It is generally a positive characteristic to be curious. When you are curious, you spend a lot of time trying to understand the way the world around you works.
If we dig a bit deeper into this idea, there seem to be two related aspects of curiosity. The first is that it is important to try to explain how the world works. That is, curious people spend a lot of time asking the question “why?” But, having asked why? it is also important to try to answer that question. So, curious people should also explore the world, taking things apart and trying to understand what makes them tick.
As I discuss in my book Smart Thinking, it is crucial to develop high quality knowledge about the way the world works if you ultimately want to be able to solve new problems.
An important question is whether creating explanations for things guides people’s search for new knowledge. This question was addressed in a clever study published in a 2012 issue of Child Development by my colleague Cristine Legare. She studied children between the ages of 2 and 6.
In these studies, children were exposed to both surprising and unsurprising events. First, this study explored the kinds of explanations give to these events. In particular, kids should be most focused on trying to explain surprising things. Second, the study examined whether the type of explanations that kids give to surprising events influenced the way that the kids played with the objects later.
At the beginning of the experiment, children were shown two boxes with lights inside them. The boxes were designed so that when some objects were placed on top of them, the boxes would light up. (The boxes were actually set up so that an experimenter watching the study could turn the boxes on and off, but from the child’s perspective, the boxes lit up when certain objects were put on them.)
The objects used in this study were blocks of different shapes and colors. All of the blocks were actually boxes, so that if you looked carefully at them, you could see that they opened up.
A block of a particular shape and color (say a red triangle) was placed on top of one light box, and then the other. When the block touched the box, it lit up. Children were told, “This is a blicket.” Then, another block of the same shape and color (another red triangle) was placed on each of the boxes. Once again, when the block touched the box, it lit up, and it was labeled a blicket. After that, a different block (perhaps a green hexagon) was placed on the box. This time, the box did not light up. The child was told “This is not a blicket.”
After being introduced to the box and the blocks, children saw two more demonstrations. Now, two light boxes were put in front of the child. The blicket was placed on one box and the not-a-blicket was placed on the other. The first time this happened, the box with the blicket on it lit up, and the box with the not-a-blicket did not. The key part of the experiment came when the next pair of blocks was tried. In the consistent condition, the blicket made the box light up again and the not-a-blicket did not. In the inconsistent condition, neither block made the box light up.
Children were asked to explain what just happened. After giving an explanation, the children were allowed to play with the blocks for a while. After completing this part of the study, the children each participated in the other condition as well. So, each child did both the consistent and inconsistent conditions.
When children saw a consistent event, they rarely saw the need to explain what happened. If blickets consistently made the box light up, then the best explanation for why a new block made the box light up was that it was a blicket.
The inconsistent events were the ones that really required an explanation. In this case, there was a block that once made the box light up, and now a new one failed to make it light up.
Children at all ages tried to come up with explanations for what went wrong. At each age group, there were two general types of explanations that children gave. Some tried to explain why the block did not make the box light up. They might way that the block ran out of batteries, or that placed on the box the wrong way. Others explained the unexpected event by focusing on the category the object belonged to. They would say things like, “I guess that one isn’t really a blicket.” Overall, about half of the kids gave explanations for why the object didn’t make the box light up, while about a third of the kids focused on the category of the objects. The explanations given by the rest of the kids were some other type.
The type of explanation kids gave was related to the way the kids played with the objects later. The kids who tried to explain why the block did not make the box light up spent more of their play time testing the blocks than the kids who gave other types of explanations for what happened. They would stack a few blocks on the machine, open up the blocks, and tried different combinations of blocks on the boxes.
The children who gave explanations based on the categories of the objects spent more time than other children sorting the blocks into categories. They would place a block on the box, and if it lit up, they put it in one pile, but if it didn’t light up they put it in another pile. This kind of behavior will not let children understand anything about why the blocks make the box light up, it just confirms that some blocks make the box light up, while others don’t.
A fascinating aspect of these findings is that there is a clear relationship between curiosity and exploration. Starting from the age of 2, when a child asks the question why, this question is followed by an attempt to answer that question. That means that giving explanations that focus on understanding why things happen drives a better understanding of why the world works as it does. Merely categorizing objects in the world does not promote this same kind of understanding.
There are two important questions for future research raised by these studies. First, are there big differences between kids in how likely they are to give why explanations? Is a kid who asks why today also more likely to ask why tomorrow?
Second, can we teach kids to be better at asking why? Because the kids who ask why are engaging in behaviors that promote smart thinking, it would be wonderful to help make that a habit even in kids who don’t generally ask why on their own.
And, of course, even as adults, we should spend a lot of time asking why.


Frequently Asked Questions
We answer some common questions about powder coating.
Use these quick links to scroll to a specific question and answer about powder coating.
- How does the powder coating process work?
- How long does powder coating take?
- How much does powder coating cost?
- What’s the difference between powder coating and high-heat ceramic coating?
- Is powder coating better than paint or other coatings?
How does the powder coating process work?
Metallic objects are most conducive to powder coating, non-metallic objects are not usually powder coated.
The first step in powder coating an object is preparing the surface. This means stripping the surface of any existing coatings, rust, or corrosion, usually via abrasive blasting. An etch pattern is created on the substrate, so the coating can have proper adhesion. Depending on the type of metal, the object may also be chemically treated or cleaned to neutralize the surface of the metal before powder coating is applied.
The objects to be powder coated are hung on portable racks, so the coating can be applied uniformly from all angles. This is normally done inside a powder coating booth, so there is no cross-contamination from dust or different colored powder coating being applied in an adjacent area.
Next, the objects to be coated are electrically grounded. The powder coating is applied via a special spray gun which adds a small electrical charge to the powder coating particles. Because the powder coating particles and the sprayed object have different charges, the powder is electrostatically attracted to the coated object. This also means several passes can be made and the coating will be evenly distributed without runs.
In the curing phase, the powder coating rack is moved into a special curing oven. Here, the powder coating melts into a gel state, and forms long-chain chemical bonds which give the coating its strength and unique look. Once the coated objects have spent the appropriate amount of time in the curing oven, and the cross-linking chemical bonds are fully formed, the rack with powder coated parts is removed from the oven. The rank cools at room temperature, and the powder coated objects are ready for use.
How long does powder coating take?
Once the parts are media blasted, prepped, and the powder coating is applied, the curing process usually takes about 30 minutes. This may vary, depending on the manufacturers recommendations.
Some objects may take longer to blast and prep, depending on what the factory coating is. To find out how long it will be until your order is in the queue, give us a call at (916) 635-8720.
How much does powder coating cost?
The final price on your powder coating job will depend on the surface area to be coated, and your selection of a specific powder coating. For an estimate, fill out our contact form, or give us a call at (916) 635-8720.
What’s the difference between powder coating and high-heat ceramic coating?
The biggest difference between powder coating and ceramic coating is that ceramic coatings are designed to withstand higher temperatures. While powder coating is normally used for wheels, rims, or even auto bodies, ceramic coatings are used for headers, exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds, or mufflers.
Ceramic coatings have a different chemical makeup than powder coatings. While powder coating can usually withstand temperatures up to 500°F, ceramic coatings can withstand temperatures between 1250°F and 1800°F, depending on the specific coating formulation.
Is powder coating better than paint or other coatings?
Powder coating has some advantages over solvent-based coatings like paint.
Because powder coating is applied electrostacially, the coating is more even and uniform. Paint may have runs, since it is applied in liquid form. Powder coating is also harder and more durable than regular paint. This is due to the cross-linking polymer bonds that are formed during the powder coating curing process.
Lastly, powder coating can have different textures as well as colors. Special visual effects may be possible with certain product lines that are not possible with regular paint.


Few words about Białowieża Forest
Białowieża forest is not only our polish heritage since on 23 June 2014 entire area of Forest was accepted by UNESCO as natural heritage of humanity.
Białowieża Forest is without doubt the most known and the largest in Europe forest area with natural stand. The forest takes the area of 128 000 ha, out of which 58 000 are in Poland, the rest are located on Belarus side. On Polish side there is a Białowieża National Park (consists of 17% of forest).
Białowieża forest is the last remainder of primal forest in Middle European Plain that means the one without any traces of man influence. There is no woodcutting in this area, no afforestation, no cleaning of fallen trees. This is the place where nature governs itself, without human influence.
Since middle ages to around XII century human activity in the area was gradually lessened. Settlements caused many forests to disappear. Today’s Białowieża Forest was part of a greater forest on areas near Grodno and Polesie. Only when Zygmunt III Waza took over, the forests were included into royal goods. Royal protection caused the pillage management of man to stop. Hunting and settling were forbidden and special forest force was established, and to use any of forest’s good one would need special permission.
Next rulers were gradually introducing small industry to the forest e.g. tar-making. Then small human hubs started to appear throughout the forest. Rather stormy history of Poland also had its impact on the forest. Times of partitions are the times of Russian tsars in the forest which were followed by pillaging of forests by Russians. Luckily as the authority changed, next rulers had increased conscious of nature and started to limit the destruction of stand and stopped some of the hunting. New animals were brought from Caucasus and Siberia, which was unfavourable for ecosystem as there were to many animals.
In 1811 for few weeks there was a fire in the forest, which consumed quite big area of it. After the First World War started the forest fell into Second Reich control. As previous owners, they as well did not appreciate the nature. They built 300 km of train tracks, sawmills and hunted without limits. The regaining of independence by Poland and won war in 1920 resulted in the forest coming back to Poland. A toilsome work has begun to recreate animal populations, especially bison’s. Second World War also took its toll on it, but luckily after war it stayed in polish hands and didn’t fall in to soviet ones.
Many older users may remember beautiful stories about nature, animals and forest in polish radio performed by Simona Kossak.


