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According to Beijing computation of interconnected system of each big manager company occupies an analysis, capitalSecondhand roomHire, carry out demand all is added somewhat go up. Among them, this year during the Spring Festival capitalSecondhand roomBusiness demand bearing goes up than was being added last year 17% the left and right sides, room source hangs out his shingle the volume rises 5% the left and right sides, intent clinchs a deal to rise 10% the left and right sides, be Spring Festival holiday is secondhand in last few years room intent clinchs a deal go up a the biggest year. In the meantime, the owner amount that can make work can be hired to be occupied during the Spring Festival 40% what offer owner, apparent prep above last year of the Spring Festival 30% and this year January 27% of the corresponding period. And the small family that is located in Olympic Games area or gold a sector of an area, average house hire goes up during the Spring Festival outstanding.
1 million yuan / flatlet source
Rise into mainstream demand 29%
The statistical data that gets according to the reporter shows, spring Festival holiday (in Feburary 6-12 day) capital 800 thousand yuan - 1 million yuan / those who cover is secondhand room demand is compared rose during the Spring Festival last year 29% the left and right sides, for each archives secondhand the room goes up most, demand is occupied than achieving 37% . To this, jin Yosong of vise general manager of " of real estate of " catenary home thinks, as house property value show ceaselessly, total prices is in 800 thousand yuan - 1 million yuan / set secondhand the room has been become secondhand one of room demand mainstreams. And from the market before the section delicate period in light of market performance, in high-grade and secondhand the " of the room is fought drop sexual " increases generally, even what with living oneself demand gives priority to is medium high-grade house property still appeared the situation that price quantity goes against city to rise. Accordingly, during the Spring Festival 800 thousand yuan - 1 million yuan / those who cover is secondhand room demand increases, the postpone of the tendency of the market before since section, also be its become section epigenesis to hand in popular vane.
Area respect, with east, cold heat of southern area " not all " of " , upper section goes up a differ " have not, during the Spring Festival, western area is secondhand the room clinchs a deal the quantity is compared went up during the Spring Festival last year arrived 13% above, peremptory form a kind of " western in all the market phenomenon of flourish circle " . Stable current rate, high grade client base, relatively room source of the rule appears on the market of rhythm and stability rise in price go situation, become western area shifts to an earlier date after the section the key of get warm again after a cold spell.
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But watching the delight in my children's faces as they kick up the leaves and enjoy the textures of the season, their rosy cheeks and I can not forget to mention that magical dragon breath as they roar around the garden. Sadly our colds and coughs remain with us, well mostly with me, but a little fresh air never did anyone any harm. As the nights draw in I am reminded that this is precious time as soon it will be dark and the playtime will be focused indoors.
However when the little ones curl up to sleep I can usually be found curled up myself with a glass of wine and a little hand sewing... The Christmas fair season is nearly upon us and the sewing needs to get done... but for the meantime, a few extra hours in the garden and a few more leaves to clear up.
Packing my bags for a weekend in Wales, some cosy clothes and a little knitting, its promised sunshine... an autumnal walk along the beach is being hoped for, have a great weekend and catch you next week.

subset: commoncrawl


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The UK's energy sector plays an increasingly crucial role in our day-to-day lives – impacting on both the economy and the environment. It also remains an important employer, as Civvy Street explains.
hat comes to mind when you think about the UK's energy industry? Massive North Sea oil rigs being lashed by hostile waves? Vast oil and gas refineries, their constant illumination lighting up the night sky? Huge nuclear reactors such as Torness and Sizewell B?
The truth is that the UK's energy sector – an umbrella term for a host of industries involved with the extraction, generation, distribution and supply of energy – is about much more. And increasingly it covers not just nuclear power and fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) but also our increasing exploitation of sustainable alternative sources of energy such as wind, wave and solar power.
As a result, the range of jobs in the UK's energy industry is vast, and there is plenty of potential for Service leavers to enjoy real career success in a variety of engineering, managerial and logistical roles. For example, the oil and gas sector offers opportunities in exploration and production (surveying for new reserves and drilling for fuel), refining (requiring both operational and maintenance staff) and research and development into improving overall efficiency.
There are three main divisions within the UK's energy industry:
• Generators: these are the companies responsible for generating the energy we use in our homes and businesses. By extension, this includes those prospecting for, and exploiting, natural resources – such as the owners of coal mines and hydroelectric dams, oil and gas companies, and petroleum refiners.
• Distributors: the companies that ensure fuel/energy gets from generator to customer, either through pipes, cables or in containers of all sizes. This can involve distribution across international borders and the journeys from central to local distribution points. Distributor companies also include those that build and/or manage the distribution infrastructures on behalf of other organisations.
• Suppliers: the companies that sell electricity and/or gas directly to individual households and businesses.
The energy sector relies on cutting edge technology. Indeed, the development and use of sophisticated equipment is just as vital for the continued exploration, production and transportation of oil, gas and coal resources, as it is for the development of sustainable energy sources.
As a consequence, most technical roles in the energy sector require you to have some higher level qualifications, although some companies may run their own training programmes for entry at a variety of skill levels. So, while BP runs training programmes for undergraduates and graduates across a range of technical disciplines – such as automotive engineering, chemical/process engineering, IT, geoscience, health and safety, electrical engineering, petroleum engineering and reservoir engineering – National Grid also trains those with A-levels or HNC/Ds. For those with a higher level engineering qualification, National Grid employs both generalist engineers (electrical, mechanical and civil), and will train up functional specialists (engineers who focus specifically on the transmission or distribution sides of the business) through an 18-month graduate scheme.
But working in energy is not just about developing, building and maintaining complex machinery and equipment. In today's increasingly competitive and customer-aware marketplace, the ongoing success and growth of energy companies like BP or National Grid depends on them being able to gather strong financial information and then ensure it is accurately analysed and acted upon. And, in a wider sense, no large organisation in the 21st century can succeed without focused financial controls and accountancy, effectively managed human resources and the most efficient procurement and supply of services and resources; all these areas offer career potential for those with a range of skills and qualifications.
The rewards can be spectacular; many of the major players in the UK energy sector are global organisations, meaning the work can be on a huge scale and offer unrivalled opportunities for travel and experience.
Thanks to growing public concern about pollution, the energy sector is increasingly being encouraged to develop effective and commercially viable sustainable energy technologies that will allow humanity to meet its ever-increasing demands for energy without triggering irreversible – and potentially catastrophic – climate change. According to the Department for Trade and Industry, sustainable/renewable energy is the fastest growing sector of the industry in the UK. That growth means increasing employment opportunities and the British Wind Energy Association estimates that recent investment in wind energy alone could lead to the creation of 5,000 engineering jobs and 19,000 other new positions by 2010, while the DTI believes a second round of offshore wind developments could create a further 20,000 jobs.
Engineers are, of course, on the frontline of sustainable energy projects – indeed, they're vital to their overall success. And opportunities here are growing, since every new wind farm, large scale biomass (largely plant-based fuel) installation or wave-power facility requires engineers to build and support it, and to construct or modify the national power grid to distribute the resulting energy elsewhere. Engineers working in conventional energy generation also have an increasingly important role in ensuring that conventional fuel sources are used as efficiently as possible and cause the least disruption to the environment.
Nevertheless, these days the growing range of careers in sustainable/renewable energy are as much about influencing the development and implementation of energy policy as the physical and mechanical construction of projects themselves. The UK has committed itself to meeting internationally agreed targets on the reduction of harmful emissions, and so there are increasing opportunities for energy conservation officers, who are responsible for improving the energy efficiency of domestic and commercial properties. Energy conservation officers are employed chiefly by local authorities across the UK, as well as large housing associations, higher education institutions, the NHS, some larger charities, a range of voluntary/community organisations and large commercial businesses. (Gas and electricity suppliers also employ energy teams to co-ordinate efficiency initiatives and to provide customer advice.)
In a wider sense, the move towards energy conservation and the use of renewable sources is contributing to the UK's construction sector; be it through the installation of insulation in domestic housing or the construction of windfarms.
The Energy Institute is the leading professional body for the energy industries, and supports almost 12,000 energy professionals in the UK and overseas. Under its royal charter, the EI gathers together knowledge in both scientific and technical disciplines, and is licensed by the Engineering Council to offer Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician status to engineers. The EI runs a range of training and education packages (from one-day courses to bespoke full programmes) for energy managers, technicians, maintenance staff and other personnel holding energy-related positions. They have also devised a special European Energy Manager Qualification which is aimed at plant/facility managers, energy representatives and process engineers – people predominantly working in manufacturing operations who have a responsibility for improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs, but who have had little or no energy management experience or training.
The UK Energy sector is a vital player in the life of the nation – without affordable, reliable, safe and sustainable energy supplies, the UK would grind to a halt. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the sector offers a wide variety of responsible and important employment opportunities that can offer a real challenge to Service leavers.
Energy Institute
020 7467 7100
National Energy Foundation
01908 665 555


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"What most differentiates religion from philosophy, however, is how religion arrives at its answers. A philosophy seeks evidence and logical arguments for its conclusions. A religion, no matter how much theologians may argue back and forth about points of dogma, remains just that: dogma. A religion advocates its basic tenets on faith, which means in the absence of evidence and logical argument, and even in the face of counter-evidence and counter-arguments. This is why a synonym for a religion is a faith..."
~ Onkar Ghate, from his article 'Finding Morality and Happiness Without God'
[Hat tip Andy Clarkson]


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I like springtime in the Ouachitas. It's been a while since last visiting Flatside Wilderness Area, so I did. Breakfast was at crappy Waffle House. The forest was entered at 5:00 a.m. with 53° and clear skies. Wind was around ten mph. My goal was a rocky gorge next to a cone shaped hill that I have always called "The Titty". There is a series of falls there that are unique for the area. After 4.3 miles I arrived back at the car at 11:45 with 72°. It was lovely.
Photos Click Here
Map Action


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Contact us
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St.Michael's Church, Anaikulam
Reach us
Vallioor-via Tirunelveli Dt
Phone : NA
Members of the house
Fr. S. Merlin
Fr. C. Arockia Arul Prakash
Anaikulam is a small village parish in the diocese of Tuticorin. It was bifurcated from Kizhavaneri parish in the year 2012. It has five substations. Total number of the families is 200:- Anaikulam has 34 families; Pandarakulam has 80 families; Thalaivarmanai has 40 families; Karunkannankudiyiruppu has 7 families; Salethputhur has 15 families; and Therkuputhur has 24 families. Confreres are living in a dilapidated presbytery. It had served as an old storage for the kitchen utensils of the parish.


