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Mellor Moor Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post.
The underground nuclear monitoring post was opened in July 1959. It would be used in the event of a nuclear bomb attack. Three men from the Royal Observer Corps would stay in the post for two weeks, with no supplies from the outside world. This meant that the post would have its own source of power, ventilation, communications, food and water.
Their job would be to monitor the nuclear bomb explosion for “blast pressure, power and flash”. The next task was to monitor the amount of radiation in the immediate environment so that the “local population would be informed of the amount of danger they were in.”
The post was closed in October 1968, and subsequently the underground part was sealed. There are still quite a few features to be seen above ground today. The main shaft which provided entrance via a ladder is the largest of the structures. Connected to it is the ground zero indicator. The nearby smaller concrete structure is the air ventilator. In between the two concrete structures is a metal tube with a flat discs on top. These are the bomb power indicator baffle plates.
The site was also used in World War 2 as a look out post. Staffed again by the Royal Observer Corps, it was used for identifying and tracking aircraft, both friend and foe. It overlooks BAE Salmesbury, which during the war was a factory site building military aircraft as well as being an RAF base.
However, Mellor Moor hilltop has even older roots. A Roman signal station was built here in the first century, to overlook Ribchester Roman Fort and the Roman road heading south.
The circular stone built "cairn" is a Millenium Project with a map of the view from the site and is not associated with the ROC station.
Above: The large square building is the main shaft down to the station.
Below Left is the ground zero indicator
Below Right is the air ventilator
Below: The site has an interpretation board (from which the above quotes are taken) and an excellent cut away diagram showing labeled external and internal structures.
Above - Left to right: The air ventilator; the bomb power indicator baffle plate; the modern Millenium Project "cairn"; the main shaft and ground zero indicator.
Above: The site in the middle of the picture, BAE Salmesbury in the distance below, with a trig point in the foreground. | <urn:uuid:312e9f52-54cb-4412-9bdc-bb3f30b0dc6c> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | http://www.lancashireatwar.co.uk/mellor-blackburn-roc/4578598306 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145729.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20200222211056-20200223001056-00073.warc.gz | en | 0.969236 | 504 | 3.140625 | 3 | {
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The need for companies to uphold environmental sustainability in their operations, products or services has posed substantial challenges to environmental professionals, managers and designers. Developing more economically and environmentally sustainable products requires the use of a logical framework as wells as tools, principles, objectives and definitions. One of such frameworks used to ascertain the ecological sustainability of a product is life cycle assessment (LCA), which is a methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts related to all the phases of a product’s life, that is from the stage of raw material extraction, processing of materials, manufacturing, distribution, usage, repairing and maintaining the product to its disposal. LCA works in three ways: collecting an inventory of the environmental releases, material inputs and relevant energy; assessing the prospective impacts related to the recognized releases and materials inputs; and analyzing the results in order to come up with a more informed decision. According to Baumann (2004), LCA involves four main phases, which include goals and scope, life cycle inventory (LCI), life cycle impact assessment, and interpretation. The goals and scope of the study establishes the study context and elucidates how the results will be communicated.
This study took into account the LCA aspects of a 100 ml cup of coffee. In this regard, this paper identifies all the input streams from the natural environment, all the processes and manufacturing steps for each of the components of coffee, and all the probable outputs throughout the product’s complete use to its disposal (Guinee, 2002).
The main objective of this project is to undertake a life cycle analysis for a cup of coffee. This project at identifying the environmental impacts associated with all the processes from cradle-to-crave relating to the production and use of a cup of coffee (100ml). The following are the specific objectives associated with this project:
- Review all the total resources utilized during the production and use of one cup of coffee including energy and carbon emissions;
Scope of the Study
This study takes into account the complete life cycle for a cup of coffee from the extraction and processing of raw materials through its use and disposal. The coffee sample used for this study is Caffè Americano, which is made by Starbucks. The focus of this study is on the environmental impacts assessment; as a result, the life cycle cost analysis was not a part of this study.
Data Collection and Analysis
This section discusses the environmental analysis of one cup of Caffè Americano. A life cycle analysis was undertaken basing on the guidelines provided by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The environmental data evaluated in this study included energy and material consumption including water. Environmental data relating to the production phase of coffee were collected from published sources. Other environmental data were collected by a review of published results.
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis
LCI entails formulating an inventory of the flows to and from the product/service. The examples of inventory flows are raw materials, water, land, releases to air and energy among others. In order to develop an inventory, there is a need to develop a flow model for the processes as well as the outputs and inputs. It is imperative to note that this inventory is specific in the sense that the inputs were measured per 100 ml of coffee, which is assumed to be equivalent to one cup of coffee. Life cycle impact assessment entails assessing the significance of the prospective environmental effects depending on the results of the LCI flow (Guinee, 2002). Interpretation of the results entails quantifying, checking and evaluating information from the life cycle inventory results regarding the impact assessment. Allen & Shonnard (2011) point out that the results obtained from impact assessment and inventory analysis are summarized in the interpretation phase to provide a framework for decision making. Specifically, interpretation entails formulating recommendations and conclusions for the assessment by identifying the issues depending on the results of LCA and LCIA; evaluating the study regarding the consistency checks, sensitivity and completeness; and highlighting the recommendations, limitations and conclusions.
Growing and Treatment
Prior to the consumption of coffee, it should be grown in the farm and then treated. Planting a coffee plant commences with a bean, wherein a bean obtained from the coffee tree is planted in soil. After about 4-8 weeks, the seedling begins to appear and it is placed in a location that is shaded in order to avoid the seedlings from burning due to direct sunlight. When planting, the farmer tends to the seedling for duration of about 9-18 months until the plants are 2 feet long, after which the small coffee tree is now ready for planting in a plantation. The coffee tree bears fruit during its first 3 years; however, it does not attain maturity until after six years, when the tree is wholly mature and is in optimal yield (Innveden et al., 2009). A coffee tree has a lifespan of about 20-25 years of producing coffee.
The function of roasting is to enhance the flavor of raw coffee beans. During roasting, the coffee bean is subjected to chemical reactions aimed at enhancing its flavor and destabilizing the coffee. The destabilized coffee often stays fresh for 1 month whereas the coffee bean remains stable for a much longer period. In this regard, coffee is often roasted prior to selling to the consumer. Roasting coffee commences with separating the beans from the debris that are usually mixed with the coffee beans (Innveden et al., 2009). After sorting, coffee is weighed according to a batch size, after which it is put in a roaster for about 3-30 minutes according to the required outcome. The roasting temperature range is about 188-282 degrees Celsius. The duration for roasting coffee has a substantial impact on the coffee flavor. In this regard, the lesser the duration for roasting, the lighter color of the coffee bean.
Coffee is grown in several parts of the world. A significant proportion of carbon emissions and production costs are derived from transportation. At the processing plants, coffee is often trucked in between the processes and fields. When coffee is shipped off the plant, transportation entails mainly trucks and boats, which consume a substantial amount of fuel (Innveden et al., 2009).
When making a cup of coffee, beans should be ground first to attain the required consistency followed by running hot boiling water over them in a process referred to as brewing. Brewing is done with the main objective of extracting caffeine and coffee flavor from the roasted coffee beans. It is imperative to note that ground coffee should not be boiled together with water since it results in a bad flavor in the cup of coffee. Brewing coffee can be done using three methods: steeping, boiling and pressurization (Crawford , 2011). Steeping coffee is done using a French press, which is a cylindrical glass apparatus having a metal plunger fitting firmly in the glass cylinder. Coffee and hot water are put together in the French press after what they are brewed for duration of about 5-10 minutes. Coffee grounds can be separated from the coffee solution by pressing down the plunger. Steeping results in a stronger cup of coffee since the ground coffee is in contact with the hot water for a relatively longer period of time. The longer the ground coffee stays in contact with hot water, the more the extraction of the coffee oils and flavor is.
Boiling is the oldest technique used for brewing coffee and usually entails mixing ground coffee and water in a pot and then boiling them. Boiling coffee for a long time results in bitter taste. Pressurization makes use of pressurized water and gravity pressure. Brewing using gravity pressure produces drip coffee, which is the most common technique for brewing coffee in the United States. Under gravity pressurization, a filter is often filled with ground coffee after which hot water is slowly passed to flow through the filter. The liquid dripping out of the filter is consumed. Pressurized water brewing (sometimes referred to as espresso) entails heating and pressurizing water, which is then forced to flow through coffee grounds. This brewing method uses more ground coffee per ounce of liquid coffee when compared to other brewing methods (Baumann, 2004).
After brewing one cup of coffee, the remaining coffee grounds should be disposed of as either waste water, solid waste or recycled. The remains of coffee grounds put in trash often end up in regional solid waste facility. The remaining coffee grounds that have been washed down the drain are often transported as waste sewer through sewer lines ending up in the waste water treatment plant, after which the coffee grounds are separated and treated in accordance with the protocols of a particular plant. Recycled coffee grounds are either used to improve soil fertility or composted. Composting of the remaining coffee grounds helps in enriching the nitrogen content of particular compost. Coffee grounds compost relatively fast owing to the small size of individual coffee grounds. When used in enriching soil, coffee grounds release nitrogen, which increases the acidity of the soil. The figure below shows the coffee cycle (Hendrickson, Lave & Matthews, 2005).
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis
The analysis of life cycle inventory for one cup of coffee entails the following:
- Cultivation: this step entailed the collection of literature data, especially for pesticide use, fertilizer and energy. Pesticide and fertilizer production data were gathered from commercially available databases whereas phosphorus and nitrogen emissions were computed using estimation methods. The average production of coffee per one hectare varies depending on the characteristics and types of the land for cultivation and a number of ecological factors such as the age of the coffee plants. According to Guinee (2002), the approximate yield is about 2-6.5 quintals of processed coffee per one hectare. Processing of coffee beans can take place using two methods, wet method or dry method. Coffee berries can be dried using the sun or using machines that consume relatively high amounts of oil of about 0.11 l/kg.
- Processing: processing of coffee mainly entails brewing and packaging. The direct energy and material input during the processing phase include electricity and packing materials. The direct outputs during coffee processing include air emissions and waste water.
- Transport: transportation activities take place at different phases of coffee production include:
- Fertilizers and pesticides transported to farmers;
- Green coffee transported from coffee growers to the processing plant;
- Packaged coffee from the processing plants to the points of sale and wholesalers;
- Disposal: wastes are produced at different stages of coffee production including coffee chaff, packaging and coffee grounds. This study assumed that all these wastes were recycled.
Results and Discussion
This life cycle assessment was undertaken to identify carbon emissions, water use and energy use regarding production and the use of the study. The results for this study are summarized in the following tables. It is imperative to note that processing entails handling and cleaning of green coffee, grinding, roasting, conditioning and filling and packing of coffee.
Energy Required to Produce One Cup of Coffee
The following table 1 shows the amount of energy needed during each of the processes involved in the production of coffee. In order to process and produce a single cup of coffee, about 1.94 mega joules of energy is needed. Most of the energy is needed towards the end of the coffee cycle during brewing. However, a substantial amount of energy is lost, because large processing plants can reclaim lost energy whereas consumers of coffee cannot reclaim the energy lost in the process.
Water is one of the largest inputs used during growing, preparation and processing of coffee. The largest water user during the entire process consumes liters of water for one cup of coffee of about 100 ml. This translates to about 250 times that amount of water present in a single cup of coffee.
This study measured carbon emissions based on the processing procedures, energy use and transport among others. The following table below indicates the quantity of carbon emissions needed for each of the processes in the coffee cycle, which gives a total of 114 pounds of carbon dioxide for one cup of coffee. Washing, brewing and cultivation are the most outstanding emitters of carbon. Carbon emissions as a result of cultivating are relatively large because of the diesel farming equipment. Similarly, carbon emissions emerging from washing and brewing are relatively large because of the energy used by power plants to heat water.
Life cycle analysis can be effectively used to measure the waste and energy required during the lifespan of a service or a product. This assessment can be beneficial for businesses aiming at decreasing their carbon footprint. In order to undertake a life cycle assessment, it is imperative to ascertain the boundaries and scope of the assessment, gather inventory of all the outputs and inputs of the product being evaluated, determine the environmental impacts depending on the inventory gathered, and interpret the results and provide suggestions to mitigate the detrimental impacts. From the study, it is apparent that the coffee cycle involves growing and treatment, roasting, transportation, brewing and waste management. The study has found out that in order to process and produce a single cup of coffee, about 1.94 mega joules of energy is needed. Most of the energy is needed towards the end of the coffee cycle during brewing
The quantity of carbon emissions needed for each of the processes in the coffee cycle gives a total of 114 pounds of carbon dioxide for one cup of coffee. Washing, brewing and cultivation are the most outstanding emitters of carbon. Carbon emissions as a result of cultivating are relatively large because of diesel farming equipment. Similarly, carbon emissions emerging from washing and brewing are relatively large because of the energy used by power plants to heat water. | <urn:uuid:fb56cad3-26f9-4c56-a822-59d2d9ab5f8e> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://supremeessays.com/samples/Research/life-cycle-assessment-of-a-cup-of-coffee.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698541864.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170901-00485-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944438 | 2,740 | 3.125 | 3 | {
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} | Science & Tech. |
“We are trying to understand quantum nano-electro-mechanical systems,” Jason Twamley explains to PhysOrg.com. “These systems display richer dynamics and interactions than one can obtain with quantum optical systems, because it’s very hard to get photons to interact with each other.”
Twamley, a professor of quantum information science at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, worked with various colleagues, including theorists from the University of Queensland in St. Lucia, Australia and National Taiwan University in Taipei to develop a quantum nano-mechanical system that could measure the spin of a single molecule and perhaps be part of solid-state quantum computer. Their paper on the subject, “Spin-detection in a quantum electromechanical shuttle system,” appears in the May issue of the New Journal of Physics.
“Part of doing quantum computing,” Twamley explains, “is being able to input and output quantum bits (or qubits). If you are using a charge-based computer, you need to be able to read the charges. With spin-based, you need to read out spins.” Any quantum computer requires encoding quantum bits (qubits) into something. Twamley and his peers propose a readout device that would be able to detect changes in spin state of a single molecule, paving the way for spin-based input/output quantum computers in which qubits are inputted into the electron’s spin, and then decoded in the read-out to provide the asked-for information.
Twamley and his colleagues propose a mechanical system, simple and based on a mobile quantum dot, often referred to as a single electron shuttle, to provide the means for measuring differences in spin. “We’re combining the charge features of the quantum dot with the dot’s motion, a combination which most nanoelectronics don’t even contemplate doing.” And while nanoelectronic systems are quite new, Twamley points out that they are already pushing beyond that: “We’ve add a ‘q’ to the front of it: quantum nano-electro-mechanical systems. We’re now working in the quantum regime and the experiments are very close to the quantum regime now.”
The device comprises two electrodes, placed apart, and a quantum dot that acts as a shuttle, ferrying electrons from one to the other. Here’s how it works:
“The shuttle moves toward the source electrode. There is a bit of a gap between the two, called a tunnel gap. The shuttle doesn’t touch the electrode. Classically, the tunnel gap is not something that the electron could go through. On the quantum level, though, there is a chance. The electron jumps through the tunnel, and its charge forces the shuttle to the other electrode, called the drain electrode. The electron then jumps through another tunnel to the drain electrode and the whole process repeats.”
With the situation of the shuttle, the team discovered that it is possible to detect the spin. The spin on the shuttle causes the shuttle to move a tiny distance; this causes the current through the device to change. The change can be detected, measured, and interpreted, making it useful in a quantum computer or for spin-based classical computing, such as in the field of spintronics.
One possibility for the shuttle is a molecule known as a “doped Buckyball.” These molecules, only recently discovered, are composed of 60 carbon atoms surrounding either phosphorous or nitrogen. The trapped atom, either nitrogen or phosphorous, sits at the center of the carbon cage and the charge neutral molecule has an overall spin of 3/2. Putting a Buckyball between two contacts and introducing a nanomagnet results in the ability to move the molecule to the left or to the right, depending on the molecule’s spin, shifting the current and providing a change to measure.
Twamley readily admits that there are problems with the theory, the first being that the proposed device is a theory, and hasn’t been put into practice. “But,” he adds, “a lot of people are looking at these systems because such nano-electro-mechanical systems may yield ultra-precise measurements of the masses of biomolecules, and thus allow you to do bio-analysis on minute amounts of material.”
On top of that, creating a quantum computer adds other challenges, due to the somewhat-mysterious nature of quantum mechanics. “It’s pretty wide open at the moment. What you have to be careful about is encoding qubits in degrees of freedom that are long-lived. If noise couples with them, the qubits die quickly, and can’t be used.” The trick to overcoming this, Twamley says, is experimentation. “With condensed matter systems, once you do the experiment, and probe how healthy the qubits really are in that physical system, you will know how much noise you have, and what could be done with the qubits before they die.”
However, a mechanical device like that suggested by Twamley and his colleagues does have a clear advantage over optical quantum devices. “It’s hard to predict which technology will be used for quantum computing,” he explains. “But the nice thing about these nano-mechanical systems is that they interact with each other quite strongly as compared to optical systems.”
By Miranda Marquit, Copyright 2006 PhysOrg.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Explore further: Physicists advance understanding of electrical vortices in certain materials | <urn:uuid:dca56ff0-726d-46d3-ab44-ccca9e56adae> | CC-MAIN-2015-22 | http://phys.org/news/2006-06-shuttling-electrons.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-22/segments/1432207929096.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20150521113209-00199-ip-10-180-206-219.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937012 | 1,208 | 3.1875 | 3 | {
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"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Wikipedia.
fractal geometry,branch of mathematicsmathematics,
deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures; the latter often "abstract" the features common to several models derived from the empirical, or applied, sciences, although many emerge from purely mathematical or logical
..... Click the link for more information. concerned with irregular patterns made of parts that are in some way similar to the whole, e.g., twigs and tree branches, a property called self-similarity or self-symmetry. Unlike conventional geometrygeometry
[Gr.,=earth measuring], branch of mathematics concerned with the properties of and relationships between points, lines, planes, and figures and with generalizations of these concepts.
..... Click the link for more information. , which is concerned with regular shapes and whole-number dimensions, such as lines (one-dimensional) and cones (three-dimensional), fractal geometry deals with shapes found in nature that have non-integer, or fractal, dimensions—linelike rivers with a fractal dimension of about 1.2 and conelike mountains with a fractal dimension between 2 and 3.
Fractal geometry developed from Benoit Mandelbrot'sMandelbrot, Benoît B.
, 1924–2010, French-American mathematician, b. Warsaw, Poland, Ph.D. Univ. of Paris, 1952. Largely self-taught and considered a maverick in the field of mathematics, he was uncomfortable with the rigorously pure logical analysis prescribed by
..... Click the link for more information. study of complexitycomplexity,
in science, field of study devoted to the process of self-organization. The basic concept of complexity is that all things tend to organize themselves into patterns, e.g.
..... Click the link for more information. and chaos (see chaos theorychaos theory,
in mathematics, physics, and other fields, a set of ideas that attempts to reveal structure in aperiodic, unpredictable dynamic systems such as cloud formation or the fluctuation of biological populations.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Beginning in 1961, he published a series of studies on fluctuations of the stock market, the turbulent motion of fluids, the distribution of galaxies in the universe, and on irregular shorelines on the English coast. By 1975 Mandelbrot had developed a theory of fractals that became a serious subject for mathematical study. Fractal geometry has been applied to such diverse fields as the stock market, chemical industry, meteorology, and computer graphicscomputer graphics,
the transfer of pictorial data into and out of a computer. Using analog-to-digital conversion techniques, a variety of devices—such as curve tracers, digitizers, and light pens—connected to graphic computer terminals, computer-aided design
..... Click the link for more information. .
See B. B. Mandelbrot, The Fractal Geometry of Nature (1983); K. J. Falconer, Fractal Geometry: Mathematical Foundations and Applications (1990); H.-O. Peitgen, H. Jurgens, and D. Saupe, Chaos and Fractals: New Frontiers of Science (1992). | <urn:uuid:d0be1d8a-e798-4b67-aad3-24852724a7ac> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/fractal+geometry | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439735958.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20200805124104-20200805154104-00345.warc.gz | en | 0.912971 | 686 | 2.703125 | 3 | {
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Take a look at the word sets below. Which set contains experiences that could lead to trauma?
Word set #1: War. Pandemic. The death. Flight. Grated.
Word set #2: Intimidation. Without a friend. Moving. Humiliation. Addiction.
If you answered word set #1 or word set #2, you are partially correct. If you answered both sets of words, you passed this trauma test.
What is a trauma?
When we think of trauma, most of us imagine endless suffering and pain caused by events such as a violent war, the experience of being a refugee, or the terminal illness of a loved one. . However, trauma can be caused by events whose impact seems much lower, such as a parent’s divorce, a drug-addicted loved one, or bullying. It can come in all shapes and sizes and can impact a spectrum of intensity based on mindset, coping skills, resilience, courage and personality.
In this sense, trauma can be defined as a single or multiple event that has a negative impact on physical, mental, emotional, social and/or general well-being. Traumatic memories, those that go against our understanding of the world and our place in it, can be triggered at any time. These memories can then have a profound impact on our thoughts, behaviors, actions, and overall well-being.
Source: Daria Sannikova/Pexels
Types of trauma
The three types of trauma recognized by mental health professionals include:
- Acute—few events and usually of short duration.
- Chronic — multiple, prolonged events that may change over time.
- Complex – similar to chronic trauma with the added challenges of starting at a young age, impacting one or more developmental domains, and usually caused by a trusted adult (like those found in the longitudinal study by Felitti & Anda on Negative Childhood Experiences, or ACE).
Trauma can be endured directly, when the event was experienced first-hand, or indirectly, when the event was experienced through second-hand accounts. The study of epigenomes or chemical signatures that can be passed down from generation to generation and lead to hereditary trauma is related to vicarious trauma. While studies are still in development, this idea could possibly explain incongruous responses to stressful or adverse events.
Impact of trauma
The impact of trauma, whatever the type and extent, can be significant. According to Drs. In Felitti and Anda’s ACE study, trauma can lead to an increase in:
- Mental health issues such as depression, suicide and social issues.
- Physical health issues such as heart disease, obesity and decreased lifespan.
- Risky behaviors such as substance abuse and school/work absenteeism (Felitti et al., 1998).
In addition, trauma can have an impact on:
- Cognitions – processing, retention, bonding, executive functioning, etc.
- Behaviors – maladaptive coping, difficulty dealing with strong emotions, lack of empathy, etc.
- Brain – overreactivity in the amygdala, smaller prefrontal cortex, hyperarousal, etc.
- Physiological health – sleep, diet, daily wellness habits, medical and somatic symptoms, etc.
- Socio-emotional health – social withdrawal, low self-esteem and sense of self, difficulty criticizing, etc.
The magnitude of the trauma can be considerable, but it can be overcome. The first step is education. With a solid understanding of trauma, its roots and its impact, the path to overcoming trauma has begun.
To find a therapist, please visit Psychology Today’s Directory of Therapies. | <urn:uuid:0fb489f8-f636-44d8-b5d3-6ced89e0cc61> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://desarrollointeligente.org/trauma-101-psychology-today/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662529538.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20220519141152-20220519171152-00602.warc.gz | en | 0.935714 | 764 | 3.46875 | 3 | {
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What seems like occurred as an overnight seismic change, the worlds of sports and politics are more intertwined today than any point in time over the last several decades. Colin Kaepernick, who was a Super Bowl caliber quarterback as recently as several years ago, has ignited national debate over sports, race, politics, patriotism and justice after making one simple choice: to kneel. Since that decision was made, there has been no shortage of opinions by politicians, pundits, players, coaches, and fans on how the protests deserve to be treated.
What seems to be the most prevalent response by regular NFL viewers and casually involved citizens alike, in fact, is far more interesting than the tweet of the president or the cries of boycott from an impulsive fan base. The vast majority of people firmly believe that the players have the “right” to protest. Although this number at base value is somewhat meaningless, because the constitutional right to protest should not be and is not contingent on fickle public opinion, the numbers do prove that the protests are not perceived as being so egregious that they go beyond first amendment protections. About 2/3 of Americans believe players should not be punished or fired for the protests while, at the same time, roughly 2/3 of Americans disagree with the players chosen method of protest.
Additionally, those who care about this issue, on either side, should be weary of current public opinion and instead pay close attention to historical trends. In 1966, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, 66 percent of Americans gave Martin Luther King a negative rating, according to a Gallup poll. Also, a majority of Americans disapproved of the Montgomery Bus System Boycott, the Freedom Riders, lunch counter sit-ins, and the Selma Marches. Public opinion has always been fluid, especially when it comes to civilian protests against racial injustice. The standards and morals of society change quickly, much like they have in respect to gay marriage over the past decade. I do not believe that it would be an absurd assumption to think that, eventually, the anthem protests will be viewed far differently in the future compared to how they are today.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is how the narrative of how politics and sports have become inextricably linked. What most people seem to forget, however, is that politics and sports have always been intertwined by issues such as race, gender, ideology, religion, and nationality. Iconic boxer Muhammad Ali’s entire career was surrounded by political controversy, due to his conversion to Islam and refusal to participate in the Vietnam War. The world of sports changed forever when tennis legend Billy Jean King defeated fellow player and proud chauvinist, Bobby Riggs. That event, which was crudely labeled “The Battle of the Sexes,” was viewed by over 90 million worldwide and still holds the record for highest attendance at an American tennis match. Jackie Robinson, when he first entered professional baseball, did not have the luxury of being “apolitical” when he was constantly taunted with racial epithets by fans and players alike. Sports have always been at the center of political controversy, so the idea that players must be neutral in all political matters is not just wrongheaded and utterly disingenuous, it is patently and historically untrue. Also, although many may disagree, singing the national anthem before sporting events is itself a political act and statement. What is more American than using that short window of time than to stand up for, or kneel down for, what you believe should be done to better the nation?
I will end this post with a transition into the below video, which features sport’s pundit and personality Nick Wright and his opinions on what has quickly turned into yet another chapter in our nation’s long, grueling, and divisive history over the politics of sports and race. | <urn:uuid:fe7b974d-f493-4c24-8c02-5a2224b508b3> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://polsci307.blog/2017/10/01/to-kneel-or-not-to-kneel/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618039560245.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20210422013104-20210422043104-00350.warc.gz | en | 0.97596 | 779 | 2.59375 | 3 | {
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} | Politics |
Don't Know Much About Geography
A column by Doug Richardson, Executive Director, American Association of Geographers
Singer and songwriter Sam Cooke was right, and now it's official: K–12 students in the United States really don't know much about geography, according to a major report recently released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The congressionally mandated study found that nearly three-quarters of eighth graders in the United States are "not proficient" in geography and that the proficiency levels of American students have shown no improvement since 1994.
This is a clarion call for the need to support geography education in the United States.
Knowledge of Geography Is Crucial
In 2013, a Senate report from the Appropriations Committee expressed concern about Americans' preparedness for pursuing careers in skilled fields, especially in geospatial technologies.
"The Committee recognizes that a sound understanding of geography is critical to ensuring that the American workforce is qualified for jobs in geospatial technologies and other emerging industries," states Senate Report 113-71.
The GAO study, which was conducted pursuant to this report, makes it clear that geography is indeed integral to nearly all aspects of life today, from the economy to foreign policy. It also shows that employment of specialists in geography, or geographers, is expected to grow by 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to a US Department of Labor projection. That is much faster than the average growth for all occupations, which is 11 percent.
"Geographic information and geospatial, or location-based, technologies are growing sectors of the American economy, influencing almost every facet of modern life, from tracking lost cell phones to monitoring disease outbreaks like Ebola," affirms the study's cover letter to US senators Roy Blunt and Patty Murray. "The emergence of these technologies has increased demand for workers who can analyze and interpret geographic information. Research suggests that K–12 education is critically important for learning the fundamentals of geography, which is the study of places and the relationship between people and their environment."
But only 27 percent of eighth grade students are proficient in geography, with just 3 percent of them in the advanced category. Meanwhile, 48 percent of eighth graders have just a basic understanding of the subject, while 25 percent scored below proficient.
More Investment in Geography Education
The GAO study specifically noted that the lack of adequate funding designated for geography-focused programs in national education legislation has hindered US Department of Education officials in their ability to support geography education.
Only 27 percent of eighth grade students are proficient in geography, with just 3 percent of them in the advanced category.
This reinforces the recommendations of the American Association of Geographers' (AAG) Resolution Supporting K–12 Geography Education, which calls on Congress to include funding for K–12 geography as part of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), otherwise known as No Child Left Behind. The AAG's resolution has already been endorsed by a number of former US secretaries of state and defense, 24 bipartisan incumbent governors, and more than 25 Fortune 500 companies.
The GAO report's findings also underscore the critical importance of Esri's far-reaching donation of ArcGIS Online to all K–12 schools in the United States via the Department of Education's ConnectED program. This extraordinary philanthropic action opens up broad new opportunities to bring GIS and underlying geographic concepts into US schools right now. And with the joint AAG-Esri GeoMentors program, Esri's talented and extensive user community can also play a direct role in improving geography and GIS education in the US by supporting teachers as they introduce ArcGIS Online and geography into their schools. (Learn more and volunteer as a GeoMentor.)
Wider Recognition of the Need for Geography
While the lack of progress in improving K–12 geography education has been frustrating, it is clear that the need to change this is now becoming more widely recognized—within both governmental and educational circles and, perhaps most significantly, in society and the business world.
Efforts from Esri, AAG, and many others, are making real headway, and the GAO report adds to the rationale for campaigning for fundamental change. Together, we can make this change happen.
A copy of the full GAO report is available here. Please direct questions about the report to Jacqueline M. Nowicki at (617) 788-0580.
Contact Doug Richardson at [email protected].
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A Potted Geological History of the Black Country
The bedrock consists primarily of various sedimentary rocks of different types and ages. The exposed rocks represent formations from the Silurian Period through to the Triassic Period with a little superficial drift on top. These sequences were intruded by basic igneous rocks about 307 million years ago.
The geology of the Black Country has fundamentally influenced everything here, including the culture of the people who have settled these lands. The richness of the mineral resources made this a very early centre for mining, and directly led to the industrial revolution beginning in the Black Country. Modern iron making began in Dudley with smelting using coal; a process invented in 1619 by Dud Dudley, illegitimate son of the Earl of Dudley. Subsequently, knowledge was passed to Abraham Darby (born at Wren’s Nest in 1678) who took the technology forward at Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire.
The oldest rocks outcropping in the Black Country are the Silurian Much Wenlock Limestone Formation, approximately 428 million years old. These were lime-rich sediments deposited on a shallow shelf seabed. The area was perhaps 30 degrees of latitude south of the equator in a subtropical climate. Variations in the amount of derived material from the land created fluctuations in the rocks that formed, ranging between hard crystalline limestones when detrital sediment supply was restricted, to muddy calcareous shales and siltstones when terrigenous sediment supply was greater. Sea level changes, local tectonics and nearby volcanism all influenced the rocks that were forming at this time.
This period of alternating sediment supply was succeeded by a period of more consistent terrigenous sediment input known as the Ludlow Series. ‘Bone beds’ containing the remains of very primitive land plants and animals occur in a few locations from this period, and these are thought to be deposits of material stranded at the water’s edge and/or winnowed by the waves in shallow waters such that the organic remains are concentrated in a few centimetres of sediment.
At the end of Ludlow times a regression of the sea occurred in response to the earth movements of the Caledonian Orogeny. This is evidenced to be of late Silurian age in this area. Rising land resulted in greater quantities of coarser grained sediment being generated from the land and transported to the land margins, where they were deposited by faster flowing streams and rivers. Here they built sandbanks and delta front cones of sediment. These sediments sometimes contain the remains of fresh/brackish water bony fish such as Hemicyclaspis murchisoni.
The area was then subjected to gentle uplift, folding and erosion about 380 million years ago before deposition began again in the Middle/Upper Carboniferous times and the onset of truly continental conditions.
This was the time of the Coal Measures. This area lay at or about the equator. The gentle hills had been eroded to a low level once again and the low lands were fringed by wide muddy flats, swamps and deltas which became hosts to vast tropical swamp forests. Sea level again fluctuated and a rhythmic type of deposition in the low rates of sediment influx allowed the accumulation of large thicknesses of vegetation to build up. These would eventually become the coal seams. Fine sediment trapped in the channels, rivulets and on mudflats would become the fossil soils and fireclays, and in stagnating areas of the swamp the deposition of ironstones occurred – all of which would become so very important in our industrialised days.
Unique in the UK is the great South Staffordshire Thick Coal which in fact is up to 12 smaller seams which coincide to produce a single seam up to 12m in thickness. Also unique is the sheer number of mineral seams in less than 150m total thickness of Coal Measures sediments (with 12 coal seams, 12 ironstones and 14 fireclays packed closely together).
As this area was nudged ever northward by the movement of the plates, the swamps became lifted and better drained. The seas regressed and the area became ever more land locked. Red silty marls formed in inland floodplains. Occasional floods cut river channels across these plains leaving sinuous and sheet like bodies of gravel and conglomerates in their passing. These are the Espleys of the Etruria Formation.
For a brief period the land underwent stretching extensional tectonics, which depressurised the upper mantle and allowed basaltic magmas to rise up and intrude the rocks that had been deposited up to this point. In at least one location these magmas burst through to form minor phreatic steam vents and cinder cones. Remnants of one such cone can be found in exposures surrounding Barrow Hill in Pensnett.
Following a short period of compressional tectonics and uplift in the south of the Black Country in late Westphalian C times, erosion occurred and gave rise to a thick sequence of sandstones (the Halesowen Formation). These are believed to have been deposited in river deltas and lakes. The succeeding strata became red once again, and being fine-grained mudstones with local development of conglomerates and calcareous cements, this suggests a return to better drained conditions similar to those of the Etruria world.
Succeeding strata are much coarser and reflect a period of more substantial uplift and erosion. In early Permian times a coarse-grained breccia – the Clent Breccia – was deposited at the foot of steep mountain sides in a series of overlapping alluvial fans. The mountain fronts rising along geological faults divided the land into a series of inter-mountain basins and mountain ranges now far inland from the nearest seas. Consequently the climate became very dry, and desert or semi desert conditions dominated. Wind blown dune sands of the Bridgnorth Formation testify to the harshness of that environment.
The final phase of significant deformation occurred after the Triassic Period and resulted in the down-faulting (graben faulting and formation) of the Triassic rocks to the east and west of the Coalfield block, and no evidence of deposition of further Mesozoic or Tertiary systems is present. Therefore either it never happened or they were long since removed by subsequent periods of erosion.
The final phase of this story is the most recent 500,000 years when the area has been subjected to the scouring action of two ice sheets advancing, melting and retreating with landforms reflecting the erosion of the meltwaters and the uplift of the land by isostatic adjustment after the ice sheets were gone.
Today most traces of the mining and heavy industry are gone but if you look more closely at the urban area many sites are still present, and some of the UK’s greatest geology is still to be enjoyed.
Keeper of Geology | <urn:uuid:e1716f2d-880f-4741-a38c-cab179bb6306> | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | http://bcgs.info/pub/local-geology/a-potted-geological-history/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550249530087.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20190223183059-20190223205059-00187.warc.gz | en | 0.956767 | 1,440 | 3.78125 | 4 | {
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Physical activity and Exercise tips for Stroke survivors
Stroke is one of the leading causes of long term disability in India. It has emotional, psychological, physical and financial effects on the stroke survivor as well as his/her family.
Stroke survivors are predisposed to a sedentary lifestyle that limits performance of activities of daily living, increased risk of falls and heightened risk for recurrent stroke and cardiovascular disease. Activity limitations (also referred to as “disabilities”) are manifested by reduced ability to perform daily functions, such as dressing, bathing, or walking. The magnitude of activity limitation is generally related to but not completely dependent on the level of body impairment (ie, severity of stroke). Other factors that influence level of activity limitation include intrinsic motivation and mood, adaptability and coping skill, cognition and learning ability, severity and type of preexisting and acquired medical comorbidity, medical stability, physical endurance levels, effects of acute treatments, and the amount and type of rehabilitation training. All the above effects create a vicious circle of further decreased activity and greater exercise intolerance, leading to secondary complications such as reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and impaired circulation to the lower extremities in stroke survivors. In addition, a diminished self-efficacy, greater dependence on others for activities of daily living, and reduced ability for normal societal interactions can have a profound negative psychological impact
- Recurrent stroke and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of mortality in stroke survivors.
- Physical activity remains a cornerstone in the current armamentarium for risk factor management for the prevention and treatment of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
- Activity intolerance is common among stroke survivors, especially the elderly. Their sedentary lifestyle puts them at risk for recurrent stroke and cardiovascular disease.
- Stroke patients achieve significantly lower maximal workloads and heart rate/blood pressure responses than controls during progressive exercise testing.
- Many factors influence activity level after stroke, including physical, mental, and emotional status. Stroke patients may be more disabled by associated cardiac disease than by the stroke itself.
- Energy expenditure during walking in hemiplegic patients varies with degree of altered body structure and function but is generally elevated, often up to 2 times that of able-bodied persons walking at the same submaximal speed.
Benefits of aerobic conditioning:
- Stroke survivors can benefit from counseling on participation in physical activity and exercise training.
- Research studies show that aggressive rehabilitation beyond the usual 6-month period increases aerobic capacity and sensorimotor function.
- An aerobic exercise program can improve multiple cardiovascular risk factors and thereby have important implications for the medical management of stroke survivors.
- Evidence is accumulating that stroke risk can be reduced with regular leisure-time physical activity in multiethnic individuals of all ages and both sexes. Evidence now suggests that the exercise trainability of stroke survivors may be comparable to that of age-matched healthy counterparts.
- Extrapolation of what is known about the training effects of regular exercise by able-bodied individuals suggests that certain levels of exercise that are achieved during many stroke rehabilitation programs may improve aerobic fitness.
- It is recommended that all stroke survivors undergo a preexercise evaluation (complete medical history and physical examination, usually including graded exercise testing with ECG monitoring) before they initiate an exercise program.
- When undergoing exercise testing, the testing mode should be selected or adapted to the needs of the stroke survivor (eg, use of handrails, arm cycle ergometry, arm-leg or leg cycle ergometry).
Recommendations for exercise programming:
- Treadmill walking is highly advantageous as the aerobic exercise mode, with inclusion of resistance, flexibility, and neuromuscular training.
- The combination of comorbidities, neurological deficits, and emotional barriers unique to each stroke survivor requires an individual approach to safe exercise programming.
- For patients unable to perform a graded exercise test, light-to-moderate rather than vigorous exercise should be prescribed, with a greater training frequency, duration, or both to compensate for the reduced intensity.
- Subsets of stroke survivors (eg., those with depression, fatigue syndrome, poor family support, or communication, cognitive, and motor deficits) will require further evaluation and subsequent specialization of their rehabilitation program.
- To enhance exercise compliance, the issues of family support and social isolation need to be addressed and resolved.
- Physical activity and exercise training recommendations for stroke survivors should be viewed as one important component of a comprehensive stroke and cardiovascular risk reduction program. | <urn:uuid:b9eef3d8-292e-403b-bcf5-fa170fc341f7> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://strokesupport.in/physical-activity-and-exercise-tips-for-stroke-survivors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145282.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20200220193228-20200220223228-00066.warc.gz | en | 0.928154 | 925 | 2.84375 | 3 | {
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As high school students finish applications, parents are scratching their heads wondering how they’re going to pay for college. It is now commonplace to see tuition sticker prices of $50,000 for private institutions and upwards of $25,000 at public universities. Factor in room and board and course materials, and there are few examples where students can walk away with a bachelor’s degree for under $100,000.
The story is somber. From 2002-12, average tuition and fees rose 89 percent. Student debt has tripled since 2004, and has now surpassed the amount of credit card debt. With only 58.6 percent of students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in six years and 31 percent with an associate’s degree in three years, nearly half of all students will wind up in debt with no degree.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce the cost of attending college while still earning a top degree. For parents and students fretting over how to foot the tuition bill, here are three ways to reduce costs today.
First, start college early. A reliable way to reduce tuition costs is to take advantage of options that allow students to receive both high school and college credit for academic work. When I served as a state senator, I pushed legislation that created more opportunities for students to gain dual credit for academic work. Concurrent enrollment is a proven way to get students ready for college-level courses and to ensure credits transfer.
Secondly, maximize the use of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which continue to be one of the most successful ways to arrive to college with several courses under your belt. Accepted by most institutions for credit, students can demonstrate their mastery of content via AP tests, with an $89 fee that is often waived for low-income students.
Lastly, and perhaps the most exciting option, are community college honors programs that are providing rigorous courses, small class sizes, and personalized academic advising. This model is often known as “2+2,” meaning students complete their first two years at a community college and then finish their degree at a four-year college or university. Honors programs combine the low-cost structure of a community college with a challenging curriculum, preparing students to successfully transfer.
When done right, honors programs can provide motivated students a much cheaper pathway to a top degree. For example, the program I co-founded, American Honors, is saving students between 30 and 40 percent of the cost of a typical four-year education. After two years, students earn an associate’s degree with honors and are well-poised to transfer to leading colleges and universities like Amherst, Middlebury, Auburn, Gonzaga and Brandeis, to name a few of the 27 participating schools. American Honors provides a bridge from less expensive and more flexible two-year community colleges to the opportunity to earn a degree from a prestigious four-year public or private institution. While there are currently only a handful of community colleges offering these kinds of programs, they are quickly gaining traction across the country.
To be sure, policymakers and higher education leaders urgently need to rethink the cost of college, and develop new ways to provide high-quality education at a price affordable for all students. Luckily, parents do not have to wait on them. There are real options available today to make college a reality.
Chris Romer is president and co-founder of American Honors and a former state senator. | <urn:uuid:cbcab26c-382b-4f82-a101-37aa16338310> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://www.denverpost.com/2013/12/27/curbing-the-cost-of-college/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824757.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00251-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972617 | 708 | 2.609375 | 3 | {
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The battle against depression has always been something of a rearguard action. You can’t prevent it; you can’t really cure it. The best you can do is battle it, often through a lifetime of cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps manage symptoms, and psychotropic medications, which improve mood by manipulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.
What makes depression so slippery, of course, is that while so many diseases have a known root cause—this or that virus or bacterium or physical anomaly—the roots of mental illness remain murky. Now, a big step may have been made in tracing depression to its source, with a new study in Nature revealing no fewer than 15 discrete regions on the human genome associated with the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). If depression is a breakdown in the operating system that is the human brain, the new study may have pinpointed the bad lines of code responsible.
The study was a sweeping one—involving nearly 460,000 subjects—conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and 23andMe, the commercial genetic testing service headquartered in Mountainview, Calif. It was 23andMe’s participation that made the project possible in the first place, thanks to the vast trove of genetic profiles it has sequenced and stored from people who have used its services. Customers can opt in or out of allowing their profiles to be used for research. Those who do are assured of anonymity, as all identifying information is removed before the genetic profiles are released.
For the first round of the depression study, the investigators used genetic information from 75,607 people who had at some point in their lives seen a doctor for symptoms of depression, and 231,747 other people who never had. That information was made available from questionnaires the subjects had filled out when they signed up with 23andMe—and was also kept anonymous.
“The control group was made up not just of people who had not sought treatment for depression,” says neurogeneticist Ashley Winslow, a co-author of the study who was a Pfizer researcher at the time the work was done and is now a director of neurogenetics at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. “They were people who had actively answered a question that they had never received a diagnosis.”
All of the profiles from both groups were then analyzed, looking for so-called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—or irregularities at specific points in the genome—that the depressive subjects shared but the non-depressive ones did not. When any such anomalies were found, the researchers also looked at what the usual function of the anomalous areas was. Those found in a gene that coded for, say, height or baldness might be red herrings; those that coded for the growth or function of the brain would be likelier to be relevant.
In all, the investigators found 15 different SNPs that were shared by the people who reported depression but not by the other ones, and those SNPs were indeed located on parts of the genome related to the workings of the brain. One, for example, affects a region that mediates the function of the medial temporal lobe and the amygdala—which govern memory, fear, anger and other functions—and had already been implicated in psychiatric illness. Others SNPs were found on parts of the genome that have been associated with epilepsy, panic attacks and reported use of sleeping pills and pain medications.
The researchers validated their findings with a second round of analysis, this time using sample groups of 45,733 people who had reported depression and 106,354 who had not. Again the suspect areas showed themselves.
“This was a genome-wide approach,” says Dr. Roy Perlis, a co-author of the study, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a staff psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “We looked across the entire genetic profile of the subjects and found these 15 loci.”
Just what the researchers will do with those loci now that they’ve found them is uncertain. In the short term, it might be possible to use the new information to refine the existing way depression is treated—developing more finely targeted drugs to adjust neurotransmitters in more precisely targeted ways, say. But the more ambitious goal is to try to stop depression before it even gets to the point that it needs to be treated.
That could mean identifying at-risk people long before the onset of the disease and pharmaceutically targeting the proteins that the anomalous genes produce. It might also mean—in theory at least—intervening in utero, while the brain is still developing, an approach the investigators don’t rule out, but that clearly would be far down the investigatory line.
“Our findings are just a starting point,” says Winslow. “We’ve been dominated by decades of dogma about how we treat depression. The hope is this can lead to a novel understanding of the disease.” That, in turn, could lead to novel ways to defeat it at last.
After Clicking on One of the Links Below, Just CLICK the "Click Here to Agree and Continue" Button in the "Informed Consent and Participation Agreement" Form... to Begin Your Own Personal Q & A Session on How Laminine and Laminine Omega +++ Can Help You Achieve PERFECT Health. | <urn:uuid:f69321f8-cea9-4503-a42e-2d10c62bb02e> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://perfecthealthpill.com/new-clues-to-depression-spotted-in-the-genome/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514576122.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20190923064347-20190923090347-00431.warc.gz | en | 0.968984 | 1,125 | 3.125 | 3 | {
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Over 16,000 individual titles are housed in the Microform Collection in the center of the 3rd Level and can be identified in the online catalog, Bridge. There are several large special collections. Among these are:
This microfilm collection includes the complete diaries of John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams, and other family members. A vast assortment of public as well as private papers are included, among which are some of the finest letters written by American women in the 18th and 19th centuries.
American Architectural Books
This resource includes nearly 1,000 printed resources for the study of American architectural history collected on microfilm.
American Culture Series (ACS)
This microfilm resource is a collection of nearly 5,000 early American books and pamphlets dating from 1493 to 1875 that provide the primary source material to the study of Americana. Broad subjects covered include history, science, philosophy, psychology, religion, art, and architecture.
Black Biographical Dictionaries, 1790-1950 (E185.96 .B674 1987)
These materials represent a landmark tool for researching lives of historic African Americans. The microfiche set includes 297 biographical dictionaries, handbooks, and yearbooks originally published in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In all, they contain over 31,000 biographical entries.
Cinema Pressbooks from the Original Studio Collections (PN1995.9.P79 C55 2001)
A collection of publicity materials for 1700 films from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, 1919-1949. Covers films from Warner Bros., Monogram Pictures, and United Artists (including Eagle Lion Films). An online guide to the collection is available. [Where is the Cinema Pressbooks microfilm?]
History of Cinema: Series 1: Hollywood and the Production Code (PN1993.5 U6 H57 2006)
Selected files (commonly referred to as "censorship files") on 500 films, ranging in date from 1927 to 1968, from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Production Code Administration collection. An online guide to the collection is available. [Where is the Hollywood and the Production Code microfilm?]
Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)
This resource is a special collection of articles and essays on the cultures of the world on microfiche. Its unique organization by culture and by subject allows cross-cultural research. An electronic version (eHRAF) is also available.
Library of American Civilization (LAC)
This collection covers aspects of American life and literature from their beginnings to the outbreak of World War I. Included are pamphlets, periodicals, documents (both public and private), biographies and autobiographies, fictional works, poetry, collections of various kinds, materials of foreign origin relating to America, and many rare books not generally available. This resource is contained on ultra-fiche, a special type of microform reproduction.
Major Film Periodicals for Media Research (Film Daily)
This collection includes the complete run of The Film Daily, a major film industry publication, and its predecessors (Wid's Film and Film Folk, Wid's Independent Review of Feature Films, and Wid's Daily) from 1915 to 1970. It also includes a complete run of The Film Daily Year Book from the same period. Unfortunately, no index to these publication currently exists. An online guide to the collection is available. [Where is the Film Daily microfilm?]
Patrologia Latina (Patrologiae cursus completus... BR60 .M5)
This source includes a thousand years of the most influential works of late ancient and early medieval theology, philosophy, history, and literature. In addition to the 221 microfiche the library also has an electronic version.
Source Materials in the Field of Theatre (PN1621 .S7)
This mirofilm resource is a compilation of rare primary and secondary sources of critical importance in the study of theatre.
Indexes and guides to these special microform collections are shelved in the microforms area on Level 3. | <urn:uuid:6efd4b49-8ed5-4981-8b92-c19f796f2746> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/library/about/collections/microforms/?textonly=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257828010.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071028-00254-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.882932 | 837 | 2.578125 | 3 | {
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The creators of Grammarlogues® differentiate their program, saying: “We want to change the way you look at language; instead of asking, ‘Is this right or wrong?’ we want you to ask, ‘Why does or doesn't this work?’ We want to start a dialogue.” (whyus.htm)
Grammarlogues is a computer-based grammar program for middle and high school students that teaches the elements of grammar while incorporating excerpts from great literature. Grammalogues uses real-world applications along with the literary excerpts to engage student interest beyond the mechanics. The program, when used most effectively, draws students into discussion about grammar, e.g., why one form of expression or punctuation might be more effective than another or ways that authors “break the rules” to convey their ideas. It really does provide the groundwork for great dialogues with students.
The program has an unusual design with both software (installed on your Windows or Mac computer) and online components (password-protected access on the Grammarlogues website). The components are accessed separately. I don't think Grammarlogues will operate on iPads since the installed component used Adobe Flash.
I can see where the program would be ideal in a classroom situation. The software seems best used with a group so that everyone can view the same screen and discuss it together. The online part of the lesson is done independently. While students can use the software lesson on their own, they might skip past the teaching or student notes, omitting some of the most important elements of a lesson. Also, they will miss out on “talking through” the examples. Some students working independently might get confused about how to work through a lesson without some direction, especially at first. Even parents or teachers will need to experiment with the program and get familiar with it before using it. Because of this, I recommend Grammarlogues highly for group classes, while recommending it for independent use only for responsible students who will take the time to complete lessons properly.
Software can be used in two different modes: “roadmaps” or “categories.” Roadmaps follow a scope and sequence based upon Grammalogues' diagnostic tests and have online practice sets that correspond to each lesson. Categories allow you to select from among five categories: words, punctuation, phrases, sentences, and clauses. Parents set either the Roadmap or lessons selected from Categories as assignments for each “class.” If you have two students working at different levels you might assign them to different classes so that you can make appropriate “class” assignment.
While Roadmaps have grade level designations, students should use them as a sequence, beginning at the appropriate level and moving ahead at their own pace. If in doubt, begin with the sixth grade Roadmap since seventh grade concepts build upon those taught in the sixth grade level. Diagnostic tests are written for grade levels. If, for example, you have a child beginning seventh grade, they should have mastered all of the sixth grade material before starting the seventh-grade level in Grammarlogues. You should have him or her take the sixth grade diagnostic test. If your child does not score above 90%, he or she should begin at the sixth grade level.
Note that clicking on a Roadmap from the reference tools gives parents/teachers an immediate overview of concepts covered in the program. While Categories are presented in a different menu format, they contain all of the same topics listed on the Roadmaps.
Grammarlogues tracks student answers as well as their scores. Teachers can see detailed reporting on each quiz including the actual answers entered with red and green backgrounds indicating incorrect and correct answers. The teacher's gradebook also provides detailed scores on all student work as well as the date each item was completed.
You must have online access to use Grammarlogues. Up front, you'll need to create one or more classes and populate each class with one or more students. The online component of Grammarlogues is where you do this as well as access diagnostic tests and the automated practice sets for each lesson. While practice sets are online, students should complete the lesson introduction and practice slides on the off-line software before using the online practice sets for each lesson.
When you are online as the teacher, you can change “practice set settings.” These setting can limit which practice sets students can view, provide you with an email alert when an assigned student has completed a practice set, allow (or not) students to see answers to the practice sets, allow students to see a practice slide, and allow students to print practice sets. There's also a setting to allow or disallow students to complete a practice set only one time for a grade (while still allowing unlimited practice that is not graded). Practice sets are often presented at three different levels: “Getting Familiarized,” “Working Knowledge,” and “Grammarian's Challenge.” You can assign whichever level you think appropriate for a student, or you can have them complete all practice sets. These should not take long to complete, so doing three sets shouldn't take more than about five minutes extra for good students.
The off-line software component of Grammarlogues that is installed on your computer contains the instructional material which consists of teaching slides, student notes, practice slides, and teacher notes. Teaching slides follow a familiar format: a statement of a rule or concept followed by examples and explanations. They differ from most grammar texts in the quality of the examples since they draw from recognized literary works. Students are exposed to models of good writing as they learn about grammatical constructions, usage, and rules. You might have students write down the rules or concepts in a notebook to enhance retention.
Student notes in the offline portion of each lesson offer helpful tips, explanations of exceptions, or further elaboration on the rule or concept. They often cover concepts not taught on the teaching slides.
Practice slides offer students a chance to see if they understand the concept by working with some examples, but they are ideally used by a teacher for discussion. There are additional teaching notes pertaining to the examples that you can access by clicking on the image of a teacher at the top of the page. (A student working independently can also click on the teacher to access these notes.) Students can respond to the practice slides online to some extent. For example, practice slides might ask students to underline all nouns. To do so, students use the “pen” feature in the program. (Using the “pointer” instead of the pen reveals all underlined nouns.) I found this a little tricky to figure out, so you might need to work with your student to help him or her understand how to use it. The pen, pointer, and eraser tools for writing on the screen might also be very useful for a teacher presenting a lesson to a class.
Teacher notes area available on a separate button for each lesson and can be accessed by students working independently. These might provide additional explanation regarding the concept, tips about commonly-asked questions and common errors, writing tips that relate to the rule, “grammar debates” about proper usage, practical application ideas, or suggestions for ESL learners.
I expect that adults teaching group classes will love Grammarlogues because the lessons are laid out to include all (or at least most of the information a teacher needs). Teaching slides usually add sentences, comments, or highlights to the lesson one at a time as you click the mouse, just as you would do if you were teaching on a board (but much more quickly). Lessons are designed in a way that elicits discussion. Literary excerpts offer interesting twists that differ from common grammatical constructions. For example, the lesson on dangling modifiers offers three sample sentences. In the notes it suggests considering how placement of the subject in one place or another place might be better or worse—a great discussion starter. Then the notes (which can be displayed for all to see) include seven sentences from the short story “Bartleby the Scribner” by Herman Melville where he uses numerous dangling modifiers! This highlights for students the reality that authors break the rules from time to time, but in some situations it works well. The student note in this lesson gives students two sentences with dangling modifiers to rewrite. The teacher note offers tips on how student might rewrite sentences.
Lessons are not simple and obvious as they are in most online programs; they make students think. Still, the material is explained well enough that an inexperienced parent could teach a group class from what is provided. Once a teacher becomes familiar with the format of the lessons, Grammarlogues should be easy to use for lesson presentations without much advance preparation. On the other hand, because of the lesson design, a student working independently is likely to need some assistance from time to time.
The online component also includes SAT and ACT test prep material in five categories: vocabulary, sentence errors, sentence completion, antonyms and synonyms, and potpourri. While there are a limited number of questions within each section at this time, they are continually adding more questions. These questions can be assigned to students in the same way as are other practice sets.
The course covers over 200 grammar concepts and includes access to more than 300 practice sets, so there's plenty of both teaching and practice material.
While an individual account is available, that choice isn't appropriate for a single homeschool student since it includes no teacher account. (It would be appropriate for a student participating in a group class.) A homeschool account provides access for up to five students and one teacher. Students must belong to one family. | <urn:uuid:92ab1e07-b4f6-42e9-934e-549a060f158b> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/composition-and-grammar/ungraded-multi-level-resources-grammar/grammarlogues-review | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698543782.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170903-00364-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948286 | 2,007 | 2.90625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.43401837348938,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Education & Jobs |
Until the early 2000s, the widely accepted explanation for how humans came to the Americas was the “Clovis-first theory.” The idea was that 13,500 years ago, the space between what’s now Russia and Alaska could be traveled via the Beringia land bridge, and a group of humans known as the Clovis used it to cross from Asia to North America. From there, they supposedly followed a narrow, mostly ice-free path down the middle of the continent to the plains of central North America, settled, and became the “first” Americans.
Today, archeological evidence of humans arriving much earlier than the Clovis has widely discredited the theory, but how those even-earlier humans arrived in and dispersed through the Americas is still up for debate. In a new paper in Science, a group of anthropologists make the case that the first migration wasn’t land based but rather traveled via the “kelp highway.”
The kelp highway hypothesis is the “antithesis of the old ‘ice-free corridor’ route,’ says University of Oregon anthropologist and co-author Jon Erlandson, Ph.D. in an e-mail to Inverse.
In the Perspective, Erlandson and his colleagues argue that early Americans followed Pacific Rim shorelines from northern Asia to Beringia to the Americas, then continued to migrate through the Americas along the coasts — not through the ice-free corridor that the Clovis-first theory suggests. This theory is supported by the idea that, around 17,000 years ago, the outer coast of the Pacific Northwest had deglaciated, creating “a possible dispersal corridor rich in aquatic and terrestrial resources along the Pacific Coast, with productive kelp forest and estuarine ecosystems at sea level and no major geographic barriers.”
It’s thought that the lush kelp forests that grew along the coast supported potential food sources like “sea otters and other marine mammals, abalones, urchins, and other shellfish; numerous fish and seabirds; seaweeds and more,” according to a University of Oregon report, and thus would have made survival on the water easier for early seafarers, as long as they stuck to the coasts.
That’s a very different picture than the one posited by the Clovis-first theory, which says that the early humans traveled by land, over the Beringia bridge, and followed the corridor inland before eventually moving to the coasts. That path of migration would have looked like this:
Co-author and San Diego State University archeologist Todd Braje, Ph.D., tells Inverse in an e-mail that the new estimates of when humans came to the Americas — which put the first migration sometime between 20,000 and 15,000 years ago — raise the possibility that the terrestrial, ice-free corridor route of Beringia wasn’t even fully passable at the time of the first migrations. What most likely happened was that first people crossed over via a coastal migration in which people traversed the coasts in boats, rather than traveling across the land bridge or voyaging across the open ocean.
“Migrants could have followed a terrestrial route into the New World, down an ice-free corridor, but this was likely not the first migration into the New World,” Braje explains.
Erlandson says that the primary goals of this paper were to highlight the Pacific Rim route, cast some doubt on recent claims for human occupation of the Americas well before the “last glacial maximum” — the last time the Earth’s ice sheets extended their full length — and stress the need to explore the continental shelves, where remnants of the first Americans are now submerged. He considers these regions “one of the last frontiers for archeology” because rising seas have covered many of these potential sites, making it difficult to put together a roadmap of early human migration.
If we really want to understand how humans got to America, Braje adds that archaeologists need to examine shorelines that haven’t changed dramatically in the last 20,000 years as well as look under the ocean. In 2016, archeologists announced they found evidence of pre-Clovis people by doing just that, discovering human and mastodon remains in a sinkhole 30 feet under the Aucilla River. Earlier this year, an unrelated group of archeologists found what are thought to be the earliest human remains found in the Americas in an underwater cave in Mexico, further supporting the idea that, if we want to understand how humans got here, we need to stick close to the water.
“Thirty years ago, we thought we had all the answers,” says Braje. “Now, there are more questions than answers.” | <urn:uuid:3572f545-3e05-4e4d-a3dc-4b60629de99e> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.inverse.com/article/38057-first-americans-kelp-highway-hypothesis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030334912.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20220926144455-20220926174455-00328.warc.gz | en | 0.95683 | 1,006 | 4.125 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 3.0236170291900635,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | History |
Number of views：1626 Time：2018-03-15
The battery consists of a positive electrode plate, an a negative plate, a partition, an electrolyte, a housing, a battery cover, a polar pile, and the like.
1. Polar plate
The plate is the core of the battery. During the battery charge, the conversion of electrical energy and chemical energy is achieved by electrochemical reactions in the electrolytic solution by the active material on the electrolyte by positive and negative electrode plates.
The battery polar plate is divided into, the negative electrode plate, is composed of a grid and an active material. The active substance is filled on a grid of lead-borne alloy, and the active substance on the positive electrode plate is browned, the active substance on the negative electrode plate is a blue gray sponge lead (PB). At present, the domestic battery polar plate thickness is 1.6 ~ 2.4 mm.
In order to increase the capacity of the battery, the plurality of pieces, the negative electrode plate are usually connected in parallel, welded with a cross plate. When installing, the positive and negative plates are fitted with each other, insert the separator in the middle, constitute a positive and negative plate group. At the same time, it is cast on the horizontal plate to connect each monobi battery.
In each monobi battery, the number of negative electrode plates is a total of more than the positive electrode plate. For example, the 6 Q1105-type battery used in Dongfeng EQL090 car, with a positive electrode plate in each monlilate, an a negative plate of 8 pieces. This is because the positive electrode plate is strong than the negative electrode plate, and the active material on the positive electrode plate is relatively loose, in order to prevent the positive electrode plate discharge unevenness to cause the active material to fall off, so the positive electrode is made when manufacturing The board is between the negative plate.
In order to avoid positive, the negative diode is in contact with each other, and the positive and negative plate is separated from the insulating partition. The separator has porous properties to facilitate electrolyte penetration, reducing the internal resistance of the battery. In addition, its chemical stability is good, with acid resistance and oxidation resistance. The material of the commonly used separator has wood, microporous rubber, microporous plastic (polyvinyl chloride, phenolic resin), glass fiber, etc., and the thickness of the separator is about 1 mm.
The effect of the electrolyte is an electrochemical reaction that occurs on the active substance on the plate, and performs electrical energy and chemical mutual conversion. It is a density of 1.84 g / cm. The chemical pure sulfuric acid and density were 1 g / cm. Distilled water is formed by a proportion. The density of the electrolyte is generally 1.23 to 1.30 ∥cm3, and the density of the use should be determined according to the requirements of the region, climate conditions and manufacturing plants.
It should be noted in use, the corrosion of the electrolyte is extremely strong, splashing to the skin or in the eyes. If the battery electrolyte should be rinsed immediately with soda, the acid solution should be rinsed with cold water or medical eye rinner immediately, and then dispose of.
The battery case is used to hold the electrolyte and polar plate. Most of the strength, toughness, acid, acid resistance, heat resistance is good than the hard rubber, the production process is simple, the production efficiency is high, the shape is beautiful, the cost is low, Transparent and easy to observe the liquid level height.
The electromotive force generated by a set of battery positive and negative electrode plates is 2V, which is to obtain a 6V or 12V electromotive force, and the battery needs to be connected in series, so that the entire housing is made into 3 or 6 when manufacturing the battery case. A single-handed single-fold, install 3 groups or 6 sets of electrode plates, and a battery forming 6V or 12V is formed.
5. Battery cover
Battery cover is used to enclose the battery, there are two kinds of hard rubber cover and polypropylene plastic cover. The battery cover should be strictly fitted with the outer casing to completely separate each single.
The joint strip is used to connect the battery of the battery, which is made of pure lead. Traditional joints are installed outside the battery housing, not only waste materials, which is easily damaged, which also leads to battery self-discharge, so this connection is being replaced by the wall-type. When connecting a monobi battery with a wall-type, the joint strip is small and is located inside the battery.
Sign in. Polar pile
After the battery of the battery is connected in series, the positive and negative piles of the two ends do out of the battery cover for connecting the outer circuit.
Positive pile label "" or shared red, negative pile label "one" or blue, green, etc. Battery polar piles are cast in lead antimony alloy.
The protective plate is typically made of a 1mm thick rubber plate or plastic plate filled with a small hole, covering the upper surface of the plate group, the protective plate is not touched, and prevents the metal to short the plate.
9. Hole cover
For the convenience of the electrolytic solution, the ordinary lead battery has a plurality of conjunction holes. There is a vent hole on the mixing hole to facilitate the discharge of H2 and O produced by chemical reactions to avoid accidents. The maintenance-free battery has a catalytic device internally, which can not only avoid overflow of water vapor, but also reduce water consumption.
The ordinary lead battery is filled with a fused sealing in the gap between the outer casing and the battery cover. Its function is to seal the gap to prevent electrolyte overflow. Several of various batteries prepared to disintegrate. | <urn:uuid:7b0a9bb5-bbb5-4523-a0bf-57b63e4e4ac0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.baacebattery.com/en/product-knowledge/20211103-57201 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573533.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818215509-20220819005509-00462.warc.gz | en | 0.923545 | 1,266 | 2.984375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.8019319772720337,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Industrial |
Social Solidarity Clinics and Pharmacies
Solidarity clinics were set up during austerity by loose networks of doctors and volunteers who organized permanent health structures including pharmacies calling for people to donate medicines. Created from scratch, this broad network of clinics managed to respond effectively to the needs of thousands of uninsured people, both natives and migrants, while at the same time providing an alternative idea and practice of medical care, nonhierarchical, holistic and participatory.
The Metropolitan Community Clinic at Helliniko, or MCCH in short, was created in 2011 and provides free primary medical care and medication to all uninsured, unemployed and patients in need regardless of who they are or where they come from. The goal of the clinic is to serve people, but its volunteers have no illusion that they can replace the Greek national health care system (nor do they wish to). Volunteers are more than 200 including a growing number of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, therapists and support staff treating at times more than 100 patients per day. Moreover, MCCH provides psychological support, baby food and contributes to medicines recycling across teh country, all free of charge. All medicine and various items are donations from fellow citizens feeling the urge to stand by those in need during the economic crisis that everyone is going through [edited by OHG website here].
More information at: http://www.mkiellinikou.org/
Oral History groups
Oral History Groups (OHG) emerged as a movement throughout austerity with the participation of ordinary people and not just experts with the aim to collect oral testimonies and produce, disseminate and preserve history from below.The gathering of oral history is, for most of us, a charming journey to the lives of others that offers knowledge and experiences to the past, but also a reflection on their own lives and / or life itself. These may vary from one OHG to the other, addressing a neighborhood, a municipality or created as a collective effort of many OHGs targeting a wider community of people or issue. Their common goal – consciously or unconsciously – is to create an alternate narrative about the past, which is socially structured, alongside the new identities that are formed by the crisis. The members of OHGs are trained to meet international standards so that their interviews can be included in future organized public records.
More generally, in OHGs we do not only aim to collect primary historical sources, but also to write history outside the formal education and academic system and beyond the narratives reproduced by mainstream media. [edited by OHG website here]. More information about the Oral History Groups at http://oralhistorygroups.gr/
Open Lab, Solidarity Clinic and Oral History
The Oral History Group of MCCH was established in 2018 after a general assembly decision concerning the fatigue of volutneers and the search for possible future directions. The group is consisted by 13 volunteers of whom 3 are researchers familiar with qualitative methodologies (including Open Lab members). Since then, the group has been trained for the collection and preservation of oral histories from the social clinic’s volunteers and beneficiaries, has generated a questionnaire addressing issues of interest and concern, has collected more than 20 interviews and has produced short videos and other types of materials and proposals for the future of the clinic. Throughout this ongoing engagement, members of Open Lab have adopted a co-designed methodology informed both by our expertise and volunteers’ skills that generated a ‘third space’ of knowledge production. | <urn:uuid:377e7159-3621-4f5c-8133-05ca8255ba3c> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://olathens.gr/encounter/social-clinic_-oral-history-group/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500251.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205094841-20230205124841-00534.warc.gz | en | 0.953825 | 699 | 2.53125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.8653881549835205,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Politics |
Cognitive and functional recovery after a stroke or traumatic injury requires intense rehabilitative therapy to help the brain repair and restructure itself. New findings by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that not only is rehabilitation vital – in an animal model, rats with cortical injury that did not receive intensive rehab did not rebuild brain structure or recover function – but that a longer, even more intense period of rehabilitation may produce even greater benefit.
A cultured neuron in green with hundreds of protruding dendritic spines. The dendrites of other neurons labeled in blue, with adjacent glial cells depicted in red.
