September 10, 2018, by Rupert Knight

Homework – what is it and is this what we really want it to be?

Homework is an increasingly commonplace activity in the UK’s primary schools and thus in homes across the land. In this post, Rachel Lehner-Mear considers how homework is currently conducted and asks whether there might be a better approach.

Why are we setting homework?

As the new school year gets under way, the practice of setting homework for primary aged children will raise its head again in classrooms and households across the country. As teachers scrabble to locate or create tasks which can be sent home, parents will echo the communal cry “have you got any homework today?”

Although most of the current cohort of primary school teachers and parents will not have had formal homework themselves at primary age (aside from perhaps a school reading book), homework as a substantive approach to developing primary children’s skills and improving their learning has gained momentum since the late 1990s, embedded as it is within a range of debates such as the call for increased parental involvement in education and the performativity and accountability agendas now directed at all schools. Ofsted expectations that ‘outstanding’ schools ‘set challenging homework’ (Ofsted Handbook) and government policy which advocates parental responsibility for even the youngest child’s educational development, all play into creating pressures both for primary schools to set homework and for parents to support its completion.

Indeed, the Millenium Cohort Study, which tracks the experiences of 19,000 children born in the Year 2000, reported in 2010 that 98% of 7 year olds in the cohort were in receipt of regular homework. That’s a lot of children, a lot of homework tasks set, and a lot of additional pupil hours spent focussing on schoolwork outside the school day.

So, as a nation, we must be pretty sure that homework is really important and effective … mustn’t we …?

What is homework?

Despite the tide in favour of setting homework, as a practice it remains ‘woolly’. Because governments have always left the decision about what homework ‘looks like’ down to individual schools (indeed, in 2012 the reins were further loosened when the suggested targets for each year group’s time on homework were abandoned from official policy), often speaking more generally of its importance for encouraging parental involvement and developing broader skills like independence and self-motivation, typical primary school homework tasks can vary enormously in design, expectations, length and frequency.

Some schools set highly structured, school-like tasks such as spellings, worksheets and times tables; some offer a range of pick-and-choose tasks, or set projects on class topics; still others, have ‘farmed out’ homework to online programmes, like maths-based ones which require rehearsal and speedy recall of skills and facts. The purpose of each of these homework ‘forms’ varies widely, as do the resources and time required to complete them (and that’s before we consider the thorny question of whether they actually achieve what was intended). Even the level of expected parental engagement could be wildly different task-to-task. What counts as homework in one school, for one group of children and their parents, can be hugely different to that which is experienced by pupils and parents in neighbouring schools. This can even vary teacher to teacher, especially where Heads have devolved decision making about homework practices from a whole school approach down to individual teachers. Homework is both commonly practised and huge in its variation.

Research by Medwell and Wray (2018) which asked teachers what homework was for and then investigated what they actually set, revealed that across the profession there are discrepancies not only in what teachers think about homework, but in what they believe its function to be, with some professionals even stating homework’s purpose as one thing whilst setting tasks which cannot fulfil the outcome they are seeking. Homework is, then, something of a confused and confusing beast.

What is the confusion around homework?

On the surface homework appears simple and obvious: it is work set by the teacher, which, in the primary years at least, is carried out at home, often with parental support. Yet my own recent research into mothers’ views revealed a wide spectrum of beliefs about homework, to which mothers ascribed many different purposes. Some even claimed its absence from their child’s life would cause serious disadvantage in later years, both educationally and personally.

This confusion about what homework is for, or what it should look like, is underscored by social disquiet in the practice itself. Media articles about the value and appropriateness of homework appear periodically in both the popular and broadsheet papers, with emotive titles like ‘Homework Damages Primary Age Pupils’ (The Telegraph, 2014). Anyone who casually asks a group of parents what they think of homework cannot fail to notice the strength of feeling that arises, both from those in favour of it and those against. Homework is widespread and yet it is simultaneously contentious.

Here, then, is the conundrum: why do ‘we’ (governments, teachers, parents) think these many, varied and perhaps contentious activities will achieve such critical things? Homework is something we feel we should ‘do’ but we haven’t really decided what we want it to ‘be’.

So what does the academic literature tell us?

Since less research has been carried out into primary homework than secondary, the picture we have is somewhat incomplete, though what has been studied, on balance, gives homework a negative report. Respected names in the field tend to agree that primary homework’s impact, on academic outcomes at least, is highly limited. The ‘father’ of US homework research, Harris Cooper, in his book aimed at education professionals, The Battle Over Homework, concluded that primary homework’s effect on learning was ‘trivial’, whilst respected UK educationalist John Hattie told BBC Radio 4 programme The Educators that primary homework’s impact is ‘around zero’. (You can listen to his reasons in this podcast). Indeed, there is a wide and growing popular literature, some of it written by academics, which argues for the deathknell of primary homework altogether. (See texts by Alfie Kohn, Etta Kralovec and John Buell, and others). Yet still the practice continues, as though its relevance has been undeniably proved. It is as though we have all simply said homework? Quod erat demonstrandum!

Where next?

As all those young children across the country settle down tonight at the kitchen table, in their bedroom, or kneeling on the living room floor, their books open and their pencils poised, let us as professionals give careful thought towards what we are trying to achieve with these daily, or weekly homework challenges. I acknowledge that, despite its unconvincing pedagogic standing, there are huge pressures on teachers to conform to expectations for setting homework. However, perhaps it is worthwhile taking hold of its current ‘non statutory’ status to make it work for children. In the absence of any data which shows that current primary homework practices have an impact on learning, let us stand aside from the downward pressure to set homework ‘for homework’s sake’ – because this satisfies only government policy, Ofsted expectations and traditional school practices – and instead protect the young minds in our care from learning only that homework is a chore. Let us use homework, instead, for something different, something that is, dare I say it, fun?

As practitioners who wish to develop young minds, and in the absence of a statutory obligation to produce a certain ‘type’ of homework, we can, I feel certain, devise tasks which will inspire children. After all, wouldn’t that answer the question of what homework should be?

If you have tried out innovative homework practices which have inspired the pupils in your class, please share them here!

Cooper, H (2007), The Battle over Homework, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Hattie, J (2014), The Educators. Podcast. 20th August 2014. London: BBC

Lehner-Mear, R (under review), Good Mother, Bad Mother? Revealing Mother Perspectives on Primary School Homework

Medwell, J and Wray, D (2018), Primary Homework in England: the beliefs and practices of teachers in primary schools, Education 3-13, DOI:10.1080/03004279.2017.1421999

Ofsted (2018), School Inspection Handbook: Handbook for inspecting schools in England under section 5 of the Education Act 2005, Manchester: Ofsted

The Millennium Cohort Study website can be found here.

Posted in Uncategorized


A Review Of The Book Half-Cut, A Police Thriller By Arnold Eslava-Grunwaldt

A complex mystery, combining thrilling police action and great characters, what more could a fan of the genre look for?

A police thriller that is as clever as it is suspenseful; Half-Cut makes a noticeable entrance into the ever-growing genre of police thrillers. Author Arnold Eslava-Grunwaldt delivers with this debut novel, which is a well-orchestrated thriller that builds in intrigue, portrays sympathetic characters, and introduces readers to central character Detective Sergeant Hamilcar "Ham" Hitchcock, a seasoned and wise detective on the Yonkers, NY police force.

Readers will find themselves immediately drawn into the intense world of Detective Sergeant Hitchcock, as he finds himself called to the residence of Bernard "Barney" Bloemker. At first glance, it appears that Barney died of a heart attack. However, something seems out of place with the corpse when it is noted that half his head has been shaved bald. Barney's unconventional haircut did not match the plain interior set up within his apartment. The mystery continues to grow, as another oddity about poor Barney's corpse arises. The medical examiner notices a telltale sign of arsenic poisoning indicating that a much more sinister scenario was beginning to unfold; Bloemker's death may have been murder.

Consequently, Hamilcar Hitchcock and his team of detectives go into action. His squad is a hearty group of distinct personalities who work arduously to solve the deepening enigma of the Bloemker case. Altogether, not an easy case by any means, the detectives struggle to make headway with the investigation of Barney Bloemker's death while simultaneously managing their own internal struggles. Meanwhile, more "half cut" bodies turn up. Is there a connection between the deaths or, is there a serial killer loose in Yonkers? Hitchcock and his team find themselves facing these questions and more with this bizarre murder case that reaches deep into the past, but affects the present, in dangerous, and dramatic ways.

As a whole, Half-Cut was an exciting read that I recommend to fans of police thrillers. I enjoyed being immersed in the unique storyline and watching the drama unfold while being made privy to the inner workings of a police investigation as it ran afoul of human nature at its worst and best. The thoughtful characterizations were solid, realistic and emotionally evocative which helped to make this book a worthy read. Overall, Author Arnold Eslava-Grunwaldt told a good story and I look forward to the next book in the series


Prison Architect like game

New Member
Registered: 2015-01-29
Posts: 1

Is it possible to use RTS for a game like Prison Architect where the user is changing tiles and constructing rooms or is a better idea to use a different system due to the dynamic nature of the tiles in that game?

In case RTS is well suited for the task, wich is the best way to handle "the rooms" and its contents? For the contents, I think the better solution is using sprites, but I'm not sure how to implement "rooms".


Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Beat the Heat 5 Pillar Style!

By Lisa Sussman, Psy.D.
Health Psychologist

Here we are in the dog days of summer. Typically, July and August are the warmest times of year in the U.S. While it’s great to have warmth and longer days, by now we may be itching to cool down a bit, or at least regulate our bodies amidst relentless heat. At times, we may find ourselves overheated, both physically and mentally. At Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine, we view health from our Five Pillar model: Sleep, Activity, Purpose, Nutrition, and Resilience. Let’s take a look together at how we can beat the heat through the perspective of the Five Pillars of Health and Well-Being.