New Zealand could face a $72 billion bill to meet its obligations under the Paris climate change agreement unless there's an effective international carbon market, an official says.
New Zealand ratified the accord two weeks ago, committing to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Ministry for the Environment climate change director Kay Harrison told a conference last week that the cost to New Zealand to meet it its obligations hit $72 billion, or nearly 30 percent of New Zealand's annual GDP.
That amount would cover the period 2021 to 2030.
New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions have been rising steadily since 1990, but the country has been able to avoid paying until now by using a combination of carbon credits issued in 1990 and additional credits from Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere. These were bought on the principle that greenhouse gas reductions in these countries would offset growing emissions from New Zealand.
The reliability of the Ukrainian and Russian units has been contested, and are now no longer accepted.
They were used to pay New Zealand's carbon bill year after year, letting many of the original credits issued in 1990 be put in the bank - allowing New Zealand to get to 2020 with a surplus.
However, Ms Harrison's comments have indicated the real difficulties would start after that.
New Zealand will start to have to pay for carbon credits from 2021 - and the price could be high.
Ms Harrison said the $72bn figure was based on the cost of carbon being a projected $50 a tonne, up from $18.90 now, and far higher than Ukrainian and Russian units which fell have fallen to well under a dollar each.
Ms Harrison's figure was also based on the assumption that there would not be a viable market in international carbon credits operating from 2021.
At present, carbon markets function in the EU, New Zealand, California and a few other places.
If a viable international market was set up, the cost would still be $36b.
Ms Harrison's comments echo findings in a report done last year by Infometrics.
It argued that from 2020, only one fifth of New Zealand's greenhouse gas targets would be met by domestic reductions in emissions.
The rest would have to come from purchasing carbon credits offshore to offset greenhouse gases that would still be pumped into the air.
The Infometrics data was also based on a $50-a-tonne price for carbon.


Prediction is when researchers predict an event or a situation using a scientific model.
Fitting a model is a bit like looking at the world through a piece of Swiss cheese because it’s based on the data you do have – these are the holes in the cheese. However, we can then use the model to predict what is happening in areas or at times where we don’t have data – the areas hidden behind the cheese.
Predictions are essentially an evidence-based guess, using the data we have, about what might happen in a situation where we don’t have data.
Scientists need to verify how accurate the model predictions are and one way to do that is to compare them to observational data. They do this by holding back some data and then using the models to make predictions at those places or times. The differences in the model predictions and the observations help researchers improve the models.
For more general information about scientific predictions follow this link
Uncertainty in prediction
In the Virtual Reef Diver project, we use the data from observations to make a model of coral cover. The model is based on the combination of multiple data sets, with data available for many different locations and sometimes multiple years.
When we make predictions we also generate “uncertainty” values for each prediction. The uncertainty value is essentially an acknowledgement that our model predictions aren’t perfect in areas or at times where we haven’t observed data.
With more data, prediction accuracy generally increases and uncertainty goes down. As the model shown here incorporates more data, there are more areas with lower standard deviations, meaning lower uncertainty in the predictions in those areas.
Maps of predicted coral cover are useful to Great Barrier Reef managers who need to understand where coral is increasing or decreasing. However, maps of prediction uncertainty are also very useful too. First of all, maps of prediction uncertainty help managers understand where they can be most, or least, confident in the predictions. This can help managers identify areas where additional data are needed (areas where uncertainty are very high). The maps of predictions and uncertainty can also be shared between all of the organisations currently monitoring the Great Barrier Reef, so that sampling and collection of observations across the expanse of the reef can be better coordinated.


The classic misunderstanding about ancient Rome is that only the men were considered citizens and the women were seen as an extension of their husband or father. Historian Coen van Galen dispels that notion. He will be defending his doctoral thesis on 30 May at Radboud University.
Although ancient Roman society was rather macho and often misogynistic, many women living in the Roman Empire had more personal freedom than women in western countries in the twentieth century. Historian Coen van Galen researched why this was the case and uses his doctoral thesis to show that Roman women played a social role as citizens and could even become the head of the family. This is a radically different perspective of the power balances in Roman society from what has been previously held by modern-day historians.
The basis of female independence lies within the peculiar Roman family structure, the familia. This was a structure in which legal adulthood didn't exist and which often did not account for traditional gender roles.
"The head of the familia owned all the property and had the authority to make decisions," Van Galen explains. "This head was the oldest relative of the male line, who would make decisions on behalf of the entire family."
This oldest relative of the male line could be a woman, if she was the eldest child. For a long time, this made no difference for women in the legal sense. Van Galen continues: "When they married, Roman women usually became part of the husband's familia, which in a legal sense put them in the role of their husband's daughter and meant they were subordinate to them as long as he lived."
New prenuptial agreements
However, something remarkable started happening in the first century BC: more and more, marriages were held with new prenuptial agreements. These new agreements meant that the wife stayed part of her father's familia.
If her father were to pass away, she would become an independent head of the family, separate from her husband. The result was that a Roman woman would become head of the family, while her husband did not have any decision-making rights and did not own any property because his father was still alive. It was a reversal of the gender roles, with big consequences. Van Galen's research shows that women started claiming more and more space for themselves.
"It caused tension in Roman society," Van Galen explains. "There are stories of women pursuing their own careers and managing their own property." This did not fit into the traditional gender roles of Roman men and women. Some Roman men considered such an independent woman to be unacceptable: they chose not to marry and took a female slave as their partner, so they wouldn't have to share their power.
To fight the declining number of marriages, and most importantly, to ensure that women upheld their most important duty to the Roman state, which was giving birth to children, Emperor Augustus enacted new laws. Everyone was legally obliged to marry, and the emperor rewarded women who had given birth to at least three children within the confines of a legal marriage with extra independence. Van Galen says that this measure did little to put a stop to the changes in society; it merely shows how Roman society was struggling against female independence.
Roman women themselves also struggled with their independence: legally, they had the freedom to act in their own interest, but they had to be subtle about doing so because they also had to fit the ideal of the modest and obedient woman. This is reflected in the marriage of that very same Augustus, who married the prototype of the independent woman: Livia. "Livia nicely showcases the ambivalence. She seemed to be the perfect housewife, but she actually played a central role in the Roman Empire."
Explore further: Family footwear find shows new side to Roman military


Understanding and quantifying N transformations in soil is critical for sustainable use of this important plant nutrient and for understanding the mechanisms through which polluting N species are discharged to the environment. Advanced methods such as the "isotope dilution technique", which uses stable N-isotopes to estimate gross mineralization and nitrification rates, answer this need. In this study the use of Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy for measuring isotopic N species concentrations directly in soil pastes was tested as a complementary technique to the commonly used isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). It is shown that, with proper chemometric tools (e.g., partial least squares [PLS]), FTIR-ATR enables simple tracking of changes in the concentrations of the isotopic species of nitrate and ammonium and allows estimation of the gross reaction rates of N transformations in soil. Soil incubations were performed by adding either 15NO3- or 15NH4 + to the soils. The incubations with added 15NH 4+ yielded a gross mineralization rate of 6.1 mg N kg -1 dry soil d-1 compared with a net mineralization rate of 4.1 mg N kg-1 dry soil d-1 and a gross nitrification rate of 40.9 mg N kg-1 dry soil d-1 compared with a net nitrification rate of 29.5 to 25.3 mg N kg-1 dry soil d-1. The incubations with added 15NO3- yielded a gross nitrification rate of 18.6 mg N kg-1 dry soil d-1 compared with a net nitrification rate of 11.9 to 18.3 mg N kg-1 dry soil d-1. The combined use of FTIR-ATR and 15NO 3- or 15NH4+ enrichment appears to provide an effective tool for almost real-time quantification of N-dynamics in soils with minimal interference.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Soil Science


Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, and the area around the heart. It has an uncommon nature that makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. It has been connected with exposure to asbestos, which is a material that was found in many work environments. There is a small amount of people that are diagnosed with this terrible disease. Normal mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if
I decided to create this article for all the people out there, spending all day searching the keywords "what is mesothelioma and what problems does mesothelioma cause" on Google. Many of us still do not know what is mesothelioma cancer or disease? Well this article will tell you more or less some of the information about Mesothelioma cancer or disease.Mesothelium covers the external surfaces of the heart and lung. It also covers the inner surface of the chest wall
Mesothelioma is serious cancer and asbestos is main cause. During in 1940 and 1950s constructions community used asbestos as the best thing to happen after cement for construction industry. Asbestos was applied greatly in insulator and ceiling tiles in homes, schools and factories because to high degree of stability and resistance to very high temperatures.Nonetheless, asbestos is capable of causing harm, contaminant. It has trend to break into small parts and remain stay in the air for longer durations.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a substance found naturally. It is made of strong flexible fibres. It was used extensively in industry because the fibres are not affected by heat or chemicals and a poor conductor of electricity. It is estimated that over 5,000 products have or had asbestos in them.Of the six types of asbestos, only four are used commercially. These are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite and anthrophyllite. Of these, crysotile or white asbestos accounts for


Solar Eclipse will take place on February 15, 2018. It will not be a total Solar eclipse. On February 15, partial Solar eclipse will be observed. Solar eclipse occurs after eighteen months. During the Solar Eclipse, many harmful rays are emitted by the Sun which is very dangerous for the people. Solar Eclipse is not seen with naked eyes as it can bring permanent damage to the eyes. One must watch the Sun through the Mylar film. These not only protect our eyes but also block the UV rays and act as a filter. The brightness of the Sun is enough to cause damage to the eyes during the eclipse.
When the eclipse starts, it is preferred to do meditation. It is said that energies are highly active during this period and one should do meditation. Pregnant women are strictly not allowed to go out of the house and it is said that the harmful rays of the Sun can distort the shape of the foetus. Women are not allowed to work. Idols of God should not be touched during the Solar eclipse. One should take bath after the eclipse and should then touch the idols of God. This is not only applicable for idols one is also prohibited to touch the Tulsi plant during the eclipse. One must do meditation during the eclipse.
It is highly advised that the pregnant ladies should take rest as during the eclipse the baby needs extra care. Women are not allowed to cook during the period of eclipse. Using of Knifes and sharp objects are highly restricted. The Solar Eclipse occurs for short duration but has many harmful effects on the body. Eclipses are very often witnessed. The partial Solar Eclipse which will occur on February 15 will also have certain harmful effects and one should take care of it.


Famous figures from Dorchester
John 'Mad Jack' Percival
The Navy captain was born in Barnstable but he called Meeting House Hill in Dorchester his home.
When he first started sailing as a cabin boy, his ship was overtaken by British Royal Marines. Percival, refusing the possibility of enslavement, escaped by holding a pistol to a sentry's head.
Nicknamed because of his fiery temper, "Mad Jack" took the USS Constitution on its only around-the-world cruise while fighting pirates and drew the attention of writers Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville.


“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
Some ideas have long records of complete failure, yet people try them again and again. Venezuela’s meltdown has two of these ideas that have never ended well, but people keep trying them.
First, Socialism never works. From Korea, Russia, Africa, to Latin America, it has never worked. But people keep wanting it. Venezuela has had a bad decade with their socialist experiment and within the last year the final domino has fallen. Their economy is in meltdown. When the price of oil plummeted, Venezuela could no longer afford their socialist programs and the state-controlled industries failed.
The second bad idea is an economic “solution” that has always failed: Venezuela kept printing money so they could pay for everything their socialist experiment demanded. Of course, Venezuela went the way of every other country that has tried devaluing their currency—hyperinflation has completely wrecked the economy. Venezuela’s currency inflated so fast that they couldn’t afford to buy more paper and ink to print more.
Socialism and hyper-inflation may not be immediate threats to us. But we can look at the meltdown in Venezuela to see how an economic collapse could play out, if, no matter the cause, it did happen here.
1. The Government Makes A Lot Of Mistakes
The markets and the economy work best when they are not interfered with by the government. But we elect officials expecting them to do something. When there is economic turmoil, don’t expect your elected officials to just sit in their offices. President Herbert Hoover tried letting the markets work themselves out during the Great Depression and everyone hated him for it. President Roosevelt is still praised with saving us all from the Depression despite the research that says his worker programs actually prolonged the Great Depression. Had Hoover had his way of non-intervening in the markets, the recovery could have happened much sooner.
The government in Venezuela solves all their problems backwards. No money? Print more. Now they don’t even count money, they weigh it by the kilo. Bread lines stretching for a mile? Make standing in line illegal. No more bread lines. Prices of goods double every other day. Make a law freezing all prices, but keep printing money. So, just because the government says a loaf of bread can only cost 100 bolivars, it doesn’t mean anything when everyone’s millionaires from all the inflation.
Any economic disaster we may experience you can expect our elected officials to go head over heels trying to be the next Roosevelt. Anyone remember the bank bailout? Or the current rounds of Quantitative Easing? Or negative interest rates? The government is helping the economy to death.
If another housing bubble bursts, or car loan bubble, or tuition bubble, or healthcare bubble, or if the Fed stops keeping interest rates at a frightening low level, we can expect large disturbances in the markets. But corrections are a good thing, until someone says, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
2. Hungry People Will Do Anything
The currency in Venezuela has less buying power every day. People are weighing bricks of paper money that they carry around in wheelbarrows. The people who don’t have enough cash can’t buy food. So they loot it. And those who do have enough may discover that food shortages have left grocery shelves empty. And delivery trucks get mobbed by crowds of thousands of hungry families. Now food is being delivered in armored cars with military escorts in Venezuelan cities. But the food shortages have continued.
People in Venezuela have resorted to eating wild dogs, cats, and pigeons. Women are selling their hair to wig companies for some extra cash. And many armed militias have taken to the streets to restore or disrupt the peace.
How fast would your neighbors gang up to “redistribute” the food in your pantry if grocery shelves haven’t been stocked in a week? We’ve already seen how the riot police in our own cities have allowed “protesters” to loot grocery stores, service stations, electronics stores, and even auto parts stores to let them “get it out of their system.” That’s nice of them, if it isn’t your neighborhood or your store.
3. Money Isn’t The Answer To Everything
As in Venezuela, any major turmoil will usually see a black market develop. And it’s not always money that people want. Trading your skills and goods can get you further than money in hard times. If your country is struck by hyperinflation, paying your plumber with some canned goods may be more beneficial than a brick of paper money if there’s no store to spend it at and no goods to spend it on.
Some people stockpile silver and gold in case paper money becomes worthless. I buy it as part of my investor portfolio, but don’t ask how well that’s worked out. They even make credit card-sized slices of gold that can be broken down into 1 gram squares so you can make change in a barter economy. If an economic collapse has ruined the faith of your currency then having precious metals to trade could be valuable, provided the people you trade with would accept it. After all, you can’t eat gold and silver.
The Historical Answer To Economic Turmoil
An economic collapse is usually a long and drawn out process. Stockpiling food can help but isn’t always the answer if there’s going to be food shortages at the supermarkets for the next year. You will run out of stock eventually. And no one wants to turn their guest bedroom into a small grocery store.
Basic human needs haven’t changed since we were cavemen. After air we need shelter from the environment. I’ll just guess that no one reading this is homeless. Then comes water. Once again, I assume you have indoor plumbing. Then it’s food. Hungry people have brought down empires. Some smart people have theorized that every significant regime change in history was brought about by food shortages more than any other factor. Food shortages have been attributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and more recently attributed to the Arab Spring movement.
If the economy experiences a major disruption, like the next great depression, having a reliable food source is the most important factor. Considering you still have shelter and running water, that is. Growing a few plants in your home is a good start. Even if you don’t have a lot of space. You can buy dwarf fruit trees that you can grow on your counter top. Or a few potted plants for vegetables if you have the room for it. Growing a few plants can be a fun hobby and livens up your place, too. And it makes a great contingency in the event of economic trouble. You may not be growing enough to be self-sufficient, but if signs point to trouble coming, you could always add more plants. And having some experience in it before trouble hits would be ideal.
Another thing to consider is cooking food from scratch. It will be easier to get your hands on bags of flour and the like instead of foods already prepared when the people make a run on the grocery stores. Even Roosh has taken the Bread Pill and makes his bread from scratch. In economic hardships it will become cheaper to make food from scratch, and easier to acquire in a rush.
Knowing food is key to keeping people out of the streets demanding revolution, Venezuela has decreed a massive farming operation and created bylaws to force people to the fields involuntarily for up to 60 days, or indefinitely, to grow that food. That gets them out of the streets I suppose.
You might be thinking, learn to garden? Learn how to cook? This sounds like something that should be posted on Return of Queens, not here. Like I’ve said before, men shouldn’t be dependent on anyone else. Especially not government handouts. What would happen if a major economic disaster happened and everyone was fine because they had a couple weeks of food to fall back on? And if independence can be had by taking a few easy steps and being a little more self-sufficient then we should all take those steps.
Read More: 7 Ways The Collapse May Unfold


