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|Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study (A solar power plant in the Mojave desert. Photograph: AP) Renewable energy could account for almost 80% of the world’s energy supply within four decades – but only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power, according to a landmark report published on Monday. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the body of the world’s leading climate scientists convened by the United Nations, said that if the full range of renewable technologies were deployed, the world could keep greenhouse gas concentrations to less than 450 parts per million, the level scientists have predicted will be the limit of safety beyond which climate change becomes catastrophic and irreversible. Investing in renewables to the extent needed would cost only about 1% of global GDP annually, said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC. FULL STORY HERE:

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Basil (Ocimum spp.) has its roots in India and Africa but is mostly known and appreciated all over the world. The word basil comes from Greek basileus meaning King and it certainly can be considered royalty among herbs. Basil has broad, dark green aromatic leaves that can be grown from seed. It should be started indoors in early spring (May) or sown directly in the garden after danger of frost has passed. Basil needs warm soil and temperature to germinate. If started too early you will get slow, weak growth so don’t rush it. Transplants can be planted when temperatures are above 50 degrees at night. This heat loving annual, thrives in warm weather, requires full sun and a rich well drained soil. As with many herbs, it needs little fertilizer; in fact with too much fertilizer, basil will develop a bland flavor. Container grown basil will need more water and fertilizer than basil grown in the ground. Plant 12 inches apart to allow room for growth as they grow as wide as they get tall (12-24 inch). To maintain the size and shape of this vigorous growing plant, pinch frequently. For best leaf production and flavor harvest basil often. Flowerheads and Pruning Once the plant reaches maturity or temps are over 80 degrees, look for emerging flower heads which will drain the plant of energy to produce more leaves. Pinching or deadheading doesn’t stop flowering, it encourages more flowers. To discourage flower production and stimulate more leaf growth, cut the stem at least six leaf nodes down or leave 2 sets of healthy leaves from the bottom of the plant. Depending on how quickly the plant grows, you may have to prune once a month. If basil is allowed to go to seed, the leaves will develop a bitter flavor. For a continuous supply of fresh basil, plant at three week intervals during the summer. Plant basil next to tomato plant to improve their flavor. There are more than 150 species of basil grown around the world. Even the most popular have a wide range of leaf shapes and flavors from anise, camphor, cinnamon to lemon. Sweet Italian Basil has an anise flavor which brings out the essence of summer tomatoes. ‘Genovese’ as well as bush basil (O. basilicum minimum) are great for pesto and Thai (Siam Queen) impart a spicy flavor with a hint of licorice to Thai and Indian cuisine. The dwarf to medium sized basils; such as Little-leaf bush or Spicy globe are ideal for small pots and window boxes. Dark Opal Basil stands up as a culinary herb but also works well as a decorative accent plant. Combine basils with parsley, sage, rosemary and chives along with any one of your favorite herbs in a large container, place it close to the kitchen door and you will have a convenient culinary herb garden at your disposal. Basil tip: Mosquitos and flies dislike the smell of basil. Grow it on a patio or deck to keep them away. Rub crushed basil on your skin to repel mosquitoes. Problems; light green/yellowing leaves possible overwatering or needs fertilizer. Black dying leaves-cold weather Insects: Aphids, Japanese beetles, slugs feed on the leaves. Disease: Damping-Off (Rhizoctonia), root rot and fusarium wilt and leaf spot

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4. Emergency hazard lights Use emergency hazard lights to communicate to other drivers that you are in trouble, there is trouble ahead, or when you are moving very slowly. Communicating with other drivers and pedestrians on the road creates a friendly and safe driving environment for everyone. You can warn them of an accident or traffic situation to avoid accidents. Communication features for your car include: turn signals, brake lights, hazard lights, headlights, and horn. Sometimes you can communicate by hand sign or nodding your head. Hazard Lights: Use this to warn drivers of problems with your car or a hazard ahead.

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• George Yule (1996): the traditional linguists have no real social lives but the modern linguists tend to consider that linguistic interaction has a tight relation to social interaction. • An interaction will make sense because of factors relate to o relative status of the participants o social values: age and power “Excuse me, Mr. Buckingham, but can I talk to You for a minute?” “Hey, Bucky, got a minute?” “Mr”+ Last name one’s nickname or first name • Politeness is the awareness of another person’s face. ”: the public self-image of a person. : the expectations dealing with one’s face or public image. : a threat to another selfimage. : an act of saving one’s One day a young neighbor was At the same moment there was a couple of older people who were playing music so loudly in the trying to sleep. middle of the night. • Grandpa: “I’m going to tell him to stop that awful noise • Grandma: “Perhaps you could just ask him if he’s going to stop soon because it’s getting a bit late and people need to get to sleep.” • Grandpa’s saying: • Grandma’s saying: need to be independent, to have freedom of action, and not to be imposed on need to be accepted, even liked, by others. In short, a need to be • You want to lend a pen Self: (looks in bag) Other: (offers pen) Here, use this statement, but not directly addressed to the other o“Uh, I forgot my pen” o“Hmm, I wonder where I put my pen” statement, that directly addressed to the other as a means of expressing o“Give me a pen” o“Lend me your pen” : leads the requester to appeal to a common goal, and even friendship, via expressions o How a bout letting me use your pen? o Hey, buddy, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me use your pen. strategy: a face saving act. The most typical form used is a question containing a modal verb o Could you lend me a pen? o I’m sorry to bother you, but I ask you for a pen or something? : the tendency to use positive politeness forms, emphasizing closeness between speaker • Deference strategy: forms, emphasizing the hearer’s right to freedom • The basic assumption: • One way of avoiding risk is to provide an opportunity for the other to halt the potentially risky action. A: Are you busy? (pre-request) B: not really (go ahead) A: Check over this memo. (request) B: Okay (accept) C: Are you busy? (pre-request) D: Oh, sorry (stop).

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Albany in Dougherty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic) C.B. (Chevene Bowers) King b. Albany, Georgia October 12, 1923; d. March 15, 1988 C.B. King was a courageous, eloquent and effective civil rights lawyer. He believed in using the courts for change and steered courtroom victories to desegregate schools, protect students' rights, enforce voting rights, eliminate jury and employment discrimination, open public accommodations for all, and end police brutality. He was respected and admired by leaders of the civil rights movement who sought his advice and counsel. He worked zealously with the NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and served as counsel for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He litigated many civil rights cases in the United) States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. C.B. King always conducted himself with honor and respect for the judicial system. He practiced In 1962 C.B. King became the first Black to run for the U.S. Congress from South Georgia and in 1970 he became the first Black since Reconstruction to run for Governor of Georgia. He was an eloquent orator and superior legal scholar who inspired several generations of young lawyers to practice law with a commitment to the oppressed. For many, working with C.B. King, a powerful presence in and out of the courtroom, was a decisive turning point in their lives. Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. Location. 31° 34.625′ N, 84° 9.093′ W. Marker is in Albany, Georgia, in Dougherty County. Marker is at the intersection of West Broad Avenue and North Washington Street, on the right when traveling west on West Broad Avenue. Located at the southwest corner of the Federal Courthouse. Touch for map. Touch for directions. Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Albany Lights (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Freedom Alley and City Hall (about 600 feet away); Dougherty County (about 600 feet away); Colonel Nelson Tift (about 600 feet away); The Bridge House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ray Charles (approx. 0.2 miles away); De Soto in Georgia (approx. 0.3 miles away); Georgia Civil Rights Trail: The Albany Movement (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany. Also see . . . New Georgia Encyclopedia article on C. B. King (1923-1988). (Submitted on May 7, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.) Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

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How to Sleep Better: Studies on Eating Healthy Fats The link between what we eat and how we sleep is closely related, especially when it comes to consuming healthy fats. In an article from the journal “Endocrinology – An Integrated Approach” (endocrinology deals with the glands and hormones), the author writes that all hormones are made from cholesterol. This includes estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, adrenal gland hormones, vitamin D, and the sleep hormone melatonin. Eating healthy fats with our meals can play a vital role in helping us sleep better and achieve greater health, as these provide the basic building blocks for cholesterol production and hormones. The best fats to eat are nutrient rich foods like eggs, natural butter, salmon, sardines, shrimp, cod liver oil, avocados and coconut oil. Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician trained in both traditional and natural medicine who provides up-to-date natural health information says: “If you’re confused about cholesterol, it’s not your fault. Cholesterol has been a highly publicized scapegoat for causing heart disease for decades, and many have diligently cut all cholesterol-rich foods (which are often also nutrient-rich foods) from their diets as a result.” For good heart health, Dr. Mercola says to: “Replace harmful vegetable oils and synthetic hydrogenated fats such as margarine with healthy fats, including olive oil, butter, avocado, pastured eggs and coconut oil (remember olive oil should be used cold only – use coconut oil for cooking and baking).” Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, M.D., says: “Hormones accomplish a myriad of functions in the body, from regulation of our metabolism, to energy production, mineral assimilation, brain, muscle, and bone formation, to behavior, emotion and reproduction… People whose bodies are unable to produce enough cholesterol do need to have plenty of foods rich in cholesterol in order to provide their organs with this essential-to-life substance.” Milk is well-known for its positive effects on sleep, and dairy foods contain cholesterol, however some people are not able to digest dairy well and are better able to assimilate fermented dairy foods. Milk also has the benefit of containing calcium, which has been found in studies to soothe insomnia. In one study from the European Journal of Clinical Neurology, researchers tested the use of milk that was fermented with yogurt cultures for its effect on sleep quality. They discovered that there was a significant improvement in the time needed to fall asleep, as well as a reduced number of night time awakenings for the participants who drank the fermented milk daily. No significant changes in sleep were observed for the placebo group. Regarding the use of minerals for better sleep, one study called “The Nutritional Relationships of Magnesium”, notes that the type of insomnia associated with a calcium deficiency causes difficulty with falling asleep. The classical sign of magnesium deficiency is insomnia characterized by falling asleep easily, but awakening frequently throughout the night, with individuals finding themselves tired even after several hours of sleep. A balanced calcium magnesium ratio is important to overall health, and these two minerals should be taken together for best results, in a two to one ratio with twice as much calcium as magnesium. The original research on this recommended ratio appeared in 1935 in the Journal of Physiological Reviews. In summary, eating good healthy fats and also taking enough sleep-inducing minerals, can be a good combination for achieving better sleep.

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• Pakistan has the largest African immigrant population in all of South Asia, known as the Sheedi community. • The Sheedis continue to face colourism, racism and prejudice from mainstream Pakistani society. • The South Asian community has a collective responsibility to educate ourselves about anti-Black racism in our countries, and how we have benefited both from systematic oppression of Black people and their efforts to overturn it. Despite being the largest African immigrant population in South Asia, Sheedis – as they are known – in Pakistan face restrictions to social, economic and political progress. This community was initially brought to the country as slaves between the first and 20th centuries, and entered the subcontinent through the ports of Sindh and Balochistan in present-day Pakistan, where many remain as dock workers, domestic workers, carpenters and blacksmiths. As they assimilated into local life, many lost their languages and traditions, with several Sheedis deliberately marrying outside of the community. In Pakistani culture and among its diaspora (including in the United States), the very term Sheedi has come to be used as a derogatory term. Many see it as a form of bullying, something that has kept the Sheedi community from progressing, and a public backlash is beginning to build. Have you read? Levels of poverty, illiteracy and crime among the Sheedi are higher than in other ethnic groups in Pakistan. In Karachi, the majority of Sheedis are confined to Lyari, a city slum known for drugs, gangs and struggling education systems. Sheedi have been historically under-represented in Pakistani government. The groundbreaking election of the first Black Pakistani to parliament in 2018, Tanzeela Qambrani, was marred by dissent, including the resignation of a fellow party member. Qambrani is vocally outspoken on the discrimination against Sheedi people in Pakistan. In March 2019 she pushed through a resolution that penalized educators who displayed racist behaviour towards Sheedi students. She is also leading a protest resolution in the provincial assembly against anti-Black racism in the US, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Many grassroots efforts in Pakistan are similarly campaigning to safeguard the heritage and culture of Sheedis in Pakistan. The most prominent festival of the Sheedi calendar, known as the “Sheedi Mela”, was recently restored after a seven-year hiatus, signaling a major breakthrough towards government recognition of the significance of Sheedi heritage in the country. “Colourism” has been linked to the marginalization of the Sheedi in South Asia. The colonial-era preference for fair skin is disappearing from Pakistani culture, but it can still be seen in the success of the skin-whitening industry and inclusion of whiteness as a criteria in marriage proposals. Pakistani people in the US: the 'model minority' There are clearly parallels between the mistreatment of Black Americans and Pakistani Sheedis. American society is no stranger to bias against minorities, and is seeing the result of that bias in barriers to access to capital and educational funding for minorities, as well as discrimination in hiring and lack of political representation. The Pakistani diaspora in the US must acknowledging that Black people fought for the very civil rights that allow Pakistani-American communities to exist. After all, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 allowed the majority of Pakistanis currently living in the US into the country in the first place, by eliminating restrictive immigration quotas and allowing family-based immigration. As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow globally, it is critical for us to support it and acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans that enabled Pakistani and South Asian success in the US. Where do we go from here? Pakistani employees of corporations or government entities Take a critical lens to your hiring practices when it comes to Black Pakistanis. Rethink your marketing campaigns; be cautious in the language you use around race and colour, specifically around whiteness as the standard of beauty. Major brands like Unilever and Johnson & Johnson have announced rebranding initiatives for their beauty creams to drop the use of “fair and “light”. Pakistani and diaspora celebrities and prominent figures You have a platform, use it. Direct your audiences to resources about the systematic oppression of Black people in the US and the history of African presence in Pakistan. Call out the pervasive colourism in our culture. Academics, photographers and journalists with a focus on South Asia Tell the stories that have not been told. Publish more scholarship to fill in the gaps of our knowledge; use your art, photography, film and pens to highlight the beauty, struggle and the success of the Black community in Pakistan, as well as our solidarity with Black communities in whatever country we call home. What's the World Economic Forum doing about diversity, equity and inclusion? The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social and political unrest have created a profound sense of urgency for companies to actively work to tackle inequity. The Forum's work on Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Social Justice is driven by the New Economy and Society Platform, which is focused on building prosperous, inclusive and just economies and societies. In addition to its work on economic growth, revival and transformation, work, wages and job creation, and education, skills and learning, the Platform takes an integrated and holistic approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, and aims to tackle exclusion, bias and discrimination related to race, gender, ability, sexual orientation and all other forms of human diversity. The Platform produces data, standards and insights, such as the Global Gender Gap Report and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 4.0 Toolkit, and drives or supports action initiatives, such as Partnering for Racial Justice in Business, The Valuable 500 – Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap, Hardwiring Gender Parity in the Future of Work, Closing the Gender Gap Country Accelerators, the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality, the Community of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers and the Global Future Council on Equity and Social Justice. Everyone – have difficult conversations As the millennial generation, we have the power and the responsibility to engage our parents and grandparents about the past and present in order to shape the future, to challenge our own and their inherent biases, and to normalize the topic of race and anti-Blackness in our homes. Stand up for Sheedis and amplify their voices and the voices of other victims of racism, both in Pakistan and in the other countries we have come to call home.

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A comparative essay is a writing task that requires you to compare two or more items you may be asked to compare two or more literary works, theories, arguments or. Lesson 4, and the “comparative essay example: eh 1010, english composition i 4 writing an illustration essay is to convey an idea to the reader by providing. Exemplar comparative essay on conflict poetry 4(3) a writing frame for comparing poems outstanding ks3 timothy winters poetry lesson in your essay writing. Page 1 of 8 comparative writing lesson 1: introduction in this lesson, you will learn: what does it mean to compare what does it mean to contrast. A unit of study on literary essays: hopefully you will have already taught many crucial essay writing skills in a unit that supports. Even powerpoint as two hours significant meaning to write a folder for writing process smart notebook lesson descriptive what a comparative essay internet daily. How to write a comparative essay perhaps you have been assigned a comparative essay in class, or need to write a comprehensive comparative report for work. How to write hook for essay when it comes to essay writing, students often experience lots of struggles the writing process might be challenging by itself. This resource begins with a general description of essay writing and moves to a discussion of common essay genres students may encounter across the curriculum. Title - be a food critic by - madeline mcdougal primary subject - language arts grade level - 4-6 concept / topic to teach: writing a comparison essay standards addressed: standard 2 (ny) student will read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding general goal(s): the student will become familiar with. Find writing a comparative essay lesson plans and teaching resources quickly find that inspire student learning. Literary essay: grade 5 writing unit 2 this document is the property of the michigan association of intermediate school administrators (maisa. The compare and contrast essay is taught through. Students are introduced to comparing and contrasting through this writing process teaching model it includes a sample compare-and-contrast chart, a blank compare-and-contrast chart, and four stages of revision to a sample compare-and-contrast essay. Class: grade 11 english lesson #: 1 topic: writing & composition: word choice objectives: to create an environment wherein students will be able to write fluidly. How to write a perfect essay just to order it essay writing is available for everyone: attractive prices, discounts for customers, double check for every work. Comparative analysis essay writing guide for school and college students, customessayordercom. Short story lesson 7: writing workshop short story lesson 8: in-class essay sample comparative essay gift of the magi text quick quiz on elements of lit. Written essay on air pollution, help writing a resume and cover letter, great creative writing lesson by on 三月 4, 2018 future plans scholarship essay essays on the. Apart from following the above advice on writing a comparative analysis to the letter: here is a summary of how to write an effective comparative essay. Writing a good comparative essay all essay questions expect you to comment on the areas covered in writing about poetrythis means you must write about the use of language, the effect of language and form, and how it makes you feel. It is appropriate for use in grade 5 language arts and writing classes writing a compare-and-contrast essay (gr 5) lesson ten tips for writing an essay. 50 minutes for guided learning plus time for independent writing materials copies of the lesson compare & contrast essay: compare & contrast essay lesson plan. Clrc writing center 2/09 writing a compare/contrast essay as always, the instructor and the assignment sheet provide the definitive expectations and requirements for any. Or evaluate in their writing and will be asked to write compare and step 3 - introduce the compare and contrast essay checklist for this lesson to the students.

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Defenders of Stormfast Located across the Hindrun Sea, Tarmeria is the ancestral homeland of the Iron People. Affectionately referred to as Fermasha by its inhabitants, the Old Country is the location of Brankeep, the seat of the Tarmerian Empire. It is also the location of Wharfstead and Stonefist. The political system of Tarmeria is based closely off of English feudalism in the Late Middle Ages, but uses more modern military terminology. It’s imperial ideology, however, is more reminiscent of early 17th century English colonialism. Religiously, it is most similar to the Christian Church during the High Medieval era. Tarmeria is pronounced tar-MEE-ree-uh, with a short A sound, like in par, two long E sounds, like in seed, and a short U sound, like in pump. It is derived from the Gaulish “are-mori,” meaning “on the sea,” given its prowess as a naval power. It’s Gaulish root is that of Armorica, the Gaulish name for the region that is now Brittany. Fermasha is pronounced fuhr-MAW-shuh, with a short U sound, like in purr, a short A sound, like in raw, and a short U sound, like in dumb. It is derived from the Russian “fier,” meaning iron, and the Bosnian “majka,” meaning mother. Therefore, it literally means “iron mother.”

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Coastal Zone 2021 aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of coastal ecosystem and ocean sciences. It also provides an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of coastal zone management. Track-1: Coastal Ecosystem and its Management Coastal ecosystems are areas where land and water join to create an environment with a distinct structure, diversity, and flow of energy. It includes salt marshes, mangroves, wetlands, estuaries, and bays and is home to many different types of plants and animals. It is to avoid erosion and floods, and also stops erosion to claim lands. Its goal is to: “preserve, protect, develop, enhance, and restore, the coastal resources.” Discuss new techniques or ideas which could be used to manage the coastal ecosystem. Coastal Recreation Conference | Marine Robotics Conference | Coastal Structures Conference | Coastal Engineering Conference | Coastal Living Conference Track-2: Coastal Areas and their Biodiversity Coastal Areas are intensively used dynamic areas which act as the interface between land and sea and also include different landforms occurring in the coast. These areas are covered with diverse range of flora and fauna which needs to be protected from getting extinct. Discuss different life diversities found at the coastal areas. Coastal Processes Conference | Coastal Ecology Conference | Coastal Processes Conference | Ocean Trenches Conference | Coastal Oceanography Conference Track-3: Coastal Resources and Processes By being adjacent to water, coastal regions include fish and other types of marine life that are important food sources for humans. Coasts also contain sand and other sediments, which are valuable resources for maintaining healthy beach and dune systems. The coastal zone is a dynamic part of the Earth's surface where both marine and atmospheric processes produce rocky coasts, as well as beaches and dunes, barriers and tidal inlets, and shape deltas. Coastal Oceanography Conference | Ocean Trenches Conference | Coastal Recreation Conference | Coastal Ecology Conference | Marine Robotics Conference Track-4: Coastal Economics and Tourism Economy statistics describe the economic value of activities directly or indirectly related to the use of oceans, or coastal zone resources. And also, know how Tourism affects the Economic status of the coastal ecosystem from economy experts worldwide. Coastal Processes Conference | Coastal Structures Conference | Coastal Engineering Conference | Marine Pollution Conference | Coastal Living Conference Track-5: Coastal Archaeology Coastal Archaeological sites (environment, history, settlements and findings), shallow water coastal archaeological surveys and near shore wrecks, methodology of the research (direct surveys, remote sensing, etc.), conservation of the coastal archaeological sites, cultural tourism, coastal and underwater archaeological itineraries. Ocean Trenches Conference | Coastal Ecology Conference | Coastal Processes Conference | Coastal Engineering Conference | Coastal Living Conference Track-6: Coastal Sustainability and Climate Coastal Sustainability exposes students to the reality that maintaining the quality of life and benefits that the ocean has provided to humankind while sustaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, requires changes in how we view, plan, manage, govern and use ocean resources and coastal areas. And also, how it affects the costal climate? Marine Pollution Conference | Coastal Structures Conference | Marine Robotics Conference | Coastal Recreation Conference | Coastal Oceanography Conference Track-7: Coastal Pollution and Habitat destruction Damage or destruction of habitats kills the plants and animals responsible for the habitat's ecological functions and, in some cases, its survival and regeneration. This pressure focuses on destruction of intertidal habitats and two types of sub tidal habitats, soft bottom and hard bottom. These habitats include coral reefs, sea grasses and mangrove forests, but do not include sea ice, which is accounted for elsewhere. Discuss how Coastal Pollution is responsible for Habitat destruction. Coastal Recreation Conference | Coastal Processes Conference | Marine Pollution Conference | Ocean Trenches Conference | Coastal Engineering Conference Track-8: Coastal Mangroves and Corals Mangroves help reduce vulnerability to climate-related coastal hazards whereas Life in the ocean comprises of Cute and cuddly, creepy and crawly, gigantic and microscopic organisms in millions of shapes and size. Learn more about Corals and Mangroves and discuss how they are important for coastal ecosystem management. Marine Pollution Conference | Coastal Recreation Conference | Coastal Oceanography Conference | Marine Robotics Conference | Coastal Structures Conference Track-9: Coastal Geology and Engineering Coastal Geology studies have a particular emphasis on near-shore processes, coastal sedimentation and erosion, remote sensing of reefs, geologic history of Hawaiian reefs, Pacific basin sea level history, and submarine landslides. And also, discuss how genetic engineering affects coastal ecosystem. Coastal Engineering Conference | Coastal Processes Conference | Coastal Ecology Conference | Ocean Trenches Conference | Marine Robotics Conference Track-10: Coastal Conservation Acts Discuss about different ACTs which are responsible for conserving the Coastal Ecosystem and how their work is affecting the environment. Coastal Living Conference | Coastal Processes Conference | Coastal Recreation Conference | Coastal Oceanography Conference | Marine Pollution Conference The coastal zone makes up only 10% of the ocean environment but is home to over 90% of all marine species. For example, of the 13,200 known species of marine fish, almost 80% are coasts. According to the UN, around 3.6 billion people, or 60% of the world’s population, live within 60km of the coast. And 80% of all tourism takes place in coastal areas. Most of the goods we extract from the ocean - from fish to oil and gas - come from coastal regions. Coastal ecosystems also provide a range of services that benefit people around the world. Coastal zones include the entire continental shelf and occupy about 18% of the surface of the globe, supplying about 90% of global fish catch and accounts for some 25% of global primary productivity while at the same time being some of the most endangered regions on the planet. This growth, which has reached its peak in recent decades, exerts pressures on the environmental and cultural resources of coastal areas, and negatively affects the social, economic and cultural patterns. Offshore oil & gas is the world's biggest marine industry where production alone can have a value of more than $300 billion per annum. With members from around the world focused on learning about coastal zone and ocean sciences, this is the best opportunity to reach the largest assemblage of participants from the Coastal study. Conduct demonstrations, distribute information, acquire knowledge about current and trending coastal management ways, make a splash with a new research, and receive name recognition at this 2-day event. World-renowned speakers, the most recent techniques, tactics, and the newest updates in Industrial Robotics fields are hallmarks of this conference. Scope of Conference: The purpose of Coastal Zone conference is 1. To maximize the benefits and minimize the conflicts and harmful effects of activities upon resources and the environment. 2. To promote linkages between sectorial activities at coastal area development in an ecologically sustainable fashion. 3. To protect habitats i.e. wetlands, coral reefs and their water quality and also prevents the loss of life, while for others it provides a means of public access to coastal areas. The Global Universities: - Grantham Institute - Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London - Oxford Environmental Change Institute - Cabot Institute, University of Bristol - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) - European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) - Curie Institute (Paris) - Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy - Tyndall Centre for Climate Change ResearchInstitute of Ecosystem Study (CNR-ISE) - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) - Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) - Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, New York - The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York - Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota (Ion E), St. Paul, MN - Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research, Alaska - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies - Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) - Centre for Global Change & Earth Observations (CGCEO), USA - Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) - Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) - Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) - International Research Centre for Water and Environment (IRCWE) - Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES) - Israel Institute for Biological Research (IBR) - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) - The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) - Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute - ECCRI - Korea Environment Institute (KEI) Major Organizations and Associations: - Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia - World Meteorological Organization - International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea - Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries - Kano State Environmental Planning and Protection Agency - Federal Office for the Environment - Australian Student Environment Network - Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment - European Environment Agency - Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

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DELAVAN— Teachers from the Delavan-Darien School District will once again participate in Inquiry for the 21st Century, a professional development opportunity designed to help bring more science learning into classrooms.The training, a four-day summer institute held at Turtle Creek Elementary School in Delavan, teaches teachers how to effectively implement the science inquiry method. The method uses techniques to help students to understand the nature of science and develop critical thinking skills, science concepts and a sense of inquiry. Last summer, Turtle Creek Elementary School teachers Michele Sheets and Christine Niles joined teachers from Southeast Wisconsin in the first Inquiry for the 21st Century (Inquiry 21) summer institute at UW-Madison. There, they developed a new lesson plan for students to use when they returned to school during the fall. Using the lesson plan, fourth graders taught by Niles and Sheets learned about electric circuits through the science inquiry method. “We were amazed by how engaged students were from start to finish during our science inquiry lesson,” Niles said. Inquiry 21 is funded by a Federal grant and facilitated by the non-profit Wisconsin Fast Plants Program, which is housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of UW-Madison. The project incorporates a combination of face-to-face and continuing online teacher collaboration to continue development of lesson plans and curriculum that meet national standards and Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. A four-day Inquiry 21 summer institute will be held at Turtle Creek Elementary School June 14-17, 2010. Elementary teachers from Delavan-Darien, the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delavan and the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped in Janesville are invited to participate. The Madison Metropolitan School District is also participating in Inquiry 21. A separate institute will be held in Madison schools this summer, as well, Niles said. For more information about Inquiry for the 21st Century visit: www.inquiry21teachers.ning.com. (Editor’s Note: Information on the Science Inquiry Method can be found at: http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/inquiry.aspx. Information about the Wisconsin State Standards for Science Inquiry (grade 4) can be found at: http://dpi.wi.gov/standards/scic4.html.)

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a general loss of cognitive abilities, including impairment of memory as well as one or more of the following: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, or disturbed planning, organizing, and abstract thinking abilities. It does not include loss of intellectual functioning caused by clouding of consciousness (as in delirium , or other functional mental disorder (pseudodementia ). Causes include a large number of conditions, some reversible and some progressive, that result in widespread cerebral damage or dysfunction. The most common cause is Alzheimer's disease; others include cerebrovascular disease, central nervous system infection, brain trauma or tumors, vitamin deficiencies, anoxia, metabolic conditions, endocrine conditions, immune disorders, prion diseases, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Binswanger's dementia a progressive dementia of presenile onset due to demyelination of the subcortical white matter of the brain, with sclerotic changes in the blood vessels supplying it. boxer's dementia a syndrome more serious than boxer's traumatic encephalopathy, the result of cumulative injuries to the brain in boxers; characterized by forgetfulness, slowness in thinking, dysarthric speech, and slow, uncertain movements, especially of the legs. epileptic dementia a progressive mental and intellectual deterioration that occurs in a small fraction of cases of epilepsy; it is thought by some to be caused by degeneration of neurons resulting from circulatory disturbances during seizures. dementia prae´cox (obs.) schizophrenia. substance-induced persisting dementia that resulting from exposure to or use or abuse of a substance, such as alcohol, sedatives, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, lead, mercury, carbon monoxide, or organophosphate insecticides, but persisting long after exposure to the substance ends, usually with permanent and worsening deficits. Individual cases are named for the specific substance involved. vascular dementia patchy deterioration of intellectual function resulting from damage by a significant cerebrovascular disorder. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Patient discussion about dementia praecox Q. how to treat schizophrenia? A. Schizophrenia is a serious illness that should be treated with the help of a psychiatrist, because close monitoring over the medications and possible side effects is crucial. It is often treated with anti-psychotic medications, either from the older or newer generation of drugs. Some modifications are done in each patient after looking into all of the factors that take place. Q. How can we treat a schizophrenic person? A member of my family is a schizophrenic and was diagnosed when he was 25 years old. Today at almost 60 he refuse to be treated and certain that nothing is wrong with him. The problem is me and my family feels that his illness is getting worst and we can't help him. How can we get treatment for him and if not what is the next phase we should expect to encounter? A. although the cause for schizophrenia is not yet clear- there is a treatment for it's symptoms, and it's actually very helpful. have very good results. but it has to be accompanied by psychiatric care. you will have to convince him to go threw a therapy, talk to a good psychiatrist, ask him if he has any idea. or maybe someone here can answer that question. about what to look for, here is a very informative site about it- Q. Am i going to get schizophrenia and what are the signs towards it? My mother is 50 years old and i knew she was bi polar and tonight i found out she has schizophrenia too from a nurse at the hospital she was sent to for going crazy out of no where tonight. I am very different from her and i am 17 years old. My dad side of the family has no disorders. How likely am i to develop schizophrenia? What are the first symptoms? Can i see signs now? and any other info. A. Sweetheart you would not recognize a sign if it run over you. as the sickness encroaches upon your mind it also removes rational thought. you will say to your self I am not crazy there is nothing wrong with me. all the crazy Sob's around me are nuts I an not. And Honey you will believe your self. self diagnosis is a very dangerous path you are wanting to take. More discussions about dementia praecox Just be aware and talk to a certified psychiatrist – he’ll tell you any thing you want to know. This content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.

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As the Omicron variant of Covid-19 tears through aged care in Australia, it’s easy to lose sight of the basics. The news is currently full of stories about deaths in aged care, aged care staffing issues and how strained the entire system is. Working through crises is nothing new for most people in healthcare, but Omicron’s impact is hard to ignore. For aged care facilities, it feels like ‘when’ not ‘if’ there will be an outbreak. This means we must ensure we’re prepared for when it happens. A brief history of SARS-CoV-2 Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in 2020, there have been five major variants declared by the WHO: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and the most recent, Omicron. Omicron was first reported in South Africa on 24 November 2021 and has quickly spread across the world. It spreads far more readily than previous variants, but typically presents with less severe symptoms. While this might sound like a positive, unfortunately it’s not that simple. Isn’t Omicron milder than previous variants? If Omicron is so much milder, you might be wondering why everything is in such a state of disarray. Just because a disease is less severe, it doesn’t mean that it’s nothing to worry about. While Omicron is milder than the Delta variant, it is still a dangerous virus that can significantly impact people. Omicron still has the full spectrum of Covid presentation, from asymptomatic infection all the way through to severe disease and death. While more people are likely to have a milder infection with Omicron, the fact that so many more people have been infected increases the number of severe cases in the community. We have learned that people with underlying conditions, people with advanced age and people who are unvaccinated can have a severe form of COVID-19 from Omicron infection. While Omicron is typically milder, people are more likely to catch it and less likely to know when they have it. This means that they are mingling in the community and spreading it to others, who then spread it to others. Eventually these infections make their way into vulnerable populations, where there is a higher chance of serious consequences. What does Omicron look like? While most of you will be tested regularly with RATs to determine whether you have Covid, there are still some symptoms to look out for. The initial symptoms linked with Covid, such as the loss of taste and fever, are less common in the Delta and Omicron variants. The Delta variant caused cold-like symptoms: runny nose, sore throat and persistent sneezing, along with headache and cough, particularly in people who had been vaccinated. Unvaccinated people generally had more severe symptoms. Omicron appears to be continuing the trend set by Delta. Its symptoms are much more like a regular cold, particularly in people who’ve been vaccinated, and it’s causing fewer general systemic symptoms, such as nausea, muscle pains, diarrhoea and skin rashes. Most of the general public will still be looking for the original Covid symptoms (like loss of taste) and may be ignoring Omicron symptoms as ‘just a cold’. Because of this, it’s important that staff in your facility know the symptoms for the current variants and act accordingly. Managing an Omicron outbreak When managing an Omicron coronavirus outbreak, the principles are the same as an influenza outbreak or any other outbreak situation. The key focus areas here should be preparedness and completeness. Make sure that your COVID outbreak plan is up-to-date and appropriate for your facility. Every facility’s outbreak plan (COVID or otherwise) will be different, but it should reflect the needs of your facility. It should be reviewed frequently to ensure it incorporates the latest COVID management information from your state or national health departments. Once you are sure that your plan is current and comprehensive, it’s crucial that staff know what it is and where they can find the information they need. Do your staff know where to access your plan? Can they access the materials the plan references (such as PPE and contact information for reporting purposes)? If you have the capacity, a mock outbreak drill will let you see where the gaps are. An outbreak should not be the first time you test your outbreak plan! Above all, it’s crucial not to panic. While an Omicron outbreak is not ideal, aged care facilities are no strangers to outbreaks. The key to controlling and overcoming them is ensuring the proper steps are taken by everyone involved. Calm management is the only way. As the Omicron variant is so transmissible, as soon as a person is thought to have COVID of any description, the person must be isolated and outbreak management strategies immediately put into place. It is better to be safe rather than sorry! If you’re looking for help with Covid outbreak management, you can download our free Covid outbreak checklist here. If you stay ready, you don’t need to get ready. If you’re looking for help with infection control or omicron in aged care, you can sign up for our free IPC newsletter or contact us with your IPC queries. With clinical staff with Covid outbreak experience, we’re here to help.

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Nazrey, Willis an African bishop of the colored British Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, was born about 1820. He entered the ministry in 1850, and preached for some time in Canada, gaining friends everywhere by his consistent Christian walk and work. He labored zealously for the promotion of the Gospel cause among his African brethren, and was finally selected by them as their bishop after the separation of the Canadian Church from the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. Besides the responsible work of the episcopacy, bishop Nazrey had charge of the Messenger, the Canadian paper of the colored Methodists. Bishop Nazrey died in August 1875, at Shelburne, N.S.

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Solar flares can create beautiful auroras, but they can also disrupt shortwave radio communications, induce harmful currents in power grids, and damage satellites. An early warning of solar flares would give satellite and utility grid operators more time to prepare. Researchers at Purdue University have found a New system could predict solar flares, give advance warning . The system is based on the hypothesis, supported with data published in a dozen research papers since it was proposed in 2006, that radioactive decay rates are influenced by solar activity. Ephraim Fischbach, a Purdue University professor of physics, and Jere Jenkins, a nuclear engineer and director of radiation laboratories in the School of Nuclear Engineering that discovered the effect in 2006, are leading the research. Jenkins began monitoring a detector in his lab in 2006 and discovered that the decay rate of a radioactive sample changed slightly, beginning 39 hours before a large solar flare. Fischbach said, “It's the first time the same isotope has been used in two different experiments at two different labs, and it showed basically the same effect.” The Purdue University release stated: “Findings showed a clear annual variation in the decay rate of a radioactive isotope called chlorine 36, with the highest rate in January and February and the lowest rate in July and August, over a period from July 2005 to June 2011.” Fischbach, after describing the impact of the Carrington event in 1859 (also known as the 1859 solar superstorm), stated, “Because we now have a sophisticated infrastructure of satellites, power grids and all sort of electronic systems, a storm of this magnitude today would be catastrophic. Having a day and a half warning could be really helpful in averting the worst damage.” He added that a “precursor signal” had now been observed repeatedly before solar flare activity and that he thought this might have “predictive value." The Purdue setup uses manganese 54 as the radioactive source and a gamma-radiation detector. As the manganese 54 decays, it turns into chromium 54, emitting a gamma ray in the process. This gamma activity is recorded by the detector to measure the decay rate. The basis of the effect is still being investigated. The effect appears to be influenced by neutrinos, but has not been confirmed. “Since neutrinos have essentially no mass or charge, the idea that they could be interacting with anything is foreign to physics,” said Jenkins. “So, we are saying something that doesn't interact with anything is changing something that can't be changed. Either neutrinos are affecting decay rate or perhaps an unknown particle is.”

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- Does mistletoe kill cancer cells? - Will mistletoe kill my tree? - Does mistletoe have medicinal properties? - Can you pick mistletoe? - Is Mistletoe A parasite? - How does mistletoe cure cancer? - What is the true meaning of mistletoe? - Does mistletoe mean poop on a stick? - What does real mistletoe look like? - What should you not eat if you have cancer? - What is mistletoe tea used for? - How do you make mistletoe tea? - How do you treat mistletoe? - Can you eat mistletoe? - Can mistletoe cure diabetes? - Does mistletoe kill cancer? Does mistletoe kill cancer cells? Despite the implausibility of this idea, about 1000 in vitro studies have shown that mistletoe or its main constituents (alkaloids, lectins, and viscotoxins) do have anticancer activity. However, many plants have some sort of anticancer activity.. Will mistletoe kill my tree? Healthy trees are able to tolerate a few mistletoe plants with little harmful effect. Trees that are heavily infested with mistletoe may become less vigorous, stunted, and can possibly be killed if subjected to additional stress from drought, extreme temperatures, root damage, insect infestation, or disease. Does mistletoe have medicinal properties? European mistletoe has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for a variety of conditions, including seizures, headaches, and menopause symptoms. Today, European mistletoe is promoted as a treatment for cancer. Can you pick mistletoe? Harvest berries from a tree in March or April. Make sure you choose a tree that is similar to the type of tree in your own garden that you wish to establish the mistletoe on. Discard any crushed berries and do not use berries from sprigs used as Christmas decorations. Is Mistletoe A parasite? Mistletoe steals from trees Mistletoe is a parasite – it steals water and nutrients from trees. … Most mistletoe seeds are spread by birds, which eat the berries and defecate on tree branches. How does mistletoe cure cancer? Basic research shows that mistletoe extracts may stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Studies in humans show that mistletoe treatment may improve symptoms and reduce side effects of cancer treatments. A few studies indicate it may also have some effects on survival. What is the true meaning of mistletoe? Mistletoe is a plant that grows on range of trees including willow, apple and oak trees. The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and wards off evil spirits. Does mistletoe mean poop on a stick? Ancient observations of the poop-on-a-stick origins of the plant led to its name “mistletoe,” or mistiltan in Old English, derived from the Anglo-Saxon words mistel, meaning “dung,” and tan, meaning “twig.” Mistletoe has been part of European winter traditions since long before the first Christmas. What does real mistletoe look like? Hardwood true mistletoes have thick green leaves that are nearly oval in shape, contrasting with conifer true mistletoes, which have small thin leaves or are nearly leafless. The small, sticky berries are white, pink or red and are ripe from October to January, depending on the species. What should you not eat if you have cancer? Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy vegetables that can hide dirt and other contaminants. Unpasteurized fruit juice or cider. Raw sprouts like alfalfa sprouts. Raw or undercooked beef (especially ground beef) or other raw or undercooked meat and poultry. What is mistletoe tea used for? Mistletoes of the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae are hemiparasitic plants and their preparations in the form of injectable extracts, infusions, tinctures, fluid extracts or tea bags are widely used in various cultures in almost every continent to treat or manage various health problems including hypertension, diabetes … How do you make mistletoe tea? If you prefer, put 2 grams of dry white mistletoe or one tablespoon (dessert) for each cup of cold water, leave for 12 hours and then take up to three times a day. It will only take a few days until the blood circulation along with the activity of the heart will come to a normal activity. How do you treat mistletoe? Mechanical Control The most effective way to control mistletoe and prevent its spread is to prune out infected branches, if possible, as soon as the parasite appears. Using thinning-type pruning cuts, remove infected branches at their point of origin or back to large lateral branches. Can you eat mistletoe? Mistletoe IS poisonous, although it is doubtful as to whether it will actually cause death. All parts of the plant are toxic (that’s berries, stem and leaves). The Mistletoe plant contains Phoratoxin and Viscotoxin, which are both poisonous proteins when ingested. Can mistletoe cure diabetes? Mistletoe plants have been used traditionally to treat diabetes. Alcohol extracts from various mistletoe plants, including Viscum and Plicosepalus species, have been shown to stimulate pancreatic insulin production and release and improve glucose metabolism in animal models of type 2 diabetes. Does mistletoe kill cancer? In a 2009 review, researchers found that mistletoe extracts could boost survival rates among people with cancer. Other studies suggest that mistletoe may reduce tumor growth and support the immune system.

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Climate Change Adaptation Enabling people living in poverty to adapt - 272.19 KB - 619.65 KB Climate change is fast pushing communities, particularly the poorest and most marginalized, beyond their capacity to respond. Across the world, subsistence crops are approaching the limits of their viability as temperatures change; erratic rainfall patterns and changing seasons are upsetting agricultural cycles and leaving many struggling to feed their families; and rising sea levels are causing the inundation of crops and the contamination of water supplies with salt water. This report draws on case studies from around the world and Oxfam’s experience working with rural communities to set out what is needed and a range of interventions that are available, to enable people living in poverty to adapt to climate change. Nonetheless, there are limits to adaptation, and without rapid and significant global mitigation, these options will be quickly lost. Oxfam’s approach brings together experience in the areas of livelihoods, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction. Uncertainty and risk can be managed using robust decision making in order to build adaptive capacity from household to national and global levels. Climate change forces us to draw the strands together, not only to lift people out of poverty, but also to enable them to manage risk and uncertainty and to shape, create, and respond to changes throughout their lives. Poverty, more than any other factor, determines vulnerability to climate change and limits adaptive capacity. This report identifies the combined need for a combination of bottom-up and top-down processes in order to create the enabling conditions needed for people living in poverty to adapt to climate change.

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e all know that the benefits of somatic exercises come from the development of the memory of movement patterns. That's the whole point of the repetitions - memory formation. The memory of pattern is what underlies coordination; coordination is pattern in four dimensions: three dimensions of space and one of dimension of time - time being a measure of movement. Ready availability of such memory permits timely responses to changing environmental conditions. Without it, we have, 'oops." An "oop" may be defined as the minimum unit of movement done without easy control, one that produces an unanticipated result and introduces uncertainty into the scenario. As long as we're defining terms, we might as well define the "whoops," which is what you have when one or more "oops" sets off other "oops" in a kind of domino effect or chain reaction. Now, we also know that any new movement we do starts out as a rote, mechanical action festooned with oops as a boat is festooned with barnacles. The number of oops decreases as we get a feel for the movement, develop a simple feeling-intention when performing it, and thus develop an integrated memory of that action. For those who have mathematical minds or who enjoy being bewildered, the simple formula is: The number of oops decreases with the integration of the elements of movement in kinesthetic memory. -- or -- As the integration of kinesthetic memory ====> INFINITY Where "Noops" signifies any number of oops > 0 As somatic educators, it's our job to assist our clients in reducing the number of oops and of consequent whoops toward zero - an ideal, of course, since absolute zero is a theoretical limit never actually reached, but only approximated. We must understand that any action involves, at minimum, two components: an objective dimension, which can be observed by a second (or even third) person, and a subjective dimension, which can be experienced only by the first person. New actions done by rote exist primarily in the objective dimension, since little subjective awareness exists of them. However, with guidance and practice, the first-person, subjective awareness of it emerges into being, a case of "something coming from nothing." That, in fact, is how we experience learning something new: something emerges from nothing - like magic - and it is something of a miracle. They call those, "emergents", often precipitated by mutant- or proto-mutant human beings. In the spectrum of experience, there is a continuum which corresponds to the relationship of particles (localized phenomena) to electromagnetic radiation (the field). The particles and the field, though appearing differently, are actually the same phenomenon experienced differently. A particle is a tangible, physical manifestation or expression of a subtle field. Don't worry; I clarify, below. In the case of somatic events, the objective body is the "particle" (or arrangement of particles) and the subjective awareness is the "field". In that relationship, where control is concerned, the field (subjective awareness) is primary and the particle (objective body) is secondary. The behavior of the field determines the behavior of the particle, just as subjective awareness determines the behavior of the objective body. As Thomas Hanna put it, "Function determines structure." Here's where it gets interesting. You were hoping, weren't you? The development of somatic control involves, as I said earlier, the development of integrated kinesthetic awareness - the subjective, subtle field. But the teaching of somatic exercises starts with rote, mechanical performance. In that sense, where learning is concerned, the particle is primary and the field is secondary - just the reverse of the logic of control. Rote, mechanical performance is the most rudimentary form of control, where the movement of particles creates a subtle field. The development of memory (a field) proceeds by quantum jumps, where the starting or resting state is, "not knowing what the Hell you're doing." Here, the maximum amount of attention is available (as learning potential), while the minimum level of learning has occurred. Here, the potential for oops is at its highest. Repetition of a movement at an adequate level of intensity or with adequate intensity of attention creates impressions in the field of memory that accumulate. Once that field reaches a sufficient level of stability and becomes free-standing, it becomes somatically accessible as a memory in the subtle field. Get it? I knew you would. If not, re-read this paragraph closely, a few times. There's a point where a rote exercise has produced enough quantum jumps in kinesthetic awareness (a quantum is a minimum quantity of anything) that the feeling of the exercise can be remembered. This is the point at which the field begins to appear as a remembered experience - not seen, but felt. A critical mass of memory has been reached for a new experience to come into existence. It is my observation that each time an oops is integrated into the subtle field of memory, the overall mass of the memory increases. The implication is that oops have mass. However, our goal is to increase the amount of order in memory, not just increase its mass. This is how it works: Since the subtle field is senior to and controls the physical expression, learning, and thus the increase of order, can be accelerated by deliberately resorting to the remembered feeling of the movement before doing the movement. It's a two-step process: (1) Remember the feeling of the movement, (2) Do the movement. To do so has some benefits. For one thing, to remember a movement before doing it organizes it in a more efficient manner that reduces the number oops by organizing them into the desired pattern ahead of time by manipulating the force of probability through the subtle field as an act of will. Secondly, where multiple actions are done in coordination, to remember the coordinated action as a feeling progressively integrates its movement elements into a unified action, thereby reducing the number or likelihood of whoops. This is a case of mind over matter. So, if you want to reduce the number of oops and the incidence of whoops rapidly and efficiently, and so increase the amount of order in your experience of the space-time continuum, remember the subtle feeling of the movement and move "into" it. You will find that the rise of intent needed to remember the feeling will produce a result superior to merely doing movements by rote (in a perfunctory way). The Big Bang was a Big Whoops! And It's Still Generating New Emergents.

