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As if the gut-wrenching images weren't powerful enough, the staggering numbers behind the California wildfires show this recent rash of infernos is unlike any other: Of the 31 people killed in this month's wildfires, 29 died in Northern California's Camp Fire. That ties the record for the most number of deaths from a California wildfire. (The last time 29 people were killed was in 1933, when the Griffith Park Fire ravaged Los Angeles.) Two others were killed in the Woolsey Fire in Malibu. About 100 people Roughly 100 people are still unaccounted for, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (also known as Cal Fire). While officials hope those people are safe elsewhere, it's quite possible more victims will be found dead. 13 million people In Southern California, 13 million people are in critical fire danger through Tuesday, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. Cities including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Glendale are at risk. 310 square miles In just the past four days, the wildfires have burned more than 310 square miles in California. That's an area larger than all five boroughs of New York City. The Camp Fire has destroyed more than 6,700 structures, making it the most destructive fire in California history. That number includes at least 6,453 homes, according to Cal Fire. More than 8,000 firefighters -- including many from out of state -- are battling the Camp, Woolsey and Hill wildfires. 1,250 square miles (and counting) That's how much land has been torched by California wildfires so far this year, according to Cal Fire. The total is now greater than the size of Rhode Island. And if it seems like wildfires are getting worse, they are. The 1,250 square miles burnt this year is four times the average for this point in the year. And six of the 10 most destructive wildfires over the past century have happened since 2015. - Camp Fire evacuees film harrowing escape - Evacuees fight to escape quake-stricken region - Astronaut recounts harrowing failed space launch - George H.W. Bush recounts harrowing plane crash - Bodycam shows escape from Camp Fire - Harrowing video shows perils of being a tow truck driver - 'Adrift' showcases Shailene Woodley in harrowing survival tale - Fire evacuee: Our town is flattened - Walmart urges Camp Fire evacuees to leave tent city for shelters - California communities will serve Thanksgiving dinner to thousands of Camp Fire evacuees

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- Getting emotionally hijacked by others. - People-pleasing and over-apologizing. - Not being able to say no without guilt or anxiety. - Having a hard time with self-expression and self-confidence. - Engaging in self-criticism and self-abuse. - Feeling drained by your interactions with others. - Constantly avoiding social situations that feel uncomfortable. - Not feeling like you can be yourself freely or openly. - Being led by other people’s emotions instead of your own. - Giving too much to other people without getting in return. - Having a hard time managing different aspects of your life. Most of us spend our lives striving for some kind of freedom. We work hard for decades to become personally, financially, or intellectually independent. We chase after diplomas, careers, and investments in hopes that we won’t feel stuck and indebted in the future. However, how many of us also strive for emotional independence? How many of us invest in learning how to manage our emotions and moods properly? How many of us possess the ability to lead our lives without allowing the thoughts, emotions, and actions of other people to disrupt and disturb our own thoughts, emotions, and actions? Most of us are led by other people’s behaviors because we lack emotional independence. We allow others to direct our feelings because we haven’t learned self-leadership. We react to our lives instead of leading our lives. We learn to manage the effects instead of becoming the cause. We can’t even freely express ourselves without feeling shame, guilt, anxiety, or second-guessing. Emotions play a large role in how we experience life. When we don’t possess the right tools to appropriately work through our emotions, then life itself feels pressure-filled, stressful, and unmanageable. It’s like playing the game of life on a difficult setting, where your own thoughts and emotions become additional obstacles on your path. In fact, when we avoid people, we’re really trying to avoid the feelings people trigger within us. We’re not avoiding the people; we’re avoiding our own feelings. If we don’t know how to regulate our emotions, we’re likely to be stopped, delayed, or rerouted with each intense feeling or upsetting interaction. If we haven’t learned how to properly manage our emotions, it can make life unnecessarily challenging. If you want to make your life easier, you must work on your emotions. This course is for you if you're tired of. . . When we don’t feel as though we have control over our lives, we are less likely to be confident, satisfied, or empowered. Most of us want to work on fixing something outside of ourselves, thinking that if we just corrected that aspect, then we would feel better. We tend to work on these problems individually, not understanding that there’s a common link between them: our emotions. Our level of self-leadership determines our satisfaction and success in all areas of our lives. This 5-week advanced course was created to improve your sense of self-leadership and empowerment, increase your self-esteem through confidence-building techniques, and establish your emotional self-sufficiency. The main objective of this course is to help you learn how to cultivate your emotional resilience and independence. If you’re ready to choose more consciously, if you’re ready to take more control over yourself and your life, then this course is for you. This course will help you: - Feel confident in expressing yourself. - Change your negative self-talk. - Get past social anxiety. - Step out of your comfort zone. - Become more assertive. - Learn to ask for your needs. - Release codependent behaviors. - Manage difficult emotions. - Cultivate self-leadership. - Reclaim your power. - Take your life back. - Step into your authentic self. How it Works: A new section will become available in the student module every 6 days. You will receive an email notifying you of its availability. At the end of 30 days, you will have full, lifetime access to the course. You can retake the course anytime you want—in six months or six years. It will be available for you to retake as many times as you want or need. You will not need to pass a quiz or exam to complete the course. You will need a computer, tablet, or smart phone and an Internet connection to view the course. You will also need an empty course journal for the assignments and journal reflections. The journal can be any empty lined notebook. One Last Thing: I have spent over a decade studying self-development, psychology, and philosophy. I have also coached others in self-esteem, confidence, and relationship issues. To make the process easier for my students, I took the best of what I learned through my own personal experiences as well as the experiences I’ve gained from coaching others, and I combined them into this advanced course. Some of the information provided in this course cannot be found anywhere else. They’re unique to my own experiences and teachings. They’re designed to maximize the efficiency of your emotional growth. If you're not satisfied with my course, if you received no value from it, you have 15 days from the time of purchase to request a refund. Send me an email through your student dashboard and I'll happily refund your money! If you're ready to develop your emotional independence, sign up below! PreviewWhat is Emotional Independence? (8:22) PreviewIndependence vs. Dependence PreviewCharacteristics of Emotional Maturity StartGetting From One State to Another (3:33) StartHow to Succeed with This Course StartJournal Reflections: Your Start Point StartIncreasing Your Emotional Capacity (9:10) StartCommon Obstacles to Emotional Growth (16:57) StartAssignment: Your Pledge to Yourself StartAction Step: Be Ready StartThe Difference between Emotions and Feelings (3:49) StartThe Secret about Negative Feelings StartEmotional Habits Dictate Choices (4:09) StartAll Habits Are Emotional Habits (6:50) StartMisidentifying with Emotions StartFalse Cause and Effect (5:13) StartAll Experience is Filtered StartFactual and Relative Truths (5:05) StartThe Ideal Self Filter (6:13) StartAssignment: Sentence Completion StartAction Step: Practice the Pause StartDevelopmental Interference (7:14) StartInner Voice and Self-Abuse (4:29) StartCodependent Parents (3:46) StartCodependency Stunts Growth StartEmotional Homelessness (3:57) StartNeglect and Invalidation StartHealthy Upbringing (3:21) StartLearning Self-Responsibility (4:05) StartGrowing into Confidence StartAssignment: Soften Your Inner Voice StartAction Step: Change a Belief Use Coupon Code 25OFF at checkout to get 25% off the regular price. Get started now! Emily Maroutian is an award-winning author, personal coach, and philosopher. She has studied personal development, psychology, and philosophy for over 15 years. She has developed a notable ability of simplifying complicated concepts and turning them into useful resources for self-improvement and healing. She is also the founder of Maroutian Entertainment, a multimedia company that produces empowering and uplifting material through books, courses, movies, and TV shows.

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Piloted by Reform congregations throughout the country, this book is the first step in a program of Hebrew learning for adults. By carefully introducing the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet, the goal is to develop the reader’s ability to decode written Hebrew words as well as to ground the learning of Hebrew in the broader sense of its use in Jewish life, ritual, study, and tradition. Each chapter introduces two or three Hebrew letters; through instructional drills and exercises, the reader progressively becomes familiar with key Hebrew vocabulary and its role in Jewish tradition, text, and prayer. Hardback ebook Aleph Isn’t Tough on Booktopia. EPUB book Aleph Isn’t Tough Linda Motzkin read iPhone. MOBI Aleph Isn’t Tough by Linda Motzkin download on PocketBook on IndieBound. TXT book Aleph Isn’t Tough buy cheap. PDF ebook Aleph Isn’t Tough Linda Motzkin download.

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Indian sandalwood grown in the wild was on the cusp of global extinction, plagued by years of over-exploitation, resulting in it being listed as a vulnerable species in 1998 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). We took it upon ourselves to secure an ethical and sustainable supply of this ancient tree. For the last 20 years, we have built an enduring commitment to the ethical supply of Indian sandalwood. We care about creating a brighter, healthier future for this sacred species. We tread lightly by reducing our carbon footprint, opting for circular agricultural practices, and taking a firm stance on ethical and fully traceable supply. With a strict chain-of-custody protocol, we can guarantee a renewable supply of sandalwood into the future. We work with the Forest Products Commission (FPC), so we can also ensure the legitimacy and origin of our Australian sandalwood oil products. The FPC regulates growth, harvesting and replanting of this native resource. Each year, as part of its regeneration program, the FPC disperses more than 5 million seeds across approximately 20,000 hectares of land using a natural dispensation process inspired by the native woylie, an animal known to collect and hoard Australian sandalwood seeds, burying them in shallow diggings.

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Pastoral Care means enhancing the dignity of each person within our school community whilst maximising learning and growth. The pastoral care of Mater Christi Catholic Primary children is of paramount importance and is a shared responsibility between the school and the home. Mater Christi has a buddy system whereby junior grades are teamed with senior grades in order that a mutual exchange of responsibility and care is fostered. Buddy groups have been established so that older children in our community take responsibility for the care of our younger members and develop a friendly relationship with them. Rainbows is a program designed especially for children who are living in single parent families, or families going through significant transitions. Rainbows fosters emotional healing among children grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis or other significant changes in their life. The program consists of twelve weekly sessions conducted during school hours. A staff member has been trained as the facilitator of the Rainbows program. Rainbows provides a safe, confidential and caring environment for young people to sort through their pain and confusion, build self-esteem and learn coping tools to deal with their change, loss and grief. The goal is to assist participants in expressing feelings, understand and talk about these feelings and to learn to let go of them and get on with living. The facilitator assists the participant in expressing feelings. A key element of the Pastoral Care Programme is to acknowledge and reinforce the positive behaviours of the students. In upholding our Catholic school aims of educating the whole child, Mater Christi Catholic Primary School’s Pastoral Care and Discipline policy work together on the basis of developing a sense of Christian self-responsibility and community in the children. We believe in the self-respect of individuals and that success stems from self-esteem. We also advocate zero tolerance in respect of bullying.

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Get Ready for the Spectacular Blue Supermoon: Brightest Moon of the Year! A breathtaking celestial event is about to grace the skies: the Blue Supermoon! While it won’t actually be blue in color, this moon promises to be the brightest of the year, illuminating the night with its mesmerizing glow. And here’s the catch – this rare occurrence won’t repeat itself until 2037, so don’t miss your chance to witness this stunning phenomenon. On the upcoming Wednesday, prepare to gaze at a full moon that meets all the criteria for being a supermoon. This means the moon will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee, making it appear about 7% larger than an average full moon. Although the difference might not be immediately noticeable, the sheer brilliance of this moon will undoubtedly captivate your senses. But what makes it a “blue” supermoon? The term “supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, referring to either a new or full moon occurring within 90% of perigee. While “blue” doesn’t refer to its color, it’s a nod to the rarity, as in “once in a blue moon. ” This particular Blue Supermoon is the second full moon in the month of August, with the first occurring on August 1. A retired NASA astrophysicist, Fred Espenak, calculates that this supermoon will be around 222,043 miles away, ensuring it shines as the brightest moon of the year. The term “Blue Moon” has historical roots, often denoting the second full moon in a month. Yet, older definitions were based on the number of full moons in a year, adding to the intrigue of this phenomenon. While supermoons aren’t incredibly rare, Blue Moons are a bit more elusive, occurring only about once every 33 moons. Witnessing a Blue Supermoon is even more exceptional, happening every 10 to 20 years. So, mark your calendars for this dazzling event and get ready to marvel at the cosmic wonder above. And who knows, maybe one day, we might even witness a truly blue moon, ignited by extraordinary circumstances like volcanic eruptions or forest fires, as history has shown.

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Soft drinks, fruit juice and energy drink contribute to sugar intake Too much sugar in the diet is a public health concern and linked to unhealthy weight gain and dental caries. WHO recommend sugar intake should be less than 10% of total energy intake and substantial oral health benefits have been recognised when sugar intake is less than 5% of total energy intake (1). An earlier blog discusses the WHO sugar recommendation However, in Australia, many adolescents exceed this recommendation and sugar contributes to 15% of adolescents energy intake (2). Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are a contributor of added sugar in the Australian adolescent diet. Dr Louise Hardy, from the University of New South Wales, looked at the oral health issues (OHI), the prevalence of obesity and its association with the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Australian adolescents in her recent study (3). What causes tooth decay? Acid is a by-product of bacteria in the mouth, feeding on sugars from food. It is the acid which decays the teeth. The authors (from the study) say … There were clear and consistent associations between OHI and the consumption of energy, sports drinks and flavoured water, more so than the traditional soft drink. Additionally, the prevalence of unhealthy weight was higher in the consumers of these same drinks. This was a concern, as the perception of these, more modern, beverages as a healthy alternative is at the expense of healthy teeth. Sports drinks are primarily marketed to provide hydration during physical activity. Energy drinks are promoted to provide increased energy, enhance mental alertness, physical performance and better health with added antioxidants and vitamins but this is all detrimental to teeth, and there are other discussions about whether young people require drinks with caffeine and other stimulants. Reducing the frequency and volume of SSBs to young people could have a significant impact on adolescent oral health. Source of data and its limitations Trained field staff collected height and weight measurements and a weight to height ratio (WtH) were calculated. The consumption of SSB data was collected through a validated short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and included soft drinks, diet soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juice, flavoured water and energy drinks. Even though the FFQ was validated, it did have inconsistencies with the quantities of SSB’s consumed e. g. the question on energy drinks was about times consumed (per week) whereas the other SSB questions collected volume per day or week, so some adjustments were made to standardise this inconsistency. There was no clinical dental examination to determine the prevalence of OHI. Instead, two questions were asked from the National Dental Telephone Survey. These validated questions have a strong correlation with the presence of dental caries. An OHI was defined where there were ‘often’ or ‘very often’ toothaches or problems with the mouth or teeth so some foods were avoided. The statistical analysis considered the frequency of teeth brushing (OHI) and level of physical activity (for weight), along with age, sex, socio-economic status, residence (urban or rural) and language background. The overall outcome showed 16% (539 adolescents) of the study group drank more than 2 cups of any SSB per day and were 2. 5 to 3 times more likely to have OHI than someone who did not drink SSBs. The result was dose responsive, therefore, the prospect of an OHI increased as consumption of SSB’s increased. Looking at one class of SSBs, the prevalence of OHI was highest in diet soft drinkers but this only affected 2% (83 adolescents) of the study group. These 83 adolescents consumed more than 1 cup of diet soft drink per day and were 4-5 times more likely to have OHI than the remaining 3377 adolescents, who consumed less than 1 cup of diet soft drink per day. For consumers of diet soft drinks the prevalence of OHI was considered high and without a reason, even though it affected only a small group the researchers felt it could be worth exploring whether the prevalence was due to the artificial sweeteners or some other habit undertaken by this segment of the population i. e. sucking confectionary? In another class, 20% (671 adolescents) of the study group regularly consumed energy drinks and were twice as likely to have OHI as those who did not drink energy drinks at all. But no association between SSBs and weight … In total, 27% (961 adolescents) were in an unhealthy weight range. The overall result did not show any association of SSBs with unhealthy weight. This is not consistent with meta-analyses suggesting higher intakes of SSBs are associated with unhealthy weight outcomes. However, this study showed regular consumers of energy drinks were 1. 3 to 1. 6 times more likely to have an unhealthy weight or WtH ratio than non-consumers of energy drinks. This study adds weight to the argument that adolescents should reduce their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages NSW Ministry of Health funded this study and the authors state no conflicting interests. - World Health Organisation. Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2015. - Lei L, Rangan A, Flood V, Louie J. Dietary intake and food sources of added sugar in the Australian population. British Journal of Nutrition 2016;115:868-77. doi: 10. 1017/S0007114515005255. - Hardy LL, Bell J, Bauman A, Mihrshahi S. Association between adolescents’ consumption of total and different types of sugar-sweetened beverages with oral health impacts and weight status. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health:n/a-n/a. doi: 10. 1111/1753-6405. 12749.

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History and goals of STEMwire In March 2012, the Reese News Lab staff submitted a grant proposal to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The lab proposed launching a digital publication to further the national conversation around STEM education in order to recruit more STEM teachers. Thanks to a one-year, $50,000 grant, the STEMwire. org project began in August 2012. STEMwire worked with 100Kin10, a partnership of over 100 organizations committed to recruiting 100,000 STEM teachers in 10 years. During the fall, students hammered out the website’s goals and design. About 10 students created content part time in the spring, and during the summer, a team of four students took over the website full time. To achieve its main goal, creating conversation about the STEM education movement, STEMwire worked to engage a large audience that would share the website’s content through social media. STEMwire highlighted the 100Kin10’s partner organizations and their work on STEM education and teacher recruitment. To distinguish the publication from other STEM education websites, STEMwire staffers often employed nontraditional story forms and multimedia such as photo and video. STEMwire’s mission was to advance the conversation about STEM education and STEM teacher recruitment. STEMwire’s content addressed subjects such as teaching standards, professional development, innovative teaching methods and educational organizations. In the website’s STEMpaths section, teachers described the journeys that led them to the classroom. Another regular section on the website was This Week in STEM Education, a weekly roundup of current events in STEM education. In Barrier Island Workshop helps teachers combine history and STEM , STEMwire staff created a multimedia story about a professional development workshop held on Bald Head Island, N.C. The STEMwire team combined video, text and photos to tell the story of the workshop. Professional development is an important topic in the conversation about STEM education, so STEMwire needed to tell the full story of one of these workshops. In Eight organizations promote women in STEM, STEMwire reporter Anna Starnes created a list of eight organizations that help encourage and retain girls in STEM fields. Starnes wanted to find a way to address the topic of gender disparity in STEM fields without writing just another article explaining it. She found organizations that encourage girls to get involved in STEM and decided to use a list to make it easy to read. She also noted that list articles are popular on social media and hoped that this format would help get readers interested. For the story School librarians can be crucial partners in STEM, STEMwire reporter Hetali Lodaya was looking for a story about technology when she stumbled across an academic paper by Mega Subramaniam about the link between libraries and STEM teachers. She wrote a traditional text piece about how STEM librarians can be used as resources for STEM education. It turns out that the school librarian community is strong, and STEMwire was able to reach out to them through Twitter. The story was quickly passed around the community and, within a matter of days, became STEMwire’s most viewed story. Social media and communications The STEMwire staff understood from the start that quality content is only effective if accompanied by quality promotion. In the fall, the staff hosted a Twitter party to engage new readers and introduce the STEMwire name. This emphasis on Twitter continued into the summer. Staff took turns managing the Twitter account every day and participated in several Twitter chats and online discussions. The Twitter account grew from 399 to 715 followers over the course of the summer, but more significantly, interactions increased. STEMwire was included on #FollowFriday tweets and belongs to many lists related to STEM and STEM education. Staffers also regularly emailed articles to any individual who was interviewed for a piece. These individuals were encouraged to share the article with their networks as well. Many STEMwire stories were posted on the personal or organizational websites of these individuals. Analytics and data As part of the efforts to advance the conversation around STEM education, the STEMwire staff realized the behavior of the audiences would have to be measured and analyzed in ways that could drive future efforts. They used Google Analytics to evaluate the types of stories that were most widely read and widely shared, how content was commonly found and how audiences interacted with the site as a whole. Common variables analyzed included unique page views and the amount of time spent on stories. STEMwire also examined the most common traffic sources to determine the effectiveness of content-sharing methods and whether using targeted terms for search engine optimization enhanced readership. STEMwire also noted whether the audience consisted mostly of new visitors or returning visitors. While STEMwire was always looking to grow and expand its readership, it is important to know whether people are motivated to return to the site and engage with the content. STEMwire found that for the site overall, new visitors viewed 2. 45 pages per visit on average, while returning visitors viewed 5. 82 pages per visit on average. This supports the idea that as STEMwire built a dedicated and regular audience, the more that audience engaged with the site and explored the content.

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The fact of God’s existence, that “He is there” as Francis Schaeffer said, is the foundation of sound thinking. But how does He exist? Does He exist like you and I exist? Is He subject to the same limitations of time, space, and matter that define human existence? Did He at some point begin to exist, like I began to exist at some point in the Fall of 1961? How should we think about this “God who is there”? In the first place, it is important to understand that He is a transcendent Being. Fallen and finite human beings tend to define the character of God in terms with which they are familiar: “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself” (Ps. 50:23). But God is not like us. “We must not think,” said Paul, “that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver, graven by art or man’s device” (Acts 17:29). No, He is different; He is separate; He is other. In a word, God is Holy. The Holiness of God The Holiness of God refers to everything that is distinctive about God in contrast to man. It is a composite attribute of God, that is, an attribute that includes all others. More frequently than any other adjective in Scripture, the adjective “holy” is employed to describe God’s name (Is. 57:15). It is the only attribute raised to the third power, for He is never called “Justice, Justice, Justice” or “Love, Love, Love”, but He is said to be “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Is. 6:3). Holiness means separateness. It expresses the idea of distance. God is different, in other words, than us. He is great and we are small; He is powerful and we are weak; He is pure and we are vile; He is eternal and we are temporal. He is distinct from and transcendent to His creation. Usually when we think of God’s holiness, we think only in terms of His moral purity: “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (I Jno. 1:5). That’s certainly a part of God’s Holiness, but the concept itself is even broader. Holiness means that not only in terms of moral purity, but also in terms of all of the other characteristics of God’s nature, He is so far above us and so distinct from everything with which we are familiar that we have no point of reference to even begin to fathom His infinite glory (Rom. 11:33). “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? ” (Ex. 15:11). God’s nature is incomprehensible by man. He can never be completely comprehended (Job 11:7). When we speak of the characteristics of God’s nature that distinguish Him, as a transcendent Being, from everything and everyone else, we are thinking in terms of what theologians call God’s incommunicable attributes. These are attributes that are exclusive to God. One characteristic that distinguishes God from all creatures is His self-existence. He does not exist like we do, but He exists by Himself. He is the “I AM” (Ex. 3:14), the self-existent, self-sufficient, sovereign savior God. What does self-existence imply? First, it means that God is eternal. He is without a beginning. There was never a time in which He was not God or a point at which He began to be. God is the “I AM” forever (Ex. 3:15). Something in the universe must be eternal. The things that exist today, in other words, must have a first cause. Even people who believe in evolution understand this principle. For example, modern science says that the universe came to be through a great explosion spawned by colliding asteroids and meteors. The question that begs an answer, however, is “Where did the asteroids and meteors come from? ” Further, if human life came from a primordial slime mold, where did the primordial germ come from? Modern science answers by claiming the eternality of matter, a philosophy known as materialism. So either an intelligent God is eternal or an inanimate rock is eternal, but some thing or Being in the universe must be eternal, i. e. ungenerated by another source but existing essentially on its own. The challenge facing the materialist, however, is the difficulty of explaining how animate life sprang from an inanimate rock. Usually, the explanation is given that an electrical charge, like a lightning bolt, struck the rock, generating life. But that explanation only complicates the issue, for it raises a new question, “Where did the electrical charge come from if all that existed was matter? Further, what was the stimulus of the electrical response? Could it have been atmospheric conditions? If so, where did the atmosphere come from and what influenced the atmosphere so that it suddenly generated an electrical charge…ad infinitum? ” Clearly, the idea that animate life evolved randomly from inanimate matter is a logical absurdity. The source of all life must of necessity be an eternal Being who has life within Himself, “who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light to which no man can approach unto” ( I Tim. 6:16). John Gill writes, “He is the first Being…from whom all others have their being: ‘Before him there was no God formed, neither shall there be after him’ (Is. 43:10)”. God is not bound by time, but He inhabits eternity (Is. 57:15). “Before the mountains were brought forth,” said Moses, “or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Ps. 90:2). Self-existence means secondly that God is an independent Being. He does not need anything or anyone external to Himself to sustain life. Unlike us, God needs neither air, nor food, nor water, nor shelter, nor companionship to maintain His existence (Acts 17:25; Ps. 50:8) . Like Moses’ burning bush, God is self-sustaining, expending energy but not Himself expended. His decisions are not influenced by factors external to Himself, for He is self-determining (Job 23:13). His joy and pleasure is not derived from any source outside of Himself, for He is self-sufficient (Pro. 8:30). Neither does He need any external means of accountability, for He is self-governing (Is. 40:13-14; Ps. 115:3). Nothing that man does or says or is either improves, enhances, or depreciates God (Job 22:2-3; 35:6-7) Since He is a holy, eternal, and independent Being, God must of necessity be perfect and that which is perfect cannot change. This is termed His immutability. “I am the Lord; I change not” (Mal. 3:6). With Him there is “no variableness neither shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). Though the earth and heavens will pass away and be folded as a garment, yet He “is the same and His years shall not fail” (Heb. 1:11-12; cf. Ps. 102:25-27). He is “the same, yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Time cannot change God, for He is eternal. Circumstances cannot change Him, for He is sovereign. Praise cannot change Him because He deserves it. Criticism cannot change the Lord, for He is holy and transcendent. Though this world is characterized by change and decay, God is immutable; therefore, He is today what He has always been and will be forever what He is today. ‘The God who is there’ is truly great. How majestic is His name in all the earth! (Ps. 8:1). None can compare to Him (Is. 40:18, 25). In this day of “God shrinking” and trivialization of the greatness and transcendence of God, the rediscovery of the high view of God depicted in Scripture is of the essence. Let us “publish the name of the Lord and ascribe greatness to our God” (Deut. 32:3). The attribute employed to describe His transcendence to space is omnipresence. Omnipresence means that God is everywhere simultaneously. He is “not far from every one of us” said Paul (Acts 17:28). He “fills heaven and earth” (Jer. 23:23). The Psalmist asked, “Whither shall I flee from thy presence? Or whither shall I go from thy spirit? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Ps. 139:7-10). The attempt to flee from His presence, therefore, is futile (Jonah 1:3), for none “can hide himself in secret places” where God cannot see him (Jer. 23). Is the assertion that God is everywhere, then, a form of pantheism. No, for pantheism, while it admits the pervasive presence and ubiquity of God, fails to distinguish between God and matter. The pantheist believes that God is in every tree, rock, and animal. God, however, is a Spirit, separate from the material world, yet nonetheless in every place at once. He is both a God afar off and a God at hand. The challenge facing the believer is the challenge of cultivating the habit of practicing the presence of God (Ps. 16:8). Another quality that sets God apart from men is His omniscience. Omniscience means that God has all wisdom (Ps. 94:10). He has perfect knowledge of all things, events, persons, and circumstances (Heb. 4:13; I Jno. 3:20). His understanding is infinite (Ps. 147:5). Nothing escapes His notice, for “the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good” (Pro. 15:3; cf. Job 34:21). He knows our “downsittings and uprisings” and “understands our thoughts afar off” (Ps. 139:2). There is not a word in our mouths but what He knows it altogether (v. 4). He also knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished (2 Pet. 2:9). This all-knowing and all-wise God always chooses the perfect means to the perfect end. Such wisdom was manifested in the scheme of redemption, and such is the incentive for confidence in Him as our guide. God also has all power. Theologians call this Divine feature omnipotence. Nothing is too hard for the Lord (Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17). Hence, His name is El-Shaddai (lit. “God Almighty” – Gen. 17:1). His arm is not shortened that it cannot save (Is. 59:1). He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). There is not a burden so heavy, a task so difficult, or an enemy so strong to challenge His almighty power. The universe is the product of His powerful spoken word, both in its creation and its maintenance (Jer. 10:12-13; Heb. 11:3; Heb. 1:3) and the starry heavens were the sheer work of His fingers (Ps. 8). Perhaps the greatest demonstration of God’s power is the resurrection. Romans 1:4 says that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. ” What tremendous power is this that can raise the dead to life! That same Divine power operates in the life of the believer enabling him to do the impossible (Eph. 1:19; Eph. 3:20; Eph. 6:10). God is Tripersonal This God, who is so majestic and holy, is a triune Being. He is one God in three distinct Persons ¾ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (I Jno. 5:7; Mt. 28:19). In the Godhead, there is a plurality of persons but a unity of essence. In other words, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. This doctrine, of course, is a divine mystery: there is more to it than we can understand. Formulae like the one above are not meant to explain the Trinity so that no mystery remains, but to safeguard it so that God is not misrepresented by those who speak in His name. The one eternal God exists in three Divine Persons. (Cf. Eph. 2:18; Gen. 1:26; Ps. 110:1; Jno. 14:16; Mt. 3:16-17; I Pet. 1:2; etc. ) God is not only transcendent, i. e. distant from man; He is also immanent, i. e. near to man. He is a God “afar off”, but He is also “at hand” (Jer. 23:22). He is “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, dwelling in the high and holy place. ” But He also dwells “with him that is poor and of a contrite spirit” (Is. 57:15). Yes indeed! God is Light, but God is also Love (I Jno. 1:5; I Jno. 4:7). Both His holiness and His love find expression in everything He says and does. These characteristics of God’s nature that depict Him moving near to communicate to man are termed the communicable attributes of God. “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God,” wrote Paul to the Romans (Rom. 11:22). In His holiness, God executes His perfect justice upon sin. His wrath is severe. In His love, however, God bestows amazing grace upon sinners, for “the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (Ps. 100:5). As He revealed His character to Moses, God made “all His goodness pass before” him (Ex. 33:19), proclaiming “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…” (Ex. 34:6-7). This verbal description of God depicts Him as a complex Being the focal point of whose moral perfection is “goodness”. The simple child’s prayer “God is good” expresses a profound theological truth. Goodness means that He is kind, benevolent, and generous to His creatures, both in a general and in a special sense. J. I. Packer says, “He is good to all in some ways and to some in all ways. ” In general terms, the whole creation benefits from God’s goodness: “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Ps. 145:9). As Creator, God “rejoices in the habitable part of His earth and his delights are with the sons of men” (Pro. 8:31). He is pleased to “give us richly all things to enjoy” (I Tim. 6:17). Who can smell the fragrance of a rose, hear the song of the robin, view the colors of a sunset, taste the sweetness of a Washington apple or Georgia peach, or feel the relief of a summer rain shower and doubt that God is generous and kind and good? “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Ps. 33:5). In a special sense, God is good to His people: “Truly God is good to Israel; even to such as are of a clean heart” (Ps. 73:1). Psalm 107 catalogs God’s goodness to His children in terms of deliverance from distress, and calls upon them to respond in praise: “O that men might praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men. ” To them, all good things come from the God who is good (Jas. 1:17), and all things that come from God are deemed good. They can even say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes” (Ps. 119:71). God’s love is an expression of His goodness toward sinners. It is a holy, not a soft, sentimental, or indulgent, love. To say that “God is love” is to say that God seeks the welfare of individual sinners. He is not vindictive, malicious, or cruel. He is not capricious or arbitrary in afflicting men (Lam. 3:33). He is not indifferent. On the contrary, God delights to deal bountifully with His own. Love is the heart of God. It is His affection for and desire to bless His people, not because they are lovely or lovable, but because He, in His own sovereign good pleasure, has been pleased to love (Deut. 7:8). In contrast to God’s goodness, a Divine attribute that extends to all His creatures in the form of general good-will (theologians call this “common grace”), God’s love is a particular affection toward His people. He delights to enrich and bless them (Ps. 84:11). God’s love is expressed in daily blessings (Ps. 68:19). Even Divine chastening is an evidence of His love (Pro. 3:12). His love makes Him patient with His own (Is. 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4). His love makes Him gentle with us (Ps. 103:14). But the greatest manifestation of God’s love is the cross (I Jno. 4:7-10). Such love is our incentive in prayer (Jno. 16:27). Grace is God’s initiative in love to bestow blessing upon people who deserve cursing. In Scripture, “grace” is a picture word meaning “to bend or stoop. ” It speaks of “condescending favor. ” The picture is a superior stooping to show favor to an inferior Grace is the keyword of Christianity. God is “the God of all grace” (I Pet. 5:10); the Lord Jesus Christ is “full of grace and truth” (Jno. 1:16); the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29); the gospel is “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) and the Bible is called “the word of His grace” (Acts 20:31). The Greek word charis, translated “grace”, is the root of the word “charity”. Love and grace, therefore, are virtually synonymous in Scripture. Grace is God’s unmerited love bestowed on people who have no claim to it. The Hebrew word chesed, frequently translated “lovingkindness” in the Old Testament, is a parallel concept. It speaks of “covenant loyalty” and means “faithful love to an unfaithful object”. Chesed, then, is grace¾ God blessing where He is not obliged. In the words of J. I. Packer, Grace is, “God acting in spontaneous goodness to save sinners: God loving the unlovely, making covenant with them, pardoning their sins, accepting their persons, revealing himself to them, moving them to response, leading them ultimately into full knowledge and enjoyment of himself, and overcoming all obstacles to the fulfillment of this purpose that at each stage arise. Grace is election-love plus covenant-love, a free choice issuing in a sovereign work. ” (God’s Words, p. 97). God is essentially a gracious God. He delights to sovereignly extend favor to the undeserving. The greatest demonstration of God’s grace is in the forgiveness of sins: “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of thy heritage…? ” (Mic. 7:18). No wonder Samuel Davies worshipfully exclaimed, Who is a pardoning God like Thee, And who has grace so rich and free? A concept closely akin to God’s graciousness is the attribute of mercy. Mercy is God’s compassion and pity to the miserable. If grace is God’s favor to people who lack merit, mercy is God’s compassion to those with a positive demerit, that is, who deserve the very opposite of blessing. God is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4) and “very pitiful and of tender mercy” (Jas. 5:11). Like a “father pities his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” (Ps. 103:13). This does not mean, however, that God is made miserable by the misery of others. No, God is free from all passion. He can never be victimized by another. Thelogians call this the aseity of God. Aseity means that when God feels any kind of pathos, it is because He chooses to feel, not because pain is inflicted upon Him. He is not made miserable by man’s misery; rather, He takes man’s misery to heart and sovereignly wills to demonstrate compassion to people who are in distress. Like His love and His grace, God’s mercy is sovereign. John Gill writes, “Though mercy is natural and essential to God, it is not…exercised on every object in misery…but is guided…by the love of God, and is governed and influenced by his sovereign will, who ‘hath mercy on whom he will have mercy’ Rom. 9:15, 18” (Body of Divinity, p. 61). To every person saved by His mercy (Titus 3:5), God promises to deal compassionately. His mercies are new every morning; His compassions fail not (Lam. 3:22-23). He who notes every sparrow that falls (Mt. 10:39) also “knoweth our frame and remembers that we are but dust” (Ps. 103:14), tempering every trial with mercy “that we may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13). Holy Scripture is a catalog of God’s acts of mercy in history. Consider His commitment to take sides with the defenseless, the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, and the oppressed (Lev. 19:9-10; Ps. 68:5-6; Hos. 14:3). Such compassion to those in misery is the quintessence of mercy. Elizabeth understood that the birth of a child is a manifestation of mercy (Lk. 1:57-58), and Solomon, that a life companion is a mercy from God (Pro. 18:22; cf. Gen. 2:18). Scripture also depicts the privilege of worship (Ps. 5:7) and answered prayer (Ps. 27:7) as mercies from God. The greatest display of Divine mercy, however, is the salvation of sinners (Lk. 1:78; Rom. 9:23; Eph. 2:4). Because of Jesus, our “mercy seat”, every child of God can pray with the publican, “God be merciful to me the sinner” (Lk. 18:13), in confident trust that “as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy to them that fear Him” (Ps. 103:11). In Exodus 34:6, the next attribute is longsuffering. Longsuffering is Divine mercy expressing itself in patience to man. God is “the God of patience” (Rom. 15:5), so called because He bears long with creatures and is slow to anger (Ps. 103:8). It is this attribute that explains what appears to us to be Divine delays in judgment. He “endures with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Rom. 9:22). Toward the elect while still in an unregenerate state, God waits until his own appointed time of quickening grace (Is. 30:18). He suffered long with Paul, for instance, through all his persecutions of the church and blasphemies in a state of nature, until at last He showed him mercy (I Tim. 1:16). Longsuffering means that God moderates and restrains His anger for a time when the crimes deserve severe and immediate retribution because He has a greater purpose. He bore with the sins of Old Testament saints, for example, taking them to heaven when they died, because Christ became their surety in Covenant before the world began: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God” (Rom. 3:24). Further, longsuffering means that God allows trouble to continue or evil to prevail for a season while He apparently delays to deliver His people. While the ark was being built, God suffered the wickedness of Noah’s day to continue (I Pet. 3:20). That He is slow to wrath is displayed by the fact that He bore the provocations of Israel for forty years in the wilderness (Acts 13:18). Finally, He suffers evil to continue, waiting until the last heir of promise is effectually called and brought to Him, before the Savior returns the second time (2 Pet. 3:9). Christ delays to return not because of any “slackness” in God, but because He is longsuffering to “usward who believe”. One day, “in His times, He will show who is the only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords” (I Tim. 6:15). Even now, in His providential dealings with the church, He “stretches forth his hand all day long,” patiently calling His disobedient people to repentance. Can we not rejoice that our God is longsuffering? May we never “despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,” for the goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). This is our God, almighty, all-knowing, unchangable, faithful, holy, generous, kind, loving, and abundant in goodness. With such a view, do you wonder why Doddridge asked: “Who can forbear to love a God so good and kind? Sure He is worthy to be loved, by me and all mankind. ”

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PTSD in Military Women Can Put Them at Risk For Eating Disorders And Addiction An often-misunderstood disorder, PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a disorder that is common in individuals who have endured trauma such as experiencing an accident, going through the violence of war or being the victim of a sexual assault or rape. Common additions to PTSD are other disorders known as co-occurring disorders, which can include anorexia and addiction. Knowing the link between PTSD and other disorders is important not only for diagnosis but also for treatment. Rarely does PTSD occur alone. Women who have PTSD because of experiences in military service have been seen to have co-morbid disorders. Women who are returning from tours of duty may self medicate to relieve anxiety with prescription medication or alcohol or develop an eating disorder to cope with emotional suffering and pain. Anxiety, paranoia and other symptoms can confuse people who are suffering from PTSD and keep them from seeking help, especially if they don’t realize what’s happening. If someone you know has finished a tour of duty or has faced an assault, make sure that they receive proper mental treatment and address any other disorders that may develop alongside the PTSD. PTSD also carries a stigma, making it difficult for many people to even admit to suffering from the disorder. Nobody wants to feel like they can’t control themselves. Because of that, some military personnel, such as Army General Peter Chiarelli, even believe that PTSD should have its name changed to Post-Traumatic Stress Injury so that more people who face it can identify it more easily and seek proper treatment. Having it labeled as a disorder can keep soldiers from seeking proper treatment and discourages some of them from fully understanding the condition. It’s difficult to identify on its own, especially since it occurs so often in conjunction with other disorders. Because it can exacerbate or bring on eating disorders like anorexia, it’s important to get treatment from a professional who understands co-occurring disorders. Eating Disorders Treatment brought to you by RaderPrograms. com

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It goes without saying that babies and chemical toxins don’t mix. In fact, it’s not at all limited to babies, but us humans in general. Our body’s do not cope with repeat exposure and this is having substantial effects to our health. Whilst you don’t need to be a biochemist to figure that much out, understanding where these very chemicals are lurking is not an easy task. Perhaps you’ve looked at the back of your latest nappy rash cream and tried to read the label? Pronouncing the ingredients let alone understanding them; we often simply trust that because everybody else is using it, it must be ok. The biggest issue with these seemingly harmless chemicals found in most of our personal care products, is that they are known endocrine disruptors. Meaning they mess about with our hormones or ‘disrupt’ the way in which the body would ordinarily behave. Since hormones are associated with all growth and metabolic function, this isn’t ideal news for the precious teeny tot’s in our lives. Many of these known endocrine disrupting hormones are like imposters to our body. That is, they aren’t actually hormones at all, but they begin to behave in a way that mimic our own hormones, so much so, they are able to make their way in-between the gaps of our nerve cells and have a similar influence, leading to this disruption that we speak of. There are two major endocrine disruptors that are especially clever at pulling rank; petrochemicals and plastics/phthalates. A recent Danish study was performed on 845 young children in those presenting with dermatitis. They were all found to have dangerously high levels of phthalates, mainly related to the topical treatments they were applying to treat the skin condition. The biggest issue is this can begin the path towards long-term inflammatory illness as these products continue to be used over time and begin to alter how we metabolize specific nutrients in the body. This can affect how our genes behave, a term known as polymorphism. You might be interested to learn that our genetics determine which conditions may present in our own unique body, but it is the certain influences in our day to day life like diet and environment and toxin exposure that can persuade our genes to ‘turn on’ these unwanted symptoms. By the same token, if we can remove as many polymorphisms as possible, we can lead our genes on the right path and minimize this unwanted effect of illness. This is especially important when we are considering what we apply repeatedly to our precious babies. Continual exposure can have concerning effects. It’s therefore important as parents, we begin to make informed choices around personal care product for our children. Interestingly (and because it’s so universal), for many, papaya cream is the ointment of choice because it can be used for so many issues associated with our little ones, from nappy rash to nipple cream, cradle cap to chapped lips but not all papaya creams are made alike. We want to help you understand many creams of similar nature are created with these same phthalates that appear to be causing havoc, but not ours. What’s more, the vast majority of papaya creams contain large amounts of unkind ingredients like petroleum jelly, palm oil or castor oil because they are inexpensive and they help to increase the shelf life of such products. Simple choices can begin to have profound effects and what you choose to purchase for your family truly does count. Pure Papaya Care is the only certified natural papaya ointment available. It’s gentle ingredients are safe for the entire family and we don’t scrimp on quality. Our formulation, which is uniquely free of preservatives, uses a rare blend of beautifully safe ingredients including Shea nut butter, jojoba and macadamia oil instead of chemical laden wax or petroleum jelly that many others use. We’re really passionate about our product because it truly is second to none. It won’t mess about with your hormones and keeps your family away from concerning endocrine disruptors. Most of all, we are excited because we know once you try pure, you’ll wonder why you ever considered anything else. It’s beautiful formula will have you loving it as much as we do because not only is it completely safe for your baby, it works. I am no beauty blogger and I am definitely not a skin care expert but I do have a passion overall wellness for our minds & bodies and our skin and personal care and that of our kids should be included in that. To be honest when Pure Papaya connected me to collaborate with them I wasn’t quiet sure how I could help them because like I said Im not a beauty blogger but I was convinced that I could help spread their important message to Mummies after reading just this one simple line – “Pure Papaya uses only the best natural ingredients and doesn’t have any hidden nasties, unlike other papaya ointments which are 96% petroleum jelly. ” So, I have done some reading on P’ure Papaya care to find out more about their products and share them with you because no-one should be rubbing petroleum jelly on their lips or into their skin particularly their babies skin if you use ointment as nappy rash cream. PURE Papaya care has been developed by Daniel Baden a naturopath of 30 years who says he created this product after seeing the long term effects of what personal care products that contain harsh chemicals can do. This product is made of completely natural ingredients which are combined to soothe, moisturise and protect your skin. It is not tested on animals and contains no palm oil. The thing that stands out to me the most is that it contains NO petrochemicals. After reading about petrochemicals I realise how important this is for our skin’s health. Pure mindfully chose 5 main ingredients to produce their ultra-nourishing ointment. Not only will you find Papaya extract but also calendula flower which promotes blood flow and promotes healing, shea butter too reduce inflammation and increase moisturisation, Macadamia oil to rehydrate and jojoba oil to sooth itching and dryness. This combination is what makes Pure the superior choice. “Pure is petrochemical free. That’s important for your skin’s health. Petroleum creates a barrier that inhibits the skin’s ability to breathe and re-balance. This can increase your toxic load. Pure replaces chemicals with a rich natural formulation made from 100% natural skin friendly ingredients. ” – P’ure Papaya website. So what can you use this tube of goodness for? - Lip ointment or balm of dry lips or just to keep them soft and smooth (my new fave! ! ) - Nappy Rash cream to soothe babies redness. (has come in handy with Millies recent teething nappy rash) - Nipple cream – apply after feeding to protect or soothe nipples. - Cradle cap to help provide relief. - After Laser treatment ointment. So what’s my thoughts? I have been using this ointment as my every day lip balm to protect and soothe my dry lips as we head in to the winter months and I can honestly say I have been converted. I always found with other brands it was as if instead of fixing the problem my lips continually got drier which meant I was continually having to put more and more on which I now understand why – because of the petroleum! FOR BABY (Millie): When Millie teethes she gets hit hard including the worst nappy rash. After speaking to my GP and pharmacist about what works best to help nappy rash I now know the only thing that helps is creating a barrier between their skin and their poo’s and wee’s (glamorous – I know) so I have been using Papaya ointment to create that barrier which has been working really well and doesn’t seem to sting as much when applied compared to other creams. From day 1 it has always been super important to me to use natural ingredients on Millie’s skin and it seems to have worked as she has never had any rash or irritations on her skin besides from when she it teething. Would love to hear your thoughts on natural skin care please head to my Instagram and comment on the related photo to this blog. This blog was sponsored by P’URE by Phytocare but I would never promote or endorse anything I don’t love or wouldn’t use myself.

