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Bread is a common staple in most kitchens, and many dogs have enjoyed a sandwich crust left too close to the edge of the kitchen table or counter. But, is it safe for dogs to eat bread? Here’s what you need to know about dogs and bread.
Is it safe for dogs to eat bread?
Nuts — Macadamia nuts are especially toxic to dogs. And, all nuts are high in fat, which can lead to pancreatitis in your furry friend.
Chocolate chips — Even though banana bread is a delicious treat, it’s often paired with chocolate. Keep your pup’s paws off this sweet snack.
Raisins — Thick slices of raisin-studded bread make excellent toast in the morning, but don’t let your dog join you for breakfast. Raisins can quickly cause kidney failure in dogs.
Onions and garlic — Your canine companion already has doggy breath, and adding onions and garlic on top of that is unappealing. What’s even worse than stinky breath? Onions and garlic can cause anemia by destroying your dog’s red blood cells.
Xylitol — Beware of dessert breads or breads containing peanut butter sweetened with xylitol. This sugar substitute can lead to dangerously low glucose levels and may also cause liver failure.
Bread dough ingestion is considered an emergency, and you should seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
As with any special treat, be sure to only dole out small portions of bread to prevent your pup from gaining weight.
Are there health benefits of eating bread?
When you have an upset stomach, you may eat dry toast to settle it. And, many dog owners assume the same is true for dogs experiencing gastrointestinal upset. Instead of using bread to soothe your pup’s tummy, opt for a bland diet. The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends feeding a mixture of cooked white rice and boiled boneless skinless chicken or lowfat cottage cheese for gastrointestinal issues and avoiding carb-laden, sugar-filled white bread that can lead to bloating.
However, this recommendation is for short term use only as it is not nutritionally balanced. It is best to consult with your veterinarian for their recommendation specific to your pet.
If your dog ingests a sharp object, such as beef and pork bone shards, which should not be fed to your pet, bread may help but it is always best to check with your veterinarian first. It is thought that bread can serve to “pad” bone fragments or wood chips to prevent intestinal perforation and wad up string if swallowed. But, if your pet is vomiting, has persistent diarrhea, is painful, or is not acting like herself, skip the toast and head straight to your veterinarian.
If your dog suffers from bowel issues, speak to your veterinarian about adding in a bread that is rich in fiber, such as whole wheat or grain-based breads. Stay away from plain white bread and French bread, since these types carry few nutritional perks. Most pets don’t require supplementation if fed the appropriate, high-quality, balanced dog food.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon, mixing well.
Add the honey, egg, and almond milk to the bananas, and whisk until combined.
Place dough into a loaf pan, making sure it’s level.
Ensure the bread has cooled completely before serving.
In addition to being delicious, this banana bread boasts other benefits. Bananas are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, strengthening the immune system. Cinnamon provides a variety of benefits—it aids in digestion and serves as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal ingredient.
Enjoy baking for your best friend? Try whipping up these other doggy delights (we recommend the carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing!).
If baking isn’t up your alley, try a simple snack of a mini peanut butter sandwich. Just a small bite is enough for your dog to enjoy this treat. You can also turn this snack into a variation of a pill pocket to hide your pet’s daily medications or supplements. Remember, always choose plain white or wheat bread, free from xylitol, nuts, or raisins. |
Wake up, Oregon. Consider the rise of China as a global power. Note its large and rapidly growing economy, its modernizing military, and its spreading cultural influence. Then ask the following questions: How is Oregon responding to China’s rise? Are we looking to the future? Are we preparing today’s students in Oregon for the challenges and opportunities that a rising China will pose over their lifetimes?
And the question is not just are we giving educational opportunities to individual students, but are we preparing the next generations as groups to have the language and cultural skills that can make our state, and our nation, successful in the developing international system? And of vital importance, will our future generations have the skills to minimize the chances of war with China?
Or, if conflict were to occur, would America’s understanding of Chinese culture and language enable it to be concluded successfully? Presently, the answers are a resounding, “No, not at all.” Oregon’s K-12, colleges and universities are failing to produce Chinese culture- and language-proficient students in significant numbers.
Currently, less than one percent of Oregon high school graduates have studied Mandarin, and most of those are far from proficient. At the university level, less than two percent of undergraduates now study Mandarin, and in the 2003-04 academic year only 35 of the 79,558 students (0.044%) in the Oregon University System studied abroad in China. These are not the statistics of an educational system preparing students for the twenty-first century or to engage a rising China constructively.
Oregon’s failure to offer and promote proficiency in Chinese language and cultural studies will have dire consequences in the decades ahead. For better or worse, China is destined to be America’s most important and pivotal economic and security relationship in the 21st century.
A National Bureau of Economic Research working paper recently (June 2007) forecast a Chinese economy three times the size of the U.S. economy by 2040. Its authors stated, “Indeed, the Chinese market in 2040 by itself will probably be larger than the combined markets of the U.S., the EU15, India, and Japan.” More recently in December, the World Bank revised downward by forty percent the current “purchasing-power parity” GDP of China. Even with this forty percent current devaluation, using the working paper’s economic growth rates, China would still have an estimated economy twice the size of the U.S. economy in 2040. If China can continue to sustain its high economic growth rates year after year, the Chinese economy will become enormous.
The direction that China and the U.S.-China relations take will define the strategic future of the world for years to come. No relationship matters more — for better of for worse — in resolving the enduring challenges of our time: maintaining stability among great powers, sustaining global economic growth, stemming dangerous weapons proliferation, countering terrorism, and confronting new transnational threats of infectious disease, environmental degradation, international crime, and failing states.
So what did the 2007 Oregon Legislative Session do to prepare Oregon students to compete in a world where China is the powerhouse? The House passed HR 3 which urged “Oregon universities, community colleges and secondary schools to encourage Oregon students to learn Mandarin Chinese and to explore opportunities to study in China.” The House Education Committee held one hearing on China and Higher Education and passed HB 2763, which would have allocated $350,000 to develop Mandarin programs in K-12 statewide. Unfortunately, HB 2763 was unfunded and died when the session ended.
Nevertheless, some progress in Chinese Immersion is being made. The University of Oregon and the Portland Public Schools are developing the national model K-16 Mandarin program. Its Mandarin immersion program starts with half-day Mandarin, half-day English program in kindergarten and progresses to some college study in China. Although limited, this is a meaningful start.
In sum, Oregon education has taken small steps toward preparing the rising generation to participate in a Chinese-dominated world market, but we must lengthen our stride. We know generally what to do. We know we need to start students as early as possible, immerse them as much as possible, and eventually provide opportunities for them to spend time in China. We should create incentives for school districts to offer Chinese language classes and to attract students to take them. With a bill like HB 2763 and some funds for immersion start-ups, Oregon could begin to build Mandarin programs all across the state. We could use real-time audio-visual distance learning technology to provide classes to smaller, rural school districts.
We could cut through “red tape” and provide graduate level exchange student scholarships for Chinese students to study part-time at Oregon universities while teaching Chinese part-time in Oregon public schools. Similar scholarships could be provided for Oregon graduate students to do the same in China. Chinese leaders in Fujian Province””Oregon’s sister-state””are ready, willing and able to join Oregon leaders in developing an Oregon-China student “teaching while learning” exchange program. Such an exchange program was informally discussed last November during the 2007 Oregon-China Legislative Trade Mission.
In conclusion, the growing dominance of China economically and in every other way is undeniable. Oregon has the opportunity and the challenge to prepare our next generation of business and government leaders to have the language and cultural skills necessary to understand and communicate with their Chinese counterparts. By making Chinese Immersion a top priority for Oregon education, we will extend a hand of friendship, understanding and invitation across the Pacific, and prepare Oregon’s rising generation to not only participate, but be leaders in the changing world of the 21st century. |
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that is being traded in the global financial markets ever since it came into existence in 2011. The unprecedented popularity and anticipation of the world’s first electronic cryptocurrency had sparked immense volatility, which took the value of a single Bitcoin to around $1200 within three years of its inception. Bitcoin had paved the way for numerous investors to accrue millions of dollars in profits, while it has also led several others to financial ruin. Presently, Bitcoin is trading at a reasonable level, and it does seem that the cryptocurrency has started experiencing more liquidity that inadvertently reduces the amount of volatility and unexpected price fluctuations.
Bitcoin Forex brokers started accepting BTC as a valid form of payment back in 2013 and have also enabled traders to trade bitcoins against other currencies such as the Euro and the US Dollar. The concept of bitcoins is relatively new, and there are only a few Forex brokers in the world that accept bitcoins. Normally, it is easier to fund a Forex trading account using other payment options, but traders usually prefer bitcoins if they do not wish to disclose their bank or card information to their brokers.
Bitcoin is rumored to be founded by a person called Satoshi Nakamoto, who is considered to be a single person or a group of programmers. Bitcoin is an entirely decentralized currency, and no single Government or financial institution has any control over the cryptocurrency in any manner. The lack of control and the relative anonymity of bitcoins have received flak from several quarters of the world that has deemed bitcoin to have hurt Governments’ ability to track the flow of money to counter terrorism and financial crimes. According to a recent study, bitcoins are used extensively by anti-social elements, hackers, terrorists, and even financial companies to transact massive amounts of money through the darknet.
Bitcoin was designed as a decentralized currency that can be used to make payments through an online platform. Bitcoins are generated according to sophisticated algorithms that are developed by leading programmers using highly powerful computing software and elaborate server network. Bitcoin production has a specified limit of 21 million bitcoins, which is anticipated to be achieved by the year 2040.
Bitcoin can be converted to different currencies through exchange houses that are situated in various parts of the world. Although Bitcoin is not regulated by any agency, bitcoin exchange houses are required to be regulated and authorized by a country’s regulatory authority. This has led to numerous companies setting up an online exchange house that facilitates the exchange of bitcoins for other currencies. The downside to online exchange houses is that there are more scam brokers than genuine companies, which leads to an unfavorable deal for a majority of online users. The US Government has expressly warned bitcoin exchange houses situated in the US to follow all regulatory guidelines, and to ensure that they adhere to strict anti-money laundering rules stipulated by the Government. Nevertheless, several leading financial experts in the developed economies of the world have rendered support for bitcoins and has labeled the cryptocurrency as one of the most exciting new concepts in the global financial markets.
Every Bitcoin account holder gets a Private Key that should be retained and kept safe for all future transactions. The Private Key is the only identifying document that links a user to his bitcoin account. If a user loses his Private Key, he will no longer be able to access his account and claim ownership of his bitcoins. All transactions are recorded through a Blockchain, which tracks a transaction and its associated units through a public ledger. Every transaction must be digitally signed using the Private Key to be valid, and the transaction is completed within milliseconds. Users can denominate any amount of bitcoins for transactions, which also include fractions, due to the inherently high value of a single bitcoin.
Funding a bitcoin account is a complicated process, as a user cannot get bitcoins through conventional payment methods. The primary way of getting bitcoins is through Mining, the process of creating bitcoins by solving complex algorithmic problems using high-speed and resource-intensive computers. The process of mining is considered to be time-consuming and requires computers with large computing powers; therefore, the average user will find it hard to mine for a single bitcoin using meager resources.
Users can buy bitcoins through exchange houses, which allow users to purchase bitcoins according to the prevailing market rate. The price of a bitcoin fluctuates according to the demand and supply, and bitcoin exchange companies usually add a markup spread for buying and selling bitcoins against major currencies. Some online payment processors such as NETELLER also allows their users to buy and sell bitcoins using the money available in their e-wallets, which is also an excellent way of using bitcoins for paying.
What Are The Advantages Of Bitcoin Forex Brokers & Where Can I Find One?
Bitcoin has the lowest penetration among Forex broker when compared to the other online payment platforms, but Bitcoin offers the most secure and anonymous payment option that cannot be matched by any of the existing payment processors. Several e-wallets also require users to verify their identity through credit cards, bank transfers, or through other identifying documents, but bitcoin account holders get access to their bitcoins without undergoing any identification procedure. Here is a list of Forex brokers that allow bitcoin payments as well as the ability to trade bitcoins through their cryptocurrency trading accounts.
Creating a new bitcoin account for funding a Forex account is a tedious and complicated process, especially since Forex brokers require a trader to submit a multitude of identifying documents for verification purposes. Unless a trader wishes to trade the markets without making a withdrawal, the anonymity aspect of bitcoin rarely works in the context of Forex trading. Every Forex regulatory agency requires its brokers to get a full range of information from their clients before allowing them to trade the FX markets. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a Forex broker that accepts bitcoins only if you have bitcoins available in your account and wish to fund your trading account using your bitcoins. |
The spotted owl is a predatory bird native to the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. Scientifically classified as Strix occidentalis, member of the Strigidae family, the "typical owls". The spotted owl had dimensions of roughly 45 cm tall with a wingspan of 120 cm. The breast is light brown or tan, with the back and head coloring a darker shade of brown. All plumage is frequented by white spots. The eyes are large and dark-nearing black.
As early as the late 1970s, the stage was being set in the Northwest for one of the bloodiest showdowns ever between environmental and economic interests in America, with the owl becoming the pivotal argument. The details of the politics will not be presented here, but the basics are as follow. The increase of logging after WWII in the Pacific Northwest was caused by the housing boom. By the 1970s, the world’s densest forest on Olympic Peninsula was being cut down at non-sustainable levels. Environmentalists sought to protect the trees, but the only federal law they had to work with was the Endangered Species Act. This meant that no land could be forced under federal protection unless it provided necessary habitat to an endangered species.
In came the owl, an animal which the preservationists found perfectly suited to this need for a few reasons. It was cute and friendly with humans, helping earn sympathy from urbanites. Each nesting pair required a huge range to support its diet, so a few animals could protect a large area. It was found only in old growth forests, not second or third growth douglas-fir. It was diminishing at a steady pace, so action was necessary, but not at too fast of a rate to invoke hopelessness. The culminating battle between environmentalists and logging interests came in 1993 with the Forest Service accepting a proposal by environmental lawyer Jack Ward Thompson which asked for 7.7 million acres to be set aside for spotted owl habitat.
Logging has since almost stopped on the Olympic Peninsula, with most of the old growth cut out in the 1980s anyways. Even optimistic estimates predict the owl population to drop by 40% to 50% in 100 years. Recent problems for the owl that have exacerbated the decline are the invasion of the eastern barred owl, creating competitive exclusion and hybridization with the spotted owl. |
CMIS core curriculum is a Common Core Learning standard-based document that provides opportunities for students learning based on clearly defined expectations and is aligned with the school vision and purpose. It empowers educators to select texts, identify objectives and use a rich array of instructional strategies and activities to meet student learning needs. Core curriculum is designed to provide assistance, while allowing for creativity, application of higher-order thinking skills and investigation of new approaches to apply their learning.
is broad in scope and provides for meeting the individual intellectual, emotional, and social needs of the students. It also provides for different levels of ability, development and learning styles. It includes activities designed to develop the children’s positive attitudes for learning.
integrates opportunities to develop small and large muscle skills and provides opportunities for students to actively explore and interact with the environment, other students, and adults in a positive manner.
places an emphasis upon the development of cognitive and effective skills, develops the knowledge and competencies necessary for student success at the next level of education.
It includes learning experiences in language arts (including reading, writing and speech communications at the appropriate levels) mathematics, science, social studies,French and German, physical education, art, music, computer, Islamic studies, Qur’an and national subjects (Arabic, religion, social studies).
serves both general and specific needs of students through a variety of exploratory experiences and courses so that the student is prepared to be successful at the next educational level.
The curriculum includes learning experiences in language arts (including reading, writing and speech communications at the appropriate levels) mathematics, science, social studies, French and German, physical education, art, music, computer, Islamic studies, Qur’an and national subjects (Arabic, religion, social studies).
includes a core set of offerings to enhance academic skills, career preparation, the application of knowledge, higher education and the use of technology to ensure successful transition to the world of work.
Core and non-core subjects include Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages (French and German), and computer studies from K-12. There are also specialized classes for Art, Fine Applied Art, P.E, Music and Islamic Studies.
CMS also offers the University Advanced Placement Program. Courses are scheduled on a year to year basis depending on needs and availability. Elective courses in Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Business, Math, Environmental Science, Advanced Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Management and Statistics are offered to 11 and 12 graders to help them explore their interests and career options.
SAT I, SAT II and Ministry of Education national subjects (Arabic, Religion, Social Studies and Civics) are part of CMIS instructional goals, plan and curriculum. Students with special needs have access to guidance and special needs programs (ELL, FSL, ASL, GSL ) curriculum. Technology is embedded within the curriculum to support student learning.
The curriculum also offers opportunities for interconnection between areas of learning, critical analysis, evaluation, self-expression and social interaction to address real-life problems. |
When was Christmas first celebrated? How did December 25 become the official date for the celebration of the birth of Jesus? Why are the Magi included in the tale? Who was the real St. Nicholas, and how did he become one of the most famous of all Christian saints? Why do we burn a Yule log or hang stockings from the mantle? Why do we cut down and bring inside an evergreen tree and decorate it with lights?
How did December 25 become the official date for the celebration of the birth of Jesus?
Why are the Magi included in the tale?
Who was the real St. Nicholas, and how did he become one of the most famous of all Christian saints?
Why do we burn a Yule log or hang stockings from the mantle?
Why do we cut down and bring inside an evergreen tree and decorate it with lights?
Why is Santa Claus depicted today as an elf?
What ancient pagan ritual has survived into the present-day Christmas celebration?
Who brought Christmas to America?
What role did the Keltic druids have on our modern Christmas celebration?
Why did Santa Claus once ride a goat and why do early depictions show goats hauling Santa’s four-wheeled wagon?
What about holly and mistletoe and evergreens—where did they come from and why are they so tightly tied to Christmas?
Has the White world turned Christmas into its own cultural celebration?
Have we taken Christ out of the equation to the disgust of many devout Christians and turned Jesus’s birth into a holiday so filled with Aryan pagan rite and imagery as to make it un-Christian? |
Towing capacity is simply the total weight that your vehicle can tow, but sometimes it’s not that simple. Many factors can influence towing capacity such as extra weight put on, or in, whatever you are towing, your vehicle’s tires, and the ability to brake effectively. Also important is the towing mechanism itself, such as the hitch and ball, which must always be in good condition and adhered properly to ensure a safe tow.
Something else to keep in mind is that your vehicle’s overall gas mileage will be affected by the extra weight you are towing. It’s important not to try to exceed posted speed limits as this will burn more fuel and may cause whatever you’re towing to become unstable especially in sharp turns.
For campers, CampingLife.com has a great database to ensure your car or truck can handle whatever you intend on towing. However, it’s always best to refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual. The owner’s manual will tell you the specifics of what your vehicle can tow effectively.
“The connection between 2 vehicles when 1 is towing the other must be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed.
Knowing your towing capacity, state laws, and putting safety first as you plan your next vacation or weekend can help ensure that you will not end up needing a tow yourself. |
The 3D printing progress continues and every so often leaves us new creations. It is true that there is still until we see business models but it is interesting to monitor this sector to check that the movements that are being made are consistent.
This week we are celebrating in Germany ICRA, a conference where researchers from around the world present their projects of robots and automata. One of the most curious comes from the union of the departments of computer science from MIT and biological engineering at Harvard.
This robot, as you can tell by the title of the post, has rather curious attributes: it can be manufactured in a 3D printer and once it was built, itself is mounted through the use of materials with thermal memory effect.
Or what is the same: when heated, some parts of your body change shape. Allowing you, warming up a form in concrete, bending and going to finish assembling its final form. We must clarify that Yes, that the battery and the engine We have to install us previously manually.
Another feature, which you can see in the video, is the fact that these robots move as crawler geomensoras. These caterpillars that insurance have seen in a documentary or animated, ever move by raising your entire body.
The project is quite curious, especially if we take into account that the only process which involved the human being can be automated with another robot. At the moment its practical use seems a little limited but is just a matter to consider possible uses. |
The career of a typical professional author begins in the late 20s/30s. The optimum ‘earning age’ for most is the mid-40s to 50s, with incomes beginning to decline thereafter.
The earnings picture is very top heavy: the top 5% earned 42.3% of all the money earned by professional authors.
The bottom 50% (those earning £10,432 or less) earned only 7% of all the money earned by all writers cumulatively.
Since 2005 the typical author has become poorer against society as a whole and now (from self-employed writing) earns only 87% of the present minimum wage.
Nearly 90% of professional authors need to earn money from sources other than writing.
17% of all writers did not earn any money from writing in 2013, despite 98% of these having had a work published or exploited in each year from 2010 to 2013. Therefore, at least 17% of writers work without any expectation of earnings.
A quarter of authors have self-published a book.
Among authors who have self-published, the top 10% of earners made a profit of £7,000 or more.
The top 20% of earners among authors who have self-published made a profit of almost £3,000.
The bottom 20% of authors who have self-published made losses of at least £400.
44% of authors stated that the size of the advances they had received from publishers had declined over the past five years.
46% of authors said they had signed a buy-out contract (where there is a single payment for use of their work without the further payment of royalties), with 30% stating that the prevalence of such contracts was on the increase. |
COLORTUNE is a unique test spark plug with a glass top that takes all the guesswork out of tuning fuel injection systems and carburettors. This specially manufactured sparkplug operates on the principle that as different petrol/air ratios burn, they display different colours.... Some mechanics also have a diagnostic scope or camera that can be put into each cylinder via the spark plug hole. With this tool you can sometimes see physical damage inside the cylinder. With this tool you can sometimes see physical damage inside the cylinder.
Mike shows how porcelain from a spark plug can break glass with ease. Then tries to do the same with a rock. Why doesn’t he just use the hammer?... Odds are you’ve probably heard a rumor about being able to break a sheet of tempered safety glass using nothing more than a fragment of porcelain from a spark plug.
COLORTUNE is a unique test spark plug with a glass top that takes all the guesswork out of tuning fuel injection systems and carburettors. This specially manufactured sparkplug operates on the principle that as different petrol/air ratios burn, they display different colours.
How to shatter a car’s tempered-glass window using a busted spark plug Posted by dicksautogroup on February 22, 2014 Breaking into a car is generally a bad idea.
National Geographic host Brian Brushwood explains in the video below how a simple spark plug can shatter a car window more easily than a hammer. Car windows are made from tempered glass and are designed to resist blunt force.
Next, you will need to break the porcelain casing around the spark plug (remembering to protect your eyes from shards). Then take a sharp piece of the ceramic and throw it precisely at the window you want broken. The ceramic will shatter the glass! |
Despite Majida Hamid Ibrahim seemed just like any other victim of Iraq’s war – with her body in a plastic bag sent to morgue - authorities were already bemoaning her death.
Just days before, the 40-year-old woman from Baghdad's southern outskirts became the first confirmed cholera case in the Iraqi capital from an outbreak spreading around the country. The World Health Organization has confirmed more than 3,300 cholera cases in Iraq and at least 14 deaths from the acute and rapid dehydration it causes.
The troubles, however, also point beyond the immediate struggle to control the deadly advance that began in mid-August.
They highlight the creeping fractures throughout the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the country's deepening sectarian gulf and a gangland-style lawlessness in which even medical supplies are fair game for bandits.
The health minister, Ali al-Shemari, fled the country after U.S. forces raided the ministry's offices in February and arrested his deputy, accused of diverting millions of dollars to the biggest Shiite militia and of allowing death squads' use of ambulances and hospitals to carry out kidnappings and killings.
The government official overseeing Iraqis living abroad was brought in as acting health minister in al-Maliki's shaky Cabinet - which was further jolted by the walkout of six Sunni ministers in August.
Hospitals also are divided along Iraq's sectarian split, with Shiites and Sunnis often too scared to venture into any facility controlled by the other. For health workers, this leaves worrying gaps with cholera cases now having reached half of Iraq's 18 provinces.
The main hospital in Baqouba - the city al-Qaida in Iraq earlier this year claimed as its base in the Diyala province - was twice overrun by Sunni gunmen who kidnapped some of the Shiite patients, said a provincial health official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for his safety.
Fourteen Baqouba physicians and five ambulance drivers have been killed and 12 doctors kidnapped since Diyala fighting escalated earlier this year. Gunmen often steal medical equipment and medicine from health centers and force pharmacists to give up their supplies, the official said.
Saeed al-Shimary recounted how four months ago, as he lay sick in the Baqouba hospital, gunmen fatally shot a hospital guard and took several patients away, including his relative.
"I was horrified," said al-Shimary, a teacher. The relative's body was found days later, dumped by a road.
The "bad security situation ... is preventing medical teams from reaching the residents," said Hom Suhail al-Khishali, head of the Diyala health department.
WHO has confirmed at least 3,315 cholera cases and registered more than 30,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea - which could also prove to be cholera in its more common, milder form. The group has also warned that - as the weather cools and temperatures become more favorable for transmission - the bacteria could spread further.
Dr. Naeema al-Gasseer, the WHO representative in Iraq, says the grim numbers fuel the panic, when in fact the death rate has been "very much less than 1 percent of the total outbreak."
"Let's not focus on numbers, that's not the way to deal with cholera," she said. "We must look at ways to contain it."
Cholera, usually spread by drinking contaminated water, typically causes severe diarrhea that in extreme cases can lead to fatal dehydration and kidney failure. There are normally about 30 cases registered each year in Iraq. The last major outbreak was in 1999, when 20 cases were discovered in one day.
Cholera can be controlled by treating drinking water with chlorine. But authorities want to keep tight controls on chlorine supplies after extremists earlier this year placed chlorine tanks on suicide truck bombs, killing some two dozen people in several attacks and sending noxious clouds that left hundreds of panicked people gasping for breath.
A shipment of 100,000 tons of chlorine was held up for a week at the Jordanian border last month, amid fears for its safe passage through Iraq.
Naeem al-Qabi, from Baghdad's municipal council, said the city now has a two month's supply of chlorine and "more shipments are expected."
A July report by the relief agency Oxfam and the NGO Coordination Committee network in Iraq said that about 70 percent of Iraqis are without adequate water supplies, up from 50 percent in 2003.
That includes more than 2 million people who have been displaced inside Iraq by the fighting, which has forced many to live in unsanitary conditions where sewage can infest food and water and easily spread cholera.
Tom Timberman, leader of a reconstruction team with the 4th Brigade, 25th infantry Division, said water purification and canal clearing systems have broken down due to a lack of maintenance and replacement parts.
Many purification plant workers have been killed or fled the violence, leaving the area with a lack of expertise, Timberman said. Tests at one of the water purification facilities near Iskandariyah, a town 30 miles south of Baghdad, found the filtration system wasn't working, so dirty water was just passing through the pipes.
In Mosul, about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, officials complain that Baghdad sent them 20 tons of chlorine, while the city needs about 60 tons.
"Now we fear cholera more than the violence," said Shawan Karim, 33, a resident in the northern city of Kirkuk, which has accounted for more than two-thirds of the confirmed cholera cases. |
I have recently read three fascinating books about wolves, their interactions among themselves, and the ways their lives intersect with those of humans. This post will give an overview of the three books, all of which I highly recommend, and will discuss some of the intriguing information about wolves that these books impart.
This is a novel in which the family of the main character, Luke Warren, faces the difficult decision of whether or not to remove life support after Luke emerges from a vehicle accident with brain injuries that the doctors believe to be irreversible and that are expected to keep Luke in a perpetual coma. Luke's relationship with his family (his ex-wife, his 20-something son, and his 17-year-old daughter) is complicated by the fact that Luke seems more comfortable with wolves than with his human family. Luke spends much of his time with a wolf pack in captivity, and at one point he left his family for two years to live with wolves in the Canadian wilderness, where he succeeded in being adopted into a wild wolf pack. The novel provides much fascinating information about wolves and draws upon the experience of Shaun Ellis, a real-life man who does live and has lived with wolves.
This nonfiction book recounts the experience of Shaun Ellis of England, who does live and has lived with wolves. Shaun spent two years in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho with no human contact so that he could study wolves on their own terms. He was eventually adopted by a wolf pack as a subordinate member within the pack's ranking system. During this time, Shaun lived, played, ate, slept, and interacted with the other members of the pack. This means that he ate raw meat (supplemented with berries and nuts) and used howls, growls, and other wolf sounds and gestures to communicate. Shaun now sees himself as a man between two worlds, the wolf world and the human world. His life task is to bridge those worlds. Shaun works with wolf packs in captivity in England, teaching them the skills needed to survive in the wild so that these captive wolves and their descendants may retain those skills should they ever be released into the wild. Shaun also works with the captive wolves as ambassadors to teach humans about wolves.
This nonfiction book recounts the experience of Farley Mowat of Canada, who was employed by the Canadian government to study wolves in the Canadian Arctic. The purpose of the study was to verify that wolves were killing large numbers of caribou, so as to justify eradicating the wolves. What Farley actually learned was that humans were the ones killing the caribou in large numbers. Wolves killed very few caribou - only what they needed to eat. In fact, wolves strengthened the caribou herds by weeding out the weaker members. Farley learned to love and appreciate the wolves, but his report to the Canadian government was disbelieved and disregarded.
Wolves are highly intelligent. Their sounds and gestures communicate very specific information. Farley Mowat learns that a pack member who has gone out alone may howl to communicate to the pack that he or she is fine but is planning to stay out longer than expected. The howl may even indicate when the pack can expect the wolf to return. Farley also observes that a wolf may howl to communicate the arrival of caribou or of Inuit people, and that this information will be sent over distances by wolves hearing and passing on this howl. The howl for approaching caribou, by the way, is different from the howl for approaching Inuit.
Jodi Picoult's main character explains that the alpha wolf will single out a specific prey animal for hunting and will indicate this to the hunters with tail gestures. The alpha, knowing of a strong rival wolf pack nearby, may even instruct the hunters to terrorize the prey animal so that the meat will be full of adrenaline. When the wolves consume this meat and then urinate around their territory, members of the nearby rival wolf pack will smell the strength in the urine and will hold that wolf pack in greater respect.
Shaun Ellis tells us that the alpha directs the wolves as to what they are to eat to produce needed characteristics. Besides the above example of a terrorized prey animal that produces strong urine in the wolves, the alpha may direct her hunters to kill a nursing calf because the alpha knows that the pack needs the milk contents of the calf's stomach to make the members more mellow after an aggressive mating season. The alpha may even direct her pack to a putrid prey corpse because the pack has contracted worms and the putrid meat will chase the worms out of the wolves' bodies.
Shaun Ellis has observed that wolves regulate their reproduction according to what is needed. If a female becomes pregnant and then determines that conditions are not good for a litter of new pups, she will absorb the pup fetuses back into her body. A female wolf can also delay her reproductive cycle until conditions are right. Shaun wanted to prevent one of his captive female wolves from becoming pregnant, and gave her some contraceptives during the mating season. This female wolf simply held back her reproductive cycle until the contraceptive had worked its way out of her body, went into delayed heat, mated, and became pregnant.
Shaun Ellis has learned that wolves are very pragmatic. They do what works for the survival of the pack. They are not sentimental and don't have emotions as we do. They will feed and nurse an ill alpha wolf, knowing that this wolf is necessary for the survival of the pack, but they will send an ill wolf of lesser rank off to die, knowing that this wolf's illness jeopardizes the pack's survival.
Shaun also explains that wolves also don't give up. They are survival oriented. When faced with an obstacle, they work to overcome or get around it. When danger or hardship arises, wolves adjust their behavior.
Through his friends among the Nez Percé in Idaho, Shaun Ellis learns that Native Americans consider wolves as brothers and sisters. Native Americans do not fear wolves. They see the wolf as a respected fellow predator and an important teacher.
On the other hand, all three authors have observed that many North Americans fear the wolf. These North Americans incorrectly believe that the wolf is a vicious killer, destroying large numbers of prey animals, including farmers' livestock, and ready to attack any human who ventures near. The wolf appears as the villain in fairy tales, such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. The three authors express or imply the thought that these ideas about wolves are shadow projections. North Americans have behaved destructively but are often unwilling to accept and integrate this self-knowledge; therefore, these North Americans project their own destructive characteristics onto the wolf. In their minds, the wolf is the destroyer, the wolf is to be feared, the wolf must be eradicated. What these North Americans deny in themselves, they project onto the wolf.
All three authors recognize that Native Americans understand that we need the wolf. The wolf's presence sharpens everyone else. Other animals are more alert, more fit, more protective of their young. The wolf keeps everyone on their toes, improves everyone's parenting skills, heightens everyone's awareness, increases everyone's fitness. The wolf weeds out the weaker animals. Farley Mowat explains that, in the Arctic, the wolf eliminates weaker caribou and raises the quality of the herd. The Inuit know that the wolf's presence is responsible for the Inuit's finding better quality caribou for their own needs.
These are the lessons I take from my reading about wolves.
Take responsibility for oneself. Look squarely at a given situation (whether or not it is ideal), decide the best course of action, and take that action. Wolves do this to survive in the wild. As humans, we can set goals beyond survival.
Be awake and aware. See and appreciate what or who is actually there, not one's own projection.
Be more pack oriented. Certainly, humans are not wolves and don't operate exactly like a wolf pack. Yet I believe that the wolf pack holds a lesson for our overly individualistic society. In the United States, we are extreme in our individualism. We would do well to give more attention to the common good. I include myself in this. |
Friday night, at the Hisham Hotel, Amman.
Yesterday I was in Tripoli visiting an girls’ elementary school in a Palestine refugee camp. I was there with a couple of UNRWA staff (UNRWA is the UN agency for Palestine refugees). The point of the visit, along with other visits throughout Jordan and Lebanon this week, was to get a sense of the way in which human rights was being integrated as part of the curriculum. My job this week has been to essentially listen to people tell me their ideas and opinions.
Say “human rights” and, depending on where you say it and who you say it to, you will get reactions ranging from ignorance, acceptance, indifference, outrage, and anything else in between. In other words, it’s hard to predict. Before going to the school in the camp, I had the chance to listen to members of different “Popular Committees” from the camps – basically the elders (all male). The reactions from some of them were quite strong: they wanted the full realization of their rights as refugees – and NOW. There wasn’t much I could do other than listen and tell them I’d taken note of what they said, and appreciated their honesty.
Human rights – at least the way I see it concerning children’s education, is not so much as telling them what rights they do have/could have/don’t have, but creating an environment in which students (and teachers) respect each other and live and learn in dignity. If that’s a culture that ends up spreading more towards the students’ families and the broader community, all the better. It’s not to say that there are certain human rights issues teachers should avoid teaching (after all, they are refugees and some topics will inevitably arise). But, as a friend in Beirut told me earlier this week: it’s not a question of choosing the issues, rather it’s finding the right way to teach each issue. He was making particular reference to teaching about the death penalty, but it’s an argument that extends to all rights.
They warmed up to me eventually.
Visiting the girls’ school was a further validation of the importance of education. Three students from the school parliament sat in the Head teacher’s office with us to talk about the activities they’ve done to create a healthy school environment. The parliament’s role extends beyond a clean school: it also serves as a platform for students to express their opinions, questions, and grievances to the school management. From what the girls were saying, it works. Although one shyly admitted that she asked to realize her rights by asking the teachers to take the students up to the mountains but was refused. (Well, Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child does say a child has a right to be heard. Whether or not someone’s listening on the other end is another matter. But then again, I’m wondering what the connection is between a trip to the top of the mountains and human rights…).
The school’s efforts in promoting human rights are laudable given the resources available. But there is a lot more that could be done, which is the main reason why UNRWA is supporting the integration of human rights in its schools. Visiting the school was an acute reminder of my first experience in international development 18 years ago in Malawi, teaching at a girls’ school. The similarities between the school in Tripoli and the one in Malawi are numerous. The conditions in which the girls live (excluding the school) are deplorable, but despite that they strive to live a life of dignity and continue to do what children love most: to play and have fun. They are children after all. |
The Cities Alliance partnership commissioned The Transformative Role of City-Community Partnerships in the Fight Against Ebola and Beyond in Greater Monrovia, Liberia to document a significant knowledge gap on how the partnerships between communities and local government contributed to the eradication of Ebola in Monrovia.
Liberia’s strategy shifted in 2015 from a top-down approach resulting in the forced quarantine of slum communities in Monrovia to a decentralised response engaging urban poor communities and local authorities in partnership. This move played a key role in turning the trajectory on new Ebola infections in the city.
Now, Liberia’s response is a success story, serving as a vital lesson for African cities undergoing rapid urban growth.
The report found that in Liberia’s urban slums, strong community networks were enlisted to help battle the disease. These networks were functional—and indeed, transformational—despite the infrastructure problems.
This in turn facilitated government efforts to engage communities to help overcome the crisis.
Cities Alliance hopes this report contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of the vital importance of these partnerships, not only for future infectious disease outbreaks, but for crises of all kinds. |
To spark enthusiasm the students visited the Canterbury Museum and toured the Paua Shell House, before looking at other Kiwiana icons. There was also some cross-curricular learning happening here, with students working on area and proportion in Maths, where Mr Dekkers tasked them with designing their ultimate Kiwi bach (holiday home).
Where would the mountain bikes and surfboards be stored?
Having gained experience in Maths using Minecraft, this was extended to the inquiry topic where the challenge was to research iconic Kiwiana features of New Zealand and then include them into a Kiwiana theme park.
Using “Tasks” that could be ticked off when each job was completed – this meant they knew exactly who had to do what.
Having the “show contributors” turned on so the initials of each group member was alongside their work, meaning they could see who had contributed what to the research.
Storing images in the notebook as examples for when they started to build their Minecraft theme park.
Use of highlighting – key words / concepts were highlighted to ensure they would be include in the theme park and oral presentation.
Using their iPads and OneNote to read their notes from during the actual presentation.
Mr Dekkers writing feedback directly into their OneNote notebook during the presentation so by the time they finished they would see his comments.
One of the skills that Mr Dekkers was focusing on as part of this Inquiry unit was synthesising information found as part of their research with their own ideas, discussions and information from their parents.
This allowed the conversation to include plagiarism and why this is a serious issue – a great way to remind students that being a good Digital Citizen includes protecting and respecting the intellectual property of others that has been shared online (see this post for more information on Digital Citizenship).
Whilst plenty of technology was being used in this unit and presentation, it was very much in the background. It was not being seen as a distraction, but rather a tool to get the job done.
Students made great use of OneNote as a shared document that was accessible anytime, anywhere for them to record their research.
Students were accountable to one another and their teacher as it was evident who had contributed what to the notebook.
Interest, engagement and enthusiasm from the students was very high – they loved the “gamification” of their learning by being allowed to use Minecraft to design a theme park.
Students were keen to share their learning – they wanted their Principal and Director of ICT to see their learning – they were proud of their efforts.
This kind of cross-curricular learning, with deep and authentic integration of technology is incredibly pleasing to see in our classrooms. |
The integrated development approach emphasis is the need of coordinating different agencies under a single management system of essential components (including education) required to get agricultural or rural development moving. The management system may be highly authoritarian credit may be designed to provide an important role for local people in planning, decision making and implementation of the programmers. The main emphasis is on rational development and coordination of all principal factors required for agricultural and rural development. The community development for agricultural India could not achieve the desired impact in increasing agricultural productions. As a solution to this situation the Intensive Agriculture District Programme (IADP) was launched in selected districts. The IADP used the integrated development approach in tackling the problem of rural development.
1. Adequate farm credit through strengthened cooperatives.
2. Adequate supplies of fertilizers pesticides, improved seeds, implements and other essential production needs through strengthened service cooperatives.
3. Price incentives to participating farmers through assured price agreements for rice, wheat and millet.
4. Marketing arrangements and services to enable farmers to obtain a full market price for their marketed surplus.
5. Intensive educational, technical and farm management assistance made available in every village.
6. Participation of all interested farmers in farm planning for increased production.
7. Village planning for increased production and village improvement programme by strengthening village organizations and leaderships.
8. A public works programme using local labour and development works contributing directly to increased production.
10. Coordination of all essential resources for maximum speed and effectiveness. |
The House Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee concluded in hearings March 17 — apparently boycotted by committee Democrats — that the Federal Reserve Bank's inflationary policies were hurting retirees at the expense of the economy's financial sector. The House Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee is chaired by Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas), a longtime critic of the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies.
The hearing on the Federal Reserve comes as the Fed reported this week that its balance sheet increased to a record $2.587 trillion in "assets," mostly U.S. Treasury debt purchased on the open market. The Federal Reserve purchase of government debt with money it prints out of thin air increases the supply of money — the traditional definition of inflation — and eventually leads to price inflation (the modern definition of inflation used by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke).
Witnesses testifying March 17 before the subcommittee included Lewis E. Lehrman, Senior Partner of L.E. Lehrman & Co. and former Chairman of the U.S. Gold Commission during the Reagan administration; James Grant, Editor, Grant’s Interest Rate Observer; and Economics Professor Joseph T. Salerno of Pace University, New York and the Ludwig von Mises Institute.
"I really believe this is a critical hearing," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Walter Jones told subcommittee members attending. Jones went on to read to members of the Monetary Policy Subcommittee (which his committee oversees) a letter from a constituent in his district about the impact of inflation on retirees: "I have been retired from Ma Bell for 22 years and my pension has only increased once.... For people like us, in this situation, we are getting drained. The way things are going my wife and I will have to hope to die ... We cannot afford to live."
