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The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on this date in 1941 launched World War II, a global conflict of massive proportions that changed the world, with enduring ramifications for millions of people.
For Dr. William T. Carleton, it was a stark beginning to his career in medicine and his life with his new bride, Isabel.
Carleton celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this week and recalled the day of the surprise attack and the resulting four years he spent in Navy, including the South Pacific.
Carleton returned to his home in Worcester, Mass., after the war and practiced family medicine for 40 years. After the death of his wife in 2008, he moved to New Bern and now lives at McCarthy Court. His son Bill, a retired Foreign Service officer, lives in River Bend.
Carleton and other Americans thought they had survived the worst — the Great Depression — when he graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1939, completed two years of internship, met Isabel and prepared hopefully for the future.
“I joined the Navy in order to get married,” he recalled. “I had no income.”
It was August of 1941 when they wed and 11 days later he was called to duty at Charleston Navy Yard.
Soon, he was deployed on a Navy hospital ship, the USS Solace, a converted passenger ship, which arrived at Pearl in November.
He was a 28-year-old lieutenant junior grade and he brought Isabel to the islands, 10 days before the attack.
There were no rumblings of war.
“Everything was peaceful, absolutely no sign that there was a war coming,” he recalled. “That Saturday night, everybody was having parties.”
But, on Sunday morning, shortly before 8 a.m., everything changed.
“The island was under attack and the enemy was presumed to be the Japanese,” he said. Officers and construction engineers were ordered to their stations.
He was at a hotel eight miles away and hitched a ride. He would not see Isabel again for a week.
“There was this terrible cloud of smoke and the burning battleships,” he said. He rode a launch to his ship, which had been docked next to the USS Arizona and then moved when the attack began.
“I spent the rest of the day inside the ship taking care of the injured, mostly burns and shell-shock,” he said.
There was the immediacy of the chaotic situation and little time to think.
“The only thing I could think was this is the end of the United States as a major power — all these battleships burning and sinking,” he said.
He didn’t get a break and come topside until 8 p.m. that night.
About that time four planes approached and as he learned later, recognition signals had not been re-established and one was shot down. It was an American aircraft. Carleton attended to the pilot.
“I said, ‘what a terrible experience,’ and he said ‘oh no doctor, this is a very good experience. We have to know how to save ourselves.’”
Three days after the attack, he attended to another memorable victim, a sailor dripping in oil who had been rescued from the keel of the capsized USS Oklahoma. He had been in chest-deep fuel until he was found.
“He represented resurrection from the dead if I ever saw it,” he recalled.
Shortly thereafter, Isabel returned to the states and the two did not communicate again for many months. His ship departed Pearl for other points in the South Pacific.
Before his discharged in 1945, he was in charge of the officers’ ward at the 103rd Fleet Hospital in Guam.
He treated American POWs and observed first-hand what they had encountered at the hands of the Japanese.
“They all had at least two to four intestinal worms and all were (down) 20 to 40 pounds,” he said. “There was a lot of tuberculosis.”
From talking with the men, he found they had been fed once a day, what he called “a bowl of slop that couldn’t have had more than 400 calories.”
The survivors, he said, were an inspiration.
“I have never seen such determination to live as these guys,” he added.
Carleton returned home in 1945 to practice medicine in his Massachusetts home town, where he and Isabel spent their 66-year marriage and bore four sons. Three of them — Bill, John and Randy — are still living. A fourth son, Teddy, died when he was 18.
Carleton practiced medicine until he was 77, then did utilization and review work for the local hospital until he was 80.
“I wanted desperately to be a doctor and follow in my grandfather’s footstep,” he said. “I had a very, very happy and successful career in medicine.”
These days, he uses a cane and has hearing loss. Otherwise, he looks 30 years his junior.
He may also be the only 100-year-old around who uses email. | <urn:uuid:951534dc-c967-4b24-89fc-9846c2f8490b> | {
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*UPDATE: The statistic above, which has been cited repeatedly including by PBS, may be wrong. Or at least it does not appear to be in the academic study that PBS referred to. Our readers and others have said that the correct percentage is ~2%-3%, not 9%.
ORIGINAL: It has often been said that lotteries are a tax on the poor.
And that's a fair description.
Joe Weisenthal pointed out yesterday that poor people regularly buy lottery tickets, while rich people only buy them when the jackpots have gotten huge.
What's less commonly realized is just how much money poor people spend on lottery tickets.
That's 9% of an income that is presumably extraordinarily hard to live on to begin with.
Rich, educated people tend to ridicule lottery players because the odds against winning are so astronomical.
As PBS points out, you are 17-times more likely to get hit by falling airplane parts than you are to win the lottery.
And you're 50-times more likely to get hit by lightning.
But poor people keep on buying lottery tickets.
Because they're stupid?
That's the popular explanation, at least among rich non-lottery players.
But the more accurate explanation is probably that having any chance at radically improving their circumstances is probably better than having no chance.
In any event, the fact that households that earn $13,000 or less spend 9% of their incomes on lottery tickets raises a few questions.
First, are those households receiving money from the government in the form of food stamps, tax breaks, or welfare?
If so, is it really fair to spend taxpayer money on lottery tickets? Is that what the folks who support assistance to poor households expect the money to be spent on?
Second, given that lotteries are primarily used to generate revenue for states, might it not be fairer to just collect the revenue directly, as taxes?
Or have lotteries discovered a magical way to tax people--one in which even anti-tax crusaders voluntarily choose to pay huge taxes in exchange for a minuscule chance of making a killing?
Should the United States government raise ALL its tax revenue that way?
Anyway, the finding that households earning $13,000 spend 9% of their precious dollars on lottery tickets is startling. And depressing. And it's worth thinking more about whether the government should really be sponsoring lotteries.
SEE ALSO: 14 Lottery Winners Who Blew It All | <urn:uuid:f7f2ff8c-b5da-4246-b9fe-cf7b8f52a167> | {
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Destiny of a man/woman is shaped in the classroom.
School is a building of four walls with tomorrow inside.
A man has three characters-innate, inherited and acquired.
While we cannot alter the innate character and the inherited
character of a person, education can help greatly shape his
There are three classrooms of a child.His acquired character
is moulded in these three classrooms of humanity:(i)home
(ii) school (iii) society.
The role of education -Body, mind and soul stand formed,
trained and skilled to be useful and responsible member
Goal of education-Teach words of God to students.
Education alone can reveal gems hidden in man and
enable mankind to benefit therefrom.
The purpose of today’s education should be
redemption of mankind from the four evils listed below:
the malady of society is (i) its Godlessness (ii) its ignorance
(iii)its confusion and (iv) its conflict.
Value of education-Education must concern itself with
the affairs of the age. We see religious bigotry, fanaticism,
terrorism,crime and violence. Tolerance and compassion
have gone underground.Poverty, hunger, misery, illiteracy,
unemployment and lay-offs show their ugly faces everywhere.
True education consists of 3 parts:1. Material education(trains
the body) 2.Human education(trains the mind) 3.Divine education
(moulds the spirit and soul of a man.)
School must become the lighthouse of society. A lighthouse is
a tower with a powerful flashing light that guides ships away
from danger. Schools must be a beacon to warn and guide
parents and society. | <urn:uuid:8627926c-2efb-4ae6-a174-c44adc0b7010> | {
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An Account of the Inquisition
When the reformed religion began to diffuse the Gospel light throughout Europe, Pope Innocent III entertained great fear for the Romish Church. He accordingly instituted a number of inquisitors, or persons who were to make inquiry after, apprehend, and punish, heretics, as the reformed were called by the papists.
At the head of these inquisitors was one Dominic, who had been canonized by the pope, in order to render his authority the more respectable. Dominic, and the other inquisitors, spread themselves into various Roman Catholic countries, and treated the Protestants with the utmost severity. In process of time, the pope, not finding these roving inquisitors so useful as he had imagined, resolved upon the establishment of fixed and regular courts of Inquisition. After the order for these regular courts, the first office of Inquisition was established in the city of Toulouse, and Dominic became the first regular inquisitor, as he had before been the first roving inquisitor.
Courts of Inquisition were now erected in several countries; but the Spanish Inquisition became the most powerful, and the most dreaded of any. Even the kings of Spain themselves, though arbitrary in all other respects, were taught to dread the power of the lords of the Inquisition; and the horrid cruelties they exercised compelled multitudes, who differed in opinion from the Roman Catholics, carefully to conceal their sentiments.
The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly obeyed the Church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans: these, therefore, the pope thought proper to invest with an exclusive right of presiding over the different courts of Inquisition, and gave them the most unlimited powers, as judges delegated by him, and immediately representing his person: they were permitted to excommunicate, or sentence to death whom they thought proper, upon the most slight information of heresy. They were allowed to publish crusades against all whom they deemed heretics, and enter into leagues with sovereign princes, to join their crusades with their forces.
In 1244, their power was further increased by the emperor Frederic II, who declared himself the protector and friend of all the inquisitors, and published the cruel edicts, viz., 1. That all heretics who continue obstinate, should be burnt. 2. That all heretics who repented, should be imprisoned for life.
This zeal in the emperor, for the inquisitors of the Roman Catholic persuasion, arose from a report which had been propagated throughout Europe, that he intended to renounce Christianity, and turn Mahometan; the emperor therefore, attempted, by the height of bigotry, to contradict the report, and to show his attachment to popery by cruelty.
The officers of the Inquisition are three inquisitors, or judges, a fiscal proctor, two secretaries, a magistrate, a messenger, a receiver, a jailer, an agent of confiscated possessions; several assessors, counsellors, executioners, physicians, surgeons, doorkeepers, familiars, and visitors, who are sworn to secrecy.
The principal accusation against those who are subject to this tribunal is heresy, which comprises all that is spoken, or written, against any of the articles of the creed, or the traditions of the Roman Church. The inquisition likewise takes cognizance of such as are accused of being magicians, and of such who read the Bible in the common language, the Talmud of the Jews, or the Alcoran of the Mahometans.
Upon all occasions the inquisitors carry on their processes with the utmost severity, and punish those who offend them with the most unparalleled cruelty. A Protestant has seldom any mercy shown him, and a Jew, who turns Christian, is far from being secure.
A defence in the Inquisition is of little use to the prisoner, for a suspicion only is deemed sufficient cause of condemnation, and the greater his wealth the greater his danger. The principal part of the inquisitors' cruelties is owing to their rapacity: they destroy the life to possess the property; and, under the pretence of zeal, plunder each obnoxious individual.
A prisoner in the Inquisition is never allowed to see the face of his accuser, or of the witnesses against him, but every method is taken by threats and tortures, to oblige him to accuse himself, and by that means corroborate their evidence. If the jurisdiction of the Inquisition is not fully allowed, vengeance is denounced against such as call it in question for if any of its officers are opposed, those who oppose them are almost certain to be sufferers for the temerity; the maxim of the Inquisition being to strike terror, and awe those who are the objects of its power into obedience. High birth, distinguished rank, great dignity, or eminent employments, are no protection from its severities; and the lowest officers of the Inquisition can make the highest characters tremble.
When the person impeached is condemned, he is either severely whipped, violently tortured, sent to the galleys, or sentenced to death; and in either case the effects are confiscated. After judgment, a procession is performed to the place of execution, which ceremony is called an auto da fe, or act of faith.
The following is an account of an auto da fe, performed at Madrid in the year 1682.
The officers of the Inquisition, preceded by trumpets, kettledrums, and their banner, marched on the thirtieth of May, in cavalcade, to the palace of the great square, where they declared by proclamation, that, on the thirtieth of June, the sentence of the prisoners would be put in execution.
Of these prisoners, twenty men and women, with one renegade Mahometan, were ordered to be burned; fifty Jews and Jewesses, having never before been imprisoned, and repenting of their crimes, were sentenced to a long confinement, and to wear a yellow cap. The whole court of Spain was present on this occasion. The grand inquisitor's chair was placed in a sort of tribunal far above that of the king.
Among those who were to suffer, was a young Jewess of exquisite beauty, and but seventeen years of age. Being on the same side of the scaffold where the queen was seated, she addressed her, in hopes of obtaining a pardon, in the following pathetic speech: "Great queen, will not your royal presence be of some service to me in my miserable condition? Have regard to my youth; and, oh! consider, that I am about to die for professing a religion imbibed from my earliest infancy!" Her majesty seemed greatly to pity her distress, but turned away her eyes, as she did not dare to speak a word in behalf of a person who had been declared a heretic.
Now Mass began, in the midst of which the priest came from the altar, placed himself near the scaffold, and seated himself in a chair prepared for that purpose.
The chief inquisitor then descended from the amphitheater, dressed in his cope, and having a miter on his head. After having bowed to the altar, he advanced towards the king's balcony, and went up to it, attended by some of his officers, carrying a cross and the Gospels, with a book containing the oath by which the kings of Spain oblige themselves to protect the Catholic faith, to extirpate heretics, and to support with all their power and force the prosecutions and decrees of the Inquisition: a like oath was administered to the counsellors and whole assembly. The Mass was begun about twelve at noon, and did not end until nine in the evening, being protracted by a proclamation of the sentence of the several criminals, which were already separately rehearsed aloud one after the other.
After this followed the burnings of the twenty-one men and women, whose intrepidity in suffering that horrid death was truly astonishing. The king's near situation to the criminals rendered their dying groans very audible to him; he could not, however, be absent from this dreadful scene, as it is esteemed a religious one; and his coronation oath obliged him to give a sanction by his presence to all the acts of the tribunal.
What we have already said may be applied to inquisitions in general, as well as to that of Spain in particular. The Inquisition belonging to Portugal is exactly upon a similar plan to that of Spain, having been instituted much about the same time, and put under the same regulations. The inquisitors allow the torture to be used only three times, but during those times it is so severely inflicted, that the prisoner either dies under it, or continues always after a cripple, and suffers the severest pains upon every change of weather. We shall give an ample description of the severe torments occasioned by the torture, from the account of one who suffered it the three respective times, but happily survived the cruelties he underwent.
At the first time of torturing, six executioners entered, stripped him naked to his drawers, and laid him upon his back on a kind of stand, elevated a few feet from the floor. The operation commenced by putting an iron collar round his neck, and a ring to each foot, which fastened him to the stand. His limbs being thus stretched out, they wound two ropes round each thigh; which ropes being passed under the scaffold, through holes made for that purpose, were all drawn tight at the same instant of time, by four of the men, on a given signal.
It is easy to conceive that the pains which immediately succeeded were intolerable; the ropes, which were of a small size, cut through the prisoner's flesh to the bone, making the blood to gush out at eight different places thus bound at a time. As the prisoner persisted in not making any confession of what the inquisitors required, the ropes were drawn in this manner four times successively.
The manner of inflicting the second torture was as follows: they forced his arms backwards so that the palms of his hands were turned outward behind him; when, by means of a rope that fastened them together at the wrists, and which was turned by an engine, they drew them by degrees nearer each other, in such a manner that the back of each hand touched, and stood exactly parallel to each other. In consequence of this violent contortion, both his shoulders became dislocated, and a considerable quantity of blood issued from his mouth. This torture was repeated thrice; after which he was again taken to the dungeon, and the surgeon set the dislocated bones.
Two months after the second torture, the prisoner being a little recovered, was again ordered to the torture room, and there, for the last time, made to undergo another kind of punishment, which was inflicted twice without any intermission. The executioners fastened a thick iron chain round his body, which crossing at the breast, terminated at the wrists. They then placed him with his back against a thick board, at each extremity whereof was a pulley, through which there ran a rope that caught the end of the chain at his wrists. The executioner then, stretching the end of his rope by means of a roller, placed at a distance behind him, pressed or bruised his stomach in proportion as the ends of the chains were drawn tighter. They tortured him in this manner to such a degree, that his wrists, as well as his shoulders, were quite dislocated. They were, however, soon set by the surgeons; but the barbarians, not yet satisfied with this species of cruelty, made him immediately undergo the like torture a second time, which he sustained (though, if possible, attended with keener pains,) with equal constancy and resolution. After this, he was again remanded to the dungeon, attended by the surgeon to dress his bruises and adjust the part dislocated, and here he continued until their auto da fe, or jail delivery, when he was discharged, crippled and diseased for life.
An Account of the Cruel Handling and Burning of Nicholas Burton, an English
Merchant, in Spain
The fifth day of November, about the year of our Lord 1560, Mr. Nicholas Burton, citizen sometime of London, and merchant, dwelling in the parish of Little St. Bartholomew, peaceably and quietly, following his traffic in the trade of merchandise, and being in the city of Cadiz, in the party of Andalusia, in Spain, there came into his lodging a Judas, or, as they term them, a familiar of the fathers of Inquisition; who asking for the said Nicholas Burton, feigned that he had a letter to deliver into his own hands; by which means he spake with him immediately. And having no letter to deliver to him, then the said promoter, or familiar, at the motion of the devil his master, whose messenger he was, invented another lie, and said he would take lading for London in such ships as the said Nicholas Burton had freighted to lade, if he would let any; which was partly to know where he loaded his goods, that they might attach them, and chiefly to protract the time until the sergeant of the Inquisition might come and apprehend the body of the said Nicholas Burton; which they did incontinently.
He then well perceiving that they were not able to burden or charge him that he had written, spoken, or done any thing there in that country against the ecclesiastical or temporal laws of the same realm, boldly asked them what they had to lay to his charge that they did so arrest him, and bade them to declare the cause, and he would answer them. Notwithstanding they answered nothing, but commanded him with threatening words to hold his peace, and not speak one word to them.
And so they carried him to the filthy common prison of the town of Cadiz where he remained in irons fourteen days amongst thieves.
All which time he so instructed the poor prisoners in the Word of God, according to the good talent which God had given him in that behalf, and also in the Spanish tongue to utter the same, that in that short space he had well reclaimed several of those superstitiuous and ignorant Spaniards to embrace the Word of God, and to reject their popish traditions.
Which being known unto the officers of the Inquisition, they conveyed him laden with irons from thence to a city called Seville, into a more cruel and straiter prison called Triana, where the said fathers of the Inquisition proceeded against him secretly according to their accustomable cruel tyranny, that never after he could be suffered to write or speak to any of his nation: so that to this day it is unknown who was his accuser.
Afterward, the twentieth of December, they brought the said Nicholas Burton, with a great number of other prisoners, for professing the true Christian religion, into the city of Seville, to a place where the said inquisitors sat in judgment which they called auto, with a canvas coat, whereupon in divers parts was painted the figure of a huge devil, tormenting a soul in a flame of fire, and on his head a copping tank of the same work.
His tongue was forced out of his mouth with a cloven stick fastened upon it, that he should not utter his conscience and faith to the people, and so he was set with another Englishman of Southampton, and divers other condemned men for religion, as well Frenchmen as Spaniards, upon a scaffold over against the said Inquisition, where their sentences and judgments were read and pronounced against them.
And immediately after the said sentences given, they were carried from there to the place of execution without the city, where they most cruelly burned them, for whose constant faith, God is praised.
This Nicholas Burton by the way, and in the flames of fire, had so cheerful a countenance, embracing death with all patience and gladness, that the tormentors and enemies which stood by, said, that the devil had his soul before he came to the fire; and therefore they said his senses of feeling were past him.
It happened that after the arrest of Nicholas Burton aforesaid, immediately all the goods and merchandise which he brought with him into Spain by the way of traffic, were (according to their common usage) seized, and taken into the sequester; among which they also rolled up much that appertained to another English merchant, wherewith he was credited as factor. Whereof as soon as news was brought to the merchant as well of the imprisonment of his factor, as of the arrest made upon his goods, he sent his attorney into Spain, with authority from him to make claim to his goods, and to demand them; whose name was John Fronton, citizen of Bristol.
When his attorney was landed at Seville, and had shown all his letters and writings to the holy house, requiring them that such goods might be delivered into his possession, answer was made to him that he must sue by bill, and retain an advocate (but all was doubtless to delay him,) and they forsooth of courtesy assigned him one to frame his supplication for him, and other such bills of petition, as he had to exhibit into their holy court, demanding for each bill eight reals, albeit they stood him in no more stead than if he had put up none at all. And for the space of three or four months this fellow missed not twice a day attending every morning and afternoon at the inquisitors' palace, suing unto them upon his knees for his despatch, but especially to the bishop of Tarracon, who was at that very time chief of the Inquisition at Seville, that he of his absolute authority would command restitution to be made thereof; but the booty was so good and great that it was very hard to come by it again.
At length, after he had spent four whole months in suits and requests, and also to no purpose, he received this answer from them, that he must show better evidence, and bring more sufficient certificates out of England for proof of this matter, than those which he had already presented to the court. Whereupon the party forthwith posted to London, and with all speed returned to Seville again with more ample and large letters testimonial, and certificates, according to their requests, and exhibited them to the court.
Notwithstanding, the inquisitors still shifted him off, excusing themselves by lack of leisure, and for that they were occupied in more weighty affairs, and with such answers put him off, four months after.
At last, when the party had well nigh spent all his money, and therefore sued the more earnestly for his despatch, they referred the matter wholly to the bishop, of whom, when he repaired unto him, he made answer, 'That for himself, he knew what he had to do, howbeit he was but one man, and the determination appertained to the other commissioners as well as unto him;' and thus by posting and passing it from one to another, the party could obtain no end of his suit. Yet for his importunity's sake, they were resolved to despatch him: it was on this sort: one of the inquisitors, called Gasco, a man very well experienced in these practices, willed the party to resort unto him after dinner.
The fellow being glad to hear this news, and supposing that his goods should be restored unto him, and that he was called in for that purpose to talk with the other that was in prison to confer with him about their accounts, rather through a little misunderstanding, hearing the inquisitors cast out a word, that it should be needful for him to talk with the prisoner, and being thereupon more than half persuaded, that at length they meant good faith, did so, and repaired thither about the evening. Immediately upon his coming, the jailer was forthwith charged with him, to shut him up close in such a prison where they appointed him.
The party, hoping at the first that he had been called for about some other matter, and seeing himself, contrary to his expectation, cast into a dark dungeon, perceived at length that the world went with him far otherwise than he supposed it would have done.
But within two or three days after, he was brought into the court, where he began to demand his goods: and because it was a device that well served their turn without any more circumstance, they bid him say his Ave Maria: Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus Amen.
The same was written word by word as he spake it, and without any more talk of claiming his goods, because it was needless, they commanded him to prison again, and entered an action against him as a heretic, forasmuch as he did not say his Ave Maria after the Romish fashion, but ended it very suspiciously, for he should have added moreover; Sancta Maria mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus: by abbreviating whereof, it was evident enough (said they) that he did not allow the mediation of saints.
Thus they picked a quarrel to detain him in prison a longer season, and afterward brought him forth upon their stage disguised after their manner; where sentence was given, that he should lose all the goods which he sued for, though they were not his own, and besides this, suffer a year's imprisonment.
Mark Brughes, an Englishman, master of an English ship called the Minion, was burned in a city in Portugal.
William Hoker, a young man about the age of sixteen years, being an Englishman, was stoned to death by certain young men in the city of Seville, for the same righteous cause.
Some Private Enormities of the Inquisition Laid Open, by a Very Singular
When the crown of Spain was contested for in the beginning of the present century, by two princes, who equally pretended to the sovereignty, France espoused the cause of one competitor, and England of the other.
The duke of Berwick, a natural son of James II who abdicated England, commanded the Spanish and French forces, and defeated the English at the celebrated battle of Almanza. The army was then divided into two parts; the one consisting of Spaniards and French, headed by the duke of Berwick, advanced towards Catalonia; the other body, consisting of French troops only, commanded by the duke of Orleans, proceeded to the conquest of Arragon.
As the troops drew near to the city of Arragon, the magistrates came to offer the keys to the duke of Orleans; but he told them haughtily that they were rebels, and that he would not accept the keys, for he had orders to enter the city through a breach.
He accordingly made a breach in the walls with his cannon, and then entered the city through it, together with his whole army. When he had made every necessary regulation here, he departed to subdue other places, leaving a strong garrison at once to overawe and defend, under the command of his lieutenant-general M. de Legal. This gentleman, though brought up a Roman Catholic, was totally free from superstition; he united great talents with great bravery; and was the skilful officer, and accomplished gentleman.
The duke, before his departure, had ordered that heavy contributions should be levied upon the city in the following manner:
The two last contributions to be appropriated to the maintenance of the army.
The money levied upon the magistrates and principal inhabitants, and upon every house, was paid as soon as demanded; but when the persons applied to the heads of convents and monasteries, they found that the ecclesiastics were not so willing, as other people, to part with their cash.
Of the donatives to be raised by the clergy:
The College of Jesuits to pay - 2000 pistoles.
M. de Legal sent to the Jesuits a peremptory order to pay the money immediately. The superior of the Jesuits returned for answer that for the clergy to pay money for the army was against all ecclesiastical immunities; and that he knew of no argument which could authorize such a procedure. M. de Legal then sent four companies of dragoons to quarter themselves in the college, with this sarcastic message. "To convince you of the necessity of paying the money, I have sent four substantial arguments to your college, drawn from the system of military logic; and, therefore, hope you will not need any further admonition to direct your conduct."
These proceedings greatly perplexed the Jesuits, who despatched an express to court to the king's confessor, who was of their order; but the dragoons were much more expeditious in plundering and doing mischief, than the courier in his journey: so that the Jesuits, seeing everything going to wreck and ruin, thought proper to adjust the matter amicably, and paid the money before the return of their messenger. The Augustins and Carmelites, taking warning by what had happened to the Jesuits, prudently went and paid the money, and by that means escaped the study of military arguments, and of being taught logic by dragoons.
But the Dominicans, who were all familiars of, or agents dependent on, the Inquisition, imagined that that very circumstance would be their protection; but they were mistaken, for M. de Legal neither feared nor respected the Inquisition. The chief of the Dominicans sent word to the military commander that his order was poor, and had not any money whatever to pay the donative; for, says he, "The whole wealth of the Dominicans consists only in the silver images of the apostles and saints, as large as life, which are placed in our church, and which it would be sacrilege to remove."
This insinuation was meant to terrify the French commander, whom the inquisitors imagined would not dare to be so profane as to wish for the possession of the precious idols.
He, however, sent word that the silver images would make admirable substitutes for money, and would be more in character in his possession, than in that of the Dominicans themselves, "For [said he] while you possess them in the manner you do at present, they stand up in niches, useless and motionless, without being of the least benefit to mankind in general, or even to yourselves; but, when they come into my possession, they shall be useful; I will put them in motion; for I intend to have them coined, when they may travel like the apostles, be beneficial in various places, and circulate for the universal service of mankind."
The inquisitors were astonished at this treatment, which they never expected to receive, even from crowned heads; they therefore determined to deliver their precious images in a solemn procession, that they might excite the people to an insurrection. The Dominican friars were accordingly ordered to march to de Legal's house, with the silver apostles and saints, in a mournful manner, having lighted tapers with them and bitterly crying all the way, "heresy, heresy."
M. de Legal, hearing these proceedings, ordered four companies of grenadiers to line the street which led to his house; each grenadier was ordered to have his loaded fuzee in one hand, and a lighted taper in the other; so that the troops might either repel force with force, or do honor to the farcical solemnity.
The friars did all they could to raise the tumult, but the common people were too much afraid of the troops under arms to obey them; the silver images were, therefore, of necessity delivered up to M. de Legal, who sent them to the mint, and ordered them to be coined immediately.
The project of raising an insurrection having failed, the inquisitors determined to excommunicate M. de Legal, unless he would release their precious silver saints from imprisonment in the mint, before they were melted down, or otherwise mutilated. The French commander absolutely refused to release the images, but said they should certainly travel and do good; upon which the inquisitors drew up the form of excommunication, and ordered their secretary to go and read it to M. de Legal.
The secretary punctually performed his commission, and read the excommunication deliberately and distinctly. The French commander heard it with great patience, and politely told the secretary that he would answer it the next day.
When the secretary of the Inquisition was gone, M. de Legal ordered his own secretary to prepare a form of excommunication, exactly like that sent by the Inquisition; but to make this alteration, instead of his name to put in those of the inquisitors.
The next morning he ordered four regiments under arms, and commanded them to accompany his secretary, and act as he directed.
The secretary went to the Inquisition, and insisted upon admittance, which, after a great deal of altercation, was granted. As soon as he entered, he read, in an audible voice, the excommunication sent by M. de Legal against the inquisitors. The inquisitors were all present, and heard it with astonishment, never having before met with any individual who dared to behave so boldly. They loudly cried out against de Legal, as a heretic; and said, "This was a most daring insult against the Catholic faith." But to surprise them still more, the French secretary told them that they must remove from their present lodgings; for the French commander wanted to quarter the troops in the Inquisition, as it was the most commodious place in the whole city.
The inquisitors exclaimed loudly upon this occasion, when the secretary put them under a strong guard, and sent them to a place appointed by M. de Legal to receive them. The inquisitors, finding how things went, begged that they might be permitted to take their private property, which was granted; and they immediately set out for Madrid, where they made the most bitter complaints to the king; but the monarch told them that he could not grant them any redress, as the injuries they had received were from his grandfather, the king of France's troops, by whose assistance alone he could be firmly established in his kingdom. "Had it been my own troops, [said he] I would have punished them; but as it is, I cannot pretend to exert any authority."
In the mean time, M. de Legal's secretary set open all the doors of the Inquisition, and released the prisoners, who amounted in the whole to four hundred; and among these were sixty beautiful young women, who appeared to form a seraglio for the three principal inquisitors.
This discovery, which laid the enormity of the inquisitors so open, greatly alarmed the archbishop, who desired M. de Legal to send the women to his palace, and he would take proper care of them; and at the same time he published an ecclesiastical censure against all such as should ridicule, or blame, the holy office of the Inquisition.
The French commander sent word to the archbishop, that the prisoners had either run away, or were so securely concealed by their friends, or even by his own officers, that it was impossible for him to send them back again; and, therefore, the Inquisition having committed such atrocious actions, must now put up with their exposure.
Some may suggest, that it is strange crowned heads and eminent nobles did not attempt to crush the power of the Inquisition, and reduce the authority of those ecclesiastical tyrants, from whose merciless fangs neither their families nor themselves were secure.
But astonishing as it is, superstition hath, in this case, always overcome common sense, and custom operated against reason. One prince, indeed, intended to abolish the Inquisition, but he lost his life before he became king, and consequently before he had the power so to do; for the very intimation of his design procured his destruction.
This was that amiable prince Don Carlos, son of Philip the Second, king of Spain, and grandson of the celebrated emperor Charles V. Don Carlos possessed all the good qualities of his grandfather, without any of the bad ones of his father; and was a prince of great vivacity, admirable learning, and the most amiable disposition. He had sense enough to see into the errors of popery, and abhorred the very name of the Inquisition. He inveighed publicly against the institution, ridiculed the affected piety of the inquisitors, did all he could to expose their atrocious deeds, and even declared, that if he ever came to the crown, he would abolish the Inquisition, and exterminate its agents.
These things were sufficient to irritate the inquisitors against the prince: they, accordingly, bent their minds to vengeance, and determined on his destruction.
The inquisitors now employed all their agents and emissaries to spread abroad the most artful insinuations against the prince; and, at length raised such a spirit of discontent among the people that the king was under the necessity of removing Don Carlos from court. Not content with this, they pursued even his friends, and obliged the king likewise to banish Don John, duke of Austria, his own brother, and consequently uncle to the prince; together with the prince of Parma, nephew to the king, and cousin to the prince, because they well knew that both the duke of Austria, and the prince of Parma, had a most sincere and inviolable attachment to Don Carlos.
Some few years after, the prince having shown great lenity and favor to the Protestants in the Netherlands, the Inquisition loudly exclaimed against him, declaring, that as the persons in question were heretics, the prince himself must necessarily be one, since he gave them countenance. In short, they gained so great an ascendency over the mind of the king, who was absolutely a slave to superstition, that, shocking to relate, he sacrificed the feelings of nature to the force of bigotry, and, for fear of incurring the anger of the Inquisition, gave up his only son, passing the sentence of death on him himself.
The prince, indeed, had what was termed an indulgence; that is, he was permitted to choose the manner of his death. Roman-like, the unfortunate young hero chose bleeding and the hot bath; when the veins of his arms and legs were opened, he expired gradually, falling a martyr to the malice of the inquisitors, and the stupid bigotry of his father.
The Persecution of Dr. Aegidio
Dr. Aegidio was educated at the university of Alcala, where he took his several degrees, and particularly applied himself to the study of the sacred Scriptures and school divinity. When the professor of theology died, he was elected into his place, and acted so much to the satisfaction of every one that his reputation for learning and piety was circulated throughout Europe.
Aegidio, however, had his enemies, and these laid a complaint against him to the inquisitors, who sent him a citation, and when he appeared to it, cast him into a dungeon.
As the greatest part of those who belonged to the cathedral church at Seville, and many persons belonging to the bishopric of Dortois highly approved of the doctrines of Aegidio, which they thought perfectly consonant with true religion, they petitioned the emperor in his behalf. Though the monarch had been educated a Roman Catholic, he had too much sense to be a bigot, and therefore sent an immediate order for his enlargement.
He soon after visited the church of Valladolid, and did every thing he could to promote the cause of religion. Returning home he soon after fell sick, and died in an extreme old age.
The inquisitors having been disappointed of gratifying their malice against him while living, determined (as the emperor's whole thoughts were engrossed by a military expedition) to wreak their vengeance on him when dead. Therefore, soon after he was buried, they ordered his remains to be dug out of the grave; and a legal process being carried on, they were condemned to be burnt, which was executed accordingly.
The Persecution of Dr. Constantine
Dr. Constantine, an intimate acquaintance of the already mentioned Dr. Aegidio, was a man of uncommon natural abilities and profound learning; exclusive of several modern tongues, he was acquainted with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and perfectly well knew not only the sciences called abstruse, but those arts which come under the denomination of polite literature.
His eloquence rendered him pleasing, and the soundness of his doctrines a profitable preacher; and he was so popular that he never preached but to a crowded audience. He had many opportunities of rising in the Church, but never would take advantage of them; for if a living of greater value than his own was offered him, he would refuse it, saying, "I am content with what I have"; and he frequently preached so forcibly against simony, that many of his superiors, who were not so delicate upon the subject, took umbrage at his doctrines upon that head.
Having been fully confirmed in Protestantism by Dr. Aegidio, he preached boldly such doctrines only as were agreeable to Gospel purity, and uncontaminated by the errors which had at various times crept into the Romish Church. For these reasons he had many enemies among the Roman Catholics, and some of them were fully determined on his destruction.
A worthy gentleman named Scobaria, having erected a school for divinity lectures, appointed Dr. Constantine to be reader therein. He immediately undertook the task, and read lectures, by portions, on the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles; and was beginning to expound the Book of Job, when he was seized by the inquisitors.
Being brought to examination, he answered with such precaution that they could not find any explicit charge against him, but remained doubtful in what manner to proceed, when the following circumstances occurred to determine them.
Dr. Constantine had deposited with a woman named Isabella Martin, several books, which to him were very valuable, but which he knew, in the eyes of the Inquisition, were exceptionable.
This woman having been informed against as a Protestant, was apprehended, and, after a small process, her goods were ordered to be confiscated. Previous, however, to the officers coming to her house, the woman's son had removed away several chests full of the most valuable articles; among these were Dr. Constantine's books.
A treacherous servant gave intelligence of this to the inquisitors, and an officer was despatched to the son to demand the chests. The son, supposing the officer only came for Constantine's books, said, "I know what you come for, and I will fetch them to you immediately." He then fetched Dr. Constantine's books and papers, when the officer was greatly surprised to find what he did not look for. He, however, told the young man that he was glad these books and papers were produced, but nevertheless he must fulfill the end of his commission, which was to carry him and the goods he had embezzled before the inquisitors, which he did accordingly; for the young man knew it would be in vain to expostulate, or resist, and therefore quietly submitted to his fate.
The inquisitors being thus possessed of Constantine's books and writings, now found matter sufficient to form charges against him. When he was brought to a re-examination, they presented one of his papers, and asked him if he knew the handwriting? Perceiving it was his own, he guessed the whole matter, confessed the writing, and justified the doctrine it contained: saying, "In that, and all my other writings, I have never departed from the truth of the Gospel, but have always kept in view the pure precepts of Christ, as He delivered them to mankind."
After being detained upwards of two years in prison, Dr. Constantine was seized with a bloody flux, which put an end to his miseries in this world. The process, however, was carried on against his body, which, at the ensuing auto da fe, was publicly burnt.
The Life of William Gardiner
William Gardiner was born at Bristol, received a tolerable education, and was, at a proper age, placed under the care of a merchant, named Paget.
At the age of twenty-six years, he was, by his master, sent to Lisbon to act as factor. Here he applied himself to the study of the Portuguese language, executed his business with assiduity and despatch, and behaved with the most engaging affability to all persons with whom he had the least concern. He conversed privately with a few, whom he knew to be zealous Protestants; and, at the same time cautiously avoided giving the least offence to any who were Roman Catholics; he had not, however, hitherto gone into any of the popish churches.
A marriage being concluded between the king of Portugal's son, and the Infanta of Spain, upon the wedding-day the bridegroom, bride, and the whole court went to the cathedral church, attended by multitudes of all ranks of people, and among the rest William Gardiner, who stayed during the whole ceremony, and was greatly shocked at the superstitions he saw.
The erroneous worship which he had seen ran strongly in his mind; he was miserable to see a whole country sunk into such idolatry, when the truth of the Gospel might be so easily obtained. He, therefore, took the inconsiderate, though laudable design, into his head, of making a reform in Portugal, or perishing in the attempt; and determined to sacrifice his prudence to his zeal, though he became a martyr upon the occasion.
To this end, he settled all his worldly affairs, paid his debts, closed his books, and consigned over his merchandise. On the ensuing Sunday he went again to the cathedral church, with a New Testament in his hand, and placed himself near the altar.
The king and the court soon appeared, and a cardinal began Mass, at that part of the ceremony in which the people adore the wafer. Gardiner could hold out no longer, but springing towards the cardinal, he snatched the host from him, and trampled it under his feet.
This action amazed the whole congregation, and one person, drawing a dagger, wounded Gardiner in the shoulder, and would, by repeating the blow, have finished him, had not the king called to him to desist.
Gardiner, being carried before the king, the monarch asked him what countryman he was: to which he replied, "I am an Englishman by birth, a Protestant by religion, and a merchant by occupation. What I have done is not out of contempt to your royal person, God forbid it should, but out of an honest indignation, to see the ridiculous superstitious and gross idolatries practiced here."
The king, thinking that he had been stimulated by some other person to act as he had done, demanded who was his abetter, to which he replied, "My own conscience alone. I would not hazard what I have done for any man living, but I owe that and all other services to God."
Gardiner was sent to prison, and a general order issued to apprehend all Englishmen in Lisbon. This order was in a great measure put into execution, (some few escaping) and many innocent persons were tortured to make them confess if they knew any thing of the matter; in particular, a person who resided in the same house with Gardiner was treated with unparalleled barbarity to make him confess something which might throw a light upon the affair.
Gardiner himself was then tormented in the most excruciating manner; but in the midst of all his torments he gloried in the deed. Being ordered for death, a large fire was kindled near a gibbet, Gardiner was drawn up to the gibbet by pulleys, and then let down near the fire, but not so close as to touch it; for they burnt or rather roasted him by slow degrees. Yet he bore his sufferings patiently and resigned his soul to the Lord cheerfully.
It is observable that some of the sparks that were blown from the fire, (which consumed Gardiner) towards the haven, burnt one of the king's ships of war, and did other considerable damage. The Englishmen who were taken up on this occasion were, soon after Gardiner's death, all discharged, except the person who resided in the same house with him, who was detained two years before he could procure his liberty.
An Account of the Life and Sufferings of Mr. William Lithgow, a Native of Scotland
This gentleman was descended from a good family, and having a natural propensity for travelling, he rambled, when very young, over the northern and western islands; after which he visited France, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. He set out on his travels in the month of March, 1609, and the first place he went to was Paris, where he stayed for some time. He then prosecuted his travels through Germany and other parts, and at length arrived at Malaga, in Spain, the seat of all his misfortunes.
During his residence here, he contracted with the master of a French ship for his passage to Alexandria, but was prevented from going by the following circumstances. In the evening of the seventeenth of October, 1620, the English fleet, at that time on a cruise against the Algerine rovers, came to anchor before Malaga, which threw the people of the town into the greatest consternation, as they imagined them to be Turks. The morning, however, discovered the mistake, and the governor of Malaga, perceiving the cross of England in their colors, went on board Sir Robert Mansel's ship, who commanded on that expedition, and after staying some time returned, and silenced the fears of the people.
The next day many persons from on board the fleet came ashore. Among these were several well known by Mr. Lithgow, who, after reciprocal compliments, spent some days together in festivity and the amusements of the town. They then invited Mr. Lithgow to go on board, and pay his respects to the admiral. He accordingly accepted the invitation, was kindly received by him, and detained till the next day when the fleet sailed. The admiral would willingly have taken Mr. Lithgow with him to Algiers; but having contracted for his passage to Alexandria, and his baggage, etc., being in the town, he could not accept the offer.
As soon as Mr. Lithgow got on shore, he proceeded towards his lodgings by a private way, (being to embark the same night for Alexandria) when, in passing through a narrow uninhabited street, he found himself suddenly surrounded by nine sergeants, or officers, who threw a black cloak over him, and forcibly conducted him to the governor's house. After some little time the governor appeared when Mr. Lithgow earnestly begged he might be informed of the cause of such violent treatment. The governor only answered by shaking his head, and gave orders that the prisoner should be strictly watched until he (the governor) returned from his devotions; directing, at the same time, that the captain of the town, the alcade major, and town notary, should be summoned to appear at his examination, and that all this should be done with the greatest secrecy, to prevent the knowledge reaching the ears of the English merchants then residing in the town.
These orders were strictly discharged, and on the governor's return, he, with the officers, having seated themselves, Mr. Lithgow was brought before them for examination. The governor began by asking several questions, namely, of what country he was, whither bound, and how long he had been in Spain. The prisoner, after answering these and other questions, was conducted to a closet, where, in a short space of time, he was visited by the town captain, who inquired whether he had ever been at Seville, or was lately come from thence; and patting his cheeks with an air of friendship, conjured him to tell the truth, "For (said he) your very countenance shows there is some hidden matter in your mind, which prudence should direct you to disclose." Finding himself, however, unable to extort any thing from the prisoner, he left him, and reported the same to the governor and the other officers; on which Mr. Lithgow was again brought before them, a general accusation was laid against him, and he was compelled to swear that he would give true answers to such questions as should be asked him.
The governor proceeded to inquire the quality of the English commander, and the prisoner's opinion what were the motives that prevented his accepting an invitation from him to come on shore. He demanded, likewise, the names of the English captains in the squadron, and what knowledge he had of the embarkation, or preparation for it before his departure from England. The answers given to the several questions asked were set down in writing by the notary; but the junto seemed surprised at his denying any knowledge of the fitting out of the fleet, particularly the governor, who said he lied; that he was a traitor and a spy, and came directly from England to favor and assist the designs that were projected against Spain, and that he had been for that purpose nine months in Seville, in order to procure intelligence of the time the Spanish navy was expected from the Indies. They exclaimed against his familiarity with the officers of the fleet, and many other English gentlemen, between whom, they said, unusual civilities had passed, but all these transactions had been carefully noticed.
Besides to sum up the whole, and put the truth past all doubt, they said he came from a council of war, held that morning on board the admiral's ship, in order to put in execution the orders assigned him. They upbraided him with being accessory to the burning of the island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies. "Wherefore (said they) these Lutherans, and sons of the devil, ought to have no credit given to what they say or swear."
In vain did Mr. Lithgow endeavor to obviate every accusation laid against him, and to obtain belief from his prejudiced judges. He begged permission to send for his cloak bag which contained his papers, and might serve to show his innocence. This request they complied with, thinking it would discover some things of which they were ignorant. The cloak bag was accordingly brought, and being opened, among other things, was found a license from King James the First, under the sign manual, setting forth the bearer's intention to travel into Egypt; which was treated by the haughty Spaniards with great contempt. The other papers consisted of passports, testimonials, etc., of persons of quality. All these credentials, however, seemed rather to confirm than abate the suspicions of these prejudiced judges, who, after seizing all the prisoner's papers, ordered him again to withdraw.
In the meantime a consultation was held to fix the place where the prisoner should be confined. The alcade, or chief judge, was for putting him into the town prison; but this was objected to, particularly by the corregidor, who said, in Spanish, "In order to prevent the knowledge of his confinement from reaching his countrymen, I will take the matter on myself, and be answerable for the consequences"; upon which it was agreed that he should be confined in the governor's house with the greatest secrecy.
This matter being determined, one of the sergeants went to Mr. Lithgow, and begged his money, with liberty to search him. As it was needless to make any resistance, the prisoner quietly complied, when the sergeant (after rifling his pockets of eleven ducatoons) stripped him to his shirt; and searching his breeches he found, inclosed in the waistland, two canvass bags, containing one hundred and thirty-seven pieces of gold. The sergeant immediately took the money to the corregidor, who, after having told it over, ordered him to clothe the prisoner, and shut him up close until after supper.
About midnight, the sergeant and two Turkish slaves released Mr. Lithgow from his then confinement, but it was to introduce him to one much more horrible. They conducted him through several passages, to a chamber in a remote part of the palace, towards the garden, where they loaded him with irons, and extended his legs by means of an iron bar above a yard long, the weight of which was so great that he could neither stand nor sit, but was obliged to lie continually on his back. They left him in this condition for some time, when they returned with a refreshment of food, consisting of a pound of boiled mutton and a loaf, together with a small quantity of wine; which was not only the first, but the best and last of the kind, during his confinement in this place. After delivering these articles, the sergeant locked the door, and left Mr. Lithgow to his own private contemplations.
The next day he received a visit from the governor, who promised him his liberty, with many other advantages, if he would confess being a spy; but on his protesting that he was entirely innocent, the governor left him in a rage, saying, 'He should see him no more until further torments constrained him to confess'; commanding the keeper, to whose care he was committed, that he should permit no person whatever to have access to, or commune with him; that his sustenance should not exceed three ounces of musty bread, and a pint of water every second day; that he shall be allowed neither bed, pillow, nor coverlid. "Close up (said he) this window in his room with lime and stone, stop up the holes of the door with double mats: let him have nothing that bears any likeness to comfort." These, and several orders of the like severity, were given to render it impossible for his condition to be known to those of the English nation.
In this wretched and melancholy state did poor Lithgow continue without seeing any person for several days, in which time the governor received an answer to a letter he had written, relative to the prisoner, from Madrid; and, pursuant to the instructions given him, began to put in practice the cruelties devised, which were hastened, because Christmas holy-days approached, it being then the forty-seventh day since his imprisonment.
About two o'clock in the morning, he heard the noise of a coach in the street, and sometime after heard the opening of the prison doors, not having had any sleep for two nights; hunger, pain, and melancholy reflections having prevented him from taking any repose.
Soon after the prison doors were opened, the nine sergeants, who had first seized him, entered the place where he lay, and without uttering a word, conducted him in his irons through the house into the street, where a coach waited, and into which they laid him at the bottom on his back, not being able to sit. Two of the sergeants rode with him, and the rest walked by the coach side, but all observed the most profound silence. They drove him to a vinepress house, about a league from the town, to which place a rack had been privately conveyed before; and here they shut him up for that night.
At daybreak the next morning, arrived the governor and the alcade, into whose presence Mr. Lithgow was immediately brought to undergo another examination. The prisoner desired he might have an interpreter, which was allowed to strangers by the laws of that country, but this was refused, nor would they permit him to appeal to Madrid, the superior court of judicature. After a long examination, which lasted from morning until night, there appeared in all his answers so exact a conformity with what he had before said, that they declared he had learned them by heart, there not being the least prevarication. They, however, pressed him again to make a full discovery; that is, to accuse himself of crimes never committed, the governor adding, "You are still in my power; I can set you free if you comply, if not, I must deliver you to the alcade." Mr. Lithgow still persisting in his innocence, the governor ordered the notary to draw up a warrant for delivering him to the alcade to be tortured.
In consequence of this he was conducted by the sergeants to the end of a stone gallery, where the rack was placed. The encarouador, or executioner, immediately struck off his irons, which put him to very great pains, the bolts being so closely riveted that the sledge hammer tore away half an inch of his heel, in forcing off the bolt; the anguish of which, together with his weak condition, (not having the least sustenance for three days) occasioned him to groan bitterly; upon which the merciless alcade said, "Villain, traitor, this is but the earnest of what you shall endure."
When his irons were off, he fell on his knees, uttering a short prayer, that God would be pleased to enable him to be steadfast, and undergo courageously the grievous trial he had to encounter. The alcade and notary having placed themselves in chairs, he was stripped naked, and fixed upon the rack, the office of these gentlemen being to be witness of, and set down the confessions and tortures endured by the delinquent.
It is impossible to describe all the various tortures inflicted upon him.
Suffice it to say that he lay on the rack for above five hours, during which time he received above sixty different tortures of the most hellish nature; and had they continued them a few minutes longer, he must have inevitably perished.
These cruel persecutors being satisfied for the present, the prisoner was taken from the rack, and his irons being again put on, he was conducted to his former dungeon, having received no other nourishment than a little warm wine, which was given him rather to prevent his dying, and reserve him for future punishments, than from any principle of charity or compassion.
As a confirmation of this, orders were given for a coach to pass every morning before day by the prison, that the noise made by it might give fresh terrors and alarms to the unhappy prisoner, and deprive him of all possibility of obtaining the least repose.
He continued in this horrid situation, almost starved for want of the common necessaries to preserve his wretched existence, until Christmas day, when he received some relief from Mariane, waiting-woman to the governor's lady. This woman having obtained leave to visit him, carried with her some refreshments, consisting of honey, sugar, raisins, and other articles; and so affected was she at beholding his situation that she wept bitterly, and at her departure expressed the greatest concern at not being able to give him further assistance.
In this loathsome prison was poor Mr. Lithgow kept until he was almost devoured by vermin. They crawled about his beard, lips, eyebrows, etc., so that he could scarce open his eyes; and his mortification was increased by not having the use of his hands or legs to defend himself, from his being so miserably maimed by the tortures. So cruel was the governor, that he even ordered the vermin to be swept on him twice in every eight days. He, however, obtained some little mitigation of this part of his punishment, from the humanity of a Turkish slave that attended him, who, when he could do it with safety, destroyed the vermin, and contributed every refreshment to him that laid in his power.
From this slave Mr. Lithgow at length received information which gave him little hopes of ever being released, but, on the contrary, that he should finish his life under new tortures. The substance of this information was that an English seminary priest, and a Scotch cooper, had been for some time employed by the governor to translate from the English into the Spanish language, all his books and observations; and that it was commonly said in the governor's house, that he was an arch-heretic.
This information greatly alarmed him, and he began, not without reason, to fear that they would soon finish him, more especially as they could neither by torture or any other means, bring him to vary from what he had all along said at his different examinations.
Two days after he had received the above information, the governor, an inquisitor, and a canonical priest, accompanied by two Jesuits, entered his dungeon, and being seated, after several idle questions, the inquisitor asked Mr. Lithgow if he was a Roman Catholic, and acknowledged the pope's supremacy? He answered that he neither was the one nor did the other, adding that he was surprised at being asked such questions, since it was expressly stipulated by the articles of peace between England and Spain that none of the English subjects should be liable to the Inquisition, or any way molested by them on account of diversity in religion, etc. In the bitterness of his soul he made use of some warm expressions not suited to his circumstances: "As you have almost murdered me (said he) for pretended treason, so now you intend to make a martyr of me for my religion." He also expostulated with the governor on the ill return he made to the king of England, (whose subject he was) for the princely humanity exercised towards the Spaniards in 1588, when their armada was shipwrecked on the Scotch coast, and thousands of the Spaniards found relief, who must otherwise have miserably perished.
The governor admitted the truth of what Mr. Lithgow said, but replied with a haughty air that the king, who then only ruled Scotland, was actuated more by fear than love, and therefore did not deserve any thanks. One of the Jesuits said there was no faith to be kept with heretics. The inquisitor then rising, addressed himself to Mr. Lithgow in the following words: "You have been taken up as a spy, accused of treachery, and tortured, as we acknowledge, innocently:
(which appears by the account lately received from Madrid of the intentions of the English) yet it was the divine power that brought those judgments upon you, for presumptuously treating the blessed miracle of Loretto with ridicule, and expressing yourself in your writings irreverently of his holiness, the great agent and Christ's vicar upon earth; therefore you are justly fallen into our hands by their special appointment: thy books and papers are miraculously translated by the assistance of Providence influencing thy own countrymen."
This trumpery being ended, they gave the prisoner eight days to consider and resolve whether he would become a convert to their religion; during which time the inquisitor told him he, with other religious orders, would attend, to give him such assistance thereto as he might want. One of the Jesuits said, (first making the sign of the cross upon his breast), "My son, behold, you deserve to be burnt alive; but by the grace of our lady of Loretto, whom you have blasphemed we will both save your soul and body."
In the morning the inquisitor, with three other ecclesiastics, returned, when the former asked the prisoner what difficulties he had on his conscience that retarded his conversion; to which he answered, 'he had not any doubts in his mind, being confident in the promises of Christ, and assuredly believing his revealed will signified in the Gospels, as professed in the reformed Catholic Church, being confirmed by grace, and having infallible assurance thereby of the Christian faith.' To these words the inquisitor replied, "Thou art no Christian, but an absurd heretic, and without conversion a member of perdition." The prisoner then told him that it was not consistent with the nature and essence of religion and charity to convince by opprobrious speeches, racks, and torments, but by arguments deduced from the Scriptures; and that all other methods would with him be totally ineffectual.
The inquisitor was so enraged at the replies made by the prisoner, that he struck him on the face, used many abusive speeches, and attempted to stab him, which he had certainly done had he not been prevented by the Jesuits; and from this time he never again visited the prisoner.
The next day the two Jesuits returned, and putting on a very grave, supercilious air, the superior asked him what resolution he had taken. To which Mr. Lithgow replied that he was already resolved, unless he could show substantial reasons to make him alter his opinion. The superior, after a pedantic display of their seven sacraments, the intercession of saints, transubstantiation, etc., boasted greatly of their Church, her antiquity, universality, and uniformity; all of which Mr. Lithgow denied: "For (said he) the profession of the faith I hold hath been ever since the first days of the apostles, and Christ had ever his own Church (however obscure) in the greatest time of your darkness."
The Jesuits, finding their arguments had not the desired effect, that torments could not shake his constancy, nor even the fear of the cruel sentence he had reason to expect would be pronounced and executed on him, after severe menaces, left him. On the eighth day after, being the last of their Inquisition, when sentence is pronounced, they returned again, but quite altered both in their words and behavior after repeating much of the same kind of arguments as before, they with seeming tears in their eyes, pretended they were sorry from their heart he must be obliged to undergo a terrible death, but above all, for the loss of his most precious soul; and falling on their knees, cried out, "Convert, convert, O dear brother, for our blessed Lady's sake convert!" To which he answered, "I fear neither death nor fire, being prepared for both."
The first effects Mr. Lithgow felt of the determination of this bloody tribunal was, a sentence to receive that night eleven different tortures, and if he did not die in the execution of them, (which might be reasonably expected from the maimed and disjointed condition he was in) he was, after Easter holy-days, to be carried to Grenada, and there burnt to ashes. The first part of this sentence was executed with great barbarity that night; and it pleased God to give him strength both of body and mind, to stand fast to the truth, and to survive the horrid punishments inflicted on him.
After these barbarians had glutted themselves for the present, with exercising on the unhappy prisoner the most distinguished cruelties, they again put irons on, and conveyed him to his former dungeon. The next morning he received some little comfort from the Turkish slave before mentioned, who secretly brought him, in his shirt sleeve, some raisins and figs, which he licked up in the best manner his strength would permit with his tongue. It was to this slave Mr. Lithgow attributed his surviving so long in such a wretched situation; for he found means to convey some of these fruits to him twice every week. It is very extraordinary, and worthy of note, that this poor slave, bred up from his infancy, according to the maxims of his prophet and parents, in the greatest detestation of Christians, should be so affected at the miserable situation of Mr. Lithgow that he fell ill, and continued so for upwards of forty days. During this period Mr. Lithgow was attended by a negro woman, a slave, who found means to furnish him with refreshments still more amply than the Turk, being conversant in the house and family. She brought him every day some victuals, and with it some wine in a bottle.
The time was now so far elapsed, and the horrid situation so truly loathsome, that Mr. Lithgow waited with anxious expectation for the day, which, by putting an end to his life, would also end his torments. But his melancholy expectations were, by the interposition of Providence, happily rendered abortive, and his deliverance obtained from the following circumstances.
It happened that a Spanish gentleman of quality came from Grenada to Malaga, who being invited to an entertainment by the governor, informed him of what had befallen Mr. Lithgow from the time of his being apprehended as a spy, and described the various sufferings he had endured. He likewise told him that after it was known the prisoner was innocent, it gave him great concern. That on this account he would gladly have released him, restored his money and papers, and made some atonement for the injuries he had received, but that, upon an inspection into his writings, several were found of a very blasphemous nature, highly reflecting on their religion, that on his refusing to abjure these heretical opinions, he was turned over to the Inquisition, by whom he was finally condemned.
While the governor was relating this tragical tale, a Flemish youth (servant to the Spanish gentleman) who waited at the table, was struck with amazement and pity at the sufferings of the stranger described. On his return to his master's lodgings he began to revolve in his mind what he had heard, which made such an impression on him that he could not rest in his bed. In the short slumbers he had, his imagination pointed to him the person described, on the rack, and burning in the fire. In this anxiety he passed the night; and when the morning came, without disclosing his intentions to any person whatever, he went into the town, and inquired for an English factor. He was directed to the house of a Mr. Wild, to whom he related the whole of what he had heard pass the preceding evening, between his master and the governor, but could not tell Mr. Lithgow's name. Mr. Wild, however, conjectured it was he, by the servant's remembering the circumstance of his being a traveller, and his having had some acquaintance with him.
On the departure of the Flemish servant, Mr. Wild immeidately sent for the other English factors, to whom he related all the paritculars relative to their unfortunate countryman. After a short consultation it was agreed that an information of the whole affair should be sent, by express, to Sir Walter Aston, the English ambassador to the king of Spain, then at Madrid. This was accordingly done, and the ambassador having presented a memorial to the king and council of Spain, obtained an order for Mr. Lithgow's enlargement, and his delivery to the English factor. This order was directed to the governor of Malaga; and was received with great dislike and surprise by the whole assembly of the bloody Inquisition.
Mr. Lithgow was released from his confinement on the eve of Easter Sunday, when he was carried from his dungeon on the back of the slave who had attended him, to the house of one Mr. Bosbich, where all proper comforts were given him. It fortunately happened that there was at this time a squadron of English ships in the road, commanded by Sir Richard Hawkins, who being informed of the past sufferings and present situation of Mr. Lithgow, came the next day ashore, with a proper guard, and received him from the merchants. He was instantly carried in blankets on board the Vanguard, and three days after was removed to another ship, by direction of the general Sir Robert Mansel, who ordered that he should have proper care taken of him. The factor presented him with clothes, and all necessary provisions, besides which they gave him two hundred reals in silver; and Sir Richard Hawkins sent him two double pistoles.
Before his departure from the Spanish coast, Sir Richard Hawkins demanded the delivery of his papers, money, books, etc., but could not obtain any satisfactory answer on that head.
We cannot help making a pause here to reflect how manifestly Providence interfered in behalf of this poor man, when he was just on the brink of destruction; for by his sentence, from which there was no appeal, he would have been taken, in a few days, to Grenada, and burnt to ashes; and that a poor ordinary servant, who had not the least knowledge of him, nor was any ways interested in his preservation, should risk the displeasure of his master, and hazard his own life, to disclose a thing of so momentous and perilous a nature, to a strange gentleman, on whose secrecy depended his own existence. By such secondary means does Providence frequently interfere in behalf of the virtuous and oppressed; of which this is a most distinguished example.
After lying twelve days in the road, the ship weighed anchor, and in about two months arrived safe at Deptford. The next morning, Mr. Lithgow was carried on a feather bed to Theobalds, in Hertfordshire, where at that time was the king and royal family. His majesty happened to be that day engaged in hunting, but on his return in the evening, Mr. Lithgow was presented to him, and related the particulars of his sufferings, and his happy delivery. The king was so affected at the narrative, that he expressed the deepest concern, and gave orders that he should be sent to Bath, and his wants properly supplied from his royal munificence. By these means, under God, after some time, Mr. Lithgow was restored from the most wretched spectacle, to a great share of health and strength; but he lost the use of his left arm and several of the smaller bones were so crushed and broken, as to be ever after rendered useless.
Notwithstanding that every effort was used, Mr. Lithgow could never obtain any part of his money or effects, although his majesty and the ministers of state interested themselves in his behalf. Gondamore, the Spanish ambassador, indeed, promised that all his effects should be restored, with the addition of 1000 Pounds English money, as some atonement for the tortures he had undergone, which last was to be paid him by the governor of Malaga. These engagements, however, were but mere promises; and although the king was a kind of guarantee for the well performance of them, the cunning Spaniard found means to elude the same. He had, indeed, too great a share of influence in the English council during the time of that pacific reign, when England suffered herself to be bullied into slavish compliance by most of the states and kings in Europe.
The Story of Galileo
The most eminent men of science and philosophy of the day did not escape the watchful eye of this cruel despotism. Galileo, the chief astronomer and mathematician of his age, was the first who used the telescope successfully in solving the movements of the heavenly bodies. He discovered that the sun is the center of motion around which the earth and various planets revolve. For making this great discovery Galileo was brought before the Inquisition, and for a while was in great danger of being put to death.
After a long and bitter review of Galileo's writings, in which many of his most important discoveries were condemned as errors, the charge of the inquisitors went on to declare, "That you, Galileo, have upon account of those things which you have written and confessed, subjected yourself to a strong suspicion of heresy in this Holy Office, by believing, and holding to be true, a doctrine which is false, and contrary to the sacred and divine Scripture- viz., that the sun is the center of the orb of the earth, and does not move from the east to the west; and that the earth moves, and is not the center of the world."
