a conference committee must be formed to reconcile the differences between the house and the senate versions of the bill. these negotiations usually take place between the chair and ranking minority members of the full appropriations committees, as well as the members of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the bill. upon reaching an agreement, the bill is once again sent to the chambers, both of which generally accept the conference report. congress sends reconciled appropriations bills to the president just as for any bill, the president may : - approve the bill by signing it so that it becomes a law - veto ( or strike down ) the bill - take no action for ten days ; if congress is in session, it automatically becomes a law ; if congress has adjourned its second session, the bill has been “ pocket - vetoed ” and dies. should the president veto the bill, congress can attempt to override the veto ( which would enable the bill to become a law ) with at least a two - thirds majority vote by a quorum, i. e., a minimum number of members that need to be present in order for congress to do business. congress must pass and the president must sign every appropriations bill before october 1, which is the start of the federal fiscal year. often, congress and the president are unable to complete action on every bill before this date. thus, a continuing resolution ( cr ) must take effect. a continuing resolution will continue to fund the appropriations bills from the previous year as a temporary solution, so that funding is not completely cut off to a program or agency. [ emergency ] supplemental appropriations bills at times, the government must respond to an unanticipated circumstance that arises during the middle of a fiscal year and requires funding. in this case, a supplemental appropriations bill ( or an emergency supplemental appropriations bill ) is employed. for example, a supplemental spending bill might be needed in order to respond to natural disasters such as hurricane katrina. these emergency supplemental spending bills were once a rarity but have now become much more common, especially since the u. s. military invasion of iraq. many criticize these spending bills, as they have grown dramatically in size and often include money for unrelated programs that do not appear urgent ; because they have been used for predictable, as opposed to emergency, spending ; and because they reduce transparency of the overall budget process. omnibus appropriations bills at the end of the legislative cycle, the appropriations committee may decide to consolidate several appropriations bills into one, which is known as an omnibus appropriations bill. the committee will generally create this type of bill when


transparency of the overall budget process. omnibus appropriations bills at the end of the legislative cycle, the appropriations committee may decide to consolidate several appropriations bills into one, which is known as an omnibus appropriations bill. the committee will generally create this type of bill when they are struggling to pass all the appropriations bills by october 1, perhaps due to disagreements among congressmen or to a large amount of work being done on another spending bill. federal appropriations process the appropriations process is critical to the creation of a budget in congress each year — it provides the money! specifically, there are 12 annual appropriations ( spending ) bills that must be passed annually to keep programs and agencies of the government running ; each is considered by a different appropriations subcommittee. by working to influence these bills, results can influence the funding of the programs related to our issues of focus. the steps that results takes to influence the appropriations process are illustrated by this example of the basic education funding requests in the foreign operations appropriations bill for fiscal year ( fy ) 2005. january through may : appropriations bills are considered by the appropriations subcommittees results ’ work began immediately in january 2004, when the house and senate appropriations committees began consideration of the following year ’ s budget ( fy 2005 ). the president submitted his budget request in the beginning of february, which the house and senate budget committees used to create a budget resolution ( a blueprint for government spending levels ). from january through may, the appropriations committees compiled their own requests for the funding levels of the twelve appropriations bills, using input from civil society. the appropriations committees then finalized these funding levels after receiving directions from the budget resolution. specifically, the budget resolution determines the amount of money to be allocated to each committee ( called “ 302 ( a ) allocations ” ). once the committees on appropriations receive their overall spending level, the “ 302 ( b ) sub - allocations ” then direct the chairmen of the appropriations committees to decide how much each of their twelve subcommittees should receive. these twelve subcommittees in turn must determine how to distribute their money among the programs funded within their appropriations bills. funding for basic education is included in the appropriations bill of the subcommittee on state, foreign operations, and related affairs ( “ foreign ops ” ). first, the house foreign ops subcommittee would consider funding requests for basic education. therefore, results urged members of this subcommittee to include our funding requests in their “ wish lists ” letters to their chairman and ranking minority member ( the key decision - makers ). wish list letters allow members to weigh - in on their key funding priorities.


therefore, results urged members of this subcommittee to include our funding requests in their “ wish lists ” letters to their chairman and ranking minority member ( the key decision - makers ). wish list letters allow members to weigh - in on their key funding priorities. we asked our grassroots volunteers to meet with or write letters to their members of congress on the subcommittee, passing along a draft wish list letter provided by results staff that included our requests. when determining funding levels, the chairman and ranking minority member will consider input not only from their subcommittee members but also from those congressmen not on their subcommittee. therefore, results also asked all of its grassroots volunteers to meet with or write to their members of congress, urging their member to send a letter to the chairman or ranking minority member to bring attention to our issues ( these letters are not called “ wish lists, ” since the congressmen are not part of the subcommittee itself ). depending on the representative that writes, these letters can be of great importance to the chairman and ranking member, and they can reinforce the requests made by subcommittee members. another way for members of congress to express their support for an issue is by adding their name to a congressional sign - on letter. results generates sign - on letters to be sent to key decision - makers, for instance, of the committee on appropriations or one of its subcommittees. in general, our best chance to influence legislation is at this stage, when it is being considered by a subcommittee of appropriations. mid - may through june : appropriations committees complete work and send bills to full house and senate the state, foreign operations, and related affairs subcommittee completed its work and set the funding level request for basic education at $ 400 million. the subcommittee then sent the bill to the full committee on appropriations. during this stage, results re - emphasized our requests to the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee on appropriations, who determine final appropriations levels among the different foreign affairs accounts and programs ( though the committee on appropriations and the full house usually do not change the subcommittee ’ s recommended funding level ). the committee on appropriations passed the basic education funding request, and the bill was sent to the full house of representatives for consideration on the floor. following the recommendations of the committee on appropriations, the house approved the subcommittee ’ s $ 400 million funding level request for basic education. the bill was then considered in the senate by its committee on appropriations, specifically its subcommittee on state, foreign operations, and related affairs ( “ foreign ops ” ). results next worked with senate members of this committee to request an even


for basic education. the bill was then considered in the senate by its committee on appropriations, specifically its subcommittee on state, foreign operations, and related affairs ( “ foreign ops ” ). results next worked with senate members of this committee to request an even higher level of funding for basic education funding than the amount requested by the house. after june 30, but before october 1 : conference committee reconciles both versions of the bill, and it is sent to the president for final approval after consideration by the senate appropriations committees and subsequently the full senate, the senate set its level of funding for basic education at $ 335 million. a conference committee was then formed to reconcile the differences between the house and senate versions of the bill. at this point, results again went to members of both chambers, asking the house to continue to support the $ 400 million it had originally requested while also asking the senate to support $ 400 million ( since the house had proposed a larger level of funding than the senate ). ultimately, the conference committee settled on the house ’ s request of $ 400 million for basic education funding ; this was a great success, since the funding level was set at the higher house level. the conference committee sent the final version back to both the house and the senate for one last approval before it was presented to and signed by the president. what is the foreign operations appropriations bill? the foreign operations appropriations bill is perhaps the most relevant appropriations bill for our global work to end hunger and poverty. this bill is considered in the subcommittee on state, foreign operations, and related affairs and provides funding to basic education, hiv / aids, child survival programs, tuberculosis, unicef, microfinance programs, and other foreign assistance activities. within the foreign ops appropriations bill, basic education and microenterprise are funded under the development assistance account ( da ), while most of our health programs are funded within the child survival and health programs fund. * results also works to influence the appropriations bill considered by the subcommittee on labor, health, and human services, education, and related agencies ( “ labor hhs ” ) because domestic tb programs are funded through this subcommittee ’ s appropriations bill ; for fy 2008, president bush requested money for the global fund to fight aids, tb, and malaria in this bill as well ( the global fund is usually funded through the foreign ops subcommittee ). * the development assistance account ( da ) and child survival and health programs fund ( csh ) are two of the many accounts within a bill to which money is allotted to support specific programs. another such


graffiti vandalism in riverside winners were recognized at a city council meeting on may 21, 2013. view the winning poster contest entries here. view the winning video contest entries here. take back the wall the city of riverside spends more than $ 1. 3 million each year for graffiti abatement. in addition, money is spent by other public agencies, utility companies, and private property owners to remove graffiti from their properties. nationwide, the american public spends nearly $ 12 billion each year to fight graffiti. what is graffiti? graffiti consists of inscriptions, slogans and drawings scratched, scribbled or painted on a wall or other public or private surface. today, graffiti is a sign of urban decay. james q. wilson, shattuck professor of government at harvard university and author of “ thinking about crime, ” together with george l. kelling, a research fellow at the john f. kennedy school of government harvard, first introduced the world to the broken window theory. the theory contends that if a broken window is left unfixed it can quickly encourage more crime and vandalism to the neighborhood because it sends a message of indifference to observers. graffiti is one element of the broken window theory. once graffiti shows up somewhere, if left untreated, generally more graffiti follows. graffiti has become everyone ’ s eyesore and everyone ’ s problem. it generates fear of neighborhood crime and instability. it is costly, destructive, lowers property values and sends a message that people of the community are not concerned about the appearance of their neighborhood. it is against the law, and in cases where the cost of clean - up equates to $ 400 or more, is punishable as a felony. graffiti is not art ; it is vandalism and criminal. parents may be liable for up to $ 25, 000 for each graffiti incident pursuant to civil code 1714. 1.


