harrisburg, pa — ten months after tropical storm lee led to record flooding that devastated the susquehanna valley, a new pennenvironment research & policy center report confirms that extreme rainstorms and snowstorms are happening 52 percent more frequently in pennsylvania since 1948. “ as the old saying goes, when it rains, it pours — especially in recent years as bigger storms have hit pennsylvania more often, ” said adam garber, field director for pennenvironment research & policy center. “ we need to heed scientists ’ warnings that this dangerous trend is linked to global warming, and do everything we can to cut carbon pollution today. ” based on an analysis of state data from the national climatic data center, the new report found that heavy downpours or snowstorms that used to happen once every 12 months on average in the state now happen every 7. 9 months on average. moreover, the biggest storms are getting bigger. the largest annual storms in pennsylvania now produce 23 percent more precipitation, on average, than they did 65 years ago. scientists have concluded that the rise in the frequency and severity of heavy rainstorms and snowstorms is linked to global warming. warming increases evaporation and enables the atmosphere to hold more water, providing more fuel for extreme rainstorms and heavy snowstorms. garber pointed to the rainstorm that hit the susquehanna valley in september of 2011 as an illustration of what more extreme rainstorms and snowstorms could mean for the state. that rainstorm, which led to over 10, 000 residents being evacuated, resulted in record - breaking crests of the susquehanna river. it even required the governor ’ s mansion in harrisburg to empty out due to flooding. other recent extreme precipitation events in pennsylvania include : - in august of 2011 hurricane irene dumped 4. 55 inches of rain in only a few hours, led to 400, 000 power outages, 400 downed trees, and 7 collapsed buildings in philadelphia alone. - the snowstorm that hit pittsburgh in february of, which dumped 21 inches on the area as the fourth largest snowstorm in pittsburgh, led to suspended public transportation, closed schools and slippery conditions for commuters. the new pennenvironment research & policy center report, when it rains, it pours : global warming and the increase in extreme precipitation from 1948 to 2011, examines trends in the frequency and the total amount of precipitation of extreme rain and snow storms across the contiguous united states from 1948 to 2011. using data from 3, 700 weather stations and a methodology originally


and the increase in extreme precipitation from 1948 to 2011, examines trends in the frequency and the total amount of precipitation of extreme rain and snow storms across the contiguous united states from 1948 to 2011. using data from 3, 700 weather stations and a methodology originally developed by scientists at the national climatic data center and the illinois state water survey, the report identifies storms with the greatest 24 - hour precipitation totals at each weather station, and analyzes when those storms occurred. the report also examines trends in the amount of precipitation produced by the largest annual storm at each weather station. nationally, the report found that storms with extreme precipitation increased in frequency by 30 percent across the contiguous united states from 1948 to 2011. moreover, the largest annual storms produced 10 percent more precipitation, on average. at the state level, 43 states show a significant trend toward more frequent storms with extreme precipitation, while only one state ( oregon ) shows a significant decline. “ the data is clear, ” remarked irina marinov from the department of earth and environmental science at the university of pennsylvania. “ emissions of co2 and other greenhouse gases are changing the climate and damaging our environment. more extreme weather, to be expected in our warming climate, should be of high concern, not just to specialists in my field, but to every pennsylvania citizen. ” key findings for pennsylvania and the mid - atlantic include : - extreme rainstorms and snowstorms are becoming more frequent. pennsylvania experienced a 52 % percent increase in the frequency of extreme rainstorms and snowstorms from 1948 to 2011. in other words, heavy downpours or snowstorms that happened once every 12 months on average in 1948 now happen every 7. 9 months, on average. - storms with extreme precipitation increased in frequency by 55 percent in the mid - atlantic during the period studied. the mid - atlantic region ranks 2nd nationwide for the largest increase in the frequency of storms with heavy precipitation. - the biggest rainstorms and snowstorms are getting bigger. the amount of precipitation released by the largest annual storms in pennsylvania increased by 23 percent from 1948 to 2011. raymond najjar, a climate scientist in penn state ’ s department of meteorology, joined pennenvironment in releasing today ’ s report. “ decades of climate research have led us to the inescapable conclusion that fossil - fuel emissions make the atmosphere warmer, moister, and more prone to producing intense precipitations, ” added dr. najjar. “ the good news is that we can minimize the most harmful impacts through emissions reductions,


##capable conclusion that fossil - fuel emissions make the atmosphere warmer, moister, and more prone to producing intense precipitations, ” added dr. najjar. “ the good news is that we can minimize the most harmful impacts through emissions reductions, better land - use planning, and improved infrastructure. ” garber was careful to note that an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme rainstorms does not mean more water will be available for human use. higher temperatures fuel extreme rainstorms by increasing rates of evaporation. at the same time, however, that evaporation dries soils. moreover, scientists expect that, as global warming intensifies, longer periods with relatively little precipitation will tend to mark the periods between heavy rainstorms. as a result, droughts are likely to become more frequent and severe in some regions of the united states. currently, more than half of the lower united states is suffering through prolonged drought, aggravated by the fact that the last six months have been the hottest january - june period on record. according to the most recent science, the united states must reduce its total global warming emissions by at least 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and by at least 85 percent by 2050 in order to prevent the most devastating consequences of global warming. pennenvironment research & policy center highlighted two proposals from the obama administration — carbon pollution and fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks through model year 2025, and the first ever carbon pollution standards for new power plants — as critical steps toward meeting these pollution reduction targets. “ how serious this problem gets is largely within our control – but only if we act boldly to reduce the pollution that fuels global warming, ” said garber. “ we applaud the obama administration for their proposals to cut carbon pollution from vehicles and new power plants, and urge them to move forward with finalizing these critical initiatives this year. ”


by kasey catt donato bramante was a famous italian architect and painter who is best known for his work on st. peter ’ s basilica. born in 1444 to a farmer ’ s family, he began his artistic career under the guidance of the noted renaissance artists of mantegna and piero della francesca. in his early studies he was most interested in the rules of perspective. although his architecture skills eventually surpassed his artistic skills, his early art training can be seen throughout his buildings. barmante moved to the city of milan in approximately 1474 to continue his architectural development. the city of milan was filled with buildings of the gothic style which influenced bramante during the creation of several churches in the city. his works were noticed by the duke ludovico sfora and bramante completed many works for his new patron. in addition to essentially being sfora ’ s personal court architect, bramante ’ s relation with sfora culminated with the rebuilding of the church of santa maria presso san satiro. bramante also built the structures of santa maria delle grazie, cloisters of sant ’ ambrogio, and palazzo caprini among other smaller works in milan. as the french army invaded milan in 1499, barmante ’ s patron, sforza, fled and bramante followed suit moving to rome where he spent the rest of his life. once in rome, bramante ’ s talents were soon recognized by cardinal della rovere. the cardinal becoming pope julius ii gave bramante a very powerful and wealthy patron. early in his relation with pope julius, bramente worked on the plans for the belvedere courtyard in the vatican in. another one of his notable works for the pope included the cloister of santa maria della pace near piassa navona. one of barmante ’ s most amazing works for the pope was the tempietto of san pietro in montoria on the janiculum. this building could be considered “ one of the most harmonious buildings of the renaissance, ” consisting of more aspects of sculpture than architecture this piece could be considered an architectural masterpiece. bramante had planned on adding a courtyard around his work, but pope julius had bigger plans for him. in november 1503 barmante was tasked with the re - building of st peter ’ s basilica. this task was “ the grandest architectural commission of the european 16th century. ” the grand scale of the basicilla occupied bramante ’ s time until the end of his life in 1514. although


re - building of st peter ’ s basilica. this task was “ the grandest architectural commission of the european 16th century. ” the grand scale of the basicilla occupied bramante ’ s time until the end of his life in 1514. although the basilica was not completed before bramante ’ s death his architectural brilliance can be seen in its construction. church of santa maria presso san satiro the church was built on commission by duke sfora and was dedicated saint satyrus. although the structure was initially attributed mainly to bramante, it has recently come to light that he had more of a minor roll. still his characteristic style focusing on perspective can be seen in aspects of the building. “ the edifice has a nave and two aisles with barrel vault. the nave is surmounted by a dome at the crossing with the transept. ” bramante ’ s contributions can be seen in the choir area that had to be remodeled. in order to make up for the reduced choir size, bramante used a perspective painting to make it look bigger than it actually is. this was one of the “ first examples of trompe l ' oeil in history of art. ” trompe l ’ oeil is an art technique that utilizes a realistic painting style to create an optical illusion of three - dimensionality. image of the church ’ s exterior image of the church ’ s interior displaying bramante ’ s use of perspective church at santa maria delle grazie although the structure was built initially by guiniforte solari, it is believed that barmante was hired to remodel it and prepare it to be the burial place of the sfora family. to do this the cloisters and apse were remodeled by bramante image of the apse designed by bramante cloisters of sant ’ ambrogio palazzo caprini belvedere courtyard in the vatican this work is an example of the high renaissance style consisting of a courtyard, piazzas and a garden. a series of terraces that are connected by steps serve to connect the vadicant palace with the villa belvedere. although barmante never saw the work completed and the final product had alterations, his designs contained many unique ideas. “ he regularized the slope as a set of terraces, linked by rigorously symmetrical stairs on the central longitudinal axis, to create a sequence of formal spaces that was unparalleled in europe, both in its scale and in its architectural unity. ” bramante also integrated another innovation when he split the set of stairs


