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My other half went to Lapland on holiday as a child. He thought it was okay; he liked the skiing part of his holiday, but did not enjoy the constant darkness. He went in winter, up north… One memory that sticks out for him is when he arrived and opened what he thought was a wardrobe for his clothes, but to his amazement, it was actually a sauna that was big enough for only a couple of people. It turns out; visiting a sauna is an integral part of Finnish culture. Credit: Percita To visit a sauna in the UK, you either have to join a gym, take a trip to a spa, or perhaps pay a visit to a well-off relative/friend/neighbour and sit awkwardly in their private sauna. It’s quite different in Finland, though, as out of around five million people, there are over two million saunas! Credit: Katri These sweaty rooms of steam are not only found in spas and gyms, but can also be found in homes, airport lounges, the Finnish parliament, and even offices. I can’t say I’d want to sit in a sauna burning up and sweating with my colleagues (no offence, guys), but apparently it’s perfectly acceptable in Finland. A typical sauna visit includes nakedness, and swatting yourself with birch branches to improve your circulation. Your colleagues would be in the sauna, naked, and swatting him or herself whilst you’re in close proximity. No. The first wooden saunas were built around 2,000 years ago in Finland, but the obsession with them spread across most of Scandinavia. Saunas soon became a large part of Finnish culture. They are considered to be relaxing, medicinal, and of course, a quick way to warm up from the cold, harsh weather outside. It became popular with Finnish women to give birth in a sauna, although, that isn’t really done any more. Credit: Helen Penjam Plagues and serious illnesses started to hit the Scandinavian countries in the 19th century. Although locals believed that the saunas were medicinal, it didn’t seem healthy to share saunas with other people, meaning the number of people visiting saunas dropped. Thankfully, by the 20th century, health was improving, and saunas soon started popping up again. The Swedes and Norwegians did embrace their reunion with the steam-sweat-rooms, but not as much as the Finns, who fell madly in love again. Now, there are more saunas in Finland than cars. The sauna is a very social place for the Finnish people, but there is a certain etiquette. Finns are told from a young age that you should behave in a sauna the same way you would behave in a church, which means no running around and certainly no yelling, which is perfect if you’re a parent that wants a moment of peace and quiet! Share This
What's difference between Servlet/JSP session and EJB session? Alessandro A. Garbagnati From a logical point of view, a Servlet/JSP session is similar to an EJB session. Using a session, in fact, a client can connect to a server and maintain his state. But, is important to understand, that the session is maintained in different ways and, in theory, for different scopes. A session in a Servlet, is maintained by the Servlet Container through the HttpSession object, that is acquired through the request object. You cannot really instantiate a new HttpSession object, and it doesn't contains any business logic, but is more of a place where to store objects. A session in EJB is maintained using the SessionBeans. You design beans that can contain business logic, and that can be used by the clients. You have two different session beans: Stateful and Stateless. The first one is somehow connected with a single client. It maintains the state for that client, can be used only by that client and when the client "dies" then the session bean is "lost". A Stateless Session Bean doesn't maintain any state and there is no guarantee that the same client will use the same stateless bean, even for two calls one after the other. The lifecycle of a Stateless Session EJB is slightly different from the one of a Stateful Session EJB. Is EJB Container's responsability to take care of knowing exactly how to track each session and redirect the request from a client to the correct instance of a Session Bean. The way this is done is vendor dependant, and is part of the contract.
Cryptocurrencies - tread carefully before trading 5 February 2018 Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin... cryptocurrencies are all over the press. Most of us are now broadly aware that cryptocurrencies are digital currencies which use blockchain technology. But how many people actually understand how the underlying technology works, what it means to ‘invest’ in a cryptocurrency, and appreciate the risks behind them? For anyone thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies, set out below is a summary of the main concerns, which should hopefully encourage you to stop and think before jumping on the crypto band wagon. Blockchain and the currency ‘revolution’ For centuries, traditional currencies have been subject to the control of the central banks of each nation. By using blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies are not subject to any central controls. A blockchain is a global network of computers which can be used to maintain a digital ledger of every owner of a cryptocurrency and the transactions they make. When, for example, a Bitcoin transaction is made (buying, selling, transferring or creating Bitcoin), the record of that transaction is securely encrypted, time-stamped and updated into a block which is added onto the historical record of all Bitcoin transactions. Each block in the chain is unique and it is virtually impossible to remove or change data which has been added to the chain. This means that transactions are verifiable without the need for a central authority, such as a bank, to oversee that process. In theory, Blockchain technology allows us to securely transact with one another via a peer-to-peer network without a middleman, such as a bank, charging us for the privilege of doing so. However, in practice, in order to trade in cryptocurrencies you need to use a cryptocurrency exchange (which facilitate sales between buyers and sellers of digital currencies) and a digital wallet provider (who provides software which maintains a record of your transactions on the blockchain relating to that currency). Unsurprisingly, all exchanges, and most wallet providers, charge transaction fees for the services they provide. In theory, blockchain technology cuts out the middleman from financial transactions. However, in practice, trading in cryptocurrencies still involves contracting with intermediaries, carrying out due diligence on those intermediaries to ensure that they are trustworthy, and of course, paying the associated costs. A cryptocurrency is not an investment An investment relates to the process of buying an asset that creates products, services or cashflow. This means that, even if you were never to sell the investment, it would be worth owning from a financial perspective because it is intrinsically valuable. Currently, cryptocurrencies have little intrinsic value. We’re yet to witness a widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies as accepted methods of payments for goods and services. This means that, unlike a rentable piece of property, there is little value in owning a cryptocurrency unless you plan to sell it, and unless the cryptocurrency is in high enough demand at the time you decide to sell it. At the moment, most cryptocurrency purchases are not made on the basis of a substantiated belief that the cryptocoin will become a new global currency, but rather with an unsubstantiated expectation that they will rise in value. It is all mere speculation. Of course, all investments involve at least some level of speculation – for example, when investing in property, there is always the risk that it might be worth less than the price you bought it for when the time comes to sell it. But regardless of whether its value eventually increases or decreases, at least that property will be financially valuable to you in the meantime. Conversely, when you purchase a cryptocurrency, you knowingly accept that it will have little financial benefit to you until you come to sell it, and that even then, there is a risk you might lose out financially. Lack of regulation An Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is the process by which a start-up sells tokens (coins) to investors as a way to fund its business, often in return for cryptocurrency. The coin an investor receives may represent a prepaid voucher for future services but, more often, is actually a new cryptocurrency itself. An ICO therefore seems similar to an Initial Public Offering (IPO), by which a start-up sells securities (such as shares) to investors as a way to fund its business, in return for traditional currency such as the £ or the $. Unfortunately, that’s where the similarities stop for investors because, unlike IPOs, ICOs are not currently subject to any definitive regulatory controls. An investor who has purchased shares during an IPO has access to regulatory protections (such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Financial Ombudsman Scheme) if the offer to invest was misleading in any way. Such protection is unlikely to be available for ICO token holders, which the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed via a statement 'Initial Coin Offerings' released in September 2017. This statement also confirmed that whether a particular ICO falls within the FCA’s regulatory powers can only be decided on a case-by-case basis. If the ICO does not fall within the FCA’s remit, there is no investor protection other than that set out in the investor’s contract with the coin issuer. Those protections (if any are in place) will be worthless for the innocent ICO investor who discovers there was never a legal entity behind the fundraising project, and that they’ve invested in a fraudulent business. Add this to the fact that the coins are likely to be subject to extreme price volatility, and it’s hard to think of a reason why anyone other than an extremely experienced ICO investor would want to invest in an ICO. Security risks ‘Mining’ is the process of adding transaction records to the blockchain which underpins a digital currency. In relation to Bitcoin, when a ‘miner’ (who will often run many of the computers which maintain the blockchain) adds a block to the chain, he is rewarded with new Bitcoin. However, a miner is only allowed to add a block to the chain if he solves a complex mathematical problem. Solving each problem requires an extremely high powered computer so, increasingly, unscrupulous miners are hacking third party computers in order to use their processing resources to mine more cryptocurrency. It was recently reported that, in the first eight months of 2017, more computers were infected with malware to enable hackers to mine cryptocurrencies than in all of 2016. Should the value of cryptocurrencies continue to rise, it seems likely that the number of crypto-related hacking incidents will also rise. Environmental impact As set out above, cryptocurrency mining has developed into a processing power arms race between miners. As a result, the higher the value of a cryptocurrency, the more energy it takes to maintain it. A recent article 'Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index' has revealed that 4,099,592 U.S. households could be powered by the energy it takes to maintain Bitcoin, and other statistics show that one Bitcoin transaction requires 215 kilowatt-hours of electricity to process - the same amount consumed by the average U.S household in one week. Even more terrifying is the prediction that, by February 2020, the Bitcoin network will “use as much electricity as the entire world does today” . The Future Given the current rampant speculation in cryptocurrency trading, it seems very likely that the cyprotcurrency bubble will burst at some stage soon, and that valuations will crash (last week, Bitcoin’s value fell by more than $44bn). When this happens (and ideally before it happens) the regulators should catch up with the rapidly developing sector and put in place some much needed investor protection. In the meantime, if you’re considering trading in cryptocurrency or taking part in an ICO, we would strongly advise that you seek professional advice to ensure that you are protected as much as is (currently) possible. See also our recent cryptocurrency blog by our Criminal team - 'Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies – regulation on the horizon to combat cyber-crime?' Share insightLinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email to a friend Print Email this page to a friend Leave a comment You may also be interested in: Close Load more Skip to content Home About Us Insights Services Contact Accessibility
How and Why to Integrate Gamification Strategies Into Your Business Posted By Gamification can be highly motivating, for both internal employee performance and customer loyalty. It’s the practice of structuring everyday tasks into a game-like format so as to increase the level of role-playing and point gaining—simulating a game being played—by incorporating goal-setting, integrating online tools, and offering real-time feedback. There’s something intrinsically motivating about the pursuit and subsequent attainment of a reward—so much so that the dopamine levels in our brains increase as the result of playing a game. Whether for use in training employees, competing for sales records, or as incentives for customers, gamification is a clever way to increase levels of participation and enjoyment while helping the proverbial “bottom line” at the same time. Does it have to actually be a “game”? Although games are motivating for both employees and customers, there’s no need to play a full-fledged game. Rather, it’s possible to integrate game-like components, such as role-playing through car racing or team sports, into department goal-setting, in order to inject an element of fun into everyday routines. It’s also possible to encourage customers to make repeat purchases by incentivizing their business: a point for every dollar spent, for example, with free rewards or discounts awarded as a result. This integrates the “game” element, without requiring that customers play an actual game. The power of co-creation Another motivating gamification strategy is co-creation: Intuit details how Domino’s Pizza in Australia introduced an online portal called “Pizza Mogul” for customers to create their own pizza, and they were financially rewarded (between $0.25 and $4.50) every time somebody bought their custom pizza. This rewards system both inspires customers to visit the site and encourages healthy competition, which is generative because it not only encourages people to get involved, but it inspires curiosity through recruiting others who might want to outdo their friends’ recipe entries. Feeling a sense of ownership over the creation process is also hugely motivating, as it inspires feelings of pride and expertise. The educational context for gamification To take a cue from education, an Arizona State University class in environmental science recently piloted a game-based format designed to immerse students in lifelike leadership roles and scenarios in order to help them think about issues related to sustainability in complex ways. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers—as in real life. On the contrary, students must make decisions based on what’s best for the community and the environment. Students and instructors are given a “performance summary” dashboard, along with a “resources viewed” metric, upon completion of each module. Each student’s decisions are evaluated based on their “triple bottom line” impact on social, environmental, and economic sustainability. This educational use of gamification provides a helpful example of complex scenarios coupled with realistic expectations for possible answers. The situations presented to students have no “right” or “wrong” answers, which is more similar to situations students are likely to encounter in the workplace. Therefore, they will likely be more adequately prepared for when they are faced with conflicting interests or ambiguous scenarios that require them to weigh the pros and cons of the various possibilities. Striking a balance between “too easy” and “overly challenging” When designing games for the workplace or the marketplace, one important factor to keep in mind is that there is an ideal balance between games that are too challenging and games that are too easy. According to Emil Heidkamp from Sonata Learning, you want to avoid either end of the spectrum, since there is an ideal level of difficulty that will achieve what is known as “cognitive flow” so as to maximize learning. This can only be done, however, when the difficulty of a task is proportional to a person’s ability. Not all failure is negative However, some failure in a game-like environment is good. According to Eric Gordon, games allow for failure toward mastery and “participants learn, because games provide a structured, safe learning environment.” The idea is that failure while playing a game is safer and less socially risky than when based “in real life.” Furthermore, part of the reason why games are so addictive is because of the dopamine effect—the hormone is released upon anticipating a pleasure like a reward or game point. One example is Shannon Polly and Associates’ use of improvisation to train managers in communication skills; again, the non-threatening, practice element helps the “real life” version seem less intimidating and a bit easier, eventually. Taking a cue from successful gamification strategies Lauren Brousell of CIO details Applebee’s use of gamification to improve both employee retention and sales; in 2013, the restaurant implemented a cloud-based game system from Bunchball to help servers and staff sell special menu items and learn about workplace safety guidelines. So far, according to Robin Jenkins, “the top 50 percent of the franchisee’s locations have seen improved customer service ratings.” Another example is Target, who used a gamification system to give cashiers a “red” or “green” rating depending on whether they scanned a customer’s item quickly enough or not. This system of immediate, real-time feedback is highly motivating, especially for those who love to win and see tangible results. The benefits of adding long-term rewards In addition to implementing short-term reward systems, consider adding long-term rewards. Andy Petroski of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology suggested, for example, linking customer service performance to LinkedIn profiles based on a point system, so as to bolster future career prospects. That’s the key—to avoid allowing short-term reinforcements replace long-term incentives. How, then, can managers and department heads implement long-term rewards that are intrinsically motivating as well as challenging, in a game-like way? Patrick Hogan from Tenfold lists three elements critical to motivation: autonomy, value, and competence. If activities are intrinsically motivating, and people are allowed the freedom to discover them on their own, those activities are more likely to “stick” than if they’re assigned or delegated. Furthermore, if something of value to a particular individual is at stake, that person is more likely to perform at a high level because what’s at stake is personally important. Introducing multiple knowledge and skill ranks In addition to goals of personal significance, another motivating educational tool is the introduction of various levels of knowledge. According to eFront Learning, Cisco teaches social media marketing techniques via a multi-level program with different ranks that culminate in the title of “social media master,” after completing 46 courses. This type of status conferred in exchange for study is not dissimilar to an academic degree program, of sorts—and the similarity is most certainly not lost on them. Academia carries a great deal of cultural capital, and this fact was likely part of the reasoning behind Cisco’s level and course system. There’s something to this “natural reward compulsion loop,” as Tim Eisenhauer describes it, in which an employee performs an action and receives a reward for performing that action; the reward then triggers a dopamine response in the employee’s brain, so upon invitation, the employee happily performs the action again—in anticipation of the same response, of course. It’s a naturally reinforcing cycle consisting of rewards, reinforcement, and motivation. Gamifying work via built-in reinforcement If our places of work find a way to include a kind of built-in reinforcement system similar to gamification—not necessarily utilizing games, but instead increasing the amount of natural reinforcement we receive (verbal and written acknowledgement from a supervisor after a project is completed, praise after contributing to a team effort, and so on)—they may be able to effectively mimic the results of gamification. Perhaps games are simply a passive way of increasing social connectivity, and we love them because they make connecting with others easier than actually having to reach out and make an effort to acknowledge someone else. An increase of social or verbal reinforcement, then, coupled with occasional gamification of work-related duties, would likely present employees with an appealing combination of automatic and custom-built reinforcement that would be difficult to resist, ideally cutting down on employee turnover and increasing motivation, engagement, and longevity at an impressive rate. Whether or not we utilize actual games in the workplace, let’s find ways to increase the wonder, impetus, and long-term rewards of performing at a high level in our places of work. Sign up for email alerts from the LivePlan Blog Daphne Stanford Daphne Stanford Daphne Stanford hosts "The Poetry Show!" on KRBX, her local community radio station, every Sunday at 5 p.m. A writer of poetry, nonfiction, and lyric essays, her favorite pastimes include hiking, bicycling, and good conversation with friends and family. Follow her on Twitter @TPS_on_KRBX. Posted in Management
Card image cap The Impact of COVID-19 on US Hospitals - Is it Worse Than Predicted? “Social Distancing” is probably one of the most common phrases we’ve heard after the COVID-19 pandemic attacked the globe. While social distancing is advised to keep the virus from spreading further, it is also meant to help prevent healthcare providers from getting overwhelmed. When people started to protect themselves and their communities through social distancing, it led to a noticeable reduction in the spread of the virus. Therefore, regardless of the size of the community or area, social distancing must continue in the next phase of this pandemic as well. Since China is where the pandemic originated from, the policymakers of the United States have had to mainly rely on data from China in order to understand how it would impact hospitals and how they should prepare for it. This, according to a study by researchers at the University of California (UC) Berkeley and Kaiser Permanente, led to significant underestimates of the following: average time patients would stay in hospitals how many would need treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) and the case fatality risk. Here’s what Joseph Lewnard, an assistant professor of epidemiology at UC Berkeley, had to say about the situation: “The hospital resources needed to meet the needs of severely ill patients are substantial. “We found that observations from China may not provide a sufficient basis for anticipating the U.S. health care demand.” The researchers tracked 1,328 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospitals run by Kaiser Permanente in Washington state and California up to April 9, 2020. They monitored their length of stay, admission to ICU, and mortality rate. Based on data from Chinese hospitals, they predicted that about 30% of hospitalized patients will require ICU care. However, the probability of ICU admissions turned out to be 40.7%, and the probability of death was 18.9% for those with COVID-19 whom doctors had admitted by April 9, 2020. Similarly, a widely used modeling study from Imperial College London in the United Kingdom assumes an average hospital stay of 8 days, while the new study found that in the U.S., 25% of patients had to stay in the hospital for 16 days or more. In conclusion, prevention is the cure, and it is in the best interest of the whole world to stick by that saying. The more careful we are as individuals and groups, the better the healthcare industry will be able to cater to the victim population, and the situation will have a higher chance of improvement. Author: Sarah Anderson Date: 2021-06-04 19:13:08
Duck, Goose, Chicken & Game Bird Hatchery Duck and Goose Management Best Bedding Materials For Waterfowl August 17, 2011 Ducks and geese use more bedding (or litter) than chickens as their droppings are wetter and they make more of a mess with their drinking water. Therefore, you may be adding bedding on a daily basis if you have a high concentration of birds in your pens. Bedding can become an expensive part of your hobby or business due to the cost of the material and the labor to add and remove it. No matter what type of bedding you use, you must ensure it has no mold in it and it stays dry before use. The moisture from ducks and geese can produce a perfect environment for mold growth in your bedding. Aspergillosis, the most common mold, can be devastating in a flock of poultry if it starts growing in your bedding. Shavings is a very good bedding. If it is dry, it does an excellent job of absorbing moisture. It is also easy to clean out of your building - whether with a shovel or a tractor. Unfortunately it is fairly expensive. It can be purchased in bulk (loose) if you use large quantities or in bundles if you don't. There are different qualities of shavings - the best is dry and in thin slices. Thicker chunks of wood do not absorb moisture as well and do not break down in the soil as fast either. We have used a variety of woods with no apparent difference among them. We have even used redwood with our laying ducks - though that tends to stain the eggs which is not good if you are selling the eggs for eating! You do not want to use shavings with large amounts of sawdust if it is for day old birds. They may eat the shavings which does not provide them any needed nutrients and may kill them if it swells in their gut and blocks all passage. This is rarely a problem with ducklings or goslings over one week of age. If shavings are expensive and straw is cheap, put the shavings in the nests and straw in the pen as clean eggs are critical whether you are eating them or hatching them. Straw is the most common type of bedding used. The advantage of straw is that is is typically inexpensive and available almost everywhere. Ducks and geese also love to dig through freshly spread straw looking for unharvested grain and other tidbits. The two main disadvantages of straw are that it is more difficult to remove from a building and it does not absorb moisture well. We have chopped it in the past and this helps with both of these problems (see the picture above). By chopping the straw, you are exposing more cut stem which can better absorb moisture and by making smaller pieces it easier to remove from your pen. In our outdoor goose nests, we use a combination of straw and wood shavings. If we only use straw, it does not absorb moisture well. If we use shavings only, the geese dig through it to make their nest and the eggs end up being laid on dirt and all the shavings are outside the nest. Rice Hulls The use of rice hulls is common wherever rice is grown. It is also typically inexpensive but does not absorb moisture well and can be difficult to use because it blows easily. In my opinion, the critical necessity of rice hulls is that it is clean and mold free. Of course all bedding must be mold free but the two times we have tried rice hulls (because wood shavings were not available in the winter) we have experienced mold problems in our duck eggs. As soon as we started bedding with rice hulls, we were candling out an additional 10-15% of our eggs due to mortality form mold growing in the eggs. However, many people use rice hulls so it all depends on the cleanliness of your rice hull suppy. Some feed stores sell bales of chopped or shredded newspaper. The advantage of processed newspaper is that it absorbs moisture very well. The disadvantage is that it does not hold its form when it gets wet. It can become a very slick, wet surface with excess moisture. When we were chopping our straw before for our duck buildings, we would chop a bale of straw and then a stack of newspaper. The straw provided a fluffy structure and the newspaper did a good job of absorbing moisture. It was an excellent combination. Ground Corn Cobs Though we have not tried this product, we have read it can be used successfully for poultry bedding. As this is ground into a variety of sizes, it has been recommended that you use the smaller sized pieces, 1/4" or less. It has been shown that ground corn cobs will absorb more moisture per pound than shavings, straw, leaves or newspaper. Other Products We sell our manure/bedding to a composter and he suggested we try a product he gets from municipal green waste sites. After branches and leaves and other plant materials are chopped, the material is screened by size. We are now trying the smallest sized material. The sample we received is dry but heavy. He hopes we can use it as the pieces are smaller than shavings and break down more completely in his composting process - enabling him to make a more salable product. In addition, it is much less expensive for us than wood shavings. We will let you know how this product works. Research has been done on cotton milling waste and leaves, with both showing promise as a poultry litter, too. Final Bedding Criteria Absorbs moisture Must be free of molds Keep dry before use Easy to handle and use Is not harmful to the birds if it is eaten Will decompose once it is removed from your pens What works well for you and why? Blog Categories Duck and Goose Management Recent Blog Articles
You Breathe Out, She Breathes In: A Plant Meditation Learning to communicate and make magic with plants doesn't have to be a difficult or complicated process. Many plants are eager to form relationships with us, and just being near them can profoundly affect our mood and mental state. This simple meditation will help you begin to make a connection with living plants, and if practiced regularly could help you understand their energy and personality. To perform this meditation, you will need to work with a living plant. I feel it is most effective when done outdoors, but you could also do it indoors with a potted plant. Find a place where you can sit quietly for some time, possibly with your eyes closed. It's up to you to decide if you feel safe and able to focus in a noisy or crowded environment, and to choose your location accordingly. If you will be meditating outside, you might want to bring a blanket or tarp to sit on. While there's definitely an energetic benefit to sitting right on the earth, there's no sense making yourself sick sitting on cold, wet ground, or being so uncomfortable from the cold or damp you can't pay attention or have to cut your visit short. Once seated near the plant you want to meditate with, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Do you feel tight or sore anywhere? Is your mind calm and relaxed, or are your thoughts running wild? Is your breath coming easily? Are you warm, cold, or just right? Write it down now if you wish, or simply observe and remember it for later. Take three or four natural, comfortable breaths and focus on really feeling the air move in and out of your body. No judgment. Just observe. Then sit quietly for a few minutes, breathing normally, and see if this changes the way you feel. Either write it down, or remember it for later. This moment of breathing is like a control group in a scientific experiment: you will see what quietly breathing does for you by itself, and then you will compare the results to those of breathing with a plant. Once you've observed the effects of focused breathing, begin to breathe with your plant friend. Sit as close to the plant as you can. If you're working with a tree, you might lean against its trunk. Close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so, or if you don't, try softening your vision. Don't try to focus on anything in particular, just let the light and motion around you wash over you. As you exhale, think of your breath as an offering to the plant: what you breathe out, the plant breathes in, soaking up the carbon dioxide you release. Then, as you inhale, take in the oxygen and the fragrance of the plant (if it has one) and think about how you are receiving a gift from your friend: what the plant breathes out, you breathe in. This is the simplest form of exchange between plants and humans, one we usually take for granted, but which feels sacred when we really pay attention. Continue breathing this way with the plant until you can really feel the connection between you, OR set a timer for five minutes, and keep focusing on this exercise until the timer goes off. As with any meditative exercise, if your mind wanders away, don't judge yourself or get frustrated. Simply return your attention to breathing with the plant, gently and easily. After your timer goes off, check in with yourself again. How do you feel now? How does your body feel? Are your thoughts more or less focused than they were before? Do you feel more relaxed, or more energized, or perhaps you feel sleepy? Once again, there are no wrong answers here: instead, you are observing your response to the action of breathing with a plant. Compare how you feel now with how you felt after doing the breathing exercise at the beginning. If you feel different now from how you felt before you began, you now have an idea of how the plant affects you. If you don't feel different, that's okay too. It can take time for our senses to awaken to the subtle energies of plants. Perhaps try repeating the exercise on a different day, always remembering to record how you feel before and after the exercise in your journal. Remember not to judge yourself if it didn't go the way you hoped it would: it can take time for our awareness to expand and our subtle senses to awaken. Just allow the experience to be what it is, and write it down. Later you can return to the entry to see how you are progressing in your studies. 216 views2 comments Recent Posts See All Dense forest in the fog Michelle Simkins polytheist . writer . witch
Students Making Sense of Multiple Sources By Martha Polley and Sunday Cummins When your students read, view, and listen to multiple sources on a topic or issue, do they tackle each source in a silo? Learning a little bit about this and a little bit about that but not really synthesizing the information from multiple sources? Students may not realize they need to think across sources in order to deepen their understanding of an issue. They may not realize they need to monitor for synthesis by asking questions like “What new information am I learning?” and “How does this information compare or contrast with what I learned in previous sources?” It’s critical that we teach students how to do these things. Recently, Martha, an instructional coach at a K-5 elementary school, had the opportunity to work with Steve Perkins, a fourth-grade teacher and his students as they studied the American Revolution. The students carried out individual research on a specific topic related to this historical period. Steve and Martha wanted to ensure their students engaged with a variety of sources as part of this experience. To help students learn to synthesize information across their sources, Martha and Steve were intentional in planning instruction that would nurture students’ understanding of how to make sense of information drawn from several sources that might have varying points of view. Their plan included providing clear purposes for reading-viewing-listening to multiple sources, organizing sources so they were easy for students to access, using anchor texts to model the kind of thinking students needed to engage in, and creatively reteaching essential strategies. What follows are the instructional approaches they found helpful. Teach students how to create clear purposes for reading multiple sources. Steve and Martha wanted the students to develop their own questions for research. They explicitly taught them how to look for repeating subtopics as they read, viewed and listened to multiple sources. In a sense, they were teaching students to monitor for meaning as they tackled each additional source by asking: • Is this new information? Or did I read about this in another source? • If I already read about this subtopic in another source, how is the information in this source similar or different? Once students identified similar subtopics (on a specific topic) across multiple sources, learning about these subtopics became their purpose for additional research. For example, if a student noticed multiple authors describe the colonists involved in the first battles of the revolution at Lexington and Concord, then this became a question for further research: What am I learning about the people who fought in these battles? Create an organized set of sources. Martha and her colleague used a teacher-created Padlet with multiple sources sorted by subtopics related to the American Revolution. For example, there is a set on King George III, the Sugar Act, and the Boston Massacre in 1773. Providing sets of sources has multiple benefits. First and foremost, the sources are organized and can be accessed easily by students of varying abilities, and a variety of sources can be used including traditional texts as well as video and infographics. Additionally, texts at different levels of complexity can be included. While we want students to eventually locate sources on their own, beginning with a set of sources that have already been vetted and organized by the teacher can serve as a mentor for the types of sources students should eventually seek out for themselves. Engage students in shared thinking across several “anchor” sources. While the students in the class were engaged in researching their own subtopic related to the American Revolution, they also heard several texts read aloud by the teacher including excerpts from King George: What Was His Problem? The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution (Sheinkin, 2005) and the book Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began (Penner, 2002). They watched short clips of videos together as well. During mini-lessons, Steve used these anchor sources to demonstrate strategies like how to identify a main idea and supporting details, how to notice the perspective of an author or narrator, and how to examine the structure of a source, as well as how to do each of these things across sources. In addition, when Martha and Steve leaned in to confer with student researchers, they used the anchor source experiences as a lens for problem solving or for monitoring for meaning. Prompts for conferring with students might sound like this: • Remember how we identified the main idea in that excerpt from King George: What Was His Problem? How can you do that with this source? • Do you think this author has a main idea that is similar to or different from some of the main ideas in the anchor sources we’ve discussed? What makes you think so? When students are confused, find a creative way to reteach essential strategies. While prior to this unit the students in this class had done some work with identifying main ideas, many still struggled. They struggled even more when they had to think about main ideas across sources and synthesize their thinking. Much of their confusion seemed to center around the difference between a main idea and a supporting detail. Martha and Steve used a sort process as a way to create clarity about the difference between main ideas and supporting details. • The sort included main idea statements and supporting detail statements from two sources. • While the students sorted, they thought aloud in small groups about “why” they were categorizing statements in a certain way. • This seemed to clarify the difference; many students also realized that some of the statements could be either main or supporting depending on how they sorted. Going deeper means learning to synthesize If we want students to develop a depth of knowledge on a topic, to be able to write and speak fluently on a topic, we have to continually ask ourselves, “What do my students need that will help them synthesize the information in multiple sources?” Once we figure that out, we can be purposeful in our planning and teaching. This kind of intentionality can make the difference for many of our striving readers. Sheinkin, S. (2005). King George: What was his problem? The whole hilarious story of the American revolution. New York, NY: Square Fish. Penner, L. R. (2002). Liberty! How the Revolutionary War began! New York, NY: Random House. Martha Polley is the Instructional Coach at William Hatch Elementary in Oak Park, IL. She previously taught in the Chicago and New York Public Schools Systems. Martha earned an undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree from National Louis University in Education to receive her Reading Specialist Certification. She is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is passionate about her work with teachers and students especially around all things literacy. Sunday Cummins is a literacy consultant and author and has been a teacher and literacy coach in public schools. Her work focuses on supporting teachers, schools and districts as they plan and implement assessment driven instruction with complex informational sources including traditional texts, video and infographics. She’s the author of several professional books, including her latest releases, Close Reading of Informational Sources (Guilford, 2019), and Nurturing Informed Thinking (Heinemann, 2018). Sunday is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, and has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana. Visit her website and read her regular blog posts on teaching information literacy. Follow her on Twitter @SundayCummins. 1 Response 1. Excellent article about thinking across multiple sources. The strategies offered to engage students are great! Thank you! Leave a Reply
By Sharon Parry Last Updated June 25, 2020 If you take the time to scan the ingredients lists for many commercially available pet foods, you are very likely to come across soybean-related products. They are commonly found in both dog and cat food and are present in dry, semi-moist and wet formulations. Soy is even found in some veterinary formulas and prescription diets. At the same time, you may have also noticed some labels indicating that a particular dog or cat food is ‘free from soy’ and this may have started to alarm you! Is soy something that you should be worried about and is it safe for your pet? soy in pet food What is Soy? Soy is a plant that is a member of the legume family along with beans, peas, lentils and peanuts. The plant is native to East Asia but it is commercially grown all over the world as a cheap source of protein. It is widely used in both human and animal foods and is a useful source of protein. Vegans and vegetarians eat soy as an alternative to meat protein although it is interesting to note that some humans are allergic to soy. You may not see it explicitly listed on the ingredients label of cat and dog foods. It may appear as vegetable broth, textured vegetable protein or TVP. You may also see soy written as soybean meal, soy germ meal, soy flour, soy grits, soy protein concentrate and soy isoflavones. Why is Soy Added to Cat and Dog Foods? This is mainly a financial consideration – it’s all about money. Commercially prepared dog and cat foods provide a complete diet for your pet and so they must supply a minimum quantity of all the essential food groups which are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Related Post: Best High Fiber Dog Food Protein can be provided by meat or by vegetables but meat protein (derived from animal sources) is more expensive. Therefore, by substituting soy protein for meat protein, pet food manufacturers can keep their costs down but still provide a high protein diet and a bulky product. Related Post: Best High Protein Dog Food What Problems Can Soy Cause? There are two potential issues associated with adding soy to pet foods. The first area of concern focuses on the quality of the protein. Some experts argue that, for dogs and cats, soy is not a high-quality source of protein. They feel that dogs and cats are carnivores (meat eaters) and should, therefore, obtain their protein from meat sources. It has even been claimed that some of the constituents of soy can be harmful and can interfere with protein digestion and lead to chronic deficiencies. This is of particular concern in cats where the metabolism and gut physiology is geared towards a meat-only diet. Some studies have suggested that soy is linked to high blood sugar levels in cats and to seizures in both cats and dogs. The second area of concern relates to allergies. Both dogs and cats can suffer from allergies and these can be triggered by food. Ten percent of dog allergies are caused by food ingredients and the figure is thought to be a bit higher for cats. Soy Allergies in Cats Food allergies in cats can affect both males and females and any breed. They can become apparent when the cat is a little kitten (from just five months) or can develop when they are quite elderly, up to 12 years of age. However, most food allergies in cats develop between two and six years of age. Your cat can eat the same food for years and then suddenly become allergic to it. The symptoms are typically itchy skin, hair loss, excessive scratching, and miliary dermatitis and will be present all year around. Your vet will be able to make a diagnosis and help you get to the bottom of what is causing the allergy. The most common allergens are beef, lamb, seafood, corn, soy, dairy products, and wheat gluten. As cats get very little benefit from the soy that they eat, it makes sense to eliminate it from their diet if you can. Related Post: Royal Canin Dog Food Soy Allergies in Dogs The situation in dogs is not quite as clear and is the subject of scientific debate. Some experts argue that soy protein is useful to dogs as they have guts that are capable of digesting plant proteins. Others argue that it is not a high-quality source of protein and that meat sources are preferable. Dogs can also suffer from food allergies but soy is just one of the potential suspects. Symptoms include itching and inflamed skin but can include diarrhea. Allergies can develop up to two years after your dog has been eating certain dog food. Dogs can also be allergic to corn, wheat, and other grains. They can also be allergic to meat and beef is the most common culprit! One study looked at nearly 300 cases of food allergies in dogs found that beef was the most common allergen and that dairy products are also a common problem. In this study, very few dogs were actually allergic to soy. So, whilst protein allergy is certainly common in dogs, it is not always the soy that is causing the problem. Related Post: Best Dog Food for Allergies cat and dog eating together The Final Word Given the potential for soy to cause harm to cats, and the fact that it provides very little nutritional value for them, it makes sense to avoid it in commercial cat foods if you are able to. If your cat does develop allergic symptoms it should certainly be one of the candidates that are investigated. In dogs, allergies are often caused by other proteins and soy may not be to blame. Also, they are able to get some benefit from plant-based proteins. However, if your pooch becomes ill, you should certainly discuss eliminating soy from their diet with your vet. This will not be hard to do as the majority of the high-protein premium dog foods are already free from soy. 1. Understanding Common Pet Food Ingredients – PetMD 2. How to Choose Safe Pet Food – wikiHow Please enter your name here Please enter your comment!
The Agenda The Lessons of Argentina During the first decades of the twentieth century, Argentina experienced rapid economic and population growth, in part due to an immigration policy that was far less restrictive than that of the United States. Advocates of an increase in less-skilled immigration might point to Argentina in that era as a success story. There is a small problem, however. In Polyarchy, the political theorist Robert Dahl briefly suggests that the scale of the immigrant influx might have influenced the evolution of Argentina’s political culture: The rate of immigration to Argentina far exceeded that to the United States … In 1914 nearly a third of the population of Argentina were foreigners; in Buenos Aires, which dominates the political life of the country, half the people were foreigners. Among adults, the proportions were even higher — 72 percent in Buenos Aires, 51 percent in five of the most thickly settled provinces, 20 percent elsewhere. Among male adults (who as citizens would have been entitled to vote) the percentages were higher yet: perhaps four out of five adult males in Buenos Aires were noncitizens and thus automatically excluded from participating in the political life of the country. The immigrants were, of course, disproportionately concentrated among the working classes. Thus Argentina had a large proletariat and even a sizable middle class with not great attachment to the Argentine political system. What is striking is that as this foreign-born working class population achieved political integration, it contributed to the shift from laissez-faire economic policies and integration in the global economy that had defined Argentinian political economy during its economic rise towards the mix of populism, authoritarianism, and import substitution industrialization that contributed to Argentina’s relative economic decline. This outcome wasn’t inevitable, and of course there are other countries that have welcomed large numbers of immigrants in the modern era and have flourished culturally and economically. Canada and Australia are two sterling examples. Of course, Canada and Australia have tightly-managed immigration policies that are strongly skewed towards immigrants with a college education or more, and so immigrants find themselves not in the “proletariat” but rather in the economic mainstream, and in many cases in the upper half of the income distribution. I definitely don’t think we should read too much into Argentina’s experience. But it does seem to be worthy of note, and I encourage anyone out there to read and write about it more. The Latest
Ground breaking new pest control trial at Blickling Hall Published : 17 Feb 2021 Despite vigilant housekeeping and other preventive measures, common or 'webbing' clothes moths have proved hard to control at Blickling Hall. The house team is therefore set to begin a ground breaking new pest-control trial to tackle these moths, using natural methods, not previously used together in a heritage setting. The plan This multi-pronged trial will use a microscopic parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma evanescens, together with moth pheromones and the Trust’s existing regime, to target the whole lifecycle of the moth (adult, larva and egg), which can cause serious damage to carpets, furniture, clothing and other wool and silk objects. The team will be working in 11 key spaces of the hall, including the Long Gallery, Chinese Bedroom, Brown Drawing Room and Peter the Great Room. These 11 spaces are responsible for 80% of the total moth count. Moth damage to the State Bedroom carpet Moth damage to the State Bedroom carpet at Blickling Moth damage to the State Bedroom carpet " We are really hoping this pioneering approach will provide a practical and sustainable method that any of our properties can use to deal with serious infestations. " - Hilary Jarvis, Assistant National Conservator Parasitoid wasps These wasps (barely visible to the human eye) are a natural enemy of the clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), searching out moth eggs and laying their own eggs inside, so that a new beneficial wasp hatches, rather than a moth larva. Once the wasp eggs are laid, the wasps die naturally and disappear inconspicuously into house dust. Pheromone ‘tabs’ These work continuously to spread female pheromones (chemicals released to attract members of the same species) which confuse male moths, reducing their chance of finding a female mate. The tabs use electrostatic technology to physically transfer the pheromone onto the bodies of male moths, turning them into portable female pheromone dispensers. Why now? The trial comes as the Trust releases results of its annual pest review, which found that insect pests such as moths and silverfish thrived during lockdown, with fewer house staff and visitors to disturb them. Last year's mild winter and warm spring also helped push pest numbers to record levels. 2,455 moths were recorded in 2020 at Blickling. An adult clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella An adult clothes moth An adult clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella Safeguarding the collection Among our most treasured items are the ‘Peter the Great’ tapestry, gifted by Catherine the Great to Blickling’s then owner in the 1760s, and a State Bed whose ambassadorial canopy and headcloth are the most complete 18th-century examples of their kind. Recent research has shown that the bed’s counterpane is likely to be one of only two surviving pieces of Queen Anne’s throne canopy. " We are really excited to be a part of this innovative trial. It will sit perfectly, hand in hand with our existing, proactive approach to pest management. " - Ellie Hobbs, Blickling House Steward A microscopic parasitoid wasp, barely visible to the human eye A microscopic parasitoid wasp, barely visible to the human eye A microscopic parasitoid wasp, barely visible to the human eye The story so far... 23 Feb 21 Microscopic wasps Since our announcement, we’ve had a great deal of interest in our pest-control trial, which has been in development for 12 months, drawing on the expertise of House Stewards, Preventive Conservators and an external expert. The wasps are harmless to humans and other animals and have been used successfully for many years in other settings. With a very limited range they are unlikely to move beyond the room they are released into. They have a very short lifespan, surviving only two weeks as an adult and naturally die once they have laid their eggs. They are a native species, known in the UK for nearly 140 years, so they already have a place in our ecosystems. A microscopic parasitoid wasp, barely visible to the human eye
Understanding NETCONF and YANG Service provider and enterprise network teams that are moving towards a service oriented approach to network management are reaching for the IETF’s Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) and YANG, a data modeling language, to help remove the time, cost and manual steps involved in network element configuration. NETCONF is the standard for installing, manipulating and deleting configuration of network devices while YANG is used to model both conﬁguration and state data of network elements. YANG structures the data definitions into tree structures and provides many modeling features, including an extensible type system, formal separation of state and configuration data and a variety of syntactic and semantic constraints. YANG data deﬁnitions are contained in modules and provide a strong set of features for extensibility and reuse. What does this mean? Network automation is currently blocked by current approaches where you need to write device specific CLI scripts or are locked into rigid closed tools. There is nothing wrong with CLIs; they are perfect for humans, but less optimal for software. NETCONF is defined for transaction-safe configuration of devices. This means that scenarios like setting up initial configuration for a range of devices, changing ACLs and adding VPNs, can be performed automatically, while keeping flexibility and vendor independence. Additionally, time-to-market requirements in delivering new services are critical and any delay in conﬁguring the corresponding devices directly affects deployment and can have a big impact on revenue. Organizations are seeing the need to get the people out of the way to automate the configuration and implementation of network devices. Ultimately the technology is designed to support more robust management of configuration, including configuration change transactions including rollbacks, strong separation between configuration and state data allowing for efficient backup-and-restore, selective data retrieval with filtering using well-known query mechanisms and streaming and playback of event notifications. The current scale of networking across service providers, enterprises and cloud providers poses unprecedented challenges to operations teams. As both frequency and complexity of changes made to the network, as well as the cost of failed configurations explode, network operations teams understand the cost savings that come with delivering services quickly and are now requiring the use of NETCONF and YANG in their environments to achieve these benefits. Compound this with all the other challenges organizations face — including frequent network changes, service agility, network complexity, SLAs becoming tighter and simply doing more with less — it is no wonder networking teams are losing sleep. With the network industry being quite conservative; there are a couple of things that need to happen for any management technology to take hold: • First, the technology needs to be implemented in mainstream network products. This means that support for the NETCONF protocol needs to be included with versions of router and switch operating systems like JunOS from Juniper and IOS-XR from Cisco. • Second, there needs to be support for the technology in software used by operations teams that run the network. This may include command line tools for network engineers that can troubleshoot issues all the way up to the top while supporting the provisioning and orchestration parts of the OSS/BSS stack. • Finally, and most importantly – the main driver of implementation and adoption for both items is directly related to whether end-users are asking for it. Unless technologies like NETCONF are explicitly named in RFIs and RFQs, there is little incentive for the vendors to implement it. Interoperability testing of devices Looking back at what we learned with SNMP, one of the challenges around standards is get beyond simply ticking off compliance in an RFP and actually supporting the standard according to the RFCs. In many cases users of technology suffer from non-conformant implementations. If vendors just put their CLI config within NETCONF tags nothing is gained. For NETCONF and YANG, this has happened in a slightly different order. Some of the equipment providers (e.g. Cisco, Juniper, Ericsson) showed the way by providing strategic early implementations of NETCONF (in contrast to customer-driven). The next second step in the process is happening right now. Network operations teams are at the point where manual configuration is a non-starter, so there is an urgent need for automation solutions. This is currently driving increased mentions of NETCONF and YANG in RFIs and RFQs. This in turn is drawing quite significant attention from the network management software companies that wants to stay relevant in these areas. A Word about NFV Additionally, there has been a lot of interest recently in Network Function Virtualization (NFV). NFV is an emerging operational model where service providers want to leverage the impact that virtualization has had in the server market and replicate that for network applications. NFV is built around a very strong assumption of deep automation. This ties it directly to NETCONF with its standardized protocols and models, making it possible to deploy multi-vendor virtual network functions. NFV and NETCONF work together to help provide a broader solution to meet the current and growing need to configure and manage multi-vendor devices that are prevalent in the data center. The future of NETCONF looks bright as more and more organizations take advantage of the cost and time savings to the data center and network management structure. By leveraging NETCONF and YANG in the context of NFV, networking team can focus on the network design and configuration that ultimately makes the most efficient use of the network equipment. Additionally, it provides the ability to make form factor and vendor choices that are not directly tied to the services, but focused on the cost and how well the products perform the specific networking task. Carl Moberg is VP of Technology at Tail-f Systems
How Machine Learning And AI Is Changing The World artificial intelligence December 12th, 2018 \| Updated on December 18th, 2018 Technology has widely been accepted by us in some form or the other. From our television sets to cell phones, artificial intelligence has become an unsegmented part of our routine. With these rapid changes happening, its effects have been perceptible. Let’s throw some light upon how artificial intelligence or machine learning is changing the world as we know it. Do check our detailed guide how machine learning works. 1. Smart world AI is making our world smarter. Better, technologically smarter. “Smart” television, “smart” phones, “smart” air-conditioners and more. Every appliance has become smarter, fit to serve us better. How? Just through AI. From automatic changes in room temperature to reading out the daily news for you. Artificial intelligence has allowed these devices to take a step further and predict our behavior. 2. Secure world Writing On Chinese Robotics Boom There isn’t a day where we don’t find a criminal offense article in the newspaper. An unaccountable number of militants sacrifice their lives on the battlefield. Hence, artificial intelligence is being integrated into robotics to substitute human lives with robotics. From fingerprints to facial recognition there are numerous ways developed for a more secure day to day life. 3. Medical World artificial intelligence Who could have imagined that a handicap may walk again? A simple scan of the body can detect the minute’s issues in the body? Who could have imagined that medical science would take such a leap forward in no time? Artificial technology and machine learning have made it possible. A militant who lost his legs found himself walking with these technologically advanced AI-powered metallic legs. The AI in these legs learned the movements of the guy and adapted itself seamlessly. 4. Business World artificial intelligence_1 From understanding consumer behavior to predicting recommendation of products, business is using data present out there to develop better more useful products for its customers. Machine learning constantly derives customers feeds and develops a pattern that intern helps business to push their products. Artificial intelligence is successfully been implemented in business across sectors. There are robots that have begun to take over the work of a human, making production faster and efficient. 5. Social World AI Is Changing The World AI is also helping you get in touch with new and similar people. It is helping us socialize. There are multiple applications and social media websites that make use of machine learning to find individuals of your similarity. Now, this might sound like a stretch but with such a vast canvas the world is, it is important for us to find and meet new people. Artificial Intelligence is just doing that and making the world a more social place. Artificial intelligence is simple to understand but difficult to develop. Accurate portrayal of AI in movies like “Her” makes us realize how we can so depend on technology. Where it is such a help to us, we also need to understand that we cannot rely on machine learning completely. These systems are developed to help us and not us replace us. Be careful with every device you use. Have a happy artificially driven world.
From New World Encyclopedia Cathedral of São Paulo, built in the mid-twentieth century, one of the world's most recent major buildings in the Gothic style. A cathedral is an impressive Christian church that traditionally contained the seat of a bishop. The great Cathedrals of the world represent one of humanity's many efforts to connect with God. During the Middle Ages, Cathedrals were especially important in the lives of medieval Christians for serving a variety of functions: they were places for communal worship, ritual, celebration, education, and governance. In particular, Cathedrals represented the seat of local authority and ecclesiastical power and frequently functioned as a social center, like a City Hall. It is a religious building for worship, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and some Lutheran churches, which serves as a bishop's seat, and thus as the central church of a diocese.[1] Cathedrals were monuments to God's glory and greatness. Their towering structures represented a visual Axis Mundi for connecting with the Divine. Furthermore, they offered visual instruction to the generally illiterate masses who often learned about religion through observing the sacred art and architecture that adorned the cathedrals. Procession in Saint Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Memphis, Tennessee. photo G.Bridgman The chair of Bishop Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Sydney. The word cathedral is derived from the Latin noun "cathedra" (seat or chair), and refers to the presence of the bishop's or archbishop's chair or throne. In the ancient world, the chair was the symbol of a teacher and thus of the bishop's role as teacher, and also of an official presiding as a magistrate and thus of the bishop's role in governing a diocese. The word cathedral, though now grammatically used as a noun, is originally the adjective in the phrase "cathedral church," from the Latin "ecclesia cathedralis." The seat marks the place set aside in the prominent church of the diocese for the head of that diocese and is therefore a major symbol of authority.[2] Denominational Usage There are certain deviations on the use of the term "cathedral"; for example, some pre-Reformation cathedrals in Scotland now within the Church of Scotland still retain the term cathedral, despite the Church's Presbyterian polity which does not have bishops. As cathedrals are often particularly impressive edifices, the term is often used incorrectly as a designation for any large important church. The term "cathedral" is not officially used in Eastern Orthodoxy, the church of a bishop being known as "the great church." The Oriental Orthodox Churches similarly do not have cathedrals as such, however some major churches like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo are called cathedrals. Several cathedrals in Europe, such as Strasbourg, and in England at York, Lincoln and Southwell, are referred to as Minster (German: Münster) churches, from Latin monasterium, because the establishments were served by canons living in community or may have been an abbey, prior to the Reformation. The other kind of great church in Western Europe is the abbey Aachen Cathedral, Germany, founded by Charlemagne in 800 C.E. The cloisters of Lipari Cathedral, Sicily. Early Middle Ages The history of the body of clergy attached to the cathedral church is obscure, and in each case local considerations affected its development, however the following main features were more or less common to all. Originally the bishop and cathedral clergy formed a kind of religious community, which, while not in the true sense a monastery, was nevertheless often called a monasterium, the word not having the restricted meaning which it afterwards acquired. In this lies the reason for the apparent anomaly that churches like York Minster and Lincoln Cathedral, which never had any monks attached to them, have inherited the name of minster or monastery. In these early communities, the clergy often lived apart in their own dwellings, and were not infrequently married. In the eighth century, Chrodegang, bishop of Metz (743-766 C.E.), compiled a code of rules for the clergy of the cathedral churches, which, though widely accepted in Germany and other parts of the continent, gained little acceptance in England. According to Chrodegang's rule, the cathedral clergy were to live under a common roof, occupy a common dormitory and submit to the authority of a special officer. The rule of Chrodegang was, in fact, a modification of the Benedictine rule. Gisa, a native of Lorraine, who was bishop of Wells from 1061 to 1088 C.E., introduced it into England, and imposed its observance on the clergy of his cathedral church, but it was not followed for very long there, or elsewhere in England. Late Middle Ages During the tenth and eleventh centuries, the cathedral clergy became more clearly organized, and were divided into two classes. One was that of a monastic establishment of some recognized order of monks, often the Benedictines, while the other class was that of a college of clergy, bound by no vows except those of their ordination, but governed by a code of statutes or canons. Hence the name of canon. In this way arose the distinction between the monastic and other cathedral churches. In Germany and England, many of the cathedral churches were monastic. In Denmark, all seem to have been Benedictine at first, except Børglum, which was Praemonstratensian until the Reformation. The others were changed to churches of secular canons. In Sweden, Uppsala was originally Benedictine, but was secularized about 1250, and it was ordered that each of the cathedral churches of Sweden should have a chapter of at least 15 secular canons. In Medieval France monastic chapters were very common, but nearly all the monastic cathedral churches were changed to churches of secular canons before the seventeenth century. One of the latest to be so changed was that of Seez, in Normandy, which was Augustinian till 1547, when Pope Paul III dispensed the members from their vows, and constituted them a chapter of secular canons. The chapter of Senez was monastic till 1647, and others perhaps even later, but the majority were secularized about the time of the Reformation. In the case of monastic cathedral churches, the internal government was that of the religious order to which the chapter belonged, and all the members kept perpetual residence. The alternative of this was the cathedral ruled by a secular chapter; the dignities of provost, dean, precentor, chancellor, treasurer, etc., came into being for the regulation and good order of the church and its services, while the non-residence of the canons, rather than their perpetual residence, became the rule, and led to their duties being performed by a body of "vicars," who officiated for them at the services of the church. History of Cathedrals in Britain Durham Cathedral was under Benedictine rule. Wells, a rare example in England of management (briefly) by a Provost. The history of the cathedrals in Britain differs somewhat from that on the continent. Cathedrals have always been fewer than in Italy, France and other parts of Europe, while the buildings themselves tend to be very large. While France, at the time of the French Revolution had 136 cathedrals, England had 27. Because of a ruling that no cathedral could be built in a village, any town in which a cathedral was located was elevated to city status, regardless of its size. To this day several large English Cathedrals are located in small "cathedral cities," notably Wells and Ely Cathedrals, both of which rank among the greatest works of English Medieval Architecture. Early organization In the British Isles towns were few, and, instead of exercising jurisdiction over definite areas, many of the bishops were bishops of tribes or peoples, as the bishops of the south Saxons, the West Saxons, the Somersætas, etc. The cathedra of such a bishop was often migratory. In 1075, a council was held in London, under the presidency of Archbishop Lanfranc, which, reciting the decrees of the council of Sardica held in 347 and that of Laodicea held in 360 on this matter, ordered the bishop of the south Saxons to remove his see from Selsey to Chichester; the Wiltshire and Dorset bishop to remove his cathedra from Sherborne to Old Sarum, and the Mercian bishop, whose cathedral was then at Lichfield, to transfer it to Chester. Traces of the tribal and migratory system may still be noted in the designations of the Irish see of Meath (where the result has been that there is now no cathedral church) and Ossory, the cathedral church of which is at Kilkenny. Some of the Scottish sees were also migratory. Late Middle Ages Between 1075 and the fifteenth century, the cathedrals of England were almost evenly divided between those ruled by secular canons headed by a dean and those ruled by monastic orders headed by a prior, all of which were Benedictine except Carlisle. Two cathedrals, Bath and Coventry, shared their sees with Wells and Lichfield, respectively. The entire structure of the monastic and cathedral system was overthrown and reconstituted during the Reformation. Cathedrals which were once Roman Catholic came under the governance of the Church of England. All the English monastic cathedral chapters were dissolved by Henry VIII and, with the exceptions of Bath and Coventry, were re-founded by him as churches of secular chapters, with a dean as the head, and a certain number of canons ranging from twelve at Canterbury and Durham to four at Carlisle, and with certain subordinate officers as minor canons, gospellers, epistolers, etc. The precentorship in these churches of the "New Foundation," as they are called, is not, as in the secular churches of the "Old Foundation," a dignity, but is merely an office held by one of the minor canons. Henry VIII also created six new cathedrals from old monastic establishments, in each case governed by secular canons. Of these, Westminster did not retain its cathedral status. Four more of England's large historic churches were later to become cathedrals, Southwell, Southwark, Ripon and Saint Albans Abbey. Although a cathedral may be amongst the grandest of churches in a particular country or area, size and grandeur have never been requirements and in some places a cathedral church may be a modest structure. For example, early Celtic and Saxon cathedrals tended to be of diminutive size, as is the Byzantine so-called Little Metropole Cathedral of Athens. The plan of a cathedral generally takes the form of a cross which has both symbolic meaning and is functional in terms of church worship, allowing space for clergy, choir, chapels, processions a pipe organ and other activities and objects associated with cathedral tradition. A cathedral, in common with other Christian churches has an altar or table upon which the Eucharist is laid, a lectern for reading the Bible and a pulpit from which the sermon is traditionally preached. Cathedrals also have a baptismal font for the traditional rite of washing that marks the acceptance of a new Christian, (most usually an infant) into the Church. Particularly in Italy, baptism may take place in a separate building for that purpose. Within the church, an area, usually to the eastern end, is set aside for the ceremonial seats of the dignitaries of the church, as well as the choir. Cathedrals of monastic foundation, and some of secular clergy have square cloisters which traditionally provided an open area where secular activities took place protected from wind and rain. Some cathedrals also have a chapter house where the chapter could meet. In England, where these buildings have survived, they are often octagonal. A cathedral may front onto the main square of a town, as in Florence, or it may be set in a walled close as at Canterbury. There may be a number of associated monastic or clergy buildings, a bishop's palace and often a school to educate the choristers. The cathedral at Pisa, now a major tourist destination. photo E.deCassar The role of the cathedral is chiefly to serve God in the community, through its hierarchical and organizational position in the church structure. A cathedral, its bishop and dignitaries have traditional functions which are mostly religious in nature, but may also be closely associated with the civil and communal life of the city and region. The formal cathedral services are linked to the cycle of the year and respond to the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere. The cathedral marks times of national and local civic celebration and sadness with special services. The funerals of those famous within the community are invariably held at cathedrals. Some cathedrals, such as Aachen and Rheims are the traditional coronation places of monarchs. The bells of a cathedral are traditionally used signal the outbreak and the ending of war. Many cathedral buildings are very famous for their architecture and have local and national significance, both artistically and historically. Many are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Not only may the building itself be architecturally significant, but the church often houses treasures such as stained glass, stone and wood statues, historic tombs, richly carved furniture and object of both artistic and religious significance such as reliquaries. Moreover, the cathedral often plays a major role in telling the story of the town, through its plaques, inscriptions, tombs, stained glass and paintings. Cathedrals, because of their large size and the fact that they often have towers, spires or domes were the major landmarks in cities or the countryside until the twentieth century with the rise of skyscrapers. Outside the British Isles, the earliest head of a secular church seems to have been the provost (praepositus, Probst, etc.), who was charged, not only with the internal regulation of the church, and oversight of the members of the chapter and control of the services, but was also the steward or seneschal of the lands and possessions of the church. The latter often mainly engaged his attention, to the neglect of his domestic and ecclesiastical duties, and complaints were soon raised that the provost was too much mixed in worldly affairs, and was too frequently absent from his spiritual duties. This led, in many cases, to the institution of a new officer called the "dean," who had charge of that portion of the provost's duties which related to the internal discipline of the chapter and the services of the church. In some cases, the office of provost was abolished, but in others it was continued: the provost, who was occasionally archdeacon as well, remaining head of the chapter. This arrangement was most commonly followed in Germany. In England, the provost was almost unknown. Bishop Gisa introduced a provost as head of the chapter of Wells, but the office was afterwards subordinated to the other dignities, and the provost became simply the steward of certain of the prebendal lands. The provost of the collegiate church of Beverley was the most notable instance of such an officer in England, but at Beverley he was an external officer with authority in the government of the church, no stall in the choir and no vote in chapter. In Germany and in Scandinavia, and in a few of the cathedral churches in the south of France, the provost was the ordinary head of the cathedral chapter, but the office was not common elsewhere. As regards France, of 136 cathedral churches existing at the Revolution, 38 only, and those either on the borders of Germany or in the extreme south, had a provost as the head of the chapter. In others the provost existed as a subordinate officer. There were two provosts at Autun, and Lyons and Chartres had four each, all as subordinate officers. The Secular Chapter St. Sofia Cathedral in Kiev. The normal constitution of the chapter of a secular cathedral church comprised four dignitaries (there might be more), in addition to the canons. These are the Dean, the Precentor, the Chancellor and the Treasurer. These four dignitaries, occupying the four corner stalls in the choir, are called in many of the statutes the quatuor majores personae of the church. The dean (decanus) seems to have derived his designation from the Benedictine "dean" who had ten monks under his charge. The dean came into existence to supply the place of the provost in the internal management of the church and chapter. In England every secular cathedral church was headed by a dean who was originally elected by the chapter and confirmed in office by the bishop. The dean is president of the chapter, and with the in cathedral has charge of the performance of the services, taking specified portions of them by statute on the principal festivals. He sits in the chief stall in the choir, which is usually the first on the right hand on entering the choir at the west. Next to the dean (as a rule) is the precentor (primicerius, cantor, etc.), whose special duty is that of regulating the musical portion of the services. He presides in the dean's absence, and occupies the corresponding stall on the left side, although there are exceptions to this rule, where, as at St. Paul's Cathedral, the archdeacon of the cathedral city ranks second and occupies what is usually the precentor's stall. The third dignitary is the chancellor (scholasticus, écoldtre, capiscol, magistral, etc.), who must not be confounded with the chancellor of the diocese. The chancellor of the cathedral church is charged with the oversight of its schools, ought to read divinity lectures, and superintend the lections in the choir and correct slovenly readers. He is often the secretary and librarian of the chapter. In the absence of the dean and precentor he is president of the chapter. The easternmost stall, on the dean's side of the choir, is usually assigned to him. The fourth dignitary is the treasurer (custos, sacrisla, cheficier). He is guardian of the fabric, and of all the furniture and ornaments of the church, and his duty was to provide bread and wine for the Eucharist, and candles and incense, and he regulated such matters as the ringing of the bells. The treasurer's stall is opposite to that of the chancellor. Additional clergy In many cathedral churches are additional dignitaries, as the praelector, subdean, vice-chancellor, succentor-canonicorum, and others, who rolls came into existence to supply the places of the other absent dignitaries, for non-residence was the fatal blot of the secular churches, and in this they contrasted very badly with the monastic churches, where all the members were in continuous residence. Besides the dignitaries there were the ordinary canons, each of whom, as a rule, held a separate prebend or endowment, besides receiving his share of the common funds of the church. For the most part, the canons also speedily became non-resident, and this led to the distinction of residentiary and non-residentiary canons, till in most churches the number of resident canons became definitely limited in number, and the non-residentiary canons, who no longer shared in the common funds, became generally known as prebendaries only, although by their non-residence they did not forfeit their position as canons, and retained their votes in chapter like the others. This system of non-residence led also to the institution of vicars choral, each canon having his own vicar, who sat in his stall in his absence, and when the canon was present, in the stall immediately below, on the second form. The vicars had no place or vote in chapter, and, though irremovable except for offenses, were the servants of their absent canons whose stalls they occupied, and whose duties they performed. Outside Britain they were often called demi-prebendaries, and they formed the bachcrur of the French churches. As time went on the vicars were themselves often incorporated as a kind of lesser chapter, or college, under the supervision of the dean and chapter. Relationship of chapter and bishop There was no distinction between the monastic cathedral chapters and those of the secular canons, in their relation to the bishop or diocese. In both cases, the chapter was the bishop's consilium which he was bound to consult on all important matters and without doing so he could not act. Thus, a judicial decision of a bishop needed the confirmation of the chapter before it could be enforced. He could not change the service books, or "use" of the church or diocese, without capitular consent, and there are episcopal acts, such as the appointment of a diocesan chancellor, or vicar general, which still need confirmation by the chapter, but the older theory of the chapter as the bishop's council in ruling the diocese has become a thing of the past, in Europe. In its corporate capacity the chapter takes charge sede vacante of a diocese. In England, however (except as regards Salisbury and Durham), this custom has never obtained, the two archbishops having, from time immemorial, taken charge of the vacant dioceses in their respective provinces. When, however, either of the sees of Canterbury or York is vacant the chapters of those churches take charge, not only of the diocese, but of the province as well, and incidentally, therefore, of any of the dioceses of the province which may be vacant at the same time. In the Canon law of the Catholic Church the relationship of the bishop to his cathedral is often compared to the relationship of a pastor to the parochial church. Both are pastors over an area (the diocese for the bishop and the parish for the pastor) and both are rectors over a building (the cathedral for the bishop and the parish church for the pastor). In view of this, canon lawyers often extend the metaphor and speak of the cathedral church as the one church of the diocese, and all others are deemed chapels in their relation to it. Cathedral churches may have different degrees of dignity: 1. A parish church that was formerly a cathedral is known as a proto-cathedral. 2. A parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese is known as a pro-cathedral. 3. A church that serves as an additional cathedral of a diocesan bishop is known as a co-cathedral. 4. The church of a diocesan bishop is known as a cathedral. 5. A church to which the other diocesan cathedral churches of a province are suffragan is a metropolitan cathedral. 6. A church under which are ranged metro-political churches and their provinces is a primatial cathedral. 7. A church to which primatial, metro-political, and cathedral churches alike owe allegiance is a patriarchal cathedral. The title of "primate" was occasionally conferred on metropolitan bishops of sees of great dignity or importance, such as Canterbury, York and Rouen, whose cathedral churches remained simply metro-political. Lyon, where the cathedral church is still known as La Primatiale, and Lund in Sweden, may be cited as instances of churches that were really primatial. Lyon had the archbishops of Sens and Paris and their provincial dioceses subject to it until the French Revolution, and Lund had the archbishop of Uppsala and his province subject to it. As with the title of primate, so also that of "patriarch" has been conferred on sees such as Venice and Lisbon, the cathedral churches of which are patriarchal in name alone. The Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, the cathedral church of Rome, alone in Western Europe possesses a patriarchal character among Roman Catholics, since the Pope is the Patriarch of the Latin Rite church. However, in February of 2006, Pope Benedict XVI ceased the use of the title "Patriarch of the West." The removal of a bishop's cathedra from a church deprives that church of its cathedral dignity, although often the name clings in common speech, as for example at Antwerp, which was deprived of its bishop at the French Revolution. Technically, such a church is a proto-cathedral. 1. New Standard Encyclopedia. (Chicago: Standard Educational Corp., 1992 ISBN 0873921976 set), B-262c. 2. New Standard Encyclopedia, C-172/3. • Macaulay, David. Cathedral: The story of its construction. Trumpet Club special ed edition, 1989. ISBN 978-0440840916 • Prache, Anne. Cathedrals of Europe. Cornell University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0801437816 • Schütz, Bernhard. Great Cathedrals. Harry N. Abrams, 2002. ISBN 978-0810932975 • Wilson, Christopher. The Gothic Cathedral: The Architecture of the Great Church 1130-1530. Thames & Hudson; 2nd Revised edition, 2005. ISBN 978-0500276815 External links All links retrieved January 18, 2017. • Cathedral, Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent.
Bride Service Home / Uncategorized / Bride Service Bride System is defined as virtually any service made to the group of a groom, either under your own accord or involuntary. Bride support is typically depicted in the anthropology literature seeing that an action of sacrifice rendered by a groom into a bride spouse and children as a token of his dedication to marriage. Bride product is also called the bridegroom service and brideprice. In some societies brideprice is referred to as a dowry paid by the groom towards the bride’s along with is considered a token of love, attention and determination to marriage. Bride-price and bride service versions frame various anthropological discussions of family member selection in several regions of the globe. The bride’s family unit provides her with all the necessaries of existence including meals, clothing, protection and education. The bride’s father usually has a little share for the family’s materials and, when possible, he even offers authority more than his daughters’ marriages. This is often a complicated process that often involves multiple sources for support such as the bride’s father, a cousin or close man associate who are able to vouch for the groom’s legitimacy and a dowry repayment from the groom’s family. At times the bride-to-be pays her unique dowry nonetheless it is not uncommon for it to get provided by her father. The father often asks for that his daughter to simply accept the dowry as a great acknowledgment that he will support her through marriage. In other civilizations and web 20 the bride’s family provides a great deal of economic support for the bride’s fiance. The groom’s family usually provides him with a significant portion of the bride’s gift of money and, in case the groom comes with an established organization, he is likely to receive monetary compensation from it. In most communities the groom’s home will usually find the money for the bride’s dowry, in least partly. In some countries the bride’s family will not provide her the dowry. In many elements of Africa, for example , women will be committed at a young age and so are expected to fulfill their family’s responsibility with their husbands by providing the dowry for their marital relationship. A bride’s dowry can be either voluntary or required. In some societies a bride is usually married and her father provides her with her dowry as being a sign of her work to her family and as an assurance of the admiration and tribute her family will have for her at a later date marriages. Consist of societies the bride’s dowry is a section of the dowry deal between the star of the wedding and groom’s family and the groom’s family members, and may be described as a gift which you can use for any goal that each see fit.
8 Uses for Goat Milk Eight delicious uses for goat milk Spring means an overabundance of fresh eggs and lots of milk. Sometimes I'm challenged to find ways to use it all and not let it go to waste, although the homestead dogs don't ever think it's a waste when I give them milk and eggs. I'm a "seasonal cook" which means that over the winter when eggs and milk are scarce, I don't make cheese or angel food cakes. But during the spring and summer when I have plenty of both, I can splash out on some luxury dishes. I've shared before some of the dishes I make when I have plenty of eggs. This post lists some of the ways we use a surplus of goat milk on our homestead. This post uses affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here. Dairy goats A dairy goat can produce up to a gallon of milk or more per day, depending on her breed, how long ago she kidded, and whether you've weaned her kids or you're milking once a day. Multiply that by the number of goats you're milking and you can see why spring can be a bit overwhelming for a goatkeeper. Some years - before I lost my first herd in the barn fire - I was milking as many as six goats, all by hand. 8 Uses for Goat Milk 1. The obvious way to use goat milk is, of course, to drink it. For the best-tasting milk, be careful what your does eat, keep the milk super-clean right from the udder, and chill it very quickly. We always drink the freshest milk, fresh out of the goat that morning. Related Post: How I Store Goat Milk 2. I use yesterday's milk for cooking. Mashed potatoes, baking, and macaroni and cheese are some of my favorite dishes that use milk. The easy way to make yogurt 3. Next I make yogurt, using a half gallon or a gallon of milk at a time. I've found a super simple way to make yogurt that you might want to try. 4. If I still have plenty of yogurt in the refrigerator, I use milk to make cheese. Farmers or lemon cheese and mozzarella are what I make most often, and then I make ricotta from the whey that is a byproduct of cheesemaking. Dairy goat in milk stand 5. Although I haven't made it often, I love goat milk ice cream. We've made vanilla, strawberry, peanut butter, peach, and even peppermint chocolate chip ice cream (that one was absolutely my favorite). Just follow a from-scratch recipe that uses milk rather than cream, or make some from goat milk and purchased cream like I do. Goat milk soapmaking 6. Another of my favorite uses for goat milk is to make goat milk soap. In order to keep the milk sugar from burning in the soapmaking process, I use frozen milk when I make soap. If I'm not ready to make soap right now, I go ahead and freeze the milk anyway; when I'm ready to use it, it's already frozen. Win/win, right? I've written a series of posts about making goat milk soap. 7. Our dogs love goat milk; I give them some every day during milking season. In years when we raise pigs for the freezer, goat milk is a part of their daily feed too. Dairy goat and kid 8. Goat milk is naturally homogenized, so it's harder to separate the cream from goat milk than it is from cow's milk. I've done it by skimming the cream off the top of milk that is a couple of days old, but to me it tastes like old goat milk and personally I'm not fond of the flavor. If it doesn't bother you, you can make butter with it, stir it into your coffee, or freeze it for ice cream when you have collected enough. What is your favorite way to use goat milk? You might also enjoy: How Does Goat Milk Taste? Why You Should Have Goats on Your Homestead 6 Must-Have Items to Milk a Goat The images below are affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here. Facebook \| Pinterest \| Subscribe 8 ways to use goat milk 1. Great ideas! We just bought two nubian babies--a buck and a doeling. I'm hoping that eventually we can start enjoying goat milk too! I'm wondering...can you freeze the milk and use it later for cooking or drinking? Or is it only good for making soap after being frozen? 1. Hi Heidi! I've cooked with frozen/thawed goat milk, but didn't try drinking it. I've also fed frozen milk as well as frozen colostrum to goat kids. 2. Our family freezes all of our extra goat milk and use it through the winter months when the goats dry up. Some of it gets little flakes in it when thawed but we put it in a blender on low and it is just fine. Saves $ and get to enjoy the better health from the better quality goat milk ( which is more alkaline than cows and better for your health). 3. What a great suggestion to put it in the blender! I've had it separate in the freezer, but had only tried shaking the bag of thawed milk. I like this idea much better. Thank you for sharing! 4. Anonymous3:14 PM Can you make lotion from the frozen milk or does it have to be fresh? That is a project I really want to try. 5. I haven't made lotion but it's on my to-do-soon list. I would think that it would work just fine (especially if you blend it as someone suggested above). Give it a try and see. 2. Great suggestions! I would love to try making goat milk soap again. 1. I hope you have the opportunity to make soap again. Isn't it luxurious and wonderful to use? 3. I never tried goat milk before..to be honest, the thought of drinking goat milk give me that throw up feeling. But I love goat milk lotion. Thanks for the ideas, anyway. Visiting from #SITS 1. Old goat milk does taste nasty, but if you keep your goats clean, milk in a clean manner, and drink the freshest milk in your fridge, it is delicious. Thank you so much for visiting! 4. Do you know if slightly clabbered milk would make good yogurt? Thanks for this article! 1. I don't know, Mary, I haven't tried it. But if you have some clambered milk, why not give it a try? If it fails you'll only be out your time. Let me know if you do. 5. Kathi, another delicious use of goat’s milk is leche quemada, aka cajeta, aka dulce de leche. It’s a Mexican caramel that can be made as a spoonable sauce or as a candy. 1. That sounds delicious, Liz! I'll look it up, thank you!
Get Omnivore essential facts below. View Videos or join the Omnivore discussion. Add Omnivore to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media. Examples of omnivores. From left to right: humans,[1] dogs,[2] pigs, walking catfish, American crows, gravel ant. An omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter.[3] Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutrients and energy of the sources absorbed.[4] Often, they have the ability to incorporate food sources such as algae, fungi, and bacteria into their diet.[5][6][7] Omnivores come from diverse backgrounds that often independently evolved sophisticated consumption capabilities. For instance, dogs evolved from primarily carnivorous organisms (Carnivora) while pigs evolved from primarily herbivorous organisms (Artiodactyla).[8][9][10] Despite this, physical characteristics such as tooth morphology may be reliable indicators of diet in mammals, with such morphological adaptation having been observed in bears.[11][12] The variety of different animals that are classified as omnivores can be placed into further sub-categories depending on their feeding behaviors. Frugivores include maned wolves and orangutans;[13][14] insectivores include swallows and pink fairy armadillos;[15][16] granivores include large ground finches and mice. All of these animals are omnivores, yet still fall into special niches in terms of feeding behavior and preferred foods. Being omnivores gives these animals more food security in stressful times or makes possible living in less consistent environments.[17] Etymology and definitions The word omnivore derives from Latin omnis 'all' and vora, from vorare 'to eat or devour', having been coined by the French and later adopted by the English in the 1800s.[18] Traditionally the definition for omnivory was entirely behavioral by means of simply "including both animal and vegetable tissue in the diet.[19]" In more recent times, with the advent of advanced technological capabilities in fields like gastroenterology, biologists have formulated a standardized variation of omnivore used for labeling a species' actual ability to obtain energy and nutrients from materials.[20][21] This has subsequently conditioned two context specific definitions. • Behavioral: This definition is used to specify if a species or individual is actively consuming both plant and animal materials.[21][22][23][24] (e.g. "vegans do not participate in the omnivore based diet.") In the fields of nutrition, sociology and psychology the term "omnivore" is often used to distinguish prototypical highly diverse human diet patterns from restricted diet patterns that exclude major categories of food.[25][26][27][28][29] • Physiological: This definition is often used in academia to specify species that have the capability to obtain energy and nutrients from both plant and animal matter.[30][page needed][6][20][31] (e.g. "humans are omnivores due to their capability to obtain energy and nutrients from both plant and animal materials.") The taxonomic utility of omnivore's traditional and behavioral definition is limited, since the diet, behavior, and phylogeny of one omnivorous species might be very different from that of another: for instance, an omnivorous pig digging for roots and scavenging for fruit and carrion is taxonomically and ecologically quite distinct from an omnivorous chameleon that eats leaves and insects. The term "omnivory" is also not always comprehensive because it does not deal with mineral foods such as salt licks and the consumption of plant and animal material for medical purposes which would not otherwise be consumed (i.e. zoopharmacognosy) within non-omnivores. Classification, contradictions and difficulties Though Carnivora is a taxon for species classification, no such equivalent exists for omnivores, as omnivores are widespread across multiple taxonomic clades. The Carnivora order does not include all carnivorous species, and not all species within the Carnivora taxon are carnivorous. (The members of Carnivora are formally referred as carnivorans.)[32] It is common to find physiological carnivores consuming materials from plants or physiological herbivores consuming material from animals, e.g. felines eating grass and deer eating birds.[33][34] From a behavioral aspect, this would make them omnivores, but from the physiological standpoint, this may be due to zoopharmacognosy. Physiologically, animals must be able to obtain both energy and nutrients from plant and animal materials to be considered omnivorous. Thus, such animals are still able to be classified as carnivores and herbivores when they are just obtaining nutrients from materials originating from sources that do not seemingly complement their classification. For instance, it is well documented that animals such as giraffes, camels, and cattle will gnaw on bones, preferably dry bones, for particular minerals and nutrients.[35] Felines, which are usually regarded as obligate carnivores, occasionally eat grass to regurgitate indigestibles (e.g. hair, bones), aid with hemoglobin production, and as a laxative.[36] Occasionally, it is found that animals historically classified as carnivorous may deliberately eat plant material. For example, in 2013, it was considered that American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) may be physiologically omnivorous once investigations had been conducted on why they occasionally eat fruits. It was suggested that alligators probably ate fruits both accidentally and deliberately.[37] "Life-history omnivores" is a specialized classification given to organisms that change their eating habits during their life cycle.[38] Some species, such as grazing waterfowl like geese, are known to eat mainly animal tissue at one stage of their lives, but plant matter at another.[39] The same is true for many insects, such as beetles in the family Meloidae,[40] which begin by eating animal tissue as larvae, but change to eating plant matter after they mature. Likewise, many mosquito species in early life eat plants or assorted detritus, but as they mature, males continue to eat plant matter and nectar whereas the females (such as those of Anopheles, Aedes and Culex) also eat blood to reproduce effectively.[41] Omnivorous species Although cases exist of herbivores eating meat and carnivores eating plant matter, the classification "omnivore" refers to the adaptation and main food source of the species in general, so these exceptions do not make either individual animals or the species as a whole omnivorous. For the concept of "omnivore" to be regarded as a scientific classification, some clear set of measurable and relevant criteria would need to be considered to differentiate between an "omnivore" and other categories, e.g. faunivore, folivore, and scavenger.[42] Some researchers argue that evolution of any species from herbivory to carnivory or carnivory to herbivory would be rare except via an intermediate stage of omnivory.[43] Omnivorous mammals Various mammals are omnivorous in the wild, such as species of hominids, pigs,[44] badgers, bears, coatis, civets, hedgehogs, opossums, skunks, sloths, squirrels,[45] raccoons, chipmunks,[46] mice,[47] and rats.[48] [7][49][50] Most bear species are omnivores Most bear species are omnivores,[51] but individual diets can range from almost exclusively herbivorous (hypocarnivore) to almost exclusively carnivorous (hypercarnivore), depending on what food sources are available locally and seasonally. Polar bears are classified as carnivores, both taxonomically (they are in the order Carnivora), and behaviorally (they subsist on a largely carnivorous diet). Depending on the species of bear, there is generally a preference for one class of food, as plants and animals are digested differently. Canines including wolves, dogs, dingoes, and coyotes eat some plant matter, but they have a general preference and are evolutionarily geared towards meat.[52] However, the maned wolf is a canid whose diet is naturally 50% plant matter. While most mammals may display "omnivorous" behavior patterns depending on conditions of supply, culture, season and so on, they will generally prefer a particular class of food, to which their digestive processes are adapted. Like most arboreal species, most squirrels are primarily granivores, subsisting on nuts and seeds.[53] But like virtually all mammals, squirrels avidly consume some animal food when it becomes available. For example, the American eastern gray squirrel has been introduced by humans to parts of Britain, continental Europe and South Africa. Where it flourishes, its effect on populations of nesting birds is often serious, largely because of consumption of eggs and nestlings.[54][55] Other species Various birds are omnivorous, with diets varying from berries and nectar to insects, worms, fish, and small rodents. Examples include cranes, cassowaries, chickens, crows[56] and related corvids, kea, rallidae, and rheas. In addition, some lizards, turtles, fish (such as piranhas and catfish), and invertebrates are omnivorous. Quite often, mainly herbivorous creatures will eagerly eat small quantities of animal food when it becomes available. Although this is trivial most of the time, omnivorous or herbivorous birds, such as sparrows, often will feed their chicks insects while food is most needed for growth.[57] On close inspection it appears that nectar-feeding birds such as sunbirds rely on the ants and other insects that they find in flowers, not for a richer supply of protein, but for essential nutrients such as cobalt/vitamin b12 that are absent from nectar. Similarly, monkeys of many species eat maggoty fruit, sometimes in clear preference to sound fruit.[58] When to refer to such animals as omnivorous, or otherwise, is a question of context and emphasis, rather than of definition. See also 1. ^ Beasley, DeAnna; Koltz, Amanda; Lambert, Joanna; Fierer, Noah; Dunn, Rob (29 July 2015). "The Evolution of Stomach Acidity and Its Relevance to the Human Microbiome". PLOS ONE. 10 (7): e0134116. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1034116B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0134116. PMC 4519257. PMID 26222383. 2. ^ Dewey, T. & Bhagat, S. (2002). "Canis lupus familiaris". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2016. 3. ^ Brooker RJ (2008). Biology. McGraw-Hill. p. 1326. ISBN 978-0072956207. 4. ^ Pond G, Ullrey DE, Baer CK (2018). Encyclopedia of Animal Science - (Two-Volume Set). McGraw-Hill. p. 1350. ISBN 978-0072956207. 5. ^ Bradford, Alina (25 January 2016). "Reference: Omnivores: Facts About Flexible Eaters". Livescience. Retrieved 2016. 6. ^ a b "Omnivore". National Geographic Education. National Geographic Society. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 2012. 7. ^ a b McArdle, John. "Humans are Omnivores". Vegetarian Resource Group. Retrieved 2013. 8. ^ "Why Your Dog's Pedigree Goes Back 40 Million Years". About.com Education. Retrieved 2016. 9. ^ "Evolutionary History of Pigs - Domesticating Wilbur". blogs.lt.vt.edu. Retrieved 2016. 10. ^ "Order Cetartiodactyla - Even-toed ungulates (and whales)". www.ultimateungulate.com. Retrieved 2016. 11. ^ Evans, Alistair R.; Pineda-Munoz, Silvia (2018), Croft, Darin A.; Su, Denise F.; Simpson, Scott W. (eds.), "Inferring Mammal Dietary Ecology from Dental Morphology", Methods in Paleoecology: Reconstructing Cenozoic Terrestrial Environments and Ecological Communities, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, Springer International Publishing, pp. 37-51, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-94265-0_4, ISBN 978-3-319-94265-0 12. ^ Sacco, Tyson; Valkenburgh, Blaire Van (2004). "Ecomorphological indicators of feeding behaviour in the bears (Carnivora: Ursidae)". Journal of Zoology. 263 (1): 41-54. doi:10.1017/S0952836904004856. ISSN 1469-7998. 13. ^ Motta-Junior, J. C.; Talamoni, S. A.; Lombardi, J. A.; Simokomaki, K. (1 October 1996). "Diet of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, in central Brazil". Journal of Zoology. 240 (2): 277-284. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05284.x. ISSN 1469-7998. 14. ^ Galdikas, Biruté M. F. (1 February 1988). "Orangutan diet, range, and activity at Tanjung Puting, Central Borneo". International Journal of Primatology. 9 (1): 1-35. doi:10.1007/BF02740195. ISSN 0164-0291. S2CID 40513842. 15. ^ McCarty, John P.; Winkler, David W. (1 January 1999). "Foraging Ecology and Diet Selectivity of Tree Swallows Feeding Nestlings". The Condor. 101 (2): 246-254. doi:10.2307/1369987. JSTOR 1369987. 16. ^ Superina, Mariella (1 March 2011). "Husbandry of a pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus): case study of a cryptic and little known species in captivity". Zoo Biology. 30 (2): 225-231. doi:10.1002/zoo.20334. ISSN 1098-2361. PMID 20648566. 17. ^ "For Most Of Human History, Being An Omnivore Was No Dilemma". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016. 18. ^ "omnivore: definition of omnivore in Oxford dictionary (American English) (US)". www.oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2016. 19. ^ Collocott, T. C., ed. (1974). Chambers Dictionary of science and technology. Edinburgh: W. and R. Chambers. ISBN 978-0-550-13202-4. 20. ^ a b "Omnivore - Biology-Online Dictionary". www.biology-online.org. Retrieved 2016. 21. ^ a b "omnivore - definition of omnivore in English from the Oxford dictionary". www.oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2016. 22. ^ "Definition of OMNIVORE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2016. 23. ^ "omnivore Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2016. 24. ^ Clarys, Peter; Deliens, Tom; Huybrechts, Inge; Deriemaeker, Peter; Vanaelst, Barbara; De Keyzer, Willem; Hebbelinck, Marcel; Mullie, Patrick (24 March 2014). "Comparison of Nutritional Quality of the Vegan, Vegetarian, Semi-Vegetarian, Pesco-Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diet". Nutrients. 6 (3): 1318-1332. doi:10.3390/nu6031318. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 3967195. PMID 24667136. 25. ^ "A multi-national comparison of meat eaters' attitudes and expectations for burgers containing beef, pea or algae protein". Food Quality and Preference. 91: 104195. 1 July 2021. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104195. ISSN 0950-3293. 26. ^ Valente, Martina; Syurina, Elena V.; Muftugil-Yalcin, Seda; Cesuroglu, Tomris (1 November 2020). ""Keep Yourself Alive": From Healthy Eating to Progression to Orthorexia Nervosa A Mixed Methods Study among Young Women in the Netherlands". Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 59 (6): 578-597. doi:10.1080/03670244.2020.1755279. ISSN 0367-0244. PMID 32366121. 27. ^ Norris, Catherine J.; Do, Elena; Close, Emma; Deswert, Sky (1 September 2019). "Ambivalence toward healthy and unhealthy food and moderation by individual differences in restrained eating". Appetite. 140: 309-317. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2019.05.033. ISSN 0195-6663. 28. ^ Schreiner, Philipp; Yilmaz, Bahtiyar; Rossel, Jean-Benoît; Franc, Yannick; Misselwitz, Benjamin; Scharl, Michael; Zeitz, Jonas; Frei, Pascal; Greuter, Thomas; Vavricka, Stephan R.; Pittet, Valérie (July 2019). "Vegetarian or gluten-free diets in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are associated with lower psychological well-being and a different gut microbiota, but no beneficial effects on the course of the disease". United European Gastroenterology Journal. 7 (6): 767-781. doi:10.1177/2050640619841249. ISSN 2050-6406. PMC 6620875. PMID 31316781. 29. ^ O'Malley, Keelia; Willits-Smith, Amelia; Aranda, Rodrigo; Heller, Martin; Rose, Diego (1 June 2019). "Vegan vs Paleo: Carbon Footprints and Diet Quality of 5 Popular Eating Patterns as Reported by US Consumers (P03-007-19)". Current Developments in Nutrition. 3 (Supplement_1). doi:10.1093/cdn/nzz047.P03-007-19. 30. ^ Reece, Jane (10 November 2013). Campbell Biology (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson. pp. Chapter 55. ISBN 978-0321775658. 31. ^ "Animals: Carnivore, Herbivore or Omnivore?". science made simple. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 2016. 32. ^ Ewer, R. F. (1973). The Carnivores. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 978-0-297-99564-7. 33. ^ "Why Dogs Eat Grass ~ Dr. Richard Orzeck". www.worldsvet.com. Retrieved 2016. 34. ^ "White-tailed deer shown to raid nests, eat eggs and baby birds, USGS reports". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2016. 35. ^ Hutson, Jarod M.; Burke, Chrissina C.; Haynes, Gary (1 December 2013). "Osteophagia and bone modifications by giraffe and other large ungulates". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (12): 4139-4149. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.06.004. 36. ^ Negron, Vladimir (20 April 2009). "Why do cats eat grass?". petMD. 37. ^ Platt, S. G.; Elsey, R. M.; Liu, H.; Rainwater, T. R.; Nifong, J. C.; Rosenblatt, A. E.; Heithaus, M. R.; Mazzotti, F. J. (2013). "Frugivory and seed dispersal by crocodilians: an overlooked form of saurochory?". Journal of Zoology. 291 (2): 87-99. doi:10.1111/jzo.12052. ISSN 1469-7998. 38. ^ "Omnivore". www.eoearth.org. Retrieved 2016. 39. ^ Maclean, Gordon Lindsay (1993). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. Publisher: New Holland. ISBN 978-0620175838. 40. ^ Skaife, S. H. (1953). African Insect Life. Pub. Longmans, Green & Co., London. 41. ^ "Anopheles Male Vs. Female". animals.mom.me. Retrieved 2016. 42. ^ Singer, Michael S.; Bernays, Elizabeth A. (2003). "Understanding Omnivory Needs: A Behavioral Perspective". Ecology. 84 (10): 2532-2537. doi:10.1890/02-0397. 43. ^ "Omnivores' ancestors primarily ate plants, or animals, but not both". 17 April 2012. Retrieved 2012. 44. ^ Brent Huffman. "Family Suidae (Pigs)". UltimateUngulate.com. Retrieved 2007. 45. ^ "Tree Squirrels". The Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 2009. 46. ^ "Eastern Chipmunk". Wonder Club. Retrieved 2009. 47. ^ "Florida Mouse". United States Fauna. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2009. 48. ^ "Brown Rat". Science Daily. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 2009. 49. ^ Robert E. C. Wildman; Denis M. Medeiros (2000). Advanced Human Nutrition. CRC Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0849385667. Retrieved 2013. 50. ^ Robert Mari Womack (2010). The Anthropology of Health and Healing. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 243. ISBN 978-0759110441. Retrieved 2013. 51. ^ "Food and Diet". bearsmart.com. Retrieved 2013. 52. ^ "About Wolves". Wolf Park. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 2015. 53. ^ Halle, S. & Stenseth, N. (2000). Activity patterns in small mammals: an ecological approach. Berlin; Heidelberg, Germany; New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 131. 54. ^ Annex: Towards a Forestry Commission England Grey Squirrel Policy (PDF), UK: Forestry Commission, 22 January 2006, retrieved 2012 55. ^ Moller, H. (1983). "Food and foraging behaviour of red (Scirus vulgaris) and grey (Scirus carolinensis) squirrels". Mammal Review 13: 81-98. 56. ^ Seattle Audubon Society. "Family Corvidae (Crows/Ravens)". BirdWeb.org. Retrieved 2011. 57. ^ Capinera, John (2010). Insects and Wildlife. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4443-3300-8. 58. ^ Ewing, Jack (2005). Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate. Publisher: Pixyjack Press. ISBN 978-0-9658098-1-8. Music Scenes
Skip Nav Childbirth Takes Longer Than It Did 50 Years Ago What's the Holdup, Baby? Why Labor Takes Longer Today Than It Did 50 Years Ago Does it seem like today's childbirth stories are a bit more dramatic than those of our parents and grandparents? While it may feel like a natural side effect of our oversharing generation (back then, no one was tweeting or Facebooking labor updates to their social networks), according to a recent study, women actually are spending significantly more time in labor today than they were 50 years ago. The National Institutes of Health reports that the average duration of the first stage of labor has increased by 2.6 hours compared to data from the 1960s. While the reasons for today's longer labors aren't entirely clear, and the authors of the study called for additional research to determine its causes and implications, these five factors were proven to play a part: 5 Factors That Have Led to Longer Labors 1. Women Weigh More The women whose data was collected from the contemporary group had an average prepregnancy body mass index of 24.9, compared to the previous generation's group average of a BMI of 23. 2. Women Have Their Babies Later in Life Women now are an average of four years older than their 1960s counterparts were when they gave birth. 3. Epidurals Are More Common Today Epidurals are used in more than half of all of today's deliveries, compared with just four percent 50 years ago. These are known to prolong labor by approximately 40-90 minutes. 4. Later Stage Delivery Practices Are Less Invasive In the 1960s, episiotomies, and the use of forceps to extract the baby from the birth canal, were much more frequent occurrences than they are today. 5. Bigger Babies Today's babies are an average of 4 ounces larger than those born 50 years ago. How do the findings of the study compare to your birthing experience? Did anything strike you as drastically different as compared to labor stories that you've heard from previous generations? Share your stories! Image Source: Thinkstock Latest Family
Hungary Amends Language Requirements From 2020, high school graduates in Hungary are required to possess at least one upper-intermediate language certificate or a higher-level Hungarian Matura from one language to be able to meet new university admission standards. Until now, the system worked slightly differently—university students had been expected to submit their language certificates in order to be able to receive their degree. The only difference was that they had more time to reach that proficiency. The level and number of language qualifications were determined based on the attended course and the importance of the language presence in the chosen professional field. Most of the courses required an upper-intermediate (B2) language certificate, although, it wasn’t rare to have higher requirements like taking an advanced (C1) and/or an intermediate professional or business language exam. Those directly affected had been struggling to get hold of their degree, even though all required university exam needs were satisfied. On many occasions, it took them years to be able to pass their language tests and finally take ownership of their HE awards. Students have had different ideas about how they could meet these high conditions. Dora Szalai, an alumna of the University of Pannonia took the opportunity of attending a semester at University of Derby through the Erasmus Program, so she had passed the test in Liverpool before returning to Hungary. Others have chosen different routes like enrolling in a language school or taking private lessons from a tutor. According to, based on the data found on the parliament’s website, more than half of the 199 MPs would not be able to attend university from 2020 rest on their language 98 do not hold a language certificate7 only completed B1 9 only passed part of the language exam, either written or oral examThis means that 114 politicians wouldn’t be able to gain access to HE in the new system, which is 58% of all the MPs. We cannot know for sure how this amendment will affect students’ chances in the future but the numbers that Milan Berenyi, chairman of the Professional Association of Language Schools, mentioned in an interview with Magyar Nemzet are not too promising. Berenyi claimed that only 45% of university applicants and 55% admitted students possessed language certification in recent years, therefore a decrease in the number of university attendees can be expected from 2020. A felsőoktatásban jövőre már feltétel a középfokú tudás igazolása Bio: Kitti Palmai is a UK-based freelance writer and translator whose byline has appeared in The Expat Magazine, Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, and many more. Email address: [email protected] 'Hungary Amends Language Requirements' has no comments Be the first to comment this post! Would you like to share your thoughts? Your email address will not be published.
Ways to help kids deal with divorce issues like child custody \| Nov 17, 2011 \| Child Custody and Visitation In the aftermath of a divorce, the individual most impacted by the end of a marriage is often the child. Sometimes it is not as apparent to parents how much their separation affected the kids. But as the holiday season approaches, things can get tense as parents begin to fight about child custody and who gets to spend time with the children. It can be difficult for a child to have to travel between two parents, two homes and two sets of holidays. But are there ways to prepare a child for this? If a couple is contemplating a divorce, are there steps they can take to reduce the impact it can have on their children? There is no doubt that the end of a marriage can leave children with painful memories and possibly even distress. But how do parents balance preparing their kids for the divorce without giving them too much detail? Sometimes simply explaining to a child that a divorce is going to happen can help. This does not necessarily mean telling your kids every single reason why the marriage isn’t working out. But giving them a “heads up” takes away the element of surprise. Additionally, parents should also tell kids what will happen after the divorce. They may be wondering if they will have to move or change schools, even questioning whether they will be able to see both parents. Putting their concerns at ease is often in their best interests. One final suggestion for parents is to listen to your kids. A divorce is enough to upset their daily routine and making sure to take their opinions into consideration can go a long way. A parenting plan should not just accommodate the mother and father but also the child. Ultimately, working to find the middle ground between dealing with the divorce and being a loving parent can be a challenge. Remembering that your decisions will affect your kids can help keep that perspective. Source: Huffington Post, “Helping Children Survive Divorce: Talking to Children About Divorce,” Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D., Nov. 14, 2011 FindLaw Network
Training the Luftwaffe Eurofighter pilot Rostock-Laage Airport is home of Jagdgeschwader 73 (73rd Fighter Wing) from the German Air Force. The wing has one operational squadron equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon. The second squadron is the only training squadron for the Luftwaffe Typhoon pilots. Recce Reports visited the wing on 15 July 2013. The combined civil/military airport is located in north-eastern Germany near the town of Rostock. Untill October 1990 it used to be in the German Democratic Republic, also know as East-Germany. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multirole fighter aircaft with two engines. It has a typical delta wing and two small canard wings on the left and right side, just behind the nose part. One of the countries involved in the development of the aircraft is Germany. The first prototype flew in 1994. In 2004 the first Lufwaffe Eurofighters arrived at Laage. German Eurofighter Training After basic flying training in the USA, German pilots intended to fly the Eurofigter, receive their training at Laage. Besides theory classes the wing has flight simulators for the preparation and monitoring of practical training. In the second fighter squadron then theory is put into practice. After flights with flight instructors, in the appropriate two-seat trainer, the pilots start flying the single-seat Eurofighter. After completing training, the pilots move to their operational destination. Jagdgeschwader 73 ‘Steinhoff’ performes advanced weapons training for the Eurofighter as well. Quick Reaction Alert The wing is also responsible for the safeguarding of German airspace. The so-called ‘air policing’ includes the ability to provide a Quick Reaction Alert, that puts two Eurofighters in the air in a very short time.
Alan Turing is the new face of the £50 note - here's why Wednesday, 23rd June 2021, 11:51 am Alan Turing features on the new £50 note The Alan Turing £50 banknote has started to enter circulation, coinciding with the Bletchley Park codebreaker’s birthday. The new polymer Bank of England note will become available in bank branches and at ATMs in the coming days and weeks. Celebrating Mr Turing’s life, the Bank of England was also flying the Progress Pride flag above its building in London’s Threadneedle Street on Wednesday. Often considered to be the father of computer science, Mr Turing played a pivotal role in turning World War Two in favour of the Allied forces. Here’s what you need to know about the legendary mathematician. Who was Alan Turing? Often considered to be the father of computer science, Mr Turing played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code and his legacy has had a lasting impact on the way we live today. Cracking the Enigma code is said to have helped to shorten the Second World War by at least two years – saving millions of lives. The Enigma enciphering machine, adopted by the German armed forces to send messages securely, was believed to be unbreakable. Mr Turing was part of an Enigma research section working at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. The first wartime Enigma messages were cracked in January 1940 and Enigma traffic continued to be broken routinely for the remainder of the war. Born on June 23 1912, Mr Turing studied mathematics at King’s College, University of Cambridge, gaining a first-class honours degree in 1934. He was elected a Fellow of the College. In 1936 his work On Computable Numbers is seen as giving birth to the idea of how computers could operate. His “Turing test” also examined the behaviour necessary for a machine to be considered intelligent – the foundation for artificial intelligence. The wartime hero’s later life was overshadowed by a conviction for homosexual activity, which was later considered unjust and discriminatory. Mr Turing was convicted of gross indecency for his relationship with a man. His conviction led to the removal of his security clearance and meant he was no longer able to work for Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). He was chemically castrated following his conviction in 1952 and died by cyanide poisoning in 1954 at the age of 41. What’s special about the new £50 note? The new polymer £50 note contains advanced security features, completing what the Bank described as its most secure set of banknotes yet. The note will join the Sir Winston Churchill £5, the Jane Austen £10 and the JMW Turner £20, meaning all Bank of England banknotes are now available in polymer. The Bank also said that September 30 2022 will be the last day people can use its paper £20 and £50 notes. After that, the paper notes will no longer be legal tender, so people should spend them or deposit them at their bank beforehand. The Bank of England’s Chief Cashier, Sarah John, said: “The polymer £50 note is the most secure Bank of England banknote yet, and the features of the note make it very difficult to counterfeit. “All of our polymer banknotes can be checked by looking for two key security features: a hologram which changes image; and see-through windows. So, if you can check one denomination of banknote, you can check them all. “The new £50 notes, like the polymer £10 and £20 notes, contain a tactile feature to help vision impaired people identify the denomination.”
Robin Hood Primary School logo Robin Hood Primary School Aiming High to Excel and Exceed Summer Term 1 This term our topic is 'Animals'. Our key question is: 'Should animals be kept in an enclosure?' We talked about whether or not we thought animals should be kept in an enclosure or not. Here are some of our ideas: “Yes, because they will stay safe in a cage. A car might hit them”. “Yes, because they might run away and get hurt”. “No, because they might get hungry and they can’t get their own food”. “Yes, because monkeys are cheeky so they should stay inside a cage, then they can’t do naughty things”. “No, because they should stay in their normal habitat- in the jungle, so they can’t hurt people”. “No, you have to think you would be in your house and you can’t come out like the animals and you want to be free!” “No, because there is not much space”. On Wednesday 19th April, we visited Stonebridge City Farm. We looked at the farm animals. We thought about the adult animals and the name of their young.
Single Copies As Route 66’s establishment in 1926 would come to pave the way for cars to carry passengers from the Midwest to the Pacific coast via asphalt, the air, without any highways, had been — for over twenty years — a prime and novel location for traveling, fighting and performing tricks via airplane. Yet, from amongst the growing number of aviators to populate the sky, one pilot stood out from amongst her peers. 1926 would see the tragic accidental death—caused by an unfastened seat-belt—of nationally celebrated pilot, Bessie Coleman. At 24-years-old, Bessie Coleman made the move from Oklahoma to Chicago in 1916, where she first developed a desire to fly after hearing stories told by homecoming fighter pilots. This desire would be met by a pair of difficult limitations or restrictions particular to the American politics and social values of the early Twentieth Century. Since the inception of the modern airplane, few American women—save for the wealthy—were in possession of the license necessary to fly such a craft. American flying schools refused to admit Bessie into their programs due simply to her race and womanhood. Yet, as a woman who believed that “the air is the only place free from prejudices,” these limitations proved unsuccessful in preventing Coleman from becoming the first woman of African-American and the first woman of Native American descent to obtain a flight education and ultimately, the cherished pilot’s license. Like many painters and poets living outside of France, who sought to educate and enrich their genius within the “City of Lights”, Bessie, though not an artist, chose to earn her education and certification in Paris, where a woman of her ethnicity could do so. Aware of the growing culture of pilotry in France, where numerous women flew planes without restriction, she decided to learn French, and collected her entire financial savings to fund a trip to Paris, where she would attend flight school and earn her license. The only woman of color in her class, it took seven months for her to be thoroughly educated in aviation. In June of 1921, she was bestowed with an international pilot’s license by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale after completing her education. Upon Coleman’s return to the States that year, she was greeted warmly as a public celebrity. Air Service News noted her as a “full-fledged aviatrix, the first of her race.” An ovation made by hundreds of theatergoers—most of whom were white—greeted her at the premiere of “Shuffle Along,” an all-black musical. In 1922, she participated in her first air show in Garden City, Long Island, performing “heart thrilling stunts” for an audience of 3000, according to the Chicago Defender. She performed audacious tricks for those curious spectators at airshows, earning her more celebrity. One such trick, recorded by Doris L. Rich in Queen Bess finds Bessie, after a frightened parachutist in her plane refused to take a leap, making the jump herself, and brilliantly landing in the middle of the audience. Such fearless audacity, it seems, would prove to be literally her downfall. “I thought it my duty to risk my life to learn aviation,” she once exclaimed. The air shows and the celebrity achieved by them would not last for long as she took her final flight in preparation for an air show the following day in Jacksonville, Florida. While in the air, a wrench managed to wiggle its way into the engine’s control gears, causing the plane to flip and crash, the situation made doubly fatal by Bessie’s unfastened seat-belt—she was ripped from her seat by the air dropping to her death from some 2000 feet in the air (though the actual height is disputed). As the Mother Road would become a tender daughter on November 1st of 1926, with the Federal Highway Act, the death of Bessie Coleman seven months earlier, together with the Air Commerce Act, demonstrated the importance of safety when controlling, not a car, but an airplane. Yet the fates of the two domains, air and road, have echoed each other since the arrival of modern aviation and have taught us that when driving or flying, the principle of safety must be maintained in balance with the principle of enjoyment, which is always inclined towards danger. Today, few immediately know the name of Bessie Coleman, but her achievements and courage must go down in history as pioneering and worthy of our respect. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. Share this story
Clincal Guidelines Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) are statements that contain indications describing when, and how often, an intervention should be performed under the auspices of scientific evidence, clinical judgment, and patient values while avoiding unnecessary provisions of services. SNMMI follows a balanced multidisciplinary approach to guidance development by including various stakeholders in the development process. Procedure Standards The procedure standards help to identify those elements of the procedure that are most important in obtaining a high-quality examination, while simultaneously controlling costs. Use of standardized procedures will increase the applicability of clinical research among multiple institutions, in turn, increasing the value of research studies, particularly in the field of technology assessment. In the interest of creating strong, comprehensive documents, some guidelines were formally adopted by SNMMI in collaboration with other professional organizations. The Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee pursues its mission to develop standard methods, models, and mathematical schema for assessing internal radiation dose from administered radiopharmaceuticals. The Radiation Dose Assessment Resource website's goals are to bring together the various resources that exist in the areas of internal and external dose assessment, integrate them into a single system, and put them in your hands as quickly and efficiently as possible. Dose Optimization In nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, small amounts of radioactive agents are administered to the patient to allow the physician to examine molecular processes within the body. These procedures are highly effective, safe and painless diagnostic tools that present physicians with a detailed view of what’s going on inside an individual’s body at the cellular level. For more than 60 years, these studies have been used to evaluate practically all systems within the body, including the heart and brain, as well as to image many types of cancer. Consensus Guidelines and Position Statements Consensus Guidelines are statements on issues within the field of Nuclear Medicine that are supported by other medical specialty societies and experts, and Position Statements are statements that serve as an expression of SNMMI's stance on specific practice, policy, or professional issues.
Plant Breeders' Rights Plants are often the starting material for many drugs and in some instances the drugs may be produced by extraction directly from a plant, if chemical synthesis is too complex or expensive. Protection of these 'factories' can be important as part of the jigsaw of rights used to create a comprehensive monopoly for a product. As well as the patent system, which can be used to protect plants (though not varieties), there are separate rights to plant varieties and in the US also Plant Patents. The Plant Variety Rights Office administers UK plant breeders' rights, and a separate system of EU plant breeders' rights is administered through the Community Plant Variety Office. Plant Breeders' rights entitle the holder to prevent others from exploiting the protected variety. The rights last for twenty five years, starting from the date of grant of the right, for all species except trees, vines and potatoes, which benefit from thirty years of protection. The plant variety undergoes a technical examination to ensure it is distinct, uniform and stable. There is a novelty requirement. In this regard, a variety is new if, at the date of the application for protection of the variety, it has not been sold or disposed of with the consent of the breeder either earlier than one year before the date within the EU or earlier than four years before the date outside the EU (six years for trees and vines). Stratagem IPM Ltd (Head Office) Meridian Court Comberton Road Cambridge CB23 2RY Tel. 01223 550740 Don't be afraid to talk to us It costs nothing for you to contact us.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Top 5 mistakes new programmers make while developing Is programming an art or science? While numerous proofs can be made on programming languages on their properties, which puts it in the realm of science, inspiration is the source to a program that can be described as elegant as well as efficient. Being such so, in the early years, programming is often a singular pursuit that offers great satisfaction. As a programmer matures and Interest become Vocation, the nature of programming changes. What was a lone effort is now collaborative. And while there was none in the past, deadlines constantly looms high over the programmer. This change has led many programmers down the same path of discovery and maturity. Some become disillusioned, others trudge on and often making the same mistakes those ahead of them. Being a programmer myself, I am also guilty of some of the following mistakes. In no particular order, 1. Trying to fix the problem on their own. A remnant of the lone programmer mindset or the advent of the 'lone programmer against the world' world view. Often followed by the belief that nobody else can help or solve the problem but themselves. This despite knowing well someone else has walked along the path before they did. Solution: a. Always repeat to yourself: This is not a unique problem. Someone else has solved it or solved something similar to it. Look for that solution. b. Talk to someone. Sometime the act of telling someone one provides another perspective. 2. Dismissing bugs as 'small' in front of others. Those 'small bugs' can get very big. Treat all bugs the same or through the same process. 3. Going down a rabbit hole. That is hyper-focusing on one issue which create more problems or needs changes elsewhere. Which goes recursively until a few hours is lost. Solution: Mandatory breaks where you stop thinking about the problem and have something to eat OR talk to someone about the problem and what you are doing. 4. Not familiar with the production OS platform and not giving a care. Assuming just because it runs on platform, it must on the other. Followed by the attitude that because it doesn't, it's the platform's fault. The big picture: The customer doesn't care. All they want to see is that it's done and running. While the platform developers are at fault, you still have to care for the target's platform. What other services does it offer? Hoe do I use them. Classic example: while a lot know about ssh, not many have used scp despite both using the same platform and technologies 5. Assuming the most technical/complicated solution is the right one to match the difficulty of the bug. Because only such a solution is 'worthy' of this bug. In reality, the best solution is often the simplest. Wield Occam's Razor wisely and the path to the solution will present itself. Recently Popular
Financial Controller Careers a day in the life of a financial controller The Balance / Ellen Lindner Budgeting is a key function of controllers and their staff, including the counting of spending and revenues. As this job title suggests, they "control" access to corporate funds, exercising important fiduciary responsibility. In many situations, professionals in the controller's organization must approve expenditures. Becoming a controller is a natural career progression for accountants and auditors, but not every controller position requires such prior experience. Controllers typically are part of the organization headed by a company-wide or divisional chief financial officer (CFO). In smaller companies and organizations, the roles of controller and CFO may be combined. Also, note that larger companies may have corporate budgeting and project analysis departments in addition to their networks of divisional or departmental controllers. Meanwhile, in government, officials with the title of treasurer often either perform the duties of a controller or supervise others who do. Moreover, an alternate spelling, comptroller, is often seen in government. Indeed, in some jurisdictions, such as the City of New York, the comptroller is an elected position. More Detail In most companies controllers and their staffs have responsibility for management reporting systems, developing reports and analyses that are crucial to the management of the business. In larger companies, they also are involved in the design and maintenance of transfer pricing methodologies and systems. In addition to the measurement and analysis of corporate profitability, controllers often work closely with people in the marketing function, especially product managers, in setting pricing policies for the company's products and services. In lean organizations, controllers can have broad job descriptions or a number of unstated additional duties, assuming a variety of additional roles. In these situations, controllers often have assignments and ongoing responsibilities that cross over into fields, such as human resources, market research, general data analysis, product management, product development, corporate strategy, business forecasting, and liaison with information technology groups, among many others. Additionally, since controllers often find themselves in matrix reporting situations, they often serve as de facto chiefs of staff for their superiors on the business or operational side (as opposed to their superiors in the financial organization). A large corporation will have multiple layers of controllers, depending on how its hierarchy of departments and divisions is organized. Working in a controllership function can be an excellent way to gain a broad knowledge of the business. In the financial services industry, controllers frequently work closely with compliance and risk management departments. Importance of the CPA While holding a CPA can help one advance in controller positions, or to rise to the post of a divisional or company CFO, it is not always necessary, especially in lower-level positions. Policies differ by company. Controllers and Information Technology In technology-intensive companies, including much of the financial services industry, controllers and CFOs should develop at least a rudimentary understanding of key IT concepts and issues. This will give them the necessary expertise to evaluate IT proposals and plans, which can have huge financial and strategic impacts. Cloud computing, for example, is a hot topic in IT today (as well as in risk management) and financial professionals thus should at least a passing familiarity with the concept. Salary Range The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) places controllers within its broad category of financial managers. As of May 2012, median pay for management analysts was $78,600 and 90% earned between $44,370 and $142,580. Within the financial services industry, controllers often are paid considerably more than the overall averages for financial managers, or for controllers in other industries. Also note that since there may be controllers at various levels within a company (such for departments, business units, divisions, subsidiaries or the company as a whole), pay will vary, of course, based on the level at which a given controller is placed. Finally, geographic pay differentials are bound to influence pay by location.
