- Use cell notation to describe galvanic cells
- Describe the basic components of galvanic cells
Galvanic cells, also known as voltaic cells, are electrochemical cells in which spontaneous oxidation-reduction reactions produce electrical energy. In writing the equations, it is often convenient to separate the oxidation-reduction reactions into half-reactions to facilitate balancing the overall equation and to emphasize the actual chemical transformations.
Consider what happens when a clean piece of copper metal is placed in a solution of silver nitrate ([link]). As soon as the copper metal is added, silver metal begins to form and copper ions pass into the solution. The blue color of the solution on the far right indicates the presence of copper ions. The reaction may be split into its two half-reactions. Half-reactions separate the oxidation from the reduction, so each can be considered individually.
The equation for the reduction half-reaction had to be doubled so the number electrons “gained” in the reduction half-reaction equaled the number of electrons “lost” in the oxidation half-reaction.
Galvanic or voltaic cells involve spontaneous electrochemical reactions in which the half-reactions are separated ([link]) so that current can flow through an external wire. The beaker on the left side of the figure is called a half-cell, and contains a 1 M solution of copper(II) nitrate [Cu(NO3)2] with a piece of copper metal partially submerged in the solution. The copper metal is an electrode. The copper is undergoing oxidation; therefore, the copper electrode is the anode. The anode is connected to a voltmeter with a wire and the other terminal of the voltmeter is connected to a silver electrode by a wire. The silver is undergoing reduction; therefore, the silver electrode is the cathode. The half-cell on the right side of the figure consists of the silver electrode in a 1 M solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3). At this point, no current flows—that is, no significant movement of electrons through the wire occurs because the circuit is open. The circuit is closed using a salt bridge, which transmits the current with moving ions. The salt bridge consists of a concentrated, nonreactive, electrolyte solution such as the sodium nitrate (NaNO3) solution used in this example. As electrons flow from left to right through the electrode and wire, nitrate ions (anions) pass through the porous plug on the left into the copper(II) nitrate solution. This keeps the beaker on the left electrically neutral by neutralizing the charge on the copper(II) ions that are produced in the solution as the copper metal is oxidized. At the same time, the nitrate ions are moving to the left, sodium ions (cations) move to the right, through the porous plug, and into the silver nitrate solution on the right. These added cations “replace” the silver ions that are removed from the solution as they were reduced to silver metal, keeping the beaker on the right electrically neutral. Without the salt bridge, the compartments would not remain electrically neutral and no significant current would flow. However, if the two compartments are in direct contact, a salt bridge is not necessary. The instant the circuit is completed, the voltmeter reads +0.46 V, this is called the cell potential. The cell potential is created when the two dissimilar metals are connected, and is a measure of the energy per unit charge available from the oxidation-reduction reaction. The volt is the derived SI unit for electrical potential
In this equation, A is the current in amperes and C the charge in coulombs. Note that volts must be multiplied by the charge in coulombs (C) to obtain the energy in joules (J).
When the electrochemical cell is constructed in this fashion, a positive cell potential indicates a spontaneous reaction and that the electrons are flowing from the left to the right. There is a lot going on in [link], so it is useful to summarize things for this system:
- Electrons flow from the anode to the cathode: left to right in the standard galvanic cell in the figure.
- The electrode in the left half-cell is the anode because oxidation occurs here. The name refers to the flow of anions in the salt bridge toward it.
- The electrode in the right half-cell is the cathode because reduction occurs here. The name refers to the flow of cations in the salt bridge toward it.
- Oxidation occurs at the anode (the left half-cell in the figure).
- Reduction occurs at the cathode (the right half-cell in the figure).
- The cell potential, +0.46 V, in this case, results from the inherent differences in the nature of the materials used to make the two half-cells.
- The salt bridge must be present to close (complete) the circuit and both an oxidation and reduction must occur for current to flow.
There are many possible galvanic cells, so a shorthand notation is usually used to describe them. The cell notation (sometimes called a cell diagram) provides information about the various species involved in the reaction. This notation also works for other types of cells. A vertical line, │, denotes a phase boundary and a double line, ‖, the salt bridge. Information about the anode is written to the left, followed by the anode solution, then the salt bridge (when present), then the cathode solution, and, finally, information about the cathode to the right. The cell notation for the galvanic cell in [link] is then
Note that spectator ions are not included and that the simplest form of each half-reaction was used. When known, the initial concentrations of the various ions are usually included.
One of the simplest cells is the Daniell cell. It is possible to construct this battery by placing a copper electrode at the bottom of a jar and covering the metal with a copper sulfate solution. A zinc sulfate solution is floated on top of the copper sulfate solution; then a zinc electrode is placed in the zinc sulfate solution. Connecting the copper electrode to the zinc electrode allows an electric current to flow. This is an example of a cell without a salt bridge, and ions may flow across the interface between the two solutions.
Some oxidation-reduction reactions involve species that are poor conductors of electricity, and so an electrode is used that does not participate in the reactions. Frequently, the electrode is platinum, gold, or graphite, all of which are inert to many chemical reactions. One such system is shown in [link]. Magnesium undergoes oxidation at the anode on the left in the figure and hydrogen ions undergo reduction at the cathode on the right. The reaction may be summarized as
The cell used an inert platinum wire for the cathode, so the cell notation is
The magnesium electrode is an active electrode because it participates in the oxidation-reduction reaction. Inert electrodes, like the platinum electrode in [link], do not participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction and are present so that current can flow through the cell. Platinum or gold generally make good inert electrodes because they are chemically unreactive.
Using Cell Notation Consider a galvanic cell consisting of
Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions and write the reaction using cell notation. Which reaction occurs at the anode? The cathode?
Solution By inspection, Cr is oxidized when three electrons are lost to form Cr3+, and Cu2+ is reduced as it gains two electrons to form Cu. Balancing the charge gives
Cell notation uses the simplest form of each of the equations, and starts with the reaction at the anode. No concentrations were specified so: Oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction at the cathode.
Using Cell Notation
Consider a galvanic cell consisting of
Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions and write the reaction using cell notation. Which reaction occurs at the anode? The cathode?
Solution By inspection, Fe2+ undergoes oxidation when one electron is lost to form Fe3+, and MnO4− is reduced as it gains five electrons to form Mn2+. Balancing the charge gives
Cell notation uses the simplest form of each of the equations, and starts with the reaction at the anode. It is necessary to use an inert electrode, such as platinum, because there is no metal present to conduct the electrons from the anode to the cathode. No concentrations were specified so: Oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction at the cathode.
Check Your Learning Use cell notation to describe the galvanic cell where copper(II) ions are reduced to copper metal and zinc metal is oxidized to zinc ions.
From the information given in the problem:
Key Concepts and Summary
Electrochemical cells typically consist of two half-cells. The half-cells separate the oxidation half-reaction from the reduction half-reaction and make it possible for current to flow through an external wire. One half-cell, normally depicted on the left side in a figure, contains the anode. Oxidation occurs at the anode. The anode is connected to the cathode in the other half-cell, often shown on the right side in a figure. Reduction occurs at the cathode. Adding a salt bridge completes the circuit allowing current to flow. Anions in the salt bridge flow toward the anode and cations in the salt bridge flow toward the cathode. The movement of these ions completes the circuit and keeps each half-cell electrically neutral. Electrochemical cells can be described using cell notation. In this notation, information about the reaction at the anode appears on the left and information about the reaction at the cathode on the right. The salt bridge is represented by a double line, ‖. The solid, liquid, or aqueous phases within a half-cell are separated by a single line, │. The phase and concentration of the various species is included after the species name. Electrodes that participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction are called active electrodes. Electrodes that do not participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction but are there to allow current to flow are inert electrodes. Inert electrodes are often made from platinum or gold, which are unchanged by many chemical reactions.
Chemistry End of Chapter Exercises
Write the following balanced reactions using cell notation. Use platinum as an inert electrode, if needed.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Given the following cell notations, determine the species oxidized, species reduced, and the oxidizing agent and reducing agent, without writing the balanced reactions.
For the cell notations in the previous problem, write the corresponding balanced reactions.
Balance the following reactions and write the reactions using cell notation. Ignore any inert electrodes, as they are never part of the half-reactions.
Identify the species oxidized, species reduced, and the oxidizing agent and reducing agent for all the reactions in the previous problem.
Species oxidized = reducing agent: (a) Al(s); (b) NO(g); (c) Mg(s); and (d) MnO2(s); Species reduced = oxidizing agent: (a) Zr4+(aq); (b) Ag+(aq); (c) ; and (d)
From the information provided, use cell notation to describe the following systems:
(a) In one half-cell, a solution of Pt(NO3)2 forms Pt metal, while in the other half-cell, Cu metal goes into a Cu(NO3)2 solution with all solute concentrations 1 M.
