At its core, thin-film solar technology refers to processes that do not use polysilicon materials to turn sunlight into energy. First Solar produces its panels using cadmium-telluride as the main ingredient. The company’s size gave it production-cost advantages over a variety of rivals, and in 2009 that difference was around 50%. Adding to this advantage was the fact that polysilicon prices were trading at historic highs of around $700 a kilogram.
As with most commodities, sky-high prices attracted new producers, and production increased. Polysilicon prices plunged to about $30 at the start of the year. These days, silicon-based solar panels aren’t much more expensive than First Solar’s thin-film panels.
Adding insult to injury, Chinese solar producers have been accused of selling their panels at prices far below cost, which they’re able to do because of subsidies provided by Beijing. Overproduction coupled with the below-cost pricing has caused photovoltaic-module prices to plunge more than 75% in over the past three years.
But perhaps the biggest issue facing First Solar and the rest of the industry is the economic situation in Europe.
Europe has traditionally been a bright spot for renewable energy, with Germany and Spain leading the way in subsidizing alternatives. Various feed-in tariffs and subsides have allowed utilities to add solar to their energy mixes at costs comparable to traditional fossil fuels.
But in the wake of Europe’s continued debt crisis as well as the plunge in panel prices, these subsides are being cut. The latest came at the end of March, when Germany announced it will reduce solar subsides by 29% — double analyst estimates. The rub for First Solar is that Germany accounts for about 50% of the company’s installation capacity.
Where does that leave investors?
With former industry leaders such as Q-Cells filing for bankruptcy and even Chinese producers such as Suntech Power (NYSE:STP) announcing factory closures, the near term isn’t shaping up to be a good for the solar industry. Current supply-demand dynamics are terrible. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, solar factories will be able to make as much as 38 gigawatts worth of panels this year, or about 54% more than estimated demand.
Still, for those looking at the industry as a long-term bet — perhaps decades long — there are glimmers of hope. Overall global energy demand continues to grow unabated. That has resulted in a record number of new solar installations over the last few years. Analysts expect any slack demand stemming from Europe to be made up by increases in Asia and the U.S. China has made renewable energy a priority during in its various five-year plans, and the region will continue to be driver of new capacity for years to come.
In addition, prices for solar stocks have never been cheaper, with many trading about 70% lower since the beginning of 2011.
First Solar will most likely survive. The company plans to focus on developing solar power plants and offering services to utilities rather than selling just solar panels It already entered this market back in 2007 and could parlay its leadership position into deals with larger utilities.
While I wouldn’t buy just yet — the solar shakeout is just getting started — the overall sector is starting to look like an interesting play for the long term.


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The documentary that is based on Williams' work is predicated upon the idea that there is a story to be told in being Black in America during the Civil Rights Years. The focus on the documentary is to seek to bring out the many elements in what it means to be Black in America during the Civil Rights Era. At the same time, there is a great deal fo focus on how this time period was both influenced as a reaction against the time period that preceded it and helped to formulate identity to the time period that was to follow. Much of the modern conception of being a person of color in America can be seen in this documentary. It does an excellent job in talking about how there is a challenge in seeking to advocate for one's rights and seeking to be part of an assimilationist society. In this process, the work seeks to broaden the understanding of those brave social pioneers during the Civil Rights Era. In doing so, Williams' work and the documentary brings out much in way of historical interest and sociological reality in bringing out the condition of people of color, specifically African- Americans in modern American History.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the year 1179.
|Centuries:||11th century – 12th century – 13th century|
|Decades:||1140s 1150s 1160s – 1170s – 1180s 1190s 1200s|
|Years:||1176 1177 1178 – 1179 – 1180 1181 1182|
|1179 by topic|
|State leaders – Sovereign states|
|Birth and death categories|
|Births – Deaths|
|Establishments and disestablishments categories|
|Establishments – Disestablishments|
|Art and literature|
|1179 in poetry|
|Ab urbe condita||1932|
|English Regnal year||25 Hen. 2 – 26 Hen. 2|
|Chinese calendar||戊戌年 (Earth Dog)
3875 or 3815
— to —
己亥年 (Earth Pig)
3876 or 3816
|- Vikram Samvat||1235–1236|
|- Shaka Samvat||1100–1101|
|- Kali Yuga||4279–4280|
|Japanese calendar||Jishō 3
|Minguo calendar||733 before ROC
|Seleucid era||1490/1491 AG|
|Thai solar calendar||1721–1722|
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1179.|
Saladin destroys the still in construction Castle of Chastellet at Jacob's Ford, killing 700 knights and taking 800 civilians captive.
- June 19 – Battle of Kalvskinnet (outside Nidaros, Norway): Earl Erling Skakke is killed, and the battle changes the tide of the civil wars.
- Afonso I is recognized as King of Portugal by Pope Alexander III, bringing Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Leonese monarchy.
- November 1 – Philip II is crowned King of France. He assumes his office, however, in the next year, following the death of his father Louis VII.
- The city of Aberdeen is chartered by William the Lion.
- Large offensive by the Almohad army in southern Portugal aiming at the reconquest of the Alentejo. Further north, a fleet led by Abd Allah b. Ishaq b. Jami is sailing to attack Lisbon but is repelled by the Portuguese admiral D. Fuas Roupinho near the Cape Espichel. The Portuguese admiral later manages to enter in the harbor of Ceuta and destroy a number of Muslim ships. It is the beginning of a four-year naval conflict between Almohads and Portuguese.
- The Third Council of the Lateran condemns Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first "ghettos" for Jews. It also rules that the Pope must receive 2/3 of the cardinals' votes to be elected.
- Westminster School is founded by the monks of Westminster Abbey (by papal command) in England.
- The Drigung Kagyu school of Kagyu Buddhism is founded.
- John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut (approximate date; d. 1236)
- Michael of Chernigov (approximate date; d. 1246)
- Shimazu Tadahisa, warlord of the Shimazu clan of Japan (d. 1227)
- William IV Talvas, Count of Ponthieu (d. 1221)
- Yaqