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By Martin Wolf * Another ideological god has failed. The assumptions that ruled policy and politics over three decades suddenly look as outdated as revolutionary socialism. “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'” Thus quipped Ronald Reagan, hero of US conservatism. The remark seems ancient history now that governments are pouring trillions of dollars, euros and pounds into financial systems. “Governments bad; deregulated markets good”: how can this faith escape unscathed after Alan Greenspan, pupil of Ayn Rand and predominant central banker of the era, described himself, in congressional testimony last October, as being “in a state of shocked disbelief” over the failure of the “self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity”? In the west, the pro-market ideology of the past three decades was a reaction to the perceived failure of the mixed-economy, Keynesian model of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The move to the market was associated with the election of Reagan as US president in 1980 and the ascent to the British prime ministership of Margaret Thatcher the year before. Little less important was the role of Paul Volcker, then chairman of the Federal Reserve, in crushing inflation. Yet bigger events shaped this epoch: the shift of China from the plan to the market under Deng Xiaoping, the collapse of Soviet communism between 1989 and 1991 and the end of India’s inward-looking economic policies after 1991. The death of central planning, the end of the cold war and, above all, the entry of billions of new participants into the rapidly globalising world economy were the high points of this era. Today, with a huge global financial crisis and a synchronised slump in economic activity, the world is changing again. The financial system is the brain of the market economy. If it needs so expensive a rescue, what is left of Reagan’s dismissal of governments? If the financial system has failed, what remains of confidence in markets? It is impossible at such a turning point to know where we are going. In the chaotic 1970s, few guessed that the next epoch would see the taming of inflation, the unleashing of capitalism and the death of communism. What will happen now depends on choices unmade and shocks unknown. Yet the combination of a financial collapse with a huge recession, if not something worse, will surely change the world. The legitimacy of the market will weaken. The credibility of the US will be damaged. The authority of China will rise. Globalisation itself may founder. This is a time of upheaval. How did the world arrive here? A big part of the answer is that the era of liberalisation contained seeds of its own downfall: this was also a period of massive growth in the scale and profitability of the financial sector, of frenetic financial innovation, of growing global macroeconomic imbalances, of huge household borrowing and of bubbles in asset prices. In the US, core of the global market economy and centre of the current storm, the aggregate debt of the financial sector jumped from 22 per cent of gross domestic product in 1981 to 117 per cent by the third quarter of 2008. In the UK, with its heavy reliance on financial activity, gross debt of the financial sector reached almost 250 per cent of GDP (see charts). Carmen Reinhart of the University of Maryland and Kenneth Rogoff of Harvard argue that the era of liberalisation was also a time of exceptionally frequent financial crises, surpassed, since 1900, only by the 1930s. It was also an era of massive asset price bubbles. By intervening to keep their exchange rates down and accumulating foreign currency reserves, governments of emerging economies generated huge current account surpluses, which they recycled, together with inflows of private capital, into official capital outflows: between the end of the 1990s and the peak in July 2008, their currency reserves alone rose by $5,300bn. These huge flows of capital, on top of the traditional surpluses of a number of high-income countries and the burgeoning surpluses of oil exporters, largely ended up in a small number of high-income countries and particularly in the US. At the peak, America absorbed about 70 per cent of the rest of the world’s surplus savings. Meanwhile, inside the US the ratio of household debt to GDP rose from 66 per cent in 1997 to 100 per cent a decade later. Even bigger jumps in household indebtedness occurred in the UK. These surges in household debt were supported, in turn, by highly elastic and innovative financial systems and, in the US, by government programmes. Throughout, the financial sector innovated ceaselessly. Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, described derivatives as “financial weapons of mass destruction”. He was proved at least partly right. In the 2000s, the “shadow banking system” emerged and traditional banking was largely replaced by the originate-and-distribute model of securitisation via constructions such as collateralised debt obligations. This model blew up in 2007. We are witnessing the deepest, broadest and most dangerous financial crisis since the 1930s. As Profs Reinhart and Rogoff argue in another paper, “banking crises are associated with profound declines in output and employment”. This is partly because of overstretched balance sheets: in the US, overall debt reached an all-time peak of just under 350 per cent of GDP – 85 per cent of it private. This was up from just over 160 per cent in 1980. Among the possible outcomes of this shock are: massive and prolonged fiscal deficits in countries with large external deficits, as they try to sustain demand; a prolonged world recession; a brutal adjustment of the global balance of payments; a collapse of the dollar; soaring inflation; and a resort to protectionism. The transformation will surely go deepest in the financial sector itself. The proposition that sophisticated modern finance was able to transfer risk to those best able to manage it has failed. The paradigm is, instead, that risk has been transferred to those least able to understand it. As Mr Volcker remarked during a speech last April: “Simply stated, the bright new financial system – for all its talented participants, for all its rich rewards – has failed the test of the marketplace.” In a recent paper Andrew Haldane, the Bank of England’s executive director for financial stability, shows how little banks understood of the risks they were supposed to manage. He ascribes these failures to “disaster myopia” (the tendency to underestimate risks), a lack of awareness of “network externalities” (spillovers from one institution to the others) and “misaligned incentives” (the upside to employees and the downside to shareholders and taxpayers). . . . After the crisis, we will surely “see finance less proud”, as Winston Churchill desired back in 1925. Markets will impose a brutal, if temporary, discipline. Regulation will also tighten. Less clear is whether policymakers will contemplate structural remedies: a separation of utility commercial banking from investment banking; or the forced reduction in the size and complexity of institutions deemed too big or interconnected to fail. One could also imagine a return of much banking activity to the home market, as governments increasingly call the tune. If so, this would be “de-globalisation”. Churchill called also for industry to be “more content”. In the short run, however, the collapse of the financial system is achieving the opposite: a worldwide industrial slump. It is also spreading to every significant sector of the real economy, much of which is clamouring for assistance. Yet if the financial system has proved dysfunctional, how far can we rely on the maximisation of shareholder value as the way to guide business? The bulk of shareholdings is, after all, controlled by financial institutions. Events of the past 18 months must confirm the folly of this idea. It is better, many will conclude, to let managers determine the direction of their companies than let financial players or markets override them. A likely result will be an increased willingness by governments to protect companies from active shareholders – hedge funds, private equity and other investors. As a defective financial sector loses its credibility, the legitimacy of the market process itself is damaged. This is particularly true of the free-wheeling “Anglo-Saxon” approach. No less likely are big changes in monetary policy. The macroeconomic consensus had been in favour of a separation of responsibility for monetary and fiscal policy, the placing of fiscal policy on autopilot, independence of central banks and the orientation of monetary decisions towards targeting inflation. But with interest rates close to zero, the distinction between monetary and fiscal policy vanishes. More fundamental is the challenge to the decision to ignore asset prices in the setting of monetary policy. Many argue that Mr Greenspan, who succeeded Mr Volcker, created the conditions for both bubbles and subsequent collapse. He used to argue that it would be easier to clean up after the bursting of a bubble than identify such a bubble in real time and then prick it. In a reassessment of the doctrine last November, Donald Kohn, Fed vice-chairman, restated the orthodox position, but with a degree of discomfort. Mr Kohn now states that “in light of the demonstrated importance to the real economy of speculative booms and busts (which can take years to play out), central banks probably should always try to look out over a long horizon when evaluating the economic outlook and deliberating about the appropriate accompanying path of the policy rate”. Central banks will have to go further, via either monetary policy or regulatory instruments. . . . Yet a huge financial crisis, together with a deep global recession, if not something far worse, is going to have much wider effects than just these. Remember what happened in the Great Depression of the 1930s. Unemployment rose to one-quarter of the labour force in important countries, including the US. This transformed capitalism and the role of government for half a century, even in the liberal democracies. It led to the collapse of liberal trade, fortified the credibility of socialism and communism and shifted many policymakers towards import substitution as a development strategy. The Depression led also to xenophobia and authoritarianism. Frightened people become tribal: dividing lines open within and between societies. In 1930, the Nazis won 18 per cent of the German vote; in 1932, at the height of the Depression, their share had risen to 37 per cent. One transformation that can already be seen is in attitudes to pay. Even the US and UK are exerting direct control over pay levels and structures in assisted institutions. From the inconceivable to the habitual has taken a year. Equally obvious is a wider shift in attitudes towards inequality: vast rewards were acceptable in return for exceptional competence; as compensation for costly incompetence, they are intolerable. Marginal tax rates on the wealthier are on the way back up. Yet another impact will be on the sense of insecurity. The credibility of moving pension savings from government-run pay-as-you-go systems to market-based systems will be far smaller than before, even though, ironically, the opportunity for profitable long-term investment has risen. Politics, like markets, overshoot. The search for security will strengthen political control over markets. A shift towards politics entails a shift towards the national, away from the global. This is already evident in finance. It is shown too in the determination to rescue national producers. But protectionist intervention is likely to extend well beyond the cases seen so far: these are still early days. The impact of the crisis will be particularly hard on emerging countries: the number of people in extreme poverty will rise, the size of the new middle class will fall and governments of some indebted emerging countries will surely default. Confidence in local and global elites, in the market and even in the possibility of material progress will weaken, with potentially devastating social and political consequences. Helping emerging economies through a crisis for which most have no responsibility whatsoever is a necessity. The ability of the west in general and the US in particular to influence the course of events will also be damaged. The collapse of the western financial system, while China’s flourishes, marks a humiliating end to the “uni-polar moment”. As western policymakers struggle, their credibility lies broken. Who still trusts the teachers? These changes will endanger the ability of the world not just to manage the global economy but also to cope with strategic challenges: fragile states, terrorism, climate change and the rise of new great powers. At the extreme, the integration of the global economy on which almost everybody now depends might be reversed. Globalisation is a choice. The integrated economy of the decades before the first world war collapsed. It could do so again. On June 19 2007, I concluded an article on the “new capitalism” with the observation that it remained “untested”. The test has come: it failed. The era of financial liberalisation has ended. Yet, unlike in the 1930s, no credible alternative to the market economy exists and the habits of international co-operation are deep. “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more,” said Dorothy after a tornado dropped her, her house and dog in the land of Oz. The world of the past three decades has gone. Where we end up, after this financial tornado, is for us to seek to determine. This is the first part of an FT series entitled the Future of Capitalism * Martin Wolf is associate editor and chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, London. Source: Financial Times, FT.com, Published: March 8 2009
This is for the rest of us. The rest of us who survived. As a parent, it devastates me to think what terror-stricken families are going through tonight. I worry about how they will ever be whole and healed again. The passing away of any family member is hard, but passing away because of an act of violence is hard to justify as the divine plan. I wonder and shudder at the generations to come and how I think that they will be an innocence-less generation. All the technological and medical breakthroughs will help them excel faster and quicker, without the slow streaming Internet and the 100rs-a-minute international calls. However will more information lead to better decisions? And what about innocence? Without innocence how will this generation be silly enough to dream dreams that most people call foolish? Can greatness prevail without this innocence? My son is a year old and fortunately he doesn’t comprehend what is happening all around the World. The grief, the trauma and the pain, all because some frustrated men need an excuse to kill? The new generation is being born into a world of unnatural motivations and greed. It worries me to think that since the day they were conceived, terror looms in backdrop. We may sanitize the world for them, but they sense and will soon know that behind our version there lies the World as it is, terrorized. Will this mean that this generation will have high tolerance to terror? Will acts of terror not move them the way that they move us now? Will they not shudder because they are more used to it? I may take heart in the fact, just for a moment that what makes us human –our humanity – will echo throughout the generations to come, no matter what their exposure has been. But today, I am of the opinion that the meaning of humanity is subjective. It is true that man is his own worst enemy, even before he becomes the enemy of who-he-is-not. Being human may be overestimated is what I feel today. There is no pride or nobility in being human. There is more sacredness in being an animal today. We need to think about how our generation will be defined in history – will we just be the mere survivors of violence? It is a sad day and a day to think about how violence pervades our family, whether we are directly affected by it or not.
This was a sidebar for the unpublished piece I wrote on childbirth. There’s no shortage of parenting books and resources available for parents, but here are some of our favourites. Baby Love is the Australian bible of parenting books. Written by former child health nurse Robin Barker, it’s a practical guide to the first twelve months of your child’s life and covers everything from feeding, sleeping and, yes, even pooping. If you find yourself fixated on everything that might go wrong during your pregnancy, pick up a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff. This book provides answers to almost every question youll have about your pregnancy in a balanced and reassuring way. For a more humorous take on pregnancy and motherhood, try Up The Duff—Aussie slang for pregnant—by cartoonist Kaz Cooke. This book takes a look at what you might experience week by week during pregnancy, as well as coping with a newborn baby, in a way that’s sure to make you laugh. Theres also a huge number of free online resources for pregnant women and parents: - BabyCenter at www.babycenter.com.au can send you weekly newsletters with relevant information about your baby’s development - Essential Baby at www.essentialbaby.com.au provides a forum for mums to ask questions and share their parenting experiences - Raising Children Network at www.raisingchildren.net.au is packed with articles and expert advice on caring for children up to school age - If you’re expecting twins or multiples, contact the Australian Multiple Births Association at www.amba.org.au (membership incurs a fee) Finally, if youre about to become a Lola (grandmother), many hospitals now offer grandparenting classes, which might be particularly useful if youd like to know more about current childbirth and parenting practices in Australia.
ATLANTA — Just one point separates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in two states that are critical to both candidates’ chances of becoming president, according to new CNN/ORC polls in Pennsylvania and Colorado. In Colorado, likely voters break 42 percent for Trump, 41 percent for Clinton, 13 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Pennsylvania’s likely voters split 45 percent for Clinton, 44 percent for Trump, 6 percent for Johnson and 3 percent for Stein. Those divides are well within each poll’s 3.5-point margin of sampling error. The new results in two battleground states underscore the closeness of the race and come as the candidates prepare to square off Monday night in their high-stakes first debate at Long Island’s Hofstra University. In both states, sharp divisions among whites by education are evident, with white college graduates choosing Clinton over Trump by 11 points in Pennsylvania and 16 points in Colorado, while whites who do not hold four-year degrees break in Trump’s favor by 19 points in Pennsylvania and 22 points in Colorado. RELATED: Full Colorado polling results In Colorado, that education gap is a bigger divide than gender or age, and is even larger than the racial gap in the state. Pennsylvania’s likely voters are more divided than Colorado’s along gender and racial lines. Johnson’s appeal among younger voters appears to be working to Clinton’s detriment in both states. While Trump’s numbers are significantly lower among voters under 45 than among older voters, Clinton’s are roughly the same across age groups, while Johnson’s support multiplies among younger voters. Clinton fares better in two-way matchups in both states, topping Trump 50 percent to 47 percent among likely voters in Pennsylvania and 49 percent to 47 percent in Colorado. Though both results are within the polls’ margin of sampling error, the finding suggests she could fare better in each state if third party candidate support dipped. The two polls come alongside tight national polls and neck-and-neck poll results in several other key battleground states including Ohio, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina. In Colorado and Pennsylvania, the economy stands out as far and away the top voter concern. About half of registered voters in each state, and a similar share of likely voters, call the economy most important out of a list also including terrorism, illegal immigration and foreign policy. And when asked which candidate would better handle the economy, Trump comes out on top in both states, though within each poll’s margin of error. Clinton holds broad advantages for handling foreign policy in both states, and she tops Trump by eight points on handling immigration in Colorado, a state where a Pew Research Center analysis recently estimated that about a quarter of the state’s sizable Latino population is foreign born. In Pennsylvania, the two candidates run about even on that issue. And in the wake of terror attacks in New York and New Jersey, voters in both states are about evenly split on who would better handle terrorism. The poll suggests Clinton has made an effective case that Trump does not have the temperament to be president — she is viewed as better suited for the presidency by a nearly two-to-one margin in each state on that score — and she holds smaller advantages as the better candidate to be commander-in-chief. But Clinton continues to lag behind Trump when voters are asked which of the two is more honest and trustworthy. Trump’s contention that Clinton lacks the stamina for the job splits voters in Colorado, 48 percent see him as having the better stamina, 45 percent choose Clinton. In Pennsylvania, Trump holds a larger advantage on that, 50 percent to 45 percent. Democrats have a narrow edge in the race for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat, with Katie McGinty topping incumbent Pat Toomey 49 percent to 46 percent among likely voters, just inside the poll’s margin of error, and a broad lead in Colorado’s Senate contest, with incumbent Michael Bennet up 53 percent to 43 percent over Republican challenger Darryl Glenn. The CNN/ORC Polls in Colorado and Pennsylvania were conducted by telephone Sept. 20-25. The Colorado poll included interviews with 1,010 adult residents of the state, including 784 who are likely to vote in November. In Pennsylvania, interviews were conducted with 1,032 adult residents of the state, including 771 likely voters. Results for likely voters have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points in each state.AlertMe
Tom Ricks has won the Pulitzer prize twice, written five best-selling books on the military and foreign policy, and is a Senior Advisor at the New America Foundation. The American Society of Magazine Editors named Ricks’ ForeignPolicy.com blog, “Best Defense” the best blog on the internet in 2010. This week Tom Ricks’ blog covered cyber warfare, Cuba, Iraq, torture and … CrossFit? It’s not that much of a leap. Few would dispute that physical fitness is an essential component of military preparation. Yet the American military does not meet basic standards of health, let alone fitness: “Only 35.7 percent of active duty personnel are classified as being a healthy weight. 51.2 percent of uniformed personnel are overweight; 12.4 percent are obese.” Back to the CrossFit article on Ricks’ blog this week. Guest author Jim Gourley examined the military’s response to this problem in, “The relationship between the U.S. military and the CrossFit program.” Gourley reviewed some of the same figures and events that we’ve covered on this blog, including Dr. Katie Heinrich’s upcoming CrossFit study and General Abrams’ multi-million dollar commitment to CrossFit L1 seminars. Gourley got those parts right, but two lines stand out as blatant misrepresentations of the truth: The Army has perhaps given high intensity workouts the coolest reception, calling them “extreme conditioning programs” (ECPs) in a 2011 paper written in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine … CrossFit’s headquarters published its own response to the Army’s claims. The 2011 article that introduced the “extreme conditioning program” phrase could only be the “Consortium for Health and Military Performance and American College of Sports Medicine Consensus Paper on Extreme Conditioning Programs in Military Personnel.” But the “Army” did not write that article. As its title states, the article was a joint effort between the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). ACSM is an aspiring civilian competitor to CrossFit and CHAMP is a small division of the Uniformed Services University. Neither represents the Army. In fact, the CHAMP study itself states, The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S., Marines, U.S. Coast Guard, or the Department of Defense. This could not be clearer. There is no reasonable rebuttal to this point. The Army did not write the CHAMP article on extreme conditioning programs, and it does not represent Army or DOD policy in any way. So getting this corrected should be simple, right? Email Ricks and Gourley, let them know the error and the evidence, and they’ll issue a correction. I emailed this error first to Gourley, then Ricks and two Foreign Policy editors. I explained why the CHAMP article doesn’t represent the Army. Again, there is no reasonable argument on this point – the article clearly states that it contains private opinions and not those of the US Army or DOD. We’ve found an inverse relationship between journalistic prestige and accuracy. The better known the source, the less willing it is to correct its errors. Local outlets often issue corrections within 24 hours. National publications and award-winning journalists sometimes don’t attempt to correct errors. Gourley defended his error, stating, Thanks for the info. While I did see that other army leaders are extremely pro-CrossFit, I got the sense that they’re individuals acting within a larger institution that’s skeptical of the program and risk-averse to the injury hype. Based on the research and interviews I conducted, I got the impression that the Marines were out looking for a program that would substantially improve fitness, while the army sought one that would not lead to injuries. Gourley’s “sense” may reflect his personal experience, but it is irrelevant. No matter how he feels about the Army’s stance towards CrossFit, the Army did not write the CHAMP article in conjunction with the ACSM. Ricks responded quickly to my concerns, at first. Then he stated that he was “still trying to understand why this is noteworthy.” I wrote back, The current FP article states that the Army took an official stance against CrossFit. This would certainly be noteworthy, if true. But that’s not true, and it actually is contradicted by its own source. Next Ricks asked me if I would approve one line correcting the error. I sent him an accurate sentence he could use. The following day, Ricks still hadn’t corrected his blog. I asked him if he had an idea when the error would be corrected. Ricks simply responded, “No.” So I gave him one more day before I would publicly correct his blog’s error. That time is up. The details of this case are complex, but the underlying principle is simple. If the military’s relationship with CrossFit is worth covering, it is worth covering accurately. It’s too bad that Tom Ricks doesn’t care enough to report the truth.
"Don't Tell Anyone" (2016) Angy Rivera arrives with her mother in the United States, fleeing violence, poverty and civil war in their native Colombia. For twenty years they battle a complex and inequitable immigration system until Angy, facing an uncertain future, joins the youth-led New York State Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and becomes an activist for undocumented youth. The film will be introduced by Introduced by Ricardo Ramirez, Dept. of Political Science. Free, but ticketed event. For tickets, visit performingarts.nd.edu or call 574-631-2800. The "Campaign Concerns" 2016 election film series is co-sponsored by CCHR, the Debartolo Performing Arts Center, and the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy.
Check out these Latino celebrities who contribute to worthwhile causes, and not just their own fame or well-being. BRAVO TO THEM! Juanes has always been active in philanthropic causes in his birthplace of Colombia. Juanes is especially passionate about helping victims of land mines, which resulted during Colombia’s civil war. He also founded the Mi Sangre Foundation, an organization to help needy Colombian children through the Education For Peace Program. Rosario Dawson is co-founder of Voto Latino, an organization that seeks to empower Latino youth to achieve a positive change through the vote. It is a non-partisan organization with big civic engagement campaigns dedicated to bringing new voices into the political process.Shakira is an internationally recognized celebrity who has room in her heart for her boyfriend, her baby and her philanthropic efforts to help children in need in her native Colombia. She was honored in 2011 as Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy for her career accomplishments as well as her leadership of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a non-profit helping children in need in Colombia. She also founded its sister foundation, the Barefoot Foundation, is a U.S. non-profit devoted to bringing quality education to children in need. Recently, Shakira proposed a solution to bring quality education to every child in the U.S. through philanthrocapitalism — described as the practice in where you apply business methods to philanthropy and call upon the private sector to pick up where government leaves off. Marc Anthony co-founded The Maestro Cares Foundation to support organizations in Latin America that work with disadvantaged children. Eva Longoria spends much of her free time in philanthropic work to make a difference in the Latino community. She is engaged with many organizations and projects like: PADRES Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer), a nonprofit organization that tries to improve the lives of Latino kids who are sick with cancer. She founded Eva’s Heroes, a charity focused on helping developmentally disabled children. In 2011, Longoria co-produced “The Harvest,” a documentary which shows the dire conditions of working migrant children. She also got the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’ Horizon Award, awarded to those who advance the presence of Latinos in TV or films, and the 2006 NHLI Mujer/Chair Award, for her significant contributions to the empowerment of the Hispanic community, along with some other awards thanking her for her commitment to the betterment of the Hispanic community. There are, other Hispanic celebrities contributing to worthwhile causes, which we will cover in another post.
Native American Natural Resources Law 518-1I October 30, 2015 Text: Royster, Blumm & Kronk, Native American Natural Resources Law (3d ed. 2015) This course examines the unique body of law governing “Indian country,” those geographic areas recognized by the federal government as homelands of sovereign American Indian tribes. Topics include the history of federal-tribal relations, tribal property rights, and the balance of governmental power between tribes, states and the federal government. Particular attention will be devoted to understanding the legal framework that supports the tribes’ role as proprietors and regulators of natural resources, including powers derived from the tribes’ inherent sovereign authority and rights stemming from treaties and federal statutes. The course will include close examinations of tribal water rights, fishing and hunting rights, and federal environmental statutes that accord tribes a significant regulatory role in the implementation of federal environmental programs like the Clean Air and Water Acts. Evaluation is based on class participation and a take-home examination. The American Bar Association accreditation standards require students to regularly attend the courses in which they are registered. Lewis & Clark expects students to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Specific attendance requirements may vary from course to course. Any attendance guidelines for a given class must be provided to students in a syllabus or other written document at the start of the semester. Sanctions (e.g., required withdrawal from the course, grade adjustment, and/or a failing grade) will be imposed for poor attendance.
Sunshine Law, Florida’s immensely broad public records law, will soon be celebrated once more. Annually, from March 13 to 19, communities from all over the state take initiatives to spread awareness of the right to information with Sunshine Week. Lee County is no exception. This year, the Lee County Clerk of Court, Linda Doggett, is reminding residents of their rights. At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, she will be offering a free, public seminar on the law entitled “The Value of Searching Public Records and Online Services.” The seminar will be held at the North Fort Myers Library: 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers. Sunshine law, chapter 119 of the Florida Statues, began in 1909. It allows any person in Florida to access public records from public agencies unless the records are exempt by the Florida legislature. The Government side of the law, chapter 286, was enacted in 1967, granting the right to basic access to most state and local government meetings. These records have been revised over the years to include written material, papers, books, videos, maps, audio recordings and more. This law also includes emails. For example, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public state institution. A great majority of its records, that are not protected by FERPA or other laws, are considered public and include correspondence by email from faculty and staff. Each year, in efforts to help spread awareness and comprehension of the law, the Attorney General’s Office issues a new guide to Sunshine Law. The Government-in-the-Sunshine manual is published by the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee; more information on this publication and more can be found on their website. © 2016 Lee Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Suffering from Memory Problems? Do you or your loved one struggle with memory problems? Whether memory loss is an indicator of early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or is Brain Fog caused by other means, it can wreak havoc on your life. At Leigh Brain & Spine the doctors use cutting-edge neuroscience and technology to serve people with the following challenges: As we age our brains are slowing down, indicated by the dark blue in the brain map of memory loss to the right. If our brains begin to slow down too early, or slow down too much too fast, it can lead to big problems with our memory, thinking, and ability to process information. If you suffer from forgetfulness, can’t remember appointments, make scheduling mistakes, or have more distinct signs of early memory loss or dementia, your brain is slowing down. Neurofeedback training has been proven by science to not only improve processing speed of the brain but to heal the brain cells themselves, making them work better and improving thinking and memory. Americans are living longer than ever in this day and age. The average life span is calculated to be 78.74 years. Scientists have proven that cognitive decline shows up in healthy, educated adults beginning at 60 years of age. What is most interesting is that studies are now beginning to show that even though the effects of cognitive decline begin to manifest at age 60, aging in related decline actually begins in a person’s earlier years, their 20’s and 30’s. The study shows that healthy, educated adults’ mental sharpness is greatest between the ages of 22 and 27 years. The next group, which demonstrated a significant decline in thinking skills was between 27 – 42 years. How Does Cognitive Decline Affect Adults? Cognition is another word for thinking. It refers to a person’s ability to use the essential mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension and putting that knowledge to use. These processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. These are higher-level functions of the brain and encompass language, imagination, perception, and planning. Without cognition we lose the ability to create, perform, interact, and live with the fullest quality of life. Cognitive decline can make it so that we are no longer able to work, travel, participate in groups and hobbies, and socialize to the level that we used to. Solutions in the Brain for Cognitive Decline – Neurological Regulation Most people are not aware that state-of-the-art technology is available to preserve cognitive skills and prevent them from declining. Living to 78 is great if you still have the mental capacity to enjoy your life. As the brain ages it becomes weaker in some or many areas. The weaker each area becomes and the poorer communication between areas happens the greater the cognitive decline a person will experience. When the brain areas are regulated and strengthened and communication tuned up, the brain is free to work better so you feel and perform better, longer. Dr. Trish Leigh at Leigh Brain & Spine is trained to use brain assessments to determine if your brain might be suffering from the beginning or even the progression of cognitive decline. After a specialized and comprehensive assessment, the doctors are able to recommend treatment to preserve your cognition and quality of life. Schedule your brain assessment today to find out how your brain is performing and if there is room for improvement. - Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging, but there are basic steps you can take to elevate and slow down the process. - As you age you may notice that it takes longer to learn new things. - Some older adults also find that they don’t do as well as younger people on complex memory or learning tests. Leigh Brain and Spine is proud to have earned the distinction as a Certified Brain Health Coach Center and is a proud member of the Amen Clinics referral network.