(b) The cathode consists of a gold electrode in a 0.55 M Au(NO3)3 solution and the anode is a magnesium electrode in 0.75 M Mg(NO3)2 solution.
(c) One half-cell consists of a silver electrode in a 1 M AgNO3 solution, and in the other half-cell, a copper electrode in 1 M Cu(NO3)2 is oxidized.
Why is a salt bridge necessary in galvanic cells like the one in [link]?
Without the salt bridge, the circuit would be open (or broken) and no current could flow. With a salt bridge, each half-cell remains electrically neutral and current can flow through the circuit.
An active (metal) electrode was found to gain mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode part of the anode or cathode? Explain.
An active (metal) electrode was found to lose mass as the oxidation-reduction reaction was allowed to proceed. Was the electrode part of the anode or cathode? Explain.
Active electrodes participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction. Since metals form cations, the electrode would lose mass if metal atoms in the electrode were to oxidize and go into solution. Oxidation occurs at the anode.
The mass of three different metal electrodes, each from a different galvanic cell, were determined before and after the current generated by the oxidation-reduction reaction in each cell was allowed to flow for a few minutes. The first metal electrode, given the label A, was found to have increased in mass; the second metal electrode, given the label B, did not change in mass; and the third metal electrode, given the label C, was found to have lost mass. Make an educated guess as to which electrodes were active and which were inert electrodes, and which were anode(s) and which were the cathode(s).
- active electrode
- electrode that participates in the oxidation-reduction reaction of an electrochemical cell; the mass of an active electrode changes during the oxidation-reduction reaction
- electrode in an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs; information about the anode is recorded on the left side of the salt bridge in cell notation
- electrode in an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs; information about the cathode is recorded on the right side of the salt bridge in cell notation
- cell notation
- shorthand way to represent the reactions in an electrochemical cell
- cell potential
- difference in electrical potential that arises when dissimilar metals are connected; the driving force for the flow of charge (current) in oxidation-reduction reactions
- galvanic cell
- electrochemical cell that involves a spontaneous oxidation-reduction reaction; electrochemical cells with positive cell potentials; also called a voltaic cell
- inert electrode
- electrode that allows current to flow, but that does not otherwise participate in the oxidation-reduction reaction in an electrochemical cell; the mass of an inert electrode does not change during the oxidation-reduction reaction; inert electrodes are often made of platinum or gold because these metals are chemically unreactive.
- voltaic cell
- another name for a galvanic cell


- Go to slide 1 out of 5
- Go to slide 2 out of 5
- Go to slide 3 out of 5
- Go to slide 4 out of 5
- Go to slide 5 out of 5
A choking person’s airway may be completely or partially blocked. A complete blockage is an urgent medical emergency. A partial obstruction can quickly become life threatening if the person loses the ability to breathe in and out sufficiently. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage can occur in as little as 4 minutes. Rapid first aid for choking can save a life.
The universal distress signal for choking is grabbing the throat with one or both hands.
DO NOT perform first aid if the person is coughing forcefully and able to speak – a strong cough can dislodge the object on its own.
1. Ask the person:
"Are you choking?"
"Can you speak?"
2. Send someone to call 911 or your local emergency number.
Review Date 3/31/2017
Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.


Generic medicines have the exact same effects as branded medicines, but for a fraction of the price. But is this really the case? Sounds a little too good to be true, right? Let’s see.
What is a branded drug?
All drugs have a scientific name, also called their generic name, and often they have brand names too. Like with Viagra. The generic name of the drug is sildenafil citrate, but the company that first made it (Pfizer) chose to sell it under the brand name Viagra.
Viagra is just one example, but most medications have branded versions. Ibuprofen is the generic name of the painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication, but it’s sold under a variety of brand names, like Advil and Nurofen. Finasteride is the generic name of an effective baldness treatment, but it’s also sold under the brand name Propecia.
What is a generic drug?
For lots of drugs, you can get generic versions as well as branded ones.
Generic medications are copies of branded medications. They have the same active ingredient, the same effect, the same side effects, the same strength and dose, and you take them in the same way. The only difference is the lack of branding and the price – generic medications are cheaper than branded ones, often a lot cheaper.
Do generic drugs have the same ingredients?
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as their branded versions, and so they have the same effect. Generic drugs may have different inactive ingredients, like the preservatives and fillers used to create the pills, but these inactive ingredients won’t affect the way the drug works. One exception is if you have an allergy to one of these different inactive ingredients, but this is rare. You can find a full list of ingredients in all medications in the patient leaflet that comes with them.
What’s the difference between a generic and a brand name drug?
A brand name drug and its generic versions contain the same amount of the same active ingredient, and so are pharmacologically identical, meaning they have the same effect on your body. The only difference, other than the name and the packaging, and things like the shape and colour of the pills, is the price. Generic drugs are usually much cheaper than branded ones.
Why are generic medicines so much cheaper?
The simple answer is, because the company selling the generic medicine didn’t have to spend money developing the drug.
New medicines can cost a hell of a lot to produce. The company that first makes them needs to invest in research and development, in clinical trials, and then it has to spend on marketing and promotion to make sure the new drug is a commercial success. This can take years and can cost billions.
So, the company that first makes a drug must sell it for a higher price to make sure they make their money back. The companies that make the generic versions don’t have these costs, they just copy the original drug, so they can charge a lower price.
Are generic medicines legal?
Yes, generic medications are perfectly legal, we’re not talking about counterfeit drugs here. Generic drugs are bought in the same places as branded drugs, they’re often sold next to each other on the same shelf.
We can understand why generic drugs may not sound fair though. The company that makes the original branded medication spends billions developing the drug, then the generic manufacturers can undercut them selling the exact same product at a lower price.
It’s not quite that simple though. The original maker of a drug is usually offered a patent by the countries it sells in, which means it’s the only company that can sell the drug there for a certain number of years. Pfizer, the company that developed Viagra, had a patent in the UK from 1998 to June 2013, which meant they had 15 years of exclusivity to make as much money as they can from Viagra.
But in June 2013 the patent protection for Viagra came to an end in the UK, and other manufacturers were free to make their own versions of the drug. You can now choose between the branded medication, Viagra, or generic versions called sildenafil.
Are generic medications really as effective as branded ones?
Generic medications are pharmacologically identical to branded ones, which means they contain the same active ingredient (the chemical which gives the drugs its effect), and the same amount of this active ingredient. There’s no real difference between a 50mg Viagra tablet and a 50mg sildenafil tablet, so they are just as effective as one another.
There is one slight complication though. There’s something called the placebo effect. This is when someone’s beliefs about a medication can affect how they work. Research has shown some patients report they get better results from branded medications than generic ones, because they believe branded medications are more effective, even though they’re identical.
So, although branded and generic drugs are the same, the human mind is a funny thing, and some people may find branded drugs work better for them, even if they’re exactly the same.
Are generic drugs safe?
Generic drugs are tested for their bioequivalence to the branded ones they’re based on, meaning they’re effectively the same drugs. This means they’re just as safe as the branded versions, and that they have the same benefits and side effects.
Can I buy generic medications FROM MARS?
Yes, you can. We offer both brand name and generic versions of popular and effective prescription medications for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, acne, genital herpes and cold sores. Buy proven, effective medications at a fraction of the price:
· Sildenafil (same active ingredient as Viagra)
· Tadalafil (same active ingredient as Cialis)
· Vardenafil (same active ingredient as Levitra)
· Finasteride (same active ingredient as Propecia)
Genital Herpes and Cold Sores
· Valaciclovir (same active ingredient as Valtrex)


Geologic Formations and Their Water-bearing Properties
Character--The undifferentiated redbeds of Permian age do not crop out in Seward County; hence the only available data concerning these beds are the logs of gas wells that have been drilled in the Seward County part of the Hugoton gas field. The redbeds encountered in these wells consist principally of red shale, silt-stone, and sandstone containing interbedded salt, gypsum, anhydrite, and dolomite.
Distribution and thickness--The Permian redbeds underlie all of Seward County but they do not crop out. The nearest outcrop of these deposits is in southeastern Meade County about 14 miles east of Seward County. The thickness of redbeds exposed in Meade County is more than 100 feet (Frye, 1942, p. 93). Because there is an erosional unconformity between the Permian redbeds and the overlying sediments of Cretaceous age or younger, the thickness of the redbeds in this area is variable. Most of the gas wells in this and adjacent areas penetrate between 1,200 and 1,600 feet of redbeds.
Water supply--No wells in Seward County obtain water from the Permian redbeds owing to their considerable depth. These beds yield highly mineralized water to a few artesian wells in Morton County. Potable water is reported to have been encountered in several gas wells in the Hugoton field but no chemical analyses of these waters are available.
Kansas Geological Survey, Seward County Geohydrology|
Comments to firstname.lastname@example.org
Web version Sept. 2001. Original publication date March. 1948.


Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayat 22 in Arabic Text
Here you can read various translations of verse 22
They said, “O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter.”
