryland scientists say they ' ve developed an environmentally friendly battery that uses wood as its backbone.


forest service announces open space conservation strategy forest service chief abigail kimbell today announced the release of the forest service ’ s open space conservation strategy. “ our vision for the 21st century is an interconnected network of open space across the landscape — one that supports healthy ecosystems, renewable resources, and a high quality of life for americans. we plan to achieve this through collaboration and partnerships — by working with willing landowners, conservation groups and state and local governments to promote voluntary land conservation. ” [ chief kimbell ] the open space conservation strategy is the product of extensive public comment and collaboration, with over 22, 000 comments received – nearly all supportive. the public also expressed strong support for open space conservation during usda ’ s farm bill listening sessions. the strategy charts a path forward for the forest service to conserve forests, grasslands, farms, ranches, and urban greenspaces that provide vital ecosystem services and benefits for society. open space benefits american citizens by providing clean air, abundant water, outdoor recreation, connected fish and wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, improved human health, renewable resource products, and quality of life. usda ’ s farm bill proposals would strengthen and enhance the agency ’ s ability to achieve the goals of the strategy. the usda proposals would provide increased financial and technical assistance to willing landowners to conserve open space, advance ecosystem service private markets to compensate private landowners, enable states to work across boundaries to identify priority forest landscapes for conservation, and help communities protect working forests. the loss of open space threatens the sustainability of the nation ’ s forests and grasslands. we lose approximately 6, 000 acres of open space each day across the united states — a rate of four acres per minute. land development is outpacing population growth, especially in rural areas where the trend is low density, dispersed growth. the new forest service report “ national forests on the edge ” projects that over 21 million acres of rural private lands near national forests and 44 million acres of private forest land will undergo increases in housing density by 2030. growth and development in wildlands increases the risk of wildfire for people and property, affects the forest service ’ s ability to manage the public lands for healthy forests and public enjoyment, and reduces the capacity of privately owned land to provide water, recreation, habitat, and other public benefits. the strategy can be found at http : / / www. fs. fed. us / openspace. the site also shares research findings, success stories, and resources for open space conservation. open space, environmental services ecosystem services, leaf characteristics


volume 9, issue 7 - july - august 2008 eye on energy are you a lean, green sustainable machine? making lean manufacturing part of your green story by ric jackson and david meier simply producing a green product isn ’ t enough these days. consumers in the market for green building products are just as concerned about your business ’ s environmental impact as they are about your product. companies selling “ green ” inevitably will be asked if their message is also reflected in their operations and business practices. sustainability is not a fad ; it has become a core business value. therefore, your products and operations should be in sync when touting your efforts to improve the sustainability of our planet. adopting sustainable business practices need not mean a complete overhaul of your operations. door and window manufacturers employing lean manufacturing methods may already have steps in place toward becoming greener businesses. you can further promote your “ lean, green story ” by looking for new ways to reduce your impact on the environment and become a better corporate citizen. how does lean manufacturing fit in? operating lean can have the most impact on your environmental footprint when applied to waste management practices. waste is costly to an organization — and the planet. many companies underestimate the costs associated with disposal, collection and even recycling, of waste. of course, recycling and reusing waste is better than sending it to a landfill, but these options often become too convenient, making it easy to ignore the root of the problem — how to reduce waste in the first place. lean thinking can help businesses realize a smaller environmental footprint by improving operational efficiencies that place a high emphasis on waste reduction. as a case in point, toyota has become the model for lean manufacturing. the toyota production system utilizes lean principles to impact the company ’ s sustainability. toyota ’ s lean efforts have led the company to employ a zero impact objective with a goal of generating zero landfill waste. one notable method toyota employs is using reusable containers to transport materials to suppliers, thereby greatly reducing cardboard use ( see related story in the june 2008 issue of dwm, page 32 ). other lean principles, such as moving materials more effectively, minimizing extra handling and improving efficiencies, can lead to a greener business. for example, choose spacers that work interchangeably with various shapes of glass and consider automation to minimize variability. an efficient business and manufacturing process means less embodied energy for your product, as well as less waste in the form of time, costs and materials ( see dwm, may 2008, page 8,


anthony rudel is the author of hello, everybody! the dawn of american radio, and is the visiting lecturer of communications studies at manhattanville college. a few days before the election, chuck todd on msnbc asked : " if mitt romney wins, what would he have done that no republican since 1928 had done? " the answer : win the presidency without a nixon or a bush on the ticket. that ' s right ; the last republican administration without a representative of one of those two legacy republican families was elected 84 years ago when herbert hoover won the white house. there is, however, another important similarity between hoover and romney that went unnoticed : both men were known for their nonpolitical achievements ; they were businessmen with strong organizational skills. but what may be even more interesting are the incredible similarities between the elections of 1932 and 2012, and media ' s role in those campaigns. the main issue in 1932 was undoubtedly the economy, as unemployment was over 20 percent as election day neared. it had been a bitter campaign with the two sides exchanging attacks via radioed speeches from the candidates and their surrogates. hoover repeatedly told the beleaguered american workers that what " people need is the restoration of their normal jobs, " adding that the democratic party would " ignore the piling up of our national debt, " which would worsen the situation. they called franklin roosevelt ' s economic plans " the same philosophy of government which has poisoned all of europe. " as a counter, democrats pointed to the " political nearsightedness of the republican party, " and its inability to " turn in the right direction " to help americans escape the problems plaguing the nation. they called hoover " the tool of the rich, " " the dupe of the international bankers, " and " the foe of progressive principles. " doesn ' t it all sound incredibly familiar? and while economics and personal attacks were the main thrusts of both campaigns, an all consuming social issue further divided right from left. prohibition, which pitted drys against wets, provided a clear distinction for those americans for whom the economy was not the deciding factor. as election day approached, republicans warned the nation that they were on the watch for voter fraud and had prepared legal challenges to prevent illegal voting. meanwhile an army of 115, 000 workers assembled years earlier by the roosevelt campaign were prepared to spend election day turning out the vote, state by state, precinct by precinct. it was the first iteration of the now oft - talked about ground game in all its glory. as to