Why advanced materials are critical to tomorrow’s cars and consumer goods
Why advanced materials are critical to tomorrow’s cars and consumer goods5 minutes
With demand rising for electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology, researchers are inventing new materials for everything from a vehicle’s exterior and interior to batteries and sensors to alternative powertrains. Such materials – including things like recyclable carbon fiber reinforced polymers to engineered molding compounds to new uses and chemistries for resin – are helping the auto industry and other startup mobility players make safer, more efficient and eco-friendly vehicles.
Almost a half century ago, the oil crisis pushed the automobile industry to make drastic changes to their designs as consumers demanded cars with better fuel economy. The automakers needed components that weighed less and performed better than the metal parts that were used and so the widespread integration of polymers in the automotive industry began. Today, changes in how vehicles are designed, made, powered and used are catalyzing another transformation. In the face of this massive shift, specialty materials suppliers like Panasonic are collaborating with established industry players and vehicle startups to co-create the new mobility landscape.
And mobility is just one industry influencing demand for innovative, advanced materials. It’s no secret that consumer electronics are trending smaller. Consider the first satellite-based cellphone from the 1980’s, famous for its brick shape. Now, our smart phone doesn’t just fit in our pocket, but it also has more computing power than the most powerful desktops of an earlier era. It’s also a camera, a video editor, a music studio and more.
Creative uses of new materials in consumer goods
As electronics shrink, they are also being integrated into a surprising number of everyday items. Consider smart yoga pants that use haptic vibrations to encourage wearers to shift to better align or hold a pose during exercise. They are built with the wireless capacity to sync up to their user’s smart phone and provide further feedback. Advanced electronic materials are also a cornerstone of the Industrial Internet of Things revolution which is connecting millions of devices to help factories become more efficient.
Much has been written about the leading 10 disruptive technologies that are expected to generate trillions of dollars in economic value in the decade ahead. We believe that shaping them into integrated solutions is the key to creating entirely new experiences. Recent research conducted by Panasonic on disruptive technologies shows that advanced materials are expected to be a near-term investment for two in five companies.
Advanced materials drawing investment
Even more interesting, some 38% of respondents in our disruptive tech in manufacturing study have already adopted advanced materials in their organizations – second only to cloud technology. The research showed that a majority of senior decision makers who responded clearly understand the risk in failing to adopt disruptive technologies. Nearly four in five companies believe industry competitors will pull ahead if they do not adopt or invest in such innovation.
Already, the demand for advanced materials is impacting supply chains. High speed networks and new device form-factors are pushing innovators to pursue novel product designs and concepts. What industries are impacted? It’s hard to find one that isn’t. Advanced materials are playing a key role in developing fast charging, eco-friendly EV batteries, the next generation of mobile devices and untold consumer goods – to name a few.
Enabling new applications
These changes are driven by consumer demand for higher performance products and solutions and lower costs. Also powering the changes are fashion trends calling for smaller, thinner, more aesthetically pleasing devices and intuitive human-machine interfaces. Current generations of thermoplastic polyurethane and silicone rubber materials are bound to create challenges associated with adhesion, heat resistance and embrittlement for the design engineer using pliant circuits in emerging consumer products. And demand is rising among designers for conformable circuit materials that have excellent heat resistance, durability and workability.
Unique stretchable polymer technology
Combining the proven performance of conventional circuit fabrication and assembly processes with Panasonic's proprietary materials and design expertise, its innovators are creating novel materials that can be readily used to make stretchable circuits. The technology is based on a Panasonic proprietary resin system capable of stretching thousands of times and returning to its original length after every elongation cycle. Additionally, the base polymer is highly temperature resistant – surviving temperature excursions exceeding 260 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to liquefy most electronic solders.
Circuits manufactured with these materials are super-pliable and adapt to desired manners of bending and folding. They may be applied to free-form surfaces, substantially reducing the design constraints experienced with conventional circuit boards. For example, the circuits can enable the construction of soft and stretchable electronic devices that are adaptable to a variety of forms such as wearable devices and automotive components. The material is deployable in a broad range of applications even beyond wearables and automotive including sensors, displays, medical, aerospace and soft-robotics. Look for the first of these new materials to be commercially available from Panasonic in the near future.
These stretchable circuit materials have been called a game changer – and they’re not the only ones in Panasonic’s portfolio. More than a century ago, an improved temperature resistant plastic light socket was the very first product manufactured by Panasonic. The socket was made from a then advanced material, a specialized resin and had a unique design. To learn more about Panasonic’s advanced materials research – and how they enable stretchable hybrid electronics – contact our sales team.


In Fidel Castro’s account of Hurricane Gustav’s impact on Cuba, he speculates about the energy such a storm can hold:
In all honesty, I daresay that the photos and film footage shown on national television on Sunday reminded me of the desolation I saw when I visited Hiroshima, victim of the first nuclear strike in August 1945. With good reason, it is said that hurricanes release an enormous amount of energy, equal, perhaps, to thousands of nuclear weapons like the ones used on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It would be worthwhile for a Cuban physicist or mathematician to do the relevant calculations and make a comprehensible presentation.
Being Cuban (from New York) , and a physicist (when I was employed), I felt challenged to provide details. What follows are the results of a simple model.
I consider a hurricane to be a vortex with a local rotational speed that increases as the point of observation moves to smaller radius. The center of the hurricane is a zone of low pressure, while the exterior of the hurricane is a region of high pressure; air is drawn radially inward by this pressure gradient. Air drawn into the outer radius of the hurricane, Ro, rotates with angular (or circular) speed vo. Let us say this condition applies to a ring (inward along the radial direction) of thickness dr. This ring has a height L, from sea level up to the top of the storm (what satellite cameras photograph). The rotation of this large cylindrical shell carries a total angular momentum (the product of total air-mass in the shell times average rotational speed), which we will label Mr.
The air in the outermost shell moves inward to the next nested shell of thickness dr (these shells are arbitrary mathematical conceptions), which must also carry momentum Mr since there is no significant force to impede the flow (this is the law of conservation of angular momentum). However, since there is less volume in this next inner ring, and since the air is not significantly compressed as it moves, the circular velocity of the flow must increase (the radial velocity also increases, but is of lower magnitude). This effect continues so that the circular wind speed, vi, at the inner radius, Ri, is very high. The total number of rings in the storm is given by (Ro-Ri)/dr, or simply Ro/dr when Ro is much larger than Ri. Since each ring has the same momentum Mr, the total momentum of the storm is equal to the product M = Mr x (Ro-Ri)/dr, or to a reasonable approximation M = Mr x (Ro/dr). [x has been used as the multiplication sign.]
The circular speed v at any radius r can be expressed as the product v = w x r, where w is the rotational or circular frequency. This frequency is low at the outer edge of the hurricane and increases as the point of observation moves inward. From the model here, one can find that the circular frequency varies with radius as follows,
w = M/(2 pi rho Ro L r r).
[I have dropped the x for multiplication.] This quantity is the total momentum of the storm, M, divided by the product of 2, pi = 3.14159…, rho = density of air, Ro, L, and the square of the radius in question.
Hang on, we’re almost there.
Because M, 2, pi, rho, Ro and L are constants, the angular frequency can be written as w = A/(r r), where A is a constant equal to M/(2 pi rho Ro L). Notice that for any pair (r1, w1), where perhaps these specific values were measured at radius r1, that
A = r1 r1 w1,
the product of w1 times the square of r1. So, once we measure the wind speed at any given radius, we can infer the rotational frequency there (w1 = v1/r1), and then we can define constant A and use this in the formulas shown to get w and v at any radius.
Now, we find the kinetic energy of every layer (shell), which is essentially the product of its mass times the square of its average circular velocity, divided by 2. Then, we add up all the layers for the total energy of the storm. I do this with differential layers and form the double integral, radially and vertically, but we will skip over that discussion. The result for the total energy of the storm is
E = pi rho L A A LOGe(Ro/Ri)
in units of energy called joules (if you fell asleep, this is the answer).
E is the product of five factors, the four leading ones being: pi, rho, L and the square of A; and the product of these four is multiplied by the mathematical function called the natural logarithm (LOGe) of the ratio Ro/Ri. The natural logarithm of 1 is equal to 0; LOGe(2.7182818…) = 1; LOGe(10) = 2.3026; LOGe(100) = 4.6052.
Let’s list parameters, choose values and find some numerical answers:
pi = 3.14159…
rho = 1.2 kilogram/(cubic meter)
[air at sea level]
L = 5000 meters (5 km)
A = 4,000,000 (meters squared)/seconds
[value chosen for rotational acceleration parameter]
Ro = 400,000 meters (400 km)
Ri = 40,000 meters (40 km)
Our choice for the value of A is consistent with:
v1 = 10 m/s,
r1 = 400,000 m (400 km) and
w1 = 0.000025 radians/s; and/or
v1 = 20 m/s,
r1 = 200,000 m (200 km) and
w1 = 0.0001 radians/s; and/or
v1 = 100 m/s,
r1 = 40,000 m (40 km) and
w1 = 0.0025 radians/s.
[There are 6.283 radians along a circle,
so 57.3 degrees/radian;
recall 360 degrees = 1 circle]
Note that 1 m/s = 2.24 mph (miles per hour);
1.61 km = 1 mile;
1 km = 0.62 mile.
For the values shown,
E = 6.944 x (10 to the 17th power) joules.
The energy released by the explosion of 1000 tons of TNT (a kiloton, abbreviated kt) is 4.182 x (10 to the 12th power) joules. So, E = 166,055 kt (or equivalently, 166.05 megatons). The atomic bomb exploded at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 produced about 15 kt, so the model storm has the energy equivalent of 11,070 Hiroshima bombs. Most of the energy of a hurricane is dissipated as atmospheric turbulence and heating, and friction along the Earth’s surface, only a very tiny portion of it is absorbed by the structures built by humans.
Bear in mind that the energy of the hurricane is spread over a much larger volume than that of a nuclear explosion (so hurricane energy per unit volume is smaller), and it is released over a much longer period of time. But it is of awesome scale, and we are still as powerless before it as were our first ancestors four million years ago.
MANUEL GARCIA, Jr./strong>. is a retired physicist; e-mail = firstname.lastname@example.org


