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- Michael Oluwagbemi
- September 23, 2008
- 0 Comments
This essay is a follow up to the first in a three series article on Nigeria's future. In the first essay, "Disintegration & Secession: Cop Out, Not a Solution", I had sought to test the logic behind the much vaunted thesis of the proponents for the dismantling of Nigeria. In it I had examined their various arguments, put it against the candle test of reason and logic. In short, my ultimate premise was that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria that won't be wrong with the resulting federations thereof; assuming we don't even come worse off. Hence, break-up is not a solution but at best a cop-out form real, practical and positive actions to restore our country.
I have however found it necessary to follow up with this essay, seemingly to make a case for Nigeria. This is because it is simply not enough to be against something- it is more worthwhile when you stand for something. In the first part of the series, I have made a case against breaking up Nigeria. Here, I will be making a case for keeping her together. In the follow up to this which will come shortly, I will examine how exactly to do so because I believe that in as much as break up is not a solution, neither is the status quo.
Many have referred to Nigeria as a "geographical expression". Some have referred to the union of Nigeria as "a forced marriage; one in which no one want to be in but also no party dare break up". Well, there is some measure of truths to these common wisdoms; however, there is also a gargantuan of exaggerations to them. To those that say Nigeria is a geographical entity and do not define a people, well- pray tell why a phenomenon known as the "Nigerian Factor" exists in our lexicon? It is true that Nigerians as a people have a far way to go to achieve the fluid identity that we associate with the Americans or Russians, but it is also not true that Nigerians have not developed a distinct, common identity in their hundred plus years in one form of union or the other.
When I come across a Nigerian (irrespective of ethnicity), I can tell. Nigerians are not Ghanaians, nor Kenyans or Ethiopians in any bit. Non-Nigerians even know it! Even citizens of countries that surround the immediate borders of Nigeria cannot put up air or make pretence to be Nigerians. Nigerians are unique. We have an attitude. We are a special people. Over hundred years, we have developed an aggressive Type A character that typifies our politics, sociology, music, business enterprise and above all our religion. A Nigerian Christian is vastly different from his Togolese counterpart; so is a Nigerian Muslim woman vastly unlike her Chadian cousins. We bond together with a variant of pidgin English- every region with its unique spin on that flowery contraption. Ingrain in our uniquely socio-political DNA are the ethos of survival at all cost, enterprise, love of life, an ability to smile while suffering and beyond all- a propensity to overcome personal and communal obstacles.
If there is any reason to keep Nigeria as one, I submit it is the Nigerian people ŌĆō the beauty of our diversity, and the intensity of their collective energy. We are a people of contradictions, yet are a unique one also. The diversity of our country is a virtue that is worth preserving. Indeed, it is my resolute belief that given our history of making comebacks from the brink of disintegration- ours is a marriage and union that can survive only if we work at it: it is our manifest destiny to remain together. Love it or hate, we'd be better off finding ways to co-exist.
Above all things however, the most important reason why Nigeria should remain one is a focus on the bigger picture. The bigger picture is devoid of the distractions or squabbles bordering on sharing the national cake, tribalism and ethno-religious crisis; it is a focus on the external. The brave new world we are about to enter in the 21st Century and beyond will be dominated by multi-polar super nations (read, Longitudes and Attitudes by Thomas Friedman or The World is Flat by the same author). The era of single or dual super powers is over. Hence, the metric by which nation-states will be rise is first numeric size and an ability to leverage their demographic advantage into regional strength, second will be their human capacity development, third will be size of the economy and fourth will be resources (factor land size). This order is an inverse of the 19th century world order (dominated by tiny nations like France and UK) and a sideway flip of the 20th century when size of economy and resources were ahead (with US and USSR at the driver seat).
Imagine the world with USA (300m/9.63m km2), China (1.3 bn/9.63m km2), India (1.1 bn/3.3 m km2), Russia (142m/17m km2) and Brazil (187m /8.5m km2) as the five leading powers. In this world, small but developed countries like the United Kingdom are a lot less relevant not because they don't have a robust economy, or because their human capacity is under developed; but because they are small (in population and land size). To remain competitive, fragmented Europe must try to consolidate and act through the federated European Union otherwise it stands no chance. To those that have pointed to 19th Century European States divided along ethno-religious lines, I tell them to counterbalance their analysis with a macro movement of those nations towards a more federated European Union. This is the 21st century reality not lost on the European; I wonder why it is lost on some of us.
There are also comparable reasons why Canada, with its huge land (second largest in the world) will not be a super nation; this is because it lacks the population (at 30 million) to do so. This is the reality of the world of the 21st century. In this world, Nigeria as a single political entity of 130 million plus energetic, enterprising people has a better chance of succeeding than fragmented fiefdoms of conflicting interests that will be willing tools in the hands of bigger powers. This is especially true because it is just logistically impossible to obtain purely non-competitive monolithic states from the collage of two hundred and fifty ethnic groups that co-exist albeit uneasily together in Nigeria today.
One need not look far into the future to see early examples of the danger of fragmentation in Sudan. There, China and USA are virtually exploiting the broken union of that beautiful country to exploit her resources- cheaply, while pretending to be antagonists. Well, it did not take more than an Olympic to see who was blowing hot air. Also, in Georgia's (ex-Soviet Nation) recent costly confrontation with Russia, we see an ominous message in the tea leaves for small countries that will be left to fend for themselves when nuclear armed super powers decide to carve up their lands for domination. Fact is, Georgia was too small to defend itself, and is far too small to cause the Americans to risk a nuclear face off with Russia. Russia's bellicose stance on its ex-republics and the costly human toll on these confrontations extend also to Ukraine and many other Soviet states that it holds by tentacles to do her bidding.
Instead of fragmenting, Nigeria should be leading the charge to consolidate Africa into viable super states. Building a super-state around a vision no less grand than the "manifest destiny" the early founders of the American spoke of and strove for; expanding from the heartland of Africa to the Mid-Atlantic. Speaking of resources (which factors in land size), in this bold new world, they will be important but not be the most important. Resources will rank behind population size, human capacity development (education and enterprising nation of population), and economy. Indeed, while a future Oodua or Biafran or Niger Delta republic might be competitive in terms of human capacity development it will be sorely lacking in land size, population and gross size of economy.
In simple economic parlance, a per capita of 1 dollar in India as low as it is, need to be matched by 3 dollars by the old US of A, if the later want to be competitive. Hence, the current fretting ongoing in USA as three billion people from Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC countries) leverage the power of numbers to zoom past the former super powers into economic prosperity. It is called the power of the enormous mob versus the minuscule Today, USA stands a chance against China and India, not because of her already developed economy but because of the focus of the early founders on contiguous geographical expansion cloaked in "manifest destiny", and her insistence to be a country of immigrants to populate these lands; size and population matters.
Indeed, resources speaking (quality/quantity terms) Nigeria is more endowed than most countries put together. How we are placed on the most valuable piece of real estate in Africa, I still cannot fathom. The size of Nigeria can afford her a specialization of regions, which will play well in ensuring resource optimization. The North can farm, and irrigate countless hectares of desert land and the East can industrialize. The West can commercialize and serve as gateway to the world, while the South can become a vast powerhouse of technology, petroleum & maritime and the heartlands can become a vast land to mine the precious wealth hidden beneath the bowels of our land. The key will be turning our focus to resource management instead of our propensity to focus on resource allocation. Managing our resources will mean designing a political structure that discourages waste and enhances efficiency.
To those having wonderland dreams as to how the mini-states resulting from Nigeria will fare, I ask them to ponder this reality. If Sudan as large as they are can be undermined by super powers of the world, what makes you think your tiny fiefdom will even have a fighting chance? If Eritrea and Ethiopia antagonism and misery is not solved by their break-up what makes you think secession is the answer? The problem of Africa is not just leadership, but also a structural one where the second largest continent is made up of fragmented political entities that can barely survive not to talk of developing. Breaking up Nigeria will only make a situation that is already bad, worse. The sooner Africa move towards a super-state model, the better off the continent will be. But moving into reverse gear by breaking up what is already together is hardly the viable second option.
Lastly, I consider directing our energy at breaking up extremely unproductive. Wars have been fought, crisis has beset us- yet this union has survived. I am hard-pressed to see a future where any state in the current Nigeria is a standalone considering the investments, interactions and strong vested interests (social, family, financial and political) to keeping her together. Beyond these strong headwinds however, history shows us that whenever the issue of secession is tabled before true representatives of ordinary Nigerians, it always never wins the day. A recent example was the PRONACO conference. There, agitators for secession flat out lost even in the most benign assembly of hotter heads when their ideas were put to vote!
Speaking unabashedly, and gauging the political temperature of the country- I perceive that only two of Nigeria's six geo-political region will vote for dismantling Nigeria if put to secret ballot in a fair vote. It is also fair to say that the two geopolitical regions that may support leaving the union are also the two that perceive they have a stronger chance to succeed outside the union. These two happen to be monolithic, have a greater chance to survive external and internal aggression, and have considerable natural and human resources as well as maritime access to guarantee economic prosperity post-breakup. Hence, it is not surprising that many from these regions vocally advocate secession in self-interest. In contrast however, four out of the six geopolitical zones are very likely to support a fundamental restructuring of the country to a more equitable and just union. The paradox to this riddle is that the four that will oppose secession, do not necessarily correlate to the four that will support restructuring! Well go figure. One thing figures however: the possibility that Nigeria will restructure in your lifetime is greater than a dismantling of the union as you know it since 1912. Why don't we then focus our energy on what is achievable?
Speaking of Africa, it is my submission that an eye on the larger picture will reveal that for the sake of the black race, for the benefit of Africa- Nigeria must remain one. I am absolutely convinced that the last hope of the black race is Nigeria. But this is no propaganda, but a premise grounded in logic. Every other African country or majority black one is either too weak to act, too small to be effective or simply not authentic enough to be regarded as truly African. Any future progress South Africa or Egypt makes will never be credited to the Negro! We must accept this bitter reality. Only in Nigeria, is the black man in a laboratory all by himself. It is in this laboratory he can prove himself to be worthy of his independence and humanity. It is in this laboratory he or she can counter the claims of the ex-colonial powers who sneered that the black man/woman is not capable of governing himself or developing without outside aid.
Nigeria is uniquely positioned to undermine this prevailing thought: the elephant in the room. If only we will keep our eyes on the ball: steady, without being distracted with wasteful anger that arises from injustice of the past. At the end, we are brothers. Even if we break up, we will still be neighbors. It is a duty that we work to make this union better, not to undermine it- with our words or actions. If we do, we shall not be forgiven not only by the next generation of Nigerians, but of Africans, of Negroes and of mankind; who will look back, and say we blew the chance to prove that one of three races of mankind is not a waste of God's creativity. We can prove that we are equally capable; only if we try!
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Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Allaccess posted on 09-24-2008, 10:54:36 AM
I can tell you why Nigerians like you will be writing these articles long after other nations have identified their collective problems and ameliorated them.
Sir, don't blame yourself, you are only being a typical Nigerian. Change is dangerous to you even if you know it is that which might redefine your future.
Fear is a dangerous disease, fear made Africans stay in slavery and colonisation for centuries (not decades my friend) fear! That disease created almost exclusively for people of dark skin so that they might live in the shadows of their misery for as long as it takes to shake it off.