these pictures were taken 13 november 2005 at about 1 : 15 pm from the bay shore on the uw - green bay. water levels in green bay dropped more than 3 feet from strong southwest to northeast winds. point sable is shown at the horizon. bay beach and the power plant near the mouth of the fox river in green bay, wi. ( source : noaa great lakes water level data http : / / tidesandcurrents. noaa. gov ; choose products, great lakes water levels, active stations from the pull - down menu ; and then choose lake michigan and green bay ) water levels changed by more than 5 feet in a two day period. winds from about 200 to 240 degrees sw drive water out of the lower bay. this was the case on november 13, 2005 when water levels dropped below 574 feet. winds peaked at 56 mph from a direction of 220 degrees on november 13th. winds from the ne ( 30 to 60 degrees ) funnel water into the lower bay as was the case on november 15th when water levels peaked at 579. 5 feet. | nws daily wind data for november 2005, green bay, wi | | day | | daily avg | | peak 2min | | peak wind | ( above created march 21, 2005 kjf ) wind event of 11 may 2006. greater than 2 feet of increase. strong ne winds were from a low pressure system that was over southern l. michigan. area also received about 3 inches of rain on thursday 11 may 2006. updated 18 may 2006


summer hazards and your cat - provided by vetstreet. com - when temperatures outside reach dangerous levels, the temperature inside the house can, too. keep fresh water available, and make sure your cat has a cool place to spend the day. - bring your cat indoors if a heat advisory is issued, or if severe weather ( heavy rain, high winds, flooding ) is expected. - keep vaccines up to date, have your cat spayed or neutered, and continue parasite control throughout the summer. - regardless of whether your cat spends time outdoors, exposure to dangerously high temperatures, environmental hazards, and physical dangers is possible. knowing what to look for is the first step toward protecting your cat from potential summer hazards. what should i know about warmer temperatures and heatstroke? cats that don ’ t go outside are protected from many warm weather hazards, but only if the temperature inside the home remains within a healthy range. in an effort to reduce energy usage and costs, some pet owners shut off fans and air conditioning when they leave the house in the morning and turn them on when they return later in the day. however, when temperatures outside reach dangerous levels, temperatures inside the house can, too. being shut inside a hot house can be dangerous for your cat. like dogs, cats rely heavily on panting to cool themselves off. when the temperature in the environment increases, panting becomes less effective. this means that your cat could be locked inside with minimal options for cooling down. instead of turning off the air conditioner, try leaving it on a conservative but comfortable setting ( perhaps 76°f ) while you are out. make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water, and consider closing curtains to reduce the heating effects of sunlight through the windows. if there are parts of the house that are likely to be cooler, make sure your cat has access to those areas. cats that go outside need even more protection from hot weather. access to clean drinking water is essential, as well as making sure cool, shaded areas are available if your cat wants to get out of the sun. remember, however, that fleas also tend to like cool, shaded, moist areas, so be sure to use a safe and effective flea control product on your cat. cats should not be left outside for long periods of time in the summer and should always have the option of coming inside. it ’ s important to be aware of the risk of heatstroke so you can keep your cat safe and healthy. cats tend not to develop heatstroke as commonly as dogs


time in the summer and should always have the option of coming inside. it ’ s important to be aware of the risk of heatstroke so you can keep your cat safe and healthy. cats tend not to develop heatstroke as commonly as dogs do, perhaps because cats tend not to exercise with humans and spend less time in the car. however, even a few minutes in a car ( even with the windows cracked ) on a hot day can be deadly for a cat. research has shown that on a partly cloudy, 93°f day, a car can heat up to 120°f in just 15 minutes. even cooler days can be deadly. a similar test conducted on a 71°f day determined that the temperature inside a car parked in the sun with the windows cracked open went up to 116°f in 1 hour. even cats that are used to being outside can suffer during hot weather. remember that young, elderly, or sick cats are more likely to become dehydrated or otherwise ill as a result of heat exposure. if a severe heat advisory is issued in your area and humans are advised to stay indoors, it is a good idea to bring your cat indoors, too. if your cat cannot be brought indoors, a ventilated or air - conditioned garage or mud room can provide enough shelter in some cases. cats should also be brought inside if severe weather is expected, as heavy rain, flooding, and high winds can be hazardous, especially for cats that are hiding under cars or in other low - lying areas. why are strange animals and other cats hazardous? cats that are allowed to roam outside are more likely to have encounters with other cats and wild animals during the summer months. such encounters increase the risk of bite wounds, scratches, and other injuries related to fighting. infectious diseases such as rabies and feline aids can be transmitted through bite wounds. additionally, female cats ’ fertility cycles are linked to the length of time they are exposed to daylight. female cats tend to start going into heat in the spring, and they may go into and out of heat repeatedly for several months. unwanted pregnancies and litters of kittens increase dramatically in the summer, which contributes to pet overpopulation, the spread of infectious diseases, and other issues. protect your cat from these hazards by having him or her spayed or neutered and keeping vaccines up - to - date. keeping cats indoors not only protects them from a variety of animal encounters, it also prevents them from being injured or killed by cars. what toxic chemicals


