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Age Of Impact
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Released July 28, 1998
Explorers Club on this expedition is:
Terry Bozzio, Billy Sheehan, Trent Gardner, Wayne Gardner, Brad Kaiser, James LaBrie, D.C. Cooper, Bret Douglas, Matt Bradley, John Petrucci, Steve Howe, Derek Sherinian, James Murphy, Michael Bemesderfer, Frederick Clarke, Matt Guillory
The monster classic album Union from Yes is probably the last time you've seen such an army of progressive rock royalty assembled in one place, to give a full vocals album wings to fly, in this case a far-reaching, universal concept album that charts man's struggle with his often unsavory motivations.
Magellan's Trent Gardner, along with Magna Carta's backroom deal-makers Peter Morticelli and Mike Varney, have brought this to fruition, finally actualizing a concept that has become a bit of a legendary grail in Magna Carta circles, one of Trent's flights of fancy that people joked would probably never happen.
Well the coop has flown, and Gardner's Explorers Club has somehow delivered Age Of Impact, a record that is the culmination of a life of prog rock proselytizing. "As a teenager I can remember continually listening to all the classic prog artists in this 'club'," Trent recalls fondly. "The 'rolling public address system' that trumpeted from my '75 Lemans courtesy of a cheesy cassette machine (at far above 90 decibels) forced every last riff possible upon the unsuspecting and often unappreciative ears of passing motorists with albums such as Thick As A Brick or Close To The Edge. I considered this more of a religious or sacred duty than I did an immature, juvenile prank. I even fantasized about how fun it would be to work with these musicians one day and have them execute a few of my own humble compositions, but with their blazing virtuosity."
Crack back to the present, and Trent has the services of a rhythm section to die for, Terry Bozzio (Zappa, UK, Missing Persons, Bozzio Levin Stevens) and Billy Sheehan (Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big) laying the bed for a five part journey towards the apocalypse, the millennium, truth, fate, chaos, spirituality, human love, or possibly the mere peace of death. Sheehan is astoundingly un-Sheehan-like in this performance, revealing an art rock soul that opens more toward Chris Squire than the Gods of Shred. Bozzio has brought along a lifetime of futuristic thinking, mixing unique electric tones with a deft and witty sleight of hand that recalls Bruford's Crimson work from the early '80s.
From this base leaps a stunning array of relentlessly inventive guitar and keyboard work, all toiling to put flesh to the bone of Gardner's engaging, purifying tale of human struggle. Guitars are represented capably by a core contingent of Trent's brother and Magellan cohort Wayne Gardner, along with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, fresh from the kill with Liquid Tension Experiment. Other soloists lending power to the cause include none other than Yes' Steve Howe and Death's James Murphy, now a solo artist in his own right. Keyboards are mostly Trent's domain of course, while Dali's Dilemma's Matt Guillory and Dream Theater's Derek Sherinian also contribute.
Explorers Club's vocal army is just as impressive. Dali's Dilemma's Matt Bradley, Cairo's Bret Douglas, Dream Theater's James LaBrie, and Royal Hunt's D.C. Cooper deliver Trent's evolving, revolving tale of earthly redemption, often underscoring the tough, progressive metal aggression of tracks that are oddly and refreshingly arranged like the classics, Yes' Close To The Edge and Relayer, Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Trick Of The Tale springing to mind.
All in all, it swings back to our original premise. Rarely, if ever, have we seen a collaboration of so many prog rock legends from all generations assemble for a record that is not instrumental; but one that makes real a large concept that looks enigmatically at mankind's fate from many angles, arriving (perhaps!) at the conclusion that man must participate toward the betterment of life here on earth, rather than fold his cards and accept misery.
The last word goes to Age Of Impact's overseer. Trent: "For many personal reasons, the timing for this project was exquisite. Most definitely this qualified as one of those 'special moments' I keep referring to. However, I feared that writing for musicians beyond my own level of expertise and clout was going to be an ever so slightly intimidating experience. Even though getting 'fired' from Magellan wasn't likely (given my good rapport with the keyboard player), taking this project on could definitely have put a major dent in the memory of my '75 Lemans, should I come up with some lame or pathetic material that madeus all look, wellless than awake. But in the end, Age of Impact turned out to be the most 'musical' fun I've ever had. Milking my creative juices so to speak, turned out to be an experience that I would highly recommend to others, although I would much prefer you milked your own and not mine (laughs). My most heartfelt thanks go to those involved."


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...officially endorsed fanon? ASDF1239 DISCUSSION 08:19, March 27, 2010 (UTC)
- Stargate's cannon policy is a mess, as of now, we don't know and unless it directly contradicts anything in the show we may not know for quite a while--184.108.40.206 18:40, August 14, 2010 (UTC)
- To put shortly, novels published by Fandemonium are currently classed as cannon by MGM. Here is the long explanation, which was explained by Jo Graham...
- First Fandemonium submit an outline of a story, with all major characters and plot in it, following the guidelines that they are given about content. That outline was modified by MGM. We made changes in response to their feedback, and then resubmitted the entire outline. Then for EACH book they submit a 5,000 word synopsis detailing more closely the entire plot. Each synopsis is then edited by MGM and returned. Fandemonium resubmit until it meets their approval.
- When each book is finished it goes to our editor at Fandemonium, who requires changes which they make. Then the manuscript goes to MGM, where it typically stays 3-6 months for detailed LINE BY LINE WORD BY WORD edits. Usually there are 200-300 individual changes suggested by MGM. Fandemonium make changes and rewrite. Then the manuscript is resubmitted to MGM where it once again has a LINE BY LINE WORD BY WORD edit. Any remaining changes are made.
- There is not one single WORD that has not been approved by MGM three separate times. Everything, every last comma, is reviewed exhaustively to meet their requirements.
- Of course, as the owners of the franchise, MGM can change their minds about canon at any point in the future, retcon or rewrite as they wish, just as in a future show they can choose to retcon or disregard anything that's been previously filmed. But yes, it is canon. Every single word is approved by MGM, the owner of the franchise.
- (Stargate TL1 (talk) (Contribs) 20:07, May 29, 2014 (UTC))
- Well, that's extremely helpful. I think that's about as canon as it gets. Seriously, there are things considered full canon in other SF universes that barely have to pass review, as long as they are licensed. I think novel contents could be integrated into the wiki (character biographies, lore, backstory, ...), at least unless there's direct conflict with the shows. Or is there a wiki policy that disagrees? (Because there's precious little of the books' contents on the wiki right now -- if that's only lack of editors, I can understand that, but I didn't want to add any of it until I was sure this wasn't policy -- e.g. how Star Trek has Memory Alpha (films and shows only) and Memory Beta (all licensed works).)
- Also, I admire Ms. Graham's restraint in describing just what kind of pain in the mik'ta MGM can be. Those of you who have degrees -- you know how annoying supervisors' requested changes can be; degree or not, can you imagine making hundreds of them in an original work you spent months writing, three times over (and for much less of a good reason than a supervisor's comment about factual errors in a degree thesis, I'd wager)?

subset: commoncrawl


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Best Of :: Shopping & Services
Broward County is home to plenty of shops selling marijuana pipes, but many of them also stock so many inconsequential knick-knacks, trinkets, and doo-dads that it's hard to get a gander at what you walked in there for. You can find your Nag Champa incense at any brightly lighted, family-friendly head shop, but for the best selection of those beauteous color-changing glass pipes (and waterpipes -- don't you dare call 'em bongs), explore the slightly sinister vibe at Cloudy Daze. Something tells us this is the place to come when your terrazzo floor and your hand-blown bubbler meet under tragically unfortunate circumstances. Rather than fill its square footage with Grateful Dead Hacky Sacks, sex-toy novelties, or crystal unicorns, Cloudy Daze has exactly what you want: Lots and lots of pipes with which to smoke dope. Is that so wrong?
They did P. Diddy's Black & White Ball on New Year's Eve at the Shore Club in South Beach, brought Pat Benatar to New Orleans for Roche Pharmaceuticals, flew Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina into a corporate meeting on a giant spaceship, and staged a Hollywood gala complete with red carpet, limos, and six-foot-tall gold Oscar statuettes for a bar mitzvah titled "Seth's Premiere." Nothing is too off the wall or over the top. If you've got the bucks -- it costs $25,000 and up for a private bash like Seth's to as much as a million for a multiday corporate extravaganza -- they'll make it happen. M.E. Productions rakes in over $9 million a year orchestrating events. Packed inside its 35,000-square-foot warehouse facing I-95, cubicles and work stations seem carved in a conglomerate rock bed of props: a mermaid with golden hair falling past her butt, a faux verdigris Statue of Liberty, ferocious Tiki gods, the head of a huge snarling dragon, and a giant hamburger the size of a bean-bag chair. Of course, there are trends in this business like any other. Business theater director Deidre Underwood says she's thinking simple these days. Dot-coms pushed Underwood's world to extreme heights. Everybody's done the lighting-the-stage-on-fire thing, she says. She would rather see a single spotlight and a blazing speech. Staying ahead of the trends, this year she's talking speech coaches.
This place does not carry any ale from Antarctica. But if someone there brewed a batch, you can bet these are the shelves where it would be stocked. In fact, in this health-food store can be found several liquor stores' worth of beer to please every palate, including all the familiar names and an ever-changing lineup of obscurities. Salvator, Königs-Pilsener, and Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier round out more commonplace German lagers. This is also the place to find those tasty Belgian frambozens and buckwheat lambics. Of course, English ales, porters, and stouts are well-represented, and the selection includes a slew of rarities. Widget cans include the now-ubiquitous Boddington's, Guinness, and Tetleys, as well as Wexfords Irish Cream Ale and Abbot Ale. California and East Coast microbreweries line the aisle, as well as a huge assortment of organic ales (like the new Samuel Smith's offering), nonalcoholic beers from here and abroad, sorrel and ginger shandies, tons of ciders, plus seasonal beers like Anchor Christmas Ale and Sam Adams Old Fezziwig (flavored with orange, ginger, and cinnamon). So burp already.
