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Besides all the damage to your lungs and other organs, smoking adds wrinkles and years to your face. Even 20 year olds are receiving skin and lung damage from the 4,000 plus chemicals in tobacco smoke. Smoking is a no win situation. It ages you faster and destroys your lungs. Cancer risks are also higher for smokers than non smokers, and not just in the lungs.
Ladies, Smoking Will Add Wrinkles to Your Face
Do you notice that smokers look older than non smokers? It isn’t your imagination, they really do. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and many other oxidants that cause wrinkles and aging skin. Nicotine is a stimulate that causes blood vessel constriction that reduces oxygen to the skin. Smoking depletes vitamin C. It causes changes in the skin that interferes with cells that form connective tissue in the skin. Also the puckering of the lips as smoke is drawn in and out cause more wrinkles around the mouth. Squinting to keep the smoke out of the eyes causes more wrinkling around the eyes. Even in 20 year olds, you can see the onset of damage which will only get worse as smoking continues.
There are 4,000 plus chemicals in cigarette smoke. Other than carbon monoxide and nicotine, A few of those chemicals are, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide, acrolein. Other compounds include acetone, benzene, mercury, lead, ammonia, cadmium, arsenic and tar.
I hope smokers will have the gumption to put their cigarettes aside when they see what they are putting into their bodies. While you are thinking about wrinkling and aging of the skin take into account the destructions of the lungs that filling them full of cigarette smoke which contains all these poison chemicals causes.
Image via Wikipedia
The good news is that if you quite smoking in time the skin will repair itself and take on a younger appearance. The body will purge itself of the chemicals contained in smoke. Even a long time smoker will see clearer lungs and the chance of lung cancer will plummet. It’s all good news for those who give up smoking. There’s no way smoking can give you as much pleasure as a younger face and a healthier body.
publish your articles for income.
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| 0.942034 | 466 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Learn the Art of Practicing
- Have proper materials ready like your instrument, pencil, a metronome/tuner, practice chart, music, and a recording device (optional but recommended highly).
- Practice Chart – organized by month and days of the week, a goal is to physically fill in with repertoire and time spent on each.
- Always “practice in small bits” every single day - We all can get overwhelmed with a big task, even one that’s as fun as playing your favorite song on the violin. That’s why it’s easier to focus on pieces (ie. one measure at a time, working on just the bow or just the fingers, sing intervals or rhythm, dynamics, etc.) When those little bits are easy to do after many many repetitions, start putting the pieces together.
- Organize your practice session – start with a warm-up (scales, etudes), spend a substantial amount of time/work on core pieces with clear goals, and cool down with some favorite old songs or sightreading. There should be two types of practicing: 1) slow and detailed work that needs lots of thinking and preparing, and 2) preview and review practice means running through the song from beginning to end to get that sense of “flow.”
- Listen to recordings only AFTER you have done your homework – Composers write out music on paper for a reason and we, as performers, are given an abundance of hints such as tempi, dynamics, mood, and of course notes, bowings, and rhythm (thank goodness!) We should learn to become “sponges” and be able to find all the details on the page (like a scavenger hunt) and know how to make the best use of them. Recordings only serve as a confirmation to what we’ve worked on and it can help us interpret a piece differently from our own perspective. Never “copy” another person’s playing, but please be inspired.
- Perfect your intonation. No excuses. PDF is taken from www.violinmasterclass.com.
If you have discovered any other practice tips, be sure to comment below so everyone can learn from each other. Thanks for the input!
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| 0.939585 | 469 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Collectively explore problems and strengths of the open web. What would your life be like without the web? Who made the web? How can you tell the web was made by people?
We benefit from an open web where anyone can use, see and manipulate content on the Internet. Imagine if those same features applied to holidays. Imagine a holiday for everyone regardless of nationality or religion. What do we all have in common as human beings? What would an open holiday look like?
Have everyone create an open holiday. Holidays should have a name, visual representation and a history. Ask learners: What is unique about this holiday? How do people celebrate it? How does the holiday include all people regardless of race or religion or economic status?
Hack into a news site using the X-Ray Goggles to write a story about how the holiday is celebrated on each continent. Put the content on a webpage that was created or hacked and present it to the group at the end of the day.
Following the presentations, facilitators should direct participants to other resources in their community or online to learn more about hacking and web design/development. Provide individual constructive feedback during presentations.
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| 0.948501 | 236 | 3.40625 | 3 |
Hawaii Department of Agriculture / Big Island coffee growers had it tough in 2010. They faced the most severe drought on record and confronted an infestation of the coffee berry borer, a beetle found around the world but only recently discovered in Hawaii.
This double whammy meant the coffee harvest was down significantly–some growers had just 20 percent of the previous year’s harvest–meaning less product to sell. But there was also the borer itself to deal with. To prevent the infestation of other islands, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture approved a quarantine on green coffee in late November; to ship to other islands, growers must either fumigate their beans with the chemical methyl bromide, heat-treat the beans to kill the beetles (less than ideal for the quality of the coffee) or transport the beans in special beetle-resistant bags.
So far, consumers have not felt the impact of the drought and the borer. Most farmers were able to fill their orders, so the smaller harvests did not result in shortages on retail shelves. However, consumers should be aware of the dangers of the methyl bromide now employed as part of the quarantine. The United States is one of the few countries that still permits its use (most extensively in the strawberry-growing industry), despite its damaging effects to the ozone layer as well as to humans exposed to it. Buying certified organic 100 percent Kona coffee is the best way to avoid exposure to the chemical.
The beetle infestation is still a problem, but scientists and farmers may be closer to understanding why the infestation happened when it did. Many think that the borer existed on the island long prior to last year’s infestation, but had been kept in check by a naturally occurring fungus–one that waned in the drought conditions. Having less of that fungus around may be what allowed the beetle to proliferate.
South Kona grower Jason Stith, who has been credited with the initial discovery of the beetle on the Big Island, sees signs of recovery: “Now when you look at a coffee tree, you still see holes from the beetle, but you also see that the holes are clogged up with fungus and the bugs are dead inside.” With any luck, the coming months will bring a return to normal rainfall, a subsided borer population and, eventually, a lifting of the quarantine.
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| 0.965917 | 489 | 3.078125 | 3 |
From our trek to Machu Picchu to observing various farms along our trip through Peru we have asked lots of questions regarding farming techniques adopted by the modern-day Peruvians.
Lots of them are tried and true methods from the 1500`s from the Incans. Terraces are the most popular way to cultivate vegetables. Peru is such a diverse area containing well over 28 microclimates. The fruit markets are loaded with impressive amounts of fruits and veggies, from tropical and arid climates. The potato , chile, and maiz (corn) have lots of varieties , textures, and colors. Fascinating compared to our U.S. supermarkets just carrying the standard allotment of Yukon Gold, Red, and Russet potatoes.
The chocolate and coffee aren´t to shabby as well. The Choco Museo in Cusco, Peru, is outstanding and we highly recommend it.
Since transportation is limited in Peru, it is difficult for the farmers to get their produce to markets or to export it. It is a shame lots of produce goes unused and ends up decomposing or farmers just grow their crops for themselves and neighbors.
I didn`t see many tractors, however, we did see a lot of traditional plowing with oxen. A family would work together which is important because it is crucial for not only the Andean farmers but all the farmers to be self sustainable. As the father controlled the oxen and the plow tore at the earth revealing that seasons potatoes, the children would take a blanket and basket and collect the bounty. It really gave you a sense of the importance of family and tilling the land.
The Incas had an impressive repertoire regarding hybridization of plants, where one plant might grow well in the jungle , they hybridized and experimented with it until they could grow it in higher elevation or near a river most likely the Urubamba River, which to them was a powerful entity that resembled the Milky Way.
Quinoa, of course a huge mega food and originated in the highest elevations in Peru. It has now gained popularity all over the world especially in California as a gluten-free power food.
Most of the produce is organic in Peru because the farmers for one can¨t afford petroleum-based fungicides, fertilizers, etc. and because they follow ancient rituals taking advantage of native plants growing in their respective area. One example is an insecticide that they create from a hallucinogenic flower called Brugmansia, also known as the Angel Trumpet flower. Also there is a native tobacco plant that when the leaves are steeped in water it can be used as an insecticide as well. We practice this similar method in organic gardening in California.
As one plot of land lays fallow from the previous crop , the cows, alpacas, sheep, and horses are allowed to graze their , thus adding organic matter and compost to that plot for the next season`s planting. Thus , the Incas and modern-day Peruvians believe in the importance of crop rotation have been using this method for centuries.
Before the weather channel, weather apps, and the internet, farmers would have to watch the stars and the Milky Way to predict when to irrigate, plant, and harvest. Very knowledgeable and independent .
Peru has showed us lots of prowess in the farming sector regarding self sustainability. We did enjoy catching a glimpse of their farming techniques and abundance of delectable produce.
We now move along to Brazil another powerhouse of produce and resources. Looking forward to the jungle, beaches, and regional cuisines.
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| 0.959324 | 735 | 2.828125 | 3 |
"In 1973 Kenya had an estimated elephant population of 167,000. But by the late 1980s gangs of ivory hunters armed with automatic rifles had reduced the herds to about 16,000. The numbers have since recovered to around 32,000 after a crackdown on poaching, accompanied by a worldwide moratorium on the ivory trade. But the growth in the elephant population has brought the animals into conflict with a growing human population that still depends chiefly on subsistence farming for survival."If, in 1973, 167,000 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) lived in Kenya without upsetting the human population, how is it that a mere 32,000 are so vilified today? During the last decade, as elephant numbers have rebounded, cries of "Foul" have increased. As Vasagar points out in his article, a burgeoning human population (and the associated expansion of settlement) are principally to blame.
-Jeevan Vasagar, "Kenya elephants in jumbo-size move" (Guardian Weekly, Sept. 2-8, 2005)
Sadly, similar conflicts are brewing all over the globe. In Colorado, we scream about the marauding mountain lion (Puma concolor). In Connecticut, we protest white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in our vegetable gardens.
But the problem is a little different in Africa. Despite the growing human population, there are over 130,000 less elephants in Kenya today than there were a quarter century ago. So why, then, is the opposition to elephants so vocal? The answer has to do with economics and expectations.
The subsistence farmers of Kenya, circa 1973, expected to lead simple, day-to-day lives, unburdened by surplus and without material wealth. Today, however, the rural Kenyan standards of living, though well below those held dear by residents of the industrialized world, are always on the rise. In cases where the individual's lot has not yet improved, the expectations certainly have.
We're faced with what I think of as the Contemporary Conservationist's Conundrum. Is it fair for industrialized westerners to preach against industrialization and commercialization? Is it fair for us to encourage "sustainable" or "slow" development in countries looking westward, at our own exuberance, for inspiration and point of reference?
From the vantage point of a young Kenyan, legislation protecting the African elephant population only delays the arrival of a more monied, comfortable future. Hard-working and poor, Kenyan farmers place their interests high above those of an elephant, whereas western conservationists, accustomed to relative luxury, typically reverse this priorities. In order to be constructive and ethical, conservationists must marry their interest in preserving biodiversity with a sincere concern for human rights. Only then will conservationists cease alienating so much of the world's population.
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updated Jul 2, 2008 9:31 pm | 8,617 views
Application code is code written specifically for an application created in a language such as Java. (This same code could have been generated in C# or C++ too.) However, the term "application code" is going to be mainly used to describe something which has been inserted into something else, possibly without being realized as such. In security terminology, we examine the possibility of application code being inserted into an image or an audio file, also, macros in documents can also contain application code. Although we may hope that in the most part, application code has been written without a malicious purpose, we cannot rule out this usage, and therefore we must constantly protect our applications from malicious code.
See also Java Development Kit
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to notify Toolbox.com.
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Using the Assignment Tool (Moodle icon = )
The Assignment tool contains a task which you have to carry out. Often you will be required to upload and submit your work via the computer, but assignments can also involve writing a text online, or off-line tasks.
Assignments normally have a deadline that has to be observed. When the due date and time have passed, you normally cannot hand in your work anymore. It is therefore important to use proper time management when working on a web course. Note that due times are listed as course events in the Calendar and appear in the Upcoming Events block.
There are four assignment types available (listed in order of popularity):
When you look at an assignment that requires you to upload a file, you see something like this:
Clicking the Browse button brings up a window, with which you can locate files in your PC. Select the drive and folder, in which you saved your work.
Unless otherwise specified by the teacher, the format of your uploaded file ought to be one that can be opened by MS Office programs, since most teachers use those (in general, when uploading files, you should use common formats and avoid the uncommon formats of MS Works (.wps) or Open Office (.swx), because many teachers will have difficulties opening those). In other words, for text files choose .doc (MS Word) or .rtf (Rich Text Format) as file type, for presentations .ppt and for spreadsheets .xls or .xml. If you try to upload a file that is bigger than the maximum file upload size set by the teacher, you will receive an error message.
Once you have handed in your work (as one file), you can see the file on the assignment page and check it. If by any chance you should have submitted the wrong (version of the) file, you can upload the correct file and it will replace the one that was uploaded earlier.
When you have submitted, the teacher can access your file and give feedback/comments (Normally, after the deadline although a teacher may give you intermittent feedback on an ongoing task as well). Usually, you will also be given a grade. You will be notified of this automatically by email. To see the feedback you should return to the assignment and it is strongly recommended that your do so. The feedback is also displayed on your Grades page (User report):
An advanced version of this assignment type lets you upload a specified number of files (for example a first draft, a second draft and a final version of a document).
Note, that in some assignments the teacher can also upload a file. For example, to hand you in advance a file with which you need to work, or to return to you a corrected version of the file you uploaded. This teacher file is called a response file (See the part about the advanced uploading of files assignment further down on this page).
When you open an on-line text writing assignment, you see the following view:
The Moodle editor is a good tool for writing online, but note that it only works with the Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers. Also keep in mind that you should always avoid copying and pasting text from elsewhere to the editor (especially from MS Word), because you could be copying along hidden codes that may mess up your text and stop you from editing it! If you want to use MS Word, for example, to check the spelling of your text, copy and paste the text from the editor to MS Word, run the spelling checker and make the corrections manually in the editor.
Your text will remain editable until the deadline. That implies that you can write your text over several sessions. Once you have completed and saved your assignment the teacher can comment on your work and give a grade (which of course will be displayed in your gradebook). Often you receive an email notice that you have received feedback on your assignment, but sometimes you also have to improve your work before a final grade is given for the assignment. In the latter case the teacher will have set the assignment to be resubmittable, so the editing button remains active even after the teacher has given feedback.
The offline activity assignment type does not normally refer to activities online in Moodle (although it could be used, for instance, to grade activities in a wiki). Typically, the Offline assignment type is used to supply a deadline and a commenting/grading facility for a task that is carried out outside of Moodle, such as a presentation in the online classroom LearnLinc, or a group discussion in class, or field work outside the school.
The view of an offline activity assignment is limited to the task description and optionally the start date and the due date. Once the assignment has been graded or commented upon you seen the same layout of feedback as in the Upload a single file assignment type (i.e. teacher comment and a grade, if required).
This assignment type allows teachers and students to upload more than one file. The type can be used, for example, to supply you with a file that the teacher wants you to work with, after which you can upload your version. Another use could be that the teacher wants you to upload one or more draft versions of a file before you upload the final version. All this can be accompanied by an online text box like the one in the online text assignment.
An advanced uploading of files assignment with all options enabled might look something like this:
Once this assignment is underway it can look something like this:
As stated above, when you have finished with the work on the assignment, you can send it for marking, but do notice that that will block you from making any further changes (i.e. you cannot delete or upload any more files and you cannot add more comments). The page will display this message at the bottom:
In other words, do not click the Send for marking button unless you have completed the assignment task. If you should have submitted the assignment for marking by mistake, you can ask your teacher to revert your submission to draft status (This will open the assignment to your again, provided that the deadline has not passed).
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A. QUAKER HISTORY
THE ROOTS OF QUAKERISM
The Religious Society of Friends had its beginnings in mid-Seventeenth Century England. The movement grew out of the confusion and uncertainty which prevailed during the closing years of the Puritan Revolution and which culminated in the overthrow of the English monarchy. During the long Medieval period, the English Church, like other national churches throughout western Europe, had been subject to the authority of the Pope and the Church of Rome. However, throughout the later Middle Ages dissident groups such as the Lollards in Fourteenth Century England questioned the teaching and authority of the Roman Church. All of northern and western Europe was profoundly affected by the Protestant Reformation. Its particular origin may be traced to about 1519 when Martin Luther began his protest in Germany. While Lutheranism supplanted Roman Catholic control in much of north central Europe, another Protestant movement led by John Calvin became dominant in the Netherlands, in Scotland, and among the Huguenots in France. The Anabaptists constituted still another Protestant element. In England, however, the Protestant movement had a somewhat different history. About 1534 King Henry VIII broke with the Roman church, with the immediate personal purpose of dissolving his first marriage and entering into another. As a result of this break with Rome, the numerous abbeys throughout England were closed and plundered and their extensive land holdings were distributed among the king's favorites. The Catholic church enjoyed a period of reascendancy during the reign of Queen Mary, only to be replaced as the established church by the Church of England during the long reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This situation continued during the reign of King James I and during the early years of the reign of King Charles I, although Calvinist influence was growing both within and outside the Church of England. Other independent groups such as the Baptists were also forming at this time. With the triumph of the Puritan cause and the overthrow and execution in 1649 of King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell became Protector. For a time relative religious freedom prevailed in England. The first leader of the Quaker movement was George Fox. He was born in Leicestershire, in the English Midlands, in 1642. His family's religious tradition may have extended back to the suppressed Lollard movement, for he observes in his Journal that his mother was "of the stock of the martyrs." As a young man, George Fox earnestly sought to live a life of purity and love. While searching in vain for spiritual support and guidance from the established religious groups, an inward transformation experience opened to him the knowledge that the love and power of god were available to all people without the help of priests, ministers, or outward sacraments. Fox's Journal tells that that revelaton came to him through the words "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition." Fox began to draw together little bands of people committed to the same beliefs and practices. George Fox and others who shared his new faith believed their religion was more than direct communion with God. They believed it also meant power to live according to the principles they had accepted as the teaching of God. Though they fully accepted as indispensible the basic Christian principles of grace and forgiveness of sins, they also asserted unequivocally their conviction that they were called to live by the highest of moral principles. The Sermon on the Mount and the rest of the teachings of Jesus, as well as the openings they felt God gave them in their own lives, were to be obeyed completely. Their principles were to govern not only their acts, but their attitudes as well. Hence the classic statement of George Fox when he was asked to accept an appointment in the Army: "I told them I knew whence all wars arose, even from the lusts, according to James's doctrine, and that I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars." Though Fox and his early followers did not see immediately the full implications of these teachings , they soon began to see the revolutionary directions their lives would have to take. Abandonment of war and violence; the practice of absolute integrity; the refusal to give false honor to anyone; simplicity of life; respect for the equality of all people before
God: these practices and convictions gradually became the hallmark of the new movement. Geore Fox began his public ministry in the English Midlands in 1647. The first results of his efforts were not spectacular, but during the next five years he found a number of individuals who were to help him proclaim the Quaker message. These included Elizabeth Hooton, James Nayler , William Dewsbury, Richard Farnsworth, and Thomas Aldham.
The Quaker movement did not achieve significant momentum until Fox journeyed into the northwest Lake Country of England in the early summer of 1652. He established a base in Lancashire at Swarthmore Hall through the hospitality of Margaret Fell and her husband, Justice Thomas Fell. From Swarthmore Hall, the Quaker message was quickly carried throughout England and Wales and to a lesser extent into Scotland. Under the leadership of William Edmundson there was a widespread convincement among English settlers in Ireland. Other messengers gained adherents in the Netherlands and in the low country of northern Germany. By 1655 and 1656 the first Publishers of Truth had reached Barbados in the West Indies. About the same time some had come to New England, to the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland, and to the Tidewater area of lower Virginia. A few years later the Quakers had become established in New Amsterdam (now New York). By 1668 there were Quakers living in eastern North Carolina. From the beginning, the new religious movement faced a great deal of persecution. George Fox himself was jailed many times. Local priests and magistrates were often hostile to Quakers in their parishes and jurisdictions. Friends' refusal to pay church tithes often resulted in severe economic losses. Persecution tended to be even more severe in New England. Four Friends died as martyrs, hanged on Boston Common for the crime of preaching Quakerism in Puritan Massachusetts. In Italy, at least one of the Publishers of Truth was put to death by the inquisition, and others suffered long imprisonment. Within Cromwell's England, however, there was no widely enforced national policy of persecution of religious dissenters. Only following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 did severe persecution begin on a national scale. It is estimated that between 1662 and 1688 about 450 Friends died in prison and another 15,000 suffered imprisonment, severe fines, or both. Not until 1666, following release from a long imprisonment, did George Fox begin a serious campaign for the establishment of Friends meetings for business and discipline. Before this time, Friends had met only sporadically to establish church policy. Many English and Irish meetings have records which date from 1666-1667. The Meeting for Sufferings in Britain Yearly Meeting came into being about 1675 as a kind of executive committee to provide relief for Friends and their families suffering from persecution and to publicize information concerning acts of injustice and cruelty. The first queries were questionnaires circulated to ascertain the status and needs of persecuted Friends; only much later did the queries begin to inquire into matters of faith and discipline.
QUAKER SETTLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA
Friends were settling in the Jerseys during the 1670s, and as early as 1672 Friends were granted positions of authority in the governments of East and West Jersey. Migration of Friends from the British Isles to America grew to significant levels only after 1681, however, when William Penn received a grant of a large portion of land from the British Crown. The grant encompassed much of present-day Pennsylvania and Delaware. A large Quaker community developed in the Delaware Valley area, centered around the new city of Philadelphia. A haven from persecution for Friends, Pennsylvania became a "Holy Experiment" in practicing the Quaker faith. During the colonial period, Friends were a controlling force politically and numerically in parts of New England , especially in Rhode Island. Early in the colonial period they also exercised political influence in North Carolina. Friends in Virginia often struggled with an unfriendly provincial government. The influx of new Quaker settlers from Pennsylvania served to strengthen the Society of Friends in Virginia. At the time of the American Revolution, there was significant Quaker movement into Ontario in Canada. In the succeeding years of the American colonial period, from about 1725 to 1780, the great tide of Quaker migration extended southward from Pennsylvania through western Maryland to northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, into the Piedmont area of North Carolina, and into the back country of South Carolina and Georgia. In the years following the American Revolution, Quaker settlers found their way into eastern Tennessee and southwestern Pennsylvania. Early in the Nineteenth Century, Friends joined the great migration to the area known as the Northwest Territory. The first significant Quaker settlements there were established shortly after 1800 in the vicinity of Belmont County in eastern Ohio and in the Miami River Valley in southwestern Ohio. Some of these Friends came from Pennsylvania, New York, and New England, but the majority seem to have moved from Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. The Friends from the Southern states, most of whom had freed their slaves by 1780, were finding it increasingly difficult to protect these former slaves and to make a living in an economy based on slave labor. By 1810, the Quaker settlements were spreading into Indiana, and by 1825 they had reached the Illinois border. After the first half-century of rapid growth, the Quaker movement became more stable in numbers and began to draw into close-knit communities insulated as far as possible from the rest of the world. This resulted in an early emphasis on Quaker schools. Acceptance of non-Quakers through marriage was discouraged, and requirements for membership became increasingly rigid and legalistic. As a consequence, the Society disowned thousands of members for infractions of Friends discipline, and uncounted others withdrew voluntarily in search of greater freedom and opportunity to express their faith. The Revolutionary War and the Civil War presented difficult challenges for Friends, and the peace testimony of the Society was not consistently maintained.
DIVISIONS AMONG FRIENDS
The tendency to withdraw from the world had weakened Quakers in some ways and made them vulnerable to revolutionary forces in the larger society. Increased internal rigidity expressed itself in doctrinal disputes and in disagreements about the proper pattern of life. Whereas early Friends had found unity in their experience of a living divine presence in their worship and in commitment to lives based on obedience to God and love of neighbors, by 1800 dissension and disunity began to break the bonds of love and fellowship. In the United States the first great division came in 1827 in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, followed by similar divisions in four other Yearly Meetings in 1828. The general cause was a theological difference between the followers of Elias Hicks, a minister whose message had a Unitarian emphasis, and the orthodox leadership of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, who adhered to the Trinitarian teachings of the time. There were three specific points of contention:
(1) A difference between the authoritarianism of the prevailing Yearly Meeting establishment and the greater emphasis by Hicks and his associates on more democratic church government;
(2) The aversion of the rural followers of Hicks to the more affluent lifestyle of the city Quakers; and
(3) The increasing insistence by urban Friends upon correct evangelical doctrine as opposed to the more open mysticism of the much more numerous rural Quakers who were oriented toward a non-creedal faith, seeking immediate guidance of the Light Within. A second division was the Gurney-Wilbur separation occasioned by differences in the responses of American Quakers of the Orthodox meetings to teachings of Joseph John Gurney of England, who spent much time in Friends Meetings in this country beginning in 1837. Gurney's theological and evangelical interpretation of Quakerism departed from the established faith and practice of Friends. In response to Gurney's teachings, some groups of Friends under the leadership of John Wilbur of New England took a strong stand in favor of the traditional testimonies and principles. The first phase of this separation began in New England in 1845 and spread to Ohio in 1854. A later phase of this separation began in Iowa and Western yearly meetings in 1877. Kansas Yearly Meeting followed in 1879, and Canada Yearly Meeting (centered in Ontario) separated soon thereafter. North Carolina Yearly Meeting separated in 1904. The seven Wilburite and Conservative Yearly Meetings were bound together by an exchange of epistles and intervisitation. Although sympathy for the Wilburites was strong in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Orthodox), there was a minority who supported the Gurneyites. In order to avoid another separation in Philadelphia, that Yearly Meeting suspended correspondence with other Yearly Meetings for many years. As the ninetheenth century drew to a close, many Gurneyite meetings adopted a programmed form of worship with paid pastoral leadership and participated in the prevailing Protestant church culture. In 1887 they joined together in an association known as the Five Years Meeting and later as the Friends United Meeting. The Gurneyite Friends were active in the mission movement and established mission fields in such places as Jamaica, Cuba, Palestine, and very successfully in Kenya. Gurneyite Friends in the Philadelphia area supported mission work in Japan. The history of the Hicksite yearly meetings was rather uneventful in the latter part of the nineteenth century. They co-operated with other Friends in the concern for the welfare of American Indians and also assisted with education and relief for the liberated slaves following the Civil War. However, the membership of the Hicksite Meetings tended to decline as the century came to a close. In 1902 the Friends General Conference was organized as a means of mutual support and encouragement, especially for Friends residing in remote situations.
FRIENDS IN IOWA
The movement of Friends into the Northwest Territory brought about the establishment of Ohio Yearly Meeting by Baltimore Yearly Meeting in 1813. In 1821 Indiana Yearly Meeting was set off from Ohio Yearly Meeting. The first Quaker settlement in Iowa began in 1835 when the Isaac Pidgeon family came to Henry County in southeastern Iowa. The settlement grew rapidly, and soon Salem Preparative Meeting was set up by Vermilion Monthly Meeting in Illinois. Salem Monthly Meeting was recognized in 1838 by Western Quarterly Meeting of Indiana Yearly Meeting. As Quaker settlements formed in surrounding areas to the north and west of Salem, Pleasant Plain Indulged Meeting became Pleasant Plain Monthly Meeting in 1842. Six years later Pleasant Plain Quarterly Meeting was set off from Western Quarterly Meeting of Indiana. The earliest period of Iowa Quaker history was not without its tensions. Beginning about 1840, a conflict arose in Indiana Yearly Meeting concerning how closely Friends should be involved in the abolitionist movement of the time. The leadership of Indiana Yearly Meeting was inclined to discourage close collaboration with the abolitionist effort, and even sought to maintain cordial relations with national leaders such as Henry Clay who countenanced slavery. This attitude caused fervent abolitionists to withdraw from Indiana Yearly Meeting in 1843 and form the Indiana Yearly Meeting of Abolitionist Friends. A small Abolitionist Friends Meeting was established at Salem, Iowa, which continued for a number of years. Eventually the increasing popular sentiment against slavery led a number of the Abolitionist Friends to feel comfortable in rejoining the larger body of Friends. A number of Friends at Salem were quite active in the Underground Railroad, assisting fugitive slaves from Missouri to flee to the northern states and to Canada. As the Quaker migration spread to northern and western Iowa, Quaker settlers' cabins became havens of refuge for many fugitive slaves in the years leading up to the Civil War. Among the Meetings established as Quaker settlement proceeded across Iowa were Spring Creek Monthly Meeting near Oskaloosa in 1851; Three Rivers Monthly Meeting centered at Ackworth in 1852; Red Cedar Monthly Meeting near Springdale in 1853; Winneshiek Monthly Meeting in northeastern Iowa in 1855; and Bear Creek Monthly Meeting in west central Iowa in 1856. By 1860 there were five quarterly meetings in Iowa consisting of 45 local meetings in 18 different counties.
B . IOWA YEARLY MEETING HISTORY
In response to continued requests from Friends in Iowa, Indiana Yearly Meeting authorized the establishment of Iowa Yearly Meeting, "to be held in the vicinity of Oskaloosa in Mahaska County on Fifth Day preceding the second First Day in the Ninth Month, 1863." Accordingly, the first Iowa Yearly Meeting sessions were held at the appointed time at Spring Creek Meeting about two miles northeast of the present Oskaloosa city limits. Beginning in 1851, a settlement of Friends began to form in eastern Linn County, Iowa, extending into western Jones County. These Friends came primarily from eastern Ohio, where they had been intimately involved in the Gurneyite-Wilburite controversy and were generally sympathetic with the Wilburite element. They soon organized Linn Preparative Meeting under the direction of Red Cedar Monthly Meeting centered near Springdale in Cedar County, Iowa. In 1853 Caleb Gregg, a recognized minister of some ability, moved with his family to the Linn County settlement. When his Wilburite views became known to the Friends at Red Cedar, overseers of Red Cedar Monthly Meeting drew up a complaint against Gregg and asked Linn Preparative Meeting to deal with him. When Linn Preparative Meeting declined to discipline Gregg, the overseers persuaded the Monthly Meeting to treat with Gregg and to visit Linn Preparative Meeting. This situation led to the disowning of Caleb Gregg in Tenth Month 1854 and the laying down of Linn Preparative Meeting by Red Cedar Monthly Meeting. At about the same time, on Ninth Month 5, 1854, Ohio Yearly Meeting
(Orthodox) separated into Gurneyite and Wilburite branches. Ohio Wilburite Friends moving westward were encouraged to leave their membership certificates with Ohio (Wilburite) Monthly Meetings, particularly with Stillwater Monthly Meeting. This evidently caused some dissatisfaction among Wilburite Friends already settled in Iowa. There seems to have been some attempt, probably led by Caleb Gregg, to organize a separate Iowa Yearly Meeting (Wilburite), but this attempt was not successful. On Fifth Month 21, 1862, Hickory Grove Monthly Meeting was organized. It had been set off from Stillwater Monthly Meeting, Ohio Yearly Meeting (Wilburite), on Second Month 2, 1862. The Monthly Meeting consisted of Hickory Grove Preparative Meeting, located 2-1/2 miles southeast of West Branch, Iowa, and Springville Preparative Meeting in Linn County, Iowa. On Eleventh Month 18, 1865, Springville Monthly Meeting was set off from Hickory Grove Monthly Meeting. Springville Monthly Meeting came to consist of the older Hopewell Meeting located east of Viola and south of Stone City, and Whittier Meeting northwest of the town of Springville. Hopewell Meeting, which had been organized as a Preparative Meeting on First Month 9, 1867, was laid down in 1908. In 1912 the Hopewell meetinghouse was dismantled and shipped by rail to Paullina, Iowa, where it was reassembled to serve the Paullina Meeting at Mapleside. Whittier Meeting continued and became quite large in membership in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The name of Springville Monthly Meeting was changed to Whittier Monthly Meeting in 1958. Coal Creek Monthly Meeting, located about nine miles south of What Cheer in Keokuk County, Iowa, was organized as a preparative meeting under Pennsville Monthly Meeting, Ohio. Coal Creek was granted monthly meeting status under Pennsville Quarterly Meeting, Ohio, in 1864. In its earlier years, Coal Creek also had a substantial membership. In 1868 the Hickory Grove, Springville, and Coal Creek monthly meetings were organized into Hickory Grove Quarterly Meeting under Ohio Yearly Meeting (Wilburite). Friends who had migrated from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Iowa began meeting in Quaker homes in Pasadena, California, in 1886. In 1893 these Friends built a meetinghouse. Hickory Grove Quarterly Meeting (then still a part of Ohio Yearly Meeting) established Pasadena Monthly Meeting in 1894. A large committee from the Hickory Grove meetings in Iowa went to California to attend the official opening of Pasadena Monthly Meeting. As early as 1870 there was interest in establishing a boarding school for the youth of the Hickory Grove Quarter, and in 1875 twelve acres of land were purchased adjacent to the Hickory Grove meetinghouse as a site for such a school. However, way did not open for the construction of Scattergood Friends School until 1890. Friends of Kansas Yearly Meeting (Conservative) seem to have supported Scattergood in some measure during its early years.
IOWA YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS (CONSERVATIVE)
The Iowa Yearly meeting of Friends continued to grow in membership and in geographic scope in the years following the Civil War. However, dissatisfaction with traditional Quaker discipline, accompanied by the attraction of an evangelical movement surging through the larger church groups of the Midwest, intensified in this time of post-war adjustment. Beginning about 1867, an evangelical emphasis began to dominate the Yearly Meeting, an emphasis which would tend to revolutionize Quaker faith and practice. The period saw the introduction of revival meetings characterized by great emotional fervor and the promotion of a theology at variance with traditional Friends teaching. Matters came to a climax in Bear Creek Quarter during an especially emotional General Meeting at the close of the regular early spring Quarterly
Meeting. At that time, a group of Friends concerned to maintain the
traditional Quaker way of life withdrew from the meeting. They took measures to set up separate "conservative" monthly meetings at Summit Grove near Stuart and at North Branch near Earlham, as well as a separate Bear Creek Quarterly Meeting. That autumn, when the Conservative Friends presented their credentials at the Iowa Yearly Meeting at Oskaloosa, their credentials were not accepted. The Conservative Friends then retired to a nearby Baptist Church and proceeded to organize a separate Conservative yearly meeting. Within the next year, a small group of Friends in the vicinity of Ackworth, in Warren County, withdrew from the larger body of Friends there and formed Salem Quarterly Meeting of Friends (Conservative). Two monthly meetings were established in the new quarter, Salem Monthly meeting in Henry County and Pilot Grove Monthly Meeting in Lee County. In the years leading up to 1883, a number of Friends in the vicinity of West Branch and Springdale withdrew from the larger body of Friends. By Eighth Month 11, 1883, they had organized a separate Springdale Monthly Meeting. These Friends found warm acceptance when they attended the next sessions of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative). A meetinghouse of sufficient size to accommodate the Conservative Yearly Meeting sessions was soon constructed in West Branch. From 1881 to 1913, Yearly Meeting sessions were held alternately at West Branch and at North Branch near Earlham. Springdale Monthly Meeting changed its name to West Branch Monthly Meeting in 1888. The Friends of Stavanger Meeting in Marshall County also had been dissatisfied with membership in the larger body of Friends. After a congenial visit to Conservative Yearly Meeting sessions in the autumn of 1884, this group of Friends of Norwegian background were welcomed into the Yearly Meeting in 1885. In 1893. Stavanger Meeting established an Indulged Meeting at Norway, Iowa. In the autumn of 1885 a new Monthly Meeting was organized near Paullina in O 'Brien County in northwestern Iowa. A vigorous Friends community developed there. For a number of years, from 1886 to 1924, the Meeting supported an elementary school and an Academy where students could receive the early years of their high school education. Iowa Yearly Meeting first met at Paullina in 1913. In 1890, at the request of Stavanger Monthly Meeting, Stavanger School was founded by the Yearly Meeting. The building erected near the meetinghouse provided for boarding and day pupils, with special provision for helping Norwegian immigrants. By 1914, it seemed that this school had fulfilled its purpose, and it ceased operating. While there was growth in certain communities in these early decades of the Yearly Meeting, there was decline in others. In far southeastern Iowa, Pilot Grove Monthly Meeting was laid down in 1887 and Salem Monthly Meeting was laid down by 1892. The remaining members residing in the Salem Quarter area were transferred to West Branch Monthly Meeting. In Bear Creek Quarterly Meeting in west-central Iowa, Summit Grove Monthly Meeting near the town of Stuart was laid down in 1891 and its membership attached to North Branch Monthly Meeting at Earlham. In 1908, North Branch Monthly Meeting was laid down and its membership, including South River Indulged Meeting, was attached to Bear Creek Monthly Meeting.
THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY: WARTIME CHALLENGES
During the years leading up to the first World War, the two quarterly meetings of Iowa Yearly Meeting served a vital function in uniting the scattered groups of Friends. Bear Creek Quarter, after 1908, consisted of Bear Creek Monthly Meeting, South River Indulged Meeting, and Paullina Monthly Meeting, which had been transferred from West Branch Quarterly Meeting in 1904. West Branch Quarterly Meeting included West Branch Monthly Meeting and Stavanger Monthly Meeting. The 1917 sessions of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), held at Bear Creek, were momentous. It was at this time that the membership of Hickory Grove Quarter was transferred from Ohio Yearly Meeting to Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), more than doubling the membership of the latter yearly meeting. Scattergood School also came under the care of Iowa Yearly Meeting at that time. Of even more immediate concern to the Yearly Meeting than the organizational changes was the challenge of a World War. Within the following year, a number of the young men of the Yearly Meeting took the position of conscientious objection. When they were drafted into the armed forces, their steadfast resistance to military service of any kind resulted in severe hardship and suffering in the military camps for a number of them. Shortly before the close of the war, several were furloughed for farm work in the United States. Others were furloughed to the American Friends Service Committee for reconstruction work in France. That experience opened new vistas for many concerning the Quaker mission and message in the modern world. Following World War I, the life of the Yearly Meeting continued on a fairly even course, but Friends faced new challenges with the onset of the Great Depression, beginning in 1929. In the years following, the elementary schools which had operated under the care of the Monthly Meetings were all closed. Scattergood School was closed in 1931, but the campus and buildings were preserved. In 1920, Hickory Grove Monthly Meeting merged into West Branch Monthly Meeting. In 1928, Kansas Yearly Meeting (Conservative) was laid down. Its one remaining Monthly Meeting, Spring River near Galena, in Cherokee County, Kansas, was attached to Bear Creek Quarterly Meeting. Spring River Meeting became inactive around 1960 and was laid down in 1967. World War II presented a new challenge to Friends who sought to uphold the peace testimony. During the years from 1941 to 1946, a number of young men associated with Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) participated in the Civilian Public Service program. In 1948, when confronted with registration under the new Selective Service and Training Act, some young Iowa Quakers declined to register and received 18-month sentences in Federal prisons. Most were paroled after six or eight months. From 1939 to 1943 the idle campuis of Scattergood School served as a hostel for war refugees from Europe who were relocating in the United States. The hostel grew out of a concern expressed by the Young Friends of Iowa Yearly Meeting at their 1939 gathering and was operated jointly by both Iowa yearly meetings and the American Friends Service Committee. In the autumn of 1944, and in response to another initiative from the Young Friends of the Yearly Meeting, Scattergood School was re-opened by Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) in co-operation with some Friends from Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM). The service and personal sacrifice of many dedicated teachers, students, alumni, and Scattergood Committee members have enabled Scattergood Friends School to survive vicissitudes and difficulties. The school promises to continue as a vital educational community well into the Twenty-first Century.
THE LATER TWENTIETH CENTURY: REINVENTING THE YEARLY MEETING
In addition to the Scattergood Hostel, Friends saw a need for a relocation program for Japanese-Americans in the US internment program. Opposition in the West Branch community deterred AFSC from bringing Japanese-Americans to Scattergood, but prominent Friends in Des Moines from both Iowa yearly meetings joined forces toward that end. Their work was partly responsible for the establishment of a regional AFSC office in Des Moines. The office administers AFSC programs in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Wyoming. With the expansion of the regional program, an Iowa Program Committee was established in 1979 to oversee the AFSC generalist program in Iowa. Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) members continue to be prominent in this program. In 1998, the AFSC North Central Region was expanded to include Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, and the name was changed to the Central Region. In 1958, the Bear Creek and Hickory Grove-West Branch quarterly meetings began to meet at the same place for the spring Quarterly Meeting. They typically hald separate business sessions in the afternoon and a joint talk or discussion in the evening. Friends began to want a freer schedule and more time for fellowship, so in 1973 the gathering that came to be known as Midyear Meeting assumed its present format: worship on Seventh Day and First Day mornings with a program in the afternoon and evening of Seventh Day. No formal business session is scheduled, but the Yearly Meeting Peace and Social Concerns and Interim committees usually meet at Midyear Meeting. Since 1976 Midyear Meeting has been hosted by Bear Creek Monthly Meeting. The role of the regional quarterly meetings diminished as participation in Yearly Meeting sessions became more practical for Friends from around the state and as Midyear Meeting gained popularity. Bear Creek Quarterly Meeting was laid down in 1982, and Hickory Grove-West Branch Quarterly Meeting was laid down in 1988. Friends in the former Hickory Grove-West Branch Quarter continue to meet as the Eastern Iowa Friends Gathering for worship , fellowship, and a program each spring and fall. Iowa Yearly Meeting sessions were held at Paullina for the first time in 1913 and at Whittier for the first time in 1919. Beginning in 1921, sessions of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) rotated among three sites: Whittier, Paullina, and Scattergood Friends School near West Branch. Sessions were hosted by Pasadena Monthly Meeting in 1937 and by Bear Creek in in 1946. The 1970 sessions were held at the Interfaith Spiritual Center at Colfax, east of Des Moines. The Whittier and Paullina communities found it increasingly impractical to host Yearly Meeting sessions as their active local memberships dwindled. Whittier ceased hosting Yearly Meeting after the 1985 sessions. Paullina continued to host the sessions every third tear through 1995. Yearly Meeting sessions have been held at Scattergood every year since 1996. Iowa Yearly Meeting Friends (Conservative) was legally incorporated in 1973, and the Scattergood Friends School Foundation was incorporated in 1989. In 1982, the Yearly Meeting began to experiment with a shorter annual session and now meets from Third Day evening through the noon meal on First Day. The schedule also incorporates more programming and shorter business sessions. The Iowa Peace Education program was devolved from AFSC and in 1976 was reconstituted as the Iowa Peace Network. IPN is supported by Friends of both Iowa Yearly Meetings together with the Methodist Conference of Iowa, Iowa Mennonites, and the Church of the Brethren.
