thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. this gland is in the neck. it produces hormones that regulate metabolism. the surgery may be a : - total or near - total thyroidectomy — all of the thyroid is removed - thyroid lobectomy or partial thyroidectomy — removal of only a part of the thyroid ( the right or left lobe and / or center ) the thyroid gland copyright © nucleus medical media, inc. all or part of the thyroid gland may be surgically removed for any of the following reasons : overactive thyroid ( hyperthyroidism ) due to graves disease or an over - functioning nodule - enlarged thyroid ( goiter ) causing significant symptoms because of its size - thyroid nodule ( s ) are suspicious or cause concern for thyroid cancer - thyroid cancer complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. if you are planning to have a thyroidectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include : - damage to the parathyroid gland, which controls calcium metabolism ( could lead to nerve and heart problems ) - voice changes due to damage to nerves leading to the voice box ( rare ) - thyrotoxic crisis ( sudden excessive release of thyroid hormone at toxic levels ) ( very rare ) some factors that may increase the risk of complications include : - severity of hyperthyroidism - size of goiter - poor nutrition - long - term illness your doctor may do the following : - physical exam laboratory and / or imaging tests to assess thyroid function — uses sound waves to evaluate organs in the body — uses magnetic waves to produce images of the inside of the body - thyroid medicine to suppress thyroid activity in patients with hyperthyroidism - thyroid scan — uses a radioactive substance and scanning tool to evaluate the thyroid gland leading up to your procedure : talk to your doctor about your medicines. you may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like : or other anti - inflammatory drugs blood thinners, such as - do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening prior to the procedure. - arrange for transportation to and from the hospital. anesthesia will be used. you will be asleep. an incision will be made in the front of the neck. bleeding vessels will be clamped and tied off. all or part of the thyroid gland will be cut away from other tissues in the neck. care will be taken to avoid injury to other nearby glands and nerves. bleeding is controlled with special tools that compress and seal


will be clamped and tied off. all or part of the thyroid gland will be cut away from other tissues in the neck. care will be taken to avoid injury to other nearby glands and nerves. bleeding is controlled with special tools that compress and seal the ends of the vessels. the incision will be closed. the edges of skin will be stitched together. a drain will often be left in overnight. it will help drain any extra fluids. the thyroid may be removed to treat thyroid cancer. in this case, lymph nodes in the area may also be removed. this will test if the cancer has spread. in some cases, the doctor may be able to remove the thyroid using endoscopic surgery. this involves making small incisions, instead of a large incision in the neck. anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. pain after the procedure is common. you will be given medicine to help manage this. the usual length of stay is one day. your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise. - there will be discomfort in your neck for several days. the pain can be treated with medicine. - in some cases, you may have a hoarse voice for a few days. - depending on how much of the thyroid is removed, you may need to take replacement thyroid hormone. - in some cases of thyroid cancer, you may need radioactive iodine treatments. this is called remnant ablation. when you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery : - keep the incision clean and dry. - ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water. - do not get the incision wet until your doctor allows. if it does get wet, dry it immediately. - do not apply make - up, lotion, or cream to the incision area. - perform neck exercises as instructed by your doctor. - take all medicines as prescribed by your doctor. - be sure to follow your doctor ' s after you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs : - numbness or tingling around the lips or extremities - twitching or muscle spasms ( indicates dangerously low levels of calcium in the blood ) - excessive and progressive fatigue - difficulty swallowing, talking, or breathing - signs of infection, including fever and chills - redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site - nausea and / or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or


- signs of infection, including fever and chills - redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site - nausea and / or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital - cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain - pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given - pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine in case of an emergency, call for medical help right away. american association of clinical endocrinologists website. available at : meeker mh, rocthrock jc. alexander ' s care of the patient during surgery. 11th ed. philadelphia, pa : mosby ; 1999. sabiston dc jr. textbook of surgery. 17th ed. philadelphia, pa : wb saunders co. ; 2004. last reviewed november 2012 by kim carmichael, md please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. it is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. call your healthcare provider immediately if you think you may have a medical emergency. always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. copyright © ebsco publishing. all rights reserved.


the following data is extracted from florida slave narratives. rebecca hooks, age 90 years, is one of the few among the fast - thinning ranks of ex - slaves who can give a clear picture of life " befo ' de wah. " she was born in jones county, georgia of martha and pleasant lowe, who were slaves of william lowe. the mother was the mulatto offspring of william lowe and a slave woman who was half cherokee. the father was also a mulatto, purchased from a nearby plantation. because of this blood mixture rebecca ' s parents were known as " house niggers, " and lived on quarters located in the rear of the " big house. " a " house nigger " was a servant whose duties consisted of chores around the big house, such as butler, maid, cook, stableman, gardener and personal attendant to the man who owned him. these slaves were often held in high esteem by their masters and of course fared much better than the other slaves on the plantation. quite often they were mulattoes as in the case of rebecca ' s parents. there seemed to be a general belief among slave owners that mulattoes could not stand as much laborious work as pureblooded negro slaves. this accounts probably for the fact that the majority of ex - slaves now alive are mulattoes. the lowes were originally of virginia and did not own as much property in georgia has they had in virginia. rebecca estimates the number of slaves on this plantation as numbering no more than 25. they were treated kindly and cruelly by turns, according to the whims of master and mistress who were none too stable in their dispositions. there was no " driver " or overseer on this plantation, as " old tom was devil enough himself when he wanted to be, " observes rebecca. while she never felt the full force of his cruelties, she often felt sorry for the other slaves who were given a task too heaven to completed in the given time ; this deliberately, so that the master might have some excuse to vent his pent - up feelings. punishment was always in the form of a severe whipping or revocation of a slave ' s privilege, such as visiting other plantations, etc. the lowes were not wealthy and it was necessary for them to raise and manufacture as many things on the plantation as possible. slaves toiled from early morning until night in the the corn, cotton, sugar cane and tobacco fields. others tended the large herds of cattle from which milk


and it was necessary for them to raise and manufacture as many things on the plantation as possible. slaves toiled from early morning until night in the the corn, cotton, sugar cane and tobacco fields. others tended the large herds of cattle from which milk, butter, meat and leather was produced. the leather was tanned and made into crude shoes for the slaves for the short winter months. no one wore shoes except during cold weather and on sundays. fruit orchards and vegetables were also grown, but not given as much attention as the cotton and corn, as these were the main money crops. as a child rebecca learned to ape the ways of her mistress. at first this was considered very amusing. whenever she had not knitted her required number of socks during the week, she simply informed them that she had not done it because she had not wanted to - besides she was not a " nigger. " this stubbornness accompanied by hysterical tantrums continued to cause rebecca to receive many stiff punishments that might have been avoided. her master had given orders that no one was ever to whip her, so devious methods were employed to punish her, such as marching her down the road with hands ties behind her back, or locking her in a dark room for several hours with only bread and water. rebecca resembled very much a daughter of william lowe. the girl was really her aunt, and very conscious of the resemblance. both had brown eyes and long dark hair. they were about the same height and the clothes of the young mistress fitted rebecca " like a glove. " to offset this likeness, rebecca ' s hair was always cut very short. finally rebecca rebelled at having her hair all cut off and blankly refused to submit to the treatment any longer. after this happening, the girls formed a dislike for each other, and rebecca was guilty of doing every mean act of which she was capable to torment the white girl. rebecca ' s mother aided and abetted her in this, often telling her things to do. rebecca did not fear the form of punishment administered her and she had the cunning to " keep on the good side of the master " who had a fondness for her " because she was so much like the lowes. " the mistress ' demand that she be sold or beaten was always turned aside with " dear, you know the child can ' t help it ; its that cursed cherokee blood in her. " there seemed to be no very strong opposition to a slave ' s learning to read and write on the plantation, so rebecca learned along with the white children


, you know the child can ' t help it ; its that cursed cherokee blood in her. " there seemed to be no very strong opposition to a slave ' s learning to read and write on the plantation, so rebecca learned along with the white children. her father purchased books for her with money he was allowed to earn from the sale of corn whiskey which he made, or from work done on some other plantation during his time off. he was not permitted to buy freedom, however. on sundays rebecca attended church along with the other slaves. services were held in the white churches after their services were over. they were taught to obey their masters and work hard, and that they should be very thankful for the institution of slavery which brought them from darkest africa. on the plantation, the doctor was not nearly as popular as the " granny " or midwife, who brewed medicines for every ailment. each plantation had its own " granny " who also served the mistress during confinement. some of her remedies follows : horehound tea, pine top tea, lightwood drippings on sugar. for fever : a tea made of pomegranate seeds and crushed mint. for whooping cough : a tea made of sheep shandy ( manure ) ; catnip tea. for spasms : garlic ; burning a garment next to the skin of the patient having the fit. shortly before the war, rebecca was married to solomon, her husband. this ceremony consisted of simply jumping over a broom and having some one read a few words from a book, which may or may not have been the bible. after the war, many couples were remarried because of this irregularity. rebecca had learned of the war long before it ended and knew its import. she had confided this information to other slaves who could read and write. she read the small newspaper that her master received at irregular intervals. the two sons of william lowe had gone to fight with the confederate soldiers ( one never returned ) and everywhere was felt the tension caused by wild speculation as to the outcome of the war. certain commodities were very scarce rebecca remembers drinking coffee made of okra seed that had been dried and parched. there was no silk, except that secured by " running the blockade, " and this was very expensive. the smokehouse floors were carefully scraped for any morsel of salt that might be gotten. salt had to be evaporated from seawater and this was a slow process. there were no disorders in that section as far as rebecca remembers, but