Sunday, November 16, 2014 Where the Wild Things Are A trail camera in a Malibu garden captures an image of a night visitor. Coyotes are just one of many wild animal species that make their homes among us. All photos © 2014 Suzanne Guldimann Let the wild rumpus begin! —Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are In Malibu you don't have to go far to find where the wild things are. They are right here, living parallel lives that rarely intersect with their humans neighbors, despite the fact that we all occupy the same neighborhoods. At the Malibu Post we've been monitoring some of our local wildlife for the past four months with the help of a trail camera. It's an illuminating experience. I was anticipating catching the local coyotes at work when I set the camera up. We see constant evidence of their presence: footprints, scat, and holes dug in pursuit of gophers, although this wily wild canine is rarely seen in person. But the very first photo we captured wasn't a coyote, it was this shy beauty: Madam Bobcat is a silent secret presence in the night garden, where she hunts for rabbits, and rodents. Unlike the coyotes, she leaves no trace of her presence. I was astonished. I had no idea there was a bobcat in the area, but I learned that a friend who lives nearby has seen her so often that she refers to her as "my bobcat." The bobcat is shy and secretive. We rarely get a photo of all of her, but we know now that she is a presence in the garden. Bobcats are generally solitary and require a large territory—at least a square mile for females and nearly twice that for males, according to the Urban Carnivore website Bobcats are bigger than a house cat and look impressively wild, with spots and stripes and enormous paws, but they are not a threat to humans and prefer to avoid confrontations. they are also much smaller than most people realize, usually weighing no more than 15-18 pounds. Urban legend provides many colorful tall tales of wildcats attacking people and pets, but National Park Service biologists who have been studying the local bobcat population for over a decade, maintain that there is absolutely no credible evidence of a bobcat ever attacking a human or eating domestic cats or dogs. Bobcats are obligate carnivores, but they primarily hunt rabbits and rodents like ground squirrels, gophers and wood rats. Unfortunately, this puts them at high risk for secondary poisoning from anticoagulant rodenticides. Research indicates that the impact of poison on the bobcat's immune system can lead to death from manage and from a condition called chronic wasting disease. Madam Bobcat performs a disappearing act, slipping through a gap in the fence in broad daylight. You can just see her nose and her ears, illuminated by the sun. A blueline stream nearby and a buffer zone of riparian habitat, including deep thickets—and plenty of poison oak that keeps human interlopers out—provides shelter and a wildlife corridor for animals like bobcats, who may include gardens in their nightly rounds but require secure places to den and to raise their young. This is the wild thing I expected to photograph—Malibu's resident trickster spirit, the coyote. I haven't been disappointed. The remote camera, with its motion detector and infrared flash, has recorded the previously unseen adventures of a pair of coyotes. After carefully checking to make sure the coast is clear, the coyote squeezes through the same small gap in the fence that the bobcat uses. This is a tiny space, barely nine inches high and less than two feet across. This coyote arrived at 3:02 a.m., and left, for a reason she didn't bother to share, two minutes later. Mischief managed, I guess. Or perhaps she received word from her mate informing her that the gophers were better on the other side of the fence. Coyotes sing to communicate with the other members of their family, not while hunting, which would defeat the point of being sneaky and stealthy. The local coyotes appear to live in a small family group consisting of a mated pair and their young. They sometimes hunt cooperatively, especially while the youngsters are learning to fend for themselves, but they absolutely do not hunt in giant packs, no matter what local urban legend claims. Coyotes are also smaller than most people realize, rarely weighing more than 35 pounds. There are always coyotes and many other species of wildlife living among us, whether we are aware of them or not, but the drought has greatly increased contact with humans, sometimes with tragic results for households pets. Pet owners are strongly encouraged to keep cats indoors and make sure small dogs have a safely fenced enclosure and are always walked on a leash. This coyote is not sure what to think of the infrared flash on the remote camera. Coyotes are intelligent and curious, qualities that help them to adapt and survive in urban environments. Coyotes look big, but a lot of their bulk is fur. They can fit through remarkably small gaps and are capable of jumping a six foot fence. Anyone who wants to keep coyotes out of their space should make sure that there aren't any gaps in their fences or gates. Coyote rollers—rotating pipes that prevent coyotes from climbing over fences are easy to install. There are DIY and manufactured options on the Internet. There are a lot of urban legends about coyotes and bobcats. The truth is, they are fragile, intelligent, flesh-and-blood animals not that different in behavior from the dogs and cats that share our lives as companion animals. Unlike the bobcat, coyotes are omnivores. They dig for gophers and ground squirrels and are expert mousers, and yes, they will catch and eat cats and small dogs if they get the chance, but they also eat fruit and insects and anything remotely edible that humans leave outside, including bird seed and BBQ drippings. Coyotes leave scat in the open as a sort of canine calling card, so it's relatively easy to determine what they've been eating at a glance. Lately, ours have been feasting on pomegranates—they wait until the fruit splits open, then pull them off the lower branches, eat the good parts and leave the empty rind behind. They've also been eating large quantities of palm tree fruit, potato bugs and snails. The snails surprised me, but they are abundant, easy to catch and probably provide plenty of protein and moisture—necessities in short supply during drought conditions. The coyotes and Madam Bobcat aren't the only animals to use the gap in the fence. Rabbits also travel this way. These fierce and intrepid lagomorphs are busy in the garden day and night, and not only thrive but appear to enjoy every minute of their lives despite being at the bottom of the food chain and in constant danger. There are other garden visitors that have so far eluded the camera: the raccoons that fish for tadpoles in the creek and for koi in a neighbor's pond; the ferocious, secretive long-tailed weasel, glimpsed only twice in all the years we've lived here; and the gray foxes we sometimes hear yipping at the moon on winter nights but rarely ever see. The sight of a gray fox is so rare that I felt inspired to write a poem commemorating my first encounter with this elusive species in 2008. The Fox I walked on the beach on a winter’s day, In a moment snatched between rain showers, When the sea and the sky were pewter gray, Empty and lonely as the dawn hours. I heard a curlew’s sweet sorrowing cry, As bright and clear as the evening star. I watched a little gray shadow slip by, Secret as a ghost, across the sand bar, Between the sea and the storm-swollen creek. Along the shore I watched him lightly flit Chasing the silly plover, not to seek To catch one, but just for the joy of it. He left his footprints for the tide to fill— As proof for me that what I’d seen was true: That foxes live here also, even still. I’ve lived here all my life and never knew. After encountering the fox, the bobcat shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was. And it makes me wonder what other unseen creatures may be quietly living among us. Henry David Thoreau famously wrote "in wildness is the preservation of the world." One doesn't need to travel to remote corners of the world to find that wildness, it's often just outside the door. And while no one is thrilled when the skunks take up residence under the deck or the coyotes hold a wild rumpus under the bedroom window at 3 a.m., most Malibu residents appreciate what a gift it is to live in a place that still has room for wild things. Suzanne Guldimann 16 November 2014 We rarely see coyotes by daylight, but this one appeared right in time for the birthday of the Malibu Surfside New's founder and former editor and publisher Anne Soble. Anne was (and is) an advocate for all wildlife but especially for coyotes. She often devoted her editorials to the issue of conservation and peaceful coexistence with this remarkable wild canine. So it seems entirely appropriate that a coyote should stop by to pay his respects on that particular day. He is one of the celestial beings in Chumash cosmology, after all. One of the Sky People, a creator, shapeshifter, hero, trickster and messenger. 1. Awesome writing! And some great photography catches too. Happy Birthday to Anne Soble, whose voice we all miss on the community scene. You are doing a great service by carrying on with a voice for nature via this blog, Suzanne! Read our guide if you wish. Thanks again :) 3. Awesome post! This is helpful post. This article is clear and with lots of useful information. Browning Trail Camera
Civil engineering What civil engineering is all about? What does a civil engineer do exactly? Civil engineers design major transportation projects. Civil engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Is Civil Engineering a good career? Definitely Civil Engineering is a good career choice, because Civil Engineering covers so many jobs in private and public sectors. The growth opportunity in the Civil Engineering career is very high. There is no retirement for a skilled and experienced Civil Engineer. What is the use of studying civil engineering? Civil engineering is the professional practice of designing and developing infrastructure projects. This can be on a huge scale, such as the development of nationwide transport systems or water supply networks, or on a smaller scale, such as the development of individual roads or buildings. Is it hard to get a job as a civil engineer? Civil engineering is relatively hard. Consider the amount of work-related skills needed to succeed in this profession. Additionally, since practical experience is valued so highly in this field, you might also have to spend your summers interning just to get your foot in the door. See also Is civil engineering in high demand? Are Civil Engineers rich? In general, civil engineers earn a good living. However, most civil engineers will not “get rich” unless they start a large, successful engineering firm. In the United States, civil engineers earn an average annual wage of $93,270. Is Civil Engineering difficult to study? Civil Engineering is surely a diverse and difficult branch in general. But, compared to other core branches in Indian colleges, it is considered to be one of the easiest and less hectic branchs. The only difficult part is Engineering Drawing as reported by most CE students. Can you do civil engineering without maths? General foundation year enquiries. The engineering foundation year is a multidisciplinary year for students who want to do engineering but do not have the appropriate subjects to gain direct entry to an engineering course. Most often, the candidates do not have A-level maths. Is maths hard in civil engineering? Is mathematics hard in civil engineering? – Quora. No ,it is not . But there are two ways to look at that : Case 1 : studying for College sem – In our college we had two books on mathematics by same write GAUR & KAUL and it convered all the syllabus of civil engineering. What is the most important subject in civil engineering? Building planning (Most importantly Reading of drawing) Concrete technology. Heavy construction and project management (basic idea) Is civil engineering good for future? The requirement for such modern developments is bound to grow. If students are willing to work on groundbreaking developments, Civil Engineering provides them with a room to grow and a chance to hone their skills. The future of Civil Engineering is not just limited to the geographical boundaries of our country. See also Is civil engineering masters worth it? Is civil engineering good for girls? Yes ,civil engineering is suitable for Girls. There is no any problem for girls as Female civil engineers are also easily getting jobs in present date. Is civil The easiest engineering? When I joke about why people should go into civil engineering, I usually say because it’s the easiest branch of engineering. And from a technical perspective, it’s true. … The math behind civil engineering is really not very hard. If you understand simple geometry and algebra, you already know most of what’s needed. Is there a lot of math in civil engineering? A civil engineer uses nearly every form of math at one point in time to do her job. Algebra is used on a daily basis, and many engineers will have to deal with differential equations, statistics, and calculus occasionally. … Civil engineers use trigonometry often when surveying a structure. Which is the toughest semester in engineering? For university of kerala, mechanical engineering, seventh semester is the toughest one, with three core papers – refrigeration and air conditioning, Gas Dynamics,Design of machine elements. along with this,there is mechatronics which is mainly an electronics based subject :D. Is civil engineering good in 2020? In 2020-21 Civil Engineering is one of the top 10 career options all over the world. Related Articles Back to top button
Eyelid Surgery Eyelid Surgery \| Toms River NJ \| Hackensack \| Edison Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a plastic surgery procedure for correcting sagging or drooping eyelids. The eyelid, because its skin is much thinner than that in other parts of the face, is often one of the first facial areas to exhibit signs of aging. Eyelids that sag or droop can affect peripheral vision, making daily activities such as driving more difficult. Blepharoplasty may become necessary when various factors, which include aging, sun damage, smoking and obesity, cause the muscles and tissue that support the eyelids to weaken. Blepharoplasty FAQs Reasons for Eyelid Surgery Eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty) tightens the eyelid’s muscles and tissue, and removes excess fat and skin. Eye lid surgery eliminates the drooping of skin into the visual field, greatly improving peripheral vision. It is also performed for strictly cosmetic reasons. Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty) can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid, or on both, for cosmetic purposes. For a lower eyelid that needs fat rather than skin removed, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty is performed. During transconjunctival eye lid surgery, an incision is made inside the lower eyelid, so there are no visible scars, and the fat is removed. This procedure has no effect on vision, but results in a person’s looking younger and more refreshed. It is important for a patient to have realistic expectations before undergoing cosmetic eye lid surgery. Although the procedure can enhance appearance and improve self-confidence, it does not radically alter the face. Candidates for Eyelid Surgery The best candidates for eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty) are those who are in good overall health, do not smoke, do not have any serious eye conditions, and have healthy facial tissue and muscle. People with eye disease, including glaucoma or retinal detachment, thyroid disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure are not good candidates for eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty). The Eyelid Surgery Procedure Eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty) is typically performed as an outpatient procedure requiring local anesthesia and sedation. General anesthesia may be used for anxious patients. Patients can choose to have this procedure on their upper or lower eyelids, or both. The procedure can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on whether both the upper and lower eyelids are operated on. If the upper eyelid is being operated on, an incision is typically made along its natural crease. Once the incision is made, fat deposits are repositioned or removed, muscles and tissue are tightened, and excess skin is removed. For the lower eyelid, an incision is usually made just below the lash line so that excess skin can be removed. After the procedure, the incisions are closed with sutures, tissue glue or surgical tape, and usually loosely covered with gauze so the area can heal. Recovery After Eyelid Surgery After eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty), patients may be advised to apply lubricating drops/ointment and cold compresses to aid in healing and minimize side effects. Most patients return to work within a few days to a week, but should avoid exercise and strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks. Stitches are usually removed after 3 or 4 days. Most swelling and other side effects typically subside within 2 weeks. Contact lenses and eye makeup may not be worn for 2 weeks after surgery. Patients are typically advised to wear dark sunglasses outside or in bright light for 2 weeks to protect their eyes from sun and wind. Risks of Eyelid Surgery Although there may be swelling and bruising around the surgical site, they will subside on their own, and the eyelids will improve in appearance for up to a year. Uncommon side effects include infection, reaction to anesthesia, and double or blurred vision. Eyes may be irritated and dry due to a temporary change in tear distribution. Side effects such as uneven healing and permanent scarring are rare but, if they occur, may require surgical correction. The scars from blepharoplasty are well-concealed, and usually fade with time until they are virtually undetectable. Although the eyelids are still subject to aging, eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty) produces long-lasting results.
5 Differences Between Soil Roots and Water Roots You might have seen some videos of gardeners growing plants from stems in a glass of water that quickly gets filled with shiny white roots. Those are water roots and are way different from those roots that your plant will grow into the soil. This also affects its growth quite significantly. Here’s why. The differences between water roots and soil roots are a consequence of adaptation to their environment. Water roots present more hair, are whiter, more fragile, require less energy to develop and they can breathe in water compared to soil roots. What is essential to know about water and soil roots is how each is beneficial in the different stages of growing your herb indoors. A plant cutting in a glass of water is always a good start, but most of the time, those water roots need to be converted into soil roots to allow your herb to grow further. What’s the Difference? Visual difference between water and soil roots on a basil plant The first difference between soil roots and water roots is in their physical structure. Soil roots are thicker, having to reach further and deeper than water roots to access enough nutrients and water for. Due to the easier access to water and nutrients, water roots are thin, small, and relatively fragile. Another difference between water and soil roots is in their energy requirement. Water roots require less energy and time to grow compared to soil roots. Indeed, it is a common practice to start plants (often stems) in a cup of water, and only after they develop the first roots (water type) transfer them to the soil. The third difference between water and soil roots is in the root hair. Water roots, being constantly submerged, are finer, and have more hairs. Water roots evolved to breathe underwater. They can extract oxygen that naturally dissolves in water through also a higher surface porosity (more gas can go in and out), as discussed in this study. Soil roots are not able to do that. That also explains why they tend to suffocate (and then rot) in case they are waterlogged. Finally, the fifth difference is in their color. Water roots are generally white, whilst soil roots tend to be yellowish or brown (partially due to the soil). Be careful; discoloration, such as brown water roots, mushy, and light brown, are an indication of root rot. From Water Roots to Soil Roots: The Propagation by Stem Cutting Getting a plant started inside can be a difficult process. Provided the many herbs (someone says basil!) easily develop water roots, it is often the easiest path to start a plant. Also, do not forget the rewards in seeing the roots develop through a shiny glass! Though thin roots will develop at first, it is possible to grow thick soil roots from water roots— over time (see propagation below). Soil roots are the goal if you want to have long-lasting indoor herbs. This is because water roots cannot support very much growth if not through a hydroponic (on this more at the end of the post). Simply leave the stem in water until the water root reaches an inch or so. In my experience with basil and mint, water roots will start developing in 2-3 weeks, so I need to be patient. Remember to change the water (every other day is enough), and then begin the process of propagation to transfer the plant into the soil. The plant will naturally transition from water roots to soil roots if propagation is done correctly. Unsure how long it takes and how to do it? Check the article below. Here’s the kicker You can overwater your stem when propagated in water. The plant survives off the balance of sunlight and water— so if the plant is not getting enough sunlight, it may drown. The easiest solution to this is to keep your water-borne plants in a sunny spot! Will Water Roots Rot? Roots tend to rot in a high moist environment that allows specific types of bad bacteria (presents in all soils) to develop. However, water roots started in tap water and kept in a glass will rarely suffer root rot because tap water does not contain much bacteria. Check this article for more on the difference between tap and rainwater and the effect on your plants. I kept basil cuttings for around 2 months with no sign of decay. However, do not be fooled. Plants are living organisms, and they cannot survive on water only! The lack of nutrients and dissolved oxygen (if you do not change your water frequently) will cause your plant to wilt and die. There are two solutions to this problem. 1. Replace the water once a week, providing the plant with fresh nutrients and oxygen. 2. When the roots of a plant reach a half-inch in length, it is time to move them from the water to soil. How Deep Are Soil Roots? Soil roots come in all shapes and lengths, depending on the herb you are growing. Here is a summarized guide of the longer and shorter root systems: 1. The longest roots are dill, coriander, and sage, which may need up to 61 cm (24 in) of soil to support enough vertical growth; 2. The shortest roots belong to herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme can all manage with just 21 cm at most (8 in) of soil for their root systems. Mint roots are unique in that they are a creeper type of plant— mint grows horizontally rather than vertically. For more on the topic, check the article on creeper roots. This creates a very shallow, broad root system. Mint also produces runners, or root-like extensions horizontally that then support vertical growth. Still, mint needs a decent amount, roughly 31 cm (12 in) of soil for its roots. Do All Plants Develop Water Roots? Not all plants and herbs can develop water roots. You can leave them in water as long as you want, and the only things that you will see are your plant slowly wilting. I never managed to grow water roots from a dill or cilantro cutting. On the other hand, I am always successful with basil, lavender, mint, as they are very easy. Rosemary, on the other hand, is way harder to let develop water roots. In general, even with fresh cuttings, only half of them manage to root before rotting. Some herbs can only be propagated through cutting such as French tarragon, as mentioned by the University of Georgia. Do not try to stimulate water roots formation with root hormones (check this article if you don’t know what root hormones are). Indeed, an experiment performed in the video below clearly shows that among 4 different types of waters solution, simple and plain tap water performed the best stimulating the highest root growth. Best Way To Propagate Stem Cuttings In Water Can a Plant Grow With Water Root Only? Hydroponic Before, I told you that you cannot plant uniquely in water. It was a (partial) lie. Indeed, there exists a technique (that got quite famous in recent years) by which you can grow a plant entirely in water (hence only through water roots) without moving to the soil. This is called hydroponic. Keeping a plant in water reduces the maintenance required and is preferable to many aesthetics wise. Hydroponic, as mentioned by VMD Agro, presents the following advantages: 1. Water-rooted plants have narrower root systems, requiring less space; 2. Because they are submerged, plants do not need to use energy to grow root systems capable of absorbing enough water from the soil. 3. Smaller root structure leads to more plant productivity, increasing yields by more than 150%. 4. Because they have consistent access to nutrients, water, and sunlight at all times, hydroponic plants grow faster. Hydroponics is hard and, despite having some experience, I do not recommend it or beginners. For more on hydroponics, watch the video below. What is Hydroponics For at-home hydroponics supplies, one of the easiest systems is the VegyBox. You can check its current price on Amazon. Hydroponics Growing System,Support Indoor Grow,herb Garden kit Indoor, Grow Smart for Plant, Built Your Indoor Garden (Small-White) A young Italian guy with a passion for growing edible herbs. After moving to the UK 6 years ago in a tiny flat, it was impossible to grow herbs outside. So I start my journey in growing indoor and so I decided to share my knowledge. Recent Posts
Here are Some Foods That are Good for Your Brain Power Here are Some Foods That are Good for Your Brain Power We are what we eat. Eating a brain-boosting diet is highly recommended as it enables you to have a sound memory, remarkable cognitive functioning and lets you enjoy a healthy life. Brain requires a lot of fuel as it uses 20% of the body’s calories. Ensure improved cognitive function with the intake of the adequate amount of the following food items: Nuts- Brimming with vitamin E, minerals, nuts are great for the brain. Treated as a super food for brain, walnuts are an excellent nutrient-rich food that benefit your brain in ways more than one. Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid), polyphenolic compounds. Both omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols are considered critical brain foods as they fight oxidative stress and inflammation; both of which are causes of cognitive decline. These elevate acetylcholine levels in the brain. Due to the presence of vitamin B6, E, zinc, protein you get improved cognitive function- repaired cells, higher neurotransmitter chemical production. It is a great memory booster. The poly-saturated and mono-saturated fats make it very essential for the production of brain cells and thereby increasing its power. Pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds are excellent for brain health. Zinc, magnesium, vitamin B present in these seeds develop thinking skills, enhances memory. Consumption of sage has shown to bring about enhanced memory, improved brain function; ensure alertness and concentration power. Sage are rich in antioxidants containing vitamin K, A, C, B6, E, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper- making it an indispensable dietary choice to revamp your memory power. Blueberries are excellent providers of anthocyanin, antioxidants that look after brain health leading to the delay in short-term memory loss. Citrus fruits Oranges, grapes, lemons, blackcurrants are rich in vitamin C. And the latter is key to maintaining your brain agility. Stress, anxiety, depression and age-related brain degeneration ailments such as dementia, Alzheimer’s can be prevented by the sufficient consumption of vitamin C, hence. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, Kale All these cruciferous vegetables are loaded with vitamin K that is key to the improvement of brainpower and cognitive functions. These greens are rich in compounds called glucosinolates that can delay the breakdown of the neurotransmitter- acetylcholine. The latter is essential for the central nervous system’s proper functioning to keep our brains and memories boosted. Low levels of acetylcholine are associated with Alzheimer’s. Oily fish Salmons, mackerel, tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help build cell membranes and improve memory.
Health Benefits Of Using CBD Oil Health Benefits Of Using CBD Oil The human body can benefit from CBD in many ways, and understanding what are the health benefits of using CBD oil can help you do the right thing for your health. When we consume food or beverages that contain plant-based ingredients, our bodies need to metabolize them properly. Some substances are only known to affect the brain and some others affect the bloodstream. Some foods, like chocolate, contribute to the neurological effects, while other foods such as milk may not have a noticeable effect on the neurological system, but may affect the bloodstream and cause an imbalance. Image result for Health Benefits Of Using CBD Oil png Because of the complexity of human bodies, we must have an understanding of how we use what we ingest and also how our bodies get what they need. Certain plant-based products can make a difference in our body’s needs. Our nutritional needs may differ from one individual to another, so this is why it is important to understand all of the plant-based nutrition benefits that you can get from the foods that you eat. One of the most health benefits of consuming foods that contain CBD is the fact that they help stimulate the production of the endocannabinoid system, which has a major role in the regulation of the central nervous system. CBD can enhance the effectiveness of the endocannabinoid system in many ways. Inhibiting the effects of certain chemicals in the body can activate the endocannabinoid system, allowing a person to experience more energy and less fatigue. By stopping certain chemicals from being absorbed into the bloodstream, these cannabinoids can directly enter the brain and be used by the brain to suppress certain physiological responses. Because of the cannabinoid system’s ability to suppress the effects of various stressors and stimulants, it can prevent many undesirable physiological reactions. A second way that CBD can improve the cardiovascular system is through its ability to block blood vessels. The arterial walls that carry blood to the heart are responsible for holding the blood together as it flows through the body. When blockages occur within the artery walls, the blood flow is severely impeded, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions. When you’re thinking about consuming products that contain CBD oil, there are several places where you can buy it. You can buy it in liquid form, which can be taken in pill form, and you can buy it in capsule form. Capsules are easier to take and they also work in much the same way as liquid CBD oil. One of the best places where to buy CBD oil is at your local medical supply store. You can find CBD capsules, a liquid form, and even products that contain cannabidiol (CBD) oil. A lot of medical supply stores have different sections dedicated to the CBD industry. One can find CBD supplements, foods, accessories, and even clothing. Even drug stores such as Wal-Mart and CVS carry a variety of CBD products. They usually carry a variety of CBD products, especially when you look at the products that are labeled CBD-rich. If you want to know where to buy CBD oil, most medical supply stores also have a pharmacy section that can help you purchase CBD. This is where you can find CBD products that can be taken as a pill or taken in pill form. If you’re going to go to a health food store, the Internet is probably the best place to buy CBD products. You can find products that contain a variety of CBDs, including the most popular products that contain THC, such as the most popular weed. Comments are closed.
Healthy Hormones Tag Archives for " boron " The 9 Best Osteoporosis Natural Treatments Osteoporosis is a serious medical condition that is unfortunately getting more common. There are several medications available for the treatment of osteoporosis, but they have some potentially very serious side effects. So what are some non-prescription things that you can do to strengthen your bones to treat or prevent any bone loss that you may be having? In this article I will discuss the 9 best natural treatments for osteoporosis and discuss the research behind each one of them. Let’s get started… What is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a condition where a person loses bone mass. It is either due to losing too much bone or not making enough bone. Bone is living tissue. It is constantly being broken down and replaced. When it is getting broken down faster than it is being made, the bones will gradually become weaker which makes it easier for them to fracture even with normal daily activities. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is extremely common and is becoming more prevalent. 1 in 7 women over 50 have osteoporosis. About 25% of women over age 65 have osteoporosis of either the hip or lumbar spine. About 5% of men over age 65 have osteoporosis. About half all women and 1 out of every 4 men over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. This is a very serious issue, because after a hip or vertebral fracture, mortality is much higher in those people than in the general population even as late as 10 years after the fracture! Most of those deaths are not directly due to the fracture. Instead, the fracture is an indicator of a decline in the health of that person and often leads to other conditions that result in death. How to Diagnose Osteoporosis The density of a bone is measured using a machine called a DEXA scan (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). There are other tests that are used, but the DEXA is considered to be the gold standard. In this test, 2 x-ray beams are shot through 2 different bones in the body (usually a hip and the lumbar spine). The more dense the bone, the less the x-ray will be able to penetrate. The machine is then able to measure the degree of penetration. A DEXA scan will give you a T-score and a Z-score for each bone that was tested. Without going into a boring statistics lecture, I will try to explain what these test scores mean. Whenever you look at a characteristic found in a large population of people, the results will follow a predictable distribution across a graph. If you place the values on a graph, it will produce what is commonly called a Bell Curve. This is true when you measure bone densities as well. However, in this case the positive side of the graph is ignored and only the negative side is considered. The middle (mean) of the bell curve is the bone density of a healthy 30 year old female, which is the time when the bone density is at it highest point. The T-score is how many standard deviations from the mean (or middle of the graph) the tested bone scored. The Z-score compares your bone density to a normal score for a person of your same age and body size. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is made when the T-score is less than or equal to -2.5, which is way over on the far left of the bell curve. That means the density of the bone tested is less than the bone density of 95% of the population! If the T-score is -1.0 to -2.4, the diagnosis of osteopenia is made. While not considered to be as dangerous as osteoporosis, it still indicates that the person is losing bone mass, especially the lower the T-score. Those patients should be monitored closely and proactive measures should be taken to reduce any further bone loss. Treatment of Osteoporosis Okay, so you’ve had a DEXA scan and your T-score is in the osteoporosis range. Now what? Your doctor will probably recommend that you start taking a medication called a bisphosphonate. However, when you get home and read the package insert that came with the medication, what you read may scare you to death! These medications are far from benign. The potential side effects range from mild to life-threatening. They include: While this class of drugs has been shown to reduce the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures, that reduction might come at a cost. Needless to say, it would be best if this class of medications was avoided completely. I believe there are several things that you can do that are natural and much safer than these drugs. Let’s discuss the best ones below: The 9 Best Osteoporosis Natural Treatments If you ask your doctor what is the best way to keep your bones strong, he or she will most likely say something like this: “Eat good, healthy foods and exercise regularly.” That is good, sound advice for just about everyone. However, it is hard to get enough of some nutrients from food, even if you are eating a whole food, nutrient-dense diet. Because of over-farming, genetic engineering, etc., the nutritional value of food simply isn’t what it used to be. Even if you are eating a purely organic diet, you will probably be deficient in some nutrients. This is especially true if you have any digestive or other gastrointestinal issues, which can impair the absorption of what nutrients are in your food. So what can you do to keep your bones strong and help regain bone loss if your DEXA scan shows you have osteoporosis or severe osteopenia? 1. Weight-bearing Exercise The first thing that I recommend for all patients with osteoporosis is to participate in weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis. This includes walking, jogging, dancing, using an elliptical, stair climbing, gardening, etc. This type of exercise puts a direct burden on the bones and muscles of the lower body which helps to slow mineral loss. Studies show that this can beneficial for people with osteoporosis: – Weight bearing exercise increases both bone density and quality of life. - Walking has been shown to preserve bone density in the hip. Jogging and weight lifting reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. Other exercises such as biking and swimming are great for cardiovascular health, but they are not beneficial for strengthening bones. 2. Vitamin D Vitamin D has many functions in the body, including the regulation of calcium and phosphorous absorption. If vitamin D is low, parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases and triggers osteoclasts to release calcium into the blood via bone reabsorption. Over time, this can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D also stimulates intestinal epithelial cells to synthesize calcium-binding proteins that support the absorption of calcium in the blood. Vitamin D increases the number and activity of osteoblasts (the cells that build bone) and reduces the activity of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). Vitamin D is synthesized when sunlight hits the skin. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as an epidemic. Experts state that 75% of population is deficient in vitamin D. When using the goal of 50-80, that number goes to about 95%. Deficiency is more common in dark-skinned people, the elderly, and people from the north. You can determine if you are low in vitamin D by asking your doctor to order a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level with your next blood work. The “normal range” for a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D is 30-100 ng/ml, but it is optimal to have it in the 50-80 range. So what can you do about it? Good dietary sources of vitamin D – fatty fish (salmon, mackerel and tuna), dairy products (if you aren’t sensitive), eggs, and shiitake mushrooms. In my experience, the majority of people will need to take a vitamin D supplement to get the levels in the optimal range. A study published in JAMA in 2013 showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of fractures by 16%. Vitamin D3 is the best supplementation of choice to increase your vitamin D level. Click here for my preferred brand. If your 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level is <30 ng/mL, I typically recommend that you take 10,000 iu (2 capsules) of the ADK daily for 90 days then reduce it to 5000 iu (1 capsule) daily after 90 days. If your level is >30 but <50, I recommend only taking 1 capsule daily (5000 iu). You may notice that my recommended amounts are WAY higher than the recommended daily amount (RDA) given by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2011. They state that everyone should aim for a 25-OH-vitamin D level of 20 ng/ml, which would equate to taking 600 iu of vitamin D3 daily (800 iu daily if you are over age 70). If you are interested (and are a statistics nerd!), the following video of a talk given by Keith Baggerly, PhD, will show how the IOM made a mathematical error in their calculations when they determined the RDA for vitamin D. Dr. Baggerly showed that the actual amounts of vitamin D3 needed are 10x that amount! In other words, most people under age 70 need about 6000 iu of vitamin D3 daily, while people over age 70 need about 8000 iu daily. Please note that for vitamin D to work properly, it is just as important that the vitamin K2 and magnesium levels are optimal as well. I will discuss each of these nutrients below. 3. Magnesium Magnesium is important for building bone, absorbing calcium, and forming ATP. It also serves as a cofactor in the production of vitamin D in the skin. It is estimated that 75% of the population is deficient in magnesium. Low levels of magnesium in the blood correlates with a low bone density. Patients with osteoporotic fractures were also found to have lower magnesium levels than patients without osteoporosis. Magnesium deficiency may impair the production of parathyroid hormone and 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which negatively affects the mineralization of bone. Good dietary sources of magnesium – nuts, whole grains, dark green vegetables, fish, meat, and legumes. Magnesium is often deficient in the standard American diet because of lack of those foods plus soil depletion from over-farming. What about magnesium supplements? Several studies have shown that magnesium supplementation increases bone density and reduces the incidence of fractures. Click here, here, and here. Supplementing with 250-400mg per day of Mg is recommended. Click here for my preferred brand. Magnesium glycinate is preferable over magnesium oxide because it causes less incidence of loose stools. Please keep in mind that magnesium may interact with other supplements and medications. Magnesium can also help with insomnia, headaches, chronic constipation, restless leg syndrome, and anxiety. 4. Vitamin K2 Studies have shown that vitamin K2 is absolutely essential when it comes to achieving optimal bone and cardiovascular health. According to some experts, 98% of the population is deficient in K2. There are no commercially available tests to determine the level of vitamin K2 in the body. Elderly patients with osteopenia are usually deficient in K2. They need K2 to help reduce bone loss that comes with age and to maintain bone health. In Japan, 360mcg of K2 is the primary treatment for osteoporosis – NOT bisphosphonates! Vitamin K2 appears to help the body deposit calcium in appropriate locations like the bones and teeth and prevents it from being deposited in bad places, such as arterial walls. Vitamin K2 has also been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35%. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Good dietary sources of vitamin K2 – cheese, eggs, natto, butter, salami, chicken breast, ground beef What about vitamin K2 supplements? The MK-7 form of vitamin K2 is by far the most potent. Since most people are also deficient in vitamin D, I have found that it is easiest to take a supplement that has vitamins A, D3, and K2 together in a single supplement capsule. These supplements work synergistically to strengthen bone. Click here for my preferred brand. 5. Strontium Strontium is a naturally occurring mineral present in soil and seawater. It is an alkaline earth metal similar to calcium and barium. 99% of the strontium found in the human body is in our bones. The Spinal Osteoporosis Therapeutic Intervention study showed a 41% relative risk reduction of vertebral fractures in patients taking strontium. This study showed a reduction in nonvertebral fractures when using strontium. Strontium appears to decrease bone resorption and increase bone formation. It has been shown to increase bone density in both men and women. A radioactive form of strontium is used to treat bone cancer and prostate cancer. There is also research that shows it reduces tooth pain and helps prevent cavities. In fact, many commonly used toothpastes marketed for sensitive teeth contain small amounts of strontium. Dietary sources of strontium – seafood, milk, grains, beans, spinach, celery, carrots and potatoes What about strontium supplements for osteoporosis? Strontium is generally well tolerated, but some concerns are begin raised in Europe over whether there is an increased cardiovascular risk when it is used long term. It has been available as a prescription treatment for osteoporosis in Europe since 2004. Strontium is available in the US as strontium citrate. Click here for my preferred brand. You will want to make sure your vitamin D level is optimized. Do not use strontium if you are on kidney dialysis or if you have a history of severe heart disease. This may be a viable treatment option for osteoporosis, but please be aware that long-term safety studies are lacking. At this point, I would reserve its use for only short term use (1-3 years) until long term studies are available. 6. Boron Boron is a trace mineral found naturally in some foods and in the environment. Boron reduces the excretion and absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which results in a reduction in bone loss. Boron up-regulates the production of steroids such as vitamin D, estradiol and testosterone. Boron has also been shown to improve brain function, reduce the incidence of arthritis, and is an effective treatment for vaginal yeast infections, Dietary sources of boron – fruits, vegetables, soybeans, and nuts. The amount of boron in these foods depends on the soil where they are grown. What about boron supplements for osteoporosis? It is always best to get boron from your diet. A safe daily intake is about 1-10mg. Click here for my preferred brand. Doses above 3mg per day are not recommended in breast cancer patients. Repeated doses of small amounts can accumulate in the body, so pulse dosing is recommended over continuous dosing. 7. Testosterone Testosterone is a hormone that grows tissue in the body. It is responsible for muscle growth, bone growth, hair growth, sexual function, sexual drive (libido) and is essential for overall health and feelings of well-being. Both men and women need testosterone. Testosterone pellet therapy has been shown to increase bone mass four-fold compared to oral estrogen. Testosterone can be used as a bioidentical cream, an injection, or as a bioidentical subcutaneous pellet. All of these can only be provided by a licensed medical professional. Click here to read more. 8. Soy Isoflavones Isoflavones are found in soy products. The best of these are what are called fermented soy. They include natto, tempeh and miso. All of these are soy products that have gone through a long fermentation process that make them easier to digest. Natto is fermented soybeans that is sticky and has a very strong flavor. Tempeh is a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and a nutty flavor. Miso is a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture. You have probably had miso soup at your favorite Asian restaurant. They are loaded with vitamin K2 which I discussed above. They also contains boron. Soy isoflavones significantly increase the bone density of the lumbar spine. Diets high in soy may decrease bone resorption in postmenopausal women. A synthetic derivative of isoflavones called iproflavone was shown to prevent rapid bone loss following early menopause. Consuming 2-4 ounces per day of fermented soy is a reasonable thing to do to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Keep in mind that many people are allergic or sensitive to soy. If that is you, then this is not a good choice. Isoflavones may also inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis. So if you have a thyroid condition, your thyroid levels needs to be monitored if you consume fermented soy to treat your osteoporosis. Unfermented soy which is found in tofu and other processed forms is not a healthy food option and should be avoided as a general rule. 9. What About Calcium? Most doctors are taught in their training to recommend calcium supplementation to help maintain bone mass. I myself commonly told my patients in the past to take 1200mg of calcium citrate per day, especially postmenopausal women. However, several studies have brought the benefit of calcium supplementation into question. In this study, taking higher amounts of calcium beyond the recommended dietary allowance did not result in an increase of hip or spine bone density. Calcium supplementation in a different study did not result in a decrease in the incidence of hip fractures in older women and even appeared to increase the risk. A study published in JAMA in 2013 was a meta-analysis of 29 studies which showed no significant reduction in the risk of fractures with calcium supplementation. Vitamin D plus calcium did reduce the fracture risk. Not only have these studies failed to show a benefit on bone density, some other studies have shown some dangerous consequences of taking calcium supplements: Dangers of Calcium Supplementation 1. Cardiovascular Heart Disease – A Johns Hopkins investigation in 2016 showed that taking calcium supplements may lead to an increased risk of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Another study of 12000 men showed a 20% increase in CVD death in those taking 1000mg of calcium daily. Eating foods that are high in calcium does not seem to have the same risk. It is felt that the calcium from food is absorbed at a slower rate. The burst of calcium from supplements may facilitate the calcification of arteries. Another theory is that taking more calcium than the body needs may cause it to either be excreted in the urine which increases the risk of kidney stones, or circulated in the blood where it could attach to atherosclerotic plaques or valves. 2. Kidney Stones – The risk of kidney stones is increased by about 20% in people taking calcium supplements. Here is another study. 3. Possibly prostate cancer – This meta-analysis showed an increase in prostate cancer risk with a high calcium intake, but it is hard to know if it was due to the calcium or due to the high dairy intake. 4. Constipation – A high calcium intake is well known to cause constipation. It might also interfere with the absorption of iron and zinc. In people with a sensitivity or allergy to dairy or other foods that are good natural sources of calcium, supplementation may be necessary. However, I would personally limit that to only 400-600mg per day of calcium citrate. Osteoporosis is an extremely common and dangerous condition. It needs to be monitored closely and aggressively treated when possible. Like most conditions that affect the human body, eating a whole-food, nutrient-dense diet and exercising regularly (especially weight-bearing exercise) are the mainstays of treatment. Optimizing the levels in the body of vitamin D, K2, and magnesium are essential to maintain and restore bone density. Other options for increasing bone mass include strontium, boron, and soy isoflavones. Optimizing testosterone levels can also help. Calcium supplements are controversial. I would typically suggest avoiding them and instead focus on eating foods that are naturally high in calcium. Now it’s your turn… Have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis? What treatments have worked for you? Leave your questions and comments below…
Online video games refer to any video game, multiplayer game, or online role-playing game that features online players interacting through the Internet. An online game is also a computer game that is mostly either partially or completely played via the Internet or some other remote computer network. Most online video games are multiplayer online games where two or more computers are connected to play a game over the Internet. Most online multiplayer games also use a common set of game protocols to allow for communication between multiple computers. Games that involve many players may have several “zones” in which players can interact with one another. These interactive games can be played with the use of a computer, a game pad, or a keyboard and a mouse. Some multiplayer online video games are text based, while others are board games, card games, or racing games that require players to use hand-held devices such as keyboards, trackballs, or wheels in order to move their characters. Some online video games, such as Day of War, use a combination of these features to create an experience that evokes the action, excitement, and drama of real life military conflicts. One of the advantages of online video games is that they offer a unique opportunity for players who may not otherwise have access to the latest technology and gaming consoles. However, there are many disadvantages as well. Online gaming does not allow people to develop the skills necessary to successfully control and manage an online army. For example, most of players will be playing against other online players; therefore, a player needs a great deal of skill to defeat their opponent and to actually win the game. Let us know more about this by clicking on the given link judi online24jam terpercaya 2020 Another disadvantage of playing video games online is that people are unable to spend as much time as they would in a traditional “field” situation. For example, most people will not be able to practice tactics and strategies with a real live opponent. Although online video games do have their place, they can also come to be boring and tedious. Many players find themselves getting frustrated because they spend so much time trying to perfect their skills. In-person playing games allows players to develop a sense of play that cannot be accomplished online. Although most online video games do not require in-game purchases, some do. The use of in-app purchases may be recommended by game developers, but it is up to the users to decide whether or not they want to purchase additional items, upgrades, and content. There is generally a small price tag attached to in-game purchases; however, this small cost may actually add up to a significant amount of money over time. Some individuals may decide to purchase in-game currency in order to avoid the need to make in-app purchases. If you decide to try out an in-game item or upgrade, make sure to read the instructions carefully prior to making any purchases. Overall, playing video games online has many benefits for children of all ages. Although many young people today spend the majority of their time in front of a television or computer screen, more young people are beginning to discover the joys of playing video games with real people. With the current economic situation, it has become a lot harder for parents to spend time with their children. If you feel as though you could benefit from spending more time with your children, consider playing a few online games during your free time. This could prove to be an excellent way to spend time with your child, and it will not break the bank! Leave a Reply
Campylobacter infection present in dogs There are many diseases that we can get from pets, so we must inform ourselves very well about them. In the following article we inform you about the infection by Campylobacter that is present in dogs and can cause diarrhea, among other consequences. What to know about the infection by Campylobacter One of the main causes of diarrhea is Campylobacter infection, which is among the most common food poisonings . It can affect millions of people each year, especially babies, adolescents and young adults who live in precarious hygiene and cleanliness. The genus Campylobacter is composed of several bacteria (such as Jejuni , Coli and Fetus ) and is common in farm animals or pets. These microorganisms, which are elongated, require low levels of oxygen to survive and do not move on their own, lodge in the intestines and then are eliminated through the faeces. The contagion is caused by the intake of water or food contaminated with these bacteria. Another way to become infected is to be in contact with fecal remains of a sick person, such as a mother when she cleans her baby. Campylobacter infection: symptoms Which are n the symptoms of a Campylobacter infection The main symptoms of a Campylobacter infection start from two days after the bacteria enters the body. We can differentiate into two large groups the diseases caused by it: 1. Enteric diseases They are caused by two bacteria Campylobacter : Coli and Jejuni . They heal at about 10 days. The most well-known symptom of this infection is diarrhea . It also causes inflammation of the bowel, fever, abdominal pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and malaise. 2. Extraintestinal diseases They are mainly caused by Campylobacter fetus and are less frequent, although more serious. It can affect the heart and blood vessels , and cause endocarditis and pericarditis. Also extraintestinal diseases cause a neurological disorder known as Guillain Barré syndrome, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis and arthritis. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Campylobacter infection> When some of the symptoms indicated above are identified, and we are aware of the contact with a dog or a farm animal -and more specifically of their feces-, we must go quickly to the doctor . Some professionals indicate a blood test to determine if there are alterations in the white blood cell count or in the blood pH . You can also perform a microscopic examination of the stool or a blood culture (of the blood). Campylobacter infection: treatment Once Campylobacter infection has been diagnosed, the next step is to comply with the treatment suitable.Keep in mind that children under two years, the elderly and immunosuppressed are the groups at risk against this type of bacteria. Can you prevent an infection of these characteristics Having pets at home? Of course yes. Hygiene is essential, so it is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after playing with the dog or cleaning the feces It is also necessary to disinfect those objects that may be contaminated by infected feces of our pets, wash the food we eat well, not drink water from rivers or streams if we are on vacation and avoid the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products.
How Computer Hackers and Identity Theft Are Related The electronic age has paved the way for most organized crimes operating on identity theft crimes to include hackers in their league since millions of personal information are being exchanged in various networks all over the world. Crime syndicates either hire professional hackers to include in their team, use their own hackers, or buy personal data from online hackers. What do they do with stolen credit cards and social security numbers? Millions of data are stolen by computer hackers everyday. Most of them breach networks of well-known establishments whose client database can be accessed online. These data often include credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers and other pertinent information. More often than not, these data are then sent to a network of illegal trading sites where computer hackers and criminals all over the world converge to buy and sell these personal data for very huge profits. These networks of stolen data flourished out in the open and they were estimated to have made more than $5 million in less than two years of its operation. Within the span of these months, they traded 1.5 million stolen credit cards. How does a credit card hacking transaction proceed? Here is what takes place with a stolen credit card number: In stolen data networks, stolen credit card numbers and other personal data are posted for sale by the person who was able to access that particular information. This credit card number can be purchased for exclusive use or it can be used in a “joint venture.” In the latter transaction, CCs will be used by other network members to make purchases that will be delivered to various drop sites. Other networks will then have these goods picked up and sold. The proceeds of this transaction will then be shared among the participants of this specific activity. As for newbies (new members of stolen data networks), they are often obligated to participate in a number of dummy test runs to ensure that the seller and the credit card numbers that they are selling are genuine and functional. This step is necessary to build credibility and integrity in the stolen data network. There are even credit card hacking sites that feature a rating system where all members can rate or post feedbacks on the “quality” of the stolen card. The quality is often dependent on the credit limit, and whether the credit card number can actually make purchases. Some of this site also features requests for specific types of stolen information. For instance, if you know of an illegal alien who needs a social security number to be legally employed then you can request that particular information from the site. They can also find email phishing templates that newbies can use to engage in identity theft activities without having enough technical knowledge. Author: admin Leave a Reply
Daily Archives One Article Strong Soldiers Posted by on Most of the people we care too much about aging, however is something that we will not be able to avoid, is a natural process of the body, the body and nature. We should take action to deal with aging in a healthy, strong, and healthy way is to say, being jovenenes with a healthy body, healthy bone and that matter? If I have 50 or 70 years, that matters? If you can still run, skip, exercising, playing foot ball, play tennis, practice your favorite activity, etc.. Your body looks good, your body is good, you’re healthy, live quiet and carefree, lights and represent much younger than you really have. The secret is simple: hydrolyzed collagen and antioxidants one of the main reasons by that age and why we get sick is due to lack of collagen in our body. Our body produces collagen if same, however from 26 years our body stops producing it and this is why our body begins to show symptoms aging classics : Wrinkles on the skin, joints weak, common diseases of people in adult age. For this reason it is very important that consume hydrolyzed collagen: here are some of the most important: 1.-hydrolyzed collagen is of natural origin, that is absorbed quickly in very high percentage of 95% by the oral route. It has no side effects and does not constitute any risk to the saud. 2.-Regenerates carilagos, joints, reducing muscle aches and renews your bones, ligaments and tendons, largely preventing osteoporosis. Great results in people who practice activities is sports, 3.-removes wrinkles from your face, your skin looks younger and more it smooth, you rejuvenates, strengthens and moisturizes the skin. 4.-Strengthens hair, fingernails, eyelashes, has a great antioxidant power, increase your energy. 5 Improves your metabolism, strengthens the immune system, prevent diseases such as gastritis, constipation, and others more. 6. You help lose weight, since it rejuvenates and improves your metabolism. 7. The hydrolyzed collagen you rejuvenates up by 10 years consumed hydrolyzed collagen, improves your quality of life, meets most years being younger.
