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- Well Grounded: Using Local Land Use Authority to Achieve Smart Growth
- Open Ground: Effective Local Strategies for Protecting Natural Resources
- New Ground: The Advent of Local Environmental Law
- Starting Ground Series
- Breaking Ground: Planning and Building in Priority Growth Districts
- Protecting the Environment Through Land Use Law: Standing Ground
Well Grounded: Using Local Land Use Authority to Achieve Smart Growth
The book places land use practice into the national perspective of sprawl and smart growth, by fully describing one of the nation's most complete state land use regimes-the New York system. The New York system is highly textured, employing land use devices at the state, county, and local government levels, and it is typical of the approaches and techniques increasingly used in most of the other 49 states.
The book covers the history of land use practice from its evolution in 1916 to the very latest developments, including Palazzollo v. Rhode Island, the important regulatory takings case just handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. It also describes the political history of land use law in New York, including some stunning victories and defeats which explain why land use law is practiced as it is today. Each chapter provides basic definitions of all topics before delving into more complicated applications of them.
Well Grounded is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, and practical reference for land use officials and professionals, academics, and citizens in all states.
Approx. 500 pages. $49.95.
Open Ground: Effective Local Strategies for Protecting Natural Resources
The preservation of open space has captured the public`s imagination. Disappearance of open space is associated with the general degradation of the quality of community life, and in a broader sense, what is happening to open space is what is happening to the local environment.
Most books on environmental protection focus on the critical role of federal and state legislation, and agencies in promoting and protecting environmental values. When one turns to the subject of open space protection, the role of local governments, their legislatures and administrative bodies, is paramount. Local governments in most states have been delegated primary responsibility for determining how private land is developed and conserved. The result being that when requests for local approval of development projects are made, local boards do not have the power to properly protect their environmental resources.
Despite this reality, there is no comprehensive source of information about strategies available to localities to protect the environment. This book is designed to fill that void. It is offered with the knowledge that properly drafted land use ordinances, land acquisition programs, and smart growth strategies can protect critical landscapes and valued natural resources. These initiatives can counter the negative effects of polluted run-off, erosion and sedimentation, habitat removal, wetland disappearance, and water quality degradation that comes from the improper location of buildings and other improvements, poorly managed site clearance and management, and environmentally insensitive construction practices.
Approx. 600 pages.
New Ground: The Advent of Local Environmental Law
Local governments have adopted a host of environmental laws that establish new standards governing the use of the land. These are found in traditional land use laws, including zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as in regulations that protect particular environmental features such as ridgelines, wetlands, watersheds, scenic viewsheds, and waterbodies. This is a very recent movement, but one that has proceeded far enough to demonstrate the powerful role that local governments can play in the nation`s efforts to protect natural resources and to maintain environmental quality. The advent of local environmental law challenges practitioners and academics to describe this new field and explain its relationship to traditional concepts of environmental and land use law.
New Ground: The Advent of Local Environmental Law presents a collection of papers examining local environmental law and its strategic role in shaping an appropriate response to a new generation of environmental and land use challenges. Contributors are distinguished scholars and practitioners who have written casebooks and articles on land use and environmental law, served in federal, state, and local administrations or national bar and planning association committees, or prepared national treatises on the subject. Their papers were presented at a symposium hosted by Pace University School and co-sponsored by ELI. The book includes a detailed explanation of this developing field by the editor, the participants` papers, and their commentaries at the symposium.
Approx. 400 pages. $35.95.
Starting Ground Series
The Land Use Law Center of Pace University School of Law announces the publication of 12 small books on local land use and conservation practices. Each of these books responds to questions that have been asked by local officials, citizens, land developers, environmentalists, and their professional advisers in the dozens of training sessions, workshops, and conferences that the Center has conducted.
Each book is a concise and readable summary of research papers prepared by professors, staff attorneys, or senior law students. The books contain appendices including references to additional readings, New York statutes and cases, and other information that supplements the text’s clear and concise description of the subject.
The titles include:
Basics of Land Use Practice
Ground Rules: Answers to Common Smart Growth Questions
Smart Growth Strategies
Smart Growth Case Studies
Local Environmental Strategies
Local Environmental Ordinances
Environmental Review of Land Use Projects
Open Space Preservation
Meeting Housing Needs
Intermunicipal Land Use Cooperation
Land Use Mediation
Significant Land Use Cases
To order: Complete and return the order form along with a check or money order, made payable to the Land Use Law Center.
Protecting the Environment Through Land Use Law: Standing Ground
Professor John R. Nolon’s Protecting the Environment through Land Use Law: Standing Ground takes a close look at the historical struggle local governments face balancing land development with natural resource conservation. This new book updates and expands on his four previous books, which established a comprehensive framework for understanding the many ways that local land use authority can be used to preserve natural resources and environmental functions at the community level. All royalties from the book will go to the Center to support tits staff and students in preparing research reports for local government leaders.
Standing Ground describes in detail how localities are responding to new challenges, including the imperative that they adapt to and help mitigate climate change and create sustainable neighborhoods. This body of work emphasizes the critical importance of law in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development. The book opens with a historical overview of land use law, offering a clear explanation of the legal foundations of local environmental law within the federal legal system. In addition to providing guidance on how traditional land use techniques—planning, zoning, and development regulations—can be used to protect the environment, Professor Nolon explores more innovative and flexible methods for protecting fragile environmental areas and for making urban neighborhoods livable. He then turns to climate change effects on sea level and storm surges, examining local strategies for disaster preparation, mitigation, and recovery: all the elements of resiliency. Professor Nolon then discusses the growing emphasis on green infrastructure and urban agriculture as crucial strategies for fostering a healthy environment and analyzes the role of environmental impact review. Finally, the book concludes with a discussion of environmental dispute resolution and consensus-based land use decision-making.
Standing Ground is both a call to action—challenging readers to consider how local law and policy can augment state and federal conservation efforts—and a celebration of the valuable role local governments play in protecting our environment. The book is an essential text for policy makers, academics, students, politicians, and practitioners faced with the challenge of balancing conservation and development in a changing world.
Approx. 440 pages. $69.95.
Critical Environmental Area Overlay
The Critical Environmental Area Overlay is a model ordinance that attempts to regulate large land areas in a way that preserves ecosystem processes. This model critical environmental area overlay district was drafted by the by the Land Use Law Center and in conjunction with the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance, a program of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The purpose of the Critical Environmental Area Overlay District is to protect large open spaces so that ecological processes continue to function with minimal disturbance, biodiversity is maintained, and fragmentation is avoided. The model ordinance is based on the assumption that municipalities have already adopted zoning, subdivision and site plan regulations. The overlay regulations are therefore not substituted for existing zoning regulations. Rather, the regulations are designed to provide communities with additional review and control over development projects to ensure that the ecological integrity of the land is maintained.
A draft of the model overlay ordinance can be obtained by contacting the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance at 68 Purchase Street, 3rd Floor, Rye, New York 10580; Telephone (914) 925-9175.
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Egyptian Students Speak Out
- Grades: 6–8, 9–12
Revere High School is a gateway community, with students from every corner of the globe. This diversity allows our students to truly be citizens of the world. They are able to share their worldview and their experiences with one another. When the revolution ignited in Egypt, many of our students were able to give accurate accounts and personal perspectives of the events as they unfolded.
This morning, Marwa Salem, Mohamed Noufal, Ahmed Ahmed, Mekdad Elbehisi, and Mosaab Elbehisi met with me to discuss the history being made in Egypt. All five students hail from Egypt, and they each have immediate family still living in the country. They are optimistic about the events occurring in their country and proud that the people's voices have been heard.
Because all of the students still have close relatives and friends in Egypt, they were very concerned when the protests began. Each of the students said they came to the United States for educational opportunities. Mohamed has been in the United States for three years. He attended private school in Egypt, which he said was very expensive. Private schools, Mohamed explained, were the only option if you wanted to get a good education. The Egyptian educational system was quite different than the American school system, and not everyone had the same opportunities.
Ahmed Ahmed has been in the U.S. for about ten years, but he and his family visit Egypt each summer. This past summer Ahmed noticed that prices in Egypt had risen to even higher levels. He witnessed people living on the streets and much more poverty. The people of Egypt were struggling, and it was painfully apparent. Mohamed added that at that time 41% of Egyptian people lived in poverty, and that most of the people he knew earned only about $70 dollars per month.
All of the students had felt that Egypt was in trouble: so many people lived in poverty, resources were scarce, and only the very wealthy seemed to be surviving. Most Egyptians had been fed up with Mubarak's long reign. Because of the state of emergency in Egypt, Mubarak had been able to ignore laws, disregard election results, and censor the people and the press. Mohamed and Ahmed both talked about the dangers of speaking out against Mubarak, which could result in jail time or even death. Even so, all of the students, except Mohamed, said that they had not anticipated things happening so rapidly. Mohamed said he felt that the Egyptian revolution had been inspired by the earlier uprising in Tunisia, and he knew his country was headed toward change.
Mohamed's hopes for Egypt are that the police and military will respect the people of Egypt. He wants to see all Egyptians being treated fairly and respectfully, not just those who are wealthy. "A person who doesn't have money, "Mohamed explained, "they will suffer their whole life." Both Mohamed and Ahmed hope to see to see a new leader in control who cares about the people. "Mubarak was living in another world," Mohamed said. "He was completely out of touch with the people. If a president knows his people, he can make a difference. A leader cannot exploit the country. Egypt is rich. But you must care about the people." Mohamed thinks that Amr Mohammed Moussa may be the man for the job.
All of the students hope to visit Egypt soon, although only Mawra's family will be heading back this summer. "I wanted to go back this summer," Mohamed said. "But my dad told me he is not going to let me because it is not safe for me. He said he will give me money to travel next year but not this year. It's just not safe." Ahmed anticipates "more jobs and more money, so that people can support their families." He, too, would like to return to Egypt, but may wait a while before he does so.
Mawra feels "that the whole government is going to change for the better now. The people will be empowered, and there will be freedom." She hopes that when she visits Egypt this summer she can take part in the process of change. "I don't want to go for a vacation; I want to help out," she said.
Brothers Mekdad and Mosaab have been in the U.S. for two and a half years. Mekdad explained that while living in Egypt, they were not affected as badly as others because their father worked outside of Egypt in the United Arab Emirates. They have not been back to Egypt since moving to Massachusetts, but they have followed the dawning of the new era in Egypt closely. Mekdad said he felt both good and bad while watching what was happening in Egypt. "I felt so bad, but I felt good at the same time because we need revolution," Mekdad said. "We need a new president. Egypt needs to get better. I'd like to see more technology, an improved economy, and better education."
Both Mekdad and Mosaab said that if they had been in Egypt during the time of revolution, they would have been protesting in the streets. "We would want to help our country," Mosaab said. Mekdad has hopes that Egypt will move towards a democracy. Even so, Mosaab says he would like to stay in America. "I appreciate the freedom that Americans have," he said.
All students at Revere High are fortunate that they can experience a unique understanding of history as it's occurring through the eyes of their fellow students. Ahmed said he appreciated the concern of his teachers and fellow students, and he was happy to answer questions and to discuss what was going on. The Egyptian students have provided their peers with a personal perspective of the revolution, which gives a sense of immediacy and significance to the situation.
For more on what is going on Egypt, please check out "Fast Facts: Egypt." To learn more about the Egyptian Revolution, see Scholastic News Kids Press Corps' article "Egyptian President Steps Down." "Background: MIddle East" provides a comprehensive look at this important part of the globe. To understand President Obama's hopes for the Middle East, check out "Obama Presses Egypt's Military on Democracy." Finally, MEMRI TV, the Middle East Media Research Institute TV Monitor Project, has a wonderful video entitled "Egypt Uprising — Young Egyptian Performers Recruit Al-Tahrir Square Protesters and Slogans for New Hit: The Voice of Freedom" that will allow students to experience the passion behind the revolution.
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1 Answer | Add Yours
It is highly ironic that Orwell in this essay explains how he was forced to do something that he did not want to do or see any need for doing because of the mob power of the Burmese and the pressure of the "sea of yellow faces" that expect Orwell to perform "a magic trick" in killing the elephant. This of course points towards the way that the power relations are completely reversed, and supports Orwell's main thesis in this excellent essay, which is that "when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys." We see, in the quote that you have highlighted, Orwell being forced to act through nothing more noble than the fear of being laughed at. Note the following quote as well:
The sole thought in my mind was that if anything went wrong those two thousand Burmans would see me pursued, caught, trampled on, and reduced to a grinning corpse like that Indian up the hill. And if that happpened it was quite probably that some of them would laught. That would never do.
Note the way that this situation reverses the expected patterns of power. Orwell, as a colonial officier, in theory should have power, and yet this quote reveals his fear of being laughed at, which actually gives the Burmese incredible power and renders Orwell powerless. Orwell recognises the immense irony of this and how it limits his own freedom and turns the Burmese people into a kind of tyrant as they have expectations that they want to be met.
We’ve answered 327,623 questions. We can answer yours, too.Ask a question
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Napoleon is supposed to have said that "History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon". History is fluid and ever-changing, as the interpreters change in background, circumstance and understanding. My approach to studying any given event or period in history (one of my favourite subjects) is to first learn the when, where, and who of it - those dry bones that make the palaeontologists of social science so excited. Then I seek to read the accounts of contemporaries, and then various versions that follow through the years. With each reading, I attempt to take into account the numerous pressures of each interpreter's background; conceptions and misconceptions, mores and values, hopes and fears. I look to the arts for expressions of the will and whim of the populace that (it will out) force the hand of governments, to the sciences for the impetus that allows progress and advance (in cruelty as well as humanity), and to literature for expressions of content and discontent. I then make an effort to sort out all those influences on myself, and the result is a very personal understanding of History - not at all the same understanding that you will have, or that any one else will have, but one that satisfies my curiosity and desire to place here-and-now into some sort of context.
The history section of HumanitiesWeb was created to allow readers to study history that same way - the dates and places are all here, but they are linked and cross-referenced with the arts, literature, philosophy and religion. Biographies allow personal glimpses at those who directed the course of humankind (whether they be statesmen or slaves, philosophers or tinkerers); and old and new texts, supported by primary documents provide the background necessary for understanding (which is a whole different kettle of fish than knowledge).
This main history page allows you to approach the science by country (I've begun with the United States because my background there is greatest). Each country is divided by period or era, and includes timelines of events of political significance. Supporting documents are included (the text of treaties, bills and laws etc), detailed timelines of conflicts, and texts with various viewpoints of the era from times past. In the left menu, there is a link to the main Timelines search, which allows you to look at any period of time and get a main overview of events (political, religious, scientific, or in the arts). There is also a (small but growing) dictionary which gives short descriptions of various events, terms and institutions. As I continue to add to the site, you will find detailed biographies and the text of speeches, documents etc.
I sincerely hope that you find this effort helpful, and certainly am open to suggestions and offers to increase the scope and breadth of the project. If you'd like to contact me, please use the feedback link.
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- Cyber Resources
- Research CyberInfrastructure Core (RCC)
- Networked Sensors and Remote Sensing Data
- Mapping Tools
- Mobile Data Access
- Photo Gallery
- CCRT Administration
Hawaii Biodiversity & Mapping Program
The Hawai‘i Biodiversity & Mapping Program (HBMP) is a research program within the Center for Conservation Research and Training (CCRT), Pacific BioSciences Research Center (PBRC) at the University of Hawai‘i . HBMP is also a member of NatureServe , an international network of databases. HBMP maintains one of the most comprehensive database and distribution records of Hawaii's rare and endangered species.
Our mission is to gather, synthesize, and disseminate comprehensive information on the status and location of Hawai‘i's biological resources in order to assist others towards making a positive impact on biodiversity. Our staff's expertise includes collecting field data, and applying digital databases and geoinformatics to model and research environmental issues.
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Seventeen Beduin, members of the al-Uqbi family, filed the six land claims. The complex and often bitter legal proceedings went on for over six years, and discussed in detail the history of the Negev Beduin and land laws dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.The Beduin claim the land had belonged to their families since before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and that it had come into their possession by means of purchase and inheritance over generations.
However, in 1951 they say they were evacuated from the land when the IDF confiscated it, and since then the state has not granted them permission to return, and has said the land belongs to the state and was never privately owned.
Significantly, the land in question - south of the Beduin city of Rahat - includes the hotly contested area known as al-Arakib, the site of an ongoing and bitter conflict between Beduin and the state. Temporary shacks built by the Beduin in al-Arakib were demolished by the state and rebuilt on more than ten occasions, the last in 2010, and last year the state filed a NIS 1.8 million lawsuit against two Beduin families over the issue.
During the al-Uqbi lawsuit, both the state and the Beduin brought extensive expert testimonies, pitting the country's most prominent experts in historical and political geography against each other. For the plaintiffs, Ben-Gurion University's Professor Oren Yiftachel, one of the country's foremost critical geographers and social scientists, gave expert testimony. Testifying for the state was Professor Ruth Kark, a leading expert on the historical geography of Palestine and Israel from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
At the heart of the case was the debate of whether the Beduin were able to prove that they had private land rights to the disputed plots despite a lack of formal land title deeds showing the land had been registered in their name in the Ottoman land registry, the 'Tabu'.
Central to this was the question of the land's legal classification under Ottoman and British rule, and whether it had been a form of state land, known as Mawat (wasteland that could not be cultivated).
When the Israel Land Law abolished the old Ottoman land classifications in 1969, it said all land would revert to state lands unless a claimant could produce proof of private ownership in the form of Ottoman or British legal title.
The British Mandate authorities stipulated that the last date by which Beduin could register land classified as Mawat as privately owned was 1921, however the al-Uqbis - like most Beduin - had not done so.
In court, the al-Uqbis argued that the state's order to expropriate the land from them in 1951 was made on the erroneous assumption that under Ottoman law the land was classified as Mawat. They said that the land had been cultivated and owned by them, and so classified as Miri land under Ottoman legal terms.
Mawat lands were both uncultivated and not adjacent to settled lands. The Beduin, who argued that the el-Ukbi families had lived at al-Arakib before the State of Israel was established, testified that there had been tents and other structures on the land and that Beduin residents had cultivated barley and wheat there. Therefore, they argued, the Ottoman authorities can not possibly have classified it as Mawat.
In an expert opinion filed to the court, Professor Yiftachel said that these "tribal areas" of scattered tent clusters were not at that time registered with the authorities but were nevertheless considered "settled"and met the definition of a "village" in the 1921 Land Ordinance.
The Beduin also presented aerial photographs from 1945 onwards, which they said showed there had been extensive cultivation covering al-Arakib, meaning that it could not have been classified as Mawat land.
The state's expert witness, Professor Ruth Kark, gave the complete opposite view, and said that prior to 1858, there had been no fixed settlements on or near to the disputed land. The first fixed settlement had been Beersheba, she said, which the Ottomans founded in 1900 and which is 11 kilometers from al-Arakib, refuting the Beduins' claims that the land could not have been Mawat because it was both cultivated and next to a settlement.
They also contended that the Ottoman and later the British authorities had in fact granted legal autonomy to the Negev Beduin to organize land ownership according to Beduin law, which is why it was not registered as theirs in the Tabu.
However, the court did not accept this claim, saying that if the Ottoman authorities had wished to exempt a particular population from the law, then they would have done so explicitly.
Rejecting the claims, Judge Sarah Dovrat concluded the the land in question had not been "assigned to the plaintiffs nor held by them under conditions required by law."
"Regardless of whether the land was Mawat or Miri, the complainants must still prove their rights to the land by proof of its registration in the Tabu," the judge said.
Judge Dovrat added that "athough the complainants believe that they have proof that they held the land for generations, and that four families from the el-Ukbi tribe cultivated and owned the land, such claims require a legitimate legal basis in accordance with the the relevant legislation and according to precedents set out in case law."
The judge held that the plaintiffs' documents indicated that they knew they had a duty to register land in the 'Tabu' - the Land Registry - but had not wanted to do so.
"The state said that although the complainants are not entitled to compensation, it has been willing to negotiate with them," the judge added. "It is a shame that these negotiations did not reach any agreement."
The court also ordered the Beduin complainants to pay legal costs of NIS 50,000.
Attorneys Michael Sfard and Carmel Pomerantz, who represented the Beduin complainants, slammed the ruling, which they said went against an international trend of recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples to their historic lands.
"In its ruling, the court affirmed the practice of expulsion that the state carried out against the Negev Beduin, and found that sixty years afterwards there is no point in testing whether that massive expropriation of lands was legal or not," Sfard said on Monday.
Sfard and Pomerantz added the the court did not "take the opportunity to recognize, even symbolically, the historical injustice perpetrated to the residents of these lands, whose ancestors lived there for centuries."
Professor Yiftachel called the decision "troubling" and said on Monday that the Beduin were considering whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.
"[The ruling] is troubling first and foremost because it unjustly dispossesses many Bedouins who have simply inherited the land from their ancestors. The court decided that just because they didn't register their land, they ought to lose it," Yiftachel said. "It's a sad irony - Jews who bought land from Bedouins in Northern Negev became recognized owners, while the people who sold them the land are now being dispossessed."
Yiftachel said that the court had ignored new research he presented, which he said showed the Beduins had "acquired rights within a permanent land system they developed and how previous regimes have respected those rights."
"Most researchers agree that 2-3 million dunams were cultivated by the Beduin in the early 20th century, which gives them land rights," he said. "Yet the court claimed that no Beduin settlement and rights existed then. Where did the Beduin farmers live - in mid air?"
Yiftachel added that recognizing the fact that Beduin did own parts of the Negev for generations was "not only a moral duty of any enlightened state, but also the key for good Arab-Jewish relations on which the Negev will depend for years to come."
"Whatever the court decision, I am committed to the truth," he said.
ILA director Benzi Lieberman welcomed the court's ruling, and said on Monday that the ILA expected the Beduin claimants to respect it and "stop trespassing" on the land.
"The ILA will do all in its power to keep state land from trespassers - and this includes farming - in order to safeguard the land," Lieberman said, adding that the ILA would file lawsuits against those who trespassed on state land.
Read More - http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?ID=262501&R=R1
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Imagine you wake up in the morning, look out your window and see the vast blue horizon of Earth and the blackness of space. Our world stretches out beneath you. Mountains, lakes and oceans pass by in a beautiful stream of rapidly changing scenery as you orbit the Earth every 90 minutes. Sounds like something unreal out of a science fiction novel, right? For the crews of the International Space Station (ISS), it's a reality.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proposed a permanently inhabited, government- and industry-supported space station be built by the United States in cooperation with several other countries. The U.S. along with 14 other countries -- Canada, Japan, Brazil, and the European Space Agency (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden) decided to bring Reagan's vision to fruition. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States invited Russia to cooperate in the ISS project, which was still in its planning stages, bringing the number of participating countries to 16.
NASA took the lead in coordinating the ISS's construction, and today the ISS serves as an orbiting laboratory for experiments in life, physical, earth and materials sciences. Its assembly in orbit began in 1998. The ISS has about 38 modules and requires at least 44 spaceflights to deliver the components into orbit. One-hundred sixty spacewalks, totaling 1,920 man-hours, are required to assemble and maintain the ISS. The ISS is scheduled for completion in 2011 and will have an anticipated life of 10 years after that. Cost estimates of this stellar project range from $35 billion to more than $100 billion [source: NASA ISS Reference guide and Boyle].
In this article, we'll look at the parts of the ISS, how it maintains a permanent environment for humans in space, how it's powered, what it's like to live and work on the ISS, and how, exactly, we'll use the ISS. First, we'll start with its parts and assembly.
Parts and Assembly of the ISS
Building the International Space Station (ISS) is much like building a toy using a child's LEGO or K'nex building block set. There are more than 100 parts to the ISS and all of those parts are linked together. The parts can be categorized as follows:
- Pressurized modules -- such as the Zarya, Zveda, Destiny, Columbus and Harmony -- provide breathable, warm environments for living quarters, equipment rooms and laboratories where the crews live and work.
- Nodes link modules together and allow branching of the ISS structure.
- Docking ports allow various space vehicles to attach to the ISS.
- A long, linear truss lies above the pressurized modules, forming a girder framework where the solar panels and radiators attach. A mobile, robotic, servicing arm moves along the truss to haul cargo and experiment packages.
- External Research Accommodations provide multiple mounting locations along the outside of the ISS for experiments that rely on full exposure to the space environment.
- Spacecraft -- such as the Soyuz spacecraft and Progress supply ship -- dock with the ISS to transport astronauts and supplies to and from Earth.
Assembly of the ISS began in November of 1998 when a Russian proton rocket placed the first module, the Functional Cargo Block (Zarya), in orbit. A three-member crew, the ISS's first, was launched from Russia on October 31, 2000. The crew spent almost five months aboard the ISS, activating systems and conducting experiments. Since then, many spacecraft have delivered parts of the ISS into orbit and its assembly has progressed. During this time, the ISS has been manned continuously with 26 crews of astronauts (as of this writing). The astronauts have spent a cumulative total of 4,423 days in outer space. The current crew, Expedition 26, will spend 5 months in space and return to Earth in May 2011, and then Expedition 27 will begin.
With a scheduled completion date set for December 2011, there are seven remaining scheduled flights in 2011 to complete its construction. There will be three flights by Russian and European rockets to deliver supplies, two space shuttle flights and one Russian proton rocket will deliver large pieces of modules or equipment and the shuttle flight in April will change crews.
When completed, the ISS will be 243 ft (74m) long and 361 ft (110 m) wide. It will have a mass of 925,000 lbs (420 metric tons) and a pressurized volume of 33,023 ft3 (935 m3); the pressurized volume will be about the cabin size of a 747 jet. It will be in orbit at 217 to 285 miles (362 to 476 km), inclined 51.6 degrees relative to the equator [source: ISS Facts and Figures and NASA ISS Reference guide].
Those are some pretty impressive specs -- but perhaps even more impressive is how the ISS maintains a livable environment.
Sustaining a Permanent Environment in Space
Sustaining a permanent environment in space requires things many of us take for granted here on Earth: fresh air, water, food, a comfortable (and habitable) climate -- even waste removal and fire protection. First, let's talk air. We need oxygen so the ISS has several systems for providing it. One system is to have oxygen delivered from Earth via spacecraft. This oxygen is stored in external tanks; similarly, these spacecraft deliver nitrogen gas, which makes the ISS air supply. The ISS also has a generator that makes oxygen from recycled water. Using electricity, it splits water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. The hydrogen gas gets vented into space and the oxygen goes into the ISS air. And finally, the ISS has a solid fuel oxygen generator that burns oxygen candles to release oxygen into the ISS air. Fans circulate the air within the ISS modules. The circulated air gets passed through various filters to remove particles and microbes. The composition of the air is constantly monitored and regulated throughout the station.
On Earth, plants remove the carbon dioxide we exhale, which is poisonous to us. In the ISS, it's removed chemically from the air by various "scrubbers" that absorb carbon dioxide and react it with other chemicals. In addition to carbon dioxide, we also breathe out water vapor. Aboard the ISS, this excess water vapor gets condensed into liquid and is recycled. But this isn't the only source of water. Like oxygen, water gets delivered to the ISS. In fact, there are various methods to transport supplies to the space station. The Russians have the Progress supply ships, European Space Agency has the automated transfer vehicle and Japan has the Kounotori2 or HTV2. Water is a byproduct of the fuel cells that the shuttle uses to generate electricity and water is even recovered from the crew's urine, which gets filtered and treated to make water for drinking, hand-washing and showers. The water gets stored in bags and containers throughout the station. Food is also delivered to the ISS by spacecraft. And the ISS has a kitchen with a food preparation area, food warmers and a table where the crew can eat.
The electronics aboard the ISS make more than enough heat to warm the station. In fact, the problem is getting rid of excess heat. So there are various methods to distribute heat evenly throughout the station. The temperature control system uses electric heaters, insulation and liquid ammonia pipes (heat distributors) to control the internal temperature. Radiators on the station's outside help eliminate the heat to outer space.
Like any home, the ISS must be kept clean. This is especially important in space, where floating dirt and debris could present a hazard. For general housecleaning, astronauts use various wipes (wet, dry, fabric and disinfectant), detergents and wet/dry vacuum cleaners to clean surfaces, filters and themselves. Trash is collected in bags, stowed in a supply ship and returned to Earth for disposal. Solid waste from the toilet is handled in a similar manner after it has been compacted, dried and bagged.
ISS: Power, Propulsion and Communications
The ISS is basically a large spacecraft. As such, it must be able to move about in space, its crew must maintain communications with controllers on the ground and it needs power to accomplish all of this.
We take for granted having electrical power to operate our homes. For example, to use your coffee maker, you simply plug it into the wall without a second thought. Like in your home, all of the onboard systems of the ISS require electrical power. Eight large solar arrays provide electrical power from the sun. Each array is 239 feet (73 m) long and covers an area of 24,187 ft2 (approximately 2,247 m2), or about one-half acre. On each array are two blankets of solar cells. Each blanket is on one side of a telescoping mast that can extend and retract to fold or form the array. The mast turns on a gimbal so that it can keep the solar cells facing the sunlight. The Russian modules also have 80- to 97-foot (24- to 30-m) solar arrays that provide power [source: NASA ISS Facts and Figures].
Like a power grid on Earth, the arrays generate primary power -- approximately 160 volts of DC electricity. The primary power gets converted by a secondary transformer to provide a regulated 124-volt DC current to be used by the station's equipment. There are also power converters onboard to meet the different currents required by U.S. and Russian equipment. The primary power is also used to charge the ISS's three nickel-hydrogen battery stations, which provide power when the ISS passes through the Earth's shadow in each orbit.
The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of 217 to 285 miles (362 to 475 km). At this altitude, the Earth's atmosphere is extremely thin, but still thick enough to drag on the ISS and slow it down. As the ISS slows down, it loses altitude. In addition to atmospheric drag, solar flares also slow the station down and cause it to lose altitude. So, the ISS must be boosted periodically to maintain its proper altitude. The command and service modules have rocket engines that can be used to boost the ISS. However, the Progress supply ships will do most of the reboosting. Each reboosting event requires two rocket engine burns. During the burns, work on the ISS is suspended. After the burns, station life returns to normal.
The ISS must be able to know precisely where it is in space, where other objects are and how to go from one point in space to another, especially during reboosting. To know where it is and how fast it is moving, the ISS uses both U.S. and Russian global positioning systems (GPS). To know which way it is pointing, its attitude, the ISS has several gyroscopes. The combination of all this information helps the ISS move from one point to another in space. In addition, the Russian navigation system uses sighting on the stars, sun and Earth's horizon for navigation.
Now that you know how the ISS stays in space, let's see what it's like to live and work there.
Life Aboard the ISS
What's it like to live and work in space? To answer such questions, Expedition 18 flight engineer Sandra Magnus, wrote a series of journal entries about her stay aboard the ISS. She notes one important thing: An astronaut's day is planned well in advance (years actually) by many people on the ground. "Well we have a scheduling program on board that has in it all of the details that we need to know in order to do the day's work. It tells us when we should go to sleep, when we should get up, when we should exercise, when to eat our meals, when and what information we need to do our tasks " [source: NASA, Magnus Journal]. Although this does sound extremely rigid, Magnus notes that there is some flexibility in that not every task has to be carried out at the exact time the schedule dictates.
Microgravity presents a challenging environment. Whether you're sleeping, changing clothes or working, unless it's secured in place, everything in the ISS around you floats. Even something as seemingly simple as getting up in the morning and getting dressed isn't all that simple. Imagine opening up your closet only to have its contents come flying out at you. On getting ready in the morning, Magnus states, "When I take off my PJ's, they float around in the crew quarters until I gather them up and immediately fasten them down behind a band or something. Suffice it to say it is easy to lose things up here!" [source: NASA, Magnus Journal].
After waking up, each astronaut has a post-sleep period to prepare for the day. During this time, the astronauts can shower, eat, exercise and get ready for work. Exercise is important; in microgravity, bones lose calcium and muscles lose mass. So, astronauts must exercise for set times. Magnus preferred to exercise first thing in the morning, alternating daily between the stationary bike and treadmill. Next, there's a morning conference, where they discuss with crew members and ground controllers everyone's duties for the day. After the conference, they set out to work.
For work, astronauts conduct experiments or maintenance. Like most working people, they stop to eat lunch -- but their lunch breaks are a little different. The food on the ISS is mainly frozen, dehydrated or heat-stabilized, and drinks are dehydrated. Astronauts collect food trays and utensils, locate their individually-packaged meal from a storage compartment, prepare the items (rehydrating if necessary), heat the items, place them in the tray and eat. After the meal, they place the used items in a trash compactor, and clean and stow the utensils and trays.
After lunch, the scheduled activities continue. At the end of the work day, there's an evening conference followed by a 2-hour pre-sleep period. During this time, the astronauts eat dinner, complete any unfinished tasks and wind down. According to Magnus, there are plenty of options for filling this 2-hour period, "There is also email, phone calls, news, photos to review, and other activities which occupy this time. Friday is movie night and sometimes Saturday too" [source: NASA, Magnus Journal].
Work Aboard the ISS
Researchers from governments, industry and educational institutions can use the facilities on the ISS. But why would they want to? The ISS is used mostly for scientific research in the unique environment of microgravity. Gravity influences many physical processes on Earth. For example, gravity alters the way that atoms come together to form crystals. In microgravity, near-perfect crystals can be formed. Such crystals can yield better semi-conductors for faster computers or for more efficient drugs to combat diseases.
Another effect of gravity is that it causes convection currents to form in flames, which leads to unsteady flames. This makes the study of combustion very difficult. However, in microgravity, simple, steady, slow-moving flames result. These types of flames make it easier to study the combustion process. The resulting information could yield a better understanding of the combustion process, and lead to better designs of furnaces or the reduction of air pollution by making combustion more efficient.
Long-term exposure to weightlessness causes our bodies to lose calcium from bones, tissue from muscles, and fluids from our body. These effects of weightlessness are similar to the effects of aging (decreased muscle strength, osteoporosis). So, exposure to microgravity may give us new insights into the aging process. If we can develop countermeasures to prevent the degrading effects of microgravity, perhaps we can prevent some of the physical effects of aging. The ISS provides long-term exposure to microgravity that could not be obtained by using other spacecraft.
The ISS allows us to test ecological life support systems that are similar to the way that the Earth provides life support. We can grow plants in large quantities in space to make oxygen, remove carbon dioxide and provide food. This information will be important for long interplanetary space voyages, such as a trip to Mars or Jupiter.
Orbiting above the Earth's atmosphere and equipped with special instruments and telescopes, the ISS crew can observe and take various measurements of the Earth's surface (amount of vegetation, temperature, water) and the Earth's atmosphere (carbon dioxide content, lightning strikes, hurricane development). Crew members can also use telescopes to observe the Sun, stars, and galaxies without distortion from the Earth's atmosphere.
For details on specific projects and experiments, you can check out the ISS Facility and Experimentation Web site. Now let's take a look at the future of the ISS.
Future of the ISS
The ISS is scheduled to be completed in 2011. The station is expected to be operational for another 10 years after that. Crews of astronauts will exchange out during that time. However, how that will happen is still unclear. The U.S. space shuttle fleet is being retired next year after 30 years of service. NASA's plans for returning to the Moon aboard the new Orion CEV spacecraft have been placed on hold as the Obama administration has cancelled the program. Although the Orion CEV spacecraft itself is still being developed, the Ares launch vehicle was cancelled. So, the future of the U.S. manned space program is uncertain at this time. NASA continues to develop new rocket technology to replace the shuttle. But exactly when this will be ready is unknown.
Once the shuttle fleet is retired, the United States will have no way of putting astronauts into space for a while. So, manned missions to the ISS will have to be transported using the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and resupplied using the Progress supply ships.
The ISS is not without its problems. With any machine as large and complex as the ISS, equipment breaks down and requires maintenance. However, given the projected price tag (more than $100 billion), many people have asked the question, "Is the ISS worth the money?" The criticism surrounds these basic points:
- Is the science information gained worth the high price tag?
- The ISS has little purpose in the future of space exploration. Critics have said that it exists to give the shuttles some place to go and the shuttles exist to service the ISS. The ISS isn't a launch platform to the moon, Mars or planets, no new rocket technology is being developed aboard it, and it does not fit into any long range plans of space exploration.
- The ISS budget diverts funds away from highly successful unmanned space probes and space telescopes, which produce valuable scientific information.
- The ISS budget diverts funds away from other manned space projects like missions to the moon or Mars.
Only time will tell about the benefits and costs of the ISS. In the meantime, it remains a marvel of space construction and the longest manned space mission undertaken.
- Boyle, Alan. "What's the cost of the space station?" MSNBC, accessed Jan. 28, 2011, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14505278/ns/technology_and_science-space/
- Launius, RD, Space Stations: base camps to the stars, Smithsonian Books, Washington, DC, 2003
- NASA, Astronaut Sandra Magnus Expedition 18 Journals, accessed Dec. 26, 2010,http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition18/journals_sandra_magnus.html
- NASA, Human Spaceflight ISS page, accessed Dec. 26, 2010, http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/
- NASA: ISS Facts and Figureshttp://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/onthestation/facts_and_figures.html
- NASA, Reference Guide to ISS, accessed Dec. 26. 2010, http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/ISS_Reference_Guide.html http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/508318main_ISS_ref_guide_nov2010.pdf
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United States, Canada: Rural, Urban Singles Are Very Much Alike When It Comes to Sex
December 19, 2007
A new study finds very little difference between rural and urban singles in terms of the number of sex partners, frequency of unprotected sex, and testing for HIV and other STDs.
"The first task for health educators in rural areas is to get the message out there that these infections don't discriminate based on geography," said Robin Milhausen, professor of family relations at the University of Guelph. Milhausen, who worked on the report with Bin Huang and Richard Crosby of the University of Kentucky and Bill Yarber of Indiana University, said the study of U.S. data has implications for Canadians as well.
"The study suggests there are actually few differences between rural and non-rural individuals in terms of their risk behavior, so we shouldn't neglect rural areas in Canada when it comes to prevention and education efforts," Milhausen said. Rural areas, home to fewer than 50,000 people, make up 95 percent of Canada. Thirty percent of Canadians live in areas classified as remote.
Among the study's findings:
Yet while the level of risk exposure is similar between both populations, "It's often more difficult to access testing and treatment in rural areas, and there appears to be more of a stigma associated with accessing these resources in small communities," Milhausen said.
The study is set to be published in Health Education Monograph.
The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo)
This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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Frederick Loewe was born on
June 10, 1901 in Berlin to Viennese parents, Edmond and Rosa. His father,
Edmond Loewe, was a very famous musical star who traveled considerably, including
North and South America, and much of Europe. Fritz grew up in Berlin and attended
a Prussian cadet school from the age of five until he was thirteen. He hated
the school because his parents would leave him there while they toured worldwide.
One of Fritz's most bitter memories was spending even the Christmas holidays
at school with two or three other boys. He never cared for Christmas very
much because of that experience.
By the age of seven or eight,
Fritz learned by ear and played on piano, every new song his father rehearsed
for a new musical in which he was appearing. He was able to play the entire
score and help his father in rehearsals. This impressed his father greatly,
and Edmond suggested giving Fritz music lessons. His mother, however, was
never moved by Fritz's talent, saying; "Oh, they all do that!"
Fritz eventually did attend
a famous conservatory in Berlin, one year behind the virtuoso Claudio Arrau.
Both won the coveted Hollander Medal, awarded by the school, and Fritz gave
performances as a concert pianist while still in Germany.
In 1925, Edmond received an
offer to appear in New York, and Fritz traveled there with him. Deciding to
go separate ways, Fritz decided he was going to "crash Broadway".
But this proved to be difficult,
and Fritz was on the verge of starvation many times, with memories of sleeping
on benches in the snow in Central Park. Finding work in the German section
of New York at the time, "Yorkville", he made his way playing German
clubs and in the movie theaters, accompanying silent pictures as they appeared
on the screen. He would be given a prepared score for each film. Fritz's first
action would be to throw the score in the trash, composing his own melodies
to suit the action on-screen. He discovered that he had a great facility for
this type of improvisation and enjoyed his work. He did encounter one problem
at his first theater: Each performance was to begin with a rendition of "The
Star Spangled Banner", and Fritz didn't know how it went. So, he improvised
a new national anthem on the spot. This didn't go well with the theater owners,
who threatened to fire him unless he learned the piece properly.
When the Depression hit, Fritz
was having a difficult time trying to get one of his musical pieces produced,
or at least to get his songs published. He decided to go out West and see
more of the country. For a while, he delivered the mail in rural Montana on
horseback. After a year, he returned to New York and did some odd jobs, including
a stint at prize fighting.
Fritz began to visit a famous
NY night spot of the time, "The Lambs Club", frequented by theater
people, stars, producers, managers, and directors. One evening, "on the
way to the men's room", he encountered Alan Jay Lerner at a nearby table.
Fritz went up to him, saying "I understand you write lyrics". Alan
replied "Well, I understand you write music".
Alan was working on an idea
for a show, Henry Duffy's production of "Life of the Party," in Detroit., and they decided to collaborate. It was
not a major hit, but the score received favorable notices. It was the first
time Fritz ever had his music reviewed. Their next effort, "The Day Before
Spring", did a little better, and the team was beginning to receive very
Their first real hit was "Brigadoon",
with it's Scottish theme, and the combination Lerner and Loewe was finally
recognized in theaters around the world. Fritz was 47 before his fame was
Established. In 1952 the musical "Paint Your Wagon" hit Broadway,
followed by the classic "My Fair Lady" in 1956 - the longest running
musical of all time until the record was broken by "Cats". During
the first year of "My Fair Lady's" success, Fritz would go up to
people sleeping on the sidewalk for tickets and offer them cups of coffee.
"Why are you doing this!?" they would ask, looking at him as if
he were crazy. "Because I'm the composer" Fritz would answer. "Yeah,
sure!, they'd respond, " ... and I'm the King of Denmark!". They
never would believe him.
The next production,
"Camelot", received terrible reviews when it opened. The director
and producer of the play got the brilliant idea of having the stars, Richard
Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet appear on the Ed Sullivan Show and
sing a few numbers from the musical, along with an appearance by Alan and
Fritz. The next morning the ticket office was swamped with requests, and "Camelot"
became a huge hit.
Fritz then decided on retirement,
not writing anything until he was approached by Alan Lerner with the book
"The Little Prince", by Antoine de Saint Exupery. Fritz fell in
love with the story and began work on the new production at age 71. Fritz
and Alan created a simple script and score that truly captured the magical
feeling of the book. The new musical fell victim to an overblown and overproduced
Hollywood treatment that ruined the feeling of the play as written. Fritz,
in the meantime, refused to visit London and supervise the arrangement and
recording of the score. The resulting production was their only real flop.
Fritz remained in Palm Springs,
California, in retirement until his death in 1988.
information as related by Frederick Loewe to Francine Greshler.
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Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsh, [1857-78], at sacred-texts.com
1 Then began Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
2 How long will ye hunt for words?!
Attend, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we accounted as beasts,
And narrow-minded in your eyes?
Job's speeches are long, and certainly are a trial of patience to the three, and the heaviest trial to Bildad, whose turn now comes on, because he is at pains throughout to be brief. Hence the reproach of endless babbling with which he begins here, as at Job 8:2, when he at last has an opportunity of speaking; in connection with which it must, however, not be forgotten that Job also, Job 16:3, satirically calls upon them to cease. He is indeed more entitled than his opponents to the entreaty not to weary him with long speeches. The question, Job 18:2, if קנצי six derived from קץ, furnishes no sense, unless perhaps it is, with Ralbag, explained: how long do you make close upon close in order, when you seem to have come to an end, to begin continually anew? For to give the thought: how long do you make no end of speaking, it must have been לא עד־אנה, as the lxx (μέχρι τίνος ου ̓ παύσῃ:) involuntarily inserts the negative. And what should the plur. mean by this rendering? The form קנצי = קצּי would not cause doubt; for though קצּים does not occur elsewhere in the Old Testament, it is nevertheless sufficient that it is good Aramaic (קצּין), and that another Hebr. plural, as קצי, קצוי, קצוות, would have been hardly in accordance with the usage of the language. But the plural would not be suitable here generally, the over-delicate explanation of Ralbag perhaps excepted. Since the book of Job abounds in Arabisms, and in Arabic qanaṣa (as synon. of ṣâd) signifies venari, venando capere, and qanṣun (maqnaṣun) cassis, rete venatorium; since, further, שׂים קנצים (comp. שׂים ארב, Jer 9:7) is an incontrovertible reading, and all the difficulties in connection with the reference to קץ lying in the עד־אנה for עד־אנה לא and in the plur. vanish, we translate with Castell., Schultens, J. D. Mich., and most modern expositors: how long (here not different from Job 8:2; Job 19:2) will ye lay snares (construction, as also by the other rendering, like Job 24:5; Job 36:16, according to Ges. 116, 1) for words; which, however, is not equivalent to hunt for words in order to contradict, but in order to talk on continually.
(Note: In post-bibl. Hebrew, קנצים has become common in the signification, proofs, arguments, as e.g., a Karaitic poet says, ויחוד שׁמך בקנצים הקימותי, the oneness of thy name have I upheld with proofs; vid., Pinsker, Likute Kadmoniot. Zur Gesch. des Karaismus und der karischen Literatur, 1860, S. קסו.)
Job is the person addressed, for Bildad agrees with the two others. It is remarkable, however, that he addresses Job with "you." Some say that he thinks of Job as one of a number; Ewald observes that the controversy becomes more wide and general; and Schlottm. conjectures that Bildad fixes his eye on individuals of his hearers, on whose countenances he believed he saw a certain inclination to side with Job. This conjecture we will leave to itself; but the remark which Schlottm. also makes, that Bildad regards Job as a type of a whole class, is correct, only one must also add, this address in the plur. is a reply to Job's sarcasm by a similar one. As Job has told the friends that they act as if they were mankind in general, and all wisdom were concentrated in them, so Bildad has taken it amiss that Job connects himself with the whole of the truly upright, righteous, and pure; and he addresses him in the plural, because he, the unit, has puffed himself up as such a collective whole. This wrangler - he means - with such a train behind him, cannot accomplish anything: Oh that you would understand (הבין, as e.g., Job 42:3, not causative, as Job 6:24), i.e., come to your senses, and afterward we will speak, i.e., it is only then possible to walk in the way of understanding. That is not now possible, when he, as one who plays the part of their many, treats them, the three who are agreed in opposition to him, as totally void of understanding, and each one of them unwise, in expressions like Job 17:4, Job 17:10. Looking to Psa 49:13, 21, one might be tempted to regard נטמינוּ (on the vowel instead of , vid., Ges. 75, rem. 7) as an interchange of consonants from נדמינו: be silent, make an end, ye profligati; but the supposition of this interchange of consonants would be arbitrary. On the other hand, there is no suitable thought in "why are we accounted unclean?" (Vulg. sorduimus), from טמה = טמא, Lev 11:43 (Ges. 75, vi.); the complaint would have no right connection, except it were a very slight one, with Job 17:9. On the contrary, if we suppose a verb טמה in the signification opplere, obturare, which is peculiar to this consonant-combination in the whole range of the Semitic languages (comp. א־טם, Arab. 'ṭm, obstruere, Aram. טמּם, טמטם, Arab. ṭmm, e.g., Talm.: transgression stoppeth up, מטמטמת, man's heart), and after which this טמה has been explained by the Jewish expositors (Raschi: נחשׁבנו טמומים), and is interpreted by סתם (Parchon: נסתמה דעתנו), we gain a sense which corresponds both with previous reproaches of Job and the parallelism, and we decide in its favour with the majority of modern expositors. With the interrogative Wherefore, Bildad appeals to Job's conscience. These invectives proceed from an impassioned self-delusion towards the truth, which he wards off from himself, but cannot however alter.