“This has implications for medical practice and medical insurance,” said senior study author Mark Tuszynski, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurosciences and director of the Center for Neural Repair at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and a neurologist with the VA San Diego Healthcare System. “Typically, insurance supports brief periods of rehab to teach people to get good enough to go home. These findings suggest that if insurance would pay for longer and more intensive rehab, patients might actually recover more function.”
The findings are published in the February 22 online early edition of
In recent years, numerous studies have documented the surprising plasticity or ability of the adult central nervous system to recover from injury. The emerging question has been how to best encourage the repair and regrowth of damaged nerve cells and connections.
To better understand what happens at the molecular and cellular levels and how rehabilitation might be made more effective after brain injury, researchers studied rats relearning skills and physical abilities. They found rats that received intensive therapy for an extended period of time showed significant restructuring of the brain around the damage site: Surviving neurons sprouted greater numbers of dendritic spines, which made more connections with other neurons. The result, said Tuszynski, was a dramatic 50 percent recovery of function.
Animals that did not undergo intensive rehabilitation did not rebuild brain structure or recover function.
Additionally, the researchers found that a key system in the brain – the basal forebrain cholinergic system – is critical to rehabilitation. Structures in this part of the brain, such as the nucleus basalis, produce acetylcholine, a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other cells. Specifically, motor neurons release acetylcholine to activate muscles.
Damage to the cholinergic system, which can occur naturally during aging, completely blocks brain plasticity mediated by rehabilitation and significantly reduces functional recovery. Tuszynski said the finding suggests that a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors, which boost the levels and persistence of acetylcholine and are used in some treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, might further improve functional outcomes after brain injury.
“We did not try to do this in our study,” said Tuszynski, “but we did suggest future studies could be done to look at this possibility.”
Co-authors include Ling Wang, James M. Conner, and Alan H. Nagahara, all at UC San Diego.
Funding for this research came, in part, from the National Institutes of Health (grant AG10435), the Veterans Administration and the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation. | <urn:uuid:bb0f6d6c-7e8a-4436-881b-e1ae2d5ffdf9> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/pages/2016-02-22-longer-rehab-for-brain-injury.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376831715.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20181219065932-20181219091932-00015.warc.gz | en | 0.944373 | 676 | 2.953125 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9541921615600586,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Health |
If your child has special needs, you might be thinking about sending them to a special education school. You’ve probably heard that these schools are places where children with special needs are able to be themselves and can learn at their own pace.
However, you might have also heard some negative things about special education centers that cause you to stop and think about your decision. However, many of the things that you might hear aren’t necessarily true. Here are a few myths about special education.
Special Education Is For Specific People
You might have heard that special education is only for students who struggle with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. However, that isn’t the case. Most students in special education programs aren’t struggling with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Students with a variety of different learning disabilities — whether that’s dyslexia or trouble retaining information — are placed in these programs. So, if your child doesn’t struggle with a severe disability, they are still able to receive help from these places.
Getting Into the Programs Is Extremely Difficult
There’s a chance you might have heard from other parents of children with special needs that they struggled trying to get their child into the different programs. This is a pretty common thing to hear. However, it’s important to remember that each child’s situation is different. What might be going on with your child might not be the case for someone else’s child.
Your child Has to Take A Different Bus
You have heard that there is a specific bus for children to ride on if they are going to a special education school. This might seem intimidating for your child, as they’re worried they might be judged for riding on a separate bus. Kids are afraid of being bullied, and they might fear that happening while taking a different bus. In fact, 45% of parents of kids with learning disabilities say their child has been bullied. However, with more awareness of the issue and the recent rise of anti-bullying campaigns around the country, this statistic is likely to decline. Talk to your child about how they feel and go from there.
Special education is great for your child. It’s a place where students can learn at their own pace and feel comfortable with themselves. However, it’s important to note that everything you hear about special education isn’t necessarily true. Do some research before sending your child to school and figure out if special needs education is best for you and your family. | <urn:uuid:c5187039-dd7c-42cd-b619-343139eb64ac> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.deronschool.org/blog/3-myths-special-education-busted/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500392.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20230207071302-20230207101302-00494.warc.gz | en | 0.975191 | 517 | 2.921875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.4131035804748535,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Education & Jobs |
MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. An international research team with the participation of Professor of Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) Artem Oganov defined the crystal structure and chemical composition of sodium boride, with its properties being the issue of debate for a long time, Skoltech’s press office reported.
Boron is a chemical element that builds complex ultra-hard crystal modifications. The compounds of boron and metals - borides - often possess complex chemical compositions and crystal structures. Using the USPEX code developed by Professor Oganov, which is a computer prediction of a crystal structure, the scientists managed to settle the ‘Na2B30 or Na2B29’ dispute on the composition of sodium boride.
A real mystery
"This work was a mystery. It turned out that everyone in some way was mistaken. Some made mistakes in the chemical formula, others in the structure. For me, it is always surprising in such cases that although we often talk about living in the 21st century and possess super-devices enabling us to do nearly everything, despite the really tremendous progress in science, we often don’t even know which substance we typically hold in our hands," Oganov explained.
The results of the new scientific study were published in the journal Physical Review B .
According to the researcher, the sodium boride is "a substance which is notably softer than a diamond and is at the lower end of the super-hardness range." "In contrast to diamonds, the synthesis of sodium boride does not require pressure and is therefore much cheaper," Oganov added.
He also noticed that during the course of the research it turned out that Na2B30 is stable while Na2B29 is not. It has been shown that the addition of a single atom dramatically changes not only the stability but also the electronic properties by transforming the substance from a metal into a semiconductor and boosting the hardness of the material.
"The crystal structure of Na2B30 discovered in our work is more stable than those suggested by previous researchers, but similarly it is also dovetails well with experimental diffraction data," Oganov said.
According to Oganov, in the future, sodium boride can be applied in any field where very hard elements are required, for example, for creating drilling devices or other technical equipment. | <urn:uuid:d163d539-a3c9-4594-ab4b-e3da6d293f90> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://tass.com/science/996757 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514574058.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20190920175834-20190920201834-00157.warc.gz | en | 0.951326 | 514 | 2.984375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9228670597076416,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Structural Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry/Organic Functional Group/Carbonyl/Ketone
A ketone is another functional group under the general groups of carbonyls. In a ketone, the carbonyl carbon is doubly-bonded to an oxygen, and single bonded to two alkyl groups, which can be either identical or different. It is important for both “R” groups to be alkyl groups – if the “R” group is an “H”, it becomes an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid if the “R” group is an “OH”, and an ester if the “R” group is “OR.”
The carbon atom next to the carbonyl carbon is the alpha-carbon. By analogy, the hydrogen’s attached to the alpha-carbon are the alpha-hydrogens.
1. In terms of functional group priority, ketones take priority over everything but carboxylic groups and aldehydes.If an aldehyde or carboxylic acid group is there, the ketone is no longer the highest priority and thus, becomes an oxo- prefix.
2. First count the longest carbon chain which contains the carbonyl compound. Name this chain according to normal IUPAC rules.
3. Number the chain such that the carbonyl carbon has the lowest number.
4. The oxygen is designated in the name with the number of the carbon it is on.
5. The suffix of ketones is "-one" so the "e" in the alkyl chain is replaced with "-one."
Another method of naming ketones exists though this method is not used as much. In this method of nomenclature, the two alkyl groups on either side of the carbonyl group are mentioned separately. For example, look at the example of propan-2-one or 2-propanone. Another way of naming this, would be to take the carbons #2 and #3 as one group and #1 as another. The carbonyl carbon becomes a part of the longer alkyl chain - in this example, both are equivalent so it does not matter. Then each side is named and the word "ketone" put at the end of it. Thus, 2-propanone could also be referred to as ethyl methyl ketone.
Like other carbonyl compounds, ketones have common names that are used more often in everyday jargon. An example is acetone. The chemical formular of acetone is C3H6O. The IUPAC name is propanone but is often referred to as acetone.
Like the other carbonyl groups, the carbonyl carbon has a large positive charge due to the very electronegative oxygen atom. This characteristic of the ketones allows it to undergo numerous reactions as detailed below:
1. Nucleophilic addition – nucleophilic addition is very common for ketones. Because of the polarity of the carbonyl carbon, nucleophilic attack is a typical reaction ketones undergo. Thus, the carbonylcarbon is subject to nucleophilic attack from other excellent nucleophiles such as cyanide and hydroxide ions. The lone pair of electrons on the nucleophile attacks the positively charged carbon, which moves one of the two bonds shared between the carbon and oxygen onto the oxygen, in the process giving oxygen a full negative charge. For example, a reaction of a ketone and water results in geminal diols.
2. Gnignard – Ketones can be completely transformed, resulting in another functional group. For example, gnignard reagents or organometallic reagants will result in a tertiary alcohol. Of course, this is after an aqueous workup is used – aqueous work up in this case is a solution of acid and water. When using gnignard reagants it is important to remember that a carbon-carbon bond is formed. | <urn:uuid:1f1e0ee9-aa1d-4d73-a7d1-73e89939adc3> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ketone | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982295494.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195815-00179-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927577 | 852 | 3.90625 | 4 | {
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} | Science & Tech. |
was based in South Bend, Indiana. Originally, the company was a producer of industrial mining wagons, founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company. While Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and 1904 with gasoline vehicles, it partnered with other builders of gasoline-powered vehicles until 1911. In 1913, Studebaker introduced the first gasoline-powered automobiles under its own “Studebaker” brand name. Acquired in 1954 by Packard Motors Company of Detroit, Michigan, Studebaker was a division of the Studebaker Packard Corporation
from 1954 to 1962. In 1962, it reverted to its previous name, the Studebaker Corporation. While the company left the automobile business in 1966, Studebaker survived as an independent closed investment firm until 1967 when it merged with Worthington to become Studebaker-Worthington Corporation
.19th Century Wagon Maker
Henry Studebaker was a farmer, blacksmith, and wagon-maker who lived near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the early 19th century. By 1860, he had moved to Ashland, Ohio and taught his five sons to make wagons. They all went into that business as they grew westward with the country. Clement and Henry, Jr. Studebaker became blacksmiths and foundrymen in South Bend. They first made metal parts for freight wagons and later expanded into the manufacture of wagons. John made wheelbarrows in Placerville, California, and Peter made wagons in Saint Joseph. The first major expansion in their business came from their being in place to meet the needs of the California Gold Rush in 1849.
When the gold rush settled down, John returned to Indiana and bought out Henry's share of the business. They brought in their youngest brother Jacob in 1852. Expansion continued to support westward migration, but the next major decrease came from supplying wagons for the Union Army in the Civil War. After the war, they reviewed what they had accomplished and set a direction for the company.
They reorganized into the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1878, built around the motto of "Always give more than you promise." By this time the railroad and steamship companies had become the big freight movers in the east. So they set their sights on supplying individuals and farmers the ability to move themselves and their goods. Peter's business became a branch operation.
During the height of Westward migration and wagon train pioneering, all of the wagons were Studebakers. They made about half of them, and manufactured the brass fittings to sell to other builders in Connecticut for another quarter.Studebaker Automobiles
Studebaker experimented with powered vehicles as early as 1897, choosing electric over gasoline engines. While it attempted to manufacture its own electric vehicles from 1902 to 1912, the company entered into a distribution agreement with two manufacturers of gasoline powered vehicles namely Garford of Elyria, Ohio, and the Everett-Metzger-Flanders (E-M-F) Company of Detroit.
Under the agreement with Studebaker, Garford would receive completed chassis and drivetrains from Ohio and then mate them with Studebaker built bodies which were sold under the Studebaker-Garford brand name and at a premium price. Eventually, even the Garford built engines began to carry the Studebaker name. However, Garford also built a limited number of cars under its own name, and by 1907, attempted to increase their production at the expense of Studebaker. Once Studebaker discovered what was going on with their partner, John Moehler Studebaker enforced their primacy clause, forcing Garford back onto the scheduled production quotas. The decision to drop the Garford was made and the final product rolled off of the assembly line by 1911, leaving Garford to try it alone until it was acquired by John North Willys in 1913.
Studebaker's marketing agreement with E-M-F was a different relationship, one that John Studebaker had hoped would give Studebaker a quality product, without the entanglements found in the Garford relationship.
Close Up of Vignette:
Common Stock, issued in the 1970’sPrinter: American Bank Note Company Dimensions:
8” (h) x 12” (w)State: DE-Delaware Subject Matter: Automotive and Related
| Auto Makers
| Under $10 Vignette Topic(s): Female Subject
| Globe Featured Condition:
Vertical fold lines, punch hole cancels in signature areas and body, minor discolorations in body, and some toning from age. | <urn:uuid:ed28436a-ee5d-4b9b-a73a-57839589a2ad> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://stocklobster.com/2477.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886120573.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823132736-20170823152736-00387.warc.gz | en | 0.971003 | 968 | 2.859375 | 3 | {
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} | Transportation |
The Origins of Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art that has evolved over a period of more than 2000 years. It derives its name from three Korean words; tae (kick), kwon (punch) and do (spirit). Indeed, the meaning of these words summarises the essence of Taekwondo as an art where the human mind is cultivated through mastery over the human body for purposes of defence, fitness and elegance. Presently, Taekwondo is the most widely practiced oriental martial art in the world and it has been accepted as an Olympic sport.
TAEKWONDO IN UGANDA
Uganda was one of the very first countries to practice Taekwondo in Africa, besides Ivory Coast and Egypt. The Korean martial art was introduced in Uganda in 1969 when Master Nam Suk Kim from South Korea was invited to teach self-defence techniques to officers and men of Uganda Prisons. Ever since, Uganda Prisons Headquarters in Luzira has been the seat of Taekwondo in the country. Over the years, Uganda has hosted a number of Korean masters who have greatly contributed to the development of the sport at national level, including Master Pak, trainer of Uganda Police Force in the 70s, and Master Lee, founder of the Lee Training Centre at Kisugu, in the suburbs of Kampala, and national coach, who has trained generations of Ugandan martial artist since the early 90s.
Uganda is proud of having won the first medal for Africa in an international Taekwondo competition. Welterweight athlete Odut A. F. won a bronze medal at the 2nd World Taekwondo Championship held in Seoul in 1975. The first African woman to be awarded Black-belt in Taekwondo, Ms Adeke, is also Ugandan.
More recently, Ugandan athletes have participated in international Taekwondo in Kenya, South Africa, Libya, Algeria, Malaysia and Turkey, and put up impressive performances.
UGANDA TAEKWONDO FEDERATION
Uganda Taekwondo Association (UTA) was founded in the early 70s, and by 1973, its Chairperson and former Commissioner of Uganda Prisons, Mr Etima, was elected to the World Taekwondo Federation Executive Committee.
Uganda Taekwondo Association became a Federation in 2004, given the growing number of affiliate clubs and desire to adopt international standards of sports management. Uganda Taekwondo Federation (UTF) is affiliated to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), with headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, and to the Africa Taekwondo Union (AFTU), whose seat is in Cairo, Egypt.
All Taekwondo competitions, junior and senior, organised or sanctioned by the UTF in Uganda, are governed in accordance with WTF rules and regulations. Our Vision is nurturing a fit, healthy and sane society through commitment to the practice of Taekwondo. Our Mission is promoting Taekwondo in Uganda as sport and lifestyle by opening up ‘do jangs’ (Taekwondo gyms) and encouraging massive participation countrywide.
UTF is led by an Executive Committee, elected for a four-year term of office, in line with the Olympic movement requirements, with a President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Treasurer and Organising Secretary. These officials are assisted by a five other Committee Members who take charge of the Technical, Medical, Disciplinary and Organising Sub-Committees.
UTF is made up of affiliate Taekwondo clubs based in different major towns of Uganda, such as Kampala, Gulu, Arua, Jinja, Lira and Tororo. Member clubs pay affiliation fees and take part in an annual national league and several open competitions under UTF patronage. Star athletes from the various clubs are given an opportunity to represent Uganda in regional and international championships. The affiliate clubs also benefit from quality technical guidance dispensed by WTF approved coaches and referees, as well as the distribution of special Taekwondo sports equipment.
Prepared by Isaac SSETTUBA (Tel. 0772 478371/Email. [email protected]) | <urn:uuid:5d6fa473-a155-4d31-99aa-b6f0c4084459> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://uganda-taekwondo-federation.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698542828.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170902-00332-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959054 | 880 | 2.5625 | 3 | {
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With hundreds of thousands of soccer fans flocking to Brazil for the World Cup, Harvard students and alumni are quietly working in some of the nation’s most underserved communities to use the sport to help change children’s lives.
Melanie Baskind ’12 enters Harvard Medical School this fall, and will no doubt return full of ideas about the ways soccer can make a difference to young people.
As part of Coaches Across Continents (CAC), Baskind is spending three weeks in Brazilian favelas showing coaches and community leaders how to teach students important life lessons with help from a soccer ball.
“It is a true example of sport for development,” she said.
The nonprofit is the brainchild of Nick Gates ’91, a former England youth national team player, Harvard soccer standout, and executive for Middlesbrough Football Club. Trekking around the globe in 2001, Gates was struck by the idea of using the sport he loved to help change the world.
“I started traveling, and realized that if I bounced a soccer ball in the worst places … I could engage with young people,” said Gates, who ran the soccer camp company Play Soccer in the United States for several years after college before hitting the road.
Those impromptu interactions “planted a seed,” he said, and got him thinking about soccer as a vehicle for “social development and social impact.” In 2008, he launched CAC. Last year, the organization worked with 20 countries in South America, North America, Asia, and Africa, reaching more than 170,000 children.
CAC targets communities struggling with violence, poverty, and disease, and uses a “soccer as education” curriculum that addresses issues such as female empowerment, conflict resolution, life skills, and HIV prevention. There is no role for conventional matches, however.
“Our model has almost nothing to do with soccer in the sense that we’ve never played a game where two teams score goals,” said Gates. “It’s just that soccer is our vehicle for education.”
One conflict-resolution game positions two groups of players on either end of a line of plastic cones. The players have a relay race, dribbling a ball through the cones, often colliding with and blaming the other person as they go.
The game helps teach players “when something has gone wrong, we should not always blame the other person or try to find someone else at fault,” notes the coaching materials provided by CAC. “We each need to take responsibility for our own actions and concentrate on what we can do better or improve on the soccer field and in life.”
From the beginning, Harvard was central to the organization’s plan. “It is all based on the fact that the starting point was a wonderful relationship with Harvard,” said Gates, who counts as friends the University’s associate athletic director, Tim Wheaton, and Seamus Malin, a former Harvard administrator who is now a soccer commentator and CAC board member.
Perhaps Gates’ most important Harvard connection is to its soccer teams. He regularly recruits volunteers from the men’s and women’s rosters. (More than 35 Harvard students and alumni have been involved with CAC since 2009, many of them soccer players.)
And while the Harvard players have an advantage when applying to the program, “they still have to be good,” said Gates. “They don’t just get a job because they come to Harvard. … What we want are the right people, the people who can make change.”
One of those people is Tim Linden ’12, a star defender who fell in love with Brazil and moved to São Paolo after graduation to work as an analyst in the Brazil office of Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.
Linden, who heard about the program from Harvard teammates, started volunteering with CAC last year, identifying potential partner organizations in Brazil and training coaches. Last Wednesday he was on hand as Prince Harry, in town for the World Cup, visited a CAC affiliate in Sao Paulo and observed local coaches implement its curriculum.
“However you are able to positively bring vulnerable kids together and have constructive conversations and health activities — I am all for,” said Linden. “It’s a really good avenue for reaching people that you otherwise may not.”
Baskind, Harvard’s 2012 female athlete of the year, signed up for CAC fresh off graduation and has trained coaches in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Tanzania. In the coming weeks, she will work with the program in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paolo.
In an email from Brazil, she said she loves being a “role model for young girls in countries where it is not common for females to play football.” The program does a “fantastic job keeping things local, encouraging critical thinking, and supporting self-directed learning,” Baskind said, as well as developing leaders “who can build critical thinking skills among their kids; training them to be good people and not just good footballers.” | <urn:uuid:9ececff9-26d7-45df-a1f1-d75f8327d357> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/06/in-soccer-a-game-plan-for-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738662321.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173742-00127-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966526 | 1,098 | 2.671875 | 3 | {
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} | Sports & Fitness |
New type of DVD will hold thousands of movies
Melbourne, Australia - Oh, great. Just as we've all got used to Blu-ray - and paid for the kit - another storage disk has been developed with 2,000 times the capacity of an ordinary DVD. The researchers say they could take a few years to hit the video stores, but could have immediate applications in the financial, military and medical sectors.
For the first time researchers from the Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Micro-Photonics have demonstrated how nanotechnology can enable the creation of ‘five dimensional’ discs with huge storage capacities.
“We were able to show how nanostructured material can be incorporated onto a disc in order to increase data capacity, without increasing the physical size of the disc,” said Professor Min Gu.
Discs currently have three spatial dimensions, but using nanoparticles the Swinburne researchers were able to introduce a spectral – or colour – dimension as well as a polarisation dimension.
“These extra dimensions are the key to creating ultra-high capacity discs,” Gu said.
To create the ‘colour dimension’ the researchers inserted gold nanorods onto a disc’s surface. Because nanoparticles react to light according to their shape, this allowed the researchers to record information in a range of different colour wavelengths on the same physical disc location.
This is a major improvement on current DVDs that are recorded in a single colour wavelength using a laser.
The researchers were also able to introduce an extra dimension onto the disc using polarisation. When they projected light waves onto the disc, the direction of the electric field contained within them aligned with the gold nanorods. This allowed the researchers to record different layers of information at different angles.
“The polarisation can be rotated 360 degrees,” Chon said. “So for example, we were able to record at zero degree polarisation. Then on top of that, we were able to record another layer of information at 90 degrees polarisation, without them interfering with each other.”
Some issues, such as the speed at which the discs can be written on, are yet to be resolved. However the researchers are confident the discs will be commercially available within five to ten years. However, they say, the disks could have immediate immediate applications in fields such as medical record storage and in the financial, military and security arenas.
The research is published in the scientific journal Nature. | <urn:uuid:0ea26314-8cab-48ac-a604-b1d334708370> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://www.tgdaily.com/games/42540-new-type-of-dvd-will-hold-thousands-of-movies | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096706.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00103-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945714 | 515 | 2.609375 | 3 | {
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The Norman Rockwell Museum showcases a true American Original
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass (WGGB) — For more than a half century Norman Rockwell captured the American Experience on canvas.
The art work of Norman Rockwell is housed in a beautiful state of the art museum located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
All of us are familiar with the work of Norman Rockwell whether we realize it or not. The reason is because the work of Norman Rockwell is all around us.
By putting paint to brush, and brush to canvas, Norman Rockwell transformed everyday life into classic American works of art.
“He painted the everyday scene and found magic in that scene,” said Jeremy Clowe, communications specialist with the Norman Rockwell Museum. “I think that’s what people connect to. I think that’s what connects it to you and I”.
And its that simple human connection that made Norman Rockwell such a giant on the American art scene for more than 60 years.
Norman Rockwells art spanned four wars, nearly a dozen U.S. Presidents, through the Civil Right Movement, and through family holidays. And no one captured those moments and memories quite like Norman Rockwell did.
As he strolled around the heart of the Rockwell Museum, Jeremy Clowe gestured to the ‘Four Freedom’ paintings that hang in their place of prominence. “All four of these paintings were actually created, and they were indeed made famous by the “For Freedom Speech’ that President Roosevelt gave back in the early 40’s”.
The Four Freedoms are housed in the heart of the Rockwell Museum. Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Fear. The paintings were inspired by FDR’s State of the Union Address just a month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Rockwell felt the nations uneasiness, and eased our fears through his art work.
“This painting is quite interesting,” said Clowe. “After the September 11th bombings it has a new resonance. All four of these paintings and much of Rockwells work still is relevant today.”
“We find the same themes that really hit home and I think that’s what people are really drawn to, and why he’s still relevant.”
Rockwell’s relevance through the generations was the key to his success as an artist. Like Springfield’s Theodor Geisel, Rockwell was an Ad Man. He drew ads and magazine covers. His magazine covers made him famous, but his paintings, like ‘Fruit of the Vine, created to sell Sun Maid Raisens, made Rockwell an artist.
“When you look at these actual canvases which were then finally presented in a published format,” said Clowe. You see the amount of care that really went into all these works. Rockwell is unique because he’s outside of the field of illustration even though we present him in the context of the profession that he loved. He was trained in the fine art style.”
Real people, captured in real life situations, and immortalized on canvas. It’s the secret to Norman Rockwell’s timeless success.
You can visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Weekends and holidays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This Friday you can meet Richard Clemens and Ed Locke, the two men featured in Rockwell’s famous ‘The Runaway’ painting.
The weekend, December 3-4, the town of Stockbridge will celebrate the 22nd annual Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, immortalized by Rockwells famous Main Street Stockbridge at Christmas. | <urn:uuid:448cd5fa-2894-4f48-960d-092fd4590fdc> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.wggb.com/2011/11/30/the-norman-rockwell-museum-showcases-a-true-american-original/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936469305.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074109-00277-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957651 | 805 | 2.515625 | 3 | {
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} | Art & Design |
I am often asked if cavies need routine
teeth trimming. Usually a cavy will keep his teeth worn to proper
length just by eating pellets, hay, fresh grass and vegetation.
Chew toys such as cardboard boxes or tubes are also helpful.
Rodent teeth are designed to constantly grow and constantly be
worn down. Enamel on the incisors (front teeth) is harder on
the front of the tooth than on the back, causing these teeth
to be worn to a sharp edge - better for biting. Cavies use their
front teeth to bite off or pick up pieces of food. The molars
do all of the actual chewing. Cavies have 20 teeth - 4 incisors,
4 premolars and 12 molars. There is quite a gap between the incisors
and the molars. This is called the diastema.
Sometimes a cavy will be born with deformed
teeth or may develop malocclusion due to age, injury, illness
or inadequate diet. Breeding roan to roan or dalmatian to dalmatian
can increase the risk of severe teeth and eye deformities (and
other health problems) in a cavy litter. Malocclusion means one
or more tooth is overgrown, crooked or misaligned (the upper
and lower teeth are not meeting properly). This condition makes
it difficult or impossible for a cavy to eat. If a cavy is drooling,
losing weight, acts interested in food but doesn't eat much,
or makes exaggerated chewing motions when he does eat - his teeth
must be checked by a cavy knowledgeable veterinarian.
Front teeth are easily checked and trimmed.
Care should be taken not to trim too short, causing the teeth
to be painful.
Molars are much harder to get at because
of the large bucal (cheek) pads "hiding" them. An otoscope
makes checking the molars easier. A bucal pad separator (sometimes
called a cavy mouth gag) makes it easier to get at them. Sometimes
light anesthesia is used to help provide easier, steadier access
to the teeth.
Molars can grow long enough and crooked
enough to actually bridge over the tongue or roof of the mouth.
Often these mutant teeth will wear sores on the cavy's tongue
or cheeks. One or two trimmings may correct the condition, though
sometimes routine trimming (every 2-4 weeks) will be necessary
to keep teeth in line. Occasionally sharp spikes or spurs on
molars need to be taken off with a file or rounger to improve
chewing and comfort. Owners can be taught to trim front teeth
themselves, molars should be done by an experienced professional.
Extremely deformed teeth may not be correctable.
Any cavy having trouble eating should
be syringe-fed until he is seen by a vet and the problem can
be fixed. Soak guinea pig pellets in hot water until thoroughly
broken down. Add Gerber baby cereal and warm water to make a
thin gruel. Feed this to the cavy with a small 1 cc or 3 cc syringe,
or an eyedropper. Oxbow Hay Company also makes a wonderful product,
called Critical Care, for syringe feeding herbivores such as
cavies. For more information on this see the Oxbow web site at
or call 800-249-0366.
Note: The bucal pad separator is a nifty
little instrument I first heard about from cavy lover/author
Gurney of London, England. Veterinarians can now get this
instrument and other rodent dental instrument through Dr Shipps
Laboratories, 351 North Foothill Road, Beverly Hills, CA 90210,
This article and the JPGPR.com
logo are © 1993-2002 Vicki Palmer Nielsen - Jack Pine Guinea
Pig Rescue. No copyright is asserted herein regarding the illustrations
accompanying the article; copyrights, if any, of the illustrations
are retained by the original holders. If you would like to reproduce
anything from the website, please first e-mail Vicki at [email protected] for permission. | <urn:uuid:a94c3e33-e3e2-47a7-81d2-09e92e29e5a2> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://pigsleys.tripod.com/jpgpr0201.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589537.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20180717012034-20180717032034-00432.warc.gz | en | 0.900215 | 899 | 3.015625 | 3 | {
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For proponents of the "bigger is safer" school of automotive thought the description "safe, small car" is an oxymoron. But the engineers at Volvo don't see it that way and the 2004.5 S40 proves it. Though the S40 is a compact car, (it's built off of Ford's C1 platform which also underpins the Mazda 3, Ford C-Max and the European Focus), Paul Gustavsson, director, New Car Projects, Volvo Car Corp., says it is designed to meet the same safety levels as its larger sibling, the S60. To do that Volvo used VIVA–Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture–a holistic approach to designing safety features into every part of a car.
On the front end Volvo designed tiered crumple zones that absorb energy at different rates based on the type of steel used. Mild steel bears the brunt of the impact at the front of the car and deforms significantly, while the subsequent zones of high-strength, extra-high-strength, and ultra-high-strength steel allow increasingly less deformation until the rigidly protected passenger cabin is reached. To reduce the chances of the engine breaching the cabin during collision, computer crash test simulations were run on S40 prototypes minus their virtual powerplants. Engineers then measured the space left intact in the engine compartment and designed the engine to fit it. That meant making the S40's transverse-mounted 5-cylinder engines 7.8 in. slimmer and 1 in. shorter than the "RN" engines that power larger Volvos; which required angling the exhaust manifold downward, re-routing the fiber-reinforced plastic inlet manifold up over the engine, and tucking away the compact alternator, water pump and a/c compressor. As a result of this downsizing, the engine can move up to 5.9 in. to the rear during a collision before the crankshaft hits a cross-member near the bulkhead. It also leaves 2.8 in. of space between the cylinder head and the hood to absorb impacts with pedestrians or cyclists.
Styling wise, the S40 hardly seems related to the dowdy Volvo boxes of the past. Volvo designers got the most out of the 175.9 in. they had to work with by pushing the wheels out to the extreme corners of the vehicle , greatly reducing the front and rear overhangs. Exterior designer Alsid Briscoe compares the car's exterior to a comet, with soft, rounded shapes in the front that flow around the sides of the car and end in the familiar Volvo "shoulder."
On the interior, Volvo emphasizes its Scandanavian heritage with an innovative center stack that resembles a small Swedish bent plywood chair that has been leaned against the dashboard. Briscoe says the idea is to create a sense that the stack is floating above its foundation; and to further that floating feeling the stack has nothing behind it but air. Volvo managed to pack all of the console's control electronics (HVAC, audio, built-in phone) in a space about the depth of a laptop computer. | <urn:uuid:6a4eebf8-6c98-4df6-b183-4c4c200710d5> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/volvo-s40-all-of-the-volvo-virtues-in-a-smaller-package | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936461612.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074101-00199-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947881 | 641 | 2.609375 | 3 | {
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"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Transportation |
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, so when humans decided to build and inhabit a laboratory in the harsh environment of space, it was only natural that innovations would follow. The creators of these developments sought patents to protect their intellectual property, giving a way to gauge microgravity advancements. The recently published paper, "Microgravity-Related Patent History," by Mark Uhran, looks back at the more than 818 patents granted since 1981, as related to the term "microgravity."
Uhran, former NASA director, International Space Station Division Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, points out that the use of patents as an indicator of value creation signifies economic potential. In addition to the granted patents, he cites an additional 580 applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during the last decade. There are undoubtedly station-related patents, according to Uhran, that do not include the term of microgravity. This means an even greater likelihood of additional innovations beyond those counted in his paper.
"Microgravity processing research is coming of age in much the same way that vacuum processing did at the close of the 19th century," said Uhran. "From vacuum technologies, the 20th century industrial revolution in microelectronics was born, and from microgravity technologies I predict a 21st century revolution in microbiotics that will dramatically change our approach to human health care and food production."
Developments based on microgravity investigations and exploration create compelling competition between agencies, scientists and engineers. This includes both research and technology developments, as seen in both cooperative and parallel projects that may lead to benefits for humanity.
"The fields of molecular and cellular biotechnology have already demonstrated the competitive advantages of microgravity environments," said Uhran.
The top seven patent categories include the following: biotechnologies (36%), instrumentation/analytical (13%), materials (12%), aerospace components (12%), and systems in the areas of thermal, measurement, and human health (4% each).
Macromolecular crystal growth and studies on bacterial pathogens in microgravity both show the potential from research aboard the space station to yield simultaneous beneficial developments for human health and global economies. "From the independent work of DeLucas, McPherson and Urade, we know that space is an effective tool for solving the structure of important biological macromolecules," said Uhran. "Nickerson and Hammond have both made competitive progress toward producing vaccines and therapeutics for bacterial pathogens."
While initially the U.S. government dominated microgravity-related patents, the area of industrial submissions quickly gained ground, with a continued growth that surpassed government, individual investigators and academia. These various sectors, Uhran asserts, are codependent. "The government role is to bridge the two [industry and academia] and demonstrate promise by underwriting long lead-time basic research, and proofs-of-concept for applications."
The grouping of the patent categories reveals the relationships inherent in knowledge growth and technological development. "In some cases, it's a scientific finding that enables the innovation of a new process or product on the ground that was never previously achievable," said Uhran. "In other cases, the process or product must function in the microgravity environment in order to yield an outcome that's not possible to duplicate on the ground under any conditions. Finally, a share of these patents are for products or processes that are needed to live and work in a microgravity environment."
Uhran concludes in his paper that his findings are merely the "tip of the proverbial iceberg." With the space station now at full utilization, he expects patents to grow rapidly, an indicator of advancing benefits on Earth and for future space exploration.
"Nothing could be more rewarding than to complete the International Space Station and meet all of the mission performance requirements we set back at the 1993 Critical Design Review," said Uhran. "We now have the laboratories we need, so what remains is a matter of political will and classic research portfolio management practices to capitalize on this incredible national asset."
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A person can survive less than a month without food, about a week without decent sleep, somewhat around three days without water, but only several moments without oxygen. Breathing is essential – three minutes without oxygen is more than enough for our brains to suffer irreversible damage and ruin lives forever. We do everything that is in our power to breathe quality air for as long as possible, yet for some, this necessity is luxurious.
According to the World Health Organization, only one in ten people have everyday access to clean air, and many millions suffer from severe respiratory diseases. We may say that breathing for these people is a possibility for which they have to pay. What are the most common breathing problems? What are the solutions? And Why some many people are sick in the first place?
Why Do We Suffer from Breathing Problems?
There are several significant reasons why each year, more and more people get diagnosed with severe respiratory problems. First of all, some genetically inherit various sicknesses, including breathing problems, so it’s for the universe to decide whether or not we will have to face. For example, cystic fibrosis is a severe disease that causes dangerous lung infections and obstructs pancreas preventing essential nutrition.
We might get acute respiratory problems and have deep trouble breathing because we breathe polluted air; that’s mainly why we usually see so many Japanese or Chinese people wearing masks in public places. Even though we can’t see pollution with the naked eye, small harmful particles together with oxygen get in our airways, build up, and increase our chances of allergies, asthma, and lung cancer.
Lastly, our lifestyles can make a massive impact on our health, so our habits can also cause breathing problems. Everywhere we go, we see signs ‘smoking kills,’ and yet we are rarely ready to give up this addiction, which kills around half a million people each year. Cigarettes and cigars contain many different toxic materials so both smoking and breathing fumes can result in shortness of breath, strokes, heart attacks, and, of course, mouth and lung cancer. Despite mentioning only three reasons that cause respiratory problems, there are many more factors that we just did not have time to discuss more thoroughly.
How Dangerous Respiratory Problems Are?
Even though several different factors influence our breathing quality, some outcomes – respiratory problems – are more common than the others. Getting diagnosed with pulmonary oedema and pulmonary embolus means either fluid in your lungs or your lung artery is blocked. Like the latter disease, bronchitis indicates blocked or narrower airways, meaning there is not enough oxygen to ensure smooth organs' functioning.
Another common respiratory disease is pneumonia – lung infection – which is often caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and leads to high fever, chills, shortness of breath and painful cough. Lung cancer is, without a doubt, one of the most severe and dangerous respiratory sicknesses. Besides, it is the deadliest type of cancer for both genders. Coughing with blood and chest pains can indicate lung cancers' beginning and growth, but it can only be treated with chemotherapy and surgery if the tumour has not spread.
Although asthma is not the most severe respiratory illness, it is the most common one among children and young adults – one in thirteen people in the world is asthmatic. Despite varying symptoms, asthma often means narrowed and swollen airways, which calls out dangerous attacks and can lead to a quick death if not controlled. If taken seriously and treated professionally, asthma is less risky; however, no medication can cure asthma, yet.
How Can We Usually Treat and Control Asthma?
As mentioned, asthma cannot be cured, but its rate requires immediate reactions. Asthma prevention begins with diagnosing sickness as soon as possible; tests include lung function measuring, physical exam, allergy and imaging testing, etc. After diagnosed, doctors usually assign a specific category of severity and begin the treatment process. Asthmatic people use various medications to prevent attacks and control them.
As an unexpected asthma attack can quickly end a patient's life, all drugs react immediately and ease the usual symptoms – shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, etc. In most cases, asthma medication comes as inhalers, which patients have to breath-in regularly, for example, each day or once a week. However, emotions and environmental factors can trigger asthma attacks; in these cases, asthmatic patients must have different inhalers on hand at all times.
Although some countries compensate for asthmatic patients' medical expenses, some still have to pay those bills themselves. Different medications come at a different price, and this subject can vary from country to country; therefore, something as simple as breathing for some can be quite an expense. Medical professionals and academicians try to develop new and more effective asthma treatments; however, their research mostly involves developing new drugs to ease the symptoms rather than cure the overall problem.
What Will be the Future of People with Asthma?
Even if medications cannot cure asthma, technological improvement paints a positive picture for asthmatic patients – new devices and programs to monitor attacks, of course, new ways to prevent them from happening in the first place. For example, we mentioned that stress and anxiety could trigger more severe asthma attacks; thus, they would be more dangerous. CBD Oil has proven helpful to lower the stress levels, reduce anxiety, and decrease depression, - people diagnosed with asthma have been using this natural and organic product to improve their physical health and mental health.
Other asthma treatments are also available for people without this diagnose. For example, there are many different medications and vitamins available in inhaler form – they can help people have more energy, fall asleep more easily and faster, lessen mood swings, focus, etc. Natural hemp oil is known to have similar abilities, so – get ready for some great news – we are trying to create such a product ourselves to help you feel better! Be patient!
Breathing is essential, but for some, it is more vital than the others – breathing difficulties not only can cost money but also life. Even if we cannot control our chances of getting diagnosed with respiratory problems, we can devote our lives to battle them in the most effective ways. Modern technologies and medical progress in on asthmatic patients’ side – and we are with them as well. Here at Biomedicanna, we strive to help people dealing with various illnesses, and if asthma is your enemy, it is our enemy too!
The information or statements provided on the website have not been evaluated to treat, prevent, cure or diagnose any disease. Always check with your physician before starting a new dietary supplement program. | <urn:uuid:53b7c2fa-85d6-444c-881f-8a45455d226e> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://biomedicanna.com/breathing-does-not-cost-us-anything-or-does-it/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304570.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20220124124654-20220124154654-00099.warc.gz | en | 0.95226 | 1,506 | 3.15625 | 3 | {
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William had received his war wound on October 19, 1864 in the Battle of Cedar Creek and was hospitalized from October 23 to November 14 when he was furloughed. William most likely traveled back to his hometown of Burnsville to see his family. His freedom was short lived as on January 18, 1865, William was captured near Iuka by forces under Major General Thomas, commanding officer, Department of the Cumberland. William spent the next six months as a prisoner of war, first in Nashville Tennessee at the Department of the Cumberland. He was then transferred to a military prison in Louisville, Kentucky then on to Camp Chase, Ohio.
Milton Asbury Ryan, a member of the 14th Mississippi Regiment, at the urging of his grandchildren, wrote about his time at Camp Chase:
Camp Chase was situated four miles west of Columbus, Ohio, the capitol of the state. The prison had a wall around it sixteen feet high. There was a partition wall that divided the prison into two apartments, and was known as Prison No. 1 and No 2. I occupied Prison No. 1. Each prison contained seven or eight acres of land and each held 4,000 prisoners. No. 2 was called by the prisoners in No. 1 the Razorbacks.
I found this image of Camp Chase on the website www.forgottenoh.com.
The gates to the two prisons stood side by side and opened into each prison. When we arrived at the gates we were told if we would take the oath of allegiance to the United States and to into Prison No. 2 they would have bountiful rations, plenty of blankets and fires to keep them warn, but if they went into Prison No. 1, they would have no promises to make. As a matter of regret many went into the Razorback Prison. The guards were placed on the wall with loaded guns with instructions to shoot to kill with the least infringement of prison rules. The barracks were on the pattern of Camp Douglas prison with three narrow bunks, one above another on each side of the barracks. By spooning two could like in one bunk. We slept on the naked planks straw being allowed. Some poor bony fellows hipbones were through their skin sleeping on the naked plank. We were not allowed fires in our stove after night. In our emaciated and rundown condition with nothing to wear but our light southern clothing and many of us in rags, you can imagine our terrible condition with zero weather almost half the time. We had no chairs or benches and when we sat we sat on the floor. We were guarded by a heartless set of wretches. They had never been to the front and baptized in the fire of battle; therefore they were cruel and mean in the extreme often shooting unsuspecting prisoners without the least provocation. After taps, as they call it, no lights were allowed and after that all was quiet as death until morning.
As to our rations: there was just enough to keep us ravenously hungry all the time; a one half loaf of bakers bread eight inches long divided between eight men, one inch to the man twice a day; with that one tablespoonful of navy beans with a piece of pickled beef or salt port about the size of a person’s forefinger. We had a kitchen sergeant who had the cooking done for his barracks. When ready it was handed to us through a window in a tin cup, with the liquor it was cooked in. The guards would throw down apple cores and peelings and enjoy seeing our poor starving boys scuffle for them. The hospital was just outside the prison wall. There was a ditch four feet wide and three feet deep. It was planked up side and bottom and from the hospital it passed through our prison and in it all the filth of the prison was deposited, including the scraps from the hospital, such as scraps of meat, bakers bread, onions and beef bones, etc. At the head of the ditch was a large tank. It was pumped full of water every day by a detail of prisoners. We all knew when the flood gates would be raised and the water turned loose. It would come sweeping down, bringing the garbage with other filth deposited in it during the day. Our boys would be strung along th sides of the ditch and as it came floating by they would grab it and eat it like hungry dogs. Beef bones was a choice morsel. We would take them and pound them up and place them in tin cups and boil them until the marrow was boiled out. When cold there would be a thin cake of tallow on top. We would spread it on our bread like butter. Had Lazerus been laid out at (our) gate he would not have gotten a crumb. A little snowbird would have starved to death at our feet. I now, after fifty years, recall some of the fitful scenes of the starved, emaciated young men. Those once proud Southerners who had been victorious in many a battle kicked and cuffed, starving and sick at heart, and in despair with no hope sitting waiting for the scraps from the hospital to be washed to their feet with the garbage and excrement all clumped in the same ditch together.
There are no words adequate to depict the outrageous cruelties and barbarities perpetrated upon helpless prisoners by some of those who had them in charge. The small pox was raging all the time but we cared nothing for that. We did not have vitality enough to produce a scab. I used the blanket of one of my comrades that was carried to the pest house and was glad to get it. The scurvy was also terrible, eating the gums away and the teeth falling out, leaving the victim a perfect wreck, all for the want of proper food. There was another species of suffering that befell the tobacco users. It was pitiful to see them following those who were lucky enough to have a little money to buy tobacco, watching until they threw it out of their mouths to pick it up off the ground and put it in their own mouths or take it to their quarters and dry and smoke it.
Private James W. Anderson from McNairy County, Tennessee wrote “every prisoner was issued one blanket, one changing of under clothing and one suit of common gray pants and coat. They were allowed to buy from the prison supply rooms tamps, writing materials, tobacco, cigars, pipes combs, hair brushes, tooth brushes, clothes brushes, scissors, thread, needles, handkerchiefs, towels, soap, pocket looking glasses and matches.” By the time William had arrived in camp, newspapers and candles were also offered. (Ohio History, the Scholarly Journal of the Ohio Historical Society).
On June 13, 1865, William signed an “Oath of Allegiance” to the United States. On this oath, he lists his place of residence as Cocke County, Tennessee on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. He is listed as 6’1″ 34 years of age, dark hair and blue eyes, born in Alabama. This trait of dark hair and blue eyes was carried forward to my father, Charles Edward, also black hair and blue eyes.
The reason William chose to relocate from Tishomingo County, Mississippi to Cocke County, Tennessee after being released in 1865 is not known. It is known he was in Iuka in January 1865 and in Haywood County, North Carolina in November 1865. Did William know there was nothing left for him in Tishomingo County with both his wife and children gone he knew not where? Did he meet another prisoner while there and decide to start a new life in Cocke County? Or did he decide to return to his extended family that lived in Sevier County, Tennessee which was next to Cocke County?
Return to Shoults Genealogy Index. | <urn:uuid:5de9fe46-3b94-4405-8639-42f8f75b10a5> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://carpediemdona.com/2013/12/22/i-asked-about-william-as-prisoner-of-war-1865/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320299852.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20220116093137-20220116123137-00003.warc.gz | en | 0.989894 | 1,607 | 2.703125 | 3 | {
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Diabetes is a chronic and complicated disease that affects how your body processes sugar—its main source of energy. Diabetes symptoms mostly affect your heart, eyes, nerves, and kidneys, but it can affect your whole body, including your mouth.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and almost 2 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Managing your blood sugar is very important if you have diabetes and will help keep symptoms at bay. Taking good care of your oral wellness is actually one key to managing blood sugar.
Diabetes can show itself in your mouth by causing:
You’d be absolutely shocked at the high number of bacteria that live in your mouth every day. Most of them are totally normal and fine. But, certain types of bacteria can be bad for your oral health and overall health.
Since bacteria live off the sugars in your mouth, people with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing gum disease from the bad bacteria. In fact, 22% of people diagnosed with diabetes will also get gum disease. In turn, gum disease infections can cause your blood sugar to elevate, which is the exact opposite of what you want. Thankfully, treating gum disease has been shown to also treat high blood sugar.
Gum disease is common and treatable and can vary in severity from a minor inflammation with sore and bleeding gums, to a major issue of receding gums, pus surrounding the teeth, and eventual tooth loss. If you have diabetes, it’s important to keep an eye on your oral health and practice good hygiene to prevent gum disease from starting or getting worse. Gum disease is linked to a number of other health problems, so you really don’t want to ignore any signs that it might be developing.
The ADA recommends controlling your blood sugar, brushing and flossing your teeth, and seeing the dentist in order to protect your mouth from symptoms of diabetes. Controlling gum disease and practicing great oral hygiene is known to help manage diabetes.
If you’re looking for a dentist in Anderson, make an appointment at Cornerstone Dentistry today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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Diabetes is a chronic and complicated disease that affects how your body processes sugar—its main source of energy. Diabetes symptoms mostly affect your heart, eyes, nerves, and kidneys, but it can affect your whole body, including your mouth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and almost 2 […] | <urn:uuid:28ddfdf3-f273-4855-8bfe-4f94780701ee> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.cornerstonesmiles.com/blog/can-poor-oral-health-cause-diabetes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030338244.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20221007175237-20221007205237-00365.warc.gz | en | 0.941685 | 678 | 3.359375 | 3 | {
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Chapter 12: The Story of the Tonto Apache
By the first half of the white man's 19th century, trailblazers were working around the fringe of Tonto lands. Explorers Garces, Beale and Kearny traveled from east to west across the flat mesas in the north, utilizing the springs around today's Flagstaff, Ariz. To the south, the Gila Trail passed through Tucson, blazed by the Mormon Battalion and the Butterfield Overland Stage. Both of these trails avoided the rugged mountains and foothills, canyons and forests, rims and valleys of central Arizona, and this allowed the Tonto Apaches to develop their lifestyle without reference to white men. Secluded as they were, Tonto Apaches could not know that the changing fashions of western civilization were about to affect them.
The rage among European and American men was to wear top hats, manufactured from beaver pelts that were felted. "Felting" is a process in which the fibers of the material are matted by pressure and rolling. The price of beaver pelts could go as high as $6 a pound in St. Louis, and an average pelt weighed a pound and a half. That meant good money for those who dared to penetrate the wilds of America's western mountains and rivers. The French, English and Scottish trappers had already taken most of the available beaver in Canada and the northern Rocky Mountains. Furthermore, the monopolistic trading companies controlled their fur trappers, employing them with an annual salary. Men who called themselves free trappers were not content with such limits, and looked to the untapped sources of beaver in the Southwest.
Around 1824, this new breed of men began to appear on the fringes of Tonto lands. Their skins were white, but their language was incomprehensible to the Apaches because it was not Spanish. To add to the confusion, they dressed in the skins of animals, like Indians, wore moccasins, and preferred the company of natives to their own kind. They even took Indian wives, raised families and established kinship with various bands. These mountain men moved in stealth, like the Indians, and were so fierce it seemed wise for Apaches to befriend them, if only to find out what they were up to. These white men apparently hated the Mexicans as much as Apaches did, and hope glimmered that they would become allies against a common enemy. In addition, the trappers were just passing through, utilizing the land as they went. They did not seem to have designs on the land itself.
The party of James Ohio Pattie followed the Gila River in 1826 from its headwaters to the Colorado River. During two such trips while skirting Apache territory they were harassed by Apaches, and Pattie was almost killed in one skirmish by two arrow wounds.
A few years later, young Kit Carson was in a party of trappers that followed the Verde River all the way north to the Mogollon Rim. On the way they engaged in a skirmish with Apaches, in which 20 Indians were killed and many more wounded. Carson reported that they camped for three days "in the meadows and pine and aspen groves of the Black Forest where the Verde reaches up to drain the southern rim of the Mogollon Mesa." (Quoted in "Dear Old Kit: The Historical Christopher Carson," edited by Harry L. Carter, University of Oklahoma Press, 1968) Carson's party had come very close to the Tonto stronghold. In dictating his life story, Carson said at this point, "We were nightly harassed by the Indians. They would frequently of nights crawl into our camp, steal a trap or so, kill a mule or horse and endeavor to do what damage they could." ("Kit Carson's Own Story of His Life," Carson Memorial Foundation, Taos, New Mexico 1955 reprint, page 12). From there Carson and others of the party went on to California.
A little later the Mexican government in the state of Chihuahua offered a bounty for Apache scalps, and a number of the trappers joined the hunt. A terrorist-type war developed around the fringes of the Tonto territory. While the Tontos kept as aloof as possible, it was a warning that even though their land was on the fringes of the white incursion they would soon have to fight. Some of the pressure was relieved when the dwindling finances of the Mexican government caused the bounty to be withdrawn. Furthermore, the demand for beaver pelts slackened when Chinese and Japanese ports were opened to clipper ships in the 1840s, and silk was being brought back to America. It soon replaced felted beaver as the top hat of choice.
In spite of explorations by the mountain men, the territory between the Rio Grande River and the Pacific Ocean was a mystery to Americans through most of the 1840s. That was about to change when, in May of 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, and a strong military force commanded by General Stephen Watts Kearny was marching west to capture California. His troops were aiming right for the central mountains of Arizona.
Next: The Noose Tightens | <urn:uuid:284858dc-bfe0-4e4d-bece-fe627ed37920> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2006/nov/28/trappers_threaten_apacheland/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982937576.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823200857-00123-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981819 | 1,074 | 3.78125 | 4 | {
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CBSE Class Eight English Question & Answer
A Short Monsoon Diary
On The Grasshopper and Cricket
1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Answer: Because of mist nothing is visible after a certain distance. Author can hear Bijju calling his sister but is unable to see him because of mist.
2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Answer: The visibility drops giving the hilly area a surreal look. Because of mist and poor light everything gets a sad tone. The whole ambience engulfs a silence.
3. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
Answer: The monsoon enters India from east and south somewhere around mid of May. It reaches northern part of the country around second week of June. The monsoon ends around September. People take out umbrellas and raincoats, gumboots are repaired. Leaking roofs are taken care of. In flood hit areas people keep their belongings at a higher and safer place. Old truck tubes are kept in good shape to be used as emergency boat during floods.
4. Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Answer: The author has described about Massoorie which is in Uttarakhand. Rusking Bond used to live in Uttarakhand.
5. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Answer: It rained for about 24 hours. The author tried to enjoy the beating sound of raindrops on the tin roof. It helped him keep awake. The tin roof helped him save from the incessant rain yet the sound of downpour gave him a sense of being part of the rain.
6. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Answer: Snakes and rodents are unable to live in their submerged holes. So, they take shelter in rooftops, attics and godowns.
7. What did the author receive in the mail?
Answer: The author received a cheque in the mail. It was probably a result of the good omen of the visit by a shrew.
On The Grasshopper and Cricket
The poetry of earth is never dead:
When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,
And hide in cooling trees,
a voice will run
From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead,
That is the grasshopper’s
— he takes the lead
In summer luxury
— he has never done
With his delights,
for when tired out with fun
He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.
This poem is about the everlasting flurry of activities on the earth. The earth, full of its flora and fauna never gets a moment which is without some interesting activity.
Even when the sun becomes unbearably hot and even perpetually active animals like bird become silent and take shelter in thick tree there is someone doing some interesting thing. The grasshopper hops on the newly mowed lawn and enjoys the luxury of hot summer.
The poetry of earth is ceasing never:
On a lone winter evening when the frost
Has wrought a silence, from the stone there shrills
The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,
And seems to one in drowsiness half lost;
The grasshopper’s among some grassy hills.
This stanza is about the chilly weather. When the frost silences everything, the cockroach starts singing from behind some stone crevices. The song of cricket is full of warmth and gives a sense that the cricket is enjoying the warmth of a sunny grassland. | <urn:uuid:b0e1f494-eac5-4650-84b6-a3d70d7a34a8> | CC-MAIN-2014-41 | http://www.excellup.com/ClassEight/shortmonsoon.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1410657131376.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20140914011211-00328-ip-10-196-40-205.us-west-1.compute.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957058 | 780 | 2.71875 | 3 | {
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Once again we return, in our cycle of reading the Torah each week, to the iconic, indeed universal, “VeAhavta LeReyacha Kamocha” (Leviticus 19:18), which is usually translated in English as, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” For most people this is understood to mean that we should love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. Which seems both an impossibility as well as an improbability. How can one realistically require this? And what if one does not love oneself? Does that mean one is relieved of the obligation?
In fact, both grammatically and in terms of simple common sense, it should translate as, “Show love towards you neighbor because he (or she, of course) is the same as you.” We are all the children of one God, as the saying goes. As the Talmud (Sanhedrin 74a) says, “Who is to say your blood is any purer than anyone else’s?”
The question one is bound to ask, of course, is how do you define a neighbor? Rashbam (Samuel ben Meir, Troyes c. 1085 – c. 1158), the great literal commentator and grandson of Rashi, qualifies this as applying only to good people, not bad ones. But still, we could ask, which good people? Christianity might require one to turn the other cheek. Judaism requires one to recognize evil where it exists and combat it.
There is a well-known debate in the Talmud (Yerushalmi Nedarin 30b) over what is the single most important sentence in the Torah. Rebi Akiva says it is “VeAhavta LeReyacha Kamocha,” loving your neighbor. Ben Azai, his contemporary and friend, disagrees. For him it is, “This is the history of mankind who God created in His image,” (Genesis 5:10). The difference is that Rebi Akiva defines neighbor as being a fellow Jew, someone committed to the same ethical and ritual values and standards. Ben Azai says that it is the commonality of humanity that matters most. We were all created in the image of God. Not literally, of course, but all with a spiritual dimension and a capacity for good.
The Talmud seems to come down on Ben Azai’s side, because the phrase “Love Your Neighbor” is quoted overwhelmingly in regard to a criminal (Pesachim 73a, etc.). Even if he is condemned to die, “make sure his death is a humane one.” Here is not the place to go into capital punishment. Suffice it to say there are very different attitudes to be found in the Talmud. But the very fact that one has to be considerate and sensitive even to a murderer shows that that loving one’s neighbor is indeed supposed to apply even to bad guys! And it certainly applies to good non-Jews as Ben Azai’s position implies and as Rebi Akiva clearly agrees in Avot 3:14.
There is quite a separate command to be helpful to your compatriot, “Ve Chai Achicha Imach,” (Leviticus 25:36): “You must ensure that your brother is able to live alongside you,” in the context of supporting the indigent.
Loving the “other” is used in Leviticus elsewhere. “And you should love the stranger as yourself because you were strangers in Egypt,” (Leviticus 19.34), where it clearly is not someone the same as you. It strikes me as obvious that we have an obligation to be considerate towards everyone we encounter, not just our immediate neighbors. All of mankind. The Mishnah in Rosh Hashana states quite explicitly that God cares about and judges all of humanity. “On Rosh HaShana everyone on earth passes before God [and is judged each year].”
I think the broad message is clear. We all want peace. But if you cannot get on with your immediate neighbor, how the heck can you expect to get on with those further removed from you? Which of course is precisely what is wrong with all religions. Great on the theory as some may be, they are woefully lacking on the practice!
This importance of respecting others is behind the period of mourning we are presently in called the Omer. The Torah describes bringing the Omer, as the first sheaf of the barley harvest to the Tabernacle and then counting 49 days until the festival we now call Shavuot. The earliest source of something tragic happening then is the Talmud (Yevamot 62b), where it says that Rebi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students who did not behave respectfully towards each other and they all died between Pesach and the thirty-third day of the Omer. But there’s no mention there of a period of mourning or a time when we do not celebrate weddings.
Some authorities thought the whole custom was spurious. They suggest the true origin of the custom of mourning, is that Rebi Akivah supported the Bar Kochba revolution against Rome, which led to his death and that of many of his followers. It was the reason for Emperor Hadrian’s anti-Jewish legislation and persecution. Others (for example Aruch HaShulchan 301.1) point out that as the custom of mourning only dates back to Medieval times, it was really a response to the Crusades whose murderous campaigns usually began after Easter. Pinning it to Rebi Akivah’s time was so as not to offend the Church. Now we mourn for all our fallen heroes, from that period through to the millions who perished in Europe, and those who still give their lives every day for us.
But the message is clear. If we cannot even be humane to our own, we are doomed to suffer. The sight of rival groups of ultra-religious Jews fighting, demeaning, and attacking each other, let alone other less extreme Jews, and using politics to defeat each other is depressing beyond imagination. We have this capacity to adhere to traditions and customs and yet to completely ignore the ideas and intentions behind them. It’s called zealotry.
And if we cannot act humanely to our own, how can we hope to act humanely to others? It may be true that we have no obligation to be nice to those who hate us, and there are plenty of them. But we must at least compensate by being extra nice to those who do not reject us or our right to live like any other people in the world. As for those who are against us, if they want others to respect their integrity and distinctive ways of life, they ought to extend a similar tolerance toward others.
As another commentator said, “If there is a fault in you, cure it instead of blaming it on your neighbor.” Or anyone else. Showing love and concern to others is such a fundamental issue, yet it seems as hard for most humans to follow now as it ever has been. | <urn:uuid:5bc19630-a0a4-4773-ab65-472dd2e18e54> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | http://jeremyrosen.com/2016/05/love-your-neighbor.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125945317.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20180421184116-20180421204116-00450.warc.gz | en | 0.970105 | 1,495 | 2.703125 | 3 | {
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- Education and Science»
- History & Archaeology»
- History of the Americas
The Hays Guards: The Story of Company K of the Sixty Third Pennsylvania Volunteers (Part Six)
In the breaks between fighting that followed after the Battle of Cold Harbor, at various times a sort of truce was called between the enlisted men of the brigade and the Confederate soldiers. It was a common occurrence for the two pickets, upon meeting in the field, to stick their bayonets into the ground, come out of their rifle pits and exchange greetings and trade for items and news. The men of the “Red Patch” brigade were well known and well respected by the Confederate troops in the Army of Northern Virginia.
By 14 June 1864, the men of Pennsylvania's Sixty Third Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as part of the Third Division of the Second Corp of the Army of the Potomac, were marching southward toward Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg was a crucial junction of rail lines into Richmond from the south, as five major railroads passed through this town. General Ulysses S Grant’s intention on taking this city was to break the rail arteries that kept Lee and his men supplied from the South. Here, the Sixty Third assisted in the siege, partaking in pickets and light skirmishes.
On 21 June 1864, the men of the Sixty-Third were called to the front lines, where they prepared their entrenchments for an attack from the Confederates. They were busy looking forward and did not know until it was nearly too late that a division of Confederate troops had managed to get behind them and attack. The Pennsylvania soldiers were unprepared for the attack, but tried to fight them off as they retreated in the process. Most of the men were able to escape safely with almost no injuries. Company B, however, was not as lucky, as they were trapped in an entrenchment. Captain Robert Nesbit of Company B was feared dead, but the men rejoiced later that night when he came back to camp, having outrun the Confederate soldiers. The night of 22 June, the men of the regiment rallied for an assault on the trench they had lost the day before. In this assault several were killed, including Private Joseph B. Hoopes of Company B, but they were not able to take the trench back.
The siege was long and tiresome, lasting nine months. Because it was summertime, the men scorched in the muggy heat of the Virginia marshes. Fresh water was scarce and dehydration was rampant. The conditions in the trenches were right for a plethora of diseases. Years later, many of the men who were at the siege of Petersburg developed rheumatism from exposure and the wretched conditions of the trenches. In his pension, Sgt John D. Wood of Co. "K" was one of the men debilitated by the wretched conditons.
Most of the remaining men of the Sixty-Third partook in many volleys during this siege, but did not see the end of the siege, as the term of service for those that originally mustered in expired on 1 August 1864. However, because of the nature of the siege, they were retained as part of the Army of the Potomac for another full month.
On 1 September 1864, those that had mustered in during the early stages of the war in 1861 were honorably discharged from service. These soldiers partook in many battles over the three years and many of the original veterans were eager to be done with the life of a soldier. The newer recruits and drafted men were transferred to the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania, which was the regiment they had worked with and had been associated with since May of 1864. Originally they were assigned to the Ninety Ninth Pennsylvania, but many of the men spoke up, wishing to remain with their comrades, and the requests were granted. Several veterans who had originally mustered in decided to re-enlist as veteran volunteers immediately after they mustered out of the 63rd and were also transferred to the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania. The men from Company K that re-enlisted were First Lieutenant Robert Standford, Corporal Robert Orr, and Privates John M. Bair, Joseph Coxen, I. Hays Dean, Johnson Fuller, Frank Rafter and John M Smith.
In total, 136 men served with Company K of the Sixty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War from its organization in August 1861 to its disbanding in September 1864. Of these men, 18 were killed or died from wounds, 19 died from disease, 33 were discharged before the regiment’s end, 6 deserted, 2 were dismissed, 31 mustered out and 27 were transferred to other regiments.
Theodore Bagglaey had been discharged on 15 Dec 1862 for wounds suffered in the Seven Days’ Battles, having lost his right arm. He filed for a military pension in 1863 and lived with his father and mother in Pittsburgh after the war. He died in 1875 and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
John D. Wood went back to Pittsburgh after he mustered out and continued working as a laborer in the steel mills, a profession he had his entire life. In 1868 he married Carrie C. Doerr, and the couple had seven children, including a son named for Charles Wesley Chapman. John Wood later applied for and received a pension after developing rheumatism in his feet as a result of the trench warfare in the last few months of his Army stint. John D. Wood died in 1890 and was buried in Highwood Cemetery. After his death, his widow Caroline and the couple’s youngest daughter, May, continued to receive John’s Army pension.
George B. Chalmers returned to Pittsburgh as well, having been discharged on account of his wounds from the Battle of the Wilderness almost a month before his comrades had mustered out. He worked with his brother for a time before being appointed by President Ulysses Grant to the position of Customs Appraiser. He married and had several children. When his friend John D. Wood needed a witness for his pension case, George accepted and swore under oath that John D. Wood did come down with rheumatism after the war. In 1912, George B. Chalmers passed away and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
Samuel Lea McDowell moved back to the area around present day Pittsburgh, ultimately settling in McDonald, where he became a prominent member of the community. He married twice and had twelve children. He died in 1911 after suffering a stroke and was buried in Chartier's Cemetery in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. His second wife, Nancy Jane, filed for a widow's pension after his death.
Author’s note: John D. Wood was my great-great grandfather. I do not know what happened to most of the other 29 men who had mustered out on 1 September, nor do I have biographical information past what I have listed for some of the other men in this series of articles. If you have information you would like to share on any of the men listed in any part of “The Hays Guards: The Story of Company K of the Sixty Third Pennsylvania Volunteers” please do not hesitate to leave a comment or contact me via my family tree website. I do edit this series with genealogical information from others as I get it. I would also like to offer my most profound appreciation to my distant cousin and collaborator, William Bozic for his insights and edits to this series. I thank him immensely for the time and effort he has put in to making this work what it is. Also I would like to say thank you to Aaron Joseph, who gave me biographical information on Samuel Lea McDowell, his great-great-grandfather.
63rd Pennsylvania Regiment. Pennsylvania Civil War Volunteers. 2012. Online at http://www.pacivilwar.com/regiment/63rd.html.
Bozic, William. Civil War Battlefield Tour - A Photographic History into the Regiments of John Denver and William W. Wood. 2005. Online at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kelleywood/westpennsylvania/Civil%20War%20Tour/civilwarbattlefieldtour.html
Civil War Battle Fields. Civil War Trust. 2011. Online at www.civilwar.org/battlefields
Davis, Kenneth C. Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History But Never Learned. Perennial: New York, 2003.
Donald, David. Divided We Fought: 1861-1865. The MacMillian Company: New York. 1952.
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War and of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies, Reports of the Adjutant Generals of Several States , the Army Registers, and Other Reliable Documents and Sources. The Dyer Publishing Company: Des Moines. 1908.
Epperson, Jim. The Siege of Petersburg. 1998. Online at http://www.petersburgsiege.org/Hawks, Steve. 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Civil War in the East. Hawks Interactive. 2012. Online at http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/PA/PA063.php
Hays, Gilbert A. Under the Red Patch: The Story of the Sixty-Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers: 1861-1865. Sixty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteers Regimental Association: Pittsburgh. 1908.
Tindall, George Brown and David Emory Shi. America: A Narrative History. Volume 1. 5th Ed. W. W. Norton and Company. New York. 2000. | <urn:uuid:3efba750-1fa0-4652-b8e1-0169f747138c> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | https://hubpages.com/education/The-Hays-Guards-The-Story-of-Company-K-of-the-Sixty-Third-Pennsylvania-Volunteers-Part-Six | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887077.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20180118071706-20180118091706-00120.warc.gz | en | 0.982618 | 2,034 | 3.53125 | 4 | {
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Climate change poses a serious threat to reindeer. Over the past decade, at least 80,000 of them have starved to death in Siberia because of melting sea ice. In the North Pole, warmer temperatures have caused reindeers to shrink in size.
But it turns out that reindeer may themselves be a useful weapon in the fight against global warming, a study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters last month finds. And their own appetites could help ensure their continued survival.
Researchers visited the Arctic county of Troms, Norway, and discovered that reindeers’ grazing could help slow climate change by increasing albedo, or the amount of solar radiation reflected back into space, in the Arctic.
Chomping on leafy greens, particularly in the summertime, the animals thin out shrubs and other thick vegetation. This reveals more shiny, reflective surfaces upon which more sunlight can bounce off.
If the reindeers weren’t there to eat the vegetation, more solar radiation would be absorbed by the ground (thicker vegetation has a low albedo and is better at absorbing heat), thus increasing surface temperatures and promoting the melting of Arctic ice.
“The whole northern Scandinavian tundra is grazed by reindeer. What we know is they can have a large effect in all these places … If reindeer disappear, there will be a really negative effect,” Johan Olofsson, a professor at Umeå University and co-author of the study, told Pacific Standard Magazine this week.