In order to save his life. Galileo admitted that he was wrong in thinking that the earth revolved around the sun, and swore that-"For the future, I will never more say, or assert, either by word or writing, anything that shall give occasion for a like suspicion." But immediately after taking this forced oath he is said to have whispered to a friend standing near, "The earth moves, for all that."
Summary of the Inquisition
Of the multitudes who perished by the Inquisoition throughout the world, no authentic record is now discoverable. But wherever popery had power, there was the tribunal. It had been planted even in the east, and the Portuguese Inquisition of Goa was, until within these few years, fed with many an agony. South America was partitioned into provinces of the Inquisition; and with a ghastly mimickry of the crimes of the mother state, the arrivals of viceroys, and the other popular celebrations were thought imperfect without an auto da fe. The Netherlands were one scene of slaughter from the time of the decree which planted the Inquisition among them. In Spain the calculation is more attainable. Each of the seventeen tribunals during a long period burned annually, on an average, ten miserable beings! We are to recollect that this number was in a country where persecution had for ages abolished all religious differences, and where the difficulty was not to find the stake, but the offering. Yet, even in Spain, thus gleaned of all heresy, the Inquisition could still swell its lists of murders to thirty-two thousand! The numbers burned in effigy, or condemned to penance, punishments generally equivalent to exile, confiscation, and taint of blood, to all ruin but the mere loss of worthless life, amounted to three hundred and nine thousand. But the crowds who perished in dungeons of torture, of confinement, and of broken hearts, the millions of dependent lives made utterly helpless, or hurried to the grave by the death of the victims, are beyond all register; or recorded only before HIM, who has sworn that "He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword."
Such was the Inquisition, declared by the Spirit of God to be at once the offspring and the image of the popedom. To feel the force of the parentage, we must look to the time. In the thirteenth century, the popedom was at the summit of mortal dominion; it was independent of all kingdoms; it ruled with a rank of influence never before or since possessed by a human scepter; it was the acknowledged sovereign of body and soul; to all earthly intents its power was immeasurable for good or evil. It might have spread literature, peace, freedom, and Christianity to the ends of Europe, or the world. But its nature was hostile; its fuller triumph only disclosed its fuller evil; and, to the shame of human reason, and the terror and suffering of human virtue, Rome, in the hour of its consummate grandeur, teemed with the monstrous and horrid birth of the INQUISITION!
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Nobel Prize in Literature 1993
Toni Morrison (born Chloe Anthony Wofford on February 18, 1931) is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved. She also was commissioned to write the libretto for a new opera, Margaret Garner, first performed in 2005.
Toni Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio, to George and Ramah (Willis) Wofford, the second of four children in a working-class family. As a child, Morrison read constantly; among her favorite authors were Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy. Morrison's father told her numerous folktales of the black community (a method of storytelling that would later work its way into Morrison's writings). | <urn:uuid:9ae1cb2b-53b5-4f5b-88a3-7446cd545786> | {
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Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Almost two decades ago, I wrote a book chapter called Leadership without Followers (Dede, 1993). This chapter discussed four dimensions of leadership that still apply today. People often see leadership as a combination of meticulous management, adept political maneuvering, and responsive facilitation of others' activities. While each of these is important, I believe the true nature of leadership is exemplified by the four attributes below.
Leadership requires envisioning opportunities.
One of the most important attributes that distinguishes leaders from managers is "vision": the ability to communicate desirable, achievable futures quite different from where the present is drifting. Leaders create and convey compelling images of how our reach is much less than our potential grasp; they redefine people's paradigms about what is possible. In contrast, competent managers are adept at organizing operations so that an institution's efficiency in accomplishing plans is optimized. This is a vital task often neglected by leaders who do not understand management, to their later regret, for good administration involves both envisioning and operationalizing.
Developing motivating images that capture the essence of needed changes is important, but insufficient to drive accomplish major improvements in education. Leadership also involves creating steppingstones that bridge from a desired future to the current gridlock typical of many American schools. In evolving from its present state to a distant objective, an educational institution must progress stage by stage. Each step of evolution requires a critical mass of resources and must create a stable, desirable situation.
Leadership requires displacing cherished misconceptions.
An important attribute of leaders is their ability to displace deeply held, cherished misconceptions with alternative visions that more accurately depict reality. Mistaken beliefs most people hold about teaching and learning form a barrier that blocks improving American education. For example, many in our culture have a subconscious image of the secondary school that is based on the following assumptions:
- Despite coming from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and going through puberty, just below the surface teenagers have a strong work ethic and a fascination with intellectual pursuits
- Regularly attending PTA meetings and sports events, paying taxes, and electing dedicated school board members provides sufficient parental support for quality education
- Because they are deeply fulfilled by their impact on learners' lives, highly qualified teachers will enter and stay in the profession despite low salaries, marginal working conditions, and little respect from the community
- Schools should be settings isolated from the real world in which learners are grouped by age and taught the academic disciplines as formal subjects
- Students are graduating into a future workplace in which mastery of the skills multiple-choice tests can measure will guarantee them a fulfilling, prosperous career
- Technology's utility in education lies in automating routine activities that underlie this model of schooling and in motivating learners via instructional formats analogous to videogames and television
Unfortunately, all these assumptions that underlie this image of the secondary school are fundamentally inaccurate. As a result, intensively applying technology to improve this model of education (e.g. integrated-learning-systems, multimedia-based teacher presentations, more elaborate testing) results in only small improvements in outcomes.
Shifting communities to alternative visions for education that are based on more realistic, but less comfortable assumptions is a major leadership challenge. In abandoning the old model of secondary education, parents and businesses and teachers and students must confront some unpleasant truths about our culture's current weaknesses. For schools to succeed, parents must provide time and effort as well as money; an excellent teaching staff may cost more than most communities are willing to pay; many students do not enter high school with the values and aspirations necessary for success; and the skills needed for a global, knowledge-based, innovation-centered economy are quite different from what can be conveyed by test-oriented, subject-centered group instruction in classrooms remote from real-world settings.
Leadership requires inspiring others to act on faith.
Inspiring a group to work toward a shared vision necessitates building trust: faith that this team of people can overcome all the obstacles that block creating a future quite different from the present. We often speak of visions as "dreams" because we do not believe they are possible; we doubt that they can be made real. Actualizing a plan for the future involves harnessing people's emotions as well as their minds, developing both understanding and belief.
The psychological stability of the present impedes our ability to emotionally invest in a future divergent from established trends and traditions. We know that earthquakes or assassinations, winning the lottery or scoring a sensational come-from-behind victory are statistically inevitable—but we are surprised when they happen because the commonplace nature of most events undercuts our belief in discontinuities. When someone can prove that a desired future is logical, rational, and inevitable, then any competent manager can persuade an institution to act. The challenge of leadership is to inspire individual and organizational faith in the seemingly impossible, developing a collective affective commitment that can move mountains of impediments.
By evolving so rapidly that each new development seems almost magical, information technology provides a fertile medium for nurturing trust that educational transformation is achievable. The availability and affordability of tools powerful enough to reshape learners and schools can help create the emotional motivation to risk innovation. Leaders build on the enthusiasm that sophisticated technologies induce to encourage an affective climate that rewards risk-taking and accepts occasional failures as an inevitable byproduct of developing new approaches.
Two closing thoughts on this aspect of leadership: First, if everyone in your organization likes you, you are not fostering enough change. Second, if you never fail, you are not taking enough risks.
Leadership requires discouraging followers.
A destructive myth about leadership is that a visionary person gives directions to followers who execute this plan. Real leaders discourage followers, instead encouraging use of their visions as a foundation for other, better insights. True solutions to problems are always based on ideas from multiple perspectives; no individual, however capable, can incorporate the full range of knowledge and experience needed to invent an educational system that fulfills the needs of a diverse community.
When leaders who surround themselves with followers fall from grace or move on, the innovations they have inspired collapse or wither. Sustainable transformations require stakeholders who fully understand the what and how of the vision and who act together—top-down, middle-out, bottom-up—to evolve dreams into realities. Technologists have often erred in setting themselves up as wizards who understand the magic in the black box. Instead, a leader in educational technology should inculcate others' visions, knowledge, and commitment to the point that all are jointly leading. This requires moving beyond the role of team facilitator or coordinator, acting as an exemplar by deliberately following others instead of always leading.
Emotionally, shedding the power and rewards of authority is very difficult. We all secretly long to be the superstar in front of the worshipping audience, to inspire awe and reverence. Like any other social movement, educational technology has generated some leaders who degenerated into gurus. Worse, many potential leaders have abdicated their responsibilities to instead assume the comfortable mantle of discipleship, blindly following someone else's vision. Condemning leaders seduced by power is easy and fun; recognizing the times each of us has avoided the difficult path of leadership to become a follower is hard and painful. Educational reform can achieve genuine, lasting success only when each stakeholder accepts the responsibility of leading.
In conclusion, leadership is a role fraught with difficulties, requiring both wisdom and maturity. Yet my goal in articulating what I have learned about leadership is to encourage everyone to lead, always. If each of us were to act in the ways described above—every day, however imperfectly—we could rapidly develop new models for restructuring education and shaping a bright future for our society.
The views expressed on this site are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Pearson Foundation.
Chris Dede is the Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His fundamental interest is the expanded human capabilities for knowledge creation, sharing, and mastery that emerging technologies enable. His teaching models the use of information technology to distribute and orchestrate learning across space, time, and multiple interactive media. Chris Dede’s research spans emerging technologies for learning, infusing technology into large-scale educational improvement initiatives, policy formulation and analysis, and leadership in educational innovation.
Dede also is active in policy initiatives, including creating a widely used State Policy Framework for Assessing Educational Technology Implementation and studying the potential of developing a scalability index for educational innovations. From 2001 to 2004, he served as chair of the Learning & Teaching area at HGSE. | <urn:uuid:69ed5cf7-56c7-483f-9184-b67f41e2bbd7> | {
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At the end of the 17th century Santiago was a town of poor one-storeyed houses and had only 8000 inhabitants; the other towns, Valparaiso, Concepcion, La Serena, were only large villages.
Before it was a marvellous mirror erected on a many-storeyed pedestal (described in detail); in this speculum he could discern everything that went on throughout his dominions, and detect conspiracies.
Its houses are usually one-storeyed, built of adobe and roofed with red tiles; its public buildings are among the finest in Central America.
And the lower storey of the left wing of the Cour de la Fontaine are the work of the same architect, who also rebuilt the two-storeyed Chapelle St Saturnin.
It is a town of unusually wide streets and one-storeyed adobe houses, being so laid out and built because of earthquakes.
The town itself consists of a mass of one-storeyed stone houses, each surmounted by a little dome, clustering round the market-place with its mosque and minaret.
It is a stagnant, poorly built town of one-storeyed houses and mudwalled cabins, with few public edifices and business houses of a better type.
The Khalifa's house (a two-storeyed building), the mosque, the Beit el Amana (arsenal) and other houses famed in the history of the town also face the central square.
This latter project, however, was not carried out, and all that remains of the building intended for the college is a three-storeyed tower.
Its formal, straight streets, crossing one another regularly at right angles, and its uniform, two-storeyed houses were built in imitation of the Dutch style, under the direction of Jeronimo, marquis de Grimaldi (1716-1788), ambassador of Charles III.
Here the traveller ascending from the coast sees the first example of the jebel or highland towns, with their high three-storeyed houses, built of quarried stone, their narrow façades pierced with small windows with whitewashed borders and ornamented with varied arabesque patterns; each dar has the appearance of a small castle complete in itself, and the general effect is rather that of a cluster of separate forts than of a town occupied by a united community.
In the middle of the 5th century two-storeyed houses seem to have been built, but the evidence on the subject is slender.
The highly finished monoliths are all representations of a many-storeyed castle, with an altar at the base of each.
A curious two-storeyed building which adjoins the north transept consists of a chapel with a piscina below and a priest's chamber above.
The houses are mostly one-storeyed, built of unburned bricks, and have flat roofs.
The golden cupola of the four-storeyed campanile is visible for many miles across the steppes.
The majority of the better-class houses are of rubble, one-storeyed and flat-roofed.
There is little or no evidence for the use of two-storeyed houses in early times, though in the 10th and i ith centuries they were common.
Among the remaining buildings must be mentioned the town hall (17th century; restored 1823), the court-house, the concert-hall of the "Harmonic" club, the record office (1900), the leeskabuiet, or subscription library and reading-rooms, and the ten-storeyed Witte Huis (1897), which is used for offices and is one of the highest private buildings on the Continent.
These fountains are generally two-storeyed, the lower chamber enclosing a well, the upper room being often used for scholastic purposes.
The family gathered in this three-storeyed building, with its back windows looking over the Elbe and its front door opening on a great garden, was latterly Luther and his wife, their three sons and two daughters, Magdelena von Bora, Catherine's aunt, two orphan nieces and a grandniece.
Government House is a three-storeyed structure with broad The total population of the colony (including dependencies) on the 1st of January 1907 was estimated at 383,206.
Directly across the plaza is the old Cabildo, a plain, heavy-looking two-storeyed edifice of the colonial period, the seat of municipal administration during Spanish rule, but now occupied by the two chambers of the Uruguayan Congress and by the higher police authorities of the city.
Originally the Pueblo Indians lived in many-storeyed communal houses, built sometimes of stone, sometimes of adobe, and occasionally chiselled into the sides of a stone cliff, as best suited the convenience of the builders.
Taos (pop. in 1900, 419) is one of the most imposing of the pueblos, consisting of two six-storeyed pyramidal tenements, separated by a brook.
Zuni (pop. 1525) has a five-storeyed dwelling surrounded by detached huts; Acoma (pop. 492 in 1900; 566 in 1902), standing on a cliff 357 ft.
High (Acoma means " people of the white rock " and Aco, the Indian name for the pueblo, means " white rock "), contains three blocks of three-storeyed terraced buildings,' and Laguna also contains some three-storeyed 1 About 3 m.
All that remains of the abbey is the massive, four-storeyed tower - which is 70 ft.
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Researchers have studied the food web of Crater Lake using special chemical tests (stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen).
- Kokanee salmon feed on animals found in the middle part of the lake,
- Rainbow trout feed closer to shore,
- Introduced crayfish eat similar foods as the Mazama Newt.
Why are these food-web studies important?
- Food is scarce in Crater Lake,
- Crayfish are aggressive, they chase and eat newts, and compete for limited food resources,
- As a result, crayfish may have reduced newt distribution by 50%,
- Crayfish could eliminate newts from Crater Lake. | <urn:uuid:3aa546f7-9e09-4de7-bce0-cf73911c7b0f> | {
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- Holidays and Celebrations»
Where The Easter Bunny Came From
I have always wondered where the Easter Bunny came from. I did some studying and have found the origin.
The Easter bunny goes back to paganism. When Christianity came to be the pagan holiday and the celebration of Jesus' resurrection were combined into one holiday.
Christian's found it difficult to seperate new converts from some of there old beliefs,so they would just incorporate them into Christianity.
The spring festival was a fertility celebration to the Goddess Eastre; hence Easter.
Many churches have recognized that even the name Easter was pagan, so they have started calling it resurrection day.
As for my opinion on all this; I am, I consider, a strong Christian. I am very, very happy when I think on our Lord's resurrection from the dead. Happy, gleeful children also make me happy. Let them have their Easter bunny and the candy and chocolate, but also teach the children about Jesus. In my opinion, their choice should be theirs and no one else's.
According to the Gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. The Gospel of Matthew states that an angel appeared near the tomb of Jesus and announced his resurrection to Mary Magdelene and "another Mary" who had arrived to anoint the body (Matthew 28:1–10). According to Luke there were two angels (Luke 24:4), and according to Mark there was a youth dressed in white (Mark 16:5). The "longer ending" to Mark states that on the morning of his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). John states that when Mary looked into the tomb, two angels asked her why she was crying; and as she turned round she initially failed to recognize Jesus until he spoke her name (John 20:11–18).
The Acts of the Apostles state that Jesus appeared to various people in various places over the next forty days. Hours after his resurrection, he appeared to two travelers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). To his assembled disciples he showed himself on the evening after his resurrection (John 20:19). Although his own ministry had been specifically to Jews, Jesus is said to have sent his apostles to the Gentiles with the Great Commission and ascended to heaven while a cloud concealed him from their sight. According to Acts, Paul of Tarsus had a vision of Jesus during his Road to Damascus experience. Jesus promised to come again to fulfill the remainder of Messianic prophecy. | <urn:uuid:c43579d5-322f-42d2-9818-c440437dfd02> | {
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Play dough is one of our all-time favorite play materials. It’s great for children of all ages and provides a sensory play experience that can be adapted in so many different ways to encourage lots of learning. It lends itself well to exploring many aspects of math – through number recognition, counting, shape exploration and construction. NurtureStore has a free Let’s Play Dough e-book that’s got some great, easy-to-make play dough recipes in, so why not mix up a batch and try out these ideas for fun play dough math play.
1. Try QuirkyMomma’s tip of combining stencils with play dough to make a set up numbers – then use them to make maths problems.
2. Or you could use NurtureStore’s basic recipe and make a set of numbers you can really eat.
3. Creativity My Passion shows you how to make a simple dry erase mat, which you can use to draw numbers then add play dough to make a 3-D version on top. Tracing these numbers is a great way for tactile learners to get to know their digits.
4. Teach Preschool has a fun idea for gumball counting, which works on number recognition and fine motor skills.
5. And you can find another take on matching doh and numbers over at Pre-Kinders where there is a free Feed The Giraffe mat download.
6. Every child likes to count how old they are and The Golden Gleam’s idea of pretend birthday cakes and candles lets you role play a party any day of the year.
7. The play dough sweet shop over at The Imagination Tree is ever so pretty but also invites children to play around with math ideas, as they count lolly pops, fill and empty jars and buy and sell the goodies in the store.
Play Dough Math: Shapes
8. Math isn’t just about counting of course, and play dough is a great way to explore shapes. Try this idea for chocolate dough mixed with a chocolate box and you can have lots of fun exploring different shapes and sizes.
9. Or take some toothpicks and test out how you can make and combine different shapes to create super structures.
10.Your turn now. What’s your favorite way to mix in some math with your play dough games? Leave a comment and share your best idea with us. | <urn:uuid:fc9a2fbe-0b4d-46f1-92df-a8f3e3b64f02> | {
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- Education and Events
- About PHA
- About Care at Home
- Join PHA
State Legislative Process
Pennsylvania's General Assembly, made up of a 203-member House of Representatives and a 50-member Senate, considers as many as 5,000 bills in every two-year session. PHA keeps track of relevant legislation, alerts you when bills of interest are being debated in the two chambers and helps you when the time is right get in contact with your lawmakers to provide input.
It's best to air concerns as early as possible, which makes understanding the legislative process important.
Any member of the legislature can introduce a bill. Upon introduction, the measure is assigned a number and referred to the appropriate committee. Both the House and Senate have committees, which focus on specific issues and serve as the General Assembly's legislative workshop. Bills introduced by House members go to House committees; bills introduced by Senate members go to Senate committees.
The committee chairman, who represents the chamber's majority party, decides what bills the committee considers. This is a tremendous power for a legislator. The committees comprise several members of both parties, but the majority party has more voting members. Bills brought before the committee are subject to review and debate. The committee may hold hearings and solicit testimony; members may propose amendments. Not every bill gets a vote.
There are four potential outcomes:
Approved bills go immediately to the chamber of origin's Appropriations Committee, where a fiscal note is prepared to detail the financial impact of the legislation. Bills in this committee face the same four outcomes, as noted above.
A bill must clear many hurdles before it becomes a law. After committee approval, the House or Senate, where the measure is being debated, must consider the bill on three separate days before voting. On the first day, the bill is read on the chamber floor to alert members that the committee has reported the bill as originally introduced or amended. No amendments are offered, no debate is held and no votes are taken. Amendments to the bill may be offered on the second or third reading, after which a vote can be taken. All legislators who are present in the chamber must vote on the bill; abstentions are not allowed.
If the bill is approved by the full chamber, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration, where it must run through an identical committee structure and voting process. For example, a House bill that wins committee approval and is passed by the full House then moves to the Senate. The appropriate Senate committees must approve the measure and send it to the full Senate for voting. If the Senate changes the bill, it must go back to the House for concurrence in those changes. Identical versions of the bill must be passed by both the House and Senate before it can be sent to the Governor, who can sign it into law or veto it. A bill also can become law if it is sent to the Governor, and he fails to sign it or veto it before a prescribed deadline.
The whole process can takes months. Bills not enacted during the two-year session must be reintroduced the following session and run through the same process again from the beginning.
HHAeXchange is improving the overall healthcare system by making home care more effective in the face of an aging population. Take EVV a step further in your agency and ensure readiness for Community HealthChoices with a solution that promotes compliance and provides a transparent operational view throughout the entire organization. Click to learn more. | <urn:uuid:dd0e6447-da55-4d2e-a7dc-9588f4e2efed> | {
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Christine Sorrell Dinkins, PhD
Citation: Dinkins, C. (May 10, 2011) "Ethics: Beyond Patient Care: Practicing Empathy in the Workplace" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 16 No. 2.
One of the basic building blocks of ethics and ethical conduct toward others is empathy. Without empathy it is difficult for any of us to understand the needs and wants of others so that we may know how to treat them kindly and generously, or to practice any other virtue in our day-to-day relations with them. Empathy is a much-discussed and much-debated topic in the nursing literature. Some have questioned whether empathy is the best mode for nurse-patient interactions (Morse et al., 1992); others have struggled with how to define the unique kind of empathy that plays a part in the complex relationships nurses have with patients (Yu & Kirk, 2008). However, less attention has been paid to empathy’s role in other (non-direct care) interactions of a nurse’s work and life. Michie (2002) has suggested that for people in many work situations, their jobs and lives may become more manageable and less stressful if they can practice empathy both in their professional environment and in their everyday interactions with those around them. Since nurses navigate a complex and varied network of contacts from hospital administrators to physicians and aides, empathy may be especially helpful in their daily interactions.
The concept of ‘empathy’ is relatively young, brought first to the English language in 1909 by psychologist Edward Titchener as a translation of the German ‘Einfühlung’ or ‘feeling into’ (Stueber, 2011). Since that time, the term has been used by philosophers, social scientists, healthcare practitioners, and many others, with each discipline having different meanings and implications for the term. One of the most useful ways to look at empathy for the purpose of the life and work of nurses may be to take empathy not as a feeling or an instinct but as a practice. This column will briefly examine how nurses can cultivate the practice of empathy both in the workplace and elsewhere.
In order to understand the practice of empathy, let us first examine the obstacles a practitioner of this art must overcome. The American philosopher William James writes of “a certain blindness in human beings,” a blindness “with which we all are afflicted in regard to the feelings of creatures and people different from ourselves” (James, 1899/1984, p. 841). Each of us has our important duties, our deep desires, even our pet peeves, and those around us have their own as well. Others feel theirs so strongly that they cannot see or appreciate ours, regardless of how much we may want them to; and we tend to be unable to understand and appreciate theirs. To illustrate this difficulty as it occurs between human beings, James turns to the more extreme difficulty of empathy between species – humans and their dogs:
Take our dogs and ourselves, connected as we are by a tie more intimate than most ties in this world; and yet, outside of that tie of friendly fondness, how insensible, each of us, to all that makes life significant for the other! - we to the rapture of bones under hedges, or smells of trees and lamp-posts, they to the delights of literature and art. As you sit reading the most moving romance you ever fell upon, what sort of a judge is your fox-terrier of your behavior? With all his good will toward you, the nature of your conduct is absolutely excluded from his comprehension. To sit there like a senseless statue, when you might be taking him to walk and throwing sticks for him to catch! What queer disease is this that comes over you every day, of holding things and staring at them like that for hours together, paralyzed of motion and vacant of all conscious life? (pp. 841-842)
When we are trying to empathize with our fellow humans, we may find it easier than trying to empathize with another species, but we still come up against the fact that we can observe others only from their external appearances and signs, such as a smile, a heavy sigh, a haggard appearance, or a new habit of humming happy tunes. In contrast, we are trying to share and understand something internal, for example another’s feelings, instincts, worries, or desires. And as we go about our lives and our work, our tasks take focus, time, and energy; we find we cannot devote the time and attention necessary to decode others’ complex outer signs even if we knew how. To do so would be impractical and would detract from the important work in front of us.
For help overcoming these obstacles, let us turn to two possible approaches: (a) a thought experiment by American philosopher John Rawls, and (b) the search for a flash of insight to cure our blindness once and for all, as suggested by Josiah Royce (1885/1965). Rawls, in his book A Theory of Justice, describes a thought experiment designed to help us define a just society (1971). While Rawls is discussing society as a whole, the exercise works just as well, perhaps better, in the smaller society of a workplace. Rawls suggests that we imagine creating a society, in this case our workplace, from scratch. Each of us is in an initial position of absolute equality behind a ‘veil of ignorance.’ Behind this veil, no one knows his or her own age, sex, talents, race, marital status, occupation, or any other such details. Once one steps out from the veil into the workplace being envisioned, one could therefore end up being anybody. In a hospital environment, for instance, the person conducting this thought experiment should pretend that he or she could step out from behind the veil of ignorance to end up as an administrator, a doctor, an information desk clerk, a custodian, or a critical care nurse. The experimenter should imagine ending up as one who has worked at the hospital only for a week or for twenty years.
In this thought experiment, Rawls asks us to remain behind the veil of ignorance while we examine how we would like our little society to work. If one were to look at one’s own workplace this way, one could ask what problems need to be addressed. How is each individual being treated by his or her coworkers? Who seems to be the best off? Who seems to be the worst off, and how bad is their situation? Rawls argues that while we are behind the veil of ignorance, not knowing which role and situation we may step into, we are highly motivated to maximize the minimum, to assure that whoever is the worst off is as well off as possible, without sacrificing the overall success of the society (or workplace, in our experiment) as a whole. We are also motivated to seek fairness as far as possible for everyone.
In trying to practice empathy in the workplace, a nurse could put herself behind this veil of ignorance once a month, or once a week, and look around her. She could say to herself: “What if I found myself tomorrow to be in X’s position? How would I feel about my daily activities? What would be hardest for me? What would bring me the most joy?” Then, stepping out from the veil, she could look for ways to lessen those burdens and heighten those joys she has perceived as part of X’s role in the workplace. Certainly a nurse may not be able to petition the administration for major changes that would help person X, but often simple changes or gestures of appreciation make a large difference. And sometimes, a nurse should consider stepping out from the veil and finding herself to be one of the highest administrators. Often the joys and burdens of those in charge are the hardest to envision.
The ‘veil of ignorance’ thought experiment is an exercise in empathy that can be useful when practiced on a regular basis. In addition, any of us may be able to learn how to open our minds and hearts consciously, deliberately to one flash of insight that has the power to break down those walls between others and ourselves. Another American philosopher, Josiah Royce (1885/1965), argues that the first step is to recognize our inadvertent, closed-hearted tendencies and the false assumptions that accompany them. He suggests we ask ourselves:
What, then, is our neighbor? …Thou hast regarded his thought, his feeling, as somehow different in sort from thine. Thou hast said, “A pain in him is not like a pain in me, but something far easier to bear.” Thou hast made of him a ghost… thou hast not fully made him for thee as real as thyself… So, dimly and by instinct thou has lived with thy neighbor, and hast known him not, being blind… Of thy neighbor thou hast made a thing, no Self at all. … Have done with this illusion, … But simply try to learn the truth. The truth is that all this world of life about thee is as real as thou art….Pain is pain, joy is joy, everywhere, even as in thee… In all the songs of the forest birds; in all the cries of the wounded and dying, struggling in the captor's power; in the boundless sea where the myriads of water-creatures strive and die;… in all sickness and sorrow; in all exultation and hope,… everywhere, from the lowest to the noblest creatures and experiences on our earth, the same conscious, burning, willful life is found, endlessly manifold as the forms of the living creatures, unquenchable as the fires of the sun, real as these impulses that even now throb in thy own little selfish heart. Lift up thy eyes, behold that life, and then turn away, and forget it as thou canst; but, if thou hast known that, thou hast begun to know thy duty. (1885/1965, pp. 157-162)
Royce believes that once we have come to understand these truths in our heart – that others really do feel the highs and lows of life just as richly, deeply, and vividly as we do – we will be able to maintain an open-heartedness toward others and not fall back into our previous unintentional dismissal or undervaluing of others’ feelings. In this revelation that Royce wants us to find, there is real beauty. We are all connected, all creatures, by the undeniable fact that in all of us, "willful life is found."
Those of us who consistently practice empathy at the workplace may find ourselves less stressed and more energized because of this realization that we are, in a fundamental way, connected with all of our coworkers. We will find it easier to be ethical in our interactions with others, having a better understanding of what those others need and want from us and from the workplace in general. An additional boon of practicing empathy at the workplace is that it tends to be contagious. When one person openly and noticeably practices empathy, others around that person will be inspired to do the same. They may even ask for advice on how to make those connections with others and see things from another’s perspective. If given the chance to offer such advice, the empathetic nurse would do well to start by spreading the simple lesson from Royce (1885/1965), “Pain is pain, joy is joy, everywhere, even as in thee.”
Christine Sorrell Dinkins, PhD
Dr. Dinkins is an Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, where she teaches courses in ancient Greek philosophy, 19th- and 20th-century German philosophy, philosophy of medicine, and philosophy through literature. She is co-moderator, with the President of Wofford College, Dr. Benjamin Bernard Dunlap, of an annual seminar on The Good Life in a Just Society. Dr. Dinkins is the co-editor, with JM Sorrell, of Interpretive Studies in Healthcare and the Human Sciences, Volume V, Listening To The Whispers: Health Care Ethics In The 21st Century, University of Wisconsin Press, which was selected as an ‘Outstanding Academic Title’ by the American Library Association. She received her BA with Honors in philosophy from Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) and her MA and PhD degrees in philosophy from the Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD).
James, W. (1899/1984). On a certain blindness in human beings. In Writings 1878-1899: Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life's Ideals. New York: The Library of America.
Michie, S. (2002). Education: Causes and management of stress at work. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(1), 67-72.
Morse, J. M., Anderson, G., Bottorff, J. L., Yonge, O., O'Brien, B., Solberg, S. M., & McIlveen, K. H. (1992). Exploring empathy: A conceptual fit for nursing practice? Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 24(4), 273-280. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1992.tb00733.x
Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge, MA: The Bedknap Press of Harvard University.
Royce, J. (1885/1965). The religious aspect of philosophy; A critique of the bases of conduct and of faith. Gloucester, MA: Harper & Row.
Stueber, K. (n.d.). Empathy. Retrieved February 20, 2011, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/empathy/#HisInt
Yu, J., & Kirk, M. (2008). Measurement of empathy in nursing research: Systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 64(5), 440-454. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04831.x
© 2011 OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing
Article published May 10, 2011 | <urn:uuid:4c385bd1-66f3-46f7-b978-55e2e3d2803c> | {
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Looking closer at the household income distribution reported by the Census Bureau I found an extremely confusing conflict of data on Gini ratio. There are two tables providing annual Gini ratio estimates for all households: “HINC-01. Selected Characteristics of Households, by Total Money” and “Table H-4. Gini Ratios for Households, by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1967 to 2011”. The former estimates are available since 1998 in “Detailed Tables”. Figure 1 reveals a dramatic difference between these two estimates for the same years. The HINC-01 time series does not show any Gini ratio increase between 1998 and 2008 unlike the H-4 series.
There is a dramatic 0.02 step in 2009 in the HINC-01 series, which is actually fully related to the change in bin counting in 2009: the original $2500 bins between $0 and $100,000 were replaced by $5000 bins between $0 and $200,000. The change in the range and granularity of data resulted in the observed Gini ratio shift. Figure 2 displays the Lorenz curves for the years between 1994 and 2011 as obtained from the household income distributions in the relevant HINC-01 tables. The Gini ratio step of 0.02 is explained by the difference between the 2008 and 2009 Lorenz curves. Therefore, it is of artificial character and the HINC-01 curve would be at the level of 0.45 between 2009 and 2011 if to retain the $2500 bins and $100,000 range.
We have recalculated the Gini ratio for all years between 1994 and 2011 from the original household income distribution and found that the calculated curve is in excellent agreement with the HINC-01 one between 2005 and 2011 and coincides with the HINC-4 curve from 1994 to 1996.
These observation are extremely confusing and likely manifest internal changes in the CB procedures of Gini ratio estimation and publication. We cannot understand why formally identical time series differ so much and why the HINC-4 curve demonstrates a growth tendency while the underlying data do not show any reason for that. This difference has also many political implications since the research community, officials, media, and the blogosphere all discuss the growth in household Gini, which is not the case.
Figure 1. Gini ratios from HINC-01 (detailed) and HINC-4 (historical) tables.
Figure 2. The evolution of the Lorenz curves for the household income distribution between 1994 and 2011 in the USA. In 2009, the bin counting was changed from $2500 in the range to $100,000 to $5000 with the upper bin between $195,000 and $200,000. | <urn:uuid:a0d28fc2-7c43-43db-8161-589787345e20> | {
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The first trimester is from conception to the 13th week. This is when you will notice the first symptoms and possibly feel a variety of unpleasant but temporary conditions like morning sickness and exhaustion. Generally, the side effects will pass by the time you end your first trimester and your body has adjusted to the rapid changes to your body.
During the first trimester and up to the sixth week, the miracle growing inside your body is called an Embryo. Once past that time, the Embryo changes to a Fetus and will stay that way until birth at which time the Fetus passes through the birthing canal and then officially becomes a Baby.
Although you will feel many things happening that confirm your pregnancy, most people will not yet be able to see from appearance that you are pregnant. At first, you will not gain much weight, and even though you will soon see small changes in the size of your abdomen, it will not be enough for people to notice.
However, on the inside, your body is changing rapidly and the embryo is growing at an amazing rate, with changes taking place daily. This is the most significant phase of a pregnancy for a number of reasons.
During the first trimester, you will only gain approximately three pounds, with less than two ounces of this being the fetus! Most of the weight will be the placenta and amniotic fluid, which surrounds and protects the fetus. Some of the weight is also be attributed to your increased blood supply, which is needed for your heart to support the growing fetus and can be as high as a 20% increase. Additionally, your uterus is now expanding as it accommodates the growing fetus.
By your seventh week, the embryo has doubled in size from just the week before. It’s about as big as a small bean. Already, it resembles a microscopic baby with a brain, heart, and limbs. Its head is nearly as big as its body, which has some catching up to do. Your health care provider may suggest an ultrasound; this procedure is considered to be safe for the developing fetus. In addition, an ultrasound done today may even be able detect fetal heart motion.
Although you may not feel your best, none of your symptoms will make the baby uncomfortable. In fact, your indigestion has a positive effect on your baby-to-be. Food slows down as it travels through the body, which may result in gastrointestinal problems for you, but allows nutrients to be more readily absorbed by the baby. Wearing loose fitting clothes, and eating frequent, small meals may help to decrease your discomfort.
By nine weeks, your baby has grown to between one half an inch to an inch. It now weighs in at a whopping one gram. Even though you won’t feel the baby move until the second trimester, he or she is very active at this point. It is, in truth, a “he” or “she” as testes and ovaries have formed. An ultrasound cannot identify gender yet, as external genitalia still appears sexless.
Because most miscarriages occur in the first trimester, you may be feeling nervous and be eager to advance to the second trimester. One good sign is the identification of the heartbeat, either by the practitioner’s doppler, or by ultrasound.
First trimester screening
Your doctor will want to do several tests during the first trimester, including a Pap Smear, Rubella screening, blood typing, and Rh factor. These tests are performed to look for any possible complications and to provide both you and your baby with the best possible care during your pregnancy.
The first trimester will progress quickly, with some major changes happening to you and your fetus. The calendar here will show you the miraculous changes that are occurring during the first trimester. Keep this information close by as reference so you can continue to marvel in your pregnancy.
As you approach the end of your first trimester, your baby is three inches long and weighs in at 14 grams. It has the ability to swallow, absorb, and discharge fluids. Hands are formed and fingernails are in progress. Your baby even has tooth buds. The 12th week is an important one as the placenta takes over hormone production. By the 13th week, vocal cords are nearly formed, although it will be some time before your little one blurts out the word, “mommy.”
The first trimester can be trying, both physically and emotionally. Appreciating that your body is responsible for this incredible feat of baby development, from organ formation to complex brain circuitry, makes it all worthwhile. In just a few weeks, you’ll be reacquainted with two old friends: energy and enthusiasm! | <urn:uuid:e085637e-9da1-4a17-a061-63d47649bb4c> | {
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Following the Union victory at Battle of Honey Springs in July 1863 Union Major General James Blunt of the Army of the Frontier marched out of Fort Gibson looking for Confederate Brigadier General William Steele’s force. They found each other as Steele’s men were crossing the Canadian River. The Confederates did not want to stand and fight, their defeat at Honey Springs had dispirited the men, there was a lack of supplies and they deserting en masse.
Steele made the decision to split his troops up. He sent Confederate Brigadier General William Cabell’s Arkansas men to Fort Smith to hold a defensive position where he could be reinforced, Brigadier General Douglas Cooper’s Indian soldiers moved south to Perryville where they could be resupplied, and Colonel Chilly McIntosh was sent to the west to cover Cooper’s flanks. Steele hoped that Blunt would pursue Cabell to Fort Smith, where he could be caught out in the open, but Blunt pursued Cooper’s men instead.
Perryville was a major Confederate supply depot located on the Texas Road. Blunt hoped to attack and destroy Cooper’s 5,000 men and take their supply depot, and then he would turn on Cabell and Fort Smith. Cooper posted a strong picket line that included two howitzers blocking the road into town. The Union troops arrived near town and engaged the Confederates on the night of August 26th 1863. Cooper had his men behind some barricades with artillery aimed on the road. Blunt had his men deployed on either side of the road and brought up his own artillery. The firing went on for a short time in the dark. The Union hit so fast that there was no time to call in reinforcements, Cooper thought he might be surrounded and so retreated leaving the supplies behind for the Union troops.
Blunt took what supplies he could use and then had rest of things, along with the town burned. The loss of the supply depot crippled the Confederate forces in the Indian Territory. | <urn:uuid:d62e23a8-21d9-4aa7-9de1-9f5e0c671f1f> | {
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LAST EDITED ON 01-13-12 AT 10:52 AM (EST)
Let's talk about synthetic comforters.
During World War II, shortly after Germany successfully took France, the German army command discovered a new major cause of death among its soldiers. Not French resistance fighters: it was a problem, but it wasn't at the top of the scale. Not falling into old trenches. Not being slapped to death by the locals after refusal to repronounce a word eighty-five times.
Some businesses boom in wartime, and few see increased traffic like cathouses do. And local standards of health, medical technology, and condom use being what they were, the proud German soldier was marching back to camp bearing a local French vintage in his blood which couldn't be slept off, although they were rapidly proving it was very easy to sleep on. And these diseases were spreading through the troops faster than rumors of a political officer interrogation. Soldiers were missing shifts. Falling down on the job. Sometimes falling dead on the job. You'd think more of them would have turned themselves over to the medical corps when everything went south, but to do so would have meant diagnosis, and that leads to 'There's only one way you can get this', and then you have to explain just how you managed to sneak home for an overnight visit and found out that your good German girl wasn't. Several hundred infantry trying to ride that excuse don't do well, even if it turns out to be the same girl. So if the soldiers went for help, it was often to back-alley medics, which for some of them helped and for others just gave the French resistance one more striking point. And others said nothing -- and some of them died.
The German high command, having identified the problem, frequently in post-mortem, tried to fix it.
They ordered the troops not to use cathouses, street trade, or any other local form of wildlife. This worked exactly as well as it has throughout military history: not.
They tried getting soldiers to keep an eye on each other, even more so than usual. This led to a few turn-ins and lots of buddy systems.
And then they turned to their leader. And as they would have expected, the Fuhrer knew what to do. He introduced them to --
-- drumroll, please --
-- The Borghild Project.
And what did the Project do? It developed synthetic comforters. The German scientists turned their attention to this clear need and came up with something durable, portable, extremely foldable and, just to keep things within the designated framework of acceptability, blue-eyed and blonde-haired.
Yes, thanks to the genius of the Fuhrer: the solution had been made clear. All this crisis had needed for a solution was the creation of the first-ever official military commissioned blow-up doll.
Naturally, there was a testing phase, performed in the field. All went well. The synthetic comforters worked. They were durable, portable, extremely foldable, and not French in any way. So the soldiers assigned to test the comforters reported.
You may be wondering about how the testing was conducted and observed. Continue doing so.
At any rate, once the synthetic comforters had proven viable, they were officially issued. It wasn't one per troop, of course: they still weighed something and you don't want every backpack losing that much space. No, a few soldiers could carry for all. The medical corps, perhaps. Sure, why not? Relief of pressure fell into the medical category. Just approach your friendly neighborhood doctor and he'd lend you a companion for the evening. Relief assured! Not privacy because comforter use was official military business and records had to be kept, but certainly relief! Oh, and please clean the comforter after use: there may be a line.
Or, in this case, not.
As it turned out, the soldiers at the test had used the comforters for the simplest of reasons: they had been ordered to. The average German troop in the field -- did not. In fact, they refused to even carry the things. Comforters were mysteriously lost, or found themselves strangely wandering into minefield, and some just saved themselves the trouble of an excuse by forgetting to file the requisition form. And the excuse was simple. Death was possible for a soldier, sometimes even likely. But so was capture. And when you were facing capture by the Allies with a synthetic comforter in your backpack, death started to look like the better option. As a man, the German infantry simul-rejected the miraculous advance in science, and went back to playing venereal disease roulette. It might be deadlier, but that kind of death was better than an existence where you were forced into wishing for it. By 1942, the project had died, as had a number of project-refusing soldiers, and the German high command sighed and turned its attention to other problems.
But there was a legacy.
You see, any time you let a bit of new technology out of the bottle, it's kind of hard to get back in. The Germans had come up with synthetic comforters: that tech was out there. And the idea survived the war. Even if soldiers wouldn't carry them in public, some of the citizenry would use them in the privacy of their postwar homes, which incidentally did put a very tiny dent in the venereal disease statistics. So synthetic comforters were made in many different sizes and styles, although as it was still Germany, many of them tended to be blonde-haired and blue-eyed. The country got to be very good at it. In fact, they were so good at molding faces and body types that the designs were often stolen, sometimes by rival companies in the synthetic comforter field, but occasionally for other purposes.
And so one day in the mid-50s, a designer looking for a new product to launch sought a fresh source of inspiration: the German synthetic comforter field, where surely a design lurked that could be stolen and adapted for a considerably different audience.
The designer was right. An acceptable style was found. Molded into something solid. Released to the market. And that product survives to this day -- no, thrives. Millions upon millions have been sold. The creation is a cultural icon, classic Americana, present in almost every field of media. You've probably owned one -- or your sister has.
So remember, kids: if it hadn't been for German soldiers contracting syphilis and the Fuhrer's innovative attempt to preserve his troops --
-- there would be no Barbie.
And now we wait to hear how many people just raided their daughter's rooms and started setting things on fire. | <urn:uuid:779eb512-cdef-4423-8c90-be1852e64431> | {
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On November 30, 2012, the Government of Japan announced a gift of $5 million to the United States, through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, to support efforts in response to marine debris washing ashore in the U.S. from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
The funds will be used to support marine debris response efforts, such as removal of debris, disposal fees, cleanup supplies, detection and monitoring. NOAA anticipates distributing funds to affected regions as the funds are received from Japan and will work to determine immediate needs and plan for future applications.
Since the disaster, NOAA has been leading efforts with federal, state and local partners to coordinate a response, collect data, assess the debris, and reduce possible impacts to natural resources and coastal communities.
Debris from the disaster has drifted across the Pacific and reached shorelines in the U.S. and Canada. In July, NOAA provided $50,000 each to Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California to support response efforts.
Items from the tsunami that have drifted to U.S. shores include sports balls, a floating dock, buoys, and vessels. Mariners and the public can help report debris by emailing [email protected] with information on significant sightings. | <urn:uuid:93f7ad7d-4d1c-4fad-a4d9-37c6f8156c77> | {
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- Itching inflammation of the skin, especially in the groin region, suffered particularly in the tropics and typically caused by certain types of ringworm infection or by allergic dermatitis.More example sentences
- Lamisil AT Cream is an antifungal cream for the treatment of athlete's foot, dhobie itch and ringworm.
- This irritation, when coupled with a fungus infection in the groin region, is known as jock strap itch, or dhobie itch, and is technically named tinea-cruris.
- Life in Sierra Leone was good, that is if you ignore the mosquitoes, malaria, dhobi itch, prickly heat, jigger fleas, tomba flies and being permanently soaked in sweat.
More definitions of dhobi itchDefinition of dhobi itch in:
- The British & World English dictionary | <urn:uuid:dd9f0e53-a642-4576-ba51-4538b39b098e> | {
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Pediatric decision-making is a special kind of surrogate decision-making that involves a child (if old enough to understand treatment choices), their parent or guardian, and their health care provider.
Children under the age of 18 are generally considered as not having the capacity to make health care decisions for themselves and cannot give informed consent. Parents or legal guardians are presumed to be the appropriate decision-makers for their minor children.
Best Interests of the Child
When making medical decisions for minor children, parents/guardians should do so according to what is in the child’s best interest. Best interest is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to:
- The needs of the child and their health related interests
- The effectiveness of any proposed medical treatment(s) relative to the benefits and harms of those treatments
- The risks to the child with or without the treatment
- The psychosocial components of the child’s life
If there is an inability to reach consensus about what is in the child’s best interest, the wishes of the parents/guardian generally are given preference. There are, however, limits on parental discretion with decision-making when there is evidence that parents’ actions or decisions likely represent serious harm to the child.
Involving Minors in the Decisions
- Children become capable of expressing their own preferences as they get older. By age seven, many children are capable of engaging in decision-making discussions and agreeing to (assenting) or disagreeing with (dissenting) a parent’s/guardian’s decision. As they become mature enough to articulate preferences and the reasons for them, they are entitled to increasing respect for those preferences.
- In many states, adolescents have the capacity to make medical decisions and may be recognized as emancipated minors in accordance with state law. Some states have a “mature minor doctrine,” where a patient under the age of 18 is allowed to make medical decisions if deemed mature either by a doctor or a judge (depending on the state). Vermont has no specific statute nor relevant case law regarding “mature minors”.
- By law, children cannot execute legally recognized advance directives. However, for pediatric patients who are seriously ill or dying, portable medical orders (Vermont DNR/COLST) may be completed.
Advance Care Planning Conversations with Children
The Conversation Project has developed a Pediatric Starter Kit to help families have conversations with a seriously ill child. The goal of these conversations is to understand your child’s wishes as much as possible so you can ensure that their wishes are honored. | <urn:uuid:6527e3d3-28d0-4218-a879-50cb6ba2843a> | {
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India has a well developed Banking system. The banking industry originated in India in the 18th century and since then it has undergone significant number of changes. The commercial banking industry in India over the past few decades has been revolutionized by a number of factors such as independence, nationalization, deregulation, rise of the Internet, etc.The commercial banking structure in India consists of Scheduled Banks and Unscheduled Banks. In the past the banks did not find any attraction in the Indian economy because of the low level of economic activities and little business prospects. Today we find positive changes in the National business development policy. Earlier, the money lenders had a strong hold over the rural population which resulted in exploitation of small and marginal savers. The private sector banks failed in serving the society. This resulted in the nationalization of 14 commercial banks in 1969. Nationalization of commercial banks paved ways for the development of Indian economy and channelized financial resources for the upliftment of weaker sections of the society. The passage of financial modernization legislation by Congress in 1999 removed barriers, allowing banks to expand product offerings, while the potential of the Internet as a sales, marketing and delivery tool, widened the avenues to sell and deliver these products. The main products of the commercial banking industry-insurance, securities, mortgages, mutual funds and consumer credit-have all benefited from these changes. This report will examine the extent to which increased product sales have influenced overall bank assets and how commercial banks' increased market share in each of these products areas over the next five years will raise overall bank income and assets. Currently (2009), banking industry in India is generally fairly mature in terms of supply, product range and reach-even though reaches in rural India still remains a challenge for the private sector and foreign banks. In terms of quality of assets and capital adequacy, Indian banks are considered to have clean, strong and transparent balance sheets relative to other banks in comparable economies in its region. The Reserve Bank of India is an autonomous body, with
minimal pressure from the government. The stated policy of the Bank on the Indian Rupee is to manage volatility but without any fixed exchange rate-and this has mostly been true. With the growth in the Indian economy expected to be strong for quite some time-especially in its services sector-the demand for banking services, especially retail banking, mortgages and investment services are expected to be strong. One may also expect mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, and asset sales.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Indian banking system, over the years has gone through various phases after establishment of Reserve Bank of India in 1935 during the British rule, to function as Central Bank of the country. Earlier to creation of RBI, the central bank functions were being looked after by the Imperial Bank of India. With the 5-year plan having acquired an important place after the independence, the Govt. felt that the private banks may not extend the kind of cooperation in providing credit support, the economy may need. In 1954 the All India Rural Credit Survey Committee submitted its report recommending creation of a strong, integrated, State-sponsored, State-partnered commercial banking institution with an effective machinery of branches spread all over the country. The recommendations of this committee led to establishment of first Public Sector Bank in the name of State Bank of India on July 01, 1955 by acquiring the substantial part of share capital by RBI, of the then Imperial Bank of India. Similarly during 1956-59 the associate banks came into the fold of public sector banking. Another evaluation of the banking in India was undertaken during 1966 as the private banks were still not extending the required support in the form of credit disbursal, more particularly to the unorganised sector. Each leading industrial house in the country at that time was closely associated with the promotion and control of one or more banking companies. The bulk of the deposits collected, were being deployed in organised sectors of industry and trade, while the farmers, small entrepreneurs, transporters , professionals and self-employed had to depend on
money lenders who used to exploit them by charging higher interest rates. In February 1966, a Scheme of Social Control was set-up whose main function was to periodically assess the demand for bank credit from various sectors of the economy to determine the priorities for grant of loans and advances so as to ensure optimum and efficient utilisation of resources. The scheme however, did not provide any remedy. Though a no. of branches were opened in rural area but the lending activities of the private banks were not oriented towards meeting the credit requirements of the priority/weaker sectors. On July 19, 1969, the Govt. promulgated Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance 1969 to acquire 14 bigger commercial bank with paid up capital of Rs.28.50cr, deposits of Rs.2629cr, loans of Rs.1813cr and with 4134 branches accounting for 80% of advances. Subsequently in 1980, 6 more banks were nationalised which brought 91% of the deposits and 84% of the advances in Public Sector Banking. During December 1969, RBI introduced the Lead Bank Scheme on the recommendations of FK Narsimhan Committee. Meanwhile, during 1962 Deposit Insurance Corporation was established to provide insurance cover to the depositors. In the post-nationalization period, there was substantial increase in the no. of branches opened in rural/semi-urban centers bringing down the population per bank branch to 12000 appx. During 1976, RRBs were established (on the recommendations of M. Narasimham Committee report). The Service Area Approach was introduced during 1989.While the 1970s and 1980s saw the high growth rate of branch banking net-work, the consolidation phase started in late 80s and more particularly during early 90s, with the submission of report by the Narasimham Committee on Reforms in Financial Services Sector during 1991. In these five decades since independence, banking in India has evolved through four distinct phases: Foundation phase can be considered to cover 1950s and 1960s till the nationalisation of banks in 1969. The focus during this period was to lay the foundation for a sound banking system in the country. As a result the phase witnessed the development of necessary legislative framework for facilitating re-organization and consolidation of the banking system, for meeting the
more competition. Attention was paid to improving house-keeping. staff productivity and profitability of banks. Expansion phase had begun in mid-60s but gained momentum after nationalisation of banks and continued till 1984. CHAPTER 2 4 . Reforms phase The macro-economic crisis faced by the country in 1991 paved the way for extensive financial sector reforms which brought deregulation of interest rates. Measures were also taken to reduce the structural constraints that obstructed the growth of money market. Branch network of the banks was widened at a very fast pace covering the rural and semi-urban population. autonomy packages etc.requirement of Indian economy. capital adequacy. Most importantly. credit flows were guided towards the priority sectors. prudential guidelines on asset classification and income recognition. However this weakened the lines of supervision and affected the quality of assets of banks and pressurized their profitability and brought competitive efficiency of the system at low ebb. A major development was transformation of Imperial Bank of India into State Bank of India in 1955 and nationalisation of 14 major private banks during 1969. which had no access to banking hitherto. credit management. technological changes. customer service. A determined effort was made to make banking facilities available to the masses. Consolidation phase: The phase started in 1985 when a series of policy initiatives were taken by RBI which saw marked slowdown in the branch expansion.
• To study how new distribution channels such as Internet Banking. ATM facility. 5 . • To draw conclusions of the impact of the changes in banking sector. • To draw a contrast between the old and the new Indian banking structure. • To determine the various services offered by banks earlier and currently • To determine the future of Indian Banking Markets • To assess the impact of information technology on the banking sector. Phone Banking have changed the face of the Banking industry.OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of project are as follows: • To find out the earlier banking structure that prevailed in India. • To assess the change in the performance and efficiency of the banks in India. • To assess the various factors that lead to the change in the Indian banking structure • To assess the impact of all these factors on the banking structure.
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Secondary Data: Secondary data is the data which is collected for some other purpose. 6 . newspapers and books. The data used for preparing the project report was secondary data. It was collected from various websites.
CHAPTER 4 BANKING SECTOR IN THE PAST
Banking in India originated in the first decade of 18th century with The General Bank of India coming into existence in 1786. This was followed by Bank of Hindustan. Both these banks are now defunct. The oldest bank in existence in India is the State Bank of India being established as "The Bank of Bengal" in Calcutta in June 1806. A couple of decades later, foreign banks like Credit Lyonnais started their Calcutta operations in the 1850s. The first fully Indian owned bank was the Allahabad Bank, which was established in 1865.By the 1900s, the market expanded with the establishment of banks such as Punjab National Bank, in 1895 in Lahore and Bank of India, in 1906, in Mumbai - both of which were founded under private ownership. The Reserve Bank of India formally took on the responsibility of regulating the Indian banking sector from 1935. After India's independence in 1947, the Reserve Bank was nationalized and given broader powers. Early History At the time of the American Civil War, a void was created as the supply of cotton to Lancashire stopped from the Americas. Some banks were opened at that time which functioned as entities to finance industry, including speculative trades in cotton. Subsequently, banking in India remained the exclusive domain of Europeans for next several decades until the beginning of the 20th century. The Bank of Bengal, which later became the State Bank of India. At the beginning of the 20th century, Indian economy was passing through a relative period of stability. Around five decades have elapsed since the India's First war of Independence, and the social, industrial and other infrastructure have developed. At that time there were very small banks operated by Indians. The banking in India was controlled and dominated by the presidency banks, namely, the Bank of Bombay, the Bank of Bengal, and the Bank of Madras which later on merged to form the Imperial Bank of India, and Imperial Bank of India, upon
India's independence, was renamed the State Bank of India. The presidency banks were like the central banks and discharged most of the functions of central banks. They were established under charters from the British East India Company. Many Indians came forward to set up banks, and many banks were set up at that time, a number of which have survived to the present such as Bank of India and Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Canara Bank Post-Independence The partition of India in 1947 had adversely impacted the economies of Punjab and West Bengal, and banking activities had remained paralyzed for months. The Government of India initiated measures to play an active role in the economic life of the nation. The major steps to regulate banking included:
In 1948, the Reserve Bank of India, India's central banking authority, was nationalized, and it became an institution owned by the Government of India. In 1949, the Banking Regulation Act was enacted which empowered the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) "to regulate, control, and inspect the banks in India." The Banking Regulation Act also provided that no new bank or branch of an existing bank may be opened without a license from the RBI, and no two banks could have common directors.
However, despite these provisions, control and regulations, banks in India except the State Bank of India, continued to be owned and operated by private persons. Nationalisation By the 1960s, the Indian banking industry has become an important tool to facilitate the development of the Indian economy. Indira Gandhi’s move was swift and sudden, and the GOI issued an ordinance and nationalised the 14 largest commercial banks.
A second dose of nationalisation of 6 more commercial banks followed in 1980. The nationalisation was to give the government more control of credit delivery. With the second dose of nationalisation, the GOI controlled around 91% of the banking business of India. Liberalization In 1990s Narsimha Rao government embarked on a policy of liberalization and gave licenses to a small number of private banks, which included banks i.e. Global Trust Bank which later amalgamated with Oriental Bank of Commerce, UTI Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. This move, along with the rapid growth in the economy of India, kick started the banking sector in India, which has seen rapid growth with strong contribution from all the banks. The next stage for the Indian banking has been setup with the proposed relaxation in the norms for FDI, where all Foreign Investors in banks may be given voting rights which could exceed the present cap of 10%, at present it has gone up to 49% with some restrictions. The new policy shook the Banking sector in India completely. The new wave ushered in a modern outlook and tech-savvy methods of working for traditional banks. All this led to the retail boom in India. People not just demanded more from their banks but also received more.
Banks have had little to do besides accepting deposits at rates fixed by Reserve Bank of India and lend amount arrived by the formula stipulated by Reserve Bank of India at rates prescribed by the latter. Telegraphic Transfers. dictated by RBI. PLR (Prime lending rate) was the benchmark for interest on the lending products. Multichannel banking gained prominence. through ATMs. The entry of private players combined with new RBI guidelines forced nationalized banks to redefine their core banking strategy. CHANGES IN BANKING STRUCTURE The Tipping Point The opening up of the Indian banking sector to private players acted as 'the tipping point' for this transformation. Most common deposit products being Savings Bank. Current Account. But PLR itself was. The deregulatory efforts prompted many financial institutions (like HDFC and ICICI) and non-financial institutions enter the banking arena. more often than not. 10 . Term deposit Account and lending products being Cash Credit and Term Loans.SERVICES OFFERED BY BANKS EARLIER Banks in India have traditionally offered mass banking products. Bankers Cheque and Internal Transfer of funds. For the first time consumers got the choice of conducting transactions either the traditional way (through the bank branch). Due to Reserve Bank of India guidelines. Further. And technology was central to this change. the telephone or through the Net. remittance products were limited to issuance of Drafts. With the entry of private players into retail banking and with multi-nationals focusing on the individual consumer in a big way. Technology played a key role in providing this multi-service platform. the banking system underwent a phenomenal change.
Customer retention: Customer retention is one of the main priorities for banks today. customers have become more discerning and less 'loyal' to banks. 11 . Cost pressures: Cost pressures come into play when banks are not able to afford the cost of a certain service or initiative although they want to or need to have it in place. Technology makes it easier for any company with the right channel infrastructure and money reserves to get into banking. Increased competition: The entry of new players into the banking space is leading to increased competition. This has been one of the major reasons behind this kind of competition from players who do not have a banking background. Here are the top three concerns in the mind of every bank's CEO. Many other such players are waiting on the sidelines. New entrants with strategies such as these make the banking game tougher. This makes it imperative that banks provide best levels of service to ensure customer satisfaction. it is now possible to open a new account within minutes. Kotak Bank overcame the initial costs of setting up its own ATM network by getting into a sharing agreement with UTI bank. A recent example would be of Kotak Mahindra Finance Limited (KMFL)—a financial services company focused on investment consulting. This is primarily because the cost structure at the backend is not efficient enough to offer that kind of service to the marketplace. insurance. Or for that matter shift accounts within a couple of hours.Pressing Issues Today banks have to look much beyond just providing a multi-channel service platform for its customers. There are other pressing issues that banks need to address in order to chalk-out a roadmap for the future. With the entry of new players and multiple channels. auto finance. etc— morphing into Kotak Bank. Given the various options.
With this banks have redefined their business priorities.Redefining Objectives To cope with cost pressures and increased competition as well as to retain existing customers. Cost Reductions Reduced costs basically translate to higher profit margins. This is one of the reasons why loans such as those for housing. Banks have woken up to the fact that they need to get into shape fast in order to handle competition. Differentiation The customer is interested in how he/she can benefit from the bank and its products. If banks can reduce costs. The focus is on increasing the profit margins by cutting costs where it matters—on the operations side. That's why it becomes necessary for a bank to differentiate its products from the others. the underlying objectives remain the same. Credit cards and debit cards are another focus area for banks. They are now focused on: • • • Cost reduction Product differentiation Customer-centric services Although the ways in which banks implement these vary. banks have started venturing into newer territories. The main advantage of getting into retail banking is that the risks involved are lesser in this segment. automotive. There are lower Non Performing Assets (NPAs) in retail banking. Some of the ways 12 . it can go a long way in increasing profits. This is one of the main reasons why banks are focused on retail banking in a big way. etc are being touted by banks like never before.
This has led to the development of a relationship oriented model of operations focusing on customer-centric services. Increasing the added value of products is another way of differentiation for banks. it will also provide better income generation capability. rather than from new customers. and increasing the value. This will ensure that the customer comes back to the bank.in which differentiation can be introduced are through specialization. This is because a major chunk of income of most banks comes from existing customers. It also helps in new business opportunities like cross-selling and 'upselling. In this context. Customer relationships have to be managed in the best possible manner. Specialization basically means that the bank gets involved only in selected areas. Another way to specialize could be by handling just specific sets of portfolios. it is very important that banks identify and understand customer needs. This will help banks in tailoring their products according to customer needs. While banks have to ensure product superiority and operational excellence. Customer-Centric Model Indian banks have realized that it no longer pays to have a 'transaction-based' operating model. In addition to good customer retention rates. Or. 13 . it could be limiting its services just for corporate banking clients. the biggest challenge today is to establish customer intimacy without which the other two are meaningless. This will provide the bank with better yields per contact. new products. For example. the bank might be getting involved only in housing finance. Banks can differentiate themselves by adding new products to their range of services. Operational excellence is also a key factor in effective differentiation from the competition.' which takes cues from customer aspirations and transaction patterns.