wind energy technology photo of judith gap wind project by pat judge harnessing the wind for our power is cost - competitive today. the region has a good start in develooping wind projects, but we could be doing much more with very little effort. download this wind fact sheet here. ( 536kb pdf file ) as the above table shows, the pacific northwest has the potential to generate over 137, 000 amw of electricity from wind power. this is enough to provide nearly four times the current electricity consumption in the region. the majority of the region ’ s potential wind resources are in montana, which alone has enough potential wind resources to supply one quarter of the electricity needs of the united states. 2 nearly 2, 300 mw of nameplate wind power capacity is currently generated at northwest wind farms and projects currently in development could triple that figure over the next several years. 3 texas leads the united states in wind development with over 4, 350 mw of currently installed capacity each. california, has nearly 2, 500 mw of installed capacity and colorado, minnesota, and iowa are also making rapid investments in wind power, with over 1, 000 mw currently in service in each state. 4 between 2001 and 2007, the u. s. wind generating capacity expanded at a remarkable rate of 49 % per year on average. by the end of 2007, the u. s. had over 16, 800 mw of wind capacity online, enough to power over 1. 5 million homes for the entire year! 5 however, europe currently remains far ahead of the u. s. in wind development, with 56, 535 mw of wind capacity online as of the end of 2007. 6 advances in technology and increased experience have made wind power competitive with many traditional sources of electricity, especially when factoring in risk factors for traditional generation resources such as fuel volatility and future environmental regulation. the price of wind - generated electricity has decreased approximately 90 % from the early 1980s ; modern wind farms now generally have levelized costs in the range of 4 - 7 cents per kilowatt - hour over the life of a project ( excluding any tax credits ) making them competitive with many new coal or natural gas facilities. costs for individual projects vary and depend on the strength and consistency of the wind, financing terms, and transmission infrastructure. all else being equal, the cost effectiveness of wind farms generally increases with the turbines ’ capacity factor, the size of the turbines, and number of turbines installed. 7 tapping our domestic wind resources brings a host of economic benefits. since the strongest wind resources


all else being equal, the cost effectiveness of wind farms generally increases with the turbines ’ capacity factor, the size of the turbines, and number of turbines installed. 7 tapping our domestic wind resources brings a host of economic benefits. since the strongest wind resources are often located in rural areas, rural counties and landowners can benefit from wind power. wind farms are capital intensive, infusing money into the local economy during construction phases and paying property taxes to the host county and royalties to local landowners during operation. at the 24 mw klondike phase i wind farm in sherman county, oregon, the wind project contributes 10 % of the county ’ s property tax base. wind turbines are also compatible with rural land uses like farming and ranching and can provide extra income to property owners via power sales or royalty payments. on average, landowners make between $ 2, 000 and $ 7, 000 annually for each modern wind turbine located on their land. in contrast, a natural gas plant drains an estimated $ 200, 000 - $ 350, 000 per mw of capacity out of the regional economy annually for fuel imports. additionally, wind energy produces 27 % more jobs per kilowatt - hour than coal plants, and 66 % more jobs than natural gas plants. 9 wind energy is clearly a homegrown energy source that strengthens the economy and increases the nation ’ s energy security. turbine blades, modeled after airplane wings, rotate due to a pressure differential caused by air moving over the surface of the blade. the blades cause a rotor to turn, which drives an electrical generator. turbines can adjust so that they always face toward the wind. wind turbines can be designed to operate either at variable speeds or at a single, fixed speed. the variable speed designs are more complex but they convert wind power into electricity more efficiently. most wind turbines are designed to use wind blowing anywhere from 8 to 56 mph. sizes for new u. s. utility - scale turbines for onshore sites range from 850 kw to 2. 5 mw and turbines rated 3. 5 mw and larger are being used in offshore wind projects. while variable, wind energy can be integrated into a utility system using existing load - matching capabilities for a minimal cost of 0 - 0. 5 cents / kwh. 10 weather forecasting can predict wind power output with a fair degree of confidence. additionally, multiple wind sites in different locations can be combined to create a relatively stable power supply curve. wind turbines generate electricity without producing any pollutant emissions. in contrast, fossil fuel plants emit toxic mercury, ni


a fair degree of confidence. additionally, multiple wind sites in different locations can be combined to create a relatively stable power supply curve. wind turbines generate electricity without producing any pollutant emissions. in contrast, fossil fuel plants emit toxic mercury, nitrous oxides that cause smog, sulfur dioxide that causes acid rain and large quantities of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. although wind is one of the most benign power sources, if not properly sited, it too may have environmental impacts. wildlife and avian impacts are often the greatest concern. new tower, blade and turbine designs and careful siting help minimize environmental impacts. the federal production tax credit offers an important tax credit to new wind production. each state in the region offers several additional incentives for wind development, from residential projects to utility - scale developments. oregon, for example, provides personal and business tax credits and low - cost financing for renewable energy projects, while washington provides small wind turbine owners a strong production incentive and grants sales tax exemptions for renewable energy equipment. idaho offers a residential tax deduction and a sales tax exemption for renewable energy sys - tems as well as low - interest loans for small - scale wind installations and state - backed bonds for utility - scale wind projects. finally, montana offers corporate income and property tax incentives and a residential tax credit for renewable energy installations. additional incentives are offered as well. see awea ' s map of wind projects in the us : updated february 19, 2008 sources and notes : 1. wind potential from renewable energy atlas of the west, land and water fund of the rockies, et al. ( july 2002 ). - installed capacity from rnp ' s list of northwest renewable energy projects, ( ( add link to project list here ) ). - capacity factor from fifth northwest electric power and conservation plan, northwest power and conservation council ( nwpcc ) ( may, 2005 ). see appendix i. - levelized costs include transmission and integration costs and the federal produc - tion tax credit. 2. 2005 northwest consumption from nwpcc, op. cit. note 1. - 2004 total u. s. electricity generation from annual energy outlook 2006, energy information administration ( feb. 2006 ). see table a8. 3. installed capacity and projects in development from rnp, op. cit. note 1. 4. “ u. s. wind energy projects ”. american wind energy association ( awea ) ( jan 16, 2008 ). www. awea. org / projects / accessed


development from rnp, op. cit. note 1. 4. “ u. s. wind energy projects ”. american wind energy association ( awea ) ( jan 16, 2008 ). www. awea. org / projects / accessed 2 / 19 / 08 5. annual growth figures from “ wind power, u. s. installed capacity ”, awea, www. awea. org / faq / instcap. html, accessed 2 / 19 / 08. - 2007 year - end installed capacity from “ installed us wind power capacity surged 45 % in 2007 ”, awea ( jan 17, 2008 ). 6. “ statistics ”, european wind energy as - sociation, www. ewea. org / index. php? id = 180, accessed 2 / 19 / 09. 7. cost trends from “ the economics of wind energy ”, awea ( feb 2005 ). - levelized costs include transmission and integration costs and the federal production tax credit. 8. graphic from “ renewable energy ”, new south wales department of energy, utilities and sustainability. www. seda. nsw. gov. au / ren _ wind _ body. asp, accessed 9 / 27 / 06. 9. natural gas fuel cost assumes a 55 % efficient combined cycle plant with a 90 % capacity factor using natural gas at $ 4 - $ 7 / mmbtu. - jobs figures from “ wind energy for rural economic development ”, us department of energy, eere ( 2003 ). 10. wind taskforce report, western governor ’ s association ( march 2006 ). 11. u. s. from “ u. s. installed capacity ”, awea. nw from rnp, op. cit. note 1. " montana … alone has enough potential wind resources to supply one quarter of the electricity needs of the united states. "


would it really be so difficult to determine how chapter divisions are marked in all surviving ancient books? the question of chapter divisions and headings in ancient literary and technical texts is a long term interest of mine, as anyone who chooses to look may discover by clicking on the tag at the end of this post. we find, in later medieval texts, that these ancient texts are often divided, not merely into books, but also into chapters, with chapter headings. it does not seem well known or classified, just how often we find this. chapter divisions and titles are a cinderella subject, largely ignored or treating in passing. in my last post, i looked at what chapter divisions and titles there were in a renaissance manuscript of pliny the elder ’ s natural history. the nh is an interesting work to investigate, for this subject, since the author states in the preface that book 1 of the work is a list of capituli. so we do know that these items existed in the autograph, whereas we generally have no such certainty in other works. capituli, or “ subject headings ”, are perhaps just a list of topics covered, in the order in which they appear in the text. there is no necessity to suppose that the text was formally divided into “ chapters ”, in the manner of a modern work – indeed some of the capituli refer to no more than a handful of lines of text, before the next capitulum appears in the margin, so we might better say “ sections ” — and we can see that in the pliny ms. it is not. so while the english word “ chapter ” perhaps derives from the latin capitulum — or does it? do we know this, and if so, how? — the term is perhaps one that is rather different. perhaps we need a word study of the appearance of the english word, and how it was originally used, and how it came to mean what it means today. is it used to translate capitulum in medieval english texts? there is clearly a research project here. likewise we ought to locate all uses of the term capituli in ancient literature — and likewise the greek kephalaia — and from this determine its meaning or meanings, and any change that they underwent during the ancient and medieval period. this might begin with an electronic search, and it really should not take more than a couple of weeks to do. but finally … we need to look at ancient books themselves, and see just what is in the margins, or gathered at


