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This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Many indicator-based methods for the environmental assessment of farming systems have been developed. It is not the absolute values of the indicators that reveal whether the impact of a system is acceptable, but rather the distance between these values and some reference values. We reviewed eight frameworks for the environmental assessment of agricultural systems that define reference values for their indicators. We analyzed the methods used to establish reference values and explored how to improve these methods to increase their usage and relevance. This analysis revealed a striking diversity of terminology, sources, and modes of expression of results.
The sustainability of agricultural production systems has been the object of much study [
To assess the sustainability of an agricultural production system, its impact on the environment must be quantified. Over the last decade many methods for the environmental assessment of farming systems have been developed. Several reviews have shown that these methods have become increasingly complex, integrating a variety of impacts and the latest scientific knowledge [
These methods have a similar structure consisting of seven stages which are more or less explicitly defined, depending on the method: (1) Definition of the system to be assessed; (2) Identification of the overall goal of the method and definition of the dimensions of encompassed sustainability; (3) Identification of objectives (issues of concern) to be considered in each dimension; (4) Selection or conception of indicators for each objective; (5) Establishment of reference values for each indicator; (6) Calculation of indicator values; (7) Interpretation of results, identification of improvement options.
Indicators are essential features in all methods; they are a favored tool to understand complex systems, such as agricultural systems, and their impacts on the environment [
Defining a desirable state of the environment is not easy. There is a lack of data and knowledge about ecosystem functions, and about the level of impact that may negatively affect these functions. Only a minority of environmental assessment methods define reference values which distinguish acceptable from unacceptable impact levels. Thus most assessment methods reflect a "less is better" approach, which allows their user to identify among several options the one having the lowest impact. This approach may seem environmentally responsible, but it is not good enough to evaluate impacts on natural systems [
The purpose of this paper is to review a variety of frameworks allowing the environmental assessment of agricultural systems, which define explicit reference values for their indicators. We analyze the methods used to establish reference values and explore how to improve these methods to increase their usage and relevance.
An inventory of methods and tools for assessing environmental or overall sustainability of agricultural systems, or of economic activities in general, forms the basis of this article. We selected methods which explicitly establish reference values for their indicators from a literature review of methods published as journal articles, books, reports, conference proceedings, and on-line sources. We preferentially included methods published in peer-reviewed journals, which were actually applied to case studies. To ensure sufficient diversity we excluded methods with major similarities. The eight methods selected are described below,
FESLM is a sustainability evaluation framework created by a panel of experts [
EF is a resource accounting tool used to quantify environmental sustainability, a "land-based surrogate measure of the population's demands on natural capital" [
The Ecological Scarcity Method, [
As the ratio of the current flow over the critical flow is squared in the eco-factor formula, any growth of the current flow leads to an exponential growth of the eco-factor, as does a reduction in the critical flow. Spatial and temporal differentiation can be introduced, which is of obvious interest, as both current and critical flow may vary in space and time. Spatial differentiation has been implemented for freshwater resources, for which six scarcity categories have been defined.
A case study comparing several biofuels using ESM was published recently [
Ekins and Simon [
Nijkamp and Vreeker [
MESMIS is an operational structure, used widely by different institutions in Latin America, notably to assess sustainability of natural resource management systems (NRMS) or ecosystems transformed by humans [
This framework is the outcome of a three-year (2001–2004) EU project [
SAFE is a framework for assessing the environmental, economic and social sustainability of agricultural systems. It does not seek to find a common solution for sustainability in agriculture as a whole, but to serve as an assessment tool for the identification, development and evaluation of locally more sustainable agricultural production systems, techniques and policies [
To compare the selected methods we first looked at their general characteristics: the object they study (farming systems or economic systems in general), their target users, their objective and, in particular, the dimensions of sustainability studied, and finally the spatial scale of the systems they study. Next we considered more specific characteristics regarding the reference values: terms used to designate them, sources used to establish them, numeric and visual approaches used to express results and the introduction of spatial differentiation.
Four methods (FESLM, MESMIS, AEMBAC and SAFE) have been designed for the assessment of farming systems, one of these (MESMIS) was specifically conceived to assess peasant farming systems (
Unsurprisingly, six methods (FESLM, ESM, SGAPS, SADS, AEMBAC, SAFE) indicate decision makers among their target users; the two methods that do not refer to decision makers are more of the grass-roots type, mentioning community activists (EF) and peasant organizations (MESMIS) among their target users (
Four methods (FESLM, SADS, MESMIS, SAFE) aim to assess sustainability, considering its environmental, social and economic dimension (
The methods use a variety of terms to designate what we have chosen here to call reference values (
The methods draw on a variety of sources for the establishment of reference values (
Reference values help to interpret indicator values. The methods reviewed here display a variety of numeric and visual approaches to relate impacts to reference values (
Reference values may allow the introduction of spatial differentiation in environmental assessment methods. Six methods (FESLM, SGAPS, SADS, MESMIS, AEMBAC, SAFE) define their reference values at the scale of the system studied, and thus take into account the site-specific character of a desirable state of the environment. ESM uses reference values based on Swiss policy targets. The method supports spatial differentiation, which has been implemented for freshwater consumption, through the implementation of six scarcity categories. EF defines its reference value at the global level, by dividing the global bio-productive land and water area by the world population.
Four of the methods reviewed here were specifically designed to assess farming systems; the other four assess economic or socio-economic systems in general. The methods cover a wide range of target users, ranging from community activists and peasant organizations to researchers and policy and decision makers. Half of the methods assess environmental sustainability, the other half assess sustainability through its environmental, social and economic dimensions. With respect to systems studied, the set of methods reviewed here reveal major variability: most methods are designed to study systems across a wide spatial range, some focus on a specific spatial level. Overall, the methods reviewed here display a large diversity with respect to object studied, target users, objectives and system studied, supplying a broad basis for this review.
The eight methods use a total of eight terms for what we have chosen here to call Reference values. This semantic diversity may reflect the fact that reference values have so far not been a major topic in analyses of methods for environmental assessment, but have rather been treated as one among many elements in the construction of such methods. This paper thus is timely, as it takes stock of existing approaches in order to propose improvements and methodological clarity. We propose to use the generic term
In the SAFE framework, Absolute Reference values can be based on a scientific or a legal source, but this criterion is not used in their classification of reference values. SGAPS [
The SAFE framework [
A variety of sources are used to establish normative reference values, with scientific literature and legislation or policy being most frequent. As discussed in the previous section, only two methods differentiate science-based reference values from policy-based reference values. We feel that any method relying on these two sources should make this distinction, as policy-based reference values usually are a compromise based on science on the one hand, and on societal considerations (cost, political feasibility) on the other. Thus, policy-based reference values might be considered as resulting from a "bottom-up" process while science-based reference values are perceived as "top-down" [
It is obvious however that, depending on their implementation, the distinction between these two types of reference values can be fuzzy, as the values they yield may be close. This proximity of their values can have two causes. First the value of a science-based reference value obviously depends on the "scientific" source used, and given our imperfect understanding and the lack of consensus among scientists regarding the functioning of ecosystems this inevitably will introduce variability [
The ratio of the indicator value over the reference value is the most common approach used (in four out of eight methods) to relate impact values to reference values. This ratio represents a simple and effective means to express results. Among these four methods, ESM represents an interesting originality, as it uses the square of the ratio value; as a result large ratios are weighted proportionately higher, relative to small ratios. The difference or
Several of the papers reviewed here touch upon the question of uncertainty, and it is obvious that reference values, given the sources they are based on, will often be highly uncertain. However, among the methods reviewed here, only SADS proposes a means to capture the uncertainty of its reference value. The quantification and expression of the uncertainty of reference values clearly is a subject that warrants further work.
Reference values represent a desirable state of the environment. For many impacts, the desirable state of the environment is site-specific. Thus reference values obviously represent an interesting way to introduce spatial differentiation into methods for environmental assessment. Six of the methods reviewed here define their reference values at the scale of the system studied, and thus take into account the characteristics of the local environment, introducing spatial differentiation in the environmental assessment approach. ESM also supports spatial differentiation, by defining six scarcity categories for fresh water resources according to the region of water consumption. Reference values present a means of introducing site specificity into methods for environmental assessment which seems at present largely under-exploited.
The analysis of the use of reference values in the eight methods for environmental assessment reviewed here, has revealed a striking diversity of terminology, sources, and modes of expression of results. Based on this analysis, we formulate the following recommendations for the implementation of reference values in environmental assessment methods.
Recommendations on terminology
The term
Normative reference values can be
A science-based normative reference value can be a
Other recommendations
Methods should make a clear distinction between science-based reference values and policy-based reference values, as policy-based reference values usually are a compromise based on science on the one hand, and on societal considerations (cost, political feasibility) on the other. Thus policy-based reference values will generally be less strict than science-based reference values.
From the academic point of view science-based reference values are obviously preferable, from a practical point of view policy-based reference values, when available, will be easier to implement, as they incorporate the results of difficult choices, outside the domain of science, made by public decision makers.
The quantification of the uncertainty of reference values is a topic which is barely explored and warrants further research.
Reference values present a means of introducing site specificity into methods for environmental assessment which seems at present largely under-exploited.
Classification of reference values.
General description of assessment frameworks: object studied, target users, objective and systems studied.
|Farming systems
|Decision makers, farmers, land users
|Evaluate the environmental, economic and social sustainability of land management
|Land use systems (farm, region)
|Economic systems
|Community activists, policy makers, researchers
|Assess the environmental sustainability of individuals, communities, regions, nations, humanity
|Person, community, nation, world
|Economic systems
|Decision makers, researchers
|Assess environmental impacts of pollutant emissions and resource use
|Products, processes, sites
|Economic systems
|Decision makers, policy makers
|Determine whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable
|Any activity
|Socio-economic systems
|Decision makers, policy makers
|Assess the sustainability of development strategies at the regional level
|A regional socio-economic system
|Peasant farming systems
|Peasant organizations, researchers, development agents
|Evaluate environmental, social and economic sustainability in a systemic, participatory, interdisciplinary way.
|Peasant natural resource management systems
|Farming systems
|Decision makers, researchers
|Identify, develop and evaluate locally appropriate agro-environmental measures
|Field, farm, landscape
|Farming systems
|Decision makers, researchers
|Identify, develop and evaluate locally more sustainable agricultural systems, policies and techniques
|Field, farm, landscape, nation
a [
Terms to designate reference values, sources for reference values and examples of reference values.
|Community averages, historic records, modeling
|Fair Earthshare
|Ratio of bioproductive land and water area over population
|Critical flow
|Swiss and international policy targets, expert opinion
|Sustainability Standard
|Scientific literature, legislation
|Sustainability Targets
|Policy targets
|Critical Threshold Value
|Scientific literature, expert opinion
|Not specified
|Baseline values/thresholds
|Expert opinion, scientific literature, community averages
|Environmental Minimum Requirement
|Natural ecosystems, past situations, expert opinion, scientific literature, values for well-functioning agroecosystems, legislation
|Society driven
|Reference value
|Scientific literature, legislation, farm data
|Not specified
a [
Expression of results relative to reference values, spatial differentiation of reference values.
|Ratio of indicator value over reference value, radar graph
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
|Ratio of indicator value over reference value
|Reference values defined at global scale
|Square of the ratio of indicator value over reference value
|Reference values can be regionalized, this was implemented for fresh water use
|Difference between indicator value and reference value (Sustainability gap); time to reach reference value on continuation of current trends (Years to sustainability)
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
|Color "flags" (green, yellow, red, black) indicate position of indicator value relative to reference value band width
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
|Ratio of indicator value over reference value, radar graph
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
|Difference between indicator value and reference value (Gap)
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
|Not specified
|Reference values defined at the scale of the system studied
a [
This research was financially supported by the French National Research Agency, SPA/DD project "Animal Production Systems and Sustainable Development" (ANR-06-PADD-017) and the ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency.