The Indian Financial Network (INFINET) which initially comprised only the public sector banks was opened up for participation by other categories of members. was jointly set up by the Reserve Bank and Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology in 1999. Internet has significantly influenced delivery channels of the banks. This would result in funds transfers and funds-related message transfer to be routed electronically across banks using the medium of the INFINET. it is necessary that banks bestow sufficient attention on the computerisation and networking of the branches situated at commercially important centres on a time-bound basis. Intra-city and intra-bank networking would facilitate in quick and efficient funds transfers across the country". INFINET. banks as well as other financial entities entered the world of information technology and with Indian Financial Net (INFINET). 14 .Emergence Of Information Technology In India. Internet has emerged as an important medium for delivery of banking products & services. NDS. a wide area satellite based network (WAN) using VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) technology. which has become operational since February 2002 and RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement system) scheduled towards the end of 2003 are other major developments in the area. The first set of applications that could benefit greatly from the use of technological advances in the computer and communications area relate to the Payment systems which form the lifeline of any banking activity. To reap the full benefits of such electronic message transfers. The process of reforms in payment and settlement systems has gained momentum with the implementation of projects such as NDS (Negotiated Dealing System). CFMS (Centralised Funds Management System) for better funds management by banks and SFMS (Structured Financial Messaging Solution) for secure message transfer. Detailed guidelines of RBI for Internet Banking has prepared the necessary ground for growth of Internet Banking in India.
It also means that you can have your goods delivered right to your doorstep with having to move a single muscle. • Cost effectiveness: Information technology has helped to computerize the business process thus streamlining businesses to make them extremely cost effective money making machines. The internet has also opened up face to face direct communication from different parts of the world thanks to the helps of video conferencing. • Creation of new jobs: Probably the best advantage of information technology is the creation of new jobs. but it has allowed the world's economy to become a single interdependent system.Advantages of Information Technology • Globalization: IT has not only brought the world closer together. making purchases from different countries easier and convenient. Systems analyzers. quicker and more efficient. We can now communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them or sending them an email for an almost instantaneous response. The world has developed into a global village due to the help of information technology allowing countries like Chile and Japan who are not only separated by distance but also by language to share ideas and information. • Communication: With the help of information technology. This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently. Computer programmers. Hardware and Software 15 . and allow for the exchange of views and ideas. This in turn increases productivity which ultimately gives rise to profits that means better pay and less strenuous working. • More time: IT has made it possible for businesses to be open 24 x7 all over the globe. This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere. thus increasing awareness. communication has also become cheaper. but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. • Bridging the cultural gap: Information technology has helped to bridge the cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another.
16 . This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed. if he or she wishes for their job to be secure. it has also bought along privacy issues. • Dominant culture: While information technology may have made the world a global village. easier and more convenient. Languages too have become overshadowed. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking. • Privacy: Though IT may have made communication quicker.developers and Web designers are just some of the new employment opportunities created with the help of information technology. Disadvantages of Information Technology • Unemployment: While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also crated job redundancies. downsizing and outsourcing. people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge. For example it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world now act. it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one. dress and behave. This means that one has to be in a constant learning mode. with English becoming the primary mode of communication for business and everything else. • Lack of job security: Industry experts believe that the internet has made job security a big issue as since technology keeps on changing with each day.
A few banks have gone in to market mutual fund schemes. banks are also adding services to their customers.to "high relationship . Investment products and Tax Advisory services. facilitating with plastic money and money transfer across the globe. Cash Management services. SGL II accounts.4. The past days are witness to an hour wait before withdrawing cash from accounts or a cheque from north of the country being cleared in one month in the south. A few foreign & private sector banks have already introduced customized banking products like Investment Advisory Services.value" clients. when allowed. Different types of accounts and loans. Banks also offer advisory services termed as 'private banking' . Photo-credit cards. With stiff competition and advancement of technology. This section of banking deals with the latest discovery in the banking instruments along with the polished version of their old systems. A competition has been established within the banks operating in India.NEW SERVICES OFFERED BY BANKS Banking Services In India Bouquets of services are at customers demand in today’s banking system. The customers have more choices in choosing their banks. Insurance peddling by Banks will be a reality soon. The recent Credit Policy of RBI announced on 27. Eventually. 17 . the Banks plan to market bonds and debentures. With years. The Indian banking industry is passing through a phase of customers market.2000 has further facilitated the entry of banks in this sector. the services provided by banks have become more easy and convenient.
The advent of bank account online has saved both the cost of operation for banks as well as the time taken in opening an account. Bank account online is registered through a PC with an internet connection. There are different types of bank account in Indian banking sector. etc.Bank Current Account can be opened by individuals / partnership firms / Private and Public Limited Companies / HUFs / Specified Associates / Societies / Trusts.Bank Savings Account can be opened for eligible person / persons and certain organizations / agencies (as advised by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from time to time) • Bank Current Account . 18 . • Bank Term Deposits Account .With the advancement of technology. • Bank Account Online .Following are the services being offered: Bank Accounts Open bank account . etc. the major banks in the public and private sector has facilitated their customer to open bank account online. The bank accounts are as follows: • Bank Savings Account .Bank Term Deposits Account can be opened by individuals / partnership firms / Private and Public Limited Companies / HUFs/ Specified Associates / Societies / Trusts.the most common and first service of the banking sector.
Economy has developed a craze for plastic money which in turn is encouraging agencies in exploiting the credit card holders. American Express. like a credit instrument that helps in making payments at centres without limits but with some negligible amount. The plastic money is in true sense. ICICI Bank. HDFC Bank. Plastic money saves the botheration of carrying cash. from coin to paper and now from paper to plastic money. The credit cards are shape and size. State Bank of India and many more. Punjab National Bank. after getting special permission from the Reserve Bank of India. The first card was issued in India by Visa in 1981. It can be flashed at outlets and especially in times of emergency it provides an opportunity to withdraw cash at any hour of the day. There are number of banks and financial institutions which are engaged in this business such as CITIBANK. Following are some of the forms of plastic money being used : • • • 19 .Plastic Money • From barter to coin. The modern banking system has the credit of simplifying the process which provides things at ease. The first international credit card was issued to a restricted number of customers by Andhra Bank in 1987 through the Visa program. It is generally of plastic quality. the monetary mechanism has witnessed radical changes. as specified by the ISO 7810 standard.
A VISA cardholder borrows money against a credit line and repays the money with interest if the balance is carried over from month to month in a revolving line of credit.000 financial institutions in 220 countries and territories. Its products are issued by 23.Credit Cards Credit cards in India are gaining ground. A number of banks in India are encouraging people to use credit card. Nearly 600 million cards carry one of the VISA brands and more than 14 million locations accept VISA cards. Credit card however became more popular with use of magnetic strip in 1970. Visa Card VISA cards is a product of VISA USA and along with MasterCard is distributed by financial institutions around the world. More than 57 million cards are in circulation and growing and it is still growing further. Basically banks. Cardholders borrow money against a line of credit and pay it back with interest if the balance is carried over from month to month. which can be used more than once to borrow money or buy products and services on credit. Around US $ 123 billion was spent last year through American Express Cards and it is poised to be the world's No. Credit cards are financial instruments. retail stores and other businesses issue these. 1 card in the near 20 . The concept of credit card was used in 1950 with the launch of charge cards in USA by Diners Club and American Express. American Express The world's favorite card is American Express Credit Card. Master Card MasterCard is a product of MasterCard International and along with VISA are distributed by financial institutions around the world. Credit card in India became popular with the introduction of foreign banks in the country.
The following are some of the plus features of credit card in India • • • • • • • • Hotel discounts Travel fare discounts Free global calling card Lost baggage insurance Accident insurance Insurance on goods purchased Waiver of payment in case of accidental death Household insurance 21 .. Canada. Europe and Asia and are used widely in the retail and everyday expenses segment. Other cards: • • • Standard Card .It is the most basic card (sans all frills) offered by issuers.A card with an even higher limit than a platinum card.A credit card with a higher limit and additional perks than a gold card. In a regressive US economy last year. Classic Card . issuers provide extra perks or incentives to cardholders. the total amount spent on American Express cards rose by 4 percent. Income eligibility is also higher.S.A credit card that offers a higher line of credit than a standard card. • • Platinum Card .future.Brand name for the standard card issued by VISA. American Express cards are very popular in the U. In addition. Gold Card/Executive Card . Titanium Card .
Debit cards are different from credit cards. we use our own money and not the issuer's money. It operates like cash or a personal check. including grocery stores." When we use a debit card.Debit Cards Debit cards also known as check cards look like credit cards or ATM cards (automated teller machine card). retail stores. and restaurants. Using a debit card means you no longer have to stock up on traveler's checks or cash when you travel. "pay now" product. gasoline stations. In India almost all the banks issue debit card to its account holders. • • Using a debit card frees you from carrying cash or a checkbook. It’s an alternative to carrying a checkbook or cash. our money is quickly deducted from the bank account. • Debit cards may be more readily accepted by merchants than checks. you may dispute unauthorized charges or other mistakes within 60 days. •Using a debit card may mean you have less protection than with a credit card purchase for items which are never delivered. are defective. But. as with credit cards. . giving you no grace period. Features of Debit Card • • Obtaining a debit card is often easier than obtaining a credit card. especially in other states or countries wherever your card brand is accepted. Debit cards are accepted at many locations. With debit card. Using a debit card instead of writing checks saves you from showing identification or giving out personal information at the time of the transaction. •Returning goods or canceling services purchased with a debit card is treated as if the 22 purchase were made with cash or a check. Credit card is a way to "pay later. • The debit card is a quick. or were misrepresented." whereas debit card is a way to "pay now.
drafts etc. It is one of the fast moving financial product of banks. In some banks upto last ten transactions. It can perform both cash and non-cash transactions in secured environment. Car loan / auto loan are 23 . • Balance enquiry.ATM Cards Automated Teller machine (ATM) cards are capable of doing variety of functions. telephone bills etc). The following loans are given by almost all the banks in the country: • • • • • Personal Loan Car Loan or Auto Loan Loan against Shares Home Loan Education Loan or Student Loan Almost all the banks have jumped into the market of car loan which is also sometimes termed as auto loan. • Transfer of funds between accounts. ATM Cash Transactions includes deposits and withdrawals. Loans Banks in India with the way of development have become easy to apply in loan market. • • Requisition of Cheque books. Bill payments (electricity bills. • Stop Payment instructions. Non cash transactions incude: • Providing Mini Statement of last five transactions.
Banks generally issue Demand Drafts.sanctioned to the extent of 85% upon the ex-showroom price of the car with some simple paper works and a small amount of processing fee.e. Many banks will even use money transfer services as loss-leaders in order to generate account openings and cross-sell opportunities. ICICI. The international money transfer market grew 9. Economists say that the market of money transfer will further grow at a cumulative 10. The educational loan. The price evolution of money transfer products for banks will be similar to that of consumer bill pay-the product is worth 24 . in 2004. HSBC are leading. This activity is termed as remittance business. HDFC.1% average growth rate through 2008. The RBI has also liberalised the interest rates of home loan in order to match the repayment capability of even middle class people. This act of banks is known as transfer of money. It has been only a couple of years that banks have jumped into the money transfer businesses in India. Money Transfer Besides lending and depositing money. rather to be termed as student loan. Again SBI. banks also carry money from one corner of the globe to another. More number of townships are coming up to meet the demand of 'house for all'. Money Orders or other such instruments for transferring the money.3% from 2003 to 2004 i. to US$233 bn. With the use of high technology and varieties of product it seems that "Free" money transfers will become commonplace. Now people are moving to township outside the city. Banker's Cheques. Almost all banks are dealing in home loan. is a good banking product for the mass. studying at recognized colleges/universities in India and abroad are generally given education loan / student loan so as to meet the expenses on tuition fee/ maintenance cost/books and other equipment. This is a type of Telegraphic Transfer or Tele Cash Orders. from US$213 bn. Students with certain academic brilliance. Home loan is the latest craze in the banking sector with the development of the infrastructure.
we will see a good percent of all foreign-born households doing some level of online banking. That will change as banks offer transfer services through their online channel.giving away as an account acquisition tool to win overall market share and establish banking relationships. Some of them are as under: • • • • • • • • Western Union Money Transfer Union Money Transfer IKobo Money Transfer Cash2india. This service provides peace of mind to either the NRIs or to the visitors to India. which currently frequents traditional money transmitters such as Western Union. Many Indian banks have ATM'S (automatic teller machine). enable to draw foreign currency in India. By 2010.com Remit2india Samachar Money Transfer Wells Fergo International Money Transfer Travellers Express 25 . There is a terrific opportunity for banks and non-banks to offer more robust global inter-institutional funds transfer services online. quick. Money Transfer to India Apart from banks few financial institutions and online portals gives services of money transfer to India. and most do not have an alternative product marketed by their bank that is painless. First-mover banks will start having a window of opportunity to include online transfer functionality within the next couple of years. More than half of Western Union's customers today are already banked. ATM money transfer card products have had terrible bank adoption rates since being introduced in the last three to four years. and cost-effective. Money transfer to India is one of the most important parts played by the banks.
in many respects.000 marks in installing ATMs in India is ICICI. It was in the year 1987. The Corporation Bank has the second largest network of ATMs amongst the Public Sector Banks in India. Under this scheme. either debit or credit within India. The Indian banks have also come up with a 'Swadhan' scheme.Visa Money Transfer Visa has recently introduced the 'Visa Money Transfer' option for its savings and current account holder of any bank with a visa debit card. The first bank to cross 1. 35 extra from their customers. to the third-party fund transfer option given by some banks to its account holders through e-cheque. The main feature of ‘Swadhan Card’ is as follows: • No exchange fee charged to change an old ATM card for a Swadhan card. almost every commercial bank gives ATM facilities to its customers. They are either setting up their own ATM centers or entering into tie-ups with other banks. HDFC and IDBI count more than 50% of the total ATMs in India. but this is restricted to only visa cardholders. SBI is following the concept of 'ATMs in Quantity'. Now. Public Sector Banks are also taking the installation of ATMs seriously for Indian market. 26 . Automated Teller Machines (ATM) The first bank to introduce the ATM concept in India was the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). This facility helps its customer to transfer funds from his bank account to any visa card. A Visa Money Transfer is of similar kind. But Private Sector Banks have taken the lead. UTI. usually Rs. ICICI. the banks can use each other's ATM at a cost.
Still. one can bank from anywhere. this is lower than the average withdrawal of Rs15. • • IBA gives banks the discretion to decide a higher maximum amount for withdrawal. but only your own bank will provide this. 3. Mobile banking uses the same infrastructure like the ATM solution. Mobile Banking "The account that travels with you". It reduces the cost of operation for bankers in comparison to the use of ATMs. With mobile banking facilities. at anytime and in any condition or anyhow. Exception made for select customers who can withdraw up to Rs10. the following operations can be conducted through advanced mobile phones which can is further viewed on channels such as the Internet via the Channel Manager. Moreover 8590% mobile users do not own credit cards.000. The system is either through SMS or through WAP Mobile Banking is the hottest area of development in the banking sector and is expected to replace the credit/debit card system in future. In past two years. mobile banking users have increased three times if we compare the use of either debit card or credit card.000 fixed as the ceiling on withdrawal.000 by regular ATMs.• • Rs. This is needed in today's fast business environment with unending deadlines for fulfillment and loads of appointments to meet and meetings to attend. 27 . which is given only by your own bank. But it is extremely easy and inexpensive to implement. Using compact HTML and WAP technologies. Transactions conducted through any of the member banks appear on a bank statement. • All transactions conducted in any of the member banks appear on the bank statement.
It is very similar to how an ATM works. One for the telephonic purpose and the other for banking. you can use the facility of SMS services. The following operations can be easily used by the service provider: • • • • • • • • Balance enquiry Last three transactions Cheque payment status Cheque book request Statement request Demat .Last two Transactions Bill Payment The SMS facility brings peace of mind to customers and opens doors to many more technological possibilities and innovative services.• • • • Bill payments Fund transfers Check balances Any many more which is also available in SMS Banking In countries like Korea. You may have to thank the banks which are providing banking at the send-of-your-sms. About 3. 28 . If you are having non-WAP enabled mobile handset. Bank account data is encrypted on a smart-card chip.Free Balance Holding Demat .3 million transactions were reported by Bank of Korea in 2004. So is to be your money. The technology is at its highest level to move your money while you are on the move. SMS Banking Businesses are in move. two SIM Cards are used in mobile phones.
To use ATM. In other words it is said that it is updated 'on-line. Few banks provide interaction facility between the banks and its customers. a mobile phone is needed. place queries and also can be facilitated with a wide range of transactions simultaneously. First. secret number is necessary to access. A new concept has been developed by Bank of Punjab Ltd. electricity bills. In India. With the support of this technology. real time'. etc. SMS banking is also very much safe. one authenticates the mobile number with the authentications key. a customer can make payment and receive payment of account of buy/sell (merchants) through SMS. a card is necessary and to use SMS service. 29 . Second. Net Banking Net Banking is conducting ones banking or bank account online through a computer and a net connection. Banks are coming up with arrangements of utility payments. the customer uses secret Mobile Personal Identification Number (MPIN). like telephone bills. In both the cases. in abroad there are banks like EGG Bank or NET Bank. They are as follows: • • • The banks offer only relevant information about their products and services to the mass. They call it "Mobile Wallet". the regulatory body has not yet sanctioned virtual bank. The system is updated immediately after every transaction automatically. which only have a virtual presence without any physical branches. Through net banking one can check the status of his/her account. Net Banking has three basic features.
Very few customers uses the advance interactive services provided by the banks.The current statistics show that hardly 10 per cent of Indian customers use the internet for banking. Services provided by Net Banking Queries • • • • • • • • Check Balance See Statement Inquire about cheque status Ask for a Statement Ask for a Cheque Book Inquire about TDS details See Demat Account Update profile Transactions • • • • • • • • Stop a Cheque Pay Bills Ask for a Demand Draft Transfer funds between your accounts Transfer funds to a third party Request for a new Fixed Deposit Shop Online Pay Bank Credit Card Dues 30 . Among all the facilities provided the maximum of them uses only for checking balance or requesting for a cheque book.
this kiosk works on wireless in local loop technology.Advantages of Net Banking • It removes the traditional geographical barriers as it could reach out to customers of different countries/legal jurisdiction. customers' privacy. This has raised the question of jurisdiction of law/supervisory system to which such transactions should be subjected.. Thanks to Internet Kiosk and the ATM duo which has made it possible for rural India. Security of banking transactions. heightening some of them and throwing new risk control challenges. 70% of marginal farmers do not have deposit account. which have all along been concerns of both bankers and supervisors have assumed different dimensions given that Internet is a public domain. This is known as Proxy Banking. Reasons for setting-up of Proxy Banking • • • • 58% of rural households still do not have bank accounts. not subject to control by any single authority or group of users. etc. It has added a new dimension to different kinds of risks traditionally associated with banking. validity of electronic contract. insurance and even equity trading. This kiosk has been set up by ICICI Bank in partnership with network n-Logue Communications in remote villages of Southern part of the country. 87% households have no formal credit. • • Proxy Banking Indian villages were miles away from mutual funds. Only 21% of rural households have access to credit from a formal source. With the help of fibre optic cables. 31 .
paddy crop. it provides increased convenience. the costs of delivering telephone-based services are substantially lower than those of branch based services. • Consumers bribe officials to get loans approved which varies between 10 and 20 per cent of the loan amount. The Proxy Banking is an innovative approach to rural lending and will add to the government's expanding base of Kisan credit cards and the good old guidelines for agricultural lending. Weather insurance given to farmers. • Branch banking in rural is a loss-making.• Only 1% rural households rely on a loan from a financial intermediary. castor. from the banks’ perspective. Life and non-life insurance provided. which is essentially the delivery channel of branch financial services via telecommunication devices where the bank customers can perform retail banking transactions by dialing a touchtone telephone or mobile communication unit. soya. Insurance policies sold to farmers like groundnut. As far as the customers are concerned. which is connected to an automated system of the bank by utilizing Automated Voice Response (AVR) technology. expanded access and significant time saving. On the other hand. Benefits to Rural • • • • • Small loans given for buying buffaloes. Telebanking has numerous benefits for both customers and banks. It has almost all the impact on productivity of ATMs. Telephone Banking Tele banking (telephone banking) can be considered as a form of remote or virtual banking. etc. 32 . Loans for setting up a tea shop. · The loans take between 24 to 33 weeks to get sanctioned.
and offers 24-hour service. Once access is gained. as it curtails customer travel distance to bank branches it offers more time for customers’ productive activities. there is more productivity per time period. usually with the help of proprietary software installed on their personal computer. seven days a week. 33 . the customer can perform a lot of retail banking functions. Hence. Also. It offers quicker rate of inter-branch transactions as the consequence of distance and time are eliminated.except that it lacks the productivity generated from cash dispensing by the ATMs. with the several networked branches serving the customer populace as one system. there is simulated division of labour among bank branches with its associated positive impact on productivity among the branches. into one unified system in the form of a Wide Area Network (WAN) or Enterprise Network (EN) for the creating and sharing of consolidated customer information/records. Branch Networking Networking of branches is the computerization and inter-connecting of geographically scattered stand-alone bank branches. Furthermore. It also has the benefits of Telephone Banking and ATMs. Personal Computer Banking PC-Banking is a service which allows the bank’s customers to access information about their accounts via a proprietary network. This certainly supports the growth of PC banking which virtually establishes a branch in the customers’ home or office. It offers retail banking services to customers at their offices/homes as an alternative to going to the bank branch/ATM. The increasing awareness of the importance of computer literacy has resulted in increasing the use of personal computers. and gives more convenience for higher productivity. This saves customers time.
The advances in IT have certainly introduced new delivery channels in the Indian banking industry. VSATs are very useful in banking industry. hence continual productivity for the bank even after banking hours. the system continues after banking hours. Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) In Banking Very Small Aperture Terminals work with the help of the satellite. It also saves customers time and energy in getting to bank branches or ATMs for cash withdrawals which can be harnessed into other productive activities.Electronic Fund Transfer At Point Of Sale (EFTPoS) An Electronic Funds Transfer at the Point of Sale is an on-line system that allows customers to transfer funds instantaneously from their bank accounts to merchant accounts when making purchases (at purchase points). Furthermore.8 meters or 3. This revolution in the market place has set in motion a revolution in the banking sector for the provision of a payment system that is compatible with the demands of the electronic marketplace. Through satellites. 1988). Technological developments particularly in the area of Telecommunications and Information Technology are revolutionizing the way business is done. VSATs technology has made banking services very simple and speedy. 34 . VSATs use small antennas which may have variable size of 1. stock exchanges. A POS uses a debit card to activate an Electronic Fund Transfer Process (Chorafas. reservations. Electronic commerce is now thought to hold the promise of a new commercial revolution by offering an inexpensive and direct way to exchange information and to sell or buy products and services. Increased banking productivity results from the use of EFTPoS to service customers shopping payment requirements in stead of clerical duties in handling cheques and cash withdrawals for shopping. The terminals used in VSATs have very small apertures. They are briefly known as VSATs. retail trade.8 meters and these acts as small earth stations.
• These earth stations normally use bit rate which is less than megabyte per second.corporate networking. This network links 2800 bank branches with one another. industries. 35 . Characteristics • These terminals can exchange and transmit information. • Payment system has been made more effective. document services etc. weather forecasting. 135 crores out of which Rs. • The shortcomings of telecommunications have been overcome with the help of VSATs.5 m to 11m. 100 crores were arranged by the public sector banks. • VSATs can function at ‘C-Band’. The transmission through a larger earth station which is called Hub-Station. • VSATs cannot directly transmit messages to each other. • File work can be easily transferred. Uses of VSATs The activities relating to VSATs technology has now started. The size of antennas Hub-Station ranges between 7. • The currency chest operation has become more fast and accurate. international services. The whole project is has incurred expenditure of Rs. • Exchange of information has geared up and speedy clearing of pending entries has been made possible. 35 crores were arranged by RBI and Rs. The following operations can be performed by using this technology: • The quality of customer service at the counters has improved to a large extent.
• The self owned communication system can be operationalised by the institution.NRE A/c Non-Resident (Foreign Currency) Account .• The use of e-mail is made more effective through VSATs.NRO A/c Non-Resident (External) Rupee Account . There are different types of accounts for them. Banking Services For NRI’s Almost all the Indian Banks provide services to the NRIs.FCNR A/c An Indian resident who is earning foreign exchange can also maintain Foreign Currency account in the country with an authorized dealer. 36 . They are: • • • Non-Resident (Ordinary) Account . • The banks offer specialized telephone facilities through this network. • Through VSATs technology every organization is able to develop its own system of communications.
It was something between the nominal rate of interest and the expected rate of inflation. Capital adequacy norms extended to financial 37 . Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) became important institutions. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has become more independent. The important achievements the following fields are discussed under separate heads: Financial Markets In the last decade. they started making debt in the market. They grew rapidly in commercial banking and asset management business. Opinions are also there that there should be a super-regulator for the financial services sector instead of multiplicity of regulators. Private Sector Institutions played an important role. every governments India took major steps in reforming the financial sector of the country. Regulators The Finance Ministry continuously formulated major policies in the field of financial sector of the country. The borrowers did not pay high price while depositors had incentives to save. Competition among financial intermediaries gradually helped the interest rates to decline. The real interest rate was maintained. The Government accepted the important role of regulators. Since 1991. Development Finance Institutions Financial institution's access to SLR funds reduced. Convertibility clause no longer obligatory for assistance to corporate sanctioned by term-lending institutions. Deregulation added to it.IMPACT OF CHANGE IN BANKING STRUCTURE ON ECONOMY Financial and Banking reforms The last decade witnessed the maturity of India's financial markets. Now they have to approach the capital market for debt and equity funds. With the openings in the insurance sector for these institutions.
institutions. the gilt. Primary dealers bid for these securities and also trade in them. the SEBI has now decided to concentrate on the development of the debt market. Stamp duty is being withdrawn at the time of dematerialization of debt instruments in order to encourage paperless trading. Long-term debt market. strengthening of existing instruments and setting up of the Discount and Finance House of India (DFHI). The RBI conducts its sales of dated securities and treasury bills through its open market operations (OMO) window. has a mandate to develop the secondary market in government securities. The Securities Trading Corporation of India (STCI). the requirement of minimum net owned funds. Until recently. After bringing some order to the equity market. DFIs such as IDBI and ICICI have entered other segments of financial services such as commercial banking. The RBI has introduced a liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) in which liquidity is injected through reverse repo auctions and liquidity is sucked out through repo auctions. Several measures have been initiated and include new money market instruments.2 crores.up. has been raised to Rs. The DFHI is the principal agency for developing a secondary market for money market instruments and Government of India treasury bills. The move to universal banking has started. 38 .edged market occupies an important position in the financial set. The secondary market was underdeveloped and lacked liquidity. On account of the substantial issue of government debt. which started operations in June 1994. asset management and insurance through separate ventures. Non-banking finance companies In the case of new NBFCs seeking registration with the RBI. the money market in India was narrow and circumscribed by tight regulations over interest rates and participants.
Expectations are that India will be an attractive emerging market with tremendous potential. The Unit Trust of India remains easily the biggest mutual fund controlling a corpus of nearly Rs. improving disclosure standards and experimenting with new types of distribution. the industry had a framework for the establishment of many more players. The insurance industry is the latest to be thrown open to competition from the private sector including foreign players.70. Unfortunately. 39 . with participation restricted to 26 per cent of equity.The Capital Market The number of shareholders in India is estimated at 25 million. It is too early to conclude whether the erstwhile public sector monopolies will successfully be able to face up to the competition posed by the new players. only an estimated two lakh persons actively trade in stocks. Mutual Funds The mutual funds industry is now regulated under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations. The foreign owned AMCs are the ones which are now setting the pace for the industry. mutual funds started becoming popular.000 crores. setting new standards of customer service. which have led to retail investors deserting the stock markets. With the issuance of SEBI guidelines. but its share is going down. Foreign companies can only enter joint ventures with Indian companies. during recent times the stock markets have been constrained by some unsavory developments. However. There has been a dramatic improvement in the country's stock market trading infrastructure during the last few years. With the growth in the securities markets and tax advantages granted for investment in mutual fund units. 1996 and amendments thereto. but it can be expected that the customer will gain from improved service. The biggest shock to the mutual fund industry during recent times was the insecurity generated in the minds of investors regarding the US 64 schemes. They are introducing new products. both Indian and foreign players.
the capital market regulator was established in 1992. and special recovery tribunals set up to facilitate quicker recovery of loan arrears. Good regulation will. market and operational risks. Government pre-emption of banks' resources through statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) and cash reserve ratio (CRR) brought down in steps. Derivative products such as forward rate agreements (FRAs) and interest rate swaps (IRSs) introduced. be essential. PSBs were encouraged to approach the public for raising resources. asset classification. SEBI. provisioning for delinquent loans and for capital adequacy. A credit information bureau being established to identify bad risks. Interest rates on the deposits and lending sides almost entirely were deregulated. Deregulation Of Banking System Prudential norms were introduced for income recognition. Recovery of debts due to banks and the Financial Institutions Act. 1947. substantial capital were provided by the Government to PSBs. in order to improve the low per capita insurance coverage. 40 . repealed. 1993 was passed. New private sector banks allowed promoting and encouraging competition. office of the Controller of Capital Issues was abolished and the initial share pricing were decontrolled. RBI guidelines issued for risk management systems in banks encompassing credit. Capital Market Developments The Capital Issues (Control) Act.The new players will need to bring in innovative products as well as fresh ideas on marketing and distribution. of course. Bank lending norms liberalized and a loan system to ensure better control over credit introduced. In order to reach the stipulated capital adequacy norms. Banks asked to set up asset liability management (ALM) systems.
and made rules for making client or broker relationship more transparent which included separation of client and broker accounts. Companies given the freedom to issue dematerialized shares in any denomination. SEBI reconstituted governing boards of the stock exchanges. Private Mutual Funds Permitted The Depositories Act had given a legal framework for the establishment of depositories to record ownership deals in book entry form. 100 were abolished. 10 and Rs. Derivatives trading starts with index options and futures. subject to conditions. SEBI empowered to register and regulate venture capital funds. To reduce the cost of issue. Indian companies were permitted to access international capital markets through euro issues. The National Stock Exchange (NSE). 41 . A system of rolling settlements introduced. The practice of making preferential allotment of shares at prices unrelated to the prevailing market prices stopped and fresh guidelines were issued by SEBI. Buy Back Of Shares Allowed The SEBI started insisting on greater corporate disclosures. Dematerialization of stocks encouraged paperless trading. Standard denomination for equity shares of Rs. SEBI issued detailed employee stock option scheme and employee stock purchase scheme for listed companies. Several local stock exchanges changed over from floor based trading to screen based trading. with nationwide stock trading and electronic display. underwriting by the issuer were made optional. introduced capital adequacy norms for brokers. clearing and settlement facilities was established. Steps were taken to improve corporate governance based on the report of a committee. Companies were required to disclose all material facts and specific risk factors associated with their projects while making public issues.Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were allowed to invest in Indian capital markets after registration with the SEBI.
. United Bank of India is one of the 14 major banks which were nationalised on July 19. 42 . 1969. 1999 issued for regulating new credit rating agencies as well as introducing a code of conduct for all credit rating agencies operating in India. was formed in 1950 with the amalgamation of four banks viz. BANKING STRUCTURE IN INDIA Public Sector Banks Among the Public Sector Banks in India. the United Bank of India Ltd.The SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations. Its predecessor. in the Public Sector Banks.
(1922) and Hooghly Bank Ltd. Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC). 18. 9. 14. 2. (1932). 5. (1918). 4.Comilla Banking Corporation Ltd. 19. Allahabad Bank Andhra Bank Bank of Baroda Bank of India Bank of Maharastra Canara Bank Central Bank of India Corporation Bank Dena Bank Indian Bank Indian Overseas Bank Oriental Bank of Commerce Punjab & Sind Bank Punjab National Bank Syndicate Bank UCO Bank Union Bank of India United Bank of India Vijaya Bank 43 . 7. Comilla Union Bank Ltd. 8. OBC is implementing a GRAMEEN PROJECT in Dehradun District (UP) and Hanumangarh District (Rajasthan) disbursing small loans. 11. a Government of India Undertaking offers Domestic. 16. 6. 15. 10. Bengal Central Bank Ltd. (1914). NRI and Commercial banking services. 13. The following are the list of Public Sector Banks in India 1. 3. 17. 12. This Public Sector Bank India has implemented 14 point action plan for strengthening of credit delivery to women and has designated 5 branches as specialized branches for women entrepreneurs.
The first Private Bank in India to receive an in principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India was Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited. IDBI ranks the tenth largest development bank in the world as Private Banks in India and has promoted a world class institution in India. Major Private Banks in India are: 44 . to set up a bank in the private sector banks in India as part of the RBI's liberalisation of the Indian Banking Industry. It is one of the fastest growing Bank Private Sector Banks in India. The first private bank in India to be set up in Private Sector Banks in India was IndusInd Bank.List of State Bank of India and its subsidiary. a Public Sector Banks • State Bank of India o o o o o o State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur (SBBJ) State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) State Bank of Indore (SBIr) State Bank of Mysore (SBM) State Bank of Patiala (SBP) State Bank of Travancore (SBT) Private Sector Banks Private banking in India was practiced since the beginning of banking system in India. It was incorporated in August 1994 as HDFC Bank Limited with registered office in Mumbai and commenced operations as Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.
• Bank of Rajasthan • Catholic Syrian Bank • Bharat Overseas Bank • Centurion Bank of Punjab • Dhanalakshmi Bank • Federal Bank • HDFC Bank • ICICI Bank • IDBI Bank • IndusInd Bank • ING Vysya Bank • Jammu & Kashmir Bank • Karnataka Bank • Karur Vysya Bank • Kotak Mahindra Bank • SBI Commercial & International Bank • South Indian Bank • United Western Bank • UTI Bank • YES Bank • City Union Bank • Nainital Bank • Tamilnad Mercantile Bank • Lord Krishna Bank • Lakshmi Vilas Bank • Ratnakar Bank 45 .
The Cooperative bank is an important constituent of the Indian Financial System. They are governed by the Banking Regulations Act 1949 and Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act. judging by the role assigned to co operative. The cooperative banks in India play an important role even today in rural financing. but the importance of such banks have assumed in India is rarely paralleled anywhere else in the world. the expectations the co operative is supposed to fulfill. The businesses of cooperative bank in the urban areas also have increased phenomenally in recent years due to the sharp increase in the number of primary co-operative banks. their number.Co-Operative Banks The Co operative banks in India started functioning almost 100 years ago. 1965. Though the co operative movement originated in the West. The cooperative bank is also regulated by the RBI. Cooperative banks in India finance rural areas under: • • • • • Farming Cattle Milk Hatchery Personal finance Cooperative banks in India finance urban areas under: • • • • • Self-employment Industries Small scale units Home finance Consumer finance Regional Rural Banks 46 . Co operative Banks in India are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act. and the number of offices the cooperative bank operate.
The policy conveys that foreign banks in India may not acquire Indian ones (except for weak banks identified by the RBI. Regional rural banks in India penetrated every corner of the country and extended a helping hand in the growth process of the country. New rules announced by the Reserve Bank of India for the foreign banks in India in this budget have put up great hopes among foreign banks which allow them to grow unfettered. Now foreign banks in India are permitted to set up local subsidiaries. the banking sector in India also become competitive and accurative. Please see the list of foreign banks in India till date.Rural banking in India started since the establishment of banking sector in India. The total number of SBIs Regional Rural Banks in India branches is 2349 (16%).475 rural banks in the country of which 2126 (91%) are located in remote rural areas. SBI has 30 Regional Rural Banks in India known as RRBs. Till date in rural banking in India. Few of them are as follows: • Haryana State Cooperative Apex Bank Limited • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) • Sindhanur Urban Souharda Co-operative Bank • United Bank of India • Syndicate Bank Foreign Banks Foreign Banks in India always brought an explanation about the prompt services to customers. The rural banks of SBI are spread in 13 states extending from Kashmir to Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh to North East. on its terms) and their Indian subsidiaries will not be able to open branches freely. Rural Banks in those days mainly focused upon the agro sector. Apart from SBI. there are other few banks which functions for the development of the rural areas in India. After the set up foreign banks in India. There are 197 RRB’s in India. there are 14. 47 .
the list of foreign banks in India is going to become more quantitative as a number of foreign banks are still waiting with baggage to start business in India. Upcoming Foreign Banks In India 48 .List of Foreign Banks in India • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ABN-AMRO Bank Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Bank of Ceylon BNP Paribas Bank Citi Bank Deutsche Bank HSBC Sonali Bank JPMorgan Chase Bank Standard Chartered Bank Scotia Bank Bank of America American Express Bank DBS Bank Krung Thai Bank Chinatrust Commercial Bank Arab Bangladesh Bank Mizuho Corporate Bank Oman International Bank Calyon Bank By the year 2009.
The general superintendence and direction of the Bank is entrusted to Central Board of Directors of 20 members. Local Boards consist of five members each Central Government appointed for a term of four years to represent territorial and economic interests and the interests of co-operative and indigenous banks. It was established in April 1935 under the RBI Act. The Government held shares of nominal value of Rs. ten nominated Directors by the Government to give representation to important elements in the economic life of the country. and four nominated Directors by the Central Government to represent the four local Boards with the headquarters at Mumbai.000. 1934 with a share capital of Rs. 5 crores on the basis of the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission.00. Chennai and New Delhi. 49 .20. Reserve Bank of India was nationalised in the year 1949. the Governor and four Deputy Governors. 2. Kolkata. List of foreign banks going to set up business in India: • • • • • Royal Bank of Scotland Switzerland's UBS US-based GE Capital Credit Suisse Group Industrial and Commercial Bank of China RESERVE BANK OF INDIA The central bank of the country is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).By 2009 few more names is going to be added in the list of foreign banks in India. 100 each fully paid which was entirely owned by private shareholders in the beginning.000 shares of Rs. The share capital was divided into 5. This is as an aftermath of the sudden interest shown by Reserve Bank of India paving roadmap for foreign banks in India greater freedom in India. one Government official from the Ministry of Finance.
Originally. It is also referred to as Central Bank. also acts as their banker. To operate the credit and currency system of the country to its advantage.The Reserve Bank of India Act. 1935. Development of banks. Under Section 22 of the Reserve Bank of India Act. The distribution of one rupee notes and coins and small coins all over the country is undertaken by the Reserve Bank as agent of the Government. 1934 provides the statutory basis of the functioning of the Bank. The Reserve Bank has a separate Issue Department which is entrusted with the issue of currency notes. Supervision and licensing of banks. To act as a regulator and supervisor of the financial system Management of foreign exchange control Banker to the Government because it performs merchant banking function for the central and the state governments. Objectives of constituting the Reserve Bank of India: • • • • • • To regulate the issue of bank notes. The assets and liabilities of the Issue Department are kept separate from those of the Banking Department. To maintain reserves with a view to securing monetary stability. the assets of the Issue 50 . These are as follows: Bank Of Issue RBI is also known as the Bank of Issue as it enjoys monopoly in issuing currency throughout the country. the Bank has the sole right to issue bank notes of all denominations. Functions Of Reserve Bank Of India • • The Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934 entrust all the important functions of a central bank in the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI Act. 1934 was commenced on April 1. It is so called as it maintains cash reserves of all the commercial banks in India with itself.
According to the provisions of the Banking Companies Act of 1949. It adds to the government treasury. the Reserve Bank of India is required to maintain gold and foreign exchange reserves of Ra. of which at least Rs. It ensures flexibility in the money supply It ensures general public’s faith in the currency system of the country. Bankers' Bank and Lender of the Last Resort The Reserve Bank of India acts as the bankers' bank. to keep the cash balances as deposits free of interest. Since 1957. via. 115 crores should be in gold. eligible bills of exchange and promissory notes payable in India. 40 crores in value. to receive and to make payments on behalf of the Government and to carry out their exchange remittances and other banking operations. Banker To Government The second important function of the Reserve Bank of India is to act as Government banker. The Reserve Bank is agent of Central Government and of all State Governments in India excepting that of Jammu and Kashmir. The Reserve Bank has the obligation to transact Government business. Due to the exigencies of the Second World War and the post-war period. It acts as adviser to the Government on all monetary and banking matters. gold bullion or sterling securities provided the amount of gold was not less than Rs. It makes loans and advances to the States and local authorities. The system as it exists today is known as the minimum reserve system. Government of India rupee securities. these provisions were considerably modified. The RBI acts as a financial advisor and performs agency functions for the government also. Following are the advantages of giving monopoly power to central bank:It brings uniformity in the notes issue. 200 crores. The remaining three-fifths of the assets might be held in rupee coins. every scheduled bank was required to maintain with the 51 . agent and adviser.Department were to consist of not less than two-fifths of gold coin.
Since 1956.e.Reserve Bank a cash balance equivalent to 5% of its demand liabilities and 2 per cent of its time liabilities in India. It can do so through changing the Bank rate or through open market operations. Controller of Credit The Reserve Bank of India is the controller of credit i. it has the power to influence the volume of credit created by banks in India. in detail. The Reserve Bank of India is armed with many more powers to control the Indian money market. the Reserve Bank of India can ask any particular bank or the whole banking system not to lend to particular groups or persons on the basis of certain types of securities. Each scheduled bank must send a weekly return to the Reserve Bank showing. By an amendment of 1962. The main objective behind this is that no investment opportunity should go unutilized just due to the scarcity of funds. Every bank has to get a license from the Reserve Bank of India to do banking business within India. Since commercial banks can always expect the Reserve Bank of India to come to their help in times of banking crisis the Reserve Bank becomes not only the banker's bank but also the lender of the last resort. its assets and liabilities. The scheduled banks can borrow from the Reserve Bank of India on the basis of eligible securities or get financial accommodation in times of need or stringency by rediscounting bills of exchange. The minimum cash requirements can be changed by the Reserve Bank of India. selective controls of credit are increasingly being used by the Reserve Bank. According to the Banking Regulation Act of 1949. This power of the Bank to call for information is also intended to give it effective control of the credit 52 . the distinction between demand and time liabilities was abolished and banks have been asked to keep cash reserves equal to 3 per cent of their aggregate deposit liabilities. the license can be cancelled by the Reserve Bank of certain stipulated conditions are not fulfilled. Every bank will have to get the permission of the Reserve Bank before it can open a new branch.
1 = sh. Further. It controls the credit operations of banks through quantitative and qualitative controls. Besides maintaining the rate of exchange of the rupee. has the following powers: It holds the cash reserves of all the scheduled banks. According to the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934. inspection and calling for information. The Reserve Bank has also the power to inspect the accounts of any commercial bank.M. It controls the banking system through the system of licensing.6d. the Reserve Bank of India.F. therefore. 10. though there were periods of extreme pressure in favour of or against the rupee. It acts as the lender of the last resort by providing rediscount facilities to scheduled banks. 6d. The vast sterling balances were acquired and managed by the Bank.000. Since 1935 the Bank was able to maintain the exchange rate fixed at lsh. 53 .system. The rate of exchange fixed was Re. Custodian of Foreign Reserves The Reserve Bank of India has the responsibility to maintain the official rate of exchange. As supreme banking authority in the country. the Reserve Bank has the responsibility of maintaining fixed exchange rates with all other member countries of the I. the Bank was required to buy and sell at fixed rates any amount of sterling in lots of not less than Rs. the Reserve Bank has to act as the custodian of India's reserve of international currencies. the RBI has the responsibility of administering the exchange controls of the country. The RBI not only has to hold these foreign exchange reserves but also take various steps to enhance the volume of these reserves with it. After India became a member of the International Monetary Fund in 1946.
The RBI is authorised to carry out periodical inspections of the banks and to call for returns and necessary information from them. The supervisory functions of the RBI have helped a great deal in improving the standard of banking in India to develop on sound lines and to improve the methods of their operation. the range of the Reserve Bank's functions has steadily widened. the Reserve bank has certain nonmonetary functions of the nature of supervision of banks and promotion of sound banking in India. it set up the Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1962. The Reserve Bank Act. and liquidation. reconstruction. and establish and promote new specialized financing agencies. The Bank now performs a variety of developmental and promotional functions. 1934. the Agricultural Refinance 54 . extend banking facilities to rural and semi-urban areas. liquidity of their assets. the Reserve Bank has helped in the setting up of the IFCI and the SFC. at one time. the Unit Trust of India in 1964. amalgamation. Promotional functions With economic growth assuming a new urgency since Independence. management and methods of working. The Reserve Bank was asked to promote banking habit.Supervisory functions In addition to its traditional central banking functions. relating to licensing and establishments. which. the Industrial Development Bank of India also in 1964. Accordingly. and the Banking Regulation Act. branch expansion. The nationalisation of 14 major Indian scheduled banks in July 1969 has imposed new responsibilities on the RBI for directing the growth of banking and credit policies towards more rapid development of the economy and realisation of certain desired social objectives. 1949 have given the RBI wide powers of supervision and control over commercial and co-operative banks. were regarded as outside the normal scope of central banking.
the second phase comprising the centralised funds transfer system would be made available by the middle of 2003. to eliminate moneylenders from the villages and to route its short term credit to agriculture. The initiatives taken by RBI are as follows: Implementation of Centralised Funds Management System The centralised funds management system provides for a centralised viewing of balance positions of the account holders across different accounts maintained at various locations of RBI. the process of setting up of registration authorities under the CA has commenced at various banks. and to provide industrial finance as well as agricultural finance. Government of India. 55 . No bank can undertake any activity without the approval of RBI and thus RBI played a major role in the introduction of the information technology in the banking sector. the Reserve Bank of India set up the Agricultural Credit Department to provide agricultural credit. The RBI has set up the Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation to provide long-term finance to farmers. Reserve Bank Of India took several measures in the development of the banking sector. The Controller of Certifying Authorities. Certification and Digital Signatures The mid-term Review of October 2002 indicated the need for information security on the network and the use of public key infrastructure (PKI) by banks. Being the central bank of the country. 54 banks have implemented the system at their treasuries/funds management branches. As far back as 1935. Consequently. These institutions were set up directly or indirectly by the Reserve Bank to promote saving habit and to mobilise savings. The Bank has developed the co-operative credit movement to encourage saving.Corporation of India in 1963 and the Industrial Reconstruction Corporation of India in 1972. So far. have approved the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology as a Certification Authority(CA)for digital signatures. But only since 1951 the Bank's role in this field has become extremely important. While the first phase of the system covering the centralised funds enquiry system has been made available to the users.
The draft Bill provides a legal basis for netting. apart from empowering RBI to have regulatory and oversight powers over payment and settlement systems of the country.In addition to the negotiated dealing system. under the aegis of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. has been initiated. The project is aimed at the formulation of standards for multi-application smart cards on the basis of inter-operable systems and technological components of the entire system. the electronic clearing service and electronic funds transfer (EFT) are also being enhanced in terms of security by means of implementation of PKI and digital signatures using the facilities offered by the CA.H. after examining the various aspects relating to payment and settlement systems. The report of the Committee was put on the RBI website for wider dissemination. Multi-application Smart Cards Recognising the need for technology based payment products and the growing importance of smart card based payment flows. NEFT would provide for movement of electronic transfer of funds in a safe. The draft Bill has been forwarded to the Government. submitted its report in September 2002 along with a draft Payment Systems Bill. national EFT (NEFT) is being introduced using the backbone of the structured financial messaging system (SFMS) of the IDRBT. Patil) was set up in 2002. The Committee. a Committee on Payment Systems (Chairman: Dr. Committee on Payment Systems In order to examine the entire gamut of the process of reforms in payment and settlement systems which would be culminating with the real time gross settlement (RTGS) system. Special Electronic Funds Transfer As indicated in the mid-term Review of October 2002. a pilot project for multi-application smart cards in conjunction with a few banks and vendors. R. secure and quick manner across branches of any bank to any other bank through a central gateway of each 56 . Government of India.
Since this scheme requires connectivity across a large number of branches at many cities. if done outside NDS. insurance companies. enables on-line dealing and dissemination of trade information relating to instruments in money. National Settlement System(NSS) The clearing and settlement activities are dispersed through 1. This has facilitated same day transfer of funds across accounts of constituents at all these branches. The following are some of the offerings of Central Bank of India. mutual funds and any other institution as admitted by RBI. with the inter-bank settlement being effected in the books of account of banks maintained at RBI. • An Exclusive Ladies Department to cater to the Bank's women clientele. 57 . In order to facilitate banks to have better control over their funds. • The Home Savings Safe Deposit Scheme to build saving/thrift habits in all sections of the society. financial institutions (FIs). Reporting of Call/Notice Money Market Transactions on NDS Platform Negotiated dealing system (NDS). all deals in government securities.047 clearing houses managed by RBI. if the deal is done on NDS and within 15 minutes of concluding the deal. These include banks. it is proposed to introduce national settlement system in a phased manner. primary dealers (PDs). public sector banks and other institutions. government securities and foreign exchange markets. At present. Membership in NDS is open to all institutions which are members of INFINET and are maintaining subsidiary general ledger (SGL) Account with RBI. call/notice/term money. the SBI and its associates. which has become operational since February 2002.bank. a special EFT was introduced in April 2003 covering about 3000 branches in 500 cities. CDs and CP executed among NDS members have to be reported automatically through NDS.
Setting up of the Executor and Trustee Department. cross-border M&A sales fell in 1999. the announcement of a merger is usually accompanied by an 58 . notably with respect to employment. In developing Asia.• • • • • • • • Safe Deposit Locker facility and Rupee Travelers’ Cheques. Developed countries are the most important sellers and buyers in crossborder M&As. the credit card of the Bank was introduced. Deposit Insurance Benefit Scheme.000 deals taking place every year. Recurring Deposit Scheme. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS IN BANKING SECTOR Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are a global phenomenon. accounting for close to 90 per cent and 95 per cent of sales/purchases in 199899. they continued to grow. Acquisitions are considerably more important than mergers in developing and transition countries. including in the countries most affected by the 1997 financial crisis. The Merchant Banking Cell was established. 'Platinum Jubilee Money Back Deposit Scheme' was launched. Indeed. respectively. In developing countries. This M&A-driven consolidation is raising important public policy concerns. The housing subsidiary Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd. Central card. was started with its headquarters at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. with an estimated 4. • Quick Cheque Collection Service (QCC) & Express Service was set up to enable speedy collection of outstation cheques.
"The government will have to make up its mind either to bring in additional capital or move towards reducing its share from 51 per cent through appropriate statutory changes. a copy of which was seen by Reuters. two overlapping organizations are compressed into one. C. Consolidation in the Indian banking sector was likely to gain prominence in the near future and this must be driven by commercial factors. both for strategic investment as well as for business correspondent relationships. A 1999 KPMG survey of company directors whose companies had participated in major crossborder M&A deals between 1996 and 1998 found that 82 per cent of respondents believed the deals they had been involved in had been a success.announcement of cost-cutting redundancies in the merging organizations. To gain full merger benefits. 59 . a top economic adviser to the government said yesterday. trimming duplicated operations which entails redundancies at all levels. It is nevertheless difficult to disentangle the employment effects of M&As from those of other factors such as increased competitive pressures. told a banking conference. automation or the introduction of information and communication technologies which are similarly inciting organizations to restructure even in the absence of M&As." Rangarajan said in his speech. Rangarajan. who heads the prime minister's economic advisory panel. YES BANK IN TALKS WITH FOREIGN MAJORS The private sector YES Bank is in talks with foreign banks. More bank mergers in India The Indian government should infuse more capital into state-run banks or move to cut its stakes below 51 per cent to meet the growing needs of the economy. often on a massive scale.
as it will have a bigger network & larger share of SME and retail business. We have filtered our clients very carefully. The bank also reported a net NPA of 0. 2008 more than doubled to Rs 64 crore from Rs 31 crore in the same period a year ago. YES Bank would be in a better position to attract foreign partners.Large MNC banks are keen on expanding in India and looking at significant minority or near majority stake in Indian banks. By then. Foreign banks are expected to get more leeway in expanding their network in India after 2009. The bank has 130 forex clients across large corporates and mid corporates. said the bank did not have any delinquency in its marked-to-market (MTM) derivatives exposure. The net profit of the bank for the quarter ended March 31. Chief Financial Officer. Rana Kapoor. said Mr. Mr. YES Bank. Out of the total MTM derivatives exposure. 60 . Mr. large corporates account for about 70 per cent. Banks such as YES bank will be in a privileged position to talk to foreign banks when the Reserve Bank of India guidelines become conducive. Monga said. “We do not have a single derivatives exposure to the SME sector. Kapoor said. while mid-corporates or emerging corporates account for the remaining 30 per cent.8 crore as against Rs 12.7 crore. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Rajat Monga.” Mr.09 per cent for the first time and made higher provisions of Rs 22.
The cost of banking intermediation in India is higher and bank penetration is far lower than in other markets. have made several notable efforts to improve regulation in the sector. This is reflected in their market valuation. growth and value creation in the sector remain limited to a small part of it. profitability and non-performing assets (NPAs). which comprise the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Opportunities And Challenges For Players The bar for what it means to be a successful player in the sector has been raised. Four challenges must be addressed before success can be achieved. Ministry of Finance and related government and financial sector regulatory entities. the market is seeing discontinuous growth driven by new products and services that include opportunities in credit cards. improved regulations. consumer finance and wealth management on the retail side. However. The policy makers. innovation. and in fee-based income and investment banking on the wholesale banking side. India’s banking industry must strengthen itself significantly if it has to support the modern and vibrant economy which India aspires to be. The sector now compares favorably with banking sectors in the region on metrics like growth. growth and value creation. A few banks have established an outstanding track record of innovation. These 61 . First.INDIAN BANKING SCENARIO 2010 Towards a High-performing Sector The last decade has seen many positive developments in the Indian banking sector.
credit and operations. examines the impressive growth of this industry. with assets expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2010. While public sector banks still dominate India’s banking industry. with global players now actively competing with domestic banks. 62 . FUTURE OF INDIAN BANKING MARKET The Indian banking market is growing at an astonishing rate. with banking assets increasing at a CAGR of 24% from 2001 to 2008. banks will no longer enjoy windfall treasury gains that the decade-long secular decline in interest rates provided. and technological innovations are all contributing to this growth. Second.4 billion in 2003 to US$616.15 billion in 2008. with increased interest in India.require new skills in sales & marketing. the private sector is growing. competition from foreign banks will only intensify. largely due to an expanding economy and growing consumer middle class in need of financial services. An expanding economy. India's economy is growing at a rate of 8%. Third. from US$374. Fourth. given the demographic shifts resulting from changes in age profile and household income. middle class. This will expose the weaker banks. Overview of Indian Banking Market. consumers will increasingly demand enhanced institutional capabilities and service levels from banks. A new Celent report.
journals and books and no other efforts have been made to verify their correctness. • Due to paucity of time only the important factors have been discussed. 63 .LIMITATIONS • This study is based on the secondary data collected from various newspapers.
proxy banking. etc. mobile banking. plastic money such as credit cards. however. internet banking. development and spread of banking. After Independence. • Currently. debit cards. ATM cards. in February 1961. 64 . expansion of business. During and after World War I. 87 banks were liquidated. Hence. electronic money transfers. Since then. growth of banking during the first 3 plan periods resembles that of capitalist growth. • Before Nationalisation. investment banking.CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS • The Indian banking can be broadly categorized into nationalized (government owned). The Reserve Bank of India is the apex institution in the Indian banking system & acts a regulator and a centralized body for monitoring any discrepancies and shortcoming in the system. branch banking. Development of banks in India was characterized by bank failures. investment banking. banks in the beginning faced severs financial crisis. New services have been started such as merchant banking. The government of India announced Banking Regulations Act in 1949 to consolidate and regulate the banking growth in India • After Nationalisation. telebanking. the performance of banking has been remarkable in the many aspects such as branch expansion. banking system has entered into the third phase of development which is characterized by innovation & diversification in order to meet new challenges. announcement of 14 banks was made for the purpose of nationalisation. Therefore government focused on social banking than capitalistic banking. SMS banking. the Indian banking underwent a thorough and moral change. priority sector advances. There was need for stimulating the savings and investment to meet the growing demand for bank credit for economic development. smart cards. private banks and specialized banking institutions. housing finance.
• The unleashing of products and services through the net has galvanized players at all levels of the banking and financial institutions market grid to look anew at their existing portfolio offering. commercial papers. which has resulted in innovative methods of offering new banking products & services. The private sector bank grid also includes 24 foreign banks. Indian nationalized banks continue to be the major lenders in the economy due to their sheer size and penetrative networks which assures them high deposit mobilization. factoring services. with assets expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2010.Banks have indulged in activities such as service area approach. 223 banks are in the public sector & 51 are in the private sector. Banks are now realizing the importance of being a big player & are beginning to focus their attention on mergers & acquisitions to take advantage of economies of scale. certificate of deposit. housing finance. focusing on the expansion of retail and rural banking. 65 . There is need for taking decisive actions . However there is a need to create more awareness regarding social development. Banks have been benefited a lot with the internet and information technology. As a result banks have become more efficient and cost-effective. mutual funds. Players are becoming increasingly customer-centric in their approach. • Indian banking market is growing at an astonishing rate. stock invest and other money and capital market instruments. The Indian banking industry is in the middle of an IT revolution. • Industry estimates indicate that out of 274 commercial banks operating in India.
indiamart.com accessed in March 2009 www.org.bankingindiaupdate.banknetindia. New Delhi Parmod Kumar. Banking Sector Efficiency in Globalised Economy M&A in Indian Banking System.rbi.com accessed in March 2009 www.google.business-standard.com accessed in March 2009 www. Sultan Chand & Sons . First Edition 2002.in accessed in March 2009 www.finance.com accessed in March 2009 Newspapers: The Economic Times Books: T.com accessed in March 2009 www.com accessed in March 2009 www. 2005.An Executive Handbook. Eletronic Banking & Information Technology in Banks.wikipedia.thehindubusinessline.com accessed in March 2009 www.BIBLIOGRAPHY There was immense need and flow of the information while preparing the project report which was gathered through various sources mentioned below: Websites: www. Mumbai 66 . D Malhotra. | <urn:uuid:eed14112-8fe5-4e42-98a7-0cd9dc9c66b1> | {
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|STANDARD DATA: Seats: 74; Gross weight: 84,000 lbs.; Empty weight: 48,400 lbs.; Fuel capacity: 5,408 gals.; Engines: four 1,600 hp Wright Cyclone radials.
PERFORMANCE: Top speed: 210 mph; Cruise speed: 188 mph; Range: 4,900 nm.
Boeing flying boats, known as “California Clippers,” operated over the South Pacific Ocean routes for Pan American Airlines. One such “California Clipper” flew from Los Angeles Harbor to Auckland, New Zealand, an 8,000-mile, 50-hour route with night layovers at Honolulu, Canton Island, and Noumea, New Caledonia. On two decks—an upper or control deck and a passenger deck—there were accommodations for a crew of 11 and 68 passengers or 36 sleeping passengers. The passenger deck was divided into nine sections, including a lounge, six separate passenger compartments, a specially furnished deluxe compartment, a galley and restrooms. The flying boat was propelled by four 1,600 hp, twin-row, 14-cylinder Wright Cyclone radial engines turning full-feathering constant-speed airscrews. The fuel tanks were housed in the wings and hydrostabilizers. In 1938, these aircraft were the largest airplanes built in the United States. They were tested to a maximum loaded weight of 82,500 pounds, the greatest weight ever carried aloft by any of the world’s heavier-than-air craft to that date, with the exception of the German Dormer DO-X and the Russian Maxim-Gorky. | <urn:uuid:6a50f54c-4e20-43f0-a5db-cdeac0f44d87> | {
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UNH Brings Harry Potter’s Adventures to Youth Via First Massive Online Course for Kids
James Krasner, professor of English, will teach UNH’s first Massive Online Course for Kids (MOCK), “Harry Potter as Storytelling: An Online Adventure for the Young Fan.”
This summer, the University of New Hampshire will bring the magical world of Harry Potter to young learners who will have a chance to participate in the university’s first Massive Online Course for Kids (MOCK).
“Harry Potter as Storytelling: An Online Adventure for the Young Fan” is designed for youth entering grades 4 to 8. The two-week session will run from July 15 to July 26, 2013, and will cost $200. To register for the course, visit www.unh.edu/liberal-arts/potter-storytelling.html.
“This online course is designed to help kids avoid ‘the summer slide’ by having them working on their language arts skills in the fun, appealing context of Harry Potter. Students participate in the enrichment program at whatever time of day is most convenient for them. The material has been broken down into small, free-standing units, so kids can spend a few minutes or a few hours on the course at one time,” says admitted Harry Potter fan James Krasner, professor of English, who will teach the course.
Every summer, UNH hosts a number of summer camps and educational enrichment activities for youth of all ages. This is the first time, though, that the university has offered a youth summer enrichment course online. The course was conceived by Krasner and is being developed at UNH.
“Several universities offer Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), but we wanted to do something new and educationally unique,” Krasner says.
In the course, Potter fans will be introduced to the basic tools of reading, writing, language use, and literary analysis by seeing how they work in the Harry Potter books. They will learn about the artistic, historical, literary, linguistic and scientific richness of the Harry Potter books. The course may be particularly helpful to youth who love Harry Potter but are struggling in school.
Unlike many courses that progress sequentially so that one skill must be mastered before the next can be begun, the lessons in Harry Potter as Storytelling connect language arts skills laterally. Each lesson moves back and forth between a variety of skills, including language and grammar use, characterization, identifying themes, punctuation, vocabulary, historical and scientific writing, mythology, sound devices, and figures of speech.
“This lateral structure encourages students to make links between topics. It fosters student imaginative and intellectual growth by forging new pathways of knowledge,” Krasner says. “This nonlinear approach breaks down the language arts curriculum into ‘micro-skills’ and allows students to use their preferred pace and structure, which may be helpful for students with alternative learning styles, challenges or disabilities.”
The course will consist of five classes, each with a specific academic focus. Each class will have several 5 to 15-minute lectures based on passages from the Harry Potter books, as well as optional creative writing assignments.
“We think that Potter fans will enjoy learning about how language works in Rowling's writing,” Krasner says.
UNH also is planning to include game-like elements such as allowing students to choose a character, earn points or badges for their house, and unlock certain areas in their houses.
“The class will be a lot of fun while also being academic. There are thousands of web pages online where you can swap Harry Potter trivia, fan fiction, and gossip. But here, we will dig into the literary and artistic aspects of Rowling's works while also remaining rabid Potter fans,” Krasner says.
Register now for this and dozens of other Summer Youth Programs.
