Career Definition for a Newscaster
A newscaster presents news stories and introduces video and live feeds from on-the-scene reporters. Newscasters report the news to television audiences and generally read reports from a teleprompter. Newscasters can find work in different specialties, which may include local or national current events, sports or weather. The job of a newscaster is to be trustworthy, control the program and regulate the mood of a television audience.
|Education||Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or a related field|
|Job Duties||Present news stories; introduce video and live feeds from on-the-scene reporters; correspond with sources; verify information to ensure accuracy of news reports|
|Mean Salary (2018)||$91,990 (for all broadcast news analysts)|
|Job Outlook (2016-2026)||Little to no change ( for all broadcast news analysts)|
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Most newscasters are required to have a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or a related field. Most of the courses that students take involve mass media, reporting, public speaking, journalism, broadcasting and television/radio production. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that students in high school could prepare for a career as a newscaster by focusing on classes like English and social studies. After receiving their degrees, prospective newscasters will continue their education through internships at local radio or television stations.
Newscasters must have a pleasing voice and appearance. Newscasters need to be trustworthy and must have excellent communication skills. Anyone looking for a career in this field needs to be prepared to meet deadlines, work irregular hours and have tremendous reading comprehension skills. Computer skills are becoming increasingly important and can help newscasters stay informed and up to date on current topics and trends.
Economic and Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that job opportunities for broadcast news analysts were expected to experience little to no change from 2016 to 2026 due to the declining advertising revenue in mainstream media including television. Applicants may see a great deal of competition for jobs in large urban regions. According to the BLS, the average yearly salary for a broadcast news analyst was $91,990 in 2018.
Alternate Career Options
Similar career choices that could be explored include:
Announcers interview guests and present news, music and sports programs for radio, television, or sports teams. The most common education to enter this career is a bachelor's degree, and many announcers already had some experience at college stations. The BLS reported a 9% decrease in employment of announcers from 2016 to 2026. Radio and television announcers earned an annual mean salary of $51,630 in 2018.
Atmospheric Scientist, Including Meteorologist
With a bachelor's degree, these professionals can study the weather and climate, making forecasts for the public. The BLS projected a faster-than-average growth of 12% on the employment of atmospheric scientists from 2016 to 2026. As of May 2018, BLS reported that atmospheric space scientists earned an annual average salary of $95,580.


“As for my husband, he's just that: My husband, till death do us part. It's one of the things we fought for.”
However, it appears that the Wives (and Aunts) have a considerable amount of power and influence in the Republic of Gilead (especially over the Handmaids and other people of both genders, below the Wives) and many of the Wives have played a major role in the establishment of the Republic of Gilead, especially in creating and implementing Gilead's draconian religious laws, constitution, and strict class/caste system.
Attire[edit | edit source]
Wives wear modest clothing in varying shades of Teal, the darker the shade the more powerful the Wife (Blue in the book relating to the Virgin Mary). If their husband dies, they wear all black, including black veils, in mourning.
Role[edit | edit source]
Wives are usually married to high ranking men in Gilead, such as Commanders, Angels and Eyes. Being a Wife is regarded as a high honor in Gilead. Only women perceived as being 'pure' and moral are given the 'privilege' of marrying. (Handmaids, for example, could never be Wives, due to their controversial nature). Many Wives in the early days of Gilead were supporters of Gilead's creation or married to the men who became Gilead's founders and leaders. It would later be revealed that the Wives were also the major architects in creating and building the Republic of Gilead, especially in creating Gilead's draconian religious laws and strict class/caste system. It is implied that some Wives are capable of bearing children, but most are older women and thus have difficulty conceiving (or their husbands are infertile), which is also hampered by widespread infertility. As a result, Wives have to 'share' their husbands with Handmaids, in order to get a child. Later Wives have arranged marriages once they come of age.
Wives fortunate enough to have children are tasked with raising them. However, many Wives are childless and, not being permitted to work and having Marthas to do housework for them, they are often left stuck at home with little to do. Some Wives take up hobbies such as knitting or gardening. June Osborne, as Offred, observes that all the Wives knit scarves “for the Angels at the front lines,”, and wonders if the scarves actually get used, or if they just give the Wives something to do . Wives frequently visit other Wives to gossip. She mentions that some Wives feign sickness so that fellow Wives will come to see them and give them attention. All in all, being a Wife without children is dull, monotonous and lonely.
Many Wives become bitter and resentful; many of them are also jealous of the Handmaids due to their ability to conceive and the fact they must share their husbands with them. Wives can sometimes be quite cruel to Handmaids assigned to them and some have even been known to attack them. That being said, some Wives are so desperate for children that they will form covert alliances with their Handmaids, arranging for them to sleep with other men to ensure they get pregnant and offering them contraband items or other forbidden luxuries, or sometimes information, in exchange for favors.
Despite their high rank in Gilead, Wives are also constrained in several ways. If they try to help out around the home, Marthas will dislike them for taking their jobs away from them, and their husband will be displeased for her sullying her appearance.
Known Wives[edit | edit source]
Below is a list of the fourteen Wives that have been mentioned or portrayed in either the novel, the movie or the TV series.
|Mrs. Allston||Wife of Commander Alston. Her husband's Handmaid, Ofandy, gives birth to a stillborn girl, and Mrs. Allston becomes enraged.||Alive||TV Series|
|Caroline||Attends to the Putnams during the birth of baby Angela.||Alive||TV series|
|Mrs. Calhoun||Wife of Commander Calhoun, to whom the handmaid Ofmatthew is assigned to.||Alive||TV series|
|Eleanor Lawrence||Wife of Commander Lawrence, to whom Emily was briefly reassigned after Commander Roy's death, and to whom June was reassigned after that. Died from a suicidal overdose of medication.||Deceased||TV series|
|Emma Monroe||Wife of Commander Monroe, to whom Janine is reassigned after Angela's birth.||Alive||TV series|
|Grace Scott||A kind Wife, willing to fake illness so her Handmaid can skip the Ceremony.||Alive||TV series|
|Leah||Possibly the Wife of Commander Chambers.||Alive||TV series|
|Tabitha/Mrs. MacKenzie||First Wife of Commander MacKenzie (or Commander Kyle in the second novel) and adoptive mother of Hannah. (Agnes)||Alive (TV Series)
|Mrs. O'Conner||Sent to the Colonies as an Unwoman for adultery; She was later murdered by Emily with poison for holding down a girl to be violently raped by her husband just like every wife in Gilead.||Deceased||TV series|
|Mrs. Webber||Wife of Commander Webber; expresses an interest in having June reassigned to her household.||Alive||TV series||Unseen character|
|Naomi Putnam||Wife of Commander Putnam. Constantly seen with Serena Joy. Especially worried about her status.||Alive||Novel
|Unnamed in the novel and film|
|Serena Joy Waterford||Wife of Commander Waterford. She's one of Gilead's strongest supporters, but her background however changes according to the media she is portrayed. In the TV Series, she along with Fred Waterford are in Canadian custody for war crimes and crimes against humanity.||Alive; active (Novel and Film)
Alive; in Canadian custody (TV Series)
|Shunammite Judd||One of B. Frederick Judd's long list of child-Wives.||Alive||Novels|
|Sonia Cushing||Formerly close to the Waterfords along with her husband.||Alive||TV series||Unseen character|
|Widow of Commander Roy, to whom Emily is briefly assigned after being returned from the Colonies.||Alive; widowed||TV series|
|Olivia Winslow||Widow of High Commander Winslow||Alive; widowed||TV Series|
|Paula Saunders||Widow of Commander Saunders, later wife of Commander Kyle.||Alive; widowed||Novels|
|Mrs. Deeds||Wife of Commander Deeds. Executed along with her husband following the Red Center Attack||Deceased||TV Series||Unseen character|
|Mrs. Keyes||Young Wife of an seemingly older Commander. She runs a farm somewhere in Gilead and dualistic with her calm exterior |and her tense interior||Alive; active||TV Series|