4 Thou art he who teareth himself in his anger:
Shall the earth become desolate for thy sake,
And a rock remove from its place?
5 Notwithstanding, the light of the wicked shall be put out,
And the glow of his fire shineth not;
6 The light becometh dark in his tent,
And his lamp above him is extinguished;
7 His vigorous steps are straitened,
And his own counsel casteth him down.
The meaning of the strophe is this: Dost thou imagine that, by thy vehement conduct, by which thou art become enraged against thyself, thou canst effect any change in the established divine order of the world? It is a divine law, that sufferings are the punishment of sin; thou canst no more alter this, than that at thy command, or for thy sake, the earth, which is appointed to be the habitation of man (Isa 45:18), will become desolate (tê‛âzab with the tone drawn back, according to Ges. 29, 3, b, Arab. with similar signification in intrans. Kal t‛azibu), or a rock remove from its place (on יעתּק, vid., Job 14:18). Bildad here lays to Job's charge what Job, in Job 16:9, has said of God's anger, that it tears him: he himself tears himself in his rage at the inevitable lot under which he ought penitently to bow. The address, Job 18:4, as apud Arabes ubique fere (Schult.), is put objectively (not: Oh thou, who); comp. what is said on כּלּם, Job 17:10, which is influenced by the same syntactic custom. The lxx transl. Job 18:4: Why! will Hades be tenantless if thou diest (ἐὰν σὺ ἀποθάνῃς)? after which Rosenm. explains: tu caus h. e. te cadente. But that ought to be הבמוּתך. The peopling of the earth is only an example of the arrangements of divine omnipotence and wisdom, the continuance of which is exalted over the human power of volition, and does not in the least yield to human self-will, as (Job 18:4) the rock is an example, and at the same time an emblem, of what God has fixed and rendered immoveable. That of which he here treats as fixed by God is the law of retribution. However much Job may rage, this law is and remains the unavoidable power that rules over the evil-doer.
גּם is here equivalent to nevertheless, or prop. even, ὅμως, as e.g., Psa 129:2 (Ew. 354, a). The light of the evil-doer goes out, and the comfortable brightness and warmth which the blaze (שׁביב, only here as a Hebr. word; according to Raschi and others, tincelle, a spark; but according to lxx, Theod., Syr., Jer., a flame; Targ. the brightness of light) of his fire in his dwelling throws out, comes to an end. In one word, as the praet. חשׁך implies, the light in his tent is changed into darkness; and his lamp above him, i.e., the lamp hanging from the covering of his tent (Job 29:3, comp. Job 21:17), goes out. When misfortune breaks in upon him, the Arab says: ed-dahru attfaa es-sirâgi, fate has put out my lamp; this figure of the decline of prosperity receives here a fourfold application. The figure of straitening one's steps is just as Arabic as it is biblical; צעדי אונו, the steps of his strength (און synon. of כּח, Job 40:16) become narrow (comp. Pro 4:12, Arab. takâssarat), by the wide space which he could pass over with a self-confident feeling of power becoming more and more contracted; and the purpose formed selfishly and without any recognition of God, the success of which he considered infallible, becomes his overthrow.
8 For he is driven into the net by his own feet,
And he walketh over a snare.
9 The trap holdeth his heel fast,
The noose bindeth him.
10 His snare lieth hidden in the earth,
His nets upon the path;
11 Terrors affright him on every side,
And scare him at every step.
The Pual שׁלּח signifies not merely to be betrayed into, but driven into, like the Piel, Job 30:12, to drive away, and as it is to be translated in the similar passage in the song of Deborah, Jdg 5:15 : "And as Issachar, Barak was driven (i.e., with desire for fighting) behind him down into the valley (the place of meeting under Mount Tabor);" בּרגליו, which there signifies, according to Jdg 4:10; Jdg 8:5, "upon his feet = close behind him," is here intended of the intermediate cause: by his own feet he is hurried into the net, i.e., against his will, and yet with his own feet he runs into destruction. The same thing is said in Job 18:8; the way on which he complacently wanders up and down (which the Hithp. signifies here) is שׂבכה, lattice-work, here a snare (Arab. schabacah, a net, from שׂבך, schabaca, to intertwine, weave), and consequently will suddenly break in and bring him to ruin. This fact of delivering himself over to destruction is established in apocopated futt. (Job 18:9) used as praes., and without the voluntative signification in accordance with the poetic licence: a trap catches a heel (poetic brevity for: the trap catches his heel), a noose seizes upon him, עליו (but with the accompanying notion of overpowering him, which the translation "bind" is intended to express). Such is the meaning of צמּים here, which is not plur., but sing., from צמם (Arab. ḍmm), to tie, and it unites in itself the meanings of snare-layer (Job 5:5) and of snare; the form (as אבּיר, אדּיר) corresponds more to the former, but does not, however, exclude the latter, as תּנּין and לפּיד (λαμπάς) show.
The continuation in Job 18:10 of the figure of the fowler affirms that that issue of his life (Job 18:9) has been preparing long beforehand; the prosperity of the evil-doer from the beginning tends towards ruin. Instead of חבלו we have the pointing חבלו, as it would be in Arab. in a similar sense hhabluhu (from hhabl, a cord, a net). The nearer destruction is now to him, the stronger is the hold which his foreboding has over him, since, as Job 18:11 adds, terrible thoughts (בּלּהות) and terrible apparitions fill him with dismay, and haunt him, following upon his feet. לרגליו, close behind him, as Gen 30:30; Sa1 25:42; Isa 41:2; Hab 3:5. The best authorized pointing of the verb is והפיצהוּ, with Segol (Ges. 104, 2, c), Chateph-Segol, and Kibbutz. Except in Hab 3:14, where the prophet includes himself with his people, הפיץ, diffundere, dissipare (vid., Job 37:11; Job 40:11), never has a person as its obj. elsewhere. It would also probably not be used, but for the idea that the spectres of terror pursue him at every step, and are now here, now there, and his person is as it were multiplied.
12 His calamity looketh hunger-bitten,
And misfortune is ready for his fall.
13 It devoureth the members of his skin;
The first-born of death devoureth his members.
14 That in which he trusted is torn away out of his tent,
And he must march on to the king of terrors.
15 Beings strange to him dwell in his tent;
Brimstone is strewn over his habitation.
The description of the actual and total destruction of the evil-doer now begins with יהי (as Job 24:14, after the manner of the voluntative forms already used in Job 24:9). Step by step it traces his course to the total destruction, which leaves no trace of him, but still bears evident marks of being the fulfilment of the curse pronounced upon him. In opposition to this explanation, Targ., Raschi, and others, explain אנו according to Gen 49:3 : the son of his manhood's strength becomes hungry, which sounds comical rather than tragic; another Targ. transl.: he becomes hungry in his mourning, which is indeed inadmissible, because the signif. planctus, luctus, belongs to the derivatives of אנה, אנן, but not to און. But even the translation recently adopted by Ew., Stick., and Schlottm., "his strength becomes hungry," is unsatisfactory; for it is in itself no misfortune to be hungry, and רעב does not in itself signify "exhausted with hunger." It is also an odd metaphor, that strength becomes hungry; we would then rather read with Reiske, רעב באנו, famelicus in media potentia sua. But as און signifies strength (Job 18:7), so און (root אן, to breathe and pant) signifies both wickedness and evil (the latter either as evil = calamity, or as anhelitus, sorrow, Arab. ain); and the thought that his (i.e., appointed to the evil-doer) calamity is hungry to swallow him up (Syr., Hirz., Hahn, and others), suits the parallelism perfectly: "and misfortune stands ready for his fall."
(Note: If רעב elsewhere corresponds to the Arabic rugb, to be voraciously hungry, the Arab. ra‛b, to be paralyzed with fright, might correspond to it in the present passage: "from all sides spectres alarm him (בעתהו from בעת = Arab. bgt, to fall suddenly upon any one; or better: = b‛ṯ, to hunt up, excitare, to cause to rise, to fill with alarm) and urge him forward, seizing on his heels; then his strength becomes a paralyzing fright (רעב), and destruction is ready to overwhelm him." The ro‛b (רעב, thus in Damascus) or ra‛b (רעב, thus in Hauran and among the Beduins) is a state of mind which only occurs among us in a lower degree, but among the Arabs it is worthy of note as a psychological fact. If the wahm (Arab. 'l-whm), or idea of some great and inevitable danger or misfortune, overpowers the Arab, all strength of mind and body suddenly forsakes him, so that he breaks down powerless and defenceless. Thus on July 8, 1860, in Damascus, in a few hours, about 6000 Christian men were slain, without any one raising a hand or uttering a cry for mercy. Both European and native doctors have assured me the ro‛b in Arabia kills, and I have witnessed instances myself. Since it often produces a stiffness of the limbs with chronic paralysis, all kinds of paralysis are called ro‛b, and the paralytics mar‛ûb. - Wetzst.)
איד signifies prop. a weight, burden, then a load of suffering, and gen. calamity (root אד, Arab. âda, e.g., Sur. 2, 256, la jaâduhu, it is not difficult for him, and adda, comp. on Psa 31:12); and לצלעו not: at his side (Ges., Ew., Schlottm., Hahn), but, according to Psa 35:15; Psa 38:18 : for his fall (lxx freely, but correctly: ἐξαίσιοϚ); for instead of "at the side" (Arab. ila ganbi), they no more say in Hebrew than in Germ. "at the ribs."
Job 18:13 figuratively describes how calamity takes possession of him. The members, which are called יצרים in Job 17:7, as parts of the form of the body, are here called בּדּים, as the parts into which the body branches out, or rather, since the word originally signifies a part, as that which is actually split off (vid., on Job 17:16, where it denotes "cross-bars"), or according to appearance that which rises up, and from this primary signification applied to the body and plants, the members (not merely as Farisol interprets: the veins) of which the body consists and into which it is distributed. עור (distinct from גּלד, Job 16:15, similar in meaning to Arab. baschar, but also to the Arab. gild, of which the former signifies rather the epidermis, the latter the skin in the widest sense) is the soluble surface of the naked animal body. בּכור מות devours this, and indeed, as the repetition implies, gradually, but surely and entirely. "The first-born of the poor," Isa 14:30, are those not merely who belong (בּני) to the race of the poor, but the poor in the highest sense and first rank. So here diseases are conceived of as children of death, as in the Arabic malignant fevers are called benât el-menı̂jeh, daughters of fate or death; that disease which Bildad has in his mind, as the one more terrible and dangerous than all others, he calls the "first-born of death," as that in which the whole destroying power of death is contained, as in the first-born the whole strength of his parent.
(Note: In Arabic the positive is expressed in the same metonymies with abu, e.g., abû 'l-chêr, the benevolent; on the other hand, e.g., ibn el̇hhâge is much stronger than abu 'l-hhâge: the person who is called ibn is conceived of as a child of these conditions; they belong to his inmost nature, and have not merely affected him slightly and passed off. The Hebrew בכור represents the superlative, because among Semites the power and dignity of the father is transmitted to the first-born. So far as I know, the Arab does not use this superlative; for what is terrible and revolting he uses "mother," e.g., umm el-fâritt, mother of death, a name for the plague (in one of the modern popular poets of Damascus), umm el-quashshâsh, mother of the sweeping death, a name for war (in the same); for that which awakens the emotions of joy and grief he frequently uses "daughter." In an Arabian song of victory the fatal arrows are called benât el-môt, and the heroes (slayers) in the battle benı̂ el-môt, which is similar to the figure used in the book of Job. Moreover, that disease which eats up the limbs could not be described by a more appropriate epithet than בכור מות. Its proper name is shunned in common life; and if it is necessary to mention those who are affected with it, they always say sâdât el-gudhamâ to avoid offending the company, or to escape the curse of the thing mentioned. - Wetzst.)
The Targ. understands the figure similarly, since it transl. מלאך מותא (angel of death); another Targ. has instead שׁרוּי מותא, the firstling of death, which is intended in the sense of the primogenita (= praematura) mors of Jerome. Least of all is it to be understood with Ewald as an intensive expression for בן־מות, Sa1 20:31, of the evil-doer as liable to death. While now disease in the most fearful form consumes the body of the evil-doer, מבטחו (with Dag.f. impl., as Job 8:14; Job 31:24, Olsh. 198, b) (a collective word, which signifies everything in which he trusted) is torn away out of his tent; thus also Rosenm., Ew., and Umbr. explain, while Hirz., Hlgst., Schlottm., and Hahn regard מבטחו as in apposition to אהלו, in favour of which Job 8:14 is only a seemingly suitable parallel. It means everything that made the ungodly man happy as head of a household, and gave him the brightest hopes of the future. This is torn away (evellitur) from his household, so that he, who is dying off, alone survives. Thus, therefore, Job 18:14 describes how he also himself dies at last. Several modern expositors, especially Stickel, after the example of Jerome (et calcet super eum quasi rex interitus), and of the Syr. (praecipitem eum reddent terrores regis), take בּלּהות as subj., which is syntactically possible (vid., Job 27:20; Job 30:15): and destruction causes him to march towards itself (Ges.: fugant eum) like a military leader; but since הצעיד signifies to cause to approach, and since no אליו (to itself) stands with it, למלך is to be considered as denoting the goal, especially as ל never directly signifies instar. In the passage advanced in its favour it denotes that which anything becomes, that which one makes a thing by the mode of treatment (Job 39:16), or whither anything extends (e.g., in Schultens on Job 13:12 : they had claws li-machlbi, i.e., "approaching to the claws" of wild beasts).
(Note: Comp a note infra on Job 21:4. - Tr.)
One falls into these strange interpretations when one departs from the accentuation, which unites מלך בלהות quite correctly by Munach.
Death itself is called "the king of terrors," in distinction from the terrible disease which is called its first-born. Death is also personified elsewhere, as Isa 28:15, and esp. Psa 49:15, where it appears as a רעה, ruler in Hades, as in the Indian mythology the name of the infernal king Jamas signifies the tyrant or the tamer. The biblical representation does not recognise a king of Hades, as Jamas and Pluto: the judicial power of death is allotted to angels, of whom one, the angel of the abyss, is called Abaddon (אבדון), Rev 9:11; and the chief possessor of this judicial power, ὁ τὸδράτος ἔχων τοῦ θανάτον, is, according to Heb 2:14, the angel-prince, who, according to the prologue of our book, has also brought a fatal disease upon Job, without, however, in this instance being able to go further than to bring him to the brink of the abyss. It would therefore not be contrary to the spirit of the book if we were to understand Satan by the king of terrors, who, among other appellations in Jewish theology, is called שׂר על־התהו, because he has his existence in the Thohu, and seeks to hurl back every living being into the Thohu. But since the prologue casts a veil over that which remains unknown in this world in the midst of tragic woes, and since a reference to Satan is found nowhere else in the book - on the contrary, Job himself and the friends trace back directly to God that mysterious affliction which forms the dramatic knot - we understand (which is perfectly sufficient) by the king of terrors death itself, and with Hirz., Ew., and most expositors, transl.: "and it causes him to march onward to the king of terrors." The "it" is a secret power, as also elsewhere the fem. is used as neut. to denote the "dark power" (Ewald, 294, b) of natural and supernatural events, although sometimes, e.g., Job 4:16; Isa 14:9, the masc. is also so applied. After the evil-doer is tormented for a while with temporary בלהות, and made tender, and reduced to ripeness for death by the first-born of death, he falls into the possession of the king of בלהות himself; slowly and solemnly, but surely and inevitably (as תצעיד implies, with which is combined the idea of the march of a criminal to the place of execution), he is led to this king by an unseen arm.
In Job 18:15 the description advances another step deeper into the calamity of the evil-doer's habitation, which is now become completely desolate. Since Job 18:15 says that brimstone (from heaven, Gen 19:24; Psa 11:6) is strewn over the evil-doer's habitation, i.e., in order to mark it as a place that, having been visited with the fulfilment of the curse, shall not henceforth be rebuilt and inhabited (vid., Deu 29:22., and supra, on Job 15:28), Job 18:15 cannot be intended to affirm that a company of men strange to him take up their abode in his tent. But we shall not, however, on that account take בלהות as the subj. of תּשׁכּון. The only natural translation is: what does not belong to him dwells in his tent (Ew. 294, b); מבּלי, elsewhere praepos. (Job 4:11, Job 4:20; Job 24:7.), is here an adverb of negation, as which it is often used as an intensive of אין, e.g., Exo 14:11. It is unnecessary to take the מ as partitive (Hirz.), although it can have a special signification, as Deu 28:55 (because not), by being separated from בלי. The neutral fem. תשׁכון refers to such inhabitants as are described in Isa 13:20., Job 27:10., Job 34:11., Zep 2:9, and in other descriptions of desolation. Creatures and things which are strange to the deceased rich man, as jackals and nettles, inhabit his domain, which is appointed to eternal unfruitfulness; neither children nor possessions survive him to keep up his name. What does dwell in his tent serves only to keep up the recollection of the curse which has overtaken him.
(Note: The desolation of his house is the most terrible calamity for the Semite, i.e., when all belonging to his family die or are reduced to poverty, their habitation is desolated, and their ruins are become the byword of future generations. For the Beduin especially, although his hair tent leaves no mark, the thought of the desolation of his house, the extinction of his hospitable hearth, is terrible. - Wetzst.)
16 His roots wither beneath,
And above his branch is lopped off.
17 His remembrance is vanished from the land,
And he hath no name far and wide on the plain;
18 They drive him from light into darkness,
And chase him out of the world.
19 He hath neither offspring nor descendant among his people,
Nor is there an escaped one in his dwellings.
The evil-doer is represented under the figure of a plant, Job 18:16, as we have had similar figures already, Job 8:16., Job 15:30, Job 15:32.;
(Note: To such biblical figures taken from plants, according to which root and branch are become familiar in the sense of ancestors and descendants (comp. Sir. 23:25, 40:15; Wisd. 4:3-5; Rom 11:16), the arbor consanguineitatis, which is not Roman, but is become common in the Christian refinement of the Roman right, may be traced back; the first trace of this is found in Isidorus Hispalensis (as also the Cabbalistic tree אילן, which represents the Sephir-genealogy, has its origin in Spain).)
his complete extirpation is like the dying off of the root and of the branch, as Amo 2:9; Isa 5:24, and "let him not have a root below and a branch above" in the inscription on the sarcophagus of Eschmunazar. Here we again meet with ימּל, the proper meaning of which is so disputed; it is translated by the Targ. (as by us) as Niph. יתמולל, but the meaning "to wither" is near at hand, which, as we said on Job 14:2, may be gained as well from the primary notion "to fall to pieces" (whence lxx ἐπιπεσεῖται), as from the primary notion "to parch, dry." אמל (whence אמלל, formed after the manner of the Arabic IX. form, usually of failing; vid., Caspari, 59) offers a third possible explanation; it signifies originally to be long and lax, to let anything hang down, and thence in Arab. (amala) to hope, i.e., to look out into the distance. Not the evil-doer's family alone is rooted out, but also his memory. With חוּץ, a very relative notion, both the street outside in front of the house (Job 31:32), and the pasture beyond the dwelling (Job 5:10), are described; here it is to be explained according to Pro 8:26 (ארץ וחוצות), where Hitz. remarks: "The lxx translates correctly ἀοικήτους. The districts beyond each persons' land, which also belong to no one else, the desert, whither one goes forth, is meant." So ארץ seems also here (comp. Job 30:8) to denote the land that is regularly inhabited - Job himself is a large proprietor within the range of a city (Job 29:7) - and חוץ the steppe traversed by the wandering tribes which lies out beyond. Thus also the Syr. version transl. 'al apai barito, over the plain of the desert, after which the Arabic version is el-barrı̂je (the synon. of bedw, bâdije, whence the name of the Beduin
(Note: The village with its meadow-land is el-beled wa 'l-berr. The arable land, in distinction from the steppe, is el-ardd el-âmira, and the steppe is el-berrı̂je. If both are intended, ardd can be used alone. Used specially, el-berrı̂je is the proper name for the great Syrian desert; hence the proverb: el-hhurrı̂je fi 'l-berrı̇je, there is freedom in the steppe (not in towns and villages). - Wetzst.)).
What is directly said in Job 18:17 is repeated figuratively in Job 18:18; as also what has been figuratively expressed in Job 18:16 is repeated in Job 18:19 without figure. The subj. of the verbs in Job 18:18 remains in the background, as Job 4:19; Psa 63:11; Luk 12:20 : they thrust him out of the light (of life, prosperity, and fame) into the darkness (of misfortune, death, and oblivion); so that the illustris becomes not merely ignobilis, but totally ignotus, and they hunt him forth (ינדּהוּ from the Hiph. הנד of the verb נדד, instead of which it might also be ינדהו from נדּה, they banish him) out of the habitable world (for this is the signification of תּבל, the earth as built upon and inhabited). There remains to him in his race neither sprout nor shoot; thus the rhyming alliteration נין and נכד (according to Luzzatto on Isa 14:22, used only of the descendants of persons in high rank, and certainly a nobler expression than our rhyming pairs: Germ. Stumpf und Stiel, Mann und Maus, Kind und Kegel). And there is no escaped one (as Deu 2:34 and freq., Arab. shârid, one fleeing; sharûd, a fugitive) in his abodes (מגוּר, as only besides Psa 55:16). Thus to die away without descendant and remembrance is still at the present day among the Arab races that profess Dı̂n Ibrâhı̂m (the religion of Abraham) the most unhappy thought, for the point of gravitation of continuance beyond the grave is transferred by them to the immortality of the righteous in the continuance of his posterity and works in this world (vid., supra, p. 386); and where else should it be at the time of Job, since no revelation had as yet drawn the curtain aside from the future world? Now follows the declamatory conclusion of the speech.
20 Those who dwell in the west are astonished at his day,
And trembling seizeth those who dwell in the east;
21 Surely thus it befalleth the dwellings of the unrighteous,
And thus the place of him that knew not God.
It is as much in accordance with the usage of Arabic as it is biblical, to call the day of a man's doom "his day," the day of a battle at a place "the day of that place." Who are the אחרנים who are astonished at it, and the קדמנים whom terror (שׂער as twice besides in this sense in Ezek.) seizes, or as it is properly, who seize terror, i.e., of themselves, without being able to do otherwise than yield to the emotion (as Job 21:6; Isa 13:8; comp. on the contrary Exo 15:14.)? Hirz., Schlottm., Hahn, and others, understand posterity by אחרנים, and by קדמנים their ancestors, therefore Job's contemporaries. But the return from the posterity to those then living is strange, and the usage of the language is opposed to it; for קדמנים is elsewhere always what belongs to the previous age in relation to the speaker (e.g., Sa1 24:14, comp. Ecc 4:16). Since, then, קדמני is used in the signification eastern (e.g., הים הקדמוני, the eastern sea = the Dead Sea), and אחרון in the signification western (e.g., הים האחרון, the western sea = the Mediterranean), it is much more suited both to the order of the words and the usage of the language to understand, with Schult., Oetinger, Umbr., and Ew., the former of those dwelling in the west, and the latter of those dwelling in the east. In the summarizing Job 18:21, the retrospective pronouns are also praegn., like Job 8:19; Job 20:29, comp. Job 26:14 : Thus is it, viz., according to their fate, i.e., thus it befalls them; and אך here retains its original affirmative signification (as in the concluding verse of Psa 58:1-11), although in Hebrew this is blended with the restrictive. וזה has Rebia mugrasch instead of great Schalscheleth,
(Note: Vid., Psalter ii. 503, and comp. Davidson, Outlines of Hebrew Accentuation (1861), p. 92, note.)
and מקום has in correct texts Legarme, which must be followed by לא־ידע with Illuj on the penult. On the relative clause לא־ידע אל without אשׁר, comp. e.g., Job 29:16; and on this use of the st. constr., vid., Ges. 116, 3. The last verse is as though those mentioned in Job 18:20 pointed with the finger to the example of punishment in the "desolated" dwellings which have been visited by the curse.
This second speech of Bildad begins, like the first (Job 8:2), with the reproach of endless babbling; but it does not end like the first (Job 8:22). The first closed with the words: "Thy haters shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the godless is no more," the second is only an amplification of the second half of this conclusion, without taking up again anywhere the tone of promise, which there also embraces the threatening.
It is manifest also from this speech, that the friends, to express it in the words of the old commentators, know nothing of evangelical but only of legal suffering, and also only of legal, nothing of evangelical, righteousness. For the righteousness of which Job boasts is not the righteousness of single works of the law, but of a disposition directed to God, of conduct proceeding from faith, or (as the Old Testament generally says) from trust in God's mercy, the weaknesses of which are forgiven because they are exonerated by the habitual disposition of the man and the primary aim of his actions. The fact that the principle, "suffering is the consequence of human unrighteousness," is accounted by Bildad as the formula of an inviolable law of the moral order of the world, is closely connected with that outward aspect of human righteousness. One can only thus judge when one regards human righteousness and human destiny from the purely legal point of view. A man, as soon as we conceive him in faith, and therefore under grace, is no longer under that supposed exclusive fundamental law of the divine dealing. Brentius is quite right when he observes that the sentence of the law certainly is modified for the sake of the godly who have the word of promise. Bildad knows nothing of the worth and power which a man attains by a righteous heart. By faith he is removed from the domain of God's justice, which recompenses according to the law of works; and before the power of faith even rocks move from their place.
Bildad then goes off into a detailed description of the total destruction into which the evil-doer, after going about for a time oppressed with the terrors of his conscience as one walking over snares, at last sinks beneath a painful sickness. The description is terribly brilliant, solemn, and pathetic, as becomes the stern preacher of repentance with haughty mien and pharisaic self-confidence; it is none the less beautiful, and, considered in itself, also true - a masterpiece of the poet's skill in poetic idealizing, and in apportioning out the truth in dramatic form. The speech only becomes untrue through the application of the truth advanced, and this untruthfulness the poet has most delicately presented in it. For with a view of terrifying Job, Bildad interweaves distinct references to Job in his description; he knows, however, also how to conceal them under the rich drapery of diversified figures. The first-born of death, that hands the ungodly over to death itself, the king of terrors, by consuming the limbs of the ungodly, is the Arabian leprosy, which slowly destroys the body. The brimstone indicates the fire of God, which, having fallen from heaven, has burned up one part of the herds and servants of Job; the withering of the branch, the death of Job's children, whom he himself, as a drying-up root that will also soon die off, has survived. Job is the ungodly man, who, with wealth, children, name, and all that he possessed, is being destroyed as an example of punishment for posterity both far and near.
But, in reality, Job is not an example of punishment, but an example for consolation to posterity; and what posterity has to relate is not Job's ruin, but his wondrous deliverance (Psa 22:31.). He is no עוּל, but a righteous man; not one who לא ידע־אל, but he knows God better than the friends, although he contends with Him, and they defend Him. It is with him as with the righteous One, who complains, Psa 69:21 : "Contempt hath broken my heart, and I became sick: I hoped for sympathy, but in vain; for comforters, and found none;" and Psa 38:12 (comp. Psa 31:12; Psa 55:13-15; Psa 69:9; Psa 88:9, 19): "My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my stroke, and my kinsmen stand afar off." Not without a deep purpose does the poet make Bildad to address Job in the plural. The address is first directed to Job alone; nevertheless it is so put, that what Bildad says to Job is also intended to be said to others of a like way of thinking, therefore to a whole party of the opposite opinion to himself. Who are these like-minded? Hirzel rightly refers to Job 17:8. Job is the representative of the suffering and misjudged righteous, in other words: of the "congregation," whose blessedness is hidden beneath an outward form of suffering. One is hereby reminded that in the second part of Isaiah the יהוה עבד is also at one time spoken of in the sing., and at another time in the plur.; since this idea, by a remarkable contraction and expansion of expression (systole and diastole), at one time describes the one servant of Jehovah, and at another the congregation of the servants of Jehovah, which has its head in Him. Thus we again have a trace of the fact that the poet is narrating a history that is of universal significance, and that, although Job is no mere personification, he has in him brought forth to view an idea connected with the history of redemption. The ancient interpreters were on the track of this idea when they said in their way, that in Job we behold the image of Christ, and the figure of His church. Christi personam figuraliter gessit, says Beda; and Gregory, after having stated and explained that there is not in the Old Testament a righteous man who does not typically point to Christ, says: Beatus Iob venturi cum suo corpore typum redemtoris insinuat.
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Learn something new every day
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In Australia, any young animal can be called a joey, although the term is usually employed in discussions of marsupials, and most specifically kangaroos. A baby kangaroo is considered a joey until it reaches fully independent adulthood, which can take up to one year after birth. When used outside of Australia, most people understand a joey to mean a young kangaroo.
Kangaroos have an interesting reproductive cycle. The joey is actually born in an embryonic state and is forced to crawl up its mother and into her pouch to nurse. The joey attaches so firmly to the pouch that attempts to remove it could kill the joey and damage the mother's nipples. Over the next eight to 10 months, the joey develops into a recognizable baby kangaroo, and after around eight months, it begins to climb out of the pouch to investigate the world, always staying close to mother and continuing to nurse until it is a year old.
The mother kangaroo, or flyer, is capable of contracting the muscles of the pouch to keep the joey safely tucked in while she is in motion, or releasing the muscles to let the joey out. The mother kangaroo regularly cleans the pouch, cleaning around the joey when it is very young and tipping it out for cleaning when it is older. One of the more curious aspects of the kangaroo's mating cycle is that the female mates again within a few days of giving birth, but the resulting embryo is put into a state of stasis. If the joey dies, the embryo will develop into a new joey: otherwise, the embryo will remain in embryonic diapause for up to a year, waiting for the pouch to become available.
Kangaroos are perhaps the most famous Australian animal, and there are over 40 known species ranging from small wallabies to giant red kangaroos. The large and curious herbivores have experienced clashes with humans, as they are destructive for both gardens and fences, although some Australians do keep kangaroos as pets, usually obtaining them as very young joeys so that they will be tamable. Raising a joey can be difficult for the inexperienced, as they have special dietary needs and also need to be kept warm and secure. Most wildlife authorities in Australia recommend that a joey be taken to a wildlife center for care if found without a parent, and people interested in keeping them as pets should get permits, as they are illegal without a license.
Did you know that many people in Australia consider kangaroos to be a nuisance animal? Because there are so many of them, they are often forced to look for food in farmer's gardens and fields, and do a lot of damage to crops.
Many farmers have to put up special fences to keep kangaroos from ruining their pastures and crops.
However, you have to get a special permit to kill kangaroos or wallabies, and another permit if the situation becomes so dire that you have to lay down poison.
Most farmers either simply plan to lose some of their crops, or try to plant in areas inaccessible to kangaroos.
A group of kangaroos is called a mob.
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!
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Home » World Maps » Asia Map » Map of Pakistan
Pakistan Map - Pakistan Satellite Image
Pakistan Bordering Countries: Afghanistan, China, India, Iran
Regional Maps: Map of Asia, World Map
Where is Pakistan?
Pakistan Satellite Image
Pakistan Country Information: Pakistan is located in southern Asia. Pakistan is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the south, Iran and Afghanistan to the west, India to the east, and China to the north.
Google Earth is a free program from Google that allows you to explore satellite images showing the cities and landscapes of Pakistan and all of Asia in fantastic detail. It works on your desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The images in many areas are detailed enough that you can see houses, vehicles and even people on a city street. Google Earth is free and easy-to-use.
Pakistan is one of nearly 200 countries illustrated on our Blue Ocean Laminated Map of the World. This map shows a combination of political and physical features. It includes country boundaries, major cities, major mountains in shaded relief, ocean depth in blue color gradient, along with many other features. This is a great map for students, schools, offices and anywhere that a nice map of the world is needed for education, display or decor.
If you are interested in Pakistan and the geography of Asia our large laminated map of Asia might be just what you need. It is a large political map of Asia that also shows many of the continent's physical features in color or shaded relief. Major lakes, rivers,cities, roads, country boundaries, coastlines and surrounding islands are all shown on the map.
Pakistan Cities: Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Bannu, Bela, Chitrat, Dalbandin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Gwadar, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jiwani, Karachi, Kasur, Khost, Lahore, Londi Kotal, Mansehra, Mardan, Mirpur Khas, Multan, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Nawabshah, Nok Kundi, Parachinar, Pasni, Peshawar, Quetta, Rahimyar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Saidu, Sargodha, Sialkot, Sibi, Skardu, Sukkur, Surab, Tank, Thal Kohat and Turbat.
Pakistan Locations: Arabian Sea, Sonmiani Bay, Chagai Hills, Chenab River, Dasht River, Great Indian Desert, Gumal River, Gwatar Bay, Hamun-i-Lora, Hamun-i-Mashkel, Himalaya Mountains, Hindu Kush, Indus River, Jhelum River, Karakoram Range, Kunar River, Makran Coast Range, Mashkai River, Mouth of the Indus, Nihing River, Rann of Kutch, Siahan Range, Sulaiman Range, Sutlej River, The Swatch and Zhob River.
Pakistan Natural Resources: Pakistan has extensive natural gas reserves; however the country has limited petroleum and poor quality coal. Other natural resources for this country include iron ore, copper, limestone, salt and land.
Pakistan Natural Hazards: Pakistan experiences frequent earthquakes that are sometimes severe, especially in north and western portions of the country. Other natural hazards include flooding along the Indus River, after the heavy rains of July and August.
Pakistan Environmental Issues: One of the many environmental issues for Pakistan is the limited natural fresh water resources. According to the CIA - The World Factbook, the majority of the population does not have access to potable water. Plus there is water pollution from agricultural runoff, raw sewage, and industrial wastes. Issues for the land include deforestation, soil erosion and desertification.
Copyright information: The images on this page were composed by Angela King and Brad Cole and are copyright by Geology.com © 2008. These images are not available for use beyond our websites. If you would like to share them with others please link to this page. The satellite image was produced using Landsat data from NASA and the map was produced using data licensed from and copyright by Map Resources © 2008.
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Educating your peers about issues of sexual orientation and homophobia can be one of the most effective ways to make your school safer for LGBTQ students, and GSAs are a great framework for implementing an anti-homophobia peer education program. If your GSA is planning to organize and lead classroom anti-homophobia workshops, keep these things in mind as you go along:
Consider attending a formal training.
The GSA Network offers trainings for potential anti-homophobia peer educators - we'll tell you everything you need to know about developing and leading classroom workshops. Call our office to set up a training at your school or in your area.
Figure out what you need to do to get the workshop(s) approved by the school.
Talk to your advisor and meet with administrators and/or other faculty members. Present them with a potential workshop agenda and be able to tell them why you think this is an important thing to do.
Find a teacher.
Find a teacher that is supportive and who thinks their class would be receptive to your presentation. This may be a teacher who attends GSA meetings or one you know is supportive in other ways. Often, health teachers and social studies teachers are interested in having this topic discussed in their class. Talk with them about how they can support you and discuss how they will handle any disruptions that might occur.
Guage the climate of the classroom.
Talk with the teacher or give a pre-workshop survey to find out what folks already know, what they have misconceptions about, and what they want to learn.
Try to draw connections between your workshop and what the teacher is teaching. (Psychology is obvious, as it Health/Family life. Some less obvious ones would be History, tying it into the civil rights studies... etc.)
Invite an administrator or another teacher.
Invite a supportive Administrator to see your workshop if you'd like to do it in other classes. Also other teachers might like to see what you propose doing in their classes, so feel free to invite them.
Make it clear that you do not speak for the entire LGBTQ community.
Make this disclaimer known at the beginning of the workshop. You do not speak for every LGBTQ individual in the world, and you shouldn't be expected to represent your entire community. You can only speak from your personal experience. (Use "I" statements.)
Define and clarify the terms you use.
Not everyone will be as versed as you in LGBTQ issues and language. You should define the terms you use, such as "sexual orientation" or "gender identity," to make sure that everyone understands what you mean. If you decide to use words such as "queer" or "dyke," you should also discuss what they mean to you and why you are choosing to use them when others may not.
Not everyone will agree with you.
The entire reason you are doing the Anti-Homophobia workshop is to increase awareness. People will disagree with you, and that's okay as long as they are not disruptive to the workshop. Be accepting of others' beliefs.
Stick to your purpose.
You are there to do an anti-homophobia workshop, not a sex education workshop. unfortunatelyt, for many people the instant you mention "gay," they think sex. An anti-homophobia workshop is about making schools safer - free from harassment and violence.
Above all else be honest about what you know. If you don't know an answer, that is okay, tell them that you don't know.
Learn from your evaluations.
Make sure you give folks enough time to fill them out, and be open to constructive criticism. Don't let the overly negative ones get you down, though.
INTRODUCTION (10 min)
TERMS & DEFINITIONS (5 min)
ACTIVITY* (Do an activity, such as LGBTQ Bingo, that covers basic concepts and gets into the issues.) (10 min)
PERSONAL SHARING (2 speakers) (20 min)
5. Ask for questions from the group.
RESOURCES AND EVALUATIONS (5 min)
If you have more then 50 minutes...
* Contact the GSA Network for activity descriptions and curricula, or download a copy of the What Every Super-Rad Straight Ally Should Know resource sheet.
(Thanks to Catholic Charities of the East Bay for their work designing this workshop.)
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Mongolia occupies part of the heart of the Asian continent, a geographically large country with rich human and natural history and a notably low population density. Its cultural landmarks include Buddhist temples and monuments to some of its great historical figures. Equally stirring, however, are Mongolia's physical landmarks -- striking topographic features in this land of deserts, steppes and mountain forests.
Mongolia's greatest range is the Altai Mountains, a rugged nest of peaks along its western borders with Russia and China thrown up by the same tectonic collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates that form the Himalayas. The Altai include Mongolia's highest point, a 14,350-foot summit in the Tavan Bogd Uul (the 'Five Masters') massif. These mountains are an important ecological frontier, separating the Siberian lowlands draining to the Arctic Ocean from the arid deserts and semi-deserts of Central Asia. Glaciers persist in their high country, and there is a rich mosaic of coniferous forests and steppes on their middle and lower slopes. The Mongolian portion of the range can be explored in protected areas like Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, protecting such striking animals as the argali (a massive mountain sheep) and the snow leopard.
One of the world's great drylands, the Gobi Desert encompasses a huge swath of desert, semi-desert and parched steppe in southern Mongolia and northwestern China. "Gobi" in the Mongolian tongue means "waterless place." Formed by the rainshadow cast by the Himalayas, the relatively high-elevation Gobi is a cold desert, and biting winds and scattered snows are not uncommon. Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park showcases Gobi Desert dunes, rocky flats, gorges, badlands and mountains; visitors here might spot the region's iconic (and rare) two-humped Bactrian camel.
Hövsgöl Nuur is one of Mongolia's largest lakes, accounting for 70 percent of the country's freshwater and feeding via a tributary into its biggest river, the Selenge. That outflow connects Hövsgöl Nuur with Russia's Lake Baikal, into which the Selenge drains. Hövsgöl Nuur, which occupies an old fault of the Baikal Rift system, is among the planet's oldest lakes, estimated to be between 2 and 5 million years old. Its watershed encompasses wild taiga (boreal forest) dominated by larch, as well as cold steppe and highland tundra. Impressively, Hövsgöl National Park protects both the lake and essentially its entire drainage basin.
A cultural and historical as well as topographic landmark, Burkhan Khaldun is a peak in eastern Mongolia's most significant mountains, the Khentii Nuruu. The region around this mountain and drained by the Onon River is considered by some to be both birthplace and burial site of Genghis (or Chinggis) Khan, a massively influential 13th-century leader of the Mongol Empire. The Onon belongs to one of northern Asia's great watersheds, that of the Amur River. Burkhan Khaldun lies within the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area.
- University of Oregon: Archaeology and Landscape in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia - Physical Geography
- World Wildlife Fund: Terrestrial Ecoregions; Altai Montane Forest and Forest Steppe; Enhee Devee; 2001
- "Mongolia"; Michael Kohn; 2008
- "Encyclopedia of Deserts"; Michael A. Mares, ed.; 1999
- The Academy of Natural Sciences: Asia Center - Lake Hövsgöl
- "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World"; Jack Weatherford; 2004
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
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The odds of being bitten by a dog are twice as high during a full moon, according to a British study.
Gervaise of Tilbury, a 13th-century canon lawyer, was the first to note that a full moon causes men to transform into werewolves.
In 1934, the song "Blue Moon" was written by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame) and Lorenz Hart, and has been recorded by such diverse artists as Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra. The best-selling version was recorded by the do-wop band The Marcels in 1961, and sold more than one million copies.
If a full Moon occurs on a Sunday, it's considered unlucky, but if it occurs on a Monday ("moon day") it's lucky.
In Springfield, Missouri, in October 1939, the full moon appeared to fall from the sky, according to the local newspaper. Later, it was discovered to be a plunging weather balloon.
An analysis of the birthdays of 4,256 babies born in a clinic in France found no relationship between the full moon and fertility. On the other hand, a study by a university in Germany, claims that police reports for 50 new and full moon cycles showed that the full moon is responsible for binge drinking.
A study of 1,000 tonsillectomy operations shows that 82% of post-operative bleeding crises occurred nearer the full moon than the new moon, according to the Journal of the Florida Medical Association.
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Starting next year, Ford will use extra strong Gorilla Glass on the GT's windshield and rear window
That thin, lightweight glass on your smartphone could soon be found on your car.
Corning’s Gorilla Glass is used for the screens on billions of mobile phones. Now, car makers are using an automotive version to help shave weight off their vehicles and improve fuel economy.
BMW was the first to use Gorilla Glass last year on an interior panel inside the i8 sports car, but Ford will be the first to use it for a windshield and rear window in the new Ford GT supercar, which is scheduled to go on sale next year. The GT also has a Gorilla Glass engine cover.
“It’s the newest thing to happen to glass since 1923,” said Paul Linden, a supervisor of body exterior mechanisms at Ford. That was the year Henry Ford started using shatter-resistant glass in the Model T.
Traditional windshields are made up of two layers of heat-treated annealed glass with a plastic layer in between. Annealed glass forms a spider web pattern when it breaks and the pieces are designed to stick to the plastic layer to prevent injury to passengers.
The GT’s windshield is a hybrid. It has an annealed glass outer layer and plastic in the middle. But the inner layer is made of chemically strengthened automotive-grade Gorilla Glass, which is much thinner and lighter than traditional glass. Ford says using Gorilla Glass makes the windshield 32 per cent lighter, which saves fuel and improves the car’s handling.
Corning says the glass meets U.S. safety standards and it has endured automakers’ tests on rough roads and in wind tunnels. Ford says it’s tougher than traditional annealed glass; when engineers shot pieces of hail at Gorilla Glass, for example, it wasn’t damaged. The annealed glass shattered.
Gorilla Glass doesn’t work everywhere. The side windows of the GT, for example, are made of tempered glass. Automakers tend to use tempered glass on side windows because it breaks into tiny pieces and doesn’t have a plastic layer that could hinder someone from exiting the vehicle in a crash. Doug Harshbarger, business director of Corning’s automotive glass business, says Corning it working on alternate ways of designing Gorilla Glass for use throughout the vehicle.
Gorilla Glass has been used by the consumer electronics industry in 2007, while Ford and Corning began working together on an automotive glass in 2012. Harshbarger says the company is also working with several other automakers, who are racing to meet stricter fuel economy standards that go into effect in a decade.
One barrier to the wider adoption of Gorilla Glass is expense. Harshbarger says it costs US$2 to $4 more per pound of weight saved than traditional glass. Ford is saving around 12 pounds on the GT, so that means a $24 to $48 premium per vehicle. An expensive supercar like the $400,000 GT can easily absorb that, but mainstream cars can’t.
But Stephanie Brinley, a senior analyst with IHS Automotive, says launching new technology on high-end cars helps companies figure out if it would be feasible on other vehicles. She says Gorilla Glass has a lot of promise, since it’s both tougher and lighter.
“That’s hitting the industry’s super sweet spot,” she said.
Linden believes Ford will eventually use Gorilla Glass throughout its lineup.
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It’s not a secret that youth of color are more likely to be taken out of the community and placed in prison for non-violent crimes. But does this mean that we are more prone to breaking the law compared to white youth?
Absolutely not when it comes to non-violent offenses, says the W. Haywood Burns Institute, an organization whose goal is to help eliminate racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.
"When you look at the numbers, it becomes clear that we don't have a crime problem in our country. We have an incarceration problem," said James Bell, executive director of the W. Haywood Burns Institute.
He added, "We know that the youth justice system is supposed to be a place that helps kids get on the right track, but it's choosing to duplicate models from the adult system that have been shown to harm more than they help."
To break down these numbers even further, the Institute unveiled their newest project, Unbalanced Juvenile Justice, an interactive map that breaks down these latest federal racial statistics. Looking at 2011 federal data, overall they found the following:
—75 percent of all youth are incarcerated for non-violent offenses.
—No less than two-thirds of those youth are of color.
—Black youth are 4.6 times as likely to be incarcerated than white youth.
—Native American youth are 3.2 times as likely.
—Latino youth are 1.8 times as likely.
So in which states are these disparities the highest?
When it comes to non-violent offenses, New Jersey and Wisconsin are the worst places for Black youth (male, female and transgender) to commit non-violent crimes. African-American youth in these states are 10.6 and 10.5 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth. Connecticut (9 times), New York (6.5), Massachusetts (6.1), Pennsylvania (4.9), Arkansas (4.8) and Minnesota (4.7) rank behind.
Now, given that there is no data that proves that Black youth commit more non-violent crimes than whites, what exactly is fueling these disparities?
Laura Ridolfi, the Institute’s law and policy analyst, told BET.com to look to a biased justice system and lack of access to quality legal representation to answer that question.
"Youth of color bear the brunt of a system that is dysfunctional, punitive and uses detention as response to typical teenage misbehavior,” she said. “Even before encountering the justice system, white youth have access to all sorts of alternatives, treatment programs and diversion programs. Youth of color get the police, courts, probation and jail."
It’s also important to point out that even when Blacks commit violent offenses — which only make up for 25 percent of incarcerations — we are still more likely to be incarcerated than white youth who commit the same type of crimes.
And while no one is condoning crime, these stats are a constant reminder that institutional racism and white privilege are not figments of our imaginations.