Verbatim versus Creative Translation
When most people think of translation, they picture a process that translates some text word for word into one or more languages. But word for word, or verbatim, translation is just the tip of the iceberg for professional translators. The real value of translation comes from the linguist’s ability to adapt the original content for the target audience. This is called creative translation, or transcreation, and it is what gives the real power to the translating process.
What’s the Difference between Verbatim and Creative Translation?
In many cases, verbatim translation is simply a starting point. Different languages often contain figures of speech and idioms, and verbatim translations simply cannot adequately convey these cultural references to the target audience. To really capture the interest of audiences speaking different languages in different countries and locales, the translator must consider national and local cultural references. Therefore, creative translation requires that the linguist possess a deeper understanding of the subject and the target audience.
This is not to say that there is no place for verbatim translation. On the contrary, there are many types of documents and other written materials for which verbatim translation is the best solution:
- Medical information often contains terminology specific to a medical condition or treatment protocol, including medicine dosage. Verbatim translations are required for this type of content.
- Legal documents, including references to specific laws and legal precedents, also usually require verbatim translation. You cannot get creative with written laws – a law must be interpreted exactly as written, no matter what language you speak.
- Scientific and technical documents also usually contain scientific and technical terms that have no exact translation in many languages. These terms must be translated accurately because they are critical to understanding the content.
Linguists new to translation often rely heavily on verbatim translation because it’s easier than creative translation, which requires in-depth knowledge of the culture behind the target language. It can take years of experience to acquire this level of understanding.
However, even verbatim translations may require some creative translation, especially if they contain figures of speech and other words and phrases that have no direct equivalent in a foreign language.
Creative translation doesn’t just translate words, it adapts the content for the target audience. This type of translation is extremely powerful because it captures subtleties in language that verbatim translation misses. For example, when translating a book or a news article, creative translation is the better choice because, rather than translating medical, legal or technical content for specialists in those fields, the audience for books and news articles is usually laypeople and the translated content must be accessible to that audience. Creative translation is preferred when translating any of the following:
- Culture- or locale-specific words and phrases
- Country-specific phrases
- Marketing and branding materials
- Video and TV programs
Comparing Verbatim to Creative Translation
To see the difference between verbatim and creative translation, just look at the following examples of German to English verbatim translations versus creative translations:
Source Text: Es gab das Produkt nicht zu dem Preis
Verbatim Translation: There was not the product at the price.
Creative Translation: I couldn’t get the product I wanted at the price I wanted.
Source Text: Das Angebot von privat kam dem zuvor!
Verbatim Translation: The offer from private came before!
Creative Translation: We received a private offer for a product which pre-empted us having to buy one!
Source Text: Source: größere Entfernung
Verbatim Translation: greater distance
Creative Translation: they are further away
From these simple examples, you can see that the verbatim translations are not completely clear. The creative translations consider context and are much more easily understood. A skilled translator is able to expand on the few words in the source language to accurately convey the true meaning of the words.
Creative Translation for Marketing Campaigns
Creative translation is critical for marketing campaigns that need to reach audiences around the world. Such marketing efforts are only successful if the target audience remembers them in any market and language. Translation of these materials must focus on the message and story and be adapted to the local culture to be successful there.
In marketing, it’s common to translate slogans and taglines. The more people remember these slogans and taglines, the more successful the campaign will be. Here are some well-known examples of marketing slogans that failed because the translators relied on verbatim instead of creative translation:
Braniff Airlines, long out of business, released an ad in 1987 for its Spanish-speaking consumers. The airline wanted to use the tagline “Fly in leather” to tell customers that theirs was a luxury experience. But the verbatim Spanish translation “Vuela en Cuero” had a completely different meaning for some in Mexico, where the tagline was mistaken for “Fly naked.” “En cuero” means “in leather” in Spanish, but that phrase sounds almost identical to “en cueros,” which means “naked.”
Had Braniff used creative translation, their campaign would have been more successful in Mexico.
Using verbatim translation, Pepsi’s slogan ‘Come alive with the Pepsi generation’ was translated into in Chinese as “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.” Ouch.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kentucky Fried Chicken made the mistake of using verbatim translation when translating a slogan into Mandarin Chinese. The famous “Finger lickin’ good” slogan became “Eat your fingers off” in Mandarin. Hardly the message KFC wanted to get across to those customers.
It’s fun to look at translation mistakes like these but they do point to an inescapable fact – verbatim translations are not the right choice for creative content like marketing campaigns. For this type of content, creative translations that consider the context and local culture are required.
When translating medical, legal or scientific/technical content, verbatim translation is the right choice, but even in those types of documents, an experienced human translator must consider subtle differences in words and phrases and idioms.
When translating more creative content, such as marketing literature, books, news articles and scripts for videos and TV, creative translation is the method of choice. This content must be adapted for each language, country, and local culture to be effective.


Cuba and the Lessons of Katrina
What explains why the “dictatorial regime” of Fidel Castro can do a vastly better job of saving the lives of its citizens from hurricanes while the “democratic” government in Washington has proven to be so apparently inept? In 2004 Hurricane Ivan, a Category Five storm, slammed Cuba with devastating force. Yet there was not a single fatality. A year later, Dennis, a Category Four hurricane resulted in only fifteen deaths. On both occasions the government led an evacuation effort that relocated to higher and safer areas more than a tenth of the island’s population. So successful were the Cubans in saving lives that the United Nations praised its government as a model for other countries for hurricane preparedness. This contrasts sharply, of course, with what occurred a few hundred miles to the north in the wake of Katrina.
Cuba’s exemplary record teaches the basic lesson that a natural phenomenon, be it a hurricane, a drought, or an infectious virus, need not have the same human toll in all places at all times. What unfolded in the aftermath of Katrina was a social catastrophe, an outcome that reveals how a society is organized to deal with the vagaries of nature. More specifically, it indicates whose interests in society are prioritized. The classist as well as the racist character of U.S. governmental response—at all levels—speaks volumes about the differences between two societies separated by only ninety miles of sea. Failure to distinguish between natural and social phenomena is to be susceptible to bogus “stuff-happens” thinking.
Before its revolution in 1959 Cuba’s record on the social tolls of hurricanes was not unlike what just occurred in the U.S. and elsewhere in the Caribbean during hurricane season. Thousands of its citizens routinely suffered a similar kind of fate. When Hurricane Flora struck in 1963 it led to more than a thousand deaths—out of a population of about 6 million—on the island. It was then that the new revolutionary government, up to its arms in all kinds of tasks—not the least of which involved preparations against the possibility of another U.S. invasion—decided never again. And they made that happen.
Detractors of the Cuban revolution allege sometimes that the government there can do what Washington cannot do owing to the “regimented” character of the society. Aside from the fact that hurricane evacuations in Cuba aren’t mandatory, don’t these same voices claim that dictatorial military regimes are supposed to be toxic for their citizens? Cuba is indeed highly regimented if it means that from top to bottom it is organized to defend itself. And for good reason! Cuba has been the target of Washington’s unceasing forty-five year effort to overthrow its revolution. Such preparedness is intended to stay the hand of the empire to the north from carrying out the only effective way it knows to end the revolution—a full scale military invasion—and to dampen the negative effects of the hostile economic embargo.
More than simply a society organized to defend itself, Cuba’s most essential feature is the presence and reproduction of human solidarity—a value without which democracy lacks substance. This explains why Cuba as an underdeveloped society, lacking many of the material resources available in this country, can do a far better job of educating and meeting the health needs of its citizens than its far wealthier neighbor to the north. Its infant mortality and life expectancy rates rival that of the most advanced capitalist countries including the U.S. More telling is that human solidarity doesn’t stop at the island’s borders but extends rather to the farthest reaches of the globe. The more than two-hundred Cubans who are now aiding earthquake victims in Pakistan is only the latest in the revolution’s long and proud record of coming to the aid of the less fortunate around the world.
When Hurricane Mitch wracked havoc on the peoples of the Caribbean and Central America in 1998 Cuba responded by opening a medical school free of charge to residents from the area, with the only condition that they would return to their countries to serve the most deprived citizens. This included as well places for students from impoverished communities in the U.S. This past summer the first American graduated from the school. As fate would have it, he, a young Black man, came from the New Orleans area.
It was not surprising, therefore, that Cuba immediately offered assistance to the victims of the social catastrophe following Katrina—1586 doctors and related personnel. To avoid the appearance of wanting to extract political advantage the Cubans did not publicize their offer. Only when Washington failed to include them in the list of willing donors did the Cubans reveal their offer, mainly to inform those around the world who wondered whether Cuba would do the same for U.S. citizens as it normally does for others.
If the offer speaks to the essence of Cuban society –the promotion of human solidarity– Washington's refusal to accept the aid testifies to the core values that the U.S. rulers stand for. Such a response is further evidence that what happened in New Orleans and environs can only be described as planned negligence. Consistent with a society that constantly promotes the “I got mine you get yours” ethic, government left its citizens to fend on their own as Katrina approached. Those of us who were personally impacted by the storm were vulnerable to the same ethic. Our first and sometimes only concern was whether our relatives had successfully escaped the catastrophe. Only later as the images began to emerge did we see the need to think socially, beyond the narrow boundaries of kinship.
We should be outraged at what unfolded but, therefore, not surprised. Unlike what exists in Cuba, government in the U.S.—again, at all levels—serves first and foremost the needs of citizens who control crucial resources, most importantly wealth. The inequalities in wealth that capitalism depends on and, hence, of necessity generates—with even greater disparities today—guarantee that the interests of working people will always be subordinated to those of the rich. The wealthy use their resources to ensure that their interests are prioritized by government. Thus, when a natural calamity strikes—be it a hurricane, earthquake or the next influenza pandemic—working people always bear the brunt of its fury. The inherent class bias of government in a capitalist society also explains why the recovery effort in the wake of such disasters privileges the wealthiest as is all so evident today in the Gulf states.
What so distinguishes Cuba from the U.S. is that its citizens have a government that represents and acts on behalf of the interests of the working class majority—in other words, substantive democracy. I make no claim that Cuba is a workers’ paradise. Cubans know all too well, for example, about governmental bureaucracy, the subject of many complaints and jokes. Its limitations notwithstanding, government in Cuba has proven to be far more responsive when it comes to protecting the lives of its citizens as opposed to what occurs in the U.S., as Katrina made so clear. Bureaucratic bungling is often said to be the reason for the unprecedented lost of life in the storm’s wake. But the reconstruction effort in the Gulf states shows how efficient government can be when it comes to serving the interests of the owners of Halliburton and Bechtel. Obstacles to their profits such as competitive contract bidding or paying reconstruction workers prevailing union wages were quickly overcome. That Washington has now decided to reverse the latter decision doesn’t negate my point.
Beginning in 1959 workers and farmers in Cuba took political power out of the hands of the wealthy minority and began to exercise it on their own behalf. Their counterparts here have yet to do the same. This is why I argue that it is illusory for working people in this country to refer to “our” government. No group of workers in the U.S. are more likely to have been as disabused of this false claim as those who were the victims of the inaction of “their” government when Katrina struck. “Our” government is rather the government of capital, for capital and by capital. We, that is, workers (anyone who has to sell his or her labor to survive), should have, as do the Cuban working masses, our own government. But we shouldn’t confuse what we want with what is; to do so, as New Orleans tragically demonstrated, can be deadly.
The Cuban revolution’s very existence explains Washington’s incessant hostility toward the island which of necessity includes a travel ban on U.S. citizens. That working people in this country might learn, for example, that category five hurricanes do not inevitably lead to catastrophic human tragedy is, from the class perspective of the rulers of this country, a threat to their most basic interests.
Many working people in the Gulf states, despite the portrayal in the media, did step forward to organize themselves, collectively, to deal with the social crisis that unfolded there. The story of Charmaine Neville of the famed Neville family of New Orleans, for example (see the WWOZ web page for the interview), is most heartening in spite of the pain she experienced and witnessed. The initiatives that many like her took and what they accomplished in saving one another from the flood waters bode well for the future. They reveal that the atomizing character of capitalist society has not arrested the capacity of our class for human solidarity. That trait will be essential if we are to do and improve upon what our co-workers in Cuba have done.
I realize that the argument I make challenges conventional wisdom about Cuba and/or about the relative merits of Cuba vis-à-vis the U.S. I offer it because I, like a growing number of others, foresee more devastating Katrinas, earthquakes, tsunamis, and, even more deadly, influenza pandemics. The world in which working people live is one in which political clarity or lack thereof increasingly has life and death consequences. Those who think that their private resources will allow them to avoid the next horrors to be visited upon humanity will probably dismiss my claims. But for a growing number of workers such options, owing to the cold logic of capitalism, are fast disappearing. Unless there is a better answer to the question I posed at the beginning, the lessons of Cuba should be given serious consideration. To not do so is to risk even greater human tragedy.
August Nimtz is professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota; both parents were evacuated from New Orleans as a result of Katrina.