You want your hair styled, head down the street to Yellow Strawberry and pay, like, $97.95 or something. You want a freakin' haircut, you eat your country-fried steak at the Floridian, then you mosey a couple of doors west, plop yourself down in one of the three barber's chairs, and you kick it -- say it with us, now -- old school. How old? Well, the shop has been there since 1951, the stations are also from the '50s, and those cool-as-hell retro chairs are from the '60s. A man's haircut will run you $15, a woman's $20. For the guys, a full-on, hot-lather, straight-razor shave goes for $20. OK, so it's not "two bits," but it still qualifies, like the shop's motto says, as "barbering the way it used to be."
Cowboys dress kind of fussy for macho bucs. Those outfits jump out at ya' -- shiny belt buckles as big as post cards with whole ranch scenes engraved on the face, ten-gallon cowboy hats, and boots with fancy tooling snaking all over the leather. Melding into a crowd, unless it's a crowd of equally outlandishly clad cowboys, isn't the idea. No, it's important to be able to spot others of the clan when mixing it up with the uninitiates. Responding to questions with a soft "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir" isn't enough. Nor is walking bowlegged. Gear. That's what makes a cowboy a cowboy. And Grifs has the stuff -- fancy and plain -- from Wranglers and Stetsons to tight-fitting snap-front shirts, boots, buckles, saddles, and bull-riding ropes.
Sure, it's a bit ostentatious, but really, why buy clothes off the rack that are designed and created for any old schmuck? Call up Twickenham and they come to your home or office, take your measurements, and make clothes specifically suited to you. The cost is about twice as high as store-bought clothes, but rare is the man who can say his threads are one-of-a-kind.


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Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system of mammals. The virus is typically present in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted through a bite. The virus can incubate for several weeks to months, but ranges from days to years. Unfortunately, once a person begins to show signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. However, rabies is 100 percent preventable through appropriate medical treatment.
The Douglas County Health Department provides consultation to help healthcare providers, veterinarians, and the general public to determine whether a potential exposure occurred. Rabies exposure consultation can be obtained from the office of Epidemiology:
- During business hours call:Â 402-444-7214
- After hours call:Â 402-444-7000
Assistance with "Bat Proofing" your home or property can be obtained by the office of Environmental Health:
- During business hours call:Â 402-444-7489
Assistance with capture and removal of wild animals can be obtained through the Nebraska Humane Society:
- Call:Â 402-444-7800, ext. 1
Links to additional information can be found below.
General Information
- Rabies Exposure Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- What to Do if You Have a Potential Exposure
- Rabies Website Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- General Information for Rabies from the CDCÂ
For Health Care Providers
- Nebraska Rabies Investigation Guidelines (Including Management of Potential Rabies Exposures)
- Health Alert - Guidance On Managing Possible Exposures to Rabies, August 2011Â
- Rabies Exposure Management for Bat-Related Incidents - Algorithm
- Human Rabies Prevention - United States, 2008 (ACIP)
- Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Postexposure Prophylaxis to Human Rabies, 2010 (ACIP)


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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
|This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
|Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-12-072 Date: May 2013
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-12-072
Date: May 2013
This chapter describes the designing and testing of an implementable version of the sensing module. The shape, size, and the conformity with the current installation procedures were important factors in the design.
Embedded strain gauges made specifically for AC have been widely used by several research programs. The used sensing principle is based on mechanical indicators such as an extensometer, resistive wires, and foil gauges. To ensure a good contact, most of the recently developed and marketed gauges are H-shaped (see figure 118 and figure 119). It was decided that the package designed for the sensor should have a similar shape and could be installed using existing installation procedures that are accepted by State transportation departments and will not constitute a major disruption to current practices.
Figure 118 . Photo. Example of commercially available asphalt strain gauge.
Figure 119 . Photo. Second example of commercially available asphalt strain gauge.
Many past projects dealt with the installation of monitoring gauges in both asphalt and concrete pavements. This section describes the used installation procedure based on the work by Hornyak et al. from the Transportation Research Center at Marquette University and a report prepared for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) by Roesler et al. (3,4) The locations of the gauges were identified and marked. A pre-mixed matrix of sand and binder was reheated and placed in a 0.5-inch (12.7-mm)-thick patch on an open-graded base layer at the location of each sensor. These patches served as the base pad for the asphalt strain gauges (ASGs). The ASGs were then placed on their respective base pads, and the leads were organized and buried into the open-graded base layer (see figure 120 and figure 121). A cable armor installed on the exposed length of the leads served as protection for the wiring from puncturing from the aggregates during paving. The ASGs were placed so that the leads exiting the protected portion of the gauge did so against the direction of paving; otherwise, forces and motions generated by the paving equipment may have a tendency to pull the sensor leads away from the strain gauge, destroying the gauge. Strain relief was provided multiple times. Shortly before the paving, asphalt material from the paver hopper was screened off on the 3/8-inch (9.53-mm) sieve and a roughly 1 inch (25.4 mm) layer was placed on the gauges. The material was compacted by mild compaction force using a hand tamper. A layer of unscreened asphalt (about 2 inches (50.8 mm) thick) was placed on top of the gauge arrays and compacted using a gas-powered plate tamper (see figure 122 and figure 123). After this was complete, the paver passed over the strain gauges. The wireless nature of the developed system reduces the required preparation time before paving.
Off-the-shelf dynamic strain monitoring gauges were used in the Caltrans project.(4) The used installation techniques could be considered representative of methods currently used by State transportation departments. Initially, shallow trenches were dug in the aggregate base, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were laid in the trenches so that wires running from each instrument could be threaded through the PVC pipe system to the shoulder of the pavement and connected to the online data acquisition (see figure 124 and figure 125). The channels and pipe system were then backfilled with the aggregate base. For the cement-treated base, a saw was used to cut shallow grooves in which to run the gauge lead wires (see figure 124 and figure 125). These steps are skipped when installing a newly developed sensor. After the wires were placed, fast-setting cement mixed with sand was used to backfill the channels. All strain gauges were placed on the base material with small steel frames (see figure 126). Each instrument was attached to its steel frame using a plastic zip tie. Each instrument was attached firmly enough so that it would not become dislodged when the concrete was placed but also in such a manner that the fasteners would not restrict gauge movement once the concrete had set.
Figure 120 . Photo. Marking the proposed locations of the gauges.
Figure 121 . Photo. Placing sand/binder pad and fitting gauges.(3)
Figure 122 . Photo. Placing screened asphalt on top of gauges and carefully compacting.
Figure 123 . Photo. Compacting the unscreened asphalt over the gauge arrays.
Figure 124 . Photo. Laying instrument wiring and piping in aggregate base.
Figure 125 . Photo. Cutting grooves in cement-treated base for instrument leads.(4)
Figure 126 . Photo. Collecting a concrete strain gauge using steel frames.(4)
It should be noted that for these gauges, no electronics were embedded with the system since they do not have on chip capabilities such as computation and memory storage. In addition, the resistive strain gauge can withstand high temperatures. One of the disadvantages of this system is its high sensitivity to temperature variations. In the design presented in this report, the piezoelectric transducer is attached to the core reinforced epoxy, and a thermal insulator coating is used to protect the embedded electronics in contrast with commercial devices which do not use a thermal insulation layer (figure 127). To prevent the undesirable effects of moisture on the circuit, silicone rubber polymer, which is an excellent impervious material, is used.
Figure 127 . Illustration. Cross section of commercialized strain gauges.
In order to not disrupt the stress field in the pavement, the system's stiffness must be close to that of the pavement. A low stiffness is desirable, but the device must be able to survive the stresses imposed during paving. Most of the systems are designed to approach the stiffness of asphalt at 77 °F and 320,000 psi (25 °C and 2,204,800 kPa). The main frame of the package is made of epoxy on which the sensor and the piezoelectric are attached. The layers used for thermal and chemical insulation have a very low stiffness compared to the main frame epoxy. The choice of the epoxy is based on several parameters such as the thermal conductivity and the electric conductivity. Two types of epoxy were identified—Conathane® TU-981 and Araldite® GY-6010. Both types have a tensile modulus close to 300,000 psi (2,067,000 kPa) and high tensile and flexural strengths above 4,000 psi (27,560 kPa). Both are good electric insulators, but the Araldite® GY-6010 has an upper thermal resistivity.
5.2.1 Thermal Insulation
According to the results shown in Timm et al., the typical mix temperature in a paving project decreases from around 302 °F (150 °C) to around 158 °F (70 °C) in about 2 h and then oscillates between 158 and 212 °F (70 and 100 °C) as lifts are applied.(5) Thus, the circuit needs to be protected. From a simple finite element simulation in which the external temperature is assumed to be constant all the time at 302 °F (150 °C) (conservative condition), it was concluded that the conductivity of a 0.4-inch (10.16-mm) isolating material layer should be less than 0.554 inch hr-1ft-2 °F-1 (0.08 W/mK). Polyurethane foam was identified as a viable candidate for thermal protection. Its thermal conductivity is lower than 0.346 inch hr-1ft-2 °F-1 (0.05 W/mK). Furthermore, it has a high abrasion resistance and impact strength. The selected foam was tested in a high-temperature environment where three thermocouples were placed inside an environmental chamber with a controlled temperature increasing gradually from 86 to 230 °F (30 to 110 °C) and then maintained at that level for 60 min. The first thermocouple was placed with no protection, while the second and third thermocouples had coats of 0.08 and 0.3 inches (2.03 and 7.62 mm), respectively. A sample is shown in figure 128. Figure 129 shows the variation of temperature for different sensors. From the figure, it is observed that a polyurethane layer significantly decreases the observed temperature.
