What is vitamin D?
Despite its name, vitamin D is more than a vitamin - it’s closer to a hormone that the body can synthesise under the right conditions. Regardless, we need to consume it regularly in order to maintain overall health and wellbeing.
How is it produced?
The trigger for vitamin D synthesis is the sun, which emits UVB light that hits our skin. The UVB light reacts with a type of cholesterol found in the deeper layers of the skin, which produces a vitamin D precursor called pre-vitamin D. This is then converted to active vitamin D (calcitriol) by the liver and kidneys, and it’s this form that travels around the body to interact with cells.
In the UK, even in the summer, you cannot get adequate vitamin D levels from sun exposure because of the inconsistencies in weather and therefore the sun’s UV index isn’t as effective. We can also get small amounts from our diet. Meals that include eggs, oily fish, foods fortified with vitamin D, and mushrooms are all popular dietary sources of the vitamin.
What it does in the body
Vitamin D has many functions within the body, including:
Balancing calcium levels in the body (including in the bones)
- Supporting healthy levels of white blood cells
Aiding in immune function during infection
This list isn’t at all exhaustive and, in fact, scientists are only just scratching the surface of what vitamin D may help with. More recently, research has found that it may even help to reduce inflammation — suggesting it could aid in the recovery of a disease or condition that has inflammation as a characteristic.1
Can we get enough vitamin D from the sun?
As we’ve already said, the sun is the trigger for vitamin D synthesis, but does this mean we get enough from sun exposure? Well, it depends. Everyone produces vitamin D at different rates, and many are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Dr Sarah Brewer says: 'Public Health England recommends that everyone over the age of one year should take a daily supplement providing 10mcg vitamin D during autumn and winter. This is very much a minimum to prevent deficiency diseases – I believe that most adults would benefit from taking 25mcg (1.000 IU) per day, increasing to 50 mcg (2,000 IU) per day from the age of 50 onwards, when your ability to synthesis vitamin D in the skin starts to decline. Choose a vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplement which is the same form made in the skin by the body on exposure to sunlight, and which is more effective in producing active vitamin D3 (calcitriol) than the plant-based vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) form.’
Who is most at risk of vitamin D deficiency?
Those who are most vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency include:
- People who live in cold climates (such as the UK)
- People who get little direct sun exposure e.g. someone who works in an office job
- Those with a long-term illness that tends to confine them indoors
- People who keep the majority of their skin covered e.g. for religious reasons
- Dark-skinned people
- The elderly
- People who wear sunscreen or use products that contain SPF regularly
However, everyone is at high risk of becoming vitamin D deficient, especially during winter. In fact, low vitamin D levels might explain why we’re more prone to becoming sick during flu season — another reason why you should get your levels checked at the start of each winter2. Even living in a city over the countryside may induce the risk of becoming deficient. You can find out more about this here.
Vitamin D: the benefits
There’s also a lot of emerging research to suggest vitamin D may help in specific health conditions.
Vitamin D and mental health
Recent studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency might have some role to play in depression.
One such study investigated a large group of people with current or previously diagnosed depression. It found that one-third of the participants had vitamin D deficiency.
According to the study, those with lower vitamin D levels were more likely to not only have current depression but also suffer from the most severe symptoms. In fact, those with current depression, but had sufficient vitamin D levels, experienced less severe symptoms3.
Another study looked at the link between overweight and obese people who experienced depression and vitamin D. It found that those with lower vitamin D levels had more depressive traits, but that after one year of supplementing vitamin D, they experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms4.
With more and more research being conducted into the role vitamin D may play in mental health, the clearer it’s becoming just how essential this vitamin can be for many people. Find out more about the links between vitamin D and mental health here .
Vitamin D and exercise
If you’re an athlete, or just fitness-conscious, knowing your vitamin D status should be on your priority list. Recent research suggests that there could be a link between your sports performance and how optimal your vitamin D levels are.
In one study, researchers created a trial that looked at the effects of supplementation on a group of UK athletes and non-athletes. Initially, they found that 62% of athletes and 73% of non-athletes had vitamin D deficiency.
But when the same groups were given 5000IU of vitamin D a day for 8 weeks, it not only significantly increased their vitamin D levels, but it also had an impact on their physical performance. For instance, those who were given the supplement found a significant improvement in their 10m sprint time and vertical jump height. Find out more about vitamin D and exercise here.5
Vitamin D and cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular disease is a massive health issue, causing more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK.6 However, recent studies are suggesting that there’s a hidden superstar when it comes to heart health: vitamin D.
One study found that men who were vitamin D deficient had a significantly higher risk of a heart attack, even after controlling for known risk factors. It suggested that even those who had only a slight deficiency still had a higher risk than those with sufficient vitamin D.7
Another study suggested that there was a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of heart failure, but specifically in elderly people. This is particularly concerning, as 65% of the participants were vitamin D deficient, indicating that such deficiency is common among older adults.8
A well-known factor in heart disease risk is blood pressure, and recent research has shown that in a hypertension model, vitamin D can increase the production of nitric oxide — a compound that lowers blood pressure. Although further research is needed to support this, it does suggest, at least initially, that optimal vitamin D levels can support healthy blood pressure.9
Vitamin D and bone health
Although vitamin D is essential for every age, it may be especially important for babies and children to get a sufficient amount. This is because vitamin D can helps maintain optimal calcium levels to support the growth and development of healthy teeth and bones in young children.
Children who don’t get enough vitamin D may be at risk of developing osteomalacia — the softening of the bones. Osteomalacia can lead to bowing of the bones, particularly of the larger bones (such as leg bones).10
Making sure you get enough vitamin D for bone health isn’t limited to just children, it is also important for the elderly. One study looked at the effects of vitamin D supplementation in combination with low-level exercise amongst the elderly, and found that this combination was effective at reducing falls in the elderly participants.11
Vitamin D and IBS
One review of current research on this link found that not only is low vitamin D common for people with IBS but that there was a link between symptoms and vitamin D levels. The higher a person’s vitamin D levels, it suggested, the less likely they were to experience severe IBS symptoms — and that supplementing with vitamin D is advised.12
Vitamin D and fertility
Infertility is on the rise, and more couples are struggling to start a family. But for those undergoing assisted reproduction treatment, it’s been suggested that you may want to consider vitamin D as a supportive nutrient.
A review and analysis of 11 trials supported this claim, finding that women with sufficient vitamin D levels were more likely to have a live birth than those with lower levels. Women who had sufficient vitamin D were also more likely to achieve a positive pregnancy test and clinical pregnancy.
Previous research found that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risks of complications in implantation and pregnancy, so maintaining a healthy level may prevent these issues.
Research has shown that Vitamin D deficiency is also an important condition to treat in women who wish to undergo procedures such as IVF and insemination.13
Vitamin D and pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant, vitamin D is essential in helping the baby remain healthy.
One systematic review looked at the impacts of vitamin D supplements used during pregnancy. It found that vitamin D not only increased maternal vitamin D levels, but was also linked to a higher average birth rate and a reduced risk of the baby being small for its gestational age at birth.
The review also found that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy reduced the risk of the child experiencing wheeze by the age of three.14
With these benefits in mind, you may be concerned about what the safe dose of vitamin D is during pregnancy. Well, one study found that 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day was a safe and successful level — but it’s important to consult your healthcare provider for advice as different doctors have different opinions. 15
Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes
Around 1 in 16 people in the UK have diabetes, with the majority having type 2 diabetes. What we eat and how we live life plays a big role in its development.16
Research from Australia has seemingly uncovered a link between type 2 diabetes and vitamin D. It found that people with a higher vitamin D status had lower fasting glucose levels and HbA1C, which shows long-term blood sugar control. So, having a healthy level of vitamin D could potentially help to reduce a risk of type 2 diabetes. 17
We can clearly see from the research and studies evidenced here that vitamin D can play a huge in overall health and wellbeing, as well potentially aiding in specific health conditions and ailments. Remember, though, if you’re not sure if vitamin D is right for you, ask your friendly healthcare practitioner.
For more information on how vitamin D can help support your overall health and wellbeing, head to our advice centre.