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Building a case for Central India’s tiger corridors
A 'resilient' species
Tiger lovers often refer to these big cats as a 'resilient' species. 'Give them some disturbance-free space which has sufficient prey. They will take care of themselves,’ is the oft heard refrain. Though a century ago, much of the Central India’s Satpuda Maikal landscape area was covered with forests where tigers roamed freely, today these magnificent cats cling to a few protected areas in this heart of India. Spread over the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the natural wealth of this landscape has the likes of Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) and the endemic hardground barasingha (Cervus duvaucelli branderi). But the forest corridors used by tigers in the region are increasingly being threatened by activities like expansion of highways, railway lines and mining. A tiger sign survey in the Kanha-Pench corridor by WWF-India, as part of the All India Tiger Estimation Exercise in association with the, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Forest Department, has revealed the occupancy details of this critical corridor in the landscape. It has strengthened its case for conservation and raised hopes for other corridors in the landscape.
Protecting the dispersing tigers
Tigers compete for territories that have good prey density. The ones that loose the competition as well as sub-adult tigers need to move out of such territories into adjoining ones. Sometimes they move out of the tiger reserve itself and wander far away in search of other forests where they can survive. They have to do this safely while avoiding contact and conflict with humans. Hence, they use the forest cover available that connects the habitat from where they have originated to move into the other habitats.
To prevent their inbreeding and ensure their long term survival, it is important that tigers move freely between the many tiger reserves of SML. WWF-India has been working to ensure just that. About ten corridors have been identified in the SML. And, WWF-India is directly working to conserve two of the critical ones-the Kanha-Pench and Kanha-Achanakmar. Says Sunny Shah, Senior Project Officer in WWF-India's SML team “Our activities in these corridors include working with communities to help them with livelihoods that minimise their dependence on forest resources as well as provision of patrolling infrastructure to forest department officials”.
Monitoring the corridors
WWF-India helps monitor these forests and their inhabitants and one such activity was the estimation of tigers in the landscape, in 2010. The carnivore sign survey field work was carried out between May and June in the Kanha-Pench corridor. During the carnivore sign survey in the forests of South Seoni Division that lie in this corridor, the team members had a direct sighting of a tiger in May 2010. According to Jyotirmay Jena, Project Officer, WWF-India’s SML Mandla field office “Though there were reports of tigers using the corridor we did not have direct evidence of the same until this direct sighting”. Another batch of this team had a direct sighting long enough to take a few pictures of the tiger in the Rukkad forests near Pench Tiger Reserve, while installing camera traps.
Says Joseph Vattakaven, Tiger Co-ordinator, WWF-India “These sighting strengthens our conviction that these corridors are being used by tigers that spill over from the surrounding tiger reserves, namely Kanha and Pench”. The evidence of tigers using the corridor makes a strong case for the concerned authorities to do all they can to save this particular corridor and raises hope for the other corridors in the landscape. Constant monitoring of the other corridors might also reveal them being similarly used by these majestic cats. Such information would help in the long term conservation of these corridors. | <urn:uuid:6d6b830b-523d-4e05-ba85-2b22b8e04461> | {
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Organized by the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam ("New Mobe"), an estimated 500,000 demonstrators rallied in Washington as part of the largest such rally to date. It began with a march down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Washington Monument, where a mass rally and speeches were held. Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and four different touring casts of the musical "Hair" entertained the demonstrators.
Later, violence erupted when police used tear gas on radicals who had split off from the main rally to march on the Justice Department. The crowd of about 6,000, led by members of the Youth International Party ("Yippies"), threw rocks and bottles and burned U.S. flags. Almost 100 demonstrators were arrested.
The largest protest outside Washington was held in San Francisco, where an estimated 250,000 people demonstrated. Antiwar demonstrations were also held in a number of major European cities, including Frankfurt, Stuttgart, West Berlin, and London. The largest overseas demonstration occurred in Paris, where 2,651 people were arrested. | <urn:uuid:1f9bc4aa-ecaf-4df7-af4d-564022b0bb04> | {
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Is this the man who really saved Santa Claus?
The Newseum itself doesn’t open until autumn of 2007, but some exhibits are already up, online.
Among other things already up is this explanation for the 1897 editorial in The New York Sun, with the famous line: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” It is “history’s most reprinted editorial,” the Newseum says.
While you’re there, look at other exhibits already in place. This is a good source for kids’ reports and for teachers’ lectures.
Update: Parallel Divergence is at it again (remember the “how Hubble killed God?”) Here it is: “How Google Earth Killed Santa Claus.”
Update May 2007: Coverage of the Newseum’s pending opening. | <urn:uuid:1a234c7b-fecb-4f2b-a452-9268b5a79e40> | {
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By this revolution Sir Edward would abolish all legal restriction on the issue of notes by the Bank of England. It would hold a certain amount of gold or a certain amount of cash balance against its notes, but in the “cash balance” Sir Edward apparently would include 11 millions odd of Government debt, or of Treasury notes. As long as its notes were only three times the amount of the gold or of the “cash balance,” and were backed as to the other two-thirds by bills of exchange, the situation would be regarded as normal, but if, owing to abnormal circumstances, the Bank desired to increase the amount of notes issued against bills of exchange only and to reduce the ratio of its gold or its cash balance to its notes, it would, at any time, be enabled to do so by the payment of a tax, without going through the humiliating necessity for an appeal to the Treasury to allow it to exceed the legal limit.
At the same time, by the abolition of Peel’s Act the cumbrous methods of stating the Bank’s position, as published week by week in the Bank Return, would be abolished. The two accounts would be put together, with the result that the Bank’s position would be apparently stronger than it appears to be under the present system, which makes the Banking Department’s Return weak at the expense of the great strength that it gives to the appearance of the Issue Department. This will be shown from the following statement given by Sir Edward Holden of the Return as issued on January 16th, and as amended according to his ideas:—
BANK STATEMENT, JANUARY 16, 1918.
Notes Issued .. L76,076,000 Gold .................. L57,626,000 Government Debt ....... 11,015,000 Other Securities ...... 7,435,000 ----------- ----------- L76,076,000 L76,076,000 Ratio of Gold to Notes Issued = 75.7 per cent.
Capital ....... L14,553,000 Government Securities ...... L56,768,000 Rest .......... 3,363,000 Other Securities ........... 92,278,000 Deposits-- Notes .......... L30,750,000 Public L41,416,000 Gold and Silver 1,143,000 Other 121,589,000 ----------- 163,005,000 ------------- 31,893,000 Other Liabilities ... 18,000 ----------- ----------- L180,939,000 L180,939,000
Ratio of Cash Balance to Liabilities = 19.6 per cent.
RECONSTRUCTED BALANCE-SHEET OF THE BANK,
JANUARY 16, 1918.
Notes Issued (circulation) 45,325,000
Other Liabilities 18,000
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This is a collection of six sports-themed, cooperative learning games with questions to give students a quick review of essential math concepts and practice test taking strategies. All tested TEKS are included throughout! We tried to write rigorous questions that will help prepare students for the difficulty of the state assessment.
There are 68 questions total on all of the games!
It can be used before the STAAR test, at the end of a unit, during interventions, during an after school program, for summer school or many other ways.
It is an fun way to help keep your students engaged, especially at the end of the year when they start getting tired.
Each game has it’s own instructions included in the file for the game. The games are low tech and require minimal preparation. The most time consuming part of getting the games ready is just cutting things out for a few of the games. You will need 8 envelopes or small plastic bags for each team for the Mystery Picture game.
Two of the games are meant to be played as a whole group, but in teams. 3 of the games are meant to be worked on in small groups.
There is a Team Scorecard included to give students motivation to do well on all of the games. Each game’s instructions will explain how to keep score for that particular game.
If you do not want to play the games specified, you can just use the questions as a review. You could also cut the cards up and make them into Task Cards, and use them to play a simple board game or Scoot. It wasn’t designed to be used as an assessment, but you could definitely use the questions alone as assessments for each Reporting Category. We have included some simple game boards if you want to make simple games.
Mystery Picture Puzzle covers Reporting Category 1 (Numeracy)
TEKS: 3.2A, 3.2B, 3.2C, 3.2D, 3.4I
Sports Dominoes covers Reporting Category 1 (Fractions)
TEKS: 3.3A, 3.3B, 3.3C, 3.3D, 3.3E, 3.3F, 3.3G, 3.3H
Baseball Scavenger Hunt covers Reporting Category 2 (All Operations)
TEKS: 3.4A, 3.4B, 3.4C, 3.4D, 3.4E, 3.4F, 3.4G, 3.4H, 3.4J, 3.4K,
Build a Football Player covers Reporting Category 2 (Algebraic Reasoning)
TEKS : 3.5A, 3.5B, 3.5C, 3.5C, 3.5D, 3.5E
Showdown and Shoot covers Reporting Category 3 (Geometry & Measurement)
TEKS: 3.6A, 3.6B, 3.6C, 3.6D, 3.6E, 3.7B, 3.7C, 3.7D, 3.7E
Tennis Swat covers Reporting Category 4 (Data Analysis & Financial Literacy)
TEKS : 3.8A, 3.8B, 3.9A, 3.9B, 3.9D, 3.9E
These games have been so much fun to create, and we hope you enjoy playing them with your students! If you have any questions, please email us at
Erica and Deonia | <urn:uuid:34fb8bc4-6800-42c4-8d7d-5048ad15e1a8> | {
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This photograph is of a Masonic Knights Templar symbol showing a cross within a crown inside a Maltese cross, which has the Latin phrase, “in hoc signo vinces.” The phrase means “in this sign you shall conquer” and was used by Constantine as a military motto in the early 4th Century. The phrase was also used by the original Knights Templar military order that was founded during the Crusades. The Freemasons began using Templar rituals and symbols in the late 1700s.
Knights Templar legends and myths are quite popular in movies and books such as The Da Vinci Code, Foucault’s Pendulum, National Treasure, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Some also see parallels between the Jedi Knights of Star Wars and the Knights Templar military order.
Photo: from the mausoleum of Dr. J.G. Locke, Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado | <urn:uuid:c5f0c207-2c96-4d9c-ab00-7eaa164a1595> | {
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Special Education & IDEA Resources
Meeting the Challenge: Special Education Tools that Work for All Kids
By Patti Ralabate
General and special educators alike will find effective strategies to help students struggling to overcome academic or behavior difficulties. This book is filled with useful ideas and practical, timesaving strategies, as well as sample checklists, rubrics, conference planning sheets, and other resources teachers can copy and use or modify to make their own. (2002) 160 pp. Available from NEA's Professional Library.
My Future, My Plan: A Transition Planning Resource for Life After High School for Students with Disabilties and Their Families
By Dana Sheets and Ed Gold
Helping students with disabilities plan for life after high school is an awesome responsibility. With this set of resources, educators can encourage early, student-centered transition planning for students with disabilities and their families. The set includes the book, teacher's guide, and video—all available in English and Spanish. (2004) Available from NEA's Professional Library.
LD at a Glance - A Quick Look
Basic facts and terminology regarding learning disabilities. From the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Learning Disabilities: Signs, Symptoms and Strategies
General information, definitions, and various aspects of learning disabilities. From the Learning Disabilities Association of America.
Lesson Plans and Teaching Materials
Disability Studies for Teachers
This Web site contains lesson plans and materials designed to help teachers integrate disability studies into social studies, history, literature, and related subjects in grades 6-12. The site looks at disabilities from a societal rather than a medical perspective. (Center on Human Policy)
Conditions of Teaching Children with Exceptional Learning Needs: The Bright Futures Report
Respondents overwhelming cited overburdensome and duplicative paperwork as the number 1 obstacle to effective practice. A complete breakdown of the survey results appears in this article. From the Council on Exceptional Children.
Do No Harm
This report focuses on the needs and rights of students with learning disabilities with regard to high-stakes standardized tests. Describes in detail the accommodations, alternate assessments, appeals procedures, and other safeguards that must be implemented for the statewide assessment system to comply with the law and guarantee educationally sound opportunities to students with learning disabilities.
When It's Your Own Child: Some Surprising Views from Parents About Special Ed
The stigma once attached to children in special education is disappearing from America's public schools, according to a Public Agenda survey of their parents released in June. But as Congress prepares to take up legislation governing special education in the public schools, many parents say getting information about services for their children is often a struggle.
Assistive technology FAQs and links for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This Web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers.
Center for Implementing Technology in Education
CITEd supports school districts in using technology to provide differentiating instruction through the Technology Implementation Partnership.
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.
Internet Resources for Special Children
The IRSC Web site provides a central starting point that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities for family, educators, and medical professionals. The directory is organized, comprehensive, and very user-friendly.
LD Online is the leading information service in the field of learning disabilities, serving more than 200,000 parents, teachers, and other professionals each month.
Schwab Foundation for Learning
Schwab Learning (yes, Charles Schwab, the founder of the first discount brokerage firm) offers resources for educators and parents to use in working with kids with learning disabilities. Content on the site includes in-depth information on identifying learning difficulties, managing school and learning, and connecting with others, as well as other resources and publications. The site includes an interactive database to locate Assistive Technology tools for kids with specific needs. Information is also available in Spanish.
Transition Toolkit for High School Teachers
This Web site offers information to help teachers identify what youth need to succeed in postsecondary education and adult life. The site has information on schooling, career preparatory experiences, youth development and leadership, and connecting activities.
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I would be fooling myself,” Marian Anderson once wrote, “to think that I was meant to be a fearless fighter; I was not meant to be a soprano instead of a contralto.” Nevertheless, in the spring of 1939, Anderson found herself in the middle of a raging battle.
Although racial bigotry has by no means disappeared from the United States, in the years before World War Il, it was even more overt and widespread than it is today. Anderson had often seen bigotry’s ugly face as she criss-crossed the country on concert tours.
She saw it when hotel clerks took one look at her and suddenly announced a lack of space-even when reservations had been made and confirmed. She felt it, as she once remarked, “in the cold breeze that blew from the persons who were waiting on me” in restaurants that did not ordinarily serve “colored.” She heard it when hotel managers, having grudgingly registered her, suggested that she take her meals in her room instead of in the hotel restaurant. She heard it when strangers addressed her white companions as “Miss” or “Mr.” and called her “Marian.”
In one southern city, the local concert manager tried to cancel Anderson’s recital when she discovered that the singer often took the hand of her White accompanist during her end-of-performance bow. “We won’t stand for that here,” said the manager. Backed by more enlightened local residents, Anderson sang anyway, taking Vehanen’s hand at the conclusion of the concert as usual–but she never returned to that city.
Then there were the countless train rides during which conductors, horrified to discover that a Black woman had paid for and was occupying a drawing-room compartment, had protected other passengers from the awful sight by insisting that her compartment door be kept firmly shut.
Early in Anderson’s career as a concert performer, she often sang in segregated halls and theaters, although she was never happy about it. She finally refused to sing in any theater that had, as she put it, ”an invisible line marking the Negro section from the white.” She lost a number of otherwise good engagements because of her position, but she stuck to it.
The most dramatic response came from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who protested Anderson’s exclusion from Constitution Hall by publicly announcing her resignation from the DAR…Conductor Leopold Stokowski joined opera stars Lawrence Tibbett, Kirsten Flagstad, and Geraldine Farrar in signing a telegram to the DAR; its ban on Anderson, they said, was “undemocratic and unAmerican.”
Most of the fans in southern cities who came backstage to see her were Blacks. In her autobiography, Anderson wryly recalled an exception, a White woman who came backstage but who stood apart from the rest of the crowd. When everyone else had left, she handed her program to Anderson. “Since I’m back here,” she said, “I’ll take an autograph.” As Anderson was signing the program, the woman said, “I still don’t understand why you didn’t sing (the humorous popular song) ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Anderson kept right on writing.
Some people might have thought that the singer’s patience in the face of slights, insults, and outright hostility indicated a lack of courage. But anyone who suspected her of cowardice simply did not know her. A gentle woman who detested confrontations, she saw herself as an emissary, someone who might show racists that they were mistaken. “My mission,” she wrote, “is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.”
In her autobiography, she said she tried to show racists that ”their attitudes were not based on knowledge.” Perhaps, she said, ” if they discover that they are wrong about an individual they will begin to realize that their judgment of a group is equally fallacious (mistaken).
One very hot summer night in Jackson, Mississippi, Anderson sang for an audience of 4,000 enthusiastic people. At the end of the program, she performed several encores, including her customary sign-off, “Ave Maria,” but the audience remained in place, begging for more. She obliged with the old American song, “Carry Me Back to Ol’ Virginny,” which she asked the audience to join her in singing. The crowd raised its voice with, as Anderson described it, “wonderful eagerness and unanimity.”
But not everyone was pleased. Several people complained loudly about the “audacity” of a Black woman asking whites to join her in song. This time, however, the racists were in a minority. The following day, the Jackson newspaper published an editorial praising both the singer and her audience. “Sometimes,” said the paper, “the human soul rises above itself, above racial prejudices.” One of the biggest tests for that “human soul,” however, was yet to come.
Sol Hurok, said Anderson in her autobiography, “sought appearances for me in all the places where the best performers were expected and taken for granted.” In 1938 Hurok decided the time had come for a recital in the nation’s capital. Early in her career, Anderson had sung in schools and churches in Washington, but she had never given a major concert there.
There was only one place suitable for such an event: Constitution Hall, the city’s largest and most prestigious auditorium.
Westbrook Pegler, a widely syndicated, ultraconservative newspaper columnist, sneeringly suggested that the affair was a “publicity stunt” staged by a “hitherto obscure Negro singer.”
Constitution Hall was owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a patriotic society formed in 1890. DAR members, of whom there were many thousands, were required to have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War. They were also required to be White.
In June 1938, Hurok wrote to the manager of Constitution Hall, asking that a date well in the future–April 9, 1939–be reserved for a concert by Marian Anderson. The reply came quickly: April 9 was already booked. Hurok then asked for any of several other dates, but the answer was the same; unfortunately, said the manager, the hall had no open dates.
There was obviously more here than met the eye. Hurok asked the celebrated Polish pianist, Ignacy Paderewski, to apply for the same dates. Mr. Paderewski, said the Constitution Hall management, was welcome on any of these days. Hurok’s suspicions were confirmed by the chairman of the Howard University concert program. The hall, said this official, had a clause in its rental policy that prohibited “the presentation of Negro artists.”
Outraged, Hurok informed the press about the situation. The story, which made front-page news nationwide, shocked Americans. The most dramatic response came from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who protested Anderson’s exclusion from Constitution Hall by publicly announcing her resignation from the DAR. Other notable members of the organization followed suit, and Americans of all races and from all walks of life raised their voices in support of Anderson.
The renowned violinist Jascha Heifetz, who had already committed himself to a February concert in the DAR auditorium, said, “I am ashamed to play at Constitution Hall.” Conductor Leopold Stokowski joined opera stars Lawrence Tibbett, Kirsten Flagstad, and Geraldine Farrar in signing a telegram to the DAR; its ban on Anderson, they said, was “undemocratic and unAmerican.” Time magazine ran an article headlined “Jim Crow Concert Hall,” and New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia sent the DAR a wire saying, “No hall is too good for Marian Anderson.”
Some people, of course, took the side of the DAR. Westbrook Pegler, a widely syndicated, ultraconservative newspaper columnist, sneeringly suggested that the affair was a “publicity stunt” staged by a “hitherto obscure Negro singer.” And the Washington, D.C., Board of Education turned down Hurok’s request to stage an Anderson concert at the city’s Central High School. The school board’s rejection set off a new wave of protest. Angry Anderson supporters formed the Marian Anderson Citizens Committee, which picketed the board’s offices and gathered 6,000 signatures on a statement denouncing its action. Students at all White Central High wrote an editorial for their school newspaper, calling for a reversal of the board’s decision. They wanted, they said, “the honor of playing host to one of the musical world’s greatest artists,” and to “prove to the rest of the world that this country holds no grudges because of race or color.” The protests failed to move the school board.
What were Marian Anderson’s personal feelings? “I was saddened and ashamed,” she said in her autobiography. “I was sorry for the people who had precipitated the affair…. They were not persecuting me personally or as a representative of my people so much as they were doing something that was neither sensible nor good.”
Reporters from all over the world besieged Anderson with questions:”What is your attitude about the DAR?” “Do you feel insulted by this refusal?” “What do you intend to do about it?” I did not want to talk, she said later, “and I particularly did not want to say anything about the DAR.” She knew that many DAR members disagreed with the organization’s official policy, and she held fast to her conviction”that a whole group should not be condemned because an individual or section of the group does a thing that is not right.”
The situation was resolved by action from an unlikely quarter: The United States government. On February 24, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes– probably at the instigation of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt–made Marian Anderson an unusual offer. He invited her to give a free public recital, open to all, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The concert would be held on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939.
At first, Anderson was hesitant about the plan. She felt unsuited for hand-to-hand combat,” she hated ” a lot of show,” and she was unsure about the outcome of such a gesture. “I studied my conscience,” she wrote. “As I thought further, I could see that significance as an individual was small in this affair. I had become, whether I liked it or not, a symbol representing my people.”
Anderson talked it over with her mother. “You know what your aspirations are, ” said Anna Anderson. “I think you should make your own decision.” Her mother, wrote the singer later, ” knew what the decision would be. I could not run away from this situation. If I had anything to offer, I would have to do so now.”
The concert was scheduled for 5:00 P.M. Early in the afternoon a crowd began to gather, and by concert time, a sea of humanity stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. A squad of motorcycle policemen escorted Anderson and Vehanen to the platform that had been built in front of the memorial.
Despite her years of experience, despite the innumerable concerts she had given, despite the fact that she had been called one of the century’s greatest singers by Arturo Toscanini, Anderson was terrified. ” My heart leaped wildly, and I could not talk,” she said in her autobiography. ” I even wondered whether I would be able to sing.”
Mustering all her professionalism, she displayed an outward calm. ” The arm which I took to steady her,” recalled Sol Hurok, “was steadier than my own.” She was introduced to the dignitaries who had assembled for the concert, although, as she said later, “If I did not consult contemporary reports I could not recall who was there.” Present were Supreme Court justices, senators, congressmen, diplomats, cabinet members, and other high government officials.
Students at all White Central High wrote an editorial for their school newspaper, calling for a reversal of the board’s decision. They wanted, they said, “the honor of playing host to one of the musical world’s greatest artists,”
Introducing Anderson, Interior Secretary Harold Ickes noted that the monument to Abraham Lincoln was a fitting place for this concert. “Today,” he said, ” we stand reverently and humbly at the base of this memorial to the Great Emancipator while glorious tribute is rendered his memory by a daughter of the race from which he struck the chains of slavery.”
Concluding his speech, Ickes said, “Genius, like justice, is blind…. Genius draws no color line. She has endowed Marian Anderson with such a voice as lifts any individual above his fellows, as is a matter of exultant pride to any race.”
Anderson stepped out from the memorial’s towering marble columns and looked at the expectant faces of 75,000 men, women, and children of all races. “I had a feeling that a great wave of good will poured out from these people, almost engulfing me,” she wrote later. She began to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” her voice soaring over and blending in with the voices of the multitude before her.
Anderson’s program included “America,” the aria “O Mio Fernando,” Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” and several spirituals. When she finished, a roar from the crowd exploded the stillness of the Washington evening. “I am overwhelmed,” she said. “I can’t tell you what you have done for me today. I thank you from the bottom of my heart again and again.”
At this point thousands of people rushed toward the stage, reaching out their hands to Anderson. Walter White, secretary of the NAACP, later recalled a little Black girl in the surging crowd. She was dressed in her best clothes for Easter and her face was streaming with tears. White said, “If Marian Anderson could do it, the girl’s eyes seemed to say, then I can, too.” The nation had joined, as historian William Manchester put it, “to give prewar America’s civil rights record one shining moment of glory.”
Not long after the Easter Sunday concert, the Department of the Interior commissioned a mural commemorating the event. Anderson was invited to Washington for its 1943 unveiling. At the ceremony, Secretary Ickes called Anderson “a symbol of the willing acceptance of the immortal truth that (in the words of Abraham Lincoln) ‘all men are created equal.”
Responding to the tribute, Anderson said, ” I am deeply touched that I can be in any way a symbol of democracy. Everyone [at the concert] was a living witness to the ideals of freedom for which President Lincoln died. When I sang that day, I was singing to the entire nation.”
Anderson had accepted an invitation to sing at a benefit concert after the unveiling. The invitation had come from the DAR, and the concert was held at Constitution hall.
Characteristically, the singer took no personal credit for the end of segregation at the Washington auditorium. “When I finally walked into Constitution Hall and sang form its stage, I had no feeling different to what I have in other halls,” she said. “There was no sense of triumph.” Noting that “the hall is now open to other performers of my group, she did admit, however, that there is no longer an issue, and that is good.”
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Morning. New York, Viking, 1956.
Hurok,S., and Ruth Goode. Impresario: A Memoir. New York: Random House, 1946.
Truman Margaret. Women of Courage. New York: Morrow, 1976. | <urn:uuid:3d202390-4853-48dc-a495-c4f97dc835b4> | {
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The parts of a solar park
- Solar panels generate direct current (DC).
- In order to achieve higher voltages and to reduce losses, panels are wired via so-called strings in series connection.
- In larger systems, there could also be a parallel connection for which special combiner boxes are used, sometimes with monitoring equipment.
- The inverter will transform the DC into grid-compatible alternating current (AC). For larger systems a transformer may be necessary between the inverter and the public grid. | <urn:uuid:7018d0c3-6790-42c9-8899-d61a79b75c87> | {
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DNA is more than a genetic blueprint; it is the instrument by which humans discover our spirituality.
The goal of all religious disciplines is the achievement of a spiritual state described as being “at one with God.” The word “at-one-ment” can be seen as such a state, an at-one-ness with a divine or sacred source.
In essence, spirituality is Divine Resonance, the ability through various practices to arrive at a coherent state in which the individual becomes whole.
Dynamics of the Coherent State
According to Dr. Leonard Horowitz in DNA: PIRATES OF THE SACRED SPIRAL, DNA is more than a blueprint for genetic expression.
Even more importantly, DNA is the “instrument for the re-spiritualization of the body,” the means by which humanity arrives at Divine Resonance through electromagnetic influences on form and sound-activated coherence.
Electromagnetic Influences on Form
Research shows that form follows electromagnetic frequencies. Electrodynamic fields, biofields and pulsed wave patterns influence structure. These electromagnetic influences on form define health and illness.
Health occurs when the body experiences a coherent state of balanced electromagnetic flow. Disease is defined by dissonance, when the body experiences imbalance in its biofield.
In other words, health occurs when energy flows organically within the wiring of the human organism. Disease occurs when the body is literally overwhelmed with electric shocks and the circuits are “fried.”
DNA functions as the receiver and transmitter of electromagnetic frequencies through the body.
The human ability to achieve Divine Resonance is located in the hydro-energetic matrix of DNA, where the body’s highest concentration of water molecules is found. These water molecules are the source of the organism’s coherence.
Water that is structured and coherent is conditioned by energy fields in the range of the Schumann Resonance. Coherent water in DNA vibrates at resonant frequencies that can rebalance cell structures.
Stress and disharmonious signals from the electromagnetic field alter the profile of DNA and predispose the body to illness.
The incoherent state (illness) of the body can be rebalanced in DNA through sound.
A Russian team of researchers under Peter Gariaev has shown that DNA activation occurs by way of words and sounds, through a regular grammar with rules similar to human languages.
In fact, they have shown that DNA in living tissue responds to “language-modulated laser beams and radio waves.” They also tested devices that could affect cellular metabolism through “modulated radio and light frequencies.”
Sound-activated coherence has been demonstrated in the physical world. Success in these experiments has led to new treatment modalities that can sonically repair chromosomes damaged by X-rays.
Spirituality of the Coherent State
Divine Resonance is accessed through a variety of practices that return the body to its coherent state.
These practices may take the form of meditation, prayer, dreamwork, methodical development of psychic power and psychic energy, and various modalities of healing using sound and therapeutic touch.
Such practices can also take the form the form of physical exercises like running which, with its rhythmic breathing and pace, often synchronizes the body’s biofield with resonant frequencies.
So can creative endeavors that are absorbing enough to allow one to become self-transcending. The spirituality of the coherent state is being alive and attuned to the healing and resonant power of one’s DNA.
Now, more than ever, we can attest to the divinity within ourselves. The spirituality of modern humanity resides in our ability to control the profile of our DNA through practices that can restore us to the coherent state of Divine Resonance.
Copyright © Mary Desaulniers. All Rights Reserved.
Mary Desaulniers is a retired teacher whose passions are writing and running. She has been pursuing both for over thirty years and sees both as avenues to self-knowledge and balance. She has published articles and stories in GRAIN, NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERATURE, THE LONDON MAGAZINE, and various online publications. She has a Ph.D. in Nineteenth Century English Literature and has published a book on Thomas Carlyle with McGill-Queen’s University Press. Her most recent publication is DEAR SEBASTIAN: RECLAIMING THE POWER OF METAPHOR (2009). | <urn:uuid:169c65fd-74f5-4c0f-9cd1-34eddf3b7d47> | {
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Shāhrukh Mīrzā (Persian: شاهرخ میرزا Šāhrukh Mīrzā) (August 20, 1377 – March 13, 1447) was the Timurid ruler of the eastern portion of the empire established by his father, Central Asian warlord Timur (Tamerlane) who founded the Timurid dynasty, governing most of Persia and Transoxiana between 1405 and 1447. Shāhrukh was the fourth and youngest son of Timur and child of one of his concubines.
After Timur's death in 1405, his empire fell apart with various tribes and warlords competing for dominance. The Kara Koyunlu Turkmen destroyed the western empire in 1410 when they captured Baghdad, but in Persia and Transoxiana Shāhrukh was able to secure effective control from about 1409. His empire controlled the main trade routes between East and West, including the legendary Silk Road, and became immensely wealthy as a result.
The devastation of Persia's main cities led to the cultural centre of the empire shifting to Samarqand in modern Uzbekistan and Herat in modern Afghanistan. Shāhrukh chose to have his capital not in Samarqand, but in Herat. This was to become the political centre of the Timurid empire, and residence of his principal successors, though both cities benefited from the wealth and privilege of Shāhrukh's court, which was a great patron of the arts and sciences.
Shah Rukh's wife, Gowwhar Shād, funded the construction of two outstanding mosques and theological colleges in Mashhad and Herāt. The Gowwhar-Shād-Mosque was finished in 1418. The mixed ethnic origins of the ruling dynasty led to a distinctive character in its cultural outlook, which was a combination of Persian civilization and art, with borrowings from China, and literature written in Persian as well as Chagatay and Arabic.
Shah Rukh commissioned the production of a number of historical and geographic works by Hafiz-i Abru. Among them is Tāriḵ-e Šāhroḵ(i), the history of Shah Rukh's reign through AH 816 (AD 1413-14). It was later incorporated by its author into larger "universal history" compilations, Majmuʿa-ye Ḥāfeẓ-e Abru (a universal history work) and Majmaʿ al-tawāriḵ [al-solṭāni(ya)] (section Zobdat al-tawāriḵ-e Bāysonḡori).
During Shah Rukh's rule, relations between the Timurid state and the Ming China of Yongle and his descendants normalized, as compared to the era of Timur and the Hongwu Emperor, who almost started a war (which was averted only due to the death of Timur). Chinese embassies, led by Chen Cheng, visited Samarqand and Herat several times in 1414-1420, while a large embassy sent by Shah Rukh (and immortalized by its diarist, Ghiyāth al-dīn Naqqāsh) traveled to China in 1419-1422.
Death and succession
In total, Shāhrukh had five sons.
- Ulugh Beg, viceroy of Transoxiana, was the oldest.
- Sultan Ibrahim Mirza, viceroy of Persia, was second oldest but predeceased Shāhrukh.
- Baysonqor (1397–1433), Shāhrukh's artistic third son never had a vice-royal position, but played an important part in his father's government in Samarqand, also pre-deceased his father, perhaps due to over consumption of alcohol.
- His fourth son, Mirza Soyurghatmïsh Khan, was viceroy of India and Ghazni but also died before Shāhrukh, as did
- His fifth son Mirza Muhammad Juki.
Thus, only Ulugh Beg, who was an excellent mathematician but an incapable ruler, was left to succeed his father.
Soviet anthropologist Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov reconstructed the heads of Timur, his son Shah Rukh and grandson Ulug Beg, with Timurlane being closer to the Mongoloid type, while Shah Rukh, the son of a Tajik woman, had Europoid features. Shah-Rukh indeed was a typical representative of the brachycephalic Europoid, the so-called Ferghana- Pamir type. However, because Timurlane was closer to the mongoloid type, this would make Shah Rukh in reality an genetic hybrid of the Euro-Mongoloid race despite the fact he has little to no mongoloid features.
- Alternatives: Shāhruh, Shāhrokh or Shāhrukh
- The Persian meaning of the name is (literally) "face of a king"; it is also the Persian name for the chess move "castling". According to Ibn ‘Arabshāh, his father was playing chess when he received the news of his birth, using this chess move as a name for the newborn child (Ibn Arabshah, Ahmed (1936). Tamerlane or Timur the Great Amir. Trans. J.H. Sanders. London: Luzac and Co., p. 47).
- Maria Eva Subtelny and Charles Melville, Ḥāfeẓ-e Abru at Encyclopædia Iranica
- Tsai, Shih-Shan Henry (2002), Perpetual Happiness: The Ming Emperor Yongle, University of Washington Press, p. 162, ISBN 0-295-98124-5
- Goodrich, L. Carrington; Tay, C.N. (1976), "Ch'en Ch'eng", in Goodrich, L. Carrington; Fang, Chaoying, Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368–1644. Volume I (A-L), Columbia University Press, pp. 144–145, ISBN 0-231-03801-1
- Brook, Timothy (1978), "Chapter 10, Communications and commerce", in Twitchett, Denis Crispin; Fairbank, John King, The Cambridge History of China, 8, "The Ming Dynasty: 1368-1644", Part 2, Cambridge University Press, pp. 583–584, ISBN 0-521-24333-5
- Brook, Timothy (1998), The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China, University of California Press, pp. 34–38, ISBN 0-520-21091-3
- Stevens, John. The history of Persia. Containing, the lives and memorable actions of its kings from the first erecting of that monarchy to this time; an exact Description of all its Dominions; a curious Account of India, China, Tartary, Kermon, Arabia, Nixabur, and the Islands of Ceylon and Timor; as also of all Cities occasionally mention'd, as Schiras, Samarkand, Bokara, &c. Manners and Customs of those People, Persian Worshippers of Fire; Plants, Beasts, Product, and Trade. With many instructive and pleasant digressions, being remarkable Stories or Passages, occasionally occurring, as Strange Burials; Burning of the Dead; Liquors of several Countries; Hunting; Fishing; Practice of Physick; famous Physicians in the East; Actions of Tamerlan, &c. To which is added, an abridgment of the lives of the kings of Harmuz, or Ormuz. The Persian history written in Arabick, by Mirkond, a famous Eastern Author that of Ormuz, by Torunxa, King of that Island, both of them translated into Spanish, by Antony Teixeira, who liv'd several Years in Persia and India; and now render'd into English.
- BĀYSONḠOR, ḠĪĀT-AL-DĪN B. ŠĀHROḴ B. TĪMŪR in Encyclopedia Iranica
- Greater Iran: a 20th-century odyssey. Author
- Ich suchte Gesichter. Author:Mikhail Mikhaĭlovich Gerasimov | <urn:uuid:ff47df02-ec53-44dd-a675-c148dffb0deb> | {
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In this essay on the "Han Dynasty" you will find out how it was established and the compariaon to other governments that have came into existence and fallen. Legalism is also discussed.
During the Han Dynasty, China officially became a Confucian state and prospered domestically through agriculture, handicrafts and commerce. The population reached 50 million and the empire extended its political and cultural influence over Vietnam, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Korea before it finally collapsed under a mixture of domestic and external pressures. The first of the two periods of the dynasty, namely the Former Han Dynasty or the Western Han Dynasty 206 BC - AD 9 seated at Chang'an and the Later Han Dynasty or the Eastern Han Dynasty 25 - 220 seated at Luoyang. The western-easte…
- In this essay on the "Han Dynasty" you will find out how it was established and the compariaon to other governments that have came into existence and fallen. Legalism is also discussed.
- Life of Alexander the Great. From birth to death, this essay covers it all. Many little known facts Did you know that Alexander the Great was gay? Even has a works cited!
- This essay descibes the amazing life of Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz musician. Satchmo, as the king of jazz, profoundly plays a major influence on jazz music.
E-pasta adrese, uz kuru nosūtīt darba saiti:
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“The only person the Emperor would bow to is his mother,” says Jan Stuart, the Melvin R. Seiden Curator of Chinese Art at the Freer Gallery of Art.
That is real power.
Along with co-curator Daisy Yiyou Wang of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, Stuart spent over four years working with the Palace Museum in Beijing to bring intimate items of the elite women to the new exhibit, “Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, 1644-1912.” They give insight into the opulent, but restricted, lives of the mothers, wives, and consorts of the Ching dynasty.
Opening March 30th at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in D.C., the exhibit is timely as this is the 40th anniversary of the resumption of relations between China and U.S. “Empresses” runs through June 23rd, 2019.
Women’s stories are not a large part of Chinese history unless associated with a man whose life was well chronicled.
“Empresses” chose to center on five different Empresses who affected or ruled the vast Chinese empire. They’re remember as Xiaozhuang, Chonquin, Xiaoxian, Ci’an and Cixi.
In 1644, the northern nomadic Manchu tribes overthrew the Ming dynasty. The Ching dynasty set up their capital in Beijing and ruled until the 20th century.
While an Emperor could have many wives as he liked in his eight ranks of consorts, there was only ever one Empress at a time. They all came from the Manchu elite.
The first, Empress Xiaozhuang (1613-1688), helped promote the Tibetan Buddhism within China.
One of the ways to rise amid the ranks was to provide the Emperor a son. The Empress Dowager Chongquin (1693-1777) was a palace servant who had a boy who became emperor. He adored and respected her to the end of her days – and beyond.
The 15-year-old Emperor married his childhood sweetheart, the Empress Xiaoxian (1712-1748.) After she died at 36, her husband wrote a long poem about his lasting sorrow at her loss. While he had other wives, none ever took her place in his heart.
The last two Empresses were a collaboration of generations. Childless Empress Dowager Ci’an (1837-1881) helped raise a boy born to a lower level consort, named Cixi. They served as co-regents until Ci’an died. Cixi was the de-facto ruler through the next generations of emperors.
Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) is probably best known Chinese empress known to the West through her encounters with the British and the Americans. She reigned until 1908.
It is Cixi who dominates the exhibit since her long reign stretched into the 20th century. Entering the exhibit, you see a huge portrait in a camphor wood frame.
Painted by an American woman, Katharine A. Carl, it was exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair. The painting was later given to President Theodore Roosevelt.
The exhibit’s last image, of Cixi, is from a glass negative photograph from the Freer collection.
The Ching Dynasty was overthrown in 1911 with the last Emperor, Puyi, abdicating in 1912.
The items on display all tell more than one story. Embroidered birds, butterflies, dragons and other details all have deeper meanings in Chinese symbolism.
The phoenix is the king of birds and a symbol of the Empress. The peony is “king of flowers” said Stuart, meaning royalty among other things.
Everyone knew their place at the Ching court. Their clothing showed exactly what their rank and importance.
The ancestor painting of Empress Xiaoxian shows her dressed in imperial robes and a phoenix-adorned headdress. Three sets of pearl earrings dangle from her ears as a symbol of her royal state. Normally women were only permitted to wear one earring in each ear.
Empress Cixi knew the power of symbolism. Her platform shoes not only displayed the symbols for longevity but have imperial phoenixes on the tips.
In contrast, two hundred years earlier, the Empress Xiaozhuang is dressed in a simple brown robe. Her throne has dragons and phoenixes which indicated a satisfying, happy marriage. Her long sleeves have “horse hoof” style cuffs, mandated for Manchu royalty.
The exhibit is not all scrolls and paintings. The athletic Manchus enjoyed hunting.
Socks and pair of riding boots from the late 1600s show details not seen in public. The patterns on the white socks are made by peacock feather filaments wound around silk threads.
Two stunning hats have vibrant blue kingfisher feathers. One has small vibrating phoenixes with pearls and flowers.
Another hat has sable fur, red feathers and a towering set of metal and pearl phoenixes.
The impressive gold dragon seal of the last Empress of China, Xiaoke, was so heavy that it was left behind when she fled the palace in 1922.
It’s the personal items that humanize the women of the painted scrolls. Cixi had a small massage roller for getting rid of wrinkles. The small black and gold traveling case stands open showing small drawers and an elaborately carved mirror stand.
The exhibit’s book, “Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, 1644-1912,” is outstanding. It is worth reading every detail, from the authors’ notes to the captioning. The color plates show clearly what the low-light of the exhibit does not. There is no flash photography allowed.
Women are getting their due this year. This is one of three exhibits on the East Coast centering around women. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has an exhibit centering around 1000-year old novel, “The Tale of Genji“. The National Geographic Society has an exhibit of Queens of Egypt.
“Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, 164-1912”, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., March 30-June 23, 2019 | <urn:uuid:86323008-3f41-4e03-83df-94a4e7a24017> | {
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DNA is the key to personalized diagnosis and treatment
By diving deeper and examining the genetics of those that are sick and those that are well we hope to find a genetic definition of “what is well.” Defining “what is well” can help us see, depending person’s particular genetics, what is required to bring a patient to health.
By using the Northwell Health’s biobank, we hope to use a patient’s own DNA to develop a personalized treatment plan. Samples for the biobank come from our 21 Northwell Health hospitals, which serve the most culturally diverse population in the US. In addition to collecting samples from the hospitals, we use the Genotype and Phenotype (GaP) registry, which allows us to examine how different factors such as age, race and medical histories play into different diseases and conditions.
Some of the conditions studied by our scientists include autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, various cancers, as well as human traits related to memory and cognition like Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, absolute pitch and a fascinating sensory condition called synesthesia. | <urn:uuid:02cd609a-f0ca-49b6-a012-82e79736c374> | {
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In recent years, Canada, France and Britain have added measures of citizen happiness to their official national statistics. The U.S. government is now considering adopting a happiness index as well.
This makes a certain amount of sense. Everything a government does — hiring soldiers, building bridges, providing pensions — is supposed to make citizens happy.
But are you happy?
Michael W. May/Flickr
Economists and psychologists have been collecting happiness data for decades. They can quantify how unhappy noise pollution makes people who live near an airport. They know that people hate commuting and that we get less anxious as we get older.
But once you get into the details, there's a lot of debate over the happiness data. One big divide: Should you ask people how they're feeling right now, or how they feel about their life in general?
You get different answers depending on what you ask. Which one is more important is a squishy, philosophical question.
It turns out, though, that lots of economic data get squishy when you take a close look.
In the U.S, in order to be counted as unemployed, you have to be out of a job and looking for work. But what counts as looking for work? Checking Craigslist? Sending out three resumes a week? Five?
"It's actually kind of a hard question," says Justin Wolfers, an economist at the University of Michigan. "It's very subjective."
Yet every month, a single unemployment number is released. Unemployment is now 7.9 percent. And, right now, a panel is looking to come up with a similar number for happiness. Someday soon, we may start hearing news reports about how U.S. happiness is rising. Or falling. | <urn:uuid:f0259f73-c055-4585-b67f-47c8c8dd60b9> | {
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What is a Synonym?
What is a synonym? A synonym is a word or expression that has the same or almost the same meaning as another word or expression. In English, a language known for its enormous vocabulary, most words have synonyms. For example, the word “enormous” has many synonyms: Huge, massive, giant, immense, and the list goes on. The word “synonym” is a composite of two Greek words: The prefix “syn” means “together” and “onym” is “name.” Synonyms — together naming the same thing.
The free online activities on this website offer great synonym practice. Try Crosswords and Vocabulary Quiz—both let you choose “synonyms” as the topic of the game
Another great way to build your synonym vocabulary is through online vocabulary software. Ultimate Vocabulary provides a focused method for building vocabulary skills for ESL students.
Imagine how boring language would be without synonyms! Synonyms make reading, writing, and speaking more expressive. If every person, place, or thing were known by one word only, life would be incredibly dull—or dreary, tedious, lackluster, and bland! Try it yourself—mix up your word choice when you talk or write! Good speakers and writers always vary their vocabulary. Time4Writing.com offers lessons in writing using a varied vocabulary.
Synonym tests ask you to select a word’s synonym from a list of choices, or to read a sentence and decide which word is similar in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence. For example: “John thought he was lucky to have good friends.” Pick the synonym for “lucky” from the choices “smart,” “fortunate,” and “sophisticated.” Think twice about words that make sense in the sentence—these choices may not have the same or similar meaning as the underlined word. Think of the letter ‘S’ in synonym as standing for “same” or “similar,” and you’ll keep on track. “Fortunate” is the answer.
Free Synonym Activities Can Bring Better Test Scores
Doing synonym activities pays off in better test taking. Create your own synonym worksheets from your vocabulary lists. Write down one synonym for each word. Next, challenge yourself to double or triple your synonym list. If you get stuck, there’s help, thanks to Peter Mark Roget. In 1852, Dr. Roget compiled the first comprehensive classification of synonyms, called a thesaurus. Roget’s Thesaurus is still the world’s premier synonym finder and the source for online synonym finders and word processing thesaurus tools. Dictionaries also list synonyms for each definition.
It is said, “There are vocabulary games to build vocabulary word skills through synonyms, antonyms and homonyms. There are strategies, skills, and individual word instruction that students need to build vocabulary proficiency.“
Play one of our many free games for synonym practice! Try the new SAT Vocabulary, Slang Game, or Match It games now and let us know what you think! | <urn:uuid:b10ce186-c014-41c2-a8c4-2d3b9c2ef4a9> | {
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Ceremonial cloth and sacred heirloom early 18th century
handspun cotton, natural dyes, mordants
National Gallery of Australia
Conserved with the assistance of Brian O'Keeffe AO and Bridget O'Keeffe AM
Gift of Michael and Mary Abbott 1988
India was renowned for the production of textiles which were exported all over the world. Prominent in Islamic art traditions, trellis and bouquet designs were fashionable in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia. This textile, created using the colour-fast techniques of mordant painting and dyeing, as well as batik, was traded to Indonesia where it was cherished as a sacred heirloom. Imagery inspired by Indian trade cloths was often incorporated into local textile production where it was reinterpreted using a range of techniques. | <urn:uuid:62ed1b16-4f07-4867-b2bc-968f655c008c> | {
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Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if signs of a
transient ischemic attack (TIA) develop
suddenly. These may include:
- Numbness, weakness, or inability to move the
face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
problems in one or both eyes, such as dimness, blurring, double vision, loss of
vision, or a sensation that a shade is being pulled down over your
- Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding.
- Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
- Severe headache with no known cause.
Call a doctor immediately if a
person suddenly becomes confused or emotionally upset or doesn't seem to know
who or where he or she is. These are signs of
delirium, which can be caused by a reaction to
medicines or a new or worsening medical condition.
Call a doctor
if you or a person you are close to has new and troubling memory loss that is
more than an occasional bout of forgetfulness. This may be an early sign of
Occasional forgetfulness or memory loss can be a
normal part of aging. But any new or increasing memory loss or problems with
daily living should be reported to a doctor. Learn the
warning signs of dementia, and talk to a doctor if you
or a family member shows any of these signs. They include increased trouble
finding the right words when speaking, getting lost going to familiar places,
and acting more irritable or suspicious than usual.
Who to see
The following health professionals can evaluate
symptoms of memory loss or confusion:
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. | <urn:uuid:a19973a2-9326-4889-97d8-8f171669f77d> | {
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Some of the most famous scientists and mathematicians who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop nuclear warheads were Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman and Niels Bohr. However, the full staff list ran to over 120,000 people, many of whom did not know the true nature of the project.Continue Reading
As a full-scale research and development project during World War II, the Manhattan Project required a well-trained and equipped staff at all times. Many of the scientists who are most famous for working on the Manhattan Project were, however, mainly expert advisers on nuclear power and mathematical modelling. Therefore, they had little to do with the day-to-day development of the nuclear weapons, which was tasked to engineers and demolition experts.
Because of the need to keep the development work from the Axis powers and Imperial Japan, a culture of extreme secrecy developed. The U.S. and U.K. leaders arranged the project in such a way as to prevent public awareness or inquiry. Managing that level of secrecy with 120,000 people who knew the inner workings of the project seemed impossible, so despite practical difficulties, most of the staff working on the project were kept unaware of its true nature until the nuclear age had already began.Learn more about US History | <urn:uuid:338ea553-b39f-4b5e-a4ec-a7f9a182d4c6> | {
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Last week it was reported almost everywhere by the German media that North Atlantic currents were the warmest in 2000 years and melting the Arctic at an unprecedented rate.
These media reports were based on a study published in Science. The authors write in the abstract (emphasis added):
Here, we present a multidecadal-scale record of ocean temperature variations during the past 2000 years, derived from marine sediments off Western Svalbard (79°N). We find that early–21st-century temperatures of Atlantic Water entering the Arctic Ocean are unprecedented over the past 2000 years and are presumably linked to the Arctic amplification of global warming.”
I’m not sure what they mean by “early 21st century”. Perhaps the years 2000 to 2007? The study says the waters are about 2°C warmer. Here it has to be noted that they are presuming, i.e. postulating. The CO2 link here is a bit of wild speculation.
Here’s how Der Spiegel puts it in a report titled Atlantic Current Is Heating Up The Arctic:
The experts suspect that the accelerated reduction in sea ice and the measured warming of ocean and atmosphere in the Arctic over the last decades, among other factors, was the result of an enhanced transfer of warmth from the Atlantic. The Fram Straits is even about 1.4° C warmer than during the Medieval Climate Optimum, a time when temperatures in Europe were significantly increased.”
And Der Spiegel writes:
‘Cold sea water is decisive in the formation of sea ice, which in turn cools because it reflects sunlight,’ says Thomas Marchitto of the University of Colorado in Boulder. The melting is accelerating by itself.”
Media reports like the one in Der Spiegel of course emphasized the supposed vicious circle of the melting Arctic ice dynamic: more melting leads to more warming, which then accelerates the process – all unleashed of course by man-made CO2.
If anything they are, perhaps unwittingly, admitting that the Arctic sea ice reduction of the 2000s can be traced back to ocean currents.
And as things stand right now, just the opposite is occurring. The Arctic is NOT melting, it’s freezing up again – recovering from its low in 2007, and quite impressively.
The Global Rumblings website here reports that 70 trillion cubic feet of ice have been added to the Arctic core since January 2009. That translates to 2000 cubic km – enough to cover Manhattan with 20 miles of ice (or 32,000 Manhattans with 1 meter of ice).
The US Navy PIPS 2.0 graphic shows ice thickness. The following comparator shows how it’s the Arctic that has gone green.
Source: Global Rumblings
Some will say that PIPS is not a reliable indicator of Arctic ice thickness, and so cannot be used reliably. But you can put that rumour to rest, see PIPS WUWT.
So why is the Arctic thickening and regrowing, and no longer melting at an unprecedented rate as claimed by the media?
This could have to do with the Labrador Current, which flows southward between Greenland and Labrador. Reports say it is slowing down. That means cold water is not getting transported out of the Arctic. A Der Spiegel article just 2 weeks ago titled “Feared Atlantic current is now weakening” suggests that this current is at its weakest level in 1800 years. What is it caused by? According to scientists, Der Spiegel says:
As a cause for the change, scientists suspect climate change. The coincidence that this has happened during the warming of the last decades allows this to be the conclusion, they believe. But the knowledge about ocean currents still has many holes says Wallace Broecker of Columbia University in USA – a pioneer in ocean research.”
Changes in the atmosphere controls the ocean currents? Right. And as usual, they’re sure – yet admit there are many holes in the knowledge and so they are not sure.
Meanwhile, the ice keeps growing. | <urn:uuid:5022f79c-7625-4d0e-a5e2-d0928556444c> | {
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When a candidate is considered for a job position, the employer evaluates different factors such as education, experience and successes. Increasingly, companies are turning to personality tests to hire potential employees and avoid embarrassing hiring errors, and it is especially at the executive level.
These tests are utilized to specify the type of personality, values, interests and skills of candidates. They can be used to solely assess what type of person you are, or rather, to establish your aptitudes for a certain type of occupation or career.
Personality tests range from the five-minute Color Quiz which is supposed to establish your personality type by the colors you select, to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator which is one of the top-rated personality tests that helps assess your personality type and helps to explore career options.
The principal point of performing tests for personality is to go deeper than any job interview ever could; however, it is another point of several data points to make a hiring decision. There is a diversity of tests that evaluate intelligence or aptitude, inventory skills and estimate ability to succeed in a career.
Aptitude tests evaluate logical reasoning, the ability to obtain skills, thinking performance or doing a particular type of work. These are the type of tests employers commonly utilize to screen candidates for employment. These tests are available online, free and accessible on just about every topic. These can be classified as speed tests or power tests, but power test are more used at the professional or managerial level. Aptitude test includes questions about verbal ability, numerical ability, spatial ability, mechanical reasoning.
Career Tests are utilized to evaluate mastery of a subject, offer an indication of which jobs match your personality type and which careers you possess an aptitude for. You can take a quick test online and obtain quickly result or take more extensive (and professional) tests to determine which careers might interest you. These tests consider self assessment tools to help you make decisions regarding the types of works in which you will be most successful.
INTELLIGENCE (IQ) TESTS
Intelligence tests evaluate intellectual functioning, or in plain language how intelligent you are. They are created to measure an individual’s mental skills and screen job applicants. A person’s intelligent quotient (IQ) is a measure of intelligence derived from the results of peculiarly designed tests. The purpose of these test in job hiring are to know how a person learns and works in different situations. The quotient is obtained by dividing an individual’s mental age by his chronological age and multiplying the result by 100.
INVENTORIESInventories are checklists that you can utilize to determine factors which you relate to – and which you don’t. These are used to measure how the interests of a person match with the interests of others employed in certain occupations. Career inventories such as the strong interest Inventory, offer a summary of the interest areas and occupations that match your interests.
It is essential to note that none of these tests will offer you with a concrete answer on what you should do with your life. Rather, you should use them as a tool to elaborate informed guesses and see them as one part of your overall career planning. Take a free time and try some fun quizzes, this way you can determine different aspect on your life such as your stress level, decide if you are burned out, evaluate how healthy you are or discover your abilities for a given job position. | <urn:uuid:29c32368-a7cf-4f31-9894-ce9b951a3166> | {
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Ever wonder why boxing kangaroos always seem to have a mean left hook? Well according to new biological research, kangaroos are left handed. Professor Yegor Malashichev from the State University of Sankt Petersburg made the discovery while researching the behavior patterns of Australian kangaroos.
Malashichev found that kangaroos preferred to use their left hand when it came to activities that required fine skills like grasping tree leaves and shaking tree branches. He also observed that when it came to activities that required strength, the marsupials would typically use their right hand.
The kangaroo’s unusual preference for their left hand led Malashichev to make another interesting discovery - kangaroos have a different brain structure than the rest of mammals. Although they do have the mammal standard of two hemispheres in their brain, neither side is more developed than the other, which is highly unusual.
This discovery explains why it seems that kangaroos can be ambidextrous when need be, but it doesn’t explain how they determine which hand to use for which task. Until more research can be done, the reason kangaroos are lefties will remain one of nature's most adorable mysteries. | <urn:uuid:bbcf9607-2e53-41d3-88e3-92e8b676604f> | {
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- The U.S. Treasury will default on contracts with investors,
mostly individuals, who loaned the government money in 1979 on the agreement
that they would receive 9.125 percent interest every year until their bonds
mature in the year 2009.
- No longer will politicians and appointed bureaucrats
be able to brag that the United States has never failed to live up to its
obligation as the safest investment in the world. Investment is no longer
- The Bureau of Public Debt announcement claims that this
recall applies to about $4.6 billion in 30 year bonds issued on May 15,
1979 and calls for their redemption by May 15, 2004. Of course, investors
holding these bonds are not forced to cash them in and can hold them until
2009 if they want, but they will no longer receive the interest promised,
the main reason for investing their money in the first place.
- That means that if you loaned the government $10,000
in 1979 you will lose $912.50 a year, $4,562.50 in the next 5 years, in
interest you would have been due from the governmentóbefore the
government decided to back out of their end of the contract.
- The Treasury claims that these bonds are being called
"to reduce the cost of debt financing" and will result in the
government saving $544 million, an amount equal to what the national debt
increases every five and one-half hours or so nowadays.
- And just where do you think the federal government will
get the $4.6 billion to buy these bonds back? They'll borrow it, of course.
- At a time when the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
is already warning the Bush administration about its fiscal irresponsibility,
and the Treasury is selling less than half of all securities put up for
auction, this action is bound to reverberate negatively through the bond
- How long will it be before the United States loses the
credit rating it has enjoyed for years and investors, particularly foreign
nations that hold a significant portion of our national debt, decide it's
safer to buy Euros or something else instead of loaning us money?
- And don't forget, those on the honest side of our national
debt can cash-in their securities at any time. It's not like the bogus
nonmarketable bonds the government gives us when they borrow/steal our
Social Security and other dedicated entitlement money.
- The action taken today could very well be the tip of
the iceberg on the voyage to bankruptcy.
- The government has previously, under the Clinton administration,
tried to reduce the national debt by redeeming long term debt before maturity,
but investors have usually refused to turn in their holdings without a
settlement on the interest due. This time, it's being done by demand. Those
holding the bonds have no choice. The government has announced that it
is going to stop paying interest on May 15, 2004, no ifs, ands, or buts
- Secretary of the Treasury John Snow and the Bush administration
may be willing to risk the nation's Triple-A credit rating and its constitutionally
authorized ability to borrow in order to save $544 million. A drop in the
bucket considering that this is coming from the same people who ran up
the national debt more than a half trillion ($555 billion) last year, fiscal
2003, and have already accumulated another $215 billion in borrowing, stealing,
and interest unfairly handed entitlement trusts during the first quarter
of this year.
- Some people may think that 9.125 percent interest is
an unfair amount to be shelling out during times when current interest
is below five percent and the government cannot be blamed for refinancing
or putting an end to this unfair usury. After all, these lenders have already
more than doubled their original investment and are still due the principal.
- It may also be that the fine print of these contracts
has a clause allowing for the "call" of these securities at a
certain date with sufficient notice or even the remote chance that they
are part of a "sinking fund" arrangement. For instance, it may
be perfectly legal if the contract contains wording where the government
can recall these bonds five years prior to maturity, which would account
for the resistance in the Clinton years, and a four month notice of such
recall which would account for the January 15th to May 15th exact dates.
- When these bonds were purchased, when the money was loaned,
the nation was in recession and times were hard for everyone. Mortgage
rates were in the 18 percent range, we had long lines at the gas pump,
Iran had just revolted, and the Ayatollah Khomeini was holding our embassy
people hostage until we returned the Iranian Treasury they claimed the
Shah ran off with and we were keeping while sheltering that dictator.
- No matter how you look at it, the little old ladies,
pension houses, insurance companies and others who purchase long term bonds
(the 30 year bond no longer exists) are very liable to think that the federal
government contracted to pay interest at 9.125 percent for 30 years and
is now defaulting on that contractual agreement.
- http://www.uncle-scam.com/Breaking/jan-04/bpd-1-15.pdf | <urn:uuid:384fd2ef-2dd2-4a9b-9521-044724b4657d> | {
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Sensory play can go a long way towards encouraging development for children with Cerebral Palsy.
Engaging in sensory or tactile activities provides a fun way to exercise motor functions and coordination, while nurturing cognitive development. Children have an instinct to play, although it can be difficult to act on those impulses for a child with cognitive and physical impairments. In a safe, supportive environment, playing with a purpose, is proven to help children with Cerebral Palsy build self-confidence and increase autonomy.
The Halloween season lends itself to openings of the imagination. From flying witches to creepy crawlers, pumpkin carvings to haunted houses, and all of the costumes and decorations in between, there’s an endless amount of creative ways to celebrate the holiday. Halloween is a great chance to bring fun and play into the learning and developing environment!
Here are some of these Halloween themed sensory play activities for you and your family to enjoy:
1. Bring science to the senses with a Pumpkin Spice Scented Pumpkin Volcano.
Mini volcanoes made from baking soda and vinegar are exciting enough, but Jaime at Frog, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails created a great recipe for scented sensory play.
2. Let slime ooze through your fingers with this Quick and Easy Slime Recipe.
Little Bins for Little Hands’ simple 3-item recipe of Elmer’s Washable Glue, liquid starch, and water make for hours of slimy, sensory stimulating fun. Click on the image above to discover how to make oozing jack-o-lanterns and Monster Eyes Slime.
3. Squeeze into some ooey-gooy fun with Jack-O-Lantern Squish Bags.
In Fantastic Fun and Learning, blogger Shaunna shows readers how to create a sensory bag. For variation, the bags can be filled with textured items, for example, plastic spiders, eyeballs (peeled grapes make a great alternative), gummy worms, and cooked pasta. For kids that like to get their hands in the mix, fill a large bowl or a carved out pumpkins with the hair gel and add in your choice of items. Lots of adorable giggling with this one!
About Sensory Play
There are many activities that can be done at home, but playing with a purpose meets innovative treatment in the form of play therapy. Purposeful play helps give children a voice they might not be able to express in words, and therefore, provides valuable insight into a child’s emotional state. A play therapist incorporates the child’s physical abilities, cognitive functioning levels and emotional needs, helping children with Cerebral Palsy express themselves. To see if play therapy would benefit your child, read more about play therapy on CerebralPalsy.org and talk to your child’s primary care physician.
Visit Pinterest for more Halloween activities for sensory play.
Contact our compassionate call center representatives for resources and inspiration. The information and support are always free. | <urn:uuid:0cc64534-ff39-4c09-936e-9979e757b3e0> | {
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This ballad begins: 'The line to Heaven by Christ was made, / With heavenly truth the rails are laid'. It was published by James Lindsay of 9 King Street, Glasgow, and features a woodcut illustration of a man preaching to a small crowd.
Many broadside producers felt it was their public duty to provide their readership with various forms of moral and religious guidance. This included publishing everything from highly repentant last speeches uttered from the gallows to the journey of the spiritual railway. In this interesting analogy, repentence is the station where people hop on board the heavenly-bound train, God's word and truth drive the engine, and 'Repentance, Faith and Holiness' can all be found in first, second and third class respectively.
Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse.
View Transcription | Download PDF Facsimile
Probable date of publication:
1852-1859 shelfmark: L.C.Fol.178.A.2(024)
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Vaccine Injury – How To Identify It
Call 911 or your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room if you see symptoms if serious vaccine reactions or complication after vaccination.