Figure 128 . Photo. Thermocouple covered with a layer of polyurethane foam.
Figure 129 . Graph. Measured output from protected and unprotected thermocouples.
5.2.2 Mechanical Protection
The sensor needs to be coated with a layer of a thin, rigid material in order to protect it from the stresses during paving (compaction for HMA pavements) as well as damage due to aggregates that might puncture the system under high pressure. This layer should be very thin so it does not affect the overall stiffness of the system. Some commercial gauges use titanium as an external protective layer, while others use rigid nylon. In this case, metallic materials were not used because they act as a Faraday cage and inhibit wireless communication. Smooth-cast 385, which is a mineral-filled urethane casting resin that is very hard and durable, was selected as a candidate to test. It also has a very high flexural and compressive strength and resists moisture and mild solvent. A simple circuit consisting of a resistor in series with a capacitor was covered by a 0.2-inch (5.08-mm) layer of polyurethane foam for temperature protection and a 0.06-inch (1.52-mm) layer of the smooth-cast 385. The sample was placed within the asphalt mix in a linear kneading compactor. The compaction was set to obtain an air void of 4 percent so that maximum stresses are applied on the sample. The system was then recovered from the compacted beam. The protective layer showed multiple cracks and deformations (see figure 130 through figure 133). The implanted circuit was tested and was perfectly functional.
Figure 130 . Photo. Testing of the selected protective materials under compaction condition.
Figure 131. Photo. Material prototype placed in a compactor.
Figure 132. Photo. Compacted asphalt material.
Figure 133 . Photo. Material specimen recovered from the asphalt beam after compaction.
5.2.3 Package Design for Implementation in HMA
As discussed previously, the package designed for the sensor has a similar shape to existing systems and could be installed in the field using existing installation procedures that are accepted by State transportation departments and will not constitute a major disruption to current practices. The required materials have been identified. The main frame of the package is made of an epoxy on which the sensor and the piezoelectric are attached. Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy was used; it has a tensile modulus close to 300,000 psi (2,067,000 kPa) and high tensile and flexural strengths (above 4,000 psi (27,560 kPa)). A layer of polyurethane foam, which has a thermal conductivity lower than 0.05 W/mK, was used for thermal protection. Smooth-cast 385 was deposited as an external layer for mechanical protection.
A simplified finite element analysis of the H-shaped sensing module was performed to determine the required thickness of each material layer (see figure 134 through figure 136). Maximum stress and deformation levels tolerated within the system were selected so that an embedded piezoelectric element was not overstrained or crushed during compaction. The applied stress was 290 psi (1.998.1 kPa), which simulates the stress levels that would be experienced by the system in the field during compaction. It was determined that a layer of epoxy with a minimum thickness of 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) was required as the frame core. The minimum required thickness for the polyurethane and the resin layers was also determined to be 1/16 inch (1.59 mm).
Figure 134 . Illustration. Finite element model of the H-shaped package.
Figure 135. Illustration. Simulated stress distributions.
Figure 136 . Illustration. Simulated nodal deflections.
Silicone rubber was used to build the molds for the H-shaped layered systems. Silicone rubber was selected because of its resilience, high-temperature stability, and general inertness properties. In addition, it can easily reproduce any irregular shapes and sizes with high accuracy.
The desired shapes were made of wood and/or steel, and silicon was cast to produce the needed molds (see figure 137 through figure 139). Different materials were then formed on top of each other with a larger mold used in each step to deposit an additional layer. The thickness of each layer, or the depth of the mold, accurately reproduces the results obtained from the finite element analysis.
Figure 137 . Photo. Manufacturing process of the used molds.
Figure 138. Photo. Molds forming.
Figure 139 . Photo. Finished molds.
In figure 139, from left to right, the first mold (smallest) is used to cast the Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy core, which serves as the first protection to the piezoelectric transducer and the electronics as well as the sensing medium that its modulus is close to the AC's modulus. Once cured, the obtained core is placed in the second mold, and the polyurethane foam is deposited. The two other molds are used to cast the external layers.
Figure 140 shows an embedded piezoelectric transducer within Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy resin cured with Jeffamine D-400 amine for 7 days at room temperature. The formed core has an elastic modulus of 300,000 psi (2,067,000 kPa), a tensile strength of 4,000 psi (27,560 kPa), a compressive strength of 5,100 psi (35,139 kPa), and a flexural strength of 7,300 psi (50,297 kPa). Figure 141 shows the formed polyurethane layer over the cured epoxy using a silicon mold with a depth of 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) and a 1/16-inch (1.59-mm) space filled with the foam. A casting resin layer is then deposited on top of the insulator foam to increase the overall mechanical resistance to load. Initial tested specimens showed a poor adherence between polyurethane and the casting resin. As a result, an additional layer of Araldite® GY-6010 was added for mechanical protection given its toughness prosperities. Samples are shown in figure 142.
Figure 140 . Photo. Piezoelectric transducer embedded in Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy.
Figure 141 . Photo. Polyurethane thermal insulator coat deposited on top of the epoxy core.
Figure 142 . Photo. Tested prototypes of piezoelectric transducer embedded in epoxy and coated with a polyurethane thermal insulator.
5.2.4 Laboratory Testing and Results
Using a slab compactor, the package prototypes were embedded in AC and subject to compaction (see figure 143). The compaction curves, uploaded from the compactor's controller unit, are shown in figure 144. All the compaction tests conducted here for the package testing have similar compaction curves to the one shown in figure 143. Compressive loads exceeded 290 psi (1,998.1 kPa), which is close to the estimated in-filed stresses. The temperature was around 302 °F (150 °C).
A forensic analysis was conducted to evaluate the behavior of different prototypes. Although both recovered prototypes had an undamaged transducer that showed characteristics close to pre-compaction behavior, the external layer was affected by the high temperature and showed little damage (see figure 145 and figure 146).
Figure 143 . Photo. Specimens placed in the compactor.
Figure 144 . Graph. Measured compaction curves.
Figure 145 . Photo. Recovered sample 1 after compaction.
Figure 146 . Photo. Recovered sample 2 after compaction.
Modified prototypes with an added thin layer of urethane casting resin were manufactured and tested. The added material proved to adequately bond to the Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy, providing the required external resistance (see figure 147). Five samples were tested under compaction; they all survived the test and showed much greater resistance to local damage induced by aggregates (see figure 148).
Figure 147 . Photo. Final version of the prototype with an external resin layer.
Figure 148 . Photo. Recovered specimen.
The anticipated objectives of this task were achieved. A robust system that can withstand simulated field construction conditions was developed, manufactured, and tested. A survivability rate of over 90 percent under laboratory conditions was achieved.
Issues that need to be addressed in field implementation include: (1) stiffness compatibility between the epoxy and the host material (HMA or portland cement concrete (PCC)), (2) size and shape of the protective package, and (3) thickness of the epoxy layers. The objective of this task is to empirically investigate different packaging configurations for an enhanced strain coupling. The effect of the shape, thickness, and material properties were investigated.
Stiffness compatibility can be achieved using epoxy with a lower stiffness than the host material. Two different materials were used: Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy cured with Jeffamine D-400 and Conathane® TU-981.
Most of the commercialized strain gauges are H-shaped. The anchors are usually metallic to avoid damage in the corners due to stress concentration. However, for better structure integration and strain transfer, the modulus of those anchors should be the same or less than the modulus of the host material. Two different shapes were considered: regular H-shaped and bone-shaped (developed in the lab).
The third parameter to investigate is the gauge thickness. While increasing the thickness leads to higher survivability rates, it affects the structural integrity of the host material. Using very thin gauges is conceptually desirable for better strain compatibility between the gauge and the host material; however, they are more prone to breakage. Two different thicknesses were evaluated for the different shapes and materials: 1/4 and 3/8 inch (6.35 and 9.53 mm).
The strain gauges were tested at TFHRC's ALF. The gauges were installed following the schematic shown in figure 149.
Figure 149 . Illustration. Layout of ASGs.
Simulations using the Viscoroute program were conducted to estimate the expected strains in the ALF test lane and compare with the strain measurements from the different gauge configurations. The pavement structural configuration and material properties were obtained from FHWA. The moduli of different layers were backcalculated using EVERCALC© at a pavement temperature of 78.8 °F (26 °C). Strain gauge responses were recorded at a temperature of 66.2 °F (19 °C) and a wheel load of 16,000 lb (7,264 kg). Figure 150 shows a typical computed longitudinal strain at the surface under a moving load. As the load approaches a fixed point in the pavement (where the gauge is), the strain increases in tension and then reverses from tension to compression then back to tension as the load moves away from it before dying out.
1 ft = 0.305 m
Figure 150 . Graph. Simulated longitudinal strain using Viscoroute.
Figure 151 through figure 154 show a comparison of the measured strains between the H-shape and the bone shape for the different thicknesses and materials properties. Theoretically, if the bonding of the strain gauges to the pavement surface is perfect, the transferred strain can never exceed the strain induced in the pavement. The higher the recorded strain, the better the configuration.
Figure 152 and figure 154 show the strain measurements from the H-shape and bone shape for the two thicknesses using the Araldite® epoxy (modulus is 300,000 psi (2,067,000 kPa)). The noise to signal ratio in these measurements is high, and the peak strain is relatively low compared to the theoretical values (see figure 150). This is due to the high tensile modulus of the Araldite® epoxy. Usually for a better strain transfer, the modulus of the gauge should be comparable (or lower) with respect to the modulus of the pavement material.
Figure 151 and figure 153 show the strain measurements from the H-shape and bone shape for the two thicknesses using the Conathane® epoxy (modulus is 30,000 psi (206,700 kPa)). While the noise level is much lower, the peak strain recorded using the H-shape is very low due to the softness of the anchors. They deform under loading, inducing a loss in the strain transfer.
Figure 151 . Graph. Measured longitudinal strain using thin H-shape and bone shape made of conathane.