Sleep: The ideal room temperature for sleep is between 60 – 67 degrees Fahrenheit.  Studies have shown that temps above 75 degrees can disrupt sleep.  To stay cool through the night and foster a good night’s sleep, use air conditioning, fans, cotton sheets, a light blanket, and light cotton pajamas. Pack up that winter quilt! There are also mattress pads and gel mats that can be purchased which provide a layer of coolness on the mattress.  Another point to consider about sleeping in summer is that our eating, exercising and overall activation time may happen later in the evening due to vacations, longer days, and increased socializing.   Try to put at least 3 hours between eating a meal and exercising before going to bed to optimize your sleep.  Alcoholic drinks also impact quality of sleep and tend to disrupt sleep.  When socializing, we can be mindful about what we are consuming, when, and how that may affect our sleep that night.  Carve out a wind-down period of 30-60 minutes between the evening activity and going to bed to relax the body and mind and initiate our melatonin production for sleep.

Activity: Current guidelines (American Heart Association and others) recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, or a combination of both. How can we get this in during summer while minimizing our risk of getting overheated or having heatstroke? Exercising outdoors and participating in social or team sports gives an extra boost to our mood, releasing endorphins and even oxytocin, so plan to get out there either early in the morning, or after dinner, when the weather is cooler. Summer is also a great time to change our exercise routine, so try things such as biking and swimming. On stormy days or when it doesn’t work to be out in the cooler parts of the day, hit the gym with a fun class, yoga, or strength workout, or break out a fitness DVD in the house.

Purpose: While managing the dog days of summer, it’s important to infuse sparks of joy and meaning into the hot and sometimes energy-draining days.  What can we do in the summer that we can’t do as easily the rest of the year?  There may be more time for meaningful volunteer work and giving back, and enjoying more gatherings with family and friends.  Take that vacation or stay-cation!  Go watch the sunrise and take a walk on the beach (my personal favorite thing to do in the summer) before heading to work. When it’s too hot to be outdoors, stay in the cool house and enjoy that book we’ve been meaning to read or tackle the home improvement or craft project that’s been on our list.

Nutrition: Summer = more sweat = drink more water! Every day we should be drinking water equal to at leaset half of our body weight in ounces. Here in August, we need to make sure we are staying hydrated, and cool water does that best. Keep it fresh and appealing by adding slices of fruit or cucumber. Drink or make sparkling water for a change up, flavoring it yourself to stay away from chemicals and sugar. Ayurvedic teachings point us in the direction of consuming cooling foods in summer while staying away from spicing it up too much. Naturally sweet, bitter, and astringent foods are good choices. Go for ripe fruits such as cherries, peaches, pineapples, avocados and mangos, as well as green leafy veggies, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Spices like mint and cilantro will help keep us cool.

Resilience:  Prolonged heat not only affects us physically, but can impact our mood as well.  The term “hot and bothered” comes to mind.  Emotionally, we may feel drained and irritable when it seems like there’s no escape from the heat, or when the events we attend are overly crowded.  To get balanced, incorporate daily activities that increase joy, and spend some quiet time in thought, meditation, or listening to music.  Whatever it takes to “cool down”!  Try some activities such as taking a cool bath with lavender essential oil, riding the waves in the ocean, digging your feet in the sand, walking in a shady park, or chilling on a raft or kayak.  Take a few minutes to breathe slowly and deeply, then imagine with all of your senses being at the beach, in the water, or somewhere cool.  The brain will get the “cooling” message and the body will physiologically start to respond, providing a respite and balance.

We can use the Five Pillars of Health and Well-being to make the most out of the last few weeks of summer, keeping cool, healthy, and happy.   Enjoy!

For further information about the Five Pillars of Health & Well-Being and taking care of your mind, body, and spirit, visit our website at HackensackMeridianHealth.org/IntegrativeMedicine or call 732-263-7999 to make an appointment!

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Summer Simplicity

By Kathleen Welshman RN-BC, BA, NBC-HWC
Integrative Nurse Health Coach

Summer reminds us of simpler times, being carefree, running barefoot on the beach or in the grass. Close your eyes and visualize that, what do you see? What feelings does that evoke? Hear the waves crashing on the beach, the seagulls chirping and the smell of salt air, the warm breeze on your face……aaah, yes, summer has arrived. Perhaps you have feelings of freedom and not a care in the world, if only for that moment. A simple time.

Warmer weather often means flip flops, shorts and tank tops. Minimal clothing for comfort. As we have moved into the season of summer, perhaps we can begin to look at what we can pare down, besides our clothing. What can we minimize and simplify in our life? Often stress comes from too much “stuff.” Clutter can take many forms, it is not just physical. It can be toxic relationships, unhealthy attachments, emotional baggage or anything that causes overwhelm. We can even clutter our minds with our own to-do lists. We have become a society that thinks “more is better” and “busy is best.” We are always on, always connected. But at what cost do we stay on that fast track? We often rush through tasks, trying to get them done, so we can go on to the next thing. Or rush to drive somewhere, so we can hurry to the next destination. Have you ever stopped to think about what madness this all is? At the end of the day there is often a feeling of pure exhaustion and stress.

We hear words like de-clutter, simplify, minimize, limit, edit, purge…….what does this all mean and what is the benefit? When asked what he wanted for Christmas this past year, my son’s response was, “We don’t need any more stuff mom, we want experiences.” Well this spoke volumes to me and led me to look more into the art of minimizing. There are many benefits to living a simpler life. You may find yourself feeling less stress, more at ease. Discover what’s important, what you value, what’s your passion and find more meaning and purpose in your life. Do what brings you joy! Perhaps spend less time online and really connect with those you love. Don’t forget to also spend time alone. Living more simply can help us to live more consciously, more deliberately, perhaps even a more purpose-driven life. What adds value to your life? Consider streamlining your life, your closets and your to-do list. The benefits will astound you!

Find inner simplicity. Create a peaceful calm, rather than chaotic confusion. Be aware of the calmness you feel when your surroundings and your head are clear of clutter. Simplify your goals; you will feel less stress and more successful as you meet each goal, one at a time! Be mindful. Be present. Be here now.

“Whatever the tasks, do them slowly and with ease, in mindfulness. Don’t do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a relaxed way, with all your attention." --Thich Nhat Hanh

Visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org/IntegrativeMedicine or call 732-263-7999 to learn more about Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine and our Five Pillars of Health & Well-Being.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

This Summer, Soak Up The Slow

By Judson Chaney, ND, Lac

This summer, make time to soak up some slow.

Yes, in case you were wondering, that wasn’t a typo. Summer time is a natural time of high energy and activity. The sun is out, the days are warm and long, and winter thankfully, seems ages away. Life is in bloom all around us and that energy helps to fuel and supercharge our days.

In continuing our emphasis on mindfulness in daily life, I recommend prioritizing some time to slow down this summer. Whether enjoying a day off, a weekend, or taking a vacation, remind yourself to slow down a little and enjoy. It may seem like common sense, but have you ever come back from a day off or a vacation feeling like you need a vacation? Maybe you needed to slow down a little bit...

The modern world, for most of us, is already filling the corners and spaces of our days that used to be used for daydreams. Our minds have many constant competitors for our attention, and as such are frequently occupied. Coupled with the natural fast paced energy of the season, it is no wonder summer can feel like it is over before it begins.

So do yourself a favor this summer - make it last; soak up the slow. Check the sky more and your phone less.  Compare sunrise to sunset to see if one is more beautiful. Go for a walk. Count fireflies. Notice how the flowers grow and change. Do what you love, and allow yourself the space and time to love it.  Above all, remind yourself to slow down and enjoy. Summer is here, let’s make it last.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Why Do Massage Therapists Always Tell Me to Drink Water?

By Amy Grutzmacher, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist

As a rule of thumb, it’s good to remember that drinking water in general encourages proper hydration which will help the kidneys and other organs process the various substances that move through the human body regularly.

Drinking water before a massage is recommended because a hydrated, soft muscle is easier to manipulate then a dehydrated, rigid one. Picture one of your muscles as a sponge. A dried up sponge is hard and rigid but once it’s submerged in water, it becomes supple. Our muscles also soak up water like a sponge and become more pliable with hydration.

It’s beneficial to drink water after your massage because as the massage therapist manipulates your muscles, substances are released. Drinking water post massage helps the body flush out any accumulated materials that were released during the massage. This is especially pertinent in deep tissue and therapeutic massage as massage stimulates circulation in the body while expressing water, salt and other minerals from the muscles. Circulation is designed to carry away waste materials. You can help sweep away these waste materials by drinking water.

Massage can be dehydrating. The manipulation of muscles can deplete them of water. By drinking water, you can rehydrate your muscles for the same reason you’d drink water after exercise and other forms of exertion because when the muscles are worked, they can lose water and electrolytes.

So, it is true you should drink water before and after massage because your body is using water at a faster rate, but the key is to be drinking enough water every day. Water is vital for every function that occurs in the body and necessary to maintain healthy, hydrated muscle tissue.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

The Key to Unlocking an Enriching Life

By Marjorie Catone, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC
Integrative Nurse Health Coach

I always thought my purpose in life was to be a mother. What could bring more joy to one’s life other than nurturing, raising and protecting your babies in a healthy and happy home? To carry an unborn child, to feel the tiny, miraculous movements from inside that nobody else in the world could feel. To connect with the spirit of a child who was about to uncover a world of their own. My life was complete with the birth of my second child. I had a fulfilling job where I was fortunate to work part-time in order to be home primarily to raise my children. My husband owned a thriving gym which was constantly expanding in space and popularity. I had a happy, loving marriage. What else more could I want?