Witnesses before the subcommittee explained why retirees were getting squeezed by the Federal Reserve's monetary inflation policy. "Inflation has shown up first in commodity and stock rises," Lehrman told committee members. "Since the expansive Federal Reserve program of Quantitative Easing began in late 2008, oil prices have almost tripled, gasoline prices have almost doubled. Basic world food prices, such as sugar, corn, soybean, and wheat, have almost doubled." Lehrman noted that the unprecedented spike in world food prices caused by the Fed could cause starvation in some impoverished areas of the world, and has led to higher food prices in the United States as well.
Dr. Salerno informed subcommittee members that monetary inflation does not conform to American ideas of fairness. "The key point is that prices and wages do not all increase at the same time during inflation. When the Fed initially expands the money supply, not everyone receives a share of the new money immediately. There is no Friedman-Bernanke helicopter that spreads the money evenly throughout the country." The "Friedman-Bernanke helicopter" remark refers to speeches by economist Milton Friedman and Bernanke where both speculate that a threat of deflation could be defeated by printing money and throwing it from helicopters. But Salerno noted that much of American history — from 1792 through the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 — saw mild deflation in consumer prices as well as strong industrial growth. People on a fixed income experienced a slight increase in their standard of living during those times. On the other hand, the Federal Reserve's deliberate policy of decreasing the value of the dollar hurts retirees and those on a fixed income. Salerno noted that these people do not receive the benefits of currency inflation: "Of course, those living on fixed incomes such as pensions and life insurance annuities suffer a cruel and relentless decline of their living standards that is never reversed."
Banks and big financial operations on Wall Street do benefit from inflation, Salerno noted. "The rapid decline of the purchasing power of the dollar, especially since 1971, has involved a massive and surreptitious transfer of real income and wealth from productive laborers, entrepreneurs, and investors to those privileged corporations and financial institutions that are the recipients of government largesse and bailouts." |
In this book, Charles and Elaine Hallett invite the reader to follow the actions of Shakespeare's plays. They show that the conventional division of the plays into scenes does not help the reader or play-goer to discover how the narrative works. They offer instead a division into smaller units which they define as beats, sequences and frames. For both scholar and practitioner, their observations offer new insights about how the building blocks of the plays are deployed. Detailed analysis of the unfolding action reveals that Shakespeare's scenes frequently consist of a series of sequences, each with its own individual climax, and these sequences are regularly built up of a succession of smaller units, or beats. Several sequences usually work together to create a still larger action, or frame. Study of these components yields valuable information about Shakespeare's playwriting techniques, information not readily available elsewhere in critical literature, and of immense value in articulating the dramatic rhythms and structure of Shakespeare's action. This analytical method, while especially tuned to Shakespeare, can also be adapted to other dramatists in varying degrees. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of Shakespeare and theatre studies as well as to actors and directors. |
For a long time American studies scholars had a common format: pick a person or an object and follow how Americans interpreted her/him/it through time. So there was Merrill Peterson's The Jeffersonian Image in the American Mind (and later Lincoln in American Memory); John Ward's Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age; Henry Nash Smith's Virgin Land. The list goes on and on. The idea was that if you held constant the object of inspection and then saw how people reacted to it, you'd learn a lot about the people doing the interpreting. Pretty cool format. And while it has a lot of limitations, it also has a lot of virtues. One of the limitations is that we need to get beyond how people interpret something. At some point we need to levitate the question of how people understand to how they act. How, for instance, does a particular constitutional outlook relate to how judges decide cases? This is mighty hard to get at, but at some point it seems to me that we as historians, particularly legal historians, need to get into the business of making assessments of how ideas correlate with (dare I say, even affect) how people act. Another limitation is that we lost sight of the original actors themselves -- in looking to have people thought about Jefferson and Lincoln, we lost the sense of who Jefferson and Lincoln were.
One of the great virtues of legal history is that we can bring precision to understanding the decision-making process. We can see how judges explain what they're doing. And while there's surely a lot buried beneath the surface--and in some cases, judges may not even know why they're doing something--we can still help bring precision to these questions. We can narrow the confidence intervals between underlying motives, economic, cultural, religious, political, and the framework through which the judges operate (like the world of precedent), to assess how we get to an outcome. Between the rigorous citation practices of jurists and legal scholars and the tradition of explanation among jurists, we can learn a lot by looking at legal opinions and treatises. I think we've only begun to mine the possibilities of computerized research in legal history. And I hope to talk about some of the virtues in a post on "fun with concordance software."
The fetters of ignorance were broken. Books were multiplied and became the inmates of the humble cottage as well as the lordly Palace. Prejudice, superstition and power were impotent longer to curb the unchained mind, and it sprung upward like the lark, to the very gates of Heaven, caroling its songs of joy and thankfulness.
This species of reading, quickly becoming a passion, creates a dreamy existence, from which the victim awakes with the same restless feelings, as does the confirmed eater of opium; both, alike, find life intolerable, without the poison, which first imparted, and now, at once, continues the disease and furnishes a momentary comfort.
The French Revolution itself, the result, as least in the horrible atrocities which marked its progress, of the atheistic literature which immediately preceded and accompanied it, exercised a manifest and wide spread influence upon the intellect and literature of the age. How, indeed, could it be otherwise, with the world all in commotion around, the great deep of opinions broken up and in conflict, the struggle of the mind with mind, should partake of the vehemence and energy which characterized the physical conflicts of the period.
Pretty interesting, isn't it, how people can differ on how they think about a technology as basic as a book. For some it's leveling and that's good; for others, it's leveling, and that's only partly good -- maybe even partly bad. The attitudes towards the book correlate, I think, with a basic distinction between Whigs and Democrats: how did people think about the loss of social distinctions. Some Whigs were horrified by the thought of people reading the new sensational literature and by getting more ability to mobilize into their own hands. Democrats weren't so bothered by that.
There are, I'd imagine, some interesting parallels to how people view the internet today. Print at one point took down the traditional authority; now that traditional authority wielded by print is being challenged by the net.
The image is of a steam printing press, which seems to be from 1860. |
In the name of curtailing deficits, politicians across the country are hacking away at programs that aim to make children healthier. In Congress, for example, House Republicans are spearheading a budget that eviscerates funding for food assistance and effectively defunds the wildly successful Children's Health Insurance Program.
Similarly, from Texas to California, state lawmakers are chopping children's' health programs in the face of budget shortfalls. In all these initiatives, the rhetorical leitmotif is "fiscal responsibility."
Like clockwork, this has set off the now-standard ideological debate over values, with liberals arguing that it's immoral to deny health care to today's kids and conservatives countering that it's even more immoral to saddle the next generation with debt. But as highlighted by a new National Bureau of Economic Research report, both sides are ignoring the most important non-ideological fact: Any so-called "deficit reduction" plan that cuts child health programs is almost certain to increase deficits.
The NBER study compared British and American illness rates, controlling for both demographic differences and risk factors like smoking and drinking. It found that a) we have "much higher" childhood illness rates than our English counterparts, b) "the transmission rates of higher rates of childhood illnesses into poor health in (adults is) higher in America compared to England" and therefore, c) "the origins of poorer adult health among older Americans compared to the English traces back right into the childhood years."
In other words, America's broken private health care system allows kids' medical afflictions to become far worse in adulthood than they become in England—a nation with a government-sponsored universal health care system.
Remembering that experts say diabetes alone could be a $3 trillion health-cost time bomb in the United States, the NBER study's underlying message should be clear: If we reduce our country's minimal efforts to make kids healthier, we will be all but guaranteeing even more deficit-exploding medical problems down the line.
Those problems, of course, are often more expensive to therapeutically treat in adults than to pre-emptively address in kids. That means any short-term savings achieved by cuts to children's health care will likely be wiped out by much bigger costs as those less-healthy kids enter adulthood. And don't forget—those additional marginal costs are everyone's concern because they often end up being paid by Medicare (aka taxpayers).
The NBER study is quick to point out that access to children's health insurance—universal in England, but not in America—may not be the "primary" factor in the discrepancy between our two nations' health stats. However, it's possible that health services for pregnant women are acutely involved.
It's also possible the results reflect not just differences in health services, but also larger incongruities in everything from food safety regulation to consumer products safety laws to environmental protection. This would suggest that it's not only ignorant for self-described deficit hawks to cut children's health programs, but also absurd for them to cite deficits as reason to cut enforcement of public-interest laws.
As obvious as these lessons may seem, appreciating their significance requires a serious attitudinal shift in America. It requires us to take the longer view of our deficit challenges, to see certain expenditures as investments in future savings and to remember that adage about "cutting off your nose to spite your face." Because while we certainly can get the deficit under control, we cannot achieve such a goal by denying kids health care.
Doing that will spite the whole country—and make the budget picture far worse. |
The composition of the Earth’s atmosphere has undergone extensive change during the last century, with important ramifications for human health, resource management, ecosystem services and the environment. Atmospheric trace constituents (trace gases and aerosols) are key drivers for air quality and climate. Furthermore reactive trace gases (e.g. methane, VOC, NOy, ozone, etc.) control many important feedbacks in the earth system by influencing the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere and by producing a large fraction of organic (and inorganic) aerosol in the atmosphere.
Understanding their exchange at the surface-atmosphere interface as well as their transport throughout the planetary boundary layer and mixing into the free troposphere through entrainment processes remains challenging. Sub-grid scale processes governing the atmospheric fate of reactive trace gases are particularly uncertain and directly relate to uncertainties in future projections of climate and air quality.
The Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry (APC) group at the Institute for Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences of the University of Innsbruck uses innovative approaches to quantify the chemical composition of the atmosphere. New experimental concepts are explored that allow studying the exchange of trace constituents and their atmospheric transport and chemistry in the atmosphere, as well as testing and improving modeling concepts. The APC group collaborates with national and international research institutions, including start ups to achieve these research objectives.
We offer a wide range of thesis topics in environmental meteorology and atmospheric physics. More recently, topics related to air quality and climate observations at the Innsbruck Atmospheric Observatory (IAO) are opening. The topics are designed to get an in-depth view of the growing field of environmental meteorology. Observational hands-on projects, data projects or more programming oriented topics are possible. |
A low-temperature dynamical transition has been reported in several proteins. We provide the first observation of a “protein-like” dynamical transition in nonbiological aqueous environments. To this aim, we exploit the popular colloidal system of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) microgels, extending their investigation to unprecedentedly high concentrations. Owing to the heterogeneous architecture of the microgels, water crystallization is avoided in concentrated samples, allowing us to monitor atomic dynamics at low temperatures. By elastic incoherent neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations, we find that a dynamical transition occurs at a temperature Td ~ 250 K, independently from PNIPAM mass fraction. However, the transition is smeared out on approaching dry conditions. The quantitative agreement between experiments and simulations provides evidence that the transition occurs simultaneously for PNIPAM and water dynamics. The similarity of these results with hydrated protein powders suggests that the dynamical transition is a generic feature in complex macromolecular systems, independently from their biological function.
Hydrated protein powders are known to undergo a so-called dynamical transition, which is related to a sudden increase in temperature of the protein atomic mean-squared displacements (MSDs). This is related to the onset of anharmonic motions, which allow the protein to explore conformational substates corresponding to the structural configurations of functional relevance (1). Thus, the transition is accompanied by the activation of the protein functionality, making it the subject of intensive research for its high relevance in the biological context. On the other hand, the dynamical transition is distinct from the protein glass transition—the latter taking place at a lower temperature and involving other types of atomic motions (2). Since its first observation in myoglobin (3), the dynamical transition has been reported for several proteins with different structures (2, 4) and in more complex biomolecules such as lipid bilayers (5) and DNA strands (6). Although it appears to be closely related to biological functionality (7), some experiments have shown that the dynamical transition also occurs in unstructured proteins (8) and even in mixtures of unbound amino acids in aqueous environment (9). Conversely, in dry biomolecules, the transition is suppressed, thus highlighting the prominent role of hydration water.
Recent studies have shown that the dynamical transition takes place simultaneously for both protein and water dynamics (10, 11), thus lifting residual doubts on the close dynamical coupling between hydration water and biomolecules (12–14). Together, this evidence suggests the hypothesis that water plays a driving role in the dynamical transition, and thus suggest that this phenomenon may be ubiquitous in the context of hydrated systems. This also opens up the possibility of investigating nonbiological systems (for example, synthetic macromolecules) to shed light on the nature of the transition and to unveil the role of water. To this aim, it is particularly important to focus on complex macromolecular environments that could, on one hand, mimic the multifaceted potential energy landscape of proteins and, on the other hand, avoid water crystallization and allow the investigation of atomic dynamics at low temperatures. These conditions can be achieved by using the peculiar characteristics of microgel particles (15). Microgels are colloids made by cross-linked polymer networks with a heterogeneous structure composed of a dense core and a loose corona.
Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) microgels have so far been extensively studied around ambient temperature as a tunable model system for elucidating phase transitions and glassy behavior (16). We now extend their investigation to a yet unexplored region of the phase diagram, encompassing PNIPAM mass fractions (wt) in the range 43 ≤ c ≤ 95 wt % and a wide range of temperatures, namely, 150 ≲ T ≲ 290 K. By combining elastic incoherent neutron scattering (EINS) experiments with all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we probe the internal dynamics of microgels at short time and length scales. We find that our suspensions do not crystallize for PNIPAM mass fractions ≳ 43 wt % at any temperature, in good agreement with calorimetric data on PNIPAM chains (17, 18). Most crucially, we find the occurrence of a “dynamical” transition at Td ≈ 250 K, akin to that observed in proteins. The value of the transition temperature does not depend on PNIPAM mass fraction, but the transition tends to disappear when approaching dry conditions. We directly compare the measured EINS intensities and their associated MSDs with those calculated in simulations, finding quantitative agreement between the two. Moreover, simulations show a strong coupling for both PNIPAM and water dynamics, for which a discontinuity in diffusional dynamics occurs at the same temperature. These results represent, to our knowledge, the first observation of a genuine dynamical transition in a nonbiological aqueous system, providing generality for the concept of a low-temperature dynamical transition in disordered macromolecules with internal degrees of freedom.
EINS experiments were performed on PNIPAM microgels hydrated with D2O at five polymer mass fractions between 43 and 95% (19). In thermal neutron scattering, the incoherent cross section of hydrogen atoms is more than an order of magnitude larger than both coherent and incoherent cross sections of the other atomic species in our PNIPAM suspensions. Therefore, the incoherent signal of the hydrogen atoms in the PNIPAM network dominates the mostly coherent signal of deuterated water, providing selective access to the microscopic dynamics of the polymer matrix.
EINS data were collected at the backscattering spectrometer IN13 of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL; Grenoble, France). IN13 has an energy resolution ΔE = 8 μeV (full width at half maximum) and covers a momentum transfer interval from 0.3 to 4.5 Å−1, thus accessing motions faster than about 150 ps taking place in a spatial region between 1 and 20 Å. In this way, we essentially probe the internal dynamics of the microgel and its behavior on the atomic scale. This is important because, although our samples are glassy on the colloidal scale (20, 21), the volume fraction occupied by the microgels is still much lower than that of the polymer glass transition (17); thus, we can safely assume that the polymeric degrees of freedom are in equilibrium. Our results confirm this assumption, as they show a progressive and smooth behavior with PNIPAM mass fraction, are reproducible with respect to sample preparation, and are fully reversible in temperature.
The measured incoherent elastic intensities I(Q,0) as a function of temperature and momentum transfer Q are shown in Fig. 1A for selected samples with PNIPAM mass fractions of 43 and 60%. Data were recorded under thermal cycles of cooling (top panels) and heating (bottom panels) in a range of temperatures between 287 and 152 K. The temperature behavior is best observed in the Q integral of I(Q,0), as shown in Fig. 1B. Upon cooling, the integrated EINS intensity progressively increases until a sharp variation occurs at a characteristic “dynamical transition” temperature Td ~ 250 K, below which the intensity increase continues with a smaller but linear slope. Such a discontinuity is more pronounced at the lowest PNIPAM concentration and gradually disappears with decreasing water content. Upon heating back, the measured data fall on top of the corresponding ones at the same T, confirming the full reversibility of the process.
(A) Incoherent elastic intensities I(Q,0) measured on PNIPAM microgels in D2O with mass fraction concentrations of 43 and 60% as a function of temperature T. Top (bottom) panels report data recorded under cooling (heating). (B) Integral over Q of I(Q,0) as a function of T. The integrated EINS intensities are normalized to 1 for T → 0. (C) Temperature evolution of MSD as obtained using the double-well model (see the Supplementary Materials). In (B) and (C), measurements under cooling are presented with filled symbols, whereas those under heating are presented with open symbols.
At each temperature, the average atomic MSD can be calculated from the Q dependence of I(Q,0). To this end, the EINS data I(Q,0) were fitted with a double-well model, which captures the data behavior very well (see figs. S1 and S2). The resulting MSDs in Fig. 1C reflect the discontinuity observed in the Q-integrated intensity at Td ~ 250 K. Below Td, the linear temperature evolution of the MSD is typical of a harmonic solid. Conversely, the sudden slope increase above Td witnesses an enhanced mobility of the PNIPAM atoms, due to the onset of anharmonic motions and resulting in the corresponding elastic intensity drop.
It is worth noting that the observed discontinuity at Td might be attributed to an underlying crystallization process associated to the D2O. However, the measured I(Q,0) for pure D2O in the same temperature range shows defined crystalline peaks that do not appear in low-T PNIPAM suspensions (see fig. S3). This suggests that the elastic intensity drop of the PNIPAM network originates from a mechanism other than water crystallization.
To identify the microscopic mechanism responsible for the observed change in PNIPAM dynamics taking place at Td, we rely on all-atom MD simulations. To this aim, we designed a new microgel model (described in Materials and Methods and in the Supplementary Materials) and performed its numerical investigation at mass fractions of 40 and 60%. A snapshot of the in silico microgel is displayed in Fig. 2A. The PNIPAM network was built with a cross-linker/monomer ratio of 1:28, which, taking into account the inhomogeneous density of a PNIPAM particle, describes an inner region (for example, the core region) of the microgel. The number of water molecules per monomeric unit is smaller than the experimentally determined value of hydration molecules for PNIPAM microgels (22) for both concentrations. Thus, we can safely assume that all water molecules in the simulations are hydration water and not bulk water.
Fig. 2 MD simulation results for 40% mass fraction.
(A) Snapshot of the simulated PNIPAM microgel. Chain atoms are displayed in green to highlight the network structure. (B) SISF of PNIPAM hydrogen atoms calculated at Q = 2.25 Å−1 as a function of temperature. (C) Time evolution of the MSDs of water molecules. The inset shows the water MSD values at 150 ps as a function of T.
At each studied temperature, we monitored the dynamics of both microgel and water atoms separately. To characterize microgel dynamics, we calculated the self-intermediate scattering function (SISF) that probes the single-particle translational dynamics at a characteristic wave vector Q and time t. Figure 2B displays the SISFs calculated for the hydrogen atoms of PNIPAM 40 wt % at Q = 2.25Å− 1, that is, at the position of the first peak in the oxygen-oxygen structure factor of bulk water (23). PNIPAM internal dynamics exhibits a two-step behavior typical of glass-forming liquids: An initial fast relaxation is followed by a long-time, slow relaxation indicating structural rearrangement. At the lowest studied temperatures, the SISFs do not decay completely to zero, an indication that the system is becoming arrested on the considered time window. However, studies on longer time scales reveal that aging phenomena do not play a major role at the studied temperatures (see figs. S5 and S6). The long-time relaxation of the SISFs is well described by a stretched exponential as in standard glass formers, thus providing an estimate of the structural relaxation time τp. This is shown in Fig. 3A as a function of temperature in an Arrhenius plot. We find that τp obeys two distinct dynamical regimes, each being compatible with an Arrhenius dependence. The crossover temperature of about 250 K is strikingly similar to that found in EINS experiments. The activation energies are 28.4 ± 0.8 kJ mol−1 and 14.5 ± 0.5 kJ mol−1 for the high- and low-temperature regime, respectively.
(A) Temperature dependence of water diffusion coefficient (squares); SISF relaxation times for PNIPAM hydrogen atoms (circles) and water oxygen atoms (diamonds); RMSF of backbone hydrogen atoms (triangles) calculated from MD simulations of PNIPAM 40 wt %. Dashed lines are guides to the eye. Note that data sets are represented on different scales on the y axis to improve visualization. (B) Temperature evolution of RMSF of the PNIPAM hydrogen atoms for 40 wt % (light blue) and for 60 wt % (dark green) averaged over 150 ps: methyl groups (circles) and backbone atoms (triangles).
To complement these results, we also investigated the hydration water dynamics by looking at the MSD of the oxygen atoms (see Fig. 2C). Similar to PNIPAM SISFs, we observe a slowing down of water dynamics with decreasing T. While at high T the MSD shows a diffusive behavior in the studied time interval, upon lowering the temperature the onset of an intermediate plateau is observed. This is a characteristic feature of glassy systems, indicating that atoms remain trapped in cages of nearest neighbors for a transient, before eventually diffusing away at long times. Water oxygen atoms retain a diffusive behavior at all studied T so that it is possible to estimate their self-diffusion coefficient Dw. This is also shown in the Arrhenius plot of Fig. 3A, where Dw is also found to follow two distinct regimes, each one compatible with an Arrhenius dependence, crossing again at a temperature of about 250 K. Furthermore, in the inset of Fig. 2C, the water MSD calculated at a time of 150 ps, matching the experimental time resolution, is shown as a function of T. A clear increase of the MSD is found above ~ 250 K. This strikingly matches the MSD behavior observed by EINS in our PNIPAM samples and is closely reminiscent of other experimental and simulation results on protein hydration water (10, 11, 24–26).
To make a closer connection to protein dynamics, we calculated the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) of PNIPAM hydrogen atoms, which measures the fluctuations of the atom positions with respect to the averaged structure over a defined period of time. We monitored this quantity separately for hydrogen atoms of the methyl groups and those of the backbone. The evolution with temperature of the RMSF for both types of hydrogen atoms, averaged over the experimental resolution time, is shown in Fig. 3B. Again, a clear change is detected at a temperature of about 250 K for both types of atoms, with a stronger effect for the backbone hydrogen atoms. Such a change is observed for both studied mass fractions, suggesting that concentration does not play any role on the value of the crossover temperature, for both water and PNIPAM atoms, but it only smears out the variation, making the two regimes progressively similar to each other. These findings are in agreement with the concentration dependence of the experimental I(Q,0) (Fig. 1B). Figure 3A summarizes the MD results, showing that τp, the RMSF of PNIPAM backbone atoms, the self-diffusion constant of water, and the associated relaxation time τw all display a clear change at T ~ 250 K, a temperature strikingly similar to the one where the EINS data reveal a variation. Thus, simulations show that the dynamical properties of both PNIPAM and water are slaved to each other.
These results suggest to interpret the transition observed at Td as the analog of the protein dynamical transition for PNIPAM microgel suspensions. Several features are shared by protein and PNIPAM dynamical transition: (i) Td does not depend on the concentration, and the transition vanishes for dry conditions; (ii) the transition takes place at a temperature higher than that of the glass transition (2); (iii) the strong coupling between water and PNIPAM dynamics, as shown in Fig. 3A, is well established in hydrated proteins (10, 12–14).
It is then natural to ask whether water, through hydrogen bonding interactions with the involved macromolecule, drives the occurrence of this dynamical transition that appears ubiquitous in proteins and in PNIPAM microgels. To partially answer this question, we refer to recent simulation studies on confined water, which have provided a detailed characterization of slow dynamics in water (27). In particular, the study of hydrated lysozyme (28) has identified a new (long) time scale governing the behavior of confined water, which is characterized by two distinct Arrhenius regimes, in full analogy with the present findings for water confined in microgels. This behavior was interpreted as a strong-strong transition due to the coupling of hydration water with the fluctuations of the protein structure and found to occur in correspondence to the protein dynamical transition. The same correspondence is found in our simulations, suggesting that hydration water, through hydrogen bonding, plays a driving role in the dynamical transition. In support of this idea comes the fact that the behavior with concentration is similar for both PNIPAM microgels and hydrated proteins.
We now provide a direct comparison between experimental and numerical data. To this end, we have calculated the elastic intensity in simulations, as explained in the Supplementary Materials. The resulting I(Q,0) as a function of Q are shown in Fig. 4 for simulations (A) and experiments (B) at corresponding temperatures for the 40 wt % sample. The data are in very good qualitative agreement, also showing the presence of more pronounced peaks at comparable wave vectors. From the simulated trajectories, we can also calculate the MSD of the PNIPAM hydrogen atoms and compare them with those resulting from the fit of the experimental I(Q,0). The comparison is shown in Fig. 4C. The numerical MSDs are in striking quantitative agreement with the experimental ones, without need of any scaling factor.
Fig. 4 Quantitative comparison between experiments and simulations.
(A) Neutron spectra as a function of temperature, as calculated from the MD simulations of the PNIPAM microgel at 40%. The total intermediate scattering functions are displayed at a value of 150 ps for comparison with the experimental data. (B) EINS spectra measured on the sample with a PNIPAM concentration of 43% as a function of temperature. Data shown at 252 K compare the spectra measured under cooling (dark green) and heating (green). (C) Temperature dependence of experimental (open symbols) MSD for PNIPAM mass fractions of 43% (circles), 60% (triangles), and 95% (squares) and numerical (filled symbols) MSD, calculated at 150 ps for PNIPAM hydrogen atoms only, for PNIPAM mass fractions of 40% (circles) and 60% (squares). The dotted line is a guide to the eye, suggesting a linear behavior for the dry sample, for which the dynamical transition is suppressed.
Here, we have reported evidence of the occurrence of a dynamical transition in concentrated PNIPAM microgel suspensions at low temperatures, akin to that observed in proteins. We have combined EINS measurements with atomistic MD simulations, based on a new model specifically developed to mimic the interior of a microgel network. While a detailed numerical representation of a whole microgel is currently unfeasible, our study is capable of resolving the intranetwork dynamics of PNIPAM atoms at the short time scales probed by EINS experiments. Thanks to the use of highly concentrated samples, we have extended the investigation of microgel suspensions to unprecedentedly low temperatures, avoiding water crystallization. Our findings are in agreement with calorimetric data for linear PNIPAM chains, showing that crystallization is absent for polymer mass fractions above ~ 50% (17, 18). These results open up the possibility of systematically investigating very high concentration and low-temperature microgel samples beyond current practice.
The dual colloidal/polymeric nature of microgels (29) bridges the properties of classical hard-sphere colloids and soft polymeric particles, allowing the presence of two distinct glass transitions on the colloidal and the polymeric scale, respectively. Both transitions depend on temperature, given the thermoresponsive character of PNIPAM, which is responsible for the so-called volume phase transition at TVPT ~ 305 K, from a swollen state of the microgel particles for T ≲ TVPT to a collapsed state above it. In the swollen regime, a colloidal glass transition takes place at a PNIPAM mass fraction of ~ 10 wt % (21). Although very few studies of microgels at high concentrations exist, we can expect the glass transition on the polymeric scale to be similar to that reported for PNIPAM chains, amounting to about 80 wt % at ambient temperature (17, 18). This means that, for the concentrations studied in this work, the microgel samples are macroscopically arrested in a glass-like state. A legitimate question thus concerns the reproducibility of our samples and their stability. A reliable preparation and measurement protocol allowed us to obtain homogeneous samples (see Materials and Methods), ensuring a complete reproducibility of the results and a smooth, progressive variation of the dynamical observables with microgel concentration at the investigated short time and length scales.
The study of microgels in water at low temperatures poses a numerical challenge in appropriately identifying a suitable water model that is able to realistically describe its peculiar behavior. Very accurate models, which are usually able to describe specific aspects, exist. In particular, TIP4P/ICE was devised to accurately reproduce the solid properties of water (30). We have chosen to work with this model because it reproduces water melting at ~ 270 K, much closer to reality than the ≈ 250 K predicted by the mostly adopted TIP4P/2005 (31). Thus, it should also be more realistic in describing supercooled water environments. Our results confirm this hypothesis, providing quantitative agreement with experiments in the investigated T range for the dynamical properties of PNIPAM atoms. It will be interesting to test other models under the same conditions, particularly TIP4P/2005, as well as to extend our studies at higher temperatures.
The similarity of the transition reported here for hydrated PNIPAM microgels with that commonly observed in proteins could be important to better understand the microscopic origin of such a transition. There are still controversial aspects in the literature, particularly concerning the role played by water. Two experimental studies have recently proposed an alternative picture for the dynamical transition, which would support the view that a transition may occur independently from the presence of water. Liu and coworkers (32) reported the observation of a dynamical transition also in dry deuterated proteins, mainly due to backbone heavy atoms. While the relevance of the traditional transition in hydrated proteins remains unaltered, the role of this “dry” transition is still uncertain. It might provide one of the contributions to flexibility involved in biological processes, although, in most proteins, full functionality is achieved in the hydrated state only. In addition, Mamontov and coworkers (33) investigated a simple polymeric system in nonaqueous environment, claiming to observe a dynamical transition similar to the protein one. However, in the latter study, the temperature of the transition significantly depends on the polymer concentration, differently from what was found here and for hydrated protein studies, suggesting that its microscopic nature could be different. On the other hand, the present results highlight the role of water-PNIPAM interplay in the dynamical transition, suggesting that all systems with structural complexity and water interactions similar to proteins should exhibit the same phenomenon. A natural and interesting extension of this work will be to investigate other macromolecular environments with different polymeric architectures, such as PNIPAM linear chains, to further ascertain both the occurrence and the microscopic nature of the dynamical transition.
We found that microgels are extremely efficient in confining water, because the lower limit of sample crystallization is close to 40% PNIPAM mass fraction, a value that exceeds the amount of water commonly found in other confining environments. The typical protein concentration where crystallization is avoided is about 70% in protein mass fraction (3, 10, 11, 34). Thus, our results suggest that stable samples with a majority of water can be studied down to very low temperatures, which could be of potential interest for the investigation of liquid-like water behavior in the so-called no man’s land region of the phase diagram (35–37). The efficient confinement role played by PNIPAM microgels is probably due to their intrinsic network disorder and to their inhomogeneous internal architecture. This further motivates the abovementioned investigations on PNIPAM linear chains to shed light on this aspect.
As a whole, our results strongly suggest that the dynamical transition is a generic feature of water hydrating complex macromolecular suspensions with biological and nonbiological implications. This work also puts forward colloidal PNIPAM microgels as excellent models for a deeper understanding of the functional relevance of the protein dynamical transition. In proteins, an energy landscape endowed with a large number of conformational states, each containing several tiers of substates, is considered of essential biological importance, as proteins could not function without such a reservoir of entropy (1). Likewise, the occurrence of a protein-like dynamical transition in PNIPAM-based systems might well be ascribed to a similarly rich amount of conformational substates. Future work will aim to elucidate this point and to provide generality to the present results.
Microgels were synthesized by precipitation polymerization at T = 343 K of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in water (0.136 M) in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) (1.82 mM). The reaction was carried out in the presence of 7.80 mM SDS as surfactant and potassium persulfate (2.44 mM) as radical initiator. The reaction was carried out for 10 hours in nitrogen atmosphere. The obtained colloidal dispersion was purified by exhaustive dialysis against pure water, lyophilized, dispersed in D2O, lyophilized, and dispersed again in D2O to a final concentration of 10%. The obtained microgels were characterized by dynamic light scattering (Zetasizer Nano S, Malvern), and the hydrodynamic diameter was found to be 94 ± 3 nm at 293 K with a size polydispersity of 0.17 ± 0.01 nm.
EINS experiments were carried out on PNIPAM microgel suspensions with PNIPAM mass fractions of 43, 50, 60, 70, and 95% (dry sample). To single out the incoherent signal from PNIPAM hydrogen atoms, samples were prepared in D2O. Measurements were performed at the backscattering spectrometer IN13 of the ILL. PNIPAM samples were measured inside flat aluminum cells (3.0 cm × 4.0 cm), sealed with an In o-ring. The thickness of the cell was adjusted to achieve a transmission of about 88% for each sample. To obtain samples with the required PNIPAM concentration within the cell used at IN13, we started from the prepared microgel dispersion at 10%. We then proceeded by evaporation of the exceeding D2O in dry atmosphere using a desiccator under moderate vacuum (~ 10 mmHg). Once the final concentration was reached, cells were sealed and left to homogenize at room temperature for at least 4 days before analysis. The sample at 95% composition was prepared from film casting the PNIPAM dispersion at 10% up to dryness in a petri dish. The obtained transparent films were milled with an IKA MF 10.1. Cutting-grinding gave rise to a rough powder that was poured into an aluminum cell for neutron scattering. The weight of each sample was checked before and after the measurement without observing any appreciable variation. Moreover, after EINS measurements, the cells were opened and no changes in the sample morphology were detected, showing a homogeneous character and no compartmentalization effects. EINS data were acquired in the fixed-window elastic mode, thus collecting the intensity elastically scattered as a function of Q. Data were corrected to take into account incident flux, cell scattering, and self-shielding. The intensity of each sample was normalized with respect to a vanadium standard to account for the detector efficiency. Multiple scattering processes were neglected.
The model mimics, with an atomic detail, a cubic portion of PNIPAM microgel for polymer mass fractions of 40 and 60 wt %. The macromolecular network, modeled as isotropic, includes 12 atactic PNIPAM chains joined by six fourfold bisacrylamide cross-links (see fig. S4). Amide groups of PNIPAM residues are represented in the trans conformation. The three-dimensional percolation of the polymer scaffold is accounted for by the covalent connectivity between adjacent periodic images. The number average molecular weight of chains between cross-links, Mc, is 1584 g/mol, with a polydispersity index of 1.02 and an average degree of polymerization of 14. Taking into account the NIPAM/BIS feed ratio used in the synthesis and the nonuniform cross-link density of PNIPAM microgels, the model represents a region in proximity to the core-shell boundary of the particle. MD simulations of PNIPAM microgels were carried out at eight temperatures (from 293 to 223 K every 10 K). A trajectory interval of about 0.5 μs was calculated for each temperature. Additional details are given in the Supplementary Materials.
Fig. S1. EINS data for PNIPAM 43 wt % sample.
Fig. S2. EINS data for PNIPAM 60 wt % sample.
Fig. S3. D2O contribution to EINS spectra.
Fig. S4. Schematic representation of the microgel network model.
Fig. S5. Aging effect on water dynamics.
Fig. S6. Aging effect on PNIPAM dynamics.
Fig. S7. I(Q,0) from numerical simulations.
Table S1. Thermal protocol followed during the EINS measurements.
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Each year there are over 90,000 vehicle crashes in Maryland.
Over 60 motorcyclists are killed every year in Maryland and up to 300 suffer serious injuries.
Learn more about car accidents in Maryland.
Each year there are over 90,000 vehicle crashes in Maryland. In those crashes, over 40,000 people suffer injuries and nearly 500 are killed. Over 100 pedestrians are killed in vehicle accidents every year in Maryland and around 360 suffer serious injuries Over 60 motorcyclists are killed every year in Maryland and up to 300 suffer serious injuries. Learn more about car accidents in Maryland.
This infographic submission highlights various facts about car accidents in the state of Maryland. A good sign for an infographic is if the reader can quickly scan it without reading anything and still understand what the topic is. Testing this out, it's quite clear that this infographic is about car accidents. The various sections of the infographic are broken up nicely, with most having a word count that stays under what might be considered too much. Something that would substantially improve the effect of this infographic is data visualization. There are several stats throughout that are simply spelled out in copy when they should be illustrated. For example, the "8 out of 10 in Baltimore or Washington" statistic could be visualized. Likewise, the fast facts section offers a handful of opportunities for data viz instead of simple icons. Overall, we give this a B. |
On February 13, 2013 the corpse of the former pastor from Ammertal, Carsten Häublein, was recovered from the Schlei in Schleswig-Holstein. It was to be conclude that he had put an end to his own, as reported by Franz Adlkofer of the Pandora Foundation. The Foundation is committed to a greater public awareness of the risks of cell phone radiation.
After seven years on the run from the cell phone radiation Carsten Häublein obviously lacked the courage to continue in this way. “The case Häublein exemplifies a tragedy in Europe, in which thousands of people who suffer from the consequences of their hypersensitivity, are classified as having psychological problems or being mentally disturbed by the industry and even by politics, so they can deny that cell phone radiation could be the cause” writes Franz Adlkofer. Since 2006, priest Häublein fought, with great dedication, for the recognition of Electrohypersensitivity as an environmental illness. The case Häublein (German).
Not all people react so sensitively to cell phone radiation as Carsten Häublein did. Because: we do not see them, we do not hear them, and most people do not even feel electromagnetic fields. This is probably one of the main reasons why most people ignore the danger of the radiation. Opinions about the dangers of electromagnetic radiation emanating from cell phones, cell phone base stations or WiFi, are well known to be many and diverse.
There is however no shortage on investigations, studies and experience reports, representing the cell phone technology in a light than is unfavored by the cell technology lobby. Nevertheless, it is always diligently said that there is still a lack in long-term and scientific studies on the dangers of electromagnetic fields. Although the existing scientific studies should actually have raised suspicions long ago. In other fields, the existing facts and studies would probably have been accepted as scientific basis. Professor Lerchl of the private Jacobs University Bremen recently confirmed that mobile phone radiation, below the official thresholds can enhance tumor growth in mice, something he had vehemently denied recently.
During an investigation of patients with sleep disorders at the University of Lübeck, Dr. med. Joachim Peterson discovered, that an above average amount of people were heavy users of wireless telephones. Next Dr. Peterson observed how a three-minute conversation with a cell phone brought about negative changes in blood that was previously flawless. Before the phone call the red blood cells were moving freely; immediately afterwards they stuck together. In medicine, this is called “rouleaux syndrome”. This damage can result in an increased risk of thrombosis (blood vessel blockage), infarctions and strokes.
That radar radiation is significantly damaging for people, trees and birds, has been known for over 70 years and is undisputed. Nevertheless, the influence of the cell phone industry on studies and limits surrounding electromagnetic radiation is immense. No wonder, as a lot of money is at stake. However, the use of cell phones, WiFi and Co. is not only a matter of technology. But rather this new technology calls us people out, to deal with it more consciously.
Do I really have to be constantly reachable?
How well I can feel my body?
Do i interpret its signals correctly is something is not good for me?
We do not know (yet), what influence electromagnetic radiation has on our thoughts, feelings and our mind. Many people could not imagine living without a cell phone or WiFi. Are we already dealing with a new addiction phenomenon? From what stage are you addicted?
An abstinence from cell phones etc. would mean not to use a cordless phone, cell phone, WiFi and no microwave. As an alternative for communication remains the traditional wire or a harmonization by Swiss Harmony. |
The British educational system is considered one of the best in the world. The proven system has contributed to the establishment and development of Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Aldous Huxley, Stephen Hawking, Tony Blair and others for centuries. We helped Russian teachers to puzzle out the secrets of the educational system.
From December 6 to 16, we organized the teaching internship for Russian trainers at Studio Cambridge (Cambridge, England). Twenty respected English teachers, who were recognized the best in the Krasnodar Region, became the participants of the event.
What distinguishes the UK educational system? The internship participants were able to get an answer to this question when visiting secondary and higher schools of England. The visit to punishment rooms", where students were placed for bad behavior, made a striking impression.
One of the main stages of preparation of the internship was the development of the educational program. Enhancement of skills and new knowledge — are the main objectives that guided us in the preparation of a training plan for participants.
During the program, the teachers were able to improve pronunciation techniques, undergo grammar lessons, consolidate knowledge at interesting workshops, take part in language games and even sing.
We organized a tour around Cambridge, as well as a visit to the world-known Fitzwilliam Museum. And even the rainy weather, typical for this period, did not prevent the participants to enjoy the beauty of the city and the rooms, where Darwin and Stephen Hawking lived. The crown of the program was a visit to Witches!» Musical. |
Minnesota is known for cold winters and that means heating costs increase. What should people do if they are struggling to pay their heating bills? The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule (CWR) can help. The CWR exists to protect and reconnect your heat during the winter season. The rule helps you keep your electric and natural gas service on from October 15 through April 15 each year.
The rule applies to residential customers, including renters who pay their own utility bills. The rule does not cover delivered fuels, such as fuel oil, propane, or wood. You may apply for a CWR plan any time during the winter season.
Some people think that heat cannot be disconnected in the winter. But it can if you don’t pay your heating bill or do not have CWR protection. To keep your heat on all winter, you must make and abide by a CWR payment plan with your utility company.
Once you have a plan, it is important to stick to it. If you don’t, your utility company is not required to offer more arrangements. If it looks like you won’t be able to make your scheduled payment, call your utility company immediately to create a new payment plan.
Utilities offer different payment plans based on household income. To qualify for a reduced payment plan, your total household income must fall below 50 percent of the state median. You will not have to pay more than 10 percent of your household income toward current or past utility bills in any given month.
Most recent data shows the median annual income for a four-person household in Minnesota is $70,218. If your income is higher, you may still qualify for a reduced-payment plan with your utility.