Report All Vaccine Reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System at VAERS.org
- Behavior Changes
“He would not sleep or eat. He threw tantrums and screamed for no reason. He was a normal, happy baby toddler and after his shots he out of control. He changed into a totally different child! It scared us to death…we wondered what had happened to him?”
- Brain Inflammation
“Her eyes were wide open, then she would arch her back and scream and go limp, unconscious. She still has these these seizures. It is terrifying to us to see this happen to her.”
- Collapse Or Shock
“Our baby turned all white with a blue tinge around her mouth and then she went completely limp. It was frightening to watch.”
“Her eyes twitched, her chin trembled, her body went rigid and then would shake. I was terrified watching her….”
- Excessive Sleepiness, Non Responsive
“Our baby completely passed out after his 6 month shots and we couldn’t even wake him to feed or do anything for over 12 hours.”
- Head Banging
“Our toddler son started banging his head and spinning around a week after his 18 month vaccines. He became hyperactive. We could not stop him, he moved constantly. We worried about skull damage and what had happened to him after his vaccines were give. It was then that learned more, and we realized he was vaccine injured…”
- High Fever (over 103° F)
“His body temperature was 105 degrees, it was like he was burning up, every part of him was HOT. The doctor told me to just give Tylenol, but I was terribly frightened. He never had a fever that high before.”
- High Pitched Screaming
“She was screaming cry, a high pitched, shrill scream like she was in pain and it lasted all day. No matter what it did it would not stop. It was like she was being tortured.”
- Loss of Eye Contact
“The next day after his shots, our toddler no longer would look at us or anyone. We tried to get him to look, but he would not. It was like he changed overnight….we had no idea what had happened at the time, but later realized he was vaccine damaged. “
- Mental and Physical Regression
“My 18 month old son stopped talking and walking after those shots. He developed severe allergies, constant diarrhea, ear infections and was sick all the time. Every other week I was in the doctor’s office getting antibiotics for something.”
- Sensory Issues After Vaccinations
“A few weeks after our son’s kindergarten shots, he could not longer stand the feeling of any fabric tags, his socks had to be put on exactly right and he became hypersensitive to any noise, light or touch. He was prickly, irritable. His teacher told us he could not focus or sit in the classroom anymore. He completely changed from the calm and happy little boy we knew prior.”
- Skin Hives, Skin Rashes, Swelling After Vaccinations
“There was a big, hot swollen lump at the site of the shot that started right after the vaccines were give, and it stayed for many weeks.”
Other Long Term Results of Vaccine Injury Include:
- Blood disorders
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Loss of muscle control
- Sudden death – including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (“Crib Death”)
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986
- Under the federal vaccine injury compensation program (VICP), more than $3 billion has been paid to vaccine injured families.
- Individuals, as well as to families, whose children have died after vaccination in the U.S. are compensated.
- Learn how to file a claim here.
Report All Vaccine Reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS.org).
- Serious vaccine reactions should be documented immediately.
- Report vaccine reactions in medical records.
- Promptly reported to the federal government ‘s Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS.org).
- Do not rely on your doctor to report a vaccine reaction, less than 1% are reported by a physician.
Learn More At NVIC.org:
- Learn about other signs and symptoms of vaccine reactions.
- How to report vaccine reactions.
- How to apply for federal vaccine injury compensation.
- How to protect your legal right to informed consent to vaccination in America. | <urn:uuid:058c38c7-d718-4f8b-a61c-d1389ed044e8> | {
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What is a trip to Charleston without a stop at the exquisite and highly popular Drayton Hall Southern Plantation? This estate is an icon of American history, design, and historic preservation and is oftentimes considered to be the most significant and undisturbed historic landscape in the state, even the country. Drayton Hall Southern Plantation takes up 350 acres and is the very 1st executed example of Palladian architecture, an idealized English landscape mixed with some of the most incredible design in the area. The home is storied and well preserved, with tranquil grounds and a historic African American cemetery. The property was received from the Drayton family in 1974 and has since then been kept in meticulous, near original condition by the National Trust. Not only is Drayton a spectacular site architecturally, but it is a historic ground zero of sorts, seeing periods of time ranging from colonial to American revolution, from antebellum to reconstruction, the civil war, the 20th century, and beyond!
This journey through history will teach your group about the past life of John Drayton and his sons, settling here in the early 1750s. During the time this estate was considered no less than a ‘palace and gardens’ in the Charleston Gazette, popular timely news journal. This, the oldest preserved plantation house in America strives to protect and preserve the estate for future generations, making it ‘a place where time stands still’, as your group will see. Discover the secrets and stories this home has to tell after 2 wars, multiple earthquakes and hurricanes, and 7 generations of family living. Before you go be sure to check out the Memorial Arch, marking one of the oldest documented African American cemeteries in the nation! | <urn:uuid:f07a989f-5d4f-43ed-b91a-14e0b4d3f4e1> | {
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THE YELLOWSTONE volcano has been “intensely monitored” by a team of scientists and volcanologists concerned by a 400-mile-long plume of hot magma that is rising beneath the surface of the Earth.
The Yellowstone volcano has erupted three times in history – 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and 640,000 years ago. Scientists have previously revealed that, should an earthquake occur, it could take less than two weeks before a catastrophic reaction event with the potential to wipe out three-quarters of the US is triggered. Now, it is the job of geologists to “intensely monitor” a large area of molten rock directly below the surface of the supervolcano, it was revealed in a documentary.
Volcanoes typically erupt when molten rock, known as magma, rises to the surface following the Earth’s mantle melting due to tectonic plates shifting. | <urn:uuid:955ecf06-549a-4b05-a68d-92c8e1128adb> | {
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Source: This document taken from the Report of Apollo 204 Review Board
NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.
From the start of the T-10 minute hold at 23:20 GMT until about 23:30 GMT there are no events that appear to be related to the fire. The major activity during this period was routine troubleshooting of the communications problem. The records show that except for the communications problem, all systems were operating normally during this period. There were no voice transmissions from the spacecraft from 23:30:14 GMT until the transmission reporting the fire which began at 23:31:04.7 GMT (6:31:04.7 p.m. EST).
During the period beginning about 30 seconds before the report there are indications of crew movement. These indications are provided by the data from the Biomedical Sensors, the Command Pilot's live mike, the Guidance and Navigation System and the Environmental Control System.
There is, however, no evidence as to what this crew movement was or that it was related to the fire.
The biomedical data indicate that just prior to the fire report the Senior Pilot was performing essentially no activity (or was in the baseline "rest" condition) until about 23:30:21 GMT when a slight increase in pulse and respiratory rate was noted. At 23:30:30 GMT the electrocardiogram indicates some muscular activity for several seconds. Similar indications are noted at 23:30:39 GMT. The data show increased activity but are not indicative of an alarm type of response. By 23:30:45 GMT, all of the biomedical parameters had reverted to the baseline "rest" level.
Beginning at about 23:30 GMT, the Command Pilot live microphone transmitted brushing and tapping noises which are indicative of movement. The noises were similar to those transmitted earlier in the test by the live mike when the Command Pilot is known to have been moving. These sounds end at 23:30:58.6 GMT.
Any significant crew movement results in minor motion of the Command Module. This motion is detected by the Guidance and Navigation System and is indicative of crew movement; however, the type of movement cannot be determined. Data from this system indicate a slight movement at 23:30:24 GMT with more intense activity beginning at 23:30:39 GMT. More movement begins at 23:31:00 GMT and continues until loss of data transmission during the fire.
Increases of oxygen flow rate to the crew suits also indicate movement. All suits have some small leakage. This leakage rate varies with crew positions. Earlier in the Plugs-Out Test, the crew reported that a particular movement, the nature of which was unspecified, provided increased flow rate. This is also confirmed from the flow rate data records. The flow rate shows a gradual rise at 23:30:24 GMT which reaches the limit of the sensor at 23:30:59 GMT.
There is a variation at 23:30:50 GMT in the signal output from the gas chromatograph cable (the gas chromatograph was not installed in the Command Module). When the gas chromatograph is not connected, the cable acts as an antenna. Thus, changes in the electromagnetic field within the spacecraft are sensed when the cable is approached closely, touched or moved or voltage fluctuations occur in other equipment. Variations found in the signal level from the gas chromatograph cable at earlier times in the test have been correlated with either crew movement or voltage transients when equipment was turned off or on at these earlier times. The variation at 23:30:50 GMT, may have resulted because it was touched or approached by the crew since there does not appear to be any voltage transient condition at this time which could have given the observed signal.
A significant voltage transient was recorded at 23:30:54.8 GMT. The records show a surge in the AC Bus 2 voltage.
Several other parameters being measured also showed anomalous behaviour at this time. There was a 1.7 second dropout in signal from the C-band decoder and transmitter outputs, a brief dropout of the VHF-FM carrier, a fluctuation in the rotation controller null outputs and a fluctuation in the gas chromatograph signal.
The events that occurred during this period can be comprehended most readily by examination of Enclosure 2, Enclosure 3, Enclosure 4 and Enclosure 5 and Enclosure 6. These enclosures show a sketch of Launch Complex 34, the Space Vehicle in the service tower and the interior of a mock-up of a Command Module detailed reconstruction of Spacecraft 012.
Beginning at 23:31:04.7 GMT (6:31:04.7 P.M. EST), the crew gave the first verbal indication of an emergency - a fire in the Command Module was reported.
Emergency procedures called for the Senior Pilot, occupying the center couch, to unlatch and remove the hatch while retaining his harness buckled. A number of witnesses who observed the television picture of the Command Module hatch window during this stage of the fire discerned motion that suggest that the Senior Pilot was reaching for the inner hatch handle. The Senior Pilot's harness buckle was found unopened after the fire, indicating that he initiated the standard hatch-opening procedure. Data from the Guidance and Navigation System indicate considerable activity within the Command Module after the fire was discovered. This activity is consistent with movement of the crew prompted by proximity of the fire or with the undertaking of standard emergency egress procedures.
Personnel located on adjustable level 8 (A-8) adjacent to the Command Module responded to the report of the fire. The Pad Leader ordered crew egress procedures to be started and technicians started toward the White Room which surrounds the hatch and into which the crew would step upon egress. Then the Command Module ruptured.
All transmission of voice and data from the spacecraft terminated by 23:31:22.4 GMT, three seconds after rupture. Witnesses monitoring television showing the hatch window report that flame spread from the left to the right side of the Command Module and shortly thereafter covered the entire visible area.
Flames and gases flowed rapidly out of the ruptured area, spreading flames into the toroidal space between the Command Module pressure vessel and heat shield, through access hatches and into levels A-8 and A-7 of the service structure. These flames ignited combustibles, endangered pad personnel, and impeded rescue efforts. The burst of fire, together with the sounds of rupture, caused several pad personnel to believe that the Command Module had exploded or was about to explode. Pad personnel fled from the immediate area.
The immediate reaction of all personnel on level A-8 was to evacuate the level. This reaction was promptly followed by a return to effect rescue. Upon running out on the swing arm from the umbilical tower, several personnel obtained a fire extinguisher and returned along the swing arm to the White Room to begin rescue efforts. Others obtained fire extinguishers from various areas of the service structure and rendered assistance in fighting the fires.
The time interval between exit to the swing arm and return to the White Room is estimated variously by the participants. Persons viewing television monitors could not see movement early in the White Room because of heavy smoke. Approximately one minute and thirty seconds after the first crew report of the fire the Pad Leader reported over his headset that attempts had been started to remove the hatches. This report was made after the Pad Leader had gone out on the swing arm, returned and entered the White Room one or two times and left to reach breathable air and his headset. It is therefore estimated that attempts to remove the hatches began one minute after the fire was first reported.
Three hatches were installed on the Command Module. The outermost hatch, called the boost protective cover (BPC) hatch, is part of the cover which shields the Command Module during lauch and is jettisoned prior to orbital operation. The middle hatch is termed the ablative hatch and becomes the outer hatch when the BPC is jettisoned after launch. The inner hatch closes the pressure vessel wall of the Command Module and is the first hatch to be opened by the crew in an unaided crew egress.
The outer or BPC hatch was in place but not fully latched because of distortion in the BPC caused by wire bundles temporarily installed for the test. The middle hatch and inner hatch were in place and latched after crew ingress.
Although the BPC hatch was not fully latched it was necessary to insert a specially-designed tool into the hatch in order to provide a hand-hold for lifting the hatch from the Command Module. At this time the White Room was filling dense, dark smoke from the Command Module interior and from secondary fires throughout level A-8. While some personnel were able to locate and don operable gas masks others were not. Some proceeded without masks while others attempted without success to render masks operable. Even operable masks were unable to cope with the dense smoke present because they were designed for use in toxic rather than dense smoke atmospheres.
Visibility in the White Room was virtually zero. It was necessary to work essentially by touch since visual observation was limited to a few inches at best. A hatch removal tool was in the White Room. Once the small fire near the BPC hatch had been extinguished and the tool located the Pad Leader and an assistant removed the BPC hatch. Although the hatch was not latched, removal was difficult.
The personnel who removed the BPC hatch could not remain in the White Room because of the smoke. They left the White Room and passed the tool which was necessary to open each hatch to other individuals. A total of five individuals took part in opening the three hatches and each made several trips into the White Room and out for breathable air.
The middle hatch was removed with less effort than was required for the outer or BPC hatch.
The inner hatch was unlatched and an attempt was made to raise it from its support and to lower it to the Command Module floor. The hatch could not be lowered the full distance to the floor and was instead pushed to one side. When the inner hatch was opened intense heat and a considerable amount of smoke issued from the interior of the Command Module.
When the Pad Leader ascertained that all hatches were open, he left the White Room, proceeded a few feet along the swing arm, donned his headset and reported this fact. From a voice tape it has been determined that this report came approximately five minutes, twenty-seven seconds after the first report of the fire. The Pad Leader estimates that his report was made no more than thirty seconds after the inner hatch was opened. Therefore, it is concluded that all hatches were opened and the two outer hatches removed approximately five minutes after the report of fire or at about 23:36 GMT. A log maintained by a person monitoring voice transmissions from level A-8 sets the time of the Pad Leader's report at 23:36 GMT. All records in this log are noted in minutes with no indication of seconds. Medical opinion, based on autopsy reports, has concluded that chances of resuscitation decreased rapidly once consciousness was lost and that resuscitation was impossible by 23:36 GMT.
Visibility within the Command Module was extremely poor. Although the lights remained on, they could be perceived only dimly. No fire was observed. Initially, the crew was not seen. The personnel who had been involved in removing the hatches attempted to locate the crew without success.
Throughout this period, other pad personnel were fighting secondary fires on level A-8. There was considerable fear that the launch escape tower, mounted above the Command Module, would be ignited by the fires below and destroy much of the launch complex.
Shortly after the report of fire, a call was made to the fire department. From log records, it appears that the fire apparatus and personnel were dispatched at about 23:32 GMT. After hearing the report of the fire, the doctor monitoring the test from the blockhouse near the pad proceeded to the base of the umbilical tower.
The exact time at which firemen reached Level A-8 is not known. Personnel who opened the hatches unanimously state that all hatches were open before any firemen were seen on the level or in the White Room. The first firemen who reached Level A-8 state that all hatches were open, but that the inner hatch was inside the Command Module, when they arrived. This places arrival of the firemen after 23:36 GMT. It is estimated. on the basis of tests, that seven to eight minutes were required to travel from the fire station to the launch complex and to ride the elevator from the ground to Level A-8. Thus, the estimated time of firemen arrival at level A-8 is shortly before 23:40 GMT.
When the firemen arrived, the positions of the crew couches and crew could be perceived through the smoke but only with great difficulty. An unsuccessful attempt was made to remove the Senior Pilot from the Command Module.
Initial observations and subsequent inspection reveal the following facts. The Command Pilot's couch (the left hand couch) was in the "170 degree position", in which it is essentially horizontal throughout its length. The foot restraints and harness were released and the inlet and outlet oxygen hoses were connected to the suit. The electrical adapter cable was disconnected from the communications cable. The Command Pilot was lying supine on the aft bulkhead or floor of the Command Module, with his helmet visor closed and locked and with his head beneath the Pilot's head rest and his feet on his own couch. A fragment of his suit material was found outside the Command Module pressure vessel five feet from the point of rupture. This indicates that his suit had failed prior to the time of rupture (23:31:19.4 GMT) allowing convection currents to carry the suit fragment through the rupture.
The Senior Pilot's couch (the center couch) was in the "96 degree" position in which the back portion is horizontal and lower in the raised position. The buckle releasing the shoulder straps and lap belts was not opened. The straps and belts were burned through. The suit oxygen outlet hose was connected but the inlet hose was disconnected. The helmet visor was closed and locked and all electrical connections were intact. The Senior Pilot was lying transversely across the Command Module just below the level of the hatchway.
The Pilot's couch (the center couch) was in the "264 degree" position in which the back portion is horizontal and the lower portion dropped toward the floor. All restraints were disconnected, all hoses and electrical connections were intact and the helmet visor was closed and locked. The Pilot was supine on his couch.
From the foregoing it has been determined that in all probability the Command Pilot left his couch to avoid the initial fire, the Senior remained in his couch as planned for emergency egress, attempting to open the hatch until his restraints burned through and the Pilot remained in his couch to maintain communications until the hatch could be opened by the Senior Pilot as planned. With a slightly higher pressure inside the Command Module than outside, opening the inner hatch is impossible because of the resulting force on the hatch. Thus the inability of the pressure relief system to cope with pressure increase due to the fire made opening of the inner hatch impossible until after cabin rupture, and after rupture the intense and widespread fire together with rapidly increasing carbon monoxide concentrations further prevented egress.
Whether the inner hatch handle was moved by the crew cannot be determined because the opening of the inner hatch from the White Room also moves the handle within the Command Module to the unlatched position.
Immediately after the firemen arrived, the Pad Leader on duty was relieved to allow treatment for smoke inhalation. He had first reported over the headset that he could not describe the situation in the Command Module. In this manner he attempted to convey the fact that the crew was dead to the Test Conductor without informing the many people monitoring the communication channels. Upon reaching the ground the Pad Leader told the doctors that the crew was dead. The three doctors proceeded to the White Room and arrived there shortly after the arrival of the firemen. The doctors estimate their arrival to have been at 23:45 GMT. The second Pad Leader reported that medical support was available at approximately 23:43 GMT. The three doctors entered the White Room and determined that the crew had not survived the heat, smoke, and thermal burns. The doctors were not equipped with breathing apparatus, and the Command Module still contained fumes and smoke. It was determined that nothing could be gained by immediate removal of the crew. The firemen were directed to stop removal efforts.
When the Command Module had been adequately ventilated, the doctors returned to the White Room with equipment for crew removal. It became apparent that extensive fusion of suit material to melted nylon from the spacecraft would make removal very difficult. For this reason it was decided to discontinue efforts at removal in the interest of accident investigation and to photograph the Command Module with the crew in place before evidence was disarranged.
Photographs were taken, and the removal efforts resumed at approximately 5:30 GMT (12:30 a.m. EST) on January 28. Removal of the crew took approximately 90 minutes and was completed about seven and one-half hours after the accident.
Updated February 3, 2003
Steve Garber, NASA History Web Curator
For further information E-mail [email protected] | <urn:uuid:e5b1afaa-c35f-420d-ae33-4461921117f0> | {
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Enrico Fermi - Trailblazer in Nuclear Physics
Enrico Fermi dominated the field of physics, as his work greatly advanced scientists' understanding of atomic behavior.
The book covers his family ackground, his precocious interest in math and science, his preparation for his career, and his professional work. Because of Italy's repressive form of government in the 1920s and 1930s, Fermi always felt that he should emigrate. But the government would not let its citizens just leave. | <urn:uuid:ffe0b040-abd0-41f1-89f3-69c68279bd42> | {
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8.25 S, 118.00 E
summit elevation 2850 m
Tambora erupted in 1815 killing 92 000 people making 1816 the year without a summer as the global climate effects were felt. Aerosols from the Tambora eruption blocked out sunlight and reduced global temperatures by 3 deg C. Europe missed a summer, and India had crop failures following the Tambora eruption. 100 cubic km of magma was erupted. Ten thousand people were killed immediately from the pyroclastic flows and the eventual toll due to starvation and disease may have been as high as 117,000. The eruption caused a tsunami with a wave height of 10 m.
Tambora volcano, Indonesia was raised to level 2 alert (waspada) on 5th April 2013 after an increase in seismic activity.
Tambora volcano in Indonesia has been raised to level 2 alert (out of maximum 4) on 30th August 2011 after an increase in volcanic earthquakes. Alert level 3 was issued on 8th September 2011. In April 2011 there were 37 shallow volcanic earthquakes recorded, 167 in May, 277 in June, 363 in July, and 141 from 1-29 August. Continuous tremor was recorded on 29 and 30 August. Tourists and locals are advised to avoid the summit area of Tambora volcano.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit 29 km NE of the summit of Tambora volcano on 8th May 2010. A magnitude 5.1 aftershock occurred an hour later.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit 78 km east of Tambora volcano on 9th November 2009.
During 2004 a buried town was discovered near the volcano. It has been called the Pompeii of the East because of the preservation of human artifacts.
The eruption of Tambora volcano in 1815 is one of the largest explosive events in the world in the past 10,000 years. Before the eruption, Tambora had a 1400-1500 m relative height summit cone, sitting on a lava shield, giving an absolute height of 4300 m. The cone lost 1400 m in height during the eruption.
The eruption of Tambora commenced on 5th April 1815 with rumblings and small pyroclastic emissions. The main 24 hour long paroxysm occurred on 10th April 1815. a one hour Plinian phase was followed by pyroclastic flows which swept to the sea, and caldera collapse.
The sky remained dark for 1-2 days up to 600 km from the volcano. Pumic islands up to several kilometres long, drifted along the coast of Flores. A small tsunami reached the east coast of Java.
1967, 1880, 1812-15 (VEI 6-7). | <urn:uuid:66e0cefa-b6cb-4264-a5cb-0d0a9ffab5a6> | {
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With only 121 days left of water left in the Western Cape, the water crisis has become beyond a serious problem. Let’s spread the word on how to teach our kids to help save water!
Follow our Facebook Page to see daily Water Saving Tips for you and your little ones.
The water crisis in South Africa has reached breaking point this year, with some of our dams dropping to a critically low level of 30% due to lack of rainfall.
We’ve all been urged to conserve as much water as possible to prevent further water shortages.
Water conservation starts at home, where an estimated 250 litres of water is used by the average South African family every day, according to Cape Water Solutions.
Teaching your kids about how to save water can have a big impact on conserving water.
Fun facts about water:
70% of the Earth is made up of water, of which only about 3% is not salty water.
Of the 3% of fresh water, we only drink and use 1% of it. The remaining 2% is in the form of ice.
The fresh water we use now has been around since the days of the dinosaur, millions of years ago.
There are three forms of water: liquid (that we drink), solid (ice) and gas (vapour).
Some scientists have suggested there could be water in liquid form on the red planet.
Next to air, water is our most precious resource and we need to make sure it lasts – for our children’s children too.
How to conserve water with kids in the house:
Teach your kids to close taps tightly.
Don’t leave the tap running while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving.
When washing your hands, only open the tap when you need to rinse them and not while you’re applying soap to your hands.
Toilets use 29% of household water. If you don’t have a dual-flushing toilet system, you use about 13 litres of water per flush. Low flushing or dual-flushing systems only use about 6 litres of water per flush.
Only flush for a number 2.
When the kids are thirsty, pour half glasses of water. Kids seldom finish a full glass of water.
Let your kids share a bath, fill it up only enough to cover their knees (if that), or let them take quick showers.
Don’t overfill the pool. Lots of water goes to waste each time the kids splash and jump into the pool.
Water the garden early in the morning or late evening so most water isn’t evaporated in the heat of the day.
Running through the sprinklers is a memorable part of every childhood. Move the sprinklers to the driest part of the grass where water is most needed.
Ensure the dishwasher and washing machine’s child-lock is activated when it’s not in use, so little ones don’t turn it on by mistake.
When you rinse vegetables, catch the water in a container and use it to water your plants.
In short, make every drop count!
Teaching your kids about the importance of our water supply might seem mundane, but you can make it fun by setting a few goals for them. Check your rates bill to see what your monthly consumption is, and see if you can bring it down month on month.
Reward the kids when the family’s consumption is down or when they start to show initiative. Then they’ll be more likely to understand how much of a big deal it is to conserve our precious resource.
Credit to: www.parent24.com | <urn:uuid:59b2fc4f-6f97-4d94-a162-8a9410362209> | {
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What rights does a parent have to his or her child?
A parent has a natural right to the custody of his or her child. That natural right is only taken away in a court case. Terminating a parent’s rights is taken very seriously by courts. Generally, courts think that children should have support from two parents. They don’t want to terminate the rights of a parent unless there is a very good reason.
What does termination of parental rights mean?
Terminating a parent’s rights means that the person’s rights as a parent are taken away. The person is not the child’s legal parent anymore. This means:
- The parent-child relationship no longer exists.
- The parent no longer gets to raise the child.
- The parent usually has no right to visit or talk with the child.
- The parent may not have to pay child support, depending on the situation.
- The parent is removed from the child’s birth certificate.
- The child can be adopted without the parent’s permission
How can a person’s parental rights be terminated?
Parents may not terminate their own parental rights in order to end a child support obligation or break off a parent child relationship. One parent may not terminate the other parent’s parental rights in order to end parenting time or for other reasons.
In West Virginia, a person’s parental rights can only be terminated in a court case. A court can terminate a parent’s parental rights in these two types of cases:
- Abuse and neglect, or
This article will give an overview of these two types of court cases.
Abuse and Neglect
This article provides on overview of the termination of parental rights in Abuse and Neglect cases. For more information about that process, read the article on Child Abuse and Neglect in West Virginia
or Child Abuse and Neglect: How can relatives (other than parents) become involved to held the child?
Who can start the process to terminate a parent’s parental rights in an abuse and neglect case?
There are a few different ways an abuse and neglect case can start. But in most cases, a report of suspected child abuse and neglect is made to Child Protective Services (CPS), which is under the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). Generally, anyone can report child abuse and neglect to DHHR’s Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect at 1-800-352-6513. The names of people who call to report are kept confidential.
What is child abuse?
Abuse means that a child’s health and wellbeing is being harmed or threatened. A child’s health and wellbeing can be threatened in several ways:
- Actual or attempted intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child or any child in the home;
- Sexual abuse or exploitation of the child;
- The sale or attempted sale of the child; or
- Domestic violence. (W.Va. Code § 49-1-201.)
What is neglect?
Neglect means that a child’s physical or mental health is harmed or threatened by a parent’s failure, refusal, or inability to provide:
- Medical care, or
But, being low-income or poor are not good enough reasons to alone find neglect. Neglect can also be a result of the child being without these basic necessities because of the absence of the parent (W.Va. Code § 49-1-201).
How does the process to terminate rights start in an abuse and neglect case?
CPS investigates the possible child abuse and neglect.
If CPS investigates and “substantiates” that there is evidence of child abuse and neglect, then a petition is filed in Circuit Court that describes the abuse and neglect that supposedly took place. The county prosecutor usually files an abuse and neglect petition in front of the Circuit Court Judge on behalf of the DHHR. However, if DHHR or the prosecutor refuse to bring an abuse and neglect petition, any person who believes abuse and neglect took place can file an abuse and neglect petition in Circuit Court.
After the Petition is filed, then the circuit court sets a time and date for the hearing (W. Va. Code § 49-4-601(c)). After hearing evidence, if the court finds that termination is necessary, the court will give permanent sole custody of the child to the non-abusing parent if possible. If the child does not have a non-abusing parent, DHHR will try to place the child with relatives. If placement with relatives is not an option, then the child will be placed in foster care.
Child abuse and neglect cases involve many steps in the court process. This article only provides a brief description of the process. For more information about the process, read the article on Child Abuse and Neglect under West Virginia Law. Or if you are a relative that wants to help the child, read the article on Child Abuse and Neglect: How can relatives (other than the parents) become involved to help the child?
What standard does the court use to terminate parental rights through the abuse and neglect process?
The legal standard for abuse and neglect cases is clear and convincing evidence. This means the judge needs to see stronger evidence than the evidence required for family court hearings, but the judge does not need to see evidence that is as strong as the evidence needed in a criminal hearing.
To terminate parental rights, the court must find that:
- there is no reasonable chance that the conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected in the near future, and
- it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the parent’s rights (W.Va. Code § 49-4-604(b)(6); W.Va. Code § 49-4-604(c)).
Can a parent voluntarily terminate his or her own rights in an abuse and neglect case?
Yes. A parent can choose to give up his or her own parental rights. To voluntarily terminate parental rights, the parent must make the termination in writing. The termination must also be free from duress and fraud (W.Va. Code § 49-4-607). A circuit court hearing may be held to make sure that no duress or fraud was committed when signing the writing.
A voluntary decision to give up parental “rights” in an abuse and neglect case may not get rid of parental “obligations” such as the duty to pay child support. A court can require a parent who has given up “rights” to continue to pay child support. The court system will not allow an irresponsible parent to simply walk away from the child just because that’s what an irresponsible parent wants to do. See the discussion below about child support.
Do I have to pay child support after my parental rights have been terminated in an abuse and neglect case?
Maybe yes, maybe no. That’s a decision the court will make at the time parental rights are terminated. In a case called In Re Ryan B. in 2009 the West Virginia Supreme Court held that except in unusual situations the parent of a child will be required to financially support the child even after parental rights have been terminated.
The court that terminates the parental rights will then decide whether to also end the child support obligation. The court must state in its order specific reason why this case is unusual and child support should be eliminated.
The legal system does not want to make it easy for an irresponsible parent to “skip out” on the child. Even if the other parent is willing to give up the child support, the courts likely will say “No, this parent should still be legally responsible for paying child support.”
Can my parental rights be restored after they have been terminated in an abuse and neglect case?
The child or the DHHR can ask the court to place the child with a parent whose rights have been terminated if the child has not been adopted. The court must find by clear and convincing evidence that:
- A material change in circumstances has taken place for the parent; and
- The placement is in the best interests of the child (W.Va. Code § 49-4-606).
This article provides on overview of ther termination of parental rights in adoption cases. For more information about that process and requirements, read the articles on Adoption
or Stepparent Adoption
How does an adoption terminate a parent’s rights?
An adoption is a legal process in which one or both parents (the adoptive parents) are legally substituted for one or both of the biological parents. When a child is adopted, the rights and duties of one or both of the biological parents end.
How does the adoption process start?
You file a “petition” for adoption with the Circuit Clerk for the county you live in. You need to send a copy of your petition to the child’s birth mother and anyone who claims to be the father (unless a Judge terminated both birth parents’ rights in an abuse and neglect case). You also need to copy any other person who claims legal or physical custody of the child. You need to be able to say that neither birth parent can care for the child because one of the following is true for each birth parent:
1. The birth parent agrees to the adoption, OR
2. The birth parent freely gives up rights to the child, OR
3. A Circuit Court Judge took away the birth parent’s rights, OR
4. The birth parent “abandoned” the child, OR
5. The birth parent is dead.
After you file the adoption paperwork, the Circuit Judge should hold a hearing within 45 days.
What is abandonment?
Abandonment is when a birth parent acts, for six months or longer, as if they will not care for the child. West Virginia law says that:
A parent has legally abandoned a child over six months old, if that parent knows where that child lives, and, for six months or longer:
1. Does not support the child financially and
2. does not visit or stay in touch with the child.
A father has legally abandoned a baby under six months old if the father says he is not the father and he does not support the child financially or stay in touch with the child.
If a parent “abandons” the child with no gaps in time for six months or from the child’s birth if the child is under six months old, then that child is free for adoption.
Can a parent voluntarily terminate his or her own rights in an adoption?
Yes. When birth parents voluntarily agree to an adoption, they are giving “consent.” For an adoption to go forward, West Virginia law requires that both the birth mother and father consent to the adoption unless a Judge cut off their rights or they abandoned the child. If a Judge cut off the rights of one parent or one parent abandoned the child, then only the other parent needs to consent
For consent to be legal, you must give it in writing. You must sign and date the consent in front of a notary public. The following things must be listed on a birth parent consent:
- The birth parent’s current address.
- The name, date of birth, and current address of the child.
- That the birth parent allows the adoptive parent to make decisions about the child’s medical treatment.
- That the adoption cuts off the birth parent’s rights forever;
- Whether the child is from a Native American Indian tribe;
- Whether the child owns any property.
The Circuit Court Judge may agree to an adoption without written consent if the birth parent comes in person to the adoption hearing and gives consent in front of the Judge.
When will the court grant an adoption?
The court will grant an adoption if:
- It determines that no person retains parental rights in the child except for the petitioner and his or her spouse;
- That all applicable provisions have been fulfilled;
- That the petitioner is a fit person to adopt the child; and
- That it is in the best interest of the child to be adopted by the petitioner(s) (W. Va. Code § 48-22-701(a)).
Can my parental rights be restored after they have been terminated in an adoption?
No. Parental rights cannot be restored if a child has been adopted.
When should I contact an attorney?
Termination of parental rights through an abuse and neglect case is a serious issue. In abuse and neglect cases, parents are given court-appointed attorneys because their parental rights are at stake. Sometimes both parents will have the same attorney. Sometimes each parent will have separate lawyers. This usually depends on the living situations of the parents.
The child may also be appointed a Guardian ad Litem (or “GAL”). The GAL speaks for the child’s best interest in the court proceedings.
Third parties such as relatives, foster parents, or potential adoptive parents ARE NOT given a court-appointed lawyer. However, they can hire an attorney or ask for legal advice on their own.
In an adoption, having an attorney will make the process easier for you and increase your chance of success. A lawyer will help you write the forms you need or give you information about the forms you need to file. You can apply for help from Legal Aid. You can also contact other legal resources. | <urn:uuid:dbc611d0-0036-48e0-a0f1-6a4b90f2b2b2> | {
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Holocaust, Hebrew Shoʾah, Yiddish and Hebrew Ḥurban (“Destruction”), the systematic state-sponsored killing of six million Jewish men, women, and children and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II. The Germans called this “the final solution to the Jewish question.” The word Holocaust is derived from the Greek holokauston, a translation of the Hebrew word ʿolah, meaning a burnt sacrifice offered whole to God. This word was chosen because in the ultimate manifestation of the Nazi killing program—the extermination camps—the bodies of the victims were consumed whole in crematoria and open fires.
Nazi anti-Semitism and the origins of the Holocaust
Even before the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they had made no secret of their anti-Semitism. As early as 1919, Adolf Hitler had written, “Rational anti-Semitism, however, must lead to systematic legal opposition.…Its final objective must unswervingly be the removal of the Jews altogether.” In Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”; 1925–27), Hitler further developed the idea of the Jews as an evil race struggling for world domination. Nazi anti-Semitism was rooted in religious anti-Semitism and enhanced by political anti-Semitism. To this the Nazis added a further dimension: racial anti-Semitism. Nazi racial ideology characterized the Jews as Untermenschen (German: “subhumans”). The Nazis portrayed Jews as a race and not a religious group. Religious anti-Semitism could be resolved by conversion, political anti-Semitism by expulsion. Ultimately, the logic of Nazi racial anti-Semitism led to annihilation.
When Hitler came to power legally on January 30, 1933, as the head of a coalition government, his first objective was to consolidate power and to eliminate political opposition. The assault against the Jews began on April 1 with a boycott of Jewish businesses. A week later the Nazis dismissed Jews from the civil service, and by the end of the month, the participation of Jews in German schools was restricted by a quota. On May 10, thousands of Nazi students, together with many professors, stormed university libraries and bookstores in 30 cities throughout Germany to remove tens of thousands of books written by non-Aryans and those opposed to Nazi ideology. The books were tossed into bonfires in an effort to cleanse German culture of “un-Germanic” writings. A century earlier, Heinrich Heine—a German poet of Jewish origin—had said, “Where one burns books, one will, in the end, burn people.” In Nazi Germany, the time between the burning of Jewish books and the burning of Jews was eight years.
As discrimination against Jews increased, German law required a legal definition of a Jew and an Aryan. Promulgated at the annual Nazi Party rally in Nürnberg on September 15, 1935, the Nürnberg Laws—the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour and the Law of the Reich Citizen—became the centerpiece of anti-Jewish legislation and a precedent for defining and categorizing Jews in all German-controlled lands. Marriage and sexual relations between Jews and citizens of “German or kindred blood” were prohibited. Only “racial” Germans were entitled to civil and political rights. Jews were reduced to subjects of the state. The Nürnberg Laws formally divided Germans and Jews, yet neither the word German nor the word Jew was defined. That task was left to the bureaucracy. Two basic categories were established in November: Jews—those with at least three Jewish grandparents—and Mischlinge (“mongrels,” or “mixed breeds”)—people with one or two Jewish grandparents. Thus, the definition of a Jew was primarily based not on the identity an individual affirmed or the religion he practiced but on his ancestry. Categorization was the first stage of destruction.
Responding with alarm to Hitler’s rise, the Jewish community sought to defend their rights as Germans. For those Jews who felt themselves fully German and who had patriotically fought in World War I, the Nazification of German society was especially painful. Zionist activity intensified. “Wear it with pride,” journalist Robert Wildest wrote in 1933 of the Jewish identity the Nazis had so stigmatized. Martin Buber led an effort at Jewish adult education, preparing the community for the long journey ahead. Rabbi Leo Baeck circulated a prayer for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) in 1935 that instructed Jews how to behave: “We bow down before God; we stand erect before man.” Yet while few, if any, could foresee its eventual outcome, the Jewish condition was increasingly perilous and expected to get worse.
By the late 1930s there was a desperate search for countries of refuge. Those who could get visas and qualify under stringent quotas emigrated to the United States. Many went to Palestine, where the small Jewish community was willing to receive refugees. Still others sought refuge in neighbouring European countries. Most countries, however, were unwilling to receive large numbers of refugees.
Responding to domestic pressures to act on behalf of Jewish refugees, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt convened, but did not attend, the Évian Conference on resettlement, in Évian-les-Bains, France, in July 1938. In his invitation to government leaders, Roosevelt specified that they would not have to change laws or spend government funds; only philanthropic funds would be used for resettlement. The result was that little was attempted, and less accomplished. | <urn:uuid:8e88732a-f130-4648-a38f-aa40d1ba1058> | {
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Fire Safety Coloring Pages
Are you teaching your children or students about fire safety? From a very young age, you should get kids to understand about how to avoid dangerous situations concerning fire. Children can be very adventurous, so it is up to you to make sure that they know what not to do, and what they should do in case there is a fire or other similar type of emergency. These fire safety coloring pages are excellent for serving as a discussion starter with your students or kids. Hand out some of the fire safety coloring pages, talk to them a bit about what is in the pictures, and let them color away. This is a fun way to teach them about a serious topic that can be scary and difficult to understand without having some kind of visual.
Amazing Fire Safety Coloring Pages
Impress upon your children or students the importance of being safe in emergency situations, and how to avoid causing any fires or similar types of accidents. Although these sheets are relatively simple in design, they will serve to help you teach the kids about issues of fire safety. Print off a large stack of our fire safety coloring pages today so that you can use them in your lessons. These fire safety coloring pages are great for helping them to understand in a way which is not going to scare them, but they are straight forward. Make sure you give a big speech, and have a discussion afterwards to see how much the children understood. They simply will love to color our fire safety coloring pages, and the sheets are sure to keep them interested.
Educational Fire Safety Coloring Pages
Fire safety coloring pages are very beneficial for young and older children alike. While they are about a serious subject matter, your kids or students also can have fun with them. They are sure to remember what they have learned from these fire safety coloring pages. Keep some extra copies of each of the fire safety coloring pages, so that you can reuse them in the future if they are helpful in teaching about safety in fire emergency situations. | <urn:uuid:96e4f7d8-72ce-4b8e-8d80-292608ed7906> | {
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Could a tiny, flexible patch on your skin read your emotions and change things in your environment accordingly? Not yet, but it might know when you get the chills.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea have developed a wearable sensor that can detect goose bumps, which are caused by sudden changes in body temperature or, sometimes, emotional states.
The flexible, electronic sensor is a small square patch, measuring less than 1 inch (2 centimeters) in height and width; it's made of conductive polymer material with embedded spiral-shape capacitors.
Goose bumps can change the shape of the patch, causing alterations in its capacitance, which is the patch's ability to store an electrical charge. By analyzing those alterations, the researchers can determine the height of the goose bumps and how long they persist. The scientists described their work Tuesday (June 24) in the journal Applied Physics Letters, a publication of the American Institute of Physics.
To test the device, the researchers attached the sensor to the inside of a person's arm and had him grab ice cubes to induce a sudden cold shock. The resulting goose bumps, which deformed the sensor's surface, caused the capacitance to notably decrease, the researchers said. [The 7 Biggest Mysteries of the Human Body]
The researcher said they plan to miniaturize the part of the device that processes electrical signals, so that it can be mounted on the skin along with the small patch.
It's not clear exactly how much goose bumps can tell about a person's emotional state
s, but they are often signs that someone is experiencing intense emotions. For example, goose bumps can happen involuntarily with feelings of extreme fear, shock and euphoria.
Beyond goose bumps, many emotional states have been shown to have other subtle, but measurable effects on the skin as well. For example, fear or anxiety can induce a slight increase in sweating, which would also change the skin's conductance. Devices to detect these changes exist, but are used primarily in science experiments.
But researchers say someday the technology could be integrated in wearable devices to detect users' emotions and relay them in real-time, for example, to advertisers or personalized music stations.
"In the future, human emotions will be regarded like any typical biometric information, including body temperature or blood pressure," study researcher Young-Ho Cho said in a statement. | <urn:uuid:2af20432-0c54-4064-a3a0-cd049447f32f> | {
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- Historic Sites
Ghosts In The White House
Discreet helpers have worked on the speeches and papers of many Presidents, but a nation in a time of trial will respond best “to the Great Man himself, standing alone”
December 1958 | Volume 10, Issue 1
Again and again in the past few months when President Eisenhower has spoken over television I have heard a listener mutter cynically, “I wonder who concocted that one.” But the concocting process itself is no secret. Everybody understands that more or less hidden advisers have helped to make the talk sound well and that they have checked and rechecked the content to avoid embarrassing “boners.” During the 1956 campaign a newspaper columnist asserted that there were “five principal architects” of the Eisenhower addresses: Emmett J. Hughes, Arthur Larson, Kevin McCann, Gabriel Hauge, and Robert Cutler. The article continued: “The job of all is to take the candidate’s thoughts and general principles and put them into readable, speakable form in which he can present them effectively to the electorate.”
It is assumed that the so-called “ghost writer” has become “a necessity of modern-day, high-speed campaigning.” Dorothy Thompson has said that ghostwriting “is so common today that one can almost say our thoughts are guided by ghosts.” Even a religious co-ordinator has been added to the White House staff. Recent demonstrations, however, have led some critics to long tor the Good Old Days when a President told his story in his own way.
Joint collaboration in the production of state papers is nothing modern. Every schoolboy used to know, and probably now knows, that Washington had aid in preparing his Farewell Address. Our first President, who in several respects resembled our contemporary Chief Executive, often relied on others whose judgment he thought might be valuable. I shall not attempt here to solve the problem of how much and where, which has confused even his best biographers; but the Address was clearly a fine specimen of Teamwork or Composite Construction, in which Madison, Hamilton, Jay, and others had a share.
Once, as a boy in central New York, during a high school course in elocution, I had to memorize and recite a passage by the patriot John Adams, beginning, “Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.” It was supposed to have been spoken ex corde in July, 1776, at a meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, in reply to a member who had advocated caution. As a matter of record, the remarks attributed to Adams were written by Daniel Webster and delivered by him on August 2, 1826, as part of his “Discourse in Commemoration of the Lives and Services of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.” Adams’ speech was fanciful, for there was no extant report of the argument advanced by him on that occasion. Commenting on its spectral origin, Webster confessed to Millard Fillmore, “I will tell you what is not generally known. I wrote that speech one morning before breakfast, in my library, and when it was finished my paper was wet with my tears.” George Ticknor, who was present, declared that he had never heard Webster when his manner was “so grand and appropriate”; and many years later a schoolboy in the Mohawk Valley received gratefully the prize of a ten dollar gold piece for its repetition.
Webster was himself to profit by a similar display of creative recollection. On March 10, 1818, before the Supreme Court of the United States, he argued convincingly in the Dartmouth College Case, using notes which he had followed at earlier hearings before lower benches. His plea, consuming most of the session for that day, was later written out by him and appeared in editions of his Works . But the portion which everybody remembers was the emotional peroration, not included in the authorized version, but repeated for the first time on July 27, 1853, after Webster’s death, by Rufus Choate in his memorial address at Hanover. As part of his eulogy, Choate cited a version of Webster’s dramatic conclusion sent to him by Professor Chauncey Goodrich 35 years after the event. Goodrich, at the age of 63, recalled the exact wording of a speech which he had heard when he was 28.
According to Goodrich, Webster, after ending his main argument, stood “for some moments” in silence, as if wondering whether to continue. Parenthetically, I wonder whether any orator, however dominating, ever did pause “for some moments.” Even thirty seconds seem to an audience an interminable period of waiting. At any rate, according to Goodrich’s amazing memory, Webster eventually turned, as if by impulse, to the Chief Justice and began the paragraph closing with the immortal words that even Harvard and Amherst graduates can appreciate: “It is, sir, as I have said, a small college—and yet there are those who love it. …” Many listeners wept visibly, quite unashamed, and not all of them were from Hanover. It was unquestionably an exciting incident; but if it had not been for Goodrich’s letter, supplemented by Choate’s inspiration, the phrasing might have been lost forever. In this case, as in that of Webster and Adams, one genius helped to immortalize another.
From these alluring digressions I must return to an examination of presidential practices, Jefferson, the two Adamses, Madison, and Monroe were all highly literate and evidently preferred their own tested methods of writing. It was generally believed that Duff Green, Frank P. Blah, and even George Bancroft sometimes assisted President Andrew Jackson with his state papers. More than once in later American history well-endowed ghosts volunteered their services to Presidents. In 1841, Webster, just appointed secretary of state, drafted what he hoped might be William Henry Flarrison’s inaugural address; but the General, aging though not senile, had brought with him to Washington his own message and at first declined any help. When finally he was induced to consult Webster, the latter urged him to eliminate some of the numerous references to Greek and Roman heroes. One evening Mrs. Seaton, Webster’s hostess, inquired whether anything had happened during the day. “You would think something had happened,” the “godlike Dan’l” replied, “if you knew what I have done. I have killed seventeen Roman proconsuls as dead as smelts, every one of them.” Even in such a negative and ferocious fashion, ghostwriting has altered the national archives.
Many of our pre-Civil War Presidents could have profited by the advice of candid, talented friends. I have always enjoyed what the caustic ex-President John Quincy Adams said of another President, James K. Polk: “He has no wit, no literature, no point of argument, no gracefulness of delivery, no elegance of language, no philosophy, no pathos, no felicitous impromptus; nothing that can constitute an orator, but confidence, fluency, and labor.” That would seem to have settled the matter, but I am sure that Adams would have been glad to be of ghostly assistance had he been invited—which at no point was ever likely.
Such an indictment could not have been made of Abraham Lincoln, who, although limited in his formal education, was always able to transmute his ideas into felicitous verbal expression. In getting ready for his Cooper Union Address on February 27, 1860, in New York, he “searched the dusty volumes of Congressional proceedings in the State Library,” examined the basic principles of government, and alone produced what Horace Greeley called “the very best political address to which I ever listened.” His farewell to his Springfield neighbors, only 150 words in length, so simple and yet so moving, was spoken without a manuscript. For it he neither needed nor received any aid.
Shortly before that, the President-elect, faced with the obligation of saying something significant at his inauguration, shut himself up in a room over a store across the street from the Illinois statehouse and there, in cheerless but uninterrupted isolation, read and thought and pondered over phrasing until the words were down on paper. Then he had it set up and carried it with him to Washington. Over it he had toiled unusually hard, modifying its language from morning to morning. When he reached the capital, he submitted it to William H. Seward and Orville H. Browning, both of whom made helpful suggestions. The noble closing paragraph referring to the “mystic chords of memory” was conceived originally by Seward but improved by Lincoln. Some of the changes were significant; but the Springfield Republican was correct in saying, “No one can doubt that Mr. Lincoln is the author of his own Inaugural.”
Although the Gettysburg Address is commonly assumed to have been entirely Lincoln’s, some mystery is connected with it. He evidently composed it rather hastily in Washington, where he read it to Ward H. Lamon, with the comment that he was not at all satisfied and was afraid it would not come up to popular expectation. On the evening before, Lincoln took the sheets of paper and went next door in Gettysburg for a half hour’s conference with Seward. What took place during their meeting neither man ever revealed, but it is unlikely that the President made any significant changes in what is now regarded as his masterpiece.
Various Presidents since Lincoln have followed different methods, depending on their temperaments, experience, and faith in themselves. Garfield, confronted with the necessity of composing a letter accepting the Republican nomination, wrote Blaine, “Please write me your suggestions on any phase of it.” Invitations of this nature, it may be added, are seldom declined by American politicians. The resulting reply was apparently a composite, including sections by William Evarts and Carl Schurz, as well as Blaine. As March 4 drew near, Garfield bravely undertook to read the inaugural addresses of his predecessors, reaching the not unjustified conclusion that “those of the past, except Lincoln’s, are dreary reading.” Worn out by this self-imposed drudgery, he felt what he described as “an unusual repugnance to writing” and instructed his political agent, T. M. Nichol, to prepare an outline. Soon, however, Garfield’s conscience became so active that he started to recast what Nichol had produced. To a friend he confessed, “I wrote the last sentence at hall-past two o’clock A.M. , March 4.” Even his friendly biographer had to admit that the published address was “devoid of imagination or elevated rhetoric.”
In these respects it was far from unique, for the state papers of Presidents from Johnson to McKinley are for the most part dull and dreary. They have almost no individual quality. Hayes is not much different from Arthur, and both are much like Harrison. The only phrase worth rescuing from the prolonged verbiage is Cleveland’s massive “innocuous desuetude,” which was apparently his own conception. “A public office is a public trust,” often attributed to him, was actually used by Dorman B. Eaton as early as 1881. A few skilled ghost writers could at least have supplied to these undistinguished presidential papers a little warmth, color, and human appeal.
Cleveland, whose utterances in public or private were far from sprightly, relied to a considerable extent on his secretary, Daniel S. Lamont. In his inaugural address he used no manuscript—an extraordinary procedure, which led Ingalls to describe him as a “magnificent gambler.” When the President went on a vacation trip to the Adirondacks, he took along neither clerk nor secretary and composed whatever letters were necessary in longhand. “I feel safer alone,” he once remarked to Robert Lincoln O’Brien. He sat up all night revising Secretary Olney’s Venezuelan Message of December 17, 1895, pondering just how far he should go in threatening Great Britain with war. In this instance, two or three ghostly advisers, in consultation, would doubtless have softened the tone of that belligerent document.
We should all agree, I think, that Theodore Roosevelt was the first truly literary President after Lincoln. He was a talented writer, vigorous and dynamic, with a sensitivitv for stvle and a feeling for the vibrant, potent phrase. Many of these are familiar quotations: “the doctrine of the strenuous life”; “the lunatic fringe in all reform movements”; “malefactors of great wealth”; the “nature-faker” and the “men with the muck-rake.” Commenting on the reactions of Roosevelt’s audiences, Hermann Hagedorn recently said, “What they heard when he spoke were not words; they were a life, speaking to their lives; and no life, nobly lived, is a platitude.”
T. R. was not averse to consulting others. Indeed, he submitted his first message to Congress not only to Root and Knox but also to Mark Hanna; and he allowed the rather fussy Henry Cabot Lodge to check his 1905 inaugural address for solecisms and infelicities. But he employed no ghost writers, and would not have tolerated them in the White House offices. Very few Presidents have put so much of themselves into their speeches. As an illustration I must quote one completely unpolitical passage, a favorite of mine: It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again … who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
With its reference to “dust and sweat and blood,” this sounds like a prelude to Winston Churchill, and, like much of the Prime Minister’s matchless prose, it has the resonance of trumpets. It possesses also the merit of illuminating the character of the man who said it. Ghost writers would have emasculated it.
Woodrow Wilson, the most scholarly of our Presidents, also felt no need for ghost writers. Like many other college professors, he had early learned how to use a typewriter, not by the “touch system” of professionals but by the commonplace method of “seek-andpoke.” The machine was an extension of his personality, an intimate tape recorder of his mind. In February, 1913, after his election as President, he had a secret alcove shut off in the Princeton University Library, slipped in one morning, and locked himself up in the stacks. There he drafted his first inaugural, transferring notes in his private shorthand to his Smith Premier. It was one of the shortest and “snappiest” in American history, and every word was his own. Nobody else, except possibly Mrs. Wilson, knew in advance what he intended to say.
Wilson’s somewhat battered machine accompanied him to the White House, and on the evening of his inauguration, after a dinner with 25 Wilson relatives, “he retired to his study on the second floor, to his own typewriter and his problems.” Within a few days he had to face a critical situation in Latin America. At a Cabinet meeting he drew from his pocket a typed copy of his proposed announcement, with changes and additions in his own flowing script. Secretary Houston reported, “I do not know to what extent the President had consulted Bryan, but Bryan had not presented the matter; and the President did the reading. Bryan listened with a smile on his face and nodded approval as the President read.” Thus early and openly in his administration did the master take charge. A sadder picture is that of Wilson, after a Cabinet meeting on August 4, 1914, hurrying to the bedside of his dying wife and there jotting down in shorthand his message tendering the good offices of the President of the United States, if they should be desired, “in the interests of European peace.” Even he, however, once yielded to temptation, for research has recently turned up the original draft of his “neutrality in thought” proclamation of August 18, 1914, in the handwriting of Robert Lansing, with annotations by Secretary Bryan. I am sure that Wilson, shaken by the death of his wife, was willing in this instance to let his associates temporarily take over.
Nevertheless Wilson usually preferred to think his problems out and act alone. Jerome D. Greene has mentioned Wilson’s “intellectual obstinacy and his unwillingness to expose himself to advice from men of contrary opinions to his own.” In this respect the President was not unique. For the famous Lusitania note, issued on May 13, 1915, he made several successive drafts on his typewriter, revising them one after another in longhand. On the night of March 31, 1917, having already called Congress into extraordinary session, he rose from bed and carried his portable to the south veranda of the White House. Mrs. Wilson brought him a bowl of milk and crackers from the kitchen. Then and there he tapped out the sentences which he read to Congress on April 2, when he declared that “The right is more precious than peace.”
When Secretary Baker handed him his original statement designating June 3, 1917, as the date for military registration, Wilson couldn’t resist the impulse to correct it as he had done with many an undergraduate theme. No one formulated phrases for Woodrow Wilson. They took shape in his own teeming mind, and one after another they symbolized stages in our history: “Opinion ultimately governs the world”; “Peace without victory”; “Too proud to fight”; “The world must be made safe for democracy”; “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at.” In Wilson’s brain everything had to be orderly before he could communicate. This country has never had a more fluent and logical impromptu speaker. No ghost writer of his generation could have imitated his crisp, precise style.
The literary contrast between him and his immediate successor was so striking as to be ludicrous. On the other hand, Harding’s speeches were as unmistakably his own as Wilson’s had been. No one who heard the Republican Senator on May 14, 1920, in Boston, is likely to forget the impression made by his “big bowwow style of oratory” as he declaimed: America’s present need is not heroics but healing, not nostrums but normalcy, not revolution but restoration, not agitation but adjustment, not surgery but serenity, not the dramatic but the dispassionate, not experiment but equipoise, not submergence in internationality but sustainment in triumphant nationality.
One can imagine the complacency with which Harding dictated this balanced alliterative nonsense and the scholar’s contempt with which Wilson read it in his morning newspaper. No reputable ghost writer would have allowed Harding to put it into print, but no one was asked to give advice. That the passage expressed his personality is unquestionable.
No Brain Trust occupied rooms in the White House in the 1920’s. Calvin Coolidge, following a habit formed when he was governor, composed virtually all his speeches and messages, writing them out in longhand on unruled yellow sheets and then having them copied by his stenographer. When he once rashly agreed to dedicate Aeolian Hall in Boston, he realized that he knew nothing about music and promptly enlisted the co-operation of a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. But Mr. Coolidge was honest, and when a collection of his speeches was about to be edited, he told Frank W. Stearns, “That Aeolian Hall talk is pretty good, but it isn’t mine. Keep it out!”
A trivial personal experience illustrates how Presidents arranged such matters in those primitive days. Mr. Coolidge, in one of his weaker moments, had consented to deliver the main address of the sesquicentennial of Phillips Academy, Andover, in May, 1928. About ten days before the great event, “Ted” Clark, the President’s secretary, called me by telephone and asked to have sent to him a book of mine entitled An Old New England School . When Coolidge arrived in Andover, some of us went up to greet him; and as he shook my hand, he smiled and said, “Been readin’ that book of yours!” That he had been doing so was obvious when he spoke his piece, but he transmuted the dry facts to suit his immediate purpose, and his central theme was well thought-out. The spectacle of a President of the United States sitting down of an evening in the White House to read about a New England academy is nowadays so incongruous that it seems to belong to the Paleolithic age. In the 1950’s a ghost team would have had the address neatly typed, bound in buckram, and ready for the President when he boarded the plane. All he would have had to do would be to try not to mispronounce a word.
Mr. Hoover, on his own statement, “never delivered a ghost written speech,” and his secretary adds, “Extensive ghost writing in presidential campaigns began when Mr. Roosevelt set up his ‘brain trust’ in the 1932 campaign.” This is unquestionably true, although Franklin D. Roosevelt had even before that date found ghost writers almost indispensable.
For much of Roosevelt’s later career, Samuel I. Rosenman was Chief Ghost, but among other members of the crew were Rexford Tugwell, Raymond Moley, Harry Hopkins, Robert Sherwood, Adolf Berle, Stanley High, Donald Richberg, and others. In the opening chapter of his Working with Roosevelt , Judge Rosenman describes in detail the process by which he, Hopkins, and Sherwood, on the night of February 21, 1942, prepared in nervous haste one draft after another of a Washington’s Birthday Fireside Chat. The trio, quite different in temperament but all devoted to their chief, went over each sentence word by word, considering always the response of the invisible audience. This particular speech was rather hastily put together, but some addresses regarded as more important required as long as ten days. Often twelve or thirteen drafts were necessary before the President was satisfied.
Rosenman emphasizes the fact that the President always did the final polishing. On this point he says: When in these chapters I say that this person or that one worked on a particular speech or message, I mean that—and that only. I do not mean that any particular speech was Bob Sherwood’s or Ray Moley’s or mine. Because it was not. No matter how frequently the speech assistants were changed through the years, the speeches were always Roosevelt’s. They all expressed the personality, the convictions, the spirit, the mood of Roosevelt No matter who worked with him in the preparation, the finished product was always the same—it was Roosevelt himself.
Rosenman further adds that the group around the President soon learned to imitate his natural methods of expression, indeed almost to understand his mind.
The ghosts were always fearful of the President’s extemporaneous insertions as he read a text which they had scrupulously prepared; indeed, Hopkins, Sherwood, and Rosenman formed a “Society for Prevention of Ad-Libbing.” Roosevelt, of course, was well aware that such spur-of-the-moment additions made the speech seem unmistakably his own.
Even critics of ghostwriting must admit that F. D. R.’s Brain Trusters were responsible for some effective phrasing. “Rendezvous with destiny,” in the 1936 speech accepting renomination, was suggested by “Tommy” Corcoran. The contemptuous reference to the “horse-and-buggy age” was borrowed from a man named George Holmes, through his brother-in-law, Stephen Early. Stanley High contributed “economic royalist,” used at the Philadelphia Convention of 1936. Harold Ickes always claimed the authorship of the “quarantine clause” in the speech of October 5, 1937. Judge Rosenman tells gleefully how the rhythmic sequence of “Martin, Barton, and Fish” occurred almost simultaneously to him and Sherwood. The President, when they chanted it, “grinned from ear to ear,” aware intuitively of its humorous possibilities.
Answering his own question, “Why did not the President sit down and from the beginning write the whole speech himself so that all the words were his alone?” Rosenman said, “There just is not enough time in a President’s day.” But this explanation, though plausible, is not complete. It is difficult to conceive of either Theodore Roosevelt or Woodrow Wilson, even in crowded and critical times, relying on outside assistance as much as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower have done. F. D. R., on the other hand, liked to pick the brains of others, to turn their suggestions over in his mind and, through them, estimate the popular reaction. That the results often justified the procedure cannot well be denied.
In further defense of the practice, it must be admitted that the routine demands on the vitality of any political executive—proclamations for special “Days” and “Weeks” are only one example—have become today so numerous he is usually happy to accept help, particularly when no important decision is involved.
It would seem that the most important element in. any presidential utterance should be its convincing sincerity. It should reveal the author’s true self, that indefinable quality which makes his words glow and shine. Group co-operation, even when it is sympathetic, intelligent, and soundly interpretive, could not have been, and cannot be, a substitute for the individual genius of a Lincoln or a Wilson or a Churchill. Who but Churchill could have declared of Anglo-American friendship, “Let it roll. Let it roll on full flood, inexorable, irresistible, benignant, to broader lands and better days”? What conceivable ghost writer could have put into his mouth, in 1946, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain ∗ has descended”? Aut Caesar aut nullus ! Inspiration is still a highly personal gift of the Great Gods. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Grand Patron of Ghost Writers, was never more impressive than in his first inaugural, described by Rosenman as “one of those very few of which the President wrote the first draft in his own hand.”
∗Yet the words “iron curtain” were not his but, according to the London Times , those of Ludwig Schwerin von Krosigk, Hitler’s minister of finance, and were used by Goebbels in his propaganda material for some years before Churchill adopted them. [Ed.]
Ghost writers cannot help being discreet and unadventurous. Aware of their responsibility, they have constantly on their minds the disasters that a few careless words may cause. Naturally they tend to weaken adjectives and tone down extravagances. In pondering over every syllable, they dilute spontaneity. Experience has shown, I believe, that the statesman with his own gift of expression, even when he blunders, moves more directly to the hearts of his listeners than if he is merely voicing sentences framed by others.