Until, one day, something happened that changed my life forever. My only son, 20 months old, had passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly. I can remember the feelings that followed in the days and months that passed. Feelings of emptiness, loneliness, depression, confusion and the yearning to just hold him once again. The simplest things like getting out of bed in the morning, preparing meals, completing household tasks, attending friends and relatives parties all seemed unsatisfying, difficult and unbearable. However, I had my four-year-old daughter that needed me so I had a choice to make. I could continue to live with my head hanging low in the shadows of the days or use this crisis to thrive and live a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Sometimes we find our life purpose when we are under a crisis such as an illness, death, divorce, retirement, or job loss. However, this crisis can become a catalyst for a purpose we never envisioned possible. Most of us tend to take life for granted and get lost in the busy and stressful days of the everyday hustle and bustle of life until a crisis wakes us up and forces us to ask some big questions. “Why am I here?”, “What is my purpose in life?”, “What do I want to achieve while I am here?” We end up letting go of petty concerns, conflicts and the need for control and begin to truly realize that life is short and every moment is precious. At our lowest moments and times of suffering, our heartbreaking situations that arise cause us to revisit our stories which ultimately reawaken us and help us see life a little more clearly. Previous importance’s fade in significance. As the dust settles and the fog lifts, we begin to see the true importance of life.

Research has shown that having an authentic purpose in life creates better health outcomes. It can be important to overall brain health and well-being and make you less prone to illness and disease and ultimately help you live a longer, happier, more fulfilling life. But, how do we find our purpose? We all want to leave an impact on the world, to leave our footprints behind, to contribute to the greater good, to what speaks to our soul. We all seek growth, knowledge, compassion, love and joy. However, we must ask ourselves, “What is our unique purpose in this world?” A great place to start is by searching our childhood and seeing the gifts that were instilled in us, our passions and values, and asking ourselves, “What gives our life meaning?” For many people, purpose can be as simple as having a family and children or it can be a fulfilling career that rewards us with its gratification. We also must be aware that purpose can change, as life changes and unfolds. As we grow, learn and mature, we become wiser. As challenges arise, we find that our purpose sees us through and sometimes during this challenge, purpose finds us and we must answer. The truth comes from within, buried deep within our souls.

Through unimaginable pain, struggle and hardship, I found a new meaning and purpose in my life. Not only do we grow physically, but we grow spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and socially. I have chosen to live a more simple life and have found joy in nature and in all those that I meet. I try and find the good in all humanity, even at times when I have lost all hope. I have learned to love more deeply and be present in each moment, especially with my family. I have become an advocate for my son Nicholas, who no longer has a voice in a world that is so large. Through tragedy, I found transformation and every day I fight to turn my unimaginable loss into a legacy. Sometimes, as our true-life purpose unfolds, our story connects with others and encourages them to find their higher meaning in life and to motivate them to be a better person. We all want to become the best we can be. Through self-awareness and reflection, our purpose unfolds. You already have it in you. However, you are the only one that possesses the key to an enriching life. So, I challenge you to unlock your story, your gifts and your curiosity and find your life’s purpose. Therefore, I leave you with some questions to ponder and perhaps write down in a journal.

1.) What is your reason for getting up in the morning?
2.) How do you contribute to the world?
3.) What special characteristics make you unique?
4.) How do others see you?
5.) Why are you here?

Visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org/IntegrativeMedicine or call 732-263-7999 to learn more.


Articles on Learning

Displaying 1 - 20 of 183 articles

Video games have inspired a revolution in university teaching. Pictured here is a scene from the popular game Fortnite Battle Royale. (Sergey Galyonkin, Epic Games Berlin via Wikimedia Commons)

How playful design is transforming university education

University course designers are harnessing the addictive quality of video games to develop 'Serious educational games' that engage and motivate students.
Peter Thomas of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (left), Marcel Dionne of Roarockit (centre) and Jaimie Isaac, curator for Indigenous/Contemporary at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (right), are seen building a skateboard using a do-it-yourself kit in this 2017 photo. Art and design schools should reward those who actually build and create more than they do design theorists. (Author provided)

Art and design schools must cultivate creators, not theorists

Even as our world goes digital, there will always be an appetite for craftsmanship, for art and for the work only human hands can truly bring to life. Art and design schools should celebrate creators.
4.5 million young Australians between the ages of nine and 24 have taken NAPLAN tests at some point during their schooling. Shutterstock

We need to reform NAPLAN to make it more useful

NAPLAN has now been in place for a decade and needs ongoing review and refinement to make it more useful to classroom teaching and learning.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in an armchair discussion highlighting the federal budget’s investments in Canadian innovation at the University of Ottawa in March 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Made by humans: A recipe for innovation

Where and how do we learn to innovate? Our parents can’t teach us. Our bosses are trying to learn alongside us. Even post-secondary courses only provide us with the basics. Follow this recipe.
A lone new neuron (green) in a 13-year-old’s hippocampus. Sorrells et al

Adult human brains don’t grow new neurons in hippocampus, contrary to prevailing view

The scientists behind a controversial new study were surprised by their own results. But they carefully did all they could to 'prove a negative,' and their neurogenesis study is shaking up the field.
Volunteers work on a Habitat for Humanity site in Winnipeg in July 2017. Building homes for the disadvantaged is the type of ‘learning through service’ that will stand university grads in better stead with employers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Why learning from experience is the educational wave of the future

Employers now expect to hire people out of universities who don't require any training. That's why so-called experiential learning is becoming so critical for university students.
Many college students who take calculus fail to earn a C or better. Could ‘active learning’ help turn things around? pixabay

Why colleges must change how they teach calculus

Each year large numbers of college students drop plans to become engineers or scientists because of poor performance in calculus. A new 'active learning' approach could help turn things around.

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Inside the Intriguing Ancient Underground City of Derinkuyu

By on at

Long ago, in the region surrounding Nevsehir and Kayseri, in central Turkey, an ancient people built, or rather dug, over 200 underground cities. The deepest of these, under the present day town of Derinkuyu, delves over 250 feet below the Earth’s surface, and boasts numerous tunnels, halls, meeting rooms, wells and passages.
Because the city was carved from existing caves and underground structures that had first formed naturally, there is no way to discern, with traditional archaeological methods of dating, when exactly Derinkuyu was built. As such, and with ties to the Hittites, Phrygians and Persians, Derinkuyu presents a fascinating riddle for ancient mystery enthusiasts.

The Region

Derinkuyu is located in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, a place renowned for its unique geology. At the dawn of time, volcanoes in the area covered it with a thick layer of ash. Over the years, this ash transformed into a soft rock that itself eroded over the eons, leaving an exotic landscape of pocked spires, columns and rough pyramids, referred to by the locals as castles. Perhaps inspired by their surroundings, ancient people began to carve the soft ash rock into tunnels and rooms to be used as residences, storage, stables and religious temples.

Cappadocia boasts a number of fascinating carved sites including the churches and refectories at Goreme, the Roman-made castle at Uchisar and the largest underground city in the region, Kaymakli. The latter has been inhabited continuously since its construction, and people today still use it for storage and even stables.

Derinkuyu seems to attract the most attention of all the underground cities because, until 1963, modern people were unaware that this deepest of the underground cities even existed.

Derinkuyu Complex

The underground city at Derinkuyu has 18 stories that descend far into the Earth. Sophisticated shafts, some as long as 180 feet, provide ventilation to the complex’s multitude of residences, communal rooms, tunnels, wine cellars, oil presses, stables and chapels.

The city also has numerous wells to provide fresh water. So many, that most scholars agree that Derinkuyu could have easily supported as many as 20,000 people.

It is widely presumed that the city was part of a larger complex; in support of this, many point to a commonly-believed rumor that a tunnel extends from Derinkuyu to its sister underground city, Kaymakli, some three miles away. Conventional wisdom holds that these cities were built for the same reasons other people built citadels and castles – to protect the populace during invasion. Some of the strongest evidence to support this theory includes the self-contained fresh water supply, as well as the enormous stone, circular doors, weighing up to 1,000 pounds, that could seal off passageways from invaders.

Derinkuyu had been lost to time until, during renovations on a modern home, an opening to a cave passage was revealed. Although visitors have been allowed in the underground city since 1965, many passages and rooms still remain inaccessible.

There is no consensus on who built Derinkuyu or when construction first began.

Some suggest that the earliest construction started with the Hittites in the 15th century BC. The Anatolian Hittites, distinct from the group described in the Christian Bible, controlled a large portion of Asia Minor extending from the Black Sea to the Levant. Cappadocia, and Derinkuyu, were smack in the middle of their territory.

Throughout their history, the Hittites faced a variety of enemies including the Egyptians, the Assyrians and the Thracians (a group of loosely affiliated tribes from southeastern Europe). In the 12th century BC, the Thracians destroyed the Hittites’ main city of Hattusa, and many believe the Hitties used Derinkuyu as a shelter during that onslaught. They support this theory with a small number of Hittite-related artifacts, including a statute of a lion, found on the site.

Others are not convinced of a Hittite origin and point instead to the Phrygians. One of the Thracian tribes that sacked Hattusa around 1180 BC, the Phrygians controlled the region until approximately the 6th century BC when they were conquered by the Persian host under Cyrus the Great.