rigorously symmetrical stairs on the central longitudinal axis, to create a sequence of formal spaces that was unparalleled in europe, both in its scale and in its architectural unity. ” bramante also integrated another innovation when he split the set of stairs running to the top terrace around the retaining wall and then returning to the center. the wings that flank the courtyard have three levels in the lower court and end on the terraces with the upper most level reaching the top most terrace. bramante used his artistic perspective training to add another feature to the courtyard when he added a screening wall to hide the fact that the villa facade was not parallel to the vadicant wall. image displaying bramante ’ s design for the courtyard santa maria della pace built in 1500 - 1504, bramante ’ s work on the cloister became a main feature in the church monastery complex. the cloister consisted of two levels “ the first is articulated by shallow pilasters set against an arcade ; the second also has pilasters set against an arcade which is vertically continuous with the lower storey, but with columns located in between each arch span. ” this piece of art was recorded as bramante ’ s first work in rome. image of the cloister designed by bramante tempietto of san pietro built in the courtyard of san pietro in montorio, this piece of architecture is “ considered a masterpiece of high renaissance architecture. ” built as a monument to a martyr, this works is more artistic than structural. the structure “ is composed of slender tuscan columns, a doric entablature modeled after the ancient theater of marcellus, and a dome. ” this masterpiece has warranted such comments from architectural conissures : “ the emphasis here is on the harmony of proportions, the simplicity of volumes ( cylinder, hemisphere ) and the sobriety of the doric order. the circular plan symbolizes divine perfection. inspired by ancient temples, the tempietto is both a homage to antiquity and a christian memorial. " — mitchell beazley. the world atlas of architecture. p276. " for bramante, the planning of the tempietto must have represented the union of illusionistic painting and architecture he had spent his career perfecting. the building, too small on the inside to accommodate a congregation ( only 15 feet in diameter ), was conceived as a ' picture ' to be looked at from outside, a ' marker ', a symbol of saint peter ' s martyrdom. " — marvin trachtenberg and isabelle hyman.


a congregation ( only 15 feet in diameter ), was conceived as a ' picture ' to be looked at from outside, a ' marker ', a symbol of saint peter ' s martyrdom. " — marvin trachtenberg and isabelle hyman. architecture : from prehistory to post - modernism. p302. image of the tempietto sketch of bramante ’ s tempietto st. peter ’ s basilica the rebuilding of st. peter ’ s basilica was comissiond by pope julius ii and was the subject of a competition. in order to decide which designer would be used, the designers had to submit their plans and a winner would be chosen. from this grou, bramante was chosen to to rebuild the basilica. drawing inspiration from the pantheon, the first stone in the project was laid in 1506. barmante ’ s design did different from the pantheon in that it utilized four pillars to support the dome as opposed to a continuous wall. the dome was then topped with a latern. “ bramante had envisioned that the central dome be surrounded by four lower domes at the diagonal axes. the equal chancel, nave and transept arms were each to be of two bays ending in an apse. at each corner of the building was to stand a tower, so that the overall plan was square, with the apses projecting at the cardinal points. ” however when pope julius died, bramante was replaced from the head desiging position. however, many of his original designs greatly influenced the future designers that eventually finished the construction of the basilica. image describing bramante ’ s plan for the basilica sketch showing bramante ’ s design for the dome of the basilica


the latest drought monitor map released on feb. 7. the intense drought blanketing the heartland drags on, and as fewer weather systems offer even minimal relief, some are again mentioning the possibility of the historic “ d ” word – dust bowl. according to the latest drought monitor report, 57 percent of the contiguous united states is in moderate or worse drought. though this is a slight improvement of less than 1 percentage point, it still shows the severity of the drought. with moisture deficits mounting across key agricultural states, some are left wondering if a dust bowl is in the imminent future. producers in kansas and nebraska, in particular, may be questioning if it ’ s too late to receive enough moisture to stop the drought. currently, 36 percent of kansas and 77 percent of nebraska is in exceptional drought. these percentages have been unchanged for more than five months as wet weather systems bypassed the plains and soaked the eastern corn belt instead. meteorologists are monitoring the drought closely, and some are concerned what will happen if 2013 ends up being yet another dry year. " i ' d venture to guess that if we have one more really dry spring and summer in 2013, that we ' re going to be starting to rival the droughts of the ' 30s and ' 50s, ” national weather service meteorologist andy kleinsasser told wichita public radio. many areas of kansas need an additional 5 to 9 inches of moisture in addition to normal to quench the drought. however, one good soaking won ’ t cut it. " we can ' t get that all at once, obviously, because then it ' s just going to run off and it ' s not going to have time to soak into the ground and recharge those aquifers, " kleinsasser said. however, kansas and nebraska aren ’ t the only states dealing with drought. the drought has now spread to other areas, including texas ( 8 percent in exceptional drought ), oklahoma ( 40 percent in exceptional drought ), and south dakota ( 30 percent in exceptional drought ). extreme drought has also crept back into some areas in minnesota and iowa. see how your state is doing here. as a nation, one texas climatologist believes that while so much above - average precipitation is vital to end the drought, the forecast isn ’ t producing enough wet systems. according to a report from bloomberg, climatologist john nielsen - gammon finds that the odds are “ stacked against ending it anytime soon. ” read more here. while the outlook may be grim, brian fu


scientists meet to chart roadmap to fusion posted october 12, 2012 ; 01 : 30 p. m. the crucial next steps on the roadmap to developing fusion energy will be the focus of more than 70 top fusion scientists and engineers from around the world who will gather at the university of california - los angeles ( ucla ) this month. the oct. 15 - 18 session will kick off a series of annual workshops under the auspices of the international atomic energy agency ( iaea ) that will address key scientific and technological challenges facing countries developing fusion as a source of clean and abundant energy for producing electricity. " there ' s nothing like face - to - face talk and presentations to help people resolve common challenges, " said hutch neilson, who directs advanced projects at the u. s. department of energy ' s princeton plasma physics laboratory ( pppl ) and will chair the workshop at ucla. pppl hosted a worldwide gathering of fusion scientists at princeton university last year that led to planning for the workshops. " we felt there was a compelling need for international discussions to look at a wide range of options in an unbiased way, " said stewart prager, director of pppl. " there ' s proven to be a lot of interest in the international community. " the workshops aim to help participants chart pathways to the demonstration fusion power plants that the major world programs envision. such " demo " plants would mark the final step before the construction of commercial fusion power stations that could operate by mid - century. fusion powers the sun and stars. the process takes place when the atomic nuclei — or ions — in electrically charged gas called plasma fuse under extreme heat and pressure and release a burst of energy. fusion programs seek to recreate this process on earth under laboratory conditions. the iaea gathering comes against the backdrop of the construction of iter, a huge experimental facility that the european union, the united states and five other countries are building in the south of france to showcase fusion as a practical source of energy. plans call for iter to produce 500 million watts of fusion power for up to 500 seconds by the late 2020s. individual countries are exploring their own next steps toward fusion with different degrees of urgency, based on their perceived need for such energy. the steps themselves remain tentative and subject to government confirmation. " what ' s needed at present is for the planners to come together and discuss their different roadmaps, " said nuclear engineering professor mohamed abdou, who will host the workshop as director of the fusion science and technology center at ucla.


confirmation. " what ' s needed at present is for the planners to come together and discuss their different roadmaps, " said nuclear engineering professor mohamed abdou, who will host the workshop as director of the fusion science and technology center at ucla. " this will help us understand the goals and assumptions behind the plans of the major fusion programs. " the chief candidate for development as a fusion power plant is the tokamak, the most widely used experimental fusion device today. tokamaks heat plasma to tens of millions of degrees celsius and confine it inside a magnetic field that is shaped like a donut or a cored apple, depending on the machine. iter will be the largest and most powerful tokamak to date. an alternate candidate for a demo is the stellarator, a potentially promising but currently less - studied device. stellarators heat and confine plasma inside a magnetic field that is shaped like a cruller — a spiral wrapped around a circle. a look at the possible roadmaps that countries are considering : china — the world ' s most populous nation seeks to reduce its dependence on coal, which produces 70 percent of its electric power. china is currently pushing ahead with plans for a device called china ' s fusion engineering test reactor ( cfetr ) that would develop the technology for a demonstration fusion power plant. construction of the cfetr could start around 2020 and be followed by operation of a demo in the 2030s. europe and japan — these programs are jointly building a powerful tokamak called jt - 60sa in naka, japan, as a complement to iter. plans call for construction to be completed in 2019. the japanese and europeans will then pursue similar but independent timelines. both programs contemplate starting engineering design work on a demo around 2030, following the achievement of iter milestones, and placing the demo in operation in the 2030s. india — the country could begin building a device called sst - 2 to develop components for a demo around 2027. india could then start construction of a demo in 2037. korea — the program plans to build a machine that it calls k - demo — a tokamak that would develop components in its first phase, called k - demo - 1, and then utilize the components in the second phase, or k - demo - 2. construction could commence in the mid - to - late 2020s, with operations starting in the mid 2030s. russia — plans call for the development of a fusion neutron source ( f