hazards by having him or her spayed or neutered and keeping vaccines up - to - date. keeping cats indoors not only protects them from a variety of animal encounters, it also prevents them from being injured or killed by cars. what toxic chemicals might my pet be exposed to? lawn chemicals and fertilizers, insect repellants and sprays, weed control products, antifreeze, slug bait, ant bait, rat poison, and pool chemicals are just a few toxic chemicals your cat may encounter in your home or on your property. learn more about dangerous chemicals at the aspca ( american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals ) animal poison control center. how can i prevent bee stings and related hazards? bee stings, spider bites, and other related injuries are common in cats. keeping your cat indoors reduces the risk of these things, but it is a good idea to check around your home ( inside and out ) for beehives, wasp nests, and other hazards your family and pets may encounter. don ’ t forget to also check garages and storage sheds. how can i prevent fleas, ticks, and other parasites? fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites ( like roundworms and hookworms ) are year - round hazards for your cat. however, increased exposure to the outdoors and certain parasite life stages during the warmer months makes these predators more of a concern during the summer. be sure to keep your cat up - to - date on fecal parasite testing, and make sure you continue flea, tick, and parasite prevention during the summer months. if your cat receives heartworm preventive medication, continue this during the summer ( heartworm disease is carried by mosquitoes, which are mostly active from the spring through the fall ). if you are using a flea and tick control product for your cat, be sure you purchase the correct product and that you are using it properly. never use a dog product on a cat. ask your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your cat from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. what should i know about toxic plants? your cat may encounter toxic houseplants ( such as elephant ear and dieffenbachia ) at any time of the year, but plants that flower in warm weather, like daisies, dahlias, lilies, and chrysanthemums, are also toxic and create additional hazards for cats that go outside. information about poisonous houseplants and outdoor plants and


how to train a cat cats are very independent creatures — they are not as demanding of attention as dogs and they don ’ t make large efforts to win your approval. while this makes for a fairly laid - back, easy - going house companion, it can present training challenges. while many cats can be trained to do tricks and walk on leashes, the most important training for cats is to make sure they are performing normal and natural cat behaviors in the proper places at the proper times. for example, toilet training a cat is critical to living happily with a cat. cat potty training is usually fairly easy to do as cats are naturally clean and prefer to bury their waste. the first step to training kittens is to make sure they know where their litterbox is located. it is often necessary to confine your kitten to a room with water, food and a clean litterbox for a short time until he or she is successfully using the litterbox every time. cat toilet training usually happens very quickly. more on training - how can i get my cat to use the pet door? - why does my cat... not use the litterbox? - five training tips for new kitten owners - help! our wild kitten is tearing up our house - cat missing the litterbox? it could be your other feline ' s fault - cat scratching up your furniture? reader shares tried - and - true solution - how should i introduce my new cat to my existing cat? - applause for claws : 7 scratch - training tips - kitten socialization - have several cats? how to defuse the drama


ending the cycle of hunger in africa ' s sahelian region means reinvesting in local agriculture. voa reports from niger, where another year of poor rains has left 60 percent of the population facing severe food shortages. at the edge of the sahara desert, niger has cycles of drought, locust infestations, and sudden floods that have caused food insecurity and malnutrition throughout the years - in the early 1970 ' s, the mid 1980 ' s, 2005, and today. rain - fed agriculture and livestock production make up nearly half the country ' s economy. so when rains fail and cereal production falls, few families have enough food to last between harvests. this year, the government says more than seven million people do not have enough food. the united nations world food program is targeting more than 1. 5 million people for general food distribution and 500, 000 children under the age of six for specialized therapeutic feeding. but getting to the root of the problem and ending the cycle of hunger by boosting agricultural production is far more difficult than handing out rice and beans. " when there is an emergency, usually the flow of contributions is more quick, richard verbeeck, head of world food program operations in niger said. " the level is different. now if we turn to longer - term development activities, it is sad to say that the interest is going down, and the investments in longer - term activities is not the same or what should be expected. and i must say that within the u. n. system in niger, that is one of the strong messages that we gave to the donors. " boubacar bello is president of niger ' s national chamber of agriculture. he says people are grateful for outside assistance but realize it does not make them any more food secure. bello says food assistance is medicine for the disease. it does not cure the disease itself. to truly cure the disease and have food security, he says there must be more water and planting methods better adapted to the country ' s climate as well as the distribution of fertilizers to small - scale farmers who account for the bulk of the country ' s agriculture. bello says each year there is less and less rain. niger has groundwater, but it can be 100 meters or 120 meters below the surface, and that cannot be reached by traditional methods. bello says there should be the teaching of more modern, organic methods of livestock production. medicine alone is not enough to cure the disease. it must be attacked at the source.


meters below the surface, and that cannot be reached by traditional methods. bello says there should be the teaching of more modern, organic methods of livestock production. medicine alone is not enough to cure the disease. it must be attacked at the source. ibro adamou, director of soil restoration at niger ' s ministry against desertification says the government is trying to use simple, appropriate technology to rehabilitate degraded soil and enrich the top soil for cultivation. there are also projects to prevent the desert from encroaching on lands already being used for agriculture. adamou says there are also agro - forestry programs in niger to combat desertification which help local farmers improve the fertility of their soil and boost food security by filling stockpiles of grain used to guard against shortages, while generating local revenue for people to use to carry their families over through the lean seasons. world food program ' s verbeeck says he has no doubt where development assistance can be best spent to stop this cycle of hunger. " agriculture. agriculture, livelihoods, something sustainable that can address the root problems in niger. and it is about time there is a coalition to do that, " he said. the military government that took power here in february says it is determined to improve agricultural production. towards that end, it is sending a delegation to brussels next week to ask the european union to renew $ 450 million of development assistance that was frozen during the previous government of president mamdou tandja.


