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Monika has returned from Germany, wondering how to answer the inevitable, “How was your vacation?” question. At least when Serena goes to visit her family, no one mistakes it for a vacation. After all, who would go to South Dakota in August to sight see? Serena dreams of road trips to Disneyland; Monika dreams of kayaking adventures on the West Coast. But both of us are spending our holiday times these years “going back” to where we came from: looking after our aging parents, reconnecting with siblings, meeting new nieces and nephews, running into high school friends. In our early 20’s, both of us left our “homelands”, setting out to re-invent ourselves apart from the expectations, limits, and roles of our childhood families. Taking the geographical cure, we called it. With enough distance, we believed that we could become something that our families could not imagine for us. Like the three little pigs in the childhood story, and like countless twenty-somethings before us, we set out to find our own way and fortunes. By our 30’s, we had each succeeded, more or less, in inventing our adult selves. We had careers, and each of us had grown around us families of choice that we were proud of, in a land where no one knew our childhood nicknames. We were too broke to go back to visit much; getting started in adulthood was an all-consuming business. Graduate school, daycare fees, student loans, home down-payments and mortgages made short work of the money that would have bought airplane tickets. We joked about buying stock in telephone companies. We noticed how little our parents seemed to age. From such a distance, they seemed to us to be the same folks we’d left behind; middle-aged and ‘bifocal’ed people who would someday retire but always provide a home for our high school yearbooks, adolescent poetry, photographs, childhood drawings, unfinished knitting projects, and that big box of Christmas decorations with all of the funny and all of the tragic stories attached to them. We can no longer avoid it: we are now the ones approaching 50. Serena’s daughter is seeking the geographical cure, and our parents—those that are left—are increasingly fragile and temporary looking. It is our siblings that we turn to now out of necessity, doing our best to co-operate around care for our parents. We see that we are the reluctant but inevitable heirs to the family bonds that our parents started. We know one another’s childhood nicknames, as well as assorted other bits of embarrassing paraphernalia. We remember who was the smart one, the pretty one, the popular one, the odd one, the favorite of this teacher or that grandmother. We have a shared past, but little shared knowledge about who each other have become over the last three decades. When Monika flies to Germany, she crosses 9 time zones, one for each 3-year period that she has been away. Time zones amplify the sense of time warp. Serena’s trips to Dakota are more North-South in orientation, but hardly less an adjustment along the time-warp factor. It is disorienting to walk the landscape of one’s adolescence from within a middle-aged body. Looking ahead, time seems to stretch in a long, forward line. But looking back, it isn’t linear at all, but spirals outward slowly outward, like a planet that is gradually leaving orbit, but which, meanwhile, keeps cycling back to the same seasons, just a little further out each time. You can feel that the past is just within reach; you can smell it in the air and hear it in people’s accents and tones of voice. So here we are, the prodigal children, returned, with a grown-up job to do. Where once we sought to re-invent ourselves, we now try to re-connect to our original families; to establish sibling relationships among adults and to make the kinds of decisions with our parents that they might have made for us as children: when to see the doctor, where to live, how to make sure that the finances will last long enough, and whether or not they should be driving (do anyone’s parents really let the adult children make that decision for them? Is resistance to giving up the car keys universal?) And these people whom we scrapped with and loved in the raw ways of childhood are to become the adult allies or perhaps, to some degree, opponents in the transfer of power and of material goods between the generations. What a potential for more family sagas, fraught with hope and with uncertainty: Returning “home”. Us, the middle-aged generation now, after decades away. As with any potentially perilious journey, this one requires careful planning and preparation. Since this is a journey over both physical and emotional territory, it is good to have more than one kind of travel advisor! As counselors, we have a few tips to help prepare for traveling into the territory of families that have been separated by decades. 1. If you are going to face unfinished business in person (and this is often optional), you absolutely must practice the conversations ahead of time. Practice them with your counselor, your spouse, your best friend, your dog, or your journal. Practice your family member responding with the worst possible thing, the best possible thing, and something in-between. Write letters and tear them up. Write replies to your letters, and tear them up. Practice! 2. Do not break earth-shattering news at other people’s weddings or funerals. Fiftieth Wedding Anniversaries and ninetieth birthdays, perhaps even regular family celebrations also, are bad times to announce that you are a) getting a divorce, b) marrying against your parents’ advice, or c) gay. Each occasion deserves its own day, it’s own memory. Let your big news have a special time of its own. 3. Plan for respite time. Consider booking a sightseeing trip (even South Dakota has historical museums and parks), renting a car so that you have your own “wheels”, or staying somewhere other than your sister’s hide-a-bed in the living room. Yes, it can be expensive. And some families take it as a personal affront that you would book a hotel room. But it may be a small investment for saving a) your sanity, and b) a connection that can’t withstand too much togetherness. And always pack good walking shoes! 4. Stay in touch with your adult self. Travelling with your spouse or someone else that you love, and that knows you well as an adult, can be wise. Telephone cards are inexpensive. Skype, Facetime and other web-based communication programs can be even cheaper. Photographs can still travel in your wallet. Even writing in your journal or sending letters home can be a lifeline. 5. Touch the ground often. Put your hands on dirt, walk in a forest or by water, look at the stars, watch the moon. The same earth and sky support us all; the same air and water connect us, no matter how far on earth we travel. Family ties are strong, and the storms of family conflict can be powerful indeed. But earth ties are even stronger, and weather humbles even the most dramatic of families. No-one ever said that families were easy. Occasionally a family is so dangerous to the soul that cut-off is required. But a family cut-off is more like an amputation than an appendectomy; it’s a permanent wound with phantom pains. Fortunately, most families run the gamut from slightly loopy to moderately dysfunctional. In other words, worth hanging in for. In a world that demands more and more the appearance of success, families are the last refuge of imperfection—ours, and everyone else’s. There is a kind of freedom in that, even though it comes at the cost of tremendous drains upon our patience. If we are up to it, most of us can go back with some grace. Provided we go well prepared for the journey.

Like the three musketeers – one for all, all for one – we teachers can choose to stand together united and strong. I´m thinking of openness and sharing. What if we could share and how do we do it? We have discussed this in my PBL group at the ONL161 course. Our prominent facilitator Alastair Creelman told us about an exclusive fellowship for teachers. The leaders had made a clear and strategic decision about openness. Inclusion into the fellowship was equal to prestige and money. Membership required digital literacy, open to openness and a portfolio of resources shared with Creative Commons. Open to openness, I like that. 🙂 Sounds good that there is a digital policy, I find it strange that there are still so many questions about how universities should become more digital. I guess most people working there are digital immigrants and it will take a long time for researchers to convince them that for example open access is actually worthwhile. Yep! So we have to be positive and see the opportunities. Hi! You are so right. It is true that time in a process gives the possability for reflection. Sometimes time slow things down in a negative way. If the aim is defined and clear it might help the process in the right direction. Thanks for the inspiring blog, Annica! Great to see that you will explore this through cooperating directly with a colleague as a consequence of perspectives you have gained through this course. Hi! Yes, isn´t it great 🙂 I have learned so much in these ten weeks.

Prednisone helps suppress the overactive immune system and decreases inflammation or swelling. Best taken earlier in the day with food. Prednisone belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids, which replace steroids the body normally makes, leading to overall reduction of inflammation and of the immune system. This medication comes in tablet and oral solution forms and is usually taken one to four times a day or every other day, with food or milk. Common side effects of prednisone include headache, dizziness, and difficulty falling asleep. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how prednisone will affect you.

Purple loosetrife is a striking wetland perennial, with spires of flowers in late summer. It also lends height to waterside planting. Purple loosestrife is one of those plants people don't recognise as native because it looks so showy. It's a beauty, flowering in late summer to provide an invaluable source of late season nectar to a range of pollinators, including this Brimstone. Our bees love it too. Lythrum salicaria grows to a fair height - over 3 feet - although it dies down to the ground in the winter, and doesn't have the invasive habit it displays in regions of America. It grows in a variety of damp and wet soils. We offer Purple loosestrife as either bare root or in generous 110cc size plugs, depending on availability.

Robert Kirk [actually Kirkwood] served with the 42nd and 77th Highland Regiments in North America during the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion. From Niagara Falls to Newfoundland, from the Carolinas to the Mississippi, he covered some five thousand miles by foot, canoe, whaleboat and transport ship. By the time he returned home after ten years of “service truly critical,” our roguish hero had been captured and adopted by the Shawnee Indians, and was an accomplished marksman, hunter, and tracker, proficient in the use of canoes, snowshoes, and tumplines. In short, Kirkwood was the ultimate Light Infantryman of Britain’s “American Army,” and his Memoirs, reprinted here for the first time since 1775, bring his exciting story to life. Personal narratives by private soldiers are the scarcest of all sources for the French and Indian War. By presenting the little-known tale of Robert Kirkwood, Ian McCulloch and Tim Todish have done much to amplify the voice of the man in the ranks and show the conflict from a different perspective. The editors have carefully verified the authenticity of Kirkwood’s account and provided annotations that clarify and broaden an exciting tale of military campaigns and Indian captivity. It is a pleasure to see this important source made accessible to a broad audience. Robert Kirkwood’s long-lost, first-hand account tells us that this Highlander and erstwhile Ranger with Robert Rogers apparently was everywhere during the North American campaigns of the Seven Years’ War. Yes, the expert editors of Kirkwood’s published account reveal his multiple borrowings from other sources as a typical 18th-century Grub-Street pastiche. But, more importantly, they firmly identify the reportage of important, veritable, and fresh kernels of experience, if not authentically from Kirkwood himself, then surely “oral history” collected from his comrades-in-arms. Kirkwood’s narrative offers an uncommon window on the horrific experiences of the usually anonymous, everyday soldiers who shaped the destiny of North America. Through So Many Dangers: The Memoirs and Adventures of Robert Kirk, Late of the Royal Highland Regiment. Edited by Timothy Todish and Ian McCulloch, with an Introduction by Stephen Brumwell and art by Robert Griffing.

ISO 19027:2016 specifies basic configurations for communication support boards, which are necessary to facilitate communication. A variety of communication support boards can be designed for specific communication purposes. This International Standard specifies basic elements common to different types of formats/media, such as simple boards, book style or digital media. This International Standard does not regulate any specific design or any specific pictorial symbols for communication support boards. As for design principles of pictorial symbols, this International Standard introduces examples of design principles applicable when designing and developing pictorial symbols. NOTE Examples of basic pattern used to create pictorial symbols are shown in Annex A. Examples of communication support boards using pictorial symbols are shown in Annexes B and C.

Atelectasis is a collapse of lung tissue affecting part or all of one lung. This condition prevents normal oxygen absoption to healthy tissues. Atelectasis can result from an obstruction (blockage) of the airways that affects tiny air scas called alveoli. Alveoli are very thin-walled and contain a rich blood supply. They are important for lung function, since their purpose is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. When the airways are blocked by a mucous "plug," foreign object, or tumor, the alveoli are unable to fill with air and collapse of lung tissue can occur in the affected area. Atelectasis is a potential complication following surgery, especially in individuals who have undergone chest or abdominal operations resulting in associated abdominal or chest pain during breathing. Congenital atelectasis can result from a failure of the lungs to expand at birth. This congenital condition may be localized or may affect all of both lungs. Causes of atelectasis include insufficient attemps at respiration by the newborn, bronchial obstruction, or absence of surfactant (a substance secreted by alveoli that maintains the stability of lung tissue by reducing the surface tension of fluids that coat the lung). This lack of surfactant reduces the surface area available for effective gas exchange causing it to collapse if severe. Pressure on the lung from fluid or air can cause atelectasis as well as obstruction of lung air passages by thick mucus resulting from various infections and lung diseases. Tumors and inhaled objects can also cause obstruction of the airway, leading to atelectasis. Anyone undergoing chest or abdominal surgery using general anesthesia is at risk to develop atelectasis, since breathing is often shallow after surgery to avoid pain from the surgical incision. Any significant decrease in airflow to the alveoli contributes to pooling of secretions, which in turn can cause infection. Chest injuries causing shallow breathing, including fractured ribs, can cause atelectasis. Common symptoms of atelectasis include shortness of breath and decreased chest wall expansion. If atelectasis only afects a small area of the lung, symptoms are ususally minimal. If the condition affects a large area of the lung and develops quickly, the individual may turn blue (cyanotic) or pale, have extreme shortness of breath, and feel a stabbing pain on the affected side. Fever and increased heart rate may be present if infection accompanies atelectasis. To diagnose atelectasis, a doctor starts by recording the patient's symptoms and performing a thorough physical examination. When the doctor listens to the lungs through a stethoscope (ausculation), diminished or bronchial breath sounds may be heard. By tapping on the chest (percussion) while listening through the stethoscope, the doctor can often tell if the lung is collapsed. A chest x ray that shows an airless area in the lung confirms the diagnosis of atelectasis. If an obstruction of the airways is suspected, a computed tomography scan (CT) or bronchoscopy may be performed to locate the cause of the blockage. If atelectasis is due to obstruction of the airway, the first step in treatment is to remove the cause of the blockage. This may be done by coughing, suctioning, or bronchoscopy. If a tumor is the cause of atelectasis, surgery may be necessary to remove it. Antibiotics are commonly used to fight the infection that often accompanies atelectasis. In cases where recurrent or long-lasting infection is disabling or where significant bleeding occurs, the affected section of the lung may be surgically removed. Bronchial — Relating to the air passages to and from the lungs including the bronchi and the bronchioles. Bronchoscopy — A procedure in which a hollow, flexible tube is inserted into the airway to allow visual examination of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. It is also used to collect specimens for biopsy or culturing and to remove airway obstructions. Incentive spirometer — A breathing device that provides feedback on performance to encourage deep breathing. Mucus — A thin, slippery film secreted by the mucous membranes and glands. Postural drainage — Techniques to help expel excess mucus by specific poistions of the body (that decrease the effects of gravity) combined with manual percussion and vibration over various parts of the lung. Surfactant — A substance secreted by the alveoli in the lungs that reduces the surface tension of lung fluids, allowing gas exchange and helping maintain the elasticity of lung tissue. Tumor — An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells. If atelectasis is caused by a thick mucus "plug" or inhaled foreign object, the patient usually recovers completely when the blockage is removed. If it is caused by a tumor, the outcome depends on the nature of the tumor involved. If atelectasis is a result of surgery, other postoperative conditions and/or complications affect the prognosis. When recovering from surgery, frequent repositioning in bed along with coughing and deep breathing are important. Coughing and breathing deeply every one to two hours after any surgical operation with general anesthesia is recommended. Breathing exercises and the use of breathing devices, such as an incentive spirometer, may also help prevent atelectasis. Although smokers have a higher risk of developing atelectasis following surgery, stopping smoking six to eight weeks before surgery can help reduce the risk. Increasing fluid intake during respiratory illness or after surgery (by mouth or intravenously) helps lung secretions to remain loose. Increasing humidity may also be beneficial. Postural drainage techniques can be learned from a respiratory therapist or physical therapist and are a useful tool for anyone affected with a respiratiory illness that could cause atelectasis. Because foreign objects blocking the airway can cause atelectasis, it is very important to keep small objects that might be inhaled away from young children. Decrease or loss of air in all or part of the lung, with resulting loss of lung volume itself. absorption atelectasis , acquired atelectasis obstructive atelectasis; that caused by an obstruction of the airway that prevents intake of air, e.g., secretions, foreign body, tumor, or external pressure. congenital atelectasis that present at birth (primary a.) or immediately thereafter (secondary a.) . lobar atelectasis that affecting only one lobe of the lung. segmental atelectasis that affecting one segment of a lung. tympanic membrane atelectasis a complication of chronic serous otitis media, with viscous fluid in the middle ear and thinning of the tympanic membrane, which adheres to middle ear structures; there is usually conductive deafness. 1. The absence of gas from all or part of the lung, due to failure of expansion of the alveoli. 2. A congenital condition characterized by incomplete expansion of the lungs. an abnormal condition characterized by the collapse of alveoli, preventing the respiratory exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in a part of the lungs. Symptoms may include diminished breath sounds or aspiratory crackles, a mediastinal shift toward the side of the collapse, fever, and increasing dyspnea. As the remaining portions of the lungs eventually hyperinflate, oxygen saturation of the blood is often nearly normal. The condition may be caused by obstruction of the major airways and bronchioles, by compression of the lung as a result of fluid or air in the pleural space, or by pressure from a tumor outside the lung. Loss of functional lung tissue may secondarily cause increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Secretions retained in the collapsed alveoli are rich in nutrients for bacterial growth, a condition often leading to stasis pneumonia in critically ill patients. See also postoperative atelectasis, primary atelectasis. The partial or total collapse of lung parenchyma, due to obstruction of a bronchus by a mucus plug, infection or cancer; it commonly occurs following general anaesthesia. Low-grade fever, dry cough, chest pain, shortness of breath. Mild atelectasis is treated with deep breathing exercises and respiratory therapy; atelectasis secondary to cancer may be managed by therapeutic bronchoscopy. Partial lung collapse Chest medicine The partial or total collapse of lung parenchyma, due to obstruction of a bronchus by a mucus plug, infection or CA; it is common post general anesthesia Clinical Low-grade fever, dry cough, chest pain, SOB Management Mild atelectasis is treated with deep breathing exercises and respiratory therapy; atelectasis 2º to CA may be managed by therapeutic bronchoscopy. See Plate atelectasis. Reduction or absence of air in part or all of a lung, with resulting loss of lung volume. Failure of the normal expansion of part or all of a lung. This is a feature of the RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME of premature babies. The term may be used more generally to refer to failure of dilatation of a part that normally dilates. n the complete or partial collapse of a lung. a collapsed or airless state of the lung, which may be acute or chronic, and may involve all or part of the lung. See also microatelectasis. The primary cause of atelectasis is obstruction of the bronchus serving the affected area. In fetal atelectasis the lungs fail to expand normally at birth. that present at (primary atelectasis) or immediately after (secondary atelectasis) birth. that affecting only a lobe of the lung. that affecting only a lobule of the lung. congenital atelectasis in which the alveoli have never been expanded with air. The images of foreign body aspiration on chest radiographs are typically nonspecific although it may reveal areas of increased opacities, postobstructive infiltrate or hyperinflation, and atelectasis. 6) Diffuse 0 Biopsies without or with 14 diffuse crush artifact/ atelectasis and/or hemorrhage,g No. Physiotherapy aims to address well-known pathophysiological effects of abdominal surgery on the respiratory system including atelectasis (Duggan and Kavanagh 2005, Hedenstierna and Edmark 2010, Tusman et al 2012), reduced muco-ciliary clearance (Bilgi et al 2011, Gamsu et al 1976, Konrad et al 1993), diaphragm dysfunction (Blaney and Sawyer 1997, Ford et al 1983, Kim et al 2010), reduced lung volumes (Cheifetz et al 2010, Fagevik Olsen et al 2009, Stock et al 1985) and reduced respiratory muscle and cough strength (Barbalho-Moulim et al 2011, Bellinetti and Thomson 2006, Kulkarni et al 2010). Caption: Figure 2: CT chest showing bibasal atelectasis, more prominent on the left. Effect of maxillofacial Fixation on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary Atelectasis. This precipitous decline in the status of the patient could be observed in something as simple as atelectasis after a diagnosis of ACS. Chronic atelectasis or pleural fibrosis can lead to spinal curvature. The scan revealed mild to moderate ascites with mild bilateral pleural effusion with passive atelectasis of underlying lung parenchyma (Figures 2-6).

On the corner of Kniprodestraße and Hanns-Eisler Straße, a former supermarket-turned-thrift-store sits just northwest of two of Berlin’s refugee camps and just southeast of Mühlenkiez, a community built in the late 1970s. At the end of May, the warehouse—abandoned for over a year—entered a new era with the opening of Prenzlauer Berg’s KulturMarktHalle, a neighborhood meeting point which aims to bring together people of different backgrounds. 80-year-old Ursula Sonnert said she moved into Mühlenkiez over 40 years ago. She watched the building turn from grocery store, to thrift shop, to abandoned warehouse. Just two months ago, when volunteers began cleaning it out, Sonnert witnessed the beginnings of its transformation into the KulturMarktHalle. Sonnert, who bustled about the opening on Wednesday evening, expressed great interest in the project but also wondered how the space would develop going forward. The possibilities seem endless, and other attendees expressed many different hopes—and some uncertainties—about the future of the hall. Anja Seugling, the project’s PR representative, helped shed light on the KulturMarktHalle’s goals and conception. Three years ago, while doing volunteer work with newly-arrived refugees, Seugling met Ludger Lemper—another one of the initiative’s main organizers—as well as a group of other individuals involved in the project. It was with these lessons in mind, Seugling said, that Lemper noticed the abandoned building in Prenzlauer Berg. Since the building straddled two very different communities—one with residents that had lived in the area for decades and the other with migrants who had only arrived recently—it would be the perfect spot for old and new Berliners to come together, Seugling said. Thus the idea for the KulturMarktHalle was born. Five main organizers headed the project, Seugling and Lemper among them, but almost 50 other volunteers helped when they could, Seugling said. The team had a big task ahead of them, as they began to envision eclectic uses of the hall. They wanted the building to serve as a setting for cultural events like art exhibits and theatrical performances, but they also planned a social side to the Markthalle and collected ideas for social activities from people in the neighborhood. Seugling said the team even began a small consulting program to help refugees start their own businesses, while aiming to offer the hall as a space to host such businesses. But the organizers ran into one major problem: getting access to the building turned out to be an arduous process, Seugling said. Determined to continue the project despite this challenge, volunteers designed and built a mobile café that doubles as a small stage, she added. Then, two months ago, the team unexpectedly got the keys to the building. They could finally pursue their original dream. After unofficially opening the building for one weekend and seeing many curious locals come by, KulturMarktHalle’s organizers realized that they should launch the hall as soon as possible so that community members could help create the space, Seugling said. In preparation for the opening, three project volunteers curated work from 10 different artists for an installation called “Unter Einem Dach” (Under One Roof). Among the contributors were a number of artists from Syria, a woman from Italy, and even a man who lives in the neighborhood, Seugling said. On opening night, the artwork drew visitors’ attention in the building’s otherwise-empty main room. Attendees gazed upon a series of haunting black-and-white photographs, a colorful painting exploring the idea of family, and a sculpture that consisted of a pile of fake, white hands laid out on the floor like an island. In a second, smaller room pasted wall-to-wall with posters about the project, visitors lined up to purchase snacks from volunteers. On the patio outside, locals mingled amid the smoky smell of meat on the grill. But the question lingered: how would the KulturMarktHalle develop from this point forward? While many of the opening’s attendees saw a space full of potential, some emphasized what still needed to be done in order for the project to be a success. Golshan Fayal, who works as an integration facilitator at a nearby organization, stressed that she wants to see more refugees and migrants using the space. Mona Kebe, whose husband helped design the mobile café, said she hopes the project becomes integrated into a community which “accepts it and uses it” rather than treats it as something alien. She added that she hopes people of different backgrounds will come forward to help the project reach its full potential. Other attendees shared diverse and enthusiastic visions about activities the hall could host in the future. Seugling pictures German grandmothers bringing traditional cakes to the building on weekday afternoons to sell to young Berliners. As for Sonnert, she would love to see a regular workshop where young Berliners help the older generation—herself included—with computer troubles.

This empirical study explores the roles that Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Emotional Self-Efficacy (ESE) play in undergraduates’ mathematical literacy, and the influence of EI and ESE on students’ attitudes towards and beliefs about mathematics. A convenience sample of 93 female and 82 male first-year undergraduates completed a test of mathematical literacy, followed by an online survey designed to measure the students’ EI, ESE and factors associated with mathematical literacy. Analysis of the data revealed significant gender differences. Males attained a higher mean test score than females and out-performed the females on most of the individual questions and the associated mathematical tasks. Overall, males expressed greater confidence in their mathematical skills, although both males’ and females’ confidence outweighed their actual mathematical proficiency. Correlation analyses revealed that males and females attaining higher mathematical literacy test scores were more confident and persistent, exhibited lower levels of mathematics anxiety and possessed higher mathematics qualifications. Correlation analyses also revealed that in male students, aspects of ESE were associated with beliefs concerning the learning of mathematics (i.e. that intelligence is malleable and that persistence can facilitate success), but not with confidence or actual performance. Both EI and ESE play a greater role with regard to test performance and attitudes/beliefs regarding mathematics amongst female undergraduates; higher EI and ESE scores were associated with higher test scores, while females exhibiting higher levels of ESE were also more confident and less anxious about mathematics, believed intelligence to be malleable, were more persistent and were learning goal oriented. Moderated regression analyses confirmed mathematics anxiety as a negative predictor of test performance in males and females, but also revealed that in females EI and ESE moderate the effects of anxiety on test performance, with the relationship between anxiety and test performance linked more to emotional management (EI) than to ESE.

Currently, sickle cell disease has no widely available cure. However, if you have the disease, certain treatments can help with your pain. Good health care is important for people who have sickle cell disease, so see your doctor regularly. Work with your doctor to create a pain control plan that makes sense for you, and carry it with you if you go to the emergency room. · Mild pain is often treated at home. More severe pain may need to be treated in a clinic or hospital. · Fluids can help prevent dehydration, which can worsen pain. · Over-the-counter pain medicine can help with mild to moderate pain. · Stronger medicines called opioids may be prescribed for more severe pain. · Ask your doctor about a medicine called hydroxyurea that may decrease pain episodes. Some patients may benefit from taking a new medicine called L-glutamine oral powder. Talk to your doctor to determine if this medicine is right for you. · Other methods for managing pain include getting physical therapy, using a heating pad, or engaging in activities, such as listening to music, that help distract you from the pain.

Do you enjoy the college program that you’re enrolled in?– or do you completely dread school? Does the ability to earn money after college scare you or entice you? Are you in a college program in a field that you’re passionate about or one that has the potential for lots of money? The reason I bring this up is because I went to visit my brother out of town this weekend. In the middle of a classic drinking game, a few of us starting discussing college programs. One of the people mentioned that they were enrolled in a really interesting science program and that he loved his courses. He just wasn’t too sure about the work options after college. Another person chimed in by saying that they despised their program (Accounting), but the money after college made it all worth. Where do you guys stand? Are you enrolled (or applying) for a college program that offers the potential for money after college, or a program in a subject that you’re passionate about? This is the most important factor to consider. The main reason that some college graduates have an extremely difficult time with paying off their student loans is because they got a degree in a field that simply just don’t justify the income. There are many honorable positions (Social Work, Teaching, etc.) that are really rewarding but the income just isn’t there to justify $50,000 worth of student debt. This is why how you finance your education becomes really important. If you have your parents helping you, you plan on working, or you have a few scholarships, then you can enroll in a college program where you really won’t have to stress about making the big bucks right after college. If you plan on using student loans to finance your education, then you can get yourself into trouble with having to pay off massive amounts of debt post-college. We all have different plans for life after college. If you want to perhaps venture off on your own and pursue your own business, college will be a learning experience for you. An experience where you learn how to network with people and how to survive on your own. For the entrepreneurs out there, college can also be the perfect time to start working on your side business. If you enroll in a less challenging program, you can have lots of time to network and start developing your business ideas. If you plan on working in a typical 9-5 position post-college, then you might want to pursue a program where there’s plenty of work opportunities. College will be your chance to work on interviews, networking, and many transferable skills. Your parents forcing you to go to college is not the correct answer here! You must really understand why you’re going to college. More specifically, you must be aware of why you’re enrolled in a specific program. If you’re going to college to meet people and experience freedom, then it doesn’t really matter what you study. If you on the other hand, are looking to build a resume and a long-lasting career, you’ll want to be in reputable program. College will also provide plenty of opportunities for you to network with your peers and with established professionals. Are you following your passions or your profits in college? I hate college with every bone in my body, thank heavens I’m almost finished. My future plans right now don’t have me even using my degree but I figure I might as well finish since it’s paid for. So I guess you could say my degree is following profits(it’s a degree in mathematics) but my plans have me following my passion. I majored in what I wanted, Film Studies and Art History. Not only because it was what I was interested in, but it was also what I wanted to do after Graduation, and I did, and am still going strong. It’s awesome, I can tell you that, best job ever. I went to University during the economic boom and finished during the recession–frankly I wish I never went to school as I would have been far more financially sound. The debt is what kills you, and lets not forget all the wages you would have earned if you were not in school.

Using the writer's workshop model, in six weeks and thirteen sessions, students will be given the materials and toolkit to learn-- through reading exemplars--implement--by writing and revising--and share--through a printed and bound literary magazine that will be submitted to national competition. Students will also submit individual pieces for scholarship and accolade and participate in both school and citywide readings. This celebration of writing will not only give students the tools to read and write better, while providing a safe-space after-school in institutions that do not have the funds or faculty to in-school extracurriculars, but also teach self confidence, self-expression, imagination, creativity, vocabulary, outlining skills and constructive criticism. Using the workshop model, students will read exemplars and be encouraged to share and revise their own creative works. The combination of our time in each school is a printed and bound anthology, that would be sent to national competition. Students will submit individual pieces for scholarship and accolade and participate in both school and citywide readings.

Dentures have helped millions of adult Americans who have lost their teeth restore their smiles and their confidence in the way they look. Having a full set of teeth affects everything from your profile to what you can eat on a daily basis. Find out if dentures can help you and know what to expect when you start the process of getting custom dentures made at TruCare Dental in Garland, TX. There are two main types of dentures that dentists can create: complete and partials. Complete or dentures fit over the entire gum line when the patient has a row of missing teeth. The device suctions over the gums tightly and closely resemble the appearance of pink gums and white teeth. Your dentist can fit you with immediate (placed right after tooth extraction) or conventional dentures. Partial dentures are for patients who still have a few strong remaining teeth. Those teeth are used as anchors for the device, which can be designed to fill in multiple spaces. They can be removable or transitional (space maintainers). Some patients have sufficient bone tissue to get implant-supported dentures, which use two or more dental implants as anchors. Dentures will restore your ability to eat your favorite foods. They also will help you pronounce your words more normally—you need your teeth to make certain sounds. Additionally, dentures will help maintain the structure and shape of your jawline and face. Most of all, they will make you feel more comfortable smiling in public again. Your Garland, TX dentist must take accurate impressions of your gum line and the remaining teeth in your mouth to have a custom denture created for you. After the initial appointment, you’ll return in a few weeks to be fitted with your new device. You'll let your dentist know how it feels, and adjustments will be made if needed.

Banker, magistrate, municipal official, Mayor of Winnipeg (1883). Born at Queenstown, Upper Canada on 27 August 1837, son of Gilbert McMicken and step-brother of Albert McMicken, he was educated at Queenstown public schools and the Toronto Academy. He married the daughter of Arthur Johnson in 1859. He served as Postmaster and collector of customs at Clifton. In 1860 he went into the grain business at Windsor, and after Confederation became head of the western division of the government secret service. In 1871 he came to Winnipeg and became a banker, initially assisting his father at the Government Savings Bank and then opening his own bank (McMicken’s Bank) in 1872. He was a member of the second and third city councils in Winnipeg and was elected Mayor in 1882; his term was marked by the failure of the city to recover from the economic bust after the boom of 1881-1882. He lost heavily in land speculation, like many others. As banker he had raised funds for the City of Winnipeg through bond issues, and as mayor he became associated with overspending. Among his accomplishments were construction, with A. W. Ross, of the traffic bridge over the Assiniboine River at Osborne Street in 1882, the development of the first race track, and the establishment of the first cricket club. He was considered one of the best rifle shots in Canada. He was provincial police magistrate from 1900 to March 1913,when he retired due to ill health. He was a founding member of Augustine Presbyterian Church. McMicken also established the IOOF in the province. McMicken died at his Winnipeg residence, 61 Osborne Street, on 30 July 1916. He is commemorated by McMicken Street in Winnipeg.