dec 5, 2012 amid a worsening fiscal crisis, a crumbling economy, and the destruction of over 40 % of america ’ s wealth in just the last few years, it should be quite clear that this is no ordinary recession. in fact, with progressively dwindling job opportunities, a long - term downward trend in real estate prices, and the near doubling of participation in emergency benefits programs like food stamps and disability, one could make the argument that the united states is smack - dab in the middle of the next great depression. the notion that we are potentially facing a decades - long paradigm shift which threatens to alter the very fabric of american life is becoming a stark reality for many, especially america ’ s younger generations who, according to a new report from the annie e. casey foundation, are experiencing the highest jobless rates since at least world war ii : forty years ago, a teenager leaving high school — with or without a diploma — could find a job in a local factory. twenty years ago, even as manufacturing jobs moved offshore, young people could still gain a foothold in the workforce through neighborhood stores and restaurants. amid the housing boom of the past decade, youth with some training could find a career track in the construction field. but today — with millions of jobs lost and experienced workers scrambling for every available position — america ’ s young people stand last in line for jobs. youth employment is at its lowest level since world war ii ; only about half of young people ages 16 to 24 held jobs in 2011. among the teens in that group, only 1 in 4 is now employed, compared to 46 percent in 2000. overall, 6. 5 million people ages 16 to 24 are both out of school and out of work, statistics that suggest dire consequences for financial stability and employment prospects in that population. more and more doors are closing for these young people. entry - level jobs at fast - food restaurants and clothing stores that high school dropouts once could depend on to start their careers now go to older workers with better experience and credentials. it often takes a ged to get a job flipping hamburgers. even some with college degrees are having trouble finding the employment rate for youth ages 16 to 19 dropped precipitously — down 42 percent since 2000. more youth than ever — 2. 2 million teenagers and 4. 3 million young adults ages 20 to 24 — are neither in school nor working. additionally, 21 percent — 1. 4 million — of those young people out of school and out of work are young parents who must take care of


million teenagers and 4. 3 million young adults ages 20 to 24 — are neither in school nor working. additionally, 21 percent — 1. 4 million — of those young people out of school and out of work are young parents who must take care of their own needs and those of their children. in this report, we describe them as disconnected youth. the term encompasses diverse groups, ranging from the 16 - year - old who just dropped out of high school and is not working to the 21 - year - old parent who has a high school degree and has been looking for work for a long time. they live at home in urban, suburban or rural communities. the prospects for the millennial generation, who once enjoyed the seemingly never ending prosperity of mcmansions, high - end technology and brand name apparel provided by their debt - laden parents, are rapidly disappearing. the most challenging jobs market since the last great depression, coupled with an inability to acquire an education and trade skills due to tightened student loan requirements, yields an untenable situation for america ’ s youth. combine this with the fact that most of these kids have or will soon be having kids, and you have tens of millions more americans added to already overburdened government safety nets. reality television shows and government education convinced many teens and young adults that they would enjoy a carefree life of riches and luxury. never would they have even entertained the idea they would instead be plagued with a lifetime of misery, poverty and government dependence. it ’ s a hard - knocks life, and it ’ s about to get a whole heck of a lot worse for a lot of people. this article was posted : wednesday, december 5, 2012 at 5 : 56 am


posted 14 september 2010 - 02 : 49 pm we know that a six base pair sequence agaata occurs 1 time in 4096 nucleotides [ ( 1 / 4 ) ^ 6 = 4096 ] correct? let ' s say we have a dna library that is 50, 000 base pairs in total ( small library of 50 clones to keep numbers small ) it should occur roughly ~ 12 times [ 50000 / 4096 = 12. 2 ] with 100 % probability? 1. what is the probability that it would occur twice? how about 5 times? 2. what is the probability it would occur once in a single clone from this library if the clone is 500 bp long? what about twice? 3. and finally, let ' s say agaata occurs 3 times in one 500 bp clone. is this significant? what is the equation? i wanted to know basically, " this six base pair sequence has an x - percent probability of occurring within the clone, and an x - percent probability of occurring in the whole library. thanks. posted 14 september 2010 - 06 : 49 pm posted 14 september 2010 - 07 : 41 pm let ' s assume it ' s 25 % each. and i can replace this sequence with any sequence. i ' m just looking on how to do the math.


the development of intelligence edited by mike anderson published august 10th 2000 by psychology press the development of intelligence is an attempt to influence the next generation who will research the central question of this book - what is the nature of intelligence and how does it develop? the book provides a contemporary review of methods and theories of the development of intellectual abilities from infancy to adulthood by the major researchers in the field. it is unusual, because edited books usually bring together a collection of researchers who publish in the same journals, attend the same conferences and so on. in this case, the contributors come from quite different research areas with different approaches. the editor deliberately selected a group of eminent researchers with diverse and often conflicting theoretical orientations who use a wide range of different research methodologies. consequently, there is coverage of a range of topics not usually found in a single book, including : the measurement of intelligence ; infancy predictors of later iq differences ; developmental behaviour genetics ; theories of cognitive change ; general intelligence and specific abilities ; multiple intelligences ; savant syndrome ; cognitive development in the intellectually disabled ; and intervention studies. a concluding chapter by the editor pulls together the main themes generated by the contributors and sets out a new research agenda for developmental studies of intellectual abilities. ' excitement generated by intelligence research approaches that generated by issues of sex and money, because deep down people understand that intelligence is important, it always has been, and it always will be. anderson and his colleagues ' work provides a rational and clear - headed overview of the scientific study of this valued attribute. if you want to learn something about it, then this book is a good place to start. ' - apa review of books ' anderson ' s lively writing and vision as editor make this book successful in achieving its goal of summarizing what is known about the developmental nature of intelligence for newcomers to the field. ' - intelligence preface. list of contributors. introduction. m. anderson, project development - the shape of things to come. part i : the assessment of intelligence in development. i. styles, the study of intelligence - the interplay between theory and measurement. j. colombo, j. frick, recent advances and issues in the study of preverbal intelligence. part ii : behaviour genetics. d. hay, the developmental genetics of intelligence. j. s. reznick, r. corley, what twins can tell us about the development of intelligence - a case study. part iii : theories of intellectual development. b. torff, h. gardner, the vertical mind - the case for


news releases 2003 noaa home page noaa public affairs above - average precipitation throughout much of the united states during the past three months led to improving drought conditions in many areas, according to scientists at the national oceanic and atmospheric administration ’ s ( noaa ) national climatic data center ( ncdc ) in asheville, n. c. noaa is part of the commerce department. twenty - four percent of the contiguous united states was in moderate - to - extreme drought in april, down from 37 percent in january and 50 percent during the summer of 2002, based on a widely used measure of drought severity, the palmer drought index. ncdc researchers said precipitation averaged across the contiguous united states was 0. 5 inch ( 12. 7 mm ) above the 1895 - 2003 long - term mean for the february through april three - month period, based on preliminary data. twenty seven states were significantly wetter than average and 11 states were significantly drier than average. wetter - than - average conditions were prevalent in the mid - atlantic, southeast and in most states of the western united states. near - average to drier - than - average conditions stretched from maine to the upper midwest and southwest to texas. the precipitation helped alleviate extremely dry conditions in many areas, but the rain and snowfall were not sufficient to end the drought in many parts of the west, where severe drought has occurred for much of the past three to five years. in colorado, which had its driest year on record in 2002, a single snow storm in march brought a near - record snowfall of 32 inches to denver stapleton airport and totals exceeding 80 inches in higher - elevation locations to the west. snow pack, an important source of water for western states, was near or above average at the end of april in much of the front range of the rocky mountains from montana to colorado and the sierra mountains, but snow pack remained below average in large parts of the west. reservoir storage was also below average in every western state except washington at the end of april, and river flows remained below average in a large part of the western two - thirds of the nation. in montana, where conditions in parts of the state during the summer of 2002 were similar to those experienced during the dust bowl years of the 1930 ' s, above average precipitation during the past several months led to a marked improvement in drought conditions. however, according to the u. s. drought monitor, severe drought continued to affect a large part of the state at the end of april. based on the palmer drought index, the percent of


several months led to a marked improvement in drought conditions. however, according to the u. s. drought monitor, severe drought continued to affect a large part of the state at the end of april. based on the palmer drought index, the percent of the west in moderate to extreme drought decreased from 81 percent in november 2002 to 44 percent in april. the most widespread drought in the instrumental record occurred in july of 1934, when 97 percent of the west and 80 percent of the contiguous united states were in moderate to extreme drought. the percent of the contiguous united states in moderate to extreme drought fell to 24 percent in april. temperatures during the february - april 2003 period were near average to slightly warmer than average across most of the country. the northeast was the only region with significantly cooler - than - average temperatures. for the contiguous united states as a whole the february - april temperature was 43. 3 f ( 6. 3 c ), slightly warmer than the 1895 - 2003 mean. in alaska the three - month period was 6. 0 f ( 3. 3 c ) warmer than the 1971 - 2000 average. during the past 25 years, temperatures in alaska have averaged 3. 2 f ( 1. 8 c ) warmer than during the preceding 50 years. the moderate el nino episode that began in 2002 weakened during the february - april period, while the average global temperature for combined land and ocean surfaces ( based on preliminary data ) during april was 0. 9 f ( 0. 5 c ) above the 1880 - 2002 long - term mean. this was the fourth warmest april but 0. 4 f ( 0. 2 c ) cooler than the record warm april which occurred near the end of the 1997 - 98 el nino episode. the land - surface temperature average was the seventh warmest on record for april ( 1. 4 f above average ), and the global ocean - surface temperature was 0. 7 f above average, approximately 0. 2 f cooler than april 1998. the year - to - date global average for combined land and ocean surfaces was the third warmest on record. noaa environmental satellites, data and information service is the nation ’ s primary source of space - based meteorological and climate data. it operates the nation ' s environmental satellites, which are used for weather forecasting, climate monitoring and other environmental applications such as fire detection, ozone monitoring and sea surface temperature measurements. noaa environmental satellites, data and information service also operates three data centers, which house global data bases in climatology, oceanography, solid earth geophysics, marine geology


