Leda and the Swanby christos1
Karl Weschke - Leda and the Swan
Karl Weschke’s Leda and the Swan depicts a scene between Queen Leda of Sparta and Zeus (disguised as a swan). This mythological episode is often referred to as “the rape of Leda”, and whilst this painting is charged with aggression, the predator/prey relationship is unclear. It is possible that Weschke is attempting to play with commonly held conceptions of the myth by placing Leda herself in a position of power over a swan of questionable divinity. The tension caused by the straight black outline of Leda’s back and the motion in her right hand suggest she is on edge and about to move, possibly in an act of violence against the swan. It is easy to imagine that her left hand, blocked from view, is about to reach out for the swan’s slender, vulnerable neck. This idea is reinforced by the fact that it is the swan, not Leda, who is trapped against the wall of foliage in the background. Conversely, it is possible that Leda’s obscured hand is shielding her modesty. Moreover, the swan’s neck could be seen as a phallic symbol, which often represents masculine power. The fact that Leda’s expression is not seen leaves this aspect of the painting ambiguous, especially as the viewer is left to speculate as to whether or not there is eye-contact between the two figures.
Tradition states that Zeus came to Leda by the Eurotas river and raped her, but the scene portrayed by Weschke appears to precede any sexual encounter. Also, the lack of ripples or movement in the water, it can be assumed that the two figures have been motionless for a considerable amount of time, in an emotionally charged deadlock. The vertical lines throughout the painting lead the eye upwards to a disturbance in the otherwise flat sky. It is possible that this disturbance is a hole created by Zeus descending from Olympus, a notion reinforced by the faint rays of light streaming from the hole, light having divine connotations.
The mood invoked by this scene is incongruent with traditional; representations of Leda’s encounter with Zeus. Despite the fact that rape is normally an abhorrent crime, artists such as Leonardo di Bottega have used flowing lines and light golden colours to evoke a pleasant mood and stress the divine aspect of the meeting. Weschke, conversely, uses predominantly dark greens browns and greys which produce an entirely more depressing scene. This is reinforced by the fact that the swan (the brightest object within the painting) is not as brilliantly white as a real swan, let alone one which is supposedly divine. A possible way to interpret this is that the swan/Zeus is tainted by both the act he is about to commit as well as similar sexual acts in the past, thus the colour white (which carries pure virginal connotations) is dirtied. The angular, vertical lines of Weschke’s work give the painting a certain hostility, as opposed to di Bottega’s painting in which flowing lines give a sense of gentleness and space. Furthermore, although the painting contains many empty areas, the vertical lines in the background are reminiscent of prison bars and the fact that they curve out towards to viewer gives the painting a claustrophobic layer despite its numerous empty areas and large scale (183 x 137 cm).


Scientific Name: Penstemon strictus
Common Names: Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Porch Penstemon, Strict Beardtongue, Rocky Mountain Beardtongue
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Mountain. This beautiful wildflower grows in sunny, open locations in coniferous forests. Although it's not common in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, it can be seen in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Flower Color: Violet blue to royal purple
Flowering Season: Early summer
Height: Up to 3 feet (1 m) tall
Description: The flowers are in tall, erect, one-sided inflorescences. The individual flowers are broadly tubular and have an inflated floral tube, a violet to purple mouth, an upper lip with 2 oval lobes that project forward like a porch roof, a non-bearded lower lip with 3 oblong, drooping lobes, and a sparsely white-bearded staminode or "tongue". The flowers are followed by teardrop-shaped seed capsules. The leaves are dark green, hairless, opposite, and narrowly lance-shaped.
The similar Upright Blue Beardtongue (Penstemon virgatus) has light purple flowers with a white-bearded lower lip and non-projecting upper lobes.
Hummingbird Flower – The flowers attract hummingbirds even though penstemons with large-mouthed blue flowers are more adapted to bee and bumblebee pollination.
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Family: Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
Genus: Penstemon Schmidel – beardtongue
Species: Penstemon strictus Benth. – Rocky Mountain penstemon
More About This Plant


Small, rufous-brown bird of tepui undergrowth. Readily identified by small size, rufous-brown plumage, buffy eyebrow, and (at close range) black barring on wings and tail. Occurs in mossy forest understory and stunted forest at middle and high elevations of the tepui region. Usually remains in dense cover and can be difficult to see, but it will sing from exposed perches. Found in pairs, which forage for insects on and near the ground and typically do not join mixed-species flocks. Song is a high, metallic pair of notes slurred together, the second note lower-pitched, repeated at length and sometimes extended into a tinkling, jumbled series. Calls are harsh scolds reminiscent of other wrens. Distinguished from Flutist Wren (only other wren in range) by strongly rufous coloration and buffy eyebrow.


Pancreatic cancer cases make up around 3% of cancers in the United States, making it fairly rare.
That doesn’t mean symptoms should be overlooked. There is usually no outward sign of the tumor, like a lump, but there are things to watch out for. This is especially important because there is no screening exam for pancreatic cancer.
The pancreas is a gland, about 6 inches long, that sits behind the stomach. It has two main functions: It helps digest food and regulate blood sugar. Clues that there are problems with the pancreas often show up as changes in weight or blood sugar levels.
“The average person should not worry that they will get pancreatic cancer,” says Matthew Katz, M.D., associate professor in the department of Surgical Oncology. “But be aware of your body.”
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Katz says any combination of the following symptoms should be taken seriously, especially in people older than 65. The earlier cancer is found, the more likely it can be treated successfully.
Jaundice: This is yellowing of the eyes and skin. It might be subtle at first but could quickly become very noticeable. “Often people say they didn’t notice but their spouse did,” Katz says. “It’s progressive.”
Unexplained weight loss: Watch for weight loss unrelated to changes in your diet or exercise routine. This is because pancreatic cancer leads to muscle wasting, which is when your muscles become weak or shrink. You may also stop feeling hungry or become uncomfortable while eating. Weight loss of 10 or more pounds that cannot be explained can be a sign of cancer.
Pain: Many patients report stomach pain that radiates to their back. “People get a gnawing pain, classically at night. It can wake you up from sleep,” Katz says.
New onset diabetes: The pancreas regulates glucose levels in the blood, so any problem will affect your blood sugar. New onset diabetes, especially in an older person, can be a clue that something is wrong.
Lethargy and depression: More research is needed to understand this, but Katz says the rate of depression among pancreatic cancer patients is higher than average.
“Patients know their bodies best and if any of these symptoms are persistent and can’t be explained, they should be properly checked out,” Katz says. “Even if that means getting a second or third opinion.”
Reduce your pancreatic cancer risk
You can take steps to reduce your risk for pancreatic cancer.
If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Smokers have double the risk of pancreatic cancer over non-smokers.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for a host of cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Even if you are a healthy weight or slightly overweight, if you carry extra pounds around your waistline, your risk goes up.
If you have a history of pancreatic or other cancers in your family, consider genetic testing. This could help your medical team find out if you have gene mutations that put you at higher risk.


The advancement in technology has benefited us tremendously in doing our daily chores. It has made our lives much more relaxed and hassle-free. Be its fuel-efficient cars, smart refrigerators, or highly advanced central-airconditioning in our homes.
The temperature all around the world has risen, and exposure to excessive heat is causing severe illnesses. A few years ago, people considered air conditioning a luxury, but the unbearable weather conditions have made it a necessity. On the other hand, countries on the northern side of the world deal with chilly weather conditions. For them, a heating system is essential. Hence, having a well-maintained HVAC system is a must in our homes. The HVAC system uses technology to provide heating and cooling comfort. These systems make use of air from outdoors to yield high-quality indoor air. Furthermore, it includes ventilation that is exchanging or replacing air within an enclosed space. An HVAC system performs three primary functions that are interrelated, and they provide thermal comfort and adequate air quality.
HVAC requires maintenance regularly, and negligence can result in a complete breakdown of the systems. People are generally unaware of the guidelines of maintaining HVAC, which is why their furnace or air conditioner does not work for longer durations and lose its efficiency.
Below we are listing the key factors of the ultimate guide to HVAC maintenance:
1. Removing Debris
The HVAC system may work with less power, especially when you turn it on after months. People consider it a voltage issue or think that the machine is deteriorating. They hardly think of cleaning the outdoor unit and heat pumps. In most cases, it is an accumulation of discarded stuff that hinders the flow of air, which affects the working of an HVAC system.
2. Replace HVAC Filters Regularly
The majority of us tend to spend most of our time indoors, and we should ensure that the air we are breathing in is free from all the toxins. You have several options to select the most suitable HVAC Filters for your home. These filters have a short life, and you should replace them regularly. No matter how good is the quality of filters, after some time, they still stop working and capturing the dust particles. That means, the filters get clogged over a period, which can be extremely dangerous for your health, especially older people and infants. Replacing the filters frequently ensures fresher and cleaner air, which has a positive impact on the environment.
3. Unusual Noises
Electric appliances generally do not stop working abruptly; instead, more often than not, it is a slow process. People do not realize, but something in the system collapses and slows down the functioning. Usually, in these scenarios, the appliance starts making unusual noises, which is an indication that you need to look into it. Many a time, it is losing bolts, debris in the vents or register blockage and if you look into it, you can solve the problem quickly. Sometimes ignoring these noises, thinking that they are not significant, can lead you to a complete falling down of the system.
4. Give Your HVAC Some Downtime
If you continuously run your electrical appliances, then their performance will slow down. It is essential to let these machines rest a bit. Giving an HVAC system a break will prolong its life and improve efficiency. Besides, the constant running of the airconditioning or heating unit reduces the pressure in the coil until it freezes. The freezing of a loop can be hazardous to the central unit. It causes the liquid refrigerant to flow back in towards the compressor. The compressor is the backbone of an HVAC system, and when it gets damaged, the system breaks down.
5. Thermostat Maintenance
HVAC technicians consider thermostat as a brain of HVAC systems. They are highly sensitive parts of the system. Although they do not need a constant inspection but checking them once a year is a must. A thermostat whose cover is improper can become a reason for the failure of an air conditioner or a furnace. You should make sure that the thermostat is clean, as dirt can also affect its calibration and weakens its operation.
Doesn’t it feel like a blessing when you step in a chilled room after being exposed to the sweltering heat? Don’t you feel cozy when in winters you turn on your heating unit and enjoy the comfortable temperature inside your home? Therefore to enjoy the pleasant temperature at home, you must maintain your HVAC unit regularly. Hopefully, with the guide’s help, as mentioned above, you can now manage your HVAC system like a pro!