last week, five students at live oak high school in morgan hill, calif., were sent home on cinco de mayo for wearing t - shirts bearing the american flag. the students were reportedly sent home after vice principal miguel rodriguez told them the shirts posed a " safety issue " on a day celebrating mexican heritage. punishing students for wearing t - shirts with the american flag is a clear violation of their free speech rights. the aclu of northern california responded to the incident by sending a letter ( pdf ) to morgan hill schools superintendant dr. wesley smith, reminding him of the speech rights students are entitled to under the u. s. constitution and california law. the letter points out that students ' wearing of the american flag wouldn ' t have been controversial but for the interest of other students in celebrating their mexican heritage on cinco de mayo. the students ' patriotic display was particularly meaningful because of the context, and their right to express their patriotism in light of that context must be honored. the right to wear an american flag every day but cinco de mayo would do little to advance the important work of the first amendment, whose protections must be enforced every day. there is another important lesson for the school here. for displays of the american flag to create such a strong concern about disruption, it ' s likely the school has underlying racial and cultural tensions that need attention. using censorship to suppress student speech is exactly the wrong thing to do in this kind of situation. while the school superintendent did make a statement reaffirming the school district ' s support for students ' speech rights, it ' s also important that the live oak teachers and administrators use this incident as an opportunity to teach students tolerance, diversity and mutual respect.


fair, accountable government is crucial to ending poverty and promoting human rights. throughout the world, people ' s demands for democracy are growing louder as many have suffered under oppressive regimes and unaccountable leaders. issues of politics and governance might sound dry, but they are at the heart of building a just society, where people can claim their rights. governance is the way in which a country or society takes decisions and allocates resources. it ' s not just about voting systems, it ' s about the way in which people, including the poorest and most excluded can be involved in those decisions, and hold institutions accountable. actionaid supports women, men, and young people to hold governments and corporates accountable, fight for justice, end discrimination and corruption, and take control of the decisions that shape their lives. at the local level, actionaid provides training to people so that they can understand, monitor and track budgets. actionaid enables them to work together to hold organisations to account - whether they are schools, health authorities, local councils, corporates that provide public services, or national governments. at the national level, actionaid works to hold those in power accountable for their impact on poor people. at the international level, we use our international perspective and research to influence the policy and practice of institutions like the world bank, the international monetary fund ( imf ), the association of south east asian nations ( asean ), and the african union ( au ).


i ’ ll be presenting a paper, “ on the origins of rf - based location, ” at the 2011 ieee radio and wireless symposium this morning at 8 : 00 in room cira a. the paper collects together the pre - wwii material i ’ ve blogged about under the history of rf - based location category here at ætherczar. this paper will provide a brief survey of the origins of rf - based location technology through the beginning of the second world war. direction finding ( df ) was invented by john stone stone in 1902 and improved upon by lee de forest, ettore bellini and alessandro tosi. both radar and amplitude ranging date to 1904, although these concepts were in advance of the ability of rf technology to implement. df played a critical role in the first world war, most notably in the naval battle of jutland. the requirement for accurate night - time direction led classicist and cryptographer frank adcock to invent an improved df system. in the 1920 ’ s, df and related concepts came of age for civilian applications like navigation. inventors of the period introduced a variety of other techniques were introduced including time - of - flight or transponder ranging. by the time of the second world war, df was a mature field and additional novel rf - based technologies were ready to be developed. in a second paper ( not accepted by the conference ) – “ rf - based location technology since world war ii, ” i present additional material. this second paper presents a brief historical overview of rf - based location technologies since the second world war. although direction - finding ( df ) was critical to the allied victory over german u - boats in the north atlantic, this paper focuses on more recent rf - based location technologies including time - difference of arrival ( tdoa ), and ultra - wideband ( uwb ) technologies. more recent advances, including satellite navigation, rf fingerprinting, and near - field electromagnetic ranging technologies are also considered. my presentation this morning will actually cover material from both papers.


outside the complex system of his body, man has vast and vital dimensions that are not in any way confined by his bodily mechanism. in order to discover those aspects and planes that are beyond the bodily structure and physical dimension of man, one must search out the inward and spiritual structures of man and perceive the broad horizons of his comprehensive nature, together with the delicate and refined manifestations of his feelings and instincts. before he enters the realm of science and knowledge with all its concerns, man is able to perceive certain truths by means of these innate perceptions. but after entering the sphere of science and philosophy and filling his brain with various proofs and deductions, he may forget his natural and innate perceptions or begin to doubt them. it is for this reason that when man moves beyond his innate nature to delineate a belief, differences begin to appear. inclination to religion and belief in god, draw, in their initial stages, on instinctive motives and innate perceptions, but then they develop and evolve with the help of ratiocination and reflection. the roots of innate feeling in the disposition of man are so deep and, at the same time, so clear and evident that if a person purges his mind and his spirit both of religious concepts and of anti religious thoughts and then looks at himself and at the world of being, he will clearly see that he is moving in a certain direction together with the whole caravan of being. without any desire or will on his part, he begins his life at a certain point, and again without willing it, he advances toward another point, one which is unknown to him. the same reality can be observed in all natural creatures, operating in a precise and orderly way. if a clear - sighted man, still in the state of nature, looks at the circumstances surrounding him, he will distinctly feel the existence of a great force that encompasses him and the whole world. in his own being, which is an extremely small part of the great world, he will see knowledge, power and will to exist, and he will ask himself how knowledge, power and will could not exist in the world as a whole. it is the finely calculated order and motion of the world that compels man to accept the existence of a universal intellect that, lying beyond the world of nature, nonetheless designs and commands it ; unless this be accepted, the orderliness of the world cannot be explained. anyone assessing his position in the world can perceive that there is a power which creates him, brings him here, inspires motion in him, and then


designs and commands it ; unless this be accepted, the orderliness of the world cannot be explained. anyone assessing his position in the world can perceive that there is a power which creates him, brings him here, inspires motion in him, and then removes him again, without his permission or assistance being sought for any of this. the commander of the martyrs, husayn b. ali, may peace be upon both of them, said in his intimate supplications to the creator, " how is it possible to deduce your existence from a thing which depends upon you for its very being? why do you not possess that manifestness that other - than - you possesses, so that it might make you evident? when were you ever hidden from the inward eye so that you might need proofs as a guide to you? when were you ever distant from us so that your traces and signs might draw us nigh to you? blind be the eye that does not see you watching over and guarding it! " o god, you who have manifested yourself to us with your splendor, how can you be hidden when you are manifest and evident? how can you be absent when with your unceasing manifestation you watch over your servants? " nowhere and at no time has a thing made without a maker been seen, nor a deed without a doer. the search for the link between cause and effect arises from an inward instinct in man ; awareness of causality cannot be removed from anyone. likewise, the religious feeling, the search for a creator, can also not be removed from anyone. even a child with no experience of the world, whenever he hears a sound or observes a motion, will instinctively turn his attention to the origin of the sound or the motion. the foundations both of practical life and of knowledge rest upon the acceptance of a cause for every effect. the norm of causality is, in fact, an absolute one which admits of no exceptions. geology, physics, chemistry, sociology, economics, in these and other sciences, research has the purpose of specifying the causes and factors that determine relationships. in short, it is clear that science and knowledge are nothing other than the search for causes ; all progress and advancement in human affairs result from the investigations carried out by scholars into the causes of phenomena. were it to be possible for us to find in a single being or corner of the universe a sign of absolute self - origination or creativity, we would be justified in extending that one instance to the whole scheme of being.