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Rating canned tuna
Which tuna won? Food & Dining tasted 13 brands of canned light tuna to find which makes the best tuna salad. The tuna brands are rated in the gallery above, from least favorite to top favorite. And why are some cans photographed upside-down? That's the side where they open. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune; Lisa Schumacher / food styling)
Copyright © 2019, Chicago Tribune


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patapi wrote:
- HQ features removed altogether: bathhouse, newspapers, sound settings, mini-games
patapi wrote:Yeah, there's no "Don't give up". While the game is reasonably easy with the right setup, it'd advisable to avoid the Game Over screen since save points are rather a rarity in this game.
As for the Window Setting, they are in. You don't have to collect them though, as the character comes with 5 variations including the default.
Also, it's too bad that there won't be a New Game plus.
SnowKing wrote:I have, and there is no New Game+ feature. It doesn't even have a cleared save at the end that I can think of.
patapi wrote:Ditto here, I'm finally done with the game at close to 50 hours.
The ending is... indescribable.
patapi wrote:The ending is... indescribable.
Raww Le Klueze wrote:patapi wrote:The ending is... indescribable.
I've been thinking of how to describe it but... I just can't.
Just out of curiosity, did you get all 108?
Antimatzist wrote:I don't want spoilers, but is it bad, clichee, great, unexpected?
Raww Le Klueze wrote:Antimatzist wrote:I don't want spoilers, but is it bad, clichee, great, unexpected?
Well, if I have to describe it in one word I'd probably go with retarded.
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Atlas Rules Resources Adventures Stories FAQ Search Links
TOPIC OF THE MONTH: The Thyatian Reformation
By Vivianna Romanones
Insightful observers have for some time been aware that the Thyatian Empire was not as vigorous as it once was. Maladministration and venality among some elements of the nobility and within the government itself made "Thyatian" a byword for corruption in some nations. This decline was first noted in Thyatis itself after the Alphatian Spike Assault of the mid 10th century AC.
When Emperor Thincol took the throne he did his utmost to reverse this process, and a resurgence of Thyatian strength began. The recent Great War swept away the gains of his rule, however, and exposed for all to see the dissolute self-centeredness of some of the most prominent families of Thyatis. These people showed an almost Alphatian sense of narcissism, evidencing none of the traditional Thyatian virtues which made the imperium strong in the past. Their lack of interest in the commonwealth made the defeats during the early stages of the war almost inevitable. Though Thincol did his best to set things right, promoting able commanders and weeding out the dissipated and worthless ones, he could not work fast enough to prevent retreat and near disaster.
Many thought that in the aftermath of the war the empire would be able to right itself. Its most inimical enemy, the foe of all free Mystarans, was gone. But the humiliation at the hands of the insignificant Thothians showed that Thyatian society still was not working right. Thothian knaves were even able to deploy weapons of mass destruction within the Thyatian heartland itself, something not even the Alphatians had managed to do-or even been wicked enough to do. This embarrassment convinced many of those who at first refused to believe there was anything wrong within the empire that strong steps needed to be taken to restore it to its former greatness.
The rise of a new, dynamic emperor determined to not only restore the empire but to overhaul it and initiate much-needed reforms has caused tensions in Thyatian society. He has purged the senate of dead wood and put public-spirited men in charge of the imperial civil service. The Thyatian military is being reorganised and modernised; it will be a smaller but stronger force, better able to defend the empire's interests in a dangerous world.
Laws had not been enforced properly, because many judges were corrupt. While it is unarguable that Thyatian slaves live better lives and have greater legal protections than even the servant class of Alphatia, some think that the institution of slavery has no place in today's Mystara. Emperor Eusebius has walked a middle ground, insuring that the legal rights of slaves are observed. Intemperate judges who ignore the law have been removed from office. The rights of Thyatian citizens are being re-emphasised with a new concentration on local government through republican institutions.
Though Thyatis is known as a centre of trade, Thyatian mercantilism suffered in recent years by comparison to nations like Minrothad, Darokin, and even lowly Karameikos. Eusebius has adopted programs to support the development of a strong internal trading network within the empire, and to encourage enterprise beyond it. The new Mesonian Millworks, adapting Darokinian methods combined with Thyatian efficiency and ingenuity, is one of the surest signs of Thyatian resurgence. The imperial tax system has been changed, with an eye on encouraging reconstruction and discouraging inefficiency.
The emperor knows that though Thyatian methods were necessary to save the world from enslavement by the Alphatians, the expediency this required ironically made the imperium unpopular in many nations that nonetheless benefited from our vigilance. Now that the Alphatian threat has disappeared, he is interested in forging better relations with the Mystaran family of nations, through honourable diplomacy.
But though the emperor's reforms are popular among the common Thyatian people, not all are contented. Many powerful families that were stripped of title and position are grumbling. Some see the emperor's reforms as a threat to the very traditions he seeks to preserve. Many are not happy with the new, efficient administration-especially those that built their fortunes on graft and corruption. How these tensions will work themselves out remain to be seen, but it is likely that some of those who want to retain their prerogatives will be willing to stoop as low as treason.
But for the patriotic and intelligence, there is no choice. The emperor's reformation is long overdue. The traditional Thyatian virtues can only be preserved by adapting to a changed world and by uprooting corruption and restoring civic pride.


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Kieren started riding a cheap department store mountain bike with his dad every so often, as he was growing up, through primary school and into high school. He never used his mountain bike for what they are made for, rather he did 30km on-road rides once every few weeks.
As he grew older, he outgrew his bike. Eventually, it was time to get a new bike. His dad got him to test ride a road bike, and he instantly knew that he wanted the thrill of speed. He wanted to go for more long distance endurance rides. A few years on, Kieren has finished schooling, and is studying part time at university. With the extra flexibility and free time, Kieren rides most days of the week. He now rides as part of the Northern Beaches Cycling Club, which is a Cycling Australia registered club.
Kieren has high hopes for cycling, as he hopes to take on the world and one day become a professional cyclist. Although he has a long way to go, he is one to never give up easily. He became friends with René through OCM; and when he was approached to write reviews for Cycling Tips Online, he was more than happy to. In writing articles, he hopes to become more educated in the cycling world in the process, which in turn may make him a better rider.


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Brand narratives are appropriately named because you're telling a story. Stories make people sit up and pay attention. They can inspire consumer loyalty and make your brand stay in their minds. That kind of headspace is invaluable. The problem is making a compelling narrative. Fortunately, storytelling is a technique as old as time, and there are plenty of tricks you can use to improve your marketing efforts.
Use a Metaphor
Metaphors are figures of speech that directly compare one object to another in an attempt to more clearly present an idea to the listener. It's a great way to make an idea more accessible and easier to understand. If there are complicated parts to your brand narrative, use a metaphor. Should you have trouble making one, boil the complicated part down to its essence and think of something that represents that essence. Then compare the original idea to the representative concept.
Position the Company as an Underdog
Eventually, your business may grow into a titan of industry, an unstoppable force of nature. However, it didn't start out that way. There was a struggle. Most businesses fail within the first year. Nothing is easy when it comes to business.
People love underdogs, so tell people about the company's underdog story. There's always something that got in the way, from personal responsibilities to a lack of capital. Show people that the small business earned its way to success. This struggle will make the people behind the company more relatable and memorable.
Use Great Imagery
There's a rule in writing – show, don't tell. It means most of the time, you should inspire imagery in the minds of your audience. Don't just tell them that you saw that people wanted a new way to take care of their pets. Tell them that they can be more than owners, that you saw a way for pet owners to serve as guardians to their cat or dog. It may sound silly but using the right language can result in a more compelling story.
The goal with using imagery is to inspire emotion in people. Video game streamers, for example, are encouraged to show raw emotion when they go live. Emotion evokes reactions, and reactions often lead to emotional investment.
Leave Them Hanging
Cliffhangers are a classic writing trick designed to leave people wanting more. Generally, it's when you leave people at the point of greatest suspense or expectation. Give them a big situation, and then leave the resolution for another day. The good news is this fits right in with your brand narrative. The small business's story hasn't ended – it's an ongoing saga. Tell them where you are now, where the business is about to go, and then end it there.
Brand narratives are difficult to craft, but fortunately a few tricks here and there can spice things up. While these techniques won't take the place of properly storytelling and writing, they can help increase the story's effectiveness. Use them wisely.