In this video from the American Masters film Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun, learn about the public's reaction to Their Eyes Were Watching God. Using materials in this activity, students will conduct close reads (of multiple texts) and a classroom debate to gain a thorough understanding of how Zora Neale Huston felt about her work and her critics' reactions to it as well.
Note: Pay close attention to the archival footage logo on the bottom left side of the video. It indicates Zora Neale Hurston’s original footage!
Visit the American Masters Collection for additional resources on the American dream and other American writers.


What’s soil got to do with it? Everything! It is a non-renewable natural resource that is the key ingredient in food, fiber and fuel production. Agriculture is the only essential industry on earth, and we must continue to share our message and methods to those who are not in the industry but consume our products.
“To forget how to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Lest we forget, soil science is a core unit taught in our schools! The annual National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference is a mainstay for all of us at the Nutrients for Life Foundation. With colorful banners displayed and stacks of curricula and magazines at our booth, the Nutrients for Life team provide science teachers with information on the role soil and crop nutrients have in our world. Our curriculum, Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century, and resources are free to all educators. In creating the curriculum, we followed the key objectives from the National Science Education Standard and had them reviewed by the Smithsonian Institute. Our curriculum and resources complement other soil units and are easy for teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans.
The Nutrients for Life team will be at the 2013 NSTA conference in San Antonio, April 11-14 in booth #1413. If you are at the conference, please make a point to visit our booth and see what new items we have to offer. Our workshop, “What’s Soil Got to Do with It?,” will be led by Orlando AP Science teacher and department head, Nancy Bridge. Nancy has a wealth of experience and knowledge that comes out passionately as she talks to her peers about soil science and crop nutrients. Nancy Bridge explains her enthusiasm:
“If there was one total package that could be delivered to the public about food production; it is the core message of the Foundation about the essentialness of fertilizer in feeding the world. The Nutrients for Life curricula are well written and easily incorporated into any science curriculum K-12. When I present the curricula at NSTA, I speak to a diverse group of 50 to 100 teachers with their own students, most of whom have no agriculture background. These teachers walk away with fun ideas that are classroom ready, curriculum supplements, and have challenged their own personal views about the agriculture industry. What an awesome opportunity for the agriculture industry and Nutrients for Life!”
Debuting at the conference will be our new phosphate mining video and activities. The video highlights how and why phosphate is mined and the land reclamation process. The video would be a great addition to any high school science class.
We look forward to meeting this year delegation of teachers. If you are at the convention, please come and see us! We will give you free resources that will excite and prepare you to teach your students about the importance of soil, as well as, prepare them for academic testing.
“Only with adequate investment in soil science will the nation have the workforce (educators, researchers, and land managers) necessary to safeguard this irreplaceable resource and ensure ecosystem health as well as the continued sustainable production of feed, fiber, food and fuel.”
– Soil Science Society of America
What’s soil got to do with it? Everything!


Nobody wants to visit the dentist now and then, right? Some ailments are inevitable, but we can still take precautions to keep them away. One such issue is that of dental cavities. If we take care of our oral hygiene from the very beginning, there might not be a need to trouble ourselves with the pain and uneasiness. Before jumping right into the top ten tips to prevent cavities, we should first know how they show up and what they are.
Oral cavities are the holes in the teeth caused primarily by the action of plaque that gets formed due to leftover bits and pieces of food. They are acted upon by bacteria to produce acids that damage the tooth structure and lead to what we call tooth decay or dental caries. There can be several reasons behind the formation of cavities, for example, the intake of food rich in sugar and starch like bread, fast-food, chocolates, sugary drinks, etc. The improper cleaning of the teeth also accounts for the teeth and gum problems.
The consequences of cavity-struck teeth could be fatal, if not taken care of properly. You might not find any symptoms, but the sudden toothache or gum-problems can further trigger the need to visit the doctor for tooth-removal. That would look bad and hurt so much. So, why not take healthy steps to never let such a circumstance arise? It is time that we introduce you to the five fantastic tips to keep the cavities away while you still enjoy eating delicious food.
The Pro Tips
Brush your teeth twice a day
Have you ever wondered why you get up every morning and need to brush your teeth? As a kid, we usually think that it is a norm, and if we do not brush daily, we will have bad breath. However, as we grow up, we realize the real importance of brushing twice a day. Studies suggest that the way we brush our teeth also reflects on the probability of getting cavities. A quality toothpaste is another thing which matters. There are spaces between the teeth where the food particles might get stuck. It is essential to brush appropriately to remove them. If those food particles are left behind, the bacteria will feed on them and release chemicals to deplete the teeth structure.
Use Floss and Tongue cleaner for better cleansing
Cleaning the teeth is not sufficient. We should use good quality tongue-cleaner to clean our tongue. Sometimes, a soft brush can also be used, instead. It is essential to remove the white coating from the tongue. Most often the debris remains intact in the spaces between the teeth. Using the floss gently over them in circular fashion can help us get rid of them. Moreover, regular flossing can help remove the plaque that deposits in and around the teeth. However, one must be careful while flossing because it can hurt the gums, if not done correctly.
Don’t have too much of sugary food or junks
As already mentioned, the diet rich in sugar, like carbohydrates, is a significant source of cavities. Such food items often get trapped between our teeth and due to ineffective cleaning, they become a breeding ground for bacteria that causes tooth decay. Hence, it is advisable to limit the consumption of sugar-rich food items. Avoiding junk food, chips, cakes, etc. also helps keep such problems away. High acid content food items, like the ones containing citric acid, can further lead to cavities and eat up the enamel. You should never eat just before you sleep. Either brush your teeth, rinse once or twice or drink water after eating. It will prevent the food items from staying in your mouth the entire night.
A regular check-up won’t harm
Visiting the dentist often is the best thing we could do to keep ourselves fit in terms of oral hygiene. The doctor would often instruct us about our present condition and give suggestions to maintain good health. Dentists are equipped with the latest technologies, and they know the correct method to use for our diagnosis. They might go for a panoramic x-ray which captures the details of mouth in a single image. So, how about visiting the dentist every birthday? That would be a significant step towards keeping your smile brighter and your teeth free from any cavities.
Seldom uses of fluoride mouthwash or sugar-free gums
In addition to brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning, using fluoride-based mouth-wash can help rinse out potential bacteria from the mouth. These are harmless and can be used upon slight dilution. However, one should not ingest such liquids. Also, there are sugar-free chewing gums which also help in fighting the bacteria that cause tooth decay. These will all help prevent cavities.
Taking care of your teeth and preventing cavities is now in your hands. What you eat and drink, how you clean your mouth, and how often you go for the checkup will all affect your oral hygiene. Cavities are harmful to your teeth as they tend to spread due to the bacteria. It is so much possible that one of your teeth with a cavity, spreads the bacteria to the tooth next to it. The blackening of the teeth will look dirty if it is visible when you smile or speak.
Moreover, it also produces bad breath. Henceforth, it is quite essential to take all significant steps to keep the cavities away.
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Neem is a native of south Asia .It is a fast growing and evergreen tree.Neem can grow to 50-70 feet in its native climate.
Neem can grow in any soil,but do its best in deep sandy soil with good drainage.
There is no special care needed. Neem plants can take the hot, Phoenix sun very well. Need frost protection
Plant is drought tolerant. For good growth watered regularly in the summer months. As with all the trees, I irrigate them 7-14 days during growing season and every 4 to 6 weeks during the winter.months
We have 3 to 5 inch thick layer of partially compost mulch near the tree drip line. As it is vigorous growing plant, it needs regular fertilizer during the summer months.
Medicinal UsesNeem is known as wonder tree of the world. Neem probably is the world most efficient insect repellent with extracts from its fruit, kernels, leaves, and twigs, which yield a compound known as “azadirachtian” and which is systemic in action and has both insecticide and fungicide properties.
The Neem oil has been used for various purposes including skin care, soaps and etc, in South Asia. The leaves are boiled in water for extracting azadeirachtian and diluted in water; it is taken orally against many diseases and used as bath for skin diseases. Neem is related to mahogany and has beautiful hard wood of pink color, highly suitable for furniture. At an age of about 20 years, the tree produces wood which is surpassed only by mahogany and teak . One aspect of its is that once furniture is made from its wood, it keeps on darkening i.e., acquiring deep pink color with age. Its timber besides being durable is not attacked by termites.
Needs protection from frost. Tolerate summer heat well.
Tree shown here is about 1 1/2 years old. Obtained by Mail order from Florida . It was 4 “ tall when planted now it is about 5 feet tall.


In Year 2 students rotate each trimester among one of the three Foreign Languages offered for 30 minutes twice a week. From Year 3 students choose a Foreign Language which will either be French, Spanish or Turkish, unless they are receiving Additional English Support (AES). Students attend two one-hour long lessons a week in the language chosen. Students are taught at their level of language competency.
Topics covered include vocabulary referring to: greetings, introductions, the alphabet, numbers, age, countries and nationalities, colors, school objects, calendar and international celebrations, family, pets, face and body, transportation, weather, clothes, feelings, time, animals, food, and shopping. All four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are taught and assessed within this course.
The Modern Foreign Languages Department organizes educational fun activities and educational excursions for Primary students such as Languages Assembly.