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Here in Andalucia we are blessed with having no less than 5 species of eagle, which live and breed here. To give that fact some perspective, remember that poor old Britain has only 1 species. Another example of just how rich the birdlife is, here in Southern Spain. One of our most familiar raptors, the Booted Eagle is the smallest of those 5 species, with a length of 42-53 cm and wingspan of 110-135 cm. The next eagle up in size is the Bonelli’s, which was featured in our first issue. Descriptive and behaviour notes. Identification of Booted Eagles should be simple; from underneath it’s a pale, almost white bird, with dark flight feathers. The head, neck and tail are darker than the body by virtue of grey/brown streaking. Easy! However, about a third of individuals are dark phase, which can be mid or dark brown underneath, and rather confusingly like a young Bonelli’s to the beginner. All three have similar backs, which are shades of brown, but look for pale patches on the upper wings, and sharp corners to the short tail. Also, about 75% of all Booted Eagles show the small white patches on the front of the wings where they meet the body, irreverently called ‘landing lights’. The birds themselves seem not to mind the difference; I saw a mixed pair recently hunting together near Ronda. Booted Eagles are about the size of Buzzards but the flight is more ‘stately’, with deep wing beats, longer glides, often on a straight course. If you’re counting, the hand has more fingers and is wider. Also when soaring, the hand often tends backward in a characteristic gentle curve giving the impression that the wing is not fully extended. Habitat and Food In Andalucia these raptors are relatively common around mountains/hilly country with scattered woods and open ground, though they are often seen over populated areas. Booted Eagles dive with folded wings on their prey, which is mainly smaller birds up to Dove size, caught out on the open ground. They will also take rabbits, rodents, lizards and insects. When hunting, I often see them being mobbed by Kestrels, which always seems ‘below the belt’ to me, as if finding food isn’t hard enough! The eagles are mainly tree nesting, often on warm, sunny slopes. Rarely they will use cliffs. Pair bonds normally last for life and a pair will often reuse the same nest site each year. The nest is built by both the male and the female, with the eggs being laid between April and end-May, peaking around the last week of April. The females do the bulk of the incubating, and most often there are 2 eggs, leading to only 1 fully-grown nestling. Incubation is about 5 weeks, with the young staying in the nest for another 7 weeks. The survival percentage of the single chick to fledgling stage is quite high at around 80%, and interestingly one of the main causes of mortality is predation, often by the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). The nestling becomes independent very soon after leaving the nest, at about 2 weeks, reaching adult plumage in the 3rd year. During the winter the birds are more solitary. Status and Location Most Booted Eagles are migratory; in Europe they breed across a region comprising of Southern and central France, most of Spain and coastal Morocco. A second European grouping is in Greece, Turkey and The Balkans. The full range extends eastwards to China. Also there is another population of birds breeding in South Africa. However, the largest population is right here in Spain, estimated between 3 – 4000 pairs. Our western eagles winter in sub-Saharan Africa, though a percentage will remain in Andalucia all year. The migrants arrive March/ April and return across the Straits in September or October. They are common across the whole of Andalucia where the terrain is suitable, and they usually feature at some stage in our ABS Field day trip lists. Helen Wallbank – ABS Member

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Dear reader, we all know that credit reports are important. But not many people know what reports look like or how to read the information on them. Understanding a credit report is easier than it seems if you know what to expect when you review your report. Your credit reports are generated by the credit bureaus or consumer reporting agencies, each containing detailed data about your credit behavior. This data is used to calculate your credit score, and lenders use both, your report and score to determine your creditworthiness when they are considering lending you money. There are multiple credit bureaus in the U.S. that compile, keep, and generate credit reports. The most widely known are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each credit bureau organizes its information differently, but they all generate reports that are consumer friendly and contain the same vital information. There may be some discrepancies between them because not all creditors report to all credit bureaus, but most major credit cards and loans should be included in all three. You can get free credit reports from the three main credit bureaus through annualcreditreport. com once every 12 months, and it’s highly recommend that you review your reports periodically. You can also get them directly from the credit bureaus for a small fee or free if you meet certain criteria. Once you are ready to review your credit report, the most important thing is to make sure all the information is correct. So, let’s walk through the different sections on your report so you know what to expect in each of them. The first section is your personal information and your public records. You’ll see your name, birthdate, a partially masked social security number, home addresses, phone numbers and, sometimes, current and past employers. Keep an eye out for important information that is not yours (such as a different social security number) because it could indicate a mistake or identity theft. Either way, this information should be corrected. It’s common to see variations in the spelling of your name and this is generally fine and does not require you to take action. Your public record information, if any, will show details about any bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments, etc. that you may have had in the past. However, it doesn’t include criminal records. Next, you will see details about your credit card accounts and your installment loans (auto, mortgages, second mortgages, student loans, etc. ). This is arguably one of the most important sections of your report because it reflects your current and past behavior managing your credit. Each one of your accounts will show details about the name of the creditor, account number, the status of the account (opened or closed), the type of account (credit card or loan), whether you are the account owner or an authorized user, the date the account was opened, and the date of last activity. It will also show your credit limit for the credit cards and the original loan amount for your installment loans, how much credit you are using, what is your monthly minimum payment, how much you pay on a monthly basis, and most importantly, if you’ve made your payments on time for the last couple of years. If you find an account that you don’t recognize or any inaccurate information, it is your responsibility to correct them. You can easily dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus to correct it. If you have accounts in collections (whether credit cards or utilities), you will also see detailed information about them as they stay on your report for up to seven years. Last but not least, there is a section that lists all the credit inquiries. They are categorized as high-impact and low-impact inquires. High-impact inquiries stay on your report for 24 months and are generated when you solicit any new credit. Too many inquiries in a short period of time can lower your score, so keep it in mind if you are getting new credit often. On the other hand, low impact inquiries don’t affect your score and are created when creditors check your report to mail you promotional offers or when others (like a potential employer) asks to see your report. Although credit reports are user friendly, they could still be tricky to understand, especially if you are not familiarized with them. You have plenty of resources online, including a sample Experian credit report, but sometimes this is not enough. You can reach out to a certified-credit counselor from an NFCC-member agency and they can help you not only read your report, but teach you more about your credit and how to manage it successfully. It’s never too late to start learning and improving your credit.

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September 13, 2012 by neverforgetcampaign Italy memorial to Fascist hero Graziani sparks row. A political row has erupted in Italy after a memorial was opened to Fascist commander Field Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, a convicted war criminal. Graziani was honoured with a mausoleum and memorial park, built at taxpayers’ expense, in a village south of Rome. He was notorious as Benito Mussolini’s military commander in colonial wars in Ethiopia and Libya where he carried out massacres and used chemical weapons. Italy’s main leftist party has protested against the commemoration. “Is it possible to allow, accept or simply tolerate that, in 2012, we dedicate a park and a museum to the fascist general and minister Rodolfo Graziani? ” asked Esterino Montino, head of the Democratic Party in the Lazio region. He pointed to the “crimes against humanity committed by Graziani in Ethiopia in the 1930s”, La Repubblica newspaper reports. Graziani was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment for war crimes in 1948 but was released from jail after serving only two years, and died in 1955. Who is Field Marshal Rodolfo Graziani most of people call him “ Butcher of Fezzan & Butcher of Ethiopia “ Rodolfo Graziani cult of fascist heroes remains alive in certain parts of Italy despite the outlawing of the fascist party in the country’s postwar constitution. He adds that it is curious, however, that there has been no formal protest that a crypto-Fascist mayor of a small town near the capital can, in 2012, publicly honour a man who brought death to thousands of Africans and dishonour to his own country. The mayor of the village of Affile attended the opening ceremony on Saturday, together with a representative from the Vatican. Although almost unknown to modern generations of Italians, the Fascist military officer was known as the Butcher of Fezzan for the executions of Libyans he ordered while military governor of Cyrenaica in North Africa, our correspondent says. He used poison gas and chemical weapons against Ethiopian tribesmen during Italy’s colonial war in what was then called Abyssinia. Towards the end of the war, Graziani was appointed defence minister by Mussolini in the short-lived Fascist Republic of Salo. He commanded Italian troops alongside the Germans at the Battle of Garfagnana in December 1944, one of the last military victories of the Axis forces. According to La Repubblica, the mausoleum in Affile cost 127,000 euros (£100,000; $157,000). About 100 people attended its inauguration, the paper adds. Mayor Ercole Viri was quoted as saying the memorial was of national importance and dismissing criticism as “idle chatter”. were posted in a gallery on the village’s website, which lists Graziani as one of the village’s “famous sons”. Engraved on the mausoleum are the words “Fatherland” and “Honour”. There is another side to Italy’s often schizophrenic attitude to its recent history, our correspondent adds. Another ceremony was held the same weekend marking the anniversary of a tragic massacre of 560 Italian men women and children by German SS troops as a reprisal in a small town near Lucca, in Tuscany. Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrat and president of the European Parliament, was present in Sant’Anna di Stazzema on Sunday. He said: “I am a German and the language I speak is the same of those who committed those crimes. I shall not forget that. ”

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For this problem, you will need to generate arrays of 1000 to 10000 3 or 4 digit integers. You should generate the array using the random() function in a C++ program. (try: “man random” at command line for reference on this) Implement this algorithm 5 times in: C: an imperative language; Python or C++: an OO language; Haskell or Scheme: a functional language; Prolog: a logic language; and a language of your choosing. (You may replace C, C++ or Scheme by another language of the same type, ask me first) For each of the above 5 cases, your lab report should include: source code, screen shots (or other demonstration) of multiple tests (at least 5 with different data), timing of multiple runs (at least 5 repetitions with same data). To allow comparison of different languages, the timing test for all 5 implementations should use the same data. You should describe your impressions of: 1. Ease/difficulty of of programming 2. Ease/difficulty of debugging 3. Speed of execution 4. any other comments

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Child advocacy refers to a group of professionals who speak out regarding the best interests of children. A child advocacy center seeks to protect the rights of children while determining if a crime has occurred. This is conducted in such a way as to reduce the secondary trauma typically associated with this process. A child advocacy center is made up of law enforcement, child protective services, legal professionals, medical and mental health professionals, and child and family advocates. This multi disciplinary team woks together as one unit to investigate these crimes and to prosecute the individuals responsible. Services provided by The CRICKET Center are always free to the child victim and non-offending family members.

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- March 21, 2022 6:00 am - by Aruthra - March 21, 2022 6:00 am - by Aruthra Design validation is also referred to as product testing, design testing, usability testing, user testing, etc. It’s about the critically significant process of testing the design with real users in real scenarios to understand user concerns and usability issues. Generally, this is done by monitoring your target audience as they navigate your website with the intention of flagging any potential issues and watching how they interact with your website as a whole. Design validation is like watching over someone’s shoulder while they use your application or website, except that you’ll be able to ask questions along the way and push them in the direction you want to explore. In this blog, we’ll go through the basic and essential steps to properly test and validate product hypotheses and particular design decisions. It is crucial to lay out a plan for the test; or else, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time. At a basic level, the plan must outline: What’s being tested (features, functionalities, tasks) How it’s going to be measured (the success or failure rate of the test in particular areas). Let’s say you have to test a mobile app for a public transportation route planner and you have a group of target users in mind who usually travel everywhere by bus. During the testing session, go into specifics and try to find out from them if certain features and functionalities are user friendly - i. e., “apparent” (obvious to the user) and easy to use. Writing up the test plan, go through the prototype and jot down some questions like these: Can users plan their journey effectively and quickly? Are they able to order tickets easily? Are they able to reserve a seat? Before the session begins, create a spreadsheet with five columns: Column 1: The names of the participants. Columns 2 to 4: three features of the application to be tested. Column 5: if a participant struggles with using a particular feature, take note of it and write down the reason for the confusion. Working with the spreadsheet, you can assess the success of your UX design. If ten people test three features, that makes for 45 (10x3) tasks. Searching and hiring the right target audience is the key to all meaningful design validations. It is crucial to find unbiased users who wouldn’t just be “nice to you,” i. e., like everything they view. You shouldn’t deal with users that do not really know how to use the product properly because you need unbiased feedback - good or bad - to really get value out of the test. Let us take e-banking platforms for example. Banks serve different age groups, from 18 to 80. These generations have different outlooks on life and technology. This is why you have to test your design with participants from various age brackets. 18-30, 30-45, and 45+ for example. You must have approximately five participants for every age group. It is best to have at least 3 to 5 tests (remote or in-person). This should get you enough material for the first iteration. It is a good idea to schedule the tests with a 30 to 45 minutes break between them. You might find that you approached your design from an incorrect angle and you will be able to fix the largest issues on the spot before the next tester arrives. You must always think of your target audience and how the product you’re working on affects their lives and pick test users accordingly. This will enable you to validate changes from various angles and get a more complete picture. Avoid making the mistake of overlooking the testing environment. Make sure that your test environment is as close to the real surroundings where the product is expected to be used. You may have to put your participants in a real, contextually accurate setting - such as riding a bus together while looking at your bus journey planning design. Utilize props, like books, plants, and comfy chairs to set the mood of a cosy home for example, or you can place a printer and some folders to recreate the office environment. Be creative and flexible. It’s recommended to test in person because you can read body language and subtle signals like tension and sighs, or catch things such as people making faces because they’re struggling. This is an opportunity to step in and ask if they are confused about something. Moreover, people tend to be more focused during in-person settings. If you are doing remote testing over Skype, they may become distracted and things might slip by you. Finding a compatible meeting spot with the least distraction or opportunity for interruption is important. You have to find a setting where people will be focused on the test. It’s not preferred to bring participants to the client’s office - it is conceivable the corporate environment could make them feel confined and as if they are under observation. Neither is visiting people in their homes an effective situation. A pet, a child, or a family member may distract your test users. Being away from personal commitments and distractions often helps them with the testing process to feel as if they’re in a real-world scenario. The quality of testing is heavily influenced by your ability to run the test well and communicate effectively (known as “moderating the test”). If you haven’t tested anything before, it’s recommended to have a few no-pressure run-throughs with your partners or family members. Practice asking the type of questions you are going to ask, and you will be able to run your test more effectively. In order to gain real insight into your users’ needs, behaviours, goals, and frustrations, ask open-ended questions that do not lead them. Make the most of your validation sessions by recording them. This is very useful for later review where you can review it multiple times and see some details that you might have missed the first time. If you are doing a remote test, record it with screen recording software; and if in-person, use a video camera or an audio recorder. If you can, collect interaction heatmaps from your participants in order to quantify the data. It’s very important to make sure to tell your test subjects that recordings are confidential, for internal purposes only and that it’s you alone who will watch/listen to them. Document everything later from the recordings by summarizing your findings in a short, one-page report from the test documentation spreadsheet we mentioned earlier. It’s also important to thank your participants for helping you. Remind them that the reason you are doing these user feedback sessions is that you’re eager to optimize your product’s usability for the best user experience. Also, make sure you tell them that they are not the ones being tested, it is the design. When your test is documented properly, you can go through it further and have it guide your next iteration. You may also share the test results with stakeholders to discuss your next design decisions. It is worth mentioning that you have to always stay out of the way when conducting user research. Make sure your design works well, and that all assumptions and hypotheses are validated. User validation is as much a mindset as it is a science and an art. In design testing, attitude highly impacts the participant, your team’s reactions to their behaviour, and follow-up actions on research findings. In order to properly plan the testing, observe users, analyze findings, and describe the research process, it requires the designer to be curious, realistic, diplomatic, honest, and have a profound ability to welcome and withstand criticism. Guaranteed Response within One Business Day! 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Just as the United States was ending its massive involvement in Vietnam and reducing its force structure, the Military Airlift Command (MAC) was called upon to conduct a major wartime airlift in support of Israel . At approximately 2 p. m. on the afternoon of 6 October 1973, (the day of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement), Egypt and Syria simultaneously attacked Israel in violation of the tenuous cease-fire that had existed between the three countries since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Desperately engaged in a war on two fronts, Israel quickly pressed all of its El Al Airline commercial aircraft into service to ferry replacement war materials from the United States; however, these airlift resources were inadequate to transport the large amount of supplies needed, especially the outsized cargo. Intensifying the crisis, the Soviet Union began airlifting supplies to Egypt and Syria on 10 October. In response to an urgent request from Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, President Richard M. Nixon initiated an aerial resupply operation to Israel starting on 13 October. Nicknamed NICKEL GRASS, the airlift soon proved the value of maintaining a responsive and efficient military airlift system. For the next 32 days, MAC C-141 and C-5 cargo transports streamed steadily into Lod International Airport at Tel Aviv from onload points throughout the United States carrying urgently needed war materials. The aerial resupply was conducted with an en route stop at Lajes Field in the Azores, approximately one half of the one-way distance of 6,450 nautical miles from the United States to Israel. Given the diplomatic sensitivities associated with so much of the world’s dependence on Arab oil, the C-141 and the C-5 flight routes over the Mediterranean carefully avoided the airspace of all the nations in the region. The first mission was completed when a C-5 landed at Lod Airport on 14 October with 186,200 pounds of cargo. To expedite the unloading operations of all the MAC aircraft arriving in Israel, another C-5 had been dispatched to Lod with material handling equipment and aerial port personnel. Unfortunately, it was forced to abort at Lajes for maintenance. As a result, the cargo aboard the first C-5 was unloaded manually by Israeli civilians and MAC crew members. The command’s airlift planners scheduled the flights into Lod at the rate of four C-5 and 12 C-141 missions daily. The airlift flow peaked on 21 October with the arrival of six C-5s and 12 C-141s. Nine days later, 30 October, the intensity slackened as sealift began to take over the bulk of the resupply operation. From the arrival of the first mission on 14 October through the landing of the last aircraft at Lod on 14 November, MAC’s combined force of C-5s and C-141s airlifted 22,318 tons of material to Israel. The delivery was completed in 567 missions and 18,414 hours of flying time. In 145 missions, the C-5s carried half of the tonnage, and the C-141s moved 10,754 tons on 422 missions. By the time the cease-fire was in place on 2 November, MAC’s Israeli operation had outperformed the Soviet effort in resupplying Egypt and Syria. The Soviet Air Force used AN-12 and AN-22 transport aircraft to haul 15,000 tons on 935 missions. What made MAC’s performance all the more noteworthy was that C-5s and C-141s had covered a one-way distance of 6,450 nautical miles compared with an average distance of 1,700 nautical miles flown by the Soviet transports. Contributing so significantly to the success of Operation NICKEL GRASS was the C-5 which carried an average of 73 tons to the C-141’s 28 tons. Additionally, the C-5 transported outsized cargo including 155mm howitzers, 175mm cannons, M-60 and M-48 battle tanks, Sikorsky CH-53D helicopters, and McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft fuselages. No other USAF aircraft had that capability. NICKEL GRASS further constituted the first real test of the C-5 under wartime conditions. While the Israeli Airlift confirmed the importance of the United States maintaining basing facilities at Lajes, it also renewed interest in developing the C-5’s aerial refueling capability. Had the Portuguese not made Lajes available and with Germany, Spain, Greece, and Turkey refusing aircraft landing rights, MAC would have been hard pressed to execute Operation NICKEL GRASS. An account by Lt. Col. Harry Heist, USAF (Ret) On 6 October, as Israel was being attacked by Egyptian and Syrian forces, our C-5 crew was onloading materials at Patuxent Naval Air Station, Maryland, for a trip that would take us across the Pacific Ocean to Anderson AFB on the island of Guam. The Paris Peace Accords had ended the United States’ direct military intervention in Vietnam, with the cease-fire agreement going into effect on 27 January 1973. However, the United States continued to provide assistance to counter North Vietnam’s incursions into Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam. Anderson AFB’s location and its mission were critical in providing this assistance. Our return trip took us via Hickam AFB, Hawaii, arriving back at Dover on 14 October only to be met by the squadron’s operations officer informing us to wash our flying suits, hug the wife and stand by for a trip to Israel. In less than 36 hours I was on the ramp at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, onloading cargo for Tel Aviv. During the period of 17 days I would fly four missions in support of Operation NICKEL GRASS ended only by maxing out my allowable flying time. As with most new things, there were some problems with the C-5’s sophisticated navigational systems. Although the C-5 had inertial navigation (very high tech at the time) and doppler, both were sometimes prone to failure and considered simply as just other aids to navigation. The C-5 did have a full complement of navigation gear — sextant, loran, radar, etc. However, due to the constraints placed upon the aircrews (restricting the fly over of the airspace of the Mediterranean border countries), navigation from Lajes through the Mediterranean and into Israel at times became a bit hairy. I recall that on one mission we had minimum navigational aids. It was dark, and we were approaching the Straits of Gibraltar. There is a ten mile gap between Gibraltar and the coast of Morocco, and we were required to fly between the two with just five miles on each side of the center line. Normally the radar would get us through there okay, but this time we had lost our radar and our other electronic navigational aids were unreliable at this location. With the aircraft’s speed clocked in excess of Mach . 78 (530 mph) and our altitude 5½ miles above the water, the coasts were approaching rapidly with no time to fix our position by celestial observation. I had the pilot look out of his window and the co-pilot out of his and I was sitting in the jump seat between the two of them as we flew down the center line visually sighting the ground lights on both coasts. Aided by radio fixes and with the help of the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet, we approached the Eastern Mediterranean where we picked up our Israeli F-4 Phantom escort for a safe approach and landing at Lod Airport. Regardless of the time of arrival at Lod, every aircraft was welcomed by very attractive El Al Airline flight attendants who had prepared a brunch for the crew. Also, on every departure, each crew member received a flight lunch, sometimes more than one, usually with steak and plenty of fresh fruit. Souvenirs were also given to the crews and one that I received is in the museum’s NICKEL GRASS exhibit. My last trip into Lod was on 4 November and, following two weeks at home, I was again back in Southeast Asia at U-Tapao , Thailand. Sources: MAC History Office, Anything, Anywhere, Anytime: An Illustrated History of the Military Airlift Command, 1941-1991 ; Heist, Harry, memoirs

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With our very rainy spring and summer, and extreme weather events increasing in frequency, many residents wonder what they can do on their properties to better manage stormwater and reduce ponding. Rain gardens, rain-chains and soakaways can help and even add curb appeal and value to your property. Adding these features to your yard is called rainscaping. A rain garden is a landscaped feature that replaces an area of your lawn in order to collect stormwater (rain and melted snow) that runs off your grass, roof and driveway. Formed by a shallow depression, it has loose, deep soil that absorbs and naturally filters water, preventing it from entering the storm drain system and, eventually, our waterways. Rain gardens can be beautiful additions to your front or back yard. You can fill them with blooming plants and even shrubs. They soak up more stormwater than an average garden. By releasing this water slowly, you will help avoid ponding in your yard. Soakaways are gravel storage areas that capture rainwater and rooftop runoff to allow it to drain into the ground. Soakaways can be almost invisible, covered with grass and require little maintenance. Concern about ponding isn’t the only reason to rainscape. You can direct downspouts toward planting beds, so you have less watering to do. Directing storm water to a rain barrel captures water for use in gardens and landscaping, saving money and providing untreated, chlorine-free water to your plants, who will thank you with growth and blooms. Learn which options are right for your yard and how they can add curb appeal and value to your home. Sign up for one of CVC’s upcoming Rainscaping Workshops at Riverwood’s Chappell House on September 20 or at Port Credit Library on October 26. Visit www. creditvalleyca. ca for more details.

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Trouble attracting beneficial bugs Published 4:00 am, Thursday, June 21, 2012 Q:In Chicago, where I had a yard, I never had any problems growing wildflowers. But in San Francisco, where I only have a balcony, I can't get them to grow at all. I had hoped they would attract beneficial bugs to protect my tomatoes, blueberries and strawberries. Could it be that wildflowers simply won't grow in containers (even big ones), or am I doing something wrong? A: I'm not sure what you planted in Chicago, as the term "wildflower" covers so many plants. Perhaps it was a seed mix selected for the Midwest, some of which were native to that area. Here are some suggestions to help you grow flowers to attract beneficial insects to a Bay Area container garden. Because containers are so limited in space, I think you'd be wiser to select specific flowers to attract beneficial insects, rather than a packet of mixed seeds that may not produce just the flowers you want. Strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes will benefit from insects such as lady beetles, lacewings and syrphid flies, which will prey on aphids and caterpillars. Bees offer pollination help, which is needed by blueberries and strawberries. Among annual flowers that will attract enemies of aphids and caterpillars, your best bets include the California natives baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii), meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii) and tidy tips (Layia platyglossa). In California's climate, these start to grow in autumn, then bloom in spring. Sow seeds in October or November, in a pot that's a foot or so deep and at least a foot across. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is an excellent bee plant. Sow it in fall or spring, or purchase plants in spring and summer. (It will rebloom if cut back when blooms are mostly finished. ) A good source of California wildflower seeds is Larner Seeds (larnerseeds. com or (415) 868-9407). In spring and early summer, attract the beneficial insects you seek with nursery starts of cosmos (white is best), scabiosa and corn cockle. Or grow perennial flowers such as coreopsis and yarrow. Yarrow is an excellent choice for its sturdiness, long bloom period and low water needs. Besides white there are yellow-, pink-, and red-flowered yarrows. Flowers of the perennial herbs oregano, thyme, lemon balm and the annual basil attract a variety of beneficials. Annual basil prefers warm summers, but the new hybrid African blue basil thrives in warm or cool summers and may survive winter with protection. Plant it in a large pot and pinch often to harvest. It tastes great, blooms spring to fall, attracts lady beetles, syrphid flies and honeybees. Q:We got a nice crop from our Fuji apple tree in fall. However, when we cut open the apples, we noticed that the core of every one was filled with a whitish fuzzy substance (see photo). The apple tree was infested with codling moths, but a fair number of apples didn't appear to be damaged at all by the moths. The white fuzzy substance was in the apple core regardless of whether the apple had any visible moth damage. (We just moved into this house last fall and were not here in time to take preventive steps with respect to the moths. This year we will definitely be trying a number of the strategies you recommend to mitigate the moth damage. ) (See "Try arsenal of tactics to keep codling worms, moths away," Nov. 20, 2011. ) Is this substance caused by the moths, or is there something else we need to be treating the apple tree for? We ate the apples anyway and did not experience any ill effects. But I make jelly and the cores contain a lot of pectin, so I would like to be able to use the cores. Since we weren't sure what the substance in the cores was, we cut the cores out and discarded them. A: I sent your photos to Phil Pursel, Northern California territory manager at Dave Wilson, a wholesale fruit nursery that supplies many Bay Area retail nurseries. He and several other Dave Wilson fruit experts to whom he showed your photos agreed that the appearance of the cores is normal for Fuji apples, so the entire apple should be fine for jelly production. He said that fungus sometimes does enter apples at the blossom end and damage the core, especially if weather is wet, a condition called "moldy core," but your apples are free of fungus. As an aside, they noticed that there are no visible seeds at the places you cut your apple. Poor seed production didn't stop the apple from developing, but is a reminder of last spring's cool and variable weather.

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Can we REALLY manage better with Competencies? Does good Competency Management REALLY make THAT much difference to improving performance? What are Competencies In “HR parlance”, the term “competency” is generally limited to mean “Behaviours”. This is not so in “our” parlance. According to the ASTD (American Society for Training and Development), competencies are areas of personal capability that enable people to perform successfully in their jobs by achieving outcomes more effectively. A competency can be knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, or personal characteristics – or a combination of all. When companies explicitly define the competencies they need, and also provide the tools for assessing those competencies in their employees, then they can more easily and objectively manage their human capital – their “assets”. Specifically, Competencies support the various components of Human Capital Management in the following ways: - Workforce Planning: Competencies help to understand the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve corporate goals and those available within the organisation and, specifically, those that need to be sourced or developed. - Sourcing and Selection: Competencies help set the right expectations for each position, and ensure that recruitment efforts are more effective and successful. - Skills Audit: Competencies form the foundation for effective and objective Skills Audits. - Learning Management: To improve competencies to meet performance, career development, or succession goals, employees engage in learning competency activities that are tied to those goals. - Succession Planning: Managers who seek candidates for succession of a position can compare the competency requirements of that position, and select candidates who meet or come closest to meeting those requirements. - Leadership Development: Leadership development programs can be focussed on the exact skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for solid leadership in the organisation. - Career Management: As employees map out their future goals and desired positions, they can work at developing the specific competencies required to achieve them. - Performance Management: Competencies set the level of knowledge, the skills, and the types of behaviors expected from the employee for effective performance in each position. - Reward Management: Helps managers perform reward planning for their organizations. Many times, bonuses and merit increases can be tied directly to individual competency ratings. Benefits of Competencies - They describe the standards for behaviors, knowledge, and skills required for exceptional performance for any particular job. - As a result, individuals and their managers can evaluate performance against an observable standard. - Employees and managers can observe clear strengths and developmental areas and target appropriate actions. - Career paths can be clearly defined that describe observable behaviours for a wide variety of jobs. - The identification of top talent is enhanced due to the precise ability to evaluate specific competencies during the selection process. What then is Competency Management? Competency Management is a system comprising: - A Competency Framework that defines a complete set of Competencies, with Evidence of Competence, that are needed in a specific discipline, e. g. IT, and for the organisation as a whole - A method of assigning Competencies and Level of Competence to specific jobs - A method of articulating growth in Competencies through the organisation - A system to assess Competence against the Evidence of Competence. - The ability to identify where Competencies reside in the organisation. - A link between human resources management and the overall strategic plan of an organization. Good Competency Management supports the integration of Workforce Planning with business planning by enabling organizations to assess the current Human Capital capacity based on their competencies against the capacity needed to achieve the vision, mission and business goals of the organization. By Gail Sturgess – TalentAlign. com

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In "New Literacies of the Internet," Professor Donald Leu discusses the new literacy skills that our students need for questioning, searching, critically evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating information found on the Internet. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate his research. As you watch, consider the following questions: - What skills do students need to use the Internet? - How can teachers use the Internet to teach content? - How can teachers provide for child safety on the Internet? Next > Watch the Video

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The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will present “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now,” opening May 11, as the first major museum exhibition to explore the art form of cut-paper profiles in terms of their rich historical roots and powerful contemporary presence. Well before the advent of photography in 1839, silhouettes democratized portraiture. Offering virtually instantaneous likenesses of everyone from presidents to those who were enslaved, silhouettes cost far less than oil paintings and could be made with inexpensive materials. Museums have paid little attention to the art form, but “Black Out” aims to broaden the traditional American art canon by placing silhouettes—and their subjects—at the forefront. The exhibition, which primarily features works on paper, will also bring together sculptures, prints, media art and mixed-media installations. Ranging in scale from 3 inches to nearly 40 feet, and featuring art from 1796 to today, the exhibition presents around 50 unique objects. “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now” is curated by Asma Naeem, the Portrait Gallery’s curator of prints, drawings and media arts, and will be on view through March 10, 2019. A press preview with Naeem will take place Thursday, May 10, from 10 to 11:30 a. m. A public talk with featured contemporary artist Camille Utterback will follow Saturday, May 12, at 2 p. m. The “Then” portion of the exhibition will focus on those who have been previously “blacked out” in historical narratives by presenting silhouettes of same-sex couples, cooks, activist women, enslaved individuals and disability pioneers. Also on view will be some of the earliest examples of American portraiture by artisans who were otherwise powerless, including those who had been enslaved, such as Moses Williams, or those who were physically challenged, such as Martha Ann Honeywell who cut silhouettes using her mouth. The “Now” portion of “Black Out” explores how today silhouettes are no less ubiquitous and can be seen on everything from book illustrations and commercial advertising to the profiles people create on smartphones. Organized into four large, gallery-sized installations, artwork by leading contemporary women artists take the silhouette form to new heights. “With both historical and contemporary explorations into the form of silhouette, ‘Black Out’ reveals new pathways between past and present, particularly with regard to how we can reassess notions of race, power, individualism and, even, the digital self,” Naeem said. “‘Black Out’ unpacks the art of silhouettes as a potent art form, revealing the paradoxes of a country roiling with ideals of freedom and the trauma of slavery in the 1800s and the messiness of our modern lives. ” The historical section of the exhibition will display works by Auguste Edouart and William Bache, two of the most well-known silhouette artists of their time. Edouart hand cut more than 3,800 silhouette portraits in America, only seven of which are known to be of enslaved persons. “Black Out” will present two of these portraits—the first showing of these works by a major institution. The exhibition will also present Edouart’s portrait of John Quincy Adams from the Portrait Gallery’s extensive holdings of Edouart’s silhouettes. “Black Out” will feature a rare gem, a life-size profile of a 19-year-old enslaved woman named Flora, whose silhouette was discovered with an original bill of sale from 1796, wherein she was sold for 25 pounds sterling. This work is one of the few known portraits of an enslaved person from the 18th century in institutional hands in the U.S. The Portrait Gallery has recently conserved this extraordinary portrait. In its more liberalizing form, “Black Out” will showcase the boundary-breaking history of silhouettes, including a creamware jug featuring a portrait of the first African American Episcopal priest, Absalom Jones; the earliest-known likeness of a same-sex couple, a double silhouette of Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant from c. 1805–15; and a silhouette album by Bache from the first decade of the 19th century. Visitors will have the opportunity to scroll through digital pages of the Bache album to see such subjects as George and Martha Washington, along with many everyday New Orleans citizens. Showcasing the relevance of silhouettes today, “Black Out” will include large installations by four contemporary women artists who explore issues of slavery, gender, modern alienation and people’s relationship with technology. Renowned artist Kara Walker will exhibit two of her panoramic wall murals of often graphic and nightmarish scenes of plantation life, along with an equally disturbing metal miniaturized playset. MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and Stanford University professor Camille Utterback uses coding and computer software to create an interactive digital work that reacts to visitors’ shadows and movements, all in an effort to reemphasize people’s physicality in this virtual age. Also on view will be an 18-foot-tall installation by Canadian artist Kristi Malakoff featuring life-size cut-outs of children dancing playfully around a Maypole, a seemingly three-dimensional appropriation of silhouettes. The fourth gallery will feature work by New York-based artist Kumi Yamashita (a finalist of the Portrait Gallery’s 2013 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition), who “sculpts” light and shadow with objects to create mixed-media profiles of people who are not there. In “Origami,” Yamashita creases the edges of origami squares so precisely as to create each sitter’s distinct profile in shadow. A scholarly catalog produced by the Portrait Gallery and Princeton University Press will accompany the exhibition. “Black Out: Then and Now” is the first major publication to focus on the development of silhouettes and gathers leading experts to shed light on the surprisingly complex historical, political and social underpinnings of this ostensibly simplistic art form. This richly illustrated volume explores likenesses of everyone from presidents and celebrities to everyday citizens and enslaved people, and reveals how silhouettes registered the paradoxes of the unstable young nation, roiling with tensions over slavery and political independence. Beginning in May, the book will be available for purchase at the National Portrait Gallery store and online. “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now” has been made possible through the support of its leadership committee: The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation, Andrew Oliver Jr. and Daniel Oliver, Paul and Rose Carter, The Richard and Elizabeth Dubin Family Foundation, Glen and Sakie Fukushima, Stephanie and Timothy Ingrassia, Philip and Elizabeth Ryan, The Abraham and Virginia Weiss Charitable Trust and Amy and Marc Meadows. Additional support provided by the American Portrait Gala Endowment. National Portrait Gallery The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists, whose lives tell the American story. The National Portrait Gallery is part of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture at Eighth and F streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum at npg. si. edu, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and the museum’s blog.

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The article is by Mong Palatino Pacific nations are leading the campaign to protect the seas Originally published on Global Voices Global leaders, scientists, environmental advocates, and civil society groups voiced their opposition to deep sea mining during the UN Ocean Conference held from June 27–July 1 in Lisbon, Portugal. Deep sea mining is the practice of excavating the ocean floor to harvest rare minerals such as manganese, cobalt, copper, and nickel, which are often used for batteries, most notoriously those used in electric vehicles. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN body, is currently drafting regulations that could be used by the mining industry in 2023. So far, the Pacific island nation of Nauru has expressed interest in allowing deep sea mining on its territory. But Pacific communities are also among the most consistent in strongly opposing deep sea mining by citing the destructive colonial legacy of conducting nuclear tests in the region. At the UN Ocean Conference, the leaders of Palau and Fiji led the launching of the Alliance of Countries Calling for a Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium. Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. said during the event: We all have to make sacrifices and come together as nations to achieve the greater good for our planet and our people. We know that deep-sea mining compromises the integrity of our ocean habitat that supports marine biodiversity and contributes to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Resistance to #DeepSeaMining is gaining serious traction at #UNOC22! Yesterday @Surangeljr led a call for an Alliance of Countries to pause #DeepSeaMining, today French MEP @marietouss1 launched an International Parliamentarians’ Call for a Moratorium https://t.co/zlNf1WyljN pic. twitter. com/03wjjpbaNP — DSCC (@DeepSeaConserve) June 28, 2022 Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama added: If allowed to go ahead, mining will irreversibly destroy ancient deep sea habits and impact those who rely on the ocean for their livelihood. Fiji has joined the Alliance for a #DeepSeaMining Moratorium because we refuse to destroy what we do not understand. We won’t be able to replace the potential discoveries that seabed mining could grind into dust –– we have to put knowledge first and #DefendTheDeep. — Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) June 27, 2022 The Fiji government warned that deep sea mining will “further jeopardize” the lives of people “who are already suffering from climate change-induced disasters. ” During a separate event at the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron also stated his opposition to mining the high seas, although France has exploration agreements with ISA. The United States climate envoy called for more studies about the impact of deep sea mining. In a letter submitted to the annual meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in early June, Chile called for a 15-year moratorium on adopting regulations that would allow deep sea mining. Greenpeace oceans project lead Arlo Hemphill noted the growing opposition against deep sea mining: The wall of silence is finally being shattered as countries begin to speak out against the destructive deep-sea mining industry, which would put the health of the ocean on which we all depend and the lives and livelihoods of billions of people living in coastal communities at risk. Meanwhile, 146 parliamentarians signed the Global Parliamentary Declaration Calling for a Moratorium on Deep Seabed Mining. The statement offers an alternative for states which wanted to pursue deep sea mining to extract minerals needed in the transition towards a so-called “green economy”: Rather than launching a vast new extractive industry, States should be investing in new technologies and systems that reduce the demand for raw minerals through reuse, recycling and innovative design. The green transition must not come at the expense of biodiversity and our planet’s biggest natural carbon sink. The article is from Global Voices

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Divorce is hard on adults, but especially hard on kids. How do you explain divorce to kids? We have some tips that will help you with this difficult talk. ~This is a collaboration post. How Do You Explain Divorce to Kids? ~We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have made the difficult decision to go through a divorce, one of the most challenging aspects of this is what to tell the kids. And how to explain what is happening to them. Handling this situation properly can help with a very difficult situation. Of course, how you tell them depends on their age, as well as how they react. Here are some helpful tips for you to help explain divorce to kids involved. Plan the Discussion When you are faced with divorce it is difficult to know what to say. Preparing what you are going to say and explain what is happening will help the conversation be less awkward. You may want to think about some of the questions your kids will ask. This way you can come up with some answers to these questions in your head. Think also about the emotions that they could be feeling. Although it might be challenging to discuss with your former partner, it is important that you talk about what to tell the kids. This ensures you are both on the same page. Which leads us to the next point… Act Like a Team We all know that divorce isn’t easy, in fact for most it is the most difficult thing they will experience in their life. But it becomes all the more challenging if you are battling with each other. So, remember this, the kids are the most important thing in divorce. Be sure that they know that even though you and your spouse are no longer in love you still love them the same as you did before! Be Age Appropriate When discussing divorce what you say to your kids depends on their age and maturity level. For example, if you have preschoolers, they are not likely to ask for complex emotional reasoning. They will not fully understand what is happening. Whereas Slightly older kids are able to understand emotional reasoning a little bit better. But even with that, you don’t want to be blunt with them. Be soft with your approach when talking about divorce. As for teenagers, this can often be the most challenging conversation. But you owe it to them to give them some idea of what the real reasons are in a way which is non-blaming. Explain Practical Changes When it comes to practical changes, you should be aiming at consistency as much as possible. Obviously, it is likely that one of you will be moving out. It is important to explain to them when this is happening so they can prepare. You will want to work to keep familiar activities the same. This will include the teams they play on, the schools they go to and friends. Explaining divorce to kids is inevitably going to lead to a host of challenges, but hopefully, these tips will help you prepare to talk with your kids. Michele is a Family Life Educator. She is a mom to 5 kids and loves helping others strengthen their families! When she is not blogging she is spending time with her family and running around drinking Diet Coke trying to get everything done!

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There are many advantages to using hemp products. Hemp clothing is more durable than cotton and gets softer as you wash it. Hemp foods are extremely nutritious packed full of Vitamin E, Omega 3 and GLA. There are also many environmental advantages, Hemp uses little fertilization, resists pests (uses little or no pesticides), uses half as much water to grow as Cotton, one acre of land can produce 250% more Hemp than Cotton. Can grow almost anywhere and the leaves return healthy minerals to the soil. The nutritional composition of hemp seed is quite unique and exceptional! Whole hemp seeds contain approximately 36% dietary fat, 26% high quality and digestible protein and 31% carbohydrates comprised mainly of dietary fiber, in addition to an interesting array of vitamins and minerals. Hemp seeds’ dietary fat is primarily composed of polyunsaturated fats or the “good fats”. Hempseed oil’s fatty acid profile is comprised of 80% polyunsaturated fats, 11% monounsaturated fats, 9% saturated fats and zero trans fats. Health organizations have recommended that fat intake should make up 20% to 35% of your total calories. They further recommend that most of your fat intake should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, while limiting the in take of trans and saturated fats. Hemp seed dietary fat meets this recommendation. Hemp seed contains zero trans fat and is cholesterol-free. You do not have worry about your heart and cardiovascular system. Hemp seed contains one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's). EFA's are vital for good health but cannot be manufactured by our body, and so they must be present in our diet through the foods we eat. EFA's are both important components of cell membranes and are precursors for substances in the body involved with regulating blood pressure and inflammatory responses. Hemp seed uniquely contains naturally-occurring Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Stearidonic Acid (SDA). GLA and SDA are direct metabolites of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFA's, respectively. These two metabolites are important for anti-inflammation and auto-immune functions in our bodies. Hemp seeds are a source of high quality, plant based protein. Analysis of hemp food proteins has resulted in a Protein Rating of 402 and above, meaning that the protein content in hemp foods is not only present in high amounts, but also of a high quality! Hemp protein is free of trypsin-inhibitors. Trypsin is a key enzyme that breaks down peptide bonds in proteins, enabling more efficient protein uptake in the human body. Trypsin inhibitors which are found in other protein rich sources like soy can cause flatulence. Hempseed and foods not only contain a high quality protein, available in high amounts, but they are also free of inhibitors that impede protein digestion making hemp highly digestible. Hemp protein is very high in dietary fiber. Fiber helps to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning properly. The dietary fiber found in hemp is primarily composed of insoluble fiber. Hemp is inherently gluten and lactose free. Gluten is a type of protein found in most grains commonly used in cereals and baked goods. Most people allergic to gluten have a similar reaction to lactose and soy. Hemp foods naturally have zero gluten and lactose content. A Source of Vitamins and Minerals. Each vitamin or mineral does a specific job in the body and some of them do extra work in teams, to keep body cells healthy. Some of the vitamins and minerals present in hemp that benefit our health and well being are: - Good source of folate (Vitamin B9) Folate is essential to numerous bodily functions including the production of healthy red blood cells and cells that line the digestive tract. It is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth since folate is necessary for the creation and maintenance of new cells, and for DNA and RNA synthesis. Folate is also essential for the prevention of neural tube defects of a fetus during the first few weeks of pregnancy• Good source of thiamine (Vitamin B1) Thiamine plays a critical role in the energy metabolism of all cells. Thiamine aids conversion of carbohydrates and amino acids into energy and is essential for proper functioning of the heart, muscles and nervous system. - Contains riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Riboflavin is necessary for energy metabolism in our bodies. It is also essential for body growth, reproduction, red cell production and supports normal vision and skin health

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A Spoonful of Sugar: The Medicine of Our Time In indigenous cultures if a member of the community has an emotional or physical ailment, the entire community gathers the person and brings them to the shaman or medicine person of the village or tribe. They gather and collectively hold healing ceremony because each person has a role to play and each person is an integral piece in their community. So if one person is ill it is a threat to them as a collective. Can you imagine this happening in our society? What would happen if you fell ill, were admitted to the hospital and an entire city stopped what they were doing and held healing prayers and ceremony for you? Upon researching the definition of medicine in the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the below explanation is given, noting the last item provided actually recognizes indigenous practices: a : a substance or preparation used in treating disease b : something that affects well-being a : the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease b : the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease : a substance (as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease : an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces; also : magical power or a magical rite (1) In the western world we have tirelessly searched for the panacea to cure our emotional and physical ills. The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar business crafting a pill for everything which we consider a malady. If there is an ill, there is a pill for it and each one comes with a riotous list of side effects. Illness is a result of imbalance in the body. While genetics can play a large part in illness, there has also been cell research indicating that our environment and what we ‘feed’ ourselves, physically and emotionally can result in dis-ease. Very often illness is a result of disharmony being stored to such a degree that it exacerbates or even causes physical ailments. Connection to Earth: Another examination of indigenous culture is that the community often found symptoms early enough to where a person could rebound more quickly with holistic practices. Indigenous tribes all over the world still exist with low rates of emotional and physical disease compared to the rest of the world. Our own Native American tribes survived for thousands of years acclimating and evolving around maladies they encountered. Not to say they wouldn’t always succumb, but certainly not at a rate which demolished populations. Yet within a few hundred years of the Europeans settling in North America the tribes became displaced from their habitats. Habitats in which they created relationships with the earth, plants, animals, and the spirits who inhabited them. Some would even say that these tribes settled into their habitats because of the vibrational coordinates of the earth underfoot and sky above them. Being displaced from something in which they were so connected caused intense emotions of anger and heartbreak. They were in constant warrior mode fighting these new men with horses and guns. You can see how after years of displacement and battle a population would be overcome by new diseases introduced by a foreign people and unable to create resilience and immunity. They didn’t have the time and resources needed to heal. Without their land and the information and medicine it provided their populations were essentially wiped out. Disharmony & illness: In our present society we are a population in practice of overconsumption. We are out of harmony with our planet from which we have derived. So of course as a modern people we lean inherently towards imbalance. As a rule, we rely heavily on allopathic medicine because it offers a quick antidote to the symptoms from which we suffer. In many cases by the time we are experiencing the physical symptoms, there is often little time for the deep emotional processing and energetic movement to unravel it from the body. More shockingly, even when we are told the cause of the illness and what we can do to heal and prevent it further, such as changing our eating habits or getting more exercise we’re not interested in making that shift. So we’ll medicate it and often suffer the side effects of a prescription drug and so goes the carousel! It’s no doubt that death is imminent and illness is often the gateway to this impermanence. Our sorrow for those whom we believe are taken before their time can overshadow the broader picture of why their death has happened. The Buddhist practice of Phowa, the practice of conscious dying, views death via illness as an opportunity for us to explore and become more enlightened. Whether it be an emotional imbalance leading to physical malady or something in the genetic and perhaps karmic composition, there is always room for exploration in such a sacred passing. A dear friend recently lost her husband after a long and tedious engagement with cancer. They chose a predominantly holistic path because of their belief in looking at the whole and also a lack of health insurance to afford the costly practice of allopathic medicine. So around them they gathered a community of practitioners with a variety of medicine amongst them. For four years as a couple they dove to the depths of his shadow unraveling imbalances through bodywork, energy medicine, food, herbs, breathwork, emotional processing. They amazed the doctors because with the type of cancer he had, the survival rate was low and their original prognosis gave him six months to live. Where the couple met resistance they listened to his body and maneuvered around it until another portal opened for them to explore. His energy fluctuated between being incredibly tired to being able to hike and even teach. In his last days as he began his ascent to the light, his wife gazed at her husband and realized that he had done his work in this world, professionally, emotionally and karmically to the best of his ability. She knew that the Divine and its guides would be very proud of their work. This space that was held so deeply for his personal navigation also became a death and rebirth for her and ultimately an inspiration for those in their community. We are the medicine keepers: In my work I’ve cultivated a practice to help people find balance in their lives. It’s become an amalgam of medicine which infuses the spiritual teachings of Buddha to Christ to Krishna. It’s a weave of light, earth, air and water. With the primary modality being Reiki, it shares space with Ayurveda, flower essences, shamanism, meditation and bodywork. Above all it is based in the sacred gift of the intuitive mind which assists others in lifting the veil that keeps them from their truth. It is this practice of honoring and quietly listening to the intricate complexities of our physical and subtle bodies that we may all continue to evolve as the medicine keepers of our time.