Life Extension Magazine
Pomegranates Protection For Aging Arteries
By Tiesha D. Johnson, BSN, RN
Every year, more than a million Americans are struck down by a heart attack or stroke. For many, sudden death will be their first—and last—symptom of undetected vascular disease. Those lucky enough to survive often face invasive procedures like angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery, followed by a lifetime of curtailed physical activity and costly heart medications.
If you trust your vascular health to mainstream doctors, you may be gambling with your life. Although cardiovascular disease remains the nation’s number-one killer, American medicine prioritizes heart disease treatment rather than prevention. Sadly, it has become far more profitable to treat heart disease than to prevent it.
Fortunately, natural strategies that can help avert life-threatening heart attacks and strokes are readily available today. One of the most promising heart-protective agents to emerge in recent years is pomegranate. Packed with unique antioxidants that guard the body’s endothelial cells against free-radical assault, pomegranate has been shown to prevent—and even reverse—cardiovascular disease.
Research also shows that pomegranate can stop the progression of deadly prostate cancer. And scientists are now exploring pomegranate’s potential in averting ailments ranging from diabetes to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its role in supporting skin, joint, dental, and liver health.
In this article, we examine the growing volume of research that attests to pomegranate’s myriad health-promoting properties—particularly its role in safeguarding the delicate endothelial cells that line blood vessels and are so critical to preserving optimal vascular function in aging adults.
Pomegranate: Powerful Support for Cardiovascular Health
Approximately 71 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease, a history of stroke, or peripheral vascular disease (impaired blood flow to the extremities). Atherosclerosis—a disease of the blood vessels, characterized by inflammation, vascular endothelial cell dysfunction, and impaired nitric oxide production—is a major component of cardiovascular disease.
In both laboratory and clinical studies, pomegranate shows great promise in averting the numerous pathological changes associated with cardiovascular disease. Scientists believe pomegranate works through several mechanisms to fight cardiovascular disease by:
reducing oxidative stress
supporting the synthesis and activity of nitric oxide
inhibiting the oxidation of potentially harmful LDL (low-density lipoprotein).
Click Life Extension Magazine To Read More.
Harvard Health Publication
Health benefit of pomegranate juice on prostate cancer and the heart.
Harvard Men’s Health Watch
BOSTON — Few American men have heard of the pomegranate, and fewer still have eaten this curious-looking fruit loaded with red seeds. But new scientific findings suggest that pomegranates may one day find a place in healthful diets, reports the April 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.
Two recent studies suggest that pomegranate juice may help fight prostate cancer. In one study, scientists grew cells from highly aggressive cases of human prostate cancer in tissue cultures. Pomegranate fruit extracts slowed the growth of the cultured cancer cells and promoted cell death. The researchers then implanted the cancer cells in mice. A group of mice that received water laced with pomegranate juice developed significantly smaller tumors than the untreated animals. In a preliminary study of men with prostate cancer, pomegranate juice lengthened patients’ PSA doubling time (the longer the doubling time, the slower the tumor is growing) from 15 months before treatment to 54 months on the juice.
Preliminary results in test tubes, animals, and humans suggest that pomegranates may also have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. Studies show that pomegranate juice can protect LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidative damage. The juice has also been shown to slow the progression of plaques in mice with atherosclerosis. Results from two small clinical studies are even more intriguing, showing that carotid artery thickness decreased and cardiac blood flow improved in pomegranate juice drinkers. However, preliminary research also suggests that pomegranate juice may interact with certain medications, much like grapefruit juice does.
The bottom line: Early studies raise hopes that pomegranates may have potential benefits for prostate cancer and heart disease, but more research is needed to determine whether these hopes are justified. Click Harvard Health Publication for more.
Green Med Info
How To Clean Your Arteries With One Simple Fruit
by Sayer Ji | Founder
The future of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment will not be found in your medicine cabinet, rather in your kitchen cupboard or in your back yard growing on a tree. Pomegranate Found To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Progression. A new study published in the journal Atherosclerosis confirms that pomegranate extract may prevent and/or reverse the primary pathology associated with cardiac mortality: the progressive thickening of the coronary arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty materials known as atherosclerosis.[i]
Mice with a genetic susceptibility towards spontaneous coronary artery blockages were given pomegranate extract via their drinking water for two weeks, beginning at three weeks of age. Despite the fact that pomegranate treatment actually increased cholesterol levels associated with very low density lipoprotein-sized particles, the treatment both reduced the size of the atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic sinus (the dilated opening above the aortic valve) and reduced the proportion of coronary arteries with occlusive atherosclerotic plaques.
Remarkably, the researchers also found that pomegranate extract treatment resulted in the following beneficial effects:
- Reduced levels of oxidative stress
- Reduced monocytie chemotactic protein-1, a chemical messenger (chemokine) associated with inflammatory processes within the arteries.
- Reduced lipid accumulation in the heart muscle
- Reduced macrophage infiltration in the heart muscle
- Reduced levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and fibrosis in the myocardium
- Reduced cardiac enlargement
- Reduced ECG abnormalities
Click GreenMedInfo for article.


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Marcantonio II Colonna (sometimes spelled Marc'Antonio; 1535 – August 1, 1584), Duke of Tagliacozzo and Duke and Prince of Paliano, was an Italian aristocrat who served as a Viceroy of Sicily in the service of the Spanish Crown, Spanish general, and Captain General of the Church. He is best remembered for his part as the admiral of the Papal fleet in the Battle of Lepanto.
Marcantonio Colonna, born in 1535 at Civita Lavinia, was a member of the noble Colonna family of the Lazio, then one of the most powerful feudal dynasties of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Sicily, which was under Spanish rule. His parents were Ascanio Colonna, Duke of Tagliacozzo, and Giovanna d'Aragona.
Due to acts of rebellion, he was disinherited by his father; but in 1562 Colonna was able to regain the family fiefs for himself, largely thanks to the support of Pope Pius IV. However, he had to forfeit several possessions, such as Nemi, Ardea, and Civita Lavinia, due his father, Ascanio, having left little money.
In 1553–1554, during the war against Siena, Colonna was made commander of the Spanish cavalry. At the Battle of Lepanto (7 October 1571), he commanded the papal Capitana (flagship) as part of the Centre division, where he rescued the flagship of commander Don John of Austria, the Real. When the Real was almost taken by the Ottoman janissaries, Colonna came alongside with the bow of his galley and mounted a counter-attack. With the help of Colonna, the Turks were pushed off the Real and the Ottoman flagship of Ali Pasha was boarded and swept. The entire crew of Ali Pasha's flagship was killed, including the commander himself. The banner of the Holy League was hoisted on the captured ship, breaking the morale of the Turkish galleys nearby.
In 1577 King Philip II named Colonna as Viceroy of Sicily. He was also Lord of Marino, then a village a few miles south of Rome, where the inhabitants honoured him with a great annual feast which still takes place today, under the name of "Sagra dell'uva".
Colonna often stayed at Avezzano, where he had a fountain built and added a new floor in the castle, as well as a creating a loggia by the Fucine Lake. Later in his life he moved to L'Aquila, where he lived in the house now called the Palazzo Porcinari.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marcantonio II Colonna.|
Carlo d'Aragona Tagliavia
| Viceroy of Sicily
Juan Alfonso Bisbal


There may be various types of monetary aids students may apply for if qualified; however, it is important to research available options. Let’s take a look at the various options that may be available to you if you qualify!
Federal Student Loans
Students whose parents have a good income and credit may apply for a dependent federal government student loan if they qualify. Although the loan will be technically granted in the student’s name, the parent is typically responsible for paying back any monies owed. In most cases the students do not need to start paying back until ten months after their graduation. Some may also apply for postponements, which defer payment until his/her income is substantial enough to afford monthly payments toward their loan debt.
Grants, unlike student loans, need not be repaid. Grants are typically granted to those in lower income brackets for those who qualify. There may be various types of federal and state supported grants for different ethnic backgrounds and genders for those who qualify. There may also be grants available for specific career fields such as various medical and scientific professions for those who qualify.
Federal Work Study Programs
Many colleges may have a unique Federal Work Study Program (FWS) in which a qualified student is placed on campus for various work which is compensated via tuition rather than hourly pay or salary. Generally these are offered to those students who have a difficult time obtaining loans or grants.
There may be numerous scholarships available to students today if they qualify. The most popular and well-known scholarships are based on merit and generally originate from a specific college or university. Other scholarship opportunities include special talents, interest, student qualities as defined by a specific school, participation in sports, and academic achievement.
Private Student Loans
Students who cannot qualify for available grants and scholarships could look at the potential option of taking out private student loans if they are qualified. These loans function much like a loan for a car or home; however, it is important to note that these cannot be written off in a bankruptcy as other loans can. It is possible to defer payments for a specific amount of time. Private student loans may be acquired for those who qualify at many banks and other financial institutions.


This week, History Making Productions unveiled its new poster “Deep Roots, Continuing Legacy: Philadelphia in the Struggle for Civil Rights” that seeks to inspire and encourage people to be proud of Philadelphia’s history. The poster is a new project from HMP, the documentary film company that strives to share Philadelphia’s rich history through the powerful medium of film. They hope that the poster will encourage Philadelphia residents to delve into our fascinating, and continuous role in the fight for equal rights. Many of the events depicted on the poster are also featured in their film series, Philadelphia: The Great Experiment. These films are available at no cost and online at historyofphilly.com.
HSP is proud to say that we are one of the many cultural partner organizations to lend our resources to the project. Some of the sources by Octavius Catto, William Still, Richard Allen, and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, are found here at HSP and are available for teacher use and featured in many of our unit plans.
For more information, teaching ideas, and primary sources related to the topics illustrated in the poster please visit http://www.historyofphilly.com/educational-content/. In addition, many of these topics will again be discussed in the upcoming Created Equal Series and Genius of Freedom Teacher Workshop. (Teachers attending the latter will receive a free copy.) Please check out our calendar for dates and details.


The idea of multitumor block to expedite simultaneous analysis of multiple tissue specimens was pioneered by Battifora, and several variations have been published since then. More recently, microarray technology has been introduced to allow placement of up to several hundreds specimens in 1 block using manual or automated sampling devices. This paper reports a manual technique for preparation of a multitissue block. Generation of such blocks requires no special equipment, and flexible block design is possible depending on nature of available material and desired sample size. The first step is dissection of cubical or rectangular samples from paraffin blocks or processed tissue with a razor blade or scalpel. The tissue pieces can be tattooed on cut surface with a permanent marker to facilitate orientation and identification. This marking is preserved during embedding until the block is cut. If a “deep” block is desired, the tissue can be turned 90 degree to provide a greater vertical depth. For embedding, the pieces are laid in paraffin bath in desired order, and when completely melted, they are placed into a deep embedding mold and organized in multiple rows (5 to 10 pieces/row). Scaffolding and control tissue pieces (eg, placental liver or intestinal tissue) can be added as desired. Horizontal or vertical empty space should be preserved to allow for more effective separation of ribbons upon cutting, preventing unnecessary sacrifice of sections. Such blocks can accommodate 30 to 60 cases depending on the tissue size, and they can potentially generate up to several hundreds of sections. This technique is especially suitable when abundant tissue is available, for example, generating blocks containing libraries of normal tissues or defined tumors for antibody screening or tumor immunophenotyping.