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‘One Size Does Not Fit All’: Cross Country Overview of the Mental Health Response to COVID-19 Updated: Jul 20, 2020 While the COVID-19 pandemic is a physical health crisis, to begin with, it has the potential to become a major mental health crisis. Countries are encouraged to respond with immediate action through the inclusion of mental health policies in their COVID-19 health recovery plans. There is no doubt that good mental health is essential on an individual level, but it is just as important for the entire society to recoup the damages, resulting from this pandemic. Mental distress amidst COVID-19 stems from a wide range of uncertainties. The fear of getting infected by the virus, the fear of infecting others around, physical isolation, social distancing - all culminate and lead to varying types and degrees of psychological issues. Also besides the unpredictability of the job market, economic losses, change in lifestyle, misinformation and the prolonged nature of the virus tends to severely affect people’s mental wellbeing. The United Nations has urged countries to prioritize mental health in these difficult times and has encouraged governments to adopt a whole-of-society approach to promote and protect mental health along with ensuring widespread availability of emergency mental health and psychosocial support services. The following country case studies highlight the mental health policy response in four countries around the world. One country from each income group was selected by random and these country categories by income groups (high, upper-middle, lower-middle, low) are according to the world bank classification. The income classification is based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita which is the measure of national income per person. Afghanistan: Low-Income Country Afghanistan has included mental health service provision in its national response plan to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country currently provides distant counselling services through telephone helplines and online web portals. The helpline services are equipped to provide information on COVID-19 in terms of physical and mental health impact. They offer advice on managing stress related to the pandemic as well as psychosocial support for those with more severe mental health issues. The online web portal is limited to individuals with a stable internet connection who are able to access counselling services and long-term support. Nevertheless, Afghanistan is developing content and material for widespread awareness programs centred around self-care for mental health. They are preparing content on mental health management, targeting specific populations groups, such as frontline healthcare workers, children and the elderly. India: Lower-Middle Income Country The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) has been coordinating closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to support the mental health service delivery within the wider health response to COVID-19, in the country. NIMHANS has set up an emergency Mental Health task force to aid in the development and implementation of several interventions. They have set up national helplines, strengthened telemedicine facilities, and established a continuum of care service for patients with pre-existing mental health conditions. The NIMHANS Digital Academy has stepped up their services by implementing training facilities for doctors, counsellors, nurses and other health professionals to provide psychosocial support during the COVID-19 crisis. The department of psychiatry has developed tailored guidelines for the management of mental health in general medical and specialized medical settings. These tools will be used to support and advise the general public to look after their mental health, but will also focus on patients suffering from pre-existing mental illness. China: Upper-Middle Income Country In China, the public sector, academia and the third sector collaborate to facilitate nationwide mental health interventions. China has released a 24/7 telephone hotline, text-message support services, app-based interventions, webinars, and psychoeducation materials. According to the National Health Commission mandate, the government has prioritized mental health support during COVID-19. Academic institutions in psychology and psychiatry, develop evidence-based guidelines and train professionals for psychosocial support. There has also been an urgent nationwide call for college counsellors to volunteer on hotline services at the epicentre of the outbreak in Wuhan. Hospitals, government organizations and academic institutions have been working closely to administer mental health services at the point of care during and post COVID-19 treatment. Resources have also been mobilized from other regions of China to Wuhan, narrowing any treatment and support gap in mental health. The Ministry of Education and the Chinese Society of Psychiatry recruited several professionals from across the country to subsequently train frontline mental health volunteers. The COVID-19 response and recovery plan in China were strengthened by task-sharing, pooling of professionals, supervising and training volunteers and finally using artificial intelligence and telemedicine to combat resource limitations (Miu, 2020). New Zealand: High-Income Country New Zealand has recently designed a recovery framework to address the mental health challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their focus lies in prevention and early intervention to improve mental well-being. The interventions are a combination of mental health and social policies to deal with the problem in a multi-dimensional manner. Therefore, the plan begins with grassroots level interventions addressing the fundamental problem by ensuring delivery of accurate information, basic needs and community connection. These social policies are supplemented with improved delivery of specialist mental health and addiction services. The framework is also designed to allow for transparent and effective coordination among national, regional and local parties. There is a strong focus on community-led solutions along with attention to self-care and individual responsibility towards self-management of mental wellbeing. The plan was established for implementation over the next 12-18 months with scope for amendments as required. The ultimate government priority through the recovery framework is aimed at giving every New Zealander the access to high-quality essential services, a healthy home environment and a safe community living. The details of New Zealand’s COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Framework are highlighted in the image besides (New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2020). Summary of the Mental Health Response Discussed Above As seen in the country case studies above, mental health centred solutions are critical for the functioning of every society - now, more than ever before. It is important that policy makers prioritize and integrate mental health in their existing COVID-19 response plans to ensure long-term recovery and better overall health outcomes for the population. Shreya Agoramurthy Young Leaders for Health References: Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, 2020. Mental Health In The Times Of COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance For General Medical And Specialised Mental Health Care Settings. Bengaluru, India: National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences. Available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19Final2020ForOnline9July2020.pdf [Accessed 16 July 2020]. Emro.who.int. 2020. WHO EMRO | Afghanistan: Mental Health And Psychosocial Support During #COVID19 | News | Mental Health. Available at: http://www.emro.who.int/mnh/news/afghanistan-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-during-covid19.html [Accessed 16 July 2020]. Miu, A., Cao, H., Zhang, B. and Zhang, H., 2020. Review of Mental Health Response to COVID-19, China. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(10). Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1113_article#suggestedcitation [Accessed 16 July 2020]. New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2020. Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa: COVID19 Psychosocial And Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan. Wellington: Ministry of Health. Available at: https://imhcn.org/wp-content/uploads/covid-19-psychosocial-mental-wellbeing-recovery-plan-15may20203-2.pdf [Accessed 16 July 2020]. United Nations, 2020. United Nations Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health, 2-8. Available at: https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/UN-Policy-Brief-COVID-19-and-mental-health.pdf [Accessed 16 July 2020].

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My readers will know that I tend to focus on topics related to collaboration, user-interaction, and generally building products that help us work together. You may be surprised to learn that a significant amount of my time is spent thinking about security. As devices become increasingly attached to our enterprise networks – those same devices must be secure, good citizens of the network infrastructure. Even products that were once considered “standalone”, for example most AV hardware, are connected to the network for better monitoring, ease-of-use, and pervasive access for users. As an aside, if you are considering deploying an AV technology you should be wary of standalone boxes, and even more wary of AV companies that seem reluctant to discuss network security with your security teams. As I monitor the NIST database—an ongoing security research project—and think about security for our own products, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Quantum Computing has found its first killer application –an unbreakable approach to secure communication. “Unbreakable? Impossible!” I know it may seem that way, but that’s because we’ve gotten used to thinking about encryption using our current “public key” techniques. Bear with me, let’s quickly review how encryption (at a high level) works today. Fundamentally encryption requires us to agree on the encryption algorithm (the key). But to do this we have to first exchange the key. If the key is stolen, then our subsequent communication is insecure. Picture us meeting in an alley and whispering “increment every third letter by the next one in the alphabet.” In the mid-1970s computer scientists looked at this and derived a way to avoid sending the key in the open but still keep the algorithm secure. These encryption algorithms rely on the fact that some mathematical operations are straightforward to compute but very difficult to invert. For example, multiplying two very large prime numbers is simple, but discovering the two primes that were used to create a large number can be very difficult. Modern encryption algorithms rely on this fact to exchange a “public” key that, when used with the prime numbers that made it, lead to the encryption cipher. To derive the private algorithm from the public key requires huge computational energy and unrealistic amounts of time. Almost all secure communications rely on these algorithms. As secure as they are they can be broken. Here is an important fact: Even the most secure cipher that uses public key algorithms (RSA, Diffie-Hellman, and ECC) can be broken. It can take a very long time, but as long as you have enough computing power it can be done. In fact, given the rate at which computing advances, one could imagine storing today’s communication until such time computing power reaches a point at which you could then decrypt the world’s communications. In 1977, probably the most cited paper on public key cryptography appeared in Scientific American. In that article, it was estimated that it would take 40 quadrillion years to decrypt a message encoded with the RSA-129 cipher (based on how long it would take to factor the 2^129 bit number into the two hidden primes). That’s a long time. However, 20 years later, networked, parallel computing was developed, and that cipher was cracked in less than six months. So, what do I mean by an uncrackable code? Forget the issue of exchanging the encryption algorithm itself for a minute. What would be the most secure cipher? It turns out, it’s probably the one you used as a kid to send messages to your friends: The One-Time Pad. It’s really a character-by-character agreed upon replacement algorithm. (Swap every third letter with the next one in the alphabet). Here’s how it works. For any message length, I will combine that message’s characters with a secret set of characters that are at least as long as the message. Character-by-character I combine the secret “pad” with the message itself using simple modulus arithmetic. Why is this so secure? Because the pad is the same length and generated each time a new message is exchanged – breaking this code would be equivalent to guessing the pad – which is, of course, equivalent to guessing the message itself. The number of possible messages in a string of characters of any reasonable length is so large that it would take longer than 40 quadrillion years to simply guess – and even if you guessed correctly, there’s no way to be sure you have the correct message. One-time pad ciphers have been used in the past, but their weakness is susceptibility if the pad itself is stolen. While the technique might work for sending a single encrypted message, hand your friend the one-time pad and she’ll know how to decrypt the next letter she receives in the mail. It’s clearly not valuable for micro banking transactions over the internet. The problem is in how do you send the one-time-pad securely? This is what quantum computing can give us. On September 29th, researchers utilized Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to secure a video call between Austria and China. The “one-time-pad” in this case was a secret string of numbers that were to be used to encrypt the incoming video call. I won’t go into the physical/mathematical explanation of quantum entanglement, but, the one-time-pad is sent via light through a fiber optic cable. Small quanta of light (photons) are governed by quantum mechanics and, in that tiny world, measurements always disturb the system in a way that can be detected. Measure the position of an electron, for example, and you’ve in part, changed the system behavior. This is true for even passive observations. This means we can happily exchange a one-time pad via a quantum communications channel and then check if the pad was observed at all. If it was not, both parties can go ahead and use the pad knowing it’s secure. Even better, it’s not susceptible to even theoretical cracks via computational techniques like public-key methods are today. Pretty awesome. This historic call involved chemist Chunli Bai, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger, president of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. Rupert Ursin, a member of the Vienna research team was rightly excited and was quoted as saying, “We are facing, now, a new era of having a global quantum internet ready to be deployed.” It will be a while before you can buy a quantum-secured Solstice Pod, but, nonetheless, it does make one think about how rapidly these technologies will arrive in the real world.

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Afternoon TEA: How to save America ?? Lately, it seems we are bombarded with doomsday scenarios and dire predictions. To hear it told, there is little hope for today and even less for tomorrow unless we take drastic actions that completely derail the way we live. We are told that we must be “green at any cost” by 2050 (or 2030 or wherever the goalposts have moved) or there will be no future for our children. But, is all this fear really justified? The answer is no. There are easy, common-sense steps we can take to set our environment on the right course for the future, while preserving the American progress and productivity that has built the greatest nation on earth. Rather than fighting an invisible environmental bogeyman, we should first and foremost clean up the world we live in now, like the tons of plastic and trash that is dumped in our oceans and waterways. What has been done for worldwide landfill and garbage recycling technology sharing and management? Why aren’t we capturing methane from organic matter decomposition and using it to generate electricity or using it as vehicle fuel? When you consider the potential of fueling vehicles with renewable natural gas—which can be recycled from landfills, wastewater treatment and farming operations—emissions reductions shoot through the roof to a 382% reduction over gasoline and diesel vehicles. To be clear, we are doing this already. But why aren’t we doing this at every landfill in the U.S. and worldwide? Isn’t capturing and recycling methane from landfills way more beneficial to taxpayers than taxing methane or carbon at gasoline stations? Think about it, when energy is taxed, those with the least income are hurt the most because they have the least disposable income. Natural gas has the potential to revolutionize transportation as natural gas vehicles emit 21% fewer emissions than gasoline vehicles. Unlike electric cars that require new factories, rare earth metals from China, or cobalt from Africa, every vehicle that uses gasoline or diesel can be easily retrofitted to use natural gas as fuel. Rather than wasting trillions of taxpayers’ funds on the likes of Green New Deal, which are expensive, inefficient, unreliable, and at times, unsafe technologies in “feel good” name only, we should help our environment right now. Stop wasting our money and instead put it to good use for things like healthcare, education, job training, hard infrastructure, or to help our retirees and veterans, just to name few. It doesn’t take a NASA scientist or a Harvard Economist to know that we should continue research and development of inexpensive, clean, and safe energy sources that can help humanity in all its modern life energy needs. We Americans, with our individual votes, have an incredible opportunity to be on the right side of energy, the environment, and our planet’s well-being while protecting our own, our families’, and our communities’ safety and prosperity. How can we achieve this utopia? Join TEA and use its energy facts and truths to activate a nation of voters to protect their energy birthright to lifelong, low-cost energy. Thanks to our nation’s Founders and America’s pioneering spirit, we live in the greatest nation that ever was, is, and ever will be. Cherish it and defend it with everything you have.

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The Truth Behind the Shrinking Arctic Ice Cap There is no sugar coating the fact that the Arctic sea ice is well below normal. The AGW agenda is jumping all over this metric as evidence that catastrophic global warming is upon us. After all, they really can no longer use earth's actual air and ocean temperatures as proof since they have leveled off, and are now cooling. The disconnect with C02, still on the rise, cannot be denied. As you can see, I admit Arctic sea ice is on the decline, but the question is, why? The answer can be seen through natural causes. A look at the ocean temperatures globally over the past 15 years, or since the global temperatures reached a peak in the major el Nino of 1997-1998 supplies the answer. Notice on Sept 1, 1997, most of the northern hemisphere ocean was quite warm, the southern hemisphere cooler. This is an example of the warm phases of the Pacific Decadol Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadol Oscillation both occurring at once. A tremendous input of heat (oceans have 1000 times the heat capacity of air) into the atmosphere has to be occurring, causing a rise in the global temperature which was well documented through the 1990s. But one also notices a counter cooling in much of the southern hemisphere oceans. Since dry air over land warms more than air over the ocean, the response of the warming ocean when that air came over the drier land was more of a rise in temperatures over the continents than fall over the southern hemisphere oceans . So it appears that the earth is warming. After all if you have many more samples of warm than cold, your answer has to come up warmer, right? However, is there a change in the total energy budget of the earth? If there is not then what goes up, must come down. The earths temperature rose in response to the warming Pacific, which started the northern ice cap melting. The Atlantic is in its warm stage now, so the ice cap is being attacked from the ocean also. Once the Atlantic comes out of its warm phase in 10 to 15 years, the ice cap will rebound. Below are charts in 5 year increments that show a reversal has occurred in the Pacific: The current water temperature anomaly shows very warm water in the north Atlantic, a product of the warm cycle of the Atlantic we are in like the 1950s, and this continues to attack the ice cap. But is the lack of ice at times that unusual? Apparently not as photographic evidence shows. Here is a picture of a submarine surfacing at the North Pole in August of 1959 -- another period of known warmth similar to the cycle we are in now. More startling to me was this picture that shows large amounts of open water at the North Pole in May of 1987 with three subs surfacing. Wind and storminess can also have an effect on the Arctic ice, which is what recently happened. A fierce storm broke up a lot of the ice and shoved much of it southeast into the center of the ice cap. But when viewing this 30 day loop of the arctic, notice how fast the rebound from the low point has been in the past 30 days, with a shrinkage because of the storm, then the ice rapidly rebounding (make sure to put this into a loop). The recent pronouncement that Greenland had the most rapid melt period on record is another example of neglecting the actual facts to come up with an objective idea. If you would like to read more on that matter, here is a nice link. The reason we are seeing all this is because we have seen a distortion of the global temperature pattern the past 30 years brought about by the warm phase of the Pacific, which started the warming of the northern hemisphere, followed by the Atlantic warming. The response was greater over land where air is dry and can be easily warmed! How can we test this theory, besides waiting for it to simply recover once the Atlantic turns colder? Well we have a hint, and it's in the southern hemisphere. After all, we have to think globally, right? That is what we hear: GLOBAL warming. So we should also have the southern hemisphere shrinking if they are correct and my hypothesis is wrong. Let's evaluate, shall we?

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Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Approximately 664,000 students reside and go to school in an Ohio rural school district. Rural schools benefit from being located in small communities that center many life activities around their schools. About 200 rural districts receive supplemental federal funding from the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP). Ohio's srsa and rlis districts REAP DISTRICTS MAP Map of Ohio's SRSA and RLIS districts for FY 18 school year. Title V Part B (REAP) provides supplemental funding to support eligible rural districts that do not have the capacity to compete for federal competitive grants and receive smaller allocations in Federal entitlement funds. The REAP funds are used to implement effective Federal programs to improve student academic performance. There are two initiatives under REAP: - Rural Low-Income School (RLIS) - Small Rural School Achievement Program (SRSA) Is my district rural? There are two ways to identify if your district is rural. - National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Locale Codes: Locale codes are a measure of the geographic area of a school district. The codes range from “large city” to “rural.” Based on the geographic standards used in the 2000 Census, there will be new codes for school year 2017-2018 and beyond. The current codes were used for school year 2016-2017 and before. - Ohio’s Alternative Definition for Rural: Each state may select an alternative definition for rural to identify districts that may qualify for REAP funding. When NCES makes a change in a locale code, some districts which previously were eligible for REAP are no longer eligible and lose this valuable funding. Ohio has a new an alternative definition using a District’s Typology. Those districts identified as rural under District Typology may meet the criteria for REAP funding. Last Modified: 2/20/2019 10:02:15 AM

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The length, thickness, and color of your hair is often a good indication of the health of the rest of your body. This is particularly true in the case of hormones, as the quality of your hair may be representative of overall hormonal balance. By the same token, hair loss might be an indication that a hormonal imbalance exists. Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and thyroid are a few of the hormones that may have a profound impact on the appearance of your hair. Of these three hormones, thyroid is a common cause for hair loss among individuals who have either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. To better understand why, we must first examine how these three major hormones interact with one another during the hair growth cycle. Understanding Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, & Thyroid Testosterone: Testosterone is widely recognized as the male hormone, however it is present in females as well. The hormone is primarily produced by the reproductive organs of both men and women—in the testes and ovaries, respectfully. Smaller amounts of testosterone are also produced in the adrenal glands of both sexes. In males, the primary role of testosterone is to fuel the development of reproductive tissues. In both sexes, testosterone also plays a critical role in the development of bones, muscle mass, and of course, hair. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT): DHT is formed when testosterone is synthesized by a very unique enzyme, 5α-reductase. DHT also influences the development of sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics, like physical appearance. Unlike testosterone, DHT may cause the hair follicle to shrink (and in some causes disappear). This leads to thinning, shedding, or loss of hair. Thyroid: Thyroid hormone is produced by the thyroid gland, one of the body’s largest endocrine glands. Thyroid hormone serves as a “regulator” of sorts, controlling a number of vital body functions. These include metabolism, involuntary muscle contractions, and the production of cellular energy. When a thyroid condition exists, the body has a difficult time producing the correct amount of thyroid hormone. As a result, the body becomes unable to effectively regulate other body functions, including hair growth. Hypothyroidism and Hair Loss: 4 Things to Know Hypothyroidism is a medical condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Common causes of hypothyroidism include iodine deficiency, lack of proper gland function, or even stress. When it comes to hypothyroidism and hair loss, there are 4 important things to know and understand: 1. Overactive Thyroid May Increase Synthesis of DHT As noted above, DHT is a synthesized version of the hormone testosterone. Unlike testosterone, however, DHT disrupts the natural growth cycle of hair and may eventually cause total loss of the hair follicle. For some individuals, a thyroid disorder may perpetuate hair loss by exacerbating the conversion of testosterone into DHT. 2. Thyroid Medication May Cause Hair Loss Thyroid disorders come in two main varieties: Hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. A common treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine sodium, a prescription medication that is available under many brand names including Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, and Unithroid. Prolonged hair loss is a side effect of this medication for many individuals, specifically for patients taking Synthroid. 3. Additional Thyroid Medications Might Be Necessary to Prevent Hair Loss If you take thyroid medication and exhibit signs of hair loss, you may need additional prescription medications to effectively treat both conditions. Patients must understand that any prescription drug may cause short term or long term side effects however, and they must always consult a physician prior to starting, switching, or ending a prescription medication regimen. 4. Drug-Free Hair Loss Treatments Are an Effective Option If you suffer with hair loss that is the result of a thyroid condition, or is the side effect of the thyroid medication you take to treat your condition, you may want to explore other drug-free hair loss treatments. These may include: - Hair Transplant Surgery: Hair transplant procedures are now conducted with greater precision and effectiveness than ever before. The Hair Transplant Institute’s very own Dr. Paul Rose is co-creator of Follicular Isolation Technique (FIT), a new transplant process by which individual follicular units are extracted from the donor area and transplanted with minimal scarring. More traditional Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) procedures are also available. - Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): LLLT treatment for thinning hair uses state-of-the-art lasers to stimulate hair growth at the follicle. Click here to watch Dr. Nusbaum explain this exciting new technology in this introductory video segment to laser hair therapy with the LaserCap™ device. Schedule an Evaluation with the Hair Transplant Institute Our friendly staff includes South Florida’s finest hair transplant surgeons, microscopists, technicians, and registered nurses. We understand the agony and frustration that accompanies hair loss, and we are committed to helping you develop a customized plan that will create natural results.

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AMBER Alerts: Making a Difference AMBER Alerts are emergency messages issued when a law enforcement agency determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. AMBER Alert instantly galvanizes communities to assist in the search for and safe recovery of an abducted child. The alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cell phones, and other data-enabled devices. AMBER Alert: Years of Progress in Recovering Abducted Children Today, the AMBER Alert system is being used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 30 other countries. As of May 2020, 988 children have been successfully recovered through the AMBER Alert system. The AMBER Alert in Indian Country (AIIC) Initiative assists Tribal communities in developing programs to safely recover endangered missing or abducted children through the coordinated efforts of the tribes and their local, state and federal partners by using training and technology to enhance response capacities, capabilities and increase public participation in protecting children. New Publication: AMBER Alert Best Practices, Second Edition AMBER Alert Best Practices, Second Edition provides updated guidelines to help states and regional offices recover abducted children through AMBER Alerts. The 2019 second edition of the guide provides a "what works" approach based on input of those who lead and oversee AMBER Alerts as part of larger missing persons and child protection programs at the state and regional levels. AMBER Alert Field Guide for Law Enforcement Officers Designed to help law enforcement officers improve their response to cases of missing or abducted children, the guide provides best practices from subject matter experts in AMBER Alert programs nationwide. Topics include establishing and managing leads, search and recovery operations, screening and training volunteers, interacting with abduction victims' families, managing media, and more. OJJDP Releases Report to Congress on AMBER Alert in Indian Country Implementation of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018: A Report to Congress provides Congress with an assessment of the readiness, education and training needs, technological challenges, and obstacles encountered by tribes in the integration of state or regional AMBER Alert communication plans. The information and statements contained on this official Department of Justice AMBER Alert website shall not be used for the purposes of advertising, nor to imply the endorsement or recommendation of the United States Government. Use of the AMBER Alert logo is subject to the Department of Justice legal policies and disclaimers regarding the use of DOJ seals and logos. Reference herein (including any document posted hereon or linked hereto) to any specific AMBER or AMBER-related commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.

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Vertical furnaces are suitable for testing the fire resistance of materials used above all in construction. For fire tests on samples with doors, walls, etc… - Modular mechcanical construction. - The main structure of the laboratory furnace is composed by iron profiles UPN-IPN type and HEB-reinforced IPE. - They are fully fitted with all elements including burners, tubes, transducers, etc… - The laboratory furnace isolation is made of a lining of ceramic fiber, two insulation layers through insulating firebricks glued through refractory concrete. - It has gas vents. - Observation windows. - Burners are installed on each side of the furnace. - It includes smoke flues. - The assembling is carried out in the laboratory of the client |Standards of vertical furnace to perform fire resistance tests|

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Females are coming to the beaches to make the arduous trek into the dunes to lay their eggs which, in due time, will hatch and a new generation will take to the seas. It is an awe-inspiring thought to understand this has been happening for much longer than mankind has been on the earth. It is a barely changed pattern which, literally, seems as old as time. At an information meeting held recently at Cowley Beach, presented by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Cassowary Coast Local Management Advisory Committee, traditional owner James Epong presented some thought-provoking facts on the effects Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasi had on marine turtles in the region. Robertson’s beach has retained more sand than the others and some seagrass beds, making it a vital nesting site for this coming season and measures are being trialled to protect the seagrass beds and any turtles nesting there. Mr Epong said signage and more community involvement was required. It is good to belive we humans can help turtles and dugongs, creatures of the vast oceans. In return there is the satisfaction of giving time and having some personal interaction with these creatures of the wild which, with their ancient lineage, so deserve to retain their place in the world. He said since the cyclone there had been a reported 10 deaths at Kurrimine Beach, seven at Cowley Beach and three at Browns Beach. The DERM hotline for reporting dead turtles is 1300ANIMAL and anyone finding a dead turtle is asked to contact the hotline. This is important so the animal can be retrieved and a post mortem to determine the cause of death carried out. These are exceptional times and all accrued knowledge is vital. During the 2010 turtle nesting season, seven turtles nested at Cowley Beach and 10 at Kurrimine Beach, while five nests at Brown’s beach were lost to predation either to wild pigs or goannas. All the nests were very high in the dunes, indicating a heavy wet season. The nests at Cowley Beach were all protected by community volunteers for the 65 days it took them to hatch, and once again the public are being asked to be careful on beaches where turtles are nesting and not to drive on them. Mr Epong said the anticipated deaths this year as a result of the shortage of seagrass would be predominantly of males. The males stay in the region all-year round, while females travel, often reaching as far as the island of Java. Because higher temperatures in the nest mean female hatchings, shade is important to replenish the males which will die of starvation. He added that in these times when the protection of both turtles and dugongs is paramount, more newborn indigenous children would be given Turtle and Dugong totems so they would give these ancient sea creatures protection in the future. Another speaker was Jennie Gilbert, who runs the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in conjunction with the Marlin Coast Veterinary Clinic. The Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is totally voluntary and relies on community and corporate support. For example, QANTAS will fly any injured turtle to Cairns free. Ms Gilbert also works on the Ghost net problem on Cape York, and she confirmed since Cyclone Yasi there has been a 500percent increase in turtle strandings. Ninety-eight percent of post mortems revealed starvation as the cause of death, while all seven recent dugong post mortems also indicated they died of starvation. Since the destruction of the seagrass beds cannot be quickly rectified it seems many more of these amazing sea creatures are likely to die. It also seems that the wonderful community efforts which allowed successful turtle nestings last year could be even more vital this year. Our wildlife here in the Cassowary Coast is valuable in so many ways, not in the least to tourism and by increasing the quality of life enjoyed here. Having unique creatures in our back yard is truly to be celebrated.

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Gifted, leadership, principals' perceptions, elementary school Students who are gifted need student centered academic challenges and authentic problems to spark reflection and enhance student outcomes. When academic needs are not met,students who are gifted may not reach their full academic potential and may lose motivation for learning. A primary reason for students who are gifted to underachieve in academics is equated to school factors including lack of instructional resources, social/emotional support, and teachers who are unprepared to teach students who are gifted. The purpose of this phenomenological research study is to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of participating elementary school principals in an urban school district. The research questions explore elementary school principals' perceptions of the implementation of practices, programs and instructional methods that support their programs for students who are gifted and the teachers of students who are gifted. If this is your thesis or dissertation, and want to learn how to access it or for more information about readership statistics, contact us at [email protected] Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) College of Education and Human Performance Length of Campus-only Access Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) Dissertations, Academic -- Education and Human Performance; Education and Human Performance -- Dissertations, Academic Cumming, Ingrid, "Principals' Perceptions on Educating Elementary Students who are Gifted" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1362.

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Educational Learning Toys for Preschoolers! Building blocks for motor skills and thinking Building blocks are great educational learning toys for children from the age of 2 to the age of 6. Children usually love blocks. Building blocks stimulate creativity, develop thinking , logic and mathematical skills . They are also important for your child's motor skills (hand-eye coordination). At a younger age, you can buy soft building blocks with no sharp edges that are safe for toddlers. They are usually made of different colors and present different patterns. We recommend the Verde Foam Building Blocks . They include 100 brighlty colored geometric blocks. There are made of soft high density foam and they can be used by toddlers to build structures of all shapes and sizes. As they get to preschool age, you can buy your kid wooden blocks. There are building blocks with numbers and letters that are fun and that really can help your child learn. For example, the Fisher-Price Builders Stack 'n Learn Alphabet Blocks are building blocks with illustrated objects associated with a letter of the alphabet. Kids can build the alphabet, beginner words or just play stack up. There are many other kinds of building blocks that you can get. Visit also our building blocks page for more information. Blocks can be great educational learning toys and they can keep your kid occupied for hours! Sorting and stacking toys for learning counting Sorting and stacking toys are important for basic hand-eye coordination and for cognitive development in older preschool children. Sorting and stacking toys come in a wealth of varieties including stacking blocks, stacking cups and stacking rings and are more or less educational depending on the age. For younger children (age 3), these toys can teach the concepts of size, height, depth, sequence and colour. Children also improve their fine motor skills. We recommend the Tiny Love Musical Stack and Ball Game . This sorting and stacking toy can help your baby understand concepts such as size, sequence, and it can stimulate your baby's senses as it integrates lights, sounds and textures. Melissa & Doug Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks Later on (ages 4-5) children can practice numeracy by counting the parts, adding or taking away parts. There are also stacking toys that can teach your kid the alphabet. You can play with these educational learning toys with your child and even make mistakes: your child will enjoy detecting your errors and discussing. Melissa & Doug has great stacking toys. One that we really recommend is the Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks . This nesting toy blocks can keep your little one playing for hours all while learning to recognize the letters of the alphabet. Puzzles for hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills! Puzzles are fun but they also play an educational role. For younger kids, puzzles can help understand colors, shapes, letters and numbers. Puzzles help develop hand-eye coordination, hence they are very good for your child's motor skills. As they begin working on puzzles, kids see that there is a logic or a set pattern to how pieces should fit together. They become concentrated and focused as they look for the shapes that match together. Puzzles can help develop your child's social skills too. Usually children play a puzzle game with a group of other children. Even a closed and shy kid will become more socialized as he has to work with other kids to solve a complicated puzzle game. If your kid does not mingle much with other kids, buy a puzzle game and have him play with other children (for instance your friend's or neighbor's kids). Soon you will see your kid discuss and strategize with other children about the best way to complete the puzzle. For toddlers (ages 2 and up), we recommend the animal puzzle Ravenburger African Animals . This puzzle features a serene Serengenti scene of zebras, monkeys, elephants, etc, ideal if you want your little one to learn about animals. It's also made of large pieces and from the highest quality material. For preschool kids, we recommend the Melissa & Doug Jumbo ABC Chunky Puzzle (ages 3-6). A great first puzzle game, it helps toddlers recognize letters and learn about the alphabet. The thick chunky puzzle pieces are also specifically designed for small hands. Melissa & Doug magnetic letters Magnetic Letters and Words for Reading There are many magnetic letter sets in the market that you can buy. Some sets even produce sounds so that the child can even hear the name of the letter. Your kid can use the magnetic set of letter in his bedroom (buy a board for that) or in the kitchen. There are also magnetic letters sets to help your child recognize high frequency words. Actually these sets were suggested by experts in order to help kid recognize thousands of words by age 5. You can find sets by theme (for instance: food words, school words, common sentences etc). We recommend the Melissa & Doug magnetic letters (ages 3 and above). The letters are both upper and lowercase. They are large and like many of the Melissa & Doug toys, there are durable which is not often the case with other magnetic letter sets. The entire back of the letter is magnetic so you don't have to worry about the letters falling off. Your child will love playing with them on the fridge or dishwasher. Construction toys for logic and creativity Construction toys can be great educational learning toys and a nice way to spend some nice quality time with your kid. Kids find construction toys fun and parents can also have fun playing with these toys. Construction toys help develop hand-eye coordination, stimulate creativity and imagination and build up logic and mathematical skills. Your child can also practice his social skills as he works on a project with other kids. There are construction toys for all ages and even for toddlers. Make sure that the construction toy that you are buying matches your kid's age. More advanced construction toys can teach kids about energy, electricity, electronics and basic engineering. As such they can also be great educational learning toys. For toddlers and younger preschoolers, you can get interlocking blocks. Lego, Megablock and Duplo are some of the well-known brands. Younger children usually do not have fully acquired fine motor skills. Therefore, interlocking blocks for toddlers are usually big and easy to assemble and they will help your kid develop these fine motor skills. You can ask your kid to count the blocks or assemble the blocks by color. This will help enhance its color recognition and math skills! We recommend the Lego Duplo My First Set . It is specifically designed for smaller hands. It also has a container which allows for easy clean up and efficient storage. This set can really spark the imagination of younger toddlers as it includes many shapes and toddlers can build towers, roads and bridges. For older preschoolers, interlocking blocks are usually smaller, as at age 4-5 kids have acquired fine motor skills and are able to fit small pieces together. Your child's construction can now become more complicated and this will enhance his problem solving skills, logic and also math skills. There are construction toys also made of wood or metal, with nuts, bolts, wheels, and other different pieces. There are also magnetic construction toys available in the market. It's good for parents to first pick a simple set that contains a few parts. You do not want to get your child frustrated. Then move your way up, buy a construction set that is a bit more complicated. There are construction toys available for all ages up to the adult age. These can become very intricated and even be motorized. Construction toys are excellent educational learning toys for preschoolers who need to acquire fine motor skills and develop logic and creativity! Have your say about what you just read! Leave a comment in the box below. Return from Educational Learning Toys to Preschool Toys Guide Return from Educational Learning Toys to Educational Preschool Toys

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Agenda 21 is a plan to depopulate 95 percent of the world population by 2030 11. It has already begun and we can see the outcome worldwide. There are many means implemented to achieve this goal, including vaccines, irradiated food, GMOs (Codex Alimentarius), and other means, which all sound great when they are termed the “sustainable development” under Agenda 21. According to the UN’s own website, this is a “comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations system, governments and major groups, in every area in which human impacts on the environment.” Click Follow to receive emails when this author adds content on Bublish

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Light is made of photons. Add a photon to a light pulse, then take one out, and you'd think you'd be back where you started. But in the world of quantum physics, things aren't so straightforward. For one thing, quantum uncertainty means that a pulse doesn't necessarily have a well-defined number of photons. And acting on such a pulse may have counterintuitive consequences.

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This is the 23rd part of our Pool of Paradise project for children in Ramadan. The Wagtail perched and rolled, balancing its long tail and said, “This is a worthy cause and I direct my will to achieve our goal. Please dear Hoopoe tell us how we can aspire to reach our goal. What focus should we make? On what should we meditate to achieve success?” The Hoopoe said, “You must be like Musa (a) upon Mount Sanai. You must see the fire in the desert. You must remember he who went from slave to the Prince of Egypt was so blessed with a purpose.” “We must all acquire wings and escape the locked chest of life so that when the lid is lifted upon our death we might escape. We must have wings of the spirit like our dear Penguin and take flight.” The Wagtail bowed low with a swish of his tail and followed. After reading the passage about the Wagtail have your child add the Wagtail medallion to the pool to the left of the Penguin. Discussion questions: When the Wagtail asked the Hoopoe for inspiration what did he say? What do you do when you want to be inspired to achieve a goal? Please share your ideas for teaching children the rites of Ramadan.

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Our walk focused on animal sign. When most people think of animal sign they think about tracks, but tracks are only a small part of the picture. We looked at tracks, but we also searched for other things such as animal homes, signs of feeding, food caches, and scat. I have been to the Hall's Lake Natural Area several times in the past, but never to areas that we visited on Saturday. Because I had never visited these sites, I had not expectations about what to expect. Much of the two preserves are covered by a mature mixed conifer-hardwood forest. Several inches of snow covered the ground, including a dusting about 36-48 hours prior to our walk. I was actually surprised, by the lack of sign from several species. There were very few tracks from White-tailed Deer, no deer scat, and no evidence of recent feeding. Rabbit tracks were only found in the the area immediately adjacent to the lake in any area of swamp. We also did not see or hear a single bird during our almost two hour walk. In fact, I didn't see a single live animal of any species while I was there. So what did we find? There was lots of evidence to indicate that squirrels live in the preserve. We saw squirrel tracks heading from tree to tree in most of the preserve. There were also places where the squirrels had dug through the snow to search for cached (hidden) acorns. Most squirrels do a really poor job of remembering where they have cached acorns and other nuts. Instead they rely on their sense of smell to locate food hidden under the snow. This means that they do not recover all of the things that they have buried. Many of those nuts (and other seeds) will germinate during the following year. So even though the squirrel may not benefit from everything that they have hidden, they are helping to reseed the forest. Unfortunately, squirrel tracks are not all that exciting. Neither were the hundred of mouse tracks that we saw throughout the forest. While these tracks are interesting and give an insight into the small prey species found throughout the forest, they are not something that gets my heart pumping. This, however, does. That is a pile of coyote scat. It was full of hair and seeds, indicating that the coyote that left this in the middle of the trail was eating a diverse omnivorous diet. Why was the pile of scat in the middle of the trail? Like all canines, coyotes frequently mark their territory. There was evidence that someone had recently walked down that trail with a domestic dog. The coyote left that scat in the trail to cover over the dog's scent and assert its dominance. Scat was not the only coyote sign that we found. We found several sets of tracks including this set on the ice covering the outlet to the lake. |Coyote tracks on the ice| |The coyote skirted around several area of thin ice| |Following tracks onto the ice - make sure the ice is solid before proceeding| For me the other highlight of the walk was a visit to an active porcupine den tree. CWC Executive Director Stan Lilley led the group to this site. Unfortunately, the porcupine crawled up inside its den as the group approached so we did not get to see it, but it left lots of evidence of its presence. (This is not the not the first den tree that I have seen on a CWC property - in 2015, I found one at the Quigley Creek Natural Area.) |Examining porcupine scat under the den tree| |The porcupine left a prominent trail from its den to its feeding area in some nearby pines| |The porcupine den is in the hole in the left trunk| |A pile of scat under the den tree| Even though I did not see a porcupine, it is always worth the time to take a walk in the woods. It was especially enjoyable to share my knowledge of animal tracks and sign with other nature lovers. One participant commented that it was going to make her walk to the end of the driveway to get the daily newspaper a lot more interesting. For more photos from the walk please check out the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy's website.

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Well, it all depends. If you're calling a routine that somehow uses random numbers, for example a solver based on a monte carlo method, then the results might be different - but then you'd probably accept that (assuming that you'd been warned in the documentation). But what if you're calling a numerical routine that in theory contains no randomness, but you still get slightly different results? And what if those slightly different results cause you problems - for example if you depend on repeatability for testing purposes? Then you might waste a lot of time hunting for the cause. Well, this problem has turned up more than once recently for us at NAG, and in the cases we've looked at it has turned out to be a problem with the way the machine does its arithmetic - or rather, in the way that the compiler tells the machine to do its arithmetic. Let me give you an example. Suppose you want to compute the inner product of two vectors x and y, each of length n. Simple - you just multiply each element of x by the corresponding element of y, then add all the products together to get the answer. No apparent randomness there. What could go wrong? Well, if the hardware you are running on is equipped with Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions - and almost all modern hardware is - here's what. SSE instructions enable low-level parallelism of floating-point arithmetic operations. For example, you can hold four single precision numbers at the same time in a 128-bit register, and operate on them all at the same time. This leads to massive time savings when working on large amounts of data. But this may come at a price. Efficient use of SSE instructions can sometimes depend on exactly how the memory used to store vectors x and y is aligned. If it's aligned nicely - by which I mean, in the inner product example, that the addresses of the first elements of the arrays x and y are multiples of 16 bytes - then that's good. The hardware can efficiently move numbers from memory into registers to work on them, using instructions that depend on that alignment. So for our inner product, with a good optimizing compiler, we'd load numbers four at a time, multiply them together four at a time, and accumulate the results as we go along into our final result. But if the memory is not nicely aligned - and there's a good chance it may not be - the compiler needs to generate a different code path to deal with the situation. Here the result will take longer to get because the numbers have to be accumulated one at a time. At run time, the code checks whether it can take the fast path or not, and works appropriately. The problem is that by messing with the order of the accumulations, you are quite possibly changing the final result, simply due to rounding differences when working with finite precision computer arithmetic. Instead of getting s = x1*y1 + x2*y2 + x3*y3 + ...you get s = (x1*y1 + x5*y5 + x9*y9 + x13*y13) + (x2*y2 + x6*y6 + x10*y10 + x14*y14) + ... Chances are that the result will be just as accurate either way - but it's different by a tiny amount. And if that tiny difference leads to a different decision made by the code that called the inner product routine, the difference can be magnified. In some cases, for example when solving a mathematical optimization problem using a local minimizer, the final result can be completely different - and yet still valid - because a local minimizer might converge to any one of several different minimum points, if the function does not have a unique minimum. And all because of how a piece of memory happens to be aligned. If you allocated the memory yourself you might be able to do something about it, but on the other hand the alignment might be completely outside your control. NAG users have reported cases where running a program from the command line would give consistently different results from running the same program by clicking on its name in Windows Explorer. Is there anything we can do about problems like this? The fact is that NAG users want their code to run fast, so using SSE instructions makes sense. We can lobby the compiler writers to ask them to be careful how they optimize the code they produce, but they won't necessarily take notice. Compiler writers could also help by making their memory allocation routines only return 16-byte aligned memory, specifically to help with the use of SSE instructions. In the past, though, I had no success trying to convince the gfortran compiler folks to do that. In any case, even if they did, it wouldn't always help - if the first element of a single or double precision array is aligned on a 16 byte boundary, the second element will definitely not be, so if you want to operate on a vector starting at that location you've no chance. We could choose not to use SSE instructions at all. But, apart from efficiency reasons, the "legacy" extended precision 80-bit register arithmetic which started in the 1980s with the 8087 numeric co-processor had its own "wobbling precision" problems for numerical code. As new hardware with AVX instructions and 256 bit registers comes along, even more numerical work can be done in parallel. So - it seems that for the foreseeable future we're just going to have to live with this, and try to minimize the effects on NAG users by means of documentation.

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Tragedy is defined in Websters New Collegiate Dictionary as: 1) a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man, 2) a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror. The play of King Lear is one of William Shakespears great tragic pieces, it is not only seen as a tragedy in itself, but also a play that includes two tragic heroes and four villains. I felt that a tragic hero must not be all good or all bad, but just by misfortune he is deprived of something very valuable to him by error of judgment. We must be able to identify ourselves with the tragic hero if he is to inspire fear, for we must feel that what happens to him could happen to us. If Lear was completely evil, we would not be fearful of what happens to him: he would merely be repulsive. But Lear does inspire fear because, like us, he is not completely upright, nor is he completely wicked. He is foolish and arrogant, it is true, but later he is also humble and compassionate. He is wrathful, but at times, patient. Because of his good qualities, we experience pity for him and feel that he does not deserve the severity of his punishment. His actions are not occasioned by any corruption or depravity in him, but by an error in judgment, which, however, does arise from a defect of character. Lear has a "tragic flaw" - egotism. It is his egotism in the first scene that causes him to make his error in judgment - the division of his kingdom and the loss of Cordelia. Throughout the rest of the play, the consequences of this error slowly and steadfastly increase until Lear is destroyed. There must be a change in the life of the tragic hero; he must past from happiness to misery. Lear, as seen in Act I, has everything a man should want - wealth, power, peace, and a state of well-being. Because a tragic character must pass from happiness to misery, he must be seen at the beginning of the play as a happy man, surrounded by good fortune. Then, the disasters that befall him will be unexpected and will be in direct contrast to his previous state. In King Lear the two tragic characters, a king and an earl, are not ordinary men. To have a man who is conspicuous endure suffering brought about because of his own error is striking. The fear aroused for this man is of great importance because of his exalted position. His fall is awesome and overwhelming. When tragedy, as in Lear, happens to two such men, the effect is even greater. To intensify the tragedy of King Lear, Shakespeare has not one but two tragic characters and four villains. As we have seen, the sub-plot - concerning Gloucester, Edmund, and Edgar - augments the main plot. Gloucester undergoes physical and mental torment because he makes the same mistake that Lear does. Like Lear, Gloucester is neither completely good nor completely bad. There is, for instance, a coarseness in the earl, who delights in speaking of his adultery. But he has good qualities as well. He shows, for instance, concern for Kent in the stocks, and he risks his life to help Lear. Gloucester's punishment, his blindness, parallel's Lear's madness. These two tragic stories unfolding at the same time give the play a great eminence. The important element in tragedy is action, not character. It is the deeds of men that bring about their destruction. Lear calls upon the "great gods," Edgar and Kent blame Fortune, and Gloucester says that the gods "kill us for their " (IV.i.37). But in reality the calamities that befall both Lear and Gloucester occur because of the actions of these men. Their actions, it is true, grow out of their characters: both are rash, unsuspecting, and vengeful. But the actions themselves are the beginnings of their agony, for these actions start a chain of events that lead to ultimate catastrophe. A tragic hero gains insight through suffering. Neither Lear nor Gloucester realizes he has committed an error until he has suffered. Lear's suffering is so intense that it drives him mad; it is on the desolate health that he fully realizes his mistake in giving the kingdom to his two savage daughters and disowning the one daughter who loves him. It is not until Gloucester has been blinded that he learns the truth about his two sons. These two characters learn to endure their suffering. When Gloucester's attempt to commit suicide fails, he decides to bear his affliction until the end. In his madness Lear learns to endure his agony. Later, when he knows he is to be imprisoned, he maintains this misfortune with a passive calmness. He has grown piritually through painfully achieved self-knowledge and through Cordelia's love. Tragedy in King Lear is not only seen through itself but, also through the character of the King and other characters. The Play of King Lear is a great tragic play that many tragedies try to compare to.