The Arctic could definitely use the reindeers’ help. The region is warming at almost double the rate of the rest of the world. In September, NASA said that the annual minimum of Arctic sea ice extent had reached the second-lowest level on record. “Since satellites began monitoring sea ice in 1978, researchers have observed a steep decline in the average extent of Arctic sea ice for every month of the year,” the agency said at the time.
Accelerated melting of Arctic ice could have catastrophic effects on the rest of the planet. Increasingly rapid Arctic melting could trigger “uncontrollable climate change at a global level,” according to the November Arctic Resilience Report.
The reindeer study, published on Dec. 22, suggests that herbivore management in the Arctic could be a possibly powerful tool to mitigate future warming.
“Our results show that reindeer have a potential cooling effect on climate,” said lead author Mariska te Beest in a statement. “Although the estimated differences might appear small, they are large enough to have consequences for the regional energy balance.”
The scientists told Pacific Standard that they plan to now study the effects of reindeer grazing on a larger scale. The grazing of herbivores in general may also have climate changing effects in other habitats, such as the African savannas and the steppes of the American West, the researchers said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers reindeer a vulnerable species. The animals’ populations in the Arctic region have declined 40 percent in less than three decade, according to the group’s latest assessment of the animal in 2015. | <urn:uuid:f89d0616-ba2c-49cb-af2c-52fbcfed5e6d> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reindeer-grazing-climate-change_n_586f3d62e4b099cdb0fc8690 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232256887.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20190522163302-20190522185302-00533.warc.gz | en | 0.939675 | 670 | 3.890625 | 4 | {
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Henry George and Jane Jacobs each have an enthusiastic following today, including, I’m sure, some readers of The Freeman.
For those who might not know, Henry George is the late-19th-century American intellectual best known for his proposal of a “single tax” from which he believed the government could finance all its projects. He advocated eliminating all taxes except that on the rent of the unimproved portion of land. He viewed that rent as unjust and solely the result of general economic progress unrelated to the actions of landowners.
Jane Jacobs, writing about one hundred years later, is an American intellectual best known for her harsh and incisive criticism of the heavy-handed urban planning of her day. She advised ambitious urban planners to first understand the microfoundations of urban processes — street life, social networks, entrepreneurship — before trying to impose their visions of an ideal city.
Much has been written, pro and con, on George’s single tax and also on Jacobs’s battles with planners the likes of Robert Moses, and if you’re interested in those issues you can start with the links provided in this article. Here I would like to contrast their views on the nature of economic progress and the significance of cities in that progress.
Some interesting parallels
There are some interesting parallels between George and Jacobs.
Both were public intellectuals who rebelled against mainstream economic thinking — for George it was classical economics, for Jacobs neoclassical economics. Both had a firm grasp of how markets work, were critical of crony capitalism, and concerned with the problems of “the common man.” And both established their reputations outside of academia.
George was a strong advocate for free trade and an opponent of protectionism. He also understood Adam Smith’s explanation of the invisible hand. As George writes in his Science of Political Economy, “To find a fully civilized people we must find a people among whom exchange or trade is absolutely free, and has reached the fullest development to which human desires can carry it. There is, as yet, unfortunately, no such people.”
Similarly, Jacobs understood how spontaneous social processes solve the problem of dispersed local knowledge and how ordinary people can successfully cope with most of their own problems.
But there are, as I see it, at least two areas where they fundamentally differ. Those differences echo those we see today between current mainstream economics and the economics of Mises and Hayek.
The nature of progress and poverty
Although George criticized many aspects of classical economics (for example, the wage–fund doctrine), he held two important ideas that often characterize that school of thought. The first is that market competition and private property (with the notable exception of land) keep things fair and orderly, which accounts for his favorable attitude toward free trade. The second is that there is a logic to competition that pushes the economy relentlessly forward and against which ordinary people are mostly powerless. That is where he differs considerably from Jacobs.
David Ricardo, an outstanding figure of the classical school whose theory of land-rent George borrowed from heavily, argued that in a competitive market system population growth will put ever-greater pressure on farmers to bring land under cultivation that is less and less fertile. That, in turn, lowers land productivity, raises food prices, and drives wages down to subsistence level. In the meantime, rent on the more fertile land (marginal land earns no rent) rises inexorably. At subsistence wages, population growth ceases, profits shrink, and the economic system reaches a “stationary state,” which innovation may temporarily forestall but cannot prevent. Pretty bleak!
George therefore advocated a single, confiscatory tax on land because he felt that the owners of land, by virtue of their monopoly ownership, enjoy predictably rising rents without engaging in productive activity. Much as some popular economists today believe that capital automatically earns a return to those rich enough to accumulate it and so may be taxed without ill effect, George believed that taxing the “unearned” portion of land rent would not only be just but could resolve poverty and a myriad of other social and fiscal problems.
George wrote most of his most important economic tracts in the 1870s and 1880s, about the same time that classical economics was beginning to wane. Broadly speaking, one way of looking at the project of classical economics (including much of Karl Marx’s economics) is through its concern with large societal forces — for example, Malthus’s population doctrine, Ricardo’s stationary state, and Marx’s material forces of history — against which individuals’ efforts were ineffectual.
That outlook began to change in the early 20th century, when economic theorists shifted focus toward the individual’s perceptions and expectations and how they interact with other people’s perceptions and expectations to generate patterns and outcomes that are typically (though not always) benign. Theorists also asked how that order happens even though no one either intends it or has sufficient knowledge to achieve it even if they did intend it. The answer, at least to the likes of Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, and Israel Kirzner, is that the economic system has to be congenial to trial and error such that the beneficial and orderly consequences of success stay ahead of the costly and chaotic consequences of error.
Enter Jane Jacobs
In her Economy of Cities, Jacobs makes the startling claim that “poverty has no causes. Only prosperity has causes.” In other words, poverty is the default condition of humankind; it is what happens when there is no progress. For Jacobs, the main drivers of prosperity are individual innovators. Innovation is messy because what innovation depends on — trial and error — is messy and seemingly chaotic. Yet, innovation results when resourceful and imaginative people gather the diverse inputs they need to try to do something different. Progress is not inevitable, but in the right environment it has happened and can continue to happen. For Jacobs, that environment is a living city.
A city that brings people with diverse knowledge, skills, and tastes together in proximity enables the kind of experimentation needed for innovation. If knowledge were perfect, we wouldn’t need to experiment. True, great cities are consequently places of inequality, noise, congestion, and disease, which is the negative side of ambitious people seeking to better their situations. But history shows that when the environment is right — when the rules of the game are right — the positives tend to outweigh the negatives, although sometimes just barely. Which is why Jacobs praised the inefficiency of cities:
I propose to argue that these grave and real deficiencies are necessary to economic development and thus are exactly what make cities uniquely valuable to economic life. By this, I do not mean that cities are economically valuable in spite of their inefficiency and impracticality but rather because they are inefficient and impractical.
That understanding of the nature of social processes in the presence of imperfectly informed but alert and resourceful individuals places Jacobs squarely on the same side of economic theory as Mises, Hayek, and Kirzner.
George wrote about progress, of course, but he didn’t seem to appreciate, as Jacobs did, the microfoundations of that progress. It’s not surprising, then, that he disparaged great cities, approvingly quoting William Cobbett, who famously described 19th-century London as a Great Wen. Apparently, George didn’t appreciate that many of the considerable vices of cities are the price of the very progress that he cherished, a price that growing millions worldwide have been and are still willing to pay, both to move to large urban centers and to stay in them.
Sandy Ikeda is a professor of economics at Purchase College, SUNY, and the author of The Dynamics of the Mixed Economy: Toward a Theory of Interventionism. He is a member of the FEE Faculty Network.
This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article. | <urn:uuid:d0c672dd-af25-44fe-be9b-436b397640e3> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://marketurbanism.com/2016/09/13/visions-of-progress-henry-george-vs-jane-jacobs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711069.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20221206024911-20221206054911-00163.warc.gz | en | 0.964214 | 1,636 | 2.625 | 3 | {
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Marijuana growers gobble up electricity, but Michigan pot law doesn't address energy efficiency
LANSING — Pot is a power-hungry crop.
Indoor marijuana grow facilities gobble up massive amounts of electricity, prompting a push from some environmental advocates for energy efficiency in the industry.
Michigan's marijuana laws do not directly address energy efficiency, but some utilities say they will work with growers to help them cut back on electricity.
A national 2018 report estimated legal cannabis cultivation ate up 1.1 million megawatt hours of electricity in a year, enough to power 92,500 homes.
That usage will only grow as more states legalize the recreational and medical marijuana industries.
Electricity usage among cannabis cultivators is expected to increase 162% nationwide between 2017 and 2022, according to researchers with New Frontier Data, a firm that studies cannabis.
On average, a marijuana grow facility uses 70 times more electricity for lighting than a commercial office building, the researchers found.
Marijuana has long harvest cycles and flourishes under sustained periods of direct light. To create ideal moisture and temperature levels, cultivators crank up heating, ventilation and cooling systems.
Outdoor farms use less electricity
Greenhouses and outdoor farms are less energy intensive since they rely on sunlight.
In the Midwest, where weather is inconsistent, most grow facilities are indoors.
Indoor cultivators use 18 times more energy than outdoor growers to produce one gram of cannabis. And indoor marijuana farms emit nearly 25 times more carbon compared to outdoor facilities, according to New Frontier Data.
Carbon-dioxide emissions, often a byproduct of fossil fuels, are a major contributor to climate change.
Michigan law does not require grow facilities to operate completely indoors, but it does specify that marijuana plants at the facilities cannot be visible to passersby. State rules require outdoor commercial growers to keep the plants behind locked fences or other enclosures.
Commercial recreational marijuana growers are starting to go online in Michigan, after voters legalized recreational use of the drug in 2018.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Michigan since 2008 and commercial medical grows have been operating legally in the state for more than a year.
Michigan doesn't track cultivator energy use
Granular data on energy use at cannabis grow facilities is lacking, in part due to the drug's illicit history, said Molly Graham, a senior program manager for the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, an environmental advocacy group. The alliance has pushed states, including Illinois, to regulate energy efficiency in the cannabis industry.
Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, but more than 30 states have legalized marijuana in some form.
Furthermore, many businesses are hesitant to release details about their growing processes, including how they use lighting and HVAC systems.
"Growers kind of see it as their secret recipe to growing a quality product," Graham said.
Illinois has stricter efficiency standards
State and local governments should require commercial cannabis growers to submit reports on energy usage, Graham said. The data could be released in aggregate or anonymous form.
Illinois will require growers to submit reports on their energy usage. Recreational marijuana becomes legal in the prairie state on Jan. 1.
Michigan's marijuana laws do not include energy reporting requirements.
David Harns, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, said he was not aware of energy efficiency incentives offered specifically to marijuana growers at the state level.
In Illinois, state law mandates that growers use lighting and HVAC equipment that meets a certain level of efficiency. Michigan's marijuana laws do not include those mandates.
Some governments also are targeting marijuana's carbon footprint.
For example, Boulder County, Colorado requires marijuana growers to pay a surcharge if they don't buy local renewable energy to offset their electricity use.
Local regulations don't address energy
Lansing requires marijuana businesses to obtain a city license in addition to a state license, but the city's scoring criteria does not award points based on applicant's plans for energy efficiency.
The city could license up 75 medical and recreational cultivators through 2020. In 2021, Lansing will reduce its cap on growers to 55 licenses.
Neighboring East Lansing also allows cannabis cultivators, but the issue of energy efficiency did not come up when City Council discussed its marijuana ordinance, Mayor Ruth Beier said. East Lansing's ordinance doesn't cap the number of marijuana grow facilities citywide, but the city's zoning rules limit the proliferation of the facilities.
Even in the absence of local and state regulations, utilities should encourage energy efficiency at cannabis farms, Graham said.
Utilities can work with growers
In Michigan, Consumers Energy offers cannabis facilities the same energy efficiency rebates that are available to any other business, spokesman Brian Wheeler said.
The public utility serves 1.8 million electric customers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, including 110,000 customers in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.
The demand for electricity through Consumers Energy typically grows 1 to 2% each year, and the utility is not projecting a more substantial increase because of the cannabis industry, Wheeler said.
Nonetheless, Consumers plans to monitor the situation and, if necessary, adjust production, he said.
"We are aware that the marijuana growing business can be energy-intensive," Wheeler said. "They're like a large farming operation or a factory."
The Lansing Board of Water & Light, which serves more than 97,000 electric customers in the Lansing area, does not track the number of marijuana grow facilities in its service territory, General Manager Dick Peffley said.
The city-owned utility has surplus energy to sell each year and officials do not expect the demands of the cannabis industry to create problems, Peffley said.
The BWL does not offer incentives specific to cannabis businesses, but that industry could access incentives available to any customer, Peffley said. That includes rebates and energy-use audits.
Bottom line could motivate cannabis industry
Graham recommends that growers notify their local utilities before setting up shop. That way officials can advise growers on installing equipment for maximum efficiency.
"I think sometimes the utilities don’t find out about these customers until these pieces are selected." Graham said.
Growers can shrink their utility bills relying on sunlight when possible while supplementing with LED lights. And businesses can schedule their watering and HVAC systems to avoid peak-use charges.
Green Peak Innovations, which operates two large-scale grow facilities in the Lansing area, obtains energy from the BWL and spends about $100,000 each month on utilities, according to information provided by the company.
To reduce its energy footprint, Green Peak uses LED lights and solar panels.
"We were keenly aware that cannabis is a utility-heavy business, even before we kicked off our operations," Joe Neller, Green Peak's co-founder and chief government affairs officers said in a statement provided through a spokesman. "That’s why energy efficiency was a focus during the design and build process of our cultivation facilities."
As growers produce more cannabis, potentially driving down prices in Michigan, the bottom line might have more influence than governments and utilities, Graham predicted.
Energy can account for 20% to 50% of an indoor grower's operating costs, according to the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.
For many growers, going green could become a financial imperative.
Reporter Sarah Lehr can be reached at (517) 377-1056 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGLehr. | <urn:uuid:37806974-88fc-4a76-b7f0-c172bb2df89a> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/12/12/growing-cannabis-power-hungry-business-michigan-prepared/2629729001/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304686.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20220124220008-20220125010008-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.941164 | 1,539 | 2.53125 | 3 | {
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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY
J.W. POWELL DIRECTOR
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF MORTUARY CUSTOMS AMONG THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
BY DR. H. C. YARROW ACT ASST SU G USA
WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1880
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY
Washington D. C. July 8, 1880
This little volume is the third of a series designed to promote anthropologic researches among the North American Indians. The first was prepared by myself and entitled "Introduction to the Study of Indian Languages," the second by Col. Garrick Mallery entitled Introduction to the Study of Sign Language among the North American Indians.
The following are in course of preparation and will soon appear.
Introduction to the Study of Medicine Practices among the North American Indians
Introduction to the Study of Mythology among the North American Indians
Introduction to the Study of Sociology among the North American Indians
The mortuary customs of savage or barbaric people have a deep significance from the fact that in them are revealed much of the philosophy of the people by whom they are practiced. Early beliefs concerning the nature of human existence in life and after death and the relations of the living to the dead are recorded in these customs. The mystery concerning the future love for the departed who were loved while here, reverence for the wise and good who may after death be wiser and better, hatred and fear of those who were enemies here and may have added powers of enmity in the hereafter—all these and like considerations have led in every tribe to a body of customs of exceeding interest as revealing the opinions, the philosophy of the people themselves.
In these customs, also are recorded evidences of the social condition of the people, the affection in which friends and kindred are held, the very beginnings of altruism in primitive life.
In like manner these customs constitute a record of the moral condition of the people, as in many ways they exhibit the ethic standards by which conduct in human life is judged. For such reasons the study of mortuary customs is of profound interest to the anthropologist.
It is hoped that by this method of research the observations of many men may be brought together and placed on permanent record, and that the body of material may be sufficient, by a careful comparative study, to warrant some general discussion concerning the philosophy of this department of human conduct.
General conclusions can be reached with safety only after materials from many sources have been obtained. It will not be safe for the collector to speculate much upon that which he observes. His own theory or explanation of customs will be of little worth, but the theory and explanation given by the Indians will be of the greatest value. What do the Indians do, and say, and believe? When these are before us it matters little whether our generalizations be true or false. Wiser men may come and use the facts to a truer purpose. It is proposed to make a purely objective study of the Indians, and, as far as possible, to leave the record unmarred by vain subjective speculations.
The student who is pursuing his researches in this field should carefully note all of the customs, superstitions, and opinions of the Indians relating to—
1. The care of the lifeless body prior to burial, much of which he will find elaborated into sacred ceremonies.
2. The method of burial, including the site of burial, the attitude in which the body is placed, and the manner in which it is investured. Here, also, he will find interesting and curious ceremonial observances. The superstitions and opinions of the people relating to these subjects are of importance.
3. The gifts offered to the dead; not only those placed with the body at the time of burial, but those offered at a subsequent time for the benefaction of the departed on his way to the other world, and for his use on arrival. Here, too, it is as important for us to know the ceremonies with which the gifts are made as to know the character of the gifts themselves.
4. An interesting branch of this research relates to the customs of mourning, embracing the time of mourning, the habiliments, the self- mutilations, and other penances, and the ceremonies with which these are accompanied. In all of these cases the reason assigned by the Indians for their doings, their superstitions, and explanations are of prime importance.
5. It is desirable to obtain from the Indians their explanation of human life, their theory of spirits and of the life to come.
A complete account of these customs in any tribe will necessitate the witnessing of many funeral rites, as the custom will differ at the death of different persons, depending upon age, sex, and social standing. To obtain their explanations and superstitions, it will be necessary to interrogate the Indians themselves. This is not an easy task, for the Indians do not talk with freedom about their dead. The awe with which they are inspired, their reverence and love for the departed, and their fear that knowledge which may be communicated may be used to the injury of those whom they have loved, or of themselves, lead them to excessive reticence on these subjects. Their feelings should not be rudely wounded. The better and more thoughtful members of the tribe will at last converse freely on these subjects with those in whom they have learned to place confidence. The stories of ignorant white men and camp attaches should be wholly discarded, and all accounts should be composed of things actually observed, and of relations made by Indians of probity.
This preliminary volume by Dr. H. C Yarrow has been the subject of careful research and of much observation, and will serve in many ways as a hint to the student. The literature of the subject is vast, but to a large extent worthless, from the fact that writers have been hasty travelers or subjective speculators on the matter. It is strange how much of accepted history must be rejected when the statements are carefully criticised and compared with known facts. It has frequently been stated of this or that tribe that mutilations, as the cutting off of fingers and toes, of ears and nose, the pulling out of teeth, &c., are extensively practiced as a mode of mourning find wild scenes of maiming and bloodshed are depicted as following upon the death of a beloved chief or great man yet among these tribes maimed persons are rarely found It is probable that there is some basis of fact for the statement that mutilations are in rare instances practiced among some tribes. But even this qualified statement needs absolute proof.
I am pleased to assure those who will take part in this work by earnest and faithful research that Dr Yarrow will treat them generously by giving them full credit for their work in his final publication.
I must not fail to present my thanks to the Surgeon General of the United States Army and his corps of officers for the interest and assistance they have rendered.
J W POWELL
WASHINGTON, D C, April 5, 1880
DEAR SIR: I have the honor to offer for your consideration the following paper upon the Mortuary Customs of the North American Indians, and trust it may meet with your approval as an introduction to the study of a subject which, while it has been alluded to by most authors, has received little or no systematic treatment. For this and other reasons I was induced some three years since to commence an examination and collection of data relative to the matter, and the present paper is the outcome of that effort. From the vast amount of material in the Bureau of Ethnology, even at the present time, a large volume might be prepared, but it was thought wiser to endeavor to obtain a still greater array of facts, especially from living observers. If the desired end is attained I shall not count as lost the labor which has been bestowed.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H C. YARROW.
Maj. J. W. POWELL,
In charge of Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution
_The wisest of beings tells us that it is better to go to the House of Mourning than to that of laughter. And those who have well consider d the grounds he bad for thus his judgment will not by the title of this book (as melancholy as it appears) be affrighted from the perusing it.
What we read to have been and still to be the custom of some nations to make sepulchres the repositories of their greatest riches is (I am sure) universally true in a moral sense however it may be thought in the literal there being never a grave but what conceals a treasure though all have not the art to discover it I do not here invite the covetous miser to disturb the dead who can frame no idea of treasure distinct from gold and silver but him who knows that wisdom and virtue are the true and sole riches of man. Is not truth a treasure think you? Which yet Democritus assures us is buried in a deep pit or grave and he bad reason for whereas we meet elsewhere with nothing but pain and deceit we no sooner look down into a grave but truth faceth us and tells us our own._—MURET
INQUIRIES AND SUGGESTIONS
MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
BY H. C. YARROW.
The primitive manners and customs of the North American Indians are rapidly passing away under influences of civilization and other disturbing elements. In view of this fact, it becomes the duty of all interested in preserving a record of these customs to labor assiduously, while there is still time, to collect such data as may be obtainable. This seems the more important now, as within the last ten years an almost universal interest has been awakened in ethnologic research, and the desire for more knowledge in this regard is constantly increasing. A wise and liberal government, recognizing the need, has ably seconded the efforts of those engaged in such studies by liberal grants from the public funds; nor is encouragement wanted from the hundreds of scientific societies throughout the civilized globe. The public press, too—the mouth-piece of the people—is ever on the alert to scatter broadcast such items of ethnologic information as its corps of well-trained reporters can secure. To induce further laudable inquiry, and assist all those who may be willing to engage in the good work, is the object of this preliminary work on the mortuary customs of North American Indians, and it is hoped that many more laborers may through it be added to the extensive and honorable list of those who have already contributed.
It would appear that the subject chosen should awaken great interest, since the peculiar methods followed by different nations and the great importance attached to burial ceremonies have formed an almost invariable part of all works relating to the different peoples of our globe; in fact no particular portion of ethnologic research has claimed more attention. In view of these facts, it might seem almost a work of supererogation to continue a further examination of the subject, for nearly every author in writing of our Indian tribes makes some mention of burial observances; but these notices are scattered far and wide on the sea of this special literature, and many of the accounts, unless supported by corroborative evidence, may be considered as entirely unreliable. To bring together and harmonize conflicting statements, and arrange collectively what is known of the subject has been the writer's task, and an enormous mass of information has been acquired, the method of securing which has been as follows:
In the first instance a circular was prepared, which is here given; this at the time was thought to embrace all items relating to the disposal of the dead and attendant ceremonies, although since its distribution other important questions have arisen which will be alluded to subsequently.
"WASHINGTON, D. C, June 15, 1877.
"SIR: Being engaged in preparing a memoir upon the 'Burial Customs of the Indians of North America, both ancient and modern, and the disposal of their dead,' I beg leave to request your kind co-operation to enable me to present as exhaustive an exposition of the subject as possible, and to this end earnestly invite your attention to the following points in regard to which information is desired:
"1st. Name of the tribe
"3d. Manner of burial, ancient and modern.
"4th. Funeral ceremonies.
"5th. Mourning observances, if any.
"With reference to the first of these inquiries, 'Name of the tribe,' the Indian name is desired as well as the name by which the tribe is known to the whites.
"As to 'Locality,' the response should give the range of the tribe, and be full and geographically accurate.
"As to the 'Manner of burial,' &c, it is important to have every particular bearing on this branch of the subject, and much minuteness is desirable.
"(a) Was the body buried in the ground; if so, in what position, and how was the grave prepared and finished?
"(b) If cremated, describe the process, and what disposal was made of the ashes.
"(c) Were any utensils, implements, ornaments, &c., or food placed in the grave? In short, every fact is sought that may possibly add to a general knowledge of the subject.
"Answers to the fourth and fifth queries should give as full and succinct a description as possible of funereal and other mortuary ceremonies at the time of death and subsequently, the period of mourning, manner of its observance, &c.
"In obtaining materials for the purpose in question it is particularly desirable that well-authenticated sources of information only be drawn upon, and, therefore, any points gathered from current rumor or mere hearsay, and upon which there is doubt, should be submitted to searching scrutiny before being embraced in answers to the several interrogatories, and nothing should be recorded as a fact until fully established as such.
"In seeking information from Indians, it is well to remember the great tendency to exaggeration they show, and since absolute facts will alone serve our purpose, great caution is suggested in this particular.
"It is earnestly desired to make the work in question as complete as possible, and therefore it is especially hoped that your response will cover the ground as pointed out by the several questions as thoroughly as you may be able and willing to make it.
"In addition to notes, a reference to published papers either by yourself or others is desirable, as well as the names of those persons who may be able to furnish the needed information.
"Permit me to assure you that, while it is not offered in the way of inducement to secure the service asked, since it is barely possible that you can be otherwise than deeply interested in the extension of the bounds of knowledge, full credit will be given you in the work for whatever information you may be pleased to furnish.
"This material will be published under the auspices of Prof. J.W. Powell, in charge of the U. S Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region.
"Communications may be addressed to me either at the address given above or at the Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C.
"H. C. YARROW."
This was forwarded to every Indian agent, physicians at agencies, to a great number of Army officers who had served or were serving at frontier posts, and to individuals known to be interested in ethnologic matters. A large number of interesting and valuable responses were received, many of them showing how customs have changed either under influences of civilization or altered circumstances of environment.
Following this, a comprehensive list of books relating to North American Indians was procured, and each volume subjected to careful scrutiny, extracts being made from those that appeared in the writer's judgment reliable. Out of a large number examined up to the present time, several hundred have been laid under contribution, and the labor of further collation still continues.
It is proper to add that all the material obtained will eventually be embodied in a quarto volume, forming one of the series of contributions to North American Ethnology prepared under the direction of Maj. J. W. Powell, Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, from whom, since the inception of the work, most constant encouragement and advice has been received, and to whom all American ethnologists owe a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
Having thus called attention to the work and the methods pursued in collecting data, the classification of the subject may be given and examples furnished of the burial ceremonies among different tribes, calling especial attention to similar or almost analogous customs among the peoples of the Old World.
For our present purpose the following provisional arrangement of burials may be adopted:
1st. By INHUMATION in pits, graves, holes in the ground, mounds; cists, and caves.
2d. By CREMATION, generally on the surface of the earth, occasionally beneath, the resulting bones or ashes being placed in pits, in the ground, in boxes placed on scaffolds or trees, in urns, sometimes scattered.
3d. By EMBALMENT or a process of mummifying, the remains being afterwards placed in the earth, caves, mounds, or charnel-houses.
4th. By AERIAL SEPULTURE, the bodies being deposited on scaffolds or trees, in boxes or canoes, the two latter receptacles supported on scaffolds or posts, or on the ground. Occasionally baskets have been used to contain the remains of children, these being hung to trees.
5th. By AQUATIC BURIAL, beneath the water, or in canoes, which were turned adrift.
These heads might, perhaps, be further subdivided, but the above seem sufficient for all practical needs.
The use of the term burial throughout this paper is to be understood in its literal significance, the word being derived from the Anglo-Saxon "birgan," to conceal or hide away.
In giving descriptions of different burials and attendant ceremonies, it has been deemed expedient to introduce entire accounts as furnished, in order to preserve continuity of narrative.
The commonest mode of burial among North American Indians has been that of interment in the ground, and this has taken place in a number of different ways; the following will, however, serve as good examples of the process.
"The Mohawks of New York made a large round hole in which the body was placed upright or upon its haunches, after which it was covered with timber, to support the earth which they lay over, and thereby kept the body from being pressed. They then raised the earth in a round hill over it. They always dressed the corpse in all its finery, and put wampum and other things into the grave with it; and the relations suffered not grass nor any weed to grow upon the grave, and frequently visited it and made lamentation." [Footnote: Hist. Indian Tribes of the United States, 1853, part 3, p 183.]
This account may be found in Schoolcraft.
In Jones [Footnote: Antiq. of Southern Indians, 1873, pp 108-110] is the following interesting account from Lawson, of the burial customs of the Indians formerly inhabiting the Carolinas:
"Among the Carolina tribes, the burial of the dead was accompanied with special ceremonies, the expense and formality attendant upon the funeral according with the rank of the deceased. The corpse was first placed in a cane bundle and deposited in an outhouse made for the purpose, where it was suffered to remain for a day and a night guarded and mourned over by the nearest relatives with disheveled hair. Those who are to officiate at the funeral go into the town, and from the backs of the first young men they meet strip such blankets and matchcoats as they deem suitable for their purpose. In these the dead body is wrapped and then covered with two or three mats made of rushes or cane. The coffin is made of woven reeds or hollow canes tied fast at both ends. When everything is prepared for the interment, the corpse is carried from the house in which it has been lying into the orchard of peach-trees and is there deposited in another bundle. Seated upon mats are there congregated the family and tribe of the deceased and invited guests. The medicine man, or conjurer, having enjoined silence, then pronounces a funeral oration, during which he recounts the exploits of the deceased, his valor, skill, love of country, property, and influence, alludes to the void caused by his death, and counsels those who remain to supply his place by following in his footsteps; pictures the happiness he will enjoy in the land of spirits to which he has gone, and concludes his address by an allusion to the prominent traditions of his tribe."
Let us here pause to remind the reader that this custom has prevailed throughout the civilized world up to the present day—a custom, in the opinion of many, "more honored in the breach than the observance."
"At last [says Mr. Lawson], the corpse is brought away from that hurdle to the grave by four young men, attended by the relations, the king, old men, and all the nation. When they come to the sepulchre, which is about six feet deep and eight feet long, having at each end (that is, at the head and foot) a light-wood or pitch-pine fork driven close down the sides of the grave firmly into the ground (these two forks are to contain a ridgepole, as you shall understand presently), before they lay the corpse into the grave, they cover the bottom two or three time over with the bark of trees; then they let down the corpse (with two belts that the Indians carry their burdens withal) very leisurely upon the said barks; then they lay over a pole of the same wood in the two forks, and having a great many pieces of pitch- pine logs about two foot and a half long, they stick them in the sides of the grave down each end and near the top, through of where (sic) the other ends lie in the ridge-pole, so that they are declining like the roof of a house. These being very thick placed, they cover them many times double with bark; then they throw the earth thereon that came out of the grave and beat it down very firm. By this means the dead body lies in a vault, nothing touching him. After a time the body is taken up, the bones cleaned, and deposited in an ossuary called the Quiogozon."
Dr Fordyce Grinnell, physician to the Wichita Agency, Indian Territory, furnishes the following description of the burial ceremonies of the Wichita Indians, who call themselves. "Kitty-la- tats" or those of the tattooed eyelids.
"When a Wichita dies the town-crier goes up and down through the village and announces the fact. Preparations are immediately made for the burial, and the body is taken without delay to the grave prepared for it reception. If the grave is some distance from the village the body is carried thither on the back of a pony, being first wrapped in blankets and then laid prone across the saddle, one walking on either side to support it. The grave is dug from 3 to 4 feet deep and of sufficient length for the extended body. First blankets and buffalo robes are laid in the bottom of the grave, then the body, being taken from the horse and unwrapped, is dressed in its best apparel and with ornaments is placed upon a couch of blankets and robes, with the head towards the west and the feet to the east; the valuables belonging to the deceased are placed with the body in the grave. With the man are deposited his bows and arrows or gun, and with the woman her cooking utensils and other implements of her toil. Over the body sticks are placed six or eight inches deep and grass over these, so that when the earth is filled in it need not come in contact with the body or its trappings. After the grave is filled with earth a pen of poles is built around it, or, as is frequently the case, stakes are driven so that they cross each other from either side about midway over the grave, thus forming a complete protection from the invasion of wild animals. After all this is done, the grass or other debris is carefully scraped from about the grave for several feet, so that the ground is left smooth and clean. It is seldom the case that the relatives accompany the remains to the grave, but they more often employ others to bury the body for them, usually women. Mourning is similar in this tribe as in others, and consists in cutting off the hair, fasting, &c. Horses are also killed at the grave."
The Caddoes, Ascena, or Timber Indians, as they call themselves, follow nearly the same mode of burial as the Wichitas, but one custom prevailing is worthy of mention.
"If a Caddo is killed in battle, the body is never buried, but is left to be devoured by beasts or birds of prey and the condition of such individuals in the other world is considered to be far better than that of persons dying a natural death."
In a work by Bruhier [Footnote: L'incertitude des Signes de la Mort, 1740, tom 1, p. 430] the following remarks, freely translated by the writer, may be found, which note a custom having great similarity to the exposure of bodies to wild beasts mentioned above.
"The ancient Persians threw out the bodies of their dead on the roads, and if they were promptly devoured by wild beasts it was esteemed a great honor, a misfortune if not. Sometimes they interred, always wrapping the dead in a wax cloth to prevent odor."
M. Pierre Muret, [Footnote: Rites of Funeral, Ancient and Modern, 1683, p 45] from whose book Bruhier probably obtained his information, gives at considerable length an account of this peculiar method of treating the dead among the Persians, as follows:
"It is a matter of astonishment, considering the Persians have ever had the renown of being one of the most civilized Nations in the world, that notwithstanding they should have used such barbarous customs about the Dead as are set down in the Writings of some Historians, and the rather because at this day there are still to be seen among them those remains of Antiquity, which do fully satisfie us, that their Tombs have been very magnificent. And yet nevertheless, if we will give credit to Procopius and Agathias, the Persians were never wont to bury their Dead Bodies, so far were they from bestowing any Funeral Honours upon them. But, as these Authors tell us, they exposed them stark naked in the open fields, which is the greatest shame our Laws do allot to the most infamous Criminals, by laying them open to the view of all upon the highways: Yea, in their opinion it was a great unhappiness, if either Birds or Beasts did not devour their Carcases; and they commonly made an estimate of the Felicity of these poor Bodies, according as they were sooner or later made a prey of. Concerning these, they resolved that they must needs have been very bad indeed, since even the beasts themselves would not touch them; which caused an extream sorrow to their Relations, they taking it for an ill boding to their Family, and an infallible presage of some great misfortune hanging over their heads, for they persuaded themselves, that the Souls which inhabited those Bodies being dragg'd into Hell, would not fail to come and trouble them, and that being always accompanied with the Devils, their Tormentors, they would certainly give them a great deal of disturbance.
"And on the contrary, when these Corpses were presently devoured, their joy was very great, they enlarged themselves in praises of the Deceased; every one esteeming them undoubtedly happy, and came to congratulate their relations on that account: For as they believed assuredly, that they were entered into the Elysian Fields, so they were persuaded, that they would procure the same bliss for all those of their family.
"They also took a great delight to see Skeletons and Bones scatered up and down in the fields, whereas we can scarcely endure to see those of Horses and Dogs used so. And these remains of Humane Bodies, (the sight whereof gives us so much, horror, that we presently bury them out of our sight, whenever we find them elsewhere than in Charnel- houses or Church yards) were the occasion of their greatest joy because they concluded from thence the happiness of those that had been devoured wishing after then Death to meet with the like good luck."
The same author states and Bruhier corroborates the assertion that the Parthians, Medes, Iberians, Caspians, and a few others had such a horror and aversion of the corruption and decomposition of the dead and of their being eaten by worms that they threw out the bodies into the open fields to be devoured by wild beasts, a part of their belief being that persons so devoured would not be entirely extinct, but enjoy at least a partial sort of life in their living sepulchres. It is quite probable that for these and other reasons the Bactrians and Hircanians trained dogs for this special purpose called Canes sepulchrales which received the greatest care and attention, for it was deemed proper that the souls of the deceased should have strong and lusty frames to dwell in.
George Gibbs [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Hist. Indian Tribes of the United States Pt. 3, 1853, p. 140] gives the following account of burial among the Klamath and Trinity Indians of the Northwest coast.
The graves which are in the immediate vicinity of their houses exhibit very considerable taste and a laudable care. The dead are inclosed in rude coffins formed by placing four boards around the body and covered with earth to some depth; a heavy plank often supported by upright head and foot stones is laid upon the top or stones are built up into a wall about a foot above the ground and the top flagged with others. The graves of the chiefs are surrounded by neat wooden palings, each pale ornamented with a feather from the tail of the bald eagle. Baskets are usually staked down by the side according to the wealth or popularity of the individual and sometimes other articles for ornament or use are suspended over them. The funeral ceremonies occupy three days during which the soul of the deceased is in danger from O-mah- u or the devil. To preserve it from this peril a fire is kept up at the grave and the friends of the deceased howl around it to scare away the demon. Should they not be successful in this the soul is carried down the river, subject, however, to redemption by Peh-ho wan on payment of a big knife. After the expiration of three days it is all well with them.
The question may well be asked, is the big knife a "sop to Cerberus"?
Capt. F. E. Grossman, [Footnote: Rep. Smithson. Inst., 1871, p. 414] USA, furnishes the following account of burial among the Pimas of Arizona:
"The Pimas tie the bodies of their dead with ropes, passing the latter around the neck and under the knees and then drawing them tight until the body is doubled up and forced into a sitting position. They dig the grave from four to five feet deep and perfectly round (about two feet in diameter), then hollow out to one side of the bottom of this grave a sort of vault large enough to contain the body. Here the body is deposited, the grave is filled up level with the ground, and poles, trees, or pieces of timber placed upon the grave to protect the remains from the coyotes (a species of wolf). Burials usually take place at night, without much ceremony. The mourners chant during the burial, but signs of grief are rare. The bodies of their dead are buried, if possible, immediately after death has taken place, and the graves are generally prepared before the patients die. Sometimes sick persons (for whom the graves had already been dug) recovered; in such cases the graves are left open until the persons for whom they were intended die. Open graves of this kind can be seen in several of their burial-grounds. Places of burial are selected some distance from the village, and, if possible, in a grove of mesquite bushes. Immediately after the remains have been buried, the house and personal effects of the deceased are burned, and his horses and cattle killed, the meat being cooked as a repast for the mourners. The nearest relatives of the deceased, as a sign of their sorrow, remain in the village for weeks and sometimes months; the men cut off about six inches of their long hair, while the women cut their hair quite short"
The Coyotero Apaches, according to Dr. W. J. Hoffman, [Footnote: U.S. Geol. Surv. of Terr. for 1876, p. 473] in disposing of their dead, seem to be actuated by the desire to spare themselves any needless trouble, and prepare the defunct and the grave in this manner.
"The Coyoteros, upon the death of a member of the tribe, partially wrap up the corpse and deposit it into the cavity left by the removal of a small rock or the stump of a tree. After the body has been crammed into the smallest possible space the rock or stump is again rolled into its former position, when a number of stones are placed around the base to keep out the coyotes. The nearest of kin usually mourn for the period of one month, during that time giving utterance at intervals to the most dismal lamentations, which are apparently sincere. During the day this obligation is frequently neglected or forgotten, but when the mourner is reminded of his duty he renews his howling with evident interest. This custom of mourning for the period of thirty days corresponds to that formerly observed by the Natchez."
Somewhat similar to this rude mode of sepulture is that described in the life of Moses Van Campen, which relates to the Indians formerly inhabiting Pennsylvania:
"Directly after the Indians proceeded to bury those who had fallen in battle, which they did by rolling an old log from its place and laying the body in the hollow thus made, and then heaping upon it a little earth"
As a somewhat curious, if not exceptional, interment, the following account, relating to the Indians of New York is furnished, by Mr. Franklin B. Hough, who has extracted it from an unpublished journal of the agents of a French company kept in 1794:
"Saw Indian graves on the plateau of Independence Rock. The Indians plant a stake on the right side of the head of the deceased and bury them in a bark canoe. Their children come every year to bring provisions to the place where their fathers are buried. One of the graves had fallen in and we observed in the soil some sticks for stretching skins, the remains of a canoe, &c., and the two straps for carrying it, and near the place where the head lay were the traces of a fire which they had kindled for the soul of the deceased to come and warm itself by and to partake of the food deposited near it.
"These were probably the Massasauga Indians, then inhabiting the north shore of Lake Ontario, but who were rather intruders here, the country being claimed by the Oneidas."
It is not to be denied that the use of canoes for coffins has occasionally been remarked, for the writer in 1875 removed from the graves at Santa Barbara an entire skeleton which was discovered in a redwood canoe, but it is thought that the individual may have been a noted fisherman, particularly as the implements of his vocation—nets, fish-spears, &c.—were near him, and this burial was only an exemplification of the well-rooted belief common to all Indians, that the spirit in the next world makes use of the same articles as were employed in this one. It should be added that of the many hundreds of skeletons uncovered at Santa Barbara the one mentioned presented the only example of the kind.
Among the Indians of the Mosquito coast, in Central America, canoe burial in the ground, according to Bancroft [Footnote: Native Races of Pacific States, 1874, vol. 1, p 744.], was common, and is thus described:
"The corpse is wrapped in cloth and placed in one-half of a pitpan which has been cut in two. Friends assemble for the funeral and drown their grief in mushla, the women giving vent to their sorrow by dashing themselves on the ground until covered with blood, and inflicting other tortures, occasionally even committing suicide. As it is supposed that the evil spirit seeks to obtain possession of the body, musicians are called in to lull it to sleep while preparations are made for its removal. All at once four naked men, who have disguised themselves with paint so as not to be recognized and punished by Wulasha, rush out from a neighboring hut, and, seizing a rope attached to the canoe, drag it into the woods, followed by the music and the crowd. Here the pitpan is lowered into the grave with bow, arrow, spear, paddle, and other implements to serve the departed in the land beyond, then the other half of the boat is placed over the body. A rude hut is constructed over the grave, serving as a receptacle for the choice food, drink, and other articles placed there from time to time by relatives."
BURIAL IN CABINS, WIGWAMS, OR HOUSES.
While there is a certain degree of similitude between the above-noted methods and the one to be mentioned subsequently—lodge burial— they differ, inasmuch as the latter are examples of surface or aerial burial, and must consequently fall under another caption. The narratives which are now to be given afford a clear idea of the former kind of burial.
Bartram [Footnote: Bartram's Travels, 1791, pp. 515.] relates the following regarding the Muscogulges of the Carolinas:
"The Muscogulges bury their deceased in the earth; they dig a four- foot, square, deep pit under the cabin, or couch which the deceased laid on in his house, lining the grave with cypress bark, when they place the corpse in a sitting posture, as if it were alive, depositing with him his gun, tomahawk, pipe, and such other matters as he had the greatest value for in his lifetime. His eldest wife, or the queen dowager, has the second choice of his possessions, and the remaining effects are divided among his other wives and children."
According to Bernard Roman, the "funeral customs of the Chickasaws did not differ materially from those of the Muscogulges. They interred the dead as soon as the breath left the body, and beneath the couch in which the deceased expired."
The Navajos of New Mexico and Arizona, a tribe living a considerable distance from the Chickasaws, follow somewhat similar customs, as related by Dr. John Menard, formerly a physician to their agency.
"The Navajo custom is to leave the body where it dies, closing up the house or hogan or covering the body with stones or brush. In case the body is removed, it is taken to a cleft in the rocks and thrown in, and stones piled over. The person touching or carrying the body, first takes off all his clothes and afterwards washes his body with water before putting them on or mingling with the living. When a body is removed from a house or hogan, the hogan is burned down, and the place in every case abandoned, as the belief is that the devil comes to the place of death and remains where a dead body is. Wild animals frequently (indeed, generally) get the bodies, and it is a very easy matter to pick up skulls and bones around old camping grounds, or where the dead are laid. In case it is not desirable to abandon a place, the sick person is left out in some lone spot protected by brush, where they are either abandoned to their fate or food brought to them until they die. This is done only when all hope is gone. I have found bodies thus left so well inclosed with brush that wild animals were unable to get at them; and one so left to die was revived by a cup of coffee from our house and is still living and well."
Mr. J. L. Burchard, agent to the Round Valley Indians of California, furnishes an account of burial somewhat resembling that of the Navajos:
"When I first came here the Indians would dig a round hole in the ground, draw up the knees of the deceased Indian, and wrap the body into as small a bulk as possible in blankets, tie them firmly with cords, place them in the grave, throw in beads, baskets, clothing, everything owned by the deceased, and often donating much extra; all gathered around the grave wailing most pitifully, tearing their faces with their nails till the blood would run down their cheeks, pull out their hair, and such other heathenish conduct. These burials were generally made under their thatch houses or very near thereto. The house where one died was always torn down, removed, rebuilt, or abandoned. The wailing, talks, &c., were in their own jargon; none else could understand, and they seemingly knew but little of its meaning (if there was any meaning in it); it simply seemed to be the promptings of grief, without sufficient intelligence to direct any ceremony; each seemed to act out his own impulse"
STONE GRAVES OR CISTS.
These are of considerable interest, not only from their somewhat rare occurrence, except in certain localities, but from the manifest care taken by the survivors to provide for the dead what they considered a suitable resting-place. A number of cists have been found in Tennessee, and are thus described by Moses Fiske: [Footnote: Trans. Amer. Antiq. Soc., 1820 vol. 1, p. 302]
"There are many burying grounds in West Tennessee with regular graves. They dug them 12 or 18 inches deep, placed slabs at the bottom ends and sides, forming a kind of stone coffin, and, after laying in the body, covered it over with earth."
It may be added that, in 1873, the writer assisted at the opening of a number of graves of men of the reindeer period, near Solutre, in France, and they were almost identical in construction with those described by Mr. Fiske, with the exception that the latter were deeper; this, however, may be accounted for if it is considered how great a deposition of earth may have taken place during the many centuries which have elapsed since the burial. Many of the graves explored by the writer in 1875, at Santa Barbara, resembled somewhat cist graves, the bottom and sides of the pit being lined with large flat stones, but there were none directly over the skeletons.
The next account is by Maj. J. W. Powell, the result of his observation in Tennessee. "These ancient cemeteries are exceedingly abundant throughout the State, often hundreds of graves may be found on a single hillside. In some places the graves are scattered and in others collected in mounds, each mound being composed of a large number of cist graves. It is evident that the mounds were not constructed at one time, but the whole collection of graves therein was made during long periods by the addition of a new grave from time to time. In the first burials found at the bottom and near the center of a mound a tendency to a concentric system, with the feet inward, is observed, and additions are made around and above these first concentric graves, as the mound increases in size the burials become more and more irregular:
"Some other peculiarities are of interest. A larger number of interments exhibit the fact that the bodies were placed there before the decay of the flesh, while in other cases collections of bones are buried. Sometimes these bones were placed in some order about the crania, and sometimes in irregular piles, as if the collection of bones had been emptied from a sack. With men, pipes, stone hammers, knives, arrowheads, &c., were usually found; with women, pottery, rude beads, shells, &c.; with children, toys of pottery, beads, curious pebbles, &c.
"Sometimes, in the subsequent burials, the side slab of a previous burial was used as a portion of the second cist. All of the cists were covered with slabs."
Dr. Jones has given an exceedingly interesting account of the stone graves of Tennessee, in his volume published by the Smithsonian Institution, to which valuable work [Footnote: Antiquities of Tennessee, Cont. to Knowledge, Smith. Inst., 1876, No. 259, 4 deg., pp. 1, 8, 37, 52, 55, 82.] the reader is referred for a more detailed account of this mode of burial.
BURIAL IN MOUNDS.
In view of the fact that the subject of mound-burial is so extensive, and that in all probability a volume by a member of the Bureau of Ethnology may shortly be published, it is not deemed advisable to devote any considerable space to it in this paper, but a few interesting examples may be noted to serve as indications to future observers.
The first to which attention is directed is interesting as resembling cist-burial combined with deposition in mounds. The communication is from Prof. F. W. Putnam, curator of the Peabody Museum of Archaology, Cambridge, made to the Boston Society of Natural History, and is published in volume XX of its proceedings, October 15, 1878:
"...He then stated that it would be of interest to the members, in connection with the discovery of dolmens in Japan, as described by Professor Morse, to know that within twenty-four hours there had been received at the Peabody Museum a small collection of articles taken from rude dolmens (or chambered barrows, as they would be called in England), recently opened by Mr. E. Curtiss, who is now engaged, under his direction, in exploration for the Peabody Museum.
"These chambered mounds are situated in the eastern part of Clay County, Missouri, and form a large group on both sides of the Missouri River. The chambers are, in the three opened by Mr. Curtiss, about 8 feet square, and from 4-1/2 to 5 feet high, each chamber having a passage-way several feet in length and 2 in width leading from the southern side and opening on the edge of the mound formed by covering the chamber and passage-way with earth. The walls of the chambered passages were about 2 feet thick, vertical, and well made of stones, which were evenly laid without clay or mortar of any kind. The top of one of the chambers had a covering of large, flat rocks, but the others seem to have been closed over with wood. The chambers were filled with clay which had been burnt, and appeared as if it had fallen in from above. The inside walls of the chambers also showed signs of fire. Under the burnt clay, in each chamber, were found the remains of several human skeletons, all of which had been burnt to such an extent as to leave but small fragments of the bones, which were mixed with the ashes and charcoal. Mr. Curtiss thought that in one chamber he found the remains of 5 skeletons and in another 13. With these skeletons there were a few flint implements and minute fragments of vessels of clay.
"A large mound near the chambered mounds was also opened, but in this no chambers were found. Neither had the bodies been burnt. This mound proved remarkably rich in large flint implements, and also contained well-made pottery and a peculiar "gorget" of red stone. The connection of the people who placed the ashes of their dead in the stone chambers with those who buried their dead in the earth mounds is, of course, yet to be determined."
It is quite possible, indeed probable, that these chambers were used for secondary burials, the bodies having first been cremated.
In the volume of the proceedings already quoted the same investigator gives an account of other chambered mounds which are, like the preceding, very interesting, the more so as adults only were inhumed therein, children having been buried beneath the dwelling-floors:
"Mr. F. W. Putnam occupied the rest of the evening with an account of his explorations of the ancient mounds and burial places in the Cumberland Valley, Tennessee.
"The excavations had been carried on by himself, assisted by Mr. Edwin Curtiss, for over two years, for the benefit of the Peabody Museum at Cambridge. During this time many mounds of various kinds had been thoroughly explored, and several thousand of the singular stone graves of the mound builders of Tennessee had been carefully opened.... Mr. Putnam's remarks were illustrated by drawings of several hundred objects obtained from the graves and mounds, particularly to show the great variety of articles of pottery and several large and many unique forms of implements of chipped flint. He also exhibited and explained in detail a map of a walled town of this old nation. This town was situated on the Lindsley estate, in a bend of Spring Creek. The earth embankment, with its accompanying ditch, encircled an area of about 12 acres. Within this inclosure there was one large mound with a flat top, 15 feet high, 130 feet long, and 90 feet wide, which was found not to be a burial mound. Another mound near the large one, about 50 feet in diameter, and only a few feet high, contained 60 human skeletons, each in a carefully-made stone grave, the graves being arranged in two rows, forming the four sides of a square, and in three layers.... The most important discovery lie made within the inclosure was that of finding the remains of the houses of the people who lived in this old town. Of them about 70 were traced out and located on the map by Professor Buchanan, of Lebanon, who made the survey for Mr. Putnam. Under the floors of hard clay, which was in places much burnt, Mr. Putnam found the graves of children. As only the bodies of adults had been placed in the one mound devoted to burial, and as nearly every site of a house he explored had from one to four graves of children under the clay floor, he was convinced that it was a regular custom to bury the children in that way. He also found that the children had been undoubtedly treated with affection, as in their small graves were found many of the best pieces of pottery he obtained, and also quantities of shell-beads, several large pearls, and many other objects which were probably the playthings of the little ones while living." [Footnote: A detailed account of this exploration, with many illustrations, will be found in the Eleventh Annual Report of the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, 1878.]
This cist mode of burial is by no means uncommon in Tennessee, as they are frequently mentioned by writers on North American archaeology.
The examples which follow are specially characteristic, some of them serving to add strength to the theory that mounds were for the most part used for secondary burial, although intrusions were doubtless common.
Of the burial mounds of Ohio, Caleb Atwater [Footnote: Trans. Amer. Antiq. Soc., 1820, i, p. 174 et seq.] gives this description.
"Near the center of the round fort ... was a tumulus of earth about 10 feet in height and several rods in diameter at its base. On its eastern side, and extending six rods from it, was a semicircular pavement composed of pebbles such as are now found in the bed of the Scioto River, from whence they appear to have been brought. The summit of this tumulus was nearly 30 feet in diameter, and there was a raised way to it, leading from the east, like a modern turnpike. The summit was level. The outline of the semicircular pavement and the walk is still discernible. The earth composing this mound was entirely removed several years since. The writer was present at its removal and carefully examined the contents. It contained—
"1st. Two human skeletons lying on what had been the original surface of the earth.
"2d. A great quantity of arrow-heads, some of which were so large as to induce a belief that they were used as spear-heads.
"3d. The handle either of a small sword or a large knife, made of an elk's horn. Around the end where the blade had been inserted was a ferule of silver, which, though black, was not much injured by time. Though the handle showed the hole where the blade had been inserted, yet no iron was found, but an oxyde remained of similar shape and size.
"4th. Charcoal and wood ashes on which these articles lay, which were surrounded by several bricks very well burnt. The skeleton appeared to have been burned in a large and very hot fire, which had almost consumed the bones of the deceased. This skeleton was deposited a little to the south of the center of the tumulus; and about 20 feet to the north of it was another, with which were—
"5th. A large mirrour about 3 feet in breadth and 1-1/2 inches in thickness This mirrour was of isinglass (mica membranacea), and on it—
"6th. A plate of iron which had become an oxyde, but before it was disturbed by the spade resembled a plate of cast iron. The mirrour answered the purpose very well for which it was intended. This skeleton had also been burned like the former, and lay on charcoal and a considerable quantity of wood ashes. A part of the mirrour is in my possession, as well as a piece of brick taken from the spot at the time. The knife or sword handle was sent to Mr. Peal's Museum at Philadelphia.
"To the southwest of this tumulus, about 40 rods from it, is another, more than 90 feet in height, which is shown on the plate representing these works. It stands on a large hill, which appears to be artificial. This must have been the common cemetery, as it contains an immense number of human skeletons of all sizes and ages. The skeletons are laid horizontally, with their heads generally towards the center and the feet towards the outside of the tumulus. A considerable part of this work still stands uninjured, except by time. In it have been found, besides these skeletons, stone axes and knives and several ornaments, with holes through them, by means of which, with a cord passing through these perforations they could be worn by their owners. On the south side of this tumulus, and not far from it, was a semicircular fosse, which, when I first saw it, was 6 feet deep. On opening it was discovered at the bottom a great quantity of human bones, which I am inclined to believe were the remains of those who had been slain in some great and destructive battle first, because they belonged to persons who had attained their full size, whereas in the mound adjoining were found the skeletons of persons of all ages, and, secondly, they were here in the utmost confusion, as if buried in a hurry. May we not conjecture that they belonged to the people who resided in the town, and who were victorious in the engagement? Otherwise they would not have been thus honorably buried in the common cemetery."
"Its perpendicular height was about 15 feet, and the diameter of its base about 60 feet. It was composed of sand and contained human bones belonging to skeletons which were buried in different parts of it. It was not until this pile of earth was removed and the original surface exposed to view that a probable conjecture of its original design could be formed. About 20 feet square of the surface had been leveled and covered with bark. On the center of this lay a human skeleton, over which had been spread a mat manufactured either from weeds or bark. On the breast lay what had been a piece of copper, in the form of a cross, which had now become verdigrise. On the breast also lay a stone ornament with two perforations, one near each end, through which passed a string, by means of which it was suspended around the wearer's neck. On this string, which was made of sinews, and very much injured by time, were placed a great many heads made of ivory or bone, for I cannot certainly say which...."
MOUNDS OF STONE.
"Two such mounds have been described already in the county of Perry. Others have been found in various parts of the country. There is one at least in the vicinity of Licking River, not many miles from Newark. There is another on a branch of Hargus's Creek, a few miles to the northeast of Circleville. There were several not very far from the town of Chillicothe. If these mounds were sometimes used as cemeteries of distinguished persons, they were also used as monuments with a view of perpetuating the recollection of some great transaction or event. In the former not more generally than one or two skeletons are found; in the latter none. These mounds are like those of earth, in form of a cone, composed of small stones on which no marks of tools were visible. In them some of the most interesting articles are found, such as urns, ornaments of copper, heads of spears, &c., of the same metal, as well as medals of copper and pickaxes of horneblende; ... works of this class, compared with those of earth, are few, and they are none of them as large as the mounds at Grave Creek, in the town of Circleville, which belong to the first class. I saw one of these stone tumuli which had been piled on the surface of the earth on the spot where three skeletons had been buried in stone coffins, beneath the surface. It was situated on the western edge of the hill on which the "walled town" stood, on Paint Creek. The graves appear to have been dug to about the depth of ours in the present times. After the bottom and sides were lined with thin flat stones, the corpses were placed in these graves in an eastern and western direction, and large flat stones were laid over the graves; then the earth which had been dug out of the graves was thrown over them. A huge pile of stones was placed over the whole. It is quite probable, however, that this was a work of our present race of Indians. Such graves are more common in Kentucky than Ohio. No article, except the skeletons, was found in these graves; and the skeletons resembled very much the present race of Indians."
The mounds of Sterling County, Illinois, are described by W. C. Holbrook, [Footnote: Amer. Natural, 1877, xi, No. 11, p. 688] as follows:
"I recently made an, examination of a few of the many Indian mounds found on Rock River, about two miles above Sterling, Ill. The first one opened was an oval mound about 20 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 7 feet high. In the interior of this I found a dolmen or quadrilateral wall about 10 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4-1/2 feet wide. It had been built of lime-rock from a quarry near by, and was covered with large flat stones No mortar or cement had been used. The whole structure rested on the surface of the natural soil, the interior of which had been scooped out to enlarge the chamber. Inside of the dolmen I found the partly decayed remains of eight human skeletons, two very large teeth of an unknown animal, two fossils, one of which is not found in this place, and a plummet. One of the long bones had been splintered; the fragments had united, but there remained large morbid growths of bone (exostosis) in several places. One of the skulls presented a circular opening about the size of a silver dime. This perforation had been made during life, for the edges had commenced to cicatrize. I later examined three circular mounds, but in them I found no dolmens. The first mound contained three adult human skeletons, a few fragments of the skeleton of a child, the lower maxillary of which indicated it to be about six years old. I also found claws of some carnivorous animal. The surface of the soil had been scooped out and the bodies laid in the excavation and covered with about a foot of earth, fires had then been made upon the grave and the mound afterwards completed. The bones had not been charred. No charcoal was found among the bones, but occurred in abundance in a stratum about one foot above them. Two other mounds, examined at the same time, contained no remains.
"Of two other mounds, opened later, the first was circular, about 4 feet high, and 15 feet in diameter at the base, and was situated on an elevated point of land close to the bank of the river. From the top of this mound one might view the country for many miles in almost any direction. On its summit was an oval altar 6 feet long and 4-1/2 wide. It was composed of flat pieces of limestone, which had been burned red, some portions having been almost converted into lime. On and about this altar I found abundance of charcoal. At the sides of the altar were fragments of human bones, some of which had been charred. It was covered by a natural growth of vegetable mold and sod, the thickness of which was about 10 inches. Large trees had once grown in this vegetable mold, but their stumps were so decayed I could not tell with certainty to what species they belonged. Another large mound was opened which contained nothing."
The next account relates to the grave-mounds near Pensacola, Fla., and was originally published by Dr. George M. Sternberg, surgeon United States Army. [Footnote: Proc. Am. Ass. Adv. of Science, 1875, p. 288]
"Before visiting the mound I was informed that the Indians were buried in it in an upright position, each one with a clay pot on his head. This idea was based upon some superficial explorations which had been made from time to time by curiosity hunters. Their excavations had, indeed, brought to light pots containing fragments of skulls, but not buried in the position they imagined. Very extensive explorations made at different times by myself have shown that only fragments of skulls and of the long bones of the body are to be found in the mound, and that these are commonly associated with earthen pots, sometimes whole, but more frequently broken fragments only. In some instances portions of the skull were placed in a pot, and the long bones were deposited in its immediate vicinity. Again, the pots would contain only sand, and fragments of bones would be found near them. The most successful 'find' I made was a whole nest of pots, to the number of half a dozen, all in a good state of preservation, and buried with a fragment of skull, which I take from its small size to have been that of a female. Whether this female was thus distinguished above all others buried in the mound by the number of pots deposited with her remains because of her skill in the manufacture of such ware, or by reason of the unusual wealth of her sorrowing husband, must remain a matter of conjecture. I found altogether fragments of skulls and thigh-bones belonging to at least fifty individuals, but in no instance did I find anything like a complete skeleton. There were no vertebra, no ribs, no pelvic bones, and none of the small bones of the hands and feet. Two or three skulls nearly perfect were found, but they were so fragile that it was impossible to preserve them. In the majority of instances only fragments of the frontal and parietal bones were found, buried in pots or in fragments of pots too small to have ever contained a complete skull. The conclusion was irresistible that this was not a burial- place for the bodies of deceased Indians, but that the bones had been gathered from some other locality for burial in this mound, or that cremation was practiced before burial, and the fragments of bone not consumed by fire were gathered and deposited in the mound. That the latter supposition is the correct one I deem probable from the fact that in digging in the mound evidences of fire are found in numerous places, but without any regularity as to depth and position. These evidences consist in strata of from one to four inches in thickness, in which the sand is of a dark color and has mixed with it numerous small fragments of charcoal.
"My theory is that the mound was built by gradual accretion in the following manner. That when a death occurred a funeral pyre was erected on the mound, upon which the body was placed. That after the body was consumed, any fragments of bones remaining were gathered, placed in a pot, and buried, and that the ashes and cinders were covered by a layer of sand brought from the immediate vicinity for that purpose. This view is further supported by the fact that only the shafts of the long bones are found, the expanded extremities, which would be most easily consumed, having disappeared; also, by the fact that no bones of children were found. Their bones being smaller, and containing a less proportion of earthy matter, would be entirely consumed....
"At the Santa Rosa mound the method of burial was different. Here I found the skeletons complete, and obtained nine well-preserved skulls.... The bodies were not apparently deposited upon any regular system, and I found no objects of interest associated with the remains. It may be that this was due to the fact that the skeletons found were those of warriors who had fallen in battle in which they had sustained a defeat. This view is supported by the fact that they were all males, and that two of the skulls bore marks of ante-mortem injuries which must have been of a fatal character."
Writing of the Choctaws, Bartram, [Footnote: Bartram's Travels, 1791, p. 513.] in alluding to the ossuary or bone-house, mentions that so soon as this is filled a general inhumation takes place, in this manner.
"Then the respective coffins are borne by the nearest relatives of the deceased to the place of interment, where they are all piled one upon another in the form of a pyramid, and the conical hill of earth heaped above. The funeral ceremonies are concluded with the solemnization of a festival called the feast of the dead."
Mr. Florian Gianque, of Cincinnati, Ohio, furnishes an account of a somewhat curious mound burial which had taken place in the Miami Valley of Ohio.
"A mound was opened in this locality, some years ago, containing a central corpse in a sitting posture, and over thirty skeletons buried around it in a circle, also in a sitting posture but leaning against one another, tipped over towards the right facing inwards. I did not see this opened, but have seen the mounds and many ornaments, awls, &c., said to have been found near the central body. The parties informing me are trustworthy."
As an example of interment, unique, so far as known, and interesting as being sui generis, the following is presented, with the statement that the author, Dr J. Mason Spainhour, of Lenoir, N.C., bears the reputation of an observer of undoubted integrity, whose facts as given may not be doubted.
"Excavation of an Indian mound by J. Mason Spainhour, D.D.S., of Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina, March 11, 1871, on the farm of R. V. Michaux, esq., near John's River, in Burke County, North Carolina"
"In a conversation with Mr. Michaux on Indian curiosities, he informed me that there was an Indian mound on his farm which was formerly of considerable height, but had gradually been plowed down, that several mounds in the neighborhood had been excavated and nothing of interest found in them. I asked permission to examine this mound, which was granted, and upon investigation the following facts were revealed.
"Upon reaching the place, I sharpened a stick 4 or 5 feet in length and ran it down in the earth at several places, and finally struck a rock about 18 inches below the surface, which, on digging down, was found to be smooth on top, lying horizontally upon solid earth, about 18 inches above the bottom of the grave, 18 inches in length, and 16 inches in width, and from 2 to 3 inches in thickness, with the corners rounded.
"Not finding anything under this rock, I then made an excavation in the south of the grave, and soon struck another rock, which upon examination proved to be in front of the remains of a human skeleton in a sitting posture. The bones of the fingers of the right hand were resting on this rock, and on the rock near the hand was a small stone about 5 inches long, resembling a tomahawk or Indian hatchet. Upon a further examination many of the bones were found, though in a very decomposed condition, and upon exposure to the air soon crumbled to pieces. The heads of the bones, a considerable portion of the skull, maxillary bones, teeth, neck bones, and the vertebra, were in their proper places, though the weight of the earth above them had driven them down, yet the entire frame was so perfect that it was an easy matter to trace all the bones; the bones of the cranium were slightly inclined toward the east. Around the neck were found coarse beads that seemed to be of some hard substance and resembled chalk. A small lump of red paint about the size of an egg was found near the right side of this skeleton. The sutures of the cranium indicated the subject to have been 25 or 28 years of age, and its top rested about 12 inches below the mark of the plow.
"I made a further excavation toward the west of this grave and found another skeleton, similar to the first, in a sitting posture, facing the east. A rock was on the right, on which the bones of the right hand were resting, and on this rock was a tomahawk which had been about 7 inches in length, but was broken into two pieces, and was much better finished than the first. Beads were also around the neck of this one, but are much smaller and of finer quality than those on the neck of the first. The material, however, seems to be the same. A much larger amount of paint was found by the side of this than the first. The bones indicated a person of large frame, who, I think, was about 50 years of age. Everything about this one had the appearance of superiority over the first. The top of the skull was about 6 inches below the mark of the plane.
"I continued the examination, and, after diligent search, found nothing at the north side of the grave; but, on reaching the east, found another skeleton, in the same posture as the others, facing the west. On the right side of this was a rock on which the bones of the right hand were resting, and on the rock was also a tomahawk, which had been about 8 inches in length, but was broken into three pieces, and was composed of much better material, and better finished than the others. Beads were also found on the neck of this, but much smaller and finer than those of the others. A larger amount of paint than both of the others was found near this one. The top of the cranium had been moved by the plow. The bones indicated a person of 40 years of age.
"There was no appearance of hair discovered; besides, the smaller bones were almost entirely decomposed, and would crumble when taken from their bed in the earth. These two circumstances, coupled with the fact that the farm on which this grave was found was the first settled in that part of the country, the date of the first deed made from Lord Granville to John Perkins running back about 150 years (the land still belonging to the descendants of the same family that first occupied it), would prove beyond doubt that it is a very old grave.
"The grave was situated due east and west, in size about 9 by 6 feet, the line being distinctly marked by the difference in the color of the soil. It was dug in rich, black loam, and filled around the bodies with white or yellow sand, which I suppose was carried from the river- bank, 200 yards distant. The skeletons approximated the walls of the grave, and contiguous to them was a dark-colored earth, and so decidedly different was this from all surrounding it, both in quality and odor, that the line of the bodies could be readily traced. The odor of this decomposed earth, which had been flesh, was similar to clotted blood, and would adhere in lumps when compressed in the hand.
"This was not the grave of the Indian warriors; in those we find pots made of earth or stone, and all the implements of war, for the warrior had an idea that after he arose from the dead he would need, in the 'hunting-grounds beyond,' his bow and arrow, war-hatchet, and scalping-knife.
"The facts set forth will doubtless convince every Mason who will carefully read the account of this remarkable burial that the American Indians were in possession of at least some of the mysteries of our order, and that it was evidently the grave of Masons, and the three highest officers in a Masonic lodge. The grave was situated due east and west; an altar was erected in the center; the south, west, and east were occupied—the north was not; implements of authority were near each body. The difference in the quality of the beads, the tomahawks in one, two, and three pieces, and the difference that the bodies were placed from the surface, indicate beyond doubt that these three persons had been buried by Masons, and those, too, that understood what they were doing.
"Will some learned Mason unravel this mystery, and inform the Masonic world how they obtained so much Masonic information?
"The tomahawks, maxillary bones, some of the teeth, beads, and other bones, have been forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C., to be placed among the archives of that institution for exhibition, at which place they may be seen."
If Dr. Spainhour's inferences are incorrect, still there is a remarkable coincidence of circumstances patent to every Mason.
