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Kids have great imaginations. If given the chance, they are usually able to envision creating neat things from recyclables. If you are looking for a way to fill a few hours with your kids with fun and creativity, try letting them loose on what they find in your recycling containers. Here are five crafty things you and your kids can make from common household recyclables.
- Milk Cartons for the Birds
With the way most kids go through milk, there are likely many of these floating around in your blue bin. Milk cartons can be given a new lease on life to help our feathered friends. Once you’ve given a carton a thorough cleaning, cut a hole into the middle, and tie a string through the top portion. Let kids draw on them or paint them with bright colours, before helping them tie it to a tree.
- A Coffee Can Drum
There are a lot of ways to decorate a coffee can, and they naturally make a great—not too loud—drum. The plastic lid should be left on to be the drum cover. A great way to start is to have your kids either paint the can or use construction paper to cover it. Once the paint is dry, they can glue all kinds of things to their drum or use stickers to make it fancy. Kids can beat the plastic end with their bare hands or use a rubber mallet on the bottom to make it sound like a steel drum.
- Wind Chimes from Plastic Cutlery
All that’s needed for this project is plastic cutlery, a paper plate, a pencil, scissors and some string or yarn. The string should be cut into lengths about six inches long, then tied to the ends of the cutlery handles. Next, poke a few holes in the paper plate, thread the strings through, and secure each one with a knot. Finally, affix three lengths of string to the top of the plate so you can tie it to a tree branch, or somewhere else where it will hang in the breeze. Kids can decorate the plate with markers, stickers, crayons, paint or anything else that strikes their fancy, to make it their own, unique creation.
- Small Vase from Paper or Plastic Cups
Recycling containers are often home to used plastic or paper cups. For this project you need three cups, along with glue, fabric or tissue paper, and sand or pebbles. First, fill half of the first cup with sand or pebbles. Next, top-to-top, glue the second cup to the first. Finally, glue the third cup, bottom-to-bottom, to the second. Let the kids decorate their new creation with glitter, tissue paper torn into little pieces, markers or anything else they would like to use.
- A New Shine to Shoes
Take old pairs of shoes and let kids use their imaginations by painting them. Acrylic paint is best for this. Remove old laces and have kids sketch out a drawing on the shoes. If the shoes are dark, this craft might work better if the shoes are primed white. | <urn:uuid:36d62ab8-4ef0-4ce3-8ecc-199ed7ff6668> | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | https://www.gorillabins.ca/blog/5-fun-recycling-crafts-for-kids/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570987834649.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20191023150047-20191023173547-00250.warc.gz | en | 0.935118 | 642 | 2.78125 | 3 | 1.380096 | 1 | Basic reasoning | Home & Hobbies |
Telephones have been the only source of voice communication for over a century now. Telephone is a communication device whose primary objective is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other. The first operational telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in the mid 1870s, later various other features and concepts were added to Graham Bell’s telephone model by various other scientists to enhance the performance. Over the past century, the telephone models and the communication system have undergone dramatic changes for the good, consequently raising the standards of point-to-point communication.
In the late 1890s, the telephones used for point-to-point communication were called as the candlestick telephones, which came with or without a rotary dial, and with a ringer box. Then in the late 1900s came the rotary dial phones, which usurped the candlestick phones; the rotary dial phone was designed to send electrical pulses in accordance to the number dialed. The rotary dial phone was slowly replaced by dual-tone multi-frequency pushbutton dial phones.
Since the late 1990s century, there came the new age of computers and Internet, which revolutionized the field of communication and with it the operating methods of telephones. The communication methods had changed by then, with the traditional wireline communication methods being replaced by the wireless and satellite communication methods. As for telephones, the rotary dial phones were being replaced by hardware based IP phones and mobile phones. The old phones did not offer much in terms of features, but today’s wireless digital phones and hardware based IP phones, come with fully loaded features.
The present day digital and wireless telephones come with an array of features such as:
•Anonymous call rejection.
•Call waiting with caller ID.
•Selective call acceptance.
•Selective call acceptance.
Almost all the present day telephone service providers offer these features along with their telephone service; one such provider is Charter Telephone, which is telephone service provided by Charter Communications. It is certain that there will be a whole lot features added to these features in the future, as the traditional wired communication methods are being supplanted by wireless communication methodologies.
On the other hand, the mobile communication space has been growing rapidly such that traditional telephone systems are being considered outdated. Mobile phone communication has offered an even larger array of features when compared to digital telephones. The mobile communication methodology which is enabled by mobile phones offer entertainment options, photographic options, connectivity options, and communication on the go. The wireless telephone technology which started in the early 1980s has also come a long way right from 1G first generation wireless technologies to today’s 3G… | <urn:uuid:2c463e8f-d9a9-4e44-b1dc-a3e2c11021fb> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://bukusave.com/all-the-advanced-features-of-a-modern-day-telephone/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805023.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20171118190229-20171118210229-00646.warc.gz | en | 0.963092 | 548 | 3.6875 | 4 | 2.325231 | 2 | Moderate reasoning | Hardware |
The genocide in Rwanda in 1994 is often seen as a cautionary tale, an example of how the world failed to react at a time when it could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Chastened by that experience, every time a humanitarian crisis erupts in Africa, a kind of collective cry goes up urging action any action to prevent a comparable atrocity from happening again. The current crisis and the fighting around it are apt to push more buttons than most. First, it is evocative. The Congolese town of Goma that is the center of the crisis was also where the world first had its clearest glimpse of the Rwanda atrocities. Secondly, a huge amount of the world’s most important minerals, including one involved in the making of cellphones, emanate from the region and specifically from areas controlled by the combatants.
But what kind of action would really make a difference Western military intervention would indeed have made a crucial difference in Rwanda back in 1994. But it may not be the most important response this time even as the European Union is discussing sending more troops to shore up the United Nations peacekeeping mission there.
Key leaders in the region are the only ones capable of bringing this crisis to an end, notably the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, and his Congolese counterpart, Joseph Kabila. But the historical entanglements of Kagame and Kabila in Rwanda’s bloodbath and its aftermath raise serious questions about their willingness to do so. Meanwhile, globalization also plays its part. Armed combatants in the area, already accused of rape and genocidal murder, are profiting from Western companies doing business in the region.
Fighting has flared sporadically in eastern Congo since the end of troubles in Rwanda in 1994. Tutsi rebels under the command of the current Rwandan President Paul Kagame drove more than one million Hutus into Congo, mostly congregating there in the town of Goma. Among these fugitives were members of the ousted Rwandan army and the interahamwe death squads who had earlier carried out genocide against some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Since then fighting between Hutus and Tutsis in Congo has persisted on and off. The latest uptick pits the forces of Tutsi rebel leader, Laurent Nkunda, against local civilians, United Nations peacekeepers tasked with protecting them, and the Congolese army, which many observers believe is working with reconstituted Hutu militia groups.
The unresolved hostilities between ethnic Hutu and the ethnic Tutsi and their respective allies continue to play an important role in driving this conflict. Laurent Nkunda was a war-time commander in Paul Kagame’s 1994 Rwanda Patriotic Front, the rebel force that routed the then-Rwandan government even as the genocide was taking place. While Kagame categorically denies that he is supporting Nkunda and his militia, the Rwandan president has done so in the past and most observers in the region believe that he still is . Similarly, Congo’s president Joseph Kabila’s army is widely believed to be working closely with Hutu militia, that is when they are not terrorizing their own citizens.
Both leaders can do more to end the war. A peace process already provides the framework; there should be no need for more negotiations. At a summit meeting a year ago in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Kabila and Kagame agreed to disarm the Hutu militia in Congo and ease their repatriation to Rwanda . But neither leader has upheld his end of the bargain with conviction . Even before the latest upsurge in fighting by Nkunda there were numerous violations of the ceasefire on both sides.
Both Kabila and Kagame are major recipients of Western aid from the European Union and the United States. Even if Kagame is speaking the truth when he says that he is not supporting the Tutsi rebel commander Nkunda today, few observers doubt that as a major military player in the region he has the power to rein him in. Similarly the Congolese President can stop his own army chiefs from working directly the Hutu militias and rebel groups. Both say that they have nothing to do with the current fighting; they need to be forced to account by international political and economic pressure.
See pictures of the global financial crisis.
See TIME’s Pictures of the Week. | <urn:uuid:e5d90810-d0ef-44b9-8fb2-58048bc6a5dc> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://www.4vf.net/how-the-world-must-act-in-congo-%C2%97-now/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780055601.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20210917055515-20210917085515-00180.warc.gz | en | 0.959611 | 897 | 2.734375 | 3 | 3.073199 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Politics |
This book is a major study in English of the duchy of Savoy during the period of the Thirty Years War. Rather than examining Savoy purely in terms of its military or geo-strategic role, Dynasty and Diplomacy in the Court of Savoy comprises three interwoven strands: the dynastic ambitions of the ruling House of Savoy, the family interests of an elite clan in ducal service, and the unique role played by one member of that clan, Abate Alessandro Scaglia (1592–1641), who emerged as one of Europe's most widely known diplomats. Scaglia, the focus of the book, affords insights not only into Savoyard court politics and diplomacy, but more generally into a diplomatic culture of seventeenth-century Europe. With his image fixed by a remarkable series of Van Dyck portraits, Scaglia is emblematic of an international network of princes, diplomats, courtiers and artists, at the point of contact between dynasticism, high politics and the arts.
• A major study in English on the role of Savoy during the Thirty Years War • Discusses the interaction between dynasticism and foreign policies, and the way in which this involved both ruling families and court families who served them • Analyses the relationship between the arts and politics during the seventeenth century in a court world that included Charles I, the Duke of Buckingham and Peter Paul Rubens
List of figures; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Names and dates; Introduction; Part I. Dynastic Power: the House of Savoy and the Scaglia di Verrua: 1. Dynastic power: Savoy and Europe; 2. Power and patronage: the Scaglia di Verrua in the service of Savoy; Part II. The Treaty of Monzón, 1624–7: 3. Savoyard diplomacy: Alessandro Scaglia and the mission to Paris, 1624–6; 4. Pragmatic diplomacy: England, France and Spain; Part III. The War for Mantua and Monferrato, 1628–32: 5. The war, 1628–31; 6. After the war, 1631–2; Part IV. Alessandro Scaglia: Exile and Savoy During the 1630s: 7. Power and patronage: Alessandro Scaglia in exile; 8. The House of Savoy and the Scaglia di Verrua: dynastic instability and civil war, 1632–42; Conclusion; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.
'… offers a penetrating and persuasive vision of early modern Europe.' Scotland on Sunday | <urn:uuid:8bbc3c74-17b4-46c8-801a-c5139e15dfb9> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521652685 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860121423.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161521-00098-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916477 | 544 | 2.75 | 3 | 3.080024 | 3 | Strong reasoning | History |
The mainstem of the Coosa River is listed as water quality impaired for its entirety from the border between Alabama and Georgia downstream to Jordan Dam. Problems with nutrient pollution and low dissolved oxygen are exacerbated by the presence and operations of hydropower dams. Toxins like PCBs and mercury are also problems. Fish consumption advisories for PCBs have been issued for considerable portions of the Coosa River. (State of Rivers)
Six Coosa River tributaries are listed as failing to meet water quality standards: Black Creek, Buxahatchee Creek, Choccolocco Creek, Little Wills Creek, and unnamed tributary to Dry Branch and unnamed tributary to Hurricane Creek. (this list is only current through 1998).
Rapid growth in the metropolitan Atlanta area and north Georgia since 1950 has caused large increases in water demands. As a result, the state of Georgia has requested the reallocation of water in the Coosa basin to meet these demands. In the interests of maintaining adequate water supplies for the Alabama portions of the Coosa, Alabama filed litigation challenging this reallocation of the Coosa’s shared resources. To resolve this conflict outside of the legal system the two states have entered into negotiations on a water compact for the Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa river basin. An identical process is taking place for the shared resources of the Appalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint between the states of Georgia, Alabama and Florida. These compacts will determine the fate of these water resources for the next 50 years. (Corps)
The health of aquatic ecosystems is linked to the health of terrestrial ecosystems. (GA DNR)
IMPAIRED STREAMS / SECTIONS
Georgia lists 121 miles of streams in the Coosa basin as partially supporting their designated uses and 371 miles as not supporting their uses. Urban runoff and high PCB concentrations in fish are the most commonly cited problems.
Alabama lists 39 miles of streams in the Coosa basin that either do not support or only partially support their designated uses. Gravel mining, feedlots, cropland erosion, and hydroelectric power production are sources for organic enrichment and low DO concentrations in the basin. The Coosa river is generally more enriched in nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) than the Tallapoosa.
Weiss Lake, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay Lake, and Lake Mitchell either do not support or only partially support their designated uses. Priority organics, nutrients, pH, organic enrichment, DO, and flow alteration are listed as some of the causes for the impairment. Sources of these impairments range from flow regulation to industrial discharges to urban and rural nonpoint source pollution. (EPA)
Lay Lake had an advisory for dioxin being released from a paper mill in 1990. This advisory was lifted in 1991. (EPA website)
Five of the six Coosa reservoirs are considered degrading by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Recently state officials have initiated the establishment of nutrient criteria for many of Alabama’s lakes. It is hoped that by monitoring and permitting for excess nutrients, the eutrophication of Alabama’s lakes can be avoided.
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
The Coosa River Basin has fish consumption advisories for 8 locations, according to the Alabama Department of Health’s 2001 bulletin.
Choccolocco Creek, in Calhoun and Talladega counties, is the only tributary stream with an advisory and includes the entire length of the Creek from south of Oxford, downstream to where Choccolocco Creek flows into Logan Martin Lake. The advisory is for no consumption of all species due to the presence of PCBs.
All of the Coosa lakes, except Lake Mitchell and Jordan Lake have advisories. From north to south (upstream to downstream) they are:
From Weiss Dam upstream to the GA state line (including Weiss Lake), there is a limited consumption of catfish over one pound due to PCBs. Limited consumption is defined as no consumption for women of reproductive age and children under 15, and no more than one meal per month for others.
In the Croft Ferry area of Neely Henry Lake there is a no consumption advisory for channel catfish due to PCBs.
From Neely Henry Dam downstream to Riverside, there is a limited consumption of catfish over one pound due to PCBs.
From Logan Martin Dam upstream to Riverside and downstream to Vincent (including Logan Martin Lake), there is a limited consumption advisory for Largemouth, Spotted and Striped Bass due to PCBs.
Downstream of Logan Martin Dam to Vincent there is also a no consumption advisory for Spotted and Striped Bass, Catfish over one pound and Crappie due to PCBs
Between Logan Martin Dam and Lay Dam (including Lay Lake) there in a no consumption advisory for Striped and Spotted Bass, Crappie, and Blue Catfish due to PCBs.
Two miles downstream of Logan Martin Dam and one half mile downstream of the mouth of Kelly Creek, the Upper Lay Lake has a limited consumption advisory for Spotted Bass due to PCBs. | <urn:uuid:0ea78562-5f66-49f6-baa2-bf33080cda6a> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://aaes.auburn.edu/wrc/resource/rivers-of-alabama/coosa-basin/threats/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514572896.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20190924083200-20190924105200-00228.warc.gz | en | 0.946404 | 1,060 | 3.15625 | 3 | 3.010043 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Science & Tech. |
A few days ago we published this post “Why project planning is not a project phase“. That post generated a reader question asking us about the differences between project life cycle and project management life cycle, which led to another post. This later post is generating a great of discussions on online groups so we decided to do this post on life cycles.
These text are also from our upcoming book on Redefining the Basics of Project Management.
How many life cycles
We have no idea:-).
We are familiar with these terms:
- Project Life Cycle
- Project Management Life Cycle
- Product Life Cycle
- Life Cycle Cost
- Team Life Cycle
- and possibly many others …
We discussed the first two points in the recent post. Today we will define the terms “product” and product life cycle and leave other terms for another day.
Defining the term Product
Before explaining the term ‘product life cycle’, we will examine the word ‘product’. Let us start with a question that introduces a scenario, which we will use throughout this chapter.
The scenario is a project to build a water bottling plant. What is the product?
There is a chance that your answer is: “water bottles.”
However, we have presented you a trick question. Your deep knowledge of product and project management will lead you to seek clarification and respond:
“Not sure, are you talking about the product of the project or the product of the plant? If it is product of the plant then it is bottled water but if you mean the product of the project then it is the plant itself – the physical facility.”
That is a great answer!
In this regard, the product of the project is the plant facility. This facility, once operational, will deliver the consumer product, which in the scenario will be the bottled water.
So with this understanding of the word ‘product’, what is the ‘product life cycle’?
Product Life Cycle
There are plenty of publications on this topic and we encourage you to seek them out for more in-depth knowledge. The product life cycle extends across the whole life of the product regardless of what the product is. In this context, the product is the output that the project delivers to the organization. It can be a software application, a book, a new organizational system, or as in the scenario, a water bottling plant.
Throughout the duration of a useful life, there are shorter periods called phases of the product life cycle. These are product life phases and not project or CAM2P
“OK, English now please!”
A return to the water bottling plant scenario will assist in making this clear; follow these steps:
- Say you are an investor and have an idea to build a water bottling plant. Your geographical area does not have one and you believe there is a market for it. This is the idea for the product, and it is, coincidentally, the idea for the project. The starting point of the product life cycle and the project (investment opportunity) is here.
- Your team would study the idea (investment opportunity) through a feasibility study. If the project is feasible, you (the investor) will likely go ahead with the project (pursue the opportunity) and progress through the project development and delivery phases, per a model like CAM2P
. At completion of the project, the plant is built, handed over to operations, and started normal operations.