Home » Archives by category » Psychology news Physical activity jolts brain into action in the event of depression The dual beneficial effect of physical activity in depression is confirmed by a new study: physical activity not only reduces depressive symptoms. It also increases the brain’s ability to change. Marijuana-like brain substance calms seizures but increases aftereffects, study finds Release of the brain’s equivalent of THC, marijuana’s active component, reduces seizure activity but leads to post-seizure oxygen deprivation in the brain, scientists have shown. Study reveals how smell receptors work The first-ever molecular images of an olfactory receptor at work answer decades-old questions about odor recognition. Study reports repair of mitochondrial recycling defect linked to Parkinson’s disease A study in mice shows that an experimental small molecule helped restore the removal of damaged mitochondria from dopamine-producing brain cells. Insight into underlying causes of seizure disorder in babies Trains in the brain — Scientists uncover switching system used in information processing and memory The music of silence: Imagining a song triggers similar brain activity to moments of mid-music silence Imagining a song triggers similar brain activity as moments of silence in music, according to new research. The results reveal how the brain continues responding to music, even when none is playing, and provide new insights into how human sensory predi… Learning foreign languages can affect the processing of music in the brain Research has shown that a music-related hobby boosts language skills and affects the processing of speech in the brain. According to a new study, the reverse also happens — learning foreign languages can affect the processing of music in the brain. Mapping of genetic control elements in the cerebellum The mammalian cerebellum is key to motor control and contributes to many of the higher brain functions. Scientists have now decoded the genetic programs that control the development of cerebellar cell types before and after birth. Amygdala found to have role in important pre-attentive mechanism in the brain Researchers have shown how the amygdala, a brain region typically associated with fear, contributes to prepulse inhibition (PPI) by activating small inhibitory neurons in the mouse brain stem. The discovery advances understanding of the systems underly…
Prolate and oblate chiral liquid crystal spheroids See allHide authors and affiliations Science Advances 10 Jul 2020: Vol. 6, no. 28, eaba6728 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba6728 Liquid crystals are known to exhibit intriguing textures and color patterns, with applications in display and optical technologies. This work focuses on chiral materials and examines the palette of morphologies that arises when microdroplets are deformed into nonspherical shapes in a controllable manner. Specifically, geometrical confinement and mechanical strain are used to manipulate orientational order, phase transitions, and topological defects that arise in chiral liquid crystal droplets. Inspired by processes encountered in nature, where insects and animals often rely on strain and temperature to alter the optical appearance of dispersed liquid crystalline elements, chiral droplets are dispersed in polymer films and deformation induced by uniaxial or biaxial stretching. Our measurements are interpreted by resorting to simulations of the corresponding systems, thereby providing an in-depth understanding of the morphologies that arise in these materials. The reported structures and assemblies offer potential for applications in smart coatings, smart fabrics, and wearable sensors. Liquid crystals (LCs) exhibit ordered mesophases that arise from anisotropic molecular shapes and packing considerations. They represent a unique class of oil-based synthetic materials with tunable long-range orientation and have found a wide range of applications, from display technologies and optical devices to chemical and biomolecular sensors (18). In the nematic phase, LC molecules tend to align along a uniform direction, the so-called director nˆ. Chiral structures can be induced in nematic LCs by adding a chiral dopant, which makes the average director twist in the direction perpendicular to the molecular axis. In a chiral nematic, or cholesteric phase, the periodicity of the helical structure is described by the pitch (p), which is the distance corresponding to a 2π rotation of the molecular orientation (director n). Cholesteric LCs with a self-organized helical structure exhibit specific reflection patterns that originate from that structure (9) and are considered attractive candidates for a wide range of photonic applications (10, 11). According to Bragg’s law λ = np, the wavelength of the reflected light λ is attributed to the product of the average refractive index (n) of the LC and the with pitch length (p). The color change of a cholesteric LC can be controlled by adjusting the cholesteric pitch p, through the chiral dopant concentration, temperature, thickness of the confinement, electric fields, and laser light (12). The higher the dopant concentration or temperature, the shorter the helical pitch becomes, thereby shifting the reflected light to shorter wavelengths (13). At high dopant concentrations or chirality, the blue phase structures (BPI and BPII) emerge between the cholesteric and isotropic phases. They exhibit cuboidal lattice structures stabilized by line defects and are capable of undergoing lattice transformations that occur through a martensitic-like process (14, 15). Blue phases (BPs) are particularly interesting in that they show highly selective reflection of incident light and submillisecond response times (16, 17). A growing interest in the integration of chiral LCs into devices, such as fiber optics or wearable sensors, requires an understanding of the interplay between spatial restrictions, curvature, and ordering associated with this class of liquid crystalline materials. Computational simulations have recently shown that confining chiral LCs into channels can alter their defect structures and endow them with supramolecular configurations and rich defect topologies (1826). The frustration of chiral LC molecules in curved geometries has been shown to have a substantial effect on their alignment and self-organization (21, 23, 25). Chiral LCs confined in spherical droplets (12, 2734) exhibit defect structures that arise from the interplay of the inherent twist configuration of a chiral LC and the curvature of a spherical cavity; the p/R ratio, where p and R are the pitch of the cholesteric and the radius of the sphere droplet, respectively, determines the particular configuration that one may encounter. Recently, through a combination of theory and experiment, Zhou et al. (32) reported that increasing the chirality of LCs confined into micrometer-sized droplets can lead to a continuous transition from a twisted bipolar structure to a radial spherical structure. This finding has been attributed to the balance between LC elasticity, chirality, and surface energy that occurs in a confined geometry. Moreover, they demonstrated that nanoparticles are localized at the defect regions on the surface of the droplets in a manner that is dictated by the configuration of the underlying chiral LC (32, 33). Bagnani et al. (35) have reported the emergence of different configurations, including homogeneous, radial, bipolar, radial chiral, and uniaxial chiral nematic in cholesteric amyloid fibrils tactoids. Bukusoglu et al. (36) studied BPI and BPII in droplets dispersed in water. They used experiments and theory to show that blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) confined into a sphere strain the cubic lattice structures near the interface, thereby altering the Bragg diffraction and inducing the formation of a monodomain BP (36). Computational studies by Martínez-González et al. (21) have also shown that confining a BPLC into a small droplet can influence the structure of defects and the stability of the corresponding phases. Recently, Palacio-Betancur et al. used simulations to explore the configuration of BP droplets under multiaxial deformation. Their results indicate that, in oblate cavities, cuboidal BP structures transform into half skyrmions, and the geometrical constraints induced by the prolate spheroidal shape lead to hybridization of the BPs (37). Building on past studies in spherical droplets, core-shell geometries have now been used to explore the effects of curvature on the molecular configuration and optical properties of chiral LCs. When a chiral LC is confined into a shell, a new structure appears, where large stripes engulf focal conic domains and small, perpendicularly aligned substripes (3840). By taking advantage of the selective reflection property of chiral LCs, Lee et al. (4145) have managed to design photonic microcapsules that rely on confinement into core and shell geometries, where the spherical symmetry provides rotation-independent photonic properties. Fialho et al. (46) have computationally explored the effect of curvature on the alignment of a cholesteric LC in different geometries, including cylindrical walls and pores as well as toroidal domains. They have shown that curvature-induced stresses can alter molecular alignment and distort periodicity. In addition, a symmetry breaking behavior of cholesteric layers has been reported for toroidal geometries (46). In parallel studies, Wand et al. (47) have examined the effect of confinement in torus-shaped and cylindrical domains using Monte Carlo simulations. They found that confining a chiral LC in a cylindrical cavity with planar anchoring leads to a defect-free domain with a twisted director field. In toroidal domains with homeotropic surface anchoring, an unstable twisted configuration appears in the form of a single disclination line or a pair of intertwined disclination rings with knotted defect structures (47). As the summary above illustrates, past studies have focused on stationary confinement of LCs in spherical droplets. The work reported here focuses on the continuous and reversible deformation of confined cholesteric LCs into oblate and prolate domains, and it offers access to a rich palette of optically active structures that had not been considered before. By relying on both experiments and computational simulations, we demonstrate that the coupling of curvature, elasticity, and strain of the chiral LC leads to the emergence of new, stable molecular configurations with potential applications as mechano-optical meta materials in smart coatings, wearable electronics, and sensors. The mesogen MLC 2142 and the chiral dopant 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl) phenyl-4-hexyloxybenzoate (S-811) were purchased from Merck (the molecular structure of S-811 is shown in Fig. 1A). Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA, average Mw = 85k to 124k, 87 to 89% hydrolyzed) and poly acrylic acid (PAA, Mw = 100k) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. All materials were used as received. The 6 and 35 wt % of S-811 in MLC 2142 mixtures were prepared using toluene as a cosolvent and incubated at room temperature overnight. Toluene was then evaporated using a rotary evaporator at 50°C. Chiral LC droplets were prepared by emulsifying 10 μl of mixtures in 2 ml of mQ water using a Branson 450 Sonifier at 20% output power with a 3-mm tip. Immediately after, the PVA solution (or PAA solution) was added to the emulsion to stabilize the system (Fig. 1B). PVA and PAA are both water-soluble polymers; they are immiscible with the LC and ensure strong planar anchoring at the surface of chiral LC droplets. The final polymer concentration in the emulsion was 10 wt %. The emulsion was plasticized with glycerol (1 wt %) and casted on a glass substrate and dried at 30°C for 2 days. After water evaporation, the polymer film was cut into rectangular stripes with dimensions of 10 mm by 30 mm and carefully peeled off from the glass substrate. The polymer thickness was measured to be 100 to 120 μm, and the LC concentration in the dried polymer film was 5 wt %. To deform chiral LC droplets, a polymer-dispersed LC (PDLC) film was mounted on a manual tensile machine (Micro Vice Holder, STJ-0116-A, S.T. Japan Inc.), which can stretch the film uniaxially using two micrometer screw gauges (fig. S1). The extension was increased in a stepwise manner, and the reflection band was measured using a Flame VIS-NIR Miniature Spectrometer (λ > 350 nm). We used an Olympus BX51 optical microscope equipped with cross polarizers to monitor changes in shape, configuration, and optical properties of the droplets before and during deformation of the PDLC film. Fig. 1 Phase transitions of high-chirality LC droplets in aqueous polymer solutions. (A) Molecular structure of the chiral dopant, S-811; (B) chiral LC droplets (MLC 2142 and 36.25 wt % S-811) dispersed in 10 wt % PVA aqueous solution. (C) Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs presenting phase transitions of a 25-μm chiral LC droplet in 10 wt % high-molecular weight (HMw) PVA solution cooled from the isotropic phase at 0.2°C/min. (D) Effect of polymer type on the phase-transition temperatures of chiral LC droplets [MLC 2142/S-811 63.75/36.25 (wt %)] dispersed in aqueous solutions (Chol, cholesteric (chiral); BPI, blue phase I; and BPII, blue phase II). Photo credit: Monirosadat Sadati, The University of Chicago. At a theoretical level, a continuum mean field Landau-de Gennes formalism (4851) was adopted to describe the liquid crystalline system. In this formalism, the free energy of the LC, F, is modeled in terms of the tensor order parameter, Q, defined by Qij = S (ni nj 1/3 δij), with i, j = 1, 2, 3, and ni are the x, y, and z components of the local director vector and S is the scalar order parameter. The free energy functional is given byF(Q)=d3x[fP(Q)+fE(Q)]+d2xfS(Q)(1)where the short-range contribution, fP, is given byfP=A2(1U3) tr(Q2)AU3tr(Q3)+AU4tr(Q2)2(2) In Eq. 2, A and U are phenomenological parameters that depend on temperature and pressure. The elastic free energy is given byfE=12[LQijxkQijxk+2Lq0ϵiklQijQljxk](3)where q0 = 2p/p is the inverse of the pitch (p), L is an elastic constant, and eikl is the Levi-Civita tensor. The last term of Eq. 1 corresponds to the surface contributions to the free energy. For planar degenerate anchoring, we have (44)fSP=WP(QQ)2(4)where WP is the anchoring energy, Q=Q+SI/3, and Q=PQP. The projection operator is defined by Pij = δij − νiνj, where n is the vector normal to the surface. Minimization of the free energy, which leads to metastable and stable states, was achieved using a Ginzburg-Landau relaxation method where Q evolves toward equilibrium according to (49, 50)Qt=1γΠ(δFδQ)(5)with boundary conditions such that Π[(δF/δ ∇ Q) ∙ ν] = 0, where Π(B) = 1/2 (B + BT) − 1/3 tr(B) I ensures the symmetric and traceless properties of the Q-tensor parameter and g is a diffusion coefficient. Initial configurations for BPI were generated according to (48, 49, 51)Qxx=a (sin(ky2) cos(kx2)sin(kx2) cos(kz2)+2sin(kz2)cos(ky2))(6)Qxy=a (2sin(kx2) sin(kz2)2cos(ky2) cos(kz2)+sin(kx2)cos(ky2))(7) For BPII, we usedQxx=a (cos kzcos ky)(8)Qxy=a sin kz(9)where the amplitude of initialization is a = 0.2, the strength of the chirality is given by k = 2q0r, and r is the red shift, which was found to be 0.71 for BPI and 0.86 for BPII (21). In all cases, the components yy, zz, xz, and yz were obtained by cyclic permutation of those given above. The BP lattice parameters aBPI and aBPII are given by aBPI=p2r, aBPII=p2r. For the cholesteric phase, different initial configurations were used, including random, uniform, helical, a radial spherical configuration (RSS) (52), and a radial ellipsoidal configuration deformed from RSS according to the aspect ratio of the system geometry. For the description of the system, we used a finite difference method with a mesh resolution of 7.15 nm and strong anchoring, WP = 1 × 10−3 J/m2; A = 1.067 × 105 J/m3, L = 6 pN, chiral pitch p = 258 nm, and thermal parameter U = 2.755 for BPII, U = 3.0 for BPI, and U = 5.0 for the cholesteric phase. These values are found to be consistent with experimental results (21, 36). BP topological defects were visualized through isosurfaces of the scalar order parameter of S = 0.35 for BPII and S = 0.42 for BPI. The polarized light micrographs were calculated using the Jones matrix formalism, in which light traverses along a chosen direction and the total phase shift is accumulated. A wavelength of 350 nm was sufficient to solve the structural details of the observed morphologies. The optical properties of the chiral LC droplets (diameters of 10 to 30 μm) were first investigated in PVA and PAA solutions (Fig. 1, C and D). Figure 1C shows the optical appearance of a 25-μm high-chirality LC droplet in the reflection mode of a cross-polarizer in PVA solution during cooling from 50° to 25°C at 0.2°C min−1. At high concentrations of the chiral dopant (S-811), the BP structures emerge between the isotropic and cholesteric phases (Fig. 1C) (14, 36). Upon cooling from the isotropic phase, BPII domains reflecting blue light nucleate and grow as the temperature decreases. By further decreasing the temperature, the BPII with its simple cubic lattice structure transitions into a BPI, which has a body-centered cubic lattice structure, and can be identified by the appearance of a green color. This color change is attributed to an increase in the helical pitch length when cooling the sample. We compared the effect of PVA and PAA polymers on the temperature-dependent optical properties of the BPLC droplets to those of a pure water–LC emulsion (Fig. 1D). Our measurements reveal a significant increase in the absolute value of the transition temperatures (Iso-BPII-BPI-Chol) of the BPLC droplets dispersed in PVA or PAA polymer solutions compared to those in pure water. PVA and PAA raise the BP transition temperatures by 0.7° and 1.2°C, respectively. Moreover, PVA and PAA enlarge the stability range of BPII by about 33% with respect to that observed in pure water (Fig. 1D). Oblate chiral LC droplets were formed by a slow drying process of the PDLC solution on a glass substrate. When water evaporates, the polymer film shrinks to a level that can be controlled by the initial polymer solution, including type and concentration. This process leads to a geometrical deformation of the LC droplets, from spherical to oblate. The cross section of the polymer film was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the level of deformation of the chiral LC droplets (Fig. 2, A and B). Cross sections were prepared by breaking the polymer film after freezing in liquid nitrogen. Fig. 2 Chiral LC droplets embedded in polymer films. (A and B) SEM micrographs of the cross section (side view) of high-chirality LC droplets embedded in dry PAA and PVA films, respectively. (C and D) Polarized optical microscopy (POM) of high-chirality LC droplets embedded in dry PAA and PVA films, respectively. (E) POM of a low-chirality LC droplet (6 wt % chiral dopant, N = 5) in a dry PVA film. (F) POM and (G and H) directors obtained from simulations for a low-chirality nematic oblate with Dx = Dy = 4 μm, Dz = 2 μm and pitch = 630 nm (colors are from blue to red according to n̂ẑ). The splay and bend elastic distortions are shown in blue (SSB > 0.002) and in yellow (SSB < −0.002), respectively. Defects are shown in black (isosurface for S = 0.5). (I) POM of a 60-μm high-chirality LC droplet in dry PVA films. (J and K) POM, directors, and defects from simulations for a nematic oblate with Dx = Dy = 4 μm, Dz = 2 μm and pitch = 258 nm. (H) and (L) represent side views of the directors along the y axis. (C) to (F), (I), and (J) are taken in the xy plane. Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs of the chiral LC droplets embedded in a dry PVA film show that geometrical deformation divides the chiral LC droplet into two separate regions with distinct LC molecular alignment. The outer part maintains the structure of the spherical droplet, with its RSS rings. However, the inner part adopts a disc-shape topology, where the strong planar anchoring forces the randomly oriented helical axis within the droplet to adopt a uniform alignment normal to the surface so that the director aligns tangential to the surface. The flat planar region of the now oblate chiral LC drop selectively reflects light of the color corresponding to the pitch length (53). Therefore, a chiral LC with higher dopant concentration and shorter pitch length reflects light at blue wavelengths, while the reflectance spectra of the LC with low dopant concentrations occurs at larger wavelengths (Fig. 2, D and I). Our simulation results show that when a LC with low or high chirality is confined into an oblate spheroid, the concentric twisting layers of the RSS expand biaxially, and a domain of cholesteric phase emerges between the flattened surfaces along the z axis (Fig. 2, E and F) (see simulation results for the low-chirality LC oblate drop). Consistent with our experimental observations, these helical layers lead to a bright circle in the center of the cross-polarized image in the top view (Fig. 2, E and F). Moreover, the RSS in the spherical droplet transforms into a more complicated configuration, with disclination lines forming inside (Fig. 2, G and H). Due to compression along the z axis, the double helix of bend distortions in RSS (28) breaks into two spiral-shape disclination lines (yellow in Fig. 2G). On the other hand, when the LC is confined into large oblate spheroids (Dx = Dy), we obtain a diametrical oblate structure (DOS) for high chirality (p = 258 nm) that resembles the diametrical spherical structure (DSS) (54). In addition to the characteristic ring defects of the DSS (a series of single unlinked loops in the diametrical region), the DOS configuration exhibits other topological line defects, which produce knots that have been identified as a four-component link in the central region [according to the Rolfsen table (55), it corresponds to Njk, where the crossing number is N = 8, the number of blades is k = 4, and the order number is j = 1], followed by two single unlinked loops in the outer part (fig. S2). The four-component link exhibits a curly appearance in the simulated cross-polarizer images (Fig. 2K), which has also been observed in our experiments (Fig. 2I). This emerging, distinct morphology can be attributed to the effect of confinement size on the phase transition temperatures (36). To further investigate the effect of confinement shape and curvature on the molecular organization of chiral LCs, we uniaxially stretched the PDLC film. Systematic deformation of the droplets from their original spherical or oblate geometry by stretching of the PDLC samples was carried out under an optical microscope. Our cross-polarized images show that the LC droplets form ellipsoidal shapes that are aligned with their major axes along the stretching direction. Our cross-polarized micrographs demonstrate that the uniaxial stretching of the chiral LC droplets destabilizes the RSS configuration. RSS rings disappear from the center outward (Fig. 3A and movie S1) as strain is increased. The strain values are defined as ε = (LLo)/Lo, where Lo is the initial diameter of the droplet and L represents the long axis of the ellipsoidal droplet at a given strain. Moreover, a pronounced color change accompanies the stretching of the chiral LC droplets, which we evaluate by visual observation during stretching and measure spectroscopically (fig. S3). According to the spectroscopy results, increasing strain shifts the reflection band of the frustrated chiral LC toward a lower wavelength (fig. S3), producing a color change from orange to green. When the film was unloaded, the orange color of the LC droplet was restored (fig. S4). Fig. 3 Transformation of the RSS structure to the helical configuration upon uniaxial deformation. (A) Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs of a uniaxially stretched low-chirality LC oblate (N = 5) droplet embedded in a dry high–molecular weight PVA film. (B) Polarized light micrographs and (C) director fields obtained from simulations for chiral nematic ellipsoids with pitch = 630 nm during uniaxial stretch along the x axis. The axis lengths for the ellipsoids from top to bottom are Dx = Dy = 4 μm, Dz = 2 μm; Dx = 2Dy, Dz = 1.59 μm; Dx = 3Dy, Dz = 1.39 μm; and Dx = 4Dy, Dz = 1.287 μm, respectively. The RSS-like structure becomes destabilized upon uniaxial deformation of the oblate, and a helical configuration becomes energetically more favorable from Dx = 3Dy. First and last columns in panel (C) represent the top view and side view of the director fields, receptively. The director field is colored according to its projection on the x axis. Defects are shown in black (isosurface for S = 0.5). The experimental and simulated cross-polarized micrographs presented in images (A) and (B) are taken in the xy plane. To expand on this phenomenon, we performed simulations of ellipsoidal cavities with various aspect ratios and explored the possible configurations. Our simulation results indicate that in the early stages of the uniaxial stretching along the x axis, the configuration is still RSS-like with concentrically twisting layers near the boundary of the ellipsoidal cavity and uniaxially twisting structure in the center with helical axis along the z axis. As the oblate is stretched further (Dx = 3Dy, where Dx and Dy are axes diameters in the x and y directions, respectively), the high curvature near the ellipsoid ends in the x axis and the strong confinement along the z axis drives the most inner twisting layer toward the center and the RSS-like structure becomes destabilized. From Dx = 3Dy (Fig. 3), the helical structure under ellipsoidal confinement becomes energetically more favorable than the RSS-like structure. The optical properties of the LC in the ellipsoidal cavities of the stretched polymer films were further investigated for the high-chirality LC sample. Similar to the low-chirality LC, cross-polarized micrographs of the high-chirality LC droplets show that the RSS rings disappear under uniaxial deformation (Fig. 4, A and B, and movie S2). However, due to the high chirality of the LC, it is difficult to discern individual RSS rings. Figure 4 (A and B) shows the cross-polarized micrographs of the oblate chiral LC droplets before and after deformation at room temperature. Upon uniaxial stretching, we observe a pronounced color change from brownish-orange to deep blue (Fig. 4, A and B). Diffused reflection spectra before and after stretching the sample are shown in Fig. 4 (A and B). The color change is gradually restored after releasing the strain (fig. S4). The remaining deformation in the unloaded sample can be attributed to the residual plastic deformation of the polymer film, which did not allow a full recovery to the initial length. Fig. 4 Uniaxial deformation of the high-chirality LC destabilizes the RSS structure and shifts the light of the reflection band to shorter wavelengths. (A) Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs and the reflectance spectra of a high-chirality LC sphere droplet embedded in a PAA polymer film before and after strain (ε = 2.0). a.u., arbitrary units. (B) Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs and the reflectance spectra of a high-chirality LC oblate embedded in a PVA polymer film before and after strain (ε = 2.75). (C and D) Cross-polarized images of the high-chirality LC confined in an oblate and uniaxially stretched droplet obtained by simulations. (E) Top and side view (with defect line) of the director field configuration along the x axis. Director is colored based on its projection onto the z axis, and the order parameter defect lines (black) correspond to S = 0.6. Blue regions correspond to a director alignment on the xy plane; near the border, the director field shows the typical cholesteric behavior (deformed RSS). In the past few years, mechanically responsive chiral LCs have attracted considerable attention for sensing applications. In chiral LC elastomers, or a high-viscosity chiral LC sandwiched between polymer films, deformation-induced color change is attributed to a reduction in helix length due to a decrease in the film thickness upon straining (5660). Stretching of the polymer-dispersed chiral LC films leads to contraction along the axis normal to the surface of the film. Since the volume of the LC does not change, the extension of the polymer film results in a reduction in the size of the droplet along the z axis, which may cause a change in the pitch length of the chiral LC and the subsequent color shift. We further studied the structural transformation of the high-chirality LC under uniaxial deformation using mean field simulations. As was shown before, consistent with the experimental observation, the high-chirality LC confined into an oblate spheroid (Dx = Dy) forms a DOS and exhibits a topological line defect that makes a knot. This unique structure appears as a curly and symmetric ring in the simulated cross-polarizer images when the system is observed from the z axis (optical axis) (Figs. 2F and 4C). Upon uniaxial deformation, however, the high-chirality LC adopts a deformed RSS configuration with cholesteric layers that are no longer flat and instead show oscillations (Fig. 4D). At the central region of the deformed droplet, the stretching induces a director alignment that lies on the xy plane (blue region, Fig. 4E); i.e., the LC tends to adopt a uniform configuration—as expected in nematic LCs—and the helical rotation is mainly presented along the z axis. Localized zones of high bend and splay deformation are also formed at the central region where the director rotates, which are identified by the isosurfaces of splay (blue) and bend (yellow) order parameter (fig. S5); at these regions, we observe changes in the wavelength of the reflected light. The corresponding cross-polarized images have a texture that is similar to those observed in our experiments (Fig. 4C). We further investigated the optical properties of the BP structures in a confined ellipsoidal geometry. Upon increasing the temperature, the cross-polarized micrographs and reflection wavelengths demonstrate phase transitions from cholesteric (25°) to BPI (42.5°C), then to BPII (43.9°C), and eventually to isotropic (45°C) (Fig. 5, A and B). Interestingly, analysis of images of the BP reveals two distinct regions in the ellipsoidal domain, in which the outer part of the stretched droplet exhibits BP characteristics (BPI at 42.5°C and BPII at 43.9°C) (Fig. 5, A and B) at a lower temperature compared to the inner core. This can be attributed to the possible structural alteration of the disclination lines of blue phases induced by geometrical confinement. Fig. 5 BP transitions in an initially deformed highly chirality droplet. (A) Cross-polarized reflection mode micrographs of a stretched high-chirality LC droplet (ε = 2.5) at different phases: cholesteric, BPI, and BPII. (B) Measured reflectance spectra of the stretched high-chirality LC droplet in different phases: cholesteric, BPI, and BPII. Snapshots along the z axis of the simulated defect structure of a uniaxially stretched (C) BPI and (D) BPII, from an initial oblate geometry to x = 3y. (E) Scalar order parameter along the z axis for BPI and BPII, respectively. The scalar order parameter of the initial oblate-like geometry (solid black line) has been compared with two representative stretched geometries (red and blue dashed lines). To better understand the influence of the confined geometry on the BP structures of the high-chirality LC, we turned to continuum simulations of blue phases confined into geometries provided by our experiments, with planar anchoring conditions. These calculations reveal changes in the BP-lattice periodicity that are induced by the interfacial strain (Fig. 5, C and D). Specifically, we analyzed three geometries with spatial dimensions: G1: Dx = Dy = 2Dz; G2: Dx = 2Dy = 4Dz; and G3: Dx = 3Dy = 6Dz (Dx, Dy, and Dz are the droplet lengths in the x, y, and z directions, respectively). In all cases, we extracted the behavior of the scalar order parameter, S, along the x, y, and z axes. Since S drops off in the vicinity of the disclination lines, this parameter can be used to detect possible changes in the periodicity of the BPs (21). We find that, at the core of the systems, both BPI and BPII do not present visible changes of lattice periodicity; i.e., they exhibit a bulk-like structure. As the material approaches the interface, the unit cells shrink, producing a change in the periodicity of the material. Figure 5E shows S, for BPI and BPII, as a function of z, where z = ξ z and ξ = 7.5 nm is the coherence length. The center of the system is at (x, y, z) = (0, 0, 0); the results for x and y* dependence are shown in the Supplementary Materials (fig. S6). For G1, Dz = 284 ξ = 2130 nm; for G2, Dz = 221 ξ = 1657.5 nm; and for G3, Dz = 194 ξ = 1455 nm. Therefore, changes in the lattice periodicity along the z axis are seen first in G3, then in G2, and last in G1. Our simulations also show that, at the interface, the (110) lattice orientation is the preferred orientation for BPI, and for BPII, it is (111); thus, the BPI shows a green color at the interface, and it is dark for BPII. In the experiments, the blue color of the BPII comes from light reflected from the (100) planes, but it is dark at the interfaces, which is consistent with our simulation results. Experimental studies and computational simulations have been used to elucidate the effects of mechanical strain and nonspherical geometrical confinement on the molecular organization and optical properties of chiral LCs. Two polymers (PVA and PAA) were used to create a matrix in which chiral LC droplets were embedded, both of which promote strong planar anchoring of the LC. Upon biaxial compression and uniaxial extension, LC droplets deform into oblate and ellipsoidal droplets, respectively. When the chiral LC is forced into an oblate geometry, the droplet exhibits two regions with distinct molecular alignments. While the outer part maintains RSS features, with a randomly oriented helical axis, the inner part adopts a disc-shape topology, with the LC helix aligned normal to the surface that selectively reflects light of a color corresponding to the pitch length. We have found that uniaxial deformation of the chiral LC droplets destabilizes the RSS configuration and induces the formation of helical structures. Upon increasing the temperature, the high-chirality LC confined into ellipsoidal domains reveals two distinct regions (core-shell) in the BP configuration space, where the BP characteristics for the outer shell appear at a lower temperature. Overall, these findings indicate that the coupling of mechanical strain, curvature, and elasticity of the chiral LC leads to the emergence of completely new molecular configurations that can be stabilized by deformation, paving the way for applications that include mechano-optical metamaterials, smart coatings, and wearable electronic devices. Supplementary material for this article is available at Acknowledgments: Funding: This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, under grant DE-SC0019762. The calculations presented in this work were carried out on the GPU cluster at the University of Chicago, supported by the National Science Foundation under MRI grant 1828629. J.A.M.-G. acknowledges computer resources, technical advice, and support provided by the Laboratorio Nacional de Supercómputo del Sureste de México (LNS), a member of the CONACYT national laboratories, with project no. 201901023N. Author contributions: M.S. and J.J.d.P. conceived the experiments, and M.S. performed them. J.A.M.-G., Y.Z., and J.J.d.P. conceived and performed numerical simulations and theoretical calculations. M.S., J.A.M.-G., Y.Z., and J.J.d.P. wrote the manuscript. J.J.d.P. guided the work. N.T.Q. contributed to setting up the heating system for phase transition measurements of the stretched samples and performing Scanning Electron Microscopy. X.L. contributed to the electric field setup. K.K. contributed to optical observation of the deformed samples. R.Z. and J.P.H. contributed to analysis and interpretation of the theoretical results. E.B. and N.L.A. contributed to analysis and interpretation of the experimental results. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Data and materials availability: All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials. 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Question: Are Capital Gains Tax Rates Based On AGI Or Taxable Income? How is capital gains tax figured? This is generally the purchase price plus any commissions or fees paid. This is the sale price minus any commissions or fees paid. At what age are you exempt from capital gains? What is your AGI on a tax return? Do you pay state taxes on capital gains? State Taxes on Capital Gains Some states also levy taxes on capital gains. Most states tax capital gains according to the same tax rates they use for regular income. So, if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with no state income tax, you won’t have to worry about capital gains taxes at the state level. Are capital gains taxes progressive? Key Takeaways. The U.S. tax system is progressive with rates ranging from 10% to 37% of a filer’s yearly income. … Short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income on assets held for one year or less. Long-term capital gains are given preferential rates of 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your income level. Do capital gains count towards AGI? While capital gains may be taxed at a different rate, they are still included in your adjusted gross income, or AGI, and thus can affect your tax bracket and your eligibility for some income-based investment opportunities. … Of course, there a number of factors that can impact your AGI other than capital gains. Why is capital gains tax lower than income tax? The justification for a lower tax rate on capital gains relative to ordinary income is threefold: it is not indexed for inflation, it is a double tax, and it encourages present consumption over future consumption. … Future personal consumption, in the form of savings, is taxed, while present consumption is not. Do capital gains count as earned income? Does standard deduction apply to capital gains? If my only income is Long term capital gains, can I claim deductions against it? Yes, you can claim all allowable deductions, such as your Exemption and your Standard Deduction (or Itemized Deductions). Yes, sales tax, charitable donations, and medical costs in excess of 10% of your AGI would be Itemized deductions. How do I offset capital gains tax? You can offset what you owe for capital gains by using your capital losses. When you sell an asset at a loss, that loss can be used to offset profits from other assets. For example, let’s say you realize a profit of $1,000 from the sale of one stock and see a loss of $800 in a different stock. How are capital gains taxed in 2019? In the U.S., short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income. That means you could pay up to 37% income tax, depending on your federal income tax bracket. Is AGI same as taxable income? Taxable income is a layman’s term that refers to your adjusted gross income (AGI) less any itemized deductions you’re entitled to claim or your standard deduction. … You’re not permitted to both itemize deductions and claim the standard deduction. The result is your taxable income. Is Other income considered earned income? For the year you are filing, earned income includes all income from employment, but only if it is includable in gross income. Examples of earned income are: wages; salaries; tips; and other taxable employee compensation. Earned income also includes net earnings from self-employment. How do you find the AGI and taxable income? Here’s how you work out your AGI:Start with your gross income. Income is on lines 7-22 of Form 1040.Add these together to arrive at your total income.Subtract your adjustments from your total income (also called “above-the-line deductions”)You have your AGI. What is the AGI for 2019? Based on the amount of your AGI, you can then figure out how much you’ll owe in income taxes. Starting for the 2019 tax year, your AGI is on line 8b of the newly redesigned IRS Form 1040. What is the capital gain tax for 2020? 2020 capital gains tax ratesLong-term capital gains tax rateYour income0%$0 to $53,60015%$53,601 to $469,05020%$469,051 or moreShort-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income according to federal income tax brackets. Do you get taxed twice on capital gains? Capital Gains are Taxed Twice. … Dividends come from corporations that must first pay income taxes on any profits. Long-term capital gains come from shares of a company purchased and held for more than 12 months. What is the IRS standard deduction for 2020?
Amsterdam Sights A short history of Amsterdam Only a small patch on the globe, the Netherlands's role in world history, culture and commerce is out of all proportion to its size. The country owes a lot to its strategic position. Major European rivers like the Rhine pass through the Netherlands into the North Sea, making it a natural centre for business and industry. Since its very early days, over 700 years ago, the City of Amsterdam has occupied a key position in the Dutch scene. Growing from a fishing village in the powerful province of Holland, the city developed into a hub for trade, the arts and politics. 1. The early days 2. Political unity 3. The Republic 4. A touch of spice 5. Golden century 6. Marking time 7. Industrialisation 8. World War II 9. Recovery and growth 10. Urban renewal 11. The 21st century 1. The early days This tax-exemption was an important step in a long-standing power struggle. The lands around the Amstel (Amstel-lands) actually belonged to the Bishop of Utrecht, but were ruled on his behalf by the Lords of Amstel. They were threatening to declare independence from the Bishop. Floris V put a stop to this. A separate, independent Amstel-land did not fit in with his plans. And to win the hearts and minds of the population he granted freedom from tolls - a foretaste of the benefits of joining mighty Holland! The ploy worked. The Lords of Amstel were obliged to accept the Count of Holland as their feudal master. But they were not happy about it, and in 1296 they kidnapped and assassinated Floris. Amsterdam duly reverted to the bishopric of Utrecht. City charter In 1300 or 1306 - the year can't be fixed for sure - Amsterdam was granted a city charter by its feudal lord, the Bishop of Utrecht. When the bishop died in 1317, the situation turned around again. Lordship over the city passed to his near relative, William III, Count of Holland. Amsterdam was back in the powerful arms of Holland for good. The city was developing fast. The first church - the core of today's Old Church - was built around 1300. Dikes were built along the banks of the Amstel river. And in the river itself, at the spot where the National Monument now stands, they built a dam. This became the site of the 'Plaetse' market. Amsterdam's economy floated on beer and herring. In 1323 the city was awarded a monopoly on the import of beer from Hamburg - something which had been prohibited for a long period. This gave Amsterdam a valuable competitive advantage. Baltic countries had traditionally dominated the herring trade. But when the fish shifted their spawning ground to the North Sea, Amsterdam saw its chance to penetrate a new market. This coincided with new gutting techniques enabling the catch to be kept fresh even longer. The fishermen could now get bigger catches to market and profits rose apace. 2. Political unity The region which now forms the Netherlands was politically fragmented. The gradual move towards greater unity got underway in the 15th and 16th centuries. The process was pushed along by the young city - quick to see the benefits of burgeoning trade. During the 15th century Amsterdam became part of the powerful and widespread Dukedom of Burgundy, under Duke Philip the Good. The duke sought to keep his lands together, but ran up against opposition in Holland and from Countess Jacoba of Bavaria who feared Burgundian encirclement. Sides were chosen and the sets of supporters - calling themselves the 'codfish' and the 'hooks' - battled it out. Amsterdam backed Duke Philip and his successors. Centre of commerce Political unity of the Low Countries - roughly covering the area of today's Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg - came in 1543. The man responsible was Charles V, the great-great-grandson of Philip the Good. The hub of the new state was in the south, with Brussels as capital. Amsterdam's importance came from its status as a centre of commerce. The city imported wood and grain from the Baltic region - also the place to buy iron-ore, furs and cod. The salt to preserve the cod came from Portugal. This made Amsterdam into a central clearing-house where goods from north and south could be stored, processed and sold on. And to service the growing business community and international trade, Amsterdam developed a range of trades and professions like cartography, printing, banking and insurance. Biggest city A blooming economy helped Amsterdam to grow into the biggest city in the province of Holland, with some 30,000 inhabitants. We can get an idea of the size and spread of the city from 16th century maps. The IJ waterway (pronounced: 'eye') was still an estuary; in it was a port directly connected to Damrak. Ocean-going vessels could sail right into the city, up to what is today Dam Square. Back then, the Dam was covered in small houses, with a medieval, gothic city hall. The New Church (as opposed to the Old Church built a century earlier in 1300) was also surrounded by clusters of houses. And the city limits were defined by the Singel canal to the west, and the Kloveniersburgwal (wall) to the east. 3. The Republic Amsterdam was not immune to the Reformation which raged through Europe. For a long while it remained a Catholic stronghold, but protestantism gradually took the upper hand. Religious rivalry actually halted the city's growth between 1535 and 1578. Eighty years war Wars of religion stopped the unification of the Netherlands. Charles V's son Philip II, inherited the throne of Spain. And as King Philip of Spain he sought to annihilate the reformation in the Netherlands. Many of the Dutch rebelled. They wanted to keep their freedom and opposed the idea of religious persecution. Prince William of Orange became their national leader. His ironic nickname, William the Silent, came from his skill as a negotiator - never committing himself until the last possible moment. In 1572, the province of Holland chose the side of William of Orange. Only Amsterdam remained loyal to Spain. Indeed, Amsterdam helped the Spanish army capture Haarlem. At this point the advantage started to shift. The Spanish troops were forced to retreat, and the Sea Beggars - pirates to some, patriots to others - gained the upper hand over the Amsterdammers. The city was now isolated. A peace treaty with the rest of the province of Holland was signed in 1578, and within a few months a new city government was in place, made up of protestants and allies of William of Orange. Seven provinces A definite break-up of the Netherlands came in 1579. The provinces clustered in two 'Unions', of Utrecht and Atrecht. The seven provinces in the Union of Utrecht continued the war with Spain until 1648 and the Peace of Munster. This treaty marked the end of the eighty years war. The seven provinces - the basis for the modern Netherlands - were known as 'the Republic'. Together they formed a loose state. William of Orange was given the title of 'Stadholder'. In broad terms this made him a semi-hereditary president/commander-in-chief, with wide powers in time of war, but subject to a mass of checks and balances in peacetime. (A unique construction reflecting the Dutch relish for compromise and consensus.) Stadholder William of Orange was based in The Hague. While Amsterdam was outside the centre of power, under the Republic, the 'say' of city or province was measured by how much money it contributed. The Dutch Republic was neither a democracy as we know it, nor the sort of absolute monarchy which reigned in most neighbouring countries. Rights and privileges awarded to the city in the middle ages, added to a flair for wheeling-and-dealing in business, ensured a degree of freedom and tolerance. 4. A touch of spice Merchant adventurers from Amsterdam sailed the seas to the far-off Indies or 'spice-islands' (today's Indonesia). Big risks brought bigger rewards. Soon, a process had been launched that would boom into the 'Golden Century'. Towards the end of the 15th century, the great maritime powers of Portugal and Spain undertook epic voyages of discovery to the Americas and the Indies. Holland soon became involved in trading exotic imports from these regions, initially by collecting cargoes in Lisbon for sale and distribution to wider markets. The situation changed in 1580 when Spain annexed Portugal. The northern Netherlanders now had to make the trip to the Indies under their own flag. Meanwhile many rich merchants from the southern Netherlands had moved to Amsterdam after Antwerp fell to the Spanish. Their arrival gave the city's business community an extra boost. Among the new arrivals were Portuguese jews; having fled their home country for Antwerp, they were refugees once again. Economic success The very first trading voyages to the Indies from Amsterdam were a phenomenal success, yielding shareholders an awesome 400% profit. Anxious to share these riches, ships were fitted-out and dispatched from every port in the country. In 1602 all these fragmented efforts were clustered in the Dutch East Indies Company. Amsterdam provided more than half the capital. Other investors included ordinary people, alongside the wealthy merchant classes. Amsterdam was prevented from having half the seats on the board, for fear of over-domination. All the same, the city was still a powerful force within the organisation. 5. Golden century The canals Not surprisingly, Amsterdam's magnificent network of canals was set out in the 17th century. And along the canals which girdle the city, the citizens built houses taller than any seen in any other Dutch city centre. The city authorities encouraged this 'tall is prestigious' idea to add to the glory of Amsterdam. Two massive places of worship were built in the first half of the century, the Zuiderkerk and Westerkerk - respectively the South and West churches. The gothic city hall was destroyed by fire in 1652, and the present building (now the Dam Palace) rose up on the same site. Dam Square - still De Plaetse in those days - was expanded considerably. The city also grew apace, and by 1700 it boasted some 200,000 inhabitants. Culture flourished alongside business. Poets and playwrights like Bredero, Vondel and P.C. Hooft created their immortal works. Rembrandt and his pupils had their ateliers here. And the philosophers Spinoza and Descartes ('I think, therefore I am,') fashioned new insights as food for thought. Economic crash Amsterdam looked rich and powerful, but its prosperity was fragile. War with England prevented the arrival of a crucial merchant fleet from the Indies, bringing the city to the brink of bankruptcy. For people at the lower end of the social scale this meant no work. They went hungry, and discontent smouldered. Baltic trade was still the traditional pillar of the city's economy. And when war came to the Baltic, Amsterdam ships fought on the Danish side against Sweden and Norway. The year 1672 brought a new trial of strength, with war between the Republic and France of Louis XIV. On top of this, England attacked. Making good use of the turmoil, William III of Orange seized power. And when the direct danger to the country had been quickly disposed off, William III wanted to continue the war. Amsterdam opposed these plans - in the eyes of the city fathers it was 'pouring money down the drain'. 6. Marking time Amsterdam's period of boom had run out by the end of the 17th century. The city lost its status as heavyweight commercial sea-power. In turn, that eroded its position as universal clearing house. Money itself started to play a greater role and the city became Europe's financial and banking centre (indeed, the concept of shares was born in Amsterdam). Princes and potentates came here to borrow the funds to fill their war-chests. War has never been cheap. Meanwhile, the middle-classes were becoming politically aware .... The social divide By around 1600 wide gaps had grown up between the classes in Amsterdam. At top were the Regents - wealthy families who effectively ran the city, filling their pockets along the way. Nepotism was rife. A newborn baby from the right family could be appointed to well-paid sinecure (i.e. a job with a formal title but no work to do). Meanwhile, basic necessities were heavily taxed and unemployment was widespread. Gradually, a new middle class arose, between the rich regents and the poor at the bottom of the ladder. These new burgers were literate and open to new ideas from England and France - and they wanted a slice of power. The 18th century brought an age of enlightenment to Europe. The old order was being questioned. The air was alive with new ideas and theories around democracy and the sharing of power. These middle-class burgers saw the House of Orange as a natural ally against the regents. And in 1747, middle-class pressure secured many of the powers of a monarch for William IV of Orange. A reform movement sprang up in Amsterdam, demanding an end to the corruption of the regents. By 1748 this had grown into a widespread popular drive. Rioting erupted across the Seven Provinces, with the violence directed at the hated tax-gatherers. Their houses were systematically plundered and destroyed. The authorities acted with an iron fist: the ring-leaders were captured and hanged. A generation later the so-called Patriot movement fought for the same ideals. But this time they targeted not only the regents, but also the House of Orange and the way the province of Holland and Amsterdam dominated the Republic. There were some ugly incidents and skirmishes, and many of the Patriots fled to France. This was on the eve of the French Revolution. Helped by French sympathizers and inspired by ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood, they returned - effectively taking over the Dutch Republic in 1795. The city authorities of Amsterdam were ejected and replaced by provisional representatives of the people. These were the first experimental shoots of democracy. Capital city It was a short interlude. Napoleonic French influence turned into interference then dictatorship. The Republic was given a single head of state, only to become a Kingdom, under Napoleon's brother Louis. Louis-Napoleon chose Amsterdam as his official place residence, making it the country's focal point and capital. In 1813, the allies defeated Napoleon and the French left the Netherlands. In 1815, William I became king. Formally, Amsterdam remained the capital city, but - as in times gone by - the government went to The Hague. 7. Industrial revolution Slowly but surely, the age of steam took an iron grip on Amsterdam. Industrialisation was certainly a boost for the city's economy, but it also spurred social unrest. Faced with the problem of the old port silting up, Amsterdam applied a solution from its Golden Age - canal building. The new North Holland Canal linked the city directly with the North Sea port of Den Helder. It was a bold move, but prosperity was slow in returning. Poverty was rampant. The turnaround came after 1870 with the opening of another canal, Suez, and German unification under Bismarck. Both were good news for international business, and so was the relaxation of tariffs and restrictions on trade with the Dutch East Indies (today Indonesia). The year 1870 also brought the first rough diamond from South Africa; the city's already world famous diamond industry expanded apace. And in 1876, the North Sea Canal gave Amsterdam a direct link with the sea. A city builds The opening of Central Station in 1889 positioned Amsterdam firmly on the rail map. As if reawakened to its status, the city started to build on a grand scale: theatres, museums, hotels and department stores. The years after 1870 also saw a band of new workers' neighbourhoods arise, beyond the Buitensingelgracht. The city needed workers, the workers needed homes, but that was as far as it went. Quality of building, life and surroundings were low priorities. The 20th century up to 1940 The Housing Act of 1901 was designed to end the appalling living conditions endured by many people. The authorities now had powers to confiscate and demolish slum dwellings. The new Act also set out minimum building standards. New grant arrangements led to creation of many housing cooperatives; to this day, they are important players in the provision of public sector housing in Amsterdam. The city expanded in other directions and styles. Delightful garden-neighbourhoods sprang up. The idealistic Amsterdam school of architecture created a number of neighbourhoods with low-cost rented housing, around the old city. A small airport was established at Schiphol to the south-east of Amsterdam, and 900 hectare wooded recreation area was laid out on the south-west fringe. The great depression hit hard. In 1934 the government decided to cut the dole paid to the unemployed. There was brief outbreak of rioting in working-class districts like the Jordaan (today a fashionable place to live!). Fish saleswomen on Houtkopersdwarsstraat 8. The Second World War Unlike in 1914, Dutch neutrality was not respected in World War II. German forces attacked without warning on 10 May 1940. The hopelessly out-gunned, out-numbered Dutch army capitulated five days later. With the exception of a few misdirected allied air raids, the city suffered little damage in terms of bombing or battles. But the large Jewish community was decimated - deportation to the death camps literally cost Amsterdam 10% of its people. And the starvation winter of 1944/45, killed more. Jewish deportations Measures against Jew by the occupying forces increased apace. When Jewish and Communist members were removed, the City Councils failed to protest. And civil servants obediently followed the orders of the occupying authorities. The momentum increased: the first mass raids were on 22 February 1941 on the Waterlooplein. Led by the dockworkers, the people of Amsterdam responded with a general strike on 25 and 26 February. This was a unique public show of determination by gentiles on behalf of their Jewish compatriots. Deportations started all the same, in July 1942. The Jews of Amsterdam were herded together in the Hollandse Theatre, before being taken to the staging camp at Westerbork, and then to concentration camps in Germany and Poland. Some - like Anne Frank and her family - went into hiding. Anne's world-famous diary tells their story. Eventually the Frank family were betrayed and deported to Auschwitz. All died with the exception of Anne's father. The starvation winter The defeat of the British and Polish airborne forces at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, isolated the northern part of the Netherlands. With the German armies under pressure on all fronts, supplies dried up. The starvation winter of 1944-45 claimed countless lives in Amsterdam. To get wood to fuel their fires, people pulled down thousands of empty houses - often those of deported Jewish families. Germany surrendered on 5 May 1945, and two days later Canadian troops liberated Amsterdam. 9. Recovery and growth With peace restored, the city faced the challenge of revitalising its two most important generators of prosperity - the sea- and air-ports. There was a housing backlog to be cleared away, and the city's roads would have to be re-planned to cope with growing traffic. Schiphol Airport grew apace and now ranks high among European airports in terms of volume - and higher in terms of service. Obviously this expansion has had a positive and a less-positive impact on the nearby city. Meanwhile, enhancing Amsterdam's access to the North Sea was an ongoing priority. The harbour mouth, canals and locks were regularly enlarged and improved. With the independence of the former Dutch colony Indonesia, Amsterdam lost its position as clearing house for tropical produce. To compensate, the Port of Amsterdam took on the role of gateway for commodities like grain and - later - Japanese cars for the European market. There was a period of intense rivalry with Rotterdam (the world's largest port). Today, the Port of Amsterdam is happy to operate as a niche player, with a specialised offering, alongside the neighbourly giant. (Success has been sweet: PoA is the world's premier cacao port!) Traffic and housing Pre-war Amsterdam was almost unaccessible for modern traffic. Solving this demanded far-reaching infrastructural change. Successful major projects include the road tunnel under the IJ waterway, the metro (subway) network and the ring-road around the city. And there were new housing projects, like the Bijlmermeer. Blocks of spacious apartments with plenty of green, open space in between - homes for hundreds of thousands. Sadly, factors including high rents prevented the project from realising its potential. 10. Urban renewal The early sixties were a time of fundamental change in Dutch society. The young were finding that they had a voice, and they were using it to challenge the traditional hierarchy. It was the time the 'Provo' movement, flower-power and protest. John Lennon and Yoko Ono had their legendary sleep-in at the Amsterdam Hilton. The explosion of youth culture in Amsterdam hit the headlines worldwide. Hippies and back-packers flocked to the city. They slept in the Vondelpark and even around the national monument on Dam Square (until this was banned in 1970). Outdoor sleeping was soon regulated by limiting the permitted areas and providing cheap accommodation called 'sleep-inns', a kind of hip youth hostels, that often provide some cultural program at the side. Overspill or compact city By 1970 a much-needed programme of urban renewal was underway. There were two conflicting visions at work here. The traditional approach was based on the city as centre of business and production. This 'overspill' school assumed the relocation of around half the inhabitants to towns like Almere, Hoorn and Purmerend. This was bitterly opposed by people in the older neighbourhoods determined to stay in their familiar surroundings. The renewal process ground to a halt. The impasse was broken in 1978 when the city council chose for the 'city as a place to live' model. Local people were involved and consulted on the changes. Meantime, City Hall developed the so-called compact city model - the opposite of overspill. The search was on for new sites to build, in and around the city centre. And, after a long lull, the population curve began to rise again. The squatter movement Things were on the move, but there was still a housing shortage. There was a sharp drop in the number of people living in a single home; and the urban renewal programme has demolished large blocks of flats - with nothing to replace them. Young people started to move into empty building, taking squatters' right. The squatter movement developed into an independent help and support network - for and by youngsters seeking somewhere to live. Rioting was common when the police removed squatters. BeatrixBut the most serious disturbance was on 30 April 1980, at the inauguration of Queen Beatrix at the New Church on Dam Square (Dutch monarchs are installed not crowned). The intensity of violence around the squatter movement cooled considerably after 1985. 11. The 21st century Liveability is the priority, but Amsterdam has never down-played its relish for business. The rich opportunities are evidenced by the number of major international corporations choosing the Amsterdam region as their European gateway. The cultural picture is as dynamic and vibrant as ever. Culture and sport Amsterdam is still the undisputed cultural capital of the Netherlands. The world renowned Concertgebouw orchestra, the ballet theatre (from classical to the outer edge of experimental), dozens of museums and many more art galleries draw visitors from across the world. Amsterdam also boasts two excellent universities and teaching hospitals. And, of course, what would Amsterdam be without Ajax? In the 1970's football fans around the world thrilled to the exploits of Johan Cruyff. When Ajax or the Dutch national team scores another victory - as in the 1988 European Championship - Amsterdam celebrates until the early hours. Governance and self-determination Recent years have brought two important changes in the way the city is run. Firstly, the adminstration has been decentralised. Alongside the Burgomaster (mayor) and aldermen at City Hall, Amsterdam now has seven neighbourhood councils. City Hall retains the final say on major issues. But if history is any guide, the city will do what it has always done: take the best of the new and set it dancing to an Amsterdam tune. Put another way, nobody has ever called Amsterdam drab or boring. Dutch Royal Family The difference between Holland and the Netherlands Both the country name as well as the language name can be very confusing for toursists. Flag of Amsterdam Amsterdam in numbers a short list of interesting facts and figures Growth of Amsterdam growth of amsterdam animation (on YouTube) showing the growth of Amsterdam from 1850 to 2010 West-Indisch Huis West India House former headquarters of the Dutch West India Company New Amsterdam Tours Spend your time in Amsterdam wisely and discover the city and its history by making the 3 hour free walking tour. Atlas at the roof of the Royal Palace at Dam Square King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima official website of the Dutch Royal House - Capital of the Netherlands NL
MAU Art & Design Glossary Pure Color Colors can broadly be divided into achromatic colors such as white, grey and black, and chromatic colors, which are colors with hues, such as red, yellow and blue. Pure colors of the respective hues of chromatic colors, are colors of the solar spectrum (colors obtained by passing sunlight through a prism) with the greatest saturation. With pure colors, the saturation cannot be raised any higher. Most colors are a mixture of colors of different wavelengths but the colors of the solar spectrum are “pure” colors which cannot be broken down any further. The level of purity and intensity of a color can be expressed in saturation. Achromatic colors (white, grey, black) are said to have zero saturation. This saturation value increases as the proportion of chromatic colors to achromatic colors increases. Colors produced by mixing black or white to a pure color are called clear colors. These correspond to colors on the surface of a color solid. Colors produced by mixing grey to a pure color are called turbid colors. These correspond to colors on the inside of a color solid. Generally, paints which have not been mixed with other colors may also be referred to as pure colors.
Why do we have to fight for the right education and support for our Autistic children? Humour me a little here as I know I am in a dream world but imagine this: You have a child who shows signs of Autism so you take them to the GP who agrees and refers you to a children’s mental health unit who agree to see you the next week. They meet with you and decide to assess your child the following week. A week after that your child receives a diagnosis. So you go to the school SENCO who quickly suggests your child will probably need an EHC Plan. She gathers all the evidence she has been getting together over the last year and contacts the educational psychologist, who comes in the following week. Three months later the educational psychologist comes back and then writes a report. Your SENCO sends the report along with her paperwork to the LA assessment team. The LA assessment team receive your child’s application for an EHC Plan and they have a meeting and decide to assess your child. You get a letter asking for any extra information at the end of that week and so do any health care professionals they have contacted. Everyone replies promptly with this information and your child is assessed the following week. An EHC Plan is issued. You are then asked what school you want your child to attend and the assessment team arrange that. Less than five months from taking your child to the GP, they are starting to settle in to their new school, where they will receive an education that suits them. So maybe my time scales are a little unrealistic but my point is that we have a system in place in the UK that should be easy. A system which allows children to be diagnosed, assessed for EHC Plans and allocated the right schools. Yet a lot of parents and carers have to fight for years to get these things for their children. Unfortunately there are waiting lists and overworked offices and funding issues to deal with. Most people will end up fighting at some stage or another, a lot of people every stage. Parents end up appealing decisions to get them overturned, attending hundreds of unnecessary meetings and in some places going to tribunals to get their child the education that is their given right. We have, instead of the easy system, a system where unfortunately if you don’t have the means to fight either academically or because of language barriers, you don’t stand a lot of chance of getting anywhere. The very system set up to help our children is instead setting them up to fail! Diagnosis’ are taking too long. EHC Plans that are very needed by children are either not being applied for or not given due to funding. School places are allocated because of funding rather than the actual needs of the child. We have a system that appears to most parents of autistic children to be based more on funding than their children’s needs. We have a system where some parents of children with autism have to fight to get their children out of mainstream education when those children so obviously can’t cope in a mainstream environment. This fight takes so long that we have ended up with parents out of work and in debt, children out of school or depressed and suicidal, schools with completely avoidable behavioural issues and teachers off sick with stress! We should not have to fight for things that should come as standard such as the right education or support for our children! 15 Comments Add yours 1. Tracey Abrahams says: It’s a tragic sign of our broken health and education system that everybody has to fight to prove they need support. The systems are not there to help, they are there to filter out the ones who are not strong enough to reach the end goal of support. The view being if they dont want to fight for it then obviously they dont really need it. 😕😬 1. That! And the unfortunate consequence is that those who dont have the means to fight are unable to get support! 2. And….many parents just don’t have the fight in them or the knowledge to help their hickdren. It’s a broken and tragic state. 😢 3. fatamsimth says: More funding for autism here is going to be spent on a military parade for our president. 4. Ruth says: I agree with you, but what’s keeps me going is knowing that I am my son’s voice. If I don’t fight for him, who will? 1. That keeps me going too Ruth! 5. Alice Letters to my Daughter says: Blue sky thinking is great – and in fact, your scenario really doesn’t sound all that difficult. There just need to be better, more efficient systems in place and some joined up thinking. And congrats, because someone loved this post so much they added it to the #BlogCrush linky! Feel free to collect your ‘I’ve been featured’ blog badge 🙂 6. Lucky you! In Africa , children with learning difficulties are not recognised. 1. Its a reality for some of us 2. We are advocating for inclusive education Leave a Reply
12 Easy Ways to Save Water Now Kitchen faucet with running water. Photo courtesy of kaboompics / pixabay Saving Water by Heather Stone No matter where you live reducing your water use is important. Water is a finite resource and we are using more of it than ever. Did you know that the average American uses 88 gallons of water a day at home? In comparison, Europeans use about half that and in sub –Saharan Africa persons average only 2-5 gallons a day. Now most of us aren’t likely to get our water usage to that level, there are many ways we can reduce our water consumption in the home. When it comes to saving water, the little things do really add up. Here is a list of 12 easy things you can do in your home to reduce your water consumption and lower your water bill. 1. Repair leaks. Drip, drip, drip. This is the sound of a precious resource being wasted. Fix those leaking toilets and showers! This can make a big difference. The average family can waste 180 gallons per week or 9,400 gallons of water annually from household leaks. Nationwide, these household leaks can waste almost 900 billion gallons of water in a year. Not sure if your toilet is leaking. Place 10-12 drops of food coloring in your tank, don’t flush. Check back in thirty minutes. If there is color in the bowl, you have a leak. 2. Install water saving fixtures like faucet aerators and low flow showerheads. These low cost and easy to install items can significantly reduce water volume. If you have a little more money to spend replacing your old toilet with a low –flow model can save 50-80 gallons of water a day. 3. Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket. Whenever you flush that tissue or bit of trash down the toilet you’re wasting gallons of water. Put it in the trash instead. 4. Take short showers instead of baths. Turn off the water while you are soaping up. 5. How many gallons of water go down the drain while we wait for the shower to warm up? Collect that water in a large bucket and use it to flush the toilet or water plants. 6. Turn off the water to brush your teeth. The average faucet releases 2 gallons of water a minute. 7. Fill the sink to shave instead of letting the water run. 8. Only run your dishwasher when it’s full. 9. Fill a basin with water for rinsing your dishes. Use this water to water your plants or flush your toilet. 10. Limit the use of your garbage disposal. Try composting those food scraps instead! 11. Wash your fruit and veggies in a tub or bucket instead of rinsing under running water. This can save gallons of water from going down the drain. 12. Only run your washing machine when it’s full and skip the permanent press cycle. Most machines use 5 gallons of water for that extra rinse. Want to determine your personal water footprint? Check out this water footprint calculator. 0 replies Leave a Reply Want to join the discussion? Feel free to contribute! Leave a Reply
Millipedes Millipedes in Kansas City Missouri Pest control companies consider < p>Millipedes in Kansas City, Missouri as an occasional invader. Millipedes and centipedes are similar pests. They are not a threat to people or animals. Centipedes tend to be larger in the south. A millipede’s legs are also shorter, and, in general, a millipede cannot move very fast. Millipedes have two sets of legs, called Diplopoda, for every segment. When they move, their legs appear to be moving in a wave-like motion. A centipede, called Chilopoda, with its fewer legs, can travel considerably faster. Centipedes can grow up to six inches or more in length. A centipede can be easily distinguished from a millipede because it has a centipede has one leg per body segment. A millipede has two legs per body segment. Centipedes actually have the ability to bite and are poisonous. The poison from their fangs, located behind the head, is used to kill insects, which are their primary food. To a human, a bite feels like a bee sting and can be dangerous, especially if there is an allergic reaction in response to the bite. Children will be more sensitive to a centipede’s bite. Millipedes are not poisonous and do not have fangs, but they can emit an obnoxious fluid to defend themselves. Some varieties can spray this fluid several inches. The fluid can irritate the skin in some people and should be removed right away. Additionally, it may take some scrubbing to get rid of the odor. Control for Millipedes The key to controlling millipedes around your home is to reduce and somehow eliminate the home's moist areas. • Dethatch the lawn • Mow the lawn closely and edge to promote quicker drying • Remove debris like leaves, wood debris, rocks, heavy mulch, and stored firewood. • Water lawns in the early morning to allow for the grass to dry during the day. Applications of residuals products can be made around your home's foundation wall and perimeter plant beds. In your basement and crawls spaces to help reduce the numbers in and around your home.
February 17, 2019 Meaning of "Ping" or "Ping Me" It's common to hear someone say "ping me when you're free." Have you wondered what "ping" means and where it originates from? The meaning of ping or ping me: To send a quick, short message over a texting platform (SMS, Instant Messenger, Chat) used to check in, keep someone in the loop about something, or ask about something, with the expectation of a quick, short response from the receiving party. Let's look more into the origin, use in daily conversation, examples and translations of this modern day slang. Where does PING come from? Computer PING: Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper. PING was not originally a word, but an acronym or abbreviation. PING, written in all caps, stands for Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper. As an IT or tech industry specific jargon, "ping" is a technical term that means to check on the status of another computer or another server to see if it's online (a sort of acknowledgment). It's an electronic message that loosely translates to, "Are you there?" According to Your Dictionary, "The ping command is particularly helpful in verifying whether a host is working and whether a system is attached to the Internet." Examples of Pings (send through text messages): Wife to husband, "Pick up some milk on the way home." Child to parent, "I'm all done. Can you come pick me up?" Business partner to business partner, "Is it ready? We are down to the wire." Colleague to colleague, "Wanna meet for lunch today at 12?" Husband to wife, "I'm on my way." Friend to friend, "How did it go?" Of course here, I have given examples of pings in complete sentences, but most of the time people may use texting language, abbreviations, or slang in ping messages to make them even shorter. Also, since the messages are so short, much of the context will only be known between the two parties. Translations of Questions Using "Ping" Using PING: "Can I ping you at 8?" Ordinary English: "Can I send you a text message or make a quick call to see if you are free at 8?" Using PING: "Can you ping me when you are ready?" Ordinary English: "Can you send me an SMS or call me when you are ready?" Meaning of Ping Me Translations of Statements Using "Ping" • "I'll ping you when the meeting is over." - "I'll get in touch with you when the meeting finishes." • "Ping me with the status." - "Send me a short message by email, SMS or IM me with updates." How do I Ping Someone? Categories of Pings Pinging is done through a quick communication, usually by electronic means, but sometimes over the phone. It depends on the other person's preference. So pings can be done over: • The cell or mobile phone (SMS, text) • E-mail • Instant Messaging (Internal company system, WhatsApp, Google, Skype, Facebook, etc.) To "ping" someone, all one has to do is send a quick digital message, by words, emojis, or images. How do I know which one to use? If you don't know the person well, say it's your client or colleague onsite, it's better to ask, "How do you prefer me to ping you?" Don't assume because for instance, text messaging in the US is charged in most cases regardless of sending or receiving, but maybe receiving the message on WhatsApp or another mobile app or email may be free for that person (as long as they have a data plan). What is Said in a Ping? Ping messages are short. Any of the below suffice: • I'm ready. • Call me. • 10 more minutes. • Let's meet at 5 instead. • Can I call you to reschedule? • Let's go for lunch. I'll meet you downstairs in 5. (Meaning 5 minutes.) Are There Synonyms for Ping? Of course. The exact synonym depends on the person and their preferred ping method sometimes. "Ping me at 4." synonyms: • Get in touch with me at 4. • Call me at 4. • Send me a text at 4. • Facebook me at 4 • Give me a shout out at 4. ("Shout out is another slang. Don't actually shout!) Have you heard any other uses of the word 'ping'? Do you have other ideas for synonyms of 'ping'? Feel free to ping me your thoughts on WhatsApp at +91-9539347529 or SMS in the US 385-218-0947 or ping me through LinkedIn. Jennifer Kumar works provides customized individualized business and career coaching for tech workers. Contact us for more information. Related Posts: How to pronounce server Instant Messaging (IM) Etiquette at Work Why isn't my American colleague answering the phone? How to decline a meeting invite? How to send acknowledgement emails Monitor icon: Open icons at pixabay Photo (phone with red bubble pings) by Cristian Dina from Pexels Mobile phone with icons: pixabay on Pexels Authentic Journeys: Bridging Culture on Virtual Teams
Lessons learned coding the quicksort algorithm in assembly (i.e. MIPS) About six months ago, I enrolled myself in a computer organization (i.e. CS1410) course offered by University of Northern Iowa and I’m taking it remotely from Seattle, where I work full time as software engineer at Amazon (Web Services). I’ve completed about two thirds of the course, which consists of sixteen homework assignments and three proctored exams, my most recent homework assignment requiring me to code in MIPS, a low level programming language known as assembly. More specifically, I’m tasked with implementing the quicksort, a recursive algorithm, to sort a sequence of integers. This homework assignment targets teaching two important computer science concepts: the run-time stack and calling conventions. Normally, I complete one homework assignment per week. However, this homework assignment was extremely challenging, taking roughly two and a half weeks to complete. The first couple days I dedicated to drilling the quicksort algorithm into my head, ensuring that I could visualize how the program actually sorts elements in the sequence, reading article after article (and sections from the books that have been collecting dust on my bookshelf); the remainder of the time I spent deep diving into writing the assembly code, typing code and executing in a MIPS simulator. I cannot explain the number of times I grew frustrated, banging my head into the keyboard, because of program crashing. At one point, I was stuck — for three days straight. None of my troubleshooting skills pinpointed me to the root cause. After three days of staring at the code, I finally discovered the problem: I was corrupting the run-time stack. After modifying one single line, updating the instruction to subtract 24 instead of adding 24 to the stack pointer (i.e. $sp register), the quicksort program ran flawlessly. All in all, I found the homework assignment as challenging but rewarding.