They said: “O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it: if (once) they leave, then shall we enter.”
They answered: ‘Moses, therein live a ferocious people: we will not enter unless they depart from it; but if they do depart from it then we will surely enter it.’
They said: “O Musa (Moses)! In it (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter.”
They said: O Moses! Lo! a giant people (dwell) therein and lo! we go not in till they go forth from thence. When they go forth from thence, then we will enter (not till then).
They said, “O Mûsa, surely there are people in it (who are) giants, and surely we will never enter it until they go out of it. So, in case they go out of it, then surely we will be entering.”
They said, ‘Moses, there is a fearsome people in this land. We will not go there until they leave. If they leave, then we will enter.’
انہوں نے جواب دیا کہ اے موسیٰ وہاں تو زور آور سرکش لوگ ہیں اور جب تک وه وہاں سے نکل نہ جائیں ہم تو ہرگز وہاں نہ جائیں گے ہاں اگر وه وہاں سے نکل جائیں پھر تو ہم (بخوشی) چلے جائیں گے
Quran 5 Verse 22 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-Ma’idah ayat 22, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
(5:22) They answered: ‘Moses, therein live a ferocious people: we will not enter unless they depart from it; but if they do depart from it then we will surely enter it.’
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
The tafsir of Surah Maidah verse 22 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Maidah ayat 20 which provides the complete commentary from verse 20 through 26.
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Galilaea Cave Yields Hellenistic Jewelry and Coinage
After a gold treasure discovery in Caesaria, Israel once again reported the discovery of another historical treasure trove and this time, the cache featured Hellenistic silver and bronze coins and other objects estimated to be 2,300 years old. This was confirmed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, and according to the officials of the agency, the collection of coinage and objects is one of the most important discoveries in the region and will require more time before the treasure trove can be studied. The excavations in the cave started out February this year, lead by Reuven Zakai, Hen Zakai and Lior Halony, all part of the local caving club, as they took the responsibility of exploring the area for stalactites before the rest of the club members descend into the cave. According to reports, the three initially explored the narrow passages of the cave and checked the interior for a number of hours. It was Hen, the youngest of the three, who discovered a shining item when he explored one of the narrow passages in the cave. Upon careful inspection, he discovered ancient coins, and when inspected further, it was revealed that the coins where produced during the time of Alexander the Great, a conqueror of Israel. Aside from the silver jewelry pieces, the cache also includes rings, earrings, bracelets and coins and was stuffed in a cloth pouch.
According to authorities, the stash has been hidden in the cave for the last 2,300 years. Archaeologists later explored the idea that the stash have been hidden by locals who were fleeing from the unrest after Alexander the Great died, in the hope that they can later retrieve the coins during better times.
As soon as the spelunkers saw the stash and recognized its value, the team immediately reported the discovery to the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, a unit of IAA to prevent potential robbery. The team officially visited the area last March, and they were accompanied by a team from Israeli Caving Club. As soon as the authorities checked and inspected the area, they acknowledged that some of the artifacts date back to more than 6,000 years ago, and the coins in the stash were identified to have been produced during the start of the Hellenistic era.
Aside from the coinage and jewelry, authorities also discovered ancient pottery with some of the items bonded together with the limestone. Authorities agree that the artifacts will help them find an accurate dating, and also understand how stalactites developed. The director of the anti-robbery unit of the agency commended the group for their discovery, and cited them for their behavior in bringing the find to an appropriate agency. Amir Ganor who heads the unit added that the citizen awareness helped in preserving and advancing knowledge in archaeology and antiquity in Israel. The agency also emphasized the Law on Antiquities about state ownership of all finds, and selling or failure to report such discoveries are punishable by law. It also added that the cave where the stash was discovered should remain a secret due to the dangers posed by the area, and of course to protect its valuable contents.


More than half the states across the nation have tuition assistance programs for youth in care and those who have recently aged out of the system. To add another layer of support, nearly every state uses federal and state funding to offer extended foster care until the age of 21. Yet, even with these programs and funding in place, only 46 percent of youth in care will earn a high school diploma, with less than three percent receiving a bachelor’s degree.
While states have taken measures to ease the financial barriers that may prevent foster youth from obtaining a post-secondary education, money can only do so much. Often, the difference between this population graduating from college or dropping out is the availability of support.
Most young people pursuing a bachelor’s degree can count their parents offer emotional support and motivation when the pressures of college start to feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, those in foster care don’t have that compassionate person to lean on when times get tough.
In an effort to make bachelor degrees more obtainable for youth in care, national and statewide non-profit organizations, as well as the states themselves, are getting involved to support this population throughout their collegiate career. Since 1981, Foster Care to Success (FC2S) has worked with foster youth heading to college across the nation. Along with providing financial assistance, FC2S offers the 5,000 foster youth in their program career coaching, access to mentors and a 24/7 hotline. Through their comprehensive support system, FC2S has helped over 61% of their students graduate within five years, which is 1% higher than the overall national average.
Every year since 2015, California has passed legislation to provide more support for foster youth transitioning to college. Each bill focused on growing a program called NextUp, which the state hopes will soon cover every county. NextUp provides grants to cover the cost of school supplies, child care assistance and mental health services. In 2017, the program was expanded to provide ten more community college districts with on-campus support programs for youth in care. The latest bill also required every county child welfare agency to have someone in their office that helps foster youth apply for vocational schools, college and financial aid.
Another organization that strives to better the lives of children victimized by abuse and neglect is the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research. The Field Center is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Social Policy and Practice, Law and Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Their “Foster Care to College” program aims to make post-secondary education more accessible to foster youth and ensure their academic success continues through graduation. This program recently doubled in size and is now offered at eight colleges in the Delaware Valley. With Foster Care to College still in its pilot phase, the services offered at each location vary, but all offer campus-based support programs dedicated to helping foster youth graduate.
In New Jersey, Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) have partnered to offer two programs that help youth in care receive a post-secondary education. The New Jersey Foster Care (NJFC) Scholars program, which recently celebrated 15 years of serving foster youth, helps those in the program cover the various costs associated with college such as tuition, books and transportation. FAFS also provides Pathways to Academic and Career Exploration to Success (PACES) coaches for eligible foster youth in six of New Jersey’s 21 counties. To be in the program, the youth must be between 16 and 21 and have a referral from either the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) or their caseworker.
For J.G., a foster youth in the PACES program, the experience was life-changing.
“From the moment I got released from jail, I never even thought about going to college,” J.G. said. “My main focus was for me to get back on my feet. I never even could have even imagined me going to college. After a few conflicting conversations with my DCP&P worker, he convinced me to be open about the PACES program. I decided to test the waters and be very cautious about this because I didn’t want to get to fixated on going to college. I can honestly say as of right now I am going to be attending RVCC (Raritan Valley Community College) and I would have never even attempted to go if it wasn’t for my Coach and my caseworker. I want to thank you both for all that you have done for me, you have given me the satisfaction of actually going to college and get my life jumpstarted back up again. I will forever be thankful.”
The PACES coaches provide the type of guidance and support to foster youth that many of their peers receive from family members. PACES coaches assist adolescents through the pivotal decision making process as they transition from high school to the next phase of their lives, whether that entails going to college, a vocational school or entering the work force. Along with helping their students with college, financial aid and job applications, the PACES coaches are someone they can meet with in person when they need that little extra support to keep them heading towards their academic and career goals.
“My experience with the PACES program has been very helpful,” said V. L., another foster youth in the program. “My PACES coach has helped me prepare for college in ways I didn’t think was possible. She has helped me to submit everything on time, explained everything that I wasn’t sure about and taught me to be organized. I am finally set for college and am excited to start thanks to the work of my PACES coach.”
To learn more about national programs helping foster youth in college, click here.
To learn more about FAFS’ PACES coaches, click here.


|Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York|
Media Project, ‘Why Poverty’, Can Help Keep Poverty High in Global Public’s
Awareness, at Top of International Agenda, Says Deputy Secretary-General
(Delayed in transmission)
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the launch of the Cross-Media Project, “Why Poverty”, in New York, 27 September:
It is a pleasure to join you for this event. We at the United Nations have great hopes for what this project can achieve. I thank all those who have helped to make it possible. You are helping us to respond to the great challenge of our time — eradicating poverty and ushering in an era of sustainable development for all.
“Why Poverty?”, the project asks. It is a good and very basic question.
Why, indeed, in the world of plenty, should there be such deep and chronic poverty? As we meet here tonight, more than 1 billion people are still living in poverty and around 1 billion are suffering from hunger. Many lack access to basic health and education, as well as water and sanitation, which are vital to breaking the cycle of poverty. Inequalities between and within countries continue to rise.
Why, when there always seems to be funding available for weapons and wars, do investments in people remain such easy targets for the budget-cutters’ axe? As the Secretary-General told the General Assembly two days ago and has said often, we should not balance budgets at the cost of the poor. The economic crisis should not be an excuse to default on commitments to the basics that all people need.