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Our greater Being is a boundless ocean of energy. Every movement of energy by the various streams of energy of which this ocean consists, leaves an impression. These impressions are one aspect of what we call memory. Without the faculty of storing past impressions we could not even know that we are. Memory is thus a fundamental aspect of manifest consciousness. The data which sentient beings have accumulated over eons allows us to learn how to interact smoothly with the external conditions we call ‘the world’. When an impression is retained on our brain, it creates an infinitesimal (or larger) scar on the brain tissue. These ‘scratches on the mind’ as Krishnamurti calls them, produce what is known as conditioned consciousness. There is also stored information accessible to us that is not directly stored in the brain and which has been called akashic (or space) storage of information. In this context I am focusing on the scratches of memory in our individual minds. I can hold on to and retain such memory impressions or I can allow them to dissipate. When I do that my brain, my mind, can regenerate and be like that of a newborn, or at least much less conditioned than when I deliberately hold on to memories of all kinds. The inner posture of letting go of past impressions of other people, events, and of things is a posture of trust and confidence that I will ‘know’ whatever is required for me to successfully meet any challenge that arises in my life. This ‘knowing’ is not of the linear kind as when I call up past experiences, rather it is the result of a hemisphere-synchronized brain (see this article by Erwin Laszlo) that has access to the big mind, as it is known in Zen. With this trust comes the courage to let go of all that which comes from the past and clogs my direct perception of the event that is right before my eyes, which is new and fresh. Almost all of the activity of my memory constitutes the flow of conditioned consciousness. To the extent that I can disengage myself from that flow (of the past), I become immersed in the flow of NOW consciousness, which is free of time, of the past, of the future and of all anxiety and fear. In this different dimension of consciousness my brain can regenerate and become fresh and young again. In this state I am able to meet and interact with all conditions as a new person, as my true person. Below you will find Chapter 11 of Krishnamurti’s book Freedom from the Known, in which he expounds on this phenomenon. “So is it possible to meet a problem immediately without any distortion and be immediately, completely, free of it and not allow a memory, a scratch on the mind, WE HAVE BEEN enquiring into the nature of love and have come to a point, I think, which needs much greater penetration, a much greater awareness of the issue. We have discovered that for most people love means comfort, security, a guarantee for the rest of their lives of continuous emotional satisfaction. Then someone like me comes along and says, ‘Is that really love? ’ and questions you and asks you to look inside yourself. And you try not to look because it is very disturbing – you would rather discuss the soul or the political or economic situation – but when you are driven into a corner to look, you realize that what you have always thought of as love is not love at all; it is a mutual gratification, a mutual exploitation. When I say, `Love has no tomorrow and no yesterday’, or, `When there is no centre then there is love’, it has reality for me but not for you. You may quote it and make it into a formula but that has no validity. You have to see it for yourself, but to do so there must be freedom to look, freedom from all condemnation, all judgement all agreeing or disagreeing. Now, to look is one of the most difficult things in life – or to listen – to look and listen are the same. If your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset. Most of us have lost touch with nature. Civiliza- tion is tending more and more towards large cities; we are becoming more and more an urban people, living in crowded apartments and having very little space even to look at the sky of an evening and morning, and therefore we are losing touch with a great deal of beauty. I don’t know if you have noticed how few of us look at a sunrise or a sunset or the moonlight or the reflection of light on water. Having lost touch with nature we naturally tend to develop intellectual capacities. We read a great many books, go to a great many museums and concerts, watch television and have many other entertainments. We quote endlessly from other people’s ideas and think and talk a great deal about art. Why is it that we depend so much upon art? Is it a form of escape, of stimulation? If you are directly in contact with nature; if you watch the movement of a bird on the wing, see the beauty of every movement of the sky, watch the shadows on the hills or the beauty on the face of another, do you think you will want to go to any museum to look at any picture? Perhaps it is because you do not know how to look at all the things about you that you resort to some form of drug to stimulate you to see better. There is a story of a religious teacher who used to talk every morning to his disciples. One morning he got on to the platform and was just about to begin when a little bird came and sat on the window sill and began to sing, and sang away with full heart. Then it stopped and flew away and the teacher said, `The sermon for this morning is over’. It seems to me that one of our greatest difficulties is to see for ourselves really clearly, not only outward things but inward life. When we say we see a tree or a flower or a person, do we actually see them? Or do we merely see the image that the word has created? That is, when you look at a tree or at a cloud of an evening full of light and delight, do you actually see it, not only with your eyes and intellectually, but totally, completely? Have you ever experimented with looking at an objective thing like a tree without any of the associations, any of the knowledge you have acquired about it, without any prejudice, any judgement, any words forming a screen between you and the tree and preventing you from seeing it as it actually is? Try it and see what actually takes place when you observe the tree with all your being, with the totality of your energy. In that intensity you will find that there is no observer at all; there is only attention. It is when there is inattention that there is the observer and the observed. When you are looking at something with complete attention there is no space for a conception, a formula or a memory. This is important to understand because we are going into something which requires very careful investigation. It is only a mind that looks at a tree or the stars or the sparkling waters of a river with complete self-abandonment that knows what beauty is, and when we are actually seeing we are in a state of love. We generally know beauty through comparison or through what man has put together, which means that we attribute beauty to some object. I see what I consider to be a beautiful building and that beauty I appreciate because of my knowledge of architecture and by comparing it with other buildings I have seen. But now I am asking myself, `Is there a beauty without object? ’ When there is an observer who is the censor, the experiencer, the thinker, there is no beauty because beauty is something external, something the observer looks at and judges, but when there is no observer – and this demands a great deal of meditation, of enquiry then there is beauty without the object. Beauty lies in the total abandonment of the observer and the observed and there can be self-abandonment only when there is total austerity – not the austerity of the priest with its harshness, its sanctions, rules and obedience – not austerity in clothes, ideas, food and behaviour – but the austerity of being totally simple which is complete humility. Then there is no achieving, no ladder to climb; there is only the first step and the first step is the everlasting step. Say you are walking by yourself or with somebody and you have stopped talking. You are surrounded by nature and there is no dog barking, no noise of a car passing or even the flutter of a bird. You are completely silent and nature around you is also wholly silent. In that state of silence both in the observer and the observed – when the observer is not translating what he observes into thought – in that silence there is a different quality of beauty. There is neither nature nor the observer. There is a state of mind wholly, completely, alone; it is alone – not in isolation – alone in stillness and that stillness is beauty. When you love, is there an observer? There is an observer only when love is desire and pleasure. When desire and pleasure are not associated with love, then love is intense. It is, like beauty, something totally new every day. As I have said, it has no today and no tomorrow. It is only when we see without any preconception, any image, that we are able to be in direct contact with anything in life. All our relationships are really imaginary – that is, based on an image formed by thought. If I have an image about you and you have an image about me, naturally we don’t see each other at all as we actually are. What we see is the images we have formed about each other which prevent us from being in contact, and that is why our relationships go wrong. When I say I know you, I mean I knew you yesterday. I do not know you actually now. All I know is my image of you. That image is put together by what you have said in praise of me or to insult me, what you have done to me – it is put together by all the memories I have of you – and your image of me is put together in the same way, and it is those images which have relationship and which prevent us from really communing with each other. Two people who have lived together for a long time have an image of each other which prevents them from really being in relationship. If we understand relationship we can co-operate but co-operation cannot possibly exist through images, through symbols, through ideological conceptions. Only when we understand the true relationship between each other is there a possibility of love, and love is denied when we have images. Therefore it is important to understand, not intellectually but actually in your daily life, how you have built images about your wife, your husband, your neighbour, your child, your country, your leaders, your politicians, your gods – you have nothing but images. These images create the space between you and what you observe and in that space there is conflict, so what we are going to find out now together is whether it is possible to be free of the space we create, not only outside ourselves but in ourselves, the space which divides people in all their relationships. Now the very attention you give to a problem is the energy that solves that problem. When you give your complete attention – I mean with everything in you – there is no observer at all. There is only the state of attention which is total energy, and that total energy is the highest form of intelligence. Naturally that state of mind must be completely silent and that silence, that stillness, comes when there is total attention, not disciplined stillness. That total silence in which there is neither the observer nor the thing observed is the highest form of a religious mind. But what takes place in that state cannot be put into words because what is said in words is not the fact. To find out for yourself you have to go through it. Every problem is related to every other problem so that if you can solve one problem completely – it does not matter what it is – you will see that you are able to meet all other problems easily and resolve them. We are talking, of course, of psychological problems. We have already seen that a problem exists only in time, that is when we meet the issue incompletely. So not only must we be aware of the nature and structure of the problem and see it completely, but meet it as it arises and resolve it immediately so that it does not take root in the mind. If one allows a problem to endure for a month or a day, or even for a few minutes, it distorts the mind. So is it possible to meet a problem immediately without any distortion and be immediately, completely, free of it and not allow a memory, a scratch on the mind, to remain? These memories are the images we carry about with us and it is these images which meet this extraordinary thing called life and therefore there is a contradiction and hence conflict. Life is very real – life is not an abstraction – and when you meet it with images there are problems. Is it possible to meet every issue without this space-time interval, without the gap between oneself and the thing of which one is afraid? It is possible only when the observer has no continuity, the observer who is the builder of the image, the observer who is a collection of memories and ideas, who is a bundle of abstractions. When you look at the stars there is you who are looking at the stars in the sky; the sky is flooded with brilliant stars, there is cool air, and there is you, the observer, the experiencer, the thinker, you with your aching heart, you, the centre, creating space. You will never understand about the space between yourself and the stars, yourself and your wife or husband, or friend, because you have never looked without the image, and that is why you do not know what beauty is or what love is. You talk about it, you write about it, but you have never known it except perhaps at rare intervals of total self-abandonment. So long as there is a centre creating space around itself there is neither love nor beauty. When there is no centre and no circumference then there is love. And when you love you are beauty. When you look at a face opposite, you are looking from a centre and the centre creates the space between person and person, and that is why our lives are so empty and callous. You cannot cultivate love or beauty, nor can you invent truth, but if you are all the time aware of what you are doing, you can cultivate awareness and out of that awareness you will begin to see the nature of pleasure, desire and sorrow and the utter loneliness and boredom of man, and then you will begin to come upon that thing called `the space’. When there is space between you and the object you are observing you will know there is no love, and without love, however hard you try to reform the world or bring about a new social order or however much you talk about improvements, you will only create agony. So it is up to you. There is no leader, there is no teacher, there is nobody to tell you what to do. You are alone in this mad brutal world. source: Krishnamurti, Freedom from the Known, PDF file, pp. 72 -77

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I’m aware that this is a blog for English gardens but on a recent visit to the site of the Battle of Delville Wood as part of a trip to the WW1 battlefields in France, I was surprised to see this: And so I kept looking: I found out later that these markers represent the names which were given to the rides on the original 1916 battle map. Some were named after streets in London: Rotten Row, Regent Street, and Bond Street. And then there were the Glasgow streets: Buchanan and Campbell, while Edinburgh is represented by Princes Street and King Street; and Cape Town has Strand Street. It’s a reminder of the grim and still poignant humour that must have helped to keep the men going at times. On the day we visited, the wood felt so peaceful. Admittedly it was wet and cold and so we were almost the only people there, but walking amongst the trees, I listened to birdsong and gave up counting just how many acorns were sprinkled underfoot. Perhaps this was why I found it so hard to imagine the wood as the setting for one of the bloodiest battles of the war. It’s now a memorial for the South African soldiers who died on the Somme, significant because it was the first major engagement entered into on the Western Front by the South African 1st Infantry Brigade. Although, of course, here as elsewhere, a mixture of nationalities fought alongside each other. If you look closely you can see how the land carries the memory of the trenches: But it’s still shocking to see this spelt out: They lie not far from where the South African regiment first entered the wood: Nowadays, there’s an impressive pair of oak vistas allowing you to walk up from the road to the South African war memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Research on the internet came up with the fact that the wood was given to the South African Government as a permanent memorial and planted with oaks taken from Stellenbosch and Franschoek. These two towns were settled by the French Huguenots in the 1600s, and it’s possible that the oaks at Delville were descendants of oak seedlings brought by these settlers in turn from France. We were enormously privileged to have Jeremy Banning as our guide; he is not only an expert military historian but he knows how to tell a good story, including one about ‘Ralph’s oaks’. Apparently, a veteran called Ralph Langley stayed on in France after the war as an Imperial War Graves Commission gardener and was nursing some young oak saplings in the early 1920s. It’s good to think that these must have been the ones that now line the entrance way to Delville Wood. And as for the original wood, well, there’s only one tree left: – this hornbeam… … which no doubt holds its own memories of the past as well as growing new ones. And here’s the little poem I was writing in my head as I walked along Rotten Row: Ambling down Rotten Row coat buttoned against the October chill acorns crackle underfoot like sudden gunfire and straight rows of oaks reach down roots to soothe their soldiers back to sleep. I’ve written about another aspect of the recent writers’ trip to the Somme on my other website here. More information about Delville Wood here. Date visited: October 2013

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Microphone is a very common device and is widely used. But when it comes to finding the best image for it, it becomes difficult. Many websites don’t appropriately show the correct images of any type of microphone with all its features and outlook. You can find well corrected and exact images of a microphone png where they look as real as it is. Also, many cartoon images are also there which defines all the features of a microphone correctly. A microphone is a device or technique is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, hearing aids public events and public address systems for concert halls, motion picture production, life and recorded audio engineering, sound recording, two-way radios, megaphones, radio and television broadcasting, and in computers for recording voice, speech recognition, VoIP, and for non-acoustic purposes such as ultrasonic sensors or knock sensors. Sir Charles Wheatstone was the first person who first introduced the word “microphone” in 1827, but even so, it was Emile Berliner who invented the first microphone in 1876. Windscreens provided an appropriate method of reducing the effect of wind on microphones. Pop-screens give protection from unidirectional blasts, foam “hats” shield wind into the grille from all directions, and baskets entirely enclose the microphone and protect its body as well. The latter is important because, given the extremely low-frequency content of wind noise, vibration induced in the housing of the microphone can contribute substantially to the noise output resulting in hearing damage as well. Images also show various things about microphone png which can be understood by seeing the pictures only. You get all such images absolutely free and you can easily download the image you want and save for a future purpose. Also, we currently update the list so there is no question of outdated images and useless content. microphone png clipart studio microphone png microphone png icon condenser microphone png microphone png vector microphone png cartoon radio microphone png gold microphone png

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Generally, Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed only after patients have progressed to major levels of cognitive impairment that results in substantial problems in daily functioning. But the brain changes that result in cognitive impairment start years, if not decades, before patients become symptomatic. So, wouldn’t it make sense to try to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease in patients who have the brain changes, before they have clinical symptoms? The answer would be yes if two conditions were met. First, there needs to be methods to accurately predict who is likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease. Second, there needs to be reason to believe this early diagnosis will help the patient. Basically, this means treatments to prevent or slow down the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Neither of these conditions are currently met. Many persons who have early signs of brain or neurologic damage thought to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease never get the disease. In fact, it is well known that a substantial number of persons who have brain autopsies after death that appear diagnostic of Alzheimer’s Disease showed no evidence of the disease during life. And, there are no treatments that are known to prevent the development of Alzheimer Disease. This background is of interest in light of a recent release of draft guidelines from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association for revised criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. The release of these guidelines immediately created controversy. The controversy was mostly related to suggestions for two new diagnostic categories with the Alzheimer label. In addition to Alzheimer’s Disease, the new categories include Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease, and Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease. Some press reports suggested these new categories could double to triple the number of persons with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I was somewhat alarmed when I first read the press reports. I was not sure that the massive increase in diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease is justified at this time, because there is little reason to believe that patients would benefit from these diagnoses. My concern was mollified after actually reading the draft statements. They are considerably more measured and circumspect than much of the press attention led me to believe. In particular, the guideline on preclinical Alzheimer Disease is quite measured, acknowledging limitations in our knowledge, and clearly noting that this diagnostic category is for research purposes only. Still, I have concerns with this current draft, and hope the final guidelines are considerably more measured. My concerns are in two areas. First, we are not ready to attach the Alzheimer label to such large groups of people—whether for clinical or research purposes. Second, the guidelines express an irrational exuberance about the value of “biomarkers. ” Many of these biomarkers are extremely expensive radiologic procedures, or lab tests requiring examination of the spinal fluid (ie, lumbar puncture). The use of these tests could markedly increase the cost of care, without providing substantial benefit—and could have unintended consequences of diverting resources from other services that could really help patients. Here are some brief thoughts on each of the 3 guidelines: Criteria for Alzheimer Disease Dementia. I liked much of this guideline. It updates diagnostic criteria based on recent understandings of Alzheimer’s Disease. Currently, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is based on a decline of cognitive function significant enough to have important impacts on daily functioning. The guideline recognizes that memory impairment is not always the primary cognitive deficit. It accounts for the possibility that the primary deficits may be in other spheres such as reasoning, judgment, visual-spatial tasks, language, or personality. The approach to biomarkers seems generally reasonable in this guideline. Imaging (PET scanning or MRI) or CSF examination (Tau protein) are not needed if there is a documented history of cognitive decline. Biomarkers are generally used to help establish the diagnosis if there is no clear history of cognitive decline. This may be useful in selected cases, but I am not sure this type of testing is commonly warranted. The final guideline should present evidence that these biomarkers are sufficiently predictive to be used for this purpose. It should also acknowledge that following the patient for a period of time when the cognitive trajectory is unclear may be a useful alternative to obtaining biomarkers. Criteria for “Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease. The term mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to patients who have evidence of cognitive decline that is greater than typical age related cognitive changes, but do not have impairments in daily functioning. The key distinction between Alzheimer’s Disease and MCI is very important. Those with MCI are able to live independently. Many patients with MCI do progress to Alzheimer’s Disease, but a substantial number do not. These guidelines now suggest labeling many patients with MCI as having an Alzheimer’s pathology, and a rather intensive strategy of testing to make this diagnosis. While it is undoubtedly the case that many patients with MCI have brain pathology similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, I don’t believe giving these persons the Alzheimer’s label is currently justified. This label has tremendous meaning to patients. In my opinion, it should be reserved for those who are significantly impaired—not those who have cognitive deficits not resulting in significant impairment that may never become significantly impaired. The implied suggestion that patients with MCI be subjected to diagnostic biomarker testing is not justified. Based on our current state of knowledge, how will this testing help patients? Our understanding of the prognostic value of these biomarkers needs much more development before they should be incorporated into clinical practice. Perhaps it would be better to suggest these as preliminary research criteria that are not ready for clinical practice. Another important issue is the potentially massive costs of measuring all these biomarkers—many of which require very expensive imaging or laboratory evaluation. Are these costs justified without any evidence that patients will be better off from all of this evaluation? Instead of spending so much money on diagnostic testing, wouldn’t it be better if we used these resources to provide better care to patient with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers? Criteria for Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. While I found some of the media reports suggesting that we were going to diagnose scores of asymptomatic patients with “preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease” alarming, I found the actual guideline more reassuring. This guideline was a nicely written review of proposed pathways leading from asymptomatic brain pathology to Alzheimer’s. It was quite measured, acknowledging limitations in the current evidence and noting that much more research is needed. Importantly, the guideline was very clear that this category is to be used for research purposes only. I do wonder though if the term, “preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease” is appropriate. In particular, I find the distinction between disease risk and preclinical disease fuzzy. Essentially, the guideline suggests using biomarkers and clinical tests to identify asymptomatic patients at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. I believe it would be better to just refer to these persons as high risk—in the same way we identify persons at higher risk of developing cardiac disease, but don’t refer to them as having preclinical cardiac disease. Hopefully, the day will come when we have treatments that can lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in people who are currently well, but at high risk if nothing is done. That day is not here yet. We also have not yet reached the point where we can reliably identify who will get this disease. These guidelines are appropriate statements of hope for a day when we can do more to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. But the final guidelines need to be much more cautious, especially with respect to excessive diagnosis and testing that may not always benefit patients. Ken Covinsky is Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco who blogs at GeriPal.

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Species distribution models, use both geographical and environmental space to predict a species realised environmental niche. Below we explore what these terms mean. Species occurrences are usually plotted on a map, however it can also be visualised in a graph, where the occurrence records are defined by the values of the longitudinal coordinates on the x-axis and the latitudinal coordinates on the y-axis. Environmental space refers to the environmental niche that a species occupies. A species’ environmental niche is the set of environmental conditions in which a species can survive and persist. This concept was defined by the ecologist George Hutchinson in 1957. Looking at only one environmental condition, and plotting the probability of a species to occur in relation to that condition, the result could for example be a bell-shaped curve. This curve shows the optimum value of the environmental variable for a species to survive. For example, if the species is affected by temperature, the probability of occurrence is highest at the optimum temperature, with decreasing probabilities towards the minimum and maximum values that the species can tolerate. Add another environmental condition that is relevant for the species, and a two-dimensional graph is created, with one environmental variable on each axis. Each of these variables has its own optimum curve. The model will find the area where the combination of both variables results in the most optimum conditions for a species to occur. The centre of the circle represents the combination of environmental variables with the highest suitability for a species to survive. The gradient colour visualises a decrease in suitability of the environment from the centre of the circle outwards. Tolerances for three different environmental conditions can be plotted in three-dimensional space in which the suitability of the environmental conditions is then represented by a sphere or a cube of which the edges correspond to the minimum and maximum tolerable values of each environmental condition. However, a realistic species distribution model takes into account all environmental variables that are relevant for a species, and this results in an n-dimensional hyperspace that defines the environmental space of a species. Within the environmental niche concept, there is a distinction between the fundamental and realized niche of a species. The fundamental niche of the species refers to the environmental conditions where a species can occur, and assumes that the species only occurs there and nowhere else. However, a species is not necessarily found in every location that has suitable environmental conditions. This is because the distribution of a species is also influenced by biotic factors and can thus be limited by the presence of a predator, or the absence of food. The area that is actually occupied by a species is referred to as the realized niche. In geographical space, we refer to the realized niche as a species’ actual distribution, whereas the fundamental niche is referred to as its potential distribution. Two important factors that might affect the environmental niche of a species are: - Source-sink dynamics: individuals of a species might move from the area of the fundamental niche, which is the source, to sink areas outside the fundamental niche. This is likely to occur for species with high dispersal abilities. For example, if the fundamental niche of a migrating species is defined based on the environmental conditions of areas where the animals breed, it is likely that this does not include areas where the species moves to outside the breeding season. - Dispersal barriers: geographic features such as mountains, rivers or oceans might prevent a species from occurring in areas that have suitable conditions, just because the species cannot reach those areas. Environmental and Geographical Space Models Most algorithms, are designed to link the places of occurrences to the environmental conditions of those places, and thus function in environmental space. These models follow three steps: - Take the occurrence data out of the geographical space. - Use the data* from step1 to calibrate the model in the environmental space. - Project the model back into geographical space. Geographic models, however, are not based on the environmental conditions of occurrence locations, and as such the second step is skipped. Once you have modelled your potential species distribution with suitable environmental variables, you can overlay the actual occurrence points with the modelled distribution on a map. This is useful to identify areas where a species is likely to occur, but just has not been found yet. Those areas where a species is not occurring, but where the environment is suitable for it to survive can be used, for example, to prevent an invasive species from spreading to an area where it has not been observed yet. It is important to realise that it is unlikely that the occurrence records that exist for a species reflect the entire range of environmental conditions that a species can occupy. The species distribution models are only built with the data available, and are thus only calibrated with the environmental niche that is represented by the occurrence records. The outcomes of these models should therefore always be viewed with caution and might not represent the full extent of the actual or potential distribution of a species. This is a general drawback of a modelling approach, as a model is always only a representation of the real world. - Guisan A & Zimmermann NE (2000) Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecological modelling, 135(2), 147-186. - Guisan A & Thuiller W (2005) Predicting species distribution: offering more than simple habitat models. Ecology letters, 8(9), 993-1009. - Pearson RG (2010) Species’ distribution modeling for conservation educators and practitioners. Lessons in conservation, 3, 54-89. - Pulliam HR (2000) On the relationship between niche and distribution. Ecology letters, 3(4), 349-361. You can also view this information in Module 2 of our Online Open Course in SDM: https://app.bccvl.org.au/training Lead partners: Griffith University, James Cook University Thanks to: University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, University of Canberra Funded by: National eResearch Tools and Resources Project (NeCTAR) The BCCVL is supported by the National eResearch Tools and Resources Project (NeCTAR), an initiative of the Commonwealth being conducted as part of the Super Science Initiative and financed from the Education Investment Fund, Department of Education. The University of Melbourne is the lead agent for the delivery of the NeCTAR project and Griffith University is the sub-contractor.

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a tract of land, usually with a house, barn, silo, etc. , on which crops and often livestock are raised for livelihood. সাধাৰণতে এটা ঘৰ, গোহালি আদি থকা এক বিস্তৃত পথৰুৱা মাটি, য’ত জীৱিকাৰ বাবে খেতি-বাতি কৰা আৰু ঘৰচীয়া জন্তু পোহা হয়৷ an agriculture practiced by the tribal groups in the northeastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also in the districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet. This system involves clearing a piece of land by setting fire or clear felling and using the area for growing crops of agricultural importance such as upland rice, vegetables or fruits. After a few cycles, the land loses fertility and a new area is chosen.

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Rockport in Essex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England) Old First Parish Burying Ground 1630 - 1930 Erected 1930 by Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission. Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War of 1812 • War, French and Indian • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Massachusetts Bay Colony—Tercentenary Commission Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1732. Location. 42° 39. 526′ N, 70° 37. 293′ W. Marker is in Rockport, Massachusetts, in Essex County. Marker is on Beach Street, on the right when traveling south. Between King and Main Streets. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rockport MA 01966, United States of America. Touch for directions. Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Pool (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Congregational Church of Rockport Steeple Rehabilitation (about 700 feet away); The First Settlers of Sandy BayFirst Settler (approx. 0. 2 miles away); Bear Skin Neck (approx. ¼ mile away); Rockport World War I & II Memorial (approx. 0. 3 miles away); Harvey Park (approx. 0. 3 miles away); Cannon from the U.S.S. Constitution (approx. 0. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockport. Also see . . . 1. Sandy Bay Historical Society of Rockport Massachusetts. Historical Society website for the town of Rockport containg information on collections, exhibits and local attractions. (Submitted on August 8, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.) 2. Historical Markers Erected by Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission (1930). Original 1930 publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Tercentenary Commission Markers, commemorating the three hundredth anniversary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Submitted on August 8, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.) Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 860 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on October 26, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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192. 168. 1.2 Internet is the best way of communication. Now many people use internet and it has become easy to use the internet connection by the router and Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi connection spread the internet. Many people now use internet for getting knowledge and doing business. This is the best method of communication. Users must enjoy all of the services of internet and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi internet spreads the local connection by the router and you can use internet in multiple devices together. In many public places, you get free internet services via Wi-Fi and if you want to use Wi-Fi in your home or office, you need to spread the Wi-Fi connection via Router. A router is not an expensive device and in the market tons of such router available in different prices and ranges. You should buy only popular brand router like Philips, Senao and some other routers. You can use any brand from those. However, I hope, you will use any router from those brands. Those routers use IP address 192. 168. 1.2 and you need to use this IP address from the router manual for router configuration. You need to use username and password with the IP address 192. 168. 1.2 with the IP address. Because you need to use those for login to the router. The IP address 192. 168. 1.2 is a default IP address and this IP address is setup by manufacturer. You should read the manual after purchasing the device. Because a manual always you correct instruction. With the IP address 192. 168. 1.2, you can see the login screen page and you can login to the device for the control section. In manual or in the additional paper, you will get everything of the router login. You will get username and password for login to the device. When you will login, you can setup all of the settings and configuration of the Wi-Fi. The IP address can make IP address confliction problem and usually the cause of this problem is the IP address. When the same IP address 192. 168. 1.2 runs in the multiple devices in the same network, the IP address confliction problem occur. You need to change the IP address if you want to avoid the problem. After log in to the router, you can change the IP address according to some rules. However, if you do not change the problem in the IP address, then you cannot use internet and Wi-Fi connection makes problem. There are many people who do not know how to change the IP address and below paragraph will guide theme well. Changing the IP address is not very easy and if you do not give attention for changing the IP address, then you cannot fix the IP address. Let’s learn how to change the IP address. Just look the IP address 192. 168. 1.2. In this IP address, only number and dot(. ) are used. So, you understand that the formation of IP address is only numbers and dots. In the IP address, you cannot use letter or sign. Even a space is not allowed in the IP address. The dot (. ) notation and letter are used in the IP address. When you change the IP address, then you should change the IP address from behind and you can use any number in the place of x in the IP address. It means that the IP address 192. 168. x.x can be changed by putting number in the place of x. You can use any number from 0 to 255. You should think of the Class. The first part 192 ensure it as a Class C. You can make the IP address 192. 168. 1.2 to 192. 168. 2.1. You cannot change the IP address class. Some people want to change the default IP address 192. 168. 1.2 for sake of security. The changing the IP address, default username and password secure the router. But if you change the default username and password, then the device settings are enough safe. You do not need to change the default IP address 192. 168. 1.2. However, you should give attention to securing the Wi-Fi connection and it is very important. Because the Wi-Fi connection is aired and many people may catch the network in same time. Router security is not much important like Wi-Fi. If the connection does not remain safe, then other people can hack the router and use your Wi-Fi internet connection. From the manual of the router, you can learn how to secure Wi-Fi connection. You must change default SSID network name, setup hard password and enable Encrypted security. All of the features of the Wi-Fi are safe and secured. There are many problems may trigger through the router and Wi-Fi. You need to identify the problem and solve the problem. Otherwise, you cannot use router. You can use ping command to identify the problem. With the ping you have to put IP address 192. 168. 1.2. You can use continuous ping command “ping 192. 168. 1.2 -t”. That is why, experts suggest users not to change the default IP address. Because the default IP address 192. 168. 1.2 may need to use in many purposes. In the router manual, you may get some guideline about this. So, you do not need help from expert. If you think that the router problem is in the router, then you should contact with manufacturer or the vendor to solve this issue. There many complications may occur and the IP address 192. 168. 1.2 does not work. You have to identify the problem and make the device suitable for running. You can check the device in other computer. However, you can check cable connections like Ethernet and power adapter. If all of those connections are ok, then you can use ping command to identify the problem. If the problem does not occur from the cable, the firewall or the antivirus can be the problem. May be the virus is the main problem and that is why, you should use updated antivirus. You should check the firewall. Sometimes firewall blocks the IP address 192. 168. 1.2 for many reasons. If the address block, then you cannot enter to the router. Try to fix the problem by resetting the device and you can check the router from other computer. If you think that the problem may be in the router, then you should contact with vendor and take it to the store. If warranty covers router, then you may get a new device. Rad the manual and you will get good feedback from the router manual. You can learn many things from the router manual fast. If you like to visit Google.com and youTube. com site to get more information. But those sites cannot be alternative of the router manual.

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Today is World Diabetes Day. Despite the alarming prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, I am not writing a PSA. I’m not going to lecture about the importance or regular exercise or the necessity of eating a balanced, low-fat diet. Nope. Today I want to recognize Dr. Frederick Banting. Today is the 123rd anniversary of Dr. Banting’s birthday. If you don’t recognize his name, he shared the Nobel Prize in 1923 for the discovery of insulin. Dr. Banting is one of the reasons that S is alive today, and it seems appropriate to celebrate his contributions to medicine and society during the month of November. You see, contrary to popular understanding, insulin is not a cure for diabetes. Specifically, insulin is what keeps S and every other Type 1 diabetic alive. S takes approximately 22 units of Novolog, a fast-acting insulin, each day in tiny increments administered around the clock by her Animas Ping insulin pump. We test her blood sugar through finger sticks up to 10 times a day, and recently we’ve started to monitor her blood sugar through a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Still the fact remains that S’s pancreas is purely for decorative purposes–or at least that’s how we tease her. And that’s probably the funniest thing I can think to say about diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the cells in the pancreas responsible for manufacturing insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot use carbohydrates for energy or remove glucose from the blood stream. While there are many theories, there is still not a definitive cause for this disease. The need remains for a real cure. We are unspeakably grateful for S’s insulin pump and CGM, and we eagerly anticipate the day that the Artificial Pancreas Project delivers an FDA-approved device in the United States. In fact, none of these medical advances would be possible without Dr. Banting and his colleagues Dr. J.J.R. Macleod and Dr. Charles Best. And so on World Diabetes Day 2014, I would like to wish Dr. Banting a very belated but very sincere happy birthday.

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Listening includes a lot more than just hearing words. Frequently, we need to interpret or infer a deeper or underlying message beyond the spoken word. We deploy many of our senses to detect non-verbal cues and assimilate our life experiences with the verbal message when we actively listen. Usually, the objective of a conversation is to expand the listener’s knowledge, perspective or sensitivity to a topic that impacts behavior or beliefs. In the workplace, managing projects can implode due to poor communications. These can result in missing a critical deadline, budget overages, decreased sales, and in some cases, costly lawsuits. The most effective communication takes place when both parties are actively listening. So what is “active listening” and how do we do this? Your active listening is apparent to the other party through your audible or visible signals. This can include something as subtle as raising our eyebrows, leaning towards the speaker, or using certain gestures (like a thumbs up, high five, etc. ) Tilting our heads when we listen, on the same angle as the speaker, generally reflects a subconscious agreement Uttering sounds like “uh huh” or “hmm” also tell the speaker that you’re paying attention. In America, making eye contact is considered a must in showing that you are listening, although this does vary in some cultures. Of course asking good questions is one of the best ways to demonstrate that you are listening. If you don’t have any questions (perhaps, because the message is crystal clear to you) then paraphrase the speaker’s message. You can preface your restated summary by saying something like: “Ok, now, if I understand what you’re telling me, you’d like to … (paraphrased summary of speaker’s objective). ” It is important to be authentic, too! In your effort to make it evident that you genuinely hear the speaker’s message, do not diminish your own persona or credibility. Be sure to phrase your introduction to your rephrased statement in a style that is consistent with the way you speak. Why not find out if you’re as good a listener as you think you are? If you haven’t taken this insightful (and free) listening assessment yet, you can right now – or later when you have about 45 minutes and no distractions. When you’re ready, take the Active Listening Assessment here. Upon completion, you will receive an explanatory report along with tips and techniques that you can use to become a better active listener and communicator. If you or your staff would benefit from mastering effective communications, improving active listening and learning “meaning-centered communication”, we can help. Please contact Jim Wynne at firstname. lastname@example. org or call him at 610-225-0449. NOTE: PMPs: This assessment qualifies for one PDU and you will receive a certificate.

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Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)—Upcoming Year of the Sheep —by Jinny Batterson Later this month (this solar month, that is), the most important festival of the Chinese year will take place: Chinese New Year, as it is known in the West, or Spring Festival, as it called in China. On February 19, 2015, the world will celebrate a new Chinese year, the Year of the Sheep (Yang Nian), also translated as the Year of the Goat, or the Year of the Ram. The timing of the holiday, along with the use of twelve yearly zodiac animals for fortune-telling, can seem variable and unpredictable to those of us accustomed to purely solar-based calendars. The date for Spring Festival is based on a lunar calendar. It can occur over a range of “solar” calendar dates between January 21 and February 21. (In Western Christianity, the date for Easter Sunday similarly can range between March 22 and April 25, based mainly on lunar cycles. ) Spring Festival begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice according to Chinese reckoning. Because a lunar month, at roughly 29. 5 days, is shorter than the average solar month, a typical lunar year lasts only 354 days, so Spring Festival becomes 10-11 days earlier each succeeding year. To avoid having this important festival rotate through the entire solar year, however, the Chinese calendar periodically adds a “leap month. ” This year’s date for Spring Festival comes about as late as Spring Festival can get. People born under different animal zodiac signs are purported to have different characters, somewhat like the zodiac months and their predictions often publicized in the West. “Ram” babies are expected to grow up to be tender, polite, filial, clever and kind-hearted. On the negative side of the ledger, they are reputed to be compulsive worriers, shy, pessimistic, weak-willed, and often confused about life. Famous people born in Ram years include 19th century American writer and humorist Mark Twain, born on November 30, 1835, and late Qing dynasty Manchu empress dowager Cixi, born in China a day earlier, on November 29, 1835. Inventor Thomas Alva Edison was a Ram, born on February 11, 1847. So was scientist and ecology pioneer Rachel Carson, born May 27, 1907. Modern celebrities such as rock star Mick Jagger (July 26, 1943), actors Chevy Chase (October 8, 1943) and Bruce Willis (March 19, 1955), along with actresses Nicole Kidman (June 20, 1967), Julia Roberts (October 28, 1967), and Kate Hudson ((April 19, 1979) were all born during “Ram” years. The interval between Spring Festivals in 2014 and 2015 has been a bit longer than 12 solar months, running from January 31, 2014 through February 18, 2015. There is some conflict among websites about whether the change in zodiac animal from the Year of the Horse (most of 2014) to the Year of the Sheep (most of 2015) should occur in conjunction with the start of Spring Festival, or rather at the “solar start of spring,” which occurs on February 3 or February 4 each year, six weeks before the spring equinox. Some Chinese parents believe that being born in the Year of the Horse is lucky, while being born in the Year of the Ram is unlucky. They’ve tried hard to conceive children who would be born before the start of February this year. It’s possible that the coming months will see a decline in births in China. It is also quite possible that Chinese babies born between February 3, 2015 and February 19, 2015 will have more than usual cause to be confused about life. In many parts of China, Spring Festival celebrations run for up to sixteen days, from ‘New Year’s Eve,” often celebrated with an elaborate family meal, until “Lantern Festival” on the following full moon. Customs associated with Spring Festival vary somewhat in different parts of China, but usually involve special foods, extended time spent with families, visits with relatives and friends, and gifts for children and young people. In following weeks’ posts, I’ll elaborate on some of the customs we had a chance to observe during two Spring Festivals spent in parts of China.

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Elephant Bush as a Bonsai Because this plant is too tender to be kept outdoors during the winter, it would need to be considered an indoor plant in most locations. Native to South Africa, this species can be trained to assume a range of different bonsai shapes. These include spherical, informal upright, leaning, and windswept. This can be trained to have either single or multiple trunks. Typically, you will need to buy a small elephant plant. Propagating your own isn’t practical in most cases. Sometimes, pre-shaped and trained plants are sold as bonsai as well. This shrub-like plant can be trained with wire. However, this usually isn’t necessary, depending on the style you have chosen. If you do decide to use wire, do examine the plant from time to time. That’s because the wire can easily damage the bark if it is left in place too long. If that happens, the result will be harm to the plant and unsightly marks on the bark. Pruning this plant as a bonsai is pretty simple. Just cut each shoot back, leaving several pairs of leaves. Do this on a regular basis as needed when the stems reach several inches in length. Because this bonsai is a succulent, it will need a very quick draining potting mix. You can start with a regular, well drained bonsai potting soil and add some fine gravel or sand. Typically, an elephant bush bonsai will only need repotting every couple years or so. Do this only when the plant is pot bound. Repotting is usually done during the spring and summer months. Regarding fertilizer, this bonsai will need an application of a soluble plant food about twice a month during the growing season. For the winter, add this only if the indoor temperature is high enough to keep the plant actively growing. Otherwise, put this off until the plant emerges from its winter rest. If you do fertilize during the winter, about once a month is often enough. For the warm months of the year, the elephant bush bonsai will need to be watered often enough to keep the potting soil moist. During the winter, reduce the frequency. At that time, allow the top of the soil to become dry before you water again. Concerning its need for light, elephant bush bonsai needs bright light throughout the year. It can be placed outdoors for the summer months. However, it will need protected from winds and cold drafts. This site needs an editor - click to learn more! Editor's Picks Articles Top Ten Articles Content copyright © 2019 by Connie Krochmal . All rights reserved. This content was written by Connie Krochmal . If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact BellaOnline Administration for details.

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When robots steal our jobs, should they be made to pay taxes? That’s something residents of San Francisco are being asked to think about by Jane Kim, who represents the city's District 6 on its board of supervisors. She wants to find cash to help folks out with retraining or a universal basic income when robots take over their toils, and the suggestion for generating that money is a tax on robots. San Francisco certainly isn’t stuffed full of robots right now. But it’s easy enough to imagine a none-too-distant future where autonomous taxis rule the roads and burgers are flipped by bots. In a context where robots are taking over directly from human workers, the idea seems to make sense. But similar suggestions in the past—most notably from Bill Gates—have been dismissed, in part because taxing robots disincentivizes companies from adopting them, leading to a failure to capitalize on increases in productivity that can stimulate the economy. That’s not the only problem with the suggestion. “We’re still working on what defines a robot and what defines job displacement,” Kim admitted in an interview with Wired. “Announcing the opening of the campaign committee is going to also allow us to have discussions throughout the state in terms of what the actual measure would look like. ” Kim is, in fact, fairly philosophical about the outcome of her initiative, seeing it more as a conversation starter about how to prepare for the future than a hard-and-fast plan. In reality, it’s not clear what the best way to impose taxes on automation is. Earlier this year, the Economist weighed what such a thing might look like. Taxing capital investment in robots or the increased profits as a result of their installation, the two obvious ways to go about it, don’t seem to be a perfect solution, according to the magazine’s analysis. There are other ways to tackle the problem that don’t focus on the machines, though: reducing tax on human labor, perhaps, or aggressively taxing the world’s most successful firms that make best use of automation. But it’s still unclear which would work best. Maybe initiatives like Kim’s will spur the kind of thinking required to get to the bottom of the problem.

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Writer, educator. Earle Birney was born in 1904 in Calgary. He is recognized as one of Canada’s most distinguished and important figures in twentieth century literature. Best known for his poetry, Birney’s writing emphasized the normal, everyday rhythms of speech, blending the lyrical with the visual content of the poem. These innovations led to his sound poems and concrete or shape poetry. He attended the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1926. He earned a Master of Arts in 1927 from the University of Toronto, and he also studied at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of London. During the 1930s, he was an active Trotskyite in Canada and Britain, but drifted away from the movement during the Second World War when he served as a personnel officer in the Canadian army. Birney won the Governor General’s Award for Literature for his first published collection of poetry, David and Other Poems (1942). In addition to his work as an author, Birney had an accomplished career as an educator. He taught at several universities, most notably at the University of British Columbia (1946-1965), where he established and directed the Department of Creative Writing in 1965, Canada’s first creative writing program. In this same year, Birney was appointed as the first writer-in-residence at the University of Toronto. Other accomplishments include twice winner of the Governor General’s Award for Literature (1942, 1945), the Leacock Medal for Humour (1949), and the Lorne Pierce Medal for Literature (1953). Birney was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1970, and continued writing until his death in September 1995. Discrete project sites documenting the work of specific artists and collectives in detail. Essays and conversation providing a context for exploring the Project Sites and Archives. Video interviews conducted between December 2008 and May 2009 reflecting on Vancouver’s art scene in the sixties.