devastated by the civil wars of the 17th century or by the neglect and deliberate destruction of their owners who saw them as archaic and barbaric, the vast majority of scottish baronial castles built between 1250 and 1450 survive as little more than skeletal ruins. these reminders of scotland ' s past have captured the imaginations of romantics, artists, writers and tourists since the late 18th century. often set in spectacular surroundings, on cliff - tops, islands, and gorges, their ruined grandeur evokes a medieval world of sieges, banquets and murders, and provides a rare physical link with the anglo - scottish wars of robert the bruce and william wallace. this book examines the three periods of castle building in the years 1250 - 1450 : the years of peace in the late 13th century ; the six decades of war with the english when the castles became key centers for garrisons and government ; and the post - war era of castle building and reconstruction. covering castles in the isles, the lowlands and the highlands, and featuring some of the most striking examples of the art, such as caelaverock and bothwell this book presents the story of these monuments in an accessible and highly - illustrated format. " this is a well - written and well - illustrated look into scottish fortifications. it is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in fortifications before the age of gunpowder. " - bolling smith, the coast defense journal ( july 2009 ) " not too many books cover the castles of scotland since so few of them are left which have not been heavily modified after the middle ages such as stirling castle. the book covers the design and use of a number of the important castles, which were often characterized by their large round towers and other structures. some were located on heights and islands making them stand out.... the drawings are excellent recreations of the castles... this work is a good introduction to this period of scottish history and castles. " - je kauffman, siteo. net ( may 2009 ) " overall, it is an excellent book on a subject that is both historically significant and fascinating to read. it is one i can highly recommend. " - scott van aken, www. modelingmadness. com ( april 2009 ) scottish baronial castles 1250 - 1450 by michael brown


( ascii text format ) the following is mirrored from http : / / mai. flora. org / forum / 23033 date : sun, 26 nov 2000 19 : 18 : 33 - 0500 the americans and the russians have developed capabilities to manipulate the world ' s climate. dr. rosalie bertell confirms that " us military scientists are working on weather systems as a potential weapon. " 26 november 2000 professor of economics, university of ottawa, author of the globalization of poverty, common courage press, 2001. it ' s not only greenhouse gas emissions : washington ' s new world order weapons have the ability to trigger climate change the important debate on global warming under un auspices provides but a partial picture of climate change ; in addition to the devastating impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the ozone layer, the world ' s climate can now be modified as part of a new generation of sophisticated " non - lethal weapons. " both the americans and the russians have developed capabilities to manipulate the world ' s climate. in the us, the technology is being perfected under the high - frequency active aural research program ( haarp ) as part of the ( " star wars " ) strategic defence initiative ( sdi ). recent scientific evidence suggests that haarp is fully operational and has the ability of potentially triggering floods, droughts, hurricanes and earthquakes. from a military standpoint, haarp is a weapon of mass destruction. potentially, it constitutes an instrument of conquest capable of selectively destabilising agricultural and ecological systems of entire regions. while there is no evidence that this deadly technology has been used, surely the united nations should be addressing the issue of " environmental warfare " alongside the debate on the climatic impacts of greenhouse gases. despite a vast body of scientific knowledge, the issue of deliberate climatic manipulations for military use has never been explicitly part of the un agenda on climate change. neither the official delegations nor the environmental action groups participating in the hague conference on climate change ( co6 ) ( november 2000 ) have raised the broad issue of " weather warfare " or " environmental modification techniques ( enmod ) " as relevant to an understanding of climate change. the clash between official negotiators, environmentalists and american business lobbies has centered on washington ' s outright refusal to abide by commitments on carbon dioxide reduction targets under the 1997 kyoto protocol. the impacts of military technologies on the world ' s climate are not an object of discussion or concern. narrowly confined to greenhouse gases, the ongoing debate on climate change serves washington ' s strategic


by commitments on carbon dioxide reduction targets under the 1997 kyoto protocol. the impacts of military technologies on the world ' s climate are not an object of discussion or concern. narrowly confined to greenhouse gases, the ongoing debate on climate change serves washington ' s strategic and defense objectives. world renowned scientist dr. rosalie bertell confirms that " us military scientists are working on weather systems as a potential weapon. the methods include the enhancing of storms and the diverting of vapor rivers in the earth ' s atmosphere to produce targeted droughts or floods. " already in the 1970s, former national security advisor zbigniew brzezinski had foreseen in his book " between two ages " that : " technology will make available, to the leaders of major nations, techniques for conducting secret warfare, of which only a bare minimum of the security forces need be appraised.... [ t ] echniques of weather modification could be employed to produce prolonged periods of drought or storm. " marc filterman, a former french military officer, outlines several types of " unconventional weapons " using radio frequencies. he refers to " weather war, " indicating that the u. s. and the soviet union had already " mastered the know - how needed to unleash sudden climate changes ( hurricanes, drought ) in the early 1980s. " these technologies make it " possible to trigger atmospheric disturbances by using extremely low frequency ( elf ) radar [ waves ]. " a simulation study of future defense " scenarios " commissioned for the us air force calls for : " us aerospace forces to ` own the weather ' by capitalizing on emerging technologies and focusing development of those technologies to war - fighting applications ) from enhancing friendly operations or disrupting those of the enemy via small - scale tailoring of natural weather patterns to complete dominance of global communications and counterspace control, weather - modification offers the war fighter a wide - range of possible options to defeat or coerce an adversary.... in the united states, weather - modification will likely become a part of national security policy with both domestic and international applications. our government will pursue such a policy, depending on its interests, at various levels. the high - frequency active aural research program ( haarp ) the high - frequency active aural research program ( haarp ) based in gokoma alaska - - jointly managed by the us air force and the us navy - - is part of a new generation of sophisticated weaponry under the us strategic defense initiative ( sdi ). operated by the air force research laboratory ' s


based in gokoma alaska - - jointly managed by the us air force and the us navy - - is part of a new generation of sophisticated weaponry under the us strategic defense initiative ( sdi ). operated by the air force research laboratory ' s space vehicles directorate, haarp constitutes a system of powerful antennas capable of creating " controlled local modifications of the ionosphere ". scientist dr. nicholas begich - - actively involved in the public campaign against haarp - - describes haarp as : " a super - powerful radiowave - beaming technology that lifts areas of the ionosphere [ upper layer of the atmosphere ] by focusing a beam and heating those areas. electromagnetic waves then bounce back onto earth and penetrate everything - - living and dead. " dr. rosalie bertell depicts haarp as " a gigantic heater that can cause major disruption in the ionosphere, creating not just holes, but long incisions in the protective layer that keeps deadly radiation from bombarding the planet. " misleading public opinion haarp has been presented to public opinion as a program of scientific and academic research. us military documents seem to suggest, however, that haarp ' s main objective is to " exploit the ionosphere for department of defense purposes. " without explicitly referring to the haarp program, a us air force study points to the use of " induced ionospheric modifications " as a means of altering weather patterns as well as disrupting enemy communications and radar. according to dr. rosalie bertell, haarp is part of an integrated weapons ' system, which has potentially devastating environmental consequences : " it is related to fifty years of intensive and increasingly destructive programs to understand and control the upper atmosphere. it would be rash not to associate haarp with the space laboratory construction which is separately being planned by the united states. haarp is an integral part of a long history of space research and development of a deliberate military nature. the military implications of combining these projects is alarming. the ability of the haarp / spacelab / rocket combination to deliver a very large amount of energy, comparable to a nuclear bomb, anywhere on earth via laser and particle beams, are frightening. the project is likely to be " sold " to the public as a space shield against incoming weapons, or, for the more gullible, a device for repairing the ozone layer. in addition to weather manipulation, haarp has a number of related uses : " haarp could contribute to climate change by intensively bombarding


incoming weapons, or, for the more gullible, a device for repairing the ozone layer. in addition to weather manipulation, haarp has a number of related uses : " haarp could contribute to climate change by intensively bombarding the atmosphere with high - frequency rays.... returning low - frequency waves at high intensity could also affect people ' s brains, and effects on tectonic movements cannot be ruled out. " more generally, haarp has the ability of modifying the world ' s electro - magnetic field. it is part of an arsenal of " electronic weapons " which us military researchers consider a " gentler and kinder warfare ". weapons of the new world order haarp is part of the weapons arsenal of the new world order under the strategic defense initiative ( sdi ). from military command points in the us, entire national economies could potentially be destabilized through climatic manipulations. more importantly, the latter can be implemented without the knowledge of the enemy, at minimal cost and without engaging military personnel and equipment as in a conventional war. the use of haarp - - if it were to be applied - - could have potentially devastating impacts on the world ' s climate. responding to us economic and strategic interests, it could be used to selectively modify climate in different parts of the world resulting in the destabilization of agricultural and ecological systems. it is also worth noting that the us department of defense has allocated substantial resources to the development of intelligence and monitoring systems on weather changes. nasa and the department of defense ' s national imagery and mapping agency ( nima ) are working on " imagery for studies of flooding, erosion, land - slide hazards, earthquakes, ecological zones, weather forecasts, and climate change " with data relayed from satellites. policy inertia of the united nations according to the framework convention on climate change ( unfccc ) signed at the 1992 earth summit in rio de janeiro : " states have in accordance with the charter of the united nations and the principles of international law, the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other states or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. " it is also worth recalling that an international convention ratified by the un general assembly in 1997 bans " military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long - lasting or severe effects. " both the us and the soviet union were signatories to the convention. the convention defines " ' environmental modification techniques '