A skateboard is known as a small piece of wood shaped in the form of surfboard having four wheels attached to the board. Only a single person rides this board controlling the movement with both feet. Some people use a skateboard as a means of transportation through short distance while some just use it to pull stunts. No matter what you want to use your skateboard for, they all have everything in common.
Skateboards comprise of three sections: the deck (the real board), the truck (a part typically made of metal, which links the wheels to the deck), and the skateboard wheels. A typical skateboard deck has a length of 81.3 cm, a width of 20.3 cm and is somewhat less than 1.3 cm thick. The deck has a characterized tail and nose with a curved center.
Skateboards are made of 6-9 layers of pressed plywood
To withstand damage and stress, skateboards aren’t made of only one piece of wood. Rather, various thin layers of veneer and plywood are layered, glued together and then pressed for a few hours to build one deck. The standard board uses seven pieces of plywood, although some boards may use up to nine.
- Changing the number of pieces in the skateboard or the thickness of the sheets will affect its flexibility, weight, and skating properties.
- Most skateboard decks end up with a thickness of around 10mm.
Skateboard decks, skateboard trucks, and skateboard wheels are designed differently depending on how you are going to be using your skateboard. Decks vary in their concavity angle and the shape of the tail and nose.
How about we begin with veneer? Skateboard veneers are broken down into three classifications of plywood. Face plywood, sanded or un-sanded center plywood and cross-band plywood which usually are un-sanded. The way by which you arrange these diverse layers determines the skateboard’s weight, strength, and feel. A typical style of organizing the plywood or layers should be:
- Center layer
- Center layer
- Center layer
The veneer’s thickness also varies. Most times, 0.058/1.47mm for the core layers and the faces and the cross-bands are naturally thinner at 0.050/1.27mm.
Skateboard deck glue
After placing the veneers in the appropriate place, the next thing is to glue. If you make use of some other sort of glue apart from tie bond, you are screwed because no glue can hold skateboard as strong as tie bond. Tie bond glue is specifically made for this kind of work. However, for the gluing process, place the sanded part of the face on the concrete, and the un-sanded side should be facing up. Apply glue on the un-sanded side then take a center layer and place it on the face. Repeat the process for the cross-bond seven times.
Leave the board to press for up to 8 hours before removing it
After gluing all the veneers together, it is now time for pressing. To start pressing, pick two pieces of cardboard that are around 3 inches longer and wider and then the unshaped board. At that point, place the frame on its side and then put the veneers in between the cardboard and the frame, then take 20” to 16” nuts with bolts, washers, and 2” to 4” channel irons.
The next thing is to put the channels irons in the middle of the frame so that it could be pressed nicely. When this is done, allow the skateboard deck to mold for the remainder of the day. You have to check it every 2 hours to ensure the bag is still tight, and you may have to suction more air out of the bag once in a while.
Remove the uncut deck from the mold once it has cured. Remove the cardboard also. When you complete that, then you can make your own skateboard designs. Some people use a design card program because it makes the design more exact for the tail and nose, you can draw out your design on a graph paper. When you have drawn out your design, place it on top of the uncut but do not tape it yet, because you should determine how long you want the tail and nose of the skateboard to be. When you have everything exactly where you like it, then mark the point where the skateboard trucks would be. Now you can start tapping and drawing after which you will cut the design.
After getting the design ready, then it is time to cut out the deck to be shaped. When doing this, it’s best to use a band saw, because it is more exact of a cut, however in the event that you do not have one, you can just utilize the helpful dandy small jigsaw. After you complete cutting it out, use a rasp or a router to curve the edges of the board.
Doing this will ensure that you do not get slivers. After doing that, sand the whole deck with steel wool or sandpaper (around 150 to 220 coarseness) till the board becomes super smooth. Also, do not forget to drill out the truck holes before sanding.
Learning how to make your own skateboard with RogerSkateboards.com is quite easier than you would think. Building the deck or the wooden board only needs a basic knowledge of carpentry, a skateboard mold, a vacuum press, and a jigsaw, and skateboard can even be made at your home exercising little patience. When you lay your hands on this process, you would realize how easy it is to make a skateboard deck.
You’ve got the chance to design your skateboard however you want it, and what more could be better than this. Skateboard building is fun. Although professional looking skateboards are nearly impossible without using professional equipment, anybody can make a skateboard and get done with it within 1-2 days. If you are thinking of making one before, now is the right time for you to start!


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Topics in Geobiology series treats geobiology – the broad discipline that covers the history of life on Earth. The series aims for high quality, scholarly volumes of original research as well as broad reviews. Recent volumes have showcased a variety of organisms including cephalopods, corals, and rodents. They discuss the biology of these organisms – their ecology, phylogeny, and mode of life – and in addition, their fossil record – their distribution in time and space.
Other volumes are more theme-based, such as predator-prey relationships, skeletal mineralization, paleobiogeography, and approaches to high resolution stratigraphy, that cover a broad range of organisms. One theme that is at the heart of the series is the interplay between the history of life and the changing environment. This is treated in skeletal mineralization and how such skeletons record environmental signals and animal-sediment relationships in the marine environment.


How to replace a blown fuse
Blowing a fuse or tripping a fuse switch is easily done – especially if you’re one of those people that likes to multi-task with their electricals. We’re talking ironing while watching the TV, charging your phone and microwaving your lunch. Unfortunately, powering several electrical appliances at the same time can overload your circuits and cause a fuse to blow. The good news is a blown fuse is pretty easy to replace.
Sometimes you may find that a fuse has blown in the plug of an appliance, rather than in your fuse box. This is often caused by an electrical fault in an old or damaged device. Again, changing the fuse is relatively straightforward. We would, however, suggest getting a qualified electrician to take a look at your appliance. Faulty devices can be dangerous so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Our aim with this article is to first explain how fuses work – after all, it’s always good to know the basics. We’ll then provide a full rundown of how to change a fuse. So whether you are dealing with an old fashioned fuse box, a trip switch fuse box or a blown fuse in a plug, by the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know exactly what you need to do.
Please remember that electrics are dangerous. Although changing a fuse is a task you can do yourself at home, if you are not confident in your ability to do so or are concerned about faulty electrics, it’s always best to get in touch with a qualified electrician.
How does a fuse work?
A fuse is an important safety component that makes up part of an electric circuit. It is designed to interrupt and eliminate the flow of electric current if it’s voltage exceeds what the circuit can handle. Essentially, the fuse wire ‘blows’ by heating up and melting, creating a gap in the circuit and shutting off the electric.
You will know if a fuse has blown if your lights suddenly go out or your electrical appliances stop working. As we mentioned in the intro, it could be down to you plugging in too many appliances at one time (i.e. overloading your circuits) or a fault in the wiring of one of your devices. Either way, it can be a real inconvenience, so it’s good to know how to replace a blown fuse so you can solve the problem quickly and get on with your day.
Below, we’ve provided steps on how to repair a blown fuse in a trip switch fuse box, a traditional wire fuse box and an electrical plug.
Repairing a trip switch fuse box
Today most houses have a modern fuse box that uses trip switches, rather than carriers containing fuse wire. They are much more convenient to repair, as if you blow a fuse, it’s a case of flicking a switch back up, rather than replacing a fuse wire. Follow these simple steps:
- Turn off the lights and unplug the devices in the room that has lost power (you may be overloading your circuits or have a faulty device)
- Locate your fuse box – check your utility room or basement if you’re unsure
- Make sure you have dry hands and are standing on a dry surface
- Lift the cover and check the position of your fuse switches
- If any are pointing down, then they have tripped and need flicking back to the up position
- Your electric supply should now be back on
Keep in mind that if you overload your circuits (either by using all of the sockets in an extension lead or plugging in too many devices in a single room) your switch is likely to trip again. If it appears to be one appliance tripping the switch (you’ll know if you plug it in and the power goes off) then you’ll need to unplug it, reset your switch and get the device looked at by a qualified electrician. Don’t keep using the appliance as it’ll keep tripping your fuse switch and could be a potential hazard.
If this does not fix the problem, there may be a fault with the fuse box itself. This will need to be examined and repaired by an electrician. If the issue is terminal, you will need to speak to them about fuse box replacement cost and installation.
How to change a fuse in a traditional fuse box
If you live in an old property, it may still have a traditional fuse box that contains fuse carriers and wire. If you blow a fuse, you’ll need to replace the wire. You can buy fuse wire from a hardware store. Just make sure it’s the same amperage as the fuse wire you’re replacing. To change a fuse:
- Turn off all appliances including your lights and boiler
- Make sure your fuse box is switched off (this usually happens automatically when a fuse blows)
- Inspect the fuse carriers to see which fuse has blown – it will be physically broken, burnt through or discoloured
- Use a screwdriver to loosen the carriers screws and remove the broken fuse wire
- Thread the new fuse wire through the central part of the carrier and wrap it around the first screw in a clockwise motion and then the second screw.
- Tighten the screws and remove any excess fuse wire with wire cutters
- Place the carrier back inside your fuse box and turn on the master switch
- Your circuit should now be fully repaired and your electric back on
If the fuse blows immediately after you plug one of your devices back in, the circuit is likely shorting or you have a faulty appliance. Seek advice from an electrician.
How to replace a blown fuse in plug
Has one of your electrical appliances stopped working when you plug it in? You have likely blown a fuse in the plug itself. Luckily fuse replacement is easy. Follow the steps below:
- Examine the plug for scorch marks and burning. If either is present, it’s a sign of a faulty appliance and you’ll need to either take it back to the store (if you have a warranty) or call an electrician for help
- If the plug is in a good condition, remove the screws under the base, using a screwdriver
- The fuse will be located on the right side of the plug. Lift it with your screwdriver to dislodge it
- Replace the fuse with a fuse of the same amperage (check the appliance’s instructions if unsure)
- Reassemble the plug, plug it into the wall and switch the device back on
- If a blown fuse was the problem, your appliance should now be working again as normal
Unfortunately, some devices have internal fuses, as well as plug fuses. These aren’t nearly as easy to locate and fix, so if you are having trouble with something like an oven fuse, we recommend calling a qualified electrician to carry out the work on your behalf.
Home cover for electrics
Electrical problems can be a nuisance, which is why we suggest taking out home cover. Our comprehensive home cover includes repairs to your home’s main electrical wiring, by a qualified and experienced electrician, at a time that’s convenient for you. We also have a handy 24/7 helpline to guide you through quick fixes like replacing a fuse and troubleshooting why a fuse switch has tripped.
For more information and to get a quote, take a look at our home care plans. Prefer to speak to a real person? Give our friendly team a call on 0800 368 9881 today.