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Last season on Once Upon A Time we left off with Henry eating the poison apple but being brought back to life when Emma kissed him on the forehead. This in turn set off a chain reaction in which the curse placed on Storybrooke by Queen Regina was broken and all the townspeople began remembering their former lives and identities. Additionally, Mr. Gold was reunited with Belle and he threw a potion into a well, releasing a purple cloud throughout the town. Regina retreated back to her home, knowing full well the curse had been broken.
Once picks up with the townspeople coming to the realization of their identities and marching to seek vengeance on Regina for the curse. However, Emma stops them and promises to Henry that she will protect Regina. Mr. Gold visits Regina in jail and marks her with a talisman. The marking attracts the wraith, a monster that feeds on the souls of people. He then summons the wraith into the town with his Rumpelstiltskin dagger. After attacking Regina once, she devises a plan with Emma, Mary Margaret and David to send the wraith back to their world using Jefferson's Mad Hatter hat because their world no longer exists, destroyed by the curse. The plan works but Emma and Mary Margaret are pulled into the hat with the wraith, supposedly into oblivion.
Meanwhile in Fairytale Land we pick up on Prince Phillip rescuing Princess Aurora from her cursed sleep. Upon reviving her, he finds a talisman. However, his companion warrior warns him of being marked by the talisman, as it will attract the wraith. But it is too late; Phillip hides the fact that he was indeed marked for the wraith. The warrior with Phillip turns out to be Mulan, who has fought along with Phillip all along the way to rescue Aurora. While in the woods, Phillip disappears and Mulan realizes he was marked and has gone to meet his fate. Aurora sees that Mulan has actually fallen for Phillip as well and they go to rescue him. The wraith attacks and takes his soul, leaving a lifeless Phillip. They return him to where Aurora was placed during her slumber. Mulan reveals to Aurora that the world she knew has changed. A curse came and destroyed much of their world, leaving the tiny portion where they are. They were frozen for 28 years and unexpectedly brought back to life.
At the very end, Mulan and Aurora discover a pile of rubble that had not been there before. Upon uncovering some of the rubble, it is revealed that Emma and Mary Margaret are underneath. They have been transported to the Fairytale Land. The entire story of Sleeping Beauty had not been a flashback like we had become accustomed to, but rather it was in real time.
I'm personally thrilled with where the story is going. I was slightly worried about the curse being broken so soon into the series, but how could they honestly keeping moving forward with it? One of my main critiques of the first season was that I found the stories of Fairytale Land to be most interesting and the stories of Storybrooke to be rather bland. With this new plot twist everything will be meshed and mingled. I see it as a phenomenal decision on the part of the writers!
But what did you think? Were you shocked by the plot twist or did you see it coming from a mile away? Are you excited about the direction of season two, or worried it's seen its best days? Leave your comments and let us know!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Number of items: 3.
Jager, W. and Janssen, M.A.
Diffusion processes in demographic transitions: A prospect on using multi agent simulation to explore the
role of cognitive strategies and social interactions.
Agent Based Computational Demography: Using Simulation to Improve Our Understanding of Demographic Behaviour.
Janssen, M.A. and Jager, W.
Fashions, habits and changing preferences: Simulation of psychological factors affecting market dynamics.
Journal of Economic Psychology, 22.
pp. 745-772.
Jager, W. and Janssen, M.A. and Vlek, C.A.J.
How uncertainty stimulates overharvesting in a resource dilemma: Three process explanations.
Journal of Environmental Psychology (22).
pp. 247-263.
This list was generated on Mon Sep 10 16:45:46 BST 2007.