Take your Einstein article for example; it wants Nigerians to stay in the same arrangement they have been for 48 years, and make it work! You are unable to believe they cannot live in a country where they are afraid they might be killed by jihadists in Northern if they venture to sojourn in that part.
Sir, I am sure as a Christian southerner I can live in Aba with the Ibos, even if they want out of Nigeria. My Ibo neighbours might not attack me but my fellow residents of Jigawa or Zamfara state might do so. Are you asking that Southern Nigeria force itself upon these miscreants and by so doing we shall fix Nigerian as it is?
It is very clear our problem resulted from balkanisation; it was on BBC and CNN and many white British old men who were part of the amalgamation of southern and northern protectorates will tell you it is the worst deal Nigerian got and almost the single handed reason for her current sorry state of events. WHY THEN SIR ARE YOU AFRAID TO SAY IT AND BE DONE WITH IT???
There is no fatwa for saying Nigeria should be recreated in better manageable sections that will guarantee co-existence and cultural similarities. When people feel a sense of belonging they may develop pride and nationalism. These two things leads to selfless service to a country people feel a part of.
Not long ago I was at a small conference that a Nigerian External affairs person attended, this foreign affairs Nigerian was a Hausa/Fulani. He went and sat with Arabic dressed Middle Eastern people. He tried really hard to speak some Arabic and mixed it up with Hausa. His attitude was so obvious to all participants that he was trying very hard no to be seen as a Nigerian but rather a Muslim with strong middle east/Arabic inclination. This was not about Nigeria's reputation it was a clear case of where priorities and loyalties lay.
These sorts of articles are misplaced and direct insults to the intelligence of Nigerians who already know what the problem of the country is.
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
GreatPot posted on 09-24-2008, 13:20:44 PM
Mr.Michael Oluwagbemi, you are at liberty to freely express your opinion but dont try to convince nations who unfortunatly found themselves in that evil cage called nigeria to believe that the best that ever happen to them was being part of your fake nigeria.NO, NIGERIANS ARE NOW WISER BECAUSE EXPERIENCE HAVE THOUGHT THEM ENOUGH IN THE LAST 48 YEARS MORE THAN YOU ARE TRYING TO TEACH US HERE.ON ABURI WE STAND..............
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Bode Eluyera posted on 09-24-2008, 20:48:07 PM
A million THANK YOU you again for another brilliant and enlightening comment.
I thought that that guy got the message on that thread "Disintegration & Secession: A Cop Out, Not a Solution." But from all indications, it's obvious that he would rather continue following the path that will keep us in slavery and ruin our lives. I was just thinking that it's possible that his wife is from Katsina, which may be the hidden reason for writing this crap. Or may be he wrote this one too while taking his shower again. He has admitted that his ideas flow to him when taking his shower.
Anyway, we don't have to take offence. Afterall, he has even admitted in his profile on nigeriansinamerica.com that 'HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HE WRITES.' HE JUST WRITES FOR WRITING SAKE JUST TO WHILE AWAY THE TIME I GUESS.
Ogbeni Michael, please bear it in mind that 'IT'S NOT THE QUANTITY OF ARTICLES THAT YOU WRITE THAT MATTER, BUT THE QUALITY, RATIONALITY AND ORIGINALITY.
Your articles remind me of Adejumo - another interesting chap.
BTW, are you the one that use 'Busanga' to post comments on NVS?
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Tonsoyo posted on 09-24-2008, 21:41:55 PM
Michael, I really did not bother to read through your lengthy article, because a quick browsing through already showed me what I needed to see and expected it would contain, theory upon theory, of what Nigeria needed to do, like we do not know, instead of addressing why we have not.
And again the other part of your article that pretended to present facts, presented the half-truth like you did in your part 1.
You wrote inter alia:
You found it convenient to use examples of countries with large landmass and population while you conveniently forgot to mention that the best economy in the whole world belongs to a small country known as Japan and that the best economy in Europe belong to a nation state known as Germany.
You looked the other way from countries like Singapore and Malaysia and went on an adventure to nowhere selling to us some countries that have certain common grounds like religion, ethnicity or language in common unlike Nigeria where its nations have everything to the contrary to one another.
You try to compare Nigeria to USA forgetting that its land mass is only as big as one State in America, while the population is half of that of USA.
This article is another waste of time.
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Balakuda posted on 09-25-2008, 11:14:21 AM
I believe you have offered convincing proof regarding the advantages of a united Nigeria. I couldn't agree with you more. Nationhood is more about glory than being too particular about ethnicity. Look at the past great nations of the world. These had scores of differences regarding cultural norms, values e.t.c, within them. Nigeria is not just a country of 'loving', indeed such disgusting words rile me to the utmost!!! What ye think? Bloody great fools of the world. Would you not focus and think? There is nothing but glory, and real glory, for the BLACKMAN today, is not to plead for honour and dignity. It is the leafy green war and gore. ............................ With Nigeria, we can reach our manifest destiny. We have the numbers, and the time is NOW!!!!
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Michael posted on 09-25-2008, 13:29:23 PM
Wow...Japan? Population: 127,433,494 ...128 million is small?
Germany? Europe's Biggest Country?
By your own admission, size does matters. Indeed, Japan and Germany are no super power and their power is definitely waning as their population ages and decline.
Here again, it is called geo-political power which is a confluence of economy, political influence and military power. Seychelles, Lux etc are all rich countries but in the scheme of things they are no power players.
The debate on the future of a nation is too important to be driven by emotions. Logic must prevail
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Tonsoyo posted on 09-25-2008, 13:54:00 PM
Yoo my man,
Nigeria have no business thinking about being super power when it cannot even feed its own people or generate its own power.
Biggest country is contextual, I am sure you are not looking at Japan in the context of China and India. By the way is Britain a super power or not? what is the population?
The number one thing for a country to derive is economy prosperity by being able to afford the basic -food, clothing and shelter for its people, then you may be talking about other thing.
Hello Mike, we are 150 Million people who cannot even provide pipe-borne water and you are dreaming about super power what about "supper power" for my people first?
To achieve this we need to restructure Nigeria, Nigeria stinks as it is.
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Michael posted on 09-25-2008, 15:52:01 PM
And here, I am yet to disagree with you. There is a swath of difference between restructuring and disintegration. Now we are talking. Thanks.
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Tonsoyo posted on 09-25-2008, 19:31:42 PM
First of all there must be integration for disintegration to occur. Where is the integration in Nigeria, other than a bunch of distinct nations forcefully lumped together and have been clogs in the wheel of progress of one another ever since.
There was never a time that the different nations of Nigeria ever worked together for common good. We have always lived together like cat and mouse. Disunity reigns supreme in our diversity.
Re: Is Nigeria Worth Saving?
Tony posted on 09-29-2008, 20:50:55 PM
No shortage of clowns on this village.
Busanga wants us to remain in nigeria with the murderous killers of northern nigeria because of landmass.
This is the absolute height of stupidity.
The writer spares no thought at all for the millions of nigerians suffering as a result of the contradictions of their blighted nation.
What has landmass got to do with poverty pulverised starving nigerians?
Are nigerians not migrating to tiny countries like Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, Great britain, Singapore etc in search of better life?
And how does the average southerner relate to nigeria's size when he or she can be killed in sokoto or Kano for a cartoon published in farwawy Denmark?
What human beings desire overwhelmingly is their well being and not landmass, this is why people from large nations like Russia, China still migrate to nations as small as the U.K. and Switzerland etc
And this is why nigerians migrate to nations even as tiny as monaco or luxembourg. The writer should stop regaling us with his cowardice and slave mentality that makes him want to remain with a failed state. There are a million reasons why nigeria should break.
He is better off sending his proposals on how to make nigeria worth her existence to yar dua and other northern parasites rather than coming here to insult the intelligence of those who seek a divorce from nigeria because of decades of unmitigated failures.
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The Modeh Ani prayer
When one awakens in the morning, one must immediately recognize and appreciate the kindness G-d has done with them. For while returing his/her soul G-d has also returned the soul refreshed and rejuvenated, unlike the tired and weary soul which had been given over the previous night.
While still in bed, (even before one washes their hands) he should say the Modeh Ani - "I offer thanks to you..."
By saying Modeh Ani immediately upon awakening, one will realize that G-d is in his/her midst and will immediately get out of bed and prepare oneself for the service of G-d.
Modeh Ani Lefonecha Melech Chai Vikayom, Shehechezarta Bi Nishmasi Bechemlah.
Rabah Emunashecho.
I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me;
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US soldier killed in Baghdad as new pics of abuse in Abu Ghraib prison released
Iraqi resistance fighter with hand grenades killed a U.S. soldier and injured three in central Baghdad early Thursday, the military said.
Meanwhile, new pictures broadcast by US media have shown American prison guards smiling over the body of an Iraqi prisoner in Abu Ghraib prison.
The photos showed Army Specialist Charles Graner grinning with his thumbs up as he peers into the camera over an unidentified body lying on a black body bag.
A second, almost identical picture was taken of Specialist Sabrina Harman over the same body. Both were shown on CNN television.
Numerous photographs have been shown only to US lawmakers and kept by the Pentagon as evidence in upcoming courts-martial.
According to AFP, the Pentagon on Wednesday informed a Senate committee by letter that it had located another disc with 24 digital photographs of "apparent abusive acts by US forces."
Thirteen of the pictures on the disc "appear to be images already seen on international television media," the Pentagon said in its letter. (Albawaba.com)
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There were several local winning individuals and relay teams at last week's Poteau Invitational at Costner Stadium.
On the girls' side, Poteau's Deven Bond won the 800-meter run (2:36.13), and she was a part of the winning 3,200-meter relay (10:32) with Colleen Peterson, Sheridan Hoyer and Jazmine Warren. Teammate Skyler Webster won the 100-meter hurdles (18.34 seconds), while Latifah Harris won the 400-meter dash (1:00.16).
Spiro's Kanisha Hutchinson won the long jump (15-2.5).
At approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, the Poteau Fire and Police Departments along with LeFlore County EMS were dispatched to the Poteau Valley Apartments on Windham Street in Poteau in response to a vehicle that had reportedly been driven through an apartment.
Rescue workers on the scene said that the white sedan was pulling into a parking space when the driver accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, launching the car over the sidewalk and down an embankment into the living room of an apartment.
Raymond Jesse Akins, 83, of Keota died Sunday, April 22, 2012. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Cowlington Baptist Church. Burial will be in Spiro City Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home.
Maxine Hembree, 84, of Heavener died Monday, April 23, 2012. Maxine was born April 15, 1928, in Heavener to Edward and Elizabeth Hall. She was a graduate of DeQueen High School and attended Henderson State College. Maxine was a member of First United Methodist Church in Heavener, worked at State National Bank and was a Cub Scout den mother. She was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Hembree.
George "G.H." Morton, 87, of Panama died Sunday, April 22, 2012. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Panama First Baptist Church. Burial will be in old Bokoshe Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home, Spiro.
Billy Barron, 85, of Muse died Friday, April 20, 2012, at home. Services were held Monday, April 23, at Muse Baptist Church with burial in Muse Cemetery under the direction of Talihina Funeral Home.
Keith Steelman, 51, of Monroe died Saturday, April 21, 2012,, in Monroe. Keith was born Oct. 19, 1960, in Poteau to Clyde Sr. and Marie Davis Steelman. He was a truck driver. Keith was preceded in death by his father. He loved coon hunting.
Calvin Lee Thomas, 87, of Springdale, Ark., died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center in Rogers.Â
Calvin was born on Feb. 14, 1925, in Bokoshe, a son of William C. Thomas and Laura C. Wiles Thomas. He married Earlyne Pfeifer on Aug. 30, 1949, in Yuma, Ariz., who preceded him in death on Jan. 18, 2008, after 59 years of marriage. Calvin lived and worked most of his life in California, working in the citrus industry and retiring as a foreman. He was a very dedicated family man and a member of the Church of Christ.
Jerald Leroy Fox, 68, of Poteau, died Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in Poteau. Jerald was born in Poteau on Oct. 30, 1943, to Roy and Arley (Brand) Fox. Jerald was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Linda Rae Fox; and a son, Kevin Fox.