the causes of phenomena. were it to be possible for us to find in a single being or corner of the universe a sign of absolute self - origination or creativity, we would be justified in extending that one instance to the whole scheme of being. of course, it is not necessary that the law of causality should always manifest itself to us in familiar forms. the variety and multiplicity of causes is such that an investigator concerned with only one phenomenon might not be able to specify all the causes. however, in all the affairs of mankind, particular and general, past and future, in the circumstances of the individual or of society, not a single point can be found that is accidental. not only is there a particular order inherent in the creation of each separate phenomenon ; there is also observable in the relationship of every phenomenon with other phenomena, as well as the relationship of each phenomenon with the environment within which it exists, a subtle and finely calculated order. for example, in the cultivation of a tree, the laws of the heavens and the earth operate in perfect harmony with the structure of its roots and branches. there is also a relationship of animals with that tree insofar as they draw nourishment from it. how is it possible that accident should lie at the origin of such orderly relationships? if a phenomenon were to take shape at a certain level in the structure of being, unconsciously and on the basis of chance, this would furnish an excellent groundwork for the disappearance and destruction of the world. for the slightest disruption in the balance of elements and the smallest disharmony in the radiant laws of the universe would be enough to make things lose their moorings and the heavenly bodies collide, resulting in a massive explosion and the destruction of the world. if the origin of the world were based on accident, why are the theories even of the materialists based on the supposition of a plan, an ordering, an absence of chance? if the whole world is the result of chance and accident, what is it that did not emerge on the basis of chance? if an existent thing came into being not by virtue of chance, what are its distinguishing features and characteristics and can they be applied to the numerous and variegated phenomena of the universe? now since accident is opposed to order and harmony, it follows that whatever bears traces of planning, design and calculation should be disharmonious and discontinuous, because the concepts of planning, design and calculation are opposed to accident and chance. to suppose that accident is


to order and harmony, it follows that whatever bears traces of planning, design and calculation should be disharmonious and discontinuous, because the concepts of planning, design and calculation are opposed to accident and chance. to suppose that accident is the infrastructure of the universe and its governing principle does not rest on any logical proof or scientific evidence cannot be accepted as a definitive solution to the geometry of the structure of being. when the experimental sciences demonstrate that the elements and natural factors cannot exert any independent influence and do not possess any creativity ; when all of our experiences, our sensory feelings, and our rational deductions point to the conclusion that nothing occurs in nature without a reason and cause and that all phenomena are based on an established system and specific laws, when all of this is the case, it is surprising that some people turn their backs on scientific principles, primary deductions and propositions based on reflection, and deny the existence of the creator. education and environmental factors are among the causes that either prevent man ' s innate perceptions from displaying themselves, or, on the contrary, reinforce them. whatever displays itself from the source of instinct resembles in its orderliness the patterns of nature. those who have been left free to follow the original course of their creation without being imprisoned by habit and whose inner nature has not been colored by words and expressions, are better able to hear the summons of their inner being and to distinguish good deeds from bad and true beliefs from false. irreligion, which is, in fact, a turning away from original nature, is, therefore, rarely to be seen among such individuals. if someone tells them that the world has no indwelling order and that it is the offspring of chance, decking out his words in philosophical terminology, he will have no effect on such people, because they will reject his theories by virtue of their own original nature. those who are caught up in the webs of science may fall prey to doubt and confusion as a result of alluring terminology. the limited knowledge that inspires arrogance in man is like a piece of colored glass placed in front of the aperture of the intellect and the original nature ; whoever possesses this knowledge sees the world tinged with the color of his learning and art. he imagines that the entirety of reality is what he sees through the narrow aperture of his senses and intellect that are a prey to color. of course, we do not mean that man should refrain from developing his intellect in order to safeguard himself against illusion. however, he should not be limited by


what he sees through the narrow aperture of his senses and intellect that are a prey to color. of course, we do not mean that man should refrain from developing his intellect in order to safeguard himself against illusion. however, he should not be limited by or take pride in his limited knowledge and art. most people, instead of making their learning and knowledge a ladder for the ascent of their intellect in order to raise themselves to a higher level, remain stationary and imprisoned within the four walls of concepts and terms. man ' s original nature, once it senses danger, rushes to his aid. when a person is pressed by hardship and overwhelming problems, when material factors turn their back on him, when he has no access to any of the resources of life and is drowning like a straw in a maelstrom of vicissitudes and death is but one step away — then an inward motive guides him instinctively to a non - material source of support. he seeks aid from one whose power is superior to all powers, and he understands that it is that compassionate and all - powerful being who can succor him with his extraordinary power and save him. because of his perception, with all of his strength he seeks the aid of that most sacred being to save him from danger, and in the sanctum of his heart, he feels the power and strength of that being at work for his salvation. once someone asked imam sadiq, upon whom be peace, to guide him toward the lord, saying that he had been confused by the words of the polemicists. the imam asked, " have you ever traveled by ship? " he answered, " yes. " the imam : " did it every happen that the ship sprang a leak and there was nobody to save you from drowning in the tempestuous waves of the ocean? " the imam : " at that dangerous moment and in that state of despair, did you have the feeling that an infinite and almighty power might save you from your terrible fate? " " yes, that ' s the way it was. " the imam : " it is god almighty who is the source of reliance and toward whom men look with hope when all doors are closed. - " even rebellious and materialistic men of power who are oblivious to the eternal power of god when they enty dominion, change when they fall into the trap of defeat and destruction. they forget the denial of god that their environment and materialist schools of thought had inculcated in them and they wholeheartedly turn to the origin of all beings and the source


dominion, change when they fall into the trap of defeat and destruction. they forget the denial of god that their environment and materialist schools of thought had inculcated in them and they wholeheartedly turn to the origin of all beings and the source of all strength. history records numerous examples of such persons who fell victim to difficult and trying circumstances so that the dust of pollution was suddenly removed from their original natures and from the depths of their souls they turned toward the peerless creator. in addition to the inner resources that are innate in man ' s being and help him to discover reality so that free from all mental constructs and constraints he advances on the path of his original nature, the external factor of guidance and admonition is also necessary to show him the way and to reinforce his original nature. it is guidance that reforms rebellious qualities and protects the intellect and original nature from perversion and obedience to false gods. the prophets were sent to make men aware of the subtle perceptions of their original nature, to make their godly inclinations flow in their proper course, and to give wings to their lofty aspirations. the commander of the believers, upon whom be peace, said, " god sent his messengers among men so they might question them concerning their covenant with god, recall to them the forgotten bounties of god, speak to them by way of admonition, arouse in them hidden wisdom, and display to them the signs of god ' s power. " such guidance and admonition do not in any way imply extinguishing the light of man ' s creative will or depriving him of his freedom and ability to think and to choose. it is, on the contrary, a kind of assistance to his positive inclinations and instincts enabling them to grow and develop. it is through guidance and admonition that men are freed of their bonds and enabled to profit from all the dimensions of their original nature and to flourish with all of their beings. the quran says, " the prophet removes all arduous rules and customs that men had placed on their necks like chains. so those who believe in him, respect him and aid him, who follow the light that has been revealed to him, they are, in truth, those who are saved in this world. " ( 7 : 157 ) " o you who believe, respond and obey when god and the messenger summon you to life - giving commands. " ( 8 : 24 ) " o mankind, in truth an admonition has come to you from your lord


( 7 : 157 ) " o you who believe, respond and obey when god and the messenger summon you to life - giving commands. " ( 8 : 24 ) " o mankind, in truth an admonition has come to you from your lord and a healing cure for the sicknesses of your soul. " ( 10 : 57 ) the first people who accepted the summons of the prophets were men of pure hearts and enlightened consciences. the ranks of their opponents consisted of those who relied on their illusory power and wealth or were filled with pride on account of their paltry knowledge and deficient, illusion - tainted intellects, in such a way that their groundless arrogance prevented their inner capacities and aspirations from flourishing. a certain scholar has put it thus : " in spiritual matters, too, the law of supply and demand prevails. if the demand for religion did not exist in man ' s nature, the supply provided by the prophets would be wasted. we see that the supply provided by the prophets did find customers ; their fertile, unclouded and authentic visions found numerous followers and supporters. this is proof that the demand for religion exists within man and his innermost consciousness. " in fact, the basic preaching of all the prophets was a call to monotheism, not a proof of the existence of god. they negated the worthiness of idols, of the sun, the moon and the stars, to be worshipped, so that man ' s inner and natural thirst for worship should not be satisfied by recourse to external objects such as these and they might, instead, seek all their aims and values in a firm arc ascending to the true object of worship. their hearts should be attached to infinite perfection, and with such a faith ever ascending, they should constantly advance toward the source of all values and virtues, finally reaching their aim. all varieties of polytheism and irreligion, the primitive form that is idolatry and the advanced form that is materialism, are the result of turning away from innate nature. the progress of knowledge concerning religious experience which is taking place all over the world has resulted in discoveries that permit certain important conclusions to be drawn. based on the considerable data collected by sociologists, archaeologists and anthropologists, the history of religions now analyzes the religious instinct, together with the institutions, beliefs, customs and the factors that shape society, in a new way that is largely at variance with the explanations previously given. there is now a current of thought that is constantly winning


of religions now analyzes the religious instinct, together with the institutions, beliefs, customs and the factors that shape society, in a new way that is largely at variance with the explanations previously given. there is now a current of thought that is constantly winning new adherents from various schools of thought to the effect that the religious feeling is a primary, natural and stable component of the human spirit and that it is an innate means of perceiving the suprarational. in about 1920, a german philosopher by the name of rudolf otto was able to prove that parallel to the intellectual and ethical elements in man, there are also innate, supra - rational elements that constitute the religious feeling. attributes concerning god such as power, greatness and transcendence have the purpose of emphasizing that sanctity cannot be reduced to any other concept. it is an independent category that cannot be derived from any other category and cannot be identified with any other concept, rational or otherwise. one of the peculiarities of the present age is, in fact, the search for a fourth dimension in the world of nature called " time. " like the other dimensions, it must be intermingled with bodies, and, therefore, no body exists in the world free from the time which arises from motion and change. it is likewise a characteristic of the age that the researches of scholars have led to the discovery of a " fourth dimension " of the human spirit, the religious feeling. the other three dimensions or feelings consist of the sense of curiosity, the sense of virtue, and the sense of beauty. the religious sense, or the concept of the sacred, is the fourth dimension and the most basic of senses. everyone has innately an attraction and inclination to what lies beyond nature, separately and independently from the other three senses. with the discovery of the religious sense, the three dimensional prison of his spirit collapsed and it was proven that man ' s religious inclinations are autonomously rooted in his being. they showed themselves even in ages when men were living in forests and caves. despite the primacy, autonomy and effectiveness of the senses of curiosity, virtue and beauty and the role they played in the emergence of science, morality and art, it was the religious sense that prepared the ground for the activity of these three senses, helping them to advance on their path and to discover the secrets of the created world. from the viewpoint of a believer, the world has been designed on the basis of laws and a precise, well - calculated plan. this belief in an ordaining, wise