So far, the product life cycle and project life span are essentially overlapping but they are not the same. With project acceptance (at the CAM2P
In the context of the product life cycle, the ‘project’ is what we call the ‘acquisition phase’ of the product life cycle.
At the end of the product life cycle’s acquisition phase, operations will have to operate and maintain the facility for its useful life.
Based on the above, we can define, simplistically, that the product life cycle has two phases: acquisition and operations. The transition point between them is the product acceptance, although operations involvement starts pre-handover. A project, such as construction of a manufacturing plant, could last two to three years. However, operations can continue for 20 or 30 years.
Product Life Cycle: Text Perspective
In the previous topic, we split the product life cycle into two phases: acquisition phase and operation phase. This was an oversimplification. Most literature on product life cycle defines it as a cycle of five phases with the following common names applied to these phases:
- Development: from idea/concept, acquisition, and even initial operations
- Introduction of the new product to market
- Growth of the product, enhanced operation of a facility
- Maturity: good production system, product well known in the market
- Decline: building/plant too old, costs more to operate maintain than would be justified, product losing its value …
Activities within, and drivers for each of these phases, will differ depending on the nature of the product. In general, an organization could deliver numerous projects during the product life cycle and its phases. For example, during the growth phase there could be projects to expand the facilities and increase production. There could be maintenance projects during any of the phases. At the end of useful life, there could be a project to dismantle the plant or shut it down.
Hope this will give you enough information, let us know what you think! | <urn:uuid:904dc62a-d023-46ec-9c0e-bce630bcb76c> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | http://blog.sukad.com/how-many-life-cycles-are-there/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875148671.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20200229053151-20200229083151-00521.warc.gz | en | 0.938504 | 1,144 | 3.046875 | 3 | 2.70911 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Finance & Business |
Chapter 14: Environmental, Regional, and Global Challenges
The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is nothing more than a social club for its leaders, its lofty goals and aspirations merely substituting for its lack of substantive achievements. Its latest member, Myanmar, is a continuous embarrassment to the organization, demonstrating its collective impotence. Nonetheless the leaders deem the organization important, and world leaders fall for it by regularly sending high-level delegations to its annual meetings.
ASEAN is committed to regional cooperation and ultimately a common market by 2020. Thus far, that is all there is to it, only a commitment. At its Foreign Ministers meeting in Manila in May 2006, they committed to accelerate the date to 2015. I suggest a more modest and doable beginning, with a common market comprising of only Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei (IMB).
It is hard to integrate such disparate states as Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The only commonality is geography: there is no shared history, experience, language, or culture.
Normally geography can be a powerful binding element. The western Canadian provinces have much more in common with western United States than with their eastern counterparts. This is reflected in the flow of people, goods, and services. There are similar traditional flows between the ASEAN states, but there is no official acknowledgement much less encouragement. Worse, such natural flows remain illegal (as between Sabah and the Philippines) or considered as “tourists.” Malaysia bragged about increases in tourism. Analyzed carefully, and the bulk of such “tourists” are nothing more than friends and relatives going back and forth across hitherto (pre-colonial) non-existing borders. It makes the tourism statistics look impressive. If only the ASEAN states were to legalize and thus encourage such natural flows, then regional trade would blossom.
Those limitations notwithstanding, it is still good for the region’s leaders to meet regularly even if only for social reasons as with its silly end-of-meeting karaoke skits. That would only increase understanding. Malaysia would be wasting its time and effort to go much beyond that.
ASEAN was supposed to represent the region as a unified and thus powerful voice in international affairs. With the member states being at such disparate stages of development (Laos and Singapore being the extremes) and with their accompanying varying interests, it is impossible to achieve this. That objective remains just an aspiration, or more accurately, an illusion.
ASEAN was to negotiate as a group for free trade agreements with its major trading partners (Japan, America, and EU). Certainly a regional grouping of ten nations with a population of nearly half a billion people would carry substantial clout, if only they could first agree among themselves. Singapore was the first to break ranks by securing its own free trade agreements with America. Thailand soon followed. With that, the myth of ASEAN solidarity was effectively punctured. Now Malaysia too is belatedly seeking its own free trade agreements with its major trading partners.
Nor can ASEAN point to any substantive achievement in non-economic matters. They could not even put any semblance of common understanding on major international issues. Singapore, Thailand, and to some extent Vietnam, are more concerned with currying America’s favor. Post-Mahathir Malaysia is gradually recognizing the importance of being on America’s good side, and is thus reducing its anti-American rhetoric.
The ASEAN states will continue to pursue their own separate course and looking after their own national interests. As the American scholar Donald Weatherbee perceptively noted, Southeast Asia is a region because its elite say it is. There is nothing beyond that. Malaysia should assign a junior diplomat to the ASEAN desk.
Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities
Malaysia should take aggressive steps towards integrating itself with the global mainstream. That would be the most effective strategy to achieve economic growth and realize its ambitious Vision 2020 goals.
Malaysia has gone further than many Third World countries in opening itself to global trade. It was an early member of the World Trade Organization. The value of its trade is substantial, twice its GDP. The figure for United States is only 25 percent. Despite this apparent embrace of globalization and capitalism, nonetheless there is a significant segment of the leadership, in particular Malay leaders, which is resisting globalization. The non-Bumiputra community generally welcomes globalization; Malays fear losing their treasured special privileges. It is not so much that Malays would lose those privileges rather that they would become irrelevant.
Economists generally (except those in Malaysia) are the strongest advocates for globalization and free trade. Experience proves that countries embracing free trade and globalization have greater economic development than those that do not. We have as examples the two “experiments in nature:” the recent miraculous achievements of modern China and India. Hundreds of millions of Chinese and Indians—more people than at any time in history—have escaped the dehumanizing clutches of poverty through trade and globalization. If the successes of China and India were to be replicated elsewhere, poverty would no longer be the scourge of humanity. Trade and globalization did more for poverty in these two countries than all the foreign aid, missionary work, or even Mother Teresa (in the case of India).
Even smaller nations have benefited from globalization. As late as the 1950s, Ireland was one of the poorest nations in Europe, and an unending source of poor immigrants to the West. Since joining the EU and embracing globalization, it is growing rapidly, outpacing even Britain. The English now no longer look disdainfully upon the Irish. Similarly, back in the 1950s South Korea was in ruins. Its main source of income was foreign aid and the spending money of foreign soldiers. By joining the global mainstream, South Korea is today an economic powerhouse, its people healthy and thriving.
Malaysian leaders and intellectuals rail against globalization, viewing it as another “subtle” vehicle for Western hegemony and neo-colonization. Their incessant diatribes tire me easily. We should instead be devising strategies on how best to exploit the benefits of globalization and prepare Malaysians for its challenges. Technology, specifically ICT, drives globalization. The earlier Industrial Revolution too was spearheaded by technology, specifically the steam engine and later the petroleum-powered machines. That made production and transportation of goods considerably cheaper, consistent, and predictable. Textiles manufactured in Scotland could now be cheaply transported and made affordable to the Indians; in turn, the English could enjoy Indian tea.
The crux of the ICT Revolution is the digitization of data. Information (or data) in any form (texts, images and spoken words) can now be digitized (reduced into series of bytes or “off” and “on” switches) and then transported anywhere at the speed of light. With the earlier Industrial Revolution, it was goods that could be transported in the matter of days and weeks; with the ICT revolution, it is information that is transported instantaneously.
There may be little value in the instantaneous transmission of information on how to make widgets. In other instances however, the rapid transmission of information is pivotal not only in maximizing returns on investments but also in saving lives and preventing property damages.
With ICT, information on an earthquake in Indonesia could be transmitted quickly worldwide. That would help coastal communities prepare for any subsequent destructive tidal waves. Thanks to ICT, we can track storm centers and predict their path, and help communities be better prepared. In America, property damages and lives lost through hurricanes are minimal because of the rapid spread of vital weather information. In case of the New Orleans Katrina tragedy, the authorities received the information timely but they did not act on it effectively.
Information about distant markets can be liberating to farmers. By using cell phones, jute farmers in rural Bangladesh could determine the price of their commodity at Dacca. Previously they were at the mercy of the middlemen; today those middlemen act merely as transporters and can no longer gouge the farmers through their monopoly of market information. ICT empowers those jute farmers; such is the liberating power of information! Technology effectively breaks the monopoly and monopsony of the parasitic middlemen far more effectively than the strongest socialist mandate.
The post-industrial economy is increasingly concerned with services. Most of the associated jobs (Robert Reich’s “in-person services”11) cannot be outsourced; someone remote from the customer cannot effectively perform those jobs. To be a nurse or waiter, you have to be with the patient or customer, not a thousand miles away in India. Similarly with being a surgeon, robotic and tele-surgery notwithstanding.
In contrast, the “routine production services work,” the kind of repetitive standardized work being done in factories and offices could be readily and are indeed being outsourced thousands of miles away.
Yes, some service jobs could be done remotely. American data entry work and consumers’ enquires are now being done in Bangalore rather than Baltimore. Untwisting the thick rolling Indian accent and making those Indians sound like lithe Midwesterners turned out to be very easy, requiring only a few sessions with “accent reduction” coaches. At the other end of the skills spectrum, the CAT scans and MRIs at my hospital are being read by radiologists thousands of miles away in Honolulu. It could easily be done in Sydney or Seremban if doctors there have American qualifications.
Previously, young Indians would aspire to emigrate to America; today the American way of life comes to them. America gains by having its work done cheaply abroad and by having fewer Indian immigrants. India too gains by not losing its talented young.
With the proper smart strategy, Malaysia could also reap the benefits of globalization. Malaysia does not need to re-invent new ways on how best to prepare for globalization. Simply adopt the successful strategies of such countries as South Korea and Ireland. Ireland is a particularly relevant model.
Next: Lessons From Ireland | <urn:uuid:0f680b3d-8b4e-4e5f-b6e9-0115aa647043> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://www.bakrimusa.com/archives/2009/04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218188962.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212948-00074-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956269 | 2,064 | 2.78125 | 3 | 2.992078 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Politics |
Individuals on the spectrum may often feel overwhelmed. This can lead to an Autism meltdown. Sometimes, this may be because they hold back their natural instincts to display behaviour that is considered appropriate by society. It may also be due to big emotions that they are struggling to cope with.
Parents, caregivers, family members, teachers, and therapists play an important role in supporting individuals through such meltdowns. Understanding what a meltdown is will help in formulating a tailor-made solution for managing the meltdowns.
Causes of Meltdowns
The cause of meltdowns varies from individual to individual. Meltdowns are generally noticed in situations when the individual is being exposed to new or unexpected circumstances. Some of the triggers include
– Sensory overload (Individuals with autism may have hypersensitivities in one or more of their senses. They may also have hyposensitivity in some senses. This can instigate sensory overload with too much stimulation, followed by panic and a meltdown).
– Emotional overload (Individuals with autism may find it difficult to request for help from others when they become anxious. As they may lack the innate mechanisms to calm down, their emotions become too much to handle and a meltdown follows).
– Information overload (Individuals with autism may get confused when too much complexity comes at them at once. It can be in the form of too many instructions or demands, or even language that they struggle to understand. This information overload can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical pain in some).
In some cases, such meltdown could simply be due to a change in their activity / schedule or day-to-day routine. Physical signs of anxiety or confusion are exhibited in the form of fretting, restlessness, or stimming behaviours.
Supporting an Individual Through a Meltdown
Here’s what you can do to manage the meltdowns –
– Find the cause that triggers the meltdown
– Note down the meltdown pattern exhibited by the individual
– Try and predict the signs of a meltdown well in advance
– Critically analyse situations and plan for new and unexpected situations.
Meltdowns cannot be avoided entirely. To calm the individual going through meltdown, either assist the person to move to a quiet place, away from the stimulation that may have evoked the overload until the meltdown is over. In public gatherings and outdoor places, the person accompanying the individual with autism must:
– Plan beforehand (pre-planning that involves knowing where a quiet place / a closest free open space nearby) and
– Prepare well ahead to manage a meltdown (i.e., make sure to carry a handy ‘comforting-kit’ that contains the individual’s favourite coping mechanisms (like sensory bottles, sensory balls, sensory bands, etc).
– Help the individual find and use different ways to understand and express their emotions appropriately.
During an Autism Meltdown
– Give them some time to recover from the overload (be it emotional, sensory or information).
– Gently ask them if they are OK, but keep in mind that they still might need some time and space.
Keep practicing staying calm and do not expect perfection. When an individual with Autism observes your calm reaction every time to their meltdowns, they will eventually start to imitate and learn from you. Whether they are verbal or non-verbal communicators, learning to communicate their basic needs can reduce their anxieties. Moreover, when they learn to seek help, it results in minimizing the frequency of autism meltdown. | <urn:uuid:b89eacee-0bf8-45dc-b76c-83b1750559fc> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://buzz.avazapp.com/blog/understanding-autism-meltdowns-in-adults-and-children/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511364.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004084230-20231004114230-00730.warc.gz | en | 0.945676 | 712 | 3.46875 | 3 | 2.569456 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Health |
What are Plaque and Tartar?
Dental plaque is a colorless film made up of saliva, food and fluids, which when combined, produce deposits of bacteria that accumulate between the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. If the plaque accumulates and is not removed, mineralization can occur, which causes staining and becomes tartar. Plaque is the leading cause of numerous oral health problems. The most effective way to get rid of dental plaque is by brushing it regularly.
Signs and symptoms
Everyone develops plaque because bacteria is constantly growing in the mouth. Plaque that is not completely removed in the gum line can cause inflammation and irritation of the gums around the teeth, leading to gingivitis (red, swollen, bleeding gums).
Unlike plaque, tartar is an accumulation of minerals that is fairly easy to see, if it is above the gum line. The most common sign of tartar is a yellow or brown deposit between the lower front teeth or the gum line. The only way to eliminate tartar altogether is to see your dentist or dental hygienist for a professional cleaning.
Bacteria in the mouth thrive on many of the foods we eat daily – that is, sugars and carbohydrates – and produce acids that attack the surface of the tooth. If proper flossing and tooth brushing are not carried out efficiently every day, this leads to more plaque and tartar development. The tartar gives the plaque more surface area on which to grow and a much stickier surface to adhere to.
If it is not removed through proper daily oral hygiene, plaque accumulation occurs and can lead to bacterial infections, gums, teeth and even the bone that supports them.
It is easy to prevent plaque accumulation with proper care. Be sure that:
- Brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes to completely remove plaque from teeth.
- Floss as a supplement to brushing, to remove plaque deposited where the toothbrush does not reach.
- Eating a balanced diet and brushing after a snack will help reduce plaque buildup.
- Visit your dental professional every six months to receive annual cleanings and checkups.
When it comes to preventing plaque and dental plaque, a healthier mouth starts with good brushing habits. Once the tartar has formed, only your dentist or dental hygienist can remove it professionally.
Your dental professional removes the plaque by means of a deep cleansing method called scaling and smoothing of the roots. Scaling consists of removing tartar that has been deposited above and below the gum line. The root planning eliminates the rough areas that the root of the tooth may have where the germs accumulate. This helps to remove the bacteria that favor the disease. In some cases, a laser can be used to remove plaque and tartar. | <urn:uuid:72814f9e-6251-43d6-8ae9-5fb23835b342> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | http://www.dentyucral.info/plaque-and-tartar/?lang=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540564599.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20191213150805-20191213174805-00393.warc.gz | en | 0.94392 | 575 | 3.5625 | 4 | 1.220035 | 1 | Basic reasoning | Health |
Choking is when your airway gets blocked and you can’t breathe
When someone chokes, the airway can either be partly or fully
blocked. If it’s a mild blockage, they should be able to clear it
themselves by coughing. If it’s a severe blockage, they won’t be
able to cough so without anyone’s help they’ll become
But if they do become unresponsive, their throat muscles could
relax and open the airway enough for you to give rescue breaths ‒
be prepared to give rescue breaths and chest compressions.
Poster download: What
to do if an adult is choking
Watch our video - how to help someone who is choking
Choking adult ‒ what to look for
If you think someone is choking, ask them: ‘Are you choking?’ to
check they’re not suffering from something else. Can they speak,
cry, cough or breathe?
If they can, they should be able to clear their throat on their
own by coughing, so encourage them to cough.
If they can’t cough or make any noise, it’s serious.
Choking adult ‒ what you need to do
Help clear their throat with these three steps.
Step 1 of 4: Cough it out
- • Encourage them to cough. If this doesn't clear the
obstruction, support their upper body with one hand and help them
Step 2 of 4: Slap it out
- • If coughing doesn’t work, help the casualty bend
- • Use the heel of your hand to give up to five sharp back blows
between their shoulder blades.
- • Check their mouth to see if there’s anything in there and, if
there is, get them to pick it out.
Step 3 of 4: Squeeze it out
- • If back blows don’t work, give up to five abdominal thrusts.
Stand behind them.
- • Link your hands between their tummy button and the bottom of
their chest, with your lower hand clenched in a fist.
- • Pull sharply inwards and upwards.
Step 4 of 4: Call for help
If they’re still choking, call 999 or 112 for medical help.
Once you’ve called, continue steps 2 and 3 – back blows and
abdominal thrusts – until what’s in there has cleared, help arrives
or they become unresponsive.
If they become unresponsive at any stage, open their airway and
check their breathing.
If they’re not breathing, start chest compressions and rescue
breaths (CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to try to release
whatever’s stuck in there. Follow the instructions for treating
someone who’s unresponsive and not breathing. | <urn:uuid:74ea609b-e243-44cb-983b-fa2030f13f05> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/breathing/choking-adults.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805894.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20171120013853-20171120033853-00053.warc.gz | en | 0.921854 | 617 | 3.296875 | 3 | 1.488575 | 1 | Basic reasoning | Health |
You can’t blame it on the cow this time round: a Californian methane leak
Friday 8th January 2016
When you hear the term “environmental disaster” what springs to mind? Floods, earthquakes, forest fires? All have been in the news recently, but would you put a methane leak into that category? California has been experiencing just this type of “slow-moving” environmental disaster since the 23rd October. Normally when most of us hear “methane” we think “cow trumps”. Not this time, methane began leaking from a faulty, natural gas well, displacing thousands of families and releasing greenhouse gases equivalent to driving 7 million cars each day.