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This file is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format TOLERANCE AS A DISCOURSE OF DEPOLITICIZATION Can’t we all just get along? An enemy is someone whose story you have not heard. —epigraph of “Living Room Dialogues on the Middle East” Tolerance is not a product of politics, religion or culture. Liberals and conservatives, evangelicals and atheists, whites, Latinos, Asians, and blacks . . . are equally capable of tolerance and intolerance. . . . [T]olerance has much less to do with our opinions than with what we feel and how we live. —Sarah Bullard, Teaching Tolerance How did tolerance become a beacon of multicultural justice and civic peace at the turn of the twenty-first century? A mere generation ago, tolerance was widely recognized in the United States as a code word for mannered racialism. Early in the civil rights era, many white northerners staked their superiority to their southern brethren on a contrast between northern tolerance and southern bigotry. But racial tolerance was soon exposed as a subtle form of Jim Crow, one that did not resort to routine violence, formal segregation, or other overt tactics of superordination but reproduced white supremacy all the same. This exposé in turn metamorphosed into an artifact of social knowledge: well into the 1970s, racial tolerance remained a term of left and liberal derision, while religious tolerance seemed so basic to liberal orders that it was as rarely discussed as it was tested. Freedom and equality, rather than tolerance, became the watchwords of justice projects on behalf of the excluded, subordinated, or marginalized. Since the mid-1980s, however, there has been something of a global renaissance in tolerance talk. Tolerance surged back into use in the late twentieth century as multiculturalism became a central problematic of liberal democratic citizenship; as Third World immigration threatened the ethnicized identities of Europe, North America, and Australia; as indigenous peoples pursued claims of reparation, belonging, and entitlement; as ethnically coded civil conflict became a critical site of international disorder; and as Islamic religious identity intensified and expanded into a transnational political force. Tolerance talk also became prominent as domestic norms of integration and assimilation gave way to concerns with identity and difference on the left and as the rights claims of various minorities were spurned as “special” rather than universal on the right. Today, tolerance is uncritically promoted across a wide range of venues and for a wide range of purposes. At United Nations conferences and in international human rights campaigns, tolerance is enumerated, along with freedom of conscience and speech, as a fundamental component of universal human dignity. In Europe, tolerance is prescribed as the appropriate bearing toward recent Third World immigrants, Roma, and (still) Jews and as the solution to civil strife in the Balkans. In the United States, tolerance is held out as the key to peaceful coexistence in racially divided neighborhoods, the potential fabric of community in diversely populated public schools, the corrective for abusive homophobia in the military and elsewhere, and the antidote for rising rates of hate crime. Tolerance was the ribbon hung around the choice of an orthodox Jew for the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2000 presidential elections and the rubric under which George W. Bush, upon taking office in his first term, declared that appointees in his administration would not have their sexual orientations scrutinized . . . or revealed. Schools teach tolerance, the state preaches tolerance, religious and secular civic associations promulgate tolerance. The current American “war on terrorism” is being fought, in part, in its name. Moreover, even as certain contemporary conservatives identify tolerance as a codeword for endorsing homosexuality, tolerance knows no political party: it is what liberals and leftists reproach a religious, xenophobic, and homophobic right for lacking, but also what evangelical Christians claim that secular liberals refuse them and what conservative foreign policy ideologues claim America cherishes and “radical Islamicists” abhor. 1 Combined with this bewildering array of sites and calls for tolerance is an impressive range of potential objects of tolerance, including cultures, races, ethnicities, sexualities, ideologies, lifestyle and fashion choices, political positions, religions, and even regimes. Moreover, tolerance has never enjoyed a unified meaning across the nations and cultures that have valued, practiced, or debated it. It has a variety of historical strands, has been provoked or revoked in relation to diverse conflicts, and has been inflected by distinct political traditions and constitutions. Today, even within the increasingly politically and economically integrated Euro-Atlantic world, tolerance signifies differently and attaches to different objects in different national contexts; for example, tolerance is related to but not equivalent to laïcité in France, as the recent French debate over the hijab made clear. And practices of tolerance in Holland, England, Canada, Australia, and Germany not only draw on distinct intellectual and political lineages but are focused on different contemporary objects—sexuality, immigrants, or indigenous peoples—that themselves call for different modalities of tolerance. That is, modalities of tolerance talk that have issued from postcolonial encounters with indigenous peoples in settler colonies do not follow the same logics as those that have issued from European encounters with immigrants from its former colonies or those that are centered on patriarchal religious anxieties about insubordinate gender and sexual practices. Similarly, an Islamic state seeking to develop codes of tolerance inflects the term differently than does a Euro-Atlantic political imaginary within which the nation-states of the West are presumed always already tolerant. Given this proliferation of and variation in agents, objects, and political cadences of tolerance, it may be tempting to conclude that it is too polymorphous and unstable to analyze as a political or moral discourse. I pursue another hypothesis here: that the semiotically polyvalent, politically promiscuous, and sometimes incoherent use of tolerance in contemporary American life, closely considered and critically theorized, can be made to reveal important features of our political time and condition. The central question of this study is not “What is tolerance? ” or even “What has become of the idea of tolerance? ” but, What kind of political discourse, with what social and political effects, is contemporary tolerance talk in the United States? What readings of the discourses of liberalism, colonialism, and imperialism circulating through Western democracies can analytical scrutiny of this talk provide? The following chapters aim to track the social and political work of tolerance discourse by comprehending how this discourse constructs and positions liberal and nonliberal subjects, cultures, and regimes; how it figures conflict, stratification, and difference; how it operates normatively; and how its normativity is rendered oblique almost to the point of invisibility. These aims require an appreciation of tolerance as not only protean in meaning but also historically and politically discursive in character. They require surrendering an understanding of tolerance as a transcendent or universal concept, principle, doctrine, or virtue so that it can be considered instead as a political discourse and practice of governmentality that is historically and geographically variable in purpose, content, agents, and objects. As a consortium of para-legal and para-statist practices in modern constitutional liberalism—practices that are associated with the liberal state and liberal legalism but are not precisely codified by it—tolerance is exemplary of Foucault’s account of governmentality as that which organizes “the conduct of conduct” at a variety of sites and through rationalities not limited to those formally countenanced as political. Absent the precise dictates, articulations, and prohibitions associated with the force of law, tolerance nevertheless produces and positions subjects, orchestrates meanings and practices of identity, marks bodies, and conditions political subjectivities. This production, positioning, orchestration, and conditioning is achieved not through a rule or a concentration of power, but rather through the dissemination of tolerance discourse across state institutions; civic venues such as schools, churches, and neighborhood associations; ad hoc social groups and political events; and international institutions or forums. 2 When I commenced this study in the late 1990s, I was almost exclusively concerned with domestic tolerance talk. My interest in the subject was piqued by the peculiar character of the discourse of tolerance in contemporary civic and especially pedagogical culture in the United States. As multicultural projects of enfranchisement, cooperation, and conflict reduction embraced the language of tolerance, clearly both the purview and purpose of tolerance had undergone changes from its Reformation-era concern with minoritarian religious belief and modest freedom of conscience. In its current usage, tolerance seemed less a strategy of protection than a telos of multicultural citizenship, and focused less on belief than on identity broadly construed. The genuflection to tolerance in the literatures, mottos, and mission statements of schools, religious associations, and certain civic institutions suggested that what once took shape as an instrument of civic peace and an alternative to the violent exclusion or silencing of religious dissidents had metamorphosed into a generalized language of antiprejudice and now betokened a vision of the good society yet to come. And if this vision was promulgated by actors across the political spectrum, its praises as likely to be sung by a neoconservative American president or attorney general as by a United Nations chief or a leftist community organizer, tolerance was clearly having a strange new life at the turn of the century. In the context of this profusion of subjects and objects of tolerance, this uncritical embrace of tolerance across a diverse ideological field, and this apparent conversion of tolerance from a particular form of protection against violent persecution to a late-twentieth-century vision of the good society, my questions were these: What kind of governmental and regulatory functions might tolerance discourse perform in contemporary liberal democratic nation-states? What kind of civil order does tolerance configure or envision? What kind of social subject does it produce? What kind of citizen does it hail, with what orientation to politics, to the state, and to fellow citizens? What kind of state legitimation might it supply and in response to what legitimation deficits? What kind of justice might it promise and what kinds might it compromise or displace? What retreat from stronger ideals of justice is conveyed by giving tolerance pride of place in a moral-political vision of the good? What kind of fatalism about the persistence of hostile and irreconcilable differences in the body politic might its promulgation carry? The original project, then, was to be a consideration of the constructive and regulatory effects of tolerance as a discourse of justice, citizenship, and community in late modern, multicultural liberal democracies, with a focus on the United States. However, in the aftermath of September 11, political rhetorics of Islam, nationalism, fundamentalism, culture, and civilization have reframed even domestic discourses of tolerance—the enemy of tolerance is now the weaponized radical Islamicist state or terror cell rather than the neighborhood bigot—and have certainly changed the cultural pitch of tolerance in the international sphere. While some of these changes have simply brought to the surface long-present subterranean norms in liberal tolerance discourse, others have articulated tolerance for genuinely new purposes. These include the legitimation of a new form of imperial state action in the twenty-first century, a legitimation tethered to a constructed opposition between a cosmopolitan West and its putatively fundamentalist Other. Tolerance thus emerges as part of a civilizational discourse that identifies both tolerance and the tolerable with the West, marking nonliberal societies and practices as candidates for an intolerable barbarism that is itself signaled by the putative intolerance ruling these societies. In the mid–nineteenth through mid– twentieth centuries, the West imagined itself as standing for civilization against primitivism, and in the cold war years for freedom against tyranny; now these two recent histories are merged in the warring figures of the free, the tolerant, and the civilized on one side, and the fundamentalist, the intolerant, and the barbaric on the other. As it altered certain emphases in liberal discourse itself, so, too, did the post–September 11 era alter the originally intended course of this study. The new era demanded that questions about tolerance as a domestic governmentality producing and regulating ethnic, religious, racial, and sexual subjects be supplemented with questions about the operation of tolerance in and as a civilizational discourse distinguishing Occident from Orient, liberal from nonliberal regimes, “free” from “unfree” peoples. Such questions include the following: If tolerance is a political principle used to mark an opposition between liberal and fundamentalist orders, how might liberal tolerance discourse function not only to anoint Western superiority but also to legitimate Western cultural and political imperialism? That is, how might this discourse actually promote Western supremacy and aggression even as it veils them in the modest dress of tolerance? How might tolerance, the very virtue that Samuel Huntington advocates for preempting a worldwide clash of civilizations, operate as a key element in a civilizational discourse that codifies the superiority and legitimates the superordination of the West? What is the work of tolerance discourse in a contemporary imperial liberal governmentality? What kind of subject is thought to be capable of tolerance? What sort of rationality and sociality is tolerance imagined to require and what sorts are thought to inhibit it—in other words, what anthropological presuppositions does liberal tolerance entail and circulate? In the end, the effort to understand tolerance as a domestic discourse of ethnic, racial, and sexual regulation, on the one hand, and as an international discourse of Western supremacy and imperialism on the other, did not have to remain permanently forked. Contemporary domestic and global discourses of tolerance, while appearing at first blush to have relatively distinct objects and aims, are increasingly melded in encomiums to tolerance, such as those featured in the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance discussed in chapter 4, and are also analytically interlinked. The conceit of secularism undergirding the promulgation of tolerance within multicultural liberal democracies not only legitimates their intolerance of and aggression toward non-liberal states or transnational formations but also glosses the ways in which certain cultures and religions are marked in advance as ineligible for tolerance while others are so hegemonic as to not even register as cultures or religions; they are instead labeled “mainstream” or simply “American.” In this way, tolerance discourse in the United States, while posing as both a universal value and an impartial practice, designates certain beliefs and practices as civilized and others as barbaric, both at home and abroad; it operates from a conceit of neutrality that is actually thick with bourgeois Protestant norms. The moral autonomy of the individual at the heart of liberal tolerance discourse is also critical in drawing the line between the tolerable and the intolerable, both domestically and globally, and thereby serves to sneak liberalism into a civilizational discourse that claims to be respectful of all cultures and religions, many of which it would actually undermine by “liberalizing,” and, conversely, to sneak civilizational discourse into liberalism. This is not to say that tolerance in civilizational discourse is reducible to liberalism; in fact, it is strongly shaped by the legacy of the colonial settler-native encounter as well as the postcolonial encounter between white and indigenous, colonized, or expropriated peoples. This strain in the lexicon and ethos of tolerance, while not reducible to a liberal grammar and analytics, is nonetheless mediated by them and also constitutes an element in the constitutive outside of liberalism over the past three centuries. 3 Tolerance is thus a crucial analytic hinge between the constitution of abject domestic subjects and barbarous global ones, between liberalism and the justification of its imperial and colonial adventures. Put slightly differently, tolerance as a mode of late modern govern-mentality that iterates the normalcy of the powerful and the deviance of the marginal responds to, links, and tames both unruly domestic identities or affinities and nonliberal transnational forces that tacitly or explicitly challenge the universal standing of liberal precepts. Tolerance regulates the presence of the Other both inside and outside the liberal democratic nation-state, and often it forms a circuit between them that legitimates the most illiberal actions of the state by means of a term consummately associated with liberalism. TOLERANCE AS A DISCOURSE OF POWER AND A PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENTALITY As will already be apparent, the questions with which this study is concerned place it to one side of contemporary philosophical, historical, political-theoretical, and legal considerations of tolerance as a benignly positive, if difficult, individual and collective practice. In philosophy and ethics, tolerance is typically conceived as an individual virtue, issuing from and respecting the value of moral autonomy, and acting as a sharp rein on the impulse to legislate against morally or religiously repugnant beliefs and behaviors. 4 Political theorists debate the appropriate purview and limits of tolerance and probe the problem of nonreciprocity between more and less tolerant individuals, cultures, or regimes. 5 In Western history, while scholars have unearthed premodern pockets of tolerance practice, tolerance as a political principle is mostly treated as the offspring of classical liberalism and, more precisely, as a product of the bloody early modern religious wars that initiated the prising apart of political and religious authority and the carving out of a space of individual autonomy from both. 6 In comparative cultural and political analysis, the standard contrast is between the millet system of tolerance famously associated with the Ottoman Empire (also practiced in limited ways in ancient Greece and Rome, medieval England, medieval China, and modern India), which divided society into communities grouped by religion, and the form of Protestant tolerance, with its emphasis on individual conscience, that flowered in the West. In American law, tolerance is either First Amendment territory or is placed on the relatively newer legal terrain of group rights and sovereignty claims. 7 In international law, tolerance is among the panoply of goods promised by a universal doctrine of human rights. While benefiting substantially from these literatures, this study also works to one side of them. Rather than treating tolerance as an independent or self-consistent principle, doctrine, or practice of cohabitation, it aims to comprehend political deployments of tolerance as historically and culturally specific discourses of power with strong rhetorical functions. 8 Above all, it seeks to track the complex involvement of tolerance with power. As a moral-political practice of governmentality, tolerance has significant cultural, social, and political effects that exceed its surface operations of reducing conflict or of protecting the weak or the minoritized, and that exceed its formal goals and self-representation. These include contributions to political and civic subject formation and to the articulation of the political, the social, citizenship, justice, the nation, and civilization. Tolerance can function as a substitute for or as a supplement to formal liberal equality or liberty; it can also overtly block the pursuit of substantive equality and freedom. At times, tolerance shores up troubled orders of power, repairs state legitimacy, glosses troubled universalisms, and provides cover for imperialism. There are mobilizations of tolerance that do not simply alleviate but rather circulate racism, homophobia, and ethnic hatreds; likewise, there are mobilizations that legitimize racist state violence. Not all deployments of tolerance do all of these things all the time. But the concern of this study is to consider how, when, and why these effects occur as part of the operation of tolerance, rather than to ignore them or treat them as “externalities” vis-à-vis tolerance’s main project. Does such a relentlessly critical set of concerns mean that this is a book “against tolerance”? Comprehending tolerance in terms of power and as a productive force—one that fashions, regulates, and positions subjects, citizens, and states as well as one that legitimates certain kinds of actions—does not lead to a roundly negative judgment. To reveal the operations of power, governance, and subject production entailed in particular deployments of tolerance certainly divests them of a wholly blessed status, puncturing the aura of pure goodness that contemporary invocations of tolerance carry; but this fall from grace does not strip tolerance of all value in reducing violence or in developing certain habits of civic cohabitation. The recognition that discourses of tolerance inevitably articulate identity and difference, belonging and marginality, and civilization and barbarism, and that they invariably do so on behalf of hegemonic social or political powers, does not automatically negate the worth of tolerance in attenuating certain kinds of violence or abuse. Without question tolerance has been adduced at times for such purposes, from early modern efforts to stop the burning alive of religious heretics and bloody civil wars to the contemporary willingness of people who disapprove of racial mixing to forswear attempts to impose their views on others or enact them as law. Conversely, all encomiums to tolerance need not be aimed at limiting violence or subordination for some to have this aim, and degrees and forms of subordination and abjection in tolerance discourse vary substantially. For example, though tolerance of homosexuals today is often advocated as an alternative to full legal equality, this stance is significantly different from promulgating tolerance of homosexuals as an alternative to harassing, incarcerating, or institutionalizing them; the former opposes tolerance to equality and bids to maintain the abject civic status of the homosexual while the latter opposes tolerance to cruelty, violence, or civic expulsion. To remove the scales from our eyes about the innocence of tolerance in relation to power is not thereby to reject tolerance as useless or worse. Rather, it changes the status of tolerance from a transcendental virtue to a historically protean element of liberal governance, a re-situating that casts tolerance as a vehicle for producing and organizing subjects, a framework for state action and state speech, and an aspect of liberalism’s legitimation. Yet the initial counterintuitiveness of this claim, our commonplace inclination to view tolerance as a moral rather than political practice, reminds us what an unusual figure tolerance is in liberal democracy today. Like civility, with which it is often linked, tolerance is a political value and sometimes even a dictum, but it is not precisely formulated or enshrined in law. 9 While the First Amendment may be understood as a constitutional codification of tolerance in the United States, it is significant that the word appears nowhere in the amendment itself; in addition, most contemporary domestic iterations of tolerance pertain to race, ethnicity, sexuality, culture, or “lifestyle,” none of which is among the freedoms expressly guaranteed by this amendment. Moreover, liberal democracies feature no “right to tolerance,” although their liberties of religion, assembly, and speech may together be considered to promote a tolerant regime or a tolerant society. Nor is there a “crime of intolerance,” even as intolerance is often linked to “hate crime” and is also invoked to cast aspersion on regimes or societies figured as dangerous in their orthodoxy or fundamentalism. Thus, within secular liberal democratic states it is safe to say that tolerance functions politically and socially, but not legally, to propagate understandings and practices regarding how people within a nation, or regimes within an international system, can and ought to cohabit. So while tolerance may be a state or civic principle, while it may figure prominently in the preambles of constitutions or policy documents and may conceptually undergird laws and judicial decisions concerning freedom of religion, speech, and association, tolerance as such is not legally or doctrinally codified. 10 Nor can it be, both because the meaning and work of tolerance is bound to its very plasticity—to when, where, and how far it will stretch—and because its legitimating goodness is tied to virtue, not to injunction or legality. Virtue is exercised and emanates from within; it cannot be organized as a right or rule, let alone commanded. Conventionally, tolerance is adduced for beliefs or practices that may be morally, socially, or ideologically offensive but are not in direct conflict with the law. Thus, law constitutes one limit of the reach of tolerance, designating its purview as personal or private matters within the range of what is legal. Laws, of course, may be changed in the name of greater tolerance, as in the repeal of antimiscegenation or antisodomy laws, or in the name of less tolerance, as in laws banning same-sex marriage or restricting abortion. But in each case, the negotiation is between what is deemed a private or individual choice appropriately beyond the reach of law (hence tolerable) and what is deemed a matter of the public interest (hence not a matter of tolerance). 11 Again, tolerance is generally a civic or social practice that may be sanctioned by law but is not precisely encoded orregulated by it; we are tolerant not by law but in addition to the law. Nor are there today laws of tolerance as there are laws, say, of equality, liberty, or the franchise; and when we glance back at edicts of tolerance in past centuries, they appear incompatible with contemporary standards of egalitarianism, since they did not merely protect but simultaneously stigmatized and overtly regulated the group they targeted. This suggests that the legal codification of tolerance necessarily recedes as the purview of formal equality is expanded. But it does not follow that tolerance as governmentality therefore declines or disappears; rather, it is resituated to the para-legal and para-statist status described above. What are the implications of the fact that the cultural-political field of tolerance as a civic practice is largely inside the domain demarcated as legal? First, that position makes it difficult to see the extent to which tolerance at times functions as a supplement to liberal legalism and liberal egalitarianism, a function discussed at length in chapters 3 and 4. Second, the identification of the virtue of tolerance with voluntary rather than coerced or mandated behavior makes it difficult to see tolerance as a practice of power and regulation—in short, as a practice of governmentality. Third, insofar as the legal and the political are generally conflated in liberal democratic thought, the practice of tolerance occurs off the radar screen of the formally political, in a space remaindered by liberal legalism. All of these factors contribute to the de-politicizing functions of tolerance and the depoliticization of tolerance, matters to which we now turn. TOLERANCE AND/AS DEPOLITICIZATION Some scholars of tolerance have attempted to distinguish tolerance, the attitude or virtue, from toleration, the practice. 12 For this study, a different distinction is useful, one that is both provisional and porous but that may stem the tendency, mentioned earlier, to mistake an insistence on the involvement of tolerance with power for a rejection or condemnation of tolerance. The distinction is between a personal ethic of tolerance, an ethic that issues from an individual commitment and has objects that are largely individualized, and a political discourse, regime, or governmentality of tolerance that involves a particular mode of depoliticizing and organizing the social. A tolerant individual bearing, understood as a willingness to abide the offensive or disturbing predilections and tastes of others, is surely an inarguable good in many settings: a friend’s irritating laugh, a student’s distressing attire, a colleague’s religious zeal, the repellant smell of a stranger, a neighbor’s horrid taste in garden plants—these provocations do not invite my action, or even my comment, and the world is surely a more gracious and graceful place if I can be tolerant in the face of them. Every human being, perhaps even every sentient animal, routinely exercises tolerance at this level. But tolerance as a political discourse concerned with designated modalities of diversity, identity, justice, and civic cohabitation is another matter. It involves not simply the withholding of speech or action in response to contingent individual dislikes or violations of taste but the enactment of social, political, religious, and cultural norms; certain practices of licensing and regulation; the marking of subjects of tolerance as inferior, deviant, or marginal vis-à-vis those practicing tolerance; and a justification for sometimes dire or even deadly action when the limits of tolerance are considered breached. Tolerance of this sort does not simply address identity but abets in its production; it also abets in the conflation of culture with ethnicity or race and the conflation of belief or consciousness with phenotype. And it naturalizes as it depoliticizes these processes to render identity itself an object of tolerance. These are consequential achievements. In cautiously distinguishing an individual bearing from a political discourse of tolerance, I am not arguing that the two are unrelated, nor am I suggesting that the former is always good, benign, or free of power while the latter is bad, oppressive, or power-laden. Not only does tolerance as a public value have its place, and not only does the political discourse give shape to the individual ethos and vice versa, but even an individual bearing of tolerance in nonpolitical arenas carries authority and potential subjection through unavowed norms. Almost all objects of tolerance are marked as deviant, marginal, or undesirable by virtue of being tolerated, and the action of tolerance inevitably affords some access to superiority, even as settings or dynamics of mutual tolerance may complicate renderings of superordination and superiority as matters of relatively fixed status. Again, if tolerance is never innocent of power or normativity, this serves only to locate it solidly in the realm of the human and hence make it inappropriate for conceptualizations of morality and virtue that fancy themselves independent of power and subjection. Of itself, however, this revaluation does not yet indicate what the specifically political problematics of tolerance are. These are set not by the presence of power in the exercise of tolerance but, rather, by the historical, social, and cultural particulars of this presence in specific deployments of tolerance as well as in discourses with which tolerance intersects, including those of equality, freedom, culture, enfranchisement, and Western civilization. Tolerance as such is not the problem. Rather, the call for tolerance, the invocation of tolerance, and the attempt to instantiate tolerance are all signs of identity production and identity management in the context of orders of stratification or marginalization in which the production, the management, and the context themselves are disavowed. In short, they are signs of a buried order of politics. Part of the project of this book, then, is to analyze tolerance, especially in its recently resurgent form, as a strand of depoliticization in liberal democracies. Depoliticization involves construing inequality, subordination, marginalization, and social conflict, which all require political analysis and political solutions, as personal and individual, on the one hand, or as natural, religious, or cultural on the other. Tolerance works along both vectors of depoliticization—it personalizes and it naturalizes or culturalizes—and sometimes it intertwines them. Tolerance as it is commonly used today tends to cast instances of inequality or social injury as matters of individual or group prejudice. And it tends to cast group conflict as rooted in ontologically natural hostility toward essentialized religious, ethnic, or cultural difference. That is, tolerance discourse reduces conflict to an inherent friction among identities and makes religious, ethnic, and cultural difference itself an inherent site of conflict, one that calls for and is attenuated by the practice of tolerance. As I will suggest momentarily, tolerance is hardly the cause of the naturalization of political conflict and the ontologization of politically produced identity in liberal democracies, but it is facilitated by and abets these processes. Although depoliticization sometimes personalizes, sometimes culturalizes, and sometimes naturalizes conflict, these tactical variations are tethered to a common mechanics, which is what makes it possible to speak of depoliticization as a coherent phenomenon. 13 Depoliticization involves removing a political phenomenon from comprehension of its historical emergence and from a recognition of the powers that produce and contour it. No matter its particular form and mechanics, depoliticization always eschews power and history in the representation of its subject. When these two constitutive sources of social relations and political conflict are elided, an ontological naturalness or essentialism almost inevitably takes up residence in our understandings and explanations. In the case at hand, an object of tolerance analytically divested of constitution by history and power is identified as naturally and essentially different from the tolerating subject; in this difference, it appears as a natural provocation to that which tolerates it. Moreover, not merely the parties to tolerance but the very scene of tolerance is naturalized, ontologized in its constitution as produced by the problem of difference itself. When, for example, middle and high schoolers are urged to tolerate one another’s race, ethnicity, culture, religion, or sexual orientation, there is no suggestion that the differences at issue, or the identities through which these differences are negotiated, have been socially and historically constituted and are themselves the effect of power and hegemonic norms, or even of certain discourses about race, ethnicity, sexuality, and culture. 14 Rather, difference itself is what students learn they must tolerate. In addition to depoliticization as a mode of dispossessing the constitutive histories and powers organizing contemporary problems and contemporary political subjects—that is, depoliticization of sources of political problems—there is a second and related meaning of depoliticization with which this book is concerned: namely, that which substitutes emotional and personal vocabularies for political ones in formulating solutions to political problems. When the ideal or practice of tolerance is substituted for justice or equality, when sensitivity to or even respect for the other is substituted for justice for the other, when historically induced suffering is reduced to “difference” or to a medium of “offense,” when suffering as such is reduced to a problem of personal feeling, then the field of political battle and political transformation is replaced with an agenda of behavioral, attitudinal, and emotional practices. While such practices often have their value, substituting a tolerant attitude or ethos for political redress of inequality or violent exclusions not only reifies politically produced differences but reduces political action and justice projects to sensitivity training, or what Richard Rorty has called an “improvement in manners. ”15 A justice project is replaced with a therapeutic or behavioral one. One sure sign of a depoliticizing trope or discourse is the easy and politically crosscutting embrace of a political project bearing its name. As we have seen, tolerance, like diversity, democracy, and family, is endorsed across political lines in liberal societies, a phenomenon that has intensified in recent years as tolerance has come to belong collectively rather than selectively to Westerners and as intolerance has become a code word not merely for bigotry or investments in whiteness but for a fundamentalism identified with the non-West, with barbarism, and with anti-Western violence. Even Westerners who oppose certain kinds of tolerance—conservative Christians who argue against tolerating sexual libertinism, “humanism,” or atheism; self-anointed patriots who would limit political dissent; or progressives who argue against tolerating cultural or religious practices they judge abusive to women or children—even these positions are not arrayed against tolerance as such but only against extending tolerance to the obscene or the barbaric. If tolerance today is considered synonymous with the West, with liberal democracy, with Enlightenment, and with modernity, then tolerance is what distinguishes “us” from “them. ” Chandran Kukathas has taken this so far as to instantiate tolerance as the first virtue of liberal political life; prior to equality, freedom, or any other principle of justice is the liberty of conscience and association that toleration protects. 16 By no means is tolerance the only or even the most significant discourse of depoliticization in contemporary liberal democracies. In fact, the widespread embrace of tolerance today, especially in the United States, is facilitated by its convergence with other sources of discursive depoliticalization. These sources include long-standing tendencies in liberalism itself and in the peculiarly American ethos of individualism. They include the diffusion of market rationality across the political and social spheres precipitated by the ascendency of neoliberalism. And they include the more recent phenomenon that Mahmood Mamdani has named the “culturalization of politics. ”17 Each of these will be considered below. Liberalism. The legal and political formalism of liberalism, in which most of what transpires in the spaces designated as cultural, social, economic, and private is considered natural or personal (in any event, independent of power and political life), is a profound achievement of depoliticization. Liberalism’s excessive freighting of the individual subject with self-making, agency, and a relentless responsibility for itself also contributes to the personalization of politically contoured conflicts and inequalities. These tendencies eliminate from view various norms and social relations—especially those pertaining to capital, race, gender, and sexuality—that construct and position subjects in liberal democracies. In addition, the reduction of freedom to rights, and of equality to equal standing before the law, eliminates from view many sources of subordination, marginalization, and inequality that organize liberal democratic societies and fashion their subjects. Liberal ideology at its most generic, then, always already eschews power and history in its articulation and comprehension of the social and the subject. Individualism. The American cultural emphasis on the importance of individual belief and behavior, and of individual heroism and failure, is also relentlessly depoliticizing. An identification of belief, attitude, moral fiber, and individual will with the capacity to make world history is the calling card of the biographical backstories and anecdotes that so often substitute for political analyses and considerations of power in American popular culture. 18 From Horatio Algers to demonized welfare mothers, from Private Jessica Lynch to Private Lynndie England, from mythohistories to mythobiographies, we are awash in the conceits that right attitudes produce justice, that willpower and tenacity produce success, and that everything else is, at most, background, context, luck, or accidents of history. 19 It is a child’s view of history and politics: idealist, personal, and replete with heroes and villains, good values and bad. Market rationality. A third layer of depoliticization is added to the contemporary American context by the saturation of every feature of social and political life with entrepreneurial and consumer discourse, a saturation inaugurated by capitalism in its earlier modality but taken to new levels by neoliberal political rationality. When every aspect of human relations, human endeavor, and human need is framed in terms of the rational entrepreneur or consumer, then the powers constitutive of these relations, endeavors, and needs vanish from view. As the political rationality of neoliberalism becomes increasingly dominant, its depoliticizing effects combine with those of classical political liberalism and American cultural narratives of the individual to make nearly everything seem a matter of individual agency or will, on the one hand, or fortune or contingency on the other. 20 Tolerance as a depoliticizing discourse gains acceptance and legitimacy by being nestled among these other discourses of depoliticization, and it draws on their techniques of analytically disappearing the political and historical constitution of conflicts and subjects. Moreover, as is the case with liberalism, the American culture of individualism, and neoliberal market rationality, tolerance masks its own operation as a discourse of power and a technology of governmentality. Popularly defined as respect for human difference or for “opinions and practices [that] differ from one’s own,”21 there is no acknowledgment of the norms, the subject construction, the subject positioning, or the civilizational identity at stake in tolerance discourse; likewise, there is no avowal of the means by which certain peoples, nations, practices, or utterances get marked as beyond the pale of tolerance, or of the politics of line drawing between the tolerable and the intolerable, the tolerant and the intolerant. Culturalization of politics. We have already noted ambiguity in the meaning and purview of tolerance: Is it respect? acceptance? repressed violence? Is it a posture? a policy? a moral principle? an ethos? a politics? Does it promote moral autonomy? equality? the protection of difference? freedom? But more than being merely ambiguous, tolerance today is often invoked in a manner that equates or conflates non-commensurable subjects and practices, including religion, culture, ethnicity, race, and sexual norms. In tolerance talk, ethnicity, race, religion, and culture are especially interchangeable. For example: In her discussion of how and why “culture” oppresses women and ought therefore to be constrained and regulated by liberal juridicism rather than always tolerated, Susan Okin slides indiscriminately between (patriarchal) culture and (patriarchal) religion, effectively conflating them. 22 And in a film on terror at the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, the narrative moves directly from a discussion of the threat posed by “Islamic extremists” to a question about the appropriateness of “racial and ethnic profiling” to manage this threat, thereby conflating religion, ethnicity, and race. Similarly, the interchangeability of “Arab American” and “Muslim” in American political discourse is as routine as is elision of the fact that many Palestinians are Christians and some Israelis are Arabs. And fundamentalism as one name for the post–cold war enemy of the “free world” is assigned a shifting site of emanation that floats across culture, religion, state, region, and regime. These conflations and slides are not simply the effect of historical and political ignorance or of a sloppy multiculturalist discourse in which all marked identities are rendered analytically equivalent. They are, rather, symptoms of the culturalization of politics, the assumption “that every culture has a tangible essence that defines it and then explains politics as a consequence of that essence. ”23 This reduction of political motivations and causes to essentialized culture (where culture refers to an amorphous polyglot of ethnically marked religious and nonreligious beliefs and practices) is mobilized to explain everything from Palestinian suicide bombers to Osama bin Laden’s world designs, mass death in Rwanda and Sudan, and the failure of democracy to take hold in the immediate aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. It is what George W. Bush draws on when he insists that a gruesome event in the Middle East “reminds us of the nature of our enemy. ”24 The culturalization of politics analytically vanquishes political economy, states, history, and international and transnational relations. It eliminates colonialism, capital, caste or class stratification, and external political domination from accounts of political conflict or instability. In their stead, “culture” is summoned to explain the motives and aspirations leading to certain conflicts (living by the sword, religious fundamentalism, cultures of violence) as well as the techniques and weapons deployed (suicide bombing, decapitation). Samuel Huntington offers the premier inscription for the culturalization of politics: since the end of the cold war, he argues, “the iron curtain of ideology” has been replaced by a “velvet curtain of culture. ”25 Critically reworded, the West’s cold war reduction of political conflict to ideology has been replaced by its post–cold war reduction of political conflict to culture. Importantly, however, this reduction bears a profound asymmetry. The culturalization of politics is not evenly distributed across the globe. Rather, culture is understood to drive Them politically and to lead them to attack our culture, which We are not driven by but which we do cherish and defend. As Mamdani puts it, “The moderns make culture and are its masters; the premoderns are said to be but conduits. ”26 This division into those who are said to be ruled by culture and those who are said to rule themselves but enjoy culture renders culture not simply a dividing line between various peoples or regimes or civilizations, and not simply the explanation for political conflict, but itself the problem for which liberalism is the solution. How does this work? The notion that culture—whatever one means by it—is political is old news. But the notion that liberalism, as a politics, is cultural, is catachrestic. The reasons for this nonreciprocity are several. There is, first, liberalism’s conceit about the universality of its basic principles: secularism, the rule of law, equal rights, moral autonomy, individual liberty. If these principles are universal, then they are not matters of culture, which is identified today with the particular, local, and provincial. 27 There is, second, liberalism’s unit of analysis, the individual, and its primary project, maximizing individual freedom, which together stand antithetically to culture’s provision of the coherence and continuity of groups—an antithesis that positions liberal principles and culture as mutual antagonists. This leads to the third basis on which liberalism represents itself as cultureless: namely, that liberalism presumes to master culture by privatizing and individualizing it, just as it privatizes and individualizes religion. It is a basic premise of liberal secularism and liberal universalism that neither culture nor religion are permitted to govern publicly; both are tolerated on the condition that they are privately and individually enjoyed. Contemporary liberal political and legal doctrine thus positions culture as its Other and also as necessarily antagonistic to its principles unless it is subordinated—that is, unless culture is literally “liberalized” through privatization and individualization. Moreover, liberalization is taken to attenuate the claims of culture by making what are otherwise authoritative and automatically transmitted meanings, practices, behaviors, and beliefs into matters of individual attachment. Liberalism presumes to convert culture’s collectively binding powers, its shared and public qualities, into individual and privately lived choices. Liberalism, in other words, presumes culture and politics to be fused unless culture is conquered—politically neutered—by the universal, hence noncultural, principles of liberalism. Without liberalism, culture is conceived by liberals as oppressive and dangerous not only because of its disregard for individual rights and liberties and for the rule of law, but also because the inextricability of cultural principles from power, combined with the nonuniversal nature of these principles, renders it devoid of judicial and political accountability. Hence culture must be contained by liberalism, forced into a position in which it makes no political claim and is established as optional for individuals. Rather than a universe of organizing ideas, values, and modes of being together, culture must be shrunk to the status of a house that individuals may enter and exit. Liberalism represents itself as the sole mode of governance that can do this. In short, in our time, the conceit of the relative autonomy of the political, the economic, and the cultural within liberal democracies—a conceit shared by liberals ranging from Habermas to Huntington— has replaced the nineteenth-century conceit of the autonomy of the state from civil society. Liberal democratic governance is imagined by liberals to operate relatively independently of both capital and cultural values. This putative autonomy of liberal political principles and institutions is incarnated in the liberal insistence on the universality and hence supervenience of human rights, an insistence that runs from Jimmy Carter to Michael Ignatieff to George W. Bush. Not only does this formulation free human rights from the stigma of cultural imperialism, it also allows them to be coherently invoked as a means of protecting culture. 28 But liberalism is cultural. This is not simply to say that liberalism promotes a certain culture—say, of individualism or of entrepreneurship—though certainly these are truisms. Nor is it simply to say that liberalism is always imbricated with what we call national cultures, although it is and too little contemporary liberal theory has considered what this imbrication implies, even as our histories of political thought have routinely compared the liberalisms emerging from different parts of Europe and the Americas. Nor is it simply to say that there is no pure liberalism but only varieties of it—republican, libertarian, communitarian, social democratic. Nor is it only to say that all liberal orders harbor, affirm, and instantiate in law nonliberal values and practices, although this is also so. Rather, the theoretical claim here is that both the constructive and repressive powers we call those of culture— the powers that produce and reproduce subjects’ relations and practices, beliefs and rationalities, and that do so without their express choice or consent—are neither conquered by liberalism nor absent from liberalism. Liberalism is not only itself a cultural form, it also is striated with nonliberal culture wherever it is institutionalized and practiced. Even in the texts of its most abstract analytic theorists, it is impure, hybridized, and fused to values, assumptions, and practices unaccounted by it and unaccountable within it. Liberalism involves a contingent, malleable, and protean set of beliefs and practices about being human and being together; about relating to self, others, and world; about doing and not doing; about valuing and not valuing select things. And liberalism is also always institutionalized, constitutionalized, and governmentalized in articulation with other cultural norms—those of kinship, race, gender, sexuality, work, politics, leisure, and more. This is one reason why liberalism, a protean cultural form, is not analytically synonymous with democracy, a protean political practice of sharing power and governance. The double ruse on which liberalism relies to distinguish itself from culture—on the one hand, casting liberal principles as universal; on the other, juridically privatizing culture—ideologically figures liberalism as untouched by culture and thus as incapable of cultural imperialism. In its self-representation as the sole political doctrine that can harbor culture and religion without being conquered by them, liberalism casts itself as uniquely tolerant of culture from its position above culture. But liberalism is no more above or outside culture than is any other political form, and culture is not always elsewhere from liberalism. Both the autonomy and the universality of liberal principles are myths, crucial to liberalism’s reduction of questions about its imperial ambitions or practices to questions about whether forcing others to be free is consonant with liberal principles. In sum, the contemporary “culturalization of politics” reduces non-liberal political life (including radical identity claims within liberal regimes) to something called culture at the same time that it divests liberal democratic institutions of any association with culture. Within this logic, tolerance is invoked as a liberal democratic principle but for what is named the cultural domain, a domain that comprises all essentialized identities, from sexuality to ethnicity, that produce the problem of difference within contemporary liberalism. Thus, tolerance is invoked as a tool for managing what are construed as (nonliberal because “different” and nonpolitical because “essential”) culturalized identity claims or identity clashes. As such, tolerance reiterates the depoliticization of those claims and clashes, at the same time depicting itself as a norm-free tool of liberal governance, a mere means for securing freedom of conscience or (perhaps more apt today) freedom of identity. This book seeks to lay bare this political landscape. It contests the culturalization of politics that tolerance discourse draws from and promulgates, and contests as well theputatively a-cultural nature of liberalism. The normative premise animating this contestation is that a more democratic global future involves affirming rather than denying and disavowing liberalism’s cultural facets and its imprint by particular cultures. Such an affirmation would undermine liberalism’s claims to universalism and liberalism’s status as culturally neutral in brokering the tolerable. This erosion, in turn, would challenge the standing of liberal regimes as uniquely, let alone absolutely, tolerant, revealing them instead to be as self-affirming and Other-rejecting as many other regimes. It would also reveal liberalism’s proximity to and bouts of forthright engagement with fundamentalism. The recognition of liberalism as cultural is more than a project of debunking its airs of superiority or humiliating its hubristic reach. Rather, insofar as it makes explicit the inherent hybridity or impurity of every instantiation of liberalism, it underscores the impossibility of any liberalism ever being “only liberalism” and the extent to which both form and content are potted, historical, local, lived. It reveals liberalism as always already being the issue of miscegenation with its fundamentalist Other, as containing this Other within, and thus as having a certain potential for recognizing and connecting with this Other without. In this possibility may be contained liberalism’s prospects for renewal, even for redemption, or at the very least for more modest and peaceful practices. Return to Book Description File created: 8/7/2007 Questions and comments to: email@example. com Princeton University Press

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The X-ray light image of the cloud Cassiopeia A versus the visible light image. If you look very closely, you can see a small bright spot near the middle of the cloud in the X-ray image. Scientists say this may be a neutron star or black hole. Click on image for full size Courtesy of NASA and the SAO Chandra X-ray Center NASA Reveals First Images from Chandra News story originally written on August 27, 1999 NASA revealed a few of the many images that will come from its newest telescope. Since first being deployed July 23, the Chandra X Observatory has had no problems. It first made a series of engine firings, before finally reaching its current orbit. The sunshade was opened, and now the images are starting to fly in. The results are breathtaking. Included in the first set are images of a gigantic exploding star and a lightning quick X-ray blast flying through outer space. What's even more amazing, is the discovery of a possible neutron star or black hole found inside the stellar cloud. NASA hopes this one discovery is just a glimpse of what's to come. They believe the powerful instrument will reveal black holes hiding throughout the universe. The Chandra takes images using X-rays instead of visual light. X-rays travel at a much higher frequency, and are usually released by extremely hot objects. Many of these objects cannot be seen with visual light, which means the Hubble Space Telescope cannot see them. While the Hubble has a rather circular orbit close to Earth, Chandra follows an elliptical orbit, which sends the telescope to distances between 6,000 and 86,400 miles from Earth. It was named after a physicist, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. He won a Nobel Prize in 1983. Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store! Our online store includes issues of NESTA's quarterly journal, The Earth Scientist , full of classroom activities on different topics in Earth and space science, ranging from seismology , rocks and minerals , and Earth system science You might also be interested in: Neutron Stars are the end point of a massive star's life. When a really massive star runs out of nuclear fuel in its core the core begins to collapse under gravity. When the core collapses the entire star. . . more The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has recently found some awesome mirages produced by lenses in space. These lenses act as giant magnifying glasses for the Universe. A lens is produced when a large object. . . more Everyone is awed by black holes. How could there be a thing that just devours all light and matter around it. . . so that matter can never escape? ! ? Scientists using observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory.. . more It was another exciting and frustrating year for the space science program. It seemed that every step forward led to one backwards. Either way, NASA led the way to a great century of discovery. Unfortunately,. . . more The Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on October 29th at 2:19 p. m. EST. The weather was great as Discovery took 8 1/2 minutes to reach orbit. This was the United States' 123rd. . . more A moon was discovered orbiting the asteroid, Eugenia. This is only the second time in history that a satellite has been seen circling an asteroid. A special mirror allowed scientists to find the moon. . . more Will Russia ever put the service module for the International Space Station in space? NASA officials want an answer from the Russian government. The necessary service module is currently waiting to be. . . more

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Impact melt material inside of the crater Gassendi A, which intrudes into the northern rim of the larger crater Gassendi. LROC NAC image M107136013L, image width is 840 meters (2756 feet). The crater Gassendi is 110 kilometers (68 miles) in diameter and located on the northern edge of Mare Humorum at 17. 5°S, 39. 9°W. Gassendi features an array of intersecting fractures on its floor, collectively known as the Rimae Gassendi. Some of the largest fractures are thousands of meters wide. The origin of these fractures in the floor of Gassendi is not known for certain. After the impact the floor of Gassendi was molten and as it cooled, a crust of solid material formed at the surface. As the entire crater floor continued to cool and settle into its final shape, fractures could have formed due to the forces caused by these changes. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center built and manages the mission for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera was designed to acquire data for landing site certification and to conduct polar illumination studies and global mapping. Operated by Arizona State University, LROC consists of a pair of narrow-angle cameras (NAC) and a single wide-angle camera (WAC). The mission is expected to return over 70 terabytes of image data.

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exposure error, epidemiologic designs and methods of analysis, measures of the effects of ozone exposure on death, and uncertainty contribute to our ability to estimate ozone-related mortality risk and to apply the estimates to risk and benefits analysis. The mechanisms by which ozone can damage health and possibly lead to mortality remain a subject of considerable clinical interest. Toxicologic studies have attempted to identify the mechanisms by using a variety of techniques, from ultrastructural, biochemical, and cytologic analyses to in vivo measurement of airflow mechanics. The techniques generally examine the effects of controlled ozone exposures of less than 8 h and, to a smaller extent, exposures of several days to increased ambient concentrations. The findings of a number of toxicologic studies provide insights to suggest the potential for a number of events by which ozone exposure could lead to increased mortality, including lung inflammation leading to local pulmonary compromise (Devlin et al. 1991; Holz et al. 1999; Koren et al. 1991; Ratto et al. 2006; Bosson et al. 2007), worsening of pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease, systemic release of mediators that affect adverse cardiovascular events (Hollingsworth et al. 2007), effects on the autonomic nervous system that could contribute to increased airway responsiveness (Chen et al. 2003) or reduced heart rate variability, and an increase in factors that lead to vascular changes (Chuang et al. 2007). Definitive proof of such occurrences leading to mortality are not found in the current scientific literature, however, there is ample evidence ozone can induce mechanisms through a sequence of events to trigger oxidative stress or inflammation pathways, which can contribute to release of pulmonary or systemic mediators. The events may further result in the exacerbation of a pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular condition. Chen et al. (2004) found increased sensitivity to aeroallergens in a subgroup of asthmatics following exposure to 200 ppb ozone. There exists the biological plausibility that for a few individuals with pre-existing cardiopulmonary or chronic respiratory disease, such oxidative or inflammatory events could also cause death, via the onset of an asthmatic attack (Selgrade et al. 2008), myocardial infarction, or vascular event. Inflammatory events have been shown to occur for 20-30 h after inhalation of ozone even at ambient concentrations in the range of 0. 08-0. 10 ppm (Ratto et al. 2006; Chuang et al. 2007). There is less information on the airway inflammatory response to ozone at low concentrations, such as at or below 0. 08 ppm. The oxidative stress and inflammation cascade is initiated by an ozone-mediated airway and lung tissue response (Chuang et al. 2007). Ozone can initiate the cascade immediately after inhalation when it comes in contact with epithelial lining fluids and cellular membranes, most often at nasal epithelial surfaces and at the junction of the bronchioles and the alveolar region (centriaci-

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Pest Management and the Environment Environmental Protection Agency Publications and resources covering fish farming to pond management. Providing Iowans with an independent, authoritative voice on water resource issues affecting Iowa. A management approach for environmental enhancement of intensively modified agricultural landscapes. Research-based information and current Extension and Research projects on tillage and cropping systems, soil carbon sequestration, residue management, and cover crops. Information on Pesticide Applicator Training, Integrated Pest Management, and related environmental programs. The Iowa Soil and Land Use site provides data related to the agricultural and non-agricultural uses of Iowa land to help you determine the right use for your soil. Providing extension services on topics such as water quality and pollution control, hydrology and drainage, and remote sensing and modeling. Tree identification, care and maintenance, and timber management resources. Educating people about Iowa's wildlife resources so that Iowans can make informed decisions that impact wildlife and their habitats. Establishing watershed groups in impaired sub-watersheds throughout Iowa implemented through partnerships of farmers, extension specialists, Iowa State University Extension and agencies at the state and local level. Building institutional partnerships and increasing the capacity of citizens, educators, agencies and community leaders to better address water quality concerns. Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation, calling attention to the importance of improved water and soil quality through conservation farming practices. Developing new ways to farm profitably while conserving natural resources. Comprehensive information on manure management, research and application for Iowa. Find resources on soil nutrients, nutrient management, soil sampling and testing, interpretations and recommendations. ISU Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Agriculture and Natural Resources has to many resources to help Iowans. Get a list of them all here. Available at the Extension Online Store Browse the Store Emerald Ash Borer has been positively identified in the city of Clinton, making this the 20th county in Iowa where this wood boring pest. . . Harvesting rainwater, managing thistles, designing outdoor spaces and protecting ponds from too much moss are all topics covered in the. . . Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, (800) 262-3804, 2150 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50010-2046 Copyright © 2015 Iowa State University | Contact Us | For Staff | State & National Extension Partners | Website Log In4-H Staff Login

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|Skip Navigation Links| |Exit Print View| |System Administration Guide: Security Services Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 Information Library| Peripheral devices that are attached to a computer system pose a security risk. Microphones can pick up conversations and transmit them to remote systems. CD-ROMs can leave their information behind for reading by the next user of the CD-ROM device. Printers can be accessed remotely. Devices that are integral to the system can also present security issues. For example, network interfaces such as hme0 are considered integral devices. Oracle Solaris software provides two methods of controlling access to devices. Device policy restricts or prevents access to devices that are integral to the system. Device policy is enforced in the kernel. Device allocation restricts or prevents access to peripheral devices. Device allocation is enforced at user allocation time. Device allocation uses authorizations to protect peripheral devices, such as printers or microphones. By default, device allocation is not enabled. Once enabled, device allocation can be configured to prevent the use of a device or to require authorization for access to the device. When a device is allocated for use, no other user can access the device until the current user deallocates it. An Oracle Solaris system can be configured in several areas to control access to devices: Set device policy – In Oracle Solaris you can require that the process that is accessing a particular device be running with a set of privileges. Processes without those privileges cannot use the device. At boot time, Oracle Solaris software configures device policy. Third-party drivers can be configured with device policy during installation. After installation, you, as the administrator can add device policy to a device. Make devices allocatable – When you enable device allocation, you can restrict the use of a device to one user at a time. You can further require that the user fulfill some security requirements. For example, you can require that the user be authorized to use the device. Prevent devices from being used – You can prevent the use of a device, such as a microphone, by any user on a computer system. A computer kiosk might be a good candidate for making certain devices unavailable for use. Confine a device to a particular zone – You can assign the use of a device to a non-global zone. For more information, see Device Use in Non-Global Zones in System Administration Guide: Oracle Solaris Zones, Oracle Solaris 10 Containers, and Resource Management. For a more general discussion of devices and zones, see Configured Devices in Zones in System Administration Guide: Oracle Solaris Zones, Oracle Solaris 10 Containers, and Resource Management. The device policy mechanism enables you to specify that processes that open a device require certain privileges. Devices that are protected by device policy can only be accessed by processes that are running with the privileges that the device policy specifies. Oracle Solaris provides default device policy. For example, network interfaces such as hme0 require that the processes that access the interface be running with the net_rawaccess privilege. The requirement is enforced in the kernel. For more information about privileges, see Privileges (Overview). In earlier releases, device nodes were protected by file permissions alone. For example, devices owned by group sys could be opened only by members of group sys. Now, file permissions do not predict who can open a device. Instead, devices are protected with file permissions and with device policy. For example, the /dev/ip file has 666 permissions. However, the device can only be opened by a process with the appropriate privileges. The configuration of device policy can be audited. The AUE_MODDEVPLCY audit event records changes in device policy. For more information about device policy, see the following: The device allocation mechanism enables you to restrict access to a peripheral device, such as a CD-ROM. You manage the mechanism locally. If device allocation is not enabled, peripheral devices are protected only by file permissions. For example, by default, peripheral devices are available for the following uses: Any user can read and write to a diskette or CD-ROM. Any user can attach a microphone. Any user can access an attached printer. Device allocation can restrict a device to authorized users. Device allocation can also prevent a device from being accessed at all. A user who allocates a device has exclusive use of that device until the user deallocates the device. When a device is deallocated, device-clean scripts erase any leftover data. You can write a device-clean script to purge information from devices that do not have a script. For an example, see Writing New Device-Clean Scripts. Attempts to allocate a device, deallocate a device, and list allocatable devices can be audited. The audit events are part of the other audit class. For more information on device allocation, see the following:

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This tutorial will show the advanced Adobe Illustrator artist how to make a multimedia device. This tutorial will make light use of Illustrators 3D capabilities but focuses more on traditional drawing. We'll also cover how to shade and create logical reflections. Draw a rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M.) Warp the rectangle by going to Object > Envelope > Make with Warp, then select Arch for the Style and enter -42 for your vertical Bend. In order to edit the shape you will need to expand it. Go to Object > Expand. Give the left edge of the shape a straight edge by first drawing a rectangle over the arch shape and then using the Pathfinder to subtract the shapes. Click the options shown below. Duplicate the arch shape and flip it to create an identical left half. Select both shapes and merge them by selecting the options highlighted below. Make a copy of this shape and keep it off to the side for use at a later step. Draw a rectangle using the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Shear the rectangle by going to Object > Transform > Shear.. . Enter -45 for the Shear Angle and select Horizontal for the Axis. Duplicate the shape three times. Align and group all four shapes. With your four shapes grouped select the large shape in the background and then align all five shapes vertically and horizontally so everything is nice and centered. Subtract the corners from the shape by selecting the options highlighted below. Grab the shape that you placed to the side for later use. Draw another shear shape, duplicate and reflect it. Last, subtract it from the large shape (just as you did in the previous step. ) Copy the shape that looks like a cross (the light grey shape) and paste it behind the two shapes by pressing Command + B. You will now have three shapes on top of eachother. The light grey cross shape, the shape you created in the previous step and the grey cross again in the back. Make sure all three shapes are vertically and horizontally aligned. Give the face of the multimedia device some details and buttons using basic shapes. Once you have the face of the device looking good move all the details off to the side for now. Select all three shapes and give them some 3D qualities by going to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel.. . Enter the variables shown below. To edit the shapes you will need to Expand them by going to Object > Expand Appearance. Now you will have three different objects with 3D qualities. You will need to reposition your three shapes in order to see each shape. Of course you will not need to reposition them apart this far, this is just so you can see what you should end up with. It's a good idea to put each of the three shapes on their own layer. This will make it easy to select only the shape you want to edit. Position your shapes as close together as possible. Once you do this you will notice small details that don't perfectly line up. This is because the Perspective that was applied in Step 13 affects each item separately. In reality the dotted line would touch both edges of the top and bottom shape. The fix is simple. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A) drag over all the points that I've outlined within the dotted line below. You will have to lock the other two layers that have the middle and bottom shapes so you're not selecting points from those object simultaneously. Once you have those points selected simply move them to the right slightly to line up where they should be. Also, notice how the red area I've highlighted below should meet at the end of the shape too. Observe how both edges touch the dotted line. Notice how the red area also meets at the edge of the middle shape. The left side should already be pretty squared-away, so you won't need to make any changes there. A small overlap on the very left edge is OK, this will go undetected once we add different gradients to each shape. It is critical that you group your objects before you give them perspective and rotation. Go to Object > Group. This will ensure all of the details are treated as one object and the 3D effect will apply to them as a whole, not individual pieces. Give the details of the face of the device the same perspective and rotation as you applied before. I did not apply any Extrude Depth, as I wanted to give the buttons more of a rounded look, for the most part. To edit each of the objects on the face of the device you will need to Expand it first. Go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the oval on the left and give it a Linear Gradient, Inner Glow, and Drop Shadow. Apply the glow and shadow effects by going to Effect > Stylize and selecting the appropriate effect. Use the settings below as a guideline for your settings. Depending upon the dimensions of your artwork, your numbers may by different than what I show below, this is OK though. Just make sure it looks good to you. Apply similar effects to the buttons on the left as well as the buttons on the bottom. Create LED lights by using a bight color and giving the shape an Outter Glow. Apply an Outter Glow by going to Effect > Stylize > Outer Glow. Give the LED a highlight by drawing a white rectangle over the light and blurring it by going to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Copy and paste the two buttons shown below to add depth. Select both buttons at once and give their face a subtle gradient. In order to color each part of the top section of the device you will need to first Ungroup it by going to Object > Ungroup. You may have to do this several times to ensure all parts of the object are Ungrouped. To create a dramatic reflection first draw a shape using the Pen Tool (P) that cuts across the middle of the device. You don't have to give the shape a fill or a stroke. Select the top layer of the device and the shape you just drew and click Divide in the Pathfinder. Go to Object > Ungroup then delete the unnecessary shapes around the edges that you do not need. Select the individual shapes and give them a gradient that is dark on the left and lighter on the right. Give the screen a similar gradient that is slightly lighter to give the impression that the surface has changed slightly. Copy and paste the text below and make it 100% black to add depth. Duplicate the shape that is the screen of the device. Since the screen is now cut into two halves the outline that we need to apply will create an undesired line down the middle of the screen. So, using the Pathfinder select both halves of the screen and merge the shapes together as we did in Step 5. Give the newly merged shape two outlines, one grey and one black. Notice how each outline is slightly different in size. This creates the illusion of a beveled edge. You can give an object two outlines by using the Appearance Palette. Click the Flyout Triangle highlighted below and select Add New Stroke. You can also reorder which stroke is on top or on the bottom by selecting it and moving it above or below the other stroke. Select the edges of the top layer and give each section a gradient. Note how the middle of the shape has a lighter color than the edges. This helps convey the idea of light boucing off of a curved surface. Add more points to your Gradient for more complex areas. Use a little creative license when deciding how each item looks. I decided to give this shape a small grey outline. This is what your device should look like with all the gradients applied. We'll add another ring around the knob by duplicating the ring and removing all the effects from it. To remove the effects use the Appearance Palette, select each item and click the trash can icon. Position the oval over the knob and enlarge it a little. Then give it a grey stroke and a light grey fill. We'll create reflections on the top and bottom of the oval by again duplicating the oval twice. Next, change the size of the top oval to be slightly larger and wider than the other. Select both ovals and Divide them by selecting the option shown below. Ungroup the shapes by going to Object > Ungroup. Delete everything but the top part of the shapes. You can use the top part of the shape for reflections (see next step. ) I've used the same shape for both the top and bottom reflection. Simply change the color so it looks like the amount of light hitting each side of the surface is different. Achieve reflections for the other buttons in the same manner as Step 43. . . . . . and again for the reflections over the buttons on the right. This is what your artwork should look like right now. Duplicate the face of the device, use the Pathfinder to merge both halves (since we divided it in a previous step) and blur it by going to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. In your Transparency Palette select Multiply, which will make sure the drop shadow we just created looks good when we place a background behind it. Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, draw a rectangle, and give it a cool green gradient. This step will add a lot of visual interest to the device. Using the Pen Tool (P) draw along the edges of a few of the corners of the device. This gives the illusion of light hitting these corners and edges. Draw some on the right side too. And some on the top. Make sure not to go overboard though. Last, we'll create a haze that surrounds some of the highlights to give the indication of general light reflection. Draw a simple white shape that follows the edge of an object below it, then apply a blur by going to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Here is the final illustration! You've just learned how to create a sleek vector multimedia device.