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Literary research papers are documents that focus on examining poems books plays or short stories students in literature or English classes are typically required to write these pieces in order to engage their texts more fully these pieces of writings usually vary in length tone and the style of research.
Learning how to write a literary research paper requires you to provide an expert analysis of your text. The following steps cover the basics of writing a literary research paper one create the thesis statement the thesis statement for the paper is very important so you must give it special attention in fact the statement informs the reader of the overall point of your research paper in this piece of writing.
The writer usually provides an argument that can make his subject debatable it should be noted that the thesis statement is not the summary of a book or any literary material instead it is an arguable statement about an aspect of the material this statement does not need to be specified in the first few sentences of the paper unless the instructor has specified so in addition the thesis statement may span more than one sentence to create a structure by outlining the rest of the paper in the usual sense research papers have an introduction body and conclusion the introduction is an introduction to the topic the writer is going to write the body on the other hand will include the literary arguments main points while the conclusion will wrap up the piece the conclusion usually clarifies or elaborates on aspects presented in the body of the paper three cite the sources of your argument when writing a literary research paper.
You need to write the sources of your article, citations should accompany any direct quotations of information that you borrowed from your sources this is very vital because they own the original information it is a way of respecting and acknowledging the real owner of the quoted article in the event that you only make a summary or paraphrase the information list the reference material in your bibliography for ensure that your research paper is formatted correctly if the instructor of an English or literary class gives you instructions on how the paper should be formatted you should follow their requests including specifications regarding the title page section length reference and bibliography if the instructor recommends a certain writing style then it is advisable to follow the instructors recommendation.
For example, you may have to follow the Modern Language Association MLA or American Psychological Association APA guidelines depending on your instructors wishes five your research paper should include a title page the readers of the research paper should be able to easily forecast what the argument is all about even if they only see the title page you also should include your name your class and any other important information that the professor requests have the piece proof read many times to check it for grammatical and spelling errors before you submit the research paper to your professor now that you have enough knowledge on how to write a literary research paper the next time you are told to write a literary research paper you can successfully handle the task good luck with your next project.


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Authors: Kerry Dobransky and Eszter Hargittai
Download: PDF (258 KB)
Citation: Dobransky, K. & Hargittai, E. (2012). Inquiring Minds Acquiring Wellness: Uses of Online and Offline Sources for Health Information. Health Communication. 27(4):331-343.
Variation in ability to access and use health information is a key pathway through which social status may impact health. Digital media offer new opportunities for health-information seeking potentially lowering barriers to such content. Using a data set with nuanced information about what sources a diverse group of college students consults for different types of health material, coupled with detailed measures of Internet experiences, this paper explores factors related to where young adults turn for health content. Results suggest considerable sex differences in practices across sources of health information. We also find differences in Hispanic students' actions based on parents' country of origin across sources. Finally, challenging assumptions about the universal savvy of young adults, findings suggest that those who are more highly-skilled with the Internet are more likely to use it for health-information seeking and Internet experiences are especially important for explaining who turns to online discussions in this realm. Our findings contribute not only to a better understanding of health information seeking and health inequality, but also point to possible sites of intervention to ameliorate health disparities.
- Introduction
- Health Inequality and Health-Information Seeking
- Digital Inequality and Health-Information Seeking Online
- Data and Methods
- Measures: user background
- Measures: Internet experiences
- Measures: health-information seeking
- Measures: health status and interest
- Results
- Prevalence of health-information seeking using different sources
- Explaining differences in treatment health information seeking
- Explaining differences in health lifestyle information seeking
- Discussion
- Conclusion
Note: You may not post a copy of the article pdf on any Web sites or distribute it on any mailing lists. You can point people to its online location here: http://www.webuse.org/p/a39.
If you would like to copy, distribute or reprint this paper "for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research" (see Title 17, US Copyright Code) then please contact the publisher to secure permission.


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The ultimate miniature condenser microphone for drums and percussions. Its cardioid polar pattern rejects overspill from nearby instruments. A continuously adjustable vise-type clamp makes it easy to fix the microphone securely on the top hoop of most drums or percussion instruments. An external shock mount provides high mechanical-noise rejection. A special snap-on stabilizer knee will keep the gooseneck bent at a defined angle. The C 518 M features an integrated, switchable bass cut for adjusting the microphone's frequency response to your instrument's sound.
The unique adapter plate A 400 allows easy attachment of the AKG pocket transmitters.
C 518 ML for use with the B 29 L battery power supply, AKG WMS Series bodypack transmitters, or the MPA V L adapter for external phantom powering.


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Welcome to Lemonmade Style and Snips
I'm John Haagenson, a local resident, born and raised in the OPRF area. I'm raising my three kids here and some of you may know me already as a realtor for Better Homes & Gardens Gloor Realty. I'm really proud of what we've created here at Lemonmade Style & Snips. I've always wanted to give back to this community, my home. We're not just a family salon, we are truly a family. My team includes my own Mom, Jer who works the front desk when she's in town, and my sister Jill who runs our branding and marketing to my lifelong friend Lissa Druss Christman who's our PR guru. Chadwick is now part of our family and so too goes for the rest of our phenomenal staff and stylists. I'm so happy to have them all on board.
I started Lemonmade because I know first hand the challenges of taking your children for a haircut. It occurred to me that it didn't have to be such a daunting experience. Lemonmade is designed
differently than the other kids salons, refreshingly different. We're focused on servicing the whole family, cuts and styles not just for kids but for Mom and Dad too. Most importantly, I wanted to create an environment that felt like walking into a friend's home; classic, relaxed and comfortable. We are bright and sunny even when it rains!
Why are we called Lemonmade? Lemon is my childhood nickname. In the summer my hair I'd become a toe-head, and for some reason the name has stuck with me for all these years. I'm even uncle Lemon to my friend's kids! I'm proud to grow Lemonmade in this great community and look forward to serving you.
You can call me Lemon too!
—John Haagenson


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November 2011
This is such an exciting time of year for us. We expect a tremendous turn out of dedicated parents and guardians for our conferences. It is so exciting to see what our students are learning and have involved families!
Every 6-8 weeks, I meet with grade level teacher teams and review data from all of our students in Language Arts, Math, and Writing. Our Data Assessment Meetings focus on reaching every student and ensuring they make the progress they need to be successful. It is such a pleasure to see the growth our students are making. Thank you for ensuring that your student reads daily and turns in completed homework—really makes a difference in their success!
Laura Twining, Ed.D.
Parent Conferences
Parent Conferences are coming up around the corner! Students attend shorter school days so teachers have more time to connect with families. This is a great opportunity to see what your student is learning and how you may help.
Minimum Days—November 4-10
1st and 2nd Grade
For Parent/Teacher Conferences—our first and second grade classes will be on Minimum Days from 8:05-12:50.
Extended Day Kindergarten will also be on Minimum Days all 5 days from 8:00-11:20.
Our a.m. and p.m. classes will ONLY be "doubled up" on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Important Dates
3rd Sprit Day—"Crazy Hair Day"
7th & 8h First Grade Classes to Fire Station
4th-10th Minimum Days—first and second grade
7th-10th Kinder Double Days/Minimum Days
Teacher/Family Conferences
11th No School in observance of Veteran's Day
15th First Grade Fall Festival 4:30-6p.m.
16th Movie Night 5p.m. Cafeteria
17th Make Up Picture Day
21st-25th Vacation
30th Minimum Day
2nd Spirit Day—wear "Holiday Colors"
2nd Awards Ceremony
9:00 First Grade
10:10 Second Grade
7th Minimum Day
15th Holiday Sing!
16th Minimum Day
17th- January 2nd Vacation
Holiday Activities
We have some time off from school coming up. Students become better readers from practicing their own reading and from listening to others read. Please schedule time for your student to read to you, or practice their letters and numbers for our younger students.
Taking time to read and listen to your student read is a great activity to get into a habit of reading daily Talk to your child about what you or they will read and ask questions about the story. If you or other family members speak a language other than English—read in that language too. Students who can speak and read or write in another language do better in school.
Read every day for 20 minutes or more Read and succeed!
Newsletters Locker
Nov NL English
1/2/12 8:06 PM - Laura Twining
Nov NL Spa
1/2/12 9:20 PM - Laura Twining
Nov NL Rus
1/2/12 8:33 PM - Laura Twining


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Product Information
AC Motor Brake Literature
AC Motor Brake product Brochure (P-1661-WE) is available for download in PDF format (1.27 MB).
AC Motor Brake Competitive Interchange
Warner Unibrake® is fully interchangeable with Stearns motor brakes.
The AC Motor Brake Competitive Interchange Conversion tool will assist you with identifying the Warner Electric Replacement part number based on the Stearns part number. Example: To locate a Warner Electric Replacement part for Stearns part number 1-056-011-00-BNF, please type in 1-056-011-00-BNF.
* If your Stearns part number is not found or for application assistance, please contact Warner Electric Tech Support at #800-825-9050.