Archaeologists consider Phrygian’s architects among the finest of the Iron Age, and they were known to have engaged in large, complex construction projects. One of their most well known works was the sophisticated great citadel at Gordion, built between 950 and 800 BC. Because they are known to have possessed the necessary architectural skills, and inhabited the region for such a long time, many credit the Phrygians with creating Derinkuyu; these experts place the first construction on the complex to sometime between the 10th and 7th centuries BC.

The second chapter of the Vendidad, a section of the Zoroastrian book Avesta, includes the story of how the great and mythical Persian king Yima created places underground to house “flocks, herds and men.” Relying on this, some opine that Derinkuyu was built by ancient Persians; since the Avesta dates to the founding of Zoroastrianism (1500-1200 BC), Persian construction on the site would have to have pre-dated any construction done by the Hittites. Although intriguing, because the Vendidad makes no clear link with Derinkuyu, this theory has little mainstream support.

Regardless of who built it, later generations have inhabited it. Many believe early Christians used the underground cities of Cappadocia, including Derinkuyu, as a place to hide from Roman persecution. In support of this claim, they point to the fact that Saint Gregory and Saint Basil had both presided in Cappadocia during the 4th century AD.

Underground Cities in the Modern Era

Surprisingly, the ancient people of Anatolia weren’t alone in their love of underground living. Like the Hittites and Christians hiding from their enemies, the people of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan built a network of tunnels and residences to hide the town’s Chinese immigrants from persecution in the early 20th century. Later, smugglers reportedly used the underground city during Prohibition to hide their illicit wares from law enforcement.

In France, the last inhabitants of the Village troglodytique de Barry, an underground community that dated back to the 6th century AD, were forced to abandon their homes just a few years ago when their houses began to fall down around them. According to reports, a few people died before the last inhabitants were convinced to leave.

Today in Montreal, Quebec, an entire complex of underground trains and tunnels, connects residents and visitors to shopping centers, exhibition halls, office towers, movies theaters and even an indoor ice rink.

This post has been republished with permission from


Vocabulary Development

This website is an English picture dictionary. I use this website all the time with my special education ELL students. I bookmark it to their Chromebook's so students can look up both pictures and words. I also use this as a teacher to provide students with pictures of different words.

It also has games and activities on the side. My students get to use the flashcards and enjoy the fill in the blank and stinky spelling games. This website also allows students to search by their native languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian).

http://www.rewordify.com/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

This site allows ELL students (or teachers of ELLs)  to simply copy text from a reading, test/quiz, or just about anything by copy and pasting the text into the site. I recommend it for adapting and modifying resources you already have. Statement from site:

"Rewordify.com helps people read more, understand difficult English faster, and learn words in new ways. Teachers use it to save time and increase learning from any English text.

http://www.eslcafe.com/idea/index.cgi?Vocabulary: (Links to an external site.)

This is a link with some awesome ideas for vocabulary games. These games can be played by all students, but especially benefit ELL students. There are activities that can be printed as well as activities that require some easy preparation.

http://www.manythings.org/b/e/ (Links to an external site.)

ManyThings.org ESL Videos:


In vivo cerebral metabolism of glioblastoma xenografts assessed with ¹H MRS, ¹³C MRS and ¹⁸F-FDG PET

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful tool when studying metabolism in intact and living organs preserving cells in their natural microenvironment with minimal external interference. The unique insights offered by the observation of metabolic processes in vivo are available thanks to the non-invasiveness of the MR technique, due to the employment of non-ionizing radiations at room temperature. These conditions are ideal when studying cerebral metabolism in vivo, since the brain is a particularly complex organ where neurons and glial cells are highly interconnected and dependent from each other. Moreover, brain cells are protected by the blood-brain barrier, which regulates the delivery of nutrients and chemicals. The work of this thesis focused on the application of 1H and 13C MRS in vivo to study cerebral metabolism in mice. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) was used in complement to the abovementioned MR techniques to determine the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) or local glucose uptake under specific physiological and pathological conditions. At first, we validated the application of 13C MRS to small volumes in the mouse brain in combination to compartmental modeling for neuro-glial metabolism, as previously applied to humans and rats in larger volumes. The second part of the thesis focused on the translation of these techniques to the study of brain metabolism during glioblastoma invasion. A highly infiltrative mouse xenograft model of glioblastoma derived from human glioma spheres was employed in our study to determine the evolution over time of the neurochemical profile detected with 1H MRS at 14.1 Tesla. 13C-labeling experiments with [1,6-13C]glucose were performed at late stage after extensive glioma invasion in the whole brain. Metabolic fluxes were determined under these conditions reflecting energetic metabolism in neurons and glioma/glial cells. Globally, infiltrating cells did not show a highly glycolytic metabolism, as often observed in cancer cells and in glioma cells close to the tumor core, suggesting that environmental stimuli induced by a central necrosis, high cellular density and poor vascularization may be crucial to the occurrence of a metabolic switch. Finally, a novel patient-derived mouse xenograft model of glioblastoma was tested and characterized longitudinally with 1H MRS at 14.1 Tesla. Glioma cells were implanted intracranially after patient tumor resection and minimal manipulation in vitro in order to minimize a selective pressure and promote a close resemblance of the xenograft with the parental tumor. This study showed that patient-derived xenografts obtained from freshly injected glioma cells offer a reliable model to study glioma invasion and related treatments while raising intriguing questions on the mechanisms of adaptation of human cells to the brain of the host.

Gruetter, Rolf
Lausanne, EPFL
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urn: urn:nbn:ch:bel-epfl-thesis7667-8

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Also found in: Encyclopedia.

A polysaccharide composed of two or more different types of monosaccharides. Compare: glycan, homoglycan.
Synonym(s): heteroglycan
References in periodicals archive ?
According to this observation, it is anticipated that the hydrophobic tails of two surfactants molecules are partially encapsulated into the cavity of a [beta]-CD molecule forming a 2:1 inclusion complex; after which the supramolecular system (SAP) is formed by self-assembling through nonbonding interactions between the S: [beta]-CD inclusion complexes and the branch chains of the heteropolysaccharide (xanthan gum backbones).
Xanthan is a heteropolysaccharide which is composed of glucose, mannose, glucoronic acid, acetate and pyruvate.
Hyaluronan, also called hyaluronic acid (HA), is a long-chain linear heteropolysaccharide classified as nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan.
Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of terrestrial plants.
glutinins was a novel uronic acid, mannose-rich acidic heteropolysaccharide composed of neutral sugars (85%)and uronic acid (15%).
A completely naturally-derived, submicron dispersion of a heteropolysaccharide, it's easily incorporated into O/W emulsions, body milks, gel serums and any other formulation where a significant moisturizing effect is desired.
Depending on the chemical class, sulfated galactans (Rhodophyta) (Kloareg & Quatrano, 1988; Mourao, 2015), fucans or fucoidan (Ochrophyta) (Athukorala, Jung, Vasanthan, & Jeon, 2006) and sulfated heteropolysaccharides (Chlorophyta) (Wang, Wang, Wu & Liu, 2014) are the main polymeric identities of the SPs playing regulatory roles of the algae (Kloareg & Quatrano, 1988).
It contains ginsenosides (triterpenic saponosides), sugars (polymeric forms like polygalacturonic acid) and heteropolysaccharides, and contains 0.
lucidum are also heteropolysaccharides that have [alpha]-(1 [right arrow] 4)-d-glucopyranosyl and [beta]-(1 [right arrow] 6)-D-galactopyranosyl with branches at O-6 of glucose and O-2 of galactose.
HA belongs to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) group, which consists of anionic heteropolysaccharides composed of long, nonramified and repetitive disaccharide units.


When in doubt, throw your gun. Throw your gun and pray.

In this clip, mmberg seemingly avoids certain death by tossing their M4 at precisely the right moment. A bullet appears to ping off it—as opposed to, you know, mmberg’s face—and then they seize the moment to exact some truly righteous vengeance on their foe.

Kinja sometimes cuts off a lot of the screen, so you can watch a better version of the full thing here.

It’s some Matrix shit, basically. It looks damn cool no matter how you slice it. That said, I’m now going to slice it anyway and reveal that it’s probably not quite as cool as it looks.

You’ll remember that I posted a 3kliksphilip video about the way Counter-Strike’s bullets work a little while back. One of his main findings? While thrown weapons and grenades do impact bullets, they don’t completely block them. Rather, it’s like when a bullet passes through a wall: the damage is reduced, but not mitigated entirely. Since mmberg’s unlucky enemy was using an AK, it’s entirely possible that the gun vacuumed up enough of its potency to render a headshot non-fatal. He still got hit, just not for as much damage.

So that’s theory one. Still neat, but maybe not worthy of an impassioned Keanu Reeves “whoa.” Theory two is where we board the train to letdown town. See, Counter-Strike’s guns aren’t accurate 100 percent of the time, and the AK-47 is especially guilty of momentary lapses in, you know, gun-ness. The distance in the above clip appears to be just far enough to drop the AK’s accuracy to 95 percent or so. That means that even a perfectly aimed shot will only hit 95 percent of the time. Couple that with the fact that mmberg doesn’t appear to get hit by the shot at all, and it seems likely that the bullet simply missed—and would’ve done so regardless.

Theory three (or perhaps 2B) is that the bullet missed, but the miss was caused by movement and some server silliness rather than Counter-Strike’s intrinsic weapon inaccuracy.

The short version? It’s still pretty cool that someone threw their gun at the exact moment a bullet nearly bifurcated their virtual skull. However, Counter-Strike’s intrinsic, sometimes arbitrary weirdness might’ve had more of a hand in the moment than impossible luck or divine intervention. Still, it’s revealing to examine the game on this level. There’s so much more going on than bullets soaring from point A to point B.