Figure 152 . Graph. Measured longitudinal strain using thin H-shape and bone shape made of araldite.
Figure 153 . Graph. Measured longitudinal strain using thick H-shape and bone shape made of conathane.
Figure 154. Graph. Measured longitudinal strain using thick H-shape and bone shape made of araldite.
The bone shape made with the Conathane® TU-981 epoxy appears to perform better compared to the other configurations. It allows for a better strain transfer (higher signal), and it has no anchors, ensuring a better survivability rate by avoiding stress concentrations at corners.
Figure 155 shows the measured strains using the bone-shaped gauges manufactured using Conathane® TU-981 for two different thicknesses. The observed peak strain is close to the theoretical value. This result might be due to the fact that the gauges were carefully installed at the surface by grinding the existing pavement and properly bonding the gauges to the surface using a special epoxy (see figure 156 through figure 163).
Figure 155. Graph. Measured longitudinal strain with bone-shaped conathane strain gauges using two different thicknesses.
Figure 156 . Photo. Prototype installation at TFHRC's ALF.
Figure 157. Photo. Grinding the existing pavement before bonding gauges to the surface.
Figure 158. Photo. Placed sensor prototype.
Figure 159. Photo. Testing the wireless reading functions for the installed prototype.
Figure 160. Photo. Different tested types of package prototypes.
Figure 161. Photo. Prepared grooves for prototype installation.
Figure 162. Photo. Special epoxy used to bond gauges to surface.
Figure 163 . Photo. Installed prototypes.
An integrated prototype of the sensor was also installed at the ALF facility at TFHRC. The objective was to evaluate the short-term survivability and basic wireless functionalities of the sensor after applying the loading cycles. The results from this experiment were used to help refine the sensor electronics and the wireless communications protocols. Details of these refinements are discussed in chapters 2 and 3 of this report.
In addition, different prototypes of the packaging system were installed during a construction project in Michigan. Regular strain gauges were included in the packages. During installation, a procedure was used that did not cause any delays to construction. The gauges were laid just ahead of the compactor and secured with small HMA patches (see figure 164 through figure 167). The survivability rate dropped to 25 percent mainly because of the high strains on the wires during compaction. A total of 75 percent of the gauges that survived were placed in the transverse direction.
Figure 164. Photo. Installation of the prototype packaging system installed during a construction project near Lansing, MI.
Figure 165. Photo. Specimen preparation and placement.
Figure 166. Photo. Manual compaction of HMA patches.
Figure 167. Photo. Installed prototypes ahead of the compactor.
In this chapter, a packaging system was designed and manufactured to encase the sensing modules. The package was designed so that it has a similar shape to existing systems and can be installed using existing installation procedures. Nonmetallic materials were used so that it allows for RF communication. A layered system mainly consisting of Araldite® GY-6010 epoxy, polyurethane foam, and mineral-filled urethane casting resin was used to provide the required mechanical and thermal protections for field installation. The system, entirely built in-house, was tested under a laboratory setup simulating field conditions as well as in construction projects.


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The earnings season is here again. Company-specific information, sales and earnings results and future forecasts will once again be at center stage, potentially ready to influence the broader stock market and perhaps push the world affairs aside a little bit for a few weeks.
Watching the market rise rapidly in the past three months, one cannot help but wonder if the strong rally will continue after \last week's pause. Despite, or because of, these superb returns so far this year, I would like to offer my word of caution and present 7 risks that investors should watch out for in their individual equity portfolio during this earnings season.
1. Overextended rally
Stocks seem to have stretched a bit too far too fast. The weakness of the markets in the week just before this earnings season surely was caused by many factors. However, the uncertainty over the upcoming earnings season was one of them.
The rally has been extremely impressive indeed. The year-to-date returns for the S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY), Dow Jones Industrial (NYSEARCA:DIA) and Russel 2000 (NYSEARCA:IWM) are shown below:
As you can see in the chart above, Russel 2000 index companies have been retreating especially strongly last week, signaling a more defensive positioning by investors.
The current market is overvalued by many metrics, or at best fairly valued by others. Although the market is overvalued by many metrics, it is not overvalued by all indicators. And even if it was, this mere fact may not prevent the market from rising further. Nevertheless, here are some valuations, by which the current S&P 500 levels are above their long-term averages:
- Trailing 12 months price-to-earnings ratio (TTM P/E) currently stands at 18 versus the long-term average of 15.5 (16% overvaluation)
- The Shiller CAPE (Cyclically Adjusted Price-to-Earnings) is currently at just below 24 with the long-term average at 17 (41% overvaluation)
- Trailing Price-to sales ratio (TTM P/S ratio) of 1.42 is just 2% above its median of 1.39.
2. US dollar strengthening
The US dollar (NYSEARCA:UUP) was strengthening during the first quarter of 2013 against the currencies of its major trading partners. It gained strongly in February and stayed high until the end of March. The year-to-date gain was a hefty 4-5%, which for a currency is a relatively strong move accomplished in a short time, over just two months. This will have an impact on company margins from the sales generated overseas. For the S&P 500, the share of international sales is close to 47%. The tech sector leads the foreign sales share, with 56% of the sales coming from abroad. The Dow Jones and Russel 2000 companies, on average, have substantially lower exposure to the foreign sales. Therefore, stocks in these indexes might present a safe-haven from this impact. However, if your portfolio contains stocks that are foreign-oriented, regardless of the index to which they belong, it might be negatively influenced.
3. The macroeconomic outlook is mediocre
The macro numbers have been surprising to the downside lately. Most recently, Friday's payroll numbers have caught many investors by surprise. Cautiousness is advised. Cyprus is old news. I had an uneasy feeling when I was thinking over the weekend about the future of Europe that Cyprus is likely to have a follow-up. Let me share just a small piece of the puzzle which I read in Seeking Alpha over the weekend:
The EU is preparing to take the apparent non-template that is the Cyprus bailout and incorporate some elements of it into a new law that would force haircuts on large deposits in banks that fail, economic affairs chief Olli Rehn has said. Bundesbank Jens Weidmann says that the Cyprus crisis shows that banks can be wound up. Along with Rehn's comments, it also shows that depositors' money is no longer safe in Europe.
Clearly, the cash in the form of savings accounts and certificates of deposits now belongs to the equities asset class bucket if assessed by the risk of losing part of your principal.
In short, the situation in Europe is not improving. The popular predictions that I've heard are that the situation will improve in the next half-year. I just don't know which year exactly is meant. I think we've all been waiting for that other half for a bit too long now.
Therefore, my prediction is that the outlook given by companies for the rest of 2013, which is often more relevant for the stock price movement than the actual latest earnings results, will be disappointing. The chance for the outlook to surprise to the upside is questionable at this moment.
The international weakness will negatively influence the companies with international sales. The possible US weakness, however, would have a negative impact on a broad range of US businesses.
4. Negative earnings per share guidance for Q1 and 2013
Latest FactSet's data from March 28 reveal record negative earnings guidance for the Q1 period:
For Q1 2013, 86 companies have issued negative EPS guidance while 24 companies have issued positive EPS guidance. As a result, the overall percentage of companies issuing negative EPS guidance to date for Q1 2013 stands at 78% (86 out of 110). If this is the final percentage for the quarter, it will mark the highest percentage of companies issuing negative EPS guidance since FactSet began tracking guidance data in Q1 2006.
Source: FactSet
The picture for the full-year 2013 guidance looks similar. A record-high negative outlook:
For the current fiscal year, 168 companies have issued negative EPS guidance and 77 companies have issued positive EPS guidance. As a result, the overall percentage of companies issuing negative EPS guidance to date for the current fiscal year stands at 69%.
Sector EPS guidance:
At the sector level, the Consumer Discretionary (NYSEARCA:XLY) and Industrials (NYSEARCA:XLI) sectors have the highest percentages of companies issuing negative EPS preannouncements (81% and 76% respectively). On the brighter end, the Information Technology (NYSEARCA:XLK) sector has the highest percentage of companies issuing positive EPS guidance (46%).
A high proportion of negative EPS warnings, followed by 60-70% of companies beating their own estimates, has become a norm, so it is extremely hard to predict whether the higher negative guidance numbers will actually translate into lower percentage of companies beating their estimates.
5. Net margins are historically high
According to this source from Goldman Sachs Investment Strategy Group, The net S&P margins have been on historical highs which don't offer meaningful space for further short-term expansion, when coupled with weak sales growth and exhausted cost-cutting measures:
source: Goldman Sachs Investment Strategy Group
Corporate profits as a percentage of GDP are elevated as well. However, if we put the profit margins into an even longer time-perspective, we can see that they have been higher in the 1950-1965 period:
source: Goldman Sachs Investment Strategy Group
6. Markets just might be looking for a good excuse to dive
The markets and individual stock prices can behave remarkably irrationally. Especially just before, and immediately after, the earnings results announcements. So it can very well happen this year that all the markets need at this moment, after such a strong Q1 rally, is a good excuse for a correction. Disappointing, or just not overdelivering, earnings calls and weak guidance for the rest of 2013 can be the catalyst for a correction, which by some measures, is already overdue. Or it has already begun if you consider the last week's market development.
7. Sell in May
Another notable factor of possible weakness in the markets in the coming weeks is the "Sell in May" seasonal statistical pattern, for which I calculated a profitable strategy beating the market by 45% with lower beta over the last ten years, involving just two trades per year. In another article, I presented the real numbers proving the Sell in May phenomenon in detail and offered some easy tips how long-term investors can profit from it.
Conclusion and recommendation
The markets are facing strong headwinds entering the earnings season. The above 7 factors present the main risks that could derail your stocks during this earnings season. Holders of individual stocks should watch the earnings announcements of their individual holdings for any signs of weakness, especially in the 2013 full-year forecasts. Investors should carefully evaluate the earnings reports of their stock holdings for any signs of change in the fundamentals of their companies.