assembly in 1997 bans " military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long - lasting or severe effects. " both the us and the soviet union were signatories to the convention. the convention defines " ' environmental modification techniques ' as referring to any technique for changing - - through the deliberate manipulation of natural processes - - the dynamics, composition or structure of the earth, including its biota, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere or of outer space. " why then did the un - - disregarding the 1977 enmod convention, as well as its own charter - - decide to exclude from its agenda climatic changes resulting from military programs? european parliament acknowledges impacts of haarp in february 1998, responding to a report of mrs. maj britt theorin - - swedish mep and longtime peace advocate - -, the european parliament ' s committee on foreign affairs, security and defense policy held public hearings in brussels on the haarp program. the committee ' s " motion for resolution " submitted to the european parliament : " considers haarp by virtue of its far - reaching impact on the environment to be a global concern and calls for its legal, ecological and ethical implications to be examined by an international independent body... ; [ the committee ] regrets the repeated refusal of the united states administration... to give evidence to the public hearing into the environmental and public risks [ of ] the haarp program. " the committee ' s request to draw up a " green paper " on " the environmental impacts of military activities ", however, was casually dismissed on the grounds that the european commission lacks the required jurisdiction to delve into " the links between environment and defense ". brussels was anxious to avoid a showdown with washington. while there is no concrete evidence of haarp having been used, scientific findings suggest that it is at present fully operational. what this means is that haarp could potentially be applied by the us military to selectively modify the climate of an " unfriendly nation " or " rogue state " with a view to destabilizing its national economy. agricultural systems in both developed and developing countries are already in crisis as a result of new world order policies including market deregulation, commodity dumping, etc. amply documented, imf and world bank " economic medicine " imposed on the third world and the countries of the former soviet block has largely contributed to the destabilization of domestic agriculture. in turn, the provisions of the world trade organization ( wto


documented, imf and world bank " economic medicine " imposed on the third world and the countries of the former soviet block has largely contributed to the destabilization of domestic agriculture. in turn, the provisions of the world trade organization ( wto ) have supported the interests of a handful of western agri - biotech conglomerates in their quest to impose genetically modified ( gmo ) seeds on farmers throughout the world. it is important to understand the linkage between the economic, strategic and military processes of the new world order. in the above context, climatic manipulations under the haarp program ( whether accidental or deliberate ) would inevitably exacerbate these changes by weakening national economies, destroying infrastructure and potentially triggering the bankruptcy of farmers over vast areas. surely national governments and the united nations should address the possible consequences of haarp and other " non - lethal weapons " on climate change. the latter calls for nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5. 2 percent to become effective between 2008 and 2012. see background of kyoto protocol at http : / / www. globalwarming. net / gw11. html the times, london, 23 november 2000. intelligence newsletter, december 16, 1999. air university of the us air force, af 2025 final report, http : / / www. au. af. mil / au / 2025 / ( emphasis added ). nicholas begich and jeane manning, the military ' s pandora ' s box, earthpulse press, http : / / www. geocities. com / area51 / shadowlands / 6583 / project002. html and http : / / www. earthpulse. com / haarp / vandalism. html ( http : / / www. earthpulse. com / haarp / ). see also the haarp home page at http : / / www. haarp. alaska. edu / see briarpatch, january, 2000. quoted in begich and manning, op cit. air university, op cit. rosalie bertell, background of the haarp program, 5 november, 1996, http : / / www. globalpolicy. org / socecon / envronmt / weapons. htm begich and manning, op cit. don herskovitz, killing them softly, journal of electronic defense, august 1993. according to herskovitz, " electronic warfare " is defined by the us


/ envronmt / weapons. htm begich and manning, op cit. don herskovitz, killing them softly, journal of electronic defense, august 1993. according to herskovitz, " electronic warfare " is defined by the us department of defense as " military action involving the use of electromagnetic energy... " the journal of electronic defense at http : / / www. jedefense. com / has published a range of articles on the application of electronic and electromagnetic military technologies. military space, 6 december, 1999. un framework convention on climate change, new york, 1992. see complete text at http : / / www. unfccc. de / resource / conv / conv _ 002. html. see associated press, 18 may 1977. environmental modification ban faithfully observed, states parties declare, un chronicle, july, 1984, vol. 21, p. 27. european report, 7 february 1998. european parliament, committee on foreign affairs, security and defense policy, brussels, doc. no. a4 - 0005 / 99, 14 january 1999. eu lacks jurisdiction to trace links between environment and defense, european report, 3 february 1999. copyright © by michel chossudovsky, ottawa, november, 2000. all rights reserved. permission is granted to post this text on non - commercial community internet sites, provided the essay remains intact and the copyright note is displayed. to publish this text in printed and / or other forms contact the author at email @ example. com, fax : 1 - 514 - 4256224. department of economics, university of ottawa, ottawa, k1n6n5 voice box : 1 - 613 - 562 - 5800, ext. 1415, ( altern. e - mail : firstname. lastname @ example. org )


function object functors in c and c a selection of articles related to function object functors in c and c. original articles from our library related to the function object functors in c and c. see table of contents for further available material ( downloadable resources ) on function object functors in c and c. - our pagan village : the importance and persuit of honor - candlelight flickers over the beltaine revels. food is laid out in the circle for the feast. only one rule – no one can feed themselves. each is dependent on friends and loved ones for sustenance, joy and delight. after an hour of laughter and revels and way... paganism & wicca > > daily life - what is hypnotic trance? does it provide unusual physical or mental capacities? - 2. 1 ' trance ; ' descriptive or misleading? most of the classical notions of hypnosis have long held that hypnosis was special in some way from other types of interpersonal communication and that an induction ( preparatory process considered by some to be... parapsychology > > hypnosis - bringing it down to earth : a fractal approach - ' clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line. ' b. mandelbrot w e want to think about the future - it ' s our nature. unlike other creatures, humans possess an... mystic sciences > > astrology - pagan mythology - is the traditional story presented as an historical event that serves to illustrate part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. the mythological beliefs a culture shares gives shape to its actions and choices.... paganism & wicca > > holidays - survivalists ' guide for the new millennium : chapter 6 - as the worm turns health and well being are part of the natural birthright of the human being. with all of its organs intact, the right diet, exercise and mental focus, a human body can overcome any disease. even so, the effects of living in this... philosophy > > survivalists guide for the new millennium - the religious experience : a wiccan viewpoint - what is religion? religion is a set of beliefs which allow us to understand and categorize our world and our place in it. a set of beliefs which define our culture, our expectations, our views of people and behaviors we expect. i have found several different


? religion is a set of beliefs which allow us to understand and categorize our world and our place in it. a set of beliefs which define our culture, our expectations, our views of people and behaviors we expect. i have found several different... religion & philosophy > > religions function object functors in c and c is described in multiple online sources, as addition to our editors ' articles, see section below for printable documents, function object functors in c and c books and related discussion. suggested pdf resources - c + + stl function object functor program examples - such an object is called a function object, or functor. - sometimes you can. check the best selling c / c + + and stl books at amazon. - math 614 : lecture notes - let f, g : c → d be functors ( in this lecture, all functors are covariant. ). a natural functors. - adjoint functors in algebra, topology and mathematical logic - ic : c→c which maps each object and morphism to itself.. are functors, while φ is a function which assigns to each pair of objects x ∈ c,. - a framework for higher - order functions in c + + - abstract. c and c + + allow passing functions as arguments to in c + + by enclosing a function inside an object such that the jects “ functors ”, and further developed by kuhne. [ kuh95 ]... suggested web resources - function object - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - a function object, also called a functor, functional, or functionoid, is a a callback in procedural languages, such as c, may be performed by using function pointers... - c + + functors - and their uses - stack overflow - a functor is a object which acts like a function. - the function pointer tutorials - functors - jan 6, 2005 4. functors to encapsulate c and c + + function pointers with a pointer to an object and a pointer to a member function in its constructor. - functors - function objects in c + + - functors : function objects in c + +. both c and c + + support function pointers, which provide a way to pass around instructions on how to perform an operation. - callbacks in c + + using template functors - the simplest callback mechanism is a pointer - to - function,


usda and russian scientists develop high - tech crop map agroatlas is a new interactive website that shows the geographic distributions of 100 crops ; 640 species of crop diseases, pests, and weeds ; and 560 wild crop relatives growing in russia and neighboring countries. downloadable maps and geographic information system ( gis ) software are also available, allowing layering of data, such as that relating major wheat production areas to concentrations of russian wheat aphids. according to u. s. department of agriculture ( usda ) plant geneticist stephanie greene, the impetus behind developing agroatlas was to promote world food security, particularly in newly independent states ” ” countries of the former soviet union striving to broaden their agricultural base. greene works in the national temperate forage legume genetic resources unit operated at prosser, wash., by the agricultural research service ( ars ), usda ’ s principal intramural scientific research agency. greene leads the agroatlas project with alexandr n. afonin, a senior scientist with st. petersburg state university in russia. the internet - based map is the successful result of a proposal they submitted in 2003 for funding under a program coordinated by the ars office of international research programs ( oirp ) in beltsville, md., and supported by the u. s. department of state. in september 2010, the two researchers joined their colleagues to host the first of a series of 10 - day workshops in st. petersburg teaching the use of gis software to scientists and students from former soviet states. oirp also awarded scholarships supporting travel and lodging expenses for 20 students to learn about agroatlas and gis software. they, in turn, were to return to their institutes to train others. demonstrations of agroatlas include showing where in crimea, a major wine - producing region, u. s. wine grapes can be successfully grown, as well as the distribution of major wheat diseases in the north caucasus region according to agroclimatic zones. greene notes agroatlas also has potential to aid in the detection and identification of insect pests, pathogens or weeds that have entered ” ” or could enter ” ” the united states from russia or neighboring countries. read more about this research in the march 2011 issue of agricultural research magazine. on the net :