Follow Kellee Terrell on Twitter: @kelleent
BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip-hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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American Indian language
American Indian culture
American Indian art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Chumash Indian
tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students
and teachers to visit our Chumash language and
pages for in-depth information
about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with
Chumash pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.
How do you pronounce the word "Chumash"? What does it mean?
Chumash is pronounced "choo-mosh." This was originally the name of the Chumash band who lived on the Santa Barbara islands, and meant "shell bead people."
Today it is used to refer to Chumash bands on the mainland as well.
Where do the Chumashes live?
The Chumash are natives of southwestern California.
Most Chumash people are still living in this area today.
How is the Chumash Indian nation organized?
There are several different Chumash bands, each one with its own leadership and traditions. One of these bands, the Santa Ynez Chumash,
has their own reservation. Indian reservations are lands that belong to the tribes and are under their control.
Other Chumash people live on shared tribal lands with other Southern California Indians, such as the Tejon Indian Tribe, or in mixed
communities throughout their traditional territories.
In the past, each Chumash village was ruled by its own chief, who was similar to a mayor. Village chiefs were chosen from important and wealthy
Chumash families by village elders, and could be either men or women. Today, Chumash bands are led by elected tribal councils.
What language do the Chumash Indians speak?
Chumash people speak English today. There are elders who also remember some of their traditional
Chumash language, and some young Chumash people are interested in learning to speak their language again.
Chumash is a complex language with many long words. If you'd like to know an easy Chumash word, "haku" (sounds like hah-koo)
is a friendly greeting in Chumash.
You can also read a Chumash picture glossary here.
What was Chumash culture like in the past? What is it like now?
Here is the homepage of the Santa Ynez Chumash Tribe.
On their site you can find information about the Chumash people in the past and today.
How do Chumash Indian children live, and what did they do in the past?
They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house.
Many Chumash children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more
chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did have
dolls, toys, and games to play.
One favorite Chumash children's game was a contest to throw a javelin through a rolling hoop. Chumash kids also
enjoyed swimming on the beaches. A Chumash mother traditionally carried a young child in a
cradleboard basket, like the one depicted here.
Here are some more pictures and information about Native American cradleboards.
What were men and women's roles in the Chumash tribe?
Chumash men were fishermen and hunters, and sometimes they went to war to protect their families. Chumash women ground acorn meal,
did most of the cooking and child care, and wove baskets. Both genders took part in storytelling, music and artwork, and traditional medicine.
A Chumash chief could be either a man or a woman.
What were Chumash homes like in the past?
Chumash people lived in grass houses, which are made
of a domed wooden frame thatched with grass. Some of these houses were quite large (fifty feet in diameter) and could house an
entire extended family.
Chumash people do not live in these old-fashioned dwellings today, any more than other Americans live in log cabins.
Chumash families live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.
What were Chumash clothes like? Did the Chumashes wear feather headdresses and face paint?
Originally, Chumash people didn't wear much clothing-- women wore only knee-length grass or deerskin skirts, and men usually went naked except for a
ceremonial belt. Shirts were not necessary in Chumash culture, but the Chumashes sometimes wore deerskin capes or feather robes
when the weather became cooler. Unlike most Native American tribes, the Chumashes never wore moccasins. They either went barefoot or wore sandals.
Here are some photos and links
about Indian clothing in general.
The Chumashes did not wear Indian warbonnets like the Plains Indians.
Men usually went bare-headed, while women wore fez-shaped basket hats. Both men and women wore their hair long and flowing.
The Chumashes painted their faces for special occasions.
They used different colors and patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration.
Today, Chumash people wear modern clothes like jeans instead of grass skirts...
and they only wear traditional regalia for special occasions like a dance.
What was Chumash transportation like in the days before cars? Did they paddle canoes?
Yes, the Chumash built a unique kind of plank canoe called tomol in their own language. Unlike the canoes of other Indian tribes,
Chumash boats were made of wooden planks sealed with natural asphalt. Here is an article about
Native American canoe styles.
What was Chumash food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Chumashes were fishing people. Chumash men caught fish, seals, otters, and clams from their canoes, while Chumash women ground acorn into
meal for bread and gathered nuts, fruits, and herbs. Here is a website with more information
about Native Americans food.
What were Chumash weapons and tools like in the past?
Chumash hunters used bows and arrows, and fishermen used nets, harpoons, and fishing hooks. The Chumash were not known as an especially warlike tribe,
but when they did have to fight, Chumash warriors usually fired their bows.
Here is a website with Indian weapon pictures and information.
What other Native Americans did the Chumash tribe interact with?
The Chumashes traded regularly with other tribes of Southern California, particularly coastal communities such as the
Gabrielinos. Chumash beads, carved from seashells, were popular trade
items with other tribes.
What are Chumash arts and crafts like?
Chumash artists are known for their Native American baskets,
carving arts, and
rock paintings. Here is a good site about
Chumash cave paintings.
What kinds of stories do the Chumashes tell?
There are lots of traditional Chumash legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the
Chumash Indian culture. Here are some Chumash stories about the sky.
Here's a website where you can read more about Chumash mythology.
What about Chumash religion?
Sorry, but we cannot help you with religious information. Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately
in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more about the
or this site about Indian religion in general.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoy The Beginning of the Chumash,
a book of Chumash oral history that is suitable for kids.
Younger children may like The Sugar Bear Story,
a picture book of a traditional Chumash legend.
If you want to know more about Chumash culture and history, three good choices are
Chumash Native Americans,
The Chumash, Seafarers of the Pacific Coast,
The Chumash of California.
You can also browse through our reading list of recommended Native American books in general.
How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and
Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization
working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization
here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in
Thanks for your interest in the Chumash Indian people and their language!
Learn More About The Chumashes
Chumash Indian Tribe
An overview of the Chumash people, their language and history.
Chumash Language Resources
Chumash language samples, articles, and indexed links.
Chumash Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Chumash tribe past and present.
Chumash Indian vocabulary lists.
Return to our Native American Indian websites
Return to our menu of American Indian tribes
American Indian genealogy
Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?
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1 Answer | Add Yours
Faber is explaining to Montag how books are very important in our lives, and have real meaning and quality. He give three reasons as to why books are important: They have quality, they allow the leisure to process their meanings, and the prompt people to act on what they've learned. When Faber brings up the Hercules and Antaeus legend, he is referring to how books have quality. Unlike a lot of other entertainment that shows only the beautiful, fantastical, entertaining, pleasing parts of life, books describe everything. They "show the pores on the face of life." They describe the good AND the bad, and are truthful, unlike many other forms of entertainment. And, because books are so grounded, so rooted in reality, they keep us strong. If we can learn about the good and the bad in life, we develop strength to cope with trials. If all we do is focus on the good, and refuse to admit that there are bad things, we are ill-equipped to deal with reality (take Mildred, for example, who tries to kill herself instead of dealing with her issues).
In the legend that Faber describes, Antaeus is a very powerful wrestler because he stood firmly on the earth. This is like everyone who reads books--they keep us strong, because they show us what life really is, and how to cope with life realistically. But as soon as Hercules lifted Antaeus off of the earth, he perished. This is akin to us refusing to read books; we are not grounded anymore, we have no sense of what life is really about, and we can't cope with bad things. This will destroy us; it makes us weak. We need to, like Antaeus, stay firmly rooted in reality to make us strong, and books help us to do that.
It's a rather deep connection that Bradbury is trying to make, but I hope that I explained it well enough to help you understand. Good luck!
We’ve answered 327,567 questions. We can answer yours, too.Ask a question
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Grow a potato vine plant: use sweet potatoes with several “eyes”. Use toothpicks and stick them in the center of the potato. Using a jar with a wide mouth, suspend the potato using the toothpicks. Make sure that the water from the jar is enough to cover some potato “eyes”. In order for the roots to grow and the potato “eye” to sprout you have to place the jar where you have a lot of light. Make sure that its not outside. When you have at least 3 leaves on each sprout place the potato into a a flower pot and cover with soil. To have a more bushier plant when the vines reach aprox. 10 inches clip the ends. Don’t forget to use fertilizer on your potato vine plant.
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Christ Episcopal Church
The Christ Episcopal Church, a handsome yet unassuming Gothic Revival-style stone church standing at the eastern edge of Capitol Square in Raleigh, enjoys landmark status in both the architectural history of North Carolina and the history of Episcopal Church architecture. Erected between 1848 and 1852 and consecrated on 5 Jan. 1854, the church is the second building raised as a house of worship for Raleigh's first Episcopal congregation. Since its organization in 1821, Christ Church Parish has shared the fortunes of the city through both the character of its congregation and its location at the geographic center of state government. In 1826, when the congregation set about erecting its first church, it turned to the English-born architect William Nichols, who had completed a remodeling of the statehouse in 1824.
For the church that would be a companion landmark to the State Capitol, the congregation of Christ Church turned to the leading New York-based architect, Richard Upjohn (1802-78). In a letter of 12 Jan. 1846, Bishop Levi Silliman Ives of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina approached Upjohn for the design of a new building, "a neat Gothic Church edifice," to replace the small frame church standing in the shadow of the splendid new State Capitol. Upjohn completed the plans in the autumn of 1846, and Richard Mason, rector of Christ Church and chairman of its building committee, signed a contract on 7 June 1848 with James Puttick, Robert Findlater, and Justin Martindale for a church to be built of locally quarried granite. The tower, a part of the original plan, was undertaken separately in about 1859 and completed in 1861. Fifty years later, in 1911, the congregation of Christ Church approached Upjohn's grandson, Hobart Brown Upjohn, for the design of a parish house. Completed in 1914 and linked to the antebellum church by an arched cloister, the parish house shares with the church a remarkable and unique physical, stylistic, and familial relationship.
Along with Thomas U. Walter's St. James Church in Wilmington (1840), Christ Church firmly established the Gothic Revival as the favored style for Episcopal churches in North Carolina, serving as the prototype for a succession of important cross-plan churches until the mid-twentieth century. In addition to this distinction, and that of having introduced the cruciform plan in its design, Christ Church became the first of a trio of churches designed by Richard Upjohn to be built in North Carolina, the other two being the chapel at St. Mary's School in Raleigh and Grace Church in Plymouth. These three churches-the first erected in stone, the second in board-and-batten sheathed frame construction, and the third in brick-represent the possibilities of Gothic Revival church architecture in mid-nineteenth-century North Carolina and served as models for a succession of later buildings. Of the three, Christ Church continues to evoke a much-deserved admiration and no little envy for its spare elegance and unpretentious beauty.
Davyd Foard Hood, To the Glory of God: Christ Church, 1821-1997 (1997).
Lawrence Foushee London and Sarah McCulloh Lemmon, eds., The Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1701-1959 (1987).
Everard M. Upjohn, Richard Upjohn: Architect and Churchman (1939).
Christ Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC. Image courtesy of Flickr user Craig Moe. Available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/60445767@N00/332433709/ (accessed June 7, 2012).
1 January 2006 | Hood, Davyd Foard
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WhyReef - Threats
In the reef community, pacific gregory damselfish act as protectors of algae and coral, driving away many fish that would normally feast on them. So it makes sense that, where there are many damselfish—such as the waters off the coast of Hawaii and Australia—there are also healthy communities of algae and coral. Because of its unusual importance to the reef ecosystem, the pacific gregory damselfish is called a keystone species. If too many damselfish are fished out of the sea, the delicate balance they maintain will be thrown off!
No one has provided updates yet.
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Answers for Kids
‘The Seven Cs’ of History (Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, Consummation) help us remember the big events which have affected, and will affect, the history of the universe.
‘And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this happened so that might be fulfilled that spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb, and will bear a son. And they will call His name Emmanuel”, which being interpreted is, God with us’ (Matthew 1:21–23).
God’s perfect creation was corrupted by Adam when he disobeyed God. This disobedience brought sin and death into the world. Because of Adam’s disobedience, and because we have all sinned personally anyway, we are all deserving of the death penalty, and need a Saviour (Romans 5:12).
God did not leave His precious, but corrupted, creation without hope. He promised to send Someone one day who would take away the penalty for sin, which is death (Genesis 3:15, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23).
God slew an animal in the garden (a lamb/sheep?) because of the sin of Adam, so Adam’s descendants sacrificed animals. Such sacrifices could only cover sin—they looked forward to the time when the ultimate sacrifice would be made by the One whom God would send (Hebrews 9).
When God gave Moses the Law, people began to see that they could never measure up to God’s standard of perfection (Romans 3:20)—if they broke any part of the Law, the result was the same as breaking the whole lot (James 2:10)!
God’s gift to us
Just as God has a purpose and plan for everything and everyone, so He sent His promised Saviour at just the right time (Galatians 4:4). There was a problem, however. All humans are descended from Adam, and therefore all humans are born with sin. God’s chosen One must be perfect, as well as infinite to take away the infinite penalty for sin.
God solved this ‘problem’ by sending His Son Jesus Christ—completely human, and completely God. Think of it—the Creator of the universe (John 1:1–3,14) became part of His creation so that He might save His people from their sins!
Jesus was born to a virgin over 2,000 years ago in a town called Bethlehem, as the prophets Isaiah (7:14) and Micah (5:2) had foretold 700 years previously. His parents took Him to Egypt to escape the anger of King Herod, and the family later settled in Nazareth.
Jesus fulfilled more than 50 prophecies made about Him centuries before, showing He was the One, promised over 4,000 years before by His Father. While He spent over 30 years on Earth, He never once sinned—He did nothing wrong. He healed many people, fed huge crowds, and taught thousands of listeners about their Creator God and how to be reconciled to Him. He even used the book of Genesis to explain that marriage is between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:3–6, quoting Genesis 1:27 and 2:24).
Jesus Christ came to Earth so that we might have eternal life with Him!
What was Jesus’ first miraculous event?
Many would answer ‘turning water into wine’ (John 2). However, the Apostle John says this is just the first sign that Jesus performed in His earthly ministry. The Bible actually records a miracle of Jesus that occurred over 4,000 years before He was even born. John began his Gospel by saying that Jesus, the Word, ‘was God’, and, ‘All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being’ (John 1:3). Paul tells us, ‘For all things were created by Him … ’ (Colossians 1:16).
The first miracle Jesus performed that the Bible tells about is that of Creation!
Jesus the Christ
The list (linked to by the picture below) of people from Adam to Christ shows that Jesus was a human—a descendant of the first man, Adam. In fact, Jesus referred to Himself many times as the ‘Son of Man’ (e.g., Matthew 9:6, 12:40). The Bible also tells us that Jesus was God. John says, ‘ … the Word [Jesus] was God,’ (John 1:1,14). Paul calls Jesus ‘our great God and Saviour’ (Titus 2:13), and Thomas refers to Him as, ‘My Lord and my God’ (John 20:28). Many addressed Him as ‘the Son of God’ (John 11:27, etc.)—a name which Jesus also used about Himself (John 10:36). Matthew gives Him the title, Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23).
In addition, just as God did in the Old Testament, Jesus raised the dead (John 5:21, 1 Samuel 2:6), forgave sins (Matthew 9:2, 6; Jeremiah 31:34), and healed the sick (Luke 8:47; Exodus 15:26). As God, Jesus deserves our worship for who He is and what He has done for us (John 5:23).
This article was originally accompanied by an illustration showing the lineage of Christ Jesus from Adam Click Here (warning: large file, 513K) to see that illustration in its entirety.
From Adam to Christ!
When Adam disobeyed God, the perfect fellowship he had enjoyed with his Creator was destroyed. God promised that one day, Someone would be born—a descendant of Adam—who would rescue His creation from the Curse that God had placed on it (Genesis 3:15). This person was Jesus Christ—the Messiah. This chart, to the right, lists all the men who were descendants of Adam and ancestors of Jesus.
God promised that David would always have a descendant on his throne (Jeremiah 23:5–6, 1 Chronicles 17:10–14). The legal right to this throne was passed through David’s son, Solomon, to his descendants. Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin), a great, great … grandson of Solomon and king of Judah, was so wicked that God punished him by declaring that none of his children would ever again sit on the throne (Jeremiah 22:17–30). This caused a ‘problem’ since Joseph, the supposed ‘father’ of Jesus, was a descendant of Jeconiah. If Joseph had been Jesus’ biological father, Jesus would have had the legal right to the throne, but would have been unable to occupy it due to being under Jeconiah’s curse. God solved this problem by using Mary: Jesus was the first-born son of Mary, a virgin (Matthew 1:23) and a descendant of David through another son, Nathan. So Jesus has the right to sit on the eternal throne of David—legally, through his adoptive father, Joseph; and physically, through His natural mother, Mary. In this way, God’s promise, mentioned above in Jeremiah and Chronicles, was fulfilled.
Matthew refers to four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba) in his list of people from Abraham to Christ. The first three of them were not Israelites. All except for Ruth had led immoral lives before trusting in the true God and turning from their sins. The fact that God included them in the ancestry of His Son shows His grace on repentant people.
The prophecies concerning the promised Messiah were made between 400 and 4,000 years before Jesus was born. A few of those prophecies are listed here, along with the places in Scripture showing where they came true.
The Messiah would be:
- Born in Bethlehem—Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1.
- Presented with gifts—Psalm 72:10, Matthew 2:1, 11.
- Called Lord (a reference to His deity)—Psalm 110:1, Luke 2:11.
- Called ‘Almighty God’ and Father of Eternity—Isaiah 9:6, John 20:28.
- Born of a virgin and called Emmanuel—Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, cf. Genesis 3:15.
- Riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey—Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5.
- Pierced in His hands and feet—Psalm 22:16; compare the whole Psalm with the details of the crucifixion.
- Killed 483 (69x7) years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem—Daniel 9:24–27.
- Thrust through—Zechariah 12:10, John 19:34.
- Called a Prophet like Moses (i.e. who would receive face-to-face revelation from God the Father)—Deuteronomy 18:18–19, Matthew 21:11(cf. John 1:45).
- Called Priest—Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 3:1.
- Preceded by a messenger (John the Baptist)—Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1–2.
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SESAME STREET EXPLORES NATIONAL PARKS
Elmo and Murray Learn about Nature at www.sesamestreet.org/parks
Travel with fun-loving Muppets Elmo and Murray from Sesame Street to two of America’s most popular national parks in a new online series, Sesame Street Explores National Parks. Six short videos and accompanying hands-on activities that introduce preschoolers to the natural world were unveiled today by Sesame Street, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation.
“These videos and activities will inspire children to hop, skip or jump to their nearest national park or green space,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We hope they have fun and get excited about spending time outside. At this age, every bug, mud puddle or fallen log is fascinating. We want to tap into that sense of wonder and curiosity and plant the seed for lifelong exploration.”
The videos offer a multimedia park experience for children ages 3-5 and their families and educators, using the power of media to promote science learning through experiences in national parks as well as in local parks and backyards.
“The goal of this project is to leverage the unique power of the Sesame Street Muppets to model scientific inquiry skills within the context of the national parks to enhance young children’s attitudes and knowledge about science and nature,” said Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Education and Research at Sesame Workshop. “The materials, designed for parents, educators and caregivers, provide activities for them to engage in with their young children as they explore nature together.”
Park rangers from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City encourage Elmo, Murray, and children across the country to utilize all of their senses to investigate and observe the outdoors. The videos teach young people about habitats, seasons, plants, and animals. They learn how to conduct an animal survey, look for nests, identify migration patterns, and simply listen to the sounds of nature.
“Engaging America’s youth in national parks across the country is of the utmost importance,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Parks provide a perfect combination of natural classroom and playground, and it is never too early to encourage enjoyment and stewardship of these special places.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
You are the owner of 84 million acres of the world’s most treasured memorials, landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites – all protected in America’s more than 400 national parks. Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks. We work hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. Join us in supporting your national parks – this is your land. www.nationalparks.org
ABOUT SESAME WORKSHOP
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows including The Electric Company, to help bridge the literacy gap. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues, including literacy, health, and resilience. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits, and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See laugh, And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. (Goldsmith) That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh. (f. W. Robertson)
1. to show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter. Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er. (Shak) He laugheth that winneth. (Heywood's Prov)
2. to be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. (Dryden) In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy. (Pope) to laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride. No wit to flatter left of all his store, no fool to laugh at, which he valued more. (Pope) to laugh in the sleeve, to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at. to laugh out, to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud. to laugh out of the other corner (or side) of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation.
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Pronunciation: (nē-ol'u-jiz"um), [key]
1. a new word, meaning, usage, or phrase.
2. the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words.
3. a new doctrine, esp. a new interpretation of sacred writings.
4. Psychiatry.a new word, often consisting of a combination of other words, that is understood only by the speaker: occurring most often in the speech of schizophrenics.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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Cities Pledge Carbon Emissions Cuts from Buildings
The total annual emissions reduction goal is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 700,000 to nearly 1 million American homes each year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. If successful, the 10 participating cities will lower energy bills by nearly $1 billion annually.
The cities will pursue the goal under the City Energy Project, an initiative from the NRDC and the Institute for Market Transformation designed to create healthier, more prosperous cities by targeting buildings, their largest source of energy use and climate pollution.
Each city will develop its own locally tailored plan to advance energy efficiency and reduce waste in large buildings. CEP will offer its energy expertise to guide cities through the plan, design and implementation phases of the initiative.
CEP says the energy efficiency solutions will promote efficient building operations, encourage private investment, promote transparency and push cities to focus on municipal buildings.
Buildings are the largest single source of US carbon emissions, representing 40 percent nationwide, largely due to their electricity consumption, NRDC says. At the city level, more than half of carbon emissions from buildings. In some cities, as much as 75 percent come from buildings.
New York has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 19 percent since 2005 as part of former mayor Michael Bloomberg‘s PlaNYC strategy, which called on the city to reduce emissions 30 percent by 2030 through 132 initiatives including making municipal buildings more energy efficient.
The CEP initiative will be funded by a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
Energy Manager News
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- Lunera Intros Pathway and Entryway LED
- FPL to Buy and Phase Out Coal-Powered Plant, Saving Customers $129M
- Environmental, Health and Safety Software Moves Forward
- Johnson Controls: Interest, Investment in Energy Efficiency Up
- First-Ever Statewide Endorsement of Retail Supplier, by Delaware, Goes to Direct Energy
- Oberlin, Ohio, Ratepayers to Receive $2.2M in Rebates for Sale of RECs
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June 30, 2016
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Table of Contents
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) facts
- Multiple sclerosis definition
- What is multiple sclerosis?
- What causes multiple sclerosis?
- What are the risk factors for developing multiple sclerosis?
- What are multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs?
- What are the different types of multiple sclerosis?
- What kind of health-care professionals treats multiple sclerosis?
- How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
- What are multiple sclerosis treatment options?
- Multiple sclerosis medications
- What is the treatment for multiple sclerosis symptoms?
- What is the prognosis and life expectancy for multiple sclerosis?
- Is it possible to prevent multiple sclerosis?
- What research is being done on multiple sclerosis?
What are multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs?
Multiple sclerosis symptoms are dependent on the area of demyelination. Symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis include:
- Visual changes, including loss of vision if the optic nerve has been affected
- Double vision
- A sensation or feeling of numbness, tingling, or weakness. The weakness may be mild or severe enough to cause paralysis of one side of the body
- Vertigo (a sense of spinning) or dizziness
- Lack of coordination of the arms or legs, problems with balance, problems walking, and falling
- Slurred speech
- A sense of an electricl charge traveling down the spine with neck flexion (Lhermitte sign)
- In some cases, individuals may develop incontinence or even an inability to empty their bladder.
- As multiple sclerosis progresses, some affected individuals are left with muscle spasticity, or an involuntary painful contraction of certain muscles. Continue Reading
4/12Reviewed on 3/23/2016
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Jim Robinson and Ragnar Torvik make an amazing observation in a new NBER paper:
at the time of independence, parliamentary constitutions outnumbered presidential constitutions 4 to 1 in Africa. Yet in country after country there was a switch towards presidentialism. …only three of the 21 countries which started with parliamentary institutions have not changed them, and two of these – Botswana and Mauritius – the only two countries which have been economically successful in Sub-Saharan Africa since independence.
Our analysis is predicated on two ideas: first, that minorities are relatively powerful in a parliamentary system compared to a presidential system, and second, that presidents have more power with respect to their own coalition than prime ministers do.
These assumptions imply that while presidentialism has separation of powers, it does not necessarily have more checks and balances than parliamentarism. We show that presidentialism implies greater rent extraction and lower provision of public goods than parliamentarism.
Moreover, political leaders prefer presidentialism and they may be supported by their own coalition if they fear losing agenda setting power to another group.
What makes Africa special?
As compared to countries in Western Europe or islands in the Caribbean, which have sustained parliamentary constitutions, the preferences of different political salient groups in Africa, for instance, are much more polarized. Political parties are often highly regional…
It is this which raises the stakes from agenda setting and makes the majority prefer to have a president to make sure that they cannot lose agenda setting power to the minority.
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'Karatepe': An Approachable Target
This approximate true-color image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity highlights a feature called "Karatepe" within the impact crater known as "Endurance." Scientists believe this layered band of rock may be a good place to begin studying Endurance because it is less steep and more approachable than the rest of the crater's rocky outcrops.
This image is a portion of a larger mosaic taken with the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell
+ Medium resolution version of this image
+ High resolution version of this image
+ Print this image and caption
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Launch UN-Water Report on Water resources Management for Rio+20
Delivering a "Status Report on the Application of Integrated Approaches to the Development, Management and Use of Water Resources" to the UNCSD Rio+20 Conference
The UN Commission on Sustainable Development at its 13th Session (CSD-13) in 2005 called on Governments and the UN System to take actions related to water resources management and decided to monitor and follow-up the implementation of decisions in 2012.
Rio+20 will mark 20 years after the Rio Earth Summit, 10 years after the Johannesburg Summit and 40 years after the Stockholm Conference. The Rio+20 Summit thus provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the commitment from Governments and the international community to promote and implement integrated approaches to the sustainable management of water resources, as called for in Rio 1992 (Chapter 18 of Agenda 21) and in Johannesburg 2002 (the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation).
The UN-Water Status Report on the Application of Integrated Approaches to the Development, Management and Use of Water Resources will be launched on 19 June at the Water Day @ Rio+20. The report will be used as the basis for informed decision-making by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and national governments. It includes lessons learned and recommendations, as well as focus areas for action. The report also provides guidance for establishing a regular international monitoring and reporting framework to promote sustainable development and management of water resources.
The report is based on the analysis of data from a questionnaire-based global survey assessing the progress and outcomes of the application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources. 133 countries responded to the survey, see map below. The global questionnaire was complemented by an interview-based survey in 30 representative countries.
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A History of Mereside
The first recorded tribe to inhabit this area, after the Ice Age were the Iceni.
In the early years of the 11th Century, the Danes conquered England and settled in East Anglia. England was ruled over by the Danish King and his son Knut ( or Canute ). Knut ruled over England from 1016 to 1035 as part of his great Scandinavian empire and was succeeded by his son who died in 1042.
Canute is said to have had a hunting box at Bodsey ' gravel' which he reached along a causeway across the Mere from Peterborough. It is recounted that Canute's children went from Bodsey to a school at Peterborough and that two of his children were buried at Bodsey. History informs us that he ordered his men to fell the reeds along this causeway from Bodsey to Peterborough with their swords and in fact the track they had prepared was later called King's Delf or Swords Dike. At this time however, Canute named it Canute's Dike, ( Dike was the Anglo-Saxon word for path ). The reason Canute decreed that the soldiers should make a path along the causeway was that on one boat trip, King Canute and his friends and servants were passing Whittlesea Mere from Peterborough to Ramsey, and were enjoying their voyage by singing and jollity, when they were surprised by a sudden storm and turbulent winds gave them cause for alarm. There were many lives lost including those of two of his sons.
Ramsey Mere was mentioned in 1241, when it was aid, that as a result of a drought the Mere became so dry that no boat was needed to cross it. In 1250 however, disaster struck the area by the invasion of a great flood of salt water, which carried all before it and devastated a great deal of the land and vegetation.
In a Ramsey Abbey Chronicle the Mere was called HRAEFN ( or Ramesmere ). It was on the edge of a great fen that once covered 680,000 acres. The fen was drained of all the water in 1769 and a drainage board was formed. At this time, the only habitation along the causeway was an Oilmill, which was sited in the corner of the field, which is now the property of Mr R.Dyer 291 Oilmills Road. The causeway at the time was called Swords Dike.
In the 18th Century Mr Fellowes and some gentlemen 'adventurers' put up the money to drain Ramsey Mere and it was said that Mr Fellowes stood at Johnson's Point and watched the last of the water being pumped.
By the middle of the 19th century, Whittlesey Mere had become very shallow and as it was apparently becoming more shallow, as the years passed, a group of fenland landowners, in conjunction with the Middle Level Commissioners, financed a scheme to drain the mere and by using a newly invented centrifugal pump, they pumped out the water from the mere and in 1850 it was dry. The bed of Whittlesea mere was mostly made up of shell covering a layer of peat. A Silver incense boat, a silver censer and chandelier were found in the bed of the mere and from the ram's head on one of these pieces, it was thought to have come from Ramsey Abbey. Also in the bed were found pieces of quarried stone, which had undoubtedly fallen from a barge on the way to the Abbey. To test the fall in the level of the peat, an iron post was sunk upright at Holme Fen, with its top, level with the ground and with its base set on oak piles driven into the underlying clay, this was in 1851. the post was replaced in 1963, set to the level of the first and now stands well above the ground level, showing how the Fens have shrunk from being 5 feet above the silt level to a level very much below this.
In tracing the history of Mereside and on viewing old maps of the area, it was noted that Sword Dike ( now Oilmills road ) from Ponds Bridge ( now Pondersbridge ) to Bodsey, was bounded to the North East by Glass Moor and to the South West by Middle Moor. It was thought interesting to note some of the names of the inhabitants of Mereside, who may be related to some of the villagers of the present day Mereside. If not related, perhaps some of our older villagers may remember some of the names, or have heard members of their families mention them. These residents were connected with commerce and were mentioned in the Kelly's Directories of the second half of the 19th Century.
In 1869, for example, there was in Mereside a miller named John Bradford and farmers John Caton, William Rose, Joseph Shepperson and Stephen Whittome. The Minister of the Baptist Chapel was the Rev.Thomas Baker. William Jones was a farmer at Ramsey Mere.
In 1877, it was mentioned that Patrick Harkins was a beer Retailer and that John Hill and Henson Infield were farmers at Oilmills. Stephen Papworth joined the farming community at Mereside.
In 1890, many others are mentioned and among them, Edward Bellamy was described as a Landowner at Mereside. Whether farms changed hand or whether the following were additions to the farming community, it was not quite clear, but Stephen Papworth Jnr. was a farmer in Mereside; Thomas Thompson was a Grocer and farmer; Abinger Whittome was a farmer and Edmund Whittome a farmer, hay and straw merchant etc. at Mereside. Stephen Whittome Jnr. was a farmer and milk contractor at Mereside. William Green was described as a Beer Retailer and farmer at Mereside.
At Oilmills, was Benjamin Greenword farmer and in Oilmills Road we would have found Thomas Hemmington as a Beer retailer and farmer; also Mrs Mary Infield farmer and Frederick Ingle farmer. Ellis Smith was a farmer and was the Beer retailer at the Salutation Public House. William Henry Longland was a Wheelwright etc in Oilmills Road.
In 1898, George Newton joined the farming community in Mereside and Thomas Short was a Baker and Grocer.
In 1903, Robert Barlow was a farmer in Mereside and John Dean a farmer in Oilmills Road. Joseph Wade was a Beer retailer in Mereside.
In 1906, there were a few more changes in Mereside. Cornelius Bradford was a shopkeeper; George Bradford was a farmer in Mereside. Charles Butler a Beer retailer in Oilmills Road; as was William Smith. Daniel Dyer was a shopkeeper in Oilmills Road. Frederick Ernest Palmer was a Beer retailer and Frank Short was a Baker and Grocer, both in mereside.
In 1902, on the other side of Oilmills Road, at Middle Moor, the Middlemoor End School was built for 150 children. The average attendance was 130. Percy Peacock was the Master at the School.
In 1914, a School was built in Mereside and perhaps holds many memories for the older residents of Mereside Village.
Ramsey town has several villages on its outskirts, namely Ramsey Mereside, Ramsey Forty Foot, Ramsey St. Mary's and Ramsey Heights.
Mereside, today is home to a population of approximately 600 people and the school has been converted into a private residence, as has the Chapel in Oilmills Road.
In the past three to four years, the village has expanded considerably, wit many new houses and bungalows being built. The old Village Hall, on its large playing fields, had to be demolished when it became unsafe to occupy and the villagers hope that within the very near future a new Community Centre will be built, in order that the community spirit and the friendliness of the village will not be lost.
The old Council Houses on Oilmills Road were subsiding and had to be demolished, and in Marriotts Close more modern houses and bungalows were built to house these residents.
There are many memories of village life in Mereside in the minds of some of the older residents in the village and it has been endeavored to revive these memories by having casual chats with some of them and by obtaining old photographs, which some villagers have so kindly lent, in order that the history of the village may be recorded.
The following pages of stories have bee taken from these chats and have been recorded, to retain the past history of our village for posterity.
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A new superbug from India thought to be resistant to nearly every known antibiotic poses a global threat, scientists warned on Monday, urging health authorities to track the bacteria.
“There is an urgent need, first, to put in place an international surveillance system over the coming months and, second, to test all the patients admitted to any given health system” in as many countries as possible, Patrice Nordmann of France’s Bicetre Hospital said.
“For the moment, we don’t know how fast this phenomenon is spreading ... it could take months or years, but what is certain is that is will spread,” he told reporters, adding that measures have already been agreed in France and are under discussion in Japan, Singapore and China.
“It’s a bit like a time bomb,” he said.
Nordmann was in Boston for the 50th annual meeting of the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), the world’s largest gathering of infectious disease specialists, which drew about 12,000 people to the city on Sunday, Monday and yesterday.
The head of Bicetre’s department of bacteriology and virology said the bacteria will find fertile ground in India’s vast population of 1.3 billion, and could easily be carried back and forth by the country’s widespread diaspora.
The so-called “superbug,” dubbed NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1), and its variants appear to have originated in India and were first detected in Britain in 2007.
The NDM-1 is a gene that produces an enzyme that deactivates basically all antibiotics.
After the bug was detected, the number of infected people began to increase, reaching more than 70 in Britain and more than 170 in India and Pakistan.
The bug attracted media attention after the publication last month of a research article in Britain’s Lancet journal that said an Indian “medical tourist” appeared to have brought the bacteria to Britain.
After the article, cases were reported in Canada, the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Germany, Kenya, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
A Belgian citizen hospitalized in Pakistan after a car accident was the first known death related to infection by the superbug.
Unlike other multi-drug resistant bugs reported during the last 20 years, NDM “brings several additional factors of deep concern for public health,” Nordmann said.
For example, scientists have determined that the NDM gene “is very mobile, hopping from one bacteria to another,” he said.
Specialists can help “stem the onslaught of DNM producers” through “early identification of the very first cases of NDM-related infections and preventing their spread by implementing screening, hygiene measures and isolation of carriers,” Nordmann said.
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The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The "DREAM Act") is a piece of proposed federal legislation in the United States that was introduced in the United States Senate, and the United States House Of Representatives on March 26, 2009. This bill would provide certain undocumented alien students who graduate from US high school, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. The Alien students would obtain temporary residency for a six year period. Within the six year period, a qualified student must have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or have completed at least 2 years in good standing, in program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States," or have" served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, have received an honorable discharge." Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated [according to the terms of the Act] shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act.
Alien minors in the United States can only obtain permanent status through their parents; there is no independent method to accomplish this. If a child is brought into the country undocumented there is no method for becoming a documented resident. Returning to their country of birth would not guarantee a path to documented status. Attempts to return are often difficult, with roadblocks such as ten year bans on re-entering the U.S.
Under the new DREAM Act, immigrants may qualify in part, by meeting the following requirements which have not been finalized by congress:
*Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time the Law is enacted
*Must have arrived in the United States before the age of 16
*Must have resided continuously in the United States for at least 5 consecutive years since the date of the arrival
*Must have graduated from a U.S High School , or obtained a General Education Diploma (GED)
*Must have "Good moral Character"
Reform for the Younger Generation
As green card backlogs delay or derail their chances for citizenship, people like Bhaskar are pinning their hopes on a controversial piece of legislation that was meant to address the quandaries of illegal -- not legal -- immigrants. The Dream Act, or Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, is a federal bill that would provide immigrant youth who enroll in college or serve in the military an expedited path to citizenship. It would also make it easier for the States to offer undocumented immigrants in --state tuition at public colleges and universities. Many American Students graduate from college and high school each year, and face a roadblock to their dreams: they can't drive, can't work legally, can't further their education, and can"t pay taxes to contribute to the legal status along the way. It is a classic case of lost potential and broken dreams, and permanent underclass of youth it creates is determined to our economy. Former republican Sen. Orrin Hatch has said: In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American Dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our society." The Federal Dream Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), previously introduced as S.729 / H.R.1751, is a bipartisan legislation that would permit these students conditional legal status and eventual citizenship granted that they meet ALL the following requirements.
*If they were brought to the United States before they turned 16, are below the age of 35,
*Have lived here continuously for five years
*Graduated from a U.S high school or obtained a GED
*Have good moral character with no criminal record and
*Attend college or enlist in the military
Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students
More than 65,000 undocumented students who have lived in the U.S. for five years or more will graduate from high school this spring. For their native-born classmates, graduation represents a rite of passage into adulthood. For too many undocumented students, it's a dead end. That is the urgent message in a compelling report released today by the College Board at a briefing on Capitol Hill. In "Young Lives On Hold: The College Dream of Undocumented Students" Roberto G. Gonzalez, assistant professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington in Seattle, makes the case to congress and the American people that the untenable status of these students is a humanitarian and civil issue, as well as an economic one, and debunks the myths that undocumented students limit opportunities for others. The report contends that initial investment in the k-12 education of these students, mandated by the Supreme Court in 1982, is lost if we continue to curb their ability to contribute to society after they graduate from high school. Without educating these students to their full potential, the report suggests, we are wasting their talent and imposing economic and emotional costs on undocumented students and on U.S society as a whole. These young people, American in identity and spirit, have often attended elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. where they have been encouraged to excel academically by their teachers and parents. While federal law does not prohibit undocumented students from attending college, these students face obstacles in admissions, access to in --state tuition and access to financial aid. As the U.S seeks to fill the need for a college- educated workforce, it should not turn its back on youngsters who can strengthen our county's economic and social well-being. College Board President Gaston Caperton said; "The College Board is working to remove the barriers to a college education for all students. Undocumented students deserve the same chance to go to college and fully participate in our society as other students. The Dream Act would provide a way for them to fulfill their dreams and legally contribute to U.S society. We must not turn our backs on these deserving young people. Reintroduced in the 111th congress, and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen that includes Sens. Richard Durbin (d-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the DREAM Act is design to allow undocumented immigrant youth who were brought to country as children to obtain legal permanent resident status if they remain in school through high school graduation and go on to college or military services. Estimates suggest that the DREAM Act would provide 360,000 undocumented high school graduates with a legal means to work and secure additional resources for college, and could provide incentives for another 715,000 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school (to fulfill the act's eligibility requirements) and pursue postsecondary education.
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From 11:00PM PDT on Friday, July 1 until 5:00AM PDT on Saturday, July 2, the Shmoop engineering elves will be making tweaks and improvements to the site. That means Shmoop will be unavailable for use during that time. Thanks for your patience!
One July evening, Daniel goes rowing by himself. We find out that he has begun to study law, but he's still not sure what he wants to do with himself.
As he rows, he starts to sing, which we guess is what you should do if you're a proper Victorian gentleman in a rowboat. Except his song is about misery.
Daniel notices a young woman, maybe eighteen years old, who stands staring at the river "with a look of immovable, statue-like despair" (17.4). Daniel seems to think that she's not totally aware of her surroundings – her mind is somewhere else.
Daniel is startled by how unhappy she looks. But he drifts on and decides to just hang out in his boat for a while.
He starts to get lost in his thoughts, but then he notices the girl again. She takes off her cloak and dips it in the water. Daniel realizes she's trying to make it heavy so she can wrap it around herself and drown.
Daniel realizes he has no time to lose and starts rowing like crazy towards her. He gets her attention and tells her to trust him.
The girl tells him that she heard him singing before. Then she tells him that he looks good (good as in a good person, though we can only imagine from all the descriptions of Daniel's appearance that Daniel is hunky enough to make her think that he also looks good).
Daniel finds her sweet appearance to be incredibly moving, and also wonders if his mother was anything like her.
The young woman tells Daniel that she doesn't have anywhere to go or anyone to belong to. Daniel says he'll take her to "a lady who has daughters" (17.18).
She asks Daniel if he belongs to the theatre. He says no. It seems like kind of a random question. Then he tells her that life might still be happy again.
The young woman gets in the boat and they row. Daniel can't think of anything to talk about. The young woman tells Daniel that if he hadn't rowed toward her, she'd be dead by now. She says she doesn't see how she can live now.
Daniel asks her if she's English. She reveals that she's English-born, but also Jewish; then she asks Daniel if that news makes him hate her.
She tells him that her mother and brother were good people, but that she'll never find them again. She bursts into tears.
Daniel's sort of like, "Oh man, what'd I get myself into this time?"
Daniel decides to take her to Mrs. Meyrick's.
He feels like he's starting a new chapter of his life.
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Ironically, racist attitudes may have increased during President Obama’s first term. A survey conducted by researchers at Stanford found that 51 percent of Americans now associate blacks with words such as lazy and violent, compared to 48 percent who did so before the nation elected its first black president. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors racist and far-right groups, says that antigovernment “patriot” movements exploded during President Obama’s first term, and it worries that they will grow even more rapidly after his reelection.
Resistance to black leadership is deeply ingrained in American history. Historian Steven Hahn, writing in the New York Times (Nov. 10), points out that ever since the slaves were emancipated in the 1860s, white Americans have resisted the idea of blacks wielding political power over whites. Hahn notes that only three African Americans have been elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction (Obama is one of them), and that this has happened in only two states, Illinois and Massachusetts. It is rare that an African American is elected to any office in a white majority district.
The so-called birther movement, which questions Obama’s citizenship, and the widespread insistence that Obama is a Muslim indicate that many whites have trouble accepting Obama as a legitimate president. These movements fit what historian Richard Hofstadter nearly 50 years ago called the paranoid style in American politics. The paranoid style flourishes amid heated exaggerations of the facts and fabricated conspiracy theories—like the ones circulating now about how Obama will take away everyone’s guns, how he will turn the nation into a socialist country, and how he is looking for a way to get around the two-term limit.
Yet, as the November election made clear, the racial and ethnic demographics of the country are undergoing a decisive shift. Obama was able to win reelection while winning just 40 percent of the white vote, because nonwhites made up 28 percent of the electorate—up from 20 percent in 2000. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, the Hispanic share of the electorate is likely to double by 2030. Already, whites constitute a minority in four states and the District of Columbia and in many metropolitan areas, including New York, Las Vegas and Memphis.
The nation’s changing racial and ethnic profile will clearly bring political change. But we can also expect it to elicit fear and resistance. On election night, when it became clear that Obama would be reelected, a group of white students at the University of Mississippi gathered to yell antiblack slurs and throw rocks at passing cars. The good news is that on the next night, about 700 people staged a counterdemonstration, holding up candles and calling for racial harmony.
The coming years will give all of us occasion for self-examination. Where do our prejudices lie? We will need each other’s help to overcome the prejudices we hold—especially the ones we are not even aware of.
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<urn:uuid:85c38d5f-bd71-488a-a817-c23e54cd9b4a>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-11/demographic-turmoil
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en
| 0.961687 | 599 | 2.71875 | 3 |
FDA website lists peanut butter recalls
The recalls of processed foods containing peanut butter are one sign of the importance of reading food labels. Federal authorities have told consumers to avoid cereals, cookies and other products containing peanut butter while they investigate salmonella contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration’s offices are closed today, Inauguration Day, but the agency website says that officials have traced sources of Salmonella Typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America that manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste — a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts.
Those are used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. In addition, Peanut Corp.'s peanut butter is served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias.
On Monday, Berkeley-based Clif Bar and Co. announced a voluntary recall of Clif and Luna brand bars that contain peanut butter, adding to a list of companies that have issued recalls.
"With an abundance of caution and given the FDA's ongoing investigation of PCA, we're doing all we can to ensure consumer safety and trust," Gary Erickson, owner and founder of Clif Bar and Co., said in a statement.
FDA has created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the recall of foods. The agency says it will update the list.
Consumers who don’t find a product listed can call the company that made it or visit the company's website. The FDA says that if you can’t determine whether the food contains PCA peanut butter or paste, it recommends you not eat it.
The agency also advises people to dispose of foods in a way that will prevent anyone else from eating them.
Major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected, the FDA says.
Salmonella can be deadly; symptoms of illness from the bacteria include fever and diarrhea.
-- Mary MacVean
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<urn:uuid:0e54cbc0-46f8-4ed5-bd65-afe50eeb72f6>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/01/fda-website-lis.html
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en
| 0.945217 | 411 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Christmas is a sacred festival of the Christians. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety all over the world. It is observed on 25th December to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is largely characterized by exchanging gifts within families and by gifts brought by Santa Claus or other mythical figures.
Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Christians. The exact date of the birth of Christ was unanimously fixed some two centuries after his death, as the Catholic Church began to establish its tradition. Now Christmas is celebrated on 25th December in Catholic, Protestant and most orthodox churches.
The period of celebration varies in different countries. In the United Kingdom, the Christmas season traditionally runs for twelve days following the Christmas Day. These twelve days of Christmas are a period of feasting and merrymaking which ends on Twelfth Night the feast of the Epiphany.
Christmas period has grown much longer in some countries including the United States. It begins many weeks before. During Christmas people enjoy shopping and meet one another. The celebration continues up to New Year's Day.
The numerous customs related to Christmas vary from country to country. Most of the familiar traditional practices and symbols of Christmas, such as the Christmas tree, the Christmas ham.
The Yule Log holly, mistletoe and giving of presents, were adapted or appropriated by Christian missionaries from the earlier Asatru pagan midwinter holiday of Yule.
The Christmas tree is believed to have first been used in Germany. Gift giving is a near-universal part of Christmas celebrations. The concept of a mythical figure that brings gifts to children derives from Saint Nicholas, a good-hearted bishop of Asia Minor.
Besides this, in the UK and many Western African countries, 'Father Christmas' is more common. In Anglo-American tradition, he is believed to arrive on Christmas Eve.
In many countries, offices, schools and social communities organise Christmas parties and dances during the several weeks before Christmas Day. Christmas pageants, which include the retelling of the story of the birth of Christ, are common in Latin America.
People sing Carol and visit neighbourhood homes and exchange gifts. Traditional feasting with special meal of Christmas dishes is also a part of Christmas.
