What is the essence of Jewish identity? Is it revealed in the choices we make, like giving tzedakah or observing the Sabbath, or is it in our genetic code? Is it a matter of faith, or a matter of heritability? Is it something we can choose, or is it a biological imperative embedded in nearly every cell of our body?
New genetic research, published as a paper titled “Abraham’s Children in the Genome Era” in the June issue of The American Journal of Human Genetics, highlights the strong genetic bonds both within and among Jewish communities around the world, their distinctiveness vis-à-vis the populations among which they have dwelled, and their links to the Middle East.
For some, findings such as these offer powerful confirmation of the continuity and cohesion of the Jewish people throughout the ages.
“We are a people distinct, as [the biblical figure] Balaam said. We are ‘a nation that will live alone,’” said Rabbi Moshe Tendler, a Yeshiva University bioethicist and rosh yeshiva. “That’s who we are, that’s how God intended us to be.”
“I would like to think this new study is true, because it would indicate that over the course of centuries we still maintain a vast majority of loyal Jews,” Tendler explained. “It is comforting because it confirms a success that no other religion can claim, that there would be inadequate intermarriage to affect the gene pool.”
The steady stream of genetic research into Jewish populations and their origins has sparked widespread discussion of its potential implications for contemporary Jewish identity. Yet the notion that genetics could become a significant factor in Jewish identity is also incendiary for many, with some Jewish thinkers expressing profound discomfort with the idea.
“It smacks of racist and racial innuendo that is suspicious for someone like me in light of the 20th century and the very negative uses to which genetic data was put,” said Rabbi David Ellenson, president of the Reform movement’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
The article “Abraham’s Children in the Genome Era” was based on research by a team of geneticists from leading medical research centers and was co-authored by Dr. Harry Ostrer of New York University School of Medicine and Gil Atzmon of Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. While the study broadly echoed many of the findings of earlier Jewish genetic population studies, which looked at maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA or paternally inherited Y-chromosome markers, Ostrer’s team examined 160,000 markers on the entire genome.
Their study looked at the genetic material of people whose origins lay in seven different Jewish communities: Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, Italian, Turkish, Greek and Ashkenazi Jewries. Researchers compared these groups’ genetic markers to those of other Jewish groups and to those of the local non-Jewish populations. They found far more genetic linkage between Jews within each community than to gentiles from the same areas, and significant linkages between Jews of different communities. The study also demonstrated “distinctive population clusters, each with shared Middle Eastern ancestry.”
“We found a high degree of relatedness among Jewish Diaspora groups. It supports the notion of Jewish peoplehood, that there’s greater relatedness between the Jewish populations than between the Jewish and non-Jewish populations,” said Ostrer, director of the Human Genetics Program at NYU’s medical school and of the Jewish Hapmap Project, which examines the genome structures of global Jewish populations.
A second high-profile study of Jewish population genetics by other researchers appeared in the July issue of the journal Nature. That study similarly found Levantine origins for widely dispersed Jewish communities.
The latest findings about Jewish genes come amid a wave of intense popular interest in population genetics. Researching ancestry through DNA is the focus of two recent television series, one hosted by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., and another by actress Lisa Kudrow. There has been a swell of companies, such as Ancestry.com and FamilyTreeDNA.com, eager to sell ancestry genomics tests, which help people trace their individual heritages.
But Steven M. Cohen, a sociologist at the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at NYU who studies issues relating to Jewish identity, drew a distinction between individual ancestry searches and broader associations of genes with peoplehood. He questioned whether genetics would have much of an impact on American Jews’ self-conception.
“American culture has created a Jewish subgroup that is extraordinarily committed to a values conception of what it means to be Jewish, as opposed to the more collective, even tribalist conception that prevails in other countries,” he said.
The frequency of intermarriage has much to do with it, he explained. “It leads both Jewish spouses and Jewish children to adopt a more faith-based conception of what it means to be Jewish,” in order not to exclude the non-Jewish parent, he said.
“It would be ironic and counter-intuitive for younger, postmodern Jews today to embrace evidence that appears to lend support to the idea that Jews are something like a race, or ought to be bound to each other because of some notion of common ancestry,” he explained.
Nevertheless, the implications of recent genetic studies have already infiltrated at least one contentious debate over Jewish identity
In 2008, Tel Aviv University historian Shlomo Sand published a much discussed and highly controversial book questioning the historicity of the very concept of Jewish peoplehood. In the book — published in English last year by Verso, under the title “The Invention of the Jewish People” — Sand argued that Jewish identity is a social construct and dismissed as a myth the idea of the Jewish people having a shared ethnic origin traceable to the Land of Israel.
Reporting on the two recent Jewish population genetics studies, New York Times science writer Nicholas Wade went so far as to argue that their findings “refute the suggestion made last year by the historian Shlomo Sand in his book ‘The Invention of the Jewish People’ that Jews have no common origin but are a miscellany of people in Europe and Central Asia who converted to Judaism at various times.”
Sand, however, was dismissive of the significance of the new genetic research.
“It is a pity and sad that a people have to prove that it is a people by genetics and not by a secular culture,” Sand wrote in an e-mail to the Forward. “The new ‘discoveries’ are not different from the old ones.”
While Sand, who is known for his far-left views, occupies the political margins, many more mainstream figures also believe that genetics should have no bearing on Jewish peoplehood.
“It can point to some interesting data about Jewish marriage patterns and perhaps tell us something about historical patterns of Jewish settlement, but it doesn’t tell us anything about Jewish peoplehood,” said Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Similarly, HUC-JIR’s Ellenson said: “I find this type of research interesting but not compelling. Frankly there are cultural and religious reasons that are far more significant to me in terms of affirming Jewish solidarity than genetic claims alone.”
“Jewish peoplehood for me has to do with a sense of solidarity Jews feel for one another worldwide. A sense of connection between Jews has more to do with the internalization of cultural and religious norms than it does a biological kinship,” Ellenson said. “Genetic claims alone are not decisive for most people.”
Others, however, feel more positively toward the significance of genetic findings.
“The religion doesn’t need this confirmatory evidence, but it does enhance people’s belief in religion or can spark an interest in religion,” said Dr. Edward Reichman, an Orthodox rabbi and associate professor of bioethics and education at the Einstein College of Medicine. “It does have some verification, which religious people don’t need, of the historicity of the Jewish people. These are all wonderful things.”
Still, there is wide agreement that genetics do not define whether or not an individual should be considered Jewish.
“There have been people who convert into Judaism — it’s been a regular feature of Jewish life. Those who do are no less Jewish than anybody else. Trying to narrow what it means to be Jewish to carrying particular genetic markers would be a complete misunderstanding of what it means to be Jewish,” Ehrenkrantz said.
Tendler, for his part, said he doubted that rabbinic authorities would ever use genomic ancestry as a measure of someone’s Jewishness. “In Judaism there’s a halachic component as well as a genetic component,” Tendler said. “I don’t think it would ever be used as a test.”
Tendler cited the example of Ethiopian Jews, a group that studies have found lack genetic ties to other Jewish groups. “We don’t believe that they came from the same origin anyway, but rather that they joined our people in the distant past, and that doesn’t make them any less Jewish,” Tendler said.
Still, Ostrer said that the genetic element of Jewish ancestry can be a powerful point of connection.
“I do want people to feel more strongly connected because of my findings. It’s another way of touching the legacy,” he said. “You may have given up corned beef, but you haven’t given up your genome.”


The meaning of the name Merkaba is Chariot. The origin of the name Merkaba is Hebrew. This is the culture in which the name originated, or in the case of a word, the language.
MerKaBa is the divine light vehicle used by the Masters to reach and connect with those in tune with the higher realms and is the vehicle of Light mentioned in the Bible by Ezekiel. The word Mer-Ka-Ba is made up of three smaller words: Mer, Ka and Ba.


September 5 is...
National Cheese Pizza Day
Flatbreads and cheese are ancient! Dating as far back as 8000 B.C.E. man has been mixing flour with water to make dough (see the history of bread). Seasoned flatbread evolved with the addition of herbs, then, heating the dough on a hot stone. As for cheesemaking, nobody knows its specific origin, only that it is closely related to the domestication of milk-producing animals, whose history (particularly sheep) date 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The pizza, if it is defined as baked flatbread covered with cheese, could have been invented by the Greeks, the Phoenicians, the people who would become the Romans or anyone in the greater Mediterranean area of the time. While it has been associated primarily with Italian cuisine, food historians credit the idea of using bread as a “plate” for an assortment of toppings and seasonings to the Greeks. Flat round bread (plankuntos) were topped by stews, thick broth, meats, vegetables and fruits. Um-m-m-m? Perhaps we can think of the pizza as a edible plate! No utensils were necessary, even way back when!
Back to the pizza...
Thin crust, thick crust, hand tossed or stuffed crust…. whichever way you like it, have a slice or two (or maybe even more) of cheese pizza as September 5th is National Cheese Pizza Day. Celebrate this day by going out for a cheese pizza with family or friends, ordering for home delivery or making a homemade cheese pizza just the way you like it!
Is your mouth watering yet?