Natural or artificial holes in the ground, caverns, and fissures in rocks have been used as places of deposit for the dead since the earliest periods of time, and are used up to the present day by not only the American Indians, but by peoples noted for their mental elevation and civilization, our cemeteries furnishing numerous specimens of artificial or partly artificial caves. As to the motives which have actuated this mode of burial, a discussion would be out of place at this time, except as may incidentally relate to our own Indians, who, so far as can be ascertained, simply adopted caves as ready and convenient resting places for their deceased relatives and friends.
In almost every State in the Union burial caves have been discovered, but as there is more or less of identity between them, a few illustrations will serve the purpose of calling the attention of observers to the subject.
While in the Territory of Utah, in 1872, the writer discovered a natural cave not far from the House Range of mountains, the entrance to which resembled the shaft of a mine. In this the Gosi-Ute Indians had deposited their dead, surrounded with different articles, until it was quite filled up; at least it so appeared from the cursory examination made, limited time preventing a careful exploration. In the fall of the same year another cave was heard of, from an Indian guide, near the Nevada border, in the same Territory, and an attempt made to explore it, which failed for reasons to be subsequently given. This Indian, a Gosi-Ute, who was questioned regarding the funeral ceremonies of his tribe, informed the writer that not far from the very spot where the party were encamped was a large cave in which he had himself assisted in placing dead members of his tribe. He described it in detail and drew a rough diagram of its position and appearance within. He was asked if an entrance could be effected, and replied that he thought not, as some years previous his people had stopped up the narrow entrance to prevent game from seeking a refuge in its vast vaults, for he asserted that it was so large and extended so far under ground that no man knew its full extent. In consideration, however, of a very liberal bribe, after many refusals, he agreed to act as guide. A rough ride of over an hour and the desired spot was reached. It was found to be almost upon the apex of a small mountain apparently of volcanic origin, for the hole which was pointed out appeared to have been the vent of the crater. This entrance was irregularly circular in form and descended at an angle. As the Indian had stated, it was completely stopped up with large stones and roots of sage brush, and it was only after six hours of uninterrupted, faithful labor that the attempt to explore was abandoned. The guide was asked if many bodies were therein, and replied "Heaps, heaps," moving the hands upwards as far as they could be stretched. There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the information received, as it was voluntarily imparted.
In a communication received from Dr. A. J McDonald, physician to the Los Pinos Indian Agency, Colorado, a description is given of crevice or rock-fissure burial, which follows.
"As soon as death takes place the event is at once announced by the medicine-man, and without loss of time the squaws are busily engaged in preparing the corpse for the grave. This does not take long; whatever articles of clothing may have been on the body at the time of death are not removed. The dead man's limbs are straightened out, his weapons of war laid by his side, and his robes and blankets wrapped securely and snugly around him, and now everything is ready for burial. It is the custom to secure, if possible, for the purpose of wrapping up the corpse, the robes and blankets in which the Indian died. At the same time that the body is being fitted for interment, the squaws having immediate care of it, together with all the other squaws in the neighborhood, keep up a continued chant or dirge, the dismal cadence of which may, when the congregation of women is large, be heard for quite a long distance. The death song is not a mere inarticulate howl of distress; it embraces expressions eulogistic in character, but whether or not any particular formula of words is adopted on such occasion is a question which I am unable, with the materials at my disposal, to determine with any degree of certainty.
"The next duty falling to the lot of the squaws is that of placing the dead man on a horse and conducting the remains to the spot chosen for burial. This is in the cleft of a rock, and, so far as can be ascertained, it has always been customary among the Utes to select sepulchres of this character. From descriptions given by Mr. Harris, who has several times been fortunate enough to discover remains, it would appear that no superstitious ideas are held by this tribe with respect to the position in which the body is placed, the space accommodation of the sepulchre probably regulating this matter; and from the same source I learn that it is not usual to find the remains of more than one Indian deposited in one grave. After the body has been received into the cleft, it is well covered with pieces of rock, to protect it against the ravages of wild animals. The chant ceases, the squaws disperse, and the burial ceremonies are at an end. The men during all this time have not been idle, though they have in no way participated in the preparation of the body, have not joined the squaws in chanting praises to the memory of the dead, and have not even as mere spectators attended the funeral, yet they have had their duties to perform. In conformity with a long-established custom, all the personal property of the deceased is immediately destroyed. His horses and his cattle are shot, and his wigwam, furniture, &c., burned. The performance of this part of the ceremonies is assigned to the men; a duty quite in accord with their taste and inclinations. Occasionally the destruction of horses and other property is of considerable magnitude, but usually this is not the case, owing to a practice existing with them of distributing their property among their children while they are of a very tender age, retaining to themselves only what is necessary to meet every-day requirements.
"The widow 'goes into mourning' by smearing her face with a substance composed of pitch and charcoal. The application is made but once, and is allowed to remain on until it wears off. This is the only mourning observance of which I have any knowledge.
"The ceremonies observed on the death of a female are the same as those in the case of a male, except that no destruction of property takes place, and of course no weapons are deposited with the corpse. Should a youth die while under the superintendence of white men, the Indians will not as a rule have anything to do with the interment of the body. In a case of the kind which occurred at this agency some time ago, the squaws prepared the body in the usual manner; the men of the tribe selected a spot for the burial, and the employes at the agency, after digging a grave and depositing the corpse therein, filled it up according to the fashion of civilized people, and then at the request of the Indians rolled large fragments of rocks on top. Great anxiety was exhibited by the Indians to have the employes perform the service as expeditiously as possible."
An interesting cave in Calaveras County, California, which had been used for burial purposes, is thus described by Prof. J. D. Whitney: [Footnote: Rep. Smithsonian Inst. 1867, p. 406.]
"The following is an account of the cave from which the skulls, now in the Smithsonian collection, were taken. It is near the Stanislaus River, in Calaveras County, on a nameless creek, about two miles from Abbey's Ferry, on the road to Vallicito, at the house of Mr. Robinson. There were two or three persons with me, who had been to the place before and knew that the skulls in question were taken from it. Their visit was some ten years ago, and since that the condition of things in the cave has greatly changed. Owing to some alteration in the road, mining operations, or some other cause which I could not ascertain, there has accumulated on the formerly clean stalagmitic floor of the cave a thickness of some 20 feet of surface earth that completely conceals the bottom, and which could not be removed without considerable expense. This cave is about 27 feet deep at the mouth and 40 to 50 feet at the end, and perhaps 30 feet in diameter. It is the general opinion of those who have noticed this cave and saw it years ago that it was a burying-place of the present Indians. Dr. Jones said he found remains of bows and arrows and charcoal with the skulls he obtained, and which were destroyed at the time the village of Murphy's was burned. All the people spoke of the skulls as lying on the surface and not as buried in the stalagmite."
The next description of cave burial, described by W. H. Dall [Footnote: Contrib. to N. A. Ethnol., 1877, vol 1, p 62.], is so remarkable that it seems worthy of admittance to this paper. It relates probably to the Innuit of Alaska.
"The earliest remains of man found in Alaska up to the time of writing I refer to this epoch [Echinus layer of Dall]. There are some crania found by us in the lowermost part of the Amaknak cave and a cranium obtained at Adakh, near the anchorage in the Bay of Islands. These were deposited in a remarkable manner, precisely similar to that adopted by most of the continental Innuit, but equally different from the modern Aleut fashion. At the Amaknak cave we found what at first appeared to be a wooden inclosure, but which proved to be made of the very much decayed supra-maxillary bones of some large cetacean. These were arranged so as to form a rude rectangular inclosure covered over with similar pieces of bone. This was somewhat less than 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 18 inches deep. The bottom was formed of flat pieces of stone. Three such were found close together, covered with and filled by an accumulation of fine vegetable and organic mold. In each was the remains of a skeleton in the last stages of decay. It had evidently been tied up in the Innuit fashion to get it into its narrow house, but all the bones, with the exception of the skull, were reduced to a soft paste, or even entirely gone. At Adakh a fancy prompted me to dig into a small knoll near the ancient shell-heap; and here we found, in a precisely similar sarcophagus, the remains of a skeleton, of which also only the cranium retained sufficient consistency to admit of preservation. This inclosure, however, was filled with a dense peaty mass not reduced to mold, the result of centuries of sphagnous growth, which had reached a thickness of nearly 2 feet above the remains. When we reflect upon the well-known slowness of this kind of growth in these northern regions, attested by numerous Arctic travelers, the antiquity of the remains becomes evident."
It seems beyond doubt that in the majority of cases, especially as regards the caves of the Western States and Territories, the interments were primary ones, and this is likewise true of many of the caverns of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, for in the three States mentioned many mummies have been found, but it is also likely that such receptacles were largely used as places of secondary deposits. The many fragmentary skeletons and loose bones found seem to strengthen this view.
In connection with cave burial, the subject of mummifying or embalming the dead may be taken up, as most specimens of the kind have generally been found in such repositories.
It might be both interesting and instructive to search out and discuss the causes which have led many nations or tribes to adopt certain processes with a view to prevent that return to dust which all flesh must sooner or later experience, but the necessarily limited scope of this preliminary work precludes more than a brief mention of certain theories advanced by writers of note, and which relate to the ancient Egyptians. Possibly at the time the Indians of America sought to preserve their dead from decomposition some such ideas may have animated them, but on this point no definite information has been procured. In the final volume an effort will be made to trace out the origin of mummification among the Indians and aborigines of this continent.
The Egyptians embalmed, according to Cassien, because during the time of the annual inundation no interments could take place, but it is more than likely that this hypothesis is entirely fanciful. It is said by others they believed that so long as the body was preserved from corruption the soul remained in it. Herodotus states that it was to prevent bodies from becoming a prey to animal voracity. "They did not inter them," says he, "for fear of their being eaten by worms; nor did they burn, considering fire as a ferocious beast, devouring everything which it touched." According to Diodorus of Sicily, embalmment originated in filial piety and respect. De Maillet, however, in his tenth letter on Egypt, attributes it entirely to a religious belief insisted upon by the wise men and priests, who taught their disciples that after a certain number of cycles, of perhaps thirty or forty thousand years, the entire universe became as it was at birth, and the souls of the dead returned into the same bodies in which they had lived, provided that the body remained free from corruption, and that sacrifices were freely offered as oblations to the manes of the deceased. Considering the great care taken to preserve the dead, and the ponderously solid nature of their tombs, it is quite evident that this theory obtained many believers among the people. M. Gannal believes embalmment to have been suggested by the affectionate sentiments of our nature—a desire to preserve as long as possible the mortal remains of loved ones; but MM. Volney and Pariaet think it was intended to obviate, in hot climates especially, danger from pestilence, being primarily a cheap and simple process, elegance and luxury coming later; and the Count de Caylus states the idea of embalmment was derived from the finding of desiccated bodies which the burning sands of Egypt had hardened and preserved. Many other suppositions have arisen, but it is thought the few given above are sufficient to serve as an introduction to embalmment in North America.
From the statements of the older writers on North American Indians, it appears that mummifying was resorted to among certain tribes of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida, especially for people of distinction, the process in Virginia for the kings, according to Beverly, [Footnote: Hist. of Virginia, 1722, p 185] being as follows:
"The Indians are religious in preserving the Corpses of their Kings and Rulers after Death, which they order in the following manner: First, they neatly flay off the Skin as entire as they can, slitting it only in the Back; then they pick all the Flesh off from the Bones as clean as possible, leaving the Sinews fastned to the Bones, that they may preserve the Joints together: then they dry the Bones in the Sun, and put them into the Skin again, which in the mean time has been kept from drying or shrinking; when the Bones are placed right in the Skin, they nicely fill up the Vacuities, with a very fine white Sand. After this they sew up the Skin again, and the Body looks as if the Flesh had not been removed. They take care to keep the Skin from shrinking, by the help of a little Oil or Grease, which saves it also from Corruption. The Skin being thus prepar'd, they lay it in an apartment for that purpose, upon a large Shelf rais'd above the Floor. This Shelf is spread with Mats, for the Corpse to rest easy on, and skreened with the same, to keep it from the Dust. The Flesh they lay upon Hurdles in the Sun to dry, and when it is thoroughly dried, it is sewed up in a Basket, and set at the Feet of the Corpse, to which it belongs. In this place also they set up a Quioccos, or Idol, which they believe will be a Guard to the Corpse. Here Night and Day one or other of the Priests must give his Attendance, to take care of the dead Bodies. So great an Honour and Veneration have these ignorant and unpolisht People for their Princes even after they are dead." | <urn:uuid:6d697a0a-3089-481c-83b4-2ddaffcd970b> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://hotfreebooks.com/book/An-introduction-to-the-mortuary-customs-of-the-North-American-Indians-H-C-Yarrow.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463609054.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20170527191102-20170527211102-00004.warc.gz | en | 0.980611 | 19,222 | 2.75 | 3 | {
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The Princess and the Pea
|"The Princess and the Pea"|
1911 Illustration by Edmund Dulac
|Author||Hans Christian Andersen|
|Original title||"Prinsessen paa Ærten"|
|Published in||Tales, Told for Children. First Collection. First Booklet. 1835.|
|Publication type||Fairy tale collection|
|Publication date||8 May 1835|
|Published in English||1846 in A Danish Story-Book|
|Preceded by||"Little Claus and Big Claus"|
|Followed by||"Little Ida's Flowers"|
"The Princess and the Pea" (Danish: "Prinsessen paa Ærten"; literal translation: "The Princess on the Pea") is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her physical sensitivity. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in an inexpensive booklet on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen by C.A. Reitzel.
Andersen had heard the story as a child, and it likely has its source in folk material, possibly originating from Sweden as it is unknown in the Danish oral tradition. Neither "The Princess and the Pea" nor Andersen's other tales of 1835 were well received by Danish critics, who disliked their casual, chatty style, and their lack of morals.
The story tells of a prince who wants to marry a princess, but is having difficulty finding a suitable wife. Something is always wrong with those he meets, and he cannot be certain they are real princesses. One stormy night (always a harbinger of either a life-threatening situation or the opportunity for a romantic alliance in Andersen's stories), a young woman drenched with rain seeks shelter in the prince's castle. She claims to be a princess, so the prince's mother decides to test their unexpected unwitting guest by placing a pea in the bed she is offered for the night, covered by 20 mattresses and 20 feather-beds. In the morning, the guest tells her hosts that she endured a sleepless night, kept awake by something hard in the bed; which she is certain has bruised her. The prince rejoices. Only a real princess would have the sensitivity to feel a pea through such a quantity of bedding. The two are married, and the pea is placed in the Royal Museum.
In his preface to the second volume of Tales and Stories (1863) Andersen claims to have heard the story in his childhood, but the tale has never been a traditional one in Denmark. He may as a child have heard a Swedish version, "Princess Who Lay on Seven Peas" ("Princessa' som lå' på sju ärter"), which tells of an orphan girl who establishes her identity after a sympathetic helper (a cat or a dog) informs her that an object (a bean, a pea, or a straw) had been placed under her mattress.
Andersen deliberately cultivated a funny and colloquial style in the tales of 1835, reminiscent of oral storytelling techniques rather than the sophisticated literary devices of the fairy tales written by les précieuses, E. T. A. Hoffmann, and other precursors. The earliest reviews criticized Andersen for not following such models. In the second volume of the 1863 edition of his collected works Andersen remarked in the preface: "The style should be such that one hears the narrator. Therefore, the language had to be similar to the spoken word; the stories are for children, but adults too should be able to listen in."
Although no materials appear to exist specifically addressing the composition of "The Princess and the Pea", Andersen does speak to the writing of the first four tales of 1835 of which "The Princess on the Pea" was one. New Year's Day 1835, Andersen wrote to a friend: "I am now starting on some 'fairy tales for children.' I am going to win over future generations, you may want to know", and, in a letter dated February 1835 he wrote to the poet, Bernhard Severin Ingemann: "I have started some 'Fairy Tales Told for Children' and believe I have succeeded. I have told a couple of tales which as a child I was happy about, and which I do not believe are known, and have written them exactly the way I would tell them to a child." Andersen had finished the tales by March 1835 and told Admiral Wulff's daughter, Henriette: "I have also written some fairy tales for children; Ørsted says about them that if The Improvisatore makes me famous then these will make me immortal, for they are the most perfect things I have written; but I myself do not think so." On 26 March, he observed that "[the fairy tales] will be published in April, and people will say: the work of my immortality! Of course I shan't enjoy the experience in this world."
"The Princess and the Pea" was first published in Copenhagen, Denmark by C.A. Reitzel on 8 May 1835 in an unbound 61-page booklet called Tales, Told for Children. First Collection. First Booklet. 1835. (Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Første Samling. Første Hefte. 1835.). "The Princess and the Pea" was the third tale in the collection, with "The Tinderbox" ("Fyrtøiet"), "Little Claus and Big Claus" ("Lille Claus og store Claus"), and "Little Ida's Flowers" ("Den lille Idas Blomster"). The booklet was priced at twenty-four shillings (the equivalent of 25 Dkr. or approximately US$5 as of 2009), and the publisher paid Andersen 30 rixdollars (US$450 as of 2009). A second edition was published in 1842, and a third in 1845. "The Princess and the Pea" was reprinted on 18 December 1849 in Tales. 1850. with illustrations by Vilhelm Pedersen. The story was published again on 15 December 1862, in Tales and Stories. First Volume. 1862.
The first Danish reviews of Andersen's 1835 tales appeared in 1836, and were hostile. Critics disliked the informal, chatty style, and the lack of morals, and offered Andersen no encouragement. One literary journal failed to mention the tales at all, while another advised Andersen not to waste his time writing "wonder stories". He was told he "lacked the usual form of that kind of poetry ... and would not study models". Andersen felt he was working against their preconceived notions of what a fairy tale should be and returned to writing novels, believing it to be his true calling.
Charles Boner was the first to translate "The Princess and the Pea" into English, working from a German translation that had increased Andersen's lone pea to a trio of peas in an attempt to make the story more credible, an embellishment also added by another early English translator, Caroline Peachey. Boner's translation was published as "The Princess on the Peas" in A Danish Story-Book in 1846. Boner has been accused of missing the satire of the tale by ending with the rhetorical question, "Now was not that a lady of exquisite feeling?" rather than Andersen's joke of the pea being placed in the Royal Museum. Boner and Peachey's work established the standard for English translations of the fairy tales, which, for almost a century, as Wullschlager notes, "continued to range from the inadequate to the abysmal".
Wullschlager observes that in "The Princess and the Pea" Andersen blended his childhood memories of a primitive world of violence, death, and inexorable fate, with his social climber's private romance about the serene, secure and cultivated Danish bourgeoisie, which did not quite accept him as one of their own. Jack Zipes, researcher, said that Andersen, during his lifetime, "was obliged to act as a dominated subject within the dominant social circles despite his fame and recognition as a writer." Because of this, Andersen developed a feared and loved view of the aristocracy. Others have said that Andersen constantly felt as though he did not belong, and longed to be a part of the upper class. The nervousness and humiliations Andersen suffered in the presence of the bourgeoisie were mythologized by the storyteller in the tale of "The Princess and the Pea", with Andersen himself the morbidly sensitive princess who can feel a pea through 20 mattresses.
Maria Tatar notes that, unlike the folk heroine of his source material for the story, Andersen's princess has no need to resort to deceit to establish her identity; her sensitivity is enough to validate her nobility. For Andersen, she indicates, "true" nobility derived not from an individual's birth but from their sensitivity. Andersen's insistence upon sensitivity as the exclusive privilege of nobility challenges modern notions about character and social worth. The princess's sensitivity, however, may be a metaphor for her depth of feeling and compassion.
"The Princess and the Pea" was not uniformly well received by critics. Toksvig wrote in 1934, "[the story] seems to the reviewer not only indelicate but indefensible, in so far as the child might absorb the false idea that great ladies must always be so terribly thin-skinned." Tatar notes that the princess's sensitivity has been interpreted as poor manners rather than a manifestation of noble birth, a view said to be based on "the cultural association between women's physical sensitivity and emotional sensitivity, specifically, the link between a woman reporting her physical experience of touch and negative images of women who are hypersensitive to physical conditions, who complain about trivialities, and who demand special treatment".
Researcher Jack Zipes notes that the tale is told tongue-in-cheek, with Andersen poking fun at the "curious and ridiculous" measures taken by the nobility to establish the value of bloodlines. He also notes that the author makes a case for sensitivity being the decisive factor in determining royal authenticity and that Andersen "never tired of glorifying the sensitive nature of an elite class of people".
“The Princess and the Pea” spurred on positive criticism, as well. In fact, critic Paul Hazard pointed out the realistic aspects of the fairy tale that make it easily relatable to all people. He believed that "the world Andersen witnessed—which encompassed sorrow, death, evil, and man's follies—is reflected in his tales," and most evidently in "The Princess and the Pea." Another scholar, Niels Kofoed, noticed that “since they involve everyday-life themes of love, death, nature, injustice, suffering, and poverty, they appeal to all races, ideologies, classes, and genders.” Moreover, Celia Catlett Anderson realized that one of the things that makes this story so appealing and relatable is that optimism prevails over pessimism, especially for the main character of the princess. This inspires hope in the readers for their own futures and strength within themselves.
"The Princess and the Pea" was adapted to the musical stage in 1959 as Once Upon a Mattress, with comedienne Carol Burnett playing the play's heroine, Princess Winnifred the Woebegone. The musical was revived in 1997 with Sarah Jessica Parker in the role. A television adaptation of "The Princess and the Pea" starred Liza Minnelli in a Faerie Tale Theatre episode in 1984. The story has been adapted to two films, one full-length animation film in 2002, and a 6-minute IMAX production in 2001. In 1927, German composer Ernst Toch published an opera based on the story with a libretto by Benno Elkan.
Tales of extreme sensitivity are infrequent in world culture but a few have been recorded. The 11th-century Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva tells of a young man who claims to be especially fastidious about beds. After sleeping in a bed on top of seven mattresses, and newly made with clean sheets, the young man rises in great pain. A crooked red mark is discovered on his body, and upon investigation a hair is found on the bottom-most mattress of the bed. An Italian tale called "The Most Sensitive Woman" tells of a woman whose foot is bandaged after a jasmine petal falls upon it. The Brothers Grimm included a "Princess on the Pea" tale in an edition of their Kinder- und Hausmärchen, but removed it after they discovered that it belonged to the Danish literary tradition. A few folk tales feature a boy discovering a pea or a bean assumed to be of great value. After the boy enters a castle and is given a bed of straw for the night he tosses and turns in his sleep, attempting to guard his treasure. Some observers are persuaded that the boy is restless because he is unaccustomed to sleeping on straw, and is therefore of aristocratic blood.
In the more popular versions of the tale, only one pea is used. However, Charles Boner added in two more peas in his translation of the story upon which Andersen based his tale. Other differences amongst versions can be seen in various amounts of mattresses as well as feather beds. Versions of the story differ based on whether or not the character of the helper is included. The helper, in some cases, tells the princess to pretend as though she slept badly. However, in other versions, the helper doesn’t appear at all, and the princess decides to lie all on her own.
The tale was the basis for a story in The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, wherein the prince decides to slip a bowling ball underneath one hundred mattresses after three years of unsuccessful attempts with the pea. In the morning, the princess comes downstairs and tells the queen, "This might sound odd, but I think you need another mattress. I felt like I was sleeping on a lump as big as a bowling ball." which satisfies the king and the queen. The princess gets married to the prince, and they live happily, though maybe not completely honestly, ever after.
- Tatar 2008, pp. 70–77.
- Wullschlager 2000, pp. 159–160.
- de Mylius 2009
- Opie 1974, p. 216
- Wullschlager 2000, p. 144
- Andersen 2000, p. 135.
- Wullschlager 2000, p. 290
- Willschlager 2000, pp. 290–291.
- Dewsbury, Suzanne. "Hans Christian Andersen- Introduction". Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism. Gale Cengage. Retrieved 3/5/2012.
- Wullschlager 2000, p. 151
- Toksvig 1934, p. 179
- Zipes 2005, p. 35
- Dewsbury, Suzanne. "Hans Christian Andersen—Introduction". Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism. Gale Cengage. Retrieved 3/5/2012.
- Heiner, Heidi Anne. "History of The Princess and the Pea". SurLaLune Fairy Tales. Retrieved 3/5/2012.
- Scieszka, John and Lane Smith (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 978-0-670-84487-6.
- Works cited
- Andersen, Hans Christian (2000) . The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography. New York: Cooper Square Press. ISBN 0-8154-1105-7.
- de Mylius, Johan (2009). "The Timetable Year By Year, 1835: The First Collection of Fairy-Tales". H.C. Andersens liv. Dag for dag. (The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day.). The Hans Christian Andersen Center. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
- Opie, Iona; Opie, Peter (1974). The Classic Fairy Tales. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-211559-6.
- Tatar, Maria (2008). The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-06081-2.
- Toksvig, Signe (1934) . The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. London: Macmillan and Co.
- Wullschlager, Jackie (2000). Hans Christian Andersen: The Life of a Storyteller. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-7139-9325-1.
- Zipes, Jack (2005). Hans Christian Andersen. New York and London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-97433-X.
|Wikisource has original text related to this article:|
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Princess and the Pea.|
- "Prinsessen på ærten" Original Danish text
- "The Princess and the Pea" English translation by Jean Hersholt
- "The Princess and the Pea" Alternate English translation
- Archived audio version of the story | <urn:uuid:3aad05d6-654a-41a6-b6c5-25f9ed94bf19> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Pea | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500816424.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021336-00379-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939475 | 3,643 | 2.859375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.9499943256378174,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Literature |
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What makes UAVs so beneficial to the pipeline surveying process is the fact that they can travel quickly over long distances, bringing remote locations closer to you. They also have the ability to relay images back to land surveyors on the ground, which allows the land surveyors to begin working immediately, rather than having to wait until they return from the field. Working with a professional land surveying firm that offers aerial data collection services, you’ll be able to enjoy turnaround of ready-to-use survey documents in as little as 24 hours, regardless of the distances involved or the difficulty of the terrain. This makes aerial data collection through UAVs a much less time-consuming process than conducting pipeline surveys through traditional methods.
The surveying images provided by UAVs are taken using the latest in high-resolution cameras, offering a level of detail of one centimeter per pixel. Using these extremely accurate images and point cloud data helps land surveyors create the kind of detailed pipeline survey documents that today’s pipeline development projects require.
Safer Pipeline Surveys
In addition to making it quicker and easier to conduct land surveys in remote, hard-to-reach locations, UAVs are also beneficial because they remove the need for the land surveyors to enter dangerous areas of the field themselves. This makes the whole process of gathering land data significantly safer, especially when difficult terrain is involved. Aside from the obvious human costs that occur whenever a land surveyor is seriously injured, safety should also be a concern because of the financial costs and the delays that these accidents can bring about.
In the past, aerial data collection was often performed using manned aerial vehicles. While these vehicles can offer some of the benefits offered by UAVs, it’s important to remember that putting someone in an airplane still puts them at risk, particularly when they have to fly over remote locations and difficult terrain to gather needed data. In the end, the only truly safe way of gathering data for land surveying projects is by keeping surveyors out of the field altogether, allowing them to work from the comfort and safety of an office setting. UAVs provide this ability, making them among the safest technologies for gathering land data.
In order to gain all of the benefits of UAVs discussed here, you need to make sure that you work with a professional land surveying firm that has the knowledge and expertise to help you put UAVs to work on your pipeline development project. To learn more about how we can help with your project, view an example of our recent surveying work. Or, to get started with using UAVs to support your land surveying efforts, contact Landpoint today.
Image Source: Ryan McFarland | <urn:uuid:0aaa0834-b3dc-4159-b40a-9566672b5abf> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.landpoint.net/why-distance-is-no-longer-a-challenge-when-it-comes-to-pipeline-development/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323587908.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20211026134839-20211026164839-00250.warc.gz | en | 0.96092 | 766 | 2.59375 | 3 | {
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Consider each of the following statements about health and consider which factor(s) you think is most relevant sex, gender, or both.
1. Sex and gender. Sex reassignment itself is related to both sex and gender, in that people seeking to change their biological sex do so because it doesn’t match their gender identity and because they cannot easily adopt roles and behaviours in keeping with their gender identity.
Inconsistent coverage of sex reassignment procedures in Canada is also related to sex and gender. As we saw in Module 1 and 2, widespread acceptance that sex and gender fall into fixed categories, female/feminine and male/masculine, makes it difficult for many people to understand and support sex reassignment procedures. Indeed, sex reassignment is regarded as a change so profound that in some provinces psychiatric evaluation is required for approval and funding of procedures. For more information about Medicare funding of sex reassignment procedures, see http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Sex_reassignment_surgery_in_Canada_whats_covered_and_where-7706.aspx and http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E&item=1086.
2. Gender and sex. It might seem that this statement refers only to sex since it addresses the sex of the mice and rats being used for experimentation – males rather than females. Certainly the outcome of using mainly male mice and rats has implications for what we know about diagnosing or treating disease in female bodies. A growing body of research demonstrates that by ignoring the influence of sex, this practice has endangered the health of women and girls who are diagnosed and treated using models and drugs that have only been tested in male laboratory animals.
But the choice to use male versus female mice and rats is ultimately about gender. For generations, scientists maintained that they could not use female rats and mice for experiments because estrogen was a “problem”, a complicating factor in the design and analysis of research. By comparison, no one raised concerns about the “problem” of testosterone. By choosing to eliminate estrogen from the equation, scientists behaved as if the male body was the norm and the female body was a departure from the norm. http://www.healthzone.ca/health/yourhealth/women%27shealth/article/963096–research-controversy-male-mice-used-to-study-diseases-that-affect-women?bn=1
3. Sex and gender. Research shows that there are differences in rates of diabetes between the sexes. Diabetes is somewhat less common among females than males in Canada (5.9% versus 6.6% in 2006-07). We don’t know, however, if this difference is related to biological sex or to differences in eating habits and physical activity that are linked to gender norms. We do know, however, that men are far more likely than women to suffer renal failure and limb amputation related to diabetes. Research on masculinity and health suggests that men are less willing than women to consult a physician with the result that illnesses, including diabetes, can spiral out of control and lead to serious conditions.
From the Beginning: Understanding Diabetes Using Dis‐aggregated Data by Lissa Donner and Margaret Haworth‐Brockman
4. Sex. Although all men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer, very few do – less than 1% of all cases. Women’s biology, including genetics, timing of puberty, and proportion of body fat, put them at greater risk of developing breast cancer. When men do develop breast cancer, it often seems to be related to their levels of sex hormones.
5. Sex and gender. Women are physiologically more vulnerable than most men to HIV infection because vaginal tissues are more permeable and liable to damage than the tissues of the penis and scrotum. Semen typically contains much higher concentrations of HIV than vaginal fluids, which means women engaging in heterosexual intercourse are at much greater risk of infection than their male partners. The exception to this generalization is men who have sex with men and are “bottoms” during anal intercourse. Because the tissues of the rectum and bowel are also permeable and vulnerable to damage, and because they may be exposed to high concentrations of the virus, these men face comparable risks of HIV infection.
At the same time, women are more likely than men to be infected with HIV because gender roles and expectations render them more vulnerable. Women may not be able to resist unwanted or unsafe sex because they lack not only physical strength, but also economic independence, political freedom and/or protection of their human rights.
6. Gender. With the exception of fire-related injuries that lead to death, men outnumber women in every other category of violent death: homicide, suicide, poisoning, and motor vehicle accidents. Many factors contribute to differing patterns of violence and injury, but gender is key among them. Norms of masculinity in many societies mean that men are more likely than women to be soldiers, to engage in physically high-risk behaviours, including drinking and driving, and to become involved in gang violence. In many parts of the world, norms of masculinity also condone violence against women. Although women are less likely than men to be victims of homicide, they are more likely than men to die at the hands of an intimate partner. According to a World Health Organization report, “women are particularly vulnerable to abuse by their partners in societies where there are marked inequalities between men and women, rigid gender roles, cultural norms that support a man’s right to sex regardless of a woman’s feelings, and weak sanctions against such behaviour” (Summary, p.16). | <urn:uuid:ec6912e4-82ae-4af8-9a39-71a7e9e67320> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://sgba-resource.ca/en/concepts/module-3-sex-and-gender/assess-the-relationship-between-sex-gender-and-health/activity-sex-and-gender-in-health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823168.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20171018233539-20171019013539-00835.warc.gz | en | 0.952188 | 1,180 | 3.1875 | 3 | {
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Its the cold war and the US government had a problem; if we have a nuclear war how are
we going to maintain communications? If one city is destroyed on the US eastern seaboard, all communications in the east
will be lost. A US military agency called Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was
charged with solving the problem. They devised a communication system that would still work if one or more "nodes"
of the system were destroyed. A kind of communications web, that if one link of the web was broken, information could flow
around the broken link to get to its final destination.
Later, in 1969, ARPA linked university computers and researchers to the network to assist them in conducting basic research
through information sharing. This project became known as the ARPAnet. In 1977 ARPAnet engineers realized that the new communications
network was going to grow into something much larger than originally anticipated so new communication technology would be
required. They devised a communication protocol known as TCP/IP,
or transmission control protocol/internet protocol. TCP/IP remains the fundamental way computer file are moved around the
Under TCP/IP a file is broken into smaller parts called "packets"
by the file server. Each packet is assigned an IP (Internet protocol) address of the computer it has to travel to. As the
packet moves through the network it is "switched" by a number of servers along the way toward its destination.
The IP address tells those servers which way to switch the packet. Each time the packet is switched a "wrapper"
is added to the packet this way we can tell how many computers and which computer handled the file while it was in
transit. In Australia, a file coming from the States can be switched up to 15 times, that is fifteen computers were required
to deliver the packet to the destination computer.
The packets do not necessarily travel together on the Internet. Packets from the same file may travel via different paths
through different servers, but toward the same destination. Packaging technology allows us to use limited bandwidth most
efficiently. It means parts of a file can be shared across a number of phone lines instead of having to find one phone line
to put a large file into. In this respect TCP/IP can be liken to a group of 10 hitchhikers (packets) who can not get a lift
all together, but easily get lifts if they break up, going by different cars and maybe by different roads but agree
to meet up at a particular point in the future.
On January 1, 1983, all of the ARPAnet was switched to TCP/IP and became what is now known as the Internet. The US National
Science Foundation (NSF) funded most of the early development of the Internet, but on April 30, 1995, the U.S. government
released the Internet to commercial networks and service providers and shut down the old National Science Foundation backbone.
In March 1989, Tim Berners-Lee (see Amazon book recommendation below)
at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) proposed
a new set of protocols for Internet information distribution. They were; http (hyper text transfer protocol), ftp (file
transfer protocol), pop (post office protocol), smtp (simple mail transfer protocol) and nntp (newsgroups protocol). These
five protocols became known as the World Wide Web protocols and the W3 protocols and were soon adopted by the early Internet
community. A consortium of organizations was formed to oversee Internet development and became known as the W3
Consortium. No organisation or individual owns the Internet.
Before the World Wide Web, the Internet consisted mostly of electronic mail (e-mail), newsgroups and ftp. Tools were invented
to help categorize what information could be found and where it was, but the Internet was not what you would call "user
friendly". If you needed a particular computer program or file, it was nearly impossible to find unless you knew exactly
where it was.
Today however, we have specific software to address each of the W3 protocols. We have "browsers"
to help us locate and look at web pages. We have e-mail clients to help us create, send and receive
e-mail. We have newsreaders just to read news, FTP clients just to download program files and chat
clients to help us do Internet Rely Chat. Today you dont have to be a rocket scientist to work
out where to find information and what to do when you get there.
This tutorial is brought to you courtesy of Dynamic Web Solutions. Please contact Peter or Michael for a quote on a dynamic, mobile friendly web site with content management, Google analytics, hosting and web marketing support: (+61) 2 66993800.
1960s US government seeks nuclear war proof communications, briefs project to APRA
1969 Universities and researches connected to ARPAnet
1977 ARPAnet engineers realise the network is going to grow beyond expectations
1983 ARPAnet switched to TCP/IP
1989 Tim Berners-Lee proposes a new set of Internet protocols
1995 US government releases Internet for commercial use
Was this tutorial helpful? If so, please support it with a donation >> | <urn:uuid:abccb10f-8382-4615-bb8e-e51c1698e69e> | CC-MAIN-2015-32 | http://www.dynamicwebs.com.au/tutorials/history.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042990112.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002310-00054-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942035 | 1,091 | 3.734375 | 4 | {
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Euhrychiopsis lecontei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
The aquatic weevil, Euhrychiopsis lecontei, has the potential to serve as an agent of biological control against the aquatic weed, Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). Eurasian watermilfoil is an exotic species of submersed aquatic plant that arrived in North America in the mid 1900ís. Since its introduction, Eurasian watermilfoil has become a major nuisance plant, spreading to 45 states and at least3 Canadian Provinces. Thick beds of Eurasian watermilfoil plants clog canals, lakes and ponds all across North America while boats continue to carry Eurasian watermilfoil fragments to new bodies of water where they grow into new Eurasian watermilfoil infestations. Lake managers try to control Eurasian watermilfoil by harvesting the plants, adding benthic barriers, drawing down water levels during the winter, and applying herbicides. These methods are costly, rarely specific to watermilfoil, and often require frequent re-application. Using herbivorous insects as a means of biological control may prove to be a cost-effective and environmentally sensitive alternative.
E. lecontei is a weevil species which is native to North America. This weevil, a watermilfoil specialist, traditionally feeds on the native northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum), and now feeds on Eurasian watermilfoil as well. Many scientists believe that large weevil populations contribute to Eurasian watermilfoil decreases in some lakes in Vermont, New York, and Minnesota.
E. lecontei adults are smaller than most terrestrial weevils, measuring only 3 mm in length. This weevil is generally dark-colored with a pattern of dark brown/black and yellowish stripes on the dorsal half, fading to a lighter, yellow-beige underbelly. However, some weevil individuals vary in color from almost completely black to mainly tan or beige. The eggs are round and opaque yellow in color, with a diameter of 0.5 mm. The larvae are a translucent greenish or whitish color with a dark purple-black head capsule. As the larvae age, they begin to turn a purplish gray color, indicating that they are nearing pupation. Pupae take on an immature adult form: a head with a long snout and closely jointed thorax and abdomen with wings (elytra), although they are immobile and the exoskeleton is still soft. The pupae develop mature color patterns just before emerging from the pupal chamber as adults.
E. lecontei inhabit temperate lakes and ponds where watermilfoils (Northern and/or Eurasian) are abundant. Both species of watermilfoil (and the weevils that feed on them) thrive in lakes with varying sediment types, water chemistries, and flow rates. Weevil populations are largest in small, shallow lakes where watermilfoil grows near the shore. Each fall, adult weevils migrate to shore where they spend the winter in loose soil, plants, and leaf-litter. Because of this yearly migration, weevil populations may be restricted in lakes where watermilfoil beds are far from the shore (increased fish predation), or where shorelines are highly developed (no leaf-litter).
E. lecontei attacks the invasive weed, Eurasian watermilfoil (M. spicatum). Eurasian watermilfoil is an aggressive species, which can quickly dominate an aquatic community, shading out desirable native species by forming a canopy on the surface of the water. These canopies of Eurasian watermilfoil also limit human recreational uses of the water (boating and swimming), and cause shoreline property values to fall.
E. lecontei adults swim and climb from plant to plant, feeding on leaflets and stem material. After mating, the female lays an average of 1.9 eggs a day, usually one egg per watermilfoil apical meristem (growing tip). One female may lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch, and the larvae first feed on the apical meristem, and then mine down into the stem of the plant, consuming internal stem tissue. Weevils pupate inside the stem in the pupal chamber, a swelled cavity in the stem. Adults emerge from the pupal chamber to mate and lay eggs. In the autumn, adults travel to the shore where they over-winter on land. In the laboratory, E. lecontei take from 20 to 30 days to complete one life cycle, depending on water temperatures. For complete development, weevils require about 310 degree-days with temperatures above 10 degrees C. In the field, we generally observe 2 to 4 generations per year.
In laboratory and lake-enclosure experiments, as well as in natural lake systems, we find high levels of damage to Eurasian watermilfoil plants associated with large numbers of E. lecontei. However, the high levels of seasonal damage that we observe in the field, may not translate into long-term declines in Eurasian watermilfoil populations (measured as plant biomass, stem density, and/or plant height). E. lecontei seem to be contributing to some short-term declines in Eurasian watermilfoil in some Vermont, Minnesota, and New York Lakes, but not in others. Current research is focusing on the roles of fish predation and over-wintering habitat on E. lecontei populations and their possible biological control properties.
The direct effects of herbicides on E. lecontei are unknown, although any effective herbicide may harm E. lecontei indirectly by eliminating their host plants.
Mechanical harvesting, herbicide applications, benthic barriers, and water draw-downs all remove either E. lecontei individuals or their habitat (aquatic plants) from waterways. In doing so, these popular control methods lessen the ability of the weevil to control watermilfoil growth biologically.
E. lecontei populations rely on natural shorelines with dry shelter (leaf-litter) for overwintering habitat. Loss of natural shorelines may reduce winter survival of E. lecontei.
For more information about E. lecontei biology please visit: http://www.fw.umn.edu/research/milfoil/milfoilbc/weevil.html.
Eggs and larvae are available from EnviroScience, Inc.at:
Thanks to Dr. Ray Newman and Dr. Bern Blossey for reviewing this page.
Aiken, S.G. 1981. A Conspectus of Myriophyllum (Haloragaceae) in North America. Brittonia 33(1) pp. 57-69.
Creed, P.P., and S.P. Sheldon. 1995. Weevils and watermilfoil: Did a North American Herbivore Cause the Decline of an Exotic Plant? Ecological Applications 5 (4) pp. 1113-1121.
Creed, R.P., S.P. Sheldon, and D.M. Cheek. 1992. The Effect of Herbivore Feeding on the Buoyancy of Eurasian Watermilfoil. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 30:75-76.
Johnson, R.l., P.J. Van Dusen, J.A. Toner, and N. G. Hairston, Jr. 2000. Eurasian Watermilfoil Biomass Associated with Insect Herbivores in New York. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 38 (2) pp. 82-88.
R.M. Newman and D.D. Biesboer. 2000. A Decline of Eurasian Watermilfoil in Minnesota Associated with the Milfoil Weevil, Eurychiopsis lecontei. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 38 (2).
Newman, R.M., D.C. Thompson, and D.B.Richman. 1998b. Conservation Strategies for the Biological Control of Weeds. P. Barbosa (ed.) Conservation Biological Control. Academic Press, NY, NY pp. 371-396.
Smith, C. S. and J.W. Barko. 1990. Ecology of Eurasian Watermilfoil. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 28:55-64.
Solarz, S.L. and Newman, R.M. 2001. Variation in Hostplant Preference and Performance by the Milfoil Weevil, Euhrychiopsis lecontei Dietz, Exposed to Native and Exotic Watermilfoils. Oecologia 126 (1) , pp 66-75. http://link.springer.de/link/sercive/journals/00442/bibs/1126001/11260066.htm. | <urn:uuid:f7ae6f1b-9002-40e0-9319-ba13d17676b0> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/ponds/weevil.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676590901.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20180719125339-20180719145339-00516.warc.gz | en | 0.871067 | 1,901 | 3.453125 | 3 | {
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Children who learn more than one language have some real advantages. Look at this joint position paper. (Se puede traducir esta página: Ver abajo.)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
POLICY STATEMENT ON SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE
DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS (Pages 1&2)
The purpose of this policy statement is to support early childhood programs and States by providing recommendations that promote the development and learning of young children, birth to age five, who are dual language learners (DLLs). The statement also provides support to tribal communities in their language revitalization efforts within tribal early childhood programs.
National estimates indicate that there is a large and growing population of DLLs. Early childhood programs should be prepared to optimize the early experiences of these young children by holding high expectations, capitalizing on their strengths - including cultural and linguistic strengths - and providing them with the individualized developmental and learning supports necessary to succeed in school.
It is the vision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Head Start) and the U.S. Department of Education (Public Schools) that all early childhood programs adequately and appropriately serve the diverse children and families that make up this country. This joint policy statement advances that vision by:
• Setting an expectation for high-quality and appropriate supports and services designed for DLLs;
• Increasing awareness about the benefits of bilingualism and the important role of home language development;
• Reviewing the research on the unique strengths of and challenges faced by this population, and strategies that are effective in promoting their learning and development;
• Providing recommendations to early childhood programs, tribes, and States on establishing policies and implementing practices that support the learning and development of DLLs;
• Providing considerations for tribal communities engaged in Native language revitalization , maintenance, restoration, or preservation efforts within their early childhood programs; and
• Identifying free resources to support States, tribal communities, programs, teachers, providers and families in supporting the development and learning of DLLs.
The DLL Population
• 22% of children ages 5 to 17 in the U.S. speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home, a figure that has more than doubled in the past three decades.
• 27% of children under age 6 live in homes where at least one parent speaks a LOTE.
• In Head Start, 29% of children live in homes where a LOTE is spoken.
• The majority of children who are DLLs come from homes where Spanish is spoken.
The Legal Foundation
Several Federal laws apply to serving young children who are DLLs and their families. The following laws may be applicable to early childhood programs serving young DLLs, including:
• The Head Start Act
• The Child Care and Development Block Grant
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its Implementing Regulations (Title VI)
• The Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA)
• Title III, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)
• The Native American Languages Act
• The Native American Programs Act of 1974
The Research Foundation
•Advances in neuroscience demonstrate that the average human brain is equally equipped to learn multiple languages, and that it is possible to learn multiple languages at the same time, or to learn a new language while continuing to develop the first language. Children are not confused by learning more than one language at a time.
•Bilingual children who have continuous, high-quality exposure to more than one language from a young age demonstrate more advanced executive functions than their monolingual peers, including more effective cognitive control, greater abilities to control and shift attention, enhanced problem solving abilities, greater working memory, and increased ability to focus on pertinent information, ignore distracting information, and apply known concepts to new situations.
•A growing body of research also indicates that DLLs may have advantages in social emotional development, including better self-regulation and fewer behavior problems, compared to their monolingual English speaking peers.
•Despite these potential advantages, research indicates that in the U.S., there is still a gap between some DLLs and their peers in school readiness and achievement.
•High-quality, intentional, and consistent exposure to the home language and to English can set children on a positive trajectory toward school success and bilingualism.
•Studies have found that high-quality preschool and elementary school dual immersion models can produce favorable cognitive, achievement, and social outcomes for DLLs and their monolingual English-speaking peers.
•Research on language use in early childhood programs, and on the benefits of supporting home language development, including fostering bilingualism, maintaining cultural connections and communication with family members, and the transferability of home language skills to English language acquisition, suggests that systematic and deliberate exposure to English, paired with supporting home language development within high quality early childhood settings, can result in strong, positive outcomes for DLLs, as well as positive outcomes for native English speakers. | <urn:uuid:d5b32d05-fa14-4828-83db-724268d8211d> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.centraltexas4c.org/domain/71 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250594662.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20200119151736-20200119175736-00374.warc.gz | en | 0.923362 | 1,092 | 3.5 | 4 | {
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Creationism’s Henry M. Morris, dead at 87; upheld Genesis flood
EL CAJON, Calif. (BP)--Henry M. Morris, widely regarded as the founder of the modern creationist movement, died Feb. 25 at the age of 87.
Morris’ 1961 book, “The Genesis Flood,” subtitled, “The Biblical Record and Its Scientific Implications,” was a cornerstone of the movement. Morris coauthored the book while serving as head of Virginia Tech’s civil engineering department; Old Testament scholar John C. Whitcomb was the book’s coauthor.
In 1970, Morris founded the Institute for Creation Research, which continues to be a leading creationist force, now headed by his sons, John and Henry III.
Morris “had in recent days suffered a series of debilitating small strokes” and died at a San Diego-area convalescent hospital, according to a report on the website of Answers in Genesis, an organization in the creationist movement pioneered by Morris.
Morris earned master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and 1950, respectively, and taught civil engineering at several universities over the course of two decades before becoming head of Virginia Tech’s civil engineering department in 1959.
Morris’ views were embraced by a relative handful of scientists with Ph.D.s and by various segments of evangelical Christianity, but harshly criticized by scientists who embraced evolution.
After The Genesis Flood, Morris penned a steady stream of books, including “Scientific Creationism” (1974); “The Genesis Record” (1976), “That You Might Believe” (1978); "What Is Creation Science?" (with Gary Parker, 1982); “Men of Science; Men of God” (1982); “History of Modern Creationism” (1984); “The Long War Against God” (1989); and “Biblical Creationism” (1993).
Morris also was at the forefront of a King James Version “Defender’s Study Bible” (1996).
He believed that the Earth was only several thousand years old, not millions.
“It is impossible to devise a scientific experiment to describe the creation process, or even to ascertain whether such a process can take place,” he wrote in his book Scientific Creationism. “The Creator does not create at the whim of a scientist.
“... [T]he creation was 'mature' from its birth. It did not have to grow or develop from simple beginnings. God formed it full-grown in every respect, including even Adam and Eve as mature individuals when they were first formed. The whole universe had an 'appearance of age' right from the start. It could not have been otherwise for true creation to have taken place. 'Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them' (Genesis 2:1).”
Kurt Wise, director of Bryan College’s Center for Origins Research and Education in Dayton, Tenn., who holds master’s and doctorate degrees in paleontology from Harvard University, said in a statement to Baptist Press, “In a field so often dominated by heated, and sometimes vicious, conflict, Henry Morris was well known, even in a public debate, for having a soft-spoken, gentlemanly spirit. He was one of the very few true men of God I have ever known.”
Recounting that Morris has been called “The Father of Modern Creationism” primarily because of “his many books, which popularized young-age creationism in the evangelical world,” Wise noted, “Although this is appropriate, I believe Henry Morris most deserves this title for grounding creationism in Scripture. He spent the duration of his life tenaciously fighting for the supremacy and spread of God’s Word. Let that be creationism’s continuing legacy.”
Wise, himself the author of numerous creationism books, predicted that Morris’ influence “will not soon be forgotten. Henry Morris was trained as an engineer. But a full spectrum of disciplines are represented by those of us in creationism today who were influenced and inspired by his writings....
“Henry’s death is the end of an era, but it’s the beginning of another. Over the years, Henry shared a few of his dreams with me -– many of them unfulfilled in his lifetime. But by standing upon his shoulders, we can now see and reach the vistas of Henry’s dreams. We owe, and will owe, much to Henry Morris,” Wise said.
Among the various points of science concerning the Genesis flood that Morris pioneered is “biblical catastrophism” -- that a worldwide flood is a more plausible way of interpreting geological data than science’s “uniformitarianism” theory that sedimentary rock was formed over billions of years.
Currently at the Institute for Creation Research, which includes a museum and an accredited graduate school, a team of young-earth scientists is involved in a project named RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth), examining and challenging radioisotope dating from a number of geological standpoints. According to a RATE news release, for example, “Diamonds thought to be millions/billions of years old by evolutionists contain significant levels of catrbon-14. Since carbon-14 decays quickly, none should have been found in the diamonds if the evolutionary age is correct.”
Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis–USA, described Morris as “one of my heroes of the faith. He is the man the Lord raised up as the father of the modern creationist movement. The famous book The Genesis Flood, coauthored by Dr. Morris and Dr. Whitcomb, was the book the Lord used to really launch the modern creationist movement around the world.” | <urn:uuid:3a0b3c9a-d22d-47be-a503-91321f6310dc> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://www.bpnews.net/22739 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398447729.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205407-00224-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964059 | 1,256 | 2.703125 | 3 | {
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Biochemical and Molecular Studies of Various Enzymes Activity in Fungi
Idrees Ahmad Nasir3
1 Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of the Punjab (New campus), Lahore, Pakistan
2 Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
3 Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab (New Campus), Lahore, Pakistan
Molecular Plant Breeding, 2016, Vol. 7, No. 9 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2016.07.0009
Received: 07 Dec., 2015 Accepted: 15 Jan., 2016 Published: 15 Jan., 2016
© 2016 BioPublisher Publishing Platform
This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Ali Q., Ishfag M., Mahmood N., Nasir I.A., and Saleem M.. 2016, Biochemical and Molecular Studies of Various Enzymes Activity in Fungi, Molecular Breeding, 7(9): 1-16 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2016.07.0009)
Fungi are decomposers in most ecosystems and make important contribution to the ecological balance of our world. They have great industrial importance due to the presence of different enzymes like laccase, superoxide dismutase, cellulases, amylases and catalase etc. These enzymes performed synthetic and degradative functions. They are physiologically necessary for all of the living organisms and are universally occur with wide genetic diversity in plants, animals and micro-organisms. Mostly the micro-organisms are an attractive and efficient source of various enzymes and also owing to have the limited space required for their cultivation and their ready susceptibility to genetic manipulations. Although the extensive research on various aspects of these enzymes, there is scarcity of the knowledge about the role that governed the diverse specificity of these enzymes. After deciphering the secrets about these enzymes would enable us to exploit their use in biotechnology. Fungi have vital roles in biotechnology such as production of drugs and enzymes. Fungi can be cultured easily and hence they can be used in microbiological, genetic and molecular research. It is very important to investigate genes and the role of genes that are responsible for the formation of these enzymes. In the current review described the study of production of laccase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme through various fungi, the activity of enzymes and the genetic diversity of genes involved for the formation of these enzymes.
Laccase; Superoxide Dismutase; Cellulases; Amylases; Catalase; Enzymes; Fungi | <urn:uuid:19dcbf03-7d4e-473d-a4b8-58b6676b148d> | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | http://biopublisher.ca/index.php/mpb/article/view/2271 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560628000231.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20190626073946-20190626095946-00128.warc.gz | en | 0.87446 | 584 | 2.546875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.887955904006958,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Means to Promote the effectiveness of the Friday Sermons
2) Definition of the “Friday Sermon” and its importance
3) Properties of the Friday Sermon
4) Challenges faced by the Friday Sermon
5) Promoting and developing Friday Sermons
Rhetoric was never a novel verbal phenomenon in the world of humanity; it was and will always be a broadly effective horizon which was practiced by the messengers of Allah and His prophets in order to spread the message. It was also used by the politicians to achieve their goals and it was always the tool of the leaders and the conquerors in raising the morale of their armies before engaging in wars.
Rhetoric is “one of the tools of calling people to Allah and one of the most important educational, coaching and influential means. It also has many fruits to yield such as; resolving conflicts, ending clashes, calming angry souls, spurring the fervor of apathetic souls, restoring rights, the voice of the wronged and the tongue of guidance. Rhetoric ignites the fervor of the armies, pushes them to pursue death and empowers their moral vigor”.
From here emerges the importance of rhetoric within the making of all the prophets (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon them all) since it helps them in calling their peoples to the Oneness of God, to obey Him and to warn them from His anger, His wrath and His painful punishment so they would abandon their misguidance and abort their doctrinal, moral and social perversion.
Rhetoric is and will always be a successful tool for the reformists, scholars, speakers and leaders in all times. A means to tease the minds, evoke trust in the souls so they are spurred to defend certain ideas, promote specific tasks and warn against specific threats. Many speeches have changed the course of peoples’ habits and visualizations. Many speeches have opened the doors of hope and repentance to the audience, many speeches have defused affliction and held steadfast the hearts of armies leading them to victory.
Still, rhetoric in its comprehensive concept is an important and influential means in the hand of the media, the educational system, missionary work, in times of war and peace, for better or for worse, for the weak or the powerful. The Friday Sermon, apart from any other sermon, is characterized by many features that give it an importance much higher above any other sermon. The Friday Sermon has a very special status being a weekly worship that unites the Muslims in the mosques where they sit, they listen and they get moved by the words. Through this sermon they get their full share of being called to goodness and warned against perversion and evil.
Friday Sermon is an Islamic ritual that plays an effective role in shaping the behavior of the people and influencing them in all the walks of life. It has a major role in serving the call to Allah who blessed the Muslims with a weekly feast every Friday and ordained the Friday Sermon and prayer as obligatory. He orders the Muslims to seek this ritual with the purpose of combining their hearts together, uniting their words, educating their ignorant, warning the unwary, guiding the lost, spurring the resolves, enlightening the people about their religion, their doctrine, the plotting of their enemies and how they can confront it, and keeping them all steadfast on revering the sanctities of Allah.
Definition of the “Friday Sermon” and its importance
Definition: Rhetoric is the art of discourse, addressing the public and influencing them. Linguistically, it is the improvised speech through which the articulate speakers talks with the masses to convince them. In terminology, it is the composed speech that includes preaching and conveying a specific status. It is defined by Al-Kasani as, “Generally speaking the word ‘sermon’ is a word used to define a speech that incorporates gratitude to Allah, praising Him, praying on the Prophet (SAWS), calling Allah for the Muslims, preaching and reminding.” The contemporary definition is, “The delivered preach given in Arabic language before the Friday prayer, after the time of praying is established, in public and with the prescribed number required for its validity.”
It comes with specific terms as regards to performance, dialect, tone and movements. Jabir (RA) said, “When the Prophet (SAWS) delivered a speech his eyes would go red, his voice would become high and his anger would escalate until you would think he was motivating an army. He used to say, ‘I and the end of days came like these (and he would point with index and mid finger).’” The Friday sermon is an obligatory ritual that was imposed by revelation and from the words of this revelation we can realize the whole wisdom. Allah says, “O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew, and when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed. But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, ‘What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers.’” (TMQ, 62:9-11).
The Arabic equivalent for the word sermon is “khutba” and this word means in Arabic; an incident with utter importance. Ibnul-Qayem –may Allah have mercy of him–used to say, “The Prophet’s sermon used to establish the fundamentals of faith and discuss what Allah keeps in reserve for those who obey Him; in this life and the hereafter, and what He keeps in reserve for those who disobey and displease Him. Through his sermon he used to fill the hearts of the people with faith and he established the grounds of monotheism and knowledge about Allah and the past nations.” He also added to this, “If you contemplate the Friday sermon delivered by the Prophet (SAWS) and his companions you will find it profuse with meanings of guidance, monotheism, mentioning the attributes of Allah, mentioning the overall principles of faith, calling people to Allah, mentioning the many blessings of Allah to make people seek His satisfaction and avoid His wrath, and urging people to mention Allah and thank Him in a way that makes Him satisfied with them.”
As for its importance, the Friday sermon has a considerable impact on the individual and the society at large. The words uttered by the speaker on the pulpit have great leverage and importance. A good speaker can influence the reality of people and add a lot to them. The importance of the Friday sermon and its impact can be summarized under the following points:
The sermon occupies a considerable share in educating the nation, directing its revival, sustaining its moral and material entity and connecting its aspired future with its notable past.
Teasing the minds, reviving confidence in the souls so as to defend a particular idea or promote a specific task.
Fortifying faith, softening the hearts and purifying the feelings by getting the people closer to their Lord and Creator.
It changes the wrong opinions and intellectual convictions.
It opens the door of hope and repentance in the faces of the sinners and transgressors.
It plays a role in changing the bad habits and it has a positive impact on the morals of the individual and the society.
Generally speaking, rhetoric was one of the things that participated in spreading Islam between the people. Many times have the conquests of the Muslims hinged on spectacular speeches that spurred and motivated the armies by igniting their spirits toward bringing victory to the cause of Allah.
So if the Friday sermon has this significant effect, then the speaker must always revise the level of his performance in such a way that helps him promote the topic of the speech and promote his own level to help the Islamic discourse restore its significant role driven from its original source and being able to cope with the problems of the age and always flow with the spirit of vitality, giving and modernity.
Properties of the Friday Sermon:
Allah (SWT) ordained a specific day for every nation particularly for worship, for gathering and for remembering (by this gathering) Judgment Day when all the people will be brought together in the presence of the Lord of the worlds. The day most deserving of this honor was Friday and so Allah saved this particular day for this nation due to its honor and virtue. Allah ordained the gathering of the Muslims in this life on this particular day to obey Him and He ordained their gathering with the other nations on Judgment Day also in this particular day to gain its blessings. So this day is the gathering day in this life and the hereafter! Ibnul-Qayem clarified in his book “Zadul Maad” the properties of Friday and they reached thirty three properties, among them he mentioned:
Friday prayer is one of the strongest Islamic obligations because it contains the speech that is intended to praise Allah, glorify Him and bear witness to His Oneness and that Muhammad (SAWS) is His messenger.
It reminds people of the news of the past nations and warns them from Allah’s wrath and anger. On the other hand it urges them to come closer to Allah and His paradise and warns them against his anger and hellfire.
He also said that the Prophet (SAWS) used to prepare for this day by reciting the two chapters; Al-Insan and Al-Sajdah at the dawn of the day. These two particular chapters of the Qur’an speak a lot about the resurrection of the people from their graves and mustering them to await their judgment before they either end in hell or heaven.
It is preferable to send lots of prayers to the Prophet (SAWS) throughout the day and night of Fridays.
In Paradise Allah will show Himself to His believers on that day; they will visit Him and the closest to Him will be the ones who were closest to the Imam on Friday prayers.
Among its most important properties:
It takes place in a majestic and submissive atmosphere where the souls get ready to receive and listen.
It is characterized by the necessity of listening to the orator, not being distracted from him, listening to him from the pretext of being obedient to the order of Allah. The whole process makes this sermon different from any other sermon, lecture or seminar that does not fall under the same Islamic ruling.
All the Muslims gather for this particular sermon with their different levels and classes; the educated, the ignorant, the students, the learned, the old and the young. This diversity helps in lifting the obstacles that stand in the way to proper social reformation and urges every individual to carry his own share of the responsibility.
It is the worshiping, informative, educational, belief-oriented and social activity available for everyone.
Continuity and repetition on weekly basis. Every year the Muslim listens to 52 sermons and this is a whole study course if the orators prepared their sermons well and if the sermons yielded the right fruits.
Direct contact between the orator and audience. This aspect is totally missing from many other means of communication. This direct link has a significant impact on reading the human being’s emotional sentiments, it causes the preacher to react and hence it intensifies the impact of the sermon by producing various reactions like; questioning, verbal discourse and direct interaction.
Its moral value and impact! In studying the impact of Friday sermons in Egypt a research was conducted to the effect that 78% are permanently impacted by what orators say, 71% of them are permanently committed to what the orators tell them to do.
As for the characteristics of the orators and preachers, they have to be known for their honesty and sincerity. Al-Hassan Al-Basry was asked about the orators and how some of them seem to influence the audience while others don’t seem to move them, and he said, “If the words come from the heart they reach for the hearts, but if they come from the tongue they only manage to reach the ears. Amer Ibn Abdullah also said, “Words that come from the heart reach for the heart and words that come from the throat reach for the ears.” The Prophet (SAWS) whenever he delivered a sermon he sounded like he was motivating an army. So the intention of the orator must be sincere for the sake of Allah and his speech must be influential, effective and accepted by the people. After that he must advice people sincerely and from the bottom of his heart.
The orator also needs to memorize a big portion of the Qur’an and Hadith because they are his most valuable commodity and asset. The orator is after all calling people to Allah and guiding them to His path, so this can never be done away from the Qur’an and Sunnah. The Prophet (SAWS) also warned against those who side away from the Qur’an and Sunnah in saying, “People who preach using other than my guidance and practice other than my tradition.”
The orator must also care to prepare his sermon because these days many of them seem to prepare their sermons on Friday morning or right before the prayer. These people usually have no mission or cause other than using the pulpit as a habit or to make a living. The orator must put his utter concern and attention in the Friday sermon. He must dedicate a lot of time to prepare it properly. He is actually like a fighter going into the battle field so he has to get ready. The first step toward preparing the sermon is asking himself this question: What do I want to say to the people attending the sermon? The answer to this question is the topic of the sermon and then he must also remember to ask himself this question: What is the benefit from posing this topic? The answer to this question should form the introduction, the details and the epilogue.
The orator must have the required experience and competence because the Friday sermon is actually not something available for everyone. This sermon is not for anyone who just thinks himself eligible, neither is it an arena for fame and distinction on the account of the people and their time. It’s a responsibility and a grave trust so whoever stands up to it must be up to it expertise-wise and he must have the information qualifying him to be a distinguished orator.
Challenges facing the Friday Sermon:
The Friday sermon is a single unit in the general system. Hence if the general system of the Muslims is backward and deteriorated, the same thing will apply to the Friday sermon being a single unit in this system. If we tackle the topic of the declining role of Friday sermons we will discover that it is no longer influencing the people as it used to do for two main reasons:
First: Lacking the makings of a successful orator and the most important of these are; knowledge and culture. Islamic sciences’ universities take graduates with the lowest grades these days and the graduates of these universities are eventually the students who failed to join the top universities because of their low grades. Most of them have a humble knowledge of the Qur’an and they are not good in Arabic language. Due to their low achievement they resort to memorizing sermons from old books for other orators from their own country or even from other countries. They don’t understand much of what they memorize and they don’t bother to study the reality of their society to be able to pick what suits the problems of their people. This whole process transformed rhetoric from a life-mission into a job and as long as the orator is an employee he will never be able to influence the people.
Second: The audience themselves are no longer sincerely faithful as in the old times. One of the signs of faith as Allah tells us is, “True believers are those whose hearts tremble with awe at the mention of Allah, and whose faith grows stronger as they listen to His revelations. They are those who put their trust in their Lord,” (TMQ, 8:2). The mention of Allah and the recitation of the Qur’an no longer makes the faith of the people grow stronger and the Friday prayer became just a habitual ritual that is done for the sake of accomplishing an obligation. The result is that the mosques are only filled with people right before the prayer is concluded or right after the sermon is delivered.
There are many other negative indications that we see a lot in our orators and they reduce the chances of benefiting from the sermon and hence reduce the chances of introducing any positive impact in the lives of the people. Among these negative indications we have; some orators have no realization for the conditions and nature of the audience and this reflects negatively on their choice of the method mostly appropriate for speaking with them whether they were educated, half-educated or illiterate. Consequently they lose any response or reaction from their audience. The wisdom here is to always use the right words with the right people at the right time! When the audience is mostly ordinary people from a lower class area, things have to be totally different than when delivering a speech on an educated audience in a high class area. Each audience comes with a different method, different language, different needs and different effects. In addition to that the orators do not choose the topics that capture the interest of the people and they only talk monotonously about repeated topics at the time when people need to listen to sermons that tackle their own reality and problems to be able to form a better understanding for them.
The other thing is that orators rarely answer this most obvious question for the audience: So what can we do? Hence each orator must take into account the sequence of the elements of his sermon, and set a goal and a final answer for what is required of the audience. The orators also have very low observance for the state of religions-emptiness many people are suffering from. Some of them tend to arouse controversial issues and if a listener has some convictions about some issues then listens to the orator attacking his convictions he will end up leaving the whole place. Consequently we must avoid the controversial issues and only build on the agreed issues.
One of the main drawbacks of the present day is using the pulpits for political purposes to promote specific ideas. There is no harm in tackling the ongoing events and discussing them from the legal perspective so as to benefit the people. But to end up mingling media and promotion with rituals defies the whole purpose of the Friday sermon that seeks to unite the people rather than drive them apart.
The challenges can be summarized under the following points:
Concerns of the society and the orator: Some orators totally ignore in their sermons the ongoing events that impact the reality of the Muslims, their existence and their future. So the Muslim audiences find no outlet for their emotions, their worries and their pains. The result is that they listen heartlessly and without any reaction.
Political Islam or politicizing Islam and the nature of the relation with the political powers: Some orators misuse the pulpit in controversial and partisan issues. So instead of using the pulpit to guide the people, deepen their faith and piety, promote their sense of sincerity they end up conveying their partisan, intellectual, legal and sometimes even their personal problems to occupy the masses in marginal, formal, discretionary or personal issues. The result is that people get filled up with frustration and despair from the deteriorating reality of Islam and the clashes between the Muslims.
Having no consideration for the public: The sermon is actually a bilateral effort that engages both the orator and the public. Hence the public act as an important aspect and maybe even the most important aspect in the whole operation. So if the public are not affected by the sermon emotionally and intellectually the sermon will never be able to achieve its purpose. For this to be achieved the orator must be aware of the patterns of people who attend his mosque to be able to pick the suitable topics and the suitable language. The audiences of the sermons are the public so they can never be on the same level of learning and understanding. The good orator is the one who knows his audience well and knows how to talk to them. Still some orators totally miss this whole point and they choose a very difficult language and discuss scientific or philosophical issues doing injustice to a huge sector of the audiences who could benefit from the sermons and interact with them.