Lithium-ion batteries are the dominant technology used in electric and many hybrid cars, but Ioxus says its ultracapacitor systems can be more cost effective, smaller, and longer lasting. Electric vehicle company Tesla garnered headlines and worldwide attention last year when it announced a $5 billion Gigafactory in Nevada to make lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs for electric vehicles. And Tesla isn’t alone. Dollars are flowing into battery development as companies look for power packs that can quickly charge and affordably supply hundreds of miles of vehicle range. Those huge dollar volumes can make it hard for people to accept alternatives to batteries in electrically driven cars, says Chad Hall, co-founder and vice president of marketing for Ioxus, a company that makes ultracapacitors. A tiny slice of the alternative-energy vehicle world compared to batteries, ultracapacitors are growing in popularity thanks to falling prices and greater awareness from engineers and designers. But Hall says the battery hype can be hard to cut through. In that environment, ultracapacitor use has been able to grow by filling specific niches – buses, industrial off-highway equipment, some fuel-cell vehicles – but hasn’t found the same use in passenger cars, especially in the United States. For that to happen, Hall says his company and others have to make a vigorous case for the technology and win over engineers who have been selecting batteries because that’s a technology the auto industry has used for more than a century. Unlike batteries, which store electricity electrochemically and release power through a chemical reaction, ultracapacitors store charges electrostatically. Much in the same way that rubbing a balloon against someone’s hair creates enough static electricity to get the balloon to stick to the person’s head, ultracapacitors store vast amounts of charge in the microscopic pores of their systems. The lack of a chemical reaction means they can operate equally well at high or low temperatures, unlike batteries that lose effectiveness in colder weather, Hall says. The lack of a chemical reaction means they can accept large charges almost instantly and discharge that power without damaging their internal structures. Batteries tend to heat up when accepting or delivering large charges, and that heat can damage cells, lowering usable life. Those heat and charge issues are critical to vehicle designers because they determine the size and the weight of power systems in hybrid and all-electric cars. When designing hybrids and electrics, engineers specify vastly oversized batteries then use a small portion of the battery’s capacity – cycling between a 30% charge and a 70% charge typically – to avoid heat generation that would lower the system’s lifespan. Those oversized batteries add weight to the cars, reducing the range of all-electrics or lowering the fuel economy of hybrids. The big problem with using batteries in hybrids and electrics, Hall says, is that designers are trying to get two functions out of the same device – energy storage and power delivery/absorption. Batteries are great at storing energy, but they struggle to deliver it in large quantities when needed, and they can’t absorb it in big chunks. Ultracapacitors, on the other hand, aren’t very good at storing energy long term, but they have no problem receiving or delivering power. Designers could craft a similar system for cars, he adds, using the ultracapacitor as a sort of buffer between the battery and the drive system. The ultracapacitor could receive all of the power generated by the car’s regenerative braking system while it’s driving and allow that energy to trickle into the battery for longer-term storage. Or the ultracapacitors could deliver the power needed to get a car from a standstill to 45mph, delivering lots of power quickly, and letting batteries take over at cruising speed when power demands are much lower. The combined system is more expensive than using a large battery by itself, he adds, but the long-term ownership costs are lower due to increased service life. Where Hall sees the biggest opportunity, and where Ioxus sees some success in Europe, are mild hybrids – vehicles that shut off their engines while stopped and get some assistance from electric motors at low speeds, but ones that can’t run entirely on electricity, even for short distances. Mazda is using an ultracapacitor-based mild hybrid system in the 6 sedan in North America, Europe, and Asia. Peugeot also uses Ioxus ultracapacitors. Automakers have used mild hybrids as a less-expensive option to boost fuel economy. Because the hybrid system only activates right before or after a stop, or to provide a small boost when accelerating at highway speeds, the systems use much smaller batteries than full-hybrid (also called strong hybrid) systems do. “You don’t have the energy storage needs with mild hybrids, so that’s a much easier argument for us to make,” Hall says. Mild hybrids that have only the ultracapacitor, can eliminate the storage battery entirely, reducing weight and cost. He adds that he hopes the ultracapacitor successes with a few European products will translate into more mainstream automotive work. Ioxus has test programs going on with many major automakers, so Hall believes 2017 through 2018 could see a big increase in the number of non-battery hybrids on the market. Ultracapacitor manufacturers create vast amounts of surface area by using microscopically porous materials. The main ingredient is carbon – refined charcoal, effectively – broken into particles 5nm to 8nm in diameter. Thin layers of film or paper separators divide layers of the carbon from each other. Positive or negative charges move along the surfaces of the carbon, and positive or negative ions travel from those layers, through the separator, to positive or negative terminals. The systems can either be stacked together as square or rectangular cells or rolled into cylinders. Halls says that unlike advanced battery chemistries that rely on rare materials, ultracapacitors use inexpensive, widely available components. The most expensive part of the process, he says, is the purification process for the carbon. As part of a global expansion, Volvo Cars plans to invest $500 million in a new U.S. plant, the first venture into this country from the company owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding of China. Volvo Cars has not yet announced where it will build the plant, but officials say they have a short list of potential locations. The move expands Volvo’s industrial operations to three key continents. It has two factories in Europe, two in China, and the future plant in the U.S. As part of a corporate renewal plan that began in 2010, Volvo officials plan to create a global industrial footprint, redesign its product range throughout the next four years, introduce modular vehicle technology, develop new safety technologies, and design a range of connectivity services. Mercedes-Benz engineers will work with Nissan and Renault designers to develop a luxury pickup. Based on the Nissan NP300, a truck co-developed with Renault that Nissan sells in South American and Europe, the Mercedes truck will debut by the end of the decade. Research from scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) show that electric vehicles (EVs) will meet the daily travel needs of drivers longer than commonly assumed. Previous assumptions were that EV batteries would be retired after losing 20% of their energy storage or power delivery capability. The Berkeley Labs study shows that the daily travel needs of drivers continue to be met well beyond these levels of battery degradation. Powertrain research leader Samveg Saxena analyzed driving patterns and found that batteries that have lost 20% of their originally rated energy storage capacity can still meet the daily travel needs of more than 85% of U.S. drivers. Berkeley Lab researchers analyzed nearly 160,000 driving itineraries from the National Household Travel Survey conducted by the Department of Transportation showing when a car was parked or driving. By altering variables and assuming Nissan Leaf-like EV battery sizes, researches created more than 13 million individual daily state-of-charge profiles. California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) of Pomona is receiving a SMTCL VMC850E vertical machining center (VMC) to give students hands-on experience. The school’s Formula SAE and BAJA SAE race teams will benefit from the machine. The teams already use the SMTCL Brio for producing parts and wheels, and the VMC will expand their access to equipment. “What is great about the VMC850E is that it comes with everything; coolant thru the spindle, spindle chiller, chip conveyer, 10,000rpm, and even an oil skimmer,” says Prof. Clifford Stover. Students will use the machine to cut costs and save time before Formula SAE competitions begin. “Cost is one of the judging factors in Formula SAE, and it is up to the team of students to ensure that they stay within budget,” Stover says. Before receiving the Brio, the team had to send all designs to an outside source, increasing costs and infringing on race practice time. SMTCL has been working with Cal Poly Pomona for more than five years. Emissions rules and electrification trends in commercial vehicles fuel innovation in hydraulics. About half of lift trucks sold in North America feature battery-powered electric drives to cut emissions, and governments in the United States and Europe are pushing for stricter emissions rules on diesel-burning equipment. Officials with North Carolina’s HAWE Hydraulics say fluid power can help both groups of commercial vehicle operators increase power while minimizing emissions. With giant construction cranes and off-highway equipment, the inclusion of work vehicles in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulations has been rippling through suppliers such as hydraulics companies. About one-third of all cars and trucks recalled in the U.S. for safety defects are never brought to the dealer for repair. Newer vehicles have higher completion rates, but the completion rate is much lower for older vehicles. Honda called for this type of legislation on Nov. 20, 2014, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Commerce, covering faulty Takata airbag inflators found in many Honda vehicles. In response to the Takata recall, Honda has mailed millions notifications in both English and Spanish, made phone calls, used social media, sent notices by registered mail and overnight delivery services, and even hired special investigative firms to locate registered owners. Manufacturers representing more than 99% of sales met 2012 and 2013 standards. The remaining manufacturers have more time to comply. Optional flexibilities built into the standards, such as improved air conditioning systems and the use of fleet averaging, continue to increase consumer choice, spur technology innovation, and decrease compliance costs. 2013 vehicles averaged a record 24.1mpg – up 0.5mpg from 2012 and nearly 5mpg since 2004. Fuel economy has increased in eight of the last nine years. There are more than 3x as many 30mpg vehicles available than in 2008, and SUV fuel economy has been increasing faster than for other vehicle types. Alcoa has received conditional commitment for a $259 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program, the same program that funded investments from Ford, Nissan, and Tesla, as well as the failed loan to bankrupt plug-in hybrid producer Fisker Automotive. If finalized, the loan would support the company’s Alcoa, Tennessee, manufacturing facility, where the company will produce high-strength aluminum for North American automakers looking to lightweight their vehicles. The plant’s expansion will provide additional aluminum sheet manufacturing capacity intended for the U.S. automotive market. This type of high-strength aluminum helps boost fuel economy by reducing vehicle weight while still maintaining safety. High volume models, such as the Ford F-150, are using aluminum-intensive designs to boost fuel economy performance through lightweighting. Alcoa officials estimate that expanded production will create an additional 200 permanent full-time jobs, in addition to 400 jobs at the peak of construction. To get funds to expand or buy out founders, understanding how investors view the motor vehicles industry can be key. Private equity firms have been active in the automotive industry for years, to mixed reviews. Their objective is straightforward – deploy capital from high net worth individuals and institutions by taking equity ownership in a company for five to seven years and managing it for strong returns. The ways they achieve this can be seen as constructive or exploitative depending on the beholder, since some of the methods of maximizing cash flow (e.g. shrinking staff, cutting research and development) emphasize short-term gain versus long-term growth. The approaches vary by firm, but we at IRN believe that private equity investors have been good for the auto industry in providing funding and imposing rigor on companies that could benefit from it. Because their expertise is more strongly in finance than manufacturing, private equity firms often seek assistance from experts in evaluating an investment. IRN has participated in many due-diligence engagements to provide an objective third-party assessment of how an automotive supplier is positioned and whether it can meet the equity firm’s expectations. The priorities and concerns of equity firms can vary, and their final decision is occasionally surprising. In one case, IRN was retained to review a maker of complex, injection-molded automotive components. The company had two new products – one already commercialized and another in development – that were expected to accelerate sales growth and profitability. From our perspective, the supplier was a solid choice for investment, a decent company with room for improvement and upside potential. As is usually the case, the offering memorandum was positively glowing, but stripping away the hyperbole still left a company with a good story to tell. The company’s management bench was not deep enough. Some equity firms bring in new managers, but that was not the philosophy of this firm. The message is that succession planning matters. The company was not able to accurately forecast its business. During the period of due diligence, the supplier reported monthly results that were significantly more positive than its forecast had been. Not being familiar with the dynamics of the automotive industry, this particular equity firm was convinced there was a business management problem. They decided that the company was a chugger, one that would plug along with positive results but not be a breakout success. This firm’s objectives required finding some blockbusters. It is certainly disappointing for a successful automotive supplier to learn that it is not going to make the grade despite having a good report card. When money is needed to fund growth or buy out existing owners, it is difficult to be at the mercy of equity firms that may perceive things differently. Future revenue stream and bottom line performance are always key factors for private equity firms, so suppliers should focus on solidifying customer relationships and future orders, seek ways to grow a little faster than the market, and continue to look for a match.

Christian theology leaps off the pages of" A Christmas Carol" and is the essence of Dickens Ignorance and Want represent society’s abandonment of the poor and the consequences of that abandonment. Above all else, A Christmas Carol is allegorical. Dickens was a strong proponent of. A Christmas Carol is an extravagantly symbolic thing - as rich in symbols as Christmas pudding is rich in raisins. Dickens misses no opportunity to cram his thematic concerns into the bodies and. A Christmas Carol is a fairly straightforward allegory built on an episodic narrative structure in which each of the main passages has a fixed, obvious symbolic meaning. The book is divided into five sections (Dickens labels them Staves in reference to the musical notation staff a Christmas carol, after all, is a song), with each of the middle. A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens. A allegory Christmas carol interpretations a extended metaphor consisting of symbolism and all the elements of a novel. A Christmas Carol, is an allegory that is delivering several message by using characters and scenes. About “A Christmas Carol (Part 1)” A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol Date: First published in London by Chapman& Hall on 19. A Christmas Carol is an extravagantly symbolic thing - as rich in symbols as Christmas pudding is rich in raisins. Dickens misses no opportunity to cram his thematic concerns into the bodies and. Some Stories behind Christmas Carols. The carol was sung during the Christmas Truce in the First World War in December 1914 as it was a song that soldiers on. What the Dickens: Interpretations of A Christmas Carol. Amanda Wilde 12/19/2005 When Charles Dickens first published" A Christmas Carol" in 1843, it was an immediate sensation, and its popularity continues to grow. Dive deep into Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Christmas carol definition: 1. a traditional or religious song that people sing at Christmas2. a song about Christmas or winter, sung at Christmas. Learn more. A Christmas Carol opens with Ebenezer Scrooge in his chilly ‘counting house’ on Christmas Eve (Stave 1). Outside London, the ‘great wen’ is shrouded in filthy brown fog. It is the ‘hungry forties’. GCSE English Literature A Christmas Carol learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers. The history of Christmas Carols. How Christmas Carols started and what they mean and represent in the customs of Christmas. The word Carol actually means dance or. A allegory is a extended metaphor consisting of symbolism and all the elements of a novel. A Christmas Carol, is an allegory that is delivering several message by using characters and scenes. Yes, analyzing Analysis isn't particularly exciting. But it can, at least, be enjoyable. Care to. A Christmas Carol Analysis. Literary Devices in A Christmas Carol. Dec 23, 2005. All are tortured by A Christmas Carol's highly idiosyncratic interpretation of hell: no longer having the power to aid one's fellow mortals. We are. A Christmas Carol study guide contains a biography of Charles Dickens, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes. A list of all the characters in A Christmas Carol. The A Christmas Carol characters covered include: Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Fred, Fezziwig, Belle, Peter Cratchit, Martha Cratchit, Fan, The Portly. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Past, Present and Christmas carol interpretations –. Some Stories behind Christmas Carols. On this page, there are some of the stories behind the carols below. The carol was sung during the Christmas Truce in the First World War in December 1914 as it was a song that soldiers on both sides knew!. After the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his lonely and miserable death, he changes his ways and becomes a charitable. A Christmas Carol Analysis Literary Devices in A Christmas Carol. Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory. Setting. When the Real World Ain't So RealWhatever we make of the Christmas ghosts and the adventures Scrooge has with them (Is he hallucinating them because guilt has finally gotten to him? Are they actual. A Christmas Christmas carol interpretations Trailer Jim Carrey stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who discovers the true meaning of Christmas, in Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. Watch Videos Analysis. A Christmas Carol is a fairly straightforward allegory built on an episodic narrative structure in which each of the main passages has a fixed, obvious. Christian theology leaps off the pages of" A Christmas Carol" and is the essence of Dickens A Christmas carol (also called a noël, from the French word meaning" Christmas" ) is a carol (song or hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas. A Christmas Carol study guide contains a biography of Charles Dickens, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A Christmas Carol Analysis Literary Devices in A Christmas Carol. Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory. Scrooge is angry, snappish, mean, miserly, and hates Christmas and. A list of all the characters in A Christmas Carol. The A Christmas Carol characters covered include: Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Fred, Fezziwig, Belle, Peter Cratchit, Martha Cratchit, Fan, The Portly Gentlemen, Mrs. Cratchit. What the Dickens: Interpretations of A Christmas Carol. Amanda Wilde 12/19/2005 When Charles Dickens first published" A Christmas Carol" in 1843, it was an immediate sensation, and its popularity continues to grow.

Many people wonder what’s the difference between alcohol dependence and addiction. Understandably, these two conditions are very similar and have overlapping signs Plus, some people use these terms interchangeably. However, knowing the differences helps people make informed decisions when seeking treatment. Addiction experts define dependence as a scale measuring degree and duration of use. They consider alcohol abuse an early stage of dependence. Others in the field characterize dependence based on levels of alcohol tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. They note that people may have physical dependence but not an addiction. However, addiction is often not far from becoming a full-fledged problem. Overall, there are two types of dependence. Physical dependence causes a conditioned physical response. Whereas, mental dependence causes a conditioned emotional response. Triggers, which motivate people to use, could be specific people, places, or events users associate with drinking. When physically dependent, triggers cause muscle pain, nausea, shaking, and sweating. When mentally dependent, triggers create anxiety or depression. What Does Alcohol Addiction Mean? The main determining factor of an alcohol addiction is cognitive chemical changes. People make drinking their priority even though it harms them. They also become irrational when they don’t have alcohol. These are all examples of your brain’s reaction to alcohol’s absence. Addiction also occurs without physical dependence. However, experts consider physical dependence the most severe form of addiction. Often, when physical dependence isn’t present, addiction is the result of mental dependence. The body doesn’t need the alcohol, but the brain truly believes, in order to function, drug use is necessary. Although dependence and addiction are different, they have similar signs. People who notice these signs in themselves or others need to seek treatment. Those with alcohol problems can’t control how much they drink or quit when they want to. They start to build tolerance, so they need more drinks to get the same euphoria. Often, drinking starts in the morning and may last all day. Likewise, drinking itself takes up a lot of their time. Instead of participating in activities they love or visiting with family members, substance abuse becomes priority. Furthermore, those struggling with alcohol use continue drinking despite the harmful effects. Therefore, frequent use may damage health and relationships, yet alcohol use continues. Typically, they experience withdrawal symptoms when they try quitting.

How Do Universities Evaluate My Profile? Many students ask us questions such as, "How important are my GRE/TOEFL/IELTS scores? Does Work Experience or Research work increase my chances of admit? Will I get into this University with a 6.3 GPA?" Etc.. To get a better idea on your profile, it's important to know how Universities evaluate a Student’s profile? The University admissions department, consisting of faculty members of your course, consider all the above factors of your profile, but the weightage given varies. This is the most important aspect of your profile! Your faculty gives maximum weightage to your GPA, because this directly reflects your expertise in the subject. Universities usually consider grades of your last 3 or 4 semesters, especially grades in the subjects relevant to the course you’re applying to. Any relevant research work, paper publications, Certifications, and final year projects all have a fair impact on the admissions panel. Your most recent work experience is another major aspect, given that it’s relevant to the course you’re applying to. If you’re someone who has been working for 3+ years, your work experience is usually given more importance than your academics, given your work is in the same field as that of your course. Your internships also count as work experience but they're not as impactful as a full-time job experience. Remember that work experience is not mandatory for a student to apply for majority Master's courses. It's good to have work experience as it will increase your chances of admit but not compulsory. There are a handful of Master's courses that require work experience, especially a few Management courses, so please check the course website before you apply. Keep it mind that Universities give maximum weightage to your most recent "learning experience" at the time of application, be it work or study . GRE scores in most of the cases, especially for top Universities in USA and Canada, are mandatory to submit. The Top Universities of other Countries where it's not mandatory, take GRE to be an added credential! A good GRE score translates into strong Analytical and logical skills, which are important tools to pursue your Graduate courses. In some cases, we have seen students with low academics, getting admits into decent Universities because of good GRE scores. Stament of Purpose is a letter you write to the admission panel about yourself, your past expereinces, and why you want to pursue Master's degree? Some Universities will ask you to answer specific questions regarding yourself . SOP is a great opportunity to express your interest, expereinces, and ambitions in your field of study. All the members in the admission panel will go through your SOP, as this is the one way of getting to know you personally (Unless you are asked to give a personal interview, which some Universities do. Please check the University website). Letters of Recommendation are written by your professors or senior-employees under whom you have studied or worked. You're asked to submit 2 to 3 LORs in your application. Through these letters, the panel will get to know more about your work and performance. Both SOPs and LORs combined, can be pretty strong influencers on the admission decision. Sometimes, those students who don't have good academics or GRE scores can convince the panel through strong SOPs and LORs. English based tests scores are mandatory for all International students who are from Countries where english is not a Native language. Every University has a minimum score requirement, using which they screen the applicants. They're not as important as the above factors for securing admission but the applicants have to cross the Minimum requirement. In some cases, students who do not cross that requirement might be given admission but have to finish Advance English courses in the University. Please check the University's website for alternatives! But, incase you're planning to apply for Research or Teaching assistantship after you get an admit, having high scores in these tests would increase your chances of getting an assistantship offer. All these above aspects are considered by the panel while making an admit decision and no one aspect is "The important", given you cross the minimum requirements.

For my New York Times column, Poison Pen, I wrote this week about arsenic in drinking water, or more specifically on the increasing scientific awareness that this element - odorless, tasteless - is slowly being revealed as major public health threat. The focus of that piece is the way that arsenic, in the part-per-billion level, is able to undermine basic health, from immune system damage to corrosive effects on cells. And that's important when we think about how to protect ourselves. But my focus here is to talk a little more about why we find it in water at all. That's not only true here, of course. There's high levels of contamination reported in Canada, in South America, in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. But the United States makes a good case study for why the soil and the rocks under our feet so often contain one of our most reliable poisons. The map above, from the U.S. Geological Survey, is mostly focused on results drilled into bedrock aquifers. The legend is given in micrograms per liter which is equivalent to parts per billion. To put that in context, the EPA safety standard for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metallic element, sometimes referred to as a metalloid. It's the 33rd most common element in the Earth's crust. I talked to USGS geochemist David Smith, from the agency's Denver office, about why we might see it in such different locations as California's Central Valley (you'll see it glowing like warning lights on the map, right up the middle of the state) and coastal New England. In the west, says Smith, arsenic is often deposited by the same hydrothermal fluids that make the area such a hotbed of mineable ores. "It's not uncommon to see high arsenic in areas where you find gold mining or tungsten mining," he says. In New England (where a belt of arsenic-tainted water stretches from coastal Maine down into Massachusetts) the source is more often ancient marine shales and schists. It's a reminder of long-ago arsenic rich oceans which seeped into the clay-dense materials at the bottom of those seas. The fine clays trapped the arsenic and kept it there, even as they gradually turned to rock. In both cases, as underground water erodes the rock, it releases the minerals and elements from within. For instance, Wisconsin, where I live, is a spatter of contaminated wells on the water map but looks fairly benign on the soil map. Arizona, which has just few hot spots on the water map becomes "an arsenic province", as Smith describes it, on the soil map. Why such a difference? Part of the issue, Smith says, is that the water map reflects limited sampling. Some states have done extensive testing, some almost none. Unlike the soils map, "the arsenic map doesn't even approach national coverage" so this is not a very good comparison. Part of the issue is that soil and bedrock, of course, are not mirror images of each other. There are some similarities - both maps show elevated arsenic in the Mississippi River in Arkansas and Mississippi, both show concentrated arsenic levels in New England, parts of New Jersey, in southwestern Nevada, western Montana, among others. And, as you may have noticed, there is one other notable difference. The water map cites parts per billion. The soil registers in the parts per million. And it's the latter issue that has led public health experts to look at arsenic levels in crops grown in the "elevated" regions. For instance, both Mississippi and Arkansas grow rice in their river flood plain areas. (I just wrote a piece for Discover magazine about arsenic and rice but it will be behind a paywall for the next 30 days). However imperfect, these two maps still contain essential information - and an essential message. They remind us that we need to pay attention to what's under our feet if we want to be smart about dealing with problems like arsenic. "It's critical to understand the natural variation of potentially toxic elements in water and soil," says Smith.

Nun. By the Pen and that which they write! Who teacheth (to write) by the pen. as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. The Genesis of all Creation. I came across this small story from Maktub which reminded of my sufi teacher, Shaykh Muhammad al-Jamal, may God bless him abundantly and give him good health. The master says: “Write! Whether it's a letter, a diary or just some notes as you speak on the telephone - but write! In writing, we come closer to God and to others. If you want to understand your role in the world better, write. Try to put your soul in writing, even if no one reads your words - or worse, even if someone winds up reading what you did not want to be read. The simple fact of writing helps us to organize our thoughts and see more clearly what is in our surroundings. A paper and pen perform miracles - they alleviate pain, make dreams come true and summon lost hope. The word has power. The reason this writing reminded of sufi Shaykh Muhammad al-Jamal's teaching is because when I first took hand with him (sufi bayat or initiation), I found him giving instruction to his many students is to write his book (particularly the Book title, Music of the Soul at that time). He is a prolific writer, so he wrote a number of books on sufi path and as instruction manual in spiritual journey. I found it curious that instead of just reading, he ask his students to write the book (literally copy them) by putting aside regular time to do so as a regular practice. I was reminded of his instruction as I read this story from Maktub. God knows best the wisdom behind in its totality, and Shaykh himself about the wisdom behind the instruction of writing. But one can safely say that when it comes to deep teaching, mere reading is not enough (specially with a mind that's always having ten thousand distractions). Writing slows down and make whole the absorption process as compared to just reading. While simultaneously reading and writing - the writer is immersed more deeply into it. And by the grace of the Shaykh, the inspiration and gnosis with which the book was received and written, can also transfer to the reader and writer. Infact a sincere student enters into the magnetic field of the spirit of the guide when one absorbs himself or herself in the flow of consciousness through concentrating on the writing. It is as if like the hand and the pen and the person enters into the personality of the teacher when the student rewrites the book. Apart from this pure esoteric dimension of writing, writing can simply be a spiritual practice. From exoteric perspective writing can be therapeutic, psychologically it is an access and communication with the subtle, subconscious part of our self and ofcourse it is an avenue of expression to others which itself can be powerful healing too. In the spiritual practice of writing, there is another important benefit of it. Since the feeling and emotions and experiences in the realm of spirituality are often can not be shared so easily as any other conversation topic like the weather or traffic or price in the super market; keeping a spiritual journal, writing letters to friend of spiritual intelligence can become the most practical exercise. "If you want to understand your role in the world better, write. Try to put your soul in writing, even if no one reads your words.." A human being is not only flesh and bones but also of spirit, thus the need to share experiences of spiritual nature is also a drive of the soul. It begins with an awareness of the hidden world, and awareness of what is within. We then turn inward in order to process what we've absorbed. Or, as Buddhist author Natalie Goldberg puts it, to "compost" our vision. Then we return our attention to the outward world by writing - connecting with others through the words we choose, nourished by the composting we've done in the soil of our lives. Writing can be a more fulfilling spiritual practice if we approach it with the presence what Zen calls beginner’s mind. Natalie Goldberg says: "Beginner’s mind is what we must come back to every time we sit down and write. There is no security, no assurance that because we wrote something good two months ago, we will do it again. Actually, every time we begin, we wonder how we ever did it before. Each time is a journey with no maps." When we realize our words can help, heal, enlighten, and bring peace to our human family, we begin to realize the significance of our practice. Writing is a sacred practice. The knowledge of writing was given to mankind as a gift to accelerate its journey of consciousness. That is why in the Final Testament the knowledge transmission is symbolized by the saying that "God taught by Pen" where Pen is an archetype of that which records. The concept of divine tablet that records everything is found in other place of the Quran. The reflection of this concept that 'everything is written / recorded' in some Cosmic Repositories can also be traced in human DNA which even though being so tiny in shape contains the whole host of human characteristics from not only parents but many past generations in terms of gene. That tiny microcosm or DNA, the repository of human genome contains approximately three billion chemical base pairs. Imagine that! From microcosm to macrocoms. As above so below - as outer, so is inner rules. The divine law of recording also applies to the spiritual inner works and dimensions. In far east the practice of sacred calligraphy is a sacred art that combined meditative instruction text from higher masters with beauty and concentration. The Illuminated Manuscript writers were sacred artists and spiritual personalities also practiced the art of writing as spiritual practice, specially in the Judeo Chrstian tradition before the invention of printing press or its popularity. Even today we find many spiritual teachers ask their students to keep spiritual diary, dream journal to record and give an opportunity for the inner self to express itself and register that to the outer world in a more clear way. The earlier practitioner of writing in human history when writing was still a privilege for common class - they were primarily writers of scared texts and scriptures. Thus at the genesis of writing is connected to sacred already. The central role of Quran had a major impact in Muslim world. In earlier days Quran was copied manually and many sufi saints had the practice of writing the Quranic scripture by hand. Even some used to earn living by copying the Quran. What people often forget that the very process of writing the holy scripture was practiced as a very powerful meditation practice. Like the Torah, each letter even the dots in Arabic Quran is sanctified. Thus any practice concerning its reading and writing, both holds great merit to the pious muslim. "The ink of a scholar is more precious than the blood of a martyr." - as it is found in Islamic Sacred tradition. Following the footstep of their Mystic Guide, Prophet Muhammad, many sufi saints used to send letters of instruction / advice to others to invite people to truth. There involved the practice of writing as well. The Hundred Letters of Shaykh Sharafuddin Maneri is a collection such valuable letters. Aurangzeb, a pious muslim ruler who ruled vast territories of India from 1658 to 1707, did not draw salary from state treasury but earned his own living by selling caps he sewed and selling copies of the Quran he copied by hand. Writing as spiritual practice can be traced in many great saints, philosopher and poets who all were brilliant writers of their time. After the loss of his Perfect Master, Shams Tabriz, it was through his ceaseless outpouring of grief of separation as writing that did Jalaluddin Rumi discovered himself and also found Shams in that very writing to the deepest extent that he calls one of his masterpiece during that time as "Diwan e Shams" (The Book of Shams). Little did Irina Tweedie know that her trip to India in 1959, at the age of fifty-two, would mysteriously lead her to a Sufi Master, and set her upon a journey to the "heart of hearts," the Sufi path of realization. Her teacher's first request of her was to keep a complete diary of her spiritual training - everything, all the difficult parts, even all the doubts. He predicted that one day it would become a book and would benefit people around the world. This diary spans five years, making up an amazing record of spiritual transformation . . . the agonies, the resistance, the long and frightening bouts with the purifying forces of Kundalini, the perseverance, the movements towards surrender, the longing, and finally the all-consuming love. From a psychological viewpoint, the diary maps the process of ego dissolution, gradually unveiling the openness and love that reside beneath the surface of the personality. Feeling beauty is a necessity for truth telling. I don't think you should write unless you feel the beauty of truth and the truth of beauty. Forget about feeling safe when you write. Forget about finding shelter and step out! Let's get in the ocean - dive into the dangerously deep part of life! May you also find a way to express yourself in writing, be it in private journal or print media or web. And thus discover the beauty and truth and in the process connect with the divine center from where all flows.

n. 1. (Old Eng. Law) A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts tending to defraud his creditors. a. 1. Being a bankrupt or in a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay, or legally discharged from paying, one's debts; as, a bankrupt merchant. 4. Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once possessed, or something one should possess). v. t. 1. To make bankrupt; to bring financial ruin upon; to impoverish. Verb 1. bankrupt - reduce to bankruptcy; "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"; "The slump in the financial markets smashed him" Adj. 1. bankrupt - financially ruined; "a bankrupt company"; "the company went belly-up"

Home Hindu Why do Indian women wear Bangles? The tradition of wearing bangles in India started way back in ancient times. However, even today, women love to wear bangles to enhance their feminine grace and beauty with the help of bangles that are available in various colors and models. The word bangle has been derived from the HINDI word Bangri or Bangali, Which in sanskrit gives the meaning “The ornament which adorns the arm”. In India and according to the traditions and customs, Wearing bangles is a must for a married women. In some communities there is a belief that golden bangles should not be worn alone, so they are teamed with some glass bangles which symbolizes the well-being of her husband and sons. In Some communities women are so superstitious that when changing the bangles they don’t remove all the bangles making their arms completely bare. They keep atleast one bangle to the arm until they wore another set of bangles. They believe empty arm brings bad luck. In Ancient days men used to go and work in farms and forests which involves lot of muscle work , while women used to do all the household work. Though house hold involves lot of work but when compared to men’s work it’s kind of small. By sitting at home and not doing much physcial work, there is a chance of blood pressure getting increased, which results in developing impatience. Inorder to put this in control, or in a way we can say to avoid such impatience problem from occuring, women were asked to wear bangles and some other ornaments waist belt, anklets, armlets. Even Ear rings also have their own significance. Read here to know: Why we pierce ears and why we wear ear rings.

Africa has a real challenge when it comes to using academic research and evidence to design policies. To conserve Earth's remarkable species, we must also defend the importance of science and scientific integrity. Successful group outcomes aren’t guaranteed by the simple recipe of ‘Just add diversity.’ Talking image via www.shutterstoc.com. The relationship between social science research and advocates and policymakers is undermined if they cherry-pick evidence that supports their goals, ignoring the wider field. Over the last six months a public consensus has emerged among academics, think tanks, community organisations, elements of the superannuation industry and most politicians about superannuation. What evidence do MPs turn to when they make policy? A new survey has found MPs are largely in favour of randomised controlled trials, even if they don't understand why. Our nation’s future depends on the quality of its thinking and its leaders. As such, science must be at the core of our national discourse. The death of evidence in education policy?

Originally founded by Hugh Dalton, President of the Board of Trade in 1944, the then ‘Council of Industrial Design’ was intended to ‘…promote by all practicable means the improvement of design in the products of British industry'. The Council of Industrial Design was originally directed by S C Leslie, but is generally considered to have been shaped by his successor Sir Gordon Russell, who used the Council to promote the case for good design to retailers and consumers, and to examine ways of reforming design education. The Council of Industrial Design was renamed the Design Council in the early 1970’s. By the 1990’s, the Design Council operated with a £7.5million grant from the Department of Trade and Industry and employed more than 200 staff, but it was considered to be remote and out of touch by the design community. A review in 1993/4 by John Sorrell proposed a smaller organisation focussing specifically on disseminating knowledge and inspiring action. A number of new intitiatives were launched, including; Design in Business Week, Design in Education Week and Millennium Products. In April 2011, partly as a result of the ‘austerity’ measures introduced following the credit crunch in 2007, the Design Council was reconstituted as a charity and merged with The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The Design Council is now an independent charity. It generates funds by charging for its advisory services and from donations, and it also receives a number of grants, including from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The current Chief Executive is John Mathers. It now summarises it’s mission as ‘…to bring the transformative power of design to the things that matter’, by ‘…stimulating innovation in business and public services, improving our built environment and tackling complex social issues’. Providing evidence of the value of design. In addition, it runs competitions that use design to address societal issues, offers support and coaching in the use of design and encourages good design practice and multi-disciplinary working. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) was established in 1999 as the successor to the Royal Fine Art Commission. It was created partly in response to ‘Towards an urban renaissance’, the report of Lord Rogers’ Urban Task Force. CABE was a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Communities and Local Government. It was originally chaired by Sir Stuart Lipton who suggested that its purpose was to ‘…inject architecture into the bloodstream of the nation’. Its function was to act as advisors to the government on architecture and the built environment and to undertake independent assessments of buildings designs. On 31 March, 2011, partly as a result of ongoing ‘austerity’ measures, core funding of CABE by the government ended and it was merged with the Design Council to become Design Council Cabe. It provides design reviews and advise to clients in the early stages of design. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recommends that local authorities refer major projects to Cabe for design review. This is intended to helps Local Authorities satisfy the Planning Act (2008) requirement to have regard to achieving good design. It provides independent advice on the design quality of schemes in London through the London Design Review service. It provides independent expert advice on the design quality of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and has published ten best practice design principles for NSIP’s. It provides workshops and plan reviews for local authorities. It provide support for neighbourhood planning. In April 2014, Pam Alexander replaced Paul Finch as the Chair of Design Council CABE. Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission. Presenting to design review panels.