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<urn:uuid:9d88b659-2e43-476c-a67d-0f377905d62e>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.preservearticles.com/2011122419203/short-essay-on-christmas.html
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en
| 0.965254 | 447 | 3.265625 | 3 |
The current system requires six tax rates ranging from 10 percent to 35 percent to raise the $912 billion in federal individual income tax revenue expected in 2005. That amounts to an average tax rate of 19.5 percent. If all personal income were taxed instead, the same revenue could be raised with rates ranging from just 4 percent to 17 percent. That would amount to an average tax rate of just 9 percent—less than half the current effective rate.
High effective tax rates required by narrow bases hurt the nation’s economic performance and lower the standard living for all Americans. As the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform prepares its recommendations it should place a high priority on identifying ways to broaden the federal income tax base.
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<urn:uuid:e82bb3a0-e281-476b-b144-1bd77e55909b>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2005/11/the_case_for_ta_1.html
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en
| 0.943626 | 148 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Info on PIVOT
Database tables are structured in columns and rows. However, some data lends itself to switching row data as column data for expository purposes. The pivot operation in SQL allows the developer to arrange row data as column fields. For example, if there are two customers who have both visited a store exactly four times, and you want to compare the amount of money spent by each customer on each visit, you can implement the pivot operation.
Step 1: Create a table. To create the table enter the database and type the following:
create table visits( pkey int(11) not null auto_increment, name varchar(15), num_visit int, amount int,PRIMARY KEY (pkey));
This creates a table named "visits" with four fields; a primary key, "name," "num_visit," and "amount."
Step 2: Survey the table. To make sure the table meets your specifications run a describe command as shown below:
A new table will appear displaying the specified field information. If it is not correct type:
and redo Step 1.
Step 3: Populate the table with data. Use the following code to populate the data:
insert into visits (name,num_visit,amount)values ('M. Smith',1,450);
This example uses four visits from each customer so populate the rest of the fields by repeating this code and altering the data as is necessary. You should have 8 individual statements.
Step 4: Check the populated table. To do this write the following code:
select * from visits;
This will give you a read out in table format of the information entered in the previous step. Of course, your names and quantities may be different.
Step 5 Create the pivot table. This pivot table will execute the four individual visits as column fields and then display how much was spent by each visitor on the corresponding occasion.
select name, sum(amount*(1-abs(sign(num_visit-1)))) as Visit1, sum(amount*(1-abs(sign(num_visit-2)))) as Visit2, sum(amount*(1-abs(sign(num_visit-3)))) as Visit3, sum(amount*(1-abs(sign(num_visit-4)))) as Visit4 from grades group by name;
The only thing that needs to be changed from each line is the number of the visit within the "sign" and the "as" statements. Upon execution, you should see a table print out with the pivoted information.
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<urn:uuid:b2ca562e-3f58-42da-91f0-7f387173934d>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.orafaq.com/node/2272
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en
| 0.861269 | 545 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Monorail seen as threat to bats
A population of critically endangered bats in Fiordland could be wiped out if a multi-million-dollar monorail project gets the go ahead from the Government, a group opposing the development says.
Save Fiordland spokesman Bill Jarvie said the group commissioned a small-scale survey to confirm the presence of a population of the critically endangered South Island long-tailed bat in the path of the Fiordland monorail.
The bat study confirmed the presence of a resident population roosting within beech forest next to the Upukerora River within the Snowdon Forest Conservation Area, he said.
There are only two other known populations in Fiordland.
The Department of Conservation listed the species as "nationally critical" - one step away from extinction, Jarvie said.
"It sits alongside kakapo and takahe but without the profile these poster species have."
DOC has said that predation, habitat destruction, and roost disturbance were the factors that could result in this species of New Zealand's only land mammal gone from our forests within the next few decades, he said.
Long-tailed bats could not be translocated to island sanctuaries like endangered bird species.
"Each bat population is dependent on its own forest home where specific tree roosts are used on a rotational basis," he said.
"The wide forest clearance required for the construction and safe operation of the monorail and its permanent road would likely see the felling of vital roosting trees throughout the bats' home range."
Save Fiordland spokeswoman Daphne Taylor said the study, done by Wildlife Acoustics, found the loss of only a few breeding females would have a significant effect on a small critically endangered population.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith is still waiting for an independent financial viability report for the project before announcing his decision whether to approve or decline the monorail concession.
- The Southland Times
Which would you prefer?Related story: Natural burials the way to go
The cost of losing nature
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<urn:uuid:48b683a6-1d02-41c1-a6d1-429d40ad063f>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/9918771/Monorail-seen-as-threat-to-bats
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en
| 0.933594 | 431 | 2.875 | 3 |
Students should try to keep up to date with study of their lectures, so as to be able to understand subsequent lectures. They are also urged to do as many problems as possible. By doing problems, students will soon discover their strong and weak points.
The lecture notes will contain enough explanations and examples to make the definitions, theorems and arguments clear. However some students will need further examples and explanations of certain points and I recommend they peruse books from the reading list below. Most of these books have lots of examples and develop the concepts in greater detail than we have time for in our short course of lectures.
The course is an introduction to algebraic number theory, especially quadratic and cyclotomic fields.
No textbook is recommended
There are many books in the PSE and Undergraduate Libraries which touch on the subject. Here are some useful ones:
The subject contains many interesting algorithms. Students can experiment with
an exact arithmetic computer program called CALC, written by the lecturer
and which implements some of the algorithms met in the course. CALC can be downloaded from the WWW.
Some Informative Number Theory Sites
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<urn:uuid:1184929c-0c0a-4d03-8c31-d9a6f0d8d5dc>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.numbertheory.org/courses/MP473/
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394937.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00116-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.950785 | 232 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Directed Reading and Thinking Activity (DRTA)2
This procedure focuses on reading as a thinking process. Its intent is to teach children to make predictions throughout reading. Before reading, the parent-teacher asks the child to form a purpose for reading and to make predictions about the content of the story to be read.
During reading, the parent-teacher stops the student at strategic points in the story to ask him to make additional predictions and to verify, reject, or modify their purposes and predictions.
After reading, the parent-teacher asks the student to find and read aloud any part of the text that supports his predictions. Students must use the text to explain their reasoning and to prove the accuracy-or inaccuracy-of their predictions.
Often teachers have students use charts such as the following to record their predictions and information from the text that proves the prediction’s accuracy:
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<urn:uuid:471ce649-dbd1-49c7-86e7-ec18fdac85f7>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/CraftDocs/DRTA.asp
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397636.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00122-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.951881 | 182 | 3.53125 | 4 |
The practice of severe self-discipline, typically for religious reasons.
- Those scriptures that contain prescriptions for worshipping gods, sacrifices, donations, ascesis and other rituals, have been prepared by wise men only to keep people subjugated.
- Through daily ascesis, even in periods of no external persecution, the monastics testify to the martyrdom of conscience.
- Hence, monastics are continuously involved in ascesis in order to rid their selves of the heavy burden of self-idolization and self-love.
Late 19th century: from Greek askēsis 'training', from askein 'to exercise'.
Words that rhyme with ascesisamniocentesis, anamnesis, catechesis, diesis, exegesis, mimesis, prosthesis, psychokinesis, telekinesis
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: as|cesis
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
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<urn:uuid:133f2aad-7cd9-4f96-933d-003b3c45efd4>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ascesis
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en
| 0.871423 | 224 | 2.734375 | 3 |
These readings took place April 3-5 as part of the 1998 North Carolina Literary Festival. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of the American South, the festival featured a variety of writers ranging from established poets, novelists, playwrights, historians, and other disciplines.
As part of the festival, The George Moses Horton Society sponsored readings from Margaret Walker and Yusef Komunyakaa. The George Moses Horton Society for the Study of African American Poetry was founded by Dr. Trudier Harris, J. Carlyle Sitterson Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in 1996. Named in honor of George Moses Horton, an enslaved poet in the Chatham County and Chapel Hill areas of North Carolina from his birth in the late eighteenth century until well after Emancipation, the Society seeks to encourage sustained scholarly focus on the works of African American poets and to foster presentation and publishing opportunities for that scholarship. In April 1997, the University of North Carolina Press published a collection of Horton's works, entitled The Black Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry, edited by Joan R. Sherman. This seminal work, like the Society, celebrates the long-standing tradition of African American poetry of which George Moses Horton was truly an exemplar. The Horton Society is an affiliate organization of the American Literature Association.
The digital recordings of Margaret Walker and Yusef Komunyakaa were made possible by UNC Press. Paul Jones, Mark McCarthy, and Clark McCabe oversaw the digital recordings.
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<urn:uuid:1a9e88d6-17b8-49aa-93dc-af9bacc3049d>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.ibiblio.org/ipa/poems/komunyakaa/about.php
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397562.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00110-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.931225 | 313 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Male Galapagos sea lions can usually be found inland where abundant shade is present, while females occupy different habitats depending on the age of their pups (Wolf et al., 2005). During the day, sea lions can be found on beaches near the water, which they enter throughout the day. At night, they move higher on the beach. Energy costs of locomotion and thermoregulation contribute to habitat use; Galapagos sea lions most frequently occupy areas neighboring the sea that have adequate levels of shade, flat, uncomplicated terrain, and nearby tide pools. Habitat usage also varies with maturity level and sex during the reproductive period, in which sexual separation occurs (Wolf et al., 2005).
Range depth: 186 (high) m.
Average depth: 37 m.
Habitat Regions: saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: temporary pools; coastal ; brackish water
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<urn:uuid:4a98ed7a-b069-4594-b093-33c865096ee2>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.eol.org/data_objects/18679527
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400572.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00064-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.90803 | 185 | 3.59375 | 4 |
1) Place Center Band between the thumb and forefinger in your left hand with lip near top of band facing away from you
2) Bring band from bottom up with your right hand and place next to center band. The outside portion of the band will be against the center band with the flat stamped side out. Switch hands.
3) Bring other band from bottom up with your left hand and place next to center band. This is the other outside band
4) Grasp band stamped “Jose” in your right hand with the stamp facing towards you, the bands in your right hand to fall down to one side. This band is the band that crosses over on a diagonal when the ring is assembled
5) Bring up one band from behind the “Jose” band. It will fit against the “Jose” band and from this point on these two bands act as 1.
6) Grasp two bands on bottom and fit them together. Bring bands up towards you until hey are parallel to the “Jose” band.
7) Holding bands in your left hand between your thumb and forefinger, turn clockwise
8) Continue turning until you have completed a 180-degree rotation
9) The bands should fit together holding the remaining 5 bands in place.
10) When this step is complete the bands should form an “X” holding the three other bands in place
11) Take the center band and gently push the band down into the center of the assembled rings.
12) The band should slip down and fit into the 4 assembled bands
13) Take the first band on the side facing you in step 9 and rotate the band until the irregular shaped part is on the inside of the ring.
14) When you have completed the rotation, be sure that the “V” shaped part on the inside of the ring is over the remaining loose bands
15) Bring band up and it will fit next to the other bands.
16) Take the next band on the opposite side and rotate the irregular shaped part to the inside if the ring
17) When you have finished the rotation bring the band up to the remainder of the assembled bands
Admire your puzzle ring!
Special thanks to Jose Grant who provided us with the above directions!
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<urn:uuid:e399fc8d-64f5-4cf8-bedd-5c84cf3a810b>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.puzzlering.com/Articles.asp?ID=144
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en
| 0.926556 | 471 | 2.53125 | 3 |
One of the benefits of running
digital, is that in theory only two cables to the track are needed. All
other devices, locos, turnouts, signals, light may be connected to the
track to get their power there, and their control signals too through a
decoder, which may be installed in the turnout or signal itself.
There is only one problem, the power.
To avoid to destroy equipment, the power is limited to about 40 - 50 VA
maximum. So the power consumers must be separated into different circuits,
each fed from its own power source. It may be done with minimizing the
cables again, by using booster, and digital "power" in each circuit, or
by separating the power consumers into groups needing digital power, and
groups content with pure AC. This alternative needs more cabling but is
To get this work, always remember
one simple thing; each circuit should have a common ground. Or, the "brown"
of all circuits, should be connected together.
The current from the digital system
to the track is really a mix of a signal and power; the signal is understood
by the decoders, the power is needed by the motors and lamps connected
to the track. A booster is easily described; it is a device which takes
the AC power from a transformer, and the signal from a digital central
unit, mixes them, and feeds a digital circuit. Real boosters don't have
any logic which understands the signal, so it's possible to use booster
for different protocols, provided they don't differ in electrical portions.
And it's important that the power from this booster is in phase with the
power from the central unit and other connected boosters; otherwise the
pickup shoe of the locos when passing from one section to another would
case a short of 2*24 V and probably cause some damage.
Three different types of boosters
for Märklin are mentioned here, but it should be possible to use also
booster from other makes, or a home-built one.
The first is the standard booster,
not much to say about it. It takes advantage of a 52 VA transformer and
delivers about 47 VA.
The second is a smart and cheap thing.
The DELTA Control may be used as a booster, if the knob is set to the rightmost
position, the DELTA Pilot connections are connected together, the red cable
connected to the digital signal of the Central unit. It delivers maximum
about 30 VA, and is much cheaper than the standard booster.
The third isn't a real booster. If
you use the Intellibox from Uhlenbrock as your central unit, you may use
a Märklin CU like 6020 or 6021 as a kind of booster. In this case
the Intellibox pretends it is a computer interface to the central unit,
and send commands to it and receives control commands too. This makes it
possible to have a digital circuit at the output of the 6020 or 6021, suitable
to control accessories. But the signal is not in phase with the Intellibox
signal, and it's protocol is limited to what the 6020 or 6021 understands,
so loco control is not recommended. You may say that the Märklin CU
has the function of a booster, but it works differently.
AC for locos
It's possible to feed some tracks
with AC, most decoder will understand this signal and the train will continue with
a speed corresponding to the voltage of the section. However, newer
delta decoders will not, and a special isolation is needed between the
digital and the AC section, so this is not recommended.
AC for accessory control
Just because you have chosen digital
operation of your locos, that doesn't mean you have to operate your turnouts and signals with digital signal. Do you use a DELTA system? Then it's not
possible to control them digitally at all, so connect all those to a separate
AC circuit, and control them traditionally. Remember common ground; the
lamps in the turnouts of M-track are grounded through the rail, so they
won't be lighted if you forget it.
And you may have a mixture. Some
turnouts and signals on the main line may be controlled by a computer,
so the must have a decoder and digital signal. Others, like at the yard,
may as well be controlled conventionally, by an AC circuit.
Accessories are not power consumers,
as only one at a time normally is switched. But if they bear lamps, they
get the power through the decoder too, see more below.
AC for lamps
Pure lamps may of course be fed
by AC. This includes lamps in turnouts and signals. If these are controlled
digitally, the yellow cables for the lamp and for the coils should be separated.
With 72xx signals, and C-track/K-track turnouts this is no problem, as
they have two yellow connections. M-track turnouts with light, and 70xx
signals need some (easy) surgery to separate those. I used a black cable
to feed the light of my turnouts!
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<urn:uuid:ac572c08-2518-436f-a65e-94a6b3bd4ff6>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.marklin-users.net/html/digital/DIpower.html
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en
| 0.930065 | 1,111 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Below are links to recent articles in newspapers and magazines on the future of reading in an e-reader and laptop universe.
Here is Kevin Kelly writing in Smithsonian Magazine on “Reading in a Whole New Way.” The subtitle asks how “the act of reading” will change as people “move from print to pixie.” One observation he makes: `
“But it is not book reading. Or newspaper reading. It is screen reading. Screens are always on, and, unlike with books we never stop staring at them. This new platform is very visual, and it is gradually merging words with moving images: words zip around, they float over images, serving as footnotes or annotations, linking to other words or images. You might think of this new medium as books we watch, or television we read. Screens are also intensely data-driven. Pixels encourage numeracy and produce rivers of numbers flowing into databases. Visualizing data is a new art, and reading charts a new literacy. Screen culture demands fluency in all kinds of symbols, not just letters.”
And here is a story in the Los Angeles Times on how “Electronic Reading Devices Are Transforming the Concept of a Book.” According to reporters Alex Beam and David Sarno:
“As electronic reading devices evolve and proliferate, books are increasingly able to talk to readers, quiz them on their grasp of the material, play videos to illustrate a point or connect them with a community of fellow readers. The same technology allows readers to reach out to authors, provide instant reaction and even become creative collaborators, influencing plot developments and the writer’s use of dramatic devices.”
And here is a story in Science Daily, an important one in the research base just beginning to accumulate on the impact of screens in the home. The headline is “Children with Home Computers Likely to Have Lower Test Scores, Study Finds.” Researchers at Duke University examined home computer access and use in North Carolina and found that efforts to widen Internet access among the population “would actually widen the achievement gap in math and reading scores. Students in grades five through eight, particularly those from disadvantaged families, tend to post lower scores once these technologies arrive in their home.”
Finally, here’s a direct op-ed in the Taipei Times by Dan Bloom entitled “The Pros and Cons of Reading on Screens.” He summarizes some important research on precisely the difference between screen and print reading:
“The process of reading on a screen involves so much physical manipulation of the computer that it interferes with our ability to focus on and appreciate what we are reading;
“Online text moves up and down the screen and lacks a physical dimension, robbing us of a sense of completeness;
“The visual happenings on a computer screen and our physical interaction with the device and its setup can be distracting.
“All of these things tax human cognition and concentration in a way that a book, newspaper or magazine does not.”Return to Top
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The Academy of American Studies
All state accountability plans approved.
Innovations in the News
Debating the cost of online education; plus information on virtual schools, school improvement, and charter schools.
The Academy of American Studies Weaves History into All Subjects for Student Success
The Academy of American Studies, a magnet school in New York City, was the first history high school in the country. It was founded in 1996 to encourage students' content learning and analytical thinking, while incorporating history into all lessons.
With American History as the centerpiece of a rigorous pre-college curriculum, students are required to take at least one U.S. History course at all times. Students study history every day during their four years at The Academy. While most students in public high schools spend only a brief amount of time on historical figures, The Academy spends up to six weeks on each of the major founders. Teachers select readings for the students that are different from the standard textbook. The readings reveal the personalities of the founders and make these historical figures come to life for the students. To complement the readings, students compose scholarly research papers that investigate a specific historical topic and make use of the best research available. Students also take annual trips to historical sites, such as Gettysburg.
Other subjects, however, are not overlooked, and students excel in most areas of the New York State Regents exams. Most recently, the percentage of students who passed biology was 100%; US History was 92%; and English was 90%. These percentages greatly surpass the citywide averages.
The curricula of these courses are integrated with U.S History. For example, in a science class, students learn about earthquakes and volcanoes and how natural disasters have impacted the course of history. In an art class, the teacher leads a discussion on architecture and its relation to urban life. Students sketch the buildings in the neighborhood and use photographs to build a historical context to better understand the development of their neighborhood and the city.
Teachers are attracted to the school because of the rich professional development it offers. The demanding professional development program consists of nine lecture-discussion sessions, held during the school year, in which a history scholar relates a specific period or theme to the overall course of U.S. history. History educators from the Gilder Lehrman Institute help translate this material into history content curricula that can be applied to the high school classroom. History educators lead discussions on how to apply content lessons to the classroom in order to best engage the interest of the students. The Academy's professional development has been funded by a Teaching American History grant administered by OII.
For more information on The Academy and for information on History High Schools, such as The Academy for American Studies, please go to: http://www.gliah.uh.edu/schools.html.. For information about the Teaching American History grant program, see http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.
On June 10 the White House celebrated the approval of all State accountability plans under No Child Left Behind. More information about the celebration is available at http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2003/06/06102003.html, where you can read the press release, see a video of the President's remarks, and read the Secretary's online discussion.
The grant competition for Parental Information and Resource Centers is now open. Applications for this program are due July 18, 2003. The competition is open to nonprofit agencies, including faith-based and community organizations, or consortia of nonprofit agencies and school districts (though not school districts alone). These centers will, among other things, inform the parents of children who attend schools needing improvement about their options. For more information, see http://www.ed.gov/programs/pirc/applicant.html.
The Advanced Placement Incentives grant competition remains open. The applications for this program are due July 3, 2003. Incentive program grants are awarded to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, including charter schools that are LEAs, or national nonprofit educational entities to expand access to rigorous coursework for low-income students in grades 6-12. Funding will be used to prepare these students for success in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. For information on how to apply, go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/apincent/applicant.html
The Advanced Placement Test Fee grant competition is also open. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2003. Grants are awarded to State educational agencies to cover part or all of the cost of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test fees for low-income students. For information on how to apply, go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/apfee/applicant.html
The grant competitions for Models in Arts Education and Professional Development for Arts Education are still open. The deadline for both competitions is July 10, 2003. Grants will be awarded to local education agencies, including charter schools that are LEAs, that collaborate with at least one of the following: an institution of higher education; a state education agency; or a public or private nonprofit agency with a history of providing high quality professional development to public schools. For more information about these competitions, see http://www.ed.gov/programs/artsedmodel/applicant.html and http://www.ed.gov/programs/artsedprofdev/applicant.html.
The Teaching American History grant competition remains open, as well. The deadline is July 7, 2003. The competition is open to local education agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, in partnership with nonprofit history or humanities organizations. For information about how to apply, go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/applicant.html. For a webcast with information about preparing the grant application package, go to http://www.connectlive.com/events/edgrants/.
Innovations in the News
Contrary to popular belief, online education does not cost less than traditional schooling, according to virtual school leaders who revealed myths and barriers surrounding eLearning at a May 29 Innovations in Education Exchange in Washington, D.C., sponsored by OII. [More-eNews School Online] (June 2)
Wisconsin Virtual Academy, set to open this fall in a small, rural district in northern Ozaukee County, has more than 300 confirmed students who are coming from more than 100 districts around the state. [More-JS Online] (May 25)
The nation's schools are facing changes to meet the needs of the growing number of Hispanic children in public education. [More-CNN.com] (June 3)
In an effort to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law, several Illinois suburban high schools are ushering in programs, ranging from summer classes to freshman mentoring, to foster a sense of belonging. [More-The Chicago Tribune] (June 2)
Calling Baltimore County, Maryland's, middle schools a "weak link," Superintendent Joe A. Hairston is proposing an overhaul that would toughen instruction for sixth- to eighth-graders and focus their learning on core subjects such as language arts and math. [More-The Baltimore Sun] (June 2)
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given $3 million to a nonprofit charter school start-up that plans to launch five high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area by 2006. The schools will target disadvantaged and minority students in low-income urban areas. [More-The Oakland Tribune] (June 4)
A new public charter school will open in Venice, California this fall. Approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District, Cornerstone Prep will be located at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. Enrollment will be limited to 20 students per class in kindergarten through third grade and 24 students per class in grades four through six. [More-The Santa Monica Mirror] (June 5)
In a sign that the once far-fetched notion of "Charter Districts" is gaining traction, a forthcoming series of papers from the Education Commission of the States offers policymakers advice and encouragement in setting up their own versions of that emerging governance arrangement. [More-Education Week] (May 28)
Last Modified: 04/26/2011
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Marine Environmental Education Programs-
Our innovative hands-on programs have been developing since 1979. The unique locations of rocky shore, docks, pier, and the open Bay found at the Marina are used to provide Marine Environmental Education to school children and classes from all over the Bay Area. Each program instills a conservation message empowering the students to help the environment.
Classes taught by experience naturalists and strong, experienced Docent volunteers. Our quality verses quanity programs, promote the highest quality experience you can get for your fieldtrip experience. Our ration of adult teachers to children is almost 1:3.
We run our programs in our "green" building, which has the microscope lab and two 200 Gallon aquariums. These are used in our fish, Bay Scientist , and low tide programs.
If you are interested down load this application or subscribe to this web site to be sent information about the dates and a form for this year. Groups are also welcome to sign up for our Adopt a shoreline clean-up program and to tour our building to learn more about our demonstration "green" office and our green portable. To learn more, please go to Straw Bale Building page.
The Marina Experience Environmental Education Program:
- Teacher In-service Training
- Low Tide Programs- explorations on the rocky shoreline, and dock.
Animal Programs- separate programs on fish, birds, marine mammals and being a bay scientist.
- Sailing program
- Summer Classes Marine Biology, canoeing, boating & water skiing
- Shoreline cleanups- Plastics and our Bay- Shoreline clean-ups
Teacher In-service Training
Each program requires a mandatory teacher's IN-SERVICE training workshop during which teachers preview the site, update staff for their current science program, and naturalists add to it with a packet of informational lesson plans for pre- and post-trip lessons geared to their class' grade level. These lessons were written by our staff, and correlate with the California State Science Framework and include 47 large animal identification cards and pictures.
Low Tide Programs
When the children arrive for their three hour Low Tide program, they meet in the Nature Center for a 40 minute interactive multimedia presentation, to review and learn about the marine inhabitants along the Berkeley waterfront. They observe the aquariums, the touch table and then depending on the tide, they explore the rocky shore, return for a break, and then explore the dock. Cost for three hours and packet materials is $194. 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m.
There are four animal programs on the following topics: fish, birds, marine mammals and being a bay scientists. The class programs are three hours and consists of informational power point and videos, and two hours of interactive stations. When the children rotate through hands-on stations, we utilize real artifacts or live animals if possible. Cost $194 for three hours and packet materials. See what a teacher has to say about our fish program.
- FISH. (2nd- 12th grades)We will explore the ins and outs of fish and sharks that live in the Bay. Hands on experience through fish printing and dissecting a Northern anchovie. add to the aquarium observations andviewing scales and gills under a microscope.
- BIRDS (K-12)This program focusues on what makes a bird a bird through multimedia presentations and hands-on activity stations: feathers, conservation, sounds, eggs and nests. Inadvertantly teaches the life skill of bird watching. We'll take a practice walk to identify local marine and land birds.
- MARINE MAMMALS (K-12) Marine mammals off the California Coast are our focus in the slides and hands on artifacts here. Sounds, Feeding, Conservation and Insulation are the four stations offered to K-12th grade.
- BAY SCIENTIST, (3rd-12th) A field and lecture class exploring marine life of the rocky shore and docks. We handle a wide variety of invertebrate marine life,utilizing our wonderful projecting microscopes. Students do water chemistry, and explore the world of plankton.
Sailing Boat Trip Programs
The Pegasus a 51 ft. Wooden Sailing Ketch helps us provide this unique experience. We take a class of 30 and rotate 15 out sailing while the other half of the class learns the ropes with volunteers from the Cal Sailing Club, with a small sailboat on a trailer. Class includes learning about Geography, sailing terminology, compass work and the history of ships on San Francisco Bay. $245. This is a 4.5 hour field trip. 9:30a.m. - 2 p.m.
Volunteers needed to help teach classes see the volunteer page
If you would like information sent to you for programs in the future. Registration is here in the Shorebird Park Nature Center Office in March. 160 University Ave. Berkeley Marina
Parents or guardians must sign up their own children.
Full day care available in combination with the Adventure Playground for 7 years and up.
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/directory/resdirectory/rdindex.html. For the Coastal Conservancy's' Resource Directory. Hundreds of groups that do marine science and ocean related teaching. We are in here too!
To get back into the Marina Experience web pages click here
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Send Letter to Editor
The jewel-bright sparkle of a damselfly on the wing or in repose never fails to excite. These graceful insects dazzle professional and amateur entomologists alike with their shining colors and delicate wing tracery. Watching a damsel up close is like peering through a loupe at a rare and precious gem; several species are even named after the rubies and amber they resemble.
It's easy to locate and observe damsels if you immerse yourself into their habitat. My favorite field trips involve wading through the headwaters of shallow clear trout streams in mid- to late afternoon; at different times of the spring, summer and fall seasons, different species groups are present. Damselflies actually spend most of their lives as larvae under the water and the adult stage is short-lived, all the more reason to see them while you can. Water-loving damsels rise and dip through shoreline vegetation, sometimes less than a foot from the ground. Both larvae and adults are predators that consume smaller invertebrates. Find a good clear stream, a shallow pond, or a riverbank where you can wade in the water and you can learn first-hand about their behaviors and habits. I hope my photos will inspire you to take a closer look at these tiny, fascinating creatures.
Damselflies are to dragonflies what skippers are to butterflies; closely related species with just enough differences to call them by different names. Classified together in the order Odonata, damselflies and dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. The forerunners of present-day odonates were flying more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by more than 100 million years and birds by some 150 million years.
The most easily observable difference between the two groups is that the wings of dragonflies are open when they are at rest, while damselflies' wings are totally closed or only partially open at rest. Damselflies are in general much thinner than dragonflies and they tend to spend less time in flight. Damselflies are rarely in the air more than 30 seconds at a time, while some species of dragonflies migrate long distances and others hardly ever land, preferring to fly all day long.
The 46 species of damselflies found in Wisconsin fall into three main types: broad-winged damsels, spreadwings and pond damsels. The broad-winged damsels are probably the best known. These damselflies have darkened, broad wings that are colored, not clear as in the other damselflies.
The ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is the most common broad-winged damsel and is found throughout Wisconsin. The females often congregate in groups to lay eggs on vegetation in or on top of the water. I once saw four female ebony jewelwings laying their eggs while an American rubyspot (another broad-winged damsel, Hetaerina americana) male landed time and time again on the females' wings. The male evidently was trying to find a dry place to land, and the jewelwings just happened to be an available, though precarious, perch!
Spreadwings all hold their wings spread at an angle when at rest. There are ten species of spreadwings in Wisconsin, and all seem to prefer smaller, shallower lakes or ponds. In Waushara County in central Wisconsin, I saw six species of spreadwings in a shallow, less than five-acre lake with an abundant variety of emergent vegetation growing near shore. The females of most spreadwing species, unlike the broad-winged damsels, lay their eggs while still attached to the male. I waded out into about a foot of water to take the photo of four pairs of amber-winged spreadwings (Lestes eurinus) laying eggs together on a single bulrush. After taking the photo, I looked around and the spreadwings were everywhere. I counted more than 50 pairs within ten yards of where I stood.
Amber-winged spreadwings are listed on the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory list as a species of special concern. Although they are not the longest spreadwing, they are the largest-bodied ones and appear huge compared to the pond damsels. They also are the only damselfly I observed eating other damselflies, including other spreadwing species. Although amber-winged spreadwings were abundant and conspicuous at this site, I did not see them at any other location.
Spreadwing males stay attached to the females during egg laying. Rarely would a male attach itself to another male by accident, but I was able to observe male-to-male-to-female triplets on two occasions. I witnessed an amber-winged spreadwing triplet flying completely stretched out so that the entire length was nearly six inches, which was quite a spectacle! Two weeks later on the same pond I saw three sweetflag spreadwings (Lestes forcipatus) flying around and was able to capture the triplet on film.
The largest group of damselflies in Wisconsin is the pond damsels with 32 species. These insects are very small, with the largest at barely 1.5 inches in length. With a very narrow body and clear wings, the pond damsels can be difficult to observe and identify. Use good, close-focusing binoculars. To identify pond damsel species, observe male/female interactions, so that you can get to know the females. The females of many damselflies vary in color. The Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis), for example, may be yellow, male-like green, or a bluish white color on older individuals. When I first started observing this species, I thought I'd found a species new to me, only to find out it was just another form of the Eastern forktail. Pond damsel males are not so variable and therefore much easier to identify once you are familiar with them.
This is not to say male pond damsels are easy to tell apart! I looked them up in every book I could find, plus checked on the Internet for additional information and photos to help identify these species. One book said the familiar bluet (Enallagma civile) was one of the easiest bluets to recognize. I can say without a doubt, I am still not familiar with this species! Although I have seen it on four occasions, it looks very much like several other damsels. I must have it in my hand and observe it closely to determine its exact identity. Luckily, over three-fourths of the pond damsels are easy to identify, and it is only the very similar species of bluets that give even the best taxonomist fits!
Like the spreadwings, the majority of the female pond damsels lay eggs in plant material while the male is still attached. For the male, this pretty much guarantees he will be the last to mate with the female and his genes will be passed on to the next generation.
The Eastern red damsel (Amphiagrion saucium) is not a common pond damsel species in central Wisconsin, but it is found throughout the state and is the only red damselfly, making it very easy to identify. My photo of the red damsel was taken in the middle of a stream as the female repeatedly laid eggs on the clumps of vegetation available at the top of the water. It was one of many pairs of red damsels I saw on June 20. Two weeks later, I did not see any in the same stream, which shows that timing is important if you want to see some of these species at their prime.
Another species abundant in late June and throughout July in that same stream was the river bluet (Enallagma anna) a species of special concern in Wisconsin that has only been recorded in four Wisconsin counties. This species has a very distinctive male abdominal appendage extending nearly the same length as the last abdominal segment.
In late June and early July, on a stream that was slightly larger, but ten miles away, a different group of damselflies prevailed. Stream bluets (Enallagma exsulans) and variable dancers (Argia fumipennis) were abundant and ebony jewelwings and American rubyspots were packing the bleachers, but I didn't see a single river bluet or a red damsel.
The Wisconsin form of the variable dancer is violet in color and so is sometimes called the violet dancer. Like the red damsel, the color alone on this damselfly more or less guarantees you are watching this species. The mated pairs of violet dancers laying eggs that I saw often did so in groups.
The stream bluet is a larger species and, at almost 1.5 inches, is one the longest bluets in Wisconsin. With males still holding onto the females, stream bluets were much more impressive to watch as the females laid their eggs. Partially because of the added height, they seemed to stick far above the vegetation. I photographed of five pairs of stream bluets and a single pair of variable dancers laying eggs with the male attached just inches above the water on July 1. Later in the year, I observed a female stream bluet completely immersing herself underwater to lay eggs on a plant. The male let go instead of being dragged under and hovered overhead as the female laid her eggs.
An ode to Odes
Damselflies are attracting an ever-growing base of admirers. The Department of Natural Resources continues to work with partners developing two websites with damselfly and dragonfly information. The first is posted on a portion of the DNR endangered resources website to provide photos and descriptions of the threatened and endangered dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies found here. You can access the site at Wisconsin's Rare Dragonflies and Damselflies.
The second site is intended as a more comprehensive online field guide to damselflies and dragonflies found in Wisconsin. It will be housed online at the Aquatic and Terrestrial Resources Inventory (ATRI), a site set up by state and university researchers as a sort of one-stop shop for authoritative information about Wisconsin species. The ATRI site already offers links to impressive listings of vascular plants, herps, breeding birds, beetles, mollusks and small mammals. We anticipate damselfly and dragonfly listings will be added this summer. The site will include species characteristics, distributions by county, habitats, flight periods, photos and online reporting forms to share observations. You can access ATRI at: The Aquatic & Terrestrial Resources Inventory.
If you are interested in taking part in a statewide effort to map the distributions and habitats used by the Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies), start boning up on your identification skills. Those who might like to take part in the atlas project can contact DNR invertebrate researcher Bob DuBois. DuBois recommends two field guides: "A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts" includes most of the species we see here and can be ordered for $20 from the Massachusetts Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01591; "Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio," includes many of the species found here. The guide contact is Renee Boronka.
Damselflies develop in water. To protect them, we need to protect, conserve and, where possible, increase suitable shoreland habitat. By working in your community to preserve wetlands and safeguard water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, you can help ensure these colorful and beguiling insects with a long, long history will have an equally lengthy future.
Mike Reese is a teacher from Wautoma and a true dragonfly, damselfly and butterfly enthusiast. He maintains a website, Wisconsin Butterflies, where researchers and amateur entomologists can share information and observations.
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Many winemakers, here in Ontario and around the world, believe that the large-scale use of synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers, prevents the grapes from offering their truest expression (remember the bit about “terroir”?). Similarly, pesticides and herbicides can interfere with the composition of the soil.
Ontario wine-grape growers and wine producers are stewards of our land. To ensure the quality of our wines and the sustainability of Ontario vineyards and wineries, our industry has adopted many environmental practices. The Wine Council of Ontario has developed a program called Sustainable Winemaking Ontario: An Environmental Charter for the Wine Industry, which lays out best-practice guidelines, drawing on the breadth of knowledge and experience within the industry. This all-encompassing program—which received recognition from the Minister of the Environment’s Award of Environmental Excellence—is the first of its kind in Canada, and it focuses on all aspects of wine production, from vineyard water usage to energy conservation, pesticide use and community relations. The program goal is to encourage wineries to look at the impact of their day-to-day operations, in terms of environmental, economic and social responsibility.
We believe that this “from soil to shelf” program will sustain Ontario’s success on the world stage. In addition, many of our vineyards and wineries are exploring other innovative options, such as earning biodynamic and organic certification, constructing LEED-certified buildings, using geothermal or solar heating, and participating in Local Food Plus and other environmental programs.
For more information on Sustainable Winemaking Ontario, please email us at [email protected].
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|Weapons||Flanged Mace, Glaive, Bow & Arrow, Ild|
|Activities||Fighting for the Mongol Empire|
|Battle Status||Lost vs. the Comanche|
|Experts||Munkhtur Luvsanjambaa (Native Mongol Historian)
Jason Nguyen (Asian Combat Expert)
"The Mongols have a mission: to conquer everything; dominate everything in our path; destroy everything in our path." - Jason Ngyuen, Mongol expert.
The Mongol, the vicious Asian horse warriors who used brute savagery to conquer more territory in the 13th century than any other continuous empire in history;
Vs. the Comanche, the born-in-the-saddle killers, who terrorized the 18th-Century American plains.
- Circa 1225
- Height - 5' 5"
- Weight - 145
- Armor - Leather Lamellar
Symbole - Two crossed ild swords
|Special Weapons||Ild Sword|
The Mongols excelled at horse riding and archery, two skills ideal to steppe warfare. The various Mongolian tribes were united under Genghis Khan in AD 1206. Under Genghis Khan, the Mongols conquered much of Northern China, most of present-day Kazakhstan, and parts of Russia and the Middle East. After his death, the Mongols continued to expand their power, until they formed the largest continuous empire in world history and the second largest empire on the whole. This empire included all of modern-day China, Central Asia, Korea, most of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
In China it is estimated that half of the population was killed while in Russia it is estimated that at least 500,000 died during the Mongol invasions, as the Mongols often killed man and enslaved the children, who they worked to death. The Mongols were also believed to have inadvertently spread the bubonic plague, also called the Black Death, across Asia and to Europe: theoretically by intentionally spreading the plague against an enemy castle during the Mongolian Seige of Caffa in 1346.
In a valley, the Mongol is sharpening his Ild sword. Nearby, the Comanche cautiously makes his way to the top of the ridge overlooking the valley. The Mongol, feeling as if he's being watched, looks to the top of the ridge. Seeing nothing, he goes back to sharpening his Ild. Back up on the ridge, the Comanche readies his bow and arrow and fires downward to the unsuspecting Mongol. The arrow lands a foot away from the Mongol, startling him. He stands up and looks to the source of the arrow, but is unable to make it out due to the Comanche standing against the sun. Using this opportunity, the Comanche fires two more arrows at the blinded Mongolian, one which flies past him and another which lands right in front of him. The Comanche raises his bow and gives off a loud war cry and falls back.
Gathering his senses, the Mongol sheaths his Ild and mounts his horse, while the Comanche thrusts his War Lance into the ground and slings his War Hawk on his back. The Mongol reaches the top of the hill, but is confused when he only finds the Comanche's horse. Hanging off the side of the horse, the Comanche pulls himself up to reveal himself, takes aim with his bow and arrow, and shoots the Mongol in the chest. The Mongol is saved by his lamellar breastplate however, as he angrily thrusts his glaive into the ground and pulls out the arrow. The Comanche rides ahead to to set up another attack while the Mongol pulls out his bow and arrow. The Comanche rides past as the Mongol fires another shot, which barely misses him.
The Comanche rides up to his War Lance, which he pulls out of the ground and hides into the bushes. The Mongol rides up to his glaive and pulls it out, seeing the Comanche's horse up on the rocky outcropping. The Mongol starts to ride to the abandoned horse when the Comanche ambushes him by tackling him from a rock, throwing him from his horse.The Comanche assumes a battle stance while the Mongol gathers himself and his Glaive. The Mongol swings his glaive but is parried by the Comanche's War Lance. The Mongol counters by slashing at the Comanche's back. The Comanche rolls, dropping his lance as he also avoids a circular slash. The Mongol goes in for a thrust, but the Comanche grabs the glaive and avoids the attack and counters with an elbow strike to the Mongol's head. The Comanche stomps on the glaive, breaking it as the Mongol gets back up and unsheathes his Ild. The Comanche pulls out his War Hawk and the two warriors clash. The Mongol deflects a swing and counters, slashing the Comanche's forearm. The Mongol goes in for a follow-up swing while the Comanche is still stunned, but the Comanche counters by grabbing the arms of the Mongol and hitting the Ild out of his hands, then spinning around and digging the War Hawk into the back of the Mongol. The Mongol pushes the War Hawk away as the Comanche gets it out and front kicks the Comanche, knocking him to the ground.
The Comanche recovers and runs off into a cave while the Mongol runs back to his horse to retrieve his Flanged Mace and follows the Comanche into the cave. Inside the cave, the Mongol slowly searches out the Comanche, who has his back to a wall and is holding his War Hawk as well as a Scalping Knife. The Mongol spots the Comanche and swings his mace, which impacts on the cave wall as the Comanche dodges. The Mongol takes aim and swings the heavy mace again, hitting the floor as the Comanche dodges and gets set up for a counter-attack. The Comanche goes in for a swing with the War Hawk, but the Mongol counters with a swing that hits the indian in the chest, sending him reeling. The Mongol swings again, but the Comanche ducks under and quickly stabs the Mongol in the back with the knife. The Mongol goes in for another swing, but misses as the Comanche ducks and goes in for two more stabs. While the Mongol is stunned, the Comanche grabs his War Hawk and buries into the neck of the Mongol. The Mongol slumps to the cave floor, dead as the Comanche removes his hat and cuts off the Mongol's scalp with his Scalping Knife. Victorious, the Comanche stumbles out of the cave mouth, shouting as he holds the bloody scalp on high.
The experts reasoned that the Mongol was defeated by the Comanche due to the Comanche's effectiveness at long and mid range. They were very accurate with their bows, and their spear could be used on foot and horse back, unlike the glaive. The final factor was that the Mongol was better fighting in an army, while the Comanche was experienced fighting on his own or in larger groups.
- The Mongol is the first warrior to lose with all of his weapons having 100+ kills.
- Mongols appeared in the Musketeer/Ming Warrior episode, attacking the Great Wall of China.
- The famous Mongol leader Genghis Khan appeared in season 3, versus Hannibal. Mongols reappeared as Genghis' soldiers in the episode, but with steel helmets and different weapons.
- Despite their empire being mostly in Asia the mongols have invaded europe and streched their invasions to the kingdoms of Hungary and Poland.
- Calvary and horseback riding still plays an important role in modern Mongolia today. The 44th Mongolian Cavalry led the last ancient-style Calvary charge in WWII, with the Axis forces facing no casualties and the Calvary division mostly destroyed.
- This matchup is the last in the show to be one-on-one.
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Farm biosecurity protects the health of your cattle herd by preventing the introduction and transmission of disease agents to your farm. Endemic diseases, those diseases native to U.S. cattle, can be an economic drain on cow herds if not managed properly. Taking common sense precautions to minimize the risk of diseases is the best investment you can make.
“Starting a biosecurity plan just takes some common sense,” says Tom Troxel, University of Arkansas Extension beef cattle specialist. “The first person to start with is your local veterinarian. Get him involved with your animal health program, make him familiar with how you manage cattle, move cattle in and out, and buy cattle so he can help set up a biosecurity plan for your farm.”
Ron Parker, head of Extension Animal Resources and a beef cattle specialist at New Mexico State University, says it's a mistake to utilize your veterinarian only in an emergency; a good working relationship is a necessity.
“I'd even suggest it would be well worth a producer's while to purchase a half hour of a vet's time and sit down and discuss what needs to be included in your biosecurity and herd health programs,” he adds.
A successful biosecurity plan should cover three main areas — isolation, traffic control and sanitation.
The most important step in disease control is minimizing commingling and movement of cattle. This is especially important for new animals arriving on the farm, such as replacement heifers, or animals returning from fairs and shows where they may have had contact with other cattle. Even commingling between established groups of cattle on the farm and in feedlots should be minimized.
“When you purchase new cattle and bring them to the farm, we recommend you leave them isolated for a period of time to monitor their health before turning them out with the rest of the herd,” Troxel says. “Your veterinarian can help you determine how long that time should be and the precautions you should take with the new animals.”
Isolating and treating sick cattle away from the rest of the herd can also minimize the spread of infectious disease.
Wildlife and pets can also be a cause for concern to animals' health. It's important to control on-farm rodent populations that can carry diseases like leptospirosis, which cause abortions. Keep wild animals, including rodents, birds, skunks and raccoons, away from food storage areas and feed bunks to prevent contamination of cattle feed sources.
“It's also critical for every operation to control pet movements,” Parker says. “There are certain diseases that can be carried by dogs; keeping them away from feed bunks can minimize disease risk.”
Consider points where diseases could enter a farm or ranch and the pathways by which disease is spread. This is especially important on smaller, more confined operations and feedlots where traffic is coming and going in different directions.
“Restrict people to only where they have to be and control their access to other areas,” Parker says.
If visitors are touring your operation, consider their previous stops. Be aware of foreign visitors and ban footwear, clothing and other products from foreign countries on the farm.
“It's wise to have a package of disposable boots there for visitors to wear,” Parker adds. “Disposable boots are a better choice than footbaths because they are much simpler to use and more sanitary. If shoes carry a lot of dirt and manure, the disinfectant in a footbath doesn't eliminate pathogens or other microbials.”
Troxel adds monitoring suspicious traffic around the farm. Unfamiliar vehicles that frequently drive down the road slowly, should be reported to the sheriff.
“Rural folks are good about watching out for their neighbors; they know who should and shouldn't be on the property. If you notice something unusual, report it,” he says.
The sanitation component of a biosecurity plan is aimed at preventing contamination of cattle and equipment. For example, Parker says a front-end loader shouldn't be used to haul manure or transport a dead animal and then used to mix feed without first being sanitized.
Troxel adds that loaning equipment to neighbors is neighborly, but have a plan to disinfect the equipment when it's returned.
“Be concerned about cleaning the stock trailer when you get it back, or any other equipment you might loan to your neighbor,” he says. “You may even clean it before letting it be borrowed.”
Weigh costs, risks
With today's freer movement of cattle around the U.S. and abroad, it pays to be aware of what's coming and going from your operation.
“These are just a few things producers can do very easily to start putting together a farm biosecurity plan,” Troxel says. “We can't let our guard down. It's a different day and time, and we've got to think about some of the things that we used to take for granted and think about those again.”
But, Parker also cautions producers to use logic in developing their biosecurity protocols.
“It is a balancing act with risk on one side and cost on the other. You'd like to be able to hold the cost down while also holding down the risk. That probably isn't going to happen,” he says. “We have to weigh the costs against the risks, and use common sense in developing our programs.”