What is people? Posted by: \| January 19, 2009 \| Comments Off on What is people? Concerning Eva Perón’s text, I would like to highlight three main points. First of all, to define what she calls “the people”, “her people”, she uses a specific lexical field choosing terms such as “race” of the people, or “blood” of the enemies. This gives us an idea of a bounded community, potentially defined by a racial criterion. More than anything else, the people is defined by opposition to a threatening other, and distinguished from its enemies, which would explain the racial reference. I would personally moderate the meaning of the racial aspects of her discourse in the sense that she also suggests that anyone could become an enemy of the people, implying that belonging to her people is mainly the fact of being committed to its cause and willing to be part of it. Another and more important element is the actual assimilation between the people and the working class (which also means the poor, the oppressed and so on). Her text does give the impression that the whole nation should become part of what is truly the Argentine People; the workers. There is her socialist trend, but she insists on distinguishing her from Marxist radicalism. Her Message is particularly impregnated with the social doctrine of the Church, given her concern for poverty and her will to share her people’s pain. She constantly emphasizes how much she loves her people and advocate for the convincing idea that everything should arise from the people and work for its well-being. She establishes the people as the primary source of power, an idea which constitutes my second point. Her rhetoric allows us to think of a democratic inspiration. She condemns any imperialism and stand up for the sovereignty of nations. Once a nation independent, she claims the importance of putting the people’s will at the centre of every political decision. She asks for elections of leaders and accuses oligarchic powers, especially the hegemony of military and religious high circles in Argentina. This leads us to my third point, her view of fanatism. According to her, fanatism should be living in anyone who embraces the people’s cause. She condemns all declared enemies and all those that would be driven by selfish concerns rather than the people’s well being. Rather than serving their own privileged interests, religion and the army should be executing the people’s order. She completely despises anyone that would be indifferent to the people’s future, and would neither be an opponent, nor a defender of the people. To her this question is fundamental! She has a very virulent, passionate, and emotional way of expressing her commitment. Her discourse is clearly radical. She uses strong and violent words. She is also a profound hoper concerning the good fate of her people and she is obviously deeply religious, a fact which is confirmed by Dominguez. Of course, at the first glance, her text appears as full of good intentions! However it is important to have a critical mind and think about the historical reality of the social and political movement she supported. To me, My Message presents numerous ambiguities and contradictions. She seems to be entirely dedicating herself to her people and her discourse is obviously very populist (people versus elite). Unfortunately the World have often observed that populist leaders also often tend to be demagogue because they use the people’s needs to win the power. I think that the distance between ‘doing what the people wishes’ and ‘saying what the people wants to hear’ is very thin. For instance, Eva Perón starts a kind of anti military speech or condemns very strongly every enemy of the people. However she also tries not to be too revolutionary in order to insure popular support. She seems to fear the consequences of her attacks against historical institutions of the country such as the army or the clergy. Similarly, she condemns ambition but her writings seem to describe her as an ambitious woman, very confident in the way she gives her life as an example. All of this is particularly ironic coming from someone who evolved in the highest circles of the Argentine society. She wants to stand by her people but I really doubt she had never been one of them, despite what she said. The last thing that striken me was her deep admiration and unlimited devotion towards Perón. Although she was apparently really influent within the worker’s movement, all her fight and all her convictions were primarily coming from the man she loved and his own doctrine. Actually, it seems that she had the same profound faith in their charismatic leader as anybody else that supported Perónism. There is the huge contradiction of these regimes I try to criticize here. They claim the people’s power against the hegemony of the elite but everything lies on one man’s shoulders. This situation definitely put democracy in danger! I am glad we had these two articles to compare because the second one is a fantastic denial and critic of Eva’s vision. Although I do share her socialist inclination, the generosity and the promises of her discourse have a blinding effect. Perón have been supported by the majority of the population during a long time, however populism often mask the reality of regimes that usually need a military order and a doctrinal homogeneity to survive. I would not dare to make such hypothesis concerning Perónism however the least we can say is that they was an opposition in Argentina. People such as Borges have known censure and political isolation. With his text he suggests that there was certainy an authoritarian and indoctrinating aspect of the regime. Indeed, Perón has been very controversial and also very harsh towards any kind of opposition. Borges helps us remind the downside of the regime. I am very sceptical towards populist discourses; I have always felt that they were speculating on the people misfortune, promising anything to reach the power. However, it is more the rhetoric than the famous Evita that I tried to criticize. I am sure she really was concerned with her people, however she was also really idealistic. Comments are closed. Name (required) Email (required) Speak your mind Spam prevention powered by Akismet
Has the concept of communism in history failed Three critical intellectuals are debating the word “communism” and its current meaning. The term is passionately controversial because it is historically and politically charged and yet it remains a reference - for some even as an identity - of many supporters for human emancipation in France. For our magazine, Patrick Coulon and Chantal Delmas - both management members of Espaces Marx - called the three together and asked each of them what the word “communism” means to him and how he connects it with ideas of alternatives and emancipation. They debated whether the term is still usable and how they assess the fact that those who profess it have failed almost everywhere on earth, and what ultimately they see as possible solutions for gaining ground in the sense of socially liberating transformation. Patrice Cohen-Séat The word “communism” is inseparable from a story. It inevitably refers to a set of historical events, to the history of the regimes and the political forces that invoked communism. This historical experience largely determines the sense in which this term and the word itself are viewed today. It is massively marked by the failure of the Soviet-type regimes. And it also creates problems for the view of regimes that continue to invoke communism, such as the one in China. On the other hand, engagement in its sense in a country like France - which has not experienced a communist regime - still corresponds to a will to fight against injustice, a fight that enriches and broadens political life experience and becomes a commitment to human emancipation . That means against everything that alienates people. Communism is practically what leads to questioning the existing order, namely the capitalist system itself and ultimately all forms of exploitation and domination. So there is a hiatus, a chasm, and even a profound contradiction between what has made and continues to move tens of thousands of men and women into such engagement and the way in which society in general, by and large, comprehends that word. Basically, the generally socially bestowed sense of the word is in contradiction to that which the confessing comrades-in-arms for this cause cherish. This is a major political problem in France today. In other countries where communism has been compromised because history has negatively charged its meaning, the word itself has been excommunicated. The problem is that it has not been reinstated in its positive sense. In political life, the word contains the project of overcoming the capitalist system and striving for human emancipation. And it integrates this project into a conception of the real, a conception of history, namely that of the class struggle. It is politically inseparable from this question of classes and, consequently, of their self-confidence. At the center of political life it places the demand for the unification of the proletariat and thus for the union of the exploited and the oppressed. The word “communism” contains a specific goal (human emancipation) and an understanding of the necessary path to emancipation (the class struggle). But on the political level no other word has so far been used in this place, as a replacement, so to speak. The reservoir of words has to a certain extent run out. This is one of the dimensions, or one of the symptoms, of what is called the crisis (or death) of ideologies. I add: If the meaning with which the word is burdened is a product of history, then every political force that professes it has its share of responsibility. In France, the former relations of the Communist Party with the Soviet-type regimes, the hesitant and even until 1991 not unconditional criticism of these regimes - as far as this had to go beyond the condemnation of Stalinism - have had a major impact on the image of the FKP and the Communism impacted. In any case, there is political work to be done: not only to criticize the experiments that invoked communism and continue to appeal to them, but also to do the same with regard to the reasons for which we French communists failed or hesitated , to do that. Roger Martelli Communism “by and large merges with the old justice and freedom movement. Like Jacques Bidet, I would like to say: “for equality” because, contrary to the neoliberal Vulgate, it is so impossible to think of equality and freedom separately. For the meaning of this struggle one can obviously go back very far to times before the word “communism” was used. However, “communism” has changed its structure since the middle of the 19th century, when capitalism became the dominant socio-economic system and the universally formative form of social relations. At that time, communism began to see itself as a radical criticism of the ruling system and to function as a global political movement. It becomes a workers-based movement that is critical of capitalism and enters the political arena in particular when it was founded in 1848 and with the “Manifesto of the Communist Party”. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, “communism” describes a special political form that crystallized after 1917 in the form of an explicitly communist movement. The Bolshevik model is becoming a widely recognized benchmark, a theoretical and practical model for the constitution of the “communist parties” of the 20th century. From 1917 and even more obviously from 1945 onwards, “communism” finally presented itself as a firmly established conception of the governance of the economy and society. With the numerous special forms of Sovietism, it becomes a model of society. For several decades communism was then equated with this model of society. Communism is all of that. To be a communist today means above all the decision to step into a history with all its dimensions. Communism is neither an idea nor a vague ideal from which to derive a reality. It is a historical political movement, the nature of which can ultimately be summed up in four statements. The first claim is that capitalism is not the end of history, but only a specially developed form of society of exploitation and domination. A historical, thus ephemeral form; ergo you have to think about overcoming it radically. To be a communist means first of all to believe that it is right and realistic to stand up for the perspective of a society that functions according to different norms, different rules, different logics than those of ruling capitalism. The second claim is that it would take a revolution for this alternative social dynamic to take hold. Equality is not possible within the system. You don't adapt to the system; one has to get out of it and think of a beyond this ruling system. The form of this revolution / abolition / overcoming has yet to be specifically defined; it does not result mechanically from its necessity, but that necessity is a fundamental fact. The third claim: none of this happens in the realm of ideas. In order to change the world one needs capable material and spiritual forces. Modern political communism has been shaped since the 19th century on the basis of the idea that this material force arises in the historical large-scale form of industrial work, that is, from the space of the workers. The revolution does not come “from above”, but from the people; the modern people are structured around their proletarian base, say Marx and Engels. And finally, as a final assertion: all of this must be shaped in the political arena. This means that if communism wants to have an impact on the world at a given point in time, it must constitute itself as a political force, as a “communist party”. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, communism is just as relevant, and even more relevant in some ways, than it was a century and a half ago. I therefore continue to acknowledge this historical rootedness of thinking about social struggle and active emancipation. But at the same time, despite all the recognized relevance, it cannot be tacitly ignored that the 20th century was the one of attempts to make communism a concrete - not just imagined - alternative to the existing world order and the order of capital. And that is why the current decision for communism is obviously inconceivable without starting from the historical failure of this concrete attempt at realization, which was expressed in particular in the emergence and establishment of Sovietism. Communism has assumed a dominant form in the twentieth century, including a conception of society and its overthrow, of the revolutionary form, and of the form of the communist party itself. This conception held for a time that is over. The world in which we find ourselves is on the one hand the same and at the same time radically different from that which saw the emergence and modern development of communist thought of Marxist origin a century and a half ago. I cannot separate the assertion of lasting relevance from the assertion that there is an urgent need to find the forms under which the communist resolution reckons with the real existing order. I am even inclined to think that we have reached one of those points in the history of communism where its relevance cannot be imagined otherwise than in the form of a break with its previously dominant form of existence. There is no possible future for political communism unless it breaks with the historical pattern of communism. Contrary to recurring temptations, the break cannot take the form of a "return to ...". It was not enough to return to Lenin to overcome Stalinism; it is not enough to return to Marx to overcome Bolshevism. The fundamental decision in Marx's time remains intellectually correct if and only if it is fully and completely newly justified. To justify oneself completely anew means, in due course, to bring to the concept the intellectual foundations, the practical driving forces and the organizational forms under which the communist contribution to the general struggle for emancipation becomes conceivable in the new framework. We have to redesign the framework of an emancipation movement that can no longer be narrowed down to reference to the revolutionary labor movement, or even to anti-capitalism. I think it makes sense to consider a specifically “communist” contribution to this general emancipation movement. A contribution is not nothing - and yet not everything. Jean-Louis Sagot-Duvauroux First comment: I fully agree with an idea put forward by Patrice and Roger: communism is history, concrete history. One cannot distinguish between the communist ideal and what has happened. Calling yourself a communist first means enrolling in a lineage. Second remark: There is, as Roger observes, a persistence in the modern history of communism: the capitalist regime is not the end of history. Liberalism can be defined as the opposite political option: all possible freedom is achieved with representative democracy in the western style, with the freedom of the market, the capitalist form of production organization and the control of the world by the West. At most one can perfect this result, set up a multi-party electoral system in Iraq instead of the dictatorship, promote the development of peoples in such a way that they “catch up” with the western nations in terms of consumption, normalize the world economy by targeting all situations where "free competition" is in question, etc. According to the liberalist option, any attempt to advance in the history of human emancipation will be reversed and lead to regression in freedom. Liberalism bases its influence on a very solid argument: the concrete attempts to beat that end of the story were by no means convincing, especially in the matter of freedom. For this reason, the liberal postulate is approved very massively, albeit often against the will. Third remark: I think one of the great weaknesses of our communist lineage is that apart from the historical failure of Sovietism, the relative character of our heritage has not yet been thought through, that it continues to be the only perfect, universal, and only legitimate form of the human Emancipation was the order of the day. The rationally seen reality is more modest and perhaps more beautiful. Men and women, especially men, especially workers in one part of the world, the West, are moved by the desire for emancipation in a period of Western history, that of industrialization, and they encounter a concrete alienation, a concrete barrier that lies across the path - the universalization of capitalist power. This gives you reason to think: We will free ourselves from these alienations that concretely rise before us. And they are making progress. To do this, they invent organizational forms. They develop far-reaching theoretical structures, for example Marxism, which offers a brilliant analysis of capitalism and the oppression it engenders. They create institutions and political processes that seem to be able to break through these barriers. They bring values to life, especially those that radiate from the idea of “commune” and lead to the idea that going beyond the liberal end of history means advancing freedom in communalization, in equality. And we all see that liberalism actually stops the history of freedom where it begins to produce equality. All of this means that one can blatantly say: This emancipation story, which was pursued by a predominantly masculine white working class and inscribed in Western history and culture, can really contribute solid ingredients when it comes to restarting the adventure of freedom today . For this reason alone, however, communist history cannot present itself as the universe of emancipation. She has to accept to enter into conversation with others. One can take the very illuminating example of feminism, which will produce very different types of theory and forms of organization than those produced by the Western working class in its struggle with capitalism. You have a story that represents real land gain for emancipation, but does not fit into the communist legacy, although it often overlaps it. The same applies to the massive non-Western lineages of emancipation that are becoming more visible due to globalization. There is a multitude and diversity of emancipation Poles, because there are always concrete human communities that rebel against different restrictions on their part. The communist community of heirs has long decried and fought against the theoretical structures and forms of organization that did not want to submit to their suzerainty. Many of their wrong turns have to do with this delusion. In order for the communist influx to become positive again or to continue to do so, in my opinion it must accept that it is only one of several lineages of the emancipation movement. Oriented in this way, his story can, in my opinion, have real elasticity, but it will obviously turn out considerably different. I am adopting the communist identity because I specifically belong to this line of heirs and because it makes sense to put your inventions in the common pot. But I see in it only one of the tributaries to a broader movement, the striving for emancipation, for autonomy, and so on. The communists share this political desire with others who encounter concrete oppression and want to reduce it. To this end, they bring in the emancipatory legacy of the Western working classes committed against capitalist oppression. Your point of view can claim to offer a certain overall view of our world and its emancipation in the optical sense. But it is not the only possible standpoint for emancipation, for other observation posts are located in different places. Patrice Cohen-Séat Communism as a concrete political history is deep in crisis. This crisis received great impetus from the failure and even the collapse of the experiments that invoked communism. More broadly, however, this crisis results from the aging of the (Bolshevik) pattern that should give them guidance and support.A (theoretical, ideological, political) pattern, which in turn came from a social condition. The political history of communism today is inseparable from a period - the 20th century and especially its first half - which was marked by the development of the working class. I use this word in a precise sense, that of the men who (incidentally more numerous than the women) did material work as operators of machine tools. There are no class struggles without classes, that goes without saying. And in that period this working class was at the center of the struggle. And when I say “class” I am by definition not speaking of a “soci-professional category” but of men and women who are aware of the commonality or convergence of their interests in the face of opposing or contradicting interests of other social categories. The ideological pattern of twentieth century communism is wholly tied to the existence and development of this class, to the conception it could have of itself, of its becoming (namely, the movement of the overwhelming majority) and of its role. The struggle was organized around the essential interests of this class, which was primarily confronted with capitalist exploitation at work, so that the relationship between capital and labor (instead of the totality of the dimensions of the struggles required for human emancipation) became the hard core of the communist struggle . This gave rise to a conception and representation of social transformation, the structure of which was determined by the interests of the working class, the party of the working class, the role of this party as a vanguard and a conception of social transformation through revolution, including the role of the state and the administered economy, etc. Now, as it turns out, this pattern has not withstood history. There was not only the crimes of Stalinism, the extremely statist regimes and the encroachment on the freedoms of which Roger was speaking, but also a change in the reality on which this conception was based. Work has changed, society has changed, the international division of labor has changed, capitalism has become financial, globalized; there was the so-called information revolution, etc. Direct exploitation by capital is experienced by more and more social groups, so that these certainly represent more than 90% of society, at least in a developed country like France or other European countries, but class consciousness has sunk deeply . The enormously different situations also in the working class and especially among the wage earners as a whole have produced differences and even contradictions between the interests of French and foreigners, unemployed and employed, precarious or otherwise, etc. Hence the political Working to unite and unite the victims of exploitation and domination has become infinitely more complicated. From this profoundly changed reality follows, beyond the weal and woe of the experiments that invoked communism, the need for an outspoken break with the conceptions derived from the Bolshevik pattern. To give communism a future as the bearer of boundless hope means to work on the prerequisites for a new class consciousness in the political sphere - where ideas are connected with real movements and mobilizations. So this means starting from the new forms of exploitation and rule in order to enable women and men to become aware of their interest groups and to unite politically. This can no longer only concern the relationship between labor and capital, even if labor remains one of the main places of exploitation and domination. It can be said - as in the thesis of Jean-Louis - that communism takes up this relationship between capital and labor because that is its history and that it is therefore one of the tributaries to the great stream of struggles for human emancipation. Like Roger, one can ascribe to him the calling to consider and organize all current dimensions of the struggle for emancipation. I will not say, "It is not that important" because the words - especially such weighty words as "communism" - are important in political life. So it is of paramount importance for a political debate to ask about the use of the word. But I will say: The main thing, the focus of our difficulties today, is the question of how the men and women who are specifically exploited and controlled can be brought together and united and the conditions are to be created so that they can become aware of their common interests so that they can go against to fight the capitalism of today, the finance-driven, globalized ... and more and more militarized capitalism. Roger Martelli In the twentieth century, a special conception of communism dominated, a self-contained conception of social dynamics, revolution, revolutionary transformation and the political form that makes this transformation possible through revolution. That means from one party, “the Communist Party”, probably even “the Party”. I think that every form of communist thinking today has to start from the idea that this dominant form is obsolete. Twentieth-century communism is irretrievably dead today, and it is no good to try to make people believe that it can be continued or allowed to return. That is the starting point. Any thinking about communism is thinking about emancipation. One cannot think about communism today if one does not take stock of the failed emancipation concepts as comprehensively as possible. There are concepts of emancipation that failed in the twentieth century. And in particular two emancipation concepts that set up some kind of preconditions for emancipation. These two preconditions were, in particular, the attainment of political power and the transfer of property. Now it is the experience of the twentieth century that it is not enough to do the opposite of capitalism in order to overcome it. For example, with unchanged expropriation logics, the transfer of property does not generate emancipation, but ultimately super-domination and sometimes even despotism. A logic, the logic of gaining political power without undermining political power and radical dismantling of statism - as Marxism always theoretically announced but never put into practice ... or, to be more precise, forgot every time it did Power came - does not produce emancipation, but despotism. So that violates the logic of emancipation in due course, and it forgets the possibility of overcoming capitalism. It is not enough to abolish or reverse capitalism to produce real human emancipation. We know this. So you have to reconstruct. Justify anew, and do it thoroughly. In order to reconstruct, I believe that one has to break away from a way of thinking that I will typically call “essentialist”. It is not useful to ask what communism is in general in order to then consider the concrete modalities of its existence. It can actually be assumed again on what the communist decision is based. The guideline is the requirement, the desire for emancipation: What does a policy of complete emancipation of individuals as autonomous persons and solidarity, that is, as a human community, as humanity consist of today, in the twenty-first century? The most important thing is to rebuild emancipation projects in the knowledge that this continues to assume breaking with any logic of adjustment to the ruling capitalist system. There can be no emancipation in this system. Wasn't the twentieth century able to produce equality and thereby break out of this system? It has also shown that, in the long run, justice cannot be obtained simply by trying to conform to the norms of capital and free, undistorted competition. At the political level on a European scale, the most important strategic question today is whether it is possible to act in such a way that the decision for consistent emancipation - and consequently to break with the logic of adapting to the system -, i.e. whether the decision for emancipation, for radical social transformation in which left of Europe and the world set the tone. In due course, will the logic of transformation take hold of the entire left and thus the entire political field of Europe? That is the question of the questions. In that framework ... and I say very well: in that framework ... is there room for a lineage that would expressly be of communist origin? In my mind I tend to say “yes”. It also makes sense to consider an independent communist lineage that can work through what was a story of creativity and isolation, of noble achievements and murderous tragedies on its own basis. All of this has to be dealt with, criticized, overcome, but not forgotten. Turning your back on a story does not undo it. Does that require that this line be constituted separately in the form of separate organizations, of separate communist parties? I don't think so anymore. The communists have to constitute themselves as a thinking and acting community and in this respect are to be seen as a “communist party”. But nothing says that this “communist party” is not conceivable within a more comprehensive political movement, where it exercises the functions of a party, but today unites different sensibilities, traditions and currents. The left of social transformation is required to constitute itself as a political force. In this power there is room for the communists as such; it is not absolutely necessary for them to assert themselves in the form of a separate party structure. Jean-Louis Sagot-Duvauroux For centuries, the pursuit of autonomy has no longer viewed God, princes, the nature of things, or any other heteronomous power as empowered to dictate what model to live by in society. For centuries people have been united in asking the political question: In which society do we want to live, what kind of people do we want to be? The emancipation point of view points in one direction: I want to be a freer person, I want to live in a more independent society. All other considerations, and especially the questions of organization, are subordinate to the meaning, the concrete content of emancipation. For example, I believe that we shouldn't define ourselves by our anti-capitalism or any other “anti-”. We want to continue the history of freedom and we encounter a concrete obstacle on the way, capitalism. He traps our time in forms of subjugated activity. He reserves freedom of access to goods for the rich. He steals the fruit of our labor from us. He chains our minds to the fascinations of consumerism, etc. And we who liberate human activity, create free access to goods, become masters of the riches we have produced, want to free ourselves from the alienation caused by the character of the commodity, we address this obstacle and we invent the liberating institutions or movements that could take its place. To say that capitalism is inherently evil seems pointless to me. If that were true, it would "in itself" be liberating to destroy capitalism. There is several historical evidence to the contrary. Even the old communists recognized that capitalism, while bad for the exploited, is desirable for the class that profits from it. It must go further and recognize that capitalism and liberalism today correspond to a strong majority political desire; To contest it therefore means to oppose another wish and then politically convince the overwhelming majority that this alternative wish is a possible and desirable way of living together. In order to determine the correct organizational form of the communists or, more broadly, the emancipation movement, it must first be clarified up to which limits emancipation is possible or freedom can be achieved beyond the liberalist barriers. The word communism itself once stood for far-reaching libertarian goals that are almost forgotten today but are still amazingly stimulating. Against subordination through wage dependency and the exploitation of work: abolition of wage labor, liberation of human activity. Against state coercion: withering away of the state, freedom. Against the heteronomous powers: free association. Against the fetish character of the goods: serene use of the goods that are supposed to please us. But the inclusion of these goals in the "real movement that abolishes the existing state" is full of contrasts. One saw the communists in the first row of the actions for the shortening of the given working hours (cf. abolition of the wage labor), the resistance against the extreme armed coercion of the Nazis (cf. with the death of the state), the new social regulations, the access to free medical treatment (see: "Everyone according to his needs."). But one also saw that the states they had built up exercised strong coercion, society suffered shortages and allowed the religion of work to be celebrated. It is therefore not enough to determine the limits of possible and desirable emancipation. In addition, there must be a radical criticism of the beliefs and practices that have led to the liberating goals of communism being turned into their opposite. We have to work out the political, ideological and organizational conditions for actual emancipation. I have dealt with this essential aspect in detail in the second part of the text "Émancipation" (see marginal note). Without leading this work to the end, the evidences produced by the liberalist option cannot be shaken. Will the communist lineage continue? Today it exists and is alone able to bring the rich and contrasting legacy of its history to the emancipation movement. She plays along and I see nothing that could cause her to be thrown out in the interests of emancipation. Will it last forever? If she believes that, it is as if she thinks she is God, and she will then fall back into the old cart tracks if she can still move. If she doesn't believe it, which is likely, it remains for her to make herself useful for today and the times to come. She has shown many times that she can. Translated from the French by Joachim Wilke (Zeuthen)
Installation FAQs • CRN training from Cammar Corp. Is there any available? 1. Regulations, 2. Adopted codes, 3. Referenced standards, 5. Registration harmonization issues. • What is pressure equipment in Canada? Canadian jurisdictions have enacted laws to protect the public where there is danger. And pressure equipment is potentially extremely dangerous. Even a small air receiver, with an internal pressure of just 230 psig, has the explosive energy of about 1 lb of dynamite. It’s defined somewhat differently across Canada, but Alberta has some pressure equipment definitions that are good benchmarks to consider. The most common types of pressure equipment are classified as: • boilers, • pressure vessels, • pressure fittings, and • pressure piping systems. Though there are some exceptions, 15 psig (101kPag) is frequently the threshold at which the provisions of legislation kick in. But danger exists at lower thresholds too. Consider ordinary, improperly used oil drums. With a diameter of about 22.5 inches, an oil drum pressurized with air to just 10 psig would exert an internal force in the order of 4000 lbs on it’s flat end. Dangerous indeed. What is an “expansible fluid”? It means “((i) a vapour or gaseous fluid, or (ii) a liquid under pressure and at a temperature at which the liquid changes to a gas or vapour when the pressure is reduced to atmospheric pressure or when the temperature is increased to ambient temperature.” (AR 49/2006 1(1)(l)) The term “boiler” means “a vessel in which steam or other vapour may be generated under pressure or in which a liquid may be put under pressure by the direct application of a heat source.” (AR 49/2006 1(1)(f)) The term “pressure vessel” means “a vessel used for containing, storing, distributing, processing or otherwise handling an expansible fluid under pressure.” (AR 49/2006 1(1)(cc)) Canadian jurisdictions have enacted laws to protect the public where there is danger. But danger exists at lower thresholds too. The term “fitting” means “a valve, gauge, regulating or controlling device, flange, pipe fitting or any other appurtenance that is attached to, or forms part of, a boiler, pressure vessel, or fired-heater pressure coil, thermal liquid heating system or pressure piping system.” (AR 49/2006 1(1)(n)) The term “pressure piping system” means “pipes, tubes, conduits, fittings, gaskets, bolting and other components that make up a system for the conveyance of an expansible fluid under pressure and may also control the flow of that fluid.” (AR 49/2006 1(1)(aa)) All pressure equipment, not exempted from registration requirements, needs to be registered with a CRN before it can be legally operated in Canada. Why are there CRN requirements? It’s about public safety. Call Cammar Corporation for more information about the CRN registration process. • How can Cammar Corp. help get a CRN Cammar Corporation \| Humans.txt Logo
Real Estate Investing In Ontario Real Estate Investing In Ontario Download Investor Resources Investing in Canada is an interesting proposition due to the diversity and number of provinces and territories that spread across our country. These provinces create several compelling opportunities since what works in one province might not necessarily work (or be permitted) in another. Familiarizing yourself with these province standards, and how they could differ from those of other provinces or the nation as a whole, should be the first job of any investor. In this post, we’re going to explore our largest province—Ontario—and take you through some of the opportunities and challenges that exist for the Canadian real estate investor. Investing in Ontario can be beneficial for several reasons, and we’re going to take you on a tour to prove why that’s the case. Table of Contents - Real Estate Investing In Ontario Demographics of Ontario Before diving into more detail, it’s important to gain an understanding of the bigger picture of Ontario, starting with its population and people. As was previously mentioned, Ontario is far and away Canada’s largest province by population, containing almost 40 percent of the population of the entire country. Additionally, since it’s not the largest province by land area, that means that it’s one of the country’s densest areas as well. This means that some urban areas exist in Ontario with opportunities that might not necessarily be there in every part of the country. Ontario is also a place that sees many people come and go—while the province enjoys one of the highest population growth rates in all of Canada, it has also historically seen one of the largest interprovincial emigration rates in the entire country. Much of its growth is due to immigration from outside the country—more than half of Toronto’s population was born outside of Canada, for example, but 97 percent of Ontario’s residents still speak English, indicating a strong willingness by newcomers to settle into their new home. The demographics of Ontario suggest a province that is full of newcomers and long-time residents alike, creating a dynamic area that could be ripe for the right real estate opportunities. The city of Toronto is the linchpin of the Golden Horseshoe, the biggest stretch of populated areas in the entire country: a bustling urban metropolis with a lot of potential thanks to its high population that’s always evolving. With all that said, if you’re an investor looking for a dynamic marketplace, then investing in Ontario might just be the ticket for you. Income statistics of Ontario When evaluating the real estate potential of any area, it’s important to take a look at the income statistics there. This can help you figure out which level of property you could be looking into. For example, you don’t want to be stuck with a lot of affordable units in an area where people might make more money and be looking for something a bit more upscale. In the case of Ontario, income statistics can be fairly revealing. The entire province’s economic output is roughly equivalent to that of the entirety of Vietnam, so there is some power packed into this area of Canada. Residents of Ontario are also slightly better off than your average Canadian—the median after-tax income here for families of two persons or more is about $73,700—just over the median income of $71,700 for all of Canada. This might be a good place to look into if you’re interested in economical investments that can also accommodate people who make a bit more than average. Investing in Ontario can mean that you’re acquiring several properties that can appeal to people across the income spectrum and feel reasonably confident that you can appeal to most or all of them. Taxes in Ontario Another factor that you should consider before investing in Ontario (or any province) is the tax rates there. Ontario is one of the lowest-taxed provinces in the entire country, surpassed only by Nunavut and British Columbia, which could help inform your investing decisions. Rates are lower than Canada’s average in every income bracket, so it’s important to factor this into your decisions. Additionally, sales tax rates here are right in the middle of the pack, if not towards the lower end, so you can feel reasonably confident that your pool of potential of buyers and tenants is not being excessively taxed—which could, of course, influence their real estate decisions (and yours). Average home costs When looking into investing in Ontario, it helps to have a good understanding of what prices are like across the province. Home prices in Canada fluctuate over time, meaning the different provinces ebb and flow in popularity and price when compared with each other. Since Ontario has so many different areas, including some of the most compact urban areas in the country, prices can fluctuate widely. You can be sure that prices for homes and condos will be quite a bit higher in Toronto than in more rural areas of Ontario, for starters. Across the board, prices in Ontario have grown significantly over the last year, even in the face of uncertainty over the coronavirus. Even as Canada has seen significant increases in price across the entire country, Ontario has outpaced even that brisk rate of growth. Additionally, Ontario’s rents are some of the highest in the entire country. Out of the top 33 most expensive rental markets across the country, 16 of them are located in Ontario. This can make investing in Ontario rental properties an enticing proposition, especially in urban areas, as many investors can rest assured feeling that their investments will be reasonably expected to perform for them. Learn More Ontario market snapshot Several factors contribute to a province’s real estate outlook, and Ontario is in good shape on many of these metrics. The Bank of Canada’s reduction of interest rates by a full point was done with the intent of creating much more demand in the market. When this happens, homeowners can, of course, borrow more money at a lower rate, which can drive up prices, which is, of course, good news for sellers, but also buyers. Buyers can achieve lower rates that can give them real savings over the long term of their borrowing period. However, this should be coupled with the understanding that Ontario’s workers are currently experiencing wage growth that is lower than in any other province. Inventory is typically one of the biggest challenges facing Ontario homebuyers, especially in areas like Toronto. The meteoric population growth that can occur here due to immigration has led to a reduced inventory in homes for sale, which of course will drive prices up. This can be good or bad news for the Canadian real estate inventory, depending on how you look at it. Ontario’s population growth isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—the Ontario Ministry of Finance predicts it will increase by 38 percent by 2046—which could bode well for the long-term real estate market. Sellers can likely expect prices to only climb over the coming years and decades. To be clear, COVID-19 has had an impact on the market, at least in the short-term. Buyers and sellers alike are currently hesitant to dive back into the market and treat it as business as usual—because it isn’t. We are all working together to navigate these uncertain waters, but the Ontario housing market projects to rebound nicely in the long-term. It will be a situation worth monitoring for those interested in investing in Ontario in the immediate and long-term future. The Toronto market Toronto, the province and the nation’s biggest city by population, is one of the meccas of Canadian culture and life. It is always a popular destination for immigrants to the country, so you know that there will always be a lot of dynamism and activity here. The city boasts some of the most popular sports teams in Canada, including the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays, as well as the Hockey Hall of Fame. It also boasts some of the country’s premier performing arts venues and a host of restaurants and shopping options that reflect its status as a booming city populated by a diverse and exciting population. Toronto has historically been a popular destination for renters and buyers alike, so it can be a great destination for those looking at investing in Ontario. The Toronto market has stalled somewhat in the face of COVID-19, but it still holds a significant amount of promise. Home prices in Toronto have seen a slight dip in recent months after a long period of climbing, so anyone holding real estate in Toronto is still in good shape despite a short downturn. This downturn could continue into the summer, but it should still keep investors in the black. This could also lead to more demand in the market once restrictions are lifted and commerce is opened back up since a lot of buyers and renters will have been sitting on their money for a period and will be ready to dive into the market. Currently, Greater Toronto boasts some of the highest home prices in the entire country, with average prices for home purchases being around $865,000. The city’s rental market is no less competitive—the average one-bedroom apartment rents for around $2,300 a month and two-bedrooms costing around $2,900. This can be a double-edged sword—real estate investors can rest assured that they will likely make money on a purchase in Toronto, but the city is unaffordable for many of the potential buyers and renters who you’d be seeking to appeal to. The Ottawa market Canada’s capital city is nestled near the eastern end of the province and boasts such sights as the Rideau Canal, Chateau Laurier, the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Children’s Museum. As in most provinces, there are also a host of sports teams to follow, from the NHL’s Senators to the CFL’s Redblacks. The city also hosts 130 embassies from nations around the world, giving the city a decidedly multi-cultural flair that makes it a very popular destination for younger generations interested in higher education as well—the city has two of the most popular universities in the entire country in Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. The city is a magnet for those interested in working in the Canadian government and has the 10th most expensive rental market—a one-bedroom apartment can typically go for around $1,600 a month, while a two-bedroom will likely run around $2,100. Home purchases in Ottawa are quite a bit more affordable than they are in Toronto, for example—the average home price in Ottawa as of March 2020 was about $472,000. However, home prices in Ottawa have climbed faster than those in Toronto over the past year, which could reveal Ottawa as a real area of opportunity if you’re considering investing in Ontario. As with Toronto, Ottawa’s real estate market has stagnated a bit in the face of COVID-19, and understandably so. Both buyers and sellers are hesitant to venture out and pursue something as intricate as a home purchase, and they can hardly be blamed. However, as with Toronto, most experts are predicting a flood of people back to the market once restrictions are lifted, eager to finally make a purchase or rental, so Ottawa remains very much in play for those looking to venture into investing in Ontario. Investing in Ontario is an attractive option for many Canadian real estate investors due primarily to the province’s high population, low taxes and potential for growth. Its dynamism makes it a magnet for many key demographics, so investing in real estate could make a lot of sense here for the right investor. The province is the gateway to many new Canadians every year, making for a high turnover that could bode well for the discerning real estate investor, and its status as the cultural and social hotbed of the entire country makes it a market that is almost sure to see steady and sustained growth. To network with other Ontario real estate investors, join the Ontario Real Estate Investors Association. Real Estate Investing Ontario Contact Us This article was updated on Download Investor Resources You may also like:
So…How Does The Clutch Pedal Work Anyways? / Comments Your favorite transmission option is more complex than you'd expect. This video may have hit YouTube just hours before 2017 gave way to 2018, but it's a clip that was needed long before this modern era where manual transmissions are dissolving from auto lineups faster than ice caps are receding from the poles. Nevertheless, it pays to know this stuff, if anything to impress your other car buddies by actually describing how our second favorite pedal in a car (the throttle being first of course) works and why it's so important. YouTube channel Learn Engineering breaks it down for us using colorful diagrams, misspelled captions, and a clear slow-talking narrator. As one might imagine, the interior of a transmission is a complex network of gears that have the job of manipulating the engine's torque input and spitting out something the wheels can handle. Shortest Car Ownership Stories Shortest Car Ownership Stories All The Amazing Features Of The Mercedes EQS All The Amazing Features Of The Mercedes EQS To protect those delicate gears, the flow of power from the engine to the transmission has to be discontinued during the transition, which is where the clutch pedal becomes useful. In simple terms, the clutch pedal uses hydraulic pressure to disengage the clutch plate from the flywheel. A diaphragm spring serves as the mechanical device that pushes the two apart, but other complexities like springs built into the clutch are included in order to dampen the power flow changes and make the transition feel smooth to both the driver and engine mounts. These complex parts help make things like a hill start possible without grenading the entire transmission. Join The Discussion To Top
Knee Arthritis Nearly 1 in 6 Australians suffer from arthritis. The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and one of the most commonly affected joints by arthritis. What is the anatomy of the knee joint? The knee joint has 3 compartments: The medial and lateral tibio-femoral joint compartments; and the patellofemoral joint which can all be affected by knee arthritis. Who is most at risk of developing knee arthritis and what are the most common causes? Knee arthritis commonly affects people above the age of 45, with a peak incidence in patients between 60-70 years of age. It is more common in females than males. The commonest causes of arthritis affecting the knee include: Knee Arthritis What are the symptoms of knee arthritis (OA)? How is knee arthritis diagnosed? Diagnosis is made after Dr Khatib’s undertakes a clinical assessment including medical history, physical examination and x-rays of the knee. During the physical examination Dr Khatib will examine the affected joint for swelling, tenderness, and range of motion. X-rays of the affected joint may show a loss of the joint space and bone spur formation. There is no blood test for osteoarthritis. How is knee arthritis managed? Knee Arthritis Conservative Treatment Options There are several treatments and lifestyle modifications that can help you ease your pain and symptoms. These include: Other Treatments What surgeries are available for the treatment of knee arthritis? This can be broadly divided into joint preserving or joint replacing procedures: Joint preserving surgeries These are indicated in cases where there is mild or some cases of moderate arthritis, especially when there are mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking due to meniscal tear or loose bodies where knee arthroscopy can be performed. While knee arthroscopy does not cure arthritis, it can relieve some of the pain generated by mechanical impingement. Other joint preserving surgeries called osteotomies are indicated if the arthritic changes are limited to one part of the joint. Osteotomies aim to offload the pressure on the diseased compartment by shifting the weightbearing axis away from that part. Common osteotomies include high tibial osteotomies to offload the medial joint compartment which is most commonly affected in knee arthritis; and tibial tuberosity osteotomy to offload a diseased patellofemoral joint. Knee Arthritis Joint replacement surgery If the disease is localised to one compartment then limited replacement (or arthroplasty) can be performed. This can be done using a unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA), or by patellofemoral joint replacement, if the disease only affects the patellofemoral joint compartment. Total knee replacement surgery is by far a more commonly performed procedure in which the femur, tibia are replaced, with or without resurfacing of the patella. Total knee replacements are the commonest type of joint replacement surgery performed in Australia and around the world. Most patients report good-excellent resolution of their symptoms and improvement in their quality of life after total knee replacement surgery. When you come for your consultation, Dr Khatib will be able to discuss your condition and provide you with all suitable treatment options available. Scroll to Top
History of money - Digital Currencies and Bitcoin Money is as old as the civilization, and likewise it is moving forward with it. In our previous article, we have looked at the history of money until the digital age. In this second part, we will recap the modern technologies connected with money and explain how digital currencies can become the future. History of Digital Currency In the first article on the history of money, we defined money as a unit or a verifiable record. When talking about coins, commodity money or paper money, we can vividly imagine the units. Digital currencies are more about the record in a ledger. It exists as bits of information, but we accept it as money nonetheless. How does digital currency work? Usually, digital currencies would be assigned to an account. From this account with the help of a record keeper, we can communicate the transactions. (This record keeper is usually the bank, payment service provider or any other third party). The most used channel of communication with the record verifier is the Internet. For example, we want to make a purchase with a card at a shop. The shop verifies our purchase and tells the issuing bank how much they have to subtract from your account. The bank verifies that you have this sum and can make the purchase. How long has digital currency been around? The idea is as old as the Internet, so the concept was out there at least since the 1980s. Since it makes use of the Internet, the history of digital currency truly began in the 1990s. Bank Cards Credit cards Source: Avery Evans on Unsplash However, before the digital currencies came digital records of operations with real money. In the late 1960s, automatic teller machines (ATMs) were invented and became commonplace. To use one, a client needed to have a bank card. ATMs communicated with the banks through interbank channels. In the next decade, smart cards which could be used for payments, were invented. Bank cards are technically not units with which we pay. Instead, each card is connected to a bank account and is used for client identification. It is hard to imagine, but the first ATMs did not use PIN protection. The information was encrypted with a magnetic strip only. More modern cards utilize more sophisticated security methods, out of which one of the first was an integrated-circuit chip. In the 1990s, it was safe to say that the history of digital currencies truly began. It became clear: in the Internet era, the banks were not the only ones who could keep a verifiable record. The idea behind the first digital gold currencies was simple. Users deposited money into the company’s custody, the company bought gold to back the deposit. After that, the users had access to a means of payment where the proof of gold ownership was accepted. Of course, cross-account transfer was also available. That was the model that e-gold Ltd. used, a company founded by Douglas Jackson in Florida in 1996. It was not the only one digital currency in the time it operated, but it was by far the most popular one. In 2009, there were five million accounts opened with e-gold Ltd. This enterprise not only operated on a familiar premise, but actually introduced advances inspired by its digital medium. E-gold allowed transactions as small as 0.0001 g of gold, making it the first successful micropayment system. It also had one of the first APIs developed by non-credit-card service providers which let online shops accept e-gold. Cypherpunks and Early Cryptocurrencies Both early digital currencies and banks have had a glaring problem: centralization. These systems operate on trust that the deposits will be kept secure and the services will be provided. In the late 1980s, it became clear in the digital age, privacy would be a matter of personal interest. Libertarians and cryptography enthusiasts came together in a movement which would be dubbed cypherpunks. Cryptography was applied to communications first and only lastly to the ideas for money. However, the technologies devised for communication would end up making it into history of money. For example, proof-of-work was initially used to deter spam emails. The idea of hashcash proposed by Adam Back suggested performing some computational work before an email could be sent. To an end user, it looked like a one-second lag, unless they tried to send hundreds of emails in bulk. Proof-of-work came back full circle to become one of the pillars of cryptocurrency. Since libertarianism dictates the government shouldn’t have any business with the lives of individuals, they theorized how money could work. For example, Wei Dai came up with the idea of b-money. It is a unit, transactions with which would be verified not by a single entity but by all participants. Nick Szabo proposed bit gold. To solve the centralized control of money issuers, he suggested a system that would use an unforgeable registry. In this registry, transactions could be tracked by the timestamps and digital signatures. Needless to say, all cypherpunks were very well acquainted with the private and public key cryptography invented by Whitfield Diffie. The first digital currency which was a complete product was actually developed by a cypherpunk. What was the first digital currency? It was David Chaum’s DigiCash. It was more than a simple registry of transactions because it utilized encrypted keys to validate transactions and was anonymous. However, DigiCash did not take off like e-gold did, and Chaum had to file for bankruptcy and sell the company in 1998. Cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin Bitcoin logo Source: Bitcoin.org Fast forward ten years. The cypherpunk community had had more than enough time to work on their ideas and develop the concepts. Moreover, they had more reasons to do so. The privacy and economic situation was not getting better, take the dot-com bubble or the 2008 financial crisis. The governments’ solution to support the economies in decline involved stimulating it by issuing large amounts of the national currency. The situation was made egregious by the fact that most of this money ended up in banks and large enterprises. The “trickle-down” principle only ended up helping the richest, while the people felt the supply dilution and devaluation. The first cryptocurrency, which was neither centralized nor needed policing was invented in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto. The whitepaper was released to the rest of the cypherpunk community on October 31, 2008. Finally, on January 3, 2009, Bitcoin blockchain was set in motion. The message in the first block reads, “The Times Jan/03/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.” It is thought to be both a time reference and a reminder for the ideological history of Bitcoin. The blockchain is still running uninterrupted to this day, supported by thousands of nodes worldwide. The code is open-source, and over the years hundreds of developers have contributed to it. The original model for Bitcoin served as a template for many other altcoins and forks. The narrative around Bitcoin has shifted significantly over the years. While it was originally intended to be a peer-to-peer digital cash, due to its qualities it found another use. Instead of a digital currency for daily use, it has been adopted as a store of value. The hard-coded scarcity of the asset made it attractive to the institutional investors seeking to hedge against inflation. Bitcoin and Properties of Money Bitcoin was designed to be “peer-to-peer digital cash”. To fulfill this purpose, it had to have most or all of the properties of money. • Durability: as Bitcoin exists only as data, it is immune to weathering; • Divisibility: BTC is divisible into 10^-8 units, called satoshi; • Portability: Bitcoin does not require a tangible medium; • Uniformity: BTC does not exist in units per se, but all of them are assigned equal worth; • Scarcity: BTC has a hard cap of 21 million. However, there are several properties that Bitcoin has not yet achieved fully: • Fungibility: Bitcoin uses unspent transaction units, so theoretically, “tainted” there is a problem of “taint”; • Acceptance: Bitcoin is not recognized as legal tender in many parts of the world; • Cognizability: there is no public consensus on the worth of Bitcoin, though most populations are aware of it. Digital Currency VS. Cryptocurrency As far as the history of money goes, cryptocurrencies and digital currencies went almost in parallel. However, cryptocurrency is only one of the types of digital currency, akin to virtual currencies or central bank-issued digital currencies. Taxonomy of money Taxonomy of money, based on “Central bank cryptocurrencies” by Morten Linnemann Bech and Rodney Garratt Unlike most digital currencies, cryptocurrencies are: • Decentralized (generally); • Borderless and universally accessible; • Pseudonymous or anonymous. Cryptocurrencies rely on cryptographic technology to sign transactions and propagate the network. It is a digital currency, but not all digital currencies are cryptocurrencies. Key Takeaways • History of digital currency is preceded by bank cards. The shift in the history of money from units to verifiable records happened in the 1970s; • The next step in the history of money was digital currencies. The first ones relied on centralized entities to run them, like e-gold which was founded in 1996; • At the same time, cypherpunk movement was devising privacy-securing forms of money, free from the government influence: b-money, bit gold, DigiCash; • Their developments culminated in the creation of Bitcoin in 2008, the first true cryptocurrency. By Satoshi Nakamoto’s design, it has most of the properties of perfect money; • Cryptocurrencies are one type of digital currency, which are less dependent on trust and less prone to excessive control. In these two articles, we have covered the history of money up to the current day. Cryptocurrencies evidently have a bright future, considering how developing a central bank-issued digital currency is a race between governments these days. In the most likely scenario, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will exist in parallel to the digital national currencies. However, they always will be a more privacy-oriented and independent mode of money. This is it for the history of money, but in our blog you will find more educational content like this. The notifications about updates are promptly posted on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and Telegram. Learn more: Quick links: Related Posts History of Money: Digital Currencies and Bitcoin Article Name History of Money: Digital Currencies and Bitcoin As far as the history of money goes, there were several attempts at building a digital currency but only Bitcoin has the properties of perfect money. Notify of Newest Most Voted Inline Feedbacks View all comments 5 months ago Bitcoin is the new beginning in the history of money. 5 months ago Satoshi Nakamoto gave the best innovation in finance anyone can imagine and it is Bitcoin.
Technique In Child And Adolescent Analysis Customers who purchased something from your online store via the app in the month of December may also be considered a cohort. In the end, you have a smaller number of factors rather than hundreds of individual variables. technique analysis Some of the techniques listed are not in reality a single method or model, but a whole family. Thus our statements may not accurately describe all the variations of a technique and should rather be interpreted as descriptive of the basic concept of each. The objective here is to bring together in a logical, unbiased, and systematic technique analysis way all information and judgments which relate to the factors being estimated. Such techniques are frequently used in new-technology areas, where development of a product idea may require several “inventions,” so that R&D demands are difficult to estimate, and where market acceptance and penetration rates are highly uncertain. Business Planning & Performance Once these factors and their relationships have been clarified, the forecaster can build a causal model of the system which captures both the facts and the logic of the situation—which is, after all, the basis of sophisticated forecasting. The flow chart should also show which parts of the system are under the control of the company doing the forecasting. In Exhibit II, this is merely the volume of glass panels and funnels supplied by Corning to the tube manufacturers. The manager must fix the level of inaccuracy he or she can tolerate—in other words, decide how his or her decision will vary, depending on the range of accuracy of the forecast. This allows the forecaster to trade off cost against the value of accuracy in choosing a technique. Successful forecasting begins with a collaboration between the manager and the forecaster, in which they work out answers to the following questions. Although we believe forecasting is still an art, we think that some of the principles which we have learned through experience may be helpful to others. tumefaciens cocultivation with Arabidopsis suspension cells has also been developed , the maintenance of Arabidopsis suspension cultured cells in healthy and aseptic conditions is a challenging and tedious task. In addition, Arabidopsis suspension cultured cells are dedifferentiated and do not provide normal tissue context. To provide estimates of trends and seasonals, which obviously affect the sales level. Seasonals are particularly important for both overall technique analysis production planning and inventory control. To do this, the forecaster needs to apply time series analysis and projection techniques—that is, statistical techniques. The Post Graduate Business Analysis program gives you expertise in the latest business analytics tools and techniques like the ones mentioned previously. You will master planning and monitoring, data analysis and statistics, visualizations, Agile Scrum methodologies, and SQL databases. Biomechanics Chapter 13: Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis To Improve Technique This is one of the primary methods of data analysis you certainly shouldn’t overlook. After harvesting from so many sources you will be left with a vast amount of information that can be overwhelming to deal with. At the same time, you can be faced with incorrect data that can be misleading to your analysis. The smartest thing you can do to avoid dealing with this in the future is to clean the data. This process is fundamental before visualizing it, as it will ensure that the insights you extract from it are correct. Once you have decided on your most valuable data sources, you need to take all of this information into a structured format to start collecting your insights. For this purpose, datapine offers an easy all-in-one data connectors feature to integrate all your internal and external data sources and manage them at your will. During this phase, you can use data analysis tools and software which will help you to understand, interpret, and derive conclusions based on the requirements. Data Analysis ToolsData analysis tools make it easier for users to process and manipulate data, analyze the relationships and correlations between data sets, and it also helps to identify patterns and trends for interpretation. Factor analysis is a technique used to reduce a large number of variables to a smaller number of factors. It works on the basis that multiple separate, observable variables correlate with each other because they are all associated with an underlying construct. This is useful not only because it condenses large datasets into smaller, more manageable samples, but also because it helps to uncover hidden patterns. This allows you to explore concepts that cannot be easily measured or observed—such as wealth, happiness, fitness, or, for a more business-relevant example, customer loyalty and satisfaction. Types Of Data Analysis: Techniques And Methods If you know why something happened as well as how it happened, you will be able to pinpoint the exact ways of tackling the issue or challenge. The descriptive analysis method is the starting point to any analytic technique analysis process, and it aims to answer the question of what happened? It does this by ordering, manipulating, and interpreting raw data from various sources to turn it into valuable insights to your business. technique analysis Moreover, these cutting-edge tools offer access to dashboards from a multitude of devices, meaning that everyone within the business can connect with practical insights remotely – and share the load. The CMO dashboard is perfect for c-level management as it can help them monitor the strategic outcome of their marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions that can benefit the business exponentially. Online data visualization is a powerful tool as it lets you tell a story with your metrics, allowing users across the business to extract meaningful insights that aid business evolution – and it covers all the different ways to analyze data. Arguably, the best way to make your data concepts accessible across the organization is through data visualization. There are many ways to analyze data, but one of the most vital aspects of analytical success in a business context is integrating the right decision support software and technology. Trimming the informational fat is one of the most crucial methods of analysis as it will allow you to focus your analytical efforts and squeeze every drop of value from the remaining ‘lean’ information. Once you’ve set your data sources, cleaned your data, and established clear-cut questions you want your insights to answer, you need to set a host of key performance indicators that will help you track, measure, and shape your progress in a number of key areas. Analytical Technique Thanks to its user-friendly interface, anyone in your organization can manage it; there’s no need to be an advanced data scientist. Imagine you did a regression analysis of your sales in 2019 and discovered that variables like product quality, store design, customer service, marketing campaigns, and sales channels affected the overall result. Top-down investing considers first macro-level economic or industry data before narrowing in on meso- and micro-factors to make investment decisions. Being aware of the limitations of technical analysis to avoid costly failures and surprises. Some traders may require mobile alerts or access to trading on the go, while others may leverage automated trading systems to execute trades on their behalf. In addition to these considerations, different types of traders might prefer using different forms of technical analysis. Day traders might use simple trendlines and volume indicators to make decisions, while swing or position traders may prefer chart patterns and technical indicators. Traders developing automated algorithms may have entirely different requirements that use a combination of volume indicators and technical indicators to drive decision making. Data Not Linked To You For short-term forecasting for one to three months ahead, the effects of such factors as general economic conditions are minimal, and do not cause radical shifts in demand patterns. And because trends tend to change gradually rather than suddenly, statistical and other quantitative methods are excellent for short-term forecasting. What are the 5 types of data? Common data types include:Integer. Floating-point number. After giving your data analytics methodology some real direction, and knowing which questions need answering to extract optimum value from the information available to your organization, you should continue with data democratization. In the following picture you can see an example of how the intelligent alarms from datapine work. By setting up ranges on daily orders, sessions and revenues, the alarms will notify you if the goal was not completed or if it exceeded the expectations. With the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning, they provide automated signals based on particular commands or occurrences within a dataset. Gap Analysis Tutorial Comments are closed.