During the Vietnam conflict, Friends supported both registrants and non-registrants. The Yearly Meeting asked for numbers of COs in the various Monthly Meetings. That practice was discontinued in the mid-1970s. North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) proposed a general conference of Conservative Friends in 1973. The Paullina Monthly Meeting hosted such a gathering in 1976, with 11 Friends from Ohio and six from North Carolina joining with Iowa Friends. This group continues to meet in Ohio, but few Iowa Friends participate. Since the 1970s, many Iowa Friends have attended the annual Gathering of Friends General Conference. Beginning in the mid-1990s the program of Iowa Yearly Meeting sessions has taken on a workshop format somewhat similar to that of the FGC Gathering. A number of Friends in Iowa Yearly Meeting have formed a singing froup, The Meadowlarks, that gathers four times a year at various locales to sing for an entire wekend and also gathers at Midyear and Yearly Meeting sessions. Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) experienced both decline and growth in the latter half of the Twentieth Century. Membership in most rural meetings followed the general decline in the rural population. Coal Creek Monthly Meeting near What Cheer was laid down in 1986 when its membership became too small to sustain a meeting. Monthly meetings existed briefly in Cedar Rapids from 1960 to 1976 and in Marshalltown from 1974 to 1978. Participation in the Pasadena, California, meeting dwindled to a single monthly meeting for worship in the 1980s, and interaction with the rest of the Yearly Meeting had also diminished. Pasadena withdrew from Iowa Yearly Meeting in 1985 because of theological differences with some members of the Yearly Meeting. The Pasadena meeting was laid down a few years later. Growth in the same period occurred primarily through the addition of new urban meetings, especially those associated with college campuses: Des Moines: In 1939, a few people began meeting for unprogrammed worship in the home of a Friends family in Des Moines. The group continued to meet informally for about ten years and grew with the coming of the AFSC office and the Japanese Hostel. By 1950, the group was meeting for worship and a joint Sunday School at First Friends Church. In December 1953 (though the relationship with First Friends Church remained harmonious), the group decided to move to the Jewish Community Center where they could meet at a more convenient hour and could conduct their own business meetings. In 1954 the Des Moines Friends Meeting (later Des Moines Valley Friends
Meeting) was recognized as a monthly meeting by the FWCC. The meeting moved to the Easter Seal Center in 1956 and met there until the present meetinghouse was completed in 1966. The meetinghouse is an integral part of Friends House, the headquarters of the Central Region of AFSC. The Des Moines Valley Monthly Meeting joined the Bear Creek Quarter in 1961.
Ames: Iowa (FUM) Friends from the Bangor area established a church in Ames in the first decade of the Twentieth Century. This church was laid down, and groups of Friends met sporadically for unprogrammed worship. These meetings became more frequent beginning in 1937. In 1939, the group began to meet regularly in the Memorial Union on the Iowa State College campus and later at various other churches. During the later years of World War II, the meeting was strengthened by the attendance of some of the Civilian Public Service men stationed at the Iowa State Agronomy Farm. To enable the meeting to have closer cooperation with other Friends in Iowa, the Ames Meeting became a preparatory meeting in 1954 under the care of Des Moines Valley Meeting. The Ames Monthly Meeting joined the Bear Creek Quarter in 1963. Iowa City: Students and faculty at the University of Iowa met for worship in the 1940s and held their first monthly meeting for business in 1950. Affiliation with FWCC came in 1954. The Iowa Memorial Union on campus was the regular meeting place from 1950 until a meetinghouse was purchased in 1966. The membership has come from particularly diverse religious backgrounds through the years and includes foreign students and refugees. Iowa City Meeting united in membership with Hickory Grove-West Branch Quarter in 1965.
Lincoln: The first gathering of the present Lincoln (Nebraska) Meeting of Friends was in the fall of 1946 in the home of a Quaker family. It was formally established as an independent meeting under the care of FWCC in 1948. Lincoln Meeting was active in organizing the Missouri Valley Conference in 1955. After meeting at the YWCA and other locations, the group bought a meetinghouse in 1960. The meeting was accepted into Iowa Yearly Meeting through the Bear Creek Quarter in 1966. Penn Valley: The group that came to be known as Penn Valley Meeting first met in 1942. Emma Cadbury, a Philadelphia Quaker, came to Kansas City to meet with several persons who had expressed interest in starting a Friends meeting. The group was put under the care of 57th Street Meeting in Chicago. In 1949, Penn Valley became an independent meeting under FWCC. It also joined other meetings in organizing the Missouri Valley Conference in the 1950s. In the mid-70s, FWCC discontinued its practice of serving as caretaker of independent meetings. Because of common interests and proximity, Penn Valley Monthly Meeting applied to Bear Creek Quarter and was admitted in 1978. The group met initially at Linwood and Main in Kansas City and later in the Unitarian Church. In 1951, a member of the meeting offered the basement rooms of her apartment building as a meeting place. This served as Penn Valley's home until 1973. During the Vietnam War, the rooms also served as an AFSC office and as a meeting place for other groups opposed to the war. In 1973, Penn Valley purchased a meetinghouse. The meeting continues to share its meeting place with other community groups and with the AFSC's Kansas City office.
Omaha: William A. and Lois Mott of Council Bluffs, Iowa, were part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Monthly Meeting of Friends, which held regular worship and business meetings in the 1950s and early 1960s. That group later discontinued monthly meetings but continued to worship in homes, and later in a religious center near the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The worship group became a preparative meeting under the care of Lincoln Monthly Meeting in 1991. Close ties to Lincoln Friends led the Omaha meeting to seek membership in Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), which was granted in 1995.
Decorah: A Northeast Fellowship of Friends began meeting in Decorah in the early 1970s. Many of these Friends were active in Northern Yearly Meeting, and there was a certain amount of interaction with both that yearly meeting and Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative). During the 1980s, they met (still for unprogrammed worship) as a preparatory meeting under the care of Hesper Meeting of Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM). The Decorah meeting purchased a meetinghouse in 1995. Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) granted membership to Decorah Monthly Meeting in 1995. As of 1999, eleven monthly meetings comprise Iowa Yearly Meeting
(Conservative): Ames; Bear Creek, near Earlham; Decorah; Des Moines Valley, in Des Moines; Iowa City; Lincoln, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; Paullina; Penn Valley, in Kansas City, Missouri; West Branch; and Whittier. Members of worship groups in Cedar Falls, Grinnell, Dubuque, and Marshalltown participate in some activities of the Yearly Meeting.
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Are the children of the United States worth one-eighth as much as the bugs? Hon. Andrew J. Peters, a member of Congress from Massachusetts, asked this rather startling question at Louisville last Sunday at a mass-meeting on child labor. Mr. Peters showed that the Bureau of Animal Industry costs the country $1,654,750 a year, and that the Bureau of Plant Industry costs $2,051,686. The proposed children's bureau would cost $29,440 and would investigate child labor, infant mortality and other important phases of child conservation. It is being opposed, of course, by some manufacturers who want to employ babies in cotton-mills, coal-mines and other places admirably adapted for the growth of mind and body and the development of sturdy American men and women. In some quarters the investigation of child labor is regarded as an unwarranted invasion of personal liberty. Certainly! Public schools were so regarded in their early days. No doubt we shall soon have a National League for Juvenile Freedom, secretly financed by the coal and cotton barons, and demanding for the child the right to labor when and where it pleases. In the meantime, if Congress thinks the baby crop is worth as much or one-tenth as much as the fruit crop, a children's bureau should be established without delay.
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Center for Sustainability Studies
The Center for Sustainability Studies (CSS) was created at Kean University in 2011. It represents Kean University’s expanding commitment to transforming lives by providing world-class education. The mission of the CSS is to provide students with an extraordinary educational experience necessary to understand and confront contemporary issues best examined and addressed by sustainability sciences.
The B.S. in Sustainability Science, the only degree of its kind in New Jersey and one of only a dozen degree programs in the nation with such a focus. The mission of this program is to prepare students in the emerging discipline of sustainability science that focuses in three main areas: environment, economy, and society. It is designed to prepare students to understand four specific questions:
What are the unique characteristics of Earth that have allowed life to develop and to flourish?
What specific human actions are compromising these unique characteristics?
Why are these human actions occurring?
With an understanding of 1, 2, and 3, what corrective actions are necessary?
“Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources…. A great change in our stewardship of the Earth and the life on it is required.”
According to over 1,700 scientists who signed the World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity in 1992: “Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources…. A great change in our stewardship of the Earth and the life on it is required.”
The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health warned in 2000 that “in the past decade in every environmental sector, conditions have either failed to improve, or they are worsening….”
In 2005, nearly 1,400 scientists from 95 countries wrote in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, “Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history.”
The time to begin that great change is now.
For more information, please visit the Center for Sustainability Studies Web site.
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| 0.940459 | 422 | 2.578125 | 3 |
The Labour Wing is headed by the Labour Commissioner. Its main functions are:
|Labour Administration in Bihar|
The history of Labour Resources Department of Bihar can be traced back to the year 1937. For the purpose of conducting an enquiry into the condition of industrial labour prevailing in the industrial sector a committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad was constituted on 17th March, 1938, which was known as Bihar Labour Committee. The Committee submitted kits report in April, 1940.
Bihar Labour Enquiry Committee in its report, recommended for establishing a Labour Department for the province. In the words of Bihar Labour Committee -
|Commissioner of Labour|
Initially Commissioner of Labour was also vested with the powers of Secretary to Govt. Later on this system changed Commissioner of Labour is exclusively vested with powers of implementation of different labour laws and to maintain industrial relations in the State of Bihar. At the Govt. level, a separate post of Secretary Labour has been created. Under the Commissioner of Labour, there are one Joint Commissioner of Labour and one Deputy Commissioner of Labour in the headquarters, who assist the Labour Commissioner in discharge of the duties.
There are Deputy Commissioner of Labour who are posted in the division and at important industrial centers. Some Deputy Commissioner of Labour has been assigned with the specific task of enforcement of Minimum Wages Act in agriculture.
In addition to the post of Joint Labour Commissioner, there are 06 posts of Deputy Labour Commissioner, 13 post of Assistant Labour Commissioner, 68 posts of Labour Superintendents and 439 posts of Labour enforcement Officers, who assist in the enforcement of various Labour laws. The Labour Enforcement Officer is posted almost in leach block of the State for enforcing Minimum Wages Act in agriculture.
A separate Directorate of agriculture has been established to ensure proper enforcement of minimum wages Act, in agriculture. Thus the fields functioning under the Commissioner of Labour are divided in two categories (a) General and (b) Agriculture Labour. The Officers of the General Branch are responsible for maintenance of industrial peace as well enforcement of various labour legislation while the officers of agriculture labour branch look after the enforcement of minimum wages act in agriculture and in some rural employment.
All the officers in the field and the head quarters have been vested with necessary legal powers under different act, which they are required to enforce.
There are mainly two areas in which the District Administration is often called upon to intervene and support the officers of the Labour Dept., in the field. One relates to maintenance of industrial peace. Breach of peace is often apprehended during disturbing industrial activities. In such a situation, there is a close interaction between the officers of general administration and those of Labour Dept. It may be relevant to mention that industrial relations are governed not only by the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, but also in the light of recommendations of different tripartite bodies constituted at the state level. These are also sometimes based on practice and conventions. The role of District administration in the event of industrial unrest is mainly two fold-to protect the legitimate interest of the workers and to restore normalcy and industrial peace as soon as possible so that production is not adversely affected.
The other area in which the district administration plays a very crucial role relates to implementation of Minimum Wages Act in agriculture. The implementation of the Minimum Wages Act in respect of agriculture employment is a crucial factor in the context of growing violence in certain pockets of the state. The following Officer's of district administration are declared authority to hear and decide the claim under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for Agricultural Labour (i) Circle Officer, (ii) Deputy Collector Land Reforms, (iii) Sub-divisional Magistrate and Additional Collector is declared Appellate Authority for all the above authorities. In case direction of the above authority is not complied by employer the directed amount is recovered by district Certificate Officers under Bihar and Orissa Public demand recovery Act, 1941.In case of violation of provisions of Minimum Wages prosecution is filed in court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate & trial is done by First Class Judicial Magistrate.
The Factory Inspectorate is headed by Chief Inspector of Factories who works under over-all control and supervision of Commissioner of Labour. There are 2 Deputy Chief Inspectors of Factories, 17 Inspector of Factories, 2 Medical Inspector of Factories and 2 Chemical Inspector of Factories. The Factory Inspectorate administers the Factories Act, 1948; Payment of Wages Act, 1936; Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986; Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and the Bihar National Holidays and Festival Act, 1971 in the factories.
|Inspectorate of Boilers|
The Inspectorate of Boilers is particularly responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Indian Boilers Act,1923 and the Steam Vessels Act. This branch, which is purely technical in nature, has been placed under the Chief Inspector of Boilers with 2 Inspector of Boilers posted in the field. The work of inspection and enforcement under Office Rent Provisions of the Act is carried out under the supervision of the Chief Inspector of Boilers, who works under control and supervision of the Commissioner of Labour.
|Tribunals & Labour Courts|
For protecting and promoting the interest of labour and industrial peace in the state, the Govt. of Bihar has established Industrial Tribunal & Labour Courts. At present 2 Industrial Tribunals and 8 Labour Courts are functioning in different parts of the state. Industrial Tribunal are located at Patna and Muzaffarpur. The Labour Courts are located at Patna, Bhagalpur, Chapra, Dalmianagar, Begusarai, Motihari, Purnea and Muzaffarpur.
The Industrial Tribunals and Labour Courts constitute the top-most adjudication bodies of the state. Having state-wise jurisdiction, they are competent to adjudicate on all matters referred to them by the appropriate government under the Industrial Disputes Act. These Tribunals and Courts are also empowered to hear and decide cases and claims under different labour legislations arising within their jurisdictional limits.
The Govt. of Bihar has setup a number of tripartite bodies on the lines of the Indian Labour Conference and the Industrial Committee at the center to deal with labour problems in general and also specific matters connected with a particular plant or industry. The Bihar Central Advisory Board, the Standing Committee on Evaluation and Implementation, the Standing Committee on Sugar, the Standing Committee on Jute, Independent Board, Contract Labour Advisory Committee, Minimum wages Advisory Committee, etc. are some of the tripartite bodies functioning at the State level.
|Wages of Labour|
In the State of Bihar, 75 employments have been added in the schedule of Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Out of which minimum rates of wages have been revised in 63 employments in Schedule I of the said Act and one employment (Agricultural Labour) in Schedule II of the said Act, The revised minimum wages in 62 employments in Schedule I is 68 rupees for unskilled labour, 66 rupees for Bidi making labour and 66 rupees for unskilled labour for agriculture labour in Schedule II of the Act.
|National Child Labour Project|
In Bihar, 21 districts have been covered under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) and various district-level project societies have been registered. Further, request has also been submitted to the Govt. of India for release of funds to carry out survey of Child Labour in these 21 districts. 40 schools in the district of Jamui, 25 in Nalanda and 40 in Saharsa have started functioning comprising 2000, 2500 & 2000 Child Labour.
|Integrated Housing Schemes|
Under the revised Integrated Housing Scheme for Beedi-Workers in Bihar, a total of 1,026 beneficiaries at Jamui district have been recommended or sanctioned by Govt. of India.
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| 0.944323 | 1,616 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Published June 27, 2012
Argentine scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of carnivorous dinosaur, saying it could prove key to understanding how modern birds' remote ancestors evolved.
The fossil remains of the new species, dubbed "Bicentenaria argentina" (Argentine Bicentenary) and presented Tuesday by researchers at Buenos Aires' Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, or MACN, were found in the southern province of Rio Negro.
"It is very likely the first example that's been found of a new line within the coelurosaur family, those dinosaurs that eventually gave rise to birds," the National Council on Scientific and Technical Research, or CONICET, which oversees the MACN, said in a statement.
Adult members of this species, presumably hunters based on the shape of their teeth and the presence of claws, likely measured up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length and were agile and slim.
"We can presume that they would have hunted smaller dinosaurs, herbivores or baby dinosaurs," Fernando Novas, the head of the museum and an independent CONICET researcher, said.
Researchers believe this dinosaur's body was likely covered in feathers.
The rocks containing this dinosaur's fossil remains date back 90 million years to the Late Cretaceous period - between 65-98 million years ago.
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http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/06/27/new-species-carnivorous-dinosaur-found-in-argentina/print
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| 0.944201 | 278 | 4.0625 | 4 |
This paper explores the role jurisdictional competition played in the development of the common law. For most of English legal history, there were several courts with overlapping jurisdiction. In addition, judges received fees on a per case basis. As a result, judges had an incentive to hear more cases. The central argument of this article is that, since plaintiffs chose the forum, judges and their courts competed by making the law more favorable to plaintiffs. Courts expanded their jurisdictions to give plaintiffs more choices, made their procedures cheaper, swifter and more effective, and developed legal doctrines which made it difficult for defendants to prevail. Of course, jurisdictional competition was not without constraints, most importantly Parliament and Chancery. This paper tries to show how important features of the common law, including the structure of contract law, can be explained as the result of competition among courts and the constraints on that competition. Starting in 1799, statutes took fees away from the judges. The hypothesis that competition induced a pro-plaintiff bias is tested by quantitative analysis of judicial decisionmaking before and after those statutes.
Law and Economics | Legal History, Theory and Process | Politics
Date of this Version
Daniel M. Klerman, "Jurisdictional Competition and the Evolution of the Common Law" (March 2007). University of Southern California Law and Economics Working Paper Series. Working Paper 64.
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Outdoor, or Out-of-Home, advertising is considered the oldest form of advertising, dating back to sales messages chiseled on stone tablets by Egyptian merchants who placed them along public roadways. The development of paper and the printing press made billposting possible in Europe after about 1500. Lithography, a printing method developed in the 19th century, expanded the creative possibilities of advertising design. Posting "bills" on wooden boards in the late 19th century led to the birth of the term "billboard." Today the out-of-home category includes not only the billboard, but also "car cards" in public transportation; in-store displays; and displays in airports, sports arenas, transit shelters, and ski areas, among other sites. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), the industry trade organization, has roots in an association founded in 1891. The OAAA has saved a great deal of documentation of its work and that of several member companies, providing an in-depth look at the outdoor industry for over 100 years.
Like all advertising, outdoor has been a phenomenon familiar to everyone. Whether we like it or despise it, we do recognize it and respond to it. It is part of business — and part of our culture — and a very ephemeral part at that. Preserving a comprehensive record of outdoor advertising is essential to documenting and understanding the 20th century.
To assist in this preservation and access, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) generously awarded the Hartman Center in 2000 a grant of over $171,000 to organize and describe eleven collections dealing with Outdoor Advertising. The NEH grant project — "Art and Commerce by the Side of the Road" — is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2003. After that time, descriptions of all collections will be available online in the form of finding aids on the Duke David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library website.
Duke has built a national and international reputation for the strength of its resources for studying advertising, sales, and marketing history since acquiring the J. Walter Thompson Company advertising agency archives in 1987. Duke received the OAAA Archives as a gift from OAAA in late 1996. This massive collection (672 shelf feet!) had been on deposit at Fairleigh Dickinson University since 1972, but FDU no longer was able to maintain the material. FDU also deposited a number of smaller collections of individuals and companies related to outdoor advertising. A complete list of outdoor advertising collections at the Hartman Center is available.
There are over 100,000 slides of billboards and thousands of photographs. The collection also includes hundreds of books and periodicals on topics related to poster art, typography, billboard architecture and lighting, highway zoning and safety, roadway beautification, and many related themes. The OAAA files from the 1920s and after document the internal workings of the association and the many legal and business issues it has dealt with. The R.C. Maxwell Company Collection alone contains over 10,000 photos of urban and rural scenes that show billboards from the 1910s to 1950s. The papers of John E. Brennan document audience remembrance of billboards from the 1940s to 1960s in U.S. cities.
John Paver's papers include his writings and speeches on poster topics in the U.S. and abroad.The Archives also contains films and filmstrips, presentation materials, legislative documents, original artworks, and yes, several dozen huge, multi-sheet paper billboards from the 1920s and 1930s. Though much work remains to be done to organize and describe the office files, a great deal of information and thousands of books and images are available for study right now.
Students studying many aspects of business and culture will find fascinating material here. Outdoor advertising illuminates marketing techniques used over the span of the 20th century. It showcases fine commercial artists. Billboards show the advertising history of many product categories and illustrate concise, creative use of language. And much, much more.
Students are welcome to visit Duke or to make inquiries by mail, fax, or e-mail. Faculty, Graduate Students, and Independent Scholars who wish to make extended use of the collections may consider applying for the Hartman Center's annual travel grants.
Outdoor companies and advertising agencies will find rich resources for new business presentations, client relations, and creative work in these vast files. Advertisers can retrieve examples of their earlier advertising designs — or those of competitors. Movie studios regularly seek images of old billboards to enhance the period look of their feature films. The Hartman Center will respond to information requests from businesses on a fee basis, with all fees going toward support of the Center's advertising collections.
Want to know more? Call (919) 660-5827 or send an e-mail message to [email protected]
Unless otherwise specified on this page, this work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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| 0.935725 | 1,023 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Wyatt Earp was a peace officer in the American West. He was best known for his role in the famous gun fight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born in Mammouth, Illinois. Earp worked as a buffalo hunter. During the 1870ís he served as a police officer in Wichita and Dodge City in Kansas. He died in 1929.
Geronimo was a warrior of the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians. He led attacks on settlers and soldiers in Mexico and the Southwestern United States during the 1870ís and 1880ís. Geronimo was born in what is now western New Mexico. About 1877, the U.S. government rounded up the Apaches and Geronimo and moved them to San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. In 1882, Geronimo and other Apaches escaped to the Sierra Madre in Mexico. Geronimo died in 1909.
Return to Homepage
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| 0.979285 | 202 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Listen, Look for the Message, and Determine Your Child's Needs
In This Article:
Your child's misbehavior may be spurred by her need to achieve one of the “four mistaken goals of misbehavior.” She might have other reasons as well:
- saving face
- seeking respect
- needing more independence
- avoiding unpleasant or scary tasks
- experiencing a moment of thoughtlessness or being unclear on how her actions affect others
- expressing a serious emotional problem
Whatever the reason, your job is to analyze the situation and try to deal with it in a positive, nonpunitive way. Remember, punishment is short term, and ultimately an ineffective way of dealing with misbehavior.
It's a Good Idea!
There's an old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I've always said that so is the road to heaven.
Words to Parent By
Positive intent is the underlying positive meaning behind any action. It's a theory (developed by Don and Jeanne Elium) that assumes that people mean well and strive for the best.
Honor the Positive Intent
Parenting is truly tough; it calls on all your resources, and demands you to be the best, noblest, smartest person you can possibly be.
Your challenge is to try to understand your child and treat her as you would like to be treated at the same time as she's treating you worse than a hideous bug crawling on the floor. As she stomps and screams, your job is to model appropriate behavior. Part of your appropriate behavior may be to express how angry it makes you to be treated like an ugly bug, and to insist on better treatment.
How do you do this? If it were truly easy, you wouldn't be reading a book about it. One way to meet this steep challenge is to look for, and honor, the positive intent in your child.
Jane Nelson and Rudolf Dreikurs assume there is always a message of need behind a child's misbehavior. Jeanne Elium and Don Elium, authors of Raising a Son, Raising a Daughter, and Raising a Family, go even further. They teach parents that kids always have a positive intent—an underlying positive meaning—even when they are misbehaving. Finding the positive intent within negative behavior can help you with your own frustration level, and help you feel friendlier toward your child.
Here's an example of positive intent:
Maya was way too old to be throwing food on the floor. She was almost five. Yet, when she didn't like something, or when she was finished with her dinner, she grabbed handfuls of spaghetti, rice, or beef Wellington and flung it on the linoleum. That's not okay. What was the positive intent here? Actually, Maya was feeling more grown-up than her parents were giving her credit for. She wanted more control over her life—and her mealtimes. She also wanted more limits. (Strange as it may seem, wanting more independence and more limits often go together.) When Maya's parents realized her positive intent, insisted she clean up after her own mess, and taught her how to wash dishes, the misbehavior stopped immediately.
Here's another example of positive intent:
Jenny was caught scrawling graffiti on the school wall. Her parents were scandalized—defacing property! Hanging with the wrong crowd! Yet, when they stopped to honor her positive intent (she wanted to express herself creatively, and she wanted to be accepted), they were able to channel her energy into something far more productive: community service, art classes, and a school mural project. Jenny thrived.
Tough! Enough of this “understanding” crap! Some behavior is simply unacceptable, you feel. Hey, you'll get no argument from me! Understanding misbehavior doesn't mean allowing it, condoning it, apologizing for it, or standing for it. When you've reached your limit, you've reached your limit. Some behavior is just not acceptable, and you can assert as much.
It's a Good Idea!
You set the rules, they test 'em. It's a natural and necessary part of establishing individuality and independence.
Determine Your Own Needs
Okay, with me so far? Your kid has misbehaved but you haven't flipped out yet. You've cooled down and decided she's not evil, she's just misbehaving. You've listened to and elicited your child's story, you've determined her needs and intent. Now what?
Well, where's the you in here? You're not perfect, you're not a saint, you're not selfless—you have needs, too. Yes, you do! The more you understand your own intents, needs, and values, the better you'll feel about your parenting—in times of good behavior and bad.
More on: Values and Responsibilities
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Well-Behaved Child © 1999 by Ericka Lutz. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
To order this book visit Amazon's web site or call 1-800-253-6476.
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| 0.963705 | 1,097 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Mosetén belongs to the small, unclassified language family Mosetenan and is spoken by roughly 800 people in the foothills of the Bolivian Andes and the adjoining lowland region. This book provides a grammatical description ofMosetén in the form of a descriptive reference grammar. It is based on the author's extensive fieldwork in Bolivia and is intended to be comprehensive and aimed at linguists from all backgrounds. Belonging to an unclassified language family, Mosetén is of special interest to typologists, historical linguists, contact linguists and South Americanists. The grammar is divided into a chapter on phonology (2.) and six chapters on the morphology: morphological processes (3.) the nominal system (4.), pronouns and reference (5.), adjectives and adverbs (6.), quantification (7.) and the verbal system (8.). These chapters are followed by voice (9.), negation (10.) and modality and discourse markers (11.). Finally, there are two syntactically oriented chapters on clause types (12.) and clause combinations (13.). In the appendix, three types of texts, a list of morphemes, a list of references and further bibliographical notes are added. Furthermore, there is an index. This grammar is the first accessible and comprehensive description of aMosetenan language. Of interest to: Typologists and Meso-Americanists.Jeanette Sakel is Research Associate at the Department of Linguistics,University Manchester, UK.
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| 0.874187 | 311 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Dutch Slager / NASA / AP / File
This top-priority "flagship" mission is the US half of a joint NASA-European Space Agency mission that would launch two large rovers to Mars in 2018. The rovers would conduct detailed studies of rocks and soil to hunt specifically for environments that are – or could once have been – hospitable for life. In addition to on-site studies, the rovers would collect and store samples that could return to Earth on later missions. But the NRC panel said the US rover should be approved only if its $3.5 billion cost can be cut by $1 billion in FY 2015 dollars. If that can't be done, MAX-C should be postponed or canceled.
1 of 10
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http://m.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0308/Europa-or-bust-Maybe-not.-Top-9-priorities-for-planetary-research-missions/Mars-Astrobiology-Explorer-Cacher-MAX-C
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| 0.960589 | 152 | 3.25 | 3 |
In fiscal 2006, two taxes were the top sources of revenue to the federal government: the federal individual income tax, which raised $1.85 trillion, and the corporate income tax, which raised $350 billion. Total federal government revenue, including borrowing, was approximately $2.9 trillion. This revenue is largely commingled, and a portion of this money is spent on education.
In fiscal 2006, the U.S. Department of Education received approximately $36.5 billion in federal revenues for elementary and secondary education programs. Of this amount, according to the federal government, the department spent $1,107,454,389 (about $1.11 billion) in Michigan in fiscal 2006. According to the state Department of Education, however, the federal government provided $1,360,741,678 to Michigan state government in fiscal 2006. This $1.3 billion constituted about 10.81 percent of the state school aid fund. Much of that amount — $667,588,309 — financed programs that are part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. All federal revenues for Michigan education are placed in the state school aid fund.
Graphic 10 illustrates the percentage distribution of major primary and secondary education funding categories. Graphic 11 breaks out funding for NCLB by grants that made up at least 1 percent of the total federal revenue from the U.S. Department of Education appropriated to the state of Michigan.
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| 0.95872 | 291 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Think about it: When you stare at the night sky, you see the stars as they looked in the past. You see the nearest stars as they looked over 4 years ago. You see the brightest star as it looked 8.5 years ago. You see the farthest star from earth in our own galaxy as it looked 11,730 years ago. You see the stars of the Andromeda Galaxy as they looked 2.5 million years ago. Even the sun you see as it looked 8 minutes ago. Most of the photons of star light hitting your eyes as you stand outside at night began their journey across space long before you were born, before your ancestors were born, before recorded history, before humans existed, and even far beyond that.
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| 0.978742 | 148 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Religious aspects of marriage
In virtually all religions, marriage is a long-term union between two people and is established with ceremonies and rituals. The two people are most commonly a man and a woman, though many societies have permitted polygamous marriages, and same-sex marriage is now acknowledged in some places.
Many religions have extensive teachings regarding marriage. Most Christian churches give some form of blessing to a marriage; the wedding ceremony typically includes some sort of pledge by the community to support the couple's relationship. In the Catholic Church, marriage is one of the seven sacraments. In the Eastern Orthodox church, it is one of the Mysteries, and is seen as an ordination and a martyrdom. In marriage, Christians see a picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. In Judaism, marriage is so important that remaining unmarried is deemed unnatural. Islam also recommends marriage highly; among other things, it helps in the pursuit of spiritual perfection. Hinduism sees marriage as a sacred duty that entails both religious and social obligations. By contrast, Buddhism does not encourage or discourage marriage, although it does teach how one might live a happily married life and emphasizes that married vows are not to be taken slightly
It is also worth noting that different religions have different beliefs as regards the breakup of marriage. For example, the Roman Catholic Church believes it is morally wrong to divorce, and divorcées cannot remarry in a church marriage, though they can do in the eyes of the law. In the area of nullity, religions and the state often apply different rules, meaning that a couple, for example, could have their marriage annulled by the Catholic Church but still be married in the eyes of the law because the state disagrees with the church over whether an annulment could be granted in a particular case. This produces the phenomenon of Catholics getting church annulments simultaneously with state divorces, allowing the ex-partners to marry other people in the eyes of both the church and the state.
In the Christian faith, marriage is viewed as a lifelong union of a man and a woman before God. One commonly used text is from the Gospel of Matthew (which is itself a quote from the book of Genesis).
"...For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19: 5-6 (quoting from Genesis 2:24)
Virtually all Christian denominations frown on divorce, although some more harshly than others.
Christian marriage is seen by Saint Paul (especially Ephasians chapter 5) as paralleling the relationship between Christ and the Church, a theological view which is a development of the Old Testament view that saw a parallel between marriage and the relationship between God and Israel.
All major Christian groups take marriage to be a good thing. In 1 Timothy, Chapter 4, St. Paul talks of heretics who, among other things, "forbid marriage" and he describes their views as "doctrines of demons". At the same time, even though marriage is believed to be a good thing, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy traditionally see an even greater value in celibacy when that celibacy is undertaken for the sake of a more singleminded devotion to God, but do not believe that everyone is called by God to this.
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Josephus's Portrayal of Jeremiah:
A Portrait and a Self-Portrait
David Rolph Seely and Jo Ann H. Seely
Authors of history leave indelible footprints in their works. Many clues can be found in any historical work of how a historian's individual worldview shades and colors his or her narrative. Some ancient historians include an account of their own life in their work, selecting and shaping the evidence they choose to present in a carefully contrived self-portrait. A sensitive reader can discover many clues about the author through a careful reading of his work. One of the most fascinating ancient writers is the Jewish historian Josephus, whose works have preserved a wealth of information both about the biblical world that preceded him and his own life and times.
Josephus wrote four works that have survived: Antiquities, which is a retelling of biblical history from Adam and Eve to the time of the Jewish war against Rome; Jewish War, an account of the disastrous Jewish revolt against Rome that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70; Life, an autobiography; and a short tractate called Against Apion, which is a defense of Judaism in light of false propaganda being spread by a certain Apion.
At the beginning of his Antiquities, Josephus explains that his narrative will be a complete retelling of the scriptural record:
The precise details of our Scripture records will, then, be set forth, each in its place, as my narrative proceeds, that being the procedure that I have promised to follow throughout this work, neither adding nor omitting anything. (Antiquities 1.17) 1
And later in his discussion of Daniel, Josephus writes:
But let no one reproach me for recording in my work each of these events as I have found them in the ancient books, for at the very beginning of my History I safeguarded myself against those who might find something wanting in my narrative or find fault with it, and said that I was only translating the books of the Hebrews into the Greek tongue, promising to report their contents without adding anything of my own to the narrative or omitting anything therefrom. (Antiquities 10.218)
In both passages Josephus claims that his narrative neither adds to nor omits from the Hebrew scriptures. But a reader of Josephus's Antiquities will find everything but a methodical paraphrase of the Old Testament. Some divergence might be expected since Josephus's biblical text, or texts, are not necessarily those of the Masoretic tradition. But Josephus's work appears rather to be a carefully contrived narrative that diverges widely from biblical traditions—contrary to his claim—through both addition and omission.
A comparison of Josephus's paraphrase of scriptural history in Antiquities with the Bible and an examination of his self-portrayal in his other works shows that in many cases a pattern appears in his additions and omissions. Josephus compares himself with biblical characters. Scholars have noted several biographical details of Josephus's life that appear in Jewish War and Life that have dramatic parallels with the accounts of some of the characters in his narratives, such as Joseph of Egypt, Saul, Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai.2 The specific nature of these parallels suggests that they influenced Josephus's understanding and depiction of history in his writings, both in the way he portrays himself, as well as in the way he depicts the persons in his narrative. By shaping his account of biblical characters as well as his own self-portrayal, he highlights and emphasizes many parallels.
Most of the parallels between Josephus and biblical personalities are grounded in historical happenstance. For example, as Joseph (Josephus's namesake in the Bible) made the most of his captivity in Egypt, and likewise Daniel in Babylon and Persia, so Josephus himself managed to survive and flourish in Rome. Furthermore, Joseph, Daniel, and Josephus all saw and interpreted dreams. Saul, like Josephus, was a general. Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai share common ground with Josephus as "valued advisers to the head of the host country."3 Other similarities are created from the speeches Josephus records both of biblical personages as well as his own. Likewise, Josephus seems to create occasional parallels by including details (not found in the biblical text) about the lives of biblical characters that match aspects of his own life as he records it.
Here we attempt to examine systematically Josephus's depiction of Jeremiah in light of his comparison of himself with Old Testament prophets. An examination of the parallels reveals the richness of Josephus's narrative, both in terms of his paraphrase of the Old Testament found in Antiquities as well as in his depiction of himself and his times. In addition, we gain insight into Josephus's narrative art and his method of recounting the history of his people. And finally, by the way Josephus portrays himself we can better discern how Josephus understood himself and his times and how he wished his audience to understand his role in the history of Israel. In short, we can see how Josephus writes himself into the history of Israel.
Josephus particularly identified with those in the prophetic tradition who had the power to predict the future—most notably Joseph, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Josephus himself claimed to have the gift of interpreting dreams and thus of foreseeing the future. He saw himself in the prophetic tradition as one chosen by God to use his gifts in the service of his fellow Jews. He records his "prophetic call" when he was hiding in a cave, after the fall of Jotapata, awaiting the Romans. At that time suddenly there came back into his mind those nightly dreams in which God foretold the impending fate of the Jews and the destinies of the Roman sovereigns. He was an interpreter of dreams and skilled in divining the meaning of ambiguous utterances of God;
a priest himself and of priestly descent, he was not ignorant of the prophecies in the sacred books. At that hour he was inspired to read their meaning, and, recalling the dreadful images of his recent dreams, he offers up a silent prayer to God.
Since it pleases thee, who didst create the Jewish nation, to break thy work, since fortune [Tyche] has wholly passed to the Romans, and since thou hast made choice of my spirit to announce the things that are to come, I willingly surrender to the Romans and consent to live; but I take thee to witness that I go, not as a traitor, but as thy minister [diakonos]. (Jewish War 3.351—54)
Josephus's gift to predict the future saved his life. He told Vespasian that one day he (Vespasian) would be emperor (see Jewish War 3.400—402); with the fulfillment of that prophecy, Josephus acquired the patronage of the Flavians, whose support made his entire literary career possible.
Josephus and Jeremiah
Because of his gift Josephus shows great interest in other prominent prophets in Israel, especially those who interpret dreams like himself, and this identification presumably influenced his extensive portrayal of the careers and prophecies of Joseph and Daniel in Antiquities. However, the only prophet he explicitly compares himself to is Jeremiah—a prophet who lived in a similar historical period, in whose time Jerusalem was captured and the temple was destroyed. Furthermore, Jeremiah's message to his countrymen was the same as that of Josephus—surrender or be destroyed. In his address to the zealots in the besieged city of Jerusalem, Josephus says:
Thus, when the king of Babylon besieged this city, our king Zedekiah having, contrary to the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah, given him battle, was himself taken prisoner and saw the town and the temple leveled to the ground. Yet, how much more moderate was that monarch than your leaders, and his subjects than you! For, though Jeremiah loudly proclaimed that they were hateful to God for their transgressions against Him, and would be taken captive unless they surrendered the city, neither the king nor the people put him to death. But you—to pass over those scenes within, for it would be beyond me adequately to portray your enormities—you, I say, assail with abuse and missiles me who exhort you to save yourselves, exasperated at being reminded of your sins and intolerant of any mention of those crimes which you actually perpetrate every day. (Jewish War 5.391—93)
This comparison is central to a discussion and understanding of Josephus's portrayal of Jeremiah in Antiquities and his depiction of himself. Many of the parallels have been variously noted by different scholars.4 Here we will attempt a comprehensive summary of these parallels with further refinement and several additions.
We will organize and present the parallels between Jeremiah and Josephus in three categories: first, those that can be attributed to historical happenstance; second, examples of similar theological understandings; and third, a group of parallels, which David Daube calls "retrofigurements," that have been created by Josephus's inserting or "retrojecting" nonbiblical material into his account of Jeremiah.
In this category we find parallels between Jeremiah and Josephus that emerge in the writings of Josephus both by what he chooses to add and to emphasize and what he chooses to omit in his narrative of the story of Jeremiah and in his portrayal of himself.
Both were from priestly families and claimed prophetic gifts. Jeremiah was named a prophet and a priest (see Jeremiah 1:1, 5; Antiquities 10.80) and was called to deliver the word of the Lord to his people. Josephus reserves the use of the word prophētēs for the canonical prophets; nevertheless, he does consider himself a successor to the prophets and calls himself a "minister" (diakonos, Jewish War 3.354).5 He claims the Hasmonean John Hyrcanus as his ancestor who, he says, possessed the "gift of prophecy" (Jewish War 1.68). Josephus also was from a priestly family (see Life 1.1). Thus he valued the connection between priests and prophets.6
Both had missions to the world beyond the Jews. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations (see Jeremiah 1:5, 10). Josephus perceives himself as writing to both the Jews and the Greeks (see Jewish War 1.3). Josephus never emphasizes this point for Jeremiah but does in behalf of himself (see Antiquities 1.5).
Both had the gift of prophecy. Jeremiah had the gift of foretelling the future (see Jeremiah 1:12; Antiquities 10.79), as did Josephus (see Jewish War 3.351—54). Jeremiah predicted the ascendancy of Babylon and the consequent capture of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the exile of Judah. Josephus likewise foretold the ascendancy of Rome and the ensuing destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the people. Interestingly enough, Josephus attributes his ability to foretell the future to his capacity to receive and interpret divine dreams. Jeremiah, in chapters 23, 27, and 29, presents several polemics against those who receive "false" dreams—which chapters Josephus conveniently avoids. Likewise, Jeremiah predicts the restoration and resurgence of Israel (see Jeremiah 30—33), as does Josephus in his cautious paraphrase of Daniel's vision of the stone that will come forth (see Daniel 2:34—45).
Both suffered physical abuse and were threatened with death. Jeremiah suffered physical abuse because of his message and was threatened with execution (see Jeremiah 26:8—24; 36:19—26; 37:13—21; 38:4—13; and Antiquities 10.88— 95, 114—23). Likewise, Josephus was physically abused and threatened for his message (see Jewish War 3.355—61, 383— 86; 5:391—94).
Both advised their countrymen to surrender to the enemy. Jeremiah prophesied that the only hope to save Jerusalem was to surrender to the Babylonians (see Jeremiah 38; Antiq uities 10.117, 125—26). Josephus delivered the same message to his countrymen—to surrender to Rome or be destroyed (see Jewish War 5.415—19).
Both were opposed by false prophets who assured the people that the Lord would deliver them and the city would be preserved. Jeremiah was opposed by those who assured the people that an alliance with Egypt would defeat Babylon, those in exile would return shortly, and the city would be preserved (see Jeremiah 27—28; Antiquities 10.104, 111—12). Josephus records that a series of false prophets promised that God would intervene and deliver them from the Romans (see Jewish War 6.285).
Both were accused of treason and had to justify their actions. Jeremiah was considered a traitor for his exhortation to surrender and for the effect this had on a people under siege (see Jeremiah 36:9—31; 37:11—15; 38:1—6; Antiquities 10.114—15, 119). Unlike Jeremiah, Josephus actually defected to the enemy. He justifies himself by saying that he went not as a deserter but as a minister to his people (see Jewish War 3.130, 136—37, 354). Both were considered traitors by their countrymen for their stance and had to justify themselves.
After the destruction both had a friendly relationship with the victors as a reward for their stance. Jeremiah received a food allowance and a gift (see Jeremiah 40:5; Antiquities 10.157). Josephus received the freedom of some of his countrymen, a gift of sacred books, as well as land and a stipend (see Life 418—23). One important difference is that Jeremiah chose to stay with his people rather than to go with the victor; Josephus went to Rome under the patronage of the Flavian household.
After the destruction both continued to advise the surviving remnant of their people. Jeremiah remained in the land, where as prophet he continued to advise a group of people. After the death of Gedaliah, he went with the people to Egypt (see Jeremiah 42—44). In addition he wrote a letter to the exiles in Babylon (see Jeremiah 29). Josephus wrote his first account of the war to his fellow Jews in Mesopotamia (see Jewish War 1.3, 6), and his later writings were intended to explain and defend Jews and Judaism both to Jews and to gentiles.
Possible Theological Parallels
Some of the most intriguing parallels between Jeremiah and Josephus are of a theological nature; their speeches contained similar teachings. In most of these parallels it is clear that Josephus is patterning himself after the model of Jeremiah.
Both interpreted the imminent destruction of Jerusalem as a result of the judgment of God because of the wickedness of the people. Jeremiah, in his temple sermon, enumerates the sins of the people for which judgment is imminent: not executing justice; oppressing the alien, widow, and orphan; shedding innocent blood; stealing; murder; adultery; swearing falsely; and idolatry (see Jeremiah 7:5—10). In his speech Josephus lists thefts, treacheries, adulteries, rapine, and murder (see Jewish War 5.402). Shaye J. D. Cohen notes further parallels with Jeremiah's list in Jewish War: Jews have acted unjustly (see Jewish War 4.334—44), oppressed the downtrodden (see Jewish War 4.557), killed innocent people in the temple (see Jewish War 4.312—44; 5.15—20), stolen (see Jewish War 4.312—44; 5.1—20), committed adultery and other sexual crimes (see Jewish War 4.558—63), sworn falsely (see Jewish War 4.213—14), and polluted the temple (see Jewish War 5.401—2).7
We should note the significant omission in Josephus's writings of any reference to idolatry; this contrasts sharply with Jeremiah's emphasis on the idolatry of Israel (see, for example, Jeremiah 2—3; 7:29—8:3; 25:1—7; 44:15—28). In retelling the story of Moses and Israel at Sinai, Josephus leaves out any reference to the incident of the golden calf. The quiet omission of instances of idolatry throughout Antiquities is typical of Josephus's account, presumably because such a reference might have been offensive to his Roman patronage and readership.
Both mention previous destructions of the temple. In Jeremiah's temple sermon in Jeremiah 7 and 26, he addresses a people who believe the temple will ultimately be preserved and thus save them. Jeremiah uses the example of the previous destruction of the shrine at Shiloh as a warning that the Lord will not preserve a wicked people just because his house is in their midst (see Jeremiah 7:12—15; 26:4—6). In his speech to the zealots, Josephus adopts the same strategy as he recounts the times the people have been preserved and the times they have not. The destruction wrought by the Babylonians serves as his prime example that the Lord would not protect the Jews. Josephus in his speech harks back to the past: "The Babylonians whom I mentioned marched against it [Jerusalem] and captured and burnt both the city and the sanctuary, although the Jews of that day were guilty, I imagine, of no such rank impiety as yours."