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AE Side by Side Comparison... and finally found a good one!!
Hello all,
With my small fleet... I can do a nice comparison between all the lights on the market, so this is the second part of the series. Please see the attached pictures, in the Z4 is the LUX AE LED light... which are the brightest on the market that I have been able to find. On the 3 series is the OEM AE LED lights.... and on the 7 series (the one on the right)... are the AlpineMSS HID light system.
I have to say I am extremely impressed with the AlpineMSS system (www.alpinemss.com). The kit is very high quality, they are just as bright and as white as the OEM AE LED lights on the 3, they blow away the LUX AE lights, are extremely easy to install. I am not that mechanically inclined and it took me about 20 min. Alex over at alpine was extremely responsive and is working on a bulb that is slightly lower wattage... however I am not sure if I will go with that. These simply look amazing. The inner halo is crisp and sharp... the photos do not do it justice. This system does not throw any codes and yes they do work on the 7.. just ask Alex.... They are so good I am ordering a set for my Z4 and my X....
Look great!! I wonder if this would work for the E65\66 as well. We all have been looking for better solution than the MTEV V3s that most people are using right now.
Are those the Alpine 8000K?
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Mouivann,
Yes they are....
One note, these AE lights will not dim at night.... which I personally like... car looks completely different now driving around
Hi Falconflyer,
Can you post some pics at night? A frontal and maybe one with head light on projected on a wall? Does the HID angel eyes cause unwanted glare for on coming traffic?
I will do that this week.... they are brighter than the normal AE lights at night.... and brighter than the OEM AE LED lights at night.... but since they are non directional (unlike a headlight they are diffused in all different directions), I have not had anyone flash me or anything. My wife who drives the X5... which is the next car to get the treatment was in front of me at night and had no issues..... other than.. they look awesome!
Thanks FalconFlyer. I'm looking forward to seeing those pics. BTW I'm also looking into this kit from Shmiedmann. http://www.schmiedmann.com/7_series/...indicators.htm Has anyone tried this one yet?
Looking good. I'm going to order a set of these for Big Black.
2012AH7... I would save your money. I have tried LED lights like this several times (the Alpine lights were the 7th I have tried)... they are not that bright and you cannot see them during the day.... Again.. just my opinion...
Could you post some pictures of the X5 when you get them in? I have an X5 and like to see how they look.
Hey everyone... I posted this over on the ZPost forum.. figured I would share. Just installed the lights on my Z4.. and also have them on my 7. The 7 is a little easier to install.. .anyhow... here is the report
I had a couple of requests for pictures of the Alpine MSS HID lights at night for comparison with the OEM AE LED lights. In addition some install pictures. I am completely sold on these units, they are as bright as the OEM AE LED lights and look amazing. They are fairly easy to install, it took me about 20 min... a little longer than my 7 series... because I was idiot and forgot to remove the spacer from the light bulb housing so they could fit in the Z4 (you don't do this on the 7).... ok for the pictures.
The first step is to install the wire to the red contact under the hood... the is easy.. from the right side of the red jump connector, you pull the plastic housing off...
I run the wire under the air box... there is a wire bundle under there and it is easy to zip tie the new wire onto (Alpine MSS provides the Zip ties). (Side note.. on the 7 series.. this is on the back left of the engine compartment {if you are looking at the engine from the front}.. so you run it under the plastic housing on the left side of the car {again if you are looking at the engine}. So basically the 7 is reverse than the Z.
You can see where I ran it in this picture. (time so far about 4 minutes installing)
Next you run the wire forward... at this point you will need to attached the ballast (the square metal thing) to something. Since I plan on tracking my car, I wanted to put it in a good plane. So the forward part of the left front wheel wheel well was perfect... and allowed me to wedge it between the metal and the plastic to give it more support. Again, this area is completely open.
It is time to cut the plastic covers... what I purchased was a 1/2 inch wood drill bit.. .the kid that is flat and looks like a shovel at the end with the point... that works great.. take about 10 seconds to cut the hole. At this point you need to install the lights... which is easy.. unless you don't watch the directions. For the Z4... MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE WHITE SPACER ON THE LIGHT BULB AND PUSH BACK THE RUBBER SEAL. If you don't.. you will be cursing to the end of time because their will simply be too much to try to compress to insert the light bulb. Anyhow, you insert the light bulb.. and pull the wire through with the seal.. the seal will just pop in place... as you can seen from the pictures...
You then have to run the wire across the top of the radiator (to the right side of the car)...... again... very easy to do... just make sure it is secured... you don't want it to fall down in the radiator fan (bad day).
Finally I found a spot to mount the other ballast ... again... very easy to do.. they are secured by extremely powerful double sided tape...
And do the same with the right side light plastic cup..
Someone ask me to post some pictures of the 335i and the Z4 with the Alpines installed... because they are concerned about glare. I tried to get them from all angles, but basically there is no difference between the two. Again, the 335i has the OEM LED AE lights...
Please keep in mind.. that the design of the 335i lights and Z4 are different, that is why they look a little different in the side pictures..... all in all I have installed them on my 7 and Z... now I am ordering a set for the X5... Mouivann... I should have those completed next week....I am out of town this week....
Very nice setup and thanks for the elaborating. However I still find the inner rings on the 7 a little to bright, perhaps Alex's lower wattage should do the trick. I'd like to see how it looks in lower voltage and than decide between the two. The inner ring on your 3 series is not as bright as the new one's on your 7, unless my eyes are playing tricks one me.
I just got my AE lights put in from Alex, it looks great
I just got my AE lights put in from Alex, it looks great
SamLambo.... I think if you look closer at the pictures, you will notice the inner rings are not brighter than the other... It all depends on the angle... if you look at the Hyper559 pictures... they are completely even... and that is how they look in person....
Do the hids go dim when low beams are on?
Any possible issues with heat?
I was told to be careful on the heat, any issues so far on the heat?
I have had no issues with heat... to be honest... I think they run cooler than the OEM lights. The lights do not go dim, they are either on or off.... every cool at night. I have had lots of positive comments.. now have it on my Z4 and 750Li..... this week the X5 will be fitted with them... It looks like a totally different car.. both during the day and night...
Alex suggest going 8000K, is that what your using?
Yep...., that is correct 8000k
Just placed an order for it. Will post pics once in and installed.
Interesting.....so it still does the usual hid startup bluish to white glow?
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Drink in the Northland landscape amongst the vines of Karikari Estate, play Championship golf or tennis, canoe on the lake and unwind from the days' activities with a relaxing massage.
The enchanting backdrop of estate vineyards, green rolling Northland hills and blue Pacific Ocean set the scene for a relaxing massage by an experienced masseuse.
3,000 acres of estate, 900 of them wetlands, will give you plenty of reasons to pause and take in the sweeping vistas surrounding the Matt Dye Championship golf course. More >>
Record catches of Striped Marlin are not uncommon off the tip of Karikari Peninsula. Go deep sea fishing or cast off from the beach, both amazing experiences.
Feel the rush of fresh air and the thrill of mountain bike riding on the Karikari Peninsula. An invigorating way to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective.
The resort has an Olympic class shooting range, one of the finest private ranges in New Zealand. Shooting or watching the clay pigeons fly is an exciting experience.
Get out into the fresh, peninsula air, racket in hand, and practice your tennis skills or find a partner for a game on the resort's championship grass-surfaced courts.
Overlooking New Zealand's northernmost vineyard and winery, you can taste its full bodied and distinctive wines in a café known for its superb menu featuring local produce.
TripAdvisor Rating


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There were a lot of Canadian politicians in the Scottish Parliament in the last week of January and they weren't there for Robbie Burns Day. Just as one group of Canadian MPs and Senators left the building in walked Quebec Premier Pauline Marois (with entourage).
Scotland is used to human traffic with Canada, though historically it has almost all been in the other direction. Indeed, post-Confederation Scottish migration to Canada created one of the host countries' primary narratives. For mnemonic purposes, let's call it the Macdonald/Douglas story: the creation of the country from John A. (from Glasgow) who bound it with his railway to Tommy D. (from Falkirk) who distinguished it from its southern neighbour with his health care system. It is a source of pride in Scotland that these two and so many others from the old country distinguished themselves in the new one.
In recent months, however, the prospect of a Scottish referendum on independence in 2014 seems to have ignited a sudden interest in Scottish affairs from a Canadian perspective rather than the other way around. MP James Rajotte and his group were here as a delegation representing something called the Canada-UK Inter Parliamentary Association. They will say that their job was not to discuss constitutional issues (though it is hard to imagine that they didn't come up). Ms. Marois, by contrast, made no secret of the fact that she wanted to see what she can derive from Scotland's experience that could eventually prove useful to her in Quebec.
Neither visit made much of an impression: not surprising in the case of CUIPA, which had all the airs of a standard political junket; but much more so for Ms. Marois, who arrived with a considerable Canadian press presence that clearly expected some kind of nationalist love-in or separatist summit. Instead, the premier got a brief private meeting with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond squeezed between votes in the chamber. He was gone in an instant (well 45 minutes), leaving Ms. Marois to make the best of it by firing off words like 'historic' and 'co-operation' in the general direction of an unimpressed Canadian media.
Busy schedules or not, these things rarely happen by accident and it is worth asking why Ms. Marois was given such short shrift. The problem might be that when you look at Scotland's direction of travel you don't see Quebec, you see Canada: the Canada, that is, that emerged out of the 1970s and developed until the dawn of Stephen Harper. That was the place that welcomed immigrants, saw multiculturalism as a good thing, emphasized health care, welfare and education and de-emphasized militarism.
Scotland is hitting all of those same buttons and for the same reason. The vision of Canada that formerly prevailed – as a European social democracy – is the one that Scotland is currently pursuing. The resemblance is as remarkable in detail as it is in general principle. Recent major debates here include one on the prospective legalization of gay marriage and another on an independent Scotland ridding itself of nuclear weapons while remaining a member of NATO. Canada has already been to many of the places that Scotland is looking to go.
In fact, apart from some unnecessary advice on the nuts and bolts of referendums ('don't ask a convoluted question' springs to mind, although the Scottish government has already nominated a simple one), the Quebec premier has little or nothing to offer Scotland on its road to 2014. There is no serious argument here about whether Scotland is a nation (only if it is better served in or out of its current union) and no definitive language issue. Canada, by contrast, is an old friend as well as a contemporary model, and the Scottish Government is unlikely to want to jeopardize all that by holding Ms. Marois' hand aloft.
If Ms. Marois persists with her Scottish embrace – she has offered Quebec's 1995 referendum files to Scotland (politely declined) and welcomed the expansion of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds that is being pioneered in Scotland's referendum – expect some airy stuff from the Scottish government supporting the right to self-determination while pointing out that every situation is different. Meanwhile, bet on Scotland continuing down the Canada road. Next up is a Scottish written constitution. Don't be surprised if it has something resembling the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms entrenched in it.
Harry McGrath is the former co-ordinator of the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He now runs the Edinburgh-based Scottish Canadian Agency.Report Typo/Error
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VIDEO: Kendra Wilkinson Is Mad Stylin'
Kendra Wilkinson may not yet have mastered the fine art of mailing a letter, but when it comes to looking sexy she's a woman of many talents.
As this behind-the-scenes video filmed at her recent photo-shoot at JSquared Studios demonstrates, the former Girls Next Door girl isn't just a pretty face, she's a wardrobe specialist too.
"This is my shoot and everything, so I get to style myself," Wilkinson notes. "These are all my shoes. Not a stylist's shoes—my shoes!"
And wouldn't you know, she does a bang-up job of it too. Will the wonders never cease?
But that's not the only revelation Wilkinson delivers in the video; she also explains that her breasts are "way too big to be serious."
How's that? Watch and find out for yourself. We know you're in no mood for reading when there's a sexy Kendra Wilkinson video to be gawked at:
Highly educational, is it not? Of course it is.
Be sure to visit Kendra's official Web site to bone up further on all things Wilkinson.