Nothing that has been said in our country since 1865 has equaled Lincoln’s profoundly moving second inaugural, described by Charles Francis Adams as “being for all time the historical keynote” of the Civil War, and written entirely in his own hand. Nowadays we have all the devices of professional advertising—the emphasis on stage setting, the artificial dramatization, the searching scrutiny of each phrase, the practiced intonation of almost every syllable; but all these cannot, in my judgment, compare with a simple dedicated leader talking directly to his people. The ghost writer cannot and probably should not be discarded. In these busier and busier times he protects statesmen and saves them energy and labor, even though, as Ernest R. May has said, “Ghost writers have built an impenetrable thicket about the truth.” This is doubtless an exaggeration, difficult to substantiate. But when a nation needs to be aroused, we almost instinctively respond to the Great Man himself, standing alone with no ghosts in the background. And some of us prefer to have his words and gestures all his own! | <urn:uuid:ce3efc6d-ce86-4708-a1e1-40951871f8bd> | {
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I have always wondered about the Adobe Reader and the PDF files. Have you ever tried to open a PDF file in a text editor? It’s amazing! In this project I am trying to bring the hidden things behind the PDF files to light. This simple application lets you create PDF files, just as you create txt files from a Notepad (hence the name pdfpad). Type your text in the editor and save it as a PDF file. Of course, you need Acrobat Reader to view the created PDF file. You cannot open an existing PDF file in this editor. You can only create, and once created its done. The greatest feature of this project is the digital signature. It teaches you the very basics of adding an invisible digital signature to the files created using pdfpad. It automatically adds an invisible digital signature when you create PDF files in pdfpad.exe.
Due to lack of time, many of the details couldn't be included. Please bear with us.
Firstly, one should know the basics of the PDF format. I recommend you to download a copy of the PDF reference manual from PDF Reference and go through it (oops it's 1000 pages!).
Download the application demo, enter some text, and save the file as PDF. Now open the file in notepad and read on…
If one says C++ is object oriented, I would say PDF is more object oriented. In a PDF everything is treated as an object and every object has its own property and will refer other objects. This makes large PDF files (A 1000 page book just downloaded) to be navigated randomly and quickly.
A PDF file is read from the last. There is a token called the
startxref, this is were everything begins. A viewer application reads this entry to get the offset of a table called
xref. The table lists the objects used in the file and also their byte offsets within the PDF file. The format of the entries greatly matter here. Each entry should be 20 bytes long including the carriage return and the line feed.
Every object is numbered sequentially starting from 0 to n. ( though not necessary). If you notice the
xref entry you will find a ‘0’ and a number n. This means that the table contains n objects starting from 0. Just take a look at them… 0000000074 this is the byte offset, 00000 is the generation number, n ..means it's in use. Only the first entry has the generation number that is not zero and it's marked f. Read the reference manual for more details.
A PDF document can be regarded as a hierarchy of objects contained in the body section of a PDF file. At the root of the hierarchy are the document's catalog dictionary. Most of the objects in the hierarchy are dictionaries. Each page of the document is represented by a page object, which is a dictionary that includes references to the page contents and other attributes such as its thumbnail image and any annotations associated with it. The individual page objects are tied together in a structure called the page tree, which in turn is located via an indirect reference in the document catalog.
The root of a document object hierarchy is the catalog dictionary, located via the Root entry in the trailer of the PDF file. The catalog contains references to other objects that define the document's contents, outline article threads, named destinations and other attributes.
Now to start with, the reader reads the value of the root entry in the trailer. This is the root. This is the root of all the references that are to be made. Now the reader reads the byte offset of the root object and moves to the root. This is a catalog dictionary. This again contains many other references. In our application only minimum entries are made so that it is easy to understand.
Now let’s see what happens to the text that we enter in the edit box. Firstly, all the occurrences of the end of line are replaced with the PDF operators for line feed. Then all the operators for showing the text on the page is added in the contents dictionary. This content is added as a stream, which is called a content stream. For compressing the text I have used zlib, courtesy zlib, this is a freely downloadable library. Flat compression algorithm is used to compress the text. This algorithm is supported by the Adobe viewer.
The most amazing thing is about the digital signature. I haven't employed a real life digital signature using cryptographic libraries. All I intend to show is, how to add a digital signature to the PDF document. The entries here are all dummy entries. This signature can be made a real digital signature if you can change the contents entry in the Signature dictionary with the real signed hash of the document.
I won’t be covering the details of the digital signature here. I will stick to the details of the PDF. PDF has two types of digital signatures, invisible and visible. Our application uses invisible signatures. The signature can be viewed in the signature panel. The entries in the signature dictionary can be changed to put your name, time of signing, location etc., programmatically using the user's inputs. This is left to you.
When a digital signature is added to a document, the Adobe acrobats signature handler calculates a checksum that is based on the content of the document at that time and it embeds the checksum in the signature. When the signature is validated, the handler recalculates the checksum for that signed version of the document and compares it with the value in the signature. If the signed version has changed in any way the signature handler detects the change and marks the signature as invalid.
You can also use Crypto API to create the hash, Sign using Digital Certificates etc., which I hope to cover in my next article. While creating the hash, the byte range must be specified correctly. Byte range is an array of two integers, Starting offset and number of bytes. Byte range array is used to exclude the contents entry in the signature dictionary. This entry will be filled with a temp entry initially to get the total file size for calculating the hash. After creating the hash the contents entries are be made. This explains why byte range is specified so as to exclude the contents entry from creating the hash. Otherwise while verifying the signature it may get invalidated.
Once you get a grip of the reference manual you can modify the code below, to add more pages, add drawing to the below etc.
Using the code
The main function that creates the PDF files is added to the ***
doc class, it's called
CreatedPdf ( CString text). I enjoy manipulating the
CString object rather than using the char buffers. You can modify accordingly to make it more efficient. The code is well commented to explain the details.
This is a part of the
Doc class, that should be modified to write the files in PDF format:
void CPdfPadDoc::Serialize(CArchive& ar)
CEdit &edit =((CEditView*)m_viewList.GetHead())->GetEditCtrl();
The main function written in
doc class is the
CreatePdf(). This actually takes the text and returns the formatted PDF to be written to the file:
CString CPdfPadDoc::CreatePdf(CString text)
CString catalog="1 0 obj<</Pages "
"2 0 R/Type /Catalog/AcroForm 6 0 R>>\nendobj\r";
CString pageTree="2 0 obj<</Count 1/"
"Kids [3 0 R]/Type /Pages>>\nendobj\r";
CString page="3 0 obj<</Annots[7 0 R]/"
"Contents [5 0 R]/Type /Page/Parent 2 0 R/Rotate 0/"
"MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/CropBox[0 0 612 792]/"
"Resources<</Font<</T1_0 4 0 R>>/"
CString font="4 0 obj<</Type/Font/BaseFont/"
stream.Format("%s%d%s%d%s%d%s%s%s","0 g\r1 i \rBT\r/T1_0 ",
fontSize," Tf\r0 Tc 0 Tw 0 Ts 100 Tz 0 Tr 1.2 TL 12 0 0 12 ",
hPos," ",vPos," Tm \rT* (",text,")Tj \rET");
"5 0 obj<</Filter /FlateDecode/Length ",len,
acroForm="6 0 obj<</Fields[7 0 R]/SigFlags 3/"
"DA(/Helv 0 Tf 0 g )>>\nendobj\n";
annotation="7 0 obj<</Type /Annots/Subtype /"
"Widget/FT /Sig/Rect[0 0 0 0]/P 3 0 R/"
"T(signature)/V 8 0 R/MK<<>>>>\"
sign="8 0 obj<</Type /Sig/Filter/ICM.SignDoc/Contents";
//This is just a dummy signature. Actually it should be
//taken after using cryptographic library.
//In the next version...
//We dont know the actual byte range. ie the end of file.
//Therefore it is a dummy entry now.
//We will replace it after we get the length of file.
sign.Format("%s%d%s%d%s","/ByteRange [0 ",byteRange,
"/Date(Nov 3 200314:27:40)>>\nendobj\n");
/*This table will contain the objects used in the
file and there byte offsets*/
/*Please look in article*/
"\r\n0000000000 65535 f\r\n");
//This field should be 20 bytes long.
xref+=offsets+" 00000 n\r\n";
"Root 1 0 R/ID[<5181383ede94727bcb32ac27ded71c68"
/*We have finished with the pdf file.One thing
left is the actual byte range.*/
/*retrun the final string*/
This method is used to compress the content stream. The usage of the DLL can be found in zlib.dll.
CString CPdfPadDoc::FlateCompress(CString inputStream)
CMemFile *pInput=new CMemFile();
CMemFile *pOutput=new CMemFile();
char *inBuffer=new char[inputLength];
int error = Z_OK;
while ( TRUE )
UINT cbRead = 0;
cbRead = pInput->Read(zBufIn, sizeof(zBufIn));
if ( cbRead == 0 )
zstream.next_in = (Bytef*)zBufIn;
zstream.avail_in = (uInt)cbRead;
while ( TRUE )
zstream.next_out = (Bytef*)zBufOut;
zstream.avail_out = sizeof(zBufOut);
err = deflate(&zstream, Z_SYNC_FLUSH);
if (err != Z_OK)
UINT cbWrite = sizeof(zBufOut) - zstream.avail_out;
if ( cbWrite == 0 )
if ( zstream.avail_out != 0 )
error = deflateEnd(&zstream); | <urn:uuid:de2cb695-2bdc-4661-a2c3-5fbbd7fd72dd> | {
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America's Gray Wolves May Lose Federal Protections
As the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) decides whether to remove federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves across the continental United States, the disturbing fate of populations that have already been delisted in certain areas suggests that federal protections should remain in place.
The gray wolf, which was listed as endangered in 1974 after being nearly extirpated in the lower 48 states, was reintroduced to the United States in the 1990s. Despite the apparent success of the reintroduction program—and the ecological and economic benefits associated with the wolves’ recovery—FWS began delisting gray wolf populations in specified regions within the United States in response to political pressure. Now, FWS has proposed to remove ESA protections throughout the lower 48 states, a decision that will likely have devastating consequences for America’s wolves.
Gray wolf populations in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western Great Lakes region were delisted in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and have been managed by the states according to FWS-approved plans. Where FWS has placed management in the hands of the states, gray wolves have suffered severe population declines as they succumb to aggressive hunting and inhumane steel-jaw traps and snares.
In Idaho, which was home to approximately 1,000 wolves prior to delisting, hunters and trappers killed 698 wolves in just two seasons. Nearly 200 additional wolves were killed within the first four months of Idaho’s lengthy 2013–2014 hunting season, which will continue through March 2014.
Montana’s wolves also came under intense fire following delisting, with 391 killed during the state’s first two hunting seasons. Montana state law goes so far as to prohibit the establishment of a buffer zone along the boundary of Yellowstone National Park, where radio-collared wolves critical to scientific research are at risk. In 2012, delisting expanded to Wyoming, where wolves may now be shot on sight in most of the state and more than 100 wolves—approximately one-third of the state’s estimated population—were slaughtered by the end of 2013.
Wolves in the Great Lakes region have also suffered. In both Minnesota and Wisconsin, kill quotas have been exceeded during wolf hunting seasons, demonstrating that quotas and other nominal protections do little to safeguard wolf populations.
In short, the experiences of wolf “management” within these states indicate that removal of ESA protections is a death sentence for these keystone predators. Because it has been demonstrated that states are not willing to protect and properly manage this ecologically critical species, AWI will continue to oppose the FWS proposal to delist the gray wolf throughout the lower 48 states.
What You Can Do:
There's still time to comment! Please visit the comment page by the new deadline, March 27, 2014, and indicate your opposition to the proposed rule. Below, we have included some suggested talking points to include in your comments. Please note that on the comment page, the only required field is the comment box itself, but we do suggest that you personalize your message and include your full name, city and state so that the comments can have greater impact. The suggested talking points are as follows:
- Eliminating Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states will halt recovery and restoration efforts, where they still only occupy about 5 percent of their historic range. The draft rule fails to consider extensive suitable wolf habitat in the Pacific Northwest, California, the southern Rocky Mountains, and the Northeast, and the importance of these areas to the long-term survival and recovery of wolves.
- The premature delisting of wolves in states such as Wyoming, Montana and Idaho has led to reckless efforts to gun down and trap as many wolves as possible, resulting in a race to the bottom for wolf management.
- Delisting will also negatively affect recent efforts on the west coast to restore wolves to more of their historic range in Washington, Oregon, and California and could result in the eradication of wolves from those states that still have very few wolves.
- A large group of scientists with expertise in carnivore taxonomy and conservation biology expressed serious concerns about removing ESA protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states, making the case that the proposed rule does not reflect best available science concerning the recovery of wolves, as mandated by the ESA.
- The extirpation of wolves and carnivores from large portions of the landscape carries broad ecological consequences. Top predators such as wolves play critical roles in maintaining a diversity of other wildlife species and in helping to maintain ecosystem health. | <urn:uuid:17427a1e-5c51-43fe-a319-b15433c21efb> | {
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Weathering the Postwar Years
With the agony of the Civil War over at last, the nation began to rebuild. The demands made upon the Army by Reconstruction duty, Indian uprisings in the West, and French machinations in Mexico caused demobilization to proceed gradually. For the Signal Corps, peacetime meant a return to virtual nonexistence because the legislation creating the Corps in 1863 provided for its organization only "during the present rebellion." From a strength in November 1864 of over 1,500 officers and men, the branch had been reduced by October 1865 to just 160 officers and men.1 In the absence of definitive congressional authority, its postwar status remained uncertain.
Chief Signal Officer Benjamin F. Fisher addressed the issue of organizing the peacetime Signal Corps in his 1865 annual report. In reviewing the last year of the war, he lamented the lack of defined duties which had often "crippled the usefulness of the corps by its not being properly understood what it could do or was expected to do." Each departmental commander had used his signal officers in a different way. Ideally, in Fisher's view, the Signal Corps in wartime should not only provide communications but also serve as the military intelligence bureau. Signal officers would collect information from all sources, analyze it, and present it "reduced to logical form' 'to the commanding general. Only in the Department of the Gulf, Fisher reported, had signal operations been conducted in this manner. During peacetime, however, the chief signal officer envisioned a much more limited role for the Corps. In general he recommended that signal officers be attached to garrisons and posts "liable to be besieged" in order to communicate over the heads of the enemy. These men would also constitute a nucleus of trained officers who could serve in the event of war. Congress could provide this nucleus either by "continuing a small permanent organization with specifically defined duties" or through a detail system. Fisher favored the adoption of the former course and recommended the appointment of a board of officers to define the mission and develop the organization of the Signal Corps.2
Congress failed to act on Fisher's recommendation. Instead, when it passed legislation in July 1866 authorizing personnel for the peacetime Signal Corps, it left the branch's duties undefined and also reverted to the objectionable detail system to obtain personnel. Under the provisions of this act the Signal Corps
was to consist of one chief signal officer with the rank of colonel. In addition, the secretary of war could detail six officers and up to one hundred noncommissioned officers and privates from the Battalion of Engineers. Before being detailed to signal duty, both officers and enlisted men had to be examined and approved by a military board convened by the secretary of war.3 By choosing to use engineers as signal soldiers, Congress conformed to the practice of several foreign armies. The British Army, for instance, detailed its military telegraphers from the Royal Engineers and, in fact, did not establish a separate signal corps until after World War I.
At the same time, Fisher had another serious matter on his mind-keeping his job. His appointment as chief signal officer would expire on 28 July 1866 without guarantee of renewal. Meanwhile Myer, who left active duty in the summer of 1864, had been devoting considerable effort to preparing his case for restoration as the Signal Corps' chief. Soon after his relief in November 1863, Myer had requested signal officers in the field to secure testimonials in his behalf and have their subordinate officers sign petitions to be sent to Washington. This tactic prompted Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan to call Myer an "old wire puller," but Sheridan nonetheless prepared a statement.4 After completing the signal manual in 1864, Myer had become signal officer of the Military Department of the West Mississippi under Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, his old commander in New Mexico before the war. Under Canby, Myer had issued a "General Service Code" to be used for communication between land and sea forces and had participated in combat operations around Mobile, Alabama. Later, Canby served in the War Department as an assistant adjutant general with responsibility for oversight of the Signal Corps.5
In January 1865 Myer presented his case to the Senate in the form of a printed memorial consisting of a summary of his involvement with signals and signaling and the reasons why he should be reinstated. He later supplemented it with copies of various pertinent documents. Myer requested that the Senate delay the confirmation of any nomination for chief signal officer until it had examined his claim. Myer also met with President Lincoln, who promised not to appoint someone else as chief signal officer without studying the merits of the case. Myer followed up the meeting with a letter written the day before the president's assassination in April 1865. He also wrote to Secretary of War Stanton but received no reply.6 Despite these apparent setbacks, Myer did not abandon his efforts.
Fisher, for his part, wished to retain the position in which he had served for over a year. Holding that Myer had waited too long after his dismissal to argue his case, he believed that the former chief "ought not be permitted to come for ward now and work injury to an innocent party."7 Although Fisher had performed adequately, Myer, as the Signal Corps' founder, had a strong claim to the job. General Ulysses S. Grant, now the commanding general of the Army, championed Myer's cause and urged Stanton to reappoint him.8 Stanton, however, neglected to act upon the recommendation, presumably because of the wartime friction between himself and Myer. Finally, on 25 October 1866, President
Andrew Johnson ordered Stanton to make the appointment, and he did so five days later.
Although Myer accepted the appointment on 3 November and the Senate confirmed it the following February, he did not immediately resume his former duties. Fisher remained chief signal officer until 15 November 1866, despite the expiration of his appointment. After that date Bvt. Capt. Lemuel B. Norton ran the office. He was the only wartime signal officer to serve continuously in the Signal Corps into the postwar period.9 Most likely Myer hoped that Stanton, at odds with the president over Reconstruction policy and in declining health, would soon resign. As it happened, the tenacious secretary held on to his post until suspended by the president on 12 August 1867, an act that resulted in Johnson's impeachment. When Grant stepped in as acting secretary of war, Myer resumed his duties on 21 August 1867.
Myer, vindicated at last, found himself once again at the head of the organization he had created. Not one to waste time, he soon submitted a proposal to Grant to reinstate the course in signaling and telegraphy at West Point. With Grant's approval, instruction began on 1 October 1867.10 Meanwhile, the Naval Academy continued to teach signaling, and the academy's superintendent, Vice Adm. David D. Porter, enthusiastically supported Myer's signal system. In 1869 the Navy established its own signal office based on the Army's model, but it never organized a distinct naval signal corps.11
Late in October 1867 the War Department issued orders authorizing the chief signal officer to furnish two sets of signal equipment and two copies of the signal manual to each company and post. Significantly, these orders allowed the chief signal officer to provide for the equipment and management of field electric telegraphs for active forces in the field. Thus in four years events had come full circle for Myer. By sheer tenacity he had won the Signal Corps' struggle for control of the kind of communications that would dominate the future.12
Further advances in signal training came in July 1868 when Secretary of War John M. Schofield directed that one officer from each geographical department be selected to receive signal instruction in Washington. Formal classes began in August at the Signal Office under the supervision of Capt. Henry W Howgate. A signal school for enlisted men opened in September 1868 at Fort Greble, one of
the forts built to protect Washington during the Civil War. The officers and men were detailed under the authority of the act of July 1866, but the War Department never invoked the provision to take them from the engineers. Myer believed that Congress had not intended to limit the details to the engineers alone, and that to do so would "be injurious both to the corps of engineers, by depriving it of officers whose services might be otherwise needed, and to the signal service, by the complications constantly to arise." Secretary of War Schofield accepted his argument and permitted the detail of up to fifty men from the general service for signal instruction at Fort Greble.13 Several naval officers also attended the school. Among the Army officers reporting for instruction in October 1868 was 2d Lt. Adolphus W. Greely of the 36th Infantry, a man whose subsequent career became inextricably linked with the Signal Corps.
Both officers and men received similar instruction based on Myer's manual in the use of the various types of signal equipment. Officers additionally learned the cipher codes. Field practice comprised an important component of the training; an officer was not considered "well practiced" until he could send and receive visual messages readily, day or night, at a distance of fifteen miles. John C. Van Duzer, formerly of the Military Telegraph, taught electric telegraphy. In the new field trains, machines using batteries and sounders replaced the Beardslee instruments. A properly qualified officer could send and receive ten words per minute, and his men were expected to erect field lines at a rate of three miles per hour. Upon completion of their training, the secretary of war directed that one officer and two men be sent to each department to conduct signal training at the various posts.14
Because the United States Army's Signal Corps was the first organization of its kind, it drew the attention of other nations, and Myer received requests for information about signaling from several foreign governments. In February and March 1868, before the official opening of the Signal School, a Danish officer received instruction in the signal office in Washington. After the opening of the school, two Swedish Army officers were among the first students.15
Early in 1869 the School moved across the Potomac River to Fort Whipple, Virginia. Of the new location Myer wrote:
In his annual report for 1869 Myer expressed pride in the Signal Corps' recent accomplishments, but he could not forecast the changes the branch would soon undergo as the result of congressional hearings then underway regarding Army organization.
Despite the successful establishment of the Signal School, the Signal Corps still lacked a clear-cut mission. During hearings before the House Committee on
Military Affairs in 1869, Secretary of War Schofield testified that he felt the Army did not need a separate Signal Corps. The committee shared his view that the signal function could be performed by the engineers, but Congress did not act on this proposal.17 Nevertheless, when Congress reduced the size of the Army to save money, Myer knew that the Signal Corps needed a stronger footing in order to survive further scrutiny. One solution appeared to lie in weather observation and reporting, a field in which he had some experience from his days as an Army doctor.
Weather has always regulated daily activities, especially for those whose livelihood is intimately tied to the land. Its study in the United States antedated the founding of the republic. Benjamin Franklin, who was not only a political leader but also a noted scientist in colonial America, had theorized about the origin and movement of storms. Another founding father, Thomas Jefferson, kept a daily journal of weather observations and corresponded widely with others of similar interest. Jefferson envisioned a national meteorological system, but until some means of rapidly reporting the weather was invented, a nationwide forecasting service was impossible.18
The Army's formal involvement in meteorology had begun in April 1814 when Dr. James Tilton, physician and surgeon general of the Army, directed military surgeons to record weather data. Regulations published for the Medical Department in December of that year required senior hospital surgeons to keep weather diaries. The collection of such information was believed to be important because weather was thought to influence disease.19
In addition to the Army, the Smithsonian Institution, founded in 1846, played an important role in the advancement of meteorology within the United States. Under the auspices of its first secretary, Joseph Henry, it organized the nation's first telegraphic system of weather reporting in 1849. Henry was a pioneer in the development of the electric telegraph, the instrument that made widespread, simultaneous weather observation and reporting feasible. The Smithsonian made arrangements with commercial telegraph companies to carry the reports of its voluntary observers, from which the first current weather maps were compiled. By 1860 five hundred stations reported to the Smithsonian, but the onset of the Civil War caused the network to decline and its importance to diminish. A fire at the institution in 1865 also inflicted considerable damage to meteorological instruments and records.20
After the war, as the nation's commercial and agricultural enterprises expanded, the need for a national weather service became apparent. Because the Smithsonian lacked the funds to operate such a system, Joseph Henry urged Congress to create one.21 A petition submitted in December 1869 to Congressman Halbert E. Paine by Increase A. Lapham, a Wisconsin meteorologist, provided further impetus for national legislation. Lapham advocated a warning service on the Great Lakes to reduce the tremendous losses in lives and property caused by storms each year. Paine supported this proposition and soon introduced legislation authorizing the secretary of war "to provide for taking meteorological obser-
vations at the military stations in the interior of the continent, and at other points in the States and Territories of the United States, and for giving notice on the northern lakes and on the seacoast, by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and force of storms."22 Paine chose to assign these duties to the War Department because "military discipline would probably secure the greatest promptness, regularity, and accuracy in the required observations."23 Congress approved Paine's proposal as a joint resolution, and President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law on 9 February 1870.
Myer recognized that Paine's bill provided the mission the Signal Corps needed. As Paine later recalled: "Immediately after the introduction of the measure, a gentleman called on me and introduced himself as Col. Albert Myer, Chief Signal Officer. He was greatly excited and expressed a most intense desire that the execution of the law might be entrusted to him."24 Myer's efforts were rewarded when Secretary of War William W Belknap assigned the weather duties to the chief signal officer on 15 March 1870.25 Now the Signal Corps embarked upon a new field of endeavor, one that soon overshadowed its responsibility for military communications.
At this time, before the advent of such weapons as long-range artillery and the airplane, weather forecasting had little relevance for Army operational planning. But the Army had long been performing duties not directly related to its military mission. Throughout the nineteenth century the Corps of Engineers, for example, had been carrying out projects such as river and harbor improvements that were not military in the strictest sense. Moreover, Congress had created the Corps of Topographical Engineers in 1838 specifically to conduct surveys and to build roads and canals that promoted national expansion. Thus, the assignment of weather duties to the Signal Corps was only another example of the Army's performance of essentially civil functions for the welfare of the nation.26
Having acquired the weather duties, Myer set about establishing a national reporting system. From the outset the Signal Corps directed its services chiefly toward the civilian community, as reflected in the title of the new "Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce" within the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. Myer subsequently added the words "and Agriculture" to reflect the additional services authorized by Congress in 1872.27 To provide weather information to the nation's farmers, the Signal Office published a Farmers' Bulletin that included daily weather summaries and predictions. It was telegraphed daily to and distributed from centers in the middle of agricultural areas. The Corps later added such services as frost warnings for tobacco, sugar, and fruit growers and special reports for cotton planters.
During the 1870s American scientific education was in its formative stages. The rudiments of meteorology could be learned at such schools as Harvard and Yale, but no formal training for meteorologists existed. Therefore, the Signal Corps carried out its own program. The Corps conducted meteorological training at Fort Whipple in addition to regular military drills and signal instruction. "Full" training prepared a soldier to perform both field signal duties and those of the
weather service, while "field" training excluded weather duties. The Signal Corps selectively recruited personnel for the weather service-only unmarried men between the ages of twenty-one and forty were eligible-and required them to pass both physical and educational examinations. Upon acceptance, the men enlisted as privates and received at least two months of instruction at Fort Whipple. After an additional six months of duty on station as assistants (later extended to one year), followed by further training at Fort Whipple and appearance before two boards of examination, the men qualified for promotion to "observer-sergeant." After one year's service, an observer could again be called before a board for yet another examination.28
The work of the observer was often demanding. Three times daily he recorded the following data: temperature; relative humidity; barometric pressure; direction and velocity of the wind; and rain or snow fall. The Corps soon added to this list the daily measurement of river depths at stations along many major rivers. The observer also noted the cloud cover and the general state of the weather. Immediately upon completing his observations, the officer prepared the information for telegraphic transmission to the Signal Office in Washington. In a separate journal he recorded unusual phenomena, such as auroral and meteoric displays. In addition to the three telegraphic reports, he made another set of observations according to local time and mailed them weekly to Washington. The Corps also required a separate midday reading of the instruments, but the observer only forwarded the results if they differed greatly from the earlier readings. At sunset he recorded the appearance of the western sky to be used as an indication of the next day's weather. In case of severe weather, an observer could be on duty around the clock, making hourly reports to Washington.29
The extent and the hour of the observations changed over time. Originally the observers took the readings at 0735, 1635, and 2335, Washington time, but the last reading was soon changed to 2300 so that the information could be included in the morning newspapers. Before the introduction of standard time and time zones within the United States, a confusing multiplicity of local times existed. In 1870 there were over 100 such regional times. For the purposes of the meteorological observations, observers used Washington time until 1885. Thereafter the observers took their readings according to eastern time, or that at the 75th meridian west of Greenwich, England. Observers also made local-time readings from 1876 to 1881.30
In addition to long hours, the observer's job involved considerable paperwork: he recorded and forwarded all data to the Signal Office weekly and submitted a monthly digest as well. Record keeping was doubly important because the information often served as evidence in court cases in which weather was a factor. The observer was also responsible for the proper care and functioning of his instruments. If he did not have an assistant, the officer could select and train a civilian to perform his duties when necessary. To ensure a high standard of operation, signal officers periodically inspected the stations. Among those who served in this capacity were two future chief signal officers, Adolphus Greely and James Allen.
WAR DEPARTMENT WEATHER MAP, 1875
Despite the Signal Corps' rigorous training requirements, not all observers upheld its high standards. Human nature being what it is, a few proved to be unscrupulous in their work. After examining past submissions in 1890, records officer 2d Lt. William A. Glassford reported that some of the early weather watchers "were so confident of their ability to successfully counterfeit the laws of nature that they wrote up their observations several hours before or after the schedule time."31 One of these presumptuous individuals was Sgt. John Timothy O'Keeffe, or O'Keefe, stationed on Pikes Peak, Colorado. O'Keeffe filled out many of his reports without actually making the observations, believing that the authorities in Washington would not know any better.32
In addition to the demands of the work itself, some observers faced considerable physical danger. The sergeant at Chicago had his office destroyed during the great fire of October 1871, but luckily escaped with his life. During the nationwide cholera epidemic in 1878, signal observers remained at their posts in disease-ridden cities, and three of them died in the line of duty. The remoteness of frontier stations also posed many hardships, including the constant threat of Indian attacks. The observer atop Mount Washington, New Hampshire, faced winters that averaged over 200 inches of snowfall and temperatures well below zero. In February 1872 Pvt. William Stevens, an assistant at that station, was caught in a blizzard on the mountain and perished.33
Once the observers had gathered the weather data, the means of reporting and disseminating it became most important. Like the Smithsonian, the chief signal officer made arrangements with the leading commercial telegraph companies to carry the tri-daily reports. Civilian telegraph experts established special circuits routed to the Signal Office. The initial arrangement with Western Union regarding transmission was only temporary, and at the end of the trial period the company refused to continue service. The House Appropriations Committee held hearings over the dispute and ruled that the company had a mandate to transmit the weather information as government business. The Signal Corps compensated the company, however, at rates determined by the postmaster general.34
When making the daily telegraphic reports, the weather observers used special codes to reduce their length to twenty words in the morning and ten in each of the other two reports, thereby saving the government both time and money.35 Regular transmission of the reports began at 0735 on 1 November 1870 from twenty-four stations stretching from Boston, Massachusetts, south to Key West, Florida, and west to Cheyenne in the Wyoming Territory. In addition to the station atop Mount Washington (opened in December 1870), the Signal Corps soon reached new heights in weather reporting with the station on Pikes Peak that began reporting in November 1873.36
To provide a picture of weather conditions across the country, the observers made their reports as nearly simultaneous as possible. The weather service did not initially make forecasts, and the enabling legislation did not specifically call for it to do so. Eventually general forecasts, referred to as probabilities, emanated from the Signal Office in Washington. Locally, the observers posted bulletins and maps in the offices of boards of trade and chambers of commerce to provide weather information to the public. Post offices also displayed daily bulletins, and observers supplied local newspapers with data. Some communities appointed meteorological committees to confer with the chief signal officer and to serve as a check upon the operations of the local weather station. On the national level, the Signal Office in Washington issued daily weather maps compiled from the reports received from all the stations. It also published the Daily Weather Bulletin, Weekly Weather Chronicle, and the Monthly Weather Review. All were available for sale to the public. Myer estimated that through these various means at least one third of American households received the Signal Corps' weather information in some form. A railway bulletin service, initiated in 1879, enabled stations along many major railroads to display weather information.37
The Monthly Weather Review contained a summary of the meteorological data collected by the Signal Office during the month as well as notes on current developments in the field of meteorology. Until 1884 the chief signal officer published the year's issues in his annual report. The Review became a leading meteorological journal, and it continues to be published today by the American Meteorological Society.
To help establish his system, Myer looked to civilian meteorologists for expertise. Among the first he hired was Increase Lapham, who had played an important
role in getting the weather service started. Lapham worked briefly as supervisor of weather reports on the Great Lakes, and he continued to provide information about shipping disasters to the Signal Office until his death in 1875.38 In January 1871 the Signal Corps hired Professor Cleveland Abbe of the Cincinnati Observatory as a weather forecaster. Abbe had begun issuing forecasts in Cincinnati in 1869, and the Signal Corps adopted many of his methods and procedures.39 Although Abbe had originally been skeptical about the quality of a military weather system, he remained with the Signal Corps' weather service throughout its twenty-year history.40 In addition to forecasting, Abbe founded the Monthly Weather Review and was its editor.
Although weather reporting called for a new set of equipment (thermometers, hygrometers, etc.), flags still found a role in the weather-oriented Signal Corps. A red flag with a black square in the center, for example, became known as the "cautionary signal." When flown from observation stations, primarily those on the Great Lakes and the eastern seaboard, it indicated the likelihood of a storm in the vicinity. At night, a red light served as the storm warning. A white flag with a square black center flying above the red flag was known as the "cautionary offshore signal," meaning that winds were blowing from a northerly or westerly direction.41
Weather reporting also led the Signal Corps into a new relationship with the electric telegraph. At least one writer has incorrectly attributed the assignment of weather duties to the Signal Corps in 1870 to the fact that the Corps controlled its own telegraph lines.42 Actually, the Corps did not begin constructing lines until 1873, under authority of legislation approved in March of that year. The act directed the Signal Corps to establish signal stations at lighthouses and to construct telegraph lines between them if none existed. These lines were to work in conjunction with the stations of the United States Life-Saving Service, the forerunner of the Coast Guard. In some cases the Signal Corps located its offices within the life-saving stations.43 During 1873 and 1874 the Corps built lines between Sandy Hook and Cape May, New Jersey, and from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Norfolk, Virginia, along some of the most perilous stretches of the Atlantic coast. Leased wires connected these lines with the Signal Office in Washington. Further extensions between Wilmington, North Carolina, and the
mouth of the Cape Fear River and from the Delaware Breakwater, at the mouth of Philadelphia Harbor, to Chincoteague, Virginia, brought the total length of sea coast lines to just over 600 miles, a figure that remained about the same throughout the 1880s.44
The Signal Corps filled the critical need for a storm warning system along the Atlantic coast to warn vessels of approaching storms and to aid in the rescue of ships wrecked in the treacherous waters. When a wreck occurred, the Corps opened a special station at the scene to call for assistance and to maintain communication with those still on board the ship. Knowledge of naval and international signal codes enabled Army signal officers to establish communication with ships of any registry. Officers could also signal with flags and torches across breaks in the telegraph lines, a frequent occurrence on the stormy coastline. Their services saved many lives and untold tons of cargo.
One of the wrecks to which the Signal Corps gave assistance was that of the Huron, a steamer that ran aground off Nags Head, North Carolina, in the early morning hours of 24 November 1877. Two of the survivors on a raft headed for what appeared to be the masts of fishing vessels but turned out to be the Signal Corps' telegraph poles on the shore. The nearest signal station was at Kitty Hawk, eight miles from the site of the wreck. It was housed in the upper story of the life-saving station, then closed for the season, a fact that severely inhibited the rescue effort. At midmorning, two fishermen brought news of the disaster to the signal station, and the observer, Sgt. S. W Naylor, headed for the scene to assist the victims. He set up a telegraph station on the shore that transmitted over 550 messages through 11 December. Only 34 men out of the crew of 132 survived the wreck of the Huron. Five others, including the superintendent of the Sixth Life-Saving District, lost their lives during the rescue operations, making the Huron one of the worst shipwrecks of the era.45
The following year a signal officer, 1st Lt. James A. Buchanan, on his way to inspect coastal signal stations, was himself a victim of a shipwreck when the schooner Magnolia went down in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, during a hurricane. Buchanan lashed himself to the gunwale and eventually managed to swim ashore.46
The Signal Corps' telegraph network soon expanded beyond the eastern seaboard. In 1874 Congress enacted legislation directing the War Department to build lines to connect military posts and protect frontier settlements in Texas against Indians and Mexicans. Other acts authorized lines in Arizona and New Mexico and, somewhat later, the Northwest. These lines were intended to serve sparsely settled areas where commercial lines were not yet available. For the most part, soldiers maintained and operated the lines, but the Corps employed some civilians. As the telegraph extended its reach, the weather system also grew, because the operators doubled as weather observers. The Signal Corps' lines achieved their maximum mileage in 1881, when 5,077 miles were under its control. In succeeding years the mileage steadily dropped as commercial lines followed the railroads westward, and by 1891 only 1,025 miles remained
under the Signal Corps' supervision. In total, the Corps was responsible for building 8,000 miles of telegraph lines, to include both seacoast and frontier lines.47
First Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely supervised much of the Signal Corps' telegraph construction. In Texas, where the Army built nearly 1,300 miles of line, one of the major obstacles was the shortage of timber for poles. Greely obtained some from the Rio Grande Valley, about 500 miles from where the lines were being constructed, and even imported juniper poles from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. He later oversaw the construction of 2,000 miles of line from Santa Fe to San Diego, and in 1878 he went to the Dakota Territory to erect a line from Bismarck to Fort Ellis, Montana. The discovery of gold in the Black Hills and the Indian troubles in the area, highlighted by the Custer massacre in 1876, made the need for lines more acute.48
Will Croft Barnes was one of the Signal Corps operators assigned to a western station. Enlisting as a second class private in 1879, Barnes trained at Fort Whipple and, after duty constructing seacoast telegraph lines, was sent to Fort Apache, Arizona, "then about as far out of civilization as it was possible to get."49 Barnes arrived there in February 1880, much to the relief of the previous operator. To Barnes' dismay, the first weather observation had to be made at 0339 for transmission at 0400. Of greater concern to him were the Indian troubles in the area; Indians often cut the telegraph wires, making repairs a risky business. In the summer of 1881 the Army's relations with the Indians became especially tense when a shaman named Nakaidoklini became influential among the Apaches. Anticipating the later Ghost Dance movement of the 1890s, Nakaidoklini preached a doctrine that included the raising of the dead and the elimination of the white man. When the commander of Fort Apache, Col. Eugene A. Carr, was ordered to arrest the medicine man, violence resulted. His followers attacked Carr's party as the soldiers returned to the post following the arrest. Nakaidoklini was killed, along with one officer and three men; four others were mortally wounded and died before reaching Fort Apache. The day after Carr returned to the post, Barnes accompanied the burial party. In the midst of their work, Indians attacked, and soon the fort was under siege. Fortunately, the attackers were driven off, and for his part in the defense Barnes received the Medal of Honor, the second Signal Corpsman so recognized.50
The Signal Corps' weather reporting network gained additional strength in 1874 from the absorption of the Smithsonian's nearly 400 volunteer observers, as well as by an agreement made with the surgeon general to turn over to the Signal Corps the monthly reports made by medical officers. These acquisitions brought to over 800 the total number of reports received regularly by the Signal Office. Naval and merchant vessels also began to feed information into the systems.51
Besides reporting on the weather, Signal Corps observers sometimes relayed other types of information. In 1877 they provided President Rutherford B. Hayes with details about local conditions arising from labor unrest. During the so-called Great Strike-actually a wave of railroad strikes that spread across the nation in
MAP OF U.S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES, 1885
the summer of 1877-Chief Signal Officer Myer ordered the observers at key points to report every six hours, and more frequently if necessary.52 Sgt. Leroy E. Sebree, for example, wired from Louisville on 25 July that "The wildest excitement prevails-troops are resting on their arms in City Hall-striking laborers are marching through the city forcing others to join. Every precaution is being taken to prevent serious trouble." Using the information gleaned from his observers, Myer could give the president his own assessment of conditions. On 26 July he cautioned Hayes that the news from Chicago in the afternoon papers seemed to be "purely sensational. The city is reported to be comparatively quiet." Indeed, order returned to most cities within a few days. By 29 July Myer could report to Hayes that "The regular night reports show absolute Quiet everywhere on the Atlantic & Picific [sic] Coast & the interior. The riots seem ended." He also congratulated the president and the secretary of war "on the sucess [sic] and conclusion of this campaign." Some trouble spots remained, and the Signal Corps continued its strike-related reports until 13 August 1877.53
From the beginning the weather service contained an international component. In the 1870s the Signal Corps established several stations in Alaska, only recently purchased from Russia. The Alaskan observers were also naturalists who collected specimens for the Smithsonian. One of these men, Pvt. Edward W Nelson, while stationed at St. Michael, documented the life and culture of the Bering Sea Eskimos.54 Beginning in 1871, Canadian stations exchanged reports with the Signal Corps, and reports received from the West Indies proved especially valuable during the hurricane season.
Eventually Myer established contact with many foreign weather offices. In 1873 he attended the first International Meteorological Congress in Vienna where the participants agreed to exchange a daily observation, with the United States assuming the expense of publishing the results.55 By sharing such information, meteorologists could track storms from continent to continent and study weather patterns. In 1875 the Signal Office began publishing the Daily Bulletin of International Simultaneous Meteorological Observations, containing the daily observations made on a given date up to a year earlier. A daily International Weather Map followed in 1878 based upon the data appearing in the bulletin of the same date. Through its weather service, the Signal Corps helped the United States become part of the international scientific community.56
In order to provide these myriad services, the Signal Office worked around the clock. To facilitate its operation, the chief signal officer divided the office into a dozen sections: general correspondence and records; telegraph room; property room; printing and lithographing room; International Bulletin; instrument room; map room; artisan's room; station room; the computation, or fact, room; the study room; and the library. The instrument room, for example, maintained the standard instruments against which all those being sent to the weather stations were compared. The Corps also manufactured new types of equipment, including self-recording instruments to continuously gather data. The Corps' library contained thousands of volumes and pamphlets, many of them gifts from foreign governments and institutions. In addition to maintaining the heavy administrative load of correspondence, the office responded to voluminous numbers of requests for weather information. In 1880 a complement of 110 enlisted men kept the office running.57
Indeed, the burgeoning duties of the Signal Corps created a need for additional personnel. Consequently, the secretary of war authorized increases in its detailed enlisted strength, and by 1874 the Corps comprised 150 sergeants, 30 corporals, and 270 privates.58 The number of detailed officers remained at six as specified in the 1866 legislation. Although Congress in 1874 limited the strength of the Army to 25,000, it did not include the Signal Corps in this total and specified that its strength was not to be diminished.59 But when Congress reduced the size of the Army two years later, in the midst of the depression that followed the Panic of 1873, it no longer exempted the Signal Corps and cut its enlisted force by fifty. In 1878, however, Congress restored the Corps to its previous strength of 450 enlisted men. The new law also provided that two signal sergeants could be appointed annually to the rank of second lieutenant, thus offering some upward mobility for Corps members. In 1880 Congress added 50 privates, bringing the Signal Corps' total enlisted strength to 500, where it remained until 1886.60
By 1880, after a decade of operation under Myer's leadership, the weather service was flourishing. It had grown to comprise 110 regular stations in the United States that reported by telegraph three times daily, and its annual budget totaled $375,000.61 But on 24 August 1880, the man who had contributed so
much to the development of the weather system, not to mention having founded the Signal Corps itself, died of nephritis at the age of 51. Myer had become ill in 1879 while traveling in Europe, and his condition gradually worsened. Brig. Gen. Richard C. Drum, the adjutant general, temporarily took command of the Signal Corps following Myer's death, and his signature appears at the end of the 1880 annual report. In honor of the Army's first signal officer, Fort Whipple was renamed Fort Myer on 4 February 1881.62
Death claimed Myer at the peak of his career. He had just received his commission as brigadier general, effective 16 June 1880, putting him on a par with the other bureau chiefs within the War Department. As head of the Signal Corps' weather service, he had become popularly known as Old Probabilities.63 In addition to the sobriquet, Myer received much professional recognition for his public service. Among the numerous awards conferred upon him were honorary memberships in the Austrian Meteorological Society and the Italian Geographical Society; an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater, Hobart College, in 1872; and an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Union College in 1875. To recognize Signal Corps veterans, Myer had founded the Order of the Signal Corps shortly after the Civil War, but this organization no longer exists.64
Col. William B. Hazen became the fourth person to hold the position of chief signal officer, taking office on 15 December 1880. A native of Vermont, Hazen had graduated from West Point in 1855 and then served in Oregon and Texas. During the Civil War he distinguished himself at such battles as Stone's River, Chickamauga, and Atlanta, where he commanded a division in the Army of the Tennessee. In 1865 he received a brevet major generalcy in the Regular Army for meritorious service in the field. After the war he returned to duty in the West. Never one to avoid controversy, Hazen created a sensation when he charged the War Department with corrupt management of the post trader system. The resulting congressional investigations led to the resignation and impeachment of Secretary of War William W Belknap during the Grant administration.65 Hazen also acted as an observer during the Franco-Prussian War, and in 1872 he published a book about military reform, The School and the Army in Germany and France.66
Hazen, promoted to the permanent rank of brigadier general in the Regular Army, quickly made some changes upon taking command of the Signal Corps. To begin, he reorganized the Signal Office into ten divisions that roughly corresponded to the various rooms created by Myer. Unlike Myer, who stressed the practical over the scientific, Hazen shifted the emphasis toward basic research.67 He established, for example, the Scientific and Study Division to prepare special reports and conduct other research projects. Professor Abbe supervised the work of the study room within that division, and he was assisted by three civilians with scientific backgrounds, known initially as "computers" because of the mathemat-
ical calculations involved in their work. Topics of inquiry included hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms. Copies of papers prepared by the study room appeared in many of the chief signal officer's annual reports. To supplement this staff, Hazen called upon several "consulting specialists," among them Alexander Graham Bell and Professor Samuel P. Langley of the Allegheny Observatory in Pennsylvania.68 A committee of the National Academy of Sciences also acted in an advisory capacity as needed by the chief signal officer. To formally present the results of the studies undertaken by the Corps, Hazen introduced a series of professional papers as well as a set of publications known as "Signal Service Notes." He also initiated the compilation of a general bibliography of meteorology. To further meteorological education, members of the study room delivered lectures to the students at Fort Myer. Hazen also directed Professor William Ferrel, one of the assistants in the office, to compile a textbook of meteorology for classroom use. Thus Hazen sought to combine the practical arts of observation, recording, and prediction with the science of meteorology.69
Under Hazen the Signal Corps' work took off in some new directions. To study the upper atmosphere, signal soldiers sometimes accompanied balloonists aloft in order to make observations. A leading aeronaut, Samuel King of Philadelphia, invited Signal Corps personnel to ride in his balloon on several occasions. One such adventurous soldier, Pvt. J. G. Hashagen, accompanied King on a flight from Chicago in October 1881 and ended up eating hedgehog in the wilds of Wisconsin after landing in a cranberry bog. (King had packed no food for the journey.) Hashagen succeeded in making meteorological observations during the flight, but he recommended including condensed soup as part of the equipment for future ascensions.70 During the weather service years the Signal Corps possessed no balloons of its own, but Abbe stressed the need for aerial investigations into weather, and he was prophetic when he wrote in 1884, "As the use of the balloon for military purposes has received much attention and is highly appreciated in Europe, it is probable that this also may at some time become a duty of the Signal Office."71
To raise the standard of personnel, Hazen sought to recruit promising graduates from the nation's colleges. By doing so he hoped "to furnish from the ranks of the Signal Corps, men who may take high standing in the science of meteorology."72 At the same time, some of the Signal Corps' current members were sent to private schools for further education. Pvts. Austin L. McRae and Alexander McAdie of the Boston weather station attended Harvard University to study atmospheric electricity. Pvt. Park Morrill, on duty in Baltimore, took similar courses at the Johns Hopkins University. These schools provided the courses without cost, and other schools located near signal stations offered similar arrangements.73
Hazen encouraged the expansion of weather activities through the establishment of state weather services with which the Signal Corps cooperated. In some cases enlisted men served as assistants to the state directors. These organizations proved especially helpful in distributing weather information to remote agricultural areas. By 1884 fourteen states had their own weather offices, with the six
New England states forming the New England Meteorological Society. Most states had organized weather agencies by 1890.74
The paucity of weather information on the West Coast had long concerned both Myer and Hazen, and in 1885 the Corps improved this situation by opening a signal office for the Division of the Pacific, which encompassed California, Oregon, and Washington. The new office at San Francisco issued forecasts twice daily and distributed them by means of the daily newspapers, the Associated Press, and the Farmers' Bulletin.When necessary, cautionary signals were displayed at several points along the coast. In addition to providing weather information, the division signal officer was directed to repair the telegraph cable between Alcatraz and the Presidio of San Francisco. The harbor's powerful currents and the fact that vessels frequently anchored there made repair and maintenance of the cable an expensive job.75
The Signal Corps' expanding duties required a great deal of office space. By 1882, the Corps occupied rooms in ten different buildings in Washington. Myer had first requested a new building in 1875, and Hazen took up the cause in his annual report of 1882. The State-War-Navy Building (now known as the Old Executive Office Building) had recently opened, and the chief signal officer, along with the other bureau chiefs, had his office there. But the new building could not house all of the Signal Corps' activities. In the absence of congressional action, Hazen repeatedly asked for a fireproof structure to provide protection for the branch's valuable records and property. Second Lieutenant Frank P Greene, in charge of the Examiner's Division in 1886, complained of the condition of his division's quarters. Not only were the rooms "small and dark, cold in winter and warm in summer," but there was also an "ever-present stale, ill-smelling odor, rising at frequent times to a pitch that is all but visible." In 1889 the Signal Corps finally moved to new quarters at 2416 M Street, Northwest, that contained a fireproof vault for its records.76
In many ways success and growth had marked Hazen's tenure. But troubles, some of a serious nature, had also begun to arise. Ironically, given his role in the post trader hearings, scandal rocked Hazen's own bureau when Capt. Henry W Howgate abruptly resigned from the Signal Corps in December 1880. To his cha
grin, Hazen soon discovered that Howgate had helped himself to a substantial portion of the Corps' funds. The exact amount was never determined, but it could have been as much as $400,000. Howgate, British by birth, had served with distinction in the Signal Corps during the Civil War. Rejoining the Army in 1867 as a member of the 20th Infantry, he subsequently returned to the Signal Corps where he worked in the Signal Office as property and disbursement officer under Myer. Howgate had hoped to succeed Myer as chief signal officer, but Hazen's friendship with then Senator James A. Garfield helped him win the appointment from President Rutherford B. Hayes.
Instead of chief signal officer, Howgate became a fugitive. He fled to Michigan with his mistress and was not tracked down until August 1881. Authorities arrested Howgate and returned him to Washington for trial. Released on bail, he dropped out of sight once more. When found, he was finally placed in jail. But the wily captain was not finished. With the aid of his daughter and his mistress, he escaped again. This time Howgate eluded capture for thirteen years. He was finally seized in New York City in 1894, where he had been posing as a rare book dealer. At his first trial in 1895, the jury found Howgate not guilty, but he was not so lucky when tried on a second indictment and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison at Albany, New York. After five years, he received parole due to good conduct and poor health, and he died shortly afterward in 1901.77
Not surprisingly, Hazen assigned an officer to duty as examiner of accounts in the wake of the scandal.78 Howgate had spent a great deal of the embezzled money on his mistress, but he also used some of it to finance Arctic exploration, an area in which the Signal Corps became involved as part of the First Interpolar Year (1882-1883), the forerunner of what is now known as the International Geophysical Year. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned scientific endeavor became a new source of controversy and even scandal for the Signal Corps.
Participating countries established stations around the North Pole to conduct meteorological, geological, and other scientific observations. In the summer of 1881 the United States sent two parties, both led by Signal Corps officers, one to Point Barrow, Alaska, and the other to Lady Franklin Bay on Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, less than 500 miles from the North Pole. The expedition to Alaska, commanded by 1st Lt. Patrick Henry Ray, spent two relatively uneventful years there. The second party, led by 1st Lt. Adolphus W. Greely, met a far different fate. When the scheduled resupply effort failed in 1882, the twenty-five men were left to fend for themselves in the frozen north. A relief expedition the following year, commanded by 1st Lt. Ernest A. Garlington, also failed to reach Greely's party. Garlington, facing a disaster of his own after his vessel sank and most of his supplies were lost, hastily withdrew south, leaving insufficient rations behind to sustain the stranded soldiers.
Despite their precarious situation, Greely and his men continued their scientific work. They had also succeeded, during the first year of the expedition, in achieving the "farthest north" up to that time. But their subsequent ordeal was harrowing. When the rescue effort commanded by Capt. Winfield Scott Schley
MEMBERS OF THE GREELY ARCTIC EXPEDITION. GREELY IS FOURTH FROM LEFT, FRONT ROW.
finally found Greely at Cape Sabine in June 1884, where he had retreated south according to plan, only the commander and six others remained alive, one of whom died soon thereafter. Unfortunately, sensational charges of murder and cannibalism initially overshadowed the accomplishments of the expedition. Greely denied knowledge of such acts and was ultimately exonerated. In 1888 the government published his massive two-volume report, containing a wealth of information about the Arctic. Greely received numerous honors for his work, among them the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. He also became a charter member of the National Geographic Society, serving as a vice president and trustee of that organization.79
The outspoken Hazen publicly criticized Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln for his handling of the Greely affair. When Garlington's rescue mission failed in the fall of 1883, Lincoln had refused to send further assistance that year, leaving Greely and his men to face a third winter in the Arctic. Unwilling to abandon her husband and his men, Greely's wife, Henrietta, aroused public opinion and forced Lincoln to act. The secretary defended his actions in his 1884 annual report and censured Hazen for his criticisms. Ultimately, court-martial proceedings were instituted against the chief signal officer, resulting in a reprimand from President Chester A. Arthur.80
Hazen and Lincoln also disagreed upon another issue, the admission of blacks into the Signal Corps. In April 1884, W. Hallet Greene, a senior at the College of the City of New York, sought to enlist in the Corps. Hazen rejected his application, based on his understanding that black membership in the Army was
SIGNAL STATION AT POINT BARROW, ALASKA
limited to the two black infantry and two black cavalry regiments. Secretary Lincoln, however, overruled Hazen's action and directed that Greene be accepted. By direct order of the secretary of war, Greene joined the Signal Corps on 26 September 1884.81
These controversial incidents did not help the Signal Corps' reputation with Congress. In an era of cost cutting, when the Army's total budget dropped sharply, the Signal Corps' appropriation had continued to rise, topping a million dollars in 1884.82 This fact alone, in the wake of the Howgate calamity, made the Signal Corps a natural target of congressional scrutiny. Beginning in fiscal years 1883 and 1884 its expenses were separated from those of the Army as a whole, and the categories of its expenditures were itemized for the first time. Hazen appealed this procedure to Secretary of War Lincoln, but received no sympathy. "I deem it prejudicial to the interests of the Army," wrote Lincoln in his 1884 annual report, "that its apparent cost of maintenance should be so largely increased by adding to it the cost of the Weather Bureau service, with which the Army is not concerned."83
When Congress appropriated less than the Signal Corps had requested, Hazen was forced to close a number of meteorological stations. Moreover, the budget cuts prevented the Corps from paying Western Union for transmitting reports from the Pacific coast during May and June 1883. Congress also refused to fund the West Indian stations that were of such importance during the hurricane season. As
Hazen complained in his annual report, the elimination of stations reduced the data received for forecasting, thus making predictions less accurate. (The average percentage of correct forecasts for 1883 was 88 percent, an accuracy rate rivaling that of forecasters today.) Other economies included the closing of cautionary signal stations and the dismissal of civilian assistants. Hazen also reduced the size of his annual report by about two-thirds by eliminating many tables and discontinuing the publication of the Monthly Weather Review within its pages.84
The operation of military telegraph lines was also substantially reduced. The Signal Corps abandoned many miles of line, in part because its services had been superseded by commercial companies, but also because Congress had stipulated that enlisted men from the line of the Army could no longer be used as operators and repairmen. Furthermore, line receipts could no longer be applied toward repair and maintenance.85
A new commission to investigate the role of science in the federal government posed an even greater threat to the Signal Corps' operations. Chaired by Senator William B. Allison of Iowa, and hence known as the Allison Commission, it began hearings in 1884. For the Signal Corps, the question was whether its weather duties properly belonged within the military.86 Few men in the late nineteenth century saw any relation between the study of the weather and military operations. As early as 1874 Commanding General of the Army William T Sherman had testified before the House Committee on Military Affairs that the men of the Signal Corps were "no more soldiers than the men at the Smithsonian Institution. They are making scientific observations of the weather, of great interest to navigators and the country at large. But what does a soldier care about the weather? Whether good or bad, he must take it as it comes."87
Hazen defended his program before Allison's committee and reiterated his arguments in his annual reports. But his superiors, particularly Sherman's successor as commanding general of the Army, Lt. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, condemned the work of the Signal Corps, even its military signaling function. Sheridan had feuded with Hazen since the battle of Missionary Ridge during the Civil War, and he may have allowed his personal animosity to influence his attitude toward the Signal Corps. Secretary Lincoln, who had his own reasons for disliking Hazen, repeated his negative opinion of the weather duties as too expensive and not related to the Army.88
In their report the commission members divided evenly over the question of civilian versus military control of the weather service, and consequently they presented no plan for its separation from the Signal Corps. Thus, for the time being, the Corps retained its weather function but not without some changes being made. One immediate result of the commission's report was the closing of Fort Myer, site of the Signal School for nearly twenty years.89 Furthermore, as recommended by the commission, the new secretary of war, William C. Endicott, ordered the closure of the study room within the Signal Office.90
The Signal Corps' appropriations continued to decrease as Congress placed increasing pressure on the branch in the wake of the Allison hearings. In 1886
Congress authorized an investigation into the Corps' disbursements by the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department. While the committee found no evidence of fraud aside from the Howgate matter, it did feel that "proper economy has not always been observed" and recommended that legislation be enacted that more fully defined the scope of the Signal Corps' duties.91
In the midst of these troubled times, the chief signal officer's health failed, and in December 1886 Capt. Adolphus W. Greely assumed charge of the Signal Office as senior assistant. The following month General Hazen died of kidney trouble, apparently brought on by old wounds received in action against the Comanches prior to the Civil War.92
Captain Greely became the new chief signal officer, receiving a promotion in rank to brigadier general. Although the Signal Corps was beset with difficulties, Greely was a man well qualified to deal with them, having survived much worse situations in his twenty-five years of military service. Educated in the public schools of his native Massachusetts, he graduated from high school in his home town of Newburyport in 1860. The following year, while still only seventeen, he enlisted in the 19th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. During the Civil War he participated in several major battles and was seriously wounded at Antietam.93 When mustered out in 1867, he had attained the rank of captain with a brevet majority. Greely soon joined the Regular Army as a second lieutenant in the 36th Infantry and served in the West before receiving an unexpected detail to the Signal Corps in 1868. As a member of the Corps, he performed numerous duties and achieved world fame as an Arctic explorer.
Greely became chief signal officer at a critical point in the Signal Corps' history. Denounced both within the War Department and in the halls of Congress, the branch saw its future clouded in doubt. For the immediate present at least, it continued to operate primarily as the nation's weather service. While Greely generally carried on the weather duties as inherited from Hazen, he did institute some changes. One of these was the addition of predictions of the force of storms, as called for in the 1870 joint resolution. This service began on 1 September 1887 with the display of flag signals to indicate whether a storm was to be light or severe and whether the center had reached or passed the weather
station. Signals also indicated the quarter from which winds could be expected. Greely relied much more heavily than his predecessors on volunteer observers, and their ranks grew substantially under his leadership. Thus, while the number of regular stations declined during this period, the total number of weather-related stations continued to increase due to the expansion of such services as special river stations and rainfall and cotton region stations that were manned by civilian volunteers. (Such volunteers are, in fact, still a vital component of the nation's weather reporting system.)94
The availability of trained personnel was another significant issue. The discontinuance of the Signal School at Fort Myer meant that Greely had to send untrained men to operate the regular weather stations, and the observer-sergeants became responsible for teaching their new assistants.95 Meanwhile, the legislative restriction on the number of officers detailed to the Signal Corps led to the eventual discharge of many of those who were knowledgeable about weather duties. This situation had a negative impact on weather forecasting, a skill which could only be learned by experience and practice. The loss of expert forecasters in the Signal Office resulted in a decline in the accuracy of the weather predictions by about 7 percent. Although part of the decline could also be attributed to the fact that the time period of the forecasts had recently been increased from twenty-four to thirty-two hours, the situation provided the Signal Corps' critics with further ammunition in their quest for change.96 In 1889 the Corps for the first time allowed some local observers to make forecasts for their area for the next twentyfour hours.97 Previously, all forecasts had been issued either from the Washington or the San Francisco office. With these increased responsibilities, Greely stressed the need to select well-qualified recruits. To obtain such men, the Signal Corps still required a written examination as well as recommendations of good moral standing and general character.
Beginning on 1 July 1888 Greely established a new system of meteorological observations. He replaced the tri-daily observations with two made at 0800 and 2000, 75th meridian time (or eastern time). River observations would be made at 0800, 75th meridian time. Sunset observations would be replaced by a prediction made at 2000 as to whether rain would fall during the next twenty-four hours, based upon prevailing atmospheric conditions.98
Greely also modified the Signal Corps' weather publications in ways that proved to be very popular. In 1887 the Corps began issuing a weather crop bulletin each Sunday morning from March to October. During the off-season it appeared monthly. The bulletin provided a summary of weather conditions for the previous seven days and their effect upon such major crops as corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat. Farmers were pleased, and many metropolitan newspapers published the information as well.99
Other projects were more scientific. The Signal Corps finally completed one of its major long-term enterprises, the publication of a general bibliography of meteorology, containing 65,000 titles, begun under Hazen in 1882.100 Despite the lack of funds, the Signal Corps also sent a display to the Paris Exhibition of 1889.