Nebuchadnezzar began to denounce him [Zedekiah] as an impious wretch and a violator of treaties who had forgotten the words which he had spoken earlier when he had promised to keep the country safely for him. He also reproached him for his ingratitude in having first received the kingdom from him—for Nebuchadnezzar had taken it away from Jehoiachin, to whom it belonged, and given it to him—and then used his power against the one who had bestowed it on him. "But," he said, "great is God who in His abhorrence of your conduct has made you fall into our hands." (Antiquities 10.138—39)
Josephus applies this theme emphasized in Jeremiah to his own day. In his speech to the zealots, he proclaims, "My belief, therefore, is that the Deity has fled from the holy places and taken His stand on the side of those with whom you are now at war" (Jewish War 5.412). Furthermore, Josephus records that Titus, on his initial survey of the fallen Jerusalem, exclaims: "God indeed has been with us in the war. God it was who brought down the Jews from these strongholds; for what power have human hands or engines against these towers?" (Jewish War 6.411—13).
Both understand the will of God is manifested throughout history in the order of kingdoms. This concept goes beyond the event of the destruction of Jerusalem. Both Jeremiah and Josephus understand that the will of God is manifested throughout history in the order of kingdoms. Jeremiah understands Babylon to be a servant of God in the course of history (see Jeremiah 27:1—15; 43:10); eventually the time will come for Babylon to be punished and replaced by the next kingdom—the Persians (see Jeremiah 50—51). Josephus declares that in his time "fortune [Tyche] has wholly passed to the Romans" (Jewish War 3.354). Josephus also includes several prophecies of Daniel in Antiquities, which also promote this idea. Jeremiah insists that one must hearken to the word of the Lord. In some instances Judah should not make alliances with foreign powers, and in other situations—namely the time of Jeremiah—the will of the Lord was for Judah to surrender to Babylon. In a similar vein the role of prophecy for Josephus is to identify the divinely ordained kingdom of the present, and the role of the individual is to conform himself to that kingdom.8
Both believed in an ultimate resurgence of the nation after a period of subservience. Jeremiah's writings include a whole series of prophecies about the return from exile and the "building and planting" of the people (Jeremiah 30—32). He prophesies that the exile would last seventy years (see Jeremiah 25; Antiquities 10.110). Josephus gives hints in his speech that if the people repent they can reestablish a relationship with the Lord; he also implies a future resurgence of the Jews (see Jewish War 5.377—419). He reminded the Jews that God had always eventually avenged them: "When did God who created, fail to avenge, the Jews, if they were wronged" (Jewish War 5.377). Unlike Jeremiah, who prophesied a return in seventy years, Josephus gives no explicit timetable for the restoration of the Jews. The Bar Kokhba revolt occurred in A.D. 132—35—sixty-five years after the captivity in A.D. 70, and one of the Bar Kokhba coins features a depiction of the temple. It is possible that the anticipation of a return in seventy years played a part in the timing of this revolt.
One of the most astonishing passages is found in Josephus's paraphrase of Daniel. When Josephus reports on the prophecy of the resurgence of the kingdom of God as a stone cut out of the mountain without hands that would destroy the giant and fill the whole earth (see Daniel 2:34— 45), he says:
And Daniel also revealed to the king the meaning of the stone, but I have not thought it proper to relate this, since I am expected to write of what is past and done and not of what is to be; if, however, there is anyone who has so keen a desire for exact information that he will not stop short of inquiring more closely but wishes to learn about the hidden things to come, let him take the trouble to read the Book of Daniel, which he will find among the sacred writings. (Antiquities 10.210)
Regarding this passage, Daube points out that
it is remarkable how much of a viewpoint utterly irreconcilable with the Roman he [Josephus] managed to bring before his public. Take his belief that, in the end, it is the Jews who will triumph; actually, that moment will arrive as soon as they whole-heartedly submit to God. To be sure, he puts it reticently, even obliquely, but no one who paid heed could miss it.9
Both emphasize the foolishness of trusting in the arm of flesh. Jeremiah says, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm. . . . Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is" (Jeremiah 17:5—7). And Josephus writes, "Thus invariably have arms been refused to our nation, and warfare has been the sure signal for defeat. For it is, I suppose, the duty of the occupants of holy ground to leave everything to the arbitrament of God and to scorn the aid of human hands" (Jewish War 5.399—400).
Several of the parallels between the lives of Jeremiah and Josephus are based on details—having no basis in extant scripture or tradition—that Josephus interjects into his narrative about Jeremiah. It is possible that such details about Jeremiah were available to Josephus in other textual traditions that have not survived. It is also possible that these details were deliberately introduced by Josephus. Daube calls these possible "retrofigurements" or "retrojections" of things that Josephus had experienced back to the time of Jeremiah.10
Josephus portrays Jeremiah exhorting Zedekiah to surrender to the Babylonians, just as in the Bible, in order to save his life and the city (see Jeremiah 38:17—23), but adds the nonbiblical detail to save the temple as well (see Antiquities 10.126, 128).11 This matches Josephus's speech to the zealots in which he emphasizes the destruction of the city and the temple at the time of Zedekiah and encourages the inhabitants to surrender and save the temple (see Jewish War 5.362, 391, 406, 411).
Josephus introduces an interesting twist here. In Jeremiah's temple sermon he warns the people that the temple will not save them. In Josephus's version, both in his account of Jeremiah, as well as in his own case, the warning is that the people must surrender in order to save the temple—a twist that reflects Josephus's perspective.
Josephus includes the nonbiblical detail at the time the Babylonians granted Jeremiah his freedom (see Jeremiah 40:1) that Jeremiah requested of Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian general, the release of his scribe Baruch (see Antiquities 10.156, 58).12 This parallels Josephus's record that after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, he made a petition to Titus, the Roman general, for the release of his brother and friends and acquaintances (see Life 418—20).13 Daube calls this a possible "retrojection" and yet the release of Baruch may be suggested by the biblical text in which the Lord, through Jeremiah, promised Baruch his "life as a prize of war" (Jeremiah 45:1—5), as he did for Ebed-melech (see Jeremiah 39:17—18).
Josephus records that Jeremiah "left behind writings concerning the recent capture of [Jerusalem], as well as the capture of Babylon" (Antiquities 10.79). Thus Josephus presents himself, like Jeremiah, as leaving behind for his people an account of both destructions—the Babylonian and the Roman. Clearly many of Jeremiah's prophecies refer to Babylon's capture of Jerusalem (see Jeremiah 7, 26, 34, 36—38, etc.); the prophecies of the fall of Babylon can be found in the Oracles against Foreign Nations (see Jeremiah 50—51). Scholars have debated to which writings of Jeremiah Josephus is referring that relate to the destruction by the Romans. Some have supposed that this passage is a later interpolation. Marcus concludes that Josephus considers the book of Lamentations to be both a lament over the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem as well as a prophecy describing the future destruction by the Romans—a connection that may be suggested by the Jewish tradition that both destructions occurred on the same date—the ninth of Ab.14
There may be a better solution. Jeremiah 16:16—18 figuratively speaks of two deportations, one led by fishermen and one by hunters. William Holladay, in his recent commentary on Jeremiah, notes that scholars have variously understood these to be two deportations in 598 and 587 B.C., but Jerome, in his Commentary on the Book of Jeremiah,15 records that the Jews of his day understood the fishermen to be the Babylonians and the hunters to be the Romans.16 Perhaps Josephus's comment is based on this passage, which could lend itself to such an interpretation.17
Summary and Conclusions
Numerous, obvious parallels between the prophet Jeremiah and the historian Josephus are brought clearly into focus by Josephus's shaping of his biblical paraphrase and by his self-portrayal. Many of these parallels are obviously grounded in historical happenstance since the two men lived in similar situations; some are reflected in the theological understanding and teachings of the two men; and several of them might be best explained as "retrofigurements" in which Josephus has created a parallel by inserting back into his paraphrase of the life of Jeremiah a detail that happened to him personally.
Clearly one of the principles that guided Josephus in his retelling of the biblical story in Antiquities was a shaping of biblical characters to better explain to the world who he himself was; his own self-portrayal at times dramatically matches that of biblical characters. While implicitly creating these comparisons with many other biblical figures (Joseph, Saul, Daniel), Josephus only explicitly compares himself with the prophet Jeremiah. While it is possible that a familiarity with this biblical figure influenced the way Josephus lived his life and conducted himself, it is certain that the account of Jeremiah in the Bible has a great impact on how Josephus introduces himself in his narrative through various techniques: (1) explicit comparison, (2) presenting details that highlight commonalties and ignore obvious differences, such as not mentioning the several passages in Jeremiah critical of those who interpret dreams and Jeremiah's frequent condemnation of idolatry, (3) echoing Jeremiah's rhetoric and theology in the accounts of his own speeches, and (4) enhancing the biblical character with nonbiblical details that further highlight the comparison (Daube's "retrofigurement").
Josephus's identification with Jeremiah and other biblical figures gives his history a sense of self-righteousness. In his own narrative Josephus becomes one of the few individuals, like Jeremiah of old, who had the gift of discernment of the future and the task to teach the will of God to his people. Perhaps he used the life of Jeremiah as a model for his own life; perhaps he created some of the parallels through his literary craft. Josephus portrays himself as a messenger from God who takes his place in the biblical tradition of prophets. While Josephus emphasizes the similarities between himself and the prophet Jeremiah, the differences are crucial. Josephus claims that he had the good sense to follow the "will of God" by treacherously betraying his comrades in the siege of Jotapata and surrendering to the Romans. For this he was rewarded with wealth, opportunity, a wife and family, and a long life—which he used to defend the heritage of his people to the world. In all of this Josephus often suggests his own favored status with God.
Jeremiah too survived the destruction, but he stayed with his people. His forty-year ministry was full of suffering, the laments of which survive in his book and foreshadow the suffering servant who was to come. In the end Jeremiah was forced into exile to Egypt by his own people, without a wife or a family, where he died in silence. Jeremiah's book stands as a witness to his people of his divine calling and of the call to repentance that was rejected and contains an extraordinary record of his prophetic look into the future: of the coming of the Messiah, the restoration of the gospel, and the gathering of Israel. As one who knew the voice of the Lord, Jeremiah had no need to boast of his exalted status with the Lord. We can only imagine how Jeremiah would have portrayed Josephus if he had seen the future life of his countryman.
We salute Professor Richard Lloyd Anderson for his many years of excellence in teaching and scholarship and thank him for the warm relationship we have enjoyed with him.
1. All translations of Josephus are from the edition of Henry St. J. Thackeray, Ralph Marcus, Allen Wikgren, and Louis H. Feldman, Josephus, 10 vols. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1926—1963).
2. See Christopher T. Begg, "The 'Classical Prophets' in Josephus' Antiquities," Louvain Studies 13 (1988): 341—57; Joseph Blenkinsopp, "Prophecy and Priesthood in Josephus," Journal of Jewish Studies 25/2 (1974): 239—62; Shaye J. D. Cohen, "Josephus, Jeremiah, and Polybius," History and Theory 21/3 (1982): 366—81; David Daube, "Typology in Josephus," Journal of Jewish Studies 31/1 (1980): 18—36; Louis H. Feldman, "Josephus' Portrait of Saul," Hebrew Union College Annual 53 (1982): 45—99; and Louis H. Feldman, "Prophets and Prophecy in Josephus," Journal of Theological Studies 41/2 (1990): 386—422.
3. Daube, "Typology," 33.
4. In particular see Daube, "Typology," and Cohen, "Josephus, Jeremiah, and Polybius."
5. Josephus, not usually known for precision in his use of terminology, makes a very dramatic distinction in using the word prophētēs, reserving it for the canonical prophets. Josephus considers the reign of Artaxerxes as the end of the "succession of the prophets" (Against Apion 1.41). This concept matches the rabbinic tradition of the book of Esther as the last book written with prophetic authority. Feldman, "Prophets and Prophecy," 400—407, notes the emphasis on "succession" of the prophets, and while a distinction between biblical prophecy and the "prophecy" of others exists, clearly later figures, including Josephus, who are successors to the prophetic tradition in speaking for God, interpret the past and foresee the future.
6. See Blenkinsopp, "Prophecy and Priesthood"; Feldman, "Prophets and Prophecy."
7. Cohen, "Josephus, Jeremiah, and Polybius," 371.
8. Ibid., 371—74, contains a more complete discussion of this phenomenon in Jeremiah and Josephus.
9. Daube, "Typology," 34—35. Josephus's prophecy of the resurgence of Israel is to be found encoded in the prophecies of Daniel where Josephus evades an interpretation of the "stone cut out of the mountain without hands" because it was believed to be a prophecy of the eventual overthrow of Rome (see Antiquities 10:210).
10. Daube, "Typology," 26, 32.
11. This discrepancy has been noted by Marcus, Josephus, 6:228; also Daube, "Typology," 26. Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of the temple in several passages (chapters 7, 26), but the mention of the temple in this particular speech is best interpreted as a deliberate retrojection by Josephus.
12. Marcus, Josephus, 6:247 note e; Daube, "Typology," 27.
13. See Daube, "Typology," 27.
14. See the note by Marcus, Josephus, 6:200—201 note c. Marcus says, "Josephus naturally thought of the book of Lamentations (which, like his contemporaries, he regarded as Jeremiah's work) as a prophecy of the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans as well as of that by the Babylonians." Marcus never explains his rationale here. Perhaps he has in mind the similarities of detail found in Lamentations about the Babylonian siege and Josephus's description of the Roman siege, capture, and burning of the city, or the details of the famine in Lamentations 4:4—5, 9—10, resulting in mothers eating their children as described by Josephus in A.D. 70 (Jewish War 6.201—19). Perhaps he is thinking about the Jewish tradition that both temples were destroyed on the ninth of Ab.
15. See Jerome, Commentary on the Book of Jeremiah 16:16—18, in (S) Hieronymi Presbyteri in Hieremiam Prophetam Libri Sex, ed. Siegfried Reiter (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 1969), 158—59.
16. See William L. Holladay, Jeremiah 1 (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986), 478—79.
17. Similar interpretations have been made of the biblical passage in Deuteronomy 28:47—57, which refers to siege, capture, and cannibalism. Some interpreters have seen Rome in the image of the nation "as swift as the eagle flieth"—the eagle being a prominent symbol in the Roman standards.
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As outlined in a study published in Developmental Cell, researchers have discovered a novel function for p27 in the control of interneuron migration in the developing cerebral cortex.
The cerebral cortex is one of the most intricate regions of the brain whose formation requires the migration and integration of two classes of neurons: the projection neurons and the interneurons. These neurons are born in different places and use distinct migration modes to reach the cortex. While several signaling pathways involving various molecules have already been associated with projection neuron migration, the molecular mechanisms that control interneurons migration remain elusive.
In this study, researchers unveiled a novel activity of p27—a protein initially described for its activity as cell cycle regulator—in dynamic remodelling of the cell skeleton. This skeleton, named cytoskeleton, underlies tangential migration of interneurons in the cerebral cortex. Juliette Godin, primary researcher states: " At the molecular level, p27 acts on two cytoskeletal components, the actin and the microtubules. It promotes nucleokinesis and branching of the growth cone through regulation of actine. In addition, it promotes microtubule polymerisation in extending neurites. Both activities are required for proper tangential migration of interneurons in the cortex".
It is worth noting that microtubules are ubiquitous components of the cytoskeleton that contribute to cell integrity as well as cell migration and cell division. These cellular processes are impaired in various neurological disorders as well as in most cancers. "Our results are of particular significance because they demonstrate for the first time that p27 is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes their polymerisation", says researcher Laurent Nguyen.
Overall, these results increase our understanding of the mechanisms that drive neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex. Disruption of neuronal migration is associated with various neurological disorders characterized by mental retardation, epilepsy, learning disabilities, or autism.
More information: "p27Kip1 Is a Microtubule-Associated Protein that Promotes Microtubule Polymerization during Neuron Migration", Developmental Cell (Advanced Online Publication 27/09/2012) - doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2012.08.006
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http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-cortex-protein.html
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| 0.912809 | 451 | 2.9375 | 3 |
(Medical Xpress)—Research at Oregon State University has found that one particular omega-3 fatty acid has a powerful effect in preventing liver inflammation and fibrosis – common problems that are steadily rising along with the number of Americans who are overweight.
The American Liver Foundation has estimated that about 25 percent of the nation's population, and 75 percent of those who are obese, have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This early-stage health condition can sometimes progress to more serious, even fatal diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, as well as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The study, published online in the Journal of Nutrition, was one of the first to directly compare the effects of two of the omega-3 fatty acids often cited for their nutritional value, DHA and EPA.
In research with laboratory animals, it found that EPA had comparatively little effect on preventing the fibrosis, or scarring, that's associated with NASH. However, DHA supplementation reduced the proteins involved in liver fibrosis by more than 65 percent.
"A reduction of that magnitude in the actual scarring and damage to the liver is very important," said Donald Jump, a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU and a professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences.
"Many clinical trials are being done with omega-3 fatty acids related to liver disease," Jump said. "Our studies may represent the first to specifically compare the capacity of EPA versus DHA to prevent NASH. It appears that DHA, which can also be converted to EPA in the human body, is one of the most valuable for this purpose."
The issues have taken center stage as the weight of Americans continues to rise, with a related increase in the incidence of fatty liver disease and liver damage.
NASH is a progressive form of liver disease that is associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting from excess fat storage in the liver. Chronic inflammation can eventually lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer. While management of lifestyle, including weight loss and exercise, is one approach to control the onset and progression of fatty liver disease, other approaches are needed to prevent and treat it.
About 30-40 percent of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progress to NASH, which in turn can result in cirrhosis, a major risk factor for liver cancer. While this research studied the prevention of fatty liver disease, Jump said, ongoing studies are examining the capacity of DHA to be used in NASH therapy.
The levels of omega-3 oils needed vary with the health concern, officials say.
"Omega-3 fatty acids are typically recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease," Jump said. "Recommended intake levels of omega-3 fatty acids in humans for disease prevention are around 200-500 milligrams of combined DHA and EPA per day."
Levels used in therapy to lower blood triglycerides, also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, are higher, about 2-4 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day. The OSU studies with mice used DHA at levels comparable to the triglyceride therapies.
"DHA was more effective than EPA at attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis and hepatic damage," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "Based on these results, DHA may be a more attractive dietary supplement than EPA for the prevention and potential treatment of NASH in obese humans."
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Comfrey is a high-yielding leafy green plant that has been used for centuries as a feed crop for animals and a medicine for humans. However, in 2001, it was removed as an oral dietary supplement from the U.S. market, and, soon afterwards, as a commercial animal food source. These actions were taken because comfrey contains dangerous levels of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and its use has led to severe liver injury and death.
Traditionally, oral or topical use of comfrey was said to help bones heal more rapidly, and this is the origin of its Latin name Symphytum (drawing together). It was also used orally for the treatment of digestive and lung problems. Topical comfrey creams have been used to treat minor wounds, bruises, sprains, and varicose veins.
What Is Comfrey Used for Today?
The active ingredients in comfrey are not known, but may include rosmaric acid, choline, and allantoin.
The tested form of topical comfrey contains 10% of a 2.5:1 juice extract made from fresh pressed plant sap; in other words, every 100 grams of cream contains the equivalent of 25 grams of comfrey sap.
The main form of liver disease seen with comfrey is a blockage of small veins that can lead to liver cirrhosis and eventually liver failure (hepato-occlusive disease). Liver transplantation may be required. Oral use of comfrey for as brief a time as 5 to 7 days in a child and 19 to 45 days in adults has resulted in severe liver disease and death. Long-term use of very low dosages may also cause harm.
In general, the root of the plant contains more pyrrolizidine alkaloids than the leaves. Related species of comfrey such as Symphytum uplandicum and Symphytum asperum contain even higher levels of these toxins, and may be mistakenly sold as ordinary comfrey.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey can be absorbed through the skin. For this reason, it has been recommended that when using comfrey preparations, the daily amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids should not exceed 100 mcg. Unfortunately, few products are labeled to indicate their pyrrolizidine alkaloid content. Furthermore, the common analytic methods used for testing pyrrolizidine alkaloid content may fail to measure a certain chemical form of these toxins (the N-oxide form), leading to results that are too low by a factor of ten or more. For all these reasons, it may be prudent to avoid topical comfrey products entirely. If you nonetheless wish to use comfrey as a topical treatment, we recommend the following general guidelines:
- Do not apply comfrey for more than 4-6 weeks per year.
- Do not use for more than 10 days in a row.
- Do not apply to broken skin.
In addition, comfrey should not be used by children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with liver disease.
- Reviewer: EBSCO CAM Review Board
- Review Date: 07/2012 -
- Update Date: 07/25/2012 -
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"New Echota - Cherokee Capital, State Historic Site" Calhoun by Stephen-KarenConn
Calhoun Travel Guide: 2 reviews and 17 photos
In 1825, the Cherokee national legislature established a capital called New Echota, near present-day Calhoun, at the headwaters of the Oostanaula River. New Echota marked a change in Cherokee government from a matriarical clan system to a new constitution and form of government with a legislature and court patterned after that of the United States.
The first Indian language newspaper was published here, and a court case was heard which was carried all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. A treaty, which the vast majority of Cherokees believed to be fraudulent, was signed at New Echota in 1835, relinquishing Cherokee claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. This began the assembly of Indians for removal west on the infamous Trail of Tears, one of the blackest marks on American history.
Today, visitors can see several original and reconstructed buildings on a one-mile self-guided tour.
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| 0.855193 | 571 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Things You Didn’t Know That Trigger Depression
Over 50% of Americans suffer from some kind of depression. There are a lot of things that we all know can cause anyone to be depressed, at any time. For example; a death, a divorce or break-up, or loss of employment, can all lead to serious, and immediate, changes in a person’s emotional state.
There are some things, however, that you may NOT know can lead to depression. Every day things that seem innocent enough. Here’s four of those to look out for.
HOT WEATHER/SUNLIGHT – Many people suffer from the summer form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – where depression is triggered by too much sunlight. These people have a sincitivity to heat, which leads to an overall lack of energy. Hot weather also tends to disturb our regular sleeping pattern. Many people drink more alcohol in the hot weather, as well. Not good. But don’t over do sunning yourself, as too much of that will get you into trouble, too.
DOUGHNUTS – As much as they might cheer us up in the morning, comfort foods like doughnuts are not just terrible for the waistline – but also bad for your overall mental well-being. People forget that with those sugary and fatty foods, there is always the sugar ‘crash’ – which usually leaves people feeling worse. For more healthy and fun food facts, click here.
CIGARETTES – Scientists have recently declared that smoking can increase the risk of severe depression by 93%. YIKES! Nicotine creates a sense of relaxation. Unfortunately, it is only temporary. Don’t believe me? Would you believe the American Lung Association?
THE INTERNET – Studies have shown that teenagers that use the internet excessively are three times more likely to develop depression. The more a person uses the internet (or phone), the less confident they become in real life social situations. Internet addiction is a huge issue right now. If you know anyone that spends more than two hours a day on the internet, and it’s not work related, there is cause for serious concern.
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| 0.957247 | 456 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Modern Constellations: Antlia to Coma Berenices
Short descriptions of the modern constellations. The illustrations are from Burritt, "Filling the Sky", or Hevelius.
Crux to Lynx
Mensa to Pyxis
Reticulum to Vulpecula
Modern Constellation Addendums
A few odds and ends about some modern constellations: CVn, Dor, Lyn, and Mon.
Classical Constellations: Andromeda to Auriga
Short classical constellation stories.These stories were written primarily for children. The illustrations are from Burritt.
Boötes to Cassiopeia
Centaurus to Corvus
Crater to Eridanus
Gemini to Libra
Lupus to Perseus
Pisces to Serpens
Taurus to Virgo
Aratus' classic poem about the constellations.
Will show you how to find the bear in Ursa Major and includes a short description of the Rabbit Net asterism.
Big Dipper-Ancient Symbol
Describes a possible connection between the Big Dipper and an age-old symbol.
Rifle Impact Site.
A study of the alleged Rifle Meteor Impact Site.
Digital Camera Notes
A few observations about my digital camera constellation photography. This is very outdated. There are much better cameras and techniques available today.
Pictures of my telescopes.
A few of my photos of comets and constellations.
Echo Canyon & the Stream Orchid
The story of a canyon and the endangered orchid that grows there.
Flowers with the word 'star' in their name.
Dwarf Pincushion Plant
Chamaechaenactis scaposa - this small plant caught my attention while hiking. Here are some photos.
Strange tracks on top of the snow.
Barentsz's 1596 Voyage
Here is the exciting adventure of Barentsz's attempt to find the northeast passage. It is taken from John Pinkerton's, "A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World"; London, 1808: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row and Cadell and Davies, in the Strand; pages 90-114.
In his "Voyages and Travels" John Pinkerton included an illustration and some text about Stonehenge.
"Shh... Don't Say That!"
Youngblood painting of JFK
Here is a print of JFK that I found while house cleaning.
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My class is teaming up with a pre-service teacher, Dylan Longmoore, from the University of Regina in Canada. We just finished reading the book Hatchet by Gary Paulson in which the main character of the story, Brian Robeson, is plane wrecked in the Canadian wilderness. I thought this might be a great opportunity for Mr. Longmoore to respond to some of my students' questions about Canada.
- Do you have really bad storms in Canada? (In the book Brian lives through a tornado.)
- Has anyone gotten attacked by a moose? (Brian is attacked by a moose.)
- Do people get lost in the Canadian wilderness?
- Is there a lot of moose in Canada?
- Are there a lot of bear attacks in Canada? (Brian is almost attacked by a bear.)
- What kind of animals are in Canada?
- What is it like to be lost in the woods in Canada?
- Do you think somebody could live in the Canadian wilderness for a year with just the clothes they are wearing and a hatchet?
- What animals are hunted in Canada?
- What foods do Canadians eat?
Several students asked about the weather and climate in Canada. There were also more questions about hunting and fishing.
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| 0.964713 | 261 | 3.140625 | 3 |
As NDs, we are acutely aware of the delicate balance within the endocrine system and how that balance affects one’s health. Understanding the connection between the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands is crucial when treating a patient with symptoms that point to an endocrine imbalance.
Typically, whenever thyroid dysfunction exists (i.e., hypo- or hyperthyroidism), so do adrenal gland weaknesses. Because the thyroid and adrenal glands work in tandem, it is vital that they be treated simultaneously.
The adrenal glands produce a large number of hormones. The adrenal cortex produces corticosteroids that include the mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and gonadocorticoids (androgens). Under prolonged stress, levels of the primary glucocorticoid, cortisol, are elevated; this elevation increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels and suppresses the inflammatory response of the immune system. The androgen DHEA is thought to counteract the negative effects of prolonged elevated cortisol levels, such as immune suppression and impaired cognitive function. However, data is scarce on long-term use. The adrenal medulla is the principle site of the synthesis and release of the catecholamines adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine.
Low adrenal function may be caused by deficient corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), or by adrenal fatigue. When humans were hunter-gatherers there were long periods of time between exposures to stress, where the body could recover. Today, the fight-or-flight response is activated so frequently throughout each day that for most people, the body never gets a chance to recover and levels of stress hormones become chronically elevated. This situation has a negative impact on thyroid function, since elevated cortisol can inhibit conversion of T4 to T3 and can decrease TSH output. This may be the body’s way of conserving energy and slowing down metabolism (Teitelbaum, 2001).
Under chronic stress, the adrenal glands cannot keep up with the demand for hormone production due to exhaustion of nutritional reserves or damage to the glands themselves, resulting in low production of adrenal hormones and resulting symptoms such as fatigue and hormone imbalances.
A uterine leiomyoma (fibroid) can form on the interior muscular wall, as well as on the exterior of the uterus. Symptoms can include: menorrhagia, with the likelihood of anemia; shortened menstrual cycles; metrorrhagia; fatigue; increased vaginal discharge; painful sexual intercourse; and pain or pressure in the bowel or bladder.
Since fibroids tend to increase during pregnancy and decrease during menopause, presumably due to fluctuating levels of estrogen, uterine fibroids are considered to be estrogen-dependent (Pollow et al. 1978). Alterations in estrogen metabolism within the fibroid itself may play a role in fibroid growth. Concentrations of estrogen receptors in fibroid tissue are higher than in surrounding myometrium, but lower than in the endometrium (Wilson, 1980).
In hypothyroidism, there is increased activity of the pituitary gland aimed at trying to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormone secretions, and the increased pituitary activity may affect the ovaries and increase their estrogen output.
What qualifies as excessive menstrual blood loss? The definition depends more on an increase from baseline. Return of menses after a four-year hiatus for the patient described in the accompanying case study has come with heavier bleeding (25 days of heavy bleeding vs. 7-10) and an increase in uterine fibroid size.
Although there are many cofactors, the trigger for fibroids is primarily hormonal. Astringent, hormone-balancing herbs can shrink fibroid growth, lessen estrogen and reduce heavy blood loss (Mills, 1992).
- Alchemilla vulgaris is an astringent herb historically used for heavy bleeding and other menstrual irregularities (Petcu, 1979). The saponins in Alchemilla support the body in adapting to changing hormone levels by reducing the effect of estrogen withdrawal (Mills and Bone, 2000).
- Glycyrrhiza glabra has an indirect effect on the adrenal glands via the liver. It inhibits 5-beta-reductase, an enzyme in the liver that inactivates cortisol by converting it to cortisone. The effect of the glycoside glycyrrhizin is to block the action of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid hydrogenase, a renal enzyme that also catabolizes cortisol (Tamura et al., 1979; Armanini et al., 1996).
- Curcuma longa works well with Glycyrrhiza to reduce stress-induced inflammation (Mitchell, 1999). It may also work to increase plasma cortisol levels over time (Srivastava, 1985).
- Panax ginseng acts to increase ACTH and cortisol secretion via ginsenoside activity, and likely exerts its adaptogenic effects indirectly via the entire hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (Haia et al. 1983). Panax is also used to improve memory (Mills and Bone, 2000). Vitex agnus castus acts as a dopaminergic agonist, and is indirectly progesteronic. It is indicated for progesterone deficiency (Mills, 1991) and menorrhagia (Mills, 1992; Christoffell et al., 1999); it can also prove to be beneficial in menopausal symptoms, withdrawal from hormone replacement therapy, and conditions where unopposed estrogen plays a role (e.g., fibroids) because of its progesterone favoring effect (Cliff and Heymann, 1992). Vitex exerts a progesteronic effect by acting on the pituitary gland to increase luteinizing hormone (LH) and decrease follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (DeCapite, 1967; Weiss, 1988).
Precautions: Vitex agnus castus may counteract the effectiveness of BCPs and other hormone therapies (Tilgner, 1999).
- Capsella pastoris-bursa functions as an anti-hemorrhagic. It is indicated for excessive or irregular menstrual bleeding, and tonifies pelvic organs (Tilgner, 1999). The German Commission E supports using Capsella for symptomatic treatment of menorrhagia and metrorrhagia (Blumenthal et al., 1998).
Janice Skelton, ND currently practices at Dynamic Pathways Wellness center in Phoenix. She is a 1999 graduate of NCNM and is passionate about using herbs, homeopathy and pranayam to support individuals living with brain injuries and other neuroendocrine disorders. As a general practitioner, she believes that virtually all dis-ease can be healed with basic naturopathic care and by living an inspired life.
A 51-year-old undernourished Caucasian woman presented to my office in October 2007 with complaints of extremely heavy and long periods, fatigue, depression and a desire to stop HRT; her periods consisted of 20-25 days of bleeding, using one super tampon and overnight pad per hour. She was taking self-prescribed calcium-magnesium, B-complex, buffered vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid, along with physician-prescribed levothyroxine (T4), SC pellets of estrogen, and testosterone (injected quarterly) with oral progesterone, taken the last three days of each month.
Symptoms are described as weight loss and emotional crashes (weepiness) with HRT, lack of motivation, poor memory, mood swings, anxiety, poor sleep and dizziness.
Pertinent PMHX: menopause at age 46; HRT initiated in October 2006; heavy menses with spotting resuming August 2007. Menses have always been heavy and regular, with uterine cramping, clotting and spotting between periods, 30-day cycles with 7-10 days of heavy bleeding; PMS symptoms of ‘crying jags’; Gravida 2 Para 1; 12 years BCP use. Uterine fibroids diagnosed via ultrasound in 1992.
- Pertinent current MHX: BP LAS: 100/58mmHg; Hippus test (pupil contraction): positive bilaterally
- Salivary hormone panel reveals:
- DHEAS: 2.2ng/ml (low <2.0ng/ml)
- Morning cortisol: 3.0ng/ml (low <3.7ng/ml)
- Noon cortisol: 3.0ng/ml (low <3.0ng/ml)
- Evening cortisol: 1.3ng/ml(low <2.0 ng/ml)
- Night cortisol: 0.3ng/ml (low <1.5ng/ml)
- Estradiol: 1.1pg/ml (low <1.5pg/ml; optimal range is 1.5-3.5pg/ml)
- Progesterone: 21pg/ml (normal range for progesterone replacement = 30-300pg/ml)
- Testosterone: 19pg/ml (age dependent range = 16-55pg/ml)
- Serum CRP: 1.1mg/L (reference range 0.8-3.1mg/L)
- T4: 7.6ug/dL with T4 supplementation (reference range 4.5-12.5ug/dL)
- Pelvic US shows 2 submucosal, medium-sized fibroids
- Endometrial biopsy: negative
The patient was started on Vitex agnus castus 250mg qAM along with an aqueous/alcohol tonic of 2oz Alchemilla vulgaris, 2oz Glycyrrhiza glabra, 2oz Capsella bursa-pastoris, 1oz Panax ginseng and 1oz Curcuma longa; sig 120gtt TID, increase to 1tsp QH during heaviest bleeding until flooding slows. She was also prescribed an OTC liquid iron formula in a base of herbs and honey. The patient continued on with calcium-magnesium, B-complex, alpha-lipoic acid and levothyroxine. The SC pellets of estrogen, IM testosterone, and oral progesterone were discontinued.
After three months, the patient reported regular menses with normal flow. Spotting occurs for an additional 7-10 days. The rest of her symptoms have disappeared. My theory is that a combination of adrenal support and adaptogenic and alterative botanicals has resulted in the return of regular cycles, initiated by HRT.
It is likely that preexisting submucosal fibroids increased in size due to exposure to unopposed estrogen replacement and was contributing to heavy menses and continued spotting.
Armanini D et al: Further studies on the mechanism of the mineral corticoid action of licorice in humans, J Endocrinol Invest 19:624-9, 1996.
Blumenthal M et al (eds): The Complete German Commission E Monographs Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, 1998, American Botanical Council.
Christoffell V et al: In: Loew D et al (eds): Phytopharmaka v, Forschung und Klinische Anwendung Darmstadt. Heidelberg, 1999, Steinkopff.
Cliff M and Heymann H: Descriptive analysis of oral pungency, J Sensory Stud 7(4):279-290, 1992.
DeCapite L: Histology, anatomy and antibiotic properties of Vitex agnus castus, Ann Fac Agr Univ Studi Perugi 22:109-126, 1967.
Haia S et al: Evaluation of corticosterone secretion-inducing effects of ginsenosides and their pro-sapogenins and sapogenins, Chem Pharm Bull 31:168-74, 1983.
Mills SY: Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. London, 1991, Viking Arkana (Penguin).
Mills SY: Women’s Medicine: Vitex agnus castus, The herb. Christchurch, 1992, Amberwood.
Mills SY and Bone K: Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Edinburgh, 2000 Churchill Livingstone.
Mitchell W: Plant Medicine: The Plant Years, Seattle, 1999, Self-published.
Petcu P et al: Treatment of juvenile meno-metrorrhagia with Alchemilla vulgaris fluid extract, Clujul Med 52(3);266-70, 1979.
Pollow K et al: Estrogen and progesterone binding proteins in normal human myometrium and leiomyoma tissue, J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 16:503, 1978.
Srivastava R and Srimal RC: Modification of certain inflammation-induced biochemical changes by curcumin, Indian J Med Res 81:215-223, 1985.
Tamura Y et al: Effects of glycyrrhetinic acid and its derivatives on delta-4, 5-alpha- and 5-beta reductase in rat liver, Arzneim Forsch 29:647-9, 1979.
Teitelbaum J: From Fatigued to Fantastic, New York, 2001, Avery Publishing.
Tilgner, S: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth. Creswell, 1999, Wise Acre Publishing, pp. 51-52, 79-107.
Weiss RF: Herbal Medications (1st English ed). Beaconsfield, 1988, Beaconsfield Pub, pp.317.
Wilson E et al: Estradiol and progesterone binding in uterine leiomyomata and in normal uterine tissues, Obstet Gynecol 5:20, 1980.
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WASHINGTON, DC - In 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) began to assemble a network of regional partnerships to identify the very best methods to capture and permanently store gases that can contribute to global climate change.
For its effort, the Energy Department has been selected to receive the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' Corporate Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship. The Association's Division of Environmental Geosciences (DEG) presented the award during the AAPG Annual Convention in Long Beach, Calif.
In its selection process, DEG officials cited the Energy Department's "continued support and funding for carbon sequestration partnerships in the United States and Canada to reduce the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide." DEG's mission is to foster an understanding of geological, geochemical, geophysical, and hydrogeological principles and methodologies that can be applied to environmental problems.
"The Department of Energy has been in the forefront of carbon sequestration as a way to mitigate carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and has made significant progress through its Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships Program," said John Litynski, who serves as the program coordinator for the partnerships initiative at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory. "I am honored to accept this award on behalf of DOE."
The partnerships are the centerpiece of federal efforts to investigate the potential for carbon sequestration. Nearly 350 organizations in 41 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and three Indian nations form the national network. The partnerships program is a key element of the President's Global Climate Change Initiative.
The Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships have completed a two-year characterization phase that identified more than 3,500 billion tons of potential CO2 storage capacity in geologic formations throughout the United States. The partnerships are currently working to implement 25 geologic sequestration tests in a variety of geologic formations to prove the capacity and availability of these formations. Two tests have begun injection while those remaining are in various stages of development, including permitting, baseline characterization, and well construction.
The partnership program will continue to develop the framework to ultimately deploy those carbon sequestration technology approaches best suited for their specific regions. As an integral segment of the program, the partnerships have also begun to explore possible regulations and infrastructure requirements necessary should climate change technologies be implemented.
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| 0.938685 | 469 | 2.75 | 3 |
Playing in a class prepares children for being in an orchestra
Learning a musical instrument at primary school can boost a child's confidence and learning in other areas, a report suggests.
Nine out of 10 schools asked about a government-funded scheme that teaches pupils to play instruments in a group, said the process raised self-esteem.
Many teachers said the scheme led to more positive attitudes to learning and improved motivation in other subjects.
The groups are run in 6,500 schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The study by the University of the Arts, London, focuses on the Wider Opportunities Programme, in which eight and nine-year-olds learn to play an instrument together as a class for free. Even the class teacher joins in and learns to play.
Some 97% of primary head teachers and staff in the 1,389 schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who took part in the research said pupils looked forward to lessons and enjoyed playing instruments.
Many of the teaching staff said team-working skills had improved as a result, as had pupil concentration.
The scheme also had an "empowering effect" on some of the participating children, the study said.
John Witchell, chief executive of the Federation of Music Services, which commissioned the report, said there was a lot of evidence from all the people who responded about the wider impacts, such as better motivation and improved behaviour.
"It's one of those activities that is a social activity where all the children work together," he said.
"They are not competing against each other, they have to collaborate and use their minds and bodies to produce the music.
"They also have to use their emotions to enable self-expression as well."
In terms of music education, the study found learning an instrument in class as effective as small group tuition.
The programme was particularly useful as an introduction to learning an instrument, identifying talent and in promoting a joyful experience that benefits the "whole child's development".
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "Children get tremendous value from music, both as a subject in its own right and as a means of motivating students to reach higher levels of attainment across the curriculum.
"Learning to play a musical instrument can encourage the development of listening and concentration skills, appropriate behaviour, self-motivation, communications skills and teamwork."
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Bioengineering Promises Help to Patients, Cost Savings
Do engineers hold the key to cutting health care costs? By inventing new technologies that will help the sick and disabled to live more independently, they just might.
Bioengineering applies engineering tools and approaches to solve problems in biology and medicine and has already had a substantial influence on medicine.
Mason’s new bachelor of science in bioengineering will begin this fall, allowing students to be a part of the health care technology revolution. The program is the only undergraduate bioengineering degree available in Northern Virginia.
“Bioengineering is all about using technology to help people overcome disease, ease pain and improve the quality of life,” says Joseph Pancrazio, director of the bioengineering program and professor of electrical and computer engineering.
“It’s also about contributing to fundamental understanding of biological systems through engineering and computational tools.
“Our students will have the opportunity to be part of this, and, whether they discover the next pacemaker or biomarker, or ensure that patients are receiving a safe and reliable exam, they will have affected the lives of people in need of these technologies.”
As the demand grows for new technologies to combat rising health care costs, bioengineers’ work may also result in cost savings over time.
Pancrazio explains that a lot of health care costs result from patients who need help performing everyday tasks. By increasing their level of independence through technology, the need for and cost of assistive care provided by caretakers decreases.
For example, for a paralyzed individual, the ability to control their own wheelchair, such as the one designed by Mason bioengineering researcher Nathalia Peixoto, means that the patient does not have to pay for someone else to help them move around their home.
“I’ve met a number of engineering students who want to do something that goes beyond building new routers for computers or building the next iPod,” says Pancrazio.
“They want to provide meaning in their lives and in the lives of others by building new prosthetic limbs, robotic arms and other types of assistive technologies.
“I don’t think there’s any question that this is a wonderful way in which students who are quantitatively and technically inclined can contribute to relieving the burden of disease.”
Although the program’s main emphasis is on developing engineers, students will leave with a strong background in the fundamentals of biology and physiology, as well as biomedical measurements and instrumentation, biomedical signal processing, computational analysis and modeling of biological systems.
This training will allow graduates to contribute to the discovery of new imaging technologies, diagnostic tools and other medical innovations.
“Think pacemakers, MRIs and prosthetic limbs,” says Vasiliki N. Ikonomidou, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the bioengineering program.
“We are currently living longer than ever before, and are able to combat diseases that were not treatable in the past. Bioengineering is at the heart of this, providing technology to support diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and quality of life.
“With an aging population and rising health care costs, bioengineering will need to provide even more solutions to sustain this trend.”
Mason’s program is supported by federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and features faculty collaborations with nearby federal laboratories and clinical centers.
Housed in the Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering, the four-year undergraduate program leverages Mason’s established bioscience programs to train students for biomedical engineer positions — careers for which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, demand is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
The degree will also fulfill pre-med requirements.
“Bioengineering is a field that allows professionals to ease the pain of another human being by developing technologies that assist diagnosis and treatment of disease and quality of life. It provides challenges at the interface of engineering and life sciences,” says Ikonomidou.
“Our students will have the opportunity to work in this field, whether they choose to practice engineering or to go to medical school, and their work will likely make life better for a lot of people.”
For additional information, see the website or call 703-993-4190.
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Annie Snider/MEDILL Still photos courtesy of Meredith Nettles
Still photos courtesy of Meredith Nettles
Seismologist Meredith Nettles’ office is just north of New York City, but her mind is more often on Greenland where she spends part of the year doing field research.
As glacial ice melted to its seasonal minimum this year, she watched, not just with satellites and GPS data, but also with seismic readings.
Nettles’ specialty is earthquakes caused by large chunks of ice breaking off glaciers and crashing into the sea. Climate scientists say these earthquakes offer information about glacial melting that could dramatically change earth’s climate.
“The earthquakes essentially give us a way to monitor the health of glaciers in Greenland,” says Nettles, assistant professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. “They give us a very valuable tool for monitoring and understanding the ice sheet and its future.”