The multiplicity of topics without any need for it: Many orators get into multiple topics in their sermons without any logical link between these topics. Had they divided these topics on the various sermons (giving each topic it full share of study) they would have achieved much better results.
Prolongation: Some orators think that the longer the sermon the better it is. They keep prolonging and extending without the need for it and they people end up being so bored of the sermon. The Prophet (SAWS) even said, “The long prayer by a man and the short sermon is the sign of his understanding (of faith). So lengthen the prayer and shorten the sermon, for there is charm (in precise) expression.” Jabir Ibn Samra also said, “The Prophet (SAWS) never prolonged his sermons. They were but a few easy words.” Let us not forget that attending the sermon is originally a worship and so the souls of the people have to be away from any negative impacts. We all know that human beings tend to vary in their abilities to tolerate and comprehend. Hence the orator must be realistic in dealing with his audience.
Important topics and the importance-criteria: Here the orator falls under a state of ‘imbalance in choosing his topics’. He exploits the regular and unexpected occasions for the benefit of his call. He shapes the Islamic public opinion toward the issues and events after placing them in the right Islamic context. Then he falls under the spell of some topics (some are important and some are not) and he keeps repeating them every Friday till the audience get board and find nothing new in the sermons. This leads to a total waste of this crucial platform that could be used to say a lot.
Promoting and developing Friday Sermons:
Friday sermons played a pivotal role in the long march of Islam. Through this Islamic platform that got spread in all the Islamic countries various issues were discussed ranging from doctrinal concepts to Islamic teachings to the biographies of prophets and warriors. Through this vital and renewable platform problems were tackled and solutions were posed in every time and place. Through this ongoing weekly platform many sincere and skilled orators were able to revive the spirit of struggling against the invaders and renegades from whom the nation suffered throughout its history. Through this effective platform the mosques received delegations of penitents who started their journey to faith from the Friday sermon that kindled in their lost souls the passion of guidance.
Reaching this point and with the growing seriousness of the role played by the media in our modern lives there is a question that keeps posing itself: Have we utilized the Friday sermons as we should so as to serve the Islamic nation and initiate its revival?
Friday sermons are still held in our Islamic world and the mosques keep getting more and more in numbers and along with them the pulpits. Still the pulpits are not invested properly as they should be and not many orators are up to the required standards. Some of them don’t even realize the meaning of the word ‘sermon’ being one of the arts of promotion and media. Some others think that the sermon is just about talking to people in a loud voice without realizing the real impact of this pulpit they’re standing on. Hence we get strange patterns and examples of orators who are so diverse to the point of utter contradiction.
Because the sermon is an art then it calls for special talents and characteristics. The most important of these are not the strong voice, the ability to convince and impress, the ability to express using senses and words, addressing the mind and the heart at the same time, using a tone that suits the meanings. Whereas the least important of these characteristics are not; the unity of the topic, the objectivity of the subject, the coherence of the ideas, using short expressive sentences and using familiar words.
It also requires a broad knowledge about issues related to religion and the society along with a meticulous understanding for the various segments of the people who are frequent visitors to the mosques; their intellectual levels, their social circumstances, their living conditions. There is no life in a media that does not live the problems of the public and their issues. There is also no impact for a sermon that would not touch the depths of the people intellectually, emotionally and socially. So let our orators be careful not to transform our pulpits into high ivory towers that detach them from the people, their pains and their reality.
To promote and develop Friday sermons we must first study its basic elements and then we have to work on developing them. We need to be able to raise the sermon up to the required level so it can achieve its proper role in the society as it was before when it had all the factors that led to its advancement and flourishing. During these times the sermon drew its strength from the lives of the Muslims which were so rich in piety, altruism and stamina. The Muslims, on the other hand, got this through the food of the souls; mainly the Qur’an and the revered Sunnah.
So after the deterioration that inflicted the role of Friday sermons in the Muslim society we must pay attention to everything that can help restore its high status and stunning effect on the souls and minds.
To promote Friday sermons in a consciously useful method we need to join hands in doing all the below:
Promoting our devotion to Allah through strengthening our link with Him using different and diverse acts of worship and most important of which are; praying and reciting the Qur’an (especially before daybreak and after dawn).
Abiding by the scientific approach in calling others to Allah, using a content that is highly and strictly connected to the Qur’an and Sunnah as regards to; authenticated content, eloquent language, compatibility with the time and place. We are ordered to converse with people according to their abilities and we are ordered to talk with them about the things they know.
Distancing the pulpit from libeling a particular person, a writer or a group. The prime goal is to refute, scrutinize and study the ideas apart from the insulting or degrading anyone.
Focusing on the moral and social issues because our present crisis is mainly manners-oriented and the Prophet (SAWS) was but sent to complete the noble morals.
The orator must be keen on being a role-model for the people by practicing what he preaches, by abiding by the morals of the Qur’an and the practices and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
By delivering the sermon in a tone of voice that suits the topic and the nature of the speech whether exclamation, interrogative or whatever; with full respect to the audience and spectators and with calling Allah to help us all, to protect our homeland and to grant us safety and security.
To promote Friday sermons (the most prominent media and advocacy tool in Islam) we need to take and commit to the following steps:
First: Taking the mosques to their golden age of glory when they were the seat of leadership, the informative beacons, and the educational and social centers of the nation. We need to re-utilize the mosques in making the complete and balanced Muslim man; where no side of him overrides the other. We need to reuse the mosques in rearing a Qur’anic generation that carries this message the way the companions and the early followers carried it. To be able to do this we need to follow this recipe:
Restoring the role of leadership, guidance, construction and leading the masses to the scholars in their struggle against falsehood and tyranny. Restoring the orator to his right for shelter; i.e. enjoying financial power, practical rearing and being among “the band of strong men”. That way the orator can dedicate himself fully to his job, he can call people while being confident of his own independence that cannot be deterred by any whims, broken by any enemies or distracted by any love for life and desires. This will change the whole paradigm of how we see orators and will get the people to compete to gain this honor. In the golden age of oration the people used to prefer this job above any other, they preferred it even to immigrating to other countries seeking better pays or better social statuses. That way we can relieve the mercenaries from serving the mosques and we can drive away the minors and the suspicious people from endangering our religion because these abusers are only successful in doing mischief instead of goodness and they corrupt instead of reforming. That way we can also accredit the practical and ethical competencies beside the practice and social status which will eventually enable us to put the right man in the right place.
Enlarging some of the mosques (if possible) instead of building new mosques next to each other which only fragments the people instead of uniting them.
Training the people working in this field of dawa, oration and religion-media by raising their skills and qualifying them using the latest and most modern scientific methods.
Creating and promoting institutes and programs so as to present orators who are equipped with the makings of success. Endorsing awareness and enlightenment courses for the orators and the speakers.
Studying the situation of the Muslims socially, demographically, culturally and humanity-wise.
Monitoring the mosques to restrict the controversial issues, preventing being trapped into the pitfalls of similarities, and preventing argument about things that will never be useful for Muslims. For this purpose we can organize special committees that are supervised by scholars, superiors and the Muslims populace.
Second: Supporting the orators and rationalizing the media through Islam. This can be achieved through:
1) Creating Friday Sermons Forums just like all the other media forums. The purpose is to study and discuss the Islamic ideas and concepts with the Imams of the mosques, to spread the pure and original Islamic culture, and to promote the recitations of the Qur’an instead of deserting it or focusing on parts of it apart from the rest.
2) Writing and authoring a guide for the Muslim orators including all the information and guidelines that concern them.
3) Writing and authoring a model book that compiles a collection of sermons covering all the basic Islamic issues so the beginners can use this book in preparing their sermons. This book has to be compiled by a group of experienced scholars in this particular field and it has to be revised linguistically and ideologically to fit this age. It would be also useful if some of the savvy orators delivered these sermons in audio formats to be a model that can be used by the trainee-orators.
4) Preparing periodical publications that contain sermons dealing with the developments of the age and distributing them on the orators and Imams working in this field. These sermons have to be verified and checked for the Qur’an and Sunnah citations to make sure they are authenticated.
Third: Abiding by the principles and basics of calling people to Islam as to the following:
1) Comprehensiveness: This means that the sermon has to address all the segments and the problems while proposing proper Islamic solutions.
2) Committing to honesty and realism till religion becomes a living reality in the Islamic society. This can be achieved by practicing what is preached while taking the reality of Muslims into consideration to be able to guide people to the best.
3) Confronting the intellectual invasion, the destructive currents and the allegations that are constantly stirred by the enemies to misguide the Islamic public opinion, to empty Islamic law from its properties and purity, and to disfigure the image of Islam, its culture, its civilization and its prominent Islamic figures.
4) Correcting the misconceptions and pursuing the authentic Islamic culture.
5) Maintaining the original conceptions and facts of religion from any distortion and from being subjected to the modern perceptions and the new economic and political terms that were created in special atmospheres and varied environments with historic backgrounds and factors that are always liable to constant change and failure.
Fourth: Prevention and self-criticism through the following:
1) Forming an Islamic TV (even if it were mobile) in an attempt to salvage the Muslim children from the harm of the media that keeps burning the houses of the Muslims.
2) The orators and preachers of the mosques must abide by the noblest manners, the best looks and they must always practice what they preach.
3) Having a Referendum Box in every mosque to collect the feedback of the worshipers about the sermon and its topic. This is the best way to employ self-criticism in self-reformation.
Fifth: Planning and Funding
1) Planning and organization must always precede the real work so as not to waste any time or efforts.
2) Money is the livelihood of work and life. If we want to promote Friday sermons we must conduct studies, estimate the needed funds, spread awareness about the importance of the project and warn against lack of ignoring the impact of Friday sermons. This can be done through committees that are formed from experienced and sincere people from every neighborhood and village. The rich people must contribute in funding these efforts and there is no harm in arranging fund raisers from nearby areas.
In fund-raising three important conditions have to be respected:
1-The money is paid for the sake of pleasing Allah and His messenger.
2-No money is to be taken from a person who is coerced to pay it or is giving it condescendingly or seeking to hit the Muslims where it hurts.
3-No strings must be attached with the payments except within the limitations of Islamic law and the tradition of the Prophet (SAWS).
Rhetoric: Its Historical Origins in Golden Era of the Arabs, by Imam Muhammad Abu Zahra.
The Jurisprudence Encyclopedia on the website of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ministry, Kuwait. Volume 19.
Ala Al-Deen Al-Kasani, Bada’e Al-Sana’e fi Tarteeb Al-Shara’e, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi, Beirut – 1982, 262/1.
Dr. Abdul-Aziz Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al-Hujailan, Friday Sermon and its Legal Rulings.
Ibnul-Qayem Al-Jawzei, Zadul-Maad, Dar Al-Marefa, Beirut, page 176.
The Successful Sermon, by Muhammad Al-Ghazali (included in his book: Sermons of Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali on the Affairs of Life and Religion), compiled by Qutb Abdul-Hamid Qutb and verified by Dr. Muhammad Ashour. Dar Al-Itisam, 19/1.
Narrated by Muslim (879), Abu-Dawood (1074) and Al-Tirmidhi (520).
Ibnul-Qayem, Zadul-Maad, chapter titled: Properties of Friday.
Dr. Abdul-Ghani Ahmad, Friday Sermon and its Role in Rearing the Nation, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia, 1422 Hijri, page 1-4.
Al-Bayan Wal Tabyeen, by Al-Jahez, 47/1.
Al-Bukhary, Book of Strife, no. 6673.
Dr. Mahmoud Akkam, Conceptions and Pulpits: Issues and Concepts in Friday Sermons, 2000 edition.
Narrated by Muslim.
Friday Sermon in the Islamic World “Inevitable Comments”, by Dr. Muhammad Emad Muhammad. From Islamweb.
Abu-Zahra, Rhetoric, page 209.
Dr. Mahmoud Akkam, Conceptions and Pulpits.
Muhammad Abdel-Latif Al-Refaie: Friday Sermon, its importance, its effect, and how to promote it. Lebanon – 1415 Hijri. | <urn:uuid:2547d554-5488-430e-bc22-f75419bac6f5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.dar-alifta.org/en/article/details/267/friday-sermon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100545.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205041842-20231205071842-00243.warc.gz | en | 0.955104 | 7,556 | 2.921875 | 3 | {
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What To Do For Diarrhea In Dogs
While diarrhea in dogs can be indicative of a serious condition, more often than not it can the result of pilfering something from the garbage, or even from your table, that didn't go down so well!
In the case of a puppy, it is often the result of overfeeding.
No matter what the cause, the mechanism of diarrhea - however uncomfortable - is usually helpful in purging a dog's system of whatever is causing the upset.
It's inevitable that at some point your dog or puppy will have a case of the runs that will cause him to lose interest in his food, become sluggish and often dehydrated. Aside from these symptoms being caused by a disease, it can be brought on by culprits you might not suspect, such as milk or potatoes.
In the case of milk, while puppies are able to produce a sufficiency of the enzyme lactase that digests the lactose found in their mother's milk, many dogs become lactose intolerant as they mature. In fact, milk can act as a laxative - certainly something you want to avoid when diarrhea is present!
In the case of potatoes, it's the ones with green parts visible on the skin that need to be avoided. This is an indication that the toxic substance, Solanine, that can trigger diarrhea as well as vomiting, is present in greater quantities than normal. To be on the safe side, discard these type of potatoes because this toxic substance is also harmful to humans.
While these two culprits are not the most common ones, there are a number of other more well known causes to consider.
Cause Of Diarrhea In DogsRecognizing that there are different types of diarrhea, the cause of diarrhea in dogs can be be attributable to a number of different triggers such as:
From the above list of triggers, you can probably guess that diarrhea caused by a virus is a significantly more serious case and one that can cause your dog to experience severe dehydration and possible damage to the tissues of his intestional tract. Signs that may accompany this type of diarrhea in dogs are: fever, vomiting and abdominal tenderness or pain - plus the stools will appear more watery. If you see any of the signs, don't wait to seek professional advice!
If you suspect that worms may be at the heart of the loose stools, one sign is that worms will often make a dog itchy. So if you see your dog scooting his rear accross the room, worms may be the reason. Since there are various kinds of worms, some of which can do more than just cause diarrhea in dogs, your vet will want to examine your dog's stool to identify the type of worm present so that he can treat it accordingly. Tapeworms are the most common, but other invaders are roundworms, whipworms and hookworms.
The bottom line - any diarrhea in dogs that that continues into a second day without showing signs of easing, needs to be reported to the vet. Chronic conditions can develop from persistent diarrhea and won't get better without your vet's help.
Dog Diarrhea Treatment
While on this fast, offer plenty of water or clear low-fat broth to replace lost nutrients and to offset the risk of dehydration. One way to check for dehydration, is to examine your pet's gums which will have a dry appearance instead of their normal moistness. Another test, is to carefully pull down on the eyelid - if it sticks to the eye this is an indication of serious fluid loss and needs your vet's immediate attention.
If your dog doesn't seem interested in plain water or broth, you can try giving him a little Pedialyte, which has a taste dogs seem to like, to replace lost fluids and minerals.
If vomiting is present along with the loose stools, this is a sign that something more serious may be going on and is your signal to consult your veterinarian right away.
Following the period of fasting, a bland diet can be started with easy-to-digest foods such as low-fat chicken, or fish with rice, spread out over the day in small quantities.
When normal normal eliminations return, very gradually resume a normal diet so as not to cause a reoccurrence of diarrhea.
Prevention Of Diarrhea In DogsWhile there are no dog diarrhea cures to speak of, because it's almost impossible to track everything you dog gets into or what may be brewing that you can't see, here are some guidelines for what you can do to help prevent episodes of diarrhea:
Diarrhea in dogs - Don't Panic
The main thing is to get on top of it right away and if it persists, or you have any worries about it, get in touch with your vet.
Learning about the symptoms of various dog conditions and their treatment, will help you be a much more confident dog owner, as well as recognize when it's appropriate to try a home remedy and when your vet's help is needed. If you get yourself a copy of Veterinary Secrets Revealed, you will be able to learn how to recognize and treat many of your dogs health problems.
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successor of the first Umayyad caliph, Muʿāwiya, is known to have visited Jerusalem
with the Christian poet laureate al-Akhṭal.42 Jerusalem was not a tourist attraction
for the two hedonists Yazīd and Akhṭal, who usually found diversions in Jalliq.
But Jerusalem was important for the Umayyads, who were anxious to legitimize
their usurpation of the caliphate from the ʿAlids and so associated themselves with
37 See ibid., 373–74; to the words listed there may be added
muʿtamir, the one who performs the
pilgrimage not in the canonical month, and
hujayja, the diminutive form of hājja, “female pilgrim” (see
Murūj al-Dahab wa-maʿādin al-jawhar, ed. C. Pellat [Beirut, 1966], I, 281).
38 See I. Peña,
Lieux de pèlerinage en Syrie, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, Collectio Minor 38
39 The reference is to a monk from Sinai who was a prisoner in the camp of Arethas. Doctrinal dif-
ferences in this period could result in violence—Arethas’s own son, the Monophysite Mundir, was cap-
tured by the Chalcedonian central government—and perhaps the monk was captured while Arethas was
performing the pilgrimage. On the monk of Sinai, see
BASIC II.1, 190–91.
41 See ibid., 273–74.
42 See J. Naṣrallah,
Saint Jean de Damas: Son époque, sa vie, son oeuvre (Harissa, Lebanon, 1950), 67.
byzantium and the arabs in the sixth century
the Holy City to which the Prophet Muḥammad made his nocturnal journey; a
desire for such legitimation may explain Yazīd’s journey. Similarly, both Muʿāwiya
and ʿAbd al-Malik announced their accession to the caliphate in Jerusalem. The
Umayyads imitated and followed in the steps of the Ghassānids in many respects,
perhaps including pilgrimage to the Holy City. Moreover, Yazīd was the son of
a Christian mother, Maysūn, and the husband of another Christian woman, the
Ghassānid Umm Ramla.43
Ghassānid pilgrimages to the Holy Land probably included visits not only
to Jerusalem but also to the other two holy cities associated with Jesus, Nazareth
Oriens had other pilgrimage sites in addition to the three provinces that constituted
the Holy Land. Some of them were associated with figures of Arab Christianity;
others were not but were nevertheless visited by the Ghassānids.
1. Julian of Antioch was a saint especially revered by the Monophysites and
thus no doubt by the Ghassānids. Epigraphic evidence of their veneration is found
in the inscription at al-Burj, near Damascus, in which he is thanked by their king,
2. More important was St. Sergius, the patron saint of the Byzantine army
of Oriens and of the Ghassānids, whose name was invoked during military
encounters.45 The church of Mundir in the capital, Jābiya, was dedicated to him,
and his city, Sergiopolis, was protected by the Ghassānids.46 After Jerusalem,
Sergiopolis was the most important pilgrimage center, and it also had a
a πανήγυρις. Ghassānids undoubtedly performed the pilgrimage to his shrine in
Syriac hagiography provides evidence for such activity. In the
Aḥūdemmeh, the Arabs of Persian Mesopotamia are described as so dedicated
43 On Ghassānid-Umayyad relations, see
BASIC II.1, 375–91.
44 For this inscription, see
BASIC I.1, 495–501, and I.2, 965–66. On Julian, see H. Kaufhold,
“Notizen über das Moseskloster bei Nabk und das
Julianskloster bei Qaryatain in Syrien,” OC 79 (1995),
45 In addition to the well-known invocation in the poetry of al-Akhṭal (see
Sharḥ Dīwān al-Akhṭal,
ed. I. Ḥāwī [Beirut, n.d.], 533, verse 3), there may be another one in the ode of al-Nābigha on the
Ghassānid al-Nuʿmān (
ing name is Duʿmiyy—explained in the commentary as a personage related to the Iyad group—it likely
originally was Sarjis, the Arabic for Sergius, whom the Ghassānids invoked in war. Such substitutions in
pre-Islamic verses sometimes occurred in later Islamic times.
46 On the Ghassānids and Sergius, see
BASIC I.2, 949–62. On Sergiopolis, see E. K. Fowden, The
Barbarian Plain: Saint Sergius between Rome and Iran (Berkeley, 1999).
Ghassānid Federate Society
to St. Sergius that they undertook the long journey from Persian territory to
Sergiopolis in order to visit his shrine. Consequently, to spare them the hardship of
traveling to Euphratensis, Aḥūdemmeh built them a shrine for Sergius in Persian
Mesopotamia.47 If Sergiopolis was a goal of Arab pilgrims from Sasanid territory,
surely it also drew Arab
who furthermore looked at Sergius as their patron saint and defended his shrine.48
Other pilgrimage centers in Oriens were associated with Arab figures.
1. Edessa, which contained the remains of the Apostle Thomas, was the city
that its Arab dynasty, the Abgarids, made the principal center of the Christian
Semitic Orient when Abgar the Great adopted Christianity.49 Abgar’s correspon-
dence with Jesus and his receipt of the Holy Mandylion (a miraculous image of
Jesus), though legendary, enhanced the sanctity of Edessa in the eyes of the Arabs.
Abgar lived long in the memory of the Christians in Oriens and elsewhere.50
2. Cyrrhos, in the province of Euphratensis, contained the graves of two
important Christian saints, Cosmas and Damian the Anargyroi (the Silverless),
the patron saints of medicine. Whether the Ghassānids were aware of the physi-
cians’ Arab origin is not clear, but they most probably made the pilgrimage to their
shrine—especially in a century that witnessed outbreaks of plagues and the dedica-
tion of many churches to them.51
3. Qalʿat Simʿān/Telanissos was also a great pilgrimage center whose saint,
Symeon Stylites the Elder (d. 459), was associated with the Arabs of the fifth
century. Indeed, they would have immediately carried off the body of the deceased
saint to their settlements, had it not been for the arrival of the
Ardabūr.52 Although the extant sources do not retain a reference to a pilgrimage by
the Ghassānids, they must have visited the shrine, since they also became attached
to Symeon the Younger of the sixth century, buried at the Wondrous Mountain,
47 For the
Life of Aḥūdemmeh, the metropolitan of the East in Persian Mesopotamia, see PO 3
(Paris, 1909, 15–51); see also
BASIC II.1, 177–82.
48 For more on Sergius and the Arabs, see
BASIC I.2, 949–62.
49 For the Arab dynasty of the Abgarids in Edessa, see
RA, Appendix, s.v. Abgarids (especially
50 His fame and Edessa’s reached distant Ethiopia. A ceremonial center consisting of a group of
churches was created during the period of the Zagwē dynasty (a.d. 1137–1270) and was called Roha
(present-day Lālibālā), the Semitic form of the Greek Edessa. On Abgar, see G. Haile, “The Legacy of
Abgar in Ethiopic Tradition,”
vived in the Near Eastern onomasticon, especially among the Armenians, as Apgar, and also among the
Arabs, as Abjar; see I. ʿAbbās,
BASIC I.2, 963–65.
BAFIC, 160 note 7.
BASIC I.1, 244–48.
byzantium and the arabs in the sixth century
4. Especially important and meaningful to them must have been the pilgrim-
ages associated with Najrān and its martyrs, their relatives. Najrān itself in South
Arabia became the great pilgrimage center of the pre-Islamic Arabs and must
have been visited by the Ghassānids.54 In addition, the strong Najrāni presence in
Oriens was concentrated in two towns.
a. Najrān in the Trachonitis was the namesake of Najrān, the martyropolis
in South Arabia. According to the most reliable source, Yāqūt, it had a magnifi-
cent church, where vows and votive offerings were made.55 This description sug-
gests that it was also a local pilgrimage center.
b. The Ghassānids most probably had another local pilgrimage site related
to their martyred relatives: Maḥajja, not far from Damascus, whose very name
(“Pilgrimage Center”) reveals its function. It is the only such toponym in Oriens.
Presumably the Ghassānids asked for some of the relics of the martyrs of Najrān,
which were transported to Oriens from South Arabia and went through a
at the site, which they then named Maḥajja.56 A recent work on Syrian toponymy
has revealed that the town still contains ancient oratories, churches, palaces, cem-
eteries, wells, canals, pools, and wine presses. Two miles to the north of it is Tall
Qaswa, which also has remains from the Byzantine period.57
IV. Private and Family Life
The religion that revolutionized the public social life of the Ghassānids similarly
affected their private family life. Indeed, it was only natural that their Christian
faith should have been reflected in the everyday life of such a religious community.
Its traces are clearly visible in the scant surviving sources.
1. In one verse of al-Nābigha, the panegyrist uses the phrase
hujuzātuhum, “zoned in chastity,” to describe the sexual purity of the Ghassānid
kings.58 In another he alludes to their Christian faith by implication, marking
their calm reaction to the vicissitudes of life.59 In a third, he employs the phrase
dishments but to the other world, to life after death and to the Resurrection. In a
fourth verse, they are saluted as a unique people, whom God favored with a virtue
54 See the present writer in “Byzantium in South Arabia,”
DOP 33 (1979), 69–76.
55 Ibid., 78–79; Yāqūt,
Muʿ jam al-Buldān (Beirut, 1950), II, 539.
56 For Maḥajja and its
dayr in the list of the subscriptions of the 137 archimandrites in their letter
addressed to the Ghassānid Arethas, see
BASIC I.2, 828; see also Map V in BASIC II.1, 429.
al-Muʿ jam al Jughrāfi li al-Quṭr al-ʿArabi al-Sūri, ed. M. Ṭlas (Damascus, 1992), IV, 438.
Dīwān, 47, verse 25.
59 Ibid., 48, verse 28.
60 Ibid., 47, verse 24. See ʿAbd al-Baghdādī,
Khizānat al-Adab, ed. ʿA. Hārūn (Beirut, 1981), III,
331, for al-Aṣmaʿī’s perceptive scholium.
Ghassānid Federate Society
granted to no other group,
Christianity was so clearly manifest that the Arabian poet noticed it; and in salut-
ing their virtues he was not simply parroting clichés, since these terms had never
been used in pre-Islamic panegyrics.62
The lives of ordinary families were also touched, even suffused, by Christianity,
which gave certain events new significance. The newborn child was now baptized
sacramentally, rather than circumcised;63 marriage ceased to be simply a con-
tract and became a sacrament; and death itself could be viewed as a journey to the
other world, which for good Christians meant Resurrection. These changes are
reflected clearly in a verse of an elegy on one of their kings, al-Nuʿmān, composed
by al-Nābigha.64 Thus, when a member of the royal family, the crown prince Jabala,
died in battle, he died as
in Chalcis.65 Comparisons and contrasts with the pagan Arabs, their congeners in
the Arabian Peninsula, and with their predecessors in Oriens, the Nabataeans and
Palmyrenes, are instructive in illustrating the long social distance traversed by the
Ghassānids in their spiritual journey from paganism to Christianity.66
Because Christianity affected every aspect of Ghassānid social life, it also
influenced their urban landscape, especially since the kings of the dynasty were
lovers of building,
philoktistai. In Ghassānid towns, the important architectural
landmarks were not those of pagan Rome—the circus (hippodrome), the theater,
the amphitheater, the nymphaia—but the church, the monastery, and possibly the
baptistery (in this early period a detached structure, separate from the church).
These were significant venues for various social functions in addition to the reli-
gious ones for which they were primarily designed.67
Dīwān, 46, verse 23. Al-Baghdādī’s Khizānat al-Adab, III, 330, has the better read-
mina al-nāsi (instead of the Dīwān’s mina al-jūdi).
62 The Christian sentiments expressed by al-Nābigha in this sextet of verses in his famous ode on the
Ghassānids are noteworthy. Rather than responding to specific events, they reflect general conclusions
that the poet drew on the life of Christians and their expectations—conclusions perhaps arrived at after
he had read the New Testament, or at least one of the Gospels. He does refer to Majalla (
24), accepted by all commentators as the Gospel; see al-Baghdādī,
Khizānat al-Adab, III, 331.
63 Circumcision was abandoned generally by the church, following the views of St. Paul; after the
Council in Jerusalem, ca. a.d. 50, circumcision was no longer obligatory on gentiles. For circumcision
among the Ismailites, see Josephus,
Jewish Antiquities, books I–III, trans. H. St. J. Thackeray, Loeb
Classical Library (Cambridge, Mass., 1930), book I, 193; among the Arabs in general, 214.
64 See the attractive epicedium on the Ghassānid king al-Nuʿmān, in al-Nābigha,
Dīwān, 122, verse
30; also G. T. Dennis, “Death in Byzantium,”
DOP 55 (2001), 1–7.
BASIC I.1, 243–49.
66 For such aspects of social life as marriage, communal meals, and banquets among the South
Arabians, whence the Ghassānids had hailed; in Arabia Pastoralis, where they had stopped on their way
to the north; and among the Rhomaic Nabataeans and Palmyrenes of Oriens, see R. G. Hoyland,
and the Arabs (London, 2001), 128–38.
67 See “The Ghassānid Sedentary Presence,” Chapter 2 in Part III, below.
byzantium and the arabs in the sixth century
Childhood and Children in Federate Oriens
The interest of Byzantinists in children as a serious branch of historical research
has grown in the second half of the twentieth century.68 The latest reflection of this
interest was the Dumbarton Oaks Spring Symposium of 2006, at which the many
dimensions of childhood in Byzantium were explored.
As has been the case with other aspects of Ghassānid social life, the con-
temporary poets are the best sources of evidence; and the two most prominent
Ghassānid panegyrists, al-Nābigha and Ḥassān, are also the two main sources on
1. al-Nābigha. In an attractive quatrain,69 the poet meets a Ghassānid prince,
still a young boy, a
ghulām, and provides a detailed description of him. The first
verse is remarkable for its inclusive, comprehensive quality. The poet notes the
handsome face of the boy, who is on his way to distinguishing himself morally, and
he is physically strong enough to reach his majority or youth quickly.70 These are
the physical and moral qualities that the poet praised in the Ghassānid kings and
phylarchs, whom he eulogized more expansively in his long odes.
Also noteworthy in the quatrain is its inclusion of the female as well as male
progenitors of the Ghassānid boy. As discussed in the following chapter in this
volume, Ghassānid queens were prominent and influential, and one or two of
the Hinds mentioned in the quatrain may have come from the celebrated group
offspring were outstanding, and the child would be called
muʿimm, “one with
distinguished paternal uncles,” and
mukhwil, “one with distinguished maternal
The quatrain is thus remarkable as a poetic expression of the image of the
Ghassānids as perceived by their contemporaries: a family and clan, distinguished
68 Groundbreaking work was first done by Ph. Koukoules; see his
Byzantinon bios kai politismos
(Athens, 1948), I.1, 1–184. He was followed by such scholars as E. Patlagean,
Structure sociale, famille,
chrétienté à Byzance, IVe–XIe siècle (London, 1981), 85–93; A. Moffatt, “The Byzantine Child,” Social
Research 53 (1986), 705–23; and now C. Hennessy, Images of Children in Byzantium (Aldershot, Eng.,
2008) and A.-M. Talbot and A. Papaconstantinou, eds.,
Becoming Byzantine: Children and Childhood
in Byzantium (Washington, D.C., 2009).
69 See al-Nābigha,
Dīwān, 166. The quatrain attracted the attention of Nöldeke, who discussed it in
70 The Arabic phrase
mustaqbil al-khayr may be translated in various ways. One possibility is “pros-
perity and good things lie close to him”; Nöldeke rendered it
dem das Gute bevorsteht (GF, 33). Al-khayr
is made plural in the fourth verse of the quatrain; though the context suggests a moral connotation, its
meaning is still not entirely clear.
71 The mother of Arethas was Māriya, a Kindite princess; relations between the two royal houses
were always good, unlike Ghassānid-Lakhmid relations.
72 These epithets were used in a verse of ʿAntara, one of the poets of the Suspended Odes. See
Dīwān ʿAntara, ed. K. al-Bustani (Beirut, 1958), 57, verse 8.
Ghassānid Federate Society
morally and physically, who kept the purity of their Ghassānid blood unadulter-
ated.73 This image is inspired by the impression made by the Ghassānid prince,
who thus elicits from the poet the description and eulogy of the royal house as his
pedigree is recounted. It is a reflection of the premium that the Arab Ghassānids
placed on childhood and on their children, made so clear in the background of the
quatrain, which, according to the scholiast, was an invitation extended to the poet
to see the child in whom the Ghassānid king took such fatherly pride.74 That such
parental care elicited filial care is demonstrated by the heroic efforts of Nuʿmān to
win the release of his father, Mundir, the Ghassānid king, after he was captured
and exiled during the reign of Tiberius II.75
2. Ḥassān. While al-Nābigha’s attention was drawn by the handsomeness
of the young Ghassānid prince, Ḥassān was attracted by Ghassānid children of
a riper age: the maidens who on Palm Sunday were fashioning the coral wreaths
in preparation for the celebration of Easter.76 It was these very maidens who, in
the famous ode of al-Nābigha, appear presenting their parents and other members
of the Ghassānid royal house with these wreaths and other appropriate gifts, the
Baptism, Nomenclature, Nursing
The sacrament of baptism was especially important in late antiquity, when infant
baptism superseded the adult catechumenate. The Ghassānids lived so close to the
Jordan, the river of baptism, that the baptism ceremony of their children must have
represented a major celebratory occasion.
Baptism also raises the question of Arab identity, which was strong among
the Ghassānids. Even after living for a century and a half in the orbit of a Christian
Roman Empire and helping to refound the Monophysite church after its suppression
73 See al-Nābigha,
Dīwān, 42, verse 8; Ḥassān, Dīwān, I, 205, verse 7. The Ghassānids win in battle
when they fight alongside those whose blood is purely Ghassānid. In both verses this belief is subtly
expressed by the use of derivatives from the root
74 The scholium and the quatrain recreate a domestic scene still common in the Arab Near East:
parents proudly show their young children to their guests. On the Arab affection for their children, see
the section “On the Love of Children” in Ibn ʿAbd Rabbih,
al-ʿIqd al-Farīd, ed. A. Amīn, I. Abyārī, and
A. Hārūn (Beirut, 1982), II, 437–41.
BASIC I.1, 341, 378, 468, 474, 531.
76 See Ḥassān,
Dīwān, I, 255, verse 6, and the discussion in BASIC II.1, 295 note 6.
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ma'muriyatiga murojaat qiling | <urn:uuid:3d8cbcab-5578-441c-8a9f-e1a953b22e95> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://fayllar.org/sixth-century.html?page=11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487621699.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20210616001810-20210616031810-00389.warc.gz | en | 0.941765 | 5,468 | 2.6875 | 3 | {
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When, in the year 400, Saint Jerome gave instructions for punctuating the Latin translation of the Bible that he had just completed, he spoke of divisions ‘per cola et commata’. ‘Commata’ is the plural of ‘comma’, and if the ‘cola’ or colons were the sections of Jerome’s sentences, the ‘commata’ or commas were its subsections. He wanted the Bible’s word to be made clear and unambiguous. He was less concerned with the reading of the text aloud, but instructions for regulating a reader’s breathing were, however, also a matter of colons and commas.
George Puttenham appears to be the first Englishman to use the words ‘comma’ and ‘colon’ as English words. He imported them from Latin, as the Romans had imported them from Greek. In 1592 in The Arte of English Poesie, Puttenham used ‘comma’ and ‘colon’ to mean measures of metrical pause - just as the Ancient Greeks had used them. For the Greeks, the comma was the shortest pause; the colon was twice as long. In music theory, a ‘comma’ still means a 'minute interval’.
Whether or not they intended their markings to be taken as breathings or parsings, the monks in the centuries succeeding Jerome worked towards ever more efficient ways of presenting their texts. They eventually found that dots were the best punctuation marks for a manuscript, the colon appearing as a dot after a word and the comma as a dot over a word. But the raised dot was not the only way that the monks had of marking their commata. In many manuscripts, the comma appears as a stroke or a slash, a punctuation mark that was given the name ‘virgula’ – a twig, a virgule.
When William Caxton set up his printing press in Westminster in 1476, he chose the virgule, the slash, as his comma sign, very probably because placing a virgule after a word was easier for a printer than placing dot over a word. However, for the next generation of printers, the slash was not an elegant solution. It interrupted the text, and it looked ugly.
In the 1490s, Aldus Manutius of Venice considered the comma question. The full stop had already arrived as the mark to end a sentence so a comma could not simply be a dot on the line, but, by the addition of a tail, Aldus gave the world a punctuation mark that the world has seen fit to keep. Aldus’s comma, sometimes called the ‘semicircular comma’, was a flexible and useful shape.
Venice was recognized as producing the finest printed books in the world and Manutius was recognised as the best printer in Venice. Like his semicolon, his comma gradually spread north from printing shop to printing shop through Paris and then to London. In the 1520s, English printers began to replace the virgule with the comma. For a time, books were printed that mixed commas and virgules on the same page, but the virgule was gradually abandoned as a marker of clauses and phrases. (That left a punctuation mark in need of a job, but not for long; plenty of work would be found for the virgule/slash.)
Today Manutius’s comma appears in various font forms, but it is everywhere in the Western world the sign used to make minor breaks in a text. Less universal are the conventions governing where those breaks should be made. In total there are thirty-nine pages of comma advice in Oxford University Press’s New Hart’s Rules, Cambridge University Press’s Copy-Editing, the American Modern Language Association’s Handbook, and the Chicago University Press’s Manual of Style gives fourteen. All that advice is largely overlapping but not entirely. All is not well with the comma.
A ‘comma-counter’ in American slang is ‘a pedantic person; a pedantic copy editor’, and commas are not widely liked. Mocking remarks made by writers who have no respect for the comma are common. Gertrude Stein said, ‘a comma does nothing but make easy a thing that if you like it enough is easy enough without the comma.’ Lawyers are even more commaphobic than writers. Million-pound lawsuits are periodically fought over commas, and comma placing can have such expensive results that some lawyers protect themselves by stating up front: ‘The headings and punctuation in this agreement are for convenience only and shall be ignored in its interpretation.’
The most august comma dispute involves the Constitution of the United States. Though no one would change a word in the document, printers have felt free over the years to move its commas about. The Constitution’s Second Amendment says, ‘A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.’ Some justices maintain that the wording before the second comma is superfluous. The meaning of the amendment, they say, is contained in the sentence: ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed’. That reading allows every American to carry a gun.
In addition to the arguments raised by its first two commas, the third comma in the Second Amendment raises eyebrows in the twenty-first century. It looks as if it has violated one of the few things on which all the stylebooks are agreed: commas should not break sentences. However, in the eighteenth century, it was not uncommon for a comma to separate subject and predicate. What was good punctuation then is bad indeed now.
More helpful than Gertrude Stein’s mockery and contract lawyers’ caution is Mary Norris’s comma love. Norris joined The New Yorker in 1978, and it took fifteen years for her to rise to the rank of ‘a page O.K.’er - a position that exists only at The New Yorker, where you query proofread pieces and manage them, with the editor, the author, a fact checker, and a second proofreader, until they go to press.’
‘Commas, like nuns, often travel in pairs,’ Mary Norris says. Paired commas serve to subordinate lesser materials and to throw into relief the main subject and predicate of a well-punctuated sentence. To get the full benefit of the idea represented by Norris’s nuns, it is helpful to remember that the ‘kommata’ of Ancient Greek texts were not punctuation marks. They were clauses and phrases. Clauses and phrases can run from the beginning of a sentence to a comma and from a comma to the end of a sentence. The single commas that define initial and terminal clauses and phrases might appear to be travelling alone but they are nun-like; they can form a pair with a capital letter that begins a sentence or a full stop that ends it. With that idea in mind, several kinds of comma can be identified:
adverbial commas: ‘However, I’ll say no more.’
appositive commas: ‘The English Project, an educational charity, does fine work.’
clausal commas: ‘The audience, while I was talking, began looking around.’
phrasal commas: ‘The man, on the platform, had a flushed face.’
quotational commas: ‘Don’t’, he said, ‘say such things.’
salutational commas: ‘Dear Sir,’.
vocative commas: ‘I’m of a mind, Mary, to call it a day’.
As well as coming in pairs, commas come in singles and in multiples, providing useful guides to the eye and pointers to meanings, guides and pointers that greatly speed reading:
conjunctional commas: ‘I rode to the top of the hill, and I rode down again.’
elliptical commas: ‘In Surrey, there are two universities; in Hampshire, four.’
Oxford commas: ‘red, green, blue, and orange spots’.
list commas: ‘red, green, blue and orange spots’.
The Oxford comma is so called because, for over a century, Oxford University Press has required its proofreaders to insert a comma before the ‘and’ introducing the final item in a string of adjectives. (Oxford calls it a serial comma; in America, it is also called the Harvard comma.) The Oxford/Harvard comma differs from the conjunctional comma because that comma with its conjunction comes between two sentences, and it can serve as the equivalent of a full stop. The conjunctional comma preserves the writer from constructions such as ‘I rode to the top of the hill, I rode down again.’ That comma, called a comma splice, is something all the manuals warn against.
Single commas are also used when names are reversed in lists and in indexes. The comma goes between the family name and the given name, so ‘Smith, John’. Single commas are used in dates when the month comes before the day, a format favoured in the United States, so ‘July 4, 1776’. Single commas are used in numbers to demarcate thousands, as in ‘1,000’. That comma is, however, never used in a date, so ‘1776’.
In much of Continental Europe, the comma serves as the decimal marker because the French had early on elected to use the point to make the reading of Roman numbers easier. However, Continental uses of the comma are only indirectly related to English-language punctuation. In the same way, the many uses of the comma in the languages of mathematics and computing that are not part of English-language punctuation. However, one software comma might be mentioned. Serial commas are used as separators in word lists, and they are also used as separators in some email address lists. Usually, semicolons play that role, but some deep digging in Microsoft Outlook’s menus offers a comma separator option. Comma separators are so used in several other email applications.
From Ancient Greek verse to modern-day software, the comma has a long and varied history, and, by giving the comma its modern form, Aldus Manutius provided the world with a highly distinctive shape. That shape gives the comma butterfly its name because of the comma-shaped marks on the underside of its wings. The comma bacillus gets its name because of the curved shape of the bacterium that spreads cholera. The comma can be beautiful, and it can be deadly.
Next Month’s Punctuation Mark: In May, the English Project will tell the story of the slash.
Adams, Kenneth A, Drafting Without Punctuation? Adams Drafting, www.adamsdrafting.com, 2015.
Barker, Nicolas, Aldus Manutius and the Development of Greek Script and Type in the Fifteenth Century. New York: Fordham University Press, 1992, pages 111-16.
Bullough, D. A, Alcuin [Albinus, Flaccus] (c.740–804), Abbot of St Martin's, Tours, and Royal Adviser. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Butcher, Janet, Copy-Editing: The Cambridge Handbook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993, pages 156-57 and passim.
Chauvier, J. H. A, Treatise on Punctuation. Translated from the French by J. B. Huntington. London: Simpkin, Marshall & Company, 1849, pages 2-3, 17-18, 26, 60.
Cook, Vivian, Frequencies of Punctuation Marks. Punctuation. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.
Freedman, Adam, Clause and Effect. New York Times (16 December 2007): www.nytimes.com.
Gibaldi, Joseph, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: The Modern Language Association, 1999, pages 51-56;
Guberman, Ross, Million Dollar Commas. Legal Writing Pro (2007): www.legalwritingpro.com.
Heyward, Anna, Ugly, Ugly as a Tick on a Dog's Belly. Meanjin (27 December 2014): http://meanjin.com.au/articles.
Latham, Alison, ed., Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, page 40.
Lucas, Bill, and Mulvey, Christopher. The History of the English Language in 100 Places. London: Robert Hale, 2013, pages 81-83.
Manguel, Alberto, A History of Reading. New York: Viking, 1996, pages 53-56.
Norris, Mary, Holy Writ: Learning to Love the House style. Extract from "Confessions of a Comma Queen.” The New Yorker (23 February 2015): www.newyorker.com.
Norris, Mary, Quotes. Good Reads. www.goodreads.com.
Norris, Mary, Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen. New York : W.W. Norton and Company, 2015.
Oxford University Press, New Hart’s Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pages 67-72, 72-73, 125.
Parkes, Malcolm Beckwith, Pause and Effect: An Introduction to the History of Punctuation in the West. Farnham: Ashgate, 1992, pages 4, 30, 36, 49, 51.
Saenger, Paul, Space Between Words: The Origins of Silent Reading. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000, pages 16-17, 24.
Spears, Richard A, McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Stein, Gertrude, Punctuation In Prose. About Education. http://grammar.about.com. Stein’s lecture was first published in Lectures in America (New York: Random House, 1935).
University of Chicago Press Staff, The Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010, pages 311-24. | <urn:uuid:1fab7bf9-ffc8-4926-b8c5-fa5293f42574> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://www.englishproject.org/april-and-comma | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589237.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20180716080356-20180716100356-00592.warc.gz | en | 0.93141 | 3,116 | 3.734375 | 4 | {
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Cooperatives and Producers Organizations
Cooperatives are autonomous, membership-based organizations. They are based on principles of non-discrimination and provide a range of services for their members, including market opportunities, and empower all their members - women, men and youth. They represent a unique model of socially minded enterprise. Agricultural and food cooperatives are important vehicles for reducing poverty and generating employment, and therefore contribute to socio-economic development and, ultimately, food security.
Cooperatives provide a range of services to their members, particularly access to productive inputs, output markets, information and communication. They also allow their members to obtain access to and natural resources and to have a voice in decision-making processes that influence policies.
Agricultural and food cooperatives represent a significant portion of the global cooperative sector in developed and developing countries; 30 percent of the 300 largest cooperatives are found in the agriculture sector. These can assume a variety of forms, from small, grassroots associations to unions, federations and chambers of agriculture. Worldwide, cooperatives have more than 1 billion members, a large proportion of which are in the agriculture sector.
In Brazil, 37 percent of agricultural GDP is produced through cooperatives; in Egypt, 4 million farmers earn their income through cooperative membership; in Ethiopia the equivalent figure is 900 000; and in India, 16.5 million litres of milk are collected every day from 12 million farmers in dairy cooperatives. In Europe, agricultural cooperatives have an overall market share of about 60 percent of the processing and marketing of agricultural commodities and about 50 percent of the supply of inputs.
Cooperatives are able to thrive and act as a vehicle for inclusion and market integration for their members only if they are empowered and have an appropriate enabling environment. They need sound policies, economic incentives, a conducive regulatory and legal framework and participatory frameworks that enable them to consult and engage in dialogue with various stakeholders, particularly decision-makers.
FAO is the lead agency ensuring that agriculture cooperatives are recognized and remain in the international agenda. FAO encourages member governments to establish enabling environments conducive to improving small producers’ livelihoods. This includes: conducive policies, transparent legal frameworks and economic incentives as well as the development of consultation frameworks for policy-related dialogues between governments and various stakeholders including producer organizations and cooperatives. These consultation frameworks aim to ensure the representation and voice of POs and cooperatives in decision making processes.
The International Year of Cooperatives
The Director General of FAO, José Graziano da Silva, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with agricultural cooperatives and producer organizations, calling the world’s attention by proclaiming ‘Agricultural cooperatives - key to feeding the world’ as the theme of the 2012 World Food Day, which was observed in over 150 countries. In the context of the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), FAO joined forces with the other Rome-based agencies – the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) and other United Nations (UN) entities to promote and build awareness and understanding of the role of agricultural and food cooperatives in employment generation, poverty alleviation and improved food security. | <urn:uuid:8c6a9778-ae28-4cfe-b3c4-d4b9d056057a> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://www.fao.org/partnerships/cooperatives/en/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398447729.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205407-00156-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941784 | 673 | 3.28125 | 3 | {
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Make a robotic fin for powering a small boat. The finished assembly should be battery driven and clamp on like a normal trolling engine. Desired power output is ½ to 4 hp.
Fish, whales and sharks beat their tails to move. Fish also use their smaller fins, but that's outside the scope of the project.
There's a company that makes a flapping pair of fins for pedal-powered kayaks called Hobie Mirage - this variation will probably not be tried.
The idea has been researched - the academic name for the device is 'oscillating foil'.
In papers it's been calculated, first by aerodynamic formulae (Bernoulli's theorem etc.), and later with finite element analysis. The conclusion is that hydrodynamically, this device can be slightly more efficient than a propeller (in theory).
I have skimmed a couple of papers on the subject, but sadly the newest ones aren't freely available.
It seems that the academic view of this device is a flat, hydrodynamic shape (like a wing, only symmetric) attached in the front and in the middle. It is then moved from side to side in the front, and then the middle attachment is used to create the 'bashing' action that pushes the water.
This seems mechanically complex, so instead I will make a flexible tail and only attach an actuator one or two places along its length.
The tail should have different flexibility different places. The rearmost part should be very flexible for best efficiency.
The mathematics is complex, but the principle simple, so trial and error will be the way to go.
First create one or more prototypes. The full-scale model can't be tested before spring 2011 anyway :)
A computer is needed for control anyway, so make it run and collect data for various settings. Maybe use fuzzy logic, neural networks or genetic algorithm for optimizing.
An arduino will do nicely in the beginning. Later, more processing power may be needed.
I should use a modular design so I can swap parts for different sizes, shape and flexibility.
There are two options. Either make a huge slow-moving horizontal tail (whale type) or one or more vertical tails (shark or tuna).
First attempt will be with a tuna tail prototype and later probably two tails side by side. That way they can cancel out the lateral movement hopefully.
An example of something like this is MIT's Proteus Penguin Boat
Obviously, servos can be used, but I am thinking about using solenoids. Basically the idea is to attach an iron rod to the fin, and then make the iron rod move in and out of a coil on each side. Don't know if it'll work.
Electroactive wire seems interesting, but doesn't seem to have enough movement. Also, it might not be as efficient as a solenoid. Time will tell.
This is a single shark's tail made from polyethylene sandwiched together in places to create varying stiffness.
2010 11 06
Tried using a long (8.5cm) solenoid with ~300 turns of 0.5mm copper wire for pulling a 5mm steel rod.
- steel has far worse permeability than iron, so less power.
- A solenoid actuator only pulls the steel rod until the end is flush with the solenoid end. Multiple solenoids in series might be a good idea.
[http://people.virginia.edu/~zc7u/paper/TMECH09.pdf NEW! Article about calculating a fish fin. Very detailed. (WARNING: PDF)
Robotic-fish.net community (last post seems to be from 2009 or so :-/) | <urn:uuid:678f75c3-755a-40b9-a452-6ca03466e425> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | https://labitat.dk/wiki/Robotic_Fin | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257826759.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071026-00297-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910664 | 775 | 3.15625 | 3 | {
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June 17: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) is observed every year on June 17 across to world to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The day aims to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels. The 2018 Theme of WDCDD is “Land has true value – invest in it.” It urges to move away from unsustainable land use and make a difference by investing in the future of land. The global observance of WDCD2018 was hosted by Government of Ecuador.
Desertification is degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. It does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of world‘s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had designated June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in 1994 through resolution A/RES/49/115. It was observed for the first time in 1995. The date marks adaptation of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) by UNGA in 1994. The day is observed globally to promote public awareness on the issue, and implementation of UNCCD in those countries experiencing serious desertification or drought, particularly in Africa.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
UNCCD was adopted in June 17, 1994 and entered into force 1996. It is only legally binding international agreement to address problem of desertification and other land issues. It seeks to address desertification and land issues specifically arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as drylands.
The convention promotes good land stewardship and its end goal is to protect land from over-use and drought, so it can continue to provide food, water and energy. Its 195 parties work together to improve living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
UNCCD is particularly committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. Its secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around technology and knowledge transfer for sustainable land management.
UNCCD collaborates closely with other two Rio Conventions, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and United UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected to meet these complex challenges with integrated approach. | <urn:uuid:6d8d5ce8-795d-4fed-8d3a-df1578f8c6ad> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | https://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/june-17-world-day-combat-desertification-drought-2-06201856219.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583513441.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20181020205254-20181020230754-00429.warc.gz | en | 0.940405 | 590 | 3.6875 | 4 | {
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I remember the celebration of the first “Earth Day” in the United States. It was April 22, 1970, founded by then U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. I recall how moved I was driving to work down a lovely then-country, now urbanized, road. I was inspired by the beauty of that day: sparkling, crystal-clear Ceylon sapphire blue skies—no chemtrails!; powder pink flowering ornamental trees along the way; daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs all showing off their grandeur, not to mention the ‘acid’ yellow of wild buttercups carpeting just about every bare spot along the way. By the time I got to work, I had written a poem in my head, which was published in the corporate newsletter. Everyone loved it; I wish I could find it to share with readers, as it seemed to be prophetic about what pollution can do.
Back then we didn’t have:
- Shale gas fracking, which apparently contaminates individual homeowners’ wells and their faucet water that can alight and catch fire as demonstrated here https://youtu.be/4LBjSXWQRV8?.
- GMO farming and crop agriculture, which use glyphosate (Roundup®) even as a pre-harvest crop desiccant, or another similar herbicide, glufosinate, like they are water.
- Chemtrails, those trails laid down by airplanes that spread out to blanket the sky to prevent sunlight from reaching the earth and which rain down all sorts of toxic chemicals, including aluminum chaff and elements found analyses: Open air Chemtrail spraying operations are now live in California (all 50 states and all NATO countries). Independent analysis of chemtrail fallout has identified many toxic chemicals including;
Aluminum Oxide Particles, Arsenic, Bacilli and Molds, Barium Salts, Barium Titanates, Cadmium, Calcium, Chromium, Desiccated Human Red Blood Cells, Ethylene Dibromide, Enterobacter Cloacal, Enterobacteriaceae, Human white Blood Cells-A (restrictor enzyme used in research labs to snip and combine DNA), Lead, Mercury, Methyl Aluminum, Mold Spores, Mycoplasma, Nano-Aluminum-Coated Fiberglass, Nitrogen Trifluoride Known as CHAFF), Nickel, Polymer Fibers, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Pseudomonas Florescens, Radioactive Cesium, Radio Active Thorium, Selenium, Serratia Marcscens, Sharp Titanium Shards, Silver, Streptomyces, Stronthium, Sub-Micron Particles (Containing Live Biological Matter), Unidentified Bacteria, Uranium, Yellow Fungal Mycotoxins .
- Toxic, mercury-laden light bulbs—those curlicue bulbs called CFLs which, when broken create a toxic or ‘hazmat’ [4-5] area that has to be treated as such .
- High-tech industry “uses thousands of chemicals and is one of the “most chemical-intensive industries ever conceived.” “Workers are exposed to corrosive chlorinated substances, photoactive chemicals, chemical strippers, etchants, toxic gases, a variety of acids, solvents, heavy metals, plastics and plastic additives such as isaproponal, acetone, methanol, glycol ethers, xylene, and a host of toxic elements and compounds such as antimony, arsenic, boron, phosphorous and fluoride.11”
Have you ever thought about all the toxins in your ‘smart’ appliances and gadgets which cause pollution during manufacturing, plus possible gas out or burn off on your end during handling and use?
- All the chemicals used in plastics manufacturing and clothing chemicals, especially during the manufacturer of rayon (made from wood/cellulose) and “eleven fabrics are synthesized solely from chemical compounds. They are nylon, polyester, acrylic, modacrylic, olefin, spandex, anidex, saran, vinal, vinyon, and nytril.” Have you realized how toxic your clothing can be? Do you pre-wash to eliminate most of the ‘sizing’ or finishing chemicals, which often contain formaldehyde, before wearing or placing new clothing on infants and children? Clue: those chemicals smell like perfume in most instances.
There are many more examples that I can cite since high tech and corporate manufacturers now may use toxic chemicals just about any which-way they want in the manufacturer of products. Those manufacturing processes cause pollution which affects ground water, the air we breathe, and the soil in which our food is grown. Ever think of that?
Here is the official EPA Superfund Site listing for all fifty U.S. states and territories. Scrolling through your state, you may be surprised to learn how close you live to one, especially if you have a well; municipally-provided water may not be that safe either, especially when fluoride is added.
April 22nd is the annual “Earth Day” celebration. Hopefully, this information brings thoughts about how to reduce much of the intentional pollution that’s being driven by technology, corporate endeavors, and an unfortunate ignorance due to consumerism.
11. Joseph LaDou and Timothy Rohm, “The International Electronics Industry,” International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health 4 (1) (January-March 1998).
Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.
Catherine’s latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Don’t Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com.
Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective & Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook.
Two of Catherine’s more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into What’s Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008)
Catherine’s NEW book: Eat To Beat Disease, Foods Medicinal Qualities ©2016 Catherine J Frompovich is now available
Image Credit: Pixabay.com | <urn:uuid:b209f51b-797e-47d6-806f-3fc47b8f1c17> | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | https://www.activistpost.com/2017/03/toxically-polluted-state.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ActivistPost+%28Activist+Post%29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141735395.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20201204071014-20201204101014-00413.warc.gz | en | 0.908553 | 1,456 | 2.53125 | 3 | {
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Devices, apps, robots, and all the pieces else that makes technology essential to your modern life. The advent of the Internet, cloud computing, and excessive bandwidth information transmission enables programs and data to be distributed over a community quickly and efficiently, whereas utility applications and software program make computers the tools of alternative for such things as phrase processing , databases , spreadsheets , shows, ERP (enterprise resource planning), simulations, schooling, CMS (content management techniques), gaming and engineering.
These are key parts in the Grasp in Administration programme, with all current faculty college students coming collectively to study from the internationality of each the courses and their fellow individuals. is highly enticing the shoppers and the professionals related to the Apple products who’re fascinated in the newest Apple technologies and merchandise. Students might have the possibility to make use of knowledge gained from the diploma programme in an actual world setting.
A computer is a programmable gadget that may retailer, retrieve, and course of knowledge The time period computer†was originally given to people (human computers) who performed numerical calculations utilizing mechanical calculators, such as the abacus and slide rule The time interval was later given to a mechanical system as they began altering the human computers.
Our packages are personalized to offer you each the core knowledge that you simply need plus the exact packages you want. Protecting SaaS information, cloud computing jobs, virtualization technique, cloud apps and enterprise IT, personal and public cloud, system safety, cloud apps, CRM and cloud communications, Cloud Tech supplies the most recent insight that permits CIOs to make knowledgeable decisions about IT technique.
Pengetahuan ini membantu Anda untuk mengutamakan jenis media promoting mana yang menghabiskan banyak waktu dan yang lebih efisien, berdasarkan jumlah orang yang menggunakan media tersebut untuk ke halaman situs Anda. That’s particularly important for many who plan to make use of your PC for gaming or graphic and video design, as the latest software program tends to require highly effective system specs.
What Essential Software program Do You Install On A New Computer?
The Computer Technology (CT) program has been developed to supply teaching throughout the ideas underlying the design of latest computer methods. IT professionals are concerned with designing, rising, supporting and managing computer software program, computer hardware in addition to info networks, along with the Web. They cultivate Future Techniques, a state through which companies adopt advanced, interconnected dwelling programs of technologies, purposes and people. Trend owns a set of software merchandise, implements readymade applications, innovates tailor-made choices, and outsource IT consultants.
It is not just the fee: Many startups face the fixed risk of a blackout immediately wiping out necessary digital work, interrupting important software updates, merely losing staff’ time or forcing them to work with out air-con in the sweltering Lagos heat. Additionally, you will receive a complimentary subscription to the ZDNet’s Tech Update Right this moment and ZDNet Announcement newsletters.
In case you’re a webmaster, WEB OPTIMIZATION or work in Internet marketing you notice that Google launched an enhance to its search algorithm simply lately that improves the visibility of mobile optimized content materials throughout the agency’s search engine. It has an incredible array of dazzling movies concerning the latest technology including numerous functions, software program, design, and many others.
Extra Advantageous-tuning Devices: Update your weblog publish and categorize it (you’ll be able to analysis more about WordPress courses and tags right here ). Beginning out with WordPress not solely gives you that ownership that’s so lacking with Blogger, but furthermore models you on a basis which you’ll merely construct on if the scenario requires it. Turner says the very best three web site visitors drivers for his web site are, in descending order, criticism of the BBC’s political safety, posts highlighting hypocritical actions by senior Conservative politicians (if you write about some gaffe they’ve completed it’s absolute goldâ€), and exposés of individuals all by the Labour social gathering working to undermine Corbyn’s administration by means of the media.
Programs in program languages, computer networks and arithmetic give students the technical information they require, whereas lessons in problem fixing and digital rules present a deeper understanding and a basis for creativity within the self-discipline. They’re valued for main a powerful and comprehensive college educational technology program which offers tools, sources, and content that promote important thinking, downside fixing, and information and communications literacy while additionally making content participating, related, and meaningful to students.
Illinois Computer Science
Every thing that it is advisable to know to start out your private enterprise. They only observe the instructions of their software program programs. Devices and strategiesThe majority of respondents moreover have not embraced devices that will assist them handle and grasp digital promoting’â€software as soon as reserved for enterprise firms that’s now extensively out there for small businesses. The cloud,’ with its potential to ship digital power at low price and in small increments, isn’t solely altering the profile of company IT departments but as well as helping to spawn a spread of latest business models by shifting the economics of rent versus purchase’ commerce-offs for corporations and consumers.
By means of fastidiously discounted pupil prices, Highway & Smith’s Sports activities activities Group, School & College Program provides school students the chance to develop a broader understanding of the sports industry by learning every Sports activities activities actions Enterprise Journal and Sports activities actions Enterprise Each day. Complicated computers include the means for storing knowledge (including the program, which can be a form of data) for some essential period.
Different topics she discussed within the slide deck embrace cyber security; the altering state of labor, along with on-demand and distant workers; the growth of on-line schooling; how web firms could enhance health care; and the importance of immigration to American know-how administration, saying 60 p.c of the top 25 tech firms by values had a first- or second-technology founder or co-founder.
At this age of up to date technology where new devices and digital apps are developed or created on daily basis, tech websites and blogs are available in helpful.Internet customers would know these new technologies through studying blogs. Computer Science Technology is a 3-12 months program that prepares college students to work as entry-level software builders in small, medium or huge enterprises.
Nonetheless should you put throughout the work and market your self, chances are you’ll as nicely make a residing working your personal on-line business from residence. Probably the most exciting rising travel technology trends is the Web of Things (IoT), which entails internet-based mostly inter-connectivity between on a regular basis gadgets, permitting them to each ship and obtain knowledge. | <urn:uuid:72dce6a9-fd4b-4845-8885-096ef8358383> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://beznadegi.net/purchase-super-vivid-led-in-hong-kong-merchandise-store-hk-tremendous-vivid-led.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662530066.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20220519204127-20220519234127-00317.warc.gz | en | 0.903016 | 1,444 | 2.734375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.3978402614593506,
"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
How Does Tobacco Affect My Health?
Every year, we learn more about how devastating tobacco can be to the human body and how damaging secondhand smoke is to those around it. In fact, 28,600 adults in Florida die from smoking (443,000 deaths a year nationwide) every year. For every person who dies, another 20 suffer from one or more serious illnesses from smoking.
Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer death in the United States. Lung cancer is not the only type of cancer that can be caused by smoking. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, about 174,100 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use. Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body including cancers of the lung, mouth, nose, throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (wind pipe), esophagus, kidney, ureteral, bladder, cervical, bone marrow and blood.
Smokeless tobacco products have taken a backseat to smoking for decades, but are recently gaining ground in overall usage and use among young people. Smokeless tobacco includes chew, spit, dip, snuff, snus and a host of new dissolvable products. They are simply not a safe alternative to smoking and they can be as addictive as, or more addictive, than cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco causes many significant health problems, including several types of cancer. Smokeless users have an 80 percent higher risk of oral cancer and a 60 percent higher risk of pancreatic and esophageal cancer. Smokeless tobacco products can also increase the risk of a fatal heart attack and stroke.
In addition, there is no scientific evidence that using smokeless tobacco products can help a person quit smoking. Using smokeless tobacco can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.
How to Quit
Tobacco Free Florida knows quitting can be very hard, but it’s not impossible. In fact, there are more former smokers than current smokers in Florida. With the right help, resources, and the support to keep you going, Tobacco Free Florida can give you the best chance to quit for good.
For each person, overcoming nicotine addiction is different and we can help you choose a path to quitting that works for you. In fact, Tobacco Free Florida's quit services can double your chances of quitting any form of tobacco for good.
Tobacco Free Florida offers 3 Ways to Quit. For more information on these free and convenient resources, visit Tobacco Free Florida.
Talk to a Quit Coach® who can help you quit tobacco.
Online help quitting tobacco is only a few clicks away.
Looking for local face-to-face help? Find classes near you.
For more information on how tobacco use affects your body and how you can quit, visit www.TobaccoFreeFlorida.com | <urn:uuid:a7515c3b-81c9-4e50-bef8-1108f1c5b094> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/tobacco-free-florida/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609527423.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005207-00482-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932355 | 573 | 2.78125 | 3 | {
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A torque motor is a direct-drive electric motor — usually of relatively large diameter — that applies torque to a driven shaft directly without intervening mechanics. Torque motors usually have higher pole-counts and run at lower speeds than servo motors – but they deliver much higher torque than standard servo motors. Some in industry liken torque motors to their linear direct-drive cousins — linear motors, which are sometimes called force motors. Some torque motors called limited-angle torque motors are for applications needing less than 360° of rotation.
Again — because the load connects directly to the motor’s rotor (with no intermediate power-transmission components) torque motors are called direct drives. So torque motors can work as actuators for direct-drive mechanisms to replace traditional setups that include geared electric motors, for example.
Usually torque motors take the form of permanent-magnet synchronous motors with especially wide diameters; toroidal winding construction; rare-earth magnet rotors; and (in some cases) cooling options to prevent overheating during high sustained torque output. Conceptually, these motors are like traditional servomotors except they are wide with short axial length (instead of the small diameter and long length of traditional arrangements) and they have far more poles than servomotors. The high pole numbers enable torque motors to output high torque but at lower average speeds than servo motors. In addition, torque motors usually offer a large hollow shaft or bore that allows passage of tubing, light beams, and so forth through the center of the motor and driven axis.
One torque-motor application is on web-winding applications that benefit from direct drives on the spools for controlled take-up and unwinding. Controls drive them from low torque to high torque in order to achieve uniform metering of the paper, film, or other web material without the need for intermediate gears, couplings, or clutches.
Another common application for torque motors is on indexers and rotary tables. Why is that? Well, many indexing tables make use of traditional servodrives that incorporate mechanical power-transmission linkages and powertrains paired with low-inertia servomotors and high-resolution feedback. But the catch here is that some high-speed indexers and especially precision rotary tables cannot be accurately and quickly indexed or positioned with good stability when there is “lost motion” from mechanical gearing and coupling in the loop. Here, direct-drive torque motors can output high peak torque to position quickly without any lost motion to worry about. Plus the high-resolution feedback device is mounted with the motor directly on the driven shaft — which eliminates a source of loop instability.
In a lot of cases, torque motors come as frameless motors. That because these direct drives often go into specialty machine builds where the motor can be designed right into the machine, which eliminates the need to accommodate motor housings, bearings, feedback or gearing and coupling. Frameless torque motors let OEM engineers pick components and tailor motor characteristics to optimize the overall design for specific performance.
In contrast with traditional drive sizing and specification, the selection of torque motors isn’t based on power but rather torque. Peak torque is the motor’s maximum torque possible for short periods; continuous torque is the torque the motor can supply indefinitely as long as its mounting is correct for proper cooling. Application duty cycle dictates the levels of peak and continuous torque needed to affect the overall motion design goals. Visit motioncontroltips.com/category/integrated-motion-systems/rotary-tables for more on one common application for torque motors — that of direct-drive rotary tables. | <urn:uuid:35b661be-5a89-4d86-99ef-ab3fca55900e> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.motioncontroltips.com/torque-motors-basics-video-construction-variations-sizing-selection-approaches/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370515113.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20200403154746-20200403184746-00292.warc.gz | en | 0.917924 | 751 | 3.5 | 4 | {
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} | Science & Tech. |
Although most types of Zoysia grass are not native to Australia, the turf variety is becoming a popular lawn choice among many Aussies. So, if you’re one of them and want to know more about the maintenance and care of your Zoysia turf, read on.
In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn about the main Zoysia species and cultivars, the conditions they prefer, as well as gain additional knowledge on planting, watering, mowing and other lawn care issues.
Zoysia grass – knowledge facts
Zoysia is a genus of creeping grasses in Australasia.
- Scientific name: Zoysia
- Family: Grasses (Poaceae)
- Subfamily: Chloridoideae
- Tribe: Zoysieae
- Genus: Zoysia
Most of Zoysia grass varieties can tolerate prolonged periods of drought. They generally thrive well in the warmer months of temperate climates, in sub-tropical regions and areas with below average rainfall.