learn more about diabetes what is diabetes? diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood sugar ( blood glucose ). if untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including death. however those with diabetes can live a long, healthy life if they take steps to control it. how common is it? united states - 20. 8 million americans have diabetes. texas - 940, 000 or 8 % of persons in texas have diabetes mclennan county - 13 % of persons in mclennan county have diabetes. the 2006 community assessment showed 20 % of households have a family member living with diabetes. how much does diabetes cost taxpayers? - u. s - $ 132 billion annually direct medical costs ~ $ 92 billion. indirect costs ~ $ 40 billion - tx ~ 9. 5 billion types of diabetes - type 1 - type 2 - gestational diabetes how can i tell if i am at risk? - age : 45 years or older - genetics : family history of diabetes ( parent or sibling ) - race / ethnicity : being of a minority group - lifestyle : being overweight, not getting much exercise - health conditions / health history : high blood pressure or high cholesterol, diabetes during pregnancy ( gestational diabetes ), or having a baby weighing more than 9 lbs. at birth what are some of the signs and symptoms? - frequent urination - numbness and tingling of feet - blurred vision - always thirsty - always hungry - unexplained weight loss - sexual dysfunction - sores that take a long time to heal - recurring bladder, vaginal, and skin infections - tingling or loss of feeling in hands or feet - very dry skin how serious is diabetes? diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death in 2002. every day there are 810 deaths from diabetes complications. if uncontrolled it can lead to : - nerve damage ( neuropathy ) - heart and blood vessel disease - erectile dysfunction - blindness ( retinopathy ) - kidney failure ( nephropathy ) - foot ulcers - gum disease can i prevent diabetes? research shows that losing 5 - 10 % of your body weight and being moderately active 30 minutes for 5 days a week can your risk of developing diabetes by 60 %


india tea facts after europeans discovered tea in china, the british took tea plants to india in order to cultivate and develop an alternative source for the growing european appetite. indian is now one of the world ' s largest producers and home to some delightful and unique teas. darjeeling name originates from tibetan, meaning ' land of the thunder bolt. ' due to it ' s altitude, darjeeling appears to touch the touch the sky and during storms is illuminated by lightening and shaken by the rolling thunder. see also : darjeeling photo galleries historically, assam was one of the earliest frontiers of the ' gold ' rush which saw britain ' s first mass cultivation of tea outside of china. assam and much of burma was seized by the east india company around 1826, the move was strategic to secure india ' s borders and to access the valuable jungles and to increase opium production. assam provided the british with another vital discovery, one which would eventually revolutionise tea cultivation in india. though discovered earlier by brothers robert and charles bruce, it was not till 1835 that camilla assamica was formally acknowledged as being tea, rather than just one of the many of other flower camilla which had been found. it was not until 1837 that the first batches of assam tea were shipped to calcutta, nonetheless tea production was very slow to take off due to the unyielding jungles of the region. it was not until the 1860 ' s that volumes grew, even then it production was mired by the unbelievable rates of death and horrendous working conditions. for those interested in this part of tea ' s history we highly recommend alan and iris macfarlane ' s great book ' the empire of tea '.


( adj. ) also spelled analogue, describes a device or system that represents changing values as continuously variable physical quantities. a typical analog device is a clock in which the hands move continuously around the face. such a clock is capable of indicating every possible time of day. in contrast, a digital clock is capable of representing only a finite number of times ( every tenth of a second, for example ). in general, humans experience the world analogically. vision, for example, is an analog experience because we perceive infinitely smooth gradations of shapes and colors. when used in reference to data storage and transmission, analog format is that in which information is transmitted by modulating a continuous transmission signal, such as amplifying a signal ' s strength or varying its frequency to add or take away data. for example, telephones take sound vibrations and turn them into electrical vibrations of the same shape before they are transmitted over traditional telephone lines. radio wave transmissions work in the same way. computers, which handle data in digital form, require modems to turn signals from digital to analog before transmitting those signals over communication lines such as telephone lines that carry only analog signals. the signals are turned back into digital form ( demodulated ) at the receiving end so that the computer can process the data in its digital format. contrast with digital.


nail treatments are defined as the deliberate altering of the appearance or shape of the nails, typically for the purpose of cosmetic enhancement. nails are the hard, horn like piece at the end of human fingers and toes. deliberate alteration of the touch, feel, or appearance of the nail is called a treatment. nails are often the subject of many types of treatments, including coloring, reshaping, dipping, and moisturizing. an individual who performs nail treatments is called a manicurist. the word manicure, defined as a treatment to improve the appearance of fingernails, derives from the latin word manus meaning hand, and cura meaning care. centuries ago in india, henna ( a type of dye ) was used for manicures. the word pedicure comes form the latin words pes, which means foot, and cura, which means care. pedicures - treatments to improve the appearance of toenails - have been traced back to ancient egypt where a carving of a pharaoh ' s official was noted as representing pedicures and manicures. other services for nails include the application of artificial nails such as nail tips, acrylics and artificial nail gels. a manicurist may also apply treatments to real nails, such as filing, polishing and painting. nail treatment sometimes may involve cutting the cuticle, the small line of raised skin surrounding three of the nail ' s edges. nail treatments do not appear to affect the physiological functioning of the people. however, nail treatments remain popular because of their cosmetic appeal. ablation, acrylic nails, cotton balls, cuticle, cuticle oil, cuticle remover, emery board, finger brush, fingernails, fungus, hand lotion, hand towels, hot oil manicure, ingrown toenail, manicure, massage lotion, nail clipper, nail fungus, nail polish, nail polish remover, nail scissors, nails, paraffin, pedicure, podiatrist, tinea unguium, trimming.