to advance on their path and to discover the secrets of the created world. from the viewpoint of a believer, the world has been designed on the basis of laws and a precise, well - calculated plan. this belief in an ordaining, wise god stimulates the sense of curiosity to seek out and discover the laws and mysteries of nature that are based on a chain of cause and effect. the role of the religious sense in the development and advancement of man ' s lofty qualities, in modifying his instincts and fructifying his sense of morality and virtue, is undeniable. those who follow the dictates of religion regard it as one of their most important religious duties to control their instincts and to acquire outstanding, lofty attributes. religious thought has also been a factor throughout history in cultivating the aesthetic sense. primitive men produced their most creative works of art in order to glorify their gods. the remarkable temples of china, the great pyramids of egypt, the distinctive statues of mexico, the refined and astounding architecture of the islamic east all these drew on the religious sense. psychologists believe that there is a connection between the crisis of maturity and the sudden emergence of religious feelings. in this period of life, even in persons who had previously been indifferent to religious matters, the religious sense takes on a special intensity. there is no doubt that inward summons manifest themselves in such a way that no obstacle can block their path. however, certain factors such as contrary propaganda can decrease the growth and development of inward feeling and correct thought, although such negative influences cannot result in the complete uprooting of natural tendencies. if such hindrances are removed, sound instincts resume their activity and display themselves by means of their inward creative effort. we know that more than half a century has passed since the communist revolution of the soviet union, but the roots of religion are still alive deep in the souls of many of the soviet people. despite all the efforts that have been made over this long period by the rulers to obliterate religion, they have been unable to remove the religious sense from the masses. the existence of materialist ideas in the world does not, therefore, contradict the fact that belief in god is natural to man. if a certain school leaves the path of original nature, thereby making an exception of itself vis - a - vis other schools, both in the present world and in past times, this cannot be regarded as disproving the contention that belief in god is natural to man ; exceptions exist in all spheres. what


science fair project encyclopedia the first super 12 series was held in 1996, although it has its origins in the super 10, super 6 and south pacific championships. it was born out of the success of 1995 rugby union world cup, pitting regional teams of the then three strongest rugby nations against each other. one significant reason for the development of the super 12 competition was the introduction, in australia especially but also in other nations, of pay ( or subscription ) television ( often known in the usa as ' cable ' or ' satellite ' tv ). a key part of the business model for the foxtel pay tv network in australia was to attract subscribers by offering an exclusive product ( such as rugby union ) which could not be seen on free - to - air broadcast television. the super 12 is a round - robin competition with each team playing every other team with games held each weekend. a team receives four points for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. teams also receive a bonus point for scoring four tries, regardless of the final result. a bonus point is also earned by a team that loses a game by seven points ( a converted try ) or less. the top four teams at the end of the round - robin phase then play semifinals, with the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team and the second placed team hosting the third placed team. the two winners then play the final at the home ground of the top surviving seed. in recent years ( 2001 onwards ), australia has pushed unsuccessfully for the inclusion of a fourth australian team, ( this has been now confirmed as perth ) ; and south africa for another team from its country. there has also been discussion of including a team from the south pacific island nations, such as fiji ; or a combined pacific islanders team from fiji, samoa, and tonga. argentina is also pushing for inclusion in the super 12. at the moment, however, the competition remains as it began. in september 2004, sanzar, a partnership established by the south african, new zealand, and australian rugby governing bodies that conducts the super 12 and tri nations series, began negotiations for a new television deal to take effect in 2006. the current deal runs out after the 2005 competition. that december, sanzar announced that a new tv deal had been signed, with news corporation winning the rights for the uk, australia and new zealand and supersport winning rights for south africa. sanzar remains free to negotiate separate deals for other markets, such as france, japan, and the americas. under the new deal, australia


news corporation winning the rights for the uk, australia and new zealand and supersport winning rights for south africa. sanzar remains free to negotiate separate deals for other markets, such as france, japan, and the americas. under the new deal, australia and south africa will each get one extra team in the competition, and a third round of fixtures will be added to the tri nations. the proposal also includes the possibility of splitting the updated super 14 into two seven - team divisions ( most likely eastern and western divisions, with the australian sides equally divided among the two ). however, argentina and the pacific islands will remain shut out of the competition under this proposal. it has been confirmed that the new australian team in the competition will be based in perth and is to be called the western force. the australian teams also play each other for the national ricoh championship ( or state of the union ), the winner of which is awarded the bob templeton trophy. current competing teams are : - new zealand - blues ( representing the north island from central auckland northward ) - chiefs ( representing the central north island and south auckland ) - crusaders ( representing the northern two - thirds of the south island, including christchurch ) - highlanders ( representing the southern third of the south island, including dunedin ) - hurricanes ( representing the southern north island, including wellington ) - south africa the 2004 super 12 trophy was taken by the act brumbies, who defeated the crusaders 47 - 38 in the final. - 1996 blues - 1997 blues - 1998 crusaders - 1999 crusaders - 2000 crusaders - 2001 act brumbies - 2002 crusaders - 2003 blues - 2004 act brumbies - crusaders 4 - blues 3 - act brumbies 2 wins by country - new zealand 7 - australia 2 - south africa 0 the contents of this article is licensed from www. wikipedia. org under the gnu free documentation license. click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details


national scientist cites ddt conference in article suzanne snedecker, a scientist at cornell university, has written an article about her participation in the eugene kenaga international ddt conference at alma college last march. the article, titled " view from the pine river and beyond : the legacy of ddt use and health effects, ” appears in the ribbon, the newsletter of the sprecher institute for comparative cancer research at cornell university, spring 2008 ( vol. 13, no. 2 ). click here to access the article. dr. snedeker writes, " the conference allowed me not only to interact with scientists in other disciplines who are investigating and interpreting new data on health risks associated with ddt, but also to talk with members of the pine river superfund citizen task force and hear the stories of their dedication, accomplishments and frustrations. the conference they and alma college organized was excellent. speakers included historians, federal agency personal, and academics in various human and wildlife health areas from the u. s. and south africa. " snedecker is associate director for translational research for the program on breast cancer and environmental risk factors at the sprecher institute. the march 14 conference attracted international experts in the areas of public health and the environment. the scholars are drafting a consensus statement urging global policymakers to reconsider the future use of the synthetic pesticide ddt. posted : wed, july 2nd, 2008 at 8 : 40am


• spelunker • pronunciation : spee - leng - ker • hear it! part of speech : noun meaning : an amateur cave explorer, a cave enthusiast, a person whose hobby it is to explore caves, ( british ) a potholer. notes : " well, if spelunkers are amateurs, " i hear you ask, " what are professionals who explore caves scientifically called? " they are called speleologists and their discipline is called speleology. the formations found in caves — stalagmites, stalactites, and such — are known as speleothems by speleologists. in play : unlike troglodyte " cave - dweller ", today ' s word refers to those who only explore caves : " the spelunker ' s club gathers for their monthly meetings in a nearby cave. " we can, however, bring this word out into the light, even if we have trouble bringing spelunkers out : " the weather was so dark and cold that not even spelunkers would have enjoyed the picnic. " word history : this word started out as a lexical plaything in the us in the 1940s, but has since acquired an air of legitimacy. it apparently is based on latin spelunca " cave, cavern ", which latin took from greek spelunx ( spelunk - s ) " cave, cavern ". it appears in several other western european languages, including dutch spelonk and german spelunke, both meaning " cave ". the english suffix - er is an uncomfortable fit for nouns ( although less so in britain ( footballer, for example ). it is doubly uncomfortable when added to a latin root. still, it seems to have found a comfortable place for itself within the english vocabulary. how this word came to be in ancient greek is one of many great mysteries of etymology. ( we thank kathi kitao of kyoto, japan, for bringing today ' s good word to the surface and shairing it with us. )