You’re reading Steamed, Kotaku’s page dedicated to all things in and around Valve’s stupidly popular PC gaming service. Games, culture, community creations, criticism, guides, videos—everything. If you’ve found anything cool/awful on Steam, send us an email to let us know.


Partnership spotlight: Grow your Mo like Poirot

Author: Movember

This year, the best moustaches in all of cinema are here to promote men’s health and stop men dying too young. We have partnered with 20th Century Fox for the upcoming launch of "Murder on the Orient Express".

What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling stories ever told. From the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, “Murder on the Orient Express” tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect.

One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again. Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast including Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad.

With the film releasing worldwide, this is an amazing opportunity for us to showcase the power the moustache has to raise funds and start life-saving conversations.

So, which mo' will you grow this year?

Murder on the Orient Express is set to be released in UK cinemas on 3 November and the US on 10 November.


What is astrology?

What is astrology?

By Wikipedia

Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world. In the West, astrology most often consists of a system of horoscopes that claim to predict aspects of an individual's personality or life history based on the positions of the sun, moon, and other planetary objects at the time of their birth. Many cultures have attached importance to astronomical events, and the Indians, Chinese, and Mayans developed elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations.

Among Indo-European peoples, astrology has been dated to the third millennium BCE, with roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communications. Through most of its history, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition. It was accepted in political and academic contexts, and its concepts were built into other studies, such as astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine. At the end of the 17th century, new scientific concepts in astronomy (such as heliocentrism) began to damage the credibility of astrology, and subsequent controlled studies failed to confirm its predictive value. Astrology thus lost its academic and theoretical standing. Astrology saw a popular revival in the 19th and 20th centuries as part of a general revival of spiritualism and later New Age philosophy, and through the influence of mass media such as newspaper horoscopes.

While astrology may bear a superficial resemblance to science, it is a pseudoscience because it makes little attempt to develop solutions to its problems, shows no concern for the evaluation of competing theories, and is selective in considering confirmations and dis-confirmations

Core principles

A central principle of astrology is integration within the cosmos. The individual, Earth, and its environment are viewed as a single organism, all parts of which are correlated with each other. Cycles of change that are observed in the heavens are therefore said to be reflective (not causative) of similar cycles of change observed on earth and within the individual. This relationship is expressed in the Hermetic maxim "as above, so below; as below, so above", which postulates symmetry between the individual as a microcosm and the celestial environment as a macrocosm. Accordingly, the natal horoscope depicts a stylized map of the universe at the time of birth, specifically focussed on the individual at its centre, with the Sun, Moon, and celestial bodies considered to be that individual’s personal planets or stars, which are uniquely relevant to that individual alone.

At the heart of astrology is the metaphysical principle that mathematical relationships express qualities or ‘tones' of energy which manifest in numbers, visual angles, shapes and sounds – all connected within a pattern of proportion. Pythagoras first identified that the pitch of a musical note is in proportion to the length of the string that produces it, and that intervals between harmonious sound frequencies form simple numerical ratios.[17] In a theory known as the Harmony of the Spheres, Pythagoras proposed that the Sun, Moon and planets all emit their own unique hum based on their orbital revolution, and that the quality of life on Earth reflects the tenor of celestial sounds which are physically imperceptible to the human ear. Subsequently, Plato described astronomy and music as "twinned" studies of sensual recognition: astronomy for the eyes, music for the ears, and both requiring knowledge of numerical proportions.

Later philosophers retained the close association between astronomy, optics, music and astrology, including Ptolemy, who wrote influential texts on all these topics.Ptolemy recognised the unreliability of astrological predictions in comparison to the predictive power of astronomy, noting in Tetrabiblios that the "second and less sufficient method [of prediction] in a proper philosophical way, so that one whose aim is the truth might never compare its perceptions with the sureness of the first, unvarying science [astronomy]". Alkindi, in the 9th century, developed Ptolemy's ideas in De Aspectibus which explores many points of relevance to astrology and the use of planetary aspects.

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Overlooked MLB Stats: xERA vs Actual ERA & Pitching Luck vs Fluke Wins

It’s no secret that pitching drives MLB betting because no player on the field has more control over the game than the pitcher. The problem is that the best pitcher with the best stats isn’t the one who always wins the game. Being able to spot when a starter is going to come out and throw like his record indicates is something a lot of people struggle with. That is why I want to take some time to explain two different methods of determining how a starting pitcher will perform on a given start.

Expected ERA (xERA) vs. Actual ERA

xERA is a statistical formula that was created by Dwight Gill and Tad Reeve that gives you a gauge on how well a pitcher is performing compared to his actual ERA. The actual ERA is the stat that tells you how many earned runs a pitcher allows on average for every nine innings of work. While a pitcher’s actual ERA gives you a pretty good idea of how well a pitcher is performing, we feel it leaves out some key aspects of the game.

xERA is calcuated by taking  ( (.575 x H/9 ) + (.94 x HR/9 ) + (.28 x BB/9 ) – (.01 x K/9 ) – Normalizing Factor). The Normalizing Factor is based on the league during a given year and is typically around the .270 to .285 range.

With so many games each day of the MLB season, calculating xERA on your own can be a lot of work. To avoid the hassle of figuring out this statistic for each pitcher, just go to xear-baseball where Gill and Neeve do all the work for you.

By taking the little extra time to see  if a pitcher’s actual ERA is close to his xERA you can get a much better feel for how that pitcher is going to perform in his upcoming starts. If a pitcher has a low actual ERA and a high xERA, his ERA is misleading and chances are he is going to come back to reality sooner than later. On the other hand, if you have a pitcher with a high ERA and low xERA, odds are that pitcher is going to start to see some better results down the road.

Pitching Luck with Fluke Wins

Baseball is believed to be the one sport where luck can really play a factor in how well a particular player appears to be performing. A pitcher can take the mound and miss his spot time after time, but still manage to get hitters out by having them hit line drives right at the defense. There is also the case where a pitcher can make an amazing pitch, but still manage to give up a hit on a broken bat single or slow roller up the line.

While luck can be on a pitcher’s side on a given string of  starts, odds are the luck is going to change over the course of the season. This is why it is important to look past the overall record of a given starter and take the time to see how well they have actually been performing.

For example, say you have a starter on a given team that is 2-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 10 starts, while another starter on that same team is 5-1 with a 4.65 ERA in the same amount of starts. There are a number of different things that could factor in to why the starter with the 4.65 ERA has ended up with a better record up to this point;  run support, defense, bullpen, location of the game, etc.

What you need to understand is that because baseball is played over a 162-game season, more times than not a pitcher’s record is going to end up resembling his performance on the mound. The starter with the 5-1 record and 4.65 ERA is more likely to not have things go his way in his next start, while the starter with the 2-5 record and 3.23 ERA is more likely to come out with a win in his next outing.

I understand that this may seem a bit simple for someone who has been watching baseball for a long time, but I routinely see this mistake being made over the course of season.  The betting public will continue to back the pitcher with a strong record and high ERA while staying away from pitchers who have a bad record and low ERA.

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Meanings of the Zodiac Sign of Scorpio

symbol of scorpio

SCORPIO is the eighth Zodiac sign. The Sun enters the house of Scorpio form October 24. to November 23. The constellation of Scorpio can be seen on the Southern horizon, relatively low, and late at night in the months of July and August. The largest star of this constellation is the Antares. Antares means “as brilliant as Mars — the ruling planet of this sign”.  Alongside Mars, Pluto is also a ruling planets of this sign. The name Antares was given in ancient times; modern observations have determined that the splendor of Mars is in fact much greater than the stars of the Scorpio constellation.

Mythology and Symbols

In Greek Mythology, the Scorpion was put in the sky and thereby made immortal by the leader of the Gods — Zeus. The main achievement of Scorpio was seen in his fight with Orion. He had stung Orion, fulfilling the wishes of Apollo and Gaia. After Orion had died from the poison, he  was also given a prominent place in the heavens. The location of Orion and Scorpio is 180 degrees apart, preventing their further confrontation in the sky.

symbol of scorpioThe symbols of this sign, in addition to the obvious Scorpion, are an Eagle and a Serpent. The Eagle usually stands for the mature Scorpio. When Scorpio becomes more mature and spiritual, it is transformed into an Eagle that soars above all creatures. The Eagle is watching and learning from above, being now much closer to God. The less mature Scorpios can be symbolized with the Serpent. They are by all means dangerous, but tend to avoid confrontations, unless something threatens them or their family.

Personality Traits of Scorpio

The main characteristic of people born under the sign of Scorpio are intensity, invincible will, magnetic personality, strong determination and thoroughness. They use these character traits to carry out their desires, goals and intentions, whether good or bad. Scorpios have strong nature, powerful energy and positive methodical approach to everything.

Scorpio’s main characteristics are therefore related to power and self mastery. Scorpios tend to take positions of authority, some of their great strengths being leadership, motivation and the power of resistance. They always demand respect, even from people who have hard time understanding their intentions. They never give up; they are never discouraged and never afraid of danger when they want to help others. Scorpio is sometimes referred to as the sign of the physicians because they possess excellent diagnostic skills.

All these great character traits have a flip side. Some Scorpios can be destructive, malicious, sarcastic, cruel, lurid and domineering. Their temper can be impulsive and they are inclined to take offence. Even though they can be quite negative, they have a great self-control. Their strong passions take over whenever they are badly affected. Like the Scorpion, they are capable of stinging with their tongue. Being a water sign, the main battleground of Scorpio will be in the sphere of emotions, and they will generally have very strong desires.

scorpio-symbol2In conclusion, the positive sides of Scorpio’s character will be reflected in their determination, concentration and courage, whereas the negative character traits will be fanaticism, jealousy and at times malevolent desire for revenge.