bacopa is an herb which has been used medicinally for thousands of years. recent studies have shown it to possess a wide variety of nootropic properties. what is bacopa? bacopa is a perennial herb that is commonly found in wetlands and muddy shores throughout india, nepal, sri lanka, china, taiwan, vietnam, and some southern states in the usa. this plant has been commonly used in india for ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. according to western medicine, ayurvedic medicine is an alternative form a medicine used to complement, rather than replace, the treatment regimen existing between a patient and their physician. since bacopa ’ s early uses in ayurveda countless studies have been performed which have revealed bacopa to have many nootropic cognitive enhancing abilities. bacopa dosage information dosages tend to vary for bacopa. generally, people take between 100 - 300 mg once or twice daily. it is recommended that someone use the lowest dosage that works for them. you should start around 100mg twice daily and if you feel no side effects and want more of an effect then up your dosage as necessary. for children, the recommended dosage is no more then 100 - 200 mg per day in divided doses. how does bacopa work? though scientists are not completely clear on the exact mechanism of bacopa they have made some determinations. bacopa increases the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. low serotonin levels are linked to depression giving bacopa anti - anxiety and mood boosting effects. bacopa also stockpiles two p450 enzymes, erod and prod. there two enzymes are used when our brain encounters stressful situation meaning bacopa lowers our susceptibility to stress. bacopa ’ s wide array of cognitive enhancement capabilities are believed to stem from its ability to enhance neuronal synthesis and restore synaptic activity. safety and side effects of bacopa bacopa is known to be extremely safe. there have been no published studies revealing any sort of significant side effects that result from consuming bacopa. some anecdotal side effects include dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness, and muscle fatigue. one study found that the effects of chlorpromazine, a drug in the same family as perphenazine, were enhanced when a bacopa extract was taken along with it. until more


, drowsiness, and muscle fatigue. one study found that the effects of chlorpromazine, a drug in the same family as perphenazine, were enhanced when a bacopa extract was taken along with it. until more is known it is recommended that those taking any drug in the phenothiazine family not take bacopa. below are some of the most commonly asked questions about bacopa. if you have a question that ’ s not on this list, send it to us at email @ example. com and we will answer it for you. another study conducted in 2002 at the university of wollongong, australia, examined the effects of bacopa monniera on the human memory. seventy - six adults aged between 40 and 65 took part in a double - blind, randomized, placebo controlled study. testing was conducted prior to the trial, three months into the trial, and six weeks after the completion of the trial. the results showed a significant effect of bacopa on retention of new information three months into the trial. the results returned to normal six weeks after the trial had ended. 1. ganguly dk, malhotra cl. some behavioral effects of an active fraction from herpestis monniera linn. ( brahmi ). indian j med res 1967 ; 55 : 473 – 82 2. rajani, m., et al. “ brahmi ( bacopa monnieri ( l. ) pennell ) – a medhya rasaayana drug of ayurveda ” in ramawat, k. g., ed. ( 2004 ). biotechnology of medicinal plants : vitalizer and therapeutic enfield, new hampshire : science publishers, inc. 3. ghosal. s, bhattacharya sk ( 1980 ). “ anxiolytic activity of a standardized extract of bacopa monniera in an experimental study ”. phytomedicine 5 : 133 – 148. 4. morgan a, stevens j ” does bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? results of a randomized, placebo - controlled, double - blind trial. ” j altern complement med. 2010 jul ; 16 ( 7 ) : 753 - 9 authors : 5. c. stough, j. lloyd, j. clarke, l. downey, c. hutchison, t. rodgers, p. nathan ( 2001 ). “ the chronic effects of an extract of baco


- 9 authors : 5. c. stough, j. lloyd, j. clarke, l. downey, c. hutchison, t. rodgers, p. nathan ( 2001 ). “ the chronic effects of an extract of bacopa monniera ( brahmi ) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects ”. psychopharmacology ( berl ) 156 ( 4 ) : 481 – 4. doi : 10. 1007 / s002130100815. pmid 11498727. 6. s. roodenrys, d. booth, s. bulzomi, a. phipps, c. micallef, j. smoker ( 2002 ). “ chronic effects of brahmi ( bacopa monnieri ) on human memory ”. neuropsychopharmacology ( wollongong ) 27 ( 2 ) : 279. doi : 10. 1016 / s0893 - 133x ( 01 ) 00419 - 5. pmid 12093601. 7. stough c, downey la, lloyd j et al. ( 2008 ). “ examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning : 90 day double - blind placebo - controlled randomized trial. ” phytother res. 22 : 1629 - 1634. 8. morgan a, stevens j “ does bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? results of a randomized, placebo - controlled, double - blind trial ” journal of alternative & complementary medicine – new york 2010 jul ; 16 ( 7 ) : 753 - 9


leprosy : urgent need to end stigma and isolation myanmar, 6 february 2003 - the world is making great progress towards the goal of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem. but serious concerns remain in several countries, including india, nepal and brazil. this was the message delivered at the opening of the annual gathering here of leprosy endemic countries and partners sponsored by the world health organization ( who ). myanmar itself, despite many obstacles in terms of resources, security problems and geography, is close to meeting the target of leprosy elimination. the country has managed to bring down the number of cases from more than 53 per 10, 000 population in 1987 to very slightly over one per 10, 000 at the end of 2002. elsewhere, however, a combination of lack of political commitment and social and organisational problems remain, holding back progress. the global health community agreed in 1999 to create the global alliance to eliminate leprosy ( gael ) with a target of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem by the year 2005. elimination has been defined as less than one case per 10, 000 people. much progress has already been made towards this goal, and almost all of the countries where leprosy was a major public health problem at the end of the 20th century are now on track to hit the elimination goal. among the 122 countries where the disease was considered endemic in 1985, 108 have now reached the goal of elimination at the country level. today, 90 % of cases are found in india, brazil, nepal, madagascar, mozambique and myanmar ( in order of importance ). gael brings together key partners working to detect and treat all persons affected by leprosy and thereby eliminate the disease from all countries by 2005. key to reaching this goal is to diagnose and treat leprosy just like any other disease, without stigma or isolation. " diagnosing and treating leprosy through the public health system is vital if we are to avoid continuing stigma and prejudice against leprosy patients, " says dr david heymann, executive director in charge of communicable disease programmes at the world health organization. " continuing to treat leprosy patients through expensive and separate programmes has been shown to be the wrong approach - for health systems and for the patients they look after. " in recent years access to leprosy diagnosis and treatment within general health services has been greatly improved. mass media campaigns have also helped create awareness of the availability of free and effective treatment as well as to dispel fear about the disease. the