if any part of the world should be concerned about the effects of climate change, it is south america. despite contributing some of the lowest emissions globally, many of the countries in the region are as south america ’ s population is expected to rise 72 % by 2035, the impact of climate change grows more significant each day. governments are reacting with renewable energy development — and geothermal power has several major south america has largely relied on hydropower, but its capacity is weakening. though many regions have further untapped potential, most is located in remote regions with limited access to the grid, according to meeting the electricity supply / demand balance in latin america & the caribbean, a report released by the energy sector management assistance program ( esmap ). geothermal presents a major opportunity throughout south america, but exploratory drilling has been limited. according to the esmap report, the range of geothermal capacity estimates is quite broad. though expectations may be uncertain, many regions are hopeful that exploration will reveal something ‘ extrapolating from the experience in the us, where there has been a large amount of exploratory drilling, the potential of conventional geothermal resources in latin america might be as much as 300 twh per year, ’ the report states. the most viable resources are thought to be located along the pacific rim, which ranges from mexico to chile. key spots in the caribbean islands also carry some potential, according to researchers. several south american countries have spearheaded policy incentives to move renewable energy plans forward. countries of note include argentina, chile and peru, according to the 2012 geothermal international market overview report released by the geothermal energy association argentina implemented a feed - in tariff ( fit ) plan for geothermal projects, with a 15 - year entitlement period after the plant is brought online. the plan also includes a goal to reach 8 % of renewable production by 2016. according to the gea, ‘ though a 1998 law supported wind and solar generation, geothermal did not become eligible as a renewable energy source until 2007.... in may 2009, the genren program was launched, aiming to purchase and incorporate 1000 mw from renewable energy plants, 30 mw of which is to come from geothermal energy. ’ with geothermal potential of up to 16, 000 mw, the chilean government is ready to take advantage of its untapped renewable sources. to drive renewable development, the chilean national energy commission partnered with the us department of energy ( doe ) to create the renewable energy center in chile. according to its


mw, the chilean government is ready to take advantage of its untapped renewable sources. to drive renewable development, the chilean national energy commission partnered with the us department of energy ( doe ) to create the renewable energy center in chile. according to its website, the doe uses the facility to compile global renewable energy best practices and techniques to then use in the region. ‘ the chilean center will serve as a clearinghouse of information and analytic tools and a leading source of expertise on renewable energy technologies and policies for chile and, once it is up and running, for the region. it will also help research, develop and promote non - conventional renewable energy projects, and will serve as a source of information for investors and policymakers. ’ chile ’ s non - conventional renewable energy law enforces all utilities with a total capacity of 200 mw and greater to demonstrate that at least 10 % of their energy comes from renewable sources. after 2014, this enforcement will increase by 0. 5 % annually until 2024, when it finally reaches 10 %, according to the gea report. chile also enforces its law of geothermal concessions, established in 2000, which regulates exploration and permitting of geothermal projects. in response to this favorable policy, a total of 83 geothermal exploration concession requests are under review as of june 2012 at chile ’ s energy ministry, according to business news americas. peru is thought to have nearly 3000 mw of geothermal potential, none of which has been exploited. the country currently draws most of its energy from natural gas, hydropower and fossil fuels. recognizing its need for energy development, the peruvian government has set fits and tax incentives for renewables. it has also held auctions for contracts, including a recent 500 mw tender. its goal is to generate 5 % of its electricity from renewables by 2014. other south american countries have also recognized the need for clean energy and have implemented favorable policies. according to the international energy agency ( iea ), bolivia began its efforts in 1999 with grant incentives for rural renewable projects, and in 2000 passed a rural electrification project. in 2005, bolivia passed the rural electrification decree that promotes collaboration between private energy companies and government agencies to establish where is the investment? though much investment has come from private funding, the inter - american development bank has been a key player in south america. it has a five - year target to invest 25 % of its loans toward climate - related projects, and it recently established the emerging energy latin america fund ii. according to its website, ‘ idb ’ s participation will


key player in south america. it has a five - year target to invest 25 % of its loans toward climate - related projects, and it recently established the emerging energy latin america fund ii. according to its website, ‘ idb ’ s participation will consist of a senior a loan of up to us $ 30 million with a tenor consistent with the life of the fund ( expected at 10 years ), including a five - year commitment period. the repayment structure and the scope of security will be defined during due - diligence. ’ the fund, a successor of the $ 25. 2 million cleantech fund, is expected to reach $ 150 million. according to andres ackerman, an idb project team leader, the fund was created due to major expected energy demand increases in the region — 75 % by 2030 — half of which could be generated by ‘ this financing is part of the idb ’ s commitment to develop mechanisms to support long - term funding of renewable energy and clean technology projects in the region, which stimulate innovation, job creation and green economic growth, ’ said daniela carrera - marquis, head of the financial markets division at the idb ’ s structured and corporate finance race to be the first though there are no plants currently online in south america, several projects are nearing completion. argentina could technically claim groundbreaking fame with its demonstration project built in 1988 in the volcanic copahue region — a site that has been explored for geothermal development since the 1970s. decommissioned in 1996 due largely to high electricity prices, the 670 kw project used 171°c sources at depths of 800 to 1200 meters. near the decommissioned demonstration plant is a new potential frontrunner — the 30 mw copahue project in development by earth heat resources. according to the company, the project has the potential for massive expansion after the success of the initial 30 mw plan. now in its second phase of development, the project is expected to be completed this year. ‘ this second stage study will encompass many elements of the upcoming program for this year including drilling, civil works, other facilities, engineering and transmission line issues, ’ said earth heat resources managing director torey marshall. ‘ this milestone will confirm the location of wells, location of roads, location of potential plant sites and transmission line locations ; an enormous step in our development of the copahue project. ’ earth heat resources recently signed a power purchase agreement ( ppa ) with electrometalurgica andina saic for an initial 30 mw per year. it has also signed a letter of intent with xtrata


of the copahue project. ’ earth heat resources recently signed a power purchase agreement ( ppa ) with electrometalurgica andina saic for an initial 30 mw per year. it has also signed a letter of intent with xtrata pachon sa to purchase 50 mw per year, with the potential for further expansion. xtrata sees the potential in geothermal and is eager to get involved with sustainable, renewable projects in argentina. ‘ we are committed to finding the best environmental, social and economic solutions in support of our potential future investments in argentina, and look forward to working with earth heat in the first geothermal plant in the country, ’ said xavier ochoa, pachon ’ s general manager. fast on its heels is enel ( enlay. pk ) green power ’ s cerro pabellon geothermal project located in pampa apacheta, chile. with eight geothermal concessions in chile — the most recent acquisitions include colorado, san jose i, and yeguas muertas — enel is eager to tap the nation ’ s vast potential. the 50 mw project recently received environmental approval and is ready to move forward. ‘ the country ’ s geothermal potential is one third of the installed geothermal capacity worldwide, ’ explained enel green power ceo christian herrera. ‘ electricity generation through geothermal energy not only helps meet the growing energy demand in the country, helping to reduce dependence on imported fuels, but [ it ’ s ] also a concrete contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the mitigation of in development but further from completion, renewable energy firm gge chile submitted an environmental impact assessment ( eia ) for a $ 330 million geothermal project planned for its san gregorio concession in southern chile. expected to break ground in 2013, the 70 mw curacautin geothermal project will consist of 10 drilling platforms, 14 production wells and 11 reinjection wells, and is scheduled to come online in 2016, according to business news americas. the nearby mariposa geothermal system owned by alterra power corp ( axy. to, mgmxf. pk ) is located near an active volcanic region in the chilean andes mountains. exploration for the project began in the early 2000s, when great potential was found in the area. according to the project website, based on the exploration results, the inferred resource estimate is 320 mw available over 30 years. to date, slim holes have been drilled, and 200 + °c resources have been found at the top of the wells ;


according to the project website, based on the exploration results, the inferred resource estimate is 320 mw available over 30 years. to date, slim holes have been drilled, and 200 + °c resources have been found at the top of the wells ; additional holes will be drilled to determine further resources. a 50 mw plant is in development and expected to be completed by 2016, and alterra is searching for partnerships to continue exploration and development at the a key factor to this project is the nearby hydropower projects. developers are hopeful for a collaborative effort to build transmission systems to feed the renewable resources to the central power grid. facing many of the same issues with climate change and population growth, central america and the caribbean have embraced their geothermal resources much more than their southern neighbors. according to the gea report, a majority of the countries in central america have developed a portion of their geothermal resources. ‘ el salvador and costa rica derive 24 % ( 204 mw ) and 12 % ( 163 mw ) of their electricity production from geothermal energy respectively. nicaragua ( 87 mw ) and guatemala ( 49. 5 mw ) also generate a portion of their electricity from geothermal energy, ’ said the gea ’ s report. the potential for further development of central america ’ s geothermal resources remains significant, and the geothermal potential of the region has been estimated between 3000 mw and 13, 000 mw at 50 identified geothermal sites. the siepac ( sistema de interconexion electrica para america central ) transmission interconnection has greatly influenced this region ’ s geothermal development. in an effort to reduce electricity costs, countries are able to develop their geothermal sources and spread the renewable wealth throughout the region at competitive prices. electricity costs have influenced geothermal growth on the caribbean islands. compared with current fossil fuel production at $ 0. 24 / kwh, geothermal costs $ 0. 05 / kwh, according to the world bank. in sharp contrast, south america has strayed from transmission interconnections. according to the gea report, there have been recent issues regarding the flow of energy across national borders, which have led to underdeveloped, rarely used and cut transmission lines. this dissension has resulted in increased blackouts and worker strikes. though this may have held back development, the current climate crisis and the increased need for clean energy have spurred a government response to develop the massive geothermal resources throughout according to geothermal resources in latin america and the caribbean, a report released by sandia national


in the early 1300s, dante alighieri set out to write the three volumes which make the up the divine comedy. purgatorio is the second volume in this set and opens with dante the poet picturing dante the pilgrim coming out of the pit of hell. similar to the inferno ( 34 cantos ), this volume is divided into 33 cantos, written in tercets ( groups of 3 lines ). the english prose is arranged in tercets to facilitate easy correspondence to the verse form of the italian on the facing page, enabling the reader to follow both languages line by line. in an effort to capture the peculiarities of dante ' s original language, this translation strives toward the literal and sheds new light on the shape of the poem. again the text of purgatorio follows petrocchi ' s la commedia secondo l ' antica vulgata, but the editor has departed from petrocchi ' s readings in a number of cases, somewhat larger than in the previous inferno, not without consideration of recent critical readings of the comedy by scholars such as lanza ( 1995, 1997 ) and sanguineti ( 2001 ). as before, petrocchi ' s punctuation has been lightened and american norms have been followed. however, without any pretensions to being " critical ", the text presented here is electic and being not persuaded of the exclusive authority of any manuscript, the editor has felt free to adopt readings from various branches of the stemma. one major addition to this second volume is in the notes, where is found the intercantica - a section for each canto that discusses its relation to the inferno and which will make it easier for the reader to relate the different parts of the comedy as a whole.