Types of Zoysia grass
There are several main species of Zoysia grass and many hybrid cultivars. We’ll explore some of the most popular ones below.
The main species of Zoysia grass are:
- Zoysia Tenuifolia
Z. Tenuifolia is a type of Mascarene grass with a fine bright green leaf. This type is typically grown as ornamental grass and it is not а popular choice when it comes to regular lawns. It grows very slowly, that’s why it is also known as “No-Mow-Grass”. The turf may have a clumpy appearance and in Australia, it is often grown as a ground cover and in parts of homeowners’ yards or public greens, which are not in daily use (ex: roundabouts, verges, slopes and strips). This grass is drought-tolerant and requires little to no lawn care (can be mowed twice a year).
- Zoysia Japonica
Z. Japonica loves humid environments like marine and transition zones but it can grow in certain cool temperate climates, as well. It’s the only Zoysia species that can be seeded. Still, germination is slow, so planting is usually done from plugs or sods. This type of species has a rather coarse texture, as it grows in stiff vertical blades. In Australia, Z. Japonica can be found along the northeastern coast. It is known under the names Korean lawn grass and Japanese lawn grass.
- Zoysia Matrella
It’s a warm-loving type of Zoysia, which forms velvet green, lush mats. It establishes slowly in sandy soils. It suits coastal areas in temperate climates. It has been grown initially as an ornamental grass. However, Z. Matrella can form a beautiful turf and it’s often used for golf courses. Furthermore, the grass has its uses in agriculture (ex: for grazing animal stocks). It controls well erosion and forms fine lawns in coastal regions, due to its high tolerance to salinity. Z. Martella is also known as Manila grass.
- Zoysia Macrantha
It forms fine-textured lawn in coastal regions and is sometimes called dune couch. The species is less shade-tolerant than Z. Matrella and Z. Japonica, so it prefers to grow in full sun. Salinity and short-term waterlogging do not pose huge problems to Macrantha grass.
Zoysia turf cultivars and varieties
From the above mentioned main species, various hybrids have been created. Let’s see what of these are grown in regions across Australia.
- Zoysia Empire (Japonica hybrid)
It has a dark-green, medium-width and relatively fine leaf. The grass thrives in extremely hot and humid climates. It’s wear-tolerant, as well. Characteristically, it maintains a good winter colour and “fights back” weeds, once established. Empire lawn requires less watering and mowing.
- Zoysia Emerald
With its thin-bladed leaf, this Zoysia variety forms fine-textured, lush lawns. A hybrid between Z. Japonica and Z. Tenuifolia, it is a drought- and shade-tolerant cultivar. Still, this type of Zoysia thrives fine in humid conditions, as well. The grass grows slowly and turfs often have a dense appearance. Emerald lawns don’t do well in frost and if over fertilised.
- Compadre Zoysia
The cultivar is a Japonica hybrid that can be grown from seed. It loves warm environments and can be found on the West and East coast of the country. It grows more slowly than Empire grass, for instance.
- Zoysia Nara
It’s known as Nara native turf (Macrantha cultivar), as it’s been bread in Australia. It grows slightly faster than other Zoysia varieties. Still, it is categorised as low maintenance and tolerates drought well. This Zoysia cultivar maintains its green colour even in very hot conditions. It requires little fertilising.
- Zenith Zoysia
A hybrid grass with medium-width, dark-green leaf. The variety tolerates shade well in warm climates. Zoysia Zenith withstands drought stress and winter temperatures better than Emerald, for instance. It grows faster from seeds than from plugs, as well.
Zoysia lawn maintenance
Each type of Zoysia grass comes with its specific characteristics, with respect to lawn maintenance requirements. So, in this post, we will cover the general aspects of Zoysia lawn care, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of having Zoysia turf in your garden.
Most Zoysia types of turfs are best grown from sprigs, plugs or sod, with the latter being naturally the priciest manner of establishing a lawn. Some cultivars can be grown from seeds, too, such as Zenith and Compadre. Zoysia grass is best planted in the warm months – spring, early summer and autumn.
Planting Zoysia at the wrong time of the year will lead to various problems. It will struggle to establish if it’s too hot. In cooler temperatures, sod won’t root properly, whereas the slow growth of plugs and seeded grass will allow weeds to take over, leaving you with lawn recovery issues in the spring.
Zoysia grass can be considered hardy, wear- and drought-tolerant, so in that sense, it requires very little watering. It thrives best if a deep watering method is used for irrigation instead of frequent shallow watering. About 40 ml of water per week is usually sufficient for Zoysia turf to look green and healthy, be it from rainfall or supplemental watering. In winter, usually, hardly any irrigation is required.
Depending on its variety, Zoysia grass will grow in well-drained soil with acidic to neutral pH. It doesn’t require frequent feeding. A slow-release fertiliser works fine in delivering the medium quantity of nitrogen Zoysia turfs need.
Most cultivars can be fed once or twice a year, according to the lawn’s level of use, traffic and susceptibility to wear. Note that Zoysia turf doesn’t react well to over fertilisation. It may change its colour and become yellow or brown. And considering its slow growth and the time it takes to repair itself, you’re advised to apply only light feeding to your Zoysia lawn.
You remember the “No-Mow-Lawn” variety that we’ve mentioned earlier in our post? Zoysia grass generally needs less frequent cuts in comparison to other types of grasses. It’s recommended that ⅓ of the blade is removed at one time every 10 days to 2 weeks.
Some varieties, like Nara, grow slightly faster than other Zoysias, so depending on the weather conditions and the time of the year, a weekly mowing may be required. Over the winter and in cooler regions, you can mow your Zoysia turf every 6 weeks.
Aerating and scarifying
Most Zoysia grasses form thick and dense mats, with some cultivars being more prone to thatch build-up than others. Experts advise to always check the thickness of any thatch formations on your Zoysia lawn before reaching for the scarifier. If thatch is less than ½ an inch thick, then dethatching is not required.
Instead, you can up the lawn mower’s setting and halve the fertilising to control thatch build-up. Scarifying your Zoysia lawn is best done in late spring to early summer when the grass is actively growing. To improve nutrient absorption and prevent thatch formation, aerate your turfed area in spring and autumn.
Zoysia grasses fight weeds successfully if the lawn is fully established and healthy. As most varieties have high shoot density, weeds find it hard to penetrate through the thick green Zoysia carpet. Proper care of your specific Zoysia turf will help the grass “choke out” any emerging weedings.
Still, there are various weed killing products that can be used on Zoysia lawns with moderation, if needs be.
Zoysia grasses generally boast a consistent winter colour, especially if grown in the warmer regions of Australia. For instance, most cultivars are not suited to the changeable weather and cooler winter conditions in Melbourne, possibly with the exception of Nara and Empire.
Cold weather turns Zoysia grass brown as it goes dormant. If you’re located in an area in the country, which is prone to frosty nights in the winter, you can fight the change of winter colour by fertilising your Zoysia lawn in the autumn.
Zoysia grass problems
People with Zoysia grass may encounter some problems, which are not necessarily related to pests and diseases. Over fertilisation and scalping are among the most common maintenance issues. These, when coupled with the grass’s relatively slow growth rate, make it harder for damaged areas to recover, regardless of what remedial measures you take.
In addition, older lawns are also susceptible to thatch build-up, which could compromise the overall health of your Zoysia turf.
The good news is that Zoysia grass varieties are quite resistant to pests. White grub (cockchafers) and several mites species are among the most problematic insect pests. White grub and the larvae of other beetles can be controlled with microbial insecticides to some extent.
As these pests feed on grassroots, make sure that you dethatch your lawn, first, before applying the pesticidal product. This way, the substance will reach deep down to the roots where it matters.
The biggest issue for Zoysia turfs is brown patch. It’s a fungal disease that occurs in humid and hot conditions. The affected areas can reach a few metres in diameter in wet summer periods. The grass turns brown and looks dry.
Depending on where you live, the problem usually sorts itself out once the wet period is over, with no actions, required on your part. What’s important to know is that the use of weed control and fertilising products should be avoided when the disease is present. The fungus feeds on such products.
If you live in a generally humid climate, then, you may need to resort to a fungicidal product, which is best used at the onset of the problem.
Other diseases that can affect Zoysia grass, subject to your location, are leaf spot and rust. The first one can be eliminated if you apply some extra fertiliser to your lawn and deep-water it at least once a week. These steps should alleviate leaf spot issues, as the problem occurs during dry weather conditions when days are too hot and nights are cool.
The rusty, powdery appearance of affected Zoysia grass is caused by a type of fungus that develops in cool, moist conditions. An appropriate fungicide should be applied to remedy rust disease problems.
So, let’s sum up what we’ve learnt today about Zoysia grass! We’d say that the most interesting takeaway is that Zoysia is a low to medium maintenance turf if grown in the right conditions. It suits most natural landscapes and adds an organic feel to your yard. With proper care and a good amount of patience, due to its slow growth rate, you can enjoy the velvet look of your vibrant green Zoysia turf almost all year round, if you live in the warmer areas of the continent.
We can even consider Zoysia an environmentally friendly type of grass. It requires little chemical application in comparison to other grass species, with regards to pest and disease control, weed management and fertilisation. Furthermore, Zoysia is a low water user, in terms of frequency of irrigation. And last but not least, as it grows slowly, less mowing and edging is required. This results in a reduced carbon footprint that petrol-fueled and electrical gardening equipment generally contribute to.
One of the biggest shortcomings of Zoysia grass is the time it takes to establish. Also, if planted in the wrong place, with respect to regional climate and light exposure levels in your yard, Zoysia may not perform as well as expected. In addition, slow growth means slow recovery. So, it will take you longer to remedy any inadvertent maintenance errors. And considering that Zoysia grass is on the costly side, it’s always best to turn to the professionals if you’re unsure about any specific lawn care issues.
Do you have a Zoysia turf? Have you encountered any problems growing it? Then, don’t waste a minute and share your thoughts in the comments below. | <urn:uuid:89900fe1-36fe-44e9-a2fe-562aa3f8d2f0> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | https://blog.fantasticgardenersmelbourne.com.au/zoysia-grass/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376829429.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20181218143757-20181218165757-00284.warc.gz | en | 0.934752 | 2,930 | 2.78125 | 3 | {
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Seeds are included as one of the five basic Primal staples, namely vegetables, meat, seeds, nuts and fruits. Technically, nuts are seeds, but they are larger and denser. Nuts and seeds form a vital part of a healthy diet and both help you to cater to your recommended intake of protein each day and also the daily fat allowance.
Furthermore, seeds and nuts offer key essential nutrients and play a role in disease prevention by keeping you healthy as you age. Here are some edible seeds and nuts that are essential to be included in your diet –
These are commonly known as pepitas, slightly sweet flavoured seeds taste awesome with a sprinkle of sea salt. These are edible in raw state, but roasting makes it even nuttier. It is advised to apply very low heat while roasting as too much of it can oxidize the sensitive polyunsaturated fats; the commercial ones do not have the nutrients intact due to processing instead it is better to harvest them from the pumpkins you buy.
Originated from Africa and India, these tiny seeds are usually sprinkled on finished dishes like salads, stir fries, hummus etc. It has a distinctive flavour and too much of it in any dish can overpowering the food with its smell. It contains sesamin, a lignan with incredible health benefits.
These seeds are very popular and best known source for Vitamin E and antioxidants. Loaded with minerals like manganese and magnesium seeds, these are greyish green or black in colour. These have very high oil content and prime sources of polyunsaturated oil. They lower cholesterol and help your heart in numerous ways.
These nuts are known for its extensive health benefits as if taken on daily basis, they help to fight issues related to constipation, coughs, respiratory disorders, heart disorders, anaemia, impotency, and diabetes. Rich in iron, vitamin E, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium, these nuts can be eaten raw and also added in casseroles, salads, and other dishes.
One of the finest sources of vitamin E, energy, healthy fats, and selenium, these nuts are free from gluten protein. Thus, these nuts can be safely taken by people having food allergy and celiac disease. Brazil nut oil, extracted from these nuts has been used since ages in medicinal applications and also as emollient and massage oil.
This is a very lovable, delicately flavoured nut mainly used as between meal snacks and readily found in all local markets. It makes tasty nut butter and can change the flavour of salads and stir-fry dishes just by addition. These nuts have a lower fat content and 66% of this unsaturated fatty acid content is good for your heart. Cashews are also good for people with diabetes.
These are the prime types of edible seeds and nuts that are easily found and should be incorporated in daily diet. | <urn:uuid:c4c667b5-6d97-40ed-9715-ab74bac52063> | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | http://howmanycaloriescounter.com/various-types-of-edible-seeds-and-nuts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221215858.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20180820062343-20180820082343-00402.warc.gz | en | 0.963321 | 590 | 2.953125 | 3 | {
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Holidays like Valentine’s Day are perfect for reinforcing learning skills with activities, crafts, and games for kids. It is one of our favorite days of the year. Valentine’s Day is a time of love and reflection on our family relationships and friends.
We have 3 simple activities that you can do with your kids this Valentine’s Day to improve their learning skills and make the day that much more memorable.
1. What’s Missing: Valentine’s Game
This Valentine’s Day activity for kids is perfect for building visual memory and visual discrimination skills.
- Place different Valentine related items onto a tray.
This could be heart candies, lollipops, doilies, flowers, heart cookie cutters, an ace of hearts, candles, photos, etc.
- Have everyone look at the items for 1 minute.
- Cover up the tray with a sheet or pillowcase.
- Have the players write down all the items that they remember.
- Uncover the tray and have players notice any items they missed by reviewing their notes. Have players put their notes to the side.
- Cover the tray and have players close their eyes.
- Take one item away while all eyes are closed.
- Uncover the tray and have players guess what item is missing. This time, do not allow players to review their notes.
- Repeat this process of taking away items and having kids guess what is missing until nothing is left.
2. Missing Piece of My Heart: Valentine’s Activity
- First, draw 4 to 6 hearts on red construction paper.
- Next, cut out each heart.
- Then, cut each heart into two to three pieces. Make the cuts irregular so that no two hearts are the same.
- Mix the heart pieces up and lay them out on a table.
- Put the hearts back together.
This Valentine’s Day activity helps kids with visual closure, visual discrimination, and form constancy.
3. Valentine’s Day Card Crafting Activity
- Make a simple Valentine’s Day card with red, pink, and white construction paper.
- Choose one piece of paper as the base of your card and fold it in half.
- With a different color piece of construction paper, hole punch circles, or tear small pieces of paper.
- Layout the shape of a heart with the torn pieces of paper or circular shapes onto the base card.
- Glue the small circular holes or torn pieces of paper onto the card.
- Let your card dry.
- Write a message inside the card and give it to your favorite Valentine!
What are some of your favorite Valentine’s Day activities for kids? Let us know in the comments below.
We hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day this year!
Reading Program for Struggling Readers
Reading scores are below grade level nationwide.
66% of 4th-grade students are NOT proficient in reading.
69% of 8th-grade students are NOT proficient in reading.
– 2022 4th and 8th Grade Reading Scores (US NAEP)
Many elementary school students struggle with reading, which can be frustrating and discouraging for both the students and their parents.
At Scholar Within, we take a different approach from other programs and schools.
We address the root causes of why kids struggle with reading.
We do short activities that train your visual, auditory, and tactile-kinesthetic systems to work more efficiently.
Our program is both offline and online. We take the best of both worlds. If your child is struggling with reading, take a look at our self-paced, step-by-step reading program.
Who is Scholar Within?
Scholar Within was founded by learning expert Bonnie Terry, M. Ed., BCET. Bonnie began designing and developing her own custom educational tools when she started her private learning center in the 1990s. Soon, teachers began to ask what she was using with the kids who saw her. The teachers saw the dramatic improvements that the kids made in school. From there, Bonnie decided to make her materials available to teachers and families worldwide.
Now, Bonnie Terry has turned her materials into a full-service online program that you can follow step-by-step at home, on your schedule. School alone is not enough anymore. Bonnie’s programs boost your kid’s overall learning skills by focusing on improving the auditory, visual, and tactile processing areas of your brain to make it work more efficiently.
Learn more about Scholar Within’s: | <urn:uuid:4456bde6-c5c3-47f4-b002-bafac13f0158> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://scholarwithin.com/valentines-day-activities-for-kids | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100112.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20231129141108-20231129171108-00435.warc.gz | en | 0.922025 | 948 | 3.359375 | 3 | {
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A concave mirror is a mirror with a curved reflecting surface which is bulging inwards or curved inwards. It is also known as a converging mirror as this reflecting surface collects light incident on its surface, and reflects the parallel rays of light towards a common focus. It can be thought to have been made from the inside of a sphere which has been silvered on the inside. In this knowledge article, we shall get acquainted with some of the uses of concave mirror.
Image Credits: Byjus
There are two rules of reflection of light when it comes to concave mirrors. They are:
- Any incident ray traveling parallel to the principal axis on the way to the mirror will pass through the focal point upon reflection.
- Any incident ray passing through the focal point on the way to the mirror will travel parallel to the principal axis upon reflection.
- Any ray passing through the centre of curvature of the mirror will reflect back along its own path since the radius of a circle always hits the edge of the circle at 90 degrees – it hits it normally so the angle of incidence and reflection will both be zero.
Image Credits: Physics Classroom
Here, five incident rays along with their corresponding reflected rays, are drawn. Each ray intersects at the image location and then diverges to the eye of an observer.Every light ray would follow the law of reflection and every observer would observe the same image location. However, two of these rays are sufficient to determine the image location since only two rays are required to find the intersection point.
- When the object is at infinity, a real image is formed at the focus. The size of the image is smaller than the object.
- If the object is behind the center of curvature, a real image forms between the center of curvature and focus. The size of the image is smaller than the object.
- If the object is placed at the center of curvature and focus, at the center of curvature a real image is formed. The size of the image is same as that of the object.
- If the object is placed in between the center of curvature and focus, behind the centre of curvature, the real image is formed. The size of the image is smaller than that of the object.
- If the object is placed at the focus, the real image is formed at infinity. The size of the image is much larger when compared to the object.
- If the object is placed in between focus and pole, there is a formation of a virtual image. The size of the image is larger as compared to that of the object.
|Position of the Object||Position of the Image||Image size||Nature of Image|
|At infinity||At the focus||Highly diminished, point sized||Real and inverted|
|Beyond C||Between F and C||Diminished||Real and inverted|
|At C||At C||Same size||Real and inverted|
|Between C and F||Beyond C||Enlarged||Real and inverted|
|At F||At infinity||Highly enlarged||Real and inverted|
|Between P and F||Behind the mirror||Enlarged||Virtual and erect|
Chart Source: Key Difference
Uses of Concave Mirrors
Depending on the distance between the object reflected, and the mirror, different types of images are formed by concave mirrors. Thus, they are put in a wide variety of uses, some of which are as follows:
- Shaving mirrors: Objects which are reflected by concave mirrors have a magnified image produced on the mirror. The precision and uniformity required for shaving are helped by using a concave mirror which produces a magnified image of the skin and the hair.
- Makeup mirrors: Since the enlarged image of the skin can be seen, it helps in applying makeup properly and evenly. Blending can be better with the help of concave mirrors.
- Headlights: A source of light is placed in the focal point of a mirror. The mirror reflects the light in a parallel beam to the axis of the mirror on to the road.
- Torch: A torch operates on the same principle as headlights, making use of a concave mirror and a light source.
- Satellite dishes: Satellite antennas receive weak signals from the communication satellites via space. These signals or waves are almost parallel, and when they strike the concave surface of the antenna, they are reflected and converge on the focus of the antenna. Amplification of the signal thus occurs here, and a receptor placed at the focal point receives this amplified signal and transmits it further. The mirror thus works as a receptor and an amplifier.
- Telescopes: Used for astronomy, telescopes have a concave mirror placed at the bottom of the telescope. On the other end is a plain mirror. The plain mirror is used to form the image by the mirror. The concave mirror focuses the light and creates a clearer image of the object. Thee concave mirror helps in gathering more light and produces a clear image of a distant object.
- Medical use: Dentists and ENT specialist doctors use concave mirrors to get a magnified clearer view of the teeth, skin and ear cavities.
- Solar powered gadgets: The solar-powered gadgets operate on the same principle. Parallel sunrays are converged on a focal spot and then used to generate energy for activities like cooking, recharging batteries, boiling water etc.
- Microscopy: These are used to magnify objects for studying in electron microscopes and magnifying glasses.
- Visual bomb detectors make use of these concave mirrors as well.
- The mirror used in the flashlight of cameras is also a concave mirror.
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Frequently asked questions about disability data
How are people with disabilities identified in the CPS?
The CPS uses a set of six questions to identify persons with disabilities. A response of “yes” to any one of the questions indicates that the person in question has a disability. The disability questions appear in the CPS in the following format:
This month we want to learn about people who have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities. Please answer for household members who are 15 years old or over.
Is anyone deaf or does anyone have serious difficulty hearing?
Is anyone blind or does anyone have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does anyone have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
Does anyone have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
Does anyone have difficulty dressing or bathing?
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does anyone have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
Labor force measures from the CPS are tabulated for persons age 16 and older.
Are the questions asked about everyone in each household every month?
No. The CPS questions for identifying individuals with disabilities are only asked of household members who are age 15 and older. (Labor force measures from the CPS are tabulated for persons age 16 and older.) Each of the questions ask the respondent whether anyone in the household has the condition described, and if the respondent replies “yes,” they are then asked to identify everyone in the household who has the condition. The CPS is administered to a household for 4 months in a row, followed by 8 months in which the household is not part of the survey, and then the household is again included in the survey for another 4 months. Those households that are in the survey for the first time, or for the first time after the 8-month break, are asked the disability questions. Replacement households and new household members are also asked the disability questions. During months that the questions are not asked, the responses collected earlier are retained to establish disability status in the same manner used for other demographic questions (about race, sex, etc.).
How were the new CPS questions on disability developed?
The disability questions used in the CPS were initially developed by the U.S. Census Bureau for use in the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS questions were modified slightly so that they could be incorporated into the CPS questionnaire. Documentation that describes the development of the questions is available from the Census Bureau's ACS Evaluation Report Covering Disability, January 2007 (PDF).
Does each of the questions identify a group with a specific disability?
The set of six questions was added to the CPS in order to satisfy the requirement specified in Executive Order 13078 to measure the employment status of persons with disabilities in aggregate on a timely basis. The Executive Order did not require the identification or measurement of specific disabilities. Extensive research conducted as part of the effort to include disability questions in the CPS demonstrated that it is very difficult to accurately measure all persons with disabilities using only a few questions. In like manner, research has also shown that it would be difficult to accurately identify persons with a specific type of disability using only one question. For example, questions tested during the research process that were designed to elicit positive responses from persons with one type of disability were equally likely to identify persons with other disabilities as well. (Cognitive reports that show such results are available from the BLS upon request, and from the Census Bureau's ACS Evaluation Report Covering Disability, January 2007 (PDF).) Given this research and the relatively small sample size of the CPS, data users are advised to avoid using the CPS for the purpose of identifying persons with specific disabilities.
Are the CPS data comparable to data collected in other surveys?
Disability data from the CPS cannot be directly compared with data from other surveys. The disability questions in the CPS were originally developed for use in the American Community Survey (ACS). ACS disability data from 2008 forward were collected using these questions. Although data users may wish to compare the estimates from the CPS to those from the ACS or other surveys that include disability questions, for several reasons it is unlikely that data from these surveys will yield identical estimates as to the size or other characteristics of the disability population. For example, the scope of the CPS is more restrictive; the population covered by the CPS is confined to the civilian noninstitutional working-age population. There are further differences as well, all of which need to be accounted for in any attempt to compare data from two different surveys. These include the mode of survey collection, the context of the survey, the questions that are used in each survey, and the population of interest.
Mode of survey collection. The choice of how to physically administer a survey is referred to as the mode of the survey. Variations in the mode of conducting a survey include forms that arrive in the mail to be filled out and returned, telephone interviews, personal interviews, and answering questions on a website, among others. Different modes of data collection can result in different responses to the very same question.
Context of the survey. The context of the survey also has been found to influence the respondents’ understanding of questions. Respondents are much more likely to say yes to disability questions that are within health-related surveys than when those same questions are included in a labor force survey.
Questions used in the survey. The questions used to define who has a disability are not always specified when disability data are published, although surveys often use quite different questions for the purpose. The group of questions used can greatly affect the findings of any survey. Additionally, question wording affects the results obtained. Some surveys may use similar questions, but even slight variations in wording or question sequence can yield different results.
Population of interest. The population that the survey is designed to focus on must be clearly defined in order to understand a survey’s data, or to compare data from multiple sources. For example, the population of interest for the CPS is the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. This includes persons 16 years of age and older residing in the 50 States and the District of Columbia who are not in institutions (such as prisons, long-term care hospitals, and nursing homes), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces. Comparison of CPS data to data from a survey using a different population of interest, for example one that includes persons residing in institutions, would be problematic.
Does Social Security disability status affect the CPS measure?
No. Social Security disability status is unrelated to the CPS measure of disability. Also, the CPS disability measure has no bearing on the determination of Social Security disability status. CPS data are confidential and are collected for statistical purposes only. The Social Security Administration uses a completely independent process to determine disability status and this status, including the determination of eligibility for benefits, is entirely unrelated to the CPS disability measure.
Do the CPS data measure the total size of the disability population?
The CPS will not provide a measure of the total size of the disability population. The CPS estimates are limited to the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and older. Thus, it does not include persons who live in institutions—such as prisons, long-term care hospitals, and nursing homes—or those who are on active duty in the Armed Forces. Health-focused surveys typically use dozens of questions to identify all persons with disabilities. It is likely that the relatively small number of disability-related questions in the CPS could fail to identify some people with disabilities.
Why does the number of people with disabilities as measured in the CPS show some variability?
Some of the variability is due to random sampling error associated with any sample survey like the CPS. In addition, unlike most other CPS data, the estimates of the population of persons with a disability are not controlled to independent population totals because such data are not currently available. Without controls, estimates are more apt to vary in unpredictable ways from one month to the next. Additionally, the labor force estimates for persons with disabilities have not been seasonally adjusted due to the fact that these data have been collected for a few months only. Typically, several years worth of monthly estimates are required before seasonally adjusted estimates can be produced.
Are the CPS data on persons with disabilities available cross-tabulated by other characteristics?
Yes. The CPS provides comprehensive information on the demographic and economic characteristics of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and older. Unpublished detailed tables are available upon request that provide information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment of persons with disabilities by a number of characteristics such as age, sex, race, marital status, industry, and occupation.
Are the CPS disability data available on a state or local basis?
No. Because of the relatively small sample size in most states, BLS does not currently plan to issue subnational disability estimates.
Are disability data available for earlier months?
Yes. Historical data series are available back to June 2008, the first month disability questions were added to the CPS. Users might note that the June-September 2008 data were collected in a different manner than the later data, which may have affected the comparability of the data. See CPS disability data.
Are the disability data available on CPS public use microdata files?
Yes. Disability microdata from the CPS are available from the U.S. Census Bureau. Beginning with data for 2009, disability status variables are part of the basic monthly data files at thedataweb.rm.census.gov/ftp/cps_ftp.html. The 2008 disability data are in a separate extract file at thedataweb.rm.census.gov/ftp/cps_ftp.html#cpsbasic_extract. As with all CPS microdata, personally identifiable information has been removed.
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Remember when it seemed like every other kid on the block was having his tonsils removed? Lots of adults recall being promised ice cream after the procedure and then, sadly, being too sore to eat it. Today, however, tonsil removal is far less common – at least for the reasons we might remember.
Tonsils and adenoids are small collections of tissue that make a partial ring around your throat. They are specialized organs that play a small role in protecting you from infection, but they sometimes become infected themselves, as in strep throat. Most of the time, infected tonsils and adenoids clear up quickly with the help of antibiotics. Since they are part of the protective immune system, doctors usually don’t remove them unless it is absolutely necessary.
These days, the most common reason to perform surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids, called tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), is problems that can arise with breathing at night.Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can block the airway during sleep, causing loud snoring, breathing pauses, and/or nightwaking with choking and gasping for air. These children may be diagnosed with what’s called obstructive sleep apnea.
It’s important for parents to monitor their child’s symptoms. Of course, loud snoring and enlarged tonsils by themselves may not be enough of a reason to remove tonsils, but if your child has breathing pauses or problems during the day, such as fatigue, hyperactivity, or trouble with focusing, these may be signs of poor sleep and indicative of the obstructive sleep apnea that may improve after T&A.
Tonsils and adenoids are part of the lymphatic system, which helps fight infections. The tonsils and adenoids do this by trapping germs coming through your mouth and nose. Your tonsils are the balls of tissue you see in the back of the throat, and adenoids are higher up, behind your nose. As noted, we prefer not to remove them unless the child has real and persistent problems with snoring, breathing problems at night (possible obstructive sleep apnea), and/or recurrent infections.
Tonsillitis, or infection of the tonsils, causes them to become red and swollen, and sometimes a white or yellowish coating will be present. There is usually a fever, and the child complains of a sore throat and painful swallowing. You can’t see the adenoids through the nose or mouth, but breathing problems and abnormal voice quality can be clues to infection. Recurrent strep throat infections used to indicate surgical removal of the tonsils or adenoids, but doctors now feel that unless a child has more than seven strep throat infections in one year, a very unusual event, T&A usually is not performed. Some doctors may try a long course of antibiotics before finally deciding to remove tonsils and adenoids; this treatment sometimes eliminates the need for surgery. However, in addition to the above, if the child has had five or more strep infections in the past two years, or three or more in the past three years, they may benefit from T&A.
A severe tonsil infection might cause so much swelling that the child complains that swallowing is too painful, and he or she will stop eating solid foods. This should trigger a trip to the doctor to see if more treatment is necessary, usually with a course of antibiotics. Sometimes a tonsil infection can spread to the surrounding tissues, causing a peritonsillar abscess. This may need to be treated with surgery, especially if it happens a second time.
Surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids is performed under general anesthesia.It is a relatively simple operation, but requires considerable skill because of the small spaces involved. No matter the reason behind the procedure, your child can still have ice cream and popsicles after T&A, as the cold seems to help with the pain. | <urn:uuid:eed05508-e0da-4f35-8a42-91edd66601d4> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | https://richmondfamilymagazine.com/article/not-your-grandmas-tonsillectomy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027315558.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20190820180442-20190820202442-00516.warc.gz | en | 0.960287 | 825 | 3.296875 | 3 | {
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Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths
“Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!”
“Eat as much as you want and still lose weight!”
“Try the thigh buster and lose inches fast!”
Have you heard these claims before? A large number of diets and tools are available, but their quality may vary. It can be hard to know what to believe.This fact sheet may help. Here, we discuss myths and provide facts and tips about weight loss, nutrition, and physical activity. This information may help you make healthy changes in your daily habits. You can also talk to your health care provider. She or he can help you if you have other questions or you want to lose weight. A registered dietitian may also give you advice on a healthy eating plan and safe ways to lose weight and keep it off.
Weight-loss and Diet Myths
Myth: Fad diets will help me lose weight and keep it off.Healthy habits may help you lose weight.
- Make healthy food choices. Half of your plate should be fruits and veggies.
- Eat small portions. Use a smaller plate, weigh portions on a scale, or check the Nutrition Facts label for details about serving sizes (see below).
- Build exercise into your daily life. Garden, go for family walks, play a pickup game of sports, start a dance club with your friends, swim, take the stairs, or walk to the grocery store or work.
Combined, these habits may be a safe, healthy way to lose weight and keep it off.
Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. These diets often promise quick weight loss if you strictly reduce what you eat or avoid some types of foods. Some of these diets may help you lose weight at first. But these diets are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight.
Fad diets may be unhealthy. They may not provide all of the nutrients your body needs. Also, losing more than 3 pounds a week after the first few weeks may increase your chances of developing gallstones (solid matter in the gallbladder that can cause pain). Being on a diet of fewer than 800 calories a day for a long time may lead to serious heart problems.
TIP: Research suggests that safe weight loss involves combining a reduced-calorie diet with physical activity to lose 1/2 to 2 pounds a week (after the first few weeks of weight loss). Make healthy food choices. Eat small portions. Build exercise into your daily life. Combined, these habits may be a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off. These habits may also lower your chances of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Myth: Grain products such as bread, pasta, and rice are fattening. I should avoid them when trying to lose weight.
Fact: A grain product is any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm. Examples include brown rice and whole-wheat bread, cereal, and pasta. Refined grains have been milled, a process that removes the bran and germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their shelf life, but it also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins.
People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet may lower their chances of developing some chronic diseases. Government dietary guidelines advise making half your grains whole grains. For example, choose 100 percent whole-wheat bread instead of white bread, and brown rice instead of white rice. The Resources section at the end of this fact sheet offers helpful links to these guidelines and the ChooseMyPlate website, which provides information, tips, and tools on healthy eating.
TIP: To lose weight, reduce the number of calories you take in and increase the amount of physical activity you do each day. Create and follow a healthy eating plan that replaces less healthy options with a mix of fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein foods, and low-fat dairy:
- Eat a mix of fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
- Limit added sugars, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and saturated fat.
- Eat low-fat protein: beans, eggs, fish, lean meats, nuts, and poultry.
Myth: Some people can eat whatever they want and still lose weight.
Fact: To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat and drink. Some people may seem to get away with eating any kind of food they want and still lose weight. But those people, like everyone, must use more energy than they take in through food and drink to lose weight.
A number of factors such as your age, genes, medicines, and lifestyle habits may affect your weight. If you would like to lose weight, speak with your health care provider about factors that may affect your weight. Together, you may be able to create a plan to help you reach your weight and health goals.
Eat the rainbow!
When making half of your plate fruits and veggies, choose foods with vibrant colors that are packed with fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Red: bell peppers, cherries, cranberries, onions, red beets, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon
Green: avocado, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, dark lettuce, grapes, honeydew, kale, kiwi, spinach, zucchini
Orange and yellow: apricots, bananas, carrots, mangoes, oranges, peaches, squash, sweet potatoes
Blue and purple: blackberries, blueberries, grapes, plums, purple cabbage, purple carrots, purple potatoes
TIP: When trying to lose weight, you can still eat your favorite foods as part of a healthy eating plan. But you must watch the total number of calories that you eat. Reduce your portion sizes. Find ways to limit the calories in your favorite foods. For example, you can bake foods rather than frying them. Use low-fat milk in place of cream. Make half of your plate fruits and veggies. | <urn:uuid:9ce85bb2-7965-4792-8943-9a8539c305fe> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | http://consumershealthreports.com/diet-and-nutrition-myths/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125937016.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20180419184909-20180419204909-00315.warc.gz | en | 0.945951 | 1,305 | 2.796875 | 3 | {
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MESSENGER reaches its orbital perihelion today and passes within 0.31 astronomical units (AU) of the Sun (one AU is nearly 150 million kilometers or 93 million miles).
The mission’s imaging team is taking advantage of the probe’s proximity to the fiery sphere to continue their search for vulcanoids – small, rocky asteroids that have been postulated to circle the Sun in stable orbits inside the orbit of Mercury.
Vulcanoids are named after Vulcan, a planet once proposed to explain unusual motions in Mercury’s orbit. Scientists have long suspected that these small, faint “space rocks” exist. There is a gravitationally stable region between the orbit of Mercury and the Sun, which means that any objects that originally formed there could have remained for billions of years and might still be there today. All other such regions in the solar system are occupied by some type of debris (e.g., Trojan asteroids at stable points along the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune and Kuiper Belt objects near and beyond the orbit of Pluto).
The so-called vulcanoid region between the orbit of Mercury and the Sun is the main gravitationally stable region that is not known to be occupied. The region is, however, the most difficult to observe. Any vulcanoids would be difficult to detect from Earth because of the strong glare of the Sun. Previous vulcanoid searches have revealed no bodies larger than 60 kilometers in diameter. But MESSENGER’s travels in near-Mercury space enable a search for vulcanoids from a vantage never before attempted, says MESSENGER Science Team Member Clark Chapman, who is spearheading the team’s search along with his associate, William Merline.
“With MESSENGER, we can search for vulcanoids as small as 15 kilometers across,” said Chapman, a senior scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Between February 7 and 11, the wide-angle camera of MESSENGER’s Mercury Dual Imaging System will have snapped 256 images in the areas east and west of the Sun. Because of the danger of the Sun’s glare, the camera will have to peek just past the probe’s sunshade to capture images.
“We are making the same observations on each day,” MESSENGER team member Nancy Chabot explained. “This cadence will allow us to reject cosmic rays and to distinguish, by its motion, the class of each object imaged” (e.g., vulcanoid vs. near- or inner-Earth asteroid).
The team carried out a similar imaging campaign over a nine-day period in June 2008, capturing 240 images of the outer portions of the would-be vulcanoid belt. “This sequence was designed to refine our observing techniques, assess limiting magnitudes, verify detectability of known objects, and make an initial search,’ Chapman explained.
“Vulcanoids, should they be found, may provide scientists with insights into the conditions prevalent in the early solar system,” Chapman said. “In particular, if they exist or once existed, they would represent an additional population of impactors that would have cratered no other planet but Mercury, implying that the geological processes on Mercury have happened more recently than we would calculate if we assumed that Mercury’s craters formed at rates equivalent to cratering on the Moon and Mars.”
If vulcanoids are found not to exist, then we could be more confident that most of Mercury’s volcanic plains formed billions of years ago, as on the Moon, according to Chapman. The absence of vulcanoids would also focus scientists’ thinking on why vulcanoids never formed or, if they did form, why they are no longer there. | <urn:uuid:6fccb152-ec1b-477e-9f49-5ac7e26c2079> | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | https://spaceguardcentre.com/messenger-continues-hunt-for-ever-elusive-vulcanoids/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627999779.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20190624231501-20190625013501-00523.warc.gz | en | 0.943687 | 796 | 3.625 | 4 | {
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Kids can scare you when they come home from school and tell you that the kid sitting next to them had this ugly rash all over their arm and was scratching all during class. Your mind can also just envision what happens when you child shares pencils, plays during recess and crowds with other kids around the teacher.
Not every rash is contagious fortunately. Allergic rashes aren’t. Eczema is not contagious. However, there are other ones that can be communicated easily between kids. Some of these include chicken pox, measles, scabies, impetigo and roseola.
Measles ia very contagious and shows red marks on the face, a body rash, fever and possible infections of the ear. Even if your child doesn’t show symptoms within a few days, it doesn’t mean he is in the clear. He may show symptoms a week or ten days later. It can be spread by the air through coughing as well as via touch. Kids are advised to stay home during the illness and to not be near others. Fevers can get very high and vaccination is important.
Another rash that is common is called impetigo. This is often spread around camps as well as at schools. There is a bacterial problem that infects the skin. Some people will have it on their face and others can have it on the arms and other parts of the body. Kids like to peel them, but there can be pus and this may make the rash spread around one’s own body. For mild cases an antibiotic cream can work, but for other cases, an oral antibiotic is necessary. When my nephew caught impetigo at his bunk at camp he was given initially a cream antibiotic but it didn’t do the trick. They prescribed an oral antibiotic to clear it up. It’s important to teach kids to use hand sanitizers and many do better with a hand spray or gel rather than running to a sink.
Roseola is another rash kids get and it can take 2 weeks to appear. Scabies is a rash that can take four weeks to appear so it’s important to be aware that it can take a while for certain rashes to be detected. When a child gets roseola they’ll get a fever and the marks on the body can be either flat or have texture to them. Fortunately, most kids with this rash aren’t itchy. Try to keep the fever down with over the counter medications. Due to the contagious nature, it’s important to keep your child in isolation from other kids during the symptoms phase.
Rashes are complicated and can indicate a viral infection, bacterial infection, fungal issue, insect origin or be due to allergies.
Learn more about Toddler Eczema and other common Itchy Skin Rashes | <urn:uuid:0d156e7a-17fc-427d-a147-8ced5a671590> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | http://all-books.info/?p=1193 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195529175.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20190723085031-20190723111031-00070.warc.gz | en | 0.97356 | 578 | 2.921875 | 3 | {
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} | Health |
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A factor price is a construct within economic theory that holds to the concept that the sale price set for a finished good or service is affected by the expense involved in the creation and manufacture of that product. The general idea is that the factor price is arrived at by taking into consideration all the factors of production. There is some difference of opinion regarding whether the actual demand for the product also plays a role in determining what is known as the factor or natural price of the good or service, or if the price is focused solely on the costs and incentives that motivate a company to produce the product.
As a tool in the process of production economics, the factor price can often aid in the task of determining if the production of a given good or service is worth the time, effort, and resources needed to manage the production process. Scrutiny of the all the factors that go into the process, including the cost of raw materials, labor, and the expenses incurred to operate the plant in which the goods are produced, will all provide valuable clues as to the value of the final product, at least in terms of how much the company has invested in each unit produced. From there, the idea is to determine what price must be set in order for the cost of production to be covered adequately. If that price is higher than the market will bear, then continuing production of that good is fruitless, since it will not result in the ability to recoup that investment, much less generate any profit from the sale of the units produced.
There is some difference of opinion regarding the factor price, and is if consumer demand really enters into the determination of that price. One school of thought holds that consumer demand does not really impact the factor or natural price, although it will be very important in terms of setting the retail price for the finished goods. A different thought process states that consumer demand does have an indirect impact on the factor price, since the volume of production is determined by that demand. If the production of a given good results in less cost per unit produced when that product is manufactured in higher volumes, this would mean that a lower demand would result in a higher factor price, while a higher demand would result in increased production that helps to lower the factor price.
With either application, companies would do well to consider the factor price as one tool in helping to determine if continued production of a given product is viable. Since the idea of most businesses is to offer products to consumers that generate profits for the business, knowing the factor or natural price involved in that production is key to setting retail prices that find that balance between covering the cost of production and being competitive enough to attract the attention and loyalty of consumers. Since production costs can and do change over time, periodic recalculation of the factor price is essential if the company is to continue operating with at least some amount of profit margin.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK! | <urn:uuid:19b46d31-180d-41d6-b8e6-7a91e91c89ec> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-factor-price.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698542414.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170902-00336-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968531 | 637 | 3.8125 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.9251389503479004,
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"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Finance & Business |
At the time point between the end of March and beginning of April, most places in China are dampened by the continuous drizzle. Meanwhile, the booming plants and increasingly warm breeze are reminding people 清明节/Qīngmíng Jié is approaching.
清明节 Qīngmíng Jié - Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day or Chinese Memorial Day, is a very important traditional Chinese festival in Chinese culture. It falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar every year. This year, it is on April 5th.Some certain customs are witnessed during this festival. In this article, let's walk through all you need to know about 清明节!
What is the meaning of 清明？
As one of the solar terms, the meaning of 清明 is closely related to the weather. In Chinese, "清/qīng" means clearness and "明/míng" means brightness. 清明/qīngmíng together means it's the season that spring atmosphere is in the air and the weather is clear and bright. Everything is full of vitality from 清明 on.
A solar term is any of 24 periods in traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon. The points are spaced 15° apart along the ecliptic and are used by lunisolar calendars to stay synchronized with the seasons, which is crucial for agrarian societies. The solar terms are also used to calculate intercalary months; which month is repeated depends on the position of the sun at the time.
Except being one of the solar terms, 清明节 is also originated from an Ancient Chinese Festival called 寒食节 Hánshí Jié - Cold Food Festival. You must be wondering about the meaning of "Cold Food Festival".There is a story behind it: Jie Zitui (介子推), a nobleman during the Spring and Autumn Period (B.C. 770 - B.C. 476). He was a loyal follower of the Duke Wen of the Jin Kingdom (晋文公). At one point when the duke was going through rough times, Jie Zitui cut some flesh from his own thigh and cooked it for the duke to keep him from starving.
When Duke Wen eventually came to power, he sent for Jie Zitui, who was living a lonely life as a poor man in the woods. In order to force Jie Zitui to respond, Duke Wen decided to set a forest fire to smoke him out from the woods. Unfortunately, Jie Zitui was killed in the fire. Feeling regretful for Jie's death, Duke Wen announced that the use of fire should be banned for days to commemorate his death.With no use of fire, the commemoration days gradually become days with eating cold food. As the custom spread, it eventually became a festival called the Cold Food Festival - 寒食节. Over time, this tradition was gradually blended with 清明节's customs and the two festivals combined.
What people usually do during 清明节?
Tomb Sweeping Ceremony - 扫墓 sǎo mùThe tomb sweeping ceremony is the most important activity during 清明节.
Chinese people believes that our ancestors have never left us, they are having their life continuously in another world. By visiting their tomb yearly during 清明节, it is a way to maintain the connection between the deceased and the living.
A traditional tomb sweeping ceremony includes many steps:
Firstly, remove the grass from the tomb. Chinese people think that if the tomb of the deceased is covered by grass, the family does not respect the deceased enough. So the first thing Chinese people do when they visit the tomb is to make sure it's nice and neat.
Next, they place joss sticks in front of the tomb, and paper money by the side of the tomb. As Chinese people believe that when you burn paper money into ash, the deceased can receive them in the other world. With this concept, some people are bringing this paper money burning custom to another level. They even buy paper houses, paper cars, paper clothes of the luxurious brands, and almost everything they can think of. This is to make sure that the deceased are having a cosy life in the other world.
Paper money and Paper cars
While burning paper money, a nice meal is placed in front of the tomb. Usually people will prepare what the person's favourite food was when he or she was alive and the meal will also be served with Chinese white wine.
Lastly, the whole ceremony will be ended with the sound of firecrackers, giving it a grand closure.
Spring Outing - 踏青 tàqīng
As I mentioned earlier that 清明 means clear and bright, this season is the golden time in spring!
The wonderful weather and pleasant temperature make 清明 the perfect timing for hiking and spring outings. Chinese people usually seize this holiday for a family trip to enjoy spring and embrace nature.
Kite Flying - 放风筝 fàng fēngzheng
Flying kites is another popular activity during 清明节. It's a very interesting custom that Chinese people like to cut the string of the kite while it's flying in the air, as they believe that flying kite away can help send away bad luck.
清明粑 qīngmíng bā & 青团 qīngtuánTo celebrate 清明节 in Southern China, people usually eat 清明粑 and 青团. They are both made with glutinous rice and Chinese mugwort. 青团 are round, sticky and slightly sweet green balls filled with sweet stuffing like red bean and jujube paste. Nowadays people like to use salted egg yolk and meat floss as stuffing for 青团, too. 清明粑 are usually dumpling shaped filled with salty stuffing like meat and vegetables.
For Northern China, people like making 馓子. They are deep fried salty dough twists. Each crunchy twist is made with multiple thin strings of dough, which makes 馓子 look like a bunch of spaghetti. You can understand it like deep fried spaghetti.All these foods are special for this season, they can be hard to find after this festival. If you have a chance, make sure you try them all!
清明节 is a mourning day and the sentiment of this day is also reflected a lot in Chinese literature. Today I'd love to share one of the most famous 清明-themed poems with you:
I hope this article can help you understand more about 清明节! Have a great holiday!
I'm also sending lots of positive thoughts to people in Shanghai now. Take good care of yourself and we are all here together with you to overcome this hardship! ❤ | <urn:uuid:b8a26e84-00e9-44da-a45a-618c6533cf12> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.silkmandarin.cn/all-you-need-to-know-about-qingmingjie-qingming.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499949.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20230201180036-20230201210036-00091.warc.gz | en | 0.965424 | 1,574 | 3.46875 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 1.8643709421157837,
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} | History |
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Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017 were notified in November 2017. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous authority which is responsible for consolidating food safety standards and regulations. In this blog, we will discuss the specifications of the FSSAI Organic Food Regulations.
Table of Contents
Organic food products are a result of socially responsible and environment-friendly holistic agricultural practices. These practices focus on the use of the chemical fee, soil health, biodiversity, etc. Due to these holistic practices, nutritional value in organic food is much higher as compared to conventional food products.
In the last few decades, India has emerged as a key player in the global organic food market. Twenty years back our contribution to the organic food market was limited to Tea exports. Now we export more than 300 products to more than 20 countries. These exports make up to 135million metric tonne of certified food products.
Currently, India has the highest number of organic food producers and ranks 9th from the perspective of land dedicated to organic farming. Many farmers are adopting organic farming and state promoting such practices. Sikkim has even been declared as India’s first fully organic state.
Section 22 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 specifies that organic food industry in the country will also be regulated by FSSAI. This is done to make sure that there is a single food law in the country. It is acknowledged that organic food products separate regulation as compared to other food products. Thus after consultation with various industry-related organizations, consultants, ministries, etc. Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017 are formulated. These regulations cover existing certification systems like:
Along with the above mentioned two systems any other system developed and notified by Food authorities will also be covered under these Organic Food Regulations.
These regulations apply to every person either individual or body corporate who is involved in manufacturing, packing, re-packing, imports, sale, distribution, and marketing of organic food are covered under these regulations and are required to comply to it.
Who is not covered under Organic Food Regulations?
Any small scale organic food producer or any organic food producer organization (specified from time to time by Food Authority) who are involved in marketing and sale of their organic food products to the end customers are exempted from compliance of these regulations.
Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017 has the following features:
While choosing a product consumer analyses it for quality, safety, etc. and only after making an informed decision they purchase it. When it comes to food product they become extra cautious. While everybody is aware of the fact that organic food products are good for health and environment, the decision to invest in them requires the assurance for delivering the quality promised.
To instill the confidence among the consumer regarding their genuineness the certification from regulating authorities is mandated. This certification is mandatory for promoting and selling organic products. These certifications require that laid out standards are complied with.
The Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017 state that all organic food products are required to comply with provisions of NPOP and PGS-India.
For these certifications currently there are 28 Accredited Certification Bodies authorized under NPOP and 562 Regional Councils (RC’s) established under PGS-India.
While this step of introducing separate FSSAI regulations for Organic Food had been much appreciated for better regulation of Organic Food production and instilling confidence among final consumers. There are many industry players have criticized this move and voiced their opinion on the same.
On such pan-India advocacy organization Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) has expressed this disappointment by sending a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. In this letter, they have expressed that these new regulations will prove to be detrimental to the growth of ecological agriculture and organic farming industry. The move to exempt only small scale farmers who market their own products are exempted from the certification requirement is criticized by them. They have stated that this certification requirement will be an additional burden for all the organic farmer along with existing financial and other requirements.
Following recommendations are made by the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture:
For FSSAI Registration and any other related queries you can contact us through our website enterslice.com or you can also drop an email to us at [email protected]
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Red Herring Top 100 Asia enlists outstanding entrepreneurs and promising companies. It selects the award winners from approximately 2000 privately financed companies each year in the Asia. Since 1996, Red Herring has kept tabs on these up-and-comers. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Google, Facebook, Kakao, Alibaba, Twitter, Rakuten, Salesforce.com, Xiaomi and YouTube would change the way we live and work.
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Hey I'm Suman. Let's Talk! | <urn:uuid:be82fd85-6cf9-4910-9499-f07369e80b41> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://enterslice.com/learning/fssai-regulations-organic-food/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224645417.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20230530063958-20230530093958-00205.warc.gz | en | 0.943462 | 1,526 | 2.71875 | 3 | {
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Cork is a 100% natural material, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.
Cork is an impermeable buoyant material that is harvested form the bark of the Cork Oak Tree. Those trees grow in southwest Europe and northwest Africa, with Portugal having almost 50% of the world production of cork in the world.
Bark is stripped from the trees when they are 25 years of age. Every nine years there is new bark to be harvested. The first two harvests are generally of a lower quality. The cork tree can live for about 300 years and is the only tree whose bark regenerates itself after each extraction. With this awareness that the cork industry is regarded as environmentally friendly and sustainable since the cork tree is not cut down to obtain the cork it is a great alternative to material that is harvested by cutting down trees. Also, cork can easily be recycled.
Properties of cork materials:
- matte appearance
- lightweight material, that is soft to the touch
- fire resistant and flame retardant
- water resistant and repellent
- stain resistant
- scratch resistant
- mosquito repellent
- environmentally renewable
- natural resource
The extractors who are specialized in removing the bark are using a special designed hatchet to slice through the cork layer on the trunk of the tree. It is a process that doesn't harm the tree and is renewable. The cork planks are stacked outdoors for a few weeks to six months. The air, sun, and rain improve the quality of the cork. After this period, heat and water are used to remove the dirt and tannin from the planks to make the cork softer and more flexible. The outer layer, which is poor quality, is scraped off.
The planks are stacked in a dark, humidity-controlled cellar for a few weeks to dry and cure. They will be trimmed to a uniform, rectangular shape and sorted by quality. Since cork is a natural product it requires very little processing.
Cork has been used since ages: Cork bottle stoppers have been found in Egyptian tombs, the ancient Greek used it to make fishing net floats and sandals. The Romans used it to make life jackets for fishermen. And the people living in the regions where cork is produced have been using it as building material for centuries. Cork used as roofing material would be perfect to keep the heat out in the summer. In winter it would keep the cold out. Cork used on floors would provide a soft walking surface.
Although cork has been used for hundreds of years, it’s only recently that it found its way back in our homes. Using cork feels completely different than hardwood or linoleum; it is soft with a cushiony surface. Works very well in a kids' room and it can even be used in bathroom and kitchen.
Advantages of cork floor
- It provides soft surface; perfect for kids' rooms and gymnasium.
- It works as an insulator; reducing the noise transmitted to the room below.
- Cork is easy to refinish and given a clean look.
- It’s hypoallergenic and antimicrobial.
- Environmentally friendly.
- Easy to install.
- Easy to maintain.
- Cork is very durable.
Disadvantages of cork floor
- As a soft material it is susceptible to damage.
- Cats or dogs can scratch the floor with their nails.
- Even when sealed, it can be stained by water.
- High humidity can cause the tiles to expand.
- Exposure to sunlight can cause discoloration.
A cork floor can last as long as 40 years when well cared for. For maximum longevity, the floor should be washed with mild soap and water or vinegar. Scrub softly to remove stains. Sand the cork once or twice a year, and protect it with a cork sealant.
As in every industry, the cork industry is looking for different ways to make their product more appealing to the consumer. Laser cut, 3D developments, and wallpaper are just a few of them. Young designers are attracted to cork for its versatility, it will respond to their concern for nature, they also love the aesthetics, and the functionality.
Cork is used in a large variety of products; the most common is the wine stopper. Other products made from cork are flooring materials, wall coverings, shoe insoles, roofing panels, cores for golf balls and baseballs. Cork board in the house to pin a to-do list or to collect inspiration is common in most modern homes. It is very trendy for offices to have complete walls covered in cork. It is sustainable and is also a damper for noise. The natural appearance also adds to the well-being of the people working in environment in which cork materials are installed.
The natural combination of cork and plant materials will impart that natural feeling as when surrounded by nature. So time to prepare for the months when more time will be spent indoor: create a nice corner with plants. Some cork supports, and small tables that will bring just that extra touch of nature inside.
Cork stools, and small tables, will find their way into a modern and young interior. Look for some storage solutions for the living area, bathroom or kitchen.
Cork objects are perfect for a modern and minimalist interior. In combination with ceramics, metal, glass, and even concrete, they will surprise you. The natural color of the cork will give a warm touch to the neutral colors. Even though cork has been used since ancient times it provides a modern look.
Cork got back in trend a few years ago and it continues inspiring designers today. The Campana Brothers developed the collection Sobreiro in partnership with Corticiera Amorin in Portugal. The brothers realised that cork was the ideal material to develop items of furniture with a solid design that could be light and curvilinear. The furniture collection is currently on display until 19th August in São Paulo, Brazil.
Knowing that it is a soft material, antimicrobial, and environmental friendly, we can choose cork without fear for our children. Cork as a material is tested and approved for children less than 3 years of age. It contains no poisons and is free of pollutants. Cork also has some surprising building and construction characteristics.
Cork could be something for you?
- use as floor covering in kids' room
- cork is child friendly
- cork is easy to clean with soap and water
- a good option for flooring material
- cork absorbs noise
- contributes to a more sustainable world
While researching cork I became aware of many characteristics of cork, I hope it inspires you as much as it did for me. | <urn:uuid:ad443ab3-d0a1-4504-bb15-18817d201fe3> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://martineclaessens.com/blog/2018/7/27/sample-room-cork | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232256040.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20190520142005-20190520164005-00448.warc.gz | en | 0.953721 | 1,421 | 3.28125 | 3 | {
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[NEW DELHI] South Asian countries will create a digital library of the region's traditional knowledge and develop laws to prevent such knowledge being misappropriated through commercial patents.
The plan was announced at a two-day workshop held in Delhi, India, last week by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Participants at the workshop have begun drawing up a technical framework for classifying the region's traditional knowledge and linking it to the international patent classification system.
The aim is to create a composite digital library comprising individual Traditional Knowledge Digital Libraries (TKDL) from each country in South Asia.
Accessible using the Internet, the library will contain information on traditional medicine, foodstuffs, architecture and culture. SAARC will fund the infrastructure required, and individual nations will fund the costs of training and work.
The meeting's delegates said South Asian nations could use the digital library to fight contentious patent claims by proving the prior existence of knowledge, as well as promoting research on novel drugs, enhancing the region's share of the global herbal medicine market and helping set the international agenda on intellectual property rights.
The planned initiative follows the success of India's own TKDL, which will be used as a model by other South Asian nations. India created its library after fighting a successful but costly legal battle in 1999 to revoke a US patent for the use of turmeric to heal wounds — a property well known in India for generations.
The Indian library contains information on 36,000 formulations used in Ayurveda — India's 5,000-year-old system of traditional medicine. The information - presented in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese — was created in a format accessible by international patent offices to prevent the granting of inappropriate patents.
The database set international standards for registries of traditional knowledge, which were adopted by the intergovernmental committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2003.
In 2001, India developed a system for classifying resources used in traditional knowledge that is similar to that used by the International Patent Classification (IPC). The IPC has agreed to include the Indian system in its own classification, which will be expanded to include about 200 sub-groups of drugs derived from Indian medicinal plants.
According to delegates at the Delhi meeting, this is likely to significantly aid patent offices searching the databases to ensure that proposed patents are truly novel and have not been reported before.
Documenting traditional knowledge has become important as most of it is in the public domain and is easy to misappropriate, says Raghunath Mashelkar, director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
India's National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR) found that in 2000, almost 80 per cent of the 4,896 references to individual plant-based medicinal patents in the US Patents Office related to seven medicinal plants of Indian origin.
In 2003, there were almost 15,000 patents on such medicines in the US, European and UK patent offices' registries. However, according to the institute's director Virender Kumar Gupta, none of the 131 academic journals used by patent examiners when deciding whether to grant a patent is from developing countries such as Brazil, China or India.
South Asia possesses significant traditional knowledge that affects biotechnology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and health care. More than 80 per cent of its 1.4 billion population have no access to modern health care services and medicine, and rely on traditional medicine, the Delhi meeting heard.
The region shares a common heritage in traditional medicine — Bangladesh, India and Pakistan share the Unani system of medicine, whereas Ayurveda is used in India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. India's NISCAIR has prepared and circulated a practical guide for classification of traditional knowledge to other South Asian countries.
The Indian digital library of traditional knowledge has also attracted attention from other regions. Representatives from South Africa, the Commonwealth West African Education Delegation, the African Regional Industrial Property Organization and International Property Office in Singapore have discussed with India the possibility of creating similar databases.
The participants at the meeting, including staff of the SAARC Documentation Centre in Delhi, NISCAIR, and WIPO also discussed creating new laws to prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge.
Mikhail Makarov, deputy director at WIPO's technology retrieval systems service told SciDev.Net that WIPO is working towards a new legal instrument to protect traditional knowledge, using a combination of existing intellectual property laws and sui generis laws unique to individual circumstances of the countries developing them.
Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand and the United States are among those that have adopted sui generis laws that protect some aspects of traditional knowledge.
Regional organisations in the South Pacific and Africa are trying to define specific rights relating to traditional knowledge and strategies to protect them, said Shakeel Bhatti from WIPO's global intellectual property issues division. | <urn:uuid:a2a1b731-87b1-4288-b051-97422726fb84> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.scidev.net/global/news/digital-library-to-protect-indigenous-knowledge.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280834.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00210-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924433 | 1,023 | 2.9375 | 3 | {
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Imagine your housecat at her finest, add fifteen pounds of muscle and brain, make her even more symmetrical and athletic, shorten her tail, enhance her beauty, and you have the basic image of a Bobcat. John Davis
In addition to advocating for jaguars and cougars—North America’s largest wild cats—Wildlands Network strives to protect and restore bobcats, Canada lynx, and ocelots. (We are, of course, also concerned about the future of North America’s other wild cats, jaguarundis and margays, but we are not directly involved in their conservation at this time.)
Bobcat populations are thought to be stable or expanding across much of their geographic range in the U.S. and southern Canada, having slowly recovered from decades of unregulated hunting and bounties in the U.S. They are still heavily exploited for the international fur trade, however—the Center for Biological Diversity reports that commercial exports from the U.S. peaked at 65,000 skins in 2013. The Mexican bobcat, the southernmost subspecies of bobcat, is listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
In 2016, we helped to fend off an attempt by New Hampshire wildlife officials to open a killing season on bobcats in that state, where they remain safe for now. New Hampshire Fish and Game banned the hunting and trapping of bobcats in 1989 due to warranted concern about their status. We’re hoping other states will follow suit, and we’ve pressured New York officials not to expand the killing season on bobcats there, with only limited success.
Canada lynx are cats of the boreal coniferous and mixed northern forests. They were historically distributed throughout much of Alaska and Canada, and south into the U.S. Rocky Mountains and Cascades, the Great Lakes states, and the Northeast. Today, lynx are protected as a Threatened species in the contiguous U.S., decimated by trapping in the past and more recently put at-risk by habitat loss and fragmentation.
Because they subsist mainly on snowshoe hares in cold, snowy environments, lynx are considered indicators of ecosystem health and bellwethers of climate change; in some regions, lynx may be lost as the climate warms and snowpack is reduced. Biologists are also concerned about the possible effects of forest and fire management on some lynx populations, as well as the impact of human recreation and roads on lynx movements.
Still, we remain hopeful that lynx can persist and even expand in the northern reaches of the Lower 48 for some time to come. Our wildlife agencies must protect lynx and lynx habitat where these cats currently exist, and should study the biological feasibility of restoring lynx to their native range in such relatively intact landscapes as New York’s Adirondack Park.
In 2016, the FWS documented the first ocelot den in 20 years at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas—the only U.S. state known to currently host a breeding population. A few ocelots have also been recently documented in the Sky Islands region of southern Arizona. While ocelots are Endangered in the U.S. and remain very rare here at fewer than 100 animals, the presence of kittens in Texas provides reason for hope.
Native habitat conversion and roads remain serious threats to the tenuous U.S. population, with numerous cats in South Texas having been struck and killed by vehicles in recent years. Ocelots historically roamed as far east as Arkansas and Louisiana, and continue to inhabit Mexico and Central and South America.
Ocelot populations in northern Mexico are the nearest source of potential immigrants to the southwestern U.S. Wildlands Network’s campaign to make the borderlands more permeable to wildlife movement is key to the recovery of ocelot and jaguar populations in the U.S., and to maintaining the ecological health of this region. Our work to establish crossing structures on Highway 2, for example, will benefit all wide-ranging wildlife. And our successful campaign to block a highway bypass through the Cocóspera River saved ocelot habitat from being lost and further fragmented.
Priorities for Mid-Sized Cats
Beyond advocating for wild cats and their habitats, Wildlands Network calls for the reform of state wildlife agencies in the U.S. as an important priority for protecting bobcats, lynx, ocelots, and other carnivores. Wildlife agencies have traditionally catered to hunters and trappers, with most agencies oriented toward maximizing populations of so-called “game” animals like deer, grouse, turkey, and brown trout—not toward protecting native biodiversity.
In the long run, the successful conservation of North America’s wild cats will depend on protecting wild cores areas, re-establishing the habitat connections between them, and nurturing a peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife. | <urn:uuid:216f78b3-624e-46fb-a13a-1038fb42be3d> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://wildlandsnetwork.org/campaigns/wild-cats/mid-sized-wild-cats/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526064.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20190719053856-20190719075856-00514.warc.gz | en | 0.943978 | 1,024 | 3.15625 | 3 | {
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} | Science & Tech. |
Selestor's Men of Atlantis, by Clara Iza von Ravn, , at sacred-texts.com
The great sea-fight of Atlantis. Setting out of the Northmen for plunder.
Thy mood is ill, my scribe, for learning all of that great sea fight of the centuries gone—a thousand years before Atlantis sank.
Yea, thus I swear who read the time by Stars and Moon in transit. Mars in mood of harm and Mercury fiercer yet with venom plied. Great nations then as now did sprinkle Earth with tribes of warriors born with love of spoil.
A thousand years before Atlantis sank there rose a cry from Northern borders peopled with the "Slav"—the Norsemen of a line that later cast their lot in lower country, driven from their homes by one oppressor—later king of North.
In early life a henchman, later king. His blood the blood of peasant mingled strong with some bold, roving warriors from the South who ventured far into that frozen clime.
This king was Olaf. Aye, dim history speaks that selfsame name so "common" to thine ear. A clod sometimes, sometimes a keener soul doth answer to that name, but in that day when "Olaf-of-the-bear’s-claw-set-on-helm" did strike a blow, his name took on the meaning of a single star, there was none other.
The meaning? I know not. But a sound, perchance, from childish lips took to it other sound and made the name.
King Olaf called his warriors—fur-clad men whose flaxen locks hung low, encrowned with cap of
fur and steel combined, a cunning builded structure meant for war.
“Ho! to the southward! Black-eyed maids are there, with lips that madden mood, and laughing glance and arms soft twining. Aye, for I have seen in train of captives many such and I will bring anon such in my train.
“The southland holds much treasure. Gold in grains so large they are but painted pebbles, one might think; such precious stuff hath seldom lay within man's sight as we shall garner in that distant land. The mighty Lars, 'the-Eagle-of-the-Crags,' hath sailed him thither in his early youth and tells the tale. He speaks of island set in laughing sea where 'palms' wave.
“Know ye what that name may mean? A tree with plumes and fruitage sweet to lips and gladdening to eye, when day by day the barque has glided swift and brought the word of land to them who wait all eager at the prow. Aye, 'palms' they speak, and roses dot the sod so green it seems but one vast emerald set upon the sapphire sea.
“Great temples, too, have they and palaces and wondrous pictures, true to beauteous life and state, and music met the ear, as in the dark he stole up softly; muffled oars dipped slow and slaves mouth-bound so that no cry escaped.
“I know not all the wonders there may be upon that island. Ye shall see and name in our own tongue, for by our gods I swear that ere the snow falls on Britanji's spur we start us southward; winter is there Spring, and Spring a joyous time of warmth and gayest life in nature. Southward, Ho! we journey, set for war.”
The planets breed dissension. War and strife float on the winds. The sun strikes sheen on spears
in many lands at seasons, for it throws dissension in its beams which smite all shores.
Thus Asia—land of yellow peopling forms—had turned her mood unto that island fair, the home of her ancestry. Land where first her ruler dwelt in youth and manhood, fraught with greed of power which wrecked full many a home, and tore the child from parent arms and made his name a by-word—word for theft of trusted grains and theft of talents great bestowed not on the land to which he owed his fealty—Kling.
To southward set the sons of Asia, over barren sands, through tempests, crossing sea upon the borders of that land where the Zambesi ran. Upon its banks were cities grand with fairest temples set. Revolt was rampant. Slaves were worn with toil and spoil spake big to them, and hate and wrong called out in tongue of flame: "Revenge!"
Thus their ears were open to the wiles of those bold men of Asia, strong in mind and subtle as the serpent; brains were theirs condemned to carry guile, to plot, to hold in keen abhorrence any state of mind that dealt with pity where an enemy was held in bonds.
There, within the shade of templed marts they dwelt apace—those men of Asia. Spake softly they, the leaders: "Well we know thy state, the state of slave bereft of all that makes life joyous. Master wills hold closely every impulse; souls are warped to suit the mood of them whom Nature made of lesser worth invested though more favored state.