Passionate and full of fierce style, red is a bold shade with lots of power. And believe it or not, when used in the right ways, you can dip an entire room in this cherry flavor without overwhelming the eyes or any other of the senses.
Color wheel basics
Understanding the psychology of colors and how it affects the mood and aesthetic of a space helps us better choose color palettes that suit our vision when designing and decorating a room. It’s also helpful to know a bit about using the color wheel to select these palettes. Here’s a few terms you should familiarize yourself with:
Complementary colors are positioned on opposite sides on the color wheel and they accentuate one another when used together. For example, blue and orange are complementary, the same as violet and yellow or green and red.
Triads are groups of three colors that form a triangle on the color wheel. As an example, a triad can be formed of orange, green and violet. Make sure you balance these colors when using them in your décor.
Analogue colors are nuances that are found besides each other on the color wheel. For example, red and orange and analogue colors. The contrast between them is not as strong as it is between complementary colors and this can be used strategically when decorating a room.
Warm and cool colors is an important distinction to make in order to create the desired mood and ambiance in a space. Warm colors include nuances such as red, orange or yellow while the cool ones include green, blue, violet and other variations.
Non-colors are not found on the color wheel but are still very important in interior design. They’re colors such as beige, grey, white or black and these are also referred to as neutrals. They complement and balance out the other colors but can also send a powerful message on their own in certain contexts.
Color, like many other things, can affect human behavior and this is what we usually refer to as color psychology. Each color has a unique significance and a unique way in which it affects our mood and state of mind. Understanding this helps interior designers come up with the perfect combination of colors for each of their projects.
- Red – a powerful color that’s never boring. It makes for an excellent accent color and it suits areas like the kitchen or living room where it helps to stimulate conversations and interaction between people by filling the air with energy.
- Orange – a joyful and happy color that adds warmth and energy to the space around it. The bright orange shades are best used as accent colors and paired with neutrals like greys and whites. Other more toned down nuances like terracotta orange have a unique charm of their own.
- Yellow – a very happy and cheerful color that can also feel very welcoming. Light yellows are very fresh and uplifting and deep yellow look sophisticated and refined.
- Green – the color we associate with nature and freshness and that gives us a sense of wellness. Light and bright greens look magnificent in modern decors wile dark greens create a feeling of luxury and have a rich aesthetic.
- Purple – a dramatic and sophisticated both in the lighter forms like lavender and the darker nuances. Purple can also make a room feel mysterious and relaxing and it can make a very bold statement in the right context and when paired with the right colors.
20 Simple ideas for using Cherry in interior design
1. Smooth, Fresh.
Check out this fresh and clean-edged home office. Full of powerful reds, it has enough eclectic, trendy touches to subdue it’s abrasive appeal. This is great for someone who loves a smooth surface to work on, but with a fashion-forward, gutsy approach.
2. Luxurious, Rich.
The tiling of this guest bathroom is super luxurious and couture in spirit. It works extremely well with the soft lighting and gives an extra punch of flavor that most guests’ spaces never have.
3. Retro, Funky.
Whether a reading nook, playroom or just in the family living room, a playful outlook is always a fun and inspiring way to decorate. Even if you’re traveling a monochromatic path, it’s okay to add patterns and prints to create a more subtle look.
4. Relaxed, Sophisticated.
Create a home away from home with an at-home movie theatre decked out in red shades. It’ll be quite the relaxing room but with a sophisticated feel that you get when you go out and treat yourself to a night out at the movies.
5. Dramatic, Chic.
Even the ceiling has been dressed in a cherry tone. This dining room is fit for entertaining and wowing guests of all forms and fashions.
6. Cottage, Feminine.
Red can be delicate and dainty too, if you use the right prints. Floral accents helps to create a softness, even when you’re using dramatic colors.
7. Rustic, Conservative.
Although it’s not completely dipped in cherry, from head to toe, this red kitchen brings a certain amount of bold flair to a conservative space fit for a rustic rebel. We love the mixing of country flavors and fashion-forward colors.
Your teens could stand a bit of red dressing. It’s a cool and clean way to decorate a bedroom with enough youthful vibes and preppy style to stand out and feel comfortable at the same time.
9. Contemporary, Traditional.
This bright and vivacious cherry-red sure does pop off the walls and creates a sunny ambiance. The clean design of the room mixed with more conservative accents makes for a fresh, contemporary and welcoming home office for any type of business doer.
10. Futuristic, Modern.
Red is a great way to bring your own sense of personality to a space that’s got an extraordinary feel to it. Like this ultra modern, furitstic bathroom design. The red accents and gives a personal flair to it.
11. Unexpected, Welcoming.
Painting the exterior of the house red can be a very bold statement but it all depends on the nuance you choose. A darker, terracotta-inspired red can look very inviting and welcoming while still giving the house an unexpected look. This seems to be the aesthetic that studio Timberlake Custom Homes were going for here.
12. Fresh, Energetic.
A red accent wall can look excellent in a modern living room and its beauty can be amplified by other bold colors like orange, yellow or green. There’s definitely a lot going on here in this design created by Anthony Baratta but none of the colors overpowers the décor.
13. Modern, Simple Bathroom Decor
Red, white and black is a classic combination of colors. These three nuances are often used together to give spaces a simple, modern and classic look. Red is the accent color and comes in the form of accent furniture, fixtures and decorations. Here it gives the bathroom a bold appearance in this design created by Crisp Architects.
14. Bold, Eye-catching.
Add curb appeal to your house with a red front door. It adds character to the exterior of the house, color to the facade and it makes the entrance easy to spot even from a distance. Include a few additional red accents for a more organic look, as shown in this design by Crisp Architects.
15. Retro, Cozy.
Stained wood with red undertones has a charm of its own and a unique ability to add a retro touch to a décor without necessarily making it look dated. The red island definitely suits this farmhouse-style kitchen designed by NSPJ Architects.
16. Metallic, Chic.
A lot of colors look magnificent when paired with a metallic finish. In this case we’re looking at a tile backsplash with a dark red/ brown color and a beautiful finish that complements this midcentury-modern kitchen perfectly. This is a design by studio cityhomeCOLLECTIVE.
17. Classic, Powerful.
Although red is a powerful and bold color, it can still be used on large surfaces like walls without overpowering the room. A good example is this traditional dining room by studio Christian Gladu Design. The walls are complemented by the subtle red undertones featured by the furniture and the accessories which gives the décor a surprisingly organic look.
18. Traditional, Matching.
Red is a color we’ve come to expect from theaters and cinema rooms. It suits the theatrical theme of these spaces so even though it’s a very bold and strong color it doesn’t give off the feeling it’s being used in excess even when we have matching red seats, carpets, curtains, walls and everything. A good example is this home theater by Electronics Design Group.
19. Rustic, Warm.
The red subway tiles look similar to bricks and that gives this kitchen a rustic and very warm and cozy vibe. The tiled countertops extend this look horizontally and together with the terracotta-colored tray ceiling they give the design a more uniform and natural look. This is a project by David Heide Design Studio.
20. Cherry Dramatic, Sophisticated.
The red walls with white trims give this room a theatrical and aristocratic vibe but it’s not just the walls. This is merely a small detail and there’s plenty of other elements that contribute to this theme like the decorative curtains, the chandelier, the coffered ceiling design and of course the furniture. Image from khwindowfashions.


Curated by Manuel Chacón
August 2014 – October 201 5
Why did Tomás Povedano come to Costa Rica? What makes him one of the best official portrait painter of his time? How did his portraits come to be used on banknotes? What ideals did his drawings and paintings inspire?
This exhibition allowed visitors to learn more about Tomás Povedano de Arcos, an artist originally from Spain who became one of the main banknote illustrators in Costa Rica in the early 20th century.
Povedano came to Costa Rica in 1896 to found the National School of Fine Arts, at a decisive moment in Costa Rican history: the consolidation of Costa Rica as a liberal canon nation-state. As such, the glorification of the nationalist spirit was a priority in the ruling class. Povedano’s technical skills in portarit painting and drawing earned him the position of official painter of the Costa Rican political elite.
The research that gave rise to this exhibition seeks to analyze the relation between the images on some banknotes issued in Costa Rica during the first half of the 20th century, the ruling political discourse at the time, and some of Tomás Povedano’s paintings.
The exhibition was made up of several parts. The first part dealed with the historical period in which Povedano’s work takes place, and explained how the nationalist ideals of the time relate to his work.
The following sections highlighted his work as official portait painter of former chiefs of state, political and intellectual figures, and other types of Costa Rican leaders. To this effect, the exhibition included some of the artist’s original works of figures such as Braulio Carrillo , Rafael Yglesias and Manuel Aguilar, as well as the banknotes with these engravings.
Next in the tour were a series of banknotes issued in 1939 by the National Bank of Costa Rica, representing different periods of Costa Rican history. The images refere to pre-Columbian legacy, as well as the Spanish conquest, the Colonial period, the Costa Rican independence and the Republic. Some of these images are works by Povedano, such as Cacique indio de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Indian Cacique), engraved in the 10 colón banknote issued in 1939. The 20 colón banknote printed in 1941 shows the portrait of Spanish conqueror Juan de Cavallón, while the 2 colón banknote shows his work, El rescate de Dulcehé (The Rescue of Dulcehé). The original works that inspire the engravings on these two banknotes were also on display.