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The upper chart shows the path of Mars across the background stars over the course of the year. Stars to magnitude +4.5 are shown with some fainter objects included to complete constellation patterns. The white circles represent the planet on the first day of the month and are scaled according to apparent magnitude. The faint paths before the first circle and after the last circle represent the planet's positions in December of last year and January of next. In general, the planet moves from right to left except when it's in retrograde and proceding in the opposite direction.
The lower chart shows how the appearance of Mars changes over the year. Below each image is listed the date, the apparent magnitude, the apparent diameter of the disk (in arc-seconds), the geocentric distance (in au) and the percentage of the disk which is illuminated. Note that Mars appears distinctly gibbous near the times of quadrature.
The red planet begins the year in the morning sky, sharing the constellation Libra with its giant neighbour Jupiter with which it has a close encounter early in January. Rising ever farther ahead of the Sun, Mars next encounters a planet in April when it passes near Saturn. Opposition occurs at the end of July. This is a particularly favourable opposition from an observational standpoint with the disk of Mars appearing over 24 arc-seconds in diameter. The planet is easiest to see from southern latitudes this year although northern observers finally get some better views toward the end of 2018 when Mars is an evening sky object.
|07 January
|0.2° south of Jupiter
|30 January
|Libra → Scorpius
|07 February
|Scorpius → Ophiuchus
|11 March
|Ophiuchus → Sagittarius
|16 March
|descending node
|20 March
|0.8° north of NGC 6530, an open star cluster within M8, the Lagoon Nebula
|24 March
|west quadrature
|02 April
|planetary conjunction: 1.3° south of Saturn
|14 May
|Sagittarius → Capricornus
|22 May
|equinox: autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere
|28 June
|stationary point: direct → retrograde
|27 July
|opposition: magnitude −2.7, apparent diameter 24.2 arc-seconds
|31 July
|minimum distance from Earth: 0.385 au
|16 August
|maximum declination south
|28 August
|stationary point: retrograde → direct
|16 September
|16 October
|solstice: winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere
|18 October
|1.9° south of the Moon
|10 November
|Capricornus → Aquarius
|16 November
|lunar occultation: 1.0° north of the Moon
|03 December
|east quadrature
|07 December
|planetary conjunction: 0.4° north of Neptune
|21 December
|Aquarius → Pisces
|31 December
|maximum declination north
The dates, times and circumstances of all planetary and lunar phenomena were calculated from the JPL DE406 solar system ephemeris using the same rigorous methods that are employed in the compilation of publications such as The Astronomical Almanac.


text:
The dream died at the free throw line.
East Texas Baptist University scored the game's final seven points on charity shots Friday, turning a one-point deficit into a 65-59 win over Whitman College.
The loss, coming in a first round game at the NCAA D-III women's national championship tourney in Richardson, Texas, ended the season for the Blues and their stellar sophomore, Makana Stone.
The Coupeville grad went for six points, seven boards and two assists, including a gorgeous pass to set up Emily Rommel for a key bucket in the final two minutes.
Snagging a pass deep in the paint, Stone shoveled the ball under the defense to her senior running mate, who knocked down a bank shot to knot the game at 58-58.
When senior Casey Poe drained a free throw at the 1:22 mark, Whitman took its final lead, but couldn't hold on.
Unable to net a field goal in the final minute and 45 seconds, and unable to score at all after Poe's free throw, the Blues had to foul, and East Texas made them pay.
Erin Meeks, who entered the night shooting an ice-cold 44% from the free throw line, netted four straight in the final minute, giving her a season-best 7-8 performance at the stripe.
Add two freebies each for Madison McCoy and Kim Childress, and the Tigers (23-6) advanced to play in the regional final Saturday night.
Whitman, which made a run to the Elite Eight last season, closed at 22-5.
After ripping off 21 straight wins at one point this season, the Blues struggled down the stretch, losing four of their final five games.
Poe, the Northwest Conference player of the year, had a very off night Friday, with her only point being her late-game free throw.
She averaged 17 a night during the season.
Making up for things a bit was sophomore Mady Burdett, who knocked down four balls from behind the three-point arc in the first quarter alone.
She finished with eight treys, helping Whitman hold a 9-0 advantage in that shooting category, and scored a college career-high 24 points.
While the Blues were hot from the outside, East Texas went inside time and again, and ended with a staggering advantage at the free throw line.
The Tigers netted 23-26 at the stripe, while Whitman was 6-10.
The game was a prime slice of March Madness, as the teams exchanged leads for much of the night.
Up 19-17 after one quarter (Stone fed Maegan Martin for the three-points-the-hard-way play which gave Whitman the lead), the Blues stretched it to 33-27 at halftime.
East Texas, with the support of the local crowd, surged 19-13 in the third quarter to knot the game at 46-46 headed into the final quarter.
Twice the Tigers started to threaten to pull away and twice Burdett dropped treys to get Whitman back in things, before she and her teammates went cold at the end.
The game closed a very strong season for Coupeville's finest, as Stone finished with 332 points, 194 rebounds, 52 assists, five blocks and 18 steals.
She shot a very-strong 51.2% from the floor (140-273) and 76.5% from the line (52-68).
A First-Team All-Conference pick this year, she was Whitman's #1 rebounder and #2 scorer.
Whitman, which loses captains Poe, Rommel and Sierra McGarity to graduation, has gone 48-10 during Stone's first two seasons.


text:
A film, also called a movie, motion picture, theatrical film, or
photoplay, is a series of still images that, when shown on a screen,
create the illusion of moving images. (See the glossary of motion
picture terms.)
This optical illusion causes the audience to perceive continuous
motion between separate objects viewed in rapid succession. The
process of filmmaking is both an art and an industry. A film is
created by photographing actual scenes with a motion-picture camera;
by photographing drawings or miniature models using traditional
animation techniques; by means of CGI and computer animation; or by a
combination of some or all of these techniques, and other visual
The word "cinema", short for cinematography, is often used to refer to
filmmaking and the film industry, and to the art of filmmaking itself.
The contemporary definition of cinema is the art of simulating
experiences to communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings,
beauty or atmosphere by the means of recorded or programmed moving
images along with other sensory stimulations.[1]
Films were originally recorded onto plastic film through a
photochemical process and then shown through a movie projector onto a
large screen. Contemporary films are now often fully digital through
the entire process of production, distribution, and exhibition, while
films recorded in a photochemical form traditionally included an
analogous optical soundtrack (a graphic recording of the spoken words,
music and other sounds that accompany the images which runs along a
portion of the film exclusively reserved for it, and is not
Films are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures. They
reflect those cultures, and, in turn, affect them.
1 History
1.1 Preceding technologies 1.2 First motion pictures 1.3 Early evolution 1.4 Sound 1.5 Colour 1.6 1950s developments 1.7 1960s and later
2.1 Language
2.2 Montage
3 Industry 4 Associated fields 5 Terminology
5.1 Preview 5.2 Trailer and teaser
6 Education and propaganda 7 Production
7.1 Crew 7.2 Technology 7.3 Independent 7.4 Open content film 7.5 Fan film
8 Distribution 9 Animation 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External links
History Main article: History of film
A frame from Roundhay Garden Scene, the world's earliest surviving film produced using a motion picture camera, by Louis Le Prince, 1888.
Berlin Wintergarten theatre
Preceding technologies
Preceding film in origin by thousands of years, early plays and dances
had elements common to film: scripts, sets, costumes, production,
direction, actors, audiences, storyboards and scores. Much terminology
later used in film theory and criticism apply, such as mise en scène
(roughly, the entire visual picture at any one time). Owing to the
lack of any technology for doing so, the moving images and sounds
could not be recorded for replaying as with film.
The magic lantern, probably created by
Christiaan Huygens
A famous shot from
Georges Méliès
First motion pictures
By the end of the 1880s, the introduction of lengths of celluloid
photographic film and the invention of motion picture cameras, which
could photograph an indefinitely long rapid sequence of images using
only one lens, allowed several minutes of action to be captured and
stored on a single compact reel of film. Some early films were made to
be viewed by one person at a time through a "peep show" device such as
Play media
A clip from the
Charlie Chaplin
The rise of
European cinema
This 16 mm spring-wound
Main articles:
Film theory and Philosophy of language film analysis
World cinema
African cinema Asian cinema
East Asian cinema South Asian cinema Southeast Asian cinema West Asian cinema
European cinema Latin American cinema North American cinema Oceanian cinema
Main article:
Founded in 1912, the
Babelsberg Studio
The making and showing of motion pictures became a source of profit
almost as soon as the process was invented. Upon seeing how successful
their new invention, and its product, was in their native France, the
Lumières quickly set about touring the Continent to exhibit the first
films privately to royalty and publicly to the masses. In each
country, they would normally add new, local scenes to their catalogue
and, quickly enough, found local entrepreneurs in the various
countries of
Development Pre-production Production Post-production Distribution
This production cycle usually takes three years. The first year is
taken up with development. The second year comprises preproduction and
production. The third year, post-production and distribution. The
bigger the production, the more resources it takes, and the more
important financing becomes; most feature films are artistic works
from the creators' perspective (e.g., film director, cinematographer,
screenwriter) and for-profit business entities for the production
Main article:
The Lumière Brothers, who were among the first filmmakers
Independent filmmaking often takes place outside Hollywood, or other
major studio systems. An independent film (or indie film) is a film
initially produced without financing or distribution from a major film
studio. Creative, business and technological reasons have all
contributed to the growth of the indie film scene in the late 20th and
early 21st century. On the business side, the costs of big-budget
studio films also lead to conservative choices in cast and crew. There
is a trend in
An animated image of a horse, made using eight pictures.
Bibliography of film by genre Index of video-related articles List of film awards List of film festivals List of film periodicals List of years in film Lists of films List of books on films Outline of film
^ Severny, Andrei (2013-09-05). "The Movie Theater of the Future Will
Be In Your Mind". Tribeca. Archived from the original on September 7,
2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
^ Media, Sex, Violence, and Drugs in the Global Villagep. 51, Kuldip
R. Rampal – 2001
^ "The Astonishing Sexism of
Acker, Ally (1991).
Further reading
Burton, Gideon O., and Randy Astle, jt. eds. (2007). "Mormons and
Film", entire special issue, B.Y.U. Studies (Brigham Young
University), vol. 46 (2007), no. 2. 336 p., ill. ISSN 0007-0106
Hickenlooper, George (1991).
External links
Find more aboutFilmat's sister projects
Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Learning resources from Wikiversity
March 13: Pixar Studios animator Bud Luckey, designer of Toy Story's
Woody, dies aged 83
March 4: Maria Contreras-Sweet Group buys The Weinstein Company
assets, saves it from bankruptcy
August 1:
Library resources about Film
Resources in your library
Allmovie – Information on films: actors, directors,
biographies, reviews, cast and production credits, box office sales,
and other movie data.
v t e
Media culture
Mass media Mainstream media 24-hour news cycle Corporate media News broadcasting News media Film Internet Radio Television
Mainstream Advanced capitalism American Dream Bipartisanship Consumerism Pensée unique Pop music
Advertising Propaganda Public relations Spin Tabloid journalism
Cult of personality Dumbing down Framing Media circus Media event Narcotizing dysfunction Recuperation Sensationalism
Crowd manipulation Managing the news Media manipulation
Theodor W. Adorno Jean Baudrillard Edward Bernays Noam Chomsky Guy Debord Walter Lippmann Marshall McLuhan
Civil disobedience
In academia
Influence of mass media Media studies Semiotic democracy The Lonely Crowd
Anonymity Concentration of media ownership Freedom of speech Media bias Privacy
Advanced capitalism