Journal or Book Title The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics In second language teaching and learning, computer technology extends the types of interactive activities that learners can work on in and outside of the classroom, and therefore it has affected the way that many teachers teach and learners learn. Teachers might, for example, ask students to seek specific information on the Internet in preparation for an information gap activity in class; teachers might indicate awkward expressions in a student's essay and show the student how to find examples of target language collocations in a corpus; and teachers might organize a virtual collaboration between their students and proficient speakers of the target language in another country. These activities and many more add significantly to the repertoire of activities that learners can engage in because of three affordances offered by technology: human-computer interaction, distance written and oral communication, and access to a community with data and creative opportunities on the Internet. Chapelle, Carol, "Instructional Computer-Assisted Language Learning" (2013). English Publications. 208.
Help your kids make a doll's bed fit for a queen -- all you'll need is a shoe box and some paint! What You'll Need: - Shoe box with lid - Scissors or craft knife - Poster paints - Craft glue How to Make a Shoe Box Doll Bed: Step 1: Make the base of the bed from the shoe box lid. Turn it upside down, and help kids cut out a section of each side. The corners become the legs of the bed. Step 2: The bottom piece of the shoe box holds the doll. Help kids cut down the sides to 1 inch. Step 3: Use the cut-out ends of the box to make the bed's headboard and footboard. Cut them into a fancy design. Step 4: Cover your work surface with newspaper. Paint each piece with poster paints. Let the paint dry. Step 5: Glue the bed to the legs. Glue the headboard and footboard to the bed. Furnish your doll's bed with a pillow, mattress, and bedspread!
Perhaps the science will advance so that telomere reconstitution is a practical reality, that the DNA epigenetic changes can be reversed, that senescent cells can be eradicated, that the free radical damage to mitochondria can be dismantled, that the microbiome can be altered back to a youthful status. Perhaps metformin, rapamycin or resveratrol will have a significant impact. Perhaps. But for now, it might be a more fruitful and meaningful personal use of time and endeavor to consider what the normal aging process means, not only physically and mentally but also spiritually and consider adjustments to lifestyles, behaviors and thought processes that will help usher in a productive and meaningful and hopefully healthy later years. I see ignore and deny every day. Male 35 5.6 220, elevated liver enzymes, elevated BP, and tobacco use within the past year. Every now and then I see an embrace. But this is rare. My plan is to embrace and to live forever or die trying.
III–V semiconductor nanocrystal formation in silicon nanowires via liquid-phase epitaxy - 299 Downloads Direct integration of high-mobility III–V compound semiconductors with existing Si-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processing platforms presents the main challenge to increasing the CMOS performance and the scaling trend. Silicon hetero-nanowires with integrated III–V segments are one of the most promising candidates for advanced nano-optoelectronics, as first demonstrated using molecular beam epitaxy techniques. Here we demonstrate a novel route for InAs/Si hybrid nanowire fabrication via millisecond range liquid-phase epitaxy regrowth using sequential ion beam implantation and flash-lamp annealing. We show that such highly mismatched systems can be monolithically integrated within a single nanowire. Optical and microstructural investigations confirm the high quality hetero-nanowire fabrication coupled with the formation of atomically sharp interfaces between Si and InAs segments. Such hybrid systems open new routes for future high-speed and multifunctional nanoelectronic devices on a single chip. Keywordsliquid phase epitaxy InAs hetero-nanowires silicon ion implantation Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF. © Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
About this book Before streets were brightly illuminated at night, astronomy was accessible to everyone and was a matter of great importance: for divination; for setting appropriate dates for planting, harvest, and festivals; for regulating lives. Phenomena in the heavens are still of great importance to many, and much of the lore of astronomy and astrology dates back to the earliest days of civilization. The astronomy of the ancients is thus of interest not only as history but also as the basis for much of what is known or believed about the heavens today. Because phenomena in the heavens are less familiar today than in earlier eras, this book begins with a brief description of what one can see in the sky on dark nights with the naked eye. It then turns to the astronomy of the Babylonians, who named many of our constellations, who are responsible for many of the fundamental insights of early astronomy, and who married mathematics to astronomy to make it an exact science. A chapter on Greek astronomy discusses various models of planetary motion, showing that the cycles and epicycles used by the Greeks have their modern counterparts in the computations used to compute the ephemeredes listed in the Nautical Almanac. The book then turns to a detailed discussion of Ptolemy's cosmology, the first to include quantitative models in an integral way. Though the Ptolemaic system is now often dismissed as unsound and inefficient, it is in fact a logically pleasing structure which, for more than a millennium, provided a framework for educated people throughout the Christian and Moslem worlds to think about the universe. astronomy cosmology history of astronomy planet universe
A Color Constancy Algorithm for the Robust Description of Images Collected from a Mobile Robot In mobile robotics, it is necessary to have a robust and efficient way of describing the visual stream provided by a vision system to be used afterwards in tasks such as object recognition. Color histograms are a useful tool to capture and represent color properties of sets of images taken from a certain position. Since those images were obtained at different time and light conditions, their appearance have greatly changed, reducing the performance of the color descriptor. In this work, we develop a color constancy algorithm that copes with the color variation among sets of images taken from nearly the same place. We show that the performance of the color histogram descriptor rises after color constancy, becoming a more robust and useful color descriptor. In the results section, we support that claim with several sets of images of scenes belonging to different positions. Keywordscolor histograms color constancy mobile robots - 3.Swain, M., Ballard, D.: Indexing via color histograms. In: Proc. Int. Conf. on Computer Vision, pp. 390–393 (1990)Google Scholar
A MARRIAGE GONE SOUR? Priyan Rajapaksa draws parallels between Brexit and marital unions It’s fashionable at the moment for every man and his dog to provide an opinion on Brexit… so here’s is my ‘bark’ from New Zealand (wearing my Sri Lankan cap). Britain being part of the European Union (EU) was merely a marriage and not a very happy union. So isn’t it better to have an amicable parting than continue to live under one roof, throwing pots, pans and the occasional brick at each other? I lived in the UK for a few years in the late 1980s and travelled as often as I could to continental Europe. It struck me even then that this was an ill-suited union. Ironically, I was going through a separation at that time. It was the benefit of a quick and amicable divorce that inspired me to humanise Brexit. Although Christian Europeans worship the same God from two opposing sides of the altar as Catholics and Protestants, the commonality ends there. The languages, work ethic and attitudes to life are quite different. Southern Europeans are similar to Sri Lankans and enjoy their siesta, while the northerners work themselves to hell and live on Prozac. Sri Lankans are well aware of the difficulties of welding together our ethnic groups and religions into one manageable unit on a small island, balancing the conflicting (self) interests of petty-minded political and religious leaders. To those who have taken the Eurail and coach tours through the many countries of Europe, creating a single unit from 10 culturally disparate countries may appear a pipe dream. Increasing the number to 21 transforms the dream into the nightmare it has become. To put it in a South Asian context, the concept of the EU is as ludicrous as all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries having one government. Established in 1985, we can cooperate, play games and provide officials the opportunity to meet, but we have yet to progress to visa-free travel within SAARC. At least the EU achieved that. In Sri Lanka, people marry for three reasons – viz. arranged unions, for love or shotgun weddings. Arranged marriages are between couples of similar social standing, wealth and often of the same caste. In Western society, commoners marry for romantic love while most blue bloods (who know better) tie the knot to keep their blood blue and ensure their wealth is not distributed among the hoi polloi. It has been said that ‘when poverty comes in through the door, love flies out of the window.’ The UK-EU union was an arranged marriage, if ever there was one, between two consenting adults of comparable wealth. In 1973, then-PM Edward Heath achieved with a pen what the Pope, Napoleon and Hitler could not achieve by the sword – the surrender of British independence. Since 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, the English fought to keep the Europeans out of their land. Suddenly with the stroke of a pen, the garlic-eating barbarians were at the gates of London. It has never been a comfortable cohabitation, with Britain seen to be pumping in funds to keep some Europeans who lost their colonies and source of wealth in a lifestyle way beyond their means. “Much of our high standard of living has been a result of our ability to take what we wanted from the rest of the world – and the loss of that ability would mean that our lives would become significantly less comfortable and luxurious,” says Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History of the University of Kansas. At the end of World War II, Hitler’s Europe was divided between the American and British spheres in Western Europe, and a Russian sphere in the East. The EU grew out of the western sphere. Its founders tried to achieve by documents what others had attempted by war – i.e. a united Europe. The economic aim of a common market went along well as long as it was confined to those countries with a similar standard of living. They could all sit for dinner at one table and make good conversation albeit through translators. Relations have never been easy. In 1960, French president Charles de Gaulle – seeing British membership as a Trojan Horse for US interests – vetoed its membership. The British thumbed their noses at the EU until 1973. In turn, Britain being a net contributor to the EU, resented paying subsidies. Following 1981, its proverbial mother-in-law Brussels brought lesser than equals into this family of equals. As with any extended family meeting, the divisions surfaced. The rich are seldom comfortable sitting with their poor relatives. Maybe it’s a sense of guilt of their wealth or a fear that they’ll be tapped for a loan. There will be costs and benefits, both incalculable, depending on one’s stay or go point of view. In the words of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, “it is not an amicable divorce; but it was also not an intimate love affair.” Well there are no children from the so-called marriage. So like two mature adults, spare us the gossip, pack your bags and leave as soon as you can.
Day: Mondays and Wednesdays Times (Pacific Time): 7:00am - 7:50am - Karen Mondoy In Spanish 3, further develop students' mastery of vocabulary, oral communication skills, and grammatical structure with a special focus on verb forms. The text features true stories and letters from missionaries in Spanish-speaking countries, teaching the language as well as the culture. Credits: 1 (Language or Elective) Successful completion of Spanish II; minimum age of 15 Required Materials: BJU Spanish 3
Too much activity in certain areas of the brain is bad for memory and attention Neurons in the brain interact by sending each other chemical messages, so-called neurotransmitters. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter, which is important to restrain neural activity, preventing neurons from getting too trigger-happy and from firing too much or responding to irrelevant stimuli. Researchers have found that faulty inhibitory neurotransmission and abnormally increased activity in the hippocampus impairs our memory and attention. Their latest research has implications for understanding cognitive deficits in a variety of brain disorders, including schizophrenia, age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, and for the treatment of cognitive deficits. The hippocampus — a part of the brain that sits within our temporal lobes — plays a major role in our everyday memory of events and of where and when they happen — for example remembering where we parked our car before going shopping. This research has shown that a lack of restraint in the neural firing within the hippocampus disrupts hippocampus-dependent memory; in addition, such aberrant neuron firing within the hippocampus also disrupted attention — a cognitive function that does not normally require the hippocampus. “Our research carried out in rats highlights the importance of GABAergic inhibition within the hippocampus for memory performance and for attention,” Dr Tobias Bast said. “The finding that faulty inhibition disrupts memory suggests that memory depends on well-balanced neural activity within the hippocampus, with both too much and too little causing impairments.” “This is an important finding because traditionally, memory impairments have mainly been associated with reduced activity or lesions of the hippocampus.” “Our second important finding is that faulty inhibition leading to increased neural activity within the hippocampus disrupts attention, a cognitive function that does not normally require the hippocampus, but depends on the prefrontal cortex. This probably reflects that there are very strong neuronal connections between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.” “Our finding suggests that aberrant hippocampal activity has a knock-on effect on the prefrontal cortex, thereby disrupting attention.” The research is motivated by recent clinical findings that patients in early stages of schizophrenia, age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s show faulty inhibition and increased activity within the hippocampus. The new study, where inhibition in the hippocampus of rats was disrupted before the animals took part in tests of attention and memory, revealed that such faulty inhibition and aberrant activity within the hippocampus causes the type of memory and attentional impairments seen in patients. This research adds to the team’s recent findings, where they found that attention was disrupted by faulty inhibition and increased activity within the prefrontal cortex, a brain region important for attention. “Overall, these findings highlight that higher brain functions, such as attention and memory, depend on well-balanced neural activity within the underlying brain regions,” Dr Bast said. The findings show that simply ‘boosting’ the activity of the key memory and attention centres in the brain (the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex), which has been a long-standing strategy for cognitive enhancement, will not necessarily improve memory and attention, but can actually impair these functions. What’s important is to re-balance activity within these regions. “One emerging idea is that early stages of cognitive disorders, such as schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, are characterised by faulty inhibition and too much activity; this excess neural activity leads then to neuronal damage and the reduced brain activity characterizing later stages of these disorders,”said Dr Bast. “So, rebalancing aberrant activity early on may not only restore attention and memory, but also prevent further decline. “We have new studies on the way where we aim to identify medicines that might be able to re-balance neural activity within hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and to restore memory and attention.” McGarrity, S., Mason, R., Fone, K., Pezze, M., & Bast, T. (2016). Hippocampal Neural Disinhibition Causes Attentional and Memory Deficits Cerebral Cortex DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw247
I have recently asked a colleague to share one of her publications with me. I did not hear from her, but after a week or so, while cleaning my @SaneLater box, I discovered an email sent by her from an unfamiliar address and in another language containing a link to the paper. The story was that the file she wanted to send was too large for her regular email provider. So she used one of the many services which allow to upload a file to a server and then email a link to this file to your contact for download. I myself used one of such services (YouSendIt) once upon a time. All in all, the procedure was pretty clumsy: you needed to set up an account with such services (sometimes even pay for it) and the emails they generated could come from strange addresses (thus ending up in @SaneLater or even in Spam) and sometimes contain ads. All you have to do is to make sure the file (or even folder) that you want to share is in your Dropbox (I keep all my mission-critical files in the Dropbox anyway), right-click on it (or use the Dropbox icon in your Finder’s toolbar) and select Share Dropbox Link. The link to the file or folder will be copied to your clipboard and can be emailed (or Skyped, SMSed, etc.). There is no need to upload anything, not even to open a Web browser. The persons you’re sharing with do not need to have a Dropbox account: they will be able to access and download the files directly through their web browser! And if they do have a Dropbox account they will have an option to simply add the shared folder to their own Dropbox and thus have it all on their local drive without the bother of download.
CASA RAMPA #Arquitecturademadera Arquitectura Studio mk27 Fotografía ©Fernando Guerra Desde HIC Arquitectura “(…) An important collection of African art rests on the wooden sideboard in the living room of Ramp House, located in a quiet garden-neighbourhood in São Paulo. The owners intend to convert the place in a cultural foundation in the future (…) The architecture of the Ramp House promotes a radical spatial continuity between the interior and exterior not only through large panes of sliding glass doors – that can be fully opened, connecting the living room with the garden – but also through the consistency in the use of the same materials both inside and outside. The wooden facade folds back towards the interior, becoming the roof liner that, in turn, folds again at the hall by the ramp to create an inner facade. This three-dimensional surface building, a wooden ribbon, determines the structure and the actual volume of the house: a box – made of local Brazilian timber – projecting itself outward from the dense raw concrete sidewalls. Pillars rationally distributed over the internal space complete the structural system and contrib ute to enable the large spans of up to 9.70 meters. Setting up the ramp’s background – and of the whole living room – another concrete wall creates an austere, minimalist environment made with raw and natural materials. The timber on the roof lining also helps to complete the spatial feeling of cosiness in the room…” Editores del post: Maderayconstruccion Si te gustó el post, estaría genial que lo compartas en tus redes sociales.
A complete full-color lithographed cadastral map of the town of Podgórze (Podgorza, Josefstadt, Podgorze), surveyed in 1847 and lithographed in 1849. Although dominated by its much larger neighbor city of Kraków across the Wisła River, at the time this map was made Podgórze was a separate town under Austrian rule. On this carefully-made map, parcels and houses are all clearly numbered, and many features shown are still visible today. The residential area centers near the river but also sprawls along a main road looping through town. Key features shown include the ancient Krakus Mound, the large Karl's Bridge, two churches and a Catholic cemetery; important Jewish sites would appear 30 years later. Images for this map were provided by the Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie.
Building any system that requires an operator who isn’t the system designer often involves creating a control panel to operate the patch or network in question. A control panel can also be useful for controlling various elements of a system that might otherwise be too complicated to manipulate directly. In TouchDesigner one of the handy built in components that you might think about using is a button. Buttons have various states of operation that offer different types of control. Let’s star this process by looking at some actual buttons in TouchDesigner so we can see some how these work in practice. Lets start by creating a new network, and deleting the template operators – if you’re new to touch you can draw a rectangular selection by clicking and dragging with the right mouse button. Select all off the operators and hit delete or backspace. You can also close your palette browser. You should now be left with an empty network. To get started we’re going to double click the empty network or hit TAB on your keyboard. This brings up the Operator Dialog window. Make sure that you’re in the COMP (component) tab of the dialog window, and select a “Button” from the “Panels” column. Place this button anywhere on your network. If we look at the parameters of this component we can start to get a sense of how it works, and how we can customize its operation for whatever you might be designing. Looking at the parameter window we can see how this component is organized. This component has several tabs of parameters that all relate to different types of functions and methods for manipulating the button. Below is a quick summary what each tab deals with: The Layout page gives us the ability to manipulate how the button is placed and represented on the control panel itself. - The Panel page gives us some control over how the button behaves in the panel. - The Button page allows for manipulating the kind of button operation methods. - The Color page allows for some alteration in the color of the button. - The Drag page controls the drag and drop behavior of the button. - The Common page controls for some of the higher order mechanisms for this component – for now we don’t need to worry about this page. To learn more about the Button COMP make sure that you look at Derivative’s documentation here. Before we move on, let’s open up our control panel so we can see what our button looks like, and where it’s situated. In the upper left hand corner of your network there’s a small square shaped button. Mousing over this button will reveal the help text “open viewer.” Clicking on this button will bring up the panel viewer for the container that you’re working inside of. Clicking on your open viewer button should mean that you see something like this: At this point you should be able to click on your button in the viewer. To help us understand what’s happening with the button itself let’s attach a Null to the CHOP out from the container. In your network add a Null Chanel Operator (CHOP). Attach this to the CHOP out from the button (you can tell that it’s a Chanel Operator Out because of the color). With the null attached, now when we click on our button in the viewer we can see what kind of signal is being generated by this button component. Before we take a closer look at button modes, let’s first see how we can position our button in the viewer. First select the button component to bring up the parameters window. Here on the Layout page we can see X and Y as variables that we can manipulate. These allow us to change the position of the button. The values for X and Y are in pixels. For now, I’m going to leave my button in the bottom left corner. Next lets take a look at the Button page for this component. Two of the most commonly used states for buttons are Momentary and Toggle. Momentary transmits a signal as a pulse. Clicking the button sends an on, releasing the button sends an off. A toggle enables a button state to be activated or deactivated. In this case, clicking the button toggles it to the on position where it stays until you click the button again sending a signal of off. There are additional button types to choose from, but for now these two different types will help us enough to work through some basic ideas about how you might use and change a button. I’m going to leave my button set as a toggle down for now. Now that we have a basic understanding of how this component works, lets start customizing it’s appearance. To do this we need to dive inside of our Button. We can do this by zooming in with the scroll wheel until we dive into the component, or we can select the button and hit the “i” key on your keyboard (i in this case is a shortcut for “in”). Inside of our button we can see the Chanel operators, Texture Operator, and Data Operator that are driving this interface element. One of the most interesting elements to take a note of us the panel1 CHOP. Here you can see that TouchDesigner tracks several different kinds of interaction for our button. We can trigger actions based on the state of our button (is it on or off), the rollover position of our mouse (is the mouse hovering over the button), and if the button is being actively selected (the moment when the mouse button is being actively clicked). Let’s start our customization of this button by first looking at the Text TOP (Texture Operator). If you click on the text TOP labeled “bg” we can see the parameters associated with this TOP. On the first page we see “Text.” I’m going to change the name of my button here to “Play.” Next I want to adjust the color of this button. Before we do that, lets first draw our attention to the fact that our button changes it’s color depending on if we’re mousing over it, or have turned it on or off. A closer look at the Text TOP and the associated DAT and CHOP we can see that something very specific is happening. An expression CHOP is watching the button and reporting out the state of our button as a variable called “i” which is then being used by the DAT to dynamically change the color of our button. The table DAT defines what color values should be used for the button in the states: off, on, rollover, rollover on. If we want to keep the established convention of different colors for different states, we then need to edit the table DAT rather than the text TOP. Let’s start by zooming into the table DAT. We can see here that we’re only using a single color value here for the dynamic content. This means that our options for changing the color of the button right now are only limited to gray scale. Bummer. Let’s make some changes to our table so we can have some color. To do this we’re first going to make our DAT active by clicking on the small + sign in the button right corner of this operator. With this DAT in active mode we can now edit the table. Color values for our Text are generated off of three different numbers – values for red, green, and blue. We’re going to add two more columns and change the name of one column so we can use three different numbers to generate some different colors. With our DAT active, right click on the column labeled “background” and select add right. Repeat this step so that you have two empty columns to the right of the background column. Next let’s edit the text in the “background” cell, changing it to “bg_r.” In the columns next to this one add the names “bg_g” and “bg_b.” This is going to break our button for a moment, and that’s okay, don’t panic. You should now have a table that looks like this: For now copy from bg_r to the other columns. Now your table should look like this: Next lets fix our text TOP. Click on the Text TOP and then click on the Color page. On this page we can see that our values for the background color are all 0s and in red, telling us that something is broken. If we click on the text “Background Color” on this page we can see the expressions driving the dynamic changes for this TOP. Next we’re going to edit the text in these expressions to account for our new columns in table DAT. We can see that there are three fields that correspond to our bg_r, bg_g, and bg_b with bgcolorr, bgcolorg, and bgcolorb. We’re going to change only the last reference in the expressions in these cells to represent the changes in our table. What we’re after here is to make sure that: - bgcolorr is looking at the bg_r - bgcolorg is looking at the bg_g - bgcolorb is looking at the bg_b We’ll do that by changing the term “background” in the expressions to match the columns that we’ve added. Our edited expressions should look like the following (your button should be working again): Now we need to change our table DAT in order to generate the colors that we want for our button. To help me determine the float values for the colors that I want, I’m going to add a constant TOP to the network momentarily. With my constant added to the network, I’m click on the white rectangle to bring up the color selector. This window will also give me the float values that I want to know so I can edit my table. After a little bit of exploring I’ve found some colors that will work as a place to start. My resulting table DAT looks like this: We now have a Button that we’ve given a unique name to, and made changes to a table DAT so that we can see a custom set of colors on our button that dynamically change as we operate our control panel. Now that we’ve made one, try making some buttons on your own.
Many critics of our healthcare system recommend buying healthcare like you’d buy a car. Now Walmart is hoping on board, too. On October 6, 2014, Walmart announced a partnership with DirectHealth.com, launching a program they call ‘Healthcare Begins Here’ that hopes to educate customers on health insurance options. DirectHealth.com specializes in health insurance comparisons, offering access to more than 1,700 plans from 12 insurance carriers for people over the age of 65, and access to thousands of plans from over 300 carriers for those under age 65. “Walmart has long been known for innovation in health and wellness, and we’ll never stop delivering new products and services to the 140 million people who visit our stores each week,” Labeed Diab, senior vice president and president of Health & Wellness at Walmart said in a press release. “For years, our customers have told us that there is too much complexity when it comes to understanding their health insurance options. ‘Healthcare Begins Here’ addresses that complexity by bringing clarity and increased choice to the insurance enrollment process through DirectHealth.com.” Notably, this service will only benefit Walmart by bringing more bodies into their stores. For many years, Walmart has hosted insurance agents from individual companies in their stores, allowing customers to ask questions and enroll in specific plans. This takes that offering to the next level, according to the release. ‘Healthcare Begins Here’ will focus mostly on an over-65 audience. 2,700 Walmarts will now staff independent, licensed health insurance agents who will teach customers about different plans and assist them when they decide to enroll. The business of healthcare is booming, so of course Walmart wants in. Which makes us wonder: who’s next? Jenni Whalen is the Executive Assistant of Editorial at Upworthy. She was previously MedTech Boston's Managing Editor and has an MS in Journalism from Boston University, as well as a BA in Psychology from Bucknell University. Whalen has written for Greatist, Boston magazine, AZ Central Healthy Living and the New England Journal of Medicine, among other places. She has also worked as a conference planner, ghost writer, researcher and content developer. Send this to a friend
When a vet tech asked Gillian Warmkessel if she would consider adopting a little special needs kitten who, along with his brother, had been abandoned by his mother in March 2012 outside a hardware store in Whitemarsh Island, Georgia, the animal lover and mother of two was definitely interested. “The vet tech explained that this tiny kitten was born with eyelid agenesis,” remembers Gillian, “which is more common in feral cats than other cat populations.” Cats with eyelid agenesis, a congenital condition, are born without upper eyelids, and they usually require extra medical treatment, including surgery to cryogenically freeze the fur around their eyes to stop it from growing. “The eye meets the fur and skin without protection,” explains Gillian, “and the cornea is forever at risk due to blinking and fur irritation that can lead to ulcers.” Gillian, who had both the time and money to care for a cat with eyelid agenesis, agreed to meet the little kitten, who was less than a week old at the time. “He got into the palm of my hand,” remembers Gillian. “It was love at first sight.” Immediately, Gillian named the little kitten Perry Pepper, an homage to a black cat she’d seen online, and it wasn’t long before she received another call from her vet, asking if she’d like to adopt Perry’s brother. Apparently, the family who agreed to adopt the newborn tuxedo kitten — who had a milder form of eyelid agenesis — thought he was a girl, and when they discovered his true gender, they no longer wanted him. “I got the second call,” remembers Gillian, “and jumped at the chance to bring this bonded pair of special needs brothers home together.” To Gillian, it all felt as though it was meant to be: “The first set of kittens my husband and I rescued — right after college graduation — were also brothers,” says Gillian, and one of them was solid black while the other was a tuxedo cat. The pair, Goliath and Zeek, had recently passed away after living well into their teens, so Perry and his brother, whom the couple named Charlie Chips, seemed fated to be a part of Gillian’s family. The Warmkessels had taken care of Goliath, who had to have one of his eyes removed to stop his cancer from metastasizing, so they had some experience with special needs cats. Still, they’d never had a pet with eyelid agenesis before, so they weren’t entirely sure what to expect. However, the kittens didn’t go to their home right away; instead, Perry and Charlie remained at the vet for several months until they were old enough to be tested for FIV, and Gillian and her family regularly visited the brothers during this time. Thankfully, when they finally went to live with the Warmkessels, Gillian discovered that eyelid agenesis had no impact on their eyesight — “Both Perry and Charlie have no vision problems whatsoever,” says Gillian — but Perry, who has a more severe form of the condition, needs a bit of extra attention. Not longer after Gillian and her family adopted the brothers, both cats had cryosurgery to freeze the hair around their eyes — turning it white — and Perry needed multiple procedures, while Charlie needed just one. While the cryosurgery was successful for both cats, Perry still needs some additional help to keep his eyes healthy. “Because Perry is missing his upper lid and cannot fully close his eyes or have the same eye protection as other cats, I must ensure his eyes stay clean,” explains Gillian. “I actually wipe his eyes daily, and many days I need to lubricate his eyes with ointment.” However, Gillian, who says Perry is a mama’s boy, is more than happy to help the assist black cat who was abandoned by his biological mother as a newborn kitten. “Even though I’m the one who fusses with him the most,” says Gillian, “he also seems to show me the most affection.” Indeed, Gillian has formed strong bonds with both of her special needs cats, but she admits she has a unique relationship with Perry. “We have six cats and two dogs and I love them all,” says Gillian, adding, “I hate to admit it, but Perry is my favorite.” Perry is incredibly special, not just because he was born without his upper eyelids, but also because he is extremely talkative, he enjoys surveying his kingdom from the top of the fridge, he will dig at the blankets to get underneath the covers, and he loves special treats like aged Gruyere cheese. Gillian and her husband agree that this handsome special needs cat and his brother are the most loving animals they’ve ever met, and they’re convinced it’s because Perry and Charlie are grateful to have a home after being abandoned when they were so young. “They love to cuddle and are as friendly as dogs to our guests,” says Gillian. “We believe that rescued animals know, and they never forget.” While Perry and Charlie look a bit different from other cats, Gillian insists that what separates them from other felines is how exceptionally loving and sweet they are, traits that make these adorable brothers — and cats like them — uniquely wonderful pets. “All special cats are especially lovable,” says Gillian, and she thinks animals like Perry and Charlie have some very important lessons to share. “They give us much more than we give them,” says Gillian. “They have a lot to teach humans about accepting differences.” Thankfully, Perry and Charlie have found the perfect home with the Warmkessels where not only are their differences accepted, they’re celebrated, and nearly six years after they were discovered outside a hardware store, they’re happier than ever. While Gillian adores both of her boys, she admits that she has a stronger bond with Perry, partly because he requires more attention than his brother. “I think because he needs me more than my other pets, I feel responsible for taking care of him,” says Gillian. Fortunately, it’s not a responsibility Gillian minds shouldering, and she’s thankful she’s the person who got that call back in 2012, asking her to open her home to a tiny one-week-old kitten who had been abandoned by his biological mother. “He’s my special baby boy,” says Gillian. “I love him with all my heart.” To learn more about this handsome cat, you can follow Perry on Instagram.
- COLOR SCHEMES - SEE ALSO/CREDITS - COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE got - A tool to make it easier to manage multiple code repositories using different VCSen cd some/proj/in/a/vcs got add # answer prompts for various information # or run with '-D' to take all defaults # show managed repositories got list got ls # run a command in selected repositories got do --tag perl --command "ls t/" # show managed repositories sorted by path (default = sort by name) got ls -p # remove repo #1 from the list got remove 1 # remove repo named 'bar' from the list got remove bar # remove all repos tagged 'foo' without confirmation prompts got rm -f -t foo # remove repo #3 without confirmation prompts and be noisy about it got rm -f -v 3 # show status (up-to-date, dirty, etc.) for all repos got status # show status for repo #3 got st 3 # fetch upstream for all repositories got fetch # fetch upstream for repo #3 got fetch 3 # update all repos with configured remotes got update # update repo named 'bar' got up bar # Note: if a repo is in the list but doesn't have a local checkout, 'got # update' will create directories as needed and do the initial check out. # Run the 'git gc' command to garbage collect in git repos got gc # spawn a subshell with working directory set to 'path' of repo #1 got chdir 1 # spawn a subshell with working directory set to 'path' of repo foo got cd foo # or use 'tmux' subcommand to open a new tmux window instead got tmux 1 got tmux foo # N.b., 'tmux' will reuse an existing window if one is open # checkout a local working copy of a repo and add it to your list of repos. # will prompt for info on what to name repo, tags, etc. got clone <git/http/ssh url> # As above, but accept defaults for all options without prompting got clone -D <git/http/ssh url> # fork a github repo, add it to your list of repos, and check it out in # the current working directory got fork https://github.com/somebodies/repo_name # note: the default path to a repo added via 'fork' is a directory # named 'repo_name' in the current working directory # if you just want to fork without checking out a working copy: got fork --noclone https://github.com/somebodies/repo_name # finally, please note that you need a C<~/.github-identity> file set up # with your access token or your username and password in the following key-value # format: user username pass password # OR access_token token # note that if you specify both, the access_token value will be used # show version of got got version got is a script to make it easier to manage all the version controlled repositories you have on all the computers you use. It can operate on all, some, or just one repo at a time, to both check the status of the repo (up to date, pending changes, dirty, etc.) and sync it with any upstream master. got also supports forking a GitHub repo and adding it to the list of managed repositories. In addition to the subcommand-specific options illustrated in the SYNOPSIS, all the subcommands accept the following options: --verbose / -v Be more verbose about what is happening behind the scenes --quiet / -q Be more quiet --tags / -t Select all repositories that have the given tag. May be given multiple times. Multiple args are (effectively) 'and'-ed together. --skip-tags / -T Skip all repositories that have the given tag. May be given multiple times. Multiple args are (effectively) 'or'-ed together. May be combined with -t to select all repos with the -t tag except for those with the -T tag. --no-color / -C Suppress colored output --color-scheme / -c Specify a color scheme. Defaults to 'dark'. People using light backgrounds may want to specify "-c light". The name given to the option indicates a library to load. By default this library is assumed to be in the 'App::GitGot::Outputter::' namespace; the given scheme name will be appended to that namespace. You can load something from a different namespace by prefacing a '+'. (E.g., '-C +GitGot::pink' will attempt to load 'GitGot::pink'.) If the requested module can't be loaded, the command will exit. See COLOR SCHEMES for details on how to write your own custom color scheme. repo name, repo number, range Commands may be limited to a subset of repositories by giving a combination of additional arguments, consisting of either repository names, repository numbers (as reported by the ' list' subcommand), or number ranges (e.g., 2-4will operate on repository numbers 2, 3, and 4). Note that if you have a repository whose name is an integer number, bad things are going probably going to happen. Don't do that. Color scheme libraries should extend App::GitGot::Outputter and need to define four required attributes: color_minor_change. Each attribute should be a read-only of type 'Str' with a default value that corresponds to a valid Term::ANSIColor color string. Seeing Ingy döt Net speak about AYCABTU at PPW2010 was a major factor in the development of this script -- earlier (unreleased) versions did not have any way to limit operations to a subset of managed repositories; they also didn't deal well managing output. After lifting his interface (virtually wholesale) I ended up with something that I thought was worth releasing. drdrang prodded me about making the color configuration more friendly to those that weren't dark backrgound terminal people. The colors in App::GitGot::Outputter::lightare based on a couple of patches that drdrang sent me. - The Wire Currently git is the only supported VCS. - Yanick Champoux <[email protected]> - Michael Greb <[email protected]> - Chris Prather <[email protected]> - Rolando Pereira - Tina Müller <[email protected]> - Karen Etheridge - Lucy Wyman John SJ Anderson <[email protected]> This software is copyright (c) 2015 by John SJ Anderson. This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.
- Montessori Education’s Eight Principles as Introduced by A.S. Lilard, PhD - Fostering of Internal Motivation in The Early Childhood Student - Breaking Bread to Bridge Cultures and Build Peace Representatives from Michigan Montessori Society and a number of other concerned Montessorians have formed a coalition (Michigan Montessori Education Advocacy Network) that is working with the State of Michigan. Our goal is to facilitate modifications in Michigan’s QRIS rating process that will allow authentic Montessori schools to score at the highest levels in this 5 star system.Montessori Advocacy The Michigan Montessori Society offers affiliation, membership, and educational services. Join the Michigan Montessori Society Community. The Michigan Montessori Society offers to its members and affiliate schools a number of services. Leonor J Esnard, OP, PhD ADMTEI Director, Montessori Educator Debra Gorman Cagle, MEd ADMTEI faculty, Montessori Teacher, Adjunct Professor at Siena Heights University Date / Time: Saturday, May 19, 2018 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM / Weber Retreat & Conference Center 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive in Adrian, Michigan
On the face of it, yesterdays decision by the Bank of England to keep base rates at 0.5% for the eighteenth month in a row, sounds like excellent news for consumers. Those with mortgages can breathe a sigh of relief as their repayments will remain low for yet another month – though lenders are making large margins at the moment by not lowering their mortgage rates as much as they could. Apparently there are 52% of us who are not so happy about interest rates being so low. A recent moneysupermarket.com poll found that just over half of respondents actually want the base rate to start rising as they want higher returns on their savings. As usual, it appears that the problem is made worse by the Banks. Whilst the base rate has remained at 0.5% for the last year and a half, the average interest rates across the leading easy access accounts has actually fallen over the last 18 months from 2.98 per cent to 2.72 per cent. A 0.26 percent decrease. So not only are banks using the low base rates as an opportunity to increase margins from mortgages, they are also increasing their margins with savings accounts too! No wonder savers are not too happy at the moment.
A scent that is calming, relaxing, and balancing, Lavender has been documented to improve concentration and mental acuity. According to University of Miami, researches found that inhaling Lavender oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance (Diego MA, et al., 1998). A 2001 Osaka Kyoiku University study found that lavender reduced mental stress and increased alertness (Motomura, 2001). Personally, this is in my First Aid kit and Travel kit. It is so highly versatile that one is amazed by its abundant benefits. Today, I continue to use it on skin acne, rash/itch by applying it directly onto my skin, and even mixing 1-2 drops into my facial moisturizer cream (I apply this mixture about once a week) as I mix Orange oil on another day 🙂 Recently, a friend suggested that Lavender oil be applied onto the scalp for hair loss, and guess what? I have been seeing baby hair growth ever since! I have also shared this with my friends, and they said that it works for them too! Some said Rosemary oil works better for them. I tried it but it just stings my scalp while my friends felt no similar sensation, only that they felt more alert and their partners thought they smelt like food. Sadly, with that much hair falling out everyday – I wonder if my baby hair can grow out fast enough to even cover the sporadic bald patches *sigh Note: Many use a vegetable carrier oil before applying onto the scalp. I have tried applying it neat onto several spots on the head as well as mixing with Argan oil. As it is rather costly, it may be wise to mix it with a carrier oil 🙂 Some uses of Lavender oil: Respiratory infections, high blood pressure, menstrual problems/PMS, skin conditions (e.g. skin repair, acne, scarring, stretch marks), burns, hair loss, insomnia, nervous tension) More information on How to Use And if you need one in your home kit, feel free to contact me
We look after a total of 134 boys and girls in - two Crèche groups for children from 18 months up to three years, - two Kindergarten groups for children from three to five years, - three Preschool groups for children from five to six years. Kindergarten and Preschool groups consist of 22 children, Crèche groups of 12 children. A teaching staff of three looks after each group during the core hours. One teacher is an English native speaker, one a German native speaker and the third one either of the two. With the help of the immersion method, the children are exposed to the two languages and grow up bilingually in a very natural way. Reliability and trust are key elements in our relationship with each child. Each child is part of a fixed (feste) group and has one main contact during the settling in period. A special feature in our Kindergarten is our Preschool, which prepares the children in a play-oriented manner for school during a whole year, thus ensuring a smooth transition into the 1st year level in Primary. Our concept highly values the individual child. We realise that each child learns at their own pace. Developmental feedback is shared with parents regarding their child’s progress, and by cooperating closely with the parents we can ensure that each child is supported in the right manner leading towards thenext developmental step.
City of Ferndale water and sewer customers recently received utility bills for the 2-month period from June 5th to August 4th. According to City staff, many were shocked by an unexpected increase in the invoice total. City Communications Officer Riley Sweeney said phone and foot traffic to City Hall has been steady this week. The invoices were sent Friday, August 31st and there was an immediate uptick in calls from customers when City Hall opened Tuesday, after the 3-day weekend, he said. The City’s response has been to send out workers to reread the meters and look for leaks at the addresses where complaints came from, Sweeney explained. The result of these investigations have provided no reason to believe there are any problems with meters or data collection procedures. 2 things changed this year that are likely reasons for the higher amounts. How charges are computed during summer months and an increase in the rate used to calculate sewer charges based on water use. In past years, summer utility bills were computed not from actual water use but from an average use based on previous off-season billings. This was intended, according to City Council discussions, to offset the increased water use that was not likely to result in an increase in sewer use since lawn and garden watering puts the water into the ground and not into the sewer. The Ferndale City Council approved using actual water usage billing instead of the off-season averaging as they struggled to find ways to pay for a planned wastewater plant upgrade and expansion. In addition, by a vote of 4 to 3 during the June 6, 2017 City Council meeting, councilmembers approved increasing sewer usage rates by 3% per year over the next 3 years (an increase of 9.3% over 3 years) and increasing connection fees for new developments 25% per year over the next 3 years (an increase of 95% or nearly double over 3 years). Councilmembers Rebecca Xczar, Greg Hansen and Teresa Taylor were opposed to the mix of increases voted on. It was also at this time the summer “discount” was eliminated beginning this summer. Utility charges are based on water usage for City of Ferndale utility customers. Included with water charges are sewer, storm drain and an included utility tax. Sewer charge is a result of multiplying water use by the current sewer rate. When water usage goes up, so does the sewer charge. Storm drain is a flat rate paid equally by all utility customers. There is also a 9% utility tax that is part of water, sewer and storm drain charges. So, again, as water usage goes up, so will the utility tax. Sweeney said water usage this summer is very close to what was used last summer. He pointed out that when people think of summer water usage they consider the water used to irrigate their lawns and gardens. But, Sweeney explained, they are also likely to use more water as a result of things like taking more showers and doing more laundry as a result of increased outside activities. “We ask anyone with a question or concern to please contact us so we can identify those situations where there is something we can address,” Sweeney said. Sweeney said City Council will be looking at ways to revise the sewer rate structure over the upcoming months now that they have better information about costs associated with the wastewater plant upgrade and expansion. “Anyone with recommendations on how to best charge for water and sewer use are asked to pass along their recommendations to the City Councilmembers,” Sweeney said. Emails sent to [email protected] will be delivered to every councilmember’s email address. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a couple spoke during the public comment period to let councilmembers know of their frustration and shock after receiving a $500 utility billing from the City. Lenard and Rosemary Webb said they relocated to Ferndale last fall to be closer to family and, being newly retired, they were on a fixed income. Leonard told the councilmembers and City staff, “If we had known how this was coming in, we might have located somewhere else.”
Buon Ferragosto! A popular greeting heard amongst Italians towards the end of summer. Ferragosto, technically August 15, is the official start to the Italian exodus out of the city to the clean, cool air of the mountains or to the sunny, playful costal beaches. It is a scared time, a time to spend with family and friends; to forget about work The romantic Festival of Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Italy as it is in the United States, however the tradition of Valentine’s Day is a little different in Italy. History of Valentine’s Day in Italy Valentine’s Day was initially celebrated as a Spring Festival in Italy. Celebration for the day was held in the open air. Young people would gather in tree arbors or ornamental gardens Majolica is glazed pottery often associated with certain regions of Italy, although it also is produced in other parts of the world. The name majolica was derived from Majorca, the port from which majolica originally was traded. Italian majolica and italian ceramics are world renowned because of their master craftsmanship and durability. Italy has a long-standing tradition in the production of ceramics and pottery dating back to the 13th century. For many, choosing to decorate their home in Italian decor is a lifestyle choice. We love to surround ourselves with the “essence” of Italian life. Family, friends, and that comfortable, lived in feel is what we look for when decorating a home with one of a kind italian pieces. The great thing about changing up the look and feel of The famous Italian ceramic Rooster Pitcher symbolizes “Good Fortune”. Italian tradition is to give it as a housewarming or wedding gift, to protect from trespassers and dangers. The origin of the “Rooster Pitcher” dates back to the early Renaissance period in the Republic of Florence, Italy. During this time, one of the most powerful and leading landowning families, the Medici’s, held a feast in the nearby village Welcome to the world of Murano Glass collecting! Murano glass has a lot to offer the collector, a long lineage of artists dating back to the 12th century to the current maestri living and working in Murano, Venice. Where do I Start? One of the best ways to learn about Murano Glass is to visit a collection or search the web,
Viewers once thought: Film talkies would forever change democracy. Telephones would invade privacy. Comic books would turn kids into juvenile delinquents. Television would create zombies. Researchers shrug off such predictions, arguing citizens can attend to only so much media in one setting. Researchers say new media displace old media. For example, television took over for radio in the 1950s when families consumed evening entertainment. Computer-internet media—Facebook, Twitter and email—have displaced other channels when it comes to reaching people. Civil disobedience, for example, is fueled by protestors announcing events electronically, thus potentially organizing groups more quickly. But when it comes to measurable effects, social media fail to demonstrate a large impact on publics. Media researcher Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania says most ideas don’t catch fire. Most YouTube videos, for example, rarely go viral. And efforts to reach mass audiences through social media can be woefully ineffective and expensive. American advertisers last year plunked down $170 billion for direct marketing, according to The Economist. (That’s how much we spend on care for Americans with Alzheimer’s, according to The Fiscal Times.) When it comes to electronic media ploys, sales resulting from ads were a fraction—less than one percent—in fact, one-hundredth of one percent, The Economist reports. That makes unsolicited ads as welcome as ants at a summer picnic. M.C. Escher rendering of an ant from http://www.insects.org/ced1/escher02.html
You can click through the pages in this section to get many of the facts and figures you need to make decisions that are right for your organization. You also find links to other sites such as the North Carolina Department of Commerce that can provide invaluable information. If you don't see what you're looking for here, please contact us at [email protected]. We'd be happy to get you the information you need promptly. Population estimates are calculated as the number of people living in an area at a specified point in time, which considers natural fluctuations due to: births, deaths, domestic migration and international migration. Since 2005, ENC has seen a steady increase in the number of people residing in the region. Over this time frame, ENC has grown at a faster rate than the United States, to over 1.4 million residents, adding an average of 15,000 residents per year. Total regional population in 2013 was 1,415,063 with a 2014 projection of 1,441,806. \|2000 Census\|\|2009 Estimate\|\|2014 Projected\| \|Age\|\|1990 Census\|\|2000 Census\|\|2009 Estimate\|\|2014 Projected\| \|0 to 4\|\|62,291\|\|64,195\|\|74,317\|\|74,596\| \|5 to 14\|\|115,117\|\|128,086\|\|135,319\|\|153,973\| \|15 to 19\|\|65,319\|\|68,727\|\|70,438\|\|68,696\| \|20 to 24\|\|87,733\|\|86,248\|\|84,452\|\|75,918\| \|35 to 44\|\|118,027\|\|138,315\|\|124,934\|\|128,237\| \|45 to 54\|\|77,011\|\|116,997\|\|134,157\|\|137,205\| \|55 to 64\|\|67,677\|\|78,762\|\|111,994\|\|129,523\| \|65 to 74\|\|54,850\|\|61,016\|\|71,303\|\|90,332\| \|75 to 84\|\|26,442\|\|35,514\|\|43,263\|\|49,644\| \|Race\|\|1990 Census\|\|2000 Census\|\|2009 Estimate\|\|2014 Projected\| or Alaska Native Eastern North Carolina high school students' average scores on the SAT are in line with the state average - and are trending upward. \|County\|\|SAT Scores 2011\| \|North Carolina Average\|\|1001\| Since 2000, the region has seen a sharp decrease in the percentage of residents who possess less than a High School diploma, while both those possessing an Associates Degree or Some College and a Bachelor’s Degree or higher have increased. On the state and national level, the most significant growth also occurred in those obtaining a Bachelor's Degree and above. Per Capita Income (PCI) is the average income received in the past 12 months for every man, woman, and child in a geographic area. Over the past 5 years, ENC has seen a slight decline in PCI, similar to the state and the nation. In 2009 the regional PCI was $21,954 and in 2013 it was $21,085. Median household income divides the income distribution into two equal parts; one half of the cases fall above and one half fall below the median. All three populations saw an increase from 2003-2013. Over this time period the US saw a 21% increase, NC experienced a 17% increase and ENC a 23% increase. Travel and Tourism expenditures are calculated using the Travel Economic Impact Model (TEIM) which is a disaggregated model comprised of 16 travel categories, including: lodging, food, retail, public transportation, auto transportation, and amusement/recreation. Over the 10 year period shown in this graph, both the state and region have grown at very similar rates. Although tourist expenditures dropped in 2009, expenditures have risen to $2.9 billion in 2013, compared to $2 billion 10 years ago.
“There aren’t any white horses!” I’d yell at her (and we’d had this argument on more than one occasion). In hindsight I realise she must have found my stubborn denial and literal interpretation rather amusing. I’ve always wanted there to be more to reality than what we see on its surface. What lies beneath the ocean is largely a mystery to us unless we own diving gear or can access some sort of submersible. A whole other environment exists there that is hostile to our very being, as land-walking, air-breathing mammals. Seventy percent of the planet’s surface is hostile to us, in fact. Yet many creation myths speak of our birth in the primordial ocean and I suspect, on a deeper level, we still hear that siren call luring us back. The sea connects all things, is shaped by that which is known and transmits that which is unknown. Often I’d go for early morning walks with my parents or grandparents, during that wonderful magic hour before the sun was properly up and the rest of the world was awake. Only at these times, with the tide out, would we discover a few of the sea’s secrets: slick, gleaming mermaid’s purses; a delicate paper nautilus, still whole; sea urchins like green buttons; and sea glass polished to smooth teardrops. The trek fishermen would be bringing in their catch, mostly mullet and a few mackerel and the odd skate, but sometimes stranger fish, like gurnard or cat sharks. Even now, my daily train journey follows the False Bay coastline for part of the way, and I’m privy to the ocean’s many moods. There are days when I stick my face out the window so I can breathe deeply of that salt-sweet air. The sea finds me in my dreams; sometimes she is a benign mistress. Other times she is a destructive force. Those who love her are captivated. She flows through our veins and we can never escape her. I'm proud to announce the line-up for The Sea an anthology of short speculative fiction: Lola and the Sea Lion by Alex Hughes; Songs of the Sea by Camille Griep; Dead Shark Dawn by Don Webb; Sirens by J.C. Piech; The Setting Sea by Patrick O’Neill; Up She Rises by S.A. Partridge; The Something in the Sea by Amy Lee Burgess; Dredge by Wayne Goodchild; Kajsa’s Curse by Steve Jones; Deeper Creatures by Andrea Jones; A Cruel, Intemperate Sea by Barry King; Canyon by Martin Rose; The Wire Bird by Simon Dewar; My Name is Legion by Diane Awerbuck; Pins and Needles by Benjamin Knox; A Drought of Tears by Rob Porteous; Salt by Toby Bennett; and Choiceless Beach by Anna Reith. Purchase your copies at Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and Nook. Print will follow shortly.
October 5, 2005 Innovative air vehicle developer AirScooter has featured in Gizmag previously with its AirScooter II, a vehicle we dubbed, “The Helicopter for the Home.” Things have been moving quickly for the company in recent times, with several patented and patent-pending aeronautical products being developed to employ coaxial rotor technology. These products include a high-performance AirScout 70” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and an electric powered UAV, both targeted at the commercial and military markets. The electric E70 is based on the company’s high-performance gasoline engine G70 UAV platform. After the G70 prototype met rigorous flight requirements, five new AirScooter G70s have been assembled using a more powerful engine to increase payload and are being prepped for flight testing and sale. AirScooter UAVs are in the tactical VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) class, positioned between the high-end hobby category and the limited selection of expensive military/commercial UAVs available today. Easily transportable, these robust craft are ideally suited for aerial photography, surveillance, research and a range of homeland security applications. AirScooter unmanned aerial vehicles feature a rugged patented coaxial flight platform providing outstanding hovering ability, stable flight, precision response and control all in an economical package. Both the G70 and E70 employ a 70-inch coaxial rotor and control system, minimizing the complexity of coaxial systems of the past, but scalable to future craft, smaller or larger in size. The G70 is powered by a modern 7.5 hp twin engine, weighs about 32 pounds, with a payload of 10 pounds plus and flight duration of about 45 minutes. The E70 employs a battery powered high-end (1500 watts continuous – 3500 watts maximum) cobalt motor, weighs approximately 30 pounds with batteries, has an estimated payload of 5 pounds or more and flight duration of about 8-15 minutes. With no commercial speed controller available to meet the demanding power requirements of the E70, the company sponsored production of a proprietary custom speed controller resulting in one of the largest electric powered VTOL air vehicles to be commercially available. More complete specifications, subject to change as more flight and performance data is obtained, are on our web site at www.airscooter.net. “Gene Rock, chief UAV engineer, designed AirScooter UAVs to be easily remotely guided or automated by any number of third party computerized flight systems,” said Dwaine Barnes, president of AirScooter Corporation. “We employ computerized engineering in our air vehicle designs allowing more rapid transition from prototype to automated production techniques and making it easier to accommodate a customer’s particular requirements.” Barnes added, “We are excited about the early product response and look forward to showing more customers the capabilities and advantages of our coaxial control system. We are seeing interest from commercial and government sectors of the market, domestically and overseas. Whether the requirement is for quiet electric performance or long duration gasoline powered flight, we provide a compelling solution for customers dissatisfied with the limitations of high-end hobby craft but unable to justify the high costs of commercial/military UAVs often costing US$100,000 to US$500,000 or more.” Want a cleaner, faster loading and ad free reading experience? Try New Atlas Plus. Learn more
Labor Issues Inspire Artist Jim Arendt Denim has particular meaning for Jim Arendt, the featured artist in the College of Southern Maryland's next exhibition, “Selvage,” set to open Feb. 6. Durable and still worn when faded, stained or ripped, denim represents the human condition to Arendt as he uses it in his art to explore how individuals are affected by economic stress. “When I was young and my family was living through the farm crisis of the early 1980s, I recall my father sitting at the sewing machine patching his Wranglers in the evening after work,” Arendt said. “He was making do – a concept of thrift and pragmatism that dictates you work with the materials at hand. By my early 20s, that memory mixed with the stories of other working people and led me to denim as a possible material that was much closer to the truth of their lives than oil paint.” The “Selvage” exhibition at CSM will include seven life-size two- and three-dimensional figures by Arendt. It opens Feb. 6 and will run through March 9, and will include an artist lecture by Arendt at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7 on campus in the Learning Resource Center (LR Building), Room 102. At the lecture, Arendt said he plans to talk about what inspires his art. “My artwork grows out of the need for me to understand our shifting relationship with labor and work,” he said. “I grew up on a farm outside of Flint, Michigan, birthplace of General Motors and the United Auto Workers Union. Our region underwent a radical shift in economics as the industrial and agrarian economies disappeared or were outsourced to different regions and countries. Famously depicted in Michael Moore's 1989 documentary 'Roger & Me,' Flint suffered through the loss of 80,000 manufacturing jobs from which it has never fully recovered and the city's struggles continues to make headlines today. The resulting impact on the lives of the people I grew up with has left an indelible mark on my outlook on our relationship with work as a concept as I seek to make sense of the narrative that unfolded. “My work asks viewers to confront the realities of working people's lives,” he said. “Across the country a shift in monetary policy, commodity prices and globalization were rapidly closing the longest period of economic expansion in American History. A disruption to people's traditional livelihoods and economic status has driven the rise of darker and more primal impulses in the past. Now, we confront a period of similar anger and instinct toward protectionism. History has a way of rhyming; here's to hoping we stick the landing.” Arendt is the director of the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery and an assistant professor at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. His work has been exhibited internationally in numerous group and solo shows. Recently, Arendt was short-listed for The 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art and received the South Carolina Arts Commission Visual Artist Fellowship. His work was awarded the $50,000 top prize at ArtFields, Best in Show at Hub-Bub Gallery's Emerging Carolina and was included in the 701 Contemporary Center for the Arts 701 CCA Prize 2012. He was awarded Best in Show during Fantastic Fibers at Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, Kentucky, included in Fiberarts International 2013 and 2016 and the 2013 Museum Rijswijk Textile Biennial, Netherlands. Arendt received his bachelor of fine arts degree from Kendall College of Art & Design and his master of fine arts from the University of South Carolina. He participated in residency programs including The Fields Project in Illinois, Arrowmont's Tactility Forum and has been invited instructor at Penland School of Craft and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. After “Selvage,” the last exhibition this season at CSM will be the Annual Juried Student Exhibition from April 10 to May 5. Submissions for the student exhibition will be accepted from March 28 to April 1. The jury will select exhibition works April 5. Both “Selvage” and the Annual Juried Student Exhibitions will be at the Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery at the La Plata Campus Fine Arts Center. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Artist lectures are usually held Tuesday afternoon and are free and open to the public. Visit www.csmd.edu/community/the-arts/visual-arts/hungerford-gallery/index for more information. For more on Arendt, visit www.jimarendt.com. CSM Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery: “Selvage.” Feb. 6 ? March 9, College of Southern Maryland, Fine Arts Center, Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Featuring the artwork of Jim Arendt. Arendt will give a lecture at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Learning Resource (LR) Center, Room 102, with a reception immediately following in the gallery. Free and open to the public. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. www.csmd.edu/VisualArts.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a body that certifies forest management practices, has revoked all certificates granted to the Danzer Group, a multinational logging company, over alleged human rights abuses by one of its former subsidiaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reports Bloomberg. According to a complaint filed by Greenpeace, the subsidiary, Siforco, provided financial and logistical support to Congolese police and military forces in a May 2011 attack against a community protesting the company’s logging operations. Security forces committed acts of violence, including rape, and destroyed property in the village. Danzer, which sold Siforco in February 2012, said that Siforco was “forced” to provide support during the attack. It added that the police went to the village to recover equipment stolen from Siforco, according to Bloomberg. Greenpeace filed its complaint 18 months ago. In a statement issued today, the FSC said it will terminate all of its contracts with Danzer. The “disassociation”, as the termination is known, “is the most severe sanction that FSC can impose”, according to the body. “Based on the unanimous recommendation of the Complaints Panel, which spent several months analyzing the case, and whose work was also reviewed by a Board Complaints Resolution Committee, the Board of Directors decided that Danzer was in violation of FSC’s Policy for Association,” said Kim Carstensen, Director General of FSC, in a statement. “Our continued association with the Danzer Group clearly puts FSC’s credibility and reputation at risk.” Greenpeace welcomed the move. “Greenpeace is pleased the FSC is showing that its Policy for Association has teeth and is not risking its reputation by being associated with the Danzer Group due to its involvement in human rights violations. We find this landmark decision critical for the credibility of the FSC,” said Judy Rodrigues, senior forest campaigner with Greenpeace International. “This case shows that the FSC needs to urgently establish certification safeguards in high risk areas where there are high levels of corruption and where good governance, the rule of law and organized civil society are all lacking.” According to Bloomberg, the disassociation affects Danzer’s subsidiary Industrie Forestiere de Ouesso (IFO), which has the largest FSC-certified logging operation in the Congo Basin. The FSC has certified some 154 million hectares (380 million acres) of forests worldwide based on “environmental, economic, and social” criteria. The standard, which is set by membership, has seen a fair share of controversy over the years. Some industry groups view it as too restrictive, while some environmentalists complain the standard is too weak and allows first-time logging of primary forests. Greenpeace, which is an FSC member, says it is trying to strengthen the environmental aspects of the standards from within the body. (02/11/2013) Two environmental activist groups blasted the World Bank over its reported decision to block a probe into its support of industrial-scale rainforest logging. (09/06/2012) Demand for timber and paper is contributing to destruction of the world’s most biodiverse rainforests and worsening climate change, argues a new report issued Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). (07/19/2012) Industrial logging in primary tropical forests that is both sustainable and profitable is impossible, argues a new study in Bioscience, which finds that the ecology of tropical hardwoods makes logging with truly sustainable practices not only impractical, but completely unprofitable. Given this, the researchers recommend industrial logging subsidies be dropped from the UN’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program. The study, which adds to the growing debate about the role of logging in tropical forests, counters recent research making the case that well-managed logging in old-growth rainforests could provide a “middle way” between conservation and outright conversion of forests to monocultures or pasture. (07/17/2012) For most people “Borneo” conjures up an image of a wild and distant land of rainforests, exotic beasts, and nomadic tribes. But that place increasingly exists only in one’s imagination, for the forests of world’s third largest island have been rapidly and relentlessly logged, burned, and bulldozed in recent decades, leaving only a sliver of its once magnificent forests intact. Flying over Sabah, a Malaysian state that covers about 10 percent of Borneo, the damage is clear. Oil palm plantations have metastasized across the landscape. Where forest remains, it is usually degraded. Rivers flow brown with mud. (06/26/2012) Greenpeace has launched a consultation process to establish global standards for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) projects. (01/26/2012) Already on the decline worldwide, big trees face a dire future due to habitat fragmentation, selective harvesting by loggers, exotic invaders, and the effects of climate change, warns an article published this week in New Scientist magazine. Reviewing research from forests around the world, William F. Laurance, an ecologist at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, provides evidence of decline among the world’s ‘biggest and most magnificent’ trees and details the range of threats they face. He says their demise will have substantial impacts on biodiversity and forest ecology, while worsening climate change. (01/25/2012) Tropical countries may face a risk of ‘peak timber’ as continued logging of rainforests exceeds the capacity of forests to regenerate timber stocks and substantially increases the risk of outright clearing for agricultural and industrial plantations, argues a trio of scientists writing in the journal Biological Conservation. The implications for climate, biodiversity, and local economies are substantial. (06/24/2011) Members of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), meeting in Malaysia this week for its General Assembly, will consider various changes to the organization, including a vote on a controversial motion that would open the door—slightly at first—to sustainable-certification of companies that have been involved in recent forest destruction for pulp and paper plantations. Known as Motion 18, the change is especially focusing on forestry in places where recent deforestation has been rampant, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. (06/02/2010) In the 1980s and 1990s pressure from activist groups led some of the world’s largest forestry products companies and retailers to join forces with environmentalists to form the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a certification standard that aims to reduce the environmental impact of wood and paper production on natural forests. Despite initial skepticism on whether buyers would pay a premium for greener forest products, FSC quickly grew and by 2000 had become a standard in many markets, including Europe and the United States. Companies like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ikea are today strong supporters of the FSC. But the FSC has not been without controversy. In recent years some activists have voiced concern about FSC standards as well as the credibility of auditors that certify timber operations. Among the initiative’s supporters is the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), a group best known for its aggressive protest tactics. RAN says engagement with the FSC is better than the alternative: leaving the timber industry to devise its own sustainability standards. (11/04/2008) Demand for wood products is ultimately one of the largest drivers of global deforestation through both direct clear-cutting and selective logging, which increases a forest’s vulnerability to fire and subsequent clearing and disturbance by other actors, including hunters, subsistence farmers, land speculators, ranchers and agro-industrial firms. Reducing the detrimental environmental impacts of meeting wood demand is critical to protecting the world’s forests as healthy, productive and resilient ecosystems.