Vegetated Buffer Strips (Swales)
Vegetated Swales, Filter Strips, and Grassed Waterways
Serve as bands of vegetation that either serve as 1) stormwater conveyance systems (Vegetated Swales) that reduce flow velocity and filter sediments (increase sedimentation) from runoff, 2) vegetation bands between nursery production areas and retention ponds that slow runoff and trap sediment, fertilizer, pesticides, and 4) pathogens (potentially) before they enter surface water, and 3) grassed waterways reduce runoff and pestiicide contamination.
Each of these treatment technologies employs both plant and biological systems to remediate and filter sediment, nutrient, pathogen, and chemical contaminants from runoff to reduce contaminant loading into surface waters.
Each varies in efficiency based upon site specific conditions, but some generalizations can be made based upon research.
Vegetated swales are typically found in urban communities or along roadsides where the primary runoff source is stormwater.
Vegetated Filter Strips in Nursery Production
Grassed waterways can reduce runoff volumes by 47% and herbicide (Isoxaben and Trifluralin - Briggs et al.) residues by 56%.
Briggs, J.A., Whitwell, T., Riley, M.B., 1999. Remediation of Herbicides in Runoff Water from Container Plant Nurseries Utilizing Grassed Waterways. Weed Technology. 13(1), 157-164.
Briggs, J.A., Whitwell, T., Riley, M.B., 2003. Effect of delayed irrigation on isoxaben and oryzalin runoff from a container nursery. Weed Science. 51(3), 463-470.


Microplate Readers Information
Microplate readers scan, analyze and obtain numerical results from chemical reactions conducted within microplates. The most common assay (examination and determination as to characteristics) types are absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence. Microplate readers are generally configured to accept one of the three common microplate size configurations – either 96, 384, or 1536 well microplates.
As stated above, the most common assay types used by microplate readers are absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence. Absorbance is the conversion of radiant energy to a different form of energy by interaction with matter. This is also known as photometric. Fluorescence is the molecular absorption of light energy by a molecule, with immediate emission of less energetic photons (longer wavelength). Luminescence does not require light to excite molecules. The energy is provided by chemical (chemiluminescence) or biochemical (bioluminescence) reactions.
When working with microplate readers, there are a number of key performance specifications to determine before making the selection. These include wavelength range, accuracy, and response time. Wavelength range is the range in which microplate readers can measure the distance between two adjacent peaks (or troughs) of a wave. Accuracy is the agreement between a mean measured value and a true or accepted value as quantified by error. Accuracy is related to determinate errors and quantified by bias. Response time is the amount of time required from introduction of the sample into the reader until the analysis is complete.
Some microplate readers offer a number of features, which can help to maintain or drive reactions. These features include integral shakers, integral dispensers and temperature control. Integral shakers serve to agitate the reactant material to speed up processing and facilitate readings. Microplate readers with integral dispensers can add additional reactants to the microplates being analyzed to again speed up reactions, or to provide secondary readings to compare with the primary results, without removing the microplate and thereby contaminating potential results. Microplate readers with temperature control can maintain specified temperatures to ensure that critical reactions continue unmolested, or drive reactions if the pace is not meeting expectations.


by Helen Fryman
Question: What about radiocarbon dating? Is it accurate?
Response: I asked several people who know about this field. Their responses are numbered below.
(1.) C14 dating is very accurate for wood used up to about 4,000 years ago. This is only because it is well calibrated with objects of known age. Example: wood found in a grave of known age by historically reliable documents is the standard for that time for the C14 content. This standard content of C14 can then be used for wood not associated with a historically documented date. Dates up to this point in history are well documented for C14 calibration.
For object over 4,000 years old the method becomes very unreliable for the following reason: Objects older then 4,000 years run into a problem in that there are few if any known artifacts to be used as the standard. Libby, the discoverer of the C14 dating method, was very disappointed with this problem. He understood that archaeological artifacts were readily available. After all, this what the archeologist guessed in their published books.
Some believe trees are known to be as old as 9,000 years. They use tree rings as the calibration standard. A lot of people doubt this claim for various good reasons I wont go into here. We believe all the dates over 5,000 years are really compressible into the next 2,000 years back to creation. So when you hear of a date of 30,000 years for a carbon date we believe it to be early after creation and only about 7,000 years old. If something carbon dates at 7,000 years we believe 5,000 is probably closer to reality (just before the flood).
Robert Whitelaw has done a very good job illustrating this theory using about 30,000 dates published in Radio Carbon over the last 40 years. One of the impressive points Whitewall makes is the conspicuous absence of dates between 4,500 and 5,000 years ago illustrating a great catastrophe killing off plant and animal life world wide (the flood of Noah)!
I hope this helps your understanding of carbon dating. If you have any more questions about it don't hesitate to write.
(2.) I just listened to a series of lectures on archaeology put out by John Hopkins Univ. The lecturer talked at length about how inaccurate C14 Dating is (as 'corrected' by dendrochronology). The methodology is quite accurate, but dendrochronology supposedly shows that the C14 dates go off because of changes in the equilibrium over time, and that the older the dates the larger the error.
Despite this she continually uses the c14 dates to create 'absolute' chronologies. She says this is ok so long as you take into account the correction factors from dendrochronology. (They conveniently forget to mention that the tree ring chronology was arranged by C14 dating. The scientists who were trying to build the chronology found the tree rings so ambiguous that they could not decide which rings matched which (using the bristlecone pine). So they tested some of the ring sequences by C14 to put the sequences in the 'right' order. Once they did that they developed the overall sequence. And this big sequence is then used to 'correct' C14 dates. Talk of circular reasoning!!!!
(3.) Even if the rate of decay is constant, without a knowledge of the exact ratio of C12 to C14 in the initial sample, the dating technique is still subject to question.
(4.) Traditional 14C testing assumes equilibrium in the rate of formation and the rate of decay. In fact, 14C is forming FASTER than the observed decay rate. This skews the 'real' answer to a much younger age.
You can find some further good information here:
http://www.cs.unc.edu/~plaisted/ce/dating.html#Carbon -- read the full page if you get the chance.