How Often Should You Clean or Replace Air Filters? When was the last time you changed your air filters? While this task is rarely on most people’s To Do list, it’s as essential as paying your power bill. This is because failing to do so will cause a long list of preventable issues and reduces the lifespan of your AC. Air Conditioner Basics An air conditioner works by absorbing the warm air in your home. The humidity condensates on the coils inside the unit. Water from the condensation drips into a drip pan, and is syphoned out of your home through the condensate line. When you don’t change your air filters regularly, they eventually become caked with dust. This significantly blocks airflow, which results in the following problems: 1. Condensation from the humidity freezes on the AC coils. 2. The air conditioner stops blowing cold air. 3. The AC works harder trying to reach the temperature set on your thermostat. 4. All the extra work causes your power bill to go up. How often should you change your AC filters? There are many factors that come into play when deciding how often to change your air filters. Below is a list of things to consider: 1. Do you live alone? A person who lives on their will need to change the air filters less frequently than a family of four. 2. Do you have any pets? Be it dogs, cats, ferrets, bunnies… anything that sheds hair and dander will cause the filters to clog much faster. 3. Is anyone in your household suffering from respiratory issues? Whether it’s asthma or allergies, airborne dust particles will exacerbate the issue. If this applies to your household, change the filters at least once a month. We also recommend purchasing HEPA filters, since they trap the highest amount of dust particles and allergens. 4. Are there any smokers in your home? The negative impacts of secondhand smoke are well documented. In addition to the many illnesses it can cause, add diminished air quality and dirty air filters to the list. 5. Did you buy cheap air filters? This factor isn’t included to sound judgy, but the lower the quality of the filter, the more often you’ll have to change it (costing you more money long-term). As a general rule, always note the filter’s MERV ratings. The acronym stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, it ranges from 1 to 20. The higher the number, the better quality the filter. Difference Between Washable and Replaceable AC Filters Before we get started on the difference, remember to always shut off power to your AC before working on it. In addition to turning it off, we suggest switching off the power breaker as well. Now that that’s out of the way, it’s important to point out that there are air filters that, while they are not technically “washable”, you can still remove them, vacuum the dust, and reinstall them. If the brand you purchase is washable, all you have to do is place it under running water for several minutes. Once the dust is off the filter, let it air dry for a minimum of 24 hours before reinstalling it. Not allowing it to dry properly could cause mold and mildew to grow in your home. While washable/cleanable versions may save you a couple of trips to the store, they have a lower MERV rating and do not filter pet hair, dander, soot, or allergens. So if your circumstances require a filter that will take care of these issues, you’re better off purchasing replaceable filters. AC Service in Brevard County At Colman, we understand that sometimes, AC issues happen during the most inconvenient times. This is why we have a 24/7 AC emergency line. Call us if you need assistance ASAP or to schedule routine HVAC maintenance to prevent issues during the summer. 24-HR Emergency Service (321) 269-4565 Leave a Reply
How Do You Tell If A Steak Is Medium Rare Without Cutting Into It? What happens if you eat undercooked steak? How does Gordon Ramsay season their steak? It goes without saying that the top chef first seasons the meat with salt and pepper on both sides. But what elevates his recipe is that he – hold onto your eyebrows – flambés the cut. … Then, placing the steak in the pan, he chucks in rosemary and a sprig of thyme and removes the meat to rest in a separate dish. How can you tell if a steak is medium rare? How can I cook steak without a thermometer? What temp is Mr steak? Does steak continue to cook resting? How can you tell when a steak is done? How long do you leave a steak on for medium rare? Is it okay to eat pink steak? Do you cover steak when resting? How can you tell if a steak is medium by touch? Is it okay to eat medium rare steak? Can you eat steak raw? Just like raw chicken and pork, raw beef can be problematic and contains its fair share of dangerous bacteria. It’s safer than eating raw chicken or pork, but that doesn’t make it 100% safe. Just a few of the infections or viruses eating raw steak could cause include listeriosis, salmonellosis, and E. Coli poisoning. How long should you let a steak rest? How can you tell if steak is done without a thermometer? There’s a simple, surefire way to check your steak’s temperature without cutting into the meat, and all you need is your hand.Raw. Feel the palm of your hand, just below your thumb. … Rare. Now bring your thumb to your pointer finger, and touch that same part of your palm again. … Medium-Rare. … Medium. … Well-Done.
Quick Answer: How Do You Seal Spring Rolls? Do you wet spring roll wrappers? Spring Roll Wrapper or Rice Paper Wrappers come out of the package hard and inedible, and they must be soaked in water before using. Fill a pie plate or bowl with lukewarm water.. How do you preserve a samosa and spring roll? Take a freezer container and sprinkle the bottom generously with flour or starch (corn starch, potato starch or tapioca starch will all work). Lay the spring rolls on the floured bottom of the container — single file and not too tightly. Sprinkle the spring rolls with more starch or flour. Can you seal egg rolls with water? Wrapping them is easy, I mix a touch of water/flour to make a glue to keep them sealed. Lay out one egg roll wrapper with a corner pointed toward you. Can you freeze spring rolls after cooking? Can I use milk instead of egg to brush pastry? Nicole Rees replies: Brushing with an egg wash gives a different effect than using milk, so they are not interchangeable. … Pastry chefs use an egg wash primarily for shine, though the egg yolk will contribute a golden color to the finished baked product. For a clear shine, an egg white alone can be used. How long will fresh spring rolls keep in the fridge? 2-3 daysStoring: The rolls taste best the day they are made, but they can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap (to keep the wrapper soft and to keep them from sticking together) and store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Why do my spring rolls fall apart? You maybe rolling them a bit too tightly, putting too much stress on the wrapper, so that the added pressure of the steam causes them to rupture. You can try rolling them looser, or add a bit less filling and roll them to the same size(which is really 2 ways of saying the same thing.) How do you seal spring rolls without eggs? Add one part cornstarch and one part water to a small bowl. The cornstarch and water mix makes a sealing liquid. Dip your finger in the mixture and run a small bead along the two adjacent sides at the top half of the egg roll wrapper. How do you seal spring rolls with eggs? Let the cornstarch slurry or egg liquid to act as gum to secure the seal at the folding. Place a large piece of plastic sheet on a shallow pan. Place the spring roll seam side down on the plastic sheet. Cover it with another plastic sheet and keep it in the freezer until the spring rolls are frozen. What do you seal egg rolls with? How do you keep spring rolls crispy? Can I make egg rolls ahead of time? If you can, go ahead and make it a day or two before you need to to save time the day of frying. Uncooked eggrolls don’t hold very well, but you can fry, cool, and freeze them for later consumption (the eating, not the ancient disease). … Serve hot egg rolls with soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, and/or Chinese hot mustard.
Can I Run My Rv Fridge On 110? I am going to start this article by answering the question of “Can I run my RV refrigerator on 110?” The answer is NO. You can not run your RV fridge on a standard home-type AC power outlet. This is because RVs use a different type of cooling system than homes do, so they need something different for their refrigerators. Can I Run My Rv Fridge On110 YouAn inverter is not required to run your fridge at 110v? One important difference with an RV refrigerator is that it will take the refrigerator about 24 hours to cool down to the desired temperature. The temperature of the refrigerator will be set by adjusting a knob, more or less. RV refrigerators are usually pretty simple and basic. We could consider this at home too because not many homes have a generator hook-up on-site, so it would need to maintain its power supply from another source such as an exterior 110 outlet. Currently, some new technology RV refrigerators have a slightly different cooling system. These systems use an absorption refrigerator which has more of the characteristics of home refrigeration units and can be run off 110 AC power like your standard household appliance. The downside to these types is they take longer for it to cool down because they are slower. These units can take up to 48 hours to reach the desired temperature, but they use less power and are much quieter than any other type of RV refrigerator cooling system. There is no such thing as an “RV” fridge because RVs come in all shapes and sizes from tiny camper trailers which have little kitchens on them, to the large fifth wheel or travel trailer. If you find yourself in a situation where you are staying somewhere that has no power hook-up and needing to run your refrigerator off of 110 AC power (such as at home), then an absorption-type RV refrigerator would be best because it will take longer for it to cool down but use less power. Can I plug my RV into a 110 outlet? small and large RVs are wired for 110v. You will experience extreme damage if 220v is used. The Good news! Your 220-volt outlet will not work with an RV plug. How much power does a refrigerator use? We use the amp number we put out. Using the formula of amps and volts, the average starting wattage for an RV refrigerator is around 500-600 Watts. The average fridge will consume between 150 and 200 watts. Do12 volts are the only voltage that RV refrigerators can run on For larger units, you can still use an 8- or 12-volt battery bank on the RV to fuel it. An inverter will give you 120 volts. This means that the refrigerator will operate as if it were powered by electricity, even though it only uses 12-volt batteries. Can I Run My Rv Fridge On110 Related Questions Can I Plug can look similar, but they are capable of handling different voltages? • YouThe RV you plug into your dryer outlet could cause damage to your batteries or damage the electrical system of your house. • ThePlugs 110 and 220PluggingUse 220 Are A 100ah battery will last for a long time before it stops working? Do100ah batteries are capable of delivering 5 amps for 20-hours. How A 100ah battery will run a fridge for approximately? 10 hours if it draws only 5 amps per hour. The fridges will draw around 50 amps for 10 hours. So Just in time to recharge, your capacity will reach 50% After RV refrigerators consume a lot of electricity Battery A small RV refrigerator used about 5 kWh of power per day. Do The entire battery bank contains approximately 24 kWh. It means that the refrigerator would require 20% to 25% of our available battery power each day. My fridge is running off the battery if your RV refrigerator is set up to use propane, or if it has an appropriate fridge model, the battery will be used. Will An absorption fridge can run on batteries? for only 3 hours, but it can last weeks if you use propane. The battery life of a residential RV fridge is approximately 12 hours. A 12V battery can run a refrigerator for as long as it takes. An A 12-volt, 50AH, equivalent, the flooded lead-acid car battery can be disconnected and used to power a fridge. An appropriately sized inverter (minimum 1,500 watts) can also be used (1,500 watts minimum). The battery will then drain for about 11 minutes, and then the battery will discharge completely. How An RV refrigerator works better on electric or gasoline If RV refrigerators work better with electric power than with gas. ShouldYour questions can be answered by the simple fact that you don’t need to leave your RV fridge on to prolong its lifespan. It is a good idea to turn on your RV. 24 hours before you camp. Hi, DaleThe RefrigeratorIt’s time to cool off. Do you need a sizeable solar panel? RefrigeratorYou will need to power a 12V refrigerator For a fridge, a dyed-in-the-wool authority pipe must be installed with 15 to 20% amps. Generally, This must be the only piece that can be plugged into the outlet. Accordingly A 50-amp plug 110 or 220 It A 50 If it has four prongs on both the male and female plugs AmpBeing 110 Volts to neutral or ground with one prong being neutral and the other being the ground. TwoVoltage between the two 110 VoltProngs should be 220 The. VoltPlug into 220VoltsNot intended to be used for applications that require 220v but are designed to deliver it. Can An RV system need 120 volts? • OutletsThe RV’s electrical system can be energized with 220 volts. This will cause damage to the appliances and other components. • what happens when 110 camper plugs into 220vPuttingIt will cut off the power supply to your TV. • You might also have a blown fuse in the RV charging circuit if you had the engine on and the trailer was plugged into your 220 volts. • Normally You were quick enough to notice that something was wrong with the A/C. YouIt is costly to replace or repair. • Good An RV hookup 110 or 220 at 30 amps • A 30 amp plug has three prongs – a 120-volt hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire – and is generally used on RVs with lower load requirements. Leave a Comment Your email address will not be published.
Snow removal in the USSR was top-notch Communists made Moscow the global top performer in immediate snow removal. Moscow, the capital of the USSR, was extremely effective in combating snowfalls. I’m a living witness. At the first sign of a major snowfall that could hamper vehicle traffic, an army of snowplows and snow collectors (see the pics at the end of the post) would swiftly come out, assisted by a least as large following of snow-transporting trucks. The granite embankments of the Moscow river had several discharge points where the snow was promptly dumped from trucks on the ice. They also swept most of the pedestrian walks, which is why no sidewalk in Moscow was narrower than the scoop of this impressive snow-annihilating machine. From what I have seen so far in other large cities in the snowfall belt, the USSR was a century ahead of everyone. How come? In February 1917, in St. Petersburg, an uprising happened that led to the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, the take-down of the Russian Empire, and the rest of distressing stuff you know about the XX century. What sparked the event was closed bakeries in the city that didn’t have flour to make bread. The flour wasn’t there because of lack of grain—there was a lot of it in the train stations and depots around the country—but because heavy snowfalls made it impossible to deliver it from Central Russia to St Peterburg. The long disgruntled lines in front of the bakeries were the starting point of the ripples, then waves, and then a tsunami that swept the empire off its feet. The man who made sure that these ripples would ultimately grow into a revolutionary tsunami was an unassuming but very determined Bolshevik. His name was Skryabin. He went on to become a luminary in the pantheon of Soviet leaders, known to the rest of the world as Vyacheslav Molotov. He was one of the most trusted men in Stalin’s circle. He never forgot what brought down the mighty Romanov’s empire: snow. Neither did the rest of the men in the Kremlin. Which made it very clear to anyone responsible for snow removal in Moscow and other large Soviet cities: the day when a black government sedan won’t be able to leave the Kremlin because of snowfall, would be the last day of their career—and most probably their life. In the Soviet Union, no one ever tried penny-pinching on snow removal. In the photo below is Prospect Marksa outside the Hotel National in Moscow: Collected snow is disposed into the river from an embankment. This is St Pete, but you get the idea: Three little-known traits of President Putin President Putin is a procrastinator, trusts his intuition more than expert advice and never touches dirty money, according to people who personally know him Franz Sedelmayer, a German who had a business in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s and had numerous contacts with President Putin both in Russia and Germany, mentioned three things that rarely have been written about. Putin is a procrastinator. True to his habit of painstaking preparation, he long keeps the most important things on the back burner. He seemingly waits for the moment of lucidity that comes from the sheer amount of accumulated information. Only then he makes decisions, often based on an emotional response that makes it look like a snap judgment. Trusts his intuition Putin trusts his own experience and gut feeling much more than all his experts and tomes of research. When he needs to handle complicated matters, he seems to see the role of experts in throwing challenges at his preconception, which he often avoids to share with others. In the end, he rarely accepts what others bring to the table. This is why he hates long, complicated briefings and policy papers. Also, this is why he likes to surround himself with people who can provide several different approaches to the same issue, or even better compete with each other. Doesn’t touch dirty money Putin, during his work in St. Petersburg for the liberal mayor of Sobchak, was known to never take bribes. What he did was cover bribe-takers who handled the contributory part of the deals he supervised. In the picture below (photo of TASS), Vladimir Putin is watching Sobchak’s back in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s. Putin’s claim to fame among the clan of President Yeltsin as an unfailing sidekick and trusty workhorse—which ultimately secured him the top job in the Kremlin—was to protect the fortune that Sobchak was stashing away in Paris, and later exfiltrate him out of Russia when his enemies were about to get the man. Vladimir Putin Mayor Sobchak right hand Petersburg 1990s Vladimir Putin in his time as Mayor Sobchak’s right hand in St. Petersburg in the 1990s. Photo: TASS
The Left’s lies about sex and gender This has been requested for a while but I think it’s such a simple case of provable linguistic (written evidence!) fraud I hadn’t bothered. Until I saw what they’re using it for. dis gonna be good anticipation pull up a chair listen watch Inspired by this new form of child grooming: that outright lies about the basic meaning of words and asks intimate questions of minors that would get anyone else arrested. The form of gender they use applies to grammar (words, objects), not people. e.g. la baguette, une baguette Even then, this refers to masculine or feminine pronouns. It comes from ‘genus’, a biological taxonomic classification, causing some confusion with sex. To make medical documents more polite, gender slowly replaced sex (noun) in many parts of the West, especially America. It also prevented those idiots who write in things like ‘yes, please’. Hence in America, you see a new definition added, which is the same as sex. Considering who English really belongs to (the English people), the American terms do not have definitive supremacy, that would be cultural appropriation, although culturally they are considered relevant (to deconstruct in debate and ignore). Note how, even in the MW dictionary, this novel form is the secondary meaning. Compare with the English definition of the English word. This is the dictionary that recently included emoji. They cave. Yet we see an interesting pushback by the etymologists. Grammar is pushed down (as it’s less frequently used in this manner) and it reads “Grammatical gender is only very loosely associated with natural distinctions of sex.” An acknowledgement that they are not, in fact, synonymous. The use is social, not factual. It is only considered comparable, by definition, in sum (as a mass or count noun). As in, gender taken as male or female cannot apply to individuals. We see another guideline for this colloquial usage (casual, informal) in “typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones”, a snide passing reference to its use in psychology (generally true) and sociology (generally bollocks). Many people are unaware of this but all sciences (and soft sciences) have their own dictionaries. These are not the true or common meanings, they are niche and limited to discussion within the field itself. Hence the importance before any debate or academic discussion of Defining One’s Terms. Let’s keep this above board, shall we? Gold standard. Under ‘gender’: “Non-technically, a synonym for sex” – the psychological definition of gender. What does it means then, technically? As a variable? Gender is simply the degree to which one is masculine or feminine. That is it, in psychology. That is 100% true and I’ve never seen anyone dispute it. Bem’s Gender Role Inventory: The confusion began with the fraud Kinsey, who conflated it with sexuality in his methodology: Yet sexuality is a behaviour, under sexology, and gender is innate (lack of gender is impossible) mode of cognition with the slightest fluctuations over lifespan. Under ‘sex’, for clarification: “Either of the categories of male and female or the sum total of biological attributes” – the psychological definition of sex. Let’s summarize. Psychology: sex = male or female. Physiological. Based on anatomy and biology (chromosomes). Psychology: gender = masculine or feminine. Psychological. Based on cognition (motivation) and behaviour. I’m more willing to trust the psychologists on matters psychological, aren’t you? As the APA admits despite the pressure to cave to sociology in ‘gender’, sex is strictly biological. Click to access sexuality-definitions.pdf Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. These are the psychological definitions of psychological constructs. Onto the murky unfalsifiable (unscientific) world of sociology. Under ‘gender’. When I searched, no less than eight pages came up, most nothing to do with the word. It’s like they’re trying to hide something… It doesn’t actually have a clean, given definition of gender, which isn’t alarming at all considering how often they use it for rentseeking. This is the closest thing it has. The definition, if it exists, lives behind a paywall. Under ‘sex’, this is the closest. Apparently, in sociology, sex actually means sexuality. Kinsey, it seems, was a sociologist. Fine, I’ll give them one more chance. The closest I can find to either, among the fog of gender bias, gender oppression and the like, is this. An opinion piece. Often confused or used as if the terms were the same, sex and gender are in actuality different designations of human behavior based on physical capabilities and social expectations. Fine so far… not (external) expectations, it’s endogenous cognition, but okay… Unless you wanna argue that monkeys and other non-human primates, that exhibit the same gender differences, have verbal expectations and Patriarchy: Sex is related to the biological distinctions between males and females primarily found in relation to the reproductive functions of their bodies. Implicit admission of non-gonadal sex differences. Wait for it… Biological sex is usually stated as if there are two, and only two, distinct bodies: male and female. But, in fact, there are gradations between male and female accounting for at least five sexes. There it is. That’s why psychologists laugh at sociologists and get offended (fairly) if you confuse the two. Why not four? Why not six? Opinion. Pure, contrived, subjective bullshit. It goes on in such an embarrassing way a small child could call their bluff. Sex is not a clear-cut matter of chromosomes, hormones, and genitalia that produce females and males. All humans have hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, but they are found in varying and changing levels ( Fausto-Sterling 1999 ; Kimmel 2004 ). Men as well as women have breasts. Some men have bigger breasts than some women and some men get breast cancer…. I think the medical field would dispute. This is an irrational definition. That’s like saying, chickens have legs, you have legs, you are a chicken. If you stay on the SJW haven of wikipedia: The pedophile who forced two brothers to engage in sex play and kept photographs. The academic ‘authority’ for the type of ‘campaign’ above. go on moss popcorn Gender was seen as a role because behaviour is easier to measure and harder to fake, it isn’t all of what gender entails, but the final product of the motivation and thought process that leads to decision making and external action, and takes after behaviourism, which was popular at the time. Nowadays, we can watch that thought process in real time, synapse to synapse, yet these people cling to their nonsense words like Christians to the Holy Spirit. Gender is their Ghost of Patriarchy. It is easy to fake what kind of special snowflake one is. Pink? Purple? Blue? Tri/bi/a/fluid? Cultural Marxism wages a battle of acceptance in popular culture for these linguistic falsehoods, contrary to reality but believed in fervently by its worshipers. At least Christians aren’t claiming the Holy Ghost is a science and bleeding the taxpayer. You can actually blame the feminists themselves for making it up. Their supposed support for their word definitions are… themselves. It’s circular reasoning at its ugliest. The psychological definition of gender has historical eminence, as noted: Why would they do this? Why would they lie? The definition of a nuclear family becomes amenable to distortions. All this talk of sex and sexuality is bluster, a ruse to prevent discussion and even definition and scientific study of masculinity and femininity. Feminists (sociology’s nu!gender theorists) are deliberately failing to cover masculinity unless preceded by the word ‘toxic’ but it is the word femininity which goes unspoken like Lord Voldemort. Femininity, that they fear to even discuss, that they shroud even in their dictionaries and insular definitions. Try to take solace in the echo chambers because one day their wifi will die Here is something I have done you might want to try if you don’t believe me. Homework: when confronted with a (3rd wave) feminist, let them finish, let them wind down and look serious and concerned. With a grave expression, say something like “I have a question, since you’re a feminist, you must be an expert… What makes a feminist, feminine? mic drop, as they twist themselves into a pretzel of logical fallacies When they desperately ask you a question on a tangent or to change the subject, ask the very simple question again, emphasis how simple it is and watch them trigger themselves into an amygdala hijacking rage. They don’t know. They don’t know what femininity is. This is their weakness, publicly exposed. That’s why they chose to call it that, hoping nobody would ever ask. They claimed the ground they feared others would use to strengthen the hearth of the nuclear family. It’s been a pleasure shitposting with you. One response to “The Left’s lies about sex and gender You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Google photo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
Obstructive sleep apnea has been written about and highlighted by many authors in recent years. This is for good reason. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a severe disease that affects many individuals in our community. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to numerous other disorders such as hypertension, irregular heartbeat, changes in mental abilities, strokes, diabetes, and premature death. Obstructive sleep apnea is a complex disorder that has multiple causes and can present with different levels of severity. Because of this, there are multiple individuals involved in diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea. Essentially, OSA is a condition that leads to the cessation of breathing usually caused by some sort of obstruction in the airway. Structures that lead to obstruction can be in the upper airway, such as nasal obstruction or elongated soft palate. More frequently, obstructions are in the lower airway caused by the tongue moving posterior, obstructing the airway. The lateral walls of the airway can collapse contributing to this obstruction. There are other unusual causes related to the central nervous system. One of the most common measurements of the severity of sleep apnea is the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Mild AHI is 5-15 events per hour, moderate is 15-30 events per hour, and severe is greater than 30. Proper diagnosis should be performed using a sleep study coordinated with a certified sleep physician. Once a diagnosis of OSA is made, then a team of physicians and dentists steps in to assist with various treatment modalities. Certain treatments are directed toward controlling the disease. Others may lessen or even cure OSA. Individuals typically involved in treating OSA are sleep physicians, general dentists, otolaryngologists, neurologists, and oral maxillofacial surgeons. Treatment modalities that control OSA are CPAP and dental repositioning splints. CPAP (full mask with positive pressure) is by far the most successful at controlling OSA. Jaw repositioning splints provided by a dentist can be successful in mild-to-moderate sleep apnea. Modalities that help decrease the severity or may even cure OSA are weight loss, nasal and/or septal surgery, UPPP (surgery on the soft palate and throat), or jaw repositioning surgery. Nasal surgery or UPPP is usually provided by an otolaryngologist and helps address obstruction involving the area of the upper airway. These are successful in 30-35% of patients. For the remaining patients, the obstruction is either of a central cause or involves the lower or lateral airways. Jaw repositioning surgery is provided by oral maxillofacial surgeons. This treatment is geared to alter not only the upper airway but also the lower airway. This can also indirectly improve the lateral wall support. Jaw repositioning surgery moves the upper and lower jaws forward. This, in turn, pulls the soft tissue of the palate and tongue forward, opening up the upper and lower airways. This soft tissue movement can also tighten the lateral walls of the airway, reducing their tendency to collapse. The larger the movement of the upper and lower jaws, the higher probability of successful treatment of OSA. Poster Airways Before and After This surgery is performed in a hospital setting with use of general anesthesia. The patient is usually able to recover and resume normal activity and diet within about 6 weeks. These surgeries are indicated in patients who have difficulty tolerating CPAP or already have pre-existing jaw disorders which can be improved by jaw surgery. There are different combinations of jaw surgery. Sometimes it may involve only the maxilla or upper jaw. Other times it may involve only the mandible or lower jaw. These may also include advancement of the chin. The success increases with the number of jaws included in the advancement and the amount that each is moved. Complications can include temporary or permanent numbness of areas of the face, alteration in appearance, dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, changes in bite, or some relapse of the facial bones. A recent study showed OSA was reduced from AHI of 117.9 to 16.1 with jaw surgery.1 A meta-analysis study, which reviewed all known legitimate articles on OSA, found that jaw advancement was a viable alternative to help decrease or cure OSA.2 Jaw surgery does take a commitment of time and requires a surgical procedure, but it is certainly a viable option for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea patients. If you have questions, please contact an oral maxillofacial surgeon treating these conditions. About the author Dr. Ron D. Thoman Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at 719-590-1500 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialists, P.C. 8580 Scarborough Drive #240 Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Senmai-zuke is a seasonal pickle made from thinly sliced shogoin-kabu (turnip) that is pickled in salt and can only be eaten from November to February when the raw materials are harvested. The typical Kyoto delicacy was invented in the late Edo period by Tosaburo Ofuji, who was in charge of the food service at the Imperial Court. Later, when the Meiji Restoration took place, he retired from his position and opened a store under the name "Daito" to sell senmaizuke, which quickly became popular, and was even selected for the national specialty list at the National Exposition held in Kyoto in 1890. Senmaizuke was originally a simple dish of chopped shogoin-kabu pickled in salt, and it was not until the end of the Edo period that the current thin ring cut was used. Shogoin-kabu, its material, is the largest turnip in Japan, weighing 4 to 5 kilograms, and have a soft and elegant taste. The turnips that have been cleaned in cold water are very beautiful with their roundness and white, glossy epidermis. It is then cut into thin slices and pickled in vinegar with kombu seaweed and chili peppers, and served with additional ingredients such as mustard and smoked salmon. Senmai-zuke, with its mild flavor, is popular as a souvenir and gift. We truly recommend buying some when you visit Kyoto. When you eat at home, please use the tableware we offer at our store as well, including the beautiful with which you may serve senmai-zuke. Azmaya's Inban Mamezara Koishiwara Ware's Plate/Bowl Koizumi Glass's Schale
User:Manuela.Irarraz/sandbox/Approaches to Knowledge/Seminar Group 8/Disciplinary Categories From Wikibooks, open books for an open world Jump to navigation Jump to search Disciplinary Categories[edit \| edit source] The most commonly used approach to the coherency and organisation of knowledge is via Disciplinary Categorisation[1]. This is essentially the establishment of distinct academic fields, that have been generated by the classification of our knowledge, in order to ascertain similarities and differences. This involves identifying theories, methodologies and perspectives of topics which characterises a certain discipline. Thus, classification and Disciplinary Categories are intimately linked. Discussions about this method of categorisation have taken place since the days of Aristotle[2], and has once again been emphasised, in terms of whether it is sustainable enough to encapsulate the growth of knowledge in the way it has over recent years, especially due to its increasingly interdisciplinary nature. It is notable then to consider the impact of the “strict maintenance of boundaries”[1] between different Disciplinary categories. Definition and Etymology[edit \| edit source] The word 'disciplinary' stems from the word 'discipline', meaning a 'branch of instruction or education'. Its first use in English was in the late 14th century. Discipline comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning pupil, and disciplina meaning teaching, learning, knowledge or instruction given[3]. The word 'category' can be defined as a division of things regarded as having particular shared characteristics [4], it is defined by Aristotle's logic as a "highest notion"[5]. It originates from the Middle French catégorie, from the Latin categoria, borrowed from the Greek kategoria meaning a class of predicables [6] or an accusation. This stems from the Greek verbal noun kategorein, "to speak against, to accuse or predicate", from kata meaning 'down to' or 'against' and from agora meaning 'public assembly'[7]. Notable Views[edit \| edit source] Aristotle's Work[edit \| edit source] The concept of Disciplinary categories stems back from the works of the philosopher, Aristotle, who created categories according to “Substance, Quantity, Quality, Relation, Place, Date, Posture, State, Action and Passion”, [8] which rather than defining certain scholarly disciplines as such, instead outlines terms used to describe a broad range of information that is being expressed. Aristotle himself gave no indication of the foundations from which he came up with these categories. It is suggested by J.L. Ackrill, in his book 'Aristotle: Categories and De Interpretatione'[9] that Aristotle had done so by taking into consideration the types of questions that are being put forward, and how that information may then be sorted into these groups to make it more useful and efficient for a person who is seeking those answers. This theory is known as the Question Approach. Numerous other interpretations have also been put forward, which have been divided into three other groups alongside the Question Approach, including the Grammatical Approach, the Modal Approach, and the Medieval Derivational Approach.[10] It is notable to compare this to the common, current categorisation by discipline, where beginning to answer a question using this system would call for a much wider, perhaps longer, search, since the information that needs to be sought after, is divided into the disciplines from which the notions are sourced. It has been suggested that Aristotle’s categories may be helpful in the way of perhaps rethinking certain structures that constitute Disciplinary categorisation, and further refining a user’s search in terms of considering, in a descriptive sense, the knowledge that they seek, and thereon which category that would be assigned to. [11] Somer Francis Bacon Francis Bacon (1561-1626)[edit \| edit source] Sir Francis Bacon was an English lawyer and philosopher amongst other roles who dedicated his interests to re-establishing new ways of producing knowledge that will be efficient to use. [12] Bacon published eight books reviewing his thoughts on the process of learning, in which he strongly put forward the importance of interlinking ideas between the set boundaries of each branch of knowledge. Even though he himself devised a categorisation for organising knowledge, he believed that all knowledge in science is in fact connected with one another, therefore, we should be keeping a holistic look upon it. [13] Hume's Fork[edit \| edit source] Philosopher David Hume proposed the concept of a two pronged fork that divided knowledge. It can be loosely divided by knowledge learnt from a priori or a posteriori knowledge. A priori is Latin for "from what is before", when used in this context it refers to knowledge which can be known without and prior experience. Alternatively, A posteriori is Latin for "from what is after" as it refers to knowledge that is gained through experience[14]. He proposed that all knowledge was spilt into two categories, they are as follows: Hume's fork and below Kant's Trident, his alternative to Hume's fork. 1. Analytic statements known through apriori knowledge. These necessary statements are understood through reason alone, or pure reason. E.g All bachelors are unmarried. By reading the word bachelor one understands this to mean a man with no spouse therefore the statement answers itself and required no further testing to prove its validity. 2. Synthetic statements known through a posteriori knowledge, these are also referred to as contingent statements. This kind of knowledge is gained through empirical evidence and sense experience. Eg. It is raining today. One would have had to experience the rain on that day to know that to be true. [15] Painting of David Hume Analytic statements are those which knowledge can be understood simply through the definitions of all terms in the sentence whereas synthetic terms rely on knowledge outside of simply the definition to inform you on whether the statement is true or not. For example, " all millionaires are rich" would be analytical whereas "all lawyers are rich" relies upon a certain understanding of the world to inform whether or not the statement is true. [16] Education and Categories[edit \| edit source] Birth and Evolution of the Humanities[edit \| edit source] The Humanities are at the centre of education across the world; aiming to decipher and understand human behaviour all whilst recording human history, the humanities encompass subjects such as history, philosophy, literature, art, music and language[17]. From the old French humanité itself derived from the latin term humanitas meaning humankind or human nature. The term humanitas is actually a derivative of the term humanus which can be described a as state or quality of being human; the word was first introduced to the Latin world by roman orator Cicero. Birth and Evolution of the Sciences[edit \| edit source] The term 'science' is seen to have derived initially from the PIE root "skei-" meaning to "cut, split". In Latin, the word "scientia" carried a meaning of "knowledge, a knowing; expertness". The word "science" then emerged in the 12th century, in Old French, derived from Latin, and means to possess qualities of the application of knowledge. By the 14th century, "science" was considered to be a "particular branch of knowledge" with a sense of expertise; in that it is taught and studied as a discipline based on proven facts gained by experimentation, as well as theories. The distinction of science from the arts is notable from the 1670s. [18] It is notable that the evolution of the sciences has been shaped by the issues and problems being raised in society, and this, of course, changes overtime. Initially, as scientific knowledge was growing, alongside the development of technology that allowed scientists and researchers to acquire new information, traditional scientific disciplines essentially thrived on their own. However, the urgency to address certain problems, such as climate change, has stimulated the need for scientific disciplines to work together. In 1976, Russell W. Peterson was noted to have mentioned how it was important for the sciences to naturally be able to act in an interdisciplinary manner, in order to efficiently seek solutions to the way in which environmental protection should be handled, considering both the ecology and the interests of the public sphere. [19] Thus, he highlights the importance of this collaboration not only within the natural sciences, but also between the natural and the social sciences, in order to confront the current issue at hand. This is just one example of many, where scientific disciplines are encouraged to essentially go beyond their own 'categories' in order to create new links of information. At present day, there are 4 independent standing of natural sciences [20], these are: - Physics: attempts to explain matter, including the form it takes as well as it interactions with the materials it exists in in the universe, in order to build laws of nature theories [21] - Chemistry: looks at the make up of matter from its constituent parts, its characteristics as one element, how it interacts with other compounds and formulation of different compounds [22] - Biology: explores living organisms and its interactions in the biotic and abiotic environment [23] - Psychology: investigates the human mind including how it dictates human behaviour [24] Primary and Secondary Education - Subjects and Curricula[edit \| edit source] Variations Across Cultures[edit \| edit source] Ancient China[edit \| edit source] The Complete Library in Four Sections (si ku quan shu) The classification of knowledge in ancient China is notably different compared to the way the western world classifies knowledge. It was not intended to correspond to academic disciplines, instead focusing on creating a paradigm of Chinese society and its people.[25] These categories are multidisciplinary in nature as it seeks to be a reflection of the lives of the Chinese civilization. [26] Chinese traditional classification of knowledge was first established in sixth century B.C., but eventually manifested itself as the "four-division system" during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD).[27] This continued to dominate Chinese academia until the 16th century. Knowledge was divided into four categories: classical canons and commentaries (jing), history and related subjects (shi), philosophy or masters (zi) and arts and collections of fine writings (ji). [28] Historian Bernard Luk notes, "This system was based on the Confucian approach to scholarship - the Classics express the Way in words, history in deeds, while philosophers and literary artists illustrate various other aspects of the Way."[29] This system remained the dominant system and peaked in the Qing dynasty when the Complete Library of Four Sections (四库全书, si kuan quan shu) was completed in 1789. [30] It is the largest collection of books in Chinese history, and each item is divided into the four main categories, and each division is again divided into subdivisions, totaling in 67 divisions. [31] This system lasted till the turn of the 20th century, and historians believe that the classification system survived as it reflected the Chinese worldview and its values, and only changed when the core values reflected in the system changed as Confucianism is less important in the society by then. [32] Ancient India[edit \| edit source] When looking at the classification of knowledge in Ancient India, it is useful to note that it was hugely influenced by the religious beliefs of the time, since there was a cultural significance placed on the retrieval of education, which therefore naturally infused the religious teachings in academic institutions. [33] This occurred ever since the Vedic civilisation (1500-500 B.C.E). [34] Two of the oldest universities in the world are located in India being the Takshashila (Taxila) and Nalanda. Religious teachings in Ancient India varies across institutions, which include teachings of “Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jina Dharma (Jainism), and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism)”. [33] In Sanskrit, the term “Vidya” (विद्या) carries the meaning of ‘knowledge’ and ‘learning’. [35] In Ancient India, this knowledge was further divided into the “lower Apara Vidya” which constitutes academic learning as well as objective knowledge, and the “higher Para Vidya” which is about spiritual knowledge (regarding the “Atma” (आत्मा, आत्मन्) [36] that refers to the “inner soul”, and of “Brahman” (ब्रह्मन्)). [37] The two dominant types of education systems known in Ancient India were the Vedic System (which was taught in the Sanskrit Language) and the Buddhist system (which was taught in the Pali language). It is notable that they differ from the modern system of education in terms of their purpose, which both systems shared, in not only just relaying knowledge, but with the ultimate aim to provide “liberation” for individuals, [38] as well as “self-fulfillment” and personal development. [39] The Vedic education system categorised knowledge into five major streams (known as Vidyas विद्या) which all were required to be studied by individuals, and these were: Nalanda, India 1) Sabda-vidya (Vyakarana) – which entailed grammar and lexicography 2) Silpasthanavidya – constituted of arts and crafts 3) Chikitsavidya – science of medicine 4) Hetuvidya – the study of logic 5) Adhyatmavidya – associated with philosophy [40] After this, students were allowed to specialise in a field of knowledge, much like the modern system of education today. Notably, even if one wanted to have a career associated in the humanities, for example, it was still made compulsory for them to study ‘Chikitsavidya’ (Medical sciences), as it was seen as a crucial foundation of knowledge that students should attain, and this same principle applies to the compulsory study of ‘Silpasthanavidya’ too. [40] The Buddhist system shared similar traits to the Vedic system, and predominately categorised knowledge according to specific skills that were taught to students including dancing, weaving, and music, which then progressed to academic disciplines including Philosophy, Medicine and Military Science, but overall were further linked to the religious knowledge that was thoroughly infused into the education. [41] Significance of Classification in Contemporary Society[edit \| edit source] Information and Library studies[edit \| edit source] In a library, each resource (or book) is categorised; in other words, sorted into distinct groups that we create. Categorisation is a method to organise our knowledge, under certain headings (which illustrate its main topic). This allows us to access pieces of information more quickly and efficiently. Sometimes, it is difficult to classify and even recognise, if one material or aspect of knowledge is in one category or another. That is because one resource can cover multiple disciplines, and can exist within multiple categories. 'Categorisation' of one material, reveals our understanding of it, but that understanding can also change through time. As Let’s Not Homosexualize the Library Stacks”: Liberating Gays in the Library Catalog[42] states, libraries stand a critical role to shape the knowledge within the public sphere, and its arrangement and design determines our boundaries across different disciplines, in other words, our 'classification' of knowledge. Despite categorisation in libraries having the useful purpose of establishing connections between written material that share similar characteristics in nature, it is notable that it simultaneously draws a line of separation between a certain piece of work and others that have not been chosen to belong to that classified group. [43] Melissa Adler, in her book ‘Cruising the Library: Perversities in the Organization of Knowledge’, further adds how “subject headings” that are created in a library in order to categorise material, are essentially “subjectifying mechanisms”, since it has been determined via the perspective of a certain body/person, by different means, that the subject heading is sufficient to pertain to the knowledge that is being expressed in the writings that have been assigned to that category. [43] Although, as of the emerging technology and modern communication platforms including online research tools become more common, physical visits to libraries become less unnecessary. Melvil Dewey, an American educator and librarian, criticizes the accessibility of modern resources as follows: "The cheapness and quickness of modern methods of communication had been like a growth of wings, so that a thousand things which were thought to belong like trees in one place may travel about like birds"[44] W.K.Butts work[edit \| edit source] "Classification means distributing into groups according to characteristics held in common"[45] according to Butts humans naturally arrange ideas into an orderly manner. Butt argues that by categorising our ideas and processes it aids our mental capacities and develops a good basis for thinking. The human brain would not to able to function if it did not naturally and unconsciously classify its ideas. Furthermore, he states that "a good classifier tends to be a good thinker; likewise a good thinker is likely to be a good classifier".[45] By specialising in a domain we learn to classify in a logical and accurate manner. Hence, we discriminate the information that does not correspond to the criteria in question. Human brains pick up the "language" utilised and identify to which category it corresponds. According to Butts if we fail to do so, the consequences could be dramatic as we would lean towards wrong decisions and conclusions. Interdisciplinary Studies[edit \| edit source] Interdisciplinary studies involve the incorporation of two or more academic, scientific or artistic disciplines [46]. Alongside exists the terms multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. These terms work to describe the interaction of academic disciplines to varying degrees on the same continuum. Whilst interdisciplinarity ‘analyzes, synthesizes and harmonizes’ elements from different disciplinary categories, multidisciplinarity uses knowledge drawn from separate disciplines whilst remaining within the boundaries of those fields [47]. Transdisciplinarity, often connoting to research, involves the integration of multiple disciplines to form new ideas [48], through Emergence. Thus the summative words for interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity could be additive, interactive and holistic, respectively [49]. The collective aim of these forms of study is to create new ways of working, stimulating the emergence of new knowledge. Advocation for Interdisciplinary studies[edit \| edit source] Alan Wilson, in his book 'Knowledge Power: Interdisciplinary education for a complex world', outlines two main types of interdisciplinary studies, which are both useful in generating new forms of knowledge, and applying them to solve issues. Firstly, there are interdisciplinary studies with a "systems focus". [50] This form of interdisciplinary study typically arises due to a certain problem, that requires the input and collaboration of different disciplines to arrive at an effective way to solve it, or to gather more information. Examples include, textiles (which would involve the disciplines of chemistry, engineering, business and fashion) and transport, which would entail economic, geographical and other social science-based perspectives. A particular ongoing issue that this interdisciplinary approach could be applied to is climate change. [50] Secondly, there are "Conceptual" interdisciplinary approaches. This is when a concept, that has derived from a particular discipline, is applied to another discipline, to help think of new solutions to problems, and create new strands of knowledge. When a concept is used in this way, it is referred to as a "superconcept" (a term that was coined by Alan Wilson). For example, the concept of 'Evolution' originates from Biology, and can be applied to other disciplines, such as Art, by using the main principles that define the concept. Wilson suggests that working with an interdisciplinary approach, by utilising concepts across disciplines, in order to solve problems that arise, could be a more useful alternative, instead of generating numerous "specialist (sub) disciplines". [50] Notes[edit \| edit source] 1. a b Lal, Vinay. “Modern Knowledge and Its Categories.” Empire of Knowledge: Culture and Plurality in the Global Economy, Pluto Press, LONDON; STERLING, VIRGINIA, 2002, pp. 103–130. JSTOR, 2. Thomasson, Amie, "Categories", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <> 3. (2018). discipline \| Origin and meaning of discipline by Online Etymology Dictionary. [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018]. 4. Oxford Dictionaries \| English. (2018). category \| Definition of category in English by Oxford Dictionaries. [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018]. 6. (2018). Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary,cătēgŏrĭa. [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018]. 7. (2018). category \| Origin and meaning of category by Online Etymology Dictionary. [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].. 8. (2018). Categories (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Spring 2018 Edition). [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018]. 9. Ackrill, J. L. (1965). Aristotle's Categories and De Interpretatione. 10. (2018). Aristotle's Categories (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Fall 2018 Edition). [online] Available at: [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018]. 11. Jansen, L. Topoi (2007) 26: 153. 13. Kusukawa, S. (1996). Bacon's classification of knowledge. In M. Peltonen (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Bacon (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy, pp. 47-74). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CCOL052143498X.003 14. Encyclopedia Britannica. (2017). A priori knowledge \| philosophy. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 Oct. 2018]. 15. DeMichele, T. (2016). Hume's Fork Explained - Fact / Myth. [online] Fact / Myth. Available at: [Accessed 30 Oct. 2018]. 16. (2017). The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 Oct. 2018]. 18. [Accessed November 8, 2018]. 19. W. L. (1976). The 'Neat, Disciplinary Categories'. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 35(4), 360-360. Retrieved from [Accessed 23 Oct. 2018] 20. Cosmos and History: The Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy, vol. 9, no. 2, 2013 25. Chan, L.M., Intner, S.S. and Weihs, J., 2016. Guide to the Library of Congress classification. ABC-CLIO. 26. Jiang, S., 2007. Into the source and history of Chinese culture: Knowledge classification in ancient China. Libraries & the cultural record, pp.1 28. Hayhoe, R., 2014. China through the Lens of Comparative Education: The selected works of Ruth Hayhoe. Taylor & Francis. pp.145 29. Luk, B.H., 1997. Aleni Introduces the Western Academic Tradition to Seventeenth-Century China: A Study of the Xixue Fan, pp.486 33. a b Aayush. [Accessed October 30, 2018]. 34. New World Encyclopedia contributors, "Vedic Period," New World Encyclopedia, , (Accessed October 29, 2018). 35. [Accessed October 30, 2018] 36. [Accessed October 30, 2018] 37. [Accessed October 30, 2018] 38. [Accessed October 30, 2018] 39. Mookerji, R. (1944). GLIMPSES OF EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute,25(1/3), 63-81. Retrieved from [Accessed October 30, 2018] 40. a b Moorkerji, R. (1941). PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 5, 127-134. Retrieved from 41. Disha. [Accessed October 30, 2018] 42. Adler, Melissa A."“Let’s Not Homosexualize the Library Stacks”: Liberating Gays in the Library Catalog." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 24 no. 3, 2015, pp. 478-507. Project MUSE, 43. a b Adler, Melissa, (2017). “PREFACE.” Cruising the Library: Perversities in the Organization of Knowledge, Fordham University, New York, 2017, pp. ix-xx. JSTOR, [Accessed November 4, 2018]. 44. Melvil Dewey (1901). "Field and Future of Traveling Libraries". Bulletin (State University of New York) (40). 45. a b 46. (2018). Definition of INTERDISCIPLINARY. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 Oct. 2018]. 47. Choi, B. C. K., & Pak, A. W. P. (2006). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 1. definitions, objectives, and evidence of effectiveness. Clinical and Investigative Medicine, 29(6), 351-64. Retrieved from 48. Harvard Transdisciplinary Research in Energetics and Cancer Center. (2018). Definitions. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 Oct. 2018]. 50. a b c Wilson, A.G. Knowledge Power: interdisciplinary education for a complex world. Oxon: Routledge; 2010.
The Enneagram A system that shows us the nine ways that the people in the world default to in life. The Enneagram explains the “why” of all that we do, think, and feel. These nine types are based on our core motivations and fear and when we delve into the Enneagram we can better understand ourselves and begin to grow. The Enneagram can look surprisingly simple and yet there is more depth to it than you can imagine. It’s more than a personality typing label that you can use as a way to justify your behavior and it’s not a way to label others in judgement. Who You Are The Enneagram starts by telling you “who” you are. This is similar to most personality typing systems. With the enneagram, you are one of nine personality types. Why You Are The Way You Are The Enneagram then takes things deeper and tells you “why” you are who you are. It explains your core motivation and fear which is the driving force behind all your actions, thoughts, and feelings. How To Change The Enneagram doesn’t just leave things there. It gives you the tools you need so that you know “how” to change. This is the amazing thing about the Enneagram; it shows you have you can be the best version of yourself.
Incredible photo of 'supernatural' pink light phenomenon revealed by Nasa NASA has shared a stunning image of pink rays in the sky and explained the science behind it. As part of the space agency's 'Astronomy Picture of the Day' they revealed a scene that looks almost supernatural. The snap was captured by photographer Bryan Goff in Florida a few years ago. It shows a phenomenon called anticrepuscular rays. Nasa explained under the image: "To understand them, start by picturing common crepuscular rays that are seen any time that sunlight pours though scattered clouds. The space agency continued: "Therefore, the crepuscular rays from a setting (or rising) sun will appear to re-converge on the other side of the sky. Essentially the rays look like they are travelling the opposite way to the Sun in the sky. They are mostly visible around sunrise or sunset because of atmospheric light scattering. What are crepuscular rays? Here's what you need to know… • Crepuscular rays are sometimes reffered to as "God rays" • You may have spotted them in the sky before • They are essentially sunbeams that occur during twilight hours when the Sun is below the horizon • They occur because particles in the air can scatter short and long wavelengths of light differently • Anticrepuscular rays are similar but look like they travel in the opposite direction In other news, Nasa recently revealed a photo of a ‘gorgeous island galaxy’ that measures 100,000 light years across. The space agency also showed off the "space home" where the first ISS tourists will enjoy panoramic views of Earth. And, the first ever cookie to be baked in space was cooked aboard the ISS. What are your thoughts on Nasa's 'Astronomy Picture of the Day'? Let us know in the comments… Source: Read Full Article
The truth of the photographic image Write 8 pages with APA style on How do notions of the postmodern undermine the truth of the photographic image. ated to bring a revolution in ways of capturing details, critiques argue that photography is not just a mere window on the world but it has become a space for nightmares, obsessions, unconsciousness and an opening of fantasies thorough computer manipulations that stage convincing fictional images (Kostikova,2013,pp.24-28). The manipulation leads into doubts over the originality of photographs. Rather than the manipulation of photographs, other notions of postmodernism such deteriorating discipline, war photography, propaganda and political agendas can be identified to be among the causes of negativity on the truth of the photographic image. To fully understand photography, it is important to understand the origin of photography and its impact on the people of the postmodern age. The presence of photographic practice shows the ability to capture reality at a given time without any intervention by man, indicating a clear distinction from a painting that was an artistic contemplation. There had been some excitements due to the technological innovation that new gadget was capable of achieving. However, two questions were arising concerning the beautiful images produced by the camera. The first question was on the origin of the photograph image. That leads to being curious on the truth about the content of the image (Applin, 2014, pp.387-389). The second question was on the purpose of the photo image. together with the uses it can be subjected. Looking at both questions, the credibility of the photography is undermined due to the various works of art that are not original, and it becomes challenging to verifying their originality and the purpose of having reality on them.Hughes argues that, “Despite its apparent precision, perspective is a generalization about experience. It schematizes, but it does not really represent the way we see. Plagiarism-free and delivered on time! We are passionate about delivering quality essays. How it Works Place an order Fill out the order form. Attach any custom instructions that is required to complete your order. Make Payment Pay online safely. The order form will redirect you to a payment page. Receive Order via Email All Papers are Written from Scratch
Playing Roulette With The Three Bets roulette table Playing Roulette With The Three Bets The Roulette table may be the name given to many spinning wheels used in the overall game of Roulette. The name itself is French for small wheel. The game is generally played by players sitting or standing around the large roulette table known as a casino table. Round the table are large spinning wheels with the numbers 1 through 36 on them. On the roulette table certainly are a number of revolving wheels, each with a single number in it. In roulette, there are two methods to play: single number or multiple number. In one number game, because the name suggests, players place bets using one number. A multiple number game, alternatively, gives you the option to place bets on multiple number. For the purposes of the discussion, the most common type of roulette playing surface may be the wooden roulette table, also called a blackboard or perhaps a checkered board. As generally in most games of chance, a person spins the wheel, marks it with a ball, and crosses his arms in preparation to put bets. Concurrently, a player may place her or his bet either before or after the spin has been made. This type of betting layout is known as the double zero wheel. The key reason why there exists a double zero is easy: in a casino game of chance, the outcome of each spin is already decided; therefore, you don’t have to choose where each bet should be placed. The majority of today’s reputable casinos make use of the double zero wheel. The American version of the single zero wheel is called the single zero table and is identical to the French version. The very best of the single zero wheel is lined with cards which have faces, usually black. In a normal French roulette table game, you might see three cards on the top of the wheel: a red card (the primary playing card), a black card and a third card, that is the wheel’s “queen”. On a single zero wheel in most casinos, the ball player who throws the red card first is the winner of the game. In most modern Roulette setups in the us however, the winner may be the player with the black card first. The traditional method of roulette betting in the us was to employ a wheel similar to which used in UK casinos, a type of fixed wheel. However, some American gamblers preferred to employ a system of randomness referred to as the “law of averages” when placing their bets. In the law of averages, players are assigned some money based on how much cash they wagered and on the way the wheel spins. In an American style roulette wheel, the number 1 is the roulette winner, followed by the next place winner, third place winner etc until the tenth place winner is revealed. Because so many people don’t like to bet huge amounts of money, the wheel was changed to a system of decreasing bets before final wheel where in fact the lucky participant would be revealed. Within an English version of roulette, a single zero wheel is used, with a four face counting wheel. When betting on roulette in the English version, the ball player may choose any number of the four cards on the roulette table, up to thirteen. In this technique, the player’s potential for winning depends solely on what well the player chooses his/her numbers. An individual zero wheel is known as to be the best form of roulette gambling in the USA, where the majority of the classic roulette games are played. In an English version of roulette wheel, players may place two bets. The initial bet is on the amount of the wheel that has been spun and the total amount of the bets made up. The next bet is on the total amount of chips which were dealt out through the game. The American wheel follows a different system, where players may place only 1 bet on the total amount of chips or more to three bets on the amount of spins of the roulette wheel. However, both sets of rules are based on the scoring system of the overall game of roulette. The 3rd bet would be a complete bet, and therefore if your team won, you’ll win all your chips, whether or not your team won or lost. If you lose the initial two bets, the third bet would become a partial bet. The partial bet would be reduced by half your bet amount. It is very important remember that the odds of winning vary in line with the type of game you are playing. For example, in a game of blackjack, your chances of winning increase with every card you have on your hand and in addition with every card which you have in the deck, but with roulette, you increase your chances of winning with every card you have in the deck and with each and every 우리 월드 카지노 spin of the roulette wheel.
MD4 is a hash function which was designed to be cryptographically secure. Designed by Ron Rivest, MD4 was published in RFC 1186 in October 1990, and later republished in RFC 1320 in 1992 (to coincide with the release of the MD5 specification). MD4 produces a 128 bit hash and is quite similar in structure to MD5. MD4 is very fast, probably one of the fastest cryptographic hash functions in existence. Unfortunately, it is not very secure; several people have demonstrated attacks sufficiently damaging that nobody uses MD4 in security conscious applications. In fact, MD5 is simply a "beefed up" version of MD4, produced because there were worries as early as 1991 that MD4 wouldn't be secure enough. MD4 is heavily biased towards x86 processors: little-endian byte orderings are used throughout, everything is done in terms of 32 bit words, and the algorithm is set up to allow good scheduling on x86 machines. Some places where MD4 is or has been used: • rsync uses MD4 to find if two files are the same • Windows NT hashes user passwords with MD4 • PKCS #1 supported using MD4 with RSA for a brief time, so theoretically you could create an X.509 certificate that used MD4. That would be a very bad idea security-wise, and most implementations would reject it anyway (though it looks like OpenSSL does know about using MD4 and RSA together). To some extent, MD4 is still usable if all you need is a one way function, because while it is definitely possible to generate collisions in MD4, nobody (so far) knows how to invert it in any meaningful way. However, the speed gains from using MD4 probably do not make up for the high risk in using the algorithm for anything, so if you're thinking about using MD4, think again. For all of the wonderful and amazing details of this algorithm, read RFC 1320, which is the definitive source.
Tag Archives: mood Dealing with the heat! What is a good painting? Painting and music – a great analogy Both art forms (music and painting) have effects on our subconscious! Words like sensuous and passionate, or emotional, stimulating, mood altering, uplifting, depressing… can be applied to both music and painting! An example would be to make a painting too busy. It is equal to listening to music where someone plays solo without stopping. It is tiresome and ultimately not a pleasant experience. It is like looking at a painting that is filled with too much information or no color harmony. Emotional attributes are equally felt in the use of color in art. A painting has the highest impact when it captures some poetic mood of nature, an impression of strength and power, or an emotion in a portrait. Color sets mood. Just think of the beautiful works of the masters Corot, Whistler or Thayer. Warm colors, by nature, are exciting and stimulating but can also be irritating. Imagine being in room where all the walls have been painted scarlet red! Cool colors have quiet the opposite effect. They are restful in the emotional sense. There is a reason why most people use soft greyish tones when painting walls in their houses. Going back to music, any music piece is only consecutively played notes between pauses which, when played without emotion, are just that: notes, scales. The actual music is in the interpretation. It is nowhere to be found in the notation. Exactly like in painting: without an emotional connection a painting is just pigment on paper or canvas. It is certainly not found in the color mix. That’s why there is the term ‘artist’ and another one for ‘painter’. When does a painter become an artist? When a painting is ‘technical’ we may be impressed (or not), but when a painting grabs you by your emotions it becomes art. That’s the painting you keep coming back to, whereas the technical one has your attention for 30 seconds and then you loose interest! Instead of my paintings, this time I have uploaded some of the Masters. A good quote by artist Jean-François Millet: ‘Technique should always hide itself modestly behind the thing expressed.’ Drawing and painting horses is a challenge. Horse anatomy is quite difficult. One of the mistakes I always did was to make the neck too short and the body, or the flank, too long. Most important is to get the curves of the rear, the back and the belly right. Often, in landscape painting, the horses we paint are quite small so as long as it looks right, we’re good. It does not actually have to be right. There is a difference! I should trademark that.. As Richard Schmid rightly says, you don’t actually have to know anything about the thing you’re painting. But it is imperative to spend time observing and drawing it! In the end, the only way to fully understand an object, whether it be a horse or a car, is to draw it many, many times. Only then will we ‘get it’ and I am not talking about intellectually getting what a horse is all about, just referring to drawing skills here. Horses are more challenging to draw than cows, don’t you think? I recommend charcoal drawing for the simple reason that you can take it anywhere you go. It doesn’t weigh much and it’s a great way to improve drawing skills. I use Faber-Castell Charcoal Pencils and General Pencil Co. Vine Charcoal. These come in different hardnesses, from the super hard to super soft. Here are a few good links: ~ Think Like A Horse is a great website covering horse anatomy ~ A Horse for Elinor has good pictures of dressage training ~ Equitherapy has horses galore A Most Songful Stream!