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In some of my previous entries I've suggested that the actor-network theory and methodology can be used as a mode of explanation in elaborating the interplay between social structures and information (and IT in general). The factor 'openness' emerges as the main ingredient in the elaboration when using actor-network theory to explain how actors in a given topology can affect other actors, and also at the same time being affected by them.
The explanatory power of the actor-network methodology relies on the fact that in the same topology both human and non-human actors (elements, structures, processes, etc.) are treated as equally able to affect and influence each other. The affect is carried via the links between the various actors attempting to inscribe their attributes and properties into other actors with congruent properties and attributes (see: Translation).
So, is the Internet open-source?
Or, a more appropriate question would be: is it possible to produce an open communication medium such as the Internet without the open-source software?
Basing this argument on the actor-network theory and methodology and the openness factor, had the software that was used to build the Internet been a closed source software hidden from outside scrutiny, the resulting product, the Internet (whether we see the Internet as a mass medium, a publishing phenomenon, a set of communication tools, etc.) would not have been as open as we see it today. Why?
To use the actor-network language and the openness factor, the closed-source software is almost totally closed in both aspects: its content and its communication. With a closed content (i.e. the code) it is much harder to build compatible and interoperable software tools and much harder to make people use it. Modification to the closed-source software is limited to a very small group of people whose agenda is driven by the bottom line: profit. This suggests that the not so open content and not so open communication about the content is indeed a stagnating force in the exchange of ideas, thoughts and opinions, and innovation in general.
The open content and open communication concepts (with their attributes and properties) are indeed positively responsible for the openness of the Internet. Whether the open-source software is directly responsible for the openness of the Internet, or both the open source software and the Internet openness are both results of the open source philosophy is not very important.
In any case, the open content and open communication concepts have inscribed their properties and attributed onto the openness of the Internet (with varying degrees depending on the various form and flavors the Internet is being used) and also onto the open source software.