These are hey days for entrepreneurship around the world. In the not-so-distant past, entrepreneurship was a word which was viewed with skepticism. Today entrepreneurship is a word liked by all. Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship comes in all shapes and sizes.
Entrepreneurship is all about starting an initiative by undertaking risk and sustaining risk. In popular parlance, business entrepreneurship is associated with starting a new business. Entrepreneurial businesses come in all shapes and sizes.
The idea of entrepreneurship has struck a responsive chord among all sections of the society. The time is ripe for business entrepreneurship all across the world.
Entrepreneurship is an important ingredient in the process of economic growth and development.
Where others see problems, those with business entrepreneurship see opportunity. They are driven by a vision of how to achieve improvement.
When you take global entrepreneurship into account, it is being found that entrepreneurship is more or less on the rise across the world but that there is greater scope for growth.
Building Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Creating job opportunities is central to the sustainable development and growth of a country. This can be achieved by the creation of business startups which can be possible only through the emergence of business entrepreneurship.
One of the drivers of economic and social development is innovation. It is pertinent to realize that entrepreneurs are the important innovators in the economic life of a country. So it is in essential fitness of things to support and encourage entrepreneurs to create sustainable growth.
To generate greater attention to business entrepreneurship, especially in the emerging markets, is a challenge in itself. It is for the governments of those countries to address the issue of entrepreneurship on a priority basis. They have to proactive in their approach towards creating entrepreneurship opportunities.
When it comes to different forms of entrepreneurship, ‘social entrepreneurship’ is making wave in its areas of development these days. The term ‘social entrepreneurship’ was coined by Bill Drayton, founder of the social venture philanthropy, Ashoka. The definition of the phrase is still in the realm of debate, in general, social entrepreneurship differs from business entrepreneurship in the sense that while in the former the social mission is central to the business, the latter is undertaken for purely business purpose.
Social entrepreneurship provides opportunities for the investors for investment and innovation in those ventures which have a social impact. When it comes to social entrepreneurship, a case in point is the setting up a start up which has the potential of solving the water and sanitation problems. Around the world, there has been emergence of a new wave of social entrepreneurs who are setting ups in areas such as health, environment and skills.
Many countries around the world are becoming highly receptive to the idea of social entrepreneurship that is focused on its positive impact on society.
Challenges for entrepreneurship
Though there are many economies in the world which provide fertile ground for entrepreneurial opportunities to the people, there are challenges specific to those countries. . For example though entrepreneurship is gaining momentum in Iran, the trade sanctions imposed on the country are acting as barriers for the growth of entrepreneurship in this Asian country. Similar is the case in the Eastern European country of Latvia, where lack of seed funding acts as a hindrance for the growth of technology start-ups.
Though entrepreneurship is catching in the developed economies, the challenges are there too. In many countries, finding a traditional job is still being preferred which discourages young people from becoming entrepreneurs. Loss of benefits in a social welfare state is also one of the reasons which discourages people to join the entrepreneurship bandwagon.
Lack of research and development, capital and willing investors as well as inadequate access to technology is one of the challenges which are faced by the entrepreneurs. These challenges prevent the creation of start ups in a country. In order to build a vibrant entrepreneurship business ecosystem the youth population of a country needs to be engaged. Young people must be willing to create job opportunities for themselves and others. It is being found that youths are taking steps to be their own entrepreneurs and demonstrate that they can be effective catalysts of change and progress in their countries.
Most of the people which are willing to join the small business entrepreneurship bandwagon face the challenge of capital and lack of marketing advice. The educational institutions in the country can play a pivotal role in instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship in young generation. They should encourage them to take calculated risk which is of utmost importance in gaining success in an entrepreneurship venture. They youth must be innovative and look for opportunities. They should not be ashamed of failure which often accompanies while starting a business.
Entrepreneurship, an initiative to take risks to start a business venture, is the bedrock of the economy of any country. In these not-so-good times for world economy, as we look for innovative ways to jump-start growth through job creation, entrepreneurship is viewed as the next thing which can ignite the process. The main drivers for the growing interest in entrepreneurship are globalisation, advances in technology and emergence of knowledge-based economies. Entrepreneurship is capturing the mainstream imagination and is crucial for the sustainable economic growth because it is equipped with the potential to generate employment, fuel innovation, enhance productivity and competitiveness. Entrepreneurship provides you an avenue to give back to your community and achieve societal goals.


Numeracy can be taught in many ways, but as we know, making things fun is a great way for your kids to learn something challenging. That’s why we love this Lego numbers building activity! This printable workbook brings you 10 sheets to help your little ones learn their numbers with the help of the ever popular brick!
Lego are popular worldwide, so we know that wherever you may be visiting us from, you’ll be able to relate to and enjoy this activity. Let’s take a look!
Lego number building activity
Our Lego number build is a fun way for your kids to use the popular building blocks to learn and practice each of their numbers form 1-10.
Each sheet has a Lego brick designed so your kids can practice the number by using real Lego to give it its shape. There is also a space for your kids to draw the number of bricks in the box. Your kids can also colour in the number that is written out for them. Lastly, have them practice the number by writing it within the lines at the bottom of the page. As you can see the sheets are a lot of learning fun for the kids!
Let’s take a look a the 10 sheets in our printable set.
There are different ways that you can use the sheets. For example, print out the sets that you need and create a booklet of the numbers 1-10. Or, you can laminate the sheets so that your kids can reuse each one as needed.
Another idea is to print out a booklet and combine numeracy with colour recognition by using only bricks, crayons, and coloured pencils in a corresponding colour. This can help your kids work on 2 learning skills at a time.
Using building blocks, like Lego is a way to help your kids develop many skills such as fine motor skills. Using building blocks, even though they may not be building per se, helps with hand-eye coordination too. The blocks need to be placed over the blocks that are drawn, which means your child will need to be detailed and focus on using their hands.
Lego Numbers Building Activity Ten
And, last but not least, let’s get into double digits with the number 10.
So, what do you think? Lovely, aren’t they?
<< Click on the circular image below to print out the Lego numbers activity sheets >>
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There are more numeracy activities on our site, do have a look.
Maths and other games on the site
Here are some more ideas for Maths and game play for the kids!
Free Ladybird printable math worksheets
Perfect number fun with ladybirds, or lady bugs, depending on where you come from!
Free St Patricks Day Activities: Math Workbook
A bit of mathematical fun for St Patricks Day!
Number tracing for kids
Using numbers to help with fine motor skills to prepare for writing.
Animal habitats sorting game for kids: Free printable
Our most popular game - habitat sorting for the kids. Who doesn't love a little bit of STEM-based fun.
What about these other maths activities from the web? Have a look!
Maths related content from the web
Check out even more useful maths content from the web
Help your child with maths Mammaprada Blog
Top Tips for Helping Your Kids with Maths - Sims Life
Top Tips for Helping Your Kids with Maths - Mummy Vs Work
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I was assigned a simple program to write in C++: Make a program that takes an integer and tells whether each digit is odd or even. So, I started messing around in Perl, rather than doing the assignment (naturally). This is the shortest solution I came up with. Any suggestions for improvement?
chop($_=<>);s/()/$1: odd\n/g;s/()/$1: even\n/g;print
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By Michael Owyang, Assistant Vice President and Economist and Hannah Shell, Senior Research Associate
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produces two measures of national output which, in theory, should be equivalent. In practice, however, there are often substantive differences.
The first measure of output produced by the BEA is the well-known gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is defined as the value of final goods and services and is measured on the production side. One typical method of measuring GDP is to measure the total value of all goods and services and then subtract the value of the intermediate consumption. The result is the value added during the quarter.
The second measure of output produced by the BEA is gross domestic income (GDI) and is measured by summing of wages, profits, interest payments and investments.
In principle, these two series measure the same object.1 Indeed, the figure below shows that the two series have very similar dynamics. The blue line plots the percent change in GDI from 1980 to the present; the red line shows the percent change in GDP for the same period.
While the difference between the two series is usually small, it can vary up to a full percentage point for some quarters. The difference also varies over time, suggesting that the difference is made up of more than minor accounting differences.
Because the two series are measured differently, their measurement error varies over time. This is partly because components of one are more easily (or more timely) estimated than the other. Some forecasters have attempted to exploit these changes in the measurement error, suggesting that there may be a systematic variation over the business cycle.
Federal Reserve economist Jeremy Nalewaik explored the differences between GDP and GDI in greater detail. Nalewaik argued that GDI might be a better indicator, as advance estimates of GDI are closer to the final estimates of both measures. Nalewaik evaluated GDP and GDI by comparing vintages of the (unrevised) data to show that early estimates of GDI captured the downturn in the 2007-09 recession better than GDP, which could have given policymakers advance notice.
Using data from ALFRED (the St. Louis Fed’s database for archival economic data), the figure below shows GDP and GDI vintages for the first quarter of 2014 as an example. The green lines are GDI, and the blue lines are GDP. Dots represent the advance estimate, dashes represent the second estimate, and solid lines represent the final estimate.
GDI was estimated initially at 1.31 percent, revised down slightly to 1.22 percent and finally revised up to 1.43 percent for a net change of 0.12 percentage points. GDP started at 2.33 percent, and was revised down 0.79 percentage points to 1.54 percent in the final estimate. As Nalewaik suggested, the initial estimates of GDI were closer to the final estimate of both measures.2
For now, GDP remains the prominent measure of output cited by both the media and policymakers. In the end, however, it may be prudent to use both series (or perhaps a measurement combining both) to measure output.
1 There are minor accounting differences in the two series, including indirect taxes and transfers and depreciation.
2 Garcia, Cardiff. “The Case for GDI: a Q&A with Jeremy Nalewaik.” FT Alphaville, Sept. 26, 2011.