Health related issues are usually rheumatism and problems with the lower organs such as hemorrhoids. In general, the lower organs of the abdomen are governed by this astrological sign.

Scorpio in Relationships

With people born in the zodiac sign of Scorpio, you will be either liked or disliked – there is hardly any middle ground. In personal relationships Scorpios are exclusive, but tend to show intense affections for people they are attracted to. On the other side, they are subject to sudden changes of emotions which is the main reason why they can be miserable in love or marital relations.

There is no doubt that Scorpios are difficult to please, yet they are  compatible with a number of zodiac signs, primarily, with people born in Cancer, Pisces, Virgo and Capricorn. In contrast, signs with least compatibility and little sympathy are Aquarius and Leo.

Gemstones of Scorpio

According to the traditional chart, the main birthstones of this House are the Topaz, Pearl, Opal and Tourmaline. The modern association includes also Citrine as one of the birthstones of Scorpio. The mystical birthstone of Scorpio is Topaz. One of the less known birthstones of this sign is Snowflake Obsidian.

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Year 2 Update

Posted by year2

This week the Year 2 students have been busy thinking about some of the forces in our world as part of our new unit of inquiry ‘How the world works’. They have been involved in provocation activities designed to challenge them, prompt discussion and consider solutions. Through the use of images students have provided explanations to decide if the picture is FACT or FICTION and have had lots of fun talking about these real or unrealistic scenarios.

We have been thinking about scientists and introducing what we will do as scientists in this unit. This will include making observations, asking questions, making hypotheses (predictions), testing and conducting experiments, recording pictures and notes as well as drawing conclusions based on what we have learned.

To get us thinking more about forces we were involved in immersion activities focusing on PUSH and PULL forces. As you can see in the photos we tried many ways to test these forces by moving our bodies and objects in different ways using a range of materials.

Ways you can help at home

When opportunities arise, take some time to talk to your child or ask them questions about the forces they see in the world around them. When out for a bike or scooter ride, talk to your child about how they are making it move. What forces (push, pull) are they using? Is it easier going up or down hill? Why do they think so?

Please refer to the ’HTWW’ section in the Units of inquiry tab for more details.

The student diaries are checked daily and often include important information, reminders and notices. Please ensure your child’s diary is checked regularly so communication stays open between school and home. To help with this we ask you remove notices as soon as they are received and respond to them as required. Thank you for your attention to this.


New content is available for Danish Yearbook of Philosophy New content is now available online. Please follow the links to view the content. Preface
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 1 - 2

 Finn Collin 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z References to Kant’s Writings
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 3 - 5

 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z Introducing Theme and Articles
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 7 - 45

 Asger Sørensen 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z An Apparent Paradox: To Establish a Legal State is a Loose Duty
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 46 - 58

Taking our point of departure in Kant’s book Zum ewigen Frieden, we note a seeming paradox which we believe has a wider application to legal states as such: while a legal state is supposed to impose strict duties, we only appear to have a loose duty to establish such a state. In order to investigate this seeming paradox, we will recapitulate what Kant says about strict and loose duties and examine in which terms he describes the perpetual peace. We will thus argue that perpetual peace is a loose duty. We will consider Kant’s reasons for this and endeavour to show through his parallel between individuals and states that the duty states have to enter a legal state is the same duty individuals have to enter this state. Finally, we will consider in what ways the above-mentioned paradox is only apparent and what this means for Kant’s philosophical position.
 Mogens Chrom Jacobsen 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z Thinking with Kant “beyond” Kant
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 59 - 82

In the following essay, I attempt to reactualize some of Kant’s most fundamental conceptions of a state’s sovereignty and the legitimacy of the cosmopolitan order. To this end, I provide what appears as a viable solution to Kant’s “sovereignty dilemma”; that is, the reconciliation between state sovereignty and the international enforceability of laws. I consider that a key component of the overall Kantian cosmopolitan project is the role played by the transcendental notion of an “originally united will” in its validation of constituencies. I emphasize the view that for Kant state-citizens are also, as he says, “citizens of the world” (Weltbürger) or “citizens of the earth” (Erdbürger). I argue, furthermore, that a state’s sovereignty must comply with a number of different constitutional wholes. I then proceed by confronting the Kantian notion of a general united will with the Habermasian conception of “double sovereignty.” I conclude by suggesting a fusion/synthesis between the two views, one which would require endorsing the idea of cosmopolitan constitutionalism as a meta-framework for interpreting the legitimacy of member states’ compliance with policy indications of transnational constituencies.
 Claudio Corradetti 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z “What Kant Would Have Said in the Refugee Crisis”
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 83 - 106

The paper starts out from a debate that occurred in Germany in 2015, where interpreters claimed to be able to divine Immanuel Kant’s views of the contemporary refugee crisis. It does not attempt to give a substantive answer to the title question, i.e. it does not try to specify the conclusive extension of cosmopolitan right. In contrast, it outlines the systematic work that would have to be done in order to be able to answer the title question. I start from cosmopolitan right as natural right and ask what kinds of transformations cosmopolitan right would have to undergo to form a legitimate part of public international law, in parallel to Kant’s move from provisional private law to peremptory public law in his Doctrine of Right. For that purpose, I introduce distinctions between trivial and non-trivial transformation, between strong (i.e. property-related) and weak (property-unrelated) transformation, and between transformation based on historically blameworthy and historically blameless action.
 Peter Niesen 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z Perpetual Peace and Cosmopolitical Method
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 107 - 131

This article explores the bases of Kant’s cosmopolitanism in his more systematic writings on freedom, judgment, and community. My argument is that, if we peer beneath his more explicitly normative prescriptions for achieving “perpetual peace,” we find the tools not just of a cosmopolitan vision but what we might call a “cosmopolitical method.” While many assume Kant’s political thought descends directly from his moral philosophy, a look back at relevant passages in the first Critique reveals an alternative reading that points toward his theory of reflective judgment, which combines practical freedom with judgments based on theoretical concepts. Of particular importance is Kant’s conception of community as commercium, through which Kant discerns all matters of right to concern the way free actors are constrained to share the earth in common. These considerations allow for a broader way of thinking about Kantian cosmopolitanism, one that is responsive to the reflective judgment of world citizens as they encounter new challenges.
 Brian Milstein 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z Kant and the Practical Man
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 132 - 156

The Appendix to Kant’s Toward Perpetual Peace is commonly viewed as an explication of the systematic relations between political practice and normative political theory. This paper provides an alternative interpretation of Kant’s main aim in the Appendix which is to provide an argument against the so-called “practical man.” The practical man believes that human nature precludes normative political ideals from ever playing a significant role within political practice. Drawing on the 1793 text “On the common saying: That may be correct in theory, but is of no use in practice,” the paper argues that Kant’s argument against the practical man is based on a proto-phenomenological analysis of moral experience. The practical man’s attempt to describe political practice in purely non-normative terms is, Kant believes, necessarily self-undermining because it denies one of the most basic aspects of human life; the inherent and inescapable normativity of practical reason.
 Carsten Fogh Nielsen 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z Contents
 Source: Volume 50, Issue 1, pp 157 - 157

 2017-11-02T00:00:00Z


Pilot: Inhibition of Cholinesterase by Pharmacological and Dietary Agents

(NIOSH 2007-2009) Organo-phosphorus pesticides (OPs) have widespread commercial application in the United States and worldwide, and their primary toxicological effect is associated with inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE). In Washington State, cholinesterase activity is measured in farmworkers expected to have high exposures to OPs, and when depression in cholinesterase activity is observed, remedial actions are undertaken to reduce exposures and protect worker health. However, the cholinesterase assay lacks specificity: there are a number of dietary and pharmacological agents that can depress cholinesterase levels. In the context of the Washington State cholinesterase monitoring rule, this would lead to an incorrect conclusion that the worker had been overexposed to pesticide. This misclassification of exposure confounds epidemiological studies of farmworker health and pesticide exposure, and undermines worker and employer confidence in the cholinesterase monitoring program.

This pilot study measured the effect of quinine and acetaminophen on cholinesterase levels in vivo in humans. Quinine is a known inhibitor of cholinesterase, and the potential for exposure to quinine is high due to its presence as an ingredient in tonic water. Quinine and its analogs are also used medicinally as prophylaxis for malaria and muscle cramping. Acetaminophen (brand names: tylenol, paracetamol) is a common over the counter and prescription medication for pain relief and fever reduction. Acetaminophen is a known hepatotoxin, and has been shown to reduce cholinesterase levels in vitro. Both compounds have been suggested as potential confounders to the use of cholinesterase measurements as a marker for pesticide exposure.

Human volunteers ingested either quinine (singe acute dose) or acetaminophen (3g/day for up to 6 days), and the effect on plasma cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase was monitored.

2007 to 2009


Country Wire

    US President Trump selects a new Supreme Court Justice

    Americas:  United States

    Special Report: Trump selects a new Supreme Court Justice

    Senior Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy announced on June 27, 2018, his intent to retire from the United States Supreme Court effective July 31, 2018. In a letter to President Donald J. Trump, he formally provided notification of his intent to retire and expressed his gratitude for serving on the U.S.’s highest court.

    Justice Kennedy’s retirement provided President Trump with a unique opportunity to reshape the court for generations with a young conservative jurist being the most likely route to do so. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated that the Senate “will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor this fall.” The ramifications of Justice Kennedy’s retirement was likely to shape the two parties’ approaches to the midterm elections; Democratic Senate candidates up for re-election in red states either could either vote to confirm President Trump’s to attempt to attract Republican voters, but this potentially puts them at odds with more reliable Democratic base voters.