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Book your room at Exe Majestic
Standard RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 1 infant)
Superior RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 1 infant)
DUIMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Triple RoomMax Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 2 infants)
Junior SuiteMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 1 infant)
Connecting RoomsMax Occupancy: 7 guests (up to 6 children, 3 infants)
Get an overview of this hotel4-star Naples hotel in Historical Center, walk to Villa Comunale
Located in Historical Center, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Palazzo delle Arti Napoli and Villa Comunale. Royal Palace and San Francesco di Paola are also within 15 minutes.
Hotel Features
This hotel features 1 restaurants, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café. Other amenities include a snack bar/deli, a conference center, and WiFi in public areas.
Room Amenities
All 112 rooms provide WiFi, minibars, and cable TV. Guests will also find room service, free newspapers, and hair dryers.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Dining is available at one of the hotel's 1 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. The property also has a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge. Event facilities include a conference center and conference space. For a surcharge, a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request) is offered to guests. This Naples hotel also offers multilingual staff, coffee/tea in the lobby, and concierge services. Onsite parking is available (surcharge).
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Coffee shop or café
- Concierge services
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Use of nearby fitness center (discount)
- Bar/lounge
- 24-hour front desk
- Porter/bellhop
- Total number of rooms - 112
- Multilingual staff
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Number of floors - 10
- Laundry facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Babysitting or childcare
- Elevator/lift
- Wired (high-speed) Internet access - surcharge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Conference space
- Express check-out
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Computer station
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Year Built 1959
- Number of restaurants - 1
- Number of meeting rooms - 4
- Conference center
- Snack bar/deli
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
Family Friendly Amenities
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Snack bar/deli
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare
Available in all rooms: Wireless internet access (10 EUR per 24 hours surcharge)
Available in some public areas: Wireless internet access (10 EUR per 24 hours surcharge), Wired (high-speed) Internet access - surcharge
Self parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Minibar
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bidet
- Cable TV service
- Desk
- Room service (limited hours)
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Free newspaper
- Climate control
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7 AM and 10 AM.
La Giara Restaurant - This restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
No pets or service animals allowed
Parking height restrictions apply
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 3 per person, per night, up to 10 nights. This tax does not apply to children under 18 years of age.
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 12 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: EUR 10 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: EUR 10 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Self parking fee: EUR 24 per day
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 999.99, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation. This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.