It’s a future of intense interest to climate scientists, who warn that the melting of the ice sheet would bring rising sea levels and coastal flooding. It could also impact the global ocean circulatory system that makes our climate habitable for human beings over much of the globe.
Scientists monitored a six-fold increase in earthquakes from Greenland between 1993 and 2005. Nettles says the simultaneous changes happening in many glaciers around Greenland are a good indication that these glacial retreats are linked to the larger scale process of climate change.
Nettles’ work with glacial earthquakes, or icequakes, began six years ago when she and colleagues discovered a new class of earthquakes occurring mostly in Greenland. Despite their intensity, the earthquakes had been hidden because they happen at a very slow speed. Whereas a magnitude five earthquake along a fault takes about two seconds to happen, the Arctic earthquakes occur over as much as 60 seconds.
Intrigued by the phenomenon, Nettles and a handful of other climate scientists headed to Greenland to install GPS equipment that would give them a closer look. It is dangerous and expensive work. Glacial ice in these areas moves at a speed of about 3 feet an hour, and the boxes must be installed at points generally only accessible by helicopter.
Over the years, Nettles’ team has perfected the process for installing the equipment, which involves drilling a 9-foot hole in the ice and connecting a box of monitoring equipment. When her team placed 14 GPS monitors on Helheim Glacier this summer, they could install one in less than 10 minutes.
This monitoring equipment isthe secret to how the scientists discovered that the earthquakes were being caused by enormous blocks of ice breaking off the front of glaciers and falling into the water far below in the process called “calving.” They also found that the flow of the glacier immediately increases after a large-scale calving event.
Nettles says understanding how this happens could provide critical information about major global changes in climate.
“If we understand how fast we can put more ice from the ice sheet into the world’s oceans, it has an important effect on ocean circulation, sea-level rise, and many other inter-related aspects of the climate-ocean system,” she says.
According to Nettles, the scientific community is now starting to see a “clear link” between glacial retreats marked by earthquakes and two key elements of climate change: ocean temperature and ocean circulation.
“We see a link, basically, through the ability of that warmer water to erode sea ice and floating ice mélange in front of the glaciers that otherwise helps restrict calving," Nettles says. That ice in front of the glacier had been providing resistance, slowing the forward movement of the glacier that causes more ice to break off into the ocean.
“Greenland is a very sensitive responder to changes in climate,” Nettles says. Although scientists aren’t currently finding similar changes in Antarctica, she says the process there would be the same and “could have very significant implications because Antarctica is so big and contains such a large mass of ice.”
As global leaders work toward a political framework for preventing further climate change and adapting to the changes already in the pipeline, far-away Greenland will be front-of-mind.
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for National Geographic News
Licensing and monitoring ivory carvers could effectively control the illegal poaching of elephants and, at the same time, ease the tensions between conservationists and African countries with ivory surpluses, according to new research.
Elephant conservation and the ivory trade are directly related; the higher the demand for ivory, the more elephants will be illegally killed. How to unlink them has been a matter of sometimes vitriolic debate between pro- and anti-ivory trade advocates.
"There are two contradictory problems," said Daniel Stiles, an anthropologist based in Kenya. "The elephants are threatened if ivory demand is too high, and so conservationists want to ban the sale of all ivory. On the other hand, ivory is a natural resource that African countries want to sell and put the money from the sales back into conservation. How do you reconcile the two?"
Gaining the cooperation of the ivory carvers could be the answer to elephant conservation, said Stiles.
"Raw ivory must pass through the hands of a carver to give it economic and aesthetic value. Shops selling carved ivory pieces have to obtain it from the carving workshop. The workshop is therefore the node for the movement of all ivory, whether legal or illegal."
It's incredibly expensive and difficult to stop elephant poaching using game rangers, he said. It would be much easier to police the carvers than the smugglers, or even retail shops, of which there are hundreds or possibly thousands.
"Convince the carvers to manufacture only high quality, high price, low volume pieces using ivory," said Stiles. "Use bone, bone resin, wood, jade, plastic, and other materials to make the high volume, low quality jewelry and trinkets that are currently being made. This would lower considerably the need for ivory."
Ivory: Boom to Bust
"The global ivory market became so big in the 1980s that African elephant populations were being wiped out," said Stiles. "Around 700,000 African elephants died between 1979 and 1990over half the total population."
The number of ivory carvers mushroomed to satisfy demand, and the tradition of highly skilled artisans creating artistic items of cultural significance for local markets was eschewed in favor of high volume, low quality jewelry and trinkets.
To curb the slaughter, a ban was placed on the international trade of ivory under a treaty known as the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES, rhymes with nighties). The ban went into effect in 1990.
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
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for National Geographic News
Tomorrow giddy astronauts on the International Space Station will intentionally jettison one of their older colleagues into Earth orbit.
It's no homicide, though. The "colleague" is a defunct spacesuit retooled to be one of the most unusual satellites ever launched.
The satellite, named SuitSat-1 (also called Radioskaf, or Radio Sputnik, in Russian), is designed to broadcast transmissions to students and amateur radio operators around the world.
"It was the Russians' idea," said Frank Bauer, the SuitSat project engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
"Our Russian colleagues were interested in utilizing this suit that was going to be expended as a satellite We really liked the idea."
If the preliminary experiment worksif ham radios pick up SuitSat-1's transmissionsastronauts may routinely use old spacesuits for satellite experiments, Bauer says.
For example, a SuitSat equipped with a video camera and other sensors could relay images and data as it falls into Earth's atmosphere.
The space station always has a stock of expendable Russian Orlan spacesuits onboard, Bauer explains. The suits are used for about two years then retired and replaced with new suits equipped with the latest technology.
The offbeat satellite will be released in the first part of a six-hour spacewalk on Friday. Astronauts William McArthur of the United States and Valery Tokarev of Russia will also conduct repair and inspection work on the station.
Tokarev will push SuitSat-1 away from the space station at about a 30 degree angle upward and 10 degrees to the left of the back of the station.
The SuitSat carries a radio transmitter, three batteries, and internal sensors. It is also stuffed with old clothes and other junk to give it humanlike form, Bauer said.
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0202_060202_suitsat.html
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| 0.935203 | 396 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Burial Site May Reveal Secrets That Died with Genghis Khan
Calum MacLeod in Beijing
The Independent (London)
|August 21, 2001|
Archaeologists believe they have found the burial site and treasure trove of the Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan.
The discovery of a walled burial ground containing at least 60 unopened tombs has increased speculation that an expedition that is under way will succeed in tracking down the elusive conqueror, who was buried amid great secrecy and slaughter in 1227.
John Woods, a history professor at the University of Chicago, said, "It is an exciting discovery because it's located near where some other important events occurred in Khan's life." Professor Woods leads the American-Mongolian team that has been scouring the steppes since last year.
These locations include Genghis Khan's likely birthplace and the Great Kuriltai, where 20,000 people crowned him Khan of Khans, and ruler of "all who live in felt tents."
After his crowning, the warrior let loose one of the most effective fighting forces assembled in the pre-firearms era. More than three million people may have died during the bloody creation of the largest contiguous land empire in history. At their height, the Mongolians simultaneously challenged the Germans and the Japanese.
After his death at the age of 65, perhaps from injuries suffered in a fall from his beloved horse, Genghis was buried by generals who went to extraordinary lengths to conceal the grave. Every one of the 2,000 people who attended his funeral was reportedly massacred by 800 soldiers, who in turn were killed to ensure his rest was undisturbed.
He has lain undisturbed ever since, despite the high-tech efforts of Japanese explorers who wasted three years and millions of dollars in the mid-nineties in a vain attempt to find his grave.
The Americans believe luck is on their side this time. As they considered abandoning a search near the town of Batshireet in Khentii Province, 200 miles northeast of the capital, Ulan Bator, they heeded a suggestion from an asthmatic Mongolian geographer to climb a nearby hill, which was so steep that it had defeated him. From the summit, the walled burial ground came into view.
Other positive signs include an unexcavated tomb 31 miles away, which may contain 100 of the soldiers who lost their lives to keep the secret.
Although Professor Woods has petitioned the Mongolian Prime Minister to allow preliminary excavation to start next April, no archaeological digs have yet been approved. This is perhaps because Mongolian citizens still fear that exhuming bodies destroys the souls of the dead.
Professor Woods said, "This whole country is virgin in terms of archaeologyalmost no excavation of any kind has been done in Mongolia. There are tantalizing references [in folklore] to maidens being sacrificed, and booty. We don't know what to expect."
Earlier this week, treasure hunters were given a glimpse of what may lie in store when a Turkish expedition announced the discovery of thousands of gold and silver artifacts near the shrine of a Turkish emperor who ruled Mongolia in the eighth century. While uncovering this jackpot did not involve disturbing tombs, if Professor Woods does locate the man Mongolians consider the Father of the Nation, pressure may grow to bring his legacy to light.
Although traditions weigh heavily on Mongolia's people, the financial temptations of creating a tourist attraction to rival the Tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt, or China's Terracotta Army, would be considerable for this poor, aid-dependent nation, with its semi-nomadic population of 2.6 million.
However the burial site is developed in future, doubtless every Mongolian would cheer its discovery as a definitive rebuttal to Beijing's claims that the site lies across the border on Chinese territory.
Copyright 2001 The Independent (London)
|© 1996-2008 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.|
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Goats' milk with antimicrobial lysozyme speeds recovery from diarrhea
March 13, 2013
Video (2 min 19 sec)
Videography by Joe Proudman/UC Davis
Milk from goats that were genetically modified to produce higher levels of a human antimicrobial protein has proved effective in treating diarrhea in young pigs, demonstrating the potential for food products from transgenic animals to one day also benefit human health, report researchers at the University of California, Davis.
The study is the first on record to show that goats’ milk carrying elevated levels of the antimicrobial lysozyme, a protein found in human breast milk, can successfully treat diarrhea caused by bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract.
The findings, slated to appear March 13 in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE, offer hope that such milk may eventually help prevent human diarrheal diseases that each year claim the lives of 1.8 million children around the world and impair the physical and mental development of millions more.
“Many developing parts of the world rely on livestock as a main source of food,” said James Murray, a UC Davis animal science and veterinary medicine professor and lead researcher on the study. “These results provide just one example that, through genetic engineering, we can provide agriculturally relevant animals with novel traits targeted at solving some of the health-related problems facing these developing communities.”
In this study, Murray and colleagues fed young pigs milk from goats that were genetically modified to produce in their milk higher levels of lysozyme, a protein that naturally occurs in the tears, saliva and milk of all mammals.
Although lysozyme is produced at very high levels in human breast milk, the milk of goats and cows contains very little lysozyme, prompting the effort to boost lysozyme levels in the milk of those animals using genetic modification.
Because lysozyme limits the growth of some bacteria that cause intestinal infections and diarrhea and also encourages the growth of other beneficial intestinal bacteria, it is considered to be one of the main components of human milk that contribute to the health and well-being of breast-fed infants.
Pigs were chosen for this study as a research model because their gastrointestinal physiology is quite similar to humans, and because pigs already produce a moderate amount of lysozyme in their milk.
Half of the pigs in the study were fed pasteurized milk that came from the transgenic goats and carried greater amounts of lysozyme — 68 percent of the level found in human breast milk. The other half of the pigs were fed pasteurized milk that came from nontransgenic goats and thus contained very little lysozyme.
The study found that, although both groups of pigs recovered from the infection and resulting diarrhea, the young pigs fed the lysozyme-rich milk recovered much more quickly than did the young pigs that received goats' milk without enhanced levels of lysozyme. Overall, the pigs fed the lysozyme milk were less dehydrated, had less intestinal inflammation, suffered less damage to the inner intestines and regained their energy more quickly than did the pigs in the control group. And, the researchers detected no adverse effects associated with the lysozyme-rich milk.
The lysozyme-enhanced milk used in this study came from a transgenic line of dairy goats developed in 1999 by Murray, co-author Elizabeth Maga and their colleagues to carry the gene for producing human lysozyme in their milk.
Other researchers on this study are: Caitlin Cooper, Lydia Garas Klobas and Elizabeth Maga, all of the UC Davis Department of Animal Science.
Funding for the study was provided by the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the UC Agricultural Experiment Station.
Online press kit, including downloadable high-resolution pictures and a video of James Murray and transgenic goats.
About UC Davis
For more than 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world. Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has more than 33,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty and more than 21,000 staff, an annual research budget of nearly $750 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges — Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It also houses six professional schools — Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.
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by Robert J. Vanderbei
Recently NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope discovered an interesting asteroid named 2010 SO16.
The asteroid is in a so-called “horseshoe” orbit with respect to Earth. Essentially that means the asteroid is in the same orbit as Earth but, at the moment, it trails us in our yearlong journey around the sun by about two weeks.
The asteroid’s center of mass is currently slightly closer to the sun than our center of mass here on Earth. Hence it is going around the sun slightly faster than we are.
In other words, 2010 SO16 is catching up to us.
Luckily, the asteroid will not hit us. Instead, as it nears us, the space rock will start to feel the gravitational attraction of Earth. Since we are ahead of it, we will accelerate it forward.
This would seem bad, but what happens is that the asteroid will get slung to a higher orbit and actually start going slower. This is a weird, counter-intuitive feature of the laws of gravity: Hit the accelerator and you end up going slower—but in a higher orbit, so at least something was gained!
Asteroid 2010 SO16 is doing this transition right about now and will soon be in a higher, slower orbit.
In about 175 years we will be the ones approaching from behind, as by then we will have almost lapped the asteroid.
At that time the dynamic will work in the opposite manner: The asteroid will start to feel the Earth tugging on it from behind. This will cause the asteroid to decelerate, and it will drop back to the original, lower orbit and return to its faster pace.
In total, the asteroid’s orbital path traces a horseshoe shape relative to Earth. This process is stable and can continue indefinitely.
There are a few other previously known asteroids that exhibit similar interesting orbits relative to Earth. One is called Cruithne, and another is called 2002 AA29.
I’ve constructed an animation of these three asteroids as they orbit the sun using a JAVA applet.
To run it, you will need to install Sun Microsystem’s JAVA on your computer. Installation instructions can be found here and instructions on how to enable JAVA in your favorite browser can be found here.
Once that’s squared away, click here to view the horseshoe-orbits animation.
In addition to the asteroids, the animation shows the inner planets Venus, Earth, and Mars—as well as our moon and the outer planet Jupiter.
By default, Earth is at the center of the animation window and the sun is held fixed directly to its left. To hold the sun and Earth fixed means that our “point of view” is counter-rotating.
Objects closer to the sun (such as Venus) orbit faster and therefore appear to move counterclockwise around the sun. Objects farther from the sun (such as Mars) orbit more slowly and therefore appear to move in a clockwise fashion.
If you change “center on” from 2 to 0, then the sun will be placed at the center of the window, counter-rotation is disabled, and all bodies will move counterclockwise.
By default, the animation shows where the bodies are at the time shown in the bottom left corner of the animation window. To see orbital trails, click “Show Trails.”
—Screen grab by Robert J. Vanderbei
You will notice that the orbits have a rather “loopy” appearance. This is because the planets’ orbits about the sun are not perfect circles—they are ellipses.
We are holding Earth fixed in the center. The fact that its orbit is elliptical is seen in the fact that the sun wobbles slightly.
Venus’s orbit is nearly circular. The smearing of the green Venusian trails is a combination of both Venus’s and Earth’s ellipticity.
Mars, on the other hand, has a much more elliptical orbit, which is clearly illustrated by the “fatness” of the red trail.
Note that Cruithne’s orbit is sometimes closer to the sun than Venus’s and is sometime farther from the sun than Mars’s. Yet on average its distance from the sun is almost the same as Earth’s, and so it classifies as an Earth-coorbital asteroid.
Asteroids 2002 AA29 and 2010 SO16 have paths that are much more like the idealized “horseshoe” orbit described above.
You can speed up the animation by giving a larger “warp” value. The “+” and “-” buttons also allow you to zoom in and out, respectively.
If you zoom in by clicking “+” a number of times (with Earth at the center by default), you will be able to see the moon orbiting Earth. If you zoom out with a few clicks on “-” you will find Jupiter—it is just too far from the sun to be seen at the default zoom level.
Once you have JAVA installed and have explored the horseshoe orbits, you might want to check out several other orbital animations I have assembled.
Robert J. Vanderbei is chair of the Operations Research and Financial Engineering department at Princeton University and co-author of the National Geographic book Sizing Up the Universe. Vanderbei has been an astrophotographer since 1999, and he regularly posts new images on his astro gallery website.
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| 0.943303 | 1,183 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Genes on Chromosomes
Country: United States
Date: May 2005
How do you know if two genes (say, for wing color and eye
color in fruit flies) reside on the same chromosome or different chromosome?
If the two pairs of genes are on different chromosomes and you set up a
di-hybrid cross involving these two pair of genes, the F2 generation will
show a ratio of 9 A_B_:3 A_bb:3aaB_:1 aabb (Mendel's 2nd Law of Independent
Assortment). If the two pairs of genes are on the same chromosome (linked),
the F2 generation will show a ratio which is determined by the distance
between the two loci. A word of caution: if the two genes are separated by
50 map units or more, they will appear to assort independently due to
frequent crossing over between the two sites during meiosis.
Ron Baker, Ph.D.
This is done by linkage analysis. Remember that during meiosis crossing
over occurs. Part of the chromosome on one partner breaks off and the same
part of the other of the pair also breaks off and they switch places. If you
follow two genes you can determine how far apart they are on the chromosome
by how often they are separated by cross over. So, let's say that you have
two genes that are right next to each other on the chromosome. During
meiosis the break in the chromosome would have to be right between them.
That might happen, but very rarely. So those two traits would travel
together into the same cell most of the time and the gamete would have both
traits. If the genes are very far apart on the chromosome they will be
separated into different gametes almost all the time.
Red hair and freckles is a good example of two genes that are tightly
linked. These two genes are very close to each other on the same chromosome.
Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives
Update: June 2012
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| 0.927934 | 428 | 3.609375 | 4 |
Until now, physicists have been unable to fabricate a cloak that could hide macroscopic items at visible wavelengths. Two independent groups have now achieved this feat, by building transparent 'carpet cloaks', made from calcite crystals, that lie over the object to be hidden.
Physicists Shuang Zhang at the University of Birmingham, UK, and John Pendry from Imperial College London has built a calcite cloak that can work in air, hiding objects a few centimetres high.
Nature - Baile Zhang and his colleagues at the Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre in Singapore have built a calcite carpet-cloak that can shield a steel wedge that is 38 millimetres long and 2 millimetres high from red, green and blue visible light3. The team designed their cloak to work under water. "I think that governments could make a lot of use out of a cloak that can hide objects on the seabed — although I won't speculate on exactly what they may want to hide," says team member George Barbastathis, a mechanical engineer also at the SMART Centre.
Both of the calcite carpet-cloaks are much cheaper to make than previous invisibility carpets, which were built using intricately fabricated silicon microstructures and could only conceal microscale objects, says Baile Zhang. "Because they were so difficult and expensive to construct they are difficult to scale up," he says. But the calcite cloak uses naturally occurring materials that cost only about US$1,000 to make and are easy to manipulate. "It's not quite easy enough to make at home, but it's not too far off," says Baile Zhang.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks
Ocean Floor Gold and Copper
Ocean Floor Mining Company
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| 0.966395 | 386 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Copyright © University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
Well here are five Aliens, all from different planets.
They all count using one "hand" except the last one who uses his
So let me introduce them:
1st - Serious "Dubo" who counts in twos;
2nd - The two headed "Threebee" who counts in threes;
3rd - The laughing "Quort", who counts in fours;
4th - The green-headed "Chindi" who (you guessed it) counts in
Finally - The four-eyed "Senda" counting in sixes.
They've come to Earth to learn about us and what we do!
They visit a school and are interested in how many earth children
there are in each room.
Dubo starts counting like this (up to what we would call seven and
record as "7"):
Then the next two:
||and then Quort
Then the last two aliens, Chindi and Senda, do their
When we do our counting we have units, tens
and hundreds. Those hundreds are ten lots of ten.
Notice that when Chindi counts he
can only use 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 whereas we use 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9.
The aliens go to a classroom and
count the children. We would count 30 - but they would record and
say that differently.
Here's how they record:
Dubo 11110; 1 (2 lots of 2 lots of 2
lots of 2), 1 (2 lots of 2 lots of 2), 1 (2 lots of 2), and 1 (lot
Threebee 1010; 1 (3 lots of 3 lots
of 3), and 1 (lot of 3)
Quort 132; 1 (4 lots of 4), 3 ( lots
of 4), and 2
Chindi 110; 1 (5 lots of 5), and 1
(lot of 5)
Senda 50; 5 (lots of 6)
It would be a good idea to try to see how their counting goes
after (our) "7", what they'd say and how they'd record it.
When we humans try to look at what
the aliens had written we might put a mask over most of the digits,
all except the second from the right!
So when for example we try to look
at one of Quort's numbers (suppose 0 0 1 3 1) a mask is over it and
all we see is the 3.
Find numbers that the aliens used
to count the children in the classroom that look the same
to the humans looking at the
For example, to start you off:
When we look at Quort's 3 it looks
the same as Senda's 35, or Chindi's 33 etc.
So find one alien's number that would look the same to humans as
another alien's number.
Find all the pairs you can.
Some of you might like to go on to say what those numbers would
have been if humans had been counting, for example Senda's 35 which
humans would have counted as 23 (three 6's and a 5 makes 23).
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| 0.94395 | 688 | 3.25 | 3 |
A gallery of beautiful photos of cast ironwork friezes in Australia with a mathematical discussion of the classification of frieze patterns.
Proofs that there are only seven frieze patterns involve complicated group theory. The symmetries of a cylinder provide an easier approach.
Introduces the idea of a twizzle to represent number and asks how
one can use this representation to add and subtract geometrically.
How can you use twizzles to multiply and divide?
I noticed this about streamers that have rotation symmetry : if
there was one centre of rotation there always seems to be a second
centre that also worked. Can you find a design that has only. . . .
The first part of an investigation into how to represent numbers
using geometric transformations that ultimately leads us to
discover numbers not on the number line.
Patterns that repeat in a line are strangely interesting. How many types are there and how do you tell one type from another?
Arrow arithmetic, but with a twist.
Points off a rolling wheel make traces. What makes those traces
This resources contains a series of interactivities designed to
support work on transformations at Key Stage 4.
Plex lets you specify a mapping between points and their images.
Then you can draw and see the transformed image.
Look carefully at the video of a tangle and explain what's
See the effects of some combined transformations on a shape. Can
you describe what the individual transformations do?
Does changing the order of transformations always/sometimes/never
produce the same transformation?
How many different transformations can you find made up from
combinations of R, S and their inverses? Can you be sure that you
have found them all?
A design is repeated endlessly along a line - rather like a stream
of paper coming off a roll. Make a strip that matches itself after
rotation, or after reflection
Why not challenge a friend to play this transformation game?
This article describes the scope for practical exploration of tessellations both in and out of the classroom. It seems a golden opportunity to link art with maths, allowing the creative side of your. . . .
Sort the frieze patterns into seven pairs according to the way in
which the motif is repeated.
Two circles of equal radius touch at P. One circle is fixed whilst the other moves, rolling without slipping, all the way round. How many times does the moving coin revolve before returning to P?
A security camera, taking pictures each half a second, films a
cyclist going by. In the film, the cyclist appears to go forward
while the wheels appear to go backwards. Why?
Charlie likes tablecloths that use as many colours as possible, but insists that his tablecloths have some symmetry. Can you work out how many colours he needs for different tablecloth designs?
Explore the effect of reflecting in two intersecting mirror lines.
Overlaying pentominoes can produce some effective patterns. Why not
use LOGO to try out some of the ideas suggested here?
Triangle ABC has equilateral triangles drawn on its edges. Points
P, Q and R are the centres of the equilateral triangles. What can
you prove about the triangle PQR?
My train left London between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and arrived in Paris
between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. At the start and end of the journey the
hands on my watch were in exactly the same positions but the. . . .
Can you describe what happens in this film?
There are thirteen axes of rotational symmetry of a unit cube. Describe them all. What is the average length of the parts of the axes of symmetry which lie inside the cube?
A white cross is placed symmetrically in a red disc with the central square of side length sqrt 2 and the arms of the cross of length 1 unit. What is the area of the disc still showing?
Here is a chance to create some attractive images by rotating
shapes through multiples of 90 degrees, or 30 degrees, or 72
What is the volume of the solid formed by rotating this right
angled triangle about the hypotenuse?
How many different symmetrical shapes can you make by shading triangles or squares?
The diagram shows a very heavy kitchen cabinet. It cannot be lifted but it can be pivoted around a corner. The task is to move it, without sliding, in a series of turns about the corners so that it. . . .
This article for teachers suggests ideas for activities built around 10 and 2010.
The coke machine in college takes 50 pence pieces. It also takes a certain foreign coin of traditional design. Coins inserted into the machine slide down a chute into the machine and a drink is duly. . . .
Rotate a copy of the trapezium about the centre of the longest side
of the blue triangle to make a square. Find the area of the square
and then derive a formula for the area of the trapezium.
A red square and a blue square overlap so that the corner of the red square rests on the centre of the blue square. Show that, whatever the orientation of the red square, it covers a quarter of the. . . .
A triangle ABC resting on a horizontal line is "rolled" along the
line. Describe the paths of each of the vertices and the
relationships between them and the original triangle.
The triangle ABC is equilateral. The arc AB has centre C, the arc
BC has centre A and the arc CA has centre B. Explain how and why
this shape can roll along between two parallel tracks.
A train leaves on time. After it has gone 8 miles (at 33mph) the
driver looks at his watch and sees that the hour hand is exactly
over the minute hand. When did the train leave the station?
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| 0.931908 | 1,237 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Camp counselors have their work cut out for them- they have to plan daily activities, monitor the safety of the campers, be a cheerleader to encourage the campers throughout the day, and be a referee to teach the campers sportsmanship, turn taking, and following the rules. However, they are also the best advocates for the campers, as they can observe the strengths and weaknesses of each child, and can talk with the campers’ parents about what they notice throughout the day. Below is a list of some of the many signs indicating a child may benefit from working with an occupational therapist:
10 signs at camp that a child can benefit from Occupational Therapy:
- The child has difficulty following directions, either auditory and/or written, in order to engage in an activity. For example, first get the soccer ball, and then sit in the grass.
- The child shows aversion to different textures (e.g. grass; sunscreen; finger paint; tags in clothing).
- The child demonstrates decreased sportsmanship with peers, such as having a hard time losing, or a hard time with turn-taking.
- The child demonstrates decreased body awareness, such as being unaware of having personal space with peers (e.g. sitting/standing too closely to others), or moves too quickly or unsafely around his environment (e.g. trips often, bumps into things).
- The child demonstrates decreased hand-eye coordination and motor planning compared to same aged peers, such as difficulty with simple ball skills or basic swimming skills.
- The child has difficulty transitioning, such as a hard time with drop-off in the morning or with leaving at the end of the day. Similarly, the child may demonstrate difficulty transitioning between activities throughout the day.
- The child has decreased postural control, which might be noted by having a hard time maintaining an erect posture during tabletop tasks (e.g. leaning/propping/fidgeting) or has a hard time lying in prone on his belly.
- The child demonstrates picky eating during snack time or mealtime (e.g. only eats hot or cold foods; will only eat a few select food choices; only likes salty/sweet).
- The child has decreased attention compared to same aged peers, noted by jumping from one activity to the next without spending much time at each activity; or noted by distractibility and looking around to notice others in the room.
- The child has difficulty with handwriting/drawing/crafts compared to same aged peers (e.g. does not know how to hold writing utensil correctly; cannot draw a person with correct parts).
If any of the signs above apply to your child, he would definitely benefit from an occupational therapy evaluation and most likely ongoing occupational therapy (OT) sessions. OT sessions can help your child to gain more confidence for his fine motor and gross motor skills, body awareness, and other age appropriate activities. The goal is to help your child to keep up with same aged peers and expectations he is required to meet at home, at school, and within the community, so that he can have the greatest success.
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| 0.969084 | 643 | 3.171875 | 3 |
This collection documents the history of the University of California Agricultural Cooperative Extension in San Joaquin County
from 1914 to 1994. It affords insights not only into the relationship between the U.S. government, the University of California,
and San Joaquin County farmers, but also into the course of local agriculture during the first half of the twentieth century.
Also of note is material related to the history of the U.C. Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service throughout California,
related legislative issues, and the history of the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau. The collection includes staff reports written
yearly, monthly, and weekly; descriptions of projects and experiments; administrative files; published research; and photographs
of staff members, projects, experiments, technologies, educational programs, and farm animals.
The University of California Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service traces its origins to the Smith Lever Act of May 1914,
federal legislation that established a system of cooperative agricultural services to work with public land grant universities
throughout the United States. It was founded to facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge from the classroom and laboratory
to rural residents. One month later, the first representative from the U.C. Agricultural Cooperative Extension set up residence
in San Joaquin County. The program grew over the next half century, not only in the size of its staff and breadth of services,
but also in popularity and the extent of its involvement in rural San Joaquin County. Activities of the advisors included
troubleshooting diseases of plants and animals, conducting information sessions, demonstrating new farming techniques, engaging
in experiments, offering advice for housekeepers, educating young people, and sponsoring summer retreats. The program proved
crucial during World Wars I and II, not only for successful efforts to coordinate increased agricultural production, but also
for the role it played in addressing labor shortages.
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary
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| 0.917121 | 395 | 2.96875 | 3 |
In our example we seek the maximum of F: F = xy, subject to the condition G = ax2 + by2 -1 = 0.
The gradient of F is (y, x) and the gradient of G is (2ax, 2by).
The determinant of the matrix whose columns are these vectors is , so that our extremum condition, that this determinant is 0, becomes . If we apply the condition G = 0, we see that each of
Since there are two x values that obey this condition (namely, plus or minus
the square root of ,
and similarly two y values (plus or minus the square root of ),
there are four solutions of the extremum condition. It is easy to see that there
are two maxima, when the roots have the same sign for x and y, with value one
half the square root of ,
and two minima with minus this value, when the roots for x and y have opposite
Up Previous Next
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| 0.902948 | 207 | 3.3125 | 3 |
In 1999, a golfer named Payne Stewart and crew were rendered unconscious by a loss of cabin pressure and their private jet crashed when it ran out of fuel. What does this have to do with the fiscal cliff? Read on.
Even in 1999, one could puzzle over why controllers on the ground couldn't take command of a plane and bring it down safely. Technology certainly existed to make such a thing possible. Yet today we're skipping right past pilotless airliners in anticipation of self-driving cars.
Why? Because we're old. Technological innovation is less miraculous than it seems: It responds to need, and we're an aging country with more people who need help and fewer people to do the helping, including driving us around.
All this was once foreseen by Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman in the 1990s, who pointed out a corollary to the giant unfunded long-term liabilities of Social Security and Medicare. Not only does an aging population mean fewer workers to pay for the oldsters' benefits. It means fewer workers to actually produce the goods and services that idle oldsters will want to consume. The corollary to an entitlement-spending crisis is, by definition, a labor shortage.
Robots are coming because robots are needed. In 2013, we can already see the appetite in the transportation sector. Aviation analyst Kit Darby figures the industry will need 65,000 new pilots in the next eight years to cover expected retirements. One reason for the millions Google has been spending to develop a driverless car is to meet anticipated market demand from America's growing elderly population.
Or take another example, arising in Baltimore, where a local entrepreneur, following the logic of need, invested seven years and $30 million developing a robotic system for packaging prescription drugs for long-term patients in nursing homes and hospitals.
In a conversation last year, inventor Michael Bronfein told me if he'd known what it would cost him in time and money, he might never have started. How many entrepreneurs say the same? Probably all of them. But Mr. Bronfein saw a need and the power of technology to meet it, and the result was the Paxit automated medication dispensing system.
He saw workers spending hours under the old system sticking pills in monthly blister packs known as "bingo cards," a process expensive and error-prone. He saw nurses on the receiving end then spending time to pluck the pills out of blister packs and into paper cups, to create the proper daily drug regimen for each patient. (By one study, the 40 million Americans over 65 take an average of eight drugs a day.)
He saw that the bingo-card system was not just wasteful of labor. When a patient died or was moved to a new facility or had his prescription changed, a month's worth of drugs might have to be thrown out too.
He followed the economic logic that indicated that all the people involved in the old system were becoming too valuable to have their time wasted by the old system. Backed by his company, Remedi SeniorCare, Paxit—in which a robot packages, labels and dispatches a daily round of medicines for each patient—is spreading across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest and winning plaudits from medical-care providers.
Writ small here is an answer to our entitlement morass, when more of us will be living off our savings (or transfers) and fewer of us will be contributing our labor to society. Robots aren't the only solution. We will still need better incentives for younger baby boomers to save for their own retirement and depend less on Uncle Sam. We still need better incentives for Americans of all ages to supply labor rather than leaving it to someone else to be productive (which means revisiting our massive expansion of unemployment and disability subsidies over the past four years).
We need to preserve the incentive for investors to bring us the robots that will make the future bearable, rather than burying entrepreneurs in taxes in a vain attempt to seize the returns of investments before those investments are made.
None of these matters, of course, has been allowed to intrude in the empty theatrics that President Obama, primarily responsible, has ordained should be the substance of the fiscal-cliff war. But even from the perspective of the fiscal cliff, let's welcome the new year by envisioning a future that won't be so bad, where modest entitlement reform and proper incentives for robot builders will save us from the Soylent Green solution to an aging society.
Make no mistake: The alternative is not a pretty future. It's a future in which older people receive Social Security checks but still go hungry, in which Medicare is a paper entitlement because doctors and hospitals can't be found to provide services for what Medicare is willing to pay. If we weren't still in a New Year's mood, we'd say the latter future is the more likely one.
A version of this article appeared January 9, 2013, on page A11 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Robots to the Rescue?.
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| 0.959774 | 1,041 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Pattern and Variation in Poetry
A brief rundown on the basic concepts of pattern and variation and how they can be used when writing poems.
Contributors:Sean M. Conrey, Dana Lynn Driscoll
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 08:44:42
Pattern and Variation, Generally Considered
There are two factors battling for poets' attention when they sit down to write a poem: chaos and control. Classically, these factors are attributed to Dionysus (the Dionysian or chaotic aspects) and Apollo (the Apollonian or formal aspect of poetry.) Just as the two Greek gods of poetry were Apollo and Dionysus, any great poem has elements of both chaos and control.
A poem uses the formal (sound and visual) aspects of language to control the chaotic (meaningful and expressive) aspects of language. Like the lead bars used to control a nuclear reaction on the verge of exploding, form is used to control and curb language to make it digestible, more powerful and contained for the reader. Since, as everyday language users, we are probably more familiar with the Dionysian frustrations of language (who has not uttered the phrase, "I don't know; it's hard to put into words"?) our focus will be on the Apollonian or formal aspects of a poem.
This doesn't mean that we should not let some chaos into the poem, of course (both Apollo and Dionysus have to have their say, after all), but since a poem is a structured thing and we can't "control" the chaotic aspect, per se by any means than by imposing structure on it, then it makes sense that we should talk largely about the structural, formal aspects, as those are the parts that we can control. And although we are talking about form and structure, it should be said that too much control (Apollo having too much say) risks forcing the poem into shape, and the poem created in such circumstances will very often be stilted and the structure will weigh the poem down. It's a risk we have to take, but being aware that a heavy-handed structure can ruin a poem just as fast as a lack of structure will hopefully keep our writing balanced and in that delicate middle ground where the best poetry happens.
In the making of a poem, pattern is one of the most important ways of building form and structure, and one of the most difficult to master. In classical verse, pattern was established by using a traditional form and meter, where lines had set numbers of beats and rhymes and alliteration came at predictable places within the line (typically at the end in the case of rhyme, within the line in the case of alliteration in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poetry). Nowadays, as most readers and writers of poetry know, most poetry written in English is free verse, rather than in traditional forms, and this presents a unique set of problems.
The Unique Problem of Free Verse
Since free verse poets cannot rely on the authority of an accepted "classical" form, they must develop an authority through consistency and pattern and variance. The word "authority" may prick the ears of many poets, as it seems too definitive and demanding. All it means here is that the poem is a made thing, a built thing, if you will, and its "authority" is its commanding presence or ability to accurately relay itself to the reader.
A standard reader feels authority in a good poem more than thinks about it, and a writer builds a poem to the needs of itself—its authority comes through when the poet has found the poem's form. If we "read like writers" then we must think a lot about how a poem derives its authority, as we set out to do something similar in our own work. What this all means is that a solid study of pattern and variation in a poem is necessary if a poet intends to make a poem that is sturdy in its structure without relying on an overtly consistent (read: strictly metered and rhymed) form. Especially for free verse poets, who can't rely on conventions to derive their authority. The poet should always be asking "what is the best vehicle to relay this poem?"
When talking about pattern, there is a lot of crossover to a discussion of classical form and meter. Pattern and variation are general categories that include the more traditional subjects of scansion, sound and prosody that deal with the sound of the poem (what we'll call aural pattern) but also the matters of how the poem looks on the page (what we'll call visual pattern).
So two kinds of pattern will be evaluated, and both give the poet and opportunity to assert Apollo's hand onto a poem at an opportune time. But before getting into specifics, we must define what we mean by pattern, generally, and how variation effects a poem once a pattern is established.
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Posted Nov 17, 2008, updated Nov 17, 2008.
Researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found that infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited unusual exploration of objects long before being diagnosed. Studying a group of children at high risk for developing autism, the researchers found that those eventually diagnosed with the disorder were more likely to spin, repetitively rotate, stare at and look out of the corners of their eyes at simple objects, including a baby bottle and a rattle, as early as 12 months of age.
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University of Illinois Extension
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Call him a breathing corpse.”~~
I believe that hatred is a desire in oneself to bring harm or strong disliking to another, and is driven by fear and lack of power. Whether it is shown by acts of racism or blinding rage, hate is everywhere. It creates who we are as people and houses the society we live in. All humans were born with the instinct and the ability to hate. There are millions of good people in this world, but since hate is an instinct that we use it in our everyday life, we sometimes tend to overlook it. A woman, who has been raped by a person she doesn’t even know, obviously does not love her rapists but has strong, harsh feelings towards the rapists. I agree with documentary Beyond Hate showing that hatred is worldwide, and that many religious use hate in the name of God, but I disagree with racism being effective to resolve problems.
No matter where you look in the world, there are always people hating on others because of differences in ethnicity, or even because they live five blocks in the wrong direction. Hatred is worldwide and it’s something we cannot change. Everyday people lose their lives in gang fights, wars, and other acts of violence because of mankind hating mankind. In the documentary, Elie Wiesel says, “He who hates his brother, initially hates himself.” If we cannot love our brothers we cannot love ourselves. The documentary also tells about the life of a young black male who lives amongst gangs. He tells the story about his gang-life, and says hatred is much like a faucet; you can turn it off and on. Hatred is not always at its highest, like all things it takes certain things to fall into place before it reaches its highest effectiveness. Adolf Hitler, leader and commander of the Nazi Army during World War II, started with a very small amount of hate for the Jewish people and his hate eventually lead to the death of over six-million innocent people.
“Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other.Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.” ― John Steinbeck
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Every dog has its day
Every dog, and by implication every person, has a period of power or influence.
This phrase is recorded as being first uttered by no less a notable as Queen Elizabeth I. As Princess Elizabeth, in a letter to her brother and in response to his request for a picture of her, she wrote:
Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds.
The letter was published by John Strype in Ecclesiastical Memorials, 1550. It appears that Elizabeth was merely quoting what was in her day already a well-known proverb, although no record of it has been found that predates her writing it down.
John Heywood recorded the proverb in the 1562 edition of Proverbs and Epigrams and Shakespeare used it in Hamlet, 1603:
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day.
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State laws that prohibit people under the age of 21 from purchasing or possessing alcohol, and from driving with any alcohol in their system save 732 lives a year in the United States, according to a study released today that has examined 23 years of research on the subject. The study further shows that if every state adopted 'use and lose' laws—suspending the license of anyone under 21 cited for possession, consumption or attempt to purchase alcohol—an additional 165 lives would be saved.
The study appears today in the online version of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER). It was funded by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Researchers analyzed data from 1982 through to 2004, using the Alcohol Policy Information System (1998-2005); the Digests of State Alcohol-Highway Safety Related Legislation (1983-2006); the Westlaw database; and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System data set (1982-2004). They looked at six key underage drinking laws and four general impaired-driving and traffic safety laws, and found the most significant impact came from four underage laws.
Three of the four more general laws that target all drivers also were effective in reducing drinking driver crash deaths for all ages, the study found. These included laws that make it illegal to drive with over .08 blood alcohol content (BAC); suspend a license for exceeding the .08 BAC while driving; and enable a police officer to pull over a driver who was not wearing a seatbelt. While the direct effects of laws targeting drivers of all ages on adult drinking drivers aged 26 and older were similar, the results were of a smaller magnitude compared to the findings for those aged 20 and younger.
"These results provide substantial support for the effectiveness of under age 21 drinking laws and point to the importance of key underage drinking and traffic safety laws in efforts to reduce underage drinking-driver crashes," says James C. Fell, M.S., of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, Maryland.
Another important finding from the study was that beer consumption per capita across all ages in states has a direct relationship with underage drinking and driving. The authors discovered that the higher the beer consumption per capita, the higher the youth crash rate.
"This could be because adult alcohol consumption is correlated with youth consumption," Fell says. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that if the adult binge drinking rate is high, it is also high for youth."
Two underage drinking laws—registering kegs and graduated licensing—were found to have almost no impact on fatality rates, according to the study.
"We didn't find that laws mandating that beer kegs be registered to the purchaser made any difference in reducing underage drinking and driving fatal crashes. In fact with this particular law, we saw 12 percent more drinking-related traffic fatalities amongst those under 21," says Fell.
He said possible reasons may be that the law was not well enforced, or that in states that adopted keg registration laws, to circumvent the issue of registering beer kegs, young people choose instead to bring their own beer or liquor to underage parties, and as a result become more intoxicated from consuming their own booze than if a beer keg was the only source of alcohol.
Forty-four states have laws that restrict young drivers with an intermediate license from driving late at night, but Fell says this had no demonstrable effect on preventing underage drinking-related fatalities. The authors did not account for the start times of the night restrictions, instead focusing on whether a state had this law.
"So it could be that restrictions that start at 9:00 p.m. may have an effect, but the ones starting at 1:00 a.m. are very unlikely to make an impact because they begin too late," says Fell.
Last year, Fell and colleagues found that laws making it illegal to possess or purchase alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 had led to an 11 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic deaths among youth; secondly, they found that states with strong laws against fake IDs reported 7 percent fewer alcohol-related fatalities among drivers under the age of 21.
"People who want to lower the minimum drinking age say that the positive effects of raising it to 21 only took place in the 1980s and has since lost its impact," Fell says. "But we looked at these numbers over a 23-year period. This study shows the impact is still strong, and is keeping the numbers of underage drinking and driving deaths down—more so than if the drinking age is lowered."
Explore further: EHR implementation first step toward quality improvement
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WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE
Are You A Carbavore? • Big Picture • Financial • Practical Preparation • Environmental News • Health
ARE YOU A CARBAVORE?
If you have been listening to the medical advice given for the last 40 years, chances are that you are a carbavore — someone who eats predominantly carbohydrates. Various authorities tell us to eat 60% of our calories from carbohydrates. However, I've showed that carbohydrates are increasingly being fingered as the culprit for many diseases of civilization like obesity and diabetes. In the future, I'll describe what we know about carbohydrates, cancer and dementia...the link there is getter stronger all the time, too.
Last week I discussed how there are two factors to eating glucose that we must track if we are interested in knowing the effects of carbohydrate consumption on the human body.
The first factor is the immediate load to the body at the time of eating a carbohydrate food like refined flour or starches. The glycemic index database will tell you the blood sugar spike from various foods; the higher the number the quicker the body digests the carbohydrate and the larger the pulse of insulin that must be secreted to deal with the sugar.