Last Year, Fracking in the US Created a Shocking Amount of Toxic Waste Water
Research shows damage to air quality and possible radiation risks also occur
Fracking in the last year created 280 bn US gallons of toxic waste water. To put that into perspective, that’s enough waste water to flood Washington D.C., according to an article from The Guardian. The waste water would not only be enough to flood the city, but also to submerge it 22 ft. deep.
The news comes as part of a report from Environment America, released in October 2013. Entitled, “Fracking by the Numbers: Key Impacts of Dirty Drilling at the State and National Level,” the study investigates the detrimental effect fracking has had on the US since 2005.
Aside from the large amounts of waste water fracking creates, the study also reports some other daunting facts. Fracking creates an average of 450,000 tons of air pollution in one year and 360,000 acres of land have been damaged from fracking since 2005. In addition, 2 billion gallons of chemicals have been used in fracking since 2005.
There are currently more than 80,000 wells used for fracking in the US, with Texas and Colorado topping the lists—each state has created 33,000 and 18,000 wells each, respectively. And the rate at which wells are being drilled is rising—of the more than 80,000 wells, 22,000 were built in 2012.
The study also reports that waste water produced from fracking often times contains cancer-causing and/or radioactive material, which poses an air and water quality risk for the general public.
Though the report concludes that it cannot fully determine the entirety of the damage caused by fracking, the data it has provided should be proof that protocol needs to be changed. The study believes the federal government should close the loopholes that exempt fracking from key provisions of our federal environmental laws. The writers of the study also believe federal and state governments should protect open spaces and drinking water from the risks of fracking.
For more information, visit: http://www.environmentamerica.org/sites/environment/files/reports/EA_FrackingNumbers_scrn.pdf


Free Graphing Practice Problem Worksheet
By the time I teach the fungi to my biology classes, several months have passed since the beginning of the school year. At the start of the school year, much time was spent on graphing and data analysis skills. I use this simple and FREE activity to kill two birds with one stone. It allows me the opportunity to review the basic science skills of graphing and data analysis while at the same time reinforcing concepts on the fungi.
No prior knowledge about fungi is needed to complete this activity.
NOTE: This product is also included in my bundled product called Fungi Complete Unit Plan Bundle of Products
In this activity, students are given information about plants that are grown with and without the assistance of mycorrhizae. Quantitative data is given. Students graph the data and answer 8 data analysis questions.
This is perfect for a short homework assignment or classwork. This can also be left in your sub folder to be used in your absence.
Related products include:
Scientific Method Task Cards
Introduction to Science Interactive Notebook Pages and Warm Ups
Scientific Method: Writing a Laboratory Procedure (FREE!)
Scientific Method Homework / Study Guide
Science Skills Reinforcement: Graphing, Applying the Scientific Method, Experimental Design, and Scientific Writing
Science Skills Lab: Student Designed Experiment
Biology Buzz Words: Introduction to Biology
Graphic Organizer for Writing Science Lab Reports
Common Core Science: Informational Reading Task Cards for ANY Science Reading Passage
Lab Cleanup Task Cards
What's In a NAme? (A Study of Biological Prefixes and Suffixes)
Science Skills Worksheet and PowerPoint: Comparing and Contrasting
Tabling, Graphing and Analyzing Data
Free! Graphic Organizer for Reading Science Informational Text
Metric Measurement Task Cards - Set of 90
The Ultimate Lab Safety Bundle
Science Calendars: Important Dates in Science History
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On 23 September 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark returned to St. Louis, Missouri to complete the expedition that President Thomas Jefferson had sent them on two years, four months, and nine days previously.
The expedition had reached the Pacific Ocean via an overland route through the USA’s newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. Through much trial and tribulation, but with remarkably little conflict with the native inhabitants, the expedition brought back an enormous amount of information that the USA needed to develop the new territory. The native Americans that the expedition encountered were overwhelmingly helpful or neutral to them traveling through the area and provided trade, guidance, and assistance.
In early July 1806, the expedition camped for a few days at Traveler’s Rest after crossing Lolo Pass. I stopped there on my recent trip to follow the Nez Perce War Trail. They gave me some directions to the Lolo Pass. (see image above)


I’ve been looking at the theoretical principles that govern the voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) recently and came across some simple VCA designs that caught my attention. A common technique involves a JFET and an opamp to achieve VCA type operation by using the JFET as a voltage-controlled resistor somewhere in the input path. I’ve seen a good deal of these circuits out there, but I had trouble getting good simulation results from what I had seen. I cam across an article by Rod Elliot of Elliot Sound Products which covered some nice history and interesting discussion of the VCA in general. After going over the information there, I came up with this design based on some of the more basic designs presented.
One of the things I’ve been most interested in is trying to accomplish this with a single supply which is common in most stompbox setups. In the schematic, there’s an emitter-follower stage just to act as a buffer for the input signal followed by an inverting opamp stage. To make this work, both C1 and C2 are required to effectively AC couple both input signals (Vin and Vctl) to the opamp stage. There’s an RC network that is supposed to tame the distortion in the output by taking a portion of the output and connecting it to the input of the J201. The article explains this in decent detail. In simulation, the it seems to smooth out the non-linearity of the JFET as Vctl changes. Using the J201, LTSpice gives a decent linear-like response over a range of around 500 mV (0 to -500 mV at the input) and operates decently with a 500 mVp signal.
For use with an LFO, I found that the best results happen with a slight negative voltage offset and a signal who’s amplitude peaks at 0V (i.e. 250 mV sinusoidal signal with a -250 mV offset). Of course, this is all highly dependent on the threshold voltage of the J201 which can range from -0.3 V to -1.5 V according to the Fairchild datasheet. It will be interesting to see the results of this circuit on a breadboard.
 Gray, P. (2009). Analysis and design of analog integrated circuits. New York: Wiley.
This is a circuit designed for a classroom project whereby the instructions were to “improve” a differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier design is essentially an exercise in understanding the inner workings of an opamp, and it effectively works in the same way. The figure below is a schematic for the differential amplifier without the cathode follower output stage. In the LTspice simulation, the input signal is connected to the V+ terminal and the V- terminal is connected to ground. There is no feedback loop between the output and either input terminal making this a high-gain open-loop configuration. However, adding a resistor from V- to ground and one from the output terminal to V- would accomplish the same results as a non-inverting opamp.
I wouldn’t say that adding a cathode follower “improves” the output stage of the amp. It was more an experiment in comparing different solid-state output stages with a vacuum tube stage operating at very low voltages. However, I will say that this thing sounded amazing with the couple of guitars I tested through it. Putting a potentiometer in the feedback network allowed me to play with different gain settings. It’s a very bright sound overall giving lots of high-end sparkle, but the breakup was quite remarkable. I suspect this might be a very usable configuration for a tube mic preamp or a number of audio applications. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity to revisit this before too long.
For those of you interested in the ins and outs of this experiment, you can download our full report here.
here’s a small battery-powered guitar amp that i’ve constructed from reused parts. the housing is a busted computer power supply (some of which is in the No. 5) as well. i’ve got several options for this little fellow in mind, but, for now, it’s a tiny amp with a mean distortion. lo-fi enthusiasts should contact me if you’d like one custom built.
She’s big and bulky, but you can’t ask for too much when you’re dealing with pre-printed PC boards. The 22k resistor in the gain path makes for extremely high output (in terms of headphones). The 100k stereo potentiometer on the output side should make the noise floor a lot lower unless the knob is cranked. That’s what I was going for here since the application of this device will be mainly for when other loud instruments are being played in the room. A short trip to the electronics store should yield three more of these guys. After that, it’s onto the chassis.
This was my first attempt at building the circuit on the PC board. Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to get a different board since this one isn’t quite big enough with two opamps. Soldering it is also a bitch considering it’s tiny and my iron tip isn’t as small as it should be.
The 1/8″ plug is the output soon to have a pot attached to it for volume control. I’ve been thinking about attaching an light meter to each channel, but I still need to know what the dimensions of the chassis will be before I jump that far into it.


The hydrangea garden blooms in June. You can take a seat in the garden or enjoy strolling among them in full bloom.
Fujinomori Jinja 「藤森神社」 is an ancient shrine located in southern Kyoto. Fujinomori Shrine is said to have been founded by Emperor Jingu. It enshrines the victorious battle flag and 12 deities here.
The origin of Children’s Day (5th, MAY) was born at this shrine, and today Fujinomori Shrine is well known for hearing prays of victory, studies, and horse racing.
The shrine’s grounds are made beautiful with a hydrangea garden, containing 3,500 hydrangea plants in a variety of colors from pink and blue to white. The hydrangea garden blooms in June during Japan’s rainy season. You can take a seat in the garden or enjoy strolling among them in full bloom. The shrine holds a Hydrangea Festival during the season. Japanese traditional performances such as tea ceremonies, Shinto rituals will be held at weekends during the festival.
Access : 6-minute walk from Sumizome station on the Keihan line or 10-minute walk from JR sumizome station on the Nara line
Open : 9:00 to 17:00
Garden : 300 yen
MAY : Check the event schedule
Fujinomori Matsuri Festival is held at Fujinomori Shrine every year from MAY 1 to MAY 5. During the festival, there are many food stalls in the precincts, and portable shrines are carried around the shrine. There are also Japanese drum performances, and a samurai parade.
The highlight of this festival is “kakeuma-shinji”, acrobatic horse-riding ritual. It has 1,200 years history and was originally a ritual to pray for the safe return from the battlefield and victory for the samurai.
You won’t miss the riders show their acrobatic skills on horseback.