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MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) – Wednesday morning, educators all over North Alabama and the rest of the state will be buzzing over new test results.
Click HERE for the National and State ACT scores. They were released publicly early Wednesday morning. Click HERE for Alabama results. Click HERE for a detailed explanation of scores in Alabama.
Nationally, the average composite score is 21. The average for students in Alabama is 20.6. That's up from last year, when the state paid for all juniors to take the ACT.
In 2013, the average test score was 20.4, and Madison students averaged a score of 23.5. Madison students' average rose to 24.1 for the ACT in 2014.
The scores are important, since they translate into college money.
"To get into any school, they want to know your ACT score," said Bob Jones High School Principal Robby Parker. "And scholarship dollars start coming at certain intervals, maybe as low as 22 or 23, certainly at 25 some schools and certainly when you get over 30, you can about go to wherever you want and get a lot of scholarship dollars."
Parker added Madison schools pay for all tenth grade students to take an ACT-prep class and test at a cost of about $8,000 to the district.


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Willard Peak Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|Route Climbed: Willard Basin Date Climbed: July 6, 1997
|This is an easy hike from Willard Basin. We didn't get to the real trailhead because there was still a lot of snow on the ground and the road was muddy. It was still a nice hike along the ridge to the top.
|Posted Apr 30, 2005 6:03 pm
|Route Climbed: Mantua/Willard Basin Date Climbed: July 20, 2003
|I biked up from where the road starts getting rough from Mantua. It was hot, and a lot of Jeeps were on the road kicking up enough dust that I needed windshield wipers on my glasses. Nerd.
A spring is at the turn in the road where it switches back to head up to Inspiration point: this is where I left the bike and hiked up the relatively short trail to Willard Peak. The crack on the summit is B I G. I accidentally went too far to the South and ended up acending the southern ridge, which was class 3 in spots and 4 in one sphincter puckering moment (definitely not the tourist trail here). It was exceedingly hot at the summit, so I spent little time there. The North ridge was a piece of cake to decend. I lost a bike tube on the way down because of a #@!ing 4" long wood screw puncture. Lame-ola.
|Posted Apr 9, 2005 5:45 pm
|Route Climbed: Skyline trail via Ben Lomond Date Climbed: July 1999
|My nephew and I combined this with Ben Lomond in one long, hot day. About 20 miles that day. We came up from North Fork.
|Posted Feb 27, 2005 12:36 am
|Route Climbed: Williard basin Date Climbed: July 2004
|Took an early Saturday morning to run to Willard and continue the jog over to Ben Lomond. These are easy and quick peaks to grab. Had an interesting conversation with a hitch hiker I picked up on I-15. Way to religious for me but had a great outlook on life.
|Posted Oct 20, 2004 8:24 am
|Route Climbed: Skyline Trail, Willard Basin Date Climbed: 1998 and 2001
|Climbed in 1998 via Skyline Trail with Ben Lomond...a marathon grind! Re-climbed via the much easier Willard Basin route thanks to a friend with a high-clearance vehicle.
|Posted Sep 28, 2004 12:11 am


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When you place an order with Kraft Music, a confirmation will be sent to you via email, with details of your order, including method of shipping. Once your order leaves our facility, you will receive a shipping confirmation via email, with carrier name and tracking number. You will also be able to find this information by logging into your account. You will need to have an account set up with Kraft Music in order to track your order (versus checking out as a guest).
We are not able to ship any orders outside of the US and its territories.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: Please test your item before getting it fully assembled. For example, with digital pianos, unpack the keyboard portion, power it on and test all the keys. It is very rare that these items arrive with defects, but it is still a good idea to test it before spending time getting it fully assembled. Use caution when unpacking your purchase from its box, as some needed parts and pieces may be packed in and amongst the packing material. Be sure to save the carton and all packing materials, in case of a needed return. Do not write on the box and do not discard!
KORG USA WARRANTY POLICY: All Korg products purchased from a Korg USA authorized dealer are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship to the original consumer purchaser as listed below:
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COLUMBIA — A website that connects people seeking casual and extramarital affairs started running a billboard this week that features the face of former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
The ad that went up Monday on Interstate 26 near Columbia features the Republican's smiling face and the words, "Next time use ... AshleyMadison.com to find your 'running mate."'
AshleyMadison.com touts itself online as "the most famous name in infidelity and married dating." Founder Noel Biderman said to The Associated Press on Tuesday that his Toronto-based company launched the ad to coincide with the former Republican governor's campaign for the 1st Congressional District, saying that Sanford is a veritable poster child for his company's premise.
"He represents what we have been articulating for the past decade, which is, what happens in someone's personal life, that's their personal choice – it doesn't mean that they're not able to govern," Biderman said. "Just because they're not capable of monogamy doesn't mean that they're not capable of leading."
Voters will choose between Sanford and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a May 7 special election for the seat recently vacated by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.
Sanford admitted in 2009 to an affair with an Argentine woman to whom he is now engaged. He has spoken of his missteps frequently, saying that he believes in "a God of second chances" and hopes voters do, too.
AshleyMadison.com, which has about 12 million U.S. users, used a photo of Sanford found on Wikipedia.org for the billboard. Biderman said he received no response from a text message sent to the candidate on Monday letting Sanford know about the ad.
The billboard, which is on the interstate about 25 miles south of Columbia, isn't in the 1st District. But Biderman said other ads might pop up in days to come, declining to give details. Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the Republican's campaign was more focused on its election with Colbert Busch that is now just a week away.
A spokesman for Colbert Busch's campaign didn't immediately return a message, and Biderman said his company had had no contact with the Democrat.
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In this article you will read about how far can a Classic victory take an angler's career.
The Red River has always been a "grind it out" kind of fishery for me. I don't expect to catch 30 a day here. I know some guys do but that's not been my experience. I look for five quality fish a day. If I get them I'm happy.
This article is about Kim Baine-Moore's life in the fishing world.
In this article Kevin VanDam talks about bassmaster classics past and present.
When the official Classic pre-practice is over, you need a butterfly net to keep your stomach in your shirt. If you didn't, you would need to just hang it up. The anticipation is continuing to build. From Rick Clunn (although he may not readily admit it) to an Open rookie, everyone feels it. After all the time preparing, now it is time for the big show.
When Takahiro Omori held the Classic trophy overhead, bass fishing crowned its first non-American, world champion.
In this article, you can read how Kevin VanDam has finished fifth in the past five Classics with the best 5-year string ever posted in Classic history.
Michael Iaconelli held up to the pressure of being the leader to score a narrow victory in the 33rd annual Classic.
In this article, you can read how the number 6 is a historic number in the annals of the Bassmaster Classic.
Jay Yelas' performance dominated on Alabama's Lay Lake as he became the first angler to claim the big bass on each day of Classic competition.