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Rebecca Fitzgerald (Dermatologist) gives expert video advice on: How does someone become infected by herpes simplex? ; Is there a treatment available for herpes simplex? ; How can I prevent transmission of herpes simplex? and more. . . What is "herpes simplex"? Herpes simplex is one of the herpes viruses. Herpes viruses can live in nerves. The virus never leaves the body. It just becomes latent, and then, sometimes reactivated. When it is activated you'll get a blister or sore in the distribution of the nerve that's harboring the virus. When it's latent you won't see anything and won't even know that you have the infection. What are the different types of herpes simplex? There are different serotypes of the herpes simplex virus. At one point in time it was really thought that herpes simplex virus 1 was an infection that we commonly saw above the waist and that herpes simplex 2 was more commonly an infection that we saw below the waist. But there's been a lot of reports of both in both locations. So, although it is more common to get herpes simplex virus 1 in the lip or on the face and to get herpes virus simplex 2 as a genital infection that does not always hold true. How does someone become infected by herpes simplex? You can get infected with the herpes simplex virus by exposure to the virus; through small, microscopic breaks or cuts in the skin that you weren't even aware of. In particular with genital herpes, we think that most of that transmission, or that a lot of that transmission is even in the absence of an active virus. At one point in time we felt it might be safe to have sexual contact when you had no active lesion; that it was unlikely that you would pass on that infection. Now we know that the viral shed rate is quite high and often that infection is passed on when the patient has no symptoms at the time of contact. How does a dermatologist diagnose herpes simplex? Herpes simplex has a very, very characteristic look with little multi, very tiny multiloculated blisters on sort of a red base that looks like a hive. The interesting thing is that because it infects a nerve when that virus is activated it will cause that lesion in the same exact place every single time. So, if you get a sore that comes out, takes a week or so to go away and then comes back at some later date in the exact same spot and again resolves after a week or so, that clinically through that history and clinical appearance it's a diagnosis. That diagnosis can be confirmed by culture, but it can be made clinically. Is there a treatment available for herpes simplex? There is no cure for herpes simplex virus. We can, however, sort of help control the activation of that virus. So, there are medications available that will allow you to have less episodes of active infection than you would have otherwise had. For instance, if you would have had twelve cold sores this year and you stay on this therapy maybe you would just have two or three. There is not, as yet, a cure. Could I have herpes and not show any symptoms? Absolutely. In fact, the vast majority of women that have herpes have no symptoms. It's a cervical infection, they can't feel it, they can't see it, they don't know they have it, and then they pass it along. That is not uncommon. Even in males, you can have an infection with blisters that occur, activation and blisters that occur so infrequently that you don't think of yourself as "infected". But you are indeed infected with the virus whether you have an active blister or not. And it can be passed on to a partner whether you have an active blister or not.

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What’s the News: A new thumbnail-sized microscope will give researchers a way to see what’s happening in the brain of a mouse as it moves around and goes about its business. The microscope, described earlier this week in Nature Methods, weighs less than 2 grams—little enough that it can be fitted atop a rodent’s head—and tracks the activity of up to 200 brain cells. What’s the Context: - To watch a living brain in action, researchers usually have to make sure the animal that brain belongs to is keeping very still, be it a human in an MRI machine or a mouse under a benchtop microscope. That’s not such a problem for researchers studying, say, vision or memory—but it’s difficult to investigate the neuroscience of movement or behavior when your subjects can’t move around and behave. How the Heck: - The new device is a fluorescence microscope, meaning it shines light on a sample, then captures the glow that bounces back. Despite the scope’s tiny size, the researchers fit all the necessary optical components—lenses, sensors, a mirror, an LED light, and more—inside it. - In addition to being mobile, the microscope captures the activity of more cells than a traditional benchtop microscope does, letting researchers see what’s happening in a larger area of the brain. - To test out this new tool, the researchers cut small holes in the skulls of lab mice, then mounted the microscope, top hat-like, on the mice’s heads. For this study, they placed the scope over the cerebellum, the brain area involved in motor coordination. - The team injected the mice with a fluorescent dye that stuck to particular molecules in the brain and glowed under the LED light, providing a real-time feed of what the cells were doing. They then set the mice free to walk around a small enclosure or run on a wheel, recording their brain activity all the while. The video below shows the mice moving around on the left, and their concurrent brain activity—captured by the microscope—on the right. The Future Holds: - “For the animal to be able to carry the whole microscope along with it opens a lot more possibilities in studying behavior,” bioengineer Daniel Fletcher, who wasn’t involved with the study, told Technology Review. - While the prototype of the microscope cost $50,000 to make, all of the optical components either are or easily could be mass produced, which could vastly decrease the price. - The researchers see possibilities for this portable, soon-to-be-affordable microscope beyond neuroscience research, such as using it for diagnostic tests in areas without advanced medical facilities. Reference: Kunal K. Ghosh et al. “Miniaturized integration of a fluorescence microscope. ” Nature Methods, published online September 11, 2011. DOI: 10. 1038/nmeth. 1694 Image courtesy of Dan Stober, Stanford News Service / Video courtesy of Ghosh et al, Nature Methods

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There is only so much we retain from middle school biology class when it comes to the human body and reproduction. And sex ed, at least when I went to high school, only discussed how NOT to get pregnant. So, here are a few quick tips for those ready to start trying to get pregnant. How do I know when to have sex? First of all, tracking cycles and timing intercourse may not be your cup of tea right now and that is okay! If you want to keep it casual, intercourse with your partner 2-3 times a week will increase your odds of getting pregnant. This will likely ensure the sperm is where it needs to be (fallopian tube) for fertilization when it needs to be there (ovulation). For those ready to track their cycles, I recommend starting with a quick calculation. Generally speaking, the phase of a woman’s cycle following ovulation (called the luteal phase) is the most consistent phase of the menstrual cycle. For most women, the luteal phase is 14 days regardless of the length of your cycle. Whether your cycle is 20 days or 40 days, your luteal phase is probably 2 weeks long. Which means… ovulation occurs 2 weeks before your next period. So, ask yourself the following: - What is your cycle length? This means how many days are there between DAY 1 of your period (full flow period, spotting doesn’t count) to the next DAY 1? - Is it regular (similar cycle length each month)? For regular cycles, we can predicate ovulation fairly accurately by subtracting 14 days from our cycle length. Then, plan to have intercourse every 1-2 days during the “fertile window” defined as the 5 days prior to ovulation to optimize chances of pregnancy. For women with regular cycles, this day should line up with your ovulation predictor kit results, if you choose to use one, and your physical signs and symptoms of ovulation, if you have them! Check out our tips on resources to track your cycle and signs of ovulation here. If you have irregular cycles, it can be harder to predict ovulation. If you’re having a tough time getting a positive reading on an ovulation predictor kit, we recommend discussing with your OB-GYN so they can investigate further and provide guidance. When should I see a fertility specialist? Now that you’re on your way to predicting ovulation and beginning the process of trying to conceive, you may wonder at what point it would be helpful to see a specialist. Consider seeking medical assistance if any of the following apply to you: - If you are interested in freezing your eggs or embryos for future use - If you are age 35 and over and have been trying to conceive for greater than 6 months - If you are under age 35 and have been trying to conceive for 1 year - If you have a suspicion of infertility you should see a specialist sooner: - Abnormally painful periods - Irregular menstrual cycle - History of chemo or radiation - History of a pelvic infection or surgery that could affect your fallopian tubes - Ruptured appendix - GYN condition - Uterine surgery - Known genetic diagnosis or known carrier of a genetic disease - If things just feel “off” - If your mother had trouble conceiving Wishing you the best as you begin! Please reach out if you have any questions at all.

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Clustering Patterns of Handwritten Digits Download: digits. zip. Works on Windows and Linux, and on Geowalls. Concepts, ideas, and software that originate for one branch of science often end up being used in other branches. This demo shows how software originally written to visualize astronomical data, is actually a useful general purpose visualization tool. Dinoj Surendran was a graduate student in computer science on the lookout for a good visualization tool when he began helping Mark Subbarao on visualizing the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. By happy accident, Partiview, the package used by Mark, proved to be just what Dinoj was looking for. Since then, he's been using Partiview as a general purpose tool on different projects, and Stuart Levy (its creator) has been adding features to make it useful to the larger scientific community. Most plotting tools only permit you to place colored dots at points. With Partiview, you can place pictures at points. When the data you are analyzing has a natural visual representation, this is very useful for interpreting data. In this demo, the result of a clustering algorithm on a standard dataset of 5000 handwritten digits is shown, with the original digits. For further information, please see Dinoj's site.

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At the Jean Moulin middle school in the French city of Marseille, hands are raised, questions are asked, and answers are given. There is also discipline and respect. The school is in one of Marseille’s poorest neighbourhoods. Most of the students have financial aid and their parents earn under 1,000 euros per month. It’s also what is known as a priority education school. “The most important thing is that there are less students than in a regular middle school where you can have up to 27, 28, 29 or 30. Here there is a limit of 24 by class. It’s more comfortable this way. ‘And also we’ve put in place groups based on needs. This means they’re by groups of competence. With two classes, we created three groups of competence, “ Arnaud Sallaberry a teacher at the school explained. The priority education system was introduced in 1982 to help schools in poorer areas of France. It has already been reformed twice in three years. Dominique Duperray has been the school’s principal for five years. For him the changes since he arrived are striking. “Before the reforms, 40 percent of the students passed their middle school exam and barely 50 percent went on to high school. Today, we have 70 percent and sometimes even more who pass their exam, and 100 percent who go on to high school, some in a general high school, others in a vocational one. ‘So the fact that we get extra funding as a priority education school, plus the involvement of the school staff in constantly innovating the school curriculum, allows us to improve our students’ school career,” stressed Dominique Duperray Principal of the school. But is this school more the exception than the rule when it comes to France’s state educational system? Especially when a recent report which evaluates school systems among OECD countries revealed that France is in first place when it comes to inequalities in its school system. There are more than 9000 primary and middle schools in France which are classified priority education. One out of five children attend these schools. Euronews went to Bobigny, on the outskirts of Paris. Our request to film priority schools here were turned down. The official reason: they’ve been inundated with requests since the report. “How did France become number one when it comes to inequalities in its school system among OECD members? Here we are in one of Paris’ most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and again we were not allowed to film inside the school. So we asked its director to come outside and talk to us,” reported euronews’ correspondent Valerie Zabrinski. Véronique Decker has worked in Bobigny for 30 years. And although her primary school is classified priority education, she says she’s seen little extra financing. All her students come from immigration backgrounds. Their families live in social housing. She is not surprised about France’s ranking. “There is no equality between public and private schools. The private schools are being favoured by the funds they get from parents, by being able to choose their students. We can’t get any funds from parents, and that’s good. And we can’t choose our students, which is also good. ‘But as a result there isn’t any equality between private and public. There isn’t any equality between different public schools as well since the French state accepts that on its territory, there are areas of segregation and this means that as a result, the schools in these areas are segregated schools,” explained Veronique Decker Head of Marie Curie Primary School. Laurence Blin wants justice. Not for her but for her sons. Her oldest, who is 14 years of age goes to a priority education school in Bobigny. But for her, her son’s school is anything but priority. Teaching hours have been reduced by 25%, money promised to hire and train more teachers never happened despite the arrival of 50 new students last year alone. Laurence and other parents have filed a complaint. They’ve argued that their children are victims of inequality – something which goes against the country’s educational codes written in the constitution. “Teachers not being replaced is a big problem. When my son was in sixth grade, for a whole trimester, he didn’t have an English teacher. In 7th grade, every time, during the first trimester, no history-geography teacher and during two trimester, no art teacher. ‘And then in eighth grade, during the first month, no science teacher. It’s incredible. How can you expect these children to succeed when there is such an absence? How can they have the same level as children whose teachers are present all year round? ,” she pointed out. How did France’s school system get to this point? What went wrong? Nathalie Mons headed the report which revealed France’s inequalities in its schools. Inequalities she says that have many different facets. But she’s hopeful. “In France, for the past 30 years, we’ve been carrying out educational policies that are very similar. And the results haven’t proven to be very productive in the fight against social inequalities at school. For example, since the beginning of the 80’s, we’ve led policies of priority education in which no research has proven any positive results. ‘It’s obviously very important to give more educational resources to schools facing difficulties. It’s necessary. But when we looked at the resources available, we realized that these extra resources in question had very little to do with students learning,” revealed Nathalie Mons President, CNESCO school system evaluation. Back in Marseille, it’s diploma time. Students who graduated last year have come back for their certificates. It’s a moment of pride but also of emotion. Although this school’s record has improved, the hope is that more will be done so that it will no longer be the exception but the rule. “In France, French schools are no longer a way to climb the social ladder. So we have to change this. We have to, and both families and students are asking for this, we have to bring back trust to schools,” concluded Dominique Duperray.

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Originally submitted by Jim Orem and Ginger Davidson Revised by J. Morgan According to the Farmer's Almanac, "Spring is the time when worms begin to emerge from the earth, ladybugs land on screen doors, green buds appear, birds chirp, and flowers begin to bloom. The vernal, or spring, equinox signals the beginning of nature's renewal. " It is also the time of year when Mother Nature hasn't really decided what she wants to do and things are very unpredictable. This year is no exception. This volatility means that the items on your beekeeper 'to do' list depend on what is happening in nature and therefore, it becomes more of an art form. So, get with your mentor and learn from the experience of others. Listen to the sounds and make observations on what is happening in your area and around your hives. Make notes on the flora and fauna. As the days become warmer and longer, brood production will start to increase inside the hive. Get in them the next time weather allows! Look for eggs. . . note the number of frames of brood. How's the honey stores? How are your candy boards? Take note of anything else out of the ordinary. Be intentional on the timing of adding pollen to a colony and don't add it too soon. Remember, pollen stimulates brood-rearing. With brood production comes the need to feed the expanding population of bees. If you have a weaker colony and stimulate them prematurely, they could get the queen laying too fast (outside the cluster,) and not have enough bees to keep the new eggs warm during another cold snap. Nurse bees will not abandon brood, and they will freeze to death. Be choosy about which hives should get pollen, and which you should hold off on. Stronger colonies are more forgiving here. Don't be caught off guard and ensure that your bees have plenty to eat. Here is another reason I like a candy board on the top of the hive. It's easy to chock a brick or two of sugar in there if it's needed. This is also the time of year when we hear stories like. . . "They were just fine last time I checked them. They had plenty of food, ventilation, days to get outside. . . what happened? " Often times, the answer is that the mites were not in check. Remember, mites vector viruses. By this time, bees that have had unchecked mite levels going into the winter are likely very sick right now. In their weakened state, one cold snap can easily take them out. If you are not measuring the mite activity in your hives, you are cheating yourself and your bees. This is not meant to discourage you. It's an easy thing to do. If you have questions, just ask us! What a beekeeper should be doing in March: - Finish up new boxes, repair/paint any other woodenware that need it, and be sure your honey supers are ready to go. - Prepare your swarm traps. Swarm traps go out in April. Likely sooner this year! Order swarm lures or try lemongrass oil. - If it isn't too cool, perform a quick inspection to see if you have bees, larva, eggs, and a queen. Remember, if you see eggs, with 1 per cell, there is a queen. If you see poor brood patterns or a colony is just not building up like the others, it might be prudent to plan to pinch the queen (around or after Mother's Day) or combine this hive with a good one using the newspaper method. - If you have been keeping pollen patties in the hive, beware when weather warms up, unused patties will attract small hive beetle. When the imminent threat of bad weather is behind us When the weather is warm (ideally 50F or higher): - Some may choose to move brood frames to the bottom of the box, honey to the sides and empty comb overhead. Do not disturb the cluster too early though as this can result in chalkbrood. Make sure also that the bees are not straddling two boxes. A blind reverse could split the brood chamber in two and that will be bad during another cold snap. - Clean the bottom boards. - Eventually, when the bees are waiting in line to get inside the hive, enlarge your entrances. . . or remove entrance reducers completely at your discretion. - At the end of March, remove candy boards and if needed, start feeding 1:1 sugar water and pollen. If the bees didn’t eat the candy boards, store them in the freezer, or use it in your spring sugar water feed. - Watch for drones and queen cells. This will be the bees way of telling us that it is the time to start making splits. Right now, take any warmer days to look inside your hives. Get into them once a week if weather allows. Take notes of what you see. New beekeepers especially. This information can be meaningful to you (and your mentor if they ask you things) later. It's a big time for the bees right now. Really strong hives that are doing what they should are about to explode. Bring your questions to a meeting!

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Plates are lifted off the kitchen window and slammed onto tight tables; hot drinks are swooshed around, overflowing onto white saucers; piles of still-damp chopsticks are rammed into their plastic holders. There is a rhythm and order to all this action as food is delivered swiftly and efficiently to hungry customers. This is rush hour in one of Hong Kong’s culinary institutions, the tea restaurant, most commonly known as a cha chaan teng (caa4 caan1 teng1 茶餐廳). To the untrained eye, it may not be clear where to look first. Hand-written menus line the walls, listing various specials of the days, promoting lunch sets and afternoon tea sets that often lack any translation into English. Despite its origins as a provider of Canto-Western cuisine, the tea restaurant’s target customer has never been the Westerner, but the city’s local population. Cha chaan teng have been fuelling Hong Kong’s masses since the late 1940s and really came into their own in the 1950s and 60s. Just before and after the Second World War, Western-style restaurants run by Chinese or Europeans who had been living in China began to open in Hong Kong. The well-known Tai Ping Koon from Guangzhou was one of the first restaurants to bridge the cultural gap between Hong Kong and the West by offering Western food with Chinese seasoning to suit the local palate. The Russian-influenced Queen’s Café from Shanghai continued this trend and brought to life what is often referred to as “soy sauce Western food” (si6 jau4 sai1 caan1 豉油西餐). These restaurants occupied a middle ground between local Chinese restaurants and upmarket European establishments, bringing us Swiss sauce chicken wings (made with soy sauce, sugar and ginger), Swiss-style beef rice noodles, black pepper pork chop rice, Portuguese baked chicken rice and soft sweet bread rolls with butter. Even though the economy boomed in the 1960s and created more and more affluent customers for these restaurants, the majority of the population could not afford to eat there frequently. With Hong Kong’s trademark ingenuity and flexibility, more and more restaurants and tea stalls began to adapt their menus to serve increasingly adventurous palates. Many of the tea stalls located by the docks began serving food to their customers who worked labour-intensive jobs, ones who needed large portions and sustenance. Gradually, an indigenous comfort food was created by catering to the needs of hungry factory workers – and so the cha chaan teng was born. This indigenous comfort food was a mix of all the cuisines that influenced Hong Kong: English pastries, European-style cuts of meat, pasta, spam, Russian borscht, Southeast Asian curries – all accompanied by generous portions of rice, noodles and local seasoning. Nowadays, larger and more modern cha chaan teng serve Japanese and Korean-inspired plates, too. Most dishes are served with a spoon and fork, forgoing the Western knife and Chinese chopsticks. (Try eating a pork chop without the help of a knife or your hands and then you can call yourself a local. ) Unlike the Cantonese tradition of sharing plates of food at the centre of the table, tea restaurant menus tend to offer Western-style complete meals on an individual plate – protein, vegetables and ample carbohydrates. Unlike Western restaurants, however, they often require the customer to share their table with others, something called “stacking tables” (dap3 toi4 撘枱). The tea restaurant is an emblem of casualness. The tables are often topped with a sheet of glass, under which menus are placed to save time for waiters and customers. Time is of the essence in this busy city and most dishes are served within five minutes of ordering. The plastic containers for cutlery, toothpicks and paper napkins are generally provided by drink companies looking for some direct advertisement, such as Horlicks, Ovaltine and Ribena. Forget fancy lighting, heavy curtains or plush cushions: the tea restaurant is all plastic and tiles, easy to clean in the hot and humid summer. Some say that the name tea restaurant comes from the tradition of serving a glass of weak tea (cing1 caa4 清茶) as soon as the customer sits down. This was inspired by the practice Western restaurants had of serving a glass of water to customers. Serving tea instead gave them an identity of their own and better suited local habits of drinking warm beverages. Nowadays, anyone who has been to a tea restaurant knows that the obligatory tea to not miss out on is the celebrated Hong Kong-style milk tea. Inspired by the British habit of drinking black tea with milk, Hong Kong-style milk tea is an indulgence spiked with evaporated milk or condensed milk. Over the years, tea restaurants have even developed their own language, a form of short cuts for common orders. To sound like a pro, you can ask for a cold milk tea without ice by saying “zau2 bing1” – literally “leave ice” (走冰). If you are trying to keep it light, say “fei1 saa1 zau2 naai1” — “fly sugar leave milk” (飛砂走奶) — for no sugar, no milk. After picking your beverage of choice, go for one of the lunch specials and if the generous portion still doesn’t satisfy, feel free to ask for “gaa1 dai2” — “add bottom” (加底) — for extra rice or noodles. Tea restaurants are constantly reinventing themselves, coming up with new dishes and combinations to offer each day, but there are several classics that are here to stay. The mark of a good tea restaurant is good value for generous meal sets; the mark of an excellent tea restaurant is the perfect caramel colour of milk tea and the perfect French toast (sai1 do1 si6 西多士, literally “Western toast”). The local version of French toast is not for the faint-hearted; in fact, we recommend you share it with friends. Peanut butter is smeared between two slices of white bread which are then pressed together, dipped in egg batter and wok-fried before being topped with golden syrup, an extra pat of butter and some condensed milk. Made well, it should be crispy on the outside and melt-in-your mouth gooey on the inside. With more and more people being health conscious, orders of French toast are less common than before, but this heart attack special is too good to retire. For those not looking to delight their sweet tooth, there are savoury toasts. Ham and cheese toast, ham and egg toast – and nobody handles an egg like a Cantonese cook. You will get thick layers of creamy eggs that blend just right with the heavily processed ham and soft white bread. For another classic mix of East meets West, there is macaroni in broth with fried egg and sausage or instant noodles with fried egg and spam. These basics are so fundamental to any tea restaurant that sometimes they are not even on the menu – but there are always most definitely there. You just need to ask. If you are ready to sample what is perhaps the most representative of Hong Kong’s unique Eurasian culinary heritage, you only need to head to a cha chaan teng with two things in mind: be hungry and be quick. In turn, you will be respected for that and served accordingly. Where to Eat Lan Fong Yuen 蘭芳園 2 Gage Street, Central, +852 2544 3895 Open Monday-Saturday, 7:00-18:00 One of the oldest tea restaurants in the city, Lan Fong Yuen remains a favourite for their above par milk tea and signature dishes. A must try is the crispy chicken steak with instant noodles and green onion sauce, moist, tender and savoury with an optional fried egg. For the sweet tooth, there is the indulgent condensed milk butter bun or their kaya coconut French toast. At rush hour in its Central location, the queue may be intimidating, but the staff makes sure it moves along quickly. Capital Café 華星冰室 Shop B1, G/F, Kwong Sang Hong Building, 6 Heard Street, Wan Chai Open daily, 7:00-23:00 A neighbourhood favourite that opened fairly recently, Capital Café in Wan Chai churns out the usual local favourites such as scrambled eggs and ham on toast or pork chop buns and a slurptastic char siu and spaghetti in broth. They also serve the curiously named “principal toast” (校長多士) which is a Cantonese spin on cheese and black truffles on toast. Tsui Wah Restaurant 翠華集團 15-19 Wellington Street, Central, +852 2525 6338 Open daily, 7:00-1:00 Tsui Wah has been around long enough to prove their staying power. Hungry customers flock there for the signature Hainanese chicken rice, fishball noodles, and pineapple bun with butter. They have a takeaway bakery on the side as well where you can get creamy egg tarts and rich chicken pies. Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 47 Parkes Street, Jordan, +852 2730 1356 Open Friday-Wednesday, 7:30-23:00, closed Thursday If you are looking for pure comfort in food, not environment, this oldie in Jordan is a perennial local favourite. Most come here for the scrambled eggs and ham macaroni and their most famously unique steamed milk custard, hot, gingery and sweet. If you’re in Hong Kong, there is definitely a cha chaan teng near you. Just look for the characters 茶餐廳. It just might become your local favourite. The new concept Shop 103, 1/F, Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, Wan Chai +852 2528 1391 Open Monday-Friday, 11:30-21:30, Saturday 12:00-21:00, closed Sunday On the menu of this not quite tea restaurant is a modern interpretation of classic comfort food and Hong Kong inspired cocktails. Opened by young entrepreneur Adrian Lo, Kasa brings you updated tea restaurant classics with Western-style service. Known for their arancini inspired by clay pot rice, served with with a Hong Kong-style scotch egg and molten duck yolk custard lava cake, this is where you go for cocktails like the Iron-Crutch Li, made with whisky and Chinese wujiapi herb, or the Immortal Woman, with huadiao wine, lemon juice and ginger ale.

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Their discussion of graffiti got me thinking. One of the things I am always interested in is the continuity of human behaviour throughout the ages. Ancient Romans loved graffiti, and so do their modern counterparts. I was in Naples the week before last, visiting sites connected with the Roman poet Virgil. As a classical archaeologist and historian, I knew should be taking photos of columns and amphitheatres but my camera kept snapping the amazing graffiti I saw everywhere. On the one hand I feel dismay, that the Italians should so mar their buildings. But on the other hand I admire much of it. I appreciate the beauty of shape, colour and form that David Almond and Sally Gardner were praising. Some of the Neapolitan graffiti is pure image: no words of any kind. They can be funny, beautiful, startling. For example, a bollard animated into a face. You find wholes buildings covered with graffiti. Some of the messages are quotes, like this one (below) by movie director and poet Silvano Agosti: Don't put flowers in the window of a prisoner's cell [because if one day the door should open, he will not want to leave. ] Political slogans are popular, e. g. Tremonti & Napolitano are slaves of the middle-class. And, just as in Roman times, sometimes graffiti expresses longings and passion. Each one suggests a story behind it, or a hundred stories! |"What a beautiful life"| |"The future is not written"| You could do the same thing using graffiti in a city. So you might put together images such as a the ones above to make a poem like this: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE THE FUTURE IS NOT WRITTEN I LOVE YOU RAFFAEL Next time you're a passenger in a car, on a train or simply walking, look around and take note of the beauty and poetry of graffiti. Oh, and watch out for the Punk Beasts, too! Caroline Lawrence is author of The Roman Mysteries & The P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries. She is currently working on ways of retelling Virgil's Aeneid and visited The Land of the Sibyl with Andante Travels.

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(Updated January 2012) - Immigrants are not the cause of unemployment in the United States. Empirical research has demonstrated repeatedly that there is no correlation between immigration and unemployment. In fact, immigrants—including the unauthorized—create jobs through their purchasing power and their entrepreneurship, buying goods and services from U.S. businesses and creating their own businesses, both of which sustain U.S. jobs. The presence of new immigrant workers and consumers in an area also spurs the expansion of businesses, which creates new jobs. In addition, immigrants and native-born workers are usually not competing in the same job markets because they tend to have different levels of education, work in different occupations, specialize in different tasks, and live in different places. Because they complement each other in the labor market rather than compete, immigrants increase the productivity—and the wages—of native-born workers. In the words of economist Giovanni Peri , “immigrants expand the U.S. economy’s productive capacity, stimulate investment, and promote specialization that in the long run boosts productivity,” and “there is no evidence that these effects take place at the expense of jobs for workers born in the United States.” There is no correlation between immigration and unemployment. If immigrants took jobs away from large numbers of native-born workers, one would expect to find high unemployment rates in those parts of the country with the largest numbers of immigrants—especially immigrants who have come to the United States recently, are more likely to be unauthorized, and are more willing to work for lower wages than native-born workers. However, that is not the case. - Rob Paral & Associates found that there was no correlation between the size of the foreign-born population and the African American unemployment rate in U.S. metropolitan areas in 2009. - Rob Paral & Associates also found that there was little apparent relationship between recent immigration and unemployment rates at the regional, state, or county level in 2008. - For instance, recent immigrants comprised an average of 3. 1 percent of the population in counties with the highest unemployment rates. But recent immigrants accounted for a higher share of the population (4. 6 percent) in counties with the lowest unemployment rates. - The highest unemployment rates were found in counties located in manufacturing centers and rural areas—which tend to have relatively few recent immigrants. Recent immigrants usually go where the jobs are: metropolitan and non-manufacturing counties where unemployment rates are lower. Immigrants actually create jobs as consumers and entrepreneurs. - Immigrant workers spend their wages in U.S. businesses—buying food, clothes, appliances, cars, etc. —which sustains the jobs of the workers employed by those businesses. Moreover, businesses respond to the presence of new workers and consumers by investing in new restaurants, stores, and production facilities. The end result is more jobs for more workers. - Immigrants with advanced degrees, and immigrants of any skill level who come to the United States on temporary visas, create jobs for native-born workers, according to a December 2011 study from the American Enterprise Institute and the Partnership For A New American Economy. - The study, which analyzed state-level employment data from 2000 to 2007, found that every 100 foreign-born workers who worked in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and who had advanced degrees from U.S. universities, were associated with an additional 262 jobs for native-born workers. - The study also found “that states with greater numbers of temporary workers in the H-1B program for skilled workers and H-2B program for less-skilled nonagricultural workers had higher employment among US natives. ” Specifically, the addition of 100 H-1B workers was associated with an additional 183 jobs for native-born workers, while the addition of 100 H-2B workers was associated with an additional 464 jobs for native-born workers. - Immigrants are more likely than natives to start their own businesses. According to a report from the Kauffman Foundation, “immigrants were more than twice as likely to start businesses each month than were the native-born in 2010. ” - Immigrants fuel technological and scientific innovation. According to a report from the Brooking Institution, “among people with advanced degrees, immigrants are three times more likely to file patents than U.S.-born citizens. Such investments in new businesses and in research may provide spillover benefits to U.S.-born workers by enhancing job creation and by increasing innovation among their U.S.-born peers. ” Immigrants and native-born workers are usually in different job markets, so they don’t compete. Immigrants and native-born workers have different levels of education. - According to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), nearly one-third (30 percent) of native-born workers age 25+ had some college education short of a bachelor’s degree in 2009, compared to only 17 percent of foreign-born workers. More than one-quarter (27 percent) of foreign-born workers lacked a high-school diploma, compared to only 6 percent of native-born workers. - Rob Paral & Associates found that nearly one-third (30. 6 percent) of all employed recent immigrants had a bachelor’s degree or more education in 2008, compared to only 14. 1 percent of unemployed natives. Over one-quarter (27. 4 percent) of all unemployed natives had some college short of a bachelor’s degree in 2008, compared to only 14. 4 percent of employed recent immigrants. Immigrants and native-born workers are employed in different occupations. - According to the CBO , the top occupation for foreign-born workers age 25-64 was construction and extraction in 2009, accounting for 8. 8 percent of the total foreign-born labor force, followed by production occupations (8. 7 percent); building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (8. 5 percent); and sales (8. 4 percent). - The top occupation for native-born workers age 25-64 was office and administrative support in 2009, accounting for 13. 8 percent of the total native-born labor force, followed by management (12. 9 percent); sales (10. 5 percent); and education, training, and library occupations (7. 0 percent). Immigrants and native-born workers specialize in different kinds of tasks. - Immigrants and native-born workers fill different kinds of jobs that require different sets of skills. Even if they work in the same occupation or industry—or the exact same business—they usually specialize in different tasks, with native-born workers taking higher-paid jobs that require better English-language skills than many immigrant workers possess. Immigrants and native-born workers live in different places. - The CBO estimated that 62. 5 percent of foreign-born workers lived in six states as of 2009: California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois. In contrast, 66. 2 percent of native-born workers lived in the other 44 states. - Even within the six high-immigration states, immigrants still differ from native-born workers in terms of education, occupation, and specific skill sets. Immigration gives a small wage boost to the vast majority of native-born workers. This wage boost occurs in two ways . First, because immigrants and natives tend to have different levels of education, work in different occupations, and possess different skills, the jobs they perform are frequently interdependent and complementary. This increases the productivity of natives, which increases their wages. Second, the addition of immigrant workers to the labor force stimulates investment as new restaurants and stores open, new homes are built, etc. This increases the demand for labor, which exerts upward pressure on wages. - A 2010 report from the Economic Policy Institute estimated that, from 1994 to 2007, immigration increased the wages of native-born workers by 0. 4 percent. The amount of the wage gain varied slightly by the education level of the worker. - College graduates got a boost of 0. 4 percent; workers with some college 0. 7 percent; high-school graduates 0. 3 percent; and workers without a high-school diploma 0. 3 percent. - A 2008 study by economist Giovanni Peri estimated that, from 1990 to 2006, immigration increased the wages of native-born workers by 0. 6 percent. - College graduates experienced an increase of 0. 5 percent, workers with some college 0. 9 percent, high-school graduates 0. 4 percent, and workers without a high-school diploma 0. 3 percent. Published On: Fri, Jan 13, 2012 | Download File

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Dates:December 1 – 12, 2018 This 12 days course offers a good understanding about the human mind and its connection with the material world, our body and soul. It deals with the knowledge spread over many Vedic scriptures of ancient India. As the Mind itself is an instrument of endless information and knowledge, even the Encyclopaedia Britannica would have not been sufficient in describing it and its functions. But what we can cover in 5 days is an insight into the mysteries of the mind that Rishis (the wisemen) were able to see and describe. The knowledge of mind is present in all aspects of life – yoga, ayurveda, music, dance, rituals, economics, social life or politics – and all such disciplines deal with the concept of mind only. This course is an attempt to collect this dissipated knowledge about mind and put it into a structure which is understandable for the modern mind. While the modern psychology starts its inquiry about the Mind from the aspect of the physical body, the yoga psychology mentions the Soul first. The objective of this course is not to compare yoga and western psychology and point out the differences but rather to present yoga psychology as a complete functional psychological approach. Suitable for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, psychologists, holistic therapists, and healers. There will be daily asana, pranayama, meditation and karma yoga practices other than the lectures and course topics. Learning to recite Vedic mantra and Bhagavad Gita. Scriptures based in teaching The knowledge of yoga psychology is spread into various scriptures. Some portion of the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga sutra will be taught with interpretation in the course. Homa and Puja Homa and puja will be performed by traditional Brahmin priests. 6:00 to 7h: pranayama and meditation (25 Min. sitting meditation, 20 Min. walking meditation) 08 – 9:45h: yoga class 10:45 – 11:30h seva 13:00h tea and snacks 14 – 16h lecture 16 – 18h free time 19:30 – 21:00h meditation, chanting or story-time There is one day off in a week. Students are required to attend morning and evening satsangs and to complete their karma yoga duties. The rest of the day is free for their personal study and activities. A day trip may be organized on request at additional payment. Attendance at all activities is mandatory. Don’t let your likes and dislikes affect your commitent to the course. Slight changes in the program may occur. Assessment and Certification The students are continuously assessed throughout the course at all levels. The final result will be based on internal assessment, attendance and the final exam. Yoga teachers, yoga therapists, students of Indian or western psychology, students of Indian/Vedic culture or others with interest in Vedic psychology are eligible to attend this course. Some basic knowledge about Indian culture, yoga or Vedic culture is an advantage, but not mandatory, for a better understanding of the subject. An open mind is necessary to follow this knowledge to the people who educated in modern system. PLEASE NOTE: The teaching and schedule will be in a traditional Indian Gurukula system which may be different from what you have learned until now. All participants should be physically and mentally fit when joining the course in order to be able to feel and experience the wisdom of the ancient science of yoga. Following the ashram rules as well as respect the local culture is mandatory. Course donations are non-refundable, however any unused amount may be transferred, minus an administration fee of € 100, to another course within one year of the original course starting date. Arrival day: Friday, 30 November 2018 Start of the course: 3pm on 1 December please arrive latest by 5 pm on the 30th, you are welcome to book your stay 1 day prior to the beginning of the course to enjoy the serene atmosphere, get accustomed to the climate or to recover from your jet lag. (additional cost of 1. 000 INR per night applies) End of the course: Wednesday, 12 December at 9pm Course fee: EARLY BIRD discount 690€ until 31 March 2018, 750€ thereafter incl. food & accommodation and all yoga classes. Non-refundable deposit of 100€ is due upon registration.

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A traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, new research suggests. By Steven Reinberg HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, July 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, new research suggests. ”It could be that the head injury itself initiates a cascade of effects that ultimately lead to Parkinson disease,” said lead researcher Dr. Paul Crane, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.Or, Crane added, the head injury may not cause Parkinson’s, but make it “more difficult for people who have sustained a head injury to recover, adjust to or deal with the cascade of events leading to Parkinson disease that are separate from the head injury itself. ”However, the study did not prove that a traumatic brain injury causes the risk of Parkinson’s to rise. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms worsen with time. Nearly 1 million Americans have the disorder. The cause is unknown and there is no cure. But, there are treatment options — such as medication and surgery — to manage symptoms, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.For the study, Crane and his colleagues collected data on more than 7,000 older adults, average age 80. Among these individuals, 865 had suffered a head injury and lost consciousness at some point in their lives—some fairly early in life. Of these, 142 were unconscious for more than one hour. Crane’s team found that more than 1,500 suffered from dementia and 117 had Parkinson’s disease. They researchers said they uncovered a link between brain injury with loss of consciousness for more than an hour and a greater risk for Parkinson’s disease. There was also a link to greater risk of microscopic stroke, according to the study. The researchers did not find an association between head injury with loss of consciousness and increased risk for dementia, Crane said. It’s not clear why a head injury might raise the risk of Parkinson’s disease, Crane said. The findings were published online July 11 in the journal JAMA Neurology.Dr. Mill Etienne is a spokesman for the American College of Neurology. He said people should take protective measures when participating in activities where a head injury is likely. ”Any activity you are involved in, you want to do what you can to protect your brain,” he said. “Because, although the head trauma might happen when you are young, it could have a long-lasting impact later in your lifetime. ”Crane agreed, adding that accidental head injuries will happen. ”We already know we should be encouraging the use of bike helmets and so on to limit the chance of a severe head injury. We should also seriously consider eliminating activities with the very highest levels of risk of head injuries,” he said.

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prostate is a walnut-like shaped and sized gland present in men’s reproductive system. It is located below the bladder, near the rectum and around the urethra, and its main function is to produce a fluid that combines with sperm and makes semen more liquid. As men get older, diseases of the prostate become more common. Among them is prostate cancer, which is diagnosed in about 180,890 new people and kills about 27,540 people every year in the US. The disease affects both the reproductive and urinary systems, causing symptoms like urinary problems including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night, blood in the urine, erectile dysfunction, pain in the hips, back, chest, or other areas from cancer spread to bones, and weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord. How Estramustine Works Estramustine is a medicine that consists of the combination of two types of drugs — a hormone called estrogen and a chemotherapy drug called nitrogen mustard. It is used for the treatment of patients who suffer from prostate cancer that is no longer responding to hormone treatment. While healthy cells normally reproduce and die, cancerous cells divide and continue uncontrollably to grow. Estramustine’s mechanism of action is based on stopping the cancerous cells from dividing into two new cells, which results in a blockage of tumor growth as well as of other hormones in the body that promote cancer growth. “Estramustine phosphate has anti-tumor properties and it improves patient outcomes if combined with other chemotherapy agents such as docetaxel. The efficacy of estramustine phosphate in selected patients and its safety profile, provided used with any low-molecular-weight heparin support its use as a second-line treatment in hormone-resistant prostate cancer,” explain the authors of the study “The use of estramustine phosphate in the modern management of advanced prostate cancer. ” “Combination therapy with estramustine and docetaxel can increase PSA response rates, improve quality of life and increase median patient survival compared with chemotherapy regimens that do not include estramustine. ” Estramustine to Treat Prostate Cancer Estramustine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December, 1981 as one of the first drugs in the country to address the disease. It is commercialized under the brand name Emcyt by Pfizer. Orally administered, estramustine is particularly indicated to treat metastatic or progressive prostate cancer. The medicine comes as capsules that should be taken on an empty stomach more than an hour before meals or at least two hours afterwards. Patients are also recommended to take estramustine with plenty of water, but not to mix it with milk. The treatment usually consist on three to four capsules a day typically for cycles of six weeks, followed by breaks of two weeks. However, there are potential side effects associated with the treatment, such as feeling or being sick right after taking the medicine, breast tenderness or enlargement, lowered interest in having sex (libido), difficulty in getting an erection (impotence), diarrhea, and fluid build up leading to swollen hands or feet, which occur in more than 10% of the patients. Between one and 10% of the patients also experience loss of fertility, dry and itching skin or a rash, high blood pressure, liver damages, muscle weakness, sadness and depression, headaches, or confusion. Note: Prostate Cancer News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_rss items=”10″ title=”Read the Latest Prostate Cancer News:” url=”https://prostatecancernewstoday.com/category/news-posts/feed”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The future of the job market Ten years ago, smartphones were in their infancy, social media had yet to sweep the globe and self-driving cars were a dream. With the rate of innovation and how quickly the world has adapted to new technologies and made devices, apps and the internet an irreplaceable part of life, it is impossible to predict the next shift. The increasing popularity of drones and wearable tech opens up endless possibilities for how lives may be lived in a decade from now. What can be predicted however, is that the need for tech savvy graduates will increase, STEM will remain a key education focus and the IT industry will continue to find new niches where people can create new and interesting roles. As jobs become more complex and menial tasks are increasingly completed by machines and software, humans will require new ways to learn how to perform tasks. Gamification is the deployment of gaming techniques and processes in non-game contexts. It can be used to teach everything from fine motor control in high-pressure situations, to the basics of complex coding languages. A gamification designer will create experiences that leverage the innate human compulsion to learn, socialise, express, compete and win, with the end goal being mastery of a job function. Clean water is the world's most valuable resource. As the global population continues to increase and resources become scarce, a hydrologist will be responsible for creating intelligent ways to maximize the existing water, as well as develop ways to create more. They will have a high-level understanding of statistics and chemistry, as well as geography and geology, and of course meteorology, enabling them to make detailed predictions, plans and estimates. Their work will become of great importance to governments trying to protect their populations and economies from drought, which will impact crops, food production and human mortality rates. Neural implant technician One prediction for the future is that humans will have computer chip implants in their brains to allow them to perform a number of tasks, without having to open a laptop or look at their smartphone. Such a technology will require specialised technicians to perform upgrades, services and repairs on the device while it remains integrated in the person's body. A neural technician will most likely be a combination of brain surgeon and IT department, combining a sophisticated knowledge of programming languages, hardware construction and neurology. Technological advances have made it possible for more people to leave the office environment in favour of working remotely. Coupled with the rise of freelancing, companies will increasingly rely upon on-demand workers. These arrangements will require project leaders who have the connections and skills to build long-lasting relationships with workers across a variety of specialties. In the same way a film producer brings together actors, directors, writers and support staff, a professional triber will be relied upon to create highly specialised teams to complete different projects. Remote healthcare specialist With the increase in fitness trackers and health software to help people get fit and stay well, there may be an increased demand for those who can interpret the data. Apple has taken the lead by integrating their iOS with a specialised app, enabling users to maintain a closer eye on their overall health. The next step may be pre-emptive advice when the user's health information meets certain criteria and correlations. The origins of the remote healthcare specialist lie in the creation of websites such as WebMD, however the model will shift from a person researching symptoms on the internet, to their smart device recording their statistics and alerting a healthcare specialist to any irregularities. Since humans first ceased being nomadic and started to build villages, domesticate dogs, and hoard possessions, they have been removing the natural world to make more space. With environmental care and sustainability becoming a mainstream concern, rewilding will be at the forefront of giving back space to nature. A professional rewilder will develop projects and look for rewilding opportunities, then project manage them into fruition. They'll be responsible for reversing the impact of human interference and creating sustainable integration with the environment without damaging flora or fauna. Discover more about your career options and jobs of the future by grabbing a copy of The Good Careers Guide from our bookshop, or check out our free ebook.