The second factor is how much carbohydrate goes through your system in total. If glucose enters the blood stream slowly, via the slower digestion of complex carbohydrates, you won't experience a spike in insulin — but that doesn't mean that there is no insulin response. Also, the damage that carbohydrates do to the human body, via glycation (the process where glucose binds to the proteins we need), continues occurring — just at a slower pace. The result still contributes to insulin resistance and faster aging.
Over time, regardless of whether you are spiking your insulin or gently raising it via complex carbohydrates, the insulin receptors become dulled and it takes increasingly more insulin to do the same job. Eventually, the lifelong onslaught of sugar damages the insulin (and leptin) signalling until the body no longer can accurately regulate blood sugar levels. The result is runaway weight gain and diabetes.
Some populations that eat a lot of rice can hold off insulin resistance because their heavy manual labor burns the glucose in the rice starch quickly. As recently as 1989, 65% of the Chinese population performed manual labor. Now, with manual labor down and Western eating habits more common, the Chinese are suffering from an obesity epidemic, too.
Reintroducing Our Original Fuel System
Dr. Rosedale, who travelled the world a decade ago describing to other doctors what the role of insulin in the body was, puts it this way: the long term health of the human body is directly proportional to the ratio of fat vs carbohydrates one burns. In other words, the less carbohydrates you eat and the more healthy fat you eat, the healthier you will be and the longer you will live. For an excellent discussion of why this is so, I highly recommend reading Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects (PDF), by Dr. Rosedale (who also happens to be an expert in human aging). You will know much more than many doctors after reading this.
But doesn't practically everyone tell us that carbohydrates are necessary for life? Yes, they do, however those people are, unfortunately, overstating the case for carbohydrates quite a bit and are missing critical pieces of the puzzle.
First, let's get something out of the way: there is no such thing as an "essential carbohydrate." There are essential fats and essential proteins but you will not find an essential carbohydrate. It's true that some carbohydrates contain vitamins and other trace nutrients but you will not find a carbohydrate food that is the only source of any of the 50 or so essential nutrients humans need.
Second, the body has two fuel systems. The first fuel system is glucose and it is stored in the liver and directly in our muscles. There isn't that much there and it will be completely used up after a day of moderate activity. The likely reason we have it is in case of danger and we have to fight or turn our tail and run away from the danger.
The second fuel, which everyone seems to have forgotten, is fat. Our body stores fat (around our middle first, where it is most easily accessed) so that it has a handy fuel storage depot.
The problem is that we've demonized fats in the last few decades and most of us have grown up with ubiqtuous carbohydrates and thus have been lifelong sugar burners. A direct consequence of being a sugar burner is that we need to eat often during the day to keep our blood sugar up so that we don't feel depressed or lethargic. We eat carbohydrates, say a bowl of oatmeal, feel fine for a couple hours but then are ravenous before lunch because we've burned the sugar and our body needs another "hit."
This is, simply put, crazy. Eating the 200g or more of carbohydrates per day most people eat is not how our bodies were designed to eat. It is making us fat by causing insulin and leptin resistance. It is aging us faster since glucose is like a sort of jet fuel for the body. It's even destroying our moods because it's not just kids that react poorly to this roller coaster of sugar.
Certain parts of the body do require glucose and for that purpose the body has a mechanism for creating it when necessary, called gluconeogenisis. Like many other substances in the body, if you need it, the body will create it. Gluconeogenisis is a fundamental process to life that is common throughout the animal and plant kingdom.
Eat Fat to Fuel Your Body
Clearly, given what is happening to us, we do not need the amount of carbohydrate that we are currently eating. Many people make the mistake of thinking that just because the body preferentially burns carbohydrates, that means that we should be fueling ourselves primarily with carbohydrates. However, I think Dr. Rosedale's hypothesis is correct: since high levels of sugar are extremely dangerous, the body must get rid of it quickly before too much damage occurs. So, once again, most people people have it backwards: glucose (from carbohydrates) should be eaten sparingly. Let your body make what it needs. Eat plenty of fibrous, colorful vegetables but get your energy from fat. In a future newsletter I'll describe what we know about fat, protein and carbohydrate ratios in hunter-gather societes. That's important because they are the healthiest and thinnest populations on the planet before they become Westernized.
You can convert from being a sugar-burner to being a fat burner by dramatically reducing your carbohydrate intake, under 50g per day does the job for almost everyone. Some poeple can do it eating less than 100g of carbohydrates per day. I converted about three months ago and feel great. After eating a breakfast of eggs, meat protein and butter in the morning (but no grains!), I often work right through lunch and have to remind myself to eat. That's because protein and fat satisfy us longer and, now that I'm a fat burner, my body has plenty of energy to use from my fat stores. Many people report that a host of health issues disappear, from skin blemishes to arthritis, when they stop eating so much sugar.
Some people will tell you that burning fat is dangerous because of something called ketosis. Unfortunately, they are mistaking ketosis, which simply indicates the body is primarily burning fat for fuel, with ketoacidosis, which is when the body is using muscle protein for fuel because it doesn't have enough fat or sugar to burn.
Trust me: you have enough fat on your body that your muscles will not be turned into fuel. If anyone tells you this is a dangerous diet, they don't understand the biochemistry. Once our body, after about three weeks, converts to being a fat burning machine, it will regulate the amount of fat it stores and will preserve your muscles. Even humans that are sugar burners enter ketosis every morning before breakfast when they've run out of glucose. Plus, you want to enter ketosis if you are aiming to lose weight because that indicates that you are using up your fat stores. Because the word ketosis unnecessarily frightens people (it does sound ominous, after all), Mark Sisson of Mark's Daily Apple prefers to call this state ketoadapted. Here is an excellent podcast on the topic.
But if you keep eating sugar — table sugar, sweets, ice cream, fruit juices, bread, pasta, starches like rice and potatoes — your body will use that instead of fat and you'll remain a sugar burner. The only way you'll be able to lose weight is by restricting calories instead of simply letting your body regulate your fat level by eating properly.
Consider becoming a fat burner instead of being a sugar burner. You'll lose weight without being hungry, you'll feel better and you'll slow down the aging process.
But, you say, isn't fat bad for us? Isn't that why we aren't eating red meat, because of its saturated fat content? It turns out the evidence just isn't there that fat is bad for us despite years of research. I'll go through that next week.
The Descent into Stasis | The Archdruid Report, May 9, 2012
Greer continues discussing the arc of civilizations. You can hear my take on it on the ASPO video on the front page of the Post Peak Living site.
The Peak Oil Crisis: Perspective | Post Carbon Institute, May 9, 2012
Shackles That We Will Believe In | The Automatic Earth, May 11, 2012
The difficult future facing black gold | Swiss Info, May 13, 2012
Major oil companies on peak oil | ASPO-USA, May 14, 2012
Free Energy Does Not Occur in Nature | Contraposition, May 14, 2012
The Real Unemployment Rate: 22% — Not 8.1% | Financial Sense, May 8, 2012
In Jim's view, the coming fiscal cliff is on track for 2014.
High Inflation Causes Societies to Disintegrate' | Spiegel Online, May 11, 2012
There Is Not Enough Money On Planet Earth | The Automatic Earth, May 11, 2012
Federal Reserve Allows First Chinese Government Takeover of U.S. Bank | AllGov, May 14, 2012
The Bank Runs In Greece Will Soon Be Followed By Bank Runs In Other European Nations | The Economic Collapse, May 15, 2012
That Which is Unsustainable Will Go Away: Pensions | Of Two Minds, May 15, 2012
Tomatoes: A Complete Planting Guide | The How Do Gardener, April 12, 2012
The How Do Gardener has provided a comprehensive resource on appropriate tomato varieties for each state.
DIY Vertical Garden | Bridgman, April 20, 2012
Butterbur: An Overlooked Herb for Allergies, Migraines, and Asthma | The Survival Doctor, May 10, 2012
The Many Uses of Bamboo | Preparedness Advice Blog, May 13, 2012
Candlewicks | Preparedness Advice Blog, May 14, 2012
Biodiversity loss is as damaging as climate change and pollution | Click Green, May 3, 2012
Arctic Ocean is a Potent Methane Source Too | Mother Jones, May 9, 2012
U.S. Sees Warmest Year Since Record-Keeping Began 117 Years Ago | AllGov, May 11, 2012
Australian project simulates effects of runaway climate change | The Guardian, May 14, 2012
Wasted milk produces as much CO2 as 20,000 cars | Grist, May 15, 2012
Earth's environment getting worse, not better, says WWF ahead of Rio+20 | The Guardian, May 15, 2012
The Weight of the Nation | HBO Documentaries, May 14, 2012
This documentary gets close but still misses the mark. They understand the role of sugar and, to some extent, refined carbohydrates, but they still demonize red meat. You can stream this online at no charge for a limited time.
Why the Campaign to Stop America's Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing | The Daily Beast, May 7, 2012
Another spot-on article by Gary Taubes. Going low fat was a huge mistake. We should have gone low carbohydrate instead.
Is The Food We Eat Killing Us? | The Economic Collapse, May 9, 2012
Is It Primal? — 8 More Foods Scrutinized | Mark's Daily Apple, May 9, 2012
Are Humans Hard-Wired to Be Optimistic? | Mark's Daily Apple, May 10, 2012
Why We're Missing Out on Real Life | Mark's Daily Apple, May 15, 2012
Did you get this email from a friend? Sign up for future issues of our newsletter here.www.PostPeakLiving.com
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Paterson Great Falls named National Historical Park by Congress, President Obama
“At a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Monday, President Obama signed into law the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act. The Paterson Act is part of an omnibus parks and historic preservation bill that the President called one of the most important pieces of natural resource legislation in decades.
Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton, described the Paterson Great Falls as “not only a spot of spectacular beauty that deserves to be far better known, but one that occupies a place of supreme importance in the annals of American economic history.” As the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton founded the City of Paterson to begin implementing his plan to harness the force of the Great Falls—then the nation’s largest waterfall—to power new industries that would secure America’s economic independence.
The passage of this Act not only honors and preserves Paterson’s past; it will also brighten its future. One federal agency has ranked Paterson as the most economically distressed city in the United States. Residents and local community leaders deeply believe that the creation of the national historical park—coupled with preservation and redevelopment of the historic center of the city—will have an enormously positive impact on Paterson’s 175,000 residents. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the course of urban decline that Paterson has suffered over the last 50 years.”
Now is the time for the State of New Jersey to step up and enact a state historic preservation tax credit that will, more than any other economic stimulus, jump start redevelopment in Paterson and across the state. The Great Falls Park designation, coupled with a long-term plan for restoration and development in the surrounding neighborhoods and investments already made in key sites from NJ Historic Trust grants, set the stage for private investment that can dramatically reinvent Paterson. More info on the proposed NJ historic rehabilitation tax credit.
Kudos to the many preservation and conservation advocates who have worked for years to see the creation of the National Park. And kudos especially to Leonard Zax! Slide show.
President Barack Obama’s Remarks
As Americans, we possess few blessings greater than the vast and varied landscapes that stretch the breadth of our continent. Our lands have always provided great bounty – food and shelter for the first Americans, for settlers and pioneers; the raw materials that grew our industry; the energy that powers our economy.
What these gifts require in return is our wise and responsible stewardship. As our greatest conservationist President, Teddy Roosevelt, put it almost a century ago, “I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.”
That’s the spirit behind the bipartisan legislation I’m signing today – legislation among the most important in decades to protect, preserve and pass down our nation’s most treasured landscapes to future generations.
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And thou shalt say unto him ... Ha'Shem, the G*d of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying " Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness, and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened"
~ Shemot 7.16 ~
My Mom (OBM) loved Louis Armstrong & I grew up listening to Louis a lot. I don't remember the first time I heard this track, but over the years I've become acquainted with the tale behind it. It is perfect for Pesach (and Pollard's continued unjust incarceration in 'the land of the free' ensure it's topicality!).
"Go Down Moses" is what used to be known as an American 'Negro Spiritual', popularised not only by Louis Armstrong but others too. The opening verse as published by the Jubilee Singers in 1872 is ....
- When Israel was in Egypt's land: Let my people go,
- Oppress'd so hard they could not stand, Let my People go.
- Go down, Moses,
- Way down in Egypt's land,
- Tell old Pharaoh,
- Let my people go.
But that is not the tale I want to concentrate on this Pesach. I want to focus on Louis Armstrongs attitude to Anti Semitism in America, which I originally gleaned from the history of this song itself. If you haven’t seen it, there is a highly fascinating article that appeared in Commentary in 2009 entitled “Satchmo and the Jews.” Observing that Louis Armstrong was equally beloved as a man by those who knew him as he was admired for his monumental contribution to American music, his biographer Teachout also notes that he was apparently “devoid of personal prejudice.” As a Jew who has known 'predjudice' I would go further.
Armstrong’s lack of prejudice extended to Jews, an attitude that was comparatively rare among blacks of his generation. Outside his marriages, his closest adult relationship was with Joe Glaser, a Jewish 'gangster' from Chicago who became his manager in 1935 and with whom he was intimately associated from then on. Armstrong described Glaser as “my dearest friend,” and those who knew both men well agreed that this was nothing more than the truth.
He was similarly admiring of the Karnofskys, a family of Jews from Lithuania for whom he had worked as a boy in New Orleans. In 1969 he wrote a lengthy memoir of his relationship with the Karnofsky's called “Louis Armstrong and the Jewish Family in New Orleans, La., the Year of 1907.” In it he told of how surprised he had been to discover that they “were having problems of their own ~ [a]long with hard times from the other white folks' nationalities who felt that they were better than the Jewish race. . . . I was only Seven years old but I could easily see the ungodly treatment that the White Folks were handing the poor Jewish family whom I worked for.”
The young Armstrong saw the Karnofskys’ problems up close, for they took him into their family, treating him almost like a relative. “They were always warm and kind to me, which was very noticeable to me ~ just a kid who could use a little word of kindness,” he recalled. He shared meals with them and borrowed money from them to buy his first Cornet. Thereafter he would identify with the Karnofskys and the Jews of New Orleans so closely that he became an ardent Zionist who always wore a 'Magen David' around his neck (Joe Glaser gave it to him). “I will love the Jewish people, all of my life,” he wrote in “Louis Armstrong and the Jewish Family,” adding that he learned from them “how to live ~ real life and determination.”
And the biography of Louis Armstrong, written by the same Terry Teachout, is inspiring and contains this tale along with other lots of anecdotal information. It is well worth a read .... Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong. And Satchmo is always a joy to listen to ..... his refreshing Admiration for Judaism and vociferous support for Jews is a welcome respite amisdt the Anti Semitic Avalanche prevalent among 'celebrities' that we usually face in our days. Let's emulate Louis Armstrong Loudly. Let's Agitate for Pollard's release this Pesach.
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written by Vladimir Tomek
Religions generally show a lack of concern.
It is of great urgency to utilize the insights of the world’s religions for helping to solve the global ecologic crisis. The World Council of Churches has had for a long time a program on forming a just and sustainable society, but, as yet, very little has trickled down to the churches. Theologians have not addressed themselves to the fact that religious beliefs had not kept pace with the radical transformation of society, and, as a result, the churches have had very little to say on the environmental issue.
Western organized religions remain without any dominant ethic of the environment, and little inspiration in this respect flows from their teachings. Various responses to the ecological crisis have already been given from the perspective of different religious traditions, but specific proposals seem too partial and palliative. Without religion, neither science nor technology are going to get us out of the present ecologic crisis, nor will atavism or prettification. No one yet knows how to deal with the problem effectively. It appears that in our effort to seek a new relationship with the natural world we have to find a new religion. A religion that will help us recapture much of the respect and reverence which earlier generations had for the natural world.
There is an alternative, namely to rethink the old teachings along eco-friendly terms, but it practically amounts to the same path. (Eco-friendly religions believe that humans and nature are intimately inter-linked.) We need to change radically and develop a new respect for all life before it is too late. This is easier said than done. Still, it has to be attempted. Organized religions must be willing to stick their necks out and take a strong stand against the more intolerable aspects of economic development. They must help all those people who seek to reverse the present trends.
Observers occasionally claim that although the great religions of the world exhibit theologies quite different from each other, their approach to nature is very much alike — especially when the question of how nature is to be used is concerned. When John M. Cuble asks:
“Does a true man of God allow the rape of God’s earth and God’s creatures? Can a man of God look upon desecrated land and see God’s will? Can the destruction of animals and naturalness be arguably part of God’s plan for us?”
we would hope that the answers would be the same regardless of the religion of the person asked. However, there are obvious differences in basic teachings by various religious groups: While a sympathetic identification of humanity with nature is expressed in general terms in Zoroastrianism, Jainism and Buddhism, the approach in the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and perhaps the Baha’i faith) is much less positive.
Individual religions were originally embedded in cultural settings that were widely different from each other. Further, cultures have since changed. Religions were not conceived in response to the specific problems which beset us here and now. All the key faiths came into being at a time when climate change, endangered habitat and species, or overpopulation were unheard of concepts, and when the hereafter was considered much more important than this life. (Looking to the past can be avoiding looking at the present. 5) This is why religions may not feel equipped to deal with the ecological challenge, and why they show little responsibility for the fate of the earth. All this must change.
In the Western world, we consider man to have been crowned the pinnacle of creation. This is in spite of the fact that we are only one species among millions on a planet that is only one of many, orbiting a medium-size star in a four and a half billion year old solar system, one among half-a-billion stars in a galaxy that is one in one hundred billion galaxies in the universe. This is incredible. There are many questions to be asked in the context of our claimed exalted position, with answers decisive for ecology:
Does the earth exist for the benefit of humanity?
Do humans have any ethical obligations with respect to the natural world?
Have we the right to take all the Earth’s resources for our own use?
Do we have a responsibility to be good stewards over the Earth?
Do other species have an intrinsic right to exist?
What do the various religions have to say about humanity’s relationship to the rest of the living world?
Sean McDonagh wrote:
“The claims that humans had the right to subjugate the natural world were promoted by theologians by referring to the Genesis texts 1:26, 1:28 and 9:2-8. Humans were considered unique among the species of the earth. On the other hand, animals were assumed to be inert, lacking any spiritual and emotional dimension. Humans stood to animals as did heaven to earth, soul to body. The logic of domination, embedded in this hierarchical perspective, gives those on the top a divine right over whatever they consider inferior to them. Humans judged that they had ascendancy over plants and animals. These had no intrinsic right and no other purpose apart from their role in serving human needs.”
Such were the views of the mainstream Western religions, which, however, were not shared by the so-called heretics. Consider, for example, the Cathars: If attacked by a wild animal, the Cathars had the right to defend themselves, but not to kill. For the Cathars, killing even in self-defense was as grievous as murder. Respect for all living things was vital. When the Cathars found an animal in a trap (set by a stranger), they were obliged to free it, sometimes leaving money in its place.
Lynn White, an American historian, in 1966 indicted the Christian tradition 6 and maintained that our present ecological troubles will continue until there is a major shift in Westerner’s religious perspective. White maintained that Westerners feel ‘superior to nature, contemptuous of it, and willing to use it for our slightest whim.’
“Both our present science and technology are so tinctured with orthodox Christian arrogance towards nature that no solution for our ecological crisis can be expected from them alone. Since the roots of our troubles are largely religious, the remedy must be essentially religious, whether we call it so or not.”
As to the notion that man is the pinnacle of creation, how can we be certain that humanity will still keep this position into the far future? Remember the dinosaurs? Life on earth started about 3.8 billion years ago. It gradually developed and differentiated into all the species we know now. Who can claim that some hidden process will assure that humans will always develop faster than all the other species who will stay behind and never overtake us? There are the ants who show, as members of a colony, reasoning power in building an ant-hill 7 and crossing a dangerous track. 8 Or there are the flattid bugs who disguise their colony as a coral-coloured flower rather like a hyacinth, which does not exist in nature. 9 We do not know what makes them do it. How far can the ants and the flattid bugs develop in the next 3 billion years, if we do not destroy them? Is there a limit to the speed and range of their development? How can we exclude that they have a chance of overtaking humans? Who can say what will happen in the billions of years to come?
Destruction of nature, whether quick and immediate, like the slash-and-burn agricultural practices, or gradual, such as the destruction of the ozone layer, dulls our sensitivity to the presence of God in the natural world. Religions need to get involved with the development of a more comprehensive worldview and ethics to assist in reversing this trend. Such ideas have been accepted, but apparently without much effect. For example, the notion that Logos, the Word, must be renewed spiritually and practically through the conduct of everyday life, became the guiding light of the Patmos Circle. Also, in an open letter to the religious community, Carl Sagan and other scientists wrote, in part:
“The environmental crisis requires radical changes not only in public policy, but in individual behavior. The historical record makes clear that religious teaching, example, and leadership are powerfully able to influence personal conduct and commitment.”
“As scientists, many of us have had profound experiences of awe and reverence before the universe. We understand that what is regarded as sacred is more likely to be treated with care and respect. Our planetary home should be so regarded. Efforts to safeguard and cherish the environment need to be infused with a vision of the sacred. At the same time, a much wider and deeper understanding of science and technology is needed. If we do not understand the problem, it is unlikely we will be able to fix it. Thus, there is a vital role for religion and science.” 10
Unfortunately, there has been little response from religious groups since this letter was written in 1990,
It seems that people still pay lip-service to a transcendental religion. However, the real religion with which they have been imbued since their most tender childhood is the secular religion of progress. 11
We cannot assume that God is going to take care of our present crisis, to pick up the pieces and remedy the disasters we bring about. God is not going to save the planet if we decide to destroy it. All we can do is to do our best and trust God to salvage what can be salvaged from our failures, and to make the most of what can be made of our successes.2 We must strive to be the people who chart their futures by what they can give to their next generation, not by what they can take from it.
For some reasons religious leaders have failed to understand the magnitude of the ecological crisis that was unfolding during the past sixty years. There were many words and pronouncements from them, but very little action where it counted (where it could influence the believers). One cannot help wondering how history will judge them. 12
In 1971, the Anglican Church declared that environmental abuse was ‘blasphemy’.10
In 1996, the Metropolitan (bishop presiding over a province) John of Pergamon declared that environmental destruction must be regarded as a sin. It was, in effect, an indictment of our modern industrial society. 13
It was only in 1997 when, for the first time, the head of a major world religion, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I., stated clearly and unequivocally that destroying the environment is a sin. 3 At the Symposium on Religion, Science and the Environment, in Santa Barbara, California, in 1997, he said:
“For humans to cause species to become extinct and to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation, for humans to degrade the integrity of the Earth by causing changes in its climate, stripping the Earth of its natural forests, or destroying its wetlands, for humans to contaminate the Earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life with poisonous substances – these are sins.”
It was encouraging to see that dignitaries from other religions – the Church of England, and Catholicism – concurred, as did the Hindu, Jain, and Zoroastrian speakers. Edward Goldsmith commented:
“This view provided an indictment of the very principle of economic development which we identify with progress and which involves the systematic substitution of the world of human artifacts or the surrogate world for the natural or real world – a process that by its very nature must lead to the latter’s annihilation.” 4
It is difficult to reconcile the notion that environmental destruction is a sin with modern mainstream religions. For though they do not see the natural world and indeed the cosmos as evil, they seem to have little interest in it. 13
Potential role for religious organizations:
In spite of all this impressive activity the progress is very slow, and there is the danger that it will run into sand. The human community continues committing ‘crimes against creation’ on a large scale, and a major catastrophe appears imminent. How-ever, there still may be one hope (not certainty) of reversing this trend: It consists in persuading the church leaders over the world that there is need for immediate action in ecological matters, that this need is urgent, and that just issuing encyclicals and exhortations is not enough. There must be an immediacy in influencing both their flock and the civil authorities. Not only the approach of religion to life on this planet must change, and support for achieving an ecologically sustainable society must become part of the religious teaching, but, primarily, all this must happen now. We do not have enough time for encyclicals and proclamations by church dignitaries to filter down to the ordinary members: The members themselves must directly be activated to go about ecological matters, and to do it straight away.
The solution of the problems we are facing must have not only a scientific but also a religious dimension. Religion still plays a major role in human life, and can bring about the much needed change of heart and a new approach by the general public. This might be our best hope for some kind of an acceptable future, but time is running out fast.
At present, we have many high-level bodies dealing with the relationship between religion and ecology. For example, we have:
The Center for the Study of Religion.
The Forum on Religion and Ecology (FORE), which has institutional support from the Harvard University Center for the Environment, the Harvard-Yenching Institute, Bucknell University, and the Center of Life and Environment of the Humane Society of the United States.
As to publishing, there is the World Religions and Ecology Book Series.
Nobody can doubt the competence and standing of these institutions, which are of the highest academic standard. However, they seem to have as little impact as have the above-mentioned institutions approaching the ecological crisis on scientific grounds. This is possibly due to following factors:
The high academic standard maintained may limit the circle of people these institutions are intended to talk to;
The information provided gives the impression of being influenced by the religious affiliation of the authors who try to present their religion in a particularly favorable light.
Academicians often avoid direct confrontation, not always calling a spade a spade.
The situation is critical, our movement in the right direction is imperceptible. With just a few exceptions the Churches just pay lip-service to ecology. Undeniably, there are encyclicals and speeches about our debt to nature, but how much of it has an effect at the grassroots? There is no sense of urgency. For an effective approach the Church leaders must be persuaded of the need to act now, and then find a way to influence the ordinary members of their religions directly: By sermons during the services, in talks organized by the priests, and so on. Examples should be given and plain talk should be used. Academic arguments usually do not lead to action, only to counter-arguments. On the other hand, knowledge of how some other religions proceed and what experience they have gained should be helpful, and this paper tries to provide some clues in this respect.
The way to make the Church hierarchies act without delay is to put them under some pressure, but this is not an easy proposition. However, we must try. The following text attempts to show how the various faiths consider nature, and, hopefully, the examples given will make some church people take notice. Stripped from the rhetoric all that is needed is already there. This paper may not increase the pressure on the church authorities by much. It is just one of many contributions, but the straws add up. Hopefully, this one will somehow filter down directly into the hands of regular church-goers, and make them ask questions; it might even make some higher up in the hierarchy to think on the matter more seriously.
A potential side-benefit to greater religious involvement:
There exists a great diversity of religious belief in the world. Unfortunately, many faith groups regard themselves, alone, to have the “whole truth.” They regard others to be at least partly in error, if not completely misguided. Some conservative Christians even regard all non-Christians to be Satanic. Adding to the conflict is their tendency to assign different meanings to common English words. The end result is a proliferation of religions, denominations and sects which have little contact with each other, and limited ability to communicate. There are some indicators of increased cooperation among faith groups, at least within Christianity. However, these are counteracted by other signs of schism within Christianity and failure of communication and cooperation among other religions.
If at least some of the religions of the world could join in an effort to avoid environmental disaster, these walls of isolation might be partly torn down. All of the major religions subscribe to an Ethic of Reciprocity — commonly referred to as the Golden Rule. This is a command to treat others as one would wish to be treated. It normally defines “others” as all of humanity. Many religions include future generations, yet unborn. Thus, religious leaders might be motivated to lay down their antagonisms and cooperate to improve the lives of our children and grandchildren
If faith groups and religions could come together and cooperate to lessen global warming and reduce other damage to the environment, they might find other benefits in the areas of reduced religiously motivated hatred, conflict and violence. The entire world might benefit from a reduction in religiously motivated civil unrest and wars.
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Individual differences |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
|Brain: Pyramidal tracts|
|Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. ("pyramidal tract" visible in red, and "pyramidal decussation" labeled at lower right.)|
|Diagram of the principal fasciculi of the spinal cord.|
|Gray's||subject #185 759|
The corticospinal tract contains exclusively motor axons. It actually consists of two separate tracts in the spinal cord: the lateral corticospinal tract and the medial corticospinal tract. An understanding of these tracts leads to an understanding of why for the most part, one side of the body is controlled by the opposite side of the brain.
The motor pathwayEdit
The corticospinal tract originates in the giant pyramidal neurons (Betz cells) of the motor cortex. The neuronal cell bodies in the motor cortex send long axons to the motor cranial nerve nuclei mainly of the contralateral side of the midbrain (cortico-mesencephalic tract), pons (cortico-pontine tract), medulla oblongata (cortico-bulbar tract); the bulk of these fibers, however, extend all the way down to the spinal cord (corticospinal tract). Most of the cortico-spinal fibers (about 85%) cross over to the contralateral side in the medulla oblongata (pyramidal decussation). Those that do cross in the medulla oblongata travel in the lateral corticospinal tract. The remainder of them (15%) cross over at the level that they exit the spinal cord, and these travel in the medial corticospinal tract. Despite which of these two tracts it travels in, the axon of a neuron which is part of this tract will synapse with another neuron in the ventral horn. This ventral horn neuron is considered a second-order neuron in this pathway, but is not part of the corticospinal tract itself.
There is a precise somatotopic representation of the different body parts in the primary motor cortex, with the leg area located medially (close to the midline), and the head and face area located laterally on the convex side of the cerebral hemisphere (motor homunculus). The arm and hand motor area is the largest and occupies the part of precentral gyrus, located inbetween the leg and face area.
The motor fibers continue down into the brainstem. The bundle of corticospinal axons is visible as two column-like structures ("pyramids") on the ventral surface of medulla oblongata - this is where the name pyramidal tract comes from.
After the decussation, the axons travel down the spinal cord as the lateral corticospinal tract. Fibers that do not cross over in the medulla oblongata travel down the separate ventral corticospinal tract, and most of them cross over to the contralateral side in the spinal cord, shortly before reaching the lower motor neurons.
The motor neuron cell bodies in the motor cortex, together with their axons that travel down the brain stem and spinal cord, are referred to as upper motor neuron. In the spinal cord, these axons connect (most of them via interneurons, but to a lesser extent also via direct synapses) with the lower motor neurons (LMNs), located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In the brain stem, the lower motor neurons are located in the motor cranial nerve nuclei (occulomotor, trochlear, motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, abducens, facial, accessory, hypoglossal). The lower motor neuron axons leave the brain stem via motor cranial nerves and the spinal cord via anterior roots of the spinal nerves respectively, end-up at the neuromuscular plate and provide motor innervation for voluntary muscles.
- Spinothalamic tract
- Spinocerebellar tract
- Visual pathway
- Auditory pathway
- Gustatory pathway
- Olfactory system
- Posterior column pathway
Corticospinal tract damageEdit
see upper motor neuron.
Extrapyramidal motor pathwaysEdit
These are motor pathways that lie outside the corticospinal tract and are beyond voluntary control. Their main function is to support voluntary movement and help control posture and muscle tone. See extrapyramidal motor system.
|Telencephalon (cerebrum, cerebral cortex, cerebral hemispheres) - edit|
frontal lobe: precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex, 4), precentral sulcus, superior frontal gyrus (6, 8), middle frontal gyrus (46), inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area, 44-pars opercularis, 45-pars triangularis), prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal cortex, 9, 10, 11, 12, 47)
temporal lobe: transverse temporal gyrus (41-42-primary auditory cortex), superior temporal gyrus (38, 22-Wernicke's area), middle temporal gyrus (21), inferior temporal gyrus (20), fusiform gyrus (36, 37)
limbic lobe/fornicate gyrus: cingulate cortex/cingulate gyrus, anterior cingulate (24, 32, 33), posterior cingulate (23, 31),
Some categorizations are approximations, and some Brodmann areas span gyri.
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Cool Movie: Bacteria Working to Eat
Caption: Movie of the protein anchored in the inner membrane of bacteria tugs on a much larger protein in the outer membrane.
Note: You may need to download the free
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Gram-negative bacteria perform molecular acrobatics just to eat. Because they're encased by two membranes, they must haul nutrients across both. To test one theory of how the bacteria manage this feat, researchers used computer simulations of two proteins involved in importing vitamin B12. Here, the protein (red) anchored in the inner membrane of bacteria tugs on a much larger protein (green and blue) in the outer membrane. Part of the larger protein unwinds, creating a pore through which the vitamin can pass. Courtesy of biophysicist Emad Tajkhorshid of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Researchers aren't certain what causes autism, but studies of two protein families may offer a lead. To help nerve cells in the brain chat through synapses, two proteins—neuroligins and neurexins—partner to form a bridge across the synapse. Now, molecular pharmacologist Palmer Taylor of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues have generated a structural model of this protein complex. The results offer a framework for understanding how changes in the proteins could impair synaptic connections. And, since mutations in the genes encoding neuroligins and neurexins are linked to autism, the findings could help explain this neurological disorder.
This work was also supported by NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Protein chemist Richard Roberts and his colleagues at the University of Southern California have extended the lives of fruit flies by blocking just a single receptor, a type of protein that transmits signals across the cell membrane. Using a method developed by Roberts, the team made short proteins, or peptides, and looked for the ones that could block a receptor involved in fruit fly aging. After finding protein-blocking peptides, the researchers genetically altered fruit flies to produce them. Those flies lived a third longer than normal. The approach could help researchers figure out how to block similar receptors involved in aging and disease.
Mouse with the FIG4 Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease mutation. Courtesy of Miriam Meisler. High
(51 KB JPEG)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a common inherited neurological disorder that often leads to pain and muscle weakness in the feet and legs. After three years of scientific sleuthing, geneticist Miriam Meisler of the University of Michigan has identified a previously unknown cause of the disease—a mutation in a gene called FIG4. Meisler's team discovered that a strain of laboratory mice with a wobbly gait had mutations in FIG4. Additional studies showed that a number of people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease also had this genetic change. The discovery could lead to a genetic test for one form of the condition and to new strategies for treating its symptoms.
This work was also supported by NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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SGML, HTML, and XML
The relationship between SGML and the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) needs to be clearly understood. Although not originally designed as such, HTML is now an SGML application, even though many HTML documents exist that cannot be validated according to the rules of SGML. HTML consists of a set of elements that are interpreted by Web browsers for display purposes. The HTML tags were designed for display and not for other kinds of analysis, which is why only crude searches are possible on Web documents. HTML is a rather curious mixture of elements. Larger ones, such as <body>; <h1>, <h2>, and so on for head levels; <p> for paragraph; and <ul> for unordered list, are structural, but the smaller elements, such as <b> for bold and <i> for italic, are typographic, which, as we have seen above, are ambiguous and thus cannot be searched effectively. HTML version 3 attempts to rectify this ambiguity somewhat by introducing a few semantic level elements, but these are very few in comparison with those
identified in the TEI core set. HTML can be a good introduction to structured markup. Since it is so easy to create, many project managers begin by using HTML and graduate to SGML once they become used to working with structured text and begin to see the weakness of HTML for anything other than the display of text. SGML can easily be converted automatically to HTML for delivery on the Web, and Web clients have been written for the major SGML retrieval programs.
The move from HTML to SGML can be substantial, and in 1996 work began on XML (Extensible Markup Language), which is a simplified version of SGML for delivery on the Web. It is "an extremely simple dialect of SGML," the goal of which "is to enable generic SGML to be served, received, and processed on the Web in the way that is now possible with HTML" (see http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml ). XML is being developed under the auspices of the World Wide Web Consortium, and the first draft of the specification for it was available by the SGML conference in December 1996. Essentially XML is SGML with some of the more complex and esoteric features removed. It has been designed for interoperability with both SGML and HTML-that is, to fill the gap between HTML, which is too simple, and fullblown SGML, which can be complicated. As yet there is no specific XML software, but the work of this group has considerable backing and the design of XML has proceeded quickly.
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Fact Sheet 2010–3030
Figure 1. The Johnson Creek basin, Oregon.
Johnson Creek drains diverse landscapes. Top to bottom: Rural upper basin stream, upper basin nursery, commercial/industrial area near the mouth at the Portland–Milwaukie city boundary. (Photographs by Karl Lee, U.S. Geological Survey, August 29, 2003 [top and middle] and January 17, 2007 [bottom].)
Johnson Creek forms a wildlife and recreational corridor through densely populated areas of the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area and through rural and agricultural land in unincorporated Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Johnson Creek has had a history of persistent flooding and water-quality problems. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted streamflow monitoring and other hydrologic studies in the basin since 1941.
Johnson Creek is about 26 miles long and drains an area of about 54 square miles (fig. 1). The headwaters as well as the several tributaries on the southern side of the basin originate in volcanic hills. Johnson Creek arises in unincorporated agricultural areas and flows westward through the cities of Gresham, Portland, and Milwaukie, where it enters the Willamette River. The largest tributary is Kelley Creek, which enters Johnson Creek from the south in midbasin (fig. 2). Few tributaries flow into Johnson Creek from the relatively flat area north of the stream because water percolates into the permeable deposits left by massive glacial outburst floods that coursed through the Columbia River basin during the last ice age. The primary northern tributary is Crystal Springs Creek, which enters Johnson Creek about a mile from the mouth.
The Johnson Creek basin has a temperate marine climate, with wet winters and dry summers. About two-thirds of the annual precipitation, nearly all rain, falls from November through March. Annual precipitation in the basin decreases with elevation, from more than 60 inches in the uplands of the upper basin to about 40 inches at the mouth of the creek, near sea level.
Land cover in the Johnson Creek basin generally follows a gradient from forested, agricultural, and rural-residential areas in the headwaters to urban and industrial development in the lower basin (fig. 2). About three-quarters of the basin is rural and open space; the rest is residential, commercial, and industrial. Urban development in recent years has resulted in the widespread conversion of agricultural lands to residential use. Land cover in the southern part of the basin includes forest, nurseries, row crops, and light to dense urban development. Future expansion of the cities of Gresham, Damascus, Happy Valley, and Portland, and possibly new urban centers, likely will result in conversion of current agricultural and light-residential development to a densely urban land use, if current trends continue. The northern part of the basin that is within the Portland metropolitan area is already densely populated.
Streamflow in Johnson Creek is derived from precipitation runoff and groundwater discharge. Groundwater discharge is particularly important in maintaining summer flows. In some areas of the Johnson Creek basin, particularly along the northern boundary, the direction of groundwater flow is not toward Johnson Creek or its tributaries but out of the drainage basin toward the lower-elevation Sandy, Columbia, or Willamette Rivers. As a result, recharge to the groundwater system within some areas of the basin does not discharge to Johnson Creek but instead flows out of the basin. The result is lower streamflows in Johnson Creek than might be expected for the amount of precipitation that falls on the basin.
Streamflow characteristics in an undeveloped drainage basin are shaped by topography, geology, and land cover. In the upper Johnson Creek basin, prior to human development, most of the precipitation ran off to streams from the steep and relatively impermeable volcanic soils, resulting in a rapid rise and fall in streamflow after storms. In the lower basin, most of the precipitation percolated into the ground and then discharged to streams through the generally flat-lying, permeable flood deposits, resulting in a more muted response to storms than in the upper basin.
Figure 2. The Johnson Creek basin has a mix of land covers, which grade from forest and agricultural land in the upper basin to urban and industrial development in the lower basin.
Modification of the landscape in the Johnson Creek basin has altered its natural hydrology. Delivery of stormwater to the stream in the upper basin is now expedited by agricultural drains and runoff from ditches, roads, and other impermeable surfaces, resulting in a more rapid streamflow increase in response to precipitation than likely occurred before development. In the lower, mostly urban basin, some of the runoff that might otherwise flow to streams across the land surface and in small drainages is directed to the subsurface through infiltration sumps (also known as “drywells”) and to sewer systems that discharge outside the basin. Channel simplification, rock lining of the stream channel, establishment of a network of storm drains, and paving of once-permeable areas also likely have affected runoff volume and response to precipitation.
Nonetheless, analysis of streamflow data collected from 1941 to 2006 in the Johnson Creek basin did not detect increases in peak flows and flooding that typically are associated with urban development. This lack of change could be because much of the infrastructure that affects runoff from residential and urban development, such as roads, ditches, drywells, and sewer systems, was in place prior to collection of hydrologic data in the basin.
Streamflows are minimal in the Johnson Creek basin during the summer owing to a near lack of precipitation. Summer low flows of Johnson Creek vary from year to year with fluctuations in groundwater discharge to the creek, which are related to annual fluctuations in the amount of recharge from precipitation. Seepage measurements during low-flow periods from 1988 to 2006 indicated small contributions of groundwater to streamflow upstream of river mile 5.5 (about one-half mile west of Interstate Highway 205 [fig. 1]) and relatively large contributions downstream of that point owing to the differences in topography and aquifer characteristics between the upper and middle basins and the lower basin.
Crystal Springs Creek, shown here near its confluence with Johnson Creek, is one of the largest tributaries to Johnson Creek. (Photograph by Karl Lee, October 1, 2008.)
Crystal Springs Creek (fig. 2) is the largest northern tributary to Johnson Creek. Nearly all of Crystal Springs Creek’s flow is supplied by springs and seepage from groundwater discharge that is derived either locally or from the middle or lower basin. Variations in streamflow of the creek over time can be explained by long-term trends in groundwater recharge and subsequent discharge to the creek. Flow increased following record precipitation in 1996 and 1997, and this increase persisted for about 4 years. In 2005, flow was the lowest since measurements began in 1987. A relation was developed during a recent study that provides an estimate of the flow of Crystal Springs Creek based on water level in a nearby well. This information can be used to anticipate both high and low streamflow, for protection of people, property, and wildlife.
“Holgate Lake” (as it is known locally) in Southeast Portland appears intermittently, sometimes inundating nearby residences. The lake forms when the water table rises above land surface. The water-surface elevation of Holgate Lake closely follows the elevation of the water table in a nearby observation well equipped with a continuous data recorder. Antecedent water-table elevations, coupled with fall and winter precipitation totals, have been used to predict the lake’s emergence.
Summer temperatures of Johnson Creek and tributary streams are affected by groundwater discharge, air temperature, and solar radiation. Measurements of the temporal and spatial distribution of groundwater discharge to streams, coupled with comparisons of stream temperature to air temperature, suggest that groundwater discharge cools the stream in some reaches, and that significant warming occurs in stream reaches with shallow, unshaded ponds, such as those in Crystal Springs Creek.
High flow in Johnson Creek typically mobilizes sediment and sediment-borne contaminants, including organochlorine pesticides. Upper-basin characteristics, such as more rainfall and runoff, greater slopes, a network of roads and ditches associated with agricultural and rural-residential land uses, and a relative abundance of sources of sediment and sediment-borne contaminants, make management of runoff in the upper part of the basin important to the ecological health of the entire basin.
Holgate Lake appears intermittently, during periods when the water table is particularly high. (Photograph by Karl Lee, March 13, 2006.)
Organochlorine pesticides were detected in unfiltered samples from Johnson Creek that were collected during a storm in March 2002. Concentrations and loads of the pesticides were largest at the most upstream sampling site, suggesting that agricultural activities were the primary source. Concentrations and loads were smaller at downstream locations, and there were only a few detections from storm drains. Total DDT (the sum of DDT and its metabolites) concentrations potentially exceeded Oregon chronic, freshwater criteria at all stream-sampling sites. The total DDT criterion was also potentially exceeded at an urban storm drain.
The use of DDT was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1972. Concentrations of DDT in water samples from Johnson Creek have decreased by an order of magnitude since previous sampling in 1989–1990. This decrease was probably due to the movement of residual, soil-bound DDT out of the basin and to degradation processes.
High flows in the upper basin mobilize large amounts of sediment. (Photograph by Karl Lee, April 10, 2006.)
Johnson Creek Watershed Council, 2003, Meet Johnson Creek: accessed March 15, 2010, at http://www.jcwc.org/johnsonCreek/creek.htm.
Lee, K.K., and Snyder, D.T., 2009, Hydrology of the Johnson Creek basin, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5123, 56 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5123/.)
Tanner, D.Q., and Lee, K.K., 2004, Organochlorine pesticides in the Johnson Creek basin, Oregon, 1988–2002: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004–5061, 36 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5061/.)
For additional information contact:
Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.
Williams, J.S., Lee, K.K., and Snyder, D.T., 2010, Hydrology of Johnson Creek basin, a mixed-use drainage basin in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010-3030, 4 p.