You’d hope that fixing the leak would be a quick job, but things are a bit more complicated. The gas is escaping from the soil and rocks around the well, as well as from the well itself. The well is one of America’s biggest natural gas reservoirs, is 61 years old and thousands of feet below ground. It’s estimated there’s likely to be a hole in the pipe, about 500 meters below the surface. The pipe carries the natural gas from the reservoir to the top of the well. The pipe itself is encased in cement, so the gas is flowing down until the casing ends where it leaks into the surrounding soil and rock. So, in short, to fix it they need to build a whole new relief well. South California Gas (who own the facility) are estimating it will be February or March before the leak is fixed.
In terms of climate change, the leak is bad news. As one of the largest leaks on record, there are estimates that roughly 10 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent will have been released by the time the leak stops. No-one knows for sure what caused the leak, although there were reports of corrosion and well failures at the site last year. Many of the nation’s 400 natural gas storage facilities were built before modern standards came into play so this one leak represents a much larger problem.
In the meantime, residents have been moved away and South California Gas is working to fix the leak as soon as possible.
Another well known producer of methane gas is landfill sites. At Paper Round, we never send any of your waste to landfill. Instead, non-recyclable materials are incinerated and the energy generated goes into the national grid. You can find out more here. | <urn:uuid:2035f224-c9f4-48b5-b8fb-6379f43c5902> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | https://www.paper-round.co.uk/blog/view/you-cant-blame-it-on-the-cow-this-time-round-a-californian-methane-leak | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794864624.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20180522034402-20180522054402-00222.warc.gz | en | 0.966186 | 511 | 2.796875 | 3 | 2.758641 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Science & Tech. |
The Urban Guru Website
Arab Cities on the way to Better Urban Life?
In April 2010 the first international meeting on the State of Arab Cities took place in Kuwait City, in a place only three hundred kilometres from Uruk, the Mesopotamian city-state.
Located on the Euphrates, Uruk is considered as the first city in the world history. Under King Gilgamesh, five thousand years ago, it counted 40,000 people. If Kenya claims to be the cradle of mankind, southern Iraq could claim, thanks to the Sumerians, to be the cradle of urban-kind. Not very far, the first big village of the world, Jericho on the Dead Sea, already had 5,000 people seven thousand years ago. So the meeting took place in a region where urbanization was born (also in Anatolia). One can safely affirm that urban issues are not foreign to the Middle East.
One must also acknowledge that the Arab world has played a very important role in the history of urbanization. From Damascus, the first capital of Islam under the Umayyad dynasty; Baghdad, the Abbasid capital and Cairo, the Fatimid creation at the end of the 10th century, the region is where urban civilization was born. Both the Sumerian and Arab contributions to world urbanization have indeed been outstanding. With the official creation of Cairo in 969, the modern era of urbanization started in earnest, long before the Italian Renaissance. The Arab world is a region where urban matters have been addressed for centuries.
Initially Arab civilization was nomadic. But very quickly it created a number of cities. One of the greatest geniuses of all times, the Tunisian scholar Ibn Khaldun, wrote in the 14th century about this confrontation between nomadic origins and city life. Ibn Khaldun founded urban sociology six hundred years ago, explaining the relations between rural/nomadic and urban conditions, noting the complementary and confrontations between the two worlds.
The Arab urban civilization, which has evolved over the last millennium, provides the historical background for our coming report entitled, The State of Arab Cities. It is well known that some of the most beautiful cities in the world are in this region, from Marrakesh and Fez in Morocco to Damascus and Aleppo in Syria without forgetting Sana’a in Yemen, Jerusalem, Cairo, etc. Any lover of cities would testify that these cities are the pearls of the Islamic World.
With the contributions of many specialists, UN-HABITAT has started to analyze the current State of Arab Cities, noting that different sub-regions face different problems. The Arab world is unified by cultural and linguistic features, but it is also marked by many diversities.
In terms of urbanization one should distinguish three major sub-regions. The first one covers the Gulf Cooperation Countries with an extremely high rate of urbanization, an average of 86 per cent which is the highest in the world, much higher than in Europe. Kuwait holds a world record with 98 per cent, and is clearly one of the most urbanized States in the world.
The second region (which will be sub-divided in the report) includes the Maghreb and Mashreq which together represent the bulk (close to 70 per cent) of the population of the Arab World. It is two-thirds urbanized today, with an average rate of 67 per cent.
The third “region” is made of the Arab Least Developed Countries. They are very heterogeneous, combining Yemen, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan in the East, with Mauritania in the West, and the Comoros Islands. There is no homogeneity, but this group is still under-urbanized – only up to 45 per cent on average. So the Arab States include three completely different regions. One cannot compare Doha, Kuwait City, Bahrain or Abu Dhabi with Mogadishu or Nouakchott; these are two different worlds. This will make UN-HABITAT’s survey and analysis a bit difficult because what will be said of one part of the Arab world will not necessarily apply to the other parts. However there are common aspects, common features of these agglomerations, which can be highlighted to show that “Better Arab Cities” – in reference to the theme of the recent Shanghai EXPO – may indeed be around the corner.
The first common feature is the Arab architecture. Arab architecture has evolved down the years, but there are still a number of similarities among all parts of the Arab world. The Arab architecture is well known to urban specialists. It developed as a physical response to social and environmental conditions, social challenges – high family values, defined men-women relations, and harsh climate conditions in predominantly dry countries. Many books have been written on the Arab House and on the Arab pattern of urbanization. The traditional Medina or Old City is the common denominator of this heritage. Policy-makers need to combine the urban heritage with modern development objectives and Kuwait is a good example where one needs to build a city almost from scratch while preserving what is left from history. Moving towards “better cities” requires heritage preservation and integration in urban development strategies.
The second feature is the centralized governance prevalent in the region. All Arab countries in the last fifty years have developed centralized governance systems. These are systems where the governor (Wali) is more important than the mayor, where western-style local democracy remains hard to adopt. So far the centralized Arab pattern of government has demonstrated some effectiveness in term of infrastructure development, but also some obvious limitations in term of environmental management and political participation.
This explains partly why the third common feature is the water challenge faced by Jordan and many other countries where water scarcity is becoming more and more a political concern. The Arab world is water-stressed and has to invest more in adequate infrastructure, including desalination plants, to face this situation. Betterment of cities requires adequate water supply and improved sanitation, together with participatory environmental planning and management.
The fourth feature relates to the need to accommodate a flow of migrants in a number of cities. Traditionally students learnt about rural-urban migration. At present rural-urban migration remains an issue only in Least Developed Countries, it is no longer on the agenda in most Arab countries. Migration has now become an international matter which directly affects city development. Because of its geographical situation, the Arab world is where most migrations are taking place. One could witness migration from Asia to the Gulf countries as well as migration from the Mashreq to the same countries. Migrations occur from sub-Saharan Africa to Maghreb countries, from Maghreb to Europe, from Somalia to Saudi Arabia or Yemen or Kenya. One can see internal migration in countries like Sudan and unfortunately, migration as a result of conflicts affecting Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. The Arab world is a region where migrations have increased in recent decades, having an important impact on the development of cities. Urban refugees and migrant workers must certainly be given more attention in public policies.
On the positive side, the Arab world seems to be the region where cities are the safest. While political violence has increased in some countries, urban delinquency and crime remain low in most of the Arab world. This reveals that the traditional social fabric is still strong. Women and men can walk almost everywhere in Cairo, Casablanca, Algiers, Damascus without fear, even in the evening. This safety is something that sometimes the Arabs themselves do not notice. That is a positive dimension of the Arab city.
Another dimension to highlight is related to the introduction of urban innovation in many areas. Particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Countries where a number of cities have recently introduced urban innovations, most of the time coming from the Western world.
Some are strictly technical innovations which make sense because they save time or money, and improve living conditions. Others are more artificial, even superfluous. They are often a sign of modernity with little impact on the quality of life, which benefit international architects rather than urban populations. Urban malls, cloned from the USA, reflect both sides of this innovation process. On the negative side, they are a mechanism of exclusion and privatisation of public space. On the positive side, they are a modern substitute to the traditional souks (markets) and could allow some degree of conviviality, provided they are well designed and well located. Social and technical progress should go hand in hand in the cities of tomorrow.
On the economic front, the recent Dubai crisis, where a number of real estate companies went bankrupt because of wrong investment strategies, must be critically analyzed. In a way Dubai has been victim of its successful diversification strategy. Since 1980 there have been a lot of investments in Arab cities. Billions have been invested, sometimes in the right direction (trunk infrastructure) and sometimes in the wrong direction (real estate speculative operations). The economy of cities will be discussed squarely in our report on the State of Arab Cities. Compared with other regions, the last 30 years have seen positive developments in many Arab cities. Journalists often highlight the negative aspects, the uncontrolled urban expansion, the increasing urban poverty, the deteriorated environment.
My first visit to Cairo took place 38 years ago. At that time in the local newspapers one could read that Cairo was a complete disaster; that the city will collapse within 10 years or become totally chaotic. Then I went to Cairo approximately every two years in recent decades and each time I read the same articles explaining that Cairo was finished, dead, and without a future. This was simply untrue. In fact Cairo is not becoming a nightmare. Cairo has improved. Cairo is manageable, Cairo is managed. And it is by far the largest Arab city with 12 million permanent residents. How come these cities which journalists regularly brand as potential disasters have emerged, have improved, have become more productive? Not being an NGO, the United Nations has to acknowledge the positive aspects of urbanization. There are difficulties, there are serious employment problems, but there are also successes and we have to objectively recognize progress when and where it occurs.
Since the Istanbul City Summit of 1996, Arab cities have become more and more globalized as part of the globalization of the world economy. More and more links have been established between the Arab world and the rest of the planet, the international world. This is a major phenomenon both in economic, cultural and social terms. Cities are now internationalized, except in Least Developed Countries. This is a general trend and in the Arab world it is accelerating.
During the years 1986-1996, UN-HABITAT provided technical assistance to Dubai Municipality and contributed to create the basis for sound urban management. At that time Dubai was relatively small but its growth has been extremely fast, its population doubling every 10 years (from 350,000 inhabitants in 1986 to 700,000 in 1996 and 1.4 million in 2007). In less than 50 years a big village became a metropolis.
This link with the outside world is important and will be highlighted in the State of Arab Cities report because cities are no longer driven by their own internal conditions but primarily by external factors. Many cities have become international hubs, like Doha and Dubai. Towns which were small have become large agglomerations. Apart from Cairo, the only Arab mega-city, nine cities have passed the 3 million people mark: Baghdad, Khartoum, Riyadh, Alexandria, Algiers, Casablanca, Jeddah, Aleppo and Damascus.
Most of them, not all, are better today than they were twenty years ago, in both social and economic terms. In North Africa for example the proportion of slum-dwellers in the urban population went down from 34 per cent in 1990 to 13 per cent in 2010, according to UN-HABITAT data. However many Arab cities still face very difficult environmental challenges.
The first chapter of the State of Arab Cities will deal with demography. It will be based on the UN Population Division’s World Urbanization Prospects: the 2009 Revision which shows that out of 350 million people in the Arab world, 200 million live in urban areas.
The growth rates are also available, provided by the National Bureaus of Statistics. This is the easiest part even if statistics have their own limitations. But we have to work on the basis of UN data because they are the only official figures, accepted by all governments. In the other chapters the report will discuss the economy of cities and their social dimensions, including the housing conditions, and particularly the conditions of the poorest segments of the population.
It will discuss the current environmental problems of cities including water, sanitation, transport, energy, impact of climate change and finally the political dimension of cities, the way they are managed by central and local governments, what is known as urban governance. Insufficient decentralisation, lack of popular participation and corruption practices will have to be analysed, particularly in light of the recent events in Tunisia and other countries.
We expect that the first State of Arab Cities report will be completed, printed and available for the sixth session of the World Urban Forum, to be held in 2012. During that session the evolution of Arab cities will be assessed by hundreds of experts and policy-makers. The on-going evaluation should provide the facts, figures and analysis required for the promotion of better urban life in the region, while the Forum will also provide ample opportunities for inter-regional exchanges. The spirit of Gilgamesh and Ibn Khaldun will certainly enlighten that forthcoming session.
This article was published in "Urban World' in January 2011. | <urn:uuid:eda61f6d-b7cf-4c77-97e9-3e2ed8fe8b67> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://danielbiau.webnode.com/news/arab-cities-on-the-way-to-better-urban-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232261326.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20190527045622-20190527071622-00240.warc.gz | en | 0.95005 | 2,788 | 2.734375 | 3 | 3.021458 | 3 | Strong reasoning | History |
The ghazal is an ancient form of poetry that originated from a 6th century Arabic verse. Its usual subject is love, most notably the loss and pain of loving. It is said that to better understand ghazal, one has to be at least familiar with Sufism, and most ghazals are viewed in a spiritual context. It gained prominence during the 13th and 14th centuries due to the Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz and the Indian poet Mirza Ghalib in the 18th century. Today, like other traditional forms of literature, ghazal has also undergone transformations to be able to adapt to the current generation. This incorporation of modernism is highly frowned upon by ghazal purists, but if it helps the art of ghazal to live on and be known to future generations, then it would be quite all right to infuse some changes into it as long as it still brings out the beauty of the ghazal.
Begum Akhtar (+)
She was a multi-award winning Indian ghazal singer born on October 7, 1914. She died on October 30, 1974 right after her concert performance in Ahmedabad. Begum Akhtar was also known as the Mallika-e-Ghazal or The Queen of Ghazals. In 1968, she received the Padma Shri Award and in 1972 the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. She was posthumously awarded in 1975 the Padma Bhushan award by the Indian government. During the span of her career, she did not only sang and wrote ghazals but she also starred in films.
Talat Aziz is a famous Indian ghazal singer from Hyderabad, India to a writer and poet parents. Their family were lovers of fine art that they usually invited poets over to their house, and it was from this that Talat Aziz came to appreciate music. He has been singing ghazals for over three decades and has consistently sold out concerts all over the globe. He celebrated his silver anniversary as a ghazal performer in 2004 with the launch of a special video and audio album.
Mubarak Begum was born in 1940 and is not only a famous ghazal singer but also a playback singer in India. Her career started with light recitals with the All India Radio, an Indian government radio station. Her rendition of the Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Yun for the film Hamaari Yuad Aayegi is still considered to this day a classic. Today, however, Mubarak Begum has long been forgotten. She has been living a life of poverty for nearly five decades after she became famous for her rendition of Mujhko Apne Gale Lago Lo. Her destitute state caught the attention of some Bollywood insiders who are now taking care of the septuagenarian artist.
Lily Chakraborty was born on January 15, 1972. She is a highly acclaimed Indian ghazal singer, poet, songwriter, and book author. Her style is said to be unique among other ghazal singers. She is considered to be the most popular and successful ghazal singer to date, and she is well known not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Her album released in 2009 was a global success, and she is also one of India’s most influential artists.
Hariharan was born on April 3, 1955 in Kerala, India. Although born in Kerala, he grew up in Mumbai in a Tamil Iyer family. He has bachelor degrees in science and law. His parents were renowned Carnatic vocalists from whom he got his musical inclination. At a young age, Hariharan has been exposed to different types of music such as Carnatic, Hindustani, and ghazal music. It was said that Hariharan practices singing for 13 hours every day. When he learned to sing ghazal, he made sure that he also learned Urdu and poured out his heart and soul into the ghazal music. He has more than 30 ghazal albums to his credit. In 2004 he was awarded by the Indian government the Padma Shri and is a two-time national award winner.
Talat Mahmood (+)
Talat Mahmood is one of India’s most prominent ghazal singers. He was born on February 24, 1924 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Early in his life, Talat Mahmood already showed an interest in music and would often sit listening to the greatest names in classical Indian music at the time. In 1939, at the age of 16, he embarked on a career singing purely ghazal music, and in 1941 he recorded his first ghazal disc. His ghazal singing brought him from Lucknow to Calcutta where he blossomed as an artist. Apart from singing, Talat Mahmood also acted in films. In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. Talat Mahmood died on May 9, 1998.
A Padma Shree awardee, Penaz Masani started her ghazal singing career in 1981 and, since then, has made more than 20 albums to her credit. She was awarded the title Shehzadi Tarunnam by the state government of Uttar Pradesh in 1996. In 2002, she received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award in the 11th Kalakar Award. She has also worked as a playback singer for Bollywood for more than 50 movies and has sung in 10 different languages. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations supported Penaz Masani, and she was able to perform in countries such as Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal ,and Vietnam.
Jagjit Singh (+)
Jagjit Singh, born on February 8, 1941, was named Jagmohan Singh. His name was changed to Jagjit based on the advice of the Sikh Namdhari sect whom his parents consulted. He has an art degree from DAV College in Jalandhar and a postgraduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University in Haryana. In 1967, he met his wife Chitra Dutta with whom he had a son. Both he and his wife gained stardom in 1976 when they released their album The Unforgettables. He and his wife were both successful ghazal singers. Chitra, however, stopped performing when their son Vivek died in 1990. Jagjit continued on as a solo artist and is called the King of Ghazal. He has received many awards in the span of his career including the Padma Bushan in 2003. Jagjit Singh died on October 10, 2011.