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Cutting aluminum extrusions on a miter saw is a quick method for sizing the material to length. Although not highly accurate, the material can be cut to within a tolerance of 1/16 of an inch. Using the miter saw will also allow the operator to cut the aluminum extrusion with compound angles. This especially is useful when having to mate the extrusion material into corners or at complicated angles. Consult your miter saw's manufacturer's specifications for correct blade size and compound angle charts. Anymore ideas about onaluminum extrusions cutting aluminum extrusions? Other people asked questions on similar topics, check out the answers they received: Other people asked questions on various topics, and are still waiting for answer. Would be great if you can take a sec and answer them

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Microscope manufacturers now offer a wide range of objectives to meet the needs of a number of different specialized microscopy imaging techniques. The objectives are corrected to compensate for different thickness of the cover glass you are using . They can be designed to increase the effective working distance of the objective where this is required. They can also be corrected to a varying degree for spherical and chromatic aberrations. Inscribed on the barrel of each objective lens is some very important information. This information will give you an indication of what the objective has been designed to be used for and also the quality and resolving capability of that objective lens. Magnification/ Numerical Aperture All objective lenses will have this information displayed on the barrel on the lens. The N.A. number is a measure of the light-gathering capacity of the objective lens. The higher the numerical aperture the better that objective is at resolve the fine details of the specimen in the image. The image is usually also brighter with an objective that has a higher N.A. The higher N.A. objectives are more expensive and are usually corrected for more spherical and chromatic aberrations. The higher the numerical aperture of the objective usually the shorter the effective working distance of the lens. It is the Numerical Aperature determines the resolution not the magnification. Below are two images of 0. 175um beads. The images were taken with two different x60 objectives one with a 1. 4N. A and the other with a 0. 7N. A objective lens. Numerical Aperture and Resolution above image courtesy of K.Anderson It is very important that you select the correct method of fixation for the intended technique. The aim of any fixation process is to preserve cell structure. Different fixatives achieve this in different ways. Antibodies, cellular structures, and samples respond very differently to different fixation methods. You may have to optimize and try out several different fixation processes to fine one that will suit your experiment. Make sure you are using the proper fixative and blocking agents at the correct temperature. Use the optimal antibody concentration (you will always need to use a higher concentration of antibody for immunofluorescence than you use for western Try fixatives such as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, ice-cold methanol, ice-cold acetone etc. Also be aware that certain structures, such as the microtubule network, are sensitive to temperature change. Some microscopy groups have reported that GFP fluorescence is quenched by dehydrating or fixation with ethanol or acetone. This could be resulting from denaturing of the GFP molecule. Some groups have reported that GFP signal is also greatly reduced by formaldehyde fixation and that long term storage of samples in aldehydes will eventually wipe out the GFP signal and will increase autofluorescence. Others groups have successfully fixed cells in aldehydes without loss of signal. Please be very careful not to assume that the GFP signal is lost by any of the above fixation methods. Paraformaldehyde: Aldehydes fix tissue by introducing cross links between different tissue components. Methanol: This dehydrates, coagulates and precipitates cellular protiens, neucleic acids and carbohydrates. It can be used combined with acetone. Liz Black has tested some of the mountants we stock in the Beatson. The hardset mountants seem to cause shrinkage for the cell lines that she is using. Please see attached powerpoint presentations. It is very important to choose the correct mounting medium for your experiment. One of the major causes of image degradation in microscopy is improper matching of the refractive index of the immersion medium and the This miss-matching can results in spherical aberrations and signal loss. Oil objectives are designed so that the refractive indices of the immersion oil and embedding media are equal (n=1. 52). For water objectives, this index is assumed to be n=1. 33. The BAIR facility uses mainly Zeiss 518F oil with a RF value of 1. 518. Other oils such as cargil oil is the immersion oil of choice for TIRF and FLIM applications. Fluorophores are molecules that when absorbing the energy of electromagnetic radiation will jump to a higher energy level (excited state). When some of these molecules return to the ground state they emit radiation. This is known as fluorescence. Fluorophores have special molecular structures and a characteristic excitation and emission spectra. Individual fluorophores are exited within a given wavelength range and will a emit light within a given wavelength range. The emission wavelength will always be longer than the Fluorophores are catalogued according to their absorption and fluorescence properties, including the spectral profiles, wavelengths of maximum absorbance and emission, and the fluorescence intensity of the emitted light. Excitation and emission spectra of EGFP and Cy5 Single photon excitation and emission Above image taken from Thermo Fisher Spectral viewer Autofluorescence can cause problems in fluorescence microscopy. In most fluorescence microscopy, fluorescent stains are applied to the samples to stain Autofluorescence interferes with detection of the resulting specific fluorescent signals, especially when the signals of interest are very dim. It is not always obvious that autofluorescence has occurred. Users performing immuno-staining must be aware that autofluorescence is a very common problem in all tissue samples. RBCs and blood vessles tend to show autofluorescence. In some microscopes (confocal microscopes), it is possible to make use of different spectral emission of the fluorescent markers and the endogenous molecules to exclude most of the autofluorescence. To preform this properly you will need to have a few controls. 1-An unstained tissue sample with no fluorescent probe. 2-A positive control of the fluorescent dye. Autofluorescence Causes and Cures: Most microscope lenses have a designated 0. 17 printed somewhere on the lens. This number indicates the expected glass coverslip thickness that was used to calculate the optical corrections in the lens. Using coverslips of the wrong thickness can add optical aberrations to your image.

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- Cheesemaker Beat Wampfler has teamed up with researchers from the University of the Arts in Bern to see if music can change the taste of cheese. - His Emmentals are being blasted with a mixture of rock, classical, and hip-hop music. - They will be tested in the new year to see if the music has had any impact. - There's no evidence the music will change the cheesemaking process. - But in sonochemistry fields, ultrasound is used to alter chemical reactions. - So it is possible other sound waves might have an effect. A Swiss cheesemaker is currently experimenting with music to make his cheese taste better. According to AFP, Beat Wampfler is testing how music can influence how his Emmental is made from his 19th century cellar in Burgdorf, Switzerland. Wampfler is a vet by day, but in the evenings he embarks on a quest to make Emmental cheese better and better. Since September, his experiments have involved playing songs from bands like Led Zepplin and A Tribe Called Quest during the cheese making process. Students from the University of the Arts in Bern are helping with the study, called "Sonic cheese: experience between sound and gastronomy. " They are hoping the results might show how music can change the flavour of the cheese. "Bacteria is responsible for the formation of the taste of cheese, with the enzymes that influence its maturity," Wampfler told AFP. "I am convinced that humidity, temperature or nutrients are not the only things that influence taste. . . Sounds, ultrasounds or music can also have physical effects. " —The Local Switzerland (@TheLocalSwitzer) November 2, 2018 There has been increasing research showing the surprising positive impact sound can have. For example, although the scientific literature is limited, there have been cases of people saying their plants grow better when they speak or sing to them. One hypothesis is that it increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the plant's vicinity. Another theory is that if you make the effort to talk to your plants, you're more likely to water them and take better care of them. Charles Darwin was interested in the idea, and designed an experiment where his son Francis played his bassoon to the plants. But the results were inconclusive. However, some research has found that plants can recognise "threatening" sounds, and prepare to defend themselves when they do. Researchers from the University of Arts are intrigued by the the effects of sound, especially as scientists have recently been experimenting with how ultrasound can affect chemical reactions. "At first we were sceptical," said Michael Harenberg, the university's music director. "Then we discovered there is a field called sonochemistry that looks at the influences of sound waves, the effect of sound on solid bodies. " In sonochemistry, ultrasound is used to alter chemical reactions and processes. So it is possible that other soundwaves may have their own effects. Wampfler's cheeses are going to hear a mixture of techno music, rock anthems, ambient choirs, and Mozart's classic "Magic Flute." The cheese will be tested in the new year. "Will the cheese taste better? It's hard to say," Wampfler said. "I hope that the hip-hop cheese will be the best. "

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It is meal time at the temple’s Great Hall and a line of monks are performing ‘kin-hin’ – awareness walking – between their living areas and the Great Hall. As the monks pass through the courtyard they notice Roshi sitting on a bench. In his lap, he holds a rough-hewn brick selected from a stack of bricks used to make repairs to the temple walls. The monks walk with absolute awareness – heel-toe, heel-toe… One of the younger monks, a new arrival from a poor province, notices that Roshi is intensely rubbing the rough-hewn brick with a rag cloth. The young monk, who has come to live at the temple in hopes of escaping his poverty and hard life, feels compelled to step out of line and speak with Roshi. “Roshi, why are you rubbing the rough-hewn brick? ” Roshi replied, “Can you not see the diamond? ” Roshi paused sniffing in the air. “The cook has been collecting vegetables all day. He is making hot soup tonight. You go you eat! ” How difficult it must be to keep one’s focus on the path while the hot soup is wafting through the courtyard air. One must be “heel toe, heel toe…” The young monk rejects Roshi’s compassionate teaching. He thinks this Roshi is not such a wise fellow. There is one less brick to support the temple walls and where is this diamond? There is hot soup in the air and Roshi tries again. Life is difficult and to survive one must realize the value in the way of things and relationships. To be valuable in this difficult life means having the strength to hold one’s self steady like a temple wall in the eye of a storm. How do we strengthen ourselves? It is best to collect straw and aggregate like the maker of rough-hewn bricks, or vegetables like the cook; like Roshi, teach with compassion when possible; like the cook, serve the soup, and then be on our way along the path. Performing such tasks is working in the world with awareness. Sequestering one’s self behind monastery walls is not working in the world. Each has its time an place in our lives. Whatever our actions, they have an effect. No aggregate makes a weak brick; no vegetables a bland soup. Today, Roshi Bernard Glassman calls this working in the world ‘Engaged Buddhism‘. Sometimes we call this our true work or ‘dharma’. Not attaching to our work – having no expectations to fetter us along our path – creates a full and valuable life with every moment being a diamond in the rough. The next evening at mealtime a line of monks were performing kin-hin on their way to the Great Hall. Heel-toe, heel-toe… When they passed through the courtyard Roshi stood in a rage. He slammed his brick down breaking it into pieces and shouting, “Where is the diamond? Speak or go hungry! ” The young monk did not step out of line but spoke calmly, “Can you not hear it? The cook is boiling rice water. ” Roshi held back a smile and swept up his brick. The young monk continued on his way.

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Parathyroid Disorders in Cats Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism continued. . . Osteoporosis is the adult form of this disease. It occurs in older cats who receive large quantities of meat at the expense of other nutrients. Other feeding practices that can lead to osteoporosis include vegetarian diets, dog food diets, and diets that consist primarily of table scraps and leftovers. Since adult calcium requirements are lower than those for kittens and adult cats have more calcium in their bones to draw out, bone demineralization takes longer (5 to 13 months). The first sign of demineralization is thinning of the jaw bones with exposure of the roots of the teeth. The loose teeth are then Treatment: Dietary correction is required. Calcium and vitamin D supplements should not be given to kittens unless prescribed by a veterinarian for a specific deficiency. Oversupplementation can be just as dangerous as Kittens with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism should be kept quiet and confined to prevent bone fractures while their diet is adjusted. Bone deformities tend to be permanent, so early recognition and treatment is

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How Irish immigrants almost killed Patrick and Bridget Irish Roman Catholic names such as Patrick and Bridget almost died out among 19th-century Irish immigrants in Britain due to fear of discrimination, according to research published today. A fear of prejudice made them steer clear of giving their children Irish Catholic names, a trend also seen in today's society among other immigrant communities elsewhere in the world. The study, by researchers at Durham and Northumbria universities, looked at over 30,000 records, and found the number of Irish Catholic names was dramatically lower among the second generation Irish in all 17 English and Welsh counties studied, while the frequencies of English Protestant names went up. In other studies, some from the modern day, similar trends are found for the Turkish community in Germany, Indians in Australia, and Irish migrants in the United States, say the authors. The researchers compared the frequency of first names among first and second generation Irish at the 1881 census of England and Wales of 17 counties that were chosen for their substantial Irish-born populations.

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Here’s How I Treat ADHD: A Functional Doctor Explains “He’s so bright but he’s failing because he won’t turn in homework and tunes teachers out,” one parent began when we first met. Another said during our first consultation: “She would do better if she wasn’t constantly talking and disrupting the class. ” These understandably frustrated, worried parents bring their child into my office often because a school official expressed concern about their disruptive behavior, lack of cooperation, or inability to pay attention. Parents, on the other hand, see their kids as too active, lazy, disorganized, easily distracted, or just “being a kid. ” These and other symptoms suggest Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which the National Institute of Mental Health defines as “a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. ” https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml The American Psychiatric Association argues about five percent of children have ADHD, but other experts estimate higher rates. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html To understand ADHD, think of your brain as having crisscrossing wires that go in many directions. For most people, a thought moves from point A to point B. For someone with ADHD, a thought starts out at point A, but before it gets to point B, points C and maybe even D capture their attention first. They become completely distracted before point B. This isn’t lack of attention. In fact, a child with ADHD pays attention to and becomes interested in nearly everything they hear and see. They focus on one extremely interesting subject, blocking out everything else. To a parent or teacher, this looks like a child with ADHD is ignoring them. This faulty cross-wiring creates two issues: - Executive functioning – staying organized to, say, follow a project from start to finish. Oftentimes, multi-step projects become overwhelming so a child with ADHD doesn’t know where to start. (Parents can help by breaking down chores into individual steps and creating reminder systems, like putting a backpack near the door so the child doesn’t forget it. ) - Self-regulation – the ability to manage impulsiveness. A child with ADHD might do something without first considering consequences. They fail to pick up on the behavior of those around them and behave similarly. Instead, they act on a random thought impulsively, oftentimes angering those around them. Many times, children I see with ADHD have very low self-esteem and trust issues. If I can get a child to open up and put frustration and confusion into words, I have a greater chance of gaining trust, which yields more effective treatment and minimizes these issues. I’m always clear during consultations that ADHD does not doom a child to a life of under-achievement. In fact, many of our greatest discoveries and inventions were made by people with ADHD. Rather than put a label on a child based on symptoms or conditions, as a Functional Medicine doctor, I focus on what triggers ADHD. Most children have multiple triggers including genetics, environment, food intolerances, toxicity, and a poor diet. While medication and behavior modification certainly help, diet also plays a role and can exacerbate symptoms. From that perspective, I’ve found these five dietary strategies can benefit nearly every child with ADHD. - Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods and nutrients. Chronic inflammation underlies ADHD, and the typical American diet is highly inflammatory. Whereas studies show medications can have “severe side effects and intolerance,” researchers find omega-3 fatty acids can benefit children with ADHD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4968854/ That’s because drugs used to treat ADHD can stimulate the brain’s dopamine receptors. So can omega-3 fatty acids: In therapeutic doses, these fatty acids can increase dopamine production and receptors. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml Most children don’t regularly eat wild-caught fish, so I’ll recommend other anti-inflammatory foods like walnuts as well as a professional-grade fish oil. - Try an elimination diet. Gluten, dairy, and other potential food sensitivities can put your immune system in overdrive, increase inflammation, and create problems like intestinal permeability (or leaky gut). Studies show an elimination diet can benefit ADHD. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62227-1/abstract. In my practice, I’ve found eliminating these problem foods can do wonders for children with ADHD. They feel better, become more focused, and perform better in school. - Focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods. Researchers find sugar – particularly the simple sugars in processed foods – can increase a child’s risk for ADHD. One study correlated higher sugar intake with a higher level of hyperactivity and ADHD-like attention deficiencies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3133757/ Other research shows artificial colors and preservatives can become driving factors in ADHD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4322780/ While it might feel like a challenge, moving children with ADHD into a whole, unprocessed foods diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and high-quality animal foods can create dramatic improvements in behavior and focus. - Optimize nutrient intake. Many children with ADHD are deficient in crucial vitamins and minerals. Studies find significantly low levels of vitamin D in children with ADHD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4670977/ Likewise, a systematic review found magnesium could help treat ADHD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23808779 I find a good multivitamin-mineral (and sometimes extra vitamin D and magnesium) can restore nutrient status. - Mind your gut. Researchers continue to learn about the gut-brain connection. Studies show diet influences gut microbiota, which plays a key role in disorders like ADHD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3139398/ Probiotics, prebiotics, and other fiber-rich options feed good gut flora and crowd out the bad. Studies show probiotics can be effective among ADHD treatments. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html0 I encourage parents to focus on gut-healing foods including fermented choices like sauerkraut and fiber-rich options like nuts, seeds, and legumes. My ultimate goal is to make life at school and at home easier for everyone, but also to show that ADHD is not a bad thing. Children with ADHD are often remarkably smart and creative. With the correct treatment, they will become future leaders, creators, artists, and scientists.

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The Search for the Origin of HIV by Dorothy H. Crawford Oxford University Press Reviewed by Alina Oswald Truth is, tracking down the AIDS pandemic to its origins can make for quite an interesting detective story, one in which experts and scientists become hunters, and AIDS and HIV become the hunted. Joining the list of books on this subject, Virus Hunt stands out in that it tracks down the pandemic beyond its cradle, to discover the origins of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In Virus Hunt, Scottish virologist Dorothy H. Crawford offers an engaging and informative read for fans of HIV/AIDS literature—professionals and lay readers alike. Armed with graphs, maps, and tables, and also with a vast reservoir of research data, Crawford meticulously evaluates and documents a series of scenarios, to piece together a detailed scientific, and also human, picture of HIV, to shed new light on the key moments defining the pandemic—the evolutionary tree of SIV and the exact type of SIV from which HIV, especially HIV-1, the most virulent strain, originated; the socioeconomic and political factors, and also human factors that, quite possibly, created the right environment for the first (few) HIV infections to explode into the AIDS pandemic that took over the world. Virus Hunt is the result of Crawford’s investigative, scientific, and passionate work to find and document the origins of HIV, and trace its history back, from the first infections that surfaced in the U.S. in 1981 to the specific SIV group of simian immunodeficiency viruses that started it all. In Virus Hunt Crawford doesn’t only look at the history of HIV and AIDS, but also at its future and our chance of finding a solution. She predicts that those who are alive today won’t be around to know the final toll of the pandemic, “but by understanding where, how, when and why the virus evolved and spread among us, we can surely work to prevent the next one. ” Alina Oswald is a writer, photographer, and the author of Journeys Through Darkness: A Biography of AIDS. Contact her at www. alinaoswald. com.

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I loved the Brain Rules book. The original discussed why the brain works the way it does (including the studies) and gave specific activities one can do to boost the efficacy. An example: the brain is a major consumer of oxygen, so scientists have found that intense exercise improves function by getting more oxygenated blood to the brain. I need to re-read it as it has been a decade. I recently got the baby one. Having a first child is like swallowing an intoxicating drink made of equal parts joy and terror, chased with a bucketful of transitions nobody ever tells you about. This is 1,000% true. As a scientist, I was very aware that watching a baby’s brain develop feels as if you have a front row seat to a biological Big Bang. The brain starts out as a single cell in the womb, quiet as a secret. Within a few weeks, it is pumping out nerve cells at an astonishing rate of 8,000 per second. Within a few months, it is on it’s way to becoming the world’s finest thinking machine. Some notes I took. - Perception begins at weeks for most senses. And memory persists after birth, but stimulation too early is harmful and later not going to make a genius. - Everything is a balancing act. During pregnancy especially weight, nutrition, stress, exercise. - Chronic or acute stress passes those hormones through the placenta and children seeing it stunt brain growth observing it. Husbands need to keep their wife not stressed. Happy is the ideal, but at least not stressed. This can be 8 IQ points. - Exercise can reduce pushing time and reduce the time baby is without oxygen and reduce stunted brain development. - Kinds of intelligence: - Record information, aka crystallized intelligence. - Desire to explore - Verbal communication - Decoding nonverbal communication - Ingredients for happy kids: - a demanding but warm parenting style ( responsiveness & demandingness) - comfort with your own emotions - tracking your child’s emotions (don’t ignore & don’t helicopter) - verbalizing emotions (describe emotions) - running toward emotions (emotions are reflexive; behavior is a choice; be consistent with rules on behavior; turn intense feelings into teachable moments) - two tons of empathy - Behavior modification basic principles. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The thing I liked the most about the original was he named a rule and went on about why it is important and the research justifying it. This book lacked that simplistic and novel model, which put me off. Fleur has long shown an interest in what we are doing. I call it “nosy” while my wife calls “curious”. Given her newfound mobility, she follows us around and tries to get into what we are doing. That includes the chores. She especially gets upset if she is kept apart from us while doing the chores. Her wanting to participate makes me hopeful getting her involved soon will benefit both us (more slave labor) and her: Giving children household chores at an early age helps to build a lasting sense of mastery, responsibility and self-reliance, according to research by Marty Rossmann, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. In 2002, Dr. Rossmann analyzed data from a longitudinal study that followed 84 children across four periods in their lives— in preschool, around ages 10 and 15, and in their mid-20s. She found that young adults who began chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to have good relationships with family and friends, to achieve academic and early career success and to be self-sufficient, as compared with those who didn’t have chores or who started them as teens. I’ve written before about singing to Fleur to get her attention and how music is good for the brain. If this fMRI data on human brains compared to macaque monkey ones holds up, then there might be a developmental difference in brains that allows us to be more attuned to musical tones. “When the researchers looked more closely at the data, they found evidence suggesting the human brain was highly sensitive to tones. The human auditory cortex was much more responsive than the monkey cortex when they looked at the relative activity between tones and equivalent noisy sounds. ” The researchers wondered what kind of auditory experience our ancestors had that caused this difference. The same structure also responds to speech, which might explain some of our qualities of speech. Music and talking are intertwined. So, child development being responsive to music makes sense in that they are wired to learn and we adults are doing so with both music and speech. I noticed a while back Fleur would track my own attention habits. She also lingered on things, even returned to them well after I stopped. Yu and IU colleague Linda Smith evaluated attention span in infants at play. The team employed head-mounted cameras to track the eye movements and gazes of three dozen parents and infants aged 11 to 13 months, who were turned loose in a play space and asked to simply play as they would at home with brightly colored plastic objects. This kind of “free play” data enabled Yu and Smith to chart childhood concentration and learning in ways that traditional experiments involving a single child at work on a computer or other task could not, notes cognitive neuroscientist Sam Wass, of Cambridge University and the University of East London. “They show that what the parent is paying attention to, minute by minute and second by second, actually influences what the child is paying attention to,” he notes. “These kinds of social influences on attention are potentially very important [and] most scientists tend to ignore them. ” When parents paid attention to a toy during play, the infants also continued to focus on it—even after the mom or dad had turned elsewhere. The authors likened this effect to the way a parent will initially hold the back of a bike while their child learns to peddle before letting go and sending them off on their own. We also try to label things to which Fleur is paying attention. And have also noticed the problem the article describes of not having much success getting her to shift her attention to something. Highlights from an Inc article on the benefits of music on the brain caught my attention: - Musical training reorganizes neuron structures in the brain, specifically the corpus callosum which integrates the two sides plus areas involving verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy. - It improves long-term memory, in part because it teaches the hippocampus how to store memories and recall them on demand. - It improves executive function, things like processing and retaining information, controlling behavior, making decisions, and problem solving - Musicians tend to be more mentally alert with faster reaction times. - They tend to have better statistical use of multisensory information, so they are better able to integrate inputs from the various senses. - The earlier a musician starts, the more drastic the changes. - Music reduces stress and improves happiness. * - Increases blood flow in the brain. * Wonder if all this singing we do with Fleur plus Galahad’s piano practice is part of why she is a happy child? After all, we’ve been leveraging singing as a way to distract Miss Wriggly. It took a while to get a good ultrasound of Fleur’s face. When we did, there was no denying she was my kid. That wave of emotion was interesting. It felt like a huge connection to this new entity. Of course, it is good she now looks more and more like her mother not just because why look so ugly but to maintain that bond with mom even as she gets more independent. Apparently the father feeling like I did indicates good things for their children. “We find a child’s health indicators improve when the child looks like the father. The main explanation is that frequent father visits allow for greater parental time for care-giving and supervision, and for information gathering about child health and economic needs. I love reading about the incongruity of the kids of friends. Part of why I started this is in hopes of reporting on the best of Fleur’s. The Atlantic has a good article “Knock Knock. Who’s There? Kids. Kids Who? Kids Tell Terrible Jokes.“: “Even when their parents are feeding them ‘dad jokes’ to try to teach them about humor, half of the jokes that kids hear, they don’t quite get. ” So it’s only natural, Dubinsky says, for some children to believe that a couple of absurd or mismatched concepts assembled into a familiar “knock-knock” or “What do you call …” structure adds up to a joke. “Kids say, ‘Oh, jokes are about incongruity. I’ll show you some incongruity,’” Dubinsky says. “But they haven’t got the sophistication to construct an incongruity that’s going to be resolvable. ” Which, coincidentally, sometimes results in jokes that resemble a more advanced form of humor: an “anti-joke. ” Anti-jokes deliberately deny the audience a clever or satisfying punch line, and they often serve as edgy or sophisticated commentary on jokes themselves. Poor Fleur will suffer from “dad jokes. ” She already hears them. She just has no idea she is inundated with them. And I love me some incongruity. So much of my attention is analyzing rules from social behavior to code to business process rules. I am always interested in the how and why to tease out mismatches to learn from them. Maybe that is why I love “dad jokes” so much?

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SOFIA (Oct. 23) Tribute to Metropolitan Stefan, head of the Greek Orthodox Church, for his intervention in behalf of the Jews of Bulgaria during the por-Nazi regime here was paid today in a Hebrew broadcast over the Sofia radio. The broadcast revealed that it was due to the efforts of the Metropolitan that the Germans were prevented from deporting Bulgarian Jews to extermination camps in Poland. A delegation of three Hungarian Jews, deportees who were slave laborers in German-held copper mines in Serbia until the area where they were working was liberated by the Yugoslav Liberation Forces, arrived here today. They revealed that 6,500 Hungarian Jews were employed in the mines, which were located at Bor, between Nich and Belgrade. They were part of a labor force of 50,000 Italians, Frenchmen, Netherlanders and other conquered people. About 4,000 of the Jews were brought from Hungary in May, 1943, while the other 2,500 arrived last May, during the period when thousands of Jews were being deported from Hungary to Poland. The arrivals disclosed that when the Germans retreated from Bor to Belgrade they took with them 4,000 of the 6,500 Jews. Their present whereabouts and fate are unknown. Of the 2,500 left behind, most of the younger man fled to the mountains and joined Tito’s forces. When the Yugoslav troops freed the Bor region, more Jews joined Tito, while others began the long trek homeward, through Rumania and Bulgaria, in the hope of being reunited with their families. The delegation represents 200 who are now in the Bulgarian town of Vidim. Many of these are ready to join any forces fighting the Nazis, the delegates said, while others want to get to Palestine to join the Jewish Brigade. Three-hundred Hungarian and German soldiers supervised the Jews labor in the mines. They were beaten and tortured and forced to work from dawn to late at night without clothing or food. The slave laborers wore huge Mogen Dovids on their chests and backs. They were housed in rude labor camps located between Bor and Belgrade.

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Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, in southern England, with a population of approximately 200,000 people. It doesn't have very much to offer from a historical perspective, although it does have a great deal of heritage from the British railway system in which it played a central part during the 19th and 20th centuries. The town began its existence as a Saxon village, and it is likely that its name is derived from the Saxon words 'swine dun' or 'swines down' meaning 'pig hill'. The small hilltop village subsequently expanded around the site of a quarry, with a 19th-century canal facilitating trade. During the mid-19th century, the introduction of the Great Western Railway and the associated railway works fully transformed Swindon from a village into a thriving industrial town, which drew workers from across the United Kingdom. Swindon experienced a population boom after World War II. New housing areas were built due to a shortage of housing in London following the mass destruction caused by the war. This population growth has continued and the town remains one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United Kingdom and Europe. Swindon is served by international airports in the south of the United Kingdom. For travellers coming directly to Swindon, the following airports are most convenient: |Heathrow Airport (LHR IATA)||1 hour 10 minutes via the M4 motorway||1 hour and 25 minutes using National Express coach service NX403| |Bristol Airport (BRS IATA)||1 hour 10 minutes via Bristol city centre, the M32 motorway and the M4 motorway||1 hour and 20 minutes, using the shuttle bus to Bristol Temple Meads railway station and the train to Swindon thereafter. | |Southampton Airport (SOU IATA)||1 hour 10 minutes via the M3 motorway, the A34 and the M4 motorway||1 hour and 15 minutes by train, via Reading railway station. | - Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom. - From London and the South East of England - Swindon has a direct rail connection to London Paddington, a major railway terminus in Central London, a short distance north of Hyde Park. Services from Paddington take approximately 1 hour to reach Swindon, travelling via Reading (the halfway point of the journey). Some services also call at Didcot Parkway. - From South Wales and the West Country - Services arriving into Swindon from the west originate at a number of stations, such as Swansea, Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads. - From Gloucestershire and the West Midlands - Arrivals from Kemble, Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester. National Express Coaches are available from the central bus station. Tickets can be purchased from the bus station office for all major cities and airports (bus transfers may apply - visit the website for more information). Driving along the M4, take junction 15 or 16 into Swindon. There are no direct Park and Ride depots near the junctions, one is available is entering Swindon via Wroughton (traveling from Devises or Avebury) National Park and Ride Directory. The town centre is small enough to walk through on foot, as is the shopping areas of Old Town, the Great Western Designer Outlet Village, the Orbital Retail Park and the Shaw Ridge Leisure Park & West Swindon Shopping Centre. Although it is a great way of seeing Swindon, it is not recommended as most attractions are more than 45 minutes walk from the centre of the town - it is advisable to travel by bus. The attractions within 15 minutes walk of the town centre include the Steam Museum, the Railway Village, the Wyvern Theatre, the civic council offices and central Public Library, the Swindon Hydro Centre, the main bus station, the railway station, and some hotels. Swindon has an extensive local bus network, with the vast majority of routes radiating outward from the town centre (either from the bus station or the Fleming Way bus stands). A full list of routes can be found at the Swindon Borough Council bus information website Swindon has extensive support for bikes, with paths following major roads split between pedestrians and cycles. For more detailed information about cycle routes to and from Swindon, see the SwindonWeb Cycle Route website. The road network in Swindon is comprehensively signposted. To get from one side of Swindon to the other, locals have the option of driving through town, or jumping on the motorway from junction 15 to 16. This method of getting across Swindon has been somewhat superseded by the almost unused link between Drove Road/Wroughton and the Rushy Platt junction. One of the major attractions when driving around Swindon is the Magic Roundabout, named after the 1960s television show. This sprawling junction contains five mini-roundabouts, each situated around a bigger, but less obvious, central counter-clockwise roundabout (which houses a very bright street light for night driving). Each mini-roundabout has three junctions, two leading on to the next and previous mini-roundabout, and one acting as an entry/exit junction. Many visitors are immediately intimidated by local drivers who use it proficiently, but the local secret is to treat each mini-roundabout as normal, rather than looking at the daunting mass of concrete and cars. - 1 Cotswold Water Park. The United Kingdom's largest water park has over 150 lakes which were formed by filling old gravel quarries. It is about 8 mi (13 km) north-west of Swindon and offers many water sports and activities. - 2 Steam: The Great Western Railway Museum (Steam Museum), Fire Fly Ave, SN2 2EY (Follow directions to the Designer Outlet Village, then pickup signs to Steam), ☏ , ✉ email@example. com. 10AM-5PM every day except Christmas (check website). The museum is in a restored railway works building. The building is a treat in itself. As well as having a wealth of information about the railways, it also is an invaluable source of social history. There are plenty of events for children, and it is right next to the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and the National Trust Headquarters, so anyone in the family who doesn't want to visit the museum has plenty of other options. Adults £8, Children £6. - 3 Museum of Computing @ Swindon, 6-7 Theatre Square, SN1 1QN, ☏ . F 10AM-4PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Educational museum with excellent collections of what are now antique computers and games consoles. Guided tours depending on number of visitors. The museum has even been visited by Google Street View: http://goo.gl/maps/bvbyp Adults £2, children £1. - 4 Swindon Museum, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Interesting displays on local history, geology and archaeology. It is run by the local council. Free. - 5 Wroughton Science Museum, Red Barn Gate, ☏ . Just outside Swindon on the old RAF Wroughton Airfield, the science museum features display on science and engineering topics. - 6 Swindon Art Gallery, Bath Rd, SN1 4BA. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. Very important collection of 20th-century British art and includes works by Henry Moore and L.S. Lowry. Admission is free. - 7 Railway Village. A remnant of Swindon's past glory involving Brunel and the steam railways, these three rows of houses are Grade II listed gems, hidden away between the railway station, the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and Swindon central shopping plaza. Although the cottages are still private property, the streets have public access; and the two pubs in the center of the village (the Glue Pot and the Cricketers) serve local ale and food, from lunch time until late. - Former Great Western Railway Works Now turned into the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet shopping centre, it features architectural and mechanical reminders of days gone by. - Renault Distribution Centre, designed by Sir Norman Foster. Although the building is now owned by Spectrum, it is still popularly called "the Renault building" by Swindonians. Similar in design is the Link Centre, a sports and leisure centre in the west of Swindon, opposite Shaw Ridge Leisure Park. - Wood Street, Old Town. This features original 17th-century buildings, modernised with shop fronts, bars and restaurants. Considered a more upper class area than the current centre of Swindon, it is an "Access Only" street. Parks and woodland - Town Gardens - Queen’s Park - Lawns Park - Faringdon Road Park - Lydiard Country Park - Coate Water Country Park - Hagbourne Copse - Shaw Forest Park - Peatmoor Lagoon - Mouldon Hill Country Park - Festival of Literature. May (annual). Created in the early 1990s, this event is for those who enjoy readings, poetry and talks from a wide range of authors, performers and speakers. Highlights from previous years include Sir David Attenborough, Will Self, Richard Dawkins, and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir John Major. - Film Festival, Hosted at a number of venues. March (annual). 10-day programme showcasing the latest independent films from Britain and abroad. £5 (£4 for concessions). - Mela, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). A celebration of Indian culture. Free. - Old Town Festival, Various locations in Old Town. June (annual). - Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, Town Gardens, Old Town. August (annual). The main annual LGBT event in Wiltshire. Accessible and free for all to attend. Free. - Shuffle. August (annual). Music festival packed with upcoming and established bands from Swindon and the wider region. - Watch football ie soccer at 1 Swindon Town, The County Ground, County Road SN1 2ED. "The Robins" play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. - Jungle Parc, Lydiard Park, West Swindon, SN5 3PA. Adventure park in the 'tree-tops', with zip lines, rope bridges and cargo nets. Aimed at children 3yrs or over. - Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Blunsdon Station, Tadpole Lane, SN25 2DA. Standard gauge heritage railway located on a portion of the former Midland & South West Junction Railway (M&SWJR). Rides are available on carriages hauled by steam and diesel locomotives. The line is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers, with the track length increasing year on year. Child £5, senior £6, adult £7, family (two adults + two children) £20. . - Swindon Karting, Hanger C2, Area 1, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton Airfield, SN4 0QJ, ☏ , ✉ firstname. lastname@example. org. Based in a hangar at the former RAF Wroughton airfield, you can race on a 550-metre indoor track using a 270cc go-kart. From £40 per driver. - 2 ATBShop Skate Warehouse, Unit 1 Newcombe Drive, Swindon SN2 1DZ, England, ☏ . Enclosed skate park for children - let your kids skate in safety! protective clothing and equipment hire available, events and partys available for booking. - 3 Oasis Leisure Centre, North Star Avenue, SN2 1EP, ☏ . M-F: 6:30AM-10PM, Sa: 8AM-6PM, Su: 8AM-7PM. Concert hall and leisure centre with a swimming pool, waterslides and rapids of which the band Oasis took its name. Swindon town centre contains the main retail core of the town, primarily served by four pedestrianised shopping streets (Bridge Street, Regent Street, Canal Walk and The Parade). The shops are around 150 m from the bus station and approximately 300 m from the railway station. - 1 Brunel Centre, SN1 1LF. It is ccessible from Canal Walk, anf comprises a two-storey indoor shopping area. At the end of western end of Canal Walk is the Swindon’s Tented Market . Two shopping destinations exist within walking distance of the town centre. 0. 8 km west of the town centre is the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Europe's largest indoor designer outlet in the unique setting of restored Victorian railway engineering buildings. 1. 1 km (0. 68 mi) south-east of the town centre is Old Town. - 2 McArthurglen Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Dr, SN2 2DY, ☏ . M-F: 10AM-8PM, Sa: 9AM-7PM, Su: 10AM-6PM. Further afield are Greenbridge Retail Park, the West Swindon Shopping Centre and the Orbital Retail Park. These are accessible from the town centre by bus, taxi or car. - 3 Greenbridge Retail Park, Drakes Way, Greenbridge SN3 3EY, ☏ . M-Sa: 8AM-10PM, Su: 10AM-6PM. - 4 West Swindon Shopping Centre, Tewkesbury Way, SN5 7DL, ☏ . M-F: 7AM-10PM, Sa: 7AM-9PM, Su: 10AM-4PM. - 5 Orbital Retail Park, Thamesdown Drive, SN25 4AN, ☏ . There are plenty different types of places to choose from, including traditional English and Irish pubs, Chinese and Indian restaurants, and cafés and bars. - Los Gatos (The tapas bar), 1-3 Devizes Road (At top of hill in Old Town), ☏ , ✉ email@example. com. 11AM-11PM. A real, independently-owned Spanish tapas bar which uses fresh ingredients. Always busy and good atmosphere. - Jewel in the Crown, 14-16 Victoria Road, ☏ . Indian restaurant in Old Town. For really good pubs it is advised you head out of town into the countryside a bit, however several of the more popular pubs are: - The Glue Pot, 5 Emlyn Square, ☏ . Probably one of the better places to find good real ale in Swindon. They also have a large and constantly changing selection of ciders. - Groves Company Inn, 22/23 Fleet Street. The ubiquitous Wetherspoons: Cheap beer, no atmosphere. - The Victoria Pub, Victoria Hill. Great food, a brilliant laugh free pub quiz on Wednesdays which involves snakes and ladders and cheating is encouraged! They are also a great music venue for all types of music encouraging unsigned bands. They also show films and have a great atmosphere. - The Old Bank, 18 Wood Street, Swindon. The Old Bank comprises a bar and brasserie on the ground floor and on the upper floors, bar areas. - McKenzies Bar, Wood Street. Reasonable bar; food served. - Longs Bar. Reasonable bar with good drinks selection, conservatory and outdoor areas. - The Hop Inn, Devizes Road, Swindon (Old Town), ☏ . noon-midnight. Small, friendly, independent bar serving real ales and craft beers. Beer list changes very frequently. Crisps, etc. , but no kitchen. The hotel sector in Swindon has seen increased growth in the past decade as the town continues to urbanise and establish itself as a base for tourism in the centre of southern England. For many years there was only one hotel in the town centre but competition arrived and there are now three main players, with more rumoured to be on the way. This increased competition benefits you, with reduced room rates on offer. - Holiday Inn Express, Bridge Street, SN1 1BT, ☏ , fax: , ✉ firstname. lastname@example. org. - Jurys Inn, Fleming Way, SN1 2NG, ☏ . - Travelodge, Princes Way, Princes Street, SN1 2SF, ☏ , fax: . Bed & Breakfasts can be found on Manchester Road and County Road. Another cluster of hotels can be found in West Swindon, a convenient stopover point due to the proximity of the M4 motorway at Junction 16. - De Vere Village, Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehill Way, SN5 7DW, ☏ , fax: . - DoubleTree (Hilton Hotel), Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, SN5 8UZ, ☏ . - Holiday Inn Express, Frankland Road, Blagrove, SN5 8UD, ☏ , fax: , ✉ email@example. com. - Premier Inn, Great Western Way, SN5 8UB, ☏ , fax: . The pace of life in Old Town is much slower due to its distance from the railway station and town centre. However, there is one large hotel: - Marriott Hotel, Pipers Way, SN3 1SH, ☏ , fax: . Bed & Breakfast accommodation can be found on Bath Road and Victoria Road. - Goddard Arms, 1 High Street, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3EG, England. Other places to sleep include: - 1 Mercure South Marston Hotel, Old Vicarage Lane, South Marston (from Exit M4 (J15) and follow A419 to Cirencester, straight over roundabout, then take exit on left signposted Oxford (A420), turn right at next two roundabouts, stay on A420, cross the roundabout, pass the police station on left, pass the Esso garage on left, hotel is next turning on left, signposted to South Marston), ☏ . Hotel just outside Swindon with fully equipped gym, 23-m indoor swimming pool, and a health and beauty spa. Special Spa Break from £75 per person for one night including three-course dinner, full English breakfast and choice of beauty treatment. From £55. - Stanton House Hotel, The Avenue, Stanton Fitzwarren, Swindon SN6 7SD, ☏ . Cotswold stone house overlooking Stanton Lake and park just outside Swindon. Mt. Fuji Yakiniku-style Japanese restaurant is on the grounds of the hotel, and the hotel also hosts a Japanese market from time to time. - Whitehorse Hill, Uffington, Vale of White Horse - Head towards Cirencester, Bath, Bristol, Salisbury or Reading |Routes through Swindon| |Bristol Temple Meads ← Bath Spa ←||W E||→ Reading → London Paddington| |Cardiff ← Bristol ←||W E||→ Reading → London| |merges with and ←||N S||→ Ogbourne → Marlborough| |Banbury ← Burford ←||N S||→ merges with| |merges with ←||W E||→ Cumnor → Oxford|

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The Mystery of Literacy Math That Nobody Is Discussing Cooking with your son or daughter is another wonderful method to come up with your kid’s math abilities. You will have to have at least one for each kid. Have your son or daughter do more than that which was assigned. In case you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher. The majority of them reinforce the thought that you do a couple of math problems to make play time, which to me is almost psychologically predisposing children to believe that math advanced writers is a kind of chore, or even punishment. This provides teachers and parents the flexibility to pick the type of problems they wish to include dependent on the kids’ age and degree of skill. The history of mathematics can be viewed as an ever-increasing collection of abstractions. The math standards offer clarity and specificity instead of broad general statements. You may hear dyscalculia called math dyslexia, although dyscalculia and dyslexia aren’t the exact same thing. These dictionaries are full of graphic representations of the conditions and concepts necessary for students’ understanding and are incredibly comprehensive. The simplest explanations are frequently the very best. Once English language https://www.privatewriting.com/buy-research-paper-online learners know the important terminology employed in mathematical word difficulties, you’ll find it much easier to learn to compose numerical equations. The Downside Risk of Literacy Math In the first couple of sections, there are a few overall use printables that could be utilized in a wide variety of situations. 1 way I have found beneficial is the usage of a personal word wall. Finding the pieces in the correct arrangement can be difficult. Details of Literacy Math The procedure starts with setting financial targets. There are many factors that determine the efficacy of the dash covers. The vertical axis is known as the y-axis. Offering well-written texts which are not necessarily about the class subject can encourage students to read for fun and data. School mathematics is so focused on getting the appropriate answer and passing the exam that there’s seldom an chance to learn what it’s all for. The following are a few of the best teaching strategies for preschool teachers. In addition, it tells teachers that we don’t trust them to plan https://chemistry.oregonstate.edu/ top quality lessons independently. This lesson is excellent for kindergarten through first grade. It is appropriate for students in K-3, as it can be easily modified. The Argument About Literacy Math Any weaknesses in oral language expression are very likely to transfer to written work as it’s quite rare for someone to have the ability to write material they don’t have the capacity to say. Becoming bad at math is just one of my main regrets in life! However you are feeling about it, if you’re an elementary educator, you’ll likely have to teach math sooner or later. Things You Won’t Like About Literacy Math and Things You Will The interaction was updated to a more prevalent design that aligns to the normal interaction utilized by screen reader users. You can make your own script, or we have consultants which will help you. The app is fantastic to utilize for a fast evaluation of place value. The Unexposed Secret of Literacy Math So this subject of math is really pretty important. Students should be taught to compose simple, grammatically correct sentences before learning how to write compound and intricate sentences. This worksheet makes it possible to assess how well your 1st grader has understood the idea of multiplication. The 5-Minute Rule for Literacy Math On the other hand, the roots of mathematics go back a whole lot more than 5,000 decades. Quantitative literacy means understanding how to reason and the way to think. Mathematics for a discipline. As with all sorts of learning, culture plays a pivotal part in innumeracy. The matter of basic abilities versus higher-order skills is particularly crucial in math education. The capability to absorb and understand content is a crucial skill for every single student, in every class. What Everybody Dislikes About Literacy Math and Why Number sense is the capability to count accurately and competently, to have the ability to continue countingor count onfrom a particular number in addition to to count backwards, to observe relationships between numbers, and to be in a position to have a particular number apart and put it back together again. The individual who guesses the proper number, wins and gets to pick the next number. The range of competitors will ascertain the amount of winners. Good care has to be taken in choosing the challenge. The majority of these things are outside in the wild! Money is the medium of exchange for the majority of goods and solutions. Life, Death, and Literacy Math Look at these actions you may take to find out more about your school or district’s discipline policies and discover out ways to advocate for equitable practices. Consequently there’s a demand for teachers to use the idea of cognitive rigor and incorporate an assortment of cognitive demand in their classroom instruction and assessment. There’s admittedly terrific value to getting a curriculum focused on fostering skills in every single region of development. Just as a sniff of sour meat warns you that a sandwich may not make a fantastic meal, critical thinking can help you recognize ideas which are likely going to supply you with indigestion. You truly have all the symptoms of somebody who should be into math. When some folks hear the expression assessment, they immediately conjure a photo of students sitting down to have a paper and pencil test. Choosing Good Literacy Math When you find a complicated assertion or term you need to be patient. A symbolic expression includes symbols arranged according to certain rules. While the techniques stemming from a mathematical problem may be utilized in a contextual problem, the goals are very different. As a consequence, students explore the demand for a normal unit of measure. Besides having an overall influence on the high quality and length of play, learning how to use suitable strategies in play supports the maturation of self-regulation. Label important objects and regions of the learning environment to improve awareness of concepts of print. Up in Arms About Literacy Math? Your application will stay active for a couple of years. The net has played a huge part in making such information accessible. United States publications aren’t as simple to use becasuse each agency quantifies literacy” differently, therefore it is going to be worth the opportunity to comprehend each publication’s methodology.

