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When the NHL lockout finally ends, Red Fisher will begin his 50th season on the Canadiens beat. In this continuing feature series, Red picks his Top 10 Canadiens from the last half-century.
- - -
The Canadiens teams I've watched win 17 of their 24 Stanley Cups during the last half-century were blessed with most of the best of the best. You know their names, and if you visited a seventh-floor boardroom at the Bell Centre, you would see them in living colour. Jean Beliveau is there. Toe Blake is there, and so are goaltenders named Plante, Dryden and Roy. Guy Lafleur and Doug Harvey are there. And, of course, Maurice Richard is there.
His best years already were behind him when I started covering the Canadiens at the start of the 1955-56 season. By then, after 13 NHL seasons, he had lost a step. He carried weight he found increasingly difficult to lose. He was hurt frequently. But now and then in his last five seasons, he was once again The Rocket. And on those nights, there was no finer sight anywhere.
What I'm really saying is that the Richard of the last five seasons of his career was not among the 10 best Canadiens I've seen during the past 49 years. His teammates knew it. His opponents knew it and Richard knew it. But any mention of this team can't be made without a salute to The Rocket, and no better example of it goes back to the night the hockey cathedral in which he became an icon closed.
He stood on the Montreal Forum ice under the harsh, white television lights, tears streaming down his face as the noise grew and grew ... minute after minute for 10 ... 11 minutes ... until there was no longer just noise in the place, but thunder engulfing it. Now and then, he would raise an arm ... both arms ... pleading to the people ... his people:
"Enough," he seemed to be saying to them on this March 11, 1996 night. "Enough! I was only a hockey player."
Richard, who died in his 79th year after a battle of more than two years with inoperable stomach cancer, was much more than a hockey player. He was the first National Hockey League player to score 50 goals in a 50-game season (1945) among his 544 in 978 regular-season games. He was the most intense athlete this game, this city, this province, this country has seen. He was everything that personified greatness.
Richard's eye-snapping career numbers don't begin to describe what he meant to hockey in general and the Canadiens in particular. Winning at any cost was what he was all about. He was prepared to pay the price for every goal he scored, and no price was too high.
Richard scored important goals, lifting spectators out of their seats everywhere in the six-team NHL, because he was as much The Rocket on the road as he was in Montreal. At any moment, anywhere, he could erupt with another big goal.
"I first saw him in 1942," Ken Reardon, a former teammate who went on to become a Canadiens vice-president, told an interviewer. "I was playing for an army team. I see this guy skating at me with wild, bloody hair the way he had it then, eyes just outside the nut house. 'I'll take this guy,' I said to myself. He went around me like a hoop around a barrel.
" 'Who's that?' I asked after the game."
" 'That's Maurice Richard,' " the guy said. 'He's a pretty good hockey player.' "
" 'Yes,' I said, 'he is.' "
The Richard legend
wasn't supposed to develop as quickly as it did. The fact is some hockey people felt it would never happen. His bones were as brittle as peppermint sticks, some people said. Injury-prone, they muttered. The problems started when he was invited to the Canadiens Seniors' training camp in 1940. He made the team, scored two goals in the first regular-season game, then caught his skate in a rut in the third period. His ankle snapped and Richard missed the rest of the season.
The following year, he played well for the first 20 games, suffered a broken wrist in his 21st, missed the rest of the regular season, but returned to score six goals in four playoff games. The 1942-43 season was his first with the NHL Canadiens: this time he fractured his right ankle. Three major injuries in three years. Maybe, just maybe, his critics were right. Maybe, he was indeed too brittle to play in the NHL.
His stunning 50-in-50 season erased those fears and was remarkable in many ways. He failed to score in only 16 games. At no time did he go more than two games without scoring. His best streak was during a nine-game stretch between Jan. 20 and Feb. 10 when he scored 14 goals. His worst came in the last 13 games of the season when he scored only seven.
It has been suggested, and there's a valid argument for it, that Richard's passion for winning was the start of the French-English "thing" in Quebec. If he had been "only a hockey player," his suspension for the final week of the 1954-55 regular season and the playoffs after getting involved in a savage, stick-swinging duel with Boston defenceman Hal Laycoe would have been little more than a hiccup in NHL history and, by extension, the province of Quebec. Instead, it fanned the flames of a cultural revolution that went far, far beyond Richard, the player.
He meant everything to his people, on and off the ice. When he and the Canadiens won, they won. When the Canadiens lost, they lost. When the perception was that he was treated harshly by constituted authority, it was they, his people, who felt the pain and the anger.
What made Richard the icon he was to become was the way he scored his goals. From the blue line in, there was nobody as fierce, or as intense. There was nobody as strong. It was the passion within him each time he swooped in on an opposing goaltender, often with another player, or players, clinging to his back. It was in his arms and in the barrel of his chest, which threatened to burst out of his sweater at any moment. It was in the tight line of his mouth, and in the snarl it formed when he was challenged. It was in the terrible rage with which he played. It was in his eyes.
Big goals were all he was about, none bigger than the one he scored against the Boston Bruins in the seventh game of their 1952 semifinal. Early in the second period of this pivotal game at the Forum, Richard was knocked out in a collision with Bruins forward Leo Labine. Six stitches were needed to close an ugly gash over his eye. The team's medical staff felt he was through for the night, but after spending the rest of the period and most of the third in the clinic, there he was sitting alongside linemate Elmer Lach. The score, Lach told him, was 1-1. Four minutes remained in regulation time when Richard returned to the ice.
Defenceman Butch Bouchard started the play that would become, to some people, the Rocket's greatest goal. Richard took the pass deep in the Canadiens zone, skated the length of the ice, wheeled around defenceman Bill Quackenbush, swept in on goaltender Sugar Jim Henry ... and goal!
This hockey player, this remarkable athlete had added yet another chapter to his legendary career. He had battled through the fogs of concussion to win yet another series for the Canadiens. The next day, newspapers across the country carried a memorable photograph of Richard, blood streaming from his left eye, and Henry - his right eye blackened after being struck with a puck in Game 6 of the series - shaking hands.
The Canadiens were to become hockey's greatest dynasty - five consecutive Stanley Cups - during the first five seasons I covered the team with Richard as its captain. By that time, the Richard flame didn't burn as brightly or as often as it had during the previous 13 seasons.
Richard brought a tradition of winning to the Canadiens. He wasn't the Richard of old when the Canadiens embarked on the marvellous adventure that would produce five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956 through 1960, but he was with them.
It's true his game had lost some of its shine, except for the first two years when he scored 38 and 33 goals. What remained, however, was the fire in his eyes, and the intensity. He was still the flag-bearer for a culture, for his people. Anything less than winning was unacceptable and remained that way until he scored what turned out to be the final goal of his career in the 1960 Stanley Cup final against the Maple Leafs. It was his 34th goal in the finals.
It also was the only goal he scored in the playoffs that year, one in which the Canadiens allowed only 11 goals in sweeps over Chicago and Toronto. (Jacques Plante posted three shutouts.) Richard got his goal in the third game, a 5-2 victory at Toronto. It was to be his last.
He reported to training camp several months later, scored four goals during a morning practice and later in the day was asked to report to general manager Frank Selke. I happened to be sitting outside Selke's second-floor office when a grim-faced Richard, accompanied by an adviser, strode in. Thirty minutes later, Richard stormed out.
"What's happening?" he was asked.
"They want me to retire," he snapped ... and kept on walking.
Selke had pointed out to the 39-year-old Richard that in his last three seasons, injuries had sidelined him for 89 of 210 games. It was time ... time for the torch to be passed.
Tomorrow: No. 1
Red Fisher's Top 10 Canadiens
Red's Top 10 Canadiens combined to win 71 Stanley Cups. Here's a look at the players already profiled in this feature series:
No. 10 Serge Savard was a member of the Big Three on defence along with Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe.
No. 9 Dickie Moore won back-to-back scoring titles during the 1950s.
No. 8 Bob Gainey was one of the best defensive forwards in NHL history.
No. 7 Bernard (Boom Boom) Geoffrion was the second NHL player to score 50 goals in a season.
No. 6 Defenceman Larry Robinson could do it all: skate, score and fight.
No. 5 Henri Richard won 11 Stanley Cups, more than any player
in NHL history.
No. 4 Doug Harvey was the best defenceman of his time and played a key role on six Stanley Cup teams.
Yesterday: No. 3 Guy Lafleur, who won three NHL scoring titles, could electrify an audience like no other player with his speed and shot.
Today: No. 2 The legendary Maurice (Rocket) Richard was more than just a hockey player to Canadiens fans and his people in Quebec.
The Rocket's Claim to Fame
Stanley Cup eight-time winner
Hart Trophy 1947
Inducted into Hall of Fame 1961

subset: commoncrawl


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We're sure many of you know that one of the world's most magnificent and docile creatures, the Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), is in deep trouble.
But just how bad is it? From a population of around 320 estimated in 1995, experts now say it could be down to as low as 216 individuals.
One of Rimba's researchers, Reuben, was involved in a review published recently in the international journal Oryx. This paper was led by Ahmad Zafir Abdul Wahab (currently doing his PhD based at Universiti Sains Malaysia; email@example.com) to find out what needs to be done to save this species from extinction. The consensus is that: Continue reading