A short glance back is necessary to understand the current crisis. The world economic crisis of the 1930s led to a decisive change of global capitalism. Previously, international power relations had shifted considerably in the wake of the Russian October Revolution. The age of the East-West system competition began. This was the crucial reason that capitalism seemed to have a more social or civilized face for a time in the wake of the crisis. After Roosevelt’s New Deal in the US and the defeat of fascism in the Second World War, a gradual development of the social state occurred in Europe. Unions were accepted as political negotiating partners and gained strength. Corporatist negotiating mechanisms were established with the inclusion of “social partners,” that is unions and trade associations – in governmental, political, economic and social decision-making processes. Fordism based on full employment policy, mass production and mass consumption arose in the capitalist metropolises. This was only possible because the rulers were forced to several political and social concessions under the pressure of East-West system competition given the economic debacle with all its disastrous political consequences. The appearance that capitalism had reached its golden age characterized by constant economic growth and developed centers lasted a long while. The long-hidden over-accumulation crisis inherent in neoliberal capitalism was revealed in the form of drastic sales breakdowns. The economic debacle described as the financial crisis does not have its causes in an alleged independence of the financial world or in irresponsible actions of financial jugglers with criminal energy. Rather, the financialization of capitalism was the structural component of the neoliberal world economy and describes the specific manifestation of capitalist contradictions. The present world economic crisis has the dimensions of its predecessor in the first half of the 20th century. Capitalism assumes a very new form. That is the only parallel. World-political power relations today are completely different after the collapse of state socialism and given the absolute military-economic dominance of the capitalist metropolises. The capital relation has become global, the system competition is ended and social concessions are no longer unconditionally necessary. The crisis can now be used very immediately to revitalize capital through further redistribution of the social wealth at the expense of the broad population. Why weren’t there mass protests in view of the unreasonable demands? The party system represents everything but the interests of the population. The ruling democracy has decayed to a formality through the neoliberal transformation of political institutions. Governments act as the helpers or errand boys of capital. The more incapable the parties become in developing their social goals beyond the simple logic of capital exploitation, the more directly they become the helpers of capital… The central political decision-making processes have long left the representative democratic institutions. Established interests prevent the development of state investment programs that could really catch on. So, there are tax cuts for the rich instead of public investments in the social infrastructure. Helping the poorer and stimulating demand in the Keynesian sense is not allowed by the neoliberal catechism. The crisis leads to accelerating the monopolization process and further increases the linkage of capital and the state… The state becomes incapable of guaranteeing the long-term social reproduction conditions, the more it loses its relative independence to capital. The squabbling in climate policy is a good example. The question is whether there is an alternative to this development. An alternative to the prevailing social conditions can hardly be discerned. This is an important reason for the lack of mass protests… Economic crises were always a poor foundation for emancipative changes. This is also true today. What should be done? The existing social model obviously has no future economically, ecologically or socially. More is necessary than a re-regulation where the dominant conditions at best are stabilized… Historical experience shows the concrete form assumed by capitalism depends essentially on the international and inter-social conditions of power. Obviously profits must be made as long as conditions of capitalism continue. How high they are and under what conditions and for what purposes they are carried out cannot be fixed from the start. Liberalism is the only great social narrative still left after the tests of the 20th century. It was in a triumphant advance since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Under the term “globalization,” it forced the whole world in its framework. It showed very different facets on this triumphant advance around the globe. Little remains of its original claim of being a “natural” world order beyond all ideology that supposedly sets the freedom of the individual in the center. “Liberalism” – as was increasingly clear in the last decades – is an economic order based on exploitation that stabilizes by splitting society into small groups in competition so a solidarity organization and opposition are impossible. The individual groups treat their distinction from the “rest” of society as individual freedom. In addition, liberalism does not recognize the sovereignty of nation-states if they do not submit to the economic dictates of liberalism. The liberal world order claims the right to break international agreements and guidelines wherever it likes and to intervene even in wars of destruction. Liberalism holds to a post-historical universalism – a post-historical final score of human society. This model strikes its limits more and more in its external frontiers. The increasing number of wars and conflicts are formally waged in the name of democracy and human rights but actually are for power, spheres of influence, resources and transportation routes. Wars waged by the West and the inflicted suffering have increased and not decreased. Liberalism fails in its own alleged moral values. It is an order based on the exercise of violence, oppression, violation of agreements, the breach of law and sovereignty of others and is not a free and peaceable order. When the West celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 70 years ago, this sounds like mockery and sheer cynicism in many regions of the world. No region of the world violates the basic ideas of human rights as vehemently and broadly as the West itself. is impacted in particular. It threatens to collapse vertically and horizontally, horizontally with the disintegration of the European Union into nation states and vertically through the increasing splitting and squabbling of the social stratification. Poverty has returned to an alarming extent in the US with the promise of creating prosperity “for everyone.” Consciously uncounted homelessness, permanently high unemployment, precariousness of living conditions, collapse and reconstruction of social security systems and decline of the infrastructure are only several catchwords for the homemade problems of a neoliberal EU based on austerity. The central promise to the citizens of the EU was not fulfilled. The inability of liberal elites in Europe to explain the turning away of citizens from their liberal project is astonishing. are assumed to be the causes of right-wing populism. Political or media connections between economic policy and social decay have not been analyzed. With this incapacity for analysis, the EU is obviously not reformable on the political or media planes. An insight in this connection is crucial. Citizens turn away because they feel cheated when the promise of growing prosperity is not fulfilled or is even twisted round completely. The representatives of liberalism see themselves threatened from the outside. The new right, Trump, Putin, China and a new authoritarianism are examples of this threat… A critical confrontation with one’s own basic assumptions is avoided. In liberalism, everything possible can be discussed – except for the central themes that are taboo for discussion. The discourse is narrowed. The economic order is a very central theme. All discussions about this theme are avoided. Discussion is nipped in the bud although an extensive confrontation with this question is indispensable. Who profits from the prosperity gained together? The past thirty years show the folly of leaving uncontrolled and uncontrollable actors to the “markets”! To the liberal elites, the real challenge s that face the EU – Brexit, the independence efforts of individual regions and the protests of the Yellow Vests – all these seem only generated by an intermeddling of dark, foreign powers, “probably” Russia.

Clearly the main theological point this Sunday is the resurrection. In light of today’s cultural views and fears about the end of the world and other apocalyptic scenarios, it is good to focus on this central truth of our faith. While it is tempting for people to focus on the multiples marriages legal case proposed by the Sadducees, it is best to keep the emphasis on the teachings of Jesus from vss. 34-38. Actually there are four distinct things happening in the complex answer that Jesus gives. Jesus addresses the end of the world in the following Sunday’s readings. It may be good to start with a reading of the two resurrection statements in the Creed with a contemplative pause. Then the focus of the question can become how the theology of the resurrection comes alive in our lives. Luke 20 & 22 has Jesus teaching in the Temple, yet leaving each night (Luke 21, 37-38), much of his teaching concerning the changes to come.

these are the mitred square patchwork socks i made so far. the first one was gifted to my aunt, the second one stayed with me and the third one went to live with a friend. as you can see they all have a strip of joined mitred squares as part of the pattern on the leg. there are two ways of doing this, depending on how you want to start: you can either start with the squares and then join the cuff and lower leg on the top and bottom edge, or you can start with the cuff, knit the squares onto the live stitches and then join the lower leg - or cuff in case you start toe-up. i've talked a little about how to do this in this post already but thought a more detailed picture tutorial might be helpful. first something about the amount of stitches you will need: i'm showing a 60-stitch sock here, but if you need more or fewer stitches for your socks it is a very simple matter to figure out how many stitches you need for your squares. for a 60-stitch sock i like to have 6 squares. 60/6 = 10. that means each square is supposed to have 10 stitches on the top edge. i need 10 x 2 +1 = 21 stitches per square for a 60-stitch sock. for a 64-stitch sock you could divide by 8. 8 squares à 8 top edge stitches: 8 x 2 +1 = 17 stitches per square. or 8 squares with 19 stitches per square (9 x 2 +1 = 19). there are many ways to do divide up your stitches. just remember that you need an even number and that stitches for socks are usually multiples of 4. usually when you knit mitred squares you knit a wrong-side (WS) row first = you knit across all the stitches first, turn and then decrease for the first time on the second row. with these sock squares you DON'T DO THIS! right after casting on you turn, slip the first stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front (hold on to your tail end if you have to) and knit to one stitch before the center stitch. in my case the center stitch is the 11th. i have 9 stitches on the right needle and 12 on the left. the decrease happens over the 3 center stitches: slip the 10th stitch (to the right of the center) knit-wise. pass the slipped stitch over the k2tog. you can see how the passed stitch slants to the left in the picture. that stitch is the new center stitch. you have decreased 2 stitches both to the left and right of the center stitch. knit to the end of the row. there should be the same amount of stitches on each side of the center stitch. turn, slip the first stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front - you do this with every first stitch! - and knit across all the stitches on the wrong side. turn, slip first stitch (wyif) and knit (8 stitches) to the stitch before the center stitch. you can easily make out the center by the slanting stitch below it - indicated by the tip of my darning needle. if it helps, you can use a clip-on marker but i find that rather fiddly since it needs re-placing every other row. there are not many stitches - when in doubt just count from both ends inwards. if you have trouble identifying the right side of your square you can use a marker for that too, of course. decrease again by slipping the next stitch knit-wise, k2tog and passing the slipped stitch over. knit to the end of the row, turn and knit across all stitches on the wrong side. here i've indicated the slanting (passed-over) stitch below the center once more to show where you need to decrease: slip the stitch to the right of the center-stitch, knit the next 2 together and pass the slipped stitch over. continue this way until you have only 3 stitches left - knit these 3 stitches on the WS and turn. what you would do on a normal mitred square is a final decrease to end up with one remaining stitch that will be pulled through. DON'T DO THIS! instead, slip the first stitch as usual, knit the next two together as usual and STOP THERE - DO NOT finish the decrease! when you look closely at the right edge of your square you should be able to count 9 neat edge stitches (they look like stacked Vs) - the 10th is the one still on your needle. if you finished the decrease, the last passed stitch would be the 10th edge stitch and the one remaining on the needle after that would create an 11th one belonging to that square. we don't want 11, we only want 10. just trust me and don't finish the decrease. 9 black arrows and a red one. the red one indicates the 10th edge stitch which is only created when you knit the unfinished decrease together as one stitch at the end of the first WS row of the next square. starting with the red-ish one on the left there are 10 neat edge stitches (stacked Vs) - not including the one on the needle. starting with the one right next to the needle - indicated by my darning needle (the square in the above picture is the next one already but it's the same on all of them) - pick up all 10 stitches with the right side of the square facing you. the last one might be a little tricky to find - try not to mistake it for one belonging to the bottom edge. turn your work, slip the first stitch purl-wise with the yarn in the front - this is a little tricky with backwards loop cast-on stitches but possible. when you slip the first stitch of a backwards loop cast-on with the yarn in front, and then put the yarn back to continue knitting, the stitch will be twisted once or twice - leave it like that! knit across all the stitches on the wrong side until you reach the last two which are the unfinished decrease. knit these two together as one and then count your stitches. there should be 21. repeat decreasing across the center stitches on the right side just like you did on the first square. - don't forget to slip the first stitch of every row purl-wise with the yarn in front. - knit across all the stitches on the wrong side. - don't forget that you must not finish the very last decrease and that you have to knit these two stitches together as the last stitch on the wrong side row. pick up and cast on the stitches needed for your last square. here you see it from the wrong side, the two needle tips indicate the first and the last of the loops. there should be 10 in total. these loops like to hide behind the garter stitch when looked at from the right side and, because this edge is a cast-on edge, there is only one loop to go through - not two as with the previous side edges. note that these loops are slightly offset - be careful to only pick up the one loop you need. take your knitting as you would to knit a WS row. take the first square in front of your work - make sure the strip of squares is not twisted - and pick up the first one of the edge loops from front to back. with your yarn in front, slip the stitch onto the needle inserted through the first square and take the yarn back behind the needle again. here you can see what i meant previously when i said the stitch would be twisted. that's okay! use your left hand needle to help pull the slipped stitch thought the edge loop you've picked up. tighten the slipped stitch a little if necessary. knit across all the WS stitches. don't forget to k2tog the last 2. turn and decrease as usual on the RS. turn and pick up the second loop on the side edge of the first square. (the first loop may seem big and stretched out but don't worry, it will be fine! slip the first working stitch and pull it through the picked-up loop. knit across all the stitches on the WS, decrease in the middle on the RS. continue this way until you've joined all the side loops while knitting the last square. here i've indicated the third loop to be picked up and you can see the next ones quite nicely as well. this is what the join looks like from the right side. it may not be completely invisible but it looks neat and tidy and will be at the back of the sock anyway. the last side loop you pick up might be loose because it's basically the tail end already. if it is - it might be different with different cast-on methods and i must confess that i didn't try - just pick up the loop very carefully and try not to pull out the tail end. pick up the loop, pull the slipped stitch through and knit across the remaining two stitches. the very last decrease is the only one you actually finish. slip the first stitch, knit the last two together and pass the slipped stitch over. you have one stitch left on your needle. snip the yarn with a good 4-6" - 10-15cm tail end and pull it up - out of the stitch. DO NOT PULL TIGHT! the last stitch is supposed to stay a normal stitch size because we are going to connect the last little space between the squares with the invisible join that is often used in crochet. since the edge stitches on the top edge of the cuff look like crochet stitches we can treat them as such. doing this well help you neatly pick up all the stitches to continue knitting your sock. in the above picture you can see the stitch with the tail end and the very first edge stitch of the first square, indicated by my needle. thread your needle and insert it into the second edge stitch on the first square, to the left of the first one, from front to back. gently pull the tail end through. you are basically creating a new stitch on top of the first one (which might be a little small and hidden), locking down the last one at the same time. insert your needle into the last stitch, exactly where the tail end comes out, from the top down and pull through. tighten gently. this is the inside of the cuff. i like to go though two or three loops just below the top edge and then use a duplicate stitch to secure the tail end. be careful not to pull too much and distort the invisible join. this is the finished cuff. i have darned both ends but instead of snipping them both i pulled one to the outside between the first and last square to indicate the back of the cuff. you could of course use a stitch marker for this. i hope you can see how neat the top edge is. if all went right there should be exactly as many edge stitches as stitches required for your sock. in my case there are 60. now you can go ahead and pick up the stiches to create the rest of your sock. in general it does not matter where you start because the stitches are all the same. i like the start with the "new" first stitch of the first square (which we just created with the invisible join) simply because it puts the beginning of my round in the same place as the join between the squares. this is what the inside looks like. there will be a little ridge but it will flatten out with wear and wash and it's not bulky or uncomfortable to wear at all. i've picked up 20 stitches on one dpn - i like to divide my 60 stitches across three needles to work on the leg and foot of a sock. you can use mini cirulars or magic loop or arrange the stitches any other way you like, of course. all stitches picked up. if you find you have one or two stitches too many (or too few) for some reason - don't panic! it's not a problem. if there's too many just decrease them away in the next round or two and if you have too few just increase at the back of the leg. noone will ever know! now you can go on with whichever pattern you like. i like to purl the very first round after picking up the stitches - i find it makes for a neater transition. all the wonkyness, if you have any, will smooth out after washing. here is my cuff all done. i chose a contrasting colour for a pattern section (cuff drops pattern) and then changed back to the self striping yarn for the ribbing and bind-off. i used jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off - you need something stretchy when binding off the cuff of your socks. now you need to pick up the bottom edge - the cast-on edge - of your squares to finish off the leg. maybe count the loops on the bottom edge of your squares before picking them up to be sure you know which ones they are. i have inserted my needle into the first one of the square in the above picture. the green arrow indicates the 10th and last loop to be picked up on this square. the last loop might hide between the others a little. i started picking up the loops next to the join between the squares again. pick up all the loops around your cuff. it might be easy to confuse the join between the first and the last square for a loop to be picked up. only do so if, for some reason, you have a stitch too little. at this point you can continue knitting whichever pattern you want, finish the leg and go on to the heel. this is what i've done on the three pairs i showed you at the very top of this post. for the sake of this tutorial, and to try out if it worked, i decided to add another strip of mitred squares after another contrasting colour pattern section. it shows the second way of including mitred squares in your socks: working them with the live stitches already on the needles. you could use this either as i have here - to make the leg longer and add more squares - or simply to make matters easier. this way allows you to start with your cuff/ribbing first. you could start the sock toe-up and add the squares on the leg later that way too, of course. with the yarn you want to use for the strip of squares, cast on half your square-stitches +1; in my case 11 (21 stitches per square). take the sock cuff at the beginning of the round and knit 10 stitches of the cuff right onto the same needle next to the cast-on stitches. make sure you keep an even tension on the transition between cast-on and knitting. since i had 20 stitches on my dpn and i only need 10 for now i have to slip the remaining 10 onto another needle or a stitch holder. i didn't mind the other dpns hanging around while i worked on the individual squares but if your needles bother you, you can always slip the remaining cuff stitches onto a stitch holder or longer circular needle. i don't know if mini circulars are long enough to allow you to keep the waiting stitches on them and work on the square at the same time. magic-loopers should be able to keep all their stitches on one circular. - decrease over the three center stitches by slipping the first, knitting the next two together and passing the slipped stitch over. - don't forget that you must not finish the last decrease. pick up 10 stitches along the side (11 stitches on the needle because the first two count as 1!) and knit the next 10 stitches of the cuff. turn and knit across all stitches on the WS. don't forget to knit the last two together as one. the rest of the squares work exactly like the first one. you can either knit all your squares and then sew the first and the last together with the tail end or you can join them as you knit the last one the same way as described above. squares knitted onto live stitches will have a neat top edge, looking like crochet stitches. they are to be picked up just like explained above. for this sock i repeated the pattern section once more and then moved on to the heel straight away. you could make the entire leg of the sock just out of mitred squares. you can knit the next strip right onto the first, you don't have to do any pattern in between, and you can do as many strips as you want. you can make the sqares pretty much as big or small as you want too. you could make only two big squares with 61 stitches each (for a 60-stitch sock) or four not quite so big ones with 31 stitches each (for a 60-stitch sock) - these big ones would be big enough to make up the entire leg of the sock though. you could also have 10 tiny squares with 13 stitches each (for a 60-stitch sock). self striping yarn, especially one that creates narrow stripes, works really well for smaller mitred squares but you can use any yarn you want of course. a slow gradient yarn (e.g. schoppel zauberball) would look great too. it would also be fun to use different yarn left overs for each square and then use black for contrast to make the colours pop.

In this Instructable i'll describe how to build a illuminated Christmas tree ornament, which can be controlled over WiFi. Use your favorite browser (computer or smartphone) to connect to your Christmas tree ornament. And select the colors, speed and pattern. The Christmas tree ornament has it's own web server. And all code runs on a build-in Wemos/ESP8266 board. Everything else it requires is a 5 Volt (USB) power source and a WiFi connection. This Instructable contains diverse steps. It starts with three code examples. The first example is a simple Arduino sketch, in Autodesk Circuits, using a NeoPixel ring. This example is the base of this build. Next step is a simple webserver using a Wemos board. The third code example explains how to execute functions at specific time intervals. After these coding examples, it's time to create the design. This is based on a regular icosahedron. This is a completely symmetrical geometry with 20 sides. The design was created in Fusion 360, and then printed using a 3D printer. After the assembly follows the final code. This is a combination of the three examples from the beginning of the Instructable. This Instructable is about creating a Christmas Tree ornament. But the web interface is not limited to Christmas ornaments. It can be used for many other projects. In fact, Anything that can be controlled by an Arduino can be controlled over WiFi. USB power supply (e.g. Ikea Koppla) or other 5 Volt power supply. Total material costs are about $10 for a single Christmas ornament. Use a decent USB power supply. The leds use maximum 60 milliAmpere each. 20 LEDs at full power require 1.2 Ampere (6 Watt). I'm using an Ikea Koppla USB power supply. It has 3 ports and can deliver 3.2 Ampere at 5 Volt. Building something with an Arduino and WS2812 LEDs is really simple. It might look intimidating, if you've never worked with an Arduino before. Some programming and/or electronics experience makes it more easy. But it isn't really that hard. And it's not necessary to purchase an Arduino if you want to try this out. There are websites where you can simulate an Arduino. One of them is Autodesk Circuits. I've made an Arduino example using a NeoPixel ring. This pixel ring example, is the base of this Christmas ornament. It uses an external library (Adafruit NeoPixel). So I don't have to worry about changing the LEDs colors. All I have to do is use the library functions. The code defines the RGB values of 12 colors in 3 arrays. This are the 12 colors, used by the web interface for controlling the led strip. There is also a self-defined function. The setColor function can be called from anywhere within the program. You can change the colors if you like, by altering the RGB values. More colors codes can be found at Wikipedia. "This class will introduce you to the Arduino world. You'll learn the basics, build your first project, and so much more. Each lesson builds on your skills, infusing new knowledge and techniques along the way. And most of these classes can be made with Autodesk Circuits. After programming an arduino with ws2812 LEDs, it's time to create a simple web server. This requires a Wemos (with an ESP8266) board, containing a WiFi adapter. The Wemos can be connected to your Computer using an USB cable. There is no need for additional USB to serial adapters. This is the advantage of a Wemos above an ESP8266-12. The Wemos can be programmed using the Arduino software. But it requires adding additional boards with the Boards Manager. This is described in the Wemos documentation. Alter the network credentials before compiling and uploading the code. This is a very simple web server. The Wemos will connect to the WiFi network and start a web server with only one page. Use the serial monitor to obtain the IP address of your webserver. This instructable requires some soldering. But this is minimized by using a WS2812b led strip. Solder the male headers on the Wemos board. Only the D2, +5 Volt and ground pins are used. This Means that the headers only have to be soldered on one side of the board. Solder 3 breadboard wires on the led strip (Ground, signal and +5 Volt). Remove the plastic from the USB connector. There is no room for such a connector. Add 2 wires to the usb cable: one to the +5 and one to the ground wire. These are used for directly powering the Leds. Don't forget to insulate these wires. Connect the +5 Volt wires from the USB cable and led strip. The same for the 2 round wires. Connect the signal wire, from the Led strip, onto the D2 pin on the Wemos board. Finally connect the usb connector to the Wemos board. There is no ground wire connected to the header on the Wemos board. This ground pin is directly connected to the usb connector. Which is connected to the additional ground wire. In my first Arduino neopixel code example (NeoPixel ring), color changes are made within the main loop. This requires a delay in the main loop, or the change of color will go too fast. During this delay the Wemos board just waits, and doesn't execute any other code. Except for background processes, e.g. handle the WiFi network connection. The final product will run a webserver to give control to the LEDs. Because of this there should be no waits inside the code, because this will give a non-responsive web-interface. In this example the LEDs are controlled by an internal timer. This osTimer is defined by the os_timer_setfn function, and then armed with the os_timer_arm function. The used value of 1000 is in milliseconds. By using this value, the Wemos timer will execute the timerCallback procedure every second. This procedure increases the color value, and changes the colors of the Leds. And all these actions are done outside the main loop. Beware that the code inside the osTimer must be very short. The code must be completed before the next timer is fired. This code also introduces a function called setColor. This function accepts 3 values, these are used to change the color of all the the LEDs. I've choosen for the icosahedron. It has the highest number of sides. There will be one WS2812 LED on each side, with 20 LEDs in total. The use of WS2812 LED strips limits the size of the geometry. The distance between the LEDs is 1.3 inch (30 LEDs per meter). This equals the upper limit for the sides of each equilateral triangle. After creating a paper prototype, I came up with a size of about 3 inch (75 mm). This gives just enough room for the Wemos controller and 20 LEDs. Drawing a regular icosahedron starts with 3 rectangles on each axis. These must be golden rectangles. A golden rectangle is a rectangle whose side lengths are in the golden ratio (approximately 1.618). We can calculate the sides for a golden rectangle with a diagonal of 75 mm (3 inch). Making use of the Pythagoras's theorem, gives 65 x 40 millimeter for the sides. Every single corner of the rectangles is a corner of 5 triangles. Next step is to create 20 triangles (using a plane through 3 points). And extrude them to the inside. Create a new fourth body with these 20 triangles. Each triangle is adjusted, so that the LEDs can be placed behind. Remove all support material. And make sure the LEDs fit in the holes. Use a sharp knife and sand paper to remove all irregularities. It is intended to cover the entire Christmas ornament with glitter. Therefore any irregularities will be visible in the end product. Before gluing the LEDS, draw a single line for the path of the LED strip. This line may not cross itself. Start with gluing the LEDs, inside the large 3D printed part. Begin with the final LED at the end of the strip. I've used a hot melt glue gun. Carefully bend the LED strip while processing. I used two LED strips in my first version. One with 5 LEDs and one with 15 LEDs. But it is quite possible to use a single LED strip of 20 LEDs. This saves some soldering. Connect the +5 and ground wires from the LED strip to the USB cable. The signal cable is connected to the D2 pin on the Wemos board. The ground is internally connected. Don't forget to check the LEDs before closing the Christmas ornament. Put some glue on the connectors, so they don't get loose. Place the Wemos board inside the Large 3D printed part. Make some room for the USB cable throughput, and glue everything together. This Arduino sketch file contains all code for a web server with a Wemos board. Alter the "ssid" and the "password" variables before uploading the code. All libraries used in this Arduino sketch. There are 20 LEDs. And these LEDs are connected to pin D2 on the Wemos board. These are the 12 colors defined (color 0 to 11), these are used for the LEDS. And the corresponding HEX values are used for the buttons. There are 13 values in this array. The last value in the array turns the LED off (#000000 = black). You can change these colors if you want. All 12 buttons have a "State". When a button has the value "True", then the corresponding color is displayed by the LEDs. By pressing a button, the state of this button changes. This also changes the text color of this button (e.g. from black [on] to white [off]). There are two buttons to change the timer value ("faster" and "slower"). The default waitTime value is 5. This value gives a timer interval of 500 milliseconds. This function finds the next color to display using the colorState array. It starts at the array position with the number lastColor. And returns the next index-value in the colorState array with the value 1. An example: The following array has color 2-7 turned off (white text). Executing this function with the value 0 returns 1. Using this function with the value 1 returns 8. This is the next color which has colorState "True". The colors are always displayed in a fixed order. When all 12 colors are off, all LEDs are turned off (value 000000). There are 2 modes of operation: Sparkle and Blink. And they each have a different code path inside the OS-timer. The sparkle mode differs a lot. It always starts with the first available color in the ColorState array. And then the nextColor function is called for each LED. Increasing the starting LED value, gives a sparkling effect. This function displays/refreshes the web page. There is only one web page in this sketch. The button colors are hard-coded. And these colors match the R-G-B-arrays. The setup part contains the first executed code, after starting the Wemos. It initializes the neopixels, WiFi connection, OS timer and the web server. Pressing a button on this page results in executing some code. For example: The first button on the web page (amber) has a reference (href) to "socketAmb". Pressing this button executes the code in the server.on part for "socketAmb). This piece of code alters the colorstate in the array for the first color (which is amber). The LED colors are changed by a timed function. The colors don't change immediate. The only thing in the main loop is to take care of the web server. All other processing is done by the timer function. The following Wemos code can be used as an example for a Christmas ornament without WiFi. This code makes it possible to use an arduino, instead of a Wemos (ESP8266). The arduino code is available at circuits.io (WS2812 Matrix Example). The main difference in the code is the port-name (port 8 instead of D2). Upper 5 LEDs: 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8 (counterclockwise). The number in the ColorMatrix corresponds to a R/G/B-color (see the first example for the colors). There are 20 rows with 20 LED colors. The main loop starts with the first row (this is row number zero in the code). And writes the 20 values to the LED strip.The show-function changes the colors. Then the code waits 50 milliseconds, before to continue with the next row in the matrix. There is no timer in this example. This makes it possible to execute this code with an arduino. The last step is decorating the Christmas ornament. First remove any excess glue, and all other irregularities. It is intended to cover the entire Christmas ornament with glitter. Also, the LEDs. These provide enough light to remain visible. Cover the 3D printed part entirely with glue. Use transparent glue of good quality. Sprinkle the glitter dust over the whole ornament. Use a box to collect the excessive glitter. This glitter can be reused. Continue until the entire ornament is covered with glitter. In this final step, I wish everyone a merry Christmas. Thanks, I changed the links.

A fortified château in Chamarande was built in the 16th century, probably for François Hurault, who in 1563 acquired the two seigneuries which make up the present estate and took up residence here. This castle corresponds to the present buildings of the commanderie. After the death of François Hurault in 1613, the château passed to his son Jean, who expanded the estate. However, the château suffered in the Fronde and was in a poor state by the time it was sold in 1654 to Pierre Mérault. He built the present castle. Its design was formerly attributed to François Mansart without corroborating documentary evidence, but is now attributed to Nicolas de l'Espine. A rectangular building surrounded by a moat forms the living quarters, flanked on either side by the service wings The entrance to the main courtyard is flanked by two pavilions, with the left one containing the chapel. In debt, Pierre Mérault sold the estate in 1684 to Clair Gilbert d'Ornaison known as Chamarande. The year after the sale, Louis promoted Bonnes into the 'county of Charamande' by letters patent. At d'Ornaison's death in 1737, the château passed to his first cousin and heir, Louis de Talaru, marquis de Chalmazel. The architect Pierre Contant d'Ivry worked on the château for de Talaru, building new service quarters beyond the secondary route near the village, and to the estate added an orangery, a belvédère, an oval bosquet and a cascatelle. He demolished the wall of the courtyard along the moat and put an ironwork gate with two lampholders in front of the bridge. He also modernised the interior decor. In the 1780s, a water feature was added, with an island bordered by bald cypresses from Louisiana at its centre - it is traditionally attributed to the painter and garden designer Hubert Robert. After the French Revolution, Louis-Justin, marquis de Talaru, bought the estate under the Consulate and carried out repairs, redesigning the park in English style. Mayor of Chamarande, he lived at the Château until his death in 1850. In 1852, the estate was sold to Pierre and René Robineau, and in 1857 it became the property of Victor Fialin, interior minister to Napoléon III and French ambassador to the United Kingdom. He created a luxuriously-furnished gallery on the château's ground floor, built a fortified wall round the estate, completed the transformation of the park and planted exotic trees. New service buildings were added: a farm, stables, a bergerie, a birdhouse, a kennel, a new icehouse and a winter garden. Near the new gate was placed an obelisk inspired by the Songe de Poliphile, which probably referred to the love-affairs of Henry II with Diane de Poitiers. In 1876, the château was acquired by Aristide Boucicaut, founder of Bon Marché, who added a Renaissance-style dining room but died only a year after purchasing the château. From 1923 to 1951, the château was central to the creation of Scouting in France. In 1957, the last private owner was Auguste Mione, before the estate was bought in 1978, by the General Council of the Essonne. In 2001, a contemporary art centre was set up at Chamarande at the instigation of Dominique Marchès. In season, from May to October, the centre hosts story-telling, music, dance and film festivals as well as gardening and heritage events in the park.

Automotive industry; NAFTA; Regional development; Product portfolios. Automotive production-relocation in the NAFTA region after the 2008 crisis is analyzed at different levels, including automobile unit-production changes in the regions within a country, at the assembly-plant level and in the product portfolio. We compare production for two different years: 2007 when the crisis began and 2015 when the consequences could be observed. Based on information relative to where plants are located, year of establishment, firm ownership and production, we defined five regions: two in the US two in Mexico and one in Canada. These regions were classified as “traditional” and “emergent” spaces. Results show that the age of each assembly plant was not a factor for restructuring. Between 2007 and 2011 traditional spaces in Mexico were the most favored but four years later the emerging region grew (44.26%) while the traditional one only grew (29.71%). Most of this growing was concentrated in Guanajuato, a state with five assembly plants. At the same time the traditional spaces in the USA were adversely affected but six years later it recovered its production to the same levels it had in the beginning of the crisis and the emerging zone grew more (10.51%) than the traditional one (-5.02). Canada decreased production by 400 thousand automobile units but still remained as the country with the best Economies of Scale and manufacturing cars with high added value. Canada was the only country that launched more new models than it stopped manufacturing. Canada decreased its production by 7%, closing the Ford Plant in St Thomas and opening the Toyota plant in Woodstock. It also stays as the country with the highest average production per plant. Finally, in these years the Nafta region shows a full recovery of production and average yield per plant.

A new rehabilitation program for students facing alcohol and drug violations will offer a way out of punishment, while the Metropolitan Police Department is doubling down on arrests for marijuana use in public. GW will soon offer a rehabilitation program for students with alcohol and other substance abuse problems. Students facing alcohol and drug violations can enter into a University-sponsored rehabilitation program starting this fall. The program, called Pathways to Recovery, offers students an alternative to facing sanctions and disciplinary actions for alcohol and drug violations. The program was spearheaded by Danielle Lico, the associate dean of students for student administrative services, and implemented by the Division of Student Affairs. It is targeted towards students who know they have an alcohol or drug problem, want to commit to recovery and don’t want to take time off from school, according to a University release. Students facing high level sanctions from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities are eligible to apply and need to devote a minimum of four months to the program. The program allows students to choose and create their own treatment plans for their individual needs. It also connects students in the program with adult mentors who are in long-term recovery and may be University faculty, staff, alumni or a District parent. The recovery program is beneficial for students because it helps them tackle their substance abuse problems while continuing their education. The individualized nature and support system of the program will help foster recovery for students. The goal of punishing students through sanctions or other disciplinary actions is to ensure they’re more careful, aware of the consequences of their actions and don’t repeat their mistakes. A rehabilitation program is more likely to achieve this goal than punishment. Arrests for public use of marijuana in the District nearly tripled over the last year. The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested more than 400 people for public marijuana use in 2016, compared to 142 arrested in 2015. There was also a 200 percent increase in arrests for distribution of marijuana. And the incidences continue to rise. From January to April 5 of this year, police have arrested 78 people for public consumption of marijuana and 79 people for distribution of the substance. D.C. law states that residents are banned from using marijuana in public even though it was legalized for recreational use for adults in 2014. The increase in arrests are part of an effort to crack down on illegal sales of marijuana. Legalization of marijuana has increased arrests of public consumption, and it has disproportionately affected low-income and minority populations, according to The Washington Post. Renters and people in public housing can’t benefit from marijuana legalization because the right to smoke marijuana is afforded only to homeowners. This exclusion is part of why arrests have increased — people don’t have an option and are forced to smoke outside. Also, many people don’t know that marijuana use isn’t allowed in public, contributing to the increase in arrests. At a time when violent crime in D.C. has significantly decreased, stricter drug enforcement on minor offenses can do more harm than good. Rise in arrests for low level drug offenses suggest a return to over-policing, a policy that has historically failed to protect and serve communities of color.

In Japan, almost all companies have just concluded the New Year's holidays and re-entered the working state. How's your New Year? Also, do you want to know the Japanese way of the New Year? Today, I will introduce the Japanese way of the New Year and the Japanese New Year products to everyone. How to spend New Year? Soon after Christmas, Japanese people start preparing for the year-end and New Year’s events. In December, end-of-year parties are organized in most companies. The end-of-year party is called “Bonenkai” in Japanese. “Bonen” means to forget the worries of the past year. Many of the Japanese companies start their end-of-year holidays from around the 27th of December. The end-of-year holidays in Japan are usually about a week or less. In Japanese, New Year is called “Oshougatsu”, and the first day of the year is called “Gantan”. People send each other New Year’s cards called “Nengajyo”. This is usually designed with symbols of good luck (“Engimono”)or the animal of the year out of the 12 animals in the Chinese calendar(“Eto”). Relatives and friends come together to celebrate the New Year. People are busy with events on New Year’s Eve. People decorate their houses with special decorations. “Kadomatsu”, two groups of bamboo to place in front of the entrance. “Shimenawa”, a sacred straw rope to protect the door. As with Kadomatsu, Shimenawa also decorate to welcome the year God. “Kagamimochi”, piled up “mochi” (rice cakes) to appreciate and eat as a token of wellbeing. Adults put money in a special envelope and give it to children. This is called “Otoshidama” and many children look forward to it very much! In the past, Japanese people will wear “Kimono” to greet the New Year. But now, young people prefer fashion clothing. Would you like to try the “Kimono”? People buy or prepare tiered boxes filled with special food for the New Year – this is called “Osechi”. The food in the Osechi each has a special meaning, mainly to wish for wellbeing. And they eat soba noodles called “Toshikoshi soba” (year-crossing soba) to wish for a long lasting life. Many people stay at home and watch television programs. The most well known one is the “Kouhaku Utagassen”, an annual singing contest. Many people go to shrines to make wishes for the coming year from the night of New Year's Eve. This is called “Hatsumoude”. People buy charms or amulets called “Omamori” to wish for wellbeing or success. The golden arrows named “Hamaya” protect you from bad things. Usually, you must line up for a long cue to buy this one. Japanese people like to buy “omikuji” as well, which is a lottery that tells you your fortune for the year.“Daikichi” is the best, and “Daikyo” is the worst. When you’ve picked the “Daikyo”, one of the ways is to tie it in a knot within the grounds of the shrine. Most department stores around Japan reopened for business and began selling lucky bags on January 2nd. The bags usually contain goods that are much more valuable than the price of the bag. A lucky bag is a set of various mystery articles. How did you spend New Year 's Day? Some people are very relaxed, but some people work hard during the New Year. How to spend the New Year also diversifies with the times. I pray that this year will be a fruitful year for you. In addition, we will continue to improve ourselves in order to support you in the year to come. It is a pleasure to work with you again this year.