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Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a synthetic molecule that can recognize and bind to double-stranded DNA or RNA under normal physiological conditions. The molecule could provide a new platform for developing methods for the diagnosis and treatment of genetic conditions. Their findings are published in Communications Chemistry, a new Nature journal. The work was carried out by an international team of experts, including Carnegie Mellon Professor of Chemistry Danith Ly, an expert in peptide nucleic acid design, chemistry postdoc Shivaji Thadke and chemistry graduate student Dinithi Perera, Chemistry Professor and nuclear magnetic resonance expert Roberto Gil, and Arnab Mukherjee, a computer scientist at The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Pune. “Since the double-helical structure of DNA was first elucidated by Watson and Crick, scientists have been trying to design molecules that can bind to DNA and allow one to control the flow of genetic information,” said Ly. “This is the first bifacial molecule that can invade double-stranded DNA or RNA under biologically relevant conditions. ” DNA, which contains all of an organism’s genetic information, is made up of two strands of nucleotides. The nucleotides connect with each other using hydrogen bonds, forming a helical chain of Watson-Crick base pairs. While these base pairs provide a relatively simple code to our genetic information, getting into the double helix to change the code is difficult due to the strong bonds between the base-pairs. Ly and his colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD) and Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST) are leaders in the design and development of gamma peptide nucleic acids (gamma PNAs). Synthetic analogs to DNA and RNA, gamma PNAs can be programmed to bind to the genetic material (DNA or RNA) that causes disease, allowing them to search for detrimental sequences and bind to them to prevent a gene from malfunctioning. The group has created double-faced gamma PNAs called Janus gamma PNAs. Named after the two-faced Roman god, Janus PNAs are able to recognize and bind with both strands of a DNA or RNA molecule. The concept of bifacial recognition, which is the basis of the Janus gamma PNAs, was first conceived more than two decades ago by Jean-Marie Lehn, a Nobel laureate known for his work in the field of supramolecular chemistry, and expounded on by other researchers in the field. The advancement of this research has been held back by two obstacles. First, researchers had been able to only make a small number of Janus bases, and those bases varied considerably in shape and size. These limitations meant the different Janus bases could only recognize repeats of the same set of base pairs and couldn’t be used together like building blocks to recognize more complex sequences in DNA or RNA. Secondly, it was difficult to synthesize Janus bases for canonical base pairs. The complementary nature of the two sides of Janus bases made the molecules hybridize and bind to each other, preventing them from incorporating into DNA and RNA. In the current study, Ly and colleagues overcome these obstacles. They created an entirely new set of bifacial nucleic acid recognition elements, 16 in total, that accounted for every possible combination of nucleobases that could be found in the genetic code. The Janus gamma PNAs can be used to recognize any combination of base pairs and mixed and matched to detect and bind to complex genetic sequences. Thadke solved the chemical synthesis problem by devising a novel solution- and solid-phase synthetic method to develop the Janus gamma PNAs. He also deployed a trick inherent in the helical preorganization in the backbone of the gamma PNA to prevent self-complementary Janus bases from hybridizing to one another. These new Janus gamma PNAs have an extraordinarily high binding energy and are the first to be able to invade a canonical base-paired DNA or RNA double helix at a physiologically relevant ionic strength and temperature. They do this by taking advantage of when double-stranded DNA and RNA molecules “breathe” and the bonds between the base pairs open for fractions of a second. When this happens, the Janus PNA inserts itself between the separated strands. If the base pairs don’t match up, the Janus PNA is ejected from the DNA molecule. But if they do match, the Janus PNA binds to both strands of the molecule. Janus gamma PNAs have a wide-range of biological and biomedical uses. They can be designed to target genomic DNA for gene editing and transcriptional regulation. They also could be designed to bind sequence-specifically and selectively to the secondary and tertiary structures of RNA, something that traditional antisense agents and small-molecule ligands aren’t able to do. For example, the Janus gamma PNAs could be programmed to bind to RNA-repeated expansions, which could lead to new treatments for a number of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders, including myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Huntington’s disease, or to noncoding RNAs, including pathogen’s ribosomal and telomerase RNA, to combat genetic and infectious diseases. The technology is being explored by startups as well as by pharmaceutical companies for therapeutic developments. This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the DSF Charitable Foundation.

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Water scarcity already affects more than 40 percent of the world's population and is expected to rise due to global warming By Umberto Bacchi LONDON, Jan 31 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Drought-stricken Cape Town could run out of water as soon as April, but South Africa is not alone in its struggle as ever more world cities battle acute water shortages. Water scarcity already affects more than 40 percent of the world's population and is expected to rise due to global warming, with one in four people projected to face chronic or recurring shortages by 2050, according to the United Nations. Already hosting more than half the world's people, cities are at the forefront of the problem, as population growth increases pressure on reserves, which are already stretched by too little rain and too much waste. Following are some of the crisis cities: The reservoir supplying Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and a metropolitan region of 20 million people, nearly dried up in 2015, as the country faced its worst drought in 80 years, depriving many residents of water for 12 hours a day. The city was criticised by U.N. experts for losing 31 percent of its treated water to leaks and theft, compared to an average of 16 percent in the United States. Rain in the Peruvian capital is almost non-existent, with average annual precipitation of 7 millimetres. Water is expected to become scarcer still as global warming thaws Andean glaciers, reducing flows as the ice disappears. The city has been working to improve watersheds in the Andes mountains, while residents in hillside shantytowns overlooking the city have been using nets to condense thick fog from the Pacific Ocean into drainage pipes. Amman, the capital city of Jordan, has no nearby source of water and regularly experiences drought, while its lower-lying parts are inundated when it rains heavily. The city recycles the vast majority of its waste water and uses it for irrigation but a refugee influx from neighbouring Syria has put additional pressure on reserves countrywide. The government is moving ahead with new pipelines for groundwater and projects to desalinate water from the Red Sea. Despite the heavy downpours that come each rainy season, Mexico City, a mega-city of 21. 3 million people, depends on depleting aquifers and has long struggled with providing enough water to its inhabitants. Built on what was once a lake, it is also prone to flooding. Having over-pumped local supplies so much that land is sinking, the city is working to redesign its water system, which sources a third of its supplies from nearby river basins and valleys. The Australian city suffered the so-called 'Millennium drought' between 1997 and 2009. It was one of the worst dry spells on record, affecting other major cities such as Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. Melbourne has since slashed per capita water use by half and installed desalination and recycling plants. Originally planned to support about 1 million people, the Afghan capital is now home to more than 4. 6 million, according to U.S. government estimates. Several unseasonably dry winters, along with the sprawling population, have strained supplies. Those who can afford to, have dug unregulated wells to tap a falling water table. SOURCES: United Nations, Reuters, Thomson Reuters Foundation. (Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Dedicated to disseminating news & information not found in mainstream media. . . . (22 Al-Hajj:36) “We have appointed sacrificial camels among the symbols of (devotion to) Allah. There is much good in them for you. So make them stand (at the time of sacrifice) and pronounce the name of Allah over them, and when they fall down on their sides (after they are slaughtered) eat, and also feed those who do not ask and those who ask. Thus have We subjected these animals that you may give thanks. ” Seven persons can become partners in the sacrifice of one camel and likewise in the sacrifice of one cow and the like, as enjoined by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a tradition reported in the collection of Hadith by Muslim. This means, you should sacrifice animals because you get many benefits from them to show your gratitude to Allah, the Giver, and also to acknowledge His Supremacy and Sovereignty. “pronounce the name of Allah over them” implies that animals should be slaughtered by pronouncing the name of Allah over them, because without that their flesh would be unlawful to eat. In the Islamic Law there is no conception of slaughtering an animal without pronouncing the name of Allah over it. According to traditions, there are different wordings for pronouncing the name of Allah over the animals at the time of their slaughter. Some of these are: (I) Bismillahi Allahu Akbar; Allahumma minka wa laka: In the name of Allah, Allah is most Great! O Allah, this is Thine and is presented to Thee. (2) Allahu Akbar- La ilaha ill-Allahu; Allahumma minka wa laka: Allah is most Great: There is no god but Allah: O Allah, this is Thine and is presented to Thee. (3) Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lillazi fatar-as-sama wati wal-arda, hanif-an-wa ma ana min-al-mushrikin. Inns Salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi Rabb-il-alamin. La sharika lahu wa bi-zalika umirtu wa ana min-al-Muslimin. Allahumma minka wa laka. I have turned my face sincerely towards the Being Who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not from among the idolatrous people. My Salat and my rites of worship and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the universe, Who has no partner with Him. This is what I have been enjoined and I am the first to surrender to Him. O Allah! This is Thine, and is presented to Thee. It should be noted that a camel is sacrificed while it is standing. This was commanded by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and is reported in Muslim and Bukhari in a tradition from Ibn Umar, who saw a man slaughtering his camel in the sitting position. He said to him: Tie one foot of your camel and make it stand, because that is the way of Abu Qasim (peace be upon him). According to another tradition the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions would tie a left foot of the camel and make it stand on three feet, then they would slaughter it. “Then, when they are down on their sides (after slaughter)” means till they die completely, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited to cut off a piece of flesh if there is still any sign of life in the slaughtered animal. If this is done, the piece of flesh would be unlawful. This is another reason why animals should be sacrificed: “Thus have We made them (animals) subject to you, that you may give thanks”. (22 Al-Hajj:37) “Neither their flesh reaches Allah nor their blood; it is your piety that reaches Him. He has subjected these animals (to you) that you may magnify Allah for the guidance He has bestowed upon you. Give glad tidings, (O Prophet), to those who do good. ” This prescribes a very important condition for the sacrifice made in the worship of Allah. A sacrifice is acceptable to Allah only if it is accompanied by piety and sincerity. Though sacrifice is a symbol of Allah, yet it has been made plain that it is accepted only if it is accompanied by piety, saying: “Neither their meat that reaches Allah nor their blood, but what reaches Him is the piety from you”. This was also meant to condemn the ritual of the days of ignorance, when the Arabs took the flesh to the Kabah and smeared its walls with the blood of the sacrificed animal. “That you may glorify Allah” at the time of sacrifice verbally also in order to acknowledge that the animals really belong to Allah and to no one else. One of the sentences uttered at the time of sacrifice is Allahumma minka wa laka (O Allah, this animal is Thine and is presented to Thee). It should be noted that the command of sacrifice as contained in (verses 36 and 37) is not for the pilgrims alone. Nor is the performance of sacrifice confined to Makkah on the occasion of Hajj. It is a general command for all those Muslims who are well off. They have been enjoined to be grateful to Allah because He has subjected these animals for the good of all human beings. Therefore they are required to sacrifice the animals during these days so that they may spiritually join those who go to Makkah to perform Hajj. There are many authentic traditions to the effect that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made sacrifice on this occasion, while he was personally at Al-Madinah. (1) The one who does not perform sacrifice even though he can, should not join us in the Eid Prayer. (Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Majah). (2) According to a tradition reported by Ibn Umar, the Prophet (peace be upon him) dwelt at Al-Madinah for ten years and performed sacrifice every year. (Tirmizi). (3) According to Anas, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The one who sacrificed an animal before the Eid Prayer, should offer another sacrifice; but the one who sacrificed his animal after the Eid Prayer, did the right thing and followed the way of the Muslims. (Bukhari). Therefore, it is clear that the sacrifice on the occasion of Eid which is observed in the entire Muslim world is a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and has been commanded by him.

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When it comes to your business, do you really know what’s important? This may seem to be an insulting question. After all, who would know better than you? You most likely already have goals, a working blueprint and a to-do list of important things. Then, why ask the question? The answer lies less in why we think something is important and more in how we think something is important. Why we think something is important Why we think something is important usually comes from assumptions that there’s a product, service or action that will be able to: - Resolve a problem or issue - Takes things to the next level - Increase outcome results - Stimulate activity and engagement - Increase profits - Make things easier and more efficient - Reduce stress, aggravation, and frustration - Improve any other positive aspect of your business How we think something is important However, how we think something is important is different because it implies judgment and action. When we judge something is important we are basically relying on three types of judgments. Value judgments, which are subjective. They express beliefs, biases, preferences, habits, feelings and memories. They become what’s personally meaningful when rating what’s important. Critical judgments are objective. They rely on information – facts, evidence and research and the mental skills of analysis, logic, and reasoning. Rating what’s important with critical judgment increases validity. The perception is that it’s objective and more scientific at the same time. Judgments of others are external. They are built around the credibility and authority of others who tell us whether something is important or not. It’s usually in the form of professional advice as to what works and what doesn’t work in making a business successful. On the basis of these judgments, you’re ready to give what’s important greater attention and move it up on your priority list of things to do. But, let me clue you in. By the time you’ve concluded what’s important, it’s already been initially decided by your brain. It’s your brain’s friendly way of taking the pressure off and deciding for you before you’re consciously aware of it. Here’s how your brain decides what’s important The front part of your brain is your prefrontal cortex. It’s the area designated for executive thinking, decision-making and impulse control. As your brain processes incoming information, it’s comparing it to any memories and emotional associations, as well as, ingrained patterns of biases, preferences, and habits. As an example, let’s say you receive an email from an online marketer you’ve been following for a while. The marketer is offering a new training course on how to take information you already have and will show you how to turn it into a money-making training course. Before you can engage in any critical judgment, you brain is already searching its databases for its value judgments, especially those of memory and emotions. If any previous association with this marketer is questionable or non-existent, a red flag may go up to indicate some hesitation. But, if a previous association is favorable, your brain is onto its emotional assessment. What your brain is assessing is a response to the primary emotions of happiness, anger or fear. As you read the email, your happiness neurons light up because it recognizes the value of this training for your business and therefore tags it as “important. ” Your anger neurons may light up when you find out how expensive the course is and you’re uncertain of where the money will come from. Anger can be a motivator to finding a way to get something that’s important or a demotivator of frustration or disappointment in not getting what’s important. Your fear neurons may get activated when you find out the course is limited to 50 people who have to submit an application for approval. This may increase the level of importance if you believe you have a good chance of being accepted. Or, fear may limit its importance if your mindset is that your chances of being accepted are slim. It’s your brain’s memories and emotions that are going to initially determine what’s important. Consciously you can modify that level of importance by rationalizing for or against how taking this course could benefit your business (critical judgment). And, a level of importance can be elevated by expert advice, testimonials or a marketer’s reputation (judgment of others). What’s important to know is that how you judge what’s important will have more of an impact on your business than what you think is important. And within those judgments, your brain is going to respond to memories and emotions first then logic and reason. Consequently, the things on your list of important things to do for your business that have the greatest chance of being acted upon will be the things you are most emotionally and logically connected to. So, how do you think about what’s on your list of important things to do? Images: Pixababy 570507 You Can Find Me At -

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Category:Populated places established in 1817 |Wikimedia Commons has media related to Populated places established in 1817. | Populated places (including cities, towns and villages) established (i. e., first settled or otherwise came into existence) in the year 1817. Where reliable foundation dates exist, articles should be categorised by year for 1500 and later, by decade from the 1300s to the 1490s, by century from the 10th century BC to the 13th century and by millennium for the 2nd millennium BC and earlier. Prior to 1500, where greater dating accuracy exists, articles should also be placed in the appropriate Establishments by year category. For any period in history, if reliable information does not narrow down the point of foundation beyond a given time period then articles should only be categorised by the most specific time period (i. e. decade, century or millennium) as indicated by reliable sources and without breaking the aforementioned scheme. |Populated places established in the 1810s:||← 1810-1811-1812-1813-1814-1815-1816-1817-1818-1819 →| This category has only the following subcategory. - ► Norwalk, Ohio (2 C, 3 P) Pages in category "Populated places established in 1817" The following 54 pages are in this category, out of 54 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).

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Layla Wishard is an 11-year-old girl who, like many children, likes to play Minecraft and look at YouTube videos. Her mom, Emily Keller, says she makes sure Layla does other activities besides look at her phone. “I try to limit the time she is on it. she likes to draw, so a lot of times, if I see her really buried in her phone, I’ll say Layla it’s time to put the phone away, why don’t you do some drawing or work on one of your math books or something other than being buried in a phone or iPad,” said Keller, a parent. Keller is not alone. Parents all over the country are working to limit how much screen time their children have a day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are spending at least seven hours a day on entertainment media, which includes television, computers and phones. Susan Corley, an outpatient therapist, says kids who are toddlers should have no more than one hour of parental-monitored screen time a day. “For the kids that are school age and teenagers, you want to find a balance for them between physical activities, extra curricular activities, social things that they do and the screen time that they do,” said Corley. Corley says research has shown when kids sit behind a screen all day they are not getting what they need for critical brain growth. “What we’re finding out with children in specific is that it’s leading to a sedentary lifestyle. There are weight and health issues that are coming up for them. It’s affecting their social skills and their ability to relate to other kids and even want to interact with doing that,” said Corley. While too much screen time can be detrimental, some say using technology can be a good thing, but only if used in moderation. Sue James is a children’s book author and runs her own childcare service. She understands that technology is here to stay. “What we need to do is teach them appropriate boundaries and limits on time and place for technology and how we can use it to our advantage,” said James. As an author, Sue understands the importance of kids reading out loud. She recommends parents to take time out of their busy schedules. “Sitting with a child and reading makes a big difference for them because it becomes an event like a vacation or going to McDonald’s, it becomes an event in their life, and it’s very important because it gives them a bond with that adult, you can’t anywhere else,” said James. Experts say as long as parents ensure their children have a balanced life, they should be fine.

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Dental disease in cats and dogs Dental disease is common in cat and dogs – it is estimated that 4 out of 5 pets over the age of 3 years have evidence of gum disease. Daily dental care at home with regular check-ups and professional treatment as needed is just as important for our pets as it is for us. Acorn House Veterinary Hospital offers outstanding dental care. Brand new dental suite completed January 2016. The only pratice in Bedford with dental radiography - teeth can be fully evaluated above and below the gums. Exceptional hospital and anaesthetic care included as standard - separate cat and dog wards, 24 hour nursing care, anaesthetic blood test, blood pressure monitoring and intraoperative fluids for every case. Free of charge nurse clinics to demonstrate tooth brushing and discuss dental care - or watch our video How does dental disease develop? Because animals do not brush their teeth or floss between teeth, food accumulates on the teeth. Bacteria grow on these fragments of food. Over time, the bacteria move into the gums and cause damage that results in discomfort, tooth loosening and infection that can spread to other parts of the body. Older animals are more likely to suffer from dental disease but animals of any age can be affected. It is estimated that 80% of adult cats, dogs and humans have some degree of gum disease! Wet food may promote dental disease more rapidly than dry food. Animals that receive regular home tooth brushing are at lower risk for dental disease than those that do not. The direct problems caused by dental disease are - Bad breath - Poor grooming - Excessive salivation - Behaviour changes – e. g. uncharacteristic irritability, depression, aggression, appetite changes – as result of dental pain - Tooth loss As in people, periodontal disease may contribute to or increase the risk of other diseases such as diabetes and infection of the heart, lungs, liver or kidneys. Dental disease is diagnosed by a veterinary professional examining the mouth. To safely and thoroughly evaluate the teeth on all surfaces and below the gum line, our patients need to be anaesthetised, and dental Xrays are often required. However, it is possible to make a general assessment of dental health during a routine, conscious examination (e. g at vaccination or consultation). At Acorn House Veterinary Surgery our vets use a scoring system to estimate the extent of dental disease. If there are significant signs of dental disease we will recommend that your pet is booked in for dental assessment and treatment under a general anaesthetic. |Grade 0||No plaque or gingivitis present. ||Preventative brushing. (see video below) If not possible dental diets and chews| |Grade 1||Mild plaque and gingivitis. ||Preventative brushing. If not possible use dental diets and chews. | |Grade 2||Mild to moderate tartar and gingivitis on multiple teeth. ||Dental evaluation and treatment under anaesthetic in the next 3 months Then preventative dental care as above| |Grade 3||Heavy tartar and periodontal disease with bone loss/wobbly teeth. ||Dental evaluation and treatment under anaesthetic in the next month Then preventative dental care as above| |Grade 4||Severe tartar, periodontal disease, wobbly teeth||Dental evaluation and treatment under anaesthetic in the next month Then preventative dental care as above| |Fracture (F)||Recommend anaesthetic in the next month to assess fracture and extract tooth if necessary| |Resorptive lesion (R)||Recommend anaesthetic in the next month with evaluation and extraction of resorptive teeth| Your veterinary surgeon has assessed: What are the options for dental care at home? There are several different ways of looking after your pet’s teeth. Different methods will suit different pets and their owners. The veterinary surgeons and nurses at the practice will be happy to advise you if you require further information. 1. Tooth brushing Daily tooth brushing is the best method for protecting your pet’s teeth. We recommend that you use a soft toothbrush designed for cats or dogs. You can choose between a traditional long-handled toothbrush or a rubber brush that is worn over your finger. Make sure that you use a special pet toothpaste as the fluoride in human toothpaste can be toxic to pets and most don’t like the flavour or foaming sensation. Veterinary toothpastes come in fish and poultry flavours and are safe to be swallowed. Some also contain enzymes that help to break down plaque. Start off by introducing your pet to toothpaste by applying some to your finger or a toy. Let them lick the toothpaste and give them lots of praise and fuss. Repeat this every day for three to five days. The next step is to place your finger with the toothpaste on it into your pet’s mouth and gently massage the teeth and gums. This will get your pet used to the toothpaste and the sensation of having their mouth handled. Once your pet is comfortable with these sessions introduce the toothbrush. Begin with just a few teeth and gradually build up the number of teeth brushed. You need to lift up your pet’s lips so that you can brush the outside surface of each tooth. However, you do NOT need to open your pet’s mouth and brush the inside of the teeth – most pets will not tolerate this, and it is rarely necessary since the tongue tends to keep the inside of the teeth fairly clean. The small teeth across the front of your pet’s mouth may also be ignored unless your pet is particularly cooperative – most dogs take exception to brushing of these teeth and it is better to brush the more important teeth at the sides of the mouth well, than annoy your dog trying to do the front teeth as well and do a less good job overall. Please ask a member of staff if you would like a demonstration of pet tooth brushing. Contact the surgery if you experience any problems whilst following the above instructions. Make sure that you give your pet lots of praise after each tooth brushing session, and try to do it every day! 2. Oral hygiene gel If you find it impossible to brush your pet’s teeth as described above, there is some benefit to using a mouth gel such as “Logic”. This gel can be squirted into the mouth of your pet, or placed on a cat’s paw to be licked off. The gel sticks to the teeth and gums and helps to break down plaque and control the levels of bacteria in the mouth. However, tooth brushing gives much better results as the physical action of brushing physically removes plaque and food particles. 3. Dental chews and treats If your pet will not allow tooth brushing there is some benefit to using specially designed dental chews and treats. These are designed to gently scrub the outside of the pet’s teeth as they chew. Ask the nurses or reception for details of the chews and food available – some examples include Pedigree Dentaflex (a very chewy treat to be given twice weekly) and Whiskas dental bites for cats. Small spaces and gaps between teeth will not be targeted by chews and treats so these products will never be as good as tooth brushing but they are better than nothing! 4. Dental diets Prescription diets are available that will help to slow down the build-up of tartar on your pet’s teeth. These may work by mechanically rubbing against the tooth surface to work away the plaque, or by containing ingredients which slow down tartar build up and inhibit bacteria in the mouth. These diets are dry foods (for example Hills T/D) and can be ordered via reception. - You and your pet will have an admission appointment with the nurse to check your details and check that your pet is fit and well - Your pet will be taken through to the ward to be weighed and given a pre-anaesthetic check by the veterinary surgeon on duty. A few drops of blood are tested at this point. This tests kidney function, and some other basic tests of hydration, oxygenation and circulation. This makes sure that we know that your pet is fit and well before any medication or anaesthesia is given. - Your pet will be given a pre-medication injection. This is a combination of medications to make your pet sleepy and comfortable. - Your pet will rest in his kennel for the pre-medication to take effect. - An intravenous cannula will then be taped into a front leg. An anaesthetic injection is given gradually through the cannula until your pet falls asleep. The cannula remains in place throughout the anaesthetic and recovery providing immediate access to the circulation so that fluids and medications can be given as needed. - A tube is then placed into the airway. This is connected to our anaesthetic machine so that your pet is breathing a combination of oxygen and anaesthetic gas to keep them asleep during the procedure. - Your pet is monitored continuously throughout the procedure and adjustments made to the depth of anaesthesia, pain relief, blood pressure, and fluid balance as necessary. - Your pet will be moved into the dental suite. - Each tooth is examined on all surfaces and a periodontal probe is used to check for pockets and inflammation - Dental Xrays are taken to examine the tooth roots and surrounding bone as required - The tartar and plaque are scaled away from the tooth surfaces, paying particular attention to the areas between the teeth and under the gum – areas that are very difficult to reach with tooth-brushing. - Teeth that are irreversibly damaged will be extracted. For small teeth with single roots this may be quite a simple process. For larger teeth with multiple roots or very long roots it will be necessary to divide the teeth into sections before extraction, or even to perform a surgical extraction where a flap of gum and bone is lifted to expose the root and then stitched back into place. Dental Xrays are used to examine the roots before beginning the extractions and at the end to ensure that there are no fragments of root left behind. - The clean teeth are polished and rinsed. - Your pet will remain under one-to-one monitoring until he is awake but sleepy. He will then be returned to his kennel bed and monitored by the ward nurse. - Pets are rechecked by the veterinary surgeon later in the day to confirm the medication, discharge time and aftercare appointment for your pet. - Home time! The vet or nurse will give you aftercare instructions and arrange any follow-up appointments that are needed. - We usually re see patients 5 days after their dental procedure to check the mouth and advise you on preventative dental care so that you can keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy. - Practice Newsletter - Read the latest information, offers and advice by reading our practice newsletter. Acorn House Veterinary Surgery Linnet Way, Brickhill, Bedford, MK41 7HN

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African Black Soap "What is African Black Soap? " . African Black Soap is generally made in western Africa. The difference is, however, the preparation of the soap. Leaves and bark of various trees and plants are first burned in a kettle or vat. These may be leaves from banana trees, plantain skins, leaves and bark, palm tree leaves, cocoa pods, shea tree bark, etc. Water is then added to the ashes and then filtered. Oils such as shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter are added to this water to create the soap. The soap is then hand stirred by local women for at least a day and then set out to cure for two weeks. Each region and tribe have their own recipe that has been handed down through generations. The color of African Black Soap varies depending on the region it's made in since the availability of the ingredients varies. African Black Soap from coastal regions of Africa contains a higher percentage of coconut oil whereas soap from the interior regions contains more shea butter. Black soap is called many names, but the most common is Ose Dudu (doudoun), which comes from the Yoruba or Anago languages of Nigeria, Benin and Togo. Ose Dudu means literally Soap (ose) Black (dudu). You can use this soap on your body, face, and hair. There are many claims on the benefits of using African Black Soap. The claims are that it helps relieve rashes, scalp irritations, softens rough skin, oily skin, dry skin, acne, blemishes and other skin problems. Black soap gives your face a deep cleansing, leaving it fresh and healthier. It can help with wrinkles and fine lines.

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1. In what ways do the molecules or atoms of a gas differ from those in a liquid or a solid? 2. State the ideal gas law, define the terms used and explain what it means. 3. Why is it necessary to use Kelvin temperature in the equation of state for a gas? 4. What is absolute zero and how is it measured? 5. What is an "ideal" gas. How do real gases differ from the ideal gas? 6. Is an object at 100 degrees Celsius twice as hot (contain twice as much heat) as an object at 50 degrees Celsius? Explain. 1. What are the basic assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases? 2. Distinguish between translational, rotational and vibrational motion. 3. Define heat, temperature, kinetic energy, and pressure in terms of kinetic theory. 4. In terms of kinetic theory and conservation of energy, what happens to the latent heat involved in melting ice? 5. How does kinetic theory explain the cooling of water by evaporation? 6. What is Brownian motion and what does it have to do with atoms? The pool table is one of the best models for visualizing the kinetic theory of gases, with one important imperfection, which is is friction, which causes the balls on the table to slow down. 1. 3.1. conservation of energy, gas laws, atomic theory, statistics 2. 1.1. Force per unit area 2. 1.2. P = F/A 184. 108. 40. 206. newtons per square meter or pounds per square inch 2. 1.3. not to be confused with force: pressure is not just another word for force any more than velocity is another word for distance 2. 1.4. pressure on an object should never be confused with the total force acting on it 2. 1.5. our concern is with the pressure exerted by gases, but it will help to compare it with pressure in liquids 2. 1.6. pressure in a liquid The level to which a liquid rises is the same regardless of the shape of its container. This is because the pressure depends on the depth, and because the pressure is equal in all directions. 220. 127. 116. 11. equal in all directions 18. 104. 22. 168. change of pressure at any point is accompanied by a corresponding change at every other point if it is not flowing (Pascal's principle) 22. 214. 171. 124. increases downward 126. 96. 36. 199. 1. due to weight of liquid above a given area 188. 8.131. 52. 2. zero at surface 2. 1.7. also true for gases 184. 108. 40. 206. in ordinary sized containers the difference in pressure between top and bottom is negligible if not immeasurable 220. 127. 116. 11. if gas or liquid is packaged under external pressure in a sealed container, the external pressure will be found throughout the fluid and will be in addition to any pressure due to weight 18. 104. 22. 168. where the quantity of gas is large, such as in the earth's atmosphere, gravitational forces cause a significant difference in density, and also in pressure, between the top and the bottom 22. 214. 171. 124. air pressure diminishes with height in the atmosphere 3. 1.1. known since 16th century that water would rise in a tube with one end submerged if air were drawn out 3. 1.2. like sucking on a straw 3. 1.3. Scholastic physics explained it in terms of Aristotle's concept of "nature's abhorrence of a vacuum" 126. 96. 36. 199. water rises in an attempt to fill the vacuum as the tube is evacuated 188. 8.131. 52. the basis of groundwater pumps 3. 1.4. workman told Galileo that a pump would work only if the pipe were less than 34 feet long 3. 1.5. Galileo wondered why nature's abhorrence stopped at 34 feet 3. 2.1. rise of water in pipe is due to air pushing on the surface rather than a "pulling" of the water from the top 3. 2.2. before the pump "sucked" the air out of the pipe this push was balanced by the air in the pipe pushing down with equal force per unit area 3. 2.3. removing the air removes this force so water rises in the tube until the downward force of its weight balances the downward force of the air pressure outside the tube 3. 2.4. pressure of the air should be equal to the weight of a column of water 34 feet long and 1 square inch in area, about 14. 7 pounds per square inch 3. 2.5. pressure inside tube equals pressure outside tube 3. 2.6. people were not convinced 3. 3.1. mercury is 13. 6 times as dense as water so height of mercury column should be 34 ft. /13. 6 = 2. 5 feet, or 30 inches. 184. 108. 40. 206. still used in weather (US only. actually 29. 96 inches of mercury is a standard atmosphere, equals 14. 7 pounds per square inch) 3. 3.2. fill a closed tube with mercury and invert in a dish of mercury 220. 127. 116. 11. a vacuum exists above the mercury 18. 104. 22. 168. except a small amount of mercury vapor which exerts a small pressure, but that's another story 3. 3.3. a student of Galileo, along with Pascal at Padua 3. 3.4. thought that the weight of the air should decrease with altitude 3. 3.5. under Pascal's direction, measured the change 22. 214. 171. 124. left an identical barometer behind with an observer to record changes in air pressure at the foot of the mountain 126. 96. 36. 199. 1. why did he do that? 188. 8.131. 52. most people still not convinced 3. 3.6. cause of the pressure was assumed by Toricelli to be due to the weight of the air 184. 108. 40. 206. not true but still assumed by many, including encyclopedias and physics texts 220. 127. 116. 11. can be shown by several methods 18. 104. 22. 168. put barometer in closed container and heat or cool the air to obtain greater or lesser pressure, even though the weight will not change(can do it on a scale to see no change in weight) 3. 3.7. analogy between the sea of water and the "sea of air" is not a good one 22. 214. 171. 124. pressure in water increases rapidly with depth with no appreciable change in density 126. 96. 36. 199. pressure of air decreases rapidly with altitude with a corresponding decrease in density 188. 8.131. 52. numerical magnitude of the pressure of the atmosphere exactly equals the weight of a column of air 1 square inch in cross section, but this is not the same as saying that the pressure of the air is caused by the weight of the air 3. 4.1. proof of Galileo's hypothesis had to wait for Boyle to invent the vacuum pump 3. 4.2. put Torricelli's barometer in airtight container and pumped air out of it 3. 4.3. pressure inside container equals pressure outside 3. 4.4. weight of air above the dish could not hold up because it is sealed 3. 5.1. The video program demonstrates the force of air pressure with a small version of the Madgeburg Hemispheres. The story of the hemispheres depicted in the engraving is related in the video. 4. 1. relationships between temperature, pressure, and volume of gases 4. 2. discovered in steps, now expressed as ideal gas law The fact that decreasing volume increases pressure can be shown qualitatively with a balloon. Try it with a balloon of your own. |The pressure inside of the closed part of the tube is equal to the equivalent of two atmospheres of pressure (one atmosphere from the atmosphere itself and one from the 30-inch column of mercury. ||The volume of air inside the closed end is twice as large as when the pressure is half as much, or one atmosphere. | The video program shows how the volume and pressure are inversely proportional using a pressure gauge and a glass cylinder with a piston. Boyle argued that the properties of gases were due to stationary, compressible particles. 8. 1.1. static contiguous particles at rest 8. 1.2. must be compressible, like pieces of wool 8. 1.3. if not touching then must be variable in size or in motion 8. 1.4. static explanation does not account for ability to expand to fill any container 8. 1.5. must then postulate that particles are self repulsive, which is consistent with caloric theory 8. 2.1. deduced Boyle's Law using Newtonian mechanics 8. 2.2. anticipated kinetic theory of gases 8. 2.3. views were too advanced for his time 8. 2.4. about three generations too soon 8. 2.5. idea died for lack of attention 8. 2.6. two important contributions to scientific thought 184. 108. 40. 206. recognized the equivalence of heat and mechanical energy through particle motion 220. 127. 116. 11. conceived the possibility that a quantitative relationship (Boyle's law) could be induced from the chaotic picture of randomly moving particles 8. 2.7. Heat and Mechanical Work 18. 104. 22. 168. PV (pressure times volume) has same units as work when conversions are made 22. 214. 171. 124. shows utility of standard units in understanding concepts 9. 1.1. note that Joule was a student of Dalton 9. 1.2. resurrected Bernoulli's work in a series of lectures and papers from 1847-1857 9. 1.3. sharpened the concepts 9. 1.4. fortified it with convincing arguments and calculations 9. 1.5. gave physical meaning to the concept of absolute zero 9. 2.1. by other 19th century physicists Helmholtz, Maxwell, Boltzmann, and Gibbs 9. 5.1. have mass and occupy space 9. 5.2. obey laws of motion 9. 5.3. obey energy and momentum conservation A postulate is an assumption to be tested. In this case it is a model. We assume certain things about the nature of gases, then determine whether or not the behavior of gases is consistent with. We use the Newtonian paradigm (forces, momentum, energy) as a starting point for understanding the gas laws and other properties. 9. 6.1. Gases consist of molecules 126. 96. 36. 199. gases are substances 188. 8.131. 52. substances consist of molecules 184. 108. 40. 206. changes of state are physical changes involving no new substances 220. 127. 116. 11. gases consist of the same kinds of molecules as their solid forms 18. 104. 22. 168. steam is gaseous water molecules 9. 6.2. Molecules are in constant random motion 22. 214. 171. 124. gases diffuse through space to fill available volume 126. 96. 36. 199. pressure is exerted on the walls of gas containers by the forces of molecular collisions 9. 6.3. Molecules are far apart compared to their size 188. 8.131. 52. gases are greatly compressible 184. 108. 40. 206. gases are much less dense than their liquid or solid counterparts 9. 6.4. Molecules exert no forces except during collisions 220. 127. 116. 11. gravitational forces are extremely small and can be ignored 18. 104. 22. 168. what other kinds of forces are there? 9. 6.5. Collisions are perfectly elastic 22. 214. 171. 124. kinetic energy is completely conserved 126. 96. 36. 199. compare to room full of bouncing balls 188. 8.131. 52. container of gases does not lose energy 184. 108. 40. 206. molecules do not collect in the bottom of the container 220. 127. 116. 11. this makes sense if the others make sense Using this as a visual model we can try to "justify" that the kinetic theory of gases is easily extended to other states of matter. Imagine that the molecules are slightly sticky. 10. 1.1. Kinetic Theory is easily extended to other states of matter 10. 1.2.1. no fixed shape or volume, exert pressure on containers 10. 1.2.2. molecules far apart compared to their size 10. 1.2.2.1. gases are compressible 10. 1.2.2.2. least restricted motion 10. 1.2.2.2.1. billiard balls on table 10. 1.2.2.2.2. a room full of super balls 10. 1.2.2.3. mostly empty space so easily compressed 10. 1.2.3. motion is constant, random, rapid 10. 1.2.3.1. exert pressure 10. 1.2.3.2. many collisions, small average distance traveled between collisions 10. 1.2.3.3. no net movement 10. 1.3.1. fixed volume, but no fixed shape 10. 1.3.2. most complicated state 10. 1.3.2.1. intermediate between gas and solid 10. 1.3.2.2. most substances have only limited region of liquid stability 10. 1.3.2.2.1. ie. water, carbon dioxide 10. 1.3.3. molecules are closer together than gas but free to move in limited way 10. 1.3.3.1. weak forces between molecules due to physical bonds 10. 1.3.3.2. clusters of solid structure mixed with gaseous state 10. 1.3.3.3. sliding motion 10. 1.3.3.4. model: jar full of magnetic spheres 10. 1.4.1. fixed shape and fixed volume 10. 1.4.2. molecules are free to move, but only around fixed positions 10. 1.4.2.1. held together by relatively strong forces, either chemical or physical bonds 10. 1.4.3. model: lattice of balls connected by springs 10. 2.1. Work, kinetic energy, and temperature are seen to be different forms of the same thing 10. 2.2. Gas pressure is due to momentum changes during collisions 10. 2.3. Molecules exert force on walls of container 10. 2.3.1. like throwing a ball at the wall of a room 10. 2.3.2. total force exerted on wall is sum of force exerted by all molecules 10. 2.3.3. sum of forces of all collisions per unit area of wall is gas pressure 10. 2.3.4. can calculate the relationship between energy and temperature 10. 2.3.5. can calculate the relationship between momentum and pressure 10. 3.1. IDEAL gases vs. REAL gases 10. 3.1.1. All gases exert pressure due to molecular collisions 10. 3.1.2. Real gases deviate from gas laws at low temperatures and high pressures 10. 3.1.3. when gases are close to liquefaction point 10. 3.2. Ideal Gases 10. 3.2.1. exert forces during collision only 10. 3.2.1.1. on walls of container 10. 3.2.1.2. on other molecules 10. 3.2.2. pressure is result of sum of collisions of all molecules 10. 3.2.3. exchange energy and momentum during collisions 10. 3.2.4. collisions are perfectly elastic 10. 3.2.5. energy is conserved in collisions 10. 3.2.6. air does not settle to bottom of room 10. 4.1. small attractive forces between molecules are sometimes significant 10. 4.2. cause gas to condense to liquid at a certain temperature 10. 4.3. slightly inelastic collisions 10. 4.4. different gases liquefy under different conditions of T and P 10. 4.4.1. liquid nitrogen boils at -196° C (77 K) at 1 atmosphere pressure 10. 4.4.2. liquid water boils at 100° C (373 K) at 1 atmosphere pressure Here is a graphical representation of the mixing of two gases. In the top we see a hot gas and a cold gas separated by an impermeble barrier. The graph on the right shows the distribution of kinetic energy of the gas molecules. Note thatthe average energy of the two gases is halfway between the average of the two gases. When the barrier is opened and the gases mix , the molecules collide as the kinetic energy becomes equally distributed. During the entire process the average kinetic energy of the molecules remains constant. The final temperature of the mixture has the same average kinetic energy as long as no heat is lost from the system. As postulated in the kinetic theory, the collisions of molecules are 100% elastic such that no energy is lost during collisions. 10. 5.1. Heat is the total energy of the molecules 10. 5.1.1. heat is energy which can be transferred 10. 5.1.2. potential energy of physical bonds between molecules 10. 5.1.3. work must be done to break chemical or physical bonds to cause change of state 10. 5.1.4. kinetic energy of molecular motion 10. 5.2. Molecules can have various types of kinetic energy 10. 5.3. Molecules can have various types of kinetic energy 10. 5.3.1. translation: movement of molecules from place to place 10. 5.3.2. rotation: around a center of mass 10. 5.3.3. vibration: about fixed locations in solid, liquid, or diatomic gas 10. 5.4.1. Kinetic energy is not the same for all molecules in a sample 10. 5.4.1.1. some move fast, some slowly 10. 5.4.2. average kinetic energy and distribution of energy depend on temperature 10. 5.4.3. speed of molecules can be calculated from Newtonian mechanics 10. 5.4.3.1. Derivation of Newtonian Energy (after Bernoulli) 10. 5.4.3.2. Veolocity of air molecules at room temperature 10. 6.1. both are forms of potential energy 10. 6.2. depends on intermolecular forces which are electrical in nature 10. 6.3. specific heat is stored in intermolecular forces 10. 6.4. latent heat is energy required to break physical bonds between molecules 10. 7.1. fractional change in pressure is proportional to fractional change in temperature 10. 7.2. graphs of P vs. T for all gases converge towards a common point called absolute zero 10. 7.3. Absolute zero is the basis of the Kelvin Temperature Scale 10. 7.3.1. 0 K = -273. 15° C = -454 °F 10. 7.3.2. The temperature where ideal gas would exert zero pressure 10. 7.3.3. The point where the ideal gas would have zero volume 10. 7.3.4. All gases change their volume and pressure by 1/273 (0. 37%) for each Celsius degree change in temperature 10. 7.4. Kelvin scale is absolute scale 10. 7.4.1. 200° C is not twice as hot as 100° C because 0° C is not lowest temperature 10. 7.4.1.1. 200° C is not twice as "far" from O Kelvins, although it is twice as far from O° Celsius. 10. 7.4.2. 200 K is twice as hot as 100 K because 0 K is the lowest temperature 10. 7.4.3. Kelvin temperature is always used in calculations involving gases 10. 7.5. All real gases liquefy before reaching absolute zero 10. 7.5.1. The ideal gas is theoretical only 10. 7.5.2. It is one which obeys gas laws under all conditions of temperature and pressure 10. 7.5.3. any gas closely approximates the ideal gas under certain conditions 10. 7.5.4. at high temperature and low pressure relative to boiling point 10. 8.1. molecules either acquire or lose energy from collision with moving container wall 10. 8.2. like a baseball gains energy when hit by a bat but loses energy when bunted 10. 8.3. work is done on/by gas which increases/decreases its internal energy 10. 9.1. kinetic energy of a molecule depends on its temperature 10. 9.2. more massive molecules are moving slower at a given temperature 10. 9.3. less massive molecules move faster and therefore diffuse more rapidly 10. 9.4. basis for gaseous diffusion for enrichment of uranium for reactors 10. 10. 1. water molecules need to have certain speed to "escape" from liquid 10. 10. 2. at any temperature some molecules will have enough energy to escape 10. 10. 3. higher temperature means a higher percentage of molecules will escape 10. 10. 4. when the higher energy molecules escape they leave behind the slower or lower energy molecules 10. 10. 5. the average energy decreases with the loss of the high energy molecules 10. 10. 6. decrease in average energy is reflected as a lowering of temperature 10. 11. 1. vapor pressure 10. 11. 2. higher pressure means there are more molecules exerting more forces 10. 11. 3. more molecules in the air above a boiling pot will increase the chance that an escaping molecule will be knocked back into the pot 10. 11. 4. so higher pressure requires more energy to escape the liquid 10. 11. 5. higher pressure increases the boiling temperature 11. 1. Discovered by Robert Brown in 1840s 11. 1.1. small particles move in random, zig-zag patterns 18. 104. 22. 168. ie smoke in still air, pollen grains in liquid 22. 214. 171. 124. small motion even if fluid is still 11. 1.2. smaller particle ==> faster motion 11. 1.3. higher temperature ==> faster motion 11. 1.4. no explanation at the time 11. 2.1. used kinetic theory to predict average speed of particles as a function of particle size and temperature 11. 2.2. removed last doubt about the existence of atoms and the correctness of kinetic theory 11. 2.3. finalized link between chemistry and physics (atomic theory and kinetic theory) 11. 3.1. found to be in close agreement with kinetic theory In this lesson we have seen how the kinetic theory of matter, originally formulated to explain the gas laws, can be extended to other forms of matter. Many, if not all aspects of the physical behavior of matter can be explained or understood in the context of kinetic theory. It is through kinetic theory that we obtain our best understanding of the distinction between heat and temperature and the nature of heat as a form of energy. It also allows us to understand how conduction takes place as energy is transferred molecule to molecule by elastic collisions.

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visualized by: nowsourcing. com The first algorithm in history was founded in BC times by Euclid the Greek Mathematoician. Since then a whole bunch of geniuses have formulated the most advanced and sophisticated algorithms that make contemporary world go round. Discover some of the most common uses of algorithms in various aspects of our life. visualized by: Vizzuality & Hyperakt Absolutely interactive, handy and informational infographic showing the history of the internet in a nutshell. Includes selection option with separate screens referring to browsers – technologies and the general history.