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Good news from Fidelity Investments on the subject of retirement planning. The Boston-based investing behemoth, the nation's largest 401(k) provider, announced on Thursday that the average 401(k) balance it administers reached $75,900 at the end of the third quarter.
It's the highest level reached since the company began tracking the data 12 years ago. The ending balance represents an increase of 4.2% from the end of the previous quarter and an 18% percent increase over one year prior when it was $64,303.
Fidelity's analysis is seen as a bellwether of the larger 401(k) industry because of its sizable market share in the space. The company manages assets of $1.7 trillion in assets and currently oversees 12 million 401(k) accounts in 20,200 corporate defined contribution plans. It shows that average annual employee contributions grew 7.3% over the past five years to $5,900 at the end of the third quarter, up from $5,500 ending the third quarter 2007.
Meanwhile, average annual employer contributions–commonly called a company match–rose to $3,420 at the end of the third quarter, up 19% percent since the third quarter 2007, when it was $2,880.
"It's encouraging to see companies making a greater contribution to their employees' 401(k) plans as we know a healthy employer match not only impacts employees' retirement savings but also has a positive impact on their behavior, ultimately leading to better outcomes," MacDonald, president of workplace investing for Fidelity, said in a statement.
Plan features designed to increase savings and participation, such as auto-enrollment and auto-escalation, have had a positive impact over the past five years, according to the company. During the third quarter, new participants who were auto-enrolled had an average deferral rate of 3.7%. But new participants in plans not utilizing auto-enrollment had an average deferral rate of 8.4%. This may be attributed to plans auto-enrolling participants at too low of a default deferral rate, such as the common 3%, the company notes. Fidelity suggests plans adopt a 6% auto-enrollment default rate with an automatic escalation of 1% annually, up to 10%.
Additional findings include:
- More participants increasing savings than decreasing: For the fourteenth consecutive quarter, more participants increased their deferral rate than decreased it (4.6% vs. 2.8%). Fidelity recommends participants save an average of 10 to 15% of their annual salary to meet their income needs in retirement6. Each single percentage point of added savings can help participants meet that goal.
- Contributions more balanced than years past: Participant contributions continue to be allocated to more balanced investments, such as target date funds (TDF). While new contributions into balanced options grew to 36% from 20% at the end of the third quarter 2007 (34% specifically into TDFs, up from 15% five years prior), new contributions into equities decreased to 46% from 62%. Contributions into conservative options remained relatively flat at 18% over the five-year period.


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Hotel 't Zand is a small new hotel with 19 rooms (opened since 31/03/06), which is situated in the heart of unique Bruges. It's easily reachable via the E40 (exit 8) and it is not more than 400 metres from Bruges "Grand Market-place". It is perfect for a stay with the whole family, guaranteeing highly comfortable and pleasantly arranged rooms, all including bathroom with bath/shower and hair-dryer, toilet, airco, lcd flat screen televsion, telephone and internet connection. Non smoking hotel.
Hereby conditions and cancellation policy.The applied amounts en percentages are to be paid by the guest.
Special conditions are prior to the main cancellation conditions when applied.
Main conditions and policy (Individual booking)
Special conditions (groups*)
(*) groups = Every booking of 3 or more rooms