There is some good news. Some countries and regions have made extraordinary progress in reducing poverty. The world as a whole has succeeded in reaching the target of cutting by half the proportion of people living in extreme income poverty. There is progress in the area of primary education.
Still, unless we intensify our efforts, it will take decades to eradicate extreme poverty. In addition, many people who have escaped extreme poverty remain vulnerable. Their incomes have not risen sufficiently to protect them from shocks. A medical emergency in the family, or a sudden rise in food prices, could send these vulnerable families right back into extreme poverty. Maternal health and water and sanitation are still lagging seriously as MDGs [Millennium Development Goals].
Earlier this year at the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders agreed to redouble their efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, while respecting the Earth’s ecosystems. They recognized that eradicating poverty and reducing inequality are crucial to building a sustainable future. They also stressed the immense value of broad public participation in decision-making. Experience tells us that the active engagement of all members of society in devising solutions is one of the keys to successful poverty eradication strategies.
That is why the project we are launching tonight is so important. The films will kick-start a global debate about poverty in the twenty-first century. They will get people talking. They will make us aware, in arresting ways, of the high stakes involved. Our strength is about human security and human dignity for all.
The launch is also timely. The deadline for achieving the MDGs — 2015 — is little more than three years away, three months, three days.
As agreed in Rio, we are embarking on the important work of formulating the direction for a set of Sustainable Development Goals that builds and expands on the MDGs and must be just as clear and just as ambitious as the MDGs — and able to spark a similarly global mobilization. We have also begun discussions to shape a post-2015 development agenda. There is agreement on the need for an open, inclusive consultation process. These processes will need to converge towards one development framework with sustainable development at its centre.
This project is an excellent tool to reach out to civil society, stimulate participation and further engage decision-makers. It can help keep poverty high in the global public’s awareness — and at the top of the international agenda.
Despite the precarious state of the world economy, we have made major advances and can continue to do so. We have the resources and the know-how. There are inspiring examples of progress across the world showing how to address the multiple dimensions of poverty.
But we must do a better job of translating commitment into action, and of scaling up what works. I thank the organizers of this event for inspiring people to think and participate. Thank you.
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The humanitarian crisis caused by escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is causing suffering on a catastrophic scale. During the last year, more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees were forced to leave their homes in Myanmar to escape violence and discrimination. Not only has the pace of arrivals since 25 August made this the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world, the concentration of refugees in Cox’s Bazar is amongst the densest in the world. Refugees arriving in Bangladesh—mostly women and children—are traumatized, and some have arrived with injuries caused by gunshots, shrapnel, fire and landmines.
Entire villages were burned to the ground, families were separated and killed, and women and girls were gang raped. Most of the people who escaped are now severely traumatized after witnessing unspeakable atrocities. These people found temporary shelter in refugee camps around Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, which is now home to the world’s largest refugee camp. Refugees have access to the basics, such as food and health care, but they are still extremely vulnerable, living in highly challenging circumstances, exposed to the monsoon elements and dependent on aid.
In Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, the humanitarian response to the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar continues to be coordinated by the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) which is led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
To address the ongoing and increasing needs, a new Joint Response Plan was launched on 16 March 2018, requesting US$951 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.3 million people, including Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh and local host communities. As of 31 August, the appeal remains less than 34 per cent funded.
The priority needs in the plan, which covers the March-December 2018 timeframe, include food, water and sanitation, shelter, and medical care. View funding updates here.


Climate Risk Means Financial Risk
The response to climate change poses a major threat to financial markets, and it's time for investing institutions and the governments that regulate them to take note. Just last month, Australia's Climate Commission and executives from Macquarie Bank warned that the country's coal and gas industry will take a serious hit as the world is forced to respond to climate change.
Scientists and institutions such as the International Energy Agency have long warned of the dangerous consequences the world will face if we allow warming to exceed 2˚C. Research from Carbon Tracker and the Grantham Research Institute at LSE shows that in order to stay below 2˚C, 60 to 80 percent of the coal, gas, and oil reserves publicly listed in the world's stock exchanges must stay in the ground, making these unburnable carbon sources hugely overvalued.
Carbon Tracker refers to this scenario as a carbon bubble, much like the housing bubble that precipitated the global recession, and they are not alone. HSBC economist warn that companies like BP and Shell could lose 40 to 60 percent of their market value, since their gas and oil holdings would be off-limits.
Yet, despite all the warnings, the holdings of these companies have not changed.
Investors seem either unfazed or unwilling to comprehensively incorporate the fact that most fossil fuel resources will never be fully exploited into their risk analysis. For example, a proxy vote by shareholders of Consol Energy Inc. only delivered 19.7 percent support to request a report on how the company will respond to the fact that much of its holdings "may become unusable, unmarketable, or otherwise not economically viable as a result of greenhouse gas restrictions." This troubling disconnect between investments based on current fossil fuel reserves and the likely decline in the value of these investments in the future puts us on a course to financial and environmental disaster.
Coal is already proving to be a bad investment. China has indicated that it plans for coal use to peak within the next five years, beginning a decline in usage that directly contradicts the unchecked demand the coal industry claims will go on indefinitely. In India, major coal plants have faced massive losses and even bankruptcy. Puzzlingly, not only are investors failing to pull their money out of fossil fuel reserves, many are continuing to try to expand and develop coal and other fossil fuel resources.
The financial sector needs to quickly respond to the policies that are being put in place to curb the devastating consequences of climate change. Carbon Tracker has several strong recommendations, including disclosing estimated emissions from existing reserves and government mandated structures for risk analysis. But while financial heavyweights, including HSBC, Citi, and IEEFA are sounding the alarm, the industry writ large would prefer to keep their heads buried in the sand. It is time to wake up, before our economy, and our planet, are forced to face the consequences.
-- Vrinda Manglink, Sierra Club International Campaign intern


top of a saturated aquifer, or where the water pressure head is equal to the atmospheric pressure
The water table is the top of an underground surface where the soil or rocks are permanently saturated with water.
- "What is the water table?". imnh.isu.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-25.


A reference range is a set of values that includes upper and lower limits of a lab test based on a group of otherwise healthy people. The values in between those limits may depend on such factors as age, sex, and specimen type (blood, urine, spinal fluid, etc.) and can also be influenced by circumstantial situations such as fasting and exercise. These intervals are thought of as "normal ranges or limits."
Though the term "reference interval" is usually the term preferred by laboratory and other health professionals, the more commonly-known term is "reference range," so that is the term used throughout this article.
Reference ranges provide the values to which your healthcare provider compares your test results to and determines your current health status. However, the true meaning of a test result—whether it indicates that you are sick or well or at risk for a health condition—can only be known when all the other information your provider has gathered about your health, including the results of a physical exam, your health and family history, recent changes in your health, any medications you are taking, and other non-laboratory testing.
Most people can now access their lab test results directly via the Internet, but very few lab reports have been designed to convey the meaning of those results in a way people who are not health professionals can understand or put in context. The information provided in this article will help you understand:
- Why so few reference ranges are provided in the test information on this site: the accuracy of laboratory testing has significantly evolved over the past few decades, but some lab-to-lab variability can occur. This may be due to differences in lab testing equipment, chemical reagents, and analysis techniques. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
- A few tests do not have ranges, but limits at which decisions are made about whether you are healthy or should be treated. Through many years of research involving large, diverse populations, these limits have become standardized. An example is glucose testing for diabetes.
- Each laboratory establishes or "validates" its own reference ranges, thus reflects differences that vary from lab to lab. The specific reference ranges that appear on your laboratory report are determined and provided by the laboratory that performed your test.
- Reference ranges help describe what is typical for a particular group of people based on age, sex, and other characteristics. In the context of your personal information, you and your provider can use reference ranges as a guide to what your results mean and to help make decisions about managing your health.
- There are some factors that can cause test results to be out of range when you are, in fact, in good health, and there are some common misconceptions about what lab results might mean.
While this site can help you understand some of the implications of your test results, the best source of this information is your healthcare provider. You can use what you learn about your results from Lab Tests Online to talk to your provider, be prepared to ask the right questions during that conversation, and to take an active role in your healthcare decisions.
View a sample report to see what references ranges look like and where they typically appear on lab reports.


A common element in recordings incorporating alpha and theta frequencies is a steady but barely perceptible rhythm of the frequencies themselves. This subtle and calming pulse mixes with sounds of gentle breezes, distant bird songs, and the slow progression of deep synth notes. Underneath this, below the audible sounds at sub 16 hertz levels, other frequencies intermingle, deepening the merging of conscious and unconscious mind.