CBD or Cannabidiol is a compound that has become extremely popular in the field of alternative medicine as a therapeutic agent of different disorders, and also in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
What is the relationship between the immune system and the CBD?
CBD and autoimmune diseases are closely related since this compound has anti-inflammatory properties and autoimmune diseases are caused by inflammation.
When the immune system weakens, CBD tends to strengthen it; besides, it is an immune suppressor par excellence.
Keep in mind that a weakened system overreacts when met with allergens or diseases, and that reaction has negative effects on the human body.
As in the case of multiple sclerosis, in which the immune system becomes hyperactive and damages the central nervous system by destroying nerve fibers and scar tissues.
The efficacy of CBD in treating this condition is proven. Patients of multiple sclerosis who receive CBD improve their mobility and reduce pain in a high percentage.
At the University of South Carolina, a research was conducted to assess the effects of Cannabis in patients with autoimmune diseases.
That research found that CBD caused an immunomodulatory effect on patients, unlike other drugs that were also analyzed.
It means that this compound is able to regulate, adjust and enhance the immune functions.
In addition, it determined that CBD in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, colitis, and others, suppresses immune response.
Does CBD calm the arthritis pain?
As an ally, thus have been described CBD the arthritis patients since this compound is able to reduce chronic pain and inflammation; two aspects that accompany this disease.
In context, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disorder that causes pain, stiffness, and swollen particularly in the joints of the hands and feet.
There is no known cure for this disease, therefore, conventional medicines are aimed to reduce its symptoms and discomforts.
The percentage of arthritis patients who report a decrease in pain taking conventional medicine is quite low, only 25 % reported improvement.
On the contrary, cannabinoids eliminate the response to pain signals or noxious stimulus and make it through the activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors.
In other words, it has been scientifically proven that CBD is able to relieve the swelling and some degree of pain in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Experts recommend the CBD compounds in cream to treat this disease.
Can Celiac disease be treated with CBD?
Commercially, there are different presentations of the compound, specifically, to treat celiac disease with CBD, the oil extracted from it is recommended.
This alternative medicine works to relieve symptoms of certain chronic diseases; in this case, CBD helps to reduce the inflammation of the digestive system of those patients with gluten intolerance or suffering from celiac disease.
This condition is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy; basically, it is an autoimmune disorder that causes involvement in the intestinal walls when patients consume food such as barley, wheat, or any protein based on gluten.
Currently, studies are continuing in order to determinate other benefits of CBD in these and other diseases. A different alternative to traditional medicine with efficient results; according to studies, CBD works in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.


The promise of quantum computing is that it will help us solve some of the world’s most complex challenges. When designed to scale, quantum systems will have capabilities that exceed our most powerful supercomputers. We’re seeing this begin to take shape even today, with early breakthroughs in material design, financial risk management, and MRI technology. As the global community of quantum researchers, scientists, engineers, and business leaders continue to collaborate to advance the quantum ecosystem, we expect to see quantum impact accelerate across every industry.
However, this same computing power that will unlock solutions to complex challenges will also break some of today’s most sophisticated cryptography. By anticipating the technology of the future, Microsoft Research – in collaboration with academic and industry partners – is getting ready to accept the challenge it poses by preparing customers for a post-quantum world, today.
Cryptography – the science of encrypting and decrypting data – ensures the confidentiality of the private communications of individuals and organizations online. Encryption is used to protect everything from sending text messages to your friends, to banks transferring billions of dollars to other banks, and these transactions happen in a matter of milliseconds. Online encryption scenarios typically use a combination of two techniques: symmetric-key cryptography and public-key cryptography. In symmetric-key cryptography, the sender and the recipient must know (and keep secret from everyone else) a shared encryption key that is used to encrypt and decrypt the messages to be sent. Public-key cryptography, in contrast, allows two parties to send and receive encrypted messages without any prior sharing of keys. It was the discovery of public-key cryptosystems (by Merkel, Diffie, and Hellman in 1976 and Rivest, Shamir, and Adelman in 1978) that allows us to connect securely with anyone in the world, whether we’ve exchanged data before or not, and to do it so fast that we don’t even realize it’s happening.
Classical vs. quantum computing
The public-key cryptosystems that we use today are based on certain hard mathematical problems. For example, the security of the RSA public-key cryptosystem rests on the difficulty of factoring products of two large prime numbers – if we take two 300-digit prime numbers we can easily multiply them together to get a ~600-digit product, but if we start with just the product it is difficult to figure out the two smaller factors, no matter how much classical computing power is available for the task.
In the early ’90s, Dr. Peter Shor at AT&T Bell Laboratories discovered an algorithm that could factor products of two large prime numbers quickly, but his algorithm requires a quantum computer in order to run. Now known as “Shor’s Algorithm,” his technique defeats the RSA encryption algorithm with the aid of a “big enough” quantum computer. A quantum computer with enough stable qubits to use Shor’s Algorithm to break today’s public-key cryptography is fairly far out, but the risk is on the horizon. Further, an adversary could be recording encrypted internet traffic now for decryption later, when a sufficiently large quantum computer becomes available. In this way, future quantum computers are a threat to the long-term security of today’s information.
To address this threat, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – whose charter is to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness across a broad spectrum of technologies and endeavors, including cybersecurity – has begun the process of standardizing new public-key cryptographic algorithms that cannot be attacked efficiently even with the aid of quantum computer. With participants from around the globe, this project’s goal is to identify new cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks by quantum computers and then standardize them for broad use.
NIST’s initial call for proposals attracted sixty-nine total submissions from around the world for key exchange and digital signature algorithms, including four proposals co-submitted by Microsoft Research. In January 2019, NIST selected twenty-six of those proposals to move forward to Round 2 of the selection process, including all four of the Microsoft Research co-submissions. Here’s a list of the proposals in which Microsoft Research is a partner:
- Key encapsulation mechanisms (KEMs):
- Digital signature schemes:
How do we protect our customers?
It will be several more years before NIST finishes its process of selecting and standardizing new post-quantum algorithms. In the meantime, we need to get to work today to begin protecting our customers and their data from future attacks. We know it will take time to migrate all of today’s existing services and applications to new post-quantum public-key algorithms – replacing cryptographic algorithms in widely deployed systems can take years and we need a solution that can provide protection while that work is ongoing.
One approach Microsoft Research is exploring is applying the new post-quantum cryptography to network tunnels. By using both current algorithms and post-quantum algorithms simultaneously – what we call a “hybrid” approach – we comply with regulatory requirements such as FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) while protecting against both today’s classical attackers and tomorrow’s quantum-enabled ones.
To test this technology, Microsoft is turning to Project Natick, a years-long research effort to investigate manufacturing and operating environmentally-sustainable, prepackaged datacenter units that can be ordered to size, rapidly deployed and left to operate, lights out, on the seafloor for years. While tunneling can certainly be tested in dry environments, by putting this technology to the test under more difficult circumstances (underwater), on non-production data (safe to test), we have a good representation of what an actual data center customer experience would look like, under stress.
As Karen Easterbrook, Senior Principal PM Manager at Microsoft Research says, “If we can get this to work underwater, then we can get this to work anywhere… We want post-quantum cryptography to be running on every link between every Microsoft datacenter and ultimately between every Microsoft datacenter and every Microsoft customer. And this is a necessary first step toward being able to make that happen.”
Getting ready for a post-quantum world
Dr. Brian LaMacchia, Distinguished Engineer and Head of the Security and Cryptography Group at Microsoft Research, says, “The best way to start preparing is to ensure that all current and future systems have cryptographic agility – the ability to be easily reconfigured to add quantum-resistant algorithms.”
By working in partnership with collaborators around the world to develop post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and then applying them to common internet security protocols and use cases, we can use the power of quantum computing to tackle the large-scale problems facing our planet while also ensuring that all of our information remains safe and secure.
Learn more about quantum computing, quantum algorithms including Shor’s algorithm, and Microsoft Quantum:
- What is Quantum Computing
- Q# Quantum Programming Language
- Sample Q# Code for Shor’s algorithm
- Microsoft Quantum
- Microsoft Research Post-quantum Cryptography
- Microsoft Research: Improved quantum circuits for elliptic curve discrete logarithms
- Microsoft Research: Implementing Grover oracles for quantum key search on AES and LowMC


Latex is among one of the most crucial resources while making all-natural rubber. There are 2 classifications of rubber offered, which is the all-natural and synthetic one. Fabricated rubber is made by utilizing by-products of oil mines and making use of a few other products utilized primarily in making plastics and elastomers. All-natural rubber is drawn out from a few of the trees that could free some white sticky compound. This is only the latex, which is to be changed right into rubber in the manufacturing procedure.
Value of latex product.
Lots of people have an inquiry concerning just what is latex product. Latex is not merely a sort of basic material that is utilized straight in the handling. To claim regarding the high qualities of latex; it is a compound which contains rubber materials or in other words, the elastomers in some portion of 40 to 45 and rest of the points will certainly be simply water existing in the mix in a deep combined kind. It is difficult to removal the latex straight to manufacturing plants. Latex is freed from several of the exotic and deciduous trees that discharge some sticky white material when they are reduced open in some components of their trunk. Some plants are liberating such kind of materials, none of them is utilized in the procedure of removal of latex. Few trees, which could expand and live for a long period of time, are utilized in this procedure. As soon as a tree has actually been grown sufficient for some years, they will certainly begin liberating all-natural latex when penetrated in their trunk components that is utilized in a memory foam bed from a mattress sale.
Handling latex for useful application.
Given that latex is removed from a fresh tree via a few of the collection methods, it is rather hard to make certain that the removed latex is of top quality. Normally, the location they exist in characteristics for a few of the dirt and various other compounds to participate in them. Latex removal is done in open area where they require to be maintained in the bark of the tree and after that it need to be gathered where water will certainly be existing even more compared to 50 percent in the mix. The essential job below is.
- To earn certain that latex milk is devoid of any kind of dirt and contaminations.
- Drawn out latex milk satisfies the manufacturing high quality.
- Quantity of latex drawn out.
- To guarantee that they are not influenced as a result of tasks of microbes because they are all-natural plant essences.
When the important things stated above are made sure, after that the latex has actually passed the examination of top quality and currently it most likely to the comprehensive refining procedure that makes the all-natural latex be changed right into some items.