A headline from the past weekend in the News Herald said it all "Déjà vu: Flooding returns to Bay County." Our wet weather has had wide-ranging impacts, hindering many businesses (though helping others), dampening moods, and changing the summer plans of both residents and visitors. As your Panama City car accident injury law firm, we also know that the wet weather poses driving dangers. Today's post focuses on avoiding weather-related car accidents. In the article published just after 6 P.M. on Saturday, the Herald reported on the heavy rainfall that soaked the Panhandle when a moist tropical air mass combined with a stalled storm front. Roads that had already been drenched in earlier storms became flooded again, with Callaway seeing 5.57 inches and Panama City clocking in at 4.5 inches. The latter led to a full foot of flooding in some places, with Cincinnati Avenue and 19th Street among the hardest hit areas. One new resident of Panama City, Charles Peterson, moved to town just a week before the historic rains that hit on July 4 and was warily watching to see if August brought a repeat of the flooding that damaged his carpet and destroyed some home appliances. Another community member reported spending $20,000 on repairs from the July floods, and along with many others, is asking why flooding has returned and the city has not yet remedied certain issues. Once again, the rains kept road crews busy. Flooded thoroughfares included Alf Coleman Road, Front Beach Road, and Treasure Circle. In the Derby Woods neighborhood of Lynn Haven, roads seemed to transform into canals with water measuring six inches deep. Bridge closures and at least one flight diversion also resulted from the wet weather. A key message contained in the Wet Weather Driving Tips authored by the AAA Exchange, an AAA project that addresses safety, automotive, consumer, and travel issues, is that preparation is key. Drivers should always makes sure that all of their automobile's lights are working, including head & taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Of course, lights only work when they are turned on, and drivers should always check that their lights are on during wet weather, even if lights are supposed to be automatic. Windshield wiper maintenance is also important, and blades should be replaced if they are leaving behind streaks. Tire maintenance is crucial for save travel in any weather. Drivers should regularly check tire pressure (consult your manual for optimal pressure readings) and tread depth (put an upside-down quarter into the tire groove, if you can see the area above Washington's head then you need a new tire – check each tire separately). Preparation is key, but knowing what to do in the moment is also important. Overall, the main message for driving in wet or otherwise inclement weather is to slow down and leave extra room between vehicles. Slower speeds help diminish the risk of hydroplaning, and leaving extra room accounts for longer stopping distances while also giving drivers extra time to respond to unexpected problems. Drivers should also avoid sudden, severe movements, such as hard braking or sharp turns. Maintaining control is important. Use of cruise control is not recommended because it is important to be able to slow the vehicle by slowly lifting off the accelerator. Specific advice on responding to skids and hydroplaning can be found in a prior blog post, cited below.

Q What's the best way to deal with boundary problems? A Don’t let the problem fester, contact your neighbour for a chat as soon as possible and do your best to keep the discussion cordial. Be reasonable, stick to the point at issue and know the legal position, just in case. Be prepared to compromise or share costs in order to keep the peace. If you can’t reach a solution, however, get outside help before relations deteriorate irreparably. Mediation UK (01773 822222; ukmediation.net) offers a free mediation service in many areas of the country. Otherwise you could ask a person known to both parties whether they would mediate. Q Are there any restrictions to the height of the fence I can put up on my boundary? A In general, fences or walls adjacent to a road, path or pavement require permission if they are to be more than 1m high or 2m elsewhere. In addition, many houses, particularly on open-plan estates, have covenants restricting fence heights in front gardens, so it’s worth checking your deeds. Q My neighbour's new fence blocks all the light to my kitchen window. Can I insist she lowers it? A Probably not. If the fence breaks normal planning rules, contact your local council. If not, you can object only if you have acquired 'rights to light'. The law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland states that, if you have enjoyed a particular level of light through a particular window for 20 years or more, you may be able to insist on retaining a ‘reasonable’ amount of light in the future, though it may not be as much as you have enjoyed in the past. You may also acquire 'rights to light' for a man-made garden structure, such as a greenhouse, but not for the garden itself. If one side always trims the hedge or paints the fence, for example, then they are assumed to own it. If both maintain, then joint ownership is assumed. How to work out who owns a boundary Further information To find a chartered surveyor, contact The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (0870 333 1600; rics.org) and ask for the information centre. 1 If it's a fence, then usually the back of the fence faces the owner. The 'back' is the side with the posts. 2 If it's a hedge and ditch, then these belong to the land on the hedge side – ie the far side of the ditch is the boundary. 3 If this doesn't help, 'acts of ownership' come into play. Q My neighbour owns the fence between us. It’s falling down, is he obliged to fix it? A In general, there is no legal requirement to do so, though there may be a covenant in the deeds requiring the boundary to be maintained. However, if a fence is neglected, the owner could be liable if it causes damage or injury. Q How do I settle a dispute with my neighbour about exactly where the boundary line is? I think his predecessor moved it. A Boundaries are by no means as well-defined as people generally think, and moving a dividing fence or hedge away from its existing position is rarely practical unless both sides agree. You should not resort to law unless a great deal is at stake, as the costs can be enormous, not to mention a likely permanent loss of goodwill. If both parties are amenable, check the line of the boundary on your title deeds (your solicitor or mortgage lender is likely to have these). If this does not settle the matter, you could ask for advice from a chartered surveyor. However, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if the boundary line has been in position for 12 years or more, with no complaints, then it is likely to be judged correct in law, whatever the deeds or surveyor say. This is a result of the law of adverse possession, commonly known as 'squatters' rights', which can give ownership to the occupier after 12 years, if the owner has not objected. There is no similar law in Scotland. Q Do I have to keep my hedges neat and tidy? A There's no general legal requirement to maintain your hedges, or even keep them at all. However, you must not allow unkempt hedges to block pavements or footpaths, or obscure the view for motorists. Some houses, especially on estates, may have covenants requiring you to maintain your hedges; check your house deeds. Q I’d like to grow climbers on the garden fence. What if my neighbour objects? A If the fence is yours, or jointly owned, there should be no problem, provided the plants don’t stray into next door's garden. If the fence is your neighbour's, then he can say no. The most practical way around this is to train your climbers up freestanding tripods or erect trellis, or use posts and wires to support them. Q I own the fence, but my neighbour will not allow me access to fix it. Can I insist? A In general, you have no automatic right to access, but if you cannot reach an amicable agreement through discussion or mediation, you could apply for a court order to enter your neighbour's garden under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992. If you do this, you will have to demonstrate that the work is necessary, is difficult or impossible to undertake without the access, and would not unduly disturb or inconvenience the neighbour. You will have to make good any damage you do (to plants growing near the fence, for example) and perhaps pay a small sum of money for access or compensation. Q My neighbour’s hedge is tall and overhangs my garden. Can I insist they trim it? A Generally, no. You can trim back an overhanging branch to the boundary, but not beyond it. Any branch trimmings remain your neighbour's property and you must offer them back. Tall hedges are covered by regulations under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. Contact your local authority for more information. Q My neighbour has planted a leylandii hedge along our boundary, which will shade my garden and greenhouse, and block the view. Can I use the high hedge laws to make him remove it? A No, your neighbour can plant what he likes in his garden, and you don’t have a right to light in your garden or greenhouse, or a right to a view. However, the high hedge laws will help once the hedge grows over 2m. In England and Wales, Part 8 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 only comes into play once an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge (deciduous hedges are exempt) of more than two trees or shrubs is over 2m high, acts as a barrier to light or access, and adversely affects the reasonable enjoyment of your domestic property. If you live in Scotland, you are covered by The High Hedges Act 2013 and, if you live in Northern Ireland, you're covered by the High Hedges Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Provided all the above apply, you can ask your neighbours to keep the hedge trimmed back to 2m. If they refuse, you can ask your local authority to intervene. It will charge a fee for this, which varies from authority to authority. The authority has to assess the hedge and how it affects your reasonable enjoyment of your property. It may decide that nothing needs to be done, even if it is 10m high. The most it can do is require the hedge to be reduced to 2m. Both sides can appeal against its decision. If the hedge owners ignore the authority’s decision then it can enforce its decision through the magistrate’s courts, which can fine them up to £1,000. They can also order the work be carried out by a certain date. If it is not, then this is another offence carrying a £1,000 maximum fine, with the power to levy a daily fine on the hedge owners for every day the work remains undone. As well as approaching your local authority, the offending hedges may be an actionable nuisance and, therefore, there may be other remedies available. There may also be covenants on the titles prohibiting the planting of large trees or shrubs.

In the Lydian dominant sound you can access a lot of cool sounds and you can put it to use in modal situations, blues, tritone subs and IV minor chords. This video will give you some new ideas and non diatonic arpeggio structures to add to your Lydian dominant ideas. I will use 3 Lydian Dominant Guitar Licks to demonstrate how great the arpeggios work in the context of this sound! You can use the Lydian Dominant Scale as refreshing and surprising sounds besides the fact that you need for some of the chord progressions you will keep running into in jazz standards and originals. The first example is using two non diatonic arpeggios and a triad pair. The diatonic arpeggios in E melodic minor are EmMaj7, F#m7, Gmaj7(#5) A7, B7, C#m7b5 and D#m7(b5). Basically the arpeggios you get by stacking 3rds in the scale. But besides those you can also construct other chords in the scale. One of those is the Gmaj7(b5) which is what I use as the first 4 notes of this example. From there it continues with another non diatonic arpeggio: the A7(b5). After this I continue with a very common triad pair with A and B major triads. This is a very common triad pair to use for melodic minor. The triads are played in 2nd inversion. The first arpeggio in the second example is using a Drop2 version of the A7(b5) arpeggio. The line continues with a Bsus4 triad. From the Bsus4 arpeggio the melody continues by moving up to the next diatonic sus4 triad: Asus#4. The last part of the line is coming out of a G augmented triad idea. The previous example resolves to a D#, which you can directly interpret as an Eb, the 5th in Abmaj7. It is important to keep in mind that these lines can be used as tritone dominants or altered scale ideas as well. Sweeping maj7#5 arpeggios and add some Quartal ideas! A great arpeggio for the Lydian dominant sound is the maj7#5 arpeggio. For an A7(#11) this is a Gmaj7#5, which I am using as the opening statement in the 3rd example. From here the line continues with an F#m7 arpeggio. The 2nd bar is combining two Quartal arpeggios. First from G that you might recognize as an A7(13) chord. From here it continues with the one from C#. Together these two spell out an A7(9,13) sound. The line ends on a D#. This is also an example of a line that would make a great Eb7alt or tritone guitar lick. I hope you can use these ideas with some non diatonic arpeggios and quartal arpeggio ideas to expand on your own Lydian dominant vocabulary!

Modern Food Plot Practices: Are We Poisoning Ourselves? I need to tell you right up front I'm not a tree hugger. I don't drink raw milk, buy groceries at the organic health-food store or drive a hybrid. But like pretty much all the red-blooded American sportsmen I know, I consider myself a conservation-minded person who cares about the health of the environment. We in the hunting community talk a lot about preserving the future of our sport, which involves everything from introducing the next generation to making sure quality habitat is protected from threats such as suburban sprawl and energy development. But when it comes to the topic of food plots, I sometimes wonder whether we've lost our way when it comes to the conservation ethic and sustainability. Before I go any farther, I want to again remind you that I am hardly on the radical environmental fringe. And I ENJOY hunting over a good food plot as much as anyone. Heck, I travel to Illinois for a prime rut hunt every November, and part of my enthusiasm for that hunt is tied to the fact that I know the landowner does a great job with his food plots, which help hold plenty of deer on the property. That said, I really can't think of a single person who I know personally that manages a successful food plot WITHOUT the use of various chemicals, particularly when it comes to controlling weeds in the plots. What really got me thinking about this again today was an article I read online about a recent study conducted by a university over in Germany. You can read the article HERE, but in summary, what the article basically found is that residue from glycophospate (Roundup weed killer) is basically ubiquitous in the environment and concentrations of it can be found in just about everyone's urine. Depending on the person, those concentrations can range from low to many, many times those considered safe in drinking water. And while I don't claim to be an expert on environmental health and safety, all you have to do is a quick Google search to unearth a plethora of evidence that links high exposure to Roundup to such fun things as cancer, infertility, birth defects, obesity and mental illness. And I don't mean to just pick on Monsanto (the company that makes Roundup). There are plenty of other chemicals commonly used on food plots, and I wouldn't volunteer to drink a glass of any of them. There's no doubt that using chemicals greatly enhances food plot performance. Trust me, I've seen some awesome managed properties and enjoyed some great hunts on them. If you have the time, equipment and money to afford it, you can create food plots that are as well manicured as a golf course (another industry that goes heavy on the chemicals), and you WILL have deer eating them. But I can't help but wonder if there isn't a better way. Is there an organic food plot movement within the hunting community? If so, I haven't heard of it, but I'm willing to bet there are at least a few people out there trying to do without chemicals. My guess is it's not nearly as easy. Of course, sitting here behind my desk at the magazine office, it's easy for me to point the finger at property managers. The truth is, I've never had the luxury of owning my own hunting land, so I don't have to worry about how to control the weeds in my clover plot. However, I'd like to think that if I did own a couple hundred acres of dirt, I'd be concerned about the possible long-term impacts of dumping tons and tons of chemicals onto my ground over a period of decades. Granted, the use of agricultural chemicals for food plot use is barely a ripple in the water when compared to amount of chemicals used in commercial farming operations. I don't have any statistics, but I feel confident saying food plotters represent only a small fraction of 1 percent of chemical use. On the other hand, we sportsmen are often quick to hold ourselves up as "leaders in conservation" and "stewards of the environment." That being the case, I wonder if a little more self reflection isn't in order when it comes to the way we manage our own hunting properties.

In this post, let us see the interfacing of a buzzer with 8051 microcontroller. Buzzer is a signalling device that can able to make buzzing noise on applying voltage. * buzzer to a 8051 microcontroller.

The Federal Trade Commission has weighed in on the safety and security of devices in the so-called Internet of Things, which include fitness trackers and other devices used by personalized nutrition firms. FTC filed comments​​ in response to a request put out by the federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). The comments were put together by FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP). The BCP staff in its comments emphasized that poor security among Internet of Things (IoT) devices might create technology-related hazards associated with the loss of critical safety function, loss of connectivity, or degradation of data integrity. As examples, BCP postulated that a car’s braking system might fail if infected with malware, or carbon monoxide or fire detectors could stop working if they lose their internet connection. In the devices used in the nutrition industry, possible hazards might include faulty data collection that could lead to skewed nutrition recommendations. Or confidential personal medical data could be compromised. BCP said that consumers must be willing to accept a limited amount of risk associated with these devices in order to enjoy the many benefits they provide. “Requiring IoT devices to have perfect security would deter the development of devices that provide consumers with the safety and other benefits discussed above. Conversely, insecure devices can erode consumer trust if consumers cannot rely on the safety and security of their device. Companies that manufacture and sell IoT devices must take ​reasonable steps to secure them from unauthorized access,” ​the bureau wrote. The comments said that FTC has also recommended that, while mobile device manufacturers have made progress in making security updates easier for consumers to manage, more still needs to be done. In addition, the agency recommended manufacturers to tell consumers when a given device will no longer be supported with further safety and security upgrades. Attorney Ivan Wasserman, manager of the Washington, DC office of the law firm Amin Talati Upadhye, said the comments are fully in according with FTC’s mission, and provide additional oversight in an emerging area of the nutrition/technology interface. “Everyone in the industry should know by now that the FTC prohibits false or misleading claims for dietary supplements. What they may not know is that its consumer protection mandate extends far beyond that, and recently has been very focused on privacy and data security,” ​he said. "For our industry, that could apply to wearable fitness trackers, connected exercise equipment and monitors, and who knows what else that will come along in the future. ​Companies must maintain reasonable security programs and of course any claims they make about the security of their devices must be truthful and not misleading,”​ Wasserman added.

Written by Mike Jones, CEO of Science, a technology studio in Los Angeles. Every story about the sharing economy starts the same way. An individual constrained by the limits and demands of a job has found a way to make an easy living, thanks to [Airbnb, Dogvacay, SnapGoods]. You fill in the blank. Between the recession and the growing divide between the rich and poor, the sharing economy - a $26B market in which the web acts as matchmaker, allowing strangers to provide resources for one another and take an attractive profit in return – could not have come at a more opportune time. But is the exuberance deserved? Can this new set of marketplaces continue to make admirable profits while enabling the casual owner to monetize possessions or skills that were otherwise collecting dust? To answer these questions, we need to look at what makes the sharing economy different from previous marketplaces – and then analyze some older models to see what has happened to them over time. Three differentiators make the sharing economy distinctive, enabling new sellers to enter the market: scale, access and trust. What all sharing economy startups have in common is the ability to connect sellers with consumers on a scale that is astronomical in comparison with what was possible even a few years ago. Moreover, aggregation allows these marketplaces to take many of the risks out of dabbling in small business. For example, Relay Rides pre-screen drivers and offer $1M in insurance on every rental. Finally, the coupling of share-enabling services with social networking yields the added bonus of creating trust even among strangers in different cities. Whether through reviews, seller ratings, or recommendations from Facebook friends, it is this fostering of confidence that allows people to feel comfortable staying at a rental instead of a hotel, or using Lyft rather than a well-known taxicab company. On one hand, the trust aspects of these platforms like these have their roots in some pretty ancient history: As documented in this insightful book by Professor Avner Grief, the Maghribi traders of 11th century Northern Africa evolved their own reputation-based “institutions” to deal with the uncertainties of international commerce and steer participants away from the short-term gains of cheating. It is the very fact of this efficiency that is allowing its early adopters to make such economic strides so easily. Instead of working at Starbucks, one student earns over a $1000/month of supplemental income by opening up her home via DogVacay (My firm is an investor in DogVacay). A downsized photographer makes a respectable living renting out his home and offering rides on Lyft. Signs of a similar trend are already visible in the sharing economy. Many listings on Airbnb now come from professional property managers, and when the company hired a “head of global hospitality” this fall, users became concerned that the focus on standards and requirements may shut the door on casual hosts. Car sharing services are also experiencing a movement towards professionalism. Individual owner/practitioners are now moving into operating small fleets of cars exclusively for rental on places like Uber. The tide is beginning to turn. Tax-free shopping online – once the strongest lure of any online retailer from Ebay to Amazon – is being legislated away. Airbnb is embroiled in a conflict with New York City over its hotel law that prohibits short term rentals, and has already received a subpoena.

GAUZE: When you wake up there will be a gauze pack placed over the area of surgery in your mouth. The purpose of the gauze pack is to soak up any blood from surgery and to put pressure on the surgery site in order to stop the bleeding. When you get home take the gauze pack out. BLEEDING: If the bleeding continues when you remove the gauze pack, replace it with a new one. Applying pressure is the only way to stop the bleeding. SWELLING: A moderate amount of swelling is expected after most oral surgical procedures. Do not ice the area of swelling, this will reduce the blood flow to the area and cause prolonged resolution of swelling. Swelling will begin to decrease the third day after surgery. SUTURES/STICHES: Resorbable stiches will be used. They usually dissolve or fall out by themselves in 2-3 days. If you notice them stringing in your mouth, you can simply pull them out the rest of the way. Brush right over the sutures while cleaning your mouth. EATING/DRINKING: You can start eating and drinking when the numbness wears off. Soft foods are recommended for the first few days. Avoid drinking through a straw, the sucking pressure can cause bleeding. MEDICATION: Take prescriptions as instructed. Pain medications may produce nausea and vomiting if taken on an empty stomach. As with any medication, if you experience problems stop taking them. ORAL HYGIENE: You MUST keep your mouth clean to promote good healing. Continue to brush and floss as usual. A soft toothbrush used in a gentle fashion is effective. The cleaner you keep your mouth the better and faster you will heal. Dr. Schultz may give you a syringe to irrigate the extraction sites to keep any food out. Start using the syringe two days after surgery. Usually only lower molar extraction sites need irrigating. Post-operative swelling 3-4 days after surgery is normal, however if you have any problems including increasing pain or increasing swelling, you should contact Dr. Schultz’s office immediately Dr. Charles J Schultz, Southeast Dental Group, PC Phone Number 907-586-9586.

The global recovery continues, but the recovery is weak; indeed a bit weaker than we forecast in April. In the Euro zone, growth is close to zero, reflecting positive but low growth in the core countries, and negative growth in most periphery countries. In the United States, growth is positive, but too low to make a serious dent to unemployment. Growth has also slowed in major emerging economies, from China to India and Brazil. Downside risks, coming primarily from Europe, have increased. Let me develop these themes in turn. In Europe, we are observing an increasing divergence between core and periphery countries. Periphery Euro countries, including Italy and Spain, face a difficult adjustment. Fiscal consolidation is necessary, but weighs heavily on growth. Structural reforms will bear fruit, but only in the future. Banks have to deal not only with bad legacy loans, but also with increasing non-performing loans, which reflect depressed economic activity. High debt burdens are making borrowing expensive for governments. The result is negative growth this year and next for both Italy and Spain. Core Euro countries, including France and Germany, face similar problems, but on a more limited scale. The required fiscal consolidation is smaller; banks in general are in better shape. Still, their growth is forecast to be low: 1% for Germany, 0.3% for France in 2012, and a bit higher for both in 2013. In the United States the recovery continues, with some good news early in the year offset by some bad news since. Fiscal consolidation is taking its toll; so are lower exports. The good news is that housing appears to be stabilizing. Still, the recovery is not strong enough to substantially decrease unemployment. Our forecasts are of 2.0% growth for 2012, and 2.3% for 2013, a revision of -0.1% in both cases. Growth in emerging market countries has slowed down a bit more than we expected in April. For example, we have revised our forecast for China down from 8.2% to 8% for 2012, our forecast for India from 6.9% to 6.1%, our forecast for Brazil from 3.0% to 2.5%. The proximate causes vary across countries, with lower exports and lower investment playing a dominant role. In general, we expect these countries to achieve soft landings, but at lower growth rates than in the past. Putting everything together, our forecast for world growth is 3.5% for 2012, 3.9% for 2013, down .1% and .2% respectively. Given the flow of bad news in the press, you might be surprised by this small downward revision. There are two reasons: we were not very optimistic to start with; and in many countries, while the second quarter was worse than forecast, the first quarter was better than forecast. This partly explains the small revision for 2012. More worrisome than these revisions to the baseline forecast is the increase in downside risks. The main risk is obvious: the vicious cycles in Spain or Italy become stronger, output falls even more, and one of these countries loses access to financial markets. The implications could easily derail the world recovery. Our baseline forecasts are based on the assumption that policies will be implemented to slowly decrease the spreads on Spanish and Italian bonds from their current high to a still high, but lower level in 2013. This however requires that the right policies be adopted and implemented. For the Euro crisis to be contained, and eventually resolved, two conditions must be satisfied. First, the countries under pressure must follow through with fiscal consolidation, wage and price adjustments, structural reforms, and bank recapitalization if and when needed. Spanish and Italian governments have taken important steps in this direction. But they can only succeed if they can finance themselves at reasonable rates. Second, as long as these governments are committed to reforms, other Euro members have to be willing to help make the adjustment feasible. This implies not only designing a euro level architecture, but also being willing, in the short run, to stabilize funding conditions in sovereign debt markets. Progress was made in recent weeks, but more remains to be done. For the United States, the issue remains primarily fiscal. Avoiding the fiscal cliff is clearly the short run priority. But the lack of a medium term fiscal plan is worrisome, and the source of risks in the not too distant future. Emerging economies differ in too many ways to allow for simple, common, advice. The best advice may be: be ready. Prepare to use both economic and macroprudential policies to respond to a complex external environment. Capital flows are likely to remain highly volatile. Exports to advanced countries are likely to remain subdued. The world recovery can continue, and can strengthen. The right pace of fiscal consolidation, continuing expansionary monetary policy, getting the financial sector back to health to decrease borrowing costs, and solidarity, especially within the Euro zone, are all of the essence. ●The euro nations are monetarily non-sovereign. And, since most those “bad legacy” loans were of the “safe” type for which the banks could hold very little capital, the bank capital scarcity in immense. And, since bank capital scarcity is immense, those most suffering from it are the “risky” borrowers for which regulators require banks to hold more bank capital, like the small businesses and entrepreneurs, like precisely those the economy, and the jobless, most need to enter into action. When will the regulators understand that for the time being, having caused this crisis, they must lower the capital requirements for banks when lending to the “risky”, those that banks do not want to lend excessively to anyhow? When has there ever been a major bank crisis because of excessive exposure to what is perceived as “risky”? Do you not know your Mark Twain’s saying “a banker is the one who lends you the umbrella when the sun shines and wants it back when it looks like it might rain”? What goes wrong… what went wrong, was that bank regulators, thinking themselves to be the risk managers of the world, decided that AAA-rated securities, loans to “infallible sovereigns” and other similar tidbits, were so absolutely safe that banks could lend or invest in these holding very little capital. The banks knew the “liars loans” were risky. And by the way, thanks for the snarky title, “Mr Money Printer.” Does that mean you wish to be called, “Mr. Austerity”? The global situation is well explained that excepting China, India, and Brazil, all others are hardly balancing themselves. So again, as rightly pointed out by Olivier Blanchard, what is needed is appropriate policy action, ie fiscal consolidation (but with moderation) and stabilizing the funding requirements in sovereign debt markets. But it appears that quantitive easing has not proved as helpful as anticipated. Per Kurowski has rightly emphasized that banks be amply capitalized so that they can give due share of credit to the small and medium enterprises, which in my opinion are considered the backbone of every economy. The banks knew the “liars loans” were risky? Forget it! Most banks, like for instance the European ones, who poured billions into these securities, did not even know what the subprime sector was, much less “liars loans”… they just saw the AAAs and that the regulators trusted these ratings so much that they were allowed to purchase these securities holding only 1.6 percent of very loosely defined capital. “Mr. Austerity”? No! “Mr. Allow the banks to work without distortions” it is.

Popcorn ceilings are made up mainly of chalk, clay and an aggregate. To remove it you have to wet it, which turns it into a soft gooey mess. It’s not going to be an easy project, but with a little preparation you can control the mess. Start by removing anything possible from the room. Protect the floor and anything that had to stay in the room with a thick sheet of plastic. Lay out some old newspaper on the floor on top of the plastic to soak most of the wet mess up. A note of caution – if your popcorn ceiling is from the early 70’s it may contain asbestos. If you suspect your ceiling may be from that era, remove a small piece of the popcorn ceiling and send it in for testing. If it does contain asbestos, it will have to be removed by professionals who can also dispose of it properly to reduce the cancer risk asbestos can pose for you and your family. Wear some old clothes, a hat to keep the goop out of your hair, and protective eyewear. A respirator of some sort or at least a mask to keep most of the dust particles out of your lungs is a good idea as well. Use a spray bottle and completely saturate part of the ceiling. Let it soak in for a few minutes and then use a scrapper tool to scrape the gooey mess of your ceiling. A drywall-finishing knife works well. Hold a bucket under the tool to catch most of the removed popcorn ceiling. Work in small section and keep repeating the process until the popcorn ceiling is removed. Use a wet sponge to wipe off any remaining residue on the ceiling. You may have to rewet some parts of the ceiling to get the popcorn to soften up enough to remove it. Try not to wet it more than 2 to 3 times. You don’t want the drywall beneath to get too saturated with water. It may warp or grow mold. Once the entire popcorn ceiling is removed, let the ceiling dry completely. Now it’s time to sand the entire surface to remove any rough patches. A pole sander works great for this. Give the dust a chance to settle and then use a joint compound to patch any wholes, cracks etc that may have formed on the ceiling. Let the compound dry for about an hour, then lightly sand over it to smooth it out. Once you get the mess on the floor cleaned up your new smooth ceiling is ready to be painted.

Census 2020 – A Citizenship Question? The 2020 Census is already creating controversy. Find ways to help your students understand the census, potential changes, and how past changes have impacted our history with this week’s CLP Current Event! “Testing a change to the census questionnaire can take months or years, work that flows through the Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, which is co-chaired by the director of the Census Bureau and the U.S. chief statistician (a post within the Office of Management and Budget). What is the history of the census in American history? What information does a census provide? How do census numbers affect legislative districts? How do census numbers affect allocation of funds? Should a citizenship question be included on the 2020 Census? Why or why not? Will a citizenship question on the Census provide better data on the voting age population to help enforce the Voting Rights Act? Why do we want to count as many people as possible? Which government agency supervises the Census? Why is privacy an important consideration in the Census? What are the risks that information will be used adversely by the government? Does a politically polarized country affect the success of the Census? How is immigration related to the Census? What is the American Community Survey? How does it update information between the decennial Censuses? Why are 12 states suing to block the Trump administration from adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 census? What did Attorney General Maura Healey of Massachusetts say about the new census question? Way are some people opposed to the new question, according to the article? What is the Trump administration’s rationale for adding the question? But census officials secretly provided the government with information from the 1940 Census that was used to target Japanese Americans during World War II. The data was used to banish 120,000 Japanese Americans into internment camps in 1941, according to former commerce secretary Norman Mineta, The Washington Post reported. CLP: This is the survey that provides up to date information between the Census count. “Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum says a move to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 census could wreak financial havoc on Oregon. 8.18 Examine and analyze important United States documents, including (butnot limited to) the Constitution, Bill of Rights, 13-15th Amendments. HS.2 Analyze the complexity and investigate causes and effects of significant events in world, U.S., and Oregon history. HS. 34 Explain the responsibilities of citizens (e.g., vote, pay taxes).

This article is taken from the book Isidore: the Miracle Of Jeju, Korea by Young Chul Yang and translated by Noel Mackey. The original text has been edited into a shorter form. Fr. McGlinchey is an Irish priest who came to Jeju in 1953. He has been credited with introducing modern farming methods to the island and using the profits to help out the local community. After a long journey of 9,000 kilometers, he finally set foot on the island of Jeju. On first setting eyes on the island from afar he thought it looked like a treasure island. He did not know how many hours it had taken to travel from Mokpo to the island by an old wooden boat. He was totally exhausted not realizing how severe seasickness could be. As he stood on deck he had watched the splendid sights for ages. He was watching a scene he had never seen before. In the center stood a great mountain like a pillar with a panorama of small ones spread around it. "Wonderful" was the word that automatically came out of his mouth. He thought that like the mainland the island had also been destroyed by the ravages of war. However, on looking at it from some distance he realized that it was different. "Oh my God since you have given me the task of working in this heavenly land I don't know how to thank you," he said. As it was still only April and there was a cold wind blowing as the boat sled into the island. After traveling the long journey from his native Ireland he was finally in Jeju. He had reached his destination one year after he arrived on the Korean peninsula. He had become accustomed to hearing that whenever there had been trouble on the mainland that people were banished to this lonely place of exile but as he looked at it from the vast expanse of water it appeared more splendid than he had imagined. The boat was making a "tolkong, tolkong" sound but when it reached the island he was confronted with a sight worth seeing. Standing in a row were men and women dressed in rags. He wondered how he could make his way through that slippery mud path that was the only way to get from the port to the city. Wearing priestly garb and carrying a case containing some clothes he must have looked quite a spectacle. The voices of the Jeju people rang in his ears as he passed by them standing there staring at him. Fr. McGlinchey was appointed to Korea in June of 1952. He found this to be absurd as he had never even heard of Korea up until then. He immediately began to search here and there in books to see what he could learn about this country. Korea was in the midst of the June 25th war and the place had been devastated. Despite that, he found that he could not reject the sacred church order to go to Korca and to try to assist its despairing people. Preparing to enter Korea was not that easy. He was supposed to enter the country by the end of September 1952 but could not get a visa as the country was still in the midst of war. In January of 1953 he finally received the long-awaited permission. Together with the other priests he immediately set out for the city of Cork in the south of Ireland where he boarded a ship that took him to New York after six arduous days at sea. He spent three days traveling across America by train to San Francisco where he again boarded a ship that took him to Yokohama in Japan. The trip across the Pacific took ten days. On April 14th he departed Tokyo and flew to Busan. This was the first day he spent in what to him was the strange land of Korea. He then traveled to Mokpo where he spent some seven months living at San Jeong Dong parish church. It was at that time the residence of Harold Henry the Archbishop of Gwangju. Under the Archbishop's tutelage, he studied Korean and became familiar with Korean customs. He was appointed curate of the parish of Suncheon on November 23rd, 1953. While there he traveled to Sorokdo, Beolgyo, Boseong and other places in that area saying mass with the people. He had been given the duty of reviving the faith of the people that were exhausted by the war. He thought that was all he was required to do and felt good about his role. In April 1954 he received a new assignment just one year after he had set foot in Korea. He was sent to Hallim in Jeju where he was asked to show the love of God to the people living in the countryside. Up until then, Hallim had been an outstation of Chungang parish in Jeju city but now Fr. McGlinchey became its first parish priest. Here he was expected to demonstrate God’s love for the people. The first thing he needed to do was to build a church. Providing a place where the people could celebrate mass in comfort was his most urgent task. He found that wearing priestly garb no longer had much significance but was rather burdensome in the situation. He felt that he now needed to tuck up his sleeves and get to work. Let’s take a look at how he described the situation. “As soon as he arrived he went to inspect the site that had been purchased for him to build a church on. He thought that rather than leave the land idle that they should use it to grow vegetables until such time as they were ready to build a church there. At the time all he had in his pocket was the thousand dollars the Archbishop had given him. He thought that he should also put this money to immediate use. He also thought that he should first take up a spade before taking up a bible. He saw the needs of the starving people in the area to be greater than that of the believers."

JACKSON, Miss.(WJTV) – Mental Health Day at the Mississippi Capitol – and today the Capitol went green to raise awareness. Mental health advocates meeting at the state capitol to discuss common issues faced by those with mental illness. Monica Wolters says she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001. Wolters says it was when she got involved with groups of mental illness advocates that she started to get better.. and most importantly it helped her feel she was not alone. Health advocates say one in five people will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime in the United States. Wendy Bailey with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health says the number of suicides in the state is still rising. People meeting with lawmakers hope to see mental health-related bills passed to help the cause. Jackson police are focused on better preparing officers to deal with people suffering from mental health issues — crisis intervention officer Colendula Green is seeking help from lawmakers. Leaders encourage everyone to get involved with the cause by being more understanding of those suffering from mental illness.

On a cacao plantation in Barlovento, Venezuela, a metal pot holding cacao seeds sits over an open fire. The seeds will be roasted over the fire and stirred with a wooden paddle to prevent burning. The seeds come from the cacao tree (Thebroma Cacao), which is native to tropical Central and South America. Roasting is one of the many steps that turns the cacao seeds into cocoa. The roasted seeds will later be peeled and ground.

Myofascial Release is a technique applied to both the fascial connective tissue and muscles. Fascia is a web of connective tissue intertwined between all other parts of the body. It surrounds and supports all the organs, bones, joints, vasculature, nerves and muscles of the body. Fascia doesn't contract, like muscles do, but it can become adhered. Adhesions are areas where the fascia is "stuck" and restrict range of motion, cause postural dysfunctions and cause pain. To release these adhesions the therapist applies a stretch into the restriction and holds it while the tissue releases. The effects are cumulative and long lasting. Imagine slowly pulling a plastic bag in two directions so you are stretching it out without breaking it. Some specialized forms of MFR you may have heard of include Heller Work and Rolfing. ​The image shown on the left is from one of the primary texts on the fascial system; Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers. The coloured lines are lines of pull in the fascial system. If the fascia became adhered or restricted along the green line, for example, it would pull the head and neck closer to the pubic bone, causing a hunched forward posture. The person would be carrying their head too far forward and their shoulders would be rounded forward as well. This person would likely have pain between the shoulders and the back of the neck. Releasing this line can therefore correct a hunched posture, allowing the person to comfortably stand up straight.

Why is the Oktoberfest celebrated in September and not in October? In the 19th century, the Oktoberfest was still celebrated in October, but mainly in pouring rain. Therefore it was decided to switch it to the more reliable month of September, which is known for its Indian summer. It ends at the beginning of October. The Oktoberfest celebrated it's 200. Anniversary in 2010 but why is this only the 179. Oktoberfest? The first Oktoberfest started in 1810 and was cancelled 24 times within the last 203 years. Reasons were the wars, inflation, bad weather etc. In which of the tents do you find most of the international guests? Definitely in the Hofbräu-Festzelt. Mainy there are Americans, New Zealanders, Australians, English and Italians. Funny is, that most foreigners know the name "Hofbräu": Probably from movies mentioning the Hofbräuhaus in Munich´s city center. Were there always that many rides on the Oktoberfest? No, in the 1818 there were only one carousel and two swings. Only in the 20th century more and more showmen joined and made it the huge festival it is today. Considering the many different beers in Germany, which beer is being served at the Oktoberfest? Only breweries from Munich are allowed to serve their beer at the Oktoberfest. The breweries are: Spaten, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu und Augustiner. How much beer is being consumed each year at the Oktoberfest? Even the yearly increasing beer-prices don`t scare the people away: They consume about 6.5 million "Mass" beer (a "Mass" is a big, heavy glass mug holding 1 liter or 1 quart of liquid). How did the Oktoberfest originate? The birth of the Oktoberfests was the wedding of the Crownprince Ludwig and later King of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Five days they celebrated a jamboree culminating in a horse race on October 17 on a meadow, named after the bride "Theresienwiese" (hence the insider name for the Octoberfest "Wiesn"). What was special about this feast was that royalty and common people were invited and celebrated together. This was the birth of the "Wiesn" and it still has that special flair, which makes it a great place to visit. What were the funniest Lost&Found items on the Oktoberfest? Several thousand items are being collected during the Oktoberfest and things found were the usual purses and umbrellas but also a pug (yes, the dog), tennis rackets, sets of teeth and a leather whip. How many guests can be seated in those huge tents on the Oktoberfest? There are 14 tents with seats between roughly 5,000 and 10,000 guests, so, go figure! It's a massive amount of people. Just like the motto of the Bavarians*: "Live and let live!" the Oktoberfest in Munich is a real good example of the hospitality and comfortable friendliness of the people there.

The recent seizure of phosphate from a Moroccan state company in South Africa and Panama is a blow to corporate Canada and a victory for national independence struggles. It should also embarrass the Canadian media. This month courts in Port Elizabeth and Panama City okayed requests by the POLISARIO Front asking South Africa and Panama to seize two cargo ships with 100,000 tonnes of phosphate from Western Sahara, a sparsely populated territory in north-western Africa occupied by Morocco. Ruled by Spain until 1975, Moroccan troops moved in when the Spanish departed and a bloody 15-year war drove tens of thousands of Sahrawi into neighbouring Algeria, where they still live in camps. Saskatoon’s PotashCorp and Calgary’s Agrium, which are merging, have a partnership with Moroccan King Mohammed VI’s OCP Group to export phosphate mined in Western Sahara. The two Canadian companies buy half of Western Sahara phosphates and it was an Agrium shipment that was seized in Panama. OCP has established a proactive affirmative action campaign to the benefit of the local people and, importantly, is making significant economic and social contributions to the entire region. As a result, we believe those who choose to make a political statement about OCP are effectively penalizing Saharawi workers, their families and communities. International solidarity activists have called on businesses to stop exploiting Western Sahara’s resources, which has led the Ethical Fund of Vancity credit union, four pension funds in Sweden and Norway’s $800 billion pension fund to divest from PotashCorp. A number of fertilizer companies have also severed ties to OCP, Morocco’s largest industrial company. The POLISARIO Front national liberation movement and African Union claim deals with OCP to export Western Sahara phosphate contravene international law and prop up Morocco’s control. While only preliminary, the recent court decisions are important for national independence struggles. The South Africa case is thought to be the first time an independence movement has won legal action to intercept the export of state property. Aside from a handful of stories in the business press, the Canadian media has basically ignored PotashCorp and Agrium’s role in violating international law. In the lead-up to the 2015 Saskatoon launch of Canada in Africa: 300 Years of Aid and Exploitation I submitted a piece about PotashCorp’s role in buying the non-renewable resources of Africa’s last remaining colony. The Saskatoon Star Phoenix opinion editor, who I’d communicated with on a few occasions when writing op-eds for a union, told me he was considering it and then responded a week later. “Hi Yves, Thanks, but I will pass on your op-ed. This issue has been on our pages in the past, with both sides of the debate making their points.” But when I searched the Star Phoenix database for articles on the largest publicly traded company in Saskatoon ties to Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara there was a single 264-word letter to the editor criticizing PotashCorp’s policy two and a half years earlier (and a rebuttal from a company representative). Apparently, the Saskatoon business titan’s role in violating international law only warrants 264 words. As part of writing this story, I searched Canadian Newsstream for coverage of PotashCorp and Agrium’s ties to Western Sahara. I found eight articles (a couple appeared in more than one paper) in major dailies on the subject, as well as three letters to the editor, over the past six years. Yet, as if violating international law is only of interest to those making investment decisions, all but one of the articles appeared in the business pages. When the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland brought a resolution to PotashCorp’s 2015 shareholder meeting about Western Sahara, the Canadian Press reported on it but only a few news outlets picked up the wire story. While the Sahrawi struggle is unfamiliar to Canadians, it is widely known in African intellectual circles. An international solidarity campaign, with a group in Victoria, has long highlighted corporate Canada’s ties to the Moroccan occupation. I wrote about it briefly in my Canada in Africa and in an article for a number of left websites. In September 2015 Briarpatch did a cover story titled “A Very Fertile Occupation: PotashCorp’s role in occupied Western Sahara” and last week OurSask.ca published a long article titled “Why a Segment of Saskatchewan’s Economy, and Our Ethical Compass, Hinges on an Undeveloped, War-Torn African Nation”. An activist in Regina has been crowd funding for a documentary project titled “Sirocco: Winds of Resistance: How the will to resist a brutal occupation has been passed on to two women by their grandmothers”. As my experience with the Star Phoenix suggests, the mainstream media is not unaware of the subject. Rather, there is a deeply held bias in favour of the corporate perspective and unless activists politicize the issue editors will ignore corporate Canada’s complicity in entrenching colonialism in Africa.

Last August 12th, 2014 Trish McCarty, creator and founder of the international non-profit StarShine Academy, presented StarShine’s 15 Guiding Principles to a group of about 35 Puerto Peñasco educational leaders, made up of teachers and principals from several of the 13 schools who benefit from fundraising efforts of Adopt-a-Classroom, the local non-profit founded by residents Mark and Barb Olszewski 15 years ago. Proving how powerful the forward thinking concepts of StarShine Academy’s award-winning educational principles really are, Trish conducted the August seminar using only collateral materials printed in English and Frank Bercovich as the volunteer translator who works outside the education arena, yet the impact of that initial seminar on these leaders was immediate and all-inclusive. It was clear that everyone in attendance that afternoon in August was excited about the chance to introduce this new paradigm in teaching to their own schools. Even our very active Mayor’s wife, First Lady Rafaela Félix de Figueroa, after hearing a briefing on the StarShine innovations, was intrigued enough to attend the entire session in August. She, like all the educators, left the seminar with a full understanding of the value of StarShine principles to the school system in Puerto Peñasco. The teachers and administrators in attendance shared an urgency that was hard to identify at first. Partly based on the positive response she was feeling throughout the seminar, Trish promised to return and conduct a fully certified training course, with training materials translated into Spanish. Trish was a bit more than excited to see such obvious understanding and interest by the teachers. She left in August motivated to fulfill her promise and create a complete training program in Spanish for her return. True to her word and her passion for growing the StarShine system, Trish returned to Puerto Peñasco the 2nd week of March for the certification training session. 12 invited educational leaders coordinated by Barb met on Saturday March 14th and became the first certified StarShine Academy trainers to take this concept into the Puerto Peñasco school system. However, before Trish could get back to Puerto Peñasco with the translated training materials she had promised, the impact of her first introduction of the award-winning educational principles of StarShine Academy had already carried over into the individual schools. So well understood by the teachers from that initial seminar, they were able to relay the highlights and other meaningful aspects of the Academy’s unique learning methods to the students who also seemed to “get it” and soon were using the principles. In the photos, taken by our own Mark Olszewski, during their visit to one of Barb’s Adopt-a-Classroom schools on March 13, Trish appears pleasantly surprised when she saw that the StarShine Principles had already been introduced to the students, and that the students were using them! She saw children in small groups actually teaching each other, sharing their knowledge. Trish also witnessed teachers teaching the school principals aspects of the StarShine Academic processes and how they would fit nicely into the current curriculum to expand the learning ability of students as well as raise the quality of subject matter at each stage of their development. In addition to the 12 teachers who were trained at the Saturday session, there are at least 60 more from five other schools waiting to be trained in near future sessions. Of course, the fact the StarShine system has been proven in countries as diverse as South Sudan, Africa as well as in Santa Fe and Phoenix in the U.S. lends further credence to the bright future of this game-changing new way of communication in the K-12 school curriculum. We each do the best that we can on each day, depending on what we know and understand, according to Maslow’s Hierarchy. Music is the first language. Beautiful, safe environments that are clean and include art, music and nature inspire creativity and help to secure man’s sustainability. Teaching and learning gardening is a necessary part of becoming one with nature and the environment and is a means for personal health and community building. Celebrating local culture and global diversity allows for a rich life. Practice Connect versus Convince; Exercise Compassion versus Judgment, Love versus Fear. Individuals practice being ambassadors for their own country as well as a country other than their own. Co-learning demonstrates that every person is a teacher and every teacher is a student. Financial literacy fosters hope, belief and abundance as it facilitates a wise use of assets. Holistic explains that each event reinforces all. The pursuit of success and happiness, both individually and collectively, must include body, mind, spirit, health and wealth. Leveraging technology facilitates connecting people; personal contact is vital. World peace is a result of individual peace. Each teacher who was certified as a StarShine Trainer on the 14th of March is part of the “Core Group” and has eagerly committed to share their training knowledge with two other teachers. After certifying the two new trainers, the three of them will begin teaching the StarShine Principles to10 students. Progress will be monitored using various state-of–the-art methods that were reviewed with the Core Group. Trish, as well as the local leaders believe that May will be a good time to conduct a follow up training for some of the more than 60 teachers looking forward to learning these life-changing principles and to share them with their students. StarShine’s overwhelming acceptance and success within the Puerto Peñasco educational ranks doesn’t stop at the shores of the Vermilion Sea. Their recognition as a global force destined to eradicate illiteracy around the world has lead to personal meetings with the most influential educational forward thinkers on our planet. In fact, on September 25th of 2014, coinciding with the launch of her latest book, “Transform,” while in Los Angeles, Trish had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, the famed organization that puts up millions of dollars for those who can make the impossible possible, and with amazing success considering the challenges they have tackled. He wrote the book, “Abundance, The World is Better than You Think.” He has led X-Prizes to produce the first private spaceflight, 100 MPG cars, oil clean-up technology and most recently, competitions to go back to the moon, address ocean acidification and revolutionize healthcare. Peter’s lofty goal is to solve every world problem in his lifetime. Peter feels his most important XPRIZE to date is the current Grand Challenge, Global Learning XPRIZE, launched last September. This is a $15 million competition to create Open Source software that will teach the 250 million illiterate kids in the world today to read, write and perform basic arithmetic within18 months without the aid of a teacher. This is not designed to replace teachers, but to provide an educational solution where little or none exist. The 15 Guiding Principles of StarShine Academy and their successes in the field were noticed by Dr. Diamandis who invited Trish and StarShine to enter the competition using their successful field experience as a basis for the open source software. Bottom line here is that the timing of the Grand Challenge, Global Learning XPRIZE is now a part of the immediate future and challenge of StarShine Academy.

Since cats generally keep themselves very clean, you should not bathe them any more often than is absolutely necessary. Everyone knows that cats hate getting wet. However, even the cleanest cat will still need a bath every now and then. For those times when your feline does get into something really dirty, gets a flea or tick bombardment, or finds something that is toxic or otherwise harmful, it is a good idea to bathe your cat. Decide whether your cat really needs a bath. Cleaning your cat by simply brushing, combing or even rubbing it down with a cloth will be sufficient. Wear appropriate clothing; it is important to be safe from any possible scratches, whether minor or major. A jumper or a long-sleeved shirt is a good idea so your cat has no bare skin to scratch. If you don't have a long-sleeve shirt, you could wear long-sleeved gloves. It is also a good idea to wear clothing that isn't new. It's best to have two people. If you can enlist a helper, it will make the job easier and take less time. A helper is a good idea especially if your cat is large and rather strong, and could wriggle out of your grasp. One person should hold the forelegs and the cat's jaw so it can't open its mouth to bite you. However, be sure you don't hold the jaw so tight that it brings discomfort to the cat or makes it difficult to breathe. Trim all of the cat's nails before even attempting to bathe it. Trimming them will greatly reduce scratches and injuries to you. If your cat is long-haired or if it has burrs, comb the fur thoroughly before you put the cat in the water. Gently remove knots and tangles before wetting the fur, otherwise the bathing will be very difficult and may not get your cat's fur completely clean. Fill the tub no more than 4 - 5 inches deep with warm water (this depends on the size of the animal), or a little less for a small cat. Try to fill the tub before bringing your cat into the bathroom; the sounds and splashes made by running water can by unnerving for most cats. If your cat is especially skittish, you may opt to fill a bucket or two with extra water for rinsing the cat. This extra step works well if you don't want to run more water during the bath, which may frighten or startle your cat. Put a rubber mat or cloth towel in the tub so the cat has comfortable and stable footing. Sometimes, a hard, slippery surface is frightening to a cat. Have the pet shampoo open and ready for your cat (you may need to go to your veterinarian to get some). If you are budget conscious, you could use baby shampoo, flea shampoo or a mild shampoo and conditioner. Do not use normal shampoo because it may be toxic to your cat. You may also want to have a small wash cloth ready, to help gently scrub your cat's body. Cats don't like the water. However, if you follow the same procedure each time you give it a bath, this will become less traumatic for you both. Eventually your cat may accept this ritual with less resistance, once it feels familiar with it. Use a calm, quiet voice while washing your cat, and keep a good grip on the neck or shoulders. Sometimes cats, will try to get out of the tub. If they prefer to have only two of their feet in the water, face them toward the back of the tub and let them stand on two feet. Have two towels at hand for drying your cat. The first towel will be used to wrap around the cat immediately (almost swaddling him) to keep it calm, and to remove a good portion of the water. The second towel is to finish drying and rubbing your cat down. Soak the cat from the neck down, using a wash cloth. With a little bit of shampoo and water, wash your cat's neck, body, legs, belly and tail. Do not pour water over the cat's head and face. You can take the damp washcloth (before it has shampoo on it) and gently wipe over the face slowly and carefully. Make sure you do not get shampoo in their eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. Once the cat is clean, rinse it thoroughly with the water in the tub. Then, drain the tub and rinse two more times with water from the bucket or warm water from the tap. It is essential that you remove all the soap from the coat, as residue may cause skin irritation and discomfort. Let the water drip from your cat while gently blotting to remove as much water as you can from the fur before you wrap your cat in the towel. Rub gently with one towel. When the first towel gets too wet to be effective, switch to another dry towel. Don't stop until your cat is barely damp. Try warming the towels in the dryer first, as many cats find this comforting. Short-haired cats can finish drying themselves in the bathroom, as long as they're away from drafts. They will appreciate a heat source (space heater or warm air vent) and a dry towel to sit on. With long-haired cats, you will have to use a comb and more towels. Long hairs mat more easily when wet, so you may wish to comb the coat until it is completely dry. Try to make this experience a positive one, and a great opportunity to bond with your cat.

I am a great admirer of Salgado and have studies his use of light before however while revisiting assignment two I have decided to study Genesis. This is a culmination of eight years of photography. It is a change for Salgado of his displaced people and suffering that he usually conveys. However for now what I am looking at is Elements of Design and this is abundant in Genesis. It shows how important these fundamentals are. There are of course more than one element in many of the pictures I will point out some of them for the purpose of my studies. I realise that there are many more elements in play such as the light dark and bright areas. Tone etc however I have looked at specific elements for the purpose of assignment 2 revisiting. Curves – The curved road as it appears between the mountains seems to lead us through them. Diagonal lines seem to be created both above and below along with a division of a triangular shape due to the division of the penguins below and the landscape behind. Single point mostly although there are more birds below they seem to create a backdrop for the flying bird. Diagonal caused by the bird flying with its wings apart and also the division of the birds on the land and the sky seems to create a diagonal division of the scene. This emphasises the birds size. The two birds together create a triangle. Rhythm and also rectangle. The rhythm is caused by the zebras already their own bodies are rhythmic and then this is exaggerated by how they are lined up. Together they seem to create a rectangle made up of the horizontal shape of their bodies and the vertical of their legs again closed of f by their mirrored reflections. To emphasise the background seems also to be two rectangles created together. Curved lines on horns however they also seem to create a triangle as is repeated behind by the man holding the sticks both with the sicks and his arms. The image also appears to be a two point image. Single point of the elephant however see also see shapes formed betweent he trunk and the head. Between the legs as the animal moves and also framed with the edge of the image between the back leg and the tail. Note the inverted triangle shapes of the arms with the musical instrument.As there is also a triangle between the two heads and the frame finished to the edge with the feathers on their head. Two points or vector and movement. ripples in the water show also circular and movement. The people if we want to consider them a single point are placed slightly off centre as is pleasing to the eye. The multiple points behind serve to create a horizon and division of the frame into two rectangles.

At the end of its own operational life, usually spanning several decades, a nuclear power plant will begin an equally lengthy process of decontamination, dismantling, and waste management. Such are the dangers of handling and removing radioactive waste this procedure, called decommissioning, aims to minimise the risks by following a set of strict regulations that ensures public health and safety as well as the protection of the environment. Only when all traces of radioactive material have been removed will the public restrictions placed upon the facility and its surrounding area be lifted. Though not a physical structure – and with a slightly less chance of damaging your long-term health – I believe that by following a rough set of stages a website can also be shut down effectively and with the user in mind throughout.

In her classic “Some Notes on Organic Form,” Denise Levertov argues that “Rhyme, chime, echo, reiteration…not only serve to knit the elements of an experience but often are the very means, the sole means, by which the density of texture and the returning or circling of perception can be transmuted into language, ap­perceived.” When a formal poem is doing its job well, it couldn’t exist in any other way. In All of You on the Good Earth, Ernest Hilbert takes on the sonnet form with every poem. At their best, Hilbert’s poems use that form to full advantage, revealing depths of meaning that would otherwise remain inaccessible. The sky is warm and heavy before rain. Sometimes speed, as you pass forest and plain. Memories gather, and thoughts become strange. Between naps, the banks hardly seem to change. Here, the formal elements of the final couplet reveal and enhance the content. The sonic echo between strange/change highlights the fundamental weirdness of this purgatorial realm, by calling attention to “strange[ness]” and connecting it to the lack of change. Meanwhile, the recurrence of the sound in a new word performs its own meaning: the word “strange” has gone, but the sound returns almost exactly in “change”—we sense that, indeed, things “hardly seem to change” at all, even in the very words we are given. Swerving clots of unflappable classicists. Something that follows you, but not too close. Rinked windows and run for your household gun. But it escapes, if it were ever there. The poem attempts to use language to make the threat understandable and thus capable of being resisted. Yet none of the attempts are stable: one minute the threat is like a boulder, the next like a bird, the next like a cat. It’s no less threateningly nebulous than it was before. Ultimately, the poem is able to name the threat—but only by admitting that it is impossible to comprehend: “Always nearing thing you will never see.” A chilling poem indeed. If you’re interested in formal poetry—or even if you’re not—do yourself a favor and check out Hilbert. With work appearing everywhere from American Poetry Review to Yale Review to BODY to Rattle, he’s poised to become a major voice in contemporary formalism.

Water (or ‘hydro’) power systems use the energy stored in moving water to turn a turbine that then turns it into electricity. If you’ve got a suitable water source at home, installing a hydro power system could allow you to create your own clean energy and cut your fuel bills. Water (or hydro) power systems use the potential energy stored in water to turn a turbine and produce electricity. Power can be produced from even a small stream, and a micro (small) hydro plant is one that is sized less than 100 kilowatts (kW). The Energy Saving Trust says that improvements in small turbine and generator technology mean that small hydro schemes are an attractive means of producing electricity. Hydro systems can be connected to the national electricity grid or be part of a stand-alone (off-grid) power system. In a grid-connected system, any electricity generated, but not used, can be sold to electricity companies. In an off-grid hydro system, electricity can be supplied directly to the devices powered or through a battery. A back-up power system may be needed to compensate for changes in water flow throughout the year. Water power requires the water source to be relatively close to where you will use the electricity generated, or to a suitable grid connection. The amount of energy generated depends on how fast the water flows and how far the water falls. In small systems, around half of the power of the water is actually converted to electrical power. You will need to talk to your local authority’s planning team to ensure the site and design are acceptable. You will also need to check if you need any other permissions. Water power costs depend on the site and energy output. For small systems using an existing pond or weir, costs could be in the region of £4,000 per kW installed up to about 10kW. The costs per kW would drop for larger schemes. For medium sized systems, there is a fixed cost of about £10,000 and then about £2,500 per kW up to around 10kW. A typical 5kW domestic scheme might cost £20,000 to £25,000, according to the Energy Saving Trust. The cost will vary depending on location. Producing your own energy could be cheaper than buying it from energy companies. In addition, you can also sell any excess energy you generate to energy companies, using Feed-in Tariffs (FITs).

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a French breed but his ancestry is unknown. Dogue is French for mastiff. He has been linked to the Bulldog, the Bullmastiff, the Tibetan Mastiff and the Dogues de Bordeaux from Aquitaine. He has been a fighter, a guardian and a hunter. He was trained to bait jaguars, bears and bulls and herd cattle as well as to protect his master’s business and home. He first came to be noticed in the US as the drooling dog “Hooch” in the 1989 movie, “Turner and Hooch,” with Tom Hanks. He has excellent guarding instincts but isn’t aggressive. He’s affectionate and has a calm, patient temperament. His short coat is a fawn colour, ranging from a lightish fawn through to a dark red. His coat only needs minimal care and he doesn’t need much exercise, despite his size. But be prepared to handle lots of drool! His height is 23 – 27 inches and he weighs at least 100 pounds.

Manikarnika Ghat, the main burning ghat, is the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Dead bodies are handled by outcasts known as doms, and are carried through the alleyways of the Old City to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher, swathed in cloth. The corpse is doused in the Ganges prior to cremation. Huge piles of firewood are stacked along the top of the ghat; every log is carefully weighed on giant scales so that the price of cremation can be calculated. Each type of wood has its own price, sandalwood being the most expensive. There is an art to using just enough wood to completely incinerate a corpse. You can watch cremations but always show reverence by behaving respectfully. Photography is strictly prohibited. You’re almost guaranteed to be led by a priest, or more likely a guide, to the upper floor of a nearby building from where you can watch cremations taking place, and then asked for a donation (in dollars) towards the cost of wood. If you don’t want to make a donation, don’t follow them. Dashashwamedh Ghat Varanasi’s liveliest and most colourful ghat. The name indicates that Brahma sacrificed (medh) 10 (das) horses (aswa) here. In spite of the oppressive boat owners, flower sellers, massage practitioners and touts trying to drag you off to a silk shop, it’s a wonderful place to linger and people-watch while soaking up the atmosphere. Every evening at 7pm an elaborate ganga aarti(river worship) ceremony with puja (prayers), fire and dance is staged here. Vishwanath Temple There are temples at almost every turn in Varanasi, but this is the most famous of the lot. It is dedicated to Vishveswara – Shiva as lord of the universe. The current temple was built in 1776 by Ahalya Bai of Indore; the 800kg of gold plating on the tower and dome was supplied by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore 50 years later. The area is full of soldiers because of security issues and communal tensions. Bags, cameras, mobile phones, pens and any electronic device must be deposited in lockers before you enter the alleyway it’s in – or just leave your stuff at your hotel. Assi Ghat The furthest south of the main ghats and one of the biggest, Assi Ghat is particularly important as the River Assi meets the Ganges near here and pilgrims come to worship a Shiva lingam (phallic image of Shiva) beneath a peepul tree. Evenings are particularly lively, as the ghat’s vast concreted area fills up with hawkers and entertainers. There's also music and yoga at sunrise. Munshi Ghat – also known as Darbhanga Ghat – is one of the more photogenic ghats along the Old City stretch of the Ganges in Varanasi. Sarnath Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon here. In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka had magnificent stupas and monasteries erected here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveller Xuan Zang dropped by in AD 640, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline and, when Muslim invaders sacked the city in the late 12th century, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in 1835. Sarnath is located on the outskirts of the city. Today it’s one of the four key sites on the Buddhist circuit (along with Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini in Nepal) and attracts followers from around the world, especially on Purnima (or, informally, Buddha's birthday), when Buddha's life, death and enlightenment are celebrated, usually in April or May. Boat rides - Very popular, especially at sunrise and sunset. Boats can either be rowboats or motorboats. The most popular sunset ride is to start at Dasaswamedh Ghat or one of the many ghats along the river and head up to Manikarnika Ghat to see the cremations, then down to Dasaswamedh just after sunset to watch the evening aarticeremony from the boat. Sunrise is another magical time for a ride, when the ghats are filled with Hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in India. During the boat ride, other boats, usually manned by children, will float up to your boat to sell bowls with flowers and a candle to be offered to the river (₹10) or masala chai (₹10), or various trinkets that are overpriced. It is recommended to avoid polluting the river further by 'offering' non-biodegradable objects to the river. At Nishadraj Ghat, a few minutes walk from Assi Ghat, you can find a boat driver named Bhomi, a local singer renowned for his incredible voice and charming, beautiful songs; during the boat ride he sings anything from local folk songs to modern film songs and old devotional ones, and often improvises lyrics over his own songs to communicate with you and the various people gathered on the ghats. Explore the alleyways - The sounds, sight and smells are just unbelievable! Walk along the ghats and up to the sights.

Looking for a new profession? Try lighthouse keeper! Before GPS, satellite or automation, the lighthouse keeper was the last safeguard against maritime disaster. Expected to keep the tower’s light lit and maintained through the night, lighthouse keepers are now extremely rare — gone the way of ice-block deliveries and elevator and switchboard operators. Yet the dramatics of running a lighthouse — real or imagined — still captivates many of us. Parks have lighthouses tours, waterfront homes boast views of the structures and some people choose to incorporate the look of a lighthouse into their homes. A few others have even purchased lighthouses from the U.S. government. Care for your own lighthouse? We’re sharing a few currently on the market — some real lighthouses and some replicas — in honor of National Lighthouse Day.

In fact 000 lions that still sheet live in the wild, of the 20 onlyhighly endangered Asiatic lions live in the Gir jungle of India. sheet African Animals For Kids Giraffe. With the help of over 7 sheet conservationists , photographers, 000 india of the world’ s best wildlife filmmakers , scientists Arkive. Paste pictures of any five of. Bio from the Hiroshima Museum of Art:. 12 Animals from India. Blackbuck collage is the most beautiful india Indian antelope and sole extant animals member of the genus sheet Antilope. Illustrations and paintings by Harue Koga ( 1895– 1933) Harue india Koga for Kodomo no Kuni. Here is collage the collage list of wildlife wild animals of India you should know. Collage Making Use a coloured A3 size sheet india to. Learn more about the species we are working to protecting from becoming endangered or extinct. Indian Elephant Lion Tailed Macaque, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Lion . brown_ freq worrisome worry worry- worryin worrying worse worsened india worsens worship worshiped worshipful worshiping worshipped worshippers worshipping worst worst- marked. Since Nepal is a beautiful collage tropical destination it is no wonder that we find sheet all sorts of jungle sheet animals india living in it. sheet Born in Kurume City in endangered Fukuoka Prefecture , Koga left collage junior high school to be animals a painter he moved to Tokyo in 1912. for Andersen' s story " The Tinderbox" ( see the original collage post) [ Tinderbox! While some of these species are critically endangered some are near threatened india some are even extinct.

Humic acid is generally considered complex, heterogeneous mixture of molecular weight hydroxy carboxylic one. Lignite, peat and weathered coal humic acid content is the main source of extraction of humic acid. Humic acid from weathered coal extraction rate in the highest, followed by lignite, peat minimum. According to the conventional method of soil science, it can be divided into humic acid, fulvic acid and humin three components. It was also divided into three categories: not dissolved in an alkaline solution, can be dissolved in an acidic solution, called black rot acid; only dissolved in an alkaline solution, can not be dissolved in an acidic solution, called brown rot acid; dissolved in both alkaline solution and acidic solution, called fulvic acid. Humic acid is an organic acid from a polymer composed of aromatic and variety of functional groups, and has good physical activity and absorption, complexation, switching and other functions. Humic acid can promote the formation of soil aggregate structure, enhance soil permeability, enhance soil water, fertilizer capacity; also has a stimulus effect on plant growth, enhance its drought, cold, diseases and pests and other capabilities, also improve the quality of agricultural products ; stimulate soil microbial activity and improve adequate carbon, nitrogen, improve the microbes living environment, increase the number of beneficial microorganisms in soil and soil enzyme activities.

Driving whilst using a hand-held mobile phone is both illegal and dangerous, and according to research, can make a drivers reaction time 50% slower than in normal driving conditions. We aim to educate drivers of the dangers, and how using a mobile phone to send a "quick text" or update a social network status is unacceptable and dangerous. Your reaction times are slower - 50% slower when using a hand-held mobile compared to normal driving conditions. You are four times more likely to crash. You are more likely to drift across lanes. Your judgement of speed and distances from other vehicles is impaired. Using a hands-free phone is just as distracting as using a hand-held mobile while driving. You can be prosecuted for using a hands-free phone if you are not in proper control of your vehicle - the penalties are the same. If you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic, the law still applies. Think you can concentrate on two things at once? Then why not have a go at the THINK driving challenge game.

As we turn to Psalm 73, we must recall again Psalm 1. I know that by now you are very well acquainted with our case concerning Psalm 1, but allow me to expose it again in the light of Psalm 73. Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” And verse 3: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season…and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” According to Psalm 1, it is not the wicked and the ungodly who will prosper, but the godly saints, those who keep the law. Now turn to Psalm 73, verse 3: “For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 1 says that the godly will prosper and the wicked will perish. But Psalm 73 tells us that the Psalmist saw the prosperity of the wicked. In verse 12 he says, “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” Therefore, Psalm 73 proves conclusively that there is a problem with Psalm 1. He says, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency” (v. 13). In other words, he is saying, “I have kept the law all the time; I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in vain, because I did not prosper.” Verse 14 reveals the experience of this godly saint: “For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” What can we say? Here is a godly saint who is plagued all the day and chastened every morning. We must be exceedingly clear now concerning the position of Psalm 1. Then he continues by saying, “If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children” (v. 15). The Psalmist was really perplexed when he considered the situation from the standpoint of material blessing and profit, good and evil; he had a real problem. If he would utter publicly, “I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency,” he would not be faithful to God’s children. What should he do, and what should he say? The Psalmist replies, “When I thought how I might know this, it was a painful labor in mine eyes” (v. 16). The whole dilemma was entirely too difficult for him. How could you reconcile Psalm 1 and Psalm 73? According to the traditional teachings of Christianity today, there is absolutely no way to reconcile these two Psalms. This is a strong case set forth to expose the present pitiful situation of Christianity’s teachings. What did he understand? Verse 25: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” He realized that God was working to deprive him of all material things that he might enjoy God in such an absolute way. This is the revelation. Why do the wicked prosper and their riches continually increase? It is because God has given them up; He simply lets them go on their own way. They have nothing whatever to do with the enjoyment of God. But God’s intention with the seeking saints is to remove all material blessings and all physical enjoyments that they may find everything in God. Nothing in heaven nor on earth can be their enjoyment but God Himself. It was by the Psalmist’s experience, as recorded in the first part of Psalm 73, that he could eventually assert, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” He received revelation. He learned why God would not allow the seeking saints to prosper as the worldlings do. God intends that nothing should distract us from the absolute enjoyment of Himself. Eventually, it is not a matter of merely keeping the law, but of seeking God absolutely. It is not a matter of doing good or evil, right or wrong—if you are concerned about that, you are still occupied with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is a matter of seeking God, obtaining God, possessing God. It is a matter of experiencing God to the extent that you also can say, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” In other words, “I do not care for anything but the tree of life; I do not care for anything other than God Himself.” This is Psalm 73. When the Psalmist went into the sanctuary of God, he received this revelation and took God Himself as his all. How may we too have the experience of the Psalmist in these verses? We must be in the spirit and in the local church, the sanctuary of God. Just by this one Psalm we may see the difference between Book III and Book I. There is a great improvement. It is not a matter of keeping the law or of being right or wrong, but of having God and of keeping God as everything. Let us look briefly at Psalm 24 in the light of Psalm 73. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s,” and verse 3 asks, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” Verse 4 answers: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Some may think that this verse refers to those who keep the law. But if we read Psalm 73, we have these very matters mentioned: “I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency” (v. 13). Vanity is anything beside God. Idols are vanity; worldly prosperity is vanity; anything but God is vanity. A pure heart is one that is set on nothing but God. Only one who has a pure heart can say, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” If you are still seeking anything other than God, your heart is set upon vanity. God Himself is the reality. Do not imagine that Psalm 24:4 signifies the keeping of the law. Not at all. It refers to one whose heart is set upon nothing but God. The one in Psalm 24:4 is the one in Psalm 73. This is the one who has washed his hands and cleansed his heart. He has a pure heart. Psalm 73:1 says, “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a pure heart.” Psalm 24:4 refers not to the law-keepers, but to the God-seekers. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” The God-seekers! The way to see all these things is to enter into the sanctuary of God. So many of us can testify that before we came into the local churches, we were ignorant of many things. It was not until we came into the sanctuary of God that we understood.