Researchers at the Center for Laser Applications at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma have developed a technology that goes on a "seek and destroy" mission for cancerous tumors. They have harnessed the power of lasers to find, map and non-invasively destruct cancerous tumors.
Christian Parigger, associate professor of physics, and Jacqueline Johnson, associate professor of mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical engineering, along with Robert Splinter of Splinter Consultants, have developed the invention. The technology uses a femtosecond laser, which means it pulses at speeds of one-quadrillionth of a second. The high speed enables the laser to focus in on a specific region to find and acutely map a tumor.
A video about the research can be viewed by visiting http://youtu.be/9I2M_7oCOGs.
"Using ultra-short light pulses gives us the ability to focus in a well confined region and the ability for intense radiation," said Parigger. "This allows us to come in and leave a specific area quickly so we can diagnose and attack tumorous cells fast."
Once the cancerous area is precisely targeted, only the intensity of the laser radiation needs to be turned up in order to irradiate, or burn off, the tumor. This method has the potential to be more exact than current methods and to be done as an outpatient procedure replacing intensive surgery.
"Because the femtosecond laser radiation can be precisely focused both spatially and temporally, one can avoid heating up too many other things that you do not want heated," said Parigger. "Using longer laser-light pulses is similar to leaving a light bulb on, which gets warm and can damage healthy tissue."
The technology can be especially helpful to brain cancer victims. The imaging mechanism can non-invasively permeate thin layers of bone, such as the skull, and can help define a targeted treatment s
|Contact: Whitney Heins|
University of Tennessee at Knoxville


This tutorial presents a technique for generating a 32 bit image that is suitable, once converted to a texture, for use as a displacement map that will produce a pattern of high frequency bumps. The 32 bit image is derived from an orthographic rendering of a square polygon lit by instances of a custom light source shader. The shader is implemented such that its lighting distribution, figure 1, produces a gradation of grayscale values on the square polygon that will cause the displacement map to produce hemi-spherical "bumps".
For example, the image shown in figure 2 was converted
to a texture and used as a map to displace the polygon shown in figure 3.
The tutorial uses a python script to write a pre-baked (archive) rib file
that references an arbitary number of light sources. For
example, figure 3 is an image of a polygon lit by 1600 lights distributed in a
regular grid. Figure 4 shows the effect of using the image as a displacement map
on a nurbs sphere. Despite the very high frequency of the bumps at the pole of
the sphere the pattern displays very little aliasing - a benefit derived from
the use of a texture map.
Because the bumps for the final image were required to be hemi-spherical, a
custom light source shader, called
Listing 1 (bumpPointLight.sl)
The light source shader uses an output variable of type float so that its value can be used directly by the surface shader shown in listing 2.
Listing 2 (bumpPointSurface.sl)
Listing 3 is the python code that writes a pre-baked rib file that references the custom light source shader. If the script is run with Cutter the output rib file will be saved to the Cutter directory.
Listing 3 (regularGridOfLights.py)
Finally, listing 4 provides a rib file that uses the baked lighting rig produced
by regularGridOfLights.py. The rib file is setup so that a 32 bit secondary image
named "bumps.tif" is saved to the Cutter directory. The
Listing 4 (makeTexture.rib)
© 2002- Malcolm Kesson. All rights reserved.


Pick Disease of the Brain
"Pick Disease of the Brain" is a descriptor in the National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus,
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). Descriptors are arranged in a hierarchical structure,
which enables searching at various levels of specificity.
A rare form of DEMENTIA that is sometimes familial. Clinical features include APHASIA; APRAXIA; CONFUSION; ANOMIA; memory loss; and personality deterioration. This pattern is consistent with the pathologic findings of circumscribed atrophy of the poles of the FRONTAL LOBE and TEMPORAL LOBE. Neuronal loss is maximal in the HIPPOCAMPUS, entorhinal cortex, and AMYGDALA. Some ballooned cortical neurons contain argentophylic (Pick) bodies. (From Brain Pathol 1998 Apr;8(2):339-54; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1057-9)
|Pick Disease of the Brain
- Pick Disease of the Brain
- Brain Atrophy, Circumscribed Lobar
- Pick Disease
- Disease, Pick
- Picks Disease of Brain
- Lobar Atrophy Of Brain
- Pick's Disease
- Disease, Pick's
- Picks Disease
- Lobar Atrophy of the Brain
- Dementia with Lobar Atrophy and Neuronal Cytoplasmic Inclusions
- Pick Disease Of Brain
- Lobar Atrophy (Brain)
- Atrophies, Lobar (Brain)
- Atrophy, Lobar (Brain)
- Lobar Atrophies (Brain)
- Circumscribed Lobar Atrophy of the Brain
Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Pick Disease of the Brain".
Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Pick Disease of the Brain".
This graph shows the total number of publications written about "Pick Disease of the Brain" by people in this website by year, and whether "Pick Disease of the Brain" was a major or minor topic of these publications.
To see the data from this visualization as text, click here.


Citizenship Debate: Who Can Become A Liberian?
By: Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh
Liberia is currently caught in the throes of a renewed debate on who should become a citizen. The issue centers on whether non-Negroids should own property and become citizen of Liberia. The debate has gotten national attention and is being considered by the Liberian Legislature.
Liberians, understandably so are divided on this thorny issue. Some see it as a matter of pride, and wants the law that doesn't grant non-Negroid foreign nationals Liberian citizenship remained as is. Others see it as morally wrong and discriminatory, and argued that it makes economic sense to grant Liberian citizenship to those law-abiding non-negroid Liberian nationals who are desirous of becoming Liberian citizens. Supporters for citizenship of non-negroids argued also that the law is outdated and has outlived its usefulness.
As divisive and embarrassing as this issue may seem, it demands sobering consideration, not emotional outbursts from supporters who might consider themselves die-hard patriots than those against it.
The Liberian Constitution of the First Republic which was adopted at a special election held on September 27, 1847, was ambiguous when it stated from the beginning that "only persons of color were eligible for Liberian Citizenship." The Third Amendment of the same constitution, with much clarity provided that only "Negroes or persons of Negro descent would be eligible for Liberian Citizenship."
Hence, one of the basic questions to consider is why did those who founded Liberia promulgated in the constitution that only people of African descent can become citizens and perhaps own property(ies) in Liberia?
Emancipated from dehumanizing years of slavery in the United States, our liberated brothers and sisters, realizing the cunning and overwhelming negative inclinations of non-Africans, concluded that it would serve the interest of Africans better if exclusive provisions were made to protect the future of the nation. Also considered was economic power as it related to political power. The founders couldn't imagine later that Liberians would be dependent and subjected to institutional and psychological slavery.
President William V. S. Tubman's Open Door Policy of the 60's encouraged and invited negroid and non-negroid nationals to roam Liberia in search of business opportunities without preconditions.
While Tubman's Open Door Policy targeted negroids and non-negroids to emigrate to Liberia and do business, there was never an Open Door Policy for Liberians - a policy that would have provided incentives and created business opportunities for prospective Liberian businesses to compete in a free-market economy.
As a result, non-negroid emigrants dominated, and have been in total control of the Liberian economy. A study done in the mid-70s gave credence to that notion. According to the non-profit Susukuu Development Inc., for every 7 businesses registered in Liberia at that time, 5 was foreign-owned.
In an attempt to level the playing field so that ordinary Liberians would have access to loans and get seriously involved in business ventures, President William R. Tolbert, Jr. launched his famous, but short-lived Liberianization policy, mixed with what he termed Humanistic Capitalism (whatever that is).
Flagship Companies like the Mesurado Group of Companies and Auriole Enterprises, Parker Paints, etc., all of which benefited the Tolberts, Weeks and other politically connected families.
Following recommendations from the defunct Peoples Redemption Council (PRC), in April 1984, and in December, 1985, from the Interim National Assembly, President Samuel K. Doe approved a decree that would have granted non-Negroid nationals the right to own property in Liberia.
In that decree Doe states, "We believe that this action gives meaning and content to a real open door policy and if our economy is to improve and provide employment, we must be prepared to face the future with courage. As we traveled abroad over the years and held discussions, a cross-section of investors who showed interest in business opportunities here, had referred to the restrictions on land ownership as a major obstacle.
We also urge and encourage businessmen and investors including Lebanese, Americans and all other nationalities to come and invest here as we stand ready to protect their investments."
The modern history of Liberia points out defiantly the enormous contributions of non-African minority groups. For many years the Lebanese, Syrians, Pakistanis, Indians, Americans and others have been a mainstay of the Liberian economy.
The Lebanese, for example, without any challenge controlled a greater percentage of trading in suburban Monrovia and other cities and towns, while the Europeans and Americans have concentrated significantly in minerals explorations, agriculture and manufacturing, the Lebanese and their Indian counterparts held the trading pulse of the country concentrating in the retail and service sectors.
Just like his predecessor Samuel Doe, President Charles Taylor is aware of the flaws in this policy of exclusion. Realizing the devastating impact it has on Liberia's image as one of the few countries left in the world with such restriction enshrined in its constitution, stirred a national debate when he suggested that non-Negroid nationals be granted Liberian Citizenship.
So with their ever-present nationalistic overtones, opponents of the effort to grant citizenship or property rights status to non-negroids have been xenophobic in their arguments and have resulted into scare tactics to put down that attempt.
But what opponents of this effort failed to realize is that foreign nationals, especially those that are engaged in lucrative business ventures are a major boost to any nation's economy. If those law-abiding non-negroid foreign nationals were granted citizenship or legal resident status, they could contribute significantly by reinvesting their profits back into the Liberian economy. Moreover, they would also take their civic responsibilities seriously.
With strong, unaltered and enforceable laws in place, the new Liberian citizens would be persecuted just like any other Liberian. But when a non-Negroid foreign national is allowed to live in Liberia for an unlimited time, exploit the financial and natural resources of the country, knowing that he/she is not a citizen or a legal permanent resident, and cannot own any property either, that individual with no emotional ties to Liberia will leave after making his/her money, and live elsewhere. Because wherever his/her money is where his/her heart will always be.
Though constitutional prohibitions made non-negroid unable to own properties in Liberia, there are a good number of them who indirectly own a fairly large number of real estate rental properties around the country. Their indirect control of these real estate properties has made it extremely difficult for an average Liberian citizen or anyone to secure affordable housing.
But generally, there have been honest non-negroids whose only desire is to live comfortably in their adopted home. Many have Liberian women, and children by these women. So what will become of these children from these relationships? By denying non-negroid nationals Liberian citizenship, we are also denying their children by Liberian women their birth rights.
The best security that will ensure fair treatment for all is the application and enforcement of the laws on the book. If we fail to accord non-negroid Liberian citizenship/permanent residence status or the right to own property, it will be hypocritical for those countless Liberians across this multicultural world who are wishing to be legal residents or citizens of other countries. It will be hypocritical indeed.


II. KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN NATURE.
1. The Microcosm.
Man is the noblest creature in the visible world. He unites in himself the existence of the mineral, the life of the vegetable, and the sense of the animal kingdom, and participates in the spirit-world as well by having a soul that is made to the image and likeness of God. As a spirit the soul is naturally immortal.
The faculties of the soul correspond to man's complex nature. They are (1) the nutritive, augmentative, and reproductive faculties of vegetative life; (2) the sensitive, appetitive, and locomotive faculties of animal life; (3) the intelligence, reason, and free-will of a spiritual being.
Corresponding to the vegetative and sensitive faculties of the soul are certain members of the body called organs, by means of which these faculties operate. The sensitive faculties together with their organs are called senses. Man has five external senses by which he communicates with the outside world. They are: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Man has also four internal senses that serve as a medium between the external senses and the intellectual faculties. They are: central sense, instinct, imagination, and memory. The central sense impresses the sensations of the external senses on the imagination and records them in the memory. The instinct apprehends what is fit and what unfit for the needs of animal life and arouses the appetitive faculties accordingly. The imagination forms images of natural impressions and stores them in the memory. The memory retains these images indefinitely.
Besides the vegetative and sensitive faculties man also has the appetitive and locomotive faculties common to all members of the animal kingdom. The appetitive faculty reaches out to enjoy, or to seek an attainable good, and to repel, or to escape from a threatening evil. It is aroused by the instinct through the imagination, or directly by the will, causes a corresponding disturbance in man's physical nature, and easily excites his intellectual faculties. A movement of the appetitive faculty is called a passion, feeling, or emotion. The passions are divided into concupiscible and irascible, according as their object is agreeable or repugnant in itself, or apprehended as subject to some condition of difficulty or danger. There are six of the former and five of the latter. They are: love, hatred, desire, aversion, joy, and sadness; hope, despair, courage, fear, and anger. Of these eleven the passions of fear, desire, and love exercise the greatest influence in our daily lives.
The locomotive faculty is the power of moving the limbs as well as the entire body from place to place. It is set in operation and directed by the appetitive faculty, or by the power of the will.
By his spiritual powers man rises above the material world in which he lives. The intellect abstracts ideas from the impressions made on the imagination and recorded in the memory. Reason perceives and judges what is true, good, and beautiful, and commands the will to act in accordance with its decision. The will consults the reason in regard to the propriety and manner of action, controls the other faculties, and directs them in accordance with the dictates of reason, whenever it is not hampered by the passions.


Timeless Public Speaking Laws
Page 2 of 2
Know the room
Public speaking is stressful
, so you should do anything you can to remove some of the unknowns. That's why you learn about the room your speech will be in. If you can, visit the room before the speech so that you can get a feel for it. If that's not possible, ask questions to learn a little more about it. How many people does the room hold and how many will be in attendance (this affects your performance — if you're speaking to 20 people in a room that holds 100, you'll need to really project for the room's energy to stay high.)? Temperature of the room is another detail that seems minor, but can make a difference; dress appropriately
so you aren't freezing or worse, a sweaty mess. Finally, make sure you have any presentation and technology needs lined up ahead of time. If you need a microphone, projection screen or CD player, get them arranged in advance. We'll be the first to admit these are minor details, but there are so many variables and stresses in speaking that every little bit you can control in advance puts you at that extra bit of an advantage.
Don't acknowledge mistakes
No matter how much you've practiced your speech, mistakes will happen. It's a nerve-racking situation, but you need to come across as poised and in control. You need to take yourself seriously if you want your audience to respect you, and that's why it's a rule of public speaking to not acknowledge your mistakes. Minor slips of the tongue will happen, but when they do, don't worry about them, and most of all don't call attention to them. Your audience will be working to follow the points of your presentation, so 9 times out of 10 they won't notice your slip-up, and the 10th time they won't care. Your audience isn't worried about your mistakes; their attention will follow where you lead them as the presenter, so unless you direct the audience's focus to your error, they won't focus on it.
rules of thumb
There are as many types of speech as there are topics people care about. Speeches range from casual to formal, from an audience of one to an audience of thousands. Every speech is different, and that's why a little bit of planning ahead is going to pay big dividends in your level of preparedness. While nothing's true for every speech, these rules of thumb are timeless examples of how to give better ones. Give them a try — if you can make all five a natural part of your presenting style, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of public speaking


David Forman, bead of the IARC Section of Cancer Information, the group that compiles the global cancer data for the U.N.'s World Health Organization, said Thursday the increase in cancer was largely fueled by an increased of women diagnosed with and dying from breast cancer.
Some 1.7 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, a 20 percent increased from 2008, the IARC said.
A shift towards lifestyles typical of industrialized countries "leads to a rising burden of cancers associated with reproductive, dietary and hormonal risk factors, Forman said.
"A shift in lifestyles is causing an increase in incidence, and partly because clinical advances to combat the disease are not reaching women living in these regions," Forman, said in a statement, explaining why breast cancer is also affecting women in less developed countries.
Incidence rates remain highest in more developed regions, but mortality is relatively higher in developing countries due to a lack of early detection and access to treatment facilities, Forman said.
Reviewing information for 28 types of cancer in 184 countries, the IARC found the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide in men and women combined were lung, breast and colorectal cancers. The most common causes of cancer death were lung, liver and stomach cancers, the agency said.


The knee is made up of four bones. The femur or thighbone is the bone connecting the hip to the knee. The tibia or shinbone connects the knee to the ankle. The patella (kneecap) is the small bone in front of the knee and rides on the knee joint as the knee bends. The fibula is a shorter and thinner bone running parallel to the tibia on its outside. The joint acts like a hinge but with some rotation.
The knee is a synovial joint, which means it is lined by synovium. The synovium produces fluid lubricating and nourishing the inside of the joint. Articular cartilage is the smooth surfaces at the end of the femur and tibia. It is the damage to this surface which causes arthritis.
The femur (thighbone) is the largest and the strongest bone in the body. It is the weight bearing bone of the thigh. It provides attachment to most of the muscles of the knee.
The two femoral condyles make up for the rounded end of the femur. Its smooth articular surface allows the femur to move easily over the tibial (shinbone) meniscus.
The tibia (shinbone), the second largest bone in the body, is the weight bearing bone of the leg. The menisci incompletely cover the superior surface of the tibia where it articulates with the femur. The menisci act as shock absorbers, protecting the articular surface of the tibia as well as assisting in rotation of the knee.
The fibula, although not a weight bearing bone, provides attachment sites for the Lateral collateral ligaments (LCL) and the biceps femoris tendon.
The articulation of the tibia and fibula also allows a slight degree of movement, providing an element of flexibility in response to the actions of muscles attaching to the fibula.
The patella (kneecap), attached to the quadriceps tendon above and the patellar ligament below, rests against the anterior articular surface of the lower end of the femur and protects the knee joint. The patella acts as a fulcrum for the quadriceps by holding the quadriceps tendon off the lower end of the femur.
The medial and the lateral meniscus are thin C-shaped layers of fibrocartilage, incompletely covering the surface of the tibia where it articulates with the femur. The majority of the meniscus has no blood supply and for that reason, when damaged, the meniscus is unable to undergo the normal healing process that occurs in the rest of the body. The menisci act as shock absorbers, protecting the articular surface of the tibia as well as assisting in rotation of the knee. As secondary stabilizers, the intact menisci interact with the stabilizing function of the ligaments and are most effective when the surrounding ligaments are intact.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the major stabilizing ligament of the knee. The ACL is located in the center of the knee joint and runs from the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone), through the center of the knee. The ACL prevents the femur from sliding backwards on the tibia (or the tibia sliding forwards on the femur). Together with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), ACL stabilizes the knee in a rotational fashion. Thus, if one of these ligaments is significantly damaged, the knee will be unstable when planting the foot of the injured extremity and pivoting, causing the knee to buckle and give way.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
Much less research has been done on the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) because it is injured far less often than the ACL.
The PCL prevents the femur from moving too far forward over the tibia. The PCL is the knee’s basic stabilizer and is almost twice as strong as the ACL. It provides a central axis about which the knee rotates.
Collateral Ligaments prevent hyperextension, adduction, and abduction
- Superficial MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) connects the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial condyle of the tibia and resists valgus force
- Deep MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) connects the medial epicondyle of the femur with the medial meniscus
- LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament) entirely separate from the articular capsule, connects the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula and resists varus force