A team of University of Queensland researchers has revealed why male funnel-web spiders develop much deadlier venom than their female counterparts. Led by the University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Bryan Fry, the team has spent 20 years investigating delta-hexatoxins, the venom peptides that make funnel web spider venom so dangerous.
“Australian funnel-web spiders are infamous for causing human fatalities with this particular range of toxins,” Dr. Fry said. “Delta-hexatoxins exert fatal neurotoxic effects in humans by keeping nerves turned on, so that they keep firing over and over again.
“It has puzzled scientists why these toxins are so deadly to humans, when they and other primates, haven’t featured as either prey or predator during the spider’s evolution. And we couldn’t understand why most human deaths were being caused by male funnel-web spiders, which seemingly had much deadlier venom than females.”
Using molecular analysis of the venom, Dr. Fry and the team decided to take a closer look.
Although 35 species of funnel-web spiders had previously been described, only eight delta-hexatoxins from five species had been analyzed. Dr. Fry and his team almost tripled the data — profiling 22 novel delta-hexatoxins from the venom of 10 funnel-web species.
“Having much more data helped paint a much clearer picture, revealing an incredibly interesting evolutionary story — one that had been hypothesized, but we’ve now proven,” he said.
“These toxins had originally evolved to kill insects such as cockroaches and flies.
“But, when male funnel-web spiders become sexually mature, they leave the safety of their burrow and wander quite considerable distances in search of females.
“This can be quite treacherous, and these male funnel-web spiders started to encounter dangerous vertebrate predators, such as the dunnart, a small nocturnal mouse-like marsupial.
“The data shows that natural selection put the necessary pressure on to switch an insect-specific venom into a vertebrate-specific defensive venom.
“And, unluckily for us, we’re a vertebrate species which copped it in the process.”
With a stronger evolutionary understanding of delta-hexatoxins, Dr. Fry and his team are now endeavoring to put this new knowledge to use.
“We’re hoping this research will give us a better understanding of exactly what funnel-web spider venom does to the human body,” he said.
“And — medically speaking — this could be critical for the design of evidence-based treatment strategies for bite victims.
“We’re also hoping it will help researchers discover novel insecticides, finding better sources for insect-specific toxins.
“They’re dangerous as hell, but male funnel-web spiders offer us some real opportunities.”
Reference: “Australian funnel-web spiders evolved human-lethal δ-hexatoxins for defense against vertebrate predators” by Volker Herzig, Kartik Sunagar, David T. R. Wilson, Sandy S. Pineda, Mathilde R. Israel, Sebastien Dutertre, Brianna Sollod McFarland, Eivind A. B. Undheim, Wayne C. Hodgson, Paul F. Alewood, Richard J. Lewis, Frank Bosmans, Irina Vetter, Glenn F. King, and Bryan G. Fry, 21 September 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.


The draft guidelines for the high school history curriculum recently announced by the Ministry of Education have sparked controversy. The part of the curriculum on Taiwan history prompted discussions about the San Francisco Peace Treaty and Cairo Declaration, among other agreements.
After World War II, the legal status of Taiwan was "undetermined." However, after close to 60 years of evolution, the legal status of Taiwan has been "determined."
Today, Taiwan is an independent sovereign country -- although not yet a "normal" country. The treaties and documents relevant to this process of evolution need to be explained from the perspective of public international law.
The San Francisco Peace Treaty is the most authoritative international treaty when it comes to defining the territory of defeated Japan after the World War II. The legal force of this treaty surpassed and replaces the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration. In the 1943 Cairo Declaration, the heads of the state of the US, Great Britain, and China declared their hope that after the end of the World War II Taiwan and Penghu should be returned to China.
The 1945 Potsdam Declaration stated in Article 8 that the agreement in the Cairo Declaration will be followed.
The San Francisco Treaty, which was signed on September 8, 1951 and then came into force on April 28, 1952 explicitly stated that Japan surrendered the sovereignty and all rights over Taiwan and Penghu. However, it did not state which country was the recipient of the rights and sovereignty handed over by Japan. As a result, Taiwan neither belonged to the Republic of China (ROC) nor the People's Republic of China (PRC). The legal status of Taiwan was therefore undetermined at the time.
This is the basis of the claim that Taiwan's status is yet to be determined. The consensus underlying the San Francisco Peace Treaty was that the undetermined status would be decided when the time comes based on principles outlined in the United Nations (UN) Charter, in particular the right to self-determination and opposition against military aggression. For example, when the US and the ROC signed the bilateral joint-defense treaty in 1954, the US secretary of state at that time emphasized that the legal status of Taiwan would be determined at the appropriate time.
The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration were political statements jointly issued by the Allies unilaterally prompted by military needs and in the face of expected victory. Japan, which at the time held sovereignty over the territories in question, did not participate in these declarations. Therefore, they had neither legal force under public international law nor the effect of transferring sovereignty.
On the other hand, the post-war San Francisco Peace Treaty had the participation of both the victorious Allies and also defeated Japan. Through the treaty, the holder of sovereignty over Taiwan and Penghu, Japan, explicitly relinquished sovereignty. Unlike that declaration, in this treaty the need to maintain long-term peace and stability was taken into consideration in addition to military needs.
Under public international law, the end of a warring state between countries requires the signing of a peace treaty. The relinquishment or transfer of territories also require treaties as a legal basis. The legal force of the San Francisco Peace Treaty surpassed the Cairo Declaration and overturned that declaration. No wonder that the Chinese government has always emphasized the importance of the Cairo Declaration in taking the position that Taiwan is part of China, while neglecting to make any mention of the San Francisco Peace Treaty.


Exposure to blue-violet light through digital screens is linked to macular degeneration, the world's leading cause of vision loss.
We now know that the main source of harmful blue-violet light is computer screens, laptops, smartphones, tablets, TV's, fluorescent and LED lighting as well as natural exposure from the sun. Add preventative measures now, add a digital blue coating to your lenses from Essilor Premium. Coating comes with 3 year warranty as standard.
What is Digital Blue?
Digital Blue is a quality coating developed by Essilor to block blue-violet light. All Digital Blue lenses come complete with a quality anti-reflective coating and quality hard coating by Essilor.
Performance lasts the life of the prescription and comes with 3 year warranty as standard. This means that the lens will protect from blue light radiation throughout the life time of the lens. But, if anything goes wrong with the lens, in 3 years, you are covered with a warranty. Blue Light is an increasing health risk due to the increased use of screens in our day to day life.


Each question has to have a 140 word minimum. No special format needed. just make sure they are number. here are the questions: 1. Homeless children resemble institutionalized children in some ways (lack of adequate cognitive stimulation) but not in others (they are in the care of a parent). Describe one aspect of development that you think might be compromised for homeless children. Explain briefly a research method you could use to study this aspect of development.[shortposting]
2.One of the ambitious goals for Healthy People 2020, a U.S. government program, is to increase abstinence from drinking, smoking, and using illicit drugs among pregnant women (Office of Disease Prevention and Promotion, 2016). To achieve these goals, future parents need to be educated on the dangers of substance use during pregnancy. Select one risk factor (for example, alcohol, cigarette smoking, etc.) and write a short paragraph on the nature of the risk factor and the potential problems it can cause in the prenatal period and in later development. If you are interested in a factor that isn’t discussed in this chapter, look up some information from an authoritative source, such as the review paper by Ross et al. (2015), the NIDA (2016) website, and online publications on prenatal development from the CDC and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
3. Suppose you are collaborating with others to produce a community intervention program for families that live in urban poverty. Identify one distal and one proximal influence of living in poverty that are linked together, and likely influence child development in a negative way. Briefly describe how your community program would address these linked influences on child development.
4.You’ve probably heard advertisers claim that using certain products will allow you to tap into your baby’s potential for brain growth and make your baby smarter. Take a few minutes to conduct an internet search using the term “Brainy Babies” or “Baby Einstein” to find examples of some of these products on the Internet. How would you respond to these claims based on what you have learned about brain development and experience?
5. Many U.S. children attend child care, either in registered homes or centers, but research surveys have shown that the quality of these facilities varies widely. Use your knowledge of brain and cognitive development (Chapters 4 and 5) to propose equipment, toys, or activities caregivers could provide that would stimulate a specific aspect of brain or cognitive development (such as goal-oriented problem solving, attention, memory, categorization, or language).
6. The NICHD early child care study found that many children were placed in low-quality child care homes or centers, an all-too-common situation in the United States (Clarke-Stewart & Allhusen, 2005). What should be the features of high-quality child care from the perspective of optimizing social and emotional development? Identify one feature, and explain specifically how it would benefit children.
7. The two child maltreatment prevention studies discussed at the end of this chapter focused on altering behavior within the family microsystem, but other ecological systems beyond the family are relevant. Describe one strategy that social policy makers might follow to reduce the number of potential child maltreatment victims. How would you know that the strategy was working?
8. What ideas do you have for a business venture, non-governmental organization or community project that would help promote language, literacy, or numeracy skills in low-income neighborhoods?
9.About 70 percent of parents of 3- to 5-year-olds use child care for some portion of their child’s week. From a social policy standpoint, what are some important changes you would recommend to improve the quality of child care in the United States? Defend your answer in terms of the anticipated impact of your proposed changes on children’s socioemotional development.
10. How might a neuroscientist use children’s interest in video games to design an experimental or longitudinal study determining whether intense amounts of practice in a particular skill causes measurable changes in the brain? Sketch out the type of skill that might be promoted in a video game, which areas of the brain might be affected, and how you would determine if these brain areas were affected by experience playing the game.
11. Opinions of developmental scientists and educators differ regarding the usefulness of IQ tests to benefit children’s lives or education. What is your position? If you see a continuing need for IQ tests, give an example of how they can be used. If you don’t see a continuing need, what would you do instead of giving IQ tests in typical situations where they are used (assessing the impact of prenatal or birth problems, assessing the impact of early environmental disadvantage, and placing a special needs child or a gifted child in the appropriate educational program)?
12. Reflect on what you’ve learned about the psychological impact of bullying and review Denham et al.’s (2011) model of emotion regulation in Figure 12.2. If you were advising a child on how to cope with bullies, what is an example of one of the three types of emotion regulation (coping emotionally, cognitively, or behaviorally) that could help this bullied child?
13. Adolescent risk-taking, whether due to brain development, social influences, or a combination of the two, is a societal problem. Describe one way parents, teachers, counselors, or producers of media for teens (such as apps, video games, TV, movies, and music videos) can help reduce adolescent sensation-seeking and risk-taking. Choose a specific example of risk-taking behavior among contemporary teens that you have observed or read about.
14. One expert said that public health efforts to limit adolescent smoking, substance abuse, early sexual behavior, and automobile accidents should focus less on educating the adolescent to be wiser, more informed, and less impulsive and more on limiting opportunities to engage in risky behavior (Steinberg, 2007). Examples of opportunity-limiting policies include raising the price of cigarettes, more vigilantly enforcing laws against the sale of alcohol to minors, expanding adolescents’ access to contraceptive services, and raising the driving age. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal? Why?
15. One expert said that public health efforts to limit adolescent smoking, substance abuse, early sexual behavior, and automobile accidents should focus less on educating the adolescent to be wiser, more informed, and less impulsive and more on limiting opportunities to engage in risky behavior (Steinberg, 2007). Examples of opportunity-limiting policies include raising the price of cigarettes, more vigilantly enforcing laws against the sale of alcohol to minors, expanding adolescents’ access to contraceptive services, and raising the driving age. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal? Why?