To apply for help, contact your utility company to request a payment arrangement. All natural gas and electric utilities must follow some level of the rule.
If you and your utility company cannot agree upon a plan, you have 10 days to appeal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The commission will help you set up a payment plan and your service will stay on during the appeal process. |
Quantitative genetic variation from new mutations in Tribolium.
Directional selectional for heavier pupa weight in Tribolium castaneum was practiced for ten generations in two replicates of an inbred line that had been seperately maintained in population cages for more than 90 generations. The response to selection was used in a prediction equation developed by Hill (1982) to estimate mutational variance in the two populations. Estimates of the ratio of mutational to environmental variance ranged from .0002 to .0015 depending upon the assumptions made concerning the effective population sizes that had been maintained in the population cages. The results support the argument that mutation may have played a significant role in supplying new genetic variation for the long continuing response to selection in experiments reported earlier. A second experiment designed specifically to test the predictive theory on response to directional selection from new mutations is described. |
The Conservation Fund and a host of partners launched the Upper Green River Valley Initiative in 2008 to conserve and enhance key wildlife habitat and agricultural lands in the region.
To date, we have worked with numerous public and private partners to conserve nearly 81,000 acres of private land and enhance more than 90,000 acres of public lands, including key migration routes, miles of river frontage, sage grouse habitat and crucial winter range for moose, elk, mule deer and pronghorn.
Flanked by the Wyoming and Wind River ranges, the Upper Green River Valley forms the southern core of the world’s most intact temperate ecosystem—the Greater Yellowstone. The Valley is home to the “Path of the Pronghorn,” the longest land mammal migration in the continental United States, stretching from Grand Teton National Park south to winter range in the Red Desert, a distance of over 200 miles. For over 7,000 years, Pronghorn antelope and other wildlife such as elk, Shiras moose and mule deer have navigated the Valley’s unique topography every season. Yet due to its unparalleled natural resources, the Valley and its wildlife are now in peril.
For generations, traditional, large-scale family ranches have comprised most of the Green River Valley’s private lands, sharing the natural wealth with the species that migrate across the landscape’s ancient pathways. But the Valley also sits atop two of the nation’s highest-producing natural gas fields and is threatened with the full trappings of resource development—roads, well pads, power lines and residential subdivisions.
A swath of wide-open private ranchlands in the Valley is the best hope for conserving the region’s rich wildlife resources. As part of the Upper Green River Valley Initiative, ranchers are collaborating with the Fund, public and private partners, and community leaders to protect and enhance more than 135,000 acres and preserve Wyoming’s unique wildlife habitat and traditional ranching economy. These ranches have been selected for their top wildlife habitat and include some of the most important bottlenecks on the “Path of the Pronghorn” as well as critical sage grouse habitat.
In 2014, The Conservation Fund completed six conservation easements benefitting more than 28,400 acres of sage grouse and pronghorn habitat within the Upper Green River and Hoback Rim areas. Permanently protecting these critical working ranchlands in partnership with the USDA Farm Bill and private and state funding helps maintain the local agricultural economy and safeguard many of the Greater Yellowstone Area’s most vital natural assets.
Upper Green River Valley, WY. Photo by Mark Gocke/www.markgocke.com.
The Upper Green River Valley forms the southern core of the Greater Yellowstone Area, the world’s most intact temperate ecosystem.
The Valley sits atop two of the nation’s highest-producing natural gas fields and is threatened with resource development.
Large-scale family ranches comprise most of the Green River Valley’s private lands.
The Valley is home to the “Path of the Pronghorn,” the longest land mammal migration in the continental United States. |
Historians have done lots of work in recent years on health and medical care in the family in early modern Britain. As such we know much more about what life was like for the sick in the early modern home, how patients were cared for and by whom. The family provided ready sources of both physical medicines and care.
As Mary Fissell and others have argued, the burden of responsibility for looking after the sick often fell on women, and could involve a great deal of extra work, such as in washing, preparing medicines and so on. Other historians, such as Lisa Smith (and me!) have also noted the important role played by men in domestic medicine, noting that men were important gatherers and collectors of remedies, and were sometimes forced into a caring role when their wives fell sick – something that early modern medical literature didn’t necessarily prepare them for.
There is one group of patients, however, who sometimes slip through the net. What happened when servants fell sick? Who cared for, and looked after them? How far did employers pay for their care or treatment? In some ways the question might seem redundant. Servants were considered part of the family unit. When Pepys opened his diary in 1660, he noted “I lived in Axe Yard, having my wife and servant Jane, and no more family than us three”. It’s easy to miss the significance of this; Jane, their servant, was fully part of the Pepys family. As part of the family, therefore, they could surely expect to be looked after.
In economic terms it certainly made sense to treat a sick servant, if for no other reason than to return them to productivity as quickly as possible. In large houses or estates, for example, a spate of sickness amongst servants and labourers could be potentially disastrous for productivity. But is there evidence to suggest that care went beyond this purely pragmatic view? Through my work on medicine in early modern Wales, I came across a number of examples.
Surviving records from the account book of William Davies of Clytha, Monmouthshire, certainly suggest that he went beyond the call of duty. In May 1718 he took on a boy, William Prosser, to his service at the wage of two pounds and four shillings per year. Davies was diligent in recording a range of entries concerning his servant. It is clear, for example, that he gave Prosser what might today be regarded as pocket money on occasions. In one instance he recorded giving Prosser 6 shillings to visit Usk Fair. On another occasion he provided 2 shillings for the boy to play cards. He paid for new stockings and the mending of shoes, and allowed Prosser time off to go to Monmouth, and also to visit his sister when she was sick.
Davies, however, also noted occasions when Prosser was himself sick, and the duration. One entry reads “You were sick in Aprill 7 dayes”, and another “you were sick and you lost 11 dayes”. On one level this might be seen as an employer monitoring his servant, and keeping a tally of their sick days…an approach that would not feel unfamiliar in a modern workplace! But, also just like a modern employer, it seems that Davies provided sickpay – “June ye 15th I gave you one shilling when you were sick’. Was this the norm, or was Prosser simply lucky in having an apparently benevolent employer?
There is other evidence to suggest that some were prepared to allow sick employees to move into their households for treatment. The probate inventory of the Cardiff labourer William Cozens shows that, during his last sickness, he was living in the house of his employer, and receiving care. Note that Cozens was a labourer, and not a domestic servant, suggesting that he ordinarily did not live with the family.
Gentry household accounts certainly suggest that provision of medicines for sick servants was routine. The accounts of Lord Herbert, the 9th earl of Pembroke, give a running list of the many preparations and remedies ordered from a London apothecary John Jackson. (Between 1744 and 1747 there were a total of 848 different prescriptions!). Amongst the many for Lord Herbert and his wife, were entries for William Colly and Jenny White, both presumably servants, as well as medicines for the ‘coachman’ and ‘housemaid’.
The coachman at Chirk Castle was another recipient of treatment, involving a ‘botle of physic from Dr Puleston’, and when the ‘boy Thomas was swoll’n under the chin’, an entry in the accounts paid for a man to fetch the apothecary from nearby Wrexham.
R.C. Richardson’s study of servants in early modern England found similar evidence to suggest that employers were usually keen to look after their charges. Those who failed to do so properly were denounced as ‘cursed and hard-hearted persons’ whose threshold the prospective servant should be wary to cross. Preachers, such as William Perkins, considered it the ‘Christian duty’ to care for a servant who ‘In time of his service be sicke’.
Admittedly some were not so sympathetic. Thomas Ffoulkes of Holywell, Flintshire, kept close tabs on his maid, apparently suspicious of her claims to be ill. In January 1724 he noted “My mayd Margarett Jones fell sick this day, and next day, and did not get out of bed. Munday morning, being the 8th, she went unknown to me to her mother’s and did not returne till Friday”. Ffoulkes’s scathing last line “she went rambling home severall other times” suggested he thought that Margarett was pulling the early modern equivalent of a ‘sickie’!
In general, however, sick servants were the recipients of often quite generous levels of care. On one level, as part of the family this might be expected. But these were also, ultimately, employees, and therefore reliant on the goodwill of their masters and mistresses for this to be provided. It would be interesting to find out more about the changing dynamic, when employees had to provide physical care for their servants. Presuming there were no others available, how must it have felt for the mistress of the house to tend the sickbed of her housemaid? Perhaps the subject for a future post. |
Architect Andrew Goodman explains what it took to create the UK's first load-bearing straw bale Passivhaus home.
Andrew Goodman is an architect with over 20 years experience running his own practice, currently as a sole practitioner based in Hertford. One of his recent projects has been for Dave and Mabel Howorth, who were looking to build a straw bale home for their retirement, with the added challenge of wanting to achieve the Passivhaus standard.
Dave Howorth already had an interest in straw bale buildings and had previously participated on one of Straw Works‘ projects. He was convinced that it was a good way to build and was also attracted by the affordability it provided.
It took several years for Dave to find his plot of land. When he bought it, it already had planning permission for a chalet style bungalow, which wasn't ever going to lend itself to either being built with straw bales or to the Passivhaus standard.
The plot was in the curtilage of an old, listed dwelling with thatched roof and lime plastered walls, and the local vernacular for Dutch barn style curved roofs also gave the extra ceiling height they were looking for, so these both provided a starting point for evolving the design.
Being a detached dwelling in an established orchard meant the trees would have some impact on shading the building in a positive way.
It was important to Dave and Mabel that the building should meet the Lifetime Home standard, which was about at that time (but since been partially absorbed into Building Standards). The standard had a dozen or so categories covering how someone with restricted mobility might approach and access the building, move through it with ease and move between levels if applicable.
The brief was to provide three main bedrooms, living accommodation, separate kitchen, dining and living room. The Lifetime element was incorporated by providing an extra reception room on the ground floor with access to a wet room, which could be a bedroom with en-suite in the future if needed.
The proposed building had roughly the same floor area as the original planning permission which was a help, and although the finishes were very different, they were judged to be appropriate for being in close proximity of the listed building, and planning permission was granted.
The foundation is an insulated slab system. Then there is a taped connection between the slab and the internal wall finish, which crosses over the base plate detail that you need on any straw bale construction. Instead of building first floor joists into the walls, they used a ledger beam approach attached to the box beam, with a membrane between the ledger beam and the box beam that connects the two plaster layers, the ground floor and first floor.
The curved roof uses a standard Intello membrane on the underside of the timber structure, which again is then connected to the render at first floor level.
A previous attempt by Fran Bradshaw to build the first load-bearing Passivhaus straw bale house just missed out on achieving the standard. Hers used a structural timber frame, so the bales may not have been as compressed and loaded as those at Haven Cottage. Andrew's assistant was convinced that load-bearing the straw bales would be the best way to go, and by using a wet lime plaster on the inside as the air barrier, it shouldn't be any different than using it on a brick block cavity wall. Haven Cottage also has an external lime render.
In terms of the construction, part of a ring beam is placed that can be used to compress the bales using wires that run from the base plate up to the top plate, which are then tightened. There is a typical compression of around 50mm for each storey height. Once it's compressed it is loaded with the next level of construction up to the underside of the roof.
Together with the structural engineer, they worked out a system of curved laminated beams that are actually within the overall depth of the roof. The roof has 40mm of Warmcel insulation. The laminated beams are only 300mm deep.
Airtightness tapes were used to connect the windows to the wet plaster reveals, and time will tell whether the added movement that straw bales naturally have will cause cracks in the render and impact on the airtightness. Andrew recommends taking care to look at the building over time, checking the plaster and renders and making sure they are kept in good condition to ensure there is no moisture ingress.
Dave was able to take a 12 month sabbatical from work and project manage the construction. He used a specialist substructure and groundworker who did the slab and drains and anything else below the ground. There were a couple of carpenters who worked collaboratively throughout on all of the timber elements. Straw Works provided teams of people to build the walls in their usual method, providing training to people who were interested in learning about the skills of straw bale construction. There was also a specialist roofing contractor.
Dave did all the airtightness taping and installation of the MVHR system himself.
The original design and PHPP model for the building was using a gas-fired boiler for heating, but Dave decided, partly for cost-saving, not to install the gas main.
There are three heaters in the house in the hallway and bathrooms, and a post-heater in the MVHR which raises the temperature a little bit above whatever it has come through the heat exchanger with.
Haven Cottage has solar PVs which provide all the required hot water in the summer, with a bit of Grid electricity needed in the winter to top it up. Passivhaus Plus Magazine has calculated that the building is actually making a profit on the electricity side.
Andrew didn't have any experience of straw bale buildings before coming into this project, but wasn't daunted as he found sufficient information around to understand the normal procedure, and from that work out how to do things slightly differently to meet the needs of achieving the Passivhaus standard.
Fran Bradshaw from Anne Thorne Architects shares her experience of building an ultra low energy home using natural materials such as straw bales, lime render and clay plaster. The house is also aiming for the Passivhaus standard.
Fran Bradshaw was a builder before she became an architect but she's still very much interested in the practical side of things. A lot of the work she does at Anne Thorne Architects has a focus on sustainability and community-based work.
This episode is about a straw bale house that she's building for herself in Norfolk, UK.
Fran got inspired to build her own house with straw after working on a project for Haringey Council.
Upon completing the eco-hub, Fran noticed that lots of people commented on the quality of the environment.
The acoustics, humidity and the colours are all very different in a building constructed of natural materials – people liked this.
While there have been straw bale houses in mainland Europe that have reached Passivhaus standard, there is yet to be one in the UK.
The challenge is in turning what is a rather chaotic building material into something that is actually very precise, because to achieve the Passivhaus standard all the details on all the joints have to be very neat and carefully airtight.
Although one of the reasons Fran chose to build her house with straw was to involve her friends, she leveraged the experience of Straw Works.
So guided by one or two experts, the rest of the team members just need to be enthusiastic and prepared to do a little bit of physical work.
The site is very close to the Norfolk Broads and Fran discovered that reed thatch was being cut a mile away.
In order to thatch well, the reeds need to be the same strength, the same length and have the same diameter.
This is partly to do with how well and methodically the reeds are cut, which is why reed cutters are given long contracts to tend a certain patch.
The thatch is on fireboard which is moisture permeable but airtight. It's taped at the joints so that the airtight layer is just underneath the thatch.
Warmcel – recycled newspaper insulation – then goes in between the plasterboard and the underside of the fireboard.
Fran says the connections between the walls and the floor are always tricky to get right and, as this project is aiming for the Passivhaus standard, she opted for a reinforced raft.
While there was a level of compromise here it is quite economical on concrete and it gave Fran the opportunity to employ a local contractor (whereas many parts of this build have needed specialists).
Normally the airtightness layer would be on the inside of the house to avoid warm, moist air from the room going into the wall fabric.
As there's timber inside and the straw is outside the timber frame, in this case it would have been very difficult to make the airtight barrier work well (because there are timber penetrations and quite big bits of timber).
After discussing the best approach with their airtightness expert Paul Jennings, they decided to use the outside layer of render as the airtight layer.
So the concrete slab is the airtight layer in the ground which connects to the lime render on the outside of the straw walls and then to the fireboard on the roof.
They are pretty confident this won't be a problem because all the materials are moisture permeable and hygroscopic as well, and the MVHR ventilation will be operating at the coldest times.
Moisture monitors will also provide on-going data, so should any issues arise they can be addressed.
As the lime render is the airtight layer, any cracks that appear could affect the airtightness and thus the energy efficiency of the house.
However, this is just part of using these materials – these cracks will need to be repaired. Fran is expecting this at the end of the drying out process but is not sure how often the maintenance will be after that.
There's a Role for an Airtightness Geek!
Working with these kind of materials and trying to achieve high levels of airtightness, Fran can definitely see the need for a ‘very precise airtightness geek person' who has a close eye on all the details as the build progresses.
This could develop within building firms or be a role that is taken on by a broader group of people.
There are certain key moments where you've got to be absolutely spot on, so find out where these are.
Planning for those moments and making sure that there are the right people around at the time will stand you in good stead.
You Can Always Do Things for Less BUT . . .
While Fran knows that there are always ways to cut costs, she derived great pleasure on this project from being able to work with people who she knew were going to do a really lovely job.
Although she may have paid a little bit more it's been worth it and she still believes it's been reasonably economical given the materials used.
Look carefully at what people have done in the past and trust your judgement about them.
For work like this Fran is not in favour of endless competitive tendering. On the whole she's selected people who she enjoys working with and who charge a reasonable rate for what they do.
The first air test of Fran's house recorded a figure of 0.9 air changes per hour.
This year we're holding more online debates, which will focus on various aspects of building a house. There's no level of entry! You just have to have opinions and want to get involved. |
Dovidio J et al (1995) discuss and describe the term pro social behaviour as the voluntary act of helping an individual or a society. As discussed by Dovidio there are numerous definitions, however the focus of pro social behaviour in this essay will be on the voluntary action in relation to communication skills.
Madonna Louise Ciccone known by the public and media, as the one name star sensation, “Madonna” is well-known all over the world for her pro social behaviour in helping people, and in 2006 setting up the organisation ‘Raising Malawi’. The online video interview for the American channel CNN, Interview about Malawi (2009) available at =IpIviXlQQJs> (2009), will be used to analyse Madonna’s effective use of communication skills and relationship theories. The subject of the interview, ‘Raising Malawi’ is the example of Madonna’s pro social behaviour which will be studied. Identifying and analysing Madonna’s effective use of communication skills and relationship theories, in relation to pro social behaviour, will assess how important these qualities are in relation to the success of ‘Raising Malawi’. The essay will analyse Madonna’s use of verbal messages, self disclosure, types of listening, non verbal communication, concepts of ‘the self’ and relationship theories. For a balanced analysis, opposing viewpoints of Madonna’s ‘pro social behaviour’ of adopting children from Malawi and other celebrities pro social behaviour will be discussed and analysed.
The interview format comprises of questions and answers between the interviewer, Alina Cho, and interviewee Madonna. Littlejohn (2002) discusses face threatening acts (FTA); positive, negative and politeness. Alina uses a face threatening act to begin the interview, “So, you’re Madonna.” This instantly attacks Madonna’s positive face and politeness- as Littlejohn (2002) describes the need and desire to be liked. The subject and purpose of the interview on Malawi, is Madonna’s opportunity to talk and explain about the charity and to evidently gain further support from the public for the charity. However, the immediate FTA is an obstacle for Madonna’s communication skills as it is directly attacking Madonna’s ‘face’ and the sarcastic interviewee tone creates a division of status between Cho and Madonna. O’Keefe (1988, quoted by Littlejohn, 2002, pg 111) discusses message design logics in three areas; expressive, conventional and rhetoric. Madonna’s response uses communication known as conventional logic. Madonna replies using positive politeness, “No, I’m not.” The use of defensive humour cancels out the aggression created by Cho. O’Keefe describes this logic similar to the conventions of a game; as rules are always present and in this situation they are used to define the verbal communication. The communication response from Madonna is appropriate, polite and is based on rules known by everyone. She has been a celebrity for the past three decades and is familiar with following codes and conventions with interviews such as the question and answer format, styles of different interviewers .e.t.c. Madonna’s first verbal response present her communication skills as effective, logical and planned due to her polite response to a FTA which creates a composed image of Madonna and therefore representing her charity, ‘Raising Malawi’ as organised and structured.
Madonna’s logical listening skills are effective as her responses present herself in a positive way. Cho asks probing questions about how Madonna deals with the large scale of problems in Malawi, “Do you ever get overwhelmed by…?” the probing questions seek to provoke exclusive intimate feelings from Madonna. Madonna uses discriminative listening to be able to filter Cho’s question and responds in a neutral manner, “Sometimes, it just, it stops you dead in your tracks and you think, ‘Oh, my god. I can’t do this,” her response does not portray her in weak manner as she speaks in a narrative tone creating an independent image of herself. The stage beforehand, discriminative listening, described by Coakley (1993) as the receptive stage in which a person uses auditory and visual cues in order to separate and determine what information is important and therefore to respond with effective communication, is how Madonna listened. To maintain control of the interview Madonna filtered what the interviewee was asking and responded appropriately; adhering as mentioned before, to conventional logic.
Madonna uses her non verbal communication skills (NVC) to gain support for ‘Raising Malawi’. This is evident in several different areas; the body (kinesics), the face, the eyes, in paralanguage and silence, and lastly in spatial messages.
Madonna’s kinesics are used to communicate her feelings and emotions towards her pro social behaviour with ‘Raising Malawi’. Devito (2009, page 130) created a table which devises the five types of body movements; emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators and adaptors. A few of these interpersonal communication devices are used by Madonna in the interview.
Madonna uses an emblem by touching her heart when verbally communicating about her assets as a human being. The action presents Madonna as earnest as it is a surprised body action when the focus of the interview changes to her attributes as a person and not on her philanthropy. The action of touching her heart area on her body could also be seen as an ‘adaptor’ used to reassure and add comfort during an interview. Madonna’s facial communication helps support her verbal communication when talking about ‘Raising Malawi’ as during the interview she smiles frequently and naturally and not forcefully as this would connote deception which would be associated with the charity.
A study of facial emotions and smiling by Gladstone & Parker, 2002; Woodzicka & LaFrance, 2005; Kluger, 2005 (Devito, 2009, pg 132) found that people would be liked more if they smiled naturally, than to people who pretended to smile or to those who did not smile. Therefore, Madonna is communicating through smiling when it naturally occurs. This presents her as honest and trustworthy and therefore the viewer subconsciously appreciates her pro social behaviour and impact in Malawi.
The use of eye communication connotes to the viewer that Madonna’s help; ‘Raising Malawi’ is in good faith and is trustworthy pro social behaviour. Kleinke, (1986, in Hargie, 1996) defines eye contact is an important aspect of Western culture and interpersonal communication. During the CNN interview Madonna maintains a high level of eye contact to adhere to this cultural norm. Eye contact creates a relationship between the viewer and Madonna, as suggested by Axtell (1994, in Devito, 2009) it is viewed as an expression of honesty; which Madonna needs to ensure as she is promoting her charity.
Theorist Erving Goffman (1967, in Devito, 2009) refers to avoiding eye contact or changing your glance to other people as civil inattention. Subsequently, Madonna avoids all eye contact when verbally discussing the controversy about adopting children from Malawi with her eyes glancing upwards and remaining closed for an estimated two to three seconds. This tactic of communication during the interview is used to create her own personal private proximity. The proximity is needed for the sensitive topic and avoiding eye contact with Cho means Madonna can express herself without the feeling of the cameras or interviewee intruding.
A person with a faster speech rate is more likely to have an advantage in communicating information as defined by MacLachlan (1979). Madonna communicates at a fast rate with her paralanguage, her tone and volume remain consistent throughout the interview. The silences that occur in the interview are due to sensitive subjects about adoption and the improbable reality that Madonna cannot help every child in Malawi. The silences relate to the spiral of science theory discussed by Devito (2009, pg141) in which the silences are the chance for the speaker to calculate a response. Madonna’s use of silences is effective as it suggests to viewers that this communication technique is being used as she is a thoughtful individual consequently gaining support for ‘Raising Malawi’.
Madonna’s interview is in public territories, with the location of the studio being owned by the organisation CNN. This unfamiliar setting affects Madonna’s proto language; she remains upright and self composed; appropriate for the interview. Her body language and stance communicates to a viewer that she is confident, and therefore the confidence and attitude is associated with the ‘Raising Malawi’ organisation.
The limited time of the interview means the focus of the questions are on Madonna’s purpose, ethics and plans for Malawi. Lustig and Koester (2006) discuss how European Americans place emphasis within their communication on the future. Madonna constantly expresses the desire and drive for future plans for Malawi through verbal messages about a girl’s school in Malawi and NVC touching her heart and smiling which communicates a positive outlook to the future. The future orientated presence and attitude of Madonna promotes her charity in a positive way as it is discussed as an achievable and positive goal.
The concept of ‘the self’ and self disclosure are communication skills used by Madonna to promote ‘Raising Malawi’.
Madonna describes herself “like a cockroach” in her approach to charity work and her resilient nature. The description about her goes against the consistency theory discussed by McBroom and Reed (1992, in Devito, 2009) in which descriptions are partnerships and equal. However, Madonna is a female icon who’s perceived and presents herself differently to how she behaves. For example Madonna has been known as controversial, she describes herself as a cockroach and she matches a dollar for every dollar donated. This is effective use of communication skills as she is going against the consistency theory which presents her as fun and unpredictable, and to some viewers this is an admirable quality.
Madonna presents herself as trustworthy and honest with her emotions, whilst at the same time remaining autonomous. As discussed by Berger and Bell (1988, in Burleson, 2003), self presentation is the communication skill technique to be liked by people. Therefore, Madonna presents herself as self reliant and an individualist with a masculine culture. Devito (2009) discusses, a masculine culture emphasises success and confronting issues. Madonna uses self disclosure with a masculine approach to appear as a role model and icon for other females. This is effective communication as it gains support for her as an individual and ‘Raising Malawi’.
Devito (2009) discusses three pairs of opposing motives in relationship dialectics; autonomy and connection, closedness and openness, and novelty and predictability. Relationship dialectics theory can be applied to Madonna and her pro social behaviour in ‘Raising Malawi’. The relationship partnership is Madonna and the public. Casmir (1994) discusses two relationship dialectics; autonomy and connection (page 176) the opposing attributes of being an individual and being close to someone sharing a bond. This relates to Madonna’s as through verbal and NVC skills, she adopts a masculine culture. In the aspect of relationship theories, she remains an independent individual (autonomy) as she remains composed and calm. This is evident when Cho asks a probing question, “It seems that a lot of the things I do end up being controversial even when I don’t mean them to be” she replies confidently and does not express any weak emotions. The interview begins emphasising her individualist nature, “You’re Madonna…. No I’m not” her reply signifies her need to be regarded as a person not through her ‘star’ name. In contrast, Madonna’s self disclosure “I would love to take them all home” allows viewers to gain an insight into her feelings and good intentions for the children in Malawi.
The openness and closedness can be applied to Madonna’s relationship between herself and Cho. The openness is within the self disclosure of emotions within the interview, “I talk to the people in Malawi whose lives have been changed and that just helps me and keeps me going”, this self disclosure of feelings and experiences from Madonna, that viewers did not previously know, helps viewers respond positively to her work in ‘Raising Malawi’.
Novelty and predictability dialectics create trust between the viewer and Madonna. Madonna creates novelty by describing herself as a “cockroach”. This is analysed as a FTA to herself; as the connotations of a cockroach is negative and considered by some people as vermin. Therefore the negative self labelling has a reverse psychological effect on the viewer. The unexpected phrase is received positively by viewers as it is humorous. The predictability is through Madonna’s verbal communication, “We found and met a lot of people who were sick and dying of HIV, with no medical help” the comfort is created by reminding the viewers of information and facts that they know. The existing knowledge being reinforced makes viewers respond positively to Madonna’s pro social behaviour as they feel at advantage being able to recognise the good act and they feel their status is equal to Madonna’s as both positions are knowledgeable.
Social penetration devised by Altman and Taylor (1973, in Berry, 1997) argues that the more intimate relationships become the more information is disclosed. When applied to the CNN interview the later into the interview the more information is disclosed. The revelation of information is separated into two parts: breadth and depth The last disclosure from Madonna is repeated by Cho and is the most exclusive information, “I’m embarrassed to tell you this, I don’t even know where Malawi is” Cho explains the reasons behind ‘Raising Malawi’; a woman phoned Madonna for help in Malawi knowing Madonna is famous and has the status and ability to reach thousands of people. The interview is social penetration. The breadth has been established; the reasoning behind Madonna’s pro social behaviour then the depth is then the reaction to the phone call; with Madonna travelling to Malawi setting up the charity. The breadth of the relationship cannot be explored further due to the interview having a time limit and one main focus. These factors affect the social penetration of the situation and therefore limit the full ability to critique Madonna’s pro social behaviour alongside relationship theories. However, it can be noted that Madonna limits her use of communication skills due to the time limit of the interview and therefore uses the most effective skills for the interview situation.
The social exchange theory can be identified with Madonna’s pledge for her pro social behaviour, “Match my dollar” every dollar that is donated Madonna will match. In reference to the social exchange theory Chadwick-Jones et al (1976, in Devito, 2009) stated that you develop relationships to therefore maximise your profits: profits= rewards – costs. Madonna’s pro social behaviour goes against this theory. Her money is the costs in the equation as she is matching every dollar donated which is therefore to gain as much support as possible for ‘Raising Malawi’. The profit of this relationship with Madonna, and the media and the public, benefits Malawi as the country has gained publicity. This relationship theory shows how Madonna gains support for her pro social behaviour through her verbal communication to the public.
However, some people believe that the social exchange theory shows that Madonna is profiting from her pro social behaviour, creating the charity, ‘Raising Malawi’ as it has gained her publicity stunts. This is discussed on websites, where people are discussing Madonna’s actions of adopting a child from Malawi as selfish and to gain attention from the newspapers. In the media industry, celebrity adoption stories are reported.. A theory discussed by Charng and Piliavin (1990) evaluates observational learning of pro social behaviour. The theories investigated are upon children but can be applied to the current media world. The studies have proven how positive examples are viewed and then copied by children and therefore these copied actions can set new standards for behaviour. When applied to pro social behaviour amongst celebrities, some people feel it is copycat celebrity culture to be in the limelight performing charitable actions <http://m.www.helium.com/items/1093412-celebrity-adoption> this forum discusses adoption as pro social behaviour actions copied by different celebrities.
When applied with the social exchange theory, it can be evaluated that a celebrity icon gains profit from publicity across all channels of communication (television, magazine, radio .e.t.c) as they are being positively portrayed. The observational study also focuses on the length of time (exposure) the child has to charitable acts, and the longer length of time meant the child learnt the appropriate standard quicker. Similarly celebrities view each other and then they can use this to set a standard for themselves and what pro social behaviour they should undertake to gain publicity.
The term pro social behaviour is frequently associated with the term altruism, “It is often seen as a specific kind of helping with some additional characteristics that concern the helper’s intentions and benefits” Dovidio (1995, pg18). This concept discusses the motivation and thoughts behind charitable actions and is an ongoing discussion with celebrities in what their motives are with philanthropy and whether they gain from the action.
After analysing and evaluating Madonna’s communication skills in relevance to relationship theories it is evident that Madonna uses effective communication skills and relationships to promote her philanthropy act of setting up and continuously donating to the ‘Raising Malawi’ charity. Madonna’s effective and positive use of verbal messages, listening techniques, kinesics, self disclosure and paralinguistic’s promote her pro social behaviour in the CNN interview. The relationship theories establish the ways in which Madonna’s relationship with the public is created; openness and closedness, predictability and novelty and autonomy and connection. The convention of the interview assists the social penetration theory as Madonna discloses more to Cho and the public. The social exchange theory, alongside Madonna’s verbal messages of matching a dollar for every dollar donated proves Madonna’s pro social behaviour of ‘Raising Malawi’ is selfless and should be received positively.
Berry, J., Kagitcibasi, C. & Segall, M H. (1997) Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology: Social Behavior and Applications. Volume 3. United States of America: Allyn and Bacon.
Burleson, B. R. & Greene, O. J. (2003) Handbook of Communication and Social Interaction Skills. Routledge Communication Series: United States of America: Psychology Press.
Casmir, F. L. (1994) Building Communication Skills: A socio/cultural approach. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, Publishers.
Coakley, C. G. & Wolvin, A. D. (1993) Perspectives on Listening. United States of America: Ablex Publishing Corporation.
Devito, J. A. (2009). The Interpersonal Communication Book. 12th Edition. United States of America: Pearson Educaion.
Dovidio, J. F. Et al. (1995). The psychology of helping and altruism. United States Of America: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Hargie, O. (1997) The Handbook of Communication Skills. 2nd Edition. London: Routledge.
Littlejohn, S. W. (2002) Theories of Human Communication. 7th Edition. United States Of America: Wadsworth Publishing.
Lustig, M. W., & Koester, J. (2006) Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures. 6th Edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
MacLachlan, J. (1979) What people really think of fast talkers. Psychology Today 13, 113-117. |
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Carbon fiber shafts are longer but light, so they can produce high head speeds and longer carries.
Golf clubs must be able to "carry the ball further precisely in the desired direction." To increase the "carry," it is important to make the club as light as possible to increase the head speed and raise the initial speed of the ball, and to do this, the shaft must be made lighter. In doing so, one key challenge is to maintain enough strength to prevent breaking. Under the brand name of TORAYCA®, standard-elasticity high-strength yarns with a modulus of elasticity of 24 tf/mm2 and moderate-elasticity high-strength yarns with a modulus of elasticity of 30 tf/mm2 have been developed, to achieve straight materials offering good bending strength. In addition, there has been a need in recent years for lightweight shafts that not only have bending strength, but are also resistant to breaking due to "insufficient torsional strength," which led us to improve the elongation and strength of the high-elasticity material in the bias layer to achieve higher performance.
As for the other required performance of "directionality," it is important to make the shaft to have "resistant to twisting (improved torsional rigidity)" to prevent the directionality of the ball from dropping due to twisting of the shaft that occurs when the center axis of the shaft does not match the ball hitting point of the head. Torsional rigidity becomes the lowest when the layering angle is 0° or 90°and becomes the highest when this angle is ±45°; accordingly, a ±45° angle is incorporated into layering as a "twisting reduction measure," and the high-elasticity yarn with a modulus of elasticity of 40 tf/mm2 has taken roots as a standard anti-twisting bias material. Currently, torsional characteristics equivalent to those of a steel shaft are realized with the use of carbon fiber with a high modulus of elasticity of 46 tf/mm2 or more.
Historically, golf shafts initially used hickory wood (known for high strength and impact absorption) and other natural materials; thereafter, steel shafts appeared in the 1920s, and carbon shafts became the mainstream in the 1970s and have remained so until today.
After Shakespeare developed the first carbon shaft in 1972, other manufacturers followed suit. Carbon shafts became the darling of the media in Japan because G.Brewer from the U.S. who won the Pacific Club Masters Tournament was using CFRP clubs made by Aldila. In 1973, Olympic released a Japan-made carbon shaft using TORAYCA®/glass fiber textile. The initial product had a spec of 85 g/12° torque, but in the following year, a100% TORAYCA® product with a spec of 77 g/6.9° torque appeared and created the big boom dubbed the "black shaft" revolution.
A sheet-wound shaft using prepreg is basically constituted by an internal layer angled at ±45° (called "angle layer" or "bias layer"), lengthwise layer angled at 0° (called "straight material"), and reinforcement/thickness adding material at the head hosel. The shaft characteristics such as "flexibility, torque, weight and kick point" are determined by how these layers are combined. Carbon fiber allows these performance characteristics to be optimally designed with minimum weight, which was not possible with conventional metal materials, by combining desired layering angle, thickness, etc.
To adjust the flexibility, torque, weight, kick point and other elements of the golf shaft this way according to the physical strength of each golfer to give the club a good carry with excellent directionality, the characteristics of carbon fiber were utilized for design optimization, and various types of shafts designed for top golf pros and hard hitters to seniors and female golfers have adopted carbon fiber. Today, virtually 100% of wood clubs and 65% of iron clubs are made of carbon fiber. Undoubtedly this will be continue to be an important material to support the evolution of golf. |
ASP.NET Core fully supports the specific ASP.NET Model-View-Controller (MVC) application model in which the URL of an incoming request is resolved to a pair of controller/action items. The controller item identifies a class name; the action item identifies a method on the controller class. The processing of the request, therefore, is a matter of executing the given action method of the given controller class.
The ASP.NET MVC application model in ASP.NET Core is nearly identical to the MVC application model available in classic ASP.NET, and it doesn’t even differ too much from implementations of the same MVC pattern you find in other web platforms such as CakePHP for PHP, Rails for Ruby, and Django for Python. The MVC pattern is also pretty popular among front-end frameworks, most notably Angular and KnockoutJS.
In this chapter, we’ll go through the preliminary steps that ultimately set up the ASP.NET MVC Core pipeline and pick up the handler responsible for the actual processing of any incoming requests.
If you’re coming to ASP.NET Core from an ASP.NET background, having to explicitly enable the MVC application model might seem strange. First and foremost, ASP.NET Core is a fairly generic web framework that allows requests to be handled through a centralized endpoint—the terminating middleware.
Also, ASP.NET supports a more sophisticated endpoint based on controller actions. However, if this is the application model you want, then you have to enable it so that the terminating middleware—the Run method we discussed in Chapter 2—is bypassed.
The beating heart of the MVC application model is the MvcRouteHandler service. Although publicly documented, the service is not one that you want to use directly in your application code. However, its role is crucial for the whole ASP.NET MVC machinery. The MVC route handler is the engine responsible for resolving the URL to an MVC route, invoking the selected controller method, and processing the results of the action.
MvcRouteHandler is also the name of a class used in the implementation of classic ASP.NET MVC. In classic ASP.NET MVC, however, the class played a more limited role than it does in ASP.NET Core. For capturing the big picture of what the class does in ASP.NET Core, rather than just relying on the ability of a search engine, it is preferable to look directly at its implementation, which can be found at .
To add the MVC route handler service to the ASP.NET host, you proceed in the same way as for any other application service such as static files, authentication, or Entity Framework Core. You just add a line of code to the ConfigureServices method of the startup class.
Note that the code requires a reference to an additional package that the IDE (Visual Studio, for instance) typically offers to restore for you. The AddMvc method has two overloads. The parameter-less method accepts all default settings for the MVC service. The second overload, as below, allows you to select ad hoc options.
Options are specified through an instance of the MvcOptions class. The class is a container of configuration parameters you can change in the MVC framework. For example, the code snippet above adds a new model binder that parses specific strings into valid dates and specifies the SSL port to be used when the controller class is decorated with the RequireHttpsAttribute. The full list of configurable options can be found here:
The AddMvc method is only an umbrella method under which many other services are initialized and added to the pipeline. Table 3-1 provides the full list.
For more details, see the method’s source code at http://bit.ly/2l3H8QK.
If you have memory constraints—for example, you’re hosting the application in the cloud—you might want the application to reference nothing but the bare metal of the framework. The list of services in Table 3-1 can be made shorter; how much shorter mostly depends on the actual features you need to have in the application. The following code is enough to serve plain HTML views without more advanced features, such as data annotations for form validation and tag helpers.
Note that some of the services in Table 3-1 are useful only if you are exposing a web API. These services are API Explorer, Formatter Mappings, and CORS. Tag helpers and default application parts can also be blissfully dropped if you’re happy to content yourself with a programming experience like that of classic ASP.NET MVC.
In the Configure method of the startup class, you call the UseMvc method to configure the ASP.NET Core pipeline to support the MVC application model. At this point, everything around the MVC application model is completely set up except conventional routing. As we’ll see in a moment, conventional routing consists of a bunch of pattern rules that identify all valid URLs the application intends to process.
In the MVC application model, that’s not the only way to bind actions to URLs. For example, if you decide to associate actions to URLs through attributes (as we’ll see in Chapter 4), then you’re done. Otherwise, for the MVC service to be effective, you also must list the URL routes that the application intends to handle.
A route is a URL template that your application can recognize and process. A route is ultimately mapped to a pair of controller and action names. As we’ll see in a moment, you can add as many routes as you wish, and those routes can take nearly any shape you like them to be. An internal MVC service is responsible for request routing; it is automatically registered when you enable MVC Core services.
To be usable, your application should provide rules to select the URLs it wants to handle. However, not all feasible URLs must be listed explicitly; one or more URL templates with placeholders will do the job. A default routing rule exists, which is sometimes referred to as conventional routing. Usually, the default route is enough for the entire application.
If you don’t have any special concerns about routes, the simplest and easiest method is to use the default route only.
The actual code behind the UseMvcWithDefaultRoute method is shown below.
The first segment right after the server name will be matched to a route parameter named controller.
The second segment will be matched to a route parameter named action.
The third segment (if any) will be matched to an optional route parameter named id.
In light of this, the URL Product/List will be matched to a controller name of Product and an action method of List. If the URL contains fewer than two segments, default values apply. For example, the root URL of the website will match a controller name of Home and an action method of Index. The default route also supports an optional third segment whose content is matched to a named value of Id. Note that the ? symbol indicates that the argument is optional.
Route parameters—and in particular, route parameters named controller and action—play a key role in the overall processing of an incoming request because they point in some way to the code that will actually produce the response. Any request successfully mapped to a route will be processed by executing a method on a controller class. The route parameter named controller identifies the controller class, and the route parameter named action identifies the method to invoke. We’ll cover controllers in detail in the next chapter.
The UseMvc method can also be invoked without parameters. When this happens, the ASP.NET MVC application is fully functional but has no configured routes it can handle.
It would be interesting to see what happens when no routes are configured. For doing so, let me briefly anticipate how a simple controller class might look. Say you add a new class to the project, named HomeController.cs, and then invoke the home/index URL from the address bar.
Conventional routing would map the URL home/index to the Index method of the Home controller. As a result, you should see a blank page with the text Home.Index printed. If you use conventional routing with the above configuration, all you get is an HTTP 404 page-not-found error.
Let’s add now some terminating middleware to the pipeline and try it again. Figure 3-1 shows the new output you get.
Now, let’s go back the default route and try again. Figure 3-2 shows the result.
The conclusion is twofold. On the one hand, we can say that UseMvc changes the structure of the pipeline bypassing any terminating middleware you may have defined. On the other hand, if a matching route can’t be found, or doesn’t work (as a result of a missing controller or method), then the terminating middleware regains a place in the pipeline and runs as expected.
Let’s learn a bit more about the internal behavior of the UseMvc method.
Internally, the UseMvc method defines a route builder service and configures it to use the provided routes and a default handler. The default handler is an instance of the MvcRouteHandler class. This class is responsible for finding a matching route and for extracting controller and action method names from the template.
Also, the MvcRouteHandler class will also try to execute the action method. If successful, it marks the context of the request as handled so that no further middleware will ever touch the generated response. Otherwise, it lets the request proceed through the pipeline until fully processed. Figure 3-3 summarizes the workflow with a diagram.
In classic ASP.NET MVC, failing to find a matching route for a URL would result in an HTTP 404 status code. In ASP.NET Core, instead, any terminating middleware is given a chance to process the request. |
John Snyder’s role in the history of Amarillo barbecue.
Amarillo, one of Texas’ younger cities, is known for many things. But barbecue is not one of them.
Where there’s smoke, there’s Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor for Texas Monthly. Vaughn says the barbecue history of Amarillo is richer than you might think. The city is classically Texan, and although it doesn’t have many of the kind of barbecue restaurants found in other Texas cities, it does boast the legacy of John Snyder.
“One of the things that made him unique was he really liked cooking whole steers,” Vaughn says.
The method has been adopted by some popular barbecue chefs since, but Snyder did it first. By the age of 77, Snyder estimated he had cooked 4,000 whole steers.
Snyder left his mark on Texas barbecue in another way: with apricots.
Long before many restaurants added apricots as a side dish, Snyder had worked the fruit into his meals.
“He was serving these pureed apricots as a side item at all of these barbecues,” Vaughn says. |
The Code of Hammurabi is a well-preserved Babylonian code of law of ancient Mesopotamia, dated back to about 1754 BC (Middle Chronology). It is one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length in the world. The sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi, enacted the code. A partial copy exists on a 2.25 meter (7.5 ft) stone stele. It consists of 282 laws, with scaled punishments, adjusting "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (lex talionis) as graded based on social stratification depending on social status and gender, of slave versus free, man versus woman.
Hammurabi ruled from 1792 to 1750 BC according to the Middle chronology. In the preface to the law, he states, "Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind." On the stone slab are 44 columns and 28 paragraphs that contained 282 laws. Some of these laws follow along the rules of "an eye for an eye".
Figures at the top of the stele "fingernail", above Hammurabi's code of laws.
The Code of Hammurabi is the longest surviving text from the Old Babylonian period. The code has been seen as an early example of a fundamental law, regulating a government – i.e., a primitive constitution. The code is also one of the earliest examples of the idea of presumption of innocence, and it also suggests that both the accused and accuser have the opportunity to provide evidence. The occasional nature of many provisions suggests that the code may be better understood as a codification of Hammurabi's supplementary judicial decisions, and that, by memorializing his wisdom and justice, its purpose may have been the self-glorification of Hammurabi rather than a modern legal code or constitution. However, its copying in subsequent generations indicates that it was used as a model of legal and judicial reasoning.
While the Code of Hammurabi was trying to achieve equality, biases still existed against those categorized in the lower end of the social spectrum and some of the punishments and justice could be gruesome. The magnitude of criminal penalties often was based on the identity and gender of both the person committing the crime and the victim. The Code issues justice following the three classes of Babylonian society: property owners, freed men, and slaves.
The Hammurabi stele at the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
A version of the code at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
Ex. Law #127: "If any one 'point the finger' at a sister of a god or the wife of any one, and can not prove it, this man shall be taken before the judges and his brow shall be marked (by cutting the skin, or perhaps hair)."
Ex. Law #104: "If a merchant give an agent corn, wool, oil, or any other goods to transport, the agent shall give a receipt for the amount, and compensate the merchant therefore, he shall obtain a receipt from the merchant for the money that he gives the merchant."
Ex. Law #53: "If any one be too apethetic to keep his dam in primly condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the crops which he has caused to be ruined."
Ex. Law #129: "If the wife of a man has been caught lying with another man, they shall bind them and throw them into the waters. If the owner of the wife would save his wife then in turn the king could save his servant."
Ex. Law #3: "If a man has borne false witness in a trial, or has not established the statement that he has made, if that case be a capital trial, that man shall be put to death."
^ Barton, G.A: Archaeology and the Bible. University of Michigan Library, 2009, (originally published in 1916 by American Sunday-School Union) p. 406.
^ Barton 2009, p. 406. Barton, a scientist of Semitic languages at the University of Pennsylvania from 1922 to 1931, stated that while there are similarities between the Mosaic Law and the Code of Hammurabi, a study of the entirety of both laws "convinces the student that the laws of the Old Testament are in no essential way dependent upon the Babylonian laws." He states that "such resemblances" arose from "a similarity of antecedents and of general intellectual outlook" between the two cultures, but that "the striking differences show that there was no direct borrowing." |
Being a teen today isn’t easy – balancing academics, social lives, extracurricular activities, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and other demands on their time and attention. With all of these competing demands, it can feel downright impossible to also fit in and maintain a meaningful connection to Judaism.
The good news is that there are many opportunities for teens to connect to the Jewish community while having fun, making friends, developing leadership skills, and giving back.
J-SERVE is the International Day of Jewish Teen Service when more than 10,000 students in 6th – 12th grade from across the globe come together to make a difference through hands-on projects fulfilling the Jewish values of caring, justice, and repairing the world.
Friendship Circle is dedicated to creating a supportive community for special needs children and their families and offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens and preteens.
BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement. The Greater Jersey Hudson River Region has 1,400 teens and serves Albany and New Jersey from Bergen County to the Jersey Shore. Jewish teens can participate in meaningful Jewish experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service with their friends. Reach out to find a chapter near you.
JTEEN gives teens the opportunity to make a difference and have fun at the same time through volunteer opportunities and social activities.
NFTY is a Reform Jewish community for all high school students who are interested in connecting to their Judaism. Teens build friendships, lifelong Reform Jewish identities, and leadership skills through community building, worship, social action, and experiential youth-led Jewish educational programming.
NCSY connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to celebrate their Jewish heritage; embrace Torah and tradition; develop a positive Jewish identity; acquire invaluable leadership skills; connect with dedicated Jewish role models, and learn to live passionately Jewish lives.
USY is the youth movement of USCJ (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism) and offers high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in various Jewish and social activities while forming friendships that will last a lifetime. Regionally, USYers enjoy and grow religiously through retreats and conventions, dances, special programs, basketball tournaments, and so much more. In addition, Jewish teens may take advantage of USY’s unforgettable summer programs across North America, Israel, and Europe, as well as the annual International Convention. Chapters in Middlesex and Monmouth County are listed below.
A new model for Hebrew high school, offering a monthly rotation of four classes including community service, Israeli Film, Biblical Buffet (cooking), and field trips.
Free, Hebrew high school program meets twice a month on Mondays from 5:45 – 7 p.m. Teens discuss current events and relevant Jewish topics in a fun, relaxed environment. Teens can also volunteer in Hebrew School as tutors or teacher’s aides.
Chabad Teen is an interactive educational experience combining fun, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and Torah study.
Teens come together five times a year for food, friends, and a half hour of learning.
Fun, informative, and meaningful classes designed to educate teens about the relevance, wisdom, and direction Judaism has to offer. Meets weekly.
Weekly classes cover different topics in Judaism including Israel, holidays, and Jewish morals and values. Participants also pay monthly visits to the residents in the NJ Veteran’s Memorial Home.
Temple Shaari-Emeth’s post-Bnai’ Mitzvah program includes weekly meetings that begin with pizza and schmoozing. Students in grades 8 & 9 choose a different class each semester based on topics of interest (e.g. cooking, debate, Israeli cooking, conversational Hebrew); and 10th graders participate in a year-long confirmation class.
IAC Eitanim is a project-based leadership and entrepreneurship program that allows teens to connect, explore, and experience Israel while preparing for college and developing professional skills.
StandWithUs is an international, non-profit Israel education organization. StandWithUs is dedicated to educating people of all ages about Israel and to combating the anti-Semitism and extremism that often distorts the issues. Monthly programs center on different topics and include a pizza dinner.
The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey also has scholarships available to enable teens to gain their own firsthand perspectives on Israel on an organized trip with peers. |
Awakening Earth is a web site founded by Duane Elgin--author, researcher, and social entrepreneur. The purpose of this site is to provide knowledge resources that foster a sustainable, compassionate, and creative future.
Learn how to design products that are good for people, profits and the planet.
"This site is about education, sustainable development, and the World Summit, which took place in Johannesburg in August and September 2002. The site aims to help educators engage people of all ages in the issues. It provides background information and links to more detailed sources on other sites."
On this website you will find a list of my publications, some notes on education for sustainability, and links to related sites.
"In these days of growing media concentration, Green Left Weekly is a proudly independent voice committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality. By printing the news and ideas the mainstream media won't, Green Left Weekly exposes the lies and distortions of the power brokers and helps us to better understand the world around us."
" A health care professionals who volunteer their time and skills to save young lives. It is a not-for-profit organization that delivers high quality, compassionate medical and surgical care to children with life threatening heart diseases in developing countries. Please look at these pictures from a recent field trip."
"Technology is not a solution in and of itself. It is merely one of many resources, which can be used wisely or unwisely. The more important issues are: how we decide which resources to draw upon, who will develop the plans for their use, how to ensure that policies enable their wise use, and how to adapt solutions developed elsewhere to new contexts." |
In this blog, ARUP Genetic Counselor Shelly Bosworth introduces us to a newborn girl undergoing both targeted genetic testing and also much broader genomic testing. Common genomic testing is introduced, as well as tips to ensure testing goes smoothly for the ordering provider and the family.
Baby girl Smith came into the world one week early after a precipitous labor. Luckily, her mother’s hospital bag had been packed early, and grandparents had already arrived to help care for her siblings. However, Baby Smith’s arrival was not the only surprise for her parents on the day of her birth.
The pediatrician noticed an abnormal heart rhythm; then, an echocardiogram revealed a congenital heart defect. The pediatrician also noted Baby Smith’s small chin and that her eyes were shaped differently than her parents’ eyes. The physician gently explained to Mr. and Mrs. Smith that these features could suggest a genetic syndrome.
At the 18-week prenatal ultrasound, no abnormalities had been detected, and the parents had been thrilled to learn they would be having a girl. After the talk with the pediatrician, they felt blindsided. They wanted answers. Would their daughter grow up to live independently? Would she have learning disabilities? Would she be a “normal” kid?
Genetic testing had the potential to provide some answers. The pediatrician consulted with a neonatologist and then requested a chromosome analysis and a “FISH” test for DiGeorge syndrome. FISH – fluorescent in situ hybridization—involves targeted molecular probes that determine if specific sections of DNA have the normal number of copies.
After the talk with the pediatrician, they felt blindsided. They wanted answers. Would their daughter grow up to live independently? Would she have learning disabilities? Would she be a “normal” kid?
When the hospital lab technician tried to find the test code for FISH, she discovered that there were many different types of FISH analysis. A genetic counselor was able to assist her in determining which FISH analysis or test would identify DiGeorge syndrome. If Baby Smith had a deletion of chromosome 22q11.2, which causes DiGeorge syndrome, she would have only one probe signal instead of the usual two signals.
In contrast to this targeted approach used first in the case of Baby Smith, a chromosome analysis is a genomic study that casts a much wider net, evaluating all of the chromosomes. Such analysis may be used when a healthcare provider suspects a particular chromosome abnormality (e.g., Down syndrome), and also when a baby’s features may indicate a chromosome disorder but do not clearly suggest a specific syndrome.
Baby Smith was still in the NICU when the genetic test results became available. The FISH test for DiGeorge syndrome was negative, as was her chromosome analysis. The neonatologist then added an additional test, cytogenomic SNP microarray analysis (CMA), to be performed on the sample of Baby Smith’s blood already at ARUP.
Microarray has much higher resolution than traditional chromosome analysis. Historically, chromosome analysis is performed by examining the banding patterns in a karyotype—a magnified picture of the chromosomes. With CMA, millions of probes simultaneously scan the genome for regions of extra or missing DNA.
If the CMA analysis is normal, another genomic methodology known as exome sequencing may be ordered. Exome sequencing is considered when an affected individual’s symptoms lack specificity—or when previous, more specific testing has failed to yield an answer. It also is useful for determining etiology (underlying cause) when dealing with a specific phenotype that has many different genetic causes.
Accurate indications for testing help ensure that the correct test has been ordered.
Accurate clinical information helps lab directors write relevant reports.
Genomic testing may yield ambiguous results.
Genomic testing may yield unexpected results.
Genomic test results may have implications for other family members.
Genomic testing may be normal even when the patient does have a genetic disease.
Even though the testing targets the whole genome, different methods target different types of alterations in DNA.
Whether genetic testing is ordered in the hospital or at an outpatient clinic, the journey for providers and parents differs depending on the testing strategy. If a targeted test is used, the provider can clearly explain the purpose of the test to the parents. In contrast, when the provider opts to cast a wide genomic net, which may detect thousands of different conditions and possibly unexpected ones, explaining the purpose of the test can be trickier. In spite of this, genomic testing is often advantageous because more targeted genetic tests only exclude one or a handful of possible causes. And the time and cost of multiple, specific tests may exceed the cost of genome-wide testing.
Baby Smith’s CMA analysis was found to be normal. However, the failure to find the etiology of her symptoms has both benefits and disadvantages. Without a genetic diagnosis, her parents cannot research her condition. They do not have a predicted range of prognosis and associated symptoms. But if the tests were negative because she does not have a syndrome, then Baby Smith’s future is only limited by the prognosis of her heart defect.
Perhaps Baby Smith is just a regular girl who happens to have a heart malformation and a chin that appeared to be small at birth. Her pediatrician decides to do one more investigation, and refers the family to a medical geneticist. It will be months before an appointment is available. In the meantime, her parents hope for the best.
To read more about how ARUP’s genetic counselors can help you, visit their website. |
In the world of business, increasing profits is goal number one. However, coming in at a close second is managing costs, and there’s no time when it’s more important to control costs than during the early stages of building a business. Setting the standard cost estimation model for your small business in its early days will provide a foundation for what your business will become as it matures. If you allow for bloated or unnecessary expense items to routinely make their way into your budget, your business won’t stand a chance when the going gets rough.
In fact, it’s not a bad idea to learn how to manage the costs of starting a business even before learning how to increase its revenues. Why? Because scaling a business that is expensive to run is much more difficult than scaling a business that is lean, cost-conscious, and disciplined in its spending. One of the first things investors look at when evaluating a business for its performance potential is recurring debt payments and monthly costs of doing business. There’s a reason: out-of-control costs are toxic to business growth.
So, if you’re interested in generating maximum profits through the strategic management of costs for your new or potentially new startup, read on.
A common mistake among many who endeavor to start a business is not having a clear idea of what their expenses are going to be once sales start being made. Ask yourself before you even get started if you have a solid, educated idea about what your expenses will be. And, don’t stop with just the obvious costs like payroll or permitting costs. Include as much as possible, and leave no stone unturned.
When it comes to having a smart plan for handling costs within your new business venture, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. By getting in front of potential expenses and accounting for them early on in the life of the business, you’ll be that much more prepared to pivot and adapt in the future. And, as anyone who’s ever run a successful business will tell you, the future of your company will hinge on its ability to deal with constant change.
There’s a reason why you can typically save money if you buy multiple services from the same company – like getting your cable TV and internet service from a single provider. This kind of cost consolidation can be applied to a fledgling business, too. Any time you can source multiple necessary products or services from a single provider, you’re going to end up saving on costs.
This next tip might seem like it should go without saying, but you’d be surprised to learn how few startups have negotiation as a focus for management of cost. Smart, confident negotiating can save you on everything from your business loan interest rate to the cost of the light bulbs used in your facilities. Negotiation of operating costs becomes progressively more important as small businesses scale into a growth curve, often qualifying them for pricing discounts as volumes increase. So, it’s critical to review the pricing terms and contractual obligations at least quarterly, just to be sure you’re not leaving any money on the table.
Don’t forget that when it comes to choosing fixed costs versus variable ones, remember that it’s almost always preferable to opt for variable. The reason isn’t what you might think – the goal with choosing variable costs over fixed isn’t necessarily to save as much as possible on monthly costs. Rather, variable costs can be modified up and down as needed, which is much more conducive to the ebb and flow of business. This cost adaptability has a value that you can’t put into dollars and cents.
A loss leader is any product or service that is sold as a loss to the company, with the sale being viewed as a ‘lead’ into future business that will be profitable. Loss leader products are often strategically developed for the sole purpose of entering a new market or penetrating a highly saturated one.
But, what many small businesses fail to do once they’ve established themselves as inexpensive is suddenly make the product profitable. This has spelled doom for many a company, which is why it’s of utmost importance to have a plan for loss leader products or services, should you choose to use them to grow your sales.
As your startup business grows, a time will come when you will realize that you can’t do it all yourself, and that you need to hire your first employee. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you need to rush out and hire a full-time, salaried worker. Keep in mind that in today’s internet-assisted age, finding and collaborating with remote employees on a contract basis is very easily done. Platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.com make it simple to find talent in whatever discipline you may be needing, from accounting to computer programming and everything in between.
Another tip for finding great human resource during the early phase of your business is this: develop an internship program. This is an especially good idea for companies operating in highly technical industries or business verticals, as many younger workers are thirsting for their first ‘foot in the door’ job opportunity. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and you can even negotiate a hiring proposition if the worker seems like a good fit for your organization.
You’ll be maximizing your chances of success in business if you’re able to keep a handle on your costs at every turn. By applying the techniques listed here, you’ll be doing more than the average startup does to keep costs low, giving you an edge that might end up being just what you need to really take off.
So, to recap: consolidate, negotiate, keep costs variable wherever possible, hire creatively, and if you’re going to lose money, lose it for a good reason. Good luck; here’s to higher profits! |
Government scientists have increased their estimate on the amount of oil leaking in the Gulf. Plus, Pres. Obama outlines the government's response to the spill. We'll also look at the controversy on efforts to help the birds coated in oil.
Pres. Obama made his fourth visit to the Gulf this week.
Tonight Pres. Obama outlined his administration's efforts to tackle America's worst environmental disaster - the Gulf oil spill. It was his first prime-time television address to the nation from the Oval Office. It came just hours after he returned from a two-day visit to the Gulf.
"The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years," Pres. Obama said tonight. "But make no mistake: we will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever's necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy," he added.
Pres. Obama said his administration directed BP to mobilize additional equipment to the Gulf. "In the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well," he said. The President stressed the leak won't stop completely until BP finishes drilling a relief well later this summer.
When Pres. Obama meets with BP CEO Tony Hayward tomorrow at the White House he said he will tell him the company must set aside "whatever resources... to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness."
"This fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent, third party," Pres. Obama said.
Tonight on 360°, we'll talk about all these developments with Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, former presidential adviser David Gergen and New Orleans Radio Host Garland Robinette. Did they hear what they wanted from Pres. Obama?
What Pres. Obama did not mention in his address to the nation is the new estimate from government scientists who now say between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day could be leaking into the Gulf. Just last week the estimate was 20,000 to 40,000 barrels per day. In BP's Spill and Response Plan filed with the inadequate government agency, the Mineral Management Service, it said it could handle a spill of 250,000 barrels a day. Keeping Them Honest, that's obviously not true. They haven't even been able to handle what's now estimated to be up to a 60,000 barrels a day spill. We'll be digging deeper on all this tonight.
There's also the controversy over BP's plan to protect walruses in the Gulf of Mexico. You read that right: Walruses. The thing is there are no walruses in the region.
The whole thing just makes you wonder who has oversight over these oil companies? How can they even file such insane plans? Well, the Mineral Management Service is supposed to be doing that job. Tonight we're adding the agency to our list of "Culprits of the Catastrophe." David Mattingly reports on how the MMS has a history of misconduct. Even in his address to the nation tonight Pres. Obama said "this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility – a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves." Tonight Pres. Obama announced new leadership at the agency. We'll tell you who he's picked to act as "the oil industry's watchdog - not its partner."
"This is going to be a different kind of president address ... like we're in the middle of the war and he's giving an update on the war on the Gulf," said Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University. "It's a battlefield report - particularly trying to show that progress is being made, although it's not fast enough for him."
Brinkley, who has lived and taught in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been a vocal critic of BP's cleanup efforts. He also has taken aim at Obama's response - noting that he should have given the speech weeks ago.
As the nation’s leading scientific resource for oil spills, NOAA has been on the scene of the BP spill from the start, providing coordinated scientific weather and biological response services to federal, state and local organizations.
NOAA spill specialists are advising the U.S. Coast Guard on cleanup options as well as advising all affected federal, state and local partners on sensitive marine resources at risk in this area of the Gulf of Mexico.
President Obama said Tuesday that the Gulf oil spill "is an unprecedented environmental disaster" that will be met with an "unprecedented response."
"This is an assault on our shores and we're going to fight back with everything we've got," he said during a visit with military personnel at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
The administration "will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes" to deal with the spill, he said.
Obama repeated a pledge to force BP to provide economic compensation for the economic damage caused by the spill.
Executives from five of the world's largest oil companies are under fire on Capitol Hill Tuesday for having cookie-cutter contingency plans for dealing with disasters like the Gulf Coast oil spill.
And not only that, those plans included "embarrassing" errors like a reference to protecting walruses, which haven't lived in the Gulf Coast for at least 3 million years, and the phone number of a marine biologist who died five years ago, said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.
Markey called on executives from BP (BP), ExxonMobil (XOM, Fortune 500), ConocoPhillips (COP, Fortune 500), Chevron (CVX, Fortune 500) and Shell Oil (RDSA) to answer before his House Energy and Environment subcommittee Tuesday. Specifically, he wanted to focus on: the ongoing spill, renewable energy development and the effect of President Obama's six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. |
Fergus John McCann, dressed as Sir Walter Scott, the Scottish novelist, poet and playwright born in August 1771, poses for a photograph as he travels inside a Borders Railway train carriage, operated by Abellio ScotRail, to promote the company's new rail service, Borders Railway, at Tweedbank Station in Tweedbank in Scotland on September 4, 2015. The rail link is the first new domestic train route to open in the UK in over one hundred years, and re-establishes a section of the old Waverley route that was closed in 1969. The new route will run from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders. AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN.
EDINBURGH (AFP).- The new Scottish railway line that winds through landscapes romanticised by writer Walter Scott will be the backdrop to Queen Elizabeth II's longevity record when she officially reopens the route on Wednesday.
"The queen could have been anywhere in the Commonwealth, but she chose to honour Scotland," David Parker, a councillor from the Scottish Borders region south of Edinburgh told AFP.
On Wednesday the queen will become Britain's longest-reigning monarch, surpassing her great-grandmother Queen Victoria rule of 63 years and 216 days.
As Britain and remnants of the British Empire mark the momentous occasion, the record-breaker herself will be boarding a train at Edinburgh's Waverly Station.
Abandoned in 1969, the newly-reopened line will take the 89-year-old monarch and husband Prince Philip to the border village of Tweedbank, following a legendary 48km (29 miles) route.
After a lengthy campaign, the Borders Railway will run its first service for 46 years on Sunday, three days ahead of the queen's arrival.
The Waverley Route, named after a series of novels by poet Scott, is a source of fierce pride for locals.
"The Borders Railway has become a symbol of the golden age for Scotland Railways and it will be the vehicle for a new prosperity for the communities it serves," said Keith Brown, the Scottish Secretary for Infrastructure.
Although primarily intended for use by locals, the line has the potential to become a tourist attraction thanks to the works of Scott -- author of historic novels Ivanhoe and Rob Roy -- and the rugged landscape that it spans.
The reopening is also seen as righting a historical wrong committed by the central government in London, which ruled in the 1960s that the line was unprofitable.
Nationalist sentiment is currently running high north of the border, a year after an historic vote on self-determination.
Although the nationalists lost the independence referendum, they scored 44.6 percent of the vote, a share unthinkable just months before the poll.
The referendum, which was closely followed by media around the world, helped shine the spotlight on Scotland, according to Mike Cantlay, chairman of the Visit Scotland tourism agency.
"We are a small country, we make up 0.5 percent of world tourism, so you have to punch above your weight on the global stage to be noticed," he said.
Richard Bath, editor of the magazine Scottish Field, said the referendum had sparked "a far greater interest in Scotland around the world".
"Scotland has many clear national symbols -- kilts, bagpipes, tartan, whisky, golf -- that help people around the world differentiate the country from the rest of the UK," he said.
As well as the referendum, sporting events such as golf's Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games helped boost visitor numbers to Scotland to 15.5 million in 2014, 700,000 more than in 2013, according to Visit Scotland. |
Yes there really is a world beyond Sauerkraut and Liebfraumilch in Germany, and this is the place to find some "foodie" facts as well as seasonal, or just alcoholic or non-alcoholic "liquid", recipes.
In Germany a great deal of October, November, December and even January are devoted to the baking and producing of much loved traditional food and drink recipes for the different holiday celebrations. Here are a few for you to try out.
For anything from small ginger cookies, a Witches Cottage, Gingerbread Men, a Lantern which gives aroma as well as light, Christmas decorations or an Oktoberfest Heart, whatever you create with this "Lebkuchen", German Gingerbread, recipe it will always be delicious.
Elderberry syrup is an "all rounder". Fun to forage, harvest and easily made in the fall it is a great 'mixer' for summer and winter drinks, delicious with savory and sweet dishes, and in Germany a popular natural remedy for all types of ailments.
Federweisser looks like grape soda but is a delicious young wine with a powerful KICK, and short end of summer season. Traditional harvest time accompaniments are Zwiebelkuchen and Treberwurst, a rich onion pie and sausages marinated with grapes then fried, enjoyed at any time of the year.
Spring means it's time to make 'Elderflower Cordial', also known as Elderflower Syrup, from elder shrubs found in the wild almost everywhere in Germany. It's fragrant, refreshing, easy to make, and used for everything from a topping for ice cream to a 'cure' for arthritis.
"Rieberkuchen", a German favorite as a snack or a side, and this is an easy recipe that can also be used for Pumpkin Potato Fritters. Traditional Rieberkuchen adding leftover pumpkin. Or if you simply want a different potato recipe how about trying the Apple Potato Fritter recipe?
Pumpkin left over and no idea what to do with it, Pumpkin Potato Pancakes, traditional "Rieberkuchen" with pumpkin added, is a recipe which will use up extra pumpkin but also become a family favorite without it. Or if you simply want a different potato recipe how about Apple Potato Pancakes?
The conquering Romans introduced grapes to Germany, and the ancient hillside vineyard traditions, with annual harvest celebrations, continue. But the German wine industry has changed, it has returned to producing high quality wines...so sweet Liebfraumilch is on the way out.
From the North Sea to Allgaeu, Germany's "Foodie" favorite, Cheese, is produced countrywide everywhere from in small mountainside farms to industrial dairies. Hundreds of regional specialties and national varieties range from mild and buttery to spicy, highly flavored and less than fragrant.
Germany has its own ´Day of German Beer´, Tag des Deutschen Bieres, and is by tradition considered a food in Bavaria, but unofficially just enjoyed elsewhere. Here are some FAST FACTS about the age old beverage Mark Twain once described as ´as different as hens in a farmyard´, Germany´s Beer.
The January "International Green Week" in Berlin is the biggest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture in the world. Held for over 80 years, it is a "one-of-kind" culinary tour of the globe that has not only kept in step with the times, but pointed to the future.
Sweet Woodruff is the scent of early summer, and added to White Wine it becomes May Punch, Maibowle. A brief season but it's a favorite drink in Germany, and traditional addition to all the festivities and customs that belong to early spring and the first warm days and evenings of summer.
In the days of communist East Germany meals were planned around what was available that day, the queues were long and legendary, and a banana was seen on television but not in a shop. Appetizing and healthy food was served nevertheless, and here are some favorite recipes from the time.
Summer in a glass. Cool drinks for the hot days of German summers range from all types of Fruit Bowle and Radler, to Apfelschorle and Cola-Schoppen. Ideal for sunless as well as sun filled days, there's something for everyone.
The centuries old Rumtopf tradition, conserving soft seasonal fruit in sugar and rum during the summer and early autumn months, long ago led to the fruit and rum pot becoming an indispensible part of Christmastime celebrations, and a warming treat during Germany´s winter months.
Potato salads in the country where they originated are just that little bit different, so summer or winter for those 'Kartoffel' side dishes look no further than these traditional recipes from Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Neighboring states in Southern Germany, but two very different recipes.
A "madness" sweeps through Germany during Spargelzeit, the brief springtime White Asparagus season. The first, and delicious, symbol of spring, its season begins around mid-April and ends on June 24. Feast day of St. John the Baptist. |
This assignment has a clear motive to delve into the subject of policy making which has so far remained the major thrust for all economists. Part A offers the role to study the job of an economist in an organisation and enables us in understanding the ways of perceiving various policies that govern global developmental parameters. Part B and C guide us into understanding the theories and policies that necessary facilitate the macro-economic model building of the economy. All said, we begin with the assignments.
The word Economics comes from the Greek word OIKO-NOMIKOS which means the ‘Art of managing One’s household’. Over several years, the threshold of economics has expanded and today it stands to capture under its niche the management of the Global society-In short, the Global economy. Economist’s work basically comprises of three entities-Household, Firms and Government. Thus, all economists work with a common notion of maintaining parity amidst these three entities while they work to forecasting parameters/ analysing development /formulating policies that suit best to their organisation.
The organisation chosen in this context of study is the ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK. Incepted in 1966, ADB has been driven by an inspiration and dedication to improving people’s lives in Asia and the Pacific. By targetinginvestmentswisely, in partnership with their developing member countries and other stakeholders, the ADB can alleviate poverty and help create a world in which everyone can share in the benefits of sustained and inclusive growth. The main devices for assistance are loans, grants, policy dialogue, technical assistance and equity. ADB was conceived amid post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the early 1960s. Its operations included ADB’s first technical assistance, loans, including a first on concessional terms in 1969, and bond issue in Germany. Presently, ADB has undertaken Strategy 2020: The Long-Term Strategic Framework of the Asian Development Bank 2008-2020 which reaffirms both ADB’s vision of an Asia and Pacific free of poverty and its mission to help developing member countries improve the living conditions and quality of life of their people. To achieve these goals, Strategy 2020 identifiesdrivers of changethat will be stressed in all its operations – developing the private sector, encouraging good governance, supporting gender equity, helping developing countries gain knowledge, and expanding partnerships with other development institutions, the private sector, and with community-based organizations.
A recognised post graduation/doctorate degree in economics with technical economic skills and experienced macro-economic-model building.
An experience of 10-15 years in senior level research setting/management/think-tank field with excellent communication skills.
We thus draw conclusions about the relationship between the official interest rate and the real GDP growth rate in each of the three countries.
We observe that the interest rate has a negative relationship with Real GDP growth rate in all three countries, but in the span of 2007 to 2010, their relationship is positive. The reason for this may be the financial crisis.
The interest rate has no directly relationship with the unemployment rate. However, inflation and interest rates are related which in turn give a relation between inflation rate and the unemployment rate of the nation.
The interest rate has a negative relationship with investment growth, but in these diagrams, the relation between the two variables is not clearly observable.
Open-Market Operations-The central bank often indulges in an expansionary or contractionary monetary action to influence the interest rates. When the interest rates are low leading to higher inflation (read money supply) in the economy, the central bank chooses to sell its government bonds and security deposits in the public to reduce the money supply. Thus, inflation falls and interest rises. Opposite is done when the interest rates are very high and to pump in money supply the Central bank buys bonds and securities from the public.
Bank/Window rate-The central bank lends the commercial banks at a rate which is called the bank/window rate. The interest rate depends on this bank rate. If the bank rate is low, then automatically the interest rates are increased to restrict the demand for money in the market and vice-versa.
Reserve Ratio’s (CRR/SLR)-Every commercial bank maintains a particular ratio of non-loanable amount to the deposits which is called the Cash Reserve Ratio. A certain amount of liquidity ratio called the Statutory Liquidity Ratio is also maintained. The banks raise the CRR and SLR when there is inflation which in turn raises the interest rates of the nation and dampens domestic investment and vice-versa.
Repo/Reverse Repo Rate-The Central banks also make short terms loans to the commercial banks in exchange of certain collateral mortgages. They pump in money by purchasing bonds at a particular interest rate called the Repo Rate. When the commercial banks do this, it’s called the Reserve Repo Rate. Thus, to reduce money supply and increase interest rates the Central bank raises the Repo rate and vice-versa.
Where y=GDP, C=Consumption, G=Government Purchases, I=investment, NX= Net Exports.
When the interest rate of a country rises, the consumption decreases as savings tends to rise. The investment also dampens. The net exports falls as imports tend to rise and exports tend to fall while government purchases remain mostly unchanged. Hence, a negative relationship between the two is most noted.
As interest rate rises GDP falls.
Investment Growth-The domestic investment in a country depends on the real interest rate prevailing in the country. If the interest rate is high domestic investment is dampened and Capital outflow is experienced by the nation. Thus, a negative relationship is obtained between the two.
Unemployment Rate-There is no direct relationship between the unemployment rate and interest rates in the country. However, an indirect effect can be chalked out with the help of inflation rate. It is known that the inflation rate will fall if the interest rates are high necessarily because of the reason that higher interest rate lead to a lower demand for money in the economy. Hence, money supply falls and inflation rate rises as value of money rises. By Philip’s Curve model we know that as inflation falls unemployment in the short run rises. In the long run it is expected to revert back to the natural rate of unemployment.
Recently, the RBA decide to cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points last week. This can be compared to our judgement of the situation that Central Bank follows an expansionary monetary policy mainly citing the low inflation rate, depreciating local currency and lack of investment. The Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens said, this activity could be less effective at boosting demand than before, but we still need to do that. In fact, decrease the cash rate could have the helpful to solve the current problems. Lower interest rate could improve the consumption and investment. It has a positive effect for consumption and increases the demand. The price level could be increased, and then the inflation rate will be increased. In addition, the economic growth would be enhanced due to the increase in consumption and investment. The result is that the unemployment rate will decrease too. Lastly, the exchange rate will also decrease due to the lower interest rate.
Thus, the assignment helped to gauge the policy making of various nations and their common notions which guide them in stabilizing the monetary rates in the economy. It has helped me in understanding the real scope beyond the theory of the book by analysing the data reflected through various parameters and in drawing a close parallelism between theoretical and practical aspects. |
The Windmill Inn in Foulby.
Foulby is a village in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is situated near Nostell, between Crofton and Ackworth Moor Top, on the A638 east-south east of the city of Wakefield. The village falls within the Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton ward of Wakefield City Council.
John Harrison (24 March 1693 – 24 March 1776) was an English carpenter and clock designer, who solved the problem of calculating longitude through the carrying of precise time on board ship, was born in this tiny village. There is a blue plaque on the house where he was born beside the main Wakefield to Doncaster road.
Windmill Inn the site of a former windmill designed by John Smeaton in 1786. This is now an Indian restaurant called Arkaan's. |
Burning incense has a long and rich history that reaches far back in time. Burning incense can also be used to enhance the tripping experience. Find out more with the MushMagic ultimate incense guide.
Beginning as a Latin word for “set fire to” and “something burnt”, “incensum” morphed through the ages until the era of Middle English, when incense as we know and pronounce it today came into being.
Since Ancient Sumer and Babylon, incense has been burnt. Prehistoric Egypt burnt combustible bouquets and resin balls. The practice later found its way to Ancient Greece and then Ancient Rome. Indus valley civilisations burnt incense, and it has been used in China since Neolithic times. Much of Asia has long traditions of burning incense, and it is a common thing all over the world in the contemporary age.
Incense is used for pragmatic, aesthetic, mystical, and therapeutic purposes alike. Before efficient modern sanitation, incense was used to cover the dubious noisome leavings of human habitation, or as an insecticide and deterrent. Clothes were also dried over beds of hot stones upon which incense fumed. The infusion could repel insects, prevent skin problems, and just plain smelled nice.
Sumerians and Babylonians used incense as part of prayer offerings to seers and oracles. Korean Buddhist monks burn incense when they are at prayer and during purification rites. Since the sixth century, incense has been lit in Japanese Shinto shrines to honour the dead. Continuing on from ancient Roman use, the Catholic Church burns incense in censers, while the ancient Chinese used incense for formal ceremonies.
Many of the mystical and ceremonial practices that use incense are still active today. Buddhist temples wouldn’t be the same without altars and cauldrons stuffed with smouldering joss sticks, nor would churches and cathedrals without ministrants swinging censers with the smoke of frankincense and myrrh. Zen temples and meditation spaces are not complete without incense smoke lingering in the air.
Traditional uses aside, the contemporary world has embraced incense in many ways. The stoner who doesn’t light an incense stick or two at home when they blaze up is probably the odd one out. Shops of all kinds burn incense, which can be used as branding, leaving scent trails through malls and high streets. Burning incense can cleanse a space of negative energies, and has similar effects on the body and brain as aromatherapy.
In a number of ways, the burning of incense can be of benefit during a psychedelic trip. Smell is the most powerful trigger for memory. Aromas can suppress or enhance mood, and pleasant smells can keep bad mojo at bay. Using the tenets of aromatherapy as a guide, your incense experience can be given nuance depending on what aroma you choose.
Frankincense is not incense made by some guy named Frank. It is one of the oldest and most respected sources of fragrance. It is most well-known as one of the gifts given to baby Jesus in the Christian theological legend. Frankincense is a resin extracted from the Boswellia frereana tree native to North Africa and the Middle East.
Frankincense is non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-allergenic. It is known to deepen the breath, which is of great benefit during meditation. It is calming and grounding, and known to be beneficial in soothing depression, anxiety, stress, and melancholia. It calms mental chatter, inspires living in the present moment, and can be of benefit to those who tend to dwell on the past. Frankincense can help boost the immune system, improves memory, and acts as a sleep aid.
Just as old and respected as Frankincense, and also recognised as one of the gifts to the infant Christus, myrrh is an Aramaic word for the gum extracted from a number of small shrubs from the genus Commiphora. It has been used for millennia as a medicinal extract and for making incense. The resin can be burnt directly by placing it on hot coals or other heated surfaces, or turned into incense.
Myrrh is beneficial for the lungs. It can act as a decongestant and bronchodilator, and has anticatarrhal properties which aid in clearing the lungs of mucus. It can help relieve spasms, cramps, aches, and muscle pains. It acts as a sedative and antidepressant, while enhancing spiritual connectivity and helping to control mood swings.
Sandalwood is also ancient and well-respected. Extracted from old sandalwood trees mostly in India and Hawaii, Indian sandalwood is becoming very expensive as the trees are close to extinction. The older the tree, the better the quality, and the preferred age is 40–80 years old, with 80 being the highest quality.
Sandalwood has commanded much respect and dignity over the centuries, mainly in Hinduism, where celebrations, festivals, and religious rites are not complete without burning sandalwood incense. Sandalwood is relaxing and sedative by nature. It helps to calm anxiety, relieve stress, banish fear, and diminish restlessness. It promotes concentration, inner visions, and sustained positive thoughts and emotions.
The familiar scent of patchouli has been used in fragrances for centuries. The hippie movement of the sixties was characterised by the smell of patchouli. It comes from a small herbaceous bush of the Pogostemon family and is closely related to sage, mint, and lavender.
Patchouli enhances mood, can help with insomnia, acts as a non-toxic bug repellent, and may even help fight depression. Inhaling patchouli stimulates the release of serotonin and dopamine, which is known to reduce anger and anxiety. Patchouli promotes an atmosphere of tranquillity and is often used for this purpose during meditation and prayer—or during a psychedelic trip.
Sage was used by First Nation American peoples as smudge sticks to clear living spaces of bad spirits and negative energy. It has been used by many cultures for thousands of years for similar purposes, both domestically and during ceremonies and rituals. It is a small shrub-like herb with large furry leaves covered in trichomes. It is a member of the mint family and shares properties similar to lavender.
Sage is said to help enhance memory, and may be of benefit to dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. It can help improve mental capacity, cognitive performance, and attentiveness, all while inducing a calming and contented effect. It is a non-toxic pest repellent and is believed to create a barrier to negative spirits in a space.
Incense aromas are of course not limited to these classic fragrances. Citrus is good for alleviating anxiety, and peppermint is good for reducing nausea and relieving tension/headaches. The list goes on.
Potpourris of any number of fragrances can be blended together. You can even purchase neutral incense sticks to soak in essential oils and customise your own. Some are well-known, like nag champa, probably one of the most commonly used and easily recognisable incense aromas in the world. Some are gloriously fragrant mixes, while other cheap concoctions smell like the cat litter tray hasn’t been cleaned in a week.
Burning incense can be a simple affair or an elaborate artistic endeavour. From a simple sliver of wood, clay, metal, or bone to fetishistic sculptures doubling as burners, incense burners can appear in a wide variety of forms to suit the modest or extravagant buyer—and everyone in between.