A Level Geography
Course delivery:Classroom based
Course duration?2 Year(s)
More course information
What is it? Geography is diverse, topical, exciting and challenging. It provides a holistic view of the world and develops a greater understanding of the human and physical processes that shape it. Why study this course at Blackpool Sixth? At Blackpool Sixth you will have a teacher who is an experienced examiner for the subject. Geography is a well-respected subject and superb preparation for studying academic courses at university. Specific course entry requirements: Grade 5 in GCSE Geography and English is preferred. At least a grade 4 in GCSE Maths
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Success and Failure in Football
Success and failure play the largest role in the context of changes in mood in football. At the same time, the mere prospect of success or failure and the associated fears and apprehensions play a decisive role in short-term or long-term mental states. Fear of failure is often expressed in the fear of making mistakes, which is probably the most significant cause of stress in professional football. According to the studies, the professional status of a player does not seem to be a disadvantage, but rather an advantage. Professionals and experienced players are less discouraged by failure and less fearful of making mistakes than amateurs or inexperienced footballers.
Unpleasant moods (stress reactions such as fear, anger, frustration) have to be dealt with appropriately by the players so that they do not perpetuate and thus cause lasting damage to mental health. Different behaviors, strategies or techniques help to cope with stress reactions in professional sport.
According to a study by Holt (2002), very different stress management techniques are used in international women’s football. They range from cognitive techniques (for example revaluation of loads) on use of social support and behavioral changes (for example, communication with the coach) to the hiding of stressors. Especially with performance deficits and failure is difficult to cope with, since the players’ attention is particularly focused on actual-target discrepancies- switching off is then particularly difficult. The problem above all appears to be that even young athletes often (13 percent) have unfavorable forms of coping.
Coping processes not only determine whether stress leads to impairment of mental health, but also how high stress levels – for example fear – affect performance. However, because coping is mostly left out in the investigation of the consequences of fear, the results on the relationship between fear and performance in football research are inconsistent.
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Social relationships and conflicts
Among the causes of mental disorders, social aspects of training and competition are of particular importance, that is, the relationships to the sporting and non-sporting social environment have a high impact on satisfaction and well-being as well as emotional disturbances and malaise. The fear of a negative evaluation by the coach often plays a special role, which is shown, for example, by the fact that training games at the beginning of the season (i.e. in phases in which the starting eleven is determined) are sometimes more associated with fear than later competition games. In a positive way, the interaction and communication with other people can also be emotionally relieving if support, assistance and social closeness are perceived.
In professional football, social relationships are structured very complexly. They can be divided into the close sporting environment, the close non-sporting environment and the wider social environment inside and outside of sport.
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The impact of these relationship levels on mental health depends on the closeness the players perceive to the people involved and the importance of the issue that stretches between the people involved. For example, apparently unimportant things can have an impact if they concern a very close relationship; likewise, a weak relationship through a meaningful object (such as the player’s pride and self-image) can have a high impact on mental health.
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Fanworks are increasingly integrated in pedagogical practices, especially in the disciplines of English and Cultural Studies, and more broadly, in the Humanities. These engagements are usually textual in nature, as reflected in the survey question itself. But fanworks cannot be divorced from the communities that produce them. Fan scholars from Jenkins (1992) to Hellekson and Busse (2006) have stressed upon the self-reflexive nature of media fandom communities, which has spurred the production of subversive fanworks that reframe dominant societal norms.
These analyses have so far primarily revolved around the practice of slash fanfiction, but I would like to talk about how the interventions of non-white fans to combat the lack of diversity both in source texts as well as mainstream fandom practices can offer strategies to teachers who wish to tackle the difficult topic of race in the classroom.
It is no secret that to talk about race and racism in any context is to enter extremely dubious territory. In classrooms where white students form a majority, studies (Martin 2010, Haltinner 2013) have repeatedly shown that conversations about race are framed in either antagonistic terms or met with uncomfortable silence. While in most cases it is important for us as educators to create safe spaces in which to explore “dangerous” topics, what happens when it is necessary to introduce discomfort into the equation? How can students be encouraged to confront their own privilege in a way that engages them? I found my inspiration in the fannish practices of racebending and re-casting.
The long established practice of “live-casting” a canon text with one’s favourite actors (once found in book fandoms but now common to most media texts) has gained new currency with tumblr as a fannish platform driven by visual material. Fans re-imagine a source text in all sorts of ways, often genderbending characters to forcibly include more women in a given narrative. Racebending occurs when fans attempt to counter the dominance of white characters.
My tutorial on Race and Popular Culture deployed a number of strategies. I asked my students to read Peggy McIntosh’s marvelous essay, “The Invisible Backpack”, to frame the discussion in notions of privilege. I played a short video where Nelson George discusses the problem with movies like The Help, which are ostensibly about racism, but buffer the audience from discomfort by setting the narratives in the distant (and safe) past. The last exercise I did (taking inspiration from a live re-casting of The Lion King I saw on tumblr) was to ask my students to come up with names of actors they would cast if making a live action version of the film.
The tutorial went quite smoothly, almost too smoothly, as students nodded along to the points made in the essay and also expressed disapproval at Hollywood’s racist strategies in filmmaking. I could see, however, that the problem of race in popular culture was still on the “outside,” practiced by “other people.” It was when we got to the casting exercise that things suddenly got a whole lot more engaged. As I asked for casting suggestions and wrote them down, it became increasingly obvious that majority of the names suggested were of white actors. When I asked why there were so many white actors in a story very clearly set somewhere in Africa, suddenly the reality of racist casting practices went from something done by “people in Hollywood” to something enacted by the students themselves. The rest of the class, while not smooth at all, produced an extremely engaged debate as students had to confront their own biases.
Did everyone walk out of that class feeling comfortable? I would say no. But I think that discomfort was productive. Fan communities often get “disturbed” when fans of colour start to point out the biases in a beloved text or indeed, in fannish practices themselves. It is from this disturbance and discomfort that I believe new forms of engagement can form, both within fandom and in the classroom.
Busse, Kristina and Karen Hellekson, ed. Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of The Internet. NY: McFarland, 2006.
Jenkins, Henry. Textual Poachers: Television Fan and Participatory Culture. NY: Routledge, 1992.
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A tensile structure is a structure elements carrying only tension and no compression or bending. A tensile membrane structure is most often used as a roof, as they can economically and attractively span large distances. These type of structure is commonly found in sports facilities, warehousing and storage buildings, and exhibition venues.
In this article we briefly discuss the types, shapes and advantages of tensile structures.
- History of Tensile Structures
- Types of Tensile Structures
- Shapes of Tensile Structures
- Advantages of Tensile Structures
History of Tensile StructuresThe first development of practical calculations of stresses and deformations of tensile structures, shells and membranes by a Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov. he designed eight tensile structures and thin-shell structures exhibition pavilions for the Nizhny Novgorod Fair of 1896, covering the area of 27,000 square meters. In recent days, tensile structures have found great popularity and have been used in many places. Some of the notable building are Munich OlympiaPark, The Millennium Dome London and Ashford Designer Outlet United Kingdom.
Types of Tensile StructuresThe classification of tensile structures are made on the plane in which the tensile forces are acting in the structure. On this basis, the tensile structure are divided into following types.
1. Linear Tensile StructuresLinear tensile structures are the structure in which the all the member are in linear tensile forces. This linear members are supported by the compression members , but the major loads are carried out by tensile members. Common example of these structure is cable suspended bridges. The main pillars acts as compression members, but the whole load is carried out by the cables which are in tension. Linear tensile structures are further classified into following types,
- Suspension bridges
- Draped cables
- Cable-stayed beams or trusses
- Cable trusses
- Straight tension cables
2. Three-dimensional Tensile StructuresThree-dimensional tensile structures, is a compilation of elements that are primarily in tension, with the compression being transferred to a central mast and down into the ground. The most common occurrence of three-dimensional tension can be seen at sports arenas and usually serve as roofs for these structures. Three-dimensional tensile structures are further classified into following types,
- Bicycle wheel (can be used as a roof in a horizontal orientation)
- 3D cable trusses
- Tensegrity structures
3. Surface-Stressed Tensile StructuresSurface-stressed tensile structures are same as other 2 tensile structure, but the surface members are tension bearing members. Fabric tensile structures are the great examples of Surface-stressed tensile structures, where the vertical pillars hold the special deisgned fabric which is in tension. Surface-Stressed tensile structures are further classified into following types,
- Fabric structure
- Prestressed membranes
- Pneumatically stressed membranes
Shapes of Tensile StructuresThe four basic shapes used in the tensile structures are,
1. Conical Tension StructureHighly effective for covering large areas, a conical tension structure is easily identified by its tent-like shape. Conical designs can feature either single or multiple masts. For both design options, membranes are tensioned between a ring at the pinnacle and the lower perimeter support columns. Cones are especially effective in areas that need to comply with high rain or snow load regulations.
2. Hypar or Anticlastic StructureAs one of the most common of all tensioned membrane structures due to its aesthetically pleasing look, hypar (hyperbolic paraboloid) shapes are notable for their excellence with shape retention and water runoff. These structures rely on two opposing curvatures, also known as anticlastic, for their stability. This type of structure is ideal for shade over seating areas or high traffic walkways.
3. Parallel Arch or Barrel Vault StructureThese symmetrical curved parallel arch designs form an incredibly functional tensioned membrane canopy that can span long distances such as a sports arena or smaller areas such as an entryway. Depending on the spans, a barrel vault system can be a very cost-effective way to incorporate tensile membrane on a project due to the repetitive nature of the design and efficiencies of materials.
4. Cable Net & Membrane StructureFor long-span tensile membrane roofing applications typically found in stadiums or large spaces, 3D cable net or cable grid structures are an efficient solution for lightweight tensile architecture.
Advantages of Tensile Structures
- Shelter of environment (sun, rain, wind)
- Translucency in general, possibilities to design light effects
- Light weight & Durability
- Endless form possibilities, catching character
- Short building time, off site manufacturing of structure, less site interruption time
- Large spans
- Recyclability and Eco friendliness
- Adaptability to exciting building technologies (steel, glass, cement, stone)
- Simplicity of maintenance & Easy repair or replacement