What is Cognitive Psychology?
Cognitive psychologists examine internal mental processes such as memory, perception, learning and language, and they are concerned with how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems and make decisions. These psychologists focus upon how people attain, process and recall information.
Cognitive psychology generally favors the gathering of empirical data from scientific research methods instead of through clinically based observation (such as in the field of psychoanalysis) to reach conclusions and state a case. However, because cognitive psychology is a vast and diverse field, clinical observation can be useful in generating hypotheses for further research.
What Does a Cognitive Psychologist Do?
These psychologists perform the following duties:
- Conduct research on the human thought process
- Teach at colleges and universities
- Work at government agencies
- Work as human factors consultants or industrial-organizational managers
- Study the human brain and memory in relation to computers
- Work with Alzheimer's or memory-loss patients
- Work with children to understand memory formation
- Teach language skills and problem solving
- Work in the legal system and study the mental processes of criminals, witnesses, juries and judges
Education & Training
In order to practice, you'll need to have your doctorate. A cognitive psychology PhD is an intense program and generally takes at least four to five years to complete. You will also be required to work in an internship with a qualified cognitive psychologist prior to beginning work on your own.
Courses that will pertain specifically to your degree will include cognitive learning, neuroscience, advanced social psychology and life-span development, as well as advanced research methods training that will include statistics, psychometrics and structural equations.
Cognitive psychologists work in many different settings, from classroom to laboratory, government office to neuroscience facility. Your day will be spent working in a collaborative capacity with other psychologists of all persuasions, neuroscientists, linguists, computer scientists and other professionals who are intent upon understanding how our brains function and why we learn and behave as we do.
Everything from brain imaging to psychometrics—the interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits—will be incorporated into your daily work environment.
Cognitive psychologists are part of the larger field of psychologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median national annual salary for psychologists, all others, is $90,020. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.


Thanks to modern imaging and 3D printing, we now know what an ancient Egyptian mummy sounded like.
David Howard at Royal Holloway, University of London, and his colleagues have reconstructed the vocal tract of Nesyamun, a priest who lived more than 3000 years ago during the reign of pharaoh Ramses XI.
They have used the reconstruction to reproduce a sound that falls between the English vowel sounds in “bed” and “bad”, and resembles a brief groan.
The mummy, held at Leeds City Museum, is one of the best preserved in the UK, says Howard.
The team used CT scans to image the mummy’s vocal tract, measuring the position of the airway, bone and soft tissue structures.
The vocal tract – which in humans consists of the laryngeal cavity, the pharynx, and the oral and nasal cavities – was then digitally recreated. Finally, the resulting model was 3D printed and used with an electronic larynx that generates sound.
The mummy is preserved in a reclining position, with the head tilted back. “What we’ve ended up with is the sound of his vocal tract as it is set in his coffin,” says Howard. “It isn’t necessarily an articulation position he would have used in speech.”
The mummy’s tongue had lost some of its muscle bulk over millennia, and the soft palate was absent, which may also affect the accuracy of the reproduction. “Why it’s missing, we don’t know – it’s possible it was part of the interment process,” says Howard.
Nesyamun worked as a scribe and priest in Thebes, and his ritual duties involved spoken and sung elements. Inscriptions on his coffin include an epithet that translates to “true of voice”.
It may be possible to generate a variety of speech sounds by changing the shape of the recreated vocal tract, says Howard.
Journal reference: Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56316-y
More on these topics:


Fan-in is a term that defines the maximum number of digital inputs that a single logic gate can accept. Most transistor-transistor logic ( TTL ) gates have one or two inputs, although some have more than two. A typical logic gate has a fan-in of 1 or 2.
In some digital systems, it is necessary for a single TTL logic gate to drive several devices with fan-in numbers greater than 1. If the total number of inputs a transistor-transistor logic (TTL) device must drive is greater than 10, a device called a buffer can be used between the TTL gate output and the inputs of the devices it must drive. A logical inverter (also called a NOT gate) can serve this function in most digital circuits.
Compare fan-out .


Explain why debtors benefit during periods of high inflation. For example, why would someone in Argentina want to have debt? Why does money have a time value?
How is the present value of a lump sum related to the present value of a stream of payments? How is this helpful for retirees that are considering taking a lump sum payment in lieu of monthly pension payments?
Debtors benefit during periods of high inflation, because the amount they actually owe to the bank or some other institution from which they have borrowed is actually worth less than the amount at the time they borrowed the money. This is because as inflation ...
The solution answers two question about inflation and present value. The detailed questions are below.


Career Counselling & Planning is an critical element for figuring out the real potential and guiding students in the direction of a proper career path. Students want to recognise the significance of profession training and right steering earlier than they may be going to choose an educational stream after taking the board checks. Career Guidence, Planning & Counselling may be useful choosing a profession intention, making plans and give a path to students for a better destiny ahead.
Career Counselling & planning allows in figuring out a scholar’s true ability. Students are regularly burdened approximately their career alternatives. Aptitude assessments and counselling periods could help become aware of their discipline of specialization. This might indeed help a pupil in following the proper path of have a look at for engaging in his profession intention.
In school a helpless sixteen year vintage is confronted with the choice of diverse streams - Humanities, Science with mathematics, technological know-how with biology and Commerce, and the most effective career steerage he has is the opinion of his parents, his teacher’s judgement based on his marks and the feedback of his pals and associates. A class 11th -12th scholar together with his subject mixtures is flooded with companies providing diverse entrance education and faculties luring his / her attention. What assist he has mother and father, instructors and admission counsellors whose simplest job is to place the student in college and route where they'll get fee. A graduate who's doing the route due to the fact the mother and father needs him/ her to do it or he became not certain of any other and as a consequence is doing the direction is likewise confused approximately profession selections.
In current instances, career counselling & planning is a need as most college students choose generally known domains as their profession choice. Career guidence & planning is an effort for college kids’ career guidance proper from their school about the available career options as consistent with their hobby and move of academics.
Through career counselling & planniing, an analysis may be performed for college students which will help them discover their pastimes and additionally their strengths and weaknesses. Under the guidance of an experienced counsellor, students attain calm confidence and focused ambition for achieving success in their chosen field. Importance of Career Counselling, Planning & Guidence.
Today computers have become a significant part of everyone’s life, new gadgets, software, Mobile Apps are introduced every...Read More
Many IT students/professionals generally have a feeling, that as a computer science or IT student their job can be only programmingRead More
Working in an IT company was a Dream come true until 2016. Now it’s a different ballgame.Read More
IT industry is in transition. There are many opportunities but there are challenges. Professionals will benefit from support and guidance provided by Dr Deepak Shikarpur. Dr Shikarpur has deep knowledge of the industry, compassion and the ability to mentor and to be the guiding light for individuals in the industry.
In an environment where skills requirements are changing everyday and automation and artificial intelligence are threatening services jobs in large numbers, most IT/BPM professionals are in need of mature counselling and mentorship to manage their careers. I am sure Deepak's initiative will help them to weather many career storms and place their careers on a sound footing
With, knowledge, skill, competency, experience of about three decades in I.T. and BPO industry Dr. Deepak Shikarpur would indeed be” the choice” to seek professional career guidance in the said filed. I have no doubt that the students would get most current situational analysis and the right directions to follow to achieve the career objectives.
“Dr. Deepak Shikarpur is an IT Engineer with a global repute. He was a scholar student since childhood and was a Rank Holder with Distinction for Bachelor of Engineering program. He has obtained post graduate diploma in management and Doctorate (PhD) in the field of his profession – Information Technology. He was working in the Tata group for 15 years and then became a Technopreneur.
His profession spheres over Directorship with several Global Information Technology companies and academic institutions. He is past chairman of computer society of India and serving Chairman of the IT sub-committee of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce industries and agriculture (MCCIA) a premier corporate conglomerate.
His experience in working with Tata, Multinational companies, Start up Entrepreneur and Higher Education Strategist” makes him an ideal choice as Career Counsellor”


Science education in schools should help to prepare students for the multiple roles that they will play as adult citizens. These include both private roles involving personal decisions about economics, consumption and lifestyle (consumer, worker, learner) and public roles involving their influence on public policy (voter, volunteer, advocate). Playing those roles responsibly will require scientific knowledge. For example, the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for research-based reports that call for collective human action on an unprecedented scale. Yet IPCC reports, in particular, require readers to have substantial knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, atmospheric science, and statistics. It is the responsibility of our schools to prepare students who can read, evaluate, and respond to reports such as these in informed and responsible ways.
Current research shows that most students lack the scientific knowledge needed for responsible citizenship. This includes knowledge of basic processes that occur in environmental systems, such as photosynthesis, cellular respiration, combustion, reproduction, and evapotranspiration. It also includes understanding of general aspects of scientific reasoning such as the hierarchy of systems at different scales and the nature and uses of scientific models, as well as an understanding of how humans alter natural processes in socio-ecological systems. Educational research can help to bridge the gap between what students need to know and what they currently understand. One promising direction involves the development of learning progressions: descriptions of increasingly sophisticated ways of thinking about or understanding a topic. The development and empirical validation of learning progressions is an iterative process, in which initial frameworks provide the basis for development of assessments and teaching experiments, which in turn lead to improvements in the frameworks. This work on learning progressions can provide the basis for dialogue among scientists, educational researchers, developers of standards, assessments, and curricula, and classroom teachers that is necessary for students to develop the scientific knowledge and practices of ecological literacy.