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Updated June 23, 2017
We appreciate your interest in the graduate program in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at UC San Diego. We offer PhD and MS degrees in both computer science and computer engineering. We also have a streamlined 5-year BS/MS program for highly qualified UCSD CSE undergraduates.
The UCSD Graduate Online application deadline for Fall 2018 admission to the Ph.D. and MS programs is December 15, 2017. (Admittance is for fall quarter only).
***All application documents are submitted to the online application.
For information about the online application and required supplemental documents, please refer to: Application Checklist and Guidelines.
Admission to the CSE graduate program is very selective. Our department receives over 4,000 applications annually. We seek applicants with a strong academic background in computer science and engineering and/or a related field and a demonstrated potential for success in graduate school. Each application undergoes a comprehensive review by the CSE Admissions Committee, which examines every component of the application and supplemental materials when considering an applicant for admission. (Standardized test scores and grade point averages (GPA) are an integral part of the evaluation process, but admissions decisions are NOT made based on these components alone.)
The MS and PhD degree programs are mutually independent. Current students in the MS program who wish to continue in the PhD program must submit an internal application by the general application deadline for the year they are seeking admission. The application will be reviewed along with those of the external PhD applicants for that admissions cycle. (An MS degree is not required for admission to the PhD program).
If you are interested in enrolling in Computer Science and Engineering classes without being matriculated in a degree program you may do so through the Concurrent Enrollment Program.
Graduate Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum university and departmental requirements outlined below.
Note: All application documents are submitted to the Graduate Division Online application at https://gradapply.ucsd.edu.
Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or mathematics is preferred, but not required. Applicants with a degree in another discipline will be considered for admission if they have completed the minimum required CSE courses or their equivalent. However, it is recommended that applicants without a CSE background take courses beyond the minimum to demonstrate an ability to understand more advanced concepts in computer science and engineering.
GPA: Completed coursework for both domestic and international applicants must demonstrate the equivalent of at least a B average in the United States. Applicants should refer to the UCSD GPA Policies - Admissions.
GRE: The General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. An official ETS-reported score must be submitted for an applicant to be admitted into the graduate program. The UCSD GRE Institution Code is 4836. Applicants should request that ETS submit the scores directly to the UCSD institution code 4836. For more information on the GRE, visit the GRE website.
TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied full-time at a university-level institution in an English-speaking country for one uninterrupted academic year. An official ETS-reported score must be submitted for an applicant to be admitted into the graduate program. The UCSD TOEFL Institution Code is 4836 The university minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 550 for the paper-and-pencil version, 213 for the computer-based test or 80 for the internet-based test (iBT). For more information on the TOEFL, visit the TOEFL website. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is not required. ***No other test of english may be used to substitute for taking the TOEFL.
If you meet the minimum requirements outlined above, we encourage you to apply to our graduate program. To apply, please use the on-line UCSD Application for Graduate Admission.
For a complete list of all of the supplemental materials required for the graduate application, please visit our graduate application checklist.
Additional questions about admission into our graduate program may be answered on our Graduate Admissions FAQ page. Please also see the Prospective Student web pages of the Graduate Division.
Normally, UCSD does not permit the duplication of advanced degrees. (Previous professional degrees, however, are not included in this restriction.) Holders of a master's degree in one field may be considered under certain circumstances for admission into a master's degree program in another field (after the admissions faculty committee reviews all application files in any given admissions cycle). Holders of a PhD, in any field, are advised not to apply for admission to the CSE department's PhD program.
Contact Information
If you still have questions for which you could not find an answer on our web site, please email either one of the following:
PhD Admissions at firstname.lastname@example.com
MS Admissions at email@example.com
The University of California, San Diego does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures, or practices, including but not limited to academic admission, financial aid, educational services, and student employment.


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The College Profiles are a series where each week I feature an interview with a college student about the college they attend. I thought this would be a great way to help high school students learn about colleges they possibly want to attend from the students that actually attend them. So often the information you get about a school as a prospective student is influenced by the school (websites, tours, pamphlets). These profiles will be an honest view of the school and talk about the things a prospective student wants to know about. I hope this series will be fun for non-prospective students as well since I think it's kind of fun to see what life is like at other colleges and how yours compares. This week the lovely Abigail of Living the Gray Life is talking about her experience at the University of South Carolina (AKA the wannabe USC because we all know that the University of Southern California is the real USC – in case you can't tell I go to the University of Southern California). If you want to see past posts you can see them here.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT Abigail
Year: Rising sophomore
Major: Computer Information Systems (aka. computer science and a minor in business)
Bio: So I'm not your typical, living the party lifestyle college student. I like to say that I'm an 80 year old in a 19 year old's body. I'm introverted, I love cats, I crochet, I watch documentaries, I enjoy a nice cup of steaming tea before bed, and I'm asleep by 10:30. I absolutely love the mountains, going hiking, and just spending time outside. I'm from east Tennessee so the mountains are literally in my backyard. I also love blogging (insert shameless self promo here lol), photography, hand lettering, graphic design, music, writing music, DIY projects, and just anything creative. For this upcoming school year (Fall 2016) I'm going to be a Resident Mentor (same thing as an RA just with a different name). I'm a part of the Capstone program (a program for high-achieving students that offers activities, scholarships, and other opportunities not available to other students), and I'm looking to get involved in the Women in Computing society.
Social Media: Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF South Carolina
Classes: I love going to class! Yes, I am that nerd who goes to every single class and enjoys doing homework. So class size really depends on which class you're taking. If you're taking gen ed requirements, you may be in a lecture with 300 other people. Speaking from my experience with my major, by sophomore year, my class size is down to roughly about 60, and it just gets smaller from then on. The larger lecture classes are going to be strictly lecture because it's hard to have discussions when 300 people are trying to participate. The smaller English classes and foreign language are going to be more discussion based because there are only about 20-30 people in a class. My favorite class I've taken would have to be University 101 (it's also a unique class just to Carolina!). U101, as we call it, is an "extended orientation" where you meet other freshman, learn about the university, and do fun things like take a tour of WillyB (the football stadium), go to the state fair, and have dinner with your professor. Of course you can take classes from other majors! My schedule is booked all the way until I graduate so I don't have a lot of freedom when it comes to what I can optionally take. I do recommend taking any class that you find interesting!
Surrounding Area: USC is located in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. It's both a college town and in a city! That's what I love about it. Because 75% of the campus is not accessible by car, it's like you're in a whole other world when you're walking around campus, and then if walk off campus, you're right in the middle of the city! It's in the heart of the south so there's that good 'ole Southern culture. Everyone's nice. What is there to do? Hmm well I didn't branch out much my freshman year (which I totally regret) but there's a Target and a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive so that's where I'd spend my weekends. There's also this place called the Vista which is about a 10 minute walk from the south side of campus. It's got really cool shops and restaurants and I really hope to explore it this upcoming year!
Food Options: Overall food selection is decent. You've got your typical buffet style dining halls and then the fast-food restaurants like Einstein's Bagels, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-a, and Pizza Hut. At the beginning of the year they're great, but by the time November rolls around, you're craving a nice, home-cooked meal. But that's really the same with all colleges. There are a ton of options in the Vista if you're looking for something other than dining hall food. There's a Moe's right next to campus as well.
Things to Do: What isn't there to do on campus? Because the school is so big, there's so many options when it comes to finding groups and stuff to be a part of. Football is huge in the fall. USC is in the heart of the SEC so of course football consumes our lives from August to November. There are free movies to go to, free paint nights, free bowling nights. Really all you have to do is look, and there's something to do almost every night of the week! Our gym is amazing. Storm (our gym) is like a resort. It's gorgeous, has so many amenities, and is where I spent a lot of my time freshman year.
Social/Party Scene: Like I said before, the party scene is HUGE. Campus is right near this place called 5 Points which has all of the bars. It's more or a bar party atmosphere. There are plenty of things to do on the weekends beside party! You just have to really find them. People like me who don't drink are really rare so it takes a bit of work to find things to do at night on the weekends. But you know a movie night or craft night is always a great option!
Housing: Freshman are required to live on campus unless you live in the Columbia area. Then you can apply to be a commuter student. Housing is decent. I mean dorms are dorms. They're not some super fancy hotel room where everything's updated and nice. They're not bad by any means but they're also not the most luxurious things in the world.
Fun Fact:Darius Rucker went to USC and he comes back all the time to perform concerts!
Favorite thing about the school: My favorite things about my school are the school spirit, any sporting event (football and soccer especially), and the GORGEOUS campus.
Least favorite thing: My least favorite thing is the party culture. I'm sure this is prominent at a lot of colleges. My floor was the floor that went out EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and would come back screaming at 2 AM. I'm sure if I was completely surrounded by the drinking culture my freshman year, I'd have a different opinion on it.
What Makes the School Unique: USC has an extremely old campus! Founded in 1801, the original building still stand on the historic horseshoe. The history is what drew me in, and I love walking around campus just thinking about how old the bricks are that I'm walking on.
Let me know if you want to work with me to do a college profile post on your school!