Incense comes in a number of forms, such as sticks, which can either have a bamboo core or be pure incense. There are also cones, which are placed on a tray of some kind, and pressed balls or pellets.
Burning incense is a simple affair. Apply a flame to the stick, cone, or pellet until a glowing ember has developed. If it catches fire, blow it out, as shaking could loosen the ember and set something on fire. Then, just place the now smouldering and deliciously fuming incense in your choice of holder. Some caution is needed as it is a fire hazard, so don’t place burning incense near anything remotely flammable.
Clear your space of negative energy. Give a healthy lustre to your immediate environment and suffuse your experience with nuance by selecting an appropriate fragrance. Incense not only smells good, it can be a way to dramatically improve your state of mind—whether you’re tripping on psychedelics or not. |
This book presents the gender dimensions of the relationship between agriculture and climate change. It explores whether men and women farmers experience similar or different vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms or adaptation measures in response to climate change risks. It identifies gender gaps in access to resources, information, services, technologies, training, finance, etc., which enable or constrain men and women to adopt CSA and practices, as well as presents examples of Participatory Vulnerability Analysis and participatory action research, which incorporate a gender dimension. |
This is a question coming from one Brian Fan to another, and it's one I've always had difficulty with: what is the concise answer that you give — say, when you were working on the book and they asked you want it was about and they didn't know who Brian Eno was, so they asked “Who's Brian Eno?”, what did you say?
I've yet to come up with the pat sentence that actually answers that, as indeed has Brian. I mention in the intro to the book that he got so fed up with trying to answer that question at dinner parties, explaining this enormously complex dilettante artist, cultural theorist, etc., etc. job description that he instead just said he was an accountant, which made people go away very, very quickly.
How did your own history with the enjoyment of Brian Eno's work begin? What was your introduction to him?
I came across him as a sort of callow youth, listening to punk rock records. He got all the mentions in the margins. I was aware of him in Roxy Music, but I was a bit too young for that, so it was a kind of ethereal presence initially. He got mentioned in dispatches by all sorts of people in punk rock. When I first got to hear his music, which in any serious capacity would have been about '78, what I heard sounded nothing like what I expected. I expected something far more severe and metallic.
Obviously I knew things like Low, the David Bowie record he'd worked on, and I'd never really associated his involvement in those records with the more calm and ethereal elements. Somehow I imagined him to be more Velvet Underground and less lift music — to be honest, when I first heard ambient music I, like many others, didn't fall immediately in love with it. I did think it was rather bland.
My initial reaction to Brian Eno was one of disappointment — one which quickly turned around. Something happened very shortly after that. I think it was just part of my growing up, actually. A light went on somehow, and it all suddenly made enormous sense. The more I investigated it, the more sense it made.
You mention this intro was in the late seventies, when Brian was in the process of inventing and releasing the first ambient albums. For those in the audience who might not know, how did Brian enter the public eye? What things was he first famous for?
His introduction to the masses would have been through playing synthesizers with Roxy Music, certainly in the U.K. This was this very strange pop group, even for a time of very strange pop groups. Bryan Ferry was the lead singer and Brian Eno was this guy, a self-confessed non-musician, who played synthesizers and actually played a lot of the instruments in the band, more traditional, guitars and so forth, and filtered them through his electronic effects. This was a revolutionary thing to be seen in pop music in 1972, which is when they struck. They went swiftly to the top of the British charts. I think they took a bit longer to penetrate America.
That would've been Eno's calling card to the world, but he was only actually with Roxy Music for two albums. By 1973, he was off on his own. He'd fallen out with Brian Eno — with, uh, Bryan Ferry, rather, the singer. Probably less confusing with two Brians in the band, for one thing, but they had a conflict of interest over where the band was going. Bryan Ferry, I think, was always looking to be a more orthodox pop star, and was moving in that direction. Eno comes from an art school background, and wanted to pursue music that reflected that more. Ultimately, that's when he struck out on his own. But it would've been Roxy Music that first awakened the world to Brian Eno.
And during this era, the early seventies, with Eno in Roxy Music and gaining some acclaim there, how much of what Brian Eno would become and what he's regarded as today — we can't even describe concisely how much he does, how he thinks — how much of this was visible in this early iteration of Brian Eno?
Our inability to nail down what he does — there was evidence of that early on. People weren't quite sure what this guy was doing. First of all, he was a very bizarre visual spectacle, even in the time of glittery clothes and glam rock outfits. This slightly balding but long silver-haired guy wearing clothes that looked more at home in a Flash Gordon movie, he was playing this synthesizer but not actually playing a keyboard, in the orthodox sense. It was very hard to figure out what he was doing. Even his fans weren't entirely sure.
Part of his appeal was that he seemed to be a very kind of alien presence, both physically and in what he was doing. It was slightly unquantifiable and very exotic. That was the key thing. I think what he later became, which was slightly unquantifiable and always somewhat exotic, was there right from the get-go.
This is a man who occasionally relished referring to himself as a non-musician. What, in your best music journalist's way, would you say he was actually doing in Roxy Music?
I think it's slightly disingenuous of him to describe himself, at any point in his career, as a non-musician. He grew up with musicians, in a musical household. His background is quite musical, but he never had a formal musical education, and he never actually stuck to an instrument. That's one of the accusations of dilettanteism coming with Brian, which is that he never really learned proper chords. But he can play a tune, and in fact he always had a gift for melody as much as he had a gift for texture and providing a kind of sonic envelope for other music.
What he was actually doing in Roxy Music was treating instruments, so the electric guitar, rather than just going through an amplifier in the traditional sense, would first be routed through his synthesizer, which was essentially just a device for modulating sound in different ways: changing the pitch, the shape of the sound, et cetera, et cetera, vibrating it, wobbling it. What you'd end up with was a semi-recognizable sound, like the sound of a rock electric guitar, but given this patina of weirdness by Brian's instrument. What he was actually doing was not applying a musical strategy to the music as such, certainly not in any formal sense. What he was doing was a sonic thing.
It was actually what happens in recording studios much more commonly now, which is that you take a root sound, whether an acoustic or an electric sound, and then you filter it and process it quite heavily to change it into something more expansive, more colorful, more vivid, bigger. So what Brian was doing then was prefiguring his production work, in a sense, but he was often doing that live on stage. Obviously it was slightly flying by the seat of his pants approach — it didn't always work, I don't think — but as he went on and as he worked his way into the producer's chair later on for other people, he started applying some of these same processing and modifying techniques to the recording studio. I think that's the root of his other fame, which is that of a top international record producer.
Your book covers the personality clash between Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno that would ultimately get Eno out of the band, but the question remains: why would a fellow like Bryan Ferry, very much a classic pop star, want, in the first place, an Eno running his voice through a VCS-3?
Ferry was the most resistant to any of Eno's effects, and I think the voice rarely if ever was subject to Eno's arsenal. It was usually the guitar and Andy Mackay's saxophone and oboes. Sometimes the drums. Sometimes Bryan's keyboards — he played electric piano often. Not so much the voice in the end, but I think what you're hinting at is correct: Eno's tendency to exaggerate and foreground these production gimmicks — for want of a better word, but that's how Ferry perhaps began to see them — he found in conflict with his own classicist direction. Very soon he was recording an album of cover versions of Noel Coward, et cetera, so that's a very different trajectory to what Eno was on.
He allowed him in the band because, in the beginning, it was fantastic, it was novel — the synthesizer was a new tool in the rock armory, and I think it was genuinely exotic. Like Eno, Ferry comes from an art school background, and I think there was that element of genuine creative expression which Eno embodied, and I think for a while that was an asset for Bryan Ferry. But after a short while, it became a challenge.
When Brian Eno did part ways from Roxy Music — I was never quite sure about the chronology of this, though you do cover the details well in your book — Eno both starts a solo career with vocal songs, and of course has (No Pussyfooting) with Robert Fripp. What was begun first? What was the release order, or the work order?
(No Pussyfooting) was first. Roxy Music, in their initial pomp, were on quite a heavy tour schedule for most of '72 and early '73 particularly, all over Europe and all over the U.K. several times. They were basically just promoting their hits. But there was a hiatus, I think in September of '72, when Ferry had tonsillitis. They had to cancel some shows. During that period, Eno started making some experiments at home. He was addicted to the reel-to-reel tape recorder and what you could do with sound. He had a couple of these in his London flat, and he invited a couple people over, one of whom was Robert Fripp, the guitarist in King Crimson. They shared management.
Eno befriended Fripp. He was also quite a maverick musician, obviously, absolutely a virtuoso where Eno was not. But they had a lot in common in terms of their approach to music, even if they came at it with different skills. I think after consuming a bottle of wine very quickly, they started playing around with Eno's tape recorders. This delay system he'd created by feeding tape in and out of two tape recorders into a continuous, perpetual loop, over which the virtuoso Fripp would then improvise. They just made these two very long pieces which became the basis, if not the completed thing, of a record, (No Pussyfooting).
But this was just an experiment. However, Eno then went back to touring, having first spoken to a couple journalists about this collaboration with Robert Fripp. Of course, journalists being what they are — as I know only too well — they took this little crumb of information and turned it into a Eno-and-Fripp project. As the relationship between Ferry and Eno was beginning to become rather fraught, and public knowledge of this was starting to creep out, in the end (No Pussyfooting) was just another arrow against Eno as far as Ferry was concerned, because it sounded like he was stealing the thunder a little bit in yet another way.
Here Come the Warm Jets, the first song album that Eno produced, was made in the late summer of '73, just a couple of months after he'd left Roxy Music. That was the beginning of that phase, although he had tried to make a couple of stabs at a single before that, with Andy Mackay, a pop single which didn't really come to anything. The sessions dribbled out. In the end, he had (No Pussyfooting) ready for release, but nobody saw that at the time as… it was very experimental, just these two long pieces of looped sound. Nobody gave that any kind of credence as the beginning of a long and sustained career in rock or pop music. The management company and Island Records persuaded him that he needed to do a more orthodox song record, and that was Here Come the Warm Jets.
You say that was a bit too experimental to be taken as the harbinger of a long, fruitful career. But I've heard Eno's early solo albums, of course, as well. How normal, in the context of the times they were released, did those even sound?
That's right. Time tends to modify revolutions in music, when you listen back. Sometimes you have to imagine them in context. Although it's a relatively orthodox record compared to something like (No Pussyfooting) or even the things that Eno did in subsequent decades, it is a very odd record. It still remains curious. It's an odd mixture of straight-ahead rock-and-roll tropes and this otherness which is already there. In a sense, the harbinger of ambient music is there even in this early stuff, a lot of which is quite pounding and quite attritional and owes a lot to the Velvet Underground at their most primal. That's a big influence.
But there's another element which is hard to quantify. There's a kind of ghostly shimmer that's to do with this overly processed sound which he was really exploring at the same time. In fact, it's kind of overproduced, that record, in a weird way. It feels like there are too many instruments on a lot of it. It's really straining for ideas, and I think that's something Eno subsequently would be happy to admit. But you can feel there's a sort of bravura quality to it as well. It's really steeped in that sense of “This has really got to be something special, but it's also got to be my version of something special.” That's what it always feels like to me. It's like an art student's degree show, when they're trying to show all the tricks they've got, and all the potential they've got, at once. It sometimes makes a very disconcerting thing to take in in one take. It's a very mixed bag, but somehow he does pull it off.
He was helped to have a great producer — great musicians as well. You can feel the enthusiasm of it more than you can feel the dexterity that comes in on later records. At the time, a lot of people compared it to Roxy Music, obviously, because he'd just left. It was quite favorably compared to Roxy Music, but they were also still seen at that point as being relatively odd, fairly eccentric in their choice of instrumentation and so forth. Lyrically, Here Come the Warm Jets is odd as well. He wrote most of those lyrics phonetically; they were just sounds designed to fit with the backing tracks, which he'd written sort of on the hoof, a lot with Phil Manzanera of Roxy music. So you have this very strange, surrealist, cut-up nonsense verse which isn't quite nonsense, actually. It goes to give the whole thing this otherworldly quality and reflects the music.
People picked that up at the time. Reviewers did find that part of strange. The fact also was strange that Eno was talking up lead vocals, because although he'd sung a number of backing things in Roxy Music, it was always a very secondary tool in his armory. Suddenly, he was the frontman. There was a lot of spotlight on that record. It had to do well, or that would've probably been curtains for his career as a musician. It did do quite well, so it was worth going out on a limb, clearly.
When you listen to these seventies albums from Eno in sequence — Here Come the Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy), Another Green World, Before and After Science — what do you personally hear evolving through that decade?
Over the course of the first three solo records, that process is palpable. By the time of Another Green World, you have got these sort of tone poems. They do feel like pieces where something has been removed, in a minimalist sense. A very painterly approach, scrubbing away the foreground color to reveal the key elements. How few elements do you need to make a statement? By the time of Another Green World, which I still think is my favorite seventies Eno record if not my favorite of all his records, it's wonderful because it captures that moment where the urgency and the melodic vividness of his early records is still there, but it's now been set in a much more stark and very much more beautiful context. It's a beautiful sort of abstracted idea of rock music, and it's really a timeless thing. It holds up today incredibly well; it doesn't really sound like music of its time, where the preceding two records are somewhat shackled to early-seventies tropes.
That's the process I hear, and I think it's one he did then take further on Before and After Science. It's still exploring the same kind of territory, even though perhaps it's not so much of an evolutionary record. But the ambient records that followed very swiftly after are the logical next step from Another Green World.
The ambient music — we mentioned earlier that you heard that and were disappointed by it. What was the first ambient record from Eno you heard?
The first thing I heard was Music for Airports.
That was released what year?
I know it was recorded in '78. I think it was released in 1980. That's definitely the first ambient record I'd heard, and I just remember — I wasn't actually aware who it was — hearing that piano figure in the first tracks, played by Robert Wyatt, actually. It's very, very, very memorable. I think it's a six-note tune, but it's incredibly evocative and it's set against these looped voiced. Again, it's very hard to hear this music now and appreciate the unusualness of it in a turn-of-the-eighties context. In fact, that very same piece of music is being used on British TV at the moment as a linking piece of music during the Wimbledon coverage, would you believe.
It come around; it's become this background music that's acceptable now, but it had a kind of exotic allure when I first heard it because, yes, it sounded like it owed something to muzak, environmental music of some kind, yet it had a slightly stranger quality. Very hard to pin down. But it's very immersive, and you feel like you really want to just pay attention to it and at the same time, it can be background music. That's a very, very hard trick to pull off, but that's kind of the definition of it. I was instantly hooked by that in a way I wasn't hooked by when I'd first heard the earlier stuff.
You quote Eno several times in the book talking about the idea of process versus product and what's more important. How much would you say it's necessary, as a modern listener, to appreciate the Eno processes to appreciate the Eno products, if that makes any sense?
That makes perfect sense. There's this kind of reductio ad absurdum you can have with Brian Eno that's been applied many times. He's a kind of boffin, and you only get his music if you're also some kind of geek. I tried to put that to the sword in the book, because part of the appeal of Brian Eno is that he's actually a supreme melodist. This comes, I think, from listening to lots and lots of pop music but not trying to make pop music. He's kind of imbued with this sense of melody.
If you just went by the descriptions of certain rock journalists and certain other journalists and certain other so-called arbiters, if you just looked at this very dry, scientific-sounding description of how these records are made and what these records are “supposed” to invoke or evoke, you find it very forbidding and be much happier listening to lots of other things. Actually, when you hear the music, it's incredibly melodically rewarding, and it's textural and immersive and it's often incredibly beautiful. Something he said to me was that if he doesn't like something on a very basic level, he doesn't release it. That really tells you all you need to know on the process-versus-product argument. Basically, if it doesn't float his boat on a visceral level, it hasn't succeeded. Yes, earlier on, he's coming from an art school background where, often, process is all, and I think he went through a period of that. But I don't think you can apply that to any of the music that he's made… generally, it's wrong to apply that.
There are instances, perhaps, where you could pick out certain things. Certainly with the ambient music, one or two of those earlier pieces he stumbled upon; I think they were made by tape-looping and slowing the tape down by accident and suddenly coming across — “Wow! That's a really beautiful sound!” In a sense, it's as much happenstance as it is process. One of the chapters of the book is about accident and about how you prepare for an accident, and I think that's one of his skills. One of the things he's done is always create a recording environment where accidents are allowed to happen, happy accidents.
He's always had that brilliantly pliant mind, which a lot of musical auteurs don't have. “Oh, if it's going that way, I'm going to follow, I'm going to conclude that way, because that's the path of least resistance,” rather than having this pre-composed idea for a destiny for a piece of music, and “it must be like this, and it's an expression of my soul.” He's always argued against that. He likes accidents and he likes things that have a kind of surface appeal. All of which does rather contradict his public image as this stern, austere boffin, which I think I've gone to some pains to undermine.
Indeed. This concept of being able to use accidents — one of my favorite quotes of his, “Luck is being ready,” you lead a chapter with in your book. How much of what he brought to the producer's chair, to the mixing board when he was working in the eighties with the very high-profile U2 or Talking Heads, was essentially as a facilitator of the usefulness of accidents?
It was more germane to his work with David Bowie in the late seventies. Those two really came together having a similar approach. Bowie had written lyrics by cutting them up in a William Burroughs-derived style. They really coalesced on that, and on those three records they made together, Low, “Heroes” and Lodger. I think Lodger was going to be called Happy Accidents at one point. This was really what drove those records, and also the deployment of Oblique Strategies, these cards that Eno and the artists Peter Schmidt had worked up, a set of cards with random instructions to do something like “Forget the edges and concentrate on the middle” and various aphorisms of this nature designed to unlock creative blockages, to create these accidents.
That was when it was really in its pomp, the accidental approach, but I think it was still there in Talking Heads. There was a certain amount of just trying things through different pieces of equipment, filtering things, recording things in different rooms. It brought it down to a much more pragmatic — he's always been about praxis, I think, Brian Eno. If people aren't prepared to go the whole hog, then he'll find a way to use that approach that frees something up in the group. I think with U2, in a way, the whole thing was a potential accident, bringing this very orthodox rock band under the auspices of the process magician, if you like. He applied a certain amount of little sonic tricks, little recording tricks: “Let's put the amplifier outside, in the open air, and record it there, see what that does,” lots of different ways of just upsetting enough the everyday meat-and-potatoes recording approach to make everything have that kind of slightly altered state.
What has always struck me as somewhat unexpected is that — we talked about the Bowie albums Eno worked on, and then we talked about the U2 albums Eno produced — it seems like the Bowie albums were not hugely successful, though they're now well respected, but with U2, those albums were the huge successes. Both had Eno influencing them strongly. What's the difference?
The difference is perhaps to do with a perception, on one part, by the record companies. When Eno was signed up to work with Bowie, Bowie was at quite a low point — the album's called Low. But I think he was actually at a bit of a creative nadir, and he was recovering from drug problems and a failed marriage and all that. Getting Brian in was, I don't think, ever designed to make hit records. I think it was designed to say “If I want to revive my musical muscle, my libido needs to be re-pumped here.” I think Brian was brought in purely on an artistic basis: “This guy does strange things, and I want some of that.” That went on throughout the three records they made together in the seventies. RCA hated Low when Bowie delivered it, mainly because half of it was instrumental. That's obviously something which came very much from Eno. They thought “Well, we're never going to sell this,” so they didn't promote it.
Low was just shuffled out into the world. I think they were very reticent about releasing the singles from it, all of which were hits. They were wrong. Of course, that changed a bit with “Heroes”; they realized the error of their ways. “Heroes” was a more successful record, and the title track was a hit, certainly in this country, and I'm sure it was a hit in America too, but not a massive hit. It wasn't a U2-sized phenomenon; you're quite right there. But, remember, those records were actually produced by Tony Visconti. They weren't actually produced by Brian Eno. He was merely a kind of sub-producer, half-producer, half-musician. He wasn't on all of the tracks, and he wasn't where when the vocals were done on the first two. On Lodger, he was a bit more hands-on.
But when it came to U2, he came Daniel Lanois as his assistant, and Daniel looked after the more mundane elements of recording, the more technical elements, and Brian was then in his element to just sort of conduct. That's essentially the difference between the roles. Also, U2 were a band ascendant, even though they were looking for a direction. Bowie had already had his first flush of success, quite a sustained one. He was a bit older, too; U2 were still pretty young and still looking to conquer the world.
As we get into the eighties and the nineties, it's hard to avoid talking about the return to visual art Eno gets into. His first aim was to be a painter; that's what got him into art school, as I recall. What did you see, examining his career in the eighties and nineties, doing more installations, doing more visual stuff, doing video paintings that you could draw a thread through? What comparisons could you make from what he was doing musically to what he was doing visually?
He was certainly exploring chance in visual art. My personal opinion is that his visual art rarely stands up to the music. It's almost like he was looking for something… when he got to the end of a process which was, by the end of the ambient records, he'd taken something that he'd began to glean in art school, which is that he was trying to become a painter but then quickly threw that over, because he saw there was much more experimentation in left-field music, especially in the outer reaches of classical music, which he stumbled upon as an art student.
It was kind of a cycle. I don't think it ever really quite achieved the same height. They're often very beautiful things, but somewhat shallow, I think. The visual art never seems to quite have the same visceral appeal as the music, whereby you can understand the process, you can enjoy almost the revolutionary lack of familiarity about the thing, but at the same time you can be seduced by it. But a lot of his visual art, I find, you can appreciate it, you can admire it, but it's very hard to love.
In Eno's career, we've got this visual art, we've got his own music, we've got his production work, we've got his writing and speaking, a whole a variety of different things. As we've said, this guy has a career that is difficult even to encapsulate. He's said many times, and I believe you quote him as saying it at least once in the book, that he happens to be from England, and in England, you're a little more likely to get tarred with the dilettante label, or get called the “master of nothing.” How much did that condition actually obtain — is he right about England in that way — and does it still?
For some reason, there is an inherent skepticism. It's possibly linked to the class system, which still obtains in this country, despite everyone I know's best efforts. It's still very much linked in with status and where you are in life. There's always been this skepticism of people who do too much. People somehow like to pigeonhole you in this country: “That's what he does. He's the go-to guy for that.” And if you become the go-to guy for that, but “Oh, he's over there, he's also doing something different,” that seems to upset people in a quite illogical way. “Jack of all trades, master of none” is the phrase which gets applied. I try to make the point in the book that it's perhaps just a semantic thing. You could also say “renaissance man” or “polymath,” and that tends to get applied to people who aren't British. I'm sure that Albert Einstein, people would be a little bit dubious if he'd been English, and they'd found out he'd actually liked to paint. I think Winston Churchill, there was some skepticism about the fact that he was painting when he should've been running the war.
That did linger on, and perhaps it does still linger in some spheres now. Eno's spread so widely now that it's almost ridiculous to even entertain this notion. He has clearly done a lot of stuff, and he's got the material proof that he was able to do it with some degree of success. But now he's in poltics, he's a newspaper columnist sometimes, he's still producing records for big-name pop groups, rock groups, he sometimes will turn up in comedy shows as a bit player… you just don't know when he's going to pop up next. I think he probably just laughs at it, really, but I think one man's dilettante is another man's renaissance man.
By what process did capturing this mulitfaceted, hard-to-describe career, capturing it in a single book, become your task?
I think it's something I describe book: his life is like folding down a skyscraper into a briefcase. There's so much, you'd have to have ten volumes if you wanted to cover everything in detail. He's got lots of lives.
What I wanted to do was write a book that, as you alluded to very early on in our talk, lots of people know the name Brian Eno, but they don't really know much about him, or they know one facet of him. I wanted a book where somebody could read it who knew one facet of him — say, as an ambient musician, most obviously — and they could read it and say “Oh, I didn't realize he also did that thing with Talking Heads, and he also made perfume. I didn't know that. Oh, he also has a theory of cake decoration and he's quite interested in various theories of futurism and science.” So all those people wouldn't be disappointed, but at the same time it wasn't so eclectic that it was just scattershot. It had to have a core. I'm a musician and a music writer, so that was my central issue. That was a way of containing it, I suppose, but I wanted it always to reflect the fact that it was a multifaceted guy here.
Since Eno's a man who seems to oscillate between being reluctant to be talked to and garrulous and ready to talk to any journalist about his theories, what was his reaction to the looming prospect of a biography being written about him?
His first reaction was bashfulness. He was very sort of “I'm not sure, I'm not sure, I'm not sure,” and there was a long silence. In fact, I'd sort of already started writing the book before I ever got his green light. When I did, it was clear that he was never going to sit down with me for days and days and regurgitate lots of picaresque stories of being on the road with Bryan Ferry. That was never going to happen. I knew that. That was okay. All I needed from him was a certain amount of narrative and a certain amount of confirmation of facts, which he was very, very good at, and his general imprimatur for the thing, which he gave.
I had interviewed him before, and we had met on a couple of occasions. He knew me, he knew about me, but I wasn't someone he was regularly going to dinner with from the realm of music journalism, if he ever does such a thing. It wasn't “Let's do a biography on my friend Brian.” It was much more dispassionate than that. As he said to me, he doesn't really do looking back. That's not really the first thing you associate with Brian Eno. One of the descriptions of him is as a futurologist: he's interested in what can happen in the future. That's kind of the definition of what he does. To go over old ground endlessly was anathema, I think, so I had to find a way to make him take part, but at the same time not alienate him from the process. It was basically trying to involve him as much as I wanted, but without putting him off the whole thing, which was a delicate balance.
Reading the book, it's clear you've spoken to many people around Eno as well as Eno himself. How wide a variance opinion about the man did you find in those associated with him?
That was about as bad as it got, which is not bad for a guy who's touched so many lives. The only one who doubts is Gavin Bryars, an English composer whose life overlapped with Brian's quite a lot in the late sixties and seventies, who I assumed would be very supportive, had a lot of good things to say about him, particularly as a guy who organized recordings and so forth on a practical level, but he was rather skeptical about Brian's ability as a musician. This goes back to the earlier point about skepticism of the dilettante. Gavin Bryars is an academy-educated English composer able to play a number of instruments with great dexterity. I think he still retained that skepticism about Eno's ability as a musician, and that came through.
There were a range of opinions. Obviously I spoke to his first wife, who he married when he was very young, expecting perhaps there would be a level of criticism. I was surprised she even agreed — she took some tracking down — to speak to me, but she did. She had only good things to say, which was quite charming, actually.
I'm surprised there isn't more resentment on the part of musicians who are highly trained, say, a Robert Fripp — he's such a virtuoso that you'd think he would have something unkind to say about how Brian has made it to such a degree. But no. He seemed to be very supportive of him.
With Fripp, you've got to realize that he worked with King Crimson. He was always working with big egos, big virtuosos, as it were. With Eno, he's working with someone who can create a blank canvas over which Fripp's virtuosity can be sprayed liberally. He'll support that. He wants that. For Fripp, that was a release. That's a really good creative partnership; it works for both parties.
Tony Banks, famously from Genesis, was very skeptical. Tony Banks is a very gifted keyboard player, and he expressed some doubt about Eno. One or two other instances of this have occurred, but I think the results speak. In the end, people who don't know anything about the construction of music but just like records don't really mind whether the guy who made it calls himself a non-musician, or he made it using a computer, or he used 25 virtuosos, as long as the sound has an effect. I think Eno would probably argue that results are what counts.
It is a very Enoesque notion that the sound itself, the actual waves you're hearing, are what matters in the end. Finally, I'd like to return to a point that you were talking about earlier, when we were mentioning the seventies albums. You said Another Green World was your favorite seventies Eno album. This is the natural question to ask next: to the extent that it means anything, what is your favorite Brian Eno album?
Actually, it's definitely my favorite seventies album, if not my favorite album of all. I think it is Another Green World. I don't think he's beaten it in terms of a record that sustains from beginning to end, but which is not an ambient records, by which I mean I'm also a very big fan of the ambient records. Thursday Afternoon, probably my favorite, is one long piece the length of a CD. But in terms of an album that's slightly episodic in its nature in a more orthodox sense, Another Green World is my favorite. That's the one I recommend to anyone to start their Eno collection. |
Plan your practice. Arrange your day around it. Start your practicing every day in various ways.
At times, begin with the most difficult work in your repertoire, playing up to tempo.
Sometimes start working on technique, but do not form a habit of playing first slow and then fast.
Always spend one-fourth of your practicing on improving your technique. There is no standing still – you are either moving forwards or backwards.
Analyze your pieces as to form and harmony.
Analyze your pieces by phrases and find them by cadences.
Listen with kind ears by trying to find something good in every performance. Forget the bad.
Play four-hand works, chamber music, and symphonies. |
To the ordinary eye, most vehicles seem the same, especially if they are the same make and color.
So, is there a difference between your car and the one stuck next to you in traffic?
The answer to this question is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or a chassis number.
A chassis number is a unique code given to each vehicle by manufacturers.
1 What is a VIN Number?
A chassis number is a unique code given to each vehicle by manufacturers. It acts as a fingerprint; no two vehicles can have the same code.
The code has 17 characters.
The characters are made up of numerals and letters, excluding letters Q, I and O.
Each character contains information regarding the vehicle.
In Australia, NEVDIS (National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System) maintains a database for each vehicle’s VIN in the country.
NEVDIS ensures each vehicle gets a unique code and this prevents theft and fraud.
When you bring in a car, the chassis number indicated on the Vehicle Import Approval is forwarded to the NAU (NEVDIS Approval Unit). NAU validates, decodes and uploads it for registration reasons.
The data is easily available to the general public through the Document Verification Service (DVS) and the PPSR (Personal Property Security Register).
ADR (Australian Design Rules) referring to ISO 3780 and 3779- These are Australia’s standards for vehicle emissions, safety, and theft resistance.
FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) 115, used in Canada and USA- These are federal regulations governing performance, design, durability requirements and construction of vehicles.
ISO (International Organization of Standards) standard 3779, used by a majority of countries including countries in Europe.
SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) J853, similar to ISO standard – Rates vehicles horsepower.
You can find the VIN number in many ways.
Looking at the driver’s side on your vehicle’s dashboard -To view it easily, stand on the outside of the car and check on the corner where the windshield meets the dashboard.
Insurance card or insurance policy.
The fourth character to the eighth character- EF4UC, this contains the general specification of the car’s body style, engine code, safety equipment, emission code, and model.
Ninth character – 3, this is the check digit and is used to prove the chassis number.
Tenth characters- J, it indicates the year model. It starts with A to indicate 1980, then switches to 1-9 to indicate the year 2001 to 2009, then switches back to the alphabet (A) from the year 2010.
Eleventh character- T, tells which factory assembled the vehicle.
Twelfth to seventeenth character- 416219, the SSN (sequential serial number). These six digits tell well along into a production run was the car manufactured.
This is important information, especially to collectors who prefer limited edition vehicles such as the BMW I Series M Coupe.
The character on position 9 of the code is referred to as check digit.
This digit, always a number, is a mandatory requirement in every vehicle as it is to prove the vehicle identification number.
To validate it, the manufacturer multiplies all the characters, except the ninth digit. The answer is then divided by 11.
If the remainder is equal to the ninth digit, then the VIN is genuine.
The calculation process is quite complex, especially if you are not a mathematics nerd, and that’s where scanning comes in handy.
Each car manufactured since 1981 has chassis number in a bar code format. Knowing the information decoded from the barcode helps you to authenticate your car.
The information includes accident history, service history, and manufacturer details.
Your mechanic can use this information to order the right accessories and parts for the vehicle.
You can easily get the car’s details by scanning the barcode. You can use a barcode scanner, OBD (onboard diagnostics) system, or digital camera.
Currently, there are scanning apps available that you can use to get these details.
These apps can be downloaded into one’s smartphone and they include VIN Barcode Scanner, First Call VIN Scanner, VinAudit.com, VINfo VIN Decoder and VIN Viper VIN Scanner.
Barcode scanning is important to car dealers, body shops, and repair shops because of its accuracy and speed.
You can be quickly and accurately be identified if you are a repeat customer.
Your car’s VIN number is its fingerprint, birth certificate or Social Security Number.
It carries information on the country of origin, manufacturers WMI, model year, safety information, and the uniqueness of the car.
This automobile chassis number is to protect your car not only from theft but also from fraud. It also tells your car’s history.
You can easily get it by checking under the spare tire, on the manufactures database, on the car’s registration and title and on the driver’s doorjamb.
Use your phone, digital camera, or barcode scanner to read this code.
Always scan the number before you buy the vehicle, especially when buying a used car.
If the chassis number is not similar to the one on the registration document, do not make the purchase.
Foxwell NT201 OBD2 Scanner would make your life pretty easier as you can exactly detect what’s wrong with your vehicle and fix it immediately. Check it out! |
I heard a thought provoking piece on NPR this afternoon. At times I agreed with the discussion, and at times I disagreed. Either way, it got me thinking. The author, Anand Giridharadas, the author of a new book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, was interviewed and highlighted several arguments from the book that explores how the global elite’s propensity towards charity sometimes create (or perpetuate) the very social problems they are trying to “help.” In an interview with Time he states, “A lot of philanthropists cause problems with their left hand and then try to fix those problems with their right hand.” He continues, “They underpay workers and then try to rebuild, through their foundation, the American opportunity structure.” For this reason, Giridharadas doesn’t think that real solutions to our national problems, from wage stagnation to education inequality, will come from the country’s wealthy and powerful but rather a return to America’s foundational public institutions. “It is we the people who actually need to take change back from these pretenders of change,” he said.
Full disclosure – I haven’t read the book and I’m not going to elaborate on the tax code and the ability to deduct charitable donations, or the fact that non-profit organizations do have positive impacts and can spur innovation in many places around the world. This would be a very lengthy blog post to truly respond and reflect on the entire interview.
So, the piece that resonated with me was when he said, “Generosity does not equal justice,” or something to that effect (the audio of the show isn’t yet available for me to double check the quote). As I started thinking about it, I thought about the often used meme “equality, equity, justice” (figure 1 below) that encourages us uncover the root causes of issues and then address the systemic barriers that exist. The generosity of millionaires and billionaires does not simply result in equity for those who need additional supports to do whatever short-term circumstances and sources of systemic oppression impact them.
The problem right now is that based on the decades of inefficiencies, oppression (racial, gender, sexual orientation, language, etc) that the very systems that are supposed to turn around outcomes (i.e. health, education, social) continue to perpetuate them. Even when we receive a significant influx of philanthropic dollars to implement a program to target a need (i.e. an afterschool program for low-income students), we continue to tinker around the edges of the system, as opposed to truly changing the entire system (i.e. a longer school day with extracurriculars and academics combined and accessible for all students, combining the work of community partners and the school district into one cohesive effort). We are in an endless cycle of needing philanthropic dollars to improve outcomes, yet the very presences of those dollars sometimes pushes us to not rethink the broader infrastructure and systems. We become reliant on those dollars as it often seems too difficult or cumbersome to truly change the system.
This all said, there are numerous organizations and funders that are still doing great work and we should not stop those programs, strategies, and efforts. And, we should do so, while keeping an eye out for true innovation. We must pushing ourselves and our elected, appointed, and hired government leaders to truly address the root causes of social issues and work together to remove those historic and systemic barriers.
This brief includes recommendations for state level supports and services for schools identified for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). The brief is co-sponsored by the Council on Chief State School Officers and the Center on School Turnaround (at WestEd) and was originally drafted and released as a draft for an ESSA Implementation conference in September. Additional examples were added after the conference.
Do Focus on a few key areas – a walkthrough is very different than a full classroom observation. It’s impossible to see everything in 3-6 minutes, so identify a few areas to focus on and DON’T provide negative feedback to a teacher if you didn’t see something (i.e. group work) if you only saw part of a class. You may have missed the group work section.
DO look for real learning – what level questions is the teacher asking? What type of thinking do the assignments require?
DO look for classroom management techniques and positive teacher-student relationships – these should be apparent in a classroom in 1 minute or 1 hour. They can make or break learning from occurring, so always keep an eye on it.
DO use the results of many walkthroughs to inform school-wide professional development needs.
Some additional thoughts about walkthroughs are found in this EdWeek story.
Here’s an updated overview of ESSA highlights from EdWeek.
The Washington Post recently posted an article describing the work of a small Missouri district (3,000 students) principal who was determined to change the school system to meet the needs of her kids. I highly recommend reading the entire article, but below I note some of the key decisions/actions the district implemented.
Superintendent Anderson regularly visits classrooms. While a small district makes this logistically feasible, larger districts could have district office staff visiting classrooms on a more frequent basis. It not only increases teacher accountability, but it connects central office staff to the kids they serve every day (but never see).
Inclusion of wraparound support services – including a home for homeless students, food banks for students and their families, access to doctors and dentists, and access to washers/dryers for clean clothes.
The district hired back recent graduates who weren’t able to get jobs after graduation.
Saturday academies and other programs to catch up off track students are offered.
Students can earn an associate’s degree while in high school.
The district restored access to music, dance, art and other non-core curricular programs.
The budget was balanced, deficit improved, and additional philanthropic funds granted.
Teachers use weekly assessments to check for progress.
New teaching staff have one semester to one year to team teach with a more experienced staff member.
Prospective hires must pass a 10-question quiz, with content two years higher than they’re applying to teach. The article notes that most applicants don’t pass the quiz.
The Superintendent believes in the district and its students. She’s willing to do a variety of jobs – including acting as a crossing guard.
One note, while the graduation rate has increased (which is great), the level of college and career readiness should be questioned. (This is an issue that expands far beyond this district.) Graduating high school is definitely an achievement and should be celebrated, but if a student has a diploma and is unprepared for work or college – what value is that diploma?
This is a superintendent willing to change the systems and structures to meet students where they are, who’s willing to push staff to work harder and positively impact students, and is willing to do the heavy lifting when needed. While this type of superintendent is hard to find, she’s created a great road map for others to adapt and bring to their own districts. |
The richest people in America have a surprising amount in common.
For starters, they’re all men who mostly work in tech. And almost all of them made their fortunes by starting their own companies and maintaining ownership as they soared to success, including Microsoft and Facebook. In fact, seven of the 10 richest men in America are also among the 10 richest people in the world.
These American billionaires also share a few quirks: Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle founder Larry Ellison dropped out of college. Jeff Bezos, Larry Page and Sergey Brin all went to Montessori schools, where children are encouraged to think independently and creatively rather than following traditional rules. It seems, too, that billionaires really like houses in Hawaii.
As is the case with the richest women in America, the richest people in America donate a lot of money to causes they care about. Some of the men on this list have donated hundreds of millions into research designed to improve human lifespan and eradicate dangerous diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Warren Buffett, Gates, Zuckerberg, and Ellison have gone a step further and promised to give their fortunes away as part of The Giving Pledge, an initiative designed by Buffett and Gates to encourage billionaires to funnel their vast wealth to philanthropy.
Bezos, 53, recently became the richest person in history.
Before he started selling books online, a business that ultimately became e-commerce giant Amazon.com, he worked at a hedge fund in New York after graduating from Princeton. The beginnings of Amazon.com are typical start up lore – Bezos started the company out of his garage in Seattle in 1994, according to Forbes.
The Amazon.com founder is well-known for purchasing the Washington Post for $250 million in 2013, but his space startup, Blue Origin, is quickly becoming nearly as famous. The aerospace company is developing re-useable rockets to carry passengers into space, with the goal of one day moving industrial manufacturing off of Earth.
Bezos lives with his wife and four children in Medina, Wash. He owns five houses, as well as a 290,000-acre ranch in Texas where Blue Origin is headquartered, making him one of the largest land holders in the U.S. He was named TIME person of the year in 1999.
Bill Gates at the Gates Foundation Inaugural Goalkeepers event on Sept. 20, 2017 in New York City.
Gates, 62, is an iconic entrepreneur who co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975. Gates made his fortune primarily through his shares of the company after dropping out of Harvard.
He was raised in Seattle and met his future business partner, Paul Allen, with whom he founded Microsoft, in high school. The two became obsessed with computers and even created their first venture, a traffic data system, while still in school.
Gates became a millionaire at age 31 after Microsoft went public in 1986. In the 21st century, he’s become known for his commitment to philanthropy and established The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife, Melinda, in 2000. The largest private charity in the world, the Gates Foundation aims to solve global problems like world hunger and empower people in poor communities.
Gates currently lives in Medina, Wash., in the same neighborhood as Jeff Bezos. He was a TIME person of the year in 2005 and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2016.
Buffet, 87, is one of the only richest people in America not to have made his fortune in the tech industry. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffet is the chairman and CEO of the publicly traded investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. Most of his wealth is derived from an 18% stake in the business. Buffet is known for being a value investor who holds stocks over long periods of time.
He bought his first stocks at age 11, and at age $13 filed his first tax return with a $35 deduction for his bicycle.
Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg speaks during his keynote at the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Zuckerberg, 33, is another Harvard dropout who is famous for starting his own tech company. There’s even a movie about it. He is the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, the largest social media network in the world. When the company went public in 2012, it was the biggest tech IPO in history.
He owns an estimated $175 million worth of real estate across the country, with 700 acres of property in Hawaii alone. He usually calls Palo Alto, Calif. home, where he lives with his two daughters and wife, Priscilla Chan, whom he met at Harvard.