Atheism and the Historical Christ
Bruno Baur (1809-1882), a German historian, was the most radical New Testament critic of his day. Rejected by his contemporary theologians, he became so bitter that he eventually denied the historical existence of Jesus, asserting that Christianity is “the misfortune of the world.” His views were rejected by the scholarship of his day.
Later, however, Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), somewhat influenced by Baur, would argue that a “Jesus” may have lived in Palestine in the first century, but if he did, he was so unlike the “Jesus” of the New Testament, that, for all practical purposes, one might conclude that the Christ of the Gospel records did not exist in fact. Neither Baur nor Schweitzer exerted significant influence relative to the question of the historicity of Jesus.
Over the years, even radicals have been forced to bow their heads in acknowledgement of the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was a central character of the biblical world twenty centuries ago. The French humanist Ernest Renan (1823-1892), no friend of Christianity, admitted that “all history is incomprehensible without him” and “to tear [Jesus’] name from this world, would be to shake it to its foundations” (26, 212).
In 1912, Professor Shirley Jackson Case, a liberal theologian at the University of Chicago — who denied the supernatural elements in the Gospels — produced a book titled, The Historicity of Jesus. In the Preface he stated: “The main purpose of the present volume is to set forth the evidence for believing in the historical reality of Jesus’ existence upon earth” (v).
In 1922, Joseph Klausner, of Hebrew University, authored his controversial volume, Jesus of Nazareth. Though Klausner rejected Christ as divine, he nonetheless argued persuasively, based upon ancient sources, that Jesus was a bona fide historical character (17-62). Significantly, no ancient adversary ever even disputed Jesus’ existence!
The case is so settled that Professor Bruce Metzger of Princeton University could say in 1965: “Today no competent scholar denies the historicity of Jesus” (78). Quite true. But this does not prevent some not-so-competent writers from disputing this fact.
Actually, though, this article is not about the solid historical evidence which establishes the reality of the first-century Jesus. Elsewhere we have argued the case of the historicity of Christ with ample positive documentation (see The Historicity of Jesus Christ). No, this article is about the deliberate perversion of historical data, along with the shoddy scholarship, that is characteristic of the atheistic community.
Atheism and Intellectual Integrity
A small group of vocal, obnoxious atheists is attempting to resurrect Baur’s bogus theory that Jesus never lived. Their influence is so nil that one might be inclined to ignore them altogether — except for the fact that this circumstance affords an excellent opportunity to focus upon how these antagonists deal with the evidence of history. It throws a floodlight upon their character and their utter lack of comprehension relative to the legitimate conclusions that one may draw from ancient documents.
Here is an example of what I mean. Judith Hayes is an atheist. She is the author of a recently published book, In God We Trust: But Which One? An apostate from the Lutheran Church, Mrs. Hayes reveals a vicious bitterness towards the Bible. She is ignorant of the most fundamental of biblical matters, yet what she lacks in knowledge she compensates for with venom and crudeness. There is a chapter in her book designated as “The Messiah,” which begins in this fashion:
“Just whether or not Jesus was an actual, historical figure is the subject of much scholarly debate. St. Paul, who was the real founder of the religion known as Christianity, barely discussed Jesus as a person, and made no references to his family. Jesus must remain a puzzle, historically speaking. He may have existed, and then again he may not have”(119).
Later Hayes assembles what she describes as a “partial list of some of the Jewish and pagan writers” who lived in, or close to, the first century. These, she asserts, “made no mention of Jesus’ supposedly astounding appearance on Earth.” The author catalogues the names of twenty ancient writers, the silence of whom, regarding Jesus, supposedly buttresses her case as to the doubtful historicity of the Son of God (147). What shall we say in response to this reckless charge?
A Response to Hayes’ Harangue
No responsible researcher would dream of ignoring the vast depository of evidence for the historicity of Jesus in deference to the silence of a few writers who did not mention the great Teacher. This is lame logic indeed. There may be a variety of valid reasons which explain their silence. Remember this: Silence proves nothing — one way or the other. To attempt to establish one’s case on such a basis reveals the utter desperation of the position. Note this concession from another atheist: “Silence on a topic does not in itself prove ignorance of it — unless the silence extends to matters obviously relevant to what the writer has chosen to discuss” (Wells, 364).
Five of the twenty authors cited by Hayes — Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Tacitus, and Lucian — do, contain historical allusions to Christ. These are cited in “The Historicity of Jesus Christ”, previously referenced.
That Mrs. Hayes has never personally examined any of these sources is a distinct possibility. However, she is not totally oblivious to these references regarding Jesus, because she vaguely hints of “Christian interpolations inserted clumsily” into some of the writings (148). I mention this to emphasize the fact that Hayes’ treatment of the evidence is not entirely a matter of bungling incompetence (though there is plenty of that); it also reflects a deliberate distortion of the historical data.
The truth is — precious little material from secular writers of the first century has even survived to this day. The late E.M. Blaiklock addressed this matter in one of his books. Dr. Blaiklock taught ancient and biblical history for more than forty years, and was internationally recognized as an authority on the classical writings of antiquity. In discussing the surviving literature of the Fifties and Sixties of the first century, the professor writes: “Bookends set a foot apart on this desk where I write would enclose the works from those significant years” (13).
In considering the “silence” of ancient writers as to the existence of Jesus, the careful student must certainly take into account the proximity of an author to the sacred events. Was he separated by time or distance from the events relating to the Teacher from Galilee? Moreover, it is of some importance to ascertain the theme of the writer’s document, i.e., its relevance to matters of religious history. Let me illustrate.
One of the writers cited by Hayes was Arrian. Arrian was a Greek historian who spent most of his time in Athens but who also briefly served as a governor of Cappadocia. He was not even born until about sixty-five years after the death of Christ. He wrote some material regarding the ethics of the Stoics, but his most important work was his history of Alexander the Great (Anabasis). What possible relevance would “Jesus” have had in a discussion of a Greek military commander who lived the fourth century B.C.?
Another example: Hayes lists Juvenal (ca. A.D. 60-130) among the writers who did not allude to Christ. What she neglects to mention, of course, is that Juvenal was a Latin poet who wrote caustic satires against governmental corruption, crime, and immorality in the city of Rome. His works had nothing remotely to do with Middle Eastern religion.
Or what of Plutarch (ca. A.D. 46-120)? He was a Greek philosopher who wrote biographies (Lives) of forty-six distinguished Greeks and Romans, as well as a collection of some sixty essays setting forth miscellaneous ethical principles. If he knew anything of Christianity he probably regarded it as a temporary appendage of Judaism, immaterial to his literary purposes.
One of the candidates in Hayes’ list was Seneca (ca. 4 B.C. – A.D. 65). Seneca was a Stoic philosopher and Roman statesman. His literary works included philosophical essays, letters, a satire, and several tragedies. Why did this writer ignore Christianity? Blaiklock has noted that when Nero aroused public hostility toward the Christians in Rome — in that summer of A.D. 64 (the most likely time for comment) — Seneca himself was neck-deep in trouble with the emperor. He was a distracted and tormented man, and within a year he committed suicide (16).
Some of the writers doubtless entertained motives which negated any significant discussion of Christ or his teaching. Though Flavius Josephus made two brief references to Jesus (which cannot be dismissed as interpolations), McGarvey, more than a century ago, observed:
“He could have given no truthful account of Jesus or of the Church, which would not have been a story of shame for the sect to which he belonged; and as his chief purpose in writing was to elevate his people in the minds of Greeks and Romans who despised them, national pride and religious bigotry alike demanded silence on this theme” (7-8).
A similar point could be made with reference to Philo, another Jewish writer.
The most formidable problem that Mrs. Hayes and those of her ilk have, of course, is this: How does one explain the fact that millions of citizens in the ancient Roman empire were willing to commit their well-being, surrender their possessions, and forfeit their very lives — for a mere myth? Has Paul Bunyan, Robin Hood, or the Tooth Fairy ever excited such devotion?
Hayes’ own book bears the publication date 1996. Nineteen hundred and ninety-six years from what, Judith? This atheist’s treatment of Christ, as exhibited in the work under review, represents an embarrassing example of research, and a sad commentary upon the character of the critic.
- Blaiklock, E. M. 1974. Jesus Christ: Man or Myth? Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
- Case, Shirley Jackson. 1912. The Historicity of Jesus. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago.
- Hayes, Judith. 1996. In God We Trust: But Which One? Madison, WI: Freedom From Religion Foundation.
- Jackson, Wayne. 1996. “The Historicity of Jesus Christ,” ChristianCourier.com. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/26-the-historicity-of-jesus-christ.
- Klausner, Joseph. 1989 Reprint. Jesus of Nazareth. New York: Bloch Publishing Co.
- McGarvey, J. W. 1956 Reprint. Evidences of Christianity. Part III. Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co.
- Metzger, Bruce M. 1965. The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content. New York, NY: Abingdon.
- Renan, Ernest. 1991 Reprint. Life of Jesus. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.
- Wells, G. A. 1985. “Jesus, Historicity of” The Encyclopedia of Unbelief. Vol. 1. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.