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Site-Specific Simulation of Nutrient Control Policies: Integrating Economic and Water Quality Effects
A watershed-based modeling system is developed to assess alternative nutrient abatement policies, including fertilizer taxes, application caps, and uniform reductions. A microeconometric model of nutrient use is estimated using farm-level data, prices, and spatially detailed soil and land characteristics. Results are interfaced with a physical watershed model to predict water quality changes. Simulations demonstrate differences in water quality effects across policies. For nitrate loads at the watershed outlet, an application cap provides slightly superior performance for small reductions, but a tax is more efficient under larger reductions. Phosphorus reductions at the subwatershed level vary but provide information about policy tradeoffs.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Volume (Year): 37 (2012)
Issue (Month): 1 (April)
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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Abrahams, Nii Adote & Shortle, James S., 2004. "The Performance of Compliance Measures and Instruments for Nitrate Nonpoint Pollution Control Under Uncertainty and Alternative Agricultural Commodity Policy Regimes," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 33(1), April.
- Abrahams, Nii Adote & Shortle, James S., 2004. "The Performance of Compliance Measures and Instruments for Nitrate Nonpoint Pollution Control Under Uncertainty and Alternative Agricultural Commodity Policy Regimes," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 33(01), pages 79-90, April.
- Burkart, Christopher & Jha, Manoj K., 2007. "Nitrate Reduction Approaches," Choices, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 22(2).
- Satya Yadav & Willis Peterson & K. Easter, 1997. "Do farmers overuse nitrogen fertilizer to the detriment of the environment?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 9(3), pages 323-340, April.
- Babcock, Bruce A., 1992. "Effects of Uncertainty on Optimal Nitrogen Applications (The)," Staff General Research Papers Archive 10588, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
- Attwood, J. D. & McCarl, B. & Chen, Chi-Chung & Eddleman, B. R. & Nayda, B. & Srinivasan, R., 2000. "Assessing regional impacts of change: linking economic and environmental models," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 147-159, March.
- Shortle, James S & Horan, Richard D, 2001. " The Economics of Nonprofit Pollution Control," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 255-289, July.
- Glenn Sheriff, 2005. "Efficient Waste? Why Farmers Over-Apply Nutrients and the Implications for Policy Design," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 27(4), pages 542-557.
- Amemiya, Takeshi, 1977. "The Maximum Likelihood and the Nonlinear Three-Stage Least Squares Estimator in the General Nonlinear Simultaneous Equation Model," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 45(4), pages 955-968, May.
- Gallant, A. Ronald & Jorgenson, Dale W., 1979. "Statistical inference for a system of simultaneous, non-linear, implicit equations in the context of instrumental variable estimation," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(2-3), pages 275-302.
- Predrag Rajsic & Alfons Weersink & Markus Gandorfer, 2009. "Risk and Nitrogen Application Levels," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 57(2), pages 223-239, 06.
- H. Alan Love & Steven T. Buccola, 1991. "Joint Risk Preference-Technology Estimation with a Primal System," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 73(3), pages 765-774.
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The naming of U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Yuri Andropov as Men of the Year marks the third occasion on which the editors of TIME have made a double selection. In 1937 TIME named China's Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Madame Soong Mei-ling as Man and Wife of the Year for staunchly resisting the invading Japanese. Thirty-five years later, in 1972, President Richard Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger were chosen for their efforts to realign U.S. diplomacy and end the Viet Nam War. Each of these pairings was made up of celebrated figures who shared not only cover...
A Letter From The Publisher: Jan. 2, 1984
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How to Get Rid of a Dry Cough
Dry coughs can be difficult to deal with. They can linger on for quite some time and can disrupt your sleep as well as your work and leisure. Trying to get rid of a dry cough can be tricky but it is not impossible if you take some of the following steps. Here are a few things you should know when you want to get rid of a dry cough.
Visiting Your Doctor is an Important First Step
It is important to visit your doctor or a clinic before trying to deal with a dry cough. There can be several different causes for a dry cough. Some are fairly minor but others can be serious if they are not treated properly. Some dry cough causes include:
- Cough variant asthma: This is a type of asthma where the main symptom is a dry, non-productive cough
- Acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease): This is caused by acidic stomach contents backing up into the esophagus. It can cause a dry, hacking cough and can be serious if it left untreated
- Post nasal drip: This is common in cases where a person who may have allergies, sinus infections or other conditions. Nasal contents will drain down the back of the throat, causing a dry cough
Your doctor will listen to your breathing and ask you if you are taking any medications. You may be asked to do further testing in order to get to the root of the problem. If nothing there is nothing seriously wrong, it is possible to get rid of a dry cough using one of the following methods.
Medications That Help Get Rid Of Dry Cough
A cough suppressant will calm a dry cough and can be very effective if you are not on any other medications that will interact with it. Be careful not to use an expectorant to get rid of a dry cough as it can bring up phlegm and causes you to cough even more.
There are over the counter and prescription medications that can calm your cough and help you get rid of it over time.
Non-Medicinal Options
There are several different non-medicinal options that can be used to get rid of a dry cough. They include:
- Increasing the moisture in the air around you. Using a humidifier can get rid of dry air that may cause a dry cough
- Stopping the use of cigarettes. Long term smokers often develop a dry, hacking cough. Giving up cigarettes can help to get rid of this kind of dry, non-productive cough
- Throat lozenges. These can help you keep your mouth moist and can also calm a dry cough
- Drink enough water to keep from getting dehydrated. You should increase your fluid intake when you have a cough. You may find that you get dehydrated faster when you are coughing. It may not help to get rid of your cough any faster but it can help to keep you feeling as good as possible
You may want to speak with your doctor about allergy testing or seeing a specialist if you find that your dry cough does not go away after a reasonable period of time. A persistent dry cough can be a sign that something serious is going on that needs to be investigated and treated as well.