medieval period. this might begin with an electronic search, and it really should not take more than a couple of weeks to do. but finally … we need to look at ancient books themselves, and see just what is in the margins, or gathered at the start of books, or whatever. do we have chapter titles marked? are they numbered? are there collections of them at the start of the book, in a multi - book history? or is it a case that the early mss just have a list of topics at the start of each book, and that these are mirrored in the body of the work, gradually, by subsequent readers and copyists? which works have these elements? it sounds like a large task. but is it? a commenter on my last post pointed out that, in some ways, it is a superficial task. all we have to do is look through the manuscript at a high level. and that may not be so hard to do. for the number of actual ancient books is not that great. the codices latini antiquiores of e. a. lowe lists all the fragments of ancient latin books. the number of codices which are more or else intact is probably not that great. i don ’ t know about greek mss from antiquity, but surely there is a list somewhere? nor does it necessarily involve a lot of travel. the irht in france has a huge collection of microfilms of manuscripts. admittedly this is not nearly as good as colour images — and whether a link is in red ink or black might well be important here — but a couple of weeks work at a microfilm reader in orleans might well answer many of these questions, and provide a base of data from which some solid conclusions might be drawn. it sounds like a solid piece of work for a phd thesis, for a student who is prepared to work hard. i feel tempted myself ; but of course i am not an academic, and i don ’ t have the time. sadly, i fear, i don ’ t have the energy any more either! but the whole question of chapter divisions, titles, etc, is one that simply needs a pioneer to go into it. it ’ s not that hard to do ; just that no - one has really attacked it. i ’ ve always thought of the task of working out the history of the chapter titles for endless different literary and technical works was one that would require an army of scholars. indeed a great manuscript scholar once wrote to me that it would require scholarly collaboration.


king james ii of england ( who was also james vii of scotland ) inherited the throne in 1685 upon the death of his brother, charles ii. james ii was unpopular because of his attempts to increase the power of the monarchy and restore the catholic faith. deposed in the " glorious revolution " of 1688 - 89, he fled to france. his daughter and son - in - law succeeded him as queen mary ii and king william iii. james ii died in 1701. unless otherwise noted, these books are for sale at amazon. com. your purchase through these links will help to support the continued operation and improvement of the royalty. nu site. james ii by john miller. biography from the yale english monarchs series. james ii : the triumph and the tragedy by john callow. charts james ' life using little - known material from the uk national archives. includes james ' own description of the battle of edgehill, his reasons for his conversion to catholicism, and his correspondence with william of orange. a court in exile : the stuarts in france, 1689 - 1718 by edward corp. after james ii was deposed, he established his court in france. the book describes his court and the close relationships between the british and french royal families. king in exile : james ii : warrior, king and saint by john callow. reassesses james ' s strategy for dealing with his downfall and exile, presenting a portrait of a man who planned for great political rewards and popular acclaim. james ii and the trial of the seven bishops by william gibson. the trial of seven bishops in 1688 was a prelude to the glorious revolution, as popular support for the bishops led to widespread welcome for william of orange ' s invasion. the making of king james ii by john callow is about the formative years of the fallen king. out of print, but sometimes available from alibris. the countess and the king : a novel of the countess of dorchester and king james ii by susan holloway scott. novel about katherine sedley, a royal mistress forced to make the most perilous of choices : to remain loyal to the king, or to england. the crown for a lie by jane lane. novel about how james ii lost his throne. out of print, but sometimes available from alibris.


tip of the week this winter, millions of americans will be hitting the roads and facing cold temperatures, along with the snowy and icy conditions winter weather brings. these factors are not only a nuisance, but at times, very dangerous, even for the most confident and experienced drivers. simple driving maneuvers, such as starting, stopping and making turns can become very challenging if vehicles are not properly prepared for inclement weather. to prepare vehicles for the winter months ahead, here are some simple tips to help you arrive safely at your destination. - traction is key : the economy has forced many to postpone tire purchases, but with wet weather and unpredictable winter conditions ahead, now is not the time to have low tread on your tires. your tires need good traction to help keep your car on the road. it ' s important to have the correct tire tread and in particularly cold climates, drivers should consider investing in winter tires. - feel the pressure : as temperatures change, so does tire pressure. proper tire inflation is essential for increased automotive safety, optimum driving performance and even good fuel mileage. tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the glove box and should be checked at least monthly. over - inflation can lead to premature or irregular tire wear and under - inflation reduces a vehicle ' s fuel efficiency by an average of 3. 3 percent. - keep it clean : consumers ' cars, trucks or suvs are likely weathering the harsh conditions and corrosive elements associated with winter, including freezing rain, snow, ice, sand and salt. keeping vehicles clean will help protect them from the chemicals and dirt that may attack the car ' s finish and undercarriage. be sure to use quality cleaners and waxes specifically designed for handling a car ' s finish. - keep it flowing : oil is the lifeblood of the engine, helping to keep it running efficiently and effectively. not sure what oil to use? defer to a professional or use the grade of motor oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer to achieve optimum engine protection and fuel efficiency. - be prepared : keep a survival kit handy. a flashlight with fresh batteries, a blanket, water bottles, cellphone charger, jumper cables, flares, a " help " sign, and a first aid kit will prepare you for emergency situations or unexpected breakdowns. according to cnn money, here are 10 james bond cars you might be able to afford : 2002 aston martin vanquish 1980 lotus esprit turbo 1996 bmw z3 1977


the santa clara valley transportation authority ( vta ), known at that time as " county transit, " was on its way towards the goal of building a mass transit system that would serve the ever - growing urbanized area, becoming an alternative to the automobile and a driver of economic development. it began with the federal government supporting that vision with a $ 2 - million grant in 1982 to fund preliminary engineering of the first phase. construction of the line officially commenced with the light - rail maintenance facility. the guadalupe light rail division, located in downtown san jose on younger street, was completed in 1986 and is used to store, clean and repair light - rail vehicles. the second phase of construction and first segment of in - street track installation began in 1985. although the initial tracks only spanned 1. 5 miles, they were essential for testing the light - rail vehicles as they were delivered. today, santa clara vta ' s light - rail service spans 42. 2 miles and 62 stations, connecting with santa clara vta buses, caltrain, altamont corridor express, capitol corridor intercity rail service and one day, bay area rapid transit. santa clara vta currently operates 99 low - floor vehicles. more than 10 million trips were taken in fiscal year 2012 and the system is on track to carry 11 million riders in fiscal year 2013. " as light rail hits its stride, i know the best years are ahead for our system, " said santa clara county supervisor and vta board chair ken yeager. " like silicon valley, light rail has evolved and changed through the decades. as our economy continues to grow, and as we look for ways to reduce congestion and air pollution, light rail is needed more now than ever. "


coincidentally, 2012 saw the largest acreage of corn in the u. s. planted since ww ii, and subsequently the worst drought since the 1950 ′ s, affecting 80 % of agricultural land. this will cause price increases in meat and dairy, ethanol, and to a much lesser extent processed foods, since that is what virtually all of the cropland land is used for. government subsidies and crop insurance go primarily to commodity crops, not human food ones, so the u. s. government will be paying along with us for that drought. in the u. s. 45 % of all land is pasture or cropland. cropland = 408 million acres. of this : commodity crops – corn and soybeans, 170 million acres ; wheat 57 million acres, oats 16 million acres, cotton 10 or more million acres, less for rice, oats and sorghum and others. specialty crops – vegetables, fruits and nuts, flowers, christmas trees, etc. 14 million acres, most of these for food crops. ( until recent farm bills, these food crops were not subsidized, farmers were even penalized for growing them. now a small percentage of subsidies goes towards them. ) this is why a salad costs more than a big mac.


the financial aid process can be a daunting one. if you don ’ t get a primer from a guidance counselor or older sibling who is already on a college campus somewhere, it could be difficult to figure out where to start. the good news is, we ’ re here to help. with a little research and an introduction to the basics, you ’ ll be using even the most obscure financial aid acronyms with ease. your starting point should always be the free application for student aid, or as you ’ ve probably already heard before, the fafsa. that step will determine what you do next, as once your application is processed you ’ ll know exactly how much free money you ’ re going to get from federal assistance programs and grants, how much you ’ ll be able to borrow through federal loans, and how much of your package you may need to supplement through private lending agencies. the process is the same for graduate students, although you may not be eligible for all the programs available to undergraduates, including federal pell grants, a free gift from the government with a current maximum of up to $ 5, 550. once you ’ ve done that, you begin weighing your options, and potentially looking for ways to cut your college costs. scholarships are an excellent source of financial aid, and if you apply early and often enough, you ’ ll have a better chance of landing a good amount of free money to supplement your financial aid package. below, you ’ ll find more information and tips on navgating the financial aid process, including articles on the latest news from the ever - changing financial aid industry. the best way to supplement your financial aid package is to apply for ( and win ) college scholarships. while it will take some initiative, research and time on your part, the payoff is worth it if it decreases your total student loan debt. these days you don ’ t have to be a star athlete or valedictorian to land scholarships. many are based on characteristics like need, community service and your intended field of study, or if you dig even deeper, you ’ ll find a wide array of awards based on more specific characteristics. what makes you unique could be what lands you a generous college scholarship. chances are you qualify for more scholarships than you thought you did, so conduct a free scholarship search or browse through our site to see awards you may be eligible for and start earning money toward college. if you ’ re lucky, your parents have been saving up for your transition from high school to college with one