- for the moth genus, see idia ( moth ). was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550. she played a very significant role in the rise and reign of her son. she was a strong warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her son ' s reign as the oba ( king ) of the edo people. when oba ozolua died, he left behind two powerful sons to dispute over who would become oba. his son esigie controlled benin city while another son, arhuaran, was based in the equally important city of udo about twenty miles away. idia mobilised an army around esigie, which successfully defeated arhuaran, and oba esigie became the 16th king. subsequently, the neighboring igala peoples sent warriors across the benue river to wrest control of benin ' s northern territories. esigie conquered the igala, reestablishing the unity and military strength of the kingdom. his mother idia received much of the credit for these victories as her political counsel, together with her magical powers and medicinal knowledge, were viewed as critical elements of esigie ' s success on the battlefield. idia became the first iyoba ( queen mother ) of benin when esigie conferred upon her the title and the eguae - iyoba ( palace of the queen mother ).


what ’ s life like inside a rolling element bearing? let ’ s say you are a dollop of grease and you ’ ve just been pushed by a grease gun into the dark recesses of a bearing cavity. you are now in a combat zone. what are your orders? maybe you are on a suicide mission. your bearing has been screaming for reinforcements and you are it, the new recruit, all gooey and slimy. inside, you see grease casualties all around. there ’ s the stench of oil oxidation on one side and the stiff, lifeless remains of a soap - based thickener on the other. in an instant, the floor and walls begin to vibrate, then you hear a low rumbling sound. you are pushed deeper into the bearing cavity and, suddenly, you can ’ t move. the heat and the pressure are excruciating. then, more pressure … crack … silence. what happened? how could regreasing a bearing have contributed to sudden - death failure? doesn ’ t fresh grease prolong bearing life and restore reliability? not so fast. the problem here is new grease entering an old, infrequently lubricated ( and overly lubricated ) bearing. as the new grease enters, it must make room ; in doing so, it pushes around the crusty remnants of grease past. before the new grease arrived, the soap - based thickener from several earlier relubes is often packed against the inlet port and along the grease cavity walls – adjacent to the bearing ’ s moving elements. the oil from the thickener bled out slowly over time. some of this oil entered the bearing race, providing needed time - released lubrication. the principal contributors to a hard, crusty build - up in the bearing cavity are heat, long relube intervals, overlubrication ( too much grease ) and old bearings. there are other factors too, including grease quality, vibration, centrifugal forces, contamination, pressure and the relube procedure. in addition to the thickener, hard particles are sometimes deposited along with the thickener, forming a wall next to the bearing. these include wear particles, dirt, rust and manufacturing debris. for the new grease to reach the bearing core, it must break through this rock - like formation, creating a channel. hydrostatic forces from a grease gun can reach levels exceeding 15, 000 pounds per square inch ( 103, 421 kilopascals ), more than enough pressure to send chunks of solids careening into the


- like formation, creating a channel. hydrostatic forces from a grease gun can reach levels exceeding 15, 000 pounds per square inch ( 103, 421 kilopascals ), more than enough pressure to send chunks of solids careening into the bearing track. imagine the new grease acting like an ice - breaker on a frozen river, mobilizing large blocks of ice as it moves. sometimes, fresh grease never reaches the bearing because of the wall - like barricade. instead, it detours out the shaft seal or vent port. the bearing eventually starves to death. large bearings ( especially large electric motor bearings ) are often lubricated through supply pipes ( line extensions ) from a grease fitting. hardened thickener, rust and other solids can build up in these pipes over time. on relubrication, the new grease functions like a plunger, driving the solids into the bearing cavity below. so what lessons can be learned from this? remember the maintenance paradox : “ it ’ s broken because we didn ’ t work on it. it ’ s broken because we did work on it. ” the key here is knowing when to work on it, how to work on it, what tools / hardware to use and what lubricant to use. in the case of the bearing, you must address a number of issues before regreasing begins, including : whether to use grease at all, vs. oil ( mist, bath - lubricated, circulating, etc. ). if grease is to be used, what type or formulation ( complex soap, non - soap, high - temperature, solid additives, synthetic, high - viscosity, national lubricating grease institute number, etc. )? how to gauge the quantity of grease needed. whether to use feedback tools such as vibration, heat guns, acoustics, etc. how frequently to regrease the bearing based on factors like operating conditions, environment, temperature, bearing type and orientation, grease type, vibration, etc. whether to use a grease gun, single - point automatic lubricator, centralized lubrication, etc. what procedure to use when regreasing the bearing if lubricated manually. whether to switch to sealed or shielded bearings. whether to periodically analyze used grease samples. world - class lubrication requires precision and skill. while there may be more than one right way to do something, there are many more wrong ways. the answers to these issues are rarely intuitive. training and education develops top - drawer lu


learning japanese is a challenge. and, as many students find out, memorizing sentence patterns, vocabulary, and lists of kanji characters doesn ' t necessarily make it easy to communicate with japanese people. barriers of culture and social etiquette can be just as difficult to overcome as problems of grammar. until now, these aspects of learning to communicate with a new culture could only be learned first - hand by trial and error. japanese beyond words was written to fill this gap, to give you the tools you need to effectively communicate in japanese, with the japanese. long - time japan resident andrew horvat talks about how to truly competent in japanese by covering a range of topics including : what your clothes say about you business cards, and why you should be nice to them when and how to bow shoes : they ' re on, they ' re off... what ' s expected of foreigners circumlocution without dizziness pronunciation ( " read my lips " just doesn ' t cut it ) how to say no without saying " no " social uses of politeness... and rudeness behavior at parties and other social gatherings english in japanese, and japanese in english the differences between men and women entertaining and opinionated, as well as educational, japanese beyond words will help you walk, talk, slurp, and bow your way to cultural ( as well as linguistic ) fluency in japanese.


issues : environment & climate california ’ s rich and diverse soils, vast farm and ranch lands, climate, air, water, and native species must be protected and in many cases restored so that future generations can enjoy the same quality of life that we have. roc believes that among several other key dynamics, the food system will not be sustainable until agriculture greatly reduce and / or eliminates its huge impacts on climate, air and water pollution. roots of change joins with farmers and ranchers, nonprofit organizations, public officials, entrepreneurs, and concerned citizens to ensure that stewardship incentives exist, that vital environmental research is funded, and that the knowledge gained is shared. learn more about how how agriculture can be a powerful tool to fight climate change and reduce nitrogen pollution, click here. check out our forum page on the environment & climate. the movement for healthy food and agriculture began and has grown largely as a result of non - profit organizations. the non - profits we have highlighted here reflect the breadth of issues covered by the movement. roots of change believes that abundant, safe, healthy, fresh, and affordable food is a foundation for a positive future for all californians. in a market - based economy, powerful solutions must come from entrepreneurs who apply sustainable principles and practices in their businesses. roots of change is working together with california ’ s farmers and ranchers to ensure that every aspect of our food — from the time it ’ s grown to the time it ’ s eaten — is healthy, safe, profitable, and fair for those who grow it and for the state where it ’ s grown.