Native trees and shrubs are a vital part of any garden. Not only do they offer year round interest with colorful fruit, flowers and fall foliage, they are also an important source of food and shelter for local wildlife. Here are a few examples of native trees in Connecticut.
Acer rubrum, Red Maple, is a fast-growing shade tree reaching 40-70 feet tall. It tolerates moist sites and makes a great street tree. Red Maples have three seasons of interest with red showy flowers in the early spring, small green leaves in the summer and beautiful bright red leaves in the fall.
Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud, is a beautiful spring flowering tree reaching heights of 25-30 feet. Unlike most trees, the Redbud flowers directly on the branches of the tree before the heart-shaped leaves come to life. It is truly a show stopper.
Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood, is an ornamental tree with year round interest. In the spring it has large white flowers that open before the leaves appear. The leaves are deep green throughout the summer turning to shades of red and purple in the fall. Flowering Dogwood also have shiny red fruit that provides food for many types of wildlife. During the winter, enjoy the light-colored bark on the curved branches.
Nyssa sylvatica, Sour Gum, is one of the best trees for fall foliage. Glossy dark green foliage begins to turn red or orange as early as mid summer lasting to the fall. Sour Gum is a fast grower, growing in most soils, reaching heights of 40-60 feet tall. Sour Gum make a great shade tree and are salt tolerant.
Quercus alba, White Oak, is Connecticut’s state tree. White Oaks are known to live for centuries and can reach 50-80 feet tall. When planted in the open, they develop a broad crown with many horizontal branches and are excellent for wildlife. Not only do they attract birds and squirrels but they also attract foxes, deer and rabbits.
For more information on native trees and shrubs, stop by the Garden Center and ask for one of our knowledgeable sales associates.
-Thank you to Ashley V. of Winterberry who wrote this piece.


The Stoics and some others are supposed to have entertained much better sentiments respecting the divine nature, who say that there is kindness in God, but not anger. A very pleasing and popular speech, that God is not subject to such littleness of mind as to imagine that He is injured by any one, since it is impossible for Him to be injured; so that that serene and holy majesty is excited, disturbed, and maddened, which is the part of human frailty. For they say that anger is a commotion and perturbation of the mind, which is inconsistent with God. Since, when it falls upon the mind of any one, as a violent tempest it excites such waves that it changes the condition of the mind, the eyes gleam, the countenance trembles, the tongue stammers, the teeth chatter, the countenance is alternately stained now with redness spread over it, now with white paleness. But if anger is unbecoming to a man, provided he be of wisdom and authority, how much more is so foul a change unbecoming to God! And if man, when he has authority and power, inflicts widespread injury through anger, sheds blood, overthrows cities, destroys communities, reduces provinces to desolation, how much more is it to be believed that God, since He has power over the whole human race, and over the universe itself, would have been about to destroy all things if He were angry.
Therefore they think that so great and so pernicious an evil ought to be absent from Him. And if anger and excitement are absent from p. 262 Him, because it is disfiguring and injurious, and He inflicts injury on no one, they think that nothing else remains, except that He is mild, calm, propitious, beneficent, the preserver. For thus at length He may be called the common Father of all, and the best and greatest, which His divine and heavenly nature demands. For if among men it appears praiseworthy to do good rather than to injure, to restore to life 1647 rather than to kill, to save rather than to destroy, and innocence is not undeservedly numbered among the virtues,—and he who does these things is loved, esteemed, honoured, and celebrated with all blessings and vows,—in short, on account of his deserts and benefits is judged to be most like to God; how much more right is it that God Himself, who excels in divine and perfect virtues, and who is removed from all earthly taint, should conciliate 1648 the whole race of man by divine and heavenly benefits! Those things are spoken speciously and in a popular manner, and they allure many to believe them; but they who entertain these sentiments approach nearer indeed to the truth, but they partly fail, not sufficiently considering the nature of the case. For if God is not angry with the impious and the unrighteous, it is clear that He does not love the pious and the righteous. Therefore the error of those is more consistent who take away at once both anger and kindness. For in opposite matters it is necessary to be moved to both sides or to neither. Thus, he who loves the good also hates the wicked, and he who does not hate the wicked does not love the good; because the loving of the good arises from the hatred of the wicked, and the hating of the wicked has its rise from the love of the good. There is no one who loves life without a hatred of death, nor who is desirous of light, but he who avoids darkness. These things are so connected by nature, that the one cannot exist without the other.
If any master has in his household a good and a bad servant, it is evident that he does not hate them both, or confer upon both benefits and honours; for if he does this, he is both unjust and foolish. But he addresses the one who is good with friendly words, and honours him and sets him over his house and household, and all his affairs; but punishes the bad one with reproaches, with stripes, with nakedness, with hunger, with thirst, with fetters: so that the latter may be an example to others to keep them from sinning, and the former to conciliate them; so that fear may restrain some, and honour may excite others. He, therefore, who loves also hates, and he who hates also loves; for there are those who ought to be loved, and there are those who ought to be hated. And as he who loves confers good things on those whom he loves, so he who hates inflicts evils upon those whom he hates; which argument, because it is true, can in no way be refuted. Therefore the opinion of those is vain and false, who, when they attribute the one to God, take away the other, not less than the opinion of those who take away both. But the latter, 1649 as we have shown, in part do not err, but retain that which is the better of the two; whereas the former, 1650 led on by the accurate method of their reasoning, fall into the greatest error, because they have assumed premises which are altogether false. For they ought not to have reasoned thus: Because God is not liable to anger, therefore He is not moved by kindness; but in this manner: Because God is moved by kindness, therefore He is also liable to anger. For if it had been certain and undoubted that God is not liable to anger, then the other point would necessarily be arrived at. But since the question as to whether God is angry is more open to doubt, while it is almost perfectly plain that He is kind, it is absurd to wish to subvert that which is certain by means of an uncertainty, since it is easier to confirm uncertain things by means of those which are certain.
The Stoics. [Encountered first by St. Paul, Acts xvii. 18.]262:1650
The Epicureans. [Ibid.]


Introduction to ESD
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) interference is a specialized type of ambient interference that results from the extremely rapid equalization of charges between conductive surfaces. One common type of ESD is static generated by friction between two insulating materials. Humans experience ESD as a brief electric shock.
Electronic parts straddling a charged and uncharged plastic surface experience ESD as a current flow that can be large enough to instantly cause damage or destruction.
ESD produces heat, light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation throughout the entire spectrum. A simple ESD spark can set fires, fog film, shock personnel and ignite explosives. The failure of only one semiconductor junction in an electronic device can render the device useless. Worse, ESD can cause latent failures so that components can pass testing, but later fail in field use. Modern military and commercial electronic devices can have millions of semiconductor junctions. The effects of ESD are cumulative and progressive degradation that is not readily apparent can occur over time.
Electrical and electronic devices have been plagued by ESD problems ever since the semiconductor was invented. In the days of electron tubes, ESD was of little concern because the tubes were constructed of metals and glass that were highly immune to ESD interference.
In semiconductor devices, which have low voltaic potentials for operation, the effects of ESD began to show up first as mysterious failures of field effect transistors. As the operating current requirements of semiconductor devices decreases, their susceptibility to ESD damage increases. Conductive chairs, floors, garments, workstations, protective packaging, and ionizing systems all offer the same simple goal: to ensure that conductors have the same charge level when they meet. This is the essence of ESD prevention.
No precise model exists for replicating the ESD effects of the human body on an intended environment.
However, it is possible to simulate these effects using an ESD gun and measure the results. Typically the human body model consists of a highly charged capacitor of 100-250 pF in series with a resistor of 100-1500 ohms. The current waveform resulting from an ESD discharge is normally depicted as a rapidly rising 5 nS pulse with an exponentially falling tail whose half current point is 30nS. Many studies have been conducted on what constitutes an ESD event, in particular, the act of a person’s finger touching a device. The most recent and respected standard is EN61000-4-2, in which the ESD probe resembles a human finger and is imparted a potential of up to 25,000 volts. The waveshape is very carefully controlled to simulate this event.
Dielectric Breakdown Phenomena of ESD
Dielectric breakdown occurs in insulators when an induced electric field exceeds the electric field between nuclei and the electron, which bond the nuclei together. In conductors not all of an atom’s electrons are needed to create a chemical bond. The “leftover” electrons are free to move under the influence of an external electric field without damaging the bonds. In an insulator, however, all the electrons of each atom are necessary to form the bonds that hold the material together. Consequently, when an induced internal field “wins the tug of war” over the nuclei for the bonding electrons, some electrons breaks loose from their atoms. These initially freed electrons create an internal current, causing an avalanche effect as they move through the insulator. The material, in effect, “falls apart” in the region of the insulator where the breakdown occurs, often creates a channel through the insulator. If a charged conductor contacts a MOSFET device’s lead, the conductor’s charge will transfer to the conductive areas of the chip, creating very high localized electric fields because of the small capacitance (1 pF or less) of these internal areas. After breakdown is initiated the conductor’s charge will add to the induced internal current, thereby causing substantial heating of the conducting path. Often there is sufficient heat to melt some of the metallization and spew it along the surface of the breakdown channel, causing what is referred to as a “gate short” of the semiconductor substrate in a MOSFET.
ESD problems are prevented by insulating devices or by providing extremely low impedance paths for conduction of the current back to the source. Current typically flows through the power mains because they are at earth potential. Insulation is one very effective way of dealing with ESD. In this method, the device employs a high dielectric insulator such as Mylar, which makes it difficult for the ESD event to occur. Usually the ESD pulse will find a random way to travel across the insulator to some grounded surface. A disadvantage to using insulation is that the surface itself may become charged if its resistivity is too high. The ESD pulse will always seek an air path to return to the source if insulation is used and a key ingredient of protection is removing that path to avoid direct discharge. Conduction is an equally effective way of dealing with ESD. Lowering the RF impedance of the case material will improve ESD performance. Providing a Faraday shield structure (a continuous shield around the device) is another effective method for preventing ESD. Low impedance rubber or plastic impregnated with carbon filler may prove effective because the pulse may be absorbed and turned into heat energy.
It has been found that electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major source of factory and field failures. Preventive engineering using the appropriate shielding has found to significantly reduce field complaints. European requirements (EN 61000-4-2) require ESD testing. It is particularly important to perform this test on medical equipment as it is related to fail-safe design. Midwest EMI Associates has the apparatus to perform ESD testing to EN 61000-4-2 standards.
Visit our Contact Us page to find out more information, a quote, or to leave comment for us.