The Oxford History of The United States series has won two Pulitzer Prizes, a Bancroft and a Parkman Prize. The newest addition, What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848, by Daniel Walker Howe, looks at the period from the battle of New Orleans to the end of the Mexican-American War. Howe’s narrative history shows how drastically America changed in thirty years. Below Howe, Rhodes Professor of American History Emeritus, Oxford University and Professor of History Emeritus, University of California, looks at how October 22nd resonated throughout America.(Editor’s Note: When this post was published last October we could only dream that Howe’s book What Hath God Wrought would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize! Now that it has though, some information in the introduction is incorrect. The series has won three Pulitzer Prizes, a Bancroft and a Parkman Prize. Whew!)
On October 22, 1844, somewhere between twenty-five and fifty thousand people gathered in groups all over the United States to watch the sky. They stayed up until after midnight, straining to see Jesus Christ coming out of the heavens. A Vermont farmer named William Miller, undeterred by his lack of knowledge of Hebrew or Greek, had applied his naive ingenuity to biblical study. Calculations based on prophecies in the Book of Daniel had convinced him and his disciples that the long-awaited Second Coming of Christ would occur on this day.
How would people behave if they were convinced the world was coming to an end on a known day only months away? In 1844, many paid their debts, quit their jobs, closed their businesses, left their crops unharvested in the fields. Some who felt guilty about past frauds and cheats turned over money to banks or the U.S. Treasury. Others simply gave away money keeping no accounting of it. There was a rush to get baptized. On the appointed night, thousands gathered in many locations outdoors to watch the sky. But Jesus did not appear to them, and October 22d became known among Adventists as “The Great Disappointment.” The legend that Miller’s people had donned ascension robes for the occasion was one of the many humiliations heaped on the Adventists over the next year by a laughing public that had not quite dared risk scorning them until after the fact.
William Miller had never formed a denomination while expecting Christ, for there would have been no point in any long-term planning. But after the Great Disappointment his followers, many of them were expelled from their previous churches, kept their movement alive by differentiating themselves more sharply from mainline evangelicalism. The largest group organized as the Seventh-Day Adventists, under the new leadership of Joseph Bates, who declared Sunday observance an unwarranted innovation and restored the Jewish Sabbath, and Ellen Harmon White, an inspired visionary who instituted dietary reforms opposing tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and meat. The denomination re-interpreted Daniel’s prophecy and decided that Christ had entered a new “heavenly sanctuary” on 22 October, 1844 in preparation for an early but unspecified return to earth. Miller himself never got over his great embarrassment and retired quietly, but the Seventh-Day Adventists survive to this day.
William Miller’s prophecy was only one of many manifestations of the millennial belief widespread in the America of his time. Others include the picturesque Shakers, who called themselves the Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, and the much more potent Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly knows as Mormons. The “latter days” refer to the Mormon belief that the Second Coming of Christ will occur soon, bringing history to an end. The Mormon prophet, seer, and revelator Joseph Smith was assassinated by an Illinois mob in June of the same year that Miller’s people searched the skies for Jesus. The leader of the largest slave revolt in U.S. history, Nat Turner, a literate religious visionary who listened to “the Spirit that spoke to the prophets in former days,” heard that Spirit tell him the day of judgment was at hand, when “the last would be first.”
Many Americans of that time and since have believed in their country’s special destiny to help prepare humanity for the Second Coming of Christ. Faith in democratic progress, in equal human rights, and even in economic and technological improvement have all been expressed in terms of paving the way for Christ’s return. The same year that William Miller was disappointed and Joseph Smith murdered, Samuel F. B. Morse publicly demonstrated his electric telegraph, its wires strung from the Supreme Court Chambers in Washington to Baltimore forty miles away. Morse transmitted a message of portentous religious significance: “What Hath God Wrought.” As Morse later commented, the message “baptized the American Telegraph with the name of its author”: God. America’s self-image was bound up with millennial expectation. In some significant ways, it still is.


What To Tell About Your Health Condition and/or Treatment
What you want to tell people about your health condition is up to you. There is no right or wrong.
The following may help you decide how much to tell people:
- You can share different amounts of information with different people.
- Consider what the person needs to know. For instance:
- In a work situation, the person who makes plans for the immediate or distant future may need to know more about your prognosis even though it is only a guesstimate than a co-worker.
- A caregiver needs to know more about the details of your situation and needs than a friend on the other side of the continent.
- Young people should only be given age appropriate information, and in an age appropriate manner. For more information, click here.
- Consider whether the person is a gossip or is otherwise likely to spread the information.
- If you are posting information on the internet, such as in Facebook:
- Keep in mind that postings are frequently more available to the public than you may think.
- Current and prospective employers are likely to troll the internet for information about you. Telling about your condition in a public forum, or even indicating that you are a volunteer for a particular disease specific non-profit organization, will disclose the information.
For more information about disclosure, click on the following links:
To Learn More
Get Your Personal Guide


What are React Refs? When to & When Not To Use Refs?
What are React Refs?
Refs is the abbreviation used for references in React. The concept of Refs in ReactJS is somewhat similar to keys in React. Programmers can use Refs to store a reference to specific DOM nodes or React elements.
It’s a function in React that helps you access and interact with the DOM element and the React element.
You will need to use it when you want to change the value of a child component, without making the use of props
When to Use Refs in React?
Refs can be used when:
We are using third-party DOM libraries.
We require DOM measurements like managing focus, media playback or text selection.
We are triggering imperative animations.
We can also use it in callbacks.
When Not to Use React Refs?
Refs should not be used:
With functional components because there are no instances.
For anything that can be done declaratively.
Also, you should avoid overuse of Refs.
Test your knowledge with a quick quiz!
What does “Refs” mean in ReactJS?
Select the correct answer