IT IS extremely disturbing to see a Member of Parliament place the blame for school violence squarely on the shoulders of teachers. Such accusations reflect a complete lack of understanding and appreciation for the nuances of schooling and the challenges teachers face on a daily basis. Those that readily blame teachers only for the problem of school indiscipline and violence might be well advised to spend a day in some of our secondary schools. There they will encounter students who arrive late, don’t conform to the uniform code, refuse to attend classes, challenge/ignore basic instructions, have no books and materials to engage in classroom activities, walk in and out of classes as they wish, walk out on teachers and school officials when they are being spoken to and even verbally insult school officials. Teachers spend most of the period simply attempting to get students into the classroom, only to be confronted with verbal conflicts that may erupt into physical fights. If the teacher is lucky to get all settled in the classroom and attempts to teach, phones are whipped out and their use engaged, notwithstanding the school rules. There are students who belong to gangs and the ensuing gang rivalry is a reality that teachers have to contend with on a daily basis. Students devise extraordinary measures to smuggle illegal items onto the school compound. Ensuing searches may or may not be done with the help of the police because despite calls for police assistance, this may not always be forthcoming. Some students are before the courts on various charges, having already been exposed to criminal behaviour. Gang/mob culture is propagated in the school compound by virtue of the school location. When a teacher confronts an individual student, they are immediately surrounded by a group of other students who encourage the offending student to defy the instructions of the teacher or, worse yet, threaten the teacher. They may even dare the teacher to call the police, openly defying instructions to disperse and go to their classrooms. The new norm of students is to call their “parents,” “friends,” and “associates” onto the school compound if they have issues with other students or teachers. These people then come to the school compound to “deal with” anyone who “interferes” with their children. There are many schools where teachers are fearful for their personal safety and resort to walking the corridors in groups. Some male students make openly suggestive remarks towards young female teachers. Sometimes students may be engaged in illegal activities and if challenged have been known to threaten teachers with physical harm if reported. Fights erupt in a classroom for simple issues such as a verbal disagreement between two students or Facebook posts, with the lone teacher being almost helpless. Then there are those students who only attend school for meals and for the social welfare forms to be stamped and signed by the school officials. These are some of the realities that our teachers and school officials have to contend with on a daily basis in some of our nation’s schools. These students are ill-prepared for environments where rules and structure prevail. They have not been taught limits of behaviour or a sense of self-restraint/regulation, which are requirements for schooling. Teachers have not been trained or equipped to deal with students who are socialised into such behaviour. Schools are woefully inadequate to address these social deficits. Lumping large numbers of underachieving children into a school without commensurate support systems overwhelms its capacity to treat with their antisocial behaviour. So before judgment is made, walk in our shoes for a day.
Arreau, Hautes-Pyrénées 1949 Like many African American artists who traveled to France in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, Loïs Mailou Jones was thrilled at the country’s racial tolerance, so different from her reality in the United States. She first went to Paris in 1937, while on sabbatical from Howard University, to study at the Académie Julian. Jones returned regularly and summered in France annually from 1946–1953, often visiting French artist Céline Tabary (1908–1993), a lifelong friend. Jones rendered Arreau, Hautes-Pyrénées on one of her summer sojourns in southwestern France. Her portrayal of the picturesque village nestled in a valley evokes landscape paintings by Paul Cézanne, a stylistic influence she acknowledged. Jones’s brushstrokes, though loosely applied, define the structure of buildings and topography clearly. The intense contrast of oranges and greens, also reminiscent of Cézanne, lends visual vibrancy to the peaceful scene. Jones received an award for this work (originally titled Petite Ville-Hautes-Pyrénées) from Washington, D.C.’s Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1949.
the c a l c BOOC we were calling for many years a kind of online-diary in which we were telling what we’re doing and what we don’t. see the links above to see how this looked like in the last versions of calcaxy. when life proposed 2009 very different ways for all of the calcies the online BOOC felt asleep.. no one of us had time to keep it alive and we decided that one day, when time and budget allows it, we’re going to do a print-version. it seems that this day has arrived. or better this year – so in 2016 we – Teresa and me – want to give it a try: set up a crowd-funding request and look for collaborators. the BOOC doesn’t want to be a typical catalogue – piece after piece – but a kind of interweaved-open-source-copyleft-artbook – the artbook we never found. the BOOC wants to show from each project how it did arise, how it was outlined, what were its inspirations and influences, how it was financed and what it provoked or what project came-why-next. that is why we’re also planing to put a central project-map (derived from the c a l c– or pix-cell , now cloud-atlas) in order to make that also visually/spatial/geographical comprehensible and accessible. – 2nd, the first layout of how i did imagine to index all projects already from the outside. structurally its a 1:1 copy from a children book i’ve seen in Lolas nursery.. – 3rd, two simulations i did using Lolas book.. but its all open again, we might do something more simple..
At the OTC, we treat mainly children birth deformities. We believe that this is because children are surviving the customary scrutiny and there is more awareness that something can be done for these children. We are seeing gross shortage of legs (micromelia), partial absence of limbs (phocomelia), or total absence of a limb (aplasia). Many are coming with club feet. We are also treating spinal, neck and lower back problems. The causes seem to be in women because of lack of antenatal care and compensatory exercises, other causes are obesity and the custom of carrying heavy loads on the head from youth. The OTC also treats adults. There are no more new cases of polio, because of the rigorous vaccination program. However, older patients who never came for treatment in their youth because of religious taboos, financial problems, etc, are now asking for assistance and treatment. We are also treating more and more cases of industrial accidents with loss of fingers, hand, arm and even shoulder. The Orthopedic Training Centre has four departments: Orthopedic Clinic & Workshop: The Orthopedic Clinic & Workshop was set up in 1965 to diagnose, manufacture and fit the orthopedic appliances needed for the physically challenged of Ghana. Orthopedic shoes, shoe prosthesis, leg braces, artificial legs and arms, splints, etc., are manufactured for the over 6000 patients seen yearly. (Read more >>) Mobile Orthopedic Unit: As many of the poor do not have to ability to travel to the Centre, in 1965 the Mobile Orthopedic Unit was initiated. The orthopedic services of the OTC have now been extended to 43 contact stations throughout Ghana. These stations include hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, and mission stations, and at times the clinic is held under a tree. (Read more >>) Children’s Home: The Children’s Home provides a family environment for the children as they begin their therapy and learn how to use their orthopedic appliances. During the months they stay at the centre, they feel acceptance and they receive support from both staff and other children. (Read more >>) Prosthetics & Orthotics Training College: The newest addition to the OTC is the Prosthetics & Orthotics Training College, which opened its doors to the first class in September 2013. It provides prosthetics and orthotics education and training, combining both concise theoretical and practical sessions. (Read more >>)
Nanjera and Goanar – Why do factories in India want children to work instead of going to school? https://www.concern.net/sites/default/files/media/page/concern_child_labour_resource.pdf Maddison, Sharhna, Nyamal – How does education help people to have a better future? Dominic and Nakeesha – How can we help to stop conflict destroying schools? Emma and Makiala – If UNICEF gave Zimbabwe schools text books, why not other educational resources? Lachlan and Jimmy – How is war getting in the way of children walking to school? Arizona and Bella – Why do students drop out of school before Year 12? Sarah, Kyan, Dylan – Why do some schools not have many resources? Tyrone and Siya – Why can’t people in Sudan afford education when going to school is supposed to be free? Tori and Larissa – How can we get teachers to understand us? Max and Lavender May – Why are teachers regularly absent from schools in Yemen? Tahlia and Brandon – How do children access education if they live far, far away from a school? Betty and Isis – How can students in Nigeria learn with only 40% of teachers qualified? Travis, Deegan, Jimem – Why do some schools not have enough resources like tables and chairs? Morgan and Tyson – How do Syrian schools access resources for education? Mackenzie and Mitchell – Why are some countries against children with disabilities going to school? Mal and Shakayla – Why do some girls have to marry young instead of going to school? Ayuen and Olivia C – What if we were able to provide transportation to remote areas for all children? Yewande and Bailey – Why are some girls injured or attacked for going to school? Tarlee and Olivia G – How can we give resources to schools in War Zones? Owen and Liam – Why do some schools have no chairs and tables? Dylan and Kyan – Why do some schools have limited resources?
Investors need to keep in mind that many companies often try to highlight their positive numbers rather than the loopholes involved in respective financial results. But those numbers could involve manipulating the figures, which might lead to fraud by misleading investors. Investors should be cautious enough when they read financial numbers. They should look for more information supporting these data facts. Accounting policies, management history, trend over previous years, economic indicators, macro facts should also be taken into accounts, while analyzing the results. Let us understand this from the following aspects: GAAP Accounting: Public companies are required to follow generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP in reporting their financial statements. But those rules do not always put a company in best picture and therefore many companies opt for non-GAAP measures to report on their business. There is nothing wrong using these non GAAP measures which could also give investors greater insight into a company’s results by making adjustments that exclude certain amounts that may not be relevant to future operations. On the other hand, when company promotes its results by using non-GAAP measures, then any false figure can result in misleading investors and could give a rosy picture for company’s performance. Therefore, investors must analyze these numbers and must try to take review of numbers with regard to the GAAP accounting, which would reveal the real picture, and help investors in making a right decision. Cash flow statement is important: Most of the time, investors consider only income statement and the balance sheet while neglecting cash flow statement. On the other hand, one should consider the cash flow statements as it contains critically important analytical data. It is important to note the distinction between being profitable against having positive cash flow transaction. A company bringing cash does not mean it is making profit and vice versa. It is not only the profit figure which matters but what is also important is that the cash is generated from operation and investing outflows. Cash flow statement also aids in understanding how company finances its need at working capital as well as long-term levels. Cash flow statement helps company analyze the actual funding position. Financial ratios and indicators: Ratios transform the numbers into meaningful relationship to judge company’s financial performance and conditions. The resulting ratios must be viewed over extended period to reflect trends. One should be careful about one size-fits-all syndrome. Evaluation of financial metrics can differ significantly by industry, company size and stage of development. Therefore, the ratio must be analyzed, not just for the reporting year but they also need to see the historical data to find the trend and analyze sudden changes, while dig the fact for more information. Similarly, the same can be used to find trend for future estimates and any sudden change in ratios for future period should call for more explanation. Similarly, attractive returns ratio as compared with peers also help us to find more data for such variation before taking investment decision. Change in accounting policies: Several times, companies change the accounting policies, like the rate of depreciation, or depreciation method. These inflate the profit numbers and inflate financial statements. Investors should be cautious about such change in accounting policies. The investors should carefully read the auditors’ report as well as notes to the accounts. The qualification made by the auditors should be read carefully. Similarly, thorough understanding of company’s notes is essential to read the financial statements in order to properly evaluate company’s financial condition and performance. Forward looking statement: There are forward looking statements other than historical statements. Forward looking statements are provided to assist the reader in understanding the company’s financial position. These statements also include results of operations periods as well as comprise information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, while depend upon or refer to future events or conditions. Certain assumptions are made to draw conclusion or making forecast for future in forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that might give possibilities while the expectations might not prove to be accurate. Investors need to be cautious about such statements and look for more supporting data. The advice given by Kalkine Pty Ltd and provided on this website is general information only and it does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. You should therefore consider whether the advice is appropriate to your investment objectives, financial situation and needs before acting upon it. You should seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice) as necessary before acting on any advice. Not all investments are appropriate for all people. 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If the law prohibits this exclusion, Kalkine Pty Ltd hereby limits its liability, to the extent permitted by law to the resupply of services. There may be a product disclosure statement or other offer document for the securities and financial products we write about in Kalkine Reports. You should obtain a copy of the product disclosure statement or offer document before making any decision about whether to acquire the security or product. The link to our Terms & Conditions has been provided please go through them and also have a read of the Financial Services Guide. On the date of publishing this report (mentioned on the website), employees and/or associates of Kalkine Pty Ltd currently hold positions in: BHP, BKY, KCN, PDN, and RIO. These stocks can change any time and readers of the reports should not consider these stocks as advice or recommendations.
Pets: Companions, Stress Relievers, and… Teachers? April 26 is National Kids and Pets Day, which really tugs at our heartstrings because there’s really nothing cuter than the bond between a child and their animal. Pet ownership in young children has so many benefits – it teaches them empathy, responsibility, strengthens their immune system, and more. It can even help them do better in school. For a lot of kids, learning to read can be a daunting, overwhelming and, at times, an embarrassing process. During this learning curve, the pressure of reading aloud can cause stress, anxiety, and, worst of all, a disdain for reading – which is such a huge part of their education. If only there were a laid back way to practice reading aloud without the worry of stuttering, stumbling, or hearing rude classmates snicker… Well, there may just be the perfect neutral, non-judgmental (and adorable!) audience available to them right now: THEIR PET! That’s right, reading aloud to pets is the purrfect way for kids to practice reading without stress or judgment – not to mention petting an animal releases feel-good hormones and lowers blood pressure. In fact, the idea is so effective, shelters and schools across the country have paired up for kids to come down to the shelter and read to pets – not only does it better socialize their animals but it allows children to improve their reading skills in a comfortable (and cute) environment. In a study performed by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), children reported enjoying reading to animals and had a stronger motivation to continue the activity. If that’s not proof enough, there are even grant programs available for the sole purpose of bringing a pet into the classroom because they have such a pawsitive impact on students. So before shelling out big bucks for a reading tutor, consider stopping by the shelter with a few books or talking with your teacher about a classroom pet! Do you have a story about a classroom pet, or have a favorite way to celebrate Kids and Pets Day? We’d love to hear (and see!) more on Facebook!
Practicing power “with” children vs. power “over” children can be more of a shift in thinking for adults than actually giving up punishment. We often think it is more about what we do “to” children to make them change their ways (the power over thing again)! To recap Steps 1 – 3 (in “Encouraging Children to More Positive Behavior”) - · giving up the idea of trying to control children’s behaviour and focusing on more encouraging methods is the first step in moving children towards more positive behavior. - · A strong connection with the child is essential in order for any positive change to take place - · and adults needs to model mutual respect through kindness and firmness. Implementing some “power with” kids is good next step. Any way that you can involve children in creating routines, problem solving, etc. brings about a shift that invites more cooperation and creates more accountability. Use Routine Charts to Increase Cooperation and Accountability One way to practice “power with” children when it comes to routines is to create routine charts WITH them. For example for bedtime routines – sit down and brainstorm all the things that need to be done to get ready for bed i.e. jammies, teeth, etc. Then take pictures of the child while they are doing each of the routines and post the pictures on a chart of some sort – doesn’t have to be fancy but needs to reflect the child’s participation in it. Even small children can glue and stick the pictures on. This is very different from you creating the chart for them and imposing each of the steps. When the child has had a part in the creation of the chart, it has more meaning. The rules are no longer “your” rules but become “their” rules because they have had a part in creating them. The chart becomes an “agreement” and in a sense becomes the boss – rather than you! This same idea can be used for morning routines or any other routine in which you want to increase the child’s independence. Next: Problem Solving WITH Children.
See large image here / scroll down to see two more infographics Two months after the coup d’état in May, Thailand’s 2014 coup-maker set out a plan to reform Thailand’s education system, which is believed to be one of the worst in the region. But instead of improving the quality of educators and other structural problems apparent in the national curriculum, the junta has promoted 12 nationalistic Thai values to the top of the new education reform agenda. This kind of promotion of youth values through schools is not new to Thailand. Under the regime of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram from 1938-1944, ten values for youth were promoted alongside other secular nationalistic values. Throughout Southeast Asia, different versions of national values for youth have been promoted through the education systems of many nations to serve certain development, reform, and political agendas. With the exception of Brunei, Prachatai has compared the values promoted by the Thai junta to those of the other ASEAN members whose governments have written distinct desirable characters of the youth. The most commonly found values concern unity, development, and political ideologies. The values, to a certain degree, reflect the social, political and economic situation of each country. Moreover, throughout modern history the values are public propaganda directed towards the youth in order to shape and maintain certain ideologies. Vivid examples of this are the Komsomol, a Soviet Union youth organization and the Hitler Youth, which were established in the 1920s and 1930s. Although, these youth organizations belonged to opposite ends of the political spectrum, the methods by which adolescents were drawn by these organizations to support the extreme left and right political ideologies were similar. To varying degrees, the Southeast Asian countries impose similar models of nationalism on their youth with different youth values. The 12 national values which have just been invented by the junta aim to foster a sense of nationalism centring around the century-old three pillars of the Thai nation invented by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) – nation, religion, and monarchy. Thailand is the only country where the head of state, the monarchy, is promoted in its national youth values, being highlighted in three of them. Also, the invented 12 traditional Thai values promoted by the Thai junta do not contain many definitive development or academic goals. However, many intangible values, which might have certain political and social implications are promoted by the junta. - Love for the nation, religions and monarchy - Honesty, patience and good intentions for the public - Gratitude to parents, guardians and teachers - Perseverance in learning - Conservation of Thai culture - Morality and sharing with others - Correct understanding of democracy with the monarch as head of the state - Discipline and respect for the law and elders - Awareness in thinking and doing things, and following the guidance of His Majesty the King - Living by the sufficiency economy philosophy guided by His Majesty the King - Physical and mental strength against greed - Concern about the public and national good more than self-interest. Although it is the only other country in mainland Southeast Asia with a constitutional monarchy, Cambodia youth values, unlike the Thai versions, make no mention of the monarchy, but prioritize technological and scientific development with good morals and social responsibility, highlighted against the backdrop of the country’s bitter history. - Knowing their personal and national identities - Importance of knowledge by striving to develop their capabilities - Sense of responsibility - Good morals - Mutual assistance - Vocational skills - Science capabilities - Information technology competency and good attitudes - Provision of good examples at work and society - Possessing a deep understanding of social norms and contributing equally to national development As one of the few socialist states in the region, Vietnam’s youth values heighten the country’s shared identity through national liberation from the colonial past and Ho Chi Minh’s socialist ideology to train the next generation to become civil servants. - Physical health - Aesthetic sense - Loyalty to the ideology of national independence and socialism - Shaping and cultivation of one’s dignity - Civil qualifications and competence - Satisfying the demands of the construction and defence of the fatherland In parallel with the national slogan of Pancasila, coined during the Guided Democracy period under Sukarno, Indonesia’s youth values aim to unite the most diverse archipelagic country in the region with the rhetoric of democracy, national unity, and humanism. - Believing in one god - National unity - Social justice With limited literacy and access to education, the semi-military state government of the Union of Myanmar focuses on literacy and development in science and technology as a general theme. - Being a manual or mental worker well equipped with a basic education, good health and moral character. - Having the foundations of vocational education for the benefit of the Union of Myanmar. - Priority to science capable of strengthening and developing the productive forces. - Priority to arts capable of preserving and developing the culture, fine arts and literature of the state - Having a firm and sound educational foundation for the pursuance of university education. As one of the least developed countries in the region, the Lao government imposes their own version of 12 values, largely dealing with national unity, self-reliance, and social commitment to unite a multi-ethnic nation with science and technology reinforced for national development. - Scientific world view point - Spirit of patriotism - Sense of solidarity of all Lao multi-ethnic people and people all over the world - Recognition of rights, interests, and duties - Ability to preserve and promote the finest national cultures and traditions - Consciousness of self-reliance and self-sufficiency - Ability to combine individual and public interests - Possession of general, scientific, technological, and vocational knowledge and skills - Good discipline - Responsible for jobs and commitments - Good health, healthy lifestyle, and creative thinking - Readiness to take part in national development With a total of 15 descriptive youth values, the Singaporean government includes every dimension of academic foundation in its education agenda to stay economically competitive. However, family and community values and multi-culturalism are also highlighted to foster the national bonds of Singapore’s diverse population. - Balanced and well-rounded education - Developing children to their full potential - Nurturing children to be good citizens conscious of their responsibility towards parents, society, and country - Help for children to discover their talents and realize their full potential - Passion for lifelong learning - Willingness to think in new ways and be creative for inventing new opportunities - Possessing strength to face future challenges - Strong bonds towards family, community, and country - Skills and knowledge, including right values and attitudes to assure livelihood and success - Learning how to be self-reliant, yet able to work well with others - Adapting constantly to a rapidly changing world - Developing a sense of shared identity and destiny - Being united as one to overcome threats and challenges against the nation - Knowing one’s own cultural heritage and mother tongue - Learning to understand and respect the racial, religious, and linguistic differences of fellow citizens Based on devotion to God (although the term is left inclusive), the Malaysian youth values prioritize economic and intellectual development with nationalistic undertones to unite the nation’s many ethnicities. - Having essential intellectual, affective and psychomotor skills in a holistic and integrated manner to produce individuals who are intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually balanced and functionally literate based on a devotion to God - National consciousness through fostering common ideas, values, aspirations and loyalties in order to mould national unity and a national identity in a multi-ethnic society - Possessing requisite skills for economic and national development - Moral values to promote personality and aesthetic development as well as the sense of being responsible and disciplined and progressively enabled to contribute effectively towards nation-building Geared towards a knowledge-based society and national development, the Philippines’ youth values do not say a single word about religious values and morality although most of the country is known for its conservative Catholicism. - Broad knowledge to enhance capability and quality - Education foundation to be active and versatile citizens - Being the manpower for national development - Leadership for the nation to advance knowledge and advance the quality of human life - Responding to the changing conditions of the world
If you make winning your master, You never learn. If communication is a problem, You never understand. For respect is yours to earn And to listen is discernment in reply For love is that upon which we rely. Worrying does not take away the hollow For there is always still tomorrow. Life is not a meadow But you don’t have to live in someone else’s shadow! Love is the hardest thing to find If you go through your day, As if you are blind. Trust is what we should live by But what if your life is nothing but a lie? Why try to impress anyone else For it is you…yourself…that you should please. Live at your own pace, So you save your soul and have peace. Be happy and learn to smile For life is a gift we only have for a while. A Gift for Life; Poetry to encourage, improve and mend hearts. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PQRJ4JK http://www.romaybooks.com Like: http://www.facebook.com/Romay6 Follow: http://www.twitter.com/Romay6 Later!