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Hamilton Colloquium Series - Stanislas Leibler, The Rockefeller University, and IAS: "Ethology and Ecology of Simple Microbial Systems"
I will describe two recent experiments on simple microbial systems. In particular, in these experiments an effort has been made to develop a statistical description of the dynamics on different time scales, ranging from minutes to months. In this way I hope to illustrate some major difficulties connected with building an appropriate quantitative framework for even the simplest biological phenomena.
(This talk will be 99% DNA free).
Location: Jadwin A10
Date/Time: 02/27/14 at 4:30 pm - 02/27/14 at 6:00 pm
Category: Physics Colloquium
Department: Physics


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SlumberSling Safety August 01, 2013 10:57 14 Comments
UPDATED:May 13, 2014
The SlumberSling has been professionally crash tested by MGA Research, an independent company that provides crash testing services to major car seat manufacturers. MGA Research, having conducted the test with a child dummy in a current market car seat found that "All of the requirements for child seat testing
were met. The addition of the SlumberSling did not cause the dummy to fail requirements."
This is the validation that many of our consumers have been seeking - confirmation that the SlumberSling is in fact safe according to current car seat testing requirements. Please feel free to contact us at email@example.com with any further questions.
Former post from 2013 regarding safety concerns:
We have been seeing increased interest in our SlumberSling in recent months, and are very excited about the positive feedback and enthusiasm parents around the world are showing in this product. In addition to the great reviews we are getting, we certainly also receive questions about safety. I wanted to say a few words about this.
Because this product is used on young children and as a car seat accessory, safety is typically the first thing a parent will question. There are a few factors that we have incorporated into the design of the SlumberSling to achieve safety.
First and foremost, the entire product is made of fabric and soft materials; the band that supports the child's head and loops around the car seat is elastic, which gives it a lot of flexibility and absolutely no rigidity. It is fastened with adjustable hook and loop fastener (i.e. Velcro), further ensuring the appropriate amount of 'give'. The child has plenty of freedom of movement when the product is in use given its design using only soft materials. Moreover, because there are no hard materials on the product, it ensures that if it were to come off or be stressed in an accident, there would not be any hard piece that could come off and hit the child or any passengers in the car.
Secondly, when a child is properly secured in a car seat, his/her shoulders are snug against the back of the car seat, meaning that the child's body can't lean forward in any way. Therefore, if the SlumberSling were to slip down from the forehead to the neck area, it would no longer be pulled taut, and would simply rest slack around the neck and shoulder area. When a child is properly secured, there is no possible way for his/her body to lean forward into the product and cause any pressure on the neck.
As you can see on the product page, we indicate that this product is not designed for nor suggested for use with reclining infant car seats, and is intended for use only on convertible car seats and booster seats. It is not intended to be used as a safety device, and as always, parents should rely on the advice of their doctor for all child related products.
We welcome ongoing feedback and can be reached at email@example.com with specific questions. We love seeing new reviews on the product, and take all of our customers' comments into consideration. We are a small, family owned business, and I created the product for use on my own children who have been using it for years. The photo below is of my oldest son using the SlumberSling years ago when we first launched it into the consumer market.
Safety is a top priority. Please stay in touch with us!


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Indie legends of the 20th century like The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, and Oasis seem to blossom for a moment and then fade away into oblivion. For a moment, they represent everything that defines their time—but that's never an eternal guarantee of fame and success. Whenever these artists attempt to reenter the foray, they try to assert themselves as contemporary artists whose work still belongs. But the public never really wants them—NME will continue to give Noel Gallagher and Robert Smith their annual "Godlike Genius" award for having made genre-defining music, but ultimately cease to care about what they continue to make.
New Order is surely one of those bands. Though the group's contemporary work goes largely unappreciated, today's hipsters idolize the '80s new-wave tour de force. And a look into the recent "tell-all" memoir of their bassist (and bassist for the band that preceded them, Joy Division), Peter Hook, might explain why this is true—and perhaps why it should not be. Though Peter Hook won't be winning any awards for "Biographer of the Decade" for Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division, the book is a wonderful way to get a firmer hold on the origins of the "indie" music scene.
Bassist for both Joy Division and New Order, Hook has always been one of New Order's most outspoken members. After a prolific career in the 1980s, including five studio albums and over sixteen charted singles, the group began to lose steam and took a break in 1993. While New Order reconvened in 2001 to make their guitar-driven Get Ready and again in 2005 for Waiting for the Sirens' Call, their music continued to get worse and worse. In lieu of their traditional club-electronic tracks like "Fine Time" or "Blue Monday" from the 1980s, New Order offered over-synthesized tracks with saccharine vocals in singles like "Krafty" and "Crystal." By 2007, Hook left the group (again) while Sumner and original NO members Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert continued to make music.
This month, Hook published an autobiographical account titled Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division, which details the group's origins in Manchester in the mid 1970s. In 1976, Hook and long-time pal Sumner went to a Sex Pistols concert in Manchester and immediately knew they had to start a band. After a number of fights, run-ins with the police, and lines of cocaine, Hook and Sumner met Ian Curtis, future Joy Division frontman, at a Manchester punk venue. By 1977, Joy Division was formed and playing small gigs throughout the post-industrial scene in Northern England.
Most of Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division is made up of scattered conversations and playful (although often quite bitter) banter between Hook, Curtis, and Sumner. Chapter titles include "It was like The X Factor for punks," "Stop fucking moaning Hooky," and "He's possessed by the devil, that twat." Hook's writing style matches his public persona—crass, upfront, and bold.
Even through Joy Division's relative ascendancy to fame in 1978 and 1979, Hook reminds the reader of the band's personal side. Even when describing the recording of JD's most famous singles and albums, Hook treats them as individual projects that came together at the spur of a moment. In "I Remember Nothing," the haunting closer on Unknown Pleasures, Sumner actually plays the wrong chord on his new Transcendent 2000 synthesizer for the whole recording—but the disharmony it gave to the song was too good to pass up.
Hook's work demystifies Joy Division in ways that have never been done before. Biopic films like Control and 24 Hour Party People depict Curtis as a dark and brooding genius, but Hook makes him out to be a "pretty regular bloke." If anything, Hook takes his time to remind us that music is not simply conceptual—it's a man-made product. In a whirlwind journey through the gritty punk scene of late 1970s England, Joy Division ceases to be the inevitable beginning of post-punk and New Wave, but is a group of teenagers who got together to make music. Hook didn't know from a young age that he was destined to play the bass—he stole one at age 16 from a music store in Salford and never learned how to play it right.
We can list Closer and Unknown Pleasures as two of the definitive albums of the late 20th century, and deem Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Stephen Morris to be "Godlike Geniuses," but we still won't know anything about who Joy Division was. As Hook's narrative tells us, the music world in the 1970s was a very different place than it is now. But the story of a band looking to score girls, snort coke, and get famous will always remain the same—no more glorious than today.


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2009 US Open of Snowboarding MVR Added To Growing Action Sports Team
Minong, Wis. (August 18, 2009) – MATADOR™, a bold new brand by Jack Link's®, announced today that Scotty Lago will be joining the MATADOR™ action sports team.
"I am super excited to be a part of the MATADOR™ team," said Lago. "It is awesome that MATADOR™ is psyched on what we are doing in snowboarding."
Lago had a strong 2008-2009 winter season. At the 2009 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., Lago placed second in Slopestyle. Less than a month later, at the 2009 Winter Dew Tour in Lake Tahoe, Calif., he took third overall in Halfpipe. Lago's season came to a close with a win in the US Open of Snowboarding in Quarterpipe, and a third in Slopestyle, securing him the award for Most Valuable Rider at the US Open of Snowboarding.
"Scotty's fun-loving nature is exactly what the MATADOR™ brand is all about," said Jeff LeFever director of marketing, Jack Link's Beef Jerky. "With the addition of Scotty, MATADOR™ now has a presence in winter sports. We look forward to being a part of the snowboard community."
In addition to sponsoring Lago, MATADOR™ by Jack Link's also supports skateboarder Adam Taylor, and BMX rider Dennis Enarson, as well professional and grassroots action sports events such as the 2009 Dew Tour, Camp Woodward and Snowboarder Magazine's America's Next Top Pro Model.
To find out more information about Scotty Lago and MATADOR™ by Jack Link's, go to www.matadorsnacks.com.
Jack Link's Beef Jerky – Feed Your Wild Side.
Headquartered in Minong, Wis., Jack Link's is the No. 1 U.S. meat snack brand and fastest growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide. The Jack Link's brand represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust. In addition to its premium products, Jack Link's is known for its popular Messin' with Sasquatch advertising campaign which has achieved nearly cult-like status. The commercials feature pranksters playing sophomoric pranks on an unsuspecting Sasquatch. Check out www.JackLinks.com for more information on the Jack Link's brand.