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New Orleans: Get a Steamer on Bourbon Street at Clover Grill
Clover Grill
900 Bourbon Street, New Orleans LA 70116 (map); 504-525-9053, clovergrill.com
Cooking Method: Steamed on a flat griddle
Short Order: 24 hours a day, you can get the best steamed burger in the French Quarter featuring a 1/2-pound patty steamed under a real hubcap
Want Fries with That? They come from a foodservice bag, but are far better with chili and cheese
Prices: Burger, $5.79; cheese, +$1; w/bacon, mushrooms, egg or chili, +$1.49; w/extra patty, + $4.29; fries, $2.79
Bourbon Street is known for its laissez-faire attitudes, for bars and strip joints, souvenir shops and voodoo houses. The restaurants along the way range from Café Beignet's pastries and sandwiches to Galatoire's fine upscale dining. But where do you go for a burger on the street best identified with New Orleans?
You go to Clover Grill, that's where. The little diner at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine is popular with the LGBT crowd, and it's the one place you can get a burger 24 hours a day in the French Quarter. It ain't cheap, but it is dependably good.
At any particular time, the pink walled diner is packed with tourists, locals, and whomever else decides to wait for one of the few tables or bar stools available. The menu is full of puns, admonitions, and adages. For instance, under the Build Your Own Burger section, diners are greeted with, "If you were a good customer, you'd order more. Our chili speaks for itself, sooner or later. You can beat our prices, but you can't beat our meat." The burger itself is described as "a 1/2 pound Choice - Pure - Beef patty cooked under an American hub cap."
No doubt you will have to wait once your order has been placed; the service is slow as molasses most of the time, and the cook seems to be of the "one order at a time" mindset. But you don't go to Clover Grill for a quick visit. You go to work off the booze accumulated as you walked down Bourbon Street or for an eye-opener. And you wait and watch as the cook seasons the fresh half-pound beef patty with a shaker, slaps it on the griddle, shoots it with water from a bottle, and then plops a big fat greasy automobile hubcap on top of it. Every couple of minutes he'll flip up the edge and squirt the burger with more water as a cloud of steam escapes. And by the time it's done the fries are out of the basket of the fryer, on your plate, and covered in chili and cheese—which makes them halfway decent.
The burger? There's no need to add chili on top; it's moist, as it should be with all that water squirted on it. It's also very gray—when you look at the thing you'll wonder where the darn crust is. That steam keeps a decent crust from forming.
But it's all right. That gray patty, spiced with a blend of salt and pepper, thyme, and garlic powder, absorbs a lot of flavors from the griddle. There are tiny flecks of onion all through the burger, and that onion flavor permeates the whole patty. It comes together well on the lightly griddle-toasted bun (mine strangely had sesame seeds on exactly half of the top bun, but this isn't typical). It's dressed with tomato, lettuce, and flat dill pickles. Mayo is the standard condiment.
It is a pretty dang good steamer. It doesn't soak the bread but there's plenty of moisture there—the patty is almost overly juicy thanks to the steaming. The cheddar I added went fine with it, but I think when I go back I'll order the burger without—it's just not necessary on this burger.
The fries? They would have been a huge disappointment had I not gone with the rather highly recommended chili (our host insisted we put chili on something). They're straight out of a foodservice bag, but they're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside like fries are supposed to be. The chili is somewhat greasy, full of beans and meat and chili powder, heavy on the cumin and light on the onions, but typical of good diner chili. The American cheese slice was runny, but it worked well with these gut-buster chili fries.
Love hamburgers? Then you'll Like AHT on Facebook! And go follow us on Twitter while you're at it!
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Marble Roller Coaster: Converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy
|Areas of Science
|Time Required
|Average (6-10 days)
|Material Availability
|Readily available
|Low ($20 - $50)
|Adult supervision recommended when using utility knife
AbstractIf you'd like to investigate the physics of amusement park rides, then this project is for you. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much the marble's potential energy at the beginning of the track is converted to kinetic energy at various points along the track.
The goal of this project is to build a roller coaster for marbles using foam pipe insulation and to investigate how much of the gravitational potential energy of a marble at the starting point is converted to the kinetic energy of the marble at various points along the track.
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Andrew Olson, Ph.D., Science Buddies
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Last edit date: 2020-06-23
Slow and clanking, the string of cars is pulled up to the crest of the tallest point on the roller coaster. One by one, the cars start downhill on the other side, until gravity takes over and the full weight of the train is careening down into curves, twists, and turns. The roller coaster is a great example of conversions between potential energy (stored energy) and kinetic energy (the energy of motion). As the cars are being pulled up to the top of the first hill, they are acquiring potential energy. The chain that pulls them up the hill works against the force of gravity. At the top of the hill, the cars' potential energy is at it's maximum. When the cars start down the other side, this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. The cars pick up speed as they go downhill. As the cars go through the next uphill section, they slow down. Some of the kinetic energy is now being converted to potential energy, which will be be released when the cars go down the other side.
Potential energy comes in many forms. For example, chemical energy can be stored and later converted into heat or electricity. In the case of a roller coaster, the stored energy is called "gravitational potential energy," since it is the force of gravity that will convert the potential energy into other forms. The amount of gravitational energy can be calculated from the mass of the object (m, in kg), the height of the object (h, in m), and the gravitational constant (g = 9.8 m/s2). The equation is simply: gravitational potential energy = mgh.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. The amount of kinetic energy an object has is determined by both the mass of the object and the velocity at which it is moving. The equation for calculating kinetic energy is: kinetic energy = 1/2 mv2, where m is the mass of the object (in kg) and v is the velocity of the object (in m/s).
You've probably noticed that the first hill on the roller coaster is always the highest (unless the coaster is given another "boost" of energy along the way). This is because not all of the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Some of the potential energy is "lost" in other energy conversion processes. For example, the friction of the wheels and other moving parts converts some of the energy to heat. The cars also make noise as they move on the tracks, so some of the energy is dissipated as sound. The cars also cause the supporting structure to flex, bend, and vibrate. This is motion, so it is kinetic energy, but of the track, not the cars. Because some of the potential energy is dissipated to friction, sound, and vibration of the track, the cars cannot possibly have enough kinetic energy to climb back up a hill that is equal in height to the first one. The way that physicists describe this situation is to say that energy is conserved in a closed system like a roller coaster. That is, energy is neither created nor destroyed; there is a balance between energy inputs to the system (raising the train to the top of the initial hill) and energy outputs from the system (the motion of the train, its sound, frictional heating of moving parts, flexing and bending of the track structure, and so on).
You can investigate the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy with this project. You'll use foam pipe insulation (available at your local hardware store) to make a roller coaster track. For the roller coaster itself, you'll use marbles. By interrupting the track and allowing the marble to continue on a smooth, level surface, you'll measure the velocity of the marble at different points along the track. From the velocity and the mass of the marble, you'll be able to calculate the marble's kinetic energy at the different track locations.
For each track configuration, you should try at least 10 separate tests with the marble to measure the kinetic energy. How much of the marble's gravitational potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy? A foam roller coaster for marbles is easy to build, so try it for yourself and find out!
Terms and Concepts
To do this project, you should do research that enables you to understand the following terms and concepts:
- Potential energy (stored energy)
- Kinetic energy (energy of motion)
- Conservation of energy (basic law of physics)
- Gravity
- Velocity
- Friction
- Slope (rise/run)
- What is the equation for calculating an object's gravitational potential energy?
- What is the equation for calculating an object's kinetic energy?
- The marble has its maximum gravitational potential energy when it is at the starting point: the highest point on the roller coaster. How much of this potential energy is converted to the marble's kinetic energy?
- This short animation explains kinetic energy and potential energy:
Brain POP Staff. (n.d.). Kinetic Energy. Brain POP Animated Educational Site for Kids. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
- Here are some more quantitative explanations of kinetic and potential energy:
- Henderson, T. (n.d.). Work, Energy, and Power. The Physics Classroom and Mathsoft Engineering & Education, Inc. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
- Nave, C.R. (n.d.). Kinetic Energy. HyperPhysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
- Nave, C.R. (n.d.). Potential Energy. HyperPhysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
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Materials and Equipment
To do this experiment you will need the following materials and equipment:
- At least two 6 foot (183 cm) sections of 1-1/2 in (about 4 cm) diameter foam pipe insulation
- Glass marbles
- Utility knife
- Masking tape
- Tape measure
- Bookshelf, table, or other support for roller coaster starting point
- Stopwatch
- Gram scale for weighing marble, such as the digital pocket scale from Amazon.com
- Length of Masonite (smooth hardboard) for marble to travel on (for measuring velocity at different points along the track). You can glue the Masonite into a V-shape, and paint it with alternating stripes at 5 or 10 cm intervals. The V-shape keeps the marble going straight, and the stripes allow you to easily measure the distance the marble has traveled during a timed interval.
- Optional: video camera and tripod
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Experimental Procedure
Note: Use the utility knife with care. A fresh, sharp blade will make cutting the insulation easier.
- Do your background research so that you are knowledgeable about the terms, concepts, and questions, above.
Cut the foam pipe insulation in half (the long way) to make two U-shaped channels.
The illustration below shows the foam pipe insulation, end-on.
Figure 1. The illustration above shows the cross-section at one end of the foam pipe insulation
- The insulation comes with one partial cut along the entire length. Complete this cut with the utility knife (yellow circle in the illustration above).
- Make a second cut on the other side of the tube (yellow line in the illustration above), along the entire length of the tube.
- You'll end up with two separate U-channel foam pieces. You can use masking tape to attach pieces end-to-end to make the roller coaster track as long as you want.
- The illustration below shows the foam pipe insulation, end-on.
- To make a roller coaster track, tape two (or more) lengths of the foam U-channel together, end-to-end. The joint between the two pieces should be as smooth as possible.
You can make the track as simple or as complex as you'd like. You can add curves, loops, and additional uphill and downhill sections. The illustration below shows two examples. You'll find that one requirement is that the starting point be the highest point on the track.
Figure 2. The illustration above shows two different roller coaster tracks for marbles. How much height is needed at the starting point in order for the marble to loop the loop?
In order to measure the velocity of the marble, you'll need a way to measure how much distance the marble travels during a measured time interval.
- A good way to do this is to interrupt the foam track and direct the marble along a smooth, level surface (e.g., two long pieces of Masonite glued in a V-shape). Support the Masonite V (with cardboard, beanbags, etc.) so that it is level with the end of the foam track.
- Paint the Masonite with 5 or 10 cm long stripes in contrasting colors (e.g., red and white or black and white) so that you can use it to measure distances.
- Use the stopwatch to measure the time it takes for the marble to travel a certain length along the Masonite track.
- You can also videotape the marble, and use the measuring stick to measure the distance the marble travels in successive frames (each standard video frame is 1/30 second).
- Measure the height of the starting point for the track.
- Measure the mass of the marble.
- Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the marble at the starting point.
Run a single marble down the track 10 separate times.
- For each run, use your striped measuring stick and stopwatch to measure the velocity of the marble as it completes the track.
- Calculate the average of your 10 measurements.
- More advanced students should also calculate the standard deviation.
- From your velocity measurement and the mass of the marble, calculate the kinetic energy of the marble.
- Repeat the velocity measurement at various points on the track by cutting the track and allowing the marble to continue on in a straight line on a smooth surface. Use your striped measuring stick and stopwatch to measure the velocity of the marble.
- Does the marble's kinetic energy ever equal or exceed its initial gravitational potential energy?
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Mechanical EngineerMechanical engineers are part of your everyday life, designing the spoon you used to eat your breakfast, your breakfast's packaging, the flip-top cap on your toothpaste tube, the zipper on your jacket, the car, bike, or bus you took to school, the chair you sat in, the door handle you grasped and the hinges it opened on, and the ballpoint pen you used to take your test. Virtually every object that you see around you has passed through the hands of a mechanical engineer. Consequently, their skills are in demand to design millions of different products in almost every type of industry. Read more
Mechanical Engineering TechnicianYou use mechanical devices every day—to zip and snap your clothing, open doors, refrigerate and cook your food, get clean water, heat your home, play music, surf the Internet, travel around, and even to brush your teeth. Virtually every object that you see around has been mechanically engineered or designed at some point, requiring the skills of mechanical engineering technicians to create drawings of the product, or to build and test models of the product to find the best design. Read more
Here are just a few of many possible variations on this project. Perhaps these will stimulate your thoughts about other experiments you could try:
- How much kinetic energy is required for various track features? For example, how much kinetic energy is required for a marble to successfully navigate a loop in the track?
- You can expand the experiment by building a set of roller coaster tracks with various loop sizes. How does the kinetic energy requirement change when the loop diameter increases? How does the kinetic energy requirement change when the loop diameter decreases?
- If you can find spheres that have equal diameter but made from different materials, you could investigate how the mass of the sphere affects how well it travels along the track.
- Maybe you noticed that your loop wobbles a bit as your marble passes through it. The energy to move the track comes from the marble. The energy that the marble loses to make the track move means less energy is available to make the marble itself move. Can you think of a way to stabilize the loop so that it doesn't wobble? Does the marble have more kinetic energy after exiting the stabilized loop? Design an experiment to find out!
- Try using different lengths of roller coaster track so that you can adjust the initial slope of the track. Keep the starting height the same, but change the slope by adding additional track length. (Remember, slope is rise/run, so you'll be holding the "rise" constant, and gradually increasing the "run.") How do you think the kinetic energy of the marble will change as you change the slope of the track?
- For a more basic version of this experiment, see the Science Buddies project Marble Roller Coaster: How Much Height to Loop the Loop?.
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Ask an ExpertThe Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
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The DLF Digital Library Pedagogy group is an informal community within the larger DLF community that was formed thanks to practitioner interest following the 2015 DLF Forum. The group is open to anyone interested in learning about or collaborating on digital library pedagogy.
Get involved
- Join our Google Group.
- Check in with us during #DLFteach office hours on Slack every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
- Participate in a #DLFteach Twitter chat.
Archived Documentation
As Digital Library Pedagogy projects conclude, they will be archived with the Open Science Framework.