Any causality with direct effects, between Fossil fuels and the Pandemic has yet to be proven irrelevant.
In any case, we are convinced that the petrol-economies experiencing or going to experience economic and financial difficulties shortly, will not be the end of history. This is in no way the cause of that and vice-versa, but it remains that some linkage of mysterious lineage between the fossil fuels and the pandemic has yet to be proven irrelevant.
To provide any serious analysis and reflections on the Arab and Muslim world, we publish below is a contemporary history of the Middle East as compiled in little more than 600 words. It must be said that the said history is a history of conflicting vested interests that more recently culminated with the advent of the so-called ‘black gold’.
The Middle East, the cradle of civilizations and the three monotheistic religions, will forever stay in the collective consciousness as the blessed land of God and men. After the successive Islamic Caliphates, three essential elements modelled contemporary history of this part of the world: The Ottoman conquest, the British- French rivalries and finally the discovery of the fossil fuels. The Arab Middle East was subject to Ottoman domination since the beginning of the 16th century up to the First World War era. The Turkish rule ended with the Arab revolts and the intervention of the British and French troops. The Treaty of Sèvres in 1920 had to consecrate the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. The consequences of this last resulted in a new political configuration of the Middle East: in the northwest, the territories under French mandate: Syria, Lebanon, and other Druze regions, in the south the British mandate of Palestine and Iraq. In the Arabian Peninsula, the emergence of two kingdoms, of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Three events later changed this map: in 1948 the creation of the Jewish state at the expense of Palestine That seriously amputated the Palestinian territories was Transjordan then formed as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Finally, the year 1967 saw the birth of the Republic of South Yemen. Between 1915 and 1917 Sykes-Picot Agreement dividing the region into zones of French and British influence. Another highlight of 1917 is the presentation of Lord Walter Rothschild to the British government with Balfour’s famous statement letter. It launched the establishment of a national Jewish homeland in Palestine. It was conditioned by the understanding that no harm to the civil and religious rights of any non-Jewish communities were to be tolerated. This statement bore an internal contradiction that harmed the Jews as much as the Arabs and provoked the bloody events of 1947. For it was not possible to create a Jewish homeland without harming the rights of the indigenous Arab communities. Thousands of Palestinians languished in the camps in general indifference of British and French agents. In other terms, Americans, British and the French have always refused to recognize the “Israel Prize” which has served neither the cause of this state nor the prestige of the West. Anglo-French bloody rivalries by interposed Arab revolts continued until the eve of the 2nd World War. The occupation of its territory by the German had to coerce France to freeze its imperial policy in the Middle East. The British intrigues made the position of the French in the Levant untenable to the point of their complete ouster in 1945. Another highlight in the Hejaz, a Bedouin warrior Abdelaziz ibn Saud attacked Mecca, laid down the ruling Hussein and named himself King of the Hejaz in January 1926. The absolute monarchy of Ibn Saud was born and governed to this day. It should be remembered that Cherif Hussein is the head of the illustrious Beni-Hachem family that has ruled Mecca since the 11th century and still doing so far in Jordan. A landmark in the history of the Middle East is the adoption of the Palestine sharing plan on December 1, 1947, providing for the creation of two independent states, one of which Arab and the other Jewish, leaving Jerusalem under UN control. On May 15, 1948, the British mandate ended and evacuated Palestine. On the same day, the Arab armies crossed the newly established border. The result of such assault is to no surprise for anyone. And then the success of the start of operations, this was a debacle Palestine that would shake the Arab world to its foundations. The defeat of Palestine was going to inspire the Arab people by giving a sense of revolt against regimes treated as corrupted by foreign powers. This widespread attitude led to the downfall of some monarchies in favour of republican systems. What paved the way, for the first time, Soviet penetration of the Middle East.


Did you know that a single human eyeball weighs only 0.25 ounces? However, eyes are essential organs that must be kept healthy in order to maintain good vision. Fortunately, when you visit an eye doctor, commonly referred to as an optometrist, you will be able to properly preserve your eye health in several important ways.
– Routine checkups. It is crucial to visit an eye doctor at least once every 1-2 years, especially if you are between the ages of 40-64. This is because regular checkups will help catch common eye disorders before they have a negative impact on your vision, such as glaucoma, which is more likely to affect African Americans than any other race, and cataracts, which nearly 50% of Americans over the age of 80 currently have. Since these types of eye sicknesses will weaken your vision over time, you must catch them early by visiting an optometrist on a regular basis.
– LASIK eye surgery. Since several disorders of the eye can ruin your vision, LASIK is available to help. LASIK drastically improves your vision and eliminates the need for glasses or contacts, as it involves completely reshaping your damaged corneal tissue. Although you will have to wear protective eyewear for a few days following the surgery, most patients are able to return to work the next day. As a result, when you find an optometrist who offers this treatment, you will finally be able to get the perfect vision you have always wanted.
There are two important benefits of visiting an eye doctor. Not only will frequent optometrist visits help keep your eyes healthy, but receiving LASIK eye surgery will greatly improve your vision. This means that when you visit an optometrist, you will be doing your eyes a great service. Find more on this topic here.
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Appendix B: Control tips for common nuisance species in New York
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
This exotic species is about 3 ounces. Body is 11" long.
Signs of their presence:
- The bird itself is the most obvious sign. It's hunchbacked, short-tailed,
and robin-sized with swift, direct flight, not rising and falling like many
blackbirds. Starlings are often seen in large, noisy flocks.
- Sounds: Cries and songs range from a raucous to nearly-melodic chatter,
made up of dozens of variable (and loud) wavy, whiney, wheezy sounds mixed
with high whistles and imitations of other bird calls.
- Droppings: Buildup of droppings on rafters, building ledges, public areas.
- Nests: Coarse-looking nests of sticks and stems in any hole or cavity. They'll
nest in such places as trees, birdhouses, cracks in buildings, within eaves,
on cliff faces or building ledges, on roof beams inside barns and warehouses,
and on shopping center signs.
Omnivore. Seeds and fruits (native and cultivated), and insects—especially
grubs, which are essential during breeding season. Insects and other invertebrates
make up about half of their diet. Starlings will gladly feast on every orchard
and berry crop. They eat livestock rations, picking out the high-protein supplements
mixed into the feed. Starlings often contaminate more than they actually eat.
They'll eat garbage, too.
Typical activity patterns:
Social style: Sociable outside the breeding season. Fall flocks are smaller
(up to several thousand birds) and spread over a large area. In winter, starlings
gather in much larger flocks (sometimes over a million birds) that are concentrated
in smaller areas (few acres). They may use the same winter roost year after
Daily activity: Diurnal.
Migrates? Some do, some don't. Yearlings are more likely to migrate. The starlings
who do migrate may travel up to several hundred miles.
Distribution in NY and the Northeast: Common in cities and around farms.
Habitat: Urban, suburban, and rural areas that offer nest sites (holes in trees,
buildings), and foraging areas (parks, lawns, fields, pastures, livestock facilities,
Territory and home range: Starlings are territorial during the nesting season.
Pair bonding style: Monogamous. Both parents build the nest, incubate the eggs,
and feed the young.
Breeding dates: Early to mid-spring.
Clutch size: 4–7 eggs. Young hatch in
11–13 days. Females may lay a second clutch, but it's apt to be less productive.
Fledging dates: Young leave the nest after
about 3 weeks.
Amount of time young remain with parents beyond fledging
date: They don't.
Common nuisance situations:
Time of year: Any time of year.
What are they doing?
- Nesting in attics, under the eaves, and in soffits and other openings in
- Where enormous flocks (up to a million starlings) gather, they can be intensely
noisy. Their droppings smell bad, and are corrosive and slippery to walk on.
Under certain conditions, the droppings can promote the growth of the fungus
that causes histoplasmosis, an airborne disease that affects people.
- These "feathered bullets" can cause plane crashes. Starlings travel
in large flocks that can collide with a plane, or get sucked into the engine.
- Eat (and contaminate) livestock feed, grains, fruits (grapes, peaches, blueberries,
strawberries, figs, apples, cherries), and garbage.
- Take over nesting sites of native songbirds (purple martins, flickers and
other woodpeckers, bluebirds) and wood ducks. If nest sites are limited, starlings
may severely hurt the populations of these native birds.
- May transfer disease (transmissible gastroenteritis) from one livestock
facility to another.
- Disease risks: histoplasmosis to people, transmissible gastroenteritis to
livestock, especially pigs.
Legal status in New York:
Unprotected. The European starling is an exotic species; an exemption to the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act allows for its control without a federal permit. Local
ordinances may prohibit certain control measures.
Remove artificial food and water sources (bird seed, grains, pools):
- If anyone's feeding the starlings, persuade them to stop.
- Clean up spilled grain.
- Store grain and bird seed in bird-proof containers or structures.
- Use bird-proof livestock feeders: flip-top pig feeders (constant banging
keeps starlings uneasy); lick wheels for liquid supplements; auto-release
feeders for high-protein rations.
- Livestock feed that's compressed into cubes or blocks larger than 1/2"
across are too big for starlings to swallow. Avoid 3/16" pellets because
starlings eat them six times more quickly than granular meal. And don't feed
your livestock on the ground—that's like setting a place for the starlings.
- Starlings really like those high-protein supplements, so mix the supplements
into the feed thoroughly to make it harder for the birds to pick it out.
- Delay feeding livestock until late afternoon or nighttime, if possible.
- Feed livestock in a covered area, such as a shed, which is less attractive
to the birds.
- Starlings are attracted to water. You have two choices with pools, troughs,
and other containers that catch water: either drain them, or keep the water
level out of the starlings' reach. Do that by keeping it low enough so they
can't dip in easily while perching on the edge, and deep enough so they can't
stand in the bottom.
Make outdoor roosts less appealing:
- In a dense grove, thin trees. If a tree is a preferred roost site, trim
out about a third of its branches, concentrating on the inside center of the
crown. This will reduce the number of available perches and increase the birds'
exposure to weather. With less, and poorer shelter, fewer starlings will congregate.
- A combination of frightening techniques (noises and visual deterrents) may
convince the starlings to leave a roost. As always, your chance of success
increases if the techniques are used together and in an unpredictable fashion.
Try noisemakers such as tape-recorded distress and alarm calls, shell crackers,
propane cannons, shotguns, and beating on tin sheets or barrels. Eye-spot
balloons, hawk kites, lights, and mylar reflectors, and dousing the birds
with water from hoses or sprinklers that are mounted nearby, may also work.
Starlings that are used to people and city noises may not respond.
- Use bird boxes with openings that are too small for starlings. Modify wood
duck boxes to make them less attractive by placing them horizontally instead
of vertically. Build them out of a 2 foot-long piece of stove pipe that's
1 foot in diameter. For details, see the "European starling" chapter
in Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. See resource list.
Keep them out of, and off buildings:
- Remove the nest by hand, if possible. Then seal the entry hole.
- Seal all openings that are bigger than 1" in diameter. Many materials
work: metal, wood, glass, masonry, galvanized 1/4" hardware cloth, and
plastic or nylon netting.
- Cap chimneys. (A cover that slips inside the tile liner is adequate).
- To keep them off ledges:
- fasten wood, stone, sheet metal, styrofoam, or plexiglass "plates"
to the ledge at a 45° angle so they can't comfortably perch there.
- attach a sharply pointed steel device to the ledge. There are a few
variations, including porcupine wire (prongs point out in many angles),
ECOPIC™ (vertical rods), and a steel coil that looks like a slinky.
Birds don't like to land on these objects because they hurt, but some
will foil these devices by layering nesting materials over them. If that
happens, remove the nest. (If the prongs are too widely spaced apart,
the starlings will find it easier to perch on them.)
- install electric shock devices on the ledge (Avi-Away™, Flyaway™,
and Vertebrate Repellent System™). When the bird lands, it receives
a nasty shock but is not killed.
- To keep them out of farm buildings and warehouses, hang 10" wide vinyl
or rubber strips over open doorways (with no more than a 2" gap between
strips). You and your equipment will pass through, but the birds won't.
- To keep them from nesting and roosting in sheds, barns, garages, hangars,
and warehouses, staple 1/4–1" polypropylene netting to the underside
of the roof beams.
For NWCOs with a commercial pesticide applicator license:
- Nontoxic repellent: Certain grape-like flavorings (methyl anthranilate),
when sprayed on fruit, repel starlings but don't harm the fruit or people
(Rejex-it®, BirdShield). This may be impractical because of cost.
- Nontoxic repellent: Polybutenes are sticky and starlings don't like to land
on ledges, signs or other surfaces that have been treated with them. Polybutenes
can affect other species, and they can be messy and hard to remove (they won't
earn you a holiday card from the window washing crew). For these reasons,
consider restricting your use of this tool to indoor applications.
- Toxic repellent: Avitrol® is registered for use against starlings in
New York, except for New York City, where it cannot be used. This restricted-use
pesticide is available in a whole-corn bait mixture. Here's how it works.
Starlings that eat the treated grain will behave erratically or gives warning
cries, frightening the others in the flock. The birds that eat the Avitrol
usually die. Like any lethal technique, this pesticide must be used carefully.
Make sure there are no threatened or endangered raptors feeding in the area
because if they ate a poisoned starling, they might also die.
Protect valuable crops:
- Cover berries, cherries, and grapes with netting.
- Methyl anthranilate (the nontoxic repellents described above) may help protect
The European starling is an exotic species, so please do not release any into
the wild in large numbers (chapter two explains why). If a starling has fallen
into someone's chimney and your customer prefers nonlethal techniques, rest
assured that releasing one bird is not going to make a significant difference
in New York's starling population. Unfortunately, they are both abundant and
Direct capture techniques and live traps:
- If the starlings are roosting on a low perch, you may be able to capture
them at night, using spot lights and dip nets.
- Nest-box trap, only useful during nesting season. A bird box that's modified
to close the opening once the starling hits the trigger panel on the bottom
of the box. A mouse snap-back trap can be used to create the triggering mechanism
for this starling trap.
- Decoy trap, for use during the fall and winter when starlings are flocking.
This trap may capture as many as 100 starlings a day. This trap is big: 6x8x6
feet, or even bigger. It can be mounted onto a farm wagon for easy movement
to the starlings' preferred roosts. Leave a few starlings (with lots of water
and food) in the trap as decoys. The trap can be used with bait instead of
decoys, but be more patient, because that method is less effective.
For construction details on both traps, see the "European starling"
chapter in Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage.
Full citation in resource list.
Lethal techniques that require a commercial pesticide applicator license:
- There is one pesticide used on starlings, (DRC-1339) that may only be used
under the direct supervision of staff from USDA-APHIS-WS in states where it's
- Avitrol®, the repellent described earlier, is usually fatal to the birds
who eat it.
Preferred killing methods:
- CO2 chamber
- Cervical dislocation
- Shooting, using an air rifle, a .22 caliber rifle with bird shot, or a shotgun
- Stunning and chest compression
Acceptable killing methods:
Control strategies that don't work well, or aren't
legal in New York:
- Netting over a doorway isn't as wise a choice as plastic strips, because
the netting will probably tear.
- Ultrasonics don't work—the birds can't hear them.
- Some NWCOs have modified their techniques and report some success using
lasers to repel starlings (Avian Dissuader®). This product works great
with other birds, but isn't as effective with starlings.
- Avitrol® has been used to repel starlings from feedlots, but the results
have been mixed.
- ReJex-It® (methyl anthranilate) can be used in different ways but only
one use is registered in New York for starlings: you can use this grape-like
flavoring to repel them from cherries, blueberries, and grapes.
- You cannot use Rejex-it to fog starling roosts in dairy barns; it's not
registered in New York for that use.
- You cannot add Rejex-it to livestock feed to repel starlings, either, because
again, it's not registered for that use in New York.