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Four years after releasing their award winning "Live As One" album, dub pioneers Zion Train are back with their new album "State of Mind" which is released this month. Contrary to the slightly trippy album art, the tracks on this disc are simple, atmospheric, and quite frankly, mellow as hell. Perfect for any Dub enthusiast.
At first the opening track "Great Leap Forward" could sound simple. Plain even. But give it a few listens and you will realise just how much there is going on in this track. This ranges from the much expected saxophone, to the random shouts and squeaks in the background. And it all builds together to create not just a song, but a truly chilled atmosphere. And in a way this statement could apply to the whole album. Minimalist, yes, but let's not forget that this is the style of music they are going for, and they pull it off very well.
The second track "Rainbow Children" features lead vocals from Dubbada, and has a really nice deep bassline that sounds perfect blasting out of any sub. The track makes great use of loops and repeats; giving the track a nice resonant sound.
"Tribute to Shura" is another gem that can be found on this album. This track has a wicked clubby bassline, some great sounding horns as well as a nice synthesised sample of Rolling Stones material. Listen to this track; it's an instant favourite.
Overall, a strong contender, even compared to it's Reggae Grammy award winning predecessor.
Platform Rating
Matthew Brewer – Platform Online


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Two aging, arthritic mountain lions have been retired from exhibit at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - and a mountain lion cub will go on exhibit in their place today.
"The two lions are about 13 years of age, and it was becoming hard for them to get up and down the rather steep slope of the exhibit space," said Craig Ivanyi, executive director of the museum west of Tucson.
"They have an arthritic condition," Ivanyi said of the retired lions. "They will stay at the museum and live out their lives in an off-exhibit retirement space created for them."
The average life expectancy of mountain lions in the wild is about 8 to 13 years, but healthy lions in captivity can live years longer.
The museum's new lion will be unveiled to visitors at noon today.
Museum officials declined to provide information on the young lion's age or where it was obtained until today's announcement.
"Since its inception, mountain lions have been the iconic symbol of the museum," Ivanyi said. "All of the mountains lions that come to the museum are from rescue situations, and this one is no exception."
ReTIREMENT DIGS
The two aging lions came to the museum in 1999 as orphans from a wildlife rehabilitation center in Phoenix.
They were removed from public view last month and placed in a retirement area with "comfortable and safe surroundings, where animal keepers can provide them with a variety of enrichment options to keep them psychologically engaged," according to a museum news release.
The new quarters, which aren't open to public viewing, have a resting platform for the lions and include indoor and outdoor areas with cooling and heating systems.
did you know
Mountain lions are the largest cats in the Sonoran Desert. Females weigh about 75 pounds, and males can weigh up to 145 pounds.
Source: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at email@example.com or at 573-4192. On Twitter: @DouglasKreutz


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PAYNE-L ArchivesArchiver > PAYNE > 2000-07 > 0963537905
From: "K Anderson" <>
Subject: Indian Connection
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 20:25:05 -0500
This will help some of the Payne searches..
----- Original Message -----
From: "suep" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 7:50 PM
Subject: [HIGHTOWER-L] Indian Connection
> Please note I am an amateur! I may have errors but....This is a loose
connection but one I have tentatively made:
> Louisa Adeline Payne, b. April 25, 1858 Monroe County, TN, married William
Thomas Hightower, b. December 12, 1854 in Monroe County, TN. She was the
daughter of George Washington Payne, born in Franklin County, Georgia and
Nancy Hooper. George Washington Payne was the son of John Carroll Payne b.
1795 in Georgia and married to Jane Walls b. 1796 in Habersham County,
Georgia. Jane Walls was the daughter of Henry Walls and Susie Bigby born in
the East Cherokee Nation. Susie Bigby was the daughter of James Bigby and
Catherine Foreman. For Jane Walls, I have the following quote from a
Genforum post:
> "Susie Bigby was the great grandchild of Chief Broom a Cherokee Chief on
her mothers side of the family." Genforum, Feb 28, 2000.
> I contacted the person who posted the info and this is the info I
> >From CHEROKEE BY BLOOD. Benjamin F. Payne. MISC TEST p. 557 (found in
> 2 after #5450)
> My name is Benjamin F. Payne. I am 77 years old. I was born in Monroe
> and have always lived here. I knew Allen F. Graves (#16361), also Calvin
> Linderman (#35631). Calvin C. Linderman and Allen F. Graves are cousins
> I am the uncle of both. Allen Graves claimed Indian blood through his
> Mahala M. Newman before marriage. Charlotte Payne was the grandmother of
> Allen Graves and she was my sister. Mahala Payne was the daughter of Sim
> Newman who married Charlotte Payne. I claim my Indian blood through my
> mother, Jane Payne, who was a Walls before marriage. My mother was born
> Habersham Co. GA. I have heard her say that she was 67 years old before
> died in 1863. She was married in 1811. In 1835 her name was Payne. She
> living in Monroe Co. Tenn. in 1835, and in 1851 she was living in the 5th
> district of Cherokee Co. N.C. I reckon she was about three-fourths
> My father bit off Sol Leaves ear in about 1834 and as this was a
> offence he led a secluded life for some time. My mother was living in
> Creek Monroe Co. She stayed at home with the family. They had the idea
> they would have to be moved west if they enrolled and she did not care to
> that while my father was gone. In 1851 he lived in Cherokee County. I
> heard any reason why they were not enrolled in 1851. It had been so long
> before the Indians were paid off. I did not make a claim to payment in
> My mother did not make any claim to payment. SIGNED Benjamin "X"F. Payne,
> Madisonville, Tenn. Jun 26, 1908.
> William Thomas Hightower was the son of John Hightower and Clarissa
Selvidge, son of William Hightower and Rebecca Daugherty, son of George
Washington Hightower and Elvania Magnolia Smith, son of John H.T. Hightower
and Mary Jane Hawkins, son of William Calvin Hightower and Margaret Jane
Melxina Hammontree. After that, we can only make some guesses.
> Sue Prince
> ==== HIGHTOWER Mailing List ====
> List Admin: Cindy Lee Gettle
> List Co-Admin: Tony Rockefeller
> http://cindy.mbsys.com/htwrmail.html
> ==============================
> Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project:
> Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time.
> http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
This thread:
|Indian Connection by "K Anderson" <>


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Latham looks like the Christmas Grinch
Page Tools
Losers under Latham's array of new policies are playing right into the Coalition's hands, writes Michelle Grattan.
Mark Latham, unconventional as always, is experimenting with the ultimate in counter-intuitive campaigning. He is building a formidable and diverse regiment of losers within his army of winners.
The Latham tack is at odds with the political maxim that says you minimise the number left worse off by your promises.
Latham began yesterday on Neil Mitchell's radio program dealing with the unfortunate example of the single-income couple with a stay-at-home mother, three children and $35,000 family income. They're $461 worse off on an annual basis under last week's tax and family package.
"But's that's only if the $600 (lump sum child payment) is money that they actually see, as opposed to being eaten up by debt and other problems with that particular payment," Latham insisted.
Then he released the long-awaited schools funding list. Labor's overall increase and needs-based allocation might be good policy, and it will be attractive to many voters with children at schools that will get more. But it comes with a neatly tabulated, two-page list headed Schools With Reduced Funding.
There are 67 schools, almost all in NSW and Victoria (which has 32). They'll be unlikely to run after Mark to hand out the prizes at Fintona, Trinity or Peter Costello's alma mater, Carey Grammar.
Parents with children at these schools join, or overlap with, other Latham losers. These include higher-income people who would pay an increased super surcharge, low and middle-income voters who would lose the superannuation contribution scheme, and travellers who'd face more departure tax. And, of course, the family tax package hits higher-income single-income families, as well as catching the bottom.
The odd smoker might, when aged 90 with unusually good lungs, be retrospectively thankful to a Latham government. More immediately, he or she may be a cranky voter.
The unlucky might find themselves in several categories of Latham losers. The strategy of not worrying about handing out a few knocks followed the earlier approach when Labor warned it would cut spending to pay for its programs. Finance spokesman Bob McMullan used to anticipate political pain like a monk looking for penance to get him to heaven.
John Howard is more old-fashioned. He wouldn't dream of lining his political way with those left worse off by election pledges. He treats elections like Christmas, and he doesn't want any crying under the holly if he can avoid it.


text:
Some odds and ends from the tech/media world this morning:
-- Watch out iPhone owners: Even though it's now legal to jailbreak your phone to get unauthorized services such as Google Voice, Apple says those who do so void their warranty the Cult of Mac website reports.
-- The Huffington Post is profitable, although just barely, Newsweek says in an engaging profile of Arianna Huffington. According to the story, the site generates a little more than $1 per reader each year.
-- And Tribune's Chapt. 11 bankruptcy case is getting interesting. A court-appointed examiner says that the $8.2 billion leveraged buyout that put real estate investor Sam Zell in charge of the media giant in 2007 was doomed from the start, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune. The examiner's 700-page report to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware slams the senior executives at the time of the deal for "dishonesty and lack of candor."
By David Lieberman
Technology Live covers computers, electronics, and the Internet, with a focus on cutting-edge technology that has a real impact on your life. Our reporters and editors -- based in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and Washington – offer news and tips to help you make the most of your digital domain. More about the team
Sign up for Technology Live e-mail alerts


text:
A consultation exercise has begun on whether the £5-a-day charge should be put on hold for the three working days.
Ken Livingstone says it would benefit shoppers, businesses and residents at the start of the sales.
Meanwhile a report by the Liberal Democrats says drivers of 4x4 vehicles should pay double to enter the zone to cut pedestrian injuries and pollution.
Research by the party showed the number of 4x4s in London, as a proportion of the total number of cars bought, was higher than anywhere else in the UK.
"The congestion charge has been a success, but the series of proposals we have put together for the zone are to make it easier and more effective."
The Lib Dems said the original charge was "outdated and flawed" and their study also called for the toll to end at 1700 BST rather than 1830 BST and be scrapped at Christmas and New Year.
But Mr Livingstone said his announcement of plans to suspend the charge for three days was part of his manifesto commitment.
The mayor, who has previously called 4x4 drivers "idiots", also said he would look into whether it would be possible to charge them double.
Critics of the charge have said it is damaging central London businesses such as John Lewis, which said sales were down 9% at its Oxford Street store.