, so conduct a free scholarship search or browse through our site to see awards you may be eligible for and start earning money toward college. if you ’ re lucky, your parents have been saving up for your transition from high school to college with one of the popular college saving accounts options. from 529 plans, which vary by state but offer significant tax savings over taxable accounts, to coverdell accounts, which are a good option for families who don ’ t want to invest more than $ 2, 000 a year for their college - bound children, every parent should be able to find a college saving account to meet their budgets and their needs. a good start for families unsure of where to begin or how much they should strive to save is estimating how much college will cost by using a college financial aid calculator. it ’ s fine to start with a conservative number, as some of the college saving accounts come with stipulations that the funds must be used for college expenses, which could hurt parents whose children don ’ t end up going to college or go for a low - cost option like community college. federal aid, which is subject to changes in funding levels made by the government, comes in the form of federal grant programs, federal student loans and federal work - study programs. the best indicator of your eligibility for all federal aid is the fafsa, which is also available online to speed up processing and is ready for you to fill out starting jan. 1 of each year. unless you plan on paying for your college expenses out - of - pocket or through your parents ’ college savings accounts, the fafsa will answer most questions of how much funding you ’ ll be receiving and which federal funding programs you qualify for. worst case scenario, you find that you ’ re only eligible for stafford loans, which although they ’ re not as desirable as scholarships and grants that you won ’ t need to pay back, they ’ re lower interest than any private loan you ’ d qualify for. a little bit of research will not only help you to understand financial aid information better, but help dispel popular misconceptions about the process. many students think they ’ re not eligible for many forms of aid, or that applying will not only be tedious but futile. the truth is, the financial aid process is one of the most important if not the most important step you ’ ll take toward getting yourself into college. more than $ 130 billion is awarded to college - bound students annually, and while it certainly helps to supplement


truth is, the financial aid process is one of the most important if not the most important step you ’ ll take toward getting yourself into college. more than $ 130 billion is awarded to college - bound students annually, and while it certainly helps to supplement your application with an impressive academic record, much of the funding is also needs - based or based on criteria that have nothing to do with your gpa or high school course load. once you ’ ve filled out your fafsa, conduct a free scholarship search to find awards you may have never known you were eligible for otherwise, and pad your financial aid package with as much free money from scholarships and grants as you can. the best way to know what to expect of your financial aid process is to do your research. lucky for you, we ’ ve done it for you, and will continue to update our site with the latest news on financial aid happenings that could affect how much you get from the government. check out our links for financial aid news to determine not only what higher education institutions are doing to affect students ’ financial aid packages, but moves the government is making that will make it easier – or harder – for you to take out loans, get awarded grants, and pay for college. while college is supposed to be one of the most rewarding times in your life, you don ’ t want to be faced with a monthly payment post - graduation that takes over a high percentage of your salary, or worse yet, one you ’ d be forced to default on, hurting your credit score. find money for college by educating yourself on the options available and taking advantage of the millions of dollars being awarded to college - bound high school students each year. and if you ’ re faced with a bigger tuition bill than you thought, consider your options to keep your college costs low.


5 october 2011 | en | fr the east africa famine calls into question the wisdom of investing in early warning systems without improving take - up, writes linda nordling. when the un declared a state of famine in the horn of africa in july, one group of scientists was not surprised. in august 2010, the usaid - funded famine early warning systems network ( fews net ) had issued a prediction of poor march – may rains this year. the tens of thousands of people that have died since then in east africa, and the millions that remain hungry, are a harsh indictment of the ability of science - based early warnings of disaster to make a difference to the continent ' s most vulnerable people. as more and better african science data make predictions easier, more effort will be needed to understand and improve the uptake of early warnings at local, national and international levels. why warnings fail so why did the rainfall warning fail to avert the disaster in the horn of africa? the problem is multifaceted, and not easy to address. writing in nature, fews net scientist chris funk lists a number of reasons, from conflicting climate research predicting wetter conditions in east africa, to political obstacles ( especially conflict in somalia ) and the region ' s rapid population growth outpacing agricultural yields. funk believes the answer is more science and better agricultural practices to improve yields in areas at risk of drought and food shortages. working towards a more sustainable long - term strategy for feeding the region ' s population will limit the need for emergency response, he says. while most media reports have focused on the international community ' s failure to respond, funk focuses on what must be done in africa to improve uptake. he is right to do so. the failure of warnings to filter down into african policy at all levels is a graver problem than that of mobilising emergency aid, criticised by many observers for creating a dependency culture in formerly self - sufficient regions. data poor no more the past decade ' s strong science push in africa has boosted the understanding of its climate, diseases, and political and economic systems. this data flood has produced a wealth of mathematical models, and systems are now in place — or being set up — for predicting food price variability, malaria outbreaks, floods and even armed conflicts. they are all being billed as tools that can revolutionise the continent ' s response to emergencies. but it is not just fews net that is struggling to live up to expectations. last month, nigeria ' s emergency management agency accused state governments of ignoring early warnings of floods


billed as tools that can revolutionise the continent ' s response to emergencies. but it is not just fews net that is struggling to live up to expectations. last month, nigeria ' s emergency management agency accused state governments of ignoring early warnings of floods that killed more than an estimated 140 people and left tens of thousands homeless. in nigeria, the problem was a failure of state governments to act upon warnings by clearing drains and evacuating people living in flood plains. the weakest link similar barriers held back the famine warning in the horn of africa. " there is a weak link between early warning and response, " says gideon galu, a scientist with fews net based in nairobi, kenya. although fews net works with decision - makers in the national government to highlight its findings, the link - up to local authorities and rural communities relies on national government structures, he says. kenya, for example, has a food security steering group that passes scientific information on to decision - makers. nongovernmental organisations and other partners can attend meetings and get a consensus on the scale and magnitude of a problem. but the final link in the flow of information is problematic in kenya, and in ethiopia ; and it ' s particularly weak in countries like somalia where governance is fragile. there are scant resources and information dissemination networks to make sure that messages reach the local level. these failures illustrate a key obstacle that many african countries must overcome. the impact of science - based early warning systems hinges on governments ' capability ( and perhaps willingness ) to turn warnings into readiness on the ground. avoiding warning fatigue in time, the early warning community will learn from its mistakes as it establishes strong networks that reach down to the community level — an activity that fews net is working on. the organisation is also working to address the underlying vulnerability to food crises via the us feed the future programme, a us $ 3. 5 billion investment in strengthening agriculture in ethiopia, kenya and other countries. better links to local government and rural communities will also improve fews net ' s capability to collect data on variables such as rainfall and temperature, making prediction more of a two - way street, adds gulu. " they are now able to provide us with additional data about what is happening in the field, " he says. but there is a downside : the explosion in early warning systems means that individual warnings could grow into a cacophony of calls to emergency action that compete for policymakers ' attention and scarce resources. such ' warning fatigue ' would make it harder to discern credible


downside : the explosion in early warning systems means that individual warnings could grow into a cacophony of calls to emergency action that compete for policymakers ' attention and scarce resources. such ' warning fatigue ' would make it harder to discern credible alerts and act on them. in that future, a warning system well - connected to decision - makers with functioning lines of communication with local officials is likely to be more effective than one where all the money has gone to improving the science while neglecting the capacity to put the evidence to good use. journalist linda nordling, based in cape town, south africa, specialises in african science policy, education and development. she was the founding editor of research africa and writes for scidev. net, nature and others. funk, c. we thought trouble was coming, nature, 476, 7 ( 2011 ) susan fm lwec ( living with environmental change | united kingdom ) 5 october 2011 this in some ways is a chilling article. however, i had a good insight into early warning fatigue at a humanitarian vision / nerc workshop to bring climate scientists into better dialogue with ngos. we role played how we ' d manage early warning of flood and it gave fascinating first hand insights into risk perception and how it varied in the room. strikes me that this is very relevant in this context all scidev. net material is free to reproduce providing that the source and author are appropriately credited. for further details see creative commons.