text:
The Salvation Army plans meals for shelter residents
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- With the help of dozens of volunteers, The Salvation Army will host their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Eve Community Carnival Wednesday, November 21, Thanksgiving Eve, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., at 800 McCallie Avenue.
The Salvation Army will also be delivering meals to homebound neighbors on Thanksgiving Day. Last year over 700 meals were served at the Thanksgiving Eve Carnival and 400 more were served on Thanksgiving Day between shelter residents and homebound deliveries.
The Salvation Army expects the numbers to be close to the same as last year.
"We know people have been seriously affected by the economy over the past few years, yet we are grateful to those generous friends in our community who have provided faithful support for struggling families and individuals," says Major Al Newsome, Area Commander of The Salvation Army. "But unfortunately, the needs continue to present themselves, and the amount of public support is just not keeping up."
For more information about The Salvation Army's programs, to make a donation, or volunteer opportunities visit their website or call (423)756-1023.


text:
Imprisoned Over HIV:
It was June 2008. The 34-year-old Rhoades, who is HIV positive, says he was on antiretroviral medications. His viral load -- the amount of virus in his blood -- at the time was undetectable and he says he wore a condom. But Plendl contacted the police because Rhoades did not disclose his HIV status.
What happened next, Rhoades says, changed his life forever.
The former hotel administrator was arrested three months later. The official charge: criminal transmission of HIV -- a class B felony in Iowa, where the encounter occurred. Other crimes in this category include manslaughter, kidnapping, drug crimes and robbery.
"I was in shock, trying to figure out where this was all going," Rhoades says. "My heart was racing a million miles an hour. I'd never been in trouble."
But Plendl, 22 at the time, says his life was forever changed as well, and that he was severely depressed and suffered panic attacks while waiting to find out if he was infected.
"It was 181 days of pure fear, that six-month window when you don't know," he says.
"Individuals that are HIV positive have a moral and currently legal obligation to inform any of their sexual partners of their positive status. Individuals should have the choice as to whether or not they would engage with someone who is HIV positive when they are not. In this case, that choice -- and what I also consider a right -- was not afforded to me."
In many countries, intentionally or recklessly infecting another person with HIV is a crime. In the United States, the Center for HIV Law and Policy says 32 states, including Iowa, and two territories -- Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- have such laws on their books.
Click here to read the rest of this educational piece!


text: The second largest city of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is known as Sun City for the bright sunny weather all round the year. Also known as the Blue City due to the vivid blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur has serval charismatic palaces, magnificent forts and ancient temples to offer to its visitors. This centrally located city of Rajasthan is coloured in bright shades of culture, tradition, art, dance, and music. It topped Lonely Planet's list of Most Extraordinary Places to stay in 2013.


text:
Don't miss another deadline because of your inefficient manufacturing process. We specialize in helping manufacturers create and maintain the most efficient and streamlined manufacturing process possible.
We're the premier provider of automated manufacturing solutions from SCADA and PET Blow Molding Systems to control system retrofits. We help clients from a wide variety of industries such as utilities, food and beverage, packaging, infrastructure and more.
We have earned our reputation by providing our clients with high quality innovative control system solutions specifically designed to take their operations to the next level of performance, energy efficiency, and reliability.


text:
Area: Public Service
Project: Corporate Visual Identity
Market: Estonia
Awards: Golden Egg in Corporate Identity category (festival Golden Egg 2004); Silver Hammer in Corporate Identity category (festival Golden Hammer 2004)
Creator's comment: The World Tree is an ancient, universal mythopoetic motif that generally represents the trifurcate structure of the world – a bridge between firmament, earth and underworld. The world tree embodies a model of the world ruled by balance and the principle of unity in diversity. The symbol comes in various forms, sometimes as a background pattern with varying trunk length, sometimes a compact classical symbol


text:
There are exceptions, of course, but there are very few hit songs that are too smart for their own good. What do I mean by that? Well, I mean too smart for the average listener. Unless you're going for a specific crowd – political songs, college coffee house songs, songs written to display an intimate knowledge of the nuances of music theory, etc. — music that's "too smart" is probably not going to be broadly popular.
Songs need to be universal – or at least mostly universal – to become hits. That means everybody needs to understand it, from the smartest person in the room to the kid in middle school. Here are some ways to tell if your song is missing its mark.
1. The crowd doesn't get it
I'll be honest. I used to write cerebral music. My lyrics had multiple layers of meaning, my song structures were deliberately unusual, and you actually had to sit with the lyrics and process them to understand the song. Suffice it to say, these songs did not come off well at live shows. When I played these songs, I noticed the crowd would disengage – looking at their phones (or walking away to check out vendors if it was a festival type of situation) or looking distant and confused.
There was always a bit too long of a pause before applause broke in (which it did eventually do). These were dead giveaways to me that my audience wasn't "getting" my song.
Invariably, the positive feedback I did get was from songs that were a lot more straightforward – those were the songs the crowd got into, or came up to me afterwards asking if they could get an MP3 of it. This rarely happened with my "smart" songs (though it was gratifying when it did).
This goes back to my earlier comment about being universal. Based purely on crowd reaction alone, it was obvious which type of song was more popular.
If you aim your writing at a slightly lower comprehension level – again, going back to the middle school example – the smart people will get it and the rest of the audience will get it too. Yes, you might lose some of the intellectuals and music critics, but they don't move the market. Teens and pre-teens do.
And if you want to be successful – at least on a popularity level – that's what you need to gear your music towards.
2. Your lyrics aren't conversational
There was a time when prose was "in fashion" for songs, but for the last 20 or so years, that hasn't been the case. The rule of thumb I use is, "Would a listener say this? Would I say this? Could I hear an artist saying this?" If the answer is no, the line needs to be changed.
It might be too shmaltzy, or wordy, or cheesy – I may even love it. But if I'm going for commercial songwriting, it's not likely to have any place in the song. This doesn't mean that cheeseball '80s power-ballad lyrics won't make a comeback or that you can't sneak a sappy line in your song.
It just means that you need to be aware when you do – people want to sing along and assume the role of the singer. If it's not a sentiment they would say, or the way they would say it, they'll be a lot less likely to.
3. Your melodies aren't singable
While some writers struggle with creating good melodies, that's not what I'm talking about here. Maybe your melodies are great, just overly complicated. Maybe you're using highly unusual chords or chord changes and it throws people off.
The rule of thumb is: people want something they're mostly familiar with that still gives them a little something fresh and different. I like to think of it as something like 90 percent old, 10 percent new.
To put it another way, human brains prefer ordered patterns. When you give you number out, you have a certain system or communicating it – usually three, three, four. If you were to give the same number out in a different pattern – say, two, three, five – the person you're reading it to may struggle to understand.
Music – which, at its root is a form of communication – is the same way. Simple melodies are best, and although it's almost a cliché, three to five chords. If it starts to sound complicated – and longer melodic patterns certainly can – it may not be the hit material you're looking for.
In writing down my perspective, my hope is not to discourage anyone from being creative – quite the opposite. I simply want to lay out a few points to help you judge whether your song fits the mold of most popular songs. It may be that you decide to go another, more experimental direction, or completely buck the system by writing unusual pop music. Regardless, it helps to know what the rules are before you choose to follow them – or break them!
Next up:
- 5 Exercises to Write More Creative Lyrics
- When, How, and Why to Break the Rules of Songwriting
- 7 Easy Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Out of a Songwriting Rut
- How to Write Songs That Get Stuck in People's Heads
- How to Find Co-Writers
Daniel Reifsnyder is a Nashville-based, Grammy-nominated songwriter, having started his musical journey at the age of three. In addition to being an accomplished commercial actor, his voice can be heard on The Magic School Bus theme song and in Home Alone 2. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of working with the likes of Michael Jackson and Little Richard among many others. He is a regular contributor to several music-related blogs, including his own.