Ever Wondered How The Ancient Art of Origami Began?
Origami is an ancient art form that is believed to have been around for nearly 2000 years, derived from the Japanese tradition of paper-folding. Though they were not the first to experiment with the culture of paper-folding, they were the first to use this technique as a style of art.
Have You Ever Wondered How Our Numerical System Began?
Numerical systems are vital to us in the modern world, but have you ever wondered how numbers came into being in the first place?
Ever Wondered How the Wonder of Honey Happens?
But while we all enjoy the many benefits of honey, have you ever wondered how it's actually made? Yes, it starts as flower nectar collected by bees. But there are so many more interesting steps in its production. Find out how honey is made here.
These Origami Bring a Whole New Level to the Art.
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside of Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form.
Origami Artist Creates Art Like You've Never Seen Before
Origami is a wonderful take on art. And origami artist Cristian Marianciuc is an expert in his craft, which he learned after having folded and decorated origami cranes daily for 1000 consecutive days.
Ever Wonder What Ancient Egyptian Sounded Like?
We know Ancient Egyptians didn't use letters as we do. Instead, they used symbols and pictures known as Hieroglyphs. Since that is the case, it's incredibly hard to know what Ancient Egyptian really sounded like.
These Amazing Examples of Origami Art Will Fold You Over!
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and the process of turning ordinary pieces of paper into modern art masterpieces. You won't believe some of the amazing creations that were put together strictly from folded pieces of origami paper.
Ever Wonder How Sugar Is Made?
The next time you add a spoonful of sugar into your morning cup of coffee, you'll know how much work was put into making it... This video explains, step by step, how sugarcane is turned into those white crystals that make our coffee (and life) just a little bit sweeter every morning.
Ever Wondered How Sperm Whales Sleep? Wonder No More!
It isn’t often that people give a thought to how sperm whales sleep, and when the question is raised, no-one really knew how to answer – until now. Professional underwater photographer, Franco Banfi, snapped a few extremely rare photos of a pod of sperm whales in a synchronized vertical sleep.
Ever Wondered How Hormones Work? Well, Wonder No More!
In this informative TED-Ed video, Emma Bryce explains how this system regulates everything from your sleep to the rhythm of your heart, exerting its influence over every one of your cells. Take a look!
Ever Wondered How Hurricanes Are Named?
If you’ve ever wondered where these names come from and how they are picked, we’re here to clear it up for you. Originally, hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the saint’s day on which the storms hit.
11 Levels of Origami: A Fascinating Tutorial
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How Did They Ever Create These Amazing Works of Art?
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Ever Wonder How Bubble Gum is Made?
But how is this bizarre "food" prepared, and what is the history behind it? Find out in the video below. Ever Wonder How Bubble Gum is Made? technology, food, candy, machine, snack, bubble gum, how does it work This video will show you how bubble gum is made and talk about its history.
Ever Wondered How and Why Whales Sing? Well Wonder No More
Ever Wondered How and Why Whales Sing? Well Wonder No More song, informative, interesting, baba recommends, whales, TED-Ed, How, why In this fantastically animated TED-Ed video, Stephanie Sardelis decodes the evocative melodies composed by whales.
Satoshi Kamiya, Known For the MOST Complex Origami Figures
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The Delightful Origami Animals of Hung Cuong
Origami, the art of folding paper, is an ancient and honored form of art in Japanese culture, which has, with time, also excited the rest of the world. It's amazing what can be done with a piece of paper, and the best origami sculptures are even showcased in museums.
Will Wonder Ever Cease?
We all know the big and famous wonders of the world: The pyramids, the wall of china etc. But the world has many other wonders to share with us, some as big as a lake, and some as small as a room - but all wondrous! See these fascinating little wonders of the world you may have never heard about!
Ever Wondered How Others Live? Well Wonder No More!
See how families live in Burkina Faso, Latvia, or Pera as Rönnlund explains the power of data visualization in order to help us better understand the world.
Ever Wondered How Risky an Activity Is? Here Are the Stats!
Most of us tend to know what the leading causes of death in our countries of residence are (such as heart disease, cancer and strokes being the leading causes in the United States), but do you ever stop to wonder about the risks involved in other activities?
Have You Ever Wondered How Old is Our Sun?
The Sun is the closest star to Earth, the power-source for all life and the primary constant humanity has ever known. We know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and has done so since the dawn of time.
The Seven Ancient World Wonders Stunningly Reconstructed!
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a list of 7 glorious structures, out of which only one - the Great Pyramid of Giza - stood the test of time.
Ever Wondered How Binary Code Works? Wonder No More!
F. de Freitas explains how binary code works. This is How Binary Code Works video, informative, interesting, youtube, baba recommends, TED-Ed, Binanry code, how it works In this informative TED-Ed video, José Américo N. L. F. de Freitas explains how binary code works.Take a look!
These Origami Artists Are Fantastic!
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CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES
CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES, 2003
CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES enable persons to grow plants in cities. The plant modules can be arranged in multiple formations directly on pavement, squares, etc.
The plant modules consist of soil, which is wrapped up in semitransparent, semi-permeable fibre cloth made into flexible forms. Water is introduced into every module by hoses that can be connected to drain pipes on buildings or to other water sources. The parts of the hoses that are inside the modules are perforated, which allows the water to seep out into the soil. Rainwater will also penetrate the fibre cloth, which will retain moisture while allowing excess water to escape.
Planting and harvest:
CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES is intended for use by anybody.
Persons can harvest plants and plant new plants. Some of the plants, like potatoes, require a large soil volume and therefore grow best in bigger modules. Herbs and beans need less space and can be grown in narrow rows. The vegetables may be harvested whenever they are ready to use.
If the modules are handled carefully, the cloth can be used several times. However, the soil may need to be fertilized with compost, etc., before reusing.
The system is maintained by the persons using it. In case of drought, the modules can be watered by hand, or the hoses can be connected to a tap.
CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES. Hoses, fiber cloth and fertilized soil.
Polypropylene fibre cloth with fertilised soil, nylon straps
Black permeable PVC hoses
Transparent fibre reinforced PVC hose
Polypropylene hose couplings
CITY FARMING PLANT MODULES situations
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querl: transitive verb – To twirl; to turn or wind round; to coil; as, to querl a cord, thread, or rope.
Seeing you especially violent, one witness
Elsewhere, the querling stimulus is only concern
Processed stress narrowing focus due
The physical weapons drawn
A state of attention blinding
Can occur during high events
Cognitively inattentional, blind witness
Inattentional blindness is a state of seeing but not seeing. The physical stimulus is visually processed, but due to attention drawn elsewhere, you are cognitively blind. Attention narrowing, like querling cord, can occur due to periods of high stress, especially during violent events that cause weapons focus. Inattentional blindness is only one area of concern in witness testimony.
*This poem was written in response to today’s Na/GloPoWriMo prompt. I didn’t follow Dan Brady’s form, exactly, but enjoyed the practice of finding my poem by pulling the words from the prose paragraph I wrote. The prose paragraph was inspired by the Forensic Psychology course I’m taking through Open University at futurelearn.com.