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Kellen has headed to his local voting station to prove he is a real American. Drew does not want to be left out and tags along. They discuss all the major issues, only as the two of them can.
Drew and Kellen might be unemployed but they certainly have an occupation. Filling their afternoons with questionable facts and idiotic banter, the two share their lives together despite their differences.
Discover the best in original web series.
© 2014 Blip Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Blip is part of Maker Studios


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Benny Benassi – Satisfaction (RL Grime Remix) [Listen]
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Back in the summer of 2002 Benny Benassi's "Satisfaction" was the most requested song in clubs around the world, and nearly 10 years later it is considered a certified classic within the electronic dance music scene. Up-and-coming trap producer RL Grime has decided to revive the classic record, integrating his own signature sound and style. RL Grime's 808's and hard bass definitely give the already unforgettable track a new lease of life. Enjoy!
Listen to "Satisfaction (RL Grime Remix)" below!
Max G. | Elite.
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Extreme Flight Edge 540T-EXP ARF
Photo: Jerry Smith
the Extreme Flight
Edge 540T-EXP ARF
an extensive design process, Extreme Flight R/C
introduces the highly anticipated 48 inch Edge 540T
EXP. The second release in the EXP series, the Edge
540T features the same ultra-high quality construction,
features and performance that have made the Extra
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aerobatic pilots out there.
Every bit as aggressive
and nimble as the Extra, the Edge is rock solid
in high alpha attitudes and may very well be the
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Flip the rate switches to low and the Edge will
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and make a great sport flyer for pilots who have
not yet entered the realm of 3D flight.
The Edge is packed with
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The Edge can easily be assembled in a single evening
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canopy placement places the tallest portion of the
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airfoiled control surfaces utilizing geodetic construction
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This website was created by Mary (Cooper) Schlemmer, decendant of George Cooper. The site's purpose is to give everyone a one-stop place where they can obtain and share information on all things Cooper Clan. Our family story is chuck full of tragedy, survival, conviction, hardship and humor. A reminder that we are all part of something larger than ourselves. Click on THE FAMILY TREE to learn where you fit in our enfolding saga.
As with any family tree, this one continues to grow and will change over time, so please come back often. If you have additions or updates you would like to share you can email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Our family tree is posted online on this site! There are 1093 names in our family site.
The site was last updated on July 29 2015, and it currently has 15 registered member(s). If you wish to become a member too, please click here. Enjoy!


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Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Summerville Visitor Center with the help of Bottles n Brushes is holding a postcard contest on the Summerville SC Visitor Center Facebook page.
Voting ends Friday at noon.
To cast your vote- like our Facebook page and pick your favorite design by clicking "LIKE." The winner will have their design made into a postcard available for sale at the Visitor Center.
The Journal Scene is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Journal Scene.
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SASL Thunder wins Queen City Classic
The SASL (Sanford Area Soccer League) Thunder won the championship at the 2013 Queen City Classic in the U12 Fire Division on April 27-28 in Weddington. The SASL Thunder won the title with a 3-0-1 record and a total goal margin of 18-4.
The SASL Thunder also went undefeated to win its 2013 Spring Classic season in North Carolina Youth Soccer. The Thunder went 9-0-1 while scoring 44 goals and allowing nine.
The Thunder is undefeated (16-0-2) in their last 18 league or tournament matches. The winning streak stretches back to November 2012.
Sanford Area Soccer League will be holding open tryouts for its Classic and Challenge level teams , for ages U8-U18, later this month. The Classic tryouts will be May 20-22 from 6-7:30 p.m. The Challenge tryouts will be May 28-30 from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.sasl.net.


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Play any type of Game at Y8.com. The biggest Game Collection to play free online. Flash, Unity 3D, Html5, Android, Java and Shockwave.
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Well Eva and Blackie is getting really close. Let's see where this relationship is going


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Auction business enjoying success
ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- An auction business that opened late last year at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds in Rome Township has been bringing in crowds of about 200 on the past few Saturdays, according to Marshall Daniels of Marshall's Auction Service.
Marshall signed a contract with the Lawrence County Fair Board to operate 49 weeks at the Jonas Payne building at the fairgrounds off Ohio 243. The auction will close down during fair week and the week before and after. He also plans to take off a week in the spring and fall.
"I hope I've found a home here," Daniels said Tuesday. "We had a slow start, but it's picking up. The last few weeks we've had about 200 people here. It's been booming."
The auction starts at 5 p.m. Saturday. Marshall accepts consignments from 1 to 6 p.m. on Mondays.
"It's a family business," Daniels said. "My mom and my son run the concession stand. My daughter helps me. My brother helps me too."
Kathy L. Whitley of Proctorville, also helps out. Her mom, the late Sally Gorby Rigney, was in the antique business in Proctorville for years, Whitley said.
"I grew up buying and selling antiques," she said.
About 350 items are auctioned every week, Daniels said. The auction is open to the public. There is no admission fee, he said.
"We auction off new and used furniture, primitives, antiques, tools and other items," Daniels said.
Daniels had been in the produce business for about a decade before deciding to go in business for himself. "I went to an auction school last fall," he said. "I became an auction firm manager. It takes a year or more before you can be an auctioneer."
"We'll get dealers from antique shops and swap meets," Daniels said. "We get people from Charleston, to Paintsville, Ky., to Middleport and Athens Ohio."
Some of the items scheduled to be auctioned off can be seen at Marshall Daniels Facebook page. He also can be contacted at 304 633-6447.