Product images of Rear-Admiral Sir John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent (1735-1823) We use a 280gsm fine art paper and premium branded inks to create the perfect reproduction. Our expertise and use of high-quality materials means that our print colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years. Read more about our fine art prints. Manufactured in the UK All products are printed in the UK, using the latest digital presses and a giclée printmaking process. We only use premium branded inks, and colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years. Rear-Admiral Sir John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent (1735-1823) A full-length portrait to left in admiral's full-dress uniform, 1795-1812, wearing the ribbon and Star of the Bath and the St Vincent medal. Jervis's right hand rests on his sheathed sword in front of him. Behind him is a large gilded table, covered with a red cloth, bearing on the right his hat and telescope and, on the left, an inscribed letter. To the left of this is a chair with a large rolled map leaning against it, and beyond a large terrestrial globe. Through a large window on the left, ships of the British fleet in Lisbon harbour are visible. On the right, a rostral column has been positioned. The portrait was painted in Lisbon during his last sea command in 1806. - Image reference: BHC3003 - National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Preschool children in joint physical custody have fewer psychological symptoms than those who live mostly or only with one parent after a separation, according to new research from Sweden. In a new study of 3,656 children between the ages of three and five, researchers from Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, and the research institute CHESS found that kids living alternately with their parents after a separation show less behavioral problems and psychological symptoms than those living mostly or only with one of the parents. The practice of joint physical custody — children living alternately and spending approximately the same amount of time in each of their parents’ homes — has increased in recent years and is more common in Sweden than in any other country. Previous studies have shown that school children and adolescents fare well in joint physical custody. But child experts have claimed it is unsuitable for young children since they are assumed to need continuity and stability in their parent relations. However, few studies of preschool children with joint physical custody have been conducted, the researchers noted. Based on parents and pre-school teachers estimates, the researchers compared behavioral problems and mental symptoms of 136 children in joint physical custody, 3,369 in nuclear families, 79 living mostly with one parent, and 72 children living only with one parent. Symptoms were assessed using the popular “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” (SDQ), and showed that both preschool teachers and parents indicated children living mostly or only with one parent have more difficulties than those living in joint physical custody or in nuclear families. In the parental estimates, there were no significant differences between children in nuclear families and joint physical custody, while preschool staff reported fewer symptoms of children in nuclear families. The study is the first of its kind to show how Swedish children this young fare in joint physical custody, the researchers said. The assessments of children’s health from the preschool staff, in addition to those of the parents, is a considerable strength of the study, they noted. However, the study design does not show causality, they warned. These interpretations require knowledge of the children’s well-being and symptoms before their parents separated. Source: Uppsala University
Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia: A Clinical Overview This video lecture is a brief summary of the most recent literature on the evolving field of pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia (see references and further reading). In this video I discuss the following topics: - Psychosis and schizophrenia. Why is psychopathology important for understanding benefits and limitations of antipsychotic therapy. - The latest findings about effectiveness of first and second generation antipsychotics. - Pharmacological treatment of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. - Goals of treatment and factors that influence prescribing. Part 1. Psychopathological considerations: psychosis, domains of schizophrenia and antipsychotics Video length: 2:11 Part 2. Treating positive, negative and cognitive symptoms: the role of first and second generation antipsychotics Video length: 2:04 Part 3. Goals of antipsychotic treatment & how adverse effects profiles influence prescribing Video length: 2:53 References and further reading Gründer G, Hippius H, Carlsson A. The “atypicality” of antipsychotics: a concept re-examined and re-defined. Nature Rev Drug Disc 8:197-202, 2009. Schatzberg, AF., Cole, JO, and DeBattista, C. Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 7th ed.American Psychiatric Publishing, 2010. Janicak, P G., S R. Marder, and M N. Pavuluri. Principles and Practice of Psychopharmacotherapy. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010. PDF: LAI Antipsychotics Free PDF Download - New formulations (Aristada, Invega Trinza) - Practical dosing tables Earn CME/SA credits - Up to 36 CME credits/year - Up to 16 SA credits/year - Download more than 70 videos - Exclusive updates Free Course: “SSRIs: The Essentials” Learn the essentials of SSRIs with our free online course. One module per week: - The Mechanism of Action of SSRIs - Citalopram and Escitalopram 2018 Psychopharmacology Online Update Earn Up to 36 CME Credits / Year - Access exclusive updates: new videos every month - Download our entire library: more than 70 videos - Earn up to 36 CME credits /year
A community-minded, values-guided bank Our heritage dates back to 1935, when 24-year-old Harold Webster Smith founded the bank with $25,000 borrowed from family and friends. Then known as First Federal Savings and Loan of Waterbury, Connecticut, our purpose was to help make homeownership a realistic dream for people, and our values centered on putting people first. Over the years, we have expanded to become a leading regional bank in the Northeast with over $27 billion in assets and 163 banking centers from greater New York City to Boston. Today, we offer the full range of financial services, delivered by close to 3,400 employees. But while we have grown, our core values have remained unchanged. We still put people first -- acting with responsibility, respect, ethical behavior, citizenship and teamwork. We call these principles The Webster Way. They bring us together, set us apart, and create an unshakeable core that is unique to Webster. By following The Webster Way, we ensure that we’re living up to our customers and each other. The Webster Way® - We take personal responsibility for meeting our customers’ needs. - We respect the dignity of every individual. - We earn trust through ethical behavior. - We give of ourselves in the communities we serve. - We work together to achieve outstanding results.
One of the reasons for the success and longevity of the relational model is that it is firmly grounded on mathematical principles (of linear algebra and set theory), which are well known and well documented. The (normalized) relational tables are by design organized in such a way as to promote and facilitate manipulation of data to yield meaningful information. Relational Algebra Secondary Operation Date Notation Select Statement Relational Assignment These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.
The Council on Foreign Relations Logo The WHITE HORSE: -Revelations 6:2 says “And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.” The Phrase VBIQVE: -A Latin word found on many ancient Roman coins meaning “everywhere.” -Its English form is UBIQUE – the root word in English for “ubiquitous” which means present, or seeming to be present, everywhere at the same time, omnipresent. -(Left) The sign of admiration of the sixth degree of the Masonic lodge. -(Right) Napoleon Bonaparte is also depicted with the same gesture. It is also very similar to the “Seig Heil” gesture of the Nazis (above). The term means hail victory. Could victory be closely related to conquering as stated in revelations? The term Fascism was first used by the totalitarian right-wingnationalist regime of Mussolini in Italy (1922–43), and the regimes of the Nazis in Germany and Franco in Spain were also fascist. Fascist flag of Italy… Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach. The Fascia represent the bundling together of the masses, ruled by the axe head. Funny how it seems to be represented everywhere today. Located here on the dime… The pillars of the Lincoln memorial… And don’t forget that Congress needs some decor… “Anyone who interprets National Socialism merely as a political movement knows almost nothing about it. It is more than religion; it is the determination to create a new man” Adolf Hitler – Considered a “Child of Illuminism” -Hated school & wanted to be an artist and this led him to Vienna where he spent hours in libraries studying astrology, yoga, occultism, hypnotism, Theosophy, mysticism, & religions of the East. -Admired Hegel & his philosophy (Hegalian Dialect) and after he moved to Germany he spent a lot of time in Bavaria (Adam Weishaupt’s Illuminati location) -Learned of the Heilige Lance (Holy Spear) at a very young age and became obsessed with the ‘Spear of Destiny’ → (The weapon that was used to pierced the side of Jesus at the crucifixion by a Roman soldier, Gaius Cassius, or Longinus; who used the spear to shorten Jesus’ agony) → He stole what he thought was the spear in 1938 and it was taken to Nuremberg. -Formed in 1888 by Freemason S.L. Mathers & Dr. Wynn Westcott -Called their masters the ‘Secret Chiefs’ -Performed rituals of extreme negativity. This allowed vibrational synchronizations (Possessions) with lower fourth dimensional entities. -Believed in a Vril force -One of their secret signs was the pointed-arm salute of ‘Heil Hitler’
Type 2 diabetes affects Chinese Americans at an alarming rate. To address this health disparity, research in the area of cultural sensitivity and health literacy provide useful guidelines for creating culturally appropriate health education. In this article, we use discourse analysis to examine a group of locally-available, Chinese and English language diabetes print documents from a surface and deep structure level of culture. First, we compared these documents to research findings about printed health information to determine if and how these documents apply current best practices for health literacy and culturally appropriate health communication. Second, we examined how diabetes as a disease and diabetes management is being constructed. The printed materials addressed surface level culture through the use of Chinese language, pictures, foods and exercises. From a deeper cultural level, the materials constructed diabetes management as a matter of measurement and control that contrasted with previous research suggesting an alternative construction of balance. A nuanced assessment of both surface and deeper levels of culture is essential for creating health education materials that are more culturally appropriate and can lead to increase health literacy and improved health outcomes. Ho, E.Y., Tran, H., Chesla, C.A. Assessing the Cultural in Culturally Sensitive Printed Patient-Education Materials for Chinese Americans With Type 2 Diabetes. (2015) Health Communication, 30 (1), pp. 39-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2013.835216
Antiviral effect of entecavir in chronic hepatitis B: Influence of prior exposure to nucleos(t)ide analogues Background & Aims: Entecavir is a potent inhibitor of viral replication in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients, but data on the efficacy in NA-experienced subjects are limited. Methods: In a multi-center cohort study we investigated 161 chronic hepatitis B patients (34% NA-experienced) treated with entecavir monotherapy. Results: During a median follow-up of 11 (3-23) months, 82 (79%) of 104 NA-naïve patients achieved virologic response (VR), defined as HBV DNA <80 IU/ml, and none of the patients (0%) developed genotypic entecavir-resistance. VR was demonstrated in 31 (54%) of 57 NA-experienced patients during a median follow-up of 12 (3-31) months. Patients with lamivudine-resistant mutations at the start of entecavir monotherapy had a reduced probability of achieving VR compared to lamivudine-naïve patients (HR 0.14; 95% CI 0.04-0.58; p = 0.007). Antiviral efficacy was not decreased by prior treatment with lamivudine when lamivudine-resistance had never developed (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.43-1.52; p = 0.52). Prior adefovir therapy without development of adefovir-resistance (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.43-1.64; p = 0.61) and presence of adefovir-resistance (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.27-2.71; p = 0.80) did not influence antiviral response to entecavir. Switching to a tenofovir-containing treatment regimen resulted in viral load decline in patients with entecavir-resistance associated mutations. Conclusions: Entecavir proved to be efficacious in NA-naïve patients. The antiviral efficacy of entecavir was not influenced by prior treatment with adefovir or presence of adefovir-resistance. Entecavir should not be used in patients with previous lamivudine-resistance, yet it may still be an option in lamivudine-experienced patients in case lamivudine-resistance never developed. \|Keywords\|\|Adefovir, Antiviral therapy, Entecavir, Hepatitis B, Lamivudine\| \|Persistent URL\|\|dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2010.01.012, hdl.handle.net/1765/27769\| \|Journal\|\|Journal of Hepatology\| Reijnders, J.G.P, Deterding, K, Petersen, J, Zoulim, F, Santantonio, T, Buti, M, … Janssen, H.L.A. (2010). Antiviral effect of entecavir in chronic hepatitis B: Influence of prior exposure to nucleos(t)ide analogues. Journal of Hepatology, 52(4), 493–500. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2010.01.012
The American Heart Association has awarded a grant to NC State College of Veterinary Medicine’s Ke Cheng for research into repairing damage caused by a heart attack. The $300,000 Transformational Project Award funds a three-year study from Cheng, the CVM’s professor of regenerative medicine, exploring heart failure’s impact of the reparative ability stem cells, information that can lead to more effective therapies for heart disease. Research suggests that stem cells release vesicles called exosomes that jump-start reparative activity in the heart, but the effects of heart failure on exosome functions are not well studied. Cheng’s project aims to detail loss of exosomal function in heart failure samples and determine if modulating a specific RNA molecule can restore exosome reparative function after a heart attack. That molecule, miR-21, plays a large role in the development of heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 600,000 people in the United States die every year from heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women. Every year, the CDC says, 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Cheng’s lab focuses on translational research in regenerative medicine through stem cells, biomaterials and micro-RNAs. His groundbreaking research at the CVM includes ways to ensure that restorative stem cells find the heart and stay in place and how nanoparticles may help repair damaged heart tissue without the use of donated or patient-derived stem cells. Cheng, also a professor in NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill’s joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, has led a research team developing synthetic cardiac stem cells. Before arriving at NC State, he directed a lab that conducted the world’s first clinical trial using cardiac stem cells to treat heart attacks. The grant funds the research project through 2021. Ke Cheng’s BioTherapeutics Laboratory This post was originally published in Veterinary Medicine News.
Rachel Lopez on November 21, 2017 HR’s Role in Handling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Sexual harassment is an issue that plagues much of the American workplace. It’s something that companies should be diligent about preventing and know how to handle in the event that a situation arises. This ultimately falls into HR’s lap. Addressing it Head On A recent poll from YouGov found that 23 percent of U.S. adults have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. It’s likely something HR will encounter at some point. One of the first steps for handling this issue is to address it in your company’s policies. A formal definition eliminates any confusion. The Society for Human Resource Management defines sexual harassment as, “Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently persistent or offensive to unreasonably interfere with an employee’s job performance or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.” Make sure to cover disciplinary actions that will ensue for violating the policies. This could include a loss of benefits, termination or even criminal penalties, depending on the nature of the offense. It’s critical that employees have a firm grasp on what constitutes sexual harassment and understand what type of behaviors are unacceptable. It’s difficult to stamp out occurrences of sexual harassment completely. Therefore, establish procedures for reporting complaints so that you have thorough documentation. This will be essential for finding a resolution and for protecting your company in the event of litigation. Specific information to gather includes: - The name of the complainant and the person accused - A full description of the incident including the date, location and the names of any potential witnesses - How the incident has adversely affected the complainant and their ability to perform their job - Other relevant information integral to understanding the nature of the incident Keep in mind that this information should be kept confidential at all times and must not be shared with anyone uninvolved with the incident. It’s also up to HR to create a resolution process. In some cases, this can be done through informal means. Sometimes having a one-on-one discussion with the accused party is sufficient. HR would explain the nature of the offense and explain that the behavior won’t be tolerated. They should listen to the accused individual’s summary of the event to gain a better understanding. For more serious cases involving criminal behavior, you should notify local authorities so they can launch a formal investigation. In this type of scenario, termination is usually necessary. Sexual harassment is in direct violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and something that should be taken very seriously. Whether you have a formal HR team or simply a dedicated individual, they will need to take swift action and seek a resolution as quickly as possible. This is essential for protecting your employees and preserving your company’s reputation.
More often than not Nonprofits devote maximum energy and resources to raising funds. Very few of them are able to achieve their funding targets. Creating a base of loyal and engaged donors is crucial for achievement of their development goals and thus fundraising is a topic of immense interest for nonprofits. Nonprofits continuously look for innovative ways and means of raising funds. While crowdfunding is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of raising funds, you would be surprised to know that there is more than one way of doing this. Plus they can be highly effective depending on how you put them to use. In the previous article on fundraising, we talked about crowdfunding and its types. In this article, let us look at some more avenues of raising funds. I. Through Individual Philanthropists Philanthropic funding from private individuals recorded a sixfold increase in recent years: approximately INR 36,000 crore in 2016, up from approximately INR 6,000 crore in 2011. The number of people who have volunteered their time and money between 2009 and 2015 has also increased, up 2 times and 1.5 times, respectively. (Source: Bain Philanthropy Report 2017) Individual donations are the most cost-effective way of raising funds. Pro tip: A simple, well-planned email campaign and an attractive webpage can go a long way in attracting donors. But the flip side here is, you don’t know whether they will come back and donate again. One-off donations will certainly cover your immediate expenses but they don’t come handy in planning long-term goals. Having monthly donors on your patron list will help you plan various programs and development activities for your nonprofit well in advance. Take for example Greenpeace or GiveIndia. They urge their donors to set aside a small monthly or quarterly amount that guarantees a fixed and predictable stream of funds .However this activity needs a dedicated donor acquisition team separate from the operations team to administer, manage and nurture your donors. II. Through Events Events are a great way of intimately engaging with your donors. Through events, donors get to be a part of your organisation, interact with your staff and members of your target communities. There are different types of events which you can engage in to promote your cause and your community. - Runs and walks where participants pay a certain set amount to enter but also are encouraged to obtain other donations from friends, family, and colleagues. Eg: Pinkathon, The 10k Swacch Bharat Run by Lets Feed India - Dinners that might include a speaker, live and silent auctions, and other ways to earn money from the event. - Corporate actives like the Joy of Giving Week that has corporate donors come together and raise money for NGOs in the city. While events are highly effective, the sheer effort required to set up and manage an event demands a dedicated team of people to monitor it, promote it and indulge in post event campaigns. III. Through Earned Income Nonprofits and NGOs are often involved in small scale, cottage industries that provide a means of livelihood to the community that they are working for. Partner with organizers of events that focus on creating an impact by selling products made by indigenous artisans. Mitti, an event in Navi Mumbai, promotes indigenous artisans by displaying and selling their art and crafts. Rangsutra, an apparel brand, is a community owned business of 3000 artisans of which 2,200 are direct shareholders in the company. This can prove to be an effective way of raising sufficient funds if you are able to make enough sales. Events are one-off and you will have to establish a distribution channel to create a market demand for your products. This will require a sales strategy and a sales team. Tying up with retail stores or e-commerce platforms is crucial to generate revenue and brand recognition. IV. Through Annual Appeal Annual appeal is the donation given without any restriction on what it is used for. This type of fundraising generally takes place at the end of the financial year where nonprofits appeal to their donors by sharing their asset development plans for the next year. These funds are utilised for bigger projects like building a library for children, building water tanks in rural areas or starting a new ward for children in a rural hospital. Thinksharp Foundation, opted for this method of fundraising to build study malls in rural areas. In this, you can only appeal to your stakeholders to make a donation, but it cannot be a dependable option to raise funds. You may use this method in addition to your major fundraising activities, to raise a part of funds that the other sources couldn’t raise. Fundraising is an important aspect of every nonprofit, but it is necessary to understand your strengths and limitations before you plan your mode of raising funds. While individual donations cannot be ruled out completely, having a steady group of regular and supportive donors always goes a long way in sustaining your cause. Cover Image: The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving the dumping of a bucket of ice and water over a person’s head, either by another person or self-administered, to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as motor neurone disease and in the US as Lou Gehrig‘s disease) and encourage donations to research.
Have you come to the realization that there are some children who learn differently and one of them lives in your house? Fairly early on in my parenting journey, I realized that my path was not going to be like the paths I saw other people walking. Each year as I learned more and more about my daughter, I realized that our life together was different. Not better, not worse, but simply different. This was evident in many ways, including how she learned best. The past ten years have been a journey of seeking to understand her unique personality, learning style, strengths, weaknesses, and needs. In the process, I’ve learned so much! And I want to share that information with other parents who are also trying to understand their child. In this series, we explored the world of children who learn differently. The series included a wide variety of posts from different angles, guest authors, and a variety of perspectives. Some posts are lengthy and meaty. Some are brief. Some are funny. Some are serious. Some reflect my Christian faith. Some focus on homeschooling. Some are for all families regardless of education approach. Some tackle different learning struggles. Some focus on personality issues. But all of them are about successfully parenting children who learn differently. I hope you find much in this series that will encourage you on your parenting journey! Enjoy! Choosing a Homeschool Approach – Understand Your Child First!Adjusting Expectations as the Parent of a Gifted ChildRaising and Embracing Your Spirited ChildThe Need for More Margin in Families with Gifted ChildrenWhen People Call Your Child Your IdolMy Child Hates Busy Bags (and Other Gifted Child Realities)Gifted Children Who Don’t Fit Grade Level ParametersParenting and Homeschooling as an IntrovertIdentifying and Understanding the Red Zone with Your Spirited ChildGetting Spirited Children to Sleep and Related ChallengesLiving Simply with a Gifted ChildRaising a Spirited Child and Feeling Like a Bad MotherGifted Children and Transitions5 Tips for Homeschooling a Gifted Child6 Reasons Why We Changed Our Mind and Stopped SpankingParenting, Personality and Learning DifferencesThe Joys of a Gifted ChildHow Understanding Personality Types Can Improve Your Parent-Child RelationshipsAdapting Curriculum to Fit Your Active Child’s NeedsParenting an Introverted ChildResources for Parents of Children Who Learn DifferentlyFrom Chaos to Computer Science – Homeschooling a Very ADHD Son103 Ways to Learn from Experienced HomeschoolersThe Gift of Asperger’sRelationship Homeschooling and Your Differently-Wired ChildDealing with Perfectionism in Our ChildrenEncouragement for Parents of Differently-Wired ChildrenWords of Encouragement for ParentsExperienced Parents of Differently-Wired Kids Share Their Insights
Orginal Publication Date Explorations in Sights and Sounds This volume is the long-awaited supplement to Francis Paul Prucha's Bibliographical Guide to the History of Indian-White Relations in the United States, published by the University of Chicago Press in 1977. That work, which contained 9705 items, was complete to 1975. The supplement, with 3400 titles, covers the historical literature made available between 1975 and 1980. Organized into fifteen subject divisions and excellently cross-referenced with a thirty-six page index, the supplement continues the same high quality of Prucha's previous efforts to bring some useable order to the bewildering complexity of American Indian historiography. Copyright, ©EES, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, 1983
Applied and Environmental Microbiology The Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) receives organic carbon (OC) of anthropogenic origin, including pesticides, from the atmosphere and/or local sources, and the fate of these compounds in the ice is currently unknown. The ability of supraglacial heterotrophic microbes to mineralize different types of OC is likely a significant factor determining the fate of anthropogenic OC on the ice sheet. Here we determine the potential of the microbial community from the surface of the GrIS to mineralize the widely used herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Surface ice cores were collected and incubated for up to 529 days in microcosms simulating in situ conditions. Mineralization of side chain- and ring-labeled [C-14]2,4-D was measured in the samples, and quantitative PCR targeting the tfdA genes in total DNA extracted from the ice after the experiment was performed. We show that the supraglacial microbial community on the GrIS contains microbes that are capable of degrading 2,4-D and that they are likely present in very low numbers. They can mineralize 2,4-D at a rate of up to 1 nmol per m(2) per day, equivalent to similar to 26 ng C m(-2) day(-1). Thus, the GrIS should not be considered a mere reservoir of all atmospheric contaminants, as it is likely that some deposited compounds will be removed from the system via biodegradation processes before their potential release due to the accelerated melting of the ice sheet.
Open Access Graduate Research Paper Science--Study and teaching (Middle school)--Standards--Iowa; Science teachers--Training of--Iowa; A major shift in science education has occurred in the state of Iowa and it involves the adoption of performance expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) standards. The new curriculum demanded by NGSS will instigate a learning shift for science teachers in Iowa. They must re-format lessons and assessments to encompass their target NGSS standards. This creative component has analyzed six targeted NGSS performance standards and has developed high quality summative authentic assessments correlated to the targeted NGSS standards. Year of Submission Master of Arts in Education Science Education Program 1 PDF file (63 pages) ©2016 Nick Bushkofsky Bushkofsky, Nick, "Developing authentic summative assessments that correlate to the Next Generation Science Standards for a middle school science classroom" (2016). Graduate Research Papers. 110.
Firstly, thank you very much to Scottish Mum for letting me guest post on her blog. I wanted to write something relevant to her readers and I wasn’t sure which route to go down. However, I was listening to a debate on a radio show the other day about adoption and the lengthy process it has become and how this in itself is causing more potential trauma to children in care and I thought this seemed a good topic. According the BAAF statistics, from April 2010 to March 2011, there were 3660 children under the age of 1 in care. Yet, only 60 babies under 1 were adopted in the same period. The average age of a child at adoption is 3 years and 10 months. To me, this seems rather old to have such a massive change of circumstance. They will have started at nursery and be not far off starting school by that age. If children were placed earlier in their lives, surely there would be less risk of them being scarred mentally by the whole process. Whilst the adoption process is long for prospective adoptive parents, it needs to be, to ensure that the right number of checks have been carried out, and steps taken to prepare those wanting to adopt. However, the court process to get a child into an adoptive family is what seems to hold the process up. The reason for this is that the court puts the mothers needs above that of the baby. Whilst this is reasonable (they might be able to look after their children once they have dealt with issues), what kind of impact is it having on the child? What, I thought, about the babies born to drug users who are unable to look after their baby? Well, it appears that the interest of the mother comes first in these cases too. The courts will keep the baby with the mother (or in foster care) whilst the mother sees if she can ‘get clean’. Now I may be cynical but, having worked with drug users (and previously covered the topic on my blog here), I have never once met someone addicted to drugs who didn’t put the next hit before everything else in their lives (however much they insist otherwise). So should the interests of these babies not be taken into account? They have potentially already had a rough start in life, like many babies born to drug users, they might have already had to withdraw from the drugs passed to them in the womb by their mother. How many times does a baby or toddler need to be taken into care whilst the mother ‘gets clean’ and is then returned to the mother only to be taken back into care when she falls foul to addiction again? Research by Drugscope back in 2003 suggested that there were between 250,000 and 350,000 children born to drug misusing parents. With the numbers of drug users rising year on year, the number of children affected is increasing. The only way to stop this, is to offer effective, realistic treatment to the parents. I am absolutely not advocating snatching babies from drug users as soon as they are born, but maybe the balance needs to sway towards what is best for the baby. The first three years of their lives are so valuable in how they are shaped as individuals and how they judge the world in the future. @helpfulmum from You”re Not From Round Here
A person can have the great idea, but if that person cannot convince a number of people: the idea dies. Good ideas do die. Good ideas must have good advocates. Good advocacy and good idea makes an idea live. Ideas need advocates like humans need oxygen. The Leader as Communicator The Leader’s #1 job as a communicator: to discover why people believe the things they do. Wife says “I don’t like this type of movie.” Husband says “Yes you do.” Wife learns: he is an idiot. Wife says “I don’t like this type of movie.” Husband says “I understand you don’t like this type of movie. What type of movies do you like? What do they have in common? What do you feel when you see those movies? What do you feel when you watch this movie?”. Wife shares. Husband learns. Proving to somebody that they are wrong is not… View original post 206 more words
Air Truck Provides Life-Saving Support for Firefighters One of the most useful vehicles owned by fire departments nationwide doesn’t pump a gallon of water. Instead, the truck provides clean, breathable air to firefighters, an important commodity to someone charging into a searing building billowing with smoke. “Firefighting is inherently dangerous and having a reliable supply of clean air allows us to perform in extremely hostile conditions,” said Capt. Ken Kuykendall of the Folsom Fire Department in California’s Central Valley. Filling and storing the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (S.C.B.A.) firefighters strap to their backs is the primary function of the 76,000-pound behemoth known simply as the “air truck.” The air truck also serves as a base of operations for rescuing someone trapped in a confined space and stores a variety of tools powered by the vehicle’s massive air compressor. The specialty vehicle has been an integral piece of machinery for one California town. “We send it out at least once a week and neighboring departments request to use it on a monthly basis,” said Bill Woodward, a firefighter/medic for Folsom Fire Department in Northern California. The rig sits atop a commercial chassis built by International Trucks in 2009. Specialized equipment was installed by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton of Wisconsin, which customizes vehicles for fire departments across the country. The soul of the truck–a 40,000-watt Lima MAC generator–powers the air compressor, remote filling station and an extendable tower with six lights for nighttime operations. “We can turn night into day,” said Capt. Chad Wilson, who coordinated with Pierce Manufacturing on the specifics of the truck’s design for the Folsom Fire Department. The truck's 6,000 psi air compressor fills up to four cylinders simultaneously at the firehouse or at an emergency scene. The refill process takes place at the back of a truck in a contraption reminiscent of the “Ghostbusters.” A hinged door made of half-inch thick steel tilts open to reveal a space for the cylinders. The reinforced compartments provide safety to firefighters and bystanders in case a tank suddenly bursts during charging. A tank can be filled in a matter of minutes, Woodward said, and firefighters are careful not to rush the process. Compressed air expands once inside the tank, so firefighters perform the process cautiously. “Rushing to fill up a tank can easily lead to disaster,” Woodward said. Providing further safeguards is a system of sensors and gauges to monitor the air filling the tanks for carbon monoxide or oil. “If it senses oil or carbon monoxide going into the tank, it automatically shuts off,” Woodward said. Both sides of the truck offer anchor points for ropes when firefighters need to rescue someone. Such a feature is more useful than a traditional winch, Woodward said, because of the reduced risk of injuring a trapped person. The truck includes a 150-foot hose capable of delivering compressed air to tools firefighters need during confined space rescues. Fast facts about the air truck: - Vehicle type: 2009 International Truck (chassis); specialized add-ons crafted by Piece Manufacturing - Vehicle weight: 76,000 pounds - Specialized equipment: 4,000 watt air compressor and 40,000 watt generator. Article by Jordan Guinn, a writer for Sensible Driver. Contact Jordan at [email protected].