Brainwave entrainment technology of the FUTURE – today. Brainwave entrainment using binaural beats is a thing of the past. Advanced NeuralSync™ technology uses multiple powerful sound frequencies and energetic augmentation that FORCES your brain to STOP producing defective brainwave patterns and OVERRIDES them to create positive neural feedback instead. As you continue use, your brain re-learns to produce healthy, beneficial and healing brainwaves on its own!
Generally speaking, the brain will usually entrain to the strongest stimulus which would be isochronic tones over binaural beats. So when you see people add binaural beats at a different frequency to the isochronic tones, that would not produce additional brainwave entrainment at another frequency. If they are both at the same frequency I haven’t seen any research to indicate whether that would be beneficial or not, but my belief is that it would weaken the potential for entrainment. When you look at the waveform of an isochronic tone there is a distinct empty space between each beat, making it very pronounced and effective. When you add binaural beats at the same frequency it looks like this: http://www.mindamend.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/isochronic-tones-binaural-beats-combined-waveform.jpg. The depth of the waveform is now half as deep and less effective. This is before the binaural beats are formed inside your head, where the waveform is hard to determine and measure. From listening to that type of combination the beats sound much less pronounced, which has to make them much less effective in terms of a brainwave entrainment stimulus, compared to isochronic tones on their own.
The phenomena of brainwave entrainment was first described in the scientific literature in 1973 by Gerald Oster in results published in an article in Scientific American entitled, “Auditory Beats in the Brain”. He showed that a specific brainwave could be induced when a person heard two separate, but closely related, sound frequencies, one in each ear. He discovered that when the frequencies heard by each ear differed by about 10 hertz, the brainwave pattern of the person hearing the sound would synchronize to the difference between the two frequencies. For example, if the person heard a 410 hertz sound in one ear and a 400 hertz sound in the other ear, their brainwaves would stabilize at the difference between the two, or 10 hertz. This technique is called binaural beats, and it is a fundamental principle of brainwave entrainment methods.
But especially at this point, I’m on a mission to get as many people using Holosync® as I possibly can—my current goal is 100 million Holosync® users. Because we already have so many people using it, the economy of scale allows me to offer it to you for MUCH less than what my accountant suggested: just $179 if you’d like Awakening PrologueTM on CDs… or $159 if you want the downloadable MP3 version…
In 1973, biophysicist Dr. Gerald Oster published a famous article in Scientific American titled “Auditory Beats in the Brain”, which found that when two pure tones of varying frequencies were combined, a third rhythmic beat was created which he called binaural or monaural beats. According to Oster, monaural beats occur when two tones are combined and sent through a loudspeaker, while binaural beats occur when stereo headphones are used to deliver each tone separately to each ear. Oster concluded that monaural beats were a more effective form of brainwave entrainment.
Filed Under: Brainwave Entrainment, Creativity, Emotional Healing, Flow State, iAwake Weekly Call, Life Optimization, Meaning of Life, Meditation Technology, Practice of Meditation, Spiritual Development, Waking Up Tagged With: Benefits of Brainwave Entrainment Meditation, Brain Entrainment Meditation, Brainwave Entrainment, Brainwave States, Conscious Evolution, Creativity, Life Optimization, Stealing Flow, Waking Up
All I want is the chance to prove to you that everything I’ve said in this letter is absolutely real and true and that Holosync®, and the program I’ve created around it, truly will change your life. With our No-Questions-Asked One-Year Money-Back Guarantee, there’s absolutely no risk to try Holosync® and find out for yourself just how dramatically it will improve your life.
With digital upgrades, Berger’s machine is still in use today, known as an electroencephalography machine, or EEG. Berger used his machine to study the brains of psychologically normal and abnormal people and discovered the first brainwave, called the alpha wave and also known as the Berger wave, along with the faster beta wave, which he observed suppressing the alpha wave when subjects opened their closed eyes.
Unlike many traditional therapies for dealing with stress, anxiety, depression or cognitive impairment, entrainment does not require a focused effort from the person having the therapy, as the brain instinctively follows the frequency. This makes it a much more effective therapy for managing some of these challenging conditions, by automatically inducing a sense of relaxation and a reduction in negative physical and emotional patterns.
Many psychologists, doctors, teachers, and other professionals have endorsed the technology while personally taking advantage of the limitless benefits that accompany EquiSync's precisely designed brainwave synchronization/ entrainment technology. It is such a profound field of study that many of the metaphysical benefits, those beyond our current scientific measure and technological & philosophical understanding, have yet to be discovered.
Different states of mind are associated with specific brainwave frequencies that would be inaudible if played directly. These frequencies can be induced in the brain indirectly by playing two different audible tones into each ear, which after being processed by the brain, are perceived as an inaudible beat matching the target brainwave frequency. As you listen, your own brainwaves fall into step with this inaudible beat, and after a few minutes synchronize with the target brainwave frequency. Brain Wave's 35 programs layer these binaural sequences into multi-stage sessions that have helped thousands of people focus and concentrate, feel positive and motivated, and sleep more soundly.
Learning: Since performance improves among those with ADHD and cognitive function may be boosted, one may hypothesize that learning would also improve. Those that are struggling to learn as a result of inattentiveness may benefit from stimulation with beta frequencies. Deficits in learning tend to be associated with abnormal or excess slow wave frequencies.
I have been listening to relaxing music on YouTube while writing (I write for a court TV show) YouTube recommended Binaural Beats; I thought the sound was annoying at first, and almost moved on from it, but when I felt a tickle in my brain (It sounds funny but I’m being honest!) I decided to research about Binaural Beats and came across this amazing, informative website, it’s only been a few minutes of listening to Binaural Beats and I’m hooked! thank you Zenlama.com
Joseph Kao, creator of Journey to the Center of the Self, a deep, 30-minute, guided transpersonal meditation, accompanied by music embedded with advanced brainwave entrainment technology and followed by 30 minutes of only the brainwave entrainment music, talks with iAwake’s CEO, John Dupuy, about all that went into the making of this meditation tool masterpiece. Transcending and Including the Little Self John: One thing I find so remarkable about your guided meditation in Journey to … [Read more...]
After nearly two years of daily use of this brainwave meditation and brainwave technology, I began to enjoy a quality of life–without medication–that once seemed quite impossible for me. I do not say this lightly. Not only did I enjoy a fulfilling life, I also experienced what seemed like significant development in self-concept, values, interpersonal skills, creativity, accelerated learning, intuition, ability to handle stressful situations, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and social awareness.
This is a question I have noticed to concern many people, who are researching the issue. I have come across this question in forums, Yahoo Answers, in blogs, and all other sorts of places. I can definitely empathize with someone who is looking to find a solution to a problem like anxiety, migraine, pain, etc., and needs reassurance and scientific proof that brainwave entrainment actually works!
Normally, binaural beats, isochronic tones, or monaural tones have a certain level of capacity to entrain neural activity—and then they bottom out. By combining really great entrainment tools, I wanted to create a better entrainment stimulus that could entrain more neural activity quicker, allowing us to go deeper much more quickly than we have ever been able to go before, and moving our meditation practice or spiritual development to the next level.
Mood: While brainwave entrainment may not be a great option for depression, particularly in the slower frequency ranges, beta entrainment may improve certain measures of mood. Additionally it is important to consider the fact that many people experience detrimental changes in mood as a result of heightened stress and anxiety. Since brainwave entrainment has been shown to improve stress and relaxation, overstressed individuals may experience a simultaneous mood improvement.
Brainwave Mind Voyages 30 CD Set: Brainwave Meditation Programs, Hemispheric Synchronization, and Brainwave Entrainment Technology (30 BMV CDs: Lucid Dreaming, Astral Trance, Alpha Brainwaves, Theta Brainwaves, Delta Brainwaves, Tones, Astral Vibrations, Remote Viewing, Beta Brainwaves, Lucid Dream Cycle, Lucid Dreams Hypnosis, Guided Dream Incubation, The Whales CD, Rainstorm, The Waters CD, Nature Sounds, Heartbeat Meditation CD, The Om Meditation, Ganzfeld Effect/ White Noise, Breathing Silent Mindfulness, Breathwork Yoga, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Schumann Resonance, Sacred Healing Frequencies Solfeggio Healing Tones, Sacred Geometry, Celestial Sounds, Audio Mind Machine Sessions, Awakened Mind Brainwave Pattern, Float Tank Hypnosis Session, Full Body Mind Massage Hypnosis)
Because of others observing all of this I have been able to send you several customers and will very likely be sending you more… I am part of a large spiritual community and this would help tremendously in spreading the word of EquiSync. I also believe your product would be of great benefit to Hospice and nursing home patients of which there is a very large number here in Florida -aka- God’s waiting room.
- Added the ability to create a playlist of your own iTunes library music and use it as the background. The behavior of the app when iTunes music is used instead of the included ambience is slightly different so please review the help. Notably, unlike our included ambience which can be played at a volume below the device volume, iTunes music can only be played at the device volume. So when playing iTunes music the Ambience volume slider disappears.