Sahel Drought in The Late 20th Century downloadDownload printPrint Pssst… we can write an original essay just for you. Any subject. Any type of essay. We’ll even meet a 3-hour deadline. Get your price 121 writers online Download PDF Drought by definition is “a function of rainfall” (Agnew and Chappell 1999, p.299). However, this definition is insufficient, only considering precipitation results in anomalies that cannot be explained. Unless it is a purely meteorological drought, even then local and regional human impact increases the stress (Thomas and Goudie, 2009). Factoring in local variabilities, and human influence, such as agriculture and overgrazing can solve the uncertainties in the causation and severity of a drought in a region, such as the Sahel. Therefore, place-specificity, in addition to the natural phenomenon, for a clear definition and understanding is vital. The Sahel Region, shown in Figure 1, is a semi-arid transitional zone that encompasses the West African countries from Senegal to Chad (Agnew and Chappell, 1999). The region is infamous for its aridity, suffering from many severe droughts in its history. Consequently, known as one of the harshest, due to its variable climate (Sivakumar et al., 1991), it receives between 600-700mm rainfall in the south and 100-200mm in the north (Nicholson, 1978). As a result of the uniqueness of its location, the boundaries of the drought are often blurred with the Sahel’s precipitation variability (Brooks, 2004). This makes the region highly sensitive in terms of climate, an important factor for drought (Zeng, 2003). History and Understanding Of Drought in Sahel Over the 20th Century Due to its unique location and climate variability, the Sahel is one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth (Agnew and Chappell, 1999). Demonstrated in its historic severe drought, drawing from Figure 2, there were wet periods in the 1930s followed by small droughts in the 40s. However, it was in the second half of the 20th Century where the severity of drought became prevalent. The expansion of agriculture in the 1950s and extreme wet periods (Figure 2) increased the severity of the droughts later. From 1955 there was a decline in rainfall, which led to prolonged drought in the late 20th Century. The precipitation decline became significant in the early 1960s (Zheng and Eltahir, 1998), with acute rainfall deficit in 1968/9 which defined the start of the severe drought (Tickell, 1986). Agnew (1990) notes that the drought from 1969 was severe, but the spatial distribution of the drought was very sporadic when comparing yearly, representing the variability in precipitation and by areas within the Sahel. These influences will be discussed further. The peak of the Sahel drought was in 1973 (Courel et al., 1984), however the rainfall wasn’t abnormally low which suggests other pressures. The Sahel drought was widespread and persistent with continuing downward precipitation levels throughout the 1970s and 80s, with annual rain being far below the mean for the century (Brooks, 2004). However, argued the observations are part of the Sahel’s natural pattern (Glantz, 1994). There had been plentiful rains in particular countries (Toulmin, 1988), seen in 1970s in Figure 2. Representing our lack of understanding, particularly if we treat the Sahel as a “homogenous entity” (Agnew and Chappell 1999, p.309). The precipitation variability varies from country to country (Figure 2), therefore, cannot fully comprehend the causes if locality is so influencing. Vital to represent causes by area not as a whole; country-specific stresses can either pressurise or alleviate drought. Drought is linked to a relationship between a specific area and its volume of rainfall (Thomas and Goudie, 2009). Charney (1975) argues the hypothesis that due to Hadley cell circulation, a lack of precipitation leads to decreased vegetation, leading to increasing albedo. An increased albedo is typical of a brighter surface, such as sand and bare rock, rather than vegetated land (Charney, 1975). This land type will mean a higher reflectivity, emitting more solar radiation out than the regions around the Sahel. This leads to a sinking motion, where the region acts as a radiative sink. During and after a desiccation event Charney (1975) terms this as a self-inductive effect in arid regions. It is a self-feedback shown in Figure 3, as humidity changes, increases the arid conditions. Instabilities in the mechanism could lead to intensification of the drought in the Sahel. To compare, Zeng (2003) discusses the importance of circulation changes on a global scale, in relation to changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) of the planet. This occurs on a cyclic pattern, both interannually and decadally (Giannini et al., 2003). Changes in SST catalyse a positive feedback response. It weakens the monsoon circulation, resulting in barer landscapes as vegetation is decreased, the exposed land leads to a higher albedo effect, meaning less moisture in the air, shown in Figure 3. The resulting decline in precipitation weakens the monsoon circulation further, reproducing the cycle. From General Circulation Models (GCM) Giannini et al. (2003) found that when running the observation figures of global SST it produced the precipitation variability shown in the Sahel. They concluded that global SST is an important forcing in the drought conditions experienced in the Sahel. Furthermore, Giannini et al. (2003) identify that there is a strong correlation between the rainfall patterns observed in the Sahel and anomalous trends in the tropical SST. Therefore, drought conditions in the Sahel can be linked to unusual occurrences in the SST in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Human processes, such as overgrazing and agricultural expansion, change the landscape. Overgrazing as a mechanism specifically has been found to bare soils, resulting in high albedo and affecting ground surface temperature (Otterman, 1974). Aridity results from baring land, revealing soils with a high albedo and cooling the temperature of the surface as it is exposed. Humidity is increased, as there is less moisture in the atmosphere through the high amount of solar radiation reflected back into space from the brighter surface, identified in Figure 3. This drop of surface temperature enables instability and decreases the ability, the energy, of the lifting force for air to rise, therefore precipitation is less able to form (Otterman, 1974). A self-deprecating mechanism develops; lower moisture, rainfall is decreased), stress on vegetation increases (Zeng, 2003). In contrast, to land covered by vegetation which would be expected to have more cloud cover, as the surface temperatures are warmer, air can rise and water molecules can condense and precipitate. A possible link to the droughts observed in the Sahel over the last century is atmospheric dust. Prospero and Lamb (2003) observed that dust concentrations from the region to Barbados show a negative relationship with the Sahel’s precipitation. Further interaction evidence reports there was reduced dust transportation with the high rainfall period in the 1930s and 50s. The dust in the atmosphere affects drought through its reflection of solar radiation, directly affecting the energy balance of the world, also, indirectly through affecting the formation of clouds, influencing the precipitation, which can lead to variance in the vegetation, setting off the process of exposed soil, higher albedo effect as discussed earlier. This leads back to an increase in dust, therefore another positive feedback, whereby the drought is self-deprecating on itself. For example the drought around the millennium increased the global dust aerosol loading by a third (Zheng, 2003). Fine dust cools, predicted that coarse dust will warm (Kok et al., 2017). Therefore, important if increased loading, caused by winds raising it from the exposed surface, due to e.g. overgrazing (Otterman, 1974). The raking up, causes a diabatic process of cooling the troposphere, increasing the speed of subsidence (Otterman, 1974), increasing the arid like conditions. Important for the global climate, as there is uncertainty of the sensitivity of dust aerosols, and if it is warm or cool, a large modification of the dust supply will alter the climate and carbon cycle, Kok et al. (2017) believe it will result in a warming of the planet. From looking at land use data, Taylor (2002) concluded that anthropogenic disturbance of land use change was not significant enough to cause the drought that has been recorded. However, Wikman and Timberlake (1985) argue human activity is the major cause, not rainfall reduction, illustrating a lack of clarity of understanding the exact responsible factors and their extent of the causation. On the other side, cannot fully say the oceanic forcing is the strongest and only contributing factor. As some rainfall data is missing, therefore when running against models, cannot say for certain (Zeng, 2003). On the other hand, Otterman (1974) concludes that volumes of precipitation in desert regions, such as the Sahel, are reliant on circulation patterns which change with varying anticyclone positions and shifting the ITCZ downwards (Zeng, 2003). Zeng (2003) expresses if the responsibility is mainly anthropogenic, it is disastrous as continued change of the landscape, in part due to the rapid population growth in the region, will further intensify the processes involved. In comparison, a natural oceanic circulation change would hopefully be cyclic and naturally return. However, the natural cannot be controlled, only adapted to, the anthropogenic can be changed or modified into our favour, although it may be too far changed to be able to mitigate the effects or change the course of the road its leading down on. On the other hand, Otterman (1974) states that the land surface, the vegetation, recovers rapidly once the disturbing forces have been removed. It is hard to quantify the significance of land use change and anthropogenic forcing, in comparison to the oceanic reasoning (Zeng, 2003) which can be simulated by GCMs. Making it more difficult to hierarchize and understand the causes. There are many complexities within the causes and uncertainty increases, and doubt in their sureties. Many factors contribute on different scales in space and time. 1. Importance of Vegetation In all the causations discussed, the role of vegetation cannot be undervalued. Any forcing natural or anthropogenic, for example that leads to a decrease in vegetation sets off in motion events that culminant in relentless drought in the Sahel (Figure 2). Zeng (2003) agree and stress the importance of natural vegetation in the formation and progression of drought and arid conditions. 2. Importance of change It is the strength of the change that can dictate the severity of the drought, for example, the strength of the variability in SST, the extent to which the land has been modified by humans. Also, these changes can affect the long term, increasing the severity of later droughts and the effects become fully realized. The uncertainty of the extent to cause an impact on aridity is also prevalent in the idea of ground surface temperature, the importance of the strength of the gradient between areas, to cause a shift, such as uplift of dust, rising air for cloud formation, leading to rainfall etc. 3. Importance of Local variations For example, drought in the Sahel has a cyclic pattern of every 30 years (Charney, 1975), a different pattern to many other regions. In comparison, Nicholson and Palao (1993) say every 20, illustrating uncertainty. 4. Importance of feedbacks Positive feedback is an amplification of a change in response to a forcing (IPCC, 2013). Positive feedbacks may have a strong causation on the drought in the Sahel. The link and interaction between the climatic factors of land and atmosphere result in a positive feedback. Vegetation is reduced by lack of rain, leading to increase in albedo (reflectivity of the surface), reduction in evaporation and moisture in the surrounding air (Zeng, 1999). This means the dryness of the Sahel continues to dry in a cycle as it is triggered by global SST change. It is the uncertainties contribution in feedbacks that are often unappreciated. In our understanding, it is the combination of natural forcing and human pressure that led to the Sahel Drought in the late 20th Century. Brooks (2004) concludes it was propelled by changes in the surface temperature and warming of the oceans that changed the atmosphere circulation. The interaction between the surface and the atmosphere changed through vegetation and dust production. The land-atmosphere feedbacks exacerbate the mechanism, leading to more severe drought with human stress combined through land use change. The contribution of these all, although uncertainties of extent, increased the severity of the drought occurred. infoRemember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. 100% plagiarism-free Sources and citations are provided Find Free Essays We provide you with original essay samples, perfect formatting and styling Cite this Essay Sahel Drought in the late 20th Century. (2018, December 03). GradesFixer. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from “Sahel Drought in the late 20th Century.” GradesFixer, 03 Dec. 2018, Sahel Drought in the late 20th Century. [online]. Available at: <> [Accessed 5 Aug. 2021]. Sahel Drought in the late 20th Century [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2018 Dec 03 [cited 2021 Aug 5]. 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Travel Alternatives for Sustainable Travel Climate change is one of the main environmental concerns that threaten the life of every living thing on Earth. It is not only about our life, one of our parents and friends, or one of our children and grandchildren. It is about everything else on the Earth, from nature, trees, plants, and flowers to the immense diversity of organisms and animals that we have on this planet. More and more people are aware of the impact of their choices on the environment. And the easiest and best solution for reversing climate change is to adopt habits that are Eco-friendlier and more sustainable. Shortly said, it means reducing our carbon footprint. Greenhouse gases are the ones that are warming the atmosphere and trapping the heat here. This is why the climate is changing, global warming is a real fact, and the diversity of life on the planet is continuously declining. Traveling is one of the most engaging activities that people take on. But it is also the one that generates a high quantity of greenhouse gas emissions. So, how to travel sustainably? We present here 9 sustainable travel alternatives. Sustainable Travel Alternatives 1. Minimize or Cut Air Travel cut air travel - sustainable travel alternatives Travel by plane generates one of the highest amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, it is the fastest and most reliable means of transportation. But air travel is responsible for 2.5% of the total amount of emissions Even though fewer people have been traveling by plane, as there are many traveling restrictions in place due to the coronavirus outbreak, air travel is the most preferred way to travel. So, to travel sustainably, avoid or minimize your trips on planes. Related: ‘Manifesto for Fair Fisheries’ promotes sustainable, low impact fishing 2. Stay Longer When you Travel However, sometimes you simply cannot avoid traveling by plane, especially when long distances are involved. For example, if you would want to travel from Europe to the US, you need to cross the ocean. Which would take at least a month by boat. But, to minimize the impact on the environment your trip will have, consider taking longer trips and spending more time at your destination. 3. Choose the Train travel by train Traveling by train is the most sustainable way of traveling. Compared to air travel, traveling by train emits far fewer greenhouse gases, so you protect the environment more. In fact, compared with other means of transportation such as cars, traveling by train seems to be one of the best sustainable travel alternatives. It’s also the Eco-friendliest choice you could make. They emit approximately 70% less carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases that are warming the Earth. They also consume less energy, take up less space, and the noise level is pretty low compared with other means of transportation. 4. Choose an Eco-Friendly Agency There is the case of people who are too busy or simply dislike organizing their trips, so they get the help of a traveling agency. But, as more travelers acknowledge the importance of sustainability, they are looking to apply the principle to their trips too. So, choose a traveling agency that is sustainable and Eco-friendly How do you know a traveling agency is Eco-friendly? It collaborates with the locals and has sustainable travel experiences. Related: Environmentally Conscious Celebrities And Their Eco-Friendly Homes 5. Hitchhike Hitchhiking is one of the most popular ways of traveling in the world. If you do not mind a little bit of freedom (which can be scary sometimes), hitchhiking could prove the way to travel. Even if you hitchhike a car, it contributes to the protection of the Earth. Because somebody who is already using the car as a means of transportation decides to share it with you. So, instead of two cars traveling in the same direction, there’s only one. 6. Lower Meat Consumption When Traveling The food we eat represents an important part of the individual carbon footprint. Meat and the agricultural practices associated with it represents about 15% of the total greenhouse gas emissions, which is a lot. It is therefore important to lower the consumption of meat on your trips too. Avoid eating animal products, as there are sometimes many illegal and unhealthy means of obtaining them. 7. Wildlife, not Entertainers The traveling industry relies heavily on entertainment with wildlife. In every corner of the world you will travel, you will see zoos, aquariums where dolphins perform tricks, sanctuaries where you can take a selfie with a tiger cub, or cities where you can ride the camel. The place of wildlife is in the wild. To perform tricks or not be aggressive while you pet them, they are beaten, starved, and drugged. Avoid being part of this industry which is damaging the environment by choosing experiences that support conservation and humane animal treatment. 8. Consider House Sitting Sometimes, you just want to be in another place, relax, and breathe in the beauty of life. But if you want to travel sustainably, you could consider house sitting. Related: More Women are Needed Within the Green Jobs Sphere There are platforms where people who travel let others stay in their houses to take care of them. This might involve watering the plants or spending time with cats and dogs. 9. Reusable Products resuable products While traveling, it is important to pay attention to the waste your activities generate. Plastic pollution is another problem that is equally important and it affects the health of the environment. So, bring reusable products with you and avoid using single-use plastic. You can have a reusable bottle to refill it and avoid buying bottled water. You can have bamboo cutlery and use it whenever you are offered plastic cutlery. Final Words Sustainable travel is increasingly popular, as more people acknowledge the importance of protecting the Earth. This is the only home we have, so taking care of it the best we can is essential. Traveling is such an inspiring activity because it allows you to discover new places and marvels of nature. However, it is one of the industries that is generating high quantities of greenhouse gases, which are warming the planet. We hope these nine sustainable travel alternatives inspire you to make Eco-friendlier choices. What other ways can people travel more sustainably as the pandemic eases? Please share in the comments section below. 1. working as a remote manager and content marketer for Nerdywriters. He has started out working as a freelance writer for Pro Essay Writing, a company he stumbled across while he was a student. From there, he moved on to Please enter your comment! 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Chat with us, powered by LiveChat GNS June Q-Review: Battle Between Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs Print Friendly, PDF & Email EDITOR NOTE: As soon as Clausewitz wrote in his 19th-century classic military treatise On War that “war is a continuation of politics by other means,” international trade economics soon began to prove itself a continuation of warfare by more “civil” means. It was a matter of outcompeting a rival via production and trade agreements. Once President Nixon took the world off the gold standard in 1971, forcing currencies to float, then currencies and the foreign exchange market started taking form as a “floating battlefield” in which nations can outcompete their rivals by using the value of currencies against a target nation (think Japan versus the US auto industry in the late 1970s and early ‘80s). Now, there are two new competitors: private cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Neither spell a win for the principle of monetary value. Neither gives people an advantage in securing “real” economic stability. But only one spells both a resounding victory and impending doom for central banks, government, and the people who may be forced to use it. Cryptocurrencies have experienced a remarkable rise in numbers and popularity in recent years. At the same time, and especially after the economic shock delivered by the coronavirus, central banks have been planning to issue their own digital currencies. They represent two sides of the same “coin”: while cryptos are usually created and distributed freely, central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, are centrally controlled. We thus may be on the verge of a new sort of “currency war”. In this special issue of our Q-Review series, we analyze the changes the monetary system is likely to face in coming years. In this report, we first summarize the history of money and then move into explaining cryptocurrencies and CBDCs. Then we summarize our analysis and present our forecasts for the world economy and financial markets. In this blog-entry, we briefly summarize our findings. Cryptocurrencies consist of decentralized digital assets that are secure and semi-anonymous i.e., all transactions are recorded in a ledger, although parties’ identities are hidden. Blockchain technology is used to ensure the integrity of the data. Cryptocurrencies are generally not backed by any institution or organization. They have no fundamental or intrinsic value, but may have, by design, a high degree of scarcity. The algorithm creating the cryptocurrency may also try to stabilize the value of the cryptocurrency relative to a fiat currency issued by a central bank and government. These so-called stablecoins include XRP, which acts as an intermediary between currencies of networks, and Tether, which is (supposedly) pegged 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar. Cryptocurrencies may also be backed by assets, like real estate, or commodities, like gold or oil. However, while the technology itself is promising and even “revolutionary”, its application alone does not add a tremendous amount of value. Nobody owns blockchain technology and anyone can make a new cryptocurrency, and many have done just that. Central bank digital currencies Central bank money comprises of physical cash in circulation and central bank reserves, i.e., the deposits of financial institutions at the central bank. A central bank digital currency, or CBDC, would create another layer of central bank money. CBDCs can take two forms. It can be a central bank issued, a retail CBDC) digital currency or a central bank-backed digital currency, or a synthetic CBDC. A CBDC is ‘synthetic’, when it is backed by reserves at the central bank. Another name for this is a wholesale CBDC. A retail CBDC is in question, when it is widely acceptable digital form of fiat money, which can or cannot act as a legal tender. While the CBDC can be seen to help the monetary system in many ways, for example, by increasing the availability of currency in areas with limited access to cash, it also bears massive and close to fatal risks. Firstly, the Issuance of CBDCs would corrupt the banking system, by making the central bank a competitor of those it regulates and guards—commercial banks. Secondly, it would expose the banking system to catastrophic runs and, in the worst case, turn the monetary system into a government-controlled dystopia. The monetary revolution ahead The main problem of many cryptocurrencies is that they do not fulfill the requirements of money. For example, Bitcoin’s “price” is far too volatile to serve as a currency of any nation (see the Figure). It also not backed by any collateral. So-called “managed coins”, on the other hand, raise a question: is the asset-backed cryptocurrency anything more than a medium between assets and commodities? Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs Figure. The price of Bitcoin in U.S. dollars. Source: GnS Economics, Yahoo Finance CBDCs ‘attack’ the banking system from other angle: safety. The issuance of a CBDC would make the central bank a competitor of commercial banks with a deposit services that are essentially fail-proof. During a banking crisis, a run to the CBDC would be practically guaranteed. The future is uncertain, as always, but change is coming. The ‘battle’ between cryptocurrencies and CBDCs seems almost guaranteed. We must fully acknowledge the risks we are facing, and act accordingly. Our economic future, and freedoms, depend on that. We explain this in more detail in our report. Original post from GNS Economics Precious Metals and Currency Data Powered by nFusion Solutions
Understanding Currency Prices Most of the people who are into trading in cryptocurrency markets are doing so for profits. When you trade in the stock market or other forms of investing, you are always concerned about your returns and how your investment will fare. Trading in cryptocurrency does not have the same risks that exist in most forms of investing. There is also less paperwork involved. This is why so many people are investing in cryptocurrency. This means that price fluctuations can be higher, but you do not have to deal with the craziness of wild price fluctuations that happen in other markets. With cryptocurrency, though, the volatility will always be there. There are risks involved in every trade. The most recent example of the risks in trading currency came from the release of Ethereum. This particular currency is to be used on the blockchain network to represent value on the platform. A lot of people bought it at the beginning of June. It traded as high as $400. Prices have now dropped back down. It has dropped down to around $370, which is not a good thing for some investors. Some people in the cryptocurrency trading community think that the price will never come back up. They think that once prices fall, prices will stay down for quite some time. They think that prices will never rise again. This is not necessarily true in the case of most of the currencies that fall. It can take some time before they rise back up to their original prices. The fact that currencies are priced in different ways also affects how people are thinking about these fluctuations. Most people use a base currency as a measure of value. If prices fluctuate around that base currency, then there is a very real chance that prices will drop below that base currency. This means that currencies are not always in equilibrium with one another. As a result, currency prices are not always at the same level. If a currency is worth more than the base currency, then it will also lose value. This also means that when there is a big drop in a currency, the whole market will likely follow suit. So, while you may see a big dip in one currency, it could also end up being followed by a big increase in another currency. This is why currency prices are affected by how volatile they are. If a currency drops below a base currency, prices could fall to an even lower level. You must be aware of this possibility if you want to make money in the markets. Currency trading is based on the fact that prices are affected by what the general public thinks about something. The prices will usually shift in accordance with public opinion.
Snake bite first aid Snake bite first aid Snake bite first aid 1. Lay the victim down and provide reassurance. Do not move the victim unless further danger is present. Firmly apply a broad elastic bandage over the snake bite. 2. With another elasticized bandage such as setopress, start the toe (or hand if bitten on arm) and wrap the bandage up the limb. If the bandage does not cover the entire limb, start with a new bandage at the point the last bandage finished until the limb is covered. If only one bandage is available, start at the toes/fingers and work up the limb covering the bite site as you go. The compression bandage should be firm enough to reduce lymphatic movement but not constrict blood flow. Ensure you leave the tip of the toes/fingers out to monitor circulation. 3. Once the entire limb has been covered, marl the bite site with pen or some dirt from the ground. This is helpful for emergency services personnel. Splint the limb (Including joint) to prevent movement. For bites to the leg, this can be achieved by strapping the legs together using slings or other suitable materials. Bites to the arm can be supported in a sling splinted. Do not remove the bandage once applied. Make victim comfortable and continue to provide reassurance until emergency services arrives. • Do not wash the bite site • Do not apply a tourniquet on the limb • Do not attempt to cut the venom out of the limb • Do not attempt the suck the venom out of the limb Please follow and like us: Leave a Reply
Reboots: RIGHTS and WRONGS of Writing a Reboot What is a Reboot? In the realm of movie-making, a reboot is a reimagining of an existing franchise that rebrands or restarts the established fictional world. The most notable franchises that are known for their reboots and remakes belong to the superhero genre. Cue Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland. Three different versions of the same character created within a fifteen-year period. Audiences often look down upon reboots as unoriginal cash-grabs. While these negative connotations are justified by Hollywood’s constant push for unwanted reboots, it’s important to note that there’s still hope for quality to be upheld in these stories and it all starts with the writing. After all, this phenomenon isn’t going anywhere as each reboot is guaranteed an attached audience and a chance to introduce a new generation of audiences. So let’s take a look at how to tackle a reboot as a screenwriter. Reboots Vs. Remakes Reboots and remakes may seem like synonyms for the same concept. However, their subtle differences are important to note as they often get confused. We know that reboots deal specifically with established franchises. To start (something) anewto refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version Definition of ‘reboot’ from Merriam-Webster dictionary On the other hand, a remake is an updated version of a single film. The film usually stays true to the original plot and characters to be considered a remake. In the last decade or so, Disney has been in the business of remaking all their classics to add modern elements to their stories, including 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and 2019’s Aladdin. Aladdin Remake Writing a Reboot The task of writing a reboot can arguably be more daunting than writing an original idea from scratch. Similar to an adaptation, the screenwriter is working from source material that is already beloved by a dedicated fan base. Specifically, these fan bases have expectations and doubts that the screenwriter must accommodate for. However, too much accommodation may be where a lot of screenwriters go wrong when approaching projects like these. If the story is too similar to the original then the material comes across as repetitive, uninspiring and dull. Ultimately, the best way a writer can approach a reboot is to write as boldly as possible. Understand everything about the franchise that has made it successful and find the best way to transform it for modern audiences. This could be by updating elements such as theme, style, genre, characters or plot. Updates should stay true the source material, but bring a new life to it that explores modern-day realities. To best break down these elements and go into detail, let’s look at some examples of successful reboots. Where Reboots Go Right: The Best Reboots Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a great example of how to go bold with a reboot. The Jumanji franchise started with the 1995 film where two siblings discover a magical board game that unleashes a world of adventure. Twenty-two years later Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle came out, grossing $962.1 million worldwide. The success was a surprise, to say the least. At the time of writing, the movie stands as Sony’s third highest-grossing film worldwide (taking the top spot in North America). So, why exactly was this particular reboot such a success? First, of course, the screenwriting. Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game. In essence, the heartfelt idea about vulnerable teenagers who turn into the opposite embodiments of their insecurities is relatable for any age-group. The concept came from screenwriter Chris McKenna, who spent a lot of his youth using video games as a form of escapism, something that a lot of people will resonate with. Mix that with the nostalgia of the 1995 film, lean into the comedy-adventure and you’ve got yourself a movie for the whole family. Overall, the movie distances itself just enough from the original that it feels like a whole new experience watching it. The association is important but doesn’t feel like a crutch. It might not be an Oscar contender for its screenwriting, but in the formula it employs it makes for great crowd-pleasing entertainment. Batman Begins Batman Begins (2005) Official Trailer #1 - Christopher Nolan Movie In 2005, the first of three in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Trilogy is released. Batman Begins reboots the Batman franchise that had been dormant for eight years prior. As the title suggests, the film tells the origin story of Bruce Wayne and his path to becoming Batman. He faces villains such as Ra’s al Ghul and the Scarecrow. Although the original Batman series started off strong with Tim Burton‘s Batman, by the fourth instalment, Joel Schumacher‘s Batman & Robin, it had all gone downhill. The dark style of Burton took an unexpected turn when Schumacher took over as director. The intention was to make the movies more family-friendly. Unfortunately, it came across more as some kind of corny joke. The negative reaction put the franchise on pause. Again, the franchise does a complete 180 with Batman Begins thanks to the brilliant direction and writing of Nolan. Where the screenplay goes right is in its structure, conflict and dark themes. The conflict in the movie is structured in a way that pushes the story forward. Each act breaks with the resolution of the different conflicts that Bruce Wayne must face. The antagonists, Carmine Falcone, the Scarecrow and Ra’s al Ghul embody these conflicts in the form of moral oppositions. After defeating each antagonist, Bruce is left with the moral compass that fear should only be used in the name of good. Thus, the theme of fear comes full circle. Nolan sets the world of Gotham in reality and explores the darkness inherent in the Batman story. Furthermore, Nolan sought to make contemporary allusions to themes such as terrorism. This clearly resonated as, followed by The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, the trilogy is known as one of the greatest reboots a franchise has ever seen. Rise of the Planet of the Apes Rise of the Planet of the Apes Official Trailer #2 - (2011) The Planet of the Apes franchise started strong but went downhill as the years went on. The 1968 science fiction film was based off the 1963 French novel La Planète des singes. The original film saw great success thanks to its emotional and realistic portrayal of relevant themes such as war, humanity, morality and ethics. Although the next four films continued to explore these themes, they steadily decreased in numbers in both the budget and the box office. Despite the disappointing ending of the series, the franchise wouldn’t remain dead forever. In 2001, Tim Burton directed the Planet of the Apes reboot written by William Broyles Jr. The film fell short of the original, receiving mixed reviews from audiences and critics. The rushed production and last-minute rewrites were to blame for the film’s shortcomings. With a messy plot and lack of emotion that the original portrayed so well, no sequels were made as originally planned. Ten years later Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver developed the concept for Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Inspiration for the idea came from the rapid modern-day advancements in genetics and the controversy surrounding humans owning and raising primates. The story alone made this reboot stand out from the others. Its roots in reality make this origin story the perfect new beginning. The film brings back the emotional aspects of the important themes this franchise explores and even touches on some new ones including identity, depression, family and oppression. These themes tie together in a cohesive exploration of humanity. Although the task of the plot is to establish this world from the beginning, the exposition doesn’t feel overbearing. This is because it starts in a world we already know and builds with a balanced flow of pacing. Where Reboots Go Wrong: The Worst Reboots Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sometimes the studio and creative team will make bold changes, but end up missing the mark. That’s what happened with Michael Bay‘s 2014 reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The film wasn’t a complete flop. All in all, it did alright financially and received a good amount of praise from audiences. However, many viewers and long time fans of the franchise were left disappointed. Much like the successful examples above, TMNT made some bold changes to fit modern times. Unfortunately, the changes made didn’t elevate the story. They were different and new but overall unnecessary. In terms of story, this film comes across as an uninteresting, forgettable exposition dump. The charming humor that the turtles possess is switched out for corny cheap laughs. Instead of pushing the story forward, the characters are put into situations for coincidence only. Besides the changes in story elements, one of the most hated changes were those made to the look of the turtles. What may seem like a small, unimportant change, the CGI monstrous look of the main characters, left a bad taste in the mouths of audiences. The number one thing this movie lacked was heart, something integral to the beloved series it was based on. There was a handmade quality to the original characters that the beefed up CGI versions betrayed. It was an example of a misunderstanding of what audiences want from those characters. Men in Black: International MiB Reboot The production of the reboot Men in Black: International was rooted in creative conflicts and last-minute changes. It’s heavily criticized for its poorly developed characters and nonsensical, uninteresting plot. It lacks the high stakes and emotion that’s supposed to keep the viewer invested. Instead, the story moves forward without meaning or purpose. One thing happens and then another thing happens, all out of coincidence or for the sheer purpose of getting from point A to point B. Rotten Tomatoes, Critics Consensus Given that the original film was everything the reboot failed to be, this spin-off acting as a reboot was disappointing for many and left people wondering why the studio had even bothered. As the RT consensus above highlights, this is the perfect example of a franchise on its last legs, with half-hearted CPR not enough to fully revive it. Fantastic Four Fantastic Four Reboot The motivations and intentions behind making the 2015 Fantastic Four were off from the beginning. The only reason for the creation of this film was so 20th Century Fox could keep the movie rights to an already dead comic book series. It didn’t matter what kind of story they were telling as long as it made money. A money-hungry studio isn’t anything new in Hollywood, but what about the writers and director? Director Josh Trank seemed to cause more problems than solutions. It was clear that the studio and director didn’t have the best relationship where they constantly blamed each other for the mess of the production. As for the writing, Jeremy Slater wrote the first draft that took a lot of elements from the comics and superhero aspects. Later, Simon Kinberg came on for rewrites. The intention was to set the movie more in reality much like Nolan’s Batman movies. Unfortunately, their approach fell flat. Rotten Tomatoes, Critics Consensus Yet again, a reboot failed to take what made the source material so lovable in the first place and instead threw it all out the window. Undeveloped characters, slow pacing, messy plot, low stakes and unwarranted motivation are some of the huge factors of why this movie is a horrible flop. This isn’t the first time a Fantastic Four movie has failed. In fact, every movie in the franchise has received overwhelmingly negative feedback. The question is, will they ever recover? The Future of Reboots With endless amounts of profitable franchises, reboots aren’t slowing down any time soon. Even if certain reboots seemed to kill off certain franchises, there’s no guarantee there won’t be another attempt a few years later. So, how exactly can studios, writers and filmmakers avoid future failures? Knowing how the industry works, it’s inevitable, but there’s still hope for the true creatives whose sole purpose is to tell a compelling story for the ages. To bring back a story that’s already been told for modern audiences you have to have an understanding of what makes the source material so successful and what topical issues or stories could be told today. As a screenwriter, figure out how to combine the two for maximum effectiveness and you might just create a great reboot. Creating a successful reboot requires looking past the cynicism often driving reboots, that is the desire to make easy money. As a creative, you have to search for the success layered between the lines of a well-liked movie or concept. What has given this story/character/theme so much juice over the years? Don’t take success for granted. Instead, interrogate what was truly driving the success of the given franchise in the first place. In Summary What Is a Reboot vs Remake? In the simplest terms, a remake is an updated version of a single film, whereas a reboot is a new version of something, typically a concept or character. A remake will be focused around the same storyline as the film it’s based on, whilst a reboot will typically come up with a (mostly) new storyline. The Keys to a Good Reboot The best reboots tap into what made the original successful and liked. They tend to not be too beholden to what has come before and instead use the original as a launchpad for a new journey. Why Do Reboots Fail? Typically the worst reboots fail to do anything new with an old concept. They perhaps miss the point in terms of what was so good about the original that they’re based on and they don’t do enough to update or renew it. This article was written by Madison Kemeny and edited by IS Staff. Get ALL our FREE Resources Something went wrong. Leave a Comment Get ALL our FREE Resources Something went wrong. Send this to a friend
1. What technique is used for shading in visual arts? There are many different techniques. One is with my finger, I go from dark to light and blend it out. There is also a shading pencil and it is just paper very tightly packed together into a pencil and it works very well on shading and again, I go from light to dark. Shading depends on where your lighting is like in reality, if the sun is in the top left corner, your darkest parts will be on the other side of the paper, so to the right and it should slowly fade as you move towards the left. 2. What is the meaning of aesthetics in visual arts? Aesthetics (or esthetics) is a term derived from the Greek word aisthesis, meaning perception which is the branch of philosophy devoted to the study of art and beauty. 3. What is avant-garde art? Avant-garde art means highly modernistic contemporary art. Derived from the French word meaning "vanguard", the term originally expressed the notion that innovation by progressive artists was beneficial for mainstream art (which evolves more slowly). 4. What is contemporary art? Although there is no universal definition of the term contemporary art, most art historians and critics use it to describe works produced after the mid-to-late 1960s, although some disagreement persists as to the exact cut-off date. 5. When does the modern art begin? There is no exact meaning or definition of the term modern art. Traditionally, it denotes the period between approximately 1860 and the mid-to-late 1960s, during which artists rejected past renaissance-based traditions, in favor of new forms of artistic expression. 6. Explain the difference between lightroom vs photoshop? Lightroom is a photographers program. Photoshop is actually a program for illustrators, graphic artists and photo retouchers. Lightroom has all the tools and features a photographer needs. 7. Tell me if you know about static electricity in visual arts? Lighting and sparks produced by piezoelectric effect (like those used in butane lighters and some gas stove-tops). Really for this kind of information, you could have used your favorite search engine to find many sites that discuss this phenomenon. 8. Do you know what is the technical name for the first sketches of an animation? Concept art or character sketches as well as first drafts. I have also heard the term charting (but i don't think this is common use). 9. How to be a creative and skill photographer? Creativity and skill are two distinct characteristics. One may be quite skilled at using a camera and lighting. Yet the product might be uninspiring. Creativity involves producing a photo in such a way that nobody has quite done. These days, it can also involve fine art post production manipulations. A skill can generally be taught to any competent individual. Creativity is at least partly inborn. 10. What do you do? Suppose if you are doing an oil painting and decide to start over? A much cheaper alternative to canvas is plywood. Just get any old piece of plywood from a timber yard. Size it with wall paper glue and away you go. Do not worry about the brown color, that will go once you paint over it. Plywood/Board/Hardboard has several advantages over canvas. Download Interview PDF
Vapor Cigarette Battery – THE FACTS? vapor cigarette Vapor Cigarette Battery – THE FACTS? An electronic cigarette is basically an electric device that replicates the true tobacco smoking experience. It usually consists of a glass jar like container, an atomizer for burning the supposed tobacco, and an electrical source like a battery or USB. Rather than tobacco, the smoker inhales vapor instead. Like all vapes, using an electronic cigarette is also frequently described as “vaping”. There are other brands of vapor cigarettes however. Many public places prohibit using electric cigarettes. They argue that non-smokers are at risk from carbon monoxide smoke as a result of these e Cigs. Proponents of e-cigs counter this by asserting that no other harmful substances are present in vapor cigarettes and that only a small amount of nicotine is present. This is despite the fact that regular tobacco cigarettes actually contain over 1000 times more nicotine than what’s contained in an e cigarette device. The answer to the question above isn’t simple. Some manufacturers declare that their products produce less smoke while others declare that it produces more smoke. So, what is the real difference? In short, the number of smoke produced is not equal. Although some vapor cigarettes are powered by vegetable glycerin, some use a variant of vegetable oil. It’s been shown that the quantity of vegetable oil present in these products is insignificant when compared to the amount of nicotine present. The only method to really assess whether a cigarette producing device produces smoke or not is to take a close look at its operational mechanism. For instance, an authentic V2C product will have an obvious glass body and a metal clip or metal ring at its base that allows the user to replace its paper filter with a new one. While most devices do permit the user to simply insert a paper filter in to the device and replace it, there are some that require the user to perform a series of tasks so podsmall.com that you can replace the filter and add a new one. The end result is you need to perform at least two or three functions so as to extend the device’s life. Another interest is the actual heat source within an electronic cigarette. Nearly all devices are powered by way of a standard heating element that generates a beam of heat through electronic circuitry. Some heat sources are in fact more efficient than others plus some create a higher heat at a lower output level. So before you purchase a product, find out those produce the most heat for the device. Additionally, there are devices that employ technology which allows it to utilize the sun’s energy, thus increasing the device’s battery life and decreasing the number of electricity it uses. Other ingredients within an electronic cigarette include artificial sweeteners, food colorings, flavorings, and dyes. Propylene glycol, used in most products, is used as an antacid, but it addittionally produces harmful toxins when it enters the air. The only ingredient that’s considered beneficial is nicotine, that is the addictive substance within all products. When you use a device with nicotine, you get a sensation in your brain that causes you to want a cigarette. Another popular term in electronic cigarette devices is e-juice, which stands for electronic liquid. This abbreviated term refers to the concentrated nicotine liquid that comes out of the end of these devices if you are finished smoking. However, many people prefer to make reference to it because the “juice” because this terminology can be commonly used for fruit drinks, candy, along with other similar items. The terminology is also frequently used when discussing various pharmaceutical products, including cough syrups. Finally, there is another important term that’s commonly confused with the vapor puff-a nicotine patch. The nicotine patch, that is a small little sticky patch that you place on your skin, is what helps you take in the nicotine from these devices. Once you puff on the patch, the nicotine is absorbed into the body through the patch, much like the traditional cigarette. The vapor cigarette battery isn’t a nicotine patch; it is a vaporizer, which is why it really is called vaporizer instead of nicotine patch.
What if you could make a mind-blowing mind-bending game? The mind games are simple but the games they are based on are more complex and often require a bit more work than just flipping the pages of a book. If you want to create mind games for your students, you will need to have some knowledge of math, science, and computer science. If you want a mind games that are more of a creative exercise, you can try some of the mind games available on the web. These mind games will be challenging and fun, but you can also use them to create your own mind games. You can make a brain teasers or puzzle games. What is a mind game? A mind game is a game that involves using different mental images to create a mental image that will help you to complete a task. Mind games can also be played on a computer. You might use a trick to create some brain teases that help you remember your previous answers. You could try to create games that involve the development of a vocabulary to help you figure out what you have to do next. How can I make mind games? Mind games are often very difficult and require some practice. For example, if you make a game for a class, it is probably a good idea to make a quiz that will test your ability to complete the task. It is also a good practice to make games that use the computer to help make the game even more challenging. You will need a lot of patience, but once you get started you will be able to produce mind games much more easily than if you just played a game on a screen. For a few extra ideas, you might want to start with a game about how to make your own minds. The game you made for the class will give you some clues that will make it easier to complete your task. The Mind Games Puzzle Game Mind games require some mental images and mental images that will allow you to solve a mental problem. If your students are using a mobile device, the best way to create these games is to create them on their phone. There are apps for smartphones that you can use to play these games. If these games are using computers, the games you create will need more help from you to work. A few ideas to help your students create mindgames Here are some mind games to try that can be played using your smartphone or tablet: A mind game where you have two or more pictures and a question. An image that shows the shape of the object in question. A question that requires you to identify a symbol in the picture and answer a question in the answer. Some mind games using an image that tells you how many times you can do it. Another mind game with a series of numbers. Mind games that require you to answer the question in a certain order. The mind games you can create on your phone or tablet can also work well on a website. You may be able get some help from your teacher to help guide you through the process of creating the mind game. You can also start to use a few of the software programs available for smartphones to help create mind game games. They will be free and there is no cost for them. Creating a Mind Games for Students and Teachers The Mind games you make can be fun for your children. There is a reason why some people say that they wish they had a mind control program on their computer. There are some games that you may want to try for your own students, teachers, and even parents. Here is a list of some of our favorites: Mind Maze Mind Games Mind-Maze is a fun way to play with your students. It is a very simple game and it is easy to learn. You are given two choices. If there are two cards that are similar in color, you may choose to draw one of them. If the cards have the same color, the card is drawn. If one of the cards has a symbol on it, you must use it to identify it. You have the choice of moving the two cards around the board until you identify the card. You play the cards in a round by round manner. When you make the first card, you have no idea what to expect. If this card is a color card, it may look like this: When the second card is played, the players start to try to identify what the symbol on the first is. This can be tricky and confusing. Try not to get caught up in the complexity of the game and make the cards more intuitive to the kids. Brain Teaser Brain teaser is a great way to teach your students about mental processes. You use a picture to describe a thought that you have just had. Then, you give a question that they must answer to get the answer to the question. If they answer incorrectly, you get the word “no”. How to play a mind game I’m not exactly sure what the point of this game is, but it’s definitely not the “I’m not sure if this will help me solve this problem, but I have a good idea” kind of mind game. I think that the game is intended to give you some insight into your personality, and I’m going to try to explain the game in this post. I’ve also included a screenshot from the game. You’ll notice that I’ve made the game about my mind game problem. I’ll get to the problem in a bit. The first problem to be solved is the “mind game”. You have a mental game to solve. You may remember a mental puzzle called “mind games” from the 80s, where you had to figure out the right combinations of words to correctly describe the situation, or the wrong word to describe it. It was supposed to be simple, and you’d just say what you thought the right words would be. This problem has never been solved, and it seems to be the only problem in the entire game. I’ll start with the obvious question: Why would I play a game about a mindgame problem? Here’s the thing: the brain has two halves: the right hemisphere, which controls the functions of the left hemisphere, and the left side, which doesn’t. When the right side is engaged, we’re able to focus on the right part of the brain, which is the left. The left side can’t be engaged. But there’s another side of the mind. In this side of your brain, you’re trying to figure things out, but you’re also trying to remember what’s been said. The left side of our brain is where we think of our ideas, which are ideas we have about the world around us. And we also use that right side to think about the wrong things. We can use the left brain to think of the right ideas, and we can use it to remember them, but we’re not actually thinking about them, and that makes the left half of the body go crazy, because the right half of our brains are the ones that are active and controlling the right parts of the brains. So what we need is a game that will let us take that brain-to-body connection, and let the right brain be the left part of our body. That means that there’s a problem. There’s a brain-body problem, and there’s an idea-to–action problem. And the brain-side-of-brain-body-to. Problem solved. There’s an even bigger problem: the mental game. In this game, the problem is to solve the problem you’ve just solved. That is, you need to think out of the way. The solution is usually very obvious, and usually the right answer. Now, the game can be played on any level of complexity. It could be a level of abstraction, like a simple puzzle game. But in general, if you’ve got a level or two left in the game, you’ll be better off going to the left and the right. Problem solved. The game is very simple, so let’s move on to the second problem: what to do with the brain. Here are two images of the game screen, with each image containing a mental picture of a problem that you’ve solved. One is a brain picture of what you just solved, in a black background. Another is a mental image of a person who you know you have to talk to, in green. These images are the two parts of a mind picture, and they’re not really the same thing. They’re different parts of different brains. The brain part of a mental brain image is a sort of representation of what’s going on inside the brain when you solve a problem, while the mental part of an image is how you are thinking about what’s happening in the brain at the moment. A brain picture is a representation of your thoughts and memories. An image is just a representation. This mental picture is not a representation, but is just like a brain image. When you solve your mental problem, you are making an image of the problem, which you’re just going to keep until you solve it, so that you can keep seeing it in your mind. The mental image is your brain. So what you need is to find the image that’s in your brain when your brain is thinking about the problem. It might be an image that you see on your computer screen, or you might be able to think in your head. You don’t need to see the image, just use the mental image to solve your problem. Problem Solved. If you’re not satisfied with the mental picture, you can try again with the same mental image. Problem Resolved. Sometimes the mental pictures of the problems Sponsored By
Kate Holt’s photograph in a digital frame at the Sightsavers BLINK! Exhibition at the Oxo Gallery in London (Kate Holt/ Arete/ Sightsavers) Perhaps the most poignant way to raise awareness about a medical condition such as trachoma is by providing people with an experience that illustrates its debilitating effects. During its time at the Oxo Gallery in London, BLINK: The End is in Sight exhibition set out to do just this. Many of us won’t give a second thought to blinking; we do it mindlessly around 20 times per minute. For people with trachoma, every blink of the eye can cause excruciating pain. Trachoma is a painful eye condition where the eyelid starts to turn inwards; the eyelashes scrape painfully across the eyeball. The disease is infectious and can spread easily in areas that lack proper sanitation and clean water. It is a debilitating disease that worsens over time, trapping people in a cycle of poverty and dependence on others for their care. Trachoma was illustrated during the Sightsavers BLINK! exhibition through the display of five very special photographs, each in a clever digital frame. Five top photographers, including Arete photojournalist Kate Holt, were asked to provide a photograph of the last thing they would want to see before they lost their sight. The exhibition was designed by Jason Bruges Studios. Each time someone looked at the photo and blinked, the image would gradually decay, representing how someone suffering from trachoma would see the world as their eyesight deteriorated. Exhibitions are a powerful medium. My thoughts on ‘BLINK! The End is in Sight’ by Kate Holt Photojournalist Kate Holt standing beside her photograph of the Mau Forest in Kenya (Kate Holt/ Arete/ Sightsavers) “Innovative exhibitions such as BLINK! can change the way we look at the world and promote education and understanding. I was fascinated by the concept of the exhibition and also the technology behind it. The Mau Forest, Kenya, in the very early morning. (Kate Holt/ Arete/ Sightsavers) I chose the image of the Mau Forest in Kenya because it is one I love. It was taken very early in the morning as the sun was just rising and the mist was starting to burn away. Early mornings in Kenya are always special — the day still holds so much hope. When I saw it disappearing in front of my eyes though I felt sad thinking of the people who know they are going blind and what it must be like realising that, very soon, they won’t be able to see or experience that joy and hope of an early morning again. I have elderly parents with eye problems — this makes it even more poignant. Exhibitions are a powerful medium for educating people and creating awareness amongst new audiences. It was amazing to see the story of this condition told in a new and imaginative way, bringing the concept of trachoma to life so effectively. The Oxo Tower has thousands of people walking past it every day who may not be aware that a disease like Trachoma even exists or what its impact is. The more engaging an exhibition, the more people are drawn to understand the subject further and see how they can help. Blindness as a condition is terrifying to most people and this exhibition illustrated that creatively and effectively. The exhibition received overwhelming support and reviews and I was very proud to be invited to be part of it”. A visitor of the Sightsavers BLINK! exhibition looks at a photograph of a woman lying in a meadow of wildflowers (Tommy Trenchard/ Arete/ Sightsavers) Sightsavers, through ‘The End is in Sight’ campaign, aim to bring life-changing treatments to some of the most vulnerable communities across Africa. In 2019 they beat trachoma in Ghana and have now set their sights on eliminating the disease everywhere else by 2025. A straightforward surgery costing just £44 can reverse the disease and bring back eyesight for late-stage sufferers. Those with the beginning stages of the disease can take antibiotics costing just 15p per treatment. Up until January 9th 2020, the UK government will match all donations up to £2 million, to find out more or how you could make a difference please visit the Sightsavers website or their Medium page. Are you an NGO, charity, agency, or corporation with your own story to tell? Here is how to get in contact.
Weaving is a process in which thread is organized into cloth. Woven material holds itself together, yet can rapidly be unraveled. Expansion on how the loom can function is central to how objects are made. For instance, throwing the shuttle of yarn past the edges of the cloth can create tassels on the selvedge of the fabric. When the cloth is taken off the loom these tassels mask the orientation of how the cloth was created. This ultimately misdirects how we judge it. Sculptures that are made on the loom mean what they mean because of the specific ways in which they are made. Themes involving human connectivity, overarching structures, and feminine queerness are illustrated by concise deviations in the act of weaving. All behaviors and preconceptions can be mined to discover how we were groomed to understand and value the environment that we are a part of. Philosophical frames and domestic learning culminate in sculptural work. Materials and joints have context that we all understand uniquely and in unison. I understand cardboard to be packaging, recyclable, and corrugated. Cardboard can be joined with pearls creating an individual and specific joint. Everyone who views this joint will come to similar yet different conclusions due to prior grooming, but collectively we would have similar knowledge of what cardboard is.
Get our free mobile app With the weather warming up, spring right around the corner, that means birds are on their way back to Minnesota from their southern winter homes. This includes beautiful ruby-throated hummingbirds! They've started migrating and making their way back to Minnesota for the summer. Based on this distribution/range map, hummingbirds spend their winters in southern Mexico and other parts of Central America. Others spend their winters in southern Florida. But this is around the time of year that hummingbirds begin their migration! According to, northern Florida usually sees hummingbirds starting the beginning of March, so right now. Then they slowly work their way up the US. Most ruby-throated hummingbirds stay in southern Mexico/Central America in the winter so the typical migration pattern takes them through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and up to the Dakotas. The estimated time of year that hummingbirds will show up in our backyard is around May 1st, so we still have about 2 months. However, if you like to feed hummingbirds, suggests putting out the hummingbird feeders about 2 weeks before their expected arrival just in case they show up early. I love watching hummingbirds. Seeing their little wings work so hard and yet they're totally silent! It's so cool. Hummingbirds migrating also make it official that spring is coming so that's very exciting. While we're on the topic of animals and the weather, have you ever wondered if animals are capable of predicting the weather? Below is a list of 10 Minnesota animals that can (allegedly) predict the weather! KEEP READING: 10 Animals in Minnesota That Can Predict the Weather
With the pandemic, many people who used to work in an office or other communal working space are now working from their homes. This can present a host of problems: does the person live alone; is the person married and living with his or her spouse; does the spouse also work; do they have any children, especially young ones who demand a lot of attention; is the house, condo, or apartment big enough to accommodate two home offices, two desks, two computers, two printers, and double the usual office equipment and supplies? And suppose a married couple have different working hours? For instance, the husband’s working hours begin at 6:00 a.m., while the wife doesn’t start until 9:00 a.m. Can the wife sleep in while the husband gets up three hours earlier? Worse yet, imagine that the husband works the night shift and the wife works the day shift. One would assume that the husband would be taking care of the children during the night and the wife would be checking on them during the day. But that would be a misconception. During the nighttime, the husband’s primary duty is to his employer. If the children need attending to, unless it’s an emergency, it is the wife’s primary duty to look after the children while her husband is working. Conversely, it is the husband’s primary duty to attend to the children while his wife is working. Delegate Household Responsibilities It is not easy to see how the household chores will be divided when both spouses are working. Who will be in charge of the meals, not only cooking them but doing the shopping, preparing the meals, and cleaning up afterwards? Who will be in charge of keeping the house neat and clean? Whose responsibility will it be to take the son to soccer practice or the daughter to gymnastics? Who will be in charge of doing the laundry? Or putting gas in the car? If a married couple with children both work and because of COVID-19 can no longer work in the office but must work remotely in the home, they should sit down together and write down who will be responsible for what. That way if a conflict arises they can refer back to the written agreement and see what they had decided. Of course, not every situation that arises will be included in the agreement and it will then be up to the couple to calmly and rationally come to a decision as to whom should do it. If it is something that comes up repeatedly, then the couple can mutually agree to take turns doing the task. Have Activities On Hand Dividing up the household chores when both spouses are working, especially when there are young children involved, will test even the strongest marriage. Because of the pandemic order to stay home as much as possible, even the closest families are bound to get sick and tired of each other on occasion and have their squabbles. Before the pandemic, families could defuse any growing tension by going to the movies, going out to dinner or to get an ice cream cone, going for a walk in the park and use the playground, going for a drive to see the pretty lights, children could go to school, or a hundred different activities. But with the pandemic restrictions, the choices are limited: the family can play board games like Monopoly, watch television, watch movies on Netflix, read books, play word games like Scrabble, and such. It doesn’t take much to see that staying home day after day after week after month can be, in a word, BORING! But the alternative is going out in public and risk catching COVID-19, even while taking precautions such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing of at least six feet, washing your hands frequently with sanitizer, and staying away from people who have symptoms of COVID-19. Safety First So while staying at home and working at home has its challenges, the alternative – going out in public and risking catching COVID-19 – is simply too great to risk. Over 500,000 people in the United States alone have died from COVID-19 and while the number of cases and deaths seems to be going down, and vaccines have been developed to hopefully stop the spread of the disease, new strains of the disease are being found. The best thing we can do is to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and wear masks, practice social distancing, wash our hands often with sanitizer, and continue to work at home regardless of how trying that may be. Related posts 0 comment(s)
Water Concerns with Warehouse Food Storage Due to the soaring temperatures experienced by Dubai and the UAE during the long summer months, and their large desert terrain, the ability to produce and grow vast amounts of food is virtually impossible. An estimated 85% of Dubai’s food resources are imported from around the world every year and so, when these are received, they need to be properly stored. To ensure that produce remains safe and undamaged various issues have to be considered, in particular the water supply throughout the warehouse, a vital natural resource but which can have expensive damaging effects if not properly controlled. Food storage warehouses need to have the ability to chill produce as not all imports are dry foods. It is vital, therefore, that fresh and frozen food is kept at the correct storage temperature. Many warehouses have temperature-controlled chambers that can be set to different levels to allow for the storage of different products. In order to chill these chambers, water will be pumped through refrigeration pipelines from a main cooling system, thereby maintaining the appropriate temperature. If you were to experience a leak in these chiller chambers then problems could occur. There could be a build-up of damp and mould, which is a health and safety hazard, floors could become slippery posing a risk to staff members of sustaining injury and, importantly, water leaking onto produce could ruin the supplies. Pipework could be installed across ceilings, leaking down onto supplies or the pipelines leading to these chambers could be installed underground, with any leaking water being unidentifiable. Monitoring the floors both in and out of the chiller chambers for wet concrete or damp flooring could indicate an underground issue. Many warehouses have different storage areas so they can safely store not only chilled and frozen produce, but also dry produce, such as tinned food, cereals and other non-perishable goods. These are usually stored in cardboard boxes, or similar, and are stacked from the floor up through shelving. If water were to leak either across the floor from leaking pipework or there was damage to the roof that could allow rain water to leak in, the produce again is at risk of being damaged or ruined. Finally, due to the temperatures in Dubai and the risk of fires in warehouses being of concern, warehouses will have fire lines installed to enable a swift response to any fire emergencies. It is important to ensure that theses lines are in full working order so that when needed they are at maximum capacity. Any leaks either in the lines themselves or the pipework supplying the hoses could result in low pressure water being pumped out, which would be less effective if there was a fire and prompt action was required. With the reliance on food imports, the healthy, safe and appropriate storage of this produce is a vital consideration for Dubai businesses and the expense of wasted ruined supplies would be financially damaging. Given the complexities of a warehouse set up, as far as the water supplies and systems are concerned, which revolve around all of the elements set out above, it can be difficult to identify any leaking water or pinpoint exactly where any water is leaking from. If you are concerned that you may have a leak in your system it is vital to rectify the problem straight away to avoid the financial burden of ruined food supplies. This is where LeakDtech can assist. Passionate about conserving water and assisting residents and businesses in keeping their property as safe as possible, they can utilise state of the art, advanced technology which can scan any area of your warehouse and immediately identify the presence of any leaking water. This will allow for a swift remedial repair, without the cost of invasive inspections, both saving you money and protecting the two vital supplies needed for survival – food and water. Please feel free to contact our experienced and dedicated team to discuss your concerns. Contact Us For More Information # LeakDtech #waterleaks ammonia leaks, cold store leak, food storage leakage, refrigeration gas leaks, waterleaks Share This
Accessibility links Breaking News Duke Ellington: His Life Story, Part Two Duke Ellington played piano, but his real instrument was the orchestra RICHARD RAEL: I'm Richard Rael. RAY FREEMAN: And I'm Ray Freeman with the VOA Special English program PEOPLE IN AMERICA. Every week we tell about a person who was important in the history of the United States. Today, we finish our report about the great jazz musician Duke Ellington. RICHARD RAEL: That song is "Take the 'A' Train." It is like a musical sign that says, "You are listening to Duke Ellington and his orchestra." Music fans around the world know the song is linked closely to Duke Ellington. Yet they may not know that he did not write it. "Take the 'A' Train" was written by a close friend and orchestra member, Billy Strayhorn. Billy and Duke had a very close working relationship for almost thirty years. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell which man had written a new song for the orchestra. Members of the group often argued about who had written it . . . Duke or Billy Strayhorn. "Take the 'A' Train," written by Billy Strayhorn, was Duke Ellington's most famous song RAY FREEMAN: Duke Ellington always wrote music. Music experts say he may have written as many as two thousand different songs. He wrote music wherever he went. He wrote late at night. He wrote on the train or bus or airplane when the orchestra traveled. Friends say he wrote music even in eating places while he waited for his food. Listen to this Ellington song, played by Russell Procope. Procope played the clarinet in the Ellington orchestra for many years. In this song, Procope was able to play his part a different way each time. Ellington let individual players create their own parts. This means it is almost impossible today to reproduce the sound of Duke Ellington's orchestra. The song is called, "Four-Thirty Blues." RICHARD RAEL: Duke Ellington tried many new and different ways to play music. For example, he put different instruments together in groups that no one had tried before. He also was the first song writer to use a human voice as an instrument. He wrote music for a singer but no words. The song is called "Creole Love Call." The singer here is Adelaide Hall. RAY FREEMAN: Duke Ellington was one of the most popular musicians in the twentieth century. Yet, music experts and critics say he was much more important as a song writer and orchestra leader than as a piano player. Billy Strayhorn once said, "Duke plays piano. But his real instrument is the orchestra." The orchestra was Duke Ellington's first love. In later years, when large orchestras were not popular, Duke often paid his musicians with his own money to keep the group together. To him, the orchestra was everything. RICHARD RAEL: Duke Ellington always was looking for ways to make his orchestra sound better. Like many song writers, he often took old songs, changed them, and made them new again. Last week, we played a song called "Concerto for Cootie." In later years, a singer named Al Hibbler joined the Ellington orchestra. Duke added words to the song. Then he changed its name to "Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me." Both songs were major hits for the orchestra. Listen as Al Hibbler sings, "Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me." RAY FREEMAN: Duke Ellington and his orchestra played around the world before millions of people. More than eight hundred musicians played with the Ellington orchestra at one time or another. After doctors told Duke that he had lung cancer, he continued to perform. One of his last concerts was at Westminster Abbey in London. His orchestra performed religious music. Duke Ellington was honored by people around the world. Former president Richard Nixon give him the presidential medal of freedom -- America's highest civilian honor. Leaders from around the world wrote him letters to thank him for his music. Duke Ellington died on May twenty-fourth, nineteen seventy-four. RICHARD RAEL: If you really want to know the real Duke Ellington, you must listen to his music. The music he left the world is truly a great gift. We leave you with Duke Ellington and his orchestra playing like they always did. This recording was made in a room full of people dancing to his music. The place is McElroy's ballroom in the city of Portland, Oregon. It is near the end of the evening. You can hear the crowd in the big room. The people have been dancing and do not want to stop. Duke Ellington, sitting at the piano, starts another song. It is his signal to the orchestra. Once again, the Duke Ellington orchestra begins to play "Things Ain't What They Used to Be." RAY FREEMAN: This Special English program was written, produced and directed by Paul Thompson. I'm Ray Freeman. RICHARD RAEL: And I'm Richard Rael. Join us again next week at this time for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program on the Voice of America.