Recently, I unrolled an old poster that I’ve kept in various closets since Gerald Ford was President. I remember when I bought it long ago I was impressed by the novelty of how all of the buildings in the Downtown San Francisco area had been drawn into it. If you can zoom in on it close there’s a lot of interesting things to see on the difference between San Francisco today and in 1974. At the lower right near the Ferry Building is the Vaillancourt Fountain in Justin Herman Plaza. Notice that only two buildings of the Embarcadero Center had been built then. The Embarcadero Freeway can be seen. Moving along Market Street from the Ferry Building so many new buildings have gone up in Downtown San Francisco since then. The Bank of America Building and the Transamerica Pyramid, the two tallest buildings back then, can be seen. Union Square was mostly covered by grass. The old Belt Line railroad still ran along the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf. Major tourist attractions like Coit Tower and Lombard Street are easily found, and to the right of Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 43 with the Balclutha docked to it was still there. Pier 39 had not been turned into a tourist attraction yet. Turk, Mason and Market Streets after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire: Sutter Street between Powell and Stockton Streets in the early 1950’s: Grant Avenue at California Street during World War Two with Old St. Mary’s Church on the right: Downtown San Francisco during the 1906 Earthquake and Fire: It always amazes me that Charlie Chaplin stumbled down these exact steps on Alice Street in Oakland one hundred and three years ago in his movie short ‘A Night Out’ from 1915. California and Powell Streets during the 1950’s: Grant Avenue at Filbert Street in the 1952 movie ‘The Sniper’: Humphrey Bogart on Hyde Street at Greenwich in the 1947 film ‘Dark Passage’: The Cliff House from Sutro Heights in 1949: Actually, you can barely see the famous restaurant from here anymore because of the overgrown trees. Powell Street at O’Farrell Street during the 1950’s:
The only thing constant in the world is change. However, change can either be for the better or for the worse. Cartoons have certainly changed from what they were in the 1980's to what they are today. Sadly most of the changes are for the worse. Let us examine the differences. Despite modern technology improving animation, many cartoons now are drawn very crudely and look like they were drawn by preschoolers. Compare the animation of Voltron, Mask, Thundercats and Transformers to Spongebob Squarepants, Ed, Edd and Eddy and Cow and Chicken. The people back then were drawn in detail and looked like real people not look like bugs or deformed human beings. Cartoons back then were more violent. Look at G.I. Joe and Transformers. Plenty of weapons and firepower displayed in the cartoons. Also, He-Man, Bravestarr and She-Ra had plenty of fight scenes. Cartoons nowadays unless they are superhero cartoons have minimal violence. Cartoons such as He-Man, She-Ra and Bravestarr taught moral values and these were reinforced at the end of each episode. The hero discusses what they have learned during the episode. Cartoons nowadays seldomly teach people any moral values. What do your kids learn out of watching Cow and Chicken eat pork butts and taters? What do your kids learn by watching Spongebob and Patrick act like a bunch of homosexual men? What do your kids learn by seeing Johnny Bravo treat women like sex objects? Cartoons back then told a real story. They told stories of friendship, heroism, love, pursuit of knowledge. Most cartoons now are practically pointless. I mean you have you have the protagonist of the show, Johnny Bravo act macho and narcissistic and ends up being rejected by women. You have Spongebob frying burgers and chasing jellyfish. You have Ed, Edd and Eddy act retarded and get into trouble.
Special Introductory Price; £9.99 The First World War tore apart the early twentieth century. Both terrible and terrifying, it banished misplaced optimism that war on such an unconscionable scale could never occur. A century after the guns fell silent on the Western Front, its scars continue to shape our modern idea of remembrance. As the national museum of arms and armour, the Royal Armouries brings a unique perspective to studies of the Great War. Stumbling Towards Victory contains photographs – many previously unpublished – from the museum archives, all of which were taken in the last twelve months of the war. Amidst the haunting emptiness of broken ground and shattered trees, these images convey the horror, and hope, of that final cataclysmic year. Published to coincide with the First World War centenary commemorations, Stumbling Towards Victory illustrates the final months of a global conflagration that was nothing less than an armageddon for the ages. Release Date: 13 April 2018
New York City Department of Education ARIS Parent Link Common Core Library Common Core Learning Standards (Literacy) Common Core Learning Standards (Math) New York City Scope and Sequence for Science K-8 New York City Scope and Sequence for Social Studies K-8 Google Calendar (Android / iOS ) This handy app makes it easy to sync up any Google Calendar to your tablet or phone.
Whether the business you lead is at the forefront of new technology or you’re looking to harness the power of tech to reach more customers, updating your images doesn’t require a huge amount of electronics or multiple software packages. Take a standard, flat picture and turn up the tech with a technological-look makeover in Adobe Photoshop. The options for tech tweaking in Photoshop are endless. You’ll find several ways to go from low profile to high tech through Photoshop’s colors, filters and merging ability. Click the Photoshop “File” menu and select “Open.” Browse to the image you want to look technological as well as a tech-type picture, such as a keyboard or cell phone. Press and hold down the “Ctrl” key and click both images to highlight them. Click the “Open” button. If the pictures aren’t in the same location, browse to each individually and double-click them to open them. Designate one image as the main picture to which you'll add a technological look. Click the other picture to bring it to the forefront of the Photoshop workspace. Click the “Select” menu and click “All.” Press “Ctrl-C” to copy the image. Click back to the main picture. Press “Ctrl-V” to paste in the copied tech picture. Depending on the image’s dimensions, it may now completely obscure your main picture, but this is part of the process. Check the “Layers” tab. Note a new Layer 1 above the main image. Click on it to select it. Click the “Opacity” slider bar, which is set at 100 percent by default. Slide the bar to approximately 70 percent. Notice how the main image now has the tech image on top of it as a type of gauzy, half-visible overlay. Experiment with the “Opacity” slider until the image has your preferred look, such as an executive’s face with just the slightest hint of keyboard keys overlaying his features. Right-click "Layer 1" and select “Merge Down.” The two images now become one so that you can work with them together. Click the “Filter” menu. Click “Stylize.” Choose “Glowing Edges” from the fly-out menu. Review Photoshop’s quick conversion of the image to a fiber-optic neon look. If you like this view, click the “OK” button. Otherwise, experiment with the “Edge Width,” “Edge Brightness” and “Smoothness” slider bars to customize the technological look. Click “OK” when satisfied to return to the transformed image. Select the “Magnetic Lasso Tool” on the tool collection. If you don’t see this tool, right-click a small icon of a lasso near the top of the tool collection and choose “Magnetic Lasso Tool” from the fly-out menu. Press and hold down the left mouse button, dragging around an object such as a computer screen or a person until it is selected. Note that the tool will “stick” to the borders or edges of the object to give you a clearer, crisper selection. Click the “Image” menu. Click “Adjustments” and choose “Vibrance” from the fly-out menu. Move the “Vibrance” and “Saturation” sliders all the way to the right. Note how the selected area takes on a neon glow. Experiment with the sliders until you are satisfied and then click the “OK” button to close the “Vibrance” window. Click the “File” menu. Click “Save As.” Give the altered photo a new name so as not to overwrite the original picture. Click the “Save” button. - Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
In the future, new mindsets will dominate, new business opportunities will arise and so will the necessity to be able to navigate in the technology landscape in order to avoid the critical inflection point. The 4th Industrial Revolution is triggered by technology, but what it will actually change are our business models, our organisations and the way we work and live. This disruptive pressure needs to be brought to the attention of business owners and decision makers within the manufacturing industry, and therefore, Smart Industry Forum exists. Thus; The purpose of Smart Industry Forum is to inspire, inform and assist decision makers in the manufacturing industry along the challenging Smart Industry migration journey in an increasingly globalised world. Smart Industry Forum believes in; Acknowledging the burning platform caused by globalisation, digital transformation and the 4th industrial revolution The 4th industrial revolution is mainly based on digital transformation, automation and on new innovations. Combined with the continuing and rapid globalization of our society and economies, we will have to reconsider everything about life as we know it. Acting on change Digital transformation has already hit some industries hard. This disruption will not only impact the way we listen to music, travel or do our banking – it will also change manufacturing, and we need to act on this before it is too late. Embracing challenges and seeing new opportunities Digital transformation presents great risk for manufacturing companies but even greater opportunities. Smart Industry or Industry 4.0 is the future, and Smart Industry Forum exists to inform and inspire businesses to see the need for and the potential within digitization, (I)IoT, smart manufacturing, machine automation etc. Being updated on the latest news and trends Operation is important but development is essential, and therefore, constantly staying updated on trends and industry development is a main focus for us. Smart Industry Forum provides the latest news and knowledge on ideas, tendencies and innovations. The power of the network The digitisation journey will be tough for lone wolves. In Smart Industry Forum, we believe in sharing experiences, providing knowledge on trends and learning from best practice examples. Furthermore, we are passionate about open standards.
The University of Warwick in Great Britain conducted a study of 3,968 men and 4,821 women, who took part in what came to be known as the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The ELSA produced some interesting results for adults over the age of 50. For instance, among participants aged 50 to 64, short nighttime sleep (fewer than six hours) or longer nighttime sleep (more than eight hours) both resulted in test scores showing lowered brain functioning. However, among the 65- to 89-year-old participants, reduced brain functioning occurred only in those who slept more than eight hours, not in those who slept less. What we can draw from this is perhaps not altogether conclusive, other than the fact that all of us need at least six to eight hours of sleep a night, and that we should neither shortchange nor overdo the amount of sleep required for healthy brain (and overall bodily) functioning. Poor sleep at all ages has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and stroke, especially if the poor sleep originates from a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is characterized by repeated cessation of breathing throughout the night. According to many research studies, sleep plays two important roles in memory. First, without sound sleep, it is hard to focus in the daytime and therefore to absorb what is being taught or what is being experienced. Second, poor sleep at night obstructs the consolidation of the day’s activities — thus memory. Scientists aren’t exactly sure — or agree — how sleep enhances memory, but it appears to involve the brain’s hippocampus and neocortex — the part of the brain where long-term memories are stored. It is thought that, during sleep, the hippocampus replays the events of the day for the neocortex, which reviews and processes memories, helping them endure for the long term. At any rate, the bottom line is ensuring you sleep soundly at night. If you have difficulties sleeping — or difficulties performing well and focusing in the daytime — then you need to get back on the proper sleep track. If by adopting sound sleep-hygiene methods you still can’t get a good night’s sleep, then it’s time to seek out the professionals.
The Grand Challenge of Carbon Capture and Sequestration Even with the wealth of experience already in place within the oil and gas industry, the obstacles to advancing CCS to the forefront of greenhouse gas mitigation technologies remain significant. Case Study: Design of Injection Facilities for CO2 Recovery A pilot project demonstrates that facilities design plays an important role in providing sources of CO2 for the gas-handling process for injection into a carbonate formation as a tertiary recovery mechanism. The Effect of CO2 Injection on Corrosion and Integrity of Facilities The paper discusses the main factors affecting CO2 corrosion, provides an assessment of what to look for in major equipment, and details recommended material of construction and corrosion mitigation/control methods. Galvanizing Stakeholder Support for Carbon Capture and Storage Collaboration is critical to achieving recognition of the scope and value of carbon capture and storage and achieving acceptance for specific projects. Combining Gas-to-Wire Technology With Carbon Capture and Storage Natural gas, coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), could provide cheap and reliable energy in the long term and mitigate climate change. Gas-to-wire (GTW) generates electricity from natural gas at or near the field. This study applies an integrated GTW/CCS scheme to a gas-production field. Surface-Facilities Design for First CO2 EOR Project in Saudi Arabia A demonstration project of carbon capture, utilization, and storage through enhanced oil recovery was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Surface facilities for such projects are expensive to build and involve tradeoffs in options based on economics for a given set of conditions. Moving Away From Our “Eiffel Tower” Approach to Offshore Processing Equipment We don’t include a structure like the Eiffel Tower with separators, pumps, and compressors on the top observation platform in an onshore development plan. And yet, how many jacket platforms are there around the world? High-Voltage Subsea Pump Enables Low-Cost Boosting Subsea pumps are used for gas/liquid separation, subsea compression, and subsea boosting. Solutions aiming at cost reductions are crucial to make subsea processing projects feasible. A cost- and complexity-reduction solution for the subsea electrical power supply is a critical consideration. Selecting the Right Subsea Pump for Your Application Operator or manufacturer’s reports and published papers are reviewed and a criterion is developed for subsea pump selection. Subsea High-Boosting Multiphase Pumps Increase Oil Recovery in Aging Field (Includes presentation slides) Production from an offshore Angola field has been decreasing because of subsea pressure declines amid water-cut increases and limited gas compressor capacity. The development process leading to the selection of high-boosting multiphase pumps is described. Executing Offshore Projects More Efficiently Offshore project execution enhancement ideas are highlighted for debottlenecking, gas-hydrate-induced pipeline vibration, and the design of subsea systems for efficient startup. Produced-Water Debottlenecking Improves Offshore Production An operator in the western Gulf of Thailand retrofit two partial-processing water-management systems on mobile-offshore-production-unit platforms for bulk removal and treatment of produced water. Water debottlenecking increased oil production by 80% and reduced the infield transfer volume by 62%. Th Designing Subsea Systems for Efficient Startup To Mitigate Topside Downtime The workflow aims to reduce the startup time of a subsea production system (SPS). A dynamic integrated model is used to adjust the scheduled SPS startup time. The model evaluates the dynamic simulation response of a large field startup by integrating a reservoir- and gathering-network model. Hydrate-Induced Vibration in an Offshore Pipeline A computational fluid dynamics model is proposed to analyze the effect of hydrate flow in pipelines using multiphase-flow-modeling techniques. The results will identify the cause of pipeline failure, regions of maximum stress in the pipeline, and plastic deformation of the pipeline. Social Performance Indicators Evolve in Update to Sustainability Reporting Guide The Oil & Gas Industry Guidance on Voluntary Sustainability Reporting acts as a framework for improving the quality and consistency of voluntary sustainability reporting. This paper discusses the most recent update to the guide, and offers an overview of the discussed social performance indicators. Selected Papers From OnePetro: Your Source for E&P Technical Knowledge With these synopses of technical papers from OnePetro you can join the author for conferences in Kuala Lumpur, New Orleans, and Lagos, all while sitting in your chairs and without any travel expenses. Improving Gas Dehydration With Preinhibited Glycol The paper discusses dehydration performance of two units in two plants—with preinhibited glycol/antifoam/pH adjuster blend vs. neat glycol with periodic injection of antifoam and pH-adjuster inhibitors. The insights present an opportunity for significant operating and capital costs reduction. Localized Pitting Corrosion of Superduplex Stainless Steel in a Seawater Application During the dismantling and removal of fire-water-pump columns of superduplex stainless steel barely 1 year after plant startup in a redeveloped brownfield offshore Nigeria severe localized pitting corrosion was observed in the columns. This paper explores the findings and identifies the reasons. Getting Ahead of the Curve—Front-End Loading HSE in Major Projects A proactive approach with EPC contract bidders to front-end load HSE strategies will pay dividends. This paper discusses the HSE management strategy for the Lake Charles Liquefied Natural Gas project. Collaborative Tool Helps Companies Plan Decommissioning, Share Lessons Learned Decom North Sea has developed the Late Life Planning Portal system, a web-based information portal, to capture tools that add value as well as good practices and lessons learned from the execution of decommissioning projects. Integrating Decision Support Models With Value Attributes for Platform Decommissioning Using decision analysis as a software tool helps to clarify and evaluate decommissioning alternatives against a comprehensive set of objectives, including both market and nonmarket values. Planning and Estimating Costs for Field Decommissioning in Brazil This paper aims to develop a Brazilian baseline for front-end planning and cost estimation of the decommissioning, removal, and disposal options. Decommissioning To Become Big Business Whether you are involved in the design and construction of new facilities or the decommissioning of existing facilities, having a solid understanding of decom makes a lot of sense. Are you ready as all around the world offshore facilities have reached, or are reaching, the end of their design life? Arctic Pipeline Route Selection To reduce the risks to arctic pipelines from natural or geologic hazards, a more sophisticated approach to routing compared to traditional methods based on only the shortest length of pipe or connectivity to existing infrastructure is needed. Concept for Ice-Resistant Offshore Terminal for Arctic LNG Export Cost and delivery of long-distance natural gas pipelines to a distant liquefaction facility at a warm-water port has become excessive, and environmental restraints have been increasing. An alternative is an offshore ice-resistant LNG port accommodating a new class of LNG transport vessels. Design Tools for Arctic Subsea Pipelines As the design methodologies evolve for arctic pipelines, strudel scour, permafrost thaw settlement, and ice gouging need to be factored in with environmental and geotechnical data, limit states, and trenching and backfilling activities. Taking on the Arctic With New Concepts New approaches to arctic activities include a concept for an offshore ice-resistant LNG export terminal, the design of subsea pipelines, and the optimal routing for the pipelines to mitigate the unique risks in arctic regions such as ice-gouging and permafrost thaw. Compact, Efficient Heat Exchanger Based on Packed Beds of Nanoparticle-Doped Spheres In this work, the authors demonstrate at a laboratory scale the possibility of using a radio-frequency heating system as a heat exchanger. Nanotechnology for Oilfield Applications: Challenges and Effects This paper presents a critical review of the recent literature to determine the status of research and development and field application of nanotechnology in the oil field. Oil-Droplet Removal From Produced Water by Use of Nanoparticles Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is a promising way to remove dispersed oil from produced water. In this study, the authors investigated the optimal operating conditions for MNPs and the mechanisms of MNP/oil attachments and magnetic separation. Nanotechnology Advances in the Oil Field As practitioners we don’t always convey that the oil and gas industry is at the forefront of many different technologies, but we should, if only because it can be a real selling point to attract young people to our industry. In that spirit, I selected three papers that deal with nanotechnology. Four Generations of Fire- and Blast-Resistant Walls on Offshore Installations Four types of fire- and blast-resistant walls for offshore installations are assessed, including internal vs. external fire and blast walls. Fire Protection on Offshore Platforms Whenever we design an oil and gas facility, the safety of the operating staff is of paramount importance. At last year’s Offshore Technology Conference, three papers presented information on a critical safety feature: fire protection on offshore installations. Passive-Fire-Protection Optimization in Offshore Topside Structures Applying sufficient passive fire protection (PFP) on topside structural-steel members is critical. Simplified and conservative approaches are available to estimate the extent and amount of PFP necessary. Three-Sided Passive Fire Protection on Steel-Beam Decks for Offshore Installations This study presents an overview of the structural response and failure mechanism of three-sided protected beams and proposes design solutions. Corrosion and Scaling In this first selection are papers dealing with scaling and corrosion, topics that affect all of us involved with oil and gas facilities. Early in my career I worked in corrosion, only to discover that without keeping scaling and corrosion in mind, it is impossible to be a good facilities engineer. The Importance of Inhibitor Analysis in Scale Management—An Overview The accurate and precise analysis of scale inhibitors—in conjunction with other field data such as ion analysis, total suspended solids, and productivity index—plays an important role in making decisions about the efficiency of scale squeeze and continuous chemical injection treatments. Use of Preservation Chemicals Following Hydrostatic Testing of Pipelines This paper considers some of the challenges and learnings associated with the application of chemicals for preservation of coated pipe/flowline for a major liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) project in Australia. Oilfield-Corrosion-Failure Analysis: Lessons Learned From Pitting Morphologies Identifying the type of corrosion is the first step in the analysis and prevention of corrosion-related failures. Visual inspection of the pit morphology can provide insights into the type of corrosion that is occurring. Don't miss out on the latest technology delivered to your email every two weeks. Sign up for the OGF newsletter. If you are not logged in, you will receive a confirmation email that you will need to click on to confirm you want to receive the newsletter. 12 September 2018 29 August 2018 05 September 2018 07 September 2018
In a resolution approved unanimously on Monday, officials in Dent County, Missouri, voted to observe a year of "mourning" in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. The proposal will lower the flags at the county court house and judiciary building to below half-staff once a month for the next year. This also happens to be where couples obtain marriage licenses. Dent County's Recorder of Deeds Cindy Ard told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that, so far, one couple has applied for a license with the county. In contrast to officials like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Dent County Commissioner Darrell Skiles, who wrote the resolution by hand, acknowledges his legal obligation to uphold the law, writing: Today we as elected officials have no choice but to conduct business in accordance with established law. We do not possess the luxury of cherry picking which laws we agree with and choose to uphold and which laws we choose to reject and ignore. The resolution continues: But! We can express our strong disapproval of blatant judicial overreach. […] May all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty. “I just want anybody who sees that to be reminded we find it revolting that the Supreme Court has ruled in this manner,” Skiles told BuzzFeed. A petition started by a Dent County resident who opposes the resolution is also making the rounds. From the petition: The act of lowering the American flag from full height has long been a way for communities to mourn local and national tragedies. To compare the Supreme Court ruling on homosexual marriage rights to those tragedies in any way is an insult to both the tragedies that have been previously mourned in this manner and the basic principles of government under which the United States operates that led to this court decision, not to mention those personally affected by the ruling. “Even if this doesn’t change their minds, I wanted it out there that we’re not all a bunch of closed-minded individuals mourning the Supreme Court decision,” Alex Sellers, who started the petition, told the Post-Dispatch. “This is not just a backward place. There’s another side of this.”
Turns script debugging features on and off. Syntax Set-PSDebug [-trace int] [-step] [-strict] [CommonParameters] Set-PSDebug [-off] [CommonParameters] Key -trace int Set the trace level: 0 - Off 1 - trace script lines as they are executed 2 - trace script lines, variable assignments, function calls and scripts. -step Turn on script stepping. Before each line is run, PowerShell will prompt to stop, continue or enter a new interpreter level to inspect the state of the script. (Step automatically sets Trace =1) -strict Throw an exception if a variable is referenced before being assigned a value. -off Turn off all debugging features. CommonParameters: -Verbose, -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -WarningAction, -WarningVariable, -OutBuffer -OutVariable. Set the trace level to 2: PS C:\> set-psdebug -trace 2; Turns stepping on: PS C:\> set-psdebug -step Turn off all debugging features: PS C:\> set-psdebug -off "Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it" ~ Brian W. Kernighan Related PowerShell Commands: Write-Debug - Write a debug message to the host display Set-StrictMode - Enforce coding rules in expressions & scripts Equivalent bash command: set -x / +x - turn debug on/off, or bash -x myscript.sh
"Explained by lives and legends of the Saints" By Fr. F.X. Schouppe, S.J. This book reveals revelations from great saints such as Margaret Mary, Teresa of Avila, Bridget of Sweden, Gertrude the Great, Francis de sales, Catherine o f Genoa, Thomas Aquinas etc. It reveals the punishment for sins as well as the grateful souls who reap the benefits from Masses, alms giving, prayers, penance etc. offered for them still suffering in Purgatory.
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Health officials say a student at Washington University has Bacterial Meningitis. Its a swelling of the lining of the brain caused by infection. Just how concerned should other students be? If there is one person who is coughing repeatedly chances are all the people breathing the same air over and over again will get exposed, according to the Director of Communicable Disease Services for the Saint Louis County Health Department. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and confusion. Treatment is with antibiotics. Left untreated, it can lead to brain damage. Each year there are just over 4,000 cases nationwide, with 500 deaths. KMOX © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Youth are considered as one of the most important members of the society because they form the active strata of population which is considered as a potent force with the capabilities to take the nations to new heights. … Download file to see previous pages... nstructive and more productive members of the society. However, it also must be noted that Youth justice is currently being viewed in different perspectives than it used to be. Many view the current reforms in youth justice due to modernization of the governments and political systems to accommodate the issues like young justice however there is also another dimension to it also as the emergence of private practice into the youth justice have significantly contributed to this issue also. However one also need to consider the fact that these youth justice practices lack the effective quality assurance systems and procedures in place which can ensure that the practice is being done on more professional as well as ethical footings. This essay will argue the role of quality assurance system to be designed to measure the effective practice in youth justice and will attempt to explore the issue from different perspectives so that a balanced view of the same can emerge.... ion must also have been given to this issue so that a positive critic of the same could have helped provide a better understanding of the problems so that quality assurance of the same could have been attained. Youth Justice has been under the complex influences of various forces working within the society which put extra pressures even on the proceedings of the cases against youth therefore the argument has also been put forward to bring in an approach which requires that those who bring children to the legal proceeding should give it a more holistic and comprehensive view so that children who somehow commit crimes are better represented into the legal system within which they are brought in. This therefore requires that those who conduct their practice into the youth justice must make efforts to bring in more quality in their work. (Geraghty). The historical roots of the practice in youth justice are basically founded on two critical principles of justice and welfare appraoch suggesting a approach which demands that a child must be treated differently than an adult criminal thus ensuring equality into the system based on the pecular nature of the status of children within the society. (Stephenson, Giller and Brown) Youth Justice Practice It is believed that the recent emergence of literature on youth based practice and policy has concentrated on the evidence based effective practice. This evidence based practice has now spread almost all the areas of the youth justice and has been considered as an effective and efficient means of dealing with the issue. However one also need to understand the fact that youth based justice practice and the system largely depend upon the society as it has been argued that the society gets the youth justice system which it deserves as ...Download file to see next pagesRead More Cite this document (“Youth Justice Essay Example \| Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.) Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/law/1510560-youth-justice (Youth Justice Essay Example \| Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words) “Youth Justice Essay Example \| Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/law/1510560-youth-justice. Why have we singled out youth only? A major justification stands out to be that the standard justice system is for people who are mature, sound and are not incapacitated emotionally or physically while youth is a term used for people under the age of 17 who are juvenile, lack the sense of maturity and responsibility for their actions. Youth Justice Name Instructor Task Date The youthful populace is an exceedingly resourceful component in the societal context. Therefore, people ought to make certain that the youth have the capacity to grow. Therefore, there are numerous agencies concerned with youth dealings. Common resources and opportunities foster social integration, and should be made available always to all members of the society without discrimination. The resources can either be healthcare, education, housing and even employment services (Pierson, 2009). I want to be able to influence the way future clients will invest their money. In order to achieve this goal I need a sound foundation of academic knowledge in addition to work experience. The M.S in finance program has been an excellent program in helping me to gain that knowledge. Each report of youth crime sends shock waves to each society as nations, parents, the church begin to question whether the moral values they are imparting to their citizens especially the children are defective or insufficient. Consciences are pricked whenever today's youths show increasing propensity for violence and criminal behaviour. rse when these young criminals were sent to prison with adult and very hardened criminals, further victimizing them instead of offering some rehabilitation. Recent moves are more enlightened with young offenders given separate facilities and even offered a form of counselling I was very impressed with “I” (Gold Coast) because it not only provided theoretical arguments for the success of its’ programs but also statistical proof such as lower offending rates for criminals graduating from the program compared with those who did not. The resources can either be healthcare, education, housing and even employment services. The reason for blocking these people from accessing such resources is connected to an individual’s educational status, childhood relationships, and social class (Hall and rynne that was judged by the community and condemned by the community and led out of prison wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her breast (Hawthorne and Pearson, 2004). The letter is meant to hold her in shameful accord and to label her as an adulterer in the community. The Several theories have also been brought forward in an attempt to explain why they engage in such acts and activities. The Marxist deprivation theory and the behavioural theories provide a compelling insight into such trends and 3 Pages(750 words)Essay GOT A TRICKY QUESTION? RECEIVE AN ANSWER FROM STUDENTS LIKE YOU! Let us find you another Essay on topic Youth Justice for FREE!