Binaural beats were the first method discovered for brainwave entrainment and works by delivering tones of different audible frequencies to the two ears with the difference in frequency between the two tones being the frequency of entrainment. The difference in frequency between the two tones must be less than 30 hertz, and this resulting frequency is called a beat or the target frequency, and it is processed in a brain region called the olivary body. When listening to such tones with stereo headphones, the two hemispheres of the brain become synchronized at the target frequency.
The basic idea behind the Laxman light and sound technology is that the gentle pulses of light can lead one to the state of mind associated with that particular frequency range. The various pre-programmed “sessions” found in the Laxman mind machine can be used for different purposes, including meditation, stress reduction, accelerated learning, restful sleep, increased creativity, and goal setting.
Relaxation: There is already evidence that brainwave entrainment helps improve relaxation. In studies analyzing short-term stress and anxiety, significant improvements were noted. This has been verified by other studies that suggest brainwave entrainment enhances muscle relaxation in biofeedback and can help with pain reduction and migraine headaches. The relaxation-induced response of entrainment may be responsible for a variety of the benefits.
If anybody would like to look over the scientific evidence concerning brainwave entrainment and isochronic tones, I’ve done a lot of research over the years which I’ve collected at the PubMed website of NCBI – a branch of the National Institute of Health – that provides access to a large library of medical journal articles. I’ve made my list public so you can look through the journal articles that were published concerning this topic. Here’s the link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1tmDFOl0XtyA4/collections/51531796/public/. Most of the collection only gives access to abstracts or summaries unless you’re at some kind of educational institution that has a subscription to the particular journal that article is in, but I actually find abstracts really helpful. So have at it, read away. And if your psychiatrist/therapist thinks you’re nuts for feeling better after listening to isochronic tones, just whip out your 82-page collection of scientific journal abstracts written by her peers and give it to her to read. 🙂
With so many thoughts begging for your attention each day, it’s hard to believe that most of them are the same ones you had yesterday. Actually, many psychologists who have studied the thought processes associated with our thinking patterns would agree that, on average, 90% of the thoughts that we become aware of throughout the day are the same thoughts that we have already experienced, over and over again. The reason we are so prone to repetitive thinking is because the brain is always … [Read more...]
· THETA waves exist between 4 and 7 Hz. This is commonly referred to as the dream or “twilight” state. Theta is associated with learning, memory, REM sleep and dreaming. Memory development is enhanced while in this state. When in a theta brainwave state, memory is improved (especially long term memory), and access to unconscious material, reveries, free association, insights and creative ideas is increased.
Lucid dreaming: A lucid dream is considered a dream that a person is aware of and often able to consciously manipulate. Many have alleged that using brainwave entrainment technology makes it easier to experience a lucid dream. Scientists have studied this phenomenon and noticed that beta frequencies within the range of 13 to 19 Hz tend to be generated to keep the person conscious. Additionally there is significant increased activity in the parietal lobes of the brain, which allows an individual to stay conscious.
Entrainment is a physics principle in which one rhythmic system falls in synchrony with another rhythmic system. If you’ve ever found yourself moving your body to the beat of your favorite song, then you’ve experienced entrainment in its most basic form. Besides music, this principle can be found all around you, probably more than you realize. Here are a few examples:
In BrainAscend, each brainwave frequency is stimulated for several minutes before progressing deeper. Much like a staircase type of progression, but with small and smooth steps. This is the most effetive way and also stimulates the release of "feel good" brain chemicals such as serotonin which makes you feel happy. This chart shows the range that each level covers as well as the whole program.
The functional role of neural oscillations is still not fully understood; however they have been shown to correlate with emotional responses, motor control, and a number of cognitive functions including information transfer, perception, and memory. Specifically, neural oscillations, in particular theta activity, are extensively linked to memory function, and coupling between theta and gamma activity is considered to be vital for memory functions, including episodic memory.


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Jolly Songs 42 sounds and vowel song
Phonics Digraphs Phase 3 Phonics
Revise your Phase 3 sounds with this phonics digraphs and trigraphs video covering the qu, sh, ch, ng, ai, ee, igh, oa, oo, ar, ow, or, oi, ur, ear, air, er ...


Exhibition sheds new light on European peace protests of 1980s
An exhibition which shines new light on peace protests that swept across Southern Europe in response to the nuclear arms race of the late 1970s and 1980s has been launched by a historian from the University of Sheffield.
The exhibition, curated by Dr Eirini Karamouzi from the University’s Department of History, provides a new and comparative perspective on the anti-nuclear and anti-militarist peace protests that were held throughout the continent, particularly in Greece, Italy and Spain.
Launched at the Hellenic Parliament Foundation by the President of the Greek Parliament, Nikolaos Voutsis, the exhibition and accompanying catalogue showcases the strong relationship between governments, nuclear strategies and peace movement mobilisation.
Developed in collaboration with Dr Giulia Quaggio – a Max Batley Peace Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sheffield – the exhibition also aims to be a reminder of the existential threat that nuclear weapons still pose to humanity and the value of harnessing the power of the people.
Dr Karamouzi, who has conducted extensive research on the history of the Cold War and leads a Max Batley funded research project on peace movements in Southern Europe, said:
“The widespread peace protests against the nuclear arms race were a watershed moment in the recent political history of Western Europe. The protests activated civil society, renegotiated the parameters of political participation and redefined people’s understanding of national and international security.
“People in Greece, Italy and Spain played a crucial, but lesser-known role in the protests and the European societal response to the nuclear arms race. Italy had been selected for the deployment of nuclear missiles and was thus a key battleground of conflicts over NATO’s Dual Track Solution. Greece and Spain were not directly involved in the nuclear conflict but both experienced intense protests against the presence of US military bases and against NATO membership more generally.
“The exhibition gives people a chance to explore this complex but important part of European history and they can see how citizens across the continent mobilised and campaigned for peace.”
Aside from the exhibition, Dr Karamouzi is also using her research to launch a series of educational programmes that people can use to explore the history of peace movements in Southern Europe between 1975 and 1990. The programme is being designed to address students of 9th to 12th grade, with more than 3000 students expecting to take part.
The educational programmes can be used by teachers as part of their lesson plans but also by those who have anything from a passing to a more serious interest in European history, Southern Europe and the history of protest.
Researchers involved in the project are also producing a bilingual catalogue to retell the stories of protest that are featured in the exhibition in both English and Greek.
For more information on the project, including the research led by Dr Karamouzi on the history of the Cold War and peace mobilisation, visit: www.coldwarcultures.group.shef.ac.uk/projects/protest-as-democratic-practice/
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Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author.More About Us
Top 10 Strange and Unique Forests
Forests cover approximately 9.4% of the Earth’s surface. However, they once covered over 50%. Most people identify forests with trees, but the concept of the forest ecosystem reaches much further and includes many species, such as smaller plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, animals, as well as energy flow and nutrient cycling. Luckily, a large percentage of people on Earth are still able to enjoy the tranquility of an ancient forest. However, some people have never had the chance to enter one of these majestic plant communities. In fact, almost 80% of Europe’s forests are owned by Russia.
As you step foot into an old growth forest, the rush of fresh air fills your lungs. Your senses perk up and you become aware of the life that surrounds you. In the forest, you never know what is waiting around the corner. In the forest, you will discover and witness new things for the first time. In the forest, you will come to peace with nature. In the forest, you will escape the world of technology and learn what it was like to live off the land. This article will examine ten strange and unique forests.
North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It lies to the west of the southern part of South Andaman Island. North Sentinel Island is unique because it is surrounded by coral reefs and lacks natural harbors. For this reason, the area was never settled by Europeans and deforested. The island is almost completely covered in old growth trees and is 72 km² (27.8 sq mi). Due to the isolation, North Sentinel Island has become home to the last pre-Neolithic tribe known as the Sentinelese.
The Sentinelese tribe consists of 50 to 400 individuals. The group strongly rejects any contact with the outside world. On January 26, 2006, two men were illegally fishing for mud crabs near North Sentinel Island when they were attacked and killed by Sentinelese. The Indian coastguard attempted to recover the bodies using a helicopter, but they were met by a hail of arrows. It was reported that the fisherman’s bodies were buried in shallow graves and not roasted and eaten. However, the idea that the tribe would eat the men is very real.
During the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, North Sentinel Island was greatly damaged. The tsunami sank some of the surrounding coral reefs and raised others. The coastline of the island was completely demolished. The Sentinelese fishing grounds were disturbed, but the tribe has since adapted to the current conditions. The Sentinelese maintain an essentially hunter-gatherer society, obtaining their subsistence from the forest through hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants.
Their agricultural practices and methods for producing fire are currently unknown. The Sentinelese weaponry consists of javelins and a flatbow, which has an extremely high accuracy against human-sized targets up to nearly 10 meters (32.8 feet). The Sentinelese has even been known to use untipped arrows for warning shots. There food consists primarily of plantstuffs gathered in the forest, coconuts which are frequently found on the beaches, pigs, and presumably other wildlife (which apart from sea turtles is limited to some smaller birds and invertebrates).