Otherwise, for long-term investors, a possible correction should not mean selling any of their positions. A meaningful pullback might actually present an attractive opportunity for investors to buy sound companies which have been on their purchasing radar at a more reasonable price.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has certainly been on my radar for some time. My estimate for its fair price is in the $375-$400 range, so we are very close. If the correction takes the S&P 500 down to at least $146, I will exit my position involving protective SPY puts. Some great companies such as Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), which I would love to buy for $31, and American Waterworks (NYSE:AWK), where my purchasing limit is $32, are still a bit overstretched to reach my targets in the possible earnings-induced correction. But with the unpredictable markets, you never know. Tips how to naturally hedge your retirement portfolio are presented here. I wish your holdings a good fortune in this earnings season! And what is your opinion?
Disclosure: I am short SPY. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Prosecutors seek John Dalli report publication delay
Disclosure of the Olaf report on former Commissioner John Dalli could lead to tampering with evidence, the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General have argued in a court application.
"The report names several people who the police have spoken to or are planning to speak to in connection with the investigation."
A Magistrate ordered the presentation of the report during proceedings against Mr Dalli's former canvasser, Silvio Zammit, who is accused of soliciting a €60 million bribe to influence tobacco legislation under Mr Dalli's portfolio.
The document was to have been presented on Thursday but the hearing was postponed.
The prosecution argued that the delay in its investigations was caused by Mr Dalli's alleged state of health.
He was interrogated shortly after the police received the Olaf report but then travelled to Brussels for treatment.
Full story in The Sunday Times.
See our Comments Policy Comments are submitted under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to, disclose any/all of the above personal information to any person or entity requesting the information for the purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity is aggrieved by any comment so submitted. Please allow some time for your comment to be moderated.


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- Home>
- Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of complementary therapy that utilises the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
The process itself aims to alter our state of consciousness in a way that relaxes the conscious part of the mind while simultaneously stimulating and focussing the subconscious part. This heightened state of awareness - reached using skilled relaxation techniques - allows the therapist to then make appropriate suggestions.
When might hypnotherapy be useful?
Hypnotherapy is widely endorsed as a treatment for habit breaking, stress related issues and for a range of long-term conditions, and in recent years has been gaining steam in the medical world after a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognised hypnotherapy as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
While more concrete evidence is needed to support the use of hypnosis in additional areas as an alternative to conventional medicine, many have found the process has been incredibly effective either when used in tandem with traditional treatment or when used independently after other avenues have been exhausted.
To explore the areas in which hypnotherapy might be helpful, please see our Hypnotherapy areas section.
Are there different types of hypnotherapy?
If you are considering hypnosis, it's important to understand the different types of hypnotherapy available to you, as certain techniques will be better suited to certain situations and circumstances.
Below is a brief overview of some of the most frequently used hypnotherapy types:
Traditional/suggestion hypnotherapy
Traditional/suggestion hypnotherapy involves the therapist imparting a series of 'suggestions' to the subconscious mind with a view to positively influencing thoughts, feelings and behaviours. This form of hypnotherapy is often employed in situations where there is no root cause that needs addressing, and can also be used effectively on a short-term basis to foster change in a limited number of sessions.
A hypno-pscyhotherapist differs from a hypnotherapist in that they will have undertaken training in psychotherapy theory and practice.
This integrative approach utilises both techniques to help with deeper problems that may not be able to be addressed with hypnotherapy alone (for example trauma or abuse), allowing the therapist to use their training and skills in psychotherapy to provide a supportive and empathetic therapeutic relationship.
Analytical hypnotherapy/hypnoanalysis
Analytical hypnotherapy draws upon concepts and techniques of psychotherapy (though the hypnotherapist might not be qualified in psychotherapy) in a bid to discover and address deeper, longer standing concerns. The aim of this form of hypnotherapy is to find and remove the root cause. For example, while suggestion hypnotherapy could potentially help to mask and reduce troubled sleep - analytical hypnotherapy seeks to establish the cause of the troubled sleep (e.g. relationship issues), before addressing it. In short, it aims to resolve problems as opposed to managing them.
In terms of treatment length analytical hypnotherapy lends itself to longer-term treatment and is an involved process often requiring significant commitment from the client.
Clinical hypnotherapy
Clinical hypnotherapy is where a person receives hypnotherapy from a qualified hypnotherapist with a healthcare background. In the UK, hypnotherapists are not required to have any specific training by law, but a clinical hypnotherapist is a licensed clinician who can use the practice to treat a range of medical and psychological conditions. Most health professionals who practice clinical hypnotherapy are registered with a professional body and are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
Cognitive/behavioural hypnotherapy
Cognitive/behavioural hypnotherapy is a modern, scientific approach to therapy that combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and hypnosis to positively influence emotional, behavioural, cognitive and symptomatic change.
This branch of hypnosis differs significantly from the traditional schools of hypnotherapy - drawing influence from a range of theories such as positive psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology and NLP, and combining them so that they fall in line with the personal goals and values of the client. Drawing from this extensive range of techniques and disciplines is how therapists are able to create such a personal and tailored approach for the client - avoiding the 'one size fits all' approach.
The process itself sees the therapist accessing the mindset of clients, so that they can use techniques and language based on the client's unique model of the world. The process will also often incorporate an analytical approach, whereby unwanted thoughts and behaviours from the past are cleared away and then techniques to retrain the brain in the present are utilised to ensure the changes clients would like to make become fully realised.
Hypnotherapy and NLP
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) explores the relationship between language, behaviour and excellence. It is essentially a model used to identify and analyse the linguistic techniques used subconsciously by successful people, in order to produce a recipe for excellence.
An NLP practitioner will look at your attitude, language and your use of it, your understanding of relationships and how you build a rapport and the physical and emotional states that are best for accomplishing a task. Effective communication and perception of others and ourselves will also be key focuses and all will be examined so that strategies for improving understanding, motivation, learning and remembering can be formed.
Many hypnotherapists train in NLP in order to help themselves communicate more effectively with their clients, and also to help their clients communicate more effectively with themselves.
If you'd like to find out more about NLP, please see our full fact-sheet here.
Time Line Therapy™
Developed by NLP practitioner, Tad James, Time Line Therapy™ is a hypnotic approach that derives from NLP. It is based on the concept that our unconscious mind stores memories in a linear pattern - like a time line - which is essentially a mental photo album of our life. Time Line therapists use a variety of techniques to unconsciously help clients release negative emotions and limiting beliefs linked to past experiences in order to facilitate long-term transformation and better mind-body health. Time Line Therapy™ is considered particularly useful for helping people to overcome symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, and tends to achieve quick results.
Solution focused hypnotherapy
Solution focused hypnotherapy looks at what the client would like to achieve, rather than the reason why they booked the appointment. It focuses on the present and the future instead of the past, which is why it can provide a positive effect in such a short space of time.
The hypnotherapist may ask how the client's life would improve if they fix the problem, and specifically what would have changed. This provides a specific goal for the client to aim for while making the solution clear.
This approach can help with confidence problems, anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences and minor phobias such as water, spiders and flying.
Does everyone respond to hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis has the capacity to work for the majority of individuals but some are more susceptible to suggestions than others. The most important thing to remember is that you must be fully committed to the process and feel that you can place your trust in your hypnotherapist. It's also important to keep an open mind, as any scepticism may subconsciously dampen your susceptibility.
Are hypnotherapists regulated?
As it stands hypnotherapists are not currently regulated in the UK, meaning that there are no laws in position which outline the level of training and experience required in order to practice. Our verification process however, ensures that we only list hypnotherapists who have provided proof of a relevant qualification and insurance cover, or proof of membership with an industry professional body.
Once a hypnotherapist has been through our verification process, we will display the policy seal that you can see pictured to the left - as an indication of their professionalism.
For more information on regulation and our verification process, please see our Hypnotherapy Directory policy.
What is a professional body?
There are various professional bodies (also known as member organisations) in existence that have taken on the role of self-regulation within the hypnotherapy industry. While hypnotherapists are under no legal obligation to join a professional body, membership does mean they have met certain requirements set by their professional body and must abide by a code of ethics and complaints procedure.
If you are wary about visiting a hypnotherapist, we would recommend choosing one that belongs to a professional body. It's simple to find a hypnotherapist who belongs to a professional body - just visit our Advanced search, enter your location and tick the 'Member of a professional body' box before hitting 'Search'.
For further information, please see our professional bodies page.
What is registration/accreditation with a professional body?
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means that a hypnotherapist has achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved and recognised by their professional body.
If a hypnotherapist has achieved this status, we'll display the badge pictured above on their profile page.
What training, qualifications and experience should hypnotherapists have?
There are currently no guidelines in place stipulating the training and qualifications a hypnotherapist must have in order to practice. However, industry guidelines recommend that individuals should have completed at least an appropriate diploma or have completed a course that involved a minimum of 450 learning hours, of which 120 must have been face to face.
How do I know which hypnotherapist to choose?
Hypnotherapy Directory lists thousands of hypnotherapists nationwide, so we understand that with all of the choice available it might be difficult to decide what you want and who you'd like to go and see.
If you'd like some pointers on what to look out for during your search, take a look at our Not sure where to start page, which provides a useful birds eye view of the website for those who haven't quite found their way around just yet.
What will happen in a hypnotherapy session?
Many hypnotherapists now offer an initial consultation, generally lasting around one hour and usually involving several elements:
- A discussion about your requirements and goals.
- Gathering personal information such as sleeping patterns, lifestyle information, medical symptoms or medication, any treatments involving other healthcare providers.
- An explanation of how the hypnotherapy process will work.
- Practical details such as cost, cancellation policy, how many sessions might be needed.
In the subsequent session the practical application of clinical hypnosis can then begin. While delivery will differ from therapist to therapist and each will explain how the process will work, the following popular session structure may give you an idea of what to expect:
- A welcome chat to encourage comfort and relaxation.