Your body is constantly at war against oxidation stress. Oxidation stress is the cause of or contributor to every human disease. Free radicals lead to oxidation stress, which damages cells and also leads to cell death. However, studies show molecular hydrogen (H2) can help.
One study, published in Molecular Medicine Reports, dives deep into molecular hydrogen’s effects on oxidation stress, as well as DNA and mitochondrial function.
First, let’s talk a bit more about oxidation stress.
Free radicals cause oxidation stress. These oxygen-containing molecules contain an unpaired valence electron. Because electrons like to be in pairs, free radicals attempt to steal electrons from healthy cells. This interaction leads to damage and cell death. Furthermore, damage and cell death give way to a variety of ailments. Pain, inflammation, illness, and allergies are just a few possible results of oxidation stress.
And there are many things that cause the production of free radicals. Even healthy activities like exercise can lead to oxidation stress.
Molecular hydrogen is a powerful antioxidant that is also extremely intuitive. It searches for free radicals in order to neutralize them. How does it do this?
First, H2 donates one of its hydrogen atoms to the oxygen-containing (O2) free radical. This leads to the formula for H2O. Thus, molecular hydrogen neutralizes free radicals by turning them into harmless water.
Additionally, molecular hydrogen repairs damage done to the cell, preventing cell death. Moreover, H2 prevents toxic free radicals from being produced.
Free radicals also wreak havoc on mitochondria, which are organelles inside the cell that convert nutrients into energy. Because hydrogen is so small (it is the smallest molecule, in fact) H2 can easily enter the cell and benefit the mitochondria. Molecular hydrogen also influences DNA and cell signaling in a beneficial way.
Results from the study published in Molecular Medicine Reports confirm that molecular hydrogen has powerful effects on oxidation stress, as well as DNA and the mitochondria.
For this particular study, DNA oxidation and oxidation stress caused by retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury were observed.
Using hydrogen-enriched saline, researchers found the molecular hydrogen significantly decreased the effects of DNA oxidation. Furthermore, researchers concluded that molecular hydrogen has great potential when it comes to helping issues caused by oxidation stress and diseases, due to its ability to neutralize free radicals, and its ability to enter the cell, benefiting cell signaling and gene expression.
Don’t let oxidation stress wreak havoc on your cells or cause cell death. Along with traditional medicine, a healthy diet and exercise regime, molecular hydrogen produced by the HydroGenie can help improve your health and wellness.
This state-of-the-art generator, made right here in the United States, allows you to experience the benefits of molecular hydrogen with three different methods:


Auden on Writing, Originality, Self-Criticism, and How to Be a Good Reader
“It would only be necessary for a writer to secure universal popularity if imagination and intelligence were equally distributed among all men.”
By Maria Popova
“Before writers are writers they are readers, living in books, through books, in the lives of others that are also the heads of others, in that act that is so intimate and yet so alone,” Rebecca Solnit observed in her beautiful meditation on why we read and write. “At the hour when our imagination and our ability to associate are at their height,” Hermann Hesse asserted in contemplating the three styles of reading, “we really no longer read what is printed on the paper but swim in a stream of impulses and inspirations that reach us from what we are reading.” Both reader and writer hold this transcendent communion on the page as the highest hope for their respective reward, but it is a reward each can attain only with the utmost skill and dedication.
The separate but symbiotic rewards of reading and writing, and the skills required for each, are what W.H. Auden (February 21, 1907–September 29, 1973) examines in The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essays (public library). Although he remains one of the most celebrated, beloved, and influential poets of the past century, it is in this posthumously collected aphoristic prose that Auden speaks most directly to his values, his ideas about literature and art, and his creative process.
In a sentiment of even sterner conviction than Nabokov’s ten criteria for a good reader, Auden considers reading as an art unto itself:
The interests of a writer and the interests of his* readers are never the same and if, on occasion, they happen to coincide, this is a lucky accident.
To read is to translate, for no two persons’ experiences are the same. A bad reader is like a bad translator: he interprets literally when he ought to paraphrase and paraphrases when he ought to interpret literally. In learning to read well, scholarship, valuable as it is, is less important than instinct; some great scholars have been poor translators.
Rendering Tolstoy’s prescriptive reading list for every stage of life moot, Auden considers the organic evolution of our taste in reading over a lifetime:
Good taste is much more a matter of discrimination than of exclusion, and when good taste feels compelled to exclude, it is with regret, not with pleasure.
Between the ages of twenty and forty we are engaged in the process of discovering who we are, which involves learning the difference between accidental limitations which it is our study to outgrow and the necessary limitations of our nature beyond which we cannot trespass with impunity. Few of us can learn this without making mistakes, without trying to become a little more of a universal man than we are permitted to be. It is during this period that a writer can most easily be led astray by another writer or by some ideology When someone between twenty and forty says, apropos of a work of art, “I know what I like,” he is really saying “I have no taste of my own but accept the taste of my cultural milieu,” because between twenty and forty, the surest sign that a man has genuine taste of his own is that he is uncertain of it. After forty, if we have not lost our authentic selves altogether, pleasure can again become what it was when we were children, the proper guide to what we should read.
The challenges of being a reader in many ways parallel those of being a writer, particularly when it comes to these tyrannical shoulds — nowhere more so than in the perennially asked, perennially answered with ire question of why a writer writes and for whom. Auden offers the most beautiful answer I have yet encountered, at once utterly grounding and utterly elevating:
A writer … is always being asked by people who should know better: “Whom do you write for?” The question is, of course, a silly one, but I can give it a silly answer. Occasionally I come across a book which I feel has been written especially for me and for me only. Like a jealous lover, I don’t want anybody else to hear of it. To have a million such readers, unaware of each other’s existence, to be read with passion and never talked about, is the daydream, surely, of every author.
In another essay from the volume, he revisits the same subject from a different angle. Considering the extrinsic misconceptions and intrinsic self-delusions about why writers write — a question that has garnered some memorable answers from Pablo Neruda, Joan Didion, David Foster Wallace, Italo Calvino, and William Faulkner — Auden offers:
Just as a good man forgets his deed the moment he has done it, a genuine writer forgets a work as soon as he has completed it and starts to think about the next one; if he thinks about his past work at all, he is more likely to remember its faults than its virtues. Fame often makes a writer vain, but seldom makes him proud.
Every writer would rather be rich than poor, but no genuine writer cares about popularity as such. He needs approval of his work by others in order to be reassured that the vision of life he believes he has had is a true vision and not a self-delusion, but he can only be reassured by those whose judgment he respects. It would only be necessary for a writer to secure universal popularity if imagination and intelligence were equally distributed among all men.
He then turns to the inner workings of the creative process and the mystique of inspiration. Unlike Tchaikovsky, who drew a vehement line between commissioned and self-initiated creative work, Auden argues that all creative work is in a sense commissioned — not by a client but by the Muse, or by what Ursula K. Le Guin so poetically called “acts of the spirit.” He writes:
All works of art are commissioned in the sense that no artist can create one by a simple act of will but must wait until what he believes to be a good idea for a work “comes” to him.
And yet what the Muse commissions is vulnerable to the basic flaw of all human intuition. “The confidence people have in their beliefs is not a measure of the quality of evidence but of the coherence of the story that the mind has managed to construct,” Nobel-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman wrote in exploring how our minds mislead us. By the same token, the degree by which our inspiration invigorates us need not be indicative of the merit of the art it produces. Auden articulates this with elegant wit:
The degree of excitement which a writer feels during the process of composition is as much an indication of the value of the final result as the excitement felt by a worshiper is an indication of the value of his devotions, that is to say, very little indication.
But the task of assessing the merits of one’s own work is a Herculean one. In a passage that calls to mind Susan Sontag’s ideas about the four people a writer must be and Adam Phillips’s insight into the paradoxical nature of self-criticism, Auden offers his formula for effective creative critique of oneself:
To keep his errors down to a minimum, the internal Censor to whom a poet submits his work in progress should be a Censorate. It should include, for instance, a sensitive only child, a practical housewife, a logician, a monk, an irreverent buffoon and even, perhaps, hated by all the others and returning their dislike, a brutal, foul-mouthed drill sergeant who considers all poetry rubbish.
An ability to submit to this Censorate, of course, requires a high degree of sincerity — something with which Nobel laureate André Gide had memorably tussled a century earlier and which Aldous Huxley believed was the cause of a supreme artistic anxiety. Auden quips, then turns sincere:
Sincerity is like sleep. Normally, one should assume that, of course, one will be sincere, and not give the question a second thought. Most writers, however, suffer occasionally from bouts of insincerity as men do from bouts of insomnia. The remedy in both cases is often quite simple: in the case of the latter, to change one’s diet, in the case of the former, to change one’s company.
Sincerity in the proper sense of the word, meaning authenticity, is, however, or ought to be, a writer’s chief preoccupation. No writer can ever judge exactly how good or bad a work of his may be, but he can always know, not immediately perhaps, but certainly in a short while, whether something he has written is authentic — in his handwriting — or a forgery.
Echoing Montaigne’s admonition against the cult of originality, Auden adds:
Some writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about.
Complement the altogether indispensable The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essays with Auden on the most important principle in making art and what medicine and art have in common, then revisit more abiding advice on writing from Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Susan Sontag, James Baldwin, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, and other beloved authors.
* To contend with the era’s inescapably gendered language, I point you once again to Ursula K. Le Guin’s timelessly brilliant commentary on the problem.
Published August 10, 2016