ESA Introducing Updated Weather Satellites with Microwave Amplifier
European Space Agency – ESA, in the forthcoming years would be introducing a sequences of updated weather satellites which would be capable of measuring significant atmospheric data like precipitation, temperature or water vapour much better than done earlier. The core of these evaluating devices comprise of very sensitive Microwave Amplifier which have been invented for Applied Solid State Physics IAF at the Fraunhofer Institute that can see even the most weak signals from the atmosphere which are essential for a precise weather forecast.
There seems to be a joke among meteorologists that the weather of the next day can be forecasted safely, while presuming that it would be the same as the current day. The mutual belief is that in several cases it could be true. Evidently, presently meteorologists no longer depend on this. In the case of weather predictions, they tend to depend on computer simulations that are fed with thousands of fragments of measurement data.
For some years these types of data had been supplied by satellites which tend to utilise sensitive sensors for evaluating the temperature or the precipitation on the earth. If the sensors are better the measured values tends to be precise and so the weather predictions.
Meteorological Operational Satellites
Hence, European Space Agency in the next two years will be introducing the second generation of its MetOp weather satellite, Meteorological Operational Satellites, which are six in all and are equipped with state-of-the-art measurement machinery. A sum of 1.4 billion EUR has been assigned for the erection of the second generation MetOp satellites, excluding the launch and operation.
Together with the satellites, small though very fine technological modules of highly precise amplifiers which tend to absorb microwave radiation from the Frauhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF in Freiburg would also be introduced. This radiation is released from each object, each surface identical to how a body tends to radiate heat that can be viewed in the infrared image.
Moreover the microwave amplifiers are adjusted to microwave frequencies since they seem to provide significant meteorological statistics, they capture microwaves released by water vapour, fog, rain or ice crystals especially also from the ice crystals high up in the atmosphere in the cirrus clouds, which are presumed to have a major effect on the climate as well as the weather.
Microwave Amplifier Proved Perfect
Due to the microwave radiation, there is a possibility of reaching accurate conclusions regarding the ground temperature. Signals received by the microwave antennas of the satellites seem to be very weak but they are only a few nanowatts strong. To be capable of measuring these microwave signals with some reliability it is essential of amplifiers.
Microwave Amplifiers from Fraunhofer IAF have been proved to be perfect. Dr Michael Schlechtweg heading the High Frequency Electronic business unit at the Fraunhofer IAF has commented that `the core of these amplifiers is a transistor from the semiconductor material indium gallium arsenide. A characteristic of this material is that it is traversed very easily by electrons even if the electric field that drives the electrons is very small. Consequently the electrons in the transistor are set in motion already by the weak microwave signals making the transistor very sensitive.
Due to the microwave circuits established by the Fraunhofer, the satellite MetOp is capable of determining the temperature, type of precipitation, water vapour more accurately in the future. According to ESA Project Manager Ville Kangas, microwave amplifiers tends to enhance the reliability of the weather prediction. But transistors of the conventional semiconductor silicon material could be quite insensitive. Indium gallium arsenide only is not what makes the amplifier so sensitive. Their small sizes have made their contribution to this. The electrodes of the transistors are only 50 to 35 nanometers long. They are measurable only with tiny electron currents or signals.
Five Frequency Bands of Microwave Amplifier
Michael Schlechtweg has explained that `this extreme sensitivity and small size of microwave amplifiers are due to 25 years of research. During that time, they had developed a highly precise manufacturing process wherein the microwave amplifiers circuits were built in 150 production stages.
The electrodes were formed with an electron beam and only a few companies all over the world were able to do this with some amount of accuracy. The amplifiers on the MetOp satellite are utilised in three diverse microwave instruments that are said to measure various things lie precipitation, ice crystals, water vapour or the temperature. Experts working for this purpose with Schlechtweg had to produce various sensors, wherein each had to be regulated to the equivalent microwave frequency.
In actual terms, it is said that there are five frequency bands between 54 and 243 gigahertz. As explained by Schlechtweg a value of 243 gigahertz is a substantial value as, higher the frequency, more powerful the amplifier needs to be. The components of the Fraunhofer IAF are said to be powerful and they have impressed the ESA and recently a US company have made enquiries regarding them. Hence there is a possibility that the microwave amplifiers from the IAF would be introduced on board US satellites.


The Infrared Fence-Line Methane-Monitoring System is part of a suite of advanced monitoring technologies and practices at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility.
These technologies include:
- An infrared fence-line methane-monitoring system
- Around-the-clock pressure monitoring of all wells in a 24-hour operations center
- Daily patrols to examine every well is conducted four times each day
- Daily scanning of each well using sensitive infrared thermal imaging cameras that can detect leaks
- Enhanced training for our employees and contractors
Infrared Fence-Line Methane-Monitoring System
The infrared methane-monitoring system is composed of eight infrared sensors strategically located near or along the southern border of the facility, or “fence-line.” These sensors are being continuously monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by our trained staff.
How Infrared Methane Monitoring Works
The eight infrared monitors installed at Aliso Canyon measure the parts per million (ppm) of methane in the air by sending an infrared beam between a sender (1) and receiver (2), as shown in the picture. Methane readings can potentially be impacted by weather conditions, such as rain, fog and dust, that may interrupt the infrared beam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actions does SoCalGas take if the readings increase?
- If our fence-line system detects levels averaging at or above 8 parts per million for 20 or more minutes, we send out a team of technicians to that site to investigate. The technicians use sensitive hand-held technology that can detect methane at levels below what human senses can detect.
- We investigate because methane readings can potentially be impacted by weather conditions, such as rain, fog, and dust, which may interrupt the infrared beam. A temporary increase in the readings on one monitor may not necessarily mean that elevated levels of methane are present.
- If we do detect any sort of leak or emission, we would begin our normal process to address the leak and appropriately notify agencies and the community.
Why does the system show steady at 2ppm?
- The California Air Resources Board has identified that 1.9 – 2 parts per million (ppm) is the normal background level of methane for the Porter Ranch Area. As such, we can expect that the normal level is what would be detected most of the time.
- Essentially, a flat line at 2 ppm means that the monitors do not detect any methane above normal background levels.
- The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) had previously provided monitoring, which is available to view here. Please keep in mind that the SCAQMD monitor used different technology than ours, so the readings may have been varied.
What does it mean when they show 0ppm?
- If the monitor is offline due to maintenance or weather, it will display an “O” on the interactive map and will return a result of zero parts per million (ppm).
- Readings can be impacted by weather conditions, such as rain, fog, high relative humidity, and dust, which may interrupt the infrared beam and cause a monitor to appear offline.
- Fence-Line Monitors are shown in a weather hold mode (“O”) when the relative humidity exceeds 80%. Once the relative humidity returns below 80%, the weather hold mode is released.
For more FAQs, please click here.
This methane monitoring site is maintained and operated by SoCalGas with support from AECOM.


Examine and discuss the significance of time in the play The Tempest.
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The Tempest blurs the edges of what is real, and what is not, so effortlessly and so quickly throughout the plot that it can be considered toppling over the metaphorical edge of reason towards a chaotic illusion, however, the comedic structure holds the play together and preventing it from entering a genre closer the Theatre of the Absurd with no classic resolution. To achieve this affect Shakespeare initially takes away one of humanities greatest frameworks: time. Although the play moves in a chronological fashion there are no clocks featured and no mention of day by any of the characters when speaking of the island which moves the play away from our relatable world. Prospero mentions time to Miranda when talking about Naples, as he states his usurpation was “one midnight” (i), despite this being a fleeting phrase it separates Naples and the Island, which is separating our world from this new liminal space of The Island. The time element provides certainties when humans are confused of a series of events, and now that it is taken away nothing is provable and therefore cannot be thought of as real or ever happening.


When you hear the word "vaccine," you naturally might think of infectious diseases. For more than 200 years, vaccination has been aimed at preventing a variety of pathogens by training the immune system to be ready for an attack. This concept has been effective at preventing millions of illnesses and is responsible for the eradication of one of humanity's worst scourges, smallpox.
Vaccination is a relatively straightforward process with one aim. Yet, for years, researchers have seen certain vaccines perform double duty. Not only is the initial infection halted, but chronic conditions associated with prior infection — known as sequelae — can be prevented as well.
There are several examples of these added benefits behind vaccines. For example, the polio vaccine protects against a devastating neurological disorder aptly named post-polio syndrome. The measles vaccine prevents a slow, progressive, and ultimately fatal neurological condition known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis that occurs years after the usual symptoms. The most recent addition has been the Human Papillomavirus Virus vaccine, which minimizes the chances for cervical and other cancers.
Now there appears to be hope for a new addition to the list, thanks to a team of Finnish and Swedish researchers. They have identified a vaccine candidate with the potential to ward off one of the most troubling chronic diseases, Type 1 diabetes. Their results reveal we may one day have a means to protect individuals who are most at risk from suffering from this condition.
While this may be years away, this new direction may offer hope to those who suffer.
The reasoning for this line of research comes from data known for more than half a century. Researchers have been investigating a link between this form of diabetes and a virus known as coxsackievirus B1, or CB1. The virus is known to be a significant pathogen in children and can be life-threatening to infants.
Usually, an infection causes only mild symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, and fatigue. But life-threatening problems can arise such as encephalitis, enlarged heart and hepatitis.
For children at risk for Type 1 diabetes, however, there appears to be another complication. Studies have identified a link between a prior CB1 infection and the onset of disease. Although the exact mechanism continues to be a matter for debate, enough evidence exists to suggest this virus may be a trigger in the initiation of diabetes.
Because this was a completely new avenue for research, the team worked with mice. They first used a type of mouse known as the non-obese diabetic mouse, or NOD for short. The animal is prone to developing Type 1 diabetes as well as CB1 infection and was the perfect model to test the hypothesis.
The first part of the experimentation involved developing an appropriate vaccine against CB1. They did this by growing the virus in the lab and then killing it using a disinfectant known as formaldehyde. The procedure has been around for close to a century and continues to be used to this day to ensure vaccines are safe when used.
More from HuffPost Canada:
At this point, the mice were given the vaccine in the hopes of seeing whether it would protect the animals from infection. In all cases, the animals produced a significant immune response and prevented the virus from spreading throughout the body. This suggested any mechanism leading to diabetes may be stopped in its tracks.
Then came the critical test. The team wanted to find out if they could stop diabetes with the vaccine. They switched the mice to one that rapidly develops diabetes after a viral infection. It's known officially as the suppressors-of-cytokine-signalling transgenic mouse, which is commonly referred to as SOCS1-tg. If the group was correct, the vaccine would leave these animals healthy even after CB1 infection.
When the results came back, the team was pleased to see no changes in the vaccinated mice compared to healthy ones. Looking inside the body the researchers found, just as with the NOD mice, there were no signs of CB1 in the pancreas. The vaccine had worked to prevent the infection and the onset of diabetes.
The results of this study demonstrate the potential use for vaccines in helping to prevent Type 1 diabetes. This opens the door to further research, which may lead to the development of vaccine candidates for testing in humans. While this may be years away, this new direction may offer hope to those who suffer.
There may be another benefit to developing a CB1 vaccine apart from protecting against diabetes. In light of the symptoms caused by the virus during normal infection, the use of vaccination to protect newborns and children may be well worth the time, effort, and money. After all, as we learned with other diseases, once a vaccine is available, an entire population may benefit.
Also on HuffPost:


This is the last lesson in the unit designed to teach the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the shared powers of government and the United States Constitution. Focus on this lesson is on the differences among federal, state, and local governments.
Fourth Grade History/Social Science:
4.5.3 Describe the similarities differences (e.g., scope of jurisdiction, limits on government powers, use of the military) among federal, state and local governments.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects Grades 5th Students
Reading Standards for Informational Text K–5
Craft and Structure
1. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
|Into (Hook)||Ask students to talk to their partner about the job of the principal and the job of the teacher. How is each one different?
||Responses will vary.|
|Through||Ask students to talk to their partner about the job of the principal and the job of the teacher. How is each one different?
Explain that the mayor and principal are similar to the classroom teacher and school principal. Explain that the mayor, state governor, and the President all serve you. But they each serve at different levels of government. Explain that the 10th amendment of the Constitution says that any powers not given to the federal government in the Constitution are left to the states or the people.
Show students the “Who Has Jurisdiction?” worksheet and foldable.
|Responses will vary.
Listen to the teacher explain the jurisdiction of each part of government.
Students create a three column foldable and head it with “Local, State, Federal.”
In partners, students will cut out each service and place them in the correct column.
Explain to students that each box contains a “service” that our government provides for us. In predetermined partners, students must determine if the service is provided by local, state, or federal government. Provide time to conduct this activity.
Bring students back in to discuss local governments provide services to cities, towns, and communities, including local parks.
Explain that the city council passes local laws. They cannot pass laws that go against state or federal laws.
Explain project: In partners, students will create a constitution that includes rules AND rights for Laurel Wood neighborhood park.
|Students discuss with partners important local services (police, fire, keeping city records).
Students will create the document in partners.
Students will present and read their “Park Constitution” to the panel of students. Other students each take a turn acting as either mayor/city council member.
Council members are encouraged to ask questions.
Ask students to explain if the presenting student’s constitution was fair.
Group/class discussion question: Why do you think it is important that community members are creating this document and not the mayor?
|Students write 2-3 sentences per presenter explaining whether the law was fair or not.
Responses may vary.
Special needs of students are considered in this lesson:
Have students team with pre-assigned partners so as to help struggling learners, and, partner EL students with native speakers. Students must come up with 5 well written constitutional rules/rights.
Have students write letters to their council members about local issues.
Materials and Resources Needed:
Outline of Unit Plan:
The Importance of the United States Constitution and the Shared Powers of the Federal, State, and Local Governments.


Fall into healthy habits this autumn
Updated On: Sep 24 2013 03:49:13 PM CDT
(NewsUSA) - Just as spring is a time for rebirth, autumn is also considered a transitional season. The weather turns brisk, the leaves on trees change from dull brown to a firestorm of color, and darkness settles in earlier.
For many, it is a favorite time of year, but for others it can be a trigger to falling off the health and fitness wagon. After all, how can you be expected to ignore pumpkin spice lattes?
The key, say experts, is to set goals before the new year, not over a drink as the clock strikes midnight.
"Fall ... is a great time to start a fitness program because you're going to create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months," says Justin Price, owner of Biomechanics, a personal training and wellness coaching facility in San Diego, Calif.
The following tips will give you ideas on how to stay healthy (and maybe even avoid the pumpkin cheesecake) through what is arguably one of the most pleasant times of the year:
* Head for the hills. Fall is a great time to get outside and explore your own backyard. So, grab a friend and find a local park to walk, run or bike on. If you're lucky enough to live close to hills or mountains, autumn is a perfect time to go for a hike.
* Turn chores into a workout. Raking leaves or gardening burns about 150 calories every 30 minutes, so if you find that you don't have time for exercise, grab a rake or a hoe, and turn seasonal tasks into a fat-burning workout.
* Drink plenty of water. Without water, no living thing can survive, which means it is crucial to maintaining optimal health. While water has a myriad of health benefits, research has shown that in order for your body to function properly, it must continuously work to maintain a proper pH, or chemical balance.
* Try something new. Fall is the perfect time to gain new physical skills, says Price. Always wanted to learn to in-line skate or ride a horse? Fall is a great time to explore an activity that you've always wanted to try.