Ahmad Wali is a well-known Afghan ghazal singer who is currently living in Germany. He was born in Kabul, and his father was a police commander. This must have been the influence on Ahmad Wali for enrolling at the Kabul Police Academy. Although enrolled in the Police Academy, he was still performing music until he made the decision to really be committed to it. Music is not something new to Ahmad Wali as at the age of 12 he was already playing the Tabla, and singing came after immediately. While at the Habibia High School, he did a demo tape that was instantly liked by Ustad Zaland, the director of Radio Kabul. The political unrest in Afghanistan forced Ahmad Wali to seek refuge in another country. He fled Afghanistan using a fake passport into India and from there got a visa to Germany by pretending to be sick. Living in Germany, Ahmad Wali restarted his singing career and was successful with tours to the United States of America and Europe.
Sunali Rathod was once married to Anup Jalota and is now happily married to Roop Kumar Rathod. Sunali Rathod is a trained, classical singer, and she started performing at the age of 10 years old. She can sing in different languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, and English. Her first ghazal album was released in 1987, and in the same year she won the Best Ghazal Singer Award of the Emirates International in Dubai. Sunali Rathod was born and raised in Mumbai, India and attended St. Xavier’s College also in Mumbai. | <urn:uuid:4756d114-a010-4146-88e8-0ef99d08d4c2> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://infomory.com/famous/famous-ghazal-singers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049278244.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002118-00008-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990678 | 1,706 | 2.8125 | 3 | 2.135403 | 2 | Moderate reasoning | Entertainment |
DEMERS, LOUIS (baptized Jean), Roman Catholic priest, Recollet, superior, and architect; b. 30 Dec. 1732 in Saint-Nicolas (Quebec), son of Louis Demers and Thérèse Gagnon; d. 2 Sept. 1813 in Montreal, Lower Canada.
Jean Demers, who took the name Louis when he made his profession as a Recollet, was ordained priest on 24 Sept. 1757, only a few years before the British government forbad the Recollets in Canada to recruit new members. Following the conquest Father Louis, like others of his order, turned to the parish ministry. He was prompted by his need for a livelihood and also by goodwill towards the secular clergy, whose numbers diminished after 1760. He served at Saint-Michel, near Quebec, from 1760 to 1761, Saint-Charles (at Saint-Charles-des-Grondines) from 1762 to 1764, and La Nativité-de-Notre-Dame (at Bécancour) from 1764 to 1767.
In 1767 Father Louis was appointed parish priest of Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, where he remained until 1789; at the same time he ministered to the seigneuries of Deschaillons, until 1789, and Gentilly, from 1767 to 1774 and from 1779 to 1789. At Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, he had a presbytery and a mill built, but on occasion he seems to have overstepped his pastoral mandate. Some people complained to Bishop Briand* that he took the liberty of drawing up contracts. Briand was annoyed and called on him in 1774 to refrain from such activity, stating explicitly, “That is forbidden.” With the help of master mason Antoine Maillou, Father Louis also became a builder of churches. Although he was probably less famous as an architect than his nephew, Abbé Jérôme Demers*, would be, he was responsible for the second church at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade (La Pérade), which was completed in 1771, and the first church for the parish of Saint Édouard (at Gentilly), which was built in 1781–87. The construction of the latter led to a dispute in 1773 between Briand and the parishioners who disapproved of the site that the bishop had chosen for the future church. Briand suspected Father Louis of being in league with the “rebels” and forbad him to give them the sacraments.
In 1789 Father Louis, who according to Bishop Hubert* was “an excellent religious, full of love and zeal for the faith,” was named superior of his order’s monastery in Montreal. Suggestions that he pursued architectural activities there and that he showed some talent as a painter have not yet been substantiated. In Montreal he shared the preoccupations and labours of the secular clergy. From 1792 he was attached as chaplain to the militia headquarters in the city of Montreal, but he appears to have devoted himself primarily to ministering to the sick. Indeed, 50 years after his death people still spoke of his charity and of the miraculous power of his ointments and plasters.
By 1791 the Recollet order in Canada had only five members left. With the passing of the years its extinction became inevitable. Hubert’s decree of secularization on 14 Sept. 1796, which affected all those who had made their profession since 1784, destroyed the community’s hope of surviving. Father Louis, who was anxious about the fate of the few remaining Recollets, received assurances from the government in August 1798 that they would not be disturbed in their ministry. He had, however, to resign himself to liquidating the community’s chattels. In 1811 he sold the retable (housing the altar) and tabernacle from the Recollet church to the parish of Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand, near Nicolet, which has preserved them. In 1813 he gave the remaining goods to the churchwardens of Notre-Dame in Montreal, the Sulpicians, and the nuns of the Congregation of Notre-Dame.
Father Louis spent his last years with his brother, who had joined the order under the name of Brother Alexis, in the house next to the Recollet church in Montreal, where one of their nieces looked after them. With his death on 2 Sept. 1813 at the Hôpital Général, the last Recollet priest in Canada was gone; he was buried two days later in Notre-Dame church, among the priests from the Séminaire de Saint-Sulpice. Almost immediately the British government seized the Recollets’ property in Montreal.
AP, Notre-Dame de Montréal, Reg. des baptêmes, mariages et sépultures, 4 sept. 1813; Saint-Édouard (Gentilly), Cahier des délibérations de la fabrique, 1784–1930: 7–10, 14; Saint-Nicolas, Reg. des baptêmes, mariages et sépultures, 1er janv. 1733. Arch. de l’évêché de Nicolet (Nicolet, Qué.), Carton Saint-Édouard de Gentilly, 1752–1939, no.2, 13, 21 juill. 1773; no.5, 21 août 1773; Carton Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, 1766–1886, no.1, 11 juill. 1766; no.3, 10 janv. 1774. Arch. des franciscains (Montréal), Notes de O.-M. Jouve. Le séminaire de Québec (Provost), 459. Allaire, Dictionnaire, 1: 153. Tanguay, Dictionnaire, 3: 527. Jean Belisle, “Le mythe récollet: l’ensemble de Montréal” (thèse de ma, univ. de Montréal, 1974). Marcel Deshaies, Ma paroisse: Bécancour (s. 1., 1977). Lucien Dubois, Histoire de la paroisse de Gentilly (s.l., 1935), 93. Mariette Fréchette-Pineau, “L’église de Saint-Grégoire de Nicolet (1802)” (thèse de ma, univ. de Montréal, 1970), 55–56. O.-M. Jouve, Les franciscains et le Canada: aux Trois-Rivières (Paris, 1934), 302–5. Hormidas Magnan, La paroisse de Saint-Nicolas: la famille Pâquet et les familles alliées (Québec, 1918), 25–26. Morisset, Coup d’œil sur les arts, 52. Luc Noppen, Les églises du Québec (1600–1850) (Québec, 1977), 232. É.-T. Paquet, Fragments de l’histoire religieuse et civile de la paroisse Saint-Nicolas (Lévis, Qué., 1894). Marcelle Rivard, Gentilly, 1676–1976 (s.1., 1976), 41. J.-E. Roy, Hist. de Lauzon, 1: viii. Trudel, L’Église canadienne, 1: 98, 123–25, 219, 351, 353, 360; 2: 184–85, 192, 199, 213–14, 426; Le Régime militaire dans le gouvernement des Trois-Rivières 1760–1764 (Trois-Rivières, Qué., 1952), 153. Charles Trudelle, Le frère Louis (Lévis, 1898), 22. S. Lesage, “Les récollets en Canada,” Rev. canadienne, 4 (1867): 303–18. | <urn:uuid:81556781-4c4a-4faa-b430-f28fe689cbec> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/demers_louis_5E.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096287.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00110-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.888758 | 1,775 | 2.671875 | 3 | 2.797611 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Religion |
A recent study suggests that MS disease activity could damage an area of the brain responsible for processing facial emotions and other social cues.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease that can damage key parts of the central nervous system and may cause a host of debilitating symptoms. Many people associate MS with the gradual loss of motor function and sensation, but this does not complete the picture of this complex condition.
A recent study asserts that MS can actually alter the way people with the disease perceive and process social situations. And it may even shed some light on why some people with MS may easily misread a situation and react differently than expected.
MS disease activity can trigger changes in the brain’s white matter, which controls many higher brain functions. These changes can lead to deficiencies in both theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition, which are significant when compared with people who don’t have MS.
ToM is the ability to attribute mental states such as intentions and beliefs to oneself and others, and to understand that these states may be different than one’s own. For example, someone might be talking, explaining a situation with no malicious intent, but a person with MS could misinterpret the facial expressions of the person speaking and perceive them as angry.
This is not the first study to look into ToM and MS. Social cognition and MS have been studied for years, and the research points to significant differences between people with MS and control groups. A recent analysis of the connection between MS and ToM covered
According to the National MS Society, cognitive dysfunction could be present in over 60 percent of people with MS, and has been reported at all stages and in all subtypes of the disease.
While the deficits in ToM and
The results of these studies emphasize the need to increase awareness of social cognitive dysfunction. They also support the monitoring of social cognition to be incorporated into routine neurologic assessments.
One study out of Germany found significant indications of a
Another newly published
Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science, explained to Healthline that “brain training works by targeting different parts of the brain but with one goal: faster and more accurate brain processing, leading to better memory and problem solving.”
Mahncke explained the importance of modern thinking and understanding that “a brain is plastic and has the ability to rewire itself, that the brain is not like a computer chip that wears out.”
Editor’s Note: Caroline Craven is a patient expert living with MS. Her award winning blog is GirlwithMS.com, and she can be found @thegirlwithms. | <urn:uuid:a983f376-29a7-4fe2-b199-f0959b124e05> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://www.healthline.com/health-news/multiple-sclerosis-may-affect-ability-to-read-social-cues | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038064520.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20210411144457-20210411174457-00171.warc.gz | en | 0.957802 | 538 | 3.421875 | 3 | 2.968369 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Health |
Bio-diesel production First efforts to cultivate hydrocarbon producing plants for fuel production were made by Italians in Ethiopia and French in Morocco. Later on Calvin and his collaborators have revived the idea again and have advocated the study of petro-crops as a possible feedstock for petroleum like materials. Presently the largest fuel programme is in Brazil where government currently spends a considerable amount on subsidizing the production of alcohol, mostly from biomass of sugarcane. Production was estimated to increase so muich that around 11 to 14 million cars will use alcohol (with gasoline) by the year 2000 (Korbitz, 1996). Recently about 30 thousand tones of rape biofuel yearly is produced at the industrial chemical factories in Poland (Grazybek et al., 1996). The important source investigated during last years from 1993 to 1996 included. of water, produce sufficient biomass and are unpalatable to the cattlefolk due to their sticky latex. Degraded and denuded soils are no hindrance to their growth. Jatropha curcas Linn is potential diesel fuel oil yielding plant and details about this are given in Roy and Kumar (1988) and Roy (2000 this volume)4.3 REFERENCES 1. Bhatia, V.K., Shrivastava, G.S., Garg V.K., Gupta, Y.K. and Singh, J. (1983). Study on laticeferoous (latex bearing) plants as potential petro-crops. Fuel. 62:953-955. 2. Garg, J. and Kumar, A. (1987a). Effect of growth regulators on the growth, chlorophyll development and productivity of Euphorbia lathyris L.A. hydrocarbon yielding plant. Progress in Photosynthesis Research. J. Biggins (ed.) IV (7) : 403-406. 3. Garg, J. and Kumar, A. (1987b). Improving growth and hydrocarbon yield of Euphorbia lathyris L. In : R.N. Sharma, O.P. Vimal and A.N. Mathur (Eds.). Bioenergy Society Fourth Convention and Symposium 87, New Delhi, pp. 93-97. 4. Garg J., and Kumar, A. (1987c). Some studies on charcoal rot of Euphorbia lathyris caused by Macrophomina phaseolina. Indian Phytopathology 41 : 257-260. 5. Garg, J. and Kumar, A. (1989a). Influence of salinity on growth and hydrocarbon yield of Euphorbia lathyris. J. Insian Bot. Soc. 68 : 201-204. 6. Garg, J. and Kumar, A (1989b). Potential petro crops for Rajasthan. J. Indian Bot. Soc., 68 : 199-200. 7. Garg, J. and Kumar, A. (1990). Improving the growth and hydrocarbon yield of Euphorbia lathyris L. in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. In : G. Grassi, G. Gosse and G. dos Santos (Eds.). Biomass for Energy and Industry Vol. I., pp. 1.527-1.531. Elsevier Applied Science, London. 8. Grazybek, A., Rogulska, M., Roszkovski, A. (1996). Rape biofuel production in Poland-overview of actual situation and perspectives. In : Chartier et al. (Eds.). Biomass for Energy and Environment. Permagon Elsevier Science, Oxford, pp. 343-348. 9. Hall, D.O. and Rosillo-Calle, F. (1998). The role of bioenergy in developing countries. In : Kopetz et al (Eds.). Biomass for energy and Industry. C.A.R.M.E.N. Germany, pp. 52-55. 10. Johari, S. and Kumar, A. (1992). Effect on N.P. and K. on growth and biocrude yield of Euphorbia antisyphilitica. Annals of Arid Zones 31 (4) : 313-314. 11. Johari, S. and Kumar, A. (1993). Charcoal rot of Candelilla (Euphorbia antisyphilitica zucc.) caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. Indian J. Mycol, PI. Pathol. 23 (3) : 317. 12. Johari, S., Roy, S. and Kumar, A. (1990). Influence of edaphic and nutritional factors on growth and hydrocarbon yield of Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc. In : G. Grassi, G. Gosse and G. das Santos (Eds.). Proc. Biomass for Energy and Industry. Vol. I. Elesevier Applied Science, London, pp. 1.522-1.526. 13. Johari, S., Roy, S. and Kumar, A. (1991). Influence of growth regulators on biomass and hydrocarbon yield from Euphor bia antisyphilitica Zucc. In : H.L. Sharma and R.HN. Sharma (Eds.). Bioenergy for Humid and Semi-humid Regions. Bio-Energy Society of India, New Delhi, pp. 462-464.68. 14. Korbitz, W. (1996). New profitable development in biodiesel. IN : Chartier et al. (Eds.). Biomass for Energy and Environment. Permagon, Elseveir Science, Oxford, pp. 339-342. 15. Kumar, A. (1984a). Economics of bioenergy in developing countries. In : H. Egneus et al (Eds.). Bioenergy 84 Vol. 4, Bioenergy in developing countries. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London, pp. 172. 16. Kumar, A. (1984b). Unconventional Energy Sources. Proc. VIIth Botanical Conference, Jaipur, pp. 24-26 (Review). 17. Kumar, A. (1984c). Hydrocarbons from pants in arid and semi-arid regions. In : Applications on Science and Technology for Afforesation, Act, Jaipur, 81-86. 18. Kumar, A. (1987). Petrocrop resources of Rajasthan In : R.N. Sharma, O.P. Vimal and A.N. Mathur (Eds.). Bio-energy Society Fourth Convention and Symposium 87. New Delhi, pp. 98-102. 19. Kumar, A. (1990). Prospects of raising latex bearing plants in semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan. In : G. Grassi, G. Gosse an G. dos Santos (Eds.) Biomass for Energy and Industry. Vol. I. Pp. 1.100-1.107. Elsevier Applied Science, London. 20. Kumar, A. (1994a). Bioenergy Sources in India : Present status. Symposia focal them, Science in India Excellence & Accountability, pp. 38-39, ISCA, Jaipur. 21. Kumar A. (1994b). Laticifers as potential bioremedients for wasteland restoration. J. Environment and Pollution 1:101-104. 22. Kumar, A. (1995). Cultivation of hydrocarbon yielding plants in Rajasthan as an alternative energy source. J. Env. And Pollution 2:67-70. 23. Kumar, A. (1996a). Growth, physiology and improvement of bioenergy resources in semi-arid regions. Focal theme Symp. Science & Technology for achieving food economic & health security, ISCA, Patiala, pp. 87. 24. Kumar, A. (1996b). Bioenergy plantations : A model system for restoration of semi arid regions. In P. Chartier et al. (Eds.). Biomass for Energy and Environment. Elsevier Science, Oxford, pp. 819-824. 25. Kumar A, and Joshi, B. (1982). In virto growth and differentiation of Euphorbia lathyris, a hydrocarbon yielding plant. In : A. Scrub, P. Chartier and G. Schlesser (Eds.). Energy from biomass. Applied Science Publishers. London, p. 261-264., 1982. 26. Kumar, A. and Kumar, R. (1885). Improving the productivity of petrocrops in Rajasthan. In : Sharma, R.N., O.P. Vimal and V. Bhakthavatsalam (Eds.). Proc. Bioenergy Society Convention and Symposium, New Delhi, pp. 125-129. 27. Kumar, P. and Kumar, A. (1986). Effect of water and salinity stress on Euphorbia tirucalli L.A. hydrocarbon yielding plant. In : S. Terol (Ed.). Proc. Of the 1986. International Congress on Renewable Energy Sources. Consejo Superior de investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid. 240-252. 28. Nielson, P.E., Nishimura, H., Liang, Y. and Calvin, M. (1979). Steroids from Euphorbia and other latex bearing plants. Phytochemistry, 18 : 103-104. 29. Peopler, T.R., Alcorn, S.M., Bloss, M.E., Clay, W.F., Flug, M., Hoffman, C.W., Lee, Luna S., Mchanghlin, S.P. Steinberg, M. and Young, M. (1981). Euphorbia lathyris. A. future source of extractable liquid fuel. Biosources Dig.3. 30. Rani, A. and Kumar, A. (1992). Comparative study on biomass production and hydrocarbon yield or three different varieties of Pedilanthus tithymaloides. Act Eco 14 : 77-79. 31. Rani, A. and Kumar, A. (1994a). Effect of edaphic factors on the growth and physiology of Pedilanthus tithymaloides Var. Green. Journal of Environment and Pollution 2 (1) : 5-8. 32. Rani, A., and Kumar, A. (1994b). Micropropagation of Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. Green, a hdrocarbon yielding plant. J. of Phytol. Res. 7 (1&2) : 107-110. 33. Rani, A., Roy, S. and Kumar, A. (1990). Influence of morphological and environmental factors on growth and hydrocarbon yield in Calotropis procera. In : G. Grassi, G. Gosse, and G. das Santos (Eds.). Biomass for Energy and Industry. Vol. 1. Elsevier Applied Science London, pp. 1.480-1.483. 34. Rani, A., Roy, S. and Kumar, A. (1991). Effect of salinity stress or growth and hydrocarbon yield of Pedilanthus tithymaloides variety Green (Linn). Point. In : H.L. Sharma and R.N. Sharma (Eds.). Proc. Bio-energy for Humid and semi-humid Regions. Bio-energy Soc. Of India, New Delhi, pp. 456-461. 35. Roy, S. and Kumar, A. (1990). Prospects of wood energy production in semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan. In : G. Grassi, G. Gosse and G. das Santos (Eds.). Proc. Biomass for Energy and Industry, pp. 2.1153-2.1156. 36. Staff, F. (1998) Development of Biodiesel activity in France. In : Kopetz H. et al. (Eds.). Biomass for energy and industry. CARMEN. Germany, pp. 112-115. 