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August 2, 2015
AUSTIN -- So many people turned out to vote in parts of Texas that some polls stayed open -- hours after the 7 p.m. scheduled closing time.
The Associated Press reports some polling places in the Houston
area were open past 11 p.m. (central time).
AP reports Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton saw their best results in parts of the state where they spent the most time campaigning - Clinton in predominantly Hispanic South Texas and Obama in metro areas and Austin.
Exit polls showed that Obama won heavy margins among black voters, with a nearly 6-to-1 edge.
Meanwhile, Texas gave John McCain the delegates he needed to clinch the GOP presidential nomination with a victory over Mike Huckabee.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn easily won the GOP nomination for a chance at another term.
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Town's Transition boosting economy
Posted: November 19, 2010|
THE TRANSITION movement – which was born in Totnes just four years ago – has put the town on the international stage and pumped more than £120,000 into the local economy.
Transition Town Totnes boss Rob Hopkins reckons that visitors pouring into the town to find out more about the international movement have brought a staggering £122,000 into the economy.
The special transition town tours organised by the movement's volunteer teams have brought in more than £52,000, he revealed.
Local councillors now hope that the Transition Town Totnes movement could help fill the economic hole left by the loss of the Dartington College of Arts which finally pulled out of the Dartington Estate this summer.
And the town council is now looking seriously at becoming a Transition Town Council – the first of its kind in Devon.
Mayor Tony Whitty revealed that would involve the town council embracing the transition ethos – working towards becoming a carbon neutral body – and working with Transition Town Totnes in 'enhancing the community spirit and involving the community in environmental projects, sustainability and community activities to make it a more resilient body, particularly in hard times'.
The transition movement was launched in Totnes by Rob Hopkins as a form of blueprint to help the community find ways of preparing for a future without cheap fuel and energy.
Since then its message has gone around the globe with transition towns popping up all over the world.
Mr Hopkins told members of the town council's policy development committee: "People visiting Totnes to find out about transition have brought an estimated £122,000 to the local economy."
He said that hundreds of people have visited the town to undertake transition training and added: "Transition Tours, a structured tour designed for those who want to visit the town to learn about transition has, so far, had a local impact of £52,166."
And he pointed out that a movement so closely identified with the town of Totnes had had national and international coverage from The BBC's One Show to the Al Jazeera TV network.
He pointed out there are now 59 transition groups working in and around Totnes, the Transition Streets project is using a £600,000 Government grant to lower the town's carbon footprint and the movement is also working with other groups to give the derelict Dairy Crest site a new lease of life.
The town council has already worked closely with the movement in turning the town's Civic Hall into a solar power complex.
Mr Whitty suggested that the council could become a transition town council – a recommendation which will now go before next month's town council meeting.
He explained that could involve encouraging developers to build to the highest levels of sustainability in future projects and to let the world know that the town council is 'totally backing the movement'.
He pointed out that the town council had already teamed up with Transition Town Totnes to put photovoltaic cells on the roof of the Civic Hall and had also been involved in smaller project like planting nut and fruit trees in the town cemetery.
Former Mayor Judy Westacott told the meeting: "The income that the movement brings in to the town will go some way to redressing the balance when the Dartington College of Art moved out to Falmouth.
"It can only do a power of good for Totnes."


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POV, a cinema term for "point of view," is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. Since 1988, POV has presented more than 275 of the best, boldest and most innovative documentaries to PBS audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.
Major funding for POV has been provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by: New York State Council on the Arts and the desJardins/Blachman Fund. Support programming like POV through your local PBS station.
Alex Landau recalls how he nearly lost his life at a traffic stop with the Denver police.
Sudanese civilians celebrate their heritage through music in the face of violence.
For five Chilean women, ritual centers on a monthly gathering.
Behind the barricades of the besieged Syrian city of Homs.
Inside an internet addiction rehab center in Beijing.
Two parents fight to win back the trust of the courts and reunite their families.
Theresa Burroughs remembers her pursuit of the right to vote in Alabama during Jim Crow.
New York City sanitation workers on becoming a part of the community they serve.
In August 2005, Travis Williams and his squad were sent on a rescue mission in Iraq.
Allen Hoe tells the story of a chance encounter with a stranger who knew his son.
In 2005, Specialist Justin Cliburn deployed to Iraq with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
20/Nothing follows Evan Smith, a man who lost his left eye many years ago.


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Video:Easy Mickey and Minnie Costume for Kidswith Michelle
Here you'll learn how to quickly and easily make different kinds of Mickey and Minnie mouse costumes.See Transcript
Transcript:Easy Mickey and Minnie Costume for KidsHi, my name is Michelle, with About.com. Today I want to show you simple homemade Mickey and Minnie mouse costumes.
Supplies for the Ears for the Mickey and Minnie Costumes for KidsThe most iconic part of the Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes are, of course, the Mickey and Minnie ears. The supplies you'll need are:
- Black poster board
- Cup for tracing
- Face paint is optional
- Black headbands — one plain and one feminine
- Tape or glue
- Scissors
Supplies for the Outfits for the Minnie Costume for KidsDid you know that Minnie Mouse has over 365 outfits with matching pairs of shoes? The supplies you'll need for Minnie are:
- Any feminine outfit
- Black leggings or tights
- White gloves with three drawn-on stripes -- optional
- Black T-shirt
- Red shorts
- Black leggings
- Adult-sized yellow socks
- White gloves with three drawn-on stripes -- optional
- White paper
- Scissors
For the shorts, simply cut out two white circles and glue onto the shorts for the iconic buttons.
Make the Ears for the Mickey and Minnie Costumes for KidsTake your cup and trace the circle onto black paper. Add a long tab on one end of the circle to adhere to the headband. After cutting out the shape, roll the tab around the headband and tape or glue it in place.
If using tape, make sure to tape the tab to the back of the headband so it doesn't show on the front.
Supplies for Variations of the Mickey Costume for Kids
- Large piece of red felt for the cape
- Brown yarn to make the belt
- Blue, yellow and black poster board
- Scissors
- Tape
Make a Sorcerer Mickey Costume for KidsCut out crescent moons and stars from the yellow poster board. These will be taped or glued onto the hat. For the hat, cut a large semi-circle out of the blue poster board and rap it around into a cone. Tape or glue together. Cut slits into the sides to insert and tape the Mickey ears with tabs to attach.
For the cape, find the center of your fabric and cut a teardrop shape. This goes over the child's head and creates a V-neck. Then wrap the brown yarn around the child's waist for the belt.<
Make the Chef Mickey and Minnie Costume for KidsWhat you'll need:
- Paper chef's hats
- Black poster board
- Pink poster board
- Scissors
- Tape
- Apron
For more fun projects, make sure to visit About.com.
About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the User Agreement.


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Cokesbury Quartet to perform final concert of summer
Jun. 07, 2013 @ 07:58 PM
(From left) Mike Hamm, Jerry Pegram, Stoney Bradshaw and Scott Dawson make up the Cokesbury Quartet. The group will perform their last concert of the summer today, at 6 p.m., at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 2440 S. Cokesbury Road, Henderson. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.