Extreme climatic events, implications for projections of species distributions and ecosystem structure (by Diego Fdez-Sevilla PhD)
By Diego Fdez-Sevilla PhD. CV english and español. Resume. Interdisciplinary Skills applied in the line of research presented.- Index for all analyses published. – Shares and Feedback at LinkedIn
Registered in pdf at ResearchGate DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19446.04161
Heat acclimation—the subtle hormonal and metabolic changes that make it easier for the body to cope with heat—is a gradual process that occurs over a few weeks of exposure to progressively higher temperatures.
For nearly two weeks, many areas in India faced temperatures that were 5.5 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. May is generally the hottest month in India, but even by local standards May 2015 was unusual. By June 4, the extreme weather had claimed the lives of more than 2,500 people, according to news reports.
It has been pointed out the deathly effect that abrupt onset of heat waves can have over human populations (e.g. in India) when people have little time to acclimate to the heat.
Similarly, heat waves and abrupt changes in temperature exert a huge amount of pressure on all other biological systems, affecting species distributions and ecosystem structure. The alteration of habitats is directly linked with potential changes in their synergistic feedbacks. Species of plants covering an area have an interconnection with atmospheric humidity and adiabatic processes throughout evapotranspiration. Different species of plants have different evapotranspiration rates and changing their location will change the stability of regional feedbacks. Also the radicular configuration of plants differ between species and with it, their interconnectivity with the retention of water in the soil, also related with evaporation processes and atmospheric circulation at tropospheric level. The type of plants covering an area is also linked with the properties of albedo as part of the microclimate of the region which would be altered by having a change or loss in plant species.
These are just some examples of how abrupt changes in temperature may affect synergistic feedbacks between species distributions, ecosystem structure and atmospheric stratification and circulation.
This post complements others published previously in this blog trying to highlight the increasing relevance of understanding connecting patterns between non-biotic and biotic systems involved in atmospheric developments. The weakening of the Polar Jet Stream (as consequence of seen reduced the thermal contrast between subtropical and polar masses of air) would potentially allow “out of season” exchanges of masses of air between both sides, triggering abrupt changes of temperature wherever they move.
The weakening of the Polar Jet Stream can be linked with the changing chemical composition of the atmosphere due to increasing CO2 concentrations. The level of graduality in the transition between seasons can be affected due to the burst of Atmospheric events. If these are strong enough to alter the stability of biological systems they well might also affect the synergistic feedbacks existent between biological productivity and the thermodynamic atmospheric behaviour.
These synergistic feedbacks seem to not be of much part of the research available in the literature. Most studies are addressing the survival of species and mechanisms of adaptation against changes in climate or atmospheric behaviour. And yet, I believe that the stability of an ecosystem, biotic and nonbiotic parts altogether, has to be considered as the result of receiving and absorbing perturbations by all sides, atmosphere, biotope and ecotope. When a region losses the capacity to absorb perturbations and regenerate itself to its previous state, the whole balance between land cover and atmospheric behaviour above it will change. And thus, the climatic parameters defining the region. Only by changing the species of vegetation covering land surfaces the albedo will change, inducing changes in convective circulation as well as the chemistry of the soil and its structure.
From regional to a global change only takes to have enough regional changes to coalescence.
Some literature published addressing changes in species distributions and ecosystem structure.
The redistribution of life on Earth has emerged as one of the most significant biological responses to anthropogenic climate warming1, 2, 3. Despite being one of the most long-standing puzzles in ecology4, we still have little understanding of how temperature sets geographic range boundaries5. Here we show that marine and terrestrial ectotherms differ in the degree to which they fill their potential latitudinal ranges, as predicted from their thermal tolerance limits. Marine ectotherms more fully occupy the extent of latitudes tolerable within their thermal tolerance limits, and are consequently predicted to expand at their poleward range boundaries and contract at their equatorward boundaries with climate warming. In contrast, terrestrial ectotherms are excluded from the warmest regions of their latitudinal range; thus, the equatorward, or ‘trailing’ range boundaries, may not shift consistently towards the poles with climate warming. Using global observations of climate-induced range shifts, we test this prediction and show that in the ocean, shifts at both range boundaries have been equally responsive, whereas on land, equatorward range boundaries have lagged in response to climate warming. These results indicate that marine species’ ranges conform more closely to their limits of thermal tolerance, and thus range shifts will be more predictable and coherent. However, on land, warmer range boundaries are not at equilibrium with heat tolerance. Understanding the relative contribution of factors other than temperature in controlling equatorward range limits is critical for predicting distribution changes, with implications for population and community viability.
Causal attribution of recent biological trends to climate change is complicated because non-climatic influences dominate local, short-term biological changes. Any underlying signal from climate change is likely to be revealed by analyses that seek systematic trends across diverse species and geographic regions; however, debates within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reveal several definitions of a ‘systematic trend’. Here, we explore these differences, apply diverse analyses to more than 1,700 species, and show that recent biological trends match climate change predictions. Global meta-analyses documented significant range shifts averaging 6.1 km per decade towards the poles (or metres per decade upward), and significant mean advancement of spring events by 2.3 days per decade. We define a diagnostic fingerprint of temporal and spatial ‘sign-switching’ responses uniquely predicted by twentieth century climate trends. Among appropriate long-term/large-scale/multi-species data sets, this diagnostic fingerprint was found for 279 species. This suite of analyses generates ‘very high confidence’ that climate change is already affecting living systems.
Species distributions have shifted in response to global warming in all major ecosystems on the Earth. Despite cogent evidence for these changes, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood and currently imply gradual shifts. Yet there is an increasing appreciation of the role of discrete events in driving ecological change. We show how a marine heat wave (HW) eliminated a prominent habitat-forming seaweed, Scytothalia dorycarpa, at its warm distribution limit, causing a range contraction of approximately 100 km (approx. 5% of its global distribution). Seawater temperatures during the HW exceeded the seaweed’s physiological threshold and caused extirpation of marginal populations, which are unlikely to recover owing to life-history traits and oceanographic processes. Scytothalia dorycarpa is an important canopy-forming seaweed in temperate Australia, and loss of the species at its range edge has caused structural changes at the community level and is likely to have ecosystem-level implications. We show that extreme warming events, which are increasing in magnitude and frequency, can force step-wise changes in species distributions in marine ecosystems. As such, return times of these events have major implications for projections of species distributions and ecosystem structure, which have typically been based on gradual warming trends.
Global warming has caused many species to shift their geographical range towards cooler environments [1,2]. As such, the poleward redistribution of species is emerging as a significant biological response to increased global temperatures in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems [3–5]. While range shifts have been detected across decadal time-scales, by comparing historical and contemporary data, there have been few direct observations of the processes that drive population change at the range edge. Moreover, there have been far fewer observations of climate-driven range contractions compared with expansions, and, as such, the mechanisms and velocities of change at the ‘trailing edge’ are poorly understood . These issues have major implications for understanding and predicting the dynamics of range shifts .
The current paradigm implies that species ranges change continuously with warming , yet this perception cannot be reconciled with recent observations of no [8,9] or abrupt [10,11] ecological change in response to gradual warming. Alternatively, range shifts are incremental, being driven by discrete extreme events. In nature, it is likely that species exhibit a combination of both gradual and sudden, and extensive distribution shifts in response to climate when physiological thresholds are exceeded. The distinction between gradual and abrupt range dynamics has important implications for climate change mitigation because of the implied threshold dynamics and the difficulties of predicting (as well as reversing) any undesirable changes. Event-driven changes also prevent accurate estimation of the velocity of range contractions, leading to errors in projections of future impacts. Extreme climatic events are increasing in frequency and intensity as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change [12,13]. These events are likely to have major implications for natural resources, and understanding and predicting biological responses to ‘events’, rather than to ‘trends’, have become increasingly important . Evidence for species range shifts in terrestrial ecosystems, in response to both gradual warming and discrete warming events, far exceeds evidence from marine ecosystems [15,16]. As the velocity of warming in the sea is similar to that on land  and most coastal ecosystems have warmed significantly in recent decades , it is very likely that the poleward redistribution of marine biota has been severely under-reported.
Why is it important what happens to our habitats?
In October 2014 I used the following thought to introduce my posture on climate: “The introduction of the biotic component in our planet is responsible for the active transformation suffered in the chemistry of our oceans and atmosphere and, therefore, our climate.”
Recently, a new publication has stated that “The connection between oxygen levels and climate has never been considered. It turns out that it’s an important factor over geological timescales“. I cannot believe that this phrase can represent the state of knowledge in climatic research.
Sometimes I have been writing on issues of actual relevance applying intentionally fundamental knowledge and principles. My intention is to highlight the lack of perspective from the point of view of integrating “old” settled science into the “new” uncertainty uncovered with the incorporation of new techniques and data in the state of knowledge.
Following the words from George Orwell “Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.”
In a fast paced environment full of new gadgets, instruments and enormous quantities of data, we face the challenge of not forgetting what we already knew, and the applications that all this knowledge have in today’s questions.
What we consider trivial, one day, it might actually become the hidden answer everybody was looking for.
The chemistry of the Atmosphere and our Oceans is directly linked with our climate and atmospheric behaviour. The obvious is to understand that such chemistry is the result of millenniums combining forces between thermodynamic and biochemical processes. But, can the obvious get forgotten and ignored so easily? Or is it its triviality?
It is because of biological systems that Oxygen increased in the Oceans. That changed the chemistry of the oceans and reduced acidification. It is water soluble and functions as an oxidator: O2 + 2 H2O + 4 e– -> 4 OH–
It is because of biological systems dry land became covered by plants, reducing albedo and thermal contrasts as well as retaining water in the soil.
Those processes are consequence of photosynthetic reactions, being the only force in our planet moving against the natural tendency for our system to increase its entropy. The human species have met the system in an equilibrium state between both forces. That has allowed life to evolve in a single genetic configuration we call DNA. When the opposing force to entropy weakens all we get is entropy, thermodynamics and uncertainty.
I believe that we are looking too much at how climatic events might harm our ecosystems, when at the same time, we should be looking at how much, harming our ecosystems, might loosen the mechanisms controlling our climate.
Oxygen currently comprises about 21 percent of Earth’s atmosphere by volume but has varied between 10 percent and 35 percent over the past 541 million years.
In periods when oxygen levels declined, the resulting drop in atmospheric density led to increased surface evaporation, which in turn led to precipitation increases and warmer temperatures, according to University of Michigan paleoclimatologist Christopher Poulsen.
“The connection between oxygen levels and climate has never been considered. It turns out that it’s an important factor over geological timescales,” said Poulsen, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. While not as critical to climate as levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide gas, oxygen plays a key role, he said.
“Oxygen concentration can help explain features in the paleoclimate record not accounted for by variations in carbon dioxide levels, and it must considered if we are to fully understand past climates,” Poulsen said. “However, variations in oxygen levels are not an important factor in present-day climate change.”
A key part of the uncertainty in terrestrial feedbacks on climate change is related to how and to what extent nitrogen (N) availability constrains the stimulation of terrestrial productivity by elevated CO2 (eCO2), and whether or not this constraint will become stronger over time. We explored the ecosystem-scale relationship between responses of plant productivity and N acquisition to eCO2 in free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments in grassland, cropland and forest ecosystems and found that: (i) in all three ecosystem types, this relationship was positive, linear and strong (r2 = 0.68), but exhibited a negative intercept such that plant N acquisition was decreased by 10% when eCO2 caused neutral or modest changes in productivity. As the ecosystems were markedly N limited, plants with minimal productivity responses to eCO2 likely acquired less N than ambient CO2-grown counterparts because access was decreased, and not because demand was lower. (ii) Plant N concentration was lower under eCO2, and this decrease was independent of the presence or magnitude of eCO2-induced productivity enhancement, refuting the long-held hypothesis that this effect results from growth dilution. (iii) Effects of eCO2 on productivity and N acquisition did not diminish over time, while the typical eCO2-induced decrease in plant N concentration did. Our results suggest that, at the decennial timescale covered by FACE studies, N limitation of eCO2-induced terrestrial productivity enhancement is associated with negative effects of eCO2 on plant N acquisition rather than with growth dilution of plant N or processes leading to progressive N limitation.