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A new exhibition has been launched with the construction of a record-breaking 31m suspension bridge made entirely out of LEGO. The exhibition, entitled Bridge Engineering, is at the home of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), at One Great George Street in Westminster, and will run until spring 2017. The bridge stands over three metres tall, weighs three-quarters of a ton and is made up of over 200,000 individual plastic bricks that you would find in a child’s LEGO toy box. Claire Gott MBE of global consultancy WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, whose bridge engineers oversaw the construction of the LEGO bridge, said: “Bridges are normally built out of things like steel and concrete – engineers know nearly everything there is about those types of materials, and can predict their physical behaviours. As a construction material, we didn’t know much about the material properties of LEGO, so it was really exciting to see actual bridge engineers finding solutions to ensure this vast model suspension bridge remained upright.” In constructing the bridge, ICE broke the Guinness World Record for the longest single bridge span created out of LEGO bricks, unaided by glue or structural supports. The previous record was a single span of 14 metres. ICE achieved a new record with a single span of 16.46 metres. The two connected side spans either end of the main give the bridge a total span of 31 metres. Dr Robin Sham, Global Long Span and Specialty Bridges Director at AECOM, designed the bridge installation and added: “Bridges connect people and places, both physically and emotionally. Using familiar LEGO bricks to demystify and showcase the extraordinary feats of engineers, I hope the next generation will be inspired to consider engineering as a career.” The Bridge Engineering exhibition explains how bridges have transformed lives and gives an insight into the creative minds of the civil engineers who designed and delivered them. It features past great structures such as Thomas Telford’s Menai Strait suspension bridge and modern masterpieces including the 50 year old Severn Bridge. An interactive zone allows visitors and children to become civil engineers for the day by constructing their own bridges. This exhibition is the start of a five-year programme of infrastructure-focussed exhibitions in ICE’s new industry-backed gallery in the Grade II listed library. The interactive, public space has been christened the “Infrastructure Learning Hub”. The programme aims to wrap science and engineering together in a fun, informative way and to inspire the next generation of Brunels. ICE President Sir John Armitt said: “We all share our infrastructure equally so it is vital that we the planners, designers, builders and operators demonstrate its invaluable contribution to civic life.” Picture caption: ICE staff line up along the LEGO bridge

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There are all sorts of reasons why a formerly house-trained dog can develop an incontinence problem, ranging from serious disease and conditions to behavior issues. For middle aged or senior dogs, the incontinence is most likely an age-related condition that is the result of weakened muscles no longer capable of properly controlling the flow of urine. Bladder control is particularly affected when the dog is resting or sleeping. Regardless of the reason for your dog’s incontinence, be aware that your dog is not intentionally having accidents. Since there is such a wide range of causes, it’s recommended that you visit the veterinarian to determine the cause and get proper treatment. Learn about some of the most common symptoms and causes for incontinence below. Possible Causes for Incontinence Once a dog is house trained, incontinence is most commonly observed in middle-aged or elderly dogs, who lose strength in the sphincter muscle with age. It’s particularly common with spayed females, since they have a shortage of the hormone estrogen, which helps maintain the muscle tone of the sphincter. Some other potential causes of incontinence are: - Disease such as diabetes, kidney disease, or hypothyroidism: These diseases all lead to increased thirst and increased water drinking. With more water being ingested, dogs have a corresponding need to urinate more frequently, which can sometimes result in an inability to properly hold it and go in the appropriate place. - Ectopic ureter: Although it’s not necessarily the most common cause, an ectopic ureter, or misaligned ureter which fails to properly connect the bladder and the kidneys, can also cause a dog to experience incontinence. - Behavioral issues: Submissive urination is a stress-related cause of involuntary urination, which is characterized by the dog assuming a submissive (think: belly up) position while urinating. This may occur when your dog is scolded, or confronted by a dog or person that the dog sees as an alpha. If the urination occurs when you come home or play with the dog, and is not accompanied by a submissive position, it’s called excitement urination. - Infections: Bladder infections or UTIs can cause incontinence as a side effect. Urine analysis and a course of medications will generally identify and treat these infections, and with the treatment, the symptoms of incontinence will dissipate. Get more detailed information on the primary causes of incontinence in dogs. Most typically, you’ll spot urine in the area where your dog sleeps. Another very common symptom is that your dog will lick around their penis or vulva. The genital areas may also become red as a result of the licking. Discover more details on how to detect the symptoms of incontinence. Diagnosis and Treatment: When it comes to diagnosis, your vet will evaluate your dog based on the history you provide, and run blood and urine tests accordingly. For instance, blood tests can determine if a bladder or urinary tract infection is causing the incontinence. Treatment can often be a matter of medication to strengthen the sphincter muscles or replenish hormones, such as Proin. Find out more about how vets will diagnose and treat incontinence. More on Dog Health Food To Treat Cat and Dog Urinary Tract Infections Aging and Old Dog Behaviors 7 of the Top Dog Cystitis Treatments This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.

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Shinran and His Work, by Arthur Lloyd, , at sacred-texts.com Shinran's remains were cremated at the Enninji temple, and his ashes buried at Ōtani on the outskirts of Kyoto. He left behind him several children, mostly sons, with at least one daughter. Of the eldest, Inshin, nothing seems to be known. The second, Zenran, had a son, Nyoshin, who was appointed to succeed his grandfather in the headship of the sect, and is therefore reckoned as the second Patriarch. With him Zenran's line seems to have died out. But Shinran had also a daughter, Kakushin-ni, who had devotedly attended on her father during his last illness, and through whom the succession of Shinran's line was continued. Her grandson, Kakunyo, was the third head of the Shinshu, and the succession then passed to Kakunyo's son Zennyo and to his grandson Shakunyo. Eleven years after Shinran's death, Kakushin-ni and Nyoshin built a Temple at Ōtani, to which the Emperor Kameyama granted the name of Kuonjitsujō-Amida-Hongwanji, together with the status of an Imperial Chapel. The Temple was popularly known as the Hongwanji, and it may therefore in a sense be looked upon as the parent temple of the still united Shinshu body. It was not long before the Shinshu showed signs of division, and at the present day there are ten sub-divisions of the religion. These sub-divisions have no doctrinal importance; some arose, doubtless, from that pride which in all ages and times is a fruitful mother of schisms, but in some, the divisions must be attributed to a jealous affection for the revered memory of the Founder, and a desire to exalt the dignity of some particular Temple in which Shinran himself had laboured. I purpose giving a short account of these sub-sects, which are occasionally interesting for the light they throw on the subsequent experiences of the sect. * I.—The Bukkōji ("temple of Buddha's Light") originally called Kōshōji (temple of the restoration of the right"—possibly in reference to Shinran's recal from exile and pardon), was found by Shinran himself, in 1212, the year in which he commenced the active propagation of his system. It was situated in the village of Yamashina in Yamashiro, in the suburbs of Kyoto, and was Shinran's home for fifteen years. In 1227 he transferred it to the care of his younger brother Shimbutsu, and the Temple long remained in the hands of Shimbutsu's successors. In 1320 it was removed to Shibudani on Higashiyama, Ryōgen being then Abbot. It was in the reign of the unfortunate Godaigo, (1319–1338) when the troubles were brewing which culminated in the setting-up of a rival line of Emperors. In the confusion of the time, men, making a cloke of religion for nefarious purposes, brought the Shinshu into disrepute by their misuse of the doctrine of Salvation by Faith. There arose a clique known as akunin shōki ("evil livers whose faith was right"), and Ryōgen set himself to work with pen and word to put a stop to their malicious abuse of a good doctrine. He died a martyr to the cause he had taken in hand. In 1336, in the forty-second year of his life, and the twenty-first of his Abbot-ship, he was waylaid and killed by a party of akunin-shōki, dying with words on his lips of pious exhortation. II.—The Senshūji ("temple of the exclusive devotion," i.e. to Amida) was founded by Shinran himself, at Takata, in Shimotsuke, in A.D. 1225, and entrusted by him to the care of one of his disciples. The group of believers attached to this subsect is called the Takata-ha. The most celebrated of its Abbots, Shinge, transferred his See from Takata to Isshinden, near Tsu, in Ise, and there built a temple, in 1465, which is now the head-temple of the Takata or Senshūji-ha. Shin-ye was much troubled by the activity of a heresy named Mugekō-ha "the sect of the unimpeded light,"—a sect of enthusiastic "perfectionists" who have had their counterparts in the history of European sectarianism. III.—The Kinshokuji Temple, at Kibe in Omi is the head temple of the Kibe-ha. It was founded in 1235 by Shinran, and remained constantly under his jurisdiction and that of his successors Zenran and Kakunyo. On Kakunyo's death it became the head of an independent administration, in the hands of Kōgen and his descendants, who are now represented by the Kibe (Baron) family, the hereditary heads of this sub-sect. I believe that the coming into existence of this sect illustrates the policy of the early Shinshu leaders and their Imperialist (and Imperial) patrons. It seems to have been their idea to counterbalance the power of the great temporal lords, as also of the great monasteries, by the creation of a kind of spiritual peers, whose secular position and spiritual influence would, it was hoped, have great and beneficial weight in the State at large. * IV. V.—We have already spoken about the Hongwanji, the headship of which remained in the direct line of Shinran's descendants. The Hongwanji at Kyoto was always looked upon throughout Japan as the truest representative of the Shinshu, and the believers who adhered to it far outnumbered those of the other divisions of the Shinshu household. After Shinran, by far the most influential of the Hongwanji Abbots was Rennyo Shōnin, otherwise known as Yeto-Daishi (1415–1499) whose merits are so well recognized by the Shinshuists that they speak of him as the "Second Founder" of their Faith. Writer, preacher, organizer, poet, in the midst of a very troublesome world, Rennyo left behind him a great reputation, the memory of which still continues. Not long after Rennyo's death, even if not before that event, the troubles of the times drove the Hongwanji priests from Kyoto, and the Headquarters of the Sect were for many years moving about from place to place in Central Japan. At last, in 1591, Kennyo Shōnin, a notorious fighter, and a turbulent Churchman if ever there was one, returned to Kyoto, and rebuilt the Hongwanji at Horikawa in the city. The reigning Abbot for many years, Kōsa, the eleventh of the line, died in 1592 and was succeeded in the Headship of the Hongwanji by his two sons Kōju and Kōshō. Ten years later, in 1602, Tokugawa Iyeyasu took Kōsa's third son, also named Kōsa, and appointed him to the headship of a new Hongwanji Temple, erected at Karasumaru in Kyoto. Thus Japan gained a new "hereditary Bishopric," but, as a result of its establishment, the mighty Hongwanji, the most powerful ecclesiastical institution Japan has ever seen, was divided into two rival, if not conflicting, sections. Iyeyasu understood quite well the principle of divide et impera. VI. VII.—Neither the Kōshōji-ha, nor the Izumoji-ha, call for any special notice. VIII. IX.—The Seishōji-ha has its influence mainly in the province of Echizen. It originated during the period of Shinran's exile to Echigo. On his road to his place of exile, he stopped one evening at a small farm-house in the village of Uyeno. After supper he preached to the people, and out of that sermon grew a great religious movement which spread far and wide in that remote country. After Shinran's return from exile, his fifth son, Dōshō, took up his work, and the result is to be seen in the Seishōji sub-sect of the Shinshu. Nearly the same account may be given of the Shōseiji-ha. It also originated in the province of Echizen during the period of Shinran's exile. Only, in this case, it was Shinran's eldest surviving son Zenran who took up the work, and the headquarters of the subsect were at a later period (1475) removed to Yamamoto in the same province. X.—The Senshōji-ha, whose chief seat is at Fukui, in Echizen, seems to be the only one of the Shinshu sub-sects which cannot trace its origin absolutely to Shinran himself. The date given for its foundation is 1290. These three last-mentioned bodies seem always to have worked amicably together in Echizen, without any overlapping of jurisdiction, or clashing of interests. They are known as the San-monto-ha "the three Monto or Shinshu sub-sects," the Senshōji at Fukui being considered the most important and central Temple for all three bodies. It will be thus seen that the ten divisions of the Shinshu do not represent so many schisms or fractions. They are rather ten Dioceses of the same Communion ruled by hereditary Bishops with coordinate jurisdiction in certain localities. They present no doctrinal divergencies. In the quieter sub-sects there was probably more of spiritual life than in monster institutions like the Hongwanjis. Notes to Chapter IV. It would be a very valuable piece of work if some scholar would undertake, say for one of our Asiatic Societies or for the Mélanges, a study of the Life of Fujiwara Kanezane, from the voluminous and valuable Diaries that he has left behind him. According to the Shinshu authorities whom I have followed in the text of my chapter, it was at Kanezane's suggestion that Shinran instituted his reforms in Buddhism. This statement is not accepted as absolutely true by all sects of Buddhists. What seems certain is that Kanezane was much interested in the introduction of the Zen sects, from China, and that he was also known at times to recite the Nembutsu, as a prayer for temporal benefits, and not, as Hōnen taught, merely as an act of thanksgiving for spiritual blessings. In other words, he used prayer in the Christian sense of the term, and he had connection with China. It is interesting to note that Kanezane was the contemporary of Temujin (better known by his later title of Ginghis khan). Temujin became, in 1195, the ally of Wan-Khan (the Prester John of mediæval romance), the Christian King of a Christian Nation, the Keraites, who were converted to Nestorianism about A.D. 1010; and the allied princes joined in expeditions for the conquest of China, (which accounts perhaps for the Exodus of Chinese Zen priests to Japan). After Wang-Khan's murder, Temujin had his skull set in silver for use as a drinking cup. I think that we have here the key that will unlock many of the undoubted points of resemblance between Shinshu and Nestorianism. A monograph elucidating the problems of Kanezane's life is much to be desired. §§ 25, 26, 27, of the Shinshu Hyakuwa relate (i) to the transmission of the Shinshu Faith from Nāgārjūna to Hōnen, and so to Shinran, (ii) to the lives and writings of the seven Patriarchs, as they are called, through whom the Faith was transmitted, and (iii) to the three Sutras on which the whole teaching of Amida is said to be based. These three Sutras have already been translated into English, and may be consulted by the student in Volume XLIX of the Sacred Books of the East. I have referred to the transmission of the Shinshu Doctrines in my lectures on the Japanese Mahayana delivered last winter, and need not repeat my statements. For some of the Patriarchs there already exist valuable monographs, e.g. on Vasubandhu, by Dr. Takakusu in the Trans. of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, on Genkū (or Hōnen) by Dr. Anezaki in the Transactions of the Congress of the History of Religious, Oxford, 1908, and one on Asvaghosha, (who is, however, not one of the seven) in a recent number of the Journal Asiatique. The best thing I can do for my readers is to furnish them with a translation of Shinran's own poem, the Shōshinge, which will be found in the next chapter. This will give Shinran an opportunity of speaking for himself. 28:* § 24. I have also consulted Bukkyōkakushe Kōyō. 30:* These hereditary Bishoprics (in the case of the Hongwanji it might almost be called a hereditary Papacy) have not always been ideal, the bad intermingling curiously with the good. It is interesting to note that the Shinshu shares the institution of "hereditary Bishops," with the Nestorians of today, possibly therefore also with the mediæval Nestorians of China. Haas notices (in 1215) the grant by the Emperor of a purple or violet cassock to a "Bishop" (daisō-jō) of the Zen sect.

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All onions can be divided into two categories: storage and spring/summer. An onion’s appearance is the best indicator when trying to determine it’s category. The spring/summer onion has a thinner, lighter colour skin The storage onion is protected by multiple layers of thick, darker skin. The storage onion is known for its intense flavour and higher percentage of solids. Red, white and yellow varieties are available throughout their season which begins in August and goes through March. Spring/summer onions are routinely sweeter and milder than storage onions because they have a high water and sugar content. This also makes them more susceptible to bruising. These onions are also available in red, white, yellow throughout their season that begins in April and ends in August. Take extra care in handling these onions. - Prepare onions as close to cooking time or serving time as possible. Their flavour deteriorates and aroma intensifies over time. - Try refrigerating onions 30 minutes before preparation to prevent tearing. - To remove strong flavours when using raw onions, pour boiling water over them, rinse in cold water and pat dry. They remain crunchy and have less sharpness - Chopped or sliced onions can be frozen and used later in cooked dishes. Freezing makes them too limp for fresh use. - To remove the smell of onions from hands or equipment, rub them with lemon juice or salt. Cooking With Onions Onions are a vegetable that can be appreciated either when cooked or eaten raw. The taste and texture of the onion depends greatly on its preparation method. Onions can be cooked in so many ways, braised, boiled, steamed, baked, sautéed, escalloped, fried, or grilled. Sautéing onions softens their texture and enriches their taste. The more pungent the onion is raw, the sweeter it becomes when cooked. Onions can be simmered in broth of wine instead of butter to lower the fat content. Yellow onions turn a rich dark brown when cooked and give French onion soup its tangy sweet flavour. White onions are the traditional onion used in classic Mexican cuisine. They have a golden colour and sweet flavour when sautéed. The red onion is a good choice for fresh uses or in grilling and char-boiling. Suggested Uses For Onions - Slice red and white onions paper-thin, toss with anchovies, capers and vinaigrette dressing for a unique onion salad - Alternate slices of tomatoes, onion, and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and top with fresh chopped basil for a classic Italian appetizer - Garnish salads with thinly sliced onion rings - Onion canapés can be made by topping buttered, trimmed, sandwich bread with thinly sliced onions and watercress. Cut bread into decorative shapes - Bake small onions stuffed with wild rice, cheese, or crab meat for an usual onion appetizer - For a tangy onion sandwiches, top baguettes, rolls or bagels with flavoured cream cheese, paper-thin slices of onions and fresh herbs. - Create a Mediterranean-style pizza with caramelized onions, olive and goat cheese on a wheat crust. - For a savoury side dish, season whole, peeled onions with butter, soy sauce or other marinade and bake until tender. - Toss cooked whole onions in butter and sprinkle with chopped parsley and fresh herbs - Stuff onion shells with cream spinach, broccoli and cheese or other vegetable combinations for simple vegetarian dishes - Substitute onions for other vegetables in soufflés, casseroles, gratins, frittatas, and pizzas - Batter or bread large onions for ever popular onion rings

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Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline) solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent. The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica (SiO2) plus sodium oxide Na2O from soda ash, lime CaO, and several minor additives. Often, the term glass is used in a restricted sense to refer to this specific use. In science, however, the term glass is usually defined in a much wider sense, including every solid that possesses a non-crystalline (i.e., amorphous) structure and that exhibits a glass transition when heated towards the liquid state. In this wider sense, glasses can be made of quite different classes of materials: metallic alloys, ionic melts, aqueous solutions, molecular liquids, and polymers. For many applications (bottles, eyewear) polymer glasses (acrylic glass, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate) are a lighter alternative to traditional silica glasses. Other articles related to "glass": ... Early production consisted of window glass, chandeliers and drinking glasses ... at the forefront of new trends and technical developments, producing pressed glass, and in the 1880s setting up a new glass-cutting workshop ... Swedish manufacturers with a range of fine art glass and tableware by distinguished designers such as Vicke Lindstrand, artistic director from 1950-1973 ... ... Apart from historical collections in general museums, modern works of art in glass can be seen in a variety of museums, including the Chrysler Museum ... of extremely detailed models of flowers made of painted glass ... The Blaschka Glass Flowers are still an inspiration to glassblowers today ... ... Frosted glass is produced by the sandblasting or acid etching of clear sheet glass ... It has the effect of rendering the glass translucent by scattering of light during transmission, thus blurring images while still transmitting light ... Decorative patterns may be imposed upon otherwise plain glass by using wax or other resist to retain transparent areas ... ... The Corning Glass Works of Corning, New York, designed and developed the multilayered panes that made up the new window ... The outer pane was 0.35 in (8.9 mm) thick Vycor glass ... The inner pane was made up of three inner glass panels bonded to make a single inner pane ... ... The manufacture of glass is one of the most important uses of sodium carbonate ... to high temperatures, then cooled rapidly, glass is produced ... This type of glass is known as soda lime glass ... Famous quotes containing the word glass: “You doubt we read the stars on high, Nathless we read your fortunes true; The stars may hide in the upper sky, But without glass we fathom you.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882) “the loose fragrant cavendish and the shag, And the bright Virginia loose under the bright glass cases,” —Ezra Pound (18851972) “More Safe, and much more modest tis, to say God woud not leave Mankind without a way: And that the Scriptures, though not every where Free from Corruption, or intire, or clear, Are uncorrupt, sufficient, clear, intire, In all things which our needfull Faith require. If others in the same Glass better see Tis for Themselves they look, but not for me: For MY Salvation must its Doom receive Not from what OTHERS, but what I believe.” —John Dryden (16311700)

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Aspiration of bone marrow from iliac crest (child)Medical editor Bernward Zeller MD Oslo University Hospital The cells in the blood and lymphatic system, in general, originate from stem cells in the bone marrow. In lymphoma and leukemia, as well as in some other tumors, a bone marrow examination is performed. In pediatrics, an aspiration and/or biopsy is taken from the iliac crest (hip bone). When doing a work-up for Hodgkin's lymphoma and some solid tumors, an aspirate and biopsy are taken from both sides. Sternal punctures are not performed on children. In children, a bone marrow puncture is almost always performed under general anesthesia. A bone marrow examination includes - A smear for the primary work-up and later for monitoring of treatment response for leukemia or for evaluation of marrow involvement from lymphomas/solid tumors - Aspirate samples for flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular genetics testing, and sometimes for research studies - Peripheral blood smear For diagnostics, the following is performed: - Immunophenotyping (marker testing) using flow cytometry - Cytogenetics (chromosome testing) - Molecular genetic testing (for example PCR: polymerase chain reaction, FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridization) - Special tests for research studies - Lymphoma and leukemia - Serious anemia - Ambiguous bone pain/rheumatic symptoms - Fever that is ambiguous - Testing for possible tumor metastases in bone marrow - Assessment of treatment effect The only contraindication for a bone marrow biopsy is serious hemophilia. In this case, it must be performed in collaboration with a hemophilia clinic. If treating with warfarin, INR should be ≤ 3. NSAID/ASA treatment does not need to be postponed. Be aware of possible thrombocytopenia. - Diagnose or exclude disease involvement of bone marrow - Monitor response to treatment - Equipment for bone marrow biopsy/aspiration - Prior to the examination, the child and parents should be thoroughly informed about the purpose of the test and how it will be carried out. - The child should fast for 4-5 hours before the examination. Breastfed children need only fast for 2 hours. - Blood tests - The examination is performed by a doctor and takes about 10 minutes. - The child is given general anesthesia. The parents should stay with the child until he/she is asleep. - The child should lie as comfortable as possible on the non-puncture side. This procedure is performed aseptically. Identifying the area for sampling - Upper iliac crest, on the posterior iliac spine. Feel the edge of the iliac crest between the fingers with the left hand. Be sure not to confuse the posterior iliac spine with the spinous process. - Wash with chlorhexidine 5 mg/ml. - Use a sterile drape. Bone marrow biopsy It is recommended to take the biopsy before the bone marrow aspiration. It is easier to avoid the biopsy canal than the puncture canal. (This procedure is for use of a regular punch biopsy needle. Improved needles are available which grasp the biopsy during rotation and retrieval of the needle.) - Use a biopsy needle. - Insert the biopsy needle with the stylet through the subcutaneous tissue. The tip of the needle rests now on the periosteum. - Remove the stylet and rotate carefully through the cortex, preferably without too much rotation. - When resistance is reduced, the needle has reached the bone marrow. Carefully go an additional centimeter, preferably without rotation. - Rotate the needle firmly several times. - Carefully pull out the needle. - Apply pressure. - Put the biopsy in B+ medium. Bone marrow aspiration This is a continuation of the above procedure. - Puncture the posterior superior iliac spine, but avoid making a biopsy hole. Carefully push the needle under rotation until it penetrates the cortex. - When the cannula enters the spongous bone, the resistance will be significantly less. - Remove the stylet. - Attach a 10 ml syringe to the aspirate needle. - Aspirate fast and powerfully. - Aspirate only a small amount (0.5-1 ml maximum). If too much is aspirated, peripheral blood increases in the mixture. If marrow cannot be aspirated, try to rotate the needle or reintroduce the stylet and go a little deeper. - Aspirate more bone marrow for any supplementary examinations (see below). - Retrieve the needle. - Wash off any spilled blood. Do not use alcohol, as this will coagulate the blood. Use sterile swabs and NaCl or cold water. - Cover the wound with a self-adhesive bandage. Make a smear - The doctor sprays the bone marrow in the upper portion of the petri dish while it is held at an angle to allow the blood to run off. - Dip the slide carefully on the edge of the bone marrow, not right in the middle. - Hold the slide with an index finger and thumb and start smearing from where the name field is on the slide. Drag lightly and raise the slide gradually so there is less bone marrow at the end of the slide. The smears should be thin. - The smears should be air-dried before they are stained. Aspirate for other bone marrow testing If there is suspicion of leukemia/lymphoma, more bone marrow tests are taken. An aspirate is taken for flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and possibly additional studies. At later follow-ups, MRD is taken. For an aspirate for flow cytometry and cytogenetics, the syringe should be heparinized with heparin 5000 IE/ml. Otherwise, the procedure is the same. - Remove 2-3 ml aspirate from the inserted aspirate needle used earlier. - Place the aspirate into a specimen container and carefully agitate the container to mix the contents. - This is repeated if more tests are taken. - Pull the aspiration needle carefully out. - Squeeze the aspiration area with a gauze. - The risk is minimal for complications. - During anticoagulation/thrombocytopenia, the wound should be observed for local bleeding. Bleeding is rarely serious and usually stops by compression. Thrombocytopenia is not a contraindication for bone marrow examinations and thrombocyte concentrate is usually not given before the procedure. - There are no other restrictions or observations.

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The past winter in Lithuania was the warmest on record, which reflects the climate change tendencies, the country’s Hydrometeorological Service said on Monday. “All winter months were considerably warmer than the usual multiannual norms,” Donatas Valiukas from Hydrometeorological Service told BNS. The last year was also the warmest on record, he added. The average winter temperature in 2019–20 stood at 2.6 degrees centigrade, compared to the 1982–2010 average of minus 2.8 degrees centigrade.The winter never really arrived, said Valiukas. “This past winter stood out not only in terms of high temperatures but also in terms of snowless days,” he added., adding it was the first time that there were only a few days of snow. The lowest winter temperature in the country stood at minus 8.9 degrees centigrade and was registered in Rokiškis, northern Lithuania, on February 5. The highest temperature of 11.1 degrees centigrade was recorded in Marijampolė, southern Lithuania, on December 18. The coldest winter in Lithuania was in 1969–1970 when the average monthly temperature stood at minus 8.9 degrees centigrade.

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Comfrey is believed to have originated from Asia or Europe. This plant can grow up to 5 feet. The leaves of the plant are hairy just like that of an oregano leaf but they are much bigger. However, caution is required when making comfrey an option for curing illness because some species of this plant is considered dangerous. Better let experts choose the right leaves for you. What Makes Comfrey A Medicinal Herb? Comfrey has an active ingredient called allantoin which significantly aids in replacing dead cells fast and makes the immune system stronger. In addition to this, the medicinal herb also has mucilage which is great for healing intestinal disorders. Both mucilage and allantoin are natural pain killers and are the reason for the anti-inflammatory properties of comfrey. Vitamin A and C can also be found in this plant in huge amounts. Moreover, it is also abundant in protein. It also has antioxidant properties which aid in flushing out toxins and free radicals from the body which make the aging process faster. Benefits of Comfrey More often than not, the leaves of comfrey are turned into an ointment or poultice. It is then considered a mild sedative and expectorant. It can aid in curing both internal and external ulcers. Many people who suffer from diarrhea and gingivitis use this as treatment. Surprisingly, the ointment also works wonderfully on gangrene. If you are experiencing skin problems brought about by bacteria such as boils and acne, then comfrey ointment is your cure! People who have problems in their digestive processes can benefit a lot from comfrey as well. The Vitamin A content of the plant is enough to aid in vision problems. It also helps in maintaining healthy bone and teeth health. Word of Caution! Past researches have shown that comfrey contains a compound called pyrrolizidine alkaloid which is carcinogenic and hepatotoxic. If the body accumulates the substance it could lead to liver failure.

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In 1988, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Armenian city of Spitak. The temblor destroyed cities and is estimated to have killed between 25,000 and 35,000 people, many of whom were schoolchildren. The latest findings from a long-term, UCLA-led study reveal that children who survived the quake and received psychotherapy soon after have experienced health benefits into adulthood. The findings are particularly relevant today, said Dr. Armen Goenjian, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, given the increased frequency and severity of climate-related catastrophes such as hurricanes and wildfires. This ongoing project is one of the first long-term studies to follow survivors of a natural disaster who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, more than five years after the event. The research tracks PTSD and depression symptoms in people who received psychotherapy as children, as well as those who did not. The latest findings, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, also identified factors that contributed to the risk for PTSD and depression among the Spitak quake survivors, including whether their homes were destroyed, the severity of adversity they faced after the earthquake and whether they had chronic medical illnesses after the quake. People who experienced strong social support were less likely to develop PTSD and depression. “The association of persistent PTSD and depression with chronic medical illnesses points to the need for targeted outreach services across physical and behavioral health systems,” said Goenjian, who is also director of the Armenian Relief Society Clinics in Armenia. The researchers evaluated 164 survivors who were 12 to 14 years old in 1990, about a year and a half year after the earthquake. Of that group, 94 lived in the city of Gumri, which experienced substantial destruction and thousands of deaths. The other 70 lived in Spitak, where the damage was far more severe and there was a higher rate of death. A few weeks after the initial assessment, mental health workers provided trauma- and grief-focused psychotherapy in some schools in Gumri, but not in others because of a shortage of trained medical staff. “We were comparing two devastated cities that had different levels of post-earthquake adversities,” Goenjian said. “People in Spitak, who experienced more destruction, earthquake-related deaths and injuries but experienced fewer post-earthquake adversities, had a better recovery from PTSD and depression than survivors in Gumri.” Researchers interviewed survivors five and 25 years after the earthquake. They found that people from Gumri who received psychotherapy had significantly greater improvements in both their depression and PTSD symptoms. On the 80-point PTSD-Reaction Index, for example, PTSD scores for the Gumri group that received psychotherapy dropped from an average of 44 a year and a half after the earthquake to 31 after 25 years. PTSD scores for people from Gumri who did not receive treatment declined as well, but not as much: from 43 at one-and-a-half years to 36 after 25 years. Overall, people from Spitak had more severe PTSD and depression after the earthquake. Because they experienced fewer ongoing challenges, such as shortage of heat, electricity, housing and transportation, they tended to show greater improvements in their PTSD symptoms compared to both Gumri groups. The PTSD symptoms for Spitak survivors fell from 53 at one-and-a-half years to 39 after 25 years. “The takeaway is that school-based screening of children for post-traumatic stress reactions and depression, along with providing trauma and grief-focused therapy after a major disaster is strongly recommended,” Goenjian said.

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The majority of people want to see an end to the use of live animals in medical training, according to survey results published in Alternatives to Laboratory Animals. Animals are still used in very few advanced medical training programs, including emergency medicine residencies or advanced trauma life support (ATLS) courses - but will effective nonanimal training methods widely available, and more evolving, animals use is falling. More than 66 percent of the 1011 survey participants said using live animals to train medical students and physicians, emergency physicians and paramedics, and pediatricians is 'morally wrong or unethical' if effective nonanimal methods are available. A staggering 82 to 83 percent agreed nonanimal methods should be used over live animals in training, and 84 percent agreed that they would want their own doctor to be trained using methods that replicate human anatomy instead of using live animals. John Pippin, M.D., F.A.C.C., Director of Academic Affairs at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C., said: "Experts have known for decades that animal use is a poor substitute for human-specific methods when learning about treating humans, but it can take time for the public to learn about and come to trust new ways of doing things. "Having the public's encouragement to move forward and strive for progress benefits the sciences, which often rely on public support or approval." Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are prepared in the author's capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Plant Based News itself.Reuse this content Maria is the Editor of Plant Based News. A former magazine editor, newspaper reporter, and features writer, her work has been published by The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and various regional newspapers, as well as Vegan Life magazine and Vegan Trade Journal. She has interviewed a huge range of people, from Prime Ministers to authors, activists, pop stars and actors, and enjoys the varied range of topics writing for PBN allows her to tackle. You can follow her on Twitter @MariaChiorando and Instagram @mariachiorando. Since you're here... Plant Based News is a FREE service that receives millions of views each week on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, our weekly newsletter and this website. This takes a lot of our personal time, money and hard work. But we do it because we KNOW it makes a difference. If those following our reporting helped by contributing, we could do even more. Please consider supporting us so we can create further awareness about animal rights, environmentalism, ethical consumerism and the plant-based lifestyle. Not a false narrative - but information that empowers people to make better choices.

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Designing for Disaster ESRL’s Marty Ralph is part of a multiagency science team developing a severe hazard scenario in California, for a public awareness campaign later this year. Last November, the US Geological Survey and others conducted “The Great Southern California Shakeout.” Millions of everyday citizens and thousands of emergency responders participated in the earthquake awareness activity—the biggest of its kind in US history. Now Ralph, in ESRL’s Physical Sciences Division, and colleagues are coming up with a scenario in which the danger comes from the sky, not below ground. The new hazard will involve a devastating—but entirely plausible—winter storm with winds reaching Category 4 hurricane force, up to 20 inches of rainfall in one day, major flooding in both northern and southern California, heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, extensive power outages, and heavy surf and coastal erosion. ESRL scientists and colleagues in the National Weather Service are already involved in detecting and improving the forecasts of severe winter storms in California, which are known to present a major flood hazard in much of California, Ralph said. State officials have made it a priority to plan for one. Students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., will help the hazards scenario teams figure out how to communicate effectively with the public about winter storm dangers and about the preparedness drill itself. In January, Ralph talked with design students about winter storms and emergency communications, as part of a “Hazard Communication Forum.”

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The Jewish religion has a four-thousand year history, but is also an accumulation of culture, mores, traditions, and symbols. The Jewish religion is an eclectic concept that might at first glance seem complex, but which in fact is a collection of unique characteristics. That is why it would not be possible to give a short definition of Judaism. Belief in God lies at the foundation of Judaism, which constitutes the starting point of a whole culture and way of life. Learning about this particular way of life, which is interwoven with certain values, concepts, and traditions that are transmitted from generation to generation, is the only way that these people, who are dispersed throughout the world, can survive alienation. The religious laws that form the basis of this concept (Judaism) were born in antiquity, were enriched with new teachings throughout history, and were applied by subsequent generations in differing ways. Most of the norms and traditions that make up the Jewish way of life today have throughout time shown distinct differences, not in essence but in practice. It would be correct to say, however, that in spite of all the differences, all these customs unite in a single concept: monotheism. This way of life is proof of the strong belief in the same God with inspiration from the same source, whatever its origins.1 First Contact between Jews and Ottomans The Ottomans first met the Jews as a settled community in 1326, when Orhan Gazi conquered Bursa. The Jews of Bursa received the Ottomans as saviors. The Etz Hayim (Tree of Life) synagogue that was built during Orhan Gazi’s time and with his permission remained open until the 1940s. After Sultan Murad I conquered Edirne, many of the Jews who lived in the Balkans immigrated to the Ottoman lands in hopes of a better life. Many Jews fled the atrocities they had faced in Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and immigrated to Ottoman lands. The Chief Rabbi of Edirne, Isaac Zarfati, is known to have sent a letter to his co-religionists in Europe inviting them to come to Turkey where “every man may dwell at peace under his own vine and fig tree…”2 Many Central European Jews took this letter seriously and settled in the Ottoman Empire. When Sultan Mehmed II conquered Istanbul in 1453, the Byzantine Jews, known as the Romaniots, received him as their savior. The last Chief Rabbi of the Byzantine Jews, Moshe Kapsali, became the first Turkish Chief Rabbi or hahambaşı. Mehmed II sent a letter to all the Anatolian Jews, says: The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed says: God has granted me many a country and has ordered me to look after the bloodline of Abraham and Jacob, to provide them with food, and to protect them. Who amongst you would like to come to the capital, Istanbul, God willing, and settle in this city and live in peace in the shadow of vineyards and figs, deal in free trade, and own estates and properties? 3 After this letter, many Jewish families came and settled in Istanbul. Mehmed II also issued a ferman (decree) allowing the Jews the freedom to practice their religion. Even though he did not permit the Jews to build new synagogues, he did allow them to repair existing ones and to use their homes as places of worship. Jewish immigration to the Ottoman Empire continued throughout the fifteenth century. Turkish Sephardic Jews The story of the Turkish Sephardic Jews starts in the month of March, 1492, when the Catholic rulers of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, decided that Spain was to be entirely Catholic. All Jews and Muslims who refused to convert were asked to leave Spain. According to some historians, around 200,000 Spanish Jews left Spain and immigrated to northern Europe and the lands of the Mediterranean basin. Again, according to some historians, around 93,000 of these Jews arrived in the Ottoman Empire and were received by the sultan of the time, Bayezid II. The sultan sent a declaration to his governors telling them “not to refuse the Jews entry or cause them difficulties, but to receive them cordially.” He also warned them that “should any treat the immigrants badly or cause them harm, they would be severely punished.” 4 Those Jews who fled the Spanish Inquisition and sought refuge in Portugal also had to leave a mere four years later, in 1496, when King Manuel I married the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand; their marriage contract included the requirement of expelling the Jews from Portugal. On 5 December 1496 “all Jews and Muslims” were ordered “to leave the country within 10 months.” Most of these Jews also found a safe haven in the Ottoman Empire. The Spanish and Portuguese Jews continued to immigrate to the Ottoman Empire throughout the sixteenth century. They called themselves Sephardim, meaning “Spanish Jews,” derived from the Hebrew word Sepharad, for “Spain.” The Sephardic Jews settled and founded Jewish communities in western Anatolia, the Marmara region, Thrace, and the Balkans. Initially, Jews who arrived from various places in Spain chose to settle down together with those who had also emigrated from the same region to alleviate the feeling of alienation. The Sephardim did not have to build walls around their settlements, nor did they have to keep themselves separated from the local people or cultures due to the general atmosphere of tolerance in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, for their part, protected the rights of their new subjects and took advantage of their many talents, employing many in their palaces as diplomats, doctors, and in other capacities. Sultan Selim I’s admonition to his treasurer, who refused to pay the inheritors of a Jew who had passed away before collecting a debt owed him by the treasury, is renowned: “May the deceased rest in peace, may his children be in good health, may the deceiver be cursed.”5 When Sultan Süleyman I laid siege to Budin after his victory at Mohács, a committee headed by Joseph ben Solomon Ashkenazi unconditionally tendered him the keys to the tower and city of Budin. The sultan then published a royal edict permanently exempting his family and their descendants from paying any kind of tax to the Ottoman government. This edict was renewed by the following ruler as well.6 The Spanish refugees might not have brought their fortunes to the Ottoman Empire, but they certainly brought their know-how and talents. The first printing press ever to be founded in the Ottoman Empire was founded in Istanbul in 1493 by David and Samuel ibn Nahmias, two Spanish refugee brothers.7 What Immanuel Aboab claims Sultan Bayezid II said of the Catholic monarchs of Spain is also quite famous: “How can you call this king [Ferdinand] intelligent and demure Fernando? He is impoverishing his own kingdom while enriching mine!”8 Istanbul, Salonika, Edirne, Safed, and Izmir became Sephardic cultural centers over the centuries that followed the arrival of the Sephardic Jews in the Ottoman Empire. Many expert craftsmen in the leather, copper, textile, and dye industries were able to ply their trades. The fact that the Sephardic Jews were mostly polyglots enabled them to work in the foreign affairs of the government. Some examples include: Joseph Nasi, who was given the title of Duke of Naxos by Sultan Selim II; Gracia Nasi; Solomon ben Nathan Ashkenazi, a close friend of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha; and Solomon Aben Yaesh, the architect of Ottoman-British diplomatic relations who was given the title of Duke of Midilli by Murad III. Many famous doctors such as “Hekim” (Doctor) Jacob, Joseph Hamon, Moshe Hamon, Daniel Fonseca, and Gabriel Buenaventura also worked at the Ottoman court. The Sephardic Jews living in the Ottoman Empire also produced significant literary works in the field of liturgy. Joseph Caro wrote the Shulhan Arukh, a guide to essential practices in Judaism. Solomon ben Moses ha-Levi Alkabes composed the renowned Lekha Dodi in Edirne, which came to be the hymn that all Jews throughout the world sing today to welcome the Sabbath. Jacob Kuli started writing the famous Me‘am Lo‘ez in Istanbul in 1730. Rabbi Abraham ben Isaac Ada became known as the father of Jewish liturgical literature. The Turkish Sephardic community under Ottoman rule led a patriarchal, religious, and conservative life centered around administrative institutions like the bet-din (rabbinical court), which was made up of schoolmasters and judges. The Ottomans collected their due taxes and never interfered in the internal affairs of minorities, never pressured them over culture, religion, or language, and never tried to assimilate them. That is why the Sephardic Jews have been able to preserve their language, which they called Judeo-Espanyol or da Ladino, as well as their culture and traditions for more than five hundred years, an uncommon phenomenon in world history. This is why their language and culture are of significance to social scientists and especially linguists. It is also necessary to mention that even though the Sephardic Jews were able to preserve their cultural heritage for centuries, there was also an inevitable cultural interaction between all the different communities among which they lived for so many centuries. The Treaty of Lausanne With the proclamation of the 1856 Imperial Edict of Reforms (Islahat Fermanı) all Ottoman citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, were declared equal under the new law. As a result of this development, the leadership of the Jewish community began to shift away from the religious toward more secular forces. The Treaty of Lausanne in 1924 accorded minority rights to the three principal non-Muslim religious minorities in Turkey and permitted them to carry on with their own schools, social institutions, and funds. On 15 September 1925, with a decision taken by its administration, the Jewish community renounced the personal rights entailed by its minority status. THE RELIGIOUS FRAMEWORK OF JEWISH LIFE The annual cycle of Jewish holidays forms the basis of Jewish life. The Jewish holidays are the times when whole families come together around a table to celebrate the holy days, usually under the rules of kashruth (Jewish dietary law) and the specific culinary culture of the community, in this case the Sephardic Jews of Turkey. Unity, solidarity, and affection in the family are the most important characteristics of Jewish life. Even today, when many of the stricter religious rules have loosened because of contemporary life style, celebrating the Friday night as a sacred time and a night for the family is one tradition that is applied unfailingly. That is why it would be best to begin this description of Jewish religious life there. According to the Torah, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The seventh day, Shabbat (Saturday), starts at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday when the first star appears in the sky. God’s fourth commandment to Moses was about the Shabbat: “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements.”9 Stopping all kinds of work constitutes the basis of the rules and prohibitions concerning the Shabbat. All housework is to be finished before Shabbat starts. The members of the household wash, get dressed, and prepare to welcome the Shabbat. The table is set early and everyone awaits a most eminent guest: the Shabbat. The preparations end with the young son of the house lighting the Shabbat candles. Turkish Jews traditionally start their Shabbat preparations on Thursday. All the shopping for the Shabbat dinner is done and the most sumptuous meal of the week is prepared. All family members who do not have the chance to see each other during the week come together at this occasion, thus strengthening family ties. This tradition is meticulously transmitted to the younger generations, who know that Friday nights are reserved for family dinners. Before further explaining the Jewish holidays, it would be appropriate to look at the particularities of the Jewish calendar. The Jewish Calendar The Hebrew calendar is actually a lunar calendar. In the beginning, it was a calendar that had twelve months and between 353 and 355 days; however, it was later rearranged according to the Gregorian calendar so that religious, agricultural, and astrological phases could all coincide. One Hebrew calendar cycle lasts for nineteen years and it is arranged so that there are seven leap years (with thirteen months) every three years. The calendar starts on the first of the month of Tishrei and ends on the twenty-ninth of the month of Elul. Holidays, mourning, or death anniversaries never occur on the same day in a year, but they do occur in the same season. Rosh Hashanah: The first day of the year Rosh Hashanah can be defined as “Head” (rosh) of the “Year” (shanah). According to the Hebrew calendar, the first day of the sixth month is Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of a new year, and is celebrated by Jews as the New Year. Rosh Hashanah lasts for two days and on both nights there is a traditional family dinner. It is also traditional to eat apples with honey and pomegranates: apples with honey or apple jam so that one has a sweet new year, and pomegranates for abundance, prosperity, and social unity. During the Rosh Hashanah holiday people visit their elders, family members, and friends. The younger generation is encouraged to visit the elders to get their blessings. On the second morning of Rosh Hashanah, an instrument made of ram horn, called shofar, is blown to wish everyone a happy new year. Two candles are lit on both nights of Rosh Hashanah. On the second night, an assortment of the first fruits of the season is arranged around the candles and the following wishes are made: “May God grant us happiness, health, success, help for the needy, protection for widows and orphans, happiness for broken hearts, hope, courage, and strength for the people of our nation.”10 Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah, on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. A fast that lasts approximately twenty-six hours cleanses the soul and conscience. With this fast, an individual starts the new year having settled accounts with God and his or her conscience, and having been cleansed. This day of cleansing and renewal is Yom Kippur. The belief in Judaism is that people’s fate in any given year is determined according to their behavior in the previous year. If they have performed good and charitable acts during the year, then the following year will be good for them. During the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews engage in soul-searching and think about all the errors they have committed the previous year. They try to apologize for all the injustices and grievances they have caused and they repent, asking for God’s forgiveness. An hour before sunset on the ninth day after Rosh Hashanah, the great fast commences. During the twenty-six hours that follow, one does not eat or drink anything. On the night that the fast starts, one goes to the synagogue, prays, and does soul-searching. The following day is spent with prayers and repentances. Forty minutes after sunset, the shofar is blown to announce that the fast is over. It is customary to cover the table with a white tablecloth and set a lavish feast before the fast starts. One usually avoids salt and too many spices, and dessert is usually watermelon. It is also a tradition to have Turkish coffee after dinner. To end the fast, it is customary to eat a spoonful of preferably apple jam and drink a glass of water. Family members hug each other and make wishes like “May God accept your fast.” The next tradition is to eat pieces of bread dipped in salty olive oil. After this, in the Istanbul tradition, one has coffee and milk with cakes and biscuits. After resting for a while, chicken soup is served, followed by the main meal. In recent years, to avoid stomach problems after a long fast, most families have given up the main meal. After Yom Kippur, one is ready to start the new year having cleansed his or her soul. Sukkoth starts five days after Yom Kippur, on the fifteenth day of the month of Tishri. Sukkoth is also known as the “Feast of Booths” or the “Feast of Tabernacles.” It is celebrated to commemorate the forty years after the exodus from slavery in Egypt that the Jews spent in the desert, during which they lived in small tents called tabernacles, and also to show God their gratitude for the protection He gave them during those difficult times. As Sukkoth coincides with the maturation of certain fruits, vine products, and olives, it is also called Hag Aasif, meaning the “Harvest Festival.”11 Hanukkah: Festival of Lights Some festivals in Judaism are celebrated to commemorate certain historical events. Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” is one such festival. The historical event it commemorates took place between the years 169 and 166 BCE. In those years the Maccabees were fighting the Greeks in the sacred city of Jerusalem. Once, when the Maccabees were fleeing from the Greeks, they sought refuge in a synagogue. There, they found oil with which to light a candle, but only enough to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. The Hanukkah festival is celebrated in remembrance of that miracle. The festival starts on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev and lasts for eight days. One candle is lit on the first night, with another additional candle lit every night thereafter. The first candle symbolizes God saying, “Let there be light.” The second symbolizes the Torah, the third Justice, the fourth Mercy, the fifth Sanctity, the sixth Love, the seventh Patience, and the eighth Courage. Tu Bishvat is celebrated on the fifteenth of the month of Shevat. According to religious authorities there are three other New Years apart from Rosh Hashanah. Tu Bishvat, the New Year for trees, is one of them. The rain season in the sacred lands causes trees to rejuvenate. The Torah has encouraged Jews to tend the land and to live in harmony with nature. “When you enter the lands God has granted you, you will find them full of good things. You will lay siege to the cities but will not cut down the trees as every tree is as precious as a human being… When you enter the lands I promised you, you will eat from the fruit of the trees there and you will plant new trees so that the generations after you will inherit a green world.” 12 Today, as Jews live mostly in big cities, it has become traditional to celebrate Tu Bishvat by planting trees in rural areas. In Istanbul, Sephardic Jews celebrate Tu Bishvat as the “Festival of Fruits.” Tables are set at home with fifteen types of fruit, seven of which are found in the sacred lands (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates). A prayer is said for every type of fruit eaten and then the celebrations continue with songs. A festival that is celebrated with great joy, Purim comes from the Hebrew word pur, which means “dice.” It got this name because at the time of the Persian Empire, the Persian administration wanted to massacre the Jews and decided on a date for it by throwing dice. The Jews narrowly escaped being massacred on that day, and that is why they commemorate it with a celebration. Purim is a joyous festival. Masked balls are organized and children sing, dance, and receive pocket money. Fruit and colorful candies are offered in abundance. Pesach (Passover) is celebrated in the month of Nisan. It starts on the fifteenth of the month and lasts for eight days. This is the anniversary of the children of Israel escaping slavery in Egypt. They were saved by the grace of God and the strength He granted to Moses. As the Jewish people left Egypt in a hurry, they did not have the time to leaven their bread and had to eat unleavened bread after they left. That is why Jews do not eat or keep any food that has been leavened in their homes during Pesach. During the eight days of Pesach, Jews eat unleavened bread called matsa. It is traditional to do a thorough cleaning in the houses prior to Pesach. This is very similar to the spring cleaning done in other cultures. It is very important to clean every corner to rid the house of all crumbs. The first two nights of Pesach, it is traditional to have a feast for celebration. The Turkish Sephardic culinary tradition requires certain dishes to be present on the table: pies made of spinach, leeks, and zucchini, leek meatballs, fish, and baked lamb with potatoes and peas. It is also customary to read the history of this holiday and thank God for delivering the Jews from slavery. This historical rendering of the feast is called the Agada, and should be read in a language that everyone, especially children, can understand. The head of the family, usually the oldest male present, interprets the different paragraphs of the Agada for the children. It has become customary in Istanbul to read the Agada in Hebrew, Ladino, and Turkish in order to keep the tradition alive. It is also customary to invite all members of the family and people who are known to be alone that night to the Pesach feast. After dinner, everyone sings Pesach songs. On the eighth day, one eats bread and expresses gratitude to God for this wonderful gift. Shavuot is a feast that celebrates Moses’ reception of the Ten Commandments from God on behalf of Israel. This is the season when the first fruits and vegetables are ready to be harvested, so this holiday is also called the “Feast of the First Fruits.” Shavuot is a feast of joy and thankfulness. It is customary to show gratitude to God. It is a tradition to consume milk products and desserts. In ancient times, Jews constructed the greatest temple in their history in Jerusalem. This temple, called Beit Amigdash, was destroyed twice: once by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and once by the Romans in 70 CE. Following these events, the Jews were obliged to leave their lands and thus began their new lives in the diaspora. Both destructions of the Beit Amigdash fell on the ninth day of the month of Ab, and so did many of the disasters that befell the Jews throughout history. That is why the ninth day of Ab, tishah be Ab, is considered a day of great mourning and is usually spent praying and fasting. Brit Milah: Circumcision All Jewish boys have their Brit Milah (circumcision) when they are eight days old. This ritual, which has been practiced since antiquity, is the symbol of the pact between God and the Jewish people. “Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And throughout the generations, every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days … Thus shall My covenant be marked in your flesh as an everlasting pact” (Genesis 17: 10–13). The Brit Milah is carried out by a mohel (circumciser) who has been trained in all matters of the Jewish religion. Today, it is preferable that these people also have medical training. Most families put in a request for a doctor to be present while the mohel performs Brit Milah. The mohel gives the baby boy his Jewish name at the beginning of the ritual, and then performs the circumcision. Today, the Brit Milah ceremonies in the Turkish Jewish community are celebrated joyously either at the hospital where the baby is born or at a private venue. Pidyon Aben: Ransom of the first-born son In ancient times all first-born offspring, be they human or animal, were considered to belong to God; this was one of His commandments. All first-born male children were thus raised to work in the service of God and became priests, servants, or musicians at the Holy Temple. Later on, when serving at the temple became the prerogative of the tribe of Levi, the first-born males of other tribes were exempted from the temple duty by paying a Levite or a kohen (priest) the sum of five shekels, symbolically buying them back. In Hebrew the word pidyon means “ransom” or, more specifically, “liberation fee.” The Pidyon Aben is thus the ceremony in which children are symbolically bought back by their families. The ceremony takes place on the thirty-first day after a child’s birth. The baby has to be mother’s first child and male, and she must not have had a miscarriage before the birth either. He also must have been born by natural delivery. The ransom has to be paid by the father. In the Torah, the amount to be paid as ransom has been set at five silver coins of a total of ninety-six grams. In Turkey, the ransom is paid in silver spoons. Pidyon cannot be paid in cash. Vijola: The naming of a new-born daughter The birth of all baby girls is celebrated with the Vijola ceremony. It is actually a name-giving ceremony. This tradition has risen in importance in the Turkish Jewish community in recent years. This rise might be considered by social scientists as a consequence of living in an age when male-female equality has become more and more predominant, such that whatever ceremony is done for the boys has to be done for the girls as well. Ceremonies such as the bat mitzvah and the Vijola, which were not very popular formerly, are frequently celebrated nowadays, in an age when economic conditions have led to families with fewer children, or in many cases just one. If that child is a girl, then the families want to have a celebration for that child, too. Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah In Hebrew the phrase bar mitzvah means “son of the commandments,” and the phrase bat mitzvah means “daughter of the commandments.” The bar mitzvahs, celebrated since ancient times, and the bat mitzvahs, recently much more popular, are unforgettable ceremonies for any Jewish child, boy or girl. All boys who are thirteen years old and all girls who are twelve years old celebrate their bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. All young Jews who celebrate their coming-of-age ceremonies are considered to have become adults and to be mature enough to assume and fulfill their responsibilities. A thirteen-year-old Jewish boy is given religious training before his bar mitzvah and learns about prayers and Jewish law. During the ceremony, he is invited to read the Torah. With this ceremony, he proves himself to have reached maturity and is introduced to the community as a young adult. In Turkey, it is traditional for young men to make a speech during their bar mitzvah ceremonies thanking their parents for raising them and for giving them love and support and thanking the guests for sharing this wonderful day with them. Bat mitzvahs first started to be celebrated in the nineteenth century. In Turkey, these ceremonies, which were once celebrated in different ways, have evolved into one big ceremony where all the girls of the community celebrate their bat mitzvah. They all wear white dresses and enter the synagogue on their fathers’ arms. They pray and sing songs together. A feast at the end of the ceremony has also become a tradition. According to Jewish law, marriage is a contract that begins with the wedding ceremony. The contract is written in a document called the ketubah, a Jewish prenuptial agreement. The couple starts the sacred unity of a family under a chuppah, a ceremonial canopy which symbolizes a roof. Even though Jewish weddings are celebrated in basically the same way, there are certain variations in traditions that are practiced in different communities. For example, every groom accompanies the bride under the chuppah, but the type of chuppah used differs from community to community. In the Sephardic weddings that take place in Istanbul, the parents of the bride and groom hold the chuppah over the heads of their children. During the wedding ceremony, the rabbi has the ketubah contract signed by the groom before two witnesses, and gives it to a member of the bride’s family, usually the mother. This document is prepared entirely for the benefit of the bride and, in case of a divorce, serves as protection for the woman. The wedding contract details the economic responsibilities of a husband towards his wife. The marriage is not considered valid until the ketubah is signed. Today, in Turkey, a Jewish couple cannot have their religious ceremony enacted before they are legally married in a civil marriage presided over by a state official. In case of a divorce the ketubah is legally valid in courts of law. Kortadura de Fashadura: Ceremony for the first baby shirt Expectant mothers organize a ceremony in the fifth or seventh months of their pregnancies. This is a party organized by the mother on either a Monday or Thursday. During this party, it is customary to have a long piece of white muslin cloth on the table. The muslin is cut lengthwise by someone close to the mother and whose parents are still alive. While the muslin is being cut, prayers are uttered and the guests throw candy, rice, and gold coins on it. These symbolize wishing a long, happy, and fruitful life for the baby. The lady who cuts the muslin is responsible for sewing the first shirt that the baby is to wear once he or she is born. Any cloth that is left over is used to make handkerchiefs and napkins for the baby. After the ceremony is over, the expectant mother can start preparing for the coming of the baby by buying whatever is necessary. Kortadura de Fashadura is mostly a Sephardic tradition that is seen only among Turkish Jews. Today, it is celebrated as a baby shower. According to the Jewish religion, death is not the end of life. The life people lead in this world is a road that leads them to the afterlife, which is called Olam Aba. Rules concerning death and mourning are based on two principles. The first is honoring a human being even if he is dead, and the second is to comfort the mourners emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Kadish is the most powerful prayer in Judaism, and is uttered in Aramaic. It is repeated many times during the mourning period. There are two reasons for this. The first has to do with the individual’s psychological condition. Individuals who have lost a loved one are in a state of pain and rebellion. They rebel against God. By saying this prayer, mourners take refuge in God’s mercy and justice. They show that even though they have rebelled, they believe that He has done no wrong. The second reason has to do with exalting the soul of the dead person as that person’s soul gives an account of his or her deeds before God. According to Jewish beliefs, the mourning period is divided into three stages: the first seven days, called shiva; the first thirty days, called the shloshim; and the first twelve months after the death, called shneim asar chodesh. Mourning starts the moment the deceased is buried. The shiva period of seven days starts with morning prayers. The day of burial is the first day of shiva. Shabbat is also inside the shiva period. If any of the religious festivals coincide with shiva, then the shiva period is considered complete and does not continue after the festival is over.13 According to Istanbul traditions, the first monthly prayer is said on the thirtieth day after the burial and prayers continue every month until the twelfth month, when the yearly prayer, called Limud, is read. After this, the prayers are read yearly. Guevo: The mourning feast The first meal given on the first day of mourning must not be a meal given by the mourners. It is usually the neighbors and friends who provide the meal on this day. It is customary to have eggs (thus the Ladino word Guevo, meaning “egg”) on the table. Eggs, black olives, and round biscuits made with rakı, an aniseed-flavored Turkish liquor, constitute the other foods on the table. Their being round signifies the cycle of life and sends the mourners the message that all human beings will die one day. Friends and neighbors should continue to provide meals throughout the first seven nights. Mourners should not do any work during the first seven days. According to Judaism, it is forbidden to be too sad for the deceased. One should trust in God’s ability to give and take lives, and one should also trust that what He does is right. If one thinks this way, it is easier to find solace. The gravestone is placed three months after the burial, and that is when the mourners visit the grave for the first time. It is customary for Jews to visit their deceased loved ones on regular occasions. JEWS IN CONTEMPORARY TURKEY Jewish Life in Istanbul Today According to data from the Chief Rabbinate, there are approximately 19,000 Jews living in Turkey (as the Turkish Republic population census does not ask one’s religion, however, it is very difficult to know the exact number). Of these, 17,500 live in Istanbul, and very small numbers live in other cities: 1,500 in Izmir, 50–60 in Bursa, 20–30 in Adana, and 30–40 in Antakya. The young people in smaller cities tend to come to Istanbul once they reach a certain age, especially for the purpose of education, and then rarely go back. According to statistics from the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey, 97 percent of Turkish Jews are of Sephardic origins and 3 percent are of Ashkenazi origins. Ninety percent of the Jewish population lives in Istanbul, 9 percent in Izmir, and the remaining 1 percent in the cities of Bursa, Adana, Antakya, Ankara, Çanakkale, Gelibolu, and Edirne. Looking at Istanbul, where the majority of the Jewish population lives, one notices that the demographic distribution has changed. Whereas in the past Jews resided in the city center within walking distance of each other, they now reside only in places they can afford. Today it is possible to see many Jews living in Bahçeşehir, Çekmeköy, Göktürk, Küçükyalı, Tuzla, Pendik, Ömerli, and Zekeriyaköy, suburbs quite distant from the city center. Again, statistics show that 73 percent of the Jewish population lives on the European side and 27 percent on the Asian side of Istanbul. Concerning the age distribution of the Turkish Jewish population, 50 percent of the population is between the ages of twenty-five and fifty-five. Longevity has increased due to better nourishment, healthier diet, more exercise, and better medical care. People over the age of sixty-five constitute 18 percent of the population. At the same time, there has been a decrease in those younger than twenty-five (a decrease of 9 percent in the last five years). Death and emigration rates are much higher than birth rates. The Turkish Jewish community places a great deal of importance on education. The community has a school that starts at kindergarten and continues through high school. The standard of the education at this school has increased through the years and it is now considered one of the better schools in Istanbul. The school has a student population of six hundred today. According to the data from the Chief Rabbinate, there is no illiteracy among the Jews. Six percent of the Jewish population is made up of primary-school graduates, 26 percent of middle-school graduates, 45 percent of high-school graduates, 29 percent of university graduates, and 4 percent of individuals with post-graduate degrees. These numbers are quite high, even when compared to the world average. Turkish Jewish families work very hard to give their children a good education. Knowing multiple languages has always been a tradition among Turkish Jews. However, the primary language which used to be spoken in the homes—the language that the Sephardic Jews brought from Spain, Ladino or Judeo-Spanish—is no longer the language of the Sephardic home. What is more, French, which had once served as the lingua franca in the community mainly because of the influence of the Paris-based Alliance Israélite Universelle schools, has lost its enormous influence and is also no longer the language of the Sephardic home. These factors have reduced the polyglot Sephardic Jews to a community that speaks relatively fewer languages. Today the language of the Turkish Sephardic home is Turkish. English, being the new lingua franca, is a highly desirable acquisition for children. Since the 1990s, with the opening of the Cervantes Institute in Istanbul, and because of the fact that it has become the second-most-popular language in the world, Spanish is also a popular language. According to the Chief Rabbinate, 53 percent of Turkish Jews speak one or more foreign language. The Jews of the Turkish Republic are represented by the Chief Rabbi of Turkey. Rav Isak Haleva was elected to the office in 2002 and serves today as the third Chief Rabbi of Turkey. The Chief Rabbi is helped by a committee of clergymen, called the Bet-Din, in religious matters. Another committee made up of fifty lay men, called the Advisory Committee, also helps the Chief Rabbi in non-religious matters. The Balat Or-Ahayim (Light of Life) Hospital, built by Jewish philanthropists and opened in 1898, serves all Turkish citizens with its high quality of medical care. The Turkish Jewish community has nineteen synagogues in service. Even though some of the synagogues are situated in places where Jews do not live anymore, the temples are preserved because of their historical value. Quite a number of charitable institutions help the elderly, orphans, individuals with disabilities, and students who are economically disadvantaged. Many volunteers work at these institutions to raise funds. The Turkish Jewish community has a weekly newspaper, the Şalom, with a readership of approximately four thousand. The Şalom was founded by Avram Leyon in 1947 and was taken over by the community in 1983, when Leyon’s health did not permit him to continue publication. The Şalom, which had been published in Ladino, continued in Turkish after 1983 with one page in Ladino. Like most newspapers today, Şalom can also be accessed on the internet (at www.salom.com.tr). The Sephardic Culture Research Center, operating under the Chief Rabbinate, was founded in 2003 to document, archive, and collect the fast-disappearing cultural heritage of the Sephardic Jews with the aim of securing it for future generations. For the last eight years, the center has published the monthly newspaper El Amaneser, a unique publication in the world with its twenty-four pages entirely in Ladino. El Amaneser is a supplement of the Şalom newspaper. The center has also published the only book of caricatures in Ladino in the world, called La Famiya Mozotros. A paraliturgical hymn tradition that was born in Edirne and which was unique to the Turkish Jews is called the maftirim. The center was able to compile the last hymns in a collection that is also very valuable for the archives of Turkish classical music. The current main project of the center, which has gained international appreciation and respect for its serious academic approach, is the Ladino Database Project, which aims to document the spoken Ladino language by interviewing eighty-one native speakers in Istanbul and Izmir.14 Jewish social life was very different before the 1970s, when the members of the community mostly lived within walking distance of each other. This physical closeness changed when young couples began moving to new residential areas that were economically more suitable but much further away from the city center. Until the 1970s, most of the women in the community were housewives, but today it is difficult to find women who do not work outside of the home. The tea parties, afternoon meetings, and card-playing of bygone days can be seen today only among the older members of the female population. Social life has moved to the weekends, when people who live in close proximity can visit each other. Certain changes in the structure of the community are particularly noteworthy, namely the fact that today social relationships are not limited to members of the Jewish community only. Instead, these relationships now occur within the context of the larger community, mainly due to the fact that young Jewish boys and girls now often attend mixed schools and universities. Again, while large families were common before, the structure of the family is mostly “nuclear” today, consisting of just parents and children. Jewish social life seems to be limited to Shabbat dinners and Jewish festivals, when most of the family members make an effort to get together. Members of the Jewish community try to keep up with the economic conditions of the country and therefore work very hard to make ends meet. What is more, in the globalized world of today they try to deal with technological advancements while at the same time preserving the centuries-old cultural heritage and traditions that have been transmitted down to them through the generations. Turkish Sephardic Music The history of Turkish Sephardic music dates back to the year 1492. A great number of the Jews expelled from Spain by the Spanish Inquisition arrived in the Ottoman Empire and were welcomed by Sultan Beyazid II. These Jews settled down all over the Ottoman Empire, and their traditions and culture have been passed down through the years from mother to daughter, following a characteristic path of their own. Over the generations, they slowly evolved into a “Turkish-Sephardic” synthesis. An important part of this synthesis involved musical traditions, as the traditions that came from Spain blended with the musical traditions of the Ottoman Empire and were transmitted from generation to generation. Turkish Sephardic music can be divided into two main categories: the popular folk songs called kantikas, and the liturgical music in the synagogues. While the language of the kantikas has always been Judeo-Spanish, the language heard in the synagogues has always been Hebrew. Today, when people listen to Turkish Sephardic music, they feel an intense Balkan flavor blended with Turkish classical music, thus reflecting a perfect example of cultural interaction. Music and Cultural Transmission One of the most important factors of cultural transmission from generation to generation is music. In Sephardic communities, most cultural elements were traditionally transmitted from mother to daughter down through the generations because of the closed nature of Jewish communities. Men could leave the communities for work, but the women were always at home. Women’s lives were restricted to their home environment and their entertainment consisted of get-togethers with their relatives and neighbors where they would do the washing, sewing, and cooking or perhaps visit a Turkish bath, and, of course, gossip. Music played an important role in all these meetings. One of the women would pick up her mandolin, another her oud (a variety of lute), yet another her def (a variety of tambourine), and they would all start to play and sing. Stories would be conveyed through songs and gossip would disseminate in the same way. Sufferings would have their place in the music, too, and everyone had her own special place in this musical world. The Romansa Tradition The musical culture that dominated fifteenth-century Spain was a musical culture called the “Romansa.” Romansas were originally epic songs that depicted tales of bravery and the wars of the nobles. These tales were then adopted by the common people and the stories took on more everyday themes. The musical tradition that the Sephardic Jews brought to the Ottoman Empire was predominantly of this type. The language used in these folk songs has always been Judeo-Spanish. Obviously, women loved to entertain themselves by creating different verses of different songs. This was the musical tradition that the Sephardic Jews brought to the Ottoman Empire. Examples of romansas include the following two pieces: “Morenika a mi me yaman” “They call me dark one” “Tres ermanikas eran” “They were three sisters” In the Ottoman Empire As they continued their lives in the Ottoman Empire, the Sephardic Jews became increasingly influenced by the music of the cultures around them, namely Turkish classical music and the music of the Balkans. In time, the music composed among the Sephardic Jews came to incorporate all of these elements, and many songs appeared with themes dealing with love, jealousy, and other emotions, as well as the events of everyday life, like birth, death, and all sorts of interpersonal relationships. Under the influence of Turkish classical music, maqams (melodic modes) gained more importance and the “sadness and pain” in the songs also increased. Although they broadened in style and thematic scope, the lyrics remained in Judeo-Spanish. Below is a song (in the Nihavend maqam) composed in a style typical of Turkish classical music: Para ke kero yo mas bivir? “Why would I want to live?” But Sephardic music was not all doom and gloom. Below is an example of a humorous song about romantic relationships. There is a young girl named Sarika, whom a young man tries to seduce with promises of shoes and boots, but to no avail. The young girl refuses to be seduced. The lyrics of such songs reveal a great deal about life in earlier periods. From the names of the districts uttered in the song, Unkapanı and Cibali, it is understood that this was an Istanbul song. These two districts were famous for their shoe markets (even in my own childhood, the early 1960s) and this can be seen in the song. “Bre Sarika bre” “Bre Sarika bre” Among the thousands of songs that were transmitted from mother to daughter through the years, there are certain melodies that have had many different lyrics written for them. It is as if different people who liked the melodies wrote and added new verses whenever they felt like it. In the same way, some lyrics became very popular, and there are cases where many different melodies have been composed for the same lyrics. Besides the many original but anonymous compositions that exist, there are also many melodies borrowed from the popular songs of their day to which lyrics written in Judeo-Spanish have been added. Even though most of the time the lyricists have remained anonymous, famous examples include Jak Mayesh from Istanbul and a duo from Salonika, Sadik Gershon and Moshe Kazez. Below is an excerpt of the Judeo-Spanish lyrics of the famous Turkish song “Bekledim de gelmedin”: “Porke no me amates?” “Why didn’t you love me?” An important element of Turkish Sephardic music is its liturgical music, which can be divided into two primary groups. The first group could be considered an extension of popular folk music. These songs are sung by family members at Jewish festival gatherings, like Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, etc. When family members come together around the table of the feast during these special days, the older members of the family take it upon themselves to transmit the traditions to the younger members by singing all together. These songs have lyrics that accentuate the importance of the festivals and tell of their special traditions. The language used in these songs is Judeo-Spanish. The following Hanukkah song is one of the best and most popular examples of this group of liturgical songs: The second group of hymns, however, is only sung inside synagogues. These hymns were traditionally transmitted orally from master to student, and had never been documented. This remained the case until the album published by the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis, entitled Zemirot: Turkish-Sephardic Synagogue Hymns, and the album published by the Yako Taragano Synagogue Hymns Choir, called Zemirot II: Turkish-Sephardic Synagogue Hymns. Because these hymns were only documented quite recently, as with all oral cultures the actual losses in cultural elements over time have been quite large. The language used in synagogue liturgical music has always been Hebrew, the sacred language of the Jews. Very rarely are Judeo-Spanish lyrics used inside Hebrew hymns (for a prominent exception, see “En Keloenu,” below). Synagogue liturgical music almost invariably incorporates the maqams of Turkish classical music. For this reason the hazzans, the singers of these hymns, were usually trained together with the Muslim imams. As a consequence, very high quality hymns were composed in the Turkish classical music style. Again, most of these compositions remain anonymous. Below is a hymn that is sung when welcoming the Shabbat on Friday nights. It is one of the rare bilingual (Judeo-Spanish and Hebrew) hymns that can be heard in Turkish synagogues. Mi ke-lo-enu, mi kadonenu, mi kemalkenu, mi kemoshienuKen komo muestro Dio Ken komo muestro Sinyor Ken komo muestro Rey Ken komo muestro Salvador (In Hebrew, followed by Ladino) Node le-lo-enu, node ladonenu, node lemalkenu, node lemoshienu Loaremos a muestro Dio Loaremos a muestro Sinyor Loaremos a muestro Rey Loaremos a muestro Salvador (In Hebrew, followed by Ladino) Baruh E-lo-enu, baruh adonenu, baruh malkenu, baruh moshienu Bendicho muestro Dio Bendicho muestro Sinyor Bendicho muestro Rey Bendicho muestro Salvador (In Hebrew, followed by Ladino) Ata u E-lo-enu, Ata u adonenu, Ata u malkenu, ata u moshienu Tu sos muestro Dio Tu sos muestro Sinyor Tu sos muestro Rey Tu sos muestro Salvador (In Hebrew, followed by Ladino) "There is none like our God” Maftirim: A Special Group of Hymns A special group of hymns known as the maftirim originated in Edirne and have been passed down to the present. They are sung by a choir on Saturdays, from the time the morning finish until the end of Shabbat. The lyrics of these hymns are mostly poems that laud God and Jerusalem. Some date as far back as the sixteenth century and were written in old and literary Hebrew, which means that they have become more and more difficult to understand as the years have passed. When the Maftirim tradition began, the point of focus was the lyrics and not the music. After a certain time, the music grew to take precedence as the hazzans became better trained in the Turkish classical music maqams, which completely dominated the music in the synagogues. These hazzans trained together with the Sufis near their synagogues and they used to make religious music together. Sadly, the lack of a written musical tradition has reduced the number of such hymns from the thousands that once existed to only sixty-three today. These sixty-three hymns were documented by the Ottoman-Turkish Sephardic Culture Research Center and published with the interpretation of the last three great masters of this music in 2009. The collection contains four CDs, one DVD, and a 360-page book. The book was prepared in Turkish, English, and Judeo-Spanish with the contribution of world-renowned experts. One of the most valuable contributions was of oud master (and lawyer) Mahmut Özbay, who edited all the scores in the book. Turkish Sephardic Music Today Today there are a number of groups in the world that are interested in and perform Sephardic music. The greatest handicap of these groups is that they do not know Judeo-Spanish. For this reason, most of the time they do not understand what they sing about, make pronunciation mistakes, and, therefore, are not able to transmit the particular character and soul of the music. Contemporary young musicians try different interpretations from jazz to rock for the melodies they like best. These different interpretations have allowed this music to address a much wider variety of audiences. However, again there is a drawback common to these interpreters: they remain confined to a very limited repertoire. In all of the albums that can be bought in music stores there are different variations of the same twenty songs repeated over and over again. It is unfortunate that the true extent of the Sephardic musical repertoire, which contains thousands of songs, is not better known. The problem is that most of these songs were composed under the influence of Turkish classical music and, as such, are very foreign to both the ears and singing style of these Western musicians. In Turkey, the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis has been collecting hundreds of songs since 1978. They have formed an extensive repertoire, and been nominated as one of the most authentic interpreters of this music in the world. They have published eight albums to date and have a mission to document as many songs as possible. İzzet Bana, one of the founders of Los Pasharos Sefaradis, also founded the children’s choir Estreyikas ds choirdi. The choir also sings these songs in an authentic fashion, thus ensuring that this heritage is transmitted to the next generation. TURKISH SEPHARDIC CUISINE The Old and the New of Jewish Cuisine in Turkey Food! The best socializer ever, especially in Oriental cultures like the Sephardic culture, where people get together for the greater purpose of enjoying their food together. This very old and traditional type of social interaction is focused mainly on food and eating. Today, humanity lives in a continually globalizing world with an increasingly greater number of technological innovations and gadgets. The result of this is that all sorts of socialization have moved to electronic media, and social relationships have perforce become quite superficial. However, examining traditional cultures like Turkish Sephardic culture, one finds that culinary traditions are the last to disappear. As the concept of family is undeniably strong in Turkish Sephardic culture, and as the value of traditional family dinners shared around the same table continues, it will be a long time before this culinary tradition disappears. Historically speaking, Jewish communities were dispersed throughout the Ottoman Empire, with the Sephardic communities mostly in the western regions and the Balkans. In order to talk about their traditions, it is first necessary to have a certain picture of their way of life. It is not easy to characterize Sephardic cuisine, because wherever the Sephardim went, they adapted their cooking to the techniques, tastes, and ingredients they found in the lands to which they migrated, all the while remaining faithful to their ancient cultural traditions and Iberian culinary heritage. The Jews in the Ottoman Empire lived in largely self-contained communities set off from those around them, with men leaving their closed environment for work and women staying at home. The women did not venture outside, were not encouraged to learn the language of their new country, and were therefore the real transmitters of all traditions to future generations. However, as these were not “ghettos,” some amount of interaction was inevitable with the cultures around them. Mutual borrowing naturally occurred between Jews, Greeks, and Muslim Turks. Cooking rules and recipes were passed down from mother to daughter and resulted in a treasury of culinary ideas that has continued down through the centuries to the present day. Two important factors characterize Sephardic cooking in Turkey: the Spanish culinary traditions that persisted over the long centuries in the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish, Greek, and Balkan traditions that were incorporated as a result of co-existence with all these different cultures. The result of this intermingling of cultures is a very tasty example of Mediterranean cuisine. One of the best parts of this co-existence has always been the relationships between neighbors, which is not something that is often seen anymore. Among my most vivid childhood memories are the ones I have of our neighbors, who lived in apartments in parallel streets and whose balconies or backyards or gardens were joined together. There was a great sense of neighborliness. Our upstairs neighbor was Madam Nevart, an Armenian lady. Two floors up lived Madam Fofo, a Greek lady. The first-floor resident in the apartment building across the street was Hayriye Hanım, a Muslim Albanian lady. And the third-floor resident in the next-door apartment was Madam Rashel, a Jewish lady. My family and our neighbors spent the summer nights on our balconies having a lot of fun together. My father, who had a lovely voice, sang songs and the neighbors would join him in mini-concerts. All the ladies would prepare delicious cakes and cookies that they would share with their neighbors, distributing them around using little baskets which they passed from balcony to balcony. Everyone exchanged recipes, which they adapted to their own culinary traditions and tastes. The fruits of this intercultural exchange would be offered to guests as novelties. Another beautiful memory I have from my childhood involves learning about the religious holidays of everyone else. We used to visit our neighbors on their holidays and sample the special foods and desserts they would prepare for those occasions. Today, living in an apartment building in a big metropolitan city like Istanbul, one cannot find that kind of neighborly relationship anymore. However, a new type of residence has emerged in the suburbs of Istanbul: life in housing complexes. As housing complexes are the new type of residence of choice in the suburbs, a new type of social life has also emerged. Occasionally, relations between neighbors in these new complexes are just like they were in the old days. Shared meals, visits with lots of fun on the balconies, and even going on vacations together have unified people regardless of the culture they belong to. It goes without saying that in this new lifestyle, too, trying out new tastes is very common and everyone eats what the others cook. One thing to keep in mind when talking about Jewish food is adherence to Jewish religious laws. The Jewish religion has very strict laws concerning food and what is and what is not permissible to eat; these rules are called kashruth. Throughout the centuries Jews have cooked according to these rules, which specify in a very detailed manner what can or cannot be eaten. One of the greatest rabbis that ever lived in Turkey was Rabbi Nesim Behar. One of his most important publications was El Gid del Pratikante (Guide for the Practicing Jew). This great work gives detailed information about all permissible foods and how meats should be prepared and cooked. Any food that is considered to be kasher (kosher) is permissible for eating, while food that is considered terefa (not kosher) cannot be consumed. Today, a kosher-type diet has been scientifically proven to be one of the healthiest types of diet. However, kashruth rules are not entirely about health. They are about sanctifying the food, respecting life in this way, and making oneself blessed through the sanctification of the food. Every time one starts to eat something he or she has to bless it with a special prayer called Beraha. The rules aim at differentiating between the pure and the impure, and this is relevant not only for food but for all the areas of life. Kashruth rules are quite detailed. Rabbi Nesim Behar’s book gives these details, but there are a few very basic culinary principles that cover the majority of situations. The most fundamental of these is that it is impermissible to have meat and dairy products in the same meal at the same time. This very simply means that the famous Turkish iskender kebab and mantı are off the Sephardic menu. Nesim Behar’s El Gid del Pratikante explains what can be eaten with what, and in what order. In line with these kashruth restrictions and the regulations surrounding the eating of meat, there are a multitude of vegetables dishes in Sephardic cuisine. One can enjoy a whole meal without any meat at all. There are additional reasons for this. Meat was always the most expensive ingredient for a family to buy. There were always a lot of people to cook for, and that meant a meal with meat was often out of reach for many families. For a family of limited means, meat was always the last item on the shopping list. Most could not afford a large helping of meat every day. So instead there are a lot of very tasty dishes using vegetable down to their very last bits, even their peels. With spinach, for example, its leaves are used for one dish and its stems for another. A delicious dish made from squash/zucchini peels is eaten cold, like a salad, with olive oil, lemon, and dill. The leaves of red beets are also used to make a very tasty pie in Sephardic cuisine. Today it is very difficult to get red beets with leaves in the supermarkets. As the larger Muslim Turkish community does not know about their uses in this and other recipes, they cut off the leaves and throw them away. However, were one to cut these leaves into small chunks, add cheese (white and yellow), eggs, and bread crumbs, and then bake the mixture in an oven (either wrapped in phyllo dough or not), one would produce an incredibly delicious dish, both nourishing and very filling. Anyone who tastes this dish wants to have it again and again. In summer, when tomatoes are plentiful and very cheap, one can make a very substantial and delicious entree with them, called armi/armiko de tomat, that also includes onion and parsley. This is a dish that is specifically Sephardic, just like kashkarikas (squash/zucchini peels) and red beet-leaf pie, and not known by the wider Muslim Turkish community. If one does not mind avoiding meat, there are quite a number of wonderful dishes that can be produced with little more than with vegetables and cheese and eggs. A great example is a special dish called kucharikas by some, meaning spoons, and papuchakyas by others, meaning shoes. This is a dish made with eggplant and squash cut in the form of shoes, filled with cheese and eggs, and baked in the oven. It makes a wonderful meal! The king of the vegetables has always been the eggplant, both in Sephardic and Turkish cuisine. It is not surprising, therefore, that every meal in the summertime includes eggplant in many different forms: fried, baked, stuffed, made into pies, etc. There is even a famous poem in Sephardic literature that talks about the thirty-six different ways to cook eggplant, some verses of which are offered below. Every verse in the poem gives a different eggplant recipe. “Los gizados de las berendjenas” Kuantos modos de gizados se aziyan de la berendjena? In how many ways can you cook eggplant? La primera las aziya la deskansada de Morena: The first was made by Morena, the relaxed, Kortadas en revanadas i echadas en la sena, Cut in slices and thrown in a pot Ke asi le ambezo su kosfuegra bula Lena. That is how her mother-in-law Lena taught her. La sigunda si oyish, vos agrada mas i mas, If you hear about the second, you will like it even more, Lo ke aziya la mujer de Elazar el sammas: What the wife of Elazar the shammes made, Burakadas por arientro, inchidas a no mas Carved the inside and filled to the top I las yamavan por nombre las senas de las dolmas. They called them dolmas. La tresera las aziya bula Djoya de Akshote: The third, mistress Djoya de Akshote made, Las buiya i las koziya i les sakava el kokote She boiled them and cooked them and took the pip out I el kezo sin manziya i azete kon el bote She used cheese with no pity and oil with a barrel I las yamava por nombre la komida de almodrote. And called it almodrote. La onzena las aziya la bulisa de Sisilya: The 11th was made by the lady from Sicily, Las friiya a una a una debasho de una kostiya, She fired them one by one under the chops, Espesias a muchedumbre i safran sin manziya With lots of spices and saffron with no pity I es komida galana, se aze a la maraviya. It is a very elegant dish, marvelously tasty. La de diez i sesh las aziya bula Pava de Aruete, The 16th was made by mistress Pava de Aruete, La tiya de Menahem, entenada de Kontente: Menahem’s aunt, from the family of Kontente, Las kortava i las aziya kon vinagre i azete She cut them up and made them with vinegar and oil I mustarda i pimienta, i es koza muy valiente. And mustard and pepper, it is something ultra delicious. La de vente i dos las aziya bula Anula la korredera, The 22nd, was made by mistress Anula, the matchmaker, Ke no le agradava vaka sino la buena kodrera: She didn’t like beef but preferred lamb, Pimienta i muncha espesia ke no le diera durera Pepper and too many spices rendered her constipated Kon sus ajikos mundados dientro de una kaldera. With peeled garlic in a pot. Todo esto ke oyitesh kale al lado su ravaniko All of this that you heard, has to have its radish beside it I aresh un buen piyaz kon pimienta i pirishiliko And you will make a good piyaz with pepper and parsley I en kada dos bokados beveresh vuestro viniko, And every two mouthfuls you will drink your wine, Ke ansi esta enkomendado tanto prove komo riko. Which is recommended so to both rich and to poor. As for dishes with meat, Turkish Sephardic cuisine has a lot of those too. Many of these dishes are made with minced meat, mostly köftes (meatballs) of one form or another. These meatballs are made using vegetables and a little meat. The most famous of these meatball dishes is one made of leeks called köftikas de prasa. These meatballs can be made in many different ways, with variations depending on region, economic status, and adherence to kashruth rules. Some add potatoes to the leek and minced meat mixture, some add potatoes and carrots, some add only bread crumbs, and some even make do without any meat at all. However, traditionally all these meatballs are cooked in the same way: the meatballs are dipped in flower, then in egg, and then fried. Today, people who do not want to consume fried foods for health reasons instead bake these meatballs in the oven. The same kind of meatballs can be made with spinach and celery and are equally tasty. Even though the real reason behind making these meatballs is to save on the consumption of meat, their taste is undeniably good. Beef and lamb are also part of Sephardic cuisine. They are broiled, baked, or cooked with vegetables and spices, and they taste great. The juice of the cooked meat is never thrown away, but used in making rice, pasta, or just vegetables. The same applies to chicken. As for fish, a sauce made with lemon and eggs is very popular with fish with white meat. This dish is very suitable for Shabbat because it can also be eaten cold. In the summer, Jews consume a fish not known by the majority of the population: a species of shore rockling, called gaya. Fishermen catch this rockling to sell to Jews in the summer months. They sell them especially on Thursdays on the Princes Islands, where Jews mostly spend their summers. A very special characteristic of Sephardic cooking is the fact that it uses a lot of lemons and far fewer spices than other cuisines. Vegetables like okra, artichoke, spinach, cabbage, and all their varieties served with meat are cooked with olive oil and a lot of lemon and sugar. Salt and black pepper are the only spices used. A sour sauce called agristada, made of plums and used in certain fish dishes, is also very famous. The Sephardic stuffed vine leaves, called yalancı dolma, and stuffed cabbage leaves are also cooked with a lot of lemon inside, which makes them softer and very tasty. Whenever cooking an artichoke heart, half a lemon and half a tablespoon of sugar are always added. Other Particularities of Sephardic Cuisine Not mentioning desserts would be an insult to Sephardic food. On the whole, Ottoman-Turkish cuisine has had a significant influence on Sephardic desserts, but the Spanish roots of the Sephardic Jews remain clear in almost every dish. In the Sephardic tradition, halva de bembriyo, a dessert made of quince and brought over from Spain, is particularly tasty but needs a long time to prepare. Harotset, a jam made of dried fruits, is traditionally made for Pesach. Another dessert that was brought over from Spain is masapan, made of almond paste. Today, if one visits Toledo, guides will state that masapan was born there and that it is a traditional dessert of that city. In Turkey, another famous pastry of Spanish origin is called pandispanya. Originally known as pan d’España, this is a popular kind of cake, most probably brought over by the Sephardic Jews. Another food brought to Turkey by Jews from Spain is called atramus, and belongs to the chickpea family. In Turkey, this food is known as “Jews’ Beans” and is eaten only by Jews. In Spain, however, this is a popular food still sold in jars and called altramuzes. Making tasty dishes for the enjoyment of one’s family and guests was (and still is) one of the most important indications of a woman’s skill as a “good housewife.” All men are heard to wax poetic about this or that dish of their mothers’, which they crave after they get married. A lot of women have to learn the way their mothers-in-law cook, because that is the way their husbands prefer to eat. All girls learn to cook from their mothers. This is especially true of the more traditional dishes like borekitas, prasifuchi, avas kon ispinaka, almodrote de kalavasa, kashkarikas, rulikos de berendjena, chufletikos, etc. Girls used to learn how to cook by watching their mothers make all these traditional dishes. However, today, when more and more women have to work full-time outside the home, the luxury of learning from one’s mother is no more. Instead, what young girls have nowadays is a number of cookbooks, like the Sephardic Cookbook,15 Izmir Sephardic Cuisine,16 and Deniz Alphan’s Dina’nın Mutfağı (Dina’s Cuisine).17 Apart from cookbooks, when one considers the social and economic conditions of the present day, it is not surprising to see a new concept emerging: catering. As many women nowadays work long hours and do not have the time or the energy to make time-consuming traditional dishes, catering companies cook for them. If one wants to eat traditional Sephardic dishes, then one orders from volunteer organizations whose members work to prepare the food in order to make money for their charities. One can find these charitable organizations and their fully kosher services on the Chief Rabbinate website.18 When evaluating Jewish life from Ottoman times to the modern day, one sees that the Sephardic Jews, who were forced to leave Spain where they had lived for a thousand years, created a new kind of life when they came to the Ottoman lands. Blending their own traditions with new ones, they created a new kind of cultural treasure: Turkish-Sephardic culture. Examining this culture reveals a number of features that are important for world peace. One of these is cultural interaction. As people get to know each other and live together, they become friends and not enemies. Even though modern lifestyles cause many traditions to slowly disappear, some of these traditions, like music and cuisine, are more resistant to change, and are therefore elements for uniting people. Jews have lived in Istanbul for centuries. It is my hope that they and the rich heritage associated with them continue to make this city the most valuable in the world. Altabev, Mary; Judeo-Spanish in the Turkish Social Context, Istanbul: The Isis Press, 2003. Bali, Rifat N., Cumhuriyet Yıllarında Türkiye Yahudileri - Bir Türkleştirme Serüveni 1923-1945, Istanbul: İletişim, 1999. Behar, D., İ. Maçoro and D. Sevi; Maftirim: Turkish Sephardic Synagogue Hymns, (4 CD, 1 DVD with a 360-page book), Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2009. Behar, Rabi Nesim, Dini Uygulama Rehberi – El Gid para el Pratikante, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2004. Blech, Rabi Benjamin, Nedenleri ve Niçinleriyle Yahudilik, translated by Estreya Seval Vali, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2003. Estreyikas d’Estambol, Un Kavretiko, CD, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2006. Harris, Tracy K., Death of a Language: The History of Judeo-Spanish, Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1994. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Kantikas Para Syempre, CD & cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1995. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Kantikas Para Syempre, CD, 2nd edition, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2003. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, La Romansa de Rika Kuriel, cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1988. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Las Puertas, double-CD, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2005. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Los Pasharos Sefaradis Vol. I, cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1987. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Los Pasharos Sefaradis Vol. II, cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1987. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Los Pasharos Sefaradis Vol III, cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1987. Los Pasharos Sefaradis, Zemirot: Türk Sefarad Sinagog İlahileri, CD (with 72-page booklet) & cassette, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2002. Rodrigue, Aron, Türkiye Yahudilerinin Batılılaşması – Alliance Okulları 1860-1925, translated by İbrahim Yıldız, Ankara: Ayraç, 1997. Sephiha, H.V., L’Agonie des judéo-espagnols, Paris: Éditions Entente, 1977. Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Culture and Music of the Jews of Turkey”, Jewish Renaissance, 9/2 (2010). Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Food – A Taste of Turkey”, Jewish Renaissance, 9/2 (2010). Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “From Spain to Turkey”, Jewish Renaissance, 9/2 (2010). Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Judeo-Spanish: Where We are and Where We are Going”, International Sephardic Journal, 1/1 (2004). Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Ladino in Istanbul – Versuch einer Wiederbelebung”, translated by Gisela Dachs, Jüdischer Almanach 2007. Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Language Change as Influenced by Cultural Contact. A Case: Ladino” (MA thesis, Boğaziçi University 1983). Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “The Judeo-Spanish Language, Culture and Music”, in Multiculturalism: Identity and Otherness, ed. Nedret Kuran Burçoğlu, (İstanbul: Boğaziçi University, 1997), pp. 157-165. Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “The Period When an Awareness and Interest in Ladino Starts Among the Turkish Jewry: Reasons And Analysis”, conference, Jerusalem: World Jewish Studies Congress, 2005. Şarhon, Karen Gerson, “Türk Sefarad Müziği”, Kırkbudak: Anadolu İnançları Dergisi, (Fall 2007), no. 12, p. 75. Website of the Turkish Jewish Community, http://www.turkyahudileri.com. Yako Taragano Sinagogue Hymns Choir, Zemirot II: Türk Sefarad Sinagog İlahileri, CD (includes booklet with scores and lyrics), Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2008. 1 Suzan Alalu et al., Yahudilikte Kavram ve Değerler, Istanbul: İstanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 1996. The wonderful introduction in this work clearly and succinctly illustrates Jewish life both in the Ottoman Empire and/or Turkey and across the world. 2 Bernard Lewis, Jews of Islam, Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1987, pp. 135-136. 6 The edict of renewal, dated 1155 , is on exhibit today at the 500. Yıl Türk Yahudileri Museum (Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews). 7 Midraş Teilim, a book printed at the David ibn Nahmias press in 1511 in Istanbul, is on exhibit at the 500. Yıl Türk Yahudileri Museum. 9 Alalu et al., Yahudilikte Kavram ve Değerler, p. 180. 10 Alalu et al., Yahudilikte Kavram ve Değerler, pp. 40-41. 12 Alalu et al., Yahudilikte Kavram ve Değerler, pp. 40-41. 13 Alalu et al., Yahudilikte Kavram ve Değerler, p. 153. 15 Viki Koronyo and Sima Ovadya, Sefarad Yemekleri-Sephardic Cook Book, Istanbul: Gözlem Gazetecilik Basın ve Yayın, 2012. 16 L. Eskinazi et al., Izmir Sephardic Cuisine, Izmir: Etki Yayınevi, 2013. 17 Deniz Alphan, Dina’nın Mutfağı, İstanbul: Doğan Kitapçılık, 2005.