Parents often suffer with lack of sleep, especially because of attending the needs of very young children.
Sleep deprivation can lead to stress but during Mental Health Awareness Week this week, online bed specialists Time4Sleep reveal its top five tips to help people clear their minds and create a healthy sleeping pattern. Avoid technology 60 minutes before bedtime – Any form of consumer technology including laptops, tablets, smartphones and TVs all emit high levels of blue light rays. Turning these screens off one hour prior to bedtime can have a profound effect on sleep quality, including our physical and mental performance. Soften the senses – Perceptual activities such as washing the dishes, preparing lunch for the next day, taking the dog for a walk or listening to music are all fantastic ways of unwinding in the evening. Too much thinking before bed can result in an overactive mind, eventually disturbing your sleep sanctuary. Keep a sleep diary with information such as – time you go to bed and get up, how many hours sleep, how many times you wake throughout the night, any nightmares, sleep paralysis or sleep-walking incidents, the amount of caffeine, nicotine or alcohol consumed before bed, mood and feelings when you go to sleep and when you wake up. Read More
Keeping a healthy sleep cycle during Ramadan is essential as most worshippers stay up late and wake up early, doctors have said.
As the demands of the discipline of the month of Ramadan require Muslims to make significant changes to their usual routine — from altering their food intake, increasing their prayer time, to waking up before 4am to catch up for Suhoor — many end up falling short of sleep.
Given the importance of sleep for a healthy body and mind, with a little care and discipline those fasting can effectively manage the altered sleep pattern to minimise its adverse impact.
“Some people try to do too much during Ramadan. They spend their days at work or taking care of their children and nights engaged in social activities or at the mosque. Amid all of this, some people do not sleep enough,” says Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, Sleep Physician at the London Sleep Centre Dubai. Read More


This unusual name is a dialectual variant of the locational name Heap from the places so called in Lancashire and Manchester. The derivation is from the Olde English 7th Century "heap", a mound or hill. Alternatively, it could be a topographic name for someone who lived by a hill. Many bearers of this name emigrated to America. These locational names became used as a means of identification when migration became popular in the Middle Ages, the variants include Heap(s), Heape. Recordings in its present form are rare, the earliest being of one Anne Heeps an infant who was christened at St.Margaret Moses, London in 1802. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Hep, which was dated circa 1226, in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as the Frenchman, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2022
Enjoy this name printed onto our colourful scroll, printed in Olde English script. An ideal gift.


The Junkers 87 was better known as the Stuka dive-bomber. The Junkers 87 first saw action in the Blitzkrieg attack on Poland in September 1939. Against a poorly equipped enemy, the Junkers 87 did well with its pinpoint bombing accuracy. Against a more formidable opponent, such as the Spitfire and Hurricane during the Battle of Britain, it did not do as well.
The Stuka got its nickname from the German word Sturzkampfflugzeug or dive-bomber. The idea for a dive-bomber first started in 1934. The first prototype was powered by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine but due to a design fault (a double rear fin), the plane crashed. The next prototypes had a Junkers Jumo 201A engine fitted. The first plane that would be recognised as a Stuka flew in 1936 and the plane was blooded in the Spanish Civil War. When war broke out on September 1st 1939, the Luftwaffe had 336 Stuka dive-bombers available. In the initial phases of the war, the Stuka proved to be extremely effective at pin point bombing of a target. By diving nearly directly onto its target, the Ju 87 could all but guarantee a direct hit and its tell-tale gull-wings gave it this ability to dive at such a steep angle. Straight wings would have been ripped off by the sheer force put on them. However, this shape, so effective in Poland and Western Europe, was to be its downfall as it hindered its speed when confronted with faster opponents.
In the Battle of Britain, the 255 mph (410 km/h) Stuka was no match for the Spitfire or Hurricane and suffered so many losses that it was withdrawn from campaigns in Western Europe for the rest of the war. It did make an initial impact on the radar bases right on the British southern coastline. But once it had to venture further inland, its lack of speed and manoeuvrability showed up and many were shot down.
When used in Operation Barbarossa, the Stuka had many successes – but again, it was up against an ineffective enemy. But by the time of the Russian advance in 1943, it was no match for the Stormaviks and other Russian fighter planes (including Hurricanes sent out in the Arctic convoys). For a short period of time, the Stuka proved a very successful tank buster on the Eastern Front but this version again fell victim to more advanced and faster Russian fighter planes.
By the end of the war, more than 5,700 Stukas had been built.