in halik kochanski ' s extraordinary book, the untold story of poland and the poles in the second world war is finally heard by almost every measure the fate of the inhabitants of poland was the most terrible of any group in the second world war. following the destruction of its armed forces in the autumn of 1939, the republic of poland was partitioned between nazi and soviet forces and officially ceased to exist. racial violence and ideological conformity were at the very heart of the new regimes. as the war progressed millions of poles were killed, with each phase unleashing a further round, from the industrialised genocide of treblinka to the crushing of the warsaw rising. polish jews were all to be murdered, christians reduced to a semi - literate slave class. in this powerful and original new book halik kochanski has written perhaps the most important ' missing ' work on the whole conflict : an attempt in a single volume to describe both the fate of those trapped within occupied poland and of those millions of poles who were able to escape. ' an extraordinary achievement... a brilliant exercise in historiography... kochanski neither debunks nor sensationalises. she has no ideological axe to grind, and makes balanced use of family experience and interview material as against the official record and a handed - down sentimental consensus. the truth is far more powerful than the legend. it ' s great history writing ' herald ' a superb account of poland during the second world war... the pain and loss... is poignantly evoked by kochanski... the eagle unbowed, a model history, conveys with harrowing immediacy the plight of the polish people in the conflict ' ian thomson, spectator ' a remarkable book... [ kochanski ] brings to the subject not only an impressive grasp of the military and political context, but also a balance, neutrality and honesty few could manage, combined with the intelligence, imagination and empathy necessary to grasp the true depth of the experience she recounts... this book is history at its best. it tells the whole story, and tells it well, with just the right mixture of detachment and empathy, in crisp, readable prose. but it also speaks to the imagination and makes the reader think - and not just about the subject in hand ' standpoint ' until halik kochanski ' s the eagle unbowed nobody had written a comprehensive english - language history of poland at war... she uncovers


and makes the reader think - and not just about the subject in hand ' standpoint ' until halik kochanski ' s the eagle unbowed nobody had written a comprehensive english - language history of poland at war... she uncovers details that will surprise even history geeks... ms kochanski marshals an impressive and comprehensive array of english and polish material ' economist ' poland ' s war was so terrible as to almost defy summary... this book is opinionated, fluid and forceful ' oliver bullough, new statesman ' an informative, authoritative and wide - ranging account of the tragedy that befell poland and its inhabitants, gentiles and jews, during the war and its aftermath... an engaging and important book ' hubert zawadzki ( author of a concise history of poland ) about the author : halik kochanski read modern history at balliol college, oxford and then completed a phd at king ' s college london. she has taught at both king ' s college london and university college london and presented papers to a number of military history conferences. she has written a number of articles and is the author of sir garnet wolseley : victorian hero ( 1999 ). she is a fellow of the royal historical society. she has been a member of the councils of the army records society and society for army historical research and remains a member of both societies. she is also a member of the british commission for military history and the institute for historical research. she is currently a judge for the templer medal book prize.


december 1970 | volume 22, issue 1 in part two of her new series on general joseph w. stilwell, barbara w. tuchman describes the brutal beginnings, at the marco polo bridge near peiping, of a war we would all eventually have to fight on a lantern - lit chinese barge poled by boatmen over the dark pel hai lake in the imperial city, a party from the american embassy enjoyed a serene excursion under a full moon on the evening of july 7, 1937. in the group were colonel and mrs. stilwell and their daughter nance ; ambassador and mrs. nelson johnson ; colonel john marston, commander of the marine embassy guard, and his wife ; and stilwell ’ s journalist friend john goette. colonel marston mentioned that as senior officer of the foreign detachments he had been notified by the japanese that their troops would be leaving the city that evening for night maneuvers at the railroad bridge at lukouchiao, twelve miles to the west on the peking - hankow line. the japanese had been holding maneuvers in the area for two weeks, causing worried speculation in the local press. the railway was the only remaining access to peiping not under japanese control, and lukouchiao was a key junction where a shuttle connected with the peking - tientsin line. alongside the railroad bridge a stone bridge eight hundred years old with parapets adorned by marble lions spanned the river on thirty graceful arches. one of china ’ s most beautiful monuments, admired by the first westerner who crossed it in the thirteenth century, it was known in his honor as the marco polo bridge. the chinese garrison commander had refused japanese terms and for the moment was holding a parley. by the time barrett returned to the office, stilwell was already receiving reports of japanese army units moving in strength through the great wall. despite the show of negotations at wanping, he and barrett agreed that the japanese were opening their definitive move to take over north china. the atmosphere in peiping was tense ; no one knew if there was real purpose behind the skirmish or what chiang kai - shek would do. stilwell drove out to wanpingon the third day to try to make contact with the chinese garrison ; but as he crossed the last five hundred yards, both sides opened heavy fire. the driver turned the car around without stopping, and “ we got out on two wheels. ” reports reaching stilwell ’ s office indicated ten thousand japanese troops crossing the wall into hopei ; troop trains were passing through shanhaikwan at


fire. the driver turned the car around without stopping, and “ we got out on two wheels. ” reports reaching stilwell ’ s office indicated ten thousand japanese troops crossing the wall into hopei ; troop trains were passing through shanhaikwan at half - hour intervals. to report on the situation as it developed, he organized an intelligence network of the five senior language officers who served under his command as assistant attaches and whom he stationed in various cities. four of the group had already served with the 15th infantry, and two, captain frank roberts and captain frank dorn, were in later years to serve under stilwell again in the far east. his son joe, jr., then in tientsin with the 15th infantry, was also enlisted as an informant, as were journalists, consuls, standard oil men, and whoever was in a position to extract evidence from the fog of rumor. the larger outlines of what was happening could only be estimated by putting together the hard details : the number of japanese planes in the air over tientsin, the frequency of rail and truck movements of japanese men and materiel, the location of chinese units, and — most elusive — any evidence of chinese troop concentration or other clues to the government ’ s intentions. stilwell adopted the unorthodox practice for a military attache of keeping a file of his radios to g - 2 on the table in his office for journalists to consult. his object, he told barrett, was to make available as much accurate information as possible “ so that the world would get a true picture of japanese aggression as it developed south of the wall. ” identifying with china, he felt deeply the crisis that gripped her. the silence from nanking, chiang kai - shek ’ s capital, was not promising. he was not even there, as far as anyone knew. the japanese had issued an ultimatum that was to expire on july 18. chiang kai - shek spoke at last, from ruling, the mountain summer resort where foreigners and upper - class chinese, carried up by sedan chair, escaped the sickening summer heat of the yangtze valley. without voicing a call to action or precluding a settlement, chiang declared that no further positions in north china could be surrendered and that a settlement with japan must not invade sovereign rights or territorial integrity. it was a statement that china ’ s limit of endurance had been reached and that she was accepting the necessity of armed resistance. when chiang ’ s words were broadcast in peiping, bugles sounded and gongs clan


invade sovereign rights or territorial integrity. it was a statement that china ’ s limit of endurance had been reached and that she was accepting the necessity of armed resistance. when chiang ’ s words were broadcast in peiping, bugles sounded and gongs clanged as excited people filled the streets. a few days of enthusiasm was all they were to have, for the government had made no plan or preparations for the event of national resistance, and the japanese took over control of peiping within the week. stilwell ’ s temper mounted at their charges of chinese provocation, claims of “ self - defense, ” acts of brutality, and at his own country ’ s lack of response. when secretary of state cordell hull held a press conference without taking a position, stilwell commented, “ mr. hull again says we are against fighting. that ought to stop it quickly. ” sporadic fighting continued outside peiping, although general sung che - yuan ’ s intentions were uncertain and there were rumors that he had “ gone over. ” on july 29 japanese planes bombed tientsin, concentrating on nankai university. for four hours their squadrons, taking off in relays from an airfield three miles outside the city, “ systematically and unhurriedly ” rained incendiary bombs on the university buildings, which, as japanese headquarters informed the press, had to be wiped out because they harbored “ anti - japanese elements, ” namely the students, the most potent agitators of nationalist sentiment. the bombing was designed to destroy the students ’ base of operations so that they could not mobilize demonstrations or print propaganda leaflets. throughout their campaign in china, as formerly in korea, the japanese intentionally attacked places of education as the sources of national consciousness. on the road to the temple of heaven the japanese ambushed a chinese unit, leaving five hundred to six hundred bodies on the ground, mostly unarmed and many literally blown to pieces, minus heads, arms, and legs. going out with barrett to investigate, stilwell saw thirty truckloads of soldiers killed to the last man, with parts of bodies plastered against the sides of the trucks and drivers dead at the wheels. villagers said the japanese had offered to let the troops surrender without arms, and when they emerged from the village, mowed them down with machine guns and grenades. dead horses were bloated in the hot july sun, and dead men lay in the ditches, “ one with his eyes wide open and flies walking on them. ” at tungchow, seat of japan ’ s hopei -