- Induction - the hypnotherapist will then lead you into a state of deep physical and mental relaxation.
- Once deeply relaxed, the hypnotherapist can then begin 'change work' using techniques and approaches discussed and agreed to help you towards your goals.
- Once the 'change work' is complete, the hypnotherapist will begin the transition to wakefulness, in which you are gradually brought out of your trance.
- Time for any questions you may have and a summary of the session and any progress made thus far.
How regularly will I see my hypnotherapist?
How regularly you see your hypnotherapist will be something you will decide on together. Initially, you may decide you wish to meet on a weekly basis, but depending on improvements and how you feel, you may choose to then see them more or less frequently.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy will I need?
The duration of therapy will really be dependant on your circumstances and the reason for which you are seeking hypnosis. If you are seeking hypnosis for a one off service such as smoking cessation for example, many hypnotherapists will deliver hypnotherapy in a single session of up to two hours. Other issues however, may better suit a longer-term approach with regular weekly sessions. Your hypnotherapist will let you know how many sessions they feel you might need when you start therapy, and will be flexible when it comes to decreasing or extending the number of sessions to correlate with your progress and needs.
How long will hypnotherapy sessions last?
Again this is really dependant on both your hypnotherapist and your circumstances. One off services such as smoking cessation or gastric band hypnotherapy can last around two hours, while a general hypnotherapy session will usually take 50 - 60 minutes.
How much does hypnotherapy cost?
Services such as smoking cessation and gastric band hypnotherapy may come at a slighter higher premium because they are often provided as a one-off service. When it comes to general private hypnotherapy sessions - the NHS have estimated a cost of between £50 and £90, though do be mindful that this will differ from practitioner to practitioner.
Can I get hypnotherapy on the NHS?
Access to hypnotherapy on the NHS is incredibly limited and while you can discuss the option with your healthcare provider, it is not widely available and the majority of practitioners work privately.
Can I get free hypnotherapy?
While some select charities may provide free hypnotherapy, it is not widely available on the NHS and most hypnotherapists do work privately and will charge.
Some practitioners however, will offer low cost sessions/concessionary rates for students or those on a low income so do check with practitioners to see if pro bono rates are available.
Practitioners on Hypnotherapy Directory will list details of discounts and special rates on their profiles in their fees section.
Is hypnotherapy for children safe?
Hypnotherapy for children and young people is considered highly effective and is completely safe. Children tend to respond very well to hypnosis as they are naturally quite imaginative and use their subconscious minds a great deal more than adults do. Hypnotherapy can help to address a number of issues commonly experienced in childhood, including exam nerves, sleep problems, bed-wetting, fears, eating disorders and low self-esteem.
Do hypnotherapists offer any seminars, workshops or events?
In addition to one-to-one sessions, many hypnotherapists do also offer additional services in the form of seminars, workshops and events.
If you're considering hypnotherapy or if you have a general interest in the subject, our event finder lists workshops, qualifications and seminars covering a broad range of topics that are held up and down the county by our hypnotherapists and practices.
To find our what's going on near you, see our event finder today.
More questions?
If you have a question we haven't covered in our FAQs, feel free to get in touch and we'll be happy to help.
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UTEL [ History of English | English Composition | Literary Authors | Literary Works | Literary Criticism ]
Essays (1625)
Sir Francis Bacon
|THe Speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was Haughtie and Arrogant, in taking so much to Himselfe, had been a Graue and Wise Obseruation and Censure, applied at large to others. Desired at a Feast to touch a Lute, he said; He could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small Towne, a great Citty. These Words ( holpen a little with a Metaphore ) may expresse two differing Abilities, in those that deale in Businesse of Estate. For if a true Suruey be taken, of Counsellours and Statesmen, there may be found ( though rarely ) those, which can make a Small State Great, and yet cannot Fiddle: As on the other side, there will be found a great many, that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so farre from being able, to make a Small State Great, as their Gift lieth the other way; To bring a Great and Flourishing Estate to Ruine and Decay. And certainly, those Degenerate Arts and Shifts, whereby many Counsellours and Gouernours, gaine both Fauour with their Masters, and Estimation with the Vulgar, deserue no better Name then Fidling; Being Things, rather pleasing for the time, and gracefull to themselues onely, then tending to the Weale and Aduancement of the State, which they serue. There are also (no doubt) Counsellours and Gouernours, which may be held sufficient, (Negotijs pares,) Able to mannage Affaires, and to keepe them from Precipices, and manifest Inconueniences; which neuerthelesse, are farre from the Abilitie, to raise and Amplifie an Estate, in Power, Meanes, and Fortune. But be the worke-men what they may be, let vs speake of the Worke; That is; The true Greatnesse of Kingdomes and Estates; and the Meanes thereof. An Argument, fit for Great and Mightie Princes, to haue in their hand; To the end, that neither by Ouer-measuring their Forces, they leese themselues in vaine Enterprises; Nor on the other side, by vnderualuing them, they descend to Fearefull and Pusillanimous Counsells.
|The Greatnesse of an Estate in Bulke and Territorie, doth fall vnder Measure; And the Greatnesse of Finances and Reuenew doth fall vnder Computation. The Population may appeare by Musters: And the Number and Greatnesse of Cities and Townes, by Cards and Maps. But yet there is not any Thing amongst Ciuill Affaires, more subiect to Errour, then the right valuation, and true Iudgement, concerning the Power and Forces of an Estate. The Kingdome of Heauen is compared, not to any great Kernell or Nut, but to a Graine of Mustard-seed; which is one of the least Graines, but hath in it a Propertie and Spirit, hastily to get vp and spread. So are there States, great in Territorie, and yet not apt to Enlarge, or Command; And some, that haue but a small Dimension of Stemme, and yet apt to be the Foundations of Great Monarchies.
Walled Townes, Stored Arcenalls and
Armouries, Goodly Races of Horse, Chariots of Warre, Elephants, Ordnance, Artillery, and the like: All this is but a Sheep
in a Lions Skin, except the Breed and disposition of the People, be stout and warlike. Nay Number (it selfe) in Armies,
importeth not much, where the People is
of weake Courage: For (as Virgil saith)
It neuer troubles a Wolfe, how many the
sheepe be. The Armie of the Persians, in
the Plaines of Arbela, was such a vast Sea
of People, as it did somewhat astonish
the Commanders in Alexanders Armie;
Who came to him therefore, and wisht
him, to set vpon them by Night; But hee
answered, He would not pilfer the Victory.
And the Defeat was Easie. When Tigranes
the Armenian, being incamped vpon a
Hill, with 400 000. Men, discouered the
Armie of the Romans, being not aboue
14000. Marching towards him, he made
himselfe Merry with it, and said; Yonder
Men, are too Many for an Ambassage, and too
Few for a Fight. But before the Sunne sett,
he found them enough, to giue him the
Chace, with infinite Slaughter. Many are
the Examples, of the great oddes between
Number and Courage: So that a Man
may truly make a Iudgement; That the
Principal Point of Greatnesse in any State,
is to haue a Race of Military Men. Neither is Money the Sinewes of Warre, ( as
it is triuially said) where the Sinewes of
Mens Armes, in Base and Effeminate People, are failing. For Solon said well to Croesus (when in Ostentation he shewed him
his Gold) Sir, if any Other come, that hath
better Iron then you, he will be Master of all
this Gold. Therfore let any Prince or State,
thinke soberly of his Forces, except his
Militia of Natiues, be of good and Valiant Soldiers. And let Princes, on the other side, that haue Subiects of Martiall
disposition, know their owne Strength;
vnlesse they be otherwise wanting vnto
Themselues. As for Mercenary Forces,
( which is the Helpe in this Case) all Examples shew; That whatsoeuer Estate or
Prince doth rest vpon them; Hee may
spread his Feathers for a time, but he will
mew them soone after.
The Blessing of Iudah and Issachar will
neuer meet; That the same People or Nation, should be both The Lions whelpe, and
the Asse betweene Burthens: Neither will it
be, that a People ouer-laid with Taxes,
should euer become Valiant, and Martiall. It is true, that Taxes leuied by Consent of the Estate, doe abate Mens Courage lesse; As it hath beene seene notably,
in the Excises of the Low Countries; And
in some degree, in the Subsidies of England.
For you must note, that we speake now,
of the Heart, and not of the Purse. So
that, although the same Tribute and Tax,
laid by Consent, or by Imposing, be all
one to the Purse, yet it workes diuersly
vpon the Courage. So that you may
conclude; That no People, ouer charged
with Tribute, is fit for Empire.
Let States that aime at Greatnesse, take
heed how their Nobility and Gentlemen,
doe multiply too fast. For that maketh the
Common Subiect, grow to be a Peasant,
and Base Swaine, driuen out of Heart, and
in effect but the Gentlemans Labourer. Euen as you may see in Coppice Woods;
If you leaue your staddles too thick, you shall
neuer haue cleane Vnderwood, but Shrubs and
Bushes. So in Countries, if the Gentlemen
be too many, the Commons will be base;
And you will bring it to that, that not the
hundred poll, will be fit for an Helmet:
Especially as to the Infantery, which is
the Nerue of an Army: And so there will
be Great Population, and Little Strength.
This, which I speake of, hath been no
where better seen, then by comparing of
England and France; whereof England,
though farre lesse in Territory and Population, hath been (neuerthelesse) an Ouermatch; In regard, the Middle People
of England, make good Souldiers, which
the Peasants of France doe not. And here
in, the deuice of King Henry the Seuenth,
( whereof I haue spoken largely in the History of his Life was Profound, and Admirable; In making Farmes, and houses
of Husbandry, of a Standard; That is,
maintained with such a Proportion of
Land vnto them, as may breed a Subiect,
to liue in Conuenient Plenty, and no Seruile Condition; And to keepe the Plough
in the Hands of the Owners, and not
meere Hirelings. And thus indeed, you
shall attaine to Virgils Character, which
he giues to Ancient Italy.