37. World Bank (1996). Rural energy and development : improving energy supplies for 2 billion people. World Bank Industry and Energy Department. Yermanos, D.M., Francois, L.E. and Tammadoni, T.T. (1967). Effect of oil salinity on the development of jojoba. Econ. Bot. 21 : 69-80. NEW YORK - DuPont Biofuels Vice President and General Manager John Ranieri today outlined the company's growth plans in the rapidly growing biofuels industry. Speaking to investors at an ethanol conference here, Ranieri said, "DuPont is delivering advantaged products and technologies throughout the biofuels value chain. To address the energy issue, we must develop sustainable business and technical solutions that can be adapted across different geographies to successfully grow this industry." DuPont's current biofuels focus includes: rapidly developing differentiated seeds and crop protection products that will enable greater biofuel production per acre; developing and supplying new technologies to enable conversion of cellulose to biofuels; and commercializing biobutanol as a next-generation biofuel that is significantly improved and complements incumbents. Seed & Crop Protection Solutions: With more than $300 million in revenues expected this year from seed and crop protection solutions serving biofuels markets, DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. has selected more than 135 seed hybrids marketed through its IndustrySelect(R) program. The program includes specialized grain properties that improve the efficiency of ethanol production. The seed and crop protection research pipeline includes yield traits in seeds and other products that will further improve ethanol production efficiency. Integrated Corn-Based BioRefinery (Biofuels from Cellulose): DuPont and the U.S. Department of Energy are jointly funding a four-year research program to develop technology to convert corn stover into ethanol. This is aligned with the company's strategy to develop technologies that can convert cellulosic crops into biofuels and biochemicals. The BioRefinery program will significantly increase the amount of ethanol per acre achievable by using corn grain and stover from the same amount of land. Partnership with BP for Advanced Biofuels Development: DuPont's partnership with BP to develop biobutanol is based on its strategy to bring to market advanced biofuels that can expand the transportation biofuels offering. Biobutanol's performance enhancements include: Lowers the vapor pressure of fuel blends when co-blended with ethanol; Can be more easily distributed via the existing fuel supply infrastructure; Enhances fuel stability of biobutanol-gasoline blends; Improves blend flexibility, allowing higher biofuels blends with gasoline; and, * Improves fuel efficiency (better miles per gallon) compared to incumbent biofuels. top 3 2 Biological Processes 3.2.1 Fermentation Ethanol, an anaerobic product of microbial etabolism can be recovered relatively easily through conventional distillation recovery methods. The production of industrial ethanol from integrated grain milling plants and sugar crops is a mature technology and has been successfully implemented in Brazil and the US. On the other hand, the absence of appropriate legislation has limited significantly the production of ethanol in the EU. The last decade, ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials has received increased attention by the research community and technical breakthroughs have been reported in the US and Canada. 3.2.2 Anaerobic Digestion Liquid phase anaerobic digestion (dry solid matter in the digester in the range of 5 - 10 wt%) can be considered a commercial technology and several companies offer various technical solutions to a variety of effluents and substrates. Recent work has focused on multi-substrate operation with attention on the biodegradable traction of MSW especially in Denmark. Both for biogas and landfill gas, purification technologies have been developed to remove carbon dioxide and other corrosive gases (such as hydrogen sulphide) for utilisation of the rich methane gas as transport fuel. If the biogas or landfill gas can be purified extensively, then they can be used as a renewable substitute for natural gas in several applications. Solid state anaerobic digestion (dry solid matter in the digester in the range of 30 - 35 wt%) is a technology approaching commercial status with Organic Waste Systems of Belgium and Valorga of France as the leaders and main competitors. Solid state operation results in significantly higher biogas productivity rates than liquid phase and a better quality of compost due to the mesophilic operation I (about 50 - 55 °C). 3.2.3 Composting Aerobic composting is a commercial technology with demonstrated reliable performance is several projects. However, the economics of composting are strongly related to the quality of the compost and to a strong market for the compost that is not always evident. Composting source separated or "green" waste results in compost of higher quality due to the absence of plastics or other contamination. Except for the need of standards on the quality of the compost, there is no strong justification for extensive R&D work. The R&D needs for the biological processes are related to pilot plant/industrial scale demonstration of ethanol form lignocellulosic feedstocks with increased yields, to the fine tuning of solid state digestion technologies and to the improved purification of biogas and landfill gas for various applications such as transport fuel or supply of methane in natural gas networks. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Bioenergy is considered as the resource with the highest environmental impact amongst the renewable energy sources and this does not refer to incineration or waste treatment only, but it even applies to wood combustion. This is due to the fact that there are always residues (such as ash and liquid effluents) to be disposed off and practically in all applications there is a stack or a chimney. This may induce the general public to relate bioenergy plants to coal fired plants, incinerators and in general emission of gaseous pollutants. It is therefore mandatory that all Bioenergy technologies must carefully and convincingly address the problem of emissions if they are ever going to be accepted by the general public, the political establishment and subsequently the industry. Practically in all Bioenergy applications at the end the energy carrier (biogas, fuel gas, bio-oil, ethanol, solid fuel or hydrogen) will be used in a combustionprocess to release the chemical energy of the carrier. It is therefore of critical importance that emissions from the combustion of all energy carriers are minimised to whatever possible extend. It is preferable whenever possible to try to reduce the concentration of the pollutants in the energy carrier before it's combustion so as to minimise or eliminate emissions of sulphur oxides, heavy metals, halogenated compounds and other pollutants. This can (be achieved in gasification or pyrolysis processes, however, it is not possible for combustion unless extensive feedstock pretreatment takes place which is always relative expensive. In the medium term future this can prove an advantage for gasification and pyrolysis processes for contaminated biomass or waste recovered fuels in relation to combustion. Although there has been significant progress in the reduction of emissions for all the above pollutants, this is a field where the R&D work should be intensified. This is becoming even more critical as waste recovered fuels and contaminated biomass such as demolition wood are becoming an important cheap resource in countries where there is scarcity of other biomass feedstocks. ETHANOL FUEL PROGRAM EVOLUTION The fuel ethanol program in Brazil was formally established in 1975, aiming at reducing oil imports. Other important considerations were: the existing know-how in fuel ethanol production/utilization; land and labor availability; and low sugar prices in the world market. After 1980, with the ethanol-dedicate engines, local environmental benefits became evident (elimination of Pb in gasoline blends; lower CO emissions; less aggressive HC and NOx). The global environmental benefits, with a substantial reduction in CO2 net emissions, was well quantified in 1990. The program was established within the context of a strong government intervention in the sugar cane sector; before 1975 sugar was produced and commercialized within "production quotas", and all exports were made by the government. In the 90's all the production/commercialization of sugar and ethanol were totally de-regulated as follows: From 1975 - 80's Ethanol: - Level of guaranteed purchase, at controlled prices - "Fixed" ratio of ethanol/gasoline selling prices: 0.59 (1975) 0.75 (1989) - Low interest rate in loans for investment (1980-1985) Sugar: Government issued "production quotas" Exports: by the Government * 1990 Sugar Exports Privatized * 1994 Ethanol: 22% ethanol in gasoline blends * 1995 Sugar: de-regulation (end of quotas) * 1997 Anhydrous ethanol (blends) de-regulation (end of quotas and controlled prices) * Ethanol: 24% ethanol in gasoline blends * Hydrated ethanol (E 1 00): de-regulation Those policies and the world market positions for sugar and oil resulted in productions as are summarized in Figure 1. It is important to see the sugar cane availability, its causes and consequences, to understand the possibilities today. Figure 1: Production - Brazil Internal sugar consumption in Brazil grew in the expected way, somewhat above population growth in some periods. Sugar cane growth from 120 M ton to 240 Mt (from 1979 to 85) was almost entirely driven by the E-l00 (dedicated ethanol car) in the period. In the following years production stabilized; the government policy of paying the producer according to officially audited production costs was gradually abandoned (if not officially), and the "fixed" ratio of pump price ethanol/gasoline increased from 0.59 to 0.75. Sugar exports were privatized in 1990, and a shortage of ethanol (1989-90) led to consumer mistrust and very rapid decline in sales of ethanol dedicated vehicles. In the 90's, the export privatization and the very competitive production costs led to an extraordinary increase in sugar exports (from 1.5 to 11 M ton sugar) pushing sugar cane production to the 300 MT level; this was stabilized again by the drop in sugar prices and the over supply of ethanol in the 97-2000 period. In the same period, the relative utilization of sugar cane for ethanol or sugar is show in Figure 2, as well as the ethanol penetration in the Otto-cycle engine cars, in Brazil.
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Books By Writers Here | <urn:uuid:99ecd006-db2d-414a-a7ef-e0f086a24d3f> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.science20.com/humboldt_fellow_and_science/blog/biodiesel_production | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999653202/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060733-00098-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.861535 | 5,036 | 2.890625 | 3 | 3.025802 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Science & Tech. |
I think Linux users can basically be divided into average users and users who will put time into learning, who are passionate about Linux and eventually are amateur or professional programmers. The average users only want their software to work, and will use the system to accomplish various tasks and not bother with the way things work since they will not need this information. Over the years the ease of use of Linux has advanced considerably, to the point where everything works neatly out of the box, and for the users who only need to use it for basic stuff like web surfing, listening to movies or graphics, there are distributions like Ubuntu or Mint to satisfy their needs. Which is great, since a computer is first a tool, intended to help you do something with it, from a spreadsheet to an advanced graphics or CAD project, for example. The other category includes all the knowledge-hungry guys who usually want to learn more as they advance, who will dig into tutorials, read books, test and experiment.
Of course, most of the time, especially when you need to solve the task at hand in a timely fashion, you will usually just find the quickest way that works, and probably not bother on how exactly does it work. These tips are for beginners, but mostly for those who like Linux as a whole and like to sacrifice some of their own time to go on a path of constant learning how it works.
First, read the introductory tutorials: Read the documentation of your distribution, articles over the Internet about the basics on how it works, what programs does it offer, learn how to install software using the package manager, and start learning how to use the most basic terminal commands, how to make directories, edit files, navigate through the directory structure. Learn what are the standard folders on Linux, what is their purpose. Later you will need to become proficient in shell scripting, since most tasks make your work easier if implemented as automated scripts.
Get real time help on IRC: I find Internet Relay Chat (IRC) to be an invaluable resource when having difficulties in understanding something or when you are in a rush and need a quick answer to accomplish some task. Usually the Linux projects have channels on Freenode and OFTC, and channels like #ubuntu, #debian or #bash can be very helpful. You can as well find help for programming languages, distro-specific questions or just discuss everything Linux on channels such as #ubuntuforums.
Post questions on the forums: The online forums are also very helpful. Each distribution out there has a very large community, part of which is active on the distribution’s forums. For example, Ubuntu Forums is a great place to ask questions, and usually no such question remains unanswered, and moreover, in a timely fashion.
Read the manpages: Although at first a bit hard on the new Linux user, manpages have all the information regarding the usage of a certain tool. They usually contain a description of what the software does, examples on how to use it, as well as all the command-line arguments that can be used. For standard C functions for example, the manpage will show the definition of a function, a description on what it does, possible return values and eventually, some usage examples.
Read the community news websites: Specialized websites in the Linux news domain are a great way to keep yourself up to date, and also to learn new (even if random) stuff. Among the news there are also tutorials featured on these websites, ranging from how to use the command-line and up to how to conquer your desktop using some new, bleeding edge feature. Websites like LXer, Linux Today or OMG! Ubuntu! are among my top recommendations here. But you can also have a look at TuxRadar for example, or the reddit channels for various Linux topics.
Listen to podcasts: Podcasts are live radio streams which you can listen to. MintCast comes to mind first here.
Read technical Linux books: These are probably the most powerful and reliable source of information. You can start by reading some introductory book which will only cover the basics of the command-line and Linux, and will explain in detail the desktop interface of a particular Linux distribution. However, once you advance, there are books which cover shell scripting in detail, programming, system administration, or the Linux kernel intrinsics. Although maybe you’ll never have anything to do with the kernel directly for example, even if you make programs for Linux, knowing the basics of how it works can’t hurt.
Read tutorials: There is a great number of tutorials on various websites, written by Linux professionals. For example some documents at TLDP talk about shell scripting in detail, or Perl programming, or the Linux kernel.
Google is your friend: Even if this seems so old, the truth is if you’re looking for an answer on how to do something, there is at least half chance to find your answer by searching for it on Google. Questions have usually been asked before, on forums, mailing lists, specialized websites (if you’re a programmer, you may find StackOverflow very helpful).
Read the application documentation: You need to do something with a certain program or tool? First try to find help in the application’s help system, which may have a section dedicated to exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, do you need to embed your graphical program in the system tray but the configuration has no option, try to see if the command-line arguments provide it, before searching and finding out you can do it with some other program.
As a conclusion though, be careful with commands taken from various websites or IRC. Even if you’re in a hurry, just stand back for a while and have a look at the source of information, the command-liner which you’re pasting in your terminal or the script that you are about to run. See if it looks safe before using it. Usually there is no malicious advice out there, but certain commands may still be harmful in your environment, even though they’re not intended to be so. For example, do you need to batch rename a collection of 1000 files? First, copy 3-4 files in a new directory and test your script there instead of running some command which, although for another user works well, on your system may have a different result depending on your setup.
So, what are your tips on what is the best way on starting and getting better with Linux? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. | <urn:uuid:ea769079-f612-4f4a-912f-201881be4627> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.tuxarena.com/2014/04/tips-on-how-to-start-learning-linux/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500550969387.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20170728143709-20170728163709-00628.warc.gz | en | 0.942237 | 1,338 | 2.65625 | 3 | 1.887472 | 2 | Moderate reasoning | Software |
Sunburn Home Remedies - Get Rid of Sunburn
Sunburn is a superficial reddening of skin that occurs when the skin is exposed to long hours of sunlight. It is usually seen in fair skinned people or those who have a deficiency of melanin pigment. Negroes do not suffer from this problem. Anyone who visits a beach, goes fishing, works in the yard, or simply is out in the sun can get sunburn. It reduces the stretchiness of the skin and can cause premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, as well as the formation of age spots. Deeper in the skin, it causes changes in the structure of cells, and increases the risk of skin cancers. Sunburn can easily be prevented through the use of sunscreen, clothing (and hats), and by limiting solar exposure, especially during the middle of the day. The only cure for skin burn is slow healing, although skin creams can help. At a cellular level, sunburn is associated with microscopic changes in the skin. Improper tanning bed use is also a source of sunburn. Although seldom fatal, sunburn can be disabling and cause quite a bit of discomfort. There is the formation of UV induced sunburn cells and a reduction in Langerhan cells and mast cells, which play an essential part of the body's immune defence system. Sunburn doesn't just happen in hot weather - reflection of light off the snow can also cause sunburn. Although a breeze, cloudy sky or swimming may make you feel cooler, the sunlight can still get through to damage your skin.
Sunburn is simply a burn or erythema (reddening) and oedema (swelling) on your skin from excessive exposure to the sun's rays, more specifically the ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is emitted from the sun. A similar burn can be produced by overexposure to other sources of UV such as from tanning lamps, or occupationally, such as from welding arcs. Almost all of us will get sunburnt at least once in our lives, and about 5.6 million Australians get sunburnt each year. Sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes and can take a few days or weeks to heal depending on the severity. Exposure to the sun during daily activities and play causes the most sun damage. Overexposure to sunlight before age 18 is most damaging to the skin. Skin that is red and painful and that swells up and blisters may mean deep skin layers and nerve endings have been damaged ( second-degree burn ). This type of sunburn is usually more painful and takes longer to heal. UV rays are strongest during summer months when the sun is directly overhead (normally between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.).
Herbal Medicines and Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn
Drink lots of water to counter the drying effect of sunburn.
Apply soothing compresses dipped in cold water or skimmed milk. An alternative to compresses-is a cold bath. Rub it and don't use excess of soap.
Add enough water to corn starch to make a paste apply directly' to sunburn.
Thin slices of raw cucumber or potato help to reduce inflammation. Apple slices may also work.
Disclaimer : All information on www.healthatoz.info is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, please consult your doctor. | <urn:uuid:e8171f19-9693-4ec3-a82c-5b0dd1bf33a5> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://www.healthatoz.info/home-remedies/sunburn.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688926.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922074554-20170922094554-00022.warc.gz | en | 0.947205 | 712 | 2.75 | 3 | 1.232758 | 1 | Basic reasoning | Health |
An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imagined. Generally speaking, idolatry is the veneration, love, worship, or adoration of an idol. It is usually practiced toward a real or supposed higher power, whether such power is believed to have animate existence (as a human, an animal, or an organization) or is inanimate (as a force or lifeless object of nature). Idolatry generally involves some form, ceremony, or ritual.