    The ramifications of this retirement also extend to established precedent; while campaigning, then-GOP presidential nominee Trump said in the October, 2016 debate that he would pick nominees who would support overturning Roe v. Wade, which would effectively return abortion laws to the states. The reaction from Democrats largely focused on the fact that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked hearings for President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, in 2016.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted: “Millions of ppl are just months away from determining the senators who should vote to confirm or reject POTUS’s nominee, & their voices deserve to be heard now, as @SenateMajLdr thought they deserved to be heard then. Anything but that would be the absolute height of hypocrisy.” Other Democratic Senators such as Tammy Duckworth (IL), Dick Durbin (IL), and Dianne Feinstein (CA) echoed Schumer’s sentiments, though Democratic Senators such as Joe Manchin (WV) struck a more conciliatory tone and agreed to meet with whomever President Trump nominated. President Trump said that Justice Kennedy’s replacement would come from a list of 25 potential nominees.

    President Trump announced at the White House that Judge Brett Kavanaugh was his choice to succeed Justice Kennedy on July 9th, 2018. Kavanaugh has served as  a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit and was appointed by former President George W. Bush to that position in 2003.  Due to controversial accusations of partisanship, he was not confirmed by the Senate until 2006. President Trump described Kavanaugh as “one of the finest and sharpest legal minds in our time.”

    Kavanaugh would represent a reliably conservative vote on bench, if confirmed, and his confirmation would secure for Republicans their vaunted goal of a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. He was a member of the conservative Federalist Society and like deceased Justice Antonin Scalia, he has subscribed to textualist judicial ideology, which calls for interpretation of the law where the ordinary meaning of the legal text is all that is evaluated (i.e. factors such as the lawmakers’ intentions or the law’s intended purpose are not considered).

    His judicial track record includes curtailing some of former President Barack Obama’s environmental regulations, finding the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be unconstitutional during dissent, and dissenting on circuit court ruling that an undocumented teenager was entitled to an abortion. Most notably, he has argued that a President could refuse to enforce the Affordable Care Act even if the courts find it to be constitutional. During his confirmation hearing to be a circuit judge, he called Roe v. Wade “binding precedent of the Supreme Court”, but that does not necessarily predict how he would rule on the law were he a Supreme Court Justice himself.

    In a law review article published in 2009, Kavanaugh wrote that “Congress should consider doing the same, moreover, with respect to criminal investigations and prosecutions of the President. In particular, Congress might consider a law exempting a President—while in office—from criminal prosecution and investigation, including from questioning by criminal prosecutors or defense counsel.” CNN reported that President Trump’s legal team reviewed these writings specifically -- a particularly relevant development, given the President’s campaign was still under FBI investigation at the time of this writing.

    The three Democratic Senators who voted for Neil Gorsuch—Joe Manchin (WV), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Joe Donnelly (IN)—all expressed their willingness to meet with and vet Kavanaugh. More liberal Democratic Senators such as Kamala Harris (CA) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) released statements indicating their vehement opposition to confirming him. Republican Senators generally released statements of praise of President Trump’s choice with Majority Lead Mitch McConnell calling him “an impressive nominee who is extremely well qualified to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.”

    Copyright 2018 CountryWatch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Should games push us to lose weight?

GamerZines: 1UP has reported that Microsoft has registered a new patent which details the potential of using real world physiological characteristics to create avatars. The new generator would utilise, "a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance."

Microsoft will harvest the necessary information through a "third party health data collection repository, a health care smart card, a real-time physiological sensor (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, peak flow, pedometer, etc.)." In order to, "avoid the inconvenience or unaccountability of voluntarily supplied information."

This proposal doesn't sound too radical in itself, after all it could be used to determine accurate skin and hair colour etc. It's not until you read what Microsoft propose to do with the information that it becomes slightly more sinister

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Lopez de Heredia

Lopez de Heredia - one of the most venerable producers in Spain– produces traditional, age-worthy Rioja. Their wines are legendary and still made the way they were when the winery was founded over 130 years ago. Following a tradition that has been passed down through generations, their wines are released at least 5-10 years after harvest, which provides added complexity and elegance to their Crianzas and Gran Reservas.

A rarity in Rioja, Lopez de Heredia uses only estate bottled fruit from their prized vineyards- Tondonia, Cubillo, Bosconia, and Zaconia- with the idea that the only way to get the best fruit is to care for the vines themselves. The Tondonia vineyard is their most famous; over 100 hectares, it is situated in a shell-shaped depression on the right bank of the river Ebro, where the most typical Rioja wines are grown. The soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. Average vine age is 45 years old and organic farming and natural fermentations are implemented, creating wines that exhibit great terroir. Grapes from Viña Tondonia are always used in making their highest quality wines, with truly exceptional vintages becoming Gran Reservas. The first Reserva was bottled by the founder in 1890; a few bottles of this are still kept in the family wine museum.

The winery itself is a remarkable structure. When D. Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta began building the bodega in the late 1800's, little did he realise that his masterpiece would one day be acknowledged as an example to the rest of the industry of the most perfect combination of buildings and vineyards. Like many medieval masterpieces it is still incomplete. The buildings stand below and above ground, and are a veritable "cathedral to wine".  Moving through the vaulted underground corridors and staircases, you find yourself travelling back in time, and the founder’s touch can still be sensed in the very stones and fabric of the building.

The following is a list of their vineyards, NOT the wines themselves; please inquire for availability.


Clenbuterol Stacks – Its numerous kinds of Applications

Clenbuterol could be an extensively utilized bronchodilator in several areas of the earth. Clenbuterol can be a very enticing and remarkable compound. Clenbuterol is not a steroid hormonal agent however abeta-2-symphatomimetic. The drug is usually organized in 20mcg tablets; however it could also be up for sale in syrup and injectable form. Clenbuterol comes from a substantial variety of medicines knows as sympathomimetics. These drugs influence that understanding nervous system in a wide quantity of techniques, primarily mediated from the distribution of adrenoceptors. There are 9 various types of these receptors within the corpse that are identified as either leader or beta and further subcategorized by type number. As a result of the particular affinities of those carriers for that various receptors, they might perhaps be made use of within the coping of troubles as an example bronchial asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular distress, arrhythmias, migraine headache headpin and anaphylactic mad.

The memo Goodman and Gillman’s The Medicinal Basis of Therapeutics Version does a pleasant work of authoring the different characters whereby these medications affect your body. Clenbuterol, most notably, consists of a big ant catabolic effect, suggesting it decreases the speed where protein is decreased within the muscular tissue office, consequently producing fat cells. Numerous actions of catecholamines and sympathomimetic agents could be classified into 8 broad kinds peripheral excitatory action on certain types of smooth muscle mass as an example those in arteries providing your skin, elimination, and mucous membrane layers, and regarding the gland cells, for example those of the salivary and gland; an outer inhibitory activity on particular other types of smooth muscular tissue, for example those within the wall surface of the stomach, within the bronchial framework, along with in arteries providing skeletal toughness; a heart excitatory task, answerable for a rise in heartbeat and stress of contraction; metabolic activities, consisting of a surge within the rate of glycogenolysis in liver and muscle mass and launch of cost-free fats from adipose handkerchief; hormonal actions.

Clenbuterol Stacks

For instance modulation of the release of rennin, insulin, and pituitary hormones; CNS actions, for example respiratory stimulation and, with a few of the medicines, an increase in wakefulness and psychomotor task and a decline in cravings; and presynaptic actions that cause either restraint or assistance of the launch of the chemicals consisting of for instance norepinephrine and acetylcholine. The drug clenbuterol is especially a specific Beta2 sympathomimetic, mostly impacting just one of the three subsets of beta-receptors. Of particular interest may be the truth this medicine has little Beta 1 stimulating task with Clenbuterol stack. Because beta1 receptors are especially related to the heart effects of those service providers, this makes it possible for clenbuterol offer for sale to lessen relatively easy to fix respiratory tract obstacle with not as cardiovascular unfavorable results when compared to nonselective beta agonists. Medical studies with this particular medicine show it is very reliable as being a bronchodilator, having a low-level of consumer problems and high client conformity.


Being productive, or just busy?

If you single task, the first task is done in 3 days, the second one in 6 days and the third in 9 days, so it looks like this:

If you evenly alternate between them, doing a day of work on each one and then moving to the others, it looks something like this:

That means that you don’t complete a task until the end of the 7th day.

Yes, you’re doing (roughly) the same amount of work, but your focus is completely different and MOST of your work is delivered later than it ordinarily would be.

But it gets worse…

If you have 9 tasks to do and they each take 3 days, the illustration changes your view even more:

Task 1 isn’t finished until the nineteenth day, sixteen days later than if you weren’t multitasking.

Working in the Zone

If you do the kind of work that gets you into “the zone” (IT and other technical work is famous for this), give not-so-multitasking a try. This is why folks who do technical jobs are often sequestered away from doing customer support – the unscheduled interruptions can decimate their productivity.

Think about it: If it takes 20 minutes of reading/thought/analysis to get that programming (code/scenario) or differential equation into your head and have you thinking as if your brain were processing the program or equation, then an interruption to do customer support every 15 minutes (only 4 times an hour) will prevent someone from ever getting to that point.

And you wonder why they never reach optimal performance.

Here are some thoughts from Harvard Business Review that dig deeper into why you should stop multitasking and how to do so.