Keep the following items in mind in implementing a biosecurity program:
Watch for signs of disease like coughing, weight loss, runny nose and eyes, difficulty breathing, abortions, stillbirths and other reproductive abnormalities.
Watch for sores and blisters around mouth, nose, teats and hooves.
Report unexplained death loss or illness affecting a high percentage of your herd.
Don't transport animals with contagious illnesses.
Properly dispose of dead animals.
Keep new animals isolated from the herd and observe for disease.
Isolate animals that have been off the farm and in contact with other cattle.
Minimize access routes to your operation by locking gates or obstructing alternative entry sites.
Keep a visitor log.
Require visitors to use footbaths or disposable plastic boots on the farm.
Be aware of foreign visitors and ban footwear, clothing and other products from foreign countries on the farm.
Vehicles and equipment:
Minimize vehicular traffic through livestock and feeding areas.
Don't contaminate feedstuffs with manure.
Clean and disinfect equipment used for manure hauling or dead animal removal before using it to handle feed.
Environmental and pest control:
- Keep ground and feedbunks dry.
- Control insects and birds.
- Control rodents around feed.
Sources: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service and University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
How do you shape up?
Biosecurity management practices are designed to reduce or prevent the introduction and movement of infectious diseases on cattle operations. The following quiz can help you determine which areas of your operation may be vulnerable. Then ask your veterinarian for help in designing a program to protect your herd from diseases.
- Do you know which animal diseases should be in your biosecurity plan?
- Do you always isolate sick animals?
- Do you isolate new or returning animals for three weeks before exposing them to the herd?
- Do you separate livestock by age and/or production groups?
- Do you limit visitor access to barns and lots?
- Do you demand that visitors wear clean boots and coveralls?
- Do you provide disposable boots and coveralls for visitors?
- Do you disinfect your stock trailer?
- Do you loan your truck, stock trailer, etc., to other producers?
- Do you follow Beef Quality Assurance guidelines?
- Do you attempt to control rodents?
- Do you have deer-proof fences?
- Do you conduct a postmortem exam on every unexpected animal death?
- Do you watch for blistering around an animal's mouth, nose, teats and hooves?
- Do you prescreen newly purchased animals for diseases?
- Do you vaccinate livestock prior to additional stress (weaning, shipping, etc.)?
- Do you report to the county sheriff any suspicious visitors or vandalism detected on the farm?
- Do you monitor your tanks (fuel and bulk tanks) for siphoning or stealing?
- Do you have a farm biosecurity plan?
- Do you ask if visitors have been on another farm before they visit your facility?
- Do you allow anybody who has arrived in the U.S. within the last seven days on your farm?
- Do you allow off-farm vehicles (4-wheelers, etc.) to drive through your animal housing units or farm?
- Do you work with your veterinarian on a biosecurity plan for your farm?
For a complete list of questions, visit www.uaex.edu/biosecurity/producer/farm_plan/farm.asp.
Source: University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
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066 The Anatomy and Function of the Parietal Lobe
Today, Leslie discusses the parts and functions of the parietal lobe. Among it’s parts, Wernicke’s area is said to help us understand spoken language. The parietal lobe is also involved in other processes such as perceiving and processing somatosensory events. Watch the video to learn more in detail as Leslie talks about the anatomy and functions of this part of the brain.
Transcript of Today’s Episode
Hello and welcome to another episode of Interactive-Biology TV where we’re making Biology fun! My name is Leslie Samuel and in this episode, Episode 066, I am going to be talking about the anatomy and functions of the parietal lobe. So, let’s get right into it.
The parietal lobe, as you can see here, is this region right here. We’re starting at the central sulcus, it goes down, and on the inferior end over here, we have the lateral cerebral fissure, and posteriorly, we have the parietal occipital fissure that separates the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe.
The parietal lobe is primarily involved in perceiving and processing somatosensory events. We’re talking about things like touch, and temperature, and body position, and pain. The term that we use for body position is proprioception, and the term that we use for pain is nociception. So, proprioception and nociception, those are also involved in the processing of the parietal lobe. Let’s go a little more into that.
Here we have, on the most anterior end, we have the postcentral gyrus. Of course, the postcentral gyrus is going to be just posterior to the central sulcus. And then, we have the postcentral sulcus on the posterior end of that gyrus. The function of that gyrus is basically receiving somesthetic information. We’re talking about kinesthetic and tactile information. “Kinesthetic,” meaning body movements and “tactile” would be touch. That information comes in and it goes to the postcentral gyrus. There’s some processing that happens there for us to be able to recognize movements of body, and when we get touched we can feel that because of some of the processing that’s happening right here.
Of course, the left half of the brain, so the left postcentral gyrus is going to be getting information from the right side of the body, and the right postcentral gyrus is going to be receiving information from the left side of the body. Not only that, but it’s also what we call somatotopically organized. What that means is specific parts of the postcentral gyrus are going to receive information from specific parts of the body.
For example, if we are looking at the face and head, the information that’s coming from the face and the head are going to be processed in the most inferior parts of the postcentral gyrus. As we go more superior, we’re going to be starting to get input from the upper limbs. If we go more medial, we’re going more towards the center of the brain, we’re going to be getting information from the lower limbs.
So, it’s somatotopically organized, specific parts of this gyrus gets information from specific parts of the body. We’re going to see that a lot in the different parts of the brain. So, postcentral gyrus, we spoke about that.
Then, we have the superior parietal lobule, and of course, that’s going to be superior. What that does is it integrates sensory and motor functions. Then, we have the inferior parietal lobule. You can see that the superior and inferior parietal lobules are separated by this intraparietal sulcus. “Intraparietal,” “intra” means it’s inside, or in between. “Parietal,” the parietal lobe. That’s the intraparietal sulcus.
In the inferior parietal lobule, you see here we have the supramarginal gyrus and the angular gyrus. These two gyri receive input from the auditory and visual cortices, and of course, it’s processing auditory information and visual information. In order for us to see and hear, we’re getting information through this supramarginal gyrus and the angular gyrus.
Then, we have a specialized area that’s called Wernicke’s area. I know it looks different than I’m pronouncing it, but that’s the German pronunciation. What that helps us do is understand spoken language. So, someone is speaking to you, and you need to understand what they are saying. There’s processing that’s happening in the Wernicke’s area. Of course, in some cases, it’s more difficult to understand some people than others. (I’m sorry I shouldn’t have done that).
Okay, let’s continue. If there’s damage to this area, so if we have like lesions in the Wernicke’s area, that can result in Wernicke’s aphasia. What that is, is impairment of comprehension and repetition. You have a hard time understanding spoken language because of the damage in this area.
That’s pretty much it. That’s all I want to cover for this episode. As usual, I want to invite you to visit the website at www.Interactive-Biology.com for more Biology videos. You can also get the transcripts of every video that I have posted here, all of the Interactive-Biology TV videos, and a bunch of other resources to help make Biology fun.
That’s pretty much it for now, and I’ll see you on the next one.
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Five facts about the Jesuits
Jesuit delegates from around the world are gathering in Rome to choose a superior general to run the largest male Catholic clerical order.
Here are five facts about the Jesuits:
* Founded in 1540 by the Spaniard St. Ignatius Loyola, the Society of Jesus - as the Jesuits are formally known - has about 19,200 members in 112 countries, down from a peak of some 36,000 in the 1960s. It is an all-male order with a growing percentage of members from developing countries, especially India.
* The Jesuits were disbanded by Pope Clement XIV in 1773 after political pressure in Europe and restored in 1814 by Pope Pius VII. They were said to be such intelligent debaters that critics coined the adjective "jesuitical" to describe someone who uses sly reasoning to argue a point of view.
* The Jesuits are best known for their prominent role in education, theology, missionary work and publishing, with a strong emphasis on social justice and human rights. They run many prestigious secondary schools and universities around the world and publish leading intellectual journals.
* Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, clashed with the Jesuits. He said the order had become too independent, leftist and political, particularly in Latin America. Many of the theologians disciplined by the Vatican in recent years have been Jesuits.
* The new Jesuit leader is elected by a secret ballot. After he is chosen, delegates are not allowed to leave the room until the Pope is informed, in keeping with a centuries-old tradition.
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When information security professionals think of perimeter security, firewalls, SSL VPN, RADIUS servers, and other technical controls immediately come to mind. However, guarding the physical perimeter is just as important.
During the past weeks, I've written a series of articles that describe various components of an effective physical security strategy. In this final article in the series, we'll look closely at best practices for constructing the initial barrier to physical access to your information assets: the outer perimeter.
Components of a physical perimeter
Having served for several years in the military police, the concept of physical perimeter has two meanings. However, we'll skip the combat definition with its automatic weapons placement and final protective lines and focus on facility security. (At least I hope your information asset physical security isn't that strict, department of defense facilities excluded…)
The outer perimeter of a facility is its first line of defense. It can consist of two types of barriers: natural and structural. According to the United States Army's Physical Security Field Manual, FM 3-19.30 (2001, p. 4-1):
- Natural protective barriers are mountains and deserts, cliffs and ditches, water obstacles, or other terrain features that are difficult to traverse.
- Structural protective barriers are man-made devices (such as fences, walls, floors, roofs, grills, bars, roadblocks, signs, or other construction) used to restrict, channel, or impede progress.
In other words, if you can use the terrain, do so. Otherwise, you have to spend a little money and build your own obstructions.
The most common type of structural outer perimeter barrier is the venerable chain-link fence. However, it isn't good enough to simply throw up a fence and call it a day. Instead, your fence, a preventive device, should be supported by one or more additional prevention and detection controls. The number of controls you implement and to what extent are dependent upon the risks your organization faces.
A fence is both a psychological and a physical barrier. The psychology comes into play when casual passers-by encounter it. It tells them that the area on the other side is off-limits, and the owner would probably rather they didn't walk across the property. A fence or wall of three to four feet is good enough for this.For those who are intent on getting to your data center or other collection of information assets, fence height should be about seven feet. See Figure A. For facilities with high risk concerns, a top guard is usually added. The top guard consists of three to four strands of barbed wire spaced about six inches apart and extends outward at a 45 degree angle. The total height, including fence and top guard, should reach eight feet. Figure A
Fence installationInstalling a perimeter fence requires some planning. See Figure B. Set the poles in concrete and ensure the links are pulled tight. The links should form squares with sides of about two inches. The fence should not leave more than a two inch gap between its lower edge and the ground. Figure B MIL-HDBK-1013/10, 1993, p. 15) show two methods. Figure C
- 50 feet between the fence and any internal natural or man-made obstructions.
- 20 feet between the fence and any external natural or man-made obstructions.
Natural obstructions include trees and high weeds or grass.Figure D
Vehicle BarriersWhen vehicular intrusions are a concern, support the fence and gate opening with bollards or other obstructions, as depicted in Figure F (FM 3-19.30, p. 3-4). Figure F
Lighting is a critical piece of perimeter security. It works as a deterrent and assists human controls (roving guards, monitored cameras, first responders to alarms, etc.) detect intruders. Lighting standards are pretty simple:
- Provide sufficient light for the detection controls used
- Position lighting to "blind" intruders and keep security personnel in shadows
- Provide extra lighting for gates, areas of shadow, or probable ingress routes, as shown in Figure C.
A general rule to start with is to position lights with two-foot candle-power at a height of about eight feet.
Intrusion detection controls
As with our technical controls, we make the assumption that if someone wants to get through our perimeter, they will. So we need to supplement our fence with intrusion detection technology, including:
- Motion detectors
- Photoelectric systems
- Passive infrared
- Surveillance cameras that are monitored in real time
- Acoustic-seismic detection
Use of detection technology must be coupled with a documented and practiced response process.
The final word
The field of physical security is broad and is often a dedicated career path. So the information here is not intended to make you an expert. However, organizations are increasingly integrating computer and physical security under one manager.
The need for information security professionals to understand physical controls is great enough that the most popular certifications, such as CISSP, require some knowledge of the topic. Don't be left behind.
Finally, many of the controls discussed in this article are too extreme for many organizations. However, It's always better to understand all your options.
Tom is a security researcher for the InfoSec Institute and an IT professional with over 30 years of experience. He has written three books, Just Enough Security, Microsoft Virtualization, and Enterprise Security: A Practitioner's Guide (to be published in Q1/2013). Before joining the private sector, he served 10 years in the United States Army Military Police with four years as a military police investigator. He has an MBA and CISSP certification. He is also an online instructor for the University of Phoenix.
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This entry was posted 4 years, 5 months ago.
January 31, 2012
A great deal of today’s people are looking for effective diet plans and other weight management techniques which would help them shed extra pounds and decrease the risks of many serious diseases. However, for some people their weight reduction efforts are sometimes put to just simple cut on fats or carbs, and even some share of proteins. Is this strategy effective? According to the findings of a latest study, calorie counting can be a key point, but it seems like it does not matter much where the calories come from. Therefore, simple calorie counting and limiting our daily calorie consumption regardless of their source can be effective enough to put off weight.
The study was carried out by a group of experts at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and led by Dr. George Bray. For the trials, several hundred participants with extra weight, both males and females, were invited. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the groups offered one of the following types of diet:
- High protein, high fat, and low carbs;
- High protein, low fat and high carbs;
- Average protein, high fat and low carbs;
- Average protein, low fat and high carbs.
At that, every diet was created to cut down about 750 calories a day. The participants were monitored after 6 months right after the diet, and then within 2 years after the end of the experiment. It turned out that for six months of using all types of the stated diets, they managed to get rid of 9 lbs of fat and about 5 lbs of lean mass. In two years, the participants managed to lose 8 lbs of fat in average, including 3 lbs of abdomen fat. At that there were no serious differences in weight loss degree between the members of the groups assigned to different types of diets.
Thus, simple watching your calorie consumption can be effective for weight management and improving your BMI, but you can choose the type of diet which is more appropriate for you. “If you’re happier doing it low fat, or happier doing it low carb, this paper says it’s OK to do it either way. They were equally successful,” one of the study participants commented in the report. It can be more important to stick with a certain type of diet rather than eliminate fats or carbs completely. Read more about calorie counting and the findings of this interesting study in the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
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The couple went on a quest to find a general theory that could explain what aging is and why and how it happens. After more than 20 years of "sustained intellectual effort"—first at Moscow State University in Russia and recently at the University of Chicago's Center of Aging—they produced a "fundamental reliability theory of aging and longevity."1 It is, they suggest, "a promising approach" for developing a comprehensive theory that integrates biological knowledge with systems repair principles and mathematical methods.
Since its publication, the Gavrilovs' paper has sparked discussion among those in theoretical biology and others interested in the evolution of aging, garnering comments ranging from "astonishing" to "a useful contribution," as well as "incredibly clever," "robust," "original," "thought-provoking," and "a pointer in the direction of how to understand the aging process."
To adapt general reliability theory to biological systems and make it work, however, the Gavrilovs had to make a critical change in the initial assumption. "Reliability theory works with biological systems on one condition—that you assume that when we are born, we have a huge load of initial damage," says Gavrilov. An unwritten but prevalent assumption is that all living systems also begin more or less in an optimal state, created from perfect or near-perfect parts, he says, "but when you review the biological systems data, you see that this just cannot be."
From the point of conception, the cells from which biological systems are built are infused with faults and defective elements that would kill primitive organisms, the Gavrilovs posit. "Nobody can test the quality of each particular cell, so our systems are formed by self-assembly as they are and can be loaded with significant initial damage," explains Gavrilov. But humans and other complex organisms have "built-in redundancies," which help them survive random, destructive assaults, ensuring increased reliability and life span. However, these redundancies also ensure organisms will age and die. Hence, aging, according to this theory, is "a direct consequence or trade-off of systems redundancy exhaustion."
As defects accumulate, the redundancy in the number of elements eventually disappears, says Gavrilov, and the organism degenerates into a system with no redundancy. "At some point, one of those hits causes a critical system without a back-up redundancy to fail and we die." The simplest organisms that lack the redundancies built into more complex organisms do not age, they conclude, but "just die when damaged."
"The novelty of our approach," says Gavrilova, "is that we explain why living organisms die according to the Gompertz law," by taking into account the initial flaws or defects in newly formed systems. Named for British actuary Benjamin Gompertz, the Gompertz law holds that mortality rates increase exponentially with age in many adult species. The problem with Gompertz is that it does not account for why age-related increase in mortality rates vanish at older ages. The reliability theory of aging, they claim, provides the explanation.
The Gavrilovs first proposed the idea of applying reliability theory to aging and longevity more than 23 years ago. "In 1978, we published the two very first scientific articles suggesting the reliability theory idea in general," says Gavrilov.4,5 As a result of those publications, they received permission from their scientific advisers at the Moscow State University in Russia to continue their research efforts independently.
In 1991, they published a further developed version of the theory in The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach. The book was well received, and was cited by Encyclopedia Britannica as a recommended reference on longevity studies. That work helped open the doors for them to find employment and immigrate to the United States in 1997—"the best place to be for researching aging and longevity," says Gavrilov.
At the University of Chicago's Center for Aging, the Gavrilovs secured a grant from the National Institute on Aging. Then in 2000, they accepted S. Michal Jazwinsky's invitation to contribute to the Journal of Theoretical Biology's special issue on aging theories and "completed the development of the theory, at least as a theoretical concept," Gavrilov says.
"This theory provides a very flexible theoretical framework, a kind of scientific language and methodology, which can easily accommodate specific biological knowledge," says Gavrilov. "It does not introduce any heavy assumptions. Rather it helps to identify the research priorities and to organize the accumulated facts on aging in a manageable format."
"The idea that the redundancy systems that keep living organisms alive are also the systems that ensure we age is consistent with natural selection, because it keeps us alive and functioning at a high-enough level long enough to reproduce within the adaptive space of our body plan in ecology—and that's what natural selection is after," says Marc Tatar, evolutionary biologist, Brown University. "The Gavrilovs' theory addresses with some pretty clever models what is really the kind of central problem with biodemography—which is how to relate individual biology to these patterns we see in the population."
"It does provide people who are thinking about the evolution of aging with some mathematical tools from which they can frame questions, from which they can begin to develop models that in some realistic way generate relationships among organisms at different ages or impose dynamics that are common among complicated systems, to generate and impose constraints that were previously somewhat ad hoc ¼ random assumptions," offers mathematically trained biologist Scott Pletcher, assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine.
Gerontologist Yates views the Gavrilovs' theory in a bigger-picture perspective. "In my observations of theorizing, and in my experience doing theoretical biology, I have found theories that have a lot of range lack precision, and theories that are very mechanistic have precision but not range. The Gavrilovs' model has both range and precision to a degree that is astonishing," he says.
Beyond Genes and Free Radicals
Therein will be the rub for biologists. The notion that humans and other organisms are chock full of defects from the get-go will be a difficult idea for many biologists and reductionists to embrace. And, the issue of mechanism will cause biologists to balk, says Pletcher. "I appreciate the Gavrilovs' theory for its approach and I respect the work, but I don't believe that it biologically explains aging. It's just not sort of particular enough in mechanism to capture the variation in biological organisms. I don't think that organisms are composed of underlying, redundant, non-aging components—for various reasons," opines Pletcher, who is finishing postdoc work on the genetics of aging at University College London. "But I do think it's a useful contribution, because it really outlines what we expect to see from a wide range of complicated systems. Therefore, I see this more as a framework that can help biologists better model and better work toward developing realistic models of aging, than I think of it as a truly biological mechanistic explanation for why organisms age." Compositional heterogeneity, for example, is another alternative theory, Pletcher points out, "that offers a very simple explanation to explain mortality deceleration, as well as mortality convergence, two of the things that the Gavrilovs bring out here."
The Gavrilovs welcome dialogue and interaction with other scientists. As they see it, there are "promising opportunities" for merging the reliability and evolutionary theories, such as, offers Gavrilova, "studying the whole mortality curve to see how it evolved over time … and studying how different species managed to increase and evolve their reliability."
"Further analyses using the reliability approach may help to test hypotheses on the mechanisms of gene action in long-lived humans," she adds. "Our preliminary analyses [not yet published] demonstrated that the progeny of long-lived parents may have higher redundancy in important elements [cells] compared to the progeny of short-lived parents. This may suggest that 'longevity genes,' or genes that ensure long life, may act early in life, increasing the redundancy of the organs in vital elements [cells]."
"If this theory does turn out to be true—and it seems to be moving toward testability—then it might help us perhaps start making sense of this," says Tatar. "A potentially very exciting implication of the work is that it might [direct researchers] to study development." While people have proposed the critical importance of the developmental experience before, this theory goes the extra mile, saying, basically, that the trajectory of an individual's aging depends on developmental experiences. "That," says Tatar, "is a different magnitude of relationship between the adult and juvenile experience."
"This idea does change the emphasis in life extension intervention and health issues," says Gavrilov. "It emphasizes the importance of early life conditions, which may determine the level [load] of initial damage, and, therefore, the health outcomes in later life [including longevity].6,7 The message of reliability theory is that we consider the initial damage of our organism and start earlier to prevent rapid aging," adds Gavrilova.
"The most important implication [of this theory] is that the intellectual Berlin Wall between the gerontologists and the reliability experts is demolished—at least we hope so," says Gavrilov. "Now when the intellectual apartheid between the two large groups of scientists ends, the biological aging research may be greatly accelerated and facilitated by using the rich experience and knowledge accumulated in reliability engineering, as well as in the mathematical reliability theory. There is a remarkable resemblance between aging of biological species and technical devices (in terms of age-related failure kinetics), which literally invites for broad large-scale interdisciplinary collaborative research efforts."
In about five years, gerontological research could be transformed into a new powerful bioreliability approach, Gavrilov boldly predicts, "that may allow the human species to postpone and perhaps even to prevent some of the unpleasant manifestations of aging." Neither Tatar nor Pletcher is willing to make that leap. "It's another set of mathematical tools," says Pletcher.
Convinced they are on the right track, the Gavrilovs plan to continue work on their theory. In addition, they are now studying longevity inheritance and the effects of early-life conditions on human mortality later in life, among other things. They are determined to find the answer. "My promise to Natalia," chuckles Gavrilov, "is still not fulfilled."
1. L. Gavrilov, N. Gavrilova, "The Reliability Theory of Aging and Longevity," Journal of Theoretical Biology, 213: 527-545, Dec. 21, 2001.
2. R.E. Barlow et al., Mathematical Theory of Reliability, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1965.
3. R.E. Barlow, F. Proschan, Statistical Theory of Reliability and Life Testing: Probability Models, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1975.
4. L.A. Gavrilov et al., "The main regularities of animal aging and death viewed in terms of reliability theory," Journal of General Biology [Zhurnal Obschey Biologii], 39:734-42, 1978.
5. L.A. Gavrilov, "A mathematical model of the aging of animals," Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences USSR [Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR], 238:490-2, 1978.
6. www.src.uchicago.edu/~gavr1/JAAM-Boundaries-for-Human-Longevity.pdf (familial evidence)
7. L.A. Gavrilov, N.S. Gavrilova, The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach, New York: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1991, pp.125-32.
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http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/14015/title/Aging--in-Theory--A-Personal-Pursuit/
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Pink Book Webinar Series
This online series of 15 webinars provides an overview of the principles of vaccination, general recommendations, immunization strategies for providers, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Each one-hour webinar explores a chapter from the 13th edition of “Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases,” also known widely as “The Pink Book."
The 13th edition of the Pink Book is available for free online or for purchase as a bound paperback book.
- Printed copies can be ordered online through the Public Health Foundation.
- You can view it online and download a PDF of the Pink Book.
Registration for the 2016 Events
Join CDC weekly for “Pink Book Wednesdays” from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm EDT, starting June 1, 2016.
See individual event for specific CE information.
(All events begin at noon eastern standard time)
|June 1||Principles of Vaccination|
|June 8||General Recommendations: Part 1|
|June 15||General Recommendations: Part 2, and Vaccine Safety|
|June 29||Vaccine Storage & Handling and Administration|
|July 6||Immunization Strategies|
|July 13||Rotavirus and Hep A|
|July 20||DTaP /Tdap|
|Aug 3||Meningococcal Vaccines|
|Aug 10||Polio and Hib|
|Aug 17||Measles, Mumps, Rubella|
|Sept 7||Hepatitis B|
|Sept 21||Pneumococcal Vaccines|
- October 14, 2015
Varicella and Zoster
- October 7, 2015
- September 30, 2015
- September 23, 2015
- September 16, 2015
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- September 9, 2015
- September 2, 2015
Polio and Hib
- August 26, 2015
- August 19, 2015
- August 12, 2015
Rotavirus and Hep A
- August 5, 2015
- July 29, 2015
Vaccine Storage & Handling and Administration
- July 22, 2015
General Recommendations — Part 2, and Vaccine Safety
- July 15, 2015
General Recommendations — Part 1
- July 8, 2015
Principles of Vaccination
- Page last reviewed: June 17, 2016
- Page last updated: June 17, 2016
- Content source:
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| 0.852284 | 530 | 2.640625 | 3 |
DB2 or DB/2 is a DBMS system provided by IBM Corporation that competes with the Oracle database. DB2 is predominantly used on mainframe computers (i.e. OS/390). However, versions exist for AS/400, Unix, Linux and Windows as well.
Although DB2 seems to be quite a competent database platform, it doesn't have that big a market share outside its Mainframe stronghold.
Migration to/from Oracle
Oracle's Migration Workbench tool can be used to convert DB2 databases to Oracle.
- IMS - Information Management System
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http://www.orafaq.com/wiki/IBM_DB2
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| 0.878892 | 119 | 2.828125 | 3 |
A Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Biodiesel - a lot like diesel fuel, but made from vegetable oil or animal fat.
Deep fat fried?
Biodiesel is not regular vegetable oil and is not safe to swallow. Biodiesel
is biodegradable though, so it is much less harmful to the environment if spilled.
Biodiesel is made through a process called transesterification. This process makes
vegetable oil and animal fat into esterified oil, which can be used as diesel fuel,
or mixed with regular diesel fuel.
Ordinary diesel engines can run on biodiesel. Practically any type of vegetable oil
or animal fat can be used to make biodiesel. But the most popular types of vegetable
oils are soybean and rapeseed oil. Soybeans are used to make tofu and soy sauce.
Soybean and rapeseed oil have been tried as biodiesel because they are less expensive
than most other types of vegetable oil. Although soybean and rapeseed oil are more
expensive than regular diesel fuel, most other types of vegetable oils are too expensive
to even be considered for use as diesel fuel. Animal fat also is too expensive for
this use, but used oil from restaurants has been tried for biodiesel.
Biodiesel has been shown to produce lower tailpipe emissions than regular diesel
fuel. The best thing about biodiesel is that it is made from plants and animals,
which are renewable resources.
Read more on...
Sites With More Information About Electric and Alternative Fuel Cars
Return to AFVs Main Page
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http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/biodiesel.html
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| 0.948221 | 330 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has detected high levels of radiation measuring up to 11.1 sieverts per hour at its crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The high levels of radiation, enough to cause death after about 40 minutes of exposure, were detected inside the containment vessel of the plant’s No. 1 reactor, TEPCO said Wednesday.
The readings, obtained Tuesday, reinforced the view that workers cannot enter the containment vessel.
Continue reading at High radiation found at Fukushima N-plant
♢ Related article in Japanese:
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https://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/atomicage/2012/10/12/high-radiation-found-at-fukushima-n-plant-via-the-daily-yomiuri/
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| 0.938434 | 113 | 2.5625 | 3 |
We live in the Information Age. For most of us, our lives have been transformed by digital technology at least to some extent over the past generation, or we've grown up with it.
The way we work, the way we learn, the way we shop, the way we play, and the way we communicate involve computerized devices big and small, from smartphones to desktop and larger computers.
So much does information influence society that it can be difficult to exaggerate its importance. Used intelligently, information leads to knowledge and knowledge to wisdom.
But one development in a field you might not immediately connect to digital technology in your own life takes the concept of information to a whole new level.
Cosmology is the study of the origin, fate, and nature of the universe, which can be mind-bending in itself. The scope of distance and time with large structures such as galaxies and small structures such as atoms is simply outside of our everyday experience.
Beyond looking into telescopes and microscopes and pondering what you see is the notion that what's at the core of the universe, the very nature of reality, is...you might have guessed it...information.
The concept that information underlies reality and that the universe is one gigantic computer is sometimes called "digital physics" or "digital philosophy." Another term bandied about is "It From Bit."
I came across all this lately in an interesting place, two recent novels by Mark Alpert titled Final Theory and The Omega Theory. These science-based thrillers, heavy on suspense and drama and light on character development and literary technique, posit that an unpublished theory of Albert Einstein can do even more than his famous E = mc(2).
This equation, which means that a very small amount of mass can be converted into a very large amount of energy, led to among other things atomic weapons, which can potentially destroy modern civilization. In Alpert's books, Einstein's fictional "unified field theory," or Theory of Everything, leads to the potential of destroying the entire universe.
This ultimate power is seized by bad guys who want to rid the world of evil by overloading the universe's "memory cache" and causing the ultimate computer crash.
It's all intriguing, if you have an interest in either computer science or cosmology, and it's just plausible enough to buy into it--as fiction. As fact, it's another story, though some well-regarded scientists are behind the field of digital physics.
One of them was the late American physicist John Archibald Wheeler, who coined the phrase "It From Bit"--as well as the terms "black hole," "quantum foam," and "wormhole."
"It" in "It From Bit" stands for everything, the universe, reality. A bit, or binary digit, is the smallest quantity of information, typically represented as either 1 or 0. The computers and computerized devices you use at home and work are all based on such a binary number system.
"It From Bit" then means that everything in the universe is ultimately made up not of atoms or subatomic particles or strings but of tiny pieces of information. The laws of physics determine how the bits of information come together as matter and energy, space and time, planets and people.
As Wheeler wrote in his 1998 autobiography Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics, "Now I am in the grip of a new vision, that Everything is Information. The more I have pondered the mystery of the quantum and our strange ability to comprehend this world in which we live, the more I see possible fundamental roles for logic and information as the bedrock of physical theory."
The hypothesis that the universe is a giant computer that uses the laws of physics to process all these bits of information was proposed by the German computer pioneer Konrad Zuse in his 1969 book Rechnender Raum (Calculating Space). Other theorists have also taken up this thinking.
It's all heady stuff. But as with much else regarding cosmology, astrophysics, and subatomic physics, it's still only hypothesis, and it strikes some people as science fiction as much as science. On the other hand, though there's no conclusive physical evidence in support of digital physics, there's no conclusive physical evidence against it either.
At the very least, what digital physics does is reinforce the importance of information in our world today. We may, or may not, be ultimately made of information, but we use it more than we ever have in human history.
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http://www.infotoday.com/LinkUp/Information-Glut-Points-To-the-Cosmos-84710.shtml
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| 0.959769 | 930 | 2.734375 | 3 |
In this article, the proposal to create a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) in Mississippi is examined. Nearly half a century after the dismantlement of legally sanctioned Jim Crow, many aspects of the state’s violent history of racial oppression remain in the shadows. In the state with the highest number of lynchings after Reconstruction and a governmental agency committed to the preservation of segregation during the Civil Rights Movement, the African-American population continues to suffer disproportionately from lower quality education and housing segregation, as well as higher poverty, teen pregnancy and child mortality rates. Confronting the state’s history of racism has proved difficult and unsatisfactory in many regards. Though they provided individual accountability in a handful of cases, the well-publicized trials of Ku-Klux-Klansmen have also produced a skewed and incomplete historical record, while failing entirely to address the legacy of past discrimination in present-day Mississippi. The shortcomings of traditional retributive justice – as epitomized by such trials – are at the root of current attempts to engage with the state’s history from a different perspective.
The TRC, an increasingly popular tool of restorative and transitional justice, is being used in a variety of geo-political contexts across the world. By focusing on the needs of victims and promoting a non-adversarial approach to the notion of justice, truth commissions aim to confront the ghosts of the past and foster societal reconciliation for the future. Drawing on the experiences of truth and reconciliation processes in other countries, the article examines the strengths and weaknesses of truth-seeking in Mississippi and develops normative proposals for the Commission’s future operation. It evaluates the main challenges facing Mississippi’s truth-seeking project, including the state’s history of institutional racism, the complicity of ordinary Mississippians in Jim Crow, as well as the Commission’s mandate in relation to symbolism, reparations, amnesties and traditional criminal justice. The article seeks to contribute to the growing literature on how restorative justice, in particular the TRC model, can be used to deal with America’s history of racial injustice.
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http://legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/labuda-on-mississippis-truth-and.html?m=0
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en
| 0.935937 | 435 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Identification. The name of the country of Burma (or Myanmar, as it is now officially known) is associated with the dominant ethnic group, the Burmese. Because of the current regime's lack of legitimacy and poor human rights record, it is common practice outside the country not to use the name Myanmar. The country fell under British colonial rule during the nineteenth century. When it became independent as the Union of Burma in 1948, the country almost immediately entered a state of civil war as ethnic minorities fought against the Burmese-dominated central government. Insurgencies by some ethnic groups continue. In 1962, the military leader Ne Win seized power. His regime sought to isolate the nation and institute nationalist policies under the label "the Burmese Road to Socialism." In 1972, the name of the country was changed to the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. After civil unrest in 1988, the military government changed the name to the Union of Myanmar.
Efforts to create a broadly shared sense of national identity have been only partly successful because of the regime's lack of legitimacy and tendency to rely on coercion and threats to secure the allegiance of non-Burmese groups. The low level of education and poor communications infrastructure also limit the spread of a national culture.
Location and Geography. The state has an area of 261,789 square miles (678,034 square kilometers). It is bordered by Bangladesh to the west, India and China to the north, and Laos and Thailand to the east. The southern portion faces the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The middle portion centers on the Irrawaddy River, with a large delta area at its mouth and the area above the delta featuring floodplains. Most of the population and agricultural lands are found along the Irrawaddy, which is navigable for about one-thousand miles. The western, northern, and eastern regions have mountains and high valleys and plateaus. The western region has the Arakan, Chin, and Naga hills. The most important geographic feature to the east is the Shan Plateau. The Burmese live primarily in the central lowlands, while the other ethnic groups live mainly in the highlands. Under British rule, the political capital was moved from Mandalay in the center to Rangoon on the eastern edge of the Irrawaddy delta in 1885. That city was built in 1755 and named Dagon. Rangoon remained the capital after independence (its name was changed later to Yangon) and continues to be politically and economically the most important city. Both Rangoon and Mandalay lie within the area occupied primarily by Burmese peoples, although both cities have a significant Indian population as a legacy of British rule.
Demography. The official population figure in 1995 was 44.74 million, but it may range from 41.7 million to 47 million. Linguists have identified 110 distinct ethnolinguistic groups, and the government recognizes 135 ethnic groups (referred to as races). The Burmese account for about 68 percent of the population. Other major ethnic groups include the Shan (about four million), Karen (about three million), Arakanese or Rakhine (about two million), Chinese (over one million), Chin (over one million), Wa (about one million), Mon (about one million), Indians and Bengalis (about one million), Jingpho (about less than one million), and Palaung (less than one million). With the exception of the Chinese, Indian, and Belgalis, each minority group occupies a relatively distinct area.
Linguistic Affiliation. Burmese is a Tibeto-Burman language whose alphabet is derived from south Indian scripts. The largest ethnic group that speaks Burmese is the Myanma; there is a smaller Burmese-speaking ethnic group known as
Symbolism. Since 1962, the government has used an array of slogans urging discipline and support for the regime and the military. The promotion of nationalist sentiments through the media, public events, and the display of related images is especially marked on holidays. Among architectural sites with national symbolism, two of the most important are the archaeological site of the old capital of Pagan and Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon.
Emergence of the Nation. The earliest civilizations associated with what is now Burma were the Mon (also called Taliang) in the south and the Pyu in central Burma which flourished during the first half of the first millennium. The Mon were strongly influenced by Indian culture through trade and the Buddhist religion. The Pyu went into decline in the 800s. Around that time, the ancestors of the Burmese, known as Mranma, settled to the south of Mandalay. With the former Pyu city of Pagan (known as Arimadanapura) as his capital, the Burmese ruler Anaw-rahta (ruled 1044–1077) founded the first Burmese kingdom. His conquest of Thaton resulted in the spread of Theravada Buddhism and the adoption of many aspects of Indian-inspired Mon art and architecture. The lowland area along the Irrawaddy River under the control of Pagan often is referred to as "Burma Proper," since it is the heartland of the region that has been most securely under Burmese rule. In the late 1200s, Pagan declined and the Burmese lost control over much of the territory. Over the next few centuries, the Burmese slowly regained control over portions of lowland Burma from their new capital of Pegu. However, the Mon remained independent until 1539 and the Arakanese until 1784, while most of the upland territory occupied by the Shan was outside their control or only loosely under Burmese domination. The capital was moved to Ava during the reign of King Tha-lun (1629–1648).
During the reign of Ling Alaung-hpaya (1752–1760), a new dynasty was founded known as the Kon-baung, and the Burmese began a new period of military expansion. The Mon were conquered
In the early nineteenth century, incursions into border areas to the west brought Burmese rulers into conflict with the British in India, leading to the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1824. At the end of the war in 1826, the Burmese were forced to give up claims to territories in eastern India and a portion of southern Burma that included territories associated largely with non-Burmese ethnic groups. Continued poor relations resulted in the loss of the province of Pegu. This territory became known as Lower Burma. Although foreign relations improved under the reign of King Min-don (1853–1878), unstable conditions following his death and Prince Thibaw's overtures to the French led the British to invade Upper Burma again in 1885. In the face of local resistance that lasted until 1890, the British established colonial rule over not only the lowland territory but the Shan states as well. Over the next few decades, the British tried to bring the other highland areas under their control, but some territories remained free throughout the colonial period.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the British implemented reforms aimed at granting eventual self-rule. The proindependence forces were not unified, and there was infighting between factions. In addition to sporadic anti-British violence, nationalist sentiments took on a Burmese ethnic tone that resulted in violent outbursts against local Indians and Chinese. Burma was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. The British returned toward the end of the war, but the colony quickly moved toward independence. An independent Union of Burma was declared in 1948 under Prime Minister U Nu. It was a fragile new nation beset by political infighting and civil war involving ethnic minorities and communists backed by China.
National Identity. Before colonial rule, Burma consisted essentially of the central lowland areas and a few conquered peoples, with highland peoples only nominally under Burmese control. The British brought most of the highlands peoples loosely under their control but allowed highland minorities to retain a good deal of their own identity. This situation changed after independence as the Burmese-dominated central government attempted to assert control over the highland peoples. Despite continued resistance to the central government, those in the lowland areas and the larger settlements in the highlands have come to share more of a common national culture. The spread of Burmese language usage is an important factor in this regard.
Ethnic Relations. The majority of the people speak Tibeto-Burman languages. Tibeto-Burman speakers in Burma can be divided into six distinct groups. The Burmish constitute the largest of these groups by population. Nungish speakers live in upland areas in Kachin State. The main Baric-speaking group is the Jingpho in Kachin State. The Kuki-Naga-speaking peoples include a large number of ethnic groups in the mountains along the border with India and Bangladesh. The Luish group includes the Kado, who live near the border with the Indian state of Manipur. The Karen groups live in the hills along the border with Thailand and the southern lowlands. The Lolo-speaking groups tend to be the most recent immigrants to Burma; they live in the highlands of Shan and Kachin states.
There are also large numbers of speakers of Austro-Tai languages. The largest Daic-speaking group is the Shan, who constitute the majority in Shan State. Smaller, related groups include the Tai Khun, Lue, Tai Nua, and Khamti. Other Austro-Tai speakers include the Austronesian-speaking Moken and small groups of Hmong and Mien in Shan State.
Under the British, ethnic minorities generally were able to retain some autonomy. Negotiations for independence after World War II brought suspicions among the political leaders of several ethnic minorities that their status would be undermined. Immediately after independence in 1948, serious divisions emerged between Burmese and non-Burmese political leaders, who favored a less unified state. Between 1948 and 1962, armed conflicts broke out between some of these minority groups and the central government. Although some groups signed peace accords with the central government in the late 1980s and early 1990s, others are still engaged in armed conflict. The Wa have signed a peace agreement but have retained a great deal of autonomy and control of much of the drug trade in northern Burma.
Military operations in ethnic minority areas and government policies of forced resettlement and forced labor have dislocated many ethnic groups, and have caused large numbers of refugees to flee to neighboring countries. At present there are around three hundred thousand refugees in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India, mostly from ethnic minorities.
Before independence, Indians were a dominant presence in urban-centered commercial activities. With the outbreak of World War II, a large number of Indians left for India before the Japanese occupation. Through the 1950s, Indians continued to leave in the face of ethnic antagonism and antibusiness policies. The Indians remaining in Burma have been treated with suspicion but have avoided overt opposition to the regime.
About 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Rangoon has a population of 4 million, and Mandalay has almost 1 million residents. The ethnic composition of Rangoon and Mandalay is over-whelmingly Burmese, although these cities are also where most of the Indian population lives.
Architecture reflects the country's Buddhist and colonial heritage. Buddhist temples are the most important architectural features throughout the country. The Buddhist temple serves as a religious school, a community center, a guest house, a place where the government and other agencies post information, a site for sports activities, a center for welfare services for those who are poor and ill, a morgue, and a center for music and dance. It also carries out economic services such as providing loans and renting lands and homes. Temples are also important in urban areas. While most temples in central Burma are Burmese in style, the temples of Shan State tend to have a distinctive look that is referred to as the Shan style. Temples tend to be surrounded by small shops that sell sacred and secular items.
The traditional house is made largely of bamboo. Flattened pieces of bamboo made into large plaited sections are used to make the walls. The floors are made of bamboo planks or wood. The frame of the house is made of wood, with hard and durable wood being used for the house posts. Roof coverings are made of a variety of materials, including thatch made from broad-leafed grass or palm fronds. Roofs may be covered with tiles, wooden shingles, or zinc sheets. The front of the house usually has a veranda that is raised a few feet off the ground. This is the public area where guests are entertained. The center of the house is the living area for the family. Behind it is a covered cooking area where rice is stored. Especially in urban areas, these houses are being replaced by more generic ones made from cement.
Some ethnic minorities have distinctive styles of houses. Many Palaung traditionally lived in multiple-family houses. Today, these structures are very rare, and most Palaung live in single-family houses.
Food in Daily Life. Rice is the staple food except among those in highland areas where rice is difficult to grow. In those areas, rice, millet, sorghum, and corn are the staples. Rice is accompanied by a raw salad of leaves, fruit, or vegetables; a soup; and curries of fish, meat, prawns, or eggs. In addition to turmeric and chili, curries are seasoned with fermented fish or shrimp paste. A variety of cultivated vegetables and wild greens are eaten as well as bamboo shoots. Meals often are accompanied by lentils, pickled relishes, and balachaung (made from fried dry prawns). There are a variety of rice-noodle dishes. After a meal, it is common to eat fresh fruit.
Burmese traditionally eat a morning meal and an evening meal that is taken before dark. The meals are served in a large platter or on a low table, with members of the household sitting on mats. Food is eaten with the fingers, although sometimes utensils are used. It is common to drink water and eat fruit after the main meal. Throughout the day people eat betel and smoke tobacco. Burmese not only drink tea made from dried tea leaves but also eat pickled tea as a snack. Other snacks include chappatis, fried insects, and Chinese pastries.
Tea shops are found in every city, town, and large village. These establishments are important locales for social gathering. Street stalls sell a variety of foods in the cities and towns. Relatively few restaurants serve Burmese food. The majority serve Indian or Chinese food, and English food is served in many hotels and guest houses.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Feasting and sharing food are an important feature of traditional agricultural and religious rites. Often special foods are prepared for those occasions. Htamane, which is served during the rice harvest festival February, is made of glutinous rice mixed with sesame seeds, peanuts, shredded ginger, and coconut. Alcoholic beverages are drunk during some secular festivities but are not drunk during most religious festivals. In urbanized areas, commercial beer and other forms of alcohol are consumed, while in more remote rural areas, locally made alcohol is more common. Alcoholic drinks are made from fermented palm juice and a distilled rice-based solution. Fermented grain-based alcoholic drinks are more commonly consumed among highland groups.
Basic Economy. The economy is dominated by agriculture, which accounts for over 59 percent of the gross domestic product and employs about two-thirds of the labor force. Rice is the main product. Production declined after independence but increased during the late 1970s and early 1980s because of the introduction of high-yielding varieties, fertilizer, and irrigation. Since that time, production has barely kept pace with population growth, and Burma, once the world's leading exporter of rice, is barely able to meet subsistence needs of its own population. It continues to export some rice to earn foreign exchange. The production of narcotics from poppies and other sources is widespread in the northern highlands, and Burma is the world's leading supplier of opiates.
Land Tenure and Property. In areas under Burmese rule, land traditionally was held on the basis of service to the court and could be leased or sold and passed on to one's heirs; it also could be taken away by the court. In more remote areas, land ownership tended to be related to continual cultivation and occupancy. Under the British, private ownership became widespread in the central areas and a system of land taxation was introduced in which failure to pay property taxes could result in the loss of land. Before World War II, in the southern delta area absentee ownership of productive land was widespread. In the central area, agricultural land tended to be in the hands of small-scale owner-producers. Shortly after independence, the government passed a land nationalization act that was intended to turn land owned by wealthy landlords over to those who worked the land. However, that act was not implemented. A second act passed in 1954 met with only partial success.
The revolutionary government that seized power in 1962 nationalized the larger commercial and manufacturing establishments, including those of Indian traders. This created a large black market economy as people attempted to circumvent government control of commerce. The revolutionary government attempted to remove the landlord class and turned all land over to peasant producers while retaining ultimate ownership for itself. In practice, agricultural tenancy was not eliminated, and producers had the added burden of state intervention. After 1988, the government allowed a greater role for the private sector and foreign investment. While these reforms have allowed greater private ownership, considerable insecurity remains among those who own property.
Commercial Activities. Since 1992, the military regimes have emphasized self-sufficiency and tried to limit imports. The largest companies and financial institutions are state-owned, with the private sector limited mainly to small-scale trading. In recent years, however, more imported goods, especially from China, have appeared in local markets
Major Industries. Industrial production focuses on goods for local consumption, although a handful of factories produce for exportation. Local industries include textiles and footwear, wood processing, mining, the production of construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizer manufacturing. Although the country has substantial gem, oil, and natural gas reserves, extraction and processing capabilities are limited. There is a small tourist industry. There has been a dramatic growth in the number of hotels built since the introduction of economic reforms. Travel restrictions and poor infrastructure have concentrated the tourist industry in a few areas.
Trade. Legal exports include timber, rice, beans and pulses, fish, garments, precious stones, and rice. Legal imports include construction materials, plant equipment, and consumer goods. The difference in the value of imports and exports is covered in large part by revenue from narcotics and other illegal exports. Under British colonial rule, Burma was the world's leading exporter of rice, and rice remains the major legal export. Logging was also important in the colonial economy, but excessive harvesting and poor forestry management have resulted in a sharp drop in the availability of teak. China, Thailand, and India are their main markets for timber, but most wood is exported illegally. Burma is famous for rubies and jade, but since 1962, a lack of capital and expertise has hindered that industry. As with timber, most ruby and jade exports go through illegal channels.