rosacea, a chronic and often embarrassing disorder of the facial skin that affects an estimated 14 million americans, may be linked to genetics, according to a new survey conducted by the national rosacea society ( nrs ) and published in rosacea review. the nrs survey of 600 rosacea patients found that nearly 52 percent of the respondents had a relative who also suffered from the condition and that people of some nationalities are more likely than others to develop the disorder. the spring 2008 rosacea review is now online at rosacea. org. this issue highlights the national rosacea society ' s efforts to increase visibility of the condition during rosacea awareness month, including evidence of rosacea ' s impact and prevalence and news of a college student ' s project that raised both public awareness and funds for the nrs research grants program. the skin of individuals with rosacea has a greater sensitivity to heat, according to a recent study in the journal of the american academy of dermatology. patients with rosacea " often complain of increased skin sensitivity and frequently describe a burning sensation, " said dr. daniela guzman - sanchez and colleagues of the wake forest university school of medicine. they noted that although this heightened sensitivity is well recognized in practice, there had been no formal research on the phenomenon. a new question - and - answer section called ask the doctors is now featured on rosacea. org. leading dermatologists, ophthalmologists, researchers and other experts will answer a wide variety of readers ' questions about rosacea, from potential causes to skin care and lifestyle factors. an interactive form on the home page of the new section makes it easy to submit questions, and new questions will be posted every month. in addition, all entries will be archived, creating another important resource for rosacea patients. while rosacea has grown increasingly common as the baby boom generation enters the most susceptible ages, mounting evidence has shown that this conspicuous red - faced disorder may be more devastating and prevalent than widely believed. the national rosacea society ( nrs ) has designated april as rosacea awareness month to alert the public to this chronic and often embarrassing condition now estimated to affect well over 14 million americans. results of two recent studies provide new understanding of how and when angiogenesis - - the formation of new blood vessels - - may contribute both to the initial development of rosacea and its persistent presence. in a study of skin samples with and without rosacea, dr. amal gomaa and colleagues at boston university found evidence of angiogenesis in both the blood and l


contribute both to the initial development of rosacea and its persistent presence. in a study of skin samples with and without rosacea, dr. amal gomaa and colleagues at boston university found evidence of angiogenesis in both the blood and lymphatic circulatory systems in skin with rosacea lesions. although rosacea rarely appears in children, its potential occurrence should be considered during medical examinations because of the possible severity of ocular ( eye ) involvement, according to a report in the february 2008 issue of the archives of dermatology. researchers dr. melanie chamaillard and colleagues at the national reference center for rare skin disorders, bordeaux, france, suggested that an ophthalmologic ( eye ) examination be carried out for all children with skin signs of rosacea. the frequently asked questions section of rosacea. org has been updated and expanded to include new information on rosacea and answers to additional questions. to view the new rosacea faqs, click here. this section was reviewed and edited by dr. mark dahl, chairman of dermatology at the mayo clinic arizona, former president of the american academy of dermatology and a member of the national rosacea society medical advisory board. as rosacea becomes more familiar to the public, the " frequently asked questions " about the condition have evolved. so, the national rosacea society has updated the faq page on rosacea. org with new questions, including : the winter 2008 rosacea review is now online at rosacea. org. although surveys have found rosacea can inflict significant damage to quality of life and emotional well - being as it becomes increasingly severe, medical help is available to control or prevent its potentially devastating effects on facial appearance. the national rosacea society ( nrs ) has designated april as rosacea awareness month to alert the public to the warning signs of this chronic and conspicuous disorder of the facial skin, now estimated to affect more than 14 million americans. rosacea can be a trying condition under the best of circumstances, but it can be particularly vexing to women during menopause and even their monthly cycle. many women report more flushing episodes and increased numbers of bumps and pimples during these times, according to dr. wilma bergfeld, head of the clinical research section of the dermatology department at cleveland clinic and former president of the american academy of dermatology. the national rosacea society ( nrs ) announced that four new studies have been awarded funding as part of its research grants program to advance scientific knowledge


of the dermatology department at cleveland clinic and former president of the american academy of dermatology. the national rosacea society ( nrs ) announced that four new studies have been awarded funding as part of its research grants program to advance scientific knowledge of the potential causes and other key aspects of this chronic and potentially life - disruptive disorder that affects an estimated 14 million americans. the fall 2007 rosacea review is now online at rosacea. org. a new booklet for patients, " managing rosacea, " is now available to national rosacea society ( nrs ) members. the new publication gives tips on what to tell your doctor, describes management options for each subtype and provides guidance on lifestyle and personal care. members may obtain a free copy - - via postal mail - - by emailing a request to the nrs at email @ example. com, or by calling 1 - 888 - no - blush toll free. although they are normal inhabitants of human skin and cannot be seen, microscopic mites known as demodex folliculorum may actually be something to blush about, as a new study funded by the national rosacea society demonstrated for the first time that these invisible organisms may be a cause or exacerbating factor in rosacea. special care may be needed for rosacea patients with severe forms of ocular rosacea ( eye symptoms ), according to dr. sandra cremers, instructor of ophthalmology at harvard medical school. as part of a national rosacea society ( nrs ) research grant, she recently developed a scoring system to identify severe cases of this rosacea subtype, which may affect half of all rosacea patients. the summer 2007 rosacea review is now online at rosacea. org. the incidence of rosacea may be higher than widely believed, according to a preliminary study presented at the recent rosacea research workshop, sponsored by the national rosacea society ( nrs ) during the annual society for investigative dermatology meeting. in addition, an ongoing irish study found similar prevalence rates of subtype 2 ( papulopustular ) rosacea in both indoor and outdoor workers. the national rosacea society is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people with rosacea by raising awareness, providing public health information and supporting medical research on this widespread but little - known disorder. the information the society provides should not be considered medical advice, nor is it intended to replace consultation with a qualified physician. the society does not


rte radio ' s ' world this week ' looks back at the beginnings of the campaign for change in northern ireland. - title organising the first civil rights march - 1st broadcast 02 / 02 / 1972 - contributorkevin b. nowlan ( presenter ) kevin o ' kelly ( presenter ) kieran sheedy ( producer ) - clip duration 00 : 03 : 11 - material type audio - series title world this week - clip title organising the first civil rights march - extended description presenter kevin o ' kelly states the original aims of the northern ireland civil rights association ( nicra ). nicra was set up in february 1967 and was seen as a decisive step in the campaign for change in northern ireland. the aims of this association included : defining the basic rights of all citizens ; to protect the rights of the individual ; to highlight all possible abuses of power ; to demand guarantees for freedom of speech ; and to inform the public of their lawful rights. austin currie recalls the use of civil disobedience to highlight discrimination. protests went from occupying a council house to marching to dungannon. currie talks about the themes of non - violent protests and the move to more militant approaches. it was hoped that such protests would put pressure on the unions to give in to the nationalist and catholic demands. in july 1968, these new methods of protest prompted a statement from northern ireland prime minister terence o ' neill, who disregards the efforts of the nationalists to highlight the inequalities that exist. a rte news report for ‘ world this week ’ on civil rights in northern ireland. this report was broadcast on 02 february 1972. ‘ world this week ’ was a current affairs radio programme presented by kevin b. nolan and produced by kieran sheedy. the image accompanying this clip is of northern ireland politician, austin currie. this photograph was taken during a shoot to gain stock shots of northern ireland, for possible use in rte news bulletins. photographer : peter dorney date of photograph : 1 may, 1969 © rte stills library 2142 / 093 - local keywords civil rights movement, civil rights march, world this week, kevin o ' kelly, northern ireland civil rights association, nicra, austin currie, terence o ' neill, dungannon, 1968 - geographical coverage ireland - genre factual - topic wars and conflict - publisher broadcaster rte - first broadcast channel rte - production year 1972 - country of production ireland - original identifier la000401 - ipr restrictions rights reserved - free access - rights terms and conditions copyright rte. this material


just for kids be healthy! be safe! the san diego fire - rescue department wants you to grow up safely. here are some health and safety tips : remember to exercise children love television, vcrs, computers and video games. because of that, they are doing less exercise. this is a real problem. if you don ' t get your body moving you could have health problems when you get older. exercise will keep you healthy! so get off your chair and start moving - get your heart pumping! - take a bike ride ( see bike safety tips below ) - go swimming - play a sport you enjoy - go roller - skating - take a long walk ( see walking safety tips below ) bike safety tips bike riding is fun and a great way to exercise. here are just a few safety tips to make sure your bike ride is safe! - always wear a helmet when you are on wheels, such as a skateboard, roller - skates or a scooter. - follow traffic signals and road signs. do not ride through stop signs or traffic lights. - always ride on the right. go with the flow of traffic. - if in a group, ride single file. when passing other bikers or walkers, let them know your position. for example, shout out : " i ' m on your left! " - watch out for danger in your way. watch out for trash, potholes, puddles of water, rocks, glass, etc. - ride at least 3 feet away from parked cars to avoid car doors opening into you. - always signal before making a turn. for left turns, hold your left arm straight out to the side. for right turns, hold your left arm out and up in an " l " shape. walking safety tips walking is a great way to exercise and you can go almost anywhere. but before you lace up your shoes, here are a few safety tips : - always walk on the sidewalk. - if there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic. - wear bright colors! you want drivers to see you. - if you are walking at night wear cloths that reflect when hit by headlights. - cross only at marked crosswalks or at corners. - stop and look left, then right, then left again, before you step into the street. - keep looking for cars while you are crossing. - walk, don ' t run. 9 - 1 - 1 tips for kids - know your emergency number. it ' s 9 - 1 - 1. - know your location, the


the street. - keep looking for cars while you are crossing. - walk, don ' t run. 9 - 1 - 1 tips for kids - know your emergency number. it ' s 9 - 1 - 1. - know your location, the 9 - 1 - 1 dispatcher will ask you your location. - listen carefully to the 9 - 1 - 1 dispatcher - he / she will ask you questions. - if you don ' t understand a question - tell the person on the phone to explain the question to you. - do not hang up the phone until the 9 - 1 - 1 dispatcher tells you. - if you have a fire, a fire engine will come to your location. - if you have a medical emergency, a fire engine and an ambulance will respond to your location. - learn more about 9 - 1 - 1 every year hundreds of kids are hurt or killed in the united states because they did not put on a seat belt or they strapped in incorrectly. you can protect yourself, your family and your friends by following these safety tips. the safest place for any child under the age of 12 is the back seat of a vehicle. infants ( under 20 pounds / less than 1 year old ) - use a rear - facing child seat. - the child seat must be in the back seat of vehicle. - never place infant car seats in the front of a car with air bags. in a crash, the air bag can hurt or kill a baby. - never hold a baby on your lap in a car. the baby will not be protected in a crash. kids ( under 40 pounds / at least 1 year old ) - ride in a car seat facing the front of the vehicle. legislation varies from state to state on seatbelt safety for older children. according to san diego ' s safe kids coalition, the best practice is that children 8 years or 80 pounds : - should ride in a booster seat until the car ' s lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. - the lap belt must fit low and sung under their hips. the shoulder belt must not cross their neck or face.