Together, the couple started the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, pouring $3 billion of funding into an effort to cure diseases and develop new technology for researchers. The foundation also established a “Biohub” at the University of Calif. San Francisco to bolster collaboration among scientists.
Page, 44, is one of Google’s co-founders and is now the CEO of its parent company, Alphabet. He met his business partner Sergey Brin, No. 7 on the list of richest people in America, while working on his doctorate at Stanford.
Most of Page’s wealth comes from inventing one of the world’s most valuable tech companies — through his stock he owns about 6% of Google. Under Page, who is known for his efficiency, Google has invested in hundreds of start-ups. He decided to rid himself of his assistants in 2007 so that anyone who needed him must physically find him in order to talk.
Page became fascinated with computers at a young age, picking up a passion for tech from his parents, who both taught computer science at Michigan State University.
Page resides in Palo Alto with his wife, a research scientist, and their two children.
Ellison, 73 — another college dropout — co-founded the software firm Oracle in 1977. In addition to owning about 25% of the company, he also owns the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai, a sailing team and even an entire tennis tournament, the New York Times reports.
But after a series of jobs, he became part of a company working to establish a new type of software database. That company would become Oracle, now one of the largest software companies in the world.
Ellison, like other titans on this list, is interested in extending human lifespan, and has given over $330 million for research into aging and related diseases.
Four-times divorced, Ellison has two adult children and calls his $70 million Woodside, Calif. estate home. However, Ellison’s massive real estate portfolio means he never spends much time in one place. He owns additional properties in Japan, San Francisco, Malibu, Lake Tahoe and Rhode Island.
Brin, 44, also made his fortune in the tech industry as one of the storied co-founders of Google, along with Larry Page (No. 5). Born in the Soviet Union, Brin and his family, who is Jewish, came to the U.S. when Brin was just six-years-old after facing anti-Semitism in their home country.
At Google, the entrepreneur headed up Google X, a secretive division of the company, until becoming president of Google’s new parent company, Alphabet, in 2015. While running the Google X labs, he was rumored to be building a secret airship in a massive airplane hangar in Silicon Valley.
Brin has donated around $50 million to Parkinson research after discovering he has a genetic mutation predisposing him to the disease. He also gave $1 million to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the organization that helped him leave Russia as a child.
The Koch brothers—Charles, 82, and David Koch, 77—tie for eighth place as two of the richest people in America.
Charles is the chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, a Kansas-based conglomerate with $100 billion in annual revenue. David is the vice president of the company, and both own 42% of the company.
The men both graduated from MIT with degrees in engineering and joined their family’s business upon graduating, according to Bloomberg.
In 1976, Charles established a libertarian think tank called the Cato Institute, which the brothers later sued over a debate about ownership rights.
The Koch brothers are politically active, having donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican and conservative causes in their lifetimes.
Walton, 73, is the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the former chairman of the company. He stepped down from his role in 2015 after running the chain for 23 years, though he still sits on its board.
The majority of Walton’s wealth comes from his shares in the company, and Bloomberg estimates he owns about 13% of the family business.
Before going to work for his father at the world’s largest retailer, Walton played football at the University of Arkansas and graduated from Columbia Law School.
He owns multiple properties — including a home in Aspen, Colo. and another Paradise Valley, Ariz., and recently purchased 1,500 acres of land in Hawaii, reportedly to build a resort. |
In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Watts, who researches early childhood development. According to his team’s research, the marshmallow test is still important and insightful, but an expanded replication shows the ability to delay gratification at 4-years old isn’t nearly as strong a predictor of later success as socio-economic status. In fact, it was socio-economic status all along that affected children’s ability to wait for the marshmallow.
These findings have huge implications for education, because many schools teach delayed gratification strategies to young children in the hopes of affecting their later success. According to Watts, those efforts aren’t likely to produce large effects, and what effects they do produce will be overwhelmed by the psychological impact of poverty and the environments it produces. |
Asian Americans probably have the worst ethnic reputation as American drivers, but they have the highest rate of seatbelt use, and lowest % of deaths due to use of alchohol.
Seat belt use W1.0 B-1.17 H??
smaller adults and children, especially when improperly belted.
in a way that belts do not.
they go the shop to get their airbag disconnected.
Native Americans were over-represented by a factor of 2.53 to 1.
of traffic deaths due to alcohol.
"The Deadly Drivers Are Deadly Drunk"
from 23-32 most years to 69 in 1998.
restraints, 25% improperly belted. Vehicle deaths #1 for children.
Better protected than airbag/belted adult.
How the S.U.V. ran over automotive safety.
and Marc Ross, a physicist at the University of Michigan.
S.U.V. models like the Ford Explorer or the GMC Jimmy.
Seat belt use W68% B58% H?? W1.0 B-1.17 H??
Death rate down from 5.1 in 1953 to 1.3 in 1997.
99 as main north-south route.
per year or 70 per decade.
\doc\95\15\trafdeat.txt "Traffic deaths up two years in a row"
Seattle Times Oct 29, 1995 Deaths about half the peak in 1972.
die from driving accidents than most Asian ethinic groups.
according to the State Patrol.
6,000 are killed in the US each year in traffic accidents.
Traffic Safety Administration study ], "Highway Safety Needs of U.S.
incidence of deaths and injuries, most based on machismo, or "macho"
data in a different way and illuminated a disturbing gap between the races."
passengers in their car, according to new research.
under 30 and when they are driving late at night.
for 16 yr olds from 19 to 35 per 100,000 licensced drivers.
less than 2,500 lbs, 4 to 1 for all cars and light trucks.
resulted in three million injuries. "
more getting run over by buses.
-- even safer than walking, a government study shows.
Seat belt use W68% B58% H?? W1.0 B-1.17 H??
minivans to CAFE fuel economy regulations.
are due to drivers asleep.
deprivation on the immune system.
Science and Mysteries of Sleep By Stanley Coren Free Press, $32.50 "
fall when we get the hour back. "
another study that showed one road had increased deaths.
But big difference is drivers, not cars.
wall, which is only valid for a head-on between equal cars.
hr. DOD flying is 1.44, est. airlines is 0.10 per 100,000 hrs.
compared to flying on average per hour.
months preceding the survey (Table 1). "
US has highest male death rate except for New Zealand. |
With python being one of the most popular programming languages, and python based web frameworks such as Django on the rise, the ability to read and write this legacy language is becoming increasingly important in the software industry. Python is used to power web services such as YouTube, DropBox, Google, Reddit, Yahoo, Pinterest, and Instagram and many small companies are taking advantage of this powerful, fully featured programming language. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of python. It covers installation of the integrated development environment as well as the use of variables, operators, loops and decision making. Students will also learn to manipulate data, file I/O and exception handling. Prior programming experience would be beneficial but is not required. |
The United Nations rose from the ashes of World War II as an organisation of "peace-loving" states.
It aimed to spare succeeding generations from the scourge of armed conflict, and its Security Council - which met for the first time in 1946 - was specifically tasked with ensuring global peace and security.
Once widely criticised as a talking-shop, the council has had a more active role on the world stage in recent years, introducing sanctions regimes and authorising the use of force in conflicts.
Five nations are permanently represented on the Security Council. They reflect the post-war power structure that held sway when the council was formed.
Members of this privileged group work alongside 10 non-permanent member countries. Each member - permanent or otherwise - holds the presidency of the council for a one-month period, on a rotating basis.
The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by members of the UN General Assembly, the body that represents all UN members.
The aim is to achieve a regional balance, with five Asian or African members, two Latin American members, one east European, and two members from western Europe or other regions making up the mix of non-permanent members.
Nations compete keenly for council membership, maybe because of the prestige attached, or the chance to raise an issue that is in the national interest. Some countries announce their candidacy many years in advance and actively canvass votes.
Draft resolutions are drawn up by one or more members of the council and circulated privately to the others.
The drafts can be negotiated or changed in a process called "consultations". If agreed to by all members, the resolution is formally proposed to the council.
Each member has one vote. Decisions on what the council calls "substantive" issues need a majority of nine votes before they can be passed, including either votes or abstentions from all five permanent members.
Not surprisingly, the question of whether an issue is substantive or not is itself the subject of lively debate.
Thus, each of the permanent members has the right of veto; if one of them votes against a resolution, it cannot be passed. But a resolution can be passed if a permanent member abstains from the vote.
A general decline in the use of the veto, which followed the end of the Cold War, helped the council to become a more effective decision-maker.
The Security Council attaches great importance to preventing armed conflict in the first place, but once a dispute has flared, its first aim is to seek a diplomatic solution.
If a conflict persists, the Security Council may work towards a ceasefire and deploy peacekeepers. It can order UN nations to impose sanctions and, as a last resort, it may authorise military action against an aggressor.
The status quo of the permanent members had not changed since the council's first meeting in 1946, and the make-up of the Security Council has climbed up the UN agenda.
Change faces numerous hurdles, but the likelihood of reform was seen as having been boosted by an announcement by President Barack Obama that the US has backed India's ambition to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
India, Germany, Japan and Brazil - known as the G4 - and the African Union are among those who have long lobbied for coveted permanent-member status.
A working group on reform set up under the UN General Assembly in 1993 had made little progress on the matter, with a lack of consensus over potential candidates.
The then Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned the lack of reform could weaken the council's standing in the world.
The Security Council came under strong pressure from US President George W Bush in the run-up to the 2003 US-led Iraq campaign. Mr Bush cited Baghdad's "decade of defiance" of Security Council resolutions. "Will the UN serve the purpose of its founding... or will it be irrelevant," he asked in a speech to the General Assembly in September 2002.
The Iraqi crisis tested the Security Council's credibility and authority to the limit. Resolution 1441, passed by the council, demanded that Iraq disarm and cooperate with weapons inspectors. But some permanent members, including France and Russia, disagreed with the US-UK assertion that 1441 allowed military action.
With France proposing to veto a second resolution authorising action, the decision to go to war was made without Security Council approval. The failure of diplomacy was seen as a bad portent for the Security Council's future prospects.
More generally, the Security Council has been criticised for not taking forceful action until a catastrophe or conflict unfolds, even when this might have been predicted, as in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Mindful of this, and the bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, which was undertaken without council approval, leaders of all 15 member states met in 2000 to adopt measures that would give the organisation more teeth, including a review of peacekeeping operations.
More recently the Security Council has acted with greater decisiveness. It has imposed sanctions on North Korea and Iran over their nuclear programmes, and authorised a no-fly zone over Libya that helped indirectly to bring down the Gaddafi government.
Cold War fault lines endure, however, as became evident when Russia and China in 2012 vetoed a series of Security Council resolutions aimed at putting pressure on the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad. |
JAKARTA - SCIENTISTS have started collecting hundreds of blood samples from Indonesia's worst-hit dengue fever areas to determine whether they are contending with a new strain of the mosquito-borne virus. The outbreak had killed 256 people as of Wednesday in 19 of Indonesia's 32 provinces and infected more than 14,000 others, the health ministry said.
"The test results will help us identify the types, the subtypes, the degree of virulency so that we can treat the patients more quickly," said Dr Umar Achmadi, head of communicable disease control for the Health Ministry. Up to 500 blood samples from Jakarta, East Java and other provinces will be tested to determine why the current outbreak has been worse than in previous years, he said. It will take about a month to obtain the results, he added.
Dr Achmadi said the rate of infection in East Java province was still climbing, leading health officials to suspect that there may be a new strain of dengue, which can trigger fever, body aches and, in the most serious cases, internal bleeding. Jakarta's infection rate was also high but leveling off. "We suspect that there were many poor Jakartans who couldn't afford treatment and died. But since we've been giving free medicine, the numbers have gone down," he said.
Dengue is prevalent in Indonesia at this time of year during the annual rainy season which lasts until April. Torrential rains and floods have hit Indonesia in recent weeks. Stagnant water provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, which carry dengue fever - common in tropical areas and endemic to parts of Asia and the Caribbean.
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 100 million people worldwide are infected with dengue each year, with a death rate of about 5 per cent. The Indonesian Government has set aside 150 billion rupiah ($22.8 million) for a mosquito eradication campaign. It has ordered hospitals to treat all dengue patients, including those who cannot pay for hospital treatment. |
May 28, 2010 – The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is helping farmers make informed decisions by simulating crop growth, yield and water and nutrient requirements. The DSSAT was developed by scientists from IFDC, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, University of Guelph, University of Hawaii and Iowa State University.
May 26, 2010 – IFDC, the Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company (DADTCO) and the Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) have officially launched a public-private partnership to commercialize cassava production by linking farmers to value-added markets. The project will reduce poverty by introducing farmers to market opportunities, creating employment, training in soil fertility management and providing credit support.
The International Food Policy Research Institute and IFDC conducted a survey of nearly 3,500 agro-dealers in Ghana. The survey produced data on the agro-input retail network in Ghana and the 2008 and 2009 fertilizer subsidy programs. Read the full report published in GSSP Notes, the newsletter of the Ghana Strategy Support Program. |
Could the pride of the Russian Navy really be sold to China?
In a recent interview with China Central Television, Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, a leading Chinese Naval Engineer talking about the future of Chinese Naval Aviation commented on recent media reports out of Russia Today that the People's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN was considering the purchase of the Russian Federation's only operational aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. "While it is a interesting idea, the People's Liberation Army Navy acquiring the Admiral Kuznetsov and in the right circumstances could happen I believe it to be a unlikely development over the long run."
The People's Liberation Army Navy sees a future with 6 carrier group's consisting of modern, large American-style carriers. China has never sought to match the United States Navy numerically in the Western Pacific. The elderly 37 year old Admiral Kuznetsov offers little to our navy that we have not learned or mastered by ourselves, and the navy can all ready build a better domestic carrier of similar or superior capabilities in the Type 001A. I believe that CATOBAR and EMALS carriers are the future of our navy, and such platforms exemplified by the Type 002 under construction in Shanghai, and Type 003 aircraft carrier currently under development will provide the People's Liberation Army Navy and Naval Aviation with a far more credible capability for securing China's core maritime interests.
China's AG600 amphibious aircraft passed its first takeoff from water in the city of Jingmen, Hubei Province, according to its developer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Monday. At 3:25 PM the aircraft took off in relatively calm seas, and flew for 15 minutes, 45 seconds, then returning to Jingmen's Zhanghe Reservoir's air harbor.
With the success of this flight it is expected to undergo a number of technical tests and flight tests will be mainly conducted on the surface of the Zhanghe Reservoir in Jingmen. Endowed with unique geographical and water conditions, the Zhanghe Reservoir is also called the "cradle of China's water planes." It is home to the country's only air harbor.
The AG600, code named "Kunlong," completed its maiden water flight last December, and finished two test flights in January this year. "During the recent two flights, the aircraft passed all the test subjects and its various systems functioned normally," said Zhou Guoqiang, AVIC's spokesman.
Designed to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600 is powered by four domestically built turboprop engines and has a range of 12 hours or about 4500 km. It will be mainly used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring. Starting in February the aircraft is expected to start testing for Ocean landings, as it should be able to conduct Sea State 3 operations with 2 m (6.6 ft) waves and by years end it should receive certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. AVIC confirmed at least 29 orders for civilian and military users have been placed by the end of 2018.
After many delays caused by the launch failure of the second Long March 5 due to a turbopump exhaust issue that prevented the rocket's payload from reaching its desired orbit the Long March 5 rocket successful conducted it's third flight.
The 5-meter-diameter, 57-meter-tall Long March 5 debuted successfully in November 2016 and is crucial to the country’s major human spaceflight and space exploration objectives. It's powerful YF-77 engine was redesigned to fix the turbopump, and each engine went through substantial static ground tests in 2018 in order to ensure that such a accident would not happen on the rocket's third launch as the success of the Long March 5 heavy lift vehicle is crucial to China's major human spaceflight and space exploration objectives.
The launch of the third Long March 5 rocket suffered from several delays. These delays included fears of damage from Typhoon Mangkhut to both the launch vehicle and the payload. However after a careful inspection of the launch facility, the rocket, and the payload a decision to go ahead with the launch was given. The Long March 5 rocket was given the green light by the China National Space Administration and in the early morning hours of February the third Long March 5 rocket lifted off successfully, and launched the Shijian 20 communications satellite into it's desired orbit. Shijian 20 is the first Chinese satellite spacecraft based on the new DFH-5 communications satellite platform, a heavier, higher-power next-generation design, replacing the Shijian 18 satellite lost on the launch failure in 2017.
The rocket's Chief engineer Jing Muchun said in a recent interview that the successful flight of the Long March 5 will make possible new satellite platforms based on the large DFH-5 satellite platform as well as provide China with a economical Falcon-9 class carrier rocket. The rocket will also enable China to launch the core modules of it's third space station, and conduct it's first ever manned deep space missions in addition to the under development sample return missions from the Moon.
The Xi'an Y-20, China's first large strategic military transport aircraft currently undergoing low-rate serial production successfully completed it's first over-seas deployment over the months of January and February, delivering substantial quantities of humanitarian aid and medical aid along side several Chinese Y-8 and Y-9 cargo aircraft. According to reliable state media sources the two aircraft delivered more than 300 tons of humanitarian and medical supplies, and collectively the Chinese airlift effort provided more than 500 tons of critical relief supplies to the Palu airport. China's "Peace Ark" hospital ship also has provided medical assistance to more than 10,000 Indonesians during it's short deployment to the Sulawesi area to provide humanitarian relief. The deployment is likely to be extended by two months as many thousands of Indonesian's in the Sulawesi area still need medical attention.
According to reliable reports China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi personally called his counter part in Jakarta to offer the services of heavy equipment and manpower to help clear the major roads and railways which several are still blocked, and are hampering relief efforts. Several Generals of the Indonesian Air Force who were allowed to tour the Y-20 were "Very impressed" with the heavy lift capabilities of the Y-20, and the Y-20's lead designer, Tang Changhong praised the aircraft's performance saying that it was "well within projected capabilities." During a interview with CCTV Tang Changhong also confirmed that the first over-seas sale of the Y-20 was close to finalized with the Myanmar Air Force scheduled to take delivery of 4 of the largest production aircraft in the world later this year. Tang Changhong also speculated that the People's Liberation Army Air Force would require additional Strategic airlifter's, beyond the announced 1,000 and projected that actual demand could be closer to 1500 to 2200 aircraft over the next three decades.
Chengdu, China A Air China 747 taking off.
In the early months of 2019 several Chinese airlines declared bankruptcy, including Loong Air, Uni-Top Airlines Co. Ltd. Following trends all ready set in the United States of America in the 80's and 90's it appears that the Chinese state-run Airline Industry is undergoing a period of consolidation that has the potential to establish a much more robust and profitable industry.
China Daily recently reported that China has in excess of 55 airliners, servicing the majority of the country. Many of these airliners are money-looses for the state, but it is expected that they will either through bankruptcy fold or merge with larger airliners as did American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines.
Through a series of recent acquisitions Air China absorbed Chongqing Airlines, Donghai Airlines, and Hebei Airlines. China Eastern Airlines absorbed Lucky Air, Shanghai Airlines, and Shandong Airlines. China Southern Airlines absorbed Hainan Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines. Air China Cargo absorbed SF Airlines, Longhao Airlines, and China Postal Airlines. This recent wave of mergers, bankruptcy's, and acquisitions appears to be a signal from Beijing to SOE's that they have to clean up their act, or be prepared to be either consolidated or become a case of mixed ownership reform.
The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission announced that it was accepting applications for non-state owned carriers to operate fully-owned or mixed ownership airlines, both regular and low-cost operators operating on a number of routes in China opening up the possibility that more competition could be coming to China's aviation sector in the next five year plans further paving the way for further reforms and mergers in China's aviation sector.
Antonov announced over the weakened that it had successfully completed construction of the second airframe for AICC and following a testing phase the aircraft would be delivered to China by years end. Measuring 84 meters in length with an 88.4m wingspan, this massive plane can carry 640 tons, and holds the world record for being the longest and heaviest aircraft built since it came into service in 1988.
China and the Ukraine have had a close relationship when it comes to key technology. In the late 1990s, the People’s Liberation Army bought the scrapped hull of the Soviet-made heavy cruiser, the Varyag, before renaming it the Liaoning and turning it into the Chinese Navy’s first aircraft carrier.
Now, according to media outlets CCTV and China's Military, China will assemble two An-225 aircraft under the license agreement signed with Kiev almost 3 years ago.
General Li Zuocheng said in a interview with CCTV that the People's Liberation Army Airforce was now the closest that it has ever been to acquiring a global ‘strategic’ lift capability thank's to the availability of the Il-76, and the domestic production of the Y-20 strategic air lifter. During the interview General Li Zuocheng praised the performance of the PLAAF following the devastation wrought across much of Asia by the 2018 typhoon mangkhut. The general said the rapid response of PLAAF strategic airlifters was a fine demonstration of the new capability that such a global ‘strategic’ lift capability would bring to China's armed forces. Commentators also noted the rapid response both at home and away was a ‘vast improvement’ over the 2005 earthquake in Sichuan which saw the PLAAF struggling to deploy cargo planes to the disaster zone. |
For the most part, my philosophy of image processing and printing can be summed up with a succinct and pleasingly colloquial name: “cooking vegetables.” I owe the metaphor to David Mayer, who articulated it in a comment he made on The Online Photographer (only mildly slandering his own mother in passing) a year or so ago.
When you cook vegetables, you want to cook ’em just enough, and not too much. Same could be said about pretty much any facet of image processing, I think.
With vegetables, you avoid overcooking both for reasons of taste and of nutrition. The same might be claimed, metaphorically, for pictures. Overdoing it is not only in bad taste (in my opinion), but it’s a distraction from the subject, and detracts from the photograph’s ability to communicate.
I should add a disclaimer here: As ever, I’m advocating, not dictating. I only get to decide what’s right for myself; everyone else—including you—gets to decide what’s right for them. There’s no need for anybody to get argumentative on this point. I understand.
The key, for me, is not to draw the viewer’s attention to any of your tricks. When sharpening, sharpen just enough so that the image doesn’t look sharpened. When saturating, stop just short of the point at which your typical viewer would look at your picture and say “that’s had the saturation kicked up.” If you burn or dodge (for those working in the darkroom), you usually try to stop short of the point at which the burning or dodging is obvious.
A couple of good cases in point: we’re all aware that when you have a camera that has a fixed relationship between the lens and the film or imager, and you point the camera upwards at a building, you get what’s called “keystoning”—a type of perspective distortion where the sides of the building tend to angle inwards towards a vanishing point. Some people say the building “looks like it’s falling over backwards.” Nowadays, this is pretty easy to correct in post-processing, if the geometry of the building is important to the picture. In the film era, you could correct it by using a perspective-control (PC) lens. But a common mistake to my eye is when people correct the building so that the sides are exactly parallel. While technically correct, it always looks overdone to me, probably because the eye expects to see some keystoning in photographs. The effect of making the vertical sides of a building literally parallel is that it looks like the opposite sort of distortion is in play, with the top of the building looking wider than the bottom. What I usually aim for when applying this correction is to take out enough of the distortion so that attention isn’t drawn to the distortion, but also to leave some of it in so that it doesn’t look obviously corrected. That looks the most natural to me; people looking at the picture will see the building and not get distracted by either the visual flaw or by your correcting of it.
If you’ve read about, or seen documentaries about, the Parthenon in Athens, you’ve probably learned about how the ancient Greek architects solved many similar problems. The one I remember in particular is that the pediment is actually slightly crowned; if it were exactly flat, it would look as if it bowed downward, because the eye expects to see some result of the great visual weight above it. By crowning it slightly, it looks perfectly flat even though it isn’t.
The same principle is at work in a mat for a picture frame. The picture has what’s called “visual weight”; if you make the mat the exact same distance on all four sides, it typically looks as if there’s too little on the bottom edge. A common style in framing is to greatly exaggerate the bottom weighting, but I’m not talking about that. To get the mat to look like it’s exactly even on all four sides, you actually have to add just a bit of extra width to the bottom side.
Another typical technique where you frequently encounter “overcooked vegetables” is with the HDR (high dynamic range) technique. Some pictures that use this technique have such an obvious characteristic look that they instantly draw attention to the technique. My preference in using HDR would be to stop short of point at which it looks like you’ve used HDR. In the darkroom, I worked very hard to get shadow detail into my prints, but the key for me was to never overdo it. What I wanted was not for the viewer to look at the print and immediately say “Wow, great shadow detail,” but for her to look at the print and feel an almost subliminal impression of depth and richness—perhaps without quite knowing why.
A technique I use in sharpening all the time is to just sharpen the areas of the print that I want the viewer’s eye to be drawn to. I often don’t like what sharpening does to out-of-focus blur, so I just leave it alone. Sharpness, like light areas in a dark picture or dark area in a light picture, or like a warm color in a cold picture or cold areas in a warm picture, can often just be an accent without harming the overall subjective sense of sharpness and richness. Often, I’ll do successive levels of sharpening on increasingly smaller areas—in a portrait of a person or an animal, I’ll first select the whole head (feathering the edges of the selected area generously so the borders of the sharpened area don’t stand out) and run one sharpening pass, then select just the eyes and run another sharpening pass. I do the same thing with local contrast—I’ll just apply it to the areas of the picture I want the viewer’s eye to be drawn to, and sometimes in selective, separate passes.
8615731 8615732 When you toggle back and forth from the out-of-camera image to the processed version, it’s easy to see the changes I’ve made. But if you were to just see the processed version, hopefully what you’d see is a picture that merely looks right—not obviously sharpened or highlighted, not overly saturated or manipulated.
We’re all aware that sometimes technique just “comes together” and the print seems to sing. The subject contrast fits the dynamic range of the film or imager, the lighting happens to be just right, the print looks really nice. The point of all the processing tricks and methods I use is simply to make every picture look more like the best ones do. The best post-processing is when the picture looked like it didn’t need any processing at all. To me, though, the art is best when the artfulness is hidden—just as a dancer might work very hard to make it look like he isn’t working at all, so I believe that pictures look best when they look natural. They should have a certain inevitability, as though they just have to look the way they do. Excessive use of any of the controls we have available to us might demand immediate attention more effectively, but they seldom satisfy in the long run. Like perfectly cooked vegetables, the perfect print is neither overdone nor underdone, but just right. |
(1) management. To implement the personnel management, grading, serial number, to certify the use of water quality and in time. To establish and perfect the system of line maintenance, often education personnel consciously abide by.
(2) to store. Should be specifically set location or storage room, long-term storage of spare hose should choose warm, ventilated place to store, on the water hose should be single roll stand with the rack, turning twice a year or exchange frilled edge. The accessory hose each other to avoid friction, if necessary, to exchange frilled edge.
(3) using aspects. Laying should avoid sudden twists and turns, reverse to avoid after water filling forcibly dragged on the ground, to avoid oil, acid, alkali and other corrosive chemicals contact; In may a flame or strong radiation area, cotton or hemp qualitative hose should be adopted; High water when you stretch belt hook; Through railway through below, should track through the road, the hose should be fitted bridge; To prevent hose and angular contact with hard objects, forcible entry building, do not cast to the hose on the board, steel and other items; Hose should be cleaned after using it; Cold area should be used on the outside of the building stretch lining hose.
(4) repair. Find bugs when using, should be timely with package cloth dress, in order to avoid holes expand, and make the mark, use after repair in time. At ordinary times should be regularly check, found damaged, repair in a timely manner.
(2) the fire hose attachments have? What are the purposes?
Fire hose fittings have hose bandage, peg hose, hose bridge, interfaces, manifold, etc.
1) hose bandage for fire hose leak, covering fire truck is one of the necessary accessories. With canvas belt and metal clamp and other parts.
(2) is hanging fire hose, hose hook tools, in fire fighting, vertical stretch to high, water will take hook hose hanging on the ladder or other objects, can reduce the bearing down hose, and convenient for water gun hand manipulating nozzle water jet fire. Hose hook consists of canvas belt, metal hook, half ring.
(3) protects the hose hose bridge cross traffic arteries, the shop will not affect the normal vehicle equipment, has great strength, compressive strength, durability, and convenient to pick up, etc.
(4) interface sort is more, there is hose coupling, and tooth interface, adapter, interface, thread interface, etc. Used for hose and hose, fire hydrant, fire pump, nozzle jet device connection, etc. Can be divided into the form of the structure inside the button, plug and screw-type, etc.
5. The purpose of the manifold, a is a flow to separate two or more than two water; 2 it is used as a switch, with the aid of manifold can be turned on or off water from the hose line, don't need to switch to the pump, thus shortening the time needed for opening and closing water, ensure the fire water supply in a timely manner. Water segregator has two water segregator, three water segregator, and three of four water segregator. |
Washing machines keep getting more advanced, which means there’s more inside them that can go wrong. Here we look at some of the most common problems that occur with them.
There are quite a few things that could cause this. The most common include a faulty motor, or a faulty motor control. But it can also be caused by worn brushes or a drive belt. This is something that we can easily fix, once we know what the root cause is.
If your machine is new, check that it’s sitting on a level surface and that all transit straps have been removed. If your machine is older, it could be caused by the concrete ballast weight or the shock absorbers that attach the drum to the body of the washing machine.
Sometimes this can be down to the programme you select on the machine, and other times it’s normally down to relatively minor faults. Another common issue is that you could be trying to spin too small (or too large) a load. If you have too few (or too many) items in the machine the machine’s sensors may stop the spin cycle as it thinks the vibrations from the spin cycle could damage your machine. Try again with a couple more (or less) items in the machine.
This is a tricky one, as we all describe noises differently. But it means something’s not right. Lots of people tend to ignore noises if the machine’s still running. We’d advise you not to do that. The problem will only get worse (and more expensive). Give us a call and we’ll pop out and give you a free estimate to fix it.
Check your filler hoses for kinks or blockages and check the water supply. This should (hopefully) be a simple one to fix.
This is one that most people hate. How to open the machine without flooding the place? That’s not too difficult. Move the machine forwards so you can get at the pipes. Then remove the drain hose from its connection to the waste pipe and place the hose into a large bucket and let gravity remove the water.
If there’s still water in the machine, try running the spin cycle again (after you’ve checked the hoses for kinks or blockages). If that doesn’t fix it, then it could be the door lock that’s broken, or the hinges or even the seal may have perished and stuck to the door.
These are designed to help identify what’s gone wrong with the machine. But they’re only pointers – they don’t always give you the exact nature of the fault. Each manufacturer has their own codes. So often the best way to find out more is to use Google to search for the error code. You’ll find forums where people share their knowledge (and solutions).
This will normally mean the heater, thermostat or timer has failed and needs to be replaced. You can sometimes advance the cycle manually by selecting the spin cycle.
First of all, stop using the machine. But make a note of whether the water is clear, soapy or dirty. If it’s clear, then the leak is likely to be in a pipe before the water reaches the detergent area of the machine. If it’s soapy, then the leak is probably between the detergent tray and the drum. And if the water looks dirty, then the fault is likely to be between the drum and the drainage pipe. Anything you observe will help your engineer to locate and fix the problem.
This is an increasing problem as machines operate at lower temperatures. Because people are using less hot washes, bacteria inside the machine isn’t killed. Your best bet is to run a hot cycle (at least 60º, ideally 90º or 95º) with no laundry in the machine. You might want to use soda crystals, as they dissolve grease. There are lots of great articles online, like this one from Which?
Try to remember to do simple maintenance on your machine. From cleaning the soap powder drawer, to cleaning the rubber seal, to leaving the door open when it’s not in use. These are little things that can help keep your washing machine running smoothly.
Dull as it may seem, regular cleaning and maintenance of your washing machine is important to help keep it running well (and it helps remove limescale build up, if you live in England or Wales).
Now that you’ve read at this article you might be able to fix the problem yourself. But even if you can’t you’ll be able to give us some useful information to help us get your machine running smoothly again. |
If you love plants, and you love dinosaurs, you probably need this dinosaur planter called the Aplantasaurus. It's got the perfect name, as it combines a Brontosaurus with a plant of course. He holds the plants right on his back, and makes a perfect gift idea for archaeologists or dinosaur lovers.
The Aplantosaurus dinosaur shaped planter is perfect for holding succulents and other small plants, and is sure to add some Jurassic flair to your home.
Not only is there a brontosaurus planter, but they also offer a t-rex planter, along with a triceratops planter. Though their names are the best part! The T-Rex planter is called the Plantasaurus Rex, whereas the Triceratops planter is called the Tricerapot.
The dinosaur plant holder is white in color, is made from ceramic, and is meant for indoor use only. |
You might be surprised to know how many things Alaska and Alabama have in common. Both states have suffered from the effects of oil spills, among other similarities. Take this quiz to learn more about the things Alaska and Alabama have in common.
How did the State of Alaska get its name?
Where did the State of Alabama get its name?
How did coach Paul "Bear" Bryant get the nickname of "Bear"?
What large land predator calls Alaska home?
What event occurs during Alabama Frontier Days?
What French explorer claimed Alaska for France?
What did Jim Crow laws keep separate?
In what state did Rosa Park refuse to give up her bus seat?
What minority in Alaska had to fight discriminatory practices?
Which bird is the name of an Alaskan town?
What silly name is a town in Alabama?
What contemporary singer grew up in Alaska?
Where did Harper Lee write "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
What huge oil spill damaged parts of the Alaskan coastline?
When did the Exxon Valdez oil spill occur?
What important piece of equipment has NASA located in Alaska?
Where is NASA's George C. Marshall Flight Center?
What industry is important to both Alabama and Alaska?
Alabama has a coastline _______ miles long.
What is a popular U.S. cruise destination? |
In this brief and incisive book, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills tells the story of the Confessions--what motivated Augustine to dictate it, how it asks to be read, and the many ways it has been misread in the one-and-a-half millennia since it was composed. Following Wills's biography of Augustine and his translation of the Confessions, this is an unparalleled introduction to one of the most important books in the Christian and Western traditions.
Understandably fascinated by the story of Augustine's life, modern readers have largely succumbed to the temptation to read the Confessions as autobiography. But, Wills argues, this is a mistake. The book is not autobiography but rather a long prayer, suffused with the language of Scripture and addressed to God, not man. Augustine tells the story of his life not for its own significance but in order to discern how, as a drama of sin and salvation leading to God, it fits into sacred history. "We have to read Augustine as we do Dante," Wills writes, "alert to rich layer upon layer of Scriptural and theological symbolism." Wills also addresses the long afterlife of the book, from controversy in its own time and relative neglect during the Middle Ages to a renewed prominence beginning in the fourteenth century and persisting to today, when the Confessions has become an object of interest not just for Christians but also historians, philosophers, psychiatrists, and literary critics.
With unmatched clarity and skill, Wills strips away the centuries of misunderstanding that have accumulated around Augustine's spiritual classic. |
The purpose of this research was to assess reading needs of urban and rural novice literates in Isfahan province. The novice literates’ reading needs in social, cultural, economic, health, personal, art, religious and vocational issues were studied. A escriptive- survey research method and Delphi technique were employed. Statistical population consisted of all novice literates in the province during 1382-83 academic year from which a sample of 456 was selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The data gathering tool was a researcher- made questionnaire including 120 clozed items based on Likert scale which its reliability coefficient was estimated 0.85 in a pilot study. To analyze the data both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were utilized. Findings indicated that reading needs of the examinees in social, health, personal and religious subjects, with a probability rate of 99% were more than average level. A comparison of mean scores of different reading needs confirmed religious and health needs as the highest (with mean scores of 3.53 and 3.45 respectively). And cultural and art needs as the lowest reading needs (with mean scores of 2.53 and 2.47 respectively). |
Believe it or not, I have some friends that actually like turbulence when they fly. I’m not one of them, although over the years I’ve become a lot less nervous when my plane encounters it. I used to be afraid to fly, and they say turbulence is the most common fear associated with the fear of flying.
No matter your feelings on turbulence, is a really cool tool. It not only defines what turbulence is, but also shows you where turbulence has been reported on a map. The green arrow means light, orange means moderate and red means severe. It also has clickable turbulence reports (blue circle with a line through it) that show where pilots have reported turbulence, the classification (light, moderate or severe), and the altitude and type of plane from which the turbulence was reported. |
Moving forward a bit in our history...Many of the states remained largely discriminatory in regards to religion.
Our country began with citizens fleeing the religious persecution of England. The history that was painted for me in grade school was one about a country built on the foundation of religious freedom, and inalienable rights. So where in all this did we, as a nation, come up with separation of church and state? Thomas Jefferson of course, he coined the phrase "wall of separation between Church and State", in a letter written to the Danbury Baptist Association. It was his interpretation of the first Amendment, and how it had addressed religion. 145 years after the letter was written, the Supreme Court unanimously declared a Separation of Church & State, in the case of Everson v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court is that portion of our government who's job it is to interpret the documents that govern our nation, and that is just what they did. |
Mt Toby lies just east of the Connecticut River, and is known for the biodiversity of its ferns and orchids. The conglomerate rock is not veryacidic, allowing lime-loving plants to grow along with the more common ones. We expect to find two dozen ferns including Maidenhair Spleenwort, Walking fern, and Goldie's Wood fern, and some club-mosses as well. |
12 November 2015, Dushanbe, Tajikistan: A workshop was held by UNDP aimed at initiating development of a sectoral NAP focussed on disaster risk reduction in Tajikistan.
The Government of Tajikistan decided to launch the NAP process to adopt a medium- and long-term approach for reducing vulnerability to climate impacts and to facilitate the integration of climate adaptation into on-going planning processes at national and sub-national levels, with a focus on integration adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR).
Within this overall context, the Committee for Environmental Protection, Government of Tajikistan officially requested UNDP and the NAP-GSP to provide expert advice and support in scoping, data analysis and recommendations for the integration of climate change adaptation into national policies and activities on DRR and in particular on flood risk reduction through a sectoral NAP for improved resilience to flood risks in Tajikistan.
The sector specific NAP focusing on flood risk reduction will complement the broader NAP process being developed by Tajikistan with support from the Asian Development Bank.
More than 40 participants were drawn from Ministries of Economic Development, Energy and Water Resources, and Finance, Committees of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence and Environmental Protection, Agencies of Hydrometeorology and Irrigation and Land Reclamation and other governmental committees, as well as from academia, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and International Development and governmental organisations, including UN agencies and Asian Development Bank.
The workshop considered the NAP Process for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), with the aim to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience, and to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, into relevant new and existing DRR policies, programmes and activities.
The launch of the the NAP process for DRR took place, and participants identifies key priority areas, gaps, and needs for the NAP process for DRR, discussed national coordination, and defined the next steps towards a NAP for DRR.
Since the workshop, UNDP has worked with the governmental representatives to develop overall strategic recommendations for the NAP process, including draft roadmap, stocktaking report, and recommendations for next steps in the NAP process for DRR in Tajjikistan. This report is under review and will be available soon. National experts and working groups will also be mobilized to work on the NAP according to the planned NAP road map. |
Dominican monastery in Bol was build on the peninsula Glavica in 15th century on the site of episcopal palace (Biskupija) mentioned in 1184 in Povaljska listina. On Glavica, there are many ruins that show early Christian architecture which is substratum of an early medieval architecture (Church of St. John and St. Theodor).
The greatest attention in the valuable monastery's gallery is drawn by the Tintoretto's altar painting Madona with Child and Saints as well as the paintings of the Croatian baroque painter Tripo Kokolja on the ceiling under the choir. The altars at the side, in the monastery church of Our Lady of Mercy, are among the most beautiful ones on the island, especially the altar of Our Lady of Rosary.
There is also Museum in the Monastery that contains collection of prehistoric items, numismatic collection, collection of underwather archeology, collection of Mass-robes and archives that contain incunalbulas, charters and decrees from the 15th century. Also there is collection of stone monuments and paintings.
Monastery has also a very interesting garden.
It is a site you should visit! |
Most of us don’t add up the short-run investment pros and cons when we consider whether to buy a house; instead, we think about the long-term lifestyle we want.
That makes sense, because once a house is bought, the owner typically stays in it for a decade or more. And, after all, houses are homes as well as investments.
Yet at important points in our lives, we may nonetheless find ourselves focusing on the investment side of housing. Do we want the largest houses we can afford, or should we live modestly — maybe by renting — and invest more money elsewhere?
In making that decision, we’d benefit by knowing what would happen to a home’s value in 10, 20 or 30 years. Unfortunately, short-run changes in home prices are of virtually no value in answering this question. The best we can do is assess recent trends, and look further back into history.
So here’s an update on housing trends, compared with those of earlier years. Or, more precisely, here’s an update on what people think the trends will be. Despite having no objective way to know the future — and despite an apparent disregard for the reality that housing hasn’t been a great investment over the long run — people are constantly changing their opinions about long-term trends. And, lately, they’ve become somewhat more optimistic.
Karl Case of Wellesley College and I have conducted an annual questionnaire survey of recent home buyers in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Milwaukee and Boston areas since 2003. Since 2012, Anne Thompson of Dodge Data & Analytics has participated. Each year, our survey has asked: “On average over the next 10 years, how much do you expect the value of your property to change each year?” In 2004, a boom year, the average answer was a gain of 12.6 percent, but in succeeding years the figure began to decline, bottoming at 4 percent in 2012. The expected gain rose to 4.2 percent in 2013 and 5.5 percent in mid-2014.