About This Chapter How it works: - Identify which concepts are covered on your Native American history homework. - Find videos on those topics within this chapter. - Watch fun videos, pausing and reviewing as needed. - Complete sample problems and get instant feedback. - Finish your Native American history homework with ease! Topics from your homework you'll be able to complete: - Origins of early people in the Americas - Mesoamerican civilizations - Pre-Columbian South America - North American civilizations before Europeans - Effects of European colonization on Native Americans - Spanish explorers and colonies - Intercontinental contact 1. Native American History: Origins of Early People in the Americas Because the first humans and civilizations got their start in Africa and the Middle East, historians and anthropologists have had to figure out how Native Americans got to the Americas. In this lesson we look at the three prevailing theories of the earliest migration to the New World. 2. Mesoamerican Civilizations: The Olmecs to Cortes This lesson focuses on the early cultures of Mesoamerica. The Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs developed great civilizations in Mesoamerica over millennia. Then, after all of this development and the building of a great empire, the Aztec were quickly defeated by Hernando Cortes. 3. The Inca Civilization and Pizarro: Pre-Columbian South America The Incan Empire was an amazing empire of the early Americas. Their accomplishments rival those of many other great empires, but they were defeated by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in only a few years. 4. Pre-Columbian Civilization: North American Indians Before Europeans Watch this video for an overview of the cultural groups of Native Americans as they lived at the time of first contact with Europeans. Some of these groupings, like the tribes of the plains, changed so much due to the addition of European influences, such as horses, that there is only conjecture as to how exactly they lived before European contact. 5. Effects of European Colonization: Christopher Columbus and Native Americans The earliest explorers in the Western Hemisphere left a legacy that would shape the development of the Americas permanently. No matter what they came looking for, Europeans left behind death, horses, and metal. 6. New Spain: Spanish Explorers and Spanish Colonies Who are the most well-known explorers and conquistadors of the New World? In this lesson, we'll look at some of the most infamous explorers. We'll discover the difference between explorers and conquistadors, and then learn about the encomienda system. 7. The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange is a term used to denote the world-changing exchange of agricultural goods, slave labor, diseases, and ideas between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres that occurred after the year 1492 CE. 8. Cronyism: Definition & Explanation In this lesson we explore the concept of cronyism. A major issue in U.S. governments of the past and governments throughout the world today, cronyism can greatly undermine a government's effectiveness. 9. Horatio Alger: Biography, Myth & Stories Horatio Alger was a popular and influential author of the late 19th century, one who is credited with creating a new fiction genre. Learn who Alger was, what drove his writing, and why his novels became so coveted during the decades immediately following the Civil War. Earning College Credit Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page Transferring credit to the school of your choice Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Other chapters within the High School US History: Homework Help Resource course - Settling North America: Homework Help - The Road to Revolution: Homework Help - The American Revolution: Homework Help - The Making of a New Nation: Homework Help - The Virginia Dynasty: Homework Help - Jacksonian Democracy: Homework Help - Life in Antebellum America: Homework Help - Manifest Destiny: Homework Help - Sectional Crisis: Homework Help - American Civil War: Homework Help - Reconstruction: Homework Help - Industrialization & Westward Expansion: Homework Help - The Progressive Era: Homework Help - American Imperialism: Homework Help - The Roaring 20s: Homework Help - The Great Depression: Homework Help - The US in World War ll: Homework Help - Post-War World: Homework Help - The Cold War in America: Homework Help - Protests, Activism and Civil Disobedience: Homework Help - The 1970s: Homework Help - The Rise of Political Conservatism: Homework Help - Contemporary America: Homework Help
Cotton earlier grew as a wild plant all over the world and also we can get the benefits of cotton fabric. It is now cultivated for its main product – ‘the cotton’, while other... - How to Determine Your Face Shape? - Make Up Tips : How to Apply Concealer! - Sea Food – Explore The High Benefits Of Eating Sea Food! - How To Find Your Way To Wrinkle Free Skin With Food? - A To Z Guide On The Miraculous Effects Of Castor Oil For Hair! - Sumptuous Lasagna Recipes for The Family! - Styling Curly Hair Tips : How to Manage Curly Hair Naturally! - Vegan Milk Benefits : Amazing Dairy Replacement for Vegan People! - How To Grind Flaxseed- Let’s See Step By Step Instructions! - How To Get Rid Of Sugar Ants?
Meet Shea Frederick, our latest OpenGov Champion. Last September, Sunlight’s video team — myself and Associate Video Producer Solay Howell — spent two days in Baltimore, MD, with Shea to see how he uses city open data to build useful tools for Charm City residents. One of those tools is baltimorevacants.org, a dynamic map that lets you search and see more than 30,000 vacant houses and vacant lots in Baltimore. To capture on video the source of that data, we drove around Baltimore filming abandoned houses, streets and even entire blocks that are just left to decay, attracting crime and rats. Like Shea says in the video, it’s impactful to see 30,000 vacant houses or lots mapped out over the city. But it is even more powerful to see the actual places. I’m still haunted by the sight of all those vacant, rotting houses with boarded up windows and doors we saw all over Baltimore. As a visual storyteller, I could imagine how each one of these houses has a story to tell. Maybe a factory closed, people lost their jobs, packed up and moved, and after enough of their neighbors had left, the ones left behind could not bear to live on an empty street and finally they all went. Looking at Shea’s work, I realized that data can be used tell a story too, one from real life that literally “connects the dots” and paints with broader strokes to get the full picture. That’s why Shea loves hacking on the open data the City of Baltimore started releasing in 2011: there is always a real life connection to the work he is doing and he can see it all around him. Another one is an app called Spot Agent that uses parking citation data to warn you if a meter maid might be close by. Then there’s one that uses the city’s 311 data to show the most common problems occurring in any Baltimore neighborhood based on words that appear the most in the service requests, such as “trash,” “rat,” “illegal” or “light.” He does a lot of this work with the help of other developers and interested citizens, connected through hackathons and other events. There is a vibrant community for this sort of work in Baltimore such that when the city started releasing its data sets through the Open Baltimore portal there already was an active bunch of people ready to go and put it to use. The city has been pleased with that, as these civic hackers can build something for fun and for free in a weekend that would take them weeks, maybe even months to complete and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Shea has been tag-teaming with the city directly, using the data it released and giving the city advice on how the data could be improved upon, mainly that it should be updated in real time instead of doing a one-time dump. Why does Shea Frederick spend so much of his own time sorting out this data into meaningful, usable formats when he might as well be competing in a cyclocross race somewhere? Well, for one, he loves what he does. And second, he has grown to love Baltimore and wants to give back by giving others tools that can help them connect with what’s happening around the city. This is OpenGov Championship at work: taking data that’s available and putting it to use, and working together with the local government to make it even better. Our OpenGov Champions are remarkable ordinary people who have done extraordinary things to open up our government. Get inspired by their stories and nominate someone in your community to become an OpenGov Champion.
Study: Spirituality plays a key role in fighting depression \|August 28, 2011\|\|Posted by News under Intelligent Design, Mind, News, Religion, Spirituality\| In “Can Religion or Spirituality Help Ward Off Depression?” (World of Psychology August 25, 2011), a somewhat skeptical John M. Grohol reports, The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating this correlation between spirituality or religiosity and a reduced risk for depression. The researchers continued to followup on a set of subjects they had used in the previous study, following them from the 10-year mark (when the older research had ended) to the 20-year mark. The subjects in the study were 114 adult offspring of both depressed parents and parents who had no depression. At the 20-year mark, had there been an episode of major depression? Only one quarter of the people who said religion or spirituality was important had experienced major depression. Time spent at religious services didn’t affect this outcome. The really interesting find was that Those at the highest risk for depression because they were the child of a depressed parent (that genetic and environmental connection that’s important for determining depression risk) had the biggest reduction in risk due to their spirituality or religious nature. Grohol suggests more research. These conclusions should be less surprising than they are to some, for several reasons. Religious Christians (all study participants were Christians) tend to live in tightly knit communities which, if healthy, play a strong role in fighting major depression by identifying the warning signs early. Thus many threatened episodes may never happen. Second, traditional Christians expect some level of unavoidable suffering as part of life, accepting it as a test of character (not of faith, because their faith told them to expect it). The same situation might look very different to the person who honestly believes that if things aren’t going well, there is something wrong with him. Also, they are taught that Jesus suffered too, and was once near despair over his mission, in Gethsemane – and that it is not a sin, only a trial. OBJECTIVE: Previously the authors found that personal importance of religion or spirituality was associated with a lower risk for major depression in a study of adults with and without a history of depression. Here the authors examine the association of personal importance of religion or spirituality with major depression in the adult offspring of the original sample using a 10-year prospective longitudinal design. METHOD: Participants were 114 adult offspring of depressed and nondepressed parents, followed longitudinally. The analysis covers the period from the 10-year to the 20-year follow-up assessments. Diagnosis was assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version. Religiosity measures included personal importance of religion or spirituality, frequency of attendance at religious services, and denomination (all participants were Catholic or Protestant). In a logistic regression analysis, major depression at 20 years was used as the outcome measure and the three religiosity variables at 10 years as predictors. RESULTS: Offspring who reported at year 10 that religion or spirituality was highly important to them had about one-fourth the risk of experiencing major depression between years 10 and 20 compared with other participants. Religious attendance and denomination did not significantly predict this outcome. The effect was most pronounced among offspring at high risk for depression by virtue of having a depressed parent; in this group, those who reported a high importance of religion or spirituality had about one-tenth the risk of experiencing major depression between years 10 and 20 compared with those who did not. The protective effect was found primarily against recurrence rather than onset of depression. CONCLUSIONS: A high self-report rating of the importance of religion or spirituality may have a protective effect against recurrence of depression, particularly in adults with a history of parental depression.
UNHCR and partners working to help manage Tunisian arrivals in Italy This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 15 February 2011, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR and its partners from the International Organization for Migration and Save the Children Fund are in Lampedusa and several locations in southern Italy working with local authorities to manage the recent influx of Tunisians. According to the Italian Government over 5,200 people have arrived since mid-January, with the vast majority (4,400) having arrived during the past few days. While most are young men we know of at least 20 women and over 200 minors, many unaccompanied. Described by the Italian Government as a humanitarian emergency, we appreciate the sensitive approach that has been taken so far, with all actors recognizing that among this mixed group there may be some who need to apply for asylum. From discussions with new arrivals it is clear that while most are coming in search of employment, others are citing fear of violence and a breakdown of law and order in their home regions. UNHCR is concerned that people smugglers in Tunisia are exploiting youth by promising them a better life in Europe. Although the journey is short, high seas and bad weather can make it perilous. Most of the new arrivals are in good health, but some have arrived soaked through, and suffering exhaustion. We have received unconfirmed reports that at least four people have drowned. The large number of people arriving over such a short period has put a significant pressure on the small island of Lampedusa. A reception centre designed for 800 people is currently holding over 2,000. Following a number of flights to relieve congestion in Lampedusa, we understand that other reception centres in Italy are also reaching capacity. We appreciate all efforts being made by the Italian Government to provide shelter and assistance for the new arrivals and hope that a solution is found quickly to relieve the pressure on Lampedusa. The Italian Government has clearly stated its commitment to providing access to asylum procedures for those who are seeking international protection. We welcome this commitment and urge solidarity with Italy as it faces this new chapter of mixed migration. UNHCR hopes that any mechanisms designed to control irregular migration will continue to ensure access to asylum for people in need of protection.
Implementing the Unimplemented: Representing Unencoded Scripts in Unicode 3.2 John Jenkins - Apple Computer, Inc. Presented by: Deborah Goldsmith - Apple Computer, Inc. Sometimes it is necessary to implement support for a script before it has been encoded in Unicode; this presentation discusses the issues involved in doing so, and implementation techniques that can be used. Unicode 3.2 contains nearly sixty thousand characters used in the writing of dozens of scripts and hundreds of different languages. As such, it provides full coverage for virtually every significant writing system in use in the world today.At the same time, there are specialized markets where it's necessary to write using scripts not yet encoded in Unicode. These include the writing systems used by minority groups in various countries, ancient or dead scripts, and fantasy or other artificial scripts. Many such scripts are already in the pipeline for encoding in the next edition of the Unicode standard, but even here the encoding process can be greatly simplified by developing actual implementations and solving many of the practical issues involved. We will discuss a number of the issues involved in providing temporary, private-use implementations of unencoded writing systems. This includes determining the target audience, analyzing the structure of the script, and determining the repertoire of characters needed. There are also the issues of getting actual support for the script in existing programs running on existing platforms, which means producing fonts and keyboards, at the least. Finally, there are issues with producing an implementation with an eye towards forwarding it as a completed proposal to the Unicode Technical Committee for inclusion in the standard. Examples will be drawn from a number of scripts, including some already approved for future inclusion in the Unicode standard. \|When the world wants to talk, it speaks Unicode\| International Unicode Conferences are organized by Global Meeting Services, Inc., (GMS). GMS is pleased to be able to offer the International Unicode Conferences under an exclusive license granted by the Unicode Consortium. All responsibility for conference finances and operations is borne by GMS. The independent conference board serves solely at the pleasure of GMS and is composed of volunteers active in Unicode and in international software development. All inquiries regarding International Unicode Conferences should be addressed Unicode and the Unicode logo are registered trademarks of Unicode, Inc. Used with permission. 22 May 2002, Webmaster
by Judith Rodin I welcome all of you to this celebration. This is a significant moment in Penn history. Today's groundbreaking signals our renewed commitment to the spirit of discovery and experiment that has distinguished this University since Benjamin Franklin, America's first scientist, called it into being here. This groundbreaking is both a sign and a symbol of Penn's agenda as a great research university--in facilities, in direction, in goals and priorities. Research universities are small in number, enormous in influence. Of the more than 3,000 institutions of higher learning in the United States, only 170 universities produce most of the nation's doctorates in science and engineering and perform most of the research. An even smaller number--30--account for most of the federal funds for academic research. Penn is proudly among this highly select group of research-intensive universities. Research universities are one of America's greatest resources and truly the envy of the world. We serve the national interest at many levels. The new knowledge and the new talent that we produce touches every sector of American life, from the well-being of our people to the strength of our national economy and our global competitiveness. And this brings me to some very serious concerns in academic research today. To understand one aspect of these concerns, we need to go back to 1944. Ten months before the end of World War II, President Roosevelt asked his chief science adviser, Vannevar Bush, how science might be used in peacetime to improve the national health, create new enterprises and new jobs, and better the standard of living. Bush's report, Science--The Endless Frontier, effectively promised the nation that science could yield enormous benefits if three conditions were met. What were these conditions? + First, that the nation make a substantial commitment to basic + Second, that higher education take on the job of providing the nation with new scientific and engineering knowledge and talent; and, + Finally, that the federal government provide funds to enable higher education to meet those new responsibilities. It was a visionary idea. The policy makers in Washington understood what was at stake and acted. Investment of tax dollars led to the establishment of the largest and strongest scientific and higher education enterprise that the world has ever known. An enterprise that today carries out half of all federally-funded basic research. The American taxpayers' investment has paid off handsomely. We are the nation that gave the world the electronic computer and medical technologies, cured polio, and walked on the moon. Yet, our leadership role in science and engineering is being seriously challenged. In the last twenty years, America's investment in research and development has remained flat while that of Western Europe and Japan has almost doubled. And now, there is pressure building in Congress to cut billions in funding for basic research. These cuts do not make economic sense. As my colleague, Thomas Everhart, president of CalTech recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal: "One of the worst cases of 'waste, fraud, and abuse' that a society can commit is the failure to invest in its own future sustainability." Ironically, the public and the policymakers seem to think research universities are doing just fine: "Look at the Nobel prizes we win in science! Look at the billions of dollars the government pours into our research!" All right, let's look at Nobel prizes: What few realize is that, in recent years, most U.S. Nobel prizes in science have been based on work done before 1975. Or, let's look at funding: Government support for academic research, when adjusted for inflation, is only 20% higher than it was in the golden age of the 1960s--about $10 billion today. Yet there are twice as many researchers competing for a pot of money that has grown little in the past thirty years. Some of them work in new fields of research that didn't even have a name thirty years ago--fields like molecular biology, organometallic chemistry, and cybernetics. Another problem is the cost of doing science and engineering research today. The more complex the work, the more sophisticated the equipment we need. And today's research is incredibly complex. As an example, back in the 1920s, scientists laid the foundation of modern physics. The most expensive equipment they used--and I am talking in terms of current dollars--cost less than one tenth of one percent of what is needed today to build a single particle accelerator. What is true of physics is true in different ways for almost every field of science and engineering. A former president of the NAS once said: "In science, the best is vastly more important than the next best." Quality does count. A research university cannot produce the best work with outdated labs and equipment any more than it can produce the best science without the best scientists. Yet, according to the NSF, more than half of the laboratory facilities at our research universities were built before 1970. Ten years ago, it was estimated that it would cost $10 billion to replace outdated university research equipment. Little has been done since then. Can you imagine what that figure is now? But our country's circumstances and commitments have changed, and we must be prepared to address that. What is needed now is a new vision --a long-term vision--of the research enterprise. And a new model of how we do--and pay for--science and engineering research. At this critical time, the University is especially fortunate to have at its helm a Chairman fully committed to the task ahead. Under Roy's visionary leadership, Merck was named "America's Most Admired Corporation" time and time again. That same leadership and vision, on Roy's part and that of our Trustees, is certain to make Penn "America's Most Admired Research University of the 21st Century." And I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion than the groundbreaking for The Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories to announce that Penn intends to redouble its efforts and commitment to science and engineering. It is important for us as an institution. It is critical to us as a nation. Realizing our vision will require resources, energy, some fearlessness, and a look to the distant future, rather than just tomorrow. Having said that, we are going to make certain that what we do, we do brilliantly--and with a full financial, personnel, and infrastructure commitment. In an increasingly competitive and demanding research environment, we cannot afford to do less. And we must begin by rethinking the research enterprise as we have known it. We must adopt more highly selective strategies in determining where we invest and how we invest.We must commit ourselves to only world-class standards in every program that we undertake. We must use our resources wisely to assure the most important aspect of our research --quality. We must recruit, retain, and support innovators who are working across the boundaries of disciplines and schools. And we must continue to link our research enterprise with the process of educating the next generation. Finally, we must become ingenious entrepreneurs of our own intellectual capital. Current levels of funding for science and engineering are far below what is needed for healthy, even lean, research. We must therefore identify new revenue streams. We will seek investments by those in the private sector who recognize the long-term importance of our research enterprise to the nation and to society-- corporations, foundations, and alumni and friends of Penn. We will take full advantage of mechanisms that connect research results with economic utility such as technology transfer, marketing, licensing, and patents. You can be certain that if ENIAC were invented at Penn today, the University would hold the rights. Today we begin anew to invent our future in research with The Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, the first phase of The Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. When completed, this facility will house faculty members in chemistry, chemical engineering, and bioengineering, and two interacting research groups: The Center for Excellence in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Institute for Medicine and Engineering. Here researchers from our Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Applied Science, and Medicine--all at the lead in their field--will collaborate on cutting-edge research that ranges from the understanding of biological functions to bioengineering approaches to human injury and aging. I mentioned previously that we would seek the support of those who recognize the value of IAST to the nation and society. We have with us today two remarkable people who responded immediately and generously to this vision: Roy and Diana Vagelos. I could tell you that Penn alumnus Roy Vagelos is the former chairman and CEO of Merck, chair of the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, recipient of the Enzyme Chemistry Award, and member of the National Business Hall of Fame. I could tell you that Diana Vagelos, a Barnard alumna and a former teacher of French in a special program for elementary school children, is a Trustee of Barnard College, Chair of its Student Life Committee, and President of the Women's Board of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. I could tell you all that. But I would rather tell you that Diana and Roy have always been a team--at home, in work, in their community-- and in their unselfish commitment to higher education and academic science. One sign of this marvelous partnership will be their names together on Penn's newest scientific and engineering facility, The Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories of the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology--named in recognition of their extraordinary commitment of $10 million. The other sign of this extraordinary partnership will be in the research performed, the new talent developed, and the contribution to national well-being made possible by their generosity. On behalf of the University of Pennsylvania, our faculty and our students, thank you, Diana and Roy, for your confidence, your support, your faith in us, and your unwavering vision.
WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- A gas pipeline from Iran would put Pakistan on the wrong path but the United States is ready to help other plans, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said. Washington opposes the project in favor of a pipeline planned from Turkmenistan. That project has the support of the Asian Development Bank but would need to pass through Afghanistan. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Zardari's visit was a bad idea. "This pipeline project would take Pakistan in the wrong direction right at a time that we're trying to work with Pakistan on better, more reliable ways to meet its energy needs," she said. Nuland expressed doubt whether the pipeline, in the works since the 1990s, would ever develop. If it does go forward, she warned, Pakistan would partaking in sanctionable activity in regards to Iran. "We've been straight-up with the Pakistanis about these concerns," she said. She added that the United States was supporting projects that would add 900 megawatts of power to a Pakistani energy grid that can't support the nation's needs.
PARIS, July 12 (UPI) -- Political upheaval in the Middle East is largely responsible for some of the increase in oil prices on the global market, a market assessment from Paris said. Crude oil prices topped $100 per barrel last week for the first time since September as the Egyptian government of Mohamed Morsi collapsed under military and public pressure. While Egypt is not a major oil supplier, the situation there may be a vehicle for further political tensions across the oil-rich Middle East. Bloomberg News reports a Friday price for Brent crude oil of $108.02 in early morning trading. The International Energy Agency said in a monthly market report published Thursday the upheaval in Egypt and disruptions in Iraq, Libya and Nigeria were contributing to the spike in energy prices. Global oil supplies declined by 300,000 barrels per day in June to 91.2 million barrels. This was largely because of declines in production from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Non-OPEC supply, however, is expected to increase. The IEA said the overall global economic outlook remains positive. It said it expected global oil demand to grow by 1.2 million barrels per day next year as world economies emerge from recession.
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The National Energy Board in Canada said it supported plans by Enbridge Energy to build a 113-mile-long pipeline between two oil terminals in Alberta province. The NEB, an independent regulatory agency, said Thursday it recommended the federal government approve the pipeline from the company's terminal in Edmonton to a facility in Hardisty. The company offered no statement in response to the NEB's recommendations. In a project description, Enbridge said the proposed pipeline would feed crude oil to other pipelines in its main system. Enbridge said construction would begin during the latter half of 2014 and the pipeline would go into service by 2015. It offered no information on the expected transport capacity of the pipeline. In a separate statement, the company said it received approval from the Ontario provincial government to upgrade the Enbridge natural gas distribution system in the greater Toronto area. Enbridge said that system hasn't been updated in more than 20 years. When the project is completed in October 2015, it will be connected to an existing underground system to improve natural gas deliveries to private consumers and business in the Toronto area, the company said.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The United States joined Japan and South Korea in warning North Korea of "significant consequences" if it conducts another nuclear test. The warnings came Sunday after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on the telephone with Foreign Ministers Fumio Kishida of Japan and Kim Sung-hwan of South Korea, CNN reported, quoting a summary of the calls provided by the U.S. State Department. The three agreed the North must understand "it will face significant consequences from the international community if it continues its provocative behavior," the State Department said. North Korea has been signaling its intentions to conduct its third nuclear test after the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution last month to tighten existing sanctions against the Communist country for its December long-range rocket firing to place a satellite in space in violation of the sanctions. North Korea conducted its previous two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. The United States and South Korea are conducting joint naval exercises off the Korean Peninsula this week.
A synonym of pwnage. The word started with a thread on the popular dance music forum DOA, where a bitter and borderline depressed poster explained how someone had fucked with his father, so he put hin in his place. A small revolution ensued, fueled by the sympathy that the population of DOA felt for the outraged but loyal son. In a stance of respect and following, the all-too common verb to pwn, or the derivative noun pwnage were replaced with the emotionally charged to hin, and hinning respectively. The heroic figure has been granted an avatar on the forums, a distinctive sign of social ascension, to emphasize his semi-cult, semi-legendary status.
The most powerful computer program in the world. Frequently used for for solving integrals, graphing solutions to diffrential equations, negotiating international trade disputes, and calculating tax returns. See also lytle I used MathCAD to solve the Ethiopia-eritrea border dispute. by K. Jacobso February 20, 2004 Math software which is morally reprehensible. MathCAD is a dirty dog by persarog March 10, 2009
By J.D. Leipold Army News Service WASHINGTON -- On a perfect fall morning at Arlington National Cemetery, Secretary of the Army John McHugh relit the eternal flame which marks the final resting places of John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. A flame has actually been burning continuously at the site since the president was buried there Nov. 25, 1963. It was originally lit by Mrs. Kennedy. Recently, work began to upgrade the apparatus that keeps the flame illuminated. In order to make that happen, the flame was transferred to a nearby "temporary" eternal flame. Once the upgrade was complete, McHugh transferred the flame back. The eternal flame has been burning now continuously for 50 years. The new hardware, more modern and efficient, will keep it burning so it may continue to be a beacon of hope and remembrance for all who see it, said Patrick K. Hallinan, executive director of Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery. "As a nation, we erect monuments and memorials to commemorate the people and events who define our values and ideals -- they are physical reminders of service, sacrifice and remembrance," Hallinan said. "People from all over the world come to pay their respects to our 35th president, President John F. Kennedy, a combat veteran from World War II who served in the Navy," he said. "They come to visit a fellow military member, a president whose life was tragically cut short, and a man who inspired them. "And, they come to see the eternal flame, the embodiment of hope and renewal, a symbol that is just as relevant today as it was then," Hallinan added. A temporary eternal flame was lit April 29. It had been operating at the gravesite while a series of upgrades were made at the permanent eternal flame site. The Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District and its contracting partners conducted the work. They replaced the burner assembly and the supporting infrastructure including the gas, electric and compressed air lines for the flame. "Essentially, it's same technology, pretty simple and elegant," said Col. Michelle Stewart, Arlington National Cemetery chief engineer. "The toughest part of the project was testing the flame. We wanted to ensure we recreated as much as possible the quality of the flame that burned previously for the last 50 years. So getting the gas and air mixture just right -- to add to the height of the flame, it's a good six inches of dancing flame, brightly colored -- we wanted to maintain that." The engineers also installed new drainage lines below the flame and relocated the natural gas pressure regulators for easier access and maintenance. Arlington will host a number of remembrance events in November to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's death and burial: -- Nov. 15 -- Dec. 1, a special pictorial exhibit honoring Kennedy's legacy of public service will be on display in the basement of the Memorial Amphitheater. -- Nov. 22, Arlington National Cemetery will conduct a wreath-laying remembrance at the JFK gravesite. -- Nov. 25, the Irish Defence Forces 37th Cadet Class will conduct a remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy gravesite. The 37th Cadet Class flew to Washington to provide an honor guard during the president's funeral service. arlington national cemetary JFK eternal flame
College residents with their own computers are provided with free broadband access to the USQ Student computer network, including the Internet. Residential College residents are provided with free internet access in their bedrooms. In addition the University also provide students with wireless internet and internet access in the campus computer labs. Steps to access the student computer network and obtain assistance are: - Obtain and complete an Application for Access to the Residential Colleges student network from McGregor College. - Ensure your computer has a network interface card (10/100Mb Ethernet card) and virus protection software. - Obtain from McGregor College Office an Instruction Leaflet for your particular Operating System (e.g. Windows XP, Windows 7, or MAC OS X 10.4). Ensure the cable to connect your bedroom phone to your PC (RJ-45 port) is already in your bedroom. - Follow the instruction leaflet using your UConnect student username and password for the bedroom to gain access. - If you experience any difficulties gaining access, contact a fellow student or one of the resident student coordinators whose names appear on notice boards in your block. USQ provides Sophos Anti-Virus free of charge to staff and students to use on home computers. You are responsible for any damage which may result from requesting assistance. Read the Code of Practice for the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and be aware that access can be disabled where the Code is breached or where a virus is detected on your PC. Internet access is only provided to USQ students, staff or USQ sponsored visitors and not the general public. The Cisco IP Phone 7911 Series is a full-feature telephone that provides voice communication over an IP network. This means you can make or receive telephone calls while at the same time being logged on to the internet. Brief operating instructions are on the wall of each bedroom and a Quick Reference Guide summarising the basic call features for users is also available. The bedroom telephone number is +61 7 4687 XXXX (the four digits shown on the screen on the left hand side). Residents are requested not to move telephones from one bedroom to another as this causes problems for both residents and staff. All internal calls are free (including computer network/internet access) and the last four digits are dialed to make a call. This includes all calls made to campus numbers such as security, the office and all residents of McGregor, Steele Rudd and Concannon Colleges. External calls are made via a pre-paid phone card which can be purchased from the bookshop on-campus. When you purchase one of these cards, you will find a section on the back that requires scratching off. Under this is a twelve digit card identification number. On the top of this card you will find an 1800 number, which you are required to call when making an external call. - dial 0 to get an outside line - dial the 1800 number on the card - follow the prompts from the operator (ie to continue in English, press 1) - enter in the 12 digit card number when prompted - the automated operator will indicate the value remaining on the card - enter in the phone number you wish to call, including the area code (this includes local calls). Voice Mail is available from student bedrooms and the Voice Mail Instructions for Residents provides a step-by-step guide. Upon arrival, it is important for new permanent residents to immediately access their mailbox, change the default Security Code, record their name to identify their mailbox and record a personal greeting.
Contrary to Broadband Modernization Goals Background: Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it would examine tariffed pricing plans for business broadband services offered by four USTelecom member companies. The following statement is from USTelecom President Walter McCormick: “Although the FCC says that it wants to be a data-driven agency, promote facilities-based competition, and incent broadband investment, it just can’t seem to get beyond its telephone-era mindset when it comes to regulating 20th century legacy services. The future of the business services market is in advanced, IP-based high-speed networks that are offered today throughout the nation on a competitive basis by cable and others who can provide service under private contracts that are exempt from regulation. Yet, at the very time the commission is expressing concern over the growing dominance of cable in the overall broadband marketplace, and acknowledging that burdensome legacy regulation of telecom companies is misdirecting investment and hindering competition, it launches an old-fashioned “tariff” investigation of the only competitors in the marketplace who are required to operate under last century’s antiquated rules. While we are unconcerned by what the investigation will show, as the longstanding terms and conditions contained in the tariffs are fair and lawful, we think the launch of this costly investigation is contrary to the public interest and the commission’s oft-stated broadband modernization policy objectives.” USTelecom is the nation’s premier trade association representing service providers and suppliers for the telecom industry. Its diverse member base ranges from large publicly traded communications corporations to small companies and cooperatives – all providing advanced communications services to both urban and rural markets.