By all meanes, it is to be procured, that
the Trunck of Nebuchadnezzars Tree of
Monarchy, be great enough, to beare the
Branches, and the Boughes; That is, That
the Naturall Subiects of the Crowne or
State, beare a sufficient Proportion, to the
Stranger Subiects, that they gouerne. Therfore all States, that are liberall of Naturalization towards Strangers, are fit for Empire. For to thinke, that an Handfull of
People, can, with the greatest Courage,
and Policy in the World, embrace too
large Extent of Dominion, it may hold
for a time, but it will faile suddainly. The
Spartans were a nice People, in Point of
Naturalization; whereby, while they kept
their Compasse, they stood firme; But
when they did spread, and their Boughs
were becommen too great, for their
Stem, they became a Windfall vpon the
suddaine. Neuer any State was, in this
Point, so open to receiue Strangers, into
their Body, as were the Romans. Therefore it sorted with them accordingly; For
they grew to the greatest Monarchy. Their
manner was, to grant Naturalization,
( which they called
It is certaine, that Sedentary, and Within-doore Arts, and delicate Manufactures
( that require rather the Finger, then the
Arme ) haue, in their Nature, a Contrariety, to a Military disposition. And generally, all Warlike People, are a little idle;
And loue Danger better then Trauaile:
Neither must they be too much broken
of it, if they shall be preserued in vigour.
Therefore, it was great Aduantage, in the
Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome,
and others, that they had the vse of Slaues,
which commonly did rid those
Manufactures. But that is abolished, in greatest
part, by the Christian Law. That which
commeth nearest to it, is, to leaue those
Arts chiefly to Strangers, (which for that
purpose are the more easily to be receiued) and to containe, the principall Bulke
of the vulgar Natiues, within those three
kinds; Tillers of the Ground; Free Seruants;
& Handy-Crafts-Men, of Strong, & Manly
Arts, as Smiths, Masons, Carpenters, &c;
Not reckoning Professed Souldiers.
But aboue all, for Empire and Greatnesse, it importeth most; That a Nation
doe professe Armes, as their principall
Honour, Study, and Occupation. For
the Things, which we formerly haue
spoken of, are but Habilitations towards
Armes: And what is Habilitation without
Intention and Act? Romulus, after his
death (as they report, or faigne) sent a Present to the Romans; That, aboue all, they
should intend Armes; And then, they
should proue the greatest Empire of the
World. The Fabrick of the State of Sparta, was wholly (though not wisely)
framed, and composed, to that Scope and
End. The Persians, and Macedonians, had
it for a flash. The Galls, Germans, Goths,
Saxons, Normans, and others, had it for a
Time. The Turks haue it, at this day,
though in great Declination. Of Christian Europe, they that haue it, are, in effect,
onely the Spaniards. But it is so plaine,
That euery Man profiteth in that hee most
intendeth, that it needeth not to be stood
vpon. It is enough to point at it; That no
Nation, which doth not directly professe
Armes, may looke to haue Greatnesse fall
into their Mouths. And, on the other
side, it is a most Certaine Oracle of Time;
That those States, that continue long in
that Profession (as the Romans and Turks
principally haue done) do wonders. And
those, that haue professed Armes but for
an Age, haue notwithstanding, commonly, attained that Greatnesse in that Age,
which maintained them long after, when
their Profession and Exercise of Armes
hath growen to decay.
Incident to this Point is; For a State, to
haue those Lawes or Customes, which
may reach forth vnto them, iust Occasions ( as may be pretended ) of Warre. For
there is that Iustice imprinted, in the Nature of Men, that they enter not vpon
Wars ( whereof so many Calamities doe
ensue) but vpon some, at the least Specious, Grounds and Quarells. The Turke,
hath at hand, for Cause of Warre, the Propagation of his Law or Sect; A Quarell
that he may alwaies Command. The Romans, though they esteemed, the Extending the Limits of their Empire, to be
great Honour to their Generalls, when it
was done, yet they neuer rested vpon that
alone, to begin a Warre. First therefore,
let Nations, that pretend to Greatnesse,
haue this; That they be sensible of Wrongs,
either vpon Borderers, Merchants, or Politique Ministers; And that they sit not
too long vpon a Prouocation. Secondly, let them be prest, and ready, to giue
Aids and Succours, to their Confederates: As it euer was with the Romans:
In so much, as if the Confederate, had
Leagues Defensiue with diuers other
States, and vpon Inuasion offered, did
implore their Aides seuerally, yet the
Romans would euer bee the formost,
and leaue it to none Other to haue the
Honour. As for the Warres, which
were anciently made, on the behalfe, of
a kinde of Partie, or tacite Conformitie of Estate, I doe not see how they may
be well iustified: As when the Romans
made a Warre for the Libertie of Grecia: Or when the Lacedemonians, and
Athenians, made Warres, to set vp or
pull downe Democracies, and Oligarchies: Or when Warres were made by
Forrainers, vnder the pretence of Iustice, or Protection, to deliuer the Subiects of others, from Tyrannie, and Oppression; And the like. Let it suffice,
That no Estate expect to be Great, that
is not awake, vpon any iust Occasion of
No Body can be healthfull without
Exercise, neither Naturall Body, nor Politique: And certainly, to a Kingdome or
Estate, a Iust and Honourable Warre, is
the true Exercise. A Ciuill Warre, indeed,
is like the Heat of a Feauer; But a Forraine
Warre, is like the Heat of Exercise, and
serueth to keepe the Body in Health: For
in a Slothfull Peace, both Courages will
effeminate, and Manners Corrupt . But
howsoeuer it be for Happinesse, without all Question, for Greatnesse, it maketh, to bee still, for the most Part, in
Armes: And the Strength of a Veteran Armie, (though it be a chargeable
Businesse) alwaies on Foot, is that,
which commonly giueth the Law; Or at
least the Reputation amongst all Neighbour States; As may well bee seene in
Spaine; which hath had, in one Part or
other, a Veteran Armie, almost continually, now by the Space of Six-score
To be Master of the Sea, is an Abridgement of a Monarchy. Cicero writing to
Atticus, of Pompey his Preparation against
Cæsar, saith;
The Warres of Latter Ages, seeme to
be made in the Darke, in Respect of the
Glory and Honour, which reflected vpon Men, from the Warres in Ancient Time.
There be now, for Martiall Encouragement, some Degrees and Orders of Chiualry; which neuerthelesse, are conferred
promiscuously, vpon Soldiers, & no Soldiers; And some Remembrance perhaps
vpon the Scutchion; And some Hospitals
for Maimed Soldiers; And such like
Things. But in Ancient Times; The Trophies erected vpon the Place of the Victory; The Funerall Laudatiues and Monuments for those that died in the Wars; The
Crowns and Garlands Personal; The Stile
of Emperor, which the Great Kings of the
World after borrowed; The Triumphes
of the Generalls vpon their Returne; The
great Donatiues and Largesses vpon the
Disbanding of the Armies; were Things
able to enflame all Mens Courages. But
aboue all, That of the Triumph, amongst
the Romans, was not Pageants or Gauderie, but one of the Wisest and Noblest Institutions, that euer was. For it contained three Things; Honour to the Generall; Riches to the Treasury out of the
Spoiles; And Donatiues to the Army. But
that Honour, perhaps, were not fit for
Monarchies; Except it be in the Person of
the Monarch himselfe, or his Sonnes; As
it came to passe, the Times of the Roman Emperours, who did impropriate the
Actuall Triumphs to Themselues, and
their Sonnes, for such Wars, as they did
atchieue in Person: And left onely, for
Wars atchieued by Subiects, some Triumphall Garments, and Ensignes, to the
To conclude; No Man can, by Care
taking (as the Scripture saith) adde a Cubite
to his Stature; in this little Modell of a
Mans Body: But in the Great Frame of
Kingdomes, & Common Wealths , it is in the
power of Princes, or Estates, to adde Amplitude and Greatnesse to their Kingdomes.
For by introducing such Ordinances,
Constitutions, and Customes, as we haue
now touched, they may sow Greatnesse, to
their Posteritie, and Succession. But these
Things are commonly not Obserued,
but left to take their Chance.
UTEL [ History of English | English Composition | Literary Authors | Literary Works | Literary Criticism ]


text:
Christmas Waltz
Christmas Time
Christmas Miracle
Memories of Christmas
Our Holy Season
Season's Reason
A Christmas Prayer
Christmas For Two
Christmas Love
Christmas Bells 1864
Christmas Wish for You
Timeless Christmas Message
The Magic of Christmas
Jesus is Better Than Santa
The Gift Of Christmas
A Star Shown Above
Advent Epidemic Poems
The Village Poem
Sweet Babe Jesus Poem
The Christmas Gift Poem
Jesus' Birthday Poem
Christmas Cake Poem
Week Before Christmas
Our Jesus From Galilee
His Humble Birth Poem
When I Dream of Christmas
Missing You At Christmas
Christmas Greetings
The First Christmas Lights
My Christmas Prayer
Christmas Nutty
Puppy's 12 Days of Christmas
Rudolph's Awesome Yule Rule
The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus
The Last Christmas Tree
Month Before Christmas
Hanging Baby's Stocking
Hanging round the Mistletoe
Gingerbread Man in a Pan
Snowball Fight Poem
Reindeer Rule Poem
It's A Computer Christmas
Holiday Diet Poem
Peace on Earth Poem
Bunkhouse Christmas
Christmas in our Town
Quest for the Festive Bough
A Country Christmas
A Cowboy Christmas Poem
Cowboy's Christmas Prayer
Christmas Remembrance
On Watch Tonight Poem
A Soldiers Christmas Poem
Merry Christmas My Friend
A Soldier's Christmas Wish
A Soldiers Christmas Poem
Merry Christmas My Friend
Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.