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Trout set to become face of baseball post-Jeter
Angels center fielder has what it takes on, off field to take reins from the Captain
TEMPE, Ariz. -- When one door closes, another one opens -- at least we hope it does, right?
No one in Major League Baseball wants to see Derek Jeter walk away at the end of this season. But if the planets continue to align like this, we'll have a ready-made replacement as the face of the sport in Mike Trout.
"I try to always do the right thing on and off the field," Trout said. "I stay out of trouble."
Trout was working out with the Angels for the first time this spring as Jeter met with reporters in Florida, discussing his decision to retire. Trout, who played shortstop for three years at Millville Senior High School before switching to center field, said he was once a Jeter wannabe himself.
Like many others in southern New Jersey, he rooted for the Phillies while also paying attention to the Yankees -- the Captain in particular.
"Jeter, growing up, he was my role model," Trout said. "Seeing what he's done over the last 25 years, it's remarkable. I wish him the best. ... He's always been my favorite player to watch -- just the way he carries himself on and off the field. Wins championships. It all comes down to winning. You can have all the best stats in the world, but if you're not winning, it really doesn't mean anything."
Trout says he was 10 or 11 when he first paid attention to Jeter, who by then had started his collection of World Series rings and annual trips to the All-Star Game. Those were Yankees teams with Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill, Chuck Knoblauch and Jorge Posada, among others.
"I would look at the Yankees, and they had a lot of great players," Trout said. "But I would look at the lineup, look at them on the field, and you could see the shortstop, Derek Jeter, was the best player. The way he carried himself, the big plays he made over the years, the rings he's won, it's incredible."
When Jeter announced his retirement a week ago, D-backs general manager Kevin Towers was asked how the Yankees could replace him.
"I don't know if you'll ever find another Jeter," Towers said. "It's a hard question to answer. ... Those players are hard to find. It's like Tony Gwynn. When are you going to find the next Tony Gwynn? Never. If you ask me about Jeter, probably never. That good of a guy? That good of a player? ... Awesome player, clutch player, great role model, incredible character, great makeup. There's really no weakness."
Trout's only 22. He's played fewer than three full seasons, so, yes, it's premature to crown him -- or anyone -- the second coming of Jeter. But he's already been the metric (if not actual) MVP of the American League in back-to-back seasons, and he seems to be cut from similar cloth as his one-time idol.
"Mike's a fabulous player," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He's terrifically talented, but more than that, he's a hard worker, he's humble and he's a great teammate. I don't think if you walked into the clubhouse you'd know this was the guy doing all the things he's doing. That's a remarkable thing itself."
Nineteen years old when he made his debut for the Angels in 2011, Trout stunned everyone watching with his performance in '12, when he hit .326 with 30 home runs and a .399 on-base percentage while leading the AL with 49 stolen bases and 129 runs scored. He answered questions about the dreaded sophomore slump by hitting .323 with 27 home runs, 75 extra-base hits, a .432 on-base percentage and an AL-high 110 walks in a lineup that hasn't delivered as it could due to the problems encountered by Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.
"When he's hot, which seems to be most of the time, it's tough to pitch around [him] because he could be on third base before you know it," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "They have some guys to hit behind him. He's a very difficult guy to deal with. You have to try to keep him off base. You have to throw him strikes, and you know it probably doesn't get much easier behind him. ... They put him in a good spot to keep him insulated."
While Trout is in scoring position every time he steps to the plate, it's his speed and appetite for getting on base that makes him such a force. Infielders know that if they're not on their toes, he will embarrass them.
"Probably the [plays] that make me shake my head the most are little toppers he hits, a tweener, that no one ever has a chance to make a play on," Dipoto said. "He's going to beat it out to first base. For a guy who is going to hit 30 home runs, that's a remarkable trait, to be able to hit a 20-hopper in the infield and they can't throw you out."
Like Jeter, there's no self-promotion with Trout. He doesn't have that gene. But he understands the responsibility that comes with having his ability, and he holds himself accountable.
He got a bang out of being called MLB's "Swiss army knife" by President Barack Obama earlier this month and didn't mind coming to Arizona a couple of days early to shoot commercials for Nike. But he said nothing on Wednesday that would fuel speculation he is seeking a massive contract -- $200 million? $300 million? -- only 336 games into his career.
Trout arrived fit and ready after a winter spent working with his personal training between hunting and fishing trips. The highlight, he said, was a trip to the Caribbean island Saint Lucia, where he said he and his father caught "wahoo and a barracuda."
While Trout uses his combination of speed and power to do amazing things on the field, he can be as wide-eyed at times as those watching him.
"I really can't explain the last couple years of my life," he said. "It's been great. [I'm] having fun doing it. This is where I wanted to be as a kid growing up. I'm taking full advantage of it. No better place to be right now."
Just keep doing what you're doing, kid.


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Official fighter weigh-ins for next week's "UFC on FUEL TV 7: Barao vs. McDonald" event are slated for Feb. 15 at London's Wembley Arena.
The same venue hosts the following night's event, which features a championship headliner between interim bantamweight title holder Renan Barao and top contender Michael McDonald.
The first fighter hits the scale at 11 a.m. ET (4 p.m. GMT local time), and doors open to the public at 3 p.m. PT.
Prior to the weigh-ins, UFC Fight Club members are invited to a Q&A session with perennial middleweight contender Michael Bisping. "The Count" hits the stage at 2 p.m. GMT local time, and doors open to members of the UFC's official fan club one hour earlier.
Additionally, members of the public are invited to a pre-weigh-in autograph signing with British fighters Brad Pickett and Ross Pearson, French contender Francis Carmont and the UFC's first European octagon girl, Carly Baker. That session also starts at 1 p.m. GMT local time.
UFC on FUEL TV 7 marks the UFC's first European event of 2013. The evening's main card airs in the U.S. on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook.
The full UFC on FUEL TV 7 lineup includes:
MAIN (FUEL TV, 3 p.m. ET)
- Champ Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald – for interim bantamweight title
- Dustin Poirier vs. Cub Swanson
- Cyrille Diabate vs. Jimi Manuwa
- Gunnar Nelson vs. Jorge Santiago
- Ryan Jimmo vs. James Te Huna
- Che Mills vs. Matthew Riddle
PRELIMINARY (Facebook, noon ET)
- Terry Etim vs. Renee Forte
- Danny Castillo vs. Paul Sass
- Josh Grispi vs. Andy Ogle
- Stanislav Nedkov vs. Tom Watson
- Vaughan Lee vs. Motonobu Tezuka
- Ulysses Gomez vs. Phil Harris
For more on UFC on FUEL TV 7, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Michael Bisping)


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STRATFORD -- Let it not be said that Joseph Sincavage is a neo Nazi, a skinhead or a member of the Aryan Nation.
The reason he's flying the swastika on his Connors Lane ranch house is because he wants to protest what he says is a "totalitarian state created by President Obama" -- although he said he's not "accusing President Obama of being like Hitler or anything like that."
He also said that his red, white and black banner of hate isn't coming down anytime soon.
"I'll take it down when Obama changes his policies or if he resigns or gets impeached," he said.
During a brief interview with a Hearst Connecticut Newspapers reporter, several cars that drove by honked in approval. One driver offered a straight-arm salute. A young motorist gaped at the swastika on display.
Meanwhile, his neighbors had nothing bad to say about the soft-spoken Sincavage, who despite his advanced age -- he's 74, and of frail build -- wakes up at the crack of dawn on snowy days to shovel out nearby driveways before tackling his own.
"You could not find a better person around here," said Marilyn Cavallaro, who lives in the house next door. "He takes care of us all."
Another neighbor, who did not want his name used, agreed that Sincavage's acts of kindness "go above and beyond."
"He's always helping people with their yard work," said John O'Grady, who lives across the street. "But as for displaying the Nazi flag, well, I think that's a protest that's a little misdirected."
Sincavage's display of the flag mystifies many.
"Basically, our belief is it's OK to disagree," said Rabbi Schneur Wilhem, spiritual leader of the Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont, an 87-year-old synagogue one town away in Milford. "No one has to agree with the president. But you know the Nazi flag is, well, a very strange way of displaying your disagreement with the president. How does that communicate disagreement?
"In our community, we would choose something more positive than a Nazi flag, a reminder of the killing of six million Jews."
Sincavage said a police officer dropped by earlier on Thursday, but only to tell him to give the Police Department a call if there's any trouble. He said some people have complained to Town Hall, although there's little authorities can do because flying the Nazi flag is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees free speech.
The swastika banner is joined by three other flags: Old Glory, the flag of Vatican City and the flag of the U.S. Marine Corps, of which Sincavage was a member in the 1950s. He's also been known to fly the Confederate battle flag, the stars and bars.
"My dad was a Marine during the war and he helped to defeat the Nazis," Sincavage said.
Despite his stint in the Marines after the Korean War, he has little good to say about the commander-in-chief.
"I don't like some things he's done," the registered Democrat said. "He told the Russians all the details of the British nuclear arsenal, down to the serial numbers.
"It has also come out that the U.S. and Israel were able to hack into the Iranian computer system and got details on its nuclear program. Because of that, three Iranian scientists were arrested," he said. "If this keeps up, who is going to trust us?"
He said that he'll be flying the Israeli flag as soon as it arrives, probably in a day or two.
"I don't want anyone to think that I'm opposed to Israel or the Jews," he said.
Staff writer MariAn Gail Brown contributed to this report.