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In 1980, a government scientist discovered that breast milk in the US was so contaminated with DDT, PCBs and other industrial poisons that, if it were cow’s milk, it would be subject to ban by the US Food and Drug Administration. After two more decades of failed “chemical regulation,” a 2001 study showed that babies everywhere in the world were drinking industrial toxicants in breast milk. Worse, in 2005 a small study of the umbilical cord blood from 10 randomly chosen newborns in the US showed that babies are now coming into this world “pre-polluted” with 200 industrial compounds. (Despite all this bad news, breast feeding is still by far the best way to nourish a baby.) Perhaps not surprisingly, in the US, children’s health is deteriorating. The incidence of childhood cancers has risen 27 percent since 1974. In the 12 years between 1994 and 2006, childhood chronic conditions (asthma, obesity, learning and behavior problems) doubled (from 13 percent of all kids in 1994 to 27 percent in 2006). Why Can’t Chemical Pollution Be Controlled? In 1991, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory identified the reason why industrial poisons have spread everywhere, worldwide. It’s because regulators have relied on a decision-making technique called quantitative (or numerical) risk assessment to determine which chemical releases are “safe.” By releasing “safe” amounts of 80,000 different chemicals, corporations have contaminated the entire planet, so now no one is safe from chemical harm. A numerical risk assessment is an estimate of the probability of something bad happening. Numerical risk assessment was invented hundreds of years ago to reduce losses in games of chance. With the rise of the chemical industry during the early 20th century, risk assessment began to dominate all kinds of decisions. In the 1980s, the US government adopted numerical risk assessment for “environmental protection.” Since then, risk assessment has been used to estimate the probability of a catastrophic meltdown at a nuclear power plant, or the probability of a population of grizzly bears becoming locally extinct because too many roads were cut into their forest home, or the probability of children having their IQ lowered by exposure to toxic lead and PCBs in the soil near schools built on a toxic waste dump. In its early years (1970-1974), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was attacked by corporate polluters who claimed the agency’s decisions were arbitrary and unscientific. To beef up its credibility, in 1975, the EPA produced its first numerical risk assessment, estimating the number of people who would get cancer from exposure to the toxic chemical vinyl chloride. By 1983, other federal agencies were basing decisions on numerical risk assessment and the National Academy of Sciences published its first “how to” manual for federal risk assessors. Since then, risk assessment has totally dominated government decisions. This has kept corporate polluters very happy. Why Corporate Polluters Can’t Let Go of Risk Assessment Corporate polluters love numerical risk assessment for many reasons. Risk assessment is complex and mathematical, so most of the public can’t understand it, much less challenge its conclusions. Therefore, risk assessment diminishes democratic participation and even undermines the legitimacy of government itself. By definition, people cannot give their informed consent to something they do not understand. Weaker government creates more wiggle room for corporate polluters. Additionally, risk assessment is easily manipulated. Two groups of fully qualified risk assessors, given identical data, can reach wildly different estimates of risk. Therefore, numerical risk assessment fails the acid test of science — reproducible results — and does not qualify as “science” or “scientific.” Risk assessment is a political art that uses some scientific data. As EPA administrator William Ruckelshaus wrote in 1984, “We should remember that risk assessment can be like the captured spy: If you torture it long enough, it will tell you anything you want to know.” Moreover, all biological systems (whether a human body or a forest) are extremely complex and can never be fully understood, so risk assessments are always based on incomplete data, which gets filled in by assumptions and guesstimates (often labeled “best professional judgment.”) As the National Academy of Sciences wrote in 1991, “Risk Assessment techniques are highly speculative, and almost all rely on multiple assumptions of fact — some of which are entirely untestable.” Change the assumptions and you change the conclusion. Therefore, risk assessments can be endlessly debated, revised, opposed and challenged in court. Because it is a mathematical exercise, numerical risk assessment omits everything that can’t be represented by a number. Risk assessment assigns a value of zero to historical knowledge, local customs and preferences, sacred places, spiritual values, ethical perspectives about right and wrong, fairness and injustice. In numerical risk assessment, these things simply don’t count. Finally, all humans (and all ecosystems) are subjected to multiple stresses most of the time. In the example of chemicals, most people are routinely exposed to automobile exhaust, vapors from carpets, glues, flooring, furniture, paint, household cleaners, pesticides, disinfectants in drinking water and so on. Risk assessments have no reliable way to evaluate simultaneous exposures to multiple chemicals. Therefore, they create an imaginary world with a single-chemical exposure. In this imaginary world, a chemical exposure can be declared “safe” even though it actually may be quite harmful when combined with other exposures. An Alternative Decision Rule: The Precautionary Principle By the early 1990s, harms from risk assessment were becoming obvious. In 1992, forward-looking governments in Europe began to spell out a different way of making decisions about environmental questions. They called it the “precautionary principle,” and it was written into the Maastricht Treaty that created the European Union: “Community policy on the environment shall aim at a high level of protection…. It shall be based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay.” That same year, the United Nations published the Rio Declaration on Environment & Development; in it, Principle 15 says, “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” In a nutshell, risk assessment asks, “How much harm is acceptable?” The precautionary principle asks, “How much harm is avoidable?” The Wingspread Statement on Precaution The earliest statements of precaution failed to gain much notice until January, 1998, when the Wingspread Statement was published. Suddenly, there was a real alternative to traditional risk assessments. Faced with a new garbage incinerator, a new source of diesel pollution or a fracking proposal, community activists could demand a precautionary approach to protect people and their local environment. The Wingspread Statement was hammered out by 32 grassroots activists, labor organizers, scholars and scientists from the United States, Canada and Europe during an intense weekend meeting at the Wingspread Center in Racine, Wisconsin. The meeting was convened by the Science & Environmental Health Network (SEHN) and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and sponsored by the Johnson Foundation, the W. Alton Jones Foundation and the CS Fund. (Disclosure: I attended the meeting, and am now a fellow with SEHN.) The Wingspread statement reads, When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action. This simple statement contained four fundamental challenges to the dogma of numerical risk assessment: 1. The burden of proof of safety gets shifted onto the proponent of a project or action. In a world where ecosystems and human health are under severe threat, industrial chemicals and other intrusions into the natural world are assumed to be harmful unless shown otherwise. 2. Decisions should not be made by experts behind closed doors. The affected public should be fully informed and engaged in decisions. 3. Decision-makers should not wait for scientific certainty of harm before taking preventive action. Scientific certainty is likely to arrive only after widespread harm has occurred. 4. Decision-makers should consider a full range of alternatives, including the alternative of doing nothing. Less than a month after the Wisconsin meeting, Bette Hileman reported on the Wingspread statement in the widely read Chemical & Engineering News, calling it “a new guide to US environmental policy.” Then the precautionary principle began to travel like a prairie fire. A search of the Newsbank database reveals a steep rise in worldwide news stories mentioning the precautionary principle after Wingspread in 1998 (Figure 1). Corporate polluters and their hired guns soon mounted a campaign of misinformation against the Wingspread formulation of precaution, claiming that it’s unscientific, emotional, reckless, ill-defined, unworkable and a danger to Western civilization. So far, thanks to dark money corrupting our political system, the anti-precaution campaign has been effective in Washington, where federal precautionary policies are still rare. At the local level, however, it’s a different story. Grassroots activists have seized upon precaution as a sling to slay Goliath. In 1999, Carolyn Raffensperger and Joel Tickner published their first book introducing precaution. (Raffensperger and Nancy Myers published a second, “how-to” book on precaution for communities in 2005.) In 1999, the Los Angeles Unified School District adopted the precautionary principle to guide its pest management programs. In 2001, Michael Pollan wrote about precaution in The New York Times Magazine. That same year, the city and county of San Francisco began the process of adopting the precautionary principle, which it did in 2003. In sum, the truth is now out there for communities to advocate and adopt: There is another way to make environment-and-health decisions besides numerical risk assessment. Traditional Risk Assessment Is Losing Its Luster Even at the federal level in the US, sole reliance on numerical risk assessment is slowly fading. For example, the EPA has a small “design for the environment” program advocating selection of least-harmful chemicals, which is a precautionary approach. Most importantly, in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences published Science and Decisions, subtitled “Advancing Risk Assessment.” Despite that subtitle, the Academy didn’t “advance” risk assessment; it demoted it. The Academy said modern decisions begin with an assessment of alternatives, asking, “What are the options for achieving our goal (whatever it may be) and which option seems least harmful?” This is the essence of a precautionary approach. After a range of options has been described, only then should risk assessment be used as one tool for evaluating each of the options to help find the least harmful, the Academy said. And of course, many other evaluation tools are now available. The Academy’s 2009 report delivered a crushing blow to old-style risk decisions. Still, the precautionary principle — better safe than sorry — is now under renewed attack in Europe, the UK and the US. The far-right behemoth that now owns the Republican Party (and which Nancy MacLean describes as a “fifth column” intent on permanently subverting democracy,) has set its sights on eliminating the precautionary approach. Abandoning the Paris Agreement on global warming is but one example. As global ecosystems deteriorate and global warming alters water patterns — making economic growth ever more precarious — far-right global elites are counting on new technologies to spur economic growth: geo-engineering (to modify the entire planet to counteract global warming), nanotechnology (to manipulate the world at the molecular level to create novel materials) and synthetic biology (to create entirely new life-forms previously unknown in nature). These technologies are potentially far more powerful than even atomic energy, so they cry out for a prudent, precautionary approach to their testing and possible deployment. Unfortunately, so long as corporate polluters enjoy a nearly-unlimited capacity to inject corrupting money into political decisions — especially in the US — old-style risk assessment will continue to dominate because it serves corporate purposes so well. Nevertheless, 20 years after Wingspread, it is now crystal clear that a livable future for humanity absolutely requires a precautionary approach. The choice is stark and fateful.

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How do I know if I have enough sunlight for PV? First, it's good to know how photovoltaic (PV) soler energy systems work. A photovoltaic (PV) system needs unobstructed access to the sun’s rays for most or all of the day. Shading on the system can significantly reduce energy output. Climate is not really a concern, because PV systems are relatively unaffected by severe weather. In fact, some PV modules actually work better in colder weather. Most PV modules are angled to catch the sun’s rays, so any snow that collects on them usually melts quickly. There is enough sunlight to make solar energy systems useful and effective nearly everywhere in North Carolina for commercial buildings and residential houses. That all being said, solar energy can work just about anywhere. Most of the United States, has a better solar resource – i.e., receives more solar radiation – than Germany, which is the world’s largest solar market. Smart policies and proper system design are the two most important factors for determining whether a solar installation will make economic sense.

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Are you considering keeping an eyelash viper as a pet? These beautiful and unique reptiles require specific care and attention to thrive in captivity. Don’t worry, mastering eyelash viper care is easier than you think with the right knowledge and guidance. In this article, we’ll provide expert tips and a species profile to help you become an expert in eyelash viper care. From their natural habitat to feeding schedules, we’ll cover everything you need to know to ensure your pet’s health and wellbeing. So, let’s dive in and learn how to provide the best possible care for your eyelash viper! Table of Contents - Eyelash vipers are easy to care for with proper training, but feeding schedule is important. - Their vivarium should replicate their natural habitat and maintain proper temperature, humidity, and lighting. - Common health issues include mouth rot, respiratory infections, and mites, which can be treated with antibiotics and essential oils. - Breeding is easy in captivity during late winter to early spring, and pregnant females have live births. They should only be purchased from reputable breeders and not caught in the wild for resale. Eyelash Viper Facts You already know that the Eyelash Viper is native to Central and Southern America, but did you know that they come in a variety of colors? These snakes can be yellow, gold, red, or brown. They have a triangular head and enlarged supraciliary resembling eyelashes. Females grow up to 36 inches, while males grow up to 34 inches. These snakes can live up to 10 years in the wild and up to 16 years in captivity. When it comes to the Eyelash Viper’s diet, it’s important to have a feeding schedule in place. These snakes are carnivorous and feed on small prey such as mice, lizards, and frogs. They are solitary and peaceful, but will strike if harassed. In terms of behavior, they can be kept in the same enclosure as long as there is plenty of space. It’s important to replicate their natural habitat in the vivarium and maintain a natural day to night light cycle. The temperature should stay between 79-82 degrees Fahrenheit with a designated basking area of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity levels should be around 60-70%. Habitat and Enclosure Setup To properly house your eyelash viper, you need to set up a vivarium that replicates their natural habitat. This means providing plenty of vertical space, natural hiding places, and appropriate substrate. You should also add some vivarium decoration such as branches, vines, and foliage to create a visually appealing environment for your snake. Make sure to avoid sharp or rough decorations that may cause injury to your pet. Temperature and humidity control are crucial for your eyelash viper’s well-being. You should keep the enclosure’s temperature between 79-82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a designated basking area of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a heat source such as an under-tank heating pad or a ceramic heat emitter to maintain the temperature. Additionally, keep the humidity levels between 60-70% by misting the enclosure daily and providing a water bowl for your pet to soak in. With proper temperature and humidity control, your eyelash viper will thrive in its new home. Eyelash Viper Care: Health and Breeding Tips Get ready to take your eyelash viper breeding game to the next level with these helpful pointers that will have you slithering towards success like a snake through the grass. Breeding eyelash vipers can be a challenge, but with the right preparation and knowledge, you can successfully breed these mesmerizing creatures. It is important to note that breeding should only be done in captivity, as catching wild eyelash vipers for resale is illegal in many countries. One of the biggest breeding challenges with eyelash vipers is ensuring that the female is healthy and receptive to breeding. Common health issues in eyelash vipers include mouth rot, respiratory infections, and mites. Before attempting to breed your vipers, it is important to ensure that both the male and female are in good health. Once breeding has begun, it is important to monitor the female closely for any signs of illness or stress. The following table outlines common health issues in eyelash vipers and their corresponding treatments: |Common Health Issue||Treatment| |Mouth Rot||Antiseptic oral cleaners and antibiotics| |Respiratory Infections||Essential oils| |Mites||Remove with a fine-toothed comb and treat with medication| |Parasites||Treat with medication to prevent anemia| Breeding eyelash vipers can be a rewarding experience for the experienced snake keeper. With proper preparation and attention to health and breeding challenges, you can successfully breed these stunning creatures. Frequently Asked Questions How do you sex an eyelash viper? To sex an eyelash viper, look at their tail length and hemipenal bulges. Males have longer tails and more noticeable bulges. Breeding requirements include late winter to early spring breeding and allowing males to engage in a “dance of the adders.” Can eyelash vipers be kept in groups? Want to keep multiple eyelash vipers together? Group housing is possible, but it depends on the social behavior and compatibility of each snake. Aggression may occur, so monitor closely and provide enough space. What is the temperament of eyelash vipers? Eyelash vipers have a peaceful and solitary temperament, but can strike if harassed. Handling techniques should be gentle and cautious. Behavioral patterns show that they can share an enclosure with plenty of space, but avoid housing multiple males together. How often should eyelash vipers be handled? When handling Eyelash Vipers, remember to prioritize their safety and yours. Handling frequency should be minimal, and techniques should be gentle and methodical. Always wash your hands before and after handling to prevent the spread of bacteria. What is the average clutch size of a breeding pair of eyelash vipers? You’re curious about the average clutch size of breeding eyelash vipers. Breeding behavior involves a dance of adders to determine mating rights. The incubation period lasts around 6 months and clutch size can range from 4 to 20 eggs. Congratulations! You now have a solid understanding of how to care for an eyelash viper as a pet. Remember, this species requires specialized care, including a carefully designed enclosure and a specific feeding schedule. By providing the right environment and nutrition, you can help ensure your eyelash viper remains healthy and happy for years to come. As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is particularly true when it comes to caring for exotic pets like the eyelash viper. By taking the time to educate yourself on their specific needs and following expert advice on their care, you can minimize the risk of health problems and enjoy a rewarding pet ownership experience. So, go forth and master the art of eyelash viper care!

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Angkor Wat – Huge Hindu Temple built in reign of King Suryavarman II Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters. The temple itself is 1 km square and consists of three levels surmounted by a central tower. The walls of the temple are covered inside and out with bas-reliefs and carvings. Nearly 2000 distinctively rendered apsara carvings adorn the walls throughout the temple and represent some of the finest examples of Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. But it is the exterior walls of the lower level that display the most extraordinary bas-reliefs, depicting stories and characters from Hindu mythology and the historical wars of Suryavarman II. It is in the viewing of the bas-reliefs that a private tour guide can be very helpful. Popular Sunrise location with Reflecting Pool at Angkor Wat The northern reflecting pool in front is the most popular sunrise location. For sunrise, arrive very early, well before sunrise begins. The sun will rise behind Angkor Wat providing a silhouette of Angkor’s distinctively shaped towers against a colored sunrise sky. Some of the best colors appear just before the sun breaks over the horizon. A giant Postcard Photo Against the Sky The visual impact of Angkor Wat, particularly on one’s first visit, is awesome. As you pass through the outer gate and get your first glimpse, its size and architecture make it appear two dimensional, like a giant postcard photo against the sky. After you cross through the gate and approach the temple along the walkway it slowly gains depth and complexity. To maximize this effect you should make your first visit in optimal lighting conditions, i.e. after 2:00PM. Do not make your first visit to Angkor Wat in the morning when the back lighting obscures the view. Carvings in Angkor Wat The first level of is the most artistically interesting. Most visitors begin their exploration with the base-reliefs that cover the exterior wall of the first level, following the bas-reliefs counterclockwise around the temple. Bas-relief highlights include the mythological Battle of Kuru on the west wall; the historical march of the army of Suryavarman II, builder of Angkor Wat, against the Charm, followed by scenes from Heaven and Hell on the south wall; and the classic Churning of the Ocean Milk on the east wall. Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple, it has served as a Buddhist temple since Buddhism became Cambodia’s dominant religion in the 14th century. Some say that it is good luck to pay homage to all four Buddha images before departing Angkor.

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Part 1 – Why study the social justice movement? Part 2 – What is social justice? Part 3 – What is ‘critical theory’? Part 4 – What are the strengths of critical theory? Part 5 – What are the weaknesses of critical theory? Let’s turn now to the question: what is social justice? If you want to have an intelligent conversation or think intelligent thoughts, you need to define your terms clearly. This discussion is no exception. What does ‘social justice’ mean? The answer is complicated because there are many different ways in which people use the phrase ‘social justice.’ Let me list just three: two concrete, and one more nebulous. First, a concrete definition. The term ‘social justice’ was coined by a Catholic priest in the 19th century. He used it to encapsulate the Catholic Church’s teaching about what a just, fair, righteous society looks like – a society which promotes human flourishing. Even today, there is an entire section in the Catholic Catechism on ‘social justice.’ Additionally, when some evangelical Christians talk about ‘social justice,’ they’re also thinking about “applying biblical principles of justice to society.” However, my guess is that when you mention the term ‘social justice’, most people don’t immediately think of ‘Catholic social teaching’ or ‘the Bible.’ Some might, but most don’t. When you hear the phrase ‘social justice’ on a college campus, maybe 5-10% of people are using it this way. Second, there’s a more common, but imprecise definition. The phrase ‘social justice’ can be used as a catchphrase, a synonym for ‘a very good thing that everyone wants.’ So if your roommate says that he cares about ‘social justice’ and you say “what’s that?” it’s possible that he’ll respond: “Uh… you know… it’s justice… but social. Social. Justice. It’s just one of those things that everyone loves, like ice cream or puppies or baseball. And if you don’t love it, you’re a monster!” If we’re a little more careful, we could define ‘social justice’ as “the application of justice to laws and social institutions.” But then, you have to answer questions like: “What is justice?” “What is a just law?” “How do we apply the concept of justice to social institutions?” These are very important questions that don’t have agreed upon answers. People could accept this definition and still differ radically over what ‘social justice’ entails because they have entirely different conceptions of ‘justice.’ So this second definition is common, but not very concrete or helpful. But there’s a third definition and that’s the definition I want to focus on tonight. Here’s a book called “Readings for Diversity and Social Justice.” It’s an anthology of essays, articles, and book chapters on a whole variety of topics, all of which are categorized under the heading of ‘social justice.’ Unsurprisingly, the phrase ‘social justice’ popped up quite a bit, but I just assumed that they were using it according to definition #2: it was just a vague buzz-word that didn’t mean very much. I came across the first explicit definition of the phrase “social justice” on page 483. I kid you not. Page 483. The definition provided was: “social justice [is] the elimination of all forms of social oppression.” I had an epiphany. Everything suddenly made sense. The authors in this book were not using the term ‘social justice’ as some nebulous, meaningless catchphrase. It meant something very concrete and precise. To them, ‘social justice’ meant ‘liberation from all forms of social oppression.’ They’d been using this phrase perfectly consistently and concretely throughout the book. And they had been enumerating many different forms of oppression: sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, colorism, ageism. It’s right there on the cover of the book! The authors were unanimous that all these –isms were forms of oppression and that social justice just is the elimination of these oppressions. That’s their definition of ‘social justice.’ So we have three potential definitions for social justice: Catholic social teaching, an imprecise positive buzzword, and ‘liberation from oppression.’ Tonight, I want to focus just on this third definition: ‘liberation from oppression.’ Why? Because that’s what I think most people actually mean when they talk about ‘social justice.’ I’m certainly not denying that it’s possible to use the phrase in some other way. But I want to focus on this one definition, because it is very influential in academia and is the one you’re the most likely to run into on campus. Now that we’ve defined ‘social justice’ are we done? Not exactly. The term ‘social justice’, at least according to this third definition, refers to “the elimination of all forms of social oppression.” But what is oppression? How do we define that? And here, we need to turn to a set of ideas called ‘critical theory.’ I’m going to argue that ‘social justice’ in this sense is rooted in an ideology known as critical theory so that when you hear people talk about ‘social justice’ they’re often assuming the framework of ‘critical theory.’

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This course enables students to further develop knowledge and skills in computer science. Students will use modular design principles to create complex and fully documented programs, according to industry standards. Student teams will manage a large software development project, from planning through to project review. Students will also analyse algorithms for effectiveness. They will investigate ethical issues in computing and further explore environmental issues, emerging technologies, areas of research in computer science, and careers in the field. This is not a comprehensive outline, and it should always be considered a work in progress… - Coding in Python - Snakify (as a review) - join as a student, adding pbeens@gmail as your teacher. A dedicated link will be provided for you in Google Classroom. - Programming challenges - Final Project - Using multiple Google accounts in Chrome - Lifelong learning - Cool Tech - Collaboration using GitHub

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This is the largest Canyon Live Oak I’ve ever seen which probably means it’s the oldest. I don’t know how to measure it. My husband says about 6 feet in diameter but that is only if you don’t measure those branches which come out of the base. The largest Canyon Live Oak is in Southern California. Go here to see it. You have to (no, scratch that) you GET to scroll through some of the most magnificent portraits of the biggest, oldest, strongest trees you’ve ever seen photographed lovingly in all their glory in order to find it—well worth the 15 seconds it takes. Ours, here is Humboldt looks close in size to my untrained eye. The oldest is supposedly 11 feet in diameter. Even at 6 feet, ours is in the upper limits of age at around 300 years old. According to the National forest service: Canyon live oak was one of the woods most commonly used by early California settlers for farm implements, shipbuilding, furniture, and fuel. The common name maul oak came from its use as a splitting maul. Canyon live oak has been considered a non-manageable hardwood; however, its high caloric value and rapid sprout growth make it an excellent source of fuelwood. Manufactured into paneling, the wood makes an attractive multicolored interior wall covering. [We have some in our house and it is spectacular. People comment on its beauty constantly.] … The ability of canyon live oak to grow on steep, rocky, moving slopes makes it an excellent stabilizer of soils on steep slopes…. The acorns are an important source of food for scrub and Steller’s jays, acorn woodpecker, band-tailed pigeon, wild turkey, mountain quail, ground squirrel, woodrat, black bear, and mule deer. Deer also use the foliage as food. Just an idea but I’d love to see folk send in photos of the biggest/oldest trees in their areas with rough measurements. Surely I’m not the only one in love with these trees that have stretched their roots into Humboldt dirt before there were white settlers in the area. My email is [email protected]

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The most abundant material on Earth exhibits some unusual chemical properties when placed under extreme conditions. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have shown that water, in hot dense environments, plays an unexpected role in catalyzing complex explosive reactions. A catalyst is a compound that speeds chemical reactions without being consumed. Platinum and enzymes are common catalysts. But water rarely, if ever, acts as a catalyst under ordinary conditions. Detonations of high explosives made up of oxygen and hydrogen produce water at thousands of degrees Kelvin and up to 100,000 atmospheres of pressure, similar to conditions in the interiors of giant planets. While the properties of pure water at high pressures and temperatures have been studied for years, this extreme water in a reactive environment has never been studied. Until now. Using first-principle atomistic simulations of the detonation of the high explosive PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), the team discovered that in water, when one hydrogen ion serves as a reducer and the hydroxide (OH) ion serves as an oxidizer, the ions act as a dynamic team that transports oxygen between reaction centers. "This was news to us," said lead researcher Christine Wu. "This suggests that water also may catalyze reactions in other explosives and in planetary interiors." This finding is contrary to the current view that water is simply a stable detonation product. "Under extreme conditions, water is chemically peculiar because of its frequent dissociations," Wu said. "As you compress it to the conditions you'd find in the interior of a planet, the hydrogen of a water molecule starts to move around very fast." In the molecular dynamic simulations using the Lab's BlueGene L supercomputer, Wu and colleagues Larry Fried, Lin Yang, Nir Goldman and Sorin Bastea found that the hydrogen (H) and hydroxide (OH) ions in water transport oxygen from nitrogen storage to carbon fuel under PETN detonation conditions (temperatures between 3,000 Kelvin and 4,200 Kelvin). Under both temperature conditions, this "extreme water" served both as an end product and as a key chemical catalyst. For a molecular high explosive that is made up of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, such as PETN, the three major gaseous products are water, carbon dioxide and molecular nitrogen. But to date, the chemical processes leading to these stable compounds are not well understood. The team found that nitrogen loses its oxygen mostly to hydrogen, not to carbon, even after the concentration of water reaches equilibrium. They also found that carbon atoms capture oxygen mostly from hydroxide, rather than directly from nitrogen monoxide (NO) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Meanwhile water disassociated and recombines with hydrogen and hydroxide frequently. "The water that comes out is part of the energy release mechanism," Wu said. "This catalytic mechanism is completely different from previously proposed decomposition mechanisms for PETN or similar explosives, in which water is just an end product. This new discovery could have implications for scientists studying the interiors of Uranus and Neptune where water is in an extreme form." The research appears in the premier issue (April 2009) of the new journal Nature Chemistry. - Christine J. Wu, Laurence E. Fried, Lin H. Yang, Nir Goldman & Sorin Bastea. Catalytic behaviour of dense hot water. Nature Chemistry, 2009; 1 (1): 57 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.130 Cite This Page:

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Unemployment of young people in the UK in February 2012 was 1.03m – down from 1.04m in the last quarter of 2011. Despite this modest fall, observers in the UK and around the world, including the UK’s National Institute of Economic and Social Research and the World Economic Forum, agree that youth unemployment represents one of the most serious economic and social problems facing developed and developing economies alike. Youth unemployment of 1.03m (at 22%) means that approximately one in five young people actively engaged in the labour market (those defined as active) are looking for work, but cannot obtain a job. Globally, some 75 million 16 to 24 year olds are unemployed. In some countries in the Arab world, up to 90% of 16-24 year olds are unemployed. Across the European Union, Spain tops the pile with youth unemployment at 47.1 per cent, with the lowest rate in Austria at just 7.3 per cent. In the UK there are 7.3m young people aged between 16 and 24 in the UK – roughly two thirds (4.8m) are ‘economically active’ and one third are ‘economically inactive’. The economically active are either working or available for, and seeking work - i.e. employed or unemployed - and the economically inactive are not available to work, or not seeking work. Most of these are students (1.8m). Youth unemployment in the UK has risen consistently during the last three recessions – in 1993 it was 15%, and by 2008 it had risen to 19%, with the latest rate of 22%. It is clear that the UK is suffering from a longer term structural problem, as well as suffering severe bouts of demand deficient youth unemployment. According to the Commission on Youth Unemployment, unemployed young people represent a financial time-bomb, with an estimated direct cost to the exchequer in 2012 of £4.8 billion and further costs to the economy of £10.7 billion in lost output. Of special concern is the number of long-term unemployed young people – defined as looking for work for 12 months or more - and those referred to as ‘NEETS’ – not in education, employment or training. In the wake of last year’s riots, concern is also focussing on unemployment among young black people. So what lies behind the figures? It is clear that young people face a number of significant challenges when attempting to make the transition from education and training to the labour market. While young people experience higher rates of unemployment than older generations their job security is lower, and they receive lower average pay. In addition, they are more likely to be employed on a part-time or temporary basis. Young people are also likely to be more proportionately affected by recession. Low-skilled youth show the highest unemployment rates. Ethnic minorities also seem to suffer higher rates of youth unemployment, although some economies fair better than others in this respect. According to recent research undertaken at Manchester University, which compared the UK and the USA – unemployment affecting black youth was significantly higher in the UK. According to Professor Yaojun Li, unemployment figures for black men in the US over the last three recessions were up to 50% lower than in the UK. He believes that the affirmative action programme and requirements for public institutions to employ people from all sections of the population adopted in the US has helped reduce the unemployment rate among black people. Many countries have introduced specific ‘active labour market policies' (ALMPs), including the provision of information and advice, the introduction of new types of employment contract and incentives to hire young people. Other policies include the provision of work experience and ‘job guarantees’. In many countries, specific vulnerable groups have been targeted, including early school leavers, disabled young people and those with few qualifications. In Austria, some 40% of young people go into work-based apprenticeships and many attend vocational colleges, where general education is combined with practical employment skills. Somewhat surprisingly, only 20% follow an academic programme. In the UK, as in the 1980s and 90’s, recent government policy has focussed on supply-side incentives, including the introduction of a Youth Contract, which includes an injection of £1bn to get young unemployed people working or studying. It also includes wage incentives worth more than £2,275 for each 18-24 year old an employer recruits or provides with work experience placements. There are also 20,000 incentive payments to support employers who create apprenticeships and £126m to help teenagers into education, employment or training. In 2010 the European Commission launched its Europe 2020 Youth On The Move initiative, to encourage young people to become more flexible and mobile, and to provide the young with better quality information across from across Europe. What is clear is that while such supply-side policies are essential to remove rigidities and restructure the labour market, firms will only take on workers when they themselves experience an increase in demand and are confident that this will be sustained. Given the lack of demand across Europe it is unlikely that youth unemployment will begin to fall in the medium term. Link; Discover the top 10 worst countries for youth unemployment. - International Labour Organisation (ILO) - The European Commission - The Daily Telegraph - World Economic Forum (Davos)

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Harvesting potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) feels like digging up treasure, and you can increase your haul by providing moist, weed-free soil and by growing high-yielding varieties. Annual, cool-season vegetables, potatoes grow best in full sun sites and acidic, fertile, well-draining sandy soil. Potatoes don't grow well in heavy soil, and are vulnerable to fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. One plant produces 2 to 4 pounds of potatoes. In some areas of the U.S., potatoes are invasive. Tubers exposed to sunlight turn green and become mildly poisonous. Providing Moist Soil Potatoes are shallow-rooted plants that benefit from light watering once or twice a week, and soil moisture has a major effect on potato yields. Too little or too much water reduces yields and encourages diseases. The amount of water potato plants need depends on the soil texture and moisture levels. To check if your potatoes need watering, take a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball, then try to form a ribbon of soil with your thumb and fingers. Potatoes growing in coarse soil need 1/2 inch of water when the ball just holds together when formed. In medium-textured soils potatoes need 1 inch of water when the soil forms a weak ball. Plants in fine-textured soil need 1 1/2 inch of water when the ball is firm and the soil forms a ribbon. Weeds compete with potatoes for water, light and nutrients, and reduce potato yields when they aren't controlled. Remove all weeds and weed roots before planting potatoes and weed again just as potato sprouts appear. As soon as you see the first potato sprout, pull up all the weeds on the potato bed. When the potatoes are growing strongly, the vines form a canopy that shades out most weeds. "White Rose," "Ute" russets, "Chieftain," "Red LaSoda" and other aggressive varieties are effective at shading out weeds. Grow potatoes on a new site every year to help reduce competition from weeds. Growing High-Yielding Varieties Potatoes vary widely in their texture, taste, shape and yield per plant. There are over 4,000 varieties of edible potatoes and many are commercially available to home gardeners. High-yielding potatoes include "White Rose," "Kennebec," "LaChipper," "Red LaSoda" and "Russet Norkotah." "Chieftain" produces well in heavy, clay soils. Buy only certified seed potatoes, which are disease-free. Grocery store potatoes are often infected with potato viruses, and they're treated with a chemical to help prevent the tubers from sprouting. Potato viruses reduce yields. Protecting Potatoes From Pests and Diseases For the healthiest plants and highest yields, protect your potatoes from pests and diseases. Growing potatoes in a new site every year helps prevent pest infestations and diseases. Space potato rows 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart to provide good air circulation and reduce the spread of diseases, and spread floating fabric row cover to protect the plants from pests. Place the cover over potato rows in spring before the sprouts appear, and weigh down the edges with stones so the fabric is in close contact with the soil. Water potatoes at the base of the plants and avoid wetting the leaves, which encourages leaf diseases. - University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Potatoes - UC Statewide IPM Online: Potato: Integrated Weed Management - UC Statewide IPM Online: Potato: Irrigation - The University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center: Growing Potatoes - Missouri Botanical Garden: Solanum Tuberosum - University of Florida IFAS Extension: Growing Potatoes at Home - Marina Lohrbach/iStock/Getty Images

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Advice For New Parents If you have recently found out that your child has Down Syndrome, you’ll be experiencing a variety of emotions. To help you, we have tried to answer some of the more commonly asked questions. Rest assured you’re not alone and we are here to offer support. If you would like to contact someone for more advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Could we have prevented our baby having Down syndrome? - No. Nothing either of you have done has contributed to this condition. Nobody is to blame for your child having Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder (i.e. something you are born with which is present in the baby at the moment of conception) caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. - Down syndrome occurs in all races, in all social classes, in all countries throughout the world and is born to women of any age. It is important to remember right from the start that nobody is to blame. - Standard Trisomy 21 is not hereditary; however the chances of having another child with the condition are increased. - Overall this chance is between 1 in 100 and 1 in 200, which is considerably less than the chance of say having ‘twins out of the blue’. Will our baby have health problems? It is important to remember that like any child your baby is an individual who will suffer health problems to a greater or lesser degree than the next child. There are no specific health problems that any child should have however there are more common areas that children with Down syndrome are susceptible to: Chest and sinus problems Babies and young children with Down syndrome tend to be more prone to chest and sinus infections, but thanks to better knowledge and care, such infections are no longer serious. Some babies with Down syndrome seem to lack the strength and determination to feed in the early days. Some may be slow to sort out the complicated coordination necessary to suck, swallow and breathe at the same time, and hence they splutter and choke a bit. Although not always the case many babies with Down syndrome find it easier to bottle feed and it will not harm your baby to have formula milk. The important thing is that you and your baby are as contented as possible. When you begin to feed your baby it is worth trying to hold them fairly upright to feed and to check that their tongue is not sticking to the roof of their mouth. Do not hurry the feed. Babies with Down syndrome often feed very slowly, so do not stop too quickly. About 1 in 3 children born with Down syndrome has a heart defect. Some are quite minor such as heart murmurs; some defects are severe and require medication and/or surgery. Your baby’s heart will be one of the first things checked by doctors at your first neonatal examination and if there is any doubt about a heart defect being present further tests will be run. The Doctors will continue to check for heart defects throughout the first year. Malformations of the gastrointestinal tract are present in about 5 – 7% of children with Down syndrome. The most common malformation is a narrowed, obstructed duodenum (the part of the intestine into which the stomach empties). This disorder, called duodenal atresia, interferes with the baby’s milk or formula leaving the stomach and entering the intestine for digestion. The baby often vomits forcibly after feeding, and cannot gain weight appropriately until the defect is repaired. Your baby’s skin may be very dry. Massage them with a little baby oil and put some in the bath water. A little moisturising cream such as E45 cream rubbed gently on the skin every day should prevent drying and crying. Sight, hearing and speech About half of all Down syndrome children need glasses. Your child may have crossed eyes or have problems seeing things that are near or far away.Your child may have ear infections more often. Also, most children with Down syndrome have some amount of hearing loss. If your child is hard of hearing, he may have problems talking and understanding things that people say to him. What does the future hold for our child? - Children with any disability these days are being educated like all children to be part of and to contribute to their local community. Children with Down syndrome can grow and live long and fulfilled lives. - Provided they are allowed the opportunities they need to develop self-help skills and independence, people with Down syndrome can live a full and active life and have successful and happy relationships, facing many of the challenges we all encounter, school, further education, work and a home of one’s own. - More than ever, children with Down syndrome are now being integrated successfully into mainstream schools. One parent’s view - “When Adam was diagnosed our world was turned upside down and went from being one of the happiest days of our lives to one of the saddest. If we had known then just how much Adam was to enrich our lives and the lives of so many others, I’m sure we would not have felt this way. Adam is now a key and well respected member of his mainstream school and is always the centre of attention wherever he may be.”

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Injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are a common treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee – a condition that affects 27 million Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The injections replace natural HA that has depleted from one’s joints, which can cause pain and stiffness due to the lack of lubrication between bones moving against each other. There are eight different HA products sold in the U.S. with annual sales approaching $1 billion. And while all of these products are approved by the FDA, studies have produced mixed results on their effectiveness, leading researchers and doctors to question how HA actually functions in the body. A research group led by Lawrence Bonassar, professor of biomedical engineering, and graduate student Edward Bonnevie has discovered that another molecule, lubricin, helps anchor HA at the tissue surface, which, in turn, helps to move cartilage into a low-friction regime. “The implication of this finding is that the efficacy of HA treatment might depend on how much lubricin is in the joint at the time of injection, which could explain why clinical trials of HA have such variable outcomes and may also suggest new formulations of HA that might be even more effective in the clinic,” said Bonassar. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, examined how multiple formulations of HA lubricated cartilage and found that they all worked by a similar mechanism, “one that is very similar to how a car hydroplanes on a wet road,” said Bonassar. Essentially, the viscous HA solutions form pressurized films that lower the friction coefficient of cartilage, particularly at higher sliding speeds. “For many years, people doubted that this mechanism could happen in cartilage because the tissue is both flexible and porous. In this paper, we show definitively that cartilage can move to this low-friction domain in the presence of highly viscous HA solutions,” said Bonassar. Scientists from Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. co-authored the study and used the results to bioengineer a new derivative of natural HA. This new HA derivative, known as HYADD4, has been approved by the FDA for clinical use in the U.S. and will be marketed under the name Hymovis starting in March.

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About Rhodes scholarship The Rhodes scholarship is one of the oldest, prestigious and biggest scholarships of the world. Following, it is serving back from 1902, making it the first large-scale program of international scholarship. The English businessman and politician Cecil John Rhodes was the man who is behind the establishment of this scholarship. It is an opportunity for young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Provider of the Rhodes scholarship The Rhodes Scholarships originated from the world’s oldest university in English speaking world, the University of Oxford. Additionally, the University of Oxford is the top-ranked and most influential as well as popular university all over the world. Oxford has already taught 27 prime ministers of the United Kingdom. Plus, the University of Oxford operates the world’s oldest university museum, as well as the largest university press in the world and the largest academic library system nationwide. Value of Rhodes scholarship Oxford awards recipient of the Rhodes scholarship with giant and generous prize. Generally, the prize of Rhodes scholarships includes full-time tuition fee, health insurance, living stipend and even the two flight tickets to arrive and depart UK. In overall, the worth of scholarship in pounds is £15,141 in a year. In addition to that, it also covers funding and costs for attending conferences and researches. Outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service are the major four key factors that are considered while granting Rhodes scholarships. Furthermore, you must have enough English language skills as well as academic credits to enroll in graduate programs in United Kingdom. Please visit the website of Rhodes Scholarship for more information.

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When a name becomes a place, 1987 Brass, bronze 30 x 520 Cm. The MeNORaH, https://en.wikipedia.org/ Drawing of the (original) MeNORaH, made by RaMBaM / Maimonides (1138-1204), in the Oxford manuscript of 'Commentary to the Mishnah' (Menachot ch. 3) the MeNORaH depicted on the Arch of Titus, Rome, should be explained as the image of the wax sprues which were attached to the positive replica of the original MeNORaH. Therefore, the seven branched candleholder depicted on the Arch, is as a matter of fact, a representation of the wax rods, the treelike wax spures which were added to the positive replica of the MeNORaH before the casting. It is crucial to remember, that the sprues are removed after the casting, and the object is polished. Lost-wax casting http://www.wikiwand. com/en/Lost-wax_casting http://www.linda-shaw.com/h_ casting/casting_2/casting_2. htm The Arch of Titus, Via Sacra, Rome This is what the doubling of MaKOM designating, the sum-total of Measurement in MOED. And in so far as the doubling of MaKOM is a projection of itself, the promise which has been made in GaLUT is the rule, much rather than the exception. This is most obvious, GaLUT is a written text, a readable but a concealed architectural plan, a repetitive gesture for which purpose is to over come the absence of MaKOM. Please note: the word מועד MOED in Hebrew means - Appointed time, Specific time, Specific date ; Commemorative date. (When a name becomes a place), 1985 Bronze, brass, walking stick (...for blind person), 20 x 70 x 105 Cm.