text:
About email
We got used to postmen bringing letters with good news in their dense-packed bags since early childhood - so we expect only good things from mail.
Then we receive night telegrams bringing some bad news to us, and we start expecting new mail with presentiment. However, we still have trust for what we get by mail. As for blackmail messages, letters from swindlers alleging they are serving in the army in a distant country together with your son, snatched or poison-pen letters, stuff like this happens only in detective stories. Or in soap operas.
That is why people fall for swindlers so easily.
The same threats (or to a greater extent) are related to email messages.
To a greater extent - because when we get an email message, we do not have any information about the sender except for his account and return address, which can happen to be wrong. To be sure, we can call the person who is stated as the sender, and ask whether he or she has actually sent the email and written the text you got or the message was amended "en route." In this case, it is not worth using email at all, and we can call our friends instead.
Today email clients comprise cryptographic options to make the user sure of their reliability. Each user can easily encrypt his or her email messages or provide them with electronic signatures now by generating a key pair and obtaining a certificate by means of the program itself for this purpose.
Does correspondence become more reliable when you use such options?
So to make sure the message with an electronic signature is authentic (to verify its sender and integrity), you need to verify the signature used in the message.
Let us analyze now what is confirmed and who confirms this if the letter is signed by means of the operating system installed on the computer and based on the keys generated by the same system and stored in this system while authenticity of the signature is verified based on the certificate issued by the same system and stored in the system.
Even provided we are sure the default applications run properly and have not been corrupted by any intruders, we can confirm only the way the letter was sent: from this computer and using this account. In this case, the certificate and keys bear no relation to the person.
Do such manipulations make sense? In addition to sending messages on my behalf signed using my electronic signature, anyone using my computer when I am away can also read my encrypted letters (unless I deleted them from the Sent folder) as well as encrypted letters from the Incoming folder.
At the same time, I cannot use my certificates with the email client on someone else's computer (even if I use the same email account) without extra manipulations, which, in addition to being quite complicated, impair security (I will have to copy the keys and certificate to a disk, which can be stolen).
Things are different when you use SHIPKA PCDST. You can generate keys using SHIPKA, and they will be stored in the device instead of your computer, you can obtain certificates from certification authorities or issue self-signed certificates storing them directly in the device. Having this information with yourself and not in any other computers, you will be able to use it on different computers.
Moreover, no one will be able to send a message signed "by you" or read your encrypted mail (whether from the Sent or Incoming folders) when you are away.
Using SHIPKA PCDST, you can work like this with Outlook, OutlookExpress and The Bat! email clients (both using CSP (Microsoft Cryptography Service Provider interface) settings and using PGP based on PKCS#11 interface).
Even if you happen to have left your SHIPKA near computer, no one will be able to use it without knowing the PIN code.
This means that when using SHIPKA PCDST to protect your email, you can be sure: it is your email correspondence with your friends and colleagues that is protected but not correspondence between your computer and their computers.