Burma is the world's largest supplier of illegal opiates (opium and heroin), and the export of amphetamines has increased. Money from the illegal narcotics trade plays a crucial role in the national economy and in keeping the regime solvent. Much of the production of illegal narcotics, however, is in the hands of ethnic rebels in Shan State. Recent peace accords between the government and some rebel groups have given the regime access to income from narcotics.
Thailand and India are Burma's primary sources of legal and illegal imported goods. Small amounts are also imported from other neighboring countries such as India, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Division of Labor. There is little specialization in the agricultural sector. Small-scale commercial trading is done by both men and women, with men being primarily responsible for the transportation of goods. Ethnic Indians and Chinese are an important segment in commercial trading, but many Burmese and others are involved in commercial activities. Few tasks or professions are the monopoly of a single ethnic group. There are various forms of traditional craft specialization. This includes making lacquer ware, stone working, fine wood carving, and working with metal. Modern technical professions such as medicine and engineering are related to one's level of education and specialized training. Those in the higher levels of commerce and administration generally come from the families of prominent members of the regime, and connections with the regime are important factors in amassing wealth and power.
Classes and Castes. Not only is poverty widespread, there is marked inequality. Essentially, the society is divided into a tiny elite, a fairly small middle class, and a large number of very poor people. While there are traditional elites within most of the ethnic groups and new elites in some groups whose wealth comes from smuggling, the national elite is overwhelmingly Burmese. In recent years income from the narcotics trade has been an important source of wealth for members of the elite. Although some segments of the middle class have prospered from the economic reforms of the late 1980s, most have not done well and remain poor.
Government. The military has ruled the country since 1962. In the face of growing opposition to the government and its socialist policies, Ne Win and President San Yu resigned in July 1988, and widespread civil unrest followed. General Saw Muang formed a new military regime known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and abolished much of the socialist system. Elections were held for the 485-member People's Assembly in 1990. The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 seats, while the military-backed party won only 10. The People's Assembly was never convened, and many of its leaders were arrested or forced into exile. The military began drafting a new constitution in 1992, but this task has not been completed. The regime changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997. The council includes a chairman and twenty other members. The government formed by the council consists of a prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and thirty-seven ministers.
Leadership and Political Officials. Political leadership revolves around political intrigues and struggles for power within the military. From 1962 until 1988, General Ne Win was the dominant political figure, with other officers and their associates jockeying for positions underneath him. General Than Swe's hold on power since 1988 has been far less absolute. The officers holding positions in SLORC/SPDC tend to be roughly the same age and have roughly similar backgrounds and values.
The National League for Democracy is led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the assassinated independence leader Aung San. She is currently under house arrest in Rangoon. The majority of the small inner circle around Aung San Suu Kyi are former military officers and associates or followers of Aung San. Both the regime and its leading opponents therefore form a small political elite.
There is an ethnic dimension to political office holding and leadership. The 1948 and 1962 governments
Social Problems and Control. The authoritarian military regime has been harsh in its treatment of ethnic minorities and rules by decree, without a constitution or legislature. The regime systematically violates human rights and suppresses all forms of opposition. The judiciary is not independent of the military regime, which appoints justices to the supreme court. These justices then appoint lower court judges with the approval of the regime. Prison conditions are harsh and life-threatening. The regime reinforces its rule with a pervasive security apparatus led by a military intelligence organization known as the Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI). The regime engages in surveillance of government employees and private citizens, harassment of political activists, intimidation, arrest, detention, and physical abuse. The movements and communications of citizens are monitored, homes are searched without warrants, and people are forcibly relocated without compensation. There is no provision for judicial determination of the legality of detention. Before being charged, detainees rarely have access to legal counsel or their families. Political detainees have no opportunity to obtain bail, and some are held incommunicado for long periods. After being charged, detainees rarely have counsel. In ethnic minority areas, human rights abuses are widespread, including extrajudicial killings and rape. The regime justifies its actions as being necessary to maintain order and national unity.
Although the regime officially recognizes the NLD, political rights are limited. There is virtually no right of assembly or association. Intimidation of NLD supporters forced the party to close its offices throughout the country. Opponents of the regime have disappeared and been arrested. Detainees often face torture, beatings, and other forms of abuse. There is little academic or religious freedom. Under the 1974 constitution, the regime required religious organizations to register with it. Religious meetings are monitored, and religious publications are subject to censorship and control. Buddhist monastic orders are under the authority of the state-sponsored State Clergy Coordination Committee. The regime has attempted to promote Buddhism and suppress other religions in ethnic minority areas. Workers' rights are restricted, unions are banned, and forced labor for public works and to produce food and other goods and perform other services for the military is common. Military personnel routinely confiscate livestock, fuel, food supplies, alcoholic drinks, and money from civilians.
Military Activity. Since 1962, the military (the Tatmadaw ) has been the dominant political and economic force, with a large proportion of the population serving in the armed forces since the 1960s. In 1985, there were an estimated 186,000 men and women in the military; another 73,000 were in the People's Police Force and 35,000 served in the People's Militia. Reflecting the country's poverty and international isolation, the military is poorly armed and trained. Direct spending on the military declined from about 33 percent in the early 1970s to about 21 percent in 1987, representing less than 4 percent of the gross domestic product. This decline in personnel and expenditure was reversed in 1988. By 1997, the military had grown to over 350,000 and military spending had increased greatly. At present, military spending by the government is greater than nonmilitary spending. Military officers and their families play an important role in economic affairs outside the formal activities of the military. This is true both in the formal economy through government economic entities and in the black market, especially narcotics smuggling. The military's formal role includes intimidation of the population and waging war against ethnic insurgents.
Division of Labor by Gender. Both men and women do agricultural work, but individual tasks are often gender-specific. Men prepare the land for planting and sow seeds, and women transplant rice seedlings. Harvesting is done by both men and women. Men thresh the rice. Most domestic work is done by women. During ceremonies, however, men are involved in food preparation. A variety of traditional handicrafts are made within the household or by specialists. Items of metal, wood, or stone generally are made by men, and weaving usually is done by women. Pottery, basketry, plaiting, making lacquerware, and making umbrellas can be done by men or women. Small-scale market selling and itinerant trading are conducted by both sexes. Transportation of goods or people by animal, carts, boat, or motor vehicle is done mainly by men. Religious specialists and traditional curers generally are male, but sometimes they are female. Spirit mediums can be male or female. Traditional theatrical and musical performances involve both genders. Women work mainly in teaching and nursing.
The Relative Status of Women and Men. Traditional society was known for the relatively high status of women. If a couple divorces, for example, common goods are divided equally and the wife retains her dowry as well as the proceeds from her commercial activities. However, military rule has undermined the status of women, especially at the higher levels of government and commerce. Women, however, play a significant role in the political opposition to the regime. The higher levels
Marriage. Individuals usually find their own marriage partners. Arrangements for the marriage may be made by the parents of sometimes an intermediary is employed. If the parents oppose the union, often the children elope and later the parents condone the marriage. When a man asks a woman's parents for their consent, it is common practice for him to bring a gift for the woman. Wedding ceremonies are relatively simple except among wealthy families. After speeches by the parents, members of the families and guests share pickled tea. Polygyny is rare. Far more common is the practice of wealthy and powerful men having an informal second wife. Divorce is relatively common and usually involves the couple ceasing to live together and dividing their property.
Domestic Unit. A newly married couple may live with the parents of one partner (often the parents of the wife) but soon establish their own household. The nuclear family is the primary domestic unit, but it may include extended family members such as unmarried siblings, widowed parents, or more distant unmarried or widowed relatives. The husband is nominally the head of the household, but the wife has considerable authority. Women are responsible for most domestic chores.
Inheritance. Property generally is divided equally among the children after the parents die.
Kin Groups. Descent is reckoned bilaterally. Traditionally, there were no family names.
Infant Care. Young children receive a great deal of attention. Newborns are placed in very carefully made cradles. A mother keeps her baby with her when she leaves the house. Burmese women carry babies on the hip, while most hill-dwelling peoples hold them in a sling on the back. Young children are pampered, given considerable freedom of movement, and allowed to handle virtually anything that catches their attention. Weaning usually takes place when a child is two to three years old. Relative or friends may nurse an infant. Adults take a great deal of interest in children, including those who are not their own.
Child Rearing and Education. Young children undergo several rites of passage. When a child is a
Modern education began under King Mindon (1853–1878), who built a school for an Anglican missionary. Under the British, secular education spread and the country achieved a relatively high level of education. Since 1962, the educational infrastructure has deteriorated. Today two-thirds to three-quarters of children drop out of elementary school before the fifth grade. The curriculum is scrutinized by the military regime, and it often is forbidden to teach in languages other than Burmese.
Higher Education. There are forty-five universities and colleges and 154 technical and vocational schools. There has been a steady erosion of higher education since 1962. After the civil unrest in 1988, during which many students were involved in antigovernment activities, there were widespread closures of universities and colleges. Since that time there has been a repeated cycle of opening and closing the universities and colleges that has made serious study virtually impossible. The universities and colleges were closed in 1996, and only a few were reopened in 2000.
It is considered improper to lose one's temper or show much emotion in public, but the Burmese are a very friendly and outgoing people. The Burmese and other Buddhists follow the Buddhist custom of not touching a person on the head, since spiritually this is considered the highest part of the body. Patting a child on the head not only is improper but is thought to be dangerous to the child's well-being. A person should not point the feet at anyone. Footwear is removed upon entering temple complexes for religious reasons, and it is polite to remove footwear when entering a house.
Religious Beliefs. Almost 90 percent of the people are Buddhists, and the proportion is higher among the Burmese majority. Burmese follow the Theravada form of Buddhism, which is also known as Hinayana Buddhism and the doctrine of the elders or the small vehicle. In Theravada Buddhism, it is up to each individual to seek salvation and achieve nirvana. Buddhism is believed to have been introduced to Burma by missionaries sent by the Indian emperor Ashoka in the third century B.C.E.
Buddhism is followed by many of the non-Burmese ethnic groups. While all these groups follow Theravada Buddhism, there are some differences between the in beliefs and practices and those of the Burmese. Buddhist beliefs and practices include animistic elements that reflect belief systems predating the introduction of Buddhism. Among the Burmese, this includes the worship of nats, which maybe associated with houses, in individuals, and natural features. An estimated 3 percent of the population, mainly in more isolated areas, who adhere solely to animistic religious beliefs.
Another 4 percent of the population is Christian (3 percent Baptist and 1 percent Catholic), 4 percent is Muslim, 4 percent is Hindu, and 1 percent is animist. Christian missionaries began working in the country in the nineteenth century. They had relatively little success among Buddhists but made numerous converts among some of the minority groups.
Religious Practitioners. Between ages of ten and sixteen, most young Burmese men and some young women become Buddhist novices and go to live in a monastery. While most young men remain at the monastery for only a short time before returning to the secular life, some become fully ordained monks. A person who wants to become a monk is expected to be free of debt and certain diseases, have the permission of his parents or spouse, agree to follow the disciplinary rules of the monkhood, and not become involved in secular life. While monks are expected to lead a life of aestheticism, they perform important functions in the community, especially as counselors. A variety of religious practitioners are associated with the animistic beliefs of most Buddhists, including spirit dancers who become possessed by spirits and may engage in healing and fortune-telling. There are also astrologers, other types of healers, tattoists with occult knowledge, and magicians.
Rituals and Holy Places. Thingyan, the water festival, marks the advent of the new year in mid-April. Buddha images are washed, and monks are offered alms. It is also marked by dousing people with water and festive behavior such as dancing, singing, and theatrical performances. Kason in May celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and entrance into nirvana. The day includes the ceremonial watering of banyan trees to commemorate the banyan tree under which Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment. A ceremony is held in July to mark the start of the three-month lenten period and commemorate Buddha's first sermon. It is at this time that young males become novices. Lent is a period of spiritual retreat for monks, who remain in their monasteries. During this time people may not marry. Lent ends in October. Over a three-day period, candles, oil lamps, paper lanterns, and electric bulbs are lit to show how angels lit Buddha's return from heaven. Many marriages are held at this time. A celebration is held in November to produce new garments for monks and Buddha images. People come to complete the production of the cloth within a single day.
Death and the Afterlife. Buddhists believe that those who die are reborn in a form that is in keeping with the merit they accumulated while alive. The cycle of death and rebirth is believed to continue as long as ignorance and craving remain. The cycle can be broken only through personal wisdom and the elimination of desire. Funerals involve either burial or cremation. The ceremony includes a procession of monks and mourners who accompany the coffin to the cemetery or crematorium, with the monks chanting and performing rites. Funerals for monks tend to be elaborate, while those who have died a violent death generally are quickly buried with very little ceremony, since their spirits are believed to linger as malevolent ghosts.
The use of traditional forms of medicine remains important, especially among the ethnic minorities. Few young people, however, receive training in these forms of medicine by an aging group of traditional healers and many traditional practices and the knowledge of traditional remedies are being lost. Serious health problems are reaching crisis proportions, and nontraditional health care by the public and private sectors has deteriorated.
Malaria, AIDS, and malnutrition and related diseases are a serious problem. Intravenous drug use formerly was a problem mainly in the northeast among ethnic minorities, but since 1988, drug used has spread to the lowlands and the urban areas inhabited by the Burmese majority. There are only 703 hospitals and 12,464 doctors. These facilities are in very poor condition, and funding for medical care and training is inadequate.
The major state holidays are Independence Day (4 January), Union Day (12 February), Peasants' Day (2 March), Resistance or Armed Forces Day (27 March), May Day or Workers' Day (1 May), Martyr's Day (19 July), and National Day (late November or early December). These are occasions for the regime to promote nationalist sentiments, and some are accompanied by festive events. Far more important for most Burmese are the older celebrations associated with agriculture and the Buddhist religion.
Support for the Arts. Until the 1880s, the nobility was an important source of support for artists. After the fall of the monarchy, support came from newly rich merchants and British colonial officers. From the 1920s to the 1940s, there was relatively little support from the government or the public. State schools for the fine arts were opened in
Literature. The focus of writing within Burmese society was, and to a large extent still is, focused on writing for theater performances ( pwe ) and producing texts relating to Buddhism. In addition, since the nineteenth century there is a fair amount of popular fiction. There is also some British fiction from the colonial period that is set in Burma. Among the early British works of fiction concerned with the Burmese are two novels by H. Fielding: The Soul of a People (1898) and Thibaw's Queen (1899). By far the best known British novel set in Burma is George Orwell's Burmese Days (1934), a critical examination of British colonial rule.
Graphic Arts. The graphic arts include temple sculpture in wood, stucco, stone, and wood; temple mural painting, usually in tempera; other forms of wood carving; ivory carving; work in bronze, iron, and other metals; jewelry; ceramics; glassware; lacquerware; textiles and costume; items made of palm and bamboo; and painting on paper or canvas.
Lacquerware entails the covering of an object made of bamboo or wood with a liquid made from tree sap. These objects include containers as well as tables, screens, and carved animal figures. The process preserves, strengthens, and waterproofs objects and has been developed into a decorative art form. Its origins are ancient. Pagan is the largest and most important center for lacquerware. The Government Lacquerware School was established by local artists in Pagan in 1924. The Shan also have a distinctive lacquerware tradition.
Weaving is a highly developed traditional art form. Among the Burmese, it reached its highest form in the production of lun-taya acheik cloth. The technique was brought from Manipur in the eighteenth century, but the complex motifs are distinctly Burmese. This style of cloth is still woven near Mandalay for sale to elite Burmese. There are distinctive textile traditions among the ethnic minorities.
Traditional painting on paper made from tree bark or bamboo pulp is known as parabaik painting. The earliest known example dates back to the eighteenth century. Pigments were made of tempera, with gold and silver inks used for the costumes of nobles and deities. The paintings also formed folded pages in books. Initially these paintings depicted religious scenes, court scenes, or astrological charts, medicines, tattoo designs, and sexual techniques, and the painters were itinerant artists employed by the court. In the nineteenth century, the court in Mandalay employed full-time artists, and a system of apprenticeship was put in place. Among the new styles of painting that emerged after the fall of the monarchy were paintings of happy families sold to the newly rich. Traditional painting declined in the 1920s as local patrons and artists became more interested in European styles. A revival of interest in Burmese themes took place after the 1962 military takeover. The new regime held an annual painting exhibition to promote select painters. The exhibitions ended in 1988, but the military regime allowed the fine arts school to remain open. Most painters today are dependent on sales through a handful of private galleries that cater largely to resident expatriates. The themes of newer paintings continue to be Burmese, especially religious paintings and landscapes.
Performance Arts. Popular performances often combine music, dance, and drama in a pwe ("show"). These shows take place at fairs, religious festivals, weddings, funerals, and sporting events. They generally are held at night and can go on all night long. A pwe typically includes performances based on legends and Buddhist epics; comedy skits; singing, dancing, and music; and sometimes a puppet show. Traditional music and dance have been influenced by Thailand. Traditional instruments played in an ensemble include a circle of drums, a thirteen-stringed boat-shaped harp, a circle of gongs, a xylophonelike instrument, an oboelike instrument, a bamboo flute, a bass drum, small cymbals, and bamboo clappers. Today these traditional instruments are combined with Western ones, including a guitar. The Kon-baung court employed performers specializing in recitation, singing, dancing, and acting. Highly stylized dramatic performances were accompanied by music. There is also a tradition of popular public performances such as the nebhatkhin (a pageant depicting the birth of Buddha) and the more secular myai-waing (an earth-circling performance) conducted by traveling actors and musicians. After 1885, entertainers performed for a new public, and more lively forms of entertainment were developed, including all-female dance troupes. Western-style stage plays were introduced at that same time. There was interest in newer forms of performance in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Such performances ended with the outbreak of World War II. After of independence, there was a revival of interest in traditional dance, drama, and music. The 1950s saw a revival of traditional art forms and the emergence of a new form of modern melodrama called pya-zat . These were modern plays that rarely dealt with traditional subjects. While secular performance arts now dominate popular entertainment, the military regime has continued to support more traditional performances and the fine arts schools still teach traditional forms of dance and drama, although the audiences consist largely of tourists, resident expatriates, and members of the ruling elite.
Training in the physical and social sciences at national institutions such as Yangon University and Yangon Technical University is very limited. Since 1962, the social sciences have been almost nonexistent. Some social science research continues to take place, but most of it focuses on the relatively distant past. Institutions involved in such work include the Myanmar Historical Commission, Cultural Institute, Department of Archaeology, and Religious Affairs Department.
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—M ICHAEL C. H OWARD
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noun (plural chuppot /ˈKHo͝opōt/ /-ōs/)
A canopy beneath which Jewish marriage ceremonies are performed.
- Standing under the marriage canopy, the chuppah, surrounded by the faces of my family and the community, I felt the strength of their prayers and blessings.
- Leah is publicly humiliated and runs away from the chuppah in tears.
- Our wonderful community made a beautiful chuppah for us that day in our shul.
Late 19th century: from Hebrew ḥuppāh 'cover, canopy'.
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Definitions for quaich
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word quaich
A traditional, shallow, two-handled Scottish cup symbolising friendship. It was originally used to toast the arrival or departure of a visitor.
a small shallow cup or drinking vessel
Origin: [Gael. cuach. Cf. Quaff.]
A quaich, archaically quaigh, is a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup or bowl in Scotland. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic cuach meaning a cup. According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, the quaich was inspired by the low silver bowls with two flat handles frequently used as bleeding vessels in England and the Netherlands in the 17th century. Another popular theory suggests that the shape is derived from scallop shells. However, this seems to have had its origins in the now discredited "Poems of Ossian". In his 1955 monograph "Some Scottish Quaichs", Richard L. McCleneahan, an American collector, suggests alternatively that quaichs evolved directly from medieval Mazers. This seems unlikely as the form and material are quite different. There were small stave built drinking vessels common in the medieval period found around the Baltic and since some of the earliest quaichs are stave built this could be the source. Traditionally quaichs are made of wood, an artform known as "treen". Some early quaichs are stave-built like barrels and some have alternating light and dark staves. The staves are held together by bands of willow or silver. They generally have two, and more rarely three or four, short, projecting handles. Other wooden quaiches were lathe-turned out of a single piece of wood and there was another group which were turned then carved outside in basket-weave pattern. In addition to wood, they are made of stone, brass, pewter, horn, and silver. The latter were often engraved with lines and bands in imitation of the staves and hoops of the wooden quaichs.
The numerical value of quaich in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
The numerical value of quaich in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5
Images & Illustrations of quaich
Find a translation for the quaich definition in other languages:
Select another language:
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Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
There generally are three main types of forests — tropical, temperate and boreal — and each forest has its own species of animals and plants. Within these forests also are many subdivisions and classifications that take into account rainfall, soil composition and temperature. All of these factors determine the various kinds of species found in the forests.
Tropical forests are located near the equator and have by far the most diverse forest species. Tropical forests cover just 7 percent of the land in the world but contain more than half of the world’s animal and plant species. The variety of species includes about 125 mammals, 400 birds, 150 butterflies, 750 trees and 1,500 flowering plants.
Among the plants in tropical forests are ferns, mosses, orchids, vines and palms. Some specific species of animals include boa constrictors, jaguars, lemurs and spider monkeys. Many types of small mammals, bats, birds, reptiles and insects round out the wide variety of animal species.
Some species in the tropical forest are in danger of becoming extinct, primarily because of the destruction of this kind of forest by people who cut it down or develop it. Roughly half of the world’s tropical forests have been destroyed. Among the endangered species are orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas, toucans, parrots, Bengal tigers and manatees.
Temperate forests are found in North America, western and central Europe and northeastern Asia, in areas characterized by distinct changes in seasons. Trees common to temperate forests are maple, oak, hemlock, beech, hickory, elm, cottonwood and willow. Herbs that flower in the spring also are common. The more common animal forest species are deer, timber wolves, fox, black bear, mountain lions, rabbits, skunks, squirrels and birds.
Boreal forests have the least variety of forest species, partly because they exist in extremely cold climates. These forests are found in Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada and North America, where the winters are long and cold. The most common types of flora in these forests are evergreens such as fir, spruce and pine. Among the animal forest species are wolves, bears, moose, weasels, chipmunks, hares, foxes, deer and bats. Continued logging of boreal forests threaten to further deplete their trees.
Conditions can be tough on forest species in the boreal forests. In the coldest areas, trees grow just a few short weeks of the year. Plants also grow slowly, prompting some of the animals to have to roam long distances to find ample food.
@Iluviaporos - It's definitely a greater problem than just frogs.
While pollution is definitely an issue (particularly in countries where the trees are being killed by acid rains) most endangered species in the forest are going to be decimated by the climate changes that are already happening. Unfortunately, even a few degrees difference can affect all kinds of species in different ways. If it makes the trees bloom earlier, it can mean that migratory birds miss out on the food they are timed to expect, which means they can't raise as many chicks.
Warmer weather also means bugs that should be killed over the winter will survive which can destroy plants and trees.
And those are just the problems we are aware of at the moment. I'm sure we won't know the full extent of the problem until after it has hit us. I just hope it doesn't mean every forest species we currently treasure will go extinct.
@KoiwiGal - I read an article recently about how frogs in forest all over the world are starting to go extinct.
To the point where scientists are beginning to try and gather up examples of every species to preserve them in zoos.
Pollution is just too much for an animal which lives in water and has skin constantly in contact with anything that gets into the water.
Even when the frogs are breeding, the tadpoles are born with defects like extra legs.
It really broke my heart. I'd hate to live in a world without frogs and it is also a symptom of a greater problem.
I find it amazing that they are still discovering animal species in some rain forests around the world.
Even mammals, which you would assume had all already been discovered. But there are still pockets of unexplored forest in places like Papua New Guinea where the forests and the aggressive locals make it difficult to explore.
I know they have discovered some amazing new bird species and small mammals like kinds of mouse or marmot recently.
The sad thing is, these endangered forest species are still affected by changing climates and pollution. So, unfortunately they could potentially die out before we even know they exist.
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!
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The condition we commonly refer to as "Stomach Flu" is really Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting or diarrhea. It is called the "stomach flu," although it is not caused by the influenza viruses.
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Food may be contaminated by food preparers or handlers who have viral gastroenteritis, especially if they do not wash their hands regularly after using the bathroom. Shellfish may be contaminated by sewage, and persons who eat raw or undercooked shellfish harvested from contaminated waters may get diarrhea. Drinking water can also be contaminated by sewage and be a source of spread of these viruses.
Where and when does viral gastroenteritis occur?
Viral gastroenteritis affects people in all parts of the world. Each virus has its own seasonal activity. For example, in the United States, rotavirus and astrovirus infections occur during the cooler months of the year (October to April), whereas adenovirus infections occur throughout the year. Viral gastroenteritis outbreaks can occur in institutional settings, such as schools, child care facilities, and nursing homes, and can occur in other group settings, such as banquet halls, cruise ships, dormitories, and campgrounds.
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Anyone can get it. Viral gastroenteritis occurs in people of all ages and backgrounds. However, some viruses tend to cause diarrheal disease primarily among people in specific age groups. Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children under 5 years old. Adenoviruses and astroviruses cause diarrhea mostly in young children, but older children and adults can also be affected. Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are more likely to cause diarrhea in older children and adults.
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Dayton, Ohio (PRWEB) April 24, 2012
In a revealing new report published by the Society of Automotive Engineers this week at the 2012 SAE World Congress, an in-depth observation study of turn signal rate-of-neglect not only exposes how widespread the problem is, but how simple the solution is.
A total of 12,000 turning and lane-changing vehicles were observed with visible turn signal usage (or neglect) data recorded. The study shows that the neglect rate for lane changing vehicles is 48% and the neglect rate for turning vehicles is 25%. That translates to an astonishing 750 billion times a year that drivers neglect turn signals on U.S. roadways, or over 2 billion times per day. Each incident of neglect elevates the risk of a multi-vehicle crash.
Obviously, not every absent turn signal results in a crash, but the study concludes that the collective result of turn signal neglect is as many as 2 million crashes per year. In comparison, the U.S. Department of Transportation states that Distracted Driving causes about 950,000 crashes per year, so Turn Signal Neglect is actually a more significant safety issue. While the causes and remedies to combat Distracted Driving remain a matter of ongoing debate, the remedy for Turn Signal Neglect is simple, direct, effective, and cost-saving: The singular cause is driver neglect and the solution is the Smart Turn Signal.
Smart Turn Signals use vehicle sensors and computer control to not only shut off the turn signal appropriately and accurately under every conceivable driving situation, but also assists the driver to assure that the turn signal is used regularly. The Turn Signal Assist feature is similar to a seat belt reminder – If you habitually neglect the use of your turn signal when you execute turns, you will eventually get a friendly reminder display. For drivers who use turn signals nearly every time, no display will ever appear, so it is never a nuisance for most drivers. Drivers who neglect their turn signals will quickly improve their habits and therefore reduce their overall risk of involvement in a crash as well as reducing the risk of getting a traffic citation.
Smart Turn Signals actually use the information from the very same vehicle sensors used for the Stability Control System (now standard on all new cars), so no cost is added to the vehicle. In fact, there are savings in cost, space and weight because the turn signal trip mechanism is eliminated. Advances in vehicle computer control have exposed the defects of the trip mechanism, which first went into production in 1940 and has remained unimproved for 72 years.
“This is a first of its kind report on a subject that amazingly, has never been studied. The turn signal is one of the very original automotive crash prevention devices and this simple driver to driver communication device remains extremely effective, but only when it is accurately displayed as required by law”, states Richard Ponziani, P.E., President of RLP Engineering and author of the report. “The turn signal can no longer be considered ‘optional’ and all drivers have an ongoing duty to use it, just as they have a duty to stop at a stop sign or at a red light” he added. Ponziani further stated: "Smart Turn Signals are the perfect complement to the Stability Control System since Stability Control predominately prevents single-vehicle crashes, whereas the Smart Turn Signal prevents multi-vehicle crashes".
The Smart Turn Signal system has been in development for the past several years and the highly favorable cost to benefit ratio makes the urgent need for Smart Turn Signals even more obvious. It is anticipated that this life-saving technology will be integrated into production vehicles in the near future. This breakthrough represents a perfect opportunity to significantly reduce multi-vehicle crash rates, reduce vehicle cost and make driving a lot more friendly and courteous across the U.S.
The SAE report, publication number 2012-01-0261 is available at http://www.sae.org. RLP Engineering is a consulting firm in Dayton, Ohio specializing in vehicle safety design.
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Newberry volcano draws a lightning storm
June 24, 2012
by John Vidale
Nature delivers sound and fury from above as well as below at volcanoes.
The lightning in big storm cells packs a punch, focused at the top of tall cone-shaped volcanoes. The high ground is effectively a lightning rod, providing an easy path down from the heavens for the current. Also, the steep topograph can cause updrafts, hence convection and storms.
Mount St Helens and Newberry volcanoes show a fair amount of lightning, perhaps because both have many seismometers nearby and Newberry is out east in thunderstorm alley.
Which brings us to this week's activity. Thursday a half hour burst of energy showed up on many of the stations around Newberry volcano. 10 minutes with five bursts are shown below (click to expand). The plots show records from nine station in the form of spectrograms. The crude location map below shows the four bursts I was able to locate near the peak, and three more that I just located at the station reporting the first arrivals.
Initially, I thought this bursts were seismic waves. The spread in timing is not as great as would be expected for acoustic signals - sound waves travel only 300 m/s compared to seismic waves, which zoom at kms per second. Seismic events near the volcano could be either volcanic or related to the lakes nearby (or something else).
But several details revealed the true source. First, station SVIC (second from the bottom) below shows a short burst about 15 seconds before each rumble. This is likely the EM pulse of the lightning, traveling at the speed of light, disturbing the seismometer electronics. A time separation of 15 seconds suggests the thunder was generated about 5km above the ground (321 m/s X 15s).
Second, Seth Moran of the Cascade Volcano Observatory reported storms in the vicinity, and the possibility that the lightning was cloud-to-cloud, which could arrive at many stations at nearly the same time (sounds generated near the surface would be many seconds earlier at some stations than others). Third, the folks at Altarock, who are testing new geothermal drilling techniques on the side of the volcano, reported having to flee the volcano due to the repeated thundrous peals of lightning and thunder. Finally, the EarthNetworks lightning network detected of several cloud to cloud and ground lightning strokes at these times.
Once I realized these facts, the burst of events on Newberry on Friday (last figure) was not a mystery.
Dr. Seth Moran of CVO and Profs. Bob Holzworth and Steve Malone at UW contributed vital information for this post.
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Theatre 100: Introduction to Theatre
-- OnLine Section --
Instructor: Larry Wild, Assistant Professor of Theatre, Emeritus
Text: Theatre, Brief Version by Robert Cohen.
10th Edition, 2013.
Links to the Three Plays:
On-Line "Lecture" Notes
Aulularia (The Pot of Gold) |
- Theatre and the Internet
- What is Theatre? (Chapter 1)
- What is a Play? (Chapter 2)
- The Playwright (Chapter 4)
- The Actor (Chapter 3)
- The Director (Chapter 6)
FIRST EXAM over Chapters 1 through 5
- Designers and Technicians: The Theatre (Chapter 5)
- Designers and Technicians: Scenery and Lighting (Chapter 5)
- Designers and Technicians: Costumes and Sound (Chapter 5)
- Film History
- Film Production
- Radio: History and Production
- Television in the US: History and Production
Film, Radio and Television is not covered in the text book.
If you are interested in learning more about these theatrical forms,
books and internet sites are listed in the "resources" section
on the web pages.
SECOND EXAM over Chapter 6 through "Television: History and Production"
- Theatre in the West: Greek, Roman & Medieval (Chapter 7)
- Theatre of the West: Renaissance Italy (Chapter 7)
- Theatre of the West: English Renaissance (Chapter 7)
- Theatre of the West: Spanish Renaissance (Chapter 7)
- Theatre in the West: Royal Theatre: France & England (Chapter 7)
- Theatre in the West: The Romantic Theatre (Chapter 7)
- Theatre in the East (Chapter 7)
THIRD EXAM over Chapter 7
- The Modern Theatre: 1875-1945 (Chapter 8)
- The Modern Theatre: 1945-2000 (Chapter 8)
- The Musical Theatre (Chapter 9)
- Global Theatre Today: African American Theatre (Chapter 10)
- Global Theatre Today: Commercial, Educational & Community Theatres in the US (Chapter 10)
- The Critic (Chapter 11)
FOURTH EXAM over Chapters 8 through 11
E-mail questions and comments to Larry Wild at [email protected].
Updated: December 21, 2015
Copyright © 1995 - 2015 by Larry Wild,
Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD
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Under a new agreement, Flicker Films is going to be releasing DVDs produced in cooperation with France's Lobster Films and David Shepard's Film Preservation Associates. The first such disc is a pair of hour-long documentaries made by Lobster Films in 2004; Discovering Cinema. The first presentation, Learning to Talk, examines the myriad of methods that were attempted to achieve synchronized sound, and Movies Dream in Color looks at the difficult paths that were explored while attempting to create realistic color movies. These are two excellent shows, but what's more impressive are the copious bonus features that are included on each disc.
Learning to Talk: From the earliest days of motion pictures people were trying to add sound to film. This documentary looks at some of the methods used, how they worked (or more likely didn't work) and how commercially successful they were.
There were really three main ways that people tried to add audio to film. The least technologically challenging way was to just have people playing music in the theaters. That of course was the most common practice for decades. Some early experiments with live sound included hiring singers to sing along with shorts created especially for one song, having a conductor's baton on the screen so the orchestra or pianist could keep time with the film, and even having a piano score scroll along at the bottom of the screen. This last method worked well until the first time the film broke and had to be spliced. Then sections of the music were missing making it very hard to play.
With Edison's invention of the phonograph, many inventors came up with elaborate ways to coordinate the sound from records with the images from a film. Unfortunately most of these were plagued by problems, almost the least of which was coming up with an accurate method to synchronize the sound. Recording was difficult and amplification was also a major hurdle. These problems were eventually solved with the Vitaphone system that Warner used to release the first 'talking' feature, The Jazz Singer.
The final method that was tried was creating a soundtrack on the actual film itself. This would solve the problem of synchronization, but it meant inventing a way to record a voice and music on optical film. The story of how this came about is related along with Fox buying the rights and dubbing the system Movietone.
Movies Dream in Color: The other Holy Grail that people were looking for was a way to add color to film. Similar to the sound problem, there were three avenues that were investigated by many inventors of a period of years. The most commercially successful way to add color in the early days of film was to tint or tone the film itself. This was good for suggesting mood or cueing the audience in to the fact that the on-screen action was taking place at night, but it didn't create a realistic color image. Another method of applying color was to paint it on frame by frame. Later stencils were used to make the process go faster, but it was never widely used.
Another method was using additive colors. There were several different versions that used this property of light, but they all had the same concept: the action was filmed on black and white stock and during both the filming and projecting, the image was sent through a series of color lenses to recreate a color image. Some of these were fairly complex and innovative. One method involved filming alternating frames through red and green filters, another placed dyed brewer's yeast under the black and white film emulsion with the yeast acting as a filter. While some of these systems created some impressive looking images, none of them were commercially successful in the long run.
Finally it was acknowledged that the color had to be on the film itself. The show spends a good amount of time on the history of Technicolor, showing their subtractive color process and discussing the early two-strip method and their eventual invention of the three strip process that they are still famous for today. At around the same time, Eastman-Kodak came up with their Kodachrome process. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Both of these documentaries are excellent. The clearly show the development of sound and color and also describe several processes for each that I hadn't encountered before. The shows are narrated and mainly consist of rare examples of the different technologies that were tried. The sheer number of systems that were invented trying to solve both problems is fairly amazing. There is some expert testimony included, but the large majority of the time is taken up with vintage film clips showcasing various processes.
The stereo soundtrack (in English) on both of these shows is very good. The narration is clean and clear and there aren't any audio defects to mar the production. Some of the old sound tests are less than pristine as far as the audio quality goes, but that's to be expected with experimental tests that were recorded up to 100 years ago.
The video was actually better than I was expecting. Many of the clips that make up these documentaries are in excellent shape which is nothing less than astounding since many of them were from failed experiments. The only problem is that this appears to be a PAL to NTSC conversion and there are some minor ghosting effects due to mixed frames. Since there isn't a lot of motion in any of the films is isn't as significant as it could be.
Not only do these films tell the story of the evolution of sound and color, but the bonus sections on each disc contain many examples of the various technologies discussed. One of the highlights is the complete short La Cucaracha, the first commercially released live action movie shot with three-color Technicolor. There's also an early Technicolor test that includes color footage of the Marx Brothers on the set of Animal Crackers.
On the sound disc there's a trailer for The Jazz Singer, a ten minute interview with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as an early sound short that's a favorite among early film buffs; Guy Visser and his Singing Duck.
These films contain a wealth of information. The documentaries
do a great job of tracing the evolution of both sound and color and the
bonus items are worth the price of admission. A great set that is
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Meaning of the name James. Listen and learn how to pronounce James so you can get the correct pronunciation for this boy name.
MEANING: The Irish version of James. Many well-known Irishmen have been called Seamus including the 1995 Nobel poet laureate Seamus Heaney. The Nobel prize in Literature was awarded for his “”works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past.””
GENDER: Boy | Male
PRONUNCIATION: “shay + muss”
AUDIO: (Listen to the late author Frank McCourt pronounce James and read along with the meaning)
Play Audio for James:
Play Audio for James
Back to Irish Boy Names
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IUPUI study reveals how dogs detect explosives, offers new training recommendations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS -- A research team at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has helped determine the science behind how canines locate explosives such as Composition C-4, a plastic explosive used by the U.S. military. The study found the dogs react best to the actual explosive, calling into question the use of products designed to mimic the odor of C-4 for training purposes. These findings are the culmination of a four-year contract funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Appropriately, dogs that are trained to find real explosives are going to find real explosives and not much else,” said John Goodpaster, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology and director for the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program in the School of Science at IUPUI.
The effectiveness of trained detector dogs is well established, but the study sought to determine which chemical compounds cause a dog to recognize a particular explosive and alert to it. Previous studies have suggested that certain non-explosive chemicals emitted by Composition C-4 cause dogs to alert, and that these specific chemicals could be used as mimic substances to train the dogs in place of real explosives.
In the first phase of the study, IUPUI researchers discovered that the non-explosive chemicals given off by C-4 mimics also are present in a variety of everyday plastic objects. Objects tested included PVC pipes, electrical tape, movie tickets, a plastic grocery bag and plastic food wrapping. Several of the tested items emitted appreciable levels of a mimic compound recommended by some vendors for training canines.
The second phase exposed 33 trained canines to these vapors to see whether the dogs would respond. The field trials demonstrated that the dogs -- from the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Amtrak and other agencies -- failed to respond in any significant way to specific odor compounds found in C-4. The results indicate that if the dogs are trained on the full scent, they will only detect real explosives.
“The canines are not easily fooled; you can’t pick and choose components of explosive odors and expect the dog to respond,” Goodpaster said. “Dogs are specific, and it’s the full scent that causes them to alert.”
The study also sought to better establish the scientific facts needed for canine detection to be legally admissible evidence -- an effort that found using mimic compounds could present challenges in court. By training with real explosives, false positives are unlikely in the field. Overall, the team recommended that dogs be trained with actual, not mimic, explosives.
While technology is available to search for explosives, canines remain the best option because of their speed, sensitivity and ability to search large numbers of items, Goodpaster said. Co-authors on the study include current and former IUPUI School of Science undergraduate and graduate students William Kranz, Kelley Kitts, Nicholas Strange, Joshua Cummins and Erica Lotspeich.
The full study appears in the March 2014 Forensic Science International.
About the School of Science
The School of Science at IUPUI is committed to excellence in teaching, research and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The school is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy.
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Rushing the separation process can lead to disaster in production. Find out how to determine which approach represents the best mix of quality and speed for your shop.
A good solution for images that show significant color pollution is to use the layers dialog in Photoshop and then select the main color that you are looking for using the eyedropper tool. You can then adjust this color to the right hue by selecting it from the tool menu and then modifying it in the color-picker dialog. Once you have the proper color for separation from the design, you can use the color-range command in Photoshop on this color to select all of the areas in the image that have this color. Careful use of the fuzziness slider in this dialog box will ensure that you select the right amount of color. Once you create this selection using the color-range tool, switch to the channels menu, and create a new channel by selecting the box at the bottom of this dialog. Fill the selected areas in the new channel with white—assuming you have the new channels in solid black—and then deselect the selection.
The next step is to invert this new channel and then use the curves menu to adjust it so it is very solid black. You can do this by pushing the black point most of the way along the bottom toward the white point in the curves menu. This creates a solid selection area in the channel. The new channel can then be used as a gross selection to create a new layer or adjustment layer in the layers palette. Just control-click (Cmd-click on the Mac) on the channel image in the channel dialog to select the white areas, then invert the selection. Go to the layers menu and, with this selection still active, copy and paste this area into a new layer.
The next step is to use the hue/saturation dialog and average the color in these areas of your new layer by using the colorize command. This new, colorized layer can then be adjusted by opacity or by using a layer-blend mode to merge with the original image underneath. It will force the selected colors into the same family/hue set (Figure 2).
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peek-char obtains the next character in input-stream
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While economic policies of individual countries can have diverse objectives, there are three key points with--as experience has shown--particular relevance for social development.
Economic growth is required for sustainable social development. In the last few years, a broader concept of high-quality growth has emerged, namely, economic growth that brings lasting employment gains and poverty reduction, provides greater equality of income through greater equality of opportunity, including for women, and respects human freedom and protects the environment.
Controlling inflation can prevent or mitigate real income losses, against which the poor are least protected since their income is often fixed in nominal terms and they tend to hold much of their assets in the form of currency.
By promoting the agriculture sector, which employs most of the poor, many developing countries can achieve a lasting reduction in poverty.
To achieve progress in these three areas, the main pillars of economic policies include sound macroeconomic and structural policies, with a strong social policy component, and good governance and participatory development.
MACROECONOMIC POLICY. Sound macroeconomic policies--fiscal, monetary and credit, and exchange rate policies--are needed to secure financial stability and external viability with low inflation. In the absence of these conditions, it is difficult for a country to encourage productive investment or to promote the efficient use of scarce resources, both of which are essential for durable growth.
STRUCTURAL POLICY. Structural reforms are often vital to promote a market-based environment with an outward orientation. These include liberal and open systems of prices, exchange, trade, and investment; a fiscal system that emphasizes efficient resource allocation and minimizes adverse effects on incentives; agricultural marketing arrangements that promote competition; a financial system that is free of direct credit allocation and effectively channels financial savings to productive investment; and policies that take into account their impact on the environment.
SOCIAL POLICY. Social and supplementary structural policies are also needed to strengthen the social dimensions of economic development. These include labor market policies aimed at ensuring high employment through competitive and flexible wages and at removing other rigidities while adhering to ILO principles; public expenditure programs aimed at protecting and, when possible, increasing cost-effective programs for human development and reducing poverty (such as generally accessible health, education, and social security programs); a tax system that ensures a fair distribution of the tax burden; and well-targeted social safety nets to mitigate negative effects of economic reform on vulnerable groups.
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT. Effective governance involves such diverse elements as publicly accountable institutions for formulating and executing the budget, efficient tax administration and public expenditure management, prudent banking supervision, a transparent foreign trade and exchange regime, and a fair and transparent legal and regulatory framework. Transparency and checks and balances, at both the political and administrative levels, can help limit the influence of special vested interests.
There is a broad consensus among governments and in the international community on the importance of most of these elements. But translating them into concrete policies and priorities involves difficult choices concerning income distribution, as well as present and future consumption and investment. Consensus building often involves disseminating information, explaining policies to the general public, and, where appropriate, decentralizing the decision-making and implementation process. It is critical that key players--especially people at the grass-roots level--have a stake in economic policymaking, and that the social policies are compatible with the administrative capacity.
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Despite the recommendation from experts, parents are increasing citing safety concerns as their reason to not vaccinate their teenage daughters against HPV, the virus that causes the most cases of cervical cancer, according to a recent study.
The study in the April issue of Pediatrics looked at vaccination rates among teens in the United States for several illnesses, including genital human papillomavirus. HPV, the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S., has been linked to cervical cancer, genital (anus, vagina, penis) cancers, and a type of head and neck cancer.
Researchers found a dramatic increase in the number of parents citing "Safety concerns/side effects" as their main reason for not vaccinating their daughters between 2008 and 2010. It jumped from 4.5 percent in 2008 to 16.4 percent in 2010.
The study did find a growing number of U.S. girls were vaccinated against HPV. The percentage of 13 to 17-year-olds who were not up-to-date on the vaccine fell from 84 percent to 75 percent. However, only 32 percent of girls from ages 13 to 17 were fully vaccinated against HPV in 2010. The three-shot vaccination hasn't been linked to any serious side effects.
The researchers also cited other reasons parents decided not to vaccinate:
“The consistent 11 to 14 percent of parents who gave the main answer “Not sexually active” illustrates that parents mistakenly perceive this vaccine is related to and necessary only if there is current sexual activity. Another consistent response, given by 14 to 17 percent of parents across the 3 years studied, was that the HPV is “Not needed or not necessary” despite the high prevalence rates of HPV infection and of the infections dire consequences suffered later in life.”
We asked Paul A. Offit, MD, the chief of the division of infectious diseases and the director of the vaccine education center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to tell us more about the HPV vaccine and address safety concerns parents may have about it. He specializes in infectious diseases and is an expert on vaccines, immunology, and virology.
Who should get the HPV vaccine and when?
It’s recommended for adolescent boys and girls, 11 to 13 years of age.
What does it protect against?
There are about 100 types of papillomaviruses. Some types of papillomaviruses cause warts on the skin, some types cause warts in the anal and genital areas, and some types cause cervical cancer.
Many different HPV types cause cervical cancer. Two types (16 and 18) are the most common, accounting for about 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Similarly, many types of HPV cause anal and genital warts; but only two types (6 and 11) account for about 90 percent of cases. One vaccine, Gardasil, contains types 6, 11, 16 and 18. I recommend this vaccine since it protects against four strains. Another HPV vaccine, Cervarix, contains types 16 and 18 only.
Cervarix and Gardasil protect against cervical cancers in women. Gardasil also protects against genital warts and cancers of the anus, vagina and vulva. Both vaccines are available for females. Only Gardasil is available for males.
What many parents don’t know is that it’s also cancer preventing in males. It protects against cancer in the head area such as the throat, nose, and neck.
How is the vaccine made?
The vaccine is made using a protein that resides on the surface of the virus. The protein is grown in the lab in yeast cells. It will make a virus protein when the yeast cell reproduces itself, then the protein forms something called a virus-like particle. It looks like the virus under a microscope, but most importantly, it doesn’t contain HPV genetic material so it can’t reproduce itself like actual virus and cause illness.