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Food Adulteration is a term defined by the addition of unhygienic and insecure food ingredients and reducing its standards. And thus the food substance fails to convene federal/state standards of food safety. It can be due to the raise the amount of that particular substance in its raw form o the prepared form, which may also cause reducing in actual quality of the same. There are many kitchen tricks to find out whether the food is adulterated or not, these have been described in the followed article. This food adulteration have very severe effects on our health, since people are consuming thee food items without checking and therefore are at high risk of health disorders. Although, govt. are taking steps towards it but as usual the acts enforced by the government are not been followed strictly. Now it becomes our duty to take some preventive measures towards it, such as checking the expiry date and source of the product could help. Any food item is said to be adulterated if: - If some despicable or substandard substances have been present in it partially or on complete basis. - If some ingredient of the same have been partially or wholly preoccupied. - If that food item has been made, packed and stored under unhygienic conditions. - If it contains certain smutty, rotten, unhealthy or decayed animal or vegetable or it has been infected with the pests. - If the food item consists of certain poisonous constituent. - If the food item has unstipulated coloring substance or it has been laid in excess of the standard limits. - If the food item have certain restricted preservative in undue amount. - If the quality of food item descends below its required standard. HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) HACCP, also referred to as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, is an organization in which the food safety and purity is intended through study and management of chemical, physical or biological hazards from the manufacture of raw material and its acquiring and treatment, to its production, sales and utilization up to the finished food item. Tricks to find out Adulteration in food items Food Adulteration is a commonly seen problem which exists around the whole world, in every country and state. This turns your daily food substances somewhat unhygienic and perilous. However, it is intricate to remove it instantaneously via following kitchen tactics for staying safe. |You must also Read:| |Fruits And Vegetables For Healthy Eyes| |Diet for Healthy Pregnancy| |Acupressure Therapy For Healing The Body| 1. Turmeric & Pulses (like moong, channa etc): Metallic Yellow is added to increase the yellow color of the food item, such as in kesari dal. - Test to determine adulterant: Mix half-spoon of turmeric powder or besan in 20ML water (lukewarm). Include some drops of certain acid (such as hydrochloric acid) and observe if the water changes to pink or purple or violet color, it depicts the presence of Metallic Yellow. - Detrimental Outcomes: It’s extremely carcinogenic & if used for incessant duration of time and also results in stomach disorders. - Test to determine Adulterant: Take a tiny part of the food item and put it on the dampened white blemishing paper. And if the colored swayed on the blemishing paper, it depicts the presence of Malachite green on it. - Detrimental Outcomes: The Malachite green is a colored dye in actuality and it has been evident to be carcinogenic for us (human beings) if in taken for prolonged time. - Test to determine Adulterant: The argemone seeds have white color inside, if it is pressed you can see the same and also have somewhat rough surface then mustard seeds. And on the other hand, the mustard seeds are very smooth and have yellow color inside. - Detrimental Outcomes: The utilization of these seeds could result in endemic dropsy & critical glaucoma. The adolescent people and senior people with lack of immunity power are more prone to these. - Test to determine adulterant: Take a little sample in certain test tube and mix 20 ML of water in it and then boil it. Then cool it for some time to the room temperature and include one or two drops of iodine mixture. If the mixture changes to blue color, it depicts the presence of starch. - Detrimental Outcomes: The mixing of unhealthy, untreated water or starch can result in stomach disorders. It extremely diminishes the dietary amount of the constituents. - Test to determine adulterant: Few drops of lemon juice can help to show the presence of washing powder in itThe accidental adulteration is a consequence of unawareness or the shortage of facilities to preserve the quality of the food. This might be due to the pesticides or the fertilizers effect on it. Improper management of foods and its packaging procedures may also cause adulteration in foods. The pre-planned food adulteration is commonly seen for the purpose of making profit or gaining in financial terms. The commonly seen method is via adding color in distinct food items referred to as color adulteration. Some instances of premeditated adulteration are including water in the milk, irrelevant substances in ground spices, or elimination or substitution of concrete from the natural products of milk. Natural Adulteration happens because of the presence of particular chemicals, natural substances or radicals occurring physically in foods which are detrimental for health and are not comprised within the foods either with intention or by ignorance. Some of the instances include noxious types of pulses, green vegetables, mushrooms, fishes and sea foods etc. Approximately about five thousand varieties of marine fishes are considered to be poisonous and several of these are being consumed by us. Beyond Safety n Purity Constraints The mineral oil which when combined with cooking oil and facts, can result in diseases such as cancer. The Lead Chromate which is an adulterant of turmeric powder & spices can initiate paralysis, anemia, brain hemorrhage and pregnancy complications (even abortions) etc. When cobalt is mixed with water or liquids can result in the damage in cardiac system. The copper, zinc or tin when used as an adulterant can cause disorders like vomiting, colic or even diarrhea. Preventive Measures of food adulteration The preeminent way to avoid the health disorders in human being is to prevent them before happening. There are many ways via we can make sure that we are safe. We can initiate by procuring interest in the vendor’s shop (from where you buy the ingredients of food). We are also required to confirm whether these food items are consistently checked by the food inspectors or not and are also stored under hygienic conditions. We are required to confirm that their packaging is up to the mark or not and also see their expiry date and also the origin of the product. It is also obligatory to converse with our society members to check if any individual is getting sick after consuming any food ingredient bought from a specific retailer or from a hotel or restaurant. We should also make the people aware of the appalling effects of food adulteration so that when they found something like this, they know what action they have to take? We are necessitated to keep in mind that the infectivity could occur in minute quantities as well for prolonged time and it may not be possible to determine or gets late to intercede. Therefore, it is sensible that each and every person should take interest in this topic and let their dear ones aware about this peril.. Below Articles may be helpful to you: Common Yoga Mistakes To Be Avoided By Beginners Positive Effects Of Organic Foods On Daily Life To Know How We Can Protect Our Skin In Different Weathers 2. Green Peas / Chilly / other Vegetable’s food adulterant: To emphasize the vivid and radiant color of the vegetable, malachite green is combined in them. 3. Mustard Seeds / Oil Adulterant: The argemone seeds are added to these food items to increase their weight. 4. Paneer / Cheese / Condensed Milk / Khoya & other milk adulterant: In these food substances starch is added to give them a strong and loaded texture. 5. Ice-Cream: In ice creams, washing powder is being added to increase the bright white shine and the buoyancy of its flavor.

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Research has shown that alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness are strong predictors of successful literacy development in children (for a review see Adams, 1990; Lonigan, Burgess, & Anthony, 2000; Wagner et al., 1997). In processing both spoken and written language, the human brain employs a phonological code to represent linguistic information. This code is unique for each individual language, as each language has its own distinct set of sounds, with very specific rules that govern how those sounds can be combined into syllables and words (for discussion see Cohn, 2003). Phonological awareness is the ability to manipulate language at the phonological level, that is, to "reflect on the component sounds of spoken words, rather than on their meanings" (Goswami, 2000, p. 251). Performance on measures of phonological awareness in kindergarten has been shown to predict success in reading, even in the later elementary school years (Anthony & Lonigan, 2004; Juel, 1988; Kirby, Parrila, & Pfeiffer, 2003; O'Connor & Jenkins, 1999; Schatschneider, Fletcher, Francis, Carlson, & Foorman, 2004; Vellutino & Scanlon, 1987). We know that children with specific reading disability, or dyslexia, have deficits in phonological awareness, possibly related to difficulties both with processing phonological information and with coding phonological representations of words in the mental lexicon (Goswami, 2002; Mann & Brady, 1988; Marshall, Snowling, & Bailey, 2001; Swan & Goswami, 1997; Vellutino & Scanlon, 1987). Although phonological processing ability appears to remain relatively stable over time (Wagner et al., 1997), research has shown that phonological awareness skills can be taught and that gains in phonological awareness are associated with corresponding gains in reading achievement (Lie, 1991; Torgesen, Morgan, & Davis, 1992; Vellutino & Scanlon, 1987). It is particularly important to recognize the role that phonological awareness plays as children with limited English proficiency (LEP) learn to read, both in their native language (L1) and in their second language (L2). Characteristically, these children exhibit both unique strengths and unique deficiencies in this area. Recent research has shown that, for English language learners, phonological awareness in the native language (L1) predicts successful literacy acquisition in both L1 and a second language (L2) (August & Hakuta, 1997; Durgunoglu, Nagy, & Hancin-Bhatt, 1993; Gottardo, 2002; Quiroga, Lemos-Britton, Mostafapour, Abbott, & Berninger, 2001). In other words, phonological awareness skills developed in L1 transfer to L2 and facilitate L2 literacy development. Phonological awareness skills are known to develop in a predictable pattern, which is the same from one language to another (i.e., from larger to smaller units of sound - from word to syllable to onset-rime to phoneme). Phonological awareness skills developed in one language can transfer to another language, even while those skills are still in the process of being developed (Cisero & Royer, 1995). Gottardo explored this connection between native language phonological skills and second language reading in a 2002 study with 92 Spanish-speaking first graders. She found that the strongest predictors of English word reading ability were L1 and L2 phonological processing, L1 reading, and L2 vocabulary (Gottardo, 2002). The ability of phonological awareness skills to transfer from one language to another presents advantages that are readily apparent; however, transfer can also bring disadvantages. Sometimes L2 learners inappropriately generalize their first language's rules of syntax, spelling, phonology, or pragmatics to their second language. This tendency, commonly referred to as negative transfer, or interference, can have an adverse effect on L2 literacy acquisition (Bialystok, 2002; Brice & Roseberry-McKibbin, 2001; Francis, 1998). In terms of phonological awareness, the closer the phonologies of L1 and L2, the greater the likelihood that transfer of skills will be positive rather than negative because children are more adept at manipulating the sounds and patterns that exist in their native language (Bialystok, 2002). For example, if both L1 and L2 are alphabetic languages, transfer will be facilitated, although positive transfer has also been documented between languages with very different orthographies, such as Cantonese and English (Gottardo, Yan, Siegel, & Wade-Woolley, 2001). An important factor here may be the type of phonological skill in question. As Durgunoglu (2002) notes, "there are certain literacy concepts and strategies that can be universal and operate across languages. These insights and skills need to be acquired only once and apply in all languages of LLs. However, there are also language-specific concepts and knowledge; for example, orthographic patterns that are specific to a language" (p. 192). Implications for Instruction: Discussions of literacy instruction for English language learners frequently focus on language of instruction. There is not enough evidence to recommend definitively that overall literacy instruction should be confined to either L1 or L2. Nevertheless, the strong link between L1 phonological awareness and L2 reading success suggests that efforts to develop literacy skills in L1 will translate into facility with L2 literacy development and that children will benefit from native language scaffolding as they learn to read in a second language. Teachers can play an important role in encouraging families of students with LEP to provide L1 literacy experiences at home. Many English language learners come from homes or cultures where literacy activities such as storybook reading are not common practice (Meier, 2003; Vernon-Feagans, Hammer, Miccio, & Manlove, 2002). Parents may not know that literacy experiences in the child's first language will contribute to literacy development in English. In addition, families often cannot find or afford children's books in their language. Assessment is an important part of any literacy program, and special attention should be given to assessing the language and literacy skills of English language learners. In order to have an accurate picture of a bilingual child's development, it is important to assess the child in both languages (August & Hakuta, 1997; Peña, Bedore, & Rappazzo, 2003; Tabors & Snow, 2002). Even then, one must keep in mind that the balance between languages is constantly changing, and language dominance can quickly shift. As the child becomes more proficient in English, he or she may actually lose ground in his or her first language, resulting in a situation in which testing would reveal relative weakness in both languages. Educators must be allowed to be creative and flexible in choosing and interpreting assessments for children with limited English proficiency. This includes being able to use informal assessments, including such tools as portfolios, observations, interviews, and other methods designed to document growth (McLaughlin, Gesi Blanchard, & Osanai, 1995). Assessment in both languages is particularly important in reading. If a bilingual child is having difficulty with reading in English, it is sometimes difficult to know whether the problem is the result of a reading disability or simply reflects a deficit in English language proficiency. Since literacy skills are known to transfer across languages, if these skills are present in the child's L1 but not in his or her L2, this indicates a deficit in L2 language proficiency and not a reading disability. This type of assessment would distinguish between students with special needs and students who simply need to improve their English language proficiency. Much of the research on phonological awareness and phonological transfer suggests that overall, bilingual children may have more highly developed metalinguistic skills than monolingual children (Bialystok, 2002; G. E. García, 2000; Lundberg, 2002; Vernon-Feagans et al., 2002). As Lundberg (2002) notes, "the early confrontation with a new language seems to stimulate a metalinguistic attitude; the child starts to think about linguistic form rather than content" (p. 173). Effective literacy programs take advantage of the English language learner's increased ability to attend to form in language by making use of explicit instruction in phonological awareness and phonics (August, 2002; August & Hakuta, 1997; G. G. García & Beltrán, 2003; Lundberg, 2002; Muter & Diethelm, 2001; Quiroga et al., 2001; Slavin & Cheung, 2003, 2004). Gersten and Geva (2003) spent two years observing 34 first grade classrooms in which at least three fourths of the students were English learners. Their goal was to link specific instructional strategies to reading growth among English language learners. The researchers identified six facets of instruction that predicted student growth in reading: explicit teaching; English learning; phonemic awareness and decoding; vocabulary development; interactive teaching; and instruction geared toward low performers. The effective teachers in this study systematically taught phonological awareness skills and decoding and then reinforced these skills through reading and writing. Teachers can also use knowledge of the primary language to understand their students' development. If teachers can familiarize themselves with the basics of phonology and spelling in their students' first language, this will help them to better understand their students' literacy development in English, and they will be better prepared to help students develop both English literacy skills and oral language proficiency (Helman, 2004). As children acquire literacy, they progress through definable, predictable stages of development that reflect their ever growing understanding of how written language works (Henderson & Templeton, 1986). Developmental spelling assessments are a valuable tool for assessing students' progress along the literacy continuum (Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton, & Johnston, 2000). Teachers of students with LEP can also use developmental spelling assessments to identify areas in which interference, or negative transfer, from L1 is causing problems. Beginning spellers, for example, use letter names to represent sounds. For example, an English speaker who is a beginning speller might spell "make" as "mak." A Spanish-dominant English language learner using the same strategy might spell the same word as "mek." The teacher who knows something about Spanish phonetics will understand why the child has used this spelling. Helman (2004) recommends beginning instruction for bilingual children with what she terms the commonalities, that is, the sounds and patterns that the two languages share (p. 456). Teachers can then move on to sounds and patterns that are different in the two languages. In this way, teachers can build upon the natural transfer of phonological abilities from L1 to English while using the confusion that may result from negative transfer as a springboard for discussion. It is also important to balance phonics instruction with reading of connected text. Students with limited English proficiency often continue to experience difficulties with reading, even after mastering the basic skills needed for decoding English text. Limited vocabulary and lack of background knowledge contribute to difficulties with reading comprehension, which often persist into the high school years. Among English language learners, both L1 vocabulary and L2 vocabulary contribute to achievement in English reading comprehension (Carlisle, Beeman, Davis, & Spharim, 1999; Proctor, Carlo, August, & Snow, 2005). Although bilingual children may have larger vocabularies overall, they typically have smaller vocabularies in each of their individual languages than do monolingual children (Droop & Verhoeven, 2003). They also tend to have fewer associations between words in their lexicons, reflecting a lack of depth in their vocabulary development (Droop & Verhoeven, 2003). Developing vocabulary and background knowledge will contribute to success in reading comprehension. English language learners benefit from explicit instruction in vocabulary. Organizing vocabulary around a theme facilitates learning. Multiple exposures to a word are needed in order for that word to become part of the lexicon (Nagy & Herman, 1987; Zahar, Cobb, & Spada, 2001). English language learners need opportunities to build background knowledge. Pre-reading activities can be used to identify gaps in students' knowledge and to introduce new concepts and vocabulary. Students should be given lots of opportunities to read narrative and expository text that they can read with at least 90% accuracy. Below 90% is considered frustrational level, or the level at which a student is not able to read with adequate word identification or comprehension.

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The Schleich male chimpanzee is a realistic animal figure designed to high standards of quality and durability. This male chimpanzee figurine is individually hand painted and accurately detailed. It can be used for imaginative play, or form part of a wider collection of animal figures. Chimpanzees are social creatures that live in large communities made up of smaller family groups of 3 to 6 apes. These communities can have 50 to 150 animals and are led by a dominant male called the Alpha.

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Centuries ago, a medieval philosopher, Maimonides (1135–1204), coined the saying “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”. To be honest, I never really liked that saying, but it does have some truth to it. There’s evidence that eating breakfast promotes physical activity, resting energy expenditure, good behavior, mood (a decline in fatigue/dysphoria), cognitive function and performance and is negatively associated with abdominal obesity (R, R, R). That’s because, if you eat, you have more energy and if you don’t eat, you have less energy. People who do intermittent fasting/skip breakfast might think they’re more mentally sharp and feel more energetic, but actually they move less and are less active, thus expend less calories. There are a few reasons why eating breakfast is inversely associated with obesity, and it’s a result of circadian regulation. Humans show faster gastric emptying, enhanced intestinal absorption, better insulin sensitivity, beta cell responsiveness and glucose tolerance, and an increased postprandial thermogenesis in the morning than in the afternoon/evening (R). There is a plethora of metabolic studies that support the notion of eating breakfast is preferable over eating dinner due to a phenomenon referred to as “evening diabetes” in which insulin sensitivity is higher early during the day, making it more likely to burn fat and stay lean and healthy. Also, people who eat breakfast have greater satiety for the rest of the day and tend to eat less in subsequent meals and lose more weight. Whereas people who tend to skip breakfast are more prone to frequent snacking and consuming lots of empty calories. This is because cortisol is highest in the morning and glycogen stores are lowest. Low glycogen stores signal the body to release cortisol to increase the production of glucose. Cortisol is a stress hormone and having it elevated for too long is detrimental to your health. Because of the negative result elevated cortisol has on the body, we automatically want to consume carbohydrate rich foods to lower it back down and to help us feel normal again (less tired, anxious, irritated, etc.). Those carbohydrate rich foods are usually going to be sugary foods that taste good. This is mainly because a big breakfast hasn’t been eaten and so frequent small snacks are required/desired during the day to try and fight the cortisol response. This in turn increases food and calorie consumption to a much larger degree which leads to weight gain. While it is commonly assumed that most people eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a couple of snacks in between, the reality is quite different. Using a smartphone app, Gill and Panda revealed a frequent and erratic daily eating pattern of “healthy”, overweight American adults, with up to 11 eating events per day, 25% of intake occurring before noon, and 35% of intake occurring after 18:00 h (R). And then people wonder why they’re still overweight. Am I right?Eating a proper breakfast can prevent frequent snacking and overeating. Skipping breakfast promotes insulin resistance and glucose intolerance caused by elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) and the inability of insulin to shut it down. The FFAs even stay elevated 5+ hours after the first meal is eaten, showing prolonged insulin resistance. Breakfast skipping also causes an increase in inflammatory potential, and this is not only because of an increase in the release of polyunsaturated fats from adipose tissue, but also because glycogen stores run too low, IL-6 (a highly inflammatory cytokine) becomes elevated to promote lipolysis (R, R). Eating big breakfasts and small dinners promotes greater fat loss and improves insulin sensitivity and reductions in triglycerides compared to small breakfasts and big dinners (R). Ok, so you get the picture. Breakfast is pretty important and pretty good for you. Let’s talk about what a good breakfast would look like. What is the perfect breakfast for satiety, boosting the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and increasing thermogenesis (diet induced termogenesis (DIT))? Protein is the most satiating macronutrient and also promotes the RMR and DIT. Whey protein boosts DIT slightly more than casein protein, but casein protein is better for satiety than whey. Milk protein is 80% casein and 20% whey and should provide great satiety during the day. Interestingly, goat’s milk promotes greater satiety than cow’s milk and it’s also better tolerated by most people (R). Additionally, the calcium in the milk also improves insulin sensitivity, AMPK, uncoupling protein (UCP), thyroid function and will aid in fat loss (R). According to studies, people who drink more milk tend to be leaner than none milk drinkers. Gelatin, an incomplete protein source, is about 40% more satiating than casein, soy and whey, yields about similar DIT and reduces subsequent food intake by 20% more than casein, soy or whey protein (R). Initially, food was thought to be satiating because of the tryptophan it contained (serotonin, which is made from tryptophan is thought to promote satiety). Gelatin contains no tryptophan and is equally as satiating as whey and casein. This is due to increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and insulin, which is the actual satiating promoter. Glycine, found in high concentrations in gelatin also stimulates dopamine release as well as GABA (through NMDA activation) and this promotes energy expenditure and satiation (R, R). In this study (R) more was found to be better. When 25% of the calories in the diet came from gelatin it was shown to boost energy expenditure and decrease hunger and the desire to eat more than when only 10% of the calories came from gelatin. As 25% of your total daily calories is a pretty big dose and will be pretty expensive, I’d recommend starting with at least 15g of gelatin daily to reap its benefits. Interestingly, DIT was 40% higher after a meal containing salmon and potato (high GI) compared to a meal with salmon and pasta (low GI). But that is not the interesting part. The interesting part is that the same effect was not found with a meal consisting of veal and potato or pasta. Protein from different fish sources has been shown to increase satiety and reduce ad libitum energy intake (EI) compared with animal proteins (beef, chicken, egg, or turkey). And this effect is not due to the omega 3 if you were wondering, because combining omega 3 with starch/sucrose/glucose abrogates the “anti-inflammatory” and “anti-obesity” effect of fish oil (R). It’s something else, probably the low-molecular-weight peptides from the protein in the salmon that provides the thermogenic effect, and only when combined with a high GI carb source (R). On to carbs. A good protein source is the base for a good breakfast, but carbs are also equally important. Cortisol is highest in the morning and glycogen stores the lowest, so eating a bunch of carbs will be the best approach. But consuming the right kind of carbs is most important. The wrong kind of carbs can spike your insulin and cause subsequent hypoglycemia and increased hunger. The right kind of carbs, and this is mostly high GI, will promote satiety and DIT to a greater extent than low GI. The trick would be to find which carbs work best for you. Cereals are not that great for satiation. Potato, rice and pasta provide equal satiation, but potato seems to postpone hunger more than rice or pasta (R). Satiation correlates with blood glucose, insulin and GLP-1. As long as you consume a hefty amount of carbs, it doesn’t really matter where you get it from (as long as it’s a clean source). If you are prone to getting hypoglycemia from high GI carbs, try lower GI foods like fruit. Fruit digest slowly and will provide you with sustained energy. Fructose is also able to restore DIT caused by insulin resistance. And not a whole bunch of fructose is required for this, just about 5-10g per meal. That’s equivalent to about 1 cup of orange or apple juice. If you think fruit is not as satiating as starches or other carbs, think again. Glucose and sucrose are shown t be equally satiating (R). Plus, if it’s in the form of whole fruits, the satiation effect will be even more pronounced, because of slower digestion and absorption. Combining your protein source with carbs is also necessary for DIT. The increase in DIT from a high protein high carb diet is 14.6+/-2.9%, compared to only 10% on a high protein, high fat diet. This increase in DIT correlates nicely with satiety as the higher DIT group also experienced greater satiety (R). Lastly, fats. The kind of fat you use with your breakfast also plays a great role in satiety, thermogenesis and subsequent fat loss. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT oil) promotes a greater increase in RMR, DIT and satiety than longer chain fats. Also, there appear to be no difference in satiety and DIT when the fat source is rich in poly-, monounsaturated- or saturated fat in lean individuals. But we aught to know by now that eating high PUFA foods will have a great negative effect on your health and should be avoided. Conversely to lean individuals, overweight/obese individuals experience an increase in DIT, energy expenditure and fat oxidation when a high monounsaturated fat source is used compared to a saturated fat source. A high MUFA meal (olive oil) significantly lowered the postprandial carbohydrate oxidation rate and increased fat oxidation compared to a meal rich in saturated fat (from cream) (R). This should be taken with caution as obese people already have an increase in baseline lipolysis (but blunted adrenergic stimulated lipolysis) as well as fat oxidation, so more fat oxidation might just indicate impaired glucose oxidation (which the study also found) and insulin resistance. Keep in mind that increased fat oxidation does not mean fat loss. They just burned more fat at the expense of glucose. Unless the metabolic rate is stimulated and more fat is burned together with glucose, it can be seen as a good thing. However, that was not the case here. Also, a high oleic acid diet could promote (inappropriate) lipolysis after some time, to such a degree that it will cause adipose and liver dysfunction (liver steatosis). Overall it might be a better idea to have a low fat breakfast in the first place. High protein and carbs should take preference and the little bit of fat in the meal should preferably be from a saturated fat source (MCT oil is a good idea). This is because a high fat breakfast, not only stimulates DIT subpar to carbs, but also impairs the ghrelin (hunger hormone) response and this may contribute to reduced satiety and overeating, especially amongst obese individuals (R). Furthermore, omega 6 rich oils/food sources should be avoided, as high linoleic acid intake promotes ghrelin (promotes hunger) and resistin (promote insulin resistance) (R). Some more tips for promoting satiety at breakfast. - Aerated foods, such as whipped cream, carbonated drinks, etc., promote greater satiety compared to more solid foods. - Adding chili to your breakfast can promote DIT. Chili works synergistically with protein, fiber, caffeine, green tea extract and MCT oil to promote DIT (R). - Cocoa increases UCP (heat production), reduces fatty acid synthase, promotes lipolysis and fat oxidation (not at the expense of glucose oxidation) and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. All of which promote fat loss and metabolic health (R, R, R). - Mild, but chronic, hypohydration is correlated with increased body weight and its attendant dysfunctions. The common denominator likely is angiotensin II (AngII), the principal hormone of body fluid regulation (R). Hypohydration has been shown to lead to hyperglycemia. This produced the hypothesis that increased hydration leads to an increase in cell volume which in turn leads to increased insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the renin aldosterone angiotensin system (RAAS) has also been linked with mitochondrial dysfunction, and treatments with RAAS antagonists improve mitochondrial function. Fruit and milk contain abundant amounts of water and is a great way to stay hydrated and keep RAAS in check. Glycine, creatine and betaine are all great osmolytes and should help keep cells hydrated and RAAS low. Recipe examples of a good breakfast - 300-500ml Skim/low fat milk - 1-2 ripe bananas - 200g pineapple - 1tbsp cocoa - 1tsp MCT oil - 1 scoop casein or 2 raw eggs and ½ scoop casein - 1-2tbsp hydrolyzed gelatin - 150-200g 93%< ground lean beef/turkey bacon - ½ cup fried mushrooms - Chili (pieces or Tabasco or other chili sauce) – optional - 400-500g boiled and mashed potato - 1 fried egg (in half a teaspoon of coconut, MCT or olive oil) - 100g oats flour - 1 ripe mashed banana - 1 – 2 eggs - a bit of low fat/skimmed milk - with fresh berries and 1 teaspoon of raw honey/coconut flour sugar for topping - 1 cup coffee with whipped cream and/or - 1 cup orange/apple juice As always, thanks so much for reading my article. If you found it helpful and insightful please like and share so others can also benefit from this information and feel free to leave a comment down below if you have any questions for me. Sign up for my FUN FACT FRIDAY Newsletter Where I share a weekly dose with my readers of small things I did that week; things I found interesting, maybe a good book I’m reading, something I’m experimenting with, an inspirational quote etc., and will also give you a link to the article I did that week. So don’t miss out!

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Europe heat wave turns deadly as France and U.K. brace for hottest days on record An unprecedented heat wave is underway in France and the U.K. that is likely to topple all-time national high temperature records and potentially kill several thousand people. The scorching heat is moving north into a more vulnerable region after tormenting Spain and Portugal. The big picture: The U.K. Met Office is forecasting the country's first-ever occurrence of 104°F (40°C) temperatures during this event, with a high of 97°F in London on Monday. - The U.K.'s national temperature record stands at 101.66°F (38.7°C) set in 2019. That is likely to fall as early as Monday. - According to Meteo France, even higher temperatures occurred there on Monday, with a preliminary peak of 108.68°F(42.6°C) in Biscarosse, a town in the country's southwest. - The air mass responsible for this extreme event originated in northwest Africa, with a heat dome and an area of low pressure just west of Iberia acting as a heat funnel. Context: Attribution studies of individual heat waves have shown that by increasing the global average surface temperature by about 1.2°C in the past century, human-induced climate change has dramatically boosted the odds of extreme heat events, along with their intensity and duration. - Research has even shown certain heat extremes would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. - European heat waves in particular have increased their occurrence three to four times faster than in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, according to a recent study. - "The chances of seeing 40°C days in the U.K. could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence," said Met Office climate scientist Nikos Christidis, in a statement issuing the country's first-ever Red warning for heat. Threat level: Extreme heat can be deadly, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, those with preexisting medical conditions and anyone without access to cooling. This is a particular concern for those in Great Britain, where only about 3% of homes have air conditioning. - Heat waves are especially dangerous when overnight temperatures remain high, depriving people of relief. Numerous records for hot overnight temperatures have been set so far during this event. - In Madrid, there have been at least five straight "torrid nights" when temperatures have not dropped below 78.4°F (25.8°C), Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for the national meteorological agency, stated via Twitter. - Massive wildfires associated with the heat are burning in southern France, parts of Spain and Portugal, with at least 28,000 evacuated in France alone. The worst fires in France are in the southwestern part of the country, in the region of Gironde. - Extreme fire behavior, akin to fast-moving and destructive fires in the American West, has been observed with these blazes. Zoom in: The heat wave is also proving disruptive to transportation networks. In the U.K., officials are warning against traveling by rail, since hot temperatures can warp railroad tracks. - Rail service in the U.K. has been cut back for Monday and Tuesday, and museums in London are closing early Monday and closed Tuesday as the country braces for its hottest day on record. - Even air travel may be affected, as aircraft tires sink into hot concrete and planes require longer runways to takeoff. By the numbers: Dozens of monthly and all-time temperature records have been set or tied in Western Europe. - 116.6°F (47.0°C): Preliminary national July high-temperature record set Thursday in Pinhão, Portugal. - 108.14°F (42.3°C): All-time high-temperature record set in Pamplona, Spain, on Sunday. - 98.8°F (37.1°C): All-time temperature record set for Wales on Monday. - 86°F (30°C): All-time highest temperature record set in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday. - 100.58°F (38.1°C): High temperature Monday in Santon Downham, England, on Monday. Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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About the Artist Passion for Justice The Prudence Crandall Story (Grades 6-12) An inspiring program that uses theatre to underscore the issues of racial prejudice and student leadership. This dynamic program for middle and high school students combines Arts for Learning Connecticut’s dramatic performance and prejudice awareness workshops led by ADL’s A World of Difference Institute trainers. This thought provoking program will provide your students with the tools to promote equality and fight prejudice. Performance and Discussion for 200 students and Workshop for 30 students.

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There are eight main Celtic Festivals - earth's natural calendar, the cycles of Nature - recognised by Celts, Pagans and Wiccans as sabbats : Samhain, Midwinter Solstice or Yule, Imbolc, Spring/Vernal Equinox, Beltane, Midsummer Solstice, Lammas and the Autumn Equinox The changes in the seasons reflect our lives - changing through birth, maturity, old age and death. is raditionally regarded as the first day of Spring. Life is beginning to stir again. The Celtic festival of Imbolc or Imbolg - pronounced without the 'b' sound - is sometimes known as Oimelc, means 'ewe's milk' - named due to the birth of the first lambs at this time, and celebrates the return of fresh milk. Sheep are earlier with their offspring than cattle, because they could crop lower for grass and so thrive on the sparse vegetation in late winter. Cattle would calf around March. Bulbs are beginning to shoot and new lambs are born - the cycle of new life returns to the earth. Imbolc marks the rebirth of nature and fertility. It is the celebration of the gradual dawning of increasing light, bringing nature to life again. is awakening from her winter rest - the long winter darkness begins to break as the daylight hours begin to get longer. Christians celebrate this festival as Candlemas. focuses on the Goddess, both as Mother - as she gave birth to the Sun God at the Winter solstice, and as the Maiden. Brigit was originally considered a form of the Triple Goddess. Imbolc is a feast dedicated to the Goddess in her maiden aspect, in her guise as Brigid, Bridget, Bride, Brighid, Brigit or Brig - goddess of learning, poetry, prophesying, craftmanship, agriculture and healing. Imbolc is considered a traditional healing time and it is a good time to consider ways to improve your health. Brigid is the virgin goddess who brings new life to the earth. She is known as Bride in Scotland - pronounced Breed - which is the origin of the word 'bride'. Imbolc is also known as Bride's Day. She was christianised as St. Bridget of Kildare, the patroness of sheep and fertility, and she was also known as the 'Mother of Briget's Cross is woven from corn and consists of four arms that meet to form a square centre - a fire wheel. Traditionally, on this day candlelit processions were led to St. Bridget's holy shrines - wells. is a 'fire festival'. particular attention was paid to the hearth fire and keeping it alight. A celebratory dish used to be made from the new lambs' docked Bridie dolls are made out of a sheaf of oats and dressed in women's clothing, and then ritually buried in the earth as a fertility rite. Another custom was to place the doll in a 'Bride’s bed' of woven wheat, like a basket, which was placed near the front door, or sometimes near the hearth. A white candle was burnt nearby all night. Spring cleaning comes from the habit at Imbolc of getting rid of unwanted clutter and preparing for the new season, physically and mentally. is the time to finish old habits and make a fresh start, and realise the world is full of new opportunities. crafts and earn money - How to make and sell crafts for profit at home Imbolc is a time of optimism and for making new plans for the sunny days ahead. Plant the seeds of your plans now and tend them so they mature into your hopes and dreams. Now is the time to renew your New Year resolutions.

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Plavix is an anticoagulant that prevents blood platelets in your body from clotting, or coagulating. Preventing coagulation keeps blood clots from occurring and harming individuals with particular blood vessel or heart conditions. A common use of Plavix is prevention of clots after individuals suffer strokes or heart attacks. However, Plavix is also used for other functions not mentioned in this guide. Important Information About Plavix Plavix prevents blood coagulation (clotting), which prevents blood clots from forming in individuals with particular blood vessel or heart conditions. Since Plavix prevents blood coagulation, you may bleed more easily, even when the initial injury is slight. As a result, you should contact your doctor or immediately seek medical help if you cannot stop bleeding from an injury. Bleeding may also occur inside the body, as in the digestive system (the stomach or the intestines). Inform your doctor immediately if you produce bloody or black stools, or are coughing blood or dark vomit, as these may be symptomatic of bleeding within the intestines or stomach. When you intend to have surgery or dental work, inform the dentist or surgeon before any procedures that you use Plavix, as you may need to temporarily stop using Plavix for 5 days or more before a medical procedure; this prevents the risk of excessive blood loss. Things to Discuss with a Physician Plavix should not be taken if you are allergic to clopidogrel. Avoid Plavix if you have active bleeding in your body, such as from the brain or a stomach ulcer. Inform your doctor before taking Plavix if you have any drug allergies or conditions described above. Plavix is not expected to harm unborn babies, but inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy during use of Plavix. When Taking Plavix Follow your prescription's instructions for consumption of Plavix. You should not take more medicine than your doctor recommends; nor should you consume Plavix for a longer time period than your doctor recommends. Follow your prescription label's directions. Plavix should be taken with a full glass of water. Food may be taken or not taken with Plavix. Remember that Plavix is an anticoagulant; it prevents blood clots. This prevention may also increase the likelihood of bleeding from minor injuries. Remember to seek medical attention or your doctor if you cannot stop bleeding. When you intend to have surgery or dental work, inform the dentist or surgeon before any procedures that you use Plavix, as you may be required to temporarily stop using Plavix for 5 days or more before a medical procedure; this is to prevent the risk of excessive blood loss. Blood work should be performed on a regular basis to ensure Plavix is not causing harm to your body; be sure to attend all scheduled visits to your doctor. Plavix should be stored away from heat and moisture at room temperature. In Case of Missed Dosage If you miss a dose of Plavix, you should take the dose you missed once you remember. If you are close to taking your next regularly scheduled dose, do not try to make up the dose you missed; simply take the next dose of Plavix when regularly scheduled. You should not attempt to make up missed doses by consuming extra doses of Plavix. In Case of Overdose If you believe you have used too much of Plavix, please seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of overdosing on Plavix may include bloody stools or vomit, a sense of exhaustion or an inability to catch one's breath, and vomiting. Things to Avoid when Taking Plavix While taking Plavix, avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, without first consulting your doctor. Common NSAIDs include Motrin, Aleve, Advil, and numerous other drugs. While using Plavix, you should also refrain from engaging in activities and sports that may result in bruising, bleeding, or other blood-related injuries. Similarly, be particularly careful to keep from getting cuts or nicks while shaving or brushing your teeth. You should not drink alcohol while using Plavix, as alcohol potentially increases the risk of bleeding within the digestive system (e.g., the intestines and stomach).

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generally accepted accounting principles =standard accounting rules, guidelines and practices assets are shown on the balance sheet at the cost of aquisition or construction. period of time covered by a financial statement in each transaction the debits must equal the credits expenses should be recorded in the same time period as the revenue they helped to earn business form that serves as the original source of info that a transaction has occurred Chart of Accounts a list of all accounts with their name and number writing a number incorrectly (wrong order) allocation of costs to fixed assets as they are used (decrease in value) continuous record of inventory physical count of inventory every certain number of time periods. uncollectable accounts owed by customers interpreting accounting data from condensed financial statements and predicting future results relationship between easily convertible assets and current liabilities =Current Assets (easy)/Current Liabilities : 1 relationship between owner's equity and total assets =Owner's Equity/Total Assetsx100% Principle of Objectivity requires that all accounting records be based on objective evidence The Business Entity Principle each business is considered a separate unit or entity. The financial data for a business must be kept separate from personal data. use the same period of time for consistency items owned of value debts of a business A person's net worth. money earned after expenses paid -->increase in owner's equity amount earned from sales of goods costs of items or services used in the operation of the business. Accrual Basis of Accounting recording revenue when it is earned; recording expense when it happens record of transactions in chronological order main journal in a business a business form that serves as the original source of information that a transaction has occurred -cash sales slip -bank credit memo multi-column form used in preparing financial statements Accolunts Receivable Control Account represents the sum of all the individual accounts receivable Accounts Payable control account represents the sum of all the indicidual accounts payable converted into cash or used up within 1 year order/speed that something can be converted into cash accounting changes recorded to ensure that account balances are correct offset the value of another account Straight Line Depreciation same amount of depreciation each period greater amount of depreciation in the early years % of depreciation on book value Capital Cost Allowance method of depreciation used under the income tax act Principle of conservatism accountants should choose accounting methods that result in lower net income and net assets accounts that do not carry over period to period Receipt of Invoice payment when invoice received goods purchased by a merchandise company with the objective of resale Schedule of Cost of Goods Sold Merchandise Inventory, Dec1 Less: Purchases Returns/Allowances Net Purchase Cost Total Cost of Merchandise Purchased Cost of Merchandise Avaiable for Sale Less: Merchandise Inventory, Dec 31 Cost of Goods Sold group of accounts of one type recording information from the source documents directly into subsidiary ledgers Journalizing Batch Tools recording the total of a number of source documents of one type in a single entry Condensed Income Statement Base Figure? Condensed Balance Sheet Base Figures? Current Assets/Current Liabilities:1 Accounts Receivable Collection Period Average Accounts Receivable/Net Sales on Credit x365 Total Debt/Total Assets x100% Rate of Return on Average Owner's Equity Net Income/Average Owner's Equity x100% Please allow access to your computer’s microphone to use Voice Recording. We can’t access your microphone! Click the icon above to update your browser permissions above and try again Reload the page to try again! Press Cmd-0 to reset your zoom Press Ctrl-0 to reset your zoom It looks like your browser might be zoomed in or out. Your browser needs to be zoomed to a normal size to record audio. Your microphone is muted For help fixing this issue, see this FAQ.

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Fifty years ago today, Apollo 11 began its historical voyage. The Saturn V rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:32 a.m. Earth will find itself again on the Moon’s shadow on Tuesday, but this time the path of totality spans over the remote South Pacific. In the foreground of this stunning featured image, taken by Elias Chasiotis on June 17 in Cape Sounion, Greece, is the 2,400 year-old Temple of Scientists are baffled for the mysterious flashes on the Moon, occurring again and again and observed by various individuals. A mysterious huge mass was found under a giant crater on the invisible side of the Moon. Moonrise laser system brings 3D-printing to the moon, by melting moon dust with the laser. Scientists now think a dwarf planet or a second moon smashed into the far side of the Moon and caused big craters. NASA just released a new video detailing plan to return humans to the Moon. The International Space Station crew photographed the waxing crescent moon just above Earth’s limb and the bluish hue of the atmosphere at the beginning of SOM releases ‘Moon Village’ concept, the first permanent human settlement on the Lunar surface.

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This semester, I have been surprised by the literacy levels of my students. I am surprised by the drastic levels of my student’s literacy skills. Even though I teach Spanish and my students read in Spanish, on some assignments they are supposed to translate their readings into English and I notice some use academic English to translate and others just describe what they are trying to translate. September 30, 2013 My literacy rich classroom looks like they need help understanding the concept of the readings. This is a Spanish II class and they are starting to do advanced reading, which they were not used to doing the previously year in their lower level Spanish class. My students are engaged in reading small stories about the subjects they already know and we go over them as a classroom to make sure everyone is on the same level of understanding. December 15, 2015 My literacy rich classroom looks like they understand the readings well enough, even though the readings are in Spanish, my students are following the information well. My students are engaged in readings about history especially about the culture of the target language. They are reading small stories about Latin American customs and traditions and comparing them to the ones we have her in the United States. May 30, 2014 It is the end of the school year and my literacy rich classroom is on top of their readings. Starting the year with short readings and moving on with translations my students can handle longer readings, plus translation. My students are still learning about Hispanic countries and comparing what they learn in their readings with what they already know about their own country, with this my students pair up with a peer and share their thoughts. As a class we have group discussions about the readings and my students are capable of independently sharing their thoughts and ideas of readings done in the classroom and readings done outside the classroom. I believe my students are ready for Spanish III, where the readings are much more advanced.

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According to popular legend, one human year is the equivalent of seven ‘cat years’, but in reality, a one-year-old cat is much more mature than a seven-year-old child. How old is my cat in human years? Although there’s no reliable scientific way to calculate the relationship between human and cat years, it’s generally agreed that the first two years of a cat’s life are roughly equal to the first 25 of a human’s. After this, each additional year is around four ‘cat years’. This means if your cat is six years old, their equivalent cat age in human years will be around 41. Find out how old your feline friend is using our cat age calculator Don’t worry, we’ve done all the math for you! Check our calculator at the bottom of the page and find out your cat’s age in human years at a glance. What is the average life expectancy of my cat? The true answer is that it depends, but indoor cats usually live longer than outdoor cats. On average, indoor cats live 16 to 18 years and some even reach the venerable age of 20. Life expectancy in cats also varies depending on the breed, as some cat breeds will naturally live longer than others. For example, Siamese and Manx breeds are said to live the longest, so could reach a ripe age in human years! Did you know that according to some sources, the world’s oldest cat lived to be 34? That’s 153 in cat years! Read more fascinating cat facts here. Cats’ life expectancies have increased dramatically in the last few decades. Although it’s never enough, we’re spending more and more time together with our feline friends and that can only be a great thing. How can I tell my cat’s age? To find out how old your cat is, it’s best to take them to a vet. But you can still look for tell-tale signs of a cat’s age and health. Teeth can’t pinpoint the exact date for your feline friend’s birthday party, but they are still a great indicator of a cat’s age. The milestones are: - A kitten’s first teeth appear between two to four weeks. - Their permanent white teeth come in at around four months. - Yellow stains (aka tartar) on a few teeth can mean your cat might be between one or two years old. - If the stains appear on all teeth, the cat is likely at least three to five years old. - Missing teeth are usually a sign that your cat is a respectable senior, between 10 to 15 years of age. - But keep in mind that some cats can just have worse teeth than others regardless of their age. If your cat’s teeth are not always the reliable indicator you hoped for, eyes can give you a useful clue regarding your cat’s age. The difference between a smooth iris and a crackly looking one can be the difference between a young cat and a senior one. After 12 years of age, cat’s eyes usually start showing cloudiness. And if you notice tearing and eye discharge, you likely have a senior cat on your hands. Muscles and bones Age can hide behind appearances so pay attention to features that can complete your cat’s age picture. As in humans, a higher activity level gives your cat muscle definition. Playing, jumping and running are a young cat’s game. So if you notice that your cat tends to lose muscle mass or it doesn’t like to move around too much, this might be a sign of ageing. Older cats may be bonier, have extra skin hanging or protruding shoulder blades. Read our cat body condition guide for more tips. A cat’s fur changes with age. Fine, soft fur is usually reserved for young cats only. Older cats tend to have a thicker, coarser fur with patches of grey hair.