" in recent years access to leprosy diagnosis and treatment within general health services has been greatly improved. mass media campaigns have also helped create awareness of the availability of free and effective treatment as well as to dispel fear about the disease. the reasons why india and one or more other countries may miss the 2005 deadline are complex and include the delay in improving access to - and coverage of - leprosy treatment particularly in highly endemic areas. the continued existence of specialized leprosy services also tends to hinder the full integration of leprosy services into the primary health care system. this conflict of interest has been encountered in many countries but is gradually being brought under control as more and more countries appreciate that the only effective and sustainable way to diagnose and treat leprosy is within the communities where it is found, using the staff and resources of the local primary health centres. this is also a point of contention between several international non - governmental organizations ( ngos ) and gael. some of the ngos do not believe that leprosy can be treated through the public health system, just like any other disease. gael says, however, that this approach does work and will continue to work. since 1995, leprosy patients in all countries have had access to free drug treatments, first through a donation by the nippon foundation and now through the novartis foundation for sustainable development. this highly effective multi - drug treatment has contributed greatly to the success of bringing down the rates of leprosy infection around the world. " novartis is fully committed to ensuring that every leprosy patient in the world receives high quality drugs free of cost. we will continue our support to the programme as long as it is required, " said dr daniel vasella, chairman and chief executive officer of novartis. the nippon foundation, which has been supporting the programme for the last 28 years, reaffirmed its commitment to support this global effort to eliminate leprosy at the meeting. " the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem is only the first stage of humanity ' s fight against this age - old disease, " said mr. yohei sasakawa, president of the nippon foundation and special ambassador for the global alliance. " this is an honourable mission that calls for a united effort by all the stake - holders. we have reached the last mile of our 100 - mile journey. but this last mile will be the most difficult to travel. we must keep moving and not falter. "


search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. if you are not sure what you are looking for, try the combination search or our recommended species lists. search native plant database : ilex coriacea ( pursh ) chapman large gallberry, bay - gall bush, ink - berry holly usda symbol : ilco usda native status : native to u. s. large gallberry is an evergreen shrub, 10 - 15 ft. high, occasionally tree - sized, with slender branchlets and narrowly oval, leathery leaves. non - showy, axillary flowers are followed by shiny - black fruit which, unlike most ilex spp., drop soon after maturing in later summer or fall. plant characteristicsduration : perennial habit : shrub leaf : dark green fruit : size class : bloom informationbloom color : white bloom time : mar, apr, may al, fl, ga, la, ms, nc, sc, tx, va native distribution : coastal plain from s. e. va to s. e. tx native habitat : sandy woods ; stream banks usda native status : l48 ( n ) growing conditionswater use : high light requirement : part shade soil moisture : moist caco3 tolerance : none soil description : moist, sandy soils. conditions comments : you must have both a male and female plant to have berries. the male must be the same species as the female and bloom at the same time. because hollies are such popular landscape plants, it may be worth the risk to plant a female and hope there is a male nearby. propagationdescription : reproduces best if seeds are planted immediately after collection. patience is probably more important than cold treatment for breaking seed dormancy. may be pretreated with double - stratification. semi - hardwood cuttings from well - matured growth of the seed treatment : some benefit may be obtained from 30 - 60 days treatment at 68 - 86 degrees followed by 60 - 90 days of 41 degrees. commercially avail : yes from the national organizations directory according to the species list provided by affiliate organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following : - picayune, ms wildflower center seed banklbjwc - 1124 collected 2011 - 10 - 05 in tyler county by lady bird johnson wildflower center recommended species lists find native plant species by state. each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using


geology of madagascar unlike the nearby islands, mauritius, reunion, rodrigues and the comoros, madagascar is not the product of volcanic activity although the volcanism is the source of some attractions and sights such as the amber mountain, the massif of ankaratra and lake itasy. from geological point of view, madagascar is regarded as a continental island which owes its formation to the process of plate tectonic and continental drift. the theory of continental drift was developed by the german meteorologist wegener in the early 20th century. wegener noted that the contours of the coast of south america espouse those of africa. from that observation it was deduced that those two continents were part of a single one, a large continent, the gondwanaland, which broke away from an original super - continent pangea. the african continent, the island of madagascar, the south american continent, australia, antarctica and the indian sub - continent as we know them today were all part of the same continent gondwanaland over 200 million years ( ma ) before our era. africa, the island of madagascar, the south american continent, australia, antarctica and the indian sub - continent begun to break away from gondwanaland about 165 ma ago. madagascar became permanently an island about 65 ma ago. 2 / 3 of madagascar, mainly the eastern part of the island from north to south through the central highlands consist of crystalline basement formations mainly constituted of metamorphic rocks, the remaining 1 / 3 consists of sedimentary formations and occupies the western coast of the island from north to south. volcanic and intrusive basaltic formations complete the geology of madagascar and appear both at sea to form the island of nosy be, in the central regions, in the north and south of madagascar. each one of these formations is at the origin of rich mineral, fossil and serious signs oil basement in madagascar.