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Poncho Long
Poncho Long Bordeaux
Lieferdauer ca. 1 Woche
The perfect beach essential
The Poncho functions as a changing robe, towel, big sweater and a board cover, it has one pocket in front and colorful strings with clip-stoppers to change the size of the hoodie.
Perfect for your holidays but also for at home after the shower and relaxing on the couch!
Unisex, long
The long poncho is around 114 cm long and 70 cm wide
90% Cotton
10% Polyester


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Ketchup never seems to want to come out of its bottle. It's an age-old problem that many people claim to have solved. ("Hit the '57' on the bottle three times with the heel of your hand!" "Stick a knife up in there!" "Use a squeeze bottle!") But now a smarty-pants at MIT seems to have fixed the problem once and for all. Dave Smith, a PhD candidate at MIT, has developed a "slippery non-toxic coating" called LiquiGlide. (Umm, eww?) It's designed to coat the inside of condiment bottles and allow things like ketchup, mayo, and mustard to flow smoothly out onto your plate. Glorious. It actually works creepily well. Only it promises to bring on a whole new mealtime problem: the thing where you forget you don't have to slam the bottle, do it anyway, and end up with ketchup all over your lap.
MIT's LiquiGlide Solves Ketchup Bottle Frustrations [ABC News]
Image via Picsfive/Shutterstock.


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filtered by Capital Campaigns, Worship, Outreach + 3 other(s)
By ECFVP Editorial Team
Below you will find resources we've gathered from across the Church, designed to inform and support us through the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Santa María Magdalena en Manor, Texas, es una comunidad multicultural y multigeneracional que está siendo transformada por la generosidad de Dios.
St. Mary Magdalene in Manor, Texas, is a church that is bursting with new ideas to be Christ's hands and feet for those around them. In We are SMM, Karen Peña narrates the experience of this inclusive, diverse church family and describes the projects they've enthusiastically taken on to serve their community. This article is available in English and Spanish.
By Timothy Carr
How can we equip our churches to serve families and young people in our communities? What can we do to support them? In Be A Blessing for Young Families, Timothy Carr answers these questions and shares practical ideas for supporting families and young people in your community.
By Margaret Tjimos Goldberg, Bobbi Eggers and Sue Bodson
In 1975, a group of compassionate individuals gathered in the basement of Christ Episcopal Church and started something that would change their town. In Neighbor to Neighbor, Margaret Tjimos Goldberg, Bobbi Eggers and Sue Bodson explain the history of the incredible Neighbor to Neighbor organization and how it supports their town of Greenwich.
By Charis Bhagianathan
In this issue we bring you stories of faith in action, of love and generosity and the gift of witnessing God in everyone around us. Have we asked – what is beyond the red doors?
By Alli Gannett, Karin Hamilton and Jane Hale
Are we still tangled in very specific, traditional ways to "do church"? In the podcast Sacred Stories and Listening, Alli Gannett and Karin Hamilton chat with Jane Hale, who explores three neighboring towns in Connecticut, listening to people's stories and hearing God speak through them.
By Greg Syler
Greg Syler reminds us that Jesus says very clearly in John 12:44-50: "I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." In our blog, Greg explores a worrying perception among young non-Christians (nones) that Christians are judgmental. What would it take to change their minds?
By Richelle Thompson
In our latest blog, Richelle Thompson tells the story of the Good Book Club. In 2018, Forward Movement organized the initiative and brought in partner organizations from across the Episcopal Church. For the first year, they read the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Last year they read Paul's letter to the Romans and their mailing list doubled. This year, the Good Book Club focuses on the Gospel of John and another 3,000 people have joined the weekly email list.
By Annette Buchanan
In our latest blog, Annette Buchanan explores John 6:28-29 AMP for the Good Book Club. She notes that Church workers and leaders are often very busy with the logistics of Church and that in many cases, we equate busyness in Church with the work of God. According to John, the work of God is to believe.
Save Search


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Team testing biological treatment for pathogens that are killing honeybees and bats
A researcher at Georgia State University is studying a new, biological treatment for bacterial and fungal pathogens that are killing honeybees and bats in record numbers.
Dr. Christopher Cornelison, a postdoctoral researcher, is testing how effective Rhodococcus rhodochrous, a species of bacteria, is in fighting pathogens affecting honeybees and bats.
In honeybees, Chalkbrood disease has contributed to the number of managed honeybee colonies in the U.S. being cut in half, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder. Since 2006, White-Nose Syndrome has killed an estimated 7 million bats in North America, the steepest wildlife decline in the past century.
Cornelison grows the bacteria under certain conditions that enable them to inhibit the growth of fungi responsible for these diseases. The approach is unique because the bacteria do not need to make physical contact, unlike many probiotics. It's also non-toxic, allowing the honey to be edible for human consumption.
"Our bacteria produce a volatile chemical that's dispersed through the air and tremendously inhibits the growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens," Cornelison said.
Honeybees and bats are key to the ecosystem. One of every three bites of food in America is related to honeybee pollination, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Many crops such as almonds and other tree nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables depend on pollination by honeybees.
Bats play a crucial role in pest control. A single brown bat will eat its body mass equivalent in insects in one summer night, Cornelison said.
"If these species go extinct, we're losing something that we don't even comprehend the value of right now," he said.
Cornelison has achieved positive results in cell studies. In honeybees, no negative effects were found in toxicity trials exposing bees to the bacteria in the air or in their honey.
In bats, Cornelison found the bacteria slow fungal growth and permanently eliminated spore germination. In collaboration with University of California–Davis, he found the bacteria prevented the spread of fungi on bat skin without touching the skin.
Explore further


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Learn about the details of the weather station at the County Courthouse.
Learn about the Moran Weather Station in Teton County.
View real-time weather data and information about the Teton Pines Weather Station.


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When I was a kid, we used to play soldiers on a field outside the school. We would make our own toy guns out of wood and make camps, sniping each other in the tall grass. It was a bit like a simplified LARP. However, our hit detection system was completely broken (as they usually are at that age). It basically boiled down to who yelled "BANG! YOU'RE DEAD!" first. I want to see if I can come up with a more balanced system of rules. Here is what I have come up with this far:
Since combat is distanced, interactions can still be resolved vocally. However, problems may occur in team fights when everyone is yelling at the same time and nobody can hear anything.
One could draw stats or perks on ones gun with a black marker, and then say something like [target's name], accuracy stat, damage stat. (For example, "Oscar-8-12!") Of course, it does not have to be those variables; it's just an example.
Stopping in the heat of combat to roll some dice on the ground would certainly break flow, so I thought that hit detection could be resolved by a guessing game or something. If you guessed right with a shot, it would be a hit. However, I can't think of a way to apply stats in that kind of system.
If you have any ideas on how to solve any of these problems, I'd be happy to know. Are there any LARP systems that can resolve ranged combat without breaking too much flow?