China’s Loch Ness monster has been sighted. Or so Chinese state-run television says. Not just one, but more than a dozen huge creatures can be seen churning across Lake Kanasi in remote western China, leaving a foamy wake more like an enormous motorboat than a big fish.
A rare video filmed by a tourist at the lake in the Heavenly Mountains of the wild Xinjiang region, has reignited debate over the existence of an underwater creature that can compete with the Loch Ness monster in both mass and mystery.
The grainy film shows about 15 objects moving at high speed just beneath the surface of the lake and whipping the smooth blue water into a bubbling white frenzy. Chinese Central Television broadcast the video on its news channel, describing the footage shot by a passing tourist on July 5 as the clearest ever seen of a legendary beast that has been rumoured for centuries to live in the depths of Lake Kanasi.
Local myth among the Chinese Mongolians living in the scenic mountains near the Russian and Mongolian borders has it that the animals have been known to drag sheep, cows and even horses from the shore and into the deep to devour them.
Yuan Guoying, of the Xinjiang Institute of Environmental Protection, told The Times that the video provided important proof in his more than two decades of research at the lake. “Only fish could make waves in this formation. I think the video is real.”
<>The television commentator<><> described the sighting as the first since June 7, 2005 when two black creatures measuring more than 10 metres in length appeared on the surface swimming at speed from the shore to the centre of the lake. The newsreader described the latest appearance: “They sometimes gathered in a flock, sometimes spread about or moved shoulder to shoulder. The scene is grand and they looked like a fleet.”
State television made no attempt to identify the animals, saying only: ‘This time a large number of unidentified creatures emerged, bringing more mystery to Lake Kanasi.”
Professor Yuan has been on their trail since 1980 and has been gripped by the mystery since his first sighting in 1985 when he says he saw as many as 50 of what he called fish. “They looked like reddish-brown tadpoles because I could only see their heads on the surface. They opened their mouths to breathe and their length was about 10 to 15 metres.”
He spotted the animals again on May 28, 2004 when he was standing looking down at the lake from a nearby hill. “I thought there was a huge piece of black plastic in the lake and that someone had been polluting it. But then I released that it must be the back of a giant fish. I was shocked because they were just too big. Looking at them was like looking at submarines.”
When Mr Yuan got back to his office he tried to calculate the size of the animals by setting their proportions against those of the surrounding landmarks such as trees or the shape of the shoreline. “I didn’t dare say they were bigger than 20 metres because no one would believe me.”
Chinese researchers in the 1980s said the ‘monster’ was likely to be a huge member of the salmon family – one of eight species of fish living in the lake. Mr Yuan gave their name as Hucho Taimen, a freshwater salmon tht thrives in deep frigid waters. He says the biggest Hucho Taimen salmon ever captured was 2.1 metres long and was found in Russia.
The animals that roam Lake Kanasi live in an area about 24 kilometres by two kilometers and with an average depth of 122 metres and as deep as 188 metres at one point.
Mr Yuan believes that a lot more research is needed although China lacks the scientific equipment to make further studies. And it would be impossible to catch a fish of this size. “This fish will have tremendous strength.”
Other Chinese scientists have cast doubt on his findings, but Mr Yuan is adamant. “People will just say ‘You’ve got to be kidding’. But I saw them with my own eyes. I am a scientist. I have no choice but to believe what I saw


As ordnance and landmine-detection technology advances, mine-action organizations across the world are increasingly using more sophisticated types of metal detectors. Each metal detector contains its own strengths and weaknesses, and until now, no accurate way exists to quantify the differences between the models. In this article, a method is shown to successfully evaluate metal-detector accuracy in a controlled field condition and provides data on the differences between single coil, double-D coil and other metal-detector types. The International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining conducted the 2009 evaluation in Germany that provides the data used in this article.
"Metal Detector Pinpointing Accuracy Under Field Conditions,"
The Journal of ERW and Mine Action
: Vol. 15
, Article 17.
Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol15/iss3/17


Pushing too hard at international climate change talks might have killed the only treaty regulating carbon emissions, host South Africa said Monday after concluding tense negotiations on how the world should respond to global warming.
Given the international financial crisis and competing national political interests, trying to force countries to do more than they are willing and able to do "would have resulted in a `no deal' in Durban, not only killing the Kyoto Protocol therefore, but possibly even the U.N. Convention on climate change itself," Edna Molewa, South Africa's environment minister, told reporters.
South Africa presided for two weeks over the talks, nudging and sometimes pushing longtime rivals to agree. On Sunday, a day and a half after the talks were to have ended, negotiators in the coastal city of Durban agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol by five years. The 1997 agreement has binding emissions targets for some industrial countries but not the world's biggest carbon polluters, the U.S. and China. Durban's accord also envisions a new accord with binding targets for all countries to take effect in 2020.
Some critics have complained the outcome lacked ambition. The agreement did not commit nations to ensuring their greenhouse gas emissions start to decrease before 2020, which scientists say is crucial to preventing global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) above current levels by the end of this century.
Celine Charveriat of the anti-poverty group Oxfam called the Durban pact "a major disappointment." Jennifer Morgan of the World Resources Institute was more measured, saying it was significant that Durban set the world on course to a legally binding agreement that would cover both developed and developing countries.
Until now, developed countries who have been contributing to global warming since the Industrial Revolution had been seen as bearing the greatest responsibility for reducing emissions. They argue that countries like China, Brazil and India should do more, while those emerging economic powers say abandoning dirty energy too quickly would hurt growth.
Molewa acknowledged Monday that South Africa is among the countries wary of "strangling our own industry, strangling our own program of poverty eradication."
"We need time and space to develop," she said.
South Africa stands out on the continent, emitting more global warming gases than any other African country. It is the 13th largest emitter in the world, according to U.S. government analysis.
Alf Wills, South Africa's chief climate negotiator, said many countries at the talks were wary of even moving toward taking on legal commitments.
"There was a risk that we could come out of Durban with no L-word in the document at all," said Wills, who joined Molewa at a Pretoria news conference Monday. "So, things have moved."
Wills said South Africa and other African nations had wanted more, even a new Kyoto-style agreement.
"We were fully aware that to achieve that goal might not be possible in Durban," he said, saying Africans instead focused on securing a fund to help poor countries cope with global warming and the transfer of clean energy and other technology from rich countries to poor.
African and other developing countries have been hardest hit by the floods and droughts associated with global warming, though they have historically contributed little in the way of greenhouse gas emissions.


The percentage of Americans screened for cancer isn't meeting national targets, and the numbers are even worse for minorities, according the first federal study looking at disparities among Asiand and Hispanic groups.
The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute showed breast cancer screening rates were 72.4 percent, below the 81 percent target set in a national health plan called Healthy People 2020. It was 83 percent for cervical cancer, missing the 93p ercent mark, and colorectal screening was 58.6 percent, missing hte 70.5 percent target.
For Asians they were 64.1 percent for breast cancer, 75.4 percent for cervical cancer and 46.9 percent for colorectal cancer. For Hispanics, they were 78.7 percent for cervical cancer and 46.5 percent for colorectal cancer.
“It is troubling to see that not all Americans are getting the recommended cancer screenings and that disparities continue to persist for certain populations. Screening can find breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers at an early stage when treatment is more effective,” Dr. Sallyann Coleman King, an epidemic intelligence service officer in CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and lead author of the study, said in a statement. “We must continue to monitor cancer screening rates to improve the health of all Americans.”
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a national advisory board, recommends women aged 50-74 have a mammogram every two years. Sexually active women or those aged 21-65 should be screened for cervical cancer with a pap test every three years. Men and women aged 50-75 should have a colorectoral screening with a blood test every year or a signoidoscopy every five years or a colonoscopy every 10 years.
Screenings, not surprisingly, were lower among those without health insurance.


By confusing a reserve and a resource, and ignoring the energy requirements for extracting unconventional gas and oil, e.g. through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and retorting oil shale, the mistaken view has emerged that peak oil will not happen, or not for many decades. Quite simply, once the ceiling of conventional crude oil production is reached and the inevitable decline in its supply occurs, an ever greater quantity of unconventional oil will be needed to make up for it. So long as the consequent and deepening “hole” in the output of crude oil can be filled from alternative,... Read more
In a lecture given at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Professor Stephen Emmott gave a chilling account of what will happen to the Earth and its resources should the population rise to 10 billion by... Read more
Recent reports of the Energy Catalyzer or E-cat device raise again the spectre of cold fusion, amid excoriating reactions from mainstream scientists, while developments in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF)... Read more
Faced with increasing political obstacles to oil and natural gas exploration in many countries around the world, the oil industry is focusing again on the United States... Read more
Offshore wind farms are far more difficult and expensive than developing on-shore wind power. If the UK is serious about providing 25% of its electricity by this means,... Read more
A group of 16 eminent scientists has written a letter to The Wall Street Journal arguing that climate change is no imminent threat, on the basis that mean global temperatures have not risen for more than... Read more
The Transition Town movement has spread across the United Kingdom and there is one based in Reading, in the south east of England. In the face of peak oil, global economic failure and climate change,... Read more
As oil prices rose ever higher in the last decade, the optimists kept predicting rising production capacity and plummeting prices. Looks like they got it wrong. Read more
The transformation to a lower-energy lifestyle is essential and complex in the face of peak-oil. Here are a few suggestions of some of the more immediate matters. Read more
In order to address the shortfall in REEs for vital renewable energy projects caused by China's restriction of them onto the world markets for its own use, the European Union is set to stockpile... Read more
Dr Richard Pike, former CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, has died of cancer. He had worked for B.P. and in his opinion there was maybe twice as much crude oil in reserve than is normally considered... Read more
From a thermodynamic analysis, it is estimated that the amount of energy available in the Earth system to be extracted by wind-turbines is limited at 18 - 64 TW, and far less than previous engineering... Read more
Newly accessible natural gas from deep shale deposits around the world has been touted as a solution to everything from oil dependence to climate change. But our actual experience with shale gas extraction... Read more
A study by Duke University has shown unsafe levels of methane gas in water taken from wells closer than 1000 m to gas-shale hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") operations... Read more
Fracking Does Contaminate Groundwater With Methane, But Jury Still Out On Process Overall
By Chris Rhodes
By Chris Rhodes
All articles: Biodiversity | Climate Change | Future Energies
AIDS | Biotechnology | Cosmology | Evolution | Extrasolar Planets | Flu | NanoScience | Neuroscience | Stem Cells
- Chris Rhodes commented on “Peak Oil” is Nonsense… Because There’s Enough Gas to Last 250 Years.: I have offered this article to The Daily Mail, pointing-out the deficiencies in Lord Lawson's argument, but I doubt they will publish it as a rebuttal. Said ...
- Robert Spencer commented on “Peak Oil” is Nonsense… Because There’s Enough Gas to Last 250 Years.: Amazing that Lord Lawson still has influence on what is reported in the press - world affairs as reported by the Daily Mail and even the Times can be ...
- trevor commented on “Peak Oil” is Nonsense… Because There’s Enough Gas to Last 250 Years.: Sure there is .....