portrait of john young john young is an american astronaut who was born on september 24, 1930, in california. before he became an astronaut, young was a navy fighter young became an astronaut in 1962. he is the first person to make six spaceflights. he has spent over 835 hours in space. young made his first spaceflight in 1965 aboard gemini 3. this was the first manned gemini mission. young operated the first computer in space during this mission. in 1966, he commanded gemini 10. young made his third spaceflight aboard apollo 10. this was a full dress rehearsal for landing on the moon. the crew orbited the moon several times and tested the lunar module. in 1972, young actually landed on the moon and walked its surface during the apollo 16 mission. young made his fifth spaceflight aboard sts - 1 in 1981. this was the first flight of the space shuttle. it proved that the shuttle was a reusable young ' s last spaceflight was aboard sts - 9 in 1983. this was the first spacelab mission. the crew performed over 70 experiments in atmospheric physics, earth observations, astronomy and solar physics, materials processing, and the life sciences. shop windows to the universe science store! our online store on science education, classroom activities in the earth scientist specimens, and educational games you might also be interested in : how did life evolve on earth? the answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable.... more andrew allen is an american astronaut who was born on august 4, 1955 in pennsylvania. before he became an astronauts, allen was a navy and marines pilot. he has logged over 4500 flight hours on more than... more jay apt is an american astronaut who was born on april 28, 1949 in massachusetts. before he became an astronaut, apt was a physicist who worked on the venus space probe project. apt joined nasa in 198... more neil armstrong is an american astronaut who was born in ohio in 1930. before entering the space program, he was a pilot for the u. s. navy and air force, flying over 200 different kinds of aircraft, such... more ellen baker is an american astronaut who was born on april 27, 1953 in north carolina. before she became an astronaut she was a geologist and a medical doctor. baker joined nasa as a medical officer in... more michael baker is


the leap second has cheated death, for the time being. members of the international telecommunications union have met in geneva to decide whether to abolish the cheeky bonus second, but with no consensus reached the decision has been delayed until 2015. a leap second is sometimes added to bring atomic time - - a near - perfectly accurate way to score seconds by measuring the vibrations of atoms - - into sync with the solar time spin of the earth - - which is irregular, and gradually slowing down. when the two time - keeping methods veer apart by a second, an extra second is added in june or december to delay atomic time and bring it in line with solar time. one was added in december 2008, and another is due to be inserted in june 2012. it ' s just like the leap year, where every four years a bonus day is introduced to account for the discrepancy between our 365 day year and the earth ' s 365 and a quarter day rotation around the sun. you probably won ' t notice the extra second in june 2012, but it will be a major headache for those running the internet, telecommunications, or any kind of computerised system. it ' s for that reason that some countries - - including america and france - - want it gone. but fans of the leap second - - such as britain and germany - - argue that without it, atomic and solar time would veer further and further apart. time could be two to three minutes out in the year 2100 and about half an hour wrong in 2700. it ' s this back - and - forth argument that stopped the world ' s top time - keepers from coming to an agreement. the itu has decided that more research was needed to understand the social, legal and technical implications of removing a leap second. once that ' s been collected, everyone will meet up in 2015 to argue all over


learn something new every day more info... by email chorba is a type of soup dish that is eaten in the middle east, eurasia, and afro - eurasia, since some countries in these regions have similar traditions, especially when it comes to food. some people say that the dish resembles a minestrone soup, since both contain as their main ingredients meats, vegetables, and spices. the soup can be enjoyed on its own, or with a piece of bread on the side. the turkish language can be credited for giving the dish the name “ chorba, ” but the soup is also called different, but similar names, such as “ sorpa ” for the kazakhs, “ shurpa ” for the russians, and “ shorpo ” for the kyrgyz. the soup is also known as “ ciorba ” in romania. the turkish origin of the dish ’ s name may have been a byproduct of the ottoman empire, when the turks controlled many regions in asia, africa, and europe and, as a result, influenced their culture and cuisine. it is probable that the turks would cook the chorba during their stay in a particular area, and the locals who tasted the dish began to imitate it. it also helped that during these times, countries had less strict policies on geographical borders and migrants may have easily crossed the borders, bringing a new dish with them. one of the preferred meat ingredients included in the chorba would be lamb as it gives the dish a very unique taste, but other meat like beef, pork, and chicken can be used as well, sometimes in combination. to make the soup more flavorful, some cooks boil a separate amount of meat in some water to make a stock ; others boil the meat and vegetables together, along with some onion and garlic for flavor. some cooks suggest not putting salt in while the meat is softening, as the salt can make the meat tough. the vegetables in a chorba are very varied, but some ingredients like tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and turnips are almost always included. other vegetables that can be used are zucchini, parsley, and cilantro. to make the soup heartier and thicker, beans such as chickpeas, green peas, and red kidney beans can be put in the pot, though some europeans use pasta to thicken the soup. aside from the usual garlic, onion, salt and pepper, an assortment of spices gives the chorba a very unique flavor. these