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Wendy - Young Reading Lives
Wendy is an advisory teacher for visually impaired children and works with Grace.
“My job is to ensure that wherever Grace is, she has the support that she needs.”
Teaching braille is also a big part of Wendy’s role:
“Teaching Grace to read braille has been very easy because she wanted to do it so much”
“Grace’s world is a tactile world” - touch is a big part of how she understands the world around her.
Books with tactile images can be very useful for teaching younger children.
Learning braille is like being bilingual, because you need to be able to know the spelling of words in print and in the braille code, for example:
The three letter word HEN in print can can be represented by just two characters in braille: the sign for H and the sign for EN.
Grace is also learning the braille music code. There are lots of different braille codes for different purposes like chemistry and maths.
“Reading gives Grace access to worlds which she needs to understand and be aware of. The books that Grace reads give her a sense of the world and her place in it, and that is really important for her.”
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The Demise of Environmentalism in American Law, by Michael S. Greve, Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute, $29.95/$9.95 paper
In 1992, Defenders of Wildlife sued Manuel Lujan, then secretary of the interior, seeking to compel the federal government to apply the Endangered Species Act to foreign nations. The plaintiffs claimed they had visited ecologically sensitive areas in Egypt and Sri Lanka that later became sites of large-scale development projects funded by the U.S. government. These projects, the suit protested, threatened certain endangered species, thereby depriving the plaintiffs of the opportunity to observe these animals in the future. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the lawsuit's affidavits "plainly contain no facts...showing how damage to the species will produce 'imminent injury'" to the plaintiffs. The Court found the Defenders of Wildlife had no legal standing to sue.
This result, writes Michael Greve in The Demise of Environmentalism in American Law, marked a "direct challenge" to legal doctrines that had emerged over the previous 25 years. Greve, a political scientist and executive director of the Center for Individual Rights, a public interest law firm, argues that Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife is one of several cases indicating that the courts have begun to question the basic philosophical principles of modern environmentalism.
It might seem odd that environmental regulations and related court cases have garnered so much national political attention. Federal environmental spending is just a fraction of outlays for national defense, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. And except for a handful of industries, private spending on environmental compliance pales in comparison to other costs imposed by government on business. So why all the fuss? The answer is that environmentalism is a coherent ideology that rivals Marxism in its challenge to the classical liberal view of government as protector of individual rights.
For Greve, the essence of environmentalism is a vision of "a world in which everything is connected to everything else." From this basic idea flow certain legal and political principles: "Environmentalism views common-law rights--such as private property and freedom of contract-- as a menace to an imperiled planet. It therefore aims to eviscerate common-law rights and to replace them with a legal regime that would organize transactions among individual citizens for a single public purpose, environmental protection. Environmentalism thus pushes toward a centralized, unlimited political scheme. To the extent that this scheme allows for 'rights' they are defined and circumscribed by public purposes." In the world of the courts, says Greve, this environmental paradigm has translated into an unprecedented erosion of property rights, a loosening of criteria for determining standing to sue, and a transformation of the courts' constitutional role.
The Demise of Environmentalism in American Law is an important book in three ways. First, it succinctly restates some key philosophical premises of modern environmentalism. Second, it offers a highly readable and subtle exploration of several central tenets of American constitutional law. And third, in exploring the environmental paradigm and its effects on American law, it also ends up offering a brief but perceptive exploration of individual freedom as expounded by classical liberalism.
Environmentalism, Greve explains, views the world "as an infinitely complex, interdependent, and fragile place" where "small events may have large, unforeseen consequences." Preserving "spaceship Earth" therefore requires "an unconditional commitment to a one- dimensional value"--environmental protection--that trumps all other values. Environmentalism thus replaces traditional American interest-group politics, in which multiple values undergo constant balancing, with the unbounded pursuit of a single value. From this perspective, individual rights are an impediment to a more encompassing and transcendent public interest. If everything is connected to everything else, the ideas of property rights and individual autonomy are obsolete. In such a world, virtually any individual action may have catastrophic environmental consequences. "In a world of pervasive externalities," explains Greve, "legal relations and instruments that are modeled on private transactions seem hopelessly dysfunctional...and must therefore be discarded."
Greve demonstrates that for more than two decades U.S. court decisions on environmental matters acquiesced to this view of individual rights and property. The acquiescence eroded property rights and nullified the Fifth Amendment's requirement of compensation for individuals whose property is taken for public use. It also transformed the traditional concepts of "harm" and "standing" that determine when a person may sue. Finally, it turned the courts into virtual rubber stamps for an environmental agenda unconstrained by any countervailing values. Greve takes the reader on a quick journey through a series of court cases that established these trends.
But Greve's main project is not to recount what many already know and lament. Instead, he turns to the present and, with some optimism, sees a return in recent court decisions to American common law traditions. Common law relies on the idea that there are discernible distinctions between mine and thine and that property rights provide "a fence or boundary around a private sphere of autonomy." Greve argues that "central to the traditional idea of property is my right to exclude you (and all others), so long as--and because--what I do within my sphere of autonomy does not affect you." But the "right to exclude loses its meaning if everything I do within my boundaries affects everyone else," as environmentalism implies.
The courts, says Greve, have begun to recognize the slippery slope created by this environmental philosophy. The idea that there are no spheres of autonomy--that there is some generalized entitlement to a sound ecosystem--is "tantamount to legalizing aggression by all against all." Anyone's labor and anyone's property become subject to confiscation without compensation by others. The Supreme Court rejected this premise in the 1992 case Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Commission. David Lucas contested the state's right to prohibit him from building on his coastal property. In essence, the Supreme Court ruled that a "taking" within the meaning of the Fifth Amendment occurs if a prohibition on the use of property goes further than the state's common law of nuisance would have permitted.
The resurrection of property rights, says Greve, has been accompanied (probably inevitably) by a return to stricter criteria for "harm," requiring plaintiffs to show a "palpable," "direct" injury, as the Supreme Court did in the 1992 Defenders of Wildlife case. Similarly, in the 1990 case Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation, environmental activists said they were adversely affected by Bureau of Land Management decisions on 1,250 tracts of land, but the "Supreme Court found these allegations insufficiently specific to support standing and essentially held environmental groups to the same pleading and evidentiary requirements that would apply to any other plaintiffs."
Common law is fundamentally a discovery process in which the courts sort out where one person's sphere of autonomy ends and another's begins. It was therefore not possible for the courts to resurrect property rights and impose a requirement of discernible harm without also rejecting a view of the courts as guardians of a single "public interest." Under the environmental paradigm, the courts had taken on the role of an executive review board, upholding vague, boundless legislative claims without constitutional scrutiny. By returning to common law principles, the courts reinvigorated a separation of powers in which they examine legislative acts within a constitutional context.
Greve does a good job of summarizing modern environmental philosophy and its impact on the courts. His argument that this philosophy is meeting its demise (at least in the courts) is provocative but less convincing, if only because the cases on which he builds his argument remain scanty. Furthermore, whatever may be unfolding in the courts, the old environmental paradigm continues to shape public sentiment and legislation. Efforts by the 104th Congress to codify requirements for takings compensation ran afoul of charges that such legislation would paralyze environmental protection. Common-sense proposals to put environmental legislation to some sort of cost-benefit test--a direct challenge to the pursuit of environmental values unfettered by tradeoffs with competing values--also could not get through Congress.
What is most interesting (but inadequately explored) in the book is the question of why a philosophy that emphasizes "the interconnectedness of all things"--essentially a restatement of the proposition that the world is complex--necessarily leads to an erosion of property rights. At times, Greve seems to imply that a focus on complexity could have no other outcome but collectivism. Yet he clearly does not believe this. Here and there, he admits that "complexity is an argument for private orderings, not against them." He adds that "decentralized and flexible private arrangements are far more easily tailored to a complex world than centralized, one-size-fits-all schemes: The more thoroughly such schemes attempt to mimic complexity, the harder they will crash on the law of unintended consequences." Greve then suggests that "an interdependent global economy may be especially dependent on clear (if somewhat artificial) boundaries; complexity may be more manageable in private backyards than in a worldwide political commons." He even acknowledges toward the end of the book that "the common law was, in fact, quite attuned to complexities-- externalities, aggregate effects, multiple causation, unquantifiable risks, and indirect but nonetheless real effects....it did deal, as it had to, with complex social systems and ubiquitous and subtle externalities."
If the common law is also premised on complexity, then modern environmentalism's focus on complexity cannot, in itself, explain why that paradigm has moved us toward an annihilation of property rights, lax definitions of harm, and the view that the courts' role is to ratify some transcendent public interest. Greve's response to this point--not found in the book itself but outlined at an American Enterprise Institute seminar--is that the common law view, which sees simple rules that define spheres of autonomy as the solution to the problem of complexity, is difficult to articulate and even counterintuitive. Thus, many people, obsessed with the idea of complexity, will seek to accommodate it through central plans and the imposition of a single public value above all other values.
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|This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. WikiProject History may be able to help recruit one. (November 2008)|
| This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007)
Pomponio Algerio (1531, Nola – 22 August 1556, Rome) was a civil law student at the University of Padua whose radical theological beliefs attracted the attention of the Roman Inquisition. At his trial, he wore his academic hat and gown to remind the tribunal that, as a student, he has the right to freely express his ideas. From the transcript of Pomponio Algerio at his trial:
- "I say that the Church deviates from the truth in so far as it says that a man could not do anything in any way good on his own, since nothing praiseworthy can proceed from our corrupt infected nature except to the extent that the lord God gives us his grace... the Roman Catholic Church is a particular Church and no Christian should restrict himself to any particular Church. This Church deviates in many things from truth."
After refusing to conform to Church doctrine, he was sentenced to prison and asked to reconsider his beliefs. After a year behind bars, he still refused to reconsider. Because Venetian authorities would not consent to an execution, Pope Paul IV sent officials to extradite Pomponio to Rome. In Rome, on August 21, 1555, a monk from the brotherhood of St John the Beheaded visited Pomponio in his cell urging him to repent. If he repented, he would be strangled before burning. The 24 year old student refused.
|This Italian biographical article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.|
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| 0.968101 | 380 | 2.78125 | 3 |
|Alumni Hall of Fame
Steven J. Sasson
Class of 1972
Inventor of the Digital Camera
A lifelong research engineer at Eastman Kodak Company, Steven Sasson changed the future of photography when he invented the world’s first digital camera. Sasson’s groundbreaking invention revolutionized the way images are captured, stored, and shared, creating new opportunities for commerce and communication, and ultimately transforming an industry.
In 1975 Sasson developed the first prototype for a digital camera; it was eight pounds and about the size of a toaster. He received a patent for it in 1978, and continued to work in the emerging field, finding ways to store, transmit, and manipulate digital images. Today, a majority of Americans own digital cameras, many as close as their mobile phones.
In conferring its Innovation Award on Sasson in 2009, The Economist called the digital camera a “seismic disruption” that rendered the existing technology virtually obsolete. The entire digital imaging industry traces directly back to Sasson’s original innovation. Sasson was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
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| 0.919211 | 231 | 2.75 | 3 |
Chemical Toilet Products Advisory for
Consumers in California
Prohibited Chemical Toilet Product Ingredients
If you own or spend time in a recreational vehicle (RV) or boat, you know of the odor problems coming from the holding tanks used for sewage (grey and black water tanks) and chemical toilet waste. There are a number of products available to control these odors, but some of these products may contain chemicals that are banned and cannot be sold or used in RV chemical toilets in California.
Many chemicals are banned in these products, but formaldehyde, which is commonly used to reduce odor, in particular, has come to the attention of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Based on chemical information, formaldehyde may be a non-biodegradable toxic chemical substance and you hould avoid purchasing and using any chemical toilet product that lists formaldehyde as an ingredient in any concentration.
Chemical toilet products may contain chemicals that are known to cause septic tank failures by killing the bacteria essential to the treatment process in the septic tank. In 1979, the Prohibited Chemical Toilet Additives law was passed and it banned the manufacture, sale and use in California of non-biodegradable toxic chemicals in chemical toilets or waste facilities (toilets). This law was expanded in 1988 to include a similar ban on the sale and use of halocarbons in products used to clean or unclog a sewage disposal system.
What you need to know about toilet additives
Chemical toilet additives include chemicals that are known to cause septic tank failures by killing the bacteria essential to the treatment process in the septic tank. Formaldehyde can cause these bacteria to die in holding tanks as it controls odor by killing bacteria.
Formaldehyde also kills bacteria necessary to breakdown the wastes to decompose in septic tanks. When your holding tank wastes are disposed into a "dump station" at a campground or RV park (i.e., usually to a septic system), the formaldehyde may kill the bacteria in the septic tank which can eventually clog the system. When a septic system fails, sewage wastes does not breakdown and can cause an increased risk to people from contact with raw sewage.
What you can do to help
- Use holding tank deodorizers that Do Not Contain Formaldehyde, and look for Biodegradable (enzyme or citrus-based) products instead.
- Minimize your use of holding tank deodorizers by using toilet facilities at rest stops when you can.
- Follow the directions for toilet additives and add only what is recommended.
- Tell other RVers and boaters about what's safe and legal to use in their toilets.
These chemicals have not been evaluated by DTSC, but based on their potential impact to dump stations should be avoided in holding tank deodorizers.
Note from Steven & Fran: The above is offered here as information only because it is a government publication. We do not endorse or necessarily agree with it. Careful reading of the Advisory' shows that formaldehyde has not been studied for it's affect on septic systems and is not one of the banned products. We have read conflicting evidence that formaldehyde does not adversely effect septic systems.
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| 0.935852 | 665 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne, , at sacred-texts.com
It must be confessed that hitherto things had not gone on so badly, and that I had small reason to complain. If our difficulties became no worse, we might hope to reach our end. And to what a height of scientific glory we should then attain! I had become quite a Liedenbrock in my reasonings; seriously I had. But would this state of things last in the strange place we had come to? Perhaps it might.
For several days steeper inclines, some even frightfully near to the perpendicular, brought us deeper and deeper into the mass of the interior of the earth. Some days we advanced nearer to the centre by a league and a half, or nearly two leagues. These were perilous descents, in which the skill and marvellous coolness of Hans were invaluable to us. That unimpassioned Icelander devoted himself with incomprehensible deliberation; and, thanks to him, we crossed many a dangerous spot which we should never have cleared alone.
But his habit of silence gained upon him day by day, and was infecting us. External objects produce decided effects upon the brain. A man shut up between four walls soon loses the power to associate words and ideas together. How many prisoners in solitary confinement become idiots, if not mad, for want of exercise for the thinking faculty!
During the fortnight following our last conversation, no incident occurred worthy of being recorded. But I have good reason for remembering one very serious event which took place at this time, and of which I could scarcely now forget the smallest details.
By the 7th of August our successive descents had brought us to a depth of thirty leagues; that is, that for a space of thirty leagues there were over our heads solid beds of rock, ocean, continents, and towns. We must have been two hundred leagues from Iceland.
On that day the tunnel went down a gentle slope. I was ahead of the others. My uncle was carrying one of Ruhmkorff's lamps and I the. other. I was examining the beds of granite.
Suddenly turning round I observed that I was alone.
Well, well, I thought; I have been going too fast, or Hans and my uncle have stopped on the way. Come, this won't do; I must join them. Fortunately there is not much of an ascent.
I retraced my steps. I walked for a quarter of an hour. I gazed into the darkness. I shouted. No reply: my voice was lost in the midst of the cavernous echoes which alone replied to my call.
I began to feel uneasy. A shudder ran through me.
"Calmly!" I said aloud to myself, "I am sure to find my companions again. There are not two roads. I was too far ahead. I will return!"
For half an hour I climbed up. I listened for a call, and in that dense atmosphere a voice could reach very far. But there was a dreary silence in all that long gallery. I stopped. I could not believe that I was lost. I was only bewildered for a time, not lost. I was sure I should find my way again.
"Come," I repeated, "since there is but one road, and they are on it, I must find them again. I have but to ascend still. Unless, indeed, missing me, and supposing me to be behind, they too should have gone back. But even in this case I have only to make the greater haste. I shall find them, I am sure."
I repeated these words in the fainter tones of a half-convinced man. Besides, to associate even such simple ideas with words, and reason with them, was a work of time.
A doubt then seized upon me. Was I indeed in advance when we became separated? Yes, to be sure I was. Hans was after me, preceding my uncle. He had even stopped for a while to strap his baggage better over his shoulders. I could remember this little incident. It was at that very moment that I must have gone on.
Besides, I thought, have not I a guarantee that I shall not lose my way, a clue in the labyrinth, that cannot be broken, my faithful stream? I have but to trace it back, and I must come upon them.
This conclusion revived my spirits, and I resolved to resume my march without loss of time.
How I then blessed my uncle's foresight in preventing the hunter from stopping up the hole in the granite. This beneficent spring, after having satisfied our thirst on the road, would now be my guide among the windings of the terrestrial crust.
Before starting afresh I thought a wash would do me good. I stooped to bathe my face in the Hansbach.
To my stupefaction and utter dismay my feet trod onlythe rough dry granite. The stream was no longer at my feet.
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Cultural Map of Wisconsin
A two-sided maps showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Wisconsin was created by the staff and faculty of the UW-Madison geography department and cartography lab. Two years of research into significant cultural sites and events was followed by 10 months of cartographic production. The map has won national recognition and was cited as a unique example of capturing a state's cultural heritage. Widely distributed, the map is used by state citizens, tourists and educators.
The final map has been enthusiastically received by a wide audience of map users, and over 25,000 copies have been sold.
Onno Brouwer, Director
Department or Other Unit
School or College
College of Letters & Science
Project last updated on 10/26/2006
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| 0.951045 | 153 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Researchers stunned by inmates' success raising endangered frogs
Inmates at the Cedar Creek Corrections center are staffing a project to bolster the dwindling population of the Oregon spotted frog. The results of their 85-cent-per-hour job has stunned researchers.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Inmates raise endangered frogs
LITTLEROCK, Thurston County — Kneeling on the edge of a tank the size of a child's wading pool, Harry Greer thrust his arm into the cool water and scooped up three frogs.
Greer smiled like a proud parent as the tiny green and black spotted frogs squirmed in his hand. He bragged about how he had raised the endangered amphibians from eggs to tadpoles to juvenile frogs only steps from his prison cell.
Since spring, Greer and fellow inmate Albert Delp have spent the bulk of their days inside a small fenced-off area at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center fussing over — and fattening — several dozen frogs.
The two men are part of a project to bolster the dwindling population of the Oregon spotted frog, an animal once widespread in the Puget Sound area. The effort focuses on raising the frogs until they get big enough to no longer be a snack for natural predators.
"They would like to re-establish them back at Fort Lewis and I'm part of the project," said Greer, who is serving time for robbery.
With guidance from a senior researcher from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and staff from nearby Evergreen State College, the two men started with 80 Oregon spotted frog eggs in early April. As the eggs grew into tadpoles then into frogs, the two men have been responsible for the frequent feedings and tank-water changes. The whole time they have taken detailed notes for state researchers.
Greer, 45, and Delp, 47, admit that they had never heard of the Oregon spotted frog — or even recall taking biology in school — but the results of their 85-cent-per-hour job has stunned researchers. Since the project started, only eight of their frogs have died — a figure significantly lower than at Woodland Park Zoo, the Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek, which are also part of the project to rear the Oregon spotted frog in captivity.
Marc P. Hayes, the Department of Fish and Wildlife senior research scientist leading the effort, said that he had doubted the success of the project behind bars. But his concerns vanished after he saw how much time Greer and Delp could devote to the project.
"They have the time to address care on a level that is not possible with those other institutions," Hayes said. "They baby those things literally night and day. They can look at them every two hours and feed them at a higher rate. They have the time to give them a much closer level of care."
For Greer and Delp, who is serving time for felony drunken driving, their success has led them to view the other research sites competitively. They don't hesitate giving their frogs an extra cricket or two, with the hope of beefing up the tiny frogs. Hayes said the frogs in the prison's 300-gallon tank appear larger and stronger than those being raised at the other sites.
"We have a species that has been eliminated for its historical range in the Puget Sound region," said Rich Sartor, zoological curator at Northwest Trek. "Our whole point is to take them into captivity for a while and head start them, get them up to a size that we think will let them make it once they are turned loose. You want to have a lot of big, happy, healthy frogs at the end of the day. So far Cedar Creek — they're champs."
Delp and Greer have photocopies of a typical Oregon spotted frog growth chart tacked to the wall of their work shack, located in an area of the prison dubbed "Frogga Walla," a nod to the prison at Walla Walla. Jeff Muse, who manages Evergreen State College's expanding sustainable prisons project, said that a master's degree student regularly travels to the prison to work with the inmates and act as a liaison between them and Hayes.
Hisami Yoshida, superintendent at the Thurston County prison, said that when she heard about the frog project she was in full support of inmate participation. Prison staff picked Greer and Delp from a small group of inmates who applied for the research jobs.
In the spring, before the eggs arrived, Hayes held a small lecture at the prison about the Oregon spotted frogs, which have commonly faced high death rates in the wild because they are a popular food source for birds, fish, snakes and bullfrogs. Spotted frogs have been listed as an endangered species by the state for more than a decade.
Greer and Delp will keep tending to the frogs until early fall, when the creatures are large enough to be released into the wild at a wetland area near Fort Lewis.
Hayes is expecting that more than 1,000 frogs will be released this fall, a figure significantly lower than expected because the 500 eggs growing at Northwest Trek, near Eatonville, died off at the tadpole stage after troubles with the temperature of the tank water.
All of the frogs will be tagged, and about a dozen will also be equipped with radio transmitters so researchers can track their whereabouts, Hayes said. When they are released, the frogs will be under a year old and weigh around 0.7 ounces.
"We want to understand the movements they're making, where they're going. To understand their behavior post release," Hayes said.
Yoshida said a decision has not been made on whether the inmate researchers will be able to leave the prison to help with the massive frog release.
For several years Cedar Creek, a 500-inmate minimum-security prison nestled in the Capitol Forest, has been known as a home for environmentally focused programs. Inmates have been able to work alongside Department of Natural Resources crews in fighting fires, they have maintained a large organic garden and raised honeybees. Many of the programs started after a successful partnership with a scientist from Evergreen State College, Nalini Nadkarni, who convinced Hayes that he should open up the Oregon spotted frog research to inmates, Hayes said.
Greer said that raising frogs is one of the best paying jobs at the prison — at $5 per hour, asbestos removal is the best. Delp said he left a job handing out basketballs at the prison gym for the frog project.
"This is not that labor-intensive and it's interesting," Delp said. "Guys [other inmates] are always pouring questions on me. A lot of people have toyed with frogs."
Greer and Delp's success has persuaded frog researchers to expand the program at Cedar Creek next year, more than doubling the number of frogs raised there. Hayes said he would also like to see the effort launched at other prisons.
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or [email protected]
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
When vice president of Sub Pop Records Megan Jasper isn't running things at the office, she's working in her garden at her West Seattle home where she and her husband Brian spend time relaxing.
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successional dynamics of lightning-initiated canopy gaps in the mangrove forests of Shark River >
chapter 3 >
Mangrove survival, growth, and recruitment in lightning-initiated canopy gaps and closed forest sites in Everglades National Park, Florida USA.
Lightning gaps, as well as other types of canopy gaps, have been reported as an important disturbance mechanism in mangrove forests around the world. This study is the first to report multiple species-specific recruitment/mortality rates across life stages within different forest stages. I studied the survival, recruitment, and growth across three successional stages of mangrove forest (newly initiated lightning gaps, growing gaps and intact forest) for four dominate life phases (propagules, seedlings, saplings, and adult) of the three dominant mangroves (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, Rhizophora mangle) in the Florida Everglades. In new lighting-initiated canopy gaps the seedling recruitment rate was twice as high as the other forest stages and the sapling population was increasing. At the growing gap stage, R. mangle seedling mortality was 10 times greater and sapling mortality was 13 times greater than recruitment. In growing gaps, there is reduced seedling stem elongation, and reduced sapling and adult growth, but a few individuals (R. mangle saplings) were able to recruit into the adult size class. Enumerating survival, recruitment, and growth across life stages by species is of critical importance in understanding and predicting changes in forest structure, composition and development especially in mangrove communities. This work provides the critically needed field data for future modeling efforts to explore mangrove forest gap phase dynamics.
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
This page is: http://sflwww.er.usgs.gov/publications/thesis/lightning_gaps/ch3/index.html
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather Henkel - Webmaster
Last updated: 15 January, 2013 @ 12:44 PM (TJE)
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Dictionary Mode: easton:Kedar
Kedar @ dark-skinned, the second son of Ishmael Genesis:25:13). It is the name for the nomadic tribes of Arabs, the Bedouins generally Isaiah:21:16 Isaiah:42:11 Isaiah:60:7 ; Jeremiah:2:10; Ezekiel:27:21), who dwelt in the north-west of Arabia. They lived in black hair-tents (Cant. 1:5). To "dwell in the tents of Kedar" was to be cut off from the worship of the true God Psalms:120:5). The Kedarites suffered at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar Jeremiah:49:28-29).
The DICT Development Group
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
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Pistachio originated in the Mediterranean basin and was brought to Sicily by Arab conquerors sometime after the 11th century BC. The pistachio tree thrives in Sicily’s rich volcanic soil and today pistachio production in Sicily is concentrated in Bronte, a town on the western slope of Mt. Etna. The Pistachio fruit is harvested from late August through October, when the famous Pistachio Festival takes place in Bronte.
The word Pistachio, Pistàkion in Greek, was likely corrupted to “fristach” in Arabic, which would explain why in Sicilian dialect the fruit is called “frastuca”. But whatever the name, it is universally understood that pistachio is Sicily’s “green gold”. It is ubiquitous in Sicilian cuisine and used in all aspects of Sicilian cooking, from pasta to meats, to desserts and liqueurs, as well as eaten plain and roasted. Sicilian pistachio fruit has a highly refined flavor, and is considered by some to be the finest in the world.
Ciao a presto!
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HDD v. SSD
A disk drive (spinning or solid) is your computer’s main persistent storage (as opposed to RAM, which is reset on reboots). It houses your applications, documents, pictures, songs, videos, etc. All of this data is written in a somewhat random fashion and can reside in any portion of the disk.
Hard drives have a number of mechanical parts - a spinning disk where all your data is stored and an arm that reads and writes the data. It takes an arm’s movement (‘seek’) to read data from two different places on a disk, similar to how a needle reads music from an LP.
Solid state drives on the other hand do not have any moving parts. They use flash memory like those found in USB drives and media players. Because of that, they do not incur a ‘seek penalty’ to move the arm to read from two random sections of the disk. That alone results in significant improvement.
Given the immediate speed benefits of an SSD, there’s no reason not to switch, right? For the same reason not everyone buys a first class ticket when traveling, SSDs come with a premium price tag. Hard drives are significantly cheaper - 2TB hard drives can be as cheap as $100. At that price, it's difficult to get anything more than 180GB of SSD these days, with the best deals hovering around $0.50/GB. Luckily though, you don’t really need to get a full TB of SSD.
Just like hard drives, most consumer SSDs come in size tiers, usually in multiples of 60 or 64GB, and rarely go above 512GB without a significant jump in price. Price wise, the sweet spot is currently on drives sized between 120 and 256GB. As such, SSDs are best used as ‘boot’ drives, which host the operating system (Windows or OS X) and applications (Office, Photo suites, etc). Using them to store large music/video files is generally considered ineffective unless an SSD is your only drive as is the case with laptops.
Following the above principle, a 128GB SSD should be sufficient for most users for normal use - a single OS and a handful of additional applications. We’ve seen 128GB SSDs for as little as $80 in the past and 240GB ones can be as low as $120. You can also supplement your SSD with a hard drive, if your system allows for that.
Hybrid and Caching Drives
We feel that hybrid and cache-only drives deserve a special consideration as well.
A hybrid drive is a traditional 500GB+ spinning hard drive but comes with an added built-in SSD-driven cache. The cache is usually between 4-16GB, which automatically provides the speed boost to frequently accessed files. Hybrid drives can be had for as low as $70/500GB ($0.14/GB).
A cache-only drive is a separate drive, which requires a separate connection to be available in a PC or laptop. It speeds up frequently accessed data on an already installed spinning drive. Unlike a standard SSD, a caching SSD is not visible to the operating system directly, and may not be used to directly store any information. 64GB Cache SSDs can be had for $49 ($0.77/GB). Some laptop manufacturers (HP, Lenovo, Dell) have started to include mSATA cache modules to their laptops, which act just like cache drives as well.
Physical Size and Accessories
Depending on what you’re upgrading or building, you will need to consider the physical size of the SSD. Most SSDs (2.5”) are smaller than desktop hard drives (3.5”), so you’re generally safe, but you may need a mounting kit, which go between $3-$5. For laptops, SSD-shopping can be a little more difficult as some smaller laptops use 1.8” drives. Some manufacturers use custom-built SSDs, which are not available from 3rd parties (Apple Macbook Air, ‘Retina’ Macbook Pro). Some manufacturers go as far as voiding the warranty if you tinker with the system yourself.
Performance degradation over time
Unlike magnetic counterparts, most consumer (read ‘affordable’) SSDs’ performance degrades with time due to the nature of flash memory read/write/erase patterns. TRIM and good space utilization practices help alleviate some of the drop in performance.
TRIM is a special disk function, which when combined with operating system support (OS X 10.6.8+ and Windows 7+) allows previously written and later deleted cells on the drive to be cleared out. This refreshes SSD performance to its near-original levels. Note that the disk, the PC and the OS all have to support the feature for TRIM to work.
If TRIM is not available and as overall good practice with most SSDs (other than hybrid/cache drives), you want to leave 20-25% of its total size unoccupied, otherwise performance starts to suffer.
All SSDs rely on firmware to perform internal functions (including TRIM), maintenance and other optimizations. Firmware is often issued to address some performance and stability issues. The rule of thumb is to keep current on the firmware for your specific drive whenever possible. Check the drive manufacturer’s sites to see if one is available for the drive you have/are considering.
Other (minor) considerations
Stability and reliability
When SSDs arrived into consumer market, there were a lot of issues with immature system support, drivers, controllers, etc. At this time, most modern Serial ATA II/III SSDs have been issued firmware updates to alleviate and/or remove most of those issues, and should be of little concern.
SATA II or SATA III
If you’re switching from a hard drive, any SSD will increase your overall computer responsiveness. "II" and "III" when used with Serial ATA refers to peak transfer speed. SATA II transfers at 3 Gbps (approximately 280 megabytes/second) while SATA III transfers at 6 Gbps (approximately 550 megabytes/second). The difference is significant if you’re transferring gigabytes of information continuously, but if you’re more of a casual user, either type sure work fine. Furthermore, only SATA III based PCs and laptops can take advantage of the highest performance tier, but are still backwards compatible with SATA II drives. If the machine you’re upgrading is more than 2 years old, chances are you’re still using SATA II. which also works with either SATA II or III drives.
The most reputable brands - Crucial, OCZ, Samsung, Intel, Sandisk, Kingston - offer a good mix of drives for different target markets.
Great, So Which Drive Should I Choose?
Bottom line, if you are currently using an ‘old-fashioned’ spinning drive, and want to get an immediate performance boost to your applications, and have a budget of a $100 or so, SSD is the one component that will give you just that. We generally don’t make any specific product recommendations since everything is dependent on respective situations, but as a reference for price points, here are the last 7 front page deals which can help guide your purchase decision:
120GB Kingston $80
128GB Crucial $80
240GB SanDisk $120
256GB Kingston $140
240GB Intel $150
256GB Transcend $155
256GB Sandisk $155
256GB Samsung $190
To keep track of SSD deals, set up a deal alert for SSDs here: http://slickdeals.net/forums/deal...otelevel
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In April of 2010, Camily Wedende, of Sun Cookers International contacted Sharon Cousins, of Solar Cookers International, asking for advice on engaging young people in solar cooking, because he had read about some of her work with young students in the Solar Cooker Review. The result of this ongoing email exchange between a man from Eldoret, Kenya, and a woman from Viola, Idaho, USA, is the first pilot project for the Eldoret Student Solar Cooking Science Projects.
A group of students, ages 10 - 18, working with Mr. Wedende as advisor, took a scientific approach to solar cooking, studying a number of designs and then helping with construction and comparative testing of three different types of solar cookers that can be made from locally available materials. This project is designed to help the students take a creative approach at the outset, then refine and analyze the results using careful observation and methodical and critical thinking skills.Students compared a CooKit, a bowl/basin type cooker with a low back reflector, and a new panel cooker design they came up with themselves that was partly inspired by Ms. Cousins's EZ-3 Solar Cooker. The new cooker does not yet have a name of its own, but it tested the strongest in their comparative experiments, though all three had the power to cook food or pasteurize water. Students have been enthusiastic participants in this pilot project, and have worked hard to come up with ideas, run experiments, and add to the database of information about solar cooking. Twenty students would very much like to make the new cooker design to take home, where the cookers can help their whole families. Ms. Cousins is trying to raise the modest fund for materials that will make this possible, as a reward for the time the students are putting into solar cooking research and development. Students will each receive a notebook and pen along with their cookers and pots, to keep records of how the cookers perform at home, and Mr. Wedende will do follow-up to encourage their progress.
So far, this pilot project has been a huge success. The students are engaged and excited about the ways solar cooking can improve their families' lives. They are learning skills that include creative problem solving, innovation, research, scientific methodology and observation, analytical thinking, construction techniques, and more. They have all learned three different ways to cook food with sun power. The fact that they have also come up with their own unique design that outperforms others is a bonus.
If this small pilot project continues to be so successful, Mr. Wedende and Ms. Cousins hope that a grant or award can be found that might enable Mr. Wedende to do more of these scientific approach student projects in the Eldoret area. Ms. Cousins thinks that many features in this project could be a model for empowering and productive student projects all over the world, to engage more young people in being a part of this sunny solution.
Recent news and developments
- November 2012: Students with Eldoret Student Science Projects have designed a new solar cooker called the Hexagon Solar Cooker. The bottom portion of the cooker has six angles, with a two foot tall reflector at the rear. It a powerful cooker that cooks food in less than three hours with good sunshine. The students used paper cardboard, aluminum foil and glue. New students have registered to begin making the new solar cooker design.
- September 2012 Plans are being made and put into motion for a second group of students to do a basic project. Due to budget constraints, part of the challenge will be to find cookers to experiment with that could be built at a project cost of no more than ten dollars (US) per cooker.
- February 2011 There will be a ceremony to celebrate the successful pilot project on Feb. 26,2011, in Eldoret, Kenya. Students will receive certificates and other awards, and there will be speeches and other festivities. Contact Camily Wedende for further information. Here is an Album from the pilot project ceremony, which was a big success. Report to follow soon.
- May 2030- Feb. 2011: Student success shows independent spread of solar cooking. The Eldoret Student Projects in Kenya, spearheaded by Camily Wedende and aided by long-distance advisor, Sharon Cousins, who serves on the Solar Cookers International board as well as working as an independent promoter, took an important step in that spread with a student team who not only learned how to cook with sunshine but also learned to take a creative and scientific approach to solar cooking. Students researched existing solar cookers—an assignment made possible by the Solar Cookers World Network site on Wikia—then put their heads together, combined ideas, and came up with new ideas to try. They performed comparative tests on an existing model and two of their prototypes. While all three reached cooking temperatures, one innovation showed the strongest performance at their location. The team has named their new design the Panel Stove Cooker. All twenty students built durable Panel Stove Cookers to take home to the camps where they live, where they have been using them to prepare food and pasteurize water for their families and keeping records of their progress and experiments, amazing the neighbors who stop by to see food cooking in a stove powered by sunshine, a stove that children in their community helped to invent. The entire neighborhood has become more interested in solar cooking due to this project's success. At an upcoming ceremony, students will receive certificates of achievement and other rewards and honors, to celebrate their successful science project. Some of the local media have said they will attend. Camily and the team hope that other schools and clubs can use the example of their pilot project to help more youth become scientists for solar cooking, to aid in the spread of this bright idea whose time has come.
- January 2011 Students have been using their Panel Stove Cookers on a regular basis to cook food and pasteurize water. People in the community are amazed to see food boiling just from the power of sunshine and solar cookers. Mr. Wedende and the students are preparing for a ceremony in late February to celebrate this very successful project.
- October 2010 All the students have made Panel Stove Cookers to take home and have received a cooking pot, cooking bag, and the notebook and pen they will use to record their cooking progress and experiments. Visit an album of pictures from this very successful pilot project
- September 2010 The fund having been transferred, students spent time in September building the Panel Stove Cookers they will each get to take home, so they are adding more construction experience to the skill set they have developed on this project. They are very excited about taking their invention for easier, more economical, and cleaner cooking home to use, and they plan to continue the good habits of record keeping they have been developing on the project in the notebook each student will receive. Mr. Wedende reports, "It is a wonderful pilot project." The team promises more reports and photos.
- August 2010 Students report that they have decided to name their new solar panel cooker model the Panel Stove Cooker. The base of the cooker is 18 inches square, and the vertical back reflector is hinged, so that it can be adjusted to make the most of season or time of day. The direction the cooker faces must be adjusted at least three times in the course of the day. The student team recommends working from behind the cooker when possible, to protect eyes from the worst of the glare. On August 30, the fund transfer to Kenya was set in motion, so very soon the students will each be able to build their own durable solar cooker to take home, where each cooker can improve life for an entire family.
- See Camily Wedende.
- See Sharon Cousins.
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In Mathematical ModelingFor each of the following problems, describe a model. Identify the important factors or quantities, decide on which quantities will be the main variables, which ones should be auxiliary variables. What are the underlying assumptions? Would you try to model this situation by a stochastic method (probability or combinatorics), a dynamic method (calculus or differential equations), by a linear programming method, a statisical method, a geometrical method (topology, symmetry, proportionality) or something else? How are the variables related, what additional information would you need to make a better model? Can you construct any graphs (either in the sense of functions or graph theory), diagrams , charts or other visual representations that might be useful?
In those cases in which some structure is already given (such as problem 2) try to write out some of the equations for the model.
1. What is the Sonoma County Hospital worth?
2. Construct a model for an epidemic; assume that the population is partitioned into four mutually exclusive subgroups:
3. How would the assumption that some people are naturally immune affect your model in Problem #2? How would the assumption that some people can be reinfected affect your model in Problem #2?
4. The Aztec Refining Company produces two types of unleaded gasoline, regular and premium, which it sells to its chain of service stations for $12 and $14 per barrel, respectively. Both types are blended from Aztec's inventory of refined domestic oil and refined foreign oil, and must meet the following specifications:
Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Vapor Octane Demand Deliveries Pressure Rating bbl/wk bbl/wkWhat quantities of the two oils should Aztec blend into the two gasolines in order to maximize weekly profit?
Regular 23 88 100000 50000
Premium 23 93 20000 5000
The characteristics of the refined oils in inventory are as follows:
Vapor Octane Inventory Cost Pressure Rating bbl $/bbl
Domestic 25 87 40000 8
Foreign 15 98 60000 15
(This problem is from Operations Research by Richard Bronson, Schaum Outline Series, McGraw-Hill
5. There was a certain pond. One day, 20 fishes were caught in it and the next day 10. How many would one expect to catch on the third day?
6. Consider cars traveling along a roadway in one direction. Let k be the concentration of cars (then number of cars per 100 ft of roadway) and let q be the rate of flow (cars per minute).
The flow - concentration curve
7. Construct a predator-prey model in which the prey has:
8. Derive a number of different models from the general population model:
dP/ dt = F(t,P)
Where P(t) is the population and t is time. Considering F to be a variety of possible functions, e.g. periodic (in P or t), monotonic, autonomous (independent of t), stochastic, etc. and discuss the consequence of each model. What function F might be used in a population harvesting model?
9. A U.S. Coast Guard ship is out in the open sea in a heavy fog. Suddenly the fog lifts and the Captain spots a drug runner about 1 mile away and the fog immediately drops again. The coast guard ship can travel twice as fast as the drug runner; describe the captains best course of action.
10. A cargo plane has three compartments for storing cargo: Front, center, and back. These compartments have capacity limits on both weight and space, as summarized below:
Weight Space capacity capacity Compartment (tons) (cu ft)Furthermore, the weight of the cargo in the respective compartments must be the same proportion of that compartment's weigth capacity to mainatain the balance of the airplane. The following four cargoes have been offered for shipment on an upcoming flight as space is available:
Front 12 7000
Center 18 9000
Back 10 5000
Total weight Space Profit Cargo (tons) (cu ft/ton) ($/ton)Any portion of these cargoes can be accepted. The objective is to determine how much (if any ) of each cargo should be accepted and how to distribute each among the compartments to maximize the total profit for the flight.
1 20 500 280
2 16 700 360
3 25 600 320
4 13 400 250
(This Problem is from Operations Research by Hillier & Leiberman)
11. One day it started snowing at a heavy and steady rate. A snow plow starts out at noon and goes two miles in the first hour and one mile in the second hour. When, to the nearest minute, did it start snowing ?
12. Cars A, B, C are lined up with B directly behind A and C directly behind B on a side road, all are waiting at an intersection for a break in the cross traffic on the main road, and all are going to turn left onto the main road. Car A makes it through a gap in the traffic, but there is no time for car B to make it into the same gap, similarly C cannot make the same gap as B. Formulate a mathematical model that will desribe the change in the relationship among these three cars during this process.
13. Devise a scheme for scheduling a round-robin tournament among n players (where n is any integer) and explicity write out the rounds for the case in which n = 10, n = 9 and n = 11.
14. A thermostat is set at A; it continuously reads the room temperature and makes an adjustment in the heat source; this adjustment is proportional to the difference between A and the temperature that it reads at time t (in minutes). After the heat is adjusted, it takes ten minutes for the temperature near the thermostat to change. Write out the necessary assumptions and equations to model this situation. Compare this to a Stock Room model in which the clerk wishes to maintain an inventory at a certain number, say A, and it takes 10 days for supplies be delivered after placing an order.
15. Consider the epidemic epidemic models in problem #2 in which the rate of change in the infected population is proportional to the number of people infected at some time in the past, say for a disease with an incubation period of ten weeks.
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James Clyman was a mountain man who lived many American lives.
James Clyman (1792-1881) isn’t thought of as one of the stars of Manifest Destiny. He hasn’t come down to us with the reputation of a Kit Carson or a Jim Bridger. He was never a character portrayed in a Dime Novel or a Hollywood Western. There are no statues dedicated to his memory in public parks in western towns.
But for a scholar such as the late Bernard DeVoto, Clyman is a compelling figure. He’s one of those historical actors who seems to pop up in the right place and at the right time, and throughout a long life. He’s an ongoing touchstone in DeVoto’s The Year of Decision: 1846 (1943): “Jim Clyman was a mountain man. That is the proudest of all the titles worn by the Americans who lived their lives out beyond the settlements.”
Clyman also kept a diary himself, and it has come down to us as Journal of a Mountain Man (Mountain Press, 1984). Typical of his time, Clyman was a haphazardly educated man, literate enough to write in that bold style familiar to readers of Lewis and Clark’s Journals, replete with idiosyncratic spelling and grammar. Oddly enough, these semi-literate diaries (the journals of Zenas Leonard and Osborne Russell also come to mind) are a gold mine for scholars interested in particular historical events occurring far from the American public sphere amidst the endlessly remote roaming of participants in the Rocky Mountain fur trade. Clyman: “We packed up and crossed the White Clay [Teton] river and proceeded north westernly over a dry roling Country for several days meting with a Buffaloe now and then which furnished us with provision for at least one meal each day….”
James Clyman was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1792. His father was a tenant farmer on land owned by George Washington, and as a child Clyman once glimpsed the first president at a public event. The War of 1812 saw the young Clyman a veteran of wilderness battles against British-allied Indians in the Ohio Valley. After the war he helped survey the rough frontier along the Sangamon River in Illinois, the region where Abraham Lincoln would later come of age.