In addition, the Pulsenomics U.S. Housing Confidence Survey, covering the entire country (and involving many cities that may be less volatile than our four), showed that homeowners and renters in July had slightly lower 10-year expectations: 4 percent a year for the next 10 years.
Still another measure of expectations can be found in the United States composite home price index futures contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. At its close on Nov. 30, the contract predicted a 4 percent-a-year increase from November 2014 to November 2016.
These three reports are fairly consistent, and both our data and that of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange show higher expectations than they did a couple years ago. But these new expectations are hardly wild: If inflation ran at 2 percent a year, the Federal Reserve’s target, the expected appreciation in housing would be an inflation-corrected 2 percent to 3.5 percent a year. So at the moment, there is no evidence of extravagant bubble thinking.
Another way of looking at this is to compare mortgage rates with expectations for housing prices. Mortgage rates are low, only 3.93 percent for the 30-year conventional mortgage in early December, according to Freddie Mac’s latest report. Thus, the spread between 10-year expectations for housing prices and this mortgage rate is now very small. Contrast that with a spread of more than six percentage points in the home-price bubble just before the market peak of 2006.
Understandably, people back then were excited to think they could borrow 90 percent or more of a home’s value at around 6 percent interest and receive an annualized return of more than 12 percent. That would have been quite a coup. But those expectations were about as wrong as wrong could be. People were living in a bubble, and the bubble eventually burst. Expectations are rising again, but this is nothing like the run-up to the 2006 peak.
One wild card in housing prices is the future of the mortgage interest tax deduction. While it’s beloved by many taxpayers, it may not last — and if it doesn’t, short-term trends could be affected.
Dennis J. Ventry Jr., a professor at the School of Law at the University of California, Davis, calls the mortgage tax break “the accidental deduction,” put in place largely to help farmers, when there were more farmers than homeowners with mortgages. Back then, there was little if any discussion of the idea that the government should subsidize homeownership. An accidental tax break like this might well be repealed someday. A proposal in February by Representative Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, to limit a couple’s deduction to the interest on $500,000 of mortgage principal, is an indicator of what may be ahead.
Edward Glaeser of Harvard and Jesse Shapiro of the University of Chicago found that the homeownership deduction has accrued overwhelmingly to people in the top tenth of the income distribution. What’s more, the deduction hasn’t figured significantly in home-price surges. The biggest housing boom in American history, from 1996 to 2006, came after the decline in overall inflation since 1980 had already made the mortgage deduction much less valuable than it was in previous years. So far, we’ve been talking about objective issues. But changes in our speculative mentality — the driver of all those long-term expectations for price changes — are likely to be much more important, because expectations can feed a self-fulfilling prophecy until a bubble bursts.
Ten years from now, there could be another housing boom or bust. But since 1890, the average appreciation of inflation-corrected home prices in the United States has been only a third of 1 percent a year. That’s why housing hasn’t been a great investment. And in 10 years, it may be almost equally likely that real home prices will be higher or lower than they are today.
Cultural changes — like those brought by the Internet — could also have a profound effect. When our social contacts are increasingly defined by social media, for example, the appeal of living in a permanent physical neighborhood could decline. We don’t really know. This is more sociology than economics.
In making the crucial choice of how much housing to buy for the long haul, we must keep in mind that owner-occupied homes aren’t a surefire investment opportunity. You may want to weigh whether you want to deal with a home’s maintenance, or whether you’re committed to staying in one neighborhood and, maybe, at a nearby job. Those factors may be a source of pleasure — or a burden — over the next decade. In any case, there’s a good chance they will outweigh the financial prospects of an investment in housing. |
WATROUS, JOHN CHARLES (1806–1874). John Charles Watrous, attorney and federal judge, son of John Watrous, was born in 1806 in Colchester, Connecticut. After receiving his early education at Bacon Academy in Colchester and graduating from a college in New York state, he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he studied law. He practiced law in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi before 1837, when he moved to Texas and established connections with several land companies in the capacity of partner, stockholder, and legal adviser. In 1838 he became attorney general of Texas but resigned in 1840 because of conflicts between private professional engagements and public duties. Watrous was attorney for the Peters colony or the Texas Land and Emigration Company from 1841 to May 29, 1846, when he was appointed United States district judge. After the annexation of Texas to the United States, Watrous had actively campaigned for the post, and he was nominated and confirmed because of his old Tennessee connections with President James K. Polk. His appointment, however, was opposed by senators Sam Houston and Thomas J. Rusk as well as many members of the Texas legislature, who favored their own candidate, James Webb. After his appointment to the federal bench, Watrous became the object of severe criticism, in part because his decisions in a number of cases went against the wishes of some members of the legislature and because of his personal connections with land speculation in the state. The alleged relation of Watrous to an attempt to validate forged land certificates resulted in the Texas legislature's passing a resolution in 1848 asking the judge to resign. Impeachment proceedings against him began in the United States House of Representatives in January 1851 with the presentation of three petitions or memorials. The main charges against him were violating Texas statutes punishing those dealing in fraudulent land certificates, misusing his judicial influence, and holding sessions of court improperly. After numerous investigations the case was dropped by a vote of 111 to 97 on December 15, 1858. Memorials continued to be presented to each succeeding Congress; Sam Houston, on February 3, 1859, made a scathing attack on Watrous, and Andrew J. Hamilton prosecuted the impeachment until the adjournment of Congress on March 3, 1861. Watrous was inactive during the Civil War when the district courts in Texas were under the Confederate government, but he resumed his seat at the end of the war and presided until 1869, when he was stricken with paralysis and forced to resign. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he practiced law when his health would permit until his death in June 1874. |
This post is part of the series in Book Recommendations for Kids by Age and Month of the Year. This post has Aprilbook recommendations for children who are 5 years old. Each book is paired up with additional resources that you can use to extend the story further.
We always enjoyed books about different lands and cultures, but this book is a little different. How I Learned Geography by a Caldecott winner Uri Shulevitz tells of a difference a map made in his life when he was a hungry small child ripped from his own home by WWII. The story is gentle enough and can be understood by 5 year olds who might want to have a map of their own to study. If you have a place in your home for a map, make sure they have one! KC Edventures has an excellent post on why each home needs a map.
April is a National Poetry Month, and I want to recommend one of our favorite poetry books for kids – You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman. The short and catchy rhymes in this book are designed for two voices, and my daughter (who was reading fluently at 5) and I enjoyed reading them together. However, they can also be read by one parent acting out two readers or memorized for joint reading to younger siblings. Buggy and Buddy, who also believes in introducing her children to poetry, created a poetry journal for her daughter and explained a poetry exposure method that she uses at home.
We enjoyed several books from Little Green Books series, and I Can Save the Earth! by Alison Inches can be a fun read for Earth Day. The book offers practical tips for kids to become more environment-conscious with the focus on saving electricity and water. You might want to play “Save the Earth!” board game from Toddler Approved to reinforce lessons from this book.
Loreen Leedy has excellent math books for kids of different ages, and Seeing Symmetry is a great introduction to this geometry topic. I always thought that children are actually more attuned to seeing symmetry than many adults, especially when I see some of my daughter’s construction projects or abstract drawings. This book has ideas for hands-on exploration of symmetry in the end, and one of them is, of course, symmetrical paint blots. Fantastic Fun and Learning took this symmetry project further by using bleeding tissue papers and transforming the results into a pretty symmetry butterfly.
What does really happen when we put a seed into soil? How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan from Let’s Read and Find Out series gives a detailed answer to this question by taking a look at seeds and changes that happen to them. You can actually watch this miracle of life happen if you grow some bean seeds on cotton balls as described in The Imagination Tree tutorial.
Did you know that your office supplies have personalities? They certainly do in The Little Red Pen – a fascinating adventure tale by Janet and Susan Stevens. In the beginning of the story everyone is bickering, but when the little red pen accidentally rolls into the Pit of No Return (aka a trash can), the office supplies have to act as a team to save their mate. Do you want to save your own office supplies from this fate? Put them into a pretty washi tape pen holder with this tutorial from Red Ted Art and give a new purpose to a tin can while you are at it.
What is your favorite poetry book to read with kids?
I always find books that bring inanimate objects to life fun to read.
That "Let's Read and Find Out" series was a favorite in our house too. I wish I could say I'd found similar books for the children as they've grown older. |
I often see this pair in the same spot on the lake. They don’t swim with the other ducks so they tend to stand out. They resemble mallards in shape and size but not in colouring so I assume they must be hybrid ducks. These photos were taken on an overcast day and I liked the way the water formed interesting patterns as the ducks swam towards me. The solitary duck looked like a good subject for a black and white treatment. I used Lumenzia in Photoshop to create the effect.
I was about to say Black Duck, someone beat me to it 😀 The black and white shot is very nice. It’s hard to use B&W with birds, nice job.
Beautiful ducks and water ripples! 🙂 My wife and i need to go to the river in Momence (locally) where there are many ducks that we feed!
Thank you. I like most birds, but I do have a soft spot for ducks, they’re so animated!
Wonderful, Belinda! I really like the B&W!
These could be black ducks (anas rubripes or rubribes). They have a grayish white colour under the wings and the speculum is purple instead of blue like on the mallard. The drake black ducks have yellow bills and the hens have darker bills. They would be off on their own, so all your observations point to a black duck ID. Their numbers are down and mallards are starting to interbreed with them. These are bits I’ve learned from looking up what these might be. If you’re in eastern Canada or US, you’d be in their territory.
Thank you for the info Anneli, we’re certainly in the right part of Canada. I thought perhaps they were a mixture of the two.
They might even be that, as they are interbreeding at times (according to the experts).
I really like your black and white effect. |
The lacrimal gland (latin: glandula lacrimalis) is a paired lobular gland located at the upper lateral corner of the orbit that is responsible for the production of tears.
The lacrimal gland consists of orbital and palpebral parts that are continuous posterolaterally around the concave lateral edge of the aponeurosis of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. The orbital part of the lacrimal gland is located in a shallow fossa on the medial aspect of the zygomatic process of the frontal bone within the orbital margin. The palpebral part of the lacrimal gland is subdivided into two or three lobules and extends below the aponeurosis of the superior palpebral levator muscle into the lateral part of the upper eyelid, where it is attached to the superior conjunctival fornix. The palpebral part of the lacrimal gland is visible through the conjunctiva when the lid is everted.
The lacrimal gland receives both autonomic and sensory innervation. The lacrimal gland receives sensory nerve supply from the lacrimal nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1), via the communicating branch and the zygomatic nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2). The greater petrosal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII), conveys the parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers to the lacrimal gland. The preganglionic parasympathetic fibers originate from a nucleus in the brainstem, synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion, and the postganglionic parasympathetic fibers that join branches of the maxillary nerve to reach the lacrimal gland. The postganglionic sympathetic arise from the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic trunk and travel along with the parasympathetic fibers (without synapsing in the pterygopalatine ganglion) to innervate the lacrimal gland.
The blood supply to the lacrimal gland is provided by the ophthalmic artery with its branch - the lacrimal artery, while the venous blood is drained from this region via the superior ophthalmic vein.
There are three main types of tears produced by the lacrimal gland. These are basal tears that are responsible for keeping the eye moist and nourished, reflex tears that are produced as an answer to an irritation for lubrication and cleansing of the eyes, and psychic tears that are secreted during a process that is called crying most oftenly in response to strong emotions, stress or pain. The composition of tears can vary based on their type and functions, but the main components are water, salts, antibodies, as well as antibacterial enzymes. |
Yes, GMOs are safe to eat. That is the overwhelming consensus of scientific experts and major scientific authorities around the world, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and American Medical Association. In fact, there have been more than 1,700 studies on the safety of GMOs, hundreds of which were independently funded.
In the spring of 2016, The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) researched this very same question and concluded: yes, GMOs are safe. A panel of more than 20 scientists, researchers, agricultural and industry experts reviewed over 20 years of data since GMOs were introduced, including nearly 900 studies and tests and European and North American health data and concluded – as other previous research concluded – that genetically modified crops are safe to eat, have the same nutrition and composition as non-genetically modified crops and have no links to new allergies, cancer, celiac or other diseases. Read the full report here.
Additionally, the U.S. Drug and Food Administration, American Medical Association, World Health Organization, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and many other international organizations have also reviewed and confirmed biotech foods are safe.
Genetically modified food products and food ingredients have been evaluated and approved for food and feed import globally, and consumed for 20 years with zero food safety incidents. |
Direction (Q 1 - 3) : Read the information given in each question carefully and answer the questions.
Which of the following expressions will not be true if the expression 'A = C > B > D' is definitely true?
In which of the following expressions will the expression ‘L > M’ be definitely true ?
Which of the following expressions will be true if the expression ‘Z < Y > W = V’ is definitely true ?
‘A × B’ means ‘A is the son of B’.
‘A + B’ means ‘A is the daughter of B’.
‘A ÷ B’ means ‘A is the brother of B’.
‘A - B’ means ‘A is the wife of B’.
How is C related to F if ‘C + D - E × F’ ?
Which of the following means ‘P is the father of K’ ?
‘P δ Q’ means ‘P is neither greater than nor equal to Q’.
‘P % Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller nor greater than Q’.
‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is greter than Q’.
‘P © Q’ means ‘P is either greater or equal to Q’.
Now, in each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is / are definitely true. |
Recently, I re-watched “End of the Line” in the March, 2014 edition of TrainMasters TV. As the title implies, it’s about dismantling a layout – or, more specifically, three of them.
These layouts, all quite large and complex, came down for various reasons. But one learning point I took away from the segment is to stay on top of those little maintenance tasks required on all layouts – regardless of whether they’re built to fill a suitcase, a shed or a stadium.
It’s easy to say, “I’ll get to that sticky switch machine during my next work session” or “I’ll repair that broken billboard on the weekend” – and then forget to do so. And that’s perfectly understandable.
Who wants to spend their time checking wheels and couplers on existing rolling stock, when there are new rolling stock kits to build?
Who wants to vacuum cobwebs off the layout when there’s a train to run?
Who wants to touch up the chipped paint on a locomotive’s handrails, when there’s a new locomotive to get ready for service?
What’s happening here is known as “Creeping Normality” (also called “the slippery slope”). Creeping Normality refers to how we are willing to accept major changes to our situation if they happen incrementally, even though we would resist that same change if it happened all at once. A good example is the gradually deteriorating vision most of us experience as we age. Our 20-year-old selves would be appalled if they woke up one day with 70-year-old eyes. But because the process happens over time, we adjust to the new reality – for example, by buying reading glasses.
It’s not the only reason why layouts are dismantled, but Creeping Normality on our layouts can – eventually – make us lose interest. At that point, the layout is no longer fun – it feels like a big job! We may even find ourselves looking for ways to avoid the hobby – such as flipping through TV channels to watch something that, let’s face it, really doesn’t interest us.
And that’s a shame, because even a modest layout represents tremendous investments in effort, time and money.
Tearing down a layout as the result of Creeping Normality is a negative outcome. There are positive reasons to tear out a layout, too, of course – and I’ll suggest some of those in a future posting. Meanwhile, having re-watched “End of the Line”, I’m doing an audit of my layout so I can write up a list of those little maintenance projects that need attention – before they become overwhelming!
Nothing bugs me more than errant fronds and branches catching a passing train. Nothing reduces the imagined train out there on the high iron than a frond the size of a city block caaaaaaaaatching and *snap-ping* back after losing it's grip on your now very obviously plastic train... or worse, it having a bit of a win, vis a vis, catching the train and not letting go.
Remember how good it feels when you've got the dust off, the turnout motor coaxed into active service again, the debris and dust off the floor and the fronds well out of the way. Keep that thought and reality creep won't be so much of a ball and chain. |
För de av er som ännu inte sett eller hört talas om Antonia von Arnolds utställning (på mikrofilm från Russiona Collections) så kanske länken om Antonia ger spännande läsning. Enligt uppgift så har släktföreningen redan beställt ett omfattande material från deras arkiv.
Nedan några bilder samt en kortare text om de von Arnoldar som lämnade Ryssland under revolutionen...via Kina till USA! Antonia som alltså nogsamt sparade brev, foton, dokument och annat donerade detta till ett museum. Allt finns bevarat i mikrofilm och hela denna informationsmängd ställdes ut och visades i Paris år 2000.
In the Russian Revolution of 1917 and its civil war, thousands fled, many making their way to China. There they found refuge for a while, only to be forced into a second mass exodus by the Chinese Communists. The stories they tell are documented in a collection of papers held by the Museum of Russian Culture of San Francisco.
The papers are included in forty-thousand documents being microfilmed and put online with help from the Hoover Institution for War, Revolution and Peace and support from NEH.
Another émigré, who settled in San Francisco and wrote an English language history of her family, was Antonia Von Arnold, known as Dora. A Russian citizen, Von Arnold grew up in Harbin, a stop on the Chinese Eastern Railway. Harbin was controlled by Russia, giving it a shortcut to the warm-water port of Vladivostok.
Von Arnold's father was the city's Russian police chief, and her mother was a dentist and founder of the city's College of Dentistry. Following the revolution of 1917, her parents lost their positions. In 1923, at the age of twenty-eight, Von Arnold emigrated to San Francisco.
Well-educated but without job skills, she faced the difficulties of adjusting to a new language, culture, and country. Von Arnold notes in the family history she wrote in the 1960s, "In November 1923 Dora also left for America. Her ticket purchased by selling a handsome astrakan [sic] coat of Mother's. She arrived in San Francisco with only $125 in her pocket. Seven days after her arrival she was entering a business college, to try to learn how to earn her living and to help her parents."
Later, she writes of the struggles of immigration: "Life in immigration is no bed of roses, and great problems of language, personality readjustment, and opportunity arise which have to be solved step by step—and it takes time." Von Arnold eventually graduated from the University of California-Berkeley, became a social worker, married, and remained in the United States until her death in 1988.
The story of Von Arnold and many of the émigrés who came through China begins in the late nineteenth century with the building of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The shortest distance from central Russia to Vladivostok being through Manchuria, the Russians made an agreement with the Chinese to construct a railway through the province. The primary station was Harbin, at the midway point. The area along the railway was classified as an extraterritorial zone, giving the Russians living there the right to be subject to Russian rather than Chinese authority. The Russians had their own courts, police, and government administrators. "The Russian influence in Manchuria was significant," says Shmelev. "With the post-revolutionary influx of refugees, the Russians outnumbered the Chinese in Harbin, and the Chinese were more affiliated with the Russian administration than their own." Von Arnold was born in 1895 in Poland, where her father was stationed as a military officer.
A few years later, he transferred to Harbin and became chief of police. Her family enjoyed the life of Russian aristocrats. In her family history, she describes the pre-revolutionary years. "It is almost a surprise to think that in these short years, this relatively small railway town, right under our eyes was developing into a happy, well-to-do culture-conscious community, with a ever-growing and ambitious population ..." After 1917 the population of Harbin swelled to several hundred thousand as White Russians fled across the border. This first wave of Russian immigration was a mass exodus of anti-Bolsheviks. Officially, Harbin's Russian administrators were considered enemies of the Bolsheviks. Von Arnold's father retired and her mother lost her job at the Dental College.
Citizens of Harbin were told to choose either Chinese or Soviet citizenship. Administration reverted to the Chinese, but Russian expertise in running the area left the Chinese with no choice but to keep the Russians in charge. "They had to make use of the Russians," says Shmelev.
Von Arnold writes, "On the outside, somehow the world instantaneously changed 'face.' In these early days the friendly, smiling courteous population of the city, where we grew up and knew almost everybody was no longer smiling when seeing us. Some would avert their eyes, some would hurry by. . . . We were the Monarchists, the Military, the Old Regime, the representatives of the class which was exploiting the Nation, so we were now the losers." Harbin's rocky political situation continued as it changed hands from Russia to China to Japan and back to Chinese control in the ensuing years. By the end of World War II, the Chinese Communists were firmly in power. The Russian community in China continued to thrive but oppression by the Chinese Communists, coupled with their wish to expel Russians from the country, soon forced a second wave of emigration. The Russian émigrés made their way to Australia, Latin America, Europe, and the West Coast of the United States. Entering the United States was no easy task. Chinese Russians were counted in the Chinese immigration quota and it could take ten years to get a visa. Today, says Shmelev, there are about twenty ethnic Russians living in Harbin. Von Arnold sums up the experience of growing up in Harbin and emigrating to the United States: "Analyzing some forty years later the facts of our early years, it is perhaps not surprising that the young men and women who lived and grew up in Harbin, and who have associated in many ways with the other-than-Russian population, when the time of immigration struck, found it a little less difficult to face this bewildering experience in the unknown lands where they were seeking a new life, work or education. . . .
Many 'foreign friends' in not a few instances were helpful and kindly in guiding some of the young émigrés in finding their way in the wilderness of the world-at-large." In addition to insight about the life of émigrés, the collection provides a better understanding of the White Russians who fought the Bolsheviks in the civil war. Avenir Gennadievich Efimov (1888-1972), a colonel in the Russian Army, wrote a history of the Izhevsk and Votkinsk divisions of the White Army in Siberia. These units were composed of volunteer workers from two factories in the Ural Mountains, who rose against the Soviets in 1918. "This is of interest because it has been assumed that the White Army was composed of reactionaries, landed aristocrats, and monarchists," says Shmelev.
"These regiments were comprised of actual workers rebelling against the Soviet government. It explodes the myth completely. These units did not fall apart but stayed cohesive and managed to escape." Efimov was educated in the military in engineering. During World War I, he served at the front until the army was demobilized in 1918. He went to the city of Kazan in the summer of that year to join the Popular Army in an anti-Soviet uprising. For the next four years he served the anti-Soviet cause, eventually commanding the Izhevsk division and presiding over the formation of the Izhevsko-Votkinsk brigade, which he commanded until its evacuation from Russia in 1922. Efimov fled to China and then to San Francisco, where he settled. Little is known about Efimov's years in the United States except that he completed a history of the two regiments, published posthumously in 1975.
Efimov, Von Arnold, and Ipatieff's stories are just a glimpse into the wealth of information the collection includes. Besides chronicling the history of Russians in China and offering insight into the role of the White generals in the civil war, it shows the impact on Soviet Russia of the departure of large numbers of well-educated professionals. It also provides sociologists with a firsthand look at the role of immigrants in American society.
"By preserving the intellectual content of the Museum's holdings and providing access, the project opens up new areas for serious research," says Danielson. "Both American historians and scholars from the former Soviet Union are looking at the Russian diaspora in a new light. For many contemporary Russians, these émigrés are increasingly seen as the embodiment of the Russian heritage that was lost in the revolution." The breakup of the Soviet Union and a more open attitude in Russia has prompted a burgeoning interest in these political refugees. Under the Soviets, for decades, the émigrés were condemned. "During the Soviet period, they were pariahs, ignored or denigrated, casually accused of being nondemocratic," says Danielson. "They were considered monarchists, when in fact they had no unified politics. Stalin and Lenin forced out the left wing as well as monarchists."
Now Russian scholars and others have taken an interest in the subject, but the papers in the museum's collection are in such fragile condition that increased use by historians would add to their decay. With the museum's resources limited, it turned to the Hoover Institution, an international research center on twentieth century social, political, and economic change founded by Herbert Hoover in 1919. Danielson immediately saw the importance of the collection and a partnership was born. With NEH support, the two organizations are now in the process of preserving the papers on microfilm and creating a website so they can be easily retrieved. The collection will also be available for use at the Hoover Institution on microfilm. "The collection preserves the history of these families," says Yuri Tarala, director of archives at the museum and the son of a White Russian. "There is great value for people who study these papers." In reviewing the materials in the museum's archive, Elena Danielson is struck by the incredible coping skills of these émigrés. "This wave of émigrés came at a unique time," she says. "There was no infrastructure—they had no passports, no money, no social welfare agencies to help them. Their letters are heartrending but they also show their tenacity. You see how people who were basically discarded by their homeland survived." |
• Biologic therapy (also called immunotherapy), where doctors use a drug to stimulate your immune system to fight cancer.
In the past, complete removal of the bladder was the only way to treat bladder cancer. With advances in radiation therapy and chemotherapy, doctors are sometimes able to treat cancer while preserving the bladder. This organ-preserving approach allows many patients to urinate normally rather than requiring surgical reconstruction for urinary function.
• When cleaning the area, use only water and mild soap. |
The development of human resources to meet the industrial needs is a key to industrial growth, leading to an expansion in employment and a reduction in poverty in Africa. The 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), held in August 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, also highlighted the importance of developing industrial skills. On February 23, 2017, JICA and Nagoya University co-hosted the TICAD VI Follow-up symposium, entitled "Industrial Skills Development for Sustainable Growth in Africa" at the JICA Ichigaya Building. Participants from various African nations and researchers discussed the current situation and the challenges of industrial skills development in Africa, as well as sharing future perspectives.
In her keynote speech, Professor Shoko Yamada of Nagoya University pointed out that, despite the expansion of employment resulting from economic growth in Africa, there were issues such as low labor productivity and a high unemployment rate, especially among young people. Yamada explained the need to acquire skills to meet changing industry demands. Yamada further observed that "in recent years, a strong African economy has propelled Japanese companies to show more interest in investing in Africa. However, compared to Asia, there is a significant lack of information and experience regarding businesses in Africa. A mechanism to develop local human resources with technical skills and leadership skills is needed. It is an urgent requirement to develop human resources for the growth of society, overall."
Hiroyuki Tomita, director of the Team II Private Sector Development Group, Industrial Development and Public Policy Department, JICA, gave a presentation on Japanese cooperation on industrial skills development in Africa. Tomita highlighted JICA's seamless support from basic education to higher education, and introduced successful examples of promoting human resource development, such as quality and productivity improvement (kaizen) in Ethiopia. This method is spreading throughout Africa, thereby contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Lemma Teshome, state minister, Ministry of Education, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, gave a presentation on governmental initiatives for industrial development and labor market conditions in Ethiopia. Teshome explained that Ethiopia has put effort into the development of its sewing and leather industries, and has been working on system reforms for prioritizing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to develop human resources having the skills to meet the needs of related companies.
Julie Reddy, deputy chief executive Officer, South Africa Qualification Authority, Republic of South Africa, described South Africa’s current circumstances of a mismatch between education and employment, such as a qualified engineer taking a job in the financial industry. Reddy explained that the government would strive to measure peoples’ skills accurately by spreading a national accreditation system throughout the country and improving the quality of industrial human resources.
By introducing the views of Japanese companies doing business in Africa, Keiichi Shirato, chief analyst, Middle East & Africa Department, Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute, proposed that "unlike how the growth of domestic companies led to Japan’s economic development, foreign companies are the key to encouraging economic growth in Africa. The idea of industrial human resources may differ between Japan and Africa. We need to recognize the perspective of developing industrial human resources in Africa as to meet the needs of foreign companies."
In the panel discussion, participants actively discussed about what kind of skills are needed for industrial human resources to contribute to economic development, as well as about what kind of efforts were needed to rectify the mismatch between employers and the employed. Questions were raised by the floor such as "Even though more people are educated, there is an insufficient number of companies to hire them. What kind of industries need to be cultivated?" and "In what ways can Japan apply its experiences with development in Asia to Africa?". |
Tomorrow in Paris, an original staircase segment from the Eiffel Tower designed by Gustav Eiffel will go on auction at Artcurial. For the last 20 days, this bolted wrought iron staircase has been on display in the courtyard of Artcurial’s hotel particulier for the public to view. Artcurial will start the auction at 40,000 euros but expect the final amount to be significant: previous sections of the staircase were sold by Artcurial for 220,000 euros in 2013 and 523,800 euros in 2016. This section will be the tallest ever put up for Auction by Artcurial, at a little over 14 feet tall with 25 steps.
Dating to 1889, the piece of the helicoidal staircase for sale is part of a larger section that was originally located between the last two floors of the Eiffel Tower. It was dismantled in 1983 to accommodate an elevator and cut into 13 sections between 6.5 feet and 29.5 feet high. One piece remains on display at the Eiffel Tower and three other were offered to museums in France: the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, the Cité Sciences et Industrie in La Villette in Paris and the Musée de l’Histoire du Fer in Nancy. The other 20 pieces were auctioned off, with the only pieces remaining in France sold to the singer Guy Béart. The rest were spread around the world.
One segment of the staircase is in the Kiyoharu Art Village in the Yamanashi Prefecture, an initiative by art dealer Chozo Yoshii. The village contains not only a section of the Eiffel Tower, but also a recreation of a building by Gustav Eiffel that once housed the studio of Marc Chagall.
Gustav Eiffel was also responsible for the engineering of the Statue of Liberty and the helicoidal staircase within the body of Lady Liberty can be seen up close on a climb to the crown.
Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of the Eiffel Tower. |
Greetings from the Cleaveland airport, I’m on my way back to Yale from California. This past week I’ve been attending y the First Kepler Science Conference at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. It has been a full week of talks and posters on extrasolar planets, planet formation, and stellar astrophysics with emphasis on results from Kepler.
I gave a talk in the Kepler mission and exoplanet statistics session presenting Planet Hunters and our first results. My talk and the entire conference was recorded and the videos are available to view here.
There were lots of interesting talks highlighting what a treasure trove the Kepler data set is. The Kepler team announced the detection of over 2,000 planet candidates identified in the first five quarters of Kepler observations and the discovery of Kepler’s first confirmed planet (Kepler 22-b) orbiting in the habitable zone of a solar-type star. The habitable zone has been dubbed the goldilocks zone because it’s the region around the star where it not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist. So if Kepler-22b is rocky it might have liquid water on its surface, but we don’t currently have a good mass estimate for Kepler-22b so we don’t know what its composition is. Kepler-22 b is bigger than the Earth, with a radius of 2.4 times the radius of the Earth. It orbits its star every 290 days, so the Kepler team has just been able to see three complete transits of the planet.Kepler 22-b was called the Kepler team’s “Christmas Planet” says Kepler principal investigator (PI) Bill Borucki because one of the transits occurred near Christmas. You can find out more about Kepler-22b here and view the light curve here.
In other exciting new, lots more data and possible planets are coming our way in the next year. The new public release schedule for Kepler data was presented on the first day of the conference. Quarters 4, 5, and 6 (spanning observations fromDec 2009-Sep 2010) will be released on Jan 7, 2012. Quarters 7, 8, and 9 (Sep 2010-Jun 2011) will be released on Jul 28, 2012. Quarters 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Jun 2011-Jun 2012) will be released on Oct 28, 2012. There’s bound to be interesting and new things waiting to found as we add and more.
Past the nominal misson, if the mission is renewed, the Kepler data will no longer have a proprietary period. If NASA awards funding for an extended mission, then beyond November the Kepler light curves will be made available to public as soon as the raw data is downloaded from the spacecraft and processed through the Kepler data processing pipelines. This is going to be an exciting prospect for the exoplanet community and for Planet Hunters. |
I have not yet read William H.F. Altmans The German Stranger: Leo Strauss and National Socialism. But I saw on FB a photograph of a young’ish Leo Strauss looking particularly thuggish. Immediately, it reminded me of a neuesachlichkeit portrait. I posted the photograph along with a couple of paintings, and a little gem, the 1941 essay by Strauss “German Nihilism.” In the essay, Strauss reflects back on the fascist period of his youth in the 1920s. It’s a not unsympathetic account of the Conservative Revolution epitomized by writers and thinkers like Ernst Jünger, Carl Schmitt, and Martin Heidegger.
The neuesachlichkeit two paintings posted above by George Grosz and Otto Dix from the mid-late 1920s capture the mood recollected by Strauss. It does not matter all that much that Grosz and Dix were men of the communist left. Unhappy, the paintings share many qualities with Strauss’ thought. These would include tough bitterness, acid, acrid, unyielding approach to modern bourgeois life. “What they hated was the very prospect of a world in which everyone would be happy and satisfied, in which everyone would have his little pleasure by day and his little pleasure by night, a world in which no great heart could beat and no great soul could breathe, a world without real, unmetaphoric, sacrifice, i.e. a world without blood, sweat, and tears” [Leo Strauss, “German Nihilism,” Interpretation 26 (1999) p.360].
You can read the whole piece here. In the “German Nihilism” essay, Strauss reflects not unsympathetically back on his youth during the 1920s and what he thought were the moral motivations [sic] of the Conservative Revolution championed in German reactionary intellectual circles. Writing in 1941, Strauss judged Hitler to be an epiphenomenon who would soon be forgotten. Hitler was to Strauss a midwife to a philosophical anti-liberalism whose profound depths Hitler was not himself able to grasp. About what he claims are the continuities between Strauss’ Weimar and American period, Eugene Sheppard calls this essay “apologetic” (Leo Strauss and the Politics of Exile: The Making of a Political Philosopher, p.96). To my mind, it’s not nearly unapologetic enough. |
Recent research led by Professor G.V. Shivashankar of the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Italy, has revealed that mature cells can be reprogrammed into re-deployable stem cells without direct genetic modification -- by confining them to a defined geometric space for an extended period of time.
"Our breakthrough findings will usher in a new generation of stem cell technologies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that may overcome the negative effects of geonomic manipulation," said Prof Shivashankar.
Turning back the cellular clock It has been over a decade since scientists first showed that mature cells can be reprogrammed in the lab to become pluripotent stem cells that are capable of being developed into any cell type in the body. In those early studies, researchers genetically modified mature cells by introducing external factors that reset the genomic programmes of the cells, essentially turning back the clock and returning them to an undifferentiated or unspecialised state. The resultant lab-made cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can then be programmed into different cell types for use in tissue repair, drug discovery and even to grow new organs for transplant. Importantly, these cells did not need to be harvested from embryos.
However, a major obstacle is the tendency for any specialised cell that is developed from iPSCs, to form tumours after being introduced into the body. To understand why this occurred, researchers turned their focus to understanding how stem cell differentiation and growth is regulated in the body, and in particular, how cells naturally revert to an immature stem cell-like state, or convert to another cell type, during development, or in tissue maintenance. Prof Shivashankar's team of researchers has shown that mature cells can be reprogrammed, in vitro, into pluripotent stem cells without genetically modifying the mature cells, simply by confining the cells to a defined area for growth. |
We provide you with calories for the different serving sizes, Persimmon nutrition facts and the Persimmon benefits to help you to eat a healthy diet and lose weight. So, how many calories in a Persimmon?
Calories in a Persimmon are relatively low in comparison to sweets. There are about 118 calories in a Persimmon. The fruit sugar content level in Persimmon is about 13% and contributes to the sense of sweetness in the fruit which is considered an excellent source of immediate energy. It is a good substitute for sweets when you are in need for something, well, sweet!
The Persimmon fruit can be eaten sliced or whole and is a convenient healthy snack on the go. As well as having a great taste, the numerous nutritional and health benefits of Persimmon make it the national fruit of Japan, and, along with Mandarin, Oranges and Apples, one of the most widely eaten. The Japanese variety has fewer calories. Read more about Persimmon nutrition facts.
Persimmon is also known as Sharon Fruit named after the Sharon plain in Israel; also it is the trade name for Japanese Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit.
Also, compare Persimmon calories to the other fruits. |
Not long ago, I blogged about how to be your own best writing friend. Sometimes that’s easier said than done because we’re not quite sure what that looks like.
identify if you are being toxic or supportive with yourself.
We writers need to nurture our creative sparks, rather than snuff them out. This requires appropriate self-care: solitude, healthful eating and sleeping habits, and a mentally stimulating environment. Is that enough? No.
Early in my career (like 30 years ago), I had all those things. I was very disciplined, ate right, walked daily, studied hard, and took time to dream my ideas into stories and books that sold. Yet my self-doubts grew along with my list of credits, my enthusiasm eventually waned, and I feared my success had been a fluke.
I was puzzled. Although I worked very hard, I was also careful to avoid burnout. I took time to relax with my friends. But, as it turned out, that appeared to be part of the problem: toxic writing friends.
With writer friends like these, who needs enemies?
Creativity grows and flourishes when we have a sense of safety and self-acceptance. The writer in you, like a small child, is happiest when feeling a sense of security, and this requires safe companions. “Toxic playmates can capsize our artist’s growth,” says Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way.
Every writer needs friends, but it’s the quality, not the quantity, that counts when it comes to your emotional health. Our choice of friends is critical. We have enough of a challenge when plagued by our own fears of failure or inadequacy without having to deal with someone else’s.
Jealousy makes some people toxic. These friends usually want to write too, but aren’t presently working. If you’re producing pages of a novel or interviewing experts for your magazine article, it’s harder for them to collect sympathy for being the victims of some mysterious writer’s block. Undermining your self-confidence is easier than completing their own work.
Other writing friends have been working hard, but they haven’t sold their writing yet, so it’s hard to be happy for your success. Either way, confront the issue kindly and ask for their support instead. If their put-downs don’t stop, consider ending the pseudo-friendships.
Toxic friends can be so emotionally draining that being with them extinguishes your creativity. Your friend with serious problems may dump on you until you absorb all her negative feelings and can’t write. If these draining friendships are valuable enough to you to keep, then choose your contact times carefully.
For example, during my rough draft stages where creativity must be high, I reduce time spent with such friends. I also learned to use my answering machine to screen the repeated ninety-minute, heart-rending calls that derailed my whole writing day. I returned these calls after my writing was done. I’m afraid that sounds pretty cold-hearted, but it was the only way I could get my writing done.
What about true writer friends–the kind every writer needs and deserves? How do you identify them? What traits in a writer friend do you need to show to yourself?
We all need friends, as writing can be a lonely business sometimes.
So…what are the characteristics of friends who best nurture our creativity and productivity?
A. Supportive non-writer friends show an interest. They may not understand exactly what you do, but they ask about your current projects (as you ask about theirs). They’re happy for your successes, no matter how small in the world’s eyes.
B. Supportive writer friends pump you up to do your best work, and even act as cattle prods. (“Quit stalling. Sign up for that conference.”) The encouragement of your peers is special. At one point, because of some health problems, I had virtually lost touch with my writer friends for over two years. Until I reconnected at a conference, I hadn’t realized what a grind my writing life had become. Just being together to “talk shop” reminded me that I was a writer. It rejuvenated my enthusiasm.
C. Friends in a working critique group can be a godsend. First, the members offer good constructive criticism to each other. Second, members hold each other accountable (in a kind way) for actually producing some material each week.
D. In a beneficial way, misery loves company! How much better I felt when I attended a retreat to discover that I wasn’t the only one whose books were going Out Of Print or who hadn’t signed a book contract all year. Instead of feeling like an abysmal failure, I then saw my experience as part of the general upheaval of the publishing world.
E. On a practical level, supportive writing friends often share valuable marketing tips (who’s looking for what genre, an agent’s advice about a hot topic). Alone, we writers have little “inside information”; collectively, we have a broader base of knowledge.
If you need a change in the friendship area, don’t despair. You can find new supportive friends. As you nurture your writing life and grow in self-confidence, you’ll naturally attract friends (writer and non-writer alike) who are more supportive as well.
This is one area where the Internet has helped enormously. I know many writers who are in critique groups, but they haven’t actually met in person, although they’ve been critiquing for years! And if you are “friends” on Facebook with other writers, or leave thoughtful comments on their blogs, you’ll make supportive writer friends that way sometimes as well. I know many writers who found accountability partners that way, and those writers definitely became friends.
This may sound backwards, but we often have to believe in ourselves before anyone else will. Others often take their cues from us. So learn the characteristics of a supportive friend, and learn to be your own best friend first!
What is a trait you look for in an ideal writer/friend? And how could you show that kind of support to yourself today?
What a terrific post, Kristi. I have been richly blessed with supportive writer-friends. Oh, we’ve had our rough patches (we’ve struggled with jealousy, the unkind critique) but it never lasted. Each of us had different strengths and so it was great to grow together, share, and help one another. I miss them.
Since we moved, I’ve learned the hard way that not all critiquers are created equal. My current critique partner is a Godsend. We didn’t share pages for months, instead, prayed daily for one another, then went to a conference together. After a few more months, we were ready to share. It was good to take things slow, build trust, and make sure our relationship was built on the right foundation. We try to meet twice a month and always begin with a prayer. |
LDL levels may be calculated from the three directly measured lipids.
Your total cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dl and your LDL should be below 100 mg/dl. Keep reading to.
Increasing evidence suggests fasting for lipid tests may not be necessary and.
LDL-cholesterol levels between tests done in fasted vs nonfasted states and say .
A blood lipid panel helps detect dyslipidemia. The blood lipid panel includes 4 main categories of lipid packages (lipoproteins): Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Triglycerides (TG).
For patients getting a lipid panel—something the American Heart Association suggests for everyone over the age of 20—results.
A lipid profile screening measures your LDL and HDL cholesterol as well as.
Would you like a summary of the "Six tests for Staying Healthy with Diabetes,".
More extensive lipid profile testing also includes VLDL, ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, and ratio of LDL to HDL. Lipid profile testing is used to help determine your risk of heart disease along with other factors such as age, family history, cigarette smoking, diet, exercise, weight, blood pressure, and diabetes.
These abnormalities occur in many patients despite normal LDL cholesterol levels.
and small dense LDL, that are not detected by standard lipid testing.