by the numbers : lame duck congress outgoing politicians face several votes this year ' s session, with fiscal cliff negotiations and lively nomination controversies, is anything but lame. but it ' s still a lame - duck congress. just how did a meeting of one congress that occurs after a new one is elected but not yet sworn - in get that name? we ' re slow roasting the answers to those questions and serving them up by the numbers : what is a ' lame duck '? 18th century - the term " lame duck " originates in great britain to describe a bankrupt businessman. 1830s - the term " lame duck " arrives in the united states, but is used to describe politicians on their way out of office, rather than businessmen. 85 - the number of current members of congress who are lame ducks. 17 weeks - the length of time between november elections and inauguration on march 4th, prior to the 20th amendment being ratified in 1933. this led to many problems, such as president - elect abraham lincoln being unable to deal with the secession of seven states during the long gap between his election and inauguration. 2 - the number of times a lame duck house of representatives chose the president and vice president in disputed elections. this occurred in 1800 and 1824. 1932 - the year that humorist will rogers said : " an awful lot of people are confused as to just what is meant by a lame duck congress. it ' s like where some fellows worked for you and their work wasn ' t satisfactory and you let ' em out, but after you fired ' em, you let ' em stay long enough so they could burn your house down. " the 20th amendment 1923 - senator george norris of nebraska proposes the 20th amendment, moving the start date of congress from march 4th to january 3rd. the senate passes it 63 - 6. 1932 - after nine years of delays, the house also passes norris ' amendment, 336 - 56. 1933 - the 20th amendment to the constitution is ratified. 19 - number of lame duck sessions of congress since the ratification of the 20th amendment. prior to the ratification of the 20th amendment, every second session of congress from the first to the 73rd was technically a lame duck session. 10 - number of these sessions from 1940 to 1992. 9 - number of these sessions from 1994 to 2012. there was no lame duck session in 1996. 1 day - the shortest lame duck session, which took place on december 31, 1948. 58 days - the longest lame duck session, which took place in the senate from november 7, 1940 to january 3, 1941


no lame duck session in 1996. 1 day - the shortest lame duck session, which took place on december 31, 1948. 58 days - the longest lame duck session, which took place in the senate from november 7, 1940 to january 3, 1941. noteworthy lame duck sessions 1954 - the year the senate holds a lame duck session to censure wisconsin sen. joseph mccarthy. 1974 - nelson rockefeller is confirmed as vice president. 1982 - the house votes to give its members a retroactive pay raise. the lame duck session is especially contentious, leading senator edward kennedy to say, " we have accomplished precisely nothing of any value. " representative leon panetta also remarked, " frankly, we all look like fools. " 1994 - congress passes legislation on the general agreement on tariffs and trade ( gatt ). 1998 - the house of representatives holds a lame duck session and votes to impeach president bill clinton. 2002 - the department of homeland security is established. 2010 - a compromise tax bill is passed, " don ' t ask, don ' t tell " is repealed, and a new start treaty with russia is approved. copyright 2012 by cnn newsource. all rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


updated : spacex rocket engine shutdown affects satellite deployment the falcon 9 rocket achieved its main objective on sunday night : getting a spacecraft bound for the international space station into orbit. but a problem with one of the engines meant the rocket ' s secondary payload, a communications satellite, is now flying at a lower altitude than planned. orbcomm said monday the rocket wasn ' t able to complete a second burn for safety reasons after the engine shutdown, which meant its prototype second - generation satellite was not deployed at the right altitude. the new jersey based company said engineers from orbcomm and sierra nevada corp, which built the satellite, are working to see if it can use its on - board propulsion to lift it into operational orbit. orbcomm plans to send 18 of its satellites into space using falcon 9 rockets in 2013 and 2014. spacex says it appears one of the falcon 9 engines lost pressure, triggering a shutdown one minute and 19 seconds after lift off on sunday night. footage of the launch appears to show debris falling from the rocket just over a minute after it lifted off from cape canaveral. " we know the engine did not explode because we continued to receive data from it, " read a statement released by the company monday. " our review indicates that the fairing that protects the engine from aerodynamic loads ruptured due to the engine pressure release, and that none of falcon 9 ’ s other eight engines were impacted by this event. " the falcon 9 rocket is designed to keep flying even with the loss of more than one engine, and spacex says the engine failure had no effect on the dragon spacecraft or the resupply mission to the international space station. spacex says it will keep reviewing flight data to figure out the cause of the problem and apply those lessons to future missions. the company aims to eventually use its dragon spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the iss. this mission is the first of 12 unmanned cargo flights contracted by nasa. dragon is scheduled to dock with the iss on wednesday. return to earth is targeted for october 28th.


american heritage® dictionary of the english language, fourth edition - adj. not attractive or good - looking : a homely child. - adj. lacking elegance or refinement : homely furniture. - adj. of a simple or unpretentious nature ; plain : homely truths. - adj. characteristic of the home or of home life : homely skills. century dictionary and cyclopedia - of or belonging to home or the household ; domestic. - familiar ; intimate. - of domestic character or quality ; hence, simple ; plain ; rude ; coarse ; not fine or elegant : as, a homely garment ; a homely house ; homely fare. - plain ; without particular beauty of features, form, or color : as, a homely face. - familiarly ; plainly ; rudely ; simply ; coarsely. - adj. us lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive. - adj. proficient in skills needed to maintain a home ( see homemaker ). gnu webster ' s 1913 - adj. archaic belonging to, or having the characteristics of, home ; domestic ; familiar ; intimate. - adj. plain ; unpretending ; rude in appearance ; unpolished. - adj. of plain or coarse features ; uncomely ; ugly ; - - usually used of people, especially women ; - - contrary to - adv. rare plainly ; rudely ; coarsely. - adj. without artificial refinement or elegance - adj. having a feeling of home ; cozy and comfortable - adj. lacking in physical beauty or proportion - adj. plain and unpretentious - from middle english hom. ( wiktionary ) “ buncombe was delighted to encounter a sea - faring friend, and insisted on taking george jernam down to river view cottage to eat what he called a homely bit of dinner. ” “ in the book, winifred is plain - - homely, even - - but bright, talented, hard - working, and explicitly a very nice girl. ” “ yet despite the fact that he was often referred to as homely or even ugly, maureen was struck by how absolutely beautiful he was. ” “ scott started to confide in a woman he worked with, a woman he describes as homely, someone he could safely talk to without the risk of straying. ” “ in earlier days it had certainly been better kept ; it now