la jolla, calif., july 18, 2012 – in their quest to treat cardiovascular disease, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have long been interested in developing new medicines that activate a heart protein called apj. but researchers at sanford - burnham medical research institute ( sanford - burnham ) and the stanford university school of medicine have now uncovered a second, previously unknown, function for apj — it senses mechanical changes when the heart is in danger and sets the body on a course toward heart failure. this means that activating apj could actually be harmful in some cases — potentially eye - opening information for some heart drug makers. the study appears july 18 in nature. " just finding a molecule that activates apj is not enough. what ' s important to heart failure is not if this receptor is ' on ' or ' off, ' but the way it ' s activated, " said pilar ruiz - lozano, ph. d., who led the study. ruiz - lozano, formerly assistant professor at sanford - burnham, is now associate professor of pediatrics in the stanford university school of medicine and adjunct faculty member at sanford - burnham. stretching the heart apj is a receptor that sits on the cell surface in many organs, where it senses the external environment. when a hormone called apelin comes along and binds apj, it sets off a molecular chain reaction that influences a number of cellular functions. many previous studies have shown that apelin - apj activity directs beneficial processes such as embryonic heart development, maintenance of normal blood pressure, and new blood vessel formation. according to ruiz - lozano ' s latest study, however, apj can also be activated a second, more harmful, way that doesn ' t involve apelin. in this pathway, apj senses and responds to mechanical changes in the heart. to better understand these mechanical changes, let ' s look at a person with high blood pressure. in this case, the person ' s heart has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood at the same rate as a healthy person. to meet the increased demand, individual heart muscle cells start making more proteins, making the cells bigger. eventually, cell membranes stretch and each cell begins to pull away from its neighbor. this leads to an enlarged heart — a condition known as hypertrophy. in pathological ( disease ) conditions, hypertrophy can lead to heart failure. apj and heart failure the best way to determine the role a protein plays in a particular cellular process is to see what happens when it ' s


mar. 20, 2007 an overexpressed protein protects human pancreatic cancer cells from being forced to devour themselves, removing one of the body ' s natural defenses against out - of - control cell growth, researchers at the university of texas m. d. anderson cancer center report in the march issue of molecular cancer research. the protein tissue transglutaminase, known by the abbreviation tg2, previously has been found by researchers at m. d. anderson and elsewhere to be overexpressed in a variety of drug - resistant cancer cells and in cancer that has spread from its original organ ( metastasized ). " in general, you rarely see overexpression of tg2 in a normal cell, " says kapil mehta, ph. d., professor in the m. d. anderson department of experimental therapeutics, who began 10 years ago studying tg2 as an inflammatory protein. mehta and colleagues in the past year have connected tg2 overexpression to drug - resistant and metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. expression of tg2 is tightly regulated in a healthy cell, mehta says, and is temporarily increased in response to certain hormones or stress factors. " however, constitutive expression of this protein in a cancer cell helps confer protection from stress - induced cell death, " mehta says. " we are developing tg2 as a pharmaceutical target and are now working with a mouse model to that end. " the mechanisms by which tg2 might promote drug - resistance and metastasis have remained elusive, the researchers note. in this paper, the m. d. anderson team shows in lab experiments that inhibiting the protein in pancreatic cancer cells leads to a form of programmed cell suicide called autophagy, or self - digestion. tg2 was inhibited in two separate ways. first, the researchers blocked another protein known to activate tg2. secondly, they also directly targeted tg2 with a tiny molecule known as small interfering rna tailored to shut down expression of the protein. in both cases, the result was a drastic reduction of tg2 expression ( up to 94 percent ) and telltale signs of autophagy in the cancer cells, which became riddled with cavities called vacuoles. when autophagy occurs, a double membrane forms around a cell organ, or organelle. this autophagosome then merges with a digestive organelle called


cancer cells, which became riddled with cavities called vacuoles. when autophagy occurs, a double membrane forms around a cell organ, or organelle. this autophagosome then merges with a digestive organelle called a lysosome and everything inside is consumed, leaving the vacuole and a residue of digested material. if enough of this happens, the cell dies. gabriel lopez - berestein, m. d., professor of experimental therapeutics and study co - author, notes that the research also shows that the self - consuming cell death prevented by tg2 is independent of a prominent molecular pathway also known to regulate autophagy called the mammalian target of rapamycin. " targeting tg2, or its activating protein pkc, or both, presents a novel and potentially effective approach to treating patients with pancreatic cancer, " lopez - berestein said. research in the mouse model remains in the early stages, the researchers caution. the researchers also show that the tg2 pathway also is separate from another, better known, form of programmed cell death called apoptosis. apoptosis, like autophagy, is a normal biological defense mechanism that systematically destroys defective cells by forcing them to kill themselves. in apoptosis, the cells die via damage to their nucleus and dna, with other cellular organelles preserved. autophagy kills by degrading those other organelles while sparing the nucleus. mehta ' s lab reported in a cancer research paper last september that tg2 overexpression also activates a protein called nuclear factor - kb known to play a role in regulating cell growth, metastasis and apoptosis. this pathway, mehta explained, could make tg2 an attractive target for other forms of cancer as well. co - authors with mehta and lopez - berestein are : co - first authors ugur akar, ph. d., and bulent ozpolat, m. d., ph. d., and jansina fok, all of the department of experimental therapeutics, and yasuko kondo, m. d., ph. d, of the m. d. anderson department of neurosurgery. funding for this research was provided by the national cancer institute of the national institutes of health. other social bookmarking and sharing tools : note : materials may be edited for content and length. for further information, please contact the source


mar. 4, 2013 behind locked doors, in a lab built like a bomb shelter, perry gerakines makes something ordinary yet truly alien : ice. this isn ' t the ice of snowflakes or ice cubes. no, this ice needs such intense cold and low pressure to form that the right conditions rarely, if ever, occur naturally on earth. and when gerakines makes the ice, he must keep the layer so microscopically thin it is dwarfed by a grain of pollen. these ultrathin layers turn out to be perfect for recreating some of the key chemistry that takes place in space. in these tiny test tubes, gerakines and his colleagues in the cosmic ice lab at nasa ' s goddard space flight center in greenbelt, md., can reproduce reactions in ice from almost any time and place in the history of the solar system, including some that might help explain the origin of life. " this is not the chemistry people remember from high school, " says reggie hudson, who heads the cosmic ice lab. " this is chemistry in the extreme : bitter cold, harsh radiation and nearly non - existent pressure. and it ' s usually taking place in gases or solids, because generally speaking, there aren ' t liquids in interstellar space. " the cosmic ice lab is one of a few laboratories worldwide where researchers have been studying the ultracool chemistry of cosmic ice. with its powerful particle accelerator, the goddard lab has the special ability to mimic almost any kind of solar or cosmic radiation to drive these reactions. and that lets them dig deep to study the chemistry of ice below the surface of planets and moons as well as ice in space. recipe for disorder in a vacuum chamber about the size of a lunchbox, gerakines recreates a little patch of deep space, in all its extremes. he pumps out air until the pressure inside drops to a level a billion times lower than normal for earth, then chills the chamber to minus 433 degrees fahrenheit ( 15 kelvins ). to get ice, all that remains is to open a valve and let in water vapor. the instant the sprightly vapor molecules enter the chamber they are literally frozen in their tracks. still pointing every which way, the molecules are transformed immediately from their gaseous state into the disorderly solid called amorphous ice. amorphous ice is exactly the opposite of the typical ice on earth, which forms perfect crystals like those that make up snowflakes or frost needles. these crystals are so orderly


gaseous state into the disorderly solid called amorphous ice. amorphous ice is exactly the opposite of the typical ice on earth, which forms perfect crystals like those that make up snowflakes or frost needles. these crystals are so orderly and predictable that this ice is considered a mineral, complete with a rating of 2. 5 on the mohs scale of hardness - - the same rating as a fingernail. though almost unheard of on earth, amorphous ice is so widespread in interstellar space that it could be the most common form of water in the universe. left over from the age when the solar system was born, it is scattered across vast distances, often as particles no bigger than grains of dust. it ' s also been spotted in comets and icy moons. the secret to making amorphous ice in the lab, gerakines finds, is to limit the layer to a depth of about half a micrometer - - thinner than a strand of spider ' s silk. " water is such a good insulator that if the ice gets too thick, only the bottom of the sample, closer to the cooling source, will stay sufficiently cold, " says gerakines. " the ice on top will get warm enough to crystallize. " the superthin ice can be spiked with all kinds of interesting chemicals found in space. one set of chemicals that gerakines works with is amino acids, which are key players in the chemistry of life on earth. researchers have spent decades identifying a whole smorgasbord of amino acids in meteorites ( including some involved in life ), as well as one found in a sample taken from a comet. " and because water is the dominant form of frozen material in the interstellar medium and outer solar system, " says gerakines, " any amino acids out there are probably in contact with water at some point. " for his current set of experiments, gerakines makes three kinds of ice, each spiked with an amorphous form of an amino acid ( either glycine, alanine or phenylalanine ) that is found in proteins. the real action begins when gerakines hits the ice with radiation. earlier studies by other researchers have looked at ice chemistry using ultraviolet light. gerakines opts instead to look at cosmic radiation, which can reach ice hidden below the surface of a planet or moon. to mimic this radiation, he uses a proton beam from the high - voltage particle accelerator, which resides in an underground room lined


view the sky and celestial bodies just as galilieo did 400 years ago the galileoscope is 400 years of product development in the making - this high - quality telescope kit was developed by leading astronomers, optical engineers, and science educators to showcase how early astronomers made their discoveries. once assembled, the telescope will offer views of lunar craters and mountains, four moons circling jupiter, the phases of venus, saturn ' s rings, and countless stars invisible to the unaided eye. the 50mm diameter telescope offers 25x to 50x magnification. the kit is easy - to - assemble and includes standard components such as a base that fits most tripods and a 1. 25 focuser. educational activities and observing guides for use with your galileoscope are available for free at www. teachingwithtelescopes. org. “ the father of modern observational astronomy, ” galileo galilei was an italian physicist and astronomer whose ideas and inventions were an important part of the scientific revolution. supporting copernicus ’ s heliocentric theory of the earth ’ s revolution around the sun, galileo made several contributions to modern astronomy, with his telescopic observations warning : use with adult supervision only. warning : do not look at the sun with the galileoscope ; severe eye damage will occur.