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LabTV: Young Scientist Curious About The Immune System Posted on by Dr. Francis Collins Welcome to LabTV! If you haven’t already, take a look at this video. I hope you will enjoy meeting the first young scientist featured in this brand new series that I’ve chosen to highlight on my blog. The inspiration for LabTV comes from Jay Walker, who is the founder of PriceLine, and curator and chairman of TEDMED, an annual conference focused on new ideas in health and medicine. A few years ago, Walker noticed that there were many talented young people across America who are interested in science, but are uncertain about what a career in biomedical research is like. His solution was to create an online video community where anyone interested in going into research could learn from the experiences of scientists who, not so long ago, walked in their shoes. As you will see from spending a few moments in the lab with Heardley Moses Murdock, whose research involves a rare immune disorder called DOCK 8 deficiency, these video profiles put a human face on science and show its everyday stories. As Walker enjoys saying, “You can’t be it, if you can’t see it. ” So, I hope lots of young people get to “see it” and sense the enthusiasm for scientific discovery that makes possible so many of the advances that we feature on this blog. I plan to run a new LabTV video here every so often, but if you want to meet more of these young scientists right now, please visit the LabTV web site (https://www.labtv.com/Home#). You’ll be greeted with, “Curiosity starts here,” and it certainly does. While today’s video focuses on a young scientist working right here at NIH, in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, LabTV also profiles researchers from universities across the nation. You’ll find a range of videos that provide a wide-angle view of the many different types of career paths possible in biomedical research. Or, if you’re at a point where you’re mulling a specific career option, refine your video requests and pull up only those in a specific research area or geographic location. I’m told that you’ll even soon be able to search according to personal factors, such as “hated math in school” or “have a parent who is a doctor. ” If you’re considering a career in science, I encourage you to explore educational and training opportunities at the National Institutes of Health and the many research institutions we support. Whether your interest lies in doing basic research in a small lab or conducting clinical research with a large network of collaborators, we need the ideas and energy of your generation to help uncover fundamental features of biology, and to assist in the ongoing fight against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and the many other conditions calling out for better treatments and prevention strategies. As this LabTV video shows, opportunity awaits! Science Careers (National Institute of General Medical Sciences/NIH) Careers Blog, Office of Intramural Training and Education (NIH)

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There are a limited number of worm parasites that affect the pig in the UK. The most prevalent of these is Ascaris suum, most commonly associated with milk spot liver. Whilst severe infestations are generally only associated with the poorest levels of hygiene, modest levels of worms are present in many herds and can have a significant effect on growth and feed efficiency. Over the last 11years producers have had access to abattoir reports (generated under the British Pig Health Scheme) clarifying questions regarding milk spot liver condemnation and the need for control of the disease on farm. The lesions are found within the tissue of the liver - not just on the surface - and can take the form of discrete lymphonodular accumulations (Fig 2a) or more commonly dispersed lymphoid accumulations - hence the term milk spot. Very early lesions may contain a small haemorrhagic centre where the larva has penetrated the capsule. Migrating larvae do not induce the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) which explains why they resolve in a matter of weeks - generally fibrous tissue once formed is permanent. Like all worm parasites, there is a complex life cycle with Ascaris suum. The adult worm - which can be up to 40cm long - lives in the small intestine of the pigs; in sows there may only be a few of these worms present. Each adult produces huge quantities of eggs intermittently and so examination of faeces for worm eggs can be an unreliable method of diagnosis. The specific feature of the eggs of most significance is that they are covered with a sticky protective coat, which means that the egg will survive many years outside the body of the host. Its sticky nature makes it difficult to wash away by cleaning and allows very easy spread between units on animal and mechanical carriers. Birds are probably quite significant in the spread of the eggs. The protective coat also renders the egg very resistant to drying and disinfection. The only reliable methods of destroying the eggs are with fire (flame gun) or caustic soda. Oocide (Antec) may also be effective, although the nature of this product is such that it is difficult to use in the types of buildings where the eggs build up e. g. dry sow housing and grower sheds. In the environment, the eggs undergo a maturation phase, which occurs more rapidly in higher temperatures but will take at least 2 weeks. This phase leads to the hatching of a larva, which will then be ingested by the pig. There is reason to believe that the sucking pig receiving milk is resistant to these larvae but the eggs can easily be picked up in the farrowing area, stuck to the body and then mature and infect after weaning. Once the larva has been swallowed, it will begin one of its most destructive phases. The larva penetrates the wall of the intestine and migrate around the body specifically first to the liver and then to the lungs, all the while continually maturing. Eventually the larvae will be coughed up, re-swallowed and re-enter the gut to mature to adult worms. The whole life cycle will take a minimum of 8 weeks. Due to the effects of temperature on larval development outside the body there is a marked seasonality in the incidence of milk spot with levels typically rising in late summer and autumn. This was particularly seen in 2010 with nearly a 3-fold increase in the proportion of pigs affected Fig 4. However, the overall incidence of lesions at least in mainstream commercial herds assessed under BPHS has steadily declined. Fig 5. Clinical signs seen with Ascaris infestation will depend on the level of contamination and the site of the larvae or adult. In the mild cases most commonly seen, the only evidence of the worms is at slaughter where white specks are seen on the liver, giving the term "milk spot". The liver is condemned as a result. Migration through the lungs can present as coughing in growing pigs - impossible to differentiate from enzootic pneumonia and the lungs may contain petechial haemorrhages throughout the tissue at slaughter although this is often grossly obscured by other pathological lesions and slaughter process artifacts. With very heavy infestation in growing pigs, the young mature worms can block the intestine leading to vomiting, constipation, jaundice, weight loss and death. This is extremely rare. Milk spot lesions are themselves transient and will resolve after 40 days. Therefore, if there is evidence of liver damage at slaughter, the problem must be occurring in the finishing area. Where liver damage is severe, weight loss, jaundice and death can occur, although more typically there is a reduction in growth of up to 10% and a degeneration in food conversion efficiency of up to 13% in individuals. Within the slaughter house it is also not uncommon to see maturing worms present in the intestines within the gut room. Pigs affected in this way must have been initially infested earlier in life to allow complete migration and the full life cycle. There may well be no or limited milk spot lesions in the liver as these have healed. BPHS reports and to a lesser extent CCIR feedback provide a reliable monitoring system for the levels of parasitism in slaughter pigs. However, lesions need to be differentiated from hepatic scaring which is the result of fibrous tissue build up in the capsule of the liver and is of unknown cause. Abattoir data collected as part of the Batch Pig Health scheme indicates that up to 90% of herds show no evidence of milk spot livers at slaughter and less than 5% of herds have significant levels of livers affected. In the slaughterhouse batches of pigs fall broadly into four group patterns: It should also be noted that there are other related non-pig worm parasites which in specific circumstances can spill over into pigs. The most likely scenario is where cats contaminate growing pig environments and the cat roundworm -Toxocara cati - sheds eggs that can produce larvae to be picked up by the pigs. These will migrate to the liver inducing milk spot like lesions but generally do not complete the life cycle. It should also be noted that A suum being related to the dog and cat roundworms (Toxocara species) have the potential to act as a zoonosis and infect man. Migrating larvae in theory can cause similar problems to these pet parasites (blindness etc) although it is dubious as to whether this has ever been definitively identified. Where Ascaris has been demonstrated as a significant problem, (for instance more than 25% livers condemned at slaughter) a rigorous cleaning programme is needed to reduce the levels of environmental contamination. Use of a detergent in the cleaning will help to break down the sticky coat of the egg, probably allowing eggs to be washed away. Conventional disinfection is unlikely to have must effect. Final treatment of a washed area with a flame gun is effective, allowing for the obvious health and safety concerns. Worming of adult sows is advisable to stop further production of worm eggs, although alone is inadequate to control an established problem where environmental contamination is most significant. Where treatment of growing pigs proves necessary, it is important that the product chosen is effective against the larvae as well as the adults. Such products include the Avermectins (Ivomec, Dectomax) and the benzimidazole group including fenben, (Panacur:Intervet) and Flubendazole (Flubenol: Janssen). Obviously, care must be taken over withdrawal periods - particularly the injectable products. The Avermectins are generally only justifiable on cost grounds if there is a need to control sarcoptic mange as well as worm burdens. Abattoir data collected as part of the Batch Pig Health scheme indicates that approximately 70% of herds show no significant evidence of milk spot livers at slaughter and only 5-8% of herds have an incidence of more than 25% livers affected. NADIS hopes that you have found the information in the article useful. Now test your knowledge by enrolling and trying the quiz. You will receive an animal health certificate for this subject if you attain the required standard.

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Summer is a time for fun in the sun at the playground, barbeques and camping trips. While we're out with family and friends enjoying these outdoor activities, it's easy to get distracted by all the fun and forget about burn safety. Many of the outdoor activities we enjoy during the summer pose burn hazards. Keep your family safe by learning about these hazards and how to prevent summer burns. Summer safety tips for playgrounds Some equipment on playgrounds can get very hot and burn a child's skin. Children burn more easily than adults. Always check the following before letting your children play on the playground: - Don't assume that the temperature of the equipment is safe even in cooler weather. It doesn't have to be hot outside for playground equipment to get hot enough to cause a burn. - Touch the playground equipment to make sure the temperature is safe for your children. If the equipment feels hot, it is most likely too hot for your child's skin. - Be aware of metal and dark‐colored plastics, rubber, asphalt and concrete surfaces. - Dress your child in appropriate clothing and shoes for the playground. Pants can protect your child's legs. Don't let your child go barefoot at the playground. Summer safety tips for outdoor grills Children may get close to the grill because they're curious about what's on the menu, or they may want to help cook. But, it's important that kids always keep a safe distance from grills. - Keep a 3-foot safe zone around outdoor grills. - Don't walk away from the grill while it is lit. - Use only starter fluid that is designed for lighting charcoal. Never use other flammable liquids to start a charcoal grill. Never add lighter fluid to hot charcoals. - Keep matches, lighters and lighter fluid away from the reach of children. Summer safety tips for campfires Embers from campfires are more likely to cause burns than the flames. Fire pits can stay hot for up to 12 hours after it has been put out. - Keep children at least 3 feet away from the fire pit. - Use only designated fire pits or fire rings. - Supervise children when they toast foods, such as marshmallows, over the fire. Marshmallows with flames could cause clothes or hair to catch on fire. - Completely put out the fire and coals by pouring water on the fire. Stir the fire and coals and continue to pour water over them until they are cool. Other summer burn safety tips - Sunburns: The sun's rays can cause serious sunburns. Apply sunscreen on your child's skin before they go out to play and every few hours while outside. Learn sunscreen tips to help prevent sunburns. - Fireworks: It may be tempting to let your child play with fireworks, but no firework is safe. Even sparklers can cause severe burns. It's best to leave fireworks displays to the professionals.

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WIKIMEDIA, TU7UHA variety of different animal species possess remarkable navigational abilities, using the Earth’s magnetic field to migrate thousands of miles every year or find their way home with minimal or no visual cues. But the biological mechanisms that underlie this magnetic sense have long been shrouded in mystery. Researchers in China may have found a tantalizing clue to the navigational phenomenon buried deep in the fruit fly genome. The team, led by biophysicist Can Xie of Peking University, discovered a polymer-like protein, dubbed MagR, and determined that it forms a complex with a photosensitive protein called Cry. The MagR/Cry protein complex, the researchers found, has a permanent magnetic moment, which means that it spontaneously aligns in the direction of external magnetic fields. The results were published today (November 16) in Nature.. . “This is the only known protein complex that has a permanent magnetic moment,” said Peter Hore, a physical chemist at the University of Oxford, U.K., who was not involved in the research. “It’s a remarkable discovery. ” Xie and his colleagues called upon long-standing biochemical models that sought to explain animals’ magnetic sense to initiate the search for a physical magnetoreceptor. One of these involves molecules that incorporate oxides of iron in their structure and another involves Cry, which is known to produce radical pairs in some magnetic fields. “However, this only proved that Cry plays a critical role in the magnetoreptive biological pathways, not necessarily that it is the receptor,” Xie wrote in an email to The Scientist. “We believe there [are] such universal magnetosensing protein receptors in an organism, and we set out to find this missing link. ” The researchers performed whole-genome screens of Drosophila DNA to search for a protein that might partner with Cry and serve as that magnetoreceptor. “We predicted the existence of a multimeric magentosensing complex with the attributes of both Cry- and iron-based systems,” Xie wrote. “Amazingly, later on, our genome-wide screening and experiments showed this is real. ” Xie and his colleagues were “brave enough to go through the whole genome-wide search to hunt for this protein,” said James Chou, a biophysicist at Harvard Medical School. “Sometimes it works, sometimes you don’t get anything. Luckily, this time he got something big out of it. ” In 2012, after identifying MagR in Drosophila, Xie and his colleagues screened the genomes of several other animal species, finding genes for both Cry and MagR in virtually all of them, including in butterflies, pigeons, robins, rats, mole rats, sharks, turtles, and humans. “This protein is evolutionarily conserved across different classes of animals (from butterflies to pigeons, rats, and humans),” Xie wrote. Determining that MagR and Cry were highly expressed and colocalized in the retinas of pigeons, Xie’s team focused on that species to conduct further experiments to ferret out the structure and behavior of the protein complex. Using biochemical copurification, electron microscopy, and cellular experiments in the presence of a magnetic field, the researchers constructed a rod-shaped model of the MagR/Cry complex, and suggested a potential mechanism for how the complex might work in situ to sense magnetism. “It is quite convincing that this complex may be the magnetoreceptor, at least for the organism they have fished it out from,” Chou said. “I think it’s a great step forward to open this whole mystery. ” Cry likely regulates the magnetic moment of the rod-shaped complex, while the iron-sulfur clusters in the MagR protein are probably what give rise to the permanent magnetic polarity of the structure. “The nanoscale biocompass has the tendency to align itself along geomagnetic field lines, and to obtain navigation cues from a geomagnetic field,” Xie wrote. “We propose that any disturbance of this alignment may be captured by connected cellular machinery such as the cytoskeleton or ion channels, which would channel information to the downstream neural system, forming the animal’s magnetic sense (or magnetic ‘vision’). ” Hore was cautious about saying that the newly modeled complex is absolutely responsible for magnetoreception in animals. “I don’t think I would say that its game-changing, but it is very interesting and will prompt a lot of experimental and theoretical work,” he said. “It may be very relevant to magnetoreception, it’s just too soon to know. ” “It may not be very accurate because this is really just a model,” Chou agreed, “but I think it’s a good effort, and it will stimulate follow-up work on the structure. ” Of course, there may well be additional biological components that play into giving animals a magnetic sense. Pigeons, for example, sense the inclination of the Earth’s magnetic field rather than the absolute direction of the field, Hore points out. The MagR/Cry complex, as described in the paper, would be capable of detecting the absolute direction or intensity of a field, not the inclination. But beyond the clues into how animals sense the Earth’s magnetic field for navigational purposes, the discovery may yield new biochemical tools that could be used by other researchers. Chief among these applications is the potential to use the MagR/Cry complex along with controlled magnetic fields to control the behavior of cells or whole organisms. Such a development would be “sort of the magnetic version of optogenetics,” Cho said. Xie agreed. “It may give rise to magnetogenetics,” he wrote. (See “Alleged Scoop Sours Magnetoreceptor Collaboration,” The Scientist, September 2015. ) The study also generates multiple questions about the biological components surrounding the protein complex and how they contribute to magnetic sensation. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Chou said. “This opens up a lot of future projects to unveil how this polarity, or alignment with the Earth’s magnetic field, can transmit signal, whether it’s a neural signal or one that regulates transcription. ” Xie said he thinks that while the “biocompass model” he and his colleagues proposed may serve as a universal mechanism for animal magnetoreception, there may be more magnetoreceptors to be discovered. Additionally, evolution enhanced the magnetic sense in some, especially migratory, species, which could have led to numerous variations on the theme. This may even extend to humans, he added. “I have a friend who has really good sense of directions, and he keep telling people that he can always know where is south, where is north, even to a new place he has never been,” Xie wrote in an email. “According to him, he felt there is a compass in his brain. I laughed, but now I guess I understand what he meant. . . . However, human’s sense of direction is very complicated. Magnetoreception may play some roles. ” S. Qin et al. , “A magnetic protein biocompass,” Nature Materials, doi:10. 1038/nmat4484, 2015.

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Examine the graph labeled December 2014 Precipitation from the Exploratorium’s Environmental Field Station. What is being measured? Where were the measurements taken? What time period do they cover? What patterns do you see in the data? Do you notice anything unusual about any of the measurements? The graph shows that more than 20 inches (51 cm) of rain fell in one day, on December 31, 2014. Does this seem likely? What do scientists do when they find data that seem unusual? Ideally, they repeat the experiment, but that’s not possible in this case, because rainfall is a natural event. However, we can look at other local data to help verify or refute the data from Pier 15. Look at the NOAA California Climate Station Precipitation Summary and find the average annual precipitation for San Francisco (the far right-hand column). Look at the NOAA Monthly Precipitation Averages for Bay Area Cities and find the average monthly precipitation data for “San Francisco City.” The National Weather Service collects precipitation data at a weather station not far from the Exploratorium, so we can compare their data to ours. Look at the information you obtained from the NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Center website. What do you notice? Which measurement for December 31 seems more likely—more than 20 inches (51 cm) in one day or 0 inches (0 cm) in one day?

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SAN FRANCISCO: 3D PRINTED, OPEN SOURCE ROBOTS that are going to bridge the gap between technology and humanity are on their way, according to Intel, which talked about its Twenty-first Century Robot initiative that will "bring science fact to science fiction". It might sound like a sci-fi film gone terrifyingly wrong, but that's what Intel's futurist Brian David Johnson told attendees at a media briefing at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco. "We've been doing this thing called science fiction prototyping. . . something that you haven't known about, using science fiction inside of Intel," said Johnson. "One of the things we started thinking about, around ten years ago, was - if we can turn anything into a computer, what if we come up with a new brand new robot? " What seemed a little arbitrary at first was explained further by Johnson, who described in detail how these robots will come to fruition. "Using 3D printing, using open source hardware and software. . . anyone can build a robot that is completely open source, where the design files are free and the AI is open and everyone and anyone can start writing apps for the robot. " "The idea is that there is no line between technology and humanity: we and you - our technology with our humanity - [robots] that share our sense of culture, morals, with even our dreams of the future," Johnson fantasised. "So as we begin to make these robots and design and build them, we begin to see these robots as extension of ourselves and allow them to go off and interact with other people, [and] with other robots. " Intel's somewhat crazy sounding Twenty-first Century Robot project aims to let anyone create robots, and change them and share them in online communities, enabling them to be 3D printed with varying designs. Johnson said that Intel started collaborating with researchers all over the world around 10 years ago as part of the research project, thinking about what it would be like for people to interact with robots. "Jimmy was our first example, a real robot with real AI," Johnson said, showing off a red robot design on a projected slide. "We have been prototyping him with the idea of 'what if these robots were completely open source, if they were completely social - a smartphone equivalent of a robot? '" Intel has also created another type of robot named Paul, which can talk to Jimmy and interact with it. Intel will launch its Twenty-first Century Robot project next week at the Maker Faire in New York. From that point, you'll be able to download material online that gives you steps to build robots like Jimmy, Johnson revealed. "[Jimmy's] specs are online so you can build your own and 3D print it via open source," said Johnson, as he excitedly promised a series of future robot maker fairs, where Intel will bring people together and give them robot-building kits, enabling them to eventually share their designs with other people. "Imagine a future with robots - design them, print them, program them and share them," Johnson concluded. Intel didn't say what these robots will do, but we can already see it now; this is the start of the end of the world. µ

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History of Medicine The People's Anatomy Dreaming the Body in Popular Medicine Although allegory, metaphor, and bizarre juxtapositions were no longer featured in serious scientific texts after 1800, popular writers on medical topics continued to use them. Books and lectures on health attracted large audiences but there was much competition. Phrenologists, dietary reformers, botanical healers, homeopaths, and orthodox health advocates all vied for the public eye and ear. Arresting visual images helped popular writers explain their ideas about the structure and workings of the body.

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STDs affect us all! STD? Me? Never ever! Don't be so sure of not being affected. Sexually transmitted diseases do not only affect people who have constantly changing sexual partners. People can also become infected with STDs through no fault of their own, for example when visiting a sauna or through close skin contact with an infected person. Even today, people are judged for being infected with STDs - although STD infections are incredibly common. STDs can affect anyone, just like a simple cold! What do you know about STDs? STDs are infections that are transmitted during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. They are very common and many people who have them don't show any symptoms. Common STD symptoms are: itching, discharge, painful intercourse. HIV is a well-known STD. The number of infections is constantly decreasing. However, there are other STDs out there that you should be aware of. The 10 most common STDs are: 1. Chlamydia: Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with about 4 million new cases diagnosed every year. Untreated chlamydia infections can lead to infertility. 2. Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. There is a high prevalence of co-infection with chlamydia and an increased susceptibility to HIV. 3. Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is caused by infection with the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Women who are infected are more likely to develop symptoms than men. Symptoms include genital redness, burning and itching. Untreated trichomoniasis can increase the risk of HIV infection. 4. HIV: HIV weakens the immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. There are varying symptoms of HIV depending upon the stage of disease. After initial flu-like symptoms, there is often a silent period of infection before it progresses to AIDS. 5. Syphilis: Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. If not treated, syphilis may progress to the symptom-less latent phase and may damage heart, brain and nervous system. Damage caused by late-stage syphilis infection is often irreversible. 6. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) is responsible for genital herpes. Infection with HSV-2 is lifelong and the sores may recur periodically during times of emotional stress or illness. Although there is no cure for genital herpes, severe episodes can be prevented with treatment. 7. Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). HCV is more commonly transmitted through needles or blood exposure and only rarely spread through sexual intercourse. For 80% of people who become infected, Hepatitis C becomes a long-term, chronic infection that can result in long-term health problems, even death. . 8. HPV: HPV is caused by human papillomavirus, a DNA virus from the papillomavirus family. HPV is the most commonly diagnosed STD worldwide. It is transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact and can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. In most cases HPV goes away on its own and does not cause major health problems. 9. Mycoplasma: Mycoplasma hominis is the most frequently isolated Mycoplasma species from the human genital tract. Genital infections in women are more frequent than in men. 10. Ureaplasma: Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterium that infects the urogenital tract. If symptoms occur, they are easily mistaken for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Soon you will have the opportunity to test yourself discreetly and comfortably with our home-to-lab STD tests for the most common STDs. In addition to our single tests (HIV test, Syphilis test and Hepatitis C test), you will be able to test yourself with our STD panels for several common STDs. If I test positive for an STD, what should I do? First of all you should know that with proper care and management of the infection, you can still enjoy a long and sexual life. For bacterial STDs (e. g. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis) you will want to begin a doctor-prescribed treatment immediately. For viral STDs (e. g. HIV) you will want to figure out with your doctor how to best manage the infection along with its associated symptoms. Talk to us, we'll be pleased to advise you! You have further questions or are unsure which test is right for you? There are no products matching the selection.

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The Virtual Drives (also known as MS-DOS device names) is the symbolic links, in the object name space in 32-bit versions of Windows, which points to the directories of your existing drives (hard, floppy, CD and so on). The code that converts an MS-DOS path into a corresponding path in 32-bit versions of Windows uses these symbolic links to map the virtual devices and drive letters. This program can manage the virtual drives on either Win9x and NT-family machines. To get tips and short description of program features use button on the title bar. Downloads (last update: November 3, 2011) Copyright © 19982007, Aleksey Kuznetsov & UtilMind Solutions®. All Rights Reserved.. Page last updated: Nov 2, 2011 at 23:43. V: 43762

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Hitherto it has been difficult to induce adult human stem cells to produce bone, e. g. in order to repair bone tissue. Researchers at the University of Twente have shown that if the enzyme PKA is previously activated in the stem cells in the lab, following implantation this results in substantial bone formation. This opens up new ways of repairing bone tissue using cell material from the patient. The researchers are publishing their work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). In animals, ‘adult’ mesenchymal stem cells have already been used successfully to grow fresh bone. Bone formation using human adult stem cells, e. g. from bone marrow, has been less successful, which has hitherto limited the alternatives hospitals can offer for repairing damaged tissue other than spontaneous healing. Activating the PKA enzyme prior to implantation, however, produces a dramatic improvement in ‘in vivo’ bone growth. The cells can be observed maturing into bone cells already in the lab; once sown on a carrier and implanted in a mouse, the bone grows well. Encouraging the neighbours The advantage of administering a bone-growth-stimulating substance in advance is that it can be removed just before implantation. Experiments to date have mainly used high concentrations of a bone-growth-stimulating hormone, e. g. incorporated in the carrier on which the cells are ‘sown’. In the new approach not only are the hormone concentrations lower, they also more closely resemble the cocktail of hormones normally involved in bone growth. This is the second time in a short space of time that the researchers, led by Dr Jan de Boer, have published in PNAS: earlier this month they published an article on a major breakthrough in the use of embryonic stem cells to grow bone. Both methods are promising when it comes to repairing bone tissue in future using cells from the patient’s own body. Compact bioreactors will be developed to grow cells quickly into tissue that can be used in the operating theatre. The research was carried out at the Tissue Regeneration Department of the University of Twente’s Institute for Biomechanical Technology (BMTI). The researchers collaborated with fellow scientists at UMC Utrecht and the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. Wiebe van der Veen | alfa Finnish research group discovers a new immune system regulator 23. 02. 2018 | University of Turku Minimising risks of transplants 22. 02. 2018 | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg A newly developed laser technology has enabled physicists in the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics (jointly run by LMU Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics) to generate attosecond bursts of high-energy photons of unprecedented intensity. This has made it possible to observe the interaction of multiple photons in a single such pulse with electrons in the inner orbital shell of an atom. In order to observe the ultrafast electron motion in the inner shells of atoms with short light pulses, the pulses must not only be ultrashort, but very. . . A group of researchers led by Andrea Cavalleri at the Max Planck Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg has demonstrated a new method enabling precise measurements of the interatomic forces that hold crystalline solids together. The paper Probing the Interatomic Potential of Solids by Strong-Field Nonlinear Phononics, published online in Nature, explains how a terahertz-frequency laser pulse can drive very large deformations of the crystal. By measuring the highly unusual atomic trajectories under extreme electromagnetic transients, the MPSD group could reconstruct how rigid the atomic bonds are. . . Quantum computers may one day solve algorithmic problems which even the biggest supercomputers today can’t manage. But how do you test a quantum computer to. . . For the first time, a team of researchers at the Max-Planck Institute (MPI) for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, has succeeded in making an integrated circuit (IC) from just a monolayer of a semiconducting polymer via a bottom-up, self-assembly approach. In the self-assembly process, the semiconducting polymer arranges itself into an ordered monolayer in a transistor. The transistors are binary switches used. . . Breakthrough provides a new concept of the design of molecular motors, sensors and electricity generators at nanoscale Researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB Prague), Institute of Physics of the CAS (IP CAS) and Palacký University.. . 15. 02. 2018 | Event News 13. 02. 2018 | Event News 12. 02. 2018 | Event News 23. 02. 2018 | Physics and Astronomy 23. 02. 2018 | Health and Medicine 23. 02. 2018 | Physics and Astronomy

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Max Planck researchers find changes across mere months, that are possibly reversed by brain training by telomore shortening. The tips of our chromosomes, known as telomeres, shorten as we age. Now a new study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences shows that when this shortening occurs, it is also reflected by a change in brain structure. The researchers, writing in JAMA Network Open, also show that this change occurs much faster than previously thought, over a period of just a few months — and that it could even be reversed by mental training. Whether this means that lengthening telomeres could go some way towards improving health (and even reversing the aging process itself) is still unclear. Scientists have long correlated telomere length to the biological age of an individual. The observation has allowed the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) to predict species lifespan from telomere shortening rates; as well as sparking recent studies from Stanford, Exeter and Maryland and the NIH that found some success in slowing aging by tampering with the lengths of the chromosomal caps. The science, however, is very new — neither the telomeres’ mechanism of action upon biological aging, nor the efficacy of any therapy involving them, are very well known. Longevity.Technology: The foundations of our knowledge on telomeres and aging are still being laid — slab by burdensome slab. This means results like this one are as humbling as they are heartening. It seems clear that some correlative effect to aging exists, and that we may be slowly grasping improved ways to manipulate it, but our insights also give us the mystifying sense that the more we know, the more we are aware of the subject’s complexity and our ignorance of it. Investors beware: those making claims around effective telomeric therapeutics probably don’t understand what they are selling. We just don’t know enough yet to verify the safety, let alone the efficacy, of these supplements. The TRL score for this Longevity.Technology domain is currently set at: ‘Principles are demonstrated through experimentation. ’ The TRL score for the technology addressed in this article is:‘Principles are demonstrated through experimentation. ’ “To explore whether a short-term change in telomere length, after only a few months, might actually be associated with changes in a person’s biological age, we linked it to another biomarker of aging and health: brain structure,” says Lara Puhlmann, a member of the Research Group ‘Social Stress and Family Health’ at the Leipzig Max Planck Institute. The thickness of the cerebral cortex typically decreases as we age. By combining MRI scans to measure cortex thickness with blood analysis to find telomere length, the researchers were able to correlate the thickening and thinning over time of the brain’s grey matter region to the lengths of individual’s telomeres. Those whose telomeres had lengthened also had a thicker cortex — meaning more grey matter and a structural profile less correlated to age-related neurological disease. Those whose telomeres had shortened saw an inverse effect — a thinning of the cortex, and a brain that was more comparable to brains suffering from migraines and dementia. These changes were recorded over a period of just three months, meaning that even short-term changes in telomere length could be mirrored by broader fluctuations in bodily health and biological age. “Across systems, our biological aging appears to change more quickly than we thought. Indices of aging can vary together significantly in just three months,” says Puhlmann. She insists, however, that the answers produced by the study are still far from contributing to a consistent picture. “We do not know, for example, which biological mechanism underlies the short-term changes in telomere length, or whether the short-term changes really have a longer-term effect on health. ” The work here dovetails interestingly with previous data from the same research programme, the ReSource Project, that showed that mental training, when performed over a period of nine months, can thicken certain regions of the cortex. The researchers made a similar attempt with the current study — submitting individuals to nine months of mindfulness and empathy-based mental training — but failed to find any impact upon their telomeres. Future investigations will have to find clearer answers of the activities and behaviours which actively arrest or reverse telomere shortening, and how much this reversal correlates to improved cognitive health. The routes telomere lengths take to act upon aging are still tantalisingly out of reach, but if studies like this one are anything to go by — we should all be heartened to find researchers asking more sophisticated questions. They may not be mere telomeres for much longer.

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A lot of people reading this have probably heard the phrase "bookworm. " For those of you who haven't, one, you're probably living under a rock, and two, it means someone who really likes books - a bibliophile. They are most often depicted as nerdy little worms of some sort, often comically reading a random book. So are bookworms a real, actual species of insect? Answer: Yes and no. There are a number of insects and invertebrates that could be called 'bookworms. ' Silverfish and cockroaches are quite fond of hiding in between pages of old books and taking a bite. There are bugs called "booklice" which are not really lice at all, instead being flying insects that have been around since the Permian. Even rodents occasionally chew on books. Some of them are interested in the glue; others tunnel through the pages like wood; rodents will gnaw on anything to keep their teeth filed down. Really, especially in the modern age, a book is a very safe hiding place with some food lying around. There's no reason for bugs not to invade such a place. All sorts of things can eat books, but the term 'bookworm' usually refers to the larvae of one of two beetle species: the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) and the death watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). Even then, these two are usually more interested in the wood around the books than the book itself. Books are made from trees just like wood, and so happen to be on the menu. They are like junk food to these baby beetles. On that note, take bookworms seriously, especially if the larvae in question belong to the common furniture beetle. Beetles called "bookworms" will fly in through any little crevice and lay their eggs near books. These are, however, wood-boring beetles; any wood that isn't made from "heartwood" (the inner wood of the tree) is prone to infestation, as is any untreated wood. The most obvious signs of bookworms are, of course, little larvae and tunnels in your books. Look for 'dust' on your bookshelves if you think your wood might be infested. To prevent them to begin with, keep your books in a clean, dry place. If you think you have a whole library's worth of little grubs, there are a few chemicals, including tobacco, that you can use to fumigate the area. Do your homework before trying to get rid of other bookworms. Although some of the cartoony bookworm characters are quite benign and adorable, this is definitely not the case in real life. Real bookworms can wreck an entire library without checking out anything. Nature sees paper as "very thin, dead trees. " Why shouldn't stuff take advantage of it?

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Passchendaele: when commanding officers wept publicly at the horrors their soldiers endured Soldiers no longer thought of the enemy as wearing a uniform. It was the mud, deep and devouring. Back in England, rhetoric was directed at the “evil Hun”; no one mentioned the mud. By the summer of the third year of the Great War, human despair had emerged as a common enemy. The Third Battle of Ypres, now more widely referred to simply as Passchendaele, was a horror experienced in filthy conditions. Many of the exhausted soldiers no longer thought of the enemy as wearing a uniform. It was the mud, deep and devouring. A wounded man came to fear death by drowning, a greater dread than a rogue shell. History repeats nasty tricks; the Russian winter had confounded Napoleon, and would again prove central in the defeat of Hitler. But in Belgium in 1917, the rain was relentless. It made aerial bombardment impossible and also impeded the transport of heavy guns. Thousands of exhausted horses and mules died attempting to haul gun carriages across the devastated, cratered landscape which had been churned up by shelling. It took six men to stretcher a wounded soldier across the glue-like surface. Many survivors recalled stumbling along, their boots being sucked off their feet and then came the sensation of sinking up to their waists in mud. Ypres was not a grand spoil; the old Belgian city had strategic importance as an agricultural and commercial centre dominating Western Flanders. Set in a low-lying, shallow basin about 66 feet above sea level, to the east the topography consists of a series of low, wooded ridges. From these little hills came streams, more water, always water, but nothing to the amount that appeared as if by an evil force. It was to rain every day but three in the August of 1917. The land had once been reclaimed from the sea through careful draining and irrigation carried out for centuries. Battles had been fought there many times; a century earlier, Wellington and Blücher had bested Napoleon at Waterloo, only 65 miles away. Wider international developments had taken place. Some months earlier on April 6th, the United States had finally entered the war, provoked by the loss of merchant shipping from German attack. Meanwhile, the Russian Tsar had abdicated and Lenin, with his mantra of bread for the people, land to the peasant and peace to all peoples, was biding his time in Switzerland. Germany would facilitate his return home by train to a country weary of war yet eager for change. The French were exhausted. The Italians had made a five-mile advancement just north of Trieste, only to suffer twice as many losses as the Austrians, so they withdrew. It was left to the British to strike in Flanders and to do it without the Americans. Lloyd George was against the action, yet did nothing to stop it. Gen Haig wanted to advance into Flanders. The lead-up to the offensive which would begin on July 31st included the blowing up of the 21 mines created under the Messines ridge through the deployment of one million tons of TNT. The planned explosion on June 7th was so terrific it was heard in London, some 200 miles away. It seemed to silence the Germans who withdrew. It gave the British a short-lived advantage and made their supply lines secure, for a brief period. It would seem that such a spectacular gesture would pay dividends but the next British attack did not take place until July 31st. By then the Germans had regrouped and completed about six miles of intensive digging in which to position heavy machine guns, mounted in concrete. It didn’t take long for the Tommies to think of a nickname – “pill-boxes”. Even in hindsight it is difficult to understand, never mind explain, the seven-week lull between Messines and the beginning of Third Ypres, the initial British name for the battle. Exhaustion is more likely than military complacency. The German response came in the form of six separate defence positions, a forward battle zone, layered and, in effect, creating a formidable battle zone. The German heavy guns held 64 strong points which remained intact. Early on July 31st when the British attack began shortly before 4am, low cloud obscured the rising sun. Initially the infantry made some advancement along the 11-mile front but not in crucial positions such as a coveted area which was a continuation of the Messines ridge. It was strategic as it gave the German artillery a height advantage with clear views of the advancing British. The opening hours saw nothing of the carnage of the first day of the Somme, 13 months earlier. But Haig did not want to take the ridges around the Ypres salient; he was intent on a major incursion into the German defences. What happened next was dictated by nature not generals; heavy rain fell for a week, twice the monthly average even for a region with a damp climate suitable for flax. The shelling tore up the earth and the craters filled with rain which quickly turned to mud. Soldiers drowned in trenches because they were unable to clamber out as the walls gave way under them. Wounded and dying men being transported on carts pulled by horses and mules, themselves staggering through the quagmires, often rolled off and were lost in the slime which suffocated them. Even moving the light field artillery was hazardous, moving a single gun about 250 yards required an effort lasting six hours or more. Back in England, rhetoric was being directed at the “evil Hun”; no one mentioned the mud. In time, commanding officers would weep publicly about the horrors their soldiers endured. Maj CL Fox of the 502 Field Company Royal Engineers wrote: “There was no ground to walk on; the earth had been ploughed up by shells not once only, but over and over again, and so thoroughly that nothing solid remained to step on; there was just loose, disintegrated, far-flung earth, merging into slimy, treacherous mud and water round shell holes so interlaced that the circular form of only the largest and most recently made could be distinguished. “The infantry in the outposts moved hourly from shell hole to shell hole, occupying those that had just been made and which had not, in consequence, yet filled with water. All honour to them and the way they ‘stuck’ it. “Covered with mud, wet to the skin, bitterly cold, stiff and benumbed with exposure, cowed and deadened by the monotony of 48 hours in extreme danger and by the constant casualties among their mates, they hung on to existence by a thin thread of discipline rather than by any spark of life. Some of the feebler and more highly strung deliberately ended their lives. ” It reads as an account of torture, not war. Admittedly most of the material to hand is written from the British viewpoint and it seems only fair – and necessary – to point out that the German army experienced similar hell in the surreal conditions prevailing in Flanders in late Summer 1917. Another account, this one written by Bombardier JW Palmer, 26 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, begins “It was mud, mud, everywhere: mud in the trenches, mud in front of the trenches, mud behind the trenches. Every shell hole was a sea of filthy oozing mud. I suppose there is a limit to everything but the mud of Passchendaele – to see men keep on sinking into the slime, dying in the slime – I think it absolutely finished me off. “I ‘knew’ for three months before I was wounded that I was going to get it, I knew jolly well. The only thing was I thought I was going to get killed. Every time I went out to mend a wire I think I was the biggest coward on God’s earth. Nobody knew when a wire would go but we knew that it had to be mended . . . There were so many days when I don’t remember what happened because I was so damned tired. The fatigue in that damned mud was something terrible . . . It was very, very difficult to mend a telephone wire in this mud . . . As you got one foot out, the other one would go down. ” Eventually after often wishing he could die, Palmer was severely wounded in heavy shelling. “I was too damned tired even to fall down. I stood there. Next I had a terrific pain in the back and the chest and I found myself face down in the mud. My pal came to me, he tried to lift me. I said to him, ‘Don’t touch me, leave me. I’ve had enough, just leave me. ’ “The next thing I found myself sinking down in the mud and I didn’t worry about the mud. I didn’t hate it any more. Then I found myself being bumped about and I realised I was on a stretcher. I thought, ‘Poor devils these stretcher bearers – I wouldn’t be a stretcher bearer for anything. ’ ” After serving in many places throughout the war, including Gallipoli, Irish poet Francis Ledwidge died on the opening day of the battle of Passchendaele. He was not killed in the line of fire. Instead he was working in a party of soldiers laying duckboards in a vain attempt to create a passable route over the mud, when a German shell hit him. It blew him to pieces before the horrified eyes of his battalion, the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The Welsh poet Hedd Wynn, a nationalist to his core who had been opposed to the war, yet signed up, also died that day. Passchendaele is remembered as a black chapter in a war which was hell. Perhaps it was simply that after three years, no one wanted to go on. The early bravado was long since exhausted. For Captain Harry Yoxall, 18th Battalion, Royal Rifle Corps, “The Third Battle of Ypres someone has called it: but there is only one battle of Ypres. It has lasted from October 1914 and, with Verdun, it is the biggest battle of all. ” Not gas, not tanks, not even aircraft, the most merciless enemy was the foul mud and with it the stink of wet rotting bodies. Passchendaele exposed the British leadership, the generals. A senior staff officer on finally visiting the battle field, towards the very end, burst into tears and asked his driver: “Did we send our men into that? ” The answer was unwelcome, if unavoidable. Yes, they did. Source: Irish Times

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Torcello basilica: a Millennium Exhibition Torcello basilica: Diocesan Museum The light of Byzantinum, the color of Torcello and the gold of Venice: these are the elements that help define Venice's Origins Between West and East, the exhibition Venice had long waited for and that has recently opened at the Diocesan Museum. It is the mian event in the program that opened in 2008 and celebrates a thousand years of history at the one of the most important monuments around the Venice Lagoon (and arguably the oldest) the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello. Its architectonic and decorative elements, which adorn its interior and are the fines examples of Venetian-Byzantine art, are the subject of this exhibition, presented by the National Millennium Committee established by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. The Torcello basilica, with the Episcopal complex - Torcello once hosted the local bishops' residences - and the adjacent Rotunda of Santa Fosca are all that remains from an entire city founded around the 4th century by residents of the old Altino Who settled here to find refuge from the Lombard invasion. Its history, not entirely certain even today, goes back to the year 639 - according to an inscription on a foundation stone (which some scholars argue is the first written Venetian document). But this dating is only hypothetical. Concrete evidence dates the building of the Basilica to the year 1008. At that time Torcello was already an important urban settlement with plenty of buildings, civic and religious, a center of all commercial activities around the lagoon.

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Aquaponics is actually he combination of two different farming methods, aquaculture (raising fish in a man-made system) and hydroponics (growing crops in a man-made aquatic system without soil). Aquaponics uses both fish and plants together in the same system. The fish and plants help each other—the waste from the fish helps to fertilize the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. Aquaponics is a closed-loop system, so the water in the system can continue to be reused after it cycles through the entire system. After we feed the fish, the fish eat their food and excrete waste. Most of this waste is in the form of ammonia. Bacteria in the water convert the ammonia first to nitrites and then to nitrates, which the plants use as food. The fish, the plants, and the beneficial bacteria all depend on each other. The bacteria depend on the fish for nitrogen, the plants depend on the bacteria to convert the nitrogen to a form the plants can use, and the fish depend on the plants to absorb the nitrogen and clean the water. Aquaponics is a very efficient method of growing crops, since it uses a minimum amount of water and space and reuses waste. Aquaponics provides food in the form of vegetables and herbs, and fish can also be raised sustainably in aquaponics. For us at GBG, we presently grow non-edible fish such as koi, which are able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and are especially well-suited for aquaponics operations in colder climates. Although aquaculture and hydroponics have only started gaining traction within the last half century, these growing methods have both been around for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. The earliest known instance of hydroponics dates back to 1000 AD, when the Aztecs grew plants on rafts on the surface of lakes. As for aquaculture, in ancient times many farmers grew rice in rice paddy fields, and introduced fish to the water. This second example is similar to modern aquaponic farming, in how the fish and plants both live together in a body of water and form a symbiotic relationship with each other. Various kinds of vegetables and herbs can grow well in aquaponics, such as herbs and greens including lettuce, basil, Swiss chard, kale, sorrel, and many others. My favorite part about aquaponics is that it doesn’t require as much watering as conventional farming. Also, the plants don’t need to be fertilized, since the fertilizer comes from the fishes’ waste. All you need to do to fertilize the plants is feed the fish. Also, the crops grow faster in aquaponics than in the soil and we enjoy the process of seeding, transplanting, tending to our plants, and harvesting them for the community. It’s been a great way to grow and we look forward to continuing to grow on and up with aquaponics! Photo Credit: Backyard Aquaponics

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Make your own nativity scene using lollysticks, paper, glue and pencils Glue 4 or 5 lolly sticks together to create a house. If you use 5, you can make a pointed roof. To make this fast, you could use a glue gun (You can get cool ones for children to use too). Next glue a piece of paper in the frame you have created. The easiest way to do this is to use your house as a template and draw it onto your paper, then cut it out. Apply your glue to the lollysticks and attach the paper, then trim the edges if necessary. When the glue is dry, draw or paint a picture of the Holy Family, including any additional characters you feel appropriate. For young children, you might like to create the frames for them then encourage them to focus on their creation of the nativity scene. Ask them who they will include. Will there be any children? You could also make a giant version using sticks, creating a centre piece of Christmas art for your home.

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What Is Losartan, and How Is It Abused? Losartan medication, also known by the brand name Cozaar, is an antihypertensive in the angiotensin II receptor agonists class. The medication results in blood vessels not constricting, and its action allows for more even blood flow and lowered blood pressure. The medication is typically used to treat: - Hypertension (high blood pressure) - People who have type II diabetes and kidney issues as well as high blood pressure - Other related blood pressure issues The medication may have off-label uses as well. The drug is typically taken orally with the beginning dose of 50 mg once a day. Once the person’s high blood pressure is controlled, it is continued orally at doses of 25 mg to 200 mg once or twice a day. Addiction Potential of Losartan The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collects yearly data on the use, misuse, and abuse of the numerous drugs and prescription medications. SAMHSA does not report figures for the use or misuse of losartan. While the medication does require a prescription from a physician, it is not listed as a controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This indicates that the drug is not considered to be a potential drug of abuse by major organizations and is probably not widely abused. There is some older data to suggest that elderly individuals may misuse hypertensive drugs, and some newer information also suggests that there may be some potential for misuse of the drug, particularly in elderly individuals, that can lead to problems, such as taking too much of it or taking the required daily dose at one time instead of taking it twice as day as instructed. There is no attainment of specific psychoactive effects, euphoria, energy increase, etc. , that is typically associated with the use of this drug; therefore, it is not a drug that is sold on the street as a drug of abuse. There is data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to indicate that many individuals with substance use disorders suffer from hypertension and may be prescribed losartan. For instance, according to data by the FDA: - A small number of individuals with narcotic use disorders also take losartan for high blood pressure. - The sample data indicates that slightly more females with narcotic use disorders use losartan than males; 55 percent of the sample was female. - The majority of sampled individuals were in the early stages of recovery from their narcotic use disorder. - The majority of individuals with narcotic use disorders who also took losartan were over the age of 50. Older individuals typically take antihypertensive medications at higher rates than younger individuals across all reports. - The majority of the individuals were also being treated for type II diabetes. - The major side effects believed to be associated with use of losartan in this group were cardiac issues and dizziness. Thus, losartan may be a drug that is prescribed to individuals with substance use disorders; however, there is no recognized literature that suggests that it is a significant drug of abuse itself, that its use fosters some other forms of drug abuse, or that it is a potential substance that individuals who are in recovery will use during relapse for its psychoactive effects. In fact, there is a small body of literature that suggests that some antihypertensive drugs may be useful in the treatment of certain forms of substance use disorders, such as alcohol use disorders or cocaine use disorders. Losartan Side Effects Antihypertensive drugs like losartan often have potential side effects that could be serious, and they may interact with other medications to produce untoward side effects. Thus, these medications should only be used under the supervision of a physician. According to the book The Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs, some of the more common side effects associated with use of losartan include: - Stomach pain, stomach cramps, nausea, or vomiting - Fever, chills, cold sweats, headache, or blurry vision - Bladder pain, painful urination, frequent urination, or cloudy urine - Heartbeat irregularities, hypotension (low blood pressure), and other cardiac issues - Irregular breathing, dizziness, and mild confusion - Unusual bruising or bleeding Rare or unpredictable side effects may occur in individuals with certain medical conditions or psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder. Losartan does have numerous potential untoward interactions with other medications and should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. It is generally not recommended that pregnant women use this medication; however, again, this is up to the discretion of the physician. In very rare cases, individuals may experience rhabdomyolysis, a condition where skeletal muscle tissue breaks down, and the cells enter the bloodstream, leading to potential kidney issues or kidney failure. People who are extremely sensitive to pain or weakness, who feel unusually tired, and who have dark-colored urine should contact their physician when taking the drug. Other neurological issues may also occur, such as shakiness, tremors, and even seizures; however, these are extremely rare. Allergic reactions or interactions with other medications can also occur. Individuals should discuss all of their medications, other health conditions, and psychiatric conditions with their physician prior to using the drug. The drug may produce a mild level of physical dependence in individuals who take it for long periods of time, and discontinuation of the drug may lead to issues with anxiety, irritability, and mild flulike symptoms. The development of physical dependence on a drug as a result of medicinal use under the supervision of a physician is not considered to be a form of substance abuse or addiction by clinical standards. However, prescription medications should only be discontinued under the advice and/or supervision of a physician. Individuals who experience potential withdrawal symptoms would most likely be maintained on a tapering schedule that would allow them to slowly be weaned off the drug, even though the withdrawal syndrome is most likely not dangerous. There is a potential to overdose on the drug, and overdose can lead to significant cardiac issues that require medical treatment. Losartan is an antihypertensive drug that has little potential for abuse, but does have a potential to be misused individuals who mix it with other drugs or who take too much of it. The drug does not produce significant euphoria or other psychoactive effects, and it does not enhance the effects of other potential drugs of abuse; therefore, it is not listed as a controlled substance, and data regarding its abuse is not maintained by organizations such as SAMHSA. Any individual using the drug and experiencing untoward side effects should discuss the situation with their physician before discontinuing its use.

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