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The perfect introduction to Shakespeare! An accessible and entertaining way to introduce young people to Shakespeare. Convert difficult language and concepts into user friendly modern English. Europe, North America, Australia, the Caribbean and many parts of Asia. All Teacher’s Books have been structured around the English curriculum. Need help with your purchase? T: 01691 770165 Fragments of Shakespeare are to be found in forgotten corners of almost everybody’s brains. Even people who don’t like Shakespeare or think they couldn’t quote any of his lines probably have ‘Wherefore art thou Romeo?’ or ‘To be or not to be?’ hidden away behind dust covered memories of school day romances or cobwebbed adolescent […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 6th Jan 2015 If people know anything about George Gordon, Lord Byron, it is likely to be that he had an incestuous relationship with his half-sister, had sex with the majority of women and most of the men of his acquaintance, drank wine from a cup made from a skull, kept a tame bear while at university, suffered […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 26th Dec 2014 Borders separate them from us. They are frequently places of blood. Ancient animosities linger. Offa’s Dyke runs through Bronygarth, dividing England from Wales and Edward I’s Marcher fortress at Chirk dominates our part of the valley, symbol of English overlordship. In a field below our house, Henry II’s army was defeated by a small Welsh […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 15th Nov 2014 Not far from Shrewsbury is its Battlefield Enterprise Park, where Shakespeare Comic Books are warehoused and distributed. And not far from Battlefield Enterprise Park are a few pleasantly undulating but nondescript fields dotted with woodland. Six hundred years ago this was the site of one of the bloodiest battles fought on English soil. The Battle […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 10th Oct 2014 Scotland didn’t snap off at Hadrian’s Wall and float away to the sound of bagpipes on 19 September, but in the days before the referendum it looked as though it might. As it happens, we were in Edinburgh at the time for Sarah to attend the British Orthodontic Conference. So while she went off to […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 8th Sep 2014 Shakespeare took a sabbatical last year. More precisely, I took time away from Shakespeare Comic books to write a book about National Trust properties and the First World War. Having sent a proposal to the publisher in December 2012, I met with a commissioning editor in January, had a follow-up meeting with the National Trust […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 1st Aug 2014 Writers are mostly vain creatures. For one thing, writing anything longer than a shopping list and expecting that anyone else could be bothered to read it, is a kind of egotism. This is inevitable. Composing even a bad novel of average length would take at least several weeks, almost certainly months and possibly years – […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 4th Jun 2014 Some while ago I heard Sir Peter Hall opine on the radio that Shakespeare should never be cut. Henceforth, he would only direct productions with full original text. This seems such an extreme and peculiar position that I have since wondered if I misheard the interview, or was listening to another Sir Peter Hall or […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 3rd May 2014 If Shakespeare were alive today, he would be celebrating his 450th birthday. This would make him simultaneously the world’s greatest living playwright and its oldest inhabitant. Since he’s not, he will have to be content with recognition as the greatest writer in history. I doubt he would be much bothered about that acclaim, though greatly interested […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 30th Apr 2014 The National Theatre production of Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse sold out the day tickets were released. This was not a surprise, partly because it’s a small theatre with a relatively short run, partly because of its casting and also because it’s Shakespeare and he’s bigger box office now than ever. It’s actually quite remarkable that a […]Posted by shakespearecomics on 13th Jan 2014

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Where was Cahokia? The city of Cahokia was located on the banks of the Mississippi River, near modern-day St. Louis, and was characterized by massive burial mounds. Cahokia was the largest urban concentration of Native Americans north of Mexico. Before it was abandoned in circa 1400 A.D., some 40,000 people were estimated to have lived there. Prior to the arrival of Columbus, where was most of the population of the New World concentrated? Most of the population of the New World was concentrated in Central and South America where civilizations such as the Aztecs and Incas flourished. What civilization was the largest in the pre-Columbian American world? The largest civilization in the pre-Columbian world was the Aztecs, who rose to power in Mexico around 1300. The Aztecs were fiercely warlike and expanded their power by near constant war with neighboring civilizations. Captured warriors provided many of the human sacrifices that were a hallmark of Aztec civilization. Describe the Aztec religion. The Aztec religion was polytheistic and centered around large pyramids that served as temples. The most important god was the sun god Huitzilopochtli, and the Aztecs believed that their devotion to him ensured the reappearance of the sun each day. The sun god could only be appeased by blood, leading to large-scale human sacrifice of up to 20,000 persons per year. Also important was the Mayan god Quetzalcoatl, who variously appeared as a serpent or a light-skinned bearded man. What are Chinampas? The Chinampas were an Aztec invention that contained beds of aquatic weeds and mud to create floating islands. This was their system of irrigated agriculture. Because of Chinampas, four corn crops a year were possible, dramatically increasing both their food supply and population. What was a pochteca? The pochteca was the merchant class of Aztec society often organized into guilds. The pochteca would be sent by the government for trading expeditions and would bring back valuable geographic information to facilitate Aztec imperialism. What is a Calpulli? A calpulli is a clan in Aztec Society based on family ties and where you lived. There were several hundred calpullis in Aztec society; and the more respected calpullis were made of ruling families or people who lived with nobility. As the Aztec empire became more powerful, the calpullis acted as barriers to social mobility. How were women treated in Aztec society? Women's rights were recognized in economic life, as they were allowed to inherit and own property. However, in social and political life, women remained subordinate to men. How did technology affect the life of women in Aztec society? Because the Aztecs lacked the technology of water or animal powered mills, women were forced to spend six hours per day grinding corn by hand on stone boards called metates. These techniques have been seen around the world, but were eventually replaced by water and animal powered mills. How did the Aztec treat their neighoring city states? The Aztecs demanded tribute (payments) in the form of humans for live sacrifice and important resources such as food. When city states refused to do this, the Aztecs would violently suppress any rebellions. How did the Aztec tributary system contribute to the demise of the Empire? The tributary system weakened the Aztec empire in the long run because it led to resentment by local city states. These city states would in turn help the Spanish during their invasion in the early 1500s. Which civilization emerged in the Andes in the 1300s? In the 1300s, the Incas built a large empire that stretched along the Andes Mountains. Large Incan cities, such as Machu Picchu and Cuzco, were connected by an elaborate road network. What are ayllus? Ayllus are households in Andean society that were organized around family. What is the Twantinsuyu? The Twantinsuyu was land under control by the Incan Empire. It encompassed most of the Pacific coast of South America. The total population of the Incan empire is estimated by historians to be about 10 to 12 million people What is Split Inheritance? When an Incan ruler died, split inheritance meant that all political power went to the successor; but all of his physical property (including royal palces) stayed with the deceased ruler's family. The family would often use the dead remains of the Incan ruler and mummify it, glorifying his life and celebrate him. Why did the Incas need to expand, aside from usual political or economic gains? Split inheritance meant that new Incan rulers needed new lands for a palace. They acquired these new lands through conquest. Incan rulers, for the sake of their family's wealth, were encouraged to go and find new lands for conquest. What was the language of the Inca people? The Quechua language was the major language of the Incan empire. They purposefully tried to spread their language as a way to unite the 4 major provinces of the Twantinsuyu. When conquering a new area, the Incan government would purposefully force Incan families to move into the newly conquered area to speak the language. What are Tambos? Tambos were resting points for Incan runners who existed solely for the purpose of relaying messages. Because horses didn't exist--and because they hadn't discovered the wheel, Incans relied on runners who would run several miles per day to relay a message. Historians estimate that the Incan empire had over 10,000 tambos by 1450. What is Mita? Mita is the labor expected of communities throughout the Incan Empire. Because the Inca were expanding, they expected newly conquered communities to provide laborers to work on the infrastructure of the Empire, maintaining it. What is parallel descent? Parallel descent is a system of inheritance where, among the common peoples, men would pass their property to their male heirs; and women would pass their property to their female heirs. How were women treated in Incan society? Men and women were unequal, with women being subordinate to men. Women were allowed to own property, but only inherited from another woman. The Incan government would send officials into communities and sometimes forcibly take the most beautiful of the young women (and sometimes children) to the Incan temples. Women there would serve for life or be sacrificed at the Temple of the Sun What is the Quipu? The Quipu was a system of knotted string which was used by the Inca to keep track of governmentral records such as citizen counts, taxation, and inheritance. What is a major similarity between the way the Incan peoples and Aztec peoples viewed their rulers? In both societies, the rulers were seen as divine. What are similarities between the way the Aztec and Inca organized their governments? The Aztec and Inca both allowed local rulers to continue their rule as long as they provided the neccesary labor and human sacrifices to the central government. The local rulers were also given privileges for being loyal. The Inca did not demand tribute in the form of resources, unlike the Aztecs. The incas did force newly conquered areas to provide workers.

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The terrible fires raging at present in California stress the importance of having a standpipe system in good condition and fire hydrants in good working order for putting out fires just as quickly as possible and preventing them from spreading immediately. Whenever a fire breaks out, it is vital to react as quickly as possible for protecting any possible victims who may be trapped and any homes in the vicinity, as well as the firemen themselves. It is essential for firefighters to be well-organized, efficient and, therefore, to have a fire hydrant nearby that is in good working order. Today fire-engines are equipped with tanks (between 2 and 13 thousand liters of water), but when we remember that a fire hose can supply almost 1,000 liters per minute, reserves are rapidly exhausted. This is what makes fire hydrants vital, as they supply most of the water needed for getting major fires under control. Most countries have regulations and procedures for ensuring that fire hydrants are kept in good running order. In the Unites States, for example, American Flow control strongly recommends following the maintenance procedures described in the AWWAM17 manual for ensuring that they are in perfect condition. Amongst other things, these procedures require for hydrants to be inspected every six months. How can good maintenance be guaranteed? Twice-yearly inspection is compulsory for ensuring that valves operate correctly. It is carried out in several steps: > Open the valve completely and let the water run for several minutes to make sure that it flows correctly. > Close and re-open the valve several times to make sure that the handwheel does not stick. Check that there are no leaks anywhere in the vicinity. > Lubricate the thread on the nozzle cap with food grade grease. > Check that when the valve is closed, all the water remaining in the hydrant drains out quickly. If this is not the case, it may mean that the hydrant’s drain openings are blocked. > For unblocking the drain openings, fit the pump plug and tighten it until it is completely water-tight. Then open the hydrant valve by two or three turns so that the drain opening is partially open, and that water pressure can clear any debris that has collected in the hydrant. If this is not successful, the drain mechanism must be cleaned after removing the control rod beforehand. > If the water still does not drain out satisfactorily despite all these efforts, the draining zone surrounding the base of the hydrant must be replaced. After carrying out the above operations and making a visual, manual check, the inspector must decide whether any parts need to be cleaned, repaired or replaced. What are the main problems liable to prevent a fire hydrant from operating correctly? Any mechanical problem or debris in a fire hydrant may prevent it from closing or draining out satisfactorily and thereby damage the main valve. Debris may be comprised of dirt, gravel, leaves or other foreign bodies. In the winter, fire hydrants encounter two major problems: What is the cost associated with regular fire hydrant maintenance? Everyone agrees that regular preventive maintenance of fire hydrants is both critical and essential. Even so, the fact remains that carrying out maintenance and essential controls is often a real headache for the departments concerned. It takes time and means that considerable human resources must be mobilized, which consequently give rise to significant costs. Moreover, it is a repetitive, boring job, whose results cannot be assessed immediately. For this reason, there is a risk that these operations are not carried out correctly. Whenever they are carried out carefully, operations may give rise to health problems for operators, who have to spend a lot of time carrying out repetitive jobs opening and closing valves and, as such, run risks of suffering from occupational injuries.

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Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. At this point of the school year, so many parents have had to help their children in one way or another during this hybrid model of teaching/learning we find ourselves in. Whether it started in March of 2020 when things went sideways or now that schools are a little over halfway through the 2020-2021 school year, teaching is never going to be the same. When I wrote this, there were four students sitting in one of our rooms, doing their distance learning. As a former elementary school teacher, I can attest to the stresses that teachers are put under to find creative ways to help ensure comprehension among their students during a "normal" day. When the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was signed into law by former president George W. Bush in 2001 it was designed to create a set of standards (the Common Core Curriculum) that students across the entire nation would attempt to reach. But it was not without its issues. To say that a lot backlash came from the teachers and districts would be a gross understatement. Eventually due to the criticism levied towards NCLB, a new act, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) stripped the powers from NCLB and gave what was left from NCLB to the states. Should you be interested, further reading on NCLB, ESSA, and the Common Core can be found here Regardless of the educational standard your child or your child’s teachers are held to, it is how the messages are presented that can make the most impact on a child’s retention of presented information. Part of teaching is the presentation. If you’re old enough to remember Ben Stein’s character in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, monotone and stiff doesn’t cut it. In order to ensure that you, as a parent/teacher, are getting your message across, you MUST bring energy to your lesson. When you were in school, you likely didn’t know if any of your teachers were stressed about money, if they were excited to see someone they hadn’t in a long time or whatever sadness they might have been feeling at the time because it was compartmentalized. Their focus was their class; you. As a teacher of any kind, whether it’s your child(ren), a friend's child or a classroom full of fourth graders, you’ve got to try to keep things in their proper place and focus on the student(s) in front of you. Secondly, remember the topic and age level. As someone who has successfully taken high school topics and “Elementrified” (a word of my own making) them to be understood by 1st graders, you must adapt the thing you know or want to teach to the level you’re teaching. Consider something called a “quadrat survey” at right. Used in ecological and geographical areas of study, something like this is well beyond the scope of a 2nd grader. However, when explained properly, it isn’t some confusing “science phrase” but a topic now understood because it’s how scientists make population estimates. Helping out and using a bit of math along with a survey records allows even this young age to understand why it is an important tool to an Ecologist or Geologist, even an Archaeologist. Something else to consider is the phrase: Know Thy Audience. Quick question before going further… If I were to start talking to you about the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility- which is the ONLY thing I remember from high school economics (and here if you actually want to learn about it)- would your eyes glaze over as you clicked out of this article? (I bet that you would.) Consider that, most likely, no child wants to know their level of enjoyment from using something goes down each time they use/play with it…Which is part of the law I mentioned above... Children, especially younger ones, are most interested in the world around them. So, watch for what the teachers call “the teachable moment” as you’re with them. The moment when a child asks about something they don’t understand is the PERFECT time to teach. But remember to Elementrify the topic (as best as you can) so they understand but only give them enough information to slake their curiosity. If they have more questions about the topic, keep going, teach them what you know. Lastly, and possibly most importantly. It is okay to not know. If you’re anything like me, not knowing can sometimes be exceedingly frustrating especially when someone comes to you first. But it is ignorance that has driven every explorer, every scholar, every student, every teacher, every single person on Earth, to learn. The "big six" questions (who, what, where, why, when, how) force us to scatter the fog of ignorance for the sunshine of knowledge. Especially frustrating can be if a child asks you and you don’t know. What to do? Well, try this. Admit it and go on a “knowledge hunt”; learn together. Nowadays all you need to start that hunt is the device you’re reading this on. A quick internet search starts you down the path of learning and who knows where that will take you. Oh, one more thing before you go, well two actually. First: try to remember that children don’t ask questions with the sole purpose to annoy, although it can certainly feel that way. They ask questions because they don’t understand the world around them. They want to know so they ask, and occasionally it’s at a time you don’t want them to ask. But try not to downplay the question if you can’t answer at that exact second, before coming back to it when you can. Maybe have them write it down so they don't forget? Second: if you have a child in your life, it doesn’t matter if it’s a niece, nephew, grandchild or your own children, have them teach you something. It doesn’t matter if it’s about Pokémon or fish. When you figure out (or learn) something they REALLY like, have them teach you about it. Have them tell you what it’s like, how you do it, why it is the way it is, when it happened, etc. When a child shares their knowledge with an adult in their life, the happiness and excitement is palpable. They’re now the teacher, they’re the one giving information and it helps create a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” is credited to both Benjamin Franklin and Chinese philosopher Confucius. It doesn’t matter who said it. When you involve your student(s) in the act of teaching, they will remember and learn. Remember what American journalist Linda Ellerbee said. "If you want to know, ask!" -L. E.

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Initiative Creates Partnerships Between Research Intensive and Minority-Serving Institutions The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has created a new program to accelerate research aimed at understanding why certain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups are more severely affected by asthma than other populations and at determining ways to close the gaps in prevalence and treatment of this common chronic disease. The research - and related training activities - will be conducted through five newly established Centers for Reducing Asthma Disparities. Each Center is composed of an academic center with extensive experience in research and a medical school or medical center that predominately serves minority or economically disadvantaged populations. The NHLBI initiative addresses a critical need for identifying the factors that contribute to substantially higher rates of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and deaths due to asthma among certain populations. African Americans, for example, have a slightly higher asthma prevalence rate than Caucasians (8.5 percent versus 7.1 percent), yet they are three times more likely to be hospitalized or to die from asthma complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hispanics and families with low income are also at increased risk. "This new initiative generates important research that will lead to better ways to reduce the burden of asthma among the groups that are most strongly affected," said NHLBI Director Dr. Claude Lenfant. "We expect this program to have a far-reaching impact by creating a legacy of research programs for improving asthma care and by ultimately serving as a model for studying ways to reduce disparities in other chronic diseases." Scientists at the five new Centers will examine a range of research topics focusing on the differences in asthma prevalence, emergency department use, hospitalizations, and deaths between the ethnic and racial groups, and between low-income populations and their more affluent counterparts. Research projects will evaluate the role of psychosocial factors in disparities in asthma care over time, differences in symptom perception among racial and ethnic groups and how these differences affect patients' patterns for seeking care, and ways to improve communications between patients and their doctors about asthma treatment. Other studies will focus on the biological and genetic mechanisms involved in asthma disparities, such as ethnic variations in sensitivity to environmental allergens and the interrelationship between genetic susceptibility and stress, smoking, and exposure to diesel exhaust in provoking asthma symptoms. The Centers will also collaborate on training activities - a critical feature of the program. "This initiative does not just support individual projects," emphasized Dr. Lenfant. "The partnering institutions in each Center will teach each other and build opportunities in this scientific area of reducing health disparities. We envision the research intensive institutions becoming more adept in applying resources to culturally responsive research and the minority-serving institutions gaining organizational infrastructure and experience for future research." Career development and mentorship opportunities for minority clinical researchers are related components of the initiative. NHLBI has awarded a total of $5.9 million to the following centers for the first year of funding, which began September 30, 2002, and which will continue for five years: - Baltimore-Washington (Johns Hopkins University and Howard University) - Boston (Brigham and Women's Hospital and Center for Community Health Education) - Chicago (Northwestern University and Cook County Hospital) - Nashville (Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College) - Providence and San Juan (Rhode Island Hospital and University of Puerto Rico). More than 14 million Americans reported having asthma in 2000, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Asthma is a leading contributor of limited activity and absences from work and school; it also causes 5,000 deaths each year in the U.S. NHLBI estimates that the annual direct and indirect costs of asthma were $12.7 billion in 2000. The NHLBI Centers for Reducing Disparities in Asthma initiative directly addresses one of the top four priorities of the U.S. Department of Health in Human Services' (HHS) "Action Against Asthma." Released in May 2000, this strategic plan was developed to help achieve the national Healthy People 2010 goals for asthma. NHLBI is a component of the National Institutes of Health, an HHS agency. NHLBI supports other educational programs to encourage early diagnosis and effective treatment of asthma and to decrease asthma disparities. Through the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), the Institute funds several coalitions serving communities with exceptionally high rates of asthma-related illnesses and deaths, and it provides a vital communications network for more than 40 local asthma coalitions nationwide. Information on asthma, the NAEPP, and other NHLBI-supported research and educational programs is available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov - National Asthma Education and Prevention Program: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/naepp - NAEPP Coalition Contract Awardees: http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/ast_maps/awardee.html [Link no longer available] - Action Against Asthma: A Strategic Plan for the Department of Health and Human Services: http://aspe.hhs.gov/sp/asthma/

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Despite the claim of communism to be fully democratic and to be working with the wholehearted support of the people, communist governments still feel the need to suppress any political and ideological dissent from the standard party line. All media is subject to censorship; it may be confiscated and banned if it does not conform, and those responsible may be arrested. The gap left by the absence of free expression is filled with government propaganda and official information aimed at total indoctrination. Non-political matters such as scientific theory and art forms may also be censored or trimmed to conform with party policy, which may be unimaginative and anti-innovative. Effective censorship requires domestic intelligence surveillance, which may be aided by informants, and may give rise to underground and subversive measures. This situation encourages foreign influence and foreign propaganda (usually put out by radio broadcast) which may be inflammatory and cause international conflict. The current policy of "glasnost" in the former Soviet Union is an attempt to counter the most dangerous tendencies of decades of censorship, but the new policy itself illuminates the fact that the citizenry's responses, even to when and how they may dissent, are controlled by the party. In 1983 in China, for example, one magazine was suppressed, and two key persons were purged from the 'People's daily' because that newspaper had suggested that the Chinese might be 'alienated' in their own society.

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Stress is a normal part of every significant job. At different times during your career with the Department, your level of stress may reach a significant or critical point. An acute stress reaction is frequently related to a specific unusual event; Death of a co-worker, a multi-casualty incident, severe dismemberment or disfigurement of a victim, death of a child and personally knowing or relating to a victim are a few examples. A delayed reaction may happen days, weeks, and/or years after an event. This typically occurs after you are re-exposed or “triggered” by a similar sight including sound, smell, taste, touch, situation, etc. Cumulative stress is the buildup of stress over time and/or when you are experiencing significant amounts of stress simultaneously in your life. This buildup may eventually reach a critical mass, resulting in a stress reaction. A stress reaction is an important signal. It is your body’s way of coping with the temporary state of being overwhelmed by a situation. The duration of the symptoms (hours, days, weeks or months) depends on your personal circumstances. However, once properly addressed, most acute stress reactions will significantly lessen within 24 – 72 hours. More importantly, a thoughtful combination of stress management strategies will lessen the impact of most situations. HEALING OUR OWN We need to recognize those at risk. Providing our fellow First Responders with support is now more important than ever. - Risk factors include: - Sleep deprivation - Heavy alcohol or drug use - Witnessing a traumatic event - Major physical illness or injury - Loss of a close relationship. - Isolation or lack of social support (e.g. retirement) - Knowing others who have died by suicide Additional warning signs include: - Sudden Withdrawal from social contact - Persistent feelings of hopelessness - Increasingly reckless behavior - Mood swings/Change in behavior - Having a suicide plan (time, place, method) Potential Ways to Reduce a Stress Reaction: - Remember, you are a normal person, having a normal reaction to an extremely difficult situation. - Four natural physiological stress relievers are Laughing, Crying, Exercise, and Touch. (The more you can include these in your life, the greater the potential for reduced stress levels.) - Make an attempt to include periods of strenuous physical exercise (alternated with relaxation) to alleviate some of the physical reactions. Specifically within the first 24 – 48 hours (if at all possible)! - Drink lots and lots and lots of water. (Avoid dehydration.) - Eat well-balanced and regular meals! (Even if you do not feel like it). - Get plenty of rest. - Be aware of wanting to alter yourself with caffeine, nicotine, drugs, or alcohol. These chemicals tend to intensify the physiological stress reactions you are already experiencing. Additionally, you do not want to complicate the situation by adding substance abuse to the list of problems. - Do things that feel good to you: Read, write, pray/meditate, listen to music, walk, sit quietly, cook, watch a movie, take a hot shower or bath, get a massage, do progressive relaxation & deep breathing exercises, etc. - Talk and spend time with others. (Many find that talking is the most healing medicine.) - Realize those around you may also be under stress. - Help your co-workers as much as possible by checking out how they are doing and sharing your thoughts and feelings with them. - Allow yourself some downtime to just relax and temporarily do nothing. - Maintain as normal a schedule as possible. Structure your time and make an attempt to keep busy. - Make as many daily decisions as possible. This should give you a sense of control over your life. (With something as simple as someone asking “what you want to eat” – give an answer even if you are not sure.) - Postpone major life decisions (moving, leaving the job, ending a relationship, making major financial investments, etc.) for a minimum of 30 days. - Recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal. Typically they are just signals that your body needs to further process the details of the event(s). Find constructive ways to understand and integrate these details (talk, write, draw, pray, meditate, etc.). - If you get “stuck,” consider consulting trained CISM peers, clergy, mental health professionals and/or your physician. Let your support system do its job in serving you. It can make a significant difference. How Can I Help My Loved One: - There is no “right” thing to say. Listening is often the best thing to do. - Remember, the healing process is very dynamic and there is a wide range of normal reactions. Some individuals will want to share specific details. Others will prefer a quiet and compassionate presence. Most will want a combination of support. Remain flexible to his or her needs and never “expect” certain reactions. - Spend time with the affected individual. Offer your assistance and a listening ear even if he/she has not asked for help. - Assist with practical things like cooking, cleaning, caring for the children, grocery shopping, etc. - Give him/her some private time. - Don’t take anger or other feelings directed at you personally. - Don’t tell him/her that they are “lucky it was not worse!” Impacted individuals are not consoled by these statements. Instead, tell them that you are sorry that such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them. - Take care of yourself. You will not be able to help anyone if you do not first care for yourself.

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Photo of Neptune taken by Voyager 2 in 1989 |Date of discovery||September 23, 1846| |Name of discoverer||Johann Gotfried Galle| |Name origin||Roman god of the sea| |Order from primary||9| |Perihelion||4,444,450,000 km (29.709 AU)| |Aphelion||4,545,670,000 km (30.386 AU)| |Semi-major axis||4,495,060,000 km (30.048 AU)| |Titius-Bode prediction||38.8 AU| |Sidereal year||164.79 a| |Synodic year||367.49 da| |Avg. orbital speed||5.432 km/s| |Inclination||1.769° to the ecliptic| |Sidereal day||16.11 h| |Mass||1.0243 * 1026 kg| |Mean radius||24,622 km| |Equatorial radius||24,764 km| |Polar radius||24,341 km| |Surface gravity||11.00 m/s²| |Escape speed||23.50 km/s| |Surface area||7,619,000,000 km²| |Mean temperature||53 K| |Number of moons||13| |Composition||80% hydrogen, 19% helium, 1.5% methane, 192 ppm hydrogen deuteride, 1.5 ppm ethane, aerosol traces of ammonia ice, water ice, ammonia hydrosulfide, and methane ice.| |Magnetic flux density||0.142 G (1.42 * 10-5 T)| |Magnetic dipole moment at present||1.5 * 1024 N-m/T| |Magnetic dipole moment at creation||2.42 * 1025 N-m/T| |Decay time||2200 a| |Half life||1525 a| In 1613, Galileo Galilei first observed what he took to be a star close to Jupiter. On the next two nights this "star" had moved with respect to another true star. Then the object fell from his field of view, and bad weather prevented Galileo from observing it again. He would never know the magnitude of his oversight. In 1781, William Herschel discovered Neptune's twin Uranus. But astronomers noticed that that planet's orbit deviated from the strict Newtonian model. John Couch Adams and Urbain Le Verrier independently predicted another planet beyond Uranus to account for these irregular motions. Though Adams never published his predictions, Le Verrier did. Johann Gottfried Galle and his student Heinrich L. d'Arrest used those predictions to help him search the sky, and he found the eighth planet within one degree of where Le Verrier's numbers predicted it to be. A protracted dispute between the British and French arose as to the naming rights and the proposed name of the planet. Galle at one point proposed naming the planet after Le Verrier. Eventually, however, the community of astronomers chose the name Neptune, for the Roman god of the sea and brother of Jupiter. They also chose as a symbol for Neptune the trident, the three-pronged sceptre that the mythical Neptune carried. In fact, the Adams and Le Verrier predictions would not have held much longer, and the best reason why Galle found Neptune when he did is that he acted very soon after Le Verrier published his predictions, when they would still hold. Neptune maintains an average distance from the sun of 4.49506 billion kilometers (2.7931 billion miles, or 30.048 AU). It therefore is the first and only spheroidal body in orbit around the Sun whose orbital placement infringes the Titius-Bode law. The dwarf planet Pluto actually lies close to the place that the Titius-Bode law predicts for the ninth object in orbit around the Sun. Neptune's orbit is more nearly circular than that of any other satellite of the Sun except Venus. Its sidereal year is 164.79 Julian years. Its orbit is slightly inclined to the ecliptic, by 1.769 degrees. Neptune is 24,764 km (15,388 miles) in radius. It’s atmosphere is about 80% hydrogen, 19% helium, and 1.5% methane. Despite being the farthest planet from the sun, Neptune radiates more than twice as much heat as it receives from the Sun. The winds of Neptune are the strongest in the solar system, at 2000 km/hr. The source of the energy that fuels these winds remains unsettled. The planet’s most prominent feature was its Great Dark Spot, a storm similar to Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. In 1989, when Voyager 2 revealed it, it moved westward at 300 km/s. Voyager 2 also revealed an irregular, eastward-moving cloud, called the "scooter," evidently moving with the planet's rotation. Most astronomers believe that this is a plume rising from a deeper deck of clouds. Neptune's magnetic field has a magnetic dipole moment variously estimated as 1.5 * 1024 or 2.1 * 1024 N-m/T. The axis of the dipole is also inclined about 47 degrees from the axis of rotation, and displaced from the center by about 13,500 km. The Adams ring is subdivided into three major prominent arcs, named Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. This clumping of the rings into arcs of uneven brightness, which once caused scientists to suspect that the rings were incomplete, remains unexplained. Curiously, the Fraternity ring arc appears braided, though JPL staff insist that the braiding is an artifact of the photograph. A JPG version of the photograph appears at left, so that the viewer may decide. This would not be the only braided ring in the solar system; Saturn also has braided rings. Neptune has thirteen satellites in all. The first to be discovered was Triton, a most unusual moon that is the only dwarf-planet-sized natural satellite with a retrograde motion about its primary. Difficulties for uniformitarian theories Formation of the planet The nebular hypothesis would not even have allowed Neptune and its twin, Uranus, to form at its tremendous distance from the Sun in the time generally allotted. As the journal Astronomy stated the problem: |“||Pssst … astronomers who model the formation of the solar system have kept a dirty little secret: Uranus and Neptune don’t exist. Or at least computer simulations have never explained how planets as big as the two gas giants could form so far from the sun. Bodies orbited so slowly in the outer parts of the sun’s protoplanetary disk that the slow process of gravitational accretion would need more time than the age of the solar system to form bodies with 14.5 and 17.1 times the mass of Earth.||”| Of course, the time allotted for the formation of the solar system is generally taken to be the alloted age of the Earth. The problem is that Uranus and Neptune would require more than twice the supposed age of the earth to accrete their present masses. In theory, the solar system could be older than the earth itself, but not much older. The solar system has other bodies in it that are much "younger." Nor does the above account for the body of evidence that the solar system is in fact quite young. Boss, in 2002, suggested reviving the old disk-instability hypothesis of planet formation, in which Uranus and Neptune formed through gravitational instability in a gaseous protoplanetary disk, after which a passing star blasted away much of the gaseous envelopes of the two worlds, leaving them much as they are today. Thommes et al. suggested another theory: that Uranus and Neptune formed at the same general distance from the Sun as Jupiter and Saturn and then migrated to their present orbits. Desch, on the other hand, supports a radical alteration of the nebula hypothesis that calls for a decretion disk, not an accretion disk. But even his model requires that Uranus and Neptune exchange places early in the process, primarily because Neptune, though about 10 AU further out from the Sun than is Uranus, is yet more massive. Scientists first thought that, so far out in the solar system, Neptune would be a cold, dead planet. Neptune's internal heat source, tremendous winds, and storms that form, dissipate, and then form again, belie that characterization. The strength of Neptune's magnetic field contradicts the popular "dynamo" theory of celestial magnetic fields. That model requires a liquid core, but Neptune's core is solid, not liquid. However, after Voyager 2 demonstrated that Uranus (which also has a solid core) had a magnetic field, astronomers seem to have revised their models to suggest that any planet with an internal heat source could have a magnetic field. Russell Humphreys predicted the strength of Neptune's magnetic field to well within observational tolerances, five years before Voyager 2 visited Neptune. In his second paper Humphreys acknowledged that the then-current model for planetary magnetic fields seems to have predicted Neptune's field equally well. Nevertheless, Humphreys published his prediction two years before astronomers had any data on Uranus to suggest to them that their models might be flawed and require revision. The only spacecraft to visit Neptune has been Voyager 2. No further deep-space missions to Neptune are currently planned. However, NASA is funding a feasibility study of a plan to send a nuclear-powered deep-space probe to Neptune to study Neptune and its satellites, especially Triton, in depth. - "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Planetary Body Names and Discoverers." US Geological Survey, Jennifer Blue, ed. March 31, 2008. Accessed April 17, 2008. - Neptune Fact Sheet, NASA, November 29, 2007. Accessed May 6, 2008. - "Neptune." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed May 6, 2008. - Humphreys, D. R. "Beyond Neptune: Voyager II Supports Creation." Institute for Creation Research. Accessed April 30, 2008 - Humphreys, D. R. "The Creation of Planetary Magnetic Fields." Creation Research Society Quarterly 21(3), December 1984. Accessed April 29, 2008. - Calculated from observed present magnetic dipole moment and expected magnetic dipole moment at creation. - Arnett, Bill. "Neptune." The Nine8 Planets, September 2, 2004. Accessed May 6, 2008. - Smith, Bradford A. "Neptune." World Book Online Reference Center, NASA, 2004. Accessed May 6, 2008. - Hamilton, Calvin J. "Entry for Neptune." Views of the Solar System, 2001. Accessed May 7, 2008. - R.N., Birth of Uranus and Neptune, Astronomy '28'(4):30, 2000 - Boss, Alan P. "Formation of gas and ice-giant planets." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 202(3-4):513-523, September 30, 2002. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(02)00808-7 Accessed May 7, 2008. - Thommes, Edward W., Duncan, Martin J., and Levison, Harold F. "The formation of Uranus and Neptune among Jupiter and Saturn." Astron. J. 123:2862, 2002. arXiv:astro-ph/0111290v1 Accessed May 7, 2008. - Desch, S. J. "Mass Distribution and Planet Formation in the Solar Nebula." Arizona State University, September 21, 2007. Accessed April 29, 2008. - Sanders, Jane. "Solar System Secrets: Nuclear-Powered Mission to Neptune Could Answer Questions About Planetary Formation." Press Release, Georgia Institute of Technology, December 9, 2004. Accessed May 8, 2008. - "Hubble Makes Movie of Neptune's Dynamic Atmosphere." Space Telescope Science Institute, release no. STScI-2005-22, September 1, 2005. Accessed May 8, 2008.

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Promoting a Positive View of Self with Social Media While in College Contributor: By Camille Malecha, MA, LPC, Eating Disorder Specialist, Timberline Knolls There are so many ways the media promotes unhealthy messages about what beauty is or how a woman’s body should look through photoshopped and distorted images, marketing for fad diets, and promotion of unhealthy or excessive exercise plans. The media and society send the message that women are not good enough the way they are and that they need to change. However, the persona, beauty, and body type the media promotes is unattainable and completely distorted. What messages are you focusing on and listening to? How can you challenge yourself to be surrounded by positive messages? What is your intention in using social media outlets? Media’s Perception of Women Society often promotes gender views that women are sex objects, care takers, appearance-focused, weak, emotional, and/or sensitive. Unfortunately, these stereotypes are reinforced through advertisements and social media. Breaking away from these beliefs and messages can help you discover who you truly are and value your whole self. Being authentic rather than trying to fit a mold can lead to true happiness and satisfaction with self. Challenge Media That is Destructive Ditch the magazines that focus on fad diets, celebrity work outs, and are filled with photoshopped images. Delete users on social media sites that you follow who make you feel bad about yourself or feel like you need to change. Set an intention around facebook and notice how you utilize it. Keep friends who are supportive and promote a positive lifestyle and view of self rather than ones that may be critical and judgmental. Choose Positive Messages Sources such as Instagram, twitter, and tumblr can be used in positive or negative ways. Find users that fill your home page with positive message about body and self-image rather than users that may be critical or shame someone into trying to change who they are. Listen to empowering youtube videos or songs that inspire women to be accepting of themselves and their bodies. Engage in Activities that Build a Positive Self-image Make a collage or pinterest board that describes how you see yourself in positive ways using your favorite quotes, message, images, and pictures of yourself. Remind yourself with these messages who you are and what you value about yourself rather than using social media, magazines, and commercials to compare, criticize, and judge yourself. Being aware and complimentary of strengths and accomplishments can help in carrying out and living by values and in true beauty. About the Author: Located in suburban Chicago, Timberline Knolls is a leading private residential treatment center for females (ages 12 – 65+) with eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, mood and co-occurring disorders. For more information, call 877.257.9611 today. Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here! Seeing yourself in positive ways is important, what ways have you found to foster a positive body image within yourself? The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on January 31st, 2015 Published on EatingDisorderHope.com

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Through EarthSave television and radio, Caryn Hartglass hosts a variety of programs exploring many aspects of veganism, which range from gourmet cooking to global warming. What influence has Bucknell University's meal plan had on the world? Just ask Caryn Hartglass '80, executive director of EarthSave.org. When she came to Bucknell University as a first-year student, she was welcomed with a vegetarian meal option, a rare sign of enlightenment in days when meat was the unquestioned staple of the American diet. She had become a vegetarian at the age of 15, yet making such a lifestyle work was not always practical or easy until the University made it so for her. While at Bucknell, Hartglass became a chemical engineer; however, her passion for sustainability led her to EarthSave, an organization started by John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America. A pursuit of a plant-based diet culminated in veganism and, ultimately, her taking the helm of the organization. Through EarthSave television and radio (www.earthsave.org), she hosts a variety of programs exploring many aspects of veganism, which range from gourmet cooking to global warming. According to Hartglass, demands of our changing planet will lead to "veganism becoming the lifestyle of necessity" during the 21st century. One of her goals is to let the public know that 50 percent of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions — in the form of methane — come from the emissions of animal factory farming. Aside from the by-products of mass agriculture, such as pervasive use of chemicals and agricultural waste that seeps into groundwater, she says, this type of factory farming is accelerating global warming but garnering little press coverage. During her career as a chemical engineer, Hartglass worried about chemical clean-up not being adequately considered in long-term projects, as if the residues of such activities might vanish magically. She says that mainstream media showed little interest in addressing these burgeoning concerns. The question of the long-term outcomes of human commerce still motivates Hartglass' investigations, as she and her group expose the ramifications of many of modern life's conveniences, tastes and traditions. Posted January 2010 The following links are virtual breadcrumbs marking the 27 most recent pages you have visited in Bucknell.edu. If you want to remember a specific page forever click the pin in the top right corner and we will be sure not to replace it. Close this message.

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Partnership will bring skills courses and an easier-to-read internet to low-literate adults Palo Alto and London, January 8, 2019 – Cell-Ed, a Silicon Valley-based mobile learning solution for low-skilled workers, and Wizenoze, a London/Amsterdam-based solution for a smarter internet for education, today announced a partnership to make it easier and faster for low-literate and low-skilled adults (16+) worldwide to learn basic skills and find relevant and reliable information online that’s matched to their reading level. This partnership is financially supported by the Pearson Project Literacy Lab fund. The partnership takes aim at both the massive global market of two billion adults who lack basic skills, such as language, literacy, numeracy and job readiness, and at an internet that is written at a reading level too high for most people to comprehend. Some 75% of the online content is not understood by 60% of readers, and 41% of users leave websites because the text is too difficult to read, according to Wizenoze research. “In order to close the global literacy gap, we need to support innovative problem-solvers whose technologies help boost reading and learning skills. If we are serious about solving this pressing issue of illiteracy, we need to make entrepreneurs part of the solution,” said Jennifer Young Perlman, Director of Innovation and Partnerships for Pearson. “By combining the award-winning technologies of Cell-Ed and Wizenoze with Pearson’s expertise and resources, we can make a bigger impact on improving people’s lives globally through literacy, which is at the heart of Project Literacy’s mission.” Project Literacy Lab, a partnership between Pearson and Unreasonable Group, is funding the initial integration of Cell-Ed and Wizenoze products, which learners access through employers, educators and governments around the world. The Lab selected both Cell-Ed and Wizenoze as rapid-growth ventures that are positioned to help close the global literacy gap by 2030. “As soon as learners gain skills through Cell-Ed, they are eager to apply them online, searching for jobs, flu shot information or a new bank, which is a natural next step. But the internet wasn’t designed with the low literate in mind. Luckily, Wizenoze was, providing a highly valuable solution that allows users to search by readability level so the results they see are understandable, as well as reliable, saving them time and hassle,” said Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami, CEO and founder of Cell-Ed. “Through this unique partnership with industry-leading Wizenoze, Cell-Ed will be able to bring our learners the same access to online information that the higher literate have over any mobile device.” “This partnership with award-winning Cell-Ed will strengthen our combined ambition to scale worldwide. It enables millions of users to improve their basic literacy skills and find information on the internet that they can truly understand. Having access to understandable information will unleash their full potential,” said Diane Janknegt, CEO and founder of Wizenoze. Cell-Ed offers a complete mobile solution for employers and education providers to reach, teach, and upskill millions of low-skilled, low-literate, low-wage workers worldwide on any mobile device – from smartphones to tablets to computers to even flip phones – with no internet connection or data plan needed. Our personalized and scalable platform, real-world courses and customizable content are used by Discovery, the States of New York and Virginia, SEIU, the Los Angeles Public Library and others. We are a social enterprise based in Palo Alto, California. Wizenoze gives people access to an internet that matches their reading skills via the largest curated collection of online content available in the world today. The Web for Classrooms consists of more than 7 million pages and is comprehensively curated and indexed by reading level ability, giving people with lower reading skills access to reliable information on the internet that they understand. About Project Literacy Project Literacy is a global movement to make significant and sustainable advances in the fight against illiteracy so that all people – regardless of geography, language, race, class, or gender – have the opportunity to fulfill their potential through the power of words. Founded and convened by Pearson, Project Literacy brings together a diverse and global cross-section of people and organizations to help unlock the potential of individuals, families and communities everywhere to make significant and sustainable advances in literacy over the next five years so that by 2030, no child will be born at risk of poor literacy.

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2249036080260038281 is an odd composite number. It is composed of two distinct prime numbers multiplied together. It has a total of fifteen divisors. Prime factorization of 2249036080260038281: 7514 × 26592(751 × 751 × 751 × 751 × 2659 × 2659) See below for interesting mathematical facts about the number 2249036080260038281 from the Numbermatics database. Names of 2249036080260038281 - Cardinal: 2249036080260038281 can be written as Two quintillion, two hundred forty-nine quadrillion, thirty-six trillion, eighty billion, two hundred sixty million, thirty-eight thousand, two hundred eighty-one. - Scientific notation: 2.249036080260038281 × 1018 Factors of 2249036080260038281 Divisors of 2249036080260038281 - Number of divisors d(n): 15 - Complete list of divisors: - Sum of all divisors σ(n): 2252882061578672205 - Sum of proper divisors (its aliquot sum) s(n): 3845981318633924 - 2249036080260038281 is a deficient number, because the sum of its proper divisors (3845981318633924) is less than itself. Its deficiency is 2245190098941404357 Bases of 2249036080260038281 - Binary: 11111001101100010111001100110001010101110111110111110100010012 - Hexadecimal: 0x1F362E662AEFBE89 - Base-36: H34WR3VO1761 Squares and roots of 2249036080260038281 - 2249036080260038281 squared (22490360802600382812) is 5058163290311437352367976867585434961 - 2249036080260038281 cubed (22490360802600382813) is 11375991739757253129165143535553985693877074007895742041 2249036080260038281 is a perfect square number. Its square rootis 1499678659 cube rootof 2249036080260038281 is 1310183.5456084771 Scales and comparisonsHow big is 2249036080260038281? - 2,249,036,080,260,038,281 seconds is equal to 71,512,390,626 years, 47 weeks, 1 day, 21 hours, 18 minutes, 1 second. To count from 1 to 2,249,036,080,260,038,281 would take you about two hundred fifty billion, two hundred ninety-three million, three hundred sixty-seven thousand, one hundred ninety-four years! This is a very rough estimate, based on a speaking rate of half a second every third order of magnitude. If you speak quickly, you could probably say any randomly-chosen number between one and a thousand in around half a second. Very big numbers obviously take longer to say, so we add half a second for every extra x1000. (We do not count involuntary pauses, bathroom breaks or the necessity of sleep in our calculation!) - A cube with a volume of 2249036080260038281 cubic inches would be around 109182 feet tall. Recreational maths with 2249036080260038281 Link to this page HTML: To link to this page, just copy and paste the link below into your blog, web page or email. BBCODE: To link to this page in a forum post or comment box, just copy and paste the link code below: Cite this page "Number 2249036080260038281 - Facts about the integer". Numbermatics.com. 2021. Web. 18 October 2021. Numbermatics. (2021). Number 2249036080260038281 - Facts about the integer. Retrieved 18 October 2021, from https://numbermatics.com/n/2249036080260038281/ Numbermatics. 2021. "Number 2249036080260038281 - Facts about the integer". https://numbermatics.com/n/2249036080260038281/ The information we have on file for 2249036080260038281 includes mathematical data and numerical statistics calculated using standard algorithms and methods. We are adding more all the time. If there are any features you would like to see, please contact us. Information provided for educational use, intellectual curiosity and fun! Keywords: Divisors of 2249036080260038281, math, Factors of 2249036080260038281, curriculum, school, college, exams, university, Prime factorization of 2249036080260038281, STEM, science, technology, engineering, physics, economics, calculator, two quintillion, two hundred forty-nine quadrillion, thirty-six trillion, eighty billion, two hundred sixty million, thirty-eight thousand, two hundred eighty-one.

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November 29, 2013 NASA Sounding Rocket To Have A Look At Venus Just a week after launching a Mars obiter, NASA has now launched a sounding rocket to observe Venus. The Venus Spectral Rocket, or VeSpR for short, took off from White Sands, NM. Like NASA’s MAVEN mission, VeSpR will also be looking into atmospheric loss on Venus. Though not as complex as the MAVEN mission, the rocket will collect data on the Venusian atmosphere once it clears our own atmosphere. These measurements will give clues about Venus’s watery history. Scientists believe Venus once had oceans worth of water. VeSpR will observe Venus for only 8 minutes sending back real-time data before it returns back to Earth by parachute. [ Read the Article: NASA’s VeSpR Rocket Sneaks A Peek Of Venus Atmosphere ]

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Posted: Tuesday, August 3, 2004 ST. LOUIS, August 3, 2004 - The first mission to explore the planet Mercury in more than 36 years began successfully today with the launch of NASA's MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space, ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II Heavy launch vehicle. The launch occurred at 2:15:56.537 a.m EDT from Space Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Following a 57-minute flight, the spacecraft was deployed to an Earth-escape trajectory. Upon arriving at Mercury in 2008, MESSENGER will make three passes of the planet before entering orbit around it in March 2011 to become the first spacecraft to visit Mercury since Mariner 10 in 1974-75. During its orbital lifetime, MESSENGER's onboard cameras and sensors will image the planet and collect data on Mercury's geological and atmospheric composition, enabling scientists better to understand how Mercury was formed, how it evolved, and how it interacts with the Sun. MESSENGER will stay in orbit around Mercury for one Earth year, finishing its data collection in March 2012. "The launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II continues our long-standing partnership with NASA," said Will Trafton, vice president and general manager, Boeing Expendable Launch Systems. "The dependable Delta II has carried aloft a wide variety of interplanetary and planetary explorers for the space agency that are helping us better to understand the Earth and our solar system. Our continued launch success is testament to the reliability of this versatile launch system and the Delta team's commitment to excellence." MESSENGER is the seventh mission selected for NASA's Discovery Program, which focuses on planetary exploration. The spacecraft was developed by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. The Boeing Delta II 7925 Heavy launch vehicle used for the MESSENGER mission featured a Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage engine, nine 46-inch diameter stretched solid rocket boosters provided by Alliant Techsystems, an Aerojet AJ10-118K engine that powered the second stage, a Thiokol Star-48B solid-rocket motor that powered the third stage, and a nine-and-a-half-foot diameter Boeing fairing that protected the spacecraft during flight. Delta II rockets also use the Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly system from L3 Communications Space & Navigation that provides launch vehicle guidance and control to enable precision payload deployments. The next Delta mission will be the maiden flight of the Boeing Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle planned for this fall from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral. A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world 's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services // end //

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Following a vegan diet is becoming much more popular these days, with all sorts of celebrities and athletes promoting the lifestyle too. If you’re not sure of the details, being vegan means that you don’t consume any animal products at all – in other words, no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and so on. There are many different compelling reasons to go vegan, including health benefits, environmental benefits, and of course, helping animals. Here’s a quick overview to show you a few of the arguments in favor of making the change. For your health Research shows that people who follow a vegan diet have a lower risk of developing health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and many others. Eating this way can also lead to improvements in sports performance by boosting stamina and recovery. It’s more than possible to get all of the different vitamins and minerals that you need from a plant-based diet while still enjoying delicious and innovative meals. Don’t worry, you can indulge in the occasional treat too! These days there are plenty of vegan chocolate options and plant-based desserts to choose from. The good news is that vegan choices are also now widely available on restaurant menus, so you don’t need to worry about not being able to go out to eat with your friends. In addition, supermarkets have an ever-increasing range of vegan foods on offer to help ensure that switching to this diet is as easy as possible. For the environment It has been said that following a vegan diet is one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact on the planet. That’s because animal farming causes a huge amount of damage through pollution, water use, deforestation, and other harmful activities. Growing plants is much more efficient than livestock farming because it uses far less land and water. Converting from animal farming to growing crops would also enable us to feed more people, meaning that transitioning to a vegan diet could even help to solve the problem of world hunger. You’ll also be pleased to know that it doesn’t have to cost you more money because common vegan ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, and legumes are all cheap in price. That makes it a real win-win situation. One of the most obvious benefits of switching to a vegan diet is that you’ll be saving the lives of animals. Suffering and death are an inevitable part of animal farming – including free-range and organic farming – so by eating a plant-based diet instead, you’ll be removing yourself from those unethical practices. This can also have benefits for the human population too. For example, the overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming is contributing to the rise of bugs that are resistant to antibiotics and, therefore, harder to treat. We’ve also seen a number of infectious diseases such as bird flu and swine flu emerge as a result of factory farming. All of which means that going vegan can help you to enjoy your food with a clear conscience!