For educators and students who want to dive deeper into curriculum areas such as climate change science or sustainable design, take action in their schools and communities, and connect with other environmental leaders across the country.
Toolbox for Teaching Climate & Energy
Free resources and framework for teaching climate and energy science, skill-building for taking action, and evaluating teaching methods from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Climate Kids & More
NASA’s Climate Kids free curriculum asks and answers important questions relating to climate change, such as “Do we care if Earth is getting warmer?,” “What is the big deal with carbon?,” and “What can we do to help?”
Our Climate Our Future
Alliance for Climate Education
Alliance for Climate Education’s award-winning video experience that educates young people on the science of climate change and empowers them to take action with climate change videos, interactive trivia questions, climate change lesson plans and more.
Climate Generation provides free, comprehensive, cross-disciplinary, standards-aligned climate change curriculum for 3rd-12th grade in the form of curriculum guides, as well as online modules that can be downloaded for free.
Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)
Part of the National Science Digital Library, CLEAN is a reviewed collection of about 700 free, ready-to-use resources rigorously peer-reviewed by educators and scientists.
Project Drawdown: Learn
An initiative to encourage learning about climate solutions based on Project Drawdown’s research and insights into the top 100 solutions for reversing climate change with existing technology. Teachers Network, On-Line Classes, and Action Guides.
An engaging, ready-to-use K-12 curriculum that builds a foundation of environmental literacy and sustainability knowledge across seven eco-themes: water, waste, food, energy, transportation, air, public spaces. Empowers students to become thoughtful stewards and leaders in their community with this standards-aligned curriculum available in English and Spanish.
Design Studio guides students through a creative problem-solving process as they invent innovative solutions to a specific sustainability challenge. Through inquiry-based learning and design thinking processes, students are empowered to solve real-world issues and enact change in their communities.
Engineering a Sustainable World – Toolkit
National Environmental Education Foundation
These lessons and activities encourage students to investigate all the “making, moving and improving” activities involved in the work of an environmental engineer. The processes teach useful correlations, deeper understandings and real world applications of skills that students may not usually attribute to the world of engineering.
eePRO – Hub for Environmental Education
North American Association of Environmental Education
Online platform for environmental education, professional development and resources.
Fundamentals of Energy
Strategic Energy Innovations
Students map the pathway of electricity from the power plant to its end use to investigate the components, functionality, and challenges of the energy grid, and calculate the monetary cost and CO2 emissions resulting from operating electrical devices.
Free with $40 Learning Lab subscription.
Renewable Energy Living Lab
Students analyze real-world data for five types of renewable energy, as found on the online Renewable Energy Living Lab. They identify the best and worst locations for production of each form of renewable energy, and then make recommendations for which type that state should pursue.
Fundamentals of Solar
Strategic Energy Innovations
Students learn solar photovoltaic technology basics including the photoelectric effect and photovoltaic cells, and explore the variables that impact solar power production. Leaves students with a comprehensive understanding of how and why solar energy is utilized as an essential renewable resource. Free with $40 Learning Lab subscription.
Fueling our Future: Exploring Sustainable Energy Use
Facing the Future
Grades: 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12
Students increase their knowledge of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources worldwide, and use multiple perspectives to evaluate the sustainability of transportation biofuels, Reflect on personal energy use by calculating daily electricity consumption. Free with $40 subscription to the Learning Lab.
Youth Action Network
Join over 300,000 youth across the country taking action in their own communities through the Alliance for Climate Education.
National Youth Council
Join Project Green Schools’ National Youth Council to engage with local and national government, corporate and professional leaders on climate and environmental issues.
Youth Climate Program and Summit
Get the tools and information you need to be able to host your own Youth Climate Summit, such as a free Climate Summit Tool Kit, modeled on the successful events at the Wild Center and in 30 other locations around the world.
Connect with other students across the country through this network and community for youth-led organizations and youth leaders across the country and gain tools for engaging in youth activism.
Eco Schools USA: National Wildlife Federation
Students partake in a seven-step project-based framework that includes a thorough assessment of their energy and water usage, waste production, school grounds, and other aspects of the school community.
The Center For Green Schools:
Equips supporters to educate students about global sustainability and deepen learning by acting in their schools and communities, through educational resources, professional learning networks, and industry-recognized tools.
Edible Schoolyard Project
Edible Schoolyards is an organization that trains educators, gardeners, chefs, and advocates from all over the world to seed and grow edible education in their schools, cafeterias, and communities.
Green School Society
Project Green School’s structured program and process for high-achieving, environmentally focused students to create extraordinary impact in schools, organizations, and communities while getting the recognition they deserve on a state and national level.
Sustainable School Leaders Network
Members of this network, now over 200 strong, play an important role in working to transform their school systems to use resources more efficiently, foster healthy policies and practices and help students be environmentally literate when they graduate.
Schools For Climate Action
A non-partisan, grassroots, youth-adult campaign with a mission to empower schools to speak up for climate action. Advocates for elected officials to combat the climate crisis in order to protect current and future generations.
Advocacy Guide for Environmental Education Professionals & Supporters
Helps educators become better and more confident advocates for environmental education (EE) with local and federal representatives and to bring more support and funding to the field.
© 2020 Point of No Return. All rights reserved.


What does Typhula blight look like? Typhula blight initially appears as roughly circular patches of bleached or straw-colored turf that can be up to two to three feet in diameter. When the disease is severe, patches can merge to form larger, irregularly-shaped bleached areas. Affected turf is often matted and can have a water-soaked appearance. At the edges of patches, masses of grayish-white fungal threads (called a mycelium) may form. In addition, tiny (1/64 to 3/16 inch diameter) reddish-brown or black fungal survival structures (called sclerotia) may be present. Typhula blight looks very similar to Microdochium patch/pink snow mold (see University of Wisconsin Garden Facts XHT1145, Microdochium Patch), but the Microdochium patch fungus does not produce sclerotia.
Where does Typhula blight come from? Typhula blight is caused by two closely related fungi Typhula incarnata and Typhula ishikariensis. In general, T. incarnata is more common in the southern half of Wisconsin while T. ishikariensis is more common in the northern half of the state. To distinguish between the two Typhula species, look for sclerotia. Sclerotia of T. incarnata are reddish-brown and 1/16 to 3/16 inches in diameter. Sclerotia of T. ishikariensis are black and 1/64 to 1/16 inches in diameter, resembling flakes of pepper. Typhula blight develops when there is a prolonged period (more than 60 days) when snow covers unfrozen ground and soil temperatures are just above freezing (30 to 40˚F). Typhula blight typically does not develop if the ground freezes before the first snowfall in the fall/winter, or if snow melts during the middle of winter exposing the ground to colder temperatures. Damage from Typhula blight is usually not noticed until snow melts in spring. Applying high nitrogen fertilizers in the fall can increase the risk of Typhula blight developing over the winter.
How do I save a turf with Typhula blight? Turf with Typhula blight may or may not recover depending on the fungus involved. Both T. incarnata and T. ishikariensis can infect and kill turf leaves, but only T. ishikariensis kills the plant crown. Turf infected with T. incarnata typically recovers quickly once normal turf growth resumes in the spring. Turf infected by T. ishikariensis often suffers from crown injury and death making it less likely to recover and more likely to require replanting in spring. Lightly raking infected turf and reseeding in spring can help speed turf recovery.
How do I avoid problems with Typhula blight in the future? Consider planting less-susceptible turfgrass species (e.g., fine fescues) to limit the impact of Typhula blight. Also, avoid using fast-release fertilizers in late fall that can predispose turf to Typhula infections. Finally, continue to mow turf until it goes dormant as this will help prevent excessive turf top growth that is more easily infected by Typhula.
Because turf often recovers naturally from Typhula blight, fungicide treatments are typically NOT warranted for home lawns. However, fungicide treatments may be needed to prevent severe damage when a lawn has a history of the disease and when predictions for the upcoming winter suggest that snow cover will persist on unfrozen ground for longer then three months. Many effective fungicides are available for snow mold control in home lawns and include the active ingredients azoxystrobin, propiconazole, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole. For the most up-to-date fungicide recommendations for Typhula blight, please visit the Turf Pest Management Mobile website (https://turfpests.wisc.edu/). Fungicide applications should be made in October or November to prevent disease in the spring. If you decide to use fungicides for control, read and follow all label instructions to ensure that you use the product that you select in the safest and most effective manner possible.
For more information on Typhula blight: Contact the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab (https://tdl.wisc.edu/) or your county Extension agent.