Selected Quote: “I believe our biggest issue is the same issue the whole world is facing, and that’s habitat destruction.” Steve Irwin.
The Crooked Forest is a grove of oddly shaped pine trees located outside the village of Nowe Czarnowo, in western Poland. The forest contains about 400 pine trees that grow with a 90 degree bend at the base of their trunks. All of the trees are bent northward and surrounded by a larger forest of straight-growing pine trees. The crooked trees were planted around 1930 when the area was inside the German province of Pomerania.
It is thought that the trees were formed with a human tool, but the method and motive for creating the grove is not currently known. It appears that the trees were allowed to grow for seven to ten years before being held down and warped by a device. The exact reason why the Germans would want to make crooked trees is unknown, but many people have speculated that they were going to be harvested for bent-wood furniture, the ribs of boat hulls, or yokes for ox-drawn plows. It is a bizarre case that still can’t explain.
Selected Quote: “A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The Red Forest or the Worm Wood Forest is located within the 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) area surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine. After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, the Worm Wood Forest turned a ginger-brown color and died. In the cleanup effort, most of the trees were bulldozed and buried in a collection of “waste graveyards.” The trenches were covered with a carpet of sand and planted over with new pine saplings. Today, the Red Forest remains one of the most contaminated areas in the world. It holds a mixture of old growth pine, along with the new saplings planted in 1986. More than 90% of the radioactivity of the Red Forest is concentrated in the soil.
The accident at Chernobyl has offered scientists an unparalleled opportunity to fully understand the passage of radioactive debris through an urban, rural, and natural environment over time. In a remarkable turn of events, the wildlife in the Red Forest has adapted to the changes and not only survived, but flourished. The forest has been labeled a “Radiological Reserve” and is a hotbed for endangered animals. A large collection of species has moved into the forest and biodiversity in the area has greatly expanded since the accident.
Since 1986, the population of wild boar in the Red Forest has exploded. The area is home to a large collection of wild species, including storks, wolves, beavers, lynx, elk, and eagles. Birds have been observed nesting in the old nuclear reactors and many endangered species have been spotted. In 2001, the tracks of a brown bear were photographed in the streets of Pripyat. In 2002, a young eagle owl, one of only 100 thought to be living in all of Ukraine, was seen on an abandoned excavator in the Red Forest, also an endangered white-tailed eagle was radio-tagged within three miles of the plant. In 2005, a herd of 21 rare Przewalski’s horses escaped from captivity, bred in the area, and have expanded to 64.
The Red Forest still holds some unnatural behavior. The flora and fauna in the area has been dramatically affected by the radioactive contamination. In the years following the disaster, there were many reports of mutant animals, but no cases have been confirmed to influence the genetic evolution of a species, except for the partial albinism in swallows and stunted tail feathers in birds. It should be noted that mutant animals usually die quickly in the wild, so the creatures affected by the explosion are long dead. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone now encompasses more than 1,600 square miles of northern Ukraine and southern Belarus, a ragged swatch of forests, marshes, lakes, and rivers.
Selected Quote: “A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine.” Anne Bronte.
The chestnut blight is a devastating disease that has struck the American chestnut tree and caused the mass extinction of the tree from its historic range in the eastern United States. The disease was accidentally introduced to North America around 1900, either through imported chestnut lumber or through imported chestnut trees. By 1940, almost all of the American chestnut trees were gone. These marvelous trees once grew as tall as 200 feet (61 meters), with a trunk diameter of 14 feet (4.2 meters).
The chestnut tree is known to grow beautiful flowers in late spring or early summer. The blight was caused by the C. parasitica and destroyed about 4 billion American chestnut trees. The fungus kills the tree by entering beneath the bark and killing the cambium all the way round the twig, branch, or trunk. After the blight was first discovered, people attempted to remove the effected trees from the forests, but this proved to be an ineffective solution.
The largest remaining forest of American chestnut trees is named Chestnut Hills and sits near West Salem, Wisconsin. Chestnut Hills holds approximately 2,500 chestnut trees on 60 acres of land. The chestnuts are the descendants from only a dozen trees planted by Martin Hicks in the late 1800s. The trees are located to the west of the natural range of American chestnut, so they initially escaped the onslaught of the chestnut blight. However in 1987, scientists found the fungus in the trees and the blight has been slowly killing the forest. Scientists are working to try and save Chestnut Hills, as there is a strong desire to bring the American chestnut back to the forest.
A large collection of surviving chestnut’s are being bred for a resistance to the blight by The American Chestnut Foundation, which aims to reintroduce a blight-resistant American chestnut to its original forest range in the early 21st century. The disease is local to a range, so it is possible for some isolated trees to exist if no other chestnuts with the blight are within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). A small stand of surviving American chestnuts was found in F. D. Roosevelt State Park near Warm Springs, Georgia on April 22, 2006.
Selected Quote: “Under the spreading chestnut tree I sold you and you sold me: There lie they, and here lie we, under the spreading chestnut tree.” George Orwell.
The Sea of Trees or Aokigahara is a forest located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest contains a number of hidden caverns and giant trees. It is very dark and has thick growth, so the only light that can be seen inside the forest is a collection of sunbeams. Aokigahara holds an absence of wildlife and is known for being an eerily quiet place. In modern times, the Sea of Trees has gained a reputation for two things, a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji and suicides. There is currently no reliable statistics for the total number of suicides in the forest. However in 2004, 108 dead bodies were found in Aokigahara.
In recent years, the Japanese government has stopped publicizing the number of suicides in the forest. In 2010, it was reported that 247 people attempted suicide in the Sea of Trees, but only 54 succeeded. The suicide rate has caused officials to place signs in the forest, in Japanese and English, which urge people to reconsider their actions. Every year, a collection of police and volunteers conduct an annual body search of the land. During the event, corpses are always discovered, usually hanging from the trees. The Sea of Trees is reportedly the world’s second most popular suicide location after San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Japan’s suicide rate is a major problem and has been rising after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The country has been experiencing a large wave of social withdrawal. Hikikomori is a Japanese term that refers to the phenomenon of reclusive adolescents or young adults who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation. It is estimated that around 1% of the entire Japanese population is living as hikikomori. In Japanese mythology, the Sea of Trees has always been linked with morbid myths and legends. It is widely believed that the custom of ubasute, where an elderly relative is left to die in a remote location, was widely practiced in the forest.
Selected Quote: “The prevalence of suicide, without doubt, is a test of height in civilization; it means that the population is winding up its nervous and intellectual system to the utmost point of tension and that sometimes it snaps.” Henry Ellis.
Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell is a 147 km² (57 sq mi) nature reserve located in Buskerud, Norway. It was created on December 13, 2002 and is located in the mountain areas between Nore in Numedal and Solevann in Sigdal. Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell holds the last ancient wilderness forests of Norway. The land has all the qualities of the original Norwegian forests, including untouched valleys, rivers, lakes, and very old trees. Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell is home to 93 red list and endangered species.
Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell holds a large amount of animals that are dependent on the forest dynamics. The area is one of the few untouched woodlands in Norway. Some of the endangered species that frequent the forest are the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Tree-toed Woodpecker, Siberian Jay, Stock Dove, and Golden Eagle. The forest is also home to endangered lichens, mosses, and fungi. Currently, about 75% of Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell has been protected by the government, and there is a controversy in Norway over how much of the remaining land should be set aside for future generations. It appears that Norway is lagging behind neighboring countries in forest protection.
Selected Quote: “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Dudley Town (the Village of the Damned) is a ghost town in Cornwall, Connecticut. It was founded as a small settlement in the mid-1740s and was a thriving community by the 18th century, known as Owlsbury. The town was primarily fueled by the region’s iron industry. It was a popular place to visit until people started to report strange sightings, unexplained murders, and mass suicides. In some cases, the town residents experienced hallucinations which included demons who commanded them to commit suicide. It was also a regular occurrence for sheep and heard animals to go missing in the town.
Many early settlers of Dudley Town began to think the area was cursed. By the middle of the 20th century, everyone in the town had either died or moved away. Today, Dudley Town looks like it did when Thomas Griffis first settled it some 250 years ago. It is a very thick forest with rocky terrain and it sits in the shadow of three separate mountains: Bald Mountain, Woodbury Mountain, and The Coltsfoot Triplets. Because of the dense and tall woods, the forest has been given the name “Dark Entry Forest.” The land is not officially located in a Connecticut state forest, but sits on private land near the Mohawk State Forest and Mohawk Trail.