The Hebrew terms used to refer to idols often highlighted the origin and inherent worthlessness of idols, or they were derogatory terms of contempt. Among these are words rendered “carved or graven image” (literally, something carved out); “molten statue, image, or idol” (literally, something cast or poured out); “horrible idol”; “vain idol” (literally, vanity); and “dungy idol.” “Idol” is the usual rendering of the Greek word eiʹdo·lon.
Not All Images Are Idols. God’s law not to form images (Ex 20:4, 5) did not rule out the making of all representations and statues. This is indicated by Jehovah’s later command to make two golden cherubs on the cover of the Ark and to embroider representations of cherubs on the inner tent covering of ten tent cloths for the tabernacle and the curtain separating the Holy from the Most Holy. (Ex 25:18; 26:1, 31, 33) Likewise, the interior of Solomon’s temple, the architectural plans for which were given to David by divine inspiration (1Ch 28:11, 12), was beautifully embellished with engraved carvings of cherubs, palm-tree figures, and blossoms. Two cherubs of oil-tree wood overlaid with gold stood in the Most Holy of that temple. (1Ki 6:23, 28, 29) The molten sea rested upon 12 copper bulls, and the sidewalls of the copper carriages for temple use were decorated with figures of lions, bulls, and cherubs. (1Ki 7:25, 28, 29) Twelve lions lined the steps leading up to Solomon’s throne.—2Ch 9:17-19.
These representations, however, were not idols for worship. Only the officiating priests saw the representations of the tabernacle interior and, later, of the temple interior. No one but the high priest entered the Most Holy, and that only on the Day of Atonement. (Heb 9:7) Thus there was no danger of the Israelites’ being ensnared into idolizing the golden cherubs in the sanctuary. These representations primarily served as a picture of the heavenly cherubs. (Compare Heb 9:23, 24.) That they were not to be venerated is evident from the fact that the angels themselves were not to be worshiped.—Col 2:18; Re 19:10; 22:8, 9.
Of course, there were times when images became idols, although not originally intended as objects of veneration. The copper serpent that Moses formed in the wilderness came to be worshiped, and therefore faithful King Hezekiah crushed it to pieces. (Nu 21:9; 2Ki 18:1, 4) The ephod made by Judge Gideon became “a snare” to him and to his household.—Jg 8:27.
Images as Aids in Worship. The Scriptures do not sanction the use of images as a means to address God in prayer. Such a practice runs counter to the principle that those seeking to serve Jehovah must worship him with spirit and truth. (Joh 4:24; 2Co 4:18; 5:6, 7) He tolerates no mixing of idolatrous practices with true worship, as is illustrated by his condemnation of calf worship, although the Israelites had attached his name thereto. (Ex 32:3-10) Jehovah does not share his glory with graven images.—Isa 42:8.
There is not a single instance in Scripture where faithful servants of Jehovah resorted to the use of visual aids to pray to God or engaged in a form of relative worship. Of course, some may cite Hebrews 11:21, which, according to the Catholic Douay Version, reads: “By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.” Then in a footnote on this scripture it is held that Jacob paid relative honor and veneration to the top of Joseph’s rod, and the comment is made: “Some translators, who are no friends to this relative honour, have corrupted the text, by translating it: he worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” However, rather than being a corruption of the text, as this footnote maintains, this latter rendering and comparable variants thereof are in agreement with the sense of the Hebrew text at Genesis 47:31 and have been adopted even by a number of Catholic translations, including The Jerusalem Bible.
Forms of Idolatry. Acts of idolatry referred to in the Bible included such revolting practices as ceremonial prostitution, child sacrifice, drunkenness, and self-laceration to the point of causing blood to flow. (1Ki 14:24; 18:28; Jer 19:3-5; Ho 4:13, 14; Am 2:8) Idols were venerated by partaking of food and drink in festivals or ceremonies in their honor (Ex 32:6; 1Co 8:10), by bowing and sacrificing to them, by song and dance before them, and even by a kiss. (Ex 32:8, 18, 19; 1Ki 19:18; Ho 13:2) Idolatry was also committed by arranging a table of food and drink for false gods (Isa 65:11), by making drink offerings, sacrificial cakes, and sacrificial smoke (Jer 7:18; 44:17), and by weeping in religious ceremony (Eze 8:14). Certain actions, such as tattooing the flesh, making cuttings upon the flesh, imposing baldness on the forehead, cutting the sidelocks, and destroying the extremity of the beard, were prohibited by the Law, possibly, at least in part, because of being linked with prevailing idolatrous practices of neighboring peoples.—Le 19:26-28; De 14:1.
Then there are the more subtle forms of idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry (Col 3:5), since the object of an individual’s cravings diverts affection from the Creator and thus, in effect, becomes an idol. Instead of serving Jehovah God in faithfulness, a person can become a slave to his belly, that is, to fleshly desire or appetite, and make this his god. (Ro 16:18; Php 3:18, 19) Since love for the Creator is demonstrated by obedience (1Jo 5:3), rebellion and pushing ahead presumptuously are comparable to acts of idolatry.—1Sa 15:22, 23.
Pre-Flood Idolatry. Idolatry had its beginning, not in the visible realm, but in the invisible. A glorious spirit creature developed the covetous desire to resemble the Most High. So strong was his desire that it alienated him from his God, Jehovah, and his idolatry caused him to rebel.—Job 1:6-11; 1Ti 3:6; compare Isa 14:12-14; Eze 28:13-15, 17.
Similarly, Eve constituted herself the first human idolater by coveting the forbidden fruit, this wrong desire leading her to disobey God’s command. By allowing selfish desire to rival his love for Jehovah and then by disobeying him, Adam likewise became guilty of idolatry.—Ge 3:6, 17.
Since the rebellion in Eden, only a minority of mankind have remained free from idolatry. During the lifetime of Adam’s grandson Enosh, men apparently practiced a form of idolatry. “At that time a start was made of calling on the name of Jehovah.” (Ge 4:26) But evidently this was no calling upon Jehovah in faith, something done by righteous Abel many years earlier and for which he suffered martyrdom at the hands of his brother Cain. (Ge 4:4, 5, 8) Apparently, what was started in the days of Enosh was a false form of worship in which Jehovah’s name was misused or improperly applied. Either men applied Jehovah’s name to themselves or to other men (through whom they pretended to approach God in worship), or else they applied the divine name to idol objects (as a visible, tangible aid in their attempt to worship the invisible God).
To what extent idolatry was practiced from the days of Enosh until the Flood, the Bible record does not reveal. The situation must have progressively deteriorated, because in Noah’s day “Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time.” Besides the inherited sinful inclination of man, the materialized angels, who had relations with the daughters of men, and the hybrid offspring of these unions, the Nephilim, exerted upon the world of that time a strong influence toward bad.—Ge 6:4, 5.
Idolatry in Patriarchal Times. Although the Flood of Noah’s day destroyed all human idolaters, idolatry began anew, spearheaded by Nimrod, “a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah.” (Ge 10:9) Doubtless under Nimrod’s direction, the building of Babel and its tower (likely a ziggurat for use in idolatrous worship) began. The plans of those builders were frustrated when Jehovah confused their language. No longer being able to understand one another, they gradually left off building the city and scattered. However, the idolatry that began at Babel did not end there. Wherever those builders went they carried their false religious concepts.—Ge 11:1-9; see GODS AND GODDESSES.
The next city mentioned in the Scriptures, Ur of the Chaldeans, like Babel, was not devoted to the worship of the true God, Jehovah. Archaeological diggings there have revealed that the patron deity of that city was the moon-god Sin. It was in Ur that Terah, the father of Abram (Abraham), resided. (Ge 11:27, 28) Living in the midst of idolatry, Terah may have engaged in it, as is indicated centuries later by Joshua’s words to the Israelites: “It was on the other side of the River [Euphrates] that your forefathers dwelt a long time ago, Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they used to serve other gods.” (Jos 24:2) But Abraham displayed faith in the true God, Jehovah.
Wherever Abraham, and later his descendants, went they met up with idolatry, influenced by the original apostasy at Babel. So there was an ever-present danger of being contaminated by such idolatry. Even those related to Abraham had idols. Laban, who was the father-in-law of Abraham’s grandson Jacob, had teraphim, or family gods, in his possession. (Ge 31:19, 31, 32) Jacob himself found it necessary to instruct his household to put away all their foreign gods, and he hid the idols turned over to him. (Ge 35:2-4) Perhaps he disposed of them in this way so that none in his household might reuse the metal as something having special value on account of its previous idolatrous use. Whether Jacob initially melted or smashed the images is not stated.
Idolatry and God’s Covenant People. As Jehovah had indicated to Abraham, his descendants, the Israelites, became alien residents in a land not theirs, namely Egypt, and suffered affliction there. (Ge 15:13) In Egypt they came in contact with rank idolatry, for image making ran riot in that country. Many of the deities worshiped there were represented by animal heads, among them being the cat-headed Bast, the cow-headed Hathor, the falcon-headed Horus, the jackal-headed Anubis (PICTURE, Vol. 1, p. 946), and the ibis-headed Thoth, to name but a few. Creatures of sea, air, and land were venerated, and at death “sacred” animals were mummified.
The Law that Jehovah gave to his people after liberating them from Egypt was explicitly directed against idolatrous practices so prevalent among the ancients. The second of the Ten Commandments expressly prohibited making for worship a carved image or a representation of anything in the heavens, on the earth, or in the waters. (Ex 20:4, 5; De 5:8, 9) In his final exhortations to the Israelites, Moses emphasized the impossibility of making an image of the true God and warned them to beware of the snare of idolatry. (De 4:15-19) To further safeguard the Israelites from becoming idolaters, they were commanded not to conclude any covenant with the pagan inhabitants of the land they were entering or to form marriage alliances with them, but to annihilate them. All existing appendages of idolatry—altars, sacred pillars, sacred poles, and graven images—were to be destroyed.—De 7:2-5.
Moses’ successor Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and admonished them to remove the false gods and to serve Jehovah faithfully. The people agreed to do so and continued serving Jehovah during his lifetime and that of the older men who extended their days after Joshua. (Jos 24:14-16, 31) But thereafter wholesale apostasy set in. The people began worshiping Canaanite deities—Baal, Ashtoreth, and the sacred pole, or Asherah. Hence, Jehovah abandoned the Israelites into the hands of their enemies. However, when they repented, he mercifully raised up judges to deliver them.—Jg 2:11-19; 3:7; see ASHTORETH; BAAL No. 4; SACRED PILLAR; SACRED POLE.
Under the rule of the kings. During the reigns of Israel’s first king, Saul, of his son Ish-bosheth, and of David, there is no mention of large-scale idolatry being engaged in by the Israelites. Nevertheless, there are indications that idolatry lingered on in the kingdom. Saul’s own daughter, Michal, for instance, had a teraphim image in her possession. (1Sa 19:13; see TERAPHIM.) It was not until the latter part of the reign of David’s son Solomon, however, that outright idolatry came to be practiced, the monarch himself, under the influence of his many foreign wives, giving the impetus to idolatry by sanctioning it. High places were built to Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, or Molech. The people in general succumbed to false worship and began bowing down to these idol gods.—1Ki 11:3-8, 33; 2Ki 23:13; see CHEMOSH; MOLECH.
On account of this idolatry, Jehovah ripped ten tribes away from Solomon’s son Rehoboam and gave these to Jeroboam. (1Ki 11:31-35; 12:19-24) Although assured that his kingdom would remain firm if he continued serving Jehovah in faithfulness, Jeroboam, on becoming king, instituted calf worship, fearing that the people would revolt against his rule if they continued going to Jerusalem for worship. (1Ki 11:38; 12:26-33) Idolatrous calf worship continued all the days the ten-tribe kingdom existed, with Tyrian Baalism being introduced during Ahab’s reign. (1Ki 16:30-33) Not all apostatized, however. While Ahab reigned, there still was a remnant of 7,000 who had neither bent the knee to nor kissed Baal, and this at a time when Jehovah’s prophets were being killed with the sword, doubtless at the instigation of Ahab’s wife Jezebel.—1Ki 19:1, 2, 14, 18; Ro 11:4; see CALF (Calf Worship).
With the exception of Jehu’s eradication of Baal worship (2Ki 10:20-28), there is no record of any religious reform being undertaken by a monarch of the ten-tribe kingdom. To the prophets repeatedly sent by Jehovah, the people and rulers of the northern kingdom gave no heed, so that finally the Almighty abandoned them into the hands of the Assyrians because of their sordid record of idolatry.—2Ki 17:7-23.
In the kingdom of Judah, the situation was not much different, aside from the reforms carried out by certain kings. Whereas a divided kingdom had come about as a direct result of idolatry, Solomon’s son Rehoboam did not take to heart Jehovah’s discipline and shun idolatry. As soon as his position was secure, he and all Judah with him apostatized. (2Ch 12:1) The people built high places, equipping these with sacred pillars and sacred poles, and engaged in ceremonial prostitution. (1Ki 14:23, 24) Although Abijam (Abijah) expressed faith in Jehovah at the time he warred against Jeroboam and was blessed with victory, to a large extent he imitated the sinful course of his father and predecessor on the throne, Rehoboam.—1Ki 15:1, 3; 2Ch 13:3-18.
The next two Judean kings, Asa and Jehoshaphat, served Jehovah in faithfulness and endeavored to rid the kingdom of idolatry. But Judah was so steeped in worship at high places that, despite the efforts of both of these kings to destroy them, the high places seem to have persisted secretly or they cropped up again.—1Ki 15:11-14; 22:42, 43; 2Ch 14:2-5; 17:5, 6; 20:31-33.
The reign of Judah’s next king, Jehoram, commenced with bloodshed and began a new chapter in Judah’s idolatry. This is attributed to his having idolatrous Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, as wife. (2Ch 21:1-4, 6, 11) The queen mother Athaliah also proved to be the counselor to Jehoram’s son Ahaziah. Hence, during the rule of Ahaziah and that of the usurper Athaliah, idolatry continued with the approval of the crown.—2Ch 22:1-3, 12.
Early in the reign of Jehoash, following the execution of Athaliah, there was a restoration of true worship. But upon the death of High Priest Jehoiada, there was a return to idol worship at the instigation of Judah’s princes. (2Ki 12:2, 3; 2Ch 24:17, 18) Jehovah therefore abandoned the Judean forces into the hands of the invading Syrians, and Jehoash was murdered by his own servants.—2Ch 24:23-25.
Undoubtedly the execution of God’s judgment upon Judah and the violent death of Amaziah’s father Jehoash made a deep impression upon Amaziah, so that he proceeded at first to do what was right in Jehovah’s eyes. (2Ch 25:1-4) But after defeating the Edomites and taking their images, he began serving the gods of his vanquished foes. (2Ch 25:14) Retribution came when Judah was defeated by the ten-tribe kingdom and later when Amaziah was murdered by conspirators. (2Ch 25:20-24, 27) Although Azariah (Uzziah) and his son Jotham are reported generally to have done what was right in Jehovah’s eyes, their subjects persisted in idolatry at the high places.—2Ki 15:1-4, 32-35; 2Ch 26:3, 4, 16-18; 27:1, 2.
During the kingship of Jotham’s son Ahaz, Judah’s religious state reached a new low. Ahaz began to practice idolatry on a scale never known before in Judah; he was the first-reported Judean king to have sacrificed his offspring in the fire as a false religious act. (2Ki 16:1-4; 2Ch 28:1-4) Jehovah chastised Judah by means of defeats at the hands of their enemies. Ahaz, instead of repenting, concluded that the gods of the kings of Syria were giving them the victory and therefore decided to sacrifice to these deities so that they might also help him. (2Ch 28:5, 23) Furthermore, the doors of Jehovah’s temple were closed, and its utensils were cut to pieces.—2Ch 28:24.
While Ahaz did not benefit from Jehovah’s discipline, his son Hezekiah did. (2Ch 29:1, 5-11) In the very first year of his becoming king, Hezekiah restored the true worship of Jehovah. (2Ch 29:3) His reign saw the destruction of appendages of false worship not only in Judah and Benjamin but also in Ephraim and Manasseh.—2Ch 31:1.
But Hezekiah’s own son Manasseh completely revived idolatry. (2Ki 21:1-7; 2Ch 33:1-7) As to the reasons for this, the Bible record is silent. Manasseh, who began ruling as a 12-year-old, may have been wrongly directed initially by counselors and princes not exclusively devoted to Jehovah’s service. Unlike Ahaz, though, Manasseh, as a captive in Babylon, repented upon receiving this severe discipline from Jehovah and undertook reforms upon returning to Jerusalem. (2Ch 33:10-16) His son Amon, however, reverted to sacrificing to the graven images.—2Ch 33:21-24.
Next came Josiah’s rule and a thorough eradication of idolatry in Judah. The sites of idolatrous worship were desecrated there and even in the cities of Samaria. The foreign-god priests and those making sacrificial smoke to Baal, as well as to the sun, the moon, the constellations of the zodiac, and all the army of the heavens, were put out of business. (2Ki 23:4-27; 2Ch 34:1-5) Still this large-scale campaign against idolatry did not effect permanent reform. The last four Judean kings, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, persisted in idolatry.—2Ki 23:31, 32, 36, 37; 24:8, 9, 18, 19; see ASTROLOGERS; HIGH PLACES; ZODIAC.
The references to idolatry in the writings of the prophets further cast light on what occurred during the last years of the kingdom of Judah. Sites of idolatry, ceremonial prostitution, and child sacrifice continued to exist. (Jer 3:6; 17:1-3; 19:2-5; 32:29, 35; Eze 6:3, 4) Even Levites were guilty of practicing idolatry. (Eze 44:10, 12, 13) Ezekiel, transported in vision to Jerusalem’s temple, there saw a detestable idol, “the symbol of jealousy,” and the veneration of representations of creeping things and loathsome beasts, as well as the according of reverence to the false god Tammuz and the sun.—Eze 8:3, 7-16.
Despite the fact that the Israelites adored idols to the point of sacrificing their own children, they carried on a semblance of worshiping Jehovah and reasoned that no calamity would befall them. (Jer 7:4, 8-12; Eze 23:36-39) So empty-headed had the people in general become by reason of their pursuit of idolatry that when calamity did come and Jerusalem was desolated by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E., in fulfillment of Jehovah’s word, they attributed it to their failure to make sacrificial smoke and drink offerings to the “queen of the heavens.”—Jer 44:15-18; see QUEEN OF THE HEAVENS.
Why Israel Turned to Idolatry. There were a number of factors that caused so many Israelites repeatedly to abandon true worship. Being one of the works of the flesh, idolatry appealed to the desires of the flesh. (Ga 5:19-21) Once settled in the Promised Land, the Israelites may have observed their pagan neighbors, whom they had failed to drive out entirely, having good success with their crops by reason of longer experience in working the land. Likely many made inquiry and heeded the advice of their Canaanite neighbors as to what was needed to please the Baal, or “owner,” of each piece of land.—Ps 106:34-39.
Forming marriage alliances with idolaters was another inducement to apostatize. (Jg 3:5, 6) The unrestrained sexual indulgence associated with idolatry proved to be no little temptation. At Shittim on the Plains of Moab, for instance, thousands of Israelites yielded to immorality and engaged in false worship. (Nu 22:1; 25:1-3) To some, being able to give way to unrestrained drinking at the sanctuaries of false gods may have been tempting.—Am 2:8.
Then there was the attraction of supposedly learning what the future had in store, this stemming from a desire to be assured that all would go well. Examples of this are Saul’s consulting a spirit medium and Ahaziah’s sending to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron.—1Sa 28:6-11; 2Ki 1:2, 3.
The Folly of Idol Worship. Time and again the Scriptures call attention to the foolishness of relying on gods of wood, stone, or metal. Isaiah describes the manufacture of idols and shows the stupidity of a person who uses part of the wood of a tree to cook his food and to warm himself and then makes the remainder into a god to whom he looks for aid. (Isa 44:9-20) In the day of Jehovah’s fury, wrote Isaiah, false worshipers would throw their worthless idols to the shrewmice and to the bats. (Isa 2:19-21) “Woe to the one saying to the piece of wood: ‘O do awake!’ to a dumb stone: ‘O wake up!’” (Hab 2:19) Those making dumb idols will become just like them, that is, lifeless.—Ps 115:4-8; 135:15-18; see Re 9:20.
Viewpoint Toward Idolatry. Faithful servants of Jehovah have always regarded idols with abhorrence. In Scripture, false gods and idols are repeatedly referred to in contemptible terms, as being valueless (1Ch 16:26; Ps 96:5; 97:7), horrible (1Ki 15:13; 2Ch 15:16), shameful (Jer 11:13; Ho 9:10), detestable (Eze 16:36, 37), and disgusting (Eze 37:23). Often mention is made of “dungy idols,” this expression being a rendering of the Hebrew word gil·lu·limʹ, which is related to a word meaning “dung.” (1Ki 14:10; Zep 1:17) This term of contempt, first appearing at Leviticus 26:30, is found nearly 40 times in the book of Ezekiel alone, beginning with chapter 6, verse 4.
Faithful Job recognized that even if his heart became enticed in secrecy at beholding heavenly bodies such as the moon and his ‘hand proceeded to kiss his mouth’ (apparently alluding to throwing a kiss with the hand in an idolatrous practice), this would have constituted a denial of God, hence idolatry. (Job 31:26-28; compare De 4:15, 19.) With reference to a practicer of righteousness, Jehovah said through the prophet Ezekiel, “His eyes he did not raise to the dungy idols of the house of Israel,” that is, to offer supplication to them or in expectation of help from them.—Eze 18:5, 6.
Another fine example of shunning idolatry was that of the three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who, although threatened with death in the fiery furnace, refused to bow before the image of gold erected by King Nebuchadnezzar in the Plain of Dura.—Da 3.
The early Christians heeded the inspired counsel: “Flee from idolatry” (1Co 10:14), and image makers viewed Christianity as a threat to their profitable business. (Ac 19:23-27) As testified to by secular historians, remaining free from idolatry often placed Christians living in the Roman Empire in a position similar to that of the three Hebrews. Acknowledging the divine character of the emperor as head of the state by offering a pinch of incense could have spared such Christians from death, but few compromised. Those early Christians fully appreciated that once they turned away from idols to serve the true God (1Th 1:9), a return to idolatry would mean their being debarred from the New Jerusalem and their losing out on the prize of life.—Re 21:8; 22:14, 15.
Servants of Jehovah must guard themselves from idols (1Jo 5:21), even today. It was foretold that great pressures would be brought to bear against all the inhabitants of the earth to worship the symbolic “wild beast” and its “image.” None who persist in such idolatrous worship will receive God’s gift of life everlasting. “Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones.”—Re 13:15-17; 14:9-12; see DISGUSTING THING, LOATHSOME THING. | <urn:uuid:ce9eb26f-e3a1-4741-a973-1fa64d7f7922> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002136#h=40:0-41:0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943589.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20230321002050-20230321032050-00390.warc.gz | en | 0.962665 | 6,580 | 3.3125 | 3 | 3.023259 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Religion |
Aided by advanced stem cell technology and tissue chips, National Institutes of Health-funded researchers used stem cells originally derived from a person’s skin to recreate interactions between blood vessels and neurons that may occur early in the formation of the fetal human spinal cord. The results published in Stem Cell Reports suggest that the system can mimic critical parts of the human nervous system, raising the possibility that it may one day, be used to test personalized treatments of neurological disorders.
Led by Samuel Sances, Ph.D., and Clive N. Svendsen, Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, the researchers first converted the stem cells into newborn spinal cord neurons or epithelial cells that line walls of brain blood vessels. In most experiments, each cell type was then injected into one of two chambers embedded side-by-side in thumb-sized, plastic tissue chips and allowed to grow. Six days after injections, the researchers found that the growing neurons exclusively filled their chambers while the growing blood vessel cells not only lined their chamber in a cobblestone pattern reminiscent of vessels in the body, but also snuck through the perforations in the chamber walls and contacted the neurons. This appeared to enhance maturation of both cell types, causing the neurons to fire more often and both cell types to be marked by some gene activity found in fetal spinal cord cells.
Tissue chips are relatively new tools for medical research and since 2012 the NIH has funded several tissue-chip projects. Unlike traditional petri dish systems, tissue chips help researchers grow cells in more life-like environments. Using microprocessor manufacturing techniques, the chambers can be built to recreate the three-dimensional shapes of critical organ parts and the tight spaces that mimic the way viscous, bodily fluids normally flow around the cells. Both factors can influence the normal growth of organs and results from this study supported this idea. The tissue chips allowed the researchers to grow neurons and blood vessels together, which was impossible to do in petri dishes. Moreover, neurons grown alone in tissue chips had firing patterns and gene activity that were more mature than cells grown in petri dishes. Although further genetic analysis suggested the tissue-chip cells were in an early stage of fetal spinal cord formation, the researchers concluded that, overall, this is a promising start for the development of chips that mimic a patient’s nervous system.
Danilo Tagle, Ph.D., program director, NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Research
Margaret Sutherland, Ph.D., program director, NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Sances et al. Human iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells and Microengineered Organ-Chip Enhance Neuronal Development, April 10, 2018, Stem Cell Reports; DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.012 (link is external)
This study was supported by the NIH (NS105703), the ALS Association (18-SI-389), the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (DISC1-08800). Cedars-Sinai is a minority stock holder in Emulate, Inc., the company that made the study’s organ-chip microfluidic devices, and an officer of Cedars-Sinai serves on Emulate’s Board of Directors. Emulate provided no funding for the study. | <urn:uuid:40cb5c77-1b58-4235-9505-76a68d5c5fed> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://scienceblog.com/500625/als-researchers-begin-recreating-human-spinal-cords-on-a-chip/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875142603.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20200217145609-20200217175609-00160.warc.gz | en | 0.930959 | 703 | 4 | 4 | 2.854286 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Science & Tech. |
How Heat Affects the Body Human
Human bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, by losing water through the skin and sweat glands, and-as the last extremity is reached-by panting, when blood is heated above 98.6 degrees. The heart begins to pump more blood, blood vessels dilate to accommodate the increased flow, and the bundles of tiny capillaries threading through the upper layers of skin are put into operation. The body’s blood is circulated closer to the skin’s surface, and excess heat drains off into the cooler atmosphere. At the same time, water diffuses through the skin as perspiration. The skin handles about 90 percent of the body’s heat dissipating function.
Sweating, by itself, does nothing to cool the body, unless the water is removed by evaporation, and high relative humidity retards evaporation. The evaporation process itself works this way: the heat energy required to evaporate the sweat is extracted from the body, thereby cooling it. Under conditions of high temperature (above 90 degrees) and high relative humidity, the body is doing everything it can to maintain 98.6 degrees inside. The heart is pumping a torrent of blood through dilated circulatory vessels; the sweat glands are pouring liquid-including essential dissolved chemicals, like sodium and chloride onto the surface of the skin.
Too Much Heat
Heat disorders generally have to do with a reduction or collapse of the body’s ability to shed heat by circulatory changes and sweating, or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body’s inner core begins to rise and heat-related illness may develop.
Ranging in severity, heat disorders share one common feature: the individual has overexposed or over exercised for his age and physical condition in the existing thermal environment.
Sunburn, with its ultraviolet radiation burns, can significantly retard the skin’s ability to shed excess heat. Studies indicate that, other things being equal, the severity of heat disorders tend to increase with age-heat cramps in a 17-year-old may be heat exhaustion in someone 40, and heat stroke in a person over 60.
Acclimatization has to do with adjusting sweat-salt concentrations, among other things. The idea is to lose enough water to regulate body temperature, with the least possible chemical disturbance.
Cities Pose Special Hazards
The stagnant atmospheric conditions of the heat wave trap pollutants in urban areas and add the stresses of severe pollution to the already dangerous stresses of hot weather, creating a health problem of undiscovered dimensions. A map of heat-related deaths in St. Louis during 1966, for example, shows a heavier concentration in the crowded alleys and towers of the inner city, where air quality would also be poor during a heat wave.
The high inner-city death rates also can be read as poor access to air-conditioned rooms. While air conditioning may be a luxury in normal times, it can be a lifesaver during heat wave conditions.
The cost of cool air moves steadily higher, adding what appears to be a cruel economic side to heat wave fatalities. Indications from the 1978 Texas heat wave suggest that some elderly people on fixed incomes, many of them in buildings that could not be ventilated without air conditioning, found the cost too high, turned off their units, and ultimately succumbed to the stresses of heat | <urn:uuid:593498aa-8dbd-4b8a-b185-e6eb13c2400e> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mqt/?n=heat_safety_ehwo | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500829916.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021349-00351-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938472 | 734 | 3.828125 | 4 | 2.714953 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Health |
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Votes for Women: the first mass petition
AGES 11-16, HISTORY, ENGLISH, CITIZENSHIP
This interactive teaching resource provides students with the opportunity to explore the suffrage movement from its beginnings in 1866 up to equal voting rights in 1928.
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that
supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
• Coronary heart disease is usually caused by a
condition called atherosclerosis, which occurs
when fatty material and a substance called
plaque build up on the walls of your arteries.
This causes them to get narrow. As the coronary
arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart can slow
down or stop. This can cause chest pain (stable
angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, and
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading
cause of death
• In atherosclerosis, fat and cholesterol
in your blood builds up on an artery
wall, forming a plaque or atheroma.
The plaque can prevent the heart
muscle from getting the blood supply
(and therefore oxygen) that it needs. If
you have atherosclerosis, physical
exertion or emotional stress can bring
on chest pain called angina (see What
can coronary heart disease cause).
• Because of the reduced blood flow and
the rough edges of the plaque, a blood
clot sometimes forms. This can block
the artery. Or the plaque may rupture,
which also causes the blood to clot.
This is called atherothrombosis.
• Atherothrombosis stops an area of the
heart muscle receiving blood and
oxygen, leading to permanent damage.
This is called a myocardial infarction
(MI), or heart attack. If a lot of your
heart muscle is damaged your heart
may stop beating regularly, or stop
beating at all. This is fatal (see What
can coronary heart disease cause).
• Bad genes (heredity) can increase your risk. You are more likely to develop
the condition if someone in your family has had a history of heart disease --
especially if they had it before age 50. Your risk for CHD goes up the older
• Diabetes is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
• High blood pressure increases your risk of coronary artery disease and
• Abnormal cholesterol levels: your LDL ("bad") cholesterol should be as low
as possible, and your HDL ("good") cholesterol should be as high as
• Metabolic syndrome refers to high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure,
excess body fat around the waist, and increased insulin levels. People with
this group of problems have an increased chance of getting heart disease.
• Smokers have a much higher risk of heart disease than nonsmokers.
• Chronic kidney disease can increase your risk.
• Already having atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries in another part
of your body (examples are stroke and abdominal aortic aneurysm)
increases your risk of having coronary heart disease.
• Other risk factors including alcohol abuse, not getting enough exercise, and
excessive amounts of stress.
• Chest pain or discomfort (angina) is the most common
symptom. You feel this pain when the heart is not getting
enough blood or oxygen. How bad the pain is varies
from person to person.
• It may feel heavy or like someone is squeezing your
heart. You feel it under your breast bone (sternum), but
also in your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back.
• The pain usually occurs with activity or emotion, and
goes away with rest or a medicine called nitroglycerin.
• Other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue
with activity (exertion).
• Many tests help diagnose CHD. Usually, your doctor will order more
than one test before making a definite diagnosis.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Exercise stress test
• Nuclear scan
• Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) to look for calcium in
the lining of the arteries -- the more calcium, the higher your chance
• CT angiography -- a noninvasive way to perform coronary
• Magnetic resonance angiography
• Coronary angiography/arteriography -- an invasive procedure
designed to evaluate the heart arteries under x-ray
• Avoid or reduce stress as best as you can.
• Don't smoke.
• Eat well-balanced meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and
include several daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Get regular exercise. If your weight is considered normal, get at
least 30 minutes of exercise every day. If you are overweight or
obese, experts say you should get 60 - 90 minutes of exercise every
• Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg if you have diabetes
or chronic kidney disease, and below 140/90 otherwise
• Keep your cholesterol and blood sugar under control.
• Moderate amounts of alcohol (one glass a day for women, two for
men) may reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems. However,
drinking larger amounts does more harm than good.
• Angina is a type of
caused by poor blood
flow through the blood
vessels) of the heart
• After having a heart attack, or if you develop angina, you will usually
be prescribed heart medicines to help stop your heart disease
getting worse or to prevent further heart attacks. Some examples
are listed below. Always read the patient information that comes with
your medicine, and follow your doctor's advice.
• Aspirin. Taking a small (75 mg) daily dose of aspirin makes your
blood less likely to form clots in your coronary arteries and reduces
your risk of having a heart attack.
• Statins. These drugs help to lower your cholesterol levels and so
slow down the process of atherosclerosis.
• Beta-blockers. These drugs slow your heart rate and reduce the
pumping power of the heart. This reduces your heart's demand for
oxygen. Beta-blockers also widen blood vessels helping to lower
• ACE inhibitors. These drugs are often used in people with heart
failure or after a heart attack. They lower your blood pressure.
• Angioplasty (also known as percutaneous coronary intervention or
PCI). In this operation a collapsed balloon is threaded through the
blood vessels until it reaches the arteries of the heart. The balloon is
inflated to widen the narrowed coronary artery. A stent (flexible
mesh tube) is sometimes inserted to help keep the artery open
afterwards. The stent sometimes releases a drug that helps to keep
the blood vessel open. You should be able to go home the day after
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). In this operation, the surgeon
takes a piece of blood vessel from your leg or chest and uses it to
bypass the narrowed coronary arteries. The bypass provides the
heart with more blood. This is open-heart surgery and requires a
longer stay in hospital.
This powerpoint was kindly donated to
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How will countries across Europe continue to make best use of blended learning in their classrooms?
That’s the question addressed by Co-Learn, our latest Erasmus+ project looking at blended learning delivery and pedagogy across Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the UK and the Netherlands. CLC’s Caitlin McMillan considers what that question involves.
Last week saw us get together (fittingly, in a blended fashion) for our first project meeting.
We were hoping to make it to Delft, but Covid-19 had other ideas, so the Dutch and Danish delegations got together in Delft and the rest of us joined in remotely.
1. How can children have ownership of their learning?
In some ways, children have had more ownership over their learning than ever before during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Teachers observed that quieter children were sometimes more participatory and interactive during remote sessions, and that children had more opportunity to follow their interests and passions. This question proposes investigating what ‘ownership’ means in a learning context, and how technology can help everyone to be heard.
2. How can teachers use blended learning to create differentiated learning in the classroom?
Teachers have learned a huge amount about technology-enhanced learning in the past year. This question focuses on what support teachers might need in order to be able to use technology effectively for differentiated learning both at home and in school.
3. Can maintaining the dialogue developed between teacher and pupil during the lockdown continue to benefit learning outcomes?