Clyman found himself in St. Louis in 1823, where he met William Ashley; military man, politician, and fur trade entrepreneur. Ashley hired him for the second expedition he financed for the purpose of trapping and trading the upper Missouri River region. “A discription of our crew I cannt give but Fallstafs Battallion was genteel in comparison,” wrote Clyman.
Now roughly 30, Clyman found himself in the company of a somewhat younger cohort that included such future fur trade legends as Thomas Fitzpatrick, William Sublette and Jedediah Smith. With these three he participated in a bloody skirmish with Arikaras on the way upriver, and the first crossing by white men of South Pass (1824 — present western Wyoming) from the east (Wilson Price Hunt’s “Astorians” had come through from the west on their return trip in 1812). This opened up the Green River Valley to fur trade activity, and inaugurated a noteworthy period in the history of the American West, the mountain man era, where violent adventure occurred often. Clyman once sewed a piece of Jedediah Smith’s ear back in place after Smith had suffered a nasty assault from a grizzly bear. “I put my needle stiching it through and through and over and over laying the lacerated parts together as nice as I could with my hands.” Clyman’s survival skills were typical of his peers. After being separated from fellow trappers and robbed by Indians, Clyman walked 600 miles in 80 days from present Wyoming to Fort Atkinson (Council Bluffs, Iowa), starving and hallucinating upon arrival.
Clyman didn’t stick around for the whole fifteen-year (1825-1840) fur trade heyday. (If he had and managed to stay alive, one wonders what his historical legacy would be.) He left the Rockies in 1827, returning east to Danville, Illinois, where he opened a General Store. And he speculated in the lumber business in Wisconsin. There was also service in the Black Hawk War of 1832, where he met a young volunteer named Abraham Lincoln. Reminiscing late in life, Clyman recalled that “Abe Lincoln served in the same company with me. We didn’t think much then about his ever being President of the United States.” But other than this short military interregnum, a more settled life occupied Clyman until the 1840s.
In 1844, Clyman — now past 50, and yet a bachelor —went west again to “see the country and try to find a better climate.” This was the time of the great western emigration to Oregon and California. The Rocky Mountain fur trade was extinct. The market for beaver had collapsed due to changing fashions (men’s beaver top hats replaced by silk ones). Ex-mountain men with their certain knowledge of Western trail routes (what DeVoto calls “the mountain man mind”) were much in demand as guides for wagon trains. James Clyman easily found work as a guide on the Oregon Trail. He took a wagon train to the Willamette Valley of Oregon, and then another party south to California.
On a return trip east in 1846 to secure another wagon guide job, Clyman encountered that iconic and tragic collection of emigrants known as the Donner Party, who ultimately perished in the deep snows of the Sierra Nevada, with the survivors practicing cannibalism. It was late in the season, and Clyman advised them to bypass the Hastings Cutoff off the California Trail, as it would waste valuable travel time. They ignored his sage advice, and the rest is history.
While guiding a wagon train to California in 1848, Clyman met Hannah McComb, a woman thirty years his junior. They soon married, producing five children, four of whom the aging guide survived.
Clyman eventually settled in the Napa Valley as a farmer, a typical retirement for an old mountain man, dying at 89 in 1881. The man who as a child saw George Washington and later Abe Lincoln (and how many Americans of his time could claim that?) lived to see the curtain close on American Manifest Destiny, his life setting like the sun into the Pacific.
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Guidelines For Giving
According to Independent Sector's recent study, Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 89% of American households give to charity. The average gift is about 3.2% of income (before taxes), which is an increase from previous years but still well below the 10% tithing recommended by religious institutions. The average household donates $1,620 each year, a little more than four dollars a day.
Based on a survey of more than 4,000 adults, this series of reports explored “the why, how, and who behind the extraordinary everyday generosity—both in time and money—of American households.” It revealed that the people who give the most actually make the least. Households earning under $10,000 a year -- far below the poverty line -- gave 5.2% of their income to charity.
While 3.2% is the average, there is a movement to give more. Independent Sector encourages donors to "Give 5"—donate 5% of personal income to charitable organizations.
Charitynavigator.org recommends thinking of philanthropic activity as a long-term commitment, more akin to marriage than dating. Intelligent giving is motivated by altruism, knowledge, and perspective. Whereas diversification is the key to reducing risk when it comes to financial investments, the opposite is true for philanthropic investments. If you’ve taken the time to identify a well-run nonprofit that is engaged in a cause that you are passionate about, you should then feel confident in giving it your financial support.
When you contribute long-term, your support is there through good times and bad. In this way, genuine sustainable development takes place. You become an investor in the health and welfare of the organization you are supporting
The amount of money and time that we alone can give may seem small but together it adds up and we are able to make real positive change. Nonprofit organizations depend on the support of a wide variety of people to conduct their charitable activities.
Plan your philanthropic activities right into your budget just as you would other financial obligations.
You don't have to wait to be asked. Plan a giving strategy in advance.
Don't overlook the benefits to you and your cause received from bequests, charitable gift annuities, gifts in kind, endowments and many other creative forms of giving.
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Suppose that Alice owes Bob $5 and is owed $10 by Bob. These debts can be represented as the weighted directed graph
which we will call an IOU graph. Alice pays Bob $5 and Bob pays Alice $10. The debts are paid and $15 have been exchanged in a total of two transactions. Let us now consider the following cash flow diagram
which illustrates that if Bob paid Alice $5, then the debts would still be paid, though only $5 would be exchanged and only one transaction would be made. This looks much cleverer and more efficient than exchanging $15 in a total of two transactions. Hence, the following IOU graph
We add a third agent, Charlie. Consider now the IOU graph
- Alice must pay a total of $20 and be paid a total of $30.
- Bob must pay a total of $15 and be paid a total of $20.
- Charlie must pay a total of $35 and be paid a total of $20.
Hence, after the debts are paid, Alice will have $30 – $20 = $10 more in her account, Bob will have $20 – $15 = $5 more in his account, and Charlie will have $20 – $35 = -$15 more (= $15 less) in his account. Note that $10 + $5 – $15 = $0, i.e., money is conserved. In total, $70 have been exchanged in six transactions. We can do better than that. For example, we could pay all debts in just three transactions, as illustrated in the following IOU graph
where a total of $20 are exchanged. Note that Alice is $10 up, Bob is $5 up, and Charlie is $15 down, just like before. We can do even better than this. If Charlie pays Bob’s debt to Alice, then all debts can be paid in just two transactions as shown in the IOU graph below
Debts and IOU Graphs
- is the node set. Each node of the IOU graph represents a different agent.
- is the edge set. Each directed edge is an ordered pair , where is the edge’s tail and is the edge’s head. If then node owes money to node . We do not allow nodes to owe money to themselves and, therefore, for each we must have .
- is a weight function that assigns positive weights to each edge in . The weight of edge is given by , and it tells us the amount of money that node owes to node .
We define the in-neighborhood and out-neighborhood of node as follows
and illustrate them below
The divergence of node of graph is a scalar defined as
and it gives us the amount of money node owes to other nodes minus the amount of money node is owed to by other nodes. The divergence of a node can be viewed as the discrete, graph-theoretic analogue of the divergence operator in vector calculus. We define also the divergence vector of graph as the vector whose -th component is
The divergence vector of an IOU graph tells us how much money each node in the graph will lose after debts have been paid. We say that two IOU graphs (on the same node set) are equi-divergent if their divergence vectors are the same. This means that, although the debt relationships are different, both IOU graphs result in every node getting paid what he is owed and paying what he owes.
Optimal Account Balancing
Suppose we are given an IOU graph . We would like to find a new IOU graph on the same node set , such that the two IOU graphs are equi-divergent
Moreover, we would like the new IOU graph to be “optimal” in some sense. I can think of the two following optimality criteria:
minimum money flow: we want to minimize the total amount of money being exchanged between the nodes. This is the same as minimizing the sum of the (positive) weights of the edges of the IOU graph.
least number of transactions: we want to minimize the total number of transactions being made. This is the same as minimizing the number of edges in the IOU graph, i.e., maximizing the sparsity of the IOU graph.
Can you think of other interesting optimality criteria?
It would be reasonable to consider the case where the transaction fees are nonzero. If these are variable and proportional to the amount of money being transferred, then we would like to minimize the amount of money flowing in the network of agents. If the transaction fees are fixed, then we would like to minimize the total number of transactions being made. For example, in the two examples above the minimum money flow solution is the same as the least number of transactions solution. Is this always the case?
In order to find the optimal IOU graph, we start with a weighted directed graph on node set whose edge set is the one of the directed complete graph on . Hence, every two distinct nodes are connected by two directed edges with opposite directions. The weight of edge is denoted by . Since some of these weights might be zero, there might be edges in this graph which do not represent debt relationships! Therefore, although this graph is weighted and directed, it is not necessarily an IOU graph. We optimize for the nonnegative variables and, in the end, we remove the edges whose weight is zero so that we obtain an IOU graph. I view this approach as somewhat akin to scaffolding ;-)
For example, considering the minimum money flow criterion, we have the following minimum cost flow problem
which can be solved via linear programming . In words: we want to find the debts such that all debts are paid (each node should be paid what it is owed minus what it owes to other nodes) and the total amount of debt is minimized, which results in the total amount of money flowing to be also minimized.
The least number of transactions criterion is much harder to tackle because we want to maximize the sparsity of the graph, while ensuring that the graph and the original IOU graph equi-divergent. We want to optimize the topology of the graph and, hence, a combinatorial flavor is added to the problem. I will write more about it on future posts.
A Numerical Example
Let us again consider the -agent example where the agents are Alice, Bob and Charlie. The IOU graph is
where is the amount of money node owes to node . The divergence of the new graph at each node must be the same as the divergence of the given IOU graph at each node, which yields the equality constraint , where
is the incidence matrix of the graph, and is the opposite of the divergence vector of the given IOU graph above. This equality constraint guarantees that the given IOU graph and the new graph we obtain are equi-divergent.
Let be the identity matrix, let be the -dimensional vector of ones, and let be the -dimensional vector of zeros. The nonnegativity constraints can be written in matrix form as . Considering the minimum money flow criterion, we obtain the linear program
Note that the equality constraint is equivalent to two inequality constraints: and . Thus, we can transform the linear program above into a linear program with inequality constraints only
from cvxopt import matrix from cvxopt import solvers # ------------------- # auxiliary matrices # ------------------- # defines incidence matrix C = matrix([ [-1.0, 1.0, 0.0], [-1.0, 0.0, 1.0], [1.0, -1.0, 0.0], [0.0, -1.0, 1.0], [1.0, 0.0, -1.0], [0.0, 1.0, -1.0] ]) # defines desired divergence vector d = matrix( [-10.0, -5.0, 15.0] ) # defines 6x6 identity matrix Id = matrix([ [1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1] ]) # --------------- # linear program # --------------- # defines objective vector c = matrix(1.0, (6,1)) # defines inequality constraint matrices G = matrix( [C, -C, -Id] ) h = matrix( [-d, d, matrix(0.0, (6,1))] ) # solves linear program solvers.options['show_progress'] = True solution = solvers.lp(c, G, h) # prints solution print solution['x']
The solution is
which is “contaminated” with numerical noise. Adjusting the tolerances of the numerical solver, one can reduce the numerical noise and obtain the true solution, which is . Removing the edges with zero weight, we obtain an IOU graph with 2 edges
and, hence, only two transactions are required, and only $15 need to be exchanged. This is the exact same solution we obtained previously via heuristic methods! :-)
The two optimal debt-paying schemes considered on this post rely on an “accountant” who has perfect global information about all the debts in the network of agents. This accountant solves an optimization problem to find out what transactions should be carried out. This is a centralized approach, as the decision power is centralized in the accountant. Another (and arguably more interesting) approach would be a decentralized one, where the nodes have only local information (i.e., each node only knows who owes him money and to whom he owes money) and where each node solves a local optimization problem using, for example, message-passing algorithms. I will write about it on future posts.
The only modeling of this problem I have found was on Demetri Spanos‘ PhD thesis . If you know of any papers on this topic, please let me know.
Last but not least, allow me to add a personal note: I first started thinking of this problem years ago, while going to dinners with friends and trying to figure out how to split the bill in an efficient manner. The real world is a great source of inspiration when it comes to interesting problems.
Dimitri Bertsekas, Network Optimization: Continuous and Discrete Models, Athena Scientific, 1998.
Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe, Convex Optimization, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Demetri Spanos, Distributed gradient systems and dynamic coordination, Ph.D. thesis, California Institute of Technology, December 2005.
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Are dinosaurs still alive today? Why were they so huge? Which were the biggest and smallest? How were they named, and what did they look like? Discover the answers to these and many other ancient riddles with fun-to-color pictures, mazes, spot-the-differences, and other puzzles and games. Each activi... read more
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Nature's Champions: The Biggest, the Fastest, the Best by Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein Astonishing information about 29 species of animal and plant life, including the world's fastest runner, the best jumper, the oldest living thing, and other natural wonders. For ages 10 and up. 50 illustrations.
Crime Lab 101: 25 Different Experiments in Crime Detection by Robert Gardner Kids fascinated by crime and police work will appreciate this inside look at detection and forensic science. The 25 experiments can be performed at home and offer fascinating explanations of police lab techniques.
Are dinosaurs still alive today? Why were they so huge? Which were the biggest and smallest? How were they named, and what did they look like? Discover the answers to these and many other ancient riddles with fun-to-color pictures, mazes, spot-the-differences, and other puzzles and games. Each activity is accompanied by a caption that provides evidence from the fossil records as well as the latest theories about dinosaur life.
This book was printed in the United States of America.
Dover books are made to last a lifetime. Our US book-manufacturing partners produce the highest quality books in the world and they create jobs for our fellow citizens. Manufacturing in the United States also ensures that our books are printed in an environmentally friendly fashion, on paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.
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| 0.851117 | 3,198 | 3.046875 | 3 |
to the list of parameters
Click here to see
the results from our storm watches!
Members of two bacteria groups, coliforms and fecal streptococci, are
used as indicators of possible sewage contamination because they are
commonly found in human and animal feces. Although they are generally
not harmful themselves, they indicate the possible presence of pathogenic
(disease-causing) bacteria, viruses, and protozoans that also live in
human and animal digestive systems. Therefore, their presence in streams
suggests that pathogenic microorganisms might also be present and that
swimming and eating shellfish might be a health risk. Since it is difficult,
time-consuming, and expensive to test directly for the presence of a
large variety of pathogens, water is usually tested for coliforms and
fecal streptococci instead. Sources of fecal contamination to surface
waters include wastewater treatment plants, on-site septic systems,
domestic and wild animal manure, and storm runoff.
Stream Team collects samples that are brought back to the Channelkeeper
lab and analyzed for three types of bacteria:
Total Coliform: Total coliforms are a widespread group
of bacteria in nature. All members of the total coliform group can
occur in human feces, but some can also be present in animal manure,
soil, vegetation and submerged wood and in other places outside the
human body. Thus, the usefulness of total coliforms as an indicator
of fecal contamination depends on the extent to which the bacteria
found are fecal and human. For recreational waters, total coliforms
are no longer recommended as an indicator, but they are still the
standard test for drinking water because their presence indicates
contamination of a water supply by an outside source.
E. Coli: E. coli is a species of fecal coliform bacteria
that is specific to fecal material from humans and other warm-blooded
animals. EPA recommends E. coli as the best indicator of health risk
from water contact in recreational waters.
Enterococcus: Enterococci are a subgroup of the fecal
streptococci bacteria, and are typically more human-specific. Enterococci
are distinguished by their ability to survive in salt water, and in
this respect they more closely mimic many pathogens than the other
indicators. The EPA recommends enterococci as the best indicator of
health risk in salt water used for recreation and as a useful indicator
in fresh water as well.
Bacteria are reported as the "most probable number" (MPN)
of bacteria in 100 milliliters (100 ml, about 4 ounces) of water; we
use a statistical test instead of directly counting bacteria so the
actual number is an estimate. California Public Health requirements
for bacteria counts are complicated and vary somewhat by jurisdiction;
what follows is simply a broad outline. There are two limits for each
test, a single sample limit and a limit for an average of 5 or more
weekly samples. For recreational use, the total coliform limits are
"no more than 10,000 per 100 ml in a single sample, and an average
of less than 1000." For E. coli the "average" limit is
126 bacteria/100 ml of water and the single sample limit varies from
235 to 500 depending on intensity of use (235 for beach areas, 500 for
occasional use). For enterococcus the "average of 5 or more samples"
limit is 35 and the single sample limit is 104 (there is general agreement
on the 35 limit, but various jurisdictions in the state vary the single
sample limit between 104 and 500).
Observations made on Stream Team
about bacterial levels:
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| 0.92214 | 785 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Lauren Spencer Journal Staff
Sawyer Business School Executive-in-Residence Sushil Bhatia is on a mission to get young entrepreneurs on the right track.
Bhatia recently teamed up with George Davison of Davison Inventing to create a new step-by-step curriculum, Idea Teacher, providing innovative students with a way to channel their ideas and turn their propositions into realities.
“I think this is great,” Bhatia said. “What happens is people have an idea and they don’t know what to do with it. This will give them a structure as to which steps to follow. Rather than getting lost, this will give them a proper path to pursue. From that point I think this is going to be a great help.”
Davison and his company have been supporters of Suffolk’s Competition for Innovative Ideas, a product development contest founded by Bhatia in 2006 in which students and alumni innovators compete for $100,000 in grants and in-kind services, since its beginnings.
“About two years ago [Davison and I] started talking about creating a curriculum that would help the students through each step from idea to execution, and how to take products to the market or to license them or convert them into a business so they can become entrepreneurs,” Bhatia explained.
They started working on the step-by-step program and developed a full semester plan, covering all the steps that Davison Inventing follows in order to take product ideas to the market.
The nine-step method starts by asking students to record their idea using details in an extensive explanation. Next, students enter the pre-development stages by performing a product-related data internet search in order to find similar products to their new idea to help them in the next step, which is brainstorming.
In this step students strive to find a feature about their proposed product that sets it apart from those similar to it and that makes it unique. The next step is ideation, where students produce a drawing of their idea, followed by the creation of a concept model. The concept model is instructed to be a full-sized representation of the product and must prove that the idea works.
Next is the engineering process, followed by the package design. After is the graphic design, where students figure out the best way to visually sell their product. The final step is the production of the product sample, where others can actually test and interact with the proposed product.
The program is already being put to use in classes such as Entrepreneurship, Business Plan Writing, Launching New Products and Innovation for New Products, and students are finding the plan to be a great help.
“I’m using [the plan] in all of my classes,” Bhatia said. “Many students have learned of the nine steps and they are feeling very good about it. It helps to give them direction rather than being in the dark. This will help them all the way through.”
Bhatia said they are hoping to incorporate the plan into the rest of the business school classrooms this fall, so that more students can prepare for real life innovations and see successful results as well.
“[The program is giving] them a more innovative and creative way of thinking so when they get out in the real world they will be able to have more innovative capabilities,” he said.
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| 0.969992 | 714 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Stories from of yesteryear
Compiled by Jennifer Brancaccio
HEALTH AND BEAUTY – The importance of bathing
We’ve all seen Neutrogena and Clearasil commercials on television stressing the importance of washing faces and bodies to prevent acne. Flipping through the channels, hygiene products like deodorant, lotions, and washes are prevalent. Who would have thought that similar ads would have been seen in newspapers from the early 1900s.
The Breckenridge Bulletin featured an article on personal hygiene on May 1, 1909. In it, the author stressed the importance of daily baths and the scrubbing of skin. Skin was described as a “complicated net whose meshes must be kept open and unclogged.” A brush or towel was recommended to open the pores. Upper class women were illustrated as the focus to the article in a light that insinuated that anyone of high social standing would be remiss if they didn’t wash regularly.
The article said regular washings would cure internal inflammation such as bilious colic. Fever, contagious disease and congestion could be cured by a single hot bath. Embarrassing ailments such as constipation could also be remedied with a soak and a sponge.
During the late 1800s, the presence of bed bugs and lice forced people to rinse their clothes and skin quickly with cold water. Soaps were later invented and bathing became more of a necessity in everyday live. The author of the article states how ignorant their ancestors were and couldn’t fathom how people lived for “one thousand years without baths.” Read more …
Washington report in Colorado unionization and strike
Workers organizing strikes have been prevalent in our nation’s history. Fair wages and acceptable working conditions have been debated among the government, workers, and companies for centuries. Most recently, citizens like UPS workers; air traffic controllers and teachers have gone on strike because they felt their superiors had treated them unfairly. America isn’t the only country that has felt the economic sting of strikes; countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa have also experienced public turmoil caused by striking workers.
During the 1900s it was common to hear of miners going on strike in America. On May 8, 1914, Washington D.C. released an article about the Colorado miners strike. Companies like the Rockefeller owned Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation were enraged that their workers wanted to unionize in order to protect their rights. Miners in Colorado earned only $1.85 per day and worked in some of the most dangerous and deplorable conditions of any profession. Clashes between miners and militia sent to control them often resulted in death and bloodshed. On April 20, 1914, the Colorado National Guard opened fire on a tent colony of striking miners and their families with machine guns, killing 19 people. Read more …
It’s always amusing to read about the antics of animals, whether it be faithful dogs like Horton the Quandary Dog, who greeted hikers for years along Quandary Peak, Colorado’s 13th highest Fourteener, or odd habits of local wildlife. Birds have been known to nest in awkward locations including roller coasters and shoes. Farms were prevalent along with small mining towns in Colorado, oftentimes requiring their inhabitants to coexist in the strangest ways.
The Summit County Journal & Breckenridge Bulletin reported this week in 1912 that Charles M. Wrenn, the foreman of a car barn, found himself an odd but not so unwelcome guest. A hen has established herself in his office and Wrenn created a small area for her beside dusty files and railway records, seeing the bird not as a nuisance but as a companion for those who worked there.
Eventually, Wrenn stated that the hen “owned the whole office”, strutting around freely. After a time it was discovered that the hen has built a nest and laid 15 eggs in the office safe and the employees and residents in the area tried to pinpoint when they would hatch.
After some weeks of incubation, the office personnel and Mr. Wrenn opened the safe, expecting to find chicks only to find that only two had hatched. It was safe to claim that safes do not make the best of incubators. Read more …
Today, many families across the country have family fighting in wars on both land and on ships at sea. Our generation has seen wars like Operation Iraqi Freedom divide families, leaving those left back home waiting by their mailboxes and telephones for any word of their loved one. On May 3, 1918, the Mancos Times-Tribune of Montezuma published a letter on its front page from a sailor to his parents during World War I.
Lee Shock received a letter from his son, Rodney, who was aboard the U.S.S. Leviathan traveling from Liverpool. The Leviathan, a German ship formerly known as the Vaterland sailed to the United States and, upon docking in New York just as World War I began, was shored up in New Jersey for three years before being seized by the United States Navy.
Rodney Shock wrote of an enemy submarine attacking their ship. The Leviathan “got it first.” Shock follows by informing his father of strict rationing among the citizens of England that that one would be threatened with jail if they didn’t finished what they were given. Sugar was one staple that was extremely scarce during the war. Clothes were also in short supply and many people Shock observed only had the clothes on their backs.
While walking the streets in England, Shock wrote about seeing maimed men with missing arms, legs and eyes.
“You people in the West don’t know what war is,” he wrote. He followed on a more positive note that their ship brought aboard German prisoners the Destroyer Fannin captured off of a submarine. He also divulged that, had a submarine succeeded in overtaking their ship, over 15,000 soldiers would be in peril.
“I sure do long to be out in camp once more, and to be on an old saddle horse once again.” He wrote longingly. He closed his letter boasting that New Yorkers didn’t think their ship would make it to Liverpool without falling victim to attack, only to prove them wrong. Though they succeeded in their trip, the voyage to Liverpool burned an astonishing 10,000 tons of coal. Shock wishes his father well and signs off to begin his duties as watchman. Read more …
College newspapers do more than just let students know what is going on campus-wide. During the 21st century, newspapers with student staff have covered national and global issues in an attempt to educate students and show the world that they young people of America care about the world around them. This being said, when a law affecting how college students are punished for rioting, college papers make it a point to make sure state officials hear their opinion.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State’s campus newspaper, printed a letter to Governor Bill Owens on May 2, 2002. The editors expressed their disdain for HB 1173, a bill that, if passed into law, would allow the state of Colorado to punish students of any university accused of riots by revoking in-state tuition and financial aide for 12 months. Colorado Assembly members approved the bill, giving Owens the power to sign the bill into Colorado law.
The Collegian argued that students were already punished for infractions by the university and to have the state enforce the “riot law” and apply a mandatory minimum punishment on top of it would be overkill. Universities would be viewed as unable to be held responsible for their students.
The bill was seen as prejudicial against college students, making the argument that rioters in general aren’t subject to punishment under HB 1173. The Collegian begged an answer as to why other crimes like sexual assault and fraud by a college didn’t require a minimum punishment by the state. Read more …
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Capillary height, Critical film thickness, Evaporating meniscus, Heat transfer rate, Liquid argon, Liquid pressure, Molecular dynamics simulations, Nano scale, Negative pressures
Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
This study aims at understanding the characteristics of negative liquid pressures at the nanoscale using molecular dynamics simulation. A nano-meniscus is formed by placing liquid argon on a platinum wall between two nanochannels filled with the same liquid. Evaporation is simulated in the meniscus by increasing the temperature of the platinum wall for two different cases. Non-evaporating films are obtained at the center of the meniscus. The liquid film in the non-evaporating and adjacent regions is found to be under high absolute negative pressures. Cavitation cannot occur in these regions as the capillary height is smaller than the critical cavitation radius. Factors which determine the critical film thickness for rupture are discussed. Thus, high negative liquid pressures can be stable at the nanoscale, and utilized to create passive pumping devices as well as significantly enhance heat transfer rates.
Maroo, Shalabh and Chung, J N., "Negative Pressure Characteristics of an Evaporating Meniscus at Nanoscale" (2011). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Paper 12.
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| 0.827103 | 268 | 2.734375 | 3 |
MUSIC APPRECIATION: An Introduction
Who doesn't appreciate music?? We all have our "tunes." We can't live without them.
For most of us, the box that contains the music we like is pretty small.
Here are some boxes.
These are only a few of those available in our Western culture.
Maybe you already appreciate some of these.
But there are many others . . .
Grunge, Soft rock, Electronic, Techno, Nashville country, Vaudeville, Psychedelic rock, Serialism, Dixieland, Blues-rock, Soul, Boogie woogie, Industrial, Bebop, Outlaw Country, Disco, Barbershop, Heavy metal, Funk, Trance, Latin, Aleatoric, Hillbilly, Zydeco, Emo, Spirituals, Reggae, Celtic, Western swing, Salsa, Bluegrass, New age, Honky tonk, Punk, Skiffle, Jazz fusion, Newgrass, Ragtime, Teen pop, Polka, Gothic . . .
And these are just the tip of the ICEBERG!!
There are many other genres in Western music
But what about the rest of the WORLD????
And when you consider what music
has been made throughout all of time,
the iceberg grows!
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What kind of music is that?
We cannot love that which we do not know. - Guinean proverb
In order to appreciate music, you have to understand some things about it:
who makes it
why it is made
when it is made
where it is made
how it is made
Because of the culture in which you live (Planet Earth), you have some information about this picture.
Consider the apparel she is wearing.
what it is made of
when it was worn
why it was worn
who made it
how it was made
do you wear it? No
Do you want to wear it? maybe
But consider this:
An alien lands from Mars and is not familiar with your culture
"TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!"
Think of some of the questions the alien might ask about your culture . . .
Is the man in the red suit your leader?
The Martian can only appreciate the meaning of the red suit after he understands the culture that produced it.
In just the same way, others do not appreciate the music you prefer because they do not have enough understanding.
You do not appreciate other kinds of music because you do not have sufficient information in order to appreciate it.
Your textbook says that "music is often best discussed according to how and why it is experienced rather than how it is constructed or when it was written." (p. xv)
The appreciation of music . . .
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell , one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities .
This experiment raised several questions:
* In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Can we learn to appreciate music that we find in unexpected places?
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| 0.969135 | 1,141 | 2.71875 | 3 |
One of the coolest new toys I've found recently is called Wordle.
Basically, it allows you to upload a block of text and it will examine the word frequency in your selection and make a very cool-looking piece of word art, with the most frequent words looming the largest.
(This picture, for instance is a Wordle of a newspaper column I wrote when my son was born.)
It is unclear yet, whether this is just a toy or if it can be a gateway to some really meaningful classroom engagement and learning, but it has been a big hit with some of our 8th graders.
Try copying the text of your favorite poem or song lyric and running it through Wordle. It will blow your mind, at least a little.
To use it, simply go to http://www.wordle.net/ and follow the instructions.
Techy Note: A few of us have had trouble running Wordle at first. What we discovered is that we needed to clear the temporary files and cookies from our hard drives.
Here is how:
Click on the "Tools" link in the upper, right-hand corner of your desktop in Explorer. Choose the "Delete Browsing History" option.
Click the "Delete files" button under "Temporary Internet Files, Cookies and History. These are all basic internet hygene-type things that we should all do from time to time anyway.
If none of that works, try rebooting your computer.
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Managing FILESTREAM Data by Using Transact-SQL
This topic describes how to use the Transact-SQL INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements to manage FILESTREAM data.
The examples in this topic require the FILESTREAM-enabled database and table that are created in How To: Create a FILESTREAM-Enabled Database and How to: Create a Table for Storing FILESTREAM Data.
To add a row to a table that supports FILESTREAM data, use the Transact-SQL INSERT statement. When you insert data into a FILESTREAM column, you can insert NULL or a varbinary(max) value.
The following example shows how to insert NULL. When the FILESTREAM value is NULL, the Database Engine does not create a file in the file system.
Inserting a Zero-Length Record
The following example shows how to use INSERT to create a zero-length record. This is useful for when you want to obtain a file handle, but will be manipulating the file by using Win32 APIs.
Creating a Data File
The following example shows how to use INSERT to create a file that contains data. The Database Engine converts the string Seismic Data to a varbinary(max) value. FILESTREAM creates the Windows file if it does not already exist.The data is then added to the data file.
When you select all data from the Archive.dbo.Records table, the results are similar to the results that are shown in the following table. However, the Id column will contain different GUIDs.
You can use Transact-SQL to update the data in the file system file; although, you might not want to do this when you have to stream large amounts of data to a file.
The following example replaces any text in the file record with the text Xray 1.
When you delete a row that contains a FILESTREAM field, you also delete its underlying file system files. The only way to delete a row, and therefore the file, is to use the Transact-SQL DELETE statement.
The following example shows how to delete a row and its associated file system files.
When you select all data from the dbo.Archive table, the row is gone. You can no longer use the associated file.
The underlying files are removed by the FILESTREAM garbage collector.
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| 0.833147 | 495 | 2.5625 | 3 |
In my former life as a writing instructor and coach there was a homework assignment that I gave students to help them create more authentic dialogue scenes. Students were required to spend 15 minutes in a public place such as the local college campus, mall, or park, and listen for snippets of conversations from people passing by them.
At this point someone in the class would start snickering because we’ve all done this. We’ve all caught parts of conversations and repeated them later to family or friends or played them over in our minds wondering what came before and after what we’d heard.
Writing students easily guessed the second part of the assignment. Fiction writers were supposed to create a story around the dialogue they overheard. Creative Nonfiction writers and Journalists were supposed to present what they heard in its actual context, setting the scene for the reader and often adding commentary on its meaning and relevance.
But writing what we imagine or surmise is not the purpose of the exercise. Listening is.
Listening is a critical skill for writing well.
This is not only true for fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and journalists, but also for business and technical writers. After writing dozens of procedures, instructions, manuals, or training presentations, technical writers can make the common mistake of thinking that they are the expert and that the client or committee of co-workers should be doing the listening as the professional writer explains what they need. Instead, the professional writer’s first task is to listen to what the client or committee is saying.
Only by listening can the writer be certain of what to write, how to write it, and who they are writing it for. Only by listening can the writer discover what questions to ask to fine tune the request. The knowledge gathered by listening and asking is essential for producing the content that the reader needs and wants.
Listen first. Ask questions later. Write only when you’re sure of what you know.
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| 0.97251 | 400 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Today, Secretary Babbitt is back in the spotlight with an important speech about defending these lands from attack and carrying our preservation legacy forward. On this 105th anniversary of the Antiquities Act, signed by Teddy Roosevelt to protect America’s most special natural places, I hope that the President will thoughtfully consider the Secretary’s recommendations.
A first stop should be Fort Monroe. Virginia Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, as well as Governor Bob McDonnell, have asked to designate Fort Monroe, an important Civil War landmark once referred to as the “Gibraltar of Chesapeake Bay,” as a national monument. The Fort will be decommissioned in the fall, and designating the post as a National Monument will ensure that the post is preserved for public use for many years to come.
But that’s just the first step. Public lands are about far more than stewardship; they also help revitalize and strengthen local communities. In Utah, the counties surrounding Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument have seen strong economic growth since the designation in 1996: 38 percent growth in jobs and 30 percent growth in per-capita income. Fort Monroe would similarly benefit, as would many other sites around the country. For the sake of communities like these, and the sake of our national heritage, it is critical that we continue to make preservation a priority going forward.
Full text of Secretary Babbitt’s speech:
Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Speech at the National Press Club
June 8, 2011
It is now more than ten years since I left public office. I am returning to the public stage today because I believe that this Congress, in its assaults on our environment, has embarked on the most radical course in our history. The Congress, led by the House of Representatives, has declared war on our land, water and natural resources. And it is time for those of us who support our conservation tradition to raise our voices on behalf of the American people.
It is clear to me that the House of Representatives will not only block progress, but will continue to sustain an assault on our public lands and water. Therefore, it is imperative that President Obama take up the mantle of land and water conservation – something that he has not yet done in a significant way. President Obama and the Executive Branch are the best, and likely only, hope for meaningful progress on this critical issue.
So I am here today to call on the President to lead us in standing up to the radical agenda of the House of Representatives, and to replace their draconian agenda with a bold conservation vision.
The opening salvos in this war were fired in April, when the new Congress enacted a budget measure, called a Continuing Resolution, to appropriate funding for the balance of this fiscal year. Beneath the cover of that budget process, however, the House leadership inserted unrelated “riders” to begin dismantling our environmental laws.
Here are three examples of these “riders.”
– In the April resolution, the Congress removed the grey wolf from the Endangered Species list. The restoration of the grey wolf to Yellowstone and our northern forests was an historic achievement, now threatened by this Congress.
– In the April budget resolution, the Congress terminated an Administration program to rebuild our depleted ocean fisheries. The program, called “catch shares” was amazingly successful in restoring fish populations and providing fishing jobs and was on the way to becoming the most innovative environmental initiative of the Obama Administration.
– In the April budget resolution, Congress axed an initiative by the Secretary of the Interior to identify and maintain the natural character of our most important remaining undesignated public lands.
Viewed singly, in isolation from one another, these rider provisions might not appear to justify my characterization of this Congress as the most radical in history. Yet viewing them together, along with pending legislative proposals, a larger outline emerges. It is a pattern of a broad, sustained assault on nearly all our environmental laws.
The intent is to chip away, a blow at a time, at the edifice of environmental laws and regulations, avoiding a frontal assault that would call attention to the overall objective.
To illustrate, I would like today to single out for discussion, just one such area, and that is the public land laws that are so meaningful to me as a westerner and that are so much a part of our great American heritage.
The best place to observe what is happening is by reference with our two great public laws, the Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Wilderness Act of 1964.
The Antiquities Act is a great American innovation. It was enacted into law in 1906 on June 8th, the very date on which I am making these remarks. It was sponsored by a Republican Congressman and signed by a Republican President, Theodore Roosevelt.
Way then, more than a hundred years ago, the sponsor, Representative John Lacey (R-IA), made this observation: “The immensity of man’s power to destroy imposes a responsibility to preserve.”
Since then the Act has been used by nearly every President, laying the foundation for many of our best known National Parks and other protected areas.
President Clinton used the Antiquities Act to establish the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, a widely acclaimed decision.
President George W. Bush used the Act to protect the marine reefs and waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, the largest area ever set aside under the Act. The radical leaders of the House voiced few objections to that action by their President, perhaps because oil and gas companies have evinced little interest in the Islands.
This past April, a House rider to gut the Antiquities Act failed by a mere four votes. Now that the public has been awakened, I doubt that Congressional leaders will try another frontal attack.
However, what they are continuing to do is to chip away with piecemeal bills and amendments some of which will likely be transmuted into budget riders during the course of the summer in budget negotiations.
Here are a few examples. Congressman Rehberg (R-MT) has introduced legislation to exempt Montana from the Antiquities Act and Congressman Labrador (R-ID) to exempt Idaho. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate to exempt Nevada.
Perhaps the ultimate objective of these piecemeal attacks is best revealed by a bill introduced by Representative Rob Bishop of Utah and others that would amend the United States Constitution to grant states the power to nullify Federal law.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 is the other great, generic public land law of our Nation. The National Wilderness Preservation System, with units established by Congress in virtually every state in the Union, is an enduring achievement of many successive Congresses.
The radical leaders of the House, however, are relentlessly attempting to chip away at this law as well. Not only are certain members of congress prohibiting any new Wilderness designations, a bill recently introduced in both houses by Senator Barrasso (R-WY) and Congressman McCarthy (R-CA) would eliminate our nation’s Wilderness Study Areas – millions of acres no longer protected for conservation. In addition it would remove protections for National Forest Roadless Areas – watersheds that provide our drinking water, and protect the best fish and game habitat in the West. In total, this extreme bill would undo protections for more than 40 million acres of public land.
As these attacks escalate the urgent question for those of us who support and advocate for our conservation tradition is how to respond.
One alternative is to lie low, hoping that this storm will soon pass by without too much lasting damage.
Failure to respond, however, is a form of appeasement that has not worked in the past and it will not work this time. Our adversaries prefer to operate in the shadows, outside the sunshine generated by public knowledge and participation. For our opponents know that when anti-environmentalism becomes a public issue they will lose. They know that American support for our environmental heritage is wide and deep.
We made the appeasement mistake when I was Secretary. Back in 1995, another Congress, in thrall to then House Speaker Gingrich, inserted a “salvage rider” to increase logging in our National Forests onto an appropriations bill. Pressured by the timber industry and the House leadership, we capitulated and President Clinton signed the bill with the rider intact.
It was a big mistake that set off a prolonged and destructive episode in the history of our National Forests.
We did learn from that experience however. President Clinton vowed to veto any additional anti-environmental riders. The Congress, aware that when the President commands the high ground, he will carry public opinion, backed off. We did not face another rider crisis.
I’m not here, however, to dwell on the past. I am here to look forward. To sound the alarm about the assault on our natural resources by the Republicans in Congress, and also to remind the President that he has the power, the responsibility and the public support to stand up to those who would destroy our heritage.
The current debt limit and budget negotiations will provide President Obama an opportunity to demonstrate that he has learned from the events of April. He should stand strong against environmental riders, in whatever guise, whether legislative amendments, funding moratoria, or limitations on agency initiatives.
Drawing a line against riders is a good beginning. However, we cannot measure conservation progress by the number of bad ideas that are blocked. We should measure progress in healthy rivers and streams, forests protected, species saved and restored, wilderness areas added and national monuments created.
The Antiquities Act is a good place for this Administration to begin building a conservation legacy. The Antiquities Act is a remarkable conservation tool that has been used to protect renowned areas including Grand Canyon, Zion, Olympic National Park and Joshua Tree National Park. It was used extensively by President Obama’s immediate predecessors. President Clinton used the Act to establish the Grand Staircase and more than twenty other Monuments. President George W. Bush set aside a larger area than any of his predecessors –the marine reefs and waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
The Antiquities Act has, for more than a hundred years, granted the President authority to establish National Monuments. Monuments should be established through a process of public consultation both local and national, with a chance for all to be heard. But that process cannot begin until the Administration puts forth specific proposals for public consideration.
There are numerous proposals, and many important cultural, historical and environmental sites are awaiting protection. Many of these proposals have wide public support, including the endorsement of members of Congress from the areas in question.
The best way to defend the Antiquities Act is for the President to use it.
The Wilderness Act is also in need of more vigorous advocacy from its friends, including the Administration.
The critics who complain that we already have too much Wilderness have it all wrong. We have too little designated Wilderness.
Here are some facts: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers more than 250 million acres of public land. More than 41 million acres of that land is leased for oil and gas. To date only 9 million acres of public land managed by the BLM has been designated as Wilderness. It is past time to bring some balance back to the public lands with the creation of more Wilderness Areas.
The designation of Wilderness is a Congressional prerogative. And every member of Congress, from whatever part of the country, has an equal voice and vote in designating Wilderness. For the public lands, wherever located, are the common patrimony of this nation, belonging to each and every citizen of this country.
President Obama should call upon the Congress to expand the National Wilderness Preservation System. A good place to begin is with the wilderness bills already introduced, most of them by members of Congress from the states where the lands are located.
And the President should remind the Congress that where wilderness legislation is being bottled up by an intransigent few, that he has the power to designate those areas as National Monuments, a designation which can carry protection comparable to a Wilderness designation.
By voicing his willingness to use the Antiquities Act as an alternative to Wilderness designation, the President can bring Congress to the table to work out conservation measures acceptable to reasonable stakeholders. President Clinton used the Antiquities Act in this fashion to work with the Congress, and it produced good results in such places as Steens Mountain in Oregon, the Colorado Canyons, the San Jacinto Mountains and Otay Mountain in California and Las Cienegas in Arizona, among others.
We also need to hear this Administration in support of protection for our ocean resources. For too long the beauty and diversity and productivity of ocean life and fisheries has been taken for granted, as limitless and beyond destruction. That is no longer the case. Every day we are learning more of the impending destruction of coral reef systems and declining productivity of our oceans.
This Administration has frequently spoken of the need for responsible expansion of offshore oil exploration and production.
Well and good, but we have not heard equally strong support for enhanced conservation and protection of the most important places in our offshore waters and along our coastlines.
The link between offshore oil and the imperative for conservation of our natural resources was recognized by the Congress more than fifty years ago by creating the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF is based on a simple idea: use revenues from the depletion of one natural resource- offshore oil and gas—to support the conservation of another precious resource -our land and water.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has made a strong and continuing effort to persuade Congress to fund the LWCF at the level originally intended by Congress. He needs the President’s firm support in budget negotiations to assure adequate permanent funding.
The most important place to demonstrate Administration leadership for mitigating the impacts of offshore drilling is in Alaska. Offshore drilling in Arctic waters poses high risks that must be mitigated with strong conservation measures.
Bristol Bay, the passageway for the myriad salmon runs that travel through the rivers system of Alaska is the greatest and most productive fishery on the planet. President Obama should use the Antiquities Act to designate the federal waters of Bristol Bay, as a National Monument, permanently off limits to oil and gas.
And as the Administration opens the western Arctic slope lands to oil and gas leasing, there will be another opportunity to strike a balance between oil production and wildlife conservation. More leasing and drilling on the Arctic slope should await and be conditioned upon passage of legislation establishing protected shoreline areas and wetland regions in the far western Arctic frontier, including breeding and migration corridors for the fabled western Arctic caribou herds.
There is no issue as lasting or as worthy as the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage. Theodore Roosevelt, more than a hundred years ago, put it this way: “We have fallen heir to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.”
Mr. President, America’s great outdoors is under attack as never before. We need you to stand up to this assault as only the President can. You will have the lasting gratitude of the American people for generations to come.
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Posted by Rob Camick on November 8, 2008
There may be times when you want to capture output from your program and display it for the user. This is generally done by creating a console. Using Swing it is not too difficult to create a simple console using a JTextArea or JTextPane. Our message console will be able to display output written to System.out and System.err.
The MessageConsole class will enable you to use a text area or text pane as a simple console. First you must decide which component to use:
- JTextArea – will be more efficient
- JTextPane – will allow you to color the text from each source
Next you must decide how you want the console to function:
- append – messages will be added to the bottom of the console
- insert – messages will be inserted as the first line of the console
Finally, you need to decide if you need to limit the number of lines contained in the console. The MessageConsole will use my LimitLinesDocumentListener described in an earlier blog entry.