“Time Passes” is an appropriate title for this section of Woolf’s novel. The first section of the novel felt as if time were standing still. Mr. Ramsey’s thoughts, for example, take up substantial space within the novel while progressing very little of the plot. As he walks around thinking on how Shakespeare is irrelevant, he slows the plot down to a mere crawl. This contrasts greatly with the form of “Time Passes” say many important things in a short amount of time. Late in the passage, Woolf writes “So she was dead; and Mr. Andrew killed, and Miss Prue dead too, they said, with her first baby; but everyone had lost some one these years”(77). The twenty year time-travel is evident in this passage through its simulation of the effect of a whiplash speed of time; one only has time to see brief important things and repeat them later as a representation of the whole. Furthermore, Miss Prue’s death in childbirth represents the inability to reproduce and continue time through human’s own ability, as if time continues while leaving humanity behind. The irrelevance of man in the riptide of time is evident again through the observation of the cook. Woolf writes of “The cook now, Mildred, Marian, some such name as that”(77). The phrasing implies that the cook is a replacement whose name is not worth memorizing, possibly referencing how soon she will be gone too and thus replaced by another nameless cook.
The passage connects with World War I in its confusing and quick movements characterized fewer insights into the characters themselves. “The Window” contained multiple passages that delved deep into the psyche of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, while “Time Passes” implies that the replacement cook, who will soon be replaced herself, is not worth the time taken to memorize her name. In addition, Woolf juxtaposes stillness and chaos with day and night as she says “the stillness and brightness of the day were as confusing as the chaos and tumult of the night” (76). Historians characterize World War I as an unusually uniform war. Two trenches: one side attacks, the other attacks subsequently, and it goes on. The war dragged on for such a monotonous stalemate that any sort of stillness in the constant fighting would be alien and disorienting. The passage as a whole uses the speed of time, which was proven to be relative in the early 1900’s, to bring out a meaning of the War’s ability to warp time. Nature continues on, patient as usual, while humanity gets caught in its own storm, getting left behind in the night.


Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition of the digestive system. IBS causes bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. These symptoms come and go intermittently and can last for days, weeks, or (in extreme cases) months. Irritable bowel syndrome is a lifetime condition. It can be quite frustrating and can end up affecting your quality of life. IBS has no cure, but medications and dietary changes can help improve the symptoms. The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. Women are more likely to develop IBS than men — the same goes for people who are under the age of 50.
Types of IBS
There are three different types of irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment options will depend on the type of IBS you have.
IBS with Constipation (IBS-C): IBS-C comes with stomach discomfort, pain, and bloating. There are also delayed or infrequent bowel movements. With IBS-C, your stool is hard and lumpy.
IBS with Diarrhea (IBS-D): With IBS-D, there is always an urge to relieve yourself. This results in more bowel movements than usual, with loose and watery stool.
IBS with Mixed Bowel Habits (IBS-M): IBS-M has those afflicted suffering alternately from both constipation and diarrhea. More than a quarter of the stools you take will either be loose and watery or hard and lumpy.
Symptoms of IBS
Some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include:
- Bloating, where your stomach feels swollen and full
- Stomach cramping and pain that worsens after eating
- Mucus in your stool
- Bowel incontinence
- Problems controlling your pee or having more urges to pee
Diagnosis of IBS
The doctor will review your symptoms as well as family history and may perform a physical exam. In some cases, the doctor may order more tests to rule out any other health issues. The doctor will diagnose IBS if you:
- Had symptoms for at least six months
- Had them at least once a week for three months
In a majority of cases, the doctor doesn’t need tests to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. They may, however, order stool tests to check for infections and other diseases. They may also do blood tests to check for other digestive diseases, anemia, and infections.
How to Treat IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t go away. Managing the symptoms may be the only way to reduce them.
Certain lifestyle changes can help relieve the symptoms without relying on medications. Exercising, reducing your caffeine intake, and consuming smaller meals can help. At the same time, finding ways of minimizing stress can relieve the symptoms of IBS. You can also use probiotics to relieve bloating and gas.
If your symptoms don’t improve even after lifestyle changes, medication is prescribed. Some IBS drugs treat all symptoms, while others focus on specific symptoms. The doctor may prescribe different medications depending on your symptoms. Treatment includes medications to control the muscle spasms, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-constipation drugs, and antibiotics.
How to Live with IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome has no cure and most people get used to living with the symptoms. Here are some ways to make your life more comfortable if you have irritable bowel syndrome:
- Avoid sugar alternatives, like those found in diet foods, since they cause diarrhea
- Opt for oat-based foods since they relieve bloating and gas
- Avoid skipping meals
- Have a regular eating schedule where you eat at the same time daily
- When you are eating, eat slowly and chew your food well
- Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages
- Drink at least eight cups of water and fluids every day
- Stay away from sugary and carbonated beverages like soda
- Can gluten cause irritable bowel syndrome? If you are sensitive or allergic to gluten, it may cause IBS symptoms.
- How can you prevent IBS? There is no known cause of IBS, which makes it difficult to prevent. If you have IBS, the only thing you can do is take measures to relieve the symptoms.
- Is irritable bowel syndrome fatal? Irritable bowel syndrome is not usually life-threatening. However, it can be frustrating and challenging to live with the condition.
Healthier Me Today is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment, always consult with your healthcare professional. Stay healthy!


Asthma is a respiratory disorder in which airways get swelled up and produce excess mucus. This condition leads to breathing problems with triggering coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Currently, there are no cures for this disorder, but with the advancement in the field of medical science, the symptoms can be controlled and managed. Ventolin inhaler online is very effective in asthma management, and they are easily available online. There are no particular reasons for the appearance of asthma symptoms, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental factors include pollutants and allergens, which trigger an allergic reaction leading to the occurrence of asthma symptoms. The other potential triggers are medication whose side effects cause asthma. Family history of asthma also increases the chances of you getting asthma. There are genes which are identified as the reason behind asthma occurrence. These genes are related to the immune system or involved in modulating inflammation.
Symptoms of Asthma
Symptoms and severity of asthma can vary from person to person. Most people with asthma do not show symptoms regularly. Common asthma symptoms are uncontrollable coughing, wheezing, heaviness in the chest, shortness of breath etc. the severity of symptoms is directly proportional to the severity of the disease, and it can lead to short and long term effects on the physical and mental health of the patient. For some asthma can be a minor nuisance, but for some, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities of life and can lead to other physical and mental disabilities.
Short effect of Asthma
– Asthma can hamper your daily productivity and can interfere with your sleep routine and prevent you from engaging in physical activity. This increases the risk of obesity and heart problems.
– Pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections can occur due to asthma. Asthma is not directly linked to pneumonia, but the medications used for treatment may contribute to an increased risk of pneumonia. People using inhalers with corticosteroids are increased risk of getting with pneumonia or other respiratory infections. The corticosteroids interfere with immune system function leading to infections.
Long term effects of Asthma
– If the symptoms of asthma are not controlled in time, this will lead to irreversible damage to the lungs. The damage caused can be severe, and people may ultimately need to use an assistive device to breathe.
– Mental health problems- as asthma is permanent and hampers, your daily activities of life can lead to anxiety and depression. Asthma causes psychological stress and negative emotions which increases the risk of mood disorders. Sleep disturbance and inflammatory factors cause a high level of stress leading to anxiety and depression. Young children who have severe asthma are more prone to mental disorders as they are unable to indulge in leisure activities with other children leading to stress, anxiety and depression. Asthma causes disturbance in sleep and inflammatory factors leading to a high level of mental health problems in the patient.
– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)- COPD is a lung disease including emphysema, bronchitis and chronic obstructive airways disease. Still, it is not linked to asthma directly, but uncontrolled and severe asthma can lead to COPD. Asthmatics who also smoke will experience recurrent chest infections and have a higher risk of developing COPD.
– Obesity and heart disorders- asthmatics are discouraged from doing exercise as this worsens their symptoms and doing so lead deteriorating cardiovascular health. Avoiding exercise or other physical activities increases the risk of developing obesity which in turn increases the risk of other health complications such as type-2 diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disorders.
Treatment and disease management
As asthma is dangerous, it is good to consult your doctor at the right time to control the symptoms of asthma and prevent it from reaching it severe phase. There are various methods to control the symptoms of asthma as there is no permanent cure, but symptoms can be controlled in very effective manners so that patient can have a normal healthy life.
– Medical treatment- an action plan is needed to control asthma. This includes identifying your triggers and allergens; using this a plan is devised to decide your medications and precautions to help you control and manage the symptoms of asthma. Medications include the doctors advise inhalers with corticosteroids. Inhalers allow the medicine to reach the lungs directly. Ventolin online is one of the best medicines to control the disease, and it is easily available online and in the market. Ventolin inhaler online has anti-inflammatory effects, thus helps in disease management.
– Avoiding allergens is the best way to avoid the occurrence of asthma symptoms. There are various natural remedies to prevent symptoms of asthma from an occurrence. Breathing exercise and herbals such as black seed, caffeine, choline are very effecting in soothing the inflammation.
Get an authentic Ventolin inhaler 100 mcg (200mdi) from a trustworthy source to relieve asthma symptoms.


Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam, shared with Viet Nam News her comments about the challenges and opportunities facing the development of science and technology in Viet Nam
I learned from a recent visit to the Institute of Biotechnology in Ha Noi that bacteria living in the guts of termites may hold the clue to turning cellulose into an energy source – sustainable, green technology that can be harnessed to achieve further poverty reduction in Viet Nam. This is amazing.
The ongoing Innovation Week in Viet Nam showcases the country's impressive progress in innovation. Based on the INSEAD business school's Innovation Efficacy Index, Viet Nam is effective in accessing world knowledge and integrating into global value chains that create a potential for productive flows of knowledge.
Internet penetration, for example, rose to 39.5 per 100 of inhabitants in 2011. That was much higher than Thailand (26.5) and Indonesia (15.4), which have significantly higher per capita incomes than Viet Nam.
In science, Viet Nam's main advantages are in earth and environmental sciences and biomedical research. This has had an above-average global impact based on the number of citations received for each scientific publication.
On the other hand, Viet Nam has below-average specialisation in disciplines such as clinical medicine, general science and technology, as well as the "built environment and design" industries, including civil engineering, construction, environmental impact, and urban design.
Despite the encouraging trends and outstanding world-class research being carried out in some institutes, the application of new technologies remains quite low in Viet Nam. The same INSEAD Innovation Efficacy Index mentioned above also shows that Viet Nam needs to strengthen its capability to mobilise and apply new knowledge for social and commercial purposes.
Unless the country intensifies investment in deepening and disseminating activities, the value-added gains for innovation from science and technology achievements is likely to remain modest.
Weak linkages between science and industry are a key problem for society to address. Business expenditures in research and development account for only 2.8 per cent of the funding of public research and play a modest role in the overall science and technology effort of Viet Nam.
A 2012 survey on skills in the labor force by the Central Institute for Economic Management and World Bank found that only about 6 per cent of firms had engaged in innovation-related co-operation with an outside partner, and only about 1 per cent collaborated with research institutes and universities.
Thus, three urgent actions are required to bring about greater innovation and they involve all of Vietnamese society. First of all, universities in Viet Nam need to conduct more research related to the demands and challenges faced by society, especially considering that young people working at universities are the driving force for innovation.
Reforming university financing to provide greater autonomy to attract research funding and scientists is an urgent policy reform priority to make this happen.
Second, companies in both the public and private sectors need to take advantage of investments in research and development, which offer a solid path to greater profitability and sustainability. Finally, the Government, in addition to funding basic research, needs to put in place policies and financing mechanisms that will boost the collaboration between universities, Government research institutes and industry.
My visit to the IBT showed clearly that Vietnamese researchers have great potential.This needs to be complemented by action from other stake holders so that the microbes can provide a new source of energy to serve Viet Nam's developmental needs.
Innovation has to be the business of the entire Vietnamese society. — VNS


If you are like many people, take pride in the number of responsibilities you manage.
You hold down a job, care for children and/or elderly parents, maintain your home, volunteer for your church and community, and make time for friends. These accomplishments make us feel productive and worthwhile.
While it is important to feel needed, it goes without saying that you cannot accomplish anything if you don’t first take care of your own health.
Many of the illnesses that affect our ability to work and enjoy life are preventable. What can you do to stay healthy and productive? According to the Centers for Disease Control, here are four of the most important behaviors that contribute to a healthier and longer life:
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption: Drink alcohol in moderation (men should have no more than two drinks per day; and women no more than one drink per day).
• Avoid tobacco: If you do not smoke, don’t start. If you currently smoke, and want to quit, call 1-800-Quit-Now or 1-800-Quit-Yes.
• Improve nutrition: Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood. Eat fewer foods with sodium (salt), saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, and refined grains.
• Engage in physical activity: Try for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking) every week. If you are able to exercise more vigorously (think jogging or running) you can get by with as little as 75 minutes, or you can mix the two for something in between. Add muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
Accidents can also send us to the sidelines. Statistics from the CDC show three quarters of all accidental deaths are due to traffic accidents, poisonings, and falls. While not all accidents can be avoided, you can take steps to reduce your risk of accidental injury or death.
Make sure your vehicle is in good working order and drive defensively, avoiding distractions like cellphones, eating in the car, grooming, etc. Most poisoning deaths are drug-related, so manage medications carefully.
Regular exercise can keep bones strong and improve balance, making falls less likely. For additional fall prevention, make sure that your home is clear of tripping hazards and is well-lighted. Avoid walking on wet floors or icy sidewalks, and wear appropriate footwear.
Take good care of yourself and your health, so that you can take care of everything and everyone else you care for.


Assignment prompt: At the core of any good dialogue is not the ability to talk louder than another person but rather the ability to listen calmly to diverse perspectives. You can always learn more by listening to other points of view, especially those you disagree with. Spend as much time as possible listening to what other people have to say, even when you are sure of your position. Understanding and appreciating others’ positions is the first step in persuading people to accept yours.
Adapted from Libuse Binder, Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties
Assignment: Is listening more important than speaking when you are trying to persuade others? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
When people communicate with others, there is one main obstacle that prevents them from finding a common ground: their ego. As Libuse Binder said in her book Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties, a good dialogue is based on our ability to listen to other points of view, even when we don’t agree with them.
If we are trying to persuade other people of a particular stand, it is important to listen and understand them without losing our beliefs. When we learn how to preserve calm state of mind during a discussion, we will listen to other people’s arguments without being affected by their tension. Then, the communication is transformed from a dispute to a situation we can learn from.
The problem in having a good dialogue goes beyond people’s ability to listen. Talking is another serious issue. Most people don’t know how to express their opinions in a simple, direct manner. They bother the other person with unnecessary details, thinking they would “win” the discussion if they talk more.
If we don’t listen, and the person talking to us doesn’t know how to express himself, there is no foundation for healthy communication. However, being a good listener does make a change. When we try to listen and understand, we can follow the mind patterns of the other person.
Even if his arguments are alternating from one subject to another, we will be able to find a bridge that brings the conversation back to the main point.
If we are having a dialogue without trying to listen carefully, we will only hear the things we can hook to. Our main goal is to prove the other person wrong, so we don’t bother questioning our own positions. We only try to catch onto a single argument that would help us prove our point.
People are inclined to be reserved towards the things they don’t understand. When they face opinions that push them out of their comfort zone, they are rarely capable to enable smooth flow of information. Our ego doesn’t allow us to accept ignorance.
The quest to becoming a good listener involves self-examination and acceptance. There is only one certain way of persuading others: we need to believe in the arguments we present. Although we are individual beings with our own moral and intellectual standards, the truth is universal. Before we present an argument, we need to believe in it.
If the other person already presented a similar opinion, we should come to an agreement without trying to oppose only to distinguish ourselves as unique.
When someone is a good listener, every dialogue teaches him to confront his own weaknesses, pride, fears, and the reasons behind those attitudes. Trying to persuade the other person without making an effort to understand his point of view doesn’t lead us to a successful discussion.
The only way to turn communication into a personally-rewarding experience is to listen and speak for the sake of truth; not for our ego and self-promotion.
Read new assignment prompt “If we are afraid to reveal our lack of knowledge we will not be able to learn.”