For pupils, as for us all, the social environment changed enormously during school closures. The digital space offered a forum for pupils to engage with one another and with their teachers, allowing for more personalised dialogue and the expansion of classroom relationships. For some pupils, an online chat function proved a safer space to interact and ask questions than putting a hand up in class. This question suggests exploring the ways in which these relationships have developed, and looking at how technology can help us to maintain the positive elements built during lockdowns.
4. Can a virtual teaching presence be effective even in a physical school environment?
All participating schools agreed that teacher presence was a core component of making remote learning effective, but could a virtual presence also be effective in the classroom? This proposal entailed teachers running individual lessons over video conferencing while a TA was in the classroom with the children. Would it work better for some subjects than others? What kit would pupils need in order to engage effectively? This question hopes to identify opportunities and obstacles in the remote learning environment.
5. How can a blended approach to feedback help both pupils and teachers?
As a group, we settled on this investigation for our first piece of action research.
Alongside our partner schools, we will explore how student-teacher feedback and dialogue can be supported by technology, how technology can enhance peer-to-peer feedback and whether digital communities of practice can enhance student learning.
Watch this space for more information about how we and the other Co-Learn countries investigate feedback in school. We’ll be working on it ahead of (hopefully!) a trip to Denmark in February where we can share findings.
One more thing
One of our challenges over the course of the programme week was to design a ‘school of the future’ in Co-Spaces. We were reminded of how good it is as a tool, and also had a chance to explore updates and new features.
Check it out here: https://cospaces.io/edu/ | <urn:uuid:5cbb5536-1138-4c3d-a923-f795ab1d29f8> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://co-learn.eu/dissemination/five-questions-european-teachers-are-asking-about-blended-learning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030335444.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220930051717-20220930081717-00562.warc.gz | en | 0.966852 | 728 | 3.046875 | 3 | 3.090266 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Education & Jobs |
Methylation Studies for Angelman Syndrome and Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) are two distinct disorders caused by imprinting defects in the chromosome 15q11.2-q13 region. Unaffected individuals have one methylated allele (maternal) and one unmethylated allele (paternal).
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by absence of the paternal (unmethylated) allele at chromosome locus 15q11.2-q13, which causes a constellation of physical and cognitive findings. The absence of the paternal allele can be caused by a number of genetic mechanisms.
Prader-Willi syndrome occurs with a frequency of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 30,00 births and is characterized by specific facial features (almond shaped palpebral fissures, narrowed bi-frontal diameter), significant hypotonia during infancy, and hypogonadism. Hypotonia in affected children typically improves by 2 to 3 years of age, however by early childhood most affected individuals exhibit central obesity due to hyperphagia and global developmental delay.
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurologic disorder caused by the absence of the maternal (methylated) allele at chromosome locus 15q11.2-q13. The absence of the maternal allele can be caused by a number of genetic mechanisms as well.
Angelman syndrome occurs with a frequency of 1 in 20,000 births and is characterized by happy demeanor, characteristic facial features, seizures, ataxia, episodes of paroxysmal laughter, and lack of speech development. Individuals with Angelman syndrome exhibit cognitive and developmental delay without evidence of regression, minimal language skills, ataxia, tremors and seizures.
Methylation study of the 15q11.2-q13 region is considered a first-tier diagnostic test in the work-up of either of these imprinting conditions. If methylation studies are positive, further evaluation, such as FISH analysis to evaluate for chromosome 15 imprinting center deletion, may be performed to determine the underlying genetic mechanism, which has implications with respect to recurrence risk. FISH analysis for the PWS/AS critical region is available in our laboratory upon request.
Reasons for Referral
- Confirmation of a clinical diagnosis.
- Child with unexplained cognitive impairment or developmental delay.
- Child with ataxia and/or absent speech.
- Child with microcephaly and/or seizures.
- Infant with poor feeding, hypotonia and failure to thrive.
Molecular analysis performed at the Genetics Center analyzes the methylation status of the SNRPN gene within the PWS/AS critical region.
Turn Around Time
6 days or fewer
Specimen Requirements and Shipping/Handling
Blood: A single tube with 1-5 mL whole blood in EDTA (lavender top).
Saliva: To request a DNA Mouthwash Collection Kit please contact Genetics Center at (714)288-3500.
Store blood at 4°C until shipment. Ship at ambient temperature in an insulated container via overnight delivery within 96 hours of collection.
Send Specimen(s) to:
211. S Main Street
Orange, CA 92868
The test interpretation is based on the clinical and family information provided and the current understanding of the molecular genetics of Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome. Methylation studies do not indicate the genetic mechanism responsible for the diagnosis (i.e. deletion, uniparental disomy, etc).
CPT’s: 81331, G0452 | <urn:uuid:890d395f-c7c0-45a9-9c51-dd2cd4a7be16> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.geneticscenter.com/test-menu/angelman-syndrome-prader-willi-syndrome/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948708.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20230327220742-20230328010742-00048.warc.gz | en | 0.876084 | 789 | 2.796875 | 3 | 2.749214 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Health |
American Heroes, American history, American Interests, American Morality, Conservative opinion, constitution, Filibuster, freedom, Harry Reid, let freedom ring, liberty bell, Mitch McConnell, nuclear option, Philladephia, Senate
Let Freedom Ring!
The shadows are alive with bold voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, in wigs of white, they whisper, “It’s time!”
It’s time to throw off the shackles, time for political release,
Time to make a stand and declare our Independence!
The shadows are alive with fearless voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, with uniforms and muskets, farms left nearby,
Farmers turned soldiers, ready to sacrifice all, to fight for their Rights:
Freedom to be, freedom to live, freedom to choose!
The shadows are alive with brave voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, rich and poor, for love of Liberty,
They labored to build a nation of Laws and not men,
A nation with a heart, strong, pure and free.
The shadows are alive with passionate voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, their words echo down through the ages,
Of Providence’s equal blessing: “Let freedom ring!”
It resounds through the ages still, “Let freedom ring!”
The shadows are alive with dauntless voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, stirring the hearts of men, their voices strain through time,
That same Providential blessing, “Oh alert our hearts to hear!”
Can you hear it? The freedom bell, the freedom bell is ringing!!!
The shadows are alive with heroic voices from years gone by,
Heroes all, so sound the alarm in every city, village and farm,
For the faithful and courageous to be up and to arm,
The echo floats o’re all the land – Let freedom ring! “LET FREEDOM RING!”
Inscribed on the bell:
PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF
LEV. XXV X." MDCCLIII (1753),
the year the bell was re-cast.”
“Tradition tells of a chime that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
“The Liberty Bell gained iconic importance when abolitionists in their efforts to put an end to slavery throughout America adopted it as a symbol.
“As the Bell was created to commemorate the golden anniversary of Penn’s Charter, the quotation “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding “proclaim liberty” is, “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year.” What better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?”
“If only. . .
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) leave the Senate floor before the vote to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), right, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
The president cared as much about Iran’s nuclear option as he does the Senate’s.
The nuclear option was in place for superbly qualified Republican-nominated judges like Miguel Estrada whom the Democrats filibustered.
The nuclear option had prevented Sen. Barack Obama from blocking the confirmation of John Bolton as United Nations Ambassador in 2005.
The nuclear option had removed fear of a filibuster and allowed Susan Rice to get nominated as secretary of state so then she could have been questioned about Benghazi.
I realize a lot of conservatives and even some conscientious Democrats are very upset that hundreds of years of Senate history has been stripped away by a failing president and a Senate majority leader who has made inaction on legislation (the main work of the Senate) into a fine art. Yes, presidents will now appoint many more ethically challenged, incompetent and extreme nominees. But after each side gets its turn at party-line nominations, the bloom may come off the rose. In the second term of President Scott Walker (or whoever), the Senate may return to the “old” rules.
In any case, it will refocus those on the right who, like Jim DeMint, want 30 “true” conservatives instead of a majority. Maybe electability — always a good criterion for nomination — will rise as a concern. Having that Senate majority just became a whole lot more important.”
Continue reading HERE
We are now officially in a political/moral FREEFALL! The “wussification of America” is confirmed daily by the obscene assaults on our Constitution UNANSWERED!!!!! If WE, the PEOPLE don’t make a FUSS, we will continue to FREEFALL … How much longer will we stand by idly?
Who can blame Harry Reid for pulling the nuclear option, eliminating the filibuster on judicial nominees? He has punched Senate Republicans in the face all year and they have failed to respond. In fact, Senate Republicans have turned around and fought their fellow Republicans in the House, jamming them with bad legislation which they helped Harry Reid pass out of the Senate. Read MORE
We have a CONSTITUTION! It is the SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND! If you don’t like that, there are ways to make changes, but they involve discussion, not DICTATORSHIP or “terrorism!” | <urn:uuid:943b3892-ff9b-4cc4-b243-0d63437ab1df> | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | https://blogsensebybarb.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/let-freedom-ring-sound-the-alarm/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948563083.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20171215021156-20171215041156-00033.warc.gz | en | 0.913377 | 1,247 | 2.515625 | 3 | 2.764597 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Politics |
St. Anne's Chapel of Ease National Historic Site of Canada
St. Anne's Chapel of Ease
Chapelle-St. Anne of Ease
Links and documents
1846/01/01 to 1847/01/01
Listed on the Canadian Register:
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease is a small, elegant, stone church built in 1846-7 in the Ecclesiological Gothic Revival style. It is centrally located within the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, in a historic residential neighbourhood. The formal recognition is confined to the footprint of the chapel at the time of designation, and does not include the adjoining Christ Church Parish Church built 1962.
St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease was designated a national historic site in 1989 because it is a significant example of Gothic Revival religious architecture based on the principles of the Ecclesiological Society.
St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease reflects the early adoption of the principles of the Ecclesiological Society, an Anglican organization of English origin that promoted the use of medieval Gothic style church architecture as a model for parish churches of the 19th century. The Bishop of New Brunswick, John Medley, actively promoted the style in the design and construction of churches in Atlantic Canada beginning with his appointment as Bishop 1845. St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease, constructed at the same time as Fredericton’s Christ Church Cathedral, served as a model for the principles Medley espoused. The fine stained glass lancet windows were created by two firms: Beers of Exeter and Warrington of London.
Source: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minute, November 1989.
Key elements which relate to the heritage value of St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease include:
-its consistency with Ecclesiological principles for small parish churches, notably its simple rectangular form with a steep gable roof surmounted by an open belfry over the entry, its interior layout with nave and a narrower chancel of lesser height to the east, its almost complete lack of sculpted ornamentation, its enclosed entrance porch, its solid, enclosed massing with buttresses and lancet windows;
-its richly-textured sandstone exterior;
-Its finely wrought interior with carved butternut woodwork including the pulpit, lectern, rood screen, choir stalls, communion rail, altar and sedelia, and the imported multicoloured Minton encaustic tiles ornamenting the floor and the chancel;
- its stained glass windows.
Government of Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Act
National Historic Site of Canada
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
Function - Category and Type
- Religion, Ritual and Funeral
- Religious Facility or Place of Worship
Architect / Designer
Location of Supporting Documentation
National Historic Sites Directorate, Documentation Centre, 5th Floor, Room 89, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec
Cross-Reference to Collection | <urn:uuid:3272d4a9-8245-49db-b82c-99a5d712b781> | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=4443 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042982502.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002302-00284-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905875 | 650 | 2.53125 | 3 | 2.296993 | 2 | Moderate reasoning | History |
To stop an aggressive, lethal killer known as pancreatic cancer, scientists have devised a way to deliver a toxic chemo cocktail straight to the cancer base. This new delivery mechanism obliterates pancreatic cancer cells, but spares other cells in the body.
Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst mortality rates of all cancer types, largely because the cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages. While surgery to remove the diseased tissue is the most effective treatment against pancreatic cancer, doctors can only operate in about 15% of the time. Consequently, once diagnosed, only one in four patients survive past the one-year mark.
Recent research has shown success with a new combination chemotherapy regimen, known as FOLFIRINOX
. Combining four potent cancer drugs in one (folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin), FOLFIRINOX extends patient survival by an additional four months, the longest improvement in survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. But FOLFIRINOX is so toxic when given intravenously that very few patients can tolerate this chemotherapy.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill hoped to extract the full utility of FOLFIRINOX by targeting it only to the diseased pancreas. To do this, they developed an “iontophoretic device” that was implanted directly onto pancreatic tumors in mice. The device uses electric currents to diffuse the drugs directly into the pancreas, sparing other tissues and organs in the body and reducing collateral damages of the drugs.
"It's an exciting approach because there is so little systemic toxicity that it leaves room to administer additional drugs against cancer cells that may have spread in the rest of the body. – Jen Jen Yeh, senior study lead, and associate professor of surgery and pharmacology in the UNC School of Medicine.
Compared to intravenous delivery of FOLFIRINOX, localized iontophoretic delivery was much more effective at reducing tumor growth in a mouse model. Tumor cell proliferation also decreased significantly.
The authors attribute the improvements to the ability of the iontophoretic device to deliver much higher concentrations of drug straight to the tumor base itself. Though the experiments were done in mice, the researchers hope to soon extend the treatments to patients whose tumors are inoperable.
“If this works in humans, we hope the device can be used as a plug-and-play approach to delivering the latest, most promising drug regimens for patients who have a dire need for new and better treatments,” says James D. Byrne, first author of the paper.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
on February 8, 2016.
Additional source: MNT | <urn:uuid:40831c25-5391-4794-9a1f-2aac3e78433b> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | https://www.labroots.com/trending/clinical-and-molecular-dx/2438/implantable-device-shrinks-pancreatic-tumors-spares-body | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583513686.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20181021031444-20181021052944-00084.warc.gz | en | 0.937511 | 579 | 3.46875 | 3 | 2.950095 | 3 | Strong reasoning | Health |
We all know we should eat our veggies, but the truth is most of us are not eating enough – not by a long shot.
The latest national health survey reveals only 7% of Australians eat enough veggies. In Victoria, it’s even worse, with the Victorian Population Health survey revealing just 5% of Victorians are eating the recommended intake. At such a small percentage, it is fair to assume that many people might think they are eating enough veggies, without realising they're falling short.
So how much is enough?
The Australian dietary guidelines recommend we eat five serves of veggies a day (see serving size information below).
The real question is why aren’t we? Higher fruit and veggies consumption is associated with a longer, healthier life and reduced risk of death from all causes especially cardiovascular disease.
If you find it tricky to get more veggies into your day, here are some tips to incorporate them into your meals:
- Try a savoury breakfast – avocado on toast with a side of tomato, wilted spinach and mushrooms.
- Add salad to your sandwich– a ham and cheese sandwich is even better with tomato, rocket and cucumber.
- Making pasta? Throw in more some veggies – grilled zucchini, mushrooms, roasted sweet potato or pumpkin all work well.
- Roast veggies mixed with couscous – simple to prepare, delicious flavours, endless variations.
- Barbeque – lots of veggies taste amazing on the barbeque – cook them on a steel rack away from the flame to prevent burning – try eggplant, capsicum, mushroom and zucchini.
- Raw veggies – quick and easy to prepare, serve with dips, cheeses and crackers.
- Get an adjustable steamer for your saucepan – an easy way to steam whatever veggies you have on hand, serve with olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Making a spaghetti bolognaise or chicken stew? Chuck in some grated zucchini or carrot and a can of borlotti beans or lentils - you won’t even notice the extra 1-2 serves of veggies.
Sweet potato wedges
500 g sweet potatoes, washed
10ml extra virgin olive oil
½ - 1 tsp of paprika or smoked paprika
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Lightly grease baking tray or line with baking paper.
- Cut any blemishes out of potatoes but leave skin on.
- Slice sweet potatoes lengthways into wedges approximately 2cm thick.
- In a large bowl, mix olive oil and paprika. Add sweet potato wedges and toss to coat.
- Place wedges on prepared baking tray.
- Bake for 40 minutes, turning once, until golden.
Roast pumpkin, chickpea and feta salad
½ butternut pumpkin, cut into 1`cm cubes
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper
1 can chickpeas (no added salt)
¼ Spanish onion, finely diced
3 -4 cups of rocket
100g Marinated feta *
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees
- Toss cubed pumpkin in olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper.
- Line tray with baking paper and roast until soft and golden, approximately 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, drain chickpeas in sieve and rinse under cold water and drain again.
- Combine chickpeas, onion, cooled pumpkin and rocket in a large salad bowl, mix together until evenly distributed.
- Gently stir through crumbed feta.
Serve with grilled fish or chicken.
* If you can’t find marinated feta in the super market, it’s super easy to make your own.
Cube some Danish feta and add to jar or bowl.
Add a crushed clove of garlic and 1 tsp dried herbs such as thyme, basil or oregano.
Cover with extra virgin olive oil.
Leave to marinate overnight. Will keep for a couple of weeks if refrigerated and stored in an airtight container.
What’s in a serve of veggies?
A standard serve is approximately 75g or:
- ½ cup cooked green, red or orange vegetables (for example, broccoli, spinach, capsicum, carrots or pumpkin)
- 1 medium tomato
- 1 cup green leafy or raw salad vegetables
- ½ medium potato or sweet potato
- ½ cup cooked dried or canned beans, peas or lentils | <urn:uuid:1a74cb44-cb96-4c07-8bb6-a4048ad5c1cc> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | http://www.kensington.ymca.org.au/news/are-you-getting-enough-veggies.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794864466.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20180521181133-20180521201133-00301.warc.gz | en | 0.881087 | 949 | 2.65625 | 3 | 1.524391 | 2 | Moderate reasoning | Food & Dining |
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in Data Studio
A sample of 10k rows from HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu annotated with topics and "reasoning scores".
The topics come from WebOrganizer/TopicClassifier
The reasoning scores come from davanstrien/ModernBERT-based-Reasoning-Required
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