What is Goji Berry? (Also known as Lycium barbarum)
Goji berry is the popular name given to the small red fruit Lycium barbarum, from the family Solanaceae. Goji berries are a well-known traditional Chinese medicine1 and are widely consumed in China and by Chinese abroad6. However, recently they have been widely used as a nutritional food product5. Their consumption is thought to confer a large variety of beneficial effects, such as reducing blood glucose and serum lipids, antioxidant, immune-modulation, neuroprotection, and anti-inflammatory activity2-4.
Where Do Goji Berries Come From?
The original habitat of L. barbarum is not definitively established but is probably to be found in the Mediterranean Basin7. Today the plant is widely distributed in warm regions of the world, in particular in the Mediterranean area, Southwest and Central Asia. It is also cultivated in North America and Australia as hedge plant8. The majority of commercially produced goji berries come from plantations of L. barbarum in the Ningxia Hui Region in northcentral China and the Xinjiang Uyghur Region in western China5.
Goji Berry Benefits
One of the issues in assessing the merits of the health benefits of goji berry has been the poor quality and general lack of research5. Much of the original clinical data on goji berry has only been published in national Chinese journals which are not accessible. Many studies have been small-sized and not adequately controlled. Moreover, most literature is only available in abstract form since original data from Chinese publications are difficult to access5. In most cases it is not clear whether L. barbarum or L. chinense has been used in these studies5.
Having said this, there are a number of recent independent studies that are better quality and provide some reassurance of the general health benefits of Goji berry. A recent series of studies has linked the high content of taurine in Goji berries with it beneficial effect on diabetic retinopathy, a preventable microvascular diabetic complication that damages human retinal pigment epithelial cells9, 10. In close connection with this is a recent study suggesting that Goji berry may be helpful for eyesight. Goji berry is the richest natural source of the antioxidant carotenoid, zeaxanthin, which composes a part of the eye called the preretinal pigment. Daily dietary supplementation with goji berry for 90 days was shown to increase plasma zeaxanthin and antioxidant levels as well as markers of vision in elderly subjects11.
One recent study found that Goji berry consumption increases metabolic rate after a single bolus and reduces the waist circumference after 14 days consumption, relative to placebo treated control subjects16.
In another study, ingestion of 50 g/day of Goji berries in 25 elderly people for 10 days increased superoxide dismutase and hemoglobin and decreased blood lipids significantly12. Recently, in a first double-blind study performed outside China, the general effects of GoChi™, a commercial Goji juice, were investigated in young healthy adults. Various parameters were assessed by a questionnaire. Blood pressure and body weight were also monitored. The study concluded that consumption of GoChi™ for 14 days increased subjective feelings of general well-being and improved neurological performance as well as gastrointestinal function. However, the small size of the study (N = 34) and the subjective assessment of most parameters must be critically pointed out13.
In a follow-up double-blind study (N = 30) sponsored by the supplement manufacturers, the authors investigated the effect of GoChi™ on serum antioxidant markers in healthy Chinese adults aged 55–72 years. A significant increase of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase by 8.4 and 9.9% respectively and a concomitant decrease of malondialdehyde by 8.7% were observed after 30 days14. These data are in agreement with previous observations15 and may be indicative of possible beneficial effects in oxidative stress and age-related conditions.
Negative Side Effects of Goji Berries
There is a recent report in the literature of a case of hepatotoxicity related to the use of Goji berry in a 60-year-old woman. This particular women had been consuming Goji berry tea 3 times a day over the previous ten days upon a friend’s recommendation (one handful of berries each cup), but no other medication17. Another study has documented 2 cases of allergic reaction following Goji berry ingestion18. There is also a single case of photosensitivity due to consumption of Goji berries reported in the literature19. These random reports of negative side effects from the consumption of Goji berries may be linked to the poor regulation and standardisation that exists with regard to the quality and consistency of Goji berries.
Goji Berry Recommended Dosages & Timing
Because Goji berry is a food, there are no strict recommendations on dosages and timing. However, most people consume a handful or two at a time, which amounts to 5-10 grams.
Goji Berry Supplements
Goji berries are often sold on their own, either bagged as whole berries or as an extract in supplemental or liquid form.
Stacking Goji Berry
Goji berries are not typically stacked with other ingredients. However, it is not uncommon to find them mixed with other superfoods such as acai berry.
Goji Berry Safety
In a book on Chinese materia medica, measures of toxicity of a water extract of Goji berry confirm the virtual absence of toxicity of the fruit20. However, while there is no risk with cultivated plants, some caution is advised with samples of unknown origin, since confusion with morphologically similar Solanaceae fruits cannot be excluded.
1. Luo Q, Cai Y, Yan J, Sun M, Corke H. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts from Lycium barbarum. Life Sci. 2004;76:137–149.
2. Cao G, Alessio HM, Cutler RG. Oxygen-radical absorbance capacity assay for antioxidants. Free Radic Biol Med. 1993;14:303–11.
3. Peng X, Tian G. Structural characterization of the glycan part of glycoconjugate LbGp2 from Lycium barbarum L.. Carbohydr Res. 2001;331:95–9.
4. Wang Y, Zhao H, Sheng X, et al. Protective effect of Fructus Lycii polysaccharides against time and hyperthermia-induced damage in cultured seminiferous epithelium. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;82:169–75.
5. Goji (Lycium barbarum and L. chinense): Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Safety in the Perspective of Traditional Uses and Recent Popularity. Planta Med. 2010;76:7–19.
6. Cheng J, Lee P, Li J, Dennehy CE, Tsourounis C. Use of Chinese herbal products in Oakland and San Francisco Chinatowns. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2004;61:688–94.
7. Zhang KYB, et al. Differentiation of Lycium barbarum from its related Lycium species using random amplified polymorphic DNA. Planta Med. 2001;67:379–381.
8. Hänsel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G. Hagers Handbuch der pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vol 5: Drogen E–O. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Verlag; 1993.
9. Song MK, et al. Lycium barbarum (Goji Berry) extracts and its taurine component inhibit PPAR-g-dependent gene transcription in human retinal pigment epithelial cells: Possible implications for diabetic retinopathy treatment. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2011;82:1209–1218.
10. Xie H, Zhang S. Determination of taurine in Lycium barbarum L. by high performance liquid chromatography with OPA–urea pre-column derivatization. Se Pu. 1997;15:54–56.
11. Bucheli P, et al. Goji berry effects on macular characteristics and plasma antioxidant levels. Optometry and Vision Science. 2011;88(2):257–262.
12. Li W, Dai SZ, Ma W, Gao L. Effects of oral administration of wolfberry on blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), haemoglobin (Hb) and lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in old people. Chin Tradit Herb Drugs. 1991; 22:251-268.
13. Amagase H, Nance DM. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) juice, GoChi™. J Altern Compl Med 2008; 14: 403–412.
14. Amagase H, Sun B, Borek C. Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutr Res. 2009;29:19–25.
15. Burke DS, Smidt CR, Vuong LT. Momordica cochichinensis, Rosa roxburghii, wolfberry, and sea buckthorn – highly nutritional fruits supported by tradition and science. Curr Top Nutraceutical Res. 2005;3:259–266.
16. Amagase H, & Nance DM. Lycium barbarum increases caloric expenditure and decreases waist circumference in healthy overweight men and women: pilot study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011;30(5):304-309.
17. Arroyo-Martinez Q, et al. Lycium barbarum: a new hepatotoxic “natural” agent? Digestive & Liver Disease. 2011;43(9):749.
18. Monzón Ballarín S, et al. Anaphylaxis associated with the ingestion of Goji berries (Lycium barbarum). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2011;21(7):567-70.
19. Gomez-Burnal S, et al. Systemic photosensitivity due to Goji berries. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2011;27(5):245-247.
20. Chang HM, But PPH, Yao SC,Wang L, Yeung SCS. Pharmacology and applications of Chinese Materia Medica, volume 2. New Jersey, London, Singapore, Hong Kong:World Scientific; 2001.


Body rock involves gently rocking the body back and forth to calm the nervous system. Have your child lie flat on the floor. Use a yoga mat or lie on a soft carpet for increased comfort. Don’t use a pillow to obstruct air flow or to place the neck in an unnatural position. Play soft music, dim the lights and use aromatherapy to prepare the environment for relaxation. Begin by inviting your child to take a couple of deep breaths.
Tell your child to simply allow his body to melt into the floor and prepare him that you are going to gently rock his body back and forth to calm down his muscles and nerves. Share with him that the more he can be like a rag doll and let go, allow his body to relax, the more powerful body rock will be. Then gently begin to lightly rock his body back and forth, alternating sides.
First give a gentle push on the left and respond with a gentle push on the right. Use very gentle touch, as light as using one finger to move. Apply a relaxed, gentle, steady rhythm. Imagine that your hands are carrying on a very sweet relaxation conversation. As one hand moves on one side, the other gently responds. Allow the body weight to help carry the momentum of the rock back and forth. Move slowly up and down the legs and then to the torso, gently pushing on each arm. Allow the head to remain relaxed and lying on the floor.
Be as gentle as possible, and increase in lightness of touch as you continue. As time passes, you will notice the body begin to let go and relax more and more, as evidenced by its effortless motions. Simply allow it to rock, back and forth, back and forth. Check in with your child to make sure he is doing okay or to ask if he needs anything.
Complete this for a couple minutes the first time and begin to increase the amount of time spent rocking as your child adjusts to it. Place a blanket over your child for added security and warmth to support further relaxation. He might fall asleep, this is a natural response. If not, allow him to rest in silence for a few minutes when you are finished to allow him to integrate the experience and to become fully aware of the relaxed sensations.
At a later time, discuss with your child how his body felt before, during and after the body rock experience.
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