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2 search results
Video Game Design
Video Game Design will allow students to explore one of the largest industries in the global marketplace and the new emerging careers it provides in the field of technology. Students will learn gaming, computerized gaming, evolution of gaming, artistic aspects of perspective, design, animation,...
- Grade Range: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Postsecondary
Scope and Sequence: Video Game Design
CTE TEKS - Implemented 2017-2018, adopted in 2015Video Game Design course scope and sequence within the Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications Career Cluster® summarizes the content to be taught, and one possible order for teaching the units of instruction. A brief description of...
- Resource ID: 19336
- Grade Range: 9, 10, 11, 12


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Chili's Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Chili's Baby Back Ribs Recipe
From Chili's
- For ribs:
4 racks baby back ribs, silverskin removed (optional)
1 cup coarse salt
1/2 cup black pepper
2 tablespoons ground white pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- For Shiner Bock BBQ sauce:
1 ounce canned chipotle peppers in adobo
1/4 cup of mushroom soy sauce (or regular soy sauce)
1 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
6 ounces Shiner Bock beer
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate, such as Minute Maid, thawed
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup minced garlic
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/8 cup onion powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
3-1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed and leveled
- Prep the ribs: Check to make sure silverskin has been removed from rib racks. If not, remove the silverskin by sliding the end of a spoon under the translucent membrane that covers the bone side of each rib rack; loosen skin, pull off, and discard.
- Season the ribs: In a small bowl, combine salt, peppers, sugar, and garlic and onion powder until will mixed; apply spice rub evenly across meat side of ribs, using roughly 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon per rib rack.
- Cook the ribs: If using a grill, preheat grill to medium; grill-roast ribs, uncovered, on an oiled rack for 40 to 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes.
- If using a smoker, wrap ribs loosely with aluminum foil; lay them bone-side down. Cook in a pecan wood smoker for 2 to 3 hours, or until tender.
- If using an oven, preheat oven to 275ºF; wrap ribs loosely with aluminum foil; lay them bone side down. Roast pork for 2-1/2 to 3 hours, or until tender.
- Make Shiner Bock BBQ sauce: Puree chipotle peppers, soy sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, ketchup, vinegar, beer, garlic, orange juice concentrate, and water in a blender or immersion blender until smooth; transfer to a medium saucepan. Whisk to mix thoroughly.
- Whisk in chili powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and light brown sugar. Simmer until sauce darkens and flavors have melded together, about 25 to 30 minutes, stirring sauce every 4 to 5 minutes so sauce will not stick or burn the bottom of the pot.
- Brush ribs with sauce: If using a grill, brush ribs with 1 ounce of sauce per rib rack side, flipping twice on the grill, until ribs have been caramelized.
- If using a smoker, remove ribs from foil and transfer rib racks to a griddle or grill. Brush ribs with 1 ounce of sauce per rib rack side, flipping twice until ribs have been caramelized.
- If using an oven, remove ribs from foil; brush ribs with 1 ounce of sauce per rib rack side. Return to oven broiler; broil for a minute per side, repeating again if necessary, until ribs have been caramelized.
Serves 4.
- Category
- Main Dishes, BBQ
- Cuisine
- North American


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A Chicago man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly exposed himself while driving next to a school bus on the Eisenhower Expressway.
Eugene Himelstein, 51, of the 4700 block of North Racine Avenue in the city's Sheridan Park neighborhood, was charged with two counts of felony public indecency for the September incidents where he exposed himself to children on a school bus, police said.
According to the Chicago Tribune, one of the students, who are from the Garfield Park neighborhood, told the bus driver and a social worker about an incident on Sept. 6, and it was reported to police when they got to the school.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
In a second incident, Himelstein was allegedly driving down the Eisenhower Expressway near Damen Avenue next to a school bus on Sept. 10 when he exposed himself, according to Chicago Police News Affairs.
During the second incident on Sept. 10, someone reportedly wrote down the license plates of the van Himelstein was driving in and gave police a physical description.
Himelstein is expected to appear in bond court Sunday.


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Explore the world as a traveller, not a tourist, on a trip packed with inclusions. VIP experiences and first-class, insider encounters.
Cosmos is for those that adore the explore without breaking the bank. Hassle-free and flexible, you dream it and we create it.
You're a lone ranger but don't want to be completely alone. We'll help plan your itinerary and set you up with our friends. Less hassles, more amazing, that's Monograms.
Get personal. This is experiential river cruising, your way. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, Avalon is relaxed luxury with choices as many, and individual as you.
Feel alive and refreshed with Cosmos! Getting in touch with nature brings us back to basic elements and is completely rejuvenating. Explore world heritage sites in Europe, be in awe of Orcas while cruising Canada's Inside Passage, breathe deeply while viewing South American vistas of glaciers and alpine flower meadows from a mountain pass. Explore the national parks of Sri Lanka and float the backwaters of India's Kerala like a true soul traveller. You'll re-live forever the morning you saw the sunrise as you're immersed in the UNESCO heritage site Machu Picchu for the first time!