big data – what is it? big data is a popular term used to describe the exponential growth, availability and use of information, both structured and unstructured. much has been written on the big data trend and how it can serve as the basis for innovation, differentiation and growth. according to idc, it is imperative that organizations and it leaders focus on the ever - increasing volume, variety and velocity of information that forms big data. 1 - volume. many factors contribute to the increase in data volume – transaction - based data stored through the years, text data constantly streaming in from social media, increasing amounts of sensor data being collected, etc. in the past, excessive data volume created a storage issue. but with today ' s decreasing storage costs, other issues emerge, including how to determine relevance amidst the large volumes of data and how to create value from data that is relevant. - variety. data today comes in all types of formats – from traditional databases to hierarchical data stores created by end users and olap systems, to text documents, email, meter - collected data, video, audio, stock ticker data and financial transactions. by some estimates, 80 percent of an organization ' s data is not numeric! but it still must be included in analyses and decision making. - velocity. according to gartner, velocity " means both how fast data is being produced and how fast the data must be processed to meet demand. " rfid tags and smart metering are driving an increasing need to deal with torrents of data in near - real time. reacting quickly enough to deal with velocity is a challenge to most organizations. big data according to sas at sas, we consider two other dimensions when thinking about big data : - variability. in addition to the increasing velocities and varieties of data, data flows can be highly inconsistent with periodic peaks. is something big trending in the social media? perhaps there is a high - profile ipo looming. maybe swimming with pigs in the bahamas is suddenly the must - do vacation activity. daily, seasonal and event - triggered peak data loads can be challenging to manage – especially with social media involved. - complexity. when you deal with huge volumes of data, it comes from multiple sources. it is quite an undertaking to link, match, cleanse and transform data across systems. however, it is necessary to connect and correlate relationships, hierarchies and multiple data linkages or your data can quickly spiral out of control. data governance can help you determine how disparate data


the most. - generate retail coupons at the point of sale based on the customer ' s current and past purchases, ensuring a higher redemption rate. - send tailored recommendations to mobile devices at just the right time, while customers are in the right location to take advantage of offers. - analyze data from social media to detect new market trends and changes in demand. - use clickstream analysis and data mining to detect fraudulent behavior. - determine root causes of failures, issues and defects by investigating user sessions, network logs and machine sensors. " high - performance analytics, coupled with the ability to score every record and feed it into the system electronically, can identify fraud faster and more accurately. " many organizations are concerned that the amount of amassed data is becoming so large that it is difficult to find the most valuable pieces of information. - what if your data volume gets so large and varied you don ' t know how to deal with it? - do you store all your data? - do you analyze it all? - how can you find out which data points are really important? - how can you use it to your best advantage? until recently, organizations have been limited to using subsets of their data, or they were constrained to simplistic analyses because the sheer volumes of data overwhelmed their processing platforms. what is the point of collecting and storing terabytes of data if you can ' t analyze it in full context, or if you have to wait hours or days to get results? on the other hand, not all business questions are better answered by bigger data. you now have two choices : - incorporate massive data volumes in analysis. if the answers you are seeking will be better provided by analyzing all of your data, go for it. the game - changing technologies that extract true value from big data – all of it – are here today. one approach is to apply high - performance analytics to analyze the massive amounts of data using technologies such as grid computing, in - database processing and in - memory analytics. - determine upfront which big data is relevant. traditionally, the trend has been to store everything ( some call it data hoarding ) and only when you query the data do you discover what is relevant. we now have the ability to apply analytics on the front end to determine data relevance based on context. this analysis can be used to determine which data should be included in analytical processes and which can be placed in low - cost storage for later availability if needed. " now you can run hundreds and thousands of models at the product level – at the sk


. this analysis can be used to determine which data should be included in analytical processes and which can be placed in low - cost storage for later availability if needed. " now you can run hundreds and thousands of models at the product level – at the sku level – because you have the big data and analytics to support those models at that level. " a number of recent technology advancements are enabling organizations to make the most of big data and big data analytics : - cheap, abundant storage and server processing capacity. - faster processors. - affordable large - memory capabilities, such as hadoop. - new storage and processing technologies designed specifically for large data volumes, including unstructured data. - parallel processing, clustering, mpp, virtualization, large grid environments, high connectivity and high throughputs. - cloud computing and other flexible resource allocation arrangements. big data technologies not only support the ability to collect large amounts of data, they provide the ability to understand it and take advantage of its value. the goal of all organizations with access to large data collections should be to harness the most relevant data and use it for optimized decision making. it is very important to understand that not all of your data will be relevant or useful. but how can you find the data points that matter most? it is a problem that is widely acknowledged. " most businesses have made slow progress in extracting value from big data. and some companies attempt to use traditional data management practices on big data, only to learn that the old rules no longer apply, " says dan briody, in the 2011 economist intelligence unit ' s publication, " big data : harnessing a game - changing asset. " big data solutions from sas how can you make the most of all that data, now and in the future? it is a twofold proposition. you can only optimize your success if you weave analytics into your big data solution. but you also need analytics to help you manage the big data itself. there are several key technologies that can help you get a handle on your big data, and more important, extract meaningful value from it. - information management for big data. many vendors look at big data as a discussion related to technologies such as hadoop, nosql, etc. sas takes a more comprehensive data management / data governance approach by providing a strategy and solutions that allow big data to be managed and used more effectively. - high - performance analytics. by taking advantage of the latest parallel processing power, high - performance analytics lets you do things you never


data management / data governance approach by providing a strategy and solutions that allow big data to be managed and used more effectively. - high - performance analytics. by taking advantage of the latest parallel processing power, high - performance analytics lets you do things you never thought possible because the data volumes were just too large. - high - performance visual analytics. high - performance visual analytics lets you explore huge volumes of data in mere seconds so you can quickly identify opportunities for further analysis. because it ' s not just that you have big data, it ' s the decisions you make with the data that will create organizational gains. - flexible deployment options for big data. flexible deployment models bring choice. high - performance analytics from sas can analyze billions of variables, and those solutions can be deployed in the cloud ( with sas or another provider ), on a dedicated high - performance analytics appliance or within your existing it infrastructure, whichever best suits your organization ' s requirements. 1 source : idc. " big data analytics : future architectures, skills and roadmaps for the cio, " september 2011. 2 source : american bankers association, march 2009 3 source : http : / / www. economist. com 4 source : http : / / blog. twitter. com 5 source : http : / / newsroom. fb. com /


breath testing, as currently used, is a very inaccurate method for measuring bac, even if the breath testing instrument is working perfectly, physiological variables prevent early reasonable accuracy …. breath testing for alcohol using a single test method, should not be used for scientific, medical or legal purposes where accuracy is important. ( hlastula, physiological errors, associated with alcohol breath testing, 9 ( 6 ) the champion 19 ( 1985 ). ) a number of scientists who have conducted studies of breath - alcohol analysis have concurred with dr. hlastala in concluding that the method is inherently unreliable. thus, for example, a recent study determined that breath readings vary at least 15 per - cent from actual blood - alcohol concentrations. simpson, accuracy and precision of breath - alcohol measurements for a random subject in the postabsorptive state, 33 ( 2 ) clinical chemistry 261 ( 1987 ). furthermore, at least 23 percent of all individuals tested will have breath results in excess of true blood - alcohol levels. the author concluded that, “ [ g ) iven the choice, it would seem that if a conclusion is to be made about the bac of a random subject, especially when the conclusion can have serious consequences, it would be far preferable to make it on the basis of a direct [ blood ) measurement.... " in another study, conducted by members of the toxicology section of the wisconsin state laboratory of hygiene, only 33 percent of the breath test results correlated with corresponding blood tests. reported in 32 ( 4 ) journal of forensic sciences 1235 ( 1987 ), the study involved a survey of 404 actual cases in wisconsin in which defendants had been tested on a breathalyzer ( either the model 900 or 900a ) as well as by blood analysis. the two tests were considered to correlate when there was a difference of. 01, percent or less. one interesting aspect of the study was that in 11 of the cases, the defendant was shown to be intoxicated using one of the tests but not intoxicated when using the other. at least one court has even reversed dui convictions on the grounds that breath tests are inherently unreliable. in state v. mcginley, 550 a. 2d 1305 ( n. j. super. 1988 ), the new jersey superior court, law division, considered the consolidated appeals of four defendants whose convictions involved breathalyzer tests. although noting that the new jersey superior court had essentially taken judicial notice that the breathalyzer models " 900 and 900a are scientifically