The presentation emphasized the Corps' weather duties and featured a small array of instruments as well as sets of the service's publications and charts. The daily weather map drew special attention, and the judges were impressed enough to award the exhibit three grand prizes.101
To increase the Corps' efficiency, Greely favored streamlining the force. In 1886 Congress had reduced the branch's enlisted strength to 470 and further cut the number
in 1888 to 320. But 101 of the discharged men simply changed their standing from enlisted to civilian and continued to work for the weather service.102 Greely, however, felt that a further cut in the enlisted ranks would be beneficial, and he recommended bringing the total down to 225. He also favored replacing most enlisted assistants at weather stations with civilians and eliminating the rank of second lieutenant from the Corps' structure. Congress, however, made no further reductions in the Corps' enlisted strength.103
Officers continued to be detailed to the Signal Corps from the line, but their numbers did not vary greatly throughout the remainder of the weather service period. In 1883 Congress authorized the detail of up to ten officers, exclusive of the second lieutenants provided for in 1878 and those detailed to Arctic service. Thereafter the number steadily declined, falling to a low of four in 1885 and leveling off at five from 1886 through 1890. Likewise, Congress set a ceiling on the number of second lieutenants within the Corps. The number rose to sixteen in 1886, but fell to fourteen in 1888 and remained there for the rest of the weather service years.104
Despite the efforts to restructure and economize, the question of the status of the Signal Corps (or the Signal Service, as it was often called in this period) finally came to a head. In 1887 Secretary of War Endicott stated in his annual report that because of its concentration on weather duties the Signal Corps could no longer be relied upon for military signaling.105 Further pressure came from Congress in the form of a movement to raise the Department of Agriculture to cabinet rank. Senator Allison, among the leaders of this endeavor, favored placing the weather service within that agency. But the initial efforts to pass legislation that included the transfer of the weather duties were unsuccessful, and in 1888 Congress created the new executive department without them.106
Given the prevailing political climate, Chief Signal Officer Greely knew that the Signal Corps must relinquish its civil duties in order to survive. On a practical level, however, separating the work of the soldiers from that of the civilians would be difficult, because their responsibilities were so intertwined. Although the Corps had managed to retain its weather mission for the moment, its ultimate loss appeared inevitable, for the winds of change were blowing briskly.107
While the performance of military signaling faded into the background in the years after 1870, it did not disappear altogether. Until the closing of the school at
Fort Myer in 1885, signal soldiers continued to receive training in field signaling. Upon Hazen's recommendation, the adjutant general issued general orders in October 1885 directing that all post commanders provide signal instruction, a revival of the system practiced for a time without great success under Myer. These orders required commanders to keep not less than one officer and three enlisted men constantly under instruction and practice in signaling at each garrison in the United States.108
When Greely became chief signal officer in 1887, he found the system no more successful than before. He noted in his 1888 annual report that one-quarter of the Army's regiments lacked any signal instruction program, while in one-half of the regiments practically no signal training had taken place. This lack of preparation "simply indicates the practical abolishment of this Corps for any future war, since an efficient force for signaling could not be instantly created."109 Conditions improved in 1889 when the Army revised its regulations in relation to signal training to make department commanders responsible for instruction and practice in military signaling for the line officers and enlisted men in their departments. The commander was to appoint an acting signal officer at each post to conduct instruction and supervise field practice for at least two months each year. "Constant instruction will be maintained until at least one officer and four enlisted men, of each company, are proficient in the exchange of both day and night signals by flag, heliograph, or other device." Furthermore, the department commander was authorized to designate an officer on his staff as the departmental signal officer.110 The construction of practice telegraph lines at most Army posts provided further incentive and opportunity for soldiers to learn at least the rudiments of signaling. Greely maintained a list of the most capable men in case he needed to call upon their expertise to supplement the Corps during an emergency.111
The growing professionalism within the Army during the closing decades of the nineteenth century significantly affected signal training. In 1881 General William T. Sherman, commanding general of the Army, created the School of Application for Cavalry and Infantry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After an uncertain start, the school evolved into a true postgraduate course in the profession of arms, with signaling becoming part of the curriculum in 1888.112 In 1891 the Cavalry and Light Artillery School at Fort Riley, Kansas, was established, and signal training comprised part of the curriculum from the beginning. Also located at Fort Riley was a school for the instruction of signal sergeants. It offered a sixmonth course consisting of four months of classroom instruction and two months of practical application covering electricity, military surveying, telegraphy, telephony, and signaling.113 The signal courses at Riley and Leavenworth at least partially compensated for the loss of the separate signal school.
In the aftermath of the Allison hearings, Hazen established a Division of Military Signaling within the Signal Office in June 1885 and placed it under an officer whose duties included the care and improvement of the field telegraph train and other signal apparatus, the preparation of a signal manual, and the
supervision of the theoretical and practical instruction of signal officers and enlisted men. The new division also collected information from American and foreign sources relating to signaling.
After leading the world during the Civil War, the United States Army Signal Corps had fallen behind its European counterparts. The Swedish government, for example, had developed a smaller and lighter field telegraph train, while the U.S. Signal Corps' equipment had improved little since the immediate postwar period.114 Instruction in its use had continued at Fort Myer until 1883 when the Corps' budget lacked an appropriation for the necessary horses. While signal soldiers still learned telegraphy, the train had been rendered immobile.115 After six years of neglect, the Signal Corps in 1889 had only enough equipment to outfit two trains. At Washington Barracks, D.C. (now Fort Lesley J. McNair), where some of the equipment was stored, the Potomac River rose so high that lances floated from the truck. First Lieutenant Richard E. Thompson, in charge of the Division of Military Signaling, wrote that "We have the shadow rather than the substance of a field equipment."116 Because the Corps lacked the money for new equipment, it made some efforts to adopt the Army wagon or ambulance for use in carrying the telegraph apparatus. In 1891 Chief Signal Officer Greely sent a field train to Fort Riley to be used in the signal training being offered there.117
In the area of visual signals the Signal Corps had made a few improvements since the Civil War. The signal flags remained unchanged, but the Corps had tried to improve the torch using such new materials as asbestos and brickwood, a mixture of clay and sawdust. Flash lanterns began to replace torches, however, as they gave off a much brighter light that could be seen at greater distances. To facilitate the reading of visual signals, the Corps worked on the development of a binocular telescope that combined the extensive field of the marine glass with the power of the telescope. Although patented in 1880, incandescent lamps had not yet been perfected sufficiently for signaling purposes.118
In the Southwest, where the Army spent most of the post-Civil War years engaged in Indian campaigns, the hot, dry climate provided ideal conditions for visual signaling. The heliograph, a device that communicated by using a mirror to direct the sun's rays, was perfectly suited for this environment and had a much greater range than signal flags. Such an instrument had been used successfully by the British in India, and the Signal Corps apparently began studying its possibilities about 1873. Signal soldiers had practiced using the heliograph at Fort Whipple, Virginia, in 1877 and flashed messages a distance of thirty miles.119 Nearly ten years passed, however, before the Army used the heliograph in a major campaign. In 1886 Brig. Gen. Nelson A. Miles began operations against the Apaches under Geronimo in the Southwest. Miles knew of the British experiences with the heliograph and requested that Hazen send a detachment of men skilled in its use.120 The chief signal officer sent a detachment of eleven men equipped with 34 heliographs, 10 telescopes, 30 marine glasses, and an aneroid barometer. They set up a heliograph system in Arizona and New Mexico that Miles praised as "the most interesting and valuable ... that has ever been estab-
U.S. SIGNAL SERVICE
HELIOGRAPH. Clockwise from top, HELIOGRAPH
lished.."121 While perhaps not the decisive factor in bringing about Geronimo's surrender, as Miles claims in his memoirs, the heliograph provided the general with an effective communications network.122
Field experience indicated that the heliograph needed improvement, and Greely organized a special board to study the problem. The board ordered the
construction of a standard heliograph that was easily portable yet strong and with interchangeable parts. The new device, which the Army adopted in 1888, used a square rather than a circular mirror because it provided "about one-fourth more reflecting surface for practically the same packing space."123 In May 1890 the Army conducted an extensive practice of heliograph signaling in the Department of Arizona. During a two-week period soldiers established two thousand miles of lines and transmitted nearly four thousand messages. One of the officers participating in this test was 2d Lt. John J. Pershing of the 6th Cavalry. Signalmen relayed messages at distances up to 125 miles, a record for that time.124 Four years later, however, a signal detachment commanded by Capt. William A. Glassford broke this record by flashing a message 183 miles between Mount Ellen, Utah, and Mount Uncompahgre, Colorado.
Again taking a lead from European armies, the Signal Corps investigated the use of pigeons for communicating. These winged messengers had become popular in Europe after their successful employment during the siege of Paris in 1870. In 1878 the Army unsuccessfully experimented with pigeons when Myer sent some to General Miles in Dakota Territory. In many cases hawks attacked the birds before they could return to their lofts. Four years later 1st Lt. William Birkhimer made a detailed report on pigeons in which he concluded that the birds were unreliable and the Army need not develop a comprehensive plan for their use.125 The Signal Corps did, however, open a pigeon station at Key West, Florida, in 1888, but discontinued the experiment after four years. Although the Army found no need for the birds (it transferred them to the Naval Academy), they proved reliable for carrying messages across long stretches of water, flying from Key West to Havana, Cuba, and thus could be used to communicate between ships and their home stations. The Army did not find a use for pigeons until World War 1.126
Alongside these relatively simple forms of communication came the inventions of the burgeoning technological age. Chief among these was the telephone, patented in 1876. The Signal Corps began using the telephone soon after its commercial introduction in 1877, placing calls over the ten miles of telegraph line that ran between Fort Whipple and the Signal Office in Washington. Corpsmen practiced on a forty-mile-long line erected at Fort Whipple, and they were soon using telephones on many of the military telegraph lines. By 1892 one-half of all Army posts had been equipped with telephones.127 Sgt. Adolf Eccard of the Signal Corps developed a portable field telephone that combined the Bell telephone, the Morse key, and a battery and that could be used as either a telephone or a telegraph. However, this device brought the Corps into conflict with the Bell Telephone Company over patent rights.128 The high cost of the Eccard, $500 per instrument, proved too expensive for the Corps, and it continued to lease and purchase Bell instruments.
The Signal Corps' limited appropriations in the years after 1883 hampered its efforts to develop new equipment. In 1887 and 1888 Congress allotted only $3,000 annually for signal equipment and stores, less than one-third of the aver-
age appropriation for the years 1873 to 1883. The branch could not even meet the demand for existing supplies, and its stock was soon exhausted. In allotting items, Greely assigned priority to requests from posts west of the Mississippi due to the higher probability that they would be needed for field service there.129 In sum, military signaling had suffered during the twenty years that the Army ran the weather service, and the Signal Corps would spend the next decade catching up with European developments.
When President Benjamin Harrison called for the transfer of the weather service from the War Department in his first annual message in December 1889, he sounded the death knell for the Signal Corps' weather service.130 Congress subsequently enacted legislation in 1890 reassigning the weather duties to the Department of Agriculture, and the change became effective on 1 July 1891.
The transition had a significant impact upon the Signal Corps' personnel. Congress set the Corps' strength at nine officers and fifty sergeants in addition to the chief signal officer. The law provided that the enlisted men who wished to remain on weather duty could be discharged from the Army and appointed to the Agriculture Department. Meanwhile, up to four officers could be assigned to duty with the new Weather Bureau. Among them were Maj. Henry Harrison Chase Dunwoody, who served as chief of the forecast division for several years, and then Lieutenant Glassford. The civilian workers were transferred as a group, and there was no break in their weather duties.131 Professor Abbe, so long a prominent member of the Signal Corps' weather service, continued to work for the Agriculture Department until his retirement from government service in 1916. A joint board of officers, appointed by the president, divided the weatherrelated funds and property between the Signal Corps and the Weather Bureau. While the Signal Corps continued its traditional communication duties, it also retained responsibility for military meteorology, although that function did not yet have much significance. The Signal Corps would not again have a meteorological section until World War.132
Bereft of its weather mission, the Signal Corps finally returned to its roots: the provision of military communications. While the Corps had strayed from its origins for two decades, its very real achievement of establishing the first nation al weather bureau should not be overlooked or underestimated. Despite the criticism the Signal Corps' weather service had received, the Agriculture Department retained much of what the Army had pioneered.133 With the legislation of 1890 the Signal Corps could once more focus its attention on military signaling in its various forms. The timing was right because the dawn of the electrical age and the nation's emergence as a world power soon propelled the Signal Corps around the world and into a new era of communications.
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Are you unconsciously resistant to give up your disease or pain?
In psychotherapy the word “resistance” refers to the obstacles presented by the patient to oppose the therapy process. Generally these obstacles are created unconsciously by the patient, at least in its meaning as resistance, because they come from very deep psychological layers, and the logical or conscious mind seeks rational explanations for them.
As the unconscious psychic reasons of a disease are anchored in the patient himself, he is also unconsciously interested in preserving his illness with these parts of his unconscious mind, because his disease somehow creates a form to express his hidden conflicts. At the same time it serves as a protection against the discovery and processing of psychic wounds and deep fears which are repressed in the unconscious basement.
Therefore the resistances are expressed as “masked.” In the critical periods of therapy they can appear as, for example, unpleasant feelings against the therapy or the therapist, or doubt against his efficiency, a desire to interrupt or discontinue the therapy, delay and forgetting about the session, etc. Also falling in love with the therapist has many times an unconscious function of blocking the therapy.
Another frequent resistance is expressed through patient’s tendency to reading psychology books during the therapy or at the same time consulting with other analytic therapy methods or other therapists. This leads to the alleged ability to judge the therapist, but in reality it is a stimulation of the resistance with the possibility of “not accepting” the unpleasant interpretations.
In addition, resistances are also the reason for many people to reject the analytic therapy methods, and seek other types of treatments where they can leave everything as it was before (and how they had first created the disease), because they only want to lose their symptoms quickly.
The appropriate therapeutic management of resistances is one of the most important tasks on the path to health. In every therapy arrangement (the agreement between patient and therapist on the modalities of therapy) the possibility of the appearance of resistances should be explained clearly and all patients should “make a contract with themselves” not to surrender when resistances are presented.
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Developmental therapies in this section include Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Floortime/DIR, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), The Son-Rise Program, SCERTS, Computer Software Programs, Apps for Tablets.
Apps for Tablets
There are hundreds of apps for tablets (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Android) for autism spectrum disorders. Go to apps on your tablet or phone and search autism.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
According to the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, Cognitive-behavioral therapy does not exist as a distinct therapeutic technique. The term "cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)" is a very general term for a classification of therapies with similarities. There are several approaches to cognitive-behavioral therapy, including Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectic Behavior Therapy. However, most cognitive-behavioral therapies have the following characteristics:
CBT is based on the Cognitive Model of Emotional Response.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change. Brief report: effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on parent-reported autism symptoms in school-age children with high-functioning autism.
Computer Software programs
There are many programs specifically designed for autism spectrum disorders. They are used for additional educational intervention.
Floortime™ (or DIRFloortime™) is a specific technique to both follow the child’s natural emotional interests (lead) and at the same time challenge the child towards greater and greater mastery of the social, emotional, and intellectual capacities. With young children these playful interactions may occur on the floor, but go on to include conversations and interactions in other places. DIRFloortime™ emphasizes the critical role of parents and other family members because of the importance of their emotional relationships with the child. The DIR® Model, however, is a comprehensive framework which enables clinicians, parents and educators to construct a program tailored to the child’s unique challenges and strengths. Central to the DIR® Model is the role of the child’s natural emotions and interests which has been shown to be essential for learning interactions that enable the different parts of the mind and brain to work together and build successively higher levels of social, emotional, and intellectual capacities. It often includes, in addition to Floortime™, various problem-solving exercises and typically involves a team approach with speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational programs, mental health (developmental-psychological) intervention and, where appropriate, augmentative and biomedical intervention.
Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)
Developed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely, relationship development intervention is a parent-based model program that provides a means for individuals with autism and asperger disorder to learn about and experience authentic emotional relationships in a gradual, systematic way. The enjoyable activities in this program emphasize foundation skills such as social referencing, regulating behavior, conversational reciprocity and synchronized actions.
SCERTS® is an innovative educational model for working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. It provides specific guidelines for helping a child become a competent and confident social communicator, while preventing problem behaviors that interfere with learning and the development of relationships. It also is designed to help families, educators and therapists work cooperatively as a team, in a carefully coordinated manner, to maximize progress in supporting a child. The acronym “SCERTS” refers to the focus on: “SC” - Social Communication – the development of spontaneous, functional communication, emotional expression, and secure and trusting relationships with children and adults; “ER” - Emotional Regulation - the development of the ability to maintain a well-regulated emotional state to cope with everyday stress, and to be most available for learning and interacting; “TS” – Transactional Support – the development and implementation of supports to help partners respond to the child’s needs and interests, modify and adapt the environment, and provide tools to enhance learning (e.g., picture communication, written schedules, and sensory supports). Specific plans are also developed to provide educational and emotional support to families, and to foster teamwork among professionals.
The Son-Rise Program
The Son-Rise Program Start-Up is a 5-day group training program for parents, relatives and professionals looking to facilitate meaningful progress in their children (ages 18 months through 60 years) challenged by Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and other related developmental difficulties. Exciting, inspiring and diverse presentations by a group of seasoned and dedicated teachers, will deliver to you the autism strategies, expertise, motivation and knowledge honed through years of working with thousands of families and children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. At the end of this course, you will have all the tools necessary to design and implement your own home-based Son-Rise Program, as well as the skills and attitude to impact your child’s growth in all areas of learning, communication, development and skill acquisition. | <urn:uuid:f63101ae-7910-4435-98b1-8c30836e03ec> | {
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Basics of Stoppers
Stoppers are a type of Passive Protection
and are also known as Nuts. Stoppers are designed to be crammed deep in small to medium sized cracks. Most stopper placements are only appropriate for one direction of pull (normally down).
When placing nuts, the key is to have as much surface area of the nut touching the rock as possible. If the nut is relying primarily on a small crystal on one side you risk having that crystal break, which in turn allows the nut to be released from the rock. An ideal nut placement is often a crack that starts wider than the nut you plan to use and gradually narrows until the crack is thinner than the actual nut. Therefore you can place the nut in the wide section and pull down until the nut becomes 'stuck'.Full Article | <urn:uuid:850dc452-36f8-415e-bce9-737f3ff6da31> | {
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The medical and therapeutic properties of silver have been known and used for thousands of years. In fact, the Romans were the first to document the healing properties of silver. In the 5th Century said Ciro the Great to his troops without silver container to take for water transport into the war, because he knew that they would receive purity and potability of the water.
Proverbs "born with a silver spoon in his mouth" originally meant, during childhood to have greater chances of survival. Today we know that silver
E-coli and salmonella kills. Both organisms were preferably not made of silver cutlery and are considered disease source, if not the cause of death.
Today, silver is widely used for various applications, such as getting American children at birth with silver nitrate eye drops administered to prevent infections.
Silver is characterized by unique properties:
Silver has the highest electrical conductivity
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity
Silver has the highest reflectance of infrared rays
Silver has the best effect in shielding an electromagnetic superposition (EMI)
All these features were unique with Silverline ® into a fabric of
Nature and function united.
Silverline ® utilizes the outstanding properties of silver on its own and is characterized by the following properties:
• natural antimicrobial function
• prevents the formation of unpleasant odors
• optimal antistatic effect
• shielding against electromagnetic waves
• permanent since firmly bound
A number of scientific studies confirmed the effect of the silver fiber used include:
New York University, Dr. Philip Terno
The university has the traditional Kirby - Bauer method to determine the effect antimicrobiotic used. The results confirmed not only the outstanding properties of the silver fiber as mikrobiotisches means, but also show that the examined tissue to bacteria resistant to respond in a number of drugs acts inactivating. This determination confirms an effective and economical method to take the growing problem of microbes resistant to antibiotics react in attack.
Tokai University, Dr. Seiki Tazume and Dr. Takahiko Yoshida
This study, which was conducted in Japan, based on a real environment, and works with 20 volunteers to the excellent skills against bacteria and fungi to demonstrate. These results are consistent with the rapid increase of knitted products in the Japanese market. By the Japanese Health Authority has been authorized as an antimicrobial agent.
Well-being of your sleep
Silver was used 3000 years ago to water tanks to protect against bacterial infection. The same protection force and medical qualities are now used in a mattress cover that holds the bed fresh and clean.
Silverline ® uses a real silver fiber is a natural antimicrobial protection guarantee. The fiber protects against bacterial pollution, bad odor or infection of the mattress by bacteria and salmonella.
Silverline ® uses the same silver fiber to prevent electrostatic charging of the mattress. Electrostatic energy can build up when synthetic fibers rub against each other or just for example, if Their children play with their (synthetic) stuffed animals.
Silverline ® discharges the electrostatic energy that has absorbed during its activities throughout the day, the human body.
The lack of this energy promotes deep and restful sleep.
Silverline ® is resistant and thus washable at 60 ° C. | <urn:uuid:5f7750b0-b164-45f4-a8aa-530ab440813d> | {
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Meat from cows that graze on grass and clover only, instead of being fed pellets of corn and soy, are healthier. They have more vitamins, minerals and omegas. Why? Because the chlorophyll in the greens is abundant with omegas and magnesium, has basically the same cell structure as our hemoglobin, builds blood which carries the oxygen and helps to eliminate toxins through the skin to name a few. What you eat is what your body gets; either benefits or issues. Fish and seafood no longer come from the pristine waters of the past but polluted waters.
Animals that are subjected to CAFO and pellets for food are fed antibiotics, growth hormones and GMO corn and soy pellets, not what their digestive systems were designed for. They are stressed from overly cramped quarters, cruelly treated , abused, live in gestation cribs not allowed to move, pigs boiled alive to remove their skin, grown too fast and fattened unnaturally fast to get them to market in unusually cruel circumstances, chicken beaks are cut off without novacaine and their cages are so small they can't move. This affects the meat.
How does this relate to Diabetes, Cancer and inconvenient ailments? Modifying away from what
is natural for what the animals eat, the vegetables we eat, especially the GMO vegetables, and continuously and heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables enter your body. These pesticides are not acceptable to the body and are treated like intruders. They cause inflammation. CAFO cows in feed lots stand in large amounts mud and feces up to a foot high. Bacteria heaven! This does not make a healthy environment. What can enter the animal can then enter you by eating the meat.
Small amounts of aggravators add up over time and cause imbalances in your body. Growth hormones and antibiotics also enter your body through meat. You can see the affects of both in your children and yourself for both. If you were a cell or two in your body you'd feel choked, punched, pulled, stretched, burned, ...unable to function. Grouped together you feel like these descriptors, which doesn’t feel good to you.. You get the idea. You can see the effects on children. Their bodies are maturing at a much faster rate than 20 - 30 years ago. This messes up the balance of their hormones which can upset their natural individual time and processes when they mature as teens. If your kids are diabetic and have other ailments adding these to the mix exacerbates their issues as the body sees the antibiotics and growth hormones as intruders, which agitates, aggravates and inflames.
Other issues pertain to dairy and farm subsidies. Dairy is touted for all of the calcium and that you must have 3 good servings of dairy per day. Well that's advertising. You don't. Dark leafy greens have more calcium and without the fate, bacteria and pus. Plus, too much calcium actually creates more fractures. The CDC even has data that with the increase of calcium in middle aged to the elderly as the consumption of calcium has gone up, so have hip fractures. You need the correct balance of calcium and collagen, as collagen keeps joints and bones flexible, keeps them from breaking, not calcium. As you age and eat incorrectly your body loses calcium you do need to replace it with calcium rich foods. Calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies are important factors if you are diabetic. Balance of one element is key to stay healthy as it is for all of the elements and processes in your body.
Food subsidies create the situation of "oh my" what do we do with all the surplus milk, soy and corn we grow after CAFO cows are fed. Push them on to an unassuming population through processed foods, and advertise them heavily. The farm soil, unless organic through healthier practices, blows away over time creating dust bowls and barren land because it becomes nutrient devoid, as mentioned earlier, the ecosystem in the soil is chemically burnt out.
Organic farms and foods need to be subsidized if anything is to be. Organic makes for healthier animals, but what about the farmer, his family an the farm workers who work in heavily and continuously sprayed fields? Organic farms are healthier to live on and work on which equates to less stress and agitation on their bodies which means less inflammation and less lifestyle diseases or pregnancy issues.
I wrote this article to relate how the mass Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations for meat, fruits and vegetables is not healthy and how it impacts your life, especially when you have to deal with a degenerative disease like Diabetes or Cancer. The more you eat from this less healthy "deadly" food system, the less healthy you become and the more ill you are. It may feed more people but at what cost? Cost to your health, cost to the environment, cost to our waterways from industrial and farm runoffs, cost to the farmers and farm workers. Every dollar you spend in it, except for organic or farms that practice sustainable practices, affects your health negatively, aggravates your current diseases and aliments requiring you to manage your disease, not live your life. Food subsidies had their place in the Great Depression. They were supposed to end after it. Politics kept them going to this day pushed onto the American people by big agriculture lobbies currently, and by biased and incorrect marketing.
Even though organic is initially more costly because it is not subsidized, there are ways to find
inexpensive organic produce. Let your local representatives and Congress know that if any food is subsidized it should be healthy organic foods. Processed foods are stripped of most if not all of their nutrients and then maybe 6 or so may be added back into the final product along with HFCS, sugars, chemical and alot of bad fats. They are then labeled fortified. Why remove the nutrients in the first place?
Think clean, eat more green and a rainbow of colors, eat organic or the cleanest foods on the EWG clean and dirty lists at EWG.org. Think more fresh air, fresh clean water, findaspring.com, say no to pesticides, herbicides or extremely limit their use, artificial food, food dyes, MSG, chemicals, hidden sugars and bad fats, antibiotics (if a must, eat or drink a food that supplies you with healthy bacteria to keep the flora in your stomach in balance) and growth hormones especially kids, to popping a pill for every ailment, and GMO foods. Rethink highly processed foods, transition to whole foods, fruits, grass fed meats and safe seafood. Think calm and adding movement to your life, connect with nature, take walks, dance, pick up a hoola hoop, shoot hoops, jump rope, work out, move about, mow the lawn with a manual or electric push mower, and whatever you like. Just get off your butt and move.
Oh, and smile. And make sure to have some fun | <urn:uuid:b8c903b1-0142-4a02-89fe-f36f5c445fe7> | {
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Earth Hour biggest ever this year
Last night, as Earth Hour beganits monumental journey around the globe, hundreds of millions of people united to demonstrate that we urgently need to take action to protect our planet.
The largest voluntary action for the environment is reaching further than ever before. Earth Hour was celebrated in a record 150 countries and territories and 6494 towns and cities to send the message that our combined efforts are needed to change our future to one that is sustainable.
From the International Space Station to the Office of the UN Secretary General, to a passionate teenager who has organized Earth Hour in Libya for the first time, the global movement is inspiring individuals, organizations and governments to take action to address the important environmental challenges that effect us all.
"Turning off our lights is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all," UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said. "We need to fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy. By acting together today, we can power a brighter tomorrow," he said.
The Acropolis in Athens is plunged into darkness to mark Earth Hour. Credit: WWF
For more on this, continue reading at WWF. | <urn:uuid:919bb37d-a4d9-4784-bb0e-e145ace5c482> | {
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By early 1915, the lines in northern France had become static and the trench warfare that WWI is known for had commenced. Many soldiers and officers found themselves not only green, but found their senior leadership green in the tactics of the trench as well. New ideas had to be considered and new tactics developed to break the enemy lines for any offensive to succeed. The British First Army, under the command of the often maligned General Douglas Haig, was given the task of taking the immediate German positions, Neuve Chapelle and finally Aubers ridge. The First Army was made up of British, Canadian, and Indian troops.
Although the battle is not often associated with the major battles of the First World War, it is highly significant in the analysis of the planning, technology, and tactical advances of the time. The battle exhibited major breakthroughs in four key areas.
- The German lines were mapped extensively by aerial reconnaissance by a British air arm that was in its infancy. This allowed;
- Detailed maps to be distributed to the ground forces which contained phase lines and timed intervals for movements which were co-ordinated with;
- Air support in the attack and;
- Heavy artillery preparation of targets in advance with the lifting and shifting of fires in time with infantry movements. More rounds were sent skyward in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle than in all of the Boer War.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
These innovations paid off at first with Haig taking the immediate objective of the German line salient and then the village of Neuve Chapelle. However, the attack bogged down soon thereafter, well before reaching the final objective of the Aubers ridge. A competent German counter-attack was partly the cause, but unforced errors also came into play. There were several tactical explanations for the halt that are common to many battlefields;
- Poor weather on the second day limited aerial observation and support which contributed to;
- Poor communications that kept the leadership from knowing where things were progressing properly and where they weren’t which led to;
- Bad tactical intelligence that led some areas to be allotted more troops than needed and others less than needed which led to;
- The fog of war where things tend to freeze on the senior decision level, but local fighting goes on, but is uncoordinated with the larger picture.
The battle was a limited tactical win for the British, but at a heavy cost of approximately 12,000 casualties. In the longer term Neuve Chapelle became the professional template for a new set of tactics that would become prevalent for the rest of the war.
Map credit – New York Times “Current History”. The European War, Vol. 2 No. 2, May 1915.
Downloaded from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15479
Motorcycle Ride Recommendation
This is a great ride when you are going somewhere else in France. It is only 60 miles from Calais and can be seen on the way to the south of France, Paris or Belgium with only a minor detour. From Calais, head to Neuve Chapelle, then take the following circular ride of the area. This is not a spectacularly scenic ride, but you get to ride along the British front line from Neuve Chapelle to Fleurbaix (with a British Cemetary in Fauquissart), then see the Aubers ridge objective, then down to the pivot point in the line at La Bassee. | <urn:uuid:ba63efaa-63e6-411e-b465-2e9240f54b4c> | {
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| A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H || I || J || K || L || M || N || O || P || Q || R || S || T || U || V || W || X || Y || Z |
Air leak - when air leaks through holes in the lung tissue into the spaces outside the lung airways.
Alveoli - tiny sacs that are the smallest airways of the lungs.
Apnea - to stop breathing.
Asphyxia - a general term used to describe inadequate intake of oxygen by the baby.
Bilirubin - substance formed when red blood cells break down and are excreted by the liver. Too much bilirubin in the blood causes jaundice.
Bradycardia - slowing of the heart rate.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) - see chronic lung disease.
Chronic lung disease (also called CLD or bronchopulmonary dysplasia) - a term for long-term respiratory problems in premature babies that results from lung injury from treatments with mechanical ventilators and oxygen.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - air or oxygen delivered to the lungs under a small amount of pressure through an endotracheal tube or nasal prongs.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - a virus related to the herpes virus group of infections.
Dubowitz/Ballard exam - An examination used to estimate a newborn's gestational age from the baby's appearance, skin texture, motor function, and reflexes.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
Endotracheal tube (ET) - a tube placed through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe).
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - one of the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), a group of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy.
Gavage feedings - feedings given through a tube inserted in the baby's mouth or nose into the stomach.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn - a condition that occurs when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and baby, causing breaking down of red blood cells.
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn - Vitamin K deficiency disorder, a bleeding problem that occurs in a newborn during the first few days of life caused by a deficiency in vitamin K.
Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) - see respiratory distress syndrome.
Hyperglycemia - high amounts of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Hyperkalemia - high amounts of potassium in the blood.
Hypernatremia - high amounts of sodium (salt) in the blood.
Hypocalcemia - low calcium levels in the blood.
Hypoglycemia - low amounts of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) - a term for inadequate fetal growth during pregnancy.
Intravenous (IV) - a method of giving medication or fluids directly into the vein.
Intraventricular hemorrhage - bleeding inside the ventricles (hollow chambers) in the brain.
Jaundice - a yellow coloring of the skin and/or eyes that is caused by too much bilirubin in the blood.
Kernicterus - build up of bilirubin in the tissues of the brain.
Lactation consultant (IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) - a nurse or other healthcare provider specially trained to help women with breastfeeding.
Large for gestational age (LGA) - a term used to describe babies who are born weighing more than the usual amount for the number of weeks of pregnancy.
low birthweight - refers to a baby weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) at birth.
Meconium aspiration - when a baby breathes in amniotic fluid containing meconium (the first bowel movement). This can occur prior to or during birth.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) - a serious intestinal illness in babies that can cause tissue damage to the intestines.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) - a term for a group of problems a baby experiences when withdrawing from drug use by the mother during pregnancy.
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) - a special care nursery that uses advanced technology and trained health professionals to care for sick and premature newborns.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) - a condition in which the connecting blood vessel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta in fetal circulation stays open in a newborn baby.
Periventricular leukomalacia - softening of the white matter of the brain near the ventricles due to damage and death of brain tissue.
Pneumomediastinum - air leaks into the mediastinum (the space in the thoracic cavity behind the sternum and between the two pleural sacs containing the lungs).
Pneumopericardium - air leaks into the sac surrounding the heart.
Pneumothorax - air leaks into the space between the chest wall and the outer tissues of the lungs.
Polycythemia - a condition in which there are too many red blood cells in the blood circulation.
Premature baby - a baby born at or before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) - air leaks and is trapped between the alveoli, the tiny air sacs.
Respiratory distress syndrome (also called RDS, hyaline membrane disease, or HMD) - a condition of premature infant lungs due to insufficient surfactant, a substance in the lungs that helps the air sacs stay open.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - an infection that causes inflammation of the lower airways and pneumonia.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - a disorder of the blood vessels of the retina (the light sensitive part of the eye) that is common in premature babies.
Small for gestational age (SGA) - a term used to describe a newborn who is smaller than normal for the number of weeks of pregnancy.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under 1 year of age.
Thrombocytopenia - a condition in which there are too few platelets (cells produced in the bone marrow that are needed for clotting).
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) - a mild respiratory problem of babies, characterized by rapid breathing, that begins after birth and lasts about three days.
Umbilical artery catheter - a tube that is placed into an umbilical artery of a sick newborn to allow fluids and medications to be given, and for blood to be drawn.
Very low birthweight - refers to a baby who is born weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 4 ounces).
X-ray - a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. | <urn:uuid:417af525-20e5-44a4-92c4-ac305f70cba9> | {
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While she recounts her summer adventures, she is also undergoing a hip- replacement operation in a New York hospital and the surgery is being carried out under a local anaesthetic so she can be awake.
In American hospitals almost half of all operations are now carried out under local and regional anaesthetics like this, and in Scandinavia the figures are even higher, with eight out of 10 patients operated on using local anaesthesia.
But in Britain, it's estimated that less than 20 per cent of patients have a local anaesthetic, despite claims that those who are given them recover faster, are healthier, suffer less post-operative pain, and get back to work more quickly.
With a general anaesthetic, the patient is given a fast-acting drug, usually on the back of the hand, and is then maintained in a state of unconsciousness for the duration of the operation. Muscle relaxants may also be used to allow the surgeon to get at areas protected by strong muscles. When these relaxants are used, patients have to breathe with the help of a ventilator via a tube down the throat.
Local anaesthetics can be administered in the area where the surgery is to take place, or close to the large nerves that service the area to be operated on, like an injection around the collarbone to numb the hand.
Two other types of local or regional anaesthetic are spinal blocks and epidurals, which involve injections into different sections of the spinal cord. In both cases, once the drugs have been injected the area will become numb and feel paralysed, but the patient will remain awake and alert.
According to Dr Terry Dodge, a director of the American Association of Anaesthesiology, and an anaesthetist in South Carolina, this staying awake is one of the reasons why regional and local anaesthetics are so popular.
"Our population is very informed. They like to have as little done to them as they can, they like to know what is happening, and a lot of them like to be awake and alert. With regionals they have a shorter recovery time so they can get back to work and functioning, they feel like eating more quickly, their colour is a lot better, and they need less anti-pain medication.
"I'd say that in America 40 per cent have regionals and 60 per cent generals. That's a lot higher than the UK, and when I talk to British anaesthetists they are very surprised that we do so many spinal and local anaesthetics.''
A wide range of surgery is now carried out with regional anaesthetics at American hospitals, and only operations involving the head and chest are routinely performed with a general anaesthetic.
"Other than that, it's mostly regionals or locals. We do very few things on legs and arms with patients asleep. We do knee and hip replacements here under regional anaesthetics or epidurals. We remove colons and gall bladders in the same way and most of the patients are talking to me while it's happening. If patients are nervous they can be sedated, which makes the time go more quickly, but they can still scratch their nose if it itches.''
Just why there is such a big difference in practice between anaesthetists in Britain and those in America and a number of other countries is not clear. Some surgeons, particularly those who are young or inexperienced, are known not to like having patients watching what is happening, and some believe a general anaesthetic is less stressful for the patient. Anaesthetists say it's down to demand and that patients in Britain expect to be unconscious during their operation.
"One of the reasons for the different is patient expectation. There is something in the British psyche that says you must go to sleep during an operation and know nothing about it. Indeed, some people would find it stressful being awake. If you ask the average patient what state they would like to be in for a hip replacement, 100 per cent would say asleep,'' says Dr David Wilkinson, a consultant anaesthetist at St Bart's in London and the treasurer of the Association of Anaesthetists of Britain and Ireland.
Patients should be given a choice where possible, but if the anaesthetist is not skilled in the regular use of regional or local anaesthetics, it is an unrealistic option.
Dr Wilkinson says that patients' choices can also be influenced by what the anaesthetist tells them.
"You can influence the patient quite dramatically because there are two ways of putting things. I can say, 'You are going to have this operation on your knee, and I can either inject you with this big needle which I will push into your back and put in these drugs which will numb you from the waist down, or you can have a tiny little scratch on your hand which will put you to sleep.'
"But I could offer the same choice and say, "I'm going to make a tiny little scratch on your back and it will make you numb but you'll still be awake, or I can give you a general anaesthetic, push this great big tube down your throat and put you on a breathing machine for several hours. It's your choice.'''
He says 80 to 90 per cent of operations in the UK are carried out with general anaesthetics, and that there is no proof that regionals are better or safer: "Your discharge time is faster but long-term recovery probably doesn't change. You may be able to go home two days after having a bowel removed, but your body still has to recover at home,'' he says.
Although local anaesthetics are gaining in popularity, they are not new. The first nerve blocker was used in the spring of 1885 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore when cocaine was injected to anaesthetise a patient who was being treated for masturbation, then considered a grave medical problem.
It apparently did not work out for that particular problem but, within a short time, it was being used for almost every major operation. Survival rates increased dramatically, patients recovered very quickly, and the only casualties were members of the surgical team who became lifelong cocaine addicts.Reuse content | <urn:uuid:61cf3e96-f672-45b6-9825-a906be57c238> | {
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Making conservation research accessible to communities and decision makers is complex. To focus our work effectively, Miistakis identified six research areas where our skills and expertise could have the greatest impact. Some research areas are tightly focused on a critical issue, while others reflect a common thread binding several issues. Any given project or conservation effort we support may draw knowledge from multiple theme areas.
Conservation Planning and Policy
Success in environmental conservation largely relies on being proactive. This requires developing plans of various types, catalyzing improvements in the policy process, and working with a wide variety of ENGOs, provincial agencies, local governments, and industry players. Miistakis provides support in many areas of conservation planning (wildlife management, private land securement, connectivity, municipal conservation, park management, strategic conservation, watershed management, and others), and works to catalyze innovation in policy making of various types (land use policy, fiscal policy, conservation policy, science policy, and others).
Citizens are facing complex conservation challenges. Stronger sustainable solutions engage citizens in better understanding the issue, contributing personal knowledge and experience, and implementation. Miistakis uses a citizen science approach to generate data to inform conservation challenges, and create a knowledgeable and engaged citizenry. Miistakis develops tools and frameworks that contribute to successful citizen science projects.
Human Wildlife Coexistence
In today's changing landscape it is often challenging for wildlife to coexist on the landscape with humans. Human developments including housing, agriculture, industry and recreation infringe on wildlife habitat and movement areas. Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Miistakis is interested in examining the ways to improve the coexistence of humans and wildlife. This often includes determining wildlife needs, assessing human impacts to wildlife habitat and exploring adaptive management for both humans and wildlife.
Private Land Conservation
Much of the land that is critical for wildlife habitat, water cycling, nutrient flows and other ecological processes across the broad landscape is privately held. Land trusts and municipalities are working to ensure those parcels continue to play these important roles. Miistakis supports both the individual organizations and the private land conservation community, including landowners, by providing necessary research services, tools, resources, and planning, management and policy assistance.
Transportation infrastructure across the world poses numerous environmental challenges, affecting our air, landscapes and water. From a landscape perspective, roads and railways cause wildlife mortality through collisions and act as a significant barrier to wildlife movements. The Miistakis Institute aims to: generate awareness of the challenges that transportation infrastructure poses to wildlife; to promote workable solutions to these challenges; and to generate support for implementing these solutions. | <urn:uuid:ca953b94-f6ae-42f1-bf74-71e37f09f84b> | {
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Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis, from The Australian National University (ANU), says breathing in fine particles from bushfires has serious health effects.
He also says the problem will only increase with climate change causing more extreme weather, like major bushfires and prolonged heatwaves.
“Toxic air is currently the number one global environmental health hazard and we need to do something about it,” he said.
“There is a myth that smoke that comes from burning natural fuel like wood or biomass is not as harmful as burning coal, oil or other chemicals.
“There is no consistent evidence that the fine particles that come from wood burning are less harmful than emissions from cars for example.
“Even short-term exposure to toxic air can cause health symptoms in young children and the elderly or exacerbate problems for people with heart and lung conditions, such as asthma.”
On Thursday, the NSW Rural Fire Service warned smoke in Sydney will remain for days.
“People in Sydney are now breathing in fine particles that can get deep into the respiratory system,” Professor Vardoulakis said.
“That can cause inflammation, which has knock-on effect on their organs and overall health.”
The professor’s research recently published in Springer found that short and long-term exposure to particulate matter – the hazardous particles within smoke – is associated with increased illness and death rates.
“Some people like the smell of wood burning in their fireplace because they think it is good and natural. But it is bad for your health,” Professor Vardoulakis said.
“Smoke coming from burning is harmful no matter where it comes from.”
The professor says there are ways to reduce exposure to smoke from bushfires by spending more time indoors, shutting windows and using air purifiers, and limiting physical exercise outdoors.
“Sometimes people use very ineffective ways of protecting themselves. Surgical masks will not help. It is better to stay indoors when air pollution levels are very high, make sure the car air-conditioner is using recirculated air, and avoid burning wood or any other fuel in their homes” he said.
“People at high-risk should consider moving away from the smoke haze if this persists over long periods.”
“Ultimately, we need to address the underlying issue, which is climate change causing prolonged very dry conditions and extremely hot weather in Australia”.
Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis
Professor of Global Environmental Health
ANU Research school of Population Health
T:+61 0 6125 0657
M: 0490 711 964
For media assistance, contact Rachel Curtis on 0459879726 or the ANU Media Team on +61 2 6125 7979 or at [email protected] | <urn:uuid:1e4d476c-6e48-4df9-8e43-fdcaf05d5a9f> | {
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|Basic Information||Biotope classification||Ecology||Habitat preferences and distribution||Species composition||Sensitivity||Importance|
Image Anon. - Saccharina latissima, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment. Image width ca 50 cm in foreground.
Image copyright information
SS.IMX.KSwMx.LsacX recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)
To assess the sensitivity of the biotope, the sensitivity of component species is reviewed. Those species that are considered to be particularly indicative of the sensitivity of the biotope, and for which research has been undertaken in detail are shown below (see selection criteria). The biology of other component species of the biotope is also taken into account wherever information is known to the researcher.
|Community Importance||Species name||Common Name|
|Important characterizing||Chorda filum||Sea lace|
|Important characterizing||Saccharina latissima||Sugar kelp|
|Important functional||Asterias rubens||Common starfish|
|Important other||Arenicola marina||Blow lug|
Saccharina latissima and Chorda filum characterize the biotope and it would not be IMX.LsacX without them. Asterias rubens and Arenicola marina both occur in small numbers but represent species that are important predators and bioturbators respectively.
This review can be cited as follows:
Hiscock, K. 2001. Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21/09/2014]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatreproduction.php?habitatid=58&code=1997> | <urn:uuid:71164c5b-dffa-42a6-98d2-4c3d3f70f714> | {
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About Alaska and its Music History
Alaska, admitted into the Union as the 49th state in 1959, is a land of immensity, vastness and contrast. It got its name from the Aleut word Alyeska: 'the great land'. Alaska's diversity is evident from the far-flung regions that encompass 39 mountain ranges containing 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States, including Mt. McKinley, or Denali (The Great One), at 20,320 ft (6,252 m), the tallest mountain in North America. Alaska has 33,904 miles (54,246 km) of shoreline (twice the length of the 'lower' states) and 470 sq miles (1,200 sq km) of permafrost. Temperatures can range from 90°F (32°C) or higher in summer to minus 60°F (16°C) in winter. Alaska's land area is 570,374 sq miles (1,460,000 sq km), making it the largest state in the United States -- one-fifth the size of the combined contiguous 48 states. The state is divided into six geographical areas: South Central/Gulf Coast; Southwestern/Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands; Southeastern; Northern/Arctic; Western/Bering Sea Coast; Interior (Northeast to the Canadian Border).
Human beings have inhabited Southeast, the Aleutians, the Interior and the northwest Arctic for 11,000 or more years. Alaska's first explorers and settlers were confronted with the various and rich traditions of the several Native populations: the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Athabascan, Yup'ik, Inupiat, Aleut and Eyak, each of which had its own rituals of music and dance. The successful voyages of Vitus Bering and of his lieutenant Alexis Chirikov in 1741 opened Alaska to Russian explorations. The first colony was established in 1784 on Kodiak Island, and the coming of Orthodox priests and the subsequent formation of Russian Orthodox congregations had an immediate effect on the indigenous music in the southeastern portion of the territory.
Alaska's physical extremes - of distance, of sunlight and darkness and, above all, of cold - have meant that, from the days of the first settlers, providing one's own musical entertainment was a hugely important element in survival. That tradition of self-provision has continued into the twenty-first century and, although the various media are all present and have made distinctive contributions to Alaskan musical life, Alaskans have continued to think of themselves in significant ways as self-sufficient, and music plays a very large role in their individual lives.
|Visit our sponsors| | <urn:uuid:4ccd64aa-a0ef-428c-b5d2-8e0057b66f69> | {
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SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: Imagine you were a brilliant scientist who discovered something amazing, like, an instant hair growth potion! You could make a fortune but first you have to make sure no-one else can copy your idea. You have to go and get something called a patent. It's a document which makes you the legal owner of your invention so no-one can copy it for 20 years.
You can patent all sorts of things from electronic gadgets to Star Wars toys. Michael Jackson even patented his special gravity defying shoes and some companies have put patents on genes. Not these jeans, these.
They're like our body's recipe book; codes that determine everything about us. There are genes which make your hair blonde, genes which make your eyes brown. There are even genes which make you more likely to get certain diseases. And as scientists find out more about just what each gene does, some are patenting what they find.
KID: Hang on! I thought you could only patent stuff you invented. How can you patent something that's a part of me?
Well in nature you can't really study or use a gene on its own. You have to make a synthetic copy and that counts as an invention, as long as you can find a use for it. But it's controversial.
In Australia a fight's been going on over genes which can cause breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Testing for the genes can save lives. But a few years ago Aussie scientists were told they weren't allowed to do the tests because the rights to those genes were owned by a company.
In the end that company changed its mind and let the tests continue but it got many researchers worried about how patents can affect science. The Australian government changed the law so that scientists can use patented inventions for research as long as they're not going to make a profit. But some say when it comes to genes patents shouldn't be allowed at all.
GRAEME SUTHERS, ROYAL COLLEGE OF PATHOLOGISTS (2009): It is absolute nonsense to consider that the gene could be patented. It's a naturally occurring substance. It would make as much sense to patent a gene as it does to patent the moon.
IAN OLVER, CEO, CANCER COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA: Look, if you can just get a patent for just discovering the presence of a gene, then you really block everyone else from being able to work on that gene. And so we are saying that that's not what patent law should be. It should be about an inventive step, then you can have the patent.
Organisations like the Cancer Council say scientists need access to all the information they can get. So they can make new discoveries, share information, and ultimately, find cures. They're supporting a new law which this politician is trying to pass, which would ban all gene patents in Australia. But then there's the other side of the argument.
Private companies spend a lot of money on genetic research, knowing that they can make a profit from their discoveries. If there's not as much profit being made there might not be as much research done. Some reckon the government needs to support any company that's looking for cures. Plus, companies only get 20 years to make money from their patent and some say that's not very long by the time they've finished testing their treatments. Hopefully there's a solution that keeps medical research growing. | <urn:uuid:50d7bfc4-85ba-457f-b023-41a386e322c3> | {
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This post will highlight the importance of Tummy Time and offer some helpful Tummy Time Tips and Tricks to help make Tummy Time more enjoyable for all!
Let’s begin with some important questions:
Why does my baby need Tummy Time?
Tummy time helps children develop important neck, back, and shoulder muscles. The muscles are needed to help achieve early motor milestones. Tummy time may also help prevent motor delays and conditions such as flat head syndrome (Plagiocephaly) and twisted neck (Torticollis). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing babies on their backs to sleep and on their tummies to play.
Tummy time also allows children the opportunity to visually explore the environment in a new way. When a child is positioned on their back, he or she can see only the ceiling and whatever is directly around them. But on the child’s stomach, they begin to independently engage their muscles to lift their head and see their environment at eye level, giving the child a completely new view of the world!
As the child begins to gain head and neck control on tummy, they will be able to push up on forearms and then hands. This input is important to shoulder stability as well as hand strength and future fine motor skill development.
Why does my baby seem to dislike Tummy Time?
Positioning a child on their tummy can be trying for the child, especially at first as the child has to work against gravity to maintain their head in a vertical position. The muscles of the head, neck and upper back have not yet been challenged in this manner, and thus are not yet developed. Also the child may feel “trapped” in this position, as they do not yet have the skills to roll from tummy to back.
How do I make Tummy Time more fun?
Instead of placing your baby on tummy and leaving them with a few toys, first begin by rolling them from back to belly, and belly to back a few times. This is a great way to incorporate motor learning and show the child that they can transition in and out of tummy time.
Talk through the movements and actions as you guide your child onto their stomach, your voice will be both soothing and reassuring. Make tummy time part of the daily routine, as your child adds tummy time to their “repertoire” of skills, you will see marked improvement in their comfort and skill level!
When should my baby start Tummy Time?
Tummy Time can begin as soon as your baby comes home from the hospital.
How much Tummy Time does my baby need?
Try to build up child’s tolerance, incorporating different tummy time activities throughout the day. Aim for a few minutes at a time, several times a day.
As your child gains strength and comfort, increase the amount of time you spend enjoying tummy time!
Fun Tummy Time Tips and Tricks
Tummy time does not need to take place solely on the floor, here are a few Tummy Time Tips and Tricks to mix up the tummy time routine and make things more fun for all!
1. Tummy to Tummy
Lie down on a soft surface, flat or propped up on pillows. Place baby on your chest or tummy, so that you are face-to-face. Always hold firmly for safety. This is not only a great alternative tummy time position, it also engages the child’s visual system and is a great bonding opportunity for parent and baby! Perfect addition to your Tummy Time Tips and Tricks!
2. Eye Level Smile
Get down level with baby to encourage eye contact. You can roll up blanket under the child’s chest and under arms for additional support. Using your own body, soft toy or links, once the child’s gaze is locked, slowly move object side to side and up and down, your baby will begin tracking while maintaining tummy time position!
3. Lap Soothe
Place baby face down across your lap to burp or soothe them. A hand on baby’s bottom will help steady and calm them.
4. Tummy Down Carry
Position one hand under the tummy and between the legs and carry baby tummy down. Nestle baby close to your body.
5. Tummy Minute
Place baby on their tummy after routine activities such as diapering or bathing for one to two minute intervals. Gradually increase duration, allowing child to get used to tummy time as part of their daily routine.
Other Tummy Time Play Positions
Learn more about Dinosaur Physical Therapy! | <urn:uuid:81b893c4-87b1-4df3-98bd-2d5b17a4b301> | {
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Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a non-recyclable composite material lumber or timber made of recycled plastic and wood wastes which has become one of the most dynamic sectors of the plastics industry in this decade. It is used in numerous applications, such as, outdoor deck floors, railings, fences, landscaping timbers, park benches, window and door frames. This book starts with a brief glimpse at the basic structures and properties of WPCs. Aspects such as surface treatment, machinery used and testing types of WPCs are also covered. The following chapters of the book give a view of foam technology, flame retardant properties and colour retardant properties of WPCs. The way morphology affects or controls the physical and mechanical behaviours of the finished materials is discussed. Finally, the authors give an overview of the applications of wood-plastic composites in daily life. The book may serve as a source book for scientists wishing to work in this field. | <urn:uuid:1dc17d7b-e388-482d-a3ad-8c1a7afe43fd> | {
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Rick Perry — and His Critics — Still Don't Understand Say's Law
[Editor's note: Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Thursday declared "you put the supply out there and the demand will follow." It appears that Perry was attempting to invoke Say's Law, and many professional economists and pundits quickly took to mocking both Perry and Say's Law for making assertions contrary to modern Keynesian orthodoxy. Below, economist Per Bylund explains what Say's Law really says, and why it's a good thing.]
Few concepts are as misunderstood as the so-called Say’s Law. In part, this is the fault of John Maynard Keynes, who needed to do away with it to make room for interventionist policy. How do you do away with a “Law” that had been core to economists’ understanding of the market economy for 150 years? You misrepresent it. Strawmen are so much easier to knock over than the real thing.
Hence, the “Law” is presently known, in Keynes’ terms, as “supply creates its own demand,” which is obviously untrue.
Originally, however, the meaning was different. It also had a different name. Economists prior to Keynes tended to refer to it as the Law of Markets, because it describes in very simple terms the fundamentals of how a market functions. Jean Baptiste Say was the one to express the law in the simplest way, which may be why it has come to bear his name.
Say noted that “A product is no sooner created, than it, from that instant, affords a market for other products to the full extent of its own value.”1 This means that “As each of us can only purchase the productions of others with his own productions — as the value we can buy is equal to the value we can produce, the more men can produce, the more they will purchase.”2
In other words, production precedes consumption and anyone’s demand is constituted by supply.
The Law of Markets thus summarizes the nature of market actions where production is specialized under the division of labor. Specifically, that we produce to sell, with the intention to then use the proceeds to buy what we really want. Market production is in other words indirect and not undertaken to directly satisfy one’s own wants. We produce to satisfy other people’s wants, and can thereby satisfy our own by purchasing what others produce.
The benefit is that there is a separation between what I want to consume and what I produce, which means we can each specialize in producing something we are comparatively good at instead of producing only what we want to consume. It also means we can specialize in producing only one thing instead of a multitude, thereby cutting switching costs, develop skills and expertise, and consequently increase outputs.
But while universal specialization under the division of labor means that overall output is significantly increased, it also means we become dependent on each other. Not only do we need to sell what we produce to others in order to get the means necessary, but we need to also trade with those who produce what we want to satisfy our wants. We become interdependent. This is why Mises stated that “Society is division of labor and combination of labor. In his capacity as an acting animal man becomes a social animal.”3
This “social animal” benefits from, engages in, and in fact arises out of market (inter)action. As we can only benefit ourselves by properly aligning our productive efforts with what other people want, we must understand other people. By doing so, we can better anticipate what needs and wants they have and then busy ourselves with attempting to meet those needs. And because production takes time, production must precede demand.
Because demand is unknown, production is necessarily speculative and entrepreneurial. Actual demand will be discovered when the goods are presented to potential buyers. Entrepreneurs are therefore forecasters, project appraisers, and risk-takers; in an advanced economy they advance funds to owners of labor, land, and capital, and only recoup this investment if they succeed in selling the product.
At the same time, the consumers can only buy if they have themselves engaged in production that satisfies other people’s needs — because otherwise they will only have the willingness but not the ability to buy (and that is not demand). This is not a circular argument, but an explanation for economic growth. The ability to sell goods in the market and thus engage in specialized production requires prior investment. So to specialize one needed to first produce demanded goods in excess of one’s own wants. The same is true today: development of a new good requires investment, and that investment is speculative because actual demand cannot be known until it is too late.
The implication is that there can never be a general glut, in the economy and therefore no deficiency in aggregate demand. It is certainly possible for there to exist a surplus or shortage of any particular commodity, which happens regularly as entrepreneurs fail to precisely anticipate and therefore meet market demand, but only in the short term.
As all production is undertaken to sell the goods produced to then purchase goods that better satisfy the producer’s want, the inability to sell becomes an inability to demand. We cannot demand unless we first produce the means to demand. It is thus not a demand deficiency that someone is unable to sell what he or she produces, and as a result cannot demand goods in the market. Rather, it is a production failure that causes a reduction in effective demand — an entrepreneurial failure.
If government stimulates demand, then this only subsidizes those goods that have been produced at too high cost. Consequently, the entrepreneurial errors are propped up and production therefore remains misaligned with demand.
So it is easy to see why proponents of interventionism would want to do away with the Law of Markets. If demand is not constituted by supply, then markets may not clear and government must save us from ourselves. | <urn:uuid:8a1d7581-3e28-42a4-9356-bec674106b99> | {
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IT will be years before we know the full consequences of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. But the public attention raised by the problems there provides an opportunity to rethink nuclear-power policy in the United States and the rest of the world — and reduce the dangers of a similar disaster happening elsewhere.
From one perspective, nuclear power has been remarkably safe. The 1986 Chernobyl accident will ultimately kill about 10,000 people, mostly from cancer. Coal plants are much deadlier: the fine-particulate air pollution they produce kills about 10,000 people each year in the United States alone.
Of course, for most people this kind of accounting is beside the point. Their horror over even the possibility of a meltdown means that the nuclear-power industry needs constant and aggressive regulation for the public to allow it to stay in business.
Yet despite the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has often been too timid in ensuring that America’s 104 commercial reactors are operated safely. Nuclear power is a textbook example of the problem of “regulatory capture” — in which an industry gains control of an agency meant to regulate it. Regulatory capture can be countered only by vigorous public scrutiny and Congressional oversight, but in the 32 years since Three Mile Island, interest in nuclear regulation has declined precipitously.
In 2002, after the commission retreated from demanding an early inspection of a reactor, Davis-Besse in Ohio, that it suspected was operating in a dangerous condition, its own inspector general concluded that it “appears to have informally established an unreasonably high burden of requiring absolute proof of a safety problem, versus lack of a reasonable assurance of maintaining public health and safety.”Continue reading the main story
Even before Three Mile Island, a group of nuclear engineers had proposed that filtered vents be attached to buildings around reactors, which are intended to contain the gases released from overheated fuel. If the pressure inside these containment buildings increased dangerously — as has happened repeatedly at Fukushima — the vents would release these gases after the filters greatly reduced their radioactivity.
France and Germany installed such filters in their plants, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission declined to require them. Given the influence of America’s example, had the commission demanded the addition of filtered vents, they would likely have been required worldwide, including in Japan.
More recently, independent analysts have argued, based on risk analyses done for the commission, it is dangerous for the United States to pack five times more spent fuel into reactor cooling pools than they were designed to hold, and that 80 percent of that spent fuel is cool enough to be stored safely elsewhere. It would also be more expensive, however, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission followed the nuclear utilities’ lead and rejected the proposal.The commission has even fought relentlessly for decades against proposals — and more recently a Congressional requirement — to distribute potassium iodide pills beyond the 10-mile emergency zones around American reactors, arguing that the probability of a large release of radioactivity was too low to justify the expense. And yet the American Embassy in Tokyo is handing out potassium iodide pills to Americans 140 miles from the Fukushima plant.
The commission’s defenders often argue that it must be cautious because increased costs from safety requirements could kill the nuclear power industry. But the cost of generating electricity from existing plants is actually low: the construction expenses have been paid off and running them is relatively cheap. Requiring the operators of plants to install new safety systems would not result in them being shut down.
Therefore, perhaps the most important thing to do in light of the Fukushima disaster is to change the industry-regulator relationship. It has become customary for administrations not to nominate, and the Senate not to confirm, commissioners whom the industry regards as “anti-nuclear” — which includes anyone who has expressed any criticism whatsoever of industry practices. The commission has an excellent staff; what it needs is more aggressive political leadership.
Fukushima also shows why we need to develop reactors that are more inherently safe. Almost all the world’s power reactors, including those at Fukushima, are descended from the much smaller reactors developed in the 1950s by the United States for submarines. As we saw in the Fukushima accident, they depend on pumps to keep them from catastrophic failure, a major weak point. New designs less dependent on pumps have been developed, but there has not yet been enough research to make certain that they would work effectively.
One promising design is the high-temperature gas-cooled graphite reactor; its fuel is in the form of small particles surrounded by layers of material that could contain their radioactivity if a cooling system fails. The United States built two such prototypes in the 1960s, and Germany built one in the 1980s. With the virtual end of new reactor orders in the United States and Western Europe, as well as their small generating capacity compared to current water-cooled reactors, they were not pursued further.
China, however, which accounted for over 60 percent of the world’s nuclear power plant construction during the past five years, is now planning two prototypes and, if these work, 36 more. Such a demonstration could help determine the commercial viability of gas-cooled graphite reactors worldwide, and the Department of Energy should offer the expertise of its national laboratories to help China make this effort a success.
ANOTHER area that requires review is unrelated to the Fukushima accident, but would benefit from some of the attention generated by the crisis — namely, the need to strengthen the barriers to misuse of nuclear-energy technology to develop nuclear weapons.
The unintended effect of much of governmental research and development has been to make nuclear proliferation easier. Most notably, over the past 50 years the developed world has spent some $100 billion in a failed effort to commercialize plutonium breeder reactors. Such reactors would use uranium more efficiently, but would also require the separation of plutonium, a key component in nuclear weapons.
Even though plutonium breeder reactors have yet to make it past the research and development phase into commercial production, enough plutonium has been separated from spent power-reactor fuel to make tens of thousands of nuclear weapons, creating an enormous security risk. The technology’s spread raises the possibility that it could be diverted to military purposes. In fact, this has already happened: in 1974 India tested a nuclear weapon design using plutonium that had been separated out for its breeder reactor program.
Meanwhile, General Electric has applied for a license to build a plant that would use lasers to enrich uranium for commercial use, which could provide yet another way to produce weapons-grade material. A coalition led by the American Physical Society, a professional organization of physicists, has petitioned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to assess the risk that this technology poses to non-proliferation efforts before it issues a license. The commission, predictably, has been reluctant to do so.
It is critical to find more effective ways to control such dangerous nuclear technologies. In 1946, the United States proposed that uranium enrichment and plutonium be put under international control, a proposal that failed because of the onset of the cold war.
More recently Mohamed ElBaradei, the former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made the more modest proposal to place such dangerous activities under merely multinational control, which would make it more difficult for any one country to divert the material to military ends. In fact, Urenco, the West’s most successful uranium enrichment enterprise, is already under the joint ownership of Germany, the Netherlands and Britain.