text:
Application is now closed.
The Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Federation (AFOS) is offering a travel grant of USD 500 to successful applicant.
Important Note:
- 1. There will be a travel grant for each of the AFOS country members (1 per country) & the rest will be given to applicants from developing countries*
- 2. Reimbursement will be by cash during conference.
- 3. The fellow is responsible for obtaining and payment of his/her own visa and visa fee respectively, as well as for their personal health and travel insurance. AFOS committee will not reimburse visa fee, health and travel insurance.
* Developing countries are defined by the World Bank categories of Low-Income and Low-Middle-Income economies (https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519)
CLICK HERE for more details on abstract submission.
|Professional Photograph of yourself
|Curriculum Vitae
|Recommendation Letter from Head of Department
|Passport Front Page with passport holder's details and number
For any inquiries regarding the travel grant, kindly email the secretariat at email@example.com or call +603 2276 0555 from 9am to 5pm.
Travel Grant Application Review
All Travel Grant Application will be reviewed by the 5th AFOS 2017 Organising Committee. The Committee reserves the right to:
1. Reject any incomplete application
2. Make final decision on every Travel Grant application
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text:
History of Human Populations
Small Evolution - Introduction
The key question scientist tried to answer by using evolutionary game theory was: why is it that the ratio between predators and prey is approximately equal in a population? Studying some mathematical models, they came to the conclusion that the fitness (ability to achieve the life purpose) of a species depends on the distribution of predators and prey in the population.
When there is a greater number of predators in the population, paradoxically prey have a higher individual fitness - predators have less opportunity to find them and also competition between predators is growing. In reverse, when there are more prey in the population, predators have a higher individual fitness - there is an abundance of food and less rivals. Scientists point out that, due to this, across the subsequent generations the ratio between predators and prey hovers around a certain value.
The most important conclusion that comes from the analysis of evolutionary games is that: individual fitness depends upon the relative number of predators and prey in the population.
Small Evolution - The Rules
A classic evolutionary game for The Physics of Life - a model of a society consisting of independent objects absorbing the available resources.
The game is imposed on a population composed of a number of players (n). For a period of time all the players are randomly matched in pairs and play against each other in a contest called a single-meeting game. Depending on the strategies used, each player gains or loses points. After each single-meeting game, each player adjusts his account, wins and losses, and prepares for the next meeting after the pairs are redrawn. The most important factors of this game are the rules of selection and duplication. Occasionally, sometimes after three single-meeting games, sometimes after a million (nobody knows when), the selection and duplication occurs. When it happens all the players are ranked according to points gained. Then the top 50% of players are selected for the subsequent games. The bottom half is rejected and no longer take part in the game - you can say that they are annihilated. Those who pass the selection are duplicated and gameplay restarts from the beginning. As you might notice, after this operation, the population remains at the same level of output. These cycles repeat ad infinitum.
To be exact, let's name:
Small Evolution - Classic Maynard Smith's payoff matrix
|Small Evolution - Classic Maynard Smith's payoff matrix
|Thief loses 25 (-25)
Thief loses 25 (-25)
|Thief gains 50 (+50)
Producer gains nothing (0)
|Producer gains nothing (0)
Thief gains 50 (+50)
|Producer gains 15 (+15)
Producer gains 15 (+15)
The goal of the analysis of the "Small Evolution" of such a payoff matrix, is to answer the question: "Which of the strategies is better - the producer or the thief?". Or, which will give a higher chance to pass through the selection and consequently be cloned. Note that the adjective "better" is only due to the rules of this game - better are those, who in the conditions imposed by this game, accumulate more points. When the rules of the game change, those who succeeded before may not succeed in the new condition.
Analysis starts from the occurence when the population is made up of many producers and only one thief. The thief collects points in every single meeting game, and ranks at the top of the list after the first meeting, and remains there unbeaten until selection. Being at the top will guarantee his selection and cloning himself and the strategy he uses. From now on we have two thieves (the original and the clone) in the population whilst the rest are Producers.
Now consider a population consisting of one Producer and many Thieves. The producer does not lose points when meeting a Thief. However, when two Thieves meet they lose points. This means that the Producer will be high enough to pass the selection, and be cloned. In the second round there will be two of them in the population. So the tendency for the number of producers to increase is observed.
Classic mathematical analysis:
One Thief in the population of Producers duplicates, as does a single Producer in a population of Thieves. It means that, for a Classic Maynard Smith Payoff Matrix, at some point the ratio of Producers and Thieves will reach an equilibrium. It is calculated as follows:
Suppose x is the ratio of the number of Thieves to the number of all participants, the sum of the number of Thieves and the number of Producers. E(Z) – The value of the points earned by a Thief during a meeting with a random participant from the population E(P) – The value of the points earned by a Producer during a meeting with a random participant from the population P(Z) – Probability of encountering a Thief during a meeting with a random participant from the population P(P) – Probability of encountering a Producer during a meeting with a random participant from the population P(Z) = x P(P) = 1 - P(Z) = 1-x E(Z) = P(Z) * (-25) + P(P) * 50 = -25*x + 50*(1-x) = 50-75x E(P) = P(Z) * 0 + P(P) * 15 = 15*(1-x) = 15-15*x E(Z) = E(P) which means that the average number of points earned by a Producer or a Thief will be equal: 50-75*x=15-15*x Hence x=7/12
Using a Classic Maynard Smith Payoff Matrix in the subsequent rounds, the number of Thieves will stabilize at 7/12 of the population and the number of Producers at 5/12. The tendency of this system is to maintain a steady ratio of Thieves to Producers at around 7:5. What is the conclusion of this analysis? In life, as in our game, there is no absolutely right way to go, or one winning strategy that guarantees success in all conditions. Any strategy not only depends upon itself, but also on the environment around it. Sometimes the Thief's strategy is better, sometimes it is the Producer's and sometimes they are both equal. This is a very important conclusion, especially for those who think that fully understanding life is inextricably linked with discovering one single strategy that will allow you to win permanently! Changing external conditions may make a strategy that works well today turn out to be useless tomorrow.
Reductionist thinkers look at this analysis and fully agree that the number of Producers to Thieves always stabilizes at this level.
However, very interesting results are shown by computer simulations. It reveals that it is not so simple. That's why I strongly recommend to study Small Evolution - Simulations.
Small Evolution - Simulation programme
The programme "Small Evolution" is a computer simulation of the abovementioned game Small Evolution.
This chapter includes:
- Description of basic settings
- Description of simulation windows
Technical description of the programme:
- Description of the simulation
- Description of calculating the average
- Description of the recovery of the population algorithm
Instruction manual:
Basic settings
After running the programme, the Initial Settings Screen appears:
Initial Settings Screen of the "Small Evolution" simulation programme.
Prior to starting the simulation you should set the initial values. They are grouped as follows:
Payoff Matrix - the programme starts with the values from the previous session. When you click on the [Default values], John Maynard Smith's original values will be applied. The section of payoff matrix {Payoff Matrix} is enriched with two additional columns showing the values of mutants. In the above screen, you can see a column with the values of the Mutated Thief MT, while the column MP (Mutated Producer) remains invisible.
Population Level and Composition of the population - these parameters are introduced in the section {Population}. You adjust the initial number of Thieves and Producers by moving the sliders. The population size is calculated automatically and shown in the window {Population}.
Mutation Level. The programme allows you to enter one individual mutant. A mutant differs from its predecessor, as are the points given for an action. The points can be affected either when meeting another Thief, meeting a Producer, or both. The programme allows you to make a mutation of both dimensions, improving or deteriorating the points given. Entering new values can be made by percentage or by entering the values you want.
The Mutant is introduced by clicking the appropriate radio button in the {Mutation} section, and values of the mutation are adjusted in additional column of the {Payoff Matrix} which comes up automatically.
Selection strength - this parameter is set up in the section {Selection strength}. If you set it to, say, 80%, this means that to the restoration of the population phase will only devote the 20% of individuals who have accumulated the most points in each cycle
Cycle Length - this parameter is set up in the section {Length of cycle}. For each cycle the number of rounds is determined randomly by the programme. In the section {Length of cycle} you can specify the range. In the example above the number of rounds will be not less than 1 and not more than 1000.
After setting up all the starting parameters you are ready to start the simulation by clicking the {Simulation} button.
Simulation window
Used to show the population changes over time simulated by the game "Small Evolution".
Simulation window of the game "Small Evolution" before starting the simulation.
Elements of the simulation window:
Basic information - this area displays the number of Thieves and Producers and the number of Mutants, if and when they are introduced to the game.
Simulation controls:
- {Start} - starts simulation;
- {Stop/Restart} - which allows you to pause and resume or stop the simulation. Only when you pause, you can introduce the pre-defined Mutant;
- {Reset} - which allows you to start the simulation again from the beginning;
- {Show Report} - it shows the report of the simulation;
- {Introduce the mutant} - by clicking this button, only when the simulation is paused, we can introduce the pre-defined Mutant;
- {Simulation delay} - the basic setting mean that the simulation runs very quickly. This allows you to slow the simulation down;
Graph of average values - it shows the average values of the number of Thieves and Producers in the simulation. The peaks and the troughs indicate the end of a cycle.
Graph of number of Producers - shows the changes in the number of Producers after each cycle.
Graph of number of Thieves - shows the changes in the number of Thieves after each cycle.
Simulation history window - the window graphically shows the history of all rounds and all cycles. This information is shown in one of two ways:
- In the {Ranking mode} the red pixel represents a Thief, the green one, a Producer. The pixels represent the ranking, from top to bottom, according to the points gained by each participant. If, at the top of the list, there are 2 Thieves followed by 6 Producers, then the graph will show 2 red pixels at the top and 6 green ones directly underneath.
- In the {Proportion mode} the display shows the proportion of Thieves to Producers. But be aware: This does not represent the proportion of the whole population, but only those who have the potential to selected for the next round.
Simulation history window - Ranking mode Simulation history window - Proportion mode
In the simulation screen you are able to adjust the width of the Simulation history window. To do this, introduce a new setting of pixels into the field labelled "Width" in the bottom-right corner.
Technical description of the programme:
The simulation
Algorithm of the simulation:
- Based on the data entered by the user, a population is created, a list of Thieves and Producers is created.
- Only Thieves and Producers are available.
- The Cycle Length is determined in a random manner using Random.nextInt function. The boundaries for this value are specified by the user in the "Initial Settings" window.
- The round is completed.
- The rounds counter is increased by one.
- The ranking of individuals is determined on their accumulated points. This ranking is shown in the "Simulation History" window, where each bar has a width of one pixel. There are two visualizations possible in this window:
- as individuals are ranked (each pixel represents one individual, vertically)
- in the form of proportion of those who have the potential to be selected for the next round
- If the rounds counter is equal to the Cycle Length then:
- The rounds counter is reset
- Selection is performed
- The population is restored using the restoration algorithm.
- In the restored population all individuals accounts are reset.
- The programme calculates the statistical values and updates charts.
- The programme starts the next Cycle. The programme goes to point B.
- If the rounds counter is less than the Cycle Length the Cycle is continued. The programme moves to point C.
Calculating the average
- The programme calculates the numbers of each individual strategy (Thieves / Producers / Mutated Thieves / Mutated Producers) for each Cycle and memorises it.
- The arithmetic means of these values are shown in the "Graph of average values". If we use Thieves to explain further, we add the values of each Thief after each cycle, and then divide this total by the number of cycles.
Restoration algorithm
- The selected Participants are ordered randomly. This is named as the list of predecessors of the new population (PNP).
- Every Participant from this list is analyzed individually in order:
- The Participant is cloned and only the Clone is added to the New Population.