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Difference between revisions of "Belgium"
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The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Dutch speaking area), [[Wallonia]] (the French speaking area) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders.
The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Dutch speaking area), [[Wallonia]] (the French speaking area) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders.
Revision as of 20:00, 30 April 2010
|Koninkrijk België (Dutch)
Royaume de Belgique (French)
Königreich Belgien (German)
|Coat of Arms
|Constitutional Monarchy/Federal Parliamentary Democracy
|Dutch, French, German (official)
|King Albert II
|Prime minister
|Yves Leterme
|11,787 sq mi
|10,392,226 (2007)
|GDP per capita
|$33,000 (2006)
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in north-west Europe, considered along with the Netherlands to be one of the Low Countries, and a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), whose headquarters is in the capital of Brussels.
- 1 Geography
- 2 Government
- 3 Labor Unions
- 4 Current Issues
- 5 Economy
- 6 History
- 7 See also
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Although generally flat, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region. Climate is cool, temperate, and rainy; summer temperatures average 77°F, winters average 45°F. Annual extremes (rarely attained) are 10°F and 100°F.
Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at a crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with Celtic, Roman, Germanic, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Austrian cultures having made an imprint.
The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: Flanders (the Dutch speaking area), Wallonia (the French speaking area) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders.
Belgium is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The current monarch is King Albert II, who took the oath of office on August 9, 1993.
As titular head of state, the King plays a largely ceremonial and symbolic role in the nation. His primary political function is to designate a political leader to attempt to form a new cabinet following either an election, the resignation of a government, or a parliamentary vote of no confidence. The King is seen as playing a symbolic unifying role, representing a common national Belgian identity.
The Belgian Parliament consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives has 150 directly elected members. The Senate has 71 elected members. The executive branch of the government consists of ministers and secretaries of state (junior ministers) drawn from the political parties that form the government coalition. The number of ministers is limited to 15, and they have no seat in Parliament. The Council of Ministers is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of the ministerial heads of the executive departments.
The allocation of powers between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers is somewhat similar to the United States--the Parliament enacts legislation and appropriates funds--but the Belgian Parliament does not have the same degree of independent power that the U.S. Congress has. Members of political parties represented in the government are expected to support all bills presented by the Cabinet. The House of Representatives is the "political" body that votes on motions of confidence and budgets. The Senate deals with long-term issues and votes on an equal footing with the Chamber on a limited range of matters, including constitutional reform bills and international treaties.
The largest parties in the current Chamber are the Flemish Liberal Party (VLD), 25 seats; the Francophone Socialists (PS), 25 seats, the Francophone Liberals (MR), 25 seats; the Flemish Socialists and Spirit alliance (SP.A/Spirit), 23 seats, the Flemish Christian Democratic party (CD&V), 21 seats; the right-wing Vlaams Belang party (VB), 18 seats; and the Francophone Christian Democrats (CDH) 7 seats. The Francophone Greens (ECOLO), have 4 seats, while the New Flemish Alliance (NV.A) and Francophone Front National each have 1 seat. The Flemish Greens (AGALEV -- now Groen!) did not win any Chamber seats in the 2003 election, but have one "co-opted" Senator (see below) as a result of an agreement with the Flemish Socialist Party. National elections have taken place on June 10th, 2007, the major winner being CD&V. A lengthy period of time went into forming a new government, marked by a period of informal talks (led by Herman Van Rompuy) and formal talks (led by Yves Leterme), both being appointed to do so by the King.
Yves Leterme succeeded in forming a government and getting the support of parliamend needed to govern. In December 2008 however, the government fell over a scandal involving the separation of powers, with Yves Leterme and Jo Vandeurzen (then minister of Justice) being accused of trying to influence the course of justice. The King appointed ex-prime minister Wilfried Martens to informal talks, which eventually led to Herman Van Rompuy being named new Prime Minister. Much of Yves Leterme's government was held in place, with only a few spots replaced. As of January 2009, this government led by Herman Van Rompuy was expected to carry its full term until the next election in 2011.
However, when Herman Van Rompuy was chosen to be the first President of the European Council, he had to abandon his job as Prime Minister, in order to avoid conflicts of interests. As such, Yves Leterme was named Prime Minister again. No other major changes were made to the Belgian government.
The Prime Minister and his ministers administer the government and the various public services. Ministers must defend their policies and performance in person before the House.
The Council of Ministers
At the federal level, executive power is wielded by the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister chairs the Council. Each minister heads a governmental department. No single party or party "family" across linguistic lines holds an absolute majority of seats in Parliament. Consequently, the Council of Ministers reflects the weight of political parties that constitute the governing coalition for the House, currently the four-party Liberal-Socialist coalition.
Principal Government Officials
- Prime Minister--Yves Leterme
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Institutional Reforms--Didier Reynders
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health--Laurette Onkelinx
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior--Guido de Padt
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice--Stefaan De Clerck
- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Employment and Equal Opportunity--Joëlle Milquet
Foreign Relations
The Concert of Nations sanctioned the creation of Belgium in 1830 on the condition that the country remains strictly neutral. During the two World Wars Belgium tried but was unable to follow a policy of neutrality due to the German invasions. In 1948, Belgium signed the Treaty of Brussels with Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and a year later became one of the founding members of NATO.
Belgium remains a strong proponent of both NATO and European defense efforts. Belgium also is a strong advocate of strengthening economic and political integration within the EU. Having federalized their own country, many Belgians view themselves as the ultimate "European federalists."
Both NATO (since 1966) and the EU have their headquarters in Brussels; SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO's military headquarters) is in the south of the country, near Mons.
Belgium supported the expansion of NATO and EU membership to the new democracies of central and eastern Europe and is actively engaged in the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe. Belgium served as the Chair-in-Office of the OSCE in 2006. Belgium sits on the United Nations Security Council during 2007-2008.
The Electoral System
The number of seats in the House of Representatives is constitutionally set at 150, elected from 11 electoral districts. Each district is given a number of seats proportional to its total population (not number of eligible voters) ranging from 4 for the Luxembourg district to 24 for Antwerp. The districts are divided along linguistic lines: 5 Flemish, 5 Walloon, and the bilingual district of Brussels.
The Senate consists of 71 seats. For electoral purposes, Senators are divided into three categories: 40 directly elected; 21 elected by the community parliaments; and 10 "co-opted" Senators. For the election of the 25 Flemish and 15 francophone directly elected Senators, the country is divided into three electoral districts--Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels Capital Region. Of the 21 Senators representing the communities, 10 are elected by the Flemish Parliament, 10 by the French Community Parliament, and 1 by the German-language Parliament.
The remaining category, the 10 "co-opted" senators, are elected by the first two groups of senators. The princes and princesses of the royal line are also members of the Senate--currently Prince Phillippe, Prince Laurent, and Princess Astrid.
In Belgium, there are no "national" parties operating on both sides of the linguistic border. Consequently, elections are a contest among Flemish parties in Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone parties in Wallonia. Only in officially bilingual Brussels can voters choose from either Flemish or Francophone parties. Several months before an election, the parties form a list of candidates for each district. Parties are allowed to place as many candidates on their "list" as there are seats available. The formation of the list is an internal process that varies with each party. The number of seats each party receives and where on a list a candidate is placed, or how many individual votes a candidate receives, determines whether a candidate is elected. Since no single party holds an absolute majority in Parliament, after each election the strongest party or "party family" will create a coalition with other parties to form the government. Voting is compulsory in Belgium; more than 90% of eligible voters participate.
Belgium has 25 seats in the European Parliament.
Belgium's Linguistic Divide
In August 1980, the Belgian Parliament passed a devolution bill and amended the Constitution, establishing "Community autonomy." As a result, in Flanders, the Flemish Parliament and government are competent for both regional and community affairs; in Wallonia, the Francophone Community Parliament and government are competent for community affairs, while the Walloon Regional Parliament and government are responsible for regional affairs. Subsequent constitutional reform established a community Parliament and government governments for the German-speaking cantons in 1983, and a regional Parliament and government for the Brussels Capital Region in 1989.
The regional and community governments have jurisdiction over transportation, public works, water policy, cultural matters, education, public health, environment, housing, zoning, economic and industrial policy, agriculture, foreign trade, and oversight of provincial and local governments. They rely on a system of revenue sharing with the federal government for most of their funds. They have the authority to levy taxes (mostly surcharges) and contract loans. Moreover, they have obtained treaty-making power for those issues coming under their respective jurisdictions.
Of total public spending--interest payments not considered--more than 40% is authorized by the regions and communities.
Provincial and Local Government In addition to three regions and three cultural communities, Belgium also is divided into 10 provinces and 589 municipalities.
The provincial governments are primarily administrative units and are politically weak. A governor appointed by the King presides over each province. Each governor is supported by an elected Provincial Council of 47 to 84 members (depending on the size of the province), which sits only four weeks a year.
Municipal governments, on the other hand, are vigorous political entities with significant powers and a history of independence dating from medieval times. Many national politicians originate from municipal political bases; and many often double as mayor or alderman in their hometowns in addition to their federal and regional political positions.
Political Parties
From the creation of the Belgian state in 1830 and throughout most of the 19th century, two political parties dominated Belgian politics: the Catholic Party and the Liberal Party. In the late 19th century the Socialist Party arose, representing the emerging industrial working class. These three groups still dominate Belgian governments, but they have evolved substantially in character and face new electoral challengers.
The Christian Democratic Parties
After World War II, the Catholic (subsequently Christian Democratic) Party severed its formal ties with the Church. It became a mass party of the center (more like a political party in the United States). In 1968, the Christian Democratic Party responded to linguistic tensions in the country by dividing into two independent parties, now known as the Center Democratic and Humanistic (CDH) in Francophone Wallonia and the Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) in Flanders. The two parties share similar policies but maintain separate organizations.
The Socialist Parties
The modern Belgian Socialist parties are labor-based parties. Despite the post-World War II dominance of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists headed several postwar governments. The Socialists also split along linguistic lines in 1978. The francophone Socialists dominate the cities and towns of Wallonia and Brussels. The Flemish Socialists' support is less concentrated.
The Liberal Parties
In modern times, the Liberal Parties in Belgium have chiefly appealed to business people, property owners, shopkeepers, and the self-employed. In American terms, the Liberals' positions could be considered to reflect a more conservative free market oriented economic ideology. This non-interventionist ideology is reflected also in the parties' strong support for gay marriage, homosexual adoption, and euthanasia. The two current Liberal parties were formed in 1971, after the original all-Belgium Liberal Party split along linguistic lines. They are the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) (Prime Minister Verhofstadt's party) in Flanders and the Reform Movement (MR) in Wallonia.