"We go to wrest from tyrants gold and gems and fairest women. Wizards on that isle who do create most beauteous things, and wealth so lavish that it piles the sands with gold. Come ye, too, with us. The fleet ye watch lies far out to sea. Unto her captains, brave, take ye this store, this parchment,
too, which tells of all our needs—our brother love." Then bolder:
“What matter if the city loses fleet? It holds great power still and gems, and lofty piles, in which your children groan in bonds of toil! Be free, O men of Africa; To the sea! Thy galleys loose; they lie at anchor guarded but by thee, their captains willing to my service turn.
“Let loose the galleys manned by thee and thine, and these, my trusted warriors fill the bulk of ships which hold so proudly many hundred souls, aye, thousands! and my warriors, like the sands of desert, droop where deep in forest paths draw to the hills.
“Awake! cast off the bonds of slavery and come, O men of Africa's city great! Set thou to sea! I hold thee worthy of this prompting. Thou shalt know the joy of spoil! the bliss of power thou shalt know. Come, sail to sea!”
And thus from day to day the wily strangers plied with words, and wine, the officers of duty to the fleet that stretched out proudly-whitened wood and bark, great iron bands that made the cypress firm; and floating banners, dangling in the breeze, were later wafted broadly as they set them forth at midnight when the plot had worked its potency.
And he—the crafty leader of the Asiaites, hied him forth to whisper to the leaders of the bands that lurked amidst the forest leaves and trunks like domes and pillars of some mighty hall whose setting was the stars which peeped from folds of purple curtains.
Heavy scent of bloom checked breath and made the night a dangerous time, and beasts prowled hungrily and sniffed the scent of human bodies, filled with rushing blood that tasted in their senses warm and sweet.
"Come forth," the leaders whispered. "Dawn
shall come and find but leafy isles where now ye lie in wait. Let beasts prowl growling for your absence; spears are needed for another duty. Come! The galleys lie at anchor down the stream and ye have but to step upon their decks and waft away to pleasure on the sea.
"No man hath wings, and these alone can bear the king and his retainers in pursuit. So, free are we to sail at leisure, swiftly, to the island fair where that awaits which makes the eye to leap, and cause to sigh in lover's deep delight the tender-hearted youth.
"The bravest first shall land to gather spoil. Haste ye! The night falls swiftly, dawn shall break if swift ye come not. To the galleys, men!"
The city, wrapped in slumber, heard no sound. No light shone forth to show the hurrying forms of slaves. No voice harsh rose to beckon thought to plunderer's crime. The city slept since revel worn, and stilled in slumber king and noble lay; and thus the foreign army sailed that night with scores of sailors at the helm or plying oars of galleys.
Even the kings begirt with golden staves, and sculptured plumes, and garlands swung on prow, went down the "river" never to return. So went Zambesi's fleet to war, with alien hordes to man, and win them glory or yet feel the shame of swift defeat.
The sun danced on the dimpling sea. A cool breeze rocked the galleys. Stern and grim rode Asia's chief at head—the Mongol lord so subtle and so brave. The Northmen rode with cries of joy to feel the soft breeze on their cheeks that, bitten sore by frost, had grown as toughened as the reed which waves o’er pool.
"I see a speck of life upon yon height of water," Olaf spake to one who stood beside, and in his hand
he held an instrument, then rare, made from a lens of glass and horn of ibis, instrument to throw such action on the eye as might impress the mind.
"A moving speck? It is some bird that wings across the water," spake another knight who doubted always what his brother spake.
"It is a fleet of fishers. We shall take their spoil!" a general named for vulture piped, as near and nearer drew the mass outlined against the sky. But no! the vision burst upon them swift and true at last—a line of galleys numbering as their own three hundred, aye and more.
The sun shone on the galley's spears. A light that seemed from sea flashed on the staves each common held in hand and made the line of boats a line of fire seem.
"Our gods are false!" cried Olaf. "We are made the sport of tyranny, of rank deceit! Atlantis sailed northward and we meet her fair in battle! No surprise we give, no spoil held easily; but spear to spear and stave to stave and galley locked with barque, manned by as many and as brave as we, perchance; we may not gain the day!"
One versed in war—one from the southern isles—cried loudly: "Not Atlantis’ fleet, for fleet hath she, but this is from the forests. I have seen such standards. Where the water laps the banks with marble set, such galleys lie.
"The standard of the leader bear you well in eye. It is the king of forests, inlet broad. Zambesi hath the serpent, eye of fire—the palms at prow. Behold the blood-red garments of the captains of her barques. Zambesi sets to war as we. A rival!
"Yea, but waste we not our spears nor war on such foe as she. We will combine our forces; the victory won—that makes the island ours—we battle
with our allies, spoil their fleet thus double booty, double glory, waits."
And thus a truce was made. Full willingly did Asia's leader hold the offer good, and side by side they sailed—the crimson kite and polar bear, each holding in his heart the selfsame thought of brotherhood in strife against Atlantis; later, war on each and spoil fierce wrested from a rival's hand.
The men of Asia planned attack, as did the Northmen, on the northern coast where trees set closely hid the inlets deep and no great quays with ships to guard were there. For trusted they—Atlantians—to the rocky heights that girt the northern coast that few, thought they, might scale.
Yet strategy was Asia's strongest mood, and Northmen laughed at heights they could not scale, and rock-hedged inlets seemed but pleasant brooks, so sought they that stern shore.
Aye, from the south Zambesi's sons did sail to reach the northern point. Atlantis held a menace at her Southern ports—a menace to marauders all well knew. | <urn:uuid:f1c0a6b3-f844-4108-91b2-d656e9cd3717> | CC-MAIN-2014-49 | http://www.sacred-texts.com/atl/smoa/smoa21.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-49/segments/1416931009825.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20141125155649-00216-ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961357 | 2,659 | 2.640625 | 3 | {
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Property valuation is an essential concept of real estate investing. If you are an investor, knowing the value of any property helps you make a sound decision on how much to charge on rent and how much should go into property taxes.
Similarly, if you are a homeowner, knowing the value of your property gives you the knowledge of how much you should pay for its insurance.
Now that we’ve understood the importance of property valuation, let’s examine the three main methods used to evaluate a property:
- Comparison Approach
The comparable sales approach is one of the most common property valuations methods. This method uses recent past transactions of similar properties (same location, size, nature, etc.) to determine your property’s value.
But as you may know, no two comparable properties can be an exact match. Therefore, some adjustments are made to sales prices to account for the differences in the comparison. After the best factors are chosen, analyzed, and differences adjusted, then an estimated value for the property at hand can be determined.
- Income Approach
The income capitalization approach is all for income-generating properties, including apartments and commercial buildings. Therefore, this method relies heavily on the return on investment and the net income of a particular property.
Under the income approach, there are two subdivisions of property valuation methods.
The first division under the income approach is known as Direct Capitalization. To determine the value of a property using this method, a property’s gross income is estimated. This is done by considering the influence of vacancies and the net operating income, which is calculated by subtracting expenses. After that, direct capitalization uses the property’s capitalization rate and net operating income to estimate its value.
Gross Income Multipliers is the second subdivision of the income approach valuation method. It’s dedicated to valuating properties that weren’t primarily bought for income-generating practices but ended up being used as such.
The technique works by first calculating the monthly or annual gross income of the property. After that, the sales price of the property at hand is divided by its rental income. This arrives at the gross income multiplier, which then estimates the property’s market value.
- Cost Approach
The cost approach method determines the value of a property depending on its replacement costs. It also declares that the value of any property equals the market value of the land to which it stands, as well as the cost of construction of similar properties.
Knowing the commonly used methods for property valuation is essential for real estate appraisal. It might seem too basic, but it has an added advantage. | <urn:uuid:dbdced57-b72f-4da1-a01e-27e4e82afbf4> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://www.realestaterama.com/3-most-important-things-in-property-valuation-ID050680.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703499999.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20210116014637-20210116044637-00490.warc.gz | en | 0.929391 | 540 | 2.65625 | 3 | {
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Warming of the attic is an especially important process.
After all through the attic rooms there is the greatest loss of heat throughout the house.
As you know, warmer air rises above what is heated less.
Therefore, well insulated attic room, you can achieve better preservation of heat throughout the house.
You will need
- Thermal insulation plates, a knife, a vapor barrier film, a stapler, an adhesive tape, wooden bars, screws, nails, a hammer.
To begin, buy all the necessary materials,So that the process of attic insulation goes without stopping. Then, open the plastic bag and unpack the insulation boards. Cut them according to the required dimensions. The width of the slab should be slightly more than the distance between the axes of the rafters.
Begin installing the plates between the axes of the rafters. It is necessary that the stove should stand slightly in front of it. It is sufficiently elastic, so if the slab is cut correctly, it will stand tight enough. To conduct installation of heat-insulating panels it is necessary from below upwards. When one layer is laid, it is best to put the second one. It must be installed in such a way that the seams between the slabs of the first layer are closed with whole plates of the second layer.
After the installation is finished,Check if there are any slots. After all, if you leave them, it can lead to the freezing of the attic. If there are cracks, it is necessary to cut out the necessary parts from the remaining heat-insulating slabs and close the slots.
Now you need to mount the vapor barrier. It is necessary to cut out pieces of film of the right size and attach them to the rafters with a stapler. To impose a vapor barrier it is necessary with an overlap of 10 cm. Pieces should be glued together with adhesive tape. It is best to use foamed vapor barrier films for vapor barrier insulation. They do not just skip steam from inside the room, but also reflect the flow of radiant heat back to the attic.
After finishing the plastering of the mansard vapor barrierFilm, it is necessary to fix the heat-insulating layer. To do this, horizontal logs should be nailed to the logs. The step should be 50 cm. The bars strengthen the thermal insulation layer even more tightly, and also help create an air gap between the vapor barrier and the inner skin. This is necessary to remove moisture from the surface of the film. After the bars have been installed, any selected skin can be attached to them. Your attic will be warm and beautiful. | <urn:uuid:5496f408-818b-4231-ba0d-84f0726101e0> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://learn-myself.com/how-and-with-what-materials-sh-16146/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423764.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721082219-20170721102219-00697.warc.gz | en | 0.927742 | 536 | 2.515625 | 3 | {
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Sustainable Practices At Journey Childcare
No matter whether it is the food we eat, the clothes we wear, or the day-to-day activities that we participate in, sustainability has never been more important. Across the globe, companies and individuals are trying to reduce the impact they have on the environment, and incorporating sustainability education for childcare centres today is the key to a brighter tomorrow.
Here at Journey, our mission is to ensure that we can help put our young stars on the path to success, helping to create a learning environment that gives them the skills to grow. Of course, knowing the most environmentally responsible methods of living can be tough, so what are the best sustainable practices in child care?
What are sustainable practices?
Sustainability education for childcare centres is a core part of any modern curriculum. Incorporating these qualities is essential in ensuring that children understand the importance of looking after the world that we live in.
Living a sustainable lifestyle focuses on ensuring that our actions do not harm the environment or other people. While its primary aim might be to protect the natural world, sustainable practices also focus on a range of important issues such as consumption, poverty, health, and community.
Teaching children sustainable practices early on is essential in helping to empower them to understand the importance of the world around us. These positive experiences are critical in creating a solid foundation that will set children on the path to success.
How to introduce sustainability to children
While there can be no denying that sustainability education for childcare centres is crucial, it can be tough to know the best ways to incorporate this into the curriculum. Here at Journey, our highly experienced team of educators are focused on giving our little stars the very best start to life.
Showcasing ways to become more energy-efficient and reduce waste is essential, and some of the best methods of incorporating sustainable practices include:
- Saving energy by shutting off lighting, heating, and appliances.
- Reducing waste by learning how to reuse and recycle.
- Using food scraps to create compost to support community gardens.
- Utilising reusable stationery, such as refillable whiteboard markers.
- Creating closer connections with the local community.
Examples of activities to boost sustainability
The importance of sustainable living is becoming increasingly more important, and it is never too early to start teaching children the importance of caring for the environment and the responsibility we all have. Children of all ages can benefit from a greater connection with nature, and there are many activities that can help youngsters to boost their sustainability, including:
Reading relevant stories
Reading storybooks that introduce difficult topics such as climate change can be a great way to start the conversation and get youngsters thinking about living more sustainably.
Spend time outdoors
Another great activity to boost sustainability is to spend time outdoors in nature. Going on bushwalks or walking along the beach gives children a chance to connect with the natural beauty of the world and understand the importance of looking after it.
Teaching children to recycle from a young age ensures that it becomes second nature as they grow up. Understanding how our waste, particularly single-use plastic, can cause problems is crucial in reducing the impact we have on the environment.
Start a vegetable garden
Another great way to teach children the importance of sustainability is to start a vegetable garden. Planting seeds, caring for plants and enjoying a delicious meal from the ingredients they have grown helps children to understand the concept of where our food comes from and its importance.
Openly discuss sustainability
Another great way to boost sustainability is to openly talk about it at home. Talking with your children about the waste we throw away, the food scraps we leave behind, and the electricity we waste by keeping devices on standby can make them more aware of the impact we all have on the environment.
Sustainable practices at Journey
We are committed to caring for our planet and role modelling this behaviour for our children. We reflect on our daily practice to ensure our tasks are carried out as efficiently as possible.
Every Journey centre has a sustainability plan:
- Where possible we limit the amount of paper we use and instead source online alternatives like:
- We grow our own veggies and herbs that are used in our meal prep and also shared with families.
- Undertake practices that preserve our natural resources.
- Engage children in projects that teach them about the planet’s importance and how we can protect it.
- Ensure our outdoor program promotes sustainability.
Start teaching your children today
Sustainability education for childcare centres is becoming increasingly important, and here at Journey, our mission is to help youngsters enjoy the very best start in life. We believe that you are never too young to start learning about sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, and our experienced teachers and staff showcase these important values through our engaging and fun early learning programs.
We work with families to showcase the best activities and methods to educate youngsters on the importance of environmental responsibility. We believe children learn best when they are having fun, so our programs and activities are designed to be as engaging and entertaining as possible.
Want to start your child on the journey to sustainable living? Get in touch with our team today! | <urn:uuid:837e12df-5368-4346-a379-96f53e505484> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://journey.edu.au/early-learning-advice/11-2021/blog-sustainable-practices-in-child-care/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662545548.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20220522125835-20220522155835-00569.warc.gz | en | 0.943477 | 1,076 | 3.5 | 4 | {
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To stay competitive, businesses and governments are constantly looking for materials that will open the door to new technologies or sources of energy. Materials that will make their products faster, lighter, stronger or more efficient. Whoever develops those materials first will have a significant edge over the competition.
And in recent years it has become increasingly apparent that the key to getting that edge, and maintaining it, is computational research.
“Problems that used to take years to solve can now be solved in a month,” says Srikanth Patala, a materials science and engineering researcher at NC State.
Computational research uses complex models in a variety of ways, all of which advance materials science and engineering.
“These computational models can help researchers understand the outcome of an experiment, identify the most promising avenues for future experiments, and give us insight into processes that can’t be easily explored in the lab,” says NC State researcher Don Brenner, a pioneer in the field of computational materials research who has been publishing in the field since the late 1980s. “For example, computational research helps us understand the behavior of materials in nuclear reactors, which are exposed to high levels of heat and radiation.”
“And we can now use models to design new materials that have a specific set of characteristics for use in any given application,” Patala says.
“By using computational models, we can evaluate hundreds or more possible material combinations,” Brenner explains. “It would take years to evaluate those combinations using traditional experimental methods, but we can narrow it down to a handful of the most promising materials combinations.”
“There are a lot of people at NC State who embrace computational research as a way to gain meaningful insight into how to design new materials,” says Doug Irving, another materials researcher at NC State. “Ultimately, this gives our researchers a big advantage over researchers who don’t use these capabilities.”
For example, Brenner’s lab recently led an effort to understand what causes metal oxide scales to deposit on the fuel rods in nuclear reactors – a job that would be both dangerous and incredibly difficult (if not impossible) using traditional experimental techniques.
“What we found will make it possible to develop new techniques for eliminating these scales, which would make the reactors more efficient and extend the lifetime of nuclear fuel rods,” Brenner says.
But computational research in materials science extends well beyond nuclear power.
“We do work on optical and electronic materials, structural materials, energetic materials and soft materials,” Irving says. “We’re talking about applications in everything from electronics and LEDs to pharmaceuticals and biomedical devices.”
In other words, theoretical models can lead to practical solutions for real world problems.
And people far from the realm of academia have noticed.
In 2011, the White House unveiled its Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), stating that advanced materials “are essential to economic security and human well-being, with applications in industries aimed at addressing challenges in clean energy, national security, and human welfare.” But the White House also noted that it takes too long to bring new materials to the marketplace, and put an emphasis on “accelerating the pace of discovery and deployment” of advanced materials in order to ensure that the United States remains competitive in the global economy.
The MGI, in short, urged the U.S. materials research community to marry computational research to experimental research in order to expedite the development of new materials for use in a wide range of applications. And that was good news for NC State.
“We have one of the largest materials science computational research programs in the United States,” says Yara Yingling, a materials researcher at NC State. And that longstanding focus on computational research has put NC State in an enviable position.
“We were effectively implementing the MGI model before the MGI even existed,” Brenner says. “We’ve long believed that computational and experimental researchers can and should work together to address challenging problems that can’t be adequately addressed by theory or experiment alone.” | <urn:uuid:052eb6dd-a9a0-448f-a0e6-e2a651ffc04a> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://news.ncsu.edu/2015/04/mse-comp-research/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526506.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20190720091347-20190720113347-00135.warc.gz | en | 0.929794 | 864 | 3.109375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.988100051879883,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Weapon of mass destruction
|Weapons of mass destruction|
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD or WoMD) is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to human-made structures (e.g. buildings), natural structures (e.g. mountains), or the biosphere. The scope and application of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Originally coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives, since World War II it has come to refer to large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear.
- 1 Early uses of the term
- 2 Definitions of the term
- 3 Treaties
- 4 Use, possession and access
- 5 United States politics
- 6 Media coverage
- 7 Public perceptions
- 8 In popular culture
- 9 Common hazard symbols
- 10 See also
- 11 References
- 12 Bibliography
- 13 Further reading
- 14 External links
Early uses of the term
Who can think at this present time without a sickening of the heart of the appalling slaughter, the suffering, the manifold misery brought by war to Spain and to China? Who can think without horror of what another widespread war would mean, waged as it would be with all the new weapons of mass destruction?
At the time, the United States (with help from Western Allies) had yet to develop and use nuclear weapons. Japan conducted research on biological weapons (see Unit 731), and chemical weapons had seen wide battlefield use in World War I. They were outlawed by the Geneva Protocol of 1925. Italy used mustard gas against civilians and soldiers in Ethiopia in 1935-36.
Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II, and progressing through the Cold War, the term came to refer more to non-conventional weapons. The application of the term to specifically nuclear and radiological weapons is traced by William Safire to the Russian phrase "Оружие массового поражения" – oruzhiye massovogo porazheniya (weapons of mass destruction).
He credits James Goodby (of the Brookings Institution) with tracing what he considers the earliest known English-language use soon after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (although it is not quite verbatim): a communique from a 15 November 1945, meeting of Harry Truman, Clement Attlee and Mackenzie King (probably drafted by Vannevar Bush– or so Bush claimed in 1970) referred to "weapons adaptable to mass destruction".
That exact phrase, says Safire, was also used by Bernard Baruch in 1946 (in a speech at the United Nations probably written by Herbert Bayard Swope). The same phrase found its way into the very first resolution adopted by the United Nations General assembly in January 1946 in London, which used the wording "...the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and of all other weapons adaptable to mass destruction." This resolution also created the Atomic Energy Commission (predecessor of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)).
An exact use of this term was given in a lecture "Atomic Energy as an Atomic Problem" by J. Robert Oppenheimer. The lecture was delivered to the Foreign Service and the State Department, on 17 September 1947. The lecture is reprinted in The Open Mind (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1955).
"It is a very far reaching control which would eliminate the rivalry between nations in this field, which would prevent the surreptitious arming of one nation against another, which would provide some cushion of time before atomic attack, and presumably therefore before any attack with weapons of mass destruction, and which would go a long way toward removing atomic energy at least as a source of conflict between the powers".
During a speech at Rice University on 12 September 1962, president John F. Kennedy spoke of not filling space "with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding." The following month, during a televised presentation about the Cuban Missile Crisis on 22 October 1962, Kennedy made reference to "offensive weapons of sudden mass destruction."
Evolution of its use
During the Cold War, the term "weapons of mass destruction" was primarily a reference to nuclear weapons. At the time, in the West the euphemism "strategic weapons" was used to refer to the American nuclear arsenal, which was presented as a necessary deterrent against nuclear or conventional attack from the Soviet Union (see Mutual Assured Destruction).
Subsequent to Operation Opera, the destruction of a pre-operational nuclear reactor inside Iraq by the Israeli Air Force, Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin countered criticism by saying that "on no account shall we permit an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction against the people of Israel." This policy of pre-emptive action against real or perceived WMD became known as the Begin Doctrine.
The term "weapons of mass destruction" continued to see periodic use throughout this time, usually in the context of nuclear arms control; Ronald Reagan used it during the 1986 Reykjavík Summit, when referring to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush, used the term in an 1989 speech to the United Nations, using it primarily in reference to chemical arms.
The end of the Cold War reduced U.S. reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrent, causing it to shift its focus to disarmament. With the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs became a particular concern of the first Bush Administration. Following the war, Bill Clinton and other western politicians and media continued to use the term, usually in reference to ongoing attempts to dismantle Iraq's weapons programs.
After the 11 September 2001 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, an increased fear of non-conventional weapons and asymmetrical warfare took hold in many countries. This fear reached a crescendo with the 2002 Iraq disarmament crisis and the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that became the primary justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, American forces found no WMD in Iraq. (Old stockpiles of chemical munitions including sarin and mustard agents were found, but none were considered to be in a usable condition due to corrosion.) Iraq did, however, declare a chemical weapons stockpile in 2009. This stockpile contained mainly chemical precursors, but some warheads remained usable.
Because of its prolific use and (worldwide) public profile during this period, the American Dialect Society voted "weapons of mass destruction" (and its abbreviation, "WMD") the word of the year in 2002, and in 2003 Lake Superior State University added WMD to its list of terms banished for "Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness".
Definitions of the term
The most widely used definition of "weapons of mass destruction" is that of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons (NBC) although there is no treaty or customary international law that contains an authoritative definition. Instead, international law has been used with respect to the specific categories of weapons within WMD, and not to WMD as a whole. While nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are regarded as the three major types of WMDs, some analysts have argued that radiological materials as well as missile technology and delivery systems such as aircraft and ballistic missiles could be labeled as WMDs as well.
The abbreviations NBC (for nuclear, biological and chemical) or CBR (chemical, biological, radiological) are used with regards to battlefield protection systems for armored vehicles, because all three involve insidious toxins that can be carried through the air and can be protected against with vehicle air filtration systems.
However, there is an argument that nuclear and biological weapons do not belong in the same category as chemical and "dirty bomb" radiological weapons, which have limited destructive potential (and close to none, as far as property is concerned), whereas nuclear and biological weapons have the unique ability to kill large numbers of people with very small amounts of material, and thus could be said to belong in a class by themselves.
The NBC definition has also been used in official U.S. documents, by the U.S. President, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
- Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons capable of a high order of destruction or causing mass casualties and exclude the means of transporting or propelling the weapon where such means is a separable and divisible part from the weapon. Also called WMD.
This may also refer to nuclear ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles).
The significance of the words separable and divisible part of the weapon is that missiles such as the Pershing II and the SCUD are considered weapons of mass destruction, while aircraft capable of carrying bombloads are not.
In 2004, the United Kingdom's Butler Review recognized the "considerable and long-standing academic debate about the proper interpretation of the phrase ‘weapons of mass destruction’". The committee set out to avoid the general term but when using it, employed the definition of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, which defined the systems which Iraq was required to abandon:
- "Nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapons-usable material or any sub-systems or components or any research, development, support or manufacturing facilities relating to [nuclear weapons].
- Chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research,development,support and manufacturing facilities.
- Ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres and related major parts, and repair and production facilities."
Chemical weapons expert Gert G. Harigel considers only nuclear weapons true weapons of mass destruction, because "only nuclear weapons are completely indiscriminate by their explosive power, heat radiation and radioactivity, and only they should therefore be called a weapon of mass destruction". He prefers to call chemical and biological weapons "weapons of terror" when aimed against civilians and "weapons of intimidation" for soldiers.
Testimony of one such soldier expresses the same viewpoint. For a period of several months in the winter of 2002–2003, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz frequently used the term "weapons of mass terror," apparently also recognizing the distinction between the psychological and the physical effects of many things currently falling into the WMD category.
Gustavo Bell Lemus, the Vice President of Colombia, at 9 July 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, quoted the Millennium Report of the UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly, in which Kofi Annan said that small arms could be described as WMD because the fatalities they cause "dwarf that of all other weapons systems – and in most years greatly exceed the toll of the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki".
An additional condition often implicitly applied to WMD is that the use of the weapons must be strategic. In other words, they would be designed to "have consequences far outweighing the size and effectiveness of the weapons themselves". The strategic nature of WMD also defines their function in the military doctrine of total war as targeting the means a country would use to support and supply its war effort, specifically its population, industry, and natural resources.
Within U.S. civil defense organizations, the category is now Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE), which defines WMD as:
- (1) Any explosive, incendiary, poison gas, bomb, grenade, or rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces [113 g], missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce [7 g], or mine or device similar to the above. (2) Poison gas. (3) Any weapon involving a disease organism. (4) Any weapon that is designed to release radiation at a level dangerous to human life.
- any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or impact of:
- toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors
- a disease organism
- radiation or radioactivity
For the purposes of the prevention of weapons proliferation, the U.S. Code defines weapons of mass destruction as "chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and chemical, biological, and nuclear materials used in the manufacture of such weapons."
- any "destructive device" defined as any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas - bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses
- any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors
- any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector
- any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life
- any "destructive device" as defined in Title 18 USC Section 921: any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas - bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses
- any weapon designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors
- any weapon involving a disease organism
- any weapon designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life
- any device or weapon designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury by causing a malfunction of or destruction of an aircraft or other vehicle that carries humans or of an aircraft or other vehicle whose malfunction or destruction may cause said aircraft or other vehicle to cause death or serious bodily injury to humans who may be within range of the vector in its course of travel or the travel of its debris.
Indictments and convictions for possession and use of WMD such as truck bombs, pipe bombs, shoe bombs, and cactus needles coated with a biological toxin have been obtained under 18 USC 2332a.
As defined by 18 USC §2332 (a), a Weapon of Mass Destruction is:
- (a) any destructive device as defined in section 921 of the title;
- (B) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
- (C) any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178 of this title); or
- (D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life;
Under the same statute, conspiring, attempting, threatening, or using a Weapon of Mass Destruction may be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, and if resulting in death, be punishable by death or by imprisonment for any terms of years or for life. They can also be asked to pay a maximum fine of $250,000.
The Washington Post reported on 30 March 2006: "Jurors asked the judge in the death penalty trial of Zacarias Moussaoui today to define the term 'weapons of mass destruction' and were told it includes airplanes used as missiles". Moussaoui was indicted and tried for the use of airplanes as WMD.
The surviving Boston Marathon bombing perpetrator, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was charged in June 2013 with the federal offense of "use of a weapon of mass destruction" after he and his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev allegedly placed crude shrapnel bombs, made from pressure cookers packed with ball bearings and nails, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. He was convicted in April 2015. The bombing resulted in three deaths and at least 264 injuries.
The development and use of WMD is governed by several international conventions and treaties, although not all countries have signed and ratified them:
- Partial Test Ban Treaty
- Outer Space Treaty
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
- Seabed Arms Control Treaty
- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT, has not entered into force as of 2015)
- Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC)
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
Use, possession and access
The only country to have used a nuclear weapon in war is the United States, which dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. There are eight countries that have declared they possess nuclear weapons and are known to have tested a nuclear weapon, only five of which are members of the NPT. The eight are China, France, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Israel is considered by most analysts to have nuclear weapons numbering in the low hundreds as well, but maintains an official policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither denying nor confirming its nuclear status. In 2015, the United States confirmed that Israel does indeed have thermonuclear arms, disclosing a decades-long collaboration on weapons technology development.[not in citation given (See discussion.)]
South Africa developed a small nuclear arsenal in the 1980s but disassembled them in the early 1990s, making it the only country to have fully given up an independently developed nuclear weapons arsenal. Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine inherited stockpiles of nuclear arms following the break-up of the Soviet Union, but relinquished them to the Russian Federation.
Countries with access to nuclear weapons through nuclear sharing agreements include Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. North Korea has claimed to have developed and tested nuclear devices, although outside sources have been unable to unequivocally support the state's claims.
United States politics
Due to the indiscriminate impact of WMD, the fear of a WMD attack has shaped political policies and campaigns, fostered social movements, and has been the central theme of many films. Support for different levels of WMD development and control varies nationally and internationally. Yet understanding of the nature of the threats is not high, in part because of imprecise usage of the term by politicians and the media.
Fear of WMD, or of threats diminished by the possession of WMD, has long been used to catalyze public support for various WMD policies. They include mobilization of pro- and anti-WMD campaigners alike, and generation of popular political support. The term WMD may be used as a powerful buzzword or to generate a culture of fear. It is also used ambiguously, particularly by not distinguishing among the different types of WMD.
More recently, the threat of potential WMD in Iraq was used by President George W. Bush as justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Broad reference to Iraqi WMD in general was seen as an element of President Bush's arguments. The claim that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by Coalition forces.
Over 500 munitions were discovered throughout Iraq since 2003 containing chemical agents mustard and Sarin gas, produced in the 1980s and no longer usable as originally intended.
In 2004, Polish troops found nineteen 1980s-era rocket warheads, thwarting an attempt by militants to buy them at $5000 each. Some of the rockets contained extremely deteriorated nerve agent.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a weapon of mass destruction as: "a weapon that can cause widespread destruction or kill large numbers of people, especially a nuclear, chemical, or biological weapon." In other words, it does not have to be nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC). For example, the terrorist for the Boston Marathon bombings was charged under United States law 18 U.S.C. 2332A for using a weapon of mass destruction and that was a pressure cooker bomb. In other words, it was a weapon that caused large-scale death and destruction, without being an NBC weapon.
In 2004, the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) released a report examining the media’s coverage of WMD issues during three separate periods: nuclear weapons tests by India and Pakistan in May 1998; the US announcement of evidence of a North Korean nuclear weapons program in October 2002; and revelations about Iran's nuclear program in May 2003. The CISSM report notes that poor coverage resulted less from political bias among the media than from tired journalistic conventions. The report’s major findings were that:
- Most media outlets represented WMD as a monolithic menace, failing to adequately distinguish between weapons programs and actual weapons or to address the real differences among chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological weapons.
- Most journalists accepted the Bush administration’s formulation of the "War on Terror" as a campaign against WMD, in contrast to coverage during the Clinton era, when many journalists made careful distinctions between acts of terrorism and the acquisition and use of WMD.
- Many stories stenographically reported the incumbent administration’s perspective on WMD, giving too little critical examination of the way officials framed the events, issues, threats, and policy options.
- Too few stories proffered alternative perspectives to official line, a problem exacerbated by the journalistic prioritizing of breaking-news stories and the "inverted pyramid" style of storytelling.
In a separate study published in 2005, a group of researchers assessed the effects reports and retractions in the media had on people’s memory regarding the search for WMD in Iraq during the 2003 Iraq War. The study focused on populations in two coalition countries (Australia and USA) and one opposed to the war (Germany). Results showed that US citizens generally did not correct initial misconceptions regarding WMD, even following disconfirmation; Australian and German citizens were more responsive to retractions. Dependence on the initial source of information led to a substantial minority of Americans exhibiting false memory that WMD were indeed discovered, while they were not. This led to three conclusions:
- The repetition of tentative news stories, even if they are subsequently disconfirmed, can assist in the creation of false memories in a substantial proportion of people.
- Once information is published, its subsequent correction does not alter people's beliefs unless they are suspicious about the motives underlying the events the news stories are about.
- When people ignore corrections, they do so irrespective of how certain they are that the corrections occurred.
A poll conducted between June and September 2003 asked people whether they thought evidence of WMD had been discovered in Iraq since the war ended. They were also asked which media sources they relied upon. Those who obtained their news primarily from Fox News were three times as likely to believe that evidence of WMD had been discovered in Iraq than those who relied on PBS and NPR for their news, and one third more likely than those who primarily watched CBS.
|Media source||Respondents believing evidence of WMD had been found in Iraq|
Based on a series of polls taken from June–September 2003.
In 2006 Fox News reported the claims of two Republican lawmakers that WMDs had been found in Iraq, based upon unclassified portions of a report by the National Ground Intelligence Center. Quoting from the report, Senator Rick Santorum said "Since 2003, coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent". According to David Kay, who appeared before the US House Armed Services Committee to discuss these badly corroded munitions, they were leftovers, many years old, improperly stored or destroyed by the Iraqis. Charles Duelfer agreed, stating on NPR's Talk of the Nation: "When I was running the ISG – the Iraq Survey Group – we had a couple of them that had been turned in to these IEDs, the improvised explosive devices. But they are local hazards. They are not a major, you know, weapon of mass destruction."
Later, wikileaks would show that WMDs of these kinds continued to be found as the Iraqi occupation continued.
Awareness and opinions of WMD have varied during the course of their history. Their threat is a source of unease, security, and pride to different people. The anti-WMD movement is embodied most in nuclear disarmament, and led to the formation of the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1957.
In order to increase awareness of all kinds of WMD, in 2004 the nuclear physicist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Joseph Rotblat inspired the creation of The WMD Awareness Programme to provide trustworthy and up to date information on WMD worldwide.
In 1998 University of New Mexico's Institute for Public Policy released their third report on US perceptions – including the general public, politicians and scientists – of nuclear weapons since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Risks of nuclear conflict, proliferation, and terrorism were seen as substantial.
While maintenance of a nuclear US arsenal was considered above average in importance, there was widespread support for a reduction in the stockpile, and very little support for developing and testing new nuclear weapons.
Also in 1998, but after the UNM survey was conducted, nuclear weapons became an issue in India's election of March, in relation to political tensions with neighboring Pakistan. Prior to the election the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced it would "declare India a nuclear weapon state" after coming to power.
BJP won the elections, and on 14 May, three days after India tested nuclear weapons for the second time, a public opinion poll reported that a majority of Indians favored the country’s nuclear build-up.
On 15 April 2004, the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) reported that US citizens showed high levels of concern regarding WMD, and that preventing the spread of nuclear weapons should be "a very important US foreign policy goal", accomplished through multilateral arms control rather than the use of military threats.
A majority also believed the US should be more forthcoming with its biological research and its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty commitment of nuclear arms reduction, and incorrectly thought the US was a party to various non-proliferation treaties.
A Russian opinion poll conducted on 5 August 2005 indicated half the population believes new nuclear powers have the right to possess nuclear weapons. 39% believes the Russian stockpile should be reduced, though not fully eliminated.
In popular culture
Weapons of mass destruction and their related impacts have been a mainstay of popular culture since the beginning of the Cold War, as both political commentary and humorous outlet. The actual phrase "weapons of mass destruction" has been used similarly and as a way to characterise any powerful force or product since the Iraqi weapons crisis in the lead up to the Coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Common hazard symbols
Radioactive weaponry/hazard symbol
The international radioactivity symbol (also known as trefoil) first appeared in 1946, at the University of California, Berkeley Radiation Laboratory. At the time, it was rendered as magenta, and was set on a blue background.
It is drawn with a central circle of radius R, the blades having an internal radius of 1.5R and an external radius of 5R, and separated from each other by 60°. It is meant to represent a radiating atom.
The International Atomic Energy Agency found that the trefoil radiation symbol is unintuitive and can be variously interpreted by those uneducated in its meaning; therefore, its role as a hazard warning was compromised as it did not clearly indicate "danger" to many non-Westerners and children who encountered it. As a result of research, a new radiation hazard symbol was developed in 2007 to be placed near the most dangerous parts of radiation sources featuring a skull, someone running away, and using a red rather than yellow background.
The red background is intended to convey urgent danger, and the sign is intended to be used on equipment where very strong radiation fields can be encountered if the device is dismantled or otherwise tampered with. The intended use of the sign is not in a place where the normal user will see it, but in a place where it will be seen by someone who has started to dismantle a radiation-emitting device or equipment. The aim of the sign is to warn people such as scrap metal workers to stop work and leave the area.
Biological weaponry/hazard symbol
Developed by Dow Chemical company in the 1960s for their containment products.
According to Charles Dullin, an environmental-health engineer who contributed to its development:
We wanted something that was memorable but meaningless, so we could educate people as to what it means.
- Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Commission on the Prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism
- Ethnic bioweapon
- Fallout shelter
- NBC suit
- Nuclear terrorism
- Orbital bombardment
- Russia and weapons of mass destruction
- The Bomb (film)
- United States and weapons of mass destruction
- Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission
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- "War Pimps, by Jeffrey St. Clair [Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in President Bush's War on Iraq, by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton]". Theava.com. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 5 August 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "Munitions Found in Iraq Meet WMD Criteria, Official Says". US Department of Defense. Retrieved 1 April 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "Troops 'foil Iraq nerve gas bid'". BBC. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 7 December 2007.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- American Heritage Dictionary: Weapon of mass destruction
- 18 U.S.C. 2332A
- Court case]
- Archived 22 October 2004 at the Wayback Machine[dead link] by Prof. Susan Moeller
- "Psychological Science – Journal Information". Blackwellpublishing.com. Retrieved 5 August 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Misperceptions, the Media and the Iraq War at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 February 2006), PIPA, 2 October 2003
- "Report: Hundreds of WMDs Found in Iraq". Fox News. 22 June 2006.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Kay, David. "House Armed Services Committee Hearing", 29 June 2006
- Duelfer, Charles. Expert: Iraq WMD Find Did Not Point to Ongoing Program NPR. 22 June 2006
- Shachtman, Noah (23 October 2010). "WikiLeaks Show WMD Hunt Continued in Iraq – With Surprising Results". Wired.com.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "CIA's Final Report: No WMD Found in Iraq". MSNBC. 25 April 2005.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "Iraq WMD Inspectors End Search, Find Nothing". Fox News. 26 April 2005.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- John Pike. "Sandia National Laboratories – News Releases". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 5 August 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- John Pike. "17 Days in May – India Nuclear Forces". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 5 August 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "The Pipa/Knowledge Networks Poll" (PDF). Web.archive.org. 29 September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Russian public opinion on nuclear weapons (5 August 2005). "Russian public opinion on nuclear weapons – Blog – Russian strategic nuclear forces". Russianforces.org. Retrieved 5 August 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "Origin of the Radiation Warning Symbol (Trefoil)".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- "Biohazard and radioactive Symbol, design and proportions" (PDF).<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>[dead link]
- Linda Lodding, "Drop it and Run! New Symbol Warns of Radiation Dangers and Aims to Save Lives," IAEA Bulletin 482 (March 2007): 70–72.
- IAEA news release Feb 2007
- "Biohazard Symbol History".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Bentley, Michelle. Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Strategic Use of a Concept (Routledge, 2014.) On the usage of the term in American policy
- Cirincione, Joseph, ed. Repairing the Regime: Preventing the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Routledge, 2014)
- Croddy, Eric A. ed. Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History (2 vol 2004); 1024pp excerpt
- Curley, Robert, ed. Weapons of Mass Destruction (Britannica Educational Publishing, 2011)
- Graham Jr, Thomas, and Thomas Graham. Common sense on weapons of mass destruction (University of Washington Press, 2011)
- Horowitz, Michael C., and Neil Narang. "Poor Man’s atomic bomb? exploring the relationship between “weapons of mass destruction”." Journal of Conflict Resolution (2013) online
- Hutchinson, Robert. Weapons of Mass Destruction: The no-nonsense guide to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons today (Hachette UK, 2011)
Definition and origin
- "WMD: Words of mass dissemination" (12 February 2003), BBC News.
- Bentley, Michelle, "War and/of Worlds: Constructing WMD in U.S. Foreign Policy," Security Studies 22 (Jan. 2013), 68–97.
- Michael Evans, "What makes a weapon one of mass destruction?" (6 February 2004), The Times.
- Bruce Schneier, "Definition of 'Weapon of Mass Destruction'" (6 April 2009), Schneier on Security.
- Stefano Felician, Le armi di distruzione di massa, CEMISS, Roma, 2010,
- George Moraetes, "'Nuclear Power Plant Cybersecurity'" (30 December 2014), Pulse on LinkedIn - Featured in Oil & Energy.
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540
- David P. Fidler, "Weapons of Mass Destruction and International Law" (February 2003), American Society of International Law.
- Joanne Mariner, "FindLaw Forum: Weapons of mass destruction and international law's principle that civilians cannot be targeted" (20 November 2001), CNN.
- Media Coverage of Weapons of Mass Destruction at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 February 2006)[dead link], by Susan D. Moeller, Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, 2004.
- Memory for fact, fiction, and misinformation, by Stephan Lewandowsky, Werner G.K. Stritzke, Klaus Oberauer, and Michael Morales, Psychological Science, 16(3): 190–195, 2005.
- Steven Kull et al., Americans on WMD Proliferation (15 April 2004), Program on International Policy Attitudes/Knowledge Networks survey.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weapons of mass destruction.|
- Journal dedicated to CBRNE issues
- United Nations: Disarmament at the Wayback Machine (archived 24 June 2005)
- US Department of State at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 March 2007)[dead link]
- Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
- Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
- Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Avoiding Armageddon, PBS
- FAS assessment of countries that own weapons of mass destruction
- National Counterproliferation Center – Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- HLSWatch.com: Homeland Security Watch policy and current events resource
- Office of the Special Assistant for Chemical Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization Programs, Official Department of Defense web site that provides information about the DoD Chemical Biological Defense Program
- Terrorism and the Threat From Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 April 2001)[dead link]
- Iranian Chemical Attacks Victims (Payvand News Agency)
- Iran: 'Forgotten Victims' Of Saddam Hussein Era Await Justice
- Comparison of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese translations
- Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
- The WMD Awareness Programme, Inspired by the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat, The WMD Awareness Programme is dedicated to providing trustworthy and up to date information on Weapons of Mass Destruction worldwide.
- Radius Engineering International Inc. Radius Engineering International Inc (ed.). "Nuclear Weapons Effects" (PDF). Retrieved 20 December 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>[dead link] These tables describe the effects of various nuclear blast sizes. All figures are for 15 mph (13 kn; 24 km/h) winds. Thermal burns represent injuries to an unprotected person. The legend describes the data.
- Gareth Porter, Documents linking Iran to nuclear weapons push may have been fabricated, TheRawStory, 10 November 2008
- Gareth Porter, The Iranian Nuke Forgeries: CIA Determines Documents were Fabricated, CounterPunch, 29 December 2009 | <urn:uuid:3d0e36ea-53c2-4844-bd53-748b2ddabc8a> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://infogalactic.com/info/Weapon_of_mass_destruction | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178358203.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20210227054852-20210227084852-00361.warc.gz | en | 0.892149 | 10,104 | 3.15625 | 3 | {
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Projecting light on inequalities
Many different types of people were persecuted throughout the Nazi regime including Jews, Roma and Sinti Gypsies and the mentally and physically disabled. One group often ignored is the 100,000 homosexuals targeted during this time.
The Rainbow Reel Festival will show films that relate to the persecution of homosexuals, with a special interest in the persecution during Nazi Germany and modern-day Russia. The festival, hosted by the LGBT Faculty/Staff Association, will show “Paragraph 175,” “Bent,” “The Iron Closet” and “The Out List.”
Kyle Felker, president of the LGBT FSA, said the films are shown in an order that allows them to build off each other and allow for an ongoing discussion about the persecution of LGBT populations. The festival coincides with the exhibit currently displayed in the Mary Idema Pew library, "Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals: 1933-1945.”
“We’d also like people to make the connection between the anti-homosexual policies of Nazi-era Germany and the policies of many present-day countries, such as Russia and Uganda,” Felker said. “We selected most of the films with that goal, in particular, in mind.”
Colette Beighly, director of the LGBT Resource Center, said the center recommended some of the films.
“This history is mostly invisible,” Beighly said. “Most people don’t know about the pink stars or the persecution of homosexuals. In studying this, we can learn about our own history and we can draw parallels to our own lives.”
The first film is called “Paragraph 175,” a documentary with interviews from six gay Holocaust survivors. It will be shown on Monday, Feb. 2 in the Mary Idema Pew multipurpose room.
“'Paragraph 175’ is a very good introduction to the historical facts of the period,” Felker said. “(The film is) well-contextualized with interviews from people who were arrested under the German anti-sodomy laws and survived.”
GVSU history professor Jason Crouthamel, who has studied the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust, will introduce the film. He will also lead a question and answer discussion following the film. Crouthamel and Felker agreed that “Paragraph 175” is a good introduction to the truths of the Holocaust.
“Many of my students have expressed that they had no idea that the Nazis persecuted homosexuals,” Crouthamel said. “The documentary provides an important glimpse into their experiences on a human level, as it introduces us to real people, rather than just abstract numbers, who were victims of Nazi violence.”
On Feb. 3, the festival will show the film “Bent” – a fictional story of homosexual persecution during the Holocaust. Crouthamel said the film is “quite accurate” in its presentation of the era. “Bent” was chosen to mirror the content in “Paragraph 175.”
“(Bent is) probably the most unusual love story I’ve ever seen,” Felker said. “It’s a very intense viewing experience, and I’ll be surprised if there aren’t tears. It’s pretty dark as well, although I think there are also messages about hope and resilience in it.”
On Feb. 4, the Rainbow Reel Festival will move the conversation of homosexual persecution into the modern era by showing “Iron Closet.” Cael Keegan, a professor in Women and Gender Studies, will lead a discussion after this showing.
“It’s just as sad, in its own way, as ‘Paragraph 175’,” Felker said. “What struck me most about it is the disconnect between the government’s claims that its policies are about protecting children, and the reality of what’s actually taking place.”
Felker said the last film shown in the festival, “The Out List,” is a departure from the others as it does not show the persecution of homosexuals but instead focuses on interviews with famous and notable modern-day figures.
“We selected it because most of the rest of the material was so grim; we wanted to end on a more pleasant note,” Felker said.
Screening for each film begins at 4 p.m. in the Mary Idema Pew Library. For more information, contact the LGBT FSA at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:a50fcbd5-1321-4b70-813d-29d39edf038b> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | http://www.lanthorn.com/article/2015/02/ae-projecting-light-on-inequalities | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578517558.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20190418101243-20190418123243-00234.warc.gz | en | 0.959236 | 990 | 3 | 3 | {
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How to write definition essay
Need help on writing a Definition Paper? Step by Step instructions for how to gather interviews, organize and write. This handout provides suggestions and examples for writing definitions. How to Write a Definition Essay. A definition essay can be deceivingly difficult to write. This type of paper requires you to write a personal yet academic definition. When writing an essay, you may need to define some of the terminology you use. However, writing a word-for-word definition from the dictionary can be awkward, and.
Defining the term or a concept can be a tricky job, so start off properly. Learn how to write a Definition Essay Outline with our guide. Read professional guidelines about how to write a good definition essay online. Free definition essay writing help for those who want to know how to do a definition. After reading this post you will get some basic knowledge about how to write definition essay and may begin creation of your own one. Here is an article on a definition essay. Feel free to use it while writing your own paper or contact us and we will write it instead of you.
How to write definition essay
Definition Essay Topics. It's all in the name with a definition essay. This type of paper explains a certain subject or a topic — just as a normal person would. Definition thesis statement. Examples of thesis statement for an Definition essay. Custom-Essays.org Custom Essay Writing Service How to write a Definition Essay. In a definition essay you will define some word; it may be either a specific term or abstract notion. Your analysis should go beyond the dictionary meaning of the word. Writing a definition essay might be difficult but our tips will help you. You will find some useful information and know how to overcome it.
What is a Definition Essay? A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. Some terms have definite, concrete meanings, such as glass, book, or tree. Using dictionary definitions to write your essay won't cut it. Check out our examples of definition essays to grasp what it really means to write one. A comparative essay is writing that requires enough similarities as well as differences between the selected topics to make meaningful discussions possible. To write a definition essay, you'll need to define a word that: has a complex meaning; is disputable (could mean different things to different people.
A definition essay is expository writing; it explains a word, idea or concept through personal commentary and reflection. Usually it will be an abstract idea. A college essay introduction serves to offer background information on the main topic and should generate a desire to read the actual content. Sample Definition Essay - Success Sample Character Analysis Essay - Hamlet Essay Tips: Style Analysis - Tone of Voice Words; Sample Compare and Contrast Essay. How To Write a Definition Essay: Ins and Outs. What does it mean to be an exemplary student? Well, one of the aspects may involve looking up all of the words unknown. The writer of a definition essay is tasked with explain what a particular term means and how it is used. While this might seem simple and straightforw.
A definition essay aims to explain a complicated term or concept to a student. It breaks the term down into several parts and explains each one individually. How to write a Definition Essay: Outline, Format, Structure, Topics, Examples. A critical analysis essay is an evaluation of someone's work: a book, an essay, a movie, an art piece to increase the readers' understanding of the article. What is an argumentative essay? The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate. | <urn:uuid:74dc6a70-c088-454e-a5de-e0740d3ea2e6> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://zvessayeend.longtime.us/how-to-write-definition-essay.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891813883.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20180222022059-20180222042059-00647.warc.gz | en | 0.908914 | 755 | 3.421875 | 3 | {
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American Indian Dance and Spirituality
The principal themes of American Indian dances concern the celebrations of life transitions, mortuary rites , war and hunt. So-called animal dances varied according to the local fauna, a tiger mime belonging to tropical peoples and a bear cult reaching across the northern part of North America and into Siberia.
Religious magic, or shamanism, practiced by societies or individual priests, is somewhat similar to some practices among Siberian. Variously practiced and used for healing the sick and communication with the spirit world, shamanism extends to southeastern Brazil but is most potent and most trance-oriented among the Arctic peoples.
More recent than the other rites, agricultural dance forms show enrichment from Iberian rituals.
A distinction between performer and spectator has long existed in some American Indian dance for various reasons (ex Spirit impersonations, including masks and noise, were used in widely separated areas to frighten nondancers).
Religious symbolism is significant even in the human interactions of the dance. Men often symbolize phallic,aggressive supernatural beings and rain-bringing deities, whereas women symbolize actual fertility in agriculture . In the animal realm are also separate roles for men and women
Some dances became extinct as European influences weakened tribal customs and others have
survived, with or without European modification.
North American Spirituality
There are more than 1100 Native American tribes in the USA and Canada
Native American religions are the spiritual practices of the indigenous peoples of North America. Ceremonial ways can vary widely and are based on the differing histories and beliefs of individual tribes, clans, and bands. Early European explorers describe individual Native American tribes and even small bands as each having their own religious practices. Theology may be monotheistic, polytheistic, animistic, shamanistic… or any combination thereof, among others. Traditional beliefs are usually passed down in the forms of oral histories, stories, allegories, and principles.
80 years of prohibitions of important ceremonies ended with AIRFA (American Indian Religious Freedom Act), some sacred sites in the United States are now protected areas under law.
North American Dances
Dances have always been significant in the lives of Native Americans as both a common amusement and a solemn duty. Many dances played a vital role in religious rituals and other ceremonies; while others were held to guarantee the success of hunts, harvests, giving thanks, and other celebrations.
Commonly, dances were held in a large structure or in an open field around a fire. Movements of the participants illustrated the purpose of the dance — expressing prayer, victory, thanks, mythology, and more. Sometimes a leader was chosen, on others, a specific individual, such as a war leader or medicine man would lead the dance. Many tribes danced only to the sound of a drum and their own voices; while others incorporated bells and rattles. Some dances included solos, while others included songs with a leader and chorus. Participants might include the entire tribe, or would specific to men, women, or families. In addition to public dances, there were also private and semi-public dances for healing, prayer, initiation, storytelling, and courting.
Dance continues to be an important part of Native American culture. The dances are regionally or tribally specific and the singers usually perform in their native languages. Depending upon the dance, sometimes visitors are welcomed; while, at other times, the ceremonies are private.
Here are some of them :
Inuit Whale Dance
Formerly, Inuits held elaborate outdoor ceremonies for whale catches and similar events. In Alaska, preliminaries included the rhythmic mime of a successful whale catch, with a woman in the role of the whale.
A sprinkling of ashes on the ice drove away evil spirits, and there were incantations and songs when leaving shore, when sighting the whale, and before throwing the spear, all of them songs that the “great kashak (priest)” sang when he created the whale.
the whaler’s wife came to meet the boat in ceremonial dress, dancing and singing, and boys and girls performed gesture dances on the beach. Then, inside a circle of large whale ribs, the whaler’s wife and children performed a dance of rejoicing
The Ghost Dance movement of the late 1800s was a religious revitalization movement in the Western United States. Initially founded as a local ceremony in Nevada, by the Paiute prophet Wodziwob, the movement did not gain widespread popularity until 1889–1890, when the Ghost Dance Religion was founded by Wovoka (Jack Wilson), who was also Northern Paiute.
The Ghost Dance was created in a time of genocide, to save the lives of the Native Americans by enabling them to survive the current and coming catastrophes, by calling the dead to fight on their behalf, and to help them drive the colonists out of their lands
The Sun Dance is practiced primarily by tribes in the Upper Plains and Rocky Mountain areas. This annual ceremony is typically performed at the summer solstice, with preparations beginning up to a year before the ceremony. Though the dance is practiced differently by different tribes, the Eagle serves as a central symbol in the dance, helping bring body and spirit together in harmony, as does the buffalo, for its essential role in Plains Indian food, clothing, and shelter. Many of the ceremonies have features in common, such as specific dances and songs passed down through many generations, the use of a traditional drum, praying with the pipe, offerings, fasting, and in some cases the ceremonial piercing of the skin. Although not all sun dance ceremonies include dancers being ritually pierced, the object of the sun dance is to offer personal sacrifice as a prayer for the benefit of one’s family and community.
The Stomp Dance is a form of dance to celebrate culture of certain tribes. Dancers dance in a counter-clockwise circle, woman following man following woman, and so on. Women wear long skirts and turtle shell “shakers”, one of the main components in making the music. Men “call” and are the highlight of the song by setting the pace of the dancers. This particular dance is common to Indians in the Southeast part of the United States. The dance is celebrated socially and religiously. Social stomp dances are held throughout the year and can be held indoors or outdoors, with or without a fire. Religious stomp dances are held during the summer at the height of the new crop season at particular stomp dance grounds during the Green Corn Ceremony which is a festive holiday our Koasati ancestors once participated in to give thanks to Abba Chokoli, the Creator for providing with food, life, and faith. The ceremonial fire provided for the Green Corn Ceremony is never allowed to burn out.
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Table of Contents
Audit and assurance has been an imperative practice in business to ensure transparency of the financial statements. To ensure total transparency, both internal and external audits are done. The auditors are required to write reports regarding the conducted audits, which is reviewed by various stakeholders in the organization. The nature of the auditor’s report should enable the stakeholders to understand if the organization has been enforcing transparency in its financial statements. There are various developments that can be done to the external auditor’s report. The wording of the auditor’s report has especially been among the major developments in the development of the external auditor’s report (Desai, Gerard & Tripathy 2008).This has been due to various recommendations of how to improve the external auditor’s report.
Perceptions of the External Auditor’s Report
External auditors play an imperative role in ensuring provision of the independent credibility of the published financial statements. This is because the published statements are used by various stakeholders in making decisions regarding the firm. For example, investors use the published financial statements to make investment decisions. On the other hand, creditors use published financial statements in determining the credit worthiness of the business. The credibility of the financial statements is based significantly on the report of the external auditor. The perceived effectiveness of the external auditor is another major determinant of the stakeholders’ decision making process. Therefore, the external auditor should act independently in the factual analysis and appearance (Healy & Jules 2012).
Independence of the auditor is essential in ensuring independence of the report on the financial statements in an organization. Various international and national professional accounting bodies have been working rigorously with regulators in ensuring enforcement of independence of the external auditor. This is to ensure consistency of the regulations regarding independence of the auditor, at both national and international levels. This will play an imperative role in reassuring various public stakeholders that the report of the auditor will be objective in concluding an entity’s financial statements (International Organization of Securities Commissions 2002). Credibility of the external auditors is based on the standards of independence and environment of the organization, in ensuring, that the auditor is free from any interests and influences.
The credibility of the external auditor’s report is based on the independence of the auditor in conducting the audit in which he writes a report. However, regulations relating to independence of the auditor vary depending on the jurisdiction of the audit. However, significance variations relate to the matters such as the scope of the person and entities, which vary from both the internal and external environment, where the independence regulations apply. In addition, regulations of the auditor’s independence may vary depending on the financial business and other relationships that the firm or the audit firm may have with the entity (Desai Gerard& Tripathy 2008). Regulations relating to independence of the auditor also vary depending on the services rather than the audit services an auditor provides to the entity.
However, there has been a growing consensus within different stakeholders in the organization, on the need to develop a framework of principles, which governs the independence of the auditor. This is due to the fact that the existing frameworks are not sufficient to protect the interests of different stakeholders. To provide clarity in the regulations of various prohibitions are proposed to ensure safeguard of different stakeholders.
The establishment of standards that govern the independence of auditors is not sufficient in providing an assurance that the auditors will be independent. To ensure independence, standards must be supported by various internal and external frameworks. For example, the organization should ensure development and maintenance of proper working internal systems and processes, which ensure monitoring and identification of threats to independence of the auditor in the organization (IAASB 2011).
How the Wording of External Audit Report has Evolved
The auditor’s report is the main basic form of communication to various stakeholders in the organization. This is due to the limited nature of communication between an auditor and various stakeholders in the organization. However, there have been concerns that the space of the auditors to exercise their professional evaluation and judgment without fear of liability should be improved (Manohar 2012).
External auditing has evolved over time due to the delineation of responsibilities given to the auditors as well as cultural changes in the external auditing over time. The users of financial statements have also increased in scope. In addition, the complexity of business organization has increased over time, with organizations developing multiple ownership structures and across borders. Globalization has also been another major factor affecting the conduct of business across borders, hence affecting the conduct of the external audits. Extensive improvement of technology and information has also been another major factor affecting the conduct of external audits. Technology has led to evolvement of business conduct from the paper based documentation to electronic documentation. Accounting standards and regulations have also proliferated from simplicity to the complex requirements in both principle and regulations (International Organization of Securities Commissions 2002).
Change of the accounting standards and regulations has been prompted by the need to improve corporate results and increasing global competition, which has led to major scandals involving accounting frauds leading to failure of companies. This has continuously resulted to a vast change of the rules involving corporate governance. The change in the rules of corporate governance was prompted by the need to increase the accountability in internal audits, audit committees and external auditors. In addition, audit as a profession was dominated by male. However, this has evolved over time to become a profession that has a competing number of male and female.
The main objective of external audit report is to communicate the conclusion of whether financial statements in an organization are prepared and presented, in accordance with the appropriate accounting standards. In writing the report the auditor must have the prerequisite knowledge in accounting, as well as various rules and regulations that affect financial statements being audited. In writing the report, the auditor must also have a thorough understanding of the industry of operation of the organization he is performing audit. The wording of the external auditor’s report has evolved over time with the cultural changes affecting auditing (Manohar 2012). The current multifaceted nature of business has also led to constant changes in the nature of wording of the external audit.
The wording of the external auditor’s report has also evolved due continuous change in technology and information systems. The need to increase transparency in the increasing change of business nature and increased global competition, leading to increased accounting frauds and corporate failures, has also prompted the evolvement of auditor’s report wording. This has led to continuous change of the regulation and accounting standards, which govern auditing and assurance. For example, the external auditor is supposed to be a complete independent third party with no stake in the organization. This was developed to ensure the auditor provision of reliable financial information which can be used by stakeholders in making decision about the organization. The changes in the auditor’s report have also been prompted by mushrooming users of the financial statements. This is dependent on the nature of the business, as well as the industry in which the organization operates. Various users of financial information have changed to a wider scope. For example, the users of financial statement include the regulatory authorities, financial institutions, lenders, government and individual investors among others (IAASB 2011).
IAASB’s Proposals and Future Developments Relating to Audit Reporting
In the recent past, the global financial system has experienced crisis, which has led to increased importance of the business environment to produce credible and high quality financial statements. The external auditors play an imperative role in ensuring and supporting the quality of financial reporting. This is in the context of capital market and public sector. Therefore, according to IAASB, the quality of audit is a matter of importance in ensuring the efficient financial system (Crump, 2012). IAASB plays an imperative role in ensuring the quality of audit, through provision of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and International Standards on Quality Control (ISQC). The standards outlined provide the basis of high quality audit around the globe. However, organizations should understand that standards are one of the major components of the factors influencing the quality of audit. Other factors affecting the quality of audit include financial information of the user’s perception, auditor’s skills and competence and the legal regulatory authorities (Schilder 2012).
IAASB has developed various proposals, which are meant to improve the quality of audit. The proposals are based on understanding the improvement, which should be made on the audit reporting based on the important perspectives of the user. The proposals prepared by IAASB are meant to help the audit report in meeting the interests of the public and users of the financial information. Various users of financial information, such as analysts and investors, have been leading the call for change of the IAASB standards. Therefore, the suggested proposals should provide additional information, which is useful in increasing the value of the report.
IAASB has proposed that improvements in the auditor’s reporting will be tailored towards ensuring that national financial reporting regimes are accommodated. The proposals are also based on the aspect of including the auditors in providing insights, as to the challenges that may be experienced in implementation of the suggested improvements. The IAASB has proposed that the auditor’s report should highlight various matters in the auditor’s judgment, which are essential for the user to understand the financial statements (Crump 2012).
The IAASB has proposed that the auditor should provide a conclusion of the appropriateness of the management use of the assumption of going concern. The auditor should provide an explicit statement concerning the uncertainties relating to the going-concern assumption. It has also proposed that the auditor should provide a statement as to whether there exist any material inconsistencies between the audited financial statements and other information. These proposals will affect the future conduct of audit, as well as affecting the audit reporting across the globe (Healy & Jules 2012).
Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, audit reporting is an imperative practice, especially reporting by the external auditor. This is due to the fact that the audit report plays an imperative role in influencing various decision-makings of various stakeholders in an organization. The external auditor is expected to act independently in providing the users of financial information with an audit statement regarding the financial statements of an organization. The nature of the audit report has continuously changed over time due to the changing nature of different cultures and environment in audit. International regulations and standards’ organizations have also been on the forefront of ensuring development of standards that comply with the changing environment in audit reporting such as IAASB.
In regard to the nature of audit reporting in the current global business environment, the following recommendations can be considered for the purpose of improving the nature of audit report:
- There is a need to clarify responsibilities of the auditor. This is due to the fact that independence of the auditor diminishes with increase in liabilities of the auditor.
- There is also the need to consolidate international regulations with various regulations in different countries. This will facilitate consistency of audit report within national and international audit reporting given the increased globalization. | <urn:uuid:5d95f2bc-aa85-406d-89dc-55f334f539ff> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://exclusivepapers.com/essays/economics/audit-and-assurance.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046153391.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20210727103626-20210727133626-00524.warc.gz | en | 0.95411 | 2,246 | 2.796875 | 3 | {
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It’s one of the most popular ‘what ifs’ of the last fifty years. ‘What if it had been raining on 22 November 1963 in Dallas?’
Obviously there would have been no Presidential open-top motorcade and Lee Harvey Oswald – or the Mafia, or the man on the grassy knoll, or the four French hired assassins from Marseilles, or whatever other conspiracy theory you subscribe to – would have been denied the opportunity to demonstrate his or their peerless marksmanship and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America, would probably have seen out his first term and been re-elected in November 1964.
JFK was originally elected with just over 49% of the popular vote in the 1960 race for the White House with Richard Nixon. While in office his popularity rarely dipped below 60%. After the Cuban missile crisis his ratings were in the high 70s. In a poll of 1960 voters taken after his death 70% claimed to have chosen him as President.
Of course there’s another great ‘what if’ when it comes to the career of John F.Kennedy. What if his older brother Joseph Kennedy Jr, had survived World War 2? Would John F have become Bobby, his older sibling’s loyal Doberman, rather than Senator and President?
He was arguably, the first conscious political ‘brand’. With iconographers like Theodore Sorenson and Pierre Salinger cultivating and honing the Kennedy narrative he could hardly fail. Fifty years later he is a mythic figure. Myth=branding + time.
But the skein of myth is easily unravelled.
For example, he wasn’t even the youngest American president. When Theodore Roosevelt took over the office after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901 he was nine months younger than Kennedy.
And his credentials as a supposed political progressive don’t stand up to too much examination. In 1957 he opposed Eisenhower’s civil rights legislation. He persisted, when in office, with the Democratic party practice of appointing dodgy judges to federal courts in the south. One such JFK appointee, a man called Harold Cox, once described African Americans as ‘chimpanzees’ after he had been elevated to the federal bench.
During his first term as a senator Kennedy teamed up with the darling of the Republican right, Barry Goldwater, to try and keep rock and roll music off American radio stations. He presided over the assassination of a supposed ally (and fellow Catholic) in Ngo Dinh Diem, beleaguered president of South Vietnam.
But he also achieved a lot of good in a very short life
Take just one month of his Presidency – June 1963. On June 10 this apparent cold war warrior made a major foreign policy speech at the American University in Washington DC. In a world dominated by ideas of mutually assured destruction he appeared to extend an olive branch to the Russians.
The following day, after Governor George Wallace of Alabama was forced by Federal intervention to, quite literally, step aside and allow two African American students pass into the campus of the University of Alabama, Kennedy made a largely improvised address on national radio and TV, promising equal access to public schools and enhanced voting rights, to African American citizens.
Then on 26 June he made his famous ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech (the ‘ein’ was superfluous) a short time after viewing the newly erected Berlin wall. Oh, yes, and, of course, he dropped into Ireland for four days on his way home.
Not a bad month’s work really.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the USA, was born 98 years ago, on this day. | <urn:uuid:1adec7a7-4244-416f-877f-a456315083e8> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | https://mylesdungan.com/2015/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218187717.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212947-00522-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974767 | 774 | 2.640625 | 3 | {
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The epidemic of obesity has increased dramatically in children. Did you know that one in five kindergarten children is already overweight?
In an effort to begin discussions on obesity prevention earlier, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the new clinical report titled “The role of the pediatrician in the primary prevention of obesity.” It offers families practical ways to incorporate healthy habits into their busy lifestyles and eliminates some of these bad habits earlier (when they are easier to break).
Tips for Families Regarding Obesity Treatments for Kids
Here are tips regarding dietary options for kids;
- Smart Shopping: Rising food costs make creating healthy meals a challenge. The AAP recommends using the USDA’s online resources to make profitable purchases of healthy foods.
- Make healthy foods available at all times: Water jars, fresh fruits, and other varieties of snacks that are low in calories should be easily reachable every time and in plain sight; for example, in front of the refrigerator or large bowls on the counter of the kitchen or on the table.
- Watch the portions: Use a serving spoon and smaller plates to help children take appropriate portions of high-calorie foods. When you go out to eat with your family, recognize the size of the portions and discuss eating half and take the other half home to enjoy later.
- Cook with your children: Kids are often eager to assist, so let them mix the bowl or add ingredients to what you make, and they will be more likely to eat what they helped create.
- Limit treats and snacks: Children should have three well-balanced meals and one to two small snacks during the day. Do not let your children graze all day; they need structure to help limit nibbling. Treats should be on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. They should not be part of your child’s daily diet.
Additional tips for battling obesity as recommended by AAP are as follows;
Children who do not sleep well are at increased risk of obesity. Parents can encourage good sleep habits by organizing a nighttime routine with young children. Avoid sleeping with bottles or cups and take the TVs out of the rooms to promote good sleep hygiene.
The AAP recommends limiting the screen time to two hours or less per day. This can be difficult for parents to implement, as children do more and more things at once (homework and texting) and the boundaries between entertainment and education are often unclear, especially when using ‘a computer.
Busy lives make it hard to find the time to exercise. However, physical activity does not necessarily mean sport: family activities and active games (family walks and hikes, bike rides, outdoor games and activities) matter as well.