text:
The Royale Group is a collection of specialty chemical companies with expertise in sourcing, importing, transportation, warehousing and consulting. We carry a full range of specialty chemicals housed within our five warehouses across the country.
Our product line consists of Specialty Chemicals, Fluorides, Nitrites, Sulfates, Iron Oxides, Fluorescent Pigments, Pearlescent Pigments, and Organic Pigments.
Our mission is to provide the highest quality of products and service to our customers. Here at The Royale Group, we leave no stone unturned in delivering high quality products and customer service. From start to finish we aim to meet the highest standards of service and product quality to insure the success of your company.
As the organic and fluorine division of the Royale Group, AWSM Industries is able to fulfill the needs of the specialty fines chemical Industry with high quality products and exceptional customer service.
As a major distributor of Inorganic and organic chemicals in the USA. Shorechem's expertise in the fluorine business allows for the development of products for specific applications.


text:
From The Atlantic
A start-up has recruited hundreds of dinner party hosts across Europe and South America. It's coming to New York -- will it succeed?
Why tolerant, happy places provide the best places to eat
Journalist Annia Ciezadlo explains why the city's balconies and rooftop gardens must be preserved


text:
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NuGo Bar Description from Nugo Nutrition
Welcome to the NuGo Family.Our philosophy at NuGo is pretty simple: we believe in providing healthy food choices while delivering exceptional taste. You'll find only the finest quality ingredients - like yogurt, whole oats, brown rice and soy. NuGo family nutrition bars are high in protein, low in fat and covered in luscious vanilla yogurt.Studies show NuGo has a low glycemic response, which means it is digested slowly to provide extended levels of satiation and energy. No rapid elevation in blood sugar levels and no crashing lows.
Contains milk and soy. Manufactured on equipment that also processes products containing peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and egg.
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Napster pay service has 270,000 subscribers
Page Tools
Online music-swapping pioneer Napster says it has some 270,000 subscribers to its fee-based music service as of late 2004, after just over a year in operation.
Napster said on Thursday that the figure, which represents a 50 percent increase in subscribers from the previous quarter, "makes Napster the fastest-growing music subscription service in the industry."
The firm began trading on the New York Stock Exchange last week.
"These results, combined with industry analysts' projections, continue to support our belief that the future of digital music is subscription services," the company said, adding: "We expect to continue to drive very substantial subscriber growth in 2005."
Still, the new company is a far cry from the old Napster, which had as many as 70 million members freely trading music files and pioneering the effort to use the internet as a music service.
The old Napster was forced into bankruptcy in 2001 after a series of lawsuits by the music industry accusing the site of being a hub for exchanging copyright-protected music.
Music software maker Roxio acquired Napster's name and assets in 2002 for $US5 million in cash plus stock, and converted it into a fee-based website that allows subscribers to legally download music files.
Subsequently, Roxio sold off its software division and decided to concentrate on online music, changing the company's name to Napster.


text:
Water and Environment Journal
Vol 31 (4 Issues in 2017)
Edited By: Ewan McAdam
Print ISSN: 1747-6585 Online ISSN: 1747-6593
Impact Factor: 1.063
Water and Environment Journal is the Journal of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). Publishing peer reviewed, original papers from both the research and practitioner communities, Water and Environment Journal showcases innovative and integrated approaches to all aspects of environmental management, with a global perspective. We welcome papers on a broad range of topics including all aspects of water processing and engineering, the water cycle, air pollution, waste management, and environmental conservation. The journal has a wide readership of professionals working in academia, consultancies, Governments, regulators, NGOs and the environment sector.
We are keen to attract papers on a broad range of subjects including:
All aspects of water and wastewater treatment, drainage, processing and engineering and the management of associated residuals
All aspects of the water cycle, including the management of flood risk both inland and around the coast, and water scarcity and drought, with a particular focus on integrated approaches to management which deliver multiple benefits
Land use management including contaminated land remediation, soils, spatial planning and modelling in both urban and rural settings, data and analytical techniques, and interactions with the water environment
Environmental and ecological conservation, ecosystem services measurement and valuation and natural capital accounting
Air quality monitoring and management including dispersion modelling, human health impacts and impacts on and interactions with the environment and climate
Climate Change mitigation including analysis of competing energy, food and water requirements and adaptation and resilience including management of impacts on agriculture, urban areas and infrastructure
Solid and hazardous waste management, minimisation, resource efficiency and the development of a circular economy


text:
As a contractor, I love it when I can show a client how to get top return on a minimum investment. Almost always, the advantage is in planning.
Take something as simple as connectors designed to hold the frame of a house together in high winds. This is something a lot of us in regions outside of hurricane territory were slow to embrace. But ask folks in Florida or the coastal Carolinas. They'll tell you about grand beach houses blown apart in big storms because roof systems, walls, and foundations weren't tied together properly.
Tie-downs and hold-downs are among the least expensive hardware items in a house. And because they're so easy to install at appropriate stages of construction, I think anyone building a house or an addition should insist on them.
Hurricane clips
This term now refers to just about any connector that ties in sections of a house's frame. But most builders mean the hardware used at the point where rafters or upper-story floor joists sit atop walls.
In normal conditions, gravity helps hold roofs and walls together. That's why many inland builders don't include the tie-downs. It's when powerful winds pry roofs upward that trouble begins.
I've seen storms peel roofs entirely off walls, exposing interiors as if they were dollhouses. Sometimes winds rip off roof systems and deposit them intact elsewhere. The problem is not in holding a roof together but in keeping it locked onto the walls and foundation.
The most common hurricane clip is a twisted metal strap with predrilled nail holes; one face of the strap is nailed to the roof support, the other to the wall top plate. These clips should be attached wherever rafters meet walls. The number of nail holes in the straps may vary, and you might not need to use every one. Local codes specify how many nails are considered adequate for each connector. Here's a tip: Don't overdo the nails. You increase the chance of splitting a stud or rafter with every extra nail.
Inside-corner connectors
These are variations on the typical hurricane clip. They're made for designs in which, instead of resting on the top of wall plates, the bottoms of horizontal roof beams butt directly into them from the side. What you need here is a strap that secures the right-angle connection between wall and roof beam. It looks something like a hinge frozen in a 90-degree position. Again, there are predrilled holes on each strap face. Consult local codes for the required number of nails in each strap.
Shear-wall connectors Builders in earthquake areas already know about this technique, but we're seeing more and more of these wall systems in Nantucket. Because a lot of modern house designs are so complex, architects and engineers like to use fortified interior walls for extra structural support. These are shear walls, framed with 4 by 4s and sheathed with plywood beneath the gypsum wallboard or other finish materials.
The idea is to create a wall that resists the domino motion of a structure under stress. Not only do we beef up the wall with fatter studs and plywood, we also anchor it with stirrup-like connectors at its base. The 4 by 4s sit in the metal stirrups, which are bolted straight through to the foundation. At the top of the wall, where it meets rafters or second-floor joists, we use standard hurricane clips. So the whole fortified system is tied in from foundation to roof.
The retrofit challenge How about homes built before tie-down hardware became common? Can you install clips and tie-downs after walls and ceilings are in place?
To do this right, you have to get beneath wall and ceiling coverings to the places where structural elements meet. This is no problem if you're doing an addition or major remodeling. But you'll need to weigh costs against benefits if you have to tear up your home to install hardware. I recommend that you never miss a reasonable opportunity to reinforce your house. It will protect your investment and perhaps your life.
Connect online
We don't endorse any particular kind of clip or connector, but one manufacturer, Simpson, has such a great Web site on the subject, we think it's worth pointing readers to it: wellconnectedhouse.com. Besides having great illustrations of how connectors work, the site offers terrific links to sites with info about housing codes.
If you want to see what one of the most hurricane-vulnerable areas in the country requires of new construction, check out Florida's recently updated building code.