The Flemish (Groen!) and Francophone (ECOLO) ecologist parties made their Parliamentary breakthrough in 1981. Following significant gains in the 1999 general elections, the two Green parties joined a federal coalition cabinet for the first time in their history in Prime Minister Verhofstadt's first six-party coalition government. The parties experienced significant losses in the May 2003 election, however; with ECOLO winning only four seats in the House and AGALEV failing to win any seats. They were thus excluded from the new coalition formed by returning Liberal Prime Minister Verhofstadt in 2003. Following the election, AGALEV changed its name to "Groen!."
The Linguistic Parties
A postwar phenomenon in Belgium was the emergence of linguistic-based parties, which were formed to defend the cultural, political, and economic interests of one of the linguistic groups or regions of Belgian society.
The far-right Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) is the most militant Flemish regional party, with a separatist, anti-immigration, law and order platform. The Vlaams Belang was formerly called the Vlaams Bloc, until a 2004 high court ruling confirmed a lower court verdict that the Bloc was a "racist" party. Faced with further legal problems, the Bloc disbanded and resurrected itself as the Vlaams Belang, with the same party leaders but a less radical party policy. The Vlaams Belang was the second most popular party in the 2004 regional elections, with 24% of the vote. Polls in 2007 showed the Vlaams Belang as the second or third most popular political party in Flanders, after the Christian Democrats (at about 30%), about even with the Socialists (at about 20%), and ahead of the Liberals.
In Wallonia, the small Francophone nationalist Front National (FN) surprised many political pundits by gaining enough votes in the May 2003 federal election to survive the new 5% cutoff limit for votes in any precinct required to enter Parliament. FN retained its 1 Chamber seat and gained 2 new Senate seats.
The now-defunct Volksunie Party (VU) was the most militant Flemish regional party in Parliament in the 1950s and 1960s, drawing nearly one-quarter of Belgium's Dutch-speaking electorate at the height of its popularity. However, as much of the VU's nationalist agenda was realized through subsequent Constitutional reforms that saw the devolution of significant power to the Regions, the VU suffered severe setbacks in more recent elections, winning only 8 seats in the 150-seat Chamber in 1999. In 2001, Volksunie splintered into a traditional Flemish nationalist faction, the NVA (currently in alliance with the CD&V since before the 2004 regional election), and a more liberal faction, Spirit (in an electoral alliance with the Flemish Socialist Party since before the 2003 federal election).
Labor Unions
Belgium is a highly unionized country, and organized labor has been a powerful influence in politics, although less so in recent elections. About 53% of all private sector and public service employees are labor union members. Unlike many American unions, Belgian labor unions take positions on a wide range of political issues, including education, public finance, defense spending, environmental protection, women's rights, abortion, and other issues. They also provide a range of services, including the administration of unemployment benefits and health insurance programs.
Belgium's three principal trade union organizations are the Confederation of Catholic Labor Unions (CSC/ACV), the Belgian Socialist Confederation of Labor (FGTB/ABVV), and the Confederation of Liberal Labor Unions (CGSLB/ACLVB). Until the 1950s, the FGTB/ABVV was the largest confederation; since then, however, the CSC/ACV has become the leading trade union force.
The Confederation of Catholic Labor Unions (CSC/ACV). Organized in 1912, the CSC/ACV rejected the Marxist concept of "class struggle" and seeks to achieve a just social order based on Christian principles. The CSC/ACV is not formally linked to its party political counterparts, the Christian Democratic parties (CD&V and CDH) but exercises influence in their councils. The CSC/ACV is the leading union in all Flemish provinces and in Wallonia's Luxembourg province. It has almost equal strength with the socialist confederation in the Brussels area.
The Belgian Socialist Confederation of Labor (FGTB/ABVV). The FGTB/ABVV derives from the Socialist Trade Union Movement, established in the late 19th century in Walloon industrial areas, Brussels, and urban areas of Flanders. Today, the FGTB/ABVV is the leading union in the Hainaut, Namur, and Liège provinces and matches the CSC/ACV in Brussels.
The Confederation of Liberal Labor Unions (CGSLB/ACLVB). With 240,000 members, this is the smallest of the major union groups. Drawing primarily from management positions, the Brussels-based CGLB/ACVB is Belgium's most pro-business union. The union is not formally affiliated with any political party.
Current Issues
Belgium is a member of the European Economic and Monetary Union. Budgetary issues remain a key concern of the Verhofstadt government, particularly given the slow economic growth Belgium and most of Europe have experienced of late.
Belgium's reaction to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was strong and supportive. For example, Belgium played a key role in helping to obtain EU-wide agreement on a European arrest warrant and in facilitating extradition of terrorist suspects. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Belgium contributed a navy frigate in the Mediterranean, AWAC crews for surveillance flights over the United States, as well as aircraft for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Belgium has contributed ground troops to ISAF since 2002 and provides humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to both Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2006, Belgium sent about 400 peacekeepers to Lebanon in support of the UN mission there.
Current issues before the Verhofstadt government include improving the climate for foreign investment, dealing with rising health care costs, and adjusting the federal social security system to a rapidly aging population.
Belgium continues to increase its counter-terrorism capabilities by adding domestic legislative, judicial, intelligence, and law enforcement tools that increase its ability to prevent or respond to terrorism. The government also cooperates closely with other European states and the United States in investigating cases of international terrorism. In 2006, Belgium convicted ten individuals for their support of attacks in Madrid and Casablanca. Belgium operates within UN and EU frameworks concerning the freezing of terrorist assets, and in 2007 enacted a domestic legal framework to act independently.
Belgium, a highly developed market economy, belongs to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of leading industrialized democracies. With a geographic area about equal to that of Maryland, and a population of 10.4 million, Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world's highest. In 2006, the per capita income (PPP) was $31,800. The federal government has managed to present balanced budgets in recent years, but public debt remains high, at 94% at the end of 2005. *GDP growth in 2006 was predicted to be 2.5%.
- GDP (PPP, 2006 est.): $330.4 billion.
- Annual real growth rate (2006): 2.5%.
- Per capita income (PPP, 2006): $31,800.
- Natural resources: Coal.
- Agriculture: (1.4% of GDP) Products--livestock, including dairy cattle, grain, sugarbeets, nursery products, flax, tobacco, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables.
- Industry: (24% of GDP) Types--machinery, iron, coal, textiles, chemicals, glass, pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods.
- Trade: Exports--$335.3 billion (2006 est.): Iron and steel, coal, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products. Export partners (2005 est.): Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, U.K. 8.2%, U.S. 6.4%, Italy 5.3%. *Imports--$333.5 billion (2006 est.): Fuels, chemical products, grains, foodstuffs. Import partners (2005 est.): Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, U.K. 6.8%, Ireland 6.5%, U.S. 5.4%.
Densely populated Belgium is located at the heart of one of the world's most highly industrialized regions. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 1800s, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. One of the founding members of the European Community (EC), Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union to integrate European economies further.
With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force.
The Belgian industrial sector can be compared to a complex processing machine: It imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has virtually no natural resources. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.6% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for only 1.4% of the GDP.
Belgian Economy in the 20th Century
For 200 years through World War I, French-speaking Wallonia was a technically advanced, industrial region, while Dutch-speaking Flanders was predominantly agricultural. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. As Belgium emerged from World War II with its industrial infrastructure relatively undamaged, the stage was set for a period of rapid development, particularly in Flanders. The postwar boom years contributed to the rapid expansion of light industry throughout most of Flanders, particularly along a corridor stretching between Brussels and Antwerp (now the second-largest port in Europe after Rotterdam), where a major concentration of petrochemical industries developed.
The older, traditional industries of Wallonia, particularly steelmaking, began to lose their competitive edge during this period, but the general growth of world prosperity masked this deterioration until the 1973 and 1979 oil price shocks sent the economy into a period of prolonged recession. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift northward to Flanders.
Foreign Investment
Foreign investment contributed significantly to Belgian economic growth in the 1960s. In particular, U.S. firms played a leading role in the expansion of light industrial and petrochemical industries in the 1960s and 1970s. The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. With regional devolution, Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia now have substantial autonomy in courting potential foreign investors, as each deems appropriate.
Foreign direct investment totaled more than $36.7 billion in 2005. U.S. and other foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. share at about 6%. U.S. companies are heavily represented in the chemical sector, automotive assembly, and petroleum refining. A number of U.S. service industries followed in the wake of these investments--banks, law firms, public relations, accounting, and executive search firms. The resident American community in Belgium now exceeds 20,000. Attracted by the EU 1992 single-market program, many U.S. law firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989.
On May 1, 1998, Belgium became a first-tier member of the European Monetary Union. Belgium switched from the Belgian franc (BF) to the Euro as its currency after January 1, 2002.
About 75% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. Given this high percentage, Belgium seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EC countries. Belgium ranks as the 11th-largest market for the export of U.S. goods and services. If goods in transit to other European countries are excluded, Belgium ranks as the 12th-largest market for U.S. goods.
Bilaterally, there are few points of friction with the U.S. in the trade and economic area. The Belgian authorities are, as a rule, anti-protectionist and try to maintain a hospitable and open trade and investment climate. As a result, the U.S. Government focuses its market-opening efforts on the EU Commission and larger member states. Moreover, the Commission negotiates on trade issues for all member states, which, in turn lessens bilateral trade disputes with Belgium.
The social security system, which expanded rapidly during the prosperous 1950s and 1960s, includes a medical system, unemployment insurance coverage, child allowances, invalid benefits, and other benefits and pensions. With the onset of a recession in the 1970s, this system became an increasing burden on the economy and accounted for much of the government budget deficits. The national unemployment figures mask considerable differences between Flanders and Wallonia. Unemployment in Wallonia is mainly structural, while in Flanders it is cyclical. Flanders' unemployment level equals only half that of Wallonia. The southern region continues a difficult transition out of sunset industries (mainly coal and steel), while sunrise industries (chemicals, high-tech, and services) dominate in Flanders.
Belgium's unemployment rate was 8.5% in 2006. A total of 4.4 million people make up Belgium's labor force. The majority of these people (73%) work in the service sector. Belgian industry claims 25% of the labor force and agriculture only 2%. As in other industrialized nations, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major concern as the "baby boom" generation approaches retirement.
Although Belgium is a wealthy country, public expenditures far exceeded income for many years, and taxes were not diligently pursued. The Belgian Government reacted with poor macroeconomic policies to the 1973 and 1979 oil price hikes by hiring the redundant work force into the public sector and subsidizing industries like coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding, which had lost their international competitive edge. As a result, cumulative government debt reached 121% of GDP by the end of the 1980s. However, thanks to Belgium's high personal savings rate, the Belgian Government financed the deficit from mainly domestic savings, minimizing the deleterious effects on the overall economy.
The federal government ran a 7.1% budget deficit in 1992 at the time of the EU's Treaty of Maastricht, which established conditions for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) that led to adoption of the common Euro currency on January 1, 2002. Among other criteria spelled out under the Maastricht treaty, the Belgian Government had to attain a budget deficit of no greater than 3% of GDP by the end of 1997; Belgium achieved this, with a total budget deficit in 2001 (just prior to implementation of the Euro currency) that amounted to 0.2% of GDP. The government has balanced the budget every year since. Belgium's accumulated public debt remains high, but the liberal-socialist coalition government has paid it down to 94% of 2005 GDP.
- ↑ http://www.belgium.be/nl/over_belgie/overheid/federale_overheid/federale_regering/samenstelling_regering/
See also
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