Have stinky sinks, scratched hardwood floors or temperamental toilets got you at your wits’ end? Get ready to tackle 15 deceptively simple common home improvement problems. Laundry rooms, basements and other utilitarian areas may have exposed pipe areas. And while that’s not a big deal most of the year, when the thermometer drops, these pipes can be prone to freezing up. A simple solution: install heating cables and insulate them. Simply run the cables up the pipes, using electrical tape to attach every few inches. After the cables are attached, cover them with insulating foam, and plug in the cord. The first step to non-stinky washers is prevention — moving clothes out before they get musty may be easier said than done, but will go a long way toward a fresher washer. Leave the door open to let the washer itself air out after loads, as well. But there are other measures you can take. First, clean the door’s rubber seal with a half-and-half solution of water and vinegar about once a month. Also, run a cleansing cycle in the wash, where you run it on the hottest cycle with the tub empty except for a cup of baking soda in the drum, and using distilled white vinegar in the detergent dispenser. Finally, clean your drain pump filter every few weeks, per your washer’s instructions. When the toilet isn’t working, it’s an urgent household matter. And there’s no reason to wait for a repair worker on something like a broken flush arm: you can do it yourself! Remove the tank lid and unhood the lift chain. You’ll need a crescent wrench to remove the nut inside the tank that holds the old handle in place. Once you’ve removed the old handle, take it with you to the home improvement store to make sure you get a new one that will work with your toilet. Then attach the new flush arm according to the directions in the package … but you should be a pro by now, since you already took out the previous one, and it’s just the reverse process! Just make sure you do some test flushes so you know the chain isn’t too loose (keeping the tank from fully draining) or too tight (causing leaks). Once you get it properly adjusted, put your tank lid back on, and you are ready to flush in style! While that gouge in your flooring looks horrible, odds are that it can be fixed without a complete overhaul of your hardwood floors. Basic scratches can be concealed with stain markers that match the color of the wood floors. This is more of a camouflage than a true fix, but it makes them much less visible. For deeper scratches and gouges, try paste wax. Rub some of a matching color into the scratch, then polish off the excess after it has dried. Acrylic wood filler can be used for gouges greater than 1/4 deep, but you have to wait four hours between applications. Just remember these are for spot-fixes — if your hardwood floors have all-over scratches and damage, your best bet is probably a full refinishing. So you’re moving along on your home improvement project, removing screws with your drill, and then you hear that tell-tale whirrrrrzzzzz! sound that means you’ve hit that DIYers’ eternal pain: a stripped screw. If the screw isn’t flush with whatever you’re removing it from, there’s always the option of pliers, which is probably the most direct. But if it’s screwed in tight, find some heavy-duty rubber bands. And not just one — you’ll probably need a few rubber bands to get out a really well-stripped screw. But laying a rubber band over the stripped screw’s head should give your drill or screwdriver enough traction to eventually remove that stubborn screw and move on with your project. Leaky faucet? Do a quick Internet search of your faucet’s make and model to determine whether it’s a chronic problem or a possible one-time fix. Amazon.com reviews and online forums can reveal clues about whether O-ring or cartridge replacements are worth the time. Spare parts (if not antique or specialty) will almost always be significantly less expensive than a brand new faucet. It requires a good number of tools, but repairing a vinyl tile is really not complicated. First, loosen the adhesive on the damaged tile with a heat gun or warm iron, then take a putty knife and gently work the tile up off the floor. It usually works best when you start at the corners and work your way to the center; the tile is less likely to tear that way. Make sure your room is well-ventilated, then use mineral spirits to soften the adhesive on the floor from the old tile so you can more easily scrape it away with the putty knife. After the surface is fairly evened out, apply the new adhesive. Lay the new tile on the adhesive and secure it by rolling over it with a rolling pin. After the tile is in place, wipe away any excess adhesive with a mineral spirit rag. Let the tile dry and get really well and fully stuck for a few hours (or as per adhesive instructions), and you’re done! Forget putting the lime in the coconut — to get these intractable white stains out of your sinks, go with the vinegar to beat lime. Soak paper towels in vinegar and apply them to the areas with the lime-deposit hard-water stains. One caveat: this may discolor brass or colored fixtures, so proceed with caution when you are cleaning around those styles of drains. Tired of missing package deliveries or your friends having to knock when they arrive? Fixing your doorbell is probably easier than you expect. Remove the screws that hold your current doorbell in place and remove the pushbutton. Disconnect the wires from the button, then touch those wires together. If you hear the doorbell, you’ve got an easy fix! Just buy an inexpensive replacement and install it per instructions, and ring-a-ding-ding, your doorbell works again!

I want to remind you of something we talked about at Back-to-School Night, and that is to check your child’s homework assignment notebook every day. In the elementary grades, the teachers write the day’s assignments on the side of the chalkboard; the students copy them down in their assignment notebooks; and then they begin working on them during the day. Whatever they do not finish, they take home as “homework.” The process is a little different in the junior high and high school. For the 1st-6th grades, we require that the parents sign the assignment notebook each day. But before you sign the notebook, you should check the work to see that 1) it was done, and 2) that it was done accurately. If you can stay on top of this, your child will get so much more out of school—he will learn more, and he will develop better character. This requires a lot of effort on your part. I know this first-hand from our own experience as a family. Part of your success in this process will come because of organization, and part will come because of determination. Let me give a couple of tips. First, have a time set when you check the homework. This time will differ with different families, but build it into your schedule nonetheless. Second, persevere in your follow through. As you know, some days have more challenges in the schedule than others. But if you can overcome these obstacles, your child will benefit. Homework is an essential feature of your child’s education. If we can stay on top of the accountability procedures, he will advance that much more from his time at Bethel.

1) (Worcester). Gu. a fesse betw. three mullets ar. 2) Motto—Aequitate ac diligentia. Per. chev. gu. and ar. in chief three martlets of the last and in base on a mound vert an ash tree ppr. fructed of the first. Crest—A lion’s gamb. erased or, holding a spear pendant therefrom a flag ar. thereon a martlet gu. The founders of the Ashbury surname exist in the old Anglo-Saxon culture. The name acquires from when they resided in Ashbourne, Derbyshire; in Ashburnham, Sussex; or in Ashburton, Devon. Before English spelling regulated a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common experience. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became organized into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the educated. The variations of the surname Ashbury contain as Ashburnham, Asbury, Astbury, Ashburner, Ashbourn, Ashburn, Ashburnam, Ashburham, Ashbourne and much more. More common variations are: Ashburey, Ashburry, Asheburry, Ashbry, Aeschbury, Ashbery, Ashbr, Ashberry, Ashbary, Ashabur. The surname Ashbury first appeared in Derbyshire, at Ashbourne, a market town in the Derbyshire Dales now famous for its historical annual Shrovetide football match. The first record appeared in the Domesday Book where it noted as Esseburne, having acquired from the Old English aesc and burna, which means “stream where the ash-trees grow.” “There can be little no doubt, however, that the Ashburnhams have been seated at Ashburnham from the period of Henry II, and perhaps from a much earlier period, and declined from Bertram, Constable of Dover in the period or William the Invader.” “The estate [of Ashburnham in Sussex], with the difference only of a few years, has been from a time anterior to the Invasion in the continued ownership of the noble family of Ashburnham, whose mansion-house here is beautifully located, and covered by a fine park. The parish, located behind Ashburnham House, is a neat cruciform edifice in the decorated English style, with a tower like the south transept contains a gallery for the family, and in the north are handsome monuments to William and John Ashburnham and their wives.” The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Many of the people with surname Ashbury had moved to Ireland during the 17th century. Individuals with the surname Ashbury landed in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, and 18th. Some of the people with the name Ashbury who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Robert Ashbury, who came to Virginia in 1637. Francis Ashbury, who landed in Maryland in 1665. Thomas Ashbury, who arrived in Maryland in 1676. The following century saw more Ashbury surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Ashbury who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included John Ashbury, who landed in Virginia in 1705. Here is the population distribution of the last name Ashbury: South Africa 201; United States 171; England 97; Canada 91; Australia 9; New Zealand 7; Norway 1; Zimbabwe 1; Rusia 1; Malawi 1. James Lloyd Ashbury (1834 –September 1895) was a British yachtsman and Party leader. The son of John Ashbury, founder of the Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company Ltd of Manchester, James qualified as an engineer and worked the family company. When his father passed away in 1866, he received the business and a considerable fortune. Influenced by the polluted atmosphere of Manchester and Ashbury he shifted to the coast, where he took up sailing. As he tried to advance in society, he took up competitive yachting. Joseph Ashbury (1638–1720), was an English actor and theater manager. He was born in London in 1638, into a famous family, was educated at Eton College, and entered the army. Quartered in Ireland, when the guidance of Richard Cromwell came to an end, he was one of the officers who replaced under the regime of the revived Rump Parliament, and he was also one of those who, in the royalist interest, seized Dublin Castle in December 1659. The four main devices (symbols) in the Ashbury blazon are the mullet, fesse, martlet and ash tree. The two main tinctures (colors) are gules and argent.

immobility and consolidation of a joint due to disease, injury, or surgical procedure. adj., adj ankylot´ic. Ankylosis may be caused by destruction of the membranes that line the joint or by faulty bone structure. It is most often a result of chronic rheumatoid arthritis, in which the affected joint tends to assume the least painful position and may become more or less permanently fixed in it. Other causes include infection and traumatic injury to the joint. Artificial ankylosis (arthrodesis), fusion of a joint by surgical operation, is sometimes done to ameliorate the pain experienced in a severe joint condition. bony ankylosis union of the bones of a joint by loss of articular cartilage, resulting in complete immobility. extracapsular ankylosis that caused by rigidity of surrounding parts. false ankylosis (fibrous ankylosis) reduced joint mobility due to proliferation of fibrous tissue. intracapsular ankylosis that caused by rigidity of structures within the joint. stapedial ankylosis fixation of the footplate of the stapes in otosclerosis, causing conductive hearing loss. Osseous union between two bones that are not supposed to be united; commonly refers to formation of a bony bundle between the radius and ulna following fracture of these two bones. Osseous union between the bones forming a joint. Synonym(s): bony ankylosis, true ankylosis. Osseous union between bones forming a joint. abnormal immobility and consolidation of a joint. Ankylosis may be caused by destruction of the membranes that line the joint or by faulty bone structure. It is most often a result of chronic arthritis, in which the affected joint tends to assume the least painful position and may become more or less permanently fixed in it. Artificial ankylosis (arthrodesis), locking of a joint by surgical operation, is sometimes done in treatment of a severe joint condition. union of the bones of a joint by proliferation of bone cells, resulting in complete immobility. that caused by rigidity of surrounding parts. reduced joint mobility due to proliferation of fibrous tissue. calves are affected at birth and cause fetal dystocia. The legs are bent and fixed in flexion, and there is some deformity of the spine. In one breed of cattle there is a combination of ankylosis and cleft palate. that caused by rigidity of structures within the joint. occurs in the intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints of horses. Called also bone spavin. fixation of the footplate of the stapes in otosclerosis, causing a conductive hearing loss. performed to immobilize a painful joint or to correct excessive mobility, e.g. carpal ankylosis carried out on large birds as a deflighting procedure.

This contest answer featured an uplifting song and a vocalist with four-octave range. Our September BigPicture column about how to approach possible drug use by new hires a was titled "Higher and hirer," a reference to the Jackie Wilson song "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and higher." Despite immense talent and several hits, singer Jackie Wilson had less commercial success than other performers of his day. Wilson was born in Detroit in 1934. His father, Jack senior, was a singer-songwriter. Jackie started singing in his church choir as a boy. Mainly a tenor singer, he is said to have possessed a four-octave vocal range that reached to C sharp 6. He was known as "Mr. Excitement" for his stage performance, which included acrobatic moves like splits, jumps, and spins. His performance style influenced James Brown, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. Yet his sister has said he was not really a dancer. He was a boxer in his early years (until his mother pressured him to quit), and he incorporated boxing moves into his on-stage routine, she explained to Jet magazine. Wilson shuffled through a number of vocal groups before his big break came. He was chosen to replace Clyde McPhatter in Billy Ward's Dominos in 1953. (McPhatter left to found the Drifters.) Although the group only scored one chart hit with Wilson at the mic, he was able to launch a solo career. His first single was 1956's "Reet Petite"—a song co-written by Berry Gordy Jr., before he founded Motown. Wilson mainly recorded songs written by others, but did write or co-write a few, including his 1963 hit "Baby Workout," "Squeeze Her—Tease Her (But Love Her)," and "No Pity (in the Naked City)." "Higher and Higher" was released in 1967 and hit number one on the U.S. R&B chart. A version released by the Dells was said to have been the original version, but it wasn't released until 1968. The song was also a major hit for Rita Coolidge in 1977, reaching number two in the U.S. Peter Tork of the Monkees has performed a bluegrass cover of the song, both with and without the other Monkees. Van Morrison wrote a tribute to Jackie Wilson, "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)."

When I taught Kindergarten, we always took time to do our daily math board as part of our Calendar routine. This was a way to practice so many essential math skills every day. We covered how a calendar worked, place value, basic addition and a lot of work with a 100’s board. When I moved to teach grade 2, I created a Daily Math Board for our class to use for older students.

There is a crisis in post-secondary education. Since 2001, the amount of revenue universities and colleges earn from tuition fees has tripled. As costs are increasingly downloaded onto students, the amount owed to the Canada Student Loans Program has reached over $19 billion and is increasing by nearly $1 million per day. Today, a student who has to take out a loan will pay over $10,000 more for their education than someone who can afford these high upfront costs. As a result, college and university education is becoming increasingly out of reach for students from low-income backgrounds, who are disproportionately Indigenous, students of colour, trans students, students with disabilities and students raised in single-parent homes. Year after year, campus administrators refuse to advocate alongside students for increased public funding and choose to hike tuition fees as a shortsighted “quick fix” to reduced public funds. The federal government wastes billions of dollars in writing-off defaulted student loans, administering complex student aid programs and paying out inefficient education tax credits rather than directly funding public post-secondary education and removing cost barriers for everyone upfront. In the absence of any national vision, divergent paths have emerged for post-secondary education between provincial systems, leaving students to pay more for their education depending on where they live. While some provincial governments have begun to make improvements on access through the introduction of needs-based grants systems, without introducing new post-secondary education funding, these student aid policy changes can only be seen as band-aid solutions to a growing problem. We have a debt crisis on our hands. With students owing $28 billion to all levels of government, we need bold action, including the elimination of tuition fees, to fix this. Instead of easing the burden placed on students, the federal government is using interest rates on student loans as a valuable source of revenue. This year, the government of Canada is projected to generate $862.6 million in revenue from the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP). This isn’t right. It’s time for the federal government to eliminate interest rates on CSLP loans.

Bullying is a pervasive problem among adolescents, but many of the most successful prevention strategies used with younger children just don't work with tweens and teens. Don't despair! In this webinar we will explore what bullying looks like among adolescents and how a focus on social-emotional learning creates a safe and supportive environment, builds strong adult-adolescent relationships, and reduces online and real-world bullying and conflict. Matt Pearsall is a Community Manager for Committee for Children, where he designs research-based Second Step social-emotional learning curricula. Previously, he taught language arts and social studies at a very diverse, low-SES high school outside Seattle, WA. Previous to that, he performed interactive sword-fighting/medieval history shows in middle schools throughout the Chicago area. He graduated from Seattle University with an MAT in secondary education. Committee for Children is on a mission to ensure children everywhere can thrive. Since 1979, we've championed the cause of educating the whole child through advocacy, leadership in the field, and social-emotional learning (SEL) and child safety programs. Today, our programs reach over 14 million children in more than 70 countries worldwide. Our flagship Second Step program is rooted in social-emotional learning and helps transform schools into supportive and successful learning environments uniquely equipped to help children thrive. More than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step takes a holistic approach to creating a more empathetic society by providing parents, education professionals, and the larger community with tools to help them take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today's youth. The results are real and palpable. It's a difference you can feel the moment you walk through the doors of a Second Step school—a sense of safety and respect grounded in the social-emotional health and well-being of the entire school community. Learn more at SecondStep.org.

Last May, the work of citizen scientists helped establish the existence of a weird form of the aurora nicknamed Steve. Now almost a year later, aurora scientists know a lot more about Steve and happily have kept the name and turned it into a nerdy acronym — STEVE for “Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.” Apparently, they’ve known about the phenomenon for some time but never imagined it would be visible from the ground. I can report that on those rare occasions when Steve does show up, it’s very obvious as a narrow arc of pulsing light that extends from northwest to northeast east to west crossing high in the southern sky. It resembles a jet contrail but remains in place with a glow of its own, a sort of line in the sand when all the other auroral forms are dancing about with abandon. In addition to random pulsations, it’s occasionally crosshatched by short, picket-fence-type streaks. Auroras form when Earth’s magnetic field guides atomic particles in the solar wind around Earth and towards the north and south poles. When these particles collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, they “relax” a fraction of a second later and beam out tiny bursts of green and red light that create and color the aurora borealis and aurora australis (southern lights). Auroras mostly happen in the polar regions, but during big storms reach much further south and bloom over places like Kentucky and Arizona. While Steve can show up either alone or in the company of other aurora, it stands apart from the main activity as a purple ribbon only about 15 miles (25 km) across. Cameras show the color beautifully but it generally appears colorless to the naked eye. While Steve is created through the same general process as a normal aurora, it travels along different magnetic field lines and therefore can appear at much lower latitudes. Most auroras dance around in the northern sky as seen from mid-northern latitudes invisible to observers farther south. But the Steve arc often passes south of the overhead point, placing it in the southern sky and in view of observers who live south of the usual aurora zone. Steve is an important discovery because of its location in the sub-auroral zone south of where most auroras appear, in an area not well researched. At these lower latitudes, scientists say that the alignment of the global electric and magnetic fields makes ions and electrons from the solar wind flow rapidly in the east–west direction, heating them in the process. Measurements made by one of the European Space Agency’s Swarm spacecraft as it crossed the arc show that Steve is a fast-moving stream of extremely hot atomic particles called a sub-auroral ion drift. In a sense it resembles the glowing filament of an incandescent light bulb, heated to glow by the flow of electricity (electrons). While this all sounds fantastically obscure, this flow or pulsing is actually visible to the patient and discerning naked eye observer. One of the coolest things about Steve is that all this new research was inspired by ardent aurora watchers and photographers and shows how much ordinary people — citizen scientists — can contribute. If you’d like more information about Steve’s charms, check out the scientific paper just published in Scientific Advances.

Turkey is an ancient Jewel. The monuments, the palaces and the stories makes Turkey a blend of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and the world architecture and what amuses me that even after the revolts, break downs and conquest, the rich cultural heritage is preserved intact. So our second stop was Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia was a church. After the conquest of Istanbul, the church was converted into a mosque and then in 1934 the mosque was converted into a museum. So now, Hagia Sophia is a museum.This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. The stories from Hagia Sophia talks about construction and reconstruction. The church was constructed thrice. First, it was constructed in 329 AD with wooden wall with sapphire in color. Then it was constructed in 115 AD and it was in Marble. Before the Byzantine empire, it was roman empire and before the roman empire was the earliest Greek who arrived in 6th century BC and they set their city, their temples everything.They used Marble and Red Brick. But by 532 AD with the revolt it collapsed. The current building that stands was constructed in between 532 and 537 AD on the orders of Byzantine Empire and was the third church. 10,000 people constructed the church in 5 years.After one year the center of dome collapsed because of heavy material they used. They had hired guys from Greek civilization from ancient part and they reconstructed again. And in the reconstruction the material they used was volcanic ash which was lighter but stronger. Emperor Constantine on the left and Empress Joe on the right. Famous in particular for its massive dome, It remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.This church initially was orthodox church with the crusaders and then changed to catholic church.When they constructed this church they used material from all over the world. They bought many columns from Egypt. They bought many columns from Greece and some from Temples in Ephesus. From different parts, the material they collected created different structures and in 1453 was converted into a mosque.And in a mosque you cannot have image of any other religion that’s why they covered all images with muslin. You can see Arabic Calligraphy at one end and visuals of virgin mary with Jesus at another.

This is a behaviour known as coprophagy and is somehow far more endearing when done by dung beetles. Coprophagy by vertebrates is rare, especially among birds. Wild dogs, being carnivores, eat meat and wolf down large chunks of it at a time. Not all the nutrients are digested and some are discharged in the faeces. It is thought that hooded vultures obtain undigested nutrients from consuming the faeces, although they could be obtaining some other rare nutrients as well or instead. There are some other ‘phagy’ behaviours I looked up too, which include: Anurophagy: eating frogs; Araneophagy: eating spiders; Durophagy: eating hard-shelled or exoskeleton bearing organisms; Geophagy: eating earth; Haematophagy: eating blood; Keratophagy or Ceratophagy: eating horny material, including snakes eating their own skin after shedding; Lepidophagy: eating fish scales; Mucophagy: eating mucus; Myrmecophagy: eating ants and/or termites; Ophiophagy: eating snakes; Osteophagy: eating bones; Saprophagy: eating decaying organic matter; and Xylophagy: eating wood. What’s even more rare than this photo of a hooded vulture eating faeces is that it also shows the (unimpressed -looking) wild dogs. African wild dogs are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, but hooded vultures are listed as Critically Endangered!

ARLINGTON, Va. — Teenage drivers' cellphone use edged higher in North Carolina after the state enacted a cellphone ban for young drivers, a new Institute study finds. This is the case even though young drivers and their parents said they strongly support the restrictions. Parents and teens alike believe the ban on hand-held and hands-free phone use isn't being enforced. Researchers concluded that North Carolina's law isn't reducing teen drivers' cellphone use. When surveyed after the cellphone restrictions took effect, teenage drivers were more likely than parents to say they knew about the ban. Only 39 percent of parents said they were aware of the cellphone law, compared with 64 percent of teen drivers. Support for the ban was greater among parents (95 percent) than teens (74 percent). Eighty-eight percent of parents said that they restrict their teenage drivers' cellphone use, though only 66 percent of teenagers reported such parental limits. About half of the teenagers surveyed after the law took effect admitted they had used their phones, if they had driven, on the day prior to the interview. Most parents and teen drivers agreed that police officers weren't looking for cellphone violators. Seventy-one percent of teens and 60 percent of parents reported that enforcement was rare or nonexistent. Only 22 percent of teenagers and 13 percent of parents surveyed believed the law was being enforced fairly often or a lot. Phone bans for young drivers are becoming commonplace as concerns mount about the contribution of distractions to teens' elevated crash risk. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia restrict both hand-held and hands-free phone use by young drivers. Six states and D.C. bar all drivers from using hand-helds.

Today’s case based reasoning applications face several challenges. In a typical application, the case bases grow at a very fast rate and their contents become increasingly diverse, making it necessary to partition a large case base into several smaller ones. Their users are overloaded with vast amounts of information during the retrieval process. These problems call for the development of effective case-base maintenance methods. As a result, many researchers have been driven to design sophisticated case-base structures or maintenance methods. In contrast, we hold a different point of view: we maintain that the structure of a case base should be kept as simple as possible, and that the maintenance method should be as transparent as possible. In this paper we propose a case-base maintenance method that avoids building sophisticated structures around a case base or perform complex operations on a case base. Our method partitions cases into clusters where the cases in the same cluster are more similar than cases in other clusters. In addition to the content of textual cases, the clustering method we propose can also be based on values of attributes that may be attached to the cases. Clusters can be converted to new case bases, which are smaller in size and when stored distributedly, can entail simpler maintenance operations. The contents of the new case bases are more focused and easier to retrieve and update. To support retrieval in this distributed case-base network, we present a method that is based on a decision forest built with the attributes that are obtained through an innovative modification of the ID3 algorithm.

Improving the appearance of your home's exterior can be a great way to give the property curb appeal and add financial value to your home. Incorporating creative elements into your home's landscape can be a simple and effective way to improve the appearance of your property. Partnering with a demolition company like Alliance Demolition Services Inc is a great way to gain access to salvaged metal pieces. Here are three things to keep in mind as you purchase salvaged metal from a demolition company to incorporate into your garden in the future. 1. Look for metal with existing patina. When you are going to use salvaged metal to create art pieces for your garden, it can be beneficial to look through a demolition company's inventory for metal pieces with existing patina. Metal that shows signs of flaking paint, rust, or other imperfections has more character than new metal pieces. By purchasing salvaged metal that has been used extensively prior to demolition, you end up with raw materials that will make an interesting and unique piece of art for your garden. 2. Make sure your salvaged metal is safe. Demolition companies work with a variety of individuals when it comes to tearing down structures in order to gain access to the raw materials used to construct these structures. This means that the salvaged metal you can purchase through a demolition company could have been exposed to a number of contaminants prior to being salvaged. You should check with the demolition company to see if the salvaged metal they are selling has been treated to remove any lead-based paint, chemical contaminants, or sharp edges. These treatments could cost you a little extra, but the salvaged metal pieces that have been treated by the demolition company will be safe for inclusion in your home's garden. 3. Make sure your salvaged metal can withstand the elements. You need to take the weather conditions in your area into consideration when purchasing salvaged metal through a demolition company. You want your garden art to be able to remain structurally sound over time, so you want metal pieces that will be able to withstand exposure to the elements. If you live in an area with a lot of rain or humidity, ask the demolition company to show you some salvaged metals that are less likely to corrode (like aluminum). Purchasing the right metal will ensure your salvage art remains aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound well into the future. A demolition company that offers salvaged metal for sale can be a great partner when it comes to improving the appearance of your home through metal garden art. Be sure you purchase the right metal products by looking for natural patina, ensuring the demolition company treats the salvaged metal to maximize safety, and investing in the right metal to withstand your area's climate conditions.

Lionel d'Uston, now a retired CNRS research director, is the only Frenchman to have participated in the March Opportunity mission. While NASA announced its stop on Wednesday, February 13, he agreed to return to this adventure for La Croix. The Cross: How did you experience the termination of the Opportunity mission, after fifteen years and more than 45 kilometers on Mars? Lionel of Uston: Of course, when John Callas (the mission manager at NASA, Ed) warned me, it hurt me a little bit. The Opportunity robot was powered by solar panels that were covered with dust during a big storm in mid-June. The cloud was so dense that the panels were no longer charging. However, the temperatures are very low on Mars, and the electronics must not go below – 55 ° C. Lacking power, Opportunity was too cold. Even though the solar panels may be able to capture the energy now, something has dropped in the meantime and the robot is unreachable. And then there was also his old age! Many instruments did not work anymore, or no longer very well. L. of U. : Yes, the goal was to hold ninety soils (days on Mars), or about three months (1). After, there was the Martian winter and the atmospheric dust would be deposited on the solar panels. But good surprise: wind swirls regularly go to the surface and raise the dust. After a few months of mission, when indeed the solar panels were getting dirty, we suddenly had a sweep and the energy production was restarted. The unexpected "Martian housekeeper" allowed us to continue long! This is also why the storm last June did not worry me so much. I thought he had seen worse … But in fact it was the worst. What did Opportunity teach us? L. of U. : For me, the main success is transmitted images (2). After multiple rebounds on Mars and a very distressing tension on Earth, Opportunity arrived in a small sandy bowl. There, from the first photo, we saw rocks that indicated an ancient seabed. These strata and sediments were the visible evidence that there had been, in the past and for a long time, water on Mars. It was great ! Subsequently, there was a plethora of analyzes of different types of rock to better know the past of Mars. There was always a pebble that looked a bit odd two meters away and you had to go see! The last destination of Opportunity in recent years was the huge crater Endeavor, more than 20 kilometers in diameter. It's a nice place to finish your mission. Many people have expressed their sadness. Why do we tend to attach ourselves to robots sent to Mars? L. of U. : It is true that we "humanize" a little Opportunity and other robots. For example, we tend to talk about osteoarthritis when the movements are stuck. I think it's because we focus on their adventures as we go, and we enrich them with the ability to analyze their own situation. To design the first missions to Mars, we spoke of "robot-geologist". So we imagined that the device should replace a real geologist on the ground. All their design is based on human behaviors to reproduce. Then when Opportunity got wet for the first time in 2005, he was taught to take a picture every turn. These photos were only used by the robot, he compared them to previous ones, to see if he was moving forward or if he was on the spot and could become bogged down again. How did you find yourself on this project? L. of U. : At the time, I collaborated with the German team of Rudi Rieder who was developing the APXS spectrometer, and I also helped another team across Germany on a Mössbauer spectrometer. Both instruments were finally installed at the end of the arm on the robot Opportunity. So I was involved in the preparation meetings and I continued to participate in the operations. Curiosity arrived in 2012, is now alone on the red planet. Although the storm has reduced its visibility, the robot derives its energy from a thermoelectric radioisotope generator and thus remains functional despite the dust. Two other robots are scheduled to join Mars in 2020. The Europeans will launch the second part of the ExoMars program, with rover Rosalind Franklin. The Americans, they will send the "cousin" of Curiosity, for now baptized Mars2020. Star Night is held throughout France from August 3 to 5, 2018, with more than 450 events. For this edition, the planet Mars, "little sister of the Earth", will be in the spotlight.

Recognize the changes and movements among the general business economy, the real estate economy, the rental market, and their relationship to property management. Describe the three basic tools and their criteria that the property manager systematically uses to collect data for formulating the management plan. Differentiate the procedures used in preparing a management plan and explain the importance of each procedure. Describe the various methods the property manager employs in meeting the owner’s objectives and in achieving the optimum financial position for the property. Explain the reason for considering ‘communication’ as one of the biggest problem in property management. Describe the position and the role of a property manager. State the reasons for maintaining good public relations and how a property manager can win the trust and confidence of others. Identify the effect of communication failure and the importance for effective communications. List the different forms of communications and their respective roles. Identify the authority that is signified by a lease and the importance of a written agreement. Distinguish the three types of leases and their variations. Identify the six basic elements of a lease and elucidate the conditions and rationale behind each procedure. Identify the two groups of lease provisions and the purpose of their respective clauses. Identify the main purpose for having insurance and describe the differences between condominium and co-operative insurance. To be able to recognize hazards and their relationship/effects to the named insured. Identify the types of insurance available. Understand the cost of insurance. Study an example of co-insurance. Identify possible actions after a loss has occurred. Identify the factors that need to be considered in determining tenant policies. State the proper procedures for assessing potential tenants. Learn how to properly inform the tenants. Identify the factors involved in tenant improvement and the tenant turnover. Describe the procedures involved when there is illegal use or damage of the property. Describe the procedures involved in dealing with tenant complaints and tenant unions. Describe the procedures involved in tenant subletting and moving. Describe the advantage of maintaining good tenant relations. Identify the three approaches to value for arriving at a final estimate and explain the subjective nature of the approaches. Name the most appropriate and impartial method. List the procedures required in the income approach method and elucidate the conditions and rationale behind each procedure. Explain the critical role a budget plays in achieving an understanding between a building owner and the manager. Describe why the Monthly Cash Flow Budget is superior over the other four forms of budgeting for forecasting the property’s income. List the procedures required in the preparation of a budget and elucidate the conditions and rationale behind each procedure. Acquire a basic working knowledge for deriving a report based on a case study. Acquire a keen awareness of the importance of regulating and recording of income and controlling expenses and describe the relationship between the unit and the factors concerning rental payments. Explain the need for an effective system of control for miscellaneous receipts, security deposits and state the reasons behind for having collected money in separate accounts for each property. Describe the steps involved in the purchase of supplies, materials and services and the reason for taking this approach. Identify the different types of payment a property manager would encounter and the responsibilities a property manager has for each type of payment. Describe the three types of salary and the proper documentation for payroll. Explain the importance and necessity for having reserve funds. Define ‘Condominium’ and the advantage of a condominium. Distinguish the different types of condominium. State the advantages of a condominium over a rental unit and a traditional house. Define the roles of the Declaration, the Bylaws, and the Unit Deed of the governing documents. Identify the advantages and the disadvantages of a cooperative ownership. Describe the role of the Board of Directors and their responsibilities. Attain a better understanding of the different roles and functions of management. Identify the importance of planned preventive maintenance. Identify the relationship between building energy use and the building components. Describe a typical maintenance checklist. List he methods/approaches involved in Peak Load Control. Identify what is involved in the Energy Audit and Analysis. List and describe the importance of monitoring and feedback in the implementation of energy conservation. Identify the specifics involved in maintaining the building’s mechanical systems and the building components. Identify the different levels of management. Describe the five areas and the four basic skills of supervision. Identify the factors that contribute to successful supervision. Identify the planning procedures and the practical tips for effective delegation and the steps involved in decision-making and problem solving.