The United States should help shape this industrial model into an international one, in which all enrichment plants are under multinational control. Doing so would make it more difficult for countries like Iran to justify building national enrichment plants that could be used to produce nuclear weapons materials.
While new plants are unlikely to be built in the United States over the next 25 years, nuclear power provides 20 percent of our electrical power and is climate friendly. We therefore must make existing reactors safer, develop a new generation of safer designs and prevent nuclear power from facilitating nuclear proliferation. As tragic as the Fukushima disaster has been, it has provided a rare opportunity to advance those goals.Continue reading the main story | <urn:uuid:d4a712b3-1078-47de-8be7-6ced38556a33> | {
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PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU) is a rare, genetic condition that if left untreated can be very dangerous.
Here’s all you need to know about the disease that sees sufferers struggle to break down protein in foods.
What is PKU disease?
PKU is an inherited disorder in which sufferers are unable to break down an amino acid called phenylalanine.
We get this amino acid from foods full of protein such as meat and fish, and the body uses them to make our own proteins.
Any that aren’t used are broken down and removed from the body.
But for people with PKU, they cannot break them down and the acid can then build up in the bloodstream and brain and cause brain damage.
How is PKU disease usually diagnosed?
If a baby is born with PKU, their condition is usually picked up shortly after their birth.
At five days old, all babies in the UK are given a heel prick test, where blood is collected to screen for a number of conditions.
One of them is PKU, so people with the disease are usually diagnosed with it very early.
It is thought that one in every 10,000 babies born in the UK has PKU.
What are the symptoms of PKU disease?
Many people with PKU are diagnosed and begin treatment for the condition so early that they show no symptoms.
But if it is left untreated it can affect the nervous system and even lead to brain damage.
According to the NHS, other symptoms include:
- Behavioural issues
- Fair skin, eyes and hair
- Jerky arm and leg movements
- Musty smell on the skin, breath and in urine
What sort of diet do sufferers of PKU disease need to follow?
In order to keep their condition at bay, sufferers of PKU need to follow a low-protein diet and avoid high protein foods.
This means they cannot eat foods such as meat, eggs and dairy and limit the amount of things such as potatoes and cereal.
However, there are specially adapted foods available that are low protein for PKU patients such as flour, rice and pasta.
Sufferers also must avoid products with high levels of the sweetener aspartame, which is found in diet fizzy drinks, chewing gum, squash and certain alcopops.
This is because the sweetener is converted into phenylalanine in the body
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IntroductionA view is defined by a query and only shows the data which is defined at the time of creation of the view. If you hide particular columns then use the view. A view hides the complexity of the underlying database schema, or customizes the data and schema for a set of users.
In this article we are showing views in SQL Server 2008. A view is virtual, the data from a view is not stored physically. It is a set of queries that, when applied to one or more tables, is stored in the database as an object. A view encapsulates the name of the table. A virtual table contains column and data from multiple tables. Views are used for security purpose in the database because it hides the name of the table and logic and provides the virtual table. A view is used to store the SELECT statement only. In the view we can modify the data and table. A view provides a convenient way to retrieve and manipulate data. A view contains rows and columns, the same as a real table. The fields in a view are fields from one or more real tables in the database. A view shows up-to-date data.
Use of a ViewViews are used for security purposes because they provide encapsulation of the name of the table. Data is in the virtual table, not stored permanently. Views display only selected data.
Syntax of a View
CREATE VIEW view_name AS
Different Types of View
These are two types of views.
A Simple View is a user defined view. A Simple View takes the data from a single table and has no function. The user defined view is created by the user as needed. We are showing a Simple View using a student table.
In this we have a student table and data.
SQL Command use to create a view (virtual table).
create view stud
as select studname,studid,studaddress
from student where depno='d001'
SQL Command to show a view (virtual table).
A Complex View is created for multiple tables and contains functions and group data.
SQL Dropping a View
You can drop the view with the help of a Drop command.
drop view asd
Distinct command in a View
create view [asd] as
select distinct depno
group by depno
A Information View is the most important of grouped views. These are used for displaying the most physical information of a database, such as table and columns. The naming convention of this type of views is INFORMATION_SCHEMA.[View Name]. | <urn:uuid:dc6eb92d-80b1-4a60-bf6c-39986c257398> | {
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Strategy 1-4: Provide support for the science and practice of physical activity.
Federal, state, and local government agencies should make physical activity a national health priority through support for the translation of scientific evidence into best-practice applications.
For federal-level government agencies, potential actions include
• the Department of Health and Human Services establishing processes for the regular and routine communication of scientific advances in understanding the health benefits of physical activity, particularly with respect to obesity prevention (these processes could include, but are not limited to, regularly scheduled updates of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and reports of the U.S. Surgeon General); and
• all federal government agencies with relevant interests developing priority strategies to promote and support the National Physical Activity Plan, a trans-sector strategy for increasing physical activity among Americans.
For state and local health departments, potential actions include
• developing plans and strategies for making promotion of physical activity a health priority at the state and local levels.
Physical activity is defined as any movement requiring “skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure” (Caspersen et al., 1985, p. 126); exercise refers to a specific type of physical activity that is planned, repetitive, and purposeful in increasing physical activity (Caspersen et al., 1985). National guidelines for recommended levels of physical activity for the general health of both adults and children are for adults to engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week and for children to engage in at least 60 minutes of a combination of aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening physical activity per day (see also Box 3-3 in Chapter 3). (It should | <urn:uuid:7af5067a-3a5a-4d4f-a7dd-df102126e1a1> | {
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This online activity shows how to use FRED, the Federal Reserve's free economic data website, to measure changes in the cost of living in your lifetime. Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) collects data on prices consumers pay for tens of thousands of goods and services, everything from software to car insurance. Using rigorous statistical methods, the BLS transforms this mountain of price data into the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI is a numerical index that measures inflation by tracking monthly changes in prices urban dwellers pay for a diverse market basket of thousands of goods and services. Following simple instructions, you will locate the overall level of U.S. consumer prices as it existed on your birth date. You will then compare that level with the level today to see how prices have inflated during your lifetime. FRED's ability to create a graph with a custom index scale will allow you to visualize the rise in prices over your lifetime.
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Strength is defined as the quality of being strong or powerful as it relates to muscular activity. Muscle strength is needed to perform daily activities. Weakness can decrease function. People with MS often report weakness or lack of strength as a problem. Strength can be affected by fatigue, spasticity and limitations in range of motion. Strength training is designed to improve muscle power, bone strength (decrease the risk of osteoporosis), physical capacity for daily activities and prevent injury. Additional benefits for people with MS may be increased endurance (delaying the onset of muscle fatigue), increased strength which can help with posture, balance and movement. The primary goal of strength training for people with MS is to improve strength and endurance due to deconditioning.
The first step in determining an appropriate strength training program is identification of the muscle weakness. Your physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist and/or exercise physiologist can measure muscle strength (and weakness) to help guide your strength training program.
Testing for muscle strength is done through different means. The most common method of measuring muscle strength is the manual muscle test (MMT). The MMT consists of moving a body part through range of motion with resistance applied. Muscles are rated on a 0-5 scale with 0 being no muscle contraction and 5 being full movement with normal resistance.
Other means of measuring muscle strength include hand held dynamometers, isotonic measures and isokinetic measures. Hand held dynamometers provide objective measures of an isometric contraction (contraction of a muscle without movement). Isotonic measures include measurement of the amount of weight which can be lifted in a set number of repetitions. For example, a one repetition maximum (1RM) is the total amount of weight one can lift for one repetition, while a 10 RM is the amount one can lift for 10 repetitions. Isokinetic measures are measures taken when the resistance is variable throughout the range of motion. These measures require the use of specialized equipment. The graphs produced provide information on muscle strength and endurance.
Once muscle strength has been evaluated, a strength training program can be established. There are different types of resistance which can be used to strengthen specific muscles or muscle groups. Free weights, weight machines, elastic tubing, water (pool exercises) and manual resistance are common modes of strength training. For individuals who have significant difficulty, the use of gravity as a form of resistance can be effective. The amount of resistance is determined by the strength assessment and the goals of the strength training program.
The frequency of the strength training program is also dependent upon the goals of the program. It is important to work within symptoms, particularly fatigue. The usual recommendation for strength training is 2-3 days per week. It is important to allow rest in between strength training to allow for adequate muscle recovery. If training on successive days it is important to alternate muscles or muscle groups unless otherwise instructed by your physician, physical/occupational therapist or exercise physiologist.
Some tips for success in your strength training program are:
• Identify the goals of your strength training program; consult a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist or exercise phyisologist for assistance and identification of appropriate strength training exercises.
• Perform exercises through a full range of motion; this will help reduce the risk of injury to muscles, tendons and joints
• It is not necessary to work your muscles to the point of fatigue
• Don’t be impatient. Allow yourself adequate time for recovery between sets of exercises if doing more than one set of exercises per muscle or muscle group.
• Be practical. Plan your strength program so you don’t fatigue yourself to do the things you enjoy.
Strengthening exercises are important as part of a comprehensive exercise program. It is important to identify appropriate exercises before initiating your program. Your healthcare team can be helpful in establishing an individualized program to meet your needs. | <urn:uuid:438c4ba8-4ea6-4fab-892e-01bb613c45a5> | {
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More than 100 hippopotamuses have died in a possible anthrax outbreak in Namibia, authorities at a national park have announced. All the animals are thought to have died last week in the African nation's remote north-east.
Anthrax, a bacterial disease, is known to kill cattle and even human beings especially in arid conditions. However, the recent incident has baffled authorities as the deaths followed in quick succession.
Images from the Bwabwata National Park show bodies of lifeless hippos in murky waters. Some of the carcasses were partially submerged with only their heads visible above the water.
Namibia's environment ministry said the first dead hippo was spotted on 1 October but dozens of deaths quickly followed. In total, 109 hippos have been found dead so far. The toll is expected to go up as some of the carcasses could have been eaten by crocodiles in the area.
"We first noticed the deaths of 10 hippos last week Sunday, but the number increased during the week. As we speak, the number of deaths is 109. We suspect an anthrax outbreak, but our veterinary team is still to confirm that," said the park's deputy director, Apollinaris Kannyinga, according to the daily Namibian.
Such outbreaks are common in the region, added the official but insisted the disease is unlikely to spread further since the hippos lived in a remote part of the park. Many water buffaloes have also been discovered dead in the same spot but it is yet to be confirmed if they were also killed by the same outbreak. Namibia's north-eastern region, where the park is situated, is sandwiched between Angola and Botswana.
"There's not much we can do. We can't move the wildlife," an environment ministry official Johnson Ndokosho told the National Geographic.
If confirmed, this is likely to be the first anthrax outbreak affecting Namibia that had an estimated population of about 1,300 hippos before the recent deaths. A similar outbreak in 2004 killed up to 200 hippos in Uganda. | <urn:uuid:b6508fe8-d86a-481e-bc5c-2c4c8bdef6ac> | {
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4 Things Parents Should Know About Nut Allergies
MIAMI (MCH) – Nuts and even nut products like peanut butter are a tasty and healthy snack. But for those who are allergic, the tasty treat can turn deadly. Miami Children’s Hospital provided the following list of things parents should know about nut allergies.
“Nuts are one of the most common allergy-causing foods, affecting over 20 million people in the U.S. And many studies show that these numbers are steadily increasing,” said Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, Director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Miami Children’s Hospital. “While the exact cause of these type of allergies is still unknown, allergic reactions happen as a result of the immune system overreacting to proteins in this type of food, treating them as harmful invaders and fighting them with antibodies that release chemicals into the body.”
Symptoms Vary With Each Child
Allergic reactions to nuts are different in each individual, and can even be different with each encounter to the allergen. “The release of antibodies in response to a nut allergy can affect a child in many different ways, from the gastrointestinal tract and skin, to the lungs and cardiovascular system,” explained Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo. As a result, symptoms can range from hives and coughing, to stomachache or vomiting.
Nut Allergies Can Be Life Threatening
Allergies to nuts generally cause mild reactions in children, though in some cases, it can result in a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, particularly in those children with a severe allergy to peanuts. Anaphylaxis can cause symptoms such as trouble breathing, fainting, and if not treated, can result in death.
An Allergist Can Best Diagnose a Nut Allergy
If you suspect your child may have a nut allergy, talk to your pediatrician. He or she can determine if your child could benefit from seeing an allergist.
An allergy specialist will likely ask you questions about your family history allergy-related conditions such as eczema or asthma, as well as what type of symptoms your child experiences when exposed to certain nuts. The allergist may also choose to order tests as a way to see how your child’s body reacts to an extremely small amount of the nut they may be allergic to.
“It’s important to remember that if your child has a nut allergy, even exposure to a small amount of a potential allergen could lead to anaphylaxis, and you should never try exposure to nuts at home,” noted Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo.
Prevention is Key
If your child is diagnosed with a nut allergy, make sure you investigate items that may contain nuts, including certain cookies, candy, ice cream and certain sauces before keeping them in your home. Talk to family members, friends, as well as your child’s teachers and coaches so that everyone can practice caution with certain foods around your child. Inform servers at restaurants so that they can exercise precautions and keep your child’s food away from dishes that may contain nuts.
“When your child has a nut allergy, the most important thing to remember is to have an emergency plan,” said Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo. “Keeping an epinephrine autoinjector available at all times can help ease symptoms of severe allergic reactions. You should also designate someone to administer the shot in your absence. The autoinjector should be available wherever the child is. ”
For more information, visit mch.com.
Above content provided by Miami Children’s Hospital. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
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Morgan & Claypool:
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This book is based on a set of 18 class-tested lectures delivered to fourth-year physics undergraduates at Grifï¬th University in Brisbane, and the book presents new discoveries by the Nobel-prize winning LIGO collaboration. The author begins with a review of special relativity and tensors and then develops the basic elements of general relativity (a beautiful theory that unifies special relativity and gravitation via geometry) with applications to the gravitational deflection of light, global positioning systems, black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology. The book provides readers with a solid understanding of the underlying physical concepts; an ability to appreciate and in many cases derive important applications of the theory; and a solid grounding for those wishing to pursue their studies further. General Relativity: An Introduction to Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmology also connects general relativity with broader topics. There is no doubt that general relativity is an active and exciting field of physics, and this book successfully transmits that excitement to readers.
The first version of quantum theory, developed in the mid 1920's, is what is called nonrelativistic quantum theory; it is based on a form of relativity which, in a previous volume, was called Newton relativity. But quickly after this first development, it was realized that, in order to account for high energy phenomena such as particle creation, it was necessary to develop a quantum theory based on Einstein relativity. This in turn led to the development of relativistic quantum field theory, which is an intrinsically many-body theory.
But this is not the only possibility for a relativistic quantum theory. In this book we take the point of view of a particle theory, based on the irreducible representations of the Poincare group, the group that expresses the symmetry of Einstein relativity. There are several ways of formulating such a theory; we develop what is called relativistic point form quantum mechanics, which, unlike quantum field theory, deals with a fixed number of particles in a relativistically invariant way.
A central issue in any relativistic quantum theory is how to introduce interactions without spoiling relativistic invariance. We show that interactions can be incorporated in a mass operator, in such a way that relativistic invariance is maintained. Surprisingly for a relativistic theory, such a construction allows for instantaneous interactions; in addition, dynamical particle exchange and particle production can be included in a multichannel formulation of the mass operator. For systems of more than two particles, however, straightforward application of such a construction leads to the undesirable property that clusters of widely separated particles continue to interact with one another, even if the interactions between the individual particles are of short range. A significant part of this volume deals with the solution of this problem.
Since relativistic quantum mechanics is not as well-known as relativistic quantum field theory, a chapter is devoted to applications of point form quantum mechanics to nuclear physics; in particular we show how constituent quark models can be used to derive electromagnetic and other properties of hadrons.
Renewable energy (RE) is a subject of great interest today. It is one of the two main means for implementing climate change mitigation programmes, and presently the only perceived means for replacing the declining global fossil fuel reserves. It also helps fight poverty and assists in the global quest for gender equity by taking clean energy where it is needed most for development.
It is perhaps not surprising therefore that there is so much coverage of RE in both the conventional media and the internet by media and tech writers, economists and bloggers, many of who only have a partial understanding of the technology itself. The end result is mostly promotional rhetoric that says little about the true value of the technology, and leads to a confused picture for the serious individual or decision-maker who wants to know what the technology is really capable of doing.
This book provides a clear and factual picture of the status of RE and its capabilities today. The need for such a book was first realized by the author when he was engaged in a renewable energy capacity-building project encompassing countries from Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific. The book is largely non-technical in nature; it does however contain enough mention of the science and technology to enable readers to go further with their own investigations should they wish to.
The book covers all areas of renewable energy (RE), starting from biomass energy and hydropower and proceeding to wind, solar and geothermal energy before ending with an overview of ocean energy. It begins with a simple introduction to the physical principles of the RE technologies, followed by an enumeration of the requirements for their successful implementation. The last two chapters consider how the technologies are actually being implemented today and their roles in climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation.
This book introduces zero-effort technologies (ZETs), an emerging class of technologies that require little or no effort from the people who use them. ZETs use advanced computing techniques, such as computer vision, sensor fusion, decision-making and planning, machine learning, and the Internet of Things to autonomously perform the collection, analysis, and application of data about the user and/or his/her context. This book begins with an overview of ZETs, then presents concepts related to their development, including pervasive intelligent technologies and environments, design principles, and considerations regarding use. The book discusses select examples of the latest in ZET development before concluding with thoughts regarding future directions of the field.
With the rapid development of mobile Internet and smart personal devices in recent years, mobile search has gradually emerged as a key method with which users seek online information. In addition, cross-device search also has been regarded recently as an important research topic. As more mobile applications (APPs) integrate search functions, a user's mobile search behavior on different APPs becomes more significant. This book provides a systematic review of current mobile search analysis and studies user mobile search behavior from several perspectives, including mobile search context, APP usage, and different devices. Two different user experiments to collect user behavior data were conducted. Then, through the data from user mobile phone usage logs in natural settings, we analyze the mobile search strategies employed and offer a context-based mobile search task collection, which then can be used to evaluate the mobile search engine. In addition, we combine mobile search with APP usage to give more in-depth analysis, such as APP transition in mobile search and follow-up actions triggered by mobile search. The study, combining the mobile search with APP usage, can contribute to the interaction design of APPs, such as the search recommendation and APP recommendation. Addressing the phenomenon of users owning more smart devices today than ever before, we focus on user cross device search behavior. We model the information preparation behavior and information resumption behavior in cross-device search and evaluate the search performance in cross-device search. Research on mobile search behaviors across different devices can help to understand online user information behavior comprehensively and help users resume their search tasks on different devices.
What can Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) learn from art? How can the HCI research agenda be advanced by looking at art research? How can we improve creativity support and the amplification of that important human capability? This book aims to answer these questions. Interactive art has become a common part of life as a result of the many ways in which the computer and the Internet have facilitated it. HCI is as important to interactive art as mixing the colours of paint are to painting. This book reviews recent work that looks at these issues through art research. In interactive digital art, the artist is concerned with how the artwork behaves, how the audience interacts with it, and, ultimately, how participants experience art as well as their degree of engagement. The values of art are deeply human and increasingly relevant to HCI as its focus moves from product design towards social benefits and the support of human creativity. The book examines these issues and brings together a collection of research results from art practice that illuminates this significant new and expanding area. In particular, this work points towards a much-needed critical language that can be used to describe, compare and frame research in HCI support for creativity.
DC-DC converters have many applications in the modern world. They provide the required power to the communication backbones, they are used in digital devices like laptops and cell phones, and they have widespread applications in electric cars, to just name a few.
DC-DC converters require negative feedback to provide a suitable output voltage or current for the load. Obtaining a stable output voltage or current in presence of disturbances such as: input voltage changes and/or output load changes seems impossible without some form of control.
This book tries to train the art of controller design for DC-DC converters. Chapter 1 introduces the DC-DC converters briefly. It is assumed that the reader has the basic knowledge of DC-DC converter (i.e., a basic course in power electronics).
The reader learns the disadvantages of open loop control in Chapter 2. Simulation of DC-DC converters with the aid of Simulink® is discussed in this chapter as well. Extracting the dynamic models of DC-DC converters is studied in Chapter 3. We show how MATLAB® and a software named KUCA can be used to do the cumbersome and error-prone process of modeling automatically. Obtaining the transfer functions using PSIM® is studied as well.
These days, softwares are an integral part of engineering sciences. Control engineering is not an exception by any means. Keeping this in mind, we design the controllers using MATLAB® in Chapter 4.
Finally, references are provided at the end of each chapter to suggest more information for an interested reader. The intended audiences for this book are practice engineers and academians.
Each one of us has views about education, how discipline should function, how individuals learn, how they should be motivated, what intelligence is, and the structures (content and subjects) of the curriculum. Perhaps the most important beliefs that (beginning) teachers bring with them are their notions about what constitutes good teaching. The scholarship of teaching requires that (beginning) teachers should examine (evaluate) these views in the light of knowledge currently available about the curriculum and instruction, and decide their future actions on the basis of that analysis. Such evaluations are best undertaken when classrooms are treated as laboratories of inquiry (research) where teachers establish what works best for them.
Two instructor centred and two learner centred philosophies of knowledge, curriculum and instruction are used to discern the fundamental (basic) questions that engineering educators should answer in respect of their own beliefs and practice. They point to a series of classroom activities that will enable them to challenge their own beliefs, and at the same time affirm, develop, or change their philosophies of knowledge, curriculum and instruction.
The Fourier transform is one of the most fundamental tools for computing the frequency representation of signals. It plays a central role in signal processing, communications, audio and video compression, medical imaging, genomics, astronomy, as well as many other areas. Because of its widespread use, fast algorithms for computing the Fourier transform can benefit a large number of applications. The fastest algorithm for computing the Fourier transform is the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), which runs in near-linear time making it an indispensable tool for many applications. However, today, the runtime of the FFT algorithm is no longer fast enough especially for big data problems where each dataset can be few terabytes. Hence, faster algorithms that run in sublinear time, i.e., do not even sample all the data points, have become necessary.
This book addresses the above problem by developing the Sparse Fourier Transform algorithms and building practical systems that use these algorithms to solve key problems in six different applications: wireless networks; mobile systems; computer graphics; medical imaging; biochemistry; and digital circuits.
This is a revised version of the thesis that won the 2016 ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award.
As human activities moved to the digital domain, so did all the well-known malicious behaviors including fraud, theft, and other trickery. There is no silver bullet, and each security threat calls for a specific answer. One specific threat is that applications accept malformed inputs, and in many cases it is possible to craft inputs that let an intruder take full control over the target computer system.
The nature of systems programming languages lies at the heart of the problem. Rather than rewriting decades of well-tested functionality, this book examines ways to live with the (programming) sins of the past while shoring up security in the most efficient manner possible. We explore a range of different options, each making significant progress towards securing legacy programs from malicious inputs.
The solutions explored include enforcement-type defenses, which excludes certain program executions because they never arise during normal operation. Another strand explores the idea of presenting adversaries with a moving target that unpredictably changes its attack surface thanks to randomization. We also cover tandem execution ideas where the compromise of one executing clone causes it to diverge from another thus revealing adversarial activities. The main purpose of this book is to provide readers with some of the most influential works on run-time exploits and defenses. We hope that the material in this book will inspire readers and generate new ideas and paradigms.
Nature continuously presents a huge number of complex and multi-scale phenomena, which in many cases, involve the presence of one or more fluids flowing, merging and evolving around us. Since its appearance on the surface of Earth, Mankind has tried to exploit and tame fluids for their purposes, probably starting with Hero's machinery to open the doors of the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria to arrive to modern propulsion systems and actuators. Today we know that fluid mechanics lies at the basis of countless scientific and technical applications from the smallest physical scales (nanofluidics, bacterial motility, and diffusive flows in porous media), to the largest (from energy production in power plants to oceanography and meteorology). It is essential to deepen the understanding of fluid behaviour across scales for the progress of Mankind and for a more sustainable and efficient future.
Since the very first years of the Third Millennium, the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) has seen an exponential growth of applications, especially in the fields connected with the simulation of complex and soft matter flows. LBM, in fact, has shown a remarkable versatility in different fields of applications from nanoactive materials, free surface flows, and multiphase and reactive flows to the simulation of the processes inside engines and fluid machinery. LBM is based on an optimized formulation of Boltzmann's Kinetic Equation, which allows for the simulation of fluid particles, or rather quasi-particles, from a mesoscopic point of view thus allowing the inclusion of more fundamental physical interactions in respect to the standard schemes adopted with Navier-Stokes solvers, based on the continuum assumption.
In this book, the authors present the most recent advances of the application of the LBM to complex flow phenomena of scientific and technical interest with particular focus on the multi-scale modeling of heterogeneous catalysis within nano-porous media and multiphase, multicomponent flows.
Gradiometry is a multidisciplinary area that combines theoretical and applied physics, ultra-low noise electronics, precision engineering, and advanced signal processing. All physical fields have spatial gradients that fall with distance from their sources more rapidly than the field strength itself. This makes the gradient measurements more difficult. However, there has been a considerable investment, both in terms of time and money, into the development of various types of gradiometers driven by the extremely valuable type of information that is contained in gradients. Applications include the search for oil, gas, and mineral resources, GPS-free navigation, defence, space missions, medical research, and some other applications.
The author describes gravity gradiometers, magnetic gradiometers, and electromagnetic (EM) gradiometers. The first two types do not require any active sources of the primary physical fields whose gradients are measured, such as gravity field and ambient magnetic field. EM gradiometers do require a primary EM field, pulsed, or sinusoidal, which propagates through media and creates a secondary EM field. The latter one contains information about the non uniformness of electromagnetically active media such as conductivity and magnetic permeability contrasts. These anomalies are the boundaries of mineral deposits, oil and gas traps, underground water reserves, buried artifacts, unexploded ordnance (UXO), nuclear submarines, and even cancerous human tissue.
This book provides readers with a comprehensive introduction, history, potential applications, and current developments in relation to some of the most advanced technologies in the 21st Century. Most of the developments are strictly controlled by Defence Export Control rules and regulations, introduced in all developed countries that typically require permission to transfer relevant information from one country to another. The book is based on the materials that have been available in public domain such as scientific journals, conferences, extended abstracts, and online presentations. In addition, medical applications of EM gradiometers are exempt from any control, and some new results relevant to breast cancer early detection research are published in this book for the first time.
Our aim in this book is to present a bird's-eye view of microwave tubes (MWTs) which continue to be important despite competitive incursions from solid-state devices (SSDs). We have presented a broad and introductory survey which we hope the readers would be encouraged to read rather than going through lengthier books, and subsequently explore the field of MWTs further in selected areas of relevance to their respective interests. We hope that the present book would motivate newcomers to pursue research in MWTs and apprise them as well as decision makers of the salient features and prospects of as well as the trends of progress in MWTs. The scope of ever expanding applications of MWTs in the high power and high frequency regime will sustain and intensify the research and development in MWTs in coming years.
Computer vision has become increasingly important and effective in recent years due to its wide-ranging applications in areas as diverse as smart surveillance and monitoring, health and medicine, sports and recreation, robotics, drones, and self-driving cars. Visual recognition tasks, such as image classification, localization, and detection, are the core building blocks of many of these applications, and recent developments in Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have led to outstanding performance in these state-of-the-art visual recognition tasks and systems. As a result, CNNs now form the crux of deep learning algorithms in computer vision.
This self-contained guide will benefit those who seek to both understand the theory behind CNNs and to gain hands-on experience on the application of CNNs in computer vision. It provides a comprehensive introduction to CNNs starting with the essential concepts behind neural networks: training, regularization, and optimization of CNNs. The book also discusses a wide range of loss functions, network layers, and popular CNN architectures, reviews the different techniques for the evaluation of CNNs, and presents some popular CNN tools and libraries that are commonly used in computer vision. Further, this text describes and discusses case studies that are related to the application of CNN in computer vision, including image classification, object detection, semantic segmentation, scene understanding, and image generation.
This book is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students, as no prior background knowledge in the field is required to follow the material, as well as new researchers, developers, engineers, and practitioners who are interested in gaining a quick understanding of CNN models.
This book focuses on the methodologies, organization, and communication of digital image collection research that utilizes social media content. (Image is here understood as a cultural, conventional, and commercial—stock photo—representation.) The lecture offers expert views that provide different interpretations of images and their potential implementations. Linguistic and semiotic methodologies as well as eye-tracking research are employed to both analyze images and comprehend how humans consider them, including which salient features generally attract viewers' attention.
This literature review covers image—specifically photographic—research since 2005, when major social media platforms emerged. A citation analysis includes an overview of co-citation maps that demonstrate the nexus of image research literature and the journals in which they appear. Eye tracking tests whether scholarly templates focus on the proper features of an image, such as people, objects, time, etc., and if a prescribed theme affects the eye movements of the observer. The results may point to renewed requirements for building image search engines. As it stands, image management already requires new algorithms and a new understanding that involves text recognition and very large database processing.
The aim of this book is to present different image research areas and demonstrate the challenges image research faces. The book's scope is, by necessity, far from comprehensive, since the field of digital image research does not cover fake news, image manipulation, mobile photos, etc.; these issues are very complex and need a publication of their own. This book should primarily be useful for students in library and information science, psychology, and computer science. | <urn:uuid:3a134f8c-6a04-4c58-8a79-544860d37e58> | {
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Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang is a historic novel based on dozens of audio recordings from Zhao Ziyang. [Amazon]
Following Zhao Ziyang’s public statement at the Tiananmen Square protest, Zhao was removed of all positions in government and placed under house arrest. For the next sixteen years of his life, Zhao lived in forced seclusion in a quiet Beijing alley.
Although minor details of his life leaked out, China scholars lamented that Zhao’s account of events was to remain unknown. Zhao’s production of the memoir, in complete secrecy, is the only surviving public record of the opinions and perspectives Zhao held later life in life.
Zhao began secretly recording his autobiography on children’s cassette tapes in 1999, and eventually completed approximately thirty tapes, each about six minutes in length. Zhao produced his audio journals by recording over inconspicuous low-quality tapes which were readily available in his home: children’s music and Peking Opera.
Zhao indicated the tapes’ intended order by faint pencil markings, and no titles or notes on how Zhao intended the tapes to be otherwise interpreted or presented were ever recovered. The voices of several of Zhao’s closest friends were heard in several of the later tapes, but were edited out of the published book in order to protect their identities.
After the tapes’ creation, Zhao smuggled them out of his residence by passing them to these friends. In order to minimize the risk that some tapes might be lost or confiscated, each participant was only entrusted with a small part of the total work.
Because he could only produce the tapes during periods in which his guards were absent, the process of recording the tapes took over a year. Bao Pu, one of the editors who worked on publishing Zhao’s memoir, first learned of the tapes’ existence only after Zhao’s death on January 17, 2005.
It took several years for Bao to collect them and gain legal permission from Zhao’s family to publish Zhao’s autobiography. Zhao’s family has always maintained that they were completely unaware of the tapes’ existence until contacted by Bao Pu. After Zhao’s death a second set of tapes (perhaps the originals) were found in Zhao’s home, and were returned to Zhao’s family.
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Laboratory workers handling the AIDS virus should wear two layers of latex gloves because many gloves are marred by tiny defects that could allow a virus to reach the skin, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The researchers said they used an electron microscope to study about two dozen latex gloves made by four manufacturers.
The examination found pits up to 15 microns wide and 30 microns deep both inside and outside the gloves--pits that the researchers claim could eventually widen into holes. In addition, winding channels up to 5 microns wide, some passing all the way through the gloves, were present in all the gloves.
The human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS is one-tenth of a micron wide, researchers said, narrow enough to slip through the channels. A micron is about 1/25,000th of an inch, the researchers said.
"Despite a recent report that gloves exclude virus cultures, our findings suggest that double gloving . . . is a prudent expedient for those handling HIV or hepatitis-B virus-infected material," wrote the researchers from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Georgetown University Hospital in Washington and Advanced Biotechnologies of Silver Spring, Md. | <urn:uuid:195fc710-533b-4f9a-bef0-11785092853d> | {
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Originally posted to Future-tech,
Circuit breaker discrimination (also known as selectivity) is the ability of the local circuit breaker to operate before any upstream circuit breakers under fault conditions. This applies to HV and LV, the illustration below is for a simple single-feed LV system.
With correct discrimination, a single fault on one rack power supply will trip the local MCB in the power distribution unit, but not the distribution circuit breaker or worse still, the main circuit breaker.
In the same way, a fault on the power distribution unit will trip the distribution breaker feeding it, not the main circuit breaker. The intention is to limit the service interruption to the minimum amount for any fault, whether this fault is overload or short-circuit.
To read the full article please click here. | <urn:uuid:5fa5f6e7-e0b4-4416-bc9c-2de5645ac149> | {
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At the 2017 AMSAT Space Symposium in Reno, NV, AMSAT announced GOLF, the next phase of AMSAT’s CubeSat program. Just prior to the Symposium, the AMSAT Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse the GOLF program as part of AMSAT’s strategic goals involving high altitude, wide access satellite missions. In March 2018, NASA announced that the first two GOLF satellites, GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1, had been selected for participation in the CubeSat Launch Initiative.
For the past decade it has been apparent that the only reliable access to space for the amateur radio community is through the construction and launch of CubeSats. The small satellite and rocket industries are now almost fully commercialized and even the launch of a Microsat-class spacecraft to LEO, like AO-51, is now seemingly impossible for an amateur radio group to finance. To this end, AMSAT began the Fox project in 2009 and has successfully returned AMSAT to space. The first Fox-1 satellite, Fox-1A (now AO-85), was launched through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative in October 2015. RadFxSat / Fox-1B (now AO-91) followed with a launch through the CubeSat Launch Initiative in November 2017. One more Fox-1 satellite, RadFxSat-2 / Fox-1E, is scheduled for a launch through the CubeSat Launch Initiative later in 2018. Additionally, AMSAT purchased commercial launches for Fox-1D (now AO-92), which launched in January 2018, and Fox-1Cliff, scheduled to launch in the summer of 2018. The Fox-1 satellites, all 1U CubeSats, have demonstrated the successful combination of educational research missions, carrying experimental payloads from Vanderbilt University, Virginia Tech, Penn State – Erie, and the University of Iowa, with amateur radio communications. However, the Fox satellites are all in Low Earth Orbits between approximately 500 km and 800 km.
While satellites in orbits between 500 km and 800 km can provide an excellent introduction to satellite communications and support experimental payloads, their altitude limits both the amount of time the satellite is available in any one part of the world and maximum communication range (footprint). Clearly higher is better, hence the next AMSAT CubeSat program, “Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint” or GOLF.
Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint
Higher is clearly better when it comes to amateur radio satellites. The larger footprint, which brings more DX opportunities and more good passes per day, also provides for a longer orbital lifetime, and slower motion across the sky. This results in longer pass durations and easier tracking. However, higher orbits introduce a new set of challenges for AMSAT Engineering. Opportunities for launches to higher orbits are limited as most CubeSats are generally targeted for orbits in the 500 km – 600 km range. There are also design challenges, the thermal environment is colder (less radiation from the earth’s surface), more power is required (meaning higher capacity batteries and more solar panels), antennas need higher gain for a good link budget, radiation is higher, and, most importantly, orbital debris requirements mean some form of propulsion or passive deorbit system is required to meet the 25-year deorbiting requirement.
GOLF is designed to continue the growth of AMSAT’s CubeSat abilities, incorporating new systems such as Software Defined Radios and deployable solar panels into a 3U spaceframe. GOLF will also continue AMSAT’s educational partnership outreach that takes advantage of the synergies that amateur radio satellites and education have to offer the public.
GOLF involves new challenges and will serve as a platform for developing, testing, learning, and gaining proficiency in new technology, such as Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC), propulsion, and collision avoidance. In addition, any higher orbit, whether LEO, MEO, HEO, or GEO, must meet orbital debris requirements. AMSAT must develop and learn de-orbit capability for successful missions to higher orbits.
While providing hands-on knowledge and experience for putting an AMSAT CubeSat into HEO, GOLF will also serve to regularly re-populate amateur satellites, providing coverage for years to come.
GOLF’s 3U spaceframe will be designed to provide versatility to add mission specific radios, power supplies, and experiments. A series of GOLF CubeSats will provide better coverage and a greater footprint will allow more coverage by fewer satellites.
Additionally, GOLF provides further opportunity to establish a track record for long missions and orbits lasting longer than 25 years. GOLF also allows AMSAT to continue and expand partnerships with universities, NASA and others.
GOLF will provide for additional experimental payloads such as GPS, satellite interlinking, and others.
The first GOLF CubeSat, GOLF-TEE, will jump start the GOLF program with a launch to LEO as early as the fourth quarter of 2019. The immediate opportunity arose because of AMSAT’s partnership with Ragnarok Industries on the Heimdallr satellite (AMSAT’S first Phase 5 opportunity), a finalist in NASA’s CubeQuest Challenge. GOLF-TEE will use Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) and power systems developed for Heimdallr.
AMSAT will benefit by gaining knowledge as well as hardware for future missions. GOLF-TEE also provides an opportunity to fly projects that have been developed by AMSAT’s Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT) “skunk works” program.
In addition to a “five and dime” 5 GHz uplink / 10 GHz downlink SDR transponder, GOLF-TEE will carry a Fox-1E design V/u linear transponder and RadFx (Radiation Effects) experiment like that in Fox-1A for Vanderbilt University.
GOLF-1 will aim for higher LEO orbit as the first official “Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint” AMSAT CubeSat. Launch is targeted for 2020-2021.
GOLF-1 will require a de-orbiting plan that complies with NASA’s NPR 8715.6 NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris in order to be manifested on a launch, due to the higher altitude AMSAT has requested.
AMSAT has never abandoned the organization’s strategic goals to deploy high altitude, wide access satellite missions. The GOLF program sets a clear path forward to a return to higher orbits. Please consider joining AMSAT at https://www.amsat.org/ and making a donation to help ensure the success of the GOLF program.
A PDF version of this document is available here. | <urn:uuid:cf1e501b-245b-47a8-9415-4187acb47556> | {
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By JOHN CARTER
When Abraham Lincoln died from an assassin’s bullet on April 15, 1865, Edwin Stanton remarked to those gathered around his bedside, “Now he belongs to the ages.”
One of the meanings implied in Stanton’s famous statement is that Lincoln would not only be remembered as an iconic figure of the past, but that his spirit would also play a significant role in ages to come.
The Oscar-nominated movie “Lincoln,” which chronicles the struggle to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery, has turned our attention again to Lincoln’s legacy and his relevance amid our nation’s present divisions and growing pains.
Here is some of the wit and wisdom of Abraham Lincoln worth pondering:
“As for being president, I feel like the man who was tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail. To the man who asked him how he liked it, he said, ‘If it wasn’t for the honor of the thing, I’d rather walk.’”
“I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”
“Should my administration prove to be a very wicked one, or what is more probable, a very foolish one, if you the people are true to yourselves and the Constitution, there is but little harm I can do, thank God.”
“Bad promises are better broken than kept.”
“I am not at all concerned that the Lord is on our side in this great struggle, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord’s side.”
“I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.”
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, cannot long retain it.”
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”
“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.”
“The true rule, in determining to embrace or reject anything, is not whether it have any evil in it, but whether it have more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good.”
“Some of our generals complain that I impair discipline and subordination in the army by my pardons and respites, but it makes me rested, after a hard day’s work, if I can find some good excuse for saving a man’s life, and I go to bed happy as I think how joyful the signing of my name will make him (a deserter) and his family.”
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”
In addition, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural speech are ever relevant. And you may wish to add your own favorites to these.
Paul’s advice to us in Philippians 4:8 is to “fill your minds with those things that are good and deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.”
As we celebrate his birthday on the 12th, Lincoln’s words more than meet this standard!
John Carter is a Weatherford resident whose column, “Notes From the Journey,” is published weekly in the Weatherford Democrat. | <urn:uuid:d53f9812-f42b-4039-a509-209a2d5aac9b> | {
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Tornado Questions and Answers
What should I do in case of a tornado?
That depends on where you are. This list of tornado safety tips covers most situations.
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch defines an area shaped like a parallelogram, where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours. It does not mean tornadoes are imminent -- just that you need to be alert, and to be prepared to go to safe shelter if tornadoes do happen or a warning is issued. This is the time to turn on local TV or radio, turn on and set the alarm switch on your weather radio, make sure you have ready access to safe shelter, and make your friends and family aware of the potential for tornadoes in the area. The Storm Prediction Center issues tornado and severe thunderstorm watches.
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado. When a tornado warning is issued for your town or county, take immediate safety precautions. Local National Weather Service offices issue tornado warnings.
Do mobile homes attract tornadoes?
f course not. It may seem that way, considering most tornado deaths occur in them, and that some of the most graphic reports of tornado damage come from mobile home communities. The reason for this is that mobile homes are, in general, much easier for a tornado to damage and destroy than well-built houses and office buildings. A brief, relatively weak tornado which may have gone undetected in the wilderness -- or misclassified as severe straight-line thunderstorm winds while doing minor damage to sturdy houses -- can blow a mobile home apart. Historically, mobile home parks have been reliable indicators, not attractors, of tornadoes. | <urn:uuid:29f8e526-9d53-458c-88fd-ef86b3f22369> | {
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Welcome to the second trimester! Your baby is now the size of a peach, measuring about three (3) inches in length from crown to rump and weighing just about one (1) ounce. You are in your third month of pregnancy.
During week 13 of pregnancy, your baby’s body is now beginning to catch up in size with the head, which currently makes up about a third of his or her body size. The skin is still paper thin and translucent, revealing the internal organs inside. The intestines continue to move from inside the umbilical cord to neatly fold in place inside the abdomen. Some of the bones in your baby’s tiny body are also beginning to harden, specifically the bones in the arms and legs. If your baby is a girl, her ovaries now contain the approximately two million eggs that she will have for life. The external genitalia also continue to develop, although you will not be able to determine the sex of your baby visually for another few weeks.
Your baby’s hands and feet are now strikingly human. The fingerprints begin to form on the touch pads on the fingertips during week 13 of pregnancy. Your baby continues to open and close his or her little hands into fists and to curl his or her little toes. The ankles and wrists are becoming more defined. Your baby continues to suck in and swallow amniotic fluid and has also begun to suck on his or her thumbs. The vocal cords are also developing inside your baby’s throat.
If you had been suffering from morning sickness, you will be relieved to know that most expectant mothers start to feel better by week 13 of pregnancy. However, if your stomach is still turning, take comfort in knowing that your nausea should subside within the next week or two. During week 13 of pregnancy, you may also notice that you are feeling more hungry than usual. Just keep in mind that you need only about 300 extra calories per day while pregnant; gaining too much weight too quickly can be dangerous to you and to your baby.
During week 13 of pregnancy, you may have noticed that your sex drive has increased. If, however, you are still feeling hands off, your lack of libido is completely normal two. You may also be experiencing increased vaginal secretions known as leukorrhea. This white or yellowish discharge protects your baby by keeping harmful germs washed out of the vagina. Your breasts may begin to feel less tender. You may also begin leaking colostrum, which will be baby’s first food before your breasts produce mature breast milk around three to five days postpartum. Many women, however, never leak during pregnancy and go on to successfully breastfeed their babies. You may also now be sporting an obvious baby bump, which is more the result of your enlarged uterus, which has grown out of the pelvis and into the abdomen, than of your peach-sized baby. Other symptoms during week 13 of pregnancy include lessening fatigue, food cravings and aversions, heartburn and indigestion, constipation, and dizziness.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not meant to replace the professional medical advice of your health care provider.
13 weeks pregnant: http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/13-weeks-pregnant_70690
Curtis, Glade B. & Judith Schuler. 2011. Your pregnancy week by week. 7th edn. Philadelphia: Running Press.
Stone, Joanne & Keith Eddleman, eds. 2003. The pregnancy bible: Your complete guide to pregnancy and early parenthood. Willowdale, Ontario: Firefly Books.
Your pregnancy: 13 weeks: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-13-weeks_1102.bc
Your pregnancy week by week: Weeks 13-16: http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-13-16
Utrasound of 13 Week Fetus: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuchal_translucency_Dr._Wolfgang_Moroder.jpg | <urn:uuid:fc72957d-7766-4498-b318-59f43e536559> | {
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A new report by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and the Department of Health and Human Services makes clear that the United States is still in the grip of a decades-long epidemic, albeit one that many Americans scarcely know exists. What this and previous reports do not make clear, however, is that the epidemic continues to cause lasting harm to millions of men, women and children in part because of the influence of a very powerful special interest.
To a large extent, this epidemic is as “silent” as when one of Murthy’s predecessors, Dr. David Satcher, brought it to the nation’s attention 16 years ago. In “Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General,” Dr. Satcher wrote that:
‘In spite of the safe and effective means of maintaining oral health that have benefited the majority of Americans over the past half century, many among us still experience needless pain and suffering, complications that devastate overall health and well-being, and financial and social costs that diminish the quality of life and burden American society. What amounts to a “silent epidemic” of oral diseases is affecting our most vulnerable citizens — poor children, the elderly, and many members of racial and ethnic minority groups.’
Dr. Satcher’s report, which received widespread media attention, called for the development of a “National Oral Health Plan to improve quality of life and eliminate health disparities.” It was the first call to action to address the crisis. Unfortunately, despite the initial publicity, it didn’t result in all that much action. Three years later, Dr. Satcher’s successor, Richard H. Carmona, released his own “National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.” It, too, decried the many disparities related to oral health and called on health care professionals, researchers, policy makers and community leaders to collaborate on ways to reduce them.
But ten years after Satcher’s report — and seven years after Carmona’s — President Obama’s first Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin was still referring to America’s oral health care crisis as a silent epidemic. Her own report, published in the March/April 2010 edition of the relatively obscure Public Health Reports, the official journal of the U.S. Public Health Service, was titled “Oral Health: The Silent Epidemic.” Like her predecessors, Benjamin cited the consequences of inadequate dental care. “If left untreated,” she wrote, “(dental caries and periodontal disease) may cause pain, dysfunction, poor appearance, loss of self-esteem, absence from school or work, and difficulty concentrating on daily tasks.”
Fast-forward to 2016. Surgeon General Murthy’s report, like Benjamin’s, was published in Public Health Reports. Like his predecessors, he cited progress on a few fronts since 2000 (more kids are receiving dental sealants that prevent cavities, fewer teens have tooth decay and more adults are retaining their natural teeth), but not nearly enough progress in reducing disparities. Murthy wrote that:
‘Poor oral health continues to disproportionately affect low-income individuals, the frail and vulnerable, and the traditionally underserved. One-quarter of preschool-aged children living in households below the federal poverty level have untreated tooth decay, compared with about one in 10 children living above the poverty level. As of 2012, more than 29% of non-Hispanic black adults aged 65 years and older had complete tooth loss compared with fewer than 19% of the overall U.S. population of the same age.’ | <urn:uuid:2df0554a-2328-4303-87a7-164a6c292556> | {
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The boiler was a keystone of America’s Industrial Revolution, helping to propel the country to the status of world superpower. For the better part of a century, however, the boiler posed great risk. By some estimates, from the 1840s to the 1920s, 50,000 people died from boiler explosions every year. Thanks to the work of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, boiler safety was greatly improved.
Boiler Life-Cycle Considerations
The tricky act of balancing safety, performance, and economics | <urn:uuid:b0b86233-aa46-45ec-a265-d99ef76ffa75> | {
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BEAUCHAMP, THOMAS D.
BEAUCHAMP, THOMAS D. (?–?). Thomas D. Beauchamp, early settler, moved to Texas in 1832 and attended the Convention of 1832 as a delegate from the Snow (Neches) River District, now in Tyler County. He served on a committee to petition the state of Coahuila for a law permitting the use of the English language except in matters directly pertaining to government. In 1838 Beauchamp, a single man, was issued a headright for eight and one-third labores of land in what is now Falls County.
John Henry Brown, History of Texas from 1685 to 1892 (2 vols., St. Louis: Daniell, 1893). Texas House of Representatives, Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses, 1832–1845 (Austin: Book Exchange, 1941).
The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.Melissa G. Wiedenfeld, "BEAUCHAMP, THOMAS D.," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe11), accessed August 29, 2015. Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. | <urn:uuid:6615000a-8631-4b84-96ab-2b1224f1b482> | {
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Founded by Jesus Christ approximately two thousand years ago, Christianity is one of the most influential religions in world history. Although this faith began as a small sect of Judaism during the first century in ancient Israel, the Christian religion has nearly two billion followers at the beginning of the twenty first century.
The Ethiopian Orthodox church is one of the oldest in Christendom. It is believed by Ethiopians to date to at least the first century, making it an important part of Christianity.
The cross is probably the most important sacrament in the Christian religion. It is the symbol of faith and salvation and retains its purest form in Ethiopia, where it can be found in three principal forms: the processional cross, hand cross and the pendant cross.
Ethiopian processional crosses are elaborate pieces, attached to the tops of staffs on feast days and carried at the heads of parades through towns and villages, then back to the churches that usually house them. Hand crosses are carried during many religious ceremonies. They usually include the latticework form as well as a square at the base, traditionally believed to represent the Ark of the Covenant. Pendant crosses are the most common form found in Ethiopia. Pendant crosses are received at baptism and worn around the neck and are often the most prized possession, talisman and symbol of faith of the wearer.
The Sadigh Gallery has an intricately beautiful selection of Ethiopian crosses, an important part of Christian culture and history of which you can own a small piece to complement your collection or to treasure for more personal reasons. | <urn:uuid:423b80b8-95d2-4da6-a9d8-3782e370825b> | {
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|THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF BERGEN COUNTY |
By Kevin W. Wright
Generations of schoolchildren have learned that the indigenous population of New Jersey called themselves the Lenni Lenape. One would search the historic record without success, however, for any confirmation of the use of this name. On June 17, 1654, Johan Rising, Director of New Sweden, defined the Renapi (Lenape) as "the natives who dwelled on the western bank of our [Delaware] river..." At that time, they were represent ed by twelve sachems, or heads of families.' Thus, in the historic record, the name Lenape referred to native inhabitants of a portion of the west bank of the Delaware River and was never used to encompass the entire Algo-nquian-speaking population of the Middle Atlantic coast. Strictly speaking, Lenape means "male." Linnilenape has been translated "Indians of the same nation." In 1818, John Heckewelder reported that "their name signifies 'original people,' a race of human beings who are the same that they were in the beginning, unchanged and unmixed."
Dialectal variations upon the word Lenape (male) exist among all Algonquian speakers. From the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the Montagnais word for "a man" was reported in French sources as iriniou. Since the many Algonquian speakers did not use sounds corresponding with our letters F, L, V, X and Z (using R instead of L), iriniou could also be rendered illiniou. Westward, near the southern shores of Lake Superior, Father Jacques Marquette noted, in 1673, that "when one speaks the word 'illinois' it is as if one said in their language, 'the men,' - As if the other Savages were looked upon by them merely as animals."
The term Lenni Lenape can be a convenient ethnographic tag encompassing independent communities, sharing a common ancestry and speaking dialects of the same Algonquian language, who inhabited the territory lying between the head of tides on the Hudson River and the head of Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna River eastward to the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson Valley. It should not imply, however, that individual Lenape identfied themselves with (or gave allegiance to) any cohesive social unit larger than their own family or community of close relations. However, evidence does suggest that some independent, neighboring communities bonded together in loose family alliances or regional groupings, generally distinguished by a common dialect. Adhesion among these communities depended, to an significant degree, upon recognition of consanguinity. The correspondence between family alliances and dialects suggests that subdivision of families and their territorial extension occurred over a considerable period of time. While these family alliances were often cooperative in matters of social and political policy, there is no evidence that individual communities were subordinate to any overarching, hierarchical leadership in their alliances.
Writing in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, John Heckewelder, a Moravian missionary, popularized the tradition that the Lenni Lenape who first settled Scheyichbi (that is, "the land bordering the ocean," now New Jersey) divided themselves into three bodies: the Turtle Tribe or Unamis who settled between the coast and the interior mountains; the Turkey Tribe or Unalachtgo who settled nearest the sea; and the Wolf Tribe or Minsi who, being the most warlike, settled among the mountains near the head of the great rivers, forming "a kind of bulwark for (the others) protection, watching the motions of the Mengwe [Iroquois], and being at hand to afford their aid in case of a rupture with them." These "tribal" names or subdivisions only appeared after the Lenape had withdrawn from their homelands into the interior of Pennsylvania between 1740 and 1760. Unalachtgo has been variously translated as "those who live towards the ocean waves," "those who live detached from the ocean waves" (perhaps in the sense, "those who formerly resided near the ocean waves and "those who live upstream." Unamis has generally been interpreted as "those who live down river." The Minsi take their name from Minisink in the upper Delaware Valley.
These three subdivisions roughly correspond to three distinct Lenape dialects reported by New Netherlanders in the middle of the seventeenth century: (1) the Loeuaneu (Northem) or Manhattan/ Minisink; (2) the Sanhican (fire-makers); and the Sawanoos (Southern). Any coalescence of the Lenape into these three dialectal alliances was not made by conscious decision, but rather through gradual adaptation to three different resource-areas: (1) the Highlands and Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley; (2) the Piedmont Plateau and Inner Coastal Plain; and (3) the Outer Coastal Plain. These dialectal groupings, however, did not achieve political integration or tribal polities, though they may have loosely corresponded with family alliances. The historic record clearly depicts independent familial communities settled upon their own communal territories, yet sharing some intercommunal territory (such as fishing-place or hunting-ground) with other consanguine families. It is probable that new groups sprang over the course of time as certain bands or families outgrew their available resources and, for their own convenience, chose to settle neighboring spots. "Increasing in numbers, [these new groups] gave themselves names or received them from others." Such group names were supposedly derived from "some simple natural objects, or after something striking or extraordinary..." Thus, the Mahicanni or Mohicans supposedly originated as a detached group who, by intermarriages and mixing two languages, acquired a dialect of their own. Similarly, the Nanticokes, settling Maryland and Virginia, purportedly became a detached and distinct polity.
A search of the earliest documents tums up a diversity of small groups or bands, generally known by their places of residence. According to Johan De Laet's Nieuwe Wereldt (1625), the Manatthans occupied the east side of Port May (New York Bay), upon the main land. They were described as "a bad race of savages, who have always been very obstinate and unfriendly towards our countrymen," but who nevertheless sold Manhattan Island to the Dutch. Manatthan is a corruption of menach'hen, signifying island. In his Historisch Verhael, published semi-annually between 1621 and 1631, Nicolaes Van Wassenaer reported that "the Manhates are situate at the mouth" of the Hudson River." In 1626, Director-General Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan and established Fort Amsterdam. The first settlers found "land fit for use, deserted by the savages who formerly had fields there." After the sale of their island home to Minuit, the original inhabitants of Manhattan took up residence across the river on Bergen Neck After selling the southern tip of this peninsula from the Kill van Kull northward to Wiehawken in1630, the Manhattans apparently blended into the Tappans and vanished as a distinct group.
In February 1624, Van Wassenaer's Historisch Verhael, based upon logs of the first Dutch seafarers to visit the region, reported "the Mechkentowoon, Tapants [residingl on the west side" of the Hudson River. The meaning of Tappan is somewhat obscure: it is probably a dialectal variation upon Petapan, meaning daybreak dawn, used in the directional sense of easterly. According to De Laet's Nieueu Wereldt (1625), the Tappaans were a nation of savages inhabiting the first reach of the Hudson River, on the west side, "where the land is low." In 1640 this stretch of lowland at Tappan was described as "a large flat of about two or three hundred morgen of clay soil [that] lies under the [Palisade] mountains, three or four feet above the water." Thereabouts was "also much maizeland...too stony to be ploughed': and a creek later named Sparkill which "comes from the highland" and runs across the river flats. In April 1640, Captain David De Vries purchased this lowland in addition to his plantation at Vriessendael (now Edgewater, New Jersey). The Tappans occupied the northern valley of the Hackensack River, south to French Creek at New Bridge (which forms the present boundary between Teaneck and New Milford). Their territory also extended south upon the tableland atop the Palisades toward Wiehawken. Eastward across the Hudson River, other allied families of this dan were known as Wappinks or Wappingers (Eastemers).
According to the 1633 version of De Laet's Nieueu Wereldt, the Machkentiwomi, neighbors of the Tappaans, lived "over against" the Manhattans on the west side of the Hudson River. Their name derives from machkachtaeuunge, meaning red bank of a river. Where was Machkachtaeuunge? According to the deed of Daniel Honan and Michael Hawdon, dated June 5, 1696, a tract of vacant land in Orange (now Rockland) County, New York, was commonly called Kackyacktaeueke. Presenting another version of this place-name, the Return of a Survey for 7,470 acres, dated April 25, 1710, issued to Elias Boudinot, John Auboyneau, John Barberrie and Peter Fauconnier mentions "an Indian field called Maygahgtayako" situated on the southwest side of Pascack Brook in present-day Spring Valley, New York. This Indian plantation, variously known as Kackyacktaweke, Hackyackawack or Maygahgtayako, is the origin of the historic toponym Kakiat. These place-names appear to be approximations of Machkachtawunge, thus placing this band near the head of the Pascack Creek and perhaps southward. Furthermore, in 1657, Augustine Herrman purchased a tract of land lying west of the mouth of the Raritan River running to a creek (?) at the uppermost end of the Great Marsh called Mankachkewachky, which runs northwest up into the country. Mankachkewachky appears to be another approximation of Machkachtawunge. Therefore, the Mechkentowoon resided upon intertidal lands bordering Newark Bay and its tributaries, the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers.
According to De Laet's Nieueue Wereldt (1625), the Sanhikans were "deadly enemies of the Manhathans, and a much better people; they [as well as the Aquamachuques] dwell within the sandy hook, and along the [Raritan and Newark] bay, as well as in the interior of the country." The Dutch Figurative Map (circa 1614) shows that they occupied the western margins of Bergen Neck. If their homelands overlapped, then it is likely that the Mechkentowoon were closely related to the Sanhikans, whose territory extended southwest along the Inner Coastal Plain to Assinpink Creek (earliest known as Sankikan Kill) near the Falls of the Delaware. Swedish geographer Pieter Lindestrom identified Sanckhickan as a neck of land (now Falls Township) on the west side of the Delaware River, between two islands called Menahanonck (Bile's Island) and Kentkateck (Moon Island). Consequently, the Sanhicans were also identified as a nation of Indians inhabiting the South (Delaware) River, according to De Laet's Nieueue Wereldt (1625, 1630). Their name means fire-makers.
In 1628, Isaack De Rasiere stated that Staten Island was "inhabited by 80 to 90 savages, whe support themselves by planting maize. He reported that Bergen Neck, being "the northwest lane opposite to Manhatas," was "inhabited by the old Manhatesen they are about 200 to 300 strong men and women, under different chiefs, whom they call Sackimas." This count possibly included the Tappans, who also inhabited Palisades mountain north of Wiehawken and who were closely related to the Manhattans. Bergen Neck, mistaken for an elongated island, was "more mountainous" than the opposite bank of the Hudson, and so was called Bergen (Mountains). West of Bergen Neck, the tidal waters of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers, commingling in Newark Bay, were thought of as a "little river, which we call 'Achter Col'," meaning "behind the neck of land."
Thereabouts, "there is a great deal of waste reedy land; the rest is full of trees, and in some places there is good soil, where the savages plant their maize, upon which they live, as well as by hunting." Those who inhabited the periphery of this waste reedy land became known as the Hackensacks. Achkinckeshacky or Acking-sack, (later Hackensack) is an approximation of Achsinnigeu-haki, meaning stony ground. More exactly, this sandstony ground is Teaneck Ridge, forming the backbone of a lobe of land once called Old Hackensack Neck. The Hackensacks occupied the necks of land about Newark Bay, north and northwest to the heads of tide on the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers. In 1668, the lobe of land (New Barbadoes Neck) situated between the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers was called Meghgectecock. This is perhaps an approximation of masgichteu-cunk, where May-apples grow. The May-apple, sometimes known as Indian-apple, is a moist-woodland perennial that bears edible yellow berries.
The Manatthan, Tappan, Rumachenanck (Haverstraw), Pequannock and Minisink communities apparently spoke the Lowaneu (Northern) dialect and were allied. Deed references (1714) indicate that the Pequannock community held hunting territory in the Upper Delaware Valley near Minisink. Elders of the Tappans and the Pequannock were also described as sachems of the Minisinks. On the other hand, the Hackensacks were related to the Matouwak of Long Island and had their winter hunt there. The Hackensacks, whose territory extended along the tidal lowland from Teaneck southwest to Newark, probably belonged to the family (and dialectal) alliance known as the Sanhicans. In 1628, the Manhattans and related tribes lived "in a state of constant enmity" with the Sanhicans and the paths leading from Raritan Bay to the Trenton Falls were consequently "but little used." Between 1628 and 1640, the Sanhicans were driven away from the west shore of Raritan Bay by a band of Wisquaskecks, known as the Roaton or Raritanghe, who removed from their territory north of Manhattan across Staten Island and into the lower Raritan Valley. By July 1640, the Raritans were described as "a nation of savages who live where a little stream [the Raritan River] runs up about five leagues behind Staten Island." At a peace conference with the Dutch in 1649, Pennekeck, sachem of Achter Col (Newark Bay), "said the tribe called Raritanoos, formerly living at Wisquaskeck had no chief, therefore he spoke for them, who would also like to be our friends..." Their intrusion was apparently contested unsuccessfully by Sawanoos (Southern) Lenape and Sanhicans. Consequently, the Hackensacks were separated from other Sanhican communities.
In 1664, Oratam agreed to sell the lower half (Kiersted Patent) of Old Hackensack Neck to Director-General Peter Stuyvesant. Oratam's people then established villages (villages = Uteneyik, later Teaneck) northward at New Hackensack in the vicinity of Fycke Lane, overlooking the confluence of the upper branches of Overpeck Creek, and upon the bluff at Brett Park. When New Hackensack, extending from about Forest Avenue to French Creek, was sold to Lawrence Van Buskirk & the Dutch Company in 1676, the Hackensacks moved westward across the river, probably into the present precincts known as Fairmount in the City of Hackensack and neighboring Cherry Hill in River Edge. In September 1685, Major John Berry complained of their residence thereabouts, saying "that the Indians would not sell above half of the lands in my patent, but kept it to their own use and planted thereon." | <urn:uuid:f9bd61f1-986f-44b5-81b5-89b0308724f9> | {
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