- If the number of individuals in the New Population is equal to the population level, the process is stopped. The programme moves to point C.
- If the number of individuals in the New Population is less than the population level, the next Participant from the PNP List is analysed. If all Participants from the PNP List have been analysed before the Population is fully restored, the programme reverts back to the top of the PNP List.
- The List of the Restored Population is returned.
Introducing a Mutant
- The Mutant is introduced after the restoration algorithm. The consequence of this is that each Participant, including our new Mutant, starts at the same value level, zero.
Programme downloading
A computer programme "Small Evolution simulation program" is available Pro Publico Bono on a Creative Commons License. This means that users provide the following rights:
Attribution. (BY) Licensees may copy, distribute, display and perform the work and make derivative works and remixes based on it only if they give the author or licensor the credits (attribution) in the manner specified by these.
Non-commercial. (NC) Licensees may copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and make derivative works and remixes based on it only for non-commercial purposes.
Share-alike. (SA) Licensees may distribute derivative works only under a license identical ("not more restrictive") to the license that governs the original work.
Small Evolution - Simulations
cycle length,
population level,
selection strength,
and the changes in the composition of the population after the introduction of:
a Negative Mutant,
a Half-Positive Mutant,
a Full-Positive Mutant.
The remarks and conclusions will be given at the end of this section.
Simulation without mutation - varying the Cycle Length:
The amended parameter is the cycle length, which is the number of rounds before selection and the restoration of the population. Let's see how it affects the composition of the population.
Analysis without mutation - cycle variance from 1 to 100 rounds
Analysis without mutation - cycle variance from 1 to 400 rounds
Analysis without mutation - cycle variance from 1 to 600 rounds
Analysis without mutation - cycle variance from 1 to 800 rounds
Note that the Producers become extinct around the 145th cycle.
Analysis without mutation - cycle variance from 1 to 1000 rounds
When the cycle length varies between 1 and 1000 rounds the simulation diverges from the theoretical model even quicker than before.
Note that the Producers become extinct around the 42nd cycle.
Of course, because we are dealing with probable events, Thieves can gain complete control of the population in every cycle. However, after conducting a simulation for different cycle lengths, one can discover the following pattern:
Analysis without mutation - varying Population Level:
During this analysis we will change the population level, ie the total number of Thieves and Producers. In contrast, we will not change the cycle length, it will be from 1 to 100. Let's see how this affects the changes in the composition of the population.
Population Level 20
The Producers become extinct after 34 cycles. The number of Producers range from 2 to 12, and Thieves 8 to 18.
Population Level 50
The Producers become extinct after 20 cycles. The number of Producers range from 6 to 30, and Thieves 20 to 44.
Population Level 100
There were no extinction of Producers, even after 600 cycles. The number of Producers range from 5 to 70, and Thieves 30 to 95.
Population Level 500
There were no extinction of Producers after 600 cycles. The number of Producers range from 50 to 350, and Thieves 150 to 450.
Population Level 1000
There were no extinction of Producers after 425 cycles. The number of Producers range from 110 to 700, and Thieves 300 to 890.
Based on the above simulations one can discover the following pattern:
of the extinction of the Producers.
Analysis without mutation - varying Selection Function Strength:
Taking into account the results of the two previous simulations, for the third one we will assume that the cycle length will be in the range of 1 - 100 and the population level will be relatively large = 1000. Now let's see how the population is affected by a change in the selection function strength.
At this point, it is worth paing attention to the restoration algorithm of the population. Because if the selection function strength is:
Weak - the population loses, for example, only 20% of its members. In this case, the process of the restoration of the population will have to restore only the missing 20% from the remaining 80% - so only some of them will be cloned.
Strong - the population loses, for example, 85% of its members. In this case, the process of the restoration of the population will have to restore the missing 85% from the remaining 15% - so many of them will be cloned numerous times.
Selection Function Strength 80%
Because the leading 80% of participants are selected, it can be termed "very weak". The ratio of Producers to Thieves hovers around the average, and it is unlikely that Thieves will dominate the population.
Selection Function Strength 60%
Because the leading 60% of participants are selected, it can be termed "weak". The ratio of Producers to Thieves hovers around the average, and it is unlikely that Thieves will dominate the population. However, in comparison to the previous simulation, amplitude growth is noticeable.
Selection Function Strength 40%
With the standard setting of 50% Selection Function Strength it did not cause the Thieves to dominate. This time, with a "strong" Selection Function Strength of 40% of the leading participants, the dominance of the Thieves is noticeable after 28 cycle.
Selection Function Strength 20%
Because the leading 20% of participants are selected, it can be termed "very strong". The process of the restoration of the population clones only the best 20%. As you can see, the domination by the Thieves is almost immediate.
Based on the above simulations one can discover the following pattern:
the probability of the extinction of the Producers.
Analysis with mutation - Introduction of a Negative Mutant:
The Negative Mutant is one that gets less points at each Single meeting game. After introducing the Mutant, we have three types of individuals in the population: Producers, Thieves and one newly introduced Negative Mutant.
Both Thieves and Producers can be mutated. The mutation itself can be:
Half-Negative - a Mutant will get less points only when meeting Thieves, the number of points earned during the meetings with Producers will not change; Note that there are 4 types of such mutants.
Full-Negative - a Mutant will get less points when meeting Thieves and Producers. Note that there are 2 types of such mutants.
For simulation, the parameters will be set to ensure the relative stability of the composition of the population. That is, they will not cause the Thieves to overwhelm the population too quickly. Let's set them as follows:
Cycle Length - from 1 to 100 rounds
Population level - 500 participants
Selection function strength - 50% [50% of the leading participants are selected]
The mutation is Full-Negative which means that the mutated Thief gets one point less than normal in both types of meetings.
The initial settings window looks as follows:
Negative Mutation - settings window
During the simulation the Full-Negative Mutant Thief was introduced twice. The number of mutants in the population is shown at the bottom of the window "Graph of Number of Thieves".
Negative Mutation - simulation screen
On the screen above you can see that the Full-Negative Mutant Thief survives in the first case for one cycle and in the other for 9, and even manages to increase his number in the population to 4 individuals. But in both cases mutants are dying out anyway.
The programme allows you to take a look at how Full-Negative Mutant Thieves are ranked. This is illustrated by the "Simulation history" window where mutants are represented by darker pixels.
Based on the above simulations one can discover the following pattern:
does not change the composition of the population.
Negative Mutants eventually become extinct.
Analysis with mutation - Introduction of a Half-Positive Mutant:
This time let's introduce the Half-Positive Mutant Producer. "Half" because this Mutant gets one more point but only in meetings with other Producers.
Half-Positive Mutant Producer - settings window
Numeric values that tell how and where the Mutant gets more points are shown on the right side of the Payoff Matrix.
Half-Positive Mutant Producer - simulation window
It can be seen that three attempts were made to introduce the Half-Positive Mutant Producer to the population. In the first two cases the Mutants died out, but the third mutant's offspring completely dominated the Producer population. This domination took place in 25 rounds, that is to say that a population of 500 participants was dominated by Mutants in only 25 generations. This is not an exponential growth, for if it was, then the domination would take place in the 10th generation.
Based on the above simulations one can discover the following pattern:
to survive the selection function strength,
his descendants will dominate the population.
The definiendum of this mechanism is evolutionary ratchet.
Analysis with mutation - Introduction of a Full-Positive Mutant:
We will perform this simulation by introducing the Full-Positive Mutant Producer. This mutant gains one more point in both type of meetings.
Full-Positive Mutant Producer - settings window
The numerical values that tell you how and where the mutant is better are shown on the right side of the Payoff Matrix.
Full-Positive Mutant Producer - simulation window
In this case, the Mutants dominate the whole population after 14 generations, twice as quickly as the Half-Positive Mutants in the previous simulation. The curious fact is that the Full-Positive Mutant is not always fortunate enough to be selected. In doing so many simulations with these settings, it turned out that sometimes a mutant fails to break through the selection. This is because when the Full-Positive Mutant Producer is introduced to the population, it may meet relatively few Thieves. Thieves are much more likely to meet with Producers and therefore quickly rise to the top of the ranking list. If the Full-Positive Mutant Producer is more likely to meet Thieves than Producers, then his points tally will grow slower than the Producers, who mainly meet other Producers. This may not allow the Full-Positive Mutant Producer to gain a high enough rank in the list that would enable him to be selected.
Based on the above simulations one can discover the following pattern:
will dominate the population almost exponentially.
Sometimes, a Fully-Positive Mutant may not be fortunate enough
to survive the selection function strength.
Small Evolution - "Realistic" Payoff Matrix
Basic assumptions:
As in the classic example of this game, proposed by John Maynard Smith, there are only two types of strategy Producers and Thieves, however, there is a different Payoff Matrix, which looks more realistic:
|"Small Evolution" – "Realistic" Payoff Matrix
|Thief loses 1 (-1)
Thief loses 1 (-1)
|Thief gains 50 (+50)
Producer loses 50 (-50)
|Producer loses 50 (-50)
Thief gains 50 (+50)
|Producer gains 10 (+10)
Producer gains 10 (+10)
Simulation with "Realistic" Payoff Matrix - cycle from 1 to 1000 rounds
With such a Payoff Matrix it is evident that Producers will become extinct quickly. Does it somehow undermine our previous considerations? Absolutely not. This only shows how much depends upon the Payoff Matrix and leads to the next most important conclusion.
If the producers are extinct, then it is obvious that the population will only consist of Thieves. As a result, all single-meeting games will be played between Thieves. So none of the Thieves will ever accumulate a positive number of points, which are needed to survive even in real life. That is, no one will be able to survive. If the Thieves make the Producers extinct, they will also eventually die out, unless ... they will start playing different games in a different way, with different rules. This is a vital conclusion that the Thieves will find themselves in coercion of cooperation.
Small Evolution - Conclusions
Here are the main conclusions from the simulations:
Increasing the number of rounds in the cycle increases the probability of the extinction of the Producers.
Increasing the population level reduces the probability of the extinction of the Producers.
Increasing the selection function strength increases the probability of the extinction of the Producers.
The introduction of the Negative Mutant, in the long term, does not change the composition of the population. Negative Mutants eventually become extinct.
If the Half-Positive Mutant is fortunate enough to survive the selection function strength, his descendants will dominate the population.
The descendants of a Fully-Positive Mutant of a Producer will dominate the population almost exponentially. Sometimes, such a Mutant may not be fortunate enough to survive the selection function strength.
- the given values of the parameters,
- the given assumptions,
- and the given algorithms.
Another very important conclusion is that reductionist thinking is absolutely insufficient to understand the population phenomena. To understand them, one has to extend their conceptual apparatus with, at least, multitudinal thinking and game thinking.
History of Human Populations
Human and nature dynamics (HANDY): Modeling inequality and use of resources in the collapse or sustainability of societies
There are widespread concerns that current trends in resource-use are unsustainable, but possibilities of overshoot/collapse remain controversial. Collapses have occurred frequently in history, often followed by centuries of economic, intellectual, and population decline. Many different natural and social phenomena have been invoked to explain specific collapses, but a general explanation remains elusive.
In this paper, we build a human population dynamics model by adding accumulated wealth and economic inequality to a predator–prey model of humans and nature. The model structure, and simulated scenarios that offer significant implications, are explained. Four equations describe the evolution of Elites, Commoners, Nature, and Wealth. The model shows Economic Stratification or Ecological Strain can independently lead to collapse, in agreement with the historical record.
The measure "Carrying Capacity" is developed and its estimation is shown to be a practical means for early detection of a collapse. Mechanisms leading to two types of collapses are discussed. The new dynamics of this model can also reproduce the irreversible collapses found in history. Collapse can be avoided, and population can reach a steady state at maximum carrying capacity if the rate of depletion of nature is reduced to a sustainable level and if resources are distributed equitably.