The ruins of Dudley Town and the Dark Entry Forest are patrolled by the Dark Entry Forest group, which prosecutes anyone who trespasses on the land. Hundreds of people have been arrested for visiting the site. The area is also known for a large collection of orbs, unexplained lights, and bizarre sounds. Similar to other strange forests, visitors claim that the trees are unusually quiet and without wildlife. Contemporary researchers have suggested that the town may have succumbed to mass hysteria or that the groundwater could have been contaminated with lead which caused the deaths.
Selected Quote: “An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.” Charles Dickens.
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The land is covered by thick forests and rugged terrain. The region is rich in timber, minerals, and wild game. The Ardennes holds a strategic position in Europe. For this reason, a large number of famous battles have been fought on the land. The Ardennes has changed hands on many different occasions. In the 20th century, the Ardennes was thought unsuitable for large-scale military operations, but in both World War I and World War II, Germany successfully gambled on making a passage through the area to attack France.
The Ardennes was the site of three major battles in the 20th century, the Battle of the Ardennes (1914), the Battle of France (1940), and the Battle of the Bulge (1944). During the Battle of the Ardennes, French and German troops literally stumbled into each other on the battlefield due to the thick fog. In the winter of 1944, the Third Reich launched a major offensive through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium. The event has become known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Before the Battle of the Bulge, the snow-covered Ardennes was so quiet it was termed “the Ghost Front.” The United States placed its greenest units on the wooded hills, along with combat-shattered troops. Hitler valued the Ardennes and arranged for two full Panzer armies and 300,000 troops to conduct a surprise attack designed to shatter the American front. Many of the towns in the region were badly damaged during the battle, including the historic city of La Roche-en-Ardenne. The forest wasn’t completely taken back from Nazi rule until early 1945. Today, the beauty of the Ardennes and its wide variety of outdoor activities, including hunting, cycling, walking, canoeing, and historic landmarks make it a popular tourist destination.
Selected Quote: “Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult.” Karl Von Clausewitz.
The Hoia-Baciu Forest is located near Cluj-Napoca, Romania and is locally referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. The forest was named after a shepherd that disappeared in the area with two hundred sheep. Most people who live near the forest are afraid to enter. They believe that those who visit the site will never return. Many of the locals who have gone into the forest complain of physical harm, including rashes, nausea, vomiting, migraines, burns, scratches, anxiety, and other unusual bodily sensations.
The Hoia-Baciu Forest has a reputation for paranormal activity. People have witnessed several strange events on the land. The most common phenomenon includes seeing mysterious orb-like lights, female voices, giggling, apparitions, and cases of people being scratched. In the 1970s, the area was a hotbed for UFO sighting and unexplained lights. Visitors to the forest have reported a strong sense of anxiety and the feeling of being watched. The local vegetation in the forest is bizarre and some trees hold an unexplained charring. On August 18, 1968, a military technician named Emil Barnea captured a famous photograph of a saucer-like object over the Hoia-Baciu Forest.
Many people who live near the Hoia-Baciu Forest have reported a large collection of orb-like lights inside the tree line. When using a thermal, these lights don’t seem to be producing any heat signatures. Some people who enter the forest suddenly remember all of their past experiences in the trees, but then forget the memories after leaving the land. Specialists from around the world are fascinated by the forest. Scientists from Germany, France, the United States, and Hungary have managed to capture bizarre material structures on film, including faces and apparitions. Some of the structures are seen with the naked eye and others only in photos or videos.
Selected Quote: “Authoritarian political ideologies have a vested interest in promoting fear, a sense of the imminence of takeover by aliens and real diseases are useful material.” Susan Sontag.
In February of 2012, scientists in northern China announced that they had finished reconstructing an ancient forest that was found buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash near the Mongolian district of Wuda. The 20 square kilometer (12.4 mile) forest was completely preserved after a large volcano erupted 298 million years ago and dropped a large amount of lava and ash on the site. The discovery was reminiscent of the destruction of the Roman city of Pompeii in A.D. 79. It was determined that the blast came from a large volcano around 100 kilometers away. The destruction left a layer of ash that is now 66-cm (about 40 inches) thick. The blast ripped leaves from branches, knocked down trees, and buried the forest.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, Shenyang Normal University, and Yunnan University have been able to reconstruct 10,000 square feet (3,048 meters) of the subtropical forest. They have identified a large collection of plant species and flora that has been extinct for centuries. It is believed that the forest sat on the edge of a large tropical island off Pangaea’s eastern shore. It was swampy land, with a layer of peat and a few inches of standing water. In all, six different species of trees have been identified in the preserved forest, including the tall Sigillaria, Cordaites, and the smaller spore-bearing Noeggerathiales, which is believed to be related to the fern family. Scientists haven’t found any evidence for animal life, such as ancient amphibians.
Selected Quote: “All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.” Henry David Thoreau.
Yellowwood State Forest is located in Brown County, Indiana. The name of the forest is derived from the yellowwood, a tree seldom found this far north in the U.S. The Yellowwood State Forest preserve was established in the 1930s. In 1939, a 133-acre (54 ha) lake, Yellowwood Lake, was created in the area. One major mystery surrounds the forest. A collection of large sandstone boulders, estimated to weigh about 400 pounds (180 kg), have been found in the tops of three trees. The mystery began in the 1990s, when a turkey hunter, scouting in a remote area of the 23,000-acre forest, discovered a large boulder in a chestnut oak tree. The boulder was eventually dubbed Gobbler’s Rock.
Gobbler’s Rock sits high on a south-facing slope overlooking a ravine near Tulip Tree Road in western Brown County. Officials can’t explain how the boulders got wedged into the branches. Some of the theories include a fraternity prank, tornadoes, high winds, or floods. The strange phenomenon is now the focus of several UFO websites. On Yellowwood State Forest’s Wikipedia page it claims that the rocks were placed there by a U.S. helicopter doing a training exercise from nearby Camp Atterbury during World War II. However, the provided reference for the claim is broken and no further information can be found on the training exercise or why such a task would be undertaken.
Selected Quote: “Geologists have a saying, rocks remember.” Neil Armstrong.


Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is executed to obtain scanned image of those parts of the body that cannot be scanned by X-rays. The most common use of this medical procedure is to scan brain, which cannot be detected by X-rays. As its name suggests, MRI involves very large and powerful magnet that aligns the magnetisation of certain atomic nuclei in the human body. The alignment of magnetisation is systematically altered by application of radio frequency magnetic field.
Thus, a rotating magnetic field is produced that can be detected by the scanner. The detected images are used to construct the image of the part of the body that is scanned. Both 2D and 3D figures can be obtained with the help of MRI. MRI creates good contrast between various soft tissues of the body and is useful in imaging brain, heart, muscles and cancerous tissues more than other imaging procedures such Computed Tomography (CT) or X-ray. MRI does not involve ionising radiation unlike traditional X-ray or CT-scan.
Magnetism, the same mechanism that makes MRI so useful can also indirectly cause injury or even death the patient who undergoes the scanning procedure. Everything that is responsive to magnetic field and radio frequency get excited when the person enters the machine. Aneurysm clips, surgical prostheses, shell fragments and other metallic implants or ferromagnetic foreign bodies are potential risks. In fact, several deaths have been reported where pacemakers of cardiovascular patients malfunctioned and caused the death. In this context, the concern regarding dental implants becomes considerable.
This concern was rightly raised recently by the public. Theoretically, dental implants can interfere in the process of MRI and increase risks involved in the procedure. The effect of magnetism can move objects and the induction heating of the objects due to radio frequency can cause thermal injuries. Apparently, dental implants seem vulnerable to both these effects of MRI. However, in reality, dental implants are hardly affected during MRI. Even though some dental implants have integrated magnets to hold them in position, they are hardly affected by MRI because the metal posts that are drilled into the jawbone are strong enough to counter forces generated during MRI. It might become a problem during initial stages of dental implantation.
Even though effects and side-effects of MRI can be learnt from online or printed articles, the safest practice is to provide all the details to the expert, who can evaluate the situation.
Picture credits: Wkipedia
The article is brought you by Dental Implants by Dentist Valeria Lawrence, DDS


Carney and Miller - Migrated From Delware to Michigan - Late 1850's early 1860's
Native Americans were not allowed to own property of any kind because they were not considered citizens of this land. It was not until 1924 that Congress recognized Native Americans as United States citizens. Therefore, anyone who was identified as an Indian was placed on a reservation. For this reason, many Native Americans hid their identity to keep their cultural heritage a secret.
My maternal Grandmother(Elnora Parrish Williams)was the daughter of Elizabeth Miller Parrish, born 25, Nov, 1849,to Enoch Miller and Phoebe A. Carney Miller in Duck Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware. Phoebe A.Carney Miller was a descendant of the Delaware Moors, who were a Colonial Mixed-Race Native American Community. This unique group of people, descendants of Nanticoke(Tidewater People)Native Americans, some of whom inter-married with whites, some with blacks,have maintained a seperate and unique community, despite all attempts to force assimilation, for close to 300 years. They still exist today in Kent County, Delaware.