as the use of technologies becomes less of an issue and approaches such as the use of sms for mobile learning become ubiquitous – our attention must now move to an increased focus on pedagogy. how will the use of these technologies affect learners ’ abilities to learn? how will teachers and facilitators need to change their existing practice? as individual access and control of content explodes, the higher education institutions that move toward the integration of services such assessing learning, helping students organize what they know into meaningful packages and then credential that learning will get the cheese. there will be new are the new institutions that build on what is currently happening and some will remake themselves. mobile learning at oum started with the formation of an research team on m - learning in august 2008. its first task was to determine how ready oum learners would be for mobile learning. we surveyed almost 3, 000 learners throughout malaysia and found that more than 80 percent of the learners said they would be ready for learning through their mobile phones. we first experimented with podcasts and moved on to using sms to support the blended mode of learning at oum and found that the latter worked extremely well. when it comes to changes in formal and informal learning, we may need to think about the pedagogy involved, where there may also be a shift from collaborative learning in institutions to cooperative learning in networks. there may also be a shift from cooperative learning in networks to collaborative learning in institutions when mooc is formally institutionalized and accreditated in institutions. does it address the difference between cooperation and collaboration learning in the networks / groups? in other words, these moocs are set up by one or more individuals. they are created not collectively, as we go along, but usually by one or more ( less than 5? ) individuals working as a group. as creators and conveners of the mooc, what responsibility do they have for their creation and the resultant learning that takes place in the mooc? where does their responsibility begin and end? does it matter? after seeing several moocs ( massive open online courses ) come and go over the past couple of years, i ' ve decided to play a part in a new one being facilitated by dave cormier, george siemens and stephen downes. is assessment always necessary in learning ( in particular informal learning or social learning )? can people learn effectively without being assessed? may be not, under a formal education system. but if we argue that it is growth of a person as a product of learning ( refer


always necessary in learning ( in particular informal learning or social learning )? can people learn effectively without being assessed? may be not, under a formal education system. but if we argue that it is growth of a person as a product of learning ( refer to stephen ’ s slides on connectivism ), and based on connectivism and transculturality, then the assessment would be embedded in the “ growth of knowledge, skills and competency ”, which could be reflected in the performance in study or that at work, and that comes naturally also in network conversation. information literacy has been defined by the american library association in the following way : to be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and has the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. digital literacy seems to be very similar : in wikipedia it starts with a definition that is almost word for word identical to ala definition of information literacy but adds on three new words : digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate and analyze information using digital technology. digital citizenship refers to the use of these skills to interact with society. today, with the proliferation of tablet computers such as the ipad and galaxy tab, oum is considering using them as a learning device on oum course modules can be easily downloaded into. still at the planning stage, the idea of using tablet computers makes sense as through these devices, not only will course information and learning materials be more easily accessible, the learner will also benefit from other useful applications supported by such devices. in addition, with wi - fi facilities available in most, if not all classrooms in the oum learning centers, the learners will be better engaged with oum as a whole and with their facilitators in particular. it will be seamless and ubiquitous learning at its best. i think one education ' s challenges in the 21st century is going to be whether they can change and adapt to new technology. moreover, whether education can embrace new forms of technology to drive different types of learning and increase international collaboration. i think # change11 is going to be a fascinating experiment for all involved. this mooc guide based on the experience of the mobimooc ( ourse ) which was a course that ran from 2 april until the 14 may 2011 and had 580 participants that hooked up to its resources. the course resulted in collaborations transcending the duration of the course. the course focused on the subject of mobile learning and was delivered over 6 weeks, each of which had a different angle :


our bodies create a tremendous amount of internal heat. we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through our skin. under certain circumstances, such as unusually high temperatures, high humidity, or vigorous exercise in hot weather, this natural cooling system may begin to fail, allowing internal heat to build up to dangerous levels. the result may be heat illness, which can come in the form of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke. heat cramps are brief, severe cramps in the muscles of the legs, arms, or abdomen that may occur during or after vigorous exercise in extreme heat. the sweating that occurs with vigorous exercise causes the body to lose salts and fluids. and the low level of salts causes the muscles to cramp. children are particularly susceptible to heat cramps when they haven ' t been drinking enough fluids. although painful, heat cramps aren ' t what to do : most heat cramps don ' t require special treatment. a cool place, rest, and fluids should ease your child ' s discomfort. massaging cramped muscles may also help. heat exhaustion is a more severe heat illness that can occur when a person in a hot climate or environment hasn ' t been drinking enough fluids. symptoms may include : - clammy skin - nausea and / or - hyperventilation ( rapid breathing ) what to do : - bring your child indoors or into the shade. - loosen or remove your child ' s clothing. - encourage your child to eat and drink. - give your child a bath in cool ( not cold ) water. - call your child ' s doctor for further advice. if your child is too exhausted or ill to eat or drink, intravenous fluids may be necessary. if left untreated, heat exhaustion may escalate into heatstroke, which can be fatal. the most severe form of heat illness, heatstroke is a life - threatening medical emergency. the body loses its ability to regulate its own temperature. body temperature can soar to 106 degrees fahrenheit ( 41. 1 degrees celsius ) or even higher, leading to brain damage or even death if it isn ' t quickly treated. prompt medical treatment is required to bring the body temperature under control. factors that increase the risk for heatstroke include overdressing and extreme physical exertion in hot weather with inadequate fluid intake. heatstroke can also happen when a child is left in, or becomes accidentally trapped in, a car on a hot day. when the outside temperature is 93 degrees fahrenh


and extreme physical exertion in hot weather with inadequate fluid intake. heatstroke can also happen when a child is left in, or becomes accidentally trapped in, a car on a hot day. when the outside temperature is 93 degrees fahrenheit ( 33. 9 degrees celsius ), the temperature inside a car can reach 125 degrees fahrenheit ( 51. 7 degrees celsius ) in just 20 minutes, quickly raising a child ' s body temperature to dangerous levels. what to do : call for emergency medical help if your child has been outside in the sun exercising for a long time and shows one or more of the following symptoms of heatstroke : - flushed, hot, dry skin with no sweating - temperature of 105 degrees fahrenheit ( 40. 6 degrees celsius ) - severe, throbbing headache - weakness, dizziness, or confusion - sluggishness or fatigue - decreased responsiveness - loss of consciousness while waiting for help : - get your child indoors or into the shade. - undress your child and sponge or douse him or her with cool an ounce of prevention some ways you can prevent your child from experiencing heat - teach your child to always drink plenty of fluids before and during an activity in hot, sunny weather - even if he or she - make sure your child wears light - colored loose clothing. - make sure your child only participates in heavy activity outdoors before noon and after 6 pm. - teach your child to come indoors immediately whenever he or she feels overheated. updated and reviewed by : steven dowshen, md date reviewed : march 2007 note : all information is for educational purposes only. for specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995 - 2009 the nemours foundation / kidshealth. all rights reserved.


what ' s in a name? well, if you ' re the weather channel, today ' s winter storm is called winter storm nemo. and if you ' re wfsb channel 3, the storm is called charlotte. prior to the weather channel ' s announcement last fall that it would be naming winter storms, channel 3 touted on its website that it was the only station in the nation to name them. the national weather service, an arm of the federal national oceanic and atmospheric administration, is in charge of officially naming tropical storms, which retain their names if the systems turn into full - fledged hurricanes. in a statement, the weather service said, " the national weather service does not name winter storms because a winter storm ' s impact can vary from one location to another, and storms can weaken and redevelop, making it difficult to define where one ends and another begins. while the national weather service does not name winter storms, we do rate major winter storms after the fact. " today ' s storm is expected to end saturday afternoon and leave behind 16 to 26 inches of snow for shoreline towns and 17 to 29 inches inland. not every storm gets a name, channel 3 notes. at least 6 inches of snow and / or significant ice accumulation of at least half an inch must be forecast for most of the state. " in other words, a major snow or ice storm, " channel 3 says. the tradition of naming winter storms began with channel 3 and the travelers weather service in 1971. the first storm was arthur, on thanksgiving day that year, according to channel 3. the weather channel says naming storms raises awareness, makes it easier to follow a weather system ' s progress, and in today ' s social media world, makes it easier to reference in communication. the weather channel notes that there is no national center to coordinate and communicate information on winter storms, so it decided to take on that role. the naming of winter storms is limited to no more than three days before impact to ensure there is moderate to strong confidence the system will produce significant effects on a populated area, the weather channel says. in any event, whether you call it nemo, charlotte or joe shmoe, be careful. a storm by any other name could be equally as dangerous.