As I gaze up at the beautiful 1906 heritage property a friend of mine owns in the centre of Wellington, it’s hard to believe all the problems it’s causing him. Although it’s 100’s of kilometres away from Christchurch, the effects of the 22 February 2011 earthquake have hit this property hard. Around the country insurance rates have skyrocketed – most notably for earthquake prone buildings (EPBs) such as this one. The Building Act defines an EPB as a building that would be likely to collapse during a moderate earthquake causing injury, death or damage to another property and the Act delegates local authorities to adopt specific policy to address these buildings. Several years ago, the Wellington City Council gave owners of EPBs in the region up to 20 years to complete the required strengthening. The 1906 heritage property is part of a body corporate and following the strengthening notification adequate budgeting was established to allow the required work to be performed in the next 15 years. Since then, the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes has changed things dramatically. Tenants have becomes more savvy about selecting properties which are considered safe, values of EPBs have plunged and Councils have become more vigilant. Wellington City Council expressed a desire to review current policy and extend its role beyond regulatory functions. Gisborne District Council proposed a major change in the time period allowed for the completion of strengthening work – from 25 to10 years. Even Auckland City Council, in a city of comparatively low seismic activity, responded by proposing active implementation of policies surrounding strengthening work. Insurance companies have matched their concern. It wasn’t just the rise in premiums – many insurance companies have decided insuring EPBs simply isn’t worth the risk. Only one insurer in New Zealand agreed to insure the Wellington property in question, but that came at a cost - an annual increase in the premiums of more than 1200%. Now, my friend and the other owners are haemorrhaging money every month just to cover the insurance premiums. Suddenly the strengthening work due to be completed in 15 years has become a priority, if nothing more than to bring the insurance premium down. Property owners are essentially backed against the wall. The cost to complete the earthquake strengthening is significant, but if they don’t do it, the ongoing insurance costs make owning the property grossly uneconomic. This is a nationwide problem. A report to the Royal Commission after the Christchurch earthquake estimated that there were almost 4,000 unreinforced masonry buildings around New Zealand and that getting them up to code will cost around $2 billion. To add insult to injury, any costs incurred in the requisite strengthening work will be considered capital expenditure from a tax perspective and non-deductible (for those owners that use the property to generate income). Well established case law has considered this issue in depth. With the recent removal of depreciation on buildings – any costs incurred by landlords and business owners will represent ‘blackhole’ expenditure. This Budget presents the perfect opportunity for the Government to introduce tax based policies to incentivise property owners to carry out earthquake strengthening work on their properties sooner rather than later. Using tax incentives to alter behaviour is not a new concept, and if adequately structured it can produce positive outcomes for the wider economy. For example, a tax rebate could be offered on every dollar spent on qualifying strengthening work performed within a prescribed timeframe (say a five year window). Such an incentive would undoubtedly accelerate property owners’ decision making processes, while increasing building activity over the incentive period. The reality is the $2 billion spend required to get these properties up to standard would stimulate the New Zealand economy over the incentive period – something that is desperately needed. Many industries have been relying on the Christchurch rebuild, which still isn’t happening yet and may not start for another few years. If there were other projects to engage construction workers, engineers and other experts, this would generate growth in the economy and keep those workers employed until the Christchurch rebuild is ready to begin. It may be that amending the tax treatment of such costs on its own would not be enough to generate the desired acceleration on the required strengthening. Another area where property owners will no doubt be struggling is their ability to finance such significant expenditure. Wellington Council is considering ways they can help property owners – through interest free loans, targeted rates and other measures. However, to be truly effective, help needs to come from Central Government. Policy officials need to consider how to offer financing assistance to effected property owners in a meaningful way to aid these strengthening works - perhaps an underwritten government funding line with a charge over the property for recoupment (such as a suspensory loan)? It’s not just the economic cost that should be encouraging the Government to consider these measures – but also the social cost. Forty-two people died due to partial failings of unreinforced masonry buildings in the Christchurch earthquake. Waiting up to 15 years to strengthen New Zealand’s unreinforced masonry buildings only increases the likelihood of more lives being lost unnecessarily. The Government needs to pro-actively encourage property owners to strengthen their properties now so they are safe for people to reside and work in. Using the tax system to incentivise this behaviour in conjunction with providing realistic financing options will have this desired effect. The Government has shown their willingness to assist with earthquake related costs. The purchase of AMI and the decision to offer a buyout option to those who fell within the red zone are both things the Government didn’t have to do – but they felt a social responsibility and decided to assist. Providing tax incentives and financing options would be another positive step in this direction. In Budget 2012 the Government needs to address this issue by acknowledging the extent of the economic and social pressures this situation is placing on property owners. Ultimately, introducing tax incentives and suitable financing options to encourage building strengthening is going to cost the Government a lot less than cleaning up the social and economic mess caused by the thousands of unreinforced buildings if another disaster was to occur.This national issue requires Government intervention now – if adequate policies are established, it could generate the stimulation our economy urgently needs.

The annual two-week festival of Chinese New Year is upon us! As the Year of the Dog (2018 to 2019) gives way to the Year of the Pig (2019 to 2020), it’s time for family and friends to come together in celebration and exchange wishes for luck, health, and prosperity. Read on to learn how you can celebrate the Chinese New Year with some traditional and delicious foods. Also known as the Spring Festival and Lunar New Year, the Chinese New Year does not have a fixed Gregorian calendar date; instead, it’s tied to the Chinese lunar calendar. The weeklong festival happens in winter when people look forward to the renewal of spring. The Chinese New Year (春节, Chūn Jié, or “chwn-jyeah”) has been observed for more than 3,000 years. As people of Chinese origin have spread around the globe, it has become a globally celebrated event. The Year of the Pig officially begins February 5, 2019 (with the weeklong celebration spanning from the 4th to the 10th), and will give way to the Year of the Rat on January 25, 2020. People observing Chinese New Year often celebrate with special decorations, firecrackers and fireworks, and red envelopes (filled with “lucky money”)—but that’s not all. An integral part of the Chinese New Year? Food. Families come together for a special New Year’s Eve Dinner (年夜饭, Nián Yèfàn), also known as a Reunion Dinner (团年饭, Tuán Niánfàn). Special foods are an essential component of the Chinese New Year. They may have particular symbolic meanings in Chinese culture or could be considered lucky if the name of a food sounds similar to Chinese words for luck or wealth. However you share or observe Chinese New Year this year, here are six foods essential to the holiday. We break down what they are, why they’re significant, and how they’re made and served. Citrus fruits are commonly given as gifts during this season, in part because of their appearance or because of their Chinese names. In Chinese, the word for “pomelo” (柚, yòu) sounds like the word for “to have” (有, yǒu). Tangerines, mandarins, and kumquats are said to evoke gold, so having them can bring wealth and increase prosperity. The word for “orange or tangerine” (橙, chéng) sounds like the Chinese word for “success” (成, chénggōng). An alternate way to write “tangerine” is (桔, jú), which is comprised of the Chinese character for luck (吉, jí). Chinese dumplings symbolize great wealth. Depending on how they are prepared, dumplings can be made to resemble silver ingots or gold bars. Once filled and shaped, dumplings can be quickly boiled, steamed, or pan-fried. Families often cook large quantities of dumplings, storing leftovers for a quick dish to serve when family visit throughout the days and nights of Chinese New Year. Spring rolls naturally tie into the Spring Festival and have traditionally been prepared for the occasion. Similar to dumplings, egg rolls and spring rolls may resemble gold bars. Also commonly made with a combination of pork, shrimp, aromatics, and vegetables, spring rolls served during Chinese New Year symbolize wealth. Once filled and rolled, spring rolls are deep-fried for a crunchy shell that gives way to the soft, aromatic, complex filling. When it comes to symbolism, it’s hard to find a better example than longevity noodles, also known as long-life noodles. The length of the noodles varies (some noodles are two feet or longer, and others use just one incredibly long noodle), but the point of the dish is to wish long life upon the person eating it. These long noodles, typically called “e-fu” or “yi mein,” are meant to stay exactly that: long. Cutting the noodles into small pieces is frowned upon, as it means the person’s life is to be cut short. Longevity noodles are often a simpler dish and may be part of an egg drop soup. They may also contain a protein, mushrooms, and/or green vegetable. Some versions are also fried and served on a plate instead of a bowl. In Chinese legend, rice cakes would be prepared and served to a Chinese god of the kitchen, in the hopes that when the god returned to heaven prior to the new year, the god would speak well of the family. Translating as sticky cake, the Chinese words nián and gāo sound like the Chinese words for “year” and “tall.” So eating Chinese-style glutinous rice cakes have become synonymous with having wishes to make yourself more successful (metaphorically taller, so to speak) during the coming year. This is commonly thought of as increasing income, getting a promotion, or starting a new or better job. These sweet cakes also symbolize having a sweet life. Additionally, the round, whole cake evokes the family coming together. Instead of being baked, rice cakes are traditionally steamed, which keeps them moist and tender. Modern versions can also be baked, and some versions contain Western-style ingredients such as butter and eggs. Traditional versions typically contain only three ingredients: rice flour, sugar, and water; they cook in a bamboo steamer. When it comes to a new year, whatever our culture and however we celebrate, we look forward to a year that brings us something better. In the case of the Chinese New Year, serving whole fish symbolizes that wish for more prosperity. The Chinese word for “fish” sounds like the Chinese word for “surplus.” Traditionally, Chinese people believed in having a surplus of money or goods at the end of the year, because having something left over meant they could make more in the year to come. However, while the fish might be boiled, braised, or steamed, not just any fish will do. Specific fish have specific meanings during Chinese New Year. Crucian carp (鲫鱼, jìyú): The first character sounds similar to the Chinese word for “good luck,” (吉 , jí), so crucian carp is said to bring good luck throughout the year. Chinese mud carp (鲤鱼 , lǐyú): Evokes the word for “gifts” (礼, lǐ). Eating mud carp means you wish for good fortune. Catfish (鲶鱼 , niányú): Sounds like (年余 , nián yú), which means “year surplus”. To eat catfish is to express your wish that you will finish the year with a surplus to help you have more success in the year to come. Eating two fish (one on New Year’s Eve and one on New Year’s Day) can evoke a wish to have an ongoing surplus each year. The significance doesn’t stop at the variety of fish, either. Typically how the fish is served and presented matters a great deal too. Show respect to elders or important guests by placing the head toward them. The person facing the fish’s head must eat before anyone else can have some of the fish. The fish should stay where it is on the table. Whoever faces the fish’s head and fish’s tail should drink together for luck. However you say it, have a happy Chinese New Year!

Highly caffeinated energy drinks have come under fire in recent years. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration sent out warning letters to makers of these beverages, explaining that these alcoholic and caffeinated drinks were not safe. These letters came as a result of numerous reports that college students, in particular, were suffering from alcohol poisoning and blacking out while drunk after consuming these drinks. Mixing high levels of caffeine and alcohol can be a deadly and dangerous combination, according to health experts in the FDA. The makeup of the energy drinks makes it challenging for individuals to sense how intoxicated they are, leading to riskier and more drinking behavior. According to some new research studies, however, these caffeinated beverages may also be linked to more serious concerns. In a study of 1000 college students spread across six years, researchers identified that non-alcoholic energy drinks could also have an impact on a person’s likelihood to drive drunk. The finding supports previous studies that have linked use of alcoholic energy drinks to dangerous behaviors. The study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, however, is the first to discuss the link between non-alcoholic energy drinks and drunk driving. It’s not yet clear from the data identified from this survey, how non-alcoholic caffeinated beverages relate to drunk driving, although researchers did speculate that using non-alcoholic energy drinks before or while consuming alcoholic ones can increase the chances of risky drinking behavior including drunk driving. Students may also have attempted to consume an energy drink without alcohol after consuming alcohol in order to address hangover issues. Regardless, energy drink consumption is still a major problem associated with higher risk of drunk driving. Being accused of drunk driving in Maryland can have consequences that follow you for many years to come. This is especially problematic for college students as well who may be facing criminal and civil trials as a result of an accident caused by drunk driving. Drunk driving is an issue taken quite seriously by the authorities in Maryland and is the one that warrants the insight of an experienced Rockville DUI defense attorney. College students may face additional ramifications for drunk driving as it could distract them from their studies, pain from an accident could make it difficult to go to class and time spent away dealing with the legal issues associated with the case could even cause a college student to drop out. This is to say nothing of the potential university implications for facing charges as well. A student could be reprimanded by the university or face loss of privileges as a result of having something on their record. This is why it is essential to reach out to an experienced attorney as soon as possible after being accused of drunk driving in Maryland. You should never minimize a drunk driving allegation as a minor issue that you can handle on your own. Rather, as soon as possible, after you are arrested, you should exercise your right to speak to an attorney so that you have a clear understanding of what is happening and how this can affect your future.

Solutions to Global Warming There is no single solution to global warming, which is primarily a problem of too much heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. (Learn more about the causes of global warming.)... Global warming is the biggest problem that humanity faces today; unfortunately, we have failed to identify the real causes and hence the solutions suggested to tackle the problem are impractical. Global Warming: Causes, Impacts and Solutions covers all aspects of global warming including its causes, impacts, and engineering solutions. Energy and environment policies and strategies are scientifically discussed to expose the best ways to reduce global warming effects and protect the environment and energy sources affected by human activities.

NICWA’s work in children’s mental health helps tribes develop effective service systems and build a skilled, informed, and well-prepared workforce that can expand and sustain community-based systems of care across the United States for the benefit of children and youth with behavioral health challenges and their families. For over two decades, the Child Mental Health Initiative, directed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), has provided significant support to tribal communities interested in developing systems of care (SOC) for children’s mental health. Through a federal contract, NICWA provides tribal system of care grantees with technical assistance (TA) tailored to their communities’ needs. Each year we visit the tribal grantees and provide assistance on a host of issues from building wraparound services and youth engagement to capacity building for sustainability and partnering with tribal governments. NICWA has actively partnered with SAMHSA in the SOC movement and has served as a technical assistance contractor for tribal SOCs since 1994. SAMHSA supports the Institute for Innovation & Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, which leads the national TA center for systems of care. NICWA subcontracts with the Institute to provide TA to tribal SOCs. The National Technical Assistance Network for Children’s Behavioral Health (TA Network) operates the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC), funded by SAMHSA, Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, to provide training and TA to states, tribes, territories, and communities funded by the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program (“system of care grantees”), as well as jurisdictions and entities without SOC grants, including youth and family leadership and organizations. The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. NICWA participates in the SAMHSA’s Project LAUNCH, which supports children in reaching social, emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive milestones because healthy growth in each of these areas builds the foundation for children to thrive in school and beyond. The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth to eight. The long-term goal of Project LAUNCH is to ensure that all children enter school ready to learn and able to succeed. Project LAUNCH seeks to improve coordination across child-serving systems, build infrastructure, and increase access to high-quality prevention and wellness promotion services for children and their families. For over 20 years, NICWA has supported efforts to increase federal funding to reform children’s mental health services. This has included increasing funds to help tribal and urban Indian communities establish culturally specific children’s mental health programs. In addition, NICWA has been a leader in assisting tribes in developing intergovernmental agreements with states to access children’s mental health services and improve federal policies to support states and tribes as they work to provide culturally appropriate mental health services. NICWA advocates for significant tribal inclusion in Systems of Care, and previously, the Circles of Care grant program. To date, nearly 100 tribal grantees have benefited from SOC funding.

The purpose of land use planning, as conducted by the Forest Service, is to allocate land uses. The techniques employed in the current planning process fail to take location of the land allocations into account in any systematic manner. The resulting solutions may be inconsistent with planning goals; the land use patterns produced may not provide the maximum value of goods and services possible while protecting long-term biological productivity of the Forest. This study examines the impact of location on land allocation decisions, developing a strategy and set of techniques for incorporating spatial factors into the allocation process. Three spatial factors affect land allocation decisions: 1) the size of a land unit required to make management of a use practical, conflicts caused by the adjacent location of specific uses, and the need to organizes across the landscape to take advantage of certain characteristics of the planning unit. Three promising strategies are investigated: 1) an optimizing algorithm, 2) an efficient solution algorithm, and 3) an assignment algorithm. The optimizing algorithm replaces the linear program currently employed in the planning process with an integer program able to consider location of land units in the allocation process. The efficient solution algorithm uses an integer program to create a land use pattern from the linear program acreage allocations. Computer core size limitations and the size and complexity of the planning problem prevent application of these strategies. The assignment approach overcomes these difficulties with a heuristic algorithm designed to locate linear program allocations on the platining unit. The computer programs required to support the spatial allocation strategy include: 1) a computer mapping program, 2) a detail reductioti program, 3) an adjacency program, 4) the heuristic program, and 5) a conflict detection program. The mapping program creates land units and keeps track of their location. The detail reduction program eliminates some complexity from the land base data. The adjacency program identifies adjacent land units. The conflict detection program detects conflicts caused by uses located adjacent to each other and violations of minimum land unit size. The spatial allocation strategy and its associated tools are tested on the Clackamas Planning Unit of the Mt. Hood National Forest. Results of this case study indicate that the approach is workable with minor modifications.

There are more than 70 ongoing armed conflicts in the world today and many of these are being fought in the name of God and justice. Community violence. In different areas human rights are being violated because of religious issues. A deep process of self-analysis and self-criticism is required to recover spirituality and understand the message of peace and respect which unites all religions. Voices from all the beliefs represented urged that the true sense of the word of God be found and from that point a true process of peace and reconciliation be set up between the different faiths on the basis of recognition and acceptance of religious diversity. Voices representing all the religions called for an end to the use of God’s name to justify any kind of violent action. The true meaning of every religion should be spread through practices and messages and all links with violence and intolerance should be broken. There must be a commitment from all religious leaders to mediate with political and institutional powers in order to achieve peace. The Interfaith movement. Firstly, the movement provides information to all communities about acts of religious violence and, secondly, organizes a meeting and a religious ceremony where the acts took place. Preventive measures are also carried out, such as organizing seminars and courses about other religions and creating inter-religious youth groupings. Throughout history God’s name has been used to justify acts of war, dictatorships, torture or any kind of action which violates human rights. Religions must put a stop to this and this can be achieved through a spiritual transformation leading to concrete actions.

At Cloud Identity Summit 2016 a framework for Distributed Session Management (DSM) was demonstrated. This system was built on hashgraph technology from Swirlds as the distribution and consensus mechanism. This framework has evolved over the last year based on feedback and ongoing experience, and was recently submitted to the OpenID Foundation Connect Working Group under the new name Distributed Token Validity API (DTVA). In this blog post, I hope to provide some background on the driving purpose of DTVA. In addition, I will provide an overview of the specifications as well as potential future directions. Tremendous value has been realized from standardization on SAML and OpenID Connect for Internet Single Sign-On (SSO). These specs are primarily used as an abstraction or bridge - allowing the authentication of an identity by one enterprise or consumer property to be used to initiate access into other applications and services. However, relatively few deployments go beyond that initial authentication event and attempt to create a cohesive session across these various services. After the initial authentication event, an Identity Provider (IdP) generally loses all control of the terms and conditions of that authentication. The sessions created within any application are detached from the IdP, and in some cases an authentication event meant to be good for a few minutes will instead grant long-lived access into an application. For more modern applications using OpenID Connect, access tokens are used to access essential systems. In these applications, the expiry of an access token may be used to necessitate further interaction with the IdP, including re-authentication. This allows the IdP to inject themselves on a periodic basis: both interact with the user, and to use new tokens to notify applications of policy and attribute changes. Even for these applications, growing use of dynamic policies and exposure to real-time information available to the IdP have increased the desire to rapidly respond in the case of time-sensitive changes to authorization. The only mechanism available today (at least by standard means) is to decrease the lifetime of tokens, which creates additional burden on the IdP - and may result in a poorer user experience. DTVA is meant to allow an IdP to securely, reliably, and expeditiously distribute state changes around a token's validity to services and applications. It allows services and applications to integrate checks for token validity into their normal processes with full control over performance and availability. DTVA is also meant to support additional communication around token usage and user activities. This allows IdPs to declare token policies around such information, and to make dynamic policy decisions from the activity information they receive. As an example of this, the submitted draft proposes a mechanism for an application to report user interaction, to support an IdP expiring tokens early due to user inactivity. This allows the IdP to make policies around user interactivity across all applications as a group, something which historically has only been accomplished with proprietary mechanisms. There are existing logout specifications that have similarities to DTVA but they only address distributing logout action, where the semantics are to end the session and destroy any associated data. The DTVA semantics are minimized to only indicate the current tokens have expired, and that access should be temporarily suspended until a new token is provided. This allows the IdP much greater control over the access provided to different applications by allowing it to dictate the terms by which new tokens are provided. New tokens may be created when a risk prompts for a challenge in user credentials, based on authorization changes due to a change in roles within a user directory, or the IdP may refuse to issue new tokens for a user or application whose access is revoked. The IdP may implement business policies to control how, when and why tokens are issued, but from an application standpoint the logic remains simple - if a token is no longer usable, fetch a new one. To enable checking whether a token is still usable, DTVA specifies a HTTP-based API for use within an organization or a datacenter. This API is meant to locally deployable - organizations are able to deploy and secure their own systems which provide this API to meet the specific performance, reliability and security requirements of their environment. This API also has considerations made to support "eventually consistent" environments - where changes are not guaranteed to be immediately applied for latency and performance reasons. Separate from the API, there needs to be a way to share information between systems local to applications and to the remote IdP. DTVA allows for multiple specifications, each defining a sharing mechanism for token validity information to be reliably distributed across organizational boundaries. These specifications define the data formats and transport mechanisms for how the state changes are shared between the IdP and each dependent Service Provider (SP). They can also specify how SPs share activity telemetry back to the IdP for risk analysis and other business processes. Importantly, the information shared is constrained such that it contains no Personal Identification Information (PII). These specifications speak only in terms of opaque identifiers which either referenceable by (or are embedded within) tokens. In this way, the tokens remain the authoritative source of information on authorization and attributes. The validity information to a party without the associated tokens has at most statistical value only. The current submission specifies the use of hashgraph as a distribution and consensus mechanism to connect DTVA instances. In addition to providing reliable delivery and consensus on message ordering, hashgraph provides a lower latency and a shared view of received message time. These properties help in ensuring the state across all instances quickly become consistent, barring any sort of network difficulties or attacks. There are other specifications planned for the information distribution between parties. These possibly include HTTP forward proxy, ID-events over a reliable message queue, and supporting Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs, blockchains) with fast confirmation times such as Ethereum. A proof of concept implementation of the API has been released on Github. This implementation includes the HTTP API and support for the hashgraph-based synchronization functionality. A future release may include proof-of-concept integration with PingFederate, as well as an administration console for viewing active user sessions and revoking tokens. A profile on top of SAML Web SSO is also being discussed, allowing the same mechanisms to be used with environments using SAML instead of OAuth 2 or OpenID Connect. SSO has always focused on the creation of the session, which while vital is only part of the actual lifecycle. DTVA aims to give IdPs and apps a means to manage that full lifecycle.

From this map you can see about where the other locks were. The further North you go on this road the closer you get to a rather large industrial park. This road is the last remnant of the canal in this area. This is Lock 30. This is sitting on a stream bed which is part of a drainage system. You can hike east through the woods and you’ll see the drainage parts and the next lock. Lock 29 has seen better days and has some big tree roots sticking through it. Lockbourne, OH was the town where the Columbus Feeder canal joined the Ohio and Erie canal. It has a population of around 275 people according to the website for the town. This relatively short (12 mile) lateral canal assured access to the Ohio and Erie Canal for the capitol city. It joined the major canal at Lockbourne and furnished a source of water for the O&E. Interesting lock structures may be seen at Lockbourne as well as the entry of the feeder into the main canal. Lockbourne has created a recreational park, open to the public, that contains Lock 30. Lockbourne was a "canaller's town" with numerous taverns and a distillery said to produce one hundred barrels of whiskey per day. The owner operated two canal boats for the purpose of shipping his product. In order to connect the state capital to the Ohio-Erie Canal and provide a dependable supply of water for this section, engineers began to survey an eleven-mile navigable feeder from the Scioto River in Columbus in 1824. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Columbus on April 30, 1827, with the Granville Company receiving the contract for all masonry work in the Lockbourne area on both the main canal and the feeder. The first canal boat arrived in Columbus on September 23, 1831. Boats ascending the Columbus Feeder crossed Big Walnut Creek through a slackwater pool above the "state dam," then traversed the lift lock. With a fourteen-foot difference in elevation between Columbus and Lockbourne, the canal required just two lift locks; the other was located four miles below the terminus. The last canal boat left Columbus in 1904.

What makes the Mexican National Lottery unique? The Mexican National Lottery is really cool. We can name several reasons for that, including the fact that its history goes way back. It also has some great lottery games and a big Jackpot. And, also important, a ticket for the National Lottery doesn’t cost much. Enough reasons to try this unique lottery. In the following article we’ ll tell you more about it. Many centuries ago, when Spain was a colonial power, King Charles of III and Viceroy Marques de Croix decided to support the proposal of Francisco Javier de Sarria to start a lottery. He got his idea by looking at a couple of European Lotteries and decided to introduce to introduce it in Mexico as well. He made an own lottery and called it the ‘Mexican’ system. However, it took a while before the first Latin-American lottery became a fact. The ‘Real Lotería General de la Nueva España’ was born on the 7th of August 1770. On that day the New Spain heard that the a very first lottery draw would take place soon. Nine months later, on May 13th, 1771, numbers appeared during the very first draw. Ten years after the first draw, in 1781, the orphanage Hospicio de Pobres received good news. It heard from Viceroy Don Martin de Mayorga that it would receive a part of the revenue of the lottery. It was the precise moment when the lottery and public causes in Mexico became intertwined. Almost 30 years later, in September 1810, two separate lotteries were established. Back then Mexico was involved in the Independence War. One lottery was organized for the state and the other one for the capital. This was done to fight against the insurgency, and it worked. Who benefits from the lottery contributions? Nowadays the lottery is an important part of the Mexican gambling culture. The current president of the National Lottery of Mexico is Mr Porfirio Diaz. It has supported many public causes over the years and contributed a lot of money to the Castaneda mental hospital, which is located in Mexico City. Several constructions have also benefited from the lottery contributions, as well as medical assistance. The Mexican name of this popular lottery is ‘Lotería Nacional para la Asistencia Pública’. You can find it on the Moro building. Its long history and contributions to charities are not the only great things about the Mexican National Lottery. Participants also love the many exciting lottery game it offers. Besides the wide variety of games it also has and one instant lottery known as Keno. Perhaps it’s your dream to become rich one day. In that case participating in one of the Mexican National Lottery games is not a bad idea. The Draw Mayor is great fun, for example. A draw takes place every Wednesday, in which participants can win more money than they can ever imagine! You only have to pay a ticket of 25 dollars to enjoy this game. The winning odds are 1 in 3. If Lady Fortune is at your side, you can win an incredible 300.000 pesos! Another great game is the ‘Gordito’ draw every Wednesday. If you’re lucky, a bounty of 10 million dollars can be yours! The winning odds are 1 and 4 and you only have to pay 10 dollars to have a chance on 250.000 dollars! So grab some Nacho’s when you’re in Mexico and buy a ticket for the National Lottery, because you might return home as a rich man or woman! The so-called ‘Superior Sweepstakes’ take place every Friday. The main prize is 15 million pesos. If you buy a ticket of 30 pesos, a big prize worth 375.000 pesos could be yours. Hopefully luck is at your side, because the odds are 1 in 5. Once a month, Special Sweepstakes are organized as well. It’s very popular, since the Jackpot is worth 25 million dollars! Winners who ‘ve invested 50 dollars in a ticket, take a nice share of 625.000 dollars. The winning odds are 1 and 5, so enough reason to try this lottery. Lucky winners of the Zodiac Draw take home 6 million dollars! It makes this game definitely worth it. If you boy a ticket of 15 dollars, 300.000 dollars could be yours in just seconds. Or perhaps you’re dreaming even bigger. Every last Sunday of the month there’s a guaranteed sole winner of 8 million dollars of the ‘Mayan Prophecy Draw’. The odds are 1 in 5 and with a 20 dollar ticket you have a chance of winning 400.000 dollars. Not bad at all, isn’t it? Imagine what you can do with 75 million dollars. Some winners of the Magno Draw really had to deal with this question! Most participants pay for a ticket of 100 dollars though. With the odds at 1 in 5 they have a chance to win 1,250,000 dollars, also a large amount of money. Christmas is a great time, not just because of the snow but also because you can participate in the Gordo Christmas Draw. It has an incredible Jackpot of 150 million! If you invest 100 pesos for a ticket, you might take home 2.5 million Mexican Pesos! The winning odds of this game are 1 in 5.

"In the spring of 1829, the author of this work, whom curiosity had brought into Spain, made a rambling expedition from Seville to Granada in company with a friend, a member of the Russian Embassy at Madrid. Accident had thrown us together from distant regions of the globe, and a similarity of taste led us to wander together among the romantic mountains of Andalusia..." Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Shortly after completing a biography of Christopher Columbus in 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain. At first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." Irving was preparing a book called A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, a history of the years 1478-1492, and was continuing his research on the topic. He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status. "In the spring of 1829, the author of this work, whom curiosity had brought into Spain, made a rambling expedition from Seville to Granada in company with a friend, a member of the Russian Embassy at Madrid. Accident had thrown us together from distant regions of the globe, and a similarity of taste led us to wander together among the romantic mountains of Andalusia..." Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Shortly after completing a biography of Christopher Columbus in 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain. At first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." Irving was preparing a book called A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, a history of the years 1478-1492, and was continuing his research on the topic. He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status.

Hello friends! In this post, I want to share with you my codes of a program titled “Factorial of a number”, that I programmed using C programming language as part of my B.Tech course “Computer Programming and Problem Solving Lab”. The algorithm of this program is simple. It will go on multiplying all natural numbers starting from 1 to the number whose factorial is to be found. The multiplication process is handled by a “For Loop”.

The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history ... until now. Widely considered the first female presidential chief of staff, Marguerite "Missy" LeHand was the right-hand woman to Franklin Delano Roosevelt-both personally and professionally-for more than twenty years. Although her official title as personal secretary was relatively humble, her power and influence were unparalleled. Everyone in the White House knew one truth: if you wanted access to Franklin, you had to get through Missy. She was one of his most trusted advisors, affording her a unique perspective on the president that no one else could claim, and she was deeply admired and respected by Eleanor and the Roosevelt children.

A Dental bridge is recommended where there are one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges are generally used to replace gaps left by missing teeth so that the surrounding teeth don't rotate or shift into empty spaces; thus preventing a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint disorders. A bridge is made of two or more crowns for teeth on either side of the gap. It is to these crowns the false/missing tooth or teeth are attached Dental bridges are made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. Your dentist can help you decide which to use based on the location of missing teeth, its function, aesthetic consideration, and cost. Dental bridges are cemented to natural teeth or implants surrounding the gaps. Prevents drifting of remaining teeth out of position. While Dental Bridges can last a lifetime, they do sometimes come loose or fall out. The most important step you can take to ensure the longevity of your bridge is to practice good oral hygiene. your dental bridge can lose it's support if the teeth or bone holding it in place are damaged by dental disease. Keep your gums and teeth healthy by brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily. Also, see your dentist for regular check-ups and professional cleaning.

If your sport requires you to go “all out” for short bursts, creatine can help you reach your strength and power objectives. A vital energy carrier, creatine ensures ATP availability during high-intensity, intermittent bouts of anaerobic or dynamic exercise.* And between workouts and on rest days, creatine helps muscles synthesize new protein, facilitating gains in muscle strength, power and size.* Klean Creatine provides 5g of clinically researched Creapure® creatine monohydrate. Amino acids have many functions in the body. They are the building blocks for all body proteins—structural proteins that build muscle, connective tissues, bones and other structures, and functional proteins in the form of thousands of metabolically active enzymes. Amino acids provide the body with the nitrogen that is essential for growth and maintenance of all tissues and structures. Creatine is an amino acid produced in the body from arginine, methionine and glycine. It can play important roles in supporting healthy energy production and muscle structure and performance. Creatine increases testosterone and decreases the stress hormone cortisol, boosts power, strength and mental performance.

After being diagnosed with celiac disease, it was essential that I set up my kitchen in a way that kept me healthy. Gluten was lurking everywhere – even in tiny hidden bits of spaghetti long forgotten about in was hiding in the inner depths of my colander. But I assure you, there is a way to set up your gluten-free kitchen in a way that helps you avoid hidden gluten! When you go gluten-free, you’ll want to carefully wash all your pots, pans, utensils and cutting boards. Some things you will want to replace too – like your colander, toaster and wooden cutting boards that most definitely have hidden gluten bits in them. Here is everything you need to set up your gluten-free kitchen. You are going to be cooking at home more, so it’s important to invest in good pots and pans for your gluten-free kitchen. I had been using old non-stick Teflon coated pans from my wedding that had seen better days. I decided I wanted to be proud of my pots and pans, so I upgraded my entire set to All-Clad stainless steel pots. I suggest you purchase one or two dedicated gluten-free pots and pans – perhaps a small skillet and a small pot for preparing gluten-free grains and noodles. You don’t want to use old pots that might be contaminated with gluten bits. Honestly, I know high quality pots cost a lot, but the investment is worth it as you’ll be using them a lot! I’m very proud of my pots and they get lots of love and attention. If you’re on a tight budget, you could purchase this Non-Stick Ceramic Set* to get started too! You want a good, high quality chef’s knife to help you chop those delicious whole foods in your new gluten-free kitchen. I use this chef’s knife from Wusthof* and love it! I use it daily and it makes my life in the kitchen so much easier! If you’re going gluten-free, it’s important to throw away your old strainer and start anew – or at least have one new strainer dedicated gluten-free in your kitchen (no gluten in it EVER!). It’s just not worth getting cross contaminated with old bits of dried up pasta. I recommend this set of three stainless steel strainers* – and it’s under $20! This is a great strainer too* and it’s pretty with the attached silicon handles that will help you color code the gluten-free stuff. Chances are bits of gluten are caked on your utensils, so it’s time for you to get some new ones in your new gluten-free kitchen set up. As mentioned prior, if you’re going to have both gluten and gluten-free items in your house, color code the gluten-free items. Try these beautiful red utensils* – they stand out and everyone will know RED is for cooking gluten-free things only. Period! Also, any wooden spoons you used for gluten foods should not be used for gluten-free foods due to the risk of cross contamination. I think this set of measuring cups and spoons* is adorable – and for under $20, the price is right too! You will need measuring spoons and cups, especially when baking with gluten-free flours. If you already have these, no need to purchase new ones; instead just run them through the dishwasher so they are clean. Whatever you do, don’t use the same measuring spoons and cups for gluten flour as you do for gluten-free flour. Have a special dedicated gluten-free set in your kitchen. Got it? I highly recommend that you purchase new baking sheets and make them your dedicated gluten-free baking sheets. Remember, bits of gluten can bake into your pans, and then when you bake something gluten-free on that same pan, you cross contaminate the gluten-free stuff. This beautiful baking sheet by Farberware* will do the trick! Purchase 2-3 pans, you’ll need ’em as you cook away in your gluten-free kitchen! Get a nice set of stainless steel mixing bowls to use in your gluten-free kitchen. You’ll be using them a lot – trust me! These stainless steel mixing bowls* have lids, which is nice because they can double as storage containers. I personally recommend using wooden cutting boards for chopping vegetables, this way you don’t have to worry about plastic bits leaching into your food. Avoid plastic cutting boards at all costs! The only problem with wood is that if you use it to cut gluten, you might have contaminated it. So start anew with some fresh cutting boards. I love having a few in different sizes, and I also love cutting boards with grooves to serve as a retaining pond for juices. Here is the set of cutting boards I have at my house* and that I love love love! Remember to have a dedicated gluten-free cutting board! You will want to have a food processor in your gluten-free kitchen – it’s very useful for chopping meats, shredding vegetables and processing grains. I love my Cuisinart* and have used it for more than 16 years and it’s still going strong! The Cuisinart pictured is the newer model of the one I have (mine is old-looking and in white). There is no need to replace your food processor if you already have one – just run it through the dishwasher to decontaminate it from gluten. It’s very handy to have an immersion blender* for when you make soups. I made a ton of soups as they have super healing powers, so I find myself using my immersion blender three or more times per month! I use it to quickly blend my butternut squash soup or my carrot walnut soup. It’s awesome! You simply stick the blade of the blender in your pot with the soup and blend. I encourage you to enjoy a moderate amount of whole grains on your gluten-free diet. I love brown rice, black rice, wild rice and quinoa the most. I cook every single one of these grains in my rice cooker* and they always cook up perfect and delicious each and every time I seriously love my rice cooker so much! Some rice cookers double as a steamer and/or a slow cooker, freeing storage space in your gluten-free kitchen! You’ll be making zoodles, or zucchini noodles, in no time with this handy-dandy spiralizer*. I love making zoodles – it’s an awesome low-carb, no-guilt and naturally gluten-free way to enjoy noodles! There’s no better way to heal your gut and whole body than through homemade green juices. I talk about green juicing your way to health all the time and believe it’s one of the best ways you can accelerate your health and healing. I love my juicer from Jack Lalanne* and have used it for 4+ years already and it’s still going strong! If you don’t like juicing, you can try blending your vegetables and fruits. I recommend the Nutri Ninja with AutoIQ*. It pulverizes your veggies so you can quickly digest and assimilate the nutrients. Think of all the times you used your hand mixer to mix gluten-y flours! Yuk! It’s definitely worth investing in a new hand mixer that you know is totally gluten-free. Use your mixer only for gluten-free baking – ok? Notice how I picked this hand mixer in red* so you can easily color code your gluten-free appliances too. I recommend either doing an extremely thorough clean of your standing mixer and then never using it for gluten flours again or simply replacing it. I never replaced mine when I reorganized my gluten-free kitchen, but I was nervous for a while! If you do want to replace it, you can get this beautiful KitchenAid in red*:-). Sorry, the toaster has gotta go! It’s full of gluten bits ready to sabotage your gluten-free diet. Invest in a small toaster like this one that can be dedicated gluten-free. If you have a toaster oven, you should always use the pan covered in foil before putting anything gluten-free in there. Make sure no one touches your toaster if they’re not gluten-free! And whatever you do, keep your gluten-y toaster away from your silverware drawer. You don’t want gluten bits falling on your silverware! You’ll need good storage containers for storing your gluten-free flours and grains. Gluten-free flours are less shelf stable and require a little more TLC to take care of. You don’t want your expensive GF flours going rancid before you’ve used them, so store them right. I use these storage containers from OXO to store all my gluten-free flours and grains. They work perfectly! As much fun as grilling outdoors is, I like to grill year round with no fuss. So I use my awesome grill pan to grill turkey burgers and vegetables year round. They taste great and I don’t have leave my kitchen to grill up some yummy food! I like this grill pan and it’s color coded so you know it’s for gluten-free stuff only. Tip! Label all your gluten-free kitchen items or use a color coding system so everyone knows these items are for gluten-free cooking and baking only! Just as you would label your tub of peanut butter, jelly or stick of butter, “gluten-free,” label your cooking ware too! You don’t want others getting you sick!