Should I have any safety concerns about the vaccine?
Gardasil was tested in 30,000 people for seven years before Food and Drug Administration approval. Studies determined that the vaccine was 91 percent effective at preventing infections, 100 percent effective at preventing persistent infections, and 100 percent effective at preventing Pap smear changes that predict cervical cancer.
It was tested in another 190,000 women after FDA approval. The only problem that comes up in boys and girls is fainting during the shot. Sometimes it happens when the needle is unsheathed before the shot.
There have been concerns raised from bad information on the internet. There has been no causal relationship shown between the vaccine and adverse events such as blood clots, chronic fatigue syndrome, strokes or seizures. It’s now been given to tens of millions of people without any problems.
What are some side effects? Are they common?
The vaccine may cause pain, redness and tenderness at the site of injection. The vaccine may also cause a slight fever. It is a small price to pay to avoid cancer. It prevents the only known cause of cervical cancer.
Is the vaccine necessary for my child? Is it only for sexually active teens?
It only works as a preventative, not as a treatment. It needs to be given before a teen becomes sexually active in order for it to work. It is assumed that virtually all people will become sexually active at some point. Both of my children, who were adolescents at the time, were vaccinated when it came out about seven years ago.
Some parents falsely believe that vaccination will likely lead to their teen becoming promiscuous. A recent study that followed 11 to 12- year-old girls for three years found no difference between vaccinated and non vacinated girls with having taken a pregnancy test, been tested for sexually transmitted diseases, or been counseled for the use of contraceptives.
Every year, over 26,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head, neck, or cervical cancers. The vaccine may have prevented these cases.
Read more from the Healthy Kids blog »
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The variety of bones found at Dmanisi -- skulls, ribs, vertebrae, femurs, arm bones, a shoulder blade -- gave Lordkipanidze's team a wealth of information rarely produced at early-hominid digs.
The skull's size fits between Homo habilis and Homo erectus, suggesting it could be a link between the two species, Lordkipanidze says. Its primitive arms and hands were built to climb trees, but the length of its legs suggested the ability to walk long distances. They were carnivores, a characteristic that would require the ability to be on the move to find new sources of food.
Dmanisi's yield of fossils from 1999 to 2006 has startled Lordkipanidze's peers, who work in a field that often requires decades of digging to produce a few fragments.
"It's not one of these sites where you get one or two skulls or fragments," said Jeffrey Schwartz, an anthropology professor at the University of Pittsburgh. "In the time that David has been working there, he's found numerous fossils. It's incredible."
A consensus among paleoanthropologists has not been reached on whether the Dmanisi hominid fossils represent a new species of early human. Lordkipanidze isn't even sure himself. Much of the evidence points to Dmanisi man being a new species, but it also could be a subspecies of Homo erectus.
If science eventually dubs Dmanisi man a new species, Lordkipanidze has a tentative name: Homo georgicus. "I think Homo georgicus will appear one day, maybe five years or in 10 years.
"Understanding what you have can take years," Lordkipanidze explained on a sunny afternoon as he walked the rim of a wide, square pit where most of the fossils were found. "What's our job? It's the reconstruction of crime stories. And you have no [witnesses], no one can tell you what happened. So you have to guess, analyze and compare. But human fossils from this time period are very rare, so it's very difficult to compare with other bones. That's why it takes a long time."
Lordkipanidze appears braced to put in the time. A permanent steel roof is being built over the dig site, an improvement over the makeshift tarp roofs the team relied on in previous years. With the new roof, digs will go on for three months instead of eight weeks.
The site is being transformed into a kind of living museum, with steps and boardwalks that will take visitors from the medieval ruins, through a section of the site where Bronze Age pottery, tools and artifacts were found, and then to the large pit where the hominid digs take place.
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The whole purpose of securing water assets is to ensure that we can make a living from them. To make a living involves using water in an efficient way.
One way we do this is through improving the techniques we use for water distribution and irrigation. Since irrigation is the largest user of water, that’s a high priority in increasing efficiency. Irrigation water is used in regional areas and it’s on a much larger scale than city water, so security for irrigation water is more difficult.
Large dams are used in regional areas for storing water. These dams have the same level of security as dams for city water and local authorities regularly monitor the sites. In the same way, surveillance of rivers and channels is important to ensure water is safely transported from dams to farms.
To minimise the area we have to cover for water security, we can ensure that water only goes to the most efficient users. Those that have more efficient irrigation techniques and crops will be able to pay more for water. To set a price on water, it’s best to use a market mechanism.
A water market is a relatively new thing. It’s had most success in Australia, where the government set up a water market in the 1990s. The government has extensive resources online about this system. Private water brokers were quickly established and these days you can even do web based water trading in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Goulburn rivers.
This means water goes to the best uses. The system has been studied extensively and will be used as a model for future water trading systems. Many in the USA are exploring copying this system to ensure the water in California is used effectively. The drought in California has devastated that part of the country.
Overall, it’s an interesting development in water security because those who are uncertain and have less need for security will pay less than those who do. As well as sending water to efficient uses, this makes the water distribution system more robust and efficient.
There are many facets of water security, so this post will cover the areas I’m most familiar with, physical security. There are plenty of websites out there that cover water security from other angles, such as biosecurity and climate change. While those websites cover securing water before it can be stored, transported and used, I will cover the security situation once it has been captured from nature.
The first thing we need to identify is threats.
Who Are We Protecting Water Assets From?
The two most obvious ones are terrorists and foreign governments. Since water is an essential need for the population, it makes sense for those who want to do us harm to target our water assets. By taking out a dam, you can also flood villages downstream. This was used to great success in the Second World War and there is plausibility in terrorists aiming to do similar things.
However, the biggest threats are much more boring. We mainly need to prevent citizens from accidentally drowning and also prevent unauthorised use of the water assets.
Unauthorised use can include those using it for recreation (eg water skiing), using it as rubbish dump and unauthorized taking of water.
Water assets need to be protected by different layers of physical security. This security is ineffective if we can’t detect problems.
Most dams are covered by CCTV cameras and so are other critical infrastructure pieces. These detect anyone trying to gain unauthorized access to the infrastructure.
Another technology we can use is aerial surveillance and also satellite imagery. These can be used to detect physical intrusions, such as those by terrorists, but generally not because their resolution is too poor. What these eyes in the sky are used for is detecting borders, places where infrastructure needs to be repaired (for example, riverbank collapses) and also unauthorised taking of water.
By analysing the vegetation near the water course, you can determine whether it is being irrigated. If that’s the case, then the water might be being taken illegally.
The third detection technology is water meters. By measuring the amount of water each user takes, we can detect unauthorised use of water. This might not be seen if the culprit has jammed or bypassed the meter and that’s where satellite imagery comes in. If all the detection sources don’t make sense, then the property can be followed up on the ground for further surveillance.
Physical security of water assets is especially important to prevent intrusions in the first place. Many pieces of infrastructure are protected by fences with barbed or cyclone wire. This is a deterrent for the vast majority of intruders.
Fences won’t stop determined intruders from gaining access to the infrastructure. One way they can get around it is a cyber attack. This is why maintaining security patches and other types of cyber security are important for water asset control devices.
Having the local police forces informed of the assets is also vital. Joint exercises to encourage training between security professionals, police and water resource asset managers will provide everyone with new insights and make knowledge on water asset security all the more easier.
We have a number of fields to cover in security for water assets, but this is a brief overview and the exact details will vary depending on your circumstances.
Our water storages are one of the most important links in the chain of our water and irrigation systems. They’re important because most natural water sources do not flow when we need them to. Nature doesn’t know when we humans will need water to irrigate our crops or turn our taps on. For this reason, we need to build sophisticated water storage and distribution systems.
Most water is carried in pipes for household water. From the storages, water flows into large pipes that flow to the suburbs. Then smaller pipes connected to the large pipes flow down every street. Then every house has a smaller pipe to take water out.
Also we have sewerage distribution systems to collect the water after it has been used.
For farms, some water goes through pipelines, some comes straight from a river and some run through man-made rivers called channels. These water distribution systems are larger than those for household water, but the purification standards aren’t as strict.
All water supply systems need storages for the water.
Tanks are the most expensive type of water storage and they are usually used for storing household water. This is because household water is more expensive and they can afford to keep the infrastructure for tanks.
Many tanks are raised up on stilts. The benefit of this is because the distribution systems can run on gravity instead of pumping the water. Storing the water up high makes everything simple. Sometimes these raised tanks are called water towers.
These are the largest forms of water storage and are essential to any water system. They are made from various materials, the two most common ones are earth and concrete.
Earthen dams are more popular because they are cheaper to make because their material costs are low. The downside is they are not as strong as concrete dams and need good valleys to sit in. The dam walls exert a lot of pressure on the valley and ground, so extensive geological studies are required.
In areas where earthen dams aren’t possible, concrete dams are used. They are usually faster to build too. The only downside is that concrete is more expensive than clay and rocks used for earthen dams.
Securing the Storages
Many storages have physical security systems in place. Tanks and dams have fences around them with spikes (barbed or cyclone wire) and they stop most people from getting in. Further security measures are needed to protect storages when people breach the fence. All important storages have security cameras so local security and law enforcement services are alerted when the fence is breached.
In the field of security, water storages present not just physical security problems but also biological. Water used for drinking must be of sufficient purity to ensure the population doesn’t get sick. This can happen through water borne diseases, so ensuring the water storages are not contaminated is important.
Another problem that can creep up are algal blooms. These are not just a health issue, because pumps, valves and pipes can become clogged due to algae build up. This is a real issue in rural areas because many farms use fertilizers that make algal blooms worse.
Overall, security at water storages is an important issue from both a physical security standpoint and a biosecurity standpoint.
Here is an interesting video I found from Credit Suisse on the analysis of water security.
This is a very important issue and it’s great to hear from intelligent analysts for their take on the issue.
Most of the water we use ends up being drained in some way. On farms and in gardens it’s often drained back into the river or the water table beneath the ground. This is fine because these water sources were not very pure to begin with so putting drained water back isn’t going to badly affect its purity. Anyway, the water hasn’t been used for cleaning humans or anything that will carry serious transmittable diseases from humans to other humans.
In the home, water is drained into pipes that drain into successively larger pipes until it finds its way to the sewerage treatment plant. From this plant it is filtered and then typically piped to the sea if it’s a coastal city or the waste water is further treated and then piped back into the environment.
This is quite wasteful and technologies exist which enable us to reuse waste water. There are essentially two levels of reclaimed water and that is water that can be used for irrigation and industry or water that can be piped back into the clean water distribution network.
Most reclaimed water is used for irrigation, such as for watering gold courses. The benefit to golf courses is that the water is sold to them at a far cheaper price than if they used regular tap water.
In very dry climates or places where water cannot be secured, reclaimed water can undergo reverse osmosis and come back as clean drinking water. For example, in Singapore they reuse all of their waste water because they can’t get sufficient water from rainfall or from Malaysia.
Reclaimed water can be of a purity just as good as normal tap water. In fact, Sinapore’s NEWater claims their reclaimed water is more pure than typical tap water.
Reclaimed water will be a big industry in the future as cities look to reduce their water use and save money by reusing water they already have.
Now that water industry managers need to be on alert for terrorism or pressure from farmers, it’s easy to overlook other users of water. With the way the world is, it’s easy to overlook the role the environment plays in water management. Apart from feeding and cleaning humans, the environment is the most important water industry stakeholder to keep in mind.
Plants and animals need water in the same way us humans do. They need it for cleaning and drinking, but also they need water to grow the food they eat. This last use of water is pretty big and it’s why the environment needs more water than you think.
Unlike modern irrigated agriculture, the natural environment is not that water efficient. Wetlands require far more water for their area than the equivalent farm to grow the same amount of food. This further adds to the requirements of environmental water. In a similar way to wetlands, rice paddies and other irrigated fields can support similar wildlife to the natural environment. This is something to keep in mind when water managers say they need to set aside water for the environment.
As well as disturbing the flow of water, modern agriculture involves significant earthworks. These earthworks may even be to save water, such as laser levelling of fields. By levelling a field so that it’s perfectly level, less water is required on that field. This is because it drains off much slower. There are other benefits, such as weed control that come with laser levelling. If earthworks mean that there will be less water and land used in agriculture, it may be that those improvements are actually good for the environment.
We have a number of other things to look out for when managing water for the environment. It’s not just water volume that we are worried about, it’s also the quality of the water. Environmental water needs to be low in salinity otherwise the trees that would benefit from water will die. To prevent this the easiest method is to only pour as much water onto fields as is necessary and use different fields in different years. The main cause of salinity in freshwater systems is rising water tables, which is what we prevent by limiting the amount of irrigation.
The other water quality issue to look after is keeping water free of fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals. Farms needs to have proper drainage set up and use as little chemicals as needed. If possible, substitute less environmentally friendly chemicals for environmentally friendly ones. A switch to organic farming might be possible and this is the best solution.
Managing water for the environment is not an easy task. We have many factors to consider when managing environmental water from a government and farmer perspective. Everyone wants healthy rivers and we can achieve this by taking the time to study, engineer and design solutions to have enough high quality water to leave for the natural environment.
It’s still the 31st, but it’s close enough to the new year to give a new year celebration. I’ve launched this blog this week while I have some downtime from other projects I’ve been working on.
I hope you will find this blog interesting as I’ll be spending a lot of time getting useful information and content up for you to read. The blog will cover the intricate interdependencies between geography, the environment, our infrastructure and our water consumption habits.
This blog will be useful as we move into the future with less certainty around water security and terrorist threats. Water is our most precious resource and I hope to inform readers on how we can appreciate it and information on how it is captured and used.
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for National Geographic News
Deep in Egypt's western desert, the farming village of Abu Minqar appears like a mirage.
In a part of the world remarkable for its absence of life and color, this village of 4,000 people and their pastel-green fields seems to sprout miraculously from nothing in defiance of the laws of nature.
But the village is one of the most extreme examples of Egypt's plan to "green" its deserts, or take once-uninhabitable earth and convert it to farmland.
Abu Minqar is far more remote than the majority of desert farmland in Egypt, being closer to the Libyan border than it is to fertile lands and flowing water of the Nile Valley.
Its unlikely existence is proof that Egypt can set up farms anywhere. But the hardships endured by its settlers raise questions about the resources and political will to sustain such projects.
Electricity and water run for just a fraction of the day, and many of the village's mud-brick huts are crumbling.
The government-built canals are mostly unlined and leaking, and farmers water their fields with primitive methods because there is no technology in place for more efficient irrigation.
"This is one of the most isolated communities—by distance and by desert—in Egypt," said Richard Tutwiler, director of the Desert Development Center (DDC) of the American University in Cairo, which leased a house in Abu Minqar two years ago to study the village's social patterns.
"In many ways these folks have been left to their own devices."
A Finite Water Source
Abu Minqar is far beyond the reach of the canals that channel the Nile water to most of Egypt's desert farms.
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
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8. Woman from the Mucubal (Mucubai, Mucabale, Mugubale) tribe
Photo and caption by Johan Gerrits
The Mucubal people are a subgroup of the Herero ethnic group, which means they are bantu speaking, and are supposed to have come from Kenya and to be related with Massais. They are semi nomadic pastoralists living of cattle raising and agriculture. They live in a large area between the slopes of Chela Mounts in the north, and River Cunene to the south, where they are believed to have stopped during the Herero migration, about 300 years ago.
Location: South Angola
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Glossary of Terms
- Michael Biarnes
Some of the more harmful indoor air pollutants can be accurately monitored using the AQ Expert VOC Monitor.
In general, almost all compounds that contain a carbon atom are considered organic.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Organic compounds that release many gaseous molecules from their liquid or solid forms due to their high vapor pressure and low boiling point. While there are many VOCs that are naturally occurring and important to environmental interactions, such as plant to plant exchanges, many VOCs are emitted in manmade processes.
The EPA defines VOCs as “…a large group of organic chemicals that include any compound of carbon (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate) and that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions.” It is important for VOCs to be carefully monitored, particularly indoors where concentrations tend to be higher, as they may have harmful effects to not only humans but also the environment. VOC monitors will help avoid serious issues caused by the dangers of VOCs.
- Common VOCs
- Formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, xylene, perchloroethylene, etc.
- A common VOC found in many man-made and naturally occurring products and processes including adhesives, ceiling tiles, automobile production, sanitary paper production, and paints to name a few. With the formula CH2O, Formaldehyde is useful in a plethora of fields and products, but must be monitored carefully as in higher quantities it can be an irritant that causes headaches, dizziness, and memory loss. Formaldehyde, as well as a number of other common VOCs, has been deemed as a carcinogen.
- A few sources of VOCs in need of monitoring:
- Vent Gas, Water Separation Techniques, Industrial Waste Water, Batch Processes, Petroleum Refining, Natural Gas Processing, Petrochemical Processes, Paints, etc.
E Instruments’ VOC Monitors, the AQ Pro and AQ Expert allow indoor air quality testing professionals the ability to properly and accurate test for VOCs in almost any application. Contact E Instruments today for more information on our line of VOC Monitors.
an organic compound which only contains the elements Carbon and Hydrogen. Hydrocarbons can be further broken down into saturated and unsaturated forms.
Saturated Hydrocarbons consist of only single bonds and are also known as alkanes.
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons include at least one double or triple bond in its chain of carbon atoms and include alkenes and alkynes.
- Hydrocarbons including at least one double bond.
- Hydrocarbons including at least one triple bond.
Combustible Vs. Flammable Liquids
Combustible and flammable liquids differ in the temperature required to emit enough vapor to produce a flash when a spark or flame is provided.
- Combustible Liquids
- A liquid having a flash point ≥ 100°F.
- Flammable Liquids
- A liquid having a flash point ≤ 100°F.
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)
The LEL refers to the minimum concentration of a particular vapor needed to produce a flame in the presence of an ignition source. The lower explosive limit is also referred to as the lower flammable limit at times.
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| 0.914236 | 713 | 3.296875 | 3 |
A little learning is a dangerous thing
The theory of competition originates from the micro economic theory of the firm. In theory large numbers of small firms compete to provide goods and services to the public. Competition helps to stimulate innovation, improve productivity, prevent companies from colluding to fix prices, and generally strengthens the efficiency of market mechanisms. In reality, of course, markets are frequently dominated by large companies which do not compete either on price or on the quality of their output, but the theory of competition marks out something worth striving for. Tax competition, on the other hand, distorts markets by subsidising capital, rewarding the larger players (who are better placed to use offshore tax avoidance vehicles) and undermining Ricardian theory of comparative advantage. Not that Bailhache will know anything about such issues.
Trying to apply competition theory to nation states, however, throws up all sorts of issues:
- What evidence is there to support the view that tax competition between nations will stimulate improvements in the efficiency of providing public services, rather than simply forcing cut-backs and inefficient privatisations?
- How can large nations which invest heavily in infrastructure, education, training, research and development, and public welfare, protect their tax revenues from predatory nations which offer businesses and rich individuals the opportunity to free-ride (in the economic sense) by parking their incomes in offshore companies?
- What mechanisms exist to ensure that the public benefits from tax competition, when in practice the only beneficiaries are shareholders who probably live in totally different jurisdiction and probably pay no tax themselves?
- What can be done to prevent tax competition from shifting the tax burden away from capital and onto to labour and consumption - as has been happening over the past three decades?
- What rules need to be enforced to prevent tax competition from eroding the tax base of developing countries, which are already starved of tax revenues?
In practice there is no evidence that tax competition is helpful in any way whatsover, and plenty of evidence that it is harmful. Oxfam has calculated that tax competition (and related tax avoidance by multinational companies) cost developing countries $50 billion annually. That was back in the late-1990s, since when the situation has deteriorated.
Of course, the fact that governments do not compete against one another to provide defence, health, education and other public services to their citizens has not inhibited prominent economists from supporting the concept. Milton Friedman ( a leading member of the Chicago Boys who advised Augusto Pinochet during his dictatorship) is quoted on one right-wing website (funded by offshore banks) saying:
"Competition among national governments in the public services they provide and in the taxes they impose, is every bit as productive as competition among individuals or enterprises in the goods and services they offer for sale and the prices they offer."
The rich love this, but according to FT columnist Martin Wolf (a leading proponent of globalisation theory): "The notion of the competitiveness of countries, on the model of the competitiveness of companies, is nonsense." In practice, competing on tax is akin to competing on dismantling environmental protection. It makes no sense and will only benefit those chasing short term profits at the expense of the future.
Under increased pressure from multilateral agencies and donor countries, some of the world's poorest nations have succumbed to pressures to compete by offering wholly ineffective tax holidays. The recent deal struck between the Mittal steel company (a dominant player in that industry) and Liberia, serves to illustrate the point. In addition to negotiating special terms to undermine that country's labour regulations (who benefits?), Mittal has also negotiated a 5-year tax holiday and a further special treatment which enables Mittal, not the Liberian government, to determine what tax rate will be payable on profits generated once the tax holiday terminates. It is hard to see what benefits will accrue to Liberia even after the tax holiday expires, but why should a dominant company be subsidised in this way?
Philip Bailhache is a lawyer by training. He has no qualification as an economist and no experience in life beyond the narrow confines of a tax haven. He was brought up with all the privileges and arrogance of his upper middle class background and private education. He has never had to confront the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and alienation. In chastising major nations for seeking to protect their tax revenues from predatory tax havens, he reveals both his ignorance of economics and the true nature of his politics (despite being an unelected Crown appointment, Philip is a deeply political animal). Like many lawyers engaged in the tax avoidance industry, he belongs to the hard-right of the political spectrum and promotes Jersey's role as vehicle for profiteering from promoting tax dodges for the wealthy and the powerful.
So here's a challenge to Philip Bailhache: Let's see whether your ideas can survive critical scrutiny from real experts. Provide answers to the above questions and I will have them published in the next issue of Tax Justice Focus, which as it happens will have tax competition as its principle theme and me as its guest editor.
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From Nature magazine
A stem-cell biologist has had an eye-opening success in his latest effort to mimic mammalian organ development in vitro. Yoshiki Sasai of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CBD) in Kobe, Japan, has grown the precursor of a human eye in the lab.
The structure, called an optic cup, is 550 micrometres in diameter and contains multiple layers of retinal cells including photoreceptors. The achievement has raised hopes that doctors may one day be able to repair damaged eyes in the clinic. But for researchers at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Yokohama, Japan, where Sasai presented the findings this week, the most exciting thing is that the optic cup developed its structure without guidance from Sasai and his team.
“The morphology is the truly extraordinary thing,” says Austin Smith, director of the Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Until recently, stem-cell biologists had been able to grow embryonic stem-cells only into two-dimensional sheets. But over the past four years, Sasai has used mouse embryonic stem cells to grow well-organized, three-dimensional cerebral-cortex1, pituitary-gland2 and optic-cup3 tissue. His latest result marks the first time that anyone has managed a similar feat using human cells.
The various parts of the human optic cup grew in mostly the same order as those in the mouse optic cup. This reconfirms a biological lesson: the cues for this complex formation come from inside the cell, rather than relying on external triggers.
In Sasai’s experiment, retinal precursor cells spontaneously formed a ball of epithelial tissue cells and then bulged outwards to form a bubble called an eye vesicle. That pliable structure then folded back on itself to form a pouch, creating the optic cup with an outer wall (the retinal epithelium) and an inner wall comprising layers of retinal cells including photoreceptors, bipolar cells and ganglion cells. “This resolves a long debate,” says Sasai, over whether the development of the optic cup is driven by internal or external cues.
There were some subtle differences in the timing of the developmental processes of the human and mouse optic cups. But the biggest difference was the size: the human optic cup had more than twice the diameter and ten times the volume of that of the mouse. “It’s large and thick,” says Sasai. The ratios, similar to those seen in development of the structure in vivo, are significant. “The fact that size is cell-intrinsic is tremendously interesting,” says Martin Pera, a stem-cell biologist at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
An eye for an eye
The achievement could make a big difference in the clinic. Scientists have had increasing success in transplanting cells: last month, a group at University College London showed that a transplant of stem-cell derived photoreceptors could rescue vision in mice4. But the transplant involved only rod-shaped receptors, not cone-shaped ones, and would leave the recipient seeing fuzzy images. Sasai’s organically layered structure offers hope that integrated photoreceptor tissue could one day be transplanted. The developmental process could also be adapted to treat a particular disease, and stocks of tissue could be created for transplant and frozen.
Sasai emphasizes that the cells in the optic cup are “pure”, unlike those in two-dimensional aggregates, which may still contain embryonic stem cells. This reduces concerns that transplants of such cells might develop cancerous growths or fragments of unrelated tissues. “It’s like pulling an apple from a tree. You wouldn’t expect iron to be growing inside,” says Sasai. “You’d have no more reason to expect bone to be growing in these eyes.”
Masayo Takahashi, an ophthalmologist at the CBD, has already started transferring sheets of the retina from such optic cups into mice. She plans to do the same with monkeys by the end of the year. The big question is whether transplanted tissue will integrate into native tissue.
Clinicians and stem-cell biologists will also want to know just how easy it will be to repeat Sasai's success. Some at the meeting had already tried and failed to reproduce Sasai’s mouse experiment using human cells. “We need to know how robust, how reproducible it is,” says Smith.
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Causes of Vitiligo
Although researchers don't know the exact reason vitiligo occurs, several theories abound. Some researchers think vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease, while others believe that melanocytes in the skin destroy themselves. Some people have reported that single events, such as sunburns or emotional stress, triggered vitiligo; however, these events have not been scientifically proven to cause the condition.
The cause or causes of vitiligo are unknown, but doctors and researchers have several different theories.
One theory is that vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease. These diseases happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks some part of your body. In vitiligo, the immune system may destroy the melanocytes in the skin. It is also possible that one or more genes may make a person more likely to get vitiligo.
Another theory is that melanocytes destroy themselves. Also, some people have reported that a single event, such as sunburn or emotional distress, triggered vitiligo; however, these events have not been scientifically proven to be a cause of vitiligo.
While not vitiligo causes, per se, certain factors seem to increase a person's chances of developing it. Issues known to be vitiligo risk factors include certain autoimmune diseases and a family history of the disease.
Vitiligo seems to be more common in people with certain autoimmune diseases, including:
- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland)
- Adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease)
- Alopecia areata (patches of baldness)
- Pernicious anemia (a low level of red blood cells caused by failure of the body to absorb vitamin B12).
Scientists do not know the reason for the association between vitiligo and these autoimmune diseases. However, most people with vitiligo have no other autoimmune disease.
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It's a terrible truth, unknown to most Hindus. One million old cattle a year are sold at auction by poor farmers in Tamil Nadu, India. In batches of several hundred, they are herded into trucks, driven miles to the state border, then forced to walk 200 kilometers into Kerala, there to be inhumanely slaughtered in unsanitary conditions. This "death march" is documented in the short film "India's Animals," produced by the Humane Society of the US and narrated by veterinarian Michael Fox.
Once they are bought, little is done to alleviate the animals suffering. They're beaten and shoved into trucks and beaten again and again during the march to Kerala. Those that fall from disease or exhaustion have chili or salt put in their eyes to make them get up. Once at the Kerala slaughterhouse, their throats are slit. In the most gut-wrenching scene in the video, we see cows slowly, consciously, bleed to death.
Fox appeals for this inhumane treatment to stop. The death march, he says, "reflects the paradox of a culture where animals are revered as religious symbols, but real animals are often treated with little compassion or understanding. Beliefs and politics, more than lack of money, block India from humane treatment." Unfortunately, that statement tends to point the finger only at Hindus, leaving out, for example, that Kerala is a communist-run state with a large meat-eating Christian population unsympathetic to cow protection. In fact, most of the meat is sent to Malaysia and Saudi Arabia as halal, meaning killed in the prescribed manner of the Muslim religion--and also Jewish kosher law--slitting the animal's throat.
In an interview with Hinduism Today, Fox did not deny skipping these points, but said in other videos, especially "Animals, Nature and Religion," he and the Humane Society strongly criticized both slaughterhouse practices [see below] and the complicity of Western religions in failing to improve animal treatment. Fox's forthcoming book, India's Sacred Cow: Her Plight and Future, is a comprehensive and balanced treatment of this controversial subject. Still, "India's Animals," could be more accurate in assigning blame for the horrific "death march." For as the Kural says, "If the world did not purchase and consume meat, there would be no one to slaughter and offer meat for sale."
HUMANE SOCIETY, 2100 L STREET, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20037 USA. WEB: www.hsus.org
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Eating is the ingestion of food to provide for all organism their nutritional needs, particularly for energy and growth. Animals and other heterotrophs must eat in order to survive: carnivores eat other animals, herbivores eat plants, omnivores consume a mixture of both plant and animal matter, and detritivores eat detritus. Fungi digest organic matter outside of their bodies as opposed to animals that digest their food inside their bodies. Eating is an activity of daily living.
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Benjamin Moore, 1748-1816
Term of Office: 1775-1776 (president pro tempore)
Following the sudden departure of President Myles Cooper, the Board of Governors, with Cooper's recommendation, appointed King's College graduate Reverend Benjamin Moore ('68 KC) president pro tempore.
Despite the upheaval in New York and the colonies Moore continued to hold classes for two more years, even admitting a new class in 1775. While the arrival of American troops in New York City on April 14, 1776 forced the College to officially close and disperse, two months later, Moore gathered his students at the Wall Street home of one of the members of the Board of Governors and continued to provide instruction, even filing the annual call for matriculants during the summer of 1777, to which at least two boys responded.
NOTE: In 1776, instruction was suspended for the American Revolution. When classes resumed in 1784, the name Columbia College was adopted; the College was governed by a Board of Regents until 1787.
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By happy coincidence and far from its native home in western Sumatra, titum arum, the world’s smelliest bloom, flowered at Paignton Zoo in Devon and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
5 Recent Stories
Humans have about 350 different types of olfactory receptors in the nose, which detect odors and start a signalling process that then messages the brain. These receptors work together to give us a sense of smell. But the nose is not the only place wh...
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| 0.896911 | 105 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Over the past two decades, OECD governments, the private sector and others have spent considerable resources on environmental protection and waste reduction. Yet, waste generation is still on the rise. To help OECD governments address the increase of waste and associated pollution, new policy ideas and concepts have been investigated and developed that could result in longer term solutions and increase resource efficiency. Waste minimisation policy is one broad approach, among others, being examined by OECD. The policy guidance and information provided under the waste minimisation programme give governments an additional tool to help them tackle key environmental challenges such as waste and pollution.
The OECD work programme on waste minimisation began in 1994. The initial step was to compile information on existing policies and tools for waste minimisation in OECD countries. In 1995, the U.S. Government co-hosted with Canada and Mexico OECD’s first waste minimisation workshop in Washington D.C.
The second phase of the OECD Waste Minimisation Programme focused on the development of a common understanding of waste minimisation and its components (strict prevention, reduction at source, product re use, recycling, and, when appropriate, energy recovery). The German government hosted this workshop in 1996.
The two phases of work resulted in a series of OECD publications covering specific waste streams, tools and policy approaches. A general waste minimisation evaluation, as well as national waste minimisation profiles of OECD countries, was published in 1998.
During the third and final phase of the project, the OECD focused its efforts more squarely on the prevention component of waste minimisation. Since wastes are generated throughout the life of economic activities, this phase of work added a resource flow perspective to the initial waste minimisation approach and will comprise waste prevention policy design, target setting, implementation and evaluation. The overall aim of this phase was to develop a Reference Manual on Strategic Waste Prevention (published in 2000).
The last OECD workshop on Waste Minimisation was held in Paris, 4-7 May 1999. It was a joint event focusing on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility. The event was kindly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. The workshop documentation, an overall summary outcome, the workshop agenda, and the list of participants, were published in 2000. The papers and presentations dealing with Extended Producer Responsibility were issued in a separate document.
Following the publication of the OECD Reference Manual on Strategic Waste Prevention, it was clearly recognised that there is a lack of internationally accepted waste prevention indicators. To address this fundamental problem, member countries endorsed in 2000 a multi-year project devoted to examining and developing waste prevention performance indicators. The project was carried out jointly by the Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling and the Working Group on Environmental Information and Outlooks . To launch this project, the OECD held a first international workshop on waste prevention performance indicators in Paris on 8-10 October 2001. The workshop documentation and outcome were published in 2002. Based on the workshop recommendations, work was initiated on drivers for waste generation with the aim to develop pressure indicators for waste prevention. Also work has been undertaken on response indicators and on material flow accounts aiming towards the development of indirect pressure and response indicators for waste prevention. The outcomes of these three projects were published in 2004, and the programme was handed over to the Working Group on Environmental Information and Outlooks.
Although the concept of waste prevention was broadly accepted, it became evident during this project to all involved parties that ever growing waste amounts, waste diversity, and associated risks, are heightening the need for governments to vigorously pursue waste prevention as an essential component of strategy for a sustainable future. Also the associated financial and environmental benefits were broadly recognised, such as reduced investments to waste management, reduced air and water pollution and most notably the reduced emission of greenhouse gases. Also it was demonstrated that measurement of waste prevention is possible and feasible.
Relevant publications and documents
OECD (1996), Washington Waste Minimisation Workshop, Volume 1 and 2, OECD Paris
OECD (1996) Building the basis for a common understanding on Waste Minimisation, outcome of the International Workshop, Berlin, Germany, 16-18 October 1996, OECD, Paris
OECD (1998), Waste Minimisation in OECD Member Countries
OECD (1998), Waste Minimisation Profiles of OECD Member Countries, OECD, Paris
OECD (1998) Considerations for Evaluating Waste Minimisation in OECD Member Countries
OECD (2000), Joint Workshop on EPR and Waste Minimisation Policy in Support of Environmental Sustainability - Waste Minimisation through Prevention
OECD (2000), OECD Reference Manual on Strategic Waste Prevention
OECD (2002), OECD Workshop on Waste Prevention: Toward Performance Indicators, OECD, Paris
OECD (2004), Towards Waste Prevention Performance Indicators, Part 1, 2 and 3, OECD, Paris
OECD (2004), Waste Contract Design and Management for Enhanced Waste Minimisation, OECD, Paris
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We spent Part One explaining the Kabbalah behind the three questions we ask about the stuff around us: What is it?, How is it?, and Why is it? To reiterate, the question of “what” corresponds to the sefirah of chochmah (wisdom), “how” to binah (understanding), and “why” to da’at (knowledge).
Toward the end of Simon Sinek’s talk, he introduces the notion that his theory is well-grounded in the tenets of biology. To explain, he goes on to relate how each of these questions – what, how, and why – correspond to one of the three major components in the human brain.
Since it was mentioned in Simon’s talk, and since thus far his talk has paralleled the teachings of Kabbalah (thus explaining the inner reason for the attraction to the video), it’s an opportunity for us as well to explain the “what, how, and why” sections of the human brain.
While there is something there in what Simon says about the brain, this biology section of the talk is not as clear as the first part. For instance, whereas he states that the neocortex corresponds to the what-level, as we will explain, the what question is rooted in the right hemisphere, whereas the neocortex corresponds actually to the why and where-levels (a fourth level not mentioned in the talk).
The “What Level” of the Brain
According to Kabbalah, the right hemisphere of the cerebrum corresponds to the sefirah of chochmah (wisdom), which we attributed in Part One to the what-level. Biologically, the right hemisphere of the brain is linked to creative and artistic aptitude. Primarily “right hemisphere” people are more intuitive and fast to act on what first comes to mind. This relates to wisdom’s inner experience of selflessness that accompanies the flash of wisdom generated by a new insight.
In Kabbalah, the Hebrew word for wisdom – חָכְמָה – is often explained as the transposition of the two words כֹּחַ מַה (koach mah) meaning “the power of what [i.e. nothing];” As as in the verse where Moses nullifies himself before Israel: “Whatare we [Aaron and I] that you murmur against us!”
So then what “what” does wisdom see? The Divine source of the stuff before us. As mentioned last time, seeing the “spiritual what” corresponds to “the higher father;” the power to spontaneously extract flashes of insight from the super-conscious realm of keter (crown).
The “How Level” of the Brain
If there is a commonality between the biological part of Simon’s presentation and Kabbalah, it is at our present level of how.
The left hemisphere of the cerebrum corresponds to the sefirah of binah (understanding). Biologically, the left hemisphere is linked to mathematical and analytical aptitude. Primarily “left hemisphere” people are more rational and deliberate, and they tend to act on second thought. This relates to understanding’s inner experience of joy, i.e., the joy of conceiving an idea even after the result of much deliberation.
The “Why Level” of the Brain
Since we shuffled around things a bit, according to Kabbalah, the neocortex actually corresponds to the why-level, not the what-level presented in the talk.
The neocortex consists of the greymatter, or neuronal cell bodies, surrounding the deeper white matter (myelinatedaxons) in the cerebrum. Gray (which includes all shades of gray) is the color associated with the sefirah of da’at (knowledge), the sefirah which we corresponded in Part One to the why-level. White is the color of keter (crown), the super-conscious origin of knowledge. So we have white (crown) and grey (knowledge).
Since Simon didn’t present a fourth level in his talk, we can now call this the where-level. Where do creative, innovative thoughts come from? This is the implicit question running throughout his entire presentation.
For more on Kabbalah and biology, please visit TorahScience.org and download the preview PDF on the homepage.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
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The New Nature of History: Knowledge, Evidence, LanguageArthur Marwick
Palgrave, 2001 pp. xvi, 334
Alun MunslowUniversity of Staffordshire
Philosophers, as literary critic John Carey recently remarked, spend their lives fretting over issues that most of us give up bothering about around the age of five onwards. On the very first page of the Preface to The New Nature of History I remark that 'philosophers, because of their a priori attitudes, their rigid conventions, and their specialist language, as well as their lack of practical experience, have the greatest difficulty in understanding what historians actually do.' Historians, as I explain several times; 'systematically analyse primary and secondary sources to produce contributions to knowledge about the past, based on the seeking out of, and careful reflection on all the available evidence, and on logical argument, and are involved in the communication of, and teaching about that knowledge.' By that definition, Alun Munslow, like Keith Jenkins, and Hayden White, is not a historian. However, I do regret being misled by the old British Library catalogue into attributing to Jenkins a pamphlet he did not write. This has already been corrected for the next printing which, it seems, will be very soon - readers wishing to acquire the original imprint should rush out and buy it now! And Professor Munslow should not be too smug: it is he who has confused the two Jenkins Readers - no chance of my having been invited to contribute to the postmodernist one! Anyway my main point about Jenkins, as about White and Munslow, still stands: since they have never themselves done any serious history they are utterly unqualified to write about what historians do, or should do. White, actually, was a failed historian (those interested could check out his earlier career at Cornell University) and ended his, in the end, certainly, very distinguished academic career as Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford University.
On page 2 of the main text, I directly address each individual reader:
you are almost bound to have come across the postmodernist case. I shall be arguing against it, and my hope is that you will be persuaded by what I am saying. But I know that I have no chance of convincing anyone who is already a confirmed postmodernist. Our basic assumptions are different. In my view, writers and teachers should always state their fundamental assumptions and readers and students should always seek to find out what these are.
Professor Munslow's 7,000 odd (very odd!) words of indigestible prose pretty well make my case for me. The most striking thing about his review is the way in which he thinks in rigid, and irrelevant, nineteenth-century categories, and deploys a specialist language which has little or no meaning for historians. Thus he continually converts my clear, direct language into his own jargon, completely distorting my meaning, and making it easy for him to attack a target which doesn't actually exist. At times he flagrantly misquotes what I have said (for example he says that I declare The Historian's Craft 'an incomplete and misleading translation' when all I am referring to is the title).
I state categorically that historians do not 'reconstruct the past' - impossible and absurd task if you just think about it for a moment. Yet Professor Munslow insists that I am a 'reconstructionist', following this up by - this is his favoured form of discourse - putting into my mouth ridiculous phrases which I never have, and never would use: 'getting back to the past', or 'replicating' or 'mimicking' it; 'know the archive, know the past, write the story'; the 'invisible yet empirical hand that directs the historian'. The first of my three fundamental contentions, closely integrated with each other, and not 'isolated' as Munslow claims, is that history is 'bodies of knowledge about the past'. Then in a crucial part of my book, which Munslow totally ignores, I argue that in this respect history is analogous to the individual natural sciences which are 'bodies of knowledge about the natural world and the physical universe.' Historians no more replicate or reconstruct the past than natural scientists replicate or reconstruct aspects of the natural world and the physical universe. I am glad to say that the central part of this argument has recently received support from the Marxist Willie Thompson, in his excellent What Happened to History? (London, 2000). The sciences are fundamentally empirical disciplines; theories empirically disproved are abandoned. Thus I make no apology at all for insisting that history, too, is fundamentally an empirical discipline: of course, a great deal of profound reflection and thought is required as well (Munslow misses my important point that what is needed is thought, not sentiment), together with careful structuring and meticulous use of language. Nor do I apologise for insisting, against Munslow's unsubstantiated fantasies, that 'history' based on a priori theory is worthless.
There is nothing mechanistic or automatic about the production of scientific knowledge. We can, if we like, say that the sciences, and history, involve 'a creative process' - though I would prefer to say a 'thinking' or 'reflexive' process. As with so many of his phrases, Munslow uses this one utterly unreflexively and thus fails to see that while the work of historians is analogous to that of scientists, it is totally different from that of novelists and poets - the latter are fully entitled to use all the resonances and ambiguities of language and the richness of metaphor, while historians should work overtime to achieve absolute explicitness and precision. History, like the sciences, is a collaborative enterprise, a critical part of my explication of history which Munslow scarcely comprehends. And he completely misrepresents what I call the auteur theory of history. This is only tangentially related to postmodernism, but refers explicitly to such historians as (I name names) Trevelyan, Trevor-Roper, Cannadine, Norman Davies, Niall Ferguson, and Leroy Ladurie. While I fully recognise that all of these have made substantial contributions to historical knowledge I am critical of the way in which they try to present themselves as individual literary giants, akin to best-selling novelists, and are rather contemptuous of the hard work done by the hundreds of dedicated professional historians: my view of the historical profession is a profoundly democratic one.
My problem with the auteurs is that their self-evaluation as subjective geniuses gives a misleading impression of the historical profession, and is seized upon by philosophers and postmodernists. Personally, I think it is better to describe historians as 'fallible' rather than 'subjective'. I freely admit that historians (like scientists) can often get things wrong, attributing this to the intractability of the sources, the fact that the study of the past involves value judgements, and also to bees in the bonnet, synchophancy towards a patron, the desire to be in fashion, the seeking after fame or promotion, and, frankly, humble error. To drive this point home in a memorable but light-hearted way, I suggest that readers should always be ready to discount about twenty per cent of any otherwise reliable book. In his ponderous way Munslow makes a great meal of this. The serious point I am making is that since one single book on, say, the French Revolution, may contain unreliable elements, the sensible thing to do is to read four or five books. Incidentally I am driving home here the importance of secondary sources, the books written by historians. If you want to quickly learn about a particular historical topic, it is to them you should turn. Single primary sources, apart, perhaps, from giving some insight into the language and mentalities of a past society, are of very little use. Munslow is puzzled by my attitude to the phrase 'the facts'. 'Forget Facts, Foreground sources' is a chapter title in which I permit myself a touch of rhetoric. My point is that 'fact', 'facts', and 'the facts' can be rather imprecise terms: I suggest that for the historian, rather than asking, 'is it a fact?', it is better to ask 'is it based on evidence?'
'Whether Professor Marwick likes it or not, it is historians who write history....' What an astonishing and ignorant statement on Munslow's part! - my entire book is about historians and their purposes and methods. At all times I drive home the critical distinction between 'history' and 'the past'. But if history is what historians produce, why does Munslow's idol, Hayden White, need the pompous word 'historiography'? That word, I argue, instead of being used as a high-falutin' substitute for 'history' should be reserved for 'writings about historians and their methods and purposes' (my own book, perhaps). Munslow attributes to me the belief that the application of the fundamental, but ever-expanding historical methods, which (this is one of the book's great strengths) I explicate in great detail, enables historians to grasp 'the meaning' or ' the true nature' of the past. Frankly these are philosophical concepts which I simply regard as irrelevant. What historians address are specific limited (though never that limited!) problems and topics relating to the past. The notion that any historian could create, or would want to create, a complete representation of the past is daft: Munslow, like most philosophers, simply misunderstands the aims of working historians. He declares my taxonomy of thirteen different types of primary sources to be no substitute for 'some serious thinking'. On the contrary, all serious students of history will find this taxonomy extremely useful, particularly since I lay detailed emphasis on the weaknesses, as well as the strengths, presented by different types of sources. I also go into great detail over the manner in which the 'unwitting testimony' of sources is often much more valuable to the historian than the 'witting testimony'. I lay great stress on:
the fallible and intractable nature of the [primary] sources, numbingly copious in some areas, scarce and fragmentary in others. Much has to be garnered indirectly and by inference: attitudes to spouses from wills, responses to crime, not from the letter of the law, but from the extent and manner of its enforcement; the nature of social hierarchy from everything from wage rates to novels. No one but the historian knows the exciting promise of the most unpromising source; no one but the historian knows the frustrating opacity and sheer uninformativeness of the most seductive ones.
I also stress that while historians may well be looking in the primary sources 'for events, great and small, their dates and chronology', they will also 'be looking for interconnections between them, and between them and "facts"'.
More generally, historians are looking for material conditions, and changes in them; states of mind; the working of institutions; motivations, mentalities, values; the balances between intention and accomplishment...Historians will go into the archives conscious of a great number of 'facts' derived from the secondary sources: they will then be involved in processes of corroboration, qualification, correction; working in the primary sources, they are continually accumulating details, refining nuances.
Whether or not this is 'serious thinking', I believe it will be enormously helpful to students in illuminating the actual activities of historians. One of the insistent messages of my book is that we should be extremely careful in the language that we use and beware of the freight of assumptions that many conceptual terms carry with them. I simply don't accept the way Munslow uses such words as: 'meaning', 'truth', 'theory', 'short stories', 'narratives'. I disagree that we are inevitably forced into using metaphors, and I very strongly counsel against the use of such metaphors as 'defining moment', 'cultural script', 'collective memory', or 'discursive domains'. These are matters well worth discussing but, of course, Munslow ignores them. He also fails to see how vitally important it is that we should inform the public that films are always fiction, and never permissible 'constructions of the past'. I take it that he is quite impervious to the controversy over U-571?
Munslow's claim that postmodernism provides 'an additional level of armour' against holocaust deniers, is a despicable inversion of the truth. If there is no historical objectivity there can be no way of disproving the fantasies of the holocaust deniers. It is because of the sound methodology of historians that we can expose the mythologies that there was no Holocaust, no expropriation of Zulu territory by the Boer settlers, no Armenian genocide in Turkey during the First World War.