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A unitary, generally cylindrical member supports both the primary and shielding coils. By supporting both coils on a unitary member it is possible to take advantage of the antiphase relationship between the primary and shielding coils and thereby reduce the acoustic noise generated by the gradient coil assembly. The unitary member can be formed by starting with a mandrel to which the primary coil is applied, and then successively adding layers each having a cylindrical outer surface aligned with the same longitudinal axis. Each new cylindrical surface is formed by adding material and then removing some of the material while rotating the member about the longitudinal axis (e.g., turning on a lathe, or passing a blade past a still liquid skim coat). Additional primary and shielding coils are applied after each new aligned, cylindrical surface is formed. One or more correction coils are located outside of the shielding coils to cancel any gradient field present there as the result of misalignment between the primary and shielding coils. Litz wire is used in the primary and shielding coils to reduce coil resistance.
1. A gradient coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance imaging, said coil assembly comprising
a primary coil assembly including a primary coil placed about a first generally cylindrical outer surface of a first substrate, said primary coil generating a first magneto-motive force and a spatially varying magnetic field in a region radially inside said first surface when driven with a first pulsed current signal,
a shielding coil assembly including a shielding coil for said primary coil placed about a second generally cylindrical surface of a second substrate disposed coaxially outside said first surface, said shielding coil generating a second magneto-motive force in a direction substantially opposed to said first magneto-motive force and substantially cancelling said magnetic field in a region radially outside said second surface when driven with a second pulsed current signal that is substantially 180� out-of-phase with respect to said first pulsed current signal; and
a cylindrical support member substantially entirely filling an annular region bounded by said primary coil assembly and said shielding coil assembly to substantially continuously support said assemblies along their respective lengths and circumferences, said member being sufficiently stiff or massive to mechanically couple said primary and said shielding coil assemblies to substantially cancel effects of said first and said second magneto-motive forces.
2. The gradient coil assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member is formed by adding material to said outer surface of said first substrate and removing excess of said material to render an outer surface of said material concentric with said outer surface of said first substrate.
3. The gradient coil assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member is formed by introducing a curable compound into said annular region.
4. A gradient coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance imaging, said coil assembly comprising:
a primary coil configured to generate a primary magnetic field having a spatially varying intensity when driven with a primary current signal;
a shielding coil disposed radially outside said primary coil, wherein said primary coil and said shielding coil are misaligned, said shielding coil being configured to generate a shielding magnetic field that reduces the intensity of the magnetic field outside of said shielding coil when driven with a shielding current signal proportional to said primary current signal; and
a correction coil substantially concentric with said shielding coil, said correction coil being configured to generate a correction magnetic field that reduces the intensity of the magnetic field outside of said shielding coil attributable to said misalignment when driven with a correction current signal.
5. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said primary current signal is time-varying.
6. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said primary current signal is periodic.
7. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said shielding current signal is substantially 180� out-of-phase with respect to said primary current signal.
8. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said correction coil is disposed radially outside said shielding coil.
9. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said correction current signal is selected to cancel the intensity of the magnetic field outside said shielding coil attributable to said misalignment.
10. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 further comprising plural of said primary coils and plural of said shielding coils.
11. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 10 further comprising plural of said correction coils.
12. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 4 further comprising a shim coil.
13. The gradient coil assembly as recited in claim 12 further comprising plural of said shim coils.
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/242,706, filed May 13, 1994, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/133,733, filed Oct. 7, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/921,411, filed Jul. 23, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/545,888, filed Jun. 29, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/534,142, filed Jun. 6, 1990, now abandoned.
This invention relates to gradient coils in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging systems.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems may be used as medical diagnostic tools. Generally, they consist of a region that holds the patient or sample surrounded by a set of coils. The outermost coil is often a superconducting DC coil which provides a strong, constant magnetic field that polarizes the nuclei in the molecules of the sample or the patient's body. A smaller RF coil sits concentrically within the DC coil, and generates a time-varying RF field that excites the nuclei and detects their response to this excitation. A coil assembly, generally referred to as the "gradient coil", occupies the space between the above coils and generates a time-varying spatially dependent audio frequency magnetic field (usually a linear gradient field) which causes the response frequency of the nuclei to depend on their positions within the field. This imparted spatial information allows the generation of an image of the areas excited and detected by the RF coil.
Such a gradient coil assembly usually consists of a set of three primary coils (X, Y and Z) which may each be manufactured by winding a pattern of conductors on the surface of a cylinder. Each of these coils may be shielded with another pattern of conductors wound on another cylindrical surface which surrounds the coils. Coils of this type are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,737,716 and 4,794,338 (incorporated by reference), respectively entitled "Self-Shielded Gradient Coils for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging" and "Balanced Self-Shielded Gradient Coils", both of Roemer et al.
Gradient coils, because they operate at audio frequencies, can be the source of high levels of acoustic noise. This is particularly true for coils used in high speed imaging, as higher frequencies and higher currents are used.
It is also known to use Litz wire in transformers and coils as it reduces skin effect conduction and thus exhibits decreased resistance for a given conductor diameter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,042 entitled "Litz Wire for Decreasing Skin Effect at High Frequency" of Akiba discusses this effect.
The invention features, in a first aspect, a unitary, generally cylindrical member on which the primary and shielding coils are supported (e.g., the primary coil on the interior surface and the shielding coil on the exterior surface). By supporting both coils on a unitary member it is possible to take advantage of the antiphase relationship between the primary and shielding coil currents and thereby reduce the acoustic noise generated by the gradient coil assembly. The unitary member need not be entirely solid, but could include voids, so long as it is sufficiently stiff and/or massive to reduce acoustic noise.
In preferred embodiments, the unitary member is formed by starting with a mandrel to which the primary coil is applied, and then successively adding layers each having a cylindrical outer surface aligned with the same longitudinal axis. Each new cylindrical surface is formed by adding material and then removing some of the material while rotating the member about the longitudinal axis (e.g., turning on a lathe, or passing a blade past a still liquid skim coat). Additional primary or shielding coils are applied after each new aligned, cylindrical surface is formed.
In still other preferred embodiments, the unitary member is formed by starting with a cylinder, and adhering the primary coil to the interior of the cylinder and the shielding coil to the exterior.
In a second aspect, the invention features using one or more correction coils located outside of the shielding coils to achieve substantial cancellation of any magnetic field present there as the result of misalignment between the primary and shielding coils.
In a third aspect, the invention features the use of Litz wire in one or more of the primary coils (and preferably also the shielding coils).
The gradient coil assembly of the invention has the advantage of reduced audio noise as the primary and the shield coil windings are both supported on the same unitary member, thus reducing vibration. The currents flow through the coil and shield in an anti-phase fashion and thus their associated magneto-motive forces tend to cancel if appropriately coupled by the unitary member. The mass and stiffness added to the assembly by the unitary member also contributes to reducing the amplitude of audible noise.
The coil assembly of the invention is also aligned with a high degree of precision. Correction coils may compensate for any remaining misalignment of the gradient coil assembly or the main magnet, and may be retro-fitted on existing systems.
The use of Litz wire in the gradient coils of the invention not only provides the advantages of reduced skin effect within the conductors, but also provides advantages due to reduced eddy currents and proximity effect caused by adjacent conductors and adjacent coil layers. These reductions in skin effect, proximity effect, and induced eddy currents lead to lower coil resistance which, in turn, leads to lower power consumption and cooling requirements. The lower power consumption can allow the use of less expensive gradient amplifiers. The reduced proximity effect and lower induced eddy currents from adjacent conductors and adjacent coil layers may provide improved imaging quality.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the claims.
FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an NMR coil apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an NMR gradient coil assembly.
FIG. 3 is a detail of the outer coil layers in the area shown by circle "A" in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the NMR gradient coil assembly, showing the X and Y coils and shields removed from their embedded Z counterparts.
FIG. 5 is a partial winding pattern for the X primary coil.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps involved in manufacturing a coil assembly.
Referring to FIG. 1, a diagnostic NMR apparatus includes a cavity 16 for examining a patient, surrounded by a cylindrical RF coil 12. This coil 12 alternatively provides an RF field that excites the nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon in the nuclei of the molecules of the patient's body and acts as a detector to detect the response of the nuclei to their overall excitation by the NMR apparatus. The RF coil is surrounded by an RF shield 10. A detailed description of this shield and its operation may be found in a co-pending application entitled "Split Shield for Magnetic Resonance Imaging" and assigned to the same assignee.
The RF shield is, in turn, surrounded by a gradient coil assembly 14. The gradient coil assembly is made up of a series of coils which generate audio frequency gradient fields that, taken together, allow spatial resolution of the NMR phenomenon within the cavity. These gradient coils operate at frequencies up to 7 kHz. A further coil (not shown), known as the main magnet, surrounds the gradient coil assembly. The RF coil, shield, gradient coil assembly, and main magnet are concentrically arranged around the center of the NMR apparatus 18.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the gradient coil assembly 14 consists of two sets of coils arranged concentrically. The innermost set 64 includes the primary gradient coils, and the outermost set 66 comprises the shield, shim and correction coils.
The inner surface 20 of the gradient coil assembly defines the inside surface of the Z-coil 70. This Z-coil may be wound on a former (not shown) which will remain part of the system or it may be wound on a mandrel 68 that is later removed, as is shown in the figure. The assembly and winding procedure will be discussed in more detail later. The Z-coil is wound as a cylindrical spiral and it provides a magnetic field gradient in the Z-direction within the cavity 16.
The gradient coils in the assembly are wound with Litz wire. The Litz wire used is an 805-strand Litz wire available from New England Electric Wire, of Lisbon, N.H. Litz wire is used in many applications for its reduced resistance at high frequencies, due to a lower skin effect. This is an advantage in that the amplifiers that drive the coils need to deliver less power and consequently may be made less expensively. In addition, the coil produces less heat and consequently requires less cooling. It has also been found that Litz wire has the advantage of reducing proximity effect in the gradient coil assembly.
Proximity effect is the effect of the magnetic field caused by current flowing in one conductor on the current distribution in an adjacent conductor. Reducing the proximity effect between adjacent conductors within a coil decreases the resistance in the coil. Reducing the proximity effect between conductors in separate coils will also decrease the resistance of the coils and, furthermore, may result in reduced imaging distortion, caused by circulating eddy currents in solid conductors.
A current-carrying wire may also induce eddy currents in its neighbors. The use of Litz wire reduces the amount of current which may be induced in an adjacent conductor by fragmenting its cross-section. The reduction of this proximity effect within a coil contributes to a lower resistance of the coil, and the reduction of this effect between separate coils contributes to lower coil resistances and lower imaging distortion. This reduced distortion results in more accurate imaging of the sample or patient.
The manufacturing process begins with the Z-coil being embedded in, and axially surrounded by, an epoxy layer 22 which has an outer surface 24 that serves as an X-coil winding surface. The X-coil 74 includes four generally spirally wound segments 75 (FIG. 5) of wire that are curved to conform to the curvature of the X-coil winding surface 24 (as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,737,716 and 4,794,338). The center leads 97 of these segments are connected by bus bars 92. The X-coil provides a linear gradient in the X direction within the cavity 16.
The X-coil is embedded in, and axially surrounded by, a second epoxy layer 26 which has an outer surface 28 on which the Y-coil 76 is wound. The Y-coil is similar to the X-coil, except that it is displaced around the cylinder by 90� with respect to the X-coil. This may be seen in FIG. 4. The Y-coil provides a time-varying linear gradient in the Y direction within the cavity 16.
A third epoxy layer 30 embeds and surrounds the Y-coil and provides a winding surface 32 for coolant tubes 34. These tubes cool the entire assembly. The tubes are surrounded by a wider central epoxy layer 36 which separates the primary coils from the outer coils. It is advantageous to separate the primary and outer coils by a large distance, for it reduces the power requirement of each shielded pair and also provides for a stronger overall gradient within the cavity.
The innermost shield coil is the Z-shield 78, which is wound on the outer surface 38 of the central epoxy layer 36. This shield is similar to the Z-coil, except that it is wound less densely. Its purpose is to provide a magnetic field that cancels that of the Z-coil outside of the gradient coil assembly. This prevents unwanted interaction with the main magnet and other objects outside of the coil.
The X-shield 82 and Y-shield 84 are wound on the surfaces 42, 46 of epoxy layers 40, 44, much as their associated coils were. These coils are also essentially sparser versions of their associated primary coils. It is noted that the order in which the coils are wound within each of the two sets is of little consequence, as long as the shield coils are designed to properly cancel their associated primary coil fields outside of the gradient coil assembly.
Outside of the shield coils is a set of shim coils which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This set of shim coils includes a Y-shim 86, an X-shim 88, and a Z-shim 90 which are mounted on epoxy layer surfaces 50, 52, 54. These shims are powered with DC current, and allow small adjustments of the static field of the main magnet.
Outside of the shim coils, there is a Z-correction coil 58 (not shown in FIG. 4) which is wound on the outer surface 56 of a penultimate epoxy layer. This coil is provided to compensate for the field generated by any misalignment that may exist between the Z-coil and the Z-shield by generating a correction field which cancels the field due to the misalignment. Similar correction coils may also be provided for X or Y orientations, if needed. Correction coils may not be needed at all if the coils are sufficiently well aligned. If the corrections needed are linear in nature, the shim coils may be used for achieving the corrections.
It should be noted that the addition of correction coils will permit less demanding tolerances in the alignment and/or manufacturing processes, and may thus reduce the cost of achieving acceptable alignment. It should also be noted that this type of correction coil may be retro-fitted to existing systems. The particular configuration of correction coils will depend on the field resulting from the relative mechanical tolerances among the layers of that NMR system.
These mechanical tolerances may be minimized by manufacturing the coil assembly on a lathe. Referring to FIG. 6, initially, a mandrel 68 is positioned in a lathe and turned 100 to yield a cylindrical mandrel with an outer surface that is aligned with the axis of the lathe. The Z-coil is then wound upon the mandrel and a suitable material, such as an epoxy is added on the outer surface of the Z-coil. The epoxy used should preferably be thixotropic, have a high thermal conductivity, present minimal shrinkage on setting, and be such that it may be cut on a lathe. This epoxy is allowed to set and is then turned 104 in order to produce a second outer surface that is also aligned with the axis of the lathe. The X-coil is then wound 106 on this surface, and the process is repeated for the Y-coil (steps 108-110) and cooling tubes (steps 112-114).
This completes the primary layers. A further layer of epoxy is added on the outside of the cooling tubes which will separate the primary layers and the outer layers. As mentioned earlier, this central layer is wider than the others and is therefore more suited to formation by molding, than it is to simple addition of epoxy. This molding operation is performed by surrounding the partial gradient coil assembly with an essentially cylindrical clam-shell mold, filling it with epoxy (Concresive, an adhesive filler available from Adhesive Engineering, San Carlos, Calif.) used on the other layers, and allowing it to harden. Once the epoxy has hardened, the mold is removed, and the outer surface of the newly formed layer is turned to align it with the axis of the assembly, as were the earlier layers (step 116). It should be noted that this layer can also be formed with voids in it, or it may be formed in separate pieces. This would allow, for example, the use of a reduced amount of epoxy and/or the provision of locations for reinforcement members.
The Z-shield, X-shield, and Y-shield are then built up on the assembly in the same way as were the coils (steps 118-126). Correction and shim coils may also be added in a similar fashion (steps 128-130). A final epoxy layer 60 and a coat of epoxy paint 62 may be added to protect the outside surface of the gradient coil assembly (FIG. 3).
The mandrel is then removed (132), yielding a gradient coil assembly whose alignment between layers depends only on the tolerance of a single lathe and which has misalignment errors that are non-additive. It is noted that no complicated post-construction alignment procedures are needed, as would be necessary when assembling separate primary and outer coil assemblies.
During operation of the gradient coil assembly, acoustic noise is generated due to vibrations caused by the magneto-motive forces developed on the current-carrying wires within the high static magnetic field of the main magnet. Since the coil currents are modulated at audio frequencies, audio frequency sounds are produced. These may be of very high amplitude; in some cases being loud enough to damage the patient's hearing. The fact that the primary layers and the outer layers are held together in one integral piece with a turned central layer 36 reduces the audio noise produced by the coil assembly. This is true because the currents in the shields and coils are in opposing phase with respect to each other, so that their respective magneto-motive forces tend to cancel each other when the shields and coils are coupled together by the stiff and massive cylinder between them.
Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
For example, there are other methods of manufacturing an integral piece that carries the primary coils on the inside and the shielding coils on the outside. E.g., the coils could be wound on separate cylindrical formers and the space between these formers could be filled with a filler. In this method, it is necessary to use a filler which shrinks very little while hardening, or the coil may lose its alignment. Concresive, an adhesive filler available from Adhesive Engineering (San Carlos, Calif.) contains a substantial amount of sand and therefore tends to exhibit little shrinkage, making it a good choice. This sand-filled adhesive could also be used in the earlier-described molding process.
The assembly could also be made by first creating the single piece central cylindrical former. The primary coils are then placed on the inside surface of the former and the shielding coils are placed on the outside of the former. The coils are held to the former with an adhesive, and may be wound upon each other, or separated by layers of turned epoxy as described above. As is the case for a molded central layer, this former can include substantial voids, provided that it is stiff enough and/or massive enough to reduce the noise output of the assembly.
Alternatively, a light former with substantial voids could be used during turning, and the voids could be filled with epoxy thereafter. Jigs could also be used to maintain alignment during turning, and be removed upon hardening of the epoxy.
Instead of building up the central cylinder (on which the primary and shielding coils are supported) by turning successive layers on a lathe, skim coats could be applied and concentric, cylindrical surfaces formed by rotating the cylinder past a blade while the skim coats are still wet. Alternatively, grinding or milling steps could replace turning on a lathe. In each case, however, material is added to the cylinder in such a way as to create a new cylindrical surface concentric with a common axis.
It should also be noted that Litz wire can be used in primary coils which are not shielded. As for the shielded coil of the preferred embodiment, this unshielded coil would have the advantages of reduced skin effect and of reduced interactions among adjacent coils.
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Fifty Hats that Changed the World
Conran Octopus Ltd | ISBN 9781840915693
Hardback – 112 pages
Member's price: $22.50
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Everything around us is designed and the word 'design' has become part of our everyday experience. But how much do we know about it? Fifty Hats That Changed the World imparts that knowledge listing the top 50 hats and headwear that have made a substantial impact in the world of fashion and design today. From an early fourteenth century Russian crown to Noel Stewart's 2010 Ribboned Landscape hat, each entry offers a short appraisal to explore what has made their iconic status and the designers that give them a special place in design history.