“This famous bird has a long history, as it was the spiritual protector of the Mayan chiefs. It is said that the Quetzal would accompany them everywhere, aiding them in battle, and dying when they died. Legend has it that when Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado and his Spaniards attacked the Mayans in 1524, the Quetzal appeared crying out and pecking at Alvarado.
At the exact moment when Alvarado pierced Tecum Uman [the chief], the sacred Quetzal fell silent and plummeted to earth, covering the body of the regal [Mayan] with its long and soft green plumes. After keeping a deathwatch through the night, the bird that rose from the cacique’s [chieftan’s] lifeless body was transformed. It was no longer the pure green of jade. Its breast had soaked up the blood of the fallen warrior, and so, too, became crimson, the shade of Mayan blood, as it has remained to this day (Maslow, p.19).
The Mayans proved just as unlucky as their chief; 30,000 of them succumbed to the superior firepower of the Spaniards. The Spanish had horses whereas the Mayans were on foot. Therefore, the Spaniards could easily chase down the Mayans, and without any guns the Mayans did not stand a chance. Their population was decimated. Alvaredo would become known as the founder of Guatemala. But the legend of the defeat of Tecum Uman and the sacrifice of the Quetzal at Quetzaltenango (place of the Quetzal) would not be forgotten.”
TED Case Studies
The Resplendent Quetzal
“This is QuetzalCam 2003 #3.
The chick get out before its time… a weasel gets in the nest (one of the lasts pictures), the chick could fly out there but needed more practice… we’ve rescued it and track it since 8:00am to 3:30pm (the hour that we’ve lost it). The mom was feeding it all this time and we hope it’s growing well out there in the wild forest.”
QuetzalCam @ Cloudforestalive.org


The main symptom of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an
uncomfortable feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain just behind the
breastbone, a feeling commonly referred to as heartburn. Sometimes heartburn
can feel like the chest pain of a heart attack.
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if:
- You have symptoms of a heart attack. These may include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
- Shortness of
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.
Call your doctor immediately if
- Vomit blood.
- Have bloody, black, or
Call your doctor if your GERD symptoms:
- Do not improve after 2 weeks of home
treatment, are different or are getting worse, or are interfering with normal
- Occur with choking or difficulty
- Occur with a lot of weight loss when you are not trying to lose weight.
Have occurred frequently over several years and are only partially
relieved with lifestyle changes and nonprescription medicines that reduce or
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. Occasional mild heartburn can often be relieved
by making lifestyle changes and taking nonprescription medicines that reduce or
block acid. Contact a doctor if
you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Who to see
The following health professionals can evaluate
symptoms of GERD:
You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in
diseases of the digestive tract (gastroenterologist) to check severe
GERD symptoms or to get an opinion on whether surgery is needed. If you are
thinking about having surgery, you may also be referred to a general surgeon
who has experience treating stomach and esophagus problems.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.


Sloths - Good Luck Minis®
Sloths can be found in Central and South America, and are members of the order Pilosa, along with anteaters. Though today’s sloths are all slow moving tree dwellers, prehistoric sloths were much larger and lived on the ground. The largest of these, Megatherium, could grow to be the size of an elephant. Today, most sloths are small enough to be easily held in a human’s arms.
Of the six species of living sloths, most are considered “Least Concern”, meaning they are not in any immediate danger of extinction. Two species, however, the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth and the Maned Three-toed Sloth, are considered threatened.


This Thursday, the Istanbul Instructors’ Network will be having a free educational session about how to teach grammar. Our very own Brooks Emerson will be speaking about the use of the “X-word Grammar” technique – see details below.
January 9th session, Brooks Emerson, MA TESOL
Location: Viktor Levi Sarap Evi, Moda, Istanbul
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
X-word Grammar came out of Sector Analysis, the work of the late Dr. Robert L. Allen, Teachers College, Columbia University. Some of Dr. Allen’s graduate students, most notably the late Dr. Linda Kunz, applied sector analysis to the classroom teaching of English and the term X-word Grammar was coined. The X in X-word Grammar stands for our elegant auXiliary verbs that help make the English verb system so simple and, yes, regular.
X-word Grammar stresses the word order of English, the regularity, and relative simplicity of its syntax. It helps students discover what a “sentence” really is. It gives students a framework with which to create well-ordered sentences that express their thoughts.
For historical reasons, most grammar books have tried to use rules and terms appropriate for Latin grammar to teach English. Bill Bryson, in The Mother Tongue, writes, “English grammar is so complex and confusing for the one very simple reason that its rules and terminology are based on Latin—a language with which it has precious little in common…Making English conform to Latin rules is like asking people to play baseball using the rules of football. It is a patent absurdity.”
Most books still try to fit a square peg into a round hole by forcing English, a lightly inflected, word- order based Germanic language, to conform to the rules of Latin.


The name of the Navajo is among those best known by non-Native Americans, along with others including the Apache, Cherokee, Comanche, and Sioux. Navajo jewelry is among the most popular Native American jewelry, and the use of turquoise in Native American bracelets and other items by the Navajo is well-known. But just who are the Navajo as a People?
The Navajo Nation
The Navajo is the United States’ largest federally-recognized Native American tribe, and its population exceeds three hundred thousand. The Navajo Reservation is the size of West Virginia and is spread throughout Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. It represents some of the world’s most scenic and famous vistas and landscapes. The Navajo have always lived in and relied upon the economy of the desert.
The Navajo refer to themselves as the Diné which means “people” in the Navajo language. The Navajo Reservation is called Diné Bikeyah, and it is a combination of arid desert, alpine forest, mountains, plateaus, and mesas.
Origins of the Navajo
Anthropologists believe that Ice-Age Paleo-Indian hunters resided in the area of Monument Valley between eight and fourteen thousand years ago. These people were followed by Anasazi hunter-gatherers.
The Navajo originated in Western Canada just over a thousand years ago and were part of the Athabaskan First Nations. They travelled south along the Pacific coast, and those who settled in southern Arizona and New Mexico became the Apache tribes, and as such the Navajo are closely related to the Apache. They learned much from the Pueblo Indians such as the Hopi, including weaving, cultivating food in the desert, and more.
In 1864, Navajo were deported by the white American government from their traditional lands and forced to walk at gunpoint into an internment camp at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Referred to as the Long Walk, they were held in captivity for four years before being released to return to their lands.
Oil was discovered on Navajo land in the 1920s, and the Navajo Nation became wealthy and established a tribal government in 1923. It is today the US’s most sophisticated form of Native American government.
Unlike the stereotypical Native American, the Navajo traditionally did not live in teepees; they instead built hogans, which were octagonal log structures with mud or clay roofs. These were a place for storage and winter shelter (summer hogans were open along an entire wall); most of Navajo life was lived in the outdoors. According to Navajo superstition, a hogan would be burnt to the ground if a death had occurred inside.
Traditionally, Navajo people are very superstitious. Some of these superstitions that relate to misfortune or harm include:
- Don’t whistle at night or evil spirits will whistle back.
- Don’t point at a rainbow.
- Never stare at the Moon.
- Don’t look at fast-moving rivers or slow-moving clouds.
- Never throw rocks into the wind.
Additionally, the Navajo believe in skinwalkers (sorcerers, witches, or shape-shifters who have the ability to transform themselves into animals, generally in order to cause harm).
Did You Know?
- Navajo are credited with creating the first mother-in-law joke.
- Sheep are a crucial part of Navajo culture since their introduction to the Navajo by the Spanish in the seventeenth century.
- Navajo Code Talkers are national heroes in the USA. They were 400 Navajo Marines who, during World War II, contributed to the wartime code that was unable to be broken by the Japanese. Their job was to transmit tactical information via radio and telegraph, using the Diné During WWII, fewer than thirty non-Navajo people could understand Diné, let alone decipher it. This method of communication was much faster than using Morse code and it ultimately enabled the US Marines to take Iwo Jima.
Next time we’ll look in-depth at the way of life of the Navajo and how it is represented in their unique Native American jewelry.


The romanesque red brick structure of the abandoned Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal on the Hudson River conceals one of the most accessible urban ruins in the New York City area. The train shed on the other side of the terminal has been abandoned since 1967, with trees and other foliage sprouting through its open roof where light shines down on the empty train tracks. Its beautiful green patina copper roofing was stolen by thieves. The terminal building was recently restored and serves as a museum and ferry departure point for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but the tracks themselves were left to nature.
The terminal was constructed in 1889, and at the peak of service for the Central Railroad of New Jersey there were millions of passengers a year passing through. Many immigrants to the United States also came directly from Ellis Island, bypassing New York City to make their way through the United States by way of New Jersey. Unfortunately, the Great Depression hit hard, as did the rise of the automobile, and a decline in business caused the terminal to shut down in 1967.
The old departure boards remain at the tracks, where stately metal columns still loom. Alongside the terminal in Liberty State Park are even a few old train cars. Stepping out of the terminal to face the Hudson, you’ll find wooden bricks still embedded in the ground (although they have to be regularly replaced), and if you look up at the terminal building’s clock tower you can see science, commerce, industry, and agriculture sculpted on its four corners, relics of when this really was a center of economic movement in the area. The old tracks are now fenced off, mainly because parts of the columns and roof are collapsing. It’s still possible to get good pictures from outside.


This Is What Happens When You Flush the Airplane Toilet
The world works in mysterious ways.
There are some things we may never quite understand: how bread turns into toast, what happens to matching socks in the dryer, and how the toilets on airplanes work.
But in the spirit of demystifying the arcane secrets of the universe, we looked into revealing the enigma that is the airplane bathroom.
The modern airplane toilet system was invented by James Kemper in the 1970s. Before then, passengers onboard planes could attend to their duties in a slosh bucket, which would then either decorate the bathroom quarters when the plane hit turbulence or be chucked out the window and land on the unsuspecting earth below.
The Kemper vacuum system first appeared in a Boeing plane in 1982. The system relied on a blue liquid—known as Skykem—a non-stick coating, and vacuum suction.
When you press the flush button, a valve opens at the bottom of the toilet bowl and exposes the toilet to a pneumatic vacuum. The toilet’s vacuum swirls its contents and deposits all the collected waste, and that blue liquid, into a “closed waste system.”
However, contrary to popular belief, the captain of the plane does not have the ability to detach the toilet tank and send it plummeting mid-flight. (When people report “blue ice” falling from above, it is usually just a leak of the sewage tank or drain tube that freezes to the aircraft.)
At the end of the flight, the toilet’s acquisitions are vacuumed into another tank on the back of a truck. Once the tank onboard the truck is full, it’s emptied out with the rest of the waste from the airport. Where it goes from there is far more mysterious.