According to Munslow, The New Nature of History contains many 'descents into wanton professional abuse.' Munslow refers to my 'crude tub-thumping', 'much spleen', 'blustering and abusive book', 'strident' tone, 'under-theorised and weak arguments', 'prejudice rather than serious thought', 'political narrow-mindedness and simple intellectual confusion', 'personal prejudice', and 'regrettable/ludicrous/bizarre/funny/plainly wrong statements'. No doubt he sees these phrases as ascents into philosophical rigour. It is perfectly true that I detest the kind of gentlemanly Oxbridge fudge which for so long left unchallenged confusing and inaccurate statements about the historian's activities (by Collingwood, etc), and I pride myself in expressing my views trenchantly and unambiguously. When Munslow writes that the past is 'unknowable' and that history is an 'improbable discipline', when he says that historians like me believe that 'all historical knowledge must start and end with the sources' and that 'the meaning of the past...lies dormant in the sources' he could be doing dreadful damage to the history of the historians, save that our discipline is far too strong, far too well-established, and far too popular to be destabilised by his ranting. Nonetheless, my heart bleeds for the poor students at Staffordshire University getting this nonsense rather than a genuine induction into that wonderful subject, history. Personally, I find it unforgivable when academics, instead of concentrating on the difficult task of 'trying to find out what actually happened', switch to the allegedly more 'important and morally useful' discussion of history 'as a cultural discourse or practice'.
Colleagues and students will judge the utility of The New Nature of History. My concluding paragraph is:
At its very core history must be a scholarly discipline, based on thorough analysis of the evidence, and in the writing up of which language is deployed with the utmost precision. There must be constant awareness of the methods and principles of that discipline, constant attention to how it is taught, and how, at different levels, it is communicated to wider audiences. I believe The New Nature of History: Knowledge, Evidence, Language to be a necessary book, but I now eagerly return to serious research and, I hope, the production of history, rather than mere historiography and historical epistemology.
At least, unlike Munslow, I have written a fair amount of archive-based history on topics of, I would say, some significance. And, despite Munslow's snide remarks, it simply is the fact that I have 'thought longer and harder...than most other members of the profession about the nature of history': the original version of my 'Introduction to History' for first-year Open University students appeared in 1971 and revised versions have been appearing ever since. I am perhaps less conceited than Munslow would seem to be suggesting, openly confessing to the many imperfections of the three editions of the old The Nature of History: 'Even in the 1989 edition many sentences and phrases were sloppy and lacking in that precision all historians should aim at. I believe I have done a little better this time'. I remark that: 'Particularly in the old Chapters 1, 4 and 7, there was much that now seems of little importance, or even interest, and that has been cut ('junk cuts', you might say, if in a light-hearted mood)'.
According to Munslow my book is a sour diatribe against my fellow historians. On the contrary, it is a joyous celebration of the immense achievements of professional history. I list the reasons for studying history, and identify the learning Outcomes arising from that study. Above all we need history because the past dominates the present, and will dominate the future. We need all of the sub-histories: political, diplomatic, economic, and national, as well as social and cultural and comparative. We need an understanding of the distant past as well as the recent. Do we need Munslow? The current number of the Social History Society Bulletin contains another pasting of him (by Harold Perkin). One has to admire Munslow's resilience. But does he really have to go on boring the pants off us?
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Rising Poverty in the American Suburbs: A Presentation by Dr. Katrin Anacker in the REALTOR® University Speaker Series
In a presentation at a REALTOR® University Speaker Series held recently, Dr. Katrin Anacker, Associate Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University’s School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs, presented the major findings of her recently published edited book, “The New American Suburb: Poverty, Race, and the Economic Crisis.” The book looks at the economic transformation of American suburbs, which have increasingly seen rising poverty in the wake of slow recovery after the housing downturn and the Great Recession.
According to Kneebone and Nadeau, suburban poverty increased from 2000 to 2005-2009 (Chart 1). In the 100 largest metropolitan areas, the total population in suburban extreme poverty tracts, where 40 percent or more of the population is poor, increased by 36 percent (from about 907,000 in 2000 to about 1.24 million in 2005-2009). The poor population living in these suburban extreme poverty tracts rose 40.6 percent (from about 400,000 to about 570,000). The fastest growth in poverty occurred in exurban extreme poverty tracts, where the total population and the number of poor people more than doubled from 2000 to 2005-2009.
Chart 1.Lee, Green Leigh, and McMillan analyzed longitudinal data and also found rising poverty in the inner-ring suburbs from 1970 to 2007 (Chart 2). Here, the poverty rate increased from less than 10 percent in 1970 to about 15 percent in 2007. Rising poverty in the inner-ring suburbs is correlated with although not necessarily caused by the decline in college-educated population (Chart 3).
As these studies show, suburban poverty has increased sharply after the housing market collapse in 2006 and the slow economic recovery after the recession, which technically ended in June 2009. One of the reasons for the slow recovery in the suburbs is that many of them are less able to draw from public resources to deal with the aftermath of the crises in subprime lending, foreclosure, and possible long-term economic decline. According to the Keating, who conducted three case studies of foreclosures in the Cleveland metropolitan area, suburban stakeholders have faced a more severe lack of municipal resources to address the current economic situation. At the same time, many suburban municipalities have found themselves in dire straits during a time of increasing needs yet decreasing revenues, for example through the local property tax. Roth and Allard show that the suburban infrastructure lags behind the somewhat well-established infrastructure in central cities, indicating the need for improvements by the public and private sectors, and possibly philanthropy.
For more information on the book “The New American Suburb: Poverty, Race, and the Economic Crisis”, please contact [email protected].
REALTOR® University provides on-line education on real estate and other topics at the MBA and undergraduate levels. The REALTOR® University Speaker Series provides a venue to learn about and stimulate discussion of economic and real estate issues in support of NAR’s mission as the Voice of Real Estate. The Speaker Series presentations can be accessed on this webpage.
The REALTOR® University Speaker Series on “The New American Suburb: Poverty, Race, and the Economic Crisis” was held on December 7, 2015 at the NAR Washington Office.
- Existing-home sales decreased 3.4 percent in October from one month prior while new home sales increased 10.7 percent. These headline figures are seasonally adjusted figures and are reported in the news. However, for everyday practitioners, simple raw counts of home sales are often more meaningful than the seasonally adjusted figures. The raw count determines income and helps better assess how busy the market has been.
- Specifically, 447,000 existing-homes were sold in October while new home sales totaled 41,000. These raw counts represent a 5 percent loss for existing-home sales from one month prior while new home sales increased 21 percent. What was the trend in the recent years? Sales from September to October increased by 3 percent on average in the prior three years for existing-homes and 5 percent for new homes. So this year, existing-homes underperformed compared to their recent norm while new home sales outperformed.
- Why are seasonally adjusted figures reported in the news? To assess the overall trending direction of the economy, nearly all economic data – from GDP and employment to consumer price inflation and industrial production – are seasonally adjusted to account for regular events we can anticipate have an effect on data around the same time each year. For example, if December raw retail sales rise by, say, 20 percent, we should not celebrate this higher figure if it is generally the case that December retail sales rise by 35 percent because of holiday gift buying activity. Similarly, we should not say that the labor market is crashing when the raw count on employment declines in September just as the summer vacation season ends. That is why economic figures are seasonally adjusted with special algorithms to account for the normal seasonal swings in figures and whether there were more business days (Monday to Friday) during the month. When seasonally adjusted data say an increase, then this is implying a truly strengthening condition.
- What to expect about home sales in the upcoming months in terms of raw counts? Independent of headline seasonally adjusted figures, expect less activity in November for existing-home sales. For example, in the past 3 years, November sales slipped by 4 to 21 percent from October. In contrast, existing-home sales typically rose in December by 7 to 18 percent. For the new home sales market, the raw sales activity in November tends to be less than that occurring in October, and activity gets better in December. For example, in the past 3 years, November sales dropped by 3 to 18 percent from October while December sales rose 13 percent last year.
- There are plenty of new jobs in the states in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones and in a few southern states. Idaho, Utah, and Nevada are leaders. The Pacific states of California, Oregon, and Washington as well as the southern states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are among the top ten job creating states.
- Indiana is the best performer from the Midwest, while Massachusetts is the only state from the Northeast doing better than average. Energy producing states are suffering. Low oil prices have led to job cuts in Louisiana and North Dakota. West Virginia coal mining jobs are vanishing.
- In terms of “momentum,” there are 36 states with stronger job conditions in the latest data compared to the prior month. This is good news regarding strengthening support for real estate in more states.
- As would be expected the states with consistent and fast job gains will be the ones experiencing stronger housing market conditions. The national forecast of existing home sales is expected to rise by about 2 percent in 2016. Idaho and Utah can easily expect to surpass that national growth figure.
- As for metros, the Silicon Valley in San Jose is still on fire with a 5.1 percent job growth rate. Cape Coral-Ft. Myers and Orlando are creating a bunch of jobs, possibly implying more retirees moving into Florida. Hard to explain, but Grand Rapids, Michigan has been a consistent outperformer with the latest growth rate of 3.8 percent.
- As an aside, with Idaho now at the top position, the state is not only about potatoes. Though job creation is in the cities and towns, a visitor will absorb the vast empty land with many cows roaming the open range. At times, one can spot a cowboy herding cattle. One cowboy recalled his days moving the herd from Texas to Colorado and further beyond, involving steady circling to squeeze the herd into a tight space for the night, traveling through steady rain for days, cooking over an open fire, etc. He said these were the happiest days of his life. Somehow, we know this statement to be true yet most of us cannot get ourselves out of the city to live that life.
In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, NAR asks REALTORS® “In the neighborhood or area where you make most of your sales, what are your expectations for residential property prices over the next year?” The map below shows the median expected price change in the next 12 months for each state, reported in the October 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report (http://www.realtor.org/reports/realtors-confidence-index) .10
REALTOR® respondents from Florida were the most upbeat, with a median expected price growth in the range of five to six percent. In Washington, Nevada, and Colorado, the median expected price growth among respondents was four to five percent.
Nationally, REALTORS® who responded to the October 2015 survey expected prices to increase by 3.2 percent over the next 12 months (3.2 percent in September 2015; 3.0 percent in October 2014). REALTORS® expect the recent strong price growth to moderate as rising prices have made homes “unaffordable” for many, with home prices almost at par with their levels prior to the housing downturn.
10 In generating the median price expectation at the state level, we use data for the last three surveys to have close to 30 observations. Small states such as AK, ND, SD, MT, VT, WY, WV, DE, and D.C., may have less than 30 observations.
In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, NAR asks REALTORS® “What are your expectations for the housing market over the next six months compared to the current state of the market in the neighborhood or area where you make most of your sales?” The map below shows the REALTORS® Confidence Index – Six-Month Outlook across property types by state based on responses from August-October 2015, reported in the October 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
In the single-family homes market, all states, except for Vermont and Connecticut, had broadly “strong” to “very strong” markets. States with large oil-related sectors such as Texas, North Dakota, and Louisiana still had a broadly “strong” housing market despite the continuing slump in oil prices. Sustained job creation, the low interest rate environment, the offering of three percent downpayment conventional mortgages, and lower mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans are likely sustaining the positive outlook for single-family homes.
In the townhomes market, 13 states had broadly “strong” markets, which included California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
The condominium market remains broadly “weak” except in nine states such as California, Washington, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Michigan, and Florida. REALTORS® have reported difficulty in accessing condominium unit purchase financing for both FHA-insured and GSE-backed loans. Only 20 percent of condominiums are eligible for FHA condominium unit financing because of strict eligibility criteria such as those pertaining to occupancy requirements and delinquency dues.
The market outlook for each state is based on data for the last three months to increase the observations for each state. Small states such as AK, ND, SD, MT, VT, WY, WV, DE, and D.C., may have less than 30 observations. Respondents rated conditions or expectations as “Strong (100)”, “Moderate (50)”, and “Weak (0).” The responses are compiled into a diffusion index. Values 25 and lower are considered “very weak”, values greater than 25 to 49 are considered “weak”, a value of 50 is considered “moderate”, values greater than 50 to 75 are considered “strong”, and values greater than 76 are considered “very strong”.
Macroeconomic conditions downshifted in the third quarter of this year. Real gross domestic product (GDP) advanced at an annual rate of 2.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s second estimate. The gain remained below the long-run historical average of 3.0 percent.
On the upside, employment gains—especially in the professional and business services sector—boosted demand for office space. Commercial lease space continued advancing in the third quarter of 2015. While construction has been ramping up across all property types, the gap between demand and supply continued to add downward pressure on availability.
Office net absorption totaled 14.6 million square feet in the third quarter of 2015, gaining strength with each consecutive quarter this year, based on data from JLL. New completions totaled 26.6 million square feet over the first nine months of this year, with the development pipeline gaining 8.5 million square feet in the third quarter. Overall office vacancies declined 20 basis points from the second quarter, to 15.1 percent in the third quarter. Rents for office properties rose 1.6 percent during the third quarter, bringing the 2015 cumulative gain to 4.3 percent.
Commercial fundamentals in REALTORS® markets continued improving during the third quarter 2015. Leasing volume during the third quarter rose 3.8 percent compared with the second quarter 2015. Leasing rates advanced at a steady pace, rising 2.5 percent in the third quarter, compared with the 2.7 percent advance in the previous quarter. Office vacancies increased 30 basis points to 16.0 percent compared with a year ago.
Tenant demand remained strongest in the 5,000 square feet and below, accounting for 72 percent of leased properties. However, demand for space in the 5,000 – 7,499 square feet more than doubled during the third quarter, comprising 13 percent of total. Lease terms remained steady, with 36-month and 60-month leases capturing 64 percent of the market.
To access the Commercial Real Estate Outlook: 2015.Q4 report visit http://www.realtor.org/reports/commercial-real-estate-outlook.
In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, NAR asks REALTORS® “How would you describe the past month’s housing market in the neighborhood or area where you make most of your sales?” The map below shows the traffic indices based on responses from August-October 2015, reported in the October 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
Buyer traffic, measured by the REALTORS® Buyer Traffic Index, was “moderate” to “very strong” across most states. Sustained job creation, the low interest rate environment, the offering of three percent downpayment conventional mortgages, and lower mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans are likely sustaining the strong demand for existing homes.
Meanwhile, seller traffic, measured by the REALTORS® Seller Traffic Index, was broadly “weak” across most states, except in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Texas, Maine, and Alaska. REALTORS® reported low inventory of properties in the lower price range and for those that are move-in ready.
The index for each state is based on data for the last three months to increase the observations for each state. Small states such as AK, ND, SD, MT, VT, WY, WV, DE, and D.C., may have less than 30 observations. Respondents were asked “How do you rate the past month’s buyer traffic in the neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make most of your sales?” The responses were “Strong (100)”, “Moderate (50),” and “Weak (0).” Respondents rated conditions or expectations as “Strong (100)”, “Moderate (50)”, and “Weak (0).” The responses are compiled into a diffusion index. Values 25 and lower are considered “very weak”, values greater than 25 to 49 are considered “weak”, a value of 50 is considered “moderate”, values greater than 50 to 75 are considered “strong”, and values greater than 76 are considered “very strong”.
Commercial sales transactions span the price spectrum, but tend to be measured and reported based on size. CRE deals at the higher end—$2.5 million and above—comprise a large share of investment sales, and generally receive most of the press coverage. Smaller commercial transactions tend to be obscured given their size. However, these smaller properties provide the types of commercial space that the average American encounters on a daily basis—e.g. strip shopping centers, warehouses, small offices, supermarkets, etc. These are the types of buildings that are important in local communities, and REALTORS® are active in serving these markets.
The National Association of REALTORS® Commercial Real Estate Outlook: 2015.Q4 report focuses on market performance in both large (LCRE) and small commercial (SCRE) sectors. The report provides an overview of economic indicators, investment sales and leasing fundamentals.
Macroeconomic activity throttled back during the third quarter of 2015. Based on the second estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, real gross domestic product (GDP) rose at an annual rate of 2.1 percent. In comparison, second quarter growth measured 3.9 percent, while the third quarter 2014 rate of growth was 4.3 percent.
Payroll employment rose by 501,000 positions in the third quarter, bringing total new jobs to 1.8 million from January through September of 2015. Professional and business services accounted for the bulk of new hires, followed by education and health, as well as leisure and hospitality. The retail trade, construction and manufacturing sectors also provided solid figures over the period. The unemployment rate declined from 5.4 percent in the second quarter to 5.1 percent in the third quarter.
Even with economic fundamentals softening, demand for commercial space continued improving across all property types. Vacancy rates in LCRE and SCRE markets converged, as the rebound has been broadening in secondary and tertiary markets.
Commercial investment sales have been riding a wave of global capital searching for yield, coupled with continuing low interest rates. The volume of commercial sales in LCRE markets during the third quarter of this year slowed noticeable, rising only three percent on a yearly basis, according to Real Capital Analytics. The main driver in the slowdown was the decline in portfolio transactions. Prices increased by 14.2 percent in the third quarter, driven by strong appreciation of apartment and CBD office properties.
In comparison, sales in SCRE markets rose seven percent year-over-year during the third quarter, based on REALTORS® market data. With inventory shortage continuing as a main concern, price appreciation moved four percent higher compared with the third quarter of 2014.
Cap rates in SCRE markets were, on average, higher by 103 basis points compared with cap rates in LCRE markets. With the interest rate on 10-year Treasury Notes averaging 2.2 percent during the third quarter of 2015, the spread between cap rates and 10-year Treasury Notes ranged from 470 basis points in LCRE markets to 573 basis points in SCRE markets. The large spread indicates that CRE investors continue to enjoy healthy returns in rebounding markets.
The outlook for the last quarter of 2015 remains positive. With economic growth expected to remain moderately positive, demand for commercial properties will continue to provide downward pressure on vacancy rates. As funding sources increase, commercial real estate investments are projected to close over $500 billion by the end of the year.
To access the Commercial Real Estate Outlook: 2015.Q4 report visit http://www.realtor.org/reports/commercial-real-estate-outlook.
Active military and veterans comprised 21 percent of all home buyers in 2015 ̶ a sizable subset worth exploring their purchasing preferences, according to NAR’s 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report released in November 2015.
Let’s take a quick look at the demographics for these two groups combined. The median age for this subgroup was 48, whereas active military was typically 34 years old and veterans were 61 years. The median price of a home they purchased was $223,000, which is consistent with all buyers. Twenty-eight percent were first-time home buyers and 81 percent bought previously owned homes. Active military and veterans were most likely to buy single-family homes at 86 percent. However, only 85 percent worked directly with an agent or broker, slightly down from 88 percent compared to all buyers.
Unique Facts about Active Military and Veterans:
- 18 percent bought multigenerational homes compared to 13 percent for all buyers
- 21 percent were relocated due to a job compared to only eight percent for all buyers
- Median income for active military and veterans is $79,500, which is lower than $86,100 for all buyers
- Median home size purchased was 2,100 square feet whereas the median for all buyers was 1,900
- 41 percent of this group used virtual tours to help them purchase their home, more than any other demographic group
Veterans relocated to three areas of the country more often than any other region, including the West North Central, East South Central, and the Mountain region. These three regions combined encompass the central part of the United States where the states are less densely populated and away from large metropolitan cities on either the east or west coast.
By all credible measures, access to credit has been constrained in recent years. The market appears to have loosened in the spring of 2015 though, followed by another modest improvement in the late summer. However, credit remains tight by historical standards and there are storm clouds on the horizon.
Starting in 2012, there was a steady decline in the average FICO on accepted FHA applications as the FHA increased its mortgage insurance fees, private mortgage insurers recapitalized and recovered, and borrowers migrated into the cheaper conventional space. However, the average FICO score for rejected applications in both the conventional and FHA spaces, 725 and 668 respectively, were relatively unchanged and significantly above levels on accepted applications from 2001 suggesting that overlays were limiting downward movement in these measures.
The average FICO score on rejected FHA applications began to fluctuate in the summer of 2014, but in the 4th quarter of 2015 the average FICO scores on a rejected application fell in both the conventional and FHA space. This pattern accelerated in the spring of 2015, following overhaul of the representation and warranties framework for the GSEs, changes in FHA pricing, renewed confidence among consumers with lower credit scores, and clarification of the FHA’s defect taxonomy. Conversely, the average accepted FICO in the FHA space rose reflecting the migration of some borrowers from the GSEs to the FHA as a result of the FHA’s 50 basis point reduction in its mortgage insurance premium in January of 2015.
The reduction in the average FICO score on a rejected application is a signal of an important change. Some lenders including Wells Fargo indicated that they would reduce overlays on FHA mortgages in early 2014. The eventual decline in the average rejected FICO suggests that this did in fact occur, but it was not widely signaled to consumers, consumers were constrained in other ways, or that there were only a limited number of lenders willing to make these loans until later in 2014. More recently, though, lenders have indicated concern about the FHA’s proposed changes to its certification policy and Wells Fargo along with a number of other lenders indicated that they would reinstitute overlays on FHA loans. The average FICO on a rejected application rose from 627 to 630 from September to October. This measure can be volatile and the FHA’s policy would not explain why the average FICO on rejected conventional applications rose as well, so time will tell whether the reemergence of overlays will have a persistent impact. Regardless of recent trends, the average FICO on an accepted application remains nearly 40 points higher on conventional loans and 20 points higher on FHA mortgages.
Credit scores are not the only dimension for overlays though. Loan-to-value ratios or down payments can also be used to limited access to credit, but as evidenced by the chart above low down payment loans were available at the FHA. The steady rise in the average LTV on accepted conventional loans from 2011 to 2013 reflects the renewed health and return of private mortgage insurers as well as excessive pricing by the FHA.
The average front-end debt to income ratio (DTI) climbed through the middle of 2013 for both conventional and FHA accepted applications as mortgage rates jumped following the taper tantrum. International instability drove rates lower in early 2015 and caused the average front end DTI in both channels to moderate, but this pattern was reversed by mid-summer. Meanwhile, the average for rejected FHA applications fell sharply and remains below its average from 2011 to 2014, a sign that the FHA’s 50 basis point reduction improved affordability for the marginal borrower.
The average back-end DTI ratio on an accepted FHA or conventional loan has changed little in the last four years at roughly 41 percent and 36 percent, respectively. This pattern suggests that despite the GSEs having an exemption on the back-end DTI requirements of the Ability to Repay (ATR) rule while in conservatorship, the bulk of originations are observing the 43 percent back-end DTI restriction. The same is true in the FHA space. However, the average back-end ratio on a rejected application has climbed to 50 percent in October of 2015 from 47 percent in the summer of 2014.
The recent trend of overlay relief suggests that mortgage originators and investors have become more comfortable with regulatory and legal risks in the post-Great Recession paradigm. However, overlays on credit scores remain historically high, while the current environment does not resemble the extreme risk taking behavior from 2001 to 2005. Lenders and insurers regularly impose compensating factors on borrowers who have risky elements in their credit profile. Furthermore, regulators have imposed significant increases in capital requirements and lenders price risk appropriately. While not complete, signs point to significant strides in healing the mortgage market.
REALTORS® generally reported improved housing market conditions in October 2015 compared to a year ago, according to the October 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
The confidence and traffic indices all increased compared to a year ago. Compared to September 2015, market activity eased, in part due to the seasonal slowdown across many local markets at this time of the year. Sustained job creation, the low interest rate environment, the availability of three percent downpayment conventional mortgages, and the reduction of mortgage insurance premiums for FHA-insured loans are likely sustaining the housing market recovery.
First-time home buyers accounted for 31 percent of sales, essentially unchanged from the previous months’ figures. Cash sales made up 24 percent of sales, purchases for investment purposes accounted for 13 percent of sales, and distressed properties dropped to six percent of sales. Properties typically sold within 57 days nationally compared to 63 days a year ago.
Based on the American Community Survey 2014, the typical homeowner is 45-54 years old, married, and lives in a single-family detached unit. In contrast, the typical renter is 25-34 years old living alone in multi-unit structures (mostly with 5-9 units).
Identifying specific characteristics of homeowners and renters can help us understand an individual’s tenure choice: whether they decide to rent or to own. Households locate across the country based on individual’s preferences for certain neighborhoods, walkability, access to public transport, social characteristics and many other factors. This means that the homeownership rate vary from metro area to metro area. Indeed, the homeownership rate is less than 50% in the following four metro areas: College Station-Bryan, TX (47.7%), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (48.3%), Hinesville, GA (48.5%), Merced, CA (49.8%). Demographics may give an answer to why those metro areas had more renters than owners.
Let’s examine the demographics for both owners and renters at the metropolitan level.
Homeowners: The largest share of homeowners falls within the age bracket between 45-54 years old in 2014. However, there are metro areas where the largest share of homeowners is in a younger age bracket. In our recent study “Best Purchase Markets for Aspiring Millennial Homebuyers”, we identified the top metro areas where millennials move to and we concluded that these markets are well-positioned to experience a rise in first-time home buyers. Indeed, we see that in most of those metro areas the largest share of homeowners is in the 35-44 year age-group instead of the 45-54 year age-group. This seems to occur because of the influx of millennials who increase the share of younger owners. Here is the list of metro areas with largest shares of homeowners in the age-range 35-44 years:
On the other hand, baby boomers seem to move to sunnier metro areas to retire. Here is the list of some metro areas where the largest share of homeowners is 65-74 years old (above the typical age):
Renters: A typical renter is 25-34 years old. However, the largest share of renters rises to the 35-44 year age range in the following areas. Those metro areas seem to experience an increase in homeownership as renters get closer to the typical age of owners.
Homeowners: There are metro areas which are more diverse than other areas. Diversity is higher in California, Hawaii and the metro areas in the South. The smaller the share of the largest group, the more diverse metro area is. For instance, in San Jose, CA that is 58% White (the largest group), 34% Asian, 1% Black owners is more diverse than Atlanta, GA that is 68% White, 25% Black owners and 5% Asian.
Based on the second axiom of urban economics, change is self-reinforcing, thus it is expected that the diversity of the following areas will continue to increase. Here is a list of the most diverse metro areas in homeowners:
Washington, DC is also one of the most diverse metro areas with 66% White, 21% Black, 9% Asian owners.
Let’s see which metro areas had the highest concentration of home owners of each race in 2014:
White (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Owners Dubuque, IA
98.4%Fond du Lac, WI
98.3%La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Black (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Owners Pine Bluff, AR
Asian (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Owners Urban Honolulu, HI
56.4%San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
33.8%San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
24.6%Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Renters: While the national homeownership rate decreased for every race group from 2013 to 2014, the gap between the ownership rates for Blacks and Whites slightly increased from a year ago. Specifically in 2014, at national level, 41% of Black householders own a house versus 59% who rent. In contrast, 69% of White householders own a house while 31% who rent.
Here are the metro areas with the highest concentration of renters of each race in 2014:
White (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Renters Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
93.8%Coeur d’Alene, ID
93.8%Eau Claire, WI
Black (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Renters Albany, GA
68.1%Pine Bluff, AR
Asian (including Hispanic or Latino origin)Metro Area Share of Renters Urban Honolulu, HI
31.0%San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
25.8%San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Homeowners: Homeowners are most commonly married couples. However, there are many people living alone who own a place as well. The metro areas below attract the most single owners:
Renters: In contrast, renters are more likely to be single. Here are the metro areas that buck the trend with the highest share of married couples who rent a house:
Units of structure:
Homeowners: While the vast majority of owners buy single family homes, housing units in multi-unit structures or essentially condominiums are their second choice. In some metro areas, the share of multi-unit owners is significantly high (28% of the total owners). Geographically, people tend to buy housing units in multi-unit structures in coastal and urban areas where density is high, affordability is low, and the gap between the price of a single family home and a condo is big. Here is the list of the metro areas with the highest share of owners of a housing unit in a multi-unit structure:Metro Area Share of Ownersliving in multi-unit structure Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
27.8%Urban Honolulu, HI
26.6%New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
24.1%Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Renters: On the other hand, the typical renter lives in a housing unit in multi-unit structure. However, in the following metro areas there are more individuals that rent a single family home than a housing unit in multi-unit structure.Metro Area Share of Renters living in single family home Madera, CA
Note: If the estimates do not sum to 100% this indicates that data for this geographic area for certain racial groups cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.
- NAR released a summary of existing-home sales data showing that the housing market sales pace slowed down from last month, as October’s existing-home sales reach the 5.36 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. October existing-home sales marks 13 consecutive months of year over year gains, and sales are up 3.9 percent from a year ago.
- The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $219,600 in October, up 5.8 percent from a year ago, October 2014.
- Regionally, all four regions showed growth in prices from a year ago. The West had the largest gain at 8.0 percent while the Northeast had the smallest gain at 1.3 percent from last October.
- From September, no region saw gains in sales. The West had the biggest decrease at 8.7 percent while the Northeast was flat. All regions showed gains in sales from a year ago. The Northeast had the biggest increase of 8.6 percent while the South had the smallest gain of 0.5 percent. The South leads all regions in percentage of national sales at 38.6 percent while the Northeast has the smallest share at 13.7 percent.
- October’s inventory figure decreased 2.3 percent from last month and is also down 4.5 percent from a year ago. It will take 4.8 months to move the current level of inventory at the current sales pace. It takes approximately 57 days for a home to go from listing to a contract in the current housing market compared to 63 days a year ago.
- Single family sales decreased 3.7 percent while condos also fell 1.6 percent compared to last month. Single family home sales increased 4.6 percent and condo sales are down 1.6 percent from a year ago. Both single family and condos had an increase in price with single family up 6.3 percent and condos up modestly at 1.6 percent from a year ago, October 2014.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the conforming loan limits for 2016 today. Limits will rise in a 39 counties around the country. The national conforming limit remains unchanged, but could rise in the near future.
Every year, the FHFA evaluates home price growth at the national level in order to adjust the national conforming loan limit. That limit currently stands at $417,000 and will not change in 2016 despite several years of strong price growth. However, the loan limit in certain high-cost areas will rise. The high cost limit is defined as the lesser of 1.15 times the local median home price or 1.5 times the national conforming limit or $625,500. Thus, for an area with a median price of $400,000, the conforming limit in that county would be $460,000 as its median times 115 percent is greater than the national conforming limit and below the high-cost limit.
For fiscal year 2016, the FHFA announced an increase in limits for 39 counties, most of which are concentrated in Denver, Boston, Seattle, and Nashville, and four markets in California that include San Diego (see bottom table). No counties will see a decline in their limit.
In 2007, the national conforming loan limit was frozen at $417,000 as the economy entered the great recession. As home prices fell, the limit was held constant until subsequent price growth could justify raising it above the 2007 level. Earlier this year the FHFA requested public comment on which measure of home price growth to use to adjust the national conforming loan limit. A new price index was chosen to adjust the conforming limit, but of significance was the implication that the FHFA was anticipating an imminent increase in the loan limit. Based on the new methodology chosen, the current price level remains roughly 3.7 percent below the seasonally adjusted level from the third quarter of 2007 when the limit was frozen. NAR is currently forecasting quarterly annualized price growth of nearly 4.7 percent for the four-quarter period ending in the 3rd quarter of 2016 suggesting that the conforming limit may rise in 2017 based on the new methodology. As depicted below, the FHFA’s seasonally adjusted purchase index, an alternative measure of price growth comprised only of data from mortgages backed by the GSEs, is 0.3% higher than the 3rd quarter of 2007.
FHFA’s Decision Impacts FHA Borrowers
The conforming loan limit is doubly important as it also defines the maximum loan amount that can be financed through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA’s national limit is 65 percent of the conforming limit of $417,000 or $271,050, but it too rises to as much as $625,500 in high cost areas based on the local median price. Given the FHA’s sharp 50 basis point reduction in its annual mortgage insurance premium last January, a higher local limit allows more consumers to access lower cost home financing or to get access at all.
With mortgage rates set to rise in the coming quarters and access to credit for some home buyers limited in the private sector, a change to the conforming and local limits is gaining importance. However, limited supply remains a heavy headwind to entry level home buyers.
- There was a big rebound in new home sales in October after a very poor showing in September. Even with the gain, the sales pace of newly constructed homes is only about half of what it should be. Home builders need to get busier.
- Specifically, the annualized sales pace in October was 495,000, a gain of 11 percent from one month ago and 5 percent from one year ago. The Northeast region made the biggest gain, matching the region’s best performance in 5 years.
- One reason for the increase is that builders are evidently constructing more affordable smaller-sized homes. The median price of newly constructed homes in October was $281,500, the lowest price in over a year. The price is still considerably higher than the existing home price of $219,600. Because the gap between new and existing home prices has been larger than normal, either builders need to focus on less expensive homes or there will be plenty of room for existing home prices to rise and catch up.
- Whatever builders build, sell quickly. In the past month it took an average of only 2.8 months to find a buyer, the lowest in at least 25 years. Given the general shortage of inventory, home builders need to greatly ramp up production.
- For those small home builders who are still facing difficulty obtaining construction loans from community and local lenders, they should check out the Small Business Administration. There is a SBA program that permits loans to build up to 5 new homes.
This Thanksgiving we look at how recent buyers are choosing their homes, and how their friends and family can influence their decision. While we don’t all get to see our families every day, for many home buyers having the option to do so can impact the home they purchase. Based on data from the recently released 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, we can see how multi-generation homes are becoming more common and the importance of living close to friends and family.
- This year 13 percent of all buyers purchased a multi-generational home, buyers of multi-generational homes were typically 49 years old. Eight-two percent of the multi-generational homes purchased were detached single-family homes.
- Homes were typically 2,200 square feet and were purchased for $231,000. Multi-generational homes typically had four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Eleven percent of buyers purchased because they desired a larger home.
- Among all multi-generational buyers, the desire to own a home of their own was the primary reason for purchasing (29 percent). The majority of multi-generational buyers were married couples (69 percent), and single females (13 percent).
- The main reasons for purchasing a multi-generational home was for the health and caretaking of aging parents (22 percent), cost savings (14 percent), children or relatives over 18 moving back into the house (12 percent), to spend more time with aging parents (eight percent), and children or relatives over 18 that never left home (eight percent).
- Seven percent of all buyers purchased their home to stay close to friends and family. Single females (nine percent) and married couples (seven percent) recently purchased their homes to be closer to friends and family.
- The convenience to friends and family for single females (43 percent) and unmarried couples (41 percent) was an influencing factor of their neighborhood choice.
Lawrence Yun for Forbes
What is going on with home builders? Housing starts refuse to rise in any meaningful way, despite the ongoing shortage in the number of homes on the market and falling rental vacancy rates. What is being built is getting quickly sold. Housing starts totaled 1.06 million on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in October, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, and the average time to find a buyer was 3.3 months — near record lows. The housing starts figure is the lowest in seven months and is even below the level we saw a year ago. A big negative consequence of the continuing lackluster homebuilding activity is that renters are suffering and are having a hard time converting into ownership.
According to the latest annual survey of home buyers, in the past year the first-time buyer share fell to the lowest point since 1987, nearly 30 years ago. Only 32% of recent homebuyers self-identified as being first-time homeowners compared to the historic average of around 40%. Because there are other measurements of first-time buyers, it is worth briefly noting that this stated first-time figure is out of all buyers purchasing only a primary home and therefore excludes investors and vacation home buyers. Also the government sometimes has a technical definition that does not pass the smell test for everyday common folks, such as classifying an individual as a first-time buyer even though this person was a homeowner in the past (though technically not in the past 3 years) or because someone is buying as a newly single person even though the person had been a homeowner prior to a divorce. It’s no wonder that Americans are ever more wary of Washington, when the city gets stuck in debates over technical definitions rather than applying common sense.
- Applications for purchase mortgages surged 11.9 percent for the week ending November 13th after a tepid 0.1 percent gain in the prior week, but the 4-week moving average remains strong.
- The volume of applications surged in the lead up to the implementation of the new Know Before You Owe (KBYO or TRID) rules on October 3rd, pulling forward many applications that would have registered later in October. A boom and bust pattern developed in subsequent weeks, which appears to have stabilized and gained traction with a new crop of buyers.
- The 4-week moving average, a means of smoothing this weekly volatility, sat at 19.7 percent stronger than a year earlier and up from 15.2 percent two weeks earlier, reversing slippage in the weeks following implementation of TRID.
- The gains were concentrated in the government sector which jumped 15.5% compared to a 10.4% gain in the conventional space.
- The average contract rate on a 30-year fixed inched 6 basis points higher to 4.18 percent. Though slightly up from last week, it is roughly in line with the 4.17 percent average rate at the same time in 2014. Rising rates tend to have a stronger impact on refinances than on purchase applications, but refinance gained only 2.0 percent lagging the outsized gains in the purchase market.
- This week’s pattern of stabilization is likely to continue in the weeks ahead, but could remain choppy as originators wrestle with the new regulatory environment. Applications will remain far stronger than the fall of 2014.
- In the long term, the rule should help to make the process a more transparent process for consumers. Luckily the change was timed for the fall, a slower period, the Consumer financial Protection Bureau has signaled its intention to hold lenders harmless so long as they perform a “best effort” to comply in the near term.
- Anecdotes suggest a modest degree of confusion with the new rules among lenders and lawyers. Some lenders may be better prepared for the changes than others. Consumers and Realtors should shop a variety of lenders, while consumers can ask their Realtor for her experiences with various lenders in the TRID environment.
Commercial space is heavily concentrated in large buildings, but large buildings are a relatively small number of the overall stock of commercial buildings. Based on Energy Information Administration data approximately 72 percent of commercial buildings are less than 10,000 square feet in size. An additional 8 percent of commercial buildings are less than 17,000 square feet in size. In short, the commercial real estate market is bifurcated, with the majority of buildings (81 percent) relatively small (SCRE), but with the bulk of commercial space (71 percent) in the larger buildings (LCRE).
While large buildings in top-tier markets generally receive most of the press coverage, smaller commercial properties tend to be obscured given their relatively smaller size. However, these smaller properties provide the types of commercial space that the average American encounters on a daily basis—e.g., strip shopping centers, warehouses, small offices, supermarkets, etc. These are the types of buildings that are important in local communities and REALTORS® are active in serving these markets.
NAR’s Commercial Real Estate Market Trends gathers market information for SCRE properties and transactions, and summarizes sales and rental activity based on a quarterly survey of commercial REALTOR® practitioners. Based on the latest report, fundamentals improved during the third quarter 2015. Leasing volume during the second quarter rose 3.8 percent compared with the second quarter 2015. Leasing rates advanced at a steady pace, rising 2.5 percent in the third quarter, compared with the 2.7 percent advance in the previous quarter.
NAR members’ average gross lease volume for the quarter was $567,257, 9.8 percent lower than the previous period. New construction accelerated, posting a 6.6 percent gain from the second quarter of this year, and a marked increase from the 2.7 percent rise recorded in the first quarter 2015.
Tenant demand remained strongest in the 5,000 square feet and below, accounting for 72 percent of leased properties. However, demand for space in the 5,000 – 7,499 square feet more than doubled during the third quarter, comprising 13 percent of total. Lease terms remained steady, with 36-month and 60-month leases capturing 64 percent of the market.
To access the latest Commercial Real Estate Market Trends report, visit: http://www.realtor.org/research-and-statistics/commercial-real-estate-market-survey.
- Inflation is nonexistent with no changes to the consumer price index from one year ago. Some components are, however, making marked changes. Gasoline prices are 27 percent below one year ago, rents are rising at near 4 percent, and medical care service prices are beginning to firm up after several years of slowing inflation.
- Rents rose 3.74 percent from one year ago, its highest growth pace since September 2008. Something called owner’s equivalency rent – which is what the homeowner would hypothetically pay in rent to live in their homes – rose by 3.09 percent, essentially matching the fastest growth in just as many years. The housing shortage is leading to this upward trending phenomenon in housing costs.
- Medical service costs are beginning to rise. After having trended down from 4 percent gains few years ago to less than 2 percent early this year, it rose by 3.1 percent in October. Is this a fluke or the start of an upward trend?
- Energy and gasoline prices are much lower compared to one year ago, but this deflation will largely vanish by December/January. That means lower energy prices will not neutralize the upward pressures arising from medical fees and housing costs. Expect some inflation in 2016 as a result.
- Mortgage rates can be impacted more by inflation than by Fed policy. With inflation tame in 2015, mortgage rates have been bouncing along historic lows. But with anticipated higher inflation – probably to around 3 percent in 2016 – mortgage rates will be steadily pushed higher.
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2. Hence: Unprepared for use or enjoyment; immature; unripe; unseasoned; inexperienced; unpracticed; untried; as, raw soldiers; a raw recruit. "Approved himself to the raw judgment of the multitude." (De Quincey)
Not tried; not melted and strained; as, raw tallow.
Not tanned; as, raw hides.
5. Disagreeably damp or cold; chilly; as, a raw wind. "A raw and gusty day." Raw material, material that has not been subjected to a (specified) process of manufacture; as, ore is the raw material used in smelting; leather is the raw material of the shoe industry. Raw pig, cast iron as it comes from the smelting furnace.
Origin: AS. Hreaw; akin to D. Raauw, LG. Rau, G. Roh, OHG. Ro, Icel. Hrar, Dan. Raa, Sw. Ra, L. Crudus, Gr. Kreas flesh, Skr. Kravis raw flesh. Cf. Crude, Cruel.
(01 Mar 1998)
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A strong earthquake struck much of northern California and southern Oregon on Sunday, but surprisingly caused only minimal damage. Although the earthquake itself was enough to scare residents, the more than 20 aftershocks that struck in the eight hours following the quake kept the residents alert.
The earthquake was a 6.8 magnitude quake, and struck at 10:18 p.m. The tremor didn't last very long, but over 4,000 people felt it and the following aftershocks. Although the aftershocks seemed to have ceased for now, experts warn that more could be in the future.
The Northern California Earthquake Data Center has warned that there could be at least one more 5.0 or higher magnitude aftershock that could strike the area within the next week. The type of quake that occurred was near the surface and according to experts, these shallow quakes are more likely to cause aftershocks than deeper quakes. The chances of another strong aftershock are between 5 and 10%.
"It kind of goes in spurts," National Earthquake Information Center geophysicist Don Blakeman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "You can't say when it will end, but as time passes, you get fewer and fewer aftershocks and in general, they get smaller and smaller."
The quake occurred when the Gorda plate slid underneath the North American plate. As the plates push against each other, the fault lines feel the stress and release it with earthquakes.
The size of the quake has been compared to one that struck in Kobe, Japan in 1995, killing over 6,000 people and causing $100 billion in damage. Because of the slower peak ground velocity of Sunday's earthquake, there was far less damage and very few injuries caused by it. Residents are shaken but okay and hoping that there are no more aftershocks to worry about.
Did you feel the California quake on Sunday?
Image via Wikimedia Commons
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Slide 1: GREEN HOUSE EFFECT MEANING OF GREEN HOUSE EFFECT : MEANING OF GREEN HOUSE EFFECT The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. The Earth’s atmosphere is all around us. It is the air that we breathe. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere behave much like the glass panes in a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse gases. As it reaches the Earth's surface, land, water, and biosphere absorb the sunlight’s energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as GREEN HOUSE EFFECT. WHAT IS GREEN HOUSE? : WHAT IS GREEN HOUSE? Greenhouses work by trapping heat from the sun. The glass panels of the greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse to heat up, much like the inside of a car parked in sunlight, and keeps the plants warm enough to live in the winter.Most greenhouses look like a small glass house. Greenhouses are used to grow plants, especially in the winter. Greenhouses work by trapping heat from the sun. The glass panels of the greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse to heat up, much like the inside of a car parked in sunlight, and keeps the plants warm enough to live in the winter. Slide 4: GREEN HOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING It is the name given to an expected increase in the magnitude of the greenhouse effect, whereby the surface of the Earth will almost inevitably become hotter than it is now.
Green house effect Global warming The greenhouse effect is the name applied to the process which causes the surface of the Earth to be warmer than it would have been in the absence of an atmosphere Factors affecting the heat trapping ability of a Greenhouse : Factors affecting the heat trapping ability of a Greenhouse CLOUDS
the top of the cloud reflects sunlight back into space before it ever reaches earth. Depending on their altitude and optical properties, clouds either cool or warm the earth.. The whitewash on plant greenhouses has the same effect on a smaller scale. High-altitude, thinner clouds, such as cirrus clouds, absorb long wave radiation reflected from the earth's surface, causing increased warming. ALBEDO
This surface albedo effect strongly influences the absorption of sunlight. Snow and ice cover are highly reflective, as are light-colored deserts. Large expanses of reflective surfaces can significantly reduce solar warming. Dark-colored land surfaces, in contrast, are strongly absorptive and contribute to warming. If global temperatures increase, snow and ice cover may shrink. The exposed darker surfaces underneath may absorb more solar radiation, causing further warming. The magnitude of the effect is currently a matter of serious scientific study and debate. Slide 6: FORESTED AREAS:
Like the oceans, the interaction of forests and sunlight is complex. The amount of solar radiation absorbed by forest vegetation depends upon the type and color of vegetation, the time of year, and how well watered and healthy the plants are. In general, plants provide a dark surface, so you might expect high solar absorption. A significant fraction of the solar radiation is captured by the plants and used to make food through photosynthesis (and thus it doesn't re-radiate as heat); some of the energy is dissipated as water evaporates from plant leaves; and some is absorbed and distributed deep within the forest canopy. Oceans:
From space, oceans look much different than adjacent land areas - they often appear darker, suggesting that they should be absorbing far more sunlight. But unlike dry land, water absorbs energy in a dynamic fashion. Some of the solar energy contacting the surface may be carried away by currents, some may go into producing water vapor, and some may penetrate the surface and be mixed meters deep into the water column. These factors combine to make the influence of the ocean surface an extremely complex and difficult phenomenon to predict. Slide 7: Chemicals-
Avoid chlorine at all cost! Use of any chlorine compounds is very harmful to the environment including bubbles in plastic foam, spray paint, fire extinguishers, bleach and a multitude of discarded household and industrial chemicals. Phosphates found in many laundry detergents and soaps contributes to water pollution and should be avoided. Aresols such as air fresheners and hair sprays can contain butane/pentane which contributes to air pollution and should be avoided PREVENTION OF GREEN HOUSE EFFECT Appliances-
It is very important to keep up on the maintenance of your refrigerator and air conditioners as they can leak very toxic and harmful chemicals. Furnace maintenance will help to reduce the amount of heat you need, thus reducing fossil fuel production.
Waste and Recycling-
It is very beneficial to use recycled paper or to use products that are manufactured from ecologically managed forests. According to Seventh Generation "if every household in the US replaced just one roll of 1000 sheets of toilet paper with recycled toilet paper, could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space (equal to over 1682 full garbage trucks), 155 million gallons of water (a years supply for 4465 families of four) and avoid 62,000 pounds of pollution". Slide 8: Appliances-
It is very important to keep up on the maintenance of your refrigerator and air conditioners as they can leak very toxic and harmful chemicals. Furnace maintenance will help to reduce the amount of heat you need, thus reducing fossil fuel production
Due to the harmful process of making fossil fuels, we should do what we can to reduce their production. Weatherstripping, insulation and proper ventilation will go along way to reducing the amount of heat your home needs. Use of cold water instead of hot will reduce the amount of energy needed, as well only running dishwashers and washing machines when full.
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