So the code for a simple useage of this class might be something like:
somePanel.add( new JScrollPane( textComponent ) );
MessageConsole mc = new MessageConsole(textComponent);
One last comment. You can optionally redirect the message to a PrintStream. So if you did something like the following:
The message would display in your message console as well as the normal output console.
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Tri States Public Radio Staff
Bipartisan Bill introduced by IL Lawmakers
Wed March 20, 2013
Bill to Help Mississippi River Adapt to Drought
US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois recently introduced a bill to help the nation prepare to deal with the effects of future droughts on the Mississippi river.
Under the legislation, automated river level monitors would be installed. It also gives the Army Corps of Engineers authority to operate and dredge in more areas as well as establishing a conservation and habitat restoration project for the middle section of the river.
Karen Torrent is the legislative director for the Environmental Law and Policy Center.
She said the bill is a good first step and looks at options to address low water levels.
Though she said the tough decisions will come when it’s time decide what to do about low water levels and that dredging alone can’t solve the problem.
"You know we have a similar problem in the great lakes where in some parts it's two actually feet lower and we can't dig our way out of the great lakes we'd be digging our way to China, right?" Torrent said. "So it's unsustainable to keep digging, digging digging, we're going to have to figure something out."
The Illinois Corn Growers Association also released a statement supporting the legislation.
The bill was also introduced into the US house by Illinois Democrat Bill Enyart and Republican Rodney Davis.
Drought Has Hurt Both Rivers
Different amount of Rainfall key factor.
real-time soil moisture readings online.
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Given the size and power of the storm, much of the damage from the surge was inevitable. But perhaps not all. Some of the damage along low-lying coastal areas was the result of years of poor land-use decisions and the more immediate neglect of emergency preparations as Sandy gathered force, according to experts and a review of government data and independent studies.
Authorities in New York and New Jersey simply allowed heavy development of at-risk coastal areas to continue largely unabated in recent decades, even as the potential for a massive storm surge in the region became increasingly clear.
In the end, a pell-mell, decades-long rush to throw up housing and businesses along fragile and vulnerable coastlines trumped commonsense concerns about the wisdom of placing hundreds of thousands of closely huddled people in the path of potential cataclysms.
On Staten Island, developers built more than 2,700 mostly residential structures in coastal areas at extreme risk of storm surge flooding between 1980 and 2008, with the approval of city planning and zoning authorities, according to a review of city building data by scientists at the College of Staten Island. Some of this construction occurred in former marshland along the island's Atlantic-facing south shore.
The 21 people who drowned in the storm surge on Staten Island were clustered along the south shore, and died after becoming trapped in their homes or while attempting to flee the rising water by car or foot, according to the New York City Medical Examiner's Office. While many of those who drowned lived in small bungalows built many decades ago, at least two victims were residents in a large-scale planned community completed in the 1990s.
TVNL Comment: This is a very important warning for what may lie ahead. Do not miss it.
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The Mystery of Aliens
Ancient Astronaut theorists posit the idea that the messengers and gods of old were extraterrestrial visitors, which is not necessarily a faulty supposition, considering the circumstantial “evidence” presented to bolster the hypothesis.
The visitors were not gray with large, almond-shaped eyes as they are rendered today by descriptives.
In mythology and religious-oriented works, the visitors of old were manifested by an aura that bespoke something otherworldly but not grotesque.
Those visitors often mated with human beings, as recounted in the Genesis account of the Hebrew Bible [6:1]:
...The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were good, and they took themselves wives from whomever they chose. God said, ’My spirit will not continue to judge man forever, since he is nothing but flesh. His days shall be 120 years’. The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also later. The sons of God had come to the daughters of man and had fathered them. They were the mightiest ones who ever existed, men of renown.
And they also appear in the Greek myths, as Gods, whose dalliances produced such Greek Heroes as Achilles and Heracles.
And Merlin, the great wizard of the Arthurian legends, was said to have been fathered by an Incubus. [Bulfinch]
In the 1950s, flying saucer “occupants’ – as reported by observers – were usually grotesque or small, bizarre creatures, akin to the little people folklore of the British Isles.
In the 1960s, those visitors morphed into the so-called “grays” which evolved out of the Betty and Barney Hill abduction saga.
There is a dispute, extant, about what Betty Hill really described, at first, about her “abductors” – mostly having to do with their noses. But the “creatures” she allegedly encountered eventually came into being as the ubiquitous UFO people pictured when UFO occupants are discussed:
The question posed is this…
What happened about 5,000 years ago when the Sumerians pictured their “gods” and the modern era when UFO beings are described? [Intelligent Life in the Universe, Shklovskii/Sagan, Delta, 1966]
That is, why has the intruders’ physiognomy changed?
Yes, we accept the reality behind the myths and Biblical renditions of gods (or messengers from above).
We also think that some relatively recent observations of creatures nearby, what some call, UFOs or, better, flying saucers, are true also, whether created as an illusion or actually as perceived.
(The alien abduction phenomenon, which remains controversial and not proven, has been, in one form or another, around since the beginning of oral and written history, as anyone familiar with mythology and religious texts knows.)
There is a mystery in all this, one that is connected in all its aspects by the similarities in the visitations.
The difference lies in how the “visitors” appeared, not in how they acted, but what they looked like.
Are there, or were there, two different classes of beings – some actually gods (or imagined as such) and some actually extraterrestrials (or imagined as such)?
It’s a mystery, either way…..
(And yes, we’ve covered this before, in 2007)
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From ROBERT GOODLAND AND JEFF ANHANG
Thanks to RON EPSTEIN
Whenever the causes of climate change are discussed, fossil fuels top the list. Oil, natural gas, and especially coal are indeed major sources of human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). But we believe that the life cycle and supply chain of domesticated animals raised for food have been vastly underestimated as a source of GHGs, and in fact account for at least half of all human-caused GHGs. If this argument is right, it implies that replacing livestock products with better alternatives would be the best strategy for reversing climate change. In fact, this approach would have far more rapid effects on GHG emissions and their atmospheric concentrations—and thus on the rate the climate is warming—than actions to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.
Livestock are already well-known to contribute to GHG emissions. Livestock’s Long Shadow, the widely-cited 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), estimates that 7,516 million metric tons per year of CO2 equivalents (CO2e), or 18 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions, are attributable to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, horses, pigs, and poultry. That amount would easily qualify livestock for a hard look indeed in the search for ways to address climate change. But our analysis shows that livestock and their byproducts actually account for at least 32,564million tons of CO2e per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions.
Complete article available here→
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Cinco de Mayonnaise
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Cinco de Mayo has become a well-known Mexican festival where participants consume 5 jars of mayonnaise. It is generally celebrated on the sacred holiday of "El Día Para Limpiar El Refrigerador", whose date and frequency varies widely from region to region, and indeed, from household to household.
The origin of the phrase "cinco de mayo" is difficult to ascertain, but it is believed to come from the words "cinco" (Spanish for "five jars"), "de" (Spanish for "we don't use apostrophes"), and "mayo" (Spanish for "mayonnaise party").
Beginning in April, 1862, as an argument over whether or not it was better to use mayonnaise or Miracle Whip™ in an egg salad sandwich, it soon escalated into a full-scale food fight that resulted in the death of 40,000,000 people within the first few hours.
Diplomatic efforts by the slut of Mexico, Cinco, and the whore of France, Black Jacque Chirac, resulted in a temporary cease-fire and the beginnings of peace talks. These efforts did not go well, and almost resulted in the continuation of the food fight.
Cooler heads prevailed, and it was determined that the most fair way to resolve the dispute was a game of Risk™. The game itself took over 11 days to complete, with repeated accusations by the French that the dice were loaded.
On days 1-3, the game looked like an even match. Mexico had moved it's forces to ukraine and already taken over much of Europe, while the French had settled in Austrailia and had began building up their forces. On day 6, things were completely different. Mexico had lost Europe after the french sent in a wave from Austrailia. Mexico had to retreat to Africa and parts of North America. There they held the defense and began troop build up again until day 11 when they cleared the whole board by using mass cavalry assaults of Butlers of the Ortegan lineage. The French spat in the Mexicans bagettes and then admitted defeat, but not before dropping excrement on them from their tall towers. The French dressed up like peacocks and were forced to do a mexican salsa dance on top of the board game.
Mexico prevailed on May 5th, and the French were forced to acknowledge (in writing) the superiority of mayonnaise.
edit History of observance
During the Franco-Mexican War, the Mexican army met the French at the Battle of Tijuana. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Mexicans, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, managed to knock the socks off the French army, delivering their first defeat in over 50 years. After the smoke cleared, the only units left among the French were 5 jars of mayonnaise. General Seguín picked up the jars and gave them to his first lieutenant and said, "este es desagradable." The lieutenant understood this to mean, "Eat this, and digest it," which was pretty reasonable for someone who was only on lesson 2 of his Rosetta Stone CD-ROM. He opened each jar, one by one, and forced the gooey mix down his throat without vomiting. The General was so impressed by the lieutenant's intestinal fortitude that he shouted, "¿Qué haces, idiota?" It was this affirmation of the lieutenant's deed that set in stone the importance of Cinco de Mayo for centuries to come.
Although Mexican beer is not consumed during Cinco de Mayo, it is heavily advertised on American television during that time.
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From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Number bases are convenient ways of counting things invented by Indian mathematicians. All number and all forms of counting come originally from India. The most important thing to know is that the Indians invented all numbers, numerals, and mathematics.
Digit Placement Systems
All of the following number systems vary in a number of different aspects, however one of the most important factors to recall when looking at the various numeral systems is that they almost all use digit placement as a method of determining value.
For instance, quaternary expands by digit placement, even though it appears limited by the lack of digits. Where you put the digit dramatically increases or decreases the value. Placing a digit in one hole can cause a positive reaction, whereas placing digit in another hole will cause a negative reaction, and an inability to place said digit in the first hole that we were discussing again. The reasoning behind this should be obvious.
Digit placement in quaternary works thus:
0, 1, 2, 3, Lots, Lots-1, Lots-2, Lots-3, 2-Lots, 2-Lots-1, 2-Lots-2, 2-Lots-3, 3-Lots, 3-Lots-1, 3-Lots-2, 3-Lots-3, Heaps
A famous example of using digit placement relates to the boy putting his digit in the dyke in an attempt to save his hometown from flooding. No doubt, he saved the town in this instance, but often putting your digit in a dyke will have a very different value.
Base 0 - The Nunnery system
Base 1 - The Urinary system
Base 2 - the Binary System
Base 4 - The Quaternary System
Base 8 - The Octal system
Base 10 - the Decimal System
Base 16 - The Hexadecimal System
Other number systems
Base I - The ROMAN numeral system
Base £ - The Imperial system
Obviously the Indians invented every number system, as well as everything to do with numbers. Indians invented Algebra, Differential Calculus, Imaginary numbers, factorials, happy numbers, and magic numbers. In fact, every time that you have ever been given any test in school relating to mathematics there's a strong possibility that it was written by Indians.
When you think about it, Indians are bastards, aren't they?
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From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Ski jumping is a little-known sport, where athletes ski down an extremely tall ramp, called an inrun, and then attempt to fly as far as possible and land on the outrun, which is the snow-covered (or plastic-covered if there is no snow) face of an extremely tall mountain. The ski jumper who lands the furthest on the outrun without dying is pronounced the winner.
Ski jumping originated in Norway, where in 1809 a Norwegian soldier first ski jumped off a cliff into the sea. Most historians think that the soldier was trying to commit suicide, and happened to be wearing skis, but in Scandinavia where suicide is always good entertainment, a sport was born.
edit Contemporary ski jumping
Contemporary ski jumping has become a big commercialised circus, touring Europe and occasionally Japan. Compared with the past, ski jumpers now fly lower and slower as a result of shorter inruns. It is now considerably safer to ski jump than it was before, with new rules continually being implemented to lessen athlete death, and to make ski jumping more appropriate for globalisation. However the sport of ski jumping has always been torn over making ski jumping safer for athletes, or making the sport more exciting to watch. Ski jumping is now mainly watched by people in quaint European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway and Poland. It does not exist outside the northern hemisphere, because not many people in the world care about ski jumping except those from the aforementioned countries.
Ski jumping is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Ski, or FIS. Its director is Walter Hofer, who is something like a God for ski jumpers. Walter Hofer can smite ski jumpers according to his whims, and he often makes up arbitrary rules to do just that. He is treated with the utmost respect, and like God, his every word becomes law.
Ski jumping is not just a winter sport; it can also be done in the summer. The summer form of ski jumping is becoming increasingly popular due to global warming. The ramps may be made out of porcelain or wet plastic, so that athletes can enjoy the heart warming feeling of jumping 200 metres in the air and crashing spectacularly in the summer sun.
edit Ski jumping techniques
edit I and V
During most of the 20th century, ski jumpers jumped with their skis together, similar to the classic style of cross-country skiers. This was called the “I style”. Using the “I style”, however, resulted in a high risk of severe injuries because athletes are flying, and landing at extreme speeds.
During the late 80’s, Swedish ski jumper Jan Boklov invented a new technique called the "V-style". Due to his severe case of rickets, he kept his skis in the V-position instead of traditional I one. He and his coach discovered that he was able to fly further but slower and - as a result - safer. The judges, however, did not like Jan Boklov’s new style. They tormented him in all of the competitions he participated in, and gave him very low style scores. “Real men jump with their skis closed,” a judge wrote, “I cannot give this Swedish clown a score higher than “2” for jumping in such a ridiculous way. His form is hideous, and furthermore ski jumpers should learn to take their injuries like a man.” Despite his low style scores, Jan Boklov was able to succeed because his technique allowed him to jump much further than his opponents. He would go on to win the World Cup in 1988-1989.
Later, the FIS decided to let other ski jumpers jump in the “V-style” also. This is because Jan Boklov completely dominated the ski jumping scene, and the sport became boring to watch. After the rule change, other ski jumpers began to jump further than Boklov, and Boklov became what he was destined to be – an average, anonymous, failure of a skier.
Telemark takes its name from a place in Norway, where a man first remarked that skiers are landing in a very unaesthetic form, “on both feet”. The man proposed that, after jumping off the (how many metres) tall hill, skiers should attempt to land on one foot, and then try to kneel by placing one foot in front of the other, without the knee of the back leg touching the ground, doing all this while sliding down the outrun in an extremely fast speed. Afterwards, it is agreed that ski jumpers really do look much better this way, and this became the official landing style that we know today, called telemark.
Landing telemark is considered dangerous, as it increases the risk of falling at landing. Naturally, when the ski jumpers were landing in both telemark and the I-style, severe injuries were common. However, all judges agree that ski jumpers really looked much better when they were landing in both telemark and the I-style.
edit Rules of ski jumping
The rules of ski jumping were written by Walter Hofer. The details change every year, but the basic principles remain the same. Extra rules are often added with the sole purpose of preventing certain athletes, especially those who angered Hofer, from competing.
Transcribed from the Professional Ski Jumper’s Charter, the rules of ski jumping are as follows:
Rule #1: The Federation Internationale du Ski, or FIS, regulates all ski jumping activity. Athletes must pledge eternal loyalty to the current Director of FIS, Walter Hofer, before they are allowed to compete in major ski jumping events. Being allowed by the Director to participate in ski jumping is a blessing and a privilege that should not be taken for granted. The Director reserves the right to change all rules. Athletes must always agree with the Director and should praise the Director at least once a day.
Rule #2: Athletes who plan to participate in major ski jumping events need to meet a certain criteria. In this day and age it may surprise some parties that groups of a certain race or gender are discouraged from participating in ski jumping. The FIS wants to reassure the concerned parties that this is in no way discriminatory. It has, however, been observed that the groups of the race and gender in question cannot ski jump in a level that is good enough to achieve commercial success and foster a competitive atmosphere. In the unlikely event that those groups manage to improve their skills in ski jumping, they are certainly very welcome to participate.
Rule #3: Athletes must be equipped with the proper equipment, such as the correct skis and the correct garments, as outlined in the official FIS Ski Jumping Handbook. Athletes are not allowed to use parachutes or overly loose garments to gain an advantage in distance. There have also been instances where particularly skinny athletes with loose garments were blown away by the wind, only to be found a several weeks later. It is for this reason that the FIS also requires its athletes to be above a certain BMI.
Rule #4: The green light signals the start of the jump. At the green light, athletes should start going down the inrun. Please note that once the athlete has the green light, he must not stop, no matter what. The official who green lights athletes has a very low chance of making mistakes, especially about wind conditions, and if you see an athlete being allowed to jump in an extremely dangerous situation, he was probably a jackass who deserved it.
Rule #5: Athletes land on the outrun. The telemark technique is the landing technique that every jumper should use. Athletes should also try to refrain from dying while landing on the outrun, as doing so could result in a disqualification.
Rule #6: We at the FIS cannot resist exclaiming, “What kind of ridiculous person ski crosses after they ski jump? It is abominable!” Sadly, this abominable sport exists, and it is known as Nordic combined. Nordic combined skiers have no sport spirit, and are known to generate a negative atmosphere, which we cannot have around athletes who are about to commit suicide-like acts. Their flashy garments are a distraction to real ski jumpers. It is because of these reasons that all athletes who are connected with Nordic combined are not allowed to take part in real ski jumping events. Ski jumpers who skied more than 10 metres after coming off the outrun will be disqualified, and a inquiry must be held afterwards to make sure they are not turning into Nordic combined skiers.
Rule #7: It has come to the attention of the FIS that a certain individual by the name of Michael Edwards, or “Eddie the Eagle”, has been achieving unprecedented commercial success despite being one of the worst professional skiers the FIS has ever laid eyes upon. This man is an embarrassment to ski jumping. The FIS hereby declare that if Eddie the Eagle takes part in a qualifier for any major ski jumping event, the distance that he jumps will be the distance to beat for all athletes wishing to qualify. If an athlete jumps at a distance equal to or lesser than the distance that Eddie the Eagle jumped in that particular qualifier, he will not be eligible. If Eddie the Eagle happens to be not participating, then everyone qualifies.
Rule #8: It has come to the attention of the FIS that a certain individual by the name of Vinko Bogataj, or “The Agony of Defeat man”, has been achieving a certain amount of popularity in the United States. This man is the pride of ski jumping. To preserve his legendary status, no ski jumper is allowed to crash more spectacularly than Vinko Bogataj, ever. However, officials should note that Vinko Bogataj is still not allowed to take part in major ski jumping events.
Rule #9: All the rules above can be changed or suspended at will by the Director. In fact, the rules are probably being changed as we speak, and you have just wasted 10 minutes reading this.
edit Wind factor
The most important thing in ski jumping is the wind, which is actually the only factor that decides who wins. Headwind increases the distance that you jump, and tailwind decreases it (the opposite is true for running). In the past the technical directors of competitions often let jumpers ski in precarious wind conditions because they claim that they were not aware of dangers caused by it. The wind caused a lot of ski jumper injuries as a result, and sometimes it is also possible for a particularly lightweight jumper to be blown away by the wind.
The BMI was introduced to ski jumping in order to prevent ski jumpers from dying due to anorexia. That was a smart move and saved lives of several German and Russian ski jumpers. However, some ski jumpers were naturally thin and BMI forced them to put on weight or shorten their skis and that of course would shorten their jumps. Sigurd Pettersen, Norwegian jumper needed to put on 15 kilos. He was not able to and from the good jumper he became loser.
edit The typical jump
Before the typical jump, ski jumper is preparing himself mentally to it. Well, it's not weird if you realize that you will be thrown out of the inrun at the 100 km/h speed and you will be approaching the ground at only minimally lesser speed. Then ski jumper needs to sit on the log that's attached at the inrun and need to wait for the green light. Ususally, the guy who turns the light on, will turn the red ligth on forcing him to go down. This guy is called Miran Tepes and he is the right hand of Walter Hofer. His popular excuse of turning the red light on are "wind conditions" or "I don't like this guy really". Miran Tepes was heavily criticized in 2007 when he let his fellow Slovenian Rok Urbanc take the jump at extremely strong wind. That let this poor ski jumper actually win the event beating all the other competitors by big amount of points. The problem was not actually win itself but the fact that he didn't allow any other ski jumper to jump in such conditions.
When the green light is on, the skijumper needs to close his eyes and slide off the log forcing himself to run towards the end of the inrun at dramatically increasing speed. In the past the jumpers needed to care about their feet positions as there were no slots for the skis. But still, not every ski jumper is able to ride downhill without problems even though it's considered the easiest part of the jump. This is shown in the famous case of who fell off the log and slided on his back to the end of the inrun, harvesting by the way all the sticks put in the inrun for a decorational purpose.
All ski jumpers needs to fit in the 0,02 second boundary of "good take-off". If they do it too early or too late - the jump will be short and danmgerous for their life. You probably guessed that most of the ski jumpers got problem with fitting in the boundary. In some famous cases, ski jumpers actually frgot to do a take-off what resulted in faboulous crashes of South Korean jumper Choi and German Frank Loffler showed it's possible to forget it even though you are a proffesional ski jumper. However, despite the lack of take-off, Loffler was able to land telemark but fell anyway.
One of the most orgasmic part of the jump. Ski jumper flies in the air and feels every single touch of wind over all his parts of body. He flies for about 1-3 seconds. He needs to "lay" slightly over the skis to be more aerodynamic. However, Czech Jakub Janda lays between, or even under the skis and using this eccentric technique he actually won the World Cup. Ski jumper should focus on not moving while flying but some jumpers, like Robert Mateja, preferred constant moving and twitching while flying but it never resulted in anything positive.
The most dangerous part of the jump. Most of poor ski jumpers prefer to land safely in the Finnish way - with both feet together. But if ski jumper wants to get more points, he needs to risk his life and gesundheit by landing in telemark. However some ski jumpers prefer to land on their heads, backs or asses, especially if they forget it's not freestyle skiing.
edit Ski jumping hills
Ski jumping hills are... hills or mountains with inrun and outrun built on it. They look like some penis with tongue. Ski jumping hills are usually in small villages that did not deserve that and those villages live only during the ski jumping events. Of course all hills are placed on north hemisphere in countries that experience snow at least occasionally.
Some hills are smallish and in theory nobody can be hurt on them (with some Dutch exception, but later about it). Some are average and big, where World Cup competitions are held. And there are few monsters where ski jumpers fly over 200 metres and quite often hurt themselves while falling.
All hills got their K and HS points. The K point is named after G point becaus it's most important in jumping - it's the length where all distance points are based. The HS point is a Holy Shit point - the length where only certain death awaits for a jumper.
edit (In)famous jumping hills
Suicide Hill, Ishpeming, MI, USA
Famous American decent sized jumping hill with K-90. Name was given because American laymans had no freaking idea that ski jumping is actually a sport and thought it's a place for commmitting suicide. Some retarded cults actually committed there some mass suicides so the name suits perfectly.
Letalnica, Planica. Slovenia
The biggest mammoth jumping hill in the world. The smallish Slovenia has most jumping hills/square km. Wherever you go you can find a jumping hill. However Slovenians are tired of them and no longer look after them. But at the times they gave any shit about ski jumping, they decided to build "da biggest hill ever". And they built Velikanka, later renamed Letalnica due to a copyright infrigment. The Letalnica's record is 239 metres by Bjoern Einar Romoeren.
Olympic Ski Jumping Hill in Hakuba, Japan
Wholly made of metal ski jumping hill is quite interesting in its design. The jumping hill includes river that crosses the outrun in half and the bridge that is hung over the outrun. If a ski jumper jumps too heigh, he may cut his head off the metal parts. The hill in Hakuba was built for a tremendous cost of 50 million $ and investors will start to earn circa 2095 but only if Japanese government will still donate to them. Another interesting thing about the Hakuba hill is that the wind conditions always disturb the event. Yet there was no normal event in Hakuba.
The Big Krokiew, Zakopane, Poland
One of the things that the Poles most certainly care about. When World Cup arrives to Poland, everybody goes to Zakopane in a way similar to Muslims pilgriming to Mekkah. However, the hill is nearly ruined and FIS indicated several times to rebuild it but Poles do not care about it and they think that The Big Krokiew is the most awesome hill in the world.
Mühlenkopfschanze, Willingen, Germany
The biggest of the big jumping hills (not to be confused with mammoth hills) is known for its wrongly measured K-point. For many years it was K-120. But one day an anynymous engineer spotted that it's actually wrong and it should be K-130. K-point was moved without rebuilding. So nowadays the record of 151,5 metres of Adam Małysz is not that faboulous as it's just 21,5 meters over K. In past, people thought it was 31,5 meters over K and that was looking definetely better.
Rukatunturi, Kuusamo, Finland
Not much is known about that hill but it has a funny name.
edit Ski jumping teams and ski jumpers
In the past, that was one of the best teams. Such jumpers like Sven Hannawald or Martin Schmitt were well-known in Germany and were winning many competitions but they were more often losing to the Pole - Adam Małysz. Due to this fact Sven Hannawald got anorexia and severe depression and gradually retired from proffesional sport. Martin Schmitt also got depression and recently in 2010, anorexia. From now on suffering from anorexia is considered a natural event in the life of every German ski jumper.
Adam Małysz, Adam Małysz, Adam Małysz, Adam Małysz and once again Adam Małysz - that's what the Poles only care about. Actually Adam Małysz is the only ski jumper in Poland you can describe in positive way. He won four World Cups and four World Championships. Well... about the rest of the team... Tomisław Tajner the son of coach embarrassed himself in an every jump he did. Robert Mateja became a synonymous of a short jump with a high risk of a severe injury. Marcin Bachleda and Tomasz Pochwała showed that you neither have to be talented nor skilled to be a proffesional ski jumper.
Austria has so many ass-kicking ski jumpers that most of the world already lost their count. At the same time they are able to have 6 jumpers in the first 10 of any competition. One retires, they find another and so on. They had so many jumpers that even Arnold Schwarzeneger was competing for Austria and even placed 3rd in Nagano.
Switzerland is a team made of two proffesional jumpers - Simon Ammann and Andreas Kuettel. They don't need any more. First one is Olympic and World Champion and the second one is World Champion. The case of other ski jumpers is similar to Poland.
Alcohol is your best friend at training! With that motto Lars Bystoel won his three medals (one gold; two bronze) in Torino. However, he also started to take drugs and it was not a good decision as he quickly became a loser. Another famous Norwegian ski jumper is Sigurd Pettersen who is the best example of a ski jumper who falls from a peak of his career to its bottom. He was good, he was winning and then, apparently due to a Walter Hofer's irritation, some rules changed and he had to use shorter skis from 2004 what totally ruined his career.
There are several good Finnish ski jumpers but what's characteristic - all of them are either black metal singers or apathetic guys unable to show any emotions. For example Ville Kantee retired early in order to become an unknown singer and Janne "The Mask" Ahonen did not smile during whole his career even when he won World Cup.
Apparently, there are no real people in Japanese team. They're rather robots because nearly all the Japanese ski jumpers are older than 35 (some have 40), while the age of 33, 34 or 35 is the best age for retirement for any particular ski jumper. Japanese do not care about that.
Recently Japanese ski jumpers introduced some sumo wrestlers to the sport as they claim fastest speed at the end of the inrun is the key to victory. As we know, fatter you are, faster you are. At least in ski jumping and luge.
Japanese ski jumpers also got the best financial condidtions. They are donated by government as long as they want to train regardless of the age.
edit United States
Actually, US sucks at ski jumping. They had one good jumper circa 2002 but he decided to give up ski jumping in order to become a pilot. He wanted to fly higher and longer.
Funnily, this 2 million nation got many ski jumpers and the most jumping hills per km sq. from any known country. They also got the biggest jumping hill (Letalnica). They got a good team but we can point out that they change ski jumpers more often than average guy changes slips.
In order to not abuse and blame young Chinese ski jumpers, ski jumping has no future in China. At least, this is a sport in which China will never win a gold medal.
Trivia: In an individual competition during 2009 Universiade in Chinese Harbin, Peilin Gong, one of their ski jumpers, achieved a rare feat as he got total score lower than 0...
Compared to Hungarian ski jumpers, China is even quite good. It's unbelievable how bad can be a certain nation in a sport. Hungarian ski jumpers occasionally compete in less important competitions regularly occuping the last positions. And to make the matters worse, lengths of their jumps are so short that it's actually hard to imagine that somebody can safely land there.
In order to visualise, in one competition Armin Csukovics from Hungary had 44 meters long jump (on K90 what is really short), in theory it was correct ski jump consisting of take-off, short jump and landing. Later in that competition, Austrian ski jumper Thomas Turnbichler made a mistake at a take-off and nearly fell on the head. Thank to his abilities, he landed safely but still jumped longer distance than Armin Csukovics'.
edit Great Britain
We claim Hungary the worst nation in the ski jumping world because they have many ski jumpers and all of them are the worst. But Great Britian achieved something extraordinary. They had a ski jumper who was a complete failure, who reached such an incompetence in this sport that he was seriously banned from competing after Olympic Games in Calgary. His name was Eddie Edwards, better known as Eddie the Eagle. He placed last in all competitions he took part in, he broke bones 17 times but always returned. Finally, after Olympic Games, Walter Hofer invented Eddie the Eagle rule which banned him from competing. The rule stated than nobody can start in Olympic Games if he didn't get into best 30 ski jumpers in competitions and didn't do it 30% of times he started. Additionally, every competition will have prequalification in which the worst ski jumpers will be eliminated.
Sounds complicated but that simply meant: No more Eddie Eagles.
Eddie was commercially the most successful ski jumper. He was a guest in all American talk shows (like Late Night with Somebody) and he earned over one million dollars due to his inepitude with ski jumping.
edit Ski jumping culture
This kind of thing actually exists only in two countries: Austria and Poland.
In Austria, supporters of ski jumping support their ski jumpers, love the sport, follow the ski jumpers in different parts of the world during World Cup and generally have very good attitude to Walter Hofer (as he is Austrian.
In Poland ski jumping cultures means praising or blaming Adam Małysz (praising when he wins, blaming when he is lower than 3rd), playing De Luxe Ski Jump PC games and openly hating Walter Hofer.
In USA ski jumping is usually erroneously taken for freestyle skiing.
edit Financial situation of ski jumpers
It's bad. They're poor. If you are ski jumper, you can't do it for money. Most of ski jumpers are not able to live without government's support. Only the best are able to earn enough money to feed their children.
However Walter Hofer seems to be rich. We do not suggest anything.
To show you how awesome ski jumping is, we put here some YouTube videos including best jumps and the most remembered actions from Word Cup, World Championship and Olympic Games.
The first film shows fantastic jump of Polish Łukasz Kruczek who jumped 94 meters on K185 in Planica.
And this film shows the beauty of this dangerous sport (how haven't I used this word earlier?). The ultimate collection of the worst ski jumping crashes. Note that Frederic Berger got hit in head by ski shot in the air with great timing and accuracy and that Bjoern Einar Romoeren lost his ski before take-off. EDIT: Oh... Damn... Fucking YouTube deleted video due to some "copyright issues". But don't worry, we've found another videos. They are and they're not exactly the same as the previous one but they're all similar.
As we all know, Americans can accept everything if it includes anything connected to American Football. In the film below we can see the American Skifootball Jumping in action where two jumpers practice playing American Football while jumping on the skis. The sport has been invented by Japanese who try to put this in the Olympic Program and gain a huge audience across the USA.
And here you have a sample of summer ski jumping. Instead of snow a wet plastic is used. Starring American ski jumpers Tim Nelson and Blake Hughes. Note they jumped during hurricane.
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The state of your overall health may be as simple to discern as using Chinese face reading to examine your face. So say ancient healing systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Face reading (mien shiang or mien xiang, pronounced “myen-shung”) originated in China nearly 3,000 years ago. Originally, this medical art was practiced by Taoist monk healers. Today, Eastern practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use face reading in their diagnostic practices. But the skill is rarely included in TCM training conducted in the U.S. because we have too few masters here to teach it.
Experts say that in China, good doctors can identify 70% of a person’s health problems by examining the patient’s face. The most wonderful aspect of this diagnostic philosophy is that it can be used to prevent illness. Experts say the health conditions indicated by face readings aren’t set in stone. They’re simply warning signs. You can heed these signs and make adjustments to protect your long-term health.
According to Chinese face reading principles, different parts of your face mirror the health of different organ systems, as follows:
• Cheeks correlate to lungs
• Brows correlate to liver
• Lips correlate to digestive organs
“The difference between psychological and physical is not much in TCM…. Your face becomes a map of your life,” Lillian Gamier Bridges told Natural Health magazine.
Bridges is a professor of Oriental medicine at several universities, including Yo San University of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles. She has been teaching facial diagnosis to acupuncturists, homeopaths, doctors, and nurses for 10 years.
What’s in a Face?
As previously mentioned, each part of the face corresponds directly to a part or area of body — but the Chinese face-reading system is much more complex than that.
First, each face represents one of the 5 basic elemental types recognized by traditional Chinese medicine: wood, fire, air, water, and metal. Most people aren’t a pure type but instead a mix of two types, with one more pronounced than the other. Each elemental type has specific physical attributes, personality traits, and health strengths and weaknesses.
Facial coloring can also reveal what’s happening in the body, especially mineral deficiencies. Likewise, facial lines give clues to various health conditions — as do marks, discolorations, spots, creases, and indentations.
The location of various marks on your face is also important. Location can help predict the age at which certain problems will appear. Similarly, the size and darkness of a mark can signify how serious a problem will be. Bigger and darker marks indicate more serious conditions.
How the Face Reveals Clues to the State of Your Health
• Slightly green facial hue: decreased liver function
• Overly red facial hue: heart disease or high blood pressure
• Yellowish facial hue: low function of spleen and stomach
• Darkened facial hue: low kidney function
• Whitened face: low lung function
• “Folding” between eyebrows: low-functioning lymph, weakened immune system
• Red spots or pox around the eyebrows: increased likelihood of flu, or sign of flu in recent past
• Reddened eyebrows: overactive nervous system, lack of quality sleep
• Reddened eye sockets: inflammation in the kidneys or back pain
• Reddened nose: bladder inflammation or back pain
• Swelling veins on the nose: deteriorating function of kidneys and bladder
• Red lips: overactive stomach
• Dark lips: low function of spleen and kidney
• Pox spots or cold sores near lips: stomach ulcer
• Red cheeks: active liver
• Black eyes or black/ brown spots: low kidney function
• Dark skin around eyes: deteriorating kidney function, likelihood of kidney “stones”
• Black moles between nose lips: high levels of acid and toxins in the body
• Darkening of black moles between nose and lips: possible sign of risk of cancer
• Region between chin and ear has depressed scars, pox marks, or other anomalies: poorly functioning intestine (if this region becomes red, possible sign of impending diarrhea)
Reading Your Life Story on Your Face
Some practitioners believe your entire life story can be read in your face — including future events. According to this school of thought, the ears and the top part of your face represent the early part of your life, from preteens to early 20s. As your life progresses, corresponding facial areas move downward from your eyebrows, nose, cheeks, lips, chin, and even your tongue.
Face Reading in Modern Western Science
Not surprisingly, Western clinical research has largely ignored Chinese face reading as a health tool. However, there is one very notable exception to this rule.
Several prestigious Western medical journals, including American Journal of Cardiology, have reported a high correlation between a diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease in people under age 70.
Getting a Face Reading
Finding a highly qualified face reader may require research. Many websites feature this topic, as do a handful of good books. You might locate a reader through your local herbal remedy store or natural foods co-op, or by referral through a trusted natural health practitioner.
Some face readers will provide partial readings long-distance using a high-quality photograph. However, for serious health diagnostics, many face readers will be comfortable only with in-person readings.
While Chinese face reading is a highly respectable, documented, and valuable system for understanding and improving your health, some caution is advised.
Experts say to be especially wary if readers charge unusually high fees, or claim the ability to change your health fortune or cure illnesses, especially long distance! Likewise, use your best judgment if a practitioner claims to “know” things that seem much too specific or worse, irrelevant to holistic health or the science of Chinese face reading.
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By Jillian Berman, USA TODAY
When Suzanne Fields' son died of an alcohol overdose last year, a few days after completing his first year of college, she decided she wanted to keep other students from suffering the same fate.
"I thought at the time my son died that his death was preventable, that I wanted to do something to prevent other students from dying the way he did," she says.
So when Shirley Strum Kenny, the president of Stony Brook University, where Fields is a professor and administrator, asked if there was anything she could do to help, Fields suggested a program to empower students to help their peers when they've had too much to drink.
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The result was the Red Watch Band movement, which aims to give students the skills to intervene when someone passes out from binge drinking. Students volunteer for the program, which involves 2½ hours of CPR training and an hour of alcohol-related emergency training.
After the training is complete, students receive a red watch that serves as a symbol of the band of students watching out for one another.
About 90 Stony Brook students have completed the training, says Jenny Hwang, associate dean and director for prevention and outreach, and more than 100 other institutions have expressed interest in bringing the program to their schools in the fall.
The school's effort comes as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports today that alcohol-related deaths and heavy drinking at college campuses continue to rise.
Based on government data and national surveys, the report says drinking-related accidental deaths among 18- to 24-year-olds have crept upward from 1,440 in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005; the percentage of students admitting to binge drinking has risen from 42% to 45%.
Ralph Hingson, director of the institute's division of epidemiology and prevention research, says colleges and surrounding communities need to use the information available to address the issue. "It's sort of ironic that as our knowledge base has increased on how to reduce these problems, the problem is getting worse," he says.
Hwang says a program like the Red Watch Band movement is necessary because it is unrealistic to expect students to "100% abstain from alcohol use."
"Our students absolutely need to know how to stay alive, and we need to be doing something to equip them and empower them to create a culture where they can look out for each other and care about each other," she says.
Kenny says that by getting students involved in the program, school officials hope to change campus culture to a place where students "know it's not cool to over-drink."
"We realized that if this is going to stop it has to come from the students themselves," she says, and "that lecturing them about it is not a way to change behaviors."
Tim Workman, assistant professor in the school of allied health sciences at
"We've just had case after case after case where students' friends were just going to let them sleep it off," he says.
He adds that programs like the Red Watch Band are important, but they need to be paired with prevention education. "We don't just want to see an increase in 911 calls. What we want to see is a decrease in incidents," he says.
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| 0.976956 | 750 | 2.625 | 3 |
New research out of North Carolina State University is shedding some light on the ability of commonly used gastric acid suppressants
to increase gastric pH in dogs. The results of this study could affect how veterinarians manage gastric disease and protect
against gastric injury in dogs.
Martin Harvey /Getty Images
The oral acid suppressors famotidine and omeprazole have been widely used in people. While these medications are also commonly
used by veterinarians, only omeprazole paste is veterinary-approved. The paste, designed and approved for use in horses, is
of a higher concentration and has not been evaluated for use in dogs. Other experiments have shown omeprazole to be an effective
acid suppressant in dogs, but details such as duration of effect and optimal dosing have not been determined. The coated tablets
formulated for people are not ideal for use in dogs because they should not be crushed or broken, and this makes dosing difficult.
Six healthy adult dogs participated in this study. Each dog was treated with oral famotidine, an omeprazole tablet, omeprazole
reformulated paste, and placebo for seven days with a 10-day washout period. To facilitate dosing, the omeprazole paste was
combined with sesame oil at a ratio of 1:9. The doses of omeprazole tablets were about twice the commonly used dose because
the tablets could not be broken. Therefore, the omeprazole paste and famotidine doses were increased twofold to ensure a consistent
comparison among the drugs and formulations.
To determine the effects of the various gastric acid suppressants, the researchers used a catheterless radiotelemetric pH
monitoring system used in human medicine—a new technique allowing for less invasive continuous pH monitoring. While anesthetized,
each dog had a pH capsule inserted and attached directly to the gastrointestinal mucosa. These capsules transmitted continuous
pH data to an external radiofrequency receiver. Plasma omeprazole concentrations were obtained on days one and seven of each
treatment period, and the dogs were monitored daily for any adverse effects such as decreased appetite, vomiting, or fecal
Even though higher doses of the gastric acid suppressants were used in this study, no significant adverse effects were noted.
While episodes of vomiting were documented, they occurred with similar frequency in all groups, including the placebo group,
and changes in fecal quality were most common during treatment with the omeprazole tablets.
Gastric pH was most strongly influenced by omeprazole; both the tablets and the paste produced similar results. The effect
of omeprazole paste on pH began to wane 12 hours after administration. This waning effect may have been due to more rapid
absorption and elimination of this formulation, leading the researchers to suggest twice-daily dosing if a reformulated omeprazole
paste is used in dogs.
Perhaps the most interesting finding was that even at the higher dose given in this study, famotidine did not result in a
significant increase in gastric pH. In fact, the results did not vary much from those of the placebo.
Tolbert K, Bissett S, King A, et al. Efficacy of oral famotidine and 2 omeprazole formulations for the control of intragastric
pH in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2011;25(1):47-54.
This "Have You Heard?" summary was provided by Avi Blake, DVM, a freelance technical editor and writer in Eudora, Kan.
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| 0.943449 | 752 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Information on cloud-top heights at different stages in the life cycle of the rapidly intensifying Hurricane Wilma may prove useful for evaluating the ability of numerical weather models to predict the intensity changes of hurricanes. NASA’s Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) acquired this sequence of images and cloud-top height observations for Hurricane Wilma as it progressed across the Caribbean in October 2005. Each pair in the sequence has a photo-like view of the storm on the left and a matching color-coded image of cloud-top height on the right. Cloud-top heights range from 0 (purple) to 18 (red) kilometers altitude. Areas where cloud heights could not be determined are shown in dark gray.
The pair on the left shows Wilma on Tuesday, October 18, when Hurricane watches were posted for Cuba and Mexico. The central pair shows the eye of Hurricane Wilma just hours before the storm began to cross the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, October 21. At that time, Wilma was a powerful Category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and had a minimum recorded central pressure of 930 millibars. Hurricane Wilma surged from tropical storm to Category 5 hurricane status in record time, but the storm slowed and weakened considerably after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean. The right-hand image pair displays the eastern edges of a weakened Wilma, when Wilma had been reduced to Category 2 status and was just starting to reach southern Florida on the morning of Sunday, October 23. Wilma gathered speed and strengthened on Sunday night, crossing Florida as a Category 3 storm on Monday, October 24.
On the 18th, Wilma looked a bit ragged. Its eye is located at the center of the left edge, and its outer bands of clouds appear to be dominated by a rather loose collection of thunderstorms. In the photo-like images, these look like areas of “boiling clouds,” and in the cloud-height image, these appear as orange blobs, sometimes topped with pinkish-red. On October 21 (center), when Wilma was a Category 4 storm, cloud-top height on the eastern side of the storm near the eye reached 18 kilometers in altitude, with lower heights on the western side. The image from the 23rd shows the eastern edge of Wilma as it approached Florida (upper right) and Cuba (center right).
MISR has nine different cameras that view the Earth from a variety of angles. Shifts in the clouds’ apparent position from one camera’s perspective to another’s allows MISR to measure the height of the cloud-tops. MISR scientists have programmed computers to compare the different views, identify features that appear to shift from view to view, and use that information to calculate cloud height automatically. The height fields pictured have not been corrected for the effects of cloud motion. Wind-corrected heights (which have higher accuracy but sparser spatial coverage) are within about 1 kilometer of the heights shown here.
The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer observes the daylit Earth continuously, viewing the entire globe between 82° North and 82° South latitude every nine days. Each image covers an area of about 380 kilometers by 1,830 kilometers. The data products were generated from a portion of the imagery acquired during Terra orbits 31037, 31081 and 31110, and utilize data from within blocks 68-83 within World Reference System-2 paths 13, 16 and 18, respectively.
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<urn:uuid:1b274848-93fa-431d-a15a-d5dcdb777f2d>
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http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=15721
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en
| 0.939218 | 727 | 3.5 | 4 |
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