indian removal had been taking place in the united states since the 18th century as more americans made the move westward. in the early 19th century, andrew jackson and the majority of white americans like him, wanted the indians to move west of the mississippi, out of the way from white expansion. popular thought was that the indians were savages who could not be civilized, and integration with the white culture was not a possibility. through the next several years, indian tribes all over the eastern front were forced to reservations of proportional inequality compared with land once owned. the united states bought the land from the indians while using its brute power to force unruly tribes west. no matter how much they tried, the indians were no match for the strength of the united states. indians of the sauk and fox tribes tried to take back land that was ceded to the united states wrongfully. when they inhabited the vacant land, americans saw them as a threat to the white settlements close - by. illinois state militia was sent in to destroy the so - called " invaders. " the indians retreated back and the militia continued to attack until most had been killed. were americans justified in the mass movement of indian tribes? i would have to say they were not. i cannot see the logic in their assumptions of the indians. for the most part, little interaction took place with the indians. yet, americans still believed they were uncivilized. perhaps the problem was in terms of envy. indians had been capable of adapting to land and using the land efficiently for years at a time. i think americans saw how the indians were able to do this, and became jealous of their superior farming abilities. land was becoming useless in the east, and indians had been able to use their land repeatedly. americans saw this fertile land as rich in potential profit and were willing to go to any length in acquiring it. evidence of the two cultures working together in a society was apparent in new mexico, texas, and california. if these people were able to survive and live off each other, i would have to assume that had the united states made an effort, they could have resolved this situation in an easier manner. unless it was jealousy that was driving them to take the indian land. something tells me it was exactly that which caused such a debacle. superior in farming techniques and land use, the indians efficient ways were the downfall of their land availability.


can be seen in flocks in the millions. “ inquisitive and sometimes mischievous, crows are good problem learners and problem - solvers, often raiding garbage cans and picking over discarded food containers, ” read the cornell description. “ they ’ re also aggressive and often chase away larger birds including hawks, owls and herons. ” the birds might even scare off a small dog or cat, especially when trying to steal food that might have been left out. fenimore said crows travel in family groups with the young learning from parents and extended families, often spending more than a year with family groups, learning how to make a living. fenimore thinks the changing human use of the land in davis county might be helping crows increase their numbers. in davis county, land that used to be agricultural has been converted into subdivisions and shopping centers. “ that provides resource food for the crows, ” he said. “ they are adept at utilizing human disturbances and settlements to make a living. they hang out with us and utilize our scraps. ” it is sometimes easy to mistake a crow and a raven. ravens, another smart black bird, are the larger of the two species. parrish said ravens tend to stay in higher elevations than crows, though it is not unusual to see a raven in town as well. so, if you are a northern utah resident and you think you are seeing more murders of crows in than in the past, chances are your observations are correct.


your baby ’ s skin has become opaque ( it had been see - through ), but it is still immature. the retina of the eye continues to form, but that also is not mature yet. the circulation to the lungs is forming, and the lungs are beginning to develop surfactant ( a substance that keeps the lungs from sticking to themselves ), however the lungs will be one of the last parts of your baby to fully mature. his body has caught up with his head, and although the head is still large compared to an adult, your baby ’ s body and head are in the right proportions for a newborn. his brainwaves also resemble those of a full - term newborn. he is developing a sleep - wake pattern and may be developing an active time that is pretty regular from day to day. at the end of the 24th week your baby will be around 10 inches from crown to rump and weigh 2 pounds. for most women the second trimester has brought some welcome changes. the uterus is too large for the pelvis, so there is less pressure on the bladder, but the uterus is not quite large enough to cause real problems with eating and breathing. you should have more energy than you did in the first trimester, along with an increased libido. you should also be feeling the baby move every day. weight gain should be pretty steady now, meaning only that you continue to gain weight, not lose it. the growing uterus may be causing stretch marks across your lower abdomen and sides. the pressure of the uterus may also be causing some constipation and heartburn. your thyroid gland is more active during pregnancy, which may cause an increased perspiration. some women find that the increased blood volume during pregnancy causes their gums to bleed and nosebleeds. although still early, some women begin to have leaking fluids from their breasts. it is normal for the breasts to leak, and normal for the breasts not to leak. it will have no effect on your ability to breastfeed. these symptoms are commonly experienced during this month. heartburn and indigestion shortness of breath


china to launch 3 astronauts to space lab this month china will launch its first manned mission to an orbiting space laboratory in mid - june, according to state media reports and the country ' s human spaceflight agency. a long march 2f rocket will launch three astronauts aboard a shenzhou 9 capsule for china ' s first manned space docking at the mini - space station tiangong - 1. the space lab module has been circling earth unmanned since its launch last year. " the shenzhou 9 will perform our country ' s first manned space docking mission with the orbiting tiangong 1 space lab module, " the xinhua news agency quoted zhou jianping, chief designer of china ' s manned space program, as saying today ( june 9 ). zhou ' s comments came as he accompanied the rocket set to launch the shenzhou 9 mission to a pad at china ' s jiuquan satellite launch center in the country ' s northwest region. the mission, zhou told xinhua, will be a major milestone for china ' s space exploration program. " it means china ' s spacecraft will become a genuine manned shuttle tool between space and earth. it can send human beings to space stations or space labs, " zhou told xinhua. " this will be a significant step in china ' s manned space flight history. " [ gallery : tiangong 1, china ' s first space lab ] china ' s shenzhou 9 mission will mark the fourth human spaceflight for the country, which has been making steady advances since the launch of chinese astronaut yang liwei in 2003 on shenzhou 5, the country ' s first human spaceflight. china is the third country to achieve human spaceflight after russia and the united states. since its first flight, china has launched two more manned missions, the two - man shenzhou 6 flight and three - person shenzhou 7 mission. last september, china launched the tiangong 1 module — a prototype for a future space station — into orbit. that launch was followed in november by the unmanned shenzhou 8 mission, which successfully docked a capsule with the space laboratory twice during the test flight. the shenzhou 9 mission will mark china ' s first human spaceflight to an orbiting module. earlier this year, space program officials said the mission could also mark the first launch of china ' s first female astronaut, but a final decision on that is pending, xinhua reported. a translation of an announcement released online by the china manned space engineering office ( cmse ), which oversees china ' s human spaceflight program,


china ' s first female astronaut, but a final decision on that is pending, xinhua reported. a translation of an announcement released online by the china manned space engineering office ( cmse ), which oversees china ' s human spaceflight program, stated that preparations of both the rocket and shenzhou 9 astronaut crew are going smoothly. a series of spacecraft and rocket tests, as well as final mission training, are underway ahead of the planned spaceflight, cmse officials said. china ' s shenzhou ( or " divine vessel " ) spacecraft are three - module space capsules with a design originally based on russia ' s soyuz space capsules, but the chinese vehicles carry substantial modifications. like the soyuz, shenzhou vehicles carry up to three astronauts and consist of a propulsion module, a crew capsule and an orbital module. but unlike russia ' s soyuz, the orbital module of shenzhou spacecraft carries its own solar arrays and can remain in space after its crew returns to earth in the crew capsule. china ' s tiangong 1 ( " heavenly palace 1 " ) space laboratory module, meanwhile, is a prototype space station designed to test the technologies required for a much larger space station complex currently under development. the tiangong 1 module is 34 feet long ( 10. 4 meters ), 11 feet wide ( 3. 35 m ) and weighed about 8. 5 metric tons. chinese space officials have said the country is developing a larger, 60 - ton space station that will consist of several modules. that space station is slated to be launched in 2020. china is currently following a three - step space exploration program that ultimately aims to land an astronaut on the moon. according to a white paper released by the chinese government in december, the country plans to launch a series of robotic moon landers and a lunar sample - return mission by 2016. you can follow space. com managing editor tariq malik on twitter @ tariqjmalik. follow space. com for the latest in space science and exploration news on twitter @ spacedotcom. we ' re alsoon facebook and google +. about the author more from space. com