grenades. dead horses were bloated in the hot july sun, and dead men lay in the ditches, “ one with his eyes wide open and flies walking on them. ” at tungchow, seat of japan ’ s hopei - chahar puppet government, the local constabulary, believing rumors of chinese “ victories ” around peiping, mutinied, massacred japanese and puppet officials, and attempted to hold the garrison. the attempt was smashed when japanese reinforcements wiped them out and laid the city in ruins. within four days all chinese troops were withdrawn from the peiping - tientsin area, leaving the japanese in control. the lack of a concerted policy or plan of defense and the vain sacrifice of men at lukouchiao and tungchow enraged stilwell. the chinese had missed so many good opportunities that “ you can ’ t help getting thoroughly disgusted with them. ” they could not have defeated the japanese, he wrote, but they could have ’ inflicted heavy losses if action had been co - ordinated and the order to attack ever given. though late, the central government was pulling together the forces for defense. from the south general pai ch ’ ung - hsi flew to nanking to pledge the services of the dissident kwangsi - kwangtung group after eight years of opposition. to consolidate the alliance he was appointed chiang kai - shek ’ s chief of staff. provincial war lords of yunnan and szechwan rallied to the government. by the end of august all military forces, including the communists — reorganized as the 8th route army — were incorporated in and supposedly responsible to the central command. a first small but heartening victory that aroused stilwell ’ s interest was won at pinghsingkwan in the mountains of north shansi by a division of the 8th route army commanded by lin piao. using mobile guerrilla tactics from village bases with the support of a friendly population, the division attacked the japanese at a pass in the great wall and wiped out a brigade, capturing its headquarters and provisions. though only a temporary check, it suggested that the communists had developed methods worth investigating, and several months later stilwell spent half a day analyzing the battle of pinghsingkwan with agnes smedley, a free - lance correspondent who had spent months with the communists in the north. on september 24 the japanese took paoting, sung che - yuan ’ s headquarters on the peking - hankow railway. the fever of savagery bred by their own campaigns burst out in


lance correspondent who had spent months with the communists in the north. on september 24 the japanese took paoting, sung che - yuan ’ s headquarters on the peking - hankow railway. the fever of savagery bred by their own campaigns burst out in a week ’ s rampage of murder, rape, and pillage by thirty thousand soldiers. a self - defeating ferocity accompanied them like a hyena of conquest, growing more ravenous by what it fed upon. the japanese knew that a hostile china must ultimately defeat their aim to become leader of asia. throughout their years. on the mainland nothing so maddened them as the constant reappearance of “ anti - japanese ” sentiment. annually they insisted on the necessity of forcing china to be “ sincerely ” co - operative. intending to attach china, they found themselves forced to conquer, arousing increasing hatred with each advance and employing increasing brutality in response. at paoting, in addition to physical terrorism, they burned all the schoolbooks in week - long bonfires as well as the library and laboratory equipment of the hopei medical college and a decade ’ s records of crop statistics at the agricultural institute, the basis of its program for improved farming methods. in mid - august the still - undeclared war entered the yangtze valley, not by japanese design. when the campaign opened at marco polo bridge, japan had intended to finish off the separation of north china in a campaign of perhaps ninety days. they believed the central government would helplessly acquiesce as before or, through extension of japan ’ s control over cities, industries, and communications, could be forced to give up and co - operate as a puppet regime. chiang kai - shek deliberately precipitated battle in shanghai, supposedly to harden nationwide resistance by drawing the japanese down to the heart of china, but more likely in pursuit of the strategy he never gave up, to engage foreign intervention. from first to last chiang kai - shek had one purpose, to destroy the communists and wait for foreign help to defeat the japanese. he believed battle at shanghai, the international city with its large foreign investments, would lead to mediation and possibly even intervention by britain, the united states, and other powers. he sent his best german - trained divisions from nanking down to chapei on the borders of shanghai, where, as he may have considered, any fighting would be likely to produce an incident involving foreigners or foreign property. the japanese had a marine garrison in the international settlement and had filled the river with their warships


chapei on the borders of shanghai, where, as he may have considered, any fighting would be likely to produce an incident involving foreigners or foreign property. the japanese had a marine garrison in the international settlement and had filled the river with their warships, whose menacing naval guns were intended not to fire but to overawe the government while in the meantime japan fastened its hold upon the north. but the challenge of the chinese advance on shanghai provoked the bursting sense of mastery of the japanese. they landed troops and suddenly found themselves thrown back under ardent attack. from then on a battle of suspense and tragedy was fought out under the eyes of the foreign bystanders. in the first week the vigor of the chinese assault drove the japanese almost to the river ’ s edge. with the advantage of nayal guns and command of the air, the japanese were able to reinforce and counterattack and eventually to land forces to outflank the chinese position. under incessant bombing by the enemy ’ s formosa - based planes and the shelling by warships in the whangpoo, the chinese held their lines for three desperate months in the most visible and publicized and important battle the world had seen since the smashing of the hindenburg line in 1918. the flames and gun smoke that enveloped shanghai drew world attention if not help. commanded by chang fa - kwei, leader of the famed ironsides army of 1927, the chinese demonstrated a will to fight both to their countrymen and to the world. at a terrible cost in casualties, greater than any since verdun and the somme, they were kept in position against the urgent advice of pai ch ’ ung - hsi and others long after their position was hopeless. chiang kai - shek had no other military plan at shanghai than that of the death stand. for prolonging the defense he was to be bitterly condemned and never forgiven by many chinese. tenacity was his governing characteristic, and he may have believed that the agony of the defenders must finally move the foreign powers. the defense of shanghai made the world china - conscious. one of the most memorable war pictures ever published humanized the war for americans in the figure of a crying baby sitting alone in the wreckage of a blasted railroad station in the wake of an explosion. journalists, flocking to the drama and richly nourished twice daily at chinese government press conferences, reported tales of heroism, blood, and suffering. china was seen as fighting democracy ’ s battle and personified by the steadfast generalissimo and his


flocking to the drama and richly nourished twice daily at chinese government press conferences, reported tales of heroism, blood, and suffering. china was seen as fighting democracy ’ s battle and personified by the steadfast generalissimo and his marvelously attractive, american - educated, unafraid wife. in their image americans saw china strong in will and united in purpose. once firmly fixed, this impression was unaffected by the military blunder of the withdrawal from shanghai, or by the fiasco of the air force, which, after trying vainly for weeks to hit the japanese battleships in the whangpoo, loosed bombs by mistake that killed two thousand of their own neonle and hit the u. s. s. hoover. beyond shanghai, two hundred miles up the river, was nanking. drawn in more deeply than they had planned, and sensing the growing danger of becoming overextended, the japanese determined to end the adventure at the capital. their statements of the necessity of “ subduing completely china ’ s will to fight ” took on a frenzied tone. the nanking government having “ embarked on an anti - japanese campaign of the most vicious kind, ” premier hirota told the diet, it must be “ compelled to mend its ways ” and to “ act in unison for enduring peace in east asia through sincere cooperation between japan and china. ” air raids on nanking, canton, and twenty cities of east china followed, “ in order to conclude hostilities as soon as possible, ” according to the japanese announcement. chiang kai - shek, still unswerving, chose to defend nanking in a decision that was militarily indefensible, since equal time could have been bought, tremendous sacrifice spared, and a firmer stand made behind nanking than in it. again his purpose was to engage world attention and possibly foreign involvement because of the presence in nanking of the embassies. in peiping, where streamers from japanese balloons floated overhead announcing the capture of chinese cities along with the legend “ the japanese army preserves the peace of east asia, ” stilwcll faced the professional necessity of getting on with north china ’ s new masters. to have to ask their permission to visit the front was almost too much for his temperament. “ arrangements generally seemed to go wrong when he was with them, ” sighed his friend goctte. to improve the situation stilwell asked for a japanese - speaking assistant and was loaned one of the language officers from tokyo, captain