This package includes two common tests which can help screen for conditions such as Diabetes and Heart Disease. The Lipid Panel Cholesterol Test includes .
The blood test called a lipid panel can help determine whether you’re at risk for.
The same holds true if someone has type. |
Although ear infections are particularly common in children, adults are also susceptible to these types of infections. It is important as an adult to keep a close eye on the symptoms of an ear infection as signs generally point to a more serious health problem.
An ear infection can be bacterial or viral and generally occurs behind the ear drum. This section of your ear is referred to as the ‘middle ear’. Causes of an ear infection can include: allergies, colds, sinus infections, excess mucus, smoking and changes in air pressure.
Middle ear infections are commonly a result of bacteria or viruses being trapped behind the ear drum after entering the body via your mouth, eyes and nasal passages. This section of your ear will then become inflamed and typically lead to a build up of fluid inside the ear. This can be very painful for a sufferer of an ear infection and can affect the hearing temporarily.
Outer ear infections take place less frequently in adults, as this type of condition ranges from the outside of the ear drum and ear canal to the exposed opening of the ear itself. Common signs of this infection are itchy rashes on the outside of the ear and swelling of the ear or ear canal itself. Outer ear infections are caused by germs populating inside the ear canal or by objects such as cotton swabs irritating and injuring the ear canal.
Ear infections typically clear up on their own, lasting approximately 3 days. Infections in the ear can either be chronic or acute.
Ear infections are not contagious in adults or children. However, children tend do develop symptoms of an ear infection as a result of a bad cold or other contagious viruses. These infections are contagious and can be spread from one person to another.
Acute ear infections consist of painful symptoms that will clear up after a short period of time.
Chronic ear infections are more serious. This type of ear infection doesn’t clear up as easily and can recur several times, meaning that it does not heal. It is important to see a doctor if symptoms of infection persist for longer than a week to prevent permanent damage to the middle ear, or in worst cases the inner ear.
Most infections typically clear up after 3 days and do no persist longer than a week.
Ear infections can clear up on their own after a short period of time, so a minor ear ache is not serious.
To help relieve yourself from pain and discomfort, you can treat yourself for ear infection using painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (children under 16 years old are not advised to take aspirin). Other home remedies include placing a warm or cold flannel on the ear and removing any discharge from the outside of the ear using cotton wool.
It is important to avoid getting water or soap in the ears and not to put anything inside your ear whilst infected.
A pharmacist can provide you with ear drops if they think you are suffering from an outer ear infection. This will prevent bacteria spreading inside the ear.
Alternatively if you need to see a doctor, they can prescribe you with medicine for the ear infection depending on the cause. An inner ear infection will require antibiotics if infection does not clear up within 3 days or if your child is less than 2 years old. Outer ear infections will require ear drops or antibiotic tablets if the bacterial infection is severe.
It is important to see a doctor if your condition has not improved after 3 days, especially if newer symptoms begin to occur. You should also see a doctor if you have a long term medical condition, weakened immune system due to treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) and recurring ear infections.
During an appointment with your doctor, an ear infection can be identified by using a pneumatic otoscope which will emit a puff of air into the ear. This device is a handheld device that has a light and magnifying lens attached that a doctor typically uses to look into your ear.
When the air is emitted into the ear, an ear infection will be diagnosed by assessing the movement of the ear drum in response to the puff of air. If it moves easily, you most likely do not have an ear infection. If it barely moves, this means that fluid is built up behind the ear drum, restricting it from movement.
Alternatively, a doctor can check for an ear infection by simply testing your hearing, especially if they feel it may have resulted in a hearing loss. Chronic ear infections can damage your ears permanently, so it is important to pay attention and contact your local surgery if you feel that symptoms are lasting longer than 3 days or if you experience recurring infections in the ear.
It is vital that we take care of our ears to prevent conditions such as ear infections from occurring. Our ears are highly sensitive to noise, bacteria and viruses so it is important that we keep our ears clean and regularly get hearing health check ups.
Washing your hands thoroughly, ensuring to avoid the spread of germs, especially from people suffering with colds or other viruses.
Caused by a viral infection affecting the inner ear vestibular nerve. |
Genetics: Genes, Genomes and Evolution presents the fundamental principles of genetics and molecular biology from an evolutionary perspective as informed by genome analysis. By using what has been learned from the analyses of bacterial and eukaryotic genomes as its basis, the book unites evolution, genomics, and genetics in one narrative approach. Genomic analysis is inherently both molecular and evolutionary, and every chapter is approached from this unified perspective. Similarly, genomic studies have provided a deeper appreciation of the profound relationships between all organisms - something reflected in the book's integrated discussion of bacterial and eukaryotic evolution, genetics and genomics. It is an approach that provides students with a uniquely flexible and contemporary view of genetics, genomics, and evolution. |
Hello ! I am Marie and I joined the Forums just last night. I have been suffering from Fibromyalgia in silence for five years. People with whom I live do not understand and do not want to understand; they do not know and do not want to know. When they complain of me if I say to them that I have Fibromyalgia, they say that Fibromyalgia is nothing, many people have this, and they can do everything, they go out to work, they come back to do house work and they have children, they function like everybody, and so they want me to do the cooking, washing and cleaning...... like the others. But I am always tired, lacking of strength, sometimes, I can hardly pick up my pillow because it is painful for my hands and fingers. For this reason, I use the lightest blanket at night. At home, I would not mention that I have Fibromyalgia so as not to hear any criticism.
Hello, Marie! Nice to meet you. I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t had for so many years anyone around you, who could understand how challenging it can be to live with fibromyalgia. I know people can be sometimes really insensitive and ignorant when they’re talking to a person with a chronic illness, syndrome, or condition. People may think you’re just making excuses when you’re actually telling them the truth.
Fibromyalgia seems to be often like an invisible enemy constantly causing loads of trouble and pain in our bodies, with frequent exacerbation of the symptoms, in the form of flares. Fibromyalgia can be very debilitating, both physically and mentally. Sadly, people without any severe, chronic health problems tend to believe in the existence and severity of conditions like fibromyalgia only if they can see or feel the most severe symptoms of the condition themselves. I hope you’ll be given all the support you need and that you’ll feel at home on this forum occasionally swarming with and frequently visited by many fellow fibromyalgia sufferers!
Thank you so much Nick for your support and kindness, this is the first time I receive such understanding and encouragement for my Fibromyalgia. Actually, I wanted to join some group or forum long time ago but my hesitation prevented me from doing so until now I really feel the need.
Two and a half years ago, something horrible happened to me, I was so shocked and scared that I fainted. Several months later, I started to experience post traumatic symptoms, namely, fear, anxiety and poor sleep especially when some people trigger my symptoms. Aside from daily struggling with my Fibromyalgia pain and fatique, I am now making efforts to be strong, to fight against fear. Sometimes I get confused because both Fibromyalgia and post traumatic symptoms can cause anxiety, fear and poor sleep. I want to be strong so as not to have fear no matter what happens.
I’m sorry to hear about your traumatic experience. Anxiety and fear combined with poor quality of sleep are definitely things that can make it more difficult to survive from your everyday life with fibromyalgia. Chronic pain and changes in the functioning of the brain decrease the quality of your sleep and you may find it harder to fall asleep as well. Anxiety causes overactivity in your brain when your body should get some rest, and your worries and your brain refusing to slow down a bit may keep you awake for hours before you finally fall asleep. In the morning, you may feel like you haven’t slept at all. Thankfully, there are usually also nights during which you can sleep relatively well, although you will still feel the fatigue in the morning and during the day. Sometimes, going out for a walk late in the evening helps me sleep better.
I know how anxiety feels like since I’ve suffered from social anxiety for the last seven and a half years. In my case, the disorder was probably triggered initially by some bad experiences and a couple of threatening incidents at work. Nowadays, I try to get myself more involved in social activities, but I still find it rather difficult to participate in any social events because I can feel the anxiety increasing by just the thought of a gathering of a lot of people in one place.
I admire your determination when you say you want to be stronger and that you want to face all your fears bravely. I wish I could do that as well. Often, I don’t have the courage to face my fears. I’ll keep trying, though. I hope you’ll be able to overcome your fears and that you’ll feel more comfortable and stronger both mentally and physically.
Thank you so much for your explanation regarding sleep; as you say, taking a walk in the evening helps me sleep better. I have many dreams almost every night, often times they are bad dreams or even scary dreams that fill me with anxiety. And I wake up with tiredness because of dreaming too much. Is this a symptom of Fibromyalgia or post traumatic?
I do not want to have fear at all, it is a suffering. Since I am weak and easy to have this symptom when it is triggered, it is necessary for me, in my situation, to overcome it so that I can have the strength to speak the truth and to do what is right in my working environment. When I have fear, I try to focus on something else, doing something to distract myself or telling somebody about it if I can find this somebody, these are helpful means to release my symptom.
People with PTSD see bad dreams relatively often, because their brain tries to process the emotions and memories related to the traumatic experience that triggered the PTSD initially. There has been no clear evidence of consistent changes in the duration of the REM sleep (the sleep stage during which we see dreams) in PTSD patients, but it has been shown that the REM sleep is often fragmented, so it may feel like you’re dreaming a lot. Also, if you’re seeing a bad dream and you wake up abruptly because of the dream, you will usually remember that you saw a dream and you’ll also remember what you saw in the dream.
Most of the people with fibromyalgia suffer from chronic sleep disturbances. The poor quality of sleep is mostly caused by sudden interruptions of the deep stage of the non-REM sleep, which causes decreased total duration of deep sleep that is the stage of sleep that is needed in adequate amounts for optimal recovery of the whole body (including the brain). Thus, the lack of deep sleep causes chronic fatigue, increases the pain felt in the muscles, and it may also increase forgetfulness and cause difficulties with concentration and learning.
Thank you ever so much for your time and patience in explaining about different stages of sleep and how poor sleep affects our mind and body and makes Fibromyalgia worse; I find it very interesting. In fact, I have all the symptoms that you mentioned: tiredness, muscle pain, forgetfulness and, sometimes, difficulties with concentration. Almost every night I wake up about every two hours, I think this is caused by Fibromyalgia.
The year before last, at the time when I first experienced PTSD, my family doctor sent me to have a sleeping test, and the result was: central sleep apnea. That means, there are moments that my brain did not command me to breathe. In this case the sleep apnea machine will not be helpful. I wonder whether central sleep apnea has any connection with the poor sleep in Fibromyalgia or it is affected by PTSD.
My pleasure. It has been shown that fibromyalgia is linked to obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea is commonly diagnosed among people with PTSD, but based on our current knowledge, we can only speculate on the link between central sleep apnea and fibromyalgia or PTSD. Personally, I believe fibromyalgia and PTSD may at least worsen the symptoms of central sleep apnea because all of these three conditions (alone or combined with some other condition) can cause many similar symptoms, including chronic tiredness, forgetfulness, difficulties with concentration, insomnia, and waking up several times a night.
Finding a helpful treatment for patients with central sleep apnea can be really challenging because there are numerous possible causes of the condition, and sometimes the cause of central sleep apnea can stay unknown. I hope there will be some treatment that can help you cope with central sleep apnea.
Thank you so much again for your explanation which I always find interesting and useful.
The sleeping test doctor asked me to do the test for a second time but I do not like the idea; I just don't like the test because I couldn't sleep for almost the whole night during my first test, it was quite a negative experience for me. Next morning, when I returned home, I had to wash my hair, so sticky !
Instead, I chose to go to an elderly doctor who is already semi-retired. He told me that nobody would die of sleep apnea; with this, I feel at peace. Then, I tell my acupuncturist about this problem, she put some needles to my head, forehead.... etc, she said those needles would help me sleep better. Soon I started to feel sleepy and drowsy and went to bed. When I got up, I felt rested.
Ever since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I have never taken any medication because I am afraid of side effects. I bear the pain and the rest of the symptoms and go for acupuncture.
In my first year of Fibromyalgia, once, I had a very terrible fibromyalgia flare up, and it was winter time. My whole body was extremely painful and completely stiff that I was exactly like a statue, without exaggeration, for there was no part of my body that could move an inch. In that condition, I was not able to sleep at all. My sister gave me a video - cartoon to watch for the night. It helped me a little bit because it distracted me and this lessened my feeling of the terrible pain and stiffness. That night was the only time in my five years of fibromyalgia that I was given four Tylenol for Fibromyalgia, so that I was able to get out of my bed next morning and they took me to the doctor for acupressure. The doctor burned the herb, I think it was called mocca (not sure of the name), and let the smoke penetrated my body. then I was fine.
I’m happy to hear that you’ve been able to sleep better after the acupuncture treatment. Maybe I should try acupuncture as well! Can’t hurt to try (except for the needles ).
I completely understand, why you don’t feel like going to the sleep test for a second time. It can be difficult to relax and fall asleep when you know that your sleep is being monitored for the whole night. Also, the paste, that’s used for a better contact between the electrodes and the skin, can be annoying. Still, if you change your mind, or if your doctor strongly recommends it, you can go to the sleep test again.
This week, I believe it was Tuesday (might’ve been as well Wednesday ), I visited my local pharmacy because I needed to buy some painkillers, antihistamines, and vitamins. Right before I entered the pharmacy, I was able to remember what I wanted to buy, but only ten seconds later I had forgotten what I was supposed to buy.
It was quite a comical situation, me standing there, thinking out loud, trying to remember the names of the medicaments and vitamins that I use. I was a little embarrassed by the moment of confusion and forgetfulness, but also slightly amused. I greeted the pharmacist, and said “I’d like to buy…”. Then, I had a total blackout, during which I stammered something like “What was it I wanted to buy?” It took me 1-2 minutes to remember the names of the products. They came back to my mind one by one, after making a real effort to remember them.
I find it fantastic that acupuncture has helped to relieve your pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia. I use some medicaments, but I try to find the smallest effective doses needed for pain relief and for coping with my other symptoms.
I think medicaments can be helpful, but it’s true that they can also have many side effects. It’s good to remember that it depends on the person, which medicament helps them because every person is unique, with a unique metabolism and anatomy. I try to improve my eating habits and increase the time and quality of daily physical exercise, so that I won’t have to use that many different meds. I feel like I’ve had better results with a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical exercise than with any medicament.
Hello, Marie. You have my middle name I started here today and i want to let you know you're not alone. Thank you for sharing your story. I feel the same as you. I am completely alone and feel helpless.
As far as i can tell fibro is not recognized where i live. I can't get reasonable accommodations at work. My boss says i don't look sick and won't give me any leeway or flexibility. For years my doctor said it was my imagination because my tests all came out perfectly. 7 years into it, i was finally diagnosed. I thought I'd get help or it would prove something to back off my evil boss, but being diagnosed with fibro seems to have only put me into a basket where the doctor says there is nothing to be done about it. I've been to so many now. My state doesnt recognize fibro as a disability so, as far as i know, there is nothing to do but trudge painfully through each day and try to survive. I've decided I'll keep working until i fall out of my chair because i don't have any other choice.
My partner doesn't believe fibro. He thinks I'm lazy and making excuses. Believe me when i say he is NOT well pleased at my lack of function. But he sees it as me choosing to shirk my responsibilities. I do what i can, but as you know, you have to pick and choose your priorities based on pain and exhaustion.
It's a lonely place where society, doctors, workplace, family, and friends see you as lazy and complaining as every day I'm scrabbling by my fingernails to continue to function at all. I'm so grateful that, at this point, I'm still able to work.
I hope you get help, hope, and answers here. You can talk to me, if you feel like it.
Hello, Nick, thank you so much for all your sharing and explanation, as always, I find them very interesting. When it comes to forgetfulness, recently, I am quite forgetful. From time to time, I was surprise to see on my table certain objects which I thought I had put them away already. And I always forget to take the supplements. Right after I have read the song number from the board, within a minute or two, when I open the song book, I forget the number. There are moments that I have difficulty to concentrate. Is there any difference between forgetfulness and brain fog? Do I have only forgetfulness or also brain fog sometimes?
I believe there are natural help to reverse chronic pain. I find it interesting the Pain Gate Theory which proposes that when pain signals travel to the brain, they pass the pain gate that can be closed by different factors, among those means I find distraction, pleasing sights and music, exercise, positive attitude and pleasant thoughts, acupuncture are useful.
In the past, there was a few times, I was invited to attend the gathering of a group, most of the people who went there had some ailments. A person played the guitar, the rest of the group sang together happily and clapped their hands, they did some short readings in between. After two hours, most of the people came out to give their testimony that they had no more pain. To tell the truth, my pain was gone too at that moment, I felt as if I had no more Fibromyalgia.
Welcome to the Forum, Andrea !
Thank you so much for sharing with me and the members of this forum your experience of loneliness and not being understood by the others. We have gone through very similar sufferings because of our Fibromyalgia. I understand how you feel when you encounter criticism which happens to me if I dare mention about my Fibromyalgia to the others. My superior is the first one who says to me that Fibromyalgia is nothing; and they expect me to be like the others in everything. I do not tell them my symptoms because I do not want to be labelled as this would be more painful for me than Fibromyalgia.
I really admire your determination and all the efforts you make, I know you are doing your best in the midst of pain and fatigue. I understand you and wish you feeling better and better each day !
Hello, Marie! I think that brain fog causes mainly difficulties with the short-term memory (called also the working memory) and concentration. On the other hand, brain fog can also prevent you from remembering things or from maintaining a bright mind when you’re in a stressful situation (for example when you’re taking an exam, or when you have to defend yourself against some criticism coming from people who don’t understand what you’re going through).
I think the pain gate theory is quite interesting. The theory sounds logical to me, so I believe it can partly explain, why for example the positive energy around us and a pleasant atmosphere can relieve the pain. I believe the distraction that you mentioned is playing a key role in the mechanism of decreasing the pain. When your brain is busy with processing the emotions created by moments of joy (for example when you see someone you just helped being so happy), or by the beautiful environment (when walking in the nature), or when there are a plenty of other positive distractions, such as singing, music, or movements of your body (for example when dancing or playing basketball), the impulses coming from the pain receptors may either be blocked at the gates (that are often called synapses), or more commonly they may reach the brain, but your positive feelings beat the negative feelings caused by the pain.
I understand everything you are going through Marie! I am also new here, and learning to cope with fibromyalgia. I also am being treated for generalized anxiety disorder and depression. My doctors have changed my antidepressant to Limotrigine, as a mood stabilizer with some help for pain. I am also taking Gabapentin for pain, and klonopin as needed for anxiety. I have just finished the withdrawal symptoms of stopping Effexor, after taking 300mg/day of that for 3 years. This was for major depression. But I was in such pain, and my doctor would just say it’s arthritis, take ibuprofen. The pain caused depression and fatigue! With the new meds I feel more like myself again. the pain is still a problem, but at least now I have energy and a personality again! My point is that you are not alone! |
Does hearing aid help in solving hearing loss?
Yes, hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss. Recent research showed that 93% of hearing impaired could benefit from hearing aids with guidance from audiologist. A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. A qualified audiologist would be able to determine to what extent hearing aid amplification could help an individual. No hearing aid can solve every hearing problem or restore to normal hearing, but they are designed to provide amplification so that you can hear and understand better.
You’ll be in safe hands if you are seeing an Audiologist for hearing aid prescription and fitting. Audiologists are professionals that specialize in evaluation and treatment of hearing loss. Audiologists are qualified personnel who perform diagnostic hearing evaluation and they hold a university degree in Audiology. He or she must be able to provide a thorough diagnostic evaluation, hearing aid fitting and usage training, as well as counseling in hearing communication strategies. Let’s not confuse Audiologist with ENT specialist. ENT specialists are doctors who specialize in any treatment of ear, nose and throat areas. Usually Audiologists and ENT specialists work hand-in hand to give the most desirable hearing solution for the patients.
Who shall I consult for hearing aid prescription and fitting?
If you’ve been asking this question, then the answer is probably “now”. The soonest you learn to adapt to hearing aid, the better is the outcome. Of course, you don’t like the prospect of wearing hearing aids, nobody does. But think of the experiences you’ve had or didn’t have, and the impact hearing difficulties have been having on your life. Remember too, while you may be the one with the hearing loss, all of your associates have a hearing problem- and that’s you. Consider communication as a two-way street: if your half is impaired or uncertain, it will also affect everyone else you talk to. So, talk to a qualified audiologist immediately.
There are a few costs involved in purchasing a hearing aid – the cost of hearing aid itself and also other costs. Hearing aid price is dependent on its technology sophistication. Generally, digital hearing aid with basic functions cost a few hundred to over a thousand; while advanced digital hearing aids could cost a few thousands, however you stand to benefit from clearer speech and less disturbance from noise particularly in a noisy environment. The periphery costs include accessories like batteries, desiccant, ear moulds that need replacement from time to time and cost of repair beyond warranty period. Besides that, your audiologist may charge you for some audiological services. Nevertheless, as compared to the inconvenience of hearing difficulty, the cost is often justifiable.
People say that hearing aids are noisy, is that true?
Most of the hearing impaired persons find the hearing aids “noisy” because they are unable to tolerate the environmental noises that they had merely forgotten, secondary to a hearing loss left untreated for long period of time. Besides, hearing aid technology also determines the sound quality of one’s hearing aids. Analog circuit by itself generates circuit noises, which may create irritation to the users and affect the listening experience. On the other hand, digital circuitry allows the hearing aids to be precisely programmed to match a client’s individual hearing loss, improve clarity of sounds, offers faster processing of sound and enhances listening in noise. I would suggest you to get a digital hearing aid at your budget, and start to relearn sounds. Even those with normal hearing also cannot stop interference on background noises. But the ability to concentrate on important sounds, i.e. speech, could be relearned with practice.
The one that is best for you will depends on many factors such as the amount of hearing loss you have, the particular situation where you want the hearing aids to help, your vision and dexterity, how you want the hearing aids to look, the hearing technology and your budget too. The best way to determine the best hearing aid for you is to have your hearing tested by a qualified audiologist who should explain the pros and cons of each type of hearing aid to you. It is quite common to spend an hour just to figure out which hearing aid works best for you.
Tell me, where is the best place to buy a hearing aid?
The best advice is to look for centre with qualified audiologist (with university degree) whenever possible, don’t hesitate to verify the qualification.
A professional centre will provide you a comprehensive hearing test, consultation and evaluation of potential hearing aid benefit, prior to purchase.
Ideally, the centre should be able to offer selection of more than one brand of hearing aid without bias.
Make sure you are entitled to regular follow-up visits.
Ask if you could return the hearing aid for refund if it is not satisfactory.
Lastly, we wish you success in hearing rehabilitation process and enjoy effective communication with your loved one.
What is an ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor) specialist?
Otolaryngologists (also called ear-nose-and-throat, or ENT doctors) are physicians who have advanced training in disorders of the ear, nose, throat and head and neck. They treat ear, nose and throat diseases requiring medical or surgical means.
What are the levels of hearing aid technology?
There are essentially three levels of hearing aid technology.
ANALOG technology is the technology that has been around for many decades. Analogue technology is basic technology and offers limited adjustment capability.
DIGITALLY PROGRAMMABLE technology is the ”mid range technology. Digitally programmable units are actually analogue units digitally controlled by the computer/handheld programmer in the office.
DIGITAL technology is the most sophisticated hearing aid technology. A digital hearing aid means it is 100% digital. Simply put, it is a complete computer by itself. Digital technology gives the audiologist maximum control over sound quality and sound processing characteristics. The audiologist can easily manipulate the parameters according to what you need to hear and want to hear. As technology advances, many sophisticated features like feedback canceller, noise reduction and directional microphone are incorporated in the digital hearing aid. The digital hearing aid is now better in fulfilling the hearing needs of the hard-of-hearing.
Listening with both ears is as normal as seeing with both eyes. Basically, if you have two ears with hearing loss that could benefit from hearing aids, you need two hearing aids. We are born with two ears for a reason. We have two ears because we need two ears! If we try to amplify sound in only one ear, you cannot expect to do very well. Even the best hearing aid will sound ”flat” or ”dull” when worn in only one ear.
Clearer speech especially in challenging situations like public gatherings and noisy environment.
Localization (the ability to locate the sources and directions of sounds).It is more important to know where the warning signals (e.g. traffic noise, sirens) are coming from in order to react.
Ability to hear from either side of the head, not just the “good” side.
People cannot hear well using only one ear. There are studies in the research literature that show that children with one normal ear and one ”deaf” ear are ten times more likely to repeat a grade as compared to children with two normally hearing ears. Additionally, we know that if you have two ears with hearing impairment, and you wear only one hearing aid, the unaided ear is likely to lose word recognition ability more quickly than the ear wearing the hearing aid.
No, the hearing aid cannot damage your hearing. When you wear the aid regularly, your hearing will feel ‘dull’ without it as you have become used to amplification. “Use it or lose it” is a principle of hearing mechanism. The longer a person with a hearing loss goes without hearing help, the poorer the listening habits and speech understanding become. Relearning to use hearing then takes much more time and is more difficult.
The hearing aids pick up more noise than speech?
Hearing aids amplify every sound within range of their microphones, including background noise. It is confusing at first, as you have not heard loud background sounds for a long time. Actually you have merely forgotten what background noises sounded like and how you learned to ignore some of them. You’ll probably be able to train your mind to block out the noise and concentrate on speech and the meaningful sounds you want to hear. You might try to turn the hearing aid volume down. This might cut down some of the background noise levels. Fortunately, people usually speak louder in a noisy environment.
You must relearn how to listen and to sort out sounds that are important. Remember, even those who have normal hearing cannot stop interference on background noise. However, the ability to concentrate on sounds that are important can be relearned with practice.
Owing to the advancement of technologies, certain hearing aids come with special features to enhance speech and reduce background noise. They are directional microphone and noise reduction circuit. Please talk to your audiologist about this.
Many factors determine the life expectancy of hearing aids. This includes the care taken by you, periodic cleaning by your dispenser, your work environment, your body chemistry (salts and acids in your perspiration) and the part of country you live in (shorter in high humidity areas).
Mechanically, a good hearing aid can last, with proper care, for many years. However changing needs on your part and continued improvements in electronics typically shorten the period to about 3-5 years. Even when they last longer, and many do, improvements in the performance of hearing aids and your desire to have something better, may be the deciding factor.
When hearing aids begin to be costly in the way of repairs, this provides a good indication that new ones may be needed.
Can I use the telephone while I’m wearing my hearing aids?
Since our country does not have built-in telecoil in the regular house phone yet, use of the telephone can present a problem. The only way is to lift the telephone receiver near (but not too near, lest it causes feedback!) the microphone of the hearing aid. You may also consider a telephone pad if you are wearing a custom made hearing aid. It serves to reduce feedback and you can put the receiver on your ear as usual.
Alternatively, you can purchase a special telephone with telecoil built-in. In that way, you may use the telecoil in your hearing aids to converse without the interruption of background noise. Please talk to your audiologist on hearing aids and telephones with telecoil.
Or you may like to consider using an amplified telephone that elevates the volume for ease of listening. Similarly, your audiologist will be able to provide you with suitable device that suits your listening needs.
Hearing aids work very well when fit and adjusted appropriately. They amplify sound! You might find that you like one hearing aid better than the other. The left and right hearing aids will probably not fit exactly the same and they probably won’t sound exactly the same. Nonetheless, hearing aids should be comfortable with respect to the physical fit and sound quality. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing and are not as good as normal hearing. You will be aware of the hearing aids in your ears. Until you get used to it, your voice will sound ”funny” when you wear hearing aids. Hearing aids should not to be worn in extremely noisy environments. Some hearing aids have features that make noisy environments more tolerable; however, hearing aids cannot eliminate background noise.
“Hearing Aid” Alone is Not Enough!
To communicate effectively, you need to fully utilize your ears AND eyes. You will not communicate well using your hearing aids alone. To facilitate optimal communication, you will need to pick up cues from the speaker’s gestures, body language and facial expressions! Besides that, remember to reduce the distance between the speaker and the listener, reduce or eliminate background noises from the listening environment and use good lighting. If someone is speaking to you from another room, while the radio is on, with children playing at your side, it will be very difficult to adequately communicate, despite fantastic hearing aids.
Our hearing loss self assessment can guide you through an initial assessment and help determine if you should contact us for further assistance.
We offer a great try-before-you-buy program. It allows you to take home and try out hearing aids at different levels of performance in the actual situations you need them. You decide what works best for you – before committing to buying a thing. During this time, our audiologist can adjust the hearing aids to provide optimal comfort and sound so you can experience what it is like to wear hearing aids every day.
Wearing hearing aids for the first time requires that you re-learn how to hear: you can expect a short adjustment period. This experience will be different for everyone. Talk to your audiologist about any concerns that you have. Be patient and stick with it – you’ll be enjoying the benefits soon.
No. Many people with tinnitus experience relief from wearing hearing aids. If you do experience any change in your tinnitus, please contact us immediately.
When you begin wearing hearing aids, you can expect to experience some tenderness as you adjust to them sitting behind or in your ears. If this soreness persists after a couple of weeks, talk to your audiologist, who will determine if your hearing aids require further adjustments.
Battery life depends on the length of time you wear your hearing aids, the size of your hearing aids, the type of circuit you have, and the size of battery you use. Ask your audiologist about the estimated life of your particular batteries and refer to your hearing aid guide for additional information.
Referred to as feedback, whistling can be a result of your hearing aids being inserted incorrectly or your volume being too high. If adjustments to the fitting and volume do not correct the feedback, talk to your audiologist, who will determine if your hearing aids require further adjustments. |
Summary: Glaucoma is a disease that rarely appears among young people. That is the main reason for its seldom occurence during pregnancy and lactation. Nevertheless, the idea of glaucoma treatment in this group of patient is significant for several reasons. First of all, there are no guidelines how to treat women suffering from glaucoma during pregnancy or lactation. Additionally, due to the fact of rare occurence of the disease among these women, in most cases ophthalmologists do not have enough experience in glaucoma therapy of such patients. Moreover, there are no population study on humans concerning the influence of glaucoma medication on fetus and infant during lactation because of ethical reasons.
The main goal of this article is to introduce our opinion on the glaucoma treatment during pregnancy and lactation. |
Last week Theren started on a stand for his 6 glorious winding stems and 13 pivot gauges. The stand is an optional side project that the students can do to showcase their work. Theren made the stand out of brass and made a spiral pattern for the pivot gauges. It took him 3 days, but it is finally finished.
This week the students also learned how to make their first wheel, the hour wheel. The techniques are not that new, but the setup requires extreme accuracy to make the wheel both centered and sharp. By learning how to make the hour wheel, the students now know how to make ANY wheel. |
Baking / Cooking: A well-rounded learning activity!
I’m really loving attending the plethora of child-centric events available these days with my daughter. We’ve attended Touch-a-truck events, aviation events, holiday-centric events, and today we made it to the “Hands on the Arts Festival 2018” at Sunnyvale, CA. While the target audience of the event were children, I’d say anyone would have a blast here! Participants could register online or at the event, and receive a wristband (among other goodies) that enable them to get their hands dirty with a whole bunch of fun art forms!
Each activity had a recommended minimum age. I chose (as I always do) all the age appropriate activities. I prefer to respect the age recommendations as they are set with a reason. In keeping up with the “I did it!” culture, it’s important to expose your children to age appropriate activities that enable them to complete the task at hand independently, rather than activities for older kids that might prove to be too challenging for little ones. That being said, I took my 2 year 10 month daughter to activities labelled 3+ as she was able to do most of the activity (except, for example, using scissors). Basically, age recommendations are a guideline – follow them with discretion!
Out of the 33 booths set up at the festival, I’m going to run through some of our favorites. Hands down (and hands on!) A’s favorite was painting a real car! Silicon Valley Auto Body & Tow had donated two cars for the “paint a car” workshop. Both cars were white to start with, and kids grabbed cups of paint and brushes and painted these big cars! A loved this! I loved watching her find her way among the group and find her place in the crowd, and contribute to the designs on the car appropriately.
I also loved the concept behind the “Action painting” workshop. Here, a sheet of white paper was placed inside a box. Small items such as golf balls, marbles, little cars were placed in paint. Kids “rolled” these objects around the box, creating beautiful patterns with the paint. I’m definitely going to be trying activity out at home!
I was overjoyed to find a rangoli workshop. While traditional rangoli requires a fair bit of fine motor skill, the method taught at this workshop was a wonderful stepping stone to learning the art of rangoli. A clear plastic plate was placed on a colorful image (my daughter chose a duck). Kids applied glue over the image using a paintbrush, and sprinkled colorful rangoli powder on the glue to make a rangoli! I was so happy for the opportunity to introduce the beautiful art of rangoli to A.
Speaking of tracing patterns over transparent plastic, another favorite of ours was the “Incredible Shrinking Bauble”, where once again, she placed a transparent plastic sheet over an image (this time, she chose a teddy bear) and colored using permanent markers. These sheets were then placed in a hot oven and “shrunk”, into a size small enough that they could be attached to a keychain or a button. Kiddo was super proud to give her grandpa a keychain that she made herself!
These were just a few highlights of the dozen or so booths that we checked out. We also liked the button picture frames a lot – where A revisited her knowledge of shapes and colors by gluing bright buttons in different shapes to the border of a picture frame. The Art of Gardening workshop was a big hit and appropriate for the season as well, where we planted some pretty flowers in a biodegradable pot, decorated the pot and brought it home. I love introducing gardening to A as it teaches her to care for her plants and patience in waiting for them to grow. Other fun stuff included painting with water colors, cookie cutter painting, making collages of different kinds, Lego block printing (definitely going to try that out with Duplos at home – this booth was tagged for ages 5+ probably because of the size of Legos). |
The 30-year-old lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain, Transport, Tourism, and Logistics Management (DESSTIL) founded the Marcia Lebambo Foundation in 2012 as a non-profit organisation aimed at empowering learners by creating a culture of reading and writing through various programmes such as a Spelling Bee competition.
In the competition, contestants are asked to spell a broad selection of words with a varying degree of difficulty. This is a comprehensive learning process that allows children to learn the definition, pronunciation, and roots of the words. Learning grammar is not the only benefit; learners are able to enhance vocabulary, competitive spirit, greater knowledge, cognitive skills and confidence.
Marcia Lebambo appeared live on TV on the SABC Youth Show YOTV on Nelson Mandela Day to share her work and celebrate Mandela 100 with the youth.
Lebambo’s passion is education empowerment for the marginalised. Other programmes conducted by her organisation include book clubs, storytelling societies, and school motivations.
The organisation has interacted with more than 4 000 learners from all over the country. A team of 23 volunteers, who assist by visiting schools and networking with learners prior to the competition, leads this initiative. Last year, the organisation also hosted learners from Lesotho and Zimbabwe. This year, the organisation has been invited by the people of Lesotho to host the spelling competition in Maseru. |
In many surgical procedures involving the excision of tumorous tissue, the surgeon is challenged in deciding when the excision is complete whilst at the same time trying to minimise the amount of healthy tissue removed. This is particularly challenging during laparoscopy or keyhole surgery, and even more so if robotic surgery is included, where the view of the tissue and the tactile feedback are restricted, or absent. Researchers are turning to photonic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, which can offer powerful detection capability in the field of bio-medical optics that aids in the identification of the chemical constituents of tissues and cells. This in turn can assist the surgeon in making a reliable diagnosis as regards the type of tissue. A group at the University of St Andrews [1,2] have tackled this problem by designing, building and demonstrating a robotic based analytical tool to assist surgeons in such surgical procedures.
Many surgical procedures are conducted nowadays with the assistance of robotic systems. Ashok et. al. have developed a Raman probe based system to complement current standard diagnostic techniques such as histological examination. In their design a Raman probe based sensor was integrated into a surgical robot - ARAKNES (Array of Robots Augmenting the KiNematics of Endoluminal Surgery) , with the aim of demonstrating a tool for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access the inside of the body with keyhole surgery, for example the abdomen, without having to make large incisions in the skin.
Raman spectroscopy can offer complementary information to, and possibly exceeding, purely vision and touch, regarding tissue morphology and chemical composition; this provides a basis for having multimodal information to aid decision making. The use of fiber based Raman probes has been demonstrated in various studies for in-vivo and ex-vivo tissue analysis [4-6]. Ashok and his co-workers show that such information can improve identification of the boundary or margin between healthy tissue and cancerous tissue during the surgical procedure [1, 2].
a detector (Newton) that has a thermo-electrically (TE) cooled deep-depletion, back-illuminated sensor to ensure optimum sensitivity in the NIR region.
the stiffness of the first 30 cm approximately of the fiber probe next to the head could be varied in such a way so as to aid the positioning of the probe head during the insertion and retraction phases of the surgical procedure.
Figure 2: The fiber probe being held and manipulated by the robotic arm of ARAKNES.
A picture of the fiber probe being manipulated by the robot arm is shown in figure 2.
A disposable sterile sleeve, into which the probe was inserted, was used to maintain sterility of the probe during the surgical procedure. A sapphire window was bonded to the end of the sleeve and this allowed optical access to the tissue from the probe head. The probe head was pushed up against the 1 mm thick sapphire window. Since the probe head had a working distance of 1 mm – the sleeve-head assembly was used in contact mode i.e. the sapphire window was brought into contact with the tissue when taking the Raman spectral data, thus minimising any variability in the signal due to different sample-probe distances.
ensuring the sensor system is generic for use in binary discrimination between any types of tissue i.e. that it is not restricted to a particular tissue type.
The interface that performs binary tissue classification was based on a machine learning algorithm, where a training dataset was obtained locally from the same patient going through the operation. The aim of the sensor is to assist the surgeon in identifying the separation line between two different tissue types, when such differentiation is otherwise visually ambiguous. Given the known presence of a tumor prior to excision, it will have two known tissue types (tumor, type-A, and non-tumor, type-B). Hence this gives the opportunity to train the binary classifier for the margin identification task by using sample areas from the two distinct tissue regions from the specific patient concerned. Having trained the system to identify the two different tissue types, it can then be used to identify the unknown tissue type in the regions around the boundary between healthy and cancerous tissue, and thereby allow the surgeon to determine the location of that boundary.
Figure 3: Typical Raman spectra taken from Bovine adipose tissue. The spectrum was captured with an exposure time on the Newton camera of 1 s.
The development of this system represents a significant step forward in the development of robotically assisted surgical tools incorporating on-line photonic based diagnostic techniques. Specifically Raman spectroscopy can provide a wealth of complementary information for tissue discrimination and thereby aid surgeons in making more informed decisions whilst carrying out surgical procedures. The St Andrews group approach has been a modular one which will allow such tools to be used in other platforms. They have developed a protocol which overcomes patient-to-patient variability, and binary discrimination capability which can be applied to a range of different tissue types.
Acknowledgement: Appreciation is gratefully extended to Dr Praveen Ashok for his assistance. Images courtesy of the group at the University of St Andrews.
P. C. Ashok, M. E. Giardini, K. Dholakia, and W. Sibbett, "A Raman spectroscopy bio-sensor for tissue discrimination in surgical robotics", J Biophotonics (2013).
P. C. Ashok, N. Krstaji, M. E. Giardini, K. Dholakia, and W. Sibbett, "Raman Spectroscopy Sensor for Surgical Robotics - Instrumentation and Tissue Differentiation Algorithm”, Biomedical Optics and 3-D Imaging, (Optical Society of America, Miami, Florida), p. JM3A.26, (2012).
J. T. Motz, S. J. Gandhi, O. R. Scepanovic, A. S. Haka, J. R. Kramer, R. R. Dasari, and M. S. Feld, "Real-time Raman system for in vivo disease diagnosis", J. Biomed. Opt. 10, (2005).
J. T. Motz, M. Hunter, L. H. Galindo, J. A. Gardecki, J. R. Kramer, R. R. Dasari, and M. S. Feld, "Optical fiber probe for biomedical Raman spectroscopy", Appl. Optics 43, 542-554 (2004).
A. Mahadevan-Jansen, M. F. Mitchell, N. Ramanujam, U. Utzinger, and R. Richards-Kortum, "Development of a Fiber Optic Probe to Measure NIR Raman Spectra of Cervical Tissue In Vivo", Photochem. Photobiol. 68, 427-431 (1998). |
It finally happened. It was only a matter of time. A self-driving car has collided with and killed a pedestrian. The car belonged to Uber and Uber has pulled all of its self-driving cars off the road whilst the incident is being investigated.
Motherboard has a fascinating article on the hard decisions that have to be made when planning and coding the decisions that a self driving car has to make regarding safety and who gets hurt / who dies. This is a great read - and a really great topic for a class discussion / debate. This is an issue which is going to feature prominently in your learner's lives.
You can read about the incident itself here.
Facebook is dealing with a massive backlash from the Cambridge Analytica data scandal mentioned in last week's blog. There is a concerted DeleteFacebook campaign complete with hashtag and all. Elon Musk removed the Tesla and SpaceX presence from Facebook. Vox has an interesting article that details 'The Case against Facebook' - taking it far beyond data breaches. CNN AMP points out that no matter how much he promises and how much he wants to, Zuckerberg cannot control or fix Facebook (and he knows it). It's become a monster beyond its creator's control.
It's so bad even their own investors are suing them. |