the value of farm land in southeast missouri has always fluctuated ; usually the price moves along with the financial health of the national economy. that was certainly the case beginning in the late 1920s. for southeast missouri, and especially new madrid county the bad times began with the flood of 1927. with the ebb of the waters came the rise in business failures, ruined farms, and bank closings - - all two years before financial disaster struck the rest of the country with the stock market crash in october 1929. this was the beginning of the great depression. land and commodity prices fell, but property and drainage taxes did not. many farms were sold on the east steps of the new madrid county courthouse by foreclosure or sheriff ' s sale for taxes due. depressed land prices would continue through the next decade. the bargain - basement prices of land gave rise to one of the most successful partnerships in county history. walter s. edwards sr. ran the edwards land and title company in new madrid. because many farms were " entailed, " that is tied up with life estates or owners yet to be born, knowing which farms had a good title and those that did not was key to the decision of which farm to bid on. edwards knew a lot about land titles, but he didn ' t have the capital needed to buy large tracts. e. b. gee sr. was a successful merchant in blytheville, ark. gee had acquired some land in southeast missouri before 1927 according to the deed records, but he had limited knowledge of what was for sale and the history of the title. what he did have was capital. edwards and gee formed a partnership and began buying land - - lots of land. edwards selected the land ; gee provided the money. john bailey, who was from sikeston, graduated from law school at the university of missouri in 1940. john married a member of the gee family and in 1941 began working for e. b. gee farms in portageville. much of gee ' s farm operation was the land farmed and managed by the edwards and gee partnership. as partnerships go, this one was very successful. but, as is often the case, the circumstances of the partners evolve and change. edwards decided that it would be best that they divide the lands and go their own ways. he had a map drawn up with a proposed division of some tens of thousands of acres between the two. one half was colored red and the other half colored blue. he presented the map to gee. gee looked it over and then


there was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. the government and the religious communities historically have had good relations ; however, as in previous years, the government was critical of and harassed religious leaders who spoke out against the government ' s ongoing campaign of violent intimidation against opposition supporters. church leaders and members who criticized the government faced arrest and detention. the generally amicable relations between the various religious communities contributed to religious freedom. the u. s. government discusses religious freedom issues with the government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights. section i. religious demography the country has a total area of 240, 122 square miles, and its population is estimated at 11. 6 million. between 60 and 70 percent of the population belong to the mainstream christian denominations, with between 17 and 27 percent of the population identifying themselves as roman catholic. there are no reliable statistics on the exact number of christian churches or religious movements in the country. the evangelical denominations, mostly pentecostal churches, and apostolic groups are the fastest growing religious groups in the country. they appeal to large numbers of disillusioned members from the established churches who reportedly are attracted by promises of miracles and messages of hope at a time of political, social and economic instability. the country ' s small muslim population is estimated at 1 percent. the remainder of the population consists of practitioners of greek orthodoxy, judaism, and traditional indigenous religions and indigenous syncretistic religions that mix christianity and traditional african culture and beliefs ; there also are small numbers of hindus, buddhists, baha ' is, and atheists. the dominance of christianity dates to the early contact of portuguese traders and jesuit priests with africans in the region in the late 1500s. the jesuits established churches and educational institutions in the zambezi valley at that time. several centuries later, catholic, methodist, anglican, dutch reformed, and salvation army missionaries began to compete aggressively for territorial and spiritual monopolies throughout the country, resulting in " areas of interest " for each of these churches. as a result, many persons identify with the christian denomination that has had the longest historical connection to their area. president robert mugabe is a roman catholic who professes to practice his faith actively, and many of those who make up the elite of society tend to be associated with one of the established christian churches, especially the anglican and methodist churches. due to the country ' s colonial and apartheid - like history, the


to practice his faith actively, and many of those who make up the elite of society tend to be associated with one of the established christian churches, especially the anglican and methodist churches. due to the country ' s colonial and apartheid - like history, the vast majority of the country ' s black population was prevented from attending government schools, which were restricted to white students. christian mission schools taught the few blacks who were able to obtain a formal education. consequently the vast majority of the country ' s liberation war leadership, who later became the government ' s senior officials, were instructed by christian educators. the muslim community consists primarily of south asian immigrants ( indian and pakistani ), migrants from other southern and eastern african countries ( mozambique and malawi ), and a very small number of north african and middle eastern immigrants. there are mosques located in nearly all of the larger towns, and there are a number of mosques in rural areas. there are 18 mosques in the capital harare and 8 in bulawayo. the muslim community generally has been somewhat insular ; however, in the past several years, the islamic community has expanded its outreach efforts, and is having increasing success proselytizing among the majority black indigenous population. a variety of indigenous churches and groups have emerged from the mainstream christian churches over the years. some, such as the zimbabwe assembly of god ( zaog ), continue to adhere strictly to christian beliefs ; in fact, they oppose the espousal of traditional religions. other indigenous groups, such as the seven apostles, combine elements of established christian beliefs with some beliefs based on traditional african culture and religion. these latter groups tend to be centered on a prophetic figure, with members of the congregation identifying themselves as " apostles. " these church members wear long white robes and head coverings. many of these churches date from the early 1920s, when there was widespread racial and religious segregation. many of the founders of african indigenous churches broke away from christian missionary churches, and some of their teachings incorporate what has become known as " black consciousness. " to a large extent, these churches grew out of the christian churches ' failure to adapt to traditional african culture and religion. these indigenous churches have proliferated as a result of splits among the followers of the different " prophets. " many persons continue to believe, in varying degrees, in traditional indigenous religions. these persons may worship in a westernized christian church on sundays but consult with traditional healers during the week. belief in traditional healers spans both the rural and urban areas. traditional healers are very common


in varying degrees, in traditional indigenous religions. these persons may worship in a westernized christian church on sundays but consult with traditional healers during the week. belief in traditional healers spans both the rural and urban areas. traditional healers are very common and are licensed and regulated by the zimbabwe national african traditional healers ' association ( zinatha ). foreign missionaries operate in the country, including members of the roman catholic church and the anglican church. section ii. status of religious freedom the constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice ; however, a law that criminalizes both purporting to practice witchcraft and accusing persons of practicing witchcraft reportedly was viewed as restrictive by some practitioners of indigenous religions. there is no state religion. the government generally recognizes all religions. the government does not require religious institutions to be registered. religious organizations that operate schools or medical facilities are required to register those specific institutions with the appropriate ministry regulating those areas. similarly, religious institutions may apply for tax - exempt status and duty - free privileges with the customs department, which generally grants such requests. the government permits religious education in private schools. there are islamic and hebrew primary and secondary schools in the major urban areas, primarily harare and bulawayo. the country has had a long history of catholic, anglican, and methodist primary and secondary schools. since independence there also has been a proliferation of evangelical basic education schools. the christian schools constitute one - third of the schools in the country, with the catholic church having the majority. in addition there are several institutions of higher education that include religious studies as a core component of the curriculum. christian missions provided the first hospitals to care for black citizens. there are 126 hospitals and clinics in the country that fall under the zimbabwe association of church related hospitals ( zach ), an association that consists largely of mainstream christian churches. the individual churches are the predominant source of funding for maintaining these hospitals because of the government ' s increasing inability to provide essential services. the government does provide small subsidies to cover some hospital staff salaries, but these make up only a small percentage of the hospitals ' operating budgets. restrictions on religious freedom witchcraft - - widely understood to encompass attempts to harm others not only by magic but also by covert means of established efficacy such as poisons - - traditionally has been a common explanation for diseases of which the causes were unknown. although traditional indigenous religions generally include or accommodate belief in the efficacy of witchcraft, they generally approve of harmful witchcraft only for defensive or retaliatory purposes and purport to


traditionally has been a common explanation for diseases of which the causes were unknown. although traditional indigenous religions generally include or accommodate belief in the efficacy of witchcraft, they generally approve of harmful witchcraft only for defensive or retaliatory purposes and purport to offer protection against it. in the past several years, interest in healing through traditional religion and through prayer reportedly has increased as hiv / aids has infected an estimated one - third of the adult population, and affordable science - based medicines effective in treating hiv / aids have remained unavailable. the witchcraft suppression act ( wsa ) criminalizes purporting to practice witchcraft, accusing persons of practicing witchcraft, hunting witches, and soliciting persons to name witches ; penalties include imprisonment for up to 7 years. the law defines witchcraft as " the use of charms and any other means or devices adopted in the practice of sorcery, " and provides punishments for intending to cause disease or injury to any person or animal through the use of witchcraft. since 1997 zinatha has proposed amendments to the law that would redefine witchcraft only as the practice of sorcery with the intent to cause harm, including illness, injury, or death ; however, mainstream christian churches reportedly have opposed such legislation. human rights groups also generally supported the existing wsa ; the act has been used since independence primarily to protect persons, primarily women, who have been accused falsely of causing harm to persons or crops in rural areas where traditional religious practices are strong. in march 2002, the traditional medical practitioners council, formed from members of zinatha to oversee traditional healers, called for amendments to the wsa that would authenticate the existence of witches and wizards and remove penalties for accusing persons of practicing witchcraft. there is some tension between the government and some indigenous african churches because of the latter ' s preference for prayer over science - based medical practices that result in the reduction of avoidable childhood diseases and deaths in those communities. some members of the indigenous churches and groups believe in healing through prayer only and refuse to have their children vaccinated. the ministry of health has had limited success in vaccinating children against communicable childhood diseases in these religious communities. human rights activists also have criticized these indigenous churches for their sanctioning of marriages of underage girls. president mugabe has expressed skepticism about the increasing membership in evangelical and indigenous churches and has indicated that he believes that they could be subversive. according to press reports, he has refused to meet with bishops from indigenous churches since 1997. the government maintains a monopoly