When Should I Use Dipped Headlights? Headlights are one of the most critical safety features of any car. So you must know when you need to use them. It’s not always just a case of switching on the lights when it’s dark. Different laws are surrounding not just light levels but also other atmospheric conditions. You need to know when to use dipped headlights and when high beams are more suitable. While the law varies depending on your location, dipped headlights should generally be used from sunset until sunrise, when it’s raining, or when any other condition restricts your vision to less than 500 feet. In this article, I’m going to explain to you: • Exactly what dipped headlights are • When you should use your dipped headlights • When you need to switch to a high beam • Whether dipped lights can be used as DRL What Does Dipped Headlight Mean? headlights emitting light on the road Dipped headlights are just the proper term for your standard headlights, the ones that you’ll use most of the time on your car. In some parts of the world they’re called low beam headlights. The reason they’re called dipped lights is because of the angle of the bulb. They might look like they’re pointing straight ahead, but the light is actually directed down towards the road. The light is dipped so that it doesn’t blind or dazzle oncoming drivers. Dipped headlights are also angled slightly to the left or right, depending on where you buy the car. If it’s a country that drives on the right, the lights will be angled to the right – again to avoid shining into the eyes of an oncoming driver to your left. Few European cars let you switch from right-hand to left-hand driving mode, ideal for anyone driving across the continent and to the UK where it switches. Some cars will use the same lightbulb for both dipped and full beam/high beam headlights – the bulbs themselves will have two different filaments, pointed and mirrored in different directions. Other cars use separate bulbs. Always make sure you buy bulbs suitable for your make and model. When Should You Turn Dipped Headlights On? cars on the road at night So when should you turn on your dipped headlights? The law varies slightly depending on where you are, but broadly speaking, there are often three main times to use your headlights. The first is, unsurprisingly, at night. Various US states differ on the wording for what they class as night – some, like New York or Georgia, dictate that headlights have to be in use when driving 30 minutes after sunset, until 30 minutes before sunrise. Others, like Florida or Kansas, simplify this to say they must be used from sunset to sunrise. Illinois’s wording is slightly different, opting for “dusk until dawn” – dusk meaning that period after sunset where twilight exists, and dawn before sunrise when the sky is starting to light up. Beyond the darkness, rainfall is the second primary reason you should use your dipped headlights. Again, the wording of the law is different depending on which state you’re in. Some states don’t specifically mention rain. Others will specifically refer to rain, while others will also note snow and ice. Many states will make it simple by stating that whenever you’re using windshield wipers, you need to have your headlights on too. Finally, suppose there’s any other weather condition or situation which means that your visibility is reduced. In that case, you’ll need to make sure your headlights are on. The visible distance varies by state, with some like Alabama and Hawaii settling on 500 feet. In comparison, others like Nevada or Oklahoma make that figure 1000 feet. The basic rule is, if there’s anything stopping you from seeing the road ahead of you clearly – a lack of light, precipitation or some other weather condition – switch those headlights on. When Should You Switch From Dipped To Full Beam Light? dipped vs full-beam headlights If visibility is what matters, then doesn’t it make sense to use your full beam headlights as much as possible? No, because, unlike dipped headlights, full beam lights aren’t angled in a way to protect other road users. Your main beam headlights are designed to be used on stretches of road where there are no street lamps, making it difficult to see ahead. And you cannot use them when approaching traffic gets close to you. The laws on this are a little more consistent across US states than dipped headlight rules. Generally, when oncoming traffic is within 500 feet, you must switch off your full beam headlights until the road is clear. You also can’t use full beam lights when you’re within 300-350 yards of another car on your side of the road, as they could be blinded in their rearview mirror. Some states, such as Texas, also ban high beam headlights during adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog. That’s because the weather can reflect the light, shining into the path of any other car or cyclist and causing those road users to struggle even more. If you find yourself in fog and need extra visibility, you should be using the fog lights on your car if it has them. These are front and rear lights that emit a wider beam of light shaped like a bar. They’re designed to stop reflecting off the fog and aren’t intended to improve your visibility as a driver, but instead to make your car more visible to other drivers. Can You Use Dipped Lights As DRL? led headlights in rain Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are designed to make your car more visible during the day. Therefore they need to appear bright; otherwise, they won’t make a difference in the ambient sunlight. They tend to be between 200 and 800 lumens, while dipped headlights are typically 1300 lumens for Halogen or 3000 for HID, since they’re angled down. So you can use dipped headlights as DRL, but they might not be as effective due to the direction of the light. Many countries worldwide require headlights to be on at all times since laws changed in 2014, particularly around mainland Europe, with DRL being adopted as a replacement. DRL bulbs use less energy than dipped headlights, so it’s more efficient to use dedicated DRL if your car has them installed. One thing to be absolutely clear on – you might be able to use dipped headlights as DRL, but the reverse doesn’t apply – you can’t use DRL as a sufficient replacement for your dipped headlights. Because DRL isn’t connected to your tail lights. If you don’t have your dipped lamps switched on, the back of your vehicle won’t be illuminated in any way, which is both illegal and extremely dangerous, especially at night. So, don’t assume that DRL replaces headlights completely. Final Words You must know when to use your dipped beam headlights and when it’s more appropriate to switch to full beam. Driving at night or in poor weather is always more dangerous. Using your car lights properly, mainly when driving somewhere without street lighting, is vital to your safety. Do you feel confident about when you need to use full beam headlights and when dipped is more suitable? Also, do you know the laws on hazard lights or when to use your front or rear fog lights? Is it clear or confusing? Let me know in the comments. 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Late Fees for Rent in California: How Much Can Landlords Charge? Unpaid rent ••• Richard Villalonundefined undefined/iStock/GettyImages Related Articles With a hearty list of tenant protections on the books, California state laws make a whole lot of real estate functions perfectly clear. The state imposes limits on security deposit amounts and when they need to be paid back; affords tenants rights such as withholding rent or deducting DIY repair amounts from rent payments; and clearly defines legal eviction procedures. It's perhaps surprising, then, that state laws do not actually offer explicit rules for late rent fees or set hard limits on how much landlords can charge. Even more surprisingly, there is actually some debate about whether or not late rent fees are legal in California at all. Late Fee for Rent: Leases In California, it's widely perceived that the tenant's obligation to pay late fees hinges on the lease agreement the tenant signed — the same rental agreement that determines the tenant's monthly rent and when and where that rent is due. In the lease, it's common for the landlord or property management company to detail the consequences of paying the rent after the due date, including late fees and possible eviction. It's commonly interpreted that if the tenant agrees to the late fees by signing the lease, the landlord may charge the specific late fees detailed. This street goes both ways, though (or, for Californians, this four-lane traffic jam goes both ways very slowly). If the rental agreement does not mention late fees, the landlord cannot legally impose late fees on the tenant. The legality of late fees in California is often misconstrued. Many tenants would rather pay small late fees requested by the landlord, whether they're technically legal or not, than to take a case to small claims court in order to determine legality. Late Fee for Rent: Legality While state laws in California don't dig into late rent fees in the same way they do security deposits and eviction rights, the state's Civil Code offers some rules for general late fees in the form of legislation regarding liquidated damages, a term that refers to an estimate of (usually) monetary losses that are otherwise difficult to define. For decades, landlords and realtors' associations have used the legal concept of liquidated damages to justify collecting late fees. Liquidated damages often go hand-in-hand with late fees as they are intended to approximate the amount of actual damages, which are uncertain at the time of the contract. Ideally, this prevents payees from fixing unreasonably large liquidated damages, per the Uniform Commercial Code, a uniformly adopted state law. If late fees are to be treated as liquidated damages, the legal guidelines can be found in California Civil Code Section 1671, the Validity of Liquidated Damages. Civil Code Section 1671(d) determines that California allows late fees as liquidated damages under two circumstances: If it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to calculate actual damages or when the late party and the payee agree upon the amount of the late fee. The latter, of course, often happens upon a tenant and landlord signing a lease agreement. Late Fee Charges and Limits While it's a commonly held belief that California imposes a percentage limit on late rent fee charges, that's actually not the case. Many lease agreements impose a fee of 5 percent to 6 percent of the total rent for late payments, but this prevalent range is simply a creation of the California Association of Realtors, which provides the standard lease forms used by many landlords. It is not a product of the California legislature, which has not put any sort of standardized late rent fees or late rent fee limits on the books, at least as of 2020. If taken to a court of law, though, it may be up to the landlord to prove that the late fee amount imposed upon their tenant was determined via "a reasonable endeavor to estimate a fair, average compensation for any loss that may be sustained," as ruled in the 1973 California Supreme Court case, Garrett v. Coast & Southern Federal Savings and Loan Association. If the landlord cannot prove these losses, he may have to return the fees to the tenant. The amount paid back, however, may be reduced by the actual costs suffered by the landlord caused by the late rent payment. Related to late fees, California law does specifically allow property owners to charge tenants fees for bounced checks, which do often lead to the assessment of late payments. Throughout the state, these charges are limited to $25 for the first bounce and $35 for each additional bounced check. The Late Fee Debate In 2004, the California Appellate Court case of Orozco v. Casimiro set an important precedent, furthering debate about the state's already fairly cloudy stance on late rent fees. Importantly, the case determined that late fees under a residential lease agreement are considered liquidated damages, as many assumed. Interestingly, the court also determined that those liquidated damages would be void unless under extraordinary circumstances that, as in this case, make the damages extremely hard or impractical to fix. The financial damages incurred by the late payment of rent, the court determined in Orozco, are not extremely difficult to fix. As southern California corporate lawyer Bennett Yankowitz of Single Oak Ventures, LLC, writes on his site, "In fact, the actual damages are very easy to fix: they are simply interest on the amount of the overdue rent for the period of time that the rent was in fact overdue." And, at California Tenant Law, Ken Carlson of the Carlson Law Office agrees, stating that "it can never be impracticable nor extremely difficult to assess the landlord's losses, and his late fee will always be illegal and void." Carlson notes that California Civil Code Section 3002 makes the method for assessing liquidated damages clear with this clause: "The detriment caused by the breach of an obligation to pay money only, is deemed to be the amount due by the terms of the obligation, with interest thereon." In California, the legal interest rate is capped at 10 percent per year for nonexempt lenders. For someone renting a $1,500 studio, that 10-percent interest amounts to something like 41 cents per day, a drastically smaller figure than a standardized $50 late fee of 5 percent of the rent amount. In fact, a 5 percent late fee would be the equivalent of about 180 percent yearly interest on a rent payment that's 10 days late. Why Then Are Late Fees Commonplace? Ultimately, lawyers like Yankowitz and Carlson argue that late rent fees have few legal grounds in California. In fact, Carlson goes so far as to say that even "your signing the [lease] agreement does not waive your rights to not pay them, get them back if you did, or sue the landlord for trying to get them." Following Orozco v. Casimiro, the 2018 case of Del Monte Properties and Investment, Inc. v. Dolan, Humboldt County Superior Appellate Court, backs this notion up, at least in part. While some landlords attempt to circumvent the law by using lease agreement language that indicates they've arrived at fair, average compensation for their losses, this California court writes that courts "look beyond the language of the contract to determine the actual circumstances of the liquidated damages clause. An agreement to an invalid liquidated damages clause does not insulate it from attack under Civil Code Section 1671." It's possible that the collection of late rent fees continues on as if normal largely because it takes legal intervention for tenants to avoid paying them or to recoup them. That legal intervention is not a route most tenants elect to take, especially in a housing market as tight as California's. Consequences for Nonpayment Despite the ongoing legal debate, that's not to say that paying late rent doesn't have any on-the-books consequences for California renters. It absolutely can, should the landlord decide to act. The Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which deals mostly with providing rent caps and eviction control statewide, does note in Civil Code Section 1946.2 that owners can rightfully terminate tenancy with just cause to do so. In this case, just cause may include tenant behavior, such as a repeated history of late rent payments. However, California attorney Frank Wei-Hong Chen chimes in via Avvo in 2018 to note that "if you do not have a lease or rental agreement which provides for late fees, the landlord [or property manager] cannot evict you for failing to pay a late fee." In just about the worst-case scenario for tenants, paying rent late can lead to eviction. Once again, the rental agreement sets the agreed-upon date that the tenant must pay their monthly rent. In California, the landlord may be able to evict the tenant if rent is not paid on time. However, landlords in the state must give tenants no less than three days' notice, in which they can pay the rent or quit the premises, according to California's Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161. If the rent goes unpaid, the landlord has the right to file for eviction.
Skip to main content Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper Planning for and Giving a Group Presentation Students working on group projects are often asked to give an oral presentation summarizing the results of their research. Professors assign group presentations because they combine the cooperative learning benefits of working in groups with the active learning benefits of speaking in front of an audience. However, similar to participating in a group project, giving a group presentation requires making decisions together, negotiating shared responsibilities, and collaborating on developing a set of solutions to a research problem. Below are issues to consider when planning and while giving a group presentation. Before the Presentation When to Begin Planning the logistics around giving a presentation should take place as the group project progresses and, most critically, coalesce immediately after results of your study are known and clear recommendations can be made. Keep in mind that completing the basic tasks of giving a presentation [e.g., designating a moderator, designing the slide templates, working on the introduction, etc.] can save you time and allow your group to focus just before giving the presentation on how to effectively highlight the most important aspects of the research study. Sharing the Responsibility Everyone in the group should have an equal role in preparing the presentation and covering a similar amount of information during the presentation. However, a moderator should be elected to lead the presentation. The group should then determine what each member will speak about. This can be based on either the member's interests or what they worked on during the group project. This means that each member should be responsible for developing an outline of what they will talk about and drafting the content of their section of the slides or other forms of visual aids. NOTE: If, for whatever reason, a group member is particularly anxious about speaking in front of an audience or perhaps they are uncomfortable because English is not their first language, consider giving them a role that can be easily articulated, such as, introducing the purpose of the study and its importance. Everyone must participate in speaking, but be cognizant of the need to support that person by discussing what would work best for them while still being an active contributor to the presentation. Organizing the Content The content of the presentation should parallel the organization of the research study. In general, it should include a brief introduction, a description of the study, along with its purpose and significance, a review of prior research and its relevance to your group's project, an analysis of the results, with an emphasis on significance findings or recommended courses of action, and a brief statement about any limitations and how the group managed them. The conclusion of the presentation should briefly summarize the study's key findings and implications and, if time has been allotted, ask for questions from the audience. The conclusion can also be used to highlight areas of study the require further investigation. Note that the group's time should be spent primarily discussing the results of the study and their implications in furthering knowledge about the research problem. Developing the Content The narrative around each section must flow together smoothly to ensure that the audience remains engaged. An initial meeting to discuss each section of the presentation should include the following: 1) deciding on the sequence of speakers and which group member presents on which section; 2) determining who will oversee the use of any technology [and who steps up when it's that person's turn to speak]; 3) determining how much time should be allocated for each section in relation to the overall time limit; 4) discussing the use and content of slides or other visual aids; and, 5) developing a general outline of the presentation. Once everyone's roles and responsibilities have been negotiated, the group should establish a schedule of deadlines for when the work should to be completed. Creating Transitions Building the narrative of an oral presentation means more than imparting information; it also requires the group to work together developing moments of transition from one section to the next. Transitional statements ensures coordination among members about what is to be covered and helps your audience follow along and remain engaged. The transition from one section to the next should include both verbal cues [e.g., a recap what you just discussed and an introduction of the next speaker] and non-verbal gestures [e.g., stepping away from the podium or front of class to make room for the next speaker]. An example of this transition could be something like this: Speaker 1: " to summarize, the literature suggested that allegations of election fraud often created the conditions for massive street protests in democratized societies. Next Mike will discuss how we analyzed recent events in Mexico and determined why this assumption may not apply under certain conditions." Speaker 2: "Thank you, Jordan. Next slide. In our study, we coded and analyzed the content of twitter accounts to explore the rise of dissension among...." NOTE: Each member of the group should learn the entire presentation and not just their section. This ensures that members can help out if the speaker becomes nervous and loses track of what to say or if they forget something. If each member knows the entire presentation, then there is always someone who can step up and support the speaker by maintaining the narrative and not losing the audience's attention. Practicing the Presentation The most critical thing to do before giving a group presentation is to practice as a group. Rehearse what will be said and how it will be said so you know that the overall structure works, that the time is allotted correctly, and that any changes can be made, if needed. Also, rehearsing the presentation should include practicing use of the technology and choreographing where people will stand. An effective strategy is to rehearse the entire presentation at least twice. Practice with each member taking turns speaking in front of the other members pretending that they are the audience. This way the group members can take turns offering suggestions about improving the presentation and the speaker gets more comfortable speaking in front of people. Practice a second time presenting as a group. This way, everyone can rehearse where to stand and coordinate transitions. If possible, practice in the room where your presentation will take place; standing in the front of a classroom feels very different from sitting there as a student. During the Presentation Before the Presentations Begin If groups are presenting from a shared computer, ask your professor if you could pre-load your slides or other visual aids before the class begins. This will ensure that you're not taking time away from your presentation downloading and setting everything up. In addition, if there is a problem, it can be resolved beforehand rather than it being a distraction when you start the presentation. Begin by having the moderator introduce the group by giving each member's name and a brief description of what they will be presenting on. And, yes, this seems like a pointless formality because it's likely that everyone knows everyone else. However, this is expected because it reflects giving oral presentations in most professional and work settings. In addition, your group has a limited amount of time to present and introducing everyone before the presentation begins saves more time than having each individual introduce themselves before they speak. When Not Speaking Assuming your group has practiced at least twice [and preferably more], you have heard and seen the entire presentation multiple times. Keep in mind, however, that your audience has not and they can observe everyone in the group. Be engaged. Do not look bored or distracted while others are speaking. Pay attention to each other by watching what the presenter is doing. Respond positively to the presenter and use nonverbal cues [e.g., nodding your head] as a way to help emphasize keys points of the presentation; audiences notice when those not speaking react to something the speaker is saying. Coordinate Moving from One Speaker to the Next The person presenting should take a position in the foreground of where you are delivering the information. Group members not speaking should step back and take a spot behind or off to the side of the speaker. When the person speaking is done, the next person steps forward. This pre-planned choreography may seem trivial, but it emphasizes to your audience who the next speaker will be and demonstrates a smooth, coordinated delivery throughout the presentation. Visual Aids Plan ahead how to use slides or other visual aids. The person currently presenting should not be distracted by having to constantly move to the next slide, backup and show an earlier slide, or exit a slide to show a video or external web page. Coordinate who in the group is responsible for taking the cue to change slides or otherwise manipulate the technology. When it's time for that person to speak, have a plan in place for passing this responsibility to someone else in the group. Fumbling around with who does what when, distracts the audience. Note however that the role of moving from one slide to the next does not count as being a presenter! The presentation should conclude with the moderator stepping forward and thanking the audience and asking if there are any questions. If a question relates to a specific part of the presentation, the group member who spoke during that part should answer the question; it should not be the moderator's responsibility to answer for everyone. If another group follows your presentation from a shared computer, be courteous and close out all of your slides or other visual aids before stepping away. Aguilera, Anna, Jesse Schreier, and Cassandra Saitow. "Using Iterative Group Presentations in an Introductory Biology Course to Enhance Student Engagement and Critical Thinking." The American Biology Teacher 79 (August 2017): 450-454; Barnard, Sam. "Guide for Giving a Group Presentation." VirtualSpeech Ltd., 2019; Eisen, Arri. "Small-Group Presentations: Teaching Science Thinking and Context in a Large Biology Class." BioScience 48 (January 1998): 53-58; Group Presentations. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Kågesten, Owe, and Johann Engelbrecht. "Student Group Presentations: A Learning Instrument in Undergraduate Mathematics for Engineering Students." European Journal of Engineering Education 32 (2007): 303-314; Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking. [Chapter 19]. 12th edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015; McArthur, John A. “10 Tips for Improving Group Presentations.” [blog]. Department of Communication Studies, Furman University, November 1, 2011; Melosevic, Sara. “Simple Group Presentation Tips for Maximum Teamwork Magic.” PresentBetter, November 13, 2018; St. John, Ron. Group Project Guidelines. Department of Speech, University of Hawai'i Maui Community College, January 16, 2002.
Show Mobile Navigation Humans \| 10 Fascinating Cases Of Historical Incest From Around The World by Alexa MacDermot fact checked by Jamie Frater Incest, or sexual relationships between biologically close family members, is an idea that may make your skin crawl. But it has often been practiced around the world throughout history. Royals often married close family members to keep their bloodline pure and to protect the throne politically and economically. Cultural attitudes toward incestuous relationships vary more than one might imagine; while one group may warn of supernatural repercussions to the act, another may see spiritual virtue and deem such relationships a form of worship. The variety of examples from around the world may surprise you. 10 Ancient Africa In the long-gone empire of Monomotapa in Zimbabwe, one king had over 300 wives. His “main wives” were close relatives, often sisters or even daughters, and only their children could one day inherit the throne. These special children could only become royal heirs because of their exclusively royal bloodline, having not been made impure by nonroyal unions. Only the king could partake in this exclusive kind of incest—nonroyal noblemen would have faced death if they tried it themselves.[1] Royal incest also occurred in the Fon kingdom of Dahomey (located in present-day Benin), where the king could mate with whichever woman took his fancy: single or married, foreign or native, free or slave. Even women from his own family were allowable, including cousins but not full sisters. 9 Ancient Egypt Photo credit: Nefermaat In pharaonic Egypt, it was believed that the dowry of the royal heiress would include the throne. Not only that, but they believed that the bloodline would be strengthened by a brother-sister union. While we cannot easily genetically test the offspring of these unions today, we do know that quite a few 18th-dynasty pharaohs married their sisters or half-siblings, and Ramses II in the 19th dynasty certainly did. Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV) received some attention when he married his sister, Nefertiti, and it was claimed their parents were also close relatives. From his appearance in artwork from the period, experts have speculated he may have had genetic conditions and abnormalities. This was later confirmed following genomic analysis on DNA samples from Tutankhamun, his son. His abnormalities may have been from mutations resulting from the commonplace marrying between brothers and sisters in the royal bloodline.[2] 8 Roman Egypt In Roman Egypt, those outside of the royal family were engaged in brother-sister marriages. In contrast, the Romans were against incestuous unions, and the marriages outlined in records were of people marrying outside the Egyptian ruling classes at the time of the Romans. Incestuous marriages occurred across the economic and social divides. The most astonishing example recorded was between twins, a union which was said to have produced an heir. These unions, although in great number, were concentrated in the Greek settler community, which may account for the limited number of possible partners.[3] 7 Zoroastrian Iran Zoroastrianism was the religion in Iran until the invasion of the Muslims, and the incestuous marriages of the time were tied to the religious beliefs that marriage was favored by the gods, and the act was similar to worship. Mother-son, brother-sister, and father-daughter unions were outlined in the Pahlavi texts (sixth to ninth century AD) as having a special religious integrity. Incestuous unions were one of the ways Zoroastrians believed one could enter heaven as well as expunge the sins of the soul. There is little to no evidence left of Zoroastrian people actually having incestuous relationships in this way, but there are plenty of references to how it was seen from a religious perspective.[4] 6 Europe From the 15th to the 19th centuries, European royalty often married between cousins. We see this happening with the Spanish Habsburgs, the Prussian Hohenzollerns, the French Bourbons, the Russian Romanovs, and the British royal families. Some experts believe that the decline in families like the Spanish Habsburgs was due to inbreeding, as mental as well as physical problems began to cause family members to deteriorate.[5] 5 Madagascar Photo credit: Paul Atkinson In more recent history, anthropologists have examined the Malagasy people and their relationship with incest definitions. They found the Malagasy have different views on what constitutes incest; in some pockets of Madagascar, first cousins can be man and wife, but in other regions, that is strictly taboo. If the line is crossed into incest, either intentionally or unintentionally, they believe terrible things will happen as a result. Their crops might fail, canoes at sea will overturn, their children may die, women may become infertile, and birth defects like horns or humps may follow. These consequences may happen whether the couple realize they are related or not and may not affect the husband and wife themselves but their village or community. The seriousness of the disaster befalling the community will let them know how much atonement must be done.[6] 4 The Incas Photo credit: Brooklyn Museum The Incas thought they were direct descendants of the gods. Believing their ancestors were celestial bodies, royal families mirrored the stories of the Sun, who married his sister, the Moon. When the Inca king Topa Inca Yupanqui married his sister, he was attempting to join both the father and mother’s claim to the throne in the heir they would produce, and all the inheritance that would include, into one union. If a royal marriage was childless, the king was then expected to marry his second, then third sister until an heir was produced. If there were no sisters to choose from, he could select a first cousin to procure a reasonably pure bloodline. Royal incest ceased when the Spanish conquered the Inca people.[7] 3 Polynesia Photo credit: Louis Choris For royal brothers and sisters to produce an heir was considered to be very fortunate, and the offspring was thought to have extra mana, or power and prestige. No other claims to the throne would be considered if a strong union like this took place, and primogeniture was strictly enforced even if the firstborn was female. The 19th-century Hawaiian writer David Malo describes the power hierarchy of Hawaiian royalty as interconnected with how related the parents of the new heir to the throne were. To keep the lineage as high-ranking as possible, suitable partners for a chief were his own sister or (if a sister was not available) a half-sister or niece. This kind of union was called a “loop, a thing bent on itself” and was so sacred that the offspring would be called divine. This way, the child was fit to become the next chief, without competition and powerful beyond question.[8] 2 Thailand Thai royal men had many wives and were much more inbred than their subjects, with large harems of women from different social classes, including those of their own kin. In 1907, the reigning king, Paramindr Maha Chulalongkorn (aka Rama V), had two queens who were his half-sisters in order to procure an heir with the highest political status possible. Incest was not expressly forbidden to those outside the royal family as it was in other cultures. King Paramindr’s father had 84 children by 35 wives in his lifetime. Marriages were made for the royal family by “kingmakers” who were not close relatives, and unions between uncles and nieces and between half-siblings were common in order to maximize the political royal lineage for the next generation.[9] 1 Tibet People in Tibet do not discuss incest lightly, and some say it does not exist in their land at all. However, if and when it occurs, there is a special pilgrimage that may be done to purify the sins of the couple. Nal (“incest”) is a word found in rituals texts and exists today with the same meaning it has for the rest of the world. One Tibetologist, Katia Buffetrille, recalls an account from 1989 in which a couple in a Tibetan village was found to have committed incest. They were beaten by the villagers and sent to the sacred place of Chorten Nyima, a mountain on the eastern ridge in the Himalayas, bordering India and Tibet. After they bathed in the sacred lake and spring, they obtained a sealed certificate of compliance to the ritual in the monastery and were then able to prove to the villagers they were now purified. Afterward, they returned to their families and previous social positions. Incidentally, in Tibetan culture, had the man been of superior status, his mother would have gone to Chorten Nyima with him, and the woman would have gone with her father. One Sherpa told Buffetrille that on the journey to the sacred mountain, the couple rode on a bullock accompanied by a man on horseback but had to walk back to the village after the ritual. No stigma was attached to the couple after the sealed certificate was presented on their return.[10] Alexa MacDermot is a psychology, sociology, and anthropology researcher living in Ireland. Read more about the controversial practice of incest on 10 Incendiary Facts About Incest and 10 Royal Families Riddled With Incest. fact checked by Jamie Frater
How a refugee-run factory is helping the Netherlands meet its need for face masks Author: Michal van der Toorn Why be dependent on factories on the other side of the world if you can produce face masks locally? That’s exactly what Dutch entrepreneurs Jaap Stelwagen, Fleur Bakker, Johan Blom, and Naz Kawan thought in March. The Netherlands, like many other countries at the time, was dealing with a big deficit of surgical face masks. Stelwagen, who lived in China, together with his wife who is originally from China, called several people there to ask whether it would be possible to get material. Bakker’s sister, a KLM pilot, managed to get hold of a roll of melt-blown fabric that you need to make face masks, and brought it to the Netherlands on a plane full of other health equipment. Later that month, on one of the few flights that were running at the time, two face mask machines flew 7,000 kilometers to Amsterdam. But who would operate them? Learn more
Skip to main content Venture philanthropy’s impact on rare illness, and the slow growth in health care spending, this week on ‘Sound Medicine’ Does new drug signify cystic fibrosis breakthrough? A drug recently approved by the FDA in January treats the underlying cause of a rare form of cystic fibrosis, a debilitating genetic disease that patients typically succumb to by their early 30s. This revolutionary breakthrough could not have been possible without a venture philanthropy partnership between a nonprofit foundation and a for-profit pharmaceutical company. Independent producer Katrina Roi reports in a special field piece on this significant advancement. What is behind the slow growth in health care spending? The amount of health care spending has grown by a slower rate than expected, less than 4 percent a year in 2009 and 2010, yet this still comprises a large percentage of the GDP. Health care policy specialist Aaron Carroll, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine, discusses how the recession and other factors, such as hospital-implemented measures, have affected health care expenditures but overall the underlying cause of this halt of growth is unknown. Do unnecessary medical tests violate the “Do No Harm” oath? Large physician groups have recently collaborated on a common cause: reducing the amount of unnecessary and expensive medical tests performed. These powerful and knowledgeable groups have released a set of recommendations that identify overused medical tests. “Sound Medicine” host David Crabb, M.D., discusses his support for these recommendations and his belief that ordering an array of tests is contrary to the physician’s “Do No Harm” oath if the tests add no value to the treatment or care plan. How can you avoid deep vein thrombosis during air travel? According to new guidelines, people with a risk factor for blood clotting are advised to wear compression stockings on long flights to avoid deep vein thrombosis. The condition, which mainly affects the large veins in the legs, can be fatal if the clot travels to the lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism. Gordon Guyatt, M.D., of McMaster University visits “Sound Medicine” this week to discuss these new guidelines and the background of air travel and its effects on the circulatory system. What is the solution to fixing our “broken” health care system? According to author Otis Webb Brawley, M.D., today’s health care system is burdened by rich people who consume too much health care and poor people who do not receive preventive care. Tune in to hear Dr. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, discuss his book “How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America” and his belief in evidence-based medicine as the cure for our ailing system.
Minstrel Banjo For enthusiasts of early banjo What in the hell is Machine Poetry? I've studied it a fair amount, and I still don't have a concise definition. There are two musical examples of it in the Rice tutor, one by young Frank B. Converse, on page 38, the other by veteran Dan Emmit, on page 48, entitled "Oh, Ladies All." Joe Ayers recorded that one and a few of us play it, I believe. The Converse example doesn't really make sense to me. The eighth and ninth measures, you just s'posed to sing one note, or maybe it fades into spoken word, like a rap or something? I can't figure it out. The best definition I can give of machine poetry is that it's rhyme without reason, theme or motif, just nonsense. Some examples from Google books: Kind of a definition: I get the feeling that everyone knew what machine poetry was -- seems to have served as an analogy for all sorts of things, as here: Views: 384 Reply to This Replies to This Discussion Sorta what I just said.... With a little elaboration... I'd like to see that cover...can't find it anywhere. I'm not sure how a performance of these was long ago, but I am enjoying playing it now. I like the accompaniment set out in Rice....Ayers version very good. It is a sample of adapting a line to a voice....shifting an octave and changing an interval for preference. FF many years....Jon Anderson and Yes. Let's keep to period documentation shall we. One Drop of Blood is a 2001 book quoting a 1962 book that does not cite a definition of "machine poetry." As a matter of fact, Nathan goes on to presume what he might think "machine poet" could mean. He thinks it "might mean 'poet and genius of the age.'" But we cannot blame him, he did not have a machine with which he could search countless books with a few key strokes from his house (and in his pajamas like me). My look into this was brief, but nothing lead me to believe that it was a complement, when it was used quite opposite in period writings. Let's keep to period documentation shall we. Why? There isn't that much. Let's look at as much as possible. Just look at the ideas of banjo history in the 1960s. The wonderfully incorrect Scruggs' book comes to mind. Nathan wrote that he did not really know what it meant- thus he may be more wrong than right. We have more at hand than he did. From the time, not about it, that is the way to go. I used to sit down and write up all the mistakes I could find in a book about an era... then I just stopped reading them. Most of what I would find was misinterpreting the era. Not knowing what something was and making a conclusion based on modern influences. And if you need more I know of a great book on the history of the toilet. Reading through these many period examples and references I get a sense that machine poetry was just 'comically bad poetry.' And what Emmett and Converse did with it was a kind of specialized version of machine poetry-- with the blackface element not usually found in written prose. They represent an "ignorant darkey" whose attempts to rival Byron and Shelley are bound to end up badly. ('Course, this is just my opinion--I may be completely (or partially) off base here). Come to think of it, we don't really have that many examples of minstrel machine poetry, do we? The two Rice examples, and a couple of written examples of Emmett's work, is about it (That I know of). Maybe this was just an 'Emmett' thing? Just one more example of garden-variety machine poetry... this one a good Civil War example about the Battle of Stones River, which was a close-run Union victory. I think this may be the point. But I rather like History ob de World. Who knew that Noah's Arc landed on the Allegany Mountains? I hope somebody finds that sheet music cover...I'd love to see it. More banjo machine peotry to add to what little we have. Reply to Discussion John Masciale created this Ning Network. © 2021 Created by John Masciale. Powered by Badges \| Report an Issue \| Terms of Service
Why is there a lack of mental health services in America?? For the past 4 years I have come to ask my self this question. Why is there a lack of mental health services in America? I have worked in the mental health field for almost 10 years. I have done many things to improve the quality of care at the health system where I work. One thing I notice from working here for so long is the amount of people who are very ill, some who are not safe enough to be in the community, some who are afraid of them selves, and some who wants to end their own life. Many of these feelings and behaviors come from a dark place in humanity. Things that have happened to us at a point of time in our lives may have contributed to the way we are today. For some these things are good, and for others they are not. Mental Health is a big part of humanity, things we put in our bodies can be effecting the way we behave, how we see ourselves and how we view reality. Environmental conditions can also effect the way we behave and how we think. People who live a struggled life may be more protective of things they worked hard for. People who lived a good life where things were handed to them, may still be subjected to mental issues but in a different way. Everything we do can effect our mental health. If you think about it, everyone is sick in their own way, we all have little quirks, small little issues that we don’t see as a big problem. Some people have issues with big crowds of people, some people don’t like to be alone at night outside or alone at home at night. Some people do things to avoid interacting with other people. All these things fit inline with anxiety and depression. It’s when we don’t do anything to counteract the symptoms is when the illness gets worse. You find that you have completely changed how you live your life. People wait years before they seek services to help them, some go as far as taking anti depression or anti anxiety medications that were prescribed by their primary health care provider. Yeah the medications may work for a while but then they find there is a deeper issue rising, and they don’t know what it is. Soon they find out that they are not behaving normally, maybe their friends and family are noticing something is off. These things go on for years before the person gets help, and when they start seeking it they find that there is a lack of help in their demographical area. There is a small percentage of real mental health help in America, most people travel to the east coast because there are more hospitals and facilities that can treat both medical and mental health issues on that side of the country. Some of these facilities find themselves overwhelmed with individuals needing help and not being able to accommodate them. This becomes a problem, and not many people get the help they need because of overcrowded facilities, or insurance problems. Why is this? Why has America been ignoring this problem?
Version Control Practices for Managing Database Changes for Liquibase In the last few posts on the managing database changes, we discussed how it is useful and what are the various benefits available. One of the core philosophies of the Database as a Source Code involves treating code for Database changes as source code. This is not limited to using a version control system like Git / Subversion / Mercury etc. but it also expands to other areas like designing the proper directory structure, making it scale ready for future changes, minimizing merge conflicts etc. In this blog post, we are going to discuss some of the practices used for organizing database changes when using Liquibase. Choosing the Version Control System Git has become the default version control system for most of the Organization these days. However, this does not mean that you should discard your previous knowledge of other version control systems like Subversion, Perforce etc. Determine with your colleagues what knowledge is already available with your team and what you can improve on or build on and then start using the same. There is lot of information available on internet for every major version control system. Also not to forget that most of the CI/CD tools supports all major version control systems. So that should not be an issue as well. Segregating Changesets into Separate files With the passage of time during the application lifecycle, more and more changesets will be added to the changelog file. When all developers are writing changesets in one single file, that file can become unmanageable very quickly. It can take longer and longer to load it an editor, understand and edit it, and subsequent handling. Using a single file would also increase possibility of generating conflicts while merging changes. Moreover, every time Liquibase runs the changelog, it has to work on every changeset from the beginning, something that will take longer and longer. Fortunately, just like code refactoring, Liquibase changelogs can be refactored into hierarchical fashion. That means we can have a single parent changelog file which can include pointers to a number of child changelog files, which in turn can point to more changelog files and so on. Again, a changelog file can include any number of changeset files. All of this is done using the include attribute available. You can refer the official documentation here for include attribute. Determine directory structure for files Another similiar question is on how to arrange the changelogs and changesets in the file system. This is a question often asked and often interpreted in lots of ways by different developers teams. In my personal opinion, the best method is to create a separate directory for each database release and name the directory based on the release. Determine a naming strategy for the directory and rigorously follow that. The relationship between the directories is determined using the refactoring method describe above. The parent directory contains the parent changelog file. This changelog file includes references to other changelog files in release specific directories. The changelog files in these sub-directories will include references to changelog files for issue specific or feature specific directories. Another common strategy is to divide the changes using the DB Object and the operation in nature. For example, parent changelog file will point to changelog files present in two sub-directories named ddl and dml. The changelog files present in the sub-directories will further include references to changelog files present in sub-directories like tables, stored procedures, etc. or issue, features, etc. Either way, discuss and determine what best works for you and follow that strategy. Liquibase does not care much about the directory structure as long as references mentioned are in correct order. Designing Strategy for minimum conflicts If your team is doing development in Git, developers will create branches for handling changes and issues and after that, they are merged into the main release branch (release specific or master). There might be movement of selected commits into the release branch as well. If your team is doing development in Subversion, you will be creating branches and tags for handling changes and issues. At time of release, you will merge your changes into the trunk or any specific release branch/tag and release from there. Either way, there are chances that you will likely face the conflicts when you are merging changes and most of them would be related to the changelog files and rarely it would be about the files containing the changesets. Do note that we have mentioned files here, not the database’s changes itself since we do not need to. All the changes are contained in the files and if you apply the files in a proper order, you’ll be able to recreate the change itself. Whether the change mentioned in the changeset has been applied or not, can be easily identified from the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If you are getting multiple conflicts related to the files containing the changesets, identify a naming strategy for the files in reference so that you can be able to generate unique file names. One of the common strategy is to name your changeset files after the backlog item number or issue number that has been created for tracking the issue or the feature. If two developers are working on same database objects but they are handling different issues, then there changeset files would be different since they have been assigned different backlog items. You would also need to consider the way you are generating the value for the id and the author name. Since there is nothing much can be done about the author names, you can use some strategy to generate unique id for each change. This may be again dependent on the backlog item or feature in some way or may be related to datetime of change or any strategy that would provide highly unique id’s. Also do remember to minimize the changeset contained in the file. The best practice is to always contain a single change in the changeset and one changeset in one file. Segregate Changes using Contexts Most of the time, you would have multiple environments like dev, qa, staging, production, etc. You can designate if your change is meant only for specific environment or not and restrict it to that environment only while deploying using Liquibase. You can refer this blog post for more details. Use Pre-Conditions to Check Database State Use of pre-conditions would determine if database is in a particular state or not and then run the change. For example, if your changeset contains creating a stored procedure, it would help to know if it already exists or not. Again, before dropping a table, it would help to know if the table contains records or not. Use of pre-conditions wisely, minimizes the errors and also determining the alternative actions. Use of pre-conditions is describe in this blog post. How Liquibase handles changes? Always remember how Liquibase works: each changeSet has an id, an author, and a file path which together uniquely identifies it. If the DATABASECHANGELOG table has an entry for that changeSet it will not run it, by default. If it has an entry, it throws an error if the checksum for the changeset in the file doesn’t match what was stored on the last run, again by default. To alter this default behavior, there are couple of additional attributes like runAlways='true", which will cause to always run the changeset irrespective of whether it has run previously or not. Similarly, there is another attribute runOnChange="true", which will apply the change only if file contents has been changed. If its not changed and the checksum matches, it will move on further. Summary and Notes Most of the time, it should not matter if the changelog file includes the pointers to other changeset. You should be able to include your changesets and let Liquibase determine if it needs to apply all changesets mentioned or select few. There will always be edge cases and you may see issues after merging and deploying changes. In such a case, your developers need to sit together and decide what needs to be kept and what needs to be discarded. Future conflicts can be avoided by proper planning and collaboration and learning from the mistakes made. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Google photo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
Super Hacks For Super Meals: How To Eat More Healthy Eating healthy is one of the best decisions you can ever make but, at the same time, the hardest for most folks. Shunning the food behavior that you have been accustomed to is no walk in the park. Many people are on the hook for fast food, which adds no value to the human body apart from unwanted fats. Processed foods have made life easy-yes, but costing your health. You see, the body has its mechanism of food processing too. The only difference is it processes the food, deducing all the vital nutrients that make up our immune system, body growth, etc., while factories process the food for better appeal and make more sales. Eating factory food then does no significant value addition to our bodies regardless of the PR it preaches. What Are the Benefits of Healthy Eating? When you talk of healthy eating, people assume that you are talking about dieting. Dieting is about accomplishing a certain goal like weight loss, so you consume foods inclined to get you there. Healthy eating is partaking food in a balance that accords your body with the needed nutrients to perform effectively. These include vegetables, fruits, grain, and protein. Eating an unadulterated balanced diet is one of the noblest services you can do to yourself. It comes packed with tons of merits, which help your physical and mental health: • Aids in losing weight • Boosts your brain health • Low risk of having heart diseases • Developing strong bones and teeth • Improves your mood • Better gut health Avoiding lifestyle diseases is easy. You, however, need to choose between being pro-healthy food. This will help minimize your takeout and fast snack behaviors that ruin your body. A good way is to stick to a lifestyle that fits your health needs. Tips To Help You Adopt A Healthy Eating Habit To fully reap the health benefits of eating right, you have to revisit your dieting options and food preparation procedures. Be selective in that you consume what makes your body grow. 1. Ditch the Mindset Around Healthy Eating If you are among the people who see eating greens and a glass of milk for breakfast as pure bogus, then you are surrounding yourself on a high roller coaster of unfounded beliefs. A healthy morning meal of fruits and veggies awakes the body and gives you the energy that lasts all day long. Today, healthy foods are more available since people have come to realize the benefits of healthy eating. But many people are not fans of solid food, especially when they are tired or busy. According to, having a smoothie after workout sessions or a busy day boosts the body’s response as it gives it the nutrients and amount of minerals to adjust your body needs. Having food with the correct mindset transforms your approach towards healthy food and sees you adopt a more healthy and beneficial eating habit. 2. Use Fewer Oils One of the root causes of heart diseases is cholesterol, which is found in many oils today. Minimizing your intake of oily foods gives your liver and kidneys an easier time, thereby longevity. 3. Try New Recipes Try your hand in preparing different dishes, and experiment with various seasonings. Your food grows better in taste, meaning that your appetite will always be in check. There are tons of healthy recipe options out there and inexpensive ones at that. 4. Eat Seasoned Food Eating what is currently in season ensures that you eat unprocessed whole foods fresh from the farm. This means that you are at the tail end of contracting diseases. At the same time, your taste buds get to enjoy the tastiest foods available-not to mention the saving on costs of the products. 5. Have an Eating Buddy This may sound crazy, but it works. You probably have seen people train with other gym partners, or maybe you have one too. An eating buddy will help you keep check that you don’t transition back to unhealthy food. Your buddy makes the journey to healthy food easier and more fun. You can try out different cuisines together as you work on the goal towards healthy eating. Your body reacts to unhealthy foods found in junk food and processed food that you eat. Therefore, adopting a healthy option to food is the best thing for both your body and psychology. It helps lose weight, have better moods, and avoid lifestyle diseases. Try out eating new recipes, having a health buddy, and eating seasoned produce which is fresh. Also, stay away from cholesterol oils and change your approach to healthy eating, as it is the new medication. Posted by Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Google photo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
7 Things To Remember about Mental Health MAY. 27, 2015 By Sandy Smith Although we all experience and interpret life in different ways there are a few universal truths for those living with a mental health condition. These are just a few examples of simple mental health realities everyone should know. Mental Health Conditions Are Real Mental illnesses are just as real and valid as physical illnesses. Whether there are malfunctions in the brain or in the body, people need proper diagnosis and treatment. Many early deaths are also attributed to mental illness in the form of suicide. It’s Not a Personal Weakness Scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an organization devoted to research, prevention, and treatment of mental illness, have determined that mental illnesses are dysfunctions of the brain. We know that the brain is the organ that controls the processes and systems in our bodies. Malfunction of the brain can affect one’s thinking skills and intelligence, emotions, feelings, and relationship skills. Not everything is known about the human brain but, the causes for mental illness are thought to be genes and environment. Causes are not some fault, weakness, lack of willpower, or character flaw of the individual. Everyone is Different Each case is unique, as all individuals are unique. Even among people with the same diagnosis, every person will experience it differently. Not every person will exhibit all the common symptoms of their particular disorder. And what symptoms they do experience may vary in intensity and severity. Each person will be affected in a different way because of their own unique nature and personality. You Can Help Your Family Member or Friend If one of your loved ones lives with a mental health disorder it is critical for their recovery that you give them compassion, respect, understanding, encouragement, and support. Be careful not to pressure or force your loved ones to do things. You can't tell other people how to think or feel just like you can't say when a person is ready to work. With the right support, treatment, and healing, people with mental illness will know when they are ready to do something, including work. They are not just being lazy. And some people never recover from mental illness; others only partially recover. To provide support you may need to equip yourself with education and knowledge. You Can Fight Stigma You can’t control what other people think, say, and do, but you do have control over yourself. Even if you don’t know someone who lives with mental illness, you can do your part to help by spreading the truth, reducing stigma and increasing public awareness about this serious health problem. Please support these efforts just as you would for breast cancer or any other physical disease. You Are Not Alone I know that all I have said is true because I have first-hand knowledge and experience. I am a person who lived for many years with severe symptoms of serious mental illness. Many people live happy, healthy and productive lives despite a mental health condition. There is a Lot of Information and Resources For more information about mental health research, visit National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). To learn about the prevalence and impact of mental illness, read the Director’s Blog, “Mental Health Awareness Month: By The Numbers”. Information and opportunities to get involved can also be found right here on NAMI's website. You can learn. You can find out how to support yourself or a loved one. Or you can see how to get involved and make a difference in your community. Submit to the NAMI Blog Check out our Submission Guidelines for more information.
Understanding How to Maintain Your Septic Tank A bit of cleaning and repairing along with normal pumping and inspecting of the storage tank can keep the entire system working magnificently. Prior to you reach the real cleaning of the system; you require to understand exactly how it works. To put it just, the drainage from your bathrooms and drains go into the septic tank and they are divided right into 3 layers. All the heavy and strong matter sinks to the bottom gradually and creates a layer of ‘sludge’. Bacteria in the container aid to decrease the formation of the sludge so that it does not develop way too much. Likewise, all the lighter matter drifts to the leading and forms a layer of residue’. So as a result of this separation of layers, the center layer that is left is a made clear layer of fluid. This liquid then has an electrical outlet and it is sent via pipes into the ground around the location. Why Maintain your Septic Tank? Keeping a storage tank regularly might seem strenuous and time consuming. A little bit of initiative currently can save you a great deal of time and loan later. If your septic tank is not examined and cleaned consistently, it can get clogged up or start to overflow and get more information from This will certainly indicate that you might need to remediate the soil around the area or it might threaten for you and your family. As opposed to going through this difficulty, call a professional that is accredited to clean septic tanks and get it checked every year. Usually, you will just need to get it pumped when in four years or two. Certainly, this duration will certainly differ based upon the amount of waste that enters into the system, the size of the system and the variety of individuals that stay in your home. Tips to Keep your Tank Functioning Well In order to maintain your septic tank working efficiently, you should likewise guarantee that you take care of what you put down your drain regularly. Avoid flushing way too many harsh chemicals away due to the fact that they can kill the microorganisms in the container. You should also be extremely cautious regarding what you purge because if it does not get damaged down properly, it can block the system or the sludge can develop and cause the sewage to overflow. This could after that come into the drains pipes and toilets as back-up. Tree origins and hedges that grow over the system can damage it so keep an eye out for that also. Have the tank checked each year and obtain it cleaned up whenever essential. Truth about making your own dog food commercial dog food Importance of bitcoin onto the trading processes Apart From the bitcoin is stated to function as cryptocurrency used for trading. While trading, the traders would exchange the bitcoins existing. These little coins’ value diminished or could have enhanced based upon the origin. The ratio decides this bit coins present on its worth. As soon as the process exhausts, the bitcoins had emerged into the trading world and it had made fame and more money to the traders. bitcoin price The bitcoins may be determined with the aid of the requirement ratio and supply. The bitcoins are demanded to have the ability to maintain their trading component. Besides the cryptocurrencies, the bitcoins utilized by the traders have importance. If there were not cash books to devote the product to the industry location, then the price could be volatile. The incidence of this bitcoins was created due to their trading options as well as also the benefits for this. There are plenty of types of online that might supply the people. The bitcoins will be coins that were around the electronic are Form. Cryptocurrencies’ sort is the type of coins that might be useful for the traders to maneuver within their commerce. The bitcoins which could be located on the electronic version may have gained greater prevalence and the incidence as a consequence of usage of these traders on the trade market. The Bitcoins could be utilized by exchanging the money and Getting on in the money with the help of the marketplace of the physical money; somebody may gain their money that is very best. Several those trade factors might be more useful for the people and by trading the physical money along with the traders, the number of bitcoins might be used and it might aid the traders to obtain the bitcoin accessible online. There is Provide with the very best of everything. The bitcoin price traders might have the usage of those bitcoins on the digital form and the digital kind of crypto currencies might be more significant. A kind of shatterproof of window movie There are a variety of unbreakable home window films offered which are particularly created to quit home windows from damaging, or at the very least stop hold the damaged glass from in position. The movies are completely clear to the eye although can be integrated with a solar tint which I will describe later on. When glazing comes under influence it bends till a factor where it cannot bend any type of even more. The glass after that smashes and can break into many shards. These fragments are really sharp and can come to be extremely hazardous, triggering injury and even death. When a shatterproof home window film is installed it will certainly increase the quantity of anxiety that an item of glass can take prior to it cracks. The primary function of the movie is to hold any type of shards of glass in place if the glass does break. window film If the glass comes under impact and smashes, the window will certainly still split however all these fragments of glass will stay in place, held together by the shatterproof film. There are a number of various thicknesses of anti shatter film readily available to handle various varieties of influence. The thinnest version is 100 microns which is 4mil or 4/1000th. This is frequently described as a security movie as its primary function is to hold glass together when under influence from somebody falling under it or a stone or ball hitting the glass. It has actually been evaluated to BS6206 class B BS EN12600 class 2 which remains in line with Health and Safety in the Work Environment 1992 Law 14; it successfully transforms weak glass into the exact same criterion as a safety glass without needing to go through the interruption and also price of changing the glass. One of the most commonly made uses of following thickness of movie is either 175 micron which is 7 mil 7/1000th or 200 micron which is 8 mil 8/1000th These movies are normally described as reduced level bomb blast security films or security films. Their primary layout is to help to hold shards of glass in place when under impact from the effects of a bomb blast. The movie is not deigned to take a prompt hit from a bomb blast however rather the shockwaves caused by it, these shockwaves can be felt some distance far from the real blast and also can create the Sunray Window Films to shatter. When fitting the movie for this type of objective it is necessary to take a look at the stamina of the windows frameworks, it is no good protecting the glass yet the structures are as well weak to hold the glass in position, in some cases an item called Dow Corning 995 can be used, this is a structural sealant that can be used.
Babies Should Be Given iPads To Help Them Learn Say Scientists Scientists say that babies should be given iPads as soon as they are born to help them learn New research by the University of London has found that using tablets provides more stimulation for newborns’ brains than books. The findings go against previous studies which suggested looking at a screen can damage children’s social skills Then we have to ask what about the potential danger by EMFs? The Mail Online report: Professor Annette Karmiloff-Smith, who led the research, told the Sunday Times that babies should be given tablet computers ‘from birth’. ‘It is shocking how fast they learn, even faster than adults to do things like scroll up and down text,’ she said. ‘Books are static. When you observe babies with books, all they are interested in is the sound of the pages turning. Their visual system at that age is attracted by movement.’ Initially academics found a small group of babies – some aged six months and some 10 months old – could recognise the number three better if it was shown to them on an iPad. Now the academics are using a larger sample of hundreds of babies and toddlers, with one group given the iPads from birth and the others not allowed to use tablets. Prof Karmiloff-Smith believes the children given computers will show better signs of development, even if it not in a conventional sense. She said: ‘They might put a corner in their mouth, they will then explore it physically [but] then they will used it to do things. Everything we know about child development tells us that tablet computers should not be banned for babies and toddlers.’ Neurologist Baroness Susan Greenfield – a former director at the Royal Institution – previously warned that children’s exposure to computer screens and games could cause a form of ‘temporary dementia’. She said an unhealthy addiction to technology could disable connections in the brain, literally ‘blowing the mind’.

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