I 've not seen my own son in more than a while,
but my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
the red white and blue... the American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
to fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Send The Soldier On Watch Christmas Poem
Using Your Email Program
My vote is to have Christmas traditions all year round. You see at
Christmas time most people at least the ones I have met, always change just a
little for the better around Christmas. I do not know whether or not it is the
great yuletide Christmas carols, the festive atmosphere everywhere you go, or just some
hidden part in all of us that screams out,
You see, somewhere deep down inside we all
believe in something better than we now have or see, and most of
us feel a lot better when we help someone. Whether the person is
in need or not, this feeling is what I call the feeling of
Christmas, and we all should strive to feel this way all year long.
The feeling of the Christmas holidays is truly all about family, friends and celebrating all things good.
The Lord's birthday is swiftly coming
Christmas carols we're merrily humming,
Adoration and harmony spreads worldwide
As we eagerly await the happy Yuletide.
Enhance your Christmas, with Christmas poems
and stories highlighted with your favorite Christmas carols.
Christmas traditions are fast becoming a family way of life.
Poems are a simple way of inspiring others to join in on the Christmas
traditions that love and poems bring to this Christmas holiday.
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Bethesda North Marriott Hotel Conference Center
Bethesda, MD
November 20-21, 2006
NIDA Organizer(s):
Sarah Q. Duffy, Ph.D., Thomas F. Hilton, Ph.D., Aleta Meyer, Ph.D., Belinda Sims, Ph.D., Redonna Chandler, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Robertson, Ph.D.
The meeting had two goals:
Although the meeting focused on the need for, feasibility of, and best way to accomplish research on using financing and payment mechanisms to enhance the quality of the services provided by the substance abuse prevention and treatment delivery systems, other subjects related to the implementation of evidenced-based practices were also discussed.
Dr. Wilson Compton, Director of NIDA's Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research (DESPR) welcomed participants to this meeting.
There were two plenary sessions. Kenneth D. Stark, M.Ed., MBA, presented how he has successfully used research and data to influence policy and practice in Washington State. Dr. Constance Horgan presented a review of the research literature on the effects of purchasing mechanisms designed to promote quality in the broader health care and other sectors.
Sessions were held on three topics: Financing evidence-based practices, pay for performance, and pre-planning for sustainability of evidence-based programs. In each case prevention and treatment researchers presented the relevant research in their respective fields and provided their ideas for future research. These ideas were discussed first by Single State Agency prevention and treatment representatives and then by the entire group.
Finally, State representatives and associated researchers presented concepts for future research and received feedback on their ideas, possible designs, and existing research in their topic areas.
None planned


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Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times (NYSE:NYT) columnist Dr. Paul Krugman is at it again. A favorite of the Keynesian crowd, he claimed that fixing the deficit is important but added that "doing it now would be disastrous."
He also observed that the 10-year U.S. debt situation isn't really all that bad.At least he's consistent. I'll give him that. For five years now Dr. Krugman has argued that increasing U.S. government spending is vital to our nation's recovery. And for five years he's been dead wrong.
Since this crisis began, the United States has spent trillions…more money than any nation in history. In the process, it's gone from being the world's biggest creditor to the biggest debtor of all time.
In fact, our national debt is now so high that people literally can't count the zeros. So most have thrown up their hands in exasperation and given up trying.
Now, to be perfectly clear, I don't believe Dr. Krugman is stupid. Far from it – you don't win Nobel Prizes for being an idiot. However, I do believe that he's trapped in the past–an acolyte of sorts to failed economic policies and doctrine that dates to the 1930s.
Some people, like University of Chicago Finance Professor John H. Cochrane, are more pointed, noting that if Krugman were a scientist, he'd be akin to a "flat-earther," an "AIDS-HIV disbeliever" or somebody who believes the continents don't actually move.
This makes him very dangerous in the scheme of things because Dr. Krugman's solution is that "we" just haven't spent enough money…yet.
I don't know how he can make that argument with a straight face.
Where Krugman Gets It Wrong
Here's the thing. If Dr. Krugman's ideas and his understanding of modern finance were accurate, our economy would be screaming along at 6%-8% a year, and the debt we've accumulated already would have led to some sort of government-spending utopia.
That obviously hasn't happened. Our nation hasn't had a budget for years, and doesn't look set to come up with one any time soon. Unemployment remains chronically high and we haven't created a fraction of the jobs actually lost since this crisis began. Various studies suggest there are 15 million to 20 million people who are underemployed.
Manufacturing has cratered and confidence is slipping. Our financial markets are still appallingly over leveraged and the risks associated with them are more concentrated than ever.
It's no wonder, under the circumstances, that the economy recently slipped back a notch and that GDP contracted by 1% for the first time since Q2 2009, according to the government's latest data.
Krugman has got to understand this, so there's something else driving the man. But what?
I think what Krugman's really hammering on is the implied belief that the government should take charge of all capital markets because private business is incapable of effectively investing for society's good.
In other words, he's dismissing the science of empirical economic data and proof for the fallacy of imperfect information and social engineering. At the same time, he's completely ignoring the dangers of easy money.
In as much as he subscribes to Keynesian economics and its 1930s roots, he's either forgetting or deliberately dismissing another view from the pages of history, that of N.Y. Senator Elihu Root, who warned against the dangers of easy money in 1913, the year the Fed was created.
Root correctly observed 100 years ago that the "expansive" policies of his time would "enlarge business with easy money" but ultimately lead to a crash when "credit exceeds the legitimate demands of the country." And he pointed to the panics of 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893 and 1907 as examples. I can only imagine what he'd say today.
So why can't Krugman make the same jump?
I don't know, but I find it absolutely galling that he cites the treasury markets, low interest rates and Japan as evidence he's correct in his thinking. Apparently he's willing to overlook the fact that the only reason our treasury markets haven't gone crazy is that Team Bernanke has them on life support with no plans to pull the proverbial plug. If anything, spending more money as Dr. Krugman advocates would accelerate the madness.
Bloomberg reports the latest round of bond buying will top $1.14 trillion by the end of 2014. There's a reason why the global derivatives industry is now valued at as much as $1.5 quadrillion. It's because no amount of spending can compensate for the cumulative failure of decades of bad fiscal policy. The markets know this even if, evidently, policy makers don't.
They also know that stimulus spending never works on anything other than a short-term basis. No nation in recorded history has ever bailed itself out by doing what our leaders are doing today.
Spending even more money now would be like giving an addict more drugs on the assumption that it will help him kick the habit later. The private markets have always been and will always be more effective "investors" than central government planners.
As for low interest rates, bear out the presumption that more spending is okay, that notion too is badly flawed.
Stimulative spending depends on the government's ability to convince people to involuntarily reallocate their capital from one bubble to another.
By keeping rates artificially low, the Fed is forcing money from bonds and cash into stocks which is why the markets have rallied. Don't get me wrong, I like rallies just as much as everybody else does. It's what happens "next" that I have a problem with.
Spending more money perpetuates the illusion of wealth by fueling borrowing. Borrowing, particularly at the government level, in turn strips capital from private markets and further bloats the public sector.
Krugman has noted this isn't bad for the dollar. No, it isn't, but it's not exactly great, either. The reality of the situation isn't so much that Dr. Krugman's policies are working, but rather our leaders don't have the political willpower to make the right decisions.
Being wrong in consensus is easier than being right. That's why it's easier to put off difficult decisions even when doing so means higher consequences in the future.
But, back to the issue at hand. The dollar has survived the most inflationary assault in modern financial history relatively unscathed to date because there is no alternative currency on the planet. The Euro is a great big question mark. The Swiss Franc isn't liquid enough, and the Yen is an unmitigated disaster.
So far the Chinese haven't let the Yuan take on the burden, knowing full well that they don't want to play this game which, I think, is the ultimate irony considering how capitalist the world's biggest communists have become.
As for his insistence that Japan is an example of why policies like his and yet more spending is the answer, I can't imagine that Dr. Krugman truly believes that.
The Nikkei has fallen 71.5% from its peak, its domestic economy is in tatters and China recently brought that nation to its knees in a buyer's strike that crippled already fragile exports without even trying.
Japan's combined public, private and corporate debt is approaching 500% of GDP. How's is that rewarding out of control spending??!! To my way of thinking, Japan's "success" is hardly worth emulating.


text:
Default number of terms in series expansions
The environment variable
ORDER controls the
default number of terms that the system returns when you compute a
series expansion.
Possible values: Positive integer less than 231. The default value is 6.
The functions
series, and
asympt have an optional
third argument specifying the desired number of terms of the requested
series expansion, counting from the dominant term on (relative order).
If this optional argument is missing, then the value of
ORDER is
used instead.
ORDER may also affect the results returned
by the function
Deletion via the statement "
delete ORDER"
ORDER to its default value 6.
Executing the function
reset also
restores the default value.
In some cases, the number of terms returned by
series, or
asympt may not agree
with the value of
ORDER. Cf. Example 2.
In the following example, we compute the first 6 terms
of the series expansion of the function
exp(x)/x^2 around
the origin:
series(exp(x)/x^2, x = 0)
To obtain the first 10 terms,
we specify the third argument of
series(exp(x)/x^2, x = 0, 10)
Alternatively, we increase the value of
This affects all subsequent calls to
series or any other function returning
a series expansion:
ORDER := 10: series(exp(x)/x^2, x = 0)
taylor(x^2/(1 - x), x = 0)
Finally, we reset
ORDER to its default value 6:
delete ORDER: taylor(x^2/(1 - x), x = 0)
The number of terms returned by
series may differ from the value of
ORDER when
cancellation or rational exponents occur:
series(exp(x) - 1 - x - x^2/2 - x^3/6, x = 0)
series(1/(1 - sqrt(x)), x = 0)
delete ORDER:


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