for his temperament. “ arrangements generally seemed to go wrong when he was with them, ” sighed his friend goctte. to improve the situation stilwell asked for a japanese - speaking assistant and was loaned one of the language officers from tokyo, captain maxwell taylor, a leavenworth graduate, then thirty - six, who twenty years later was to be united states chief of staff. warned that he would find his new chief an unusual officer, able but irritable and hard to get along with, taylor was surprised to find colonel stilwell waiting to meet him on his arrival at the railroad station. appreciating the courtesy and confounding predictions, he discovered a man he liked. he saw stilwell as a man of emotion and action rather than reflection, a doer who, when he saw something wrong, wanted to correct it right away. he thought stilwell used bad judgment when in a bad temper but had the soldier ’ s virtues of bravery and determination. taylor could act as a buffer and make arrangements, if not control results. conducted by a japanese colonel on a tour of kalgan after its capture, stilwell confessed to having been thrown out of general suzuki ’ s office for asking embarrassing questions. he steeled himself to the necessity of professional relations, but after a call on general takashita, his wife win recorded, joe was “ quite ready to retire. ” peiping under the control of the “ arrogant little bastards ” was hard to bear. they buzzed the american embassy in planes at 150 feet “ to show us what they think of us. ” they forced students to march in parades “ celebrating ” the fall of paoting so that the japanese could take pictures of the enthusiastic support of the population. “ they are more insufferable than ever and i have to deal with them and smile. ” duty required that he persist even to the point, to which he was persuaded by taylor, of giving a lunch for five japanese officers. two accepted the invitation but failed to appear, one neither replied nor came, and of the remaining two stilwell ’ s only comment was, “ the hell with them! ” … since the chinese preferred their war to be observed through the medium of official communiques, stilwell could not get to the front with them or with the japanese, and his repeated “ blasts ” to washington to exert pressure brought no results. he had to make do with a japanese - conducted tour of paoting, where his hosts, according to their own statement, had killed 25


them or with the japanese, and his repeated “ blasts ” to washington to exert pressure brought no results. he had to make do with a japanese - conducted tour of paoting, where his hosts, according to their own statement, had killed 25, 800 chinese in the course of taking the city. stilwell could find no damage to the walls or other evidence to indicate that the chinese had put up a strong, or any, defense. annoyed at being kept from the active front fifty miles away, he considered himself “ practically in arrest the whole time and told them i realized it. ” not surprisingly, he was informed three days later, when another tour was arranged for the foreign attaches, that he was not to be included, “ so i guess i am washed up for this war. i am spotted as a friend of the chinese and a moral leper. ” he felt let down, too, and unreasonably nagged by m. i. d. [ military intelligence division ], “ the pack of fools in washington ” with whom his relations were to grow steadily worse in the coming months. taken altogether, he wrote to his two oldest daughters, then in america, “ i have released enough bile since july 8 to float a battleship. ” … although china ’ s leaders exasperated him, stilwell understood that “ their moral standards are totally different from ours, therefore their moral strength is not sapped by what to us would be gross national cowardice. … where we would fight to the last man over an invasion of our territory, they are concerned with the continuance of the race, and to keep chinese coming into the world they will accept temporarily any form of government they have to. under it the main stream flows on. ” even so, stilwell would become exasperated and allow himself tirades about china ’ s “ oily politicians … treacherous quitters, selfish, conscienceless, unprincipled crooks. ” asked by g - 2 after the fall of paoting when the chinese would stand and fight, he radioed in reply, “ not until they lose their inherent distaste for offensive combat. ” yet he had confidence in the chinese soldier as fighting material and believed that if properly led these men could equal any army in the world. hardy and uncomplaining, accustomed to long hours, scanty food, hard work, sickness and wounds and no pleasures, yet able to “ make a joke of the merest trifle and remain cheerful under the most discouraging circumstances


hardy and uncomplaining, accustomed to long hours, scanty food, hard work, sickness and wounds and no pleasures, yet able to “ make a joke of the merest trifle and remain cheerful under the most discouraging circumstances, ” the chinese soldier with leaders in whom he had confidence “ will go anywhere. ” regarding japanese culture as artificial and imitative, stilwell had more confidence in china, especially in the north chinese. he discussed his theories with captain taylor while out on field excursions to identify japanese troop units. once, resting beneath a statue of a buddha after a long day without finding any clues, they looked up to find that three japanese soldiers had scratched their names and units on the statue ’ s behind. they watched endlessly for troop trains. sitting on a hilltop one day, they saw in the distance a slowly moving, elongated object with legs like a centipede ’ s. it proved to be a train of freight cars being laboriously pushed from both sides by a company of chinese soldiers. contemplating its snail - paced progress in silence for a while, stilwell said, “ that ’ s the spirit that will conquer japan in the end. ” for those who saw western democracy threatened by the rise of fascism, intervention to halt the aggressors was the central problem of the time. the isaiah of this view was ex - secretary of state henry l. stimson, who spoke out against “ amoral drift ” and tried to persuade the president of the need for more outspoken guidance of public opinion. president roosevelt, though starting out as a supporter of stirhson ’ s far eastern policy, had since then acquiesced in, without actively initiating, the american withdrawal from involvement with china. in march of 1936 at the london naval conference convened to discuss renewal of the washington treaties, the united states and great britain refused to accord parity to japan, upon which japan bolted the conference, and the treaties, already moribund, expired for good. given japan ’ s fanatic mood, ambassador in tokyo joseph clark grew urged, and roosevelt and hull accepted, the necessity of building a navy “ so strong that no other country will think, seriously of attacking us. ” but accomplishment was far off, and appropriations for a major building program were not voted until 1938. privately roosevelt told stimson that he had been profoundly impressed by the seizure of manchuria because of his recollection of a japanese fellow student at harvard in 1902 who had told him of japan ’ s schedule, drawn up


not voted until 1938. privately roosevelt told stimson that he had been profoundly impressed by the seizure of manchuria because of his recollection of a japanese fellow student at harvard in 1902 who had told him of japan ’ s schedule, drawn up in 1889, for a hundred - year program of expansion in twelve steps. beginning with a war in china and absorption of korea, it was to proceed to war with russia, annexation of manchuria, then of jehol, then a protectorate over north china from the wall to the yangtze, ultimately acquisition of australia, new zealand, and the islands of the pacific including hawaii, and to culmination in a protectorate over all the yellow races. in the stages already carried out, the president saw ominous implications. in the years after manchuria, roosevelt became “ even more incensed ” by japan ’ s conduct, according to sumner welles, his closest adviser on foreign policy, and by 1937 was “ far more preoccupied ” with the threat of japan than with the threat of germany. he kept trying to think of ways to halt japan ’ s advance. after the attack at marco polo bridge he asked the navy for some large - scale maps of the pacific, which he placed on a stand in his office, and he discussed with welles the possibility of placing an embargo on japanese trade, to be enforced by units of the american and british fleets. deprived of access to raw materials, japan would be forced to pull back and would not, he believed, be provoked to war, because she was so heavily committed in china. but in the isolationist state of public opinion the president realized that a measure involving risk of war would not be permitted by congress. with his penchant for private informants, roosevelt was receiving news of china from one of the most romantic american observers ever to report from that country — marine captain evans f. carlson, the assistant naval attache. later famous as leader of carlson ’ s raiders, a battalion he formed using methods and the motto gung ho ( “ work together ” ) learned from the chinese communists, carlson was a sincere man of intense convictions and courageous enterprise. he was an american candide who was able to believe that “ mutual confidence obtained between the generalissimo and the leaders of china ’ s communist party, ” because “ both had the welfare of china at heart. ” interpreting everything he met in terms of the ideals he was brought up with, he saw both chiang and the communists “ aiming for representative government. ” he could not present a lily without gil


” because “ both had the welfare of china at heart. ” interpreting everything he met in terms of the ideals he was brought up with, he saw both chiang and the communists “ aiming for representative government. ” he could not present a lily without gilding it. mme. chiang radiated not only the “ consciousness of being an instrument of destiny ” but also “ the mature graciousness of an inward peace. ” the son of a congregationalist minister, carlson had begun his military career as an enlisted man and had served with the marines in china under general smedley butler in 1927 – 29 and again at shanghai and peiping in 1933 – 35, when he undertook study of the language. roosevelt met and formed a warm attachment to him beginning in 1935, when carlson commanded the marine guard at the president ’ s retreat at warm springs. he was included on friendly and intimate terms in the warm springs circle and, on leaving for china in june, 1937 was urged by the president to write to the white house. reporting the dramatic and tragic days at shanghai in weekly letters, carlson wrote vividly of the chinese soldiers, whom he observed directly at the front. never had he known a time “ when all prominent chinese were working together in a common cause, ” even the “ so - called communists. ” the president was so interested that during a month - long hiatus in the correspondence in october he made inquiries of carlson ’ s whereabouts. “ my chief loves your letters, ” missy lehand wrote, and “ asks rne to tell you please keep it up. ” at the end of november, 1937, carlson took off for yenan in shensi to find out how real were the legends of the communists ’ guerrilla warfare against the japanese. as evidence he sent the president captured japanese documents, a diary, and a furlined uniform. later, when he came inevitably to write a book, his point of view appeared in the title he gave to his chapter on yenan, “ china ’ s fountainhead of liberalism. ” his views, expressed more floridly in the book than to the president, typified one kind of american approach to china. he had undertaken the journey, he told the governor of shensi, “ from the heart. … in the name of liberty. ” in his own country people regarded liberty and equality as “ inalienable rights, ” and he had observed “ this same love of liberty and equality ” in china, “ the same spirit which had animated our own ancestors at lexington, trenton and valley forge.