Burleson Boys Freshman Basketball

  • Overall Record: N/A
  • Conference Record: N/A

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Elk Basketball 1/16-20

9th Black lost to Arlington Seguin on Tuesday. Their length in the front court was too much for the young elks to handle. However they bounced back Friday beating Crowley in a 1 point game thriller. This brings their district record to 4-2 as they finished up the first round. They were lead by scorers

Elk Basketball 1/9-13/14

9th Black defeated both Centennial and Cleburne this past week. That brings their current district record to 4-. They’ve been lead by the scoring of Blake Myers and Jaxon Winburn. However the defensive end is where their games have been won, getting great defensive play from  Kayce Young and Jackson Shaha. They look to move

Elk basketball vs Everman

Varsity 55 vs Everman 66 Due to the weather all games on Friday were cancelled. The 9th grade and JV were cancelled but varsity played the following day. Sneed was the high point man for the Elks scoring 24 points. It was neck and neck for most of the game, but in the end the

Elk basketball vs Joshua

9th Black 46 vs Joshua 26 They started slow but eventually put the Owls away beating them by 20 “The past couple weeks we’ve been starting slow, but everyone knows it’s how you finish” said Coach Owen. They won the consolation championship in the Kennedale Tournament over Christmas break, they’ve put together a 4 game

Boys Basketball vs Granbury

9th Black 61 vs Granbury 65 The freshmen lost a heart breaker to start Christmas break, losing in OT 61-65. After a slow start and being down by 20 at one point they came back to take the lead in the 4th quarter when Blake Myers hit a 3 to go up by 2. Although

Elks go 3-2 in Granbury Tournament

Burleson 64 vs Greenhill 68 Elks came up just short in their tournament opener. Lead by Logan Potts (15) on the offensive end. Burleson were monsters on the boards snagging 37 total rebounds to Greenhill’s 24. Their next match up will be against Everman. Burleson 61 vs Everman 72 Even in the loss the Elks

Weatherford Tournament All Levels

9th Red (5-1): Burleson 48 vs Bedford 47 Burleson 45 vs Weatherford 41 Burleson 38 vs Decauter 60 Burleson 60 vs Benbrook 18 The red team finished the Weatherford Tournament on a high note when they took out Benbrook B 60-18. Behind a stifling half-court defense and the scoring of Isaiah Smith, Caleb Kirby, and Adrain

Elk Basketball over Thanksgiving break

The Elks competed in the three different contest over Thanksgiving break. Their season opener was against Chisholm Trail, followed by Weatherford and Alvarado. This upcoming weekend the Elks will play in the Weatherford Tournament. 9th Red (2-0)- Burleson  54 vs Chisholm Trail 41 Burleson 56 vs Weatherford 24 9th Black (3-0)- Burleson 65 vs Chisholm


Now that it is well behind me, here are my recollections about the surgery, my experiences, how it went, and how it affected me.

Leading up to the surgery, endoscopic biopsy was needed. I was told, it would be arranged the day I left the hospital, to occur that week. The appointment person informed me I would, instead, have a “telephone appointment” with a different gastroenterologist, in a few weeks. Not good. I contacted the first gastroenterologist, expressed how I thought…. then in multiple subsequent communications, repeatedly, apologized. Even though I was the patient, and if there should be any expectation, it is to be treated with diligence, dignity, and respect.

The scheduling dysfunction is a recurring theme in my experience as a patient, and on the other side as a doctor.  I wish the health plan would get its act together.  Doctor, and other health care provider, egos are another recurring theme.  But I am so grateful for the good ones.

The endoscopic biopsy went smoothly. I remembered none of it. Anesthesia is as much like being dead as you can be, without being dead. Eerie. Better than waking up during the procedure.

The biopsy showed GIST.

Surgery was arranged. I got the time off from work. My patients would be told I would be away for 8 weeks or so.

Again, anesthesia was effective. I had no memory after the IV was inserted. Complete blank. A piece of death. Next memory was RN telling me to breathe, in the hospital room after.

The procedure was more extensive than originally planned. It was a procedure called a Billroth II. A large portion of the stomach was removed, and a new opening made connecting the remainder of the stomach to part of the small intestine, further downstream. This was needed due to the large size of the tumor. A slice of liver was also taken. No large lymph nodes or metastatic tumors were seen.

It was hard to find a public domain illustration of a Billroth II.  Here it is, In limited detail and in Italian, from wikipedia.

The surgeon had a great bedside manner. Cheerful, respectful, confidant, friendly, professional, exuding competence. He was great.

What followed was day by day recovery in the hospital, for about 5 or 6 days. The nurse got me up to walk within hours. Necessary, difficult. They were very diligent about pain control. I did not want more pain medication than necessary. It caused weird dreams, foggy brain, uncomfortable constipation, unable to urinate. I prefer to use as little as needed to keep pain bearable.  Nurses frequently prompted me to take pain medication, and use the pain medication pump.  I avoided it as much as I could.

They hospital and staff were respectful and honored my relationship with my partner. They allowed him to sleep in the hospital room. I can’t express what a difference that made.  I was worried about that.

When I was sufficiently better, to eat a little, have BM, urinate, they let me go home. Uneventful. Staff was nice and caring. I appreciate them very much.

Glad to be home. Took walks each day. Did not log onto work computer. Brain to fuzzy. But insisted on returning to work several weeks ahead of projected. And that was that.


UN 2015 Women in politics map from Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has been campaigning for equal gender representation for some time.

In September 1997, in Cairo, the IPU Council adopted the Universal Declaration on Democracy and urged Governments and Parliaments throughout the world to be guided by its content.

The opening section of the Declaration, entitled "The Principles of Democracy", states:

In April 1992, in Yaoundé, the IPU Council had stated:

"The concept of democracy will only assume true and dynamic significance when political policies and national legislation are decided upon jointly by men and women with equitable regard for the interests and aptitudes of both halves of the population."

When summarising in the New Delhi Declaration the outcome of IPU's Specialised Conference "Towards Partnership Between Men and Women in Politics" (New Delhi, February 1997), the Conference President stated:

"As politics is deeply rooted in society and reflects dominant values, our discussions highlighted clearly that developing a partnership in politics necessarily depends on the degree of partnership as a social mode in general. This is undoubtedly why the Inter-Parliamentary Union asserts that what has to be developed, in modern democratic societies, is nothing less than a new social contract in which men and women work in equality and complementarity, enriching each other mutually from their differences. (...) What is basically at stake is democracy itself."

Dear sisters and brothers, now it’s time to speak up.
— Malala Yousafzai 2013 Speech to the United Nations

The parliaments of Rwanda and Bolivia reportedly have more women than men in parliament and most nations are a long way off achieving equal gender representation.

There is a growing global movement to achieve equal representation for women in representative government. The QuotaProject monitors developments with the following background:

The evidence throughout the world illustrates that there are numerous obstacles to women's political participation. Women's participation and representation in decision making bodies at executive and legislative levels has increased over the past decades, this has been slow and uneven across the world. In national parliaments, the global average of seats held by women is only 22%.

For example, in the UK the parties have come together in an all-party parliamentary group to consider ways to improve the representation of women in the UK Parliament.

Increased public debate has been spearheaded by the organisation 50:50 Parliament, leading to media references to the emergence of 21st century suffragettes.

In December 2015, a rally outside the UK Parliament to honour Nancy Astor as the first woman to take her seat in the UK Parliament was matched by a cross-party debate on how to improve the representation of women. This is just one example of how the agenda for the next stage of democratisation is being formed.

The calls for the equal representation of women in parliaments are growing globally and it is inevitable that systematic action will eventually be taken country-by-country to achieve this. The question arises:

When the history of the 21st suffragettes is written in 100 years, will we read that Australia was once again among the leaders, or will it be Australia that had to be dragged to the next stage of democratisation?

Global Gender Gap Report 2015 World Economic Forum

Access the Global Gender Gap Report 2015 and related World Economic Forum resources here.

The country score card for Australia (overall rank of 36 out of 145) shows the weakest performance in the area of politics.

— Emma Watson (UN Women Goodwill Ambassador) 2014 UN launch of Heforshe


From my perspective, the lack of fanfare actually shows us how rapidly the whole idea of driverless cars has evolved from a brilliant fantasy into a genuine business category.

Google isn't the only company with a horse in the race. Tesla, Baidu, Ford, GM and Uber plan to compete in the driverless car field. Boston Consulting Group estimates that driverless cars could generate $42 billion in annual revenues by 2025. That's a prize worth competing for.

There's a message here for technology executives: Some ideas can take off much more quickly than expected. We experienced a similar surprise when mobile phones became essential tools for the modern enterprise. In the early 1990s, several IT executives told me it would be impossible to integrate digital mobile phones into their enterprise communications systems.

In retrospect, they couldn't see the writing on the wall. When the C-suite demanded integrated mobile telephony, the IT execs had to deliver. The same thing happened with mobile tablets. At first, IT execs were reluctant to accept the tablets as legitimate workplace tools. But when the sales force demanded them, IT had to figure out how to integrate the tablets.

Driverless cars, and the new technologies supporting them, will pose similar challenges to IT teams. I strongly urge IT leaders to begin thinking now about integrating driverless technologies with enterprise systems. History teaches us that new technology arrives with astonishing force and speed. Don't get caught off guard; start planning today.

I also urge you to read Alex Davies' excellent story about Steve Mahan's first ride in one of Google's self-driving pod cars. Mahan, whose vision was destroyed by a rare genetic illness, said the experience made him feel like "a whole person again." Mahan took his history-making ride through the streets of Austin, Texas, which is now calling itself "the Kitty Hawk of driverless cars," an homage to the site of the Wright Brothers' famous first flight back in 1903.