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To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Psalm 47: One of the six psalms of the divine kingdom, the psalm celebrates the Lord’s kingship over all the earth (verse 9). It begins with a universal call to praise Israel’s God (verse 1). This is reinforced with reasons: He is an awe-inspiring God (verse 2), He redeemed Israel and settled them in their land (verses 3-4), and He presently is ruling in Israel. A second call renews the need for praise (verse 6). It is likewise reinforced with a reason: the revelation that His kingship is destined to be universal (verses 7-9). These last verses speak prophetically of the time when the Lord Jesus will reign on the earth. Verses 1-9: The main concepts of Psalm 47 develop around key words and phrases, e.g., “peoples” and “nations” (verses 1, 3, 8, 9); “earth” and “all the earth” (verses 2, 7, 9); and “king” or “reigning as king” (verses 2, 6, 7, 8). The major message of this psalm is that God is the unique Sovereign over all. Structurally, there are two choruses of worship in this Psalm 47, which celebrate this universal kingship of the Lord God Most High. - First Chorus: God as the Victorious King-Warrior (47:1-5). - Its Call to Worship (47:1); - Its Causes for Worship (47:2-5). - Second Chorus: God as the Sovereign King-Governor (47:6-9). - Its Call to Worship (47:6); - Its Causes for Worship (47:7-9b); - Its Code of Worship (47:9c). Psalm 47:1 “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Here is figured Christ to whom all his should give willing obedience, and who would show himself terrible to the wicked. Meaning the Gentiles more especially (see Psalm 117:1), compared with (Rom. 15:9). Who had reason to rejoice and be glad, since the ascended Lord and King here spoken of was given to be their Savior. Was the propitiation for their sins, and had given himself a ransom price for them. And now the Gospel was preached among them, by an order from him after his resurrection. And upon his ascension gifts were bestowed on his apostles, qualifying them for it. When many of them were converted by it, and were made partakers of the same grace and privileges with the Jews that believed in Christ, and were formed into Gospel churches. Wherefore they are called upon to declare their joy and gladness by “clapping their hands”; which is a gesture expressive of exultation and joy (see Psalm 98:8, Nah. 3:19). It was used at the unction and coronation of a king (2 Kings 11:12). And so very proper to be used on occasion of the Messiah being made or declared Lord and Christ, as he was at his ascension (Acts 2:36). “All ye people”: The call to worship is universal. “Shout unto God with the voice of triumph”: As when triumphs are made on account of victories obtained, which was now the case. Christ having conquered sin, Satan, and the world, by his sufferings and death. And having spoiled principalities and powers, made a show of them, openly triumphing over them, when he ascended on high, and led captivity captive. And he having sent his apostles into the Gentile world with his Gospel, they were caused to triumph in him wherever they came. And now these external actions of clapping hands, and shouting with the voice, are expressive of inward spiritual joy. Which those among the people who were conquered by the grace of God, and had a sight of their ascended Lord and Savior, were filled with. And who are exhorted to express it in this manner, unto God: not to angels, nor to men, no, not to ministers, who brought the joyful tidings to them. But to God, either to God the Father, for all their temporal and spiritual blessings; especially for the unspeakable gift of his Son, to suffer and die for them: or to the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh (John 1:14). God that was gone up with a shout (Psalm 47:5); and was now at the right hand of God, crowned with glory and honor. Who, by the sufferings of death, had obtained eternal redemption for them. The battle is over. The victory is won. To clap the hands shows extreme joy. Notice, that this is not just a few that are to clap, but all the people of the world. To shout is to rejoice with great enthusiasm. Jesus will rule over all the earth and all people. Those of us who have decided to make Jesus our Lord as well as our Savior now, will be ahead of those who must submit to His rule by force. We of our own free will have submitted to the will of the Lord now. This is enough to make the most stayed person begin to shout. Psalm 47:2 “For the LORD most high [is] terrible; [he is] a great King over all the earth.” Yahweh, the “Most High” God; that is, who is exalted above all other beings (compare Exodus 18:11; 1 Chron. 16:25; Psalms 96:4; 95:3; 2 Chron. 2:5). “Is terrible”: Literally, is to be feared; that is, reverenced and adored. There is an idea in the words “terrible” and “terror” which is not contained in the original, as if there were something harsh, severe, stern, in his character. The word in the original does not go beyond the notion of inspiring reverence or awe, and is the common word by which the worship of God is designated in the Scriptures. The meaning is, that he is worthy of profound reverence or adoration. “He is a great King over all the earth”: As he must be, since he is the great God and our Savior; and is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is now King of Zion, and head over all things to the church. And before long the kingdoms of this world will become his, and he will take to himself his great power and reign. And shall be King over all the earth openly and visibly. He shall be one, and his name One (Zech. 14:9). Which is another reason for joy and gladness among the people. This whole chapter is about the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the Earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. This rule will not be like the meek and mild Jesus that was here to save the world. He will rule with a rod of iron. Revelation 2:27 “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” His rule is absolute dominion over all the people of the earth. Psalm 47:3 “He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.” “He shall subdue”: An axiomatic truth about the past, present, and future. We shall rule with Him as His subordinates. He is King and we Christians will rule and reign with Him. Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” We did not win the battle, the Lord did. He places us in a position of authority over the heathen. Psalm 47:4 “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.” “He shall choose”: Again, “He shall choose” serves as a timeless truth. Compare the election of Israel in (Deut. 7:6; Psalm 135:4). On the land of promise as “inheritance”, compare (Deut. 32:8-9; Psalm 105:11). See notes (of Eph. 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2), for a discussion of the doctrine of divine election. “The excellency of Jacob whom he loved”: The “glory” or “pride” of Jacob also refers to the land of Canaan (compare the term illustratively in Isa. 13:19; then in Isa. 60:15; Nahum 2:2). “Whom he loved” is a signal terminology for God’s special, elective, covenantal “love” (compare e.g., Mal. 1:2). This special focus on God’s covenant with Israel does not negate the bigger picture involving blessing to all nations sketched out in the original Abrahamic Covenant of (Gen. 12:1-3). We will not rule wherever we choose. He will choose the place for each of us. I do not desire to choose for myself. I have previously made Jesus my Lord and His will is my will. I do not want to choose. I want Him to choose for me, and then tell me where He wants me to be. It is inheritance enough to be with Him. We know that just as God gave Israel the Promised Land, He will give us our inheritance and the place that is best for us. He loved physical Israel, but He also loves spiritual Israel who came to Him by choice and not by birthright. We should stop and think on these things. Verses 5-9: The root word for “gone up” is translated (in verse 9), as “exalted”. The people of God will shout in triumph on the day when the rightful “King of all the earth” reigns (68:24-25; 1 Chron. 16:31). Psalm 47:5 “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.” “God is gone up with a shout”: The imagery likely refers to God’s presence, after having gone into battle with His people, now ascending victoriously to His immanent “residence on Mt. Zion and to His transcendent residence in heaven. This procession with the Ark of God was accompanied by great shouts and blasts of celebration in (verses 5 and 6). This is Jesus who goes up with a shout. Matthew 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” The voice of the Lord and the sound of the silver trumpet of redemption are very close to the same. They are very hard to separate. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” We do not know the exact events, but praise God! He knows. I trust Him completely, and I know in my heart that the return of the Lord Jesus to heaven had to be shouted about by the angels. God (in verse 5 above), is Jehovah. He is Jehovah, Lord God Almighty. Psalm 47:6 “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” That is gone up with a shout, Christ Jesus, our ascended Lord and King. As the apostles did at the time of his ascension (Luke 24:52). “Sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises”: Who was then made Lord and Christ, declared King of saints, and crowned with glory and honor. The repetition of the phrase sing praises denotes frequency, constancy, fervency, and great devotion in the performance of this service. And that the ascension of Christ, the occasion of it, is of the greatest moment and importance, and requires it to be performed in such a manner. The type of song here, would be a song of adoration. From the four praises above, I would believe this to be universal, since four means universal. Then this would be sung all over the world, and not just once, but over and over. Psalm 47:7 “For God [is] the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” He is not just God of the Jews, but of all mankind. The praises with understanding would be singing of His truth, and His love, and His majesty, and all the wonderful truths in the Bible. Philippians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;” His rule is universal and forever. Psalm 47:8 “God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.” He reigned over Israel under the former dispensation, and now he reigns over the Gentiles under the Gospel dispensation. As appears by the numerous instances of conversion among them in the first ages of Christianity. And by the many churches that were planted by the means of the apostles. And by the destruction of the Roman Pagan empire under the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12). And which will still more appear by the destruction of Rome Papal, when all the Heathens shall perish out of the land. And by the fullness and forces of the Gentiles being brought into a submission to him. All which are reasons to sing praises to him. “God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness”: Or his holy throne, which is heaven; on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; on his Father’s throne. Having done his work on earth he is received up into heaven, and is set down on a throne at the right hand of God, an honor which none of the angels have. He has ceased from his work and entered into his rest, and sits and sees of the travail of his soul. All which is matter of joy to his people, and a reason why they should sing praises. And the rather, since they are set down with him in heavenly places. Not only will He reign during the 1000 years upon the earth, but He actually reigns now. The heathen does not know at this time, that God rules over all. Jesus is even now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He will sit on His throne in full view of everyone when this verse comes to fulfillment. Sometimes people who sit on thrones on the earth, are not honest and upright. In fact, sometimes they are down-right unholy. The throne that the Lord sits upon is holy in every way. It is based on truth and righteousness. Psalm 47:9 “The princes of the people are gathered together, [even] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God: he is greatly exalted.” “The shields of the earth” This imagery stands parallel with “the princes of the people”. Illustratively, there may be a loose analogy to God’s sovereignly appointed human governors (compare Rom. 13:1-7) as protectors for the masses. Galatians 3:29 “And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” We Christians are the people of the God of Abraham. We like Abraham, had faith and it was counted unto us for righteousness. All of the Christians in the world will be gathered together, when we are resurrected from the earth. All of us will shout praises to Him. We all get our strength and power from Jesus who is our protector. Psalm 47 Questions - Why are they to clap their hands in verse 1? - Shout unto God with the voice of ___________. - Who is this saying should do this? - What is the difference in the Christian shouting praise to the Lord and the rest of the world? - What is chapter 47 about? - What describes the way Jesus will rule over them? - What will the Christians be doing during this 1000 year reign of Jesus? - Who does the second death have no power over? - Where will we rule? - Spiritual Israel came to the Lord by _______, and not by birth right. - Who shall descend from heaven with a shout? - Who shall rise first? - God, in verse 5, is who? - Why was sing praises said 4 times in verse 6? - Verse 7 says, sing praises with _________________. - Verse 8 says God reigns over whom? - Where does God sit? - What is the throne of God based upon?

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The prostate gland, approximately the size of a large walnut, is located behind the base of the penis, above the rectum, and below the bladder. Its purpose is to secrete components of semen. Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men, if caught in the early stages, the 5-year survival rate is extremely good. As a result, significant research has been done into new and more innovative ways to treat this disease. Prostate cancer means that cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. It is the most common cancer in American men after skin cancer. Prostate cancer tends to grow slowly compared with most other cancers. Cell changes may begin 10, 20, or 30 years before a tumor gets big enough to cause symptoms. Eventually, cancer cells may spread ( metastasize ) throughout the body. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may be more advanced. By age 50, very few men have symptoms of prostate cancer, yet some precancerous or cancerous cells are present. More than half of all American men have some cancer in their prostate glands by the age of 80. Most of these cancers never pose a problem. They either give no signs or symptoms or never become a serious threat to health. A much smaller percentage of men are actually treated for prostate cancer. Most men with prostate cancer do not die from this disease. About 16 percent of American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Eight percent have serious symptoms. Three percent die of the disease. Prostate cancer can sit quietly for years. That means most men with the disease have no obvious symptoms. When symptoms finally appear, they may be a lot like the symptoms of BPH. Trouble passing urine Frequent urge to pass urine, especially at night Weak or interrupted urine stream Pain or burning when passing urine Blood in the urine or semen Nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis Prostate cancer can spread to the lymph nodes of the pelvis. Or it may spread throughout the body. It tends to spread to the bones. So bone pain, especially in the back, can be another symptom. There are some risk factors linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chances of having a problem or disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn't mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of disease is greater. Age. Being 50 or older increases the risk of prostate cancer. Race. African-American men are at the highest risk of prostate cancer—it tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, it is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer. Aside from race, all men can have other prostate cancer risk factors (aging, family history, and diet). See the For More Information section to request the booklet about African-American men and prostate cancer screening Family history. Prostate cancer risk is 2 to 3 times higher for men whose fathers or brothers have had the disease. For example, the risk is about 10 times higher for a man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer. The younger a man is when he has prostate cancer, the greater the risk for his male family members. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men whose mothers or sisters have had breast cancer. Diet. The risk of prostate cancer seems to be higher for men eating high-fat diets with few fruits and vegetables Prostate cancer tumors are staged to determine how far cancer has spread. Stage T1 is prostate cancer in its earliest stage. Cancer is confined to the prostate gland and the patient rarely experiences any symptoms of the disease. A PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is an important diagnostic tool for detecting a chemical which could signify the presence of prostate cancer. When the PSA result is elevated or abnormally high, a patient typically undergoes a prostate biopsy under ultrasound to establish a definitive diagnosis. In men younger than 5O, a PSA greater than 2.5 is considered elevated. The Gleason test is a grading scale that helps the physician determine how aggressive a patient's cancer is. Tissue removed from the prostate during the biopsy is examined microscopically and graded. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive cancer. 5 - 6 7 - 10 Also known as "interstitial radiation," brachytherapy is the permanent implanting of radioactive "seeds" into the prostate gland. Brachytherapy delivers a prescribed dose of radiation directly to the cancer cells while decreasing the risk of radiating surrounding tissues or organs. The seeds are usually permanently implanted, where the radiation dissipates over time. Brachytherapy may be done alone or in combination with external beam radiation and/or hormonal therapy. Generally, it is an outpatient procedure. Some patients experience irritative voiding symptoms for a few days or months after implantation. Radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the prostate gland, and unlike brachytherapy, which is an outpatient procedure, surgery typically involves a hospital stay of several days. The two most common side effects of this surgery are loss of bladder control (incontinence) and the inability to maintain an erection (impotence). This treatment involves the use of high-energy X-rays directed at the prostate gland, and normally requires treatment 5 days per week for 6 to 8 weeks. Side effects may include complications such as problems with urination and impotence, as well as radiation injury to the bowel. The purpose of this treatment is to lower the levels of testosterone (male hormone) which slows the growth of cancerous cells over a period of time. Under certain circumstances, hormones may be used in combination with brachytherapy to shrink the prostate and the tumor. Since many prostate cancers are slow-growing, a physician may recommend close observation for a period of time without any active treatment, during which the tumor's progress is carefully monitored. Screening means testing for cancer before you have any symptoms. A screening test can often help find cancer at an early stage. When found early, cancer is less likely to have spread and may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have started to spread. Remember, even if your doctor suggests prostate cancer screening, this doesn't necessarily mean that you have cancer. Screening tests are most useful when they have been proven to find cancer early and lower a person's chance of dying from cancer. For prostate cancer, doctors don't yet know these answers and more research is being done. Large research studies, with thousands of men, are going on now to study prostate cancer screening. The National Cancer Institute is studying the combination of PSA testing and DRE as a way to get more accurate results Some cancers never cause symptoms or become life- threatening. If they are found by a screening test, the cancer may then be treated. For prostate cancer in its early stages, it isn't known whether treatment would help you live longer than if no treatment were given when a screening test detects prostate cancer. Talk with your doctor about your risk of prostate cancer and your need for screening tests. National research studies are looking at how prostate cancer can be prevented. There is some proof that the drug finasteride lowers your risk of getting prostate cancer, but whether it decreases the risk of dying of prostate cancer is still unclear. US TOO International, Inc. 930 N. York Rd., Suite 50 Hinsdale, IL 60521 Telephone: 630/323-1002; Fax: 630/323-1003 Toll-Free Hotline: 800/80-US-TOO Contact your local American Cancer Society Office or call 1-800-ACS-2345 for more information about this program.

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Otitis media - acute; Infection - inner ear; Ear infection - acute Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which means an inflammation and infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is located just behind the eardrum. The term “acute” refers to a short and painful episode. An ear infection that lasts a long time or comes and goes is called chronic otitis media. For links to other types of ear infections, see otitis. Causes, incidence, and risk factors Ear infections are common in infants and children in part because their eustachian tubes become clogged easily. For each ear, a eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. Its purpose is to drain fluid and bacteria that normally occurs in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up and become infected. Anything that causes the eustachian tubes and upper airways to become inflamed or irritated, or cause more fluids to be produced, can lead to a blocked eustachian tube. These include: - Colds and sinus infections - Tobacco smoke or other irritants - Infected or overgrown adenoids - Excess mucus and saliva produced during teething Ear infections are also more likely if a child spends a lot of time drinking from a sippy cup or bottle while lying on his or her back. Contrary to popular opinion, getting water in the ears will not cause an acute ear infection, unless the eardrum has a hole from a previous episode. Ear infections occur most frequently in the winter. An ear infection is not itself contagious, but a cold may spread among children and cause some of them to get ear infections. Risk factors include the following: - Not being breast-fed - Recent ear infection - Recent illness of any type (lowers resistance of the body to infection) - Day care (especially with more than 6 children) - Pacifier use - Genetic factors (susceptibility to infection may run in families) - Changes in altitude or climate - Cold climate An acute ear infection causes pain (earache). In infants, the clearest sign is often irritability and inconsolable crying. Many infants and children develop a fever or have trouble sleeping. Parents often think that tugging on the ear is a symptom of an ear infection, but studies have shown that the same number of children going to the doctor tug on the ear whether or not the ear is infected. Other possible symptoms include: - Fullness in the ear - Feeling of general illness - Hearing loss in the affected ear The child may have symptoms of a cold, or the ear infection may start shortly after having a cold. All acute ear infections include fluid behind the eardrum. You can use an electronic ear monitor, such as Earcheck, to detect this fluid at home. The device is available at pharmacies. Signs and tests The doctor will ask questions about whether your child (or you) have had ear infections in the past and will want you to describe the current symptoms, including whether your child has had any symptoms of a cold or allergies recently. Your doctor will examine your child’s throat, sinuses, head, neck, and lungs. Using an instrument called an otoscope, the doctor will look inside your child’s ears. If infected, there may be areas of dullness or redness or there may be air bubbles or fluid behind the eardrum. The fluid may be bloody or purulent (filled with pus). The physician will also check for any sign of perforation (hole or holes) in the eardrum. A hearing test may be recommended if your child has had persistent (chronic and recurrent) ear infections. The goals for treating ear infections include relieving pain, curing the infection, preventing complications, and preventing recurrent ear infections. Most ear infections will safely clear up on their own without antibiotics. Often, treating the pain and allowing the body time to heal itself is all that is needed: - Apply a warm cloth or warm water bottle. - Use over-the-counter pain relief drops for ears. - Take over-the counter medications for pain or fever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. DO NOT give aspirin to children. - Use prescription ear drops to relieve pain. Some ear infections require antibiotics to clear the infection and to prevent them from becoming worse. This is more likely if the child is under age 2, has a fever, is acting sick (beyond just the ear), or is not improving over 24 to 48 hours. However, for several years there was a tendency to over-prescribe antibiotics, leading to the increasing numbers of bacteria that are resistant to these drugs. Joint guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians are aimed at using antibiotics for ear infections when they are most needed. If the antibiotics do not seem to be working within 48 to 72 hours, contact your doctor to consider switching to a stronger antibiotic. Usually there is no benefit to more than two, or at the most three, rounds of appropriate antibiotics. If there is fluid in the middle ear and the condition persists, even with antibiotic treatment, a healthcare provider may recommend myringotomy (surgical opening of the eardrum) to relieve pressure and allow drainage of the fluid. This may or may not involve the insertion of tympanostomy tubes (often referred to as ear tubes). In this procedure, a tiny tube is inserted into the eardrum, keeping open a small hole that allows air to get in so fluids can drain more easily down the eustachian tube. Tympanostomy tube insertion is done under general anesthesia. Usually the tubes fall out by themselves. Those that don’t may be removed in your doctor’s office. If the adenoids are enlarged, surgical removal may be considered, especially if you have chronic, recurrent ear infections.Removing tonsils does not seem to help with ear infections. Ear infections are curable with treatment but may recur. They are not life threatening but may be quite painful. Generally, an ear infection is a simple, non-serious condition without complications. Most children will have minor, temporary hearing loss during and right after an ear infection. This is due to fluid lingering in the ear. Although this fluid can go unnoticed, any fluid that lasts longer than 8-12 weeks is cause for concern. In children, hearing problems may cause speech to develop slowly. Permanent hearing loss is extremely rare, but the risk increases if the child has a lot of ear infections. Other potential complications from otitis media include: - Ruptured or perforated eardrum - Chronic, recurrent ear infections - Enlarged adenoids or tonsils - Mastoiditis (an infection of the bones around the skull) - Meningitis (an infection of the brain) - Formation of an abscess or a cyst (called cholesteatoma) from chronic, recurrent ear infections - Speech or language delay in a child who suffers lasting hearing loss from multiple, recurrent ear infections Calling your health care provider Call your child’s doctor if: - Pain, fever, or irritability do not improve within 24 to 48 hours - At the start, the child seems sicker than just an ear infection - Your child has a high fever or severe pain - Severe pain suddenly stops hurting - this may indicate a ruptured eardrum - Symptoms worsen - New symptoms appear, especially severe headache, dizziness, swelling around the ear, or twitching of the face muscles For a child under 6 months, let the doctor know right away if the child has a fever, even if no other symptoms are present. You can reduce your child’s risk of ear infections with the following practices: - Wash hands and toys frequently. Also, day care with 6 or fewer children can lessen your child’s chances of getting a cold or similar infection. This leads to fewer ear infections. - Avoid pacifiers, especially at daycare. - Breastfeed - this makes a child much less prone to ear infections. But, if bottle feeding, hold your infant in an upright, seated position. - Don’t expose your child to secondhand smoke. - The pneumococcal vaccine prevents infections from the organism that most commonly causes acute ear infections and many respiratory infections. - Some evidence suggests that xylitol, a natural sweetener, may reduce ear infections. - Avoid overusing antibiotics. by Harutyun Medina, M.D. All ArmMed Media material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.

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atrc, assistive, technology, resource, center, graduate, thesis, legrest, wheelchair For people bound to a wheelchair, the ability to elevate one's legs is as much a comfort concern as it is a health concern. The elevation of one's legs changes the user's sitting position, thereby increasing their comfort level while at the same time increasing circulation, ultimately aiding in the prevention of pressure sores and lower extremity swelling. Unfortunately, the motion of current legrests on manual wheelchairs does not accurately match the motion of the user's lower leg. This mismatch of motion causes the legrest to push up on the leg, shortening it while applying torque to the hip. An elevating/articulating wheelchair legrest that consisted of a planar sixbar linkage coupled with a worm gear set was designed and manufactured to address the shortcomings of standard elevating legrests. The legrest prototype elevates and articulates simultaneously from a single user interface, allowing the user's leg to be straight in the elevated position. The prototype design was evaluated by a potential user, his nurse, and the Director of Rehabilitation Engineering at the Massachusetts Hospital School. The collective response from this evaluation was very favorable. The design was successful in meeting the design specifications. Further modifications are needed before the design is ready for the commercial market. (2006). The Design and Manufacture of an Elevating/Articulating Manual Wheelchair Legrest. . Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/atrc-projects/28

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One of my all time favorite movies is “What About Bob?” In the movie, Bob Wiley is dealing with a number of personal and relational problems that often accompany life. Bob seeks the help of a psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin, who gives him a book titled Baby Steps: A Guide to Living Life One Step at a Time. I won’t spoil the movie for those of you who haven’t seen it, but suffice it to say there is much hilarity in watching Bob figuratively (and literally at times) “baby step” through his issues. As you “baby step” into a collaborative learning environment, you might feel some frustration. That is perfectly okay! In the article Three Steps to Supporting the Crusade for Better Student Collaboration, author Jennifer Pieratt offers the following advice for implementing collaborative learning in the classroom: - Calibrate the terms and expectations for collaboration: Be open about why collaboration is important. Ask questions that make things clearer. Use video and analysis of students in action to better understand what is important. - Plan with the end in mind: Think about what skills students should have at the end of the year and develop activities that build to that end. Create a rubric that can be used to guide the process. - Imbed scaffolding: Support healthy conversations, active listening, positive interactions, and productive group work. We are baby stepping into collaborative learning. We are taking small steps into something that may be both new and uncomfortable. We may fall down and cry a little from time to time. We are learning with each step and with each fall. Keep trying! You and your students will be glad you did!

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To celebrate le vaiaso o le gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoan language week) 26-31 May 2013, the Pacific Cultures curators are highlighting stories related to cultural treasures from Sāmoa. This is a fue, an item of regalia important for a Sāmoan tulafale (orator). They use fue when they deliver lauga (oratorical speeches). High chiefs can also carry them but only when appearing as orators. In Sāmoa, lauga is presented in two main settings, either indoors within a house or fale or outdoors on the malae (village green). There are different conventions for using the fue in these settings. For example, inside a fale, the tulafale delivers his speech sitting with their legs crossed. They will often make several movements with it before starting their speech. This may involve throwing it over the left and right shoulders before placing it on the floor. The speech is then delivered with the left wrist on one knee and the right palm on the floor in line with the buttock. Fue are usually made from lengths of braided coconut fibre (sennit) attached to a short wooden handle. However, in the 1920s it had become the custom to use horse hair exclusively for high chiefs. The fue you see pictured was once owned by James Baxter Fleck (1869-1939) who served with the New Zealand Army Occupation Force in Western Sāmoa from 1915-1919. The other fue below, are examples from the Te Papa collections.

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Lesotho is a very interesting country. The entire territory of this country is located at an altitude of over 1400 meters above sea level. And Lesotho is also an enclave state, as it is located inside another country - the Republic of South Africa. The total length of the borders between South Africa and Lesotho is just over 900 kilometers. Naturally, Lesotho has no outlet to the sea. 10 interesting facts about the state of Lesotho - Snow is not common in much of Africa, but it is common in Lesotho. The reason is the highlands in which this country is located. Moreover, in some parts of the country the temperature in winter drops to minus 18 degrees Celsius. Lesotho is home to Maletsunyane Falls, the only African waterfall that freezes over in winter. - This state gained independence from Great Britain not so long ago - on October 4, 1966. Before this event, it had a different name - Basutoland, being a British protectorate. Lesotho is now a constitutional monarchy with Letsie III as king. However, the power of the monarch is rather arbitrary, the college of leaders has the right to remove the king. - The currency of Lesotho is the loti and the South African rand. At the same time, the loti is pegged at the rate to the rand in a 1: 1 ratio. Lesotho's banknotes are printed in the royal printers of Great Britain. In search of work, many residents of Lesotho leave for South Africa. And in Lesotho itself, most of the population is employed in agriculture. The main crops are corn and potatoes. - On August 22, 2006, a 603 carat (120 grams) diamond was found at the Letsing mine. The giant was named "Hope Lesotho". It is the 15th largest diamond ever discovered on our planet. He was sent to the diamond capital of the world - the Belgian city of Antwerp. Lawrence Graff bought the diamond at auction for $ 12, 360, 000. The winner of the auction said that buying such a diamond is just a dream. Lawrence Graff ordered the purchase as follows: 26 diamonds were made from it and 35 specialists were involved in the work. Each of the 26 products is individually numbered, which can only be seen with a tenfold increase. It is estimated that the total value of the items is roughly double the amount that Graff spent at the auction. - The runway at Matekane Airport in Lesotho is one of the creepiest in the world. Its length is only 400 meters, and it ends with an abyss, the depth of which is as much as 600 meters. Ten years ago, this strip was closed for international flights because of its danger, but small aircraft continue to use this "attraction". - Unlike most African countries, which are populated by many tribes, in Lesotho more than 99 percent of the inhabitants belong to the same tribe, the Basuto. The largest city in Lesotho is Maseru, which is also the capital of the state. After the state gained independence, the population of Maseru began to grow rapidly. Over the past half century, the number of residents of the capital has increased from 28, 000 to 228, 000. - The main clothing of the inhabitants of Lesotho is a woolen blanket that is thrown over the shoulders. It protects equally well both from cold and heat. The most common pattern on such a blanket is an ear of corn, because it is corn that occupies most of the country's farmland. And from footwear, rubber boots have become widespread. - Lesotho can hardly be classified as one of the world's tourism centers, although in recent years the government has been trying to attract tourists to its country. Travelers have the opportunity to see with their own eyes the amazing nature of this African state. Tourists are welcome in Lesotho, but cameras and camcorders are treated with great suspicion here. Attempts to take pictures of local residents annoy them, and the police can make a remark. - Athletes from Lesotho have regularly competed in the Summer Olympics since 1972. During all this time, they have never managed to get into the number of prize-winners. But in the Winter Olympics, the athletes of this country have never performed. The most famous football club in the country is Matlama. But all his successes are associated only with tournaments within the country. "Matlama" was the champion of Lesotho 9 times and won the national Cup 6 times. - Despite the fact that Lesotho is far from the richest country on the planet, there is a very high literacy rate for Africa. It is 65 percent. This is primarily due to the fact that the country's government allocates about 12 percent of the total national income for education. Since 1945, the National University of Lesotho has been operating here, formerly the Pius XII Catholic University College.

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Kia ora and welcome…! Let’s pause again for another quick review. As we said at the start of Collection 5, you should be hands on with your learners now in order to complete the coursework and assessments. Here’s an outline of your journey so far - Collection 1 – CONTEXT: We learned about definitions, frameworks and factors associated with low levels of adult literacy and numeracy. - Collection 2 – APPROACHES: We looked at some of the approaches used in learner-centred adult education. This included a range of Māori concepts and approaches including ako and tuakana-teina. - Collection 3 – DEMANDS: Here we looked at how you use the Learning Progressions for literacy and numeracy to analyse the demands of your programme and teaching resources. - Collection 4 – STRATEGIES: We discussed how to develop broad strategies for embedding literacy and numeracy, as well as how to write much narrower learning outcomes for embedding literacy and numeracy into your teaching sessions. - Collection 5 – BEFORE: In the previous collection we discussed a range of different assessments including diagnostic assessments that you can use in your teaching. Here’s what’s ahead in Collection 6 6.1 How do I plan embedded literacy and numeracy teaching? Here we look at your planning process. You need to plan to embed literacy and numeracy into three teaching sessions with at least two learners. These should be the same learners you’ve already tested in the last assessment for this course. And you’ll need to track them across the three teaching sessions. You’ll need to make sure your plan addresses programme demands and the learner needs that you’ve already identified. Also, it’s a chance to revisit your learning outcomes and think about what kinds of teaching strategies apply. We’ll also cover ideas for activities, resources, assessing learner progress and evaluation. From your side, you’ll need to think through how you intend to incorporate some of the learner-centred teaching approaches you’ve been thinking about. 6.2 Just do it: Teaching This section is shorter because it’s all about you doing the teaching that you’ve planned. So, there’s not that much for us to say. But we will go over what you need to do to meet the assessment requirements. This is, of course, to facilitate embedded literacy and numeracy teaching and learning for at least two learners across at least three separate learning sessions. Part of your evidence includes a review of each teaching sessions. And we’ll cover the kinds of things that you need to write about in your commentary. 6.3 What kind of supporting evidence should I supply? This section is short, but we’ll cover what you need to supply as supporting evidence for your teaching.

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Recorded in many spellings including Chappell, Chappel, Chapple, Capel, Capelle, and Capewell, (English), Chapell, Chapelle, Capell, (France), Capela, Cappella, (Italian), Capilla and Capella (Spanish and Portugese), Capel and Van de Keppel (Dutch), Van de Capelle (Flemish), Kapple, Kapplemann, Capel, and Cappleman (German), this is usually a topographical name for someone who lived by a chapel. It is derived from the Latin word "capella", meaning a hood or cloak, but later used in a transferred sense to mean a sanctuary. It may also be occupational for someone employed in a chapel, the derivation and origination being same. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. Early examples of the surname recording include Richard de la Chapel in the Subsidy Tax rolls of the county of Sussex, England, in 1293, Johan Capelmann of Osnabruck, Germany, in 1473, and Johannes Capel of Heidelberg, Germany, in the year 1487. Other recordings in England include the christening of Abraham Chapple, on August 7th 1623 at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, whilst the coat of arms most associated with the family was granted on 20th October, 1686 to Richard Chapell, Deputy-Auditor-General and has the blazon of a gold shield, thereon a black anchor between two chaplets in fess vert. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Chapel, which was dated 1202, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King John of England, 1199 - 1216. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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The Lost Treasure of Ecuador The province of Quito has a "river of emeralds" from quarries on whose banks the Incas acquired some of their gems but, generally speaking, the mines from which the ancient Peruvians wrested their most beautiful precious stones are unknown today The Incas had a source of emeralds in the Province of Esmeraldas north of Quito and many of today's emeralds are said to have come from this area.. Fabulous Inca treasures in the form of golden plates, cups, bowls and idols, chalices inlaid with precious emeralds, slabs of pure gold and leather casks filled with jewels lie cached in a gorge nearly a half-mile deep on the southern side of El Sangay, an active volcano on the outskirts of Quito at an altitude of 6,000 feet. The fabulous Inca hoard was then covered over with tons of volcanic rock and ashes, protected by their powerful and sacred "fire god" to be uncovered when the Spaniards were driven off their lands. The Inca ruler of the area of present-day Quito, hearing of the Spaniards stripping the treasures from the sacred temples, had all the treasures brought quickly to the shores of Lake Yaquarcocha.According to a number of Indians who broke under torture at the hands of the Conquistadors, enough gold and silver to fill a building 60 feet by 65 feet by 12 feet high was flung into the middle of this lake. None of this treasure has ever been recovered. The citizens of Ecuador as well as the European residents of the official classes in Quito (around 1936) firmly believed that the great treasures belonging to the Inca Emperor Huayca Copac was sunk in a lake on the slopes of Pichincha, a great volcano which looms high over Quito.. Three days travel east of Oyacachi are ancient Indian burial mounds or tolas, and nearby a river that is rich in gold. Six hours of laborious panning here produced 2 ounces of gold to an adventurous prospector in 1964. The location is east of Quito to Cayambe, then farther east to the site. One of the lost emerald mines of the Incas was discovered then lost by Stewart Connelly several years ago. He mysteriously disappeared in 1924 taking the secret of the lost emerald mine with him. The supposed location is approximately 290 miles from Quito in the jungles of the Amazon and near what is now the Colombian-Ecuador border.Ancient Inca burial sites containing gold artifacts and pottery can be found in abundance in the area of the ancient village of Coaque on the north side of the Coaque River. In 1930 reports filtered out that an old Inca treasure cache had been tracked down to the Indian village of Nisac, near Alausi, on the slopes of the Andes Cordillera. The cache was supposedly the hiding place of the treasure of the last Inca Atahualpa. The cable added that a tribe of 700 Indians guarded this cache and that in 1929 the treasure hunters had found an Inca idol and skeletons. The expedition set out from the town of Rio Bamba. There were no further reports. On the outskirts of the little mountain village of Pillaro about 50 miles from Quito via Ambato lies a great plain reaching as far as the eye can see to the foothills of the rain-swept Llanganatis Mountains in the far distance. This vast area has been for thousands of years the burial ground of both Inca and pre-lnca civilizations and contains untold thousands of graves only a fraction of which have been opened. Deep in the Llanganati Mountains in central Ecuador lies a fabulous hoard of Inca treasure hidden by the Indians to keep it from the plundering Spaniards. The huge cache is believed secreted somewhere in the immediate vicinity of Cerro Hermosa. Somewhere on the wooded slopes of a volcanic crater close by an old Inca road in the Andes is a huge pre-Inca hoard of gold and silver images and ceremonial objects. The location of this ancient cache was known to a certain Juan Valverde a Spaniard who had married an Inca Indian's daughter from whom he had learned the secret. For many years Valverde disappeared for rather lengthy periods and after each return displayed ever-increasing signs of wealth. Juan Valverde eventually returned to Spain where he died during the 16th century. As a legacy to the King of Spain, he left a "derrotero", or treasure map showing the route to this great treasure but neither the two agents whom the king sent nor anyone since has ever been able to find the hoard When the work was complete it was obvious that the ship with its great cargo of looted gold and silver, was extremely overloaded and could never make the long voyage. So, to ensure a safe return to England, he ordered that the heavier cargo of the Golden Hinde be removed to lighten the load. In almost a festive atmosphere, the crew threw 45 tons of silver overboard in the shallow water near the shore of the island. The buccaneer Davis came to the island at a later date to put on a fresh supply of water, and his crew fished up 1500 pieces-of-eight using tallowed leads. Several years ago, in the 1930s, a man dredged up 18 tons of the silver which Drake had thrown overboard. The balance, 30 tons, remains on the bottom in 45 feet of water. A fabulous treasure is hidden on the island of La Plata off Ecuador's coast. It is connected with Alexander Selkirk, the freebooter who inspired Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe. Treasure consisting of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls, looted from a Spanish galleon and valued at several million dollars, was stacked in a cliff-cave near a creek and then covered over by large stones to conceal the entrance by the pirate Thomas Stradling around 1710. The location is on the Island de la Plata off the coasts of Peru and a little below Ecuador. The Capitana was a registry ship that was carrying the 1654 accumulation of South American treasure northward.She had taken on barrels and cases of registry gold and silver at Concepcion, Valparaiso, Arica, Callao and Guayaquil, and was on the last leg of her voyage to deliver this immense treasure to Panama when her hull was ripped open on the sharp edges of the Chanduy Reef, off Punta Santa Elena. The huge ship sank within minutes with nearly everyone aboard killed. The vessel carried an authenticated cargo of gold and silver worth between $3,000,000 and $5,000,000 and lies near the base of the reef.. The frigate Santa Leocadia sailed from Paita, Peru for Panama on November 7, 1800 carrying 2,100,000 pesos in registry gold and silver securely packed in chests. On November 16, she smashed onto a shoal 100 yards from the beach at Punta Santa Elena and slowly broke to pieces from the waves. Early-day salvagers recovered ninety percent of the treasure aboard and several cannon, but left behind six bronze cannon and more than 200,000 pesos in gold and silver - worth at least $250,000 today - under the south face of a reef 100 yards off the beach at Punta Santa Elena in 15 feet of water. An unidentified Spanish treasure galleon sank in 1648 miles off Santa Elena with a huge store of gold and silver bullion worth $13,000,000. On December 16, 1680, the Spanish galleon Santa Cruz sank off the rocks known as Los Ahorcados, Punta Santa Elena carrying $13,000,000 in treasure including silver plate and $30,000,000 in pieces-of-eight.. The San Jose sank in 1763 two miles offshore from the western point of Punta Santa Elena with $1,800,000 in gold and silver.. To aid King Charles I of England in his struggle with Parliament during the time of the Cromwell Wars and perhaps thereby stop the growth of the Commonwealth and the spread of Protestantism over Europe, the Spanish government ordered the Viceroy of Peru to collect some $13,000,000 in gold and silver and send it to Charles. This treasure was loaded aboard a great galleon and sent on its way in 1648. But the ship sailed no farther than Punta Santa Elena, a short distance from the Guayaquil harbor, where it struck the dangerous Los Ahorcados reefs and promptly sank carrying its great cargo of gold and silver to the bottom. In the 1700's an attempt was made to recover the millions but after a few thousand dollars had been taken up, the native divers refused to go on with the work because of the large number of sharks. No recent attempts have been made to salvage this vast underwater treasure.Gold and silver coins from offshore wrecks are washed ashore on the beaches near Santa Elena after severe storms. An early chronicler describing the riches of the Incas said that there was a wonderful royal flower garden on an island near Puna to which the Incas retired when they wished to be near the sea. Its bushes, trees, plants and flowers were all made of pure gold and silver "of a magnificence never before conceived." After the fall of the Inca Empire this treasure storehouse suddenly disappeared. Similar gardens existed in other royal palaces but the Spaniard were privileged to see only this one.. $30,000,000 in treasure went down with a Spanish galleon in a storm in Manta Bay. The Spanish archives in Lima made this mention, "About three leagues from Solong are two rocks called Los Ahorcados appearing high and black beside these, north-northeast from Punta Santa Elena is a high rock of which to windward runs shoals for 1/2 mile underwater. It is about eight leagues from Punta Santa Elena and at this place and this rock this ship was lost. This rock is about two leagues from the mainland.. In 1684, an unidentified Spanish galleon sank off Punta Santa Elena carrying to the bottom $500,000 in treasure.The San Juan de Salvamento sank in 1655 about 1/2 mile off Sean Island in Mandregan Bay carrying $1,000,000 in gold and silver bullion. In 1932, in certain Inca tombs on the Alamos Ranche of Lorenzo Tous, about 140 gold nuggets as large as lemons were found, as well as a hoard of gold armour and jewels. Raw gold in unbelievable deposits lie in the many rivers that flow into the Amazon in the deep rain forest east of the Andes Mountains. The land is carefully guarded by the unpredictable and savage Auca Indians who kill intruders that enter their domain. The flakes and nuggets are said to line the river banks in enormous quantities. Valverde's Derrotero and Guzmans map are the keys to unlocking the location of Atahualpa Gold. Click for Valverde's Derrotero to Inca Gold Back to Guzmans Map The Lost Treasure of Cocos Island Pirate Treasure in Honduras The Lue Map

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This list is a good place to start when it comes time to explain adoption to your child. It includes children’s books about adoption that introduce a child to the different issues of adoption. Titles explore the different feelings adopted kids can experience. Day We Met You written for the youngest of adoptees, uses extremely simple language to describe the typical sequence of events on the day that parents meet their adoptive newborn for the first time. Little Lost Bat a story of adoption in the animal kingdom parallels feelings of loss and abandonment felt by many adopted children. These books serve as a way to introduce a child to adoption and help with “how to” begin talking about adoption.

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If Girl Scouts USA ever decides to offer a merit badge for social activism, two Michigan girls likely would be the first recipients. Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen, both of whom are 16 and are from Ann Arbor and Plymouth, respectively, have spent the past five years waging an awareness campaign about the environmental effects of a palm oil used in the famous Girl Scout Cookies. The girls’ efforts have drawn widespread attention. They are finalists for a United Nations Forest Heroes Award and have collected tens of thousands of signatures on an online petition to make Girl Scout cookies rainforest-safe. They also have launched a Rainforest Heroes badge program for other scouts. Vorva’s and Tomtishen’s efforts began in 2007, when they were researching endangered Indonesian orangutans while pursuing a Girl Scout Bronze Award. They learned one of the factors contributing to the destruction of the animals’ rainforest habitat was the unsustainable farming of a type of palm oil used in, among many other food products, Girl Scout cookies. Inspired by primatologist Jane Goodall’s work with chimpanzees, Vorva and Tomtishen stopped selling cookies, created a website to spread the word about their findings and began trying to persuade Girl Scouts USA to stop using the oil. “Girls, once they learn about this issue, are so supportive,” Tomtishen said. “They want to sell cookies and they want to do the activities, but at the same time, they don’t want to contribute to orangutan extinction and deforestation, and they really should not have to make a choice between those two.” The girls first met with officials in the organization last May, and in October Girl Scouts USA agreed to revise its policy on palm oil use to include the purchase of GreenPalm certificates as offsets and use sustainable oil when possible. “We’re extremely proud of them,” said Amanda Hamaker, manager of product sales for GSUSA. “We wish them every luck and every success in terms of the award.” The girls say purchasing offsets is a good first step, but they would like to see the organization do more to make sure harm to rainforests is minimized and human-rights concerns related to palm oil farming are addressed. According to their petition, “the only way for Girl Scouts USA to be truly rainforest-safe is to ensure that the palm oil they buy is not being grown by a company that is clearing rainforest to produce palm oil.” “(Offset certificates) are better than nothing, but we’re not done talking about it,” Vorva said. Vorva and Tomtishen, as high school students, are not affiliated with a troop but remain individually registered members of the organization as Juliette Girl Scouts. Change.org, a growing destination for online activism that was the subject of a recent New York Times column by Nick Kristof, is helping promote their campaign. For now, the Girl Scouts say the policy enacted in October will remain. “At this point, there is no change to our current position,” Hamaker said. The recipients of the U.N.’s Forest Heroes Awards are announced Thursday in New York. Whether or not they win, Vorva and Tomtishen vow to continue their efforts. “We created this petition to show Girl Scouts USA that Rhiannon and I are not the only Girl Scouts who care about this issue,” Vorva said, “and their consumers want socially and environmentally responsible products.”

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