The Audubon Magazine. Facsimile published by the National Audubon Society as a supplement to the March 1987 issue of Audubon. Originally published by Forest and Stream Publishing Company, New York, February 1887. ational bird conservation sentiment, closely associated with scientific collectors, found a voice in The Audubon Magazine, published between 1886 and 1889. George Bird Grinnell, publisher of Forest and Stream, in association with the American Ornithological Union, published the magazine. This first national Audubon organization claimed 200,000 members, but lack of financial backing and issues such as new laws that prevented collecting caused the organization and the new bird conservation movement to flounder. Sanctuary, The Journal of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, Massachusetts, January/February 1996. Five O'Clock Tea, by Charles Baude, after original by Edouard Gelhay. From Harper's Bazar, Saturday, February 15, 1893. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Libraries. oston socialites Harriet Lawrence Hemenway and her cousin Minna B. Hall founded the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the longest-lived organization dedicated to bird conservation and public education. After reading about egret hunting practices in 1896, the two women were determined to persuade and convince other prominent women that they were committing a deadly and tragic wrong by wearing birds or bird feathers on their hats. Through a boycott and tea parties, they convinced some 900 women not to wear feathered hats, and to work with their new group to promote bird protection. They also encouraged the use of ribbons and other millinery decorations in place of feathers. Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey, bottom right, with other officers of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. Washington Life, 1905. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives. ithin six years of the Massachusetts Audubon Society's founding, 26 other states had formed their own Audubon societies. The Audubon Society of the District of Columbia (now the Audubon Naturalist Society) was founded in 1897 by, among others, Florence Merriam Bailey. She was the sister of C. Hart Merriam, the first director of the Department of Agriculture's U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, the organization responsible for legislation in favor of birds and the confiscation of birds illegally hunted and transported. Florence Merriam Bailey became one of the bird class instructors at the District of Columbia's Audubon Society. "To Organize an Audubon Society in the District of Columbia," notes for Founding Meeting, May 18, 1897, Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives. By-Laws (left) and officers (right), Audubon Society of the District of Columbia, 1897. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives. Certificate of membership, Audubon Society of Massachusetts. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives. The Normal School Bird Class, about 1900, Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. Photograph by the B. F. Johnson Publishing Company, Richmond, Virginia. Naturalist excursion, about 1918, Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. Courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives. Binocular, circa 1900-1920. Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Rochester, New York. Patented June 22, 1897, by Ernst Abbe of the Carl Zeiss firm, Jena, Germany. ird watching and the study of birds became popular pastimes around the turn of the century. At the same time, legislation was just beginning to slow the trade in feathers. The Audubon societies were a natural source for related educational material and instruction. The District of Columbia's Audubon Society began its bird classes in 1898. The early classes, for teachers, covered such subjects as birds in life and in literature and classification, migration, distribution, and identification of birds. The society gradually extended its instruction programs to the general public. Both the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Audubon Naturalist Society continue to be active in conservation and environmental education. The National Audubon Society-until 1940, the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals- was incorporated in 1905. Formed with the cooperation of some of the early Audubon societies, it worked for legislation and education to protect birds and other animals on a national level. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert K. Job, about 1903, from Job's book, Wild Wings, Adventures of a Camera-Hunter among the Larger Wild Birds of North America on Sea and Land, Houghton Mifflin & Company, Boston, 1905. heodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), well known for his interests in wildlife conservation and sport hunting, established the first national bird reservation, now Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. He created 50 additional reservations for birds and other animals by the end of his presidency in 1909. "President Roosevelt's List of Birds," 1908, from Birds of Washington and Vicinity, by Mrs. L. W. Maynard, Washington, D.C. Published by The Lord Baltimore Press, the Friedenwald Company, Baltimore, Maryland, copyright 1898. any birds were lost to extinction by the turn of the century: the Eskimo curlew, great auk, Labrador duck, passenger pigeon, Carolina parakeet, and heath hen. And other birds and animals suffered heavy damage that still requires careful management. The Lacey Act of 1900 and subsequent laws became important animal conservation landmarks. Today the hunting, transporting, selling, and possession of any animal species, or their parts or products, considered to be endangered, threatened, or migratory-except for allowed game animals-is illegal. State and federal agents continue to confiscate illegal shipments of animals and animal parts or products. Between 1993 and 1998, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seized some 27,000 illegal shipments of birds. Permits are issued for certain exceptions, as for the ceremonial or religious use of eagle feathers by American Indians. Skin of Pacific loon. Confiscated by the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, 1920. Lacey Act, enacted December 4, 1899, by the 56th U.S. Congress. Reproduction courtesy the National Archives. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, enacted December 3, 1917, by the 65th U.S. Congress. Reproduction courtesy the National Archives. Bald Eagle Protection Act, enacted January 3, 1940, by the 76th U.S. Congress. Reproduction courtesy the National Archives. Endangered Species Act, enacted January 3, 1973, by the 93rd U.S. Congress. Reproduction courtesy the National Archives.

A serial inventor and holder of more than 100 patents, Lundbäck understood the gap between a good idea and a feasible technology. He eventually secured the support of InnoEnergy – the innovation engine for sustainable energy. The opportunity presented by wave power is significant. More predictable, consistent and controllable than either wind or solar power, with the right infrastructure in place, it could be a sustainable alternative for supplying base-load power. It also has a very low impact, that neither disturbs aquatic life nor spoils the coastal view that prompts so much ire from the public. Wave power also fits within the new energy framework being created by distributed energy resources and off-grid applications. Although major utilities, particularly those with extensive offshore wind portfolios, are likely to be the major developers of wave energy farms, single installations can also serve more remote, smaller island-based or coastal communities – and even tourist resorts – particularly in developing economies. “Studies show that wave energy is five times more concentrated than wind and 10 times more concentrated than solar. In fact, wave energy could supply 10 per cent of global energy demand – or four times the installed capacity of nuclear energy today. That wave energy has not achieved its potential is our big opportunity,” says Johansson. The possibilities inherent in wave energy is what has driven the product development of CorPower – from an initial concept to the creation of a company that is preparing to launch a complete prototype system later in 2017. Following positive assessments of the initial technology by InnoEnergy and various external experts, CorPower Ocean has been able to develop the wave energy converter concept into a practical, feasible and competitive product. Patrik Möller, CEO of CorPower Ocean explains the challenges of bringing a viable wave energy technology to market. Despite many trials, to date no one has succeeded in making a commercial product. The challenge is to have a device that is robust enough to survive a tough ocean environment while generating enough revenue over time to make it a viable business case. Many concepts found storm conditions challenging – or their size and weight made them too expensive compared to their energy output. CorPower Ocean’s wave energy converters comprise a heaving buoy on the surface of the sea that is connected to the seabed by a taut mooring line, and which absorbs energy from the combined surge and heave motion of the waves. A pneumatic pre-tension module runs between the mooring line and the buoy, creating a system with high natural oscillation frequency that is smaller and lighter than conventional gravity-balanced converters. While CorPower was developing the product, researchers at Trondheim University invented an innovative phase control technology, which CorPower and NTNU agreed to co-develop. Known as WaveSpring, the patented control system makes the buoy inherently resonant over a broad range of wave periods. It amplifies the motion of and power capture from regular waves, while allowing the system to be naturally ‘de-tuned’ during storm conditions. Tank testing has shown that the buoy can survive waves of up to 32 metres without excessive load on the structure. This significantly improves the system’s ability to survive in harsh conditions and so lengthens its productive lifecycle. After proving the WaveSpring technology with CorPower, the NTNU inventor Jörgen Hals Todalshaug joined the company as Lead Scientist. In addition, a proprietary, highly durable drive train is responsible for transforming amplified linear motion into rotation motion. Because the cascade gear divides a large load onto a number of smaller gears – much like a planetary gearbox – it is capable of providing high-power density and high efficiency. To eliminate the peaks and troughs of power supply, the buoys incorporate a dual set of flywheels/generators that provide power absorption and temporary energy storage. These generators and the power electronics behind them are based on standard components used in the offshore wind industry. Finally, a programmable logic controller is located inside the device to allow the buoy to operate autonomously, while an interface enables remote control and data acquisition by onshore engineers over fibre and a radio-link. Tests show that the technology delivers optimal performance at sea-depths between 50 and 100 metres. According to Möller, CorPower’s success can also be attributed to its development approach as well as its innovative technology: “We are one of the first wave energy companies to strictly follow a structured verification approach set by the IEA-OES and Wave Energy Scotland. We started on a small scale to prove the reliability and performance of the different pieces of the technology and gradually scaled up, securing funding for further tests as we went along. In accordance with this philosophy, the CorPower device has been through a number of iterations since the first bench top prototypes were developed. The concept was first validated in 2012 on a 1:30 scale model with €500,000 funding. Wave tank and HIL tests were performed with WavEC, NTNU and KTH on 1:16 to 1:3 scale prototypes, with a further €1.7 million. CorPower has just started dry testing a half-scale device in a custom-built test environment that emulates wave impacts on the device to prove reliable operation up to full storm and mechanical loading. In the second half of the year, ocean testing will begin at EMEC’s Scapa Flow site in Orkney, with project partners Iberdrola, EDP, University of Edinburgh, WavEC and EMEC. After completing this Stage 3 program the company aims to start work on the next stage 4 pilot together with leading partners of the sector. Throughout the Stage 3 program, CorPower has attracted funding from the Swedish Energy Agency and Wave Energy Scotland, in addition to InnoEnergy. A new program named WaveBoost, supported by EC’s Horizon 2020 funding, was recently started to further develop innovative concepts that can be introduced at the point of market introduction, without disrupting the architectural design that has been tested. Möller acknowledges that developments in subsea power cabling and related technologies in both the offshore wind and oil and gas sectors, are also contributing to an increasingly favourable technological and commercial environment for wave power. If all goes according to plan, 2017 could be the year that wave energy finally comes in from the deep.

The One-Legged Woman Who Was "the Most Dangerous Of All Allied Spies" Her name was Virginia Hall, an American spy born in Baltimore in 1906. She attended both Barnard College and Radcliffe College—two prestigious all-women’s higher education facilities—and continued her studies at schools in France, Germany, and Austria. She had dreams of a career in foreign service. At just twenty-five years old, she was appointed to the position of Consular Service clerk at the American Embassy in Warsaw, Poland and seemed to be well on her way to accomplishing her goals. Unfortunately, the disability made her ineligible to pursue her career further. For the next several years, she worked as a clerical assistant for the State Department in Turkey, Italy, and Estonia, before “hitting the glass ceiling” in her field of work despite a few stunning bullet points on her resume, such as that she was fluent in Italian, German, and French. She resigned in 1939 just as war started to inch across Europe. Being the powerful, ambitious young woman that she was, Hall didn’t flee the continent for the safer shores of her homeland. Rather, she volunteered as an ambulance driver in France until the French surrendered in 1940. From there, she evacuated to England where she took up another clerical position at the American Embassy in London. Hall soon caught the attention of the British Special Operations Executive which was looking for agents to work with the French resistance. Thus, in 1941, Hall posed as a correspondent for the New York Post when she arrived in Lyon, France. Her code name was Marie Monin, and she was the SOE’s very first female agent in France. She spent the next fourteen months providing courier services, helping downed fliers and runaway POWs escape, and obtaining materials for clandestine presses. The sale of press materials, such as paper and ink, was prohibited, making it difficult for resistance newspapers to create and spread their ideas. Thanks to help from Hall and others like her, by 1942 resistance papers had reached over two million readers in France. All the while, Hall continued to send documents to the New York Post to maintain her cover. Hall made a convincing argument, and after another brief stint in London—becoming proficient in Morse code—she was sent again to France via a British torpedo boat. This time, she was working for the United States Office of Strategic Services. The mission was incredibly dangerous; the Germans were still looking for her and if she was found she would likely lose her life. Taking precautions, she disguised herself as an elderly French milkmaid by dying her hair grey, wearing full skirts to hide her small frame, and walking with a slow, shuffling gait to disguise her limp. She made goat cheese and went into town to sell it—all the while listening to the oblivious German soldiers chatter about their work. Forced to stay on the move by German forces attempting to track her radio signals, Hall proved a slippery spy and eluded capture. When she wasn’t listening in on German soldier’s banter, she trained three battalions of French resistance fighters to wage guerrilla warfare against the Germans. Before Allied forces overtook her team, Hall reported that they had destroyed rail lines, phone lines, bridges, and freight trains, sabotaging infrastructure necessary to German occupation. The team was credited with killing over 150 German soldiers and capturing 500 more. For all her efforts during WWII, she was made an honorary member of the Order of the British Empire. She was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, one of the United States’ highest military honours—the only civilian woman to be awarded the medal during World War II. President Truman wanted a public party to celebrate the award, but Hall opted for a private ceremony with just her mother and General William Joseph Donovan in attendance. She said she was “still operational and most anxious to get busy.” She didn’t want a public ceremony to make her face known. In 1951, Hall joined the CIA, working as a French parliamentary intelligence analyst. It was quite a feat for a woman who thought she had reached the glass ceiling a decade before. By the time she retired in 1966, Hall had shattered the glass ceiling and expectations for women in her line of work—and all on just one leg. Former Major Leaguer Moe Berg was Once a Secret Agent for the U.S.

SAN JOSE: Easter comes on the heels of Women’s History Month this year. This makes a fitting time to focus on Florence Nightingale. Nightingale became one of the most devoted women in history, putting into practice Jesus Christ’s message of service to humanity. It is unlikely that many Christians would make the connection between Florence Nightingale and Jesus Christ. While her life accounts rarely narrate her heavenly inspiration, Nightingale singularly impacted nursing and the role of the war nurses corp. Florence Nightingale was far more than an English social reformer and the founder of modern nursing. More than just a woman who became famous as a nurse during a horrible war, Florence Nightingale became a hospital administrator and provocative writer. What may have been lost to history is Nightingale’s genuine relationship with God. She became divinely inspired to serve humanity in her best possible manner. In her writings, Florence Nightingale describes four “calls” from God. The first was in 1837 when she was 17-years-old. She sincerely believed God called her for a divine purpose and that her calling was nursing. Florence Nightingale was born to privilege, and her parents, especially her mother, did not approve of her divine inspiration. They were concerned about their daughter’s reputation, as well as the reputation of their affluent family. The clash of wills with her parents became a conflict in Nightingale’s early life. Born into a very wealthy and prominent British family, the family lived within elite social circles with very high social standings in England. Her father, a wealthy landowner, took it upon himself to provide Florence and her older sister with a classical education, including studies in German, French and Italian. Nightingale’s parents, like many protective parents of daughters during the Victorian Era, expected her to follow the societal norms established for young women of such social stature. Nightingale’s well-to-do parent’s expectation was for her to find a nice wealthy gentleman, marry and raise a family. They essentially forbade her to pursue her dream of nursing, seen as lowly menial labor by the upper class. At 24 years of age, Nightingale refused the marriage proposal from a young man named Richard Monckton Milnes. To Florence’s parents, rejection of such a marriage proposal was a significant blow. They felt her youthful dream to pursue nursing was basically nonsense, and blocked her path to pursue her divine calling. Public perception regarded it a job women took when they were not able to find a good husband. It was also not considered a career for young women of the upper class. Nevertheless, for Ms. Nightingale’s parents, it is likely they were concerned over the reaction of their high society friends. After a long struggle with her parents, Nightingale eventually freed herself from her family entanglements. She was able to persuade her parents to let her study in Germany at a Lutheran facility called The Institution of Deaconesses at Kaiserwerth. Kaiserwerth was a working hospital offering formal training for nurses. From the time of her first vision at 17 until she turned 32, Florence Nightingale struggled with her identity. Her calling to serve others vied with the proper Victorian and feminine ideal of a woman – a wife and a mother. In the course of her struggles, Florence Nightingale fortified her genuine relationship with God, and this gave her the strength and the courage to fight against the “normal” expectations for women of Victorian England. She continued to study, and was offered the position of superintendent of the Institute for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen in London, and served in this position from August 1853 until October 1854. Within this same period, the British government had entered the Crimean war. This meant deploying thousands of men and boys to the front lines in Turkey. It was the first major war in which women were called to serve as military nurses. This international conflict also happened to be the first world war that was covered by newspaper correspondents and war photographers. Sadly, well over a half a million men and boys died in this war. By 1854, at least 18,000 soldiers had been admitted to field hospitals overwhelmed with the wounded and dying. Back in England, news of such hospitals being understaffed, unsanitary, and inhumane, generated a public uproar. Florence Nightingale shared her vision of nursing with British Secretary of War Sir Sidney Herbert years before. Seeing the need on the battlefield, Herbert empowered Nightingale to organize the Nurse’s Corps whose role was to tend to the soldiers wounds. Nightingale rose to the occasion by quickly by assembling a volunteer team of 38 women nurses from a variety of religious orders sailing with them to the city of Constantinople. Sent to Scutari, the nurse’s corps arrived at the main British camp and base hospital in early November of 1854. The horrendous conditions in the theater of war were worse than what Nightingale and her nurses could imagine. Nightingale and her nurse’s corps were not ready for the reality of the battlefield hospital, including bugs and rodents scurrying across filthy floors. However, the nurse’s efforts to care for the steady stream soldiers arriving at the hospital never wavered. Mass infections were common and many of them became fatal. The Nurse’s Corps saw soldiers dying from infectious diseases. Typhoid and cholera were killing more soldiers than battlefield injuries. Nightingale quickly set to work with her nurses to scrub the inside of the hospital from ceiling to floor. As Nightingale began caring for the soldiers, she was the first to rise in the morning, and the last to rest in the evenings. The soldiers were sincerely moved by her seemingly endless supply of energy. Her genuine compassion was truly comforting to the recovering soldiers. More importantly, Florence Nightingale’s efforts did improve the sanitary conditions of the field hospitals. Thus lowering the troops’ mortality rate. Due to the bravery and determination of Florence Nightingale, the British Army sent more female nurses to their field hospitals. After the war, the British public collected quite a bit of money for Nightingale to establish a formal nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London becoming the first secular nursing school in the world. It still exists as part of King’s College in London. Florence Nightingale gave so much of herself throughout her life that she left an indelible imprint in her day and became an inspiration to future generations. Florence Nightingale’s calling and devotion did change the history of medical care. Nightingale went on to become one of the most famous women in Europe. Her name becoming more recognizable than most of the combatant generals.

Wang Yu is taken to a studio for TV denunciation of the ABA award. Pictorial rendition is based on Wang Yu’s account. Source: Safeguard Defenders. On July 9, 2015, Wang Yu (王宇) became the first target in a campaign of mass arrests against human rights lawyers in China. Over the next roughly two weeks, over 300 rights lawyers were arrested, interrogated, detained, and threatened — thus begetting the notorious ‘709 Incident.’ After over a month in secret detention at a black site in Beijing, Wang Yu was transferred to Tianjin for a continuation of her detention, then under so-called ‘residential surveillance at a designated place’ (指定居所監視居住). For over a year she was not allowed to see her lawyer, family, or communicate with the outside world. Another 20 or so lawyers and activists, including Wang Yu’s husband Bao Longjun (包龍軍), were given similar treatment. During the secret detention and their time in detention centers, they were severely tortured, including by sleep deprivation, prolonged interrogation, forced-feeding with unidentified drugs, beatings, insults, being hand- and foot-cuffed, or having their family’s safety threatened. Some were even placed in cages submerged in water, so-called ‘water cage’ torture. Currently, three individuals are serving prison sentences, three were released on suspended sentences, and all others except one were released on a probationary form of ‘bail.’ Lawyer Wang Quanzhang (王全璋) has been detained for over 1,000 days, neither sentenced nor released, and no one even knows whether he is dead or alive. In August 2016, Wang Yu and her husband were released on a probationary form of bail (取保候審), whereupon they were forcibly taken to an apartment building in Ulanhot, Inner Mongolia. There they were reunited with their son, Bao Zhuoxuan (包卓轩), who had previously been coercively removed from Beijing and placed in Ulanhot to continue high-school. In Ulanhot, their movements were closely monitored, they were followed wherever they went, and their apartment was fitted out with an extensive array of surveillance cameras that pointed to their doorway, stairs and in and out of the building entrance. Wang Yu believed that the apartment itself was bugged too. Around a year later they were allowed to return to their own home in Beijing. Now, though they’re apparently ‘free,’ every move they make is still surveilled by the authorities, and Wang Yu has been unable to resume her profession as a lawyer. Among China’s human rights lawyers, Wang Yu has been called the ‘Goddess of War.’ Prior to the 709 crackdown, she traveled the country taking on all manner of human rights cases. The image of Wang the lawyer in the ‘Hooligan Sparrow’ documentary, handing out fliers about the law under the beating sun in Hainan, left a deep impression of her commitment. On July 8, 2016, the American Bar Association announced that it had selected Wang Yu to receive its inaugural ABA International Human Rights Award, “in recognition of her dedication to human rights, justice and the rule of law in China.” This news seemed to rattle the Communist Party. The authorities knew perfectly well that the 709 crackdown was an illegal, politically motivated large-scale persecution of human rights lawyers, and that the cruelty of torture methods they used exceed what most people can conceive. They fear the moral support that the international community was extending to the targets of their attacks. Two Tianjin lawyers claiming to represent her even sent a letter to the ABA, saying that the ABA award constituted an “infringement on the reputational rights of Ms. Wang Yu… Ms. Wang Yu reserves the right to pursue your organization as liable for such infringements.” The letter demanded that the ABA “cease and desist” in giving her the award. On the basis that Wang Yu was in detention and could not speak of her own free will, the ABA dismissed the ploy and went ahead giving the award in Wang Yu’s absence on August 6, 2016, during its annual convention in San Francisco. Two weeks after the award, a nationalistic website in China published an article by a “former NGO worker” who claimed to have worked at ABA’s office in Beijing. It described one boss as being lazy and incompetent, and another as rude and lecherous. It portrayed the ABA Beijing office as a place where Chinese employees were discriminated against and where “humanity and dignity…was worthless.” It insinuated, without clear factual statements, that ABA’s activities in China were political and ABA was a tool of the U.S. government being used to instigate a color revolution. It is difficult to explain, why I went on television, what kind of mental process I had gone through. And until now, I still feel it is difficult to describe, I don’t know how to talk about it. Actually, I do want to talk about it in detail, but I always feel sad. I am still struggling to get over the trauma. But I know I should speak out, even if just in this simple way. It was about April 2016 and I had already been transferred to the Tianjin First Detention Centre. I had just finished my breast surgery at that time and the guards and interrogators were taking quite good care of me. My interrogator said if I cooperated then my case would be “dealt with leniently.” He meant I could be released soon. They also kept reminding me that my dream of sending my son overseas to study could happen only once I had been released from the detention centre. How, then, did they want me to cooperate? They said all the 709 Crackdown people need to demonstrate a good attitude before they would be dealt with leniently. They said a PSB [Public Security Bureau] boss would come to the detention centre in a few days and they wanted me to say to him that: “I understand my mistake, I was tricked, and I was used. I denounce those overseas anti-China forces and I am grateful for how the PSB has helped and educated me.” After that, they stopped taking me to the interrogation room and moved me to a staff office where they fixed up space for me to eat and memorise the material my interrogator gave me. Around about the end of April, the interrogator told me the boss was coming today and that we should make the video. He promised me the video would only be shown to that boss, and it would definitely not be shown to the public. He told me not to worry and just follow the script they had given to me. If I couldn’t memorize it all, then we could just re-record it. They also told me that everyone who was caught up in the 709 Crackdown had already made such videos. I kept asking them to confirm that it wouldn’t be shown in public and they promised it would not. Despite their assurances, I was still very unhappy about having to do the video. In the afternoon, I was taken to the office again. A few minutes later, a man came in; he was in plainclothes and about 50 years old. A young man in his 20s followed with a camera. They both said something similar to me; something about how they would find a way out for me. I have suffered a lot of memory loss in the past few years so even if I try to remember exactly what happened, I can’t. But I do remember asking him who would see the video and he repeatedly said that it was only for their boss and not for television. The young man finished setting up the camera, then the older one started asking questions. I don’t remember the exact questions, but it was basically the same as my interrogator had told me to study. I didn’t answer very well, because my memory was bad and also I didn’t want to make the video. I really messed up some of the questions and they had to ask me again and again. After three or four hours, they eventually left. Some 20 days later, I heard that the so-called PSB boss had said that last video was not good enough and that we had to record it again. So, we recorded it again, but two days later, my interrogator said it still wasn’t acceptable. The next time they came with a camera and a computer, with the script typed into the computer in a huge font size. They wanted me to read it from the screen and look into the camera. We recorded it like this many times and finally they left. But another two days later they came back and said it still wasn’t good enough, so we did it all again. But that didn’t pass either. After that they often took me to their office to talk with them. They kept trying to persuade me to do an interview on television, but I kept saying no. I thought hard about it for a few nights. I thought, neither me nor my husband can communicate with anyone from outside. Who knows when it will all end. And my poor son was home without us. We didn’t know how he was doing. Although, my interrogator told me that he had been released and was living in Ulanhot, he might be under surveillance, he didn’t have his parents with him. What kind of future would he have? I though the two so-called “bosses” who had been talking with me looked like they would keep their word. After speaking with them for many days, I trusted them, and the people around me treated me much better. Much better than when I was in RSDL [residential surveillance at a designated location], where they were very cruel to me. So, I decided to accept. I just wanted to see my son so much. I thought, if I couldn’t get out my son would never be able to study overseas. I might get out many years later, but by then what would have happened to my son? If he was harmed now, the trauma would stay with him his whole life. I needed to be with him during this stage of his life. I decided that I would do my best to help my son go to a free country and study. He would no longer live like a slave, suffering in this country. He has to leave, he must leave, I thought. That was the most urgent thing. So I had to do it, even if it meant doing something awful. I also considered the possibility that they might break their promise—and if they did I vowed to fight. So, I said yes to their request to go on television, but only if they released me first. I started practicing the script they prepared for me and we rehearsed it many times, almost every day before I left the detention center. On 22 July 2016, they went through the formality of my “release on bail.” They took me from the Tianjin First Detention Centre to the Tianjin Police Training Base under Tianjin Panshan Mountain. I stayed there for about 10 days. They transferred me to Tianjin Heping Hotel and for the next two days I was still under their control. I did the interview in a western-style building near the Heping Hotel a few days later. That afternoon, about 4 or 5pm I was reunited with my son. He hugged me and cried for a long time. I also quietly shed tears. The next day, my son and I met his father Bao Longjun who had also just been released on bail. When I got back home, I gradually began to understand what kind of pain my son had been through over the past year. Such cruelty caused my son to suffer from severe depression and that made me even more determined to settle my son overseas so that he could heal both mentally and physically. So, this is my story. I don’t expect everyone to understand. I just want to say that my son is everything to me. Perhaps, I had no other choice.

Welcome to my hometown! O-Town, House of the Mouse, MCO…Orlando goes by many nicknames, and while it’s most closely associated with Disney World, the city is so much more than that. I’ve lived here for just shy of two years, and I feel like I’ve just barely scratched the surface of what Orlando has to offer wheelchair users – and it’s more than just rides and long lines. School is out for the summer, so if you have a wheelchair user in the family, here are some ideas for a fantastic accessible Florida vacation! 1. The theme parks. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the obvious draw to Orlando – Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. However, these are just the biggest players. Central Florida is generally warm year round, and never more so than during the summer when school is out. Water parks are just as huge a draw for tourists, including the brand new Volcano Bay (part of Universal). All the major theme parks are wheelchair accessible, although each one varies with regards to how many rides you can actually go on. Most require you to at a minimum transfer to a manual wheelchair, and often from your chair to the ride itself. However, the shows at all the parks have special wheelchair seating (some are better than others). Each park also has its own policies for how to wait in line for rides. If you follow the links above, they will take you to the accessibility pages for each of the parks for more information. 2. The Orlando Eye. This iconic 400-foot tall observation wheel provides breathtaking views of Central Florida in all directions, with sights of downtown Orlando’s skyline, theme parks, lakes and lush landscape, and on a clear day, views of Cape Canaveral on the east coast. Each capsule is fully enclosed and air conditioned, and a full ride around the wheel takes about 23 minutes. The Eye is a good location for special occasions; a friend of the family got engaged in a capsule! The Eye is designed to be accessible to everyone (as long as your wheelchair is no wider than 36″), and you can read about The Orlando Eye’s accessibility policies here. 3. WonderWorks. This hands-on interactive collection of mostly science-related exhibits is a really fun family experience that is accessible to everyone. WonderWorks is an indoor amusement park for the mind with 35,000 square feet of “edu-tainment.” The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination. In addition to the exhibits, the building has a multi-level indoor ropes course and a laser tag arena. It’s a great way to keep the kids very active and busy while staying out of the Florida heat! Here is WonderWorks Orlando’s accessibility information. 4. The Escape Game. There are many variations of this concept around the country, and actually more than one in Orlando; this is simply the one I tried. The “game” is that you’re placed in a “locked” room (there are exit buttons everywhere) with a bunch of clues and objects everywhere to help you along in your mission – to get out of the room. The catch? You only have one hour to escape. Two of the rooms at this location are wheelchair accessible, and while the space is tight, you can maneuver and get help from your teammates to reach things. Even if you can’t pick up or manipulate every object in the room, they key is to use your brain to put all the clues together! Contact the Escape Game Orlando for wheelchair accommodations. 5. The Crayola Experience. I have two kids, so admittedly I’m listing a lot of things here that are for them and for families. However, I can almost guarantee that any adult who has ever colored with crayons will enjoy this place! The Crayola Experience is located inside the Florida Mall and is housed in a huge football-field sized open building with over a dozen different activity stations. You can label and name your own crayon, create custom coloring pages, make art with melted crayon wax, use a computer to animate your drawings, and see a show about how crayons are made (with free samples, of course). The best part? The prices of Crayola products in the gift shop are the same as in regular stores. The building can get very crowded, but the pathways between stations are very wide and all the activities are accessible. 6. Central Florida Zoo. This zoo is only ten minutes from my house, and I take my children there all the time. Besides seeing over 400 animals representing over 200 species (that doesn’t even include the bugs in the Insect Zoo), you can take to the sky and enjoy our aerial adventure course, ZOOm Air Adventure Park or bring your flip-flops and swimsuit to cool-off in the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground. See domestic animals in the Barnyard Buddies Children’s Zoo, or see the Southeast’s largest collection of venomous snakes and non-venomous reptiles in the Herpetarium. You can also meet animal care specialists during one of their Keeper Chats. The zoo pathways are mostly wood slats with some paved sidewalks, so it can be a little bumpy in some areas. However, it’s not a large zoo, there’s tons of shade from the beautiful trees, and it’s very wheelchair friendly. 7. Orlando Science Center. For sixty years, the Orlando Science Center has been a place that inspires curiosity and exploration. Truly one of the great activities for Orlando families, the Science Center encourages learning in a fun way. It’s the perfect mix of educational activity, fun and knowledge all under one roof. With four floors of exciting exhibits, amazing giant screen movies and engaging live programming, the Science Center is the perfect family destination. It’s also the ideal rainy day activity. But this museum isn’t just for kids; their evening events include seminars and talks about the science involved in things like brewing beer and fermenting wine. The Center is very wheelchair friendly, although it may be a challenge to navigate through all the kids on a busy day! 8. Orlando Museum of Art. Annually, the Orlando Museum of Art presents 10-12 exhibitions on-site and 13 exhibitions off-site, award-winning art enrichment programs, unlimited gallery tours, teacher in-service training programs, video programs, distinguished lectures, art appreciation lectures, studio classes, lecture/luncheon programs and outreach services in its facility and throughout the community. The permanent collection includes work from Africa, the ancient Americas, and contemporary works, but rotating exhibitions tend to lean towards more modern movements. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, and another great option for one of central Florida’s many rainy days. 9. Lake Eola Park. Lake Eola Park is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando, and is home to the city’s iconic lighted fountain. The sidewalk that circles the lake is .9 miles in length, and wide enough to easily accommodate wheelchairs and companions. Other activities available to park visitors include renting swan-shaped paddle boats (one of which is now wheelchair accessible!), feeding the live swans and other birds inhabiting the park, seeing a concert or a play in the Walt Disney Amphitheater, grabbing a bite to eat at Relax Grill on Lake Eola or relaxing amid beautiful flower beds and a spectacular view of Orlando’s skyline. The Eola Sunday Market has gained a reputation of being one of the best in Central Florida. The market features fruits and vegetables, home-made breads, an assortment of local cuisines, beer, wine and a variety of artwork and entertainment. 10. Seminole Wekiva Trail. The Seminole Wekiva Trail has been built on the former Orange Belt Railway, at one time the longest railroad in the country. Peter A. Demens of Longwood was the driving force behind this railroad and, despite many difficulties, had the railroad built all the way to St. Petersburg. The nearly 14-mile Seminole Wekiva Trail is a paved recreational trail that has been designated as one of Seminole County’s Showcase Trails because of its length, beauty, and accommodation of many users. The section of the trail that runs west of the I-4 trail overpass to the County line at the Wekiva River is also a designated part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. You can visit the trail’s website for maps and directions.