History of the Distance Computer The distance computer that we have been using is simple type of circular slide rule. This is the kind of device that people like engineers and pilots regularly used before pocket electronic calculators were developed. The E6-B Flight Computer The picture below shows an example of a flight computer. Similar devices were produced in great numbers for the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, and they were given the Army designation E6-B. They have continued to be used by pilots since then. Airliners and corporate aircraft now have digital instruments that perform the same functions, but most pilots still have an E6-B somewhere in the bottom of their flight bag for use in case the digital instruments fail. The Engineering Slide Rule Slide rules were also made in a linear, rather than circular design. The picture below shows part of a classic K&E engineering slide rule made in the late 1960s. (Unless you want to know how the distance computer really works. But you can't get to that secret until you have studied Algebra.) Yes I have studied Algebra and I want to know the
Total Joint Replacement Program - Educational Grant from Pfizer - Hip Replacement - Computer Knee Simulator to Improve Total Knee Replacement Outcomes - Total Knee Replacement Q & A Educational grant from Smith & Nephew supports residency joint rotation program. Smith & Nephew Advanced Surgical Devices has demonstrated its commitment to advancing medical research, innovation, and education with an educational grant to The Campbell Foundation in support of education and research in adult reconstruction. Smith & Nephew's grant to the Foundation will help sponsor the Total Joint Rotation of the Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee Orthopaedic Residency Program. The grant will help underwrite the cost of educating 24 Campbell Clinic residents in the subspecialty area of joint replacement. Dr. Terry Canale, President of The Campbell Foundation, said, "This grant demonstrates that Smith & Nephew recognizes the vital role highly-trained physicians play in the healthcare continuum. We look forward to working with Smith & Nephew to take orthopaedic education to new levels of excellence while offering our patients hope for better, more active lives." The Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee Orthopaedic Residency Program enables aspiring orthopaedic surgeons to develop and refine their clinical, surgical, and research skills. The accredited, five-year program has a total of 40 full-time residents and ranks in the top eight percent of orthopaedic residency programs in the nation. Nearly 500 medical school graduates vie for the eight positions open each year. Residents in the program participate in the total joint rotation in their second, fourth, and fifth years. During each rotation, residents spend approximately 50 percent of their time in clinical activities and 50 percent in surgical duties, a practice that allows them to experience continuity of patient care from initial exam and evaluation, through surgical or non-surgical treatment and post-operative rehabilitation. During the total joint rotation, residents are instructed and mentored by faculty members from the Campbell Clinic staff who have interest and training in the subspecialty of total joint replacement. Physicians who serve on the total joint rotation faculty include Dr. Andrew Crenshaw, Dr. John Crockarell, Dr. James Guyton, Dr. James Harkess, Dr. Robert Heck, Dr. David LaVelle, Dr. Anthony Mascioli, and Dr. Patrick Toy. The residency program benefits significantly from monthly Journal Club meetings during which the teaching staff and residents review and discuss articles from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and subspecialty journals. Dr. John Crockarell plans to start a Total Joint Journal Club using articles from the Journal of Arthroplasty for discussion. The educational grant helps provide each resident with an individual subscription to the Journal of Arthroplasty. A number of major books and electronic resources will also be added to the Total Joint Library, including the Orthopaedic Knowledge Update series from the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Modern medicine, for all its miracles, is still an inexact science in many areas. Efforts to make it less so, generally taken place in research labs and facilities across the world, where doctors, engineers, and highly specialized experts work together conducting trials and studies while recording and measuring outcomes. Ongoing research is what advances medical knowledge and skill, and it gives mankind the miracles that increase functionality and save lives. Dr. William M. Mihalko, Associate Professor, and Dr. John Leicester Williams, Affiliated Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UTHSC from the University of Memphis, are two such researches working to develop a virtual knee simulator that will allow surgeons to perform total knee replacement surgeries, known as a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), on an individualized, patient-by-patient basis. Dr. Mihalko (left) and Dr. Williams (right) is developing the computer model with the ultimate goal of enabling surgeons to align the knee implant more accurately in accordance with the patient's specific anatomical characteristics for the best results and longest implant wear. Dr. Mihalko is holding a computer-navigated pointer, which allows surgeons to record specific anatomical landmarks during surgery. In his life hand, he holds the upper portion of a total knee implant. By allowing the computer to track the implant and a patient's own anatomy, a customized approach to the surgery is being developed. "Developing a computer-based model is important because right now we fit every patient into just one set of parameters in the operating room," said Dr. Mihalko, a Campbell Clinic total joint surgeon. "In other words, we align and insert our implants the same way, regardless of the patient's sex, size, age health, or other individual characteristics." That means that a football linebacker's artificial knee is implanted and positioned the exact same way as a 98-pound ballerina's. It is Mihalko's and Williams's theory that if total knee replacements are inserted in a custom manner to fit the patient's individual characteristics, the percentage of TKAs that meet patient satisfaction will go up. "We're trying to come up with a tool for the surgeon that helps him predict on an individual basis how a knee implant will function given anatomical variations in soft tissue, muscle forces, support, center of rotation, and those types of things," said Mihalko. "Currently, when we put an implant into a patient, we often have to just visualize some of those things- just take our best guess." "And a patient won't know if his implant is suitable until he's healed-three months later!" added Dr. Williams. "It's like trying to fit an unconscious person with a pair of shoes. You know how to place the shoe and lace it up, but you really won't know how those shoes will fit-and whether the patient will be comfortable in them-until the person is well enough to walk in them himself." The two researchers' collective goal is to develop a tool to use in the operating room, where the surgeon will enter the patient's specific anatomical parameters, and a computer model will instantly digitize where that particular patient's ligaments are attached, where his muscles insert around the knee, how his particular body makeup may affect the knee's performance, and other factors critical to a successful patient outcome. And developing such a tool is not easy. "Our biggest problem is that the knee is such a complex and variable system," said Dr. Mihalko. "Coming up with a computer model that takes into account all of the thousands of variables and all of the ways you can move your knee is challenging to say the least." Dr. Williams has worked for several years developing simulation software for a computer model that helps the researchers determine how a knee will react when they change implant positions, tighten ligaments, exert muscle forces, and subject the knee to various motions. Those computer predictions are then compared to an actual implanted knee. "We use a mechanical simulator in the lab to test specimens to determine if the computer's predictions are accurate," said Dr. Mihalko. "In other words, do the two match up? Is what we're predicting in the computer model actually taking place with the real knee implant? If not, we adjust the computer model accordingly and repeat the process." The mechanical simulator moves knee specimens into squats, lunges, flexes, and extensions. The researchers analyze how the implant reacts while it's still inside the knee, and then they physically remove the implant for further analysis. "By conducting research this way, we can try to determine what was happening inside the knee while the implant is still in place," says Mihalko. "What factors affected the implant that could make it fail? This implant retrieval method helps us tweak the program and make it more accurate and helpful." The biggest challenge facing the two researchers is funding. "I spend one0third of my time just writing grants," said Dr. Mihalko. "And this is important research. This type of analysis will introduce a personalized-medicine approach to total knee arthroplasty and allow the best change for the patient to have the longest-functioning, most successful implant during his lifetime. That's also important to those who receive the 600,000 total knee replacements every year." Source: The Campbell Foundation Momentum with Dr. William M. Mihalko What is a total knee arthroplasty? It's where damaged cartilage and bone are surgically removed from the surface of the knee joint and replaced with a man made implant made of metal and plastic. Dr. William M. Mihalko What causes a person to need a total knee replacement? The No. 1 cause is osteoarthritis. Various types of injuries can also lead to the need for a knee replacement. Of the things we can control, what causes the most damage to our knees? In overweight people, every extra pound of weight places four to five pounds more force on the knee. It's a magnified force. So if a person loses 20 pounds, the knees see 100 pounds less force and they'll last longer. Playing contact sports can also shorten the life of the knee. How long do knee replacement last? The average for knee replacement recipients is 65 years old, and the implant should last long as that patient is alive. What happens when a replacement fails? The patient feels pain, or the joint is unstable, meaning the patient has to again use a can or a walker. Ten to fifteen percent of knee replacements do not meet patient satisfaction. That is a statistic that our research aims to improve. Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering 1211 Union Ave. Suite 520 Memphis, TN 38104 Phone: (901) 448-5879 Fax: (901) 448-3208 Campbell Foundation Education Office 1211 Union Ave Suite 510 Memphis, TN 38104 Phone: (901) 759-3275 Phone: (901) 759-3274
The ECMO Team caring for your child is made up of an ECMO doctor who may be a Neonatologist or a pediatric intensive care doctor, a surgeon, an ECMO perfusionist, ICU nurses and respiratory therapists. - The Neonatologist or Pediatric Intensivist: A pediatrician who specializes in the care of very sick babies or children. This doctor will be the primary doctor for your child. - The Pediatric Surgeon: A doctor who specializes in performing surgery on children. This doctor will place and remove the cannulas needed for ECMO. The surgery will take place in the intensive care unit. - The ECMO Perfusionist: A certified perfusionist is educated and trained in the management and operation of the ECMO machine. The perfusionist will prepare the machine and tubing to help the surgeon and ECMO doctor place your child on ECMO. In the event there are problems while your child is on ECMO, the perfusionist will work to correct the problem. They will always be available to assist the bedside ECMO specialist taking care of your child. - The ECMO specialist is a nurse or respiratory therapist who has received special training to run the ECMO machine. There will always be an ECMO specialist to run the ECMO machine. - The ICU Nurse and Respiratory Therapist: These members of the ICU team are specially educated to care for very sick babies and children. They will be at the bedside providing care to your child.
Professional Reports and Briefs - Spending and Student Achievement: Money Matters When Equity is at Issue (Janaury 2014) - Teacher Salaries and Opportunities to Learn (June 2013) - The eEnergy Vermont Collaborative: Bringing the Smart Grid to the State of Vermont (February 2013) - Why a Comprehensive Approach to Educational Reform is Necessary (January 2013) - Educational Productivity and Opportunities to Learn (September 2012) - Addressing the Needs of Children of Incarcerated Parents (February 2012) - Student Mobility and Opportunity to Learn: Money Matters (January 2012) - Can Voluntary School District Mergers Succeed? (October 2011) - Parent Information Resource Centers and Title I Compliance (June 2011) - Identifying Opportunities for Integrated Service Delivery to Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Disabilities (February 2012) - Lamoille Community Justice Project Program Evaluation: Fall 2009 - Summer 2010 (August 2010) - Homelessness Phase V Report: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program: Final Report (March 31, 2010) - General Assistance (GA) Pilot: Phase 3 Evaluation Report (August 2009) - General Assistance (GA) Pilot: Phase 3 Executive Summary (August 24, 2009) - General Assistance (GA) Pilot: Phase 2 Evaluation Report (January 2009) - General Assistance (GA) Pilot: Phase 2 Executive Summary (January 21, 2008) - General Assistance (GA) Housing Benefits Flexibility Pilot Programs Evaluation: Phase 1 (November 15, 2007) - General Assistance (GA) Housing Benefits Flexibility Pilot Programs Evaluation: Phase 1 - Executive Summary (November 2007) - A Study of Consumer Satisfaction with Services and Supports Provided by the Agency of Human Services, 2005 (2005) - A Study of Staff Satisfaction at the Vermont Agency of Human Services, 2005 (2005) - Windsor County Sparrow Project Program Evaluation: Final Report of Year One Findings, June 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 (May 2011) - Incarcerated Women's Initiative (IWI) (June 2007) - Equity of Opportunity To Learn, Spending and Student Achievement (April 5, 2014) - Interim Report on Act 153 (CY 2012): An Act Relating to Voluntary School District Merger, Virtual Merger, Supervisory Union Duties, and Including Secondary Students with Disabilities in Senior Year Activities and Ceremonies (January 2013) - Educational Opportunities Working Group Report on Aligning Funding, Opportunities to Learn and Outcomes of the Educational System (December 2012) - Interim Report on Act 153 (CY 2011): An Act Relating to Voluntary School District Merger, Virtual Merger, Supervisory Union Duties, and Including Secondary Students with Disabilities in Senior Year Activities and Ceremonies (July 2012) - Identifying Opportunities for Integrated Service Delivery to Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Disabilities (February 2012) - Report on Voluntary School District Merger Activity and Process (CY10), Executive Summary (March 23, 2011) - Vermont Teacher Diversity Report 2010: Study of Diversity of School Personnel and Recruiting Practices (2010) - Evaluation of the "Quantum Leap" Truancy and Dropout Prevention Programs Mount Anthony Union High School, Bennington Vermont: Final Evaluation Report (March 2006) - Windham Region Mobility Study: Coordination of Transportation Services to Improve Mobility for All of the Windham Region's Residents. (November 2012) Vermont Mathematics Initiative (VMI) - The Vermont Mathematics Initiative: Student Acheivement from Grade 4 to Grade 10 2000 to 2006 (March 2008) - Evaluating the Vermont Mathematics Initiative in a Value Added Context (this is a powerpoint presentation of the March 2008 paper) - Vermont Mathematics Initiative Program Evaluation (May 2005) - Executive Summary VMI Evaluation (Executive Summary of the May 2005 Evaluation) Vermont Legislative Research Service (VLRS) Policy Briefs The Vermont Legislative Research Service (VLRS), formerly the Vermont Legislative Research Shop, was founded in 1998 and became part of the UVM Jeffords Center in 2010. The VLRS strives to provide non-partisan policy research support to state legislators while concurrently promoting students' research skills. Students work in research teams to produce reports answering questions posed by Legislators or create new reports based on current issues in the Legislature, under the supervision of Professor Anthony Gierzynski, Director of the VLRS. - Criminal Justice and Corrections - Economic Issues - Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) Report - Politics and Government Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Cartier, L. & Ali, S. (2012). Pearl farming as a sustainable development path. Solutions Journal, 3 (4), 30-34. Donovan, E., & Shepherd, K. (2013). Implementing multi-tiered systems of support in mathematics: Findings from two schools. Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship, 2(1). Giles, C.D., G. Druschel, A.E. Richardson, J.E. Hill. (2012). Organic anion-driven solubilization of precipitate and sorbed phytate improves hydrolysis by phytases and bioavailability to Nicotiana tabacum. Soil Science, 177 (10), 591-598. Griffin, P. & Ali, S.H. (in press). Managing transboundary wetlands: The Ramsar Convention as a means of environmental diplomacy. Journal of Environmental Studies and Science. Hill, J.E., and Giles, C.D. (2011). Think Globally, Act Locally: Targeting the Rhizosphere to Control Soil Fertility and Improve Water Quality. American Geophysical Union, Hydrology Section, December Newsletter, pp. 28-30. Huang, G., Zhou, W., & Ali, S. Spatial patterns and economic contributions of mining and tourism in biodiversity hotspots: A case study in Yunnan China. Ecological Economics, 70 (8), 1492 – 1498. Keir, L., Watts, R. & Inwood, S. (2014): Environmental justice and citizen perceptions of a proposed electric transmission line. Community Development, DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2014.887130 Keir, L. & Ali, S. (2014). Conflict assessment in energy infrastructure siting: Prospects for consensus building in the Northern Pass transmission line project. Negotiation Journal, April 2014. Koliba, C. (2011). Introduction to “Performance Management in Governance Networks: Critical Concepts and Practices.” Public Performance Management Review, 34 (4), 515-519. Koliba, C., Zia, A. (in press). Theory Testing Using Complex Systems Modeling in Public Administration and Policy Studies: Challenges and Opportunities for a Meta-Theoretical Research Program. Emergence: Complexity & Organization. Koliba, C., Zia, A., and Lee, B. 2011. Governance Informatics: Utilizing Computer Simulation Models to Manage Complex Governance Networks. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal. 16 (1), Article 3. Moore, C., Shoulberg, E., & Murray-Close, D. (2012). The Protective Role of Teacher Preference for At-Risk Children’s Social Status. Aggressive Behavior, 38 (6), 481-493. Shepherd, K., & Salembier, G. (2010). Leading, learning, and literacy: Implementing a response to intervention approach in the Riverside elementary school. New England Reading Association Journal 46, (1), 38 – 49. Shepherd, K., Salembier, G. (2011). Improving schools through a response to intervention approach: A cross-case analysis of three rural schools. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 30 (3), 3-15. Shoulberg, E.K., Sijtsema, J.J., Murray-Close, D. (2011). The association between valuing popularity and relational aggression: The moderating effects of actual popularity and physiological reactivity to exclusion. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 110(1), 20-37. Zia, A. (2012) Land Use Adaptation to Climate Change: Economic Damages from Land-Falling Hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf States of the USA, 1900-2005. Sustainability 4: 917-932. Zia, A., and Glantz, M. (2012) Risk Zones: Comparative Lesson Drawing and Policy Learning from Flood Insurance Programs. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 14(2): 143-159. Zia, A., Kauffman, S., Niiranen, S. (2012) The Prospects and Limits of Algorithms in Simulating Creative Decision Making. Emergence: Complexity and Organization (E:CO) – An International Transdisciplinary Journal of Complex Social Systems 14 (3): 89-109. Zia, A., Metcalf, S., Koliba, C., Widner, M. (in press). Agent Based Models of Cross-Jurisdictional Governance Networks: Simulating the Emergence of Project Prioritization Patterns Under Alternate Policy Theoretical Frameworks and Network Structures. Emergence: Complexity & Organization. Zia, A., Hameed, K. (in press). Politics of Conflict in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas: Vulnerability Reduction in Violence-Prone Complex Adaptive Systems. Digest of Middle East Studies (DOMES). Zia, A. and Koliba, C. (in press). Modeling of Intergovernmental Decision Making for Funding Transportation Projects. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Society. Zia, A. and Koliba, C. (2011). Climate Change Governance and Accountability: Dilemmas of Performance Management in Complex Governance Networks. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis. 13(5): 479-497. Zia, A., C. Koliba (2013) Agent-Based Modeling of Intergovernmental Decision Making: How Institutional Rules Generate Basins of Attraction in Funding Transportation Projects. Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting. Washington DC, January 2013. Paper No. 13-2153. Zia, A., Koliba, C., De Pinto, T. (2012) Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Metropolitan Transportation Planning Scenarios: Assessing Trade-Offs Between Business-As-Usual and Alternate Sustainable Community Designs. Transportation Research Board 2012 Annual Meeting, Washington DC, January 2012. Paper no. 12-2461. Pincus, R. & Ali, S. eds. (in press) Diplomacy on Ice: Energy and the Environment in the Arctic and Antarctic. Yale University Press, April 2014. Ali, S.H. & Ackley, M. (2011). Foreign investment and environmental justice in an island economy: Mining, bottled water, and corporate social responsibility in Fiji. In Julian Agyeman and JoAnn Carmin (eds.), Environmental Inequities Beyond Borders: Local Perspectives on Global Injustices. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Ali, S.H. & Watzin, M. Science and spatial security: Building peace through environmental cooperation in southern Europe. In Rita Floyd and Richard Mathews (Eds.), Environmental Security: Approaches and Issues. London: Routledge, 2013. Beckage, B., Kauffman, S. Zia, A., Koliba, C., Gross, L.J. 2013. Book chapter: More Complex Complexity: Exploring the Nature of Computational Irreducibility Across Physical, Biological, and Human Social Systems. Zenil, H. editor. Irreducibility and Computational Equivalence. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 79-88. Koliba, C. 2013. Book chapter: Governance Network Performance: Foundations of Theory Development and Empirical Analysis. Agranoff, B., Mandell, M., and Keast, R. editors. Advances in Network Governance. Routledge Press: New York, NY. Koliba, C. (2011). Book chapter: Administrative Strategies for a Networked World: The Educational Imperative for Intergovernmental Relations in 2020. Thurmaier, K. and Meek, J. editors. Network Governance: Implications for Intergovernmental Relations in 2020. New York: Sage Publications. Koliba, C. and Zia, A. (in press). Book chapter: Governance Informatics: Using Computer Simulation Models to Deepen Situational Awareness and Governance Design Considerations. DeSouza, K. and Johnston, E. editors. Policy Informatics. MIT Press: Cambridge, MA. Koliba, C., and Zia, A. 2013. Complex Systems Modeling in Public Administration and Policy Studies: Challenges and Opportunities for a Meta-Theoretical Research Program. In L. Gerrits and P.K. Marks (Eds.), COMPACT I: Public Administration in Complexity. Litchfield Park, AZ: Emergent Publications. Koppenjan, J. and Koliba, C. Symposium Co-Editors. 2013. The Complexity of New Public Governance. International Review of Public Administration. Zia, A., Kelman, I., Glantz, M. (in press) Arctic Melting Tests the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In Diplomacy on Ice: Polar Governance in the Age of Climate Change. Editors: S. Ali and R. Pincus. Yale University Press, New Haven CT. Zia, A. (2013) Post-Kyoto Climate Governance: Confronting the Politics of Scale, Ideology and Knowledge. Rutledge, London UK. Zia, A., Koliba, C., and Tian, Y. 2013. Governance Network Analysis: Experimental Simulations of Alternate Institutional Designs for Intergovernmental Project Prioritization Processes. In L. Gerrits and P.K. Marks (Eds.), COMPACT I: Public Administration in Complexity. Litchfield Park, AZ: Emergent Publications DeCarlo, Anjanette (2013). Sustainable Strategies for Implementing Development Assistance: Enterprise, Women's Empowerment and NGOs in Africa and the Diaspora. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Donovan, Erin (2013). Peer Sexual Harassment in College: The Relationship with Status and College Adjustment. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Giles, Courtney D. (2012) The role of plant and bacterial organic anion production in the bioavailability of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate: implications for soil phosphorus cycling and agricultural nutrient mitigation. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Glesner, Talia J. (2014) Programming for Families Impacted by Incarceration: An Ecological Exploration Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Onderwyzer, Susan A. (2011). Vermont incarcerated women's initiative drug education, treatment, enforcement and rehabilitation projects evaluation: promising practices for reducing recidivism Ed.D Dissertation, University of Vermont. Pincus, Rebecca (2013) United States Department of Defense and the Challenge of Climate Change. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Reeves, Susan A. (2010). Deliberate dialogue: evaluation teaching effectiveness of a patient safety communication technique. Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Roy, Meagan E. (2010). Effective practices for teaching learners with autism spectrum disorders: validation of a program assessment tool. Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Shoulberg, Erin K. (2012). The contextual nature of popularity goals : associations with math engagement and achievement during the transition to adolescence. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Swindlehurst, Kelly Ann (2014). Meeting the Needs of All Learners: The Impact of Teacher Education on Teacher Readiness. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Voinov Vladich, Helena (2013). Participatory Spatial Analysis, High Resolution Remote Sensing Data and Ecosystem Services Valuation Approach as Tools for Environmental Consensus Building. 2013. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont. Fournier, Kate. (2012) An Evaluation of the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Delisting. Master's Project, University of Vermont. Keir, L. (2013). Public participation in energy infrastructure development: The case of the Northern Pass transmission line. Master's Thesis, University of Vermont. Kent, Daniel (2013). Assessing the Evolution of an Intergovernmental Transportation Planning Network's Democratic Anchorage. Master's Thesis, University of Vermont. Turner, Leslie (Drake) (2013). Making Space for Collaboration and Change in Vermont's Food System: Social Network Analysis of the Farm to Plate Network. Master's Thesis, University of Vermont.
Huge Study Finds Brain Networks Connected to Teen Drug Abuse - By Joshua E. Brown That teenagers push against boundaries — and sometimes take risks — is as predictable as the sunrise. It happens in all cultures and even across all mammal species: adolescence is a time to test limits and develop independence. But why do some teenagers start smoking or experimenting with drugs — while others don’t? In the largest imaging study of the human brain ever conducted — involving 1,896 14-year-olds — scientists have discovered a number of previously unknown networks that go a long way toward an answer. Robert Whelan and Hugh Garavan of the University of Vermont, along with a large group of international colleagues, report that differences in these networks provide strong evidence that some teenagers are at higher risk for drug and alcohol experimentation — simply because their brains work differently, making them more impulsive. Their findings are presented in the journal Nature Neuroscience, published online April 29. Drug use biomarker This discovery helps answer a long-standing chicken-or-egg question about whether certain brain patterns come before drug use — or are caused by it. “The differences in these networks seem to precede drug use,” says Garavan, Whelan’s colleague in UVM’s psychiatry department, who also served as the principal investigator of the Irish component of a large European research project, called IMAGEN, that gathered the data about the teens in the new study. In a key finding, diminished activity in a network involving the “orbitofrontal cortex” is associated with experimentation with alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs in early adolescence. “These networks are not working as well for some kids as for others,” says Whelan, making them more impulsive. Faced with a choice about smoking or drinking, the 14-year-old with a less functional impulse-regulating network will be more likely to say, “Yeah, gimme, gimme, gimme!” says Garavan, “and this other kid is saying, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’” Testing for lower function in this and other brain networks could, perhaps, be used by researchers someday as “a risk factor or biomarker for potential drug use,” Garavan says. Understanding brain networks that put some teenagers at higher risk for starting to use alcohol and drugs could have large implications for public health. Death among teenagers in the industrialized world is largely caused by preventable or self-inflicted accidents that are often launched by impulsive risky behaviors — and alcohol and drug use often is a root of these behaviors. Additionally, “addiction in the western world is our number one health problem,” says Garavan. “Think about alcohol, cigarettes or harder drugs and all the consequences that has in society for people’s health.” The links with ADHD The researchers were also able to show that other newly discovered networks are connected with the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. These ADHD networks are distinct from those associated with early drug use. In recent years, there has been controversy and extensive media attention about the possible connection between ADHD and drug abuse. Both ADHD and early drug use are associated with poor inhibitory control — they’re problems that plague impulsive people. But the new research shows that these seemingly related problems are regulated by different networks in the brain — even though both groups of teens can score poorly on tests of their “stop-signal reaction time,” a standard measure of overall inhibitory control used in this study and other similar ones. This strengthens the idea that risk of ADHD is not necessarily a full-blown risk for drug use as some recent studies suggest. Impulsivity in pieces The impulsivity networks — connected areas of activity in the brain revealed by increased blood flow — begin to paint a more nuanced portrait of the neurobiology underlying the patchwork of attributes and behaviors that psychologists call impulsivity — as well as the capacity to put brakes on these impulses, a set of skills sometimes called inhibitory control. Edythe London, professor of addiction studies and director of the UCLA Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, who was not part of the new study, described it as “outstanding,” noting that the work by Whelan and others “substantially advances our understanding of the neural circuitry that governs inhibitory control in the adolescent brain.” Using a complex mathematical approach called factor analysis, Whelan and colleagues were able to fish out seven networks involved when impulses were successfully inhibited and six networks involved when inhibition failed — from the vast and chaotic actions of a teenage brain at work. These networks “light up,” Whelan says, in a functional MRI scanner during trials when the teenagers were asked to perform a repetitive task that involved pushing a button on a keyboard, but then were able to successfully stop — or inhibit — the act of pushing the button in mid-action. Those teens with better inhibitory control were able to succeed at this task faster. But the underlying networks behind these tasks could not have been detectable in a “typical fMRI study of about 16 or 20 people,” says Whelan. “This study was orders of magnitude bigger, which lets us overcome much of the randomness and noise — and find the brain regions that actually vary together.” The new study draws on the multi-year work of the IMAGEN Consortium, funded by the European Union, and headed by Prof. Gunter Schumann at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. IMAGEN, lead by a team of scientists across Europe, carried out neuroimaging, genetic and behavioral analyses in 2,000 teenage volunteers in Ireland, England, France, and Germany and will be following them for several years, investigating the roots of risk-taking behavior and mental health in teenagers. “The take-home message is that impulsivity can be decomposed, broken down into different brain regions,” says Garavan, “and the functioning of one region is related to ADHD symptoms, while the functioning of other regions is related to drug use.”

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