Rhododendrons can be planted along foundations, as a hedge, mixed in a landscape theme or as a single-specimen planting. The shrubs adore acidic, rich soil and often flourish in woodland settings. They can even be found growing in the arctic and north temperate zones. Flowers come in a wide variety of pinks, purples, reds and white. Rhododendrons are an evergreen bush, which means it sports leaves throughout the year. The shrub is remarkably hardy in the right growing conditions. Many gardeners worry when their prized rhododendron droops, but the cause can often be figured out and the solutions are relatively easy to prevent this common problem.
Drooping From Heat
Drooping foliage on a rhododendron is common in extreme heat. If the air temperature tops 95 degrees F, the foliage will often droop. To help prevent this make sure the shrub has sufficient water. The soil should never be soggy wet, but it should be moist to the touch. Spray the foliage with a fine water mist every day during extreme heat. Soon your rhododendron should perk up with no ill effects from hot temperatures.
Rhododendrons will droop during a drought when the weather is dry and the humidity is low. If the shrub continues to droop during the early morning hours, water the rhododendron thoroughly. Mist the plant every afternoon even if the nights are cold or windy. The rhododendron can droop even if the air temperature is not extremely hot. The shrub will simply droop due to low humidity.
A newly planted rhododendron will droop even if the soil conditions surrounding the plant are moist. This is because the plants root ball remains dry despite the surrounding moisture. Rhododendron roots grow in a very shallow spread and take a great deal of time to spread out in search of water, so a newly planted rhododendron's roots remain in a tight root ball and are unable to utilize the surrounding soil's water conditions. To remedy this cause of droop in a new plant, set a dripping hose at the base of the shrub. Allow the water to slowly drip out so the root ball can become moist. If the water is not set to slowly drip, it will simply defuse and spread to the surrounding soil and the root ball will remain dry. So make sure the hose drips slowly for several hours to thoroughly water the root ball.
Mulching To Prevent Drooping
Mulch around the base of the rhododendrons to help water retention in the roots and prevent drooping. Choose a mulch that is course so air flow can still reach the roots, but that the soil is shaded to prevent water evaporation. A good choice for mulch is bark chips, pine needles or large leaves lightly raked over the soil. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch for best results, but keep the mulch away from the trunk of the shrub.
Voles will often chew on the bark and roots of the rhododendron near the crown. This can cause the rhododendron to droop. If the vole chews all the way around the trunk, the plant will die. Keep voles away from the trunk of the shrub by not applying mulch all the way to the trunk. Watch for vole activity. If you see vole activity or damage to the rhododendron, consider traps or poisons to control the voles. Paint a tree sealant onto the damage done by the voles, which should help the rhododendron return to health.
Weevils can cause a Rhododendron to droop and die. The larvae of the weevil feed on the roots which slowly kills the shrub. Look for adult weevils on the rhododendron during the day. Nighttime is often the best time to see adult weevil activity. Use a flashlight to look closely at the shrub. Once weevil activity has been determined, purchase a larvacidal drench to apply to the soil to kill the larvae. Follow the directions on the label. The larvacidal drench can be purchased at a garden center. Also purchase a foliar spray to control the adult weevils. Follow the directions on the label for application. Early weevil identification is important to save the rhododendron. The two-banded Japanese weevils are immune to carbaryl, diazinon and malathion. To control two-banded Japanese weevils, use Orthene.
Phytophthora Root Rot
Phytophthora root rot can cause a rhododendron to suddenly droop and then die. The fungus is quite prevalent in wet, poor-draining soil that has a strong clay base. It requires warm temperatures to develop. An infested rhododendron will exhibit roots that are rust in color. Chemicals are ineffective on this fungus. The best way to control the fungus is through prevention. Do not plant a rhododendron in water-logged soil conditions or near areas of spring water runoff or buildup. Make sure the root ball of a newly planted rhododendron is level with the soil. A rhododendron planted too deeply in soil will often develop phytophthora root rot.


December 29, 2018
Modern dental implants in Worthington are the result of centuries of research and advancement. This means that your dental implants will not only be safe, but effective and aesthetically pleasing as well. Implant technology is currently the state-of-the-art in dental medicine.
From Ancient Egypt to 20th Century America
The earliest efforts to treat ailing teeth come from ancient Egypt, where, around 2500 BC, primitive dentists use gold wire to stabilize loose tooth. In 2000 BC, Chinese researchers carved dental implants from bamboo.
One key insight into how modern dental implants work comes to us from the ancient Mayans, who used seashell fragments to replace missing teeth. Researchers know this because they have found ancient skulls with the seashells still in place.
Upon closer examination, they discovered that these early attempts at dental implants actually fused with the surrounding bone, a fact that is still used in dental medicine to this day.
The modern history of dental implants began in the 1950s, thanks to the discovery of osseointegration. This is the same process that allowed bone to fuse with seashells in the treatment example from Mayan history. By the 1960s, dental researchers were embedding titanium alloy implants in patient’s teeth, to act as the base for a long-lasting porcelain restoration.
Dental Implants in the Digital Age
While these early efforts are interesting, they bear little resemblance to the techniques and technology used in modern dentistry. 21st century breakthroughs provide today’s implant patient with advantages such as these:
- Gentle, comfortable procedures in which pain is almost nonexistent.
- Digital imaging devices that enable your dentist to match your implants to the precise shape, color, and texture of natural teeth.
- Space-age materials that allow implants to last as long as a lifetime with only basic care.
The journey to receiving dental implants begins by making an appointment with your dentist in Worthington. He or she will perform a complete oral exam, review your medical history, and discuss your treatment goals with you at that time.
Should the two of you decide to proceed, the next step is to complete a series of highly detailed images that show the shape and contours of your jaw. This information will be used to craft the final restorations themselves.
Once in place, dental implants require only the same type of care you would provide for natural teeth. You should brush and floss, avoid tobacco, limit your consumption of sweets, and eat a nutritious diet. You should also see your dentist for regular exams and cleanings.
What Are Implants-Supported Dentures?
An implant-supported denture uses a series of implants to support a specially made denture plate. Unlike traditional implants, the patient may remove the restoration at will for cleaning or for other purposes. Since they use no messy adhesives, there’s no worry about the restoration coming loose while going about your daily activities. Talk to your dentist about this option at the time of your appointment.
Medical science has come a long, long way over the centuries. Now is the time to take advantage of these advances to give yourself a happier, healthier life. We wish you nothing but happy smiles in the months and years to come.
About the Author
Dr. LJ Adam earned his DMD degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 2004. He keeps his skills sharp through ongoing training and education. You can reach his office online or by calling (724) 297-3446.
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Creating a Waste Reduction & Recycling Program
10 Keys to a Successful Waste Reduction & Recycling Program
- Top Management Support
- Employee Interest and Involvement
- Enthusiastic Leader
- Set and Define Clear Goals
- Determine What Will Be Recycled
- Focus on Waste Reduction
- Design the Collection and Storage System
- Bid Out Recycling and Waste Collection Contracts
- Education Program
- Promote Program Internally and Externally
Four Basic Steps to Develop a Waste Reduction & Recycling Program
Step 1: Identify Target Materials
The first step involves spending a little time looking around your facility to evaluate what types of materials are being generated (thrown away / unused materials) and in what quantities. Materials generated in the highest volumes are your target materials. Your waste reduction and recycling program should be built around these materials.
It is important locate where waste materials are generated in your operation as well as how the waste materials are generated (this helps to create waste reduction activities). It may be helpful to have a copy of the floor plan to note your discoveries. This information will be used for Step 2: Designing the Program.
It is important to note that this activity does not have to be a technical event that requires a team of scientists. Listed below are commonly found target materials for different categories of organizations.
- Beverage containers
- Envelopes [with / out windows, Tyvek, etc.]
- Kitchen Waste [vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc.]
- Office Supplies [electronics, staplers, etc.]
- Paper [catalogs, files / folders, manuals, etc.]
- Paper Towel
- Liquid Waste [oil, antifreeze, gasoline, etc.]
- Plastic Packaging [containers/wrap]
- Scrap metal
- Display Items [hooks, racks, signs, etc.]
- Special items: This includes flowers (florists) and reusable items like clothing or damaged shipments. Flowers can be dropped off for compost at municipality recycling stations and reusable items can be donated to charitable organizations.
Auto Maintenance Shop
- Automotive batteries
- Liquid Waste [oil / filters, antifreeze, gasoline, etc.]
- Metals [reusable or scrap parts]
- Paper towels [replace with reusable rags]
Step 2: Designing the Program
A good waste reduction and recycling program will include:
- Collection, Storage and Service: From the results of Step 1, you should know what the target materials are and where they are generated. This information will allow you to locate the proper type of recycling collection bins and where collected materials should be stored. Also, the information will help with selecting your service method / provider. Larger operations usually work with their current waste hauler to establish recycling service while smaller operations may want to self-haul recyclables to a drop-off station (free in many places). The volume of material collected should be used to determine the frequency of collection service (weekly, biweekly, or monthly); available storage space often is considered in this decision. Lastly, it may be important to create a budget and a means to track the success of the program.
- Education: Communication with employees is critical to the success of any waste reduction and recycling program. Some ways to educate employees include:
- A recycling bulletin board
- New employee orientation
- Payroll stuffers
- Monthly email updates
- Company Policy: Create a statement on the company's commitment to waste reduction and recycling. A clear vision will help set waste reduction and recycling goals and to obtain top management support.
- Purchasing: Close the loop by making it company practice to purchase recycled content products.
- Reduction: Reduce waste in the first place. This is the ultimate way to decrease the amount of materials you send to the landfill each week. Some common reduction practices include double-sided printing, printing draft documents on used one-sided paper, reusable cups for meeting, incorporating electronic communication tools instead of print materials and redesigning business and production processes to eliminate the volume of waste.
Step 3: Implementation
Now that your program is designed, it's time to put it in place. Implementing the program will involve approving the company wide policy, establishing a contract with a hauler, purchasing and placing collection bins and informing employees of the program. Other steps may be necessary depending on the organization.
Some other good ideas during implementation are:
- Delegate responsibility to staff members by assigning a recycling coordinator(s).
- Offer employee incentives for participation.
- Make information on the program readily available. The number one excuse for not recycling is a lack of knowledge about how the process works. Try introducing the program at staff meetings, lunch room bulletin boards and / or a series of all company emails.
Step 4: Monitor & Make Adjustments
Specific measurements of the amounts of materials generated and amount recycled is extremely helpful in evaluating the success of your program over the years. Some items to monitor include:
- Dollars Saved
- Energy Efficiency
- High use Areas
- Volumes Collected
Do not hesitate to revisit and revise your program. Be sure to get feedback from employees about what works and what does not in your program.