If you do not have a large yard, find the parks or playgrounds near you and plan to go with your family. Involve the children in the planning and they will remind you that tonight is kickball or cycling. Many cities have community centers, such as the YMCA, that offer activity for children of all ages. Always set a target of 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
In conclusion, obesity has always been a core issue in the field of pediatrics, which is why the AAP has the above-listed guidelines in place to keep the reoccurring epidemic in check because living healthy and looking the part should be the number one priority for every family and their kids. | <urn:uuid:68a72865-b0ea-420c-8c47-bc5e08dc6080> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://www.healthykidsqueens.com/pediatric-obesity-treatments/new-policy-regarding-pediatric-obesity-treatments-by-aap/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610704835583.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20210128005448-20210128035448-00403.warc.gz | en | 0.958441 | 687 | 3.640625 | 4 | {
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Virus as medicine: Genetically engineered virus can cure cancer, scientist learn
The worldwide study, which was led by the Institute of Cancer Research in the UK and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, says that an artificially created virus called T-VEC can provide skin cancer patients with more efficacious treatment.
Clinical trials have been going on for more than three years in 64 centers across the US, UK, Canada and South Africa. If further studies are also successful, the new drug will be more widely available by next year, the scientists predict according to the Guardian.
T-VEC is a modified herpes virus which multiplies inside cancer cells until they burst open. After destroying the cancer cell, the virus gets into surrounding area and triggers a secondary immune reaction against the tumor.
Dr Hayley Frend, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, commented: “Using a virus to both kill cancer cells and nudge the immune system into attacking them is exciting. Previous studies have shown T-VEC could benefit some people with advanced skin cancer, but this is the first study to prove an increase in survival.”
The virus is deprived of two key genes, which makes it impossible for it to replicate in healthy cells – so, normal cells detect and destroy T-VEC before it can cause damage. That means the virus is practically safe for patients.
During the research more than 400 patients were injected with the drug every two weeks for up to 18 months. They had flu-like symptoms after the first few injections, but on the whole such treatment has much milder side effects than other therapies.
The scientists appreciate the results of the study as highly positive. Patients with stage three and early stage four melanoma lived on average for 41 months after T-VEC-therapy, while other people with the same stage of skin cancer lived for only 21.5 months. Ten percent of the patients had “complete remission” with no detectable symptoms of cancer – regarded as a cure if the patient is still cancer-free between three and five years after diagnosis.
“This is the big promise of this treatment. It’s the first time a virotherapy has been shown to be successful in a phase 3 trial,” Kevin Harrington, professor of biological cancer therapies at the Institute of Cancer Research London said, as cited by the Guardian.
“The results are especially encouraging, because all the patients had inoperable, relapsed or metastatic melanoma with no conventional treatment options available to them. They had disease that ranged from dozens to hundreds of deposits of melanoma on a limb all the way to patients where cancer had spread to the lungs and liver,” he added.
The scientists noticed one more interesting feature – the immune system after the T-VEC therapy becomes capable of detecting and attacking cancer throughout the body. As a result, even secondary tumors not infected also shrank or even disappeared. “It’s like an unmasking of the cancer,” explained Mr Harrington. “The patient’s immune system wakes up and attacks the cancer cells wherever they are in the body.”
If the success of virotherapy as a remedy against skin cancer is proved, it will give hope that the same methods will be effective in the treatment of other types of cancer.
The idea of curing cancer with viruses isn’t new – it emerged in the early 20th century. In 1949, 21 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma were injected with viral hepatitis. Seven people had temporary remission while one died and 13 others contracted hepatitis. Today, virotherapy is much safer due to genetic engineering, which allows for creating less dangerous versions of natural viruses.
“We may normally think of viruses as the enemies of mankind, but it’s their very ability to specifically infect and kill human cells that can make them such promising cancer treatments,” the Telegraph quoted Professor Paul Workman, CEO of the Institute of Cancer Research, London.
According to the “World Cancer Report 2014” published by the World Health Organization, 232,000 people across the world had skin cancer and 55,000 died of it in 2012. About 88 percent of patients live for more than five years after the detection of the disease, but life expectancy for aggressive forms of skin cancer with the illness spreading to other organs is much lower. | <urn:uuid:848e96c8-81e1-4575-a674-15414c812287> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | https://www.rt.com/news/262481-skin-cancer-remedy-study/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794865468.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20180523082914-20180523102914-00337.warc.gz | en | 0.963468 | 905 | 3.34375 | 3 | {
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A decision tree is a graphical representation of an algorithm. This tree-like graph lists all possible decisions, resource costs, utility, and consequences, and allows comparison of all alternatives in one pane. Read on to find out how to create a decision tree.
Elements of Creating a Decision Tree
A decision tree starts from one end of the sheet of paper or the computer document, usually the left-hand side. The starting point extends in a series of branches or forks, each representing a decision, and it may continue to expand into sub branches, until it generates two or more results or nodes. The tree expands or grows until at least one branch leads to a decision node or a chance node.
The nodes of a decision tree are:
Decision node: Decision nodes, conventionally represented by squares, represent an outcome defined by the user. The attribute undergoes some test or evaluation at this node, and each possible outcome of such evaluation generates a branch and a sub-tree.
Leaf node: Leaf nodes indicate the value of the target attribute
Chance node: Chance nodes, conventionally represented by circles, represent uncertain outcomes under the mercy of external forces
End node: End nodes, conventionally represented by triangles, represent the end of the path.
Once you learn how to create a decision tree, you will realize it is not that difficult a task.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
How to Draw a Decision Tree
People generally draw decision trees on paper. Many computer applications nevertheless exist to aid this process. Some applications even generate decision trees automatically by feeding the algorithm.
How do you draw a decision tree? The steps to create a decision tree diagram manually are:
- Take a large sheet of paper. The more options there are, and the more complex the decision, the larger the sheet of paper required will be.
- As a starting point for the decision tree, draw a small square around the center of the left side of the paper. If the description is too large to fit the square, use legends by including a number in the tree and referencing the number to the description either at the bottom of the page or in another page
- Draw out lines (forks) to the right of the square box. Draw one line each for each possible solution to the issue, and describe the solution along the line. Keep the lines as far apart as possible to expand the tree later.
- Illustrate the results or the outcomes of the solution at the end of each line. If the outcome is uncertain, draw a circle (chance node). If the outcome leads to another issue, draw a square (decision node). If the issue is resolved with the solution, draw a triangle (end node). Describe the outcome above the square or circle, or use legends, as appropriate.
- Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each new square at the end of the solution lines, and so on until there are no more squares, and all lines have either a circle or blank ending.
- The circles that represent uncertainty remain as they are. A good practice is to assign a probability value, or the chance of such an outcome happening.
Since it is difficult to predict at onset the number of lines and sub-lines each solution generates, the decision tree might require one or more redraws, owing to paucity of space to illustrate or represent options and or sub options at certain spaces..
It is a good idea to challenge and review all squares and circles for possible overlooked solutions before finalizing the draft.
Using the decision tree diagram to evaluate the best decision among the various options can take many forms, depending on the purpose of the tree.
One basic and simple option is to assign a cash value or score to each possible outcome, by estimating the worth or value generated if the specific outcome comes to pass, and selecting the outcome that scores the most. For circles or chance nodes that have uncertain results, multiply the value by the probability percentage. For instance, if the value is $1000 and the probability of happening is 50 percent, the value for that chance node is $500.
Decision trees are simple tools that make all possible options or decisions to an issue explicit. | <urn:uuid:93b23556-fcc8-41ba-9730-25b39c6dba55> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/105851-how-to-create-a-decision-tree/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860111868.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161511-00161-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.890186 | 854 | 4.28125 | 4 | {
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Everything has unintended consequences. A small change to your software ripples downstream and creates new bugs. Changing a simple capacitor causes that regulator over there to fail. VPNs (virtual private networks) were originally created to allow access to your work computer while on the road but have since become the preferred way to sidestep copyright police or geo-shift your video streams.
Nowhere are unintended consequences more consequential than in the patent system. Patents mostly work as intended, inasmuch as they incentivize inventors with a temporary monopoly in exchange for sharing their discovery. Everybody gets to see how you did it, but nobody else can commercialize it for a while. We learn from each other, but we also defer the presumed riches that come with the initial exploitation. It’s your invention so it’s your market.
But there’s also a dark side. Patents are prohibitive, like all laws. They tell you what you can’t do without getting punished or sued. That makes them effective weapons, and patent enforcement entities (PAEs) or non-practicing entities (NPEs) – patent trolls, basically – wield these weapons quite successfully. They buy up patents for the sole purpose of using them as legal threats. “Pay up or we’ll sue you for infringing this patent we just bought at a garage sale,” is more or less how the initial engagement works. Oftentimes it’s cheaper (and always easier) to simply pay the PAE’s licensing demands than to fight the lawsuit. That’s entirely the point and the whole basis of the troll’s business model. Threaten and settle, threaten and settle. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The practice is completely legal in most countries, but also broadly condemned. It’s like sneaking the football underneath your jersey: technically within the rules but also clearly not the way the game is supposed to be played. It’s an unintended consequence that keeps the lawyers and the courts busy and is a persistent looming threat to legitimate companies that invent, make, and sell real products.
So, what’s the solution? A nonprofit company called LOT Network thinks it may have found a clever way to disarm the patent trolls.
Patent trolling depends on three things. The trolling PAE/NPE must own the patent; the target company must not have a license to that patent; and the target’s cost to defend itself must be prohibitive (i.e., more onerous than simply paying the troll for a license). Note that it doesn’t really matter whether the target company actually infringes the patent or not. It’s not their call. Only the courts can decide that, and court cases are slow, expensive, and wholly unpredictable. It’s an unequal state of affairs akin to the military concept of asymmetric warfare.
A few anti-trolling groups have attacked the first leg of the stool by buying patents away from the NPEs, thus depleting their weapons cache. Others have focused their efforts on the third leg by setting up a legal defense fund available to any member of the group that gets caught up in a patent trolling shakedown.
LOT Network works on the second leg. It’s more like a poison pill. If any member company sells one of its patents to a patent troll, all the other members of the group immediately receive a no-cost license to that patent. That denies the troll a target – several targets, in fact. Trolls can demand fees only from companies that don’t already have a license, and if everyone in the group is licensed there’s no one to sue.
“We’re herd immunization, effectively,” says LOT Network’s CEO Ken Seddon. The group agreement provides safety in numbers, like circling the Conestoga wagons in case of attack. Individually, a member company might be a trolling target, but collectively, they all protect each other by instantly rendering the patent useless. At least, useless against LOT Network members. There’s nothing to stop a PAE/NPE from antagonizing non-member companies just like before.
Joining LOT Networks looks economically attractive. The group currently has more than 1300 member companies, including such heavy hitters as IBM, Google, Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, Waymo, Cisco, Red Hat, and hundreds of others. They’re not all tech companies, either. BMW, Daimler-Benz, Ford, GM, Tesla, VW, and other automakers are also members. So are Coca-Cola and Pepsi, as well as several banks, online retailers, and brick-and-mortar stores. Collectively, they have over 3 million patents.
The patents are not pooled or shared; member companies aren’t giving up any rights to their own inventions. They can still exercise their own patents any way they want – including litigation – and they don’t automatically get rights to other members’ patents. The only event that triggers the mutual-protection pact is the sale of a patent to an NPE outside the group. At that point, the patent in question is distributed to all member companies, rendering them all legal licensees and beyond the reach of patent trolls.
Knowing this, NPEs might be less willing to pay top dollar to acquire patents from a member company. That can be other good or bad. If a member company falls on hard times and decides to sell its patent portfolio, its patents will be devalued by virtue of their inclusion in the LOT Networks pool. That’s bad news for the selling company. But anything that reduces the incentive for trolls to troll might also be considered a good thing, too.
LOT’s long-term strategy is to increase the size of its membership and decrease the universe of nonmembers that can be targets of patent trolls. Theoretically, if every business in the world joins LOT Network, there’d be no one left to sue. It’s a zero-sum game, with the NPEs and PAEs on the losing side.
Membership is even free for small companies (under $25 million annual revenue). After that, it’s a few thousand dollars per year, scaling up with revenue. That’s about a half day of a litigator’s time. Pretty cheap insurance. LOT Network itself is organized as a nonprofit organization.
Patent abuse is on the rise. Stanford University maintains an interactive database of patent-troll lawsuits going back 20 years, with a marked increase in cases starting about ten years ago, peaking at 844 cases in a single month (November 2015). And that’s just in the U.S.
Maybe LOT Network’s scheme will have unintended consequences, too. But so far, it looks harmless and shrewdly effective, not to mention dirt cheap. It plays within the rules yet effectively blocks those who subvert those rules for personal gain. More power to them. | <urn:uuid:303d183b-61fd-4be0-8b6d-c1cd5742f327> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://www.eejournal.com/article/patent-trolls-and-unintended-consequences/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656104293758.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220704015700-20220704045700-00375.warc.gz | en | 0.946641 | 1,462 | 2.515625 | 3 | {
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Fussy eaters: what affects toddler eating behaviour
Danielle and Jason are MasterChef fans, and feel like they have gotten in touch with their inner ‘foodie’. Their three year-old son, Jonah, does not share his parent’s enthusiasm for culinary sensations, picks at dinner, and avoids certain foods. His behaviour classifies the toddler as a ‘fussy eater’ .
Jonah has a poor appetite, particularly when fruit, vegetables, or ‘new’ foods are presented to him. Jonah’s fussy eating behaviour is not limited to his home: this fussy eater also refuses to eat at other people’s houses, is picky about food that he dislikes the smell of, and shows a clear aversion to certain textures in food as well.
Jonah’s fussy eating habits are not rare – many children between the ages of two and six are fussy-eaters*. While Jonah doesn’t like new foods, he also actively avoids many foods that he is familiar with. Like most fussy eaters, Jonah’s inadequate intake of fresh fruit and vegetables is affecting his diet: healthy fruits and vegetables are replaced with unhealthy processed foods that have high sugar, salt, and fat content. While these taste great to even the pickiest eater, they leave a long-lasting negative impact on dietary health and nutrition. Unfortunately, the kind of diet that bows to fussy eaters also contributes to the increase of child obesity and Type II diabetes.
There are a substantial number of factors that can influence our children’s eating behaviour.
Fussy eater factor: Age
It’s a fact that fussy-eating and similar eating challenges peak around toddler age up to six years, but the behaviour of fussy eaters stops by early adolescence.
Fussy eater factor: Pressure to eat
Research shows that forcing picky or fussy eaters to eat will turn them away from food, and turn meal time into a power struggle.
Fussy eater factor: Parental modelling
Children who display fussy eating traits may have learnt inappropriate eating behaviours and food choices from their parents (or siblings).
Other fussy eating factors can include:
- Tactile defensiveness (not liking the feel/texture of certain foods)
7 tips to tackle fussy eating in toddlers:
So what should parents do if they’re worried about their children’s fussy eating habits? Try these tips to prevent fussy eater behaviour.
Early and repeated exposure to healthy foods
This makes a substantial difference in the acceptance and eventual independent choice of children to eat well and prevents fussy eating. From the introduction of solids begin to introduce a variety of foods and do so repeatedly. If your child is four and still fussy, begin to expose him or her to new foods regularly now! Researchers suggest it may take up to 15 ‘exposures’ to a new food before a child will accept it. But make those experiences positive.
Avoid pressuring your toddler to eat
Ever notice that the kids are always hungry right before and right after dinner? Forcing children to sit at the table and eat what’s on their plate does not promote positive eating experiences. In fact, it can trigger fussy eating.
Offer food options
To prevent future fussy eating, give your toddler food options. As much as possible, ask your children what food options they would choose. For burrito night, let them stack the tortilla, and ensure there is nothing unhealthy to select. Encourage at least one or two lettuce leaves or tomato pieces, even if they don’t like it. But make sure that options, whether for snacks or meals, are healthy.
Involve your toddler in preparing their food
Kids love to touch and play with food. Having them help in preparations for a meal will often increase their likelihood of eating it and decrease fussy behaviour about that meal. Making a big deal about the frittata that your three year-old ‘made’ will often promote a connection and sense of ownership with the food, and a willingness to try it.
Try new foods
Try the motto ‘we try new things’, at the dinner table. Encourage a curious and adventurous exploration of new foods. Let the children know that sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. The promise of new, exciting foods may solve food fussiness in the long term.
Sneak in healthy food
Resorting to sneaking in healthy food is not ideal, as you ultimately want your child to independently choose good foods. But if all she’ll eat is spaghetti bolognese, then put some grated carrot, zucchini, and blended tomato into the pot too.
Stick to the food you know works
Your children will not starve themselves, not matter how fussy they are when it comes to food. If you give them healthy alternatives consistently they’ll get used to the food you serve and will eventually eat it without struggles.
* Note: there are different classifications of fussy-eaters, such as food neophobes and tactile defensiveness, but for the purposes of this article the emphasis will simply be on toddlers and preschool children who are difficult at meal times.
Really struggling and want more in-depth help?
Our eBook Eat Right Without a Fight has positive and practical strategies to help you avoid battles and whingeing at mealtimes.
Designed for parents of 2-12 year olds, and available for $9.99 inc. GST. | <urn:uuid:04edd386-a0bb-4fb4-9c33-411939451148> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/blog/7-tips-tackle-fussy-eating-toddlers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655899931.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20200709100539-20200709130539-00132.warc.gz | en | 0.959961 | 1,162 | 3.171875 | 3 | {
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Do you ever have days when a muscle spasms when you’re sitting watching TV, working at your desk, or stretching before a workout? It just goes twitching, and no matter how much you rub it, it comes back for more. We’ll study everything here and learn about muscle spasms and some home remedies to soothe chronic muscle spasms.
What are Muscle Spasms?
Muscle spasms are tissue cramps that occur when muscle contracts or gets tightened. These are painful muscle contractions that can occur due to various strenuous activities. Thus, these are common, uncontrollable, and unpredictable. Although there are strategies for preventing muscle spasms and treating them, they are not always practical. Muscle relaxants, stretching, and massage are the most widely used treatment measures.
Causes for Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms are classified as “Idiopathic,” which indicates that the specific cause is unknown. One or more of the following, as per some experts, may be to blame in the majority of cases:
- Muscle Exhaustion
- The blood supply is restricted.
- Exercising in the sweltering heat.
- Not performing enough stretching.
- Nerve discharges are involuntary.
- Performing far too many high-intensity workouts.
- Electrolyte depletion is when electrolytes are depleted (salts and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium in your body).
Muscle spasms can occur in various body parts, including the feet, abdomen, arms, biceps, ribcage, calves, and hamstrings. They are also quite common among those who suffer from acute back or neck pain. Several factors could induce this issue in the muscle, like heavy workouts, pregnancy, or chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. Although not serious in most cases, these episodes can be harrowing. But seeking the right aids can provide effective and immediate relief.
5 Ways to Treat Muscle Spasm via Home Remedies
While muscular spasms can be excruciating, these five natural muscle relaxing home remedies can help instantly:
1. Stretching the Muscles
Stretching is the most significant hack if you detect any muscular spasm is coming on. There are a variety of stretches to do, but here are a few of the most basic:
Calf Spasms — can be relieved by lying down and stretching your leg by pointing or dragging your toes toward your head. Hold this position until the spasm ceases, but don’t overextend yourself, or you’ll injure yourself much more.
Thigh Spasms — Stretch your quad with the spasm while standing and gripping a chair for balance. Bend your leg, grab your ankle, and pull it toward your bottom to relieve the cramp.
Back Spasms — Walk slowly and steadily to loosen your back muscles and relieve pain.
Neck Spasms — Roll your shoulders forward ten times and then backward ten times in a circular motion to wiggle the spasms out of your neck.
2. Tissue Massage with Oils
Massages such as Swedish massages, deep tissue massages, and even Shiatsu, a Japanese-style massage, can all assist in soothing and relaxing muscles. These treatments can be costly and time-consuming, especially if the spasm arises suddenly.
Try gently massaging the affected area if a spasm occurs at home, work, or running errands. If you cannot reach it, have someone rub it for you. If the spasm persists, apply a firm pinch to the area and hold it for a few minutes.
3. Heating or icing
Icing or warmth are two more effective spasm therapies. If the spasms persist after various treatments and inflammation is present, use an ice pack wrapped in a towel cloth onto the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day. Any chilly object placed directly on your skin can harm your skin cells. The same might be said when utilizing a heating pad or something warm to relieve a spasm. Even though heat relaxes your muscles, it might aggravate inflammation if applied to the affected area for an extended period. Consider other possibilities, such as a warm bath or a shower.
4. CBD Products
Back spasms are painful, uncontrollable, and often unexpected contractions of the back muscles. There’s widespread interest in identifying nonaddictive and safe back spasm remedies. Although there is no definitive evidence that CBD can cure this health problem, research suggests that it may have some benefits. According to a medical study, CBD may help persons with multiple sclerosis improve their spasm symptoms. Even though CBD is only one of the numerous active chemicals in medicinal marijuana, researchers have discovered that it can help people with specific diseases regulate spasms. CBD products like CBD Muscle Spray, CBD Oil, and CBD Creams are very effective. Or, you can get THC disposables at cheap rates for more long-lasting and effective relief.
5. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated helps prevent spasms, but it can also decrease them. Muscle spasms are commonly caused by dehydration and misuse of muscles, which frequently occur while exercising. The quantity of water you should drink depends on you and your lifestyle. You can also factor in the water found in beverages and foods to ensure you’re well hydrated. Here are several measurements to think about, particularly if you’re a highly active person:
Women should drink 11 glasses of water each day; if they are active, they should drink 16. Men should drink 15 and a half glasses of water per day; if they are physically engaged, they should drink 20.
Nonprescription treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pickle juice, supplements or vitamins, and natural muscle relaxers are good options for calming or treating muscular spasms. Topical anti-inflammatory treatments and pain relievers are also available.
If you’ve tried these remedies but are still having spasms, call your medical health care so they can help you figure out what’s wrong and get you back to feeling normal.
Muscle spasms can be a challenging experience due to the pain and discomfort it causes. But with the help of potent natural aids, you can achieve immediate relief with minimal or no side effects. Try these simple and effective solutions at home to ease the discomfort in muscles immediately. | <urn:uuid:e7087f67-467c-4b4f-a6b6-68584826e5c9> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://makemoneywithurl.com/2022/05/5-ultimate-home-remedies-to-treat-your-muscle-spasms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711396.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20221209112528-20221209142528-00485.warc.gz | en | 0.933557 | 1,331 | 2.6875 | 3 | {
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Fanny Burney, later Madame D'Arblay, (June 13, 1752-January 6, 1840) was an English novelist and diarist. She published her first novel Evelina anonymously in 1778. The revelation of its authorship brought her nearly immediate fame by its narrative and comic power. She published Cecilia in 1782 and Camilla in 1796. Her three major novels, much admired by Jane Austen, are about the entry into the world of a young, beautiful, intelligent but inexperienced girl. Her fourth novel, The Wanderer, was published in 1814. During her lifetime, she was best known as a novelist, but the posthumous publication of her journals and letters led to a later characterization as an eighteenth-century observer and writer of character sketches. She was virtually addicted to "scribbling" and produced large quantities of writing over the course of her long life.
She was born Frances Burney, daughter of Dr. Charles Burney, a self-made man and musician of some distinction at King's Lynn, Norfolk, where her father was organist. Her mother, Esther (née Sleepe) was granddaughter of a French refugee named Dubois. Frances was the fourth child in a family of six.
Of her brothers, James (1750-1821) became an admiral and sailed with Captain James Cook on his second and third voyages, and Charles Burney was a well-known classical scholar. In 1760 the family moved to London, and Dr. Burney took a house in Poland Street. Mrs. Burney died in 1761, when Frances was only nine years old, and her father was too busy to give her any attention. Her sisters Esther (Hetty), afterwards Mrs. Charles Rousseau, and Susanna, afterwards Mrs. Phillips, were sent to school in Paris, but Frances was largely self-educated.
Early in 1766 she paid her first visit to Dr. Burney's friend Samuel Crisp at Chessington Hall in Surrey. Dr. Burney had first made Crisp's acquaintance in about 1745 at the house of Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville, and they had studied music together. Crisp's play, Virginia, staged by David Garrick in 1754 at the request of the countess of Coventry (née Maria Gunning), had been unsuccessful, and Crisp had retired to Chessington Hall, where he frequently entertained Dr. Burney and his family, to whom he was familiarly known as "Daddy" Crisp.
It was to her "Daddy" Crisp and her sister Susan that Frances Burney addressed large portions of her diary and many of her letters. In 1767, Dr. Burney married Elizabeth Allen, widow of a King's Lynn wine-merchant. Frances lived in the midst of an exceptionally brilliant social circle, gathered round her father in Poland Street, and later at his new home in St. Martin's Street, Leicester Fields. David Garrick, the best-known actor of the period, was a constant visitor. Of the various "lyons" they entertained she leaves a graphic account, notably of Omai, the Otaheitan native, and of Alexis Orlov, the favorite of Catherine II of Russia. She first met Samuel Johnson at her father's home in March 1777.
Her father's drawing-room, where she met many of the chief musicians, actors and authors of the day, was Frances' only school, but he had a huge library; Macaulay stated that in the whole of Dr. Burney's library there was only one novel, Henry Fielding's Amelia. Frances was acquainted with the Abbé Prévost's Doyen de Killérine, Marivaux's Vie de Marianne, Samuel Richardson's Clarissa, the books of Elizabeth Griffith, and those of Frances Brooke. Her diary contains the record of her reading. The young Frances once made a bonfire of her manuscripts, among them a History of Caroline Evelyn, a story containing an account of Evelina's mother. She also mentions then famous courtesan Kitty Fisher in her diaries.
However, Burney made up for this loss in later years. The first entry in her journal or diary was made on May 30, 1768, addressed to "Miss Nobody," and it extended over seventy-two years. The earlier parts were savagely edited in later days, and much was obliterated by Burney herself in revising manuscripts. Editors Lars Troide and Joyce Hemlow recovered some of this obscured material while researching their late twentieth-century editions of the journals and letters.
Burney kept the composition of her first novel a secret from her father, though her sisters were in on the secret. Evelina, or A Young Lady's Entrance into the World was planned out long before it was written down. Burney, who worked as her father's amanuensis, copied the manuscript in a "disguised hand" to prevent any identification of the book with the Burneys, thinking that her own handwriting might be recognized by a publisher. It was published by Thomas Lowndes in January 1778, but it was not until June that Dr. Burney learned its authorship, when the book had been reviewed and praised everywhere.
Hester Thrale wrote to Dr. Burney on July 22: "Mr. Johnson returned home full of the Prayes of the Book I had lent him, and protesting that there were passages in it which might do honour to Richardson: we talk of it for ever, and he feels ardent after the denouement; he could not get rid of the Rogue, he said." Miss Burney soon visited the Thrales at Streatham Place, "the most consequential day I have spent since my birth" she calls the occasion. It was the prelude to much longer visits there. Dr. Johnson's best compliments were eagerly transcribed in her diary. His affectionate friendship for "little Burney" only ceased with his death.
Evelina was a continued success. Sir Joshua Reynolds sat up all night to read it, as did Edmund Burke, who came next to Johnson in Burney's esteem. She was introduced to Elizabeth Montagu and the other bluestocking ladies, to Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and to the gay Mrs. Mary Cholmondeley, the sister of Peg Woffington, whose manners, as described in the diary, explain much of Evelina. At the suggestion of Thrale, and with offers of help from Arthur Murphy and encouragement from Sheridan, Burney began to write a comedy. Crisp tried to dissuade her, and the piece, The Witlings, was suppressed in deference to the views of "her two 'daddies.'" The piece may have contained satirical hits at contemporaries.
Meanwhile her friendship with Thrale left her little time for writing. She went with her to Bath in 1780, and was at Streatham Place again in 1781. Her next book was written partly at Chessington Hall and after much discussion with Mr. Crisp. Cecilia; or, Memoirs of an Heiress, by the author of Evelina, was published in five volumes in 1782 by Messrs Payne & Cadell (who paid the author £250). Cecilia is more skillfully constructed than Evelina, and contains many examples of what Johnson called Burney's gift of "character-mongering." Burke sent her a letter full of high praise. Some of her friends found the writing too closely modeled on Johnson's, and Horace Walpole thought the personages spoke too uniformly in character.
On April 24, 1783, Burney's "most judicious adviser and stimulating critic," "Daddy" Crisp, died. He was her devoted friend, as she was to him, "the dearest thing on earth." The next year she was to lose two more friends. Johnson died; Thrale's remarriage alienated her from many friends, including Burney. Burney had met the celebrated Mrs. Delany in 1783, and she now attached herself to her. Delany, who was living (1785) in a house near Windsor Castle presented to her by George III, was on the friendliest terms with both the King and Queen, and Burney was honored with more than one royal interview.
Queen Charlotte, soon afterwards, offered Miss Burney the post of second keeper of the robes, with a salary of £200 a year, which after some hesitation was accepted. Unfortunately this position exhausted her and left her little time to write. She felt dominated by her superior, Mrs. Schwellenberg, who has been described as "a peevish old person of uncertain temper and impaired health, swaddled in the buckram of backstairs etiquette", and this was the worst part of Burney's duties.
She had written nothing for four years, and felt she had used her best material. "What my daddy Crisp says," she wrote as early as 1779, "that it would be the best policy, but for pecuniary advantages, for me to write no more, is exactly what I have always thought since Evelina was published". However, Burney's journals from this time are full of amusing court gossip, and sometimes deal with graver matters, notably in the account of Warren Hastings' trial, and in the story of the beginning of George III's madness, as seen by a member of his household. On one famous occasion, she was chased by him at Kew Palace, an incident that at first frightened her but which she transformed in writing.
The strain told on her health, and Dr. Burney prepared with her a joint memorial asking the queen's leave to resign. She left the royal service in July 1791 with a retiring pension of £100 a year, granted from the queen's private purse, and returned to her father's house at Chelsea. (Dr. Burney had been appointed organist at Chelsea Hospital in 1783).
In 1792 Frances became acquainted with a group of French exiles, who had taken a house, Juniper Hall, near Mickleham, where Frances' sister, Mrs Phillips, lived. On July 31, 1793 she married one of the exiles, Gen. Alexandre D'Arblay, an artillery officer, who had been adjutant-general to La Fayette. They built Camilla cottage at Westhumble on the proceeds from Frances' third novel and her pension. In 1793 she produced her Brief Reflections relative to the Emigrant French Clergy.
Her son Alexandre was born on December 18, 1794. In 1795, her play, Edwy and Elgiva, was produced, which had been written during her unhappy time at court; it failed. In 1802 the family travelled to France, where Alexandre hoped to resume a position with the military. They remained for ten years, during which time Burney suffered a mastectomy without anaesthetic, for suspected breast cancer. The couple were trapped in Brussels by the Battle of Waterloo, and Fanny's Waterloo Journal is a useful source document.
She returned to England and published another novel, The Wanderer (1814), which fell flat.
She remained in Britain for the rest of her life, settling in Bath until her husband's death in 1818, and survived her father, sister (Mrs. Phillips), and son, not to mention Jane Austen, whose work seems to have been strangely unknown to her. Burney's last work was an edition of her father's memoirs (1832), written in an extraordinarily grandiloquent style, for which she cannibalized many of her own personal writings from years before. | <urn:uuid:558b7be7-306f-4ed4-a22c-372276eb532a> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://www.bookyards.com/en/author/page/2587/Fanny-Burney | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178367790.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20210303200206-20210303230206-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.986958 | 2,424 | 2.8125 | 3 | {
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What is the Original Old Testament Text
Have you ever wondered from where we got our Old Testament? What is the original Old Testament? The Old Testament (OT) is the scripture that Jesus read. It is the basis of our New Testament, without which we struggle to understand our faith. As we come to the 500th anniversary of Reformation Day, it is difficult for the typical Christian today to recognize that throughout most of Christian history, the Bible was not available in the common languages.
The Protestant Reformation changed that. For over a millennium, the Bible was written in Latin and only the educated could read it. Worse, only those high up in the religious hierarchy could “understand” (interpret) it. This was not how it always was. Before the Bible was translated into Latin, it was written in the common language of the people.
The New Testament (NT) was written in Greek. Greek was the common language of the Roman Empire. The Gospels, Epistles, Letters and Revelation were all written in Greek so that all people, Jew or Gentile, could read them. Remember, in every circumstance, the books of the NT were written to individuals and churches that were either Gentiles or a combination of Jews and Gentiles.
The Language of the Jews?
In fact, even the Jewish people didn’t speak Hebrew any longer. The Jewish people gradually began speaking Aramaic after the exile into Babylon in 605 BC. Aramaic was the language of the people of Aram and of Chaldea (Babylon).
Some people, like Daniel, lived through the Babylonian Empire and lived to see the Jewish people return to Jerusalem. This happened in 536 BC when Cyrus fulfilled Isaiah and Jeremiah’s prophecies to allow the Jewish people to return from exile back to the land of promise. However, most of the returnees to Jerusalem were born in Babylon and spoke Aramaic (Ezra 3:11-12).
This is why Jesus himself spoke Aramaic rather than Hebrew. During his time on earth, the people of Judea and Galilee, and the entire region, spoke Aramaic. Hence, we see words such as “Abba,” “Raca,” “Talitha kum,” and “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani.” These are all Aramaic phrases.
Additionally, as we read the Gospels, we find that most of the OT quotes are from the Septuagint. The Septuagint is the Greek version of the Old Testament. The reason the Septuagint is used, rather than the Hebrew, is because most people didn’t read Hebrew any longer and the Septuagint was readily available.
Some say that the Gospel of Matthew was originally written in Hebrew. However, there has been no evidence for this and is based on Matthew’s Gospel being written for a Jewish audience and the assumption that he would have therefore written his gospel in Hebrew. However, the fact that most people were reading the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew texts proves that most of Matthew’s audience would have better understood Greek than Hebrew.
The Language of the Old Testament
So we can say with certainty that the NT was written in Greek, with a few Aramaic words and phrases throughout. However, what about the OT? What language was that written in?
The OT was written in Hebrew. Again, some portions were written in Aramaic:
- Ezra copies letters and notices in Aramaic that were originally written in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8-6:18, 7:12-26).
- Daniel writes a great part of his historical narrative in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4b-7:28)
- Jeremiah has one verse in Aramaic (Jeremiah 10:11)
Of course, we recognize that Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezra all lived during the Babylonian and Medo-Persian Empires, which used Aramaic as the common language.
However, other than a few scattered words, the rest of the OT is written in Hebrew.
So we come to an interesting question: From where do we get our OT translations?
The Original Old Testament
Almost all of our English OT texts are translated from the Masoretic Text (MT). This is also the text used for the Jewish Tanakh, the Jewish scriptures read by the Jewish people today. The MT comes from the Masoretes, Jewish rabbis writing between AD 700 and 1000.
However, as already mentioned, this is not the only ancient version of the OT to which we have access. We also have the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek OT, with portions of the LXX going back to the third-century BC.
Finally, we also have a third source: the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS). These are fragments of the OT found in caves in Qumran (West Bank) in 1947. These texts date back to the second-century BC. The Dead Sea Scrolls are written in Hebrew with some Aramaic and Greek. They consist of every canonical book of the OT except for Esther. (Why? A possibility: The Essenes, the copiers of the DSS, were extremely ascetic, did not approve of alcohol, and therefore did not celebrate the holiday of Purim. Hence, they decided to skip the book of Esther.)
The Masoretic Text, the basis for most of our English Bible translations, compares well with the older Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls. The three together allow us to recognize that what we now consider our OT, or the Jewish Tanakh, can safely be trusted.
However, we still have a problem. I came across this while doing research for a book I was writing. I looked at Psalm 22:16 (English version):
For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet. – Psalm 22:16 NASB
In the book, I was describing how Paul would have spoken to other Jews about Jesus and would have used Psalm 22:16b as evidence of Jesus’ crucifixion being prophesied over a thousand years before his death. I envisioned that Paul would use this verse to hammer home that Messiah was to be crucified. I decided to use the version found in the Tanakh.
To my surprise, the same verse in the Tanakh has this (English version):
Dogs surround me;
a pack of evil ones closes in on me,
like lions [they maul] my hands and feet. – Psalm 22:17 JPS Tanakh
First, for those paying attention, you will notice that the verse numbers are different. This is because the Hebrew translations of the Psalms includes the Directions at the beginning of the Psalm as a verse but our English translations make the Directions at the beginning of the Psalm an introductory heading and verse 1 begins after this.
To the point I am making for this writing, you will notice that the last part of the verse is completely different from our English translations:
They pierced my hands and my feet. – NASB
like lions [they maul] my hands and feet. – JPS Tanakh
Could it be that one of the most important verses of scripture, describing the crucifixion of the Messiah 1,000 years before Christ’s death, is a mistranslation made by scribes attempting to prove Jesus was the prophesied Messiah?
I did some more research. I found that our NASB version matches both the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls. I knew that the Masoretic Text matched up well with both the LXX and the DSS but apparently, there are some differences, and in some cases, very important differences, such as this one.
Additional research found some other interesting differences:
In 1 Samuel 17:4, we find that Goliath is “six cubits and one span” tall. This comes to 9’6”. That is taller than the 8’11” Robert Pershing Wadlow, measured in 1940 as the world’s tallest man according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
However, the Septuagint has Goliath at “four cubits and one span” tall. This is 6’6”. Which is right? If we look at the DSS, we find Goliath listed at “four cubits and one span” tall. A final historical view comes from Josephus, who tells us that Goliath was “four cubits and one span” tall.
Would this mean that Goliath wasn’t a giant? Actually, the average male in those days would have been smaller than 5’6”. David has been estimated to be 5’2”. So Goliath would have been a foot taller than the average man and over a foot taller than David. For comparison, today, the average man is 5’10”. We would probably consider someone who is 6’10” a giant.
Some Additional Examples
Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. – 1 Samuel 14:41, NASB (from the MT)
Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. – 1 Samuel 14:41, ESV (from the Septuagint).
If you read the first version, you will notice that it actually doesn’t make sense. The second version explains what is really happening in the chapter. What caused this difference?
The Jewish rabbi who copied the MT made the mistake of losing his place. Notice that the word, “Israel” is just before the error. What apparently happened is that the scribe saw the word “Israel,” wrote it down and then when his eyes went back to the original text, he went back to the wrong instance of the word, “Israel” and continued copying from there. Hence, he missed everything between the first iteration of “Israel” and the last one.
A final example comes from 1 Samuel 11.
Now Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us and we will serve you.” – 1 Samuel 11:1, NASB
This passage begins with Nahash the Ammonite besieging Jabesh-gilead. But why does Nahash do this? Here is what is missing according to the Dead Sea Scrolls:
Now Nahash king of the Ammonites oppressed the Gadites and the Reubenites severely. He gouged out the right eye of all of them and there was no one to save Israel. There did not remain an Israelite man who was beyond the Jordan whose right eye Nahash king of the Ammonites did not gouge out, except seven thousand men who escaped from the hand of the Ammonites and went to Jabesh Gilead. And they were there about a month. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash king of Ammonites, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” – 1 Samuel 11:1, Dead Sea Scrolls
In this case, the NASB, as well as every other English translation that I know about, does not have the first part of this verse. The missing part clarifies why Nahash besieged Jabesh-gilead. He was chasing down the escapees from Gad and Reuben.
Why bring this up? We English speaking Christians tend to assume the English translations we read are the autographs (the original versions written by the Biblical writers). However, that is not what we believe. We know that the Bible is God-inspired but we should not think that our English versions are the exact replicas of the autographs. There are accidental mistakes, like seeing “Israel” and then skipping down to the next one. There are purposeful mistakes, like the Masoretes attempting to remove the crucifixion from Psalm 22.
It is important that we are honest when the evidence points to our English version being less than accurate. This does not mean God’s word is corrupt. It simply means our translators are human and made mistakes.
So what is the original Old Testament? It can probably be found when we combine the best of the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is also the possibility that another excellent manuscript might be found that is older and more accurate and if that happened, we should add that into the mix.
It is the job of each individual Christian to try to determine what God has said in His word. It behooves us to think like Bereans and test everything. After all, the Bereans were testing the teachings of Paul (i.e.: our scriptures today) and yet they were considered noble.
Hence, when you’re reading your Bible, if anything doesn’t seem to make sense or sounds like something is missing, check it out. There’s the possibility that another OT text has something to teach you.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
Maranatha! (btw – another Aramaic phrase found in the New Testament…) | <urn:uuid:d7fb91fc-18dd-41ce-bc41-7b1328e02ad5> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | http://davidtue.com/original-old-testament/?shared=email&msg=fail | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232259452.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20190526185417-20190526211417-00262.warc.gz | en | 0.971326 | 2,912 | 3.53125 | 4 | {
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I have to admit I was shocked when during a recent mother-daughter talk my 7th grader told me “yeah, there’s a kid in our class that vapes using e-cigarettes.” Part of my shock was from recognizing my daughter was growing up. Part of it was because I am a dentist.
An e-cigarette is a lithium ion battery operated device delivering flavored, inhalable nicotine. The heat element inside of the cigarette aerosolizes the liquid – essentially creating an aerosol substitute for traditional smoke.
There are 4 primary chemicals in an e-aerosol:
- Propylene Glycol
- Vegetable Glycerin
And, know that quality control on the ingredients are still developing, which means impurities are not uncommon.
Packaging is one factor drawing e-smokers into the lair. Maple Pancake and Gummy Bear flavored vapes are obviously not designed to communicate the dangers. Therefore, vaping has become a gateway drug.
According to Bloomberg in this article, e-Cigarettes have led to more new, younger smokers than the number of current smokers they have helped kick the habit. Vapes comes in fruity flavors, which the article suggests lure more people into smoking than in helping current smokers quit.
But what about the impacts to your oral health?
Dental impacts include:
- E-cigs still have nicotine. Nicotine is a critical risk factor in the development of periodontal or gum disease. Here’s how. Nicotine impedes the blood flow to gum tissues and negatively impacts immune cell function. Less blood and lowered immune defense add up to higher risk of gum disease.
- Tobacco = cancer risk. Studies have indelibly linked the use of tobacco – of any kind – to various cancers. Using tobacco or tobacco substitutes – even in vapor form – increases the risk of cancer of the mouth.
- Tobacco = increased tooth wear. If you are a tobacco or tobacco substitute user and are lucky enough not to get cancer, there are other side effects that you may find. These include increased tooth abrasion or wear, tooth stains and decreased ability for oral wounds to heal.
- Fruity flavors equal SUGAR! We all know too much sugar sitting on teeth increases your risk of tooth decay.
So next time you reach for an e-cig or vape, expect that you will eventually make a trip to the dentist and he or she may tell you this: “You’ve got gum disease which has started because your habit has cut off the blood flow and neutrophil and collagen production to your gums. You are going to need to see a specialist. This is going to be unpleasant.” | <urn:uuid:5fca0d8f-7bc7-4494-b2cd-ef163eb0c3ba> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | http://drdenarobinson.com/dental-vaping-effects/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232257100.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20190523043611-20190523065611-00307.warc.gz | en | 0.949604 | 557 | 3.21875 | 3 | {
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Modeling of Vibration Condition in Flat Surface Grinding 2.2. Vibration Modeling of the Flat Surface Grinding Process A free-body diagram of the flat surface grinding process with forces acting on the grinding wheel and the workpiece is indi ed in Figure 2.There is a normal grinding force which acts due to the chip formation and a normal grinding force which acts due to the friction between the wheel and the workpiece in the normal direction.
Making a homemade mirror grinding machine - ATM 6/3/2006& 0183;& 32;Making a homemade mirror grinding machine - posted in ATM Optics and DIY Forum: I want to make a motorized mirror grinder any good info on this i have a couple geared motors low speed high torque. One more question will 1 1/2 shaft size pillow block
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How to Use a Surface Grinder Machine The utility grinding machine is intended for offhand grinding where the workpiece is supported in the hand and brought to bear against the rotating grinding abrasive wheel. The accuracy of this type of grinding machine depends on the operator’s dexterity. skill and knowledge of the machine’s capabilities and the nature of the work.
Cylindrical grinding machine To Know Everything 27/8/2017& 0183;& 32;Cylindrical grinding machine To Know Everything cylindrical grinding machine operation. To Know Everything
micro spherical grinding A semispherical shaped micro wheel was thus generated based on the curve generating principle Experiment setup a grinding of micro aspherical insert and b closeup view of the grinding setup micro wheel radius ∼05 mm and 10 mm in diameter Machining of
Ql Setup In Grinding Machine Ql Setup In Grinding Machine Dec 05 2013nbsp018332The reason a traditional centerless machine is so hard to set up is that you never really know exactly how high up the part is positioned in the machine. With electronic height adjustment of the work rest blade
Development of an Experimental Setup for the The design and development of a unique grinding setup and the control device and instrumentation needed for wood grinding research are outlined. A pulsed loading technique for increasing the effectiveness of the fiberizing mechanism is proposed and this technique is tested in a series of experiments conducted with the grinding operations.
Chemistry Lab Equipment Shop for Chemistry Supplies on Lab equipment supplies. Quality glassware alcohol lamps chemicals safety gear and other chemistry laboratory equipment for students labs and hobbyists. From the Learning Center Real science tools enable real science discovery. But what if you don't know
Experimental Set Up Of Jaw Crusher Used For Stone Grinding Experimental Set Up Of Jaw Crusher Used For Stone Grinding Lab Jaw Crusher Tencan. Jaw crusher is mainly used to crush a variety of ores and bulk materials with comprehensive strength of less than 320Mpa in middle granularity PE series of lab jaw crusher has
Effectiveness of remote control for a concrete surface 1/10/2010& 0183;& 32;The direction of machine paths for concrete grinding work can be determined in four approaches: a a vertical one-way direction b a vertical two-way direction c a horizontal one-way direction and d a horizontal two-way direction .In the case of the vertical one
Human Machine Interface HMI in Gear Manufacturing & 0183;& 32;Human Machine Interface HMI in Gear Manufacturing “Documentation is not a Substitute for an Intuitive Interface” Yefim Kotlyar Introduction and Cursory Historical Overview Giving credit where credit is due the quote contained in this paper’s title is attributed to
The Experiment for Establishing Setup to Acquire the AE & 0183;& 32;The Experiment for Establishing Setup to Acquire the AE Sig from the Surface Grinding Process Atul Singh1 and Ashok Sharma2 12Department of Mechanical Engineering 12Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Technology and Management Chhattisgarh
Yamin Shao Omar Fergani Experimental Investigation of Residual Stress in Minimum Quantity Lubri ion Grinding & 0183;& 32;Yamin Shao Mem. ASME George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology 813 Ferst Drive Rm. 211 Atlanta GA 30332-0560 e
THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF EFFECT OF GRINDING PROCESS & 0183;& 32;3.5 Conventional Grinding Machine 23 3.6 Overall Experiment Setup 24 3.7 Mahr S2 Perthometer 25 4.1 Graph Observed versus Predicted Surface Temperature for Dry Grinding 33 4.2 Surface Plot Depth of Cut versus Table Speed for 34
Determination of the relative position between grinding Experimental Setup for Contact Recognition Experiments The experimental setup used for the contact recognition experiments performed in a cylindrical CNC grinding machine Zselics Pratika Flexa 600-L is schematically represented in Fig. 3. Two AE
The Experiment for Establishing Setup to Acquire the AE Sig from the Surface Grinding & 0183;& 32;The Experiment for Establishing Setup to Acquire the AE Sig from the Surface Grinding Process Atul Singh1 and Ashok Sharma2 12Department of Mechanical Engineering 12Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Technology and Management Chhattisgarh
12 LABORATORY SAMPLE PREPARATION & 0183;& 32;grinding and crushing Dean 1995 . Decreases in water content are sometimes observed while grinding solids containing essential water in the form of hydrates likely as a result of localized heating. See Section 188.8.131.52 for a discussion of the types of moisture
experimental set up of jaw crusher used for stone grinding Machinery for crushing and grinding - SlideShare Apr 28 2012 Stag Jaw Crusher The Stag jaw crusher has a fixed jaw and a is made relatively weak so that if any large stresses are set up this is the first part to fail. . The surface of the stones is carefully
Experimental characterization of micro-grinding process 1/3/2011& 0183;& 32;Meso-scale micro-grinding machine tool system; a entire experimental setup and b tool and workpiece setup and schematic diagram of compressed chilly air micro grinding process. The developed meso-scale grinding machine tool included two DC-motor driven linear slides MX80S and one piezoelectric linear slide AID45000E for the 3-axis precision positioning system.
Turning Process Defects Equipment Turning is a form of machining a material removal process which is used to create rotational parts by cutting away unwanted material. The turning process requires a turning machine or lathe workpiece fixture and cutting tool.The workpiece is a piece of pre
MACHINING OPERATIONS AND MACHINE TOOLS & 0183;& 32;& 169;2002 John Wiley and Sons Inc. M. P. Groover “Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing 2/e” Bar Machine Similar to chucking machine except collet replaces chuck permitting long bar stock to be fed through headstock At the end of the machining cycle a cutoff
In-process force monitoring for precision grinding semiconductor & 0183;& 32;In-process force monitoring for precision grinding semiconductor 433 grinding processes for the last two decades. AE sensors offer advantages such as low cost and easy installation with no reduction in machine tool stiffness. Monitoring grinding processes
PDF Optimizing grinding parameters for surface grinding tablet by CBN grinding wheel on CNC milling machine. The important grinding parameters seclected in thi s work are the depth of cut grinding wheel speed and feed rate.
An experimental investigation of rotary diamond truing 1/9/2000& 0183;& 32;The grinding and truing experiments were conducted on a cylindrical grinding machine as shown in Fig. 3. Detailed setup parameters and information of machine work-material and coolant are summarized in Table 1. Download : Download full-size image Fig. 3
13 Practical Machining Projects for Students and Beginners Ultimately aside from being good practice for a few milling and grinding operations having these clamps can be a good way of teaching problem solving when it comes to workholding. Here’s the BOM: 1.25″ x 1.25″ x 4.125″ 4140 steel x1 per clamp
Experimental Setup for Thermal Analysis of Machine Tool during & 0183;& 32;Experimental Setup for Thermal Analysis of Machine Tool during Cutter Grinding Operation Mohmad Iqbal*a Abdul Azizb Wasim Akramb aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering M.E.C.W Palla INDIA bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering A.F.S.E.T
Study on surface generation mechanism and roughness The gear profile grinding machine tool KAPP NILES ZE400 with the experimental setup was utilized for the grinding tests as shown in Fig. 9. 12Cr2Ni4A gear with 31 number of teeth and 3.8788-module involute profile as well as 45 mm face width was machined.
IMPROVING GRINDING PERFORMANCE WITH THE USE OF GRINDING & 0183;& 32;experiment. The grinding machine and the setup for experimentation are shown in Fig. 1. Table 1: Experimental conditions Machine tool Surface Grinding machine Make: Maneklal and Sons India Model: Parrot 600x200 Main motor power: 1.5 kW Grinding wheel
Exploration Drilling Method: Setup Operation Procedure Metallurgical ContentDRIVING THE PIPEDRILLING OPERATIONSDRILLING PROCEDUREPUMPING OUT THE COREPIPE PULLINGPIPE PULLING WITH CASING SPEARTREATMENT OF DRILL COREMUD BOX OR DUMP BOXTHE VOLUME BUCKETTHE PANNING TABLETHE SAMPLE BOTTLESTHE ROCKERTREATMENT OF GOLDDRILL RIG LOG BOOK HILLMAN MULTIPLYING
Improving Quality and Productivity Through Efficient Setup With the second experiment the main objective was to study the requirements for achieving fully automatic setup of the machine irrespective of the workpiece position and orientation. Two key issues were investigated. The first was to identify what physical
experimental research grinding machine process Thank you. vi 3.5 Conventional Grinding Machine 23 3.6 Overall Experiment Setup 24 3.7 Mahr S2 Perthometer 25 4.1 Study on Surface Roughness and its Prediction in
Experimental Setup for Thermal Analysis of Machine Tool during Cutter Grinding & 0183;& 32;Experimental Setup for Thermal Analysis of Machine Tool during Cutter Grinding Operation Mohmad Iqbal*a Abdul Azizb Wasim Akramb aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering M.E.C.W Palla INDIA bDepartment of Mechanical Engineering A.F.S.E.T
Sous Vide Experiment: Kurasu x Style Iced Coffee : Coffee My setup is comprised of a Rancilio Silvia and a Baratza Encore. I've always been planning on getting a better grinder but this has been my frugal setup for the time being. The reason I want to upgrade is because my espresso pulls with SWRoasting's Guatemala Jazmine has been coming out a bit sour for my liking but still balanced else where with no great bitterness.
CHAPTER 4 GRINDING FORCE MEASUREMENT & 0183;& 32;76 184.108.40.206 Strain gauge based experimental setup Figure 4.1 presents the typical tangential force signals obtained while grinding a workpiece. It is observed that in the region A the magnitude of the tangential force output signal gradually increases and
An experimental investigation of rotary diamond truing and dressing of vitreous bond wheels for ceramic grinding & 0183;& 32;1760 A.J. Shih / International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture 40 2000 1755–1774 2.1. Wheel truing and dressing The set up for rotary truing and dressing of grinding wheels is shown in Fig. 3 a . Two slides X and Z were used to position the grinding wheel | <urn:uuid:433251b6-0d60-4088-93b1-3138081b276d> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://www.thecruiseteam.com.au/jc9cn4/2642-56866.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178362481.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20210301090526-20210301120526-00003.warc.gz | en | 0.835182 | 2,641 | 2.84375 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.7850139141082764,
"reasoning_level": 3,
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} | Science & Tech. |
Purple martins are swallows that migrate from South America to North America each year to breed. Many people enjoy listening to their songs, watching their aerial acrobatics and seeing fledglings emerge from their nests. Although purple martins don’t eat mosquitoes, they eat large numbers of many other kinds of insects. For these reasons, many people build martin houses in the hope that the birds will build nests in them.
1 Site your martin house properly. Purple martins won’t nest in houses too near the ground or too near homes or tall trees. Martin houses should be a minimum of 40 feet (12 meters) from homes and trees and 20 feet (6 meters) high.
2 Design your martin house for several nesting pairs. It should have nesting compartments that are completely separated from one another, access holes for the birds, porches to perch on and a gabled roof. Some houses have multiple levels to accommodate more birds.
3 Cut the wood for the floor so it will extend past the exterior walls 3 inches (7.5 cm) on all sides. This creates the porches. You can also attach porches using 3-inch strips of wood.
4 Create several nesting compartments inside using partitions. Each space should be 6 inches (15 cm) tall, 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep.
5 Cut semicircular entrance holes. These should be 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter and 1-3/16 inches (3 cm) tall for each compartment. Set the bottom of the hole flush with the porch to discourage starlings and owls from using the martin house.
6 Drill small holes in the “attic” portion of the house to encourage air flow. Cut a thick piece of polystyrene or corrugated cardboard to fit inside the attic so the house won’t get too hot.
7 Build the roof. Make sure it extends past the exterior walls enough to help shield the access holes from rain and give the birds some shade.
8 Assemble the martin house. Keep in mind that you will want to occasionally disassemble it to clean out the nesting compartments. If you use a router to create slots in the partitions, the floors and in the exterior walls, you will be able to slide them together for a tight fit without permanently attaching them with screws or brads.
9 Paint the house white. Never paint or stain it dark colors, although you can paint the trim another light color if desired.
10 Mount the house on a metal pole that has been set in concrete. You may want to add a winch and pulley system that will allow you to raise and lower the house easily so you can check on nestlings or clean the compartments.
S & K Purple Martin House – 10 Family FH10
Heath Purple Martin House Telescoping Pole MP 15 | <urn:uuid:ed3ef5c9-4b94-4277-93a3-73d53e56a1bc> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://blog.ruralking.com/category/outdoor-living/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414637898894.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20141030025818-00105-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914461 | 596 | 2.546875 | 3 | {
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The previous two lessons have led up to the content covered in today’s powers of ten lesson. I begin this lesson by displaying the revised version of the I can... statement involving powers of ten. Students echo the statement.
I can explain patterns when multiplying a number by powers of 10. Repeat it with me. Today we are going learn what powers of ten are and the benefit of using them.
I provide students with a copy of the worksheet Secret Worlds: The Universe Within. This worksheet will guide students through the web interactive we are going to use today. The interactive is out of Florida State University page, Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics, and You. I start the interactive at oak tree branch with leaves.
We are going to zoom out 10 times which is like multiplying by 10. Let’s write x 10 on the distance for our first scene.
I fill in the distance only on the first line of the chart. I then hit the increase button again and it brings us to the nearby trees scene. I tell students we zoomed out 10 more times so let’s write 10 x 10 for the distance of the second scene.
Let’s use our knowledge from previous lessons to determine what multiplying by 10 twice is the same as. If we multiply 10 x 10 that is the same as multiplying by what? Explain your thinking?
As a class we go back and fill in the "or" column of the worksheet for the second line so it reads x 100. We continue to go through the interactive, filling in the Distance and Or column.
Up until this point in the the unit, I have worked on laying the ground work for understanding powers of ten. Now it is time to introduce what a power of ten looks like and how to write it.
Did anyone get tired of writing x 10 while viewing the interactive? Would you like an easier way to write it?
I refer back to the worksheet that we just completed and begin at the second line where the distance is 10 x 10. I ask the students to tell me the number of tens I multiplied. I then show them how to write 10 to the power of 2. I do the same for the next line this time focusing on how to say the index notation.
Say it with me. 10 to the power of three. And the first one we did…. 10 to the power of two.
I have students work within their groups to complete the remainder of the worksheet.
To check students' understanding of powers of ten I bring the students back to the large group and ask them a series of quick questions.
Alright, who can tell me what the distance of our solar system is? How about the distance of the southeastern United States? What would we be able to see if we were 10 to the power of 10 meters away from the oak tree?
After asking a few questions I open it up to students creating questions and asking the class.
To further assess students’ knowledge of powers of ten, I provide simple multiplication problems involving powers of ten. I write the problems on the whiteboard and have the students answer the questions on the back of the worksheet we used earlier in the lesson.
9 x 102 =
83 x 102 =
9 x 103 =
83 x 103 =
9 x 104 =
83 x 104 =
I then ask students to look for some potential patterns in the powers of ten multiplication problems. I guide them through a self-discovery of determining that when multiplying by a power of ten, you add zeroes to the number in the amount equal to the exponent of the power of ten.
I ask students to repeat the I can... statement for the day and to explain the statement in their own words by writing their knowledge of the statement on the worksheet. I monitor student responses for accuracy. | <urn:uuid:14253998-f579-46a7-90c2-479f54f5337f> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://betterlesson.com/lesson/564273/powers-of-ten-day-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875143805.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20200218180919-20200218210919-00216.warc.gz | en | 0.936746 | 791 | 3.875 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 1.9946399927139282,
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} | Science & Tech. |
City of Blaine and Birch Bay Water and Sewer District (BBWSD) officials want to assure local residents that contamination issues in the Sumas-Blaine aquifer will not affect the water supplied to the two communities.
Despite the name, the Sumas-Blaine aquifer encompasses an area well east of the city, closer to the Lynden area, Blaine public works director Ravyn Whitewolf said. The city gets its water from a handful of wells in the uplands of east Blaine, closer to the U.S./Canadian border, Whitewolf explained.
“So [the Sumas-Blaine aquifer] is just an unfortunate title, over which we have no control,” Whitewolf said.
Whitewolf was asked to address concerns about the aquifer raised by Blaine City Council members at their June 25 city council meeting. Council members wanted more information about a report the state department of ecology (DOE) recently released detailing nitrate contamination issues in the Sumas-Blaine aquifer.
“There are no nitrate issues with the city of Blaine’s water,” Whitewolf told council members. “That’s the most important message.”
According to the DOE report, between 18,000 and 27,000 people in Whatcom County east of Blaine rely on the Sumas-Blaine aquifer for their drinking water. The findings of the report, which summarizes 30 years’ of monitoring data for DOE staff updating water quality regulations for large livestock operations, show 29 percent of the 515 wells sampled have higher than acceptable levels of nitrate for drinking water.
Nitrate contamination likely comes from the heavy agriculture use in the study area. Nitrates are often found in fertilizer and likely leach through the sandy soil in the Lynden area into the area’s water table, which is no more than 10 feet underground in some areas.
Blaine and Birch Bay’s water supply, however, comes from wells that are as deep as 700 feet and are covered by clay layers that prevent contamination from above, BBWSD manager Roger Brown said. Water quality reports for both Blaine and Birch Bay consistently show nitrate levels at less than one tenth of the minimum required by state law.
“[Nitrate contamination] just isn’t characteristic of this area at all,” Brown said.
Additionally, Blaine’s wells sit in higher elevations than the Sumas-Blaine aquifer, Whitewolf said. This means water from the affected aquifer could never flow up hill to contaminate any of Blaine’s wells.
“If anything, customers are benefiting from our good water,” Whitewolf said. | <urn:uuid:f0e2d295-abff-49f0-97b9-efcdb2250187> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.thenorthernlight.com/news/article.exm/2012-07-04_sumas_blaine_aquifer_is_not_the_source_for_blaine__birch_bay | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500821666.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021341-00286-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946877 | 575 | 2.625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.868936777114868,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Today Google has a doodle honouring Mary Anning, one of palaeontology’s pioneers. The reason Google chose Anning on this day? It remembers her birthdate – she would have been 215 years old today. Alas, she didn’t reach 50. Here is her story, lifted from the book The Mountain Mystery:
“Anning was a child when she found her first extinct giant. Such fossils were not uncommon along the treacherous cliffs that dropped to the sea at the English coast where she lived. Landslides exposed fresh fossils each winter. (One slide almost killed her when it swept her dog down the scarp and into the ocean.) She collected fossils to help her family survive – her parents were dreadfully poor – she and her brother were the only two of ten children to survive their crowded, rough quarters where small pox, measles, and hunger took their toll. Mary Anning was sickly until she was fifteen months old.
“But in her fifteenth month, lightning struck a tree near the spot where she was being carried by a neighbour. That family friend and two other women were killed. Instantly. Mary Anning was stunned, but was easily revived. It became part of local legend that her prodigious energy level, curiosity, and intelligence were due to that lightning bolt. However, her survival also made the village a bit suspicious of her.
“Her father was an unsuccessful carpenter who couldn’t afford land for a house, so he built the family home on a wooden bridge in their coastal village. It occasionally flooded, covering the floor with all manner of filth. The family earned spare cash scavenging the nearby Dorset cliffs, recovering fossils otherwise destined for the sea below. Venturing onto the dangerous ledges to gather snake-stones and devil’s toes1 for curious seaside holidayers was always part of her chores. Anning was 12 when she unearthed her ichthyosaur. She also discovered the first two plesiosaurs ever found. These were big animals and they changed the way biologists viewed the creatures that preceded man. But Anning didn’t restrict her work to oversized skeletons. She identified the ink sacs of ancient fossilized octopus-like varmints and she realized stones called bezoars in her day are what we now called coprolites, or fossilized dinosaur dung. She dissected modern fish and compared them with the bones of earlier versions she uncovered on the cliffs. She was observant and knowledgeable, but grew bitter that her discoveries brought little recognition.
“Her insights might have advanced palaeontology further than they did, but women could not be members of the Royal Society, nor the Geological Society – in fact, women were not even permitted to attend meetings as guests. In addition, members were preferably Anglican but her family belonged to a splinter group of dissenting Congregationalists, spiritually related to the earlier Puritans. Religious and gender prejudice kept Mary Anning from being published, but male colleagues discreetly sought her advice regarding fossils they couldn’t identify. And when she became gravely ill from cancer, those geologists created a fund to help with her expenses. She died at age 47. Members of the Geological Society erected a touching memorial in her honour. The inscription reads, in part, “in commemoration of her usefulness in furthering the science of geology, also of her benevolence of heart and integrity of life.” Her work helped create an appreciation for the vast evolution of species and the extinctions that had occurred among the planet’s creatures.” – The Mountain Mystery.
(Above, an ichthyosaur, one of Mary Anning’s cash cows.) | <urn:uuid:4113890f-e6d5-41bb-b755-ff017bfe473c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://mountainmystery.com/2014/05/21/doodling-mary-anning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371824409.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408202012-20200408232512-00425.warc.gz | en | 0.98226 | 775 | 3.890625 | 4 | {
"raw_score": 2.8101470470428467,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Coats Disease: Introduction
Coats Disease: A rare condition where a small group of dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) form in the retina of one eye and can result in retinal detachment. It is believed to be a more severe form of Leber military aneurysm.
More detailed information about the symptoms,
causes, and treatments of Coats Disease is available below.
Symptoms of Coats Disease
See full list of 8
symptoms of Coats Disease
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical testing related to Coats Disease:
- Vision & Eye Health: Home Testing:
Wrongly Diagnosed with Coats Disease?
Coats Disease: Related Patient Stories
Coats Disease: Complications
Review possible medical complications related to Coats Disease:
Causes of Coats Disease
Read more about causes of Coats Disease.
More information about causes of Coats Disease:
Disease Topics Related To Coats Disease
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Coats Disease:
Coats Disease: Undiagnosed Conditions
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Coats Disease: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research related physicians and medical specialists:
Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:
Evidence Based Medicine Research for Coats Disease
Medical research articles related to Coats Disease include:
Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database
Coats Disease: Animations
More Coats Disease animations & videos
Research about Coats Disease
Visit our research pages for current research about Coats Disease treatments.
Clinical Trials for Coats Disease
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally
and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Coats Disease include:
Read more about Clinical Trials for Coats Disease
Statistics for Coats Disease
Coats Disease: Broader Related Topics
Types of Coats Disease
User Interactive Forums
Read about other experiences, ask a question about Coats Disease, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:
Definitions of Coats Disease:
Coats Disease is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Coats Disease, or a subtype of Coats Disease,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ophanet, a consortium of European partners,
currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000.
They list Coats Disease as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet
Contents for Coats Disease:
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- Ask or answer a question at the Boards: | <urn:uuid:83c9728a-9d98-4a3e-a577-bd4679bf0622> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/c/coats_disease/intro.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423808.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721182450-20170721202450-00342.warc.gz | en | 0.853414 | 633 | 3.140625 | 3 | {
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"reasoning_level": 2,
"interpretation": "Moderate reasoning"
} | Health |
Still incorrect: in all reference frames, light always moves at 299,782 km/s, regardless of the velocity of the object that emits that light, regardless of the observer's relative motion. That's Einstein's Postulate, the fundamental assumption of special relativity. You need to get your head around that for anything else to make sense. It bears repeating that the photons arrive first only in the traveler's reference frame; they arrive second in the observer's reference frame. This theoretically allows for a causality violation, which is why FTL travel is sometimes assumed to be a form of time travel. And I agree, like a lot of things in special relativity it seems very bizarre. ... in all reference frames. That means that no matter how much you accelerate, you cannot and will not ever encounter a photon that is not moving away from you at the speed of light. Think about that for a moment. You just said above that the speed of light is the same in all reference frames, then no amount of forward acceleration can change the speed of light in your frame: If you're at .5C, light still moves forward at C. If you're at .9C, light still moves forward at C. If you're at 2C, light still moves forward at C. This is because, as you said, the speed of light is a constant in all frames, and that means that TIME is variable. At FTL velocities your clock implicitly moves backwards and therefore your photons appear to be moving away from you while in other frames (whose clocks are moving forwards) those photons are moving towards you. Velocity is a function of distance over time; that is, the distance to an object at T=0 plus the distance to that object at T=1, T=2, T=3, etc. it is not something you can measure against, say, the vacuum of space or the center of the galaxy and say "I am moving at X velocity." That would be a universal/all-encompassing reference frame, something that SR explicitly disavows. I know that's confusing, and I know you're struggling with it. One thing that might help is to think of the dichotomy between, say, moral relativism and absolutism (the moral relativist claims that acceptable moral/ethical standards vary from culture to culture and that each culture's opinion of what is acceptable are equally valid). Relativistic physics is essentially the mathematical paradigm of PHYSICAL relativism: there is no such thing as objective truth, and there is no ONE answer for any particular question about velocity of time. It depends entirely on who's asking. What do you think I've been doing for the past five days? | <urn:uuid:4c37af3f-af32-407e-9c75-90cc709c2fda> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/federation-law-of-restricting-cloaking-device.187424/page-9 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463609305.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20170527225634-20170528005634-00165.warc.gz | en | 0.955052 | 553 | 2.65625 | 3 | {
"raw_score": 2.8302230834960938,
"reasoning_level": 3,
"interpretation": "Strong reasoning"
} | Science & Tech. |
Subsets and Splits