Question of the Week
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Answer: There are two species of chestnut weevil--the 'lesser' and the 'greater,’ and though the life cycles are slightly different, the control methods are the same. Only one pesticide (see below) is labeled for treatment of chestnut weevil, so the best way to control their proliferation is through good sanitary practices. Every fall, be certain to collect all burs, nuts, and leaf matter from under chestnut trees and burn them. Try to collect nuts within one or two days of falling from the bur (if not before).
As soon as possible after harvest, treat nuts by putting them in 120-degree (Fahrenheit) water for 20 minutes. This process kills the egg/small larvae but does not affect the viability of the seed. If the temperature is too low (less than 117 degrees F), the weevil will not be killed. If the temperature is too high, you will kill the embryo and, thus, the seed.
Because the weevil spends pupation and even part of adulthood in the soil under the tree, it’s possible that light tillage twice (or more) a year—once in spring and once in late summer (or sometime before the nuts are ripe in fall)—might help with control. However, this is not a proven method; we’re suggesting this as a possibility because it works with other weevils in this same family (cucurlionidae), including the plum curculio, a major pest of fruits in the eastern United States.
If you decide to use an insecticide, be aware that the only insecticide labeled for chestnut weevil control is carbaryl (Sevin), and you’ll have to have a sprayer capable of spraying up and through the tree canopy. Moreover, insecticides have proven effective only when applied to adults during the mating and early egg-laying period. For small chestnut weevils, this is mid-August to early September. Spraying should begin when adult weevils begin arriving in the tree crowns. Spreading a large sheet on the ground and shaking branches is a good way to monitor weevil presence (weevils have a habit of dropping to the ground whenever they are disturbed). Spraying should be done when the weevils are active, i.e., on warm, calm days. The interval between spray applications should range from three to seven days depending on weather and the presence of weevils. Two to four spray applications per season should be sufficient to provide adequate control.
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Answer: First, you’ll need to understand the inherent value of your product. What sets you apart from the wholesale buyer the restaurant typically gets its product from? Is your product local, organic, grass-fed or antibiotic-free, or a specialty item? Feature those attributes when marketing your products. These values set your products apart from others and will justify a price premium.
Producers should realize that selling to restaurants is a wholesale market; it is unrealistic to expect restaurants to pay retail prices (such as those received at a farmers market). Local producers can sometimes demand a premium above the wholesale prices that restaurants usually pay for produce. These premiums commonly range from 5% to 25% (and sometimes more) above the current wholesale market price. Specialty or hard-to-find items may be grown locally at a lower cost, and chefs may be interested in paying a price premium for those items. In general, chefs are often willing to pay a little more than wholesale for high-quality, reliable local produce.
A good place to start is organic terminal market prices. It is in a database form and you can search by product and market location. The direct link to the index is http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/Organic-Price-Report.
This resource has information for some conventionally grown products as well, but it focuses primarily on organics. If you are instead looking for conventional, data the USDA AMS Market News is the best source for current conventional produce prices and is available at http://marketnews.usda.gov/portal/fv.
When considering direct market sales to restaurants, ATTRA suggests using these market reports and then increasing the price by 25%, especially if you are in an area with a lot of high-end restaurants willing to pay a price premium. So, for example, if the wholesale price for basil is $8.00 for a dozen bunches, then multiply 8 x 1.25 = $10.00/dozen bunches.
For more information, see the ATTRA publications Selling to Restaurants at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=266, and Tips for Selling to Restaurants at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=388.
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Answer: Developing a new market and/or milk products will take some time and work. You will have to consider what available markets are near you, what prices the market will bear, the potential extra labor for new products, etc.
In Kansas, you can sell raw milk from your farm, but the law states that you cannot advertise the sale of milk or milk products in any way other than by a sign on your farm. So legally, it would be difficult to market/advertise your product unless your farm is situated on a busy road. You should contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture Dairy Inspection Program for information on what type of requirements you must meet in order to sell raw milk.
The list below identifies several resources that will help you think through the steps of starting a value-added dairy operation. Raw milk or other niche milk products are considered value-added products because you are not selling milk on the conventional commodity market. While adding a value-added component to your operation can be profitable, it also comes with many challenges including increased equipment/infrastructure needs and time and effort to market new products.
In addition, ATTRA has a variety of publications on topics related to value-added and processing that can help. To learn more, see our Marketing, Business & Risk Management section at https://attra.ncat.org/publication.html#marketing.
The Kansas Dairy Law. Kansas Department of Agriculture. www.ksda.gov/includes/statute_regulations/mainportal/DAIRY.pdf
Questions You Should Answer Before Starting a New Dairy Processing Enterprise. By B. Henehan. www.agmrc.org/media/cms/dairypq_A862019ABEC77.pdf
Dairy Your Way. 2006. By the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. www.misa.umn.edu/Publications/DairyYourWay/index.htm
Value-Added Dairy Processing Feasibility Report. 2003. By R. Hammarlund. Kansas Department of Commerce. www.agmrc.org/media/cms/fluidmilkprocessingreport_887CE9E92FFC8.pdf
Small dairy co-ops adding value for members by targeting niche markets. By Carolyn Liebrand. USDA Rural Development. www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/jul05/bucking.htm
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Answer: There are many factors that can affect the quality and tenderness of beef. Some of them are caused by production, some by processing, and some by cooking. The list below identifies several resources can help you address these various factors.
Especially useful is the ATTRA publication Organic and Grass-finished Beef Cattle Production. This publication has some good information that may help, including this quote: "Carcass quality is very important and is often overlooked by new grass-finished beef producers. Many of the 'grass-finished' beef cattle produced today are actually under-finished. A more accurate term for these cattle is 'grass-fed.' The end product from these cattle has little back fat and not enough marbling, and it can be dry and tough when cooked." Page 6 of this publication can help you evaluate your feeding regimen and if that might be affecting meat tenderness.
The article from The Stockman Grassfarmer has some good points to consider, too. It is possible that meat toughness is due to processing. You may need to have a conversation with your processor to work out those specific needs. Tenderness issues can also be caused by the cooking method. If your customers are new to grass-fed beef, they may need some education on how to properly handle and cook your beef. The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook has some great tips for cooking grass-fed meat and some great recipes, too.
Rinehart, Lee. 2011. Organic and Grass-finished Beef Cattle Production. ATTRA publication. https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=193
Pordomingo, A. 2005. Grass Feeding Does Not Cause Meat Toughness or Off Flavors. The Stockman Grassfarmer. Vol. 62, No. 5. p. 10-11.
Wortsell, R. No date. How to make sure your grass fed beef is tender—process it right. http://www.slideshare.net/worstellr/how-to-make-sure-your-grass-fed-beef-is-tender
Martz, Fred. 2000. Pasture-Based Finishing of Cattle and Eating Quality of Beef. http://aes.missouri.edu/fsrc/research/pasture.stm


Internet phishing hook, line and hopefully not sunk.
This study is based on the subject of internet phishing, and the primary goal was to ascertain the level of awareness thereof that exists amongst online users in the Durban area, and to determine if users were able to identify the common characteristics of a phishing attack. Associated research objectives were also to establish whether users were au fait with the concept of internet security, and how the correct implementation of this line of defence can prevent possible further or future attacks. Based on the findings of this research, it is further envisaged that a platform be provided to launch a robust awareness programme to attack the insidious invader, thus avoiding and preventing any intentional havoc from being successfully perpetrated. An online questionnaire, being quantitative in nature and comprising 19 questions, was administered to 500 participants. A two-month data collection period was allotted. The questionnaire was completed by 228 respondents, and one of the prerequisites was that they be located in Durban. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Although the analysis revealed that the level of awareness on the subject matter is average, the incidents of phishing attacks are clearly increasing. The deduction made is that the methods currently deployed to create awareness are obviously not having the desired effect, proving that this strategy has to be revisited urgently. The findings also demonstrate that internet phishing is everyone‟s responsibility and it is considered prudent for all internet users to make a concerted effort to learn more about the subject. The results concluded that a direct relationship existed between users‟ level of awareness and the efficacy of internet security installed on a computer. Users who were knowledgeable about the subject, and had installed Internet security software, generally did not experience malicious attacks and were less likely to be targeted. The overall findings presented in this study provide the aforementioned platform upon which an awareness campaign can be formulated to reduce the success rate, and the number, of highly probable future phishing attacks on a previously unsuspecting public.


Featuring scale models of the planets, you’ll be amazed to see just how tiny the Earth and Mars are in comparison to the size of our Sun. Discover interesting facts about all 8 planets along with Pluto the dwarf planet, the Asteroid Belt, and the Kuiper Belt. Build your very own Solar System at the Solar System Creator. Learn about the amazing science being done in our Solar System by researchers here at the University of Arizona. Plus, you’ll learn about NASA’s new OSIRIS-REx mission to return a sample from an asteroid. The University of Arizona is leading this breakthrough mission and the mission headquarters is right here in Tucson!


A Special Interest in Learning
It’s no secret that in order for students to be engaged in learning they must study what interests them for a good majority of the time. This means going beyond the confines of our standardized teaching model and finding ways to provide special education to every student.
Simply handing students iPads is not enough. We need to teach kids how to use this tool to research and discover their true passions. We need to give them more resources to make an educated decision about their future before they get to the sorting hat.
Our experience is that when students get to college, they tend to change majors several times. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, around 80 percent of undergrads change their major at least once before they graduate, and a majority change majors three or more times over the course of their college career. This means that students are leaving high school with little to no direction, or may be unaware of the job market potential.
Career day should be career week. Schools should expand their network beyond the traditional educator base by calling on other professionals within the community. This gives community members a chance to give back and share their experience with their young aspiring counterparts. There are entire companies dedicated to accomplishing this. For instance, IT-oLogy is a non-profit devoted to growing IT talent by working with K-12 schools to encourage students, educators and parents to learn more about the IT profession.
If a student wants to learn something specialized, such as programming, there’s probably someone out there who’s doing it for a living and wants to share their experience. Schools should curate who makes these connections and create environments that incentivize mentorship. This expanded learning network approach not only accommodates students’ interests – it builds strong communities.


Glare is a source of light that hampers your vision by increasing background illumination and reducing contrast. This might be daylight, headlights from oncoming traffic while driving at night – a particular problem for motorists wearing glasses – or a computer monitor. Many people suffer from headaches or eyestrain as a result of glare.
REDUCE THE AFFECTS OF GLARE
Driving at night
- Clean your windscreen and wiper blades
- Adjusting your mirrors and do not look directly at oncoming headlights
Working at your computer
- Keep your monitor away from the window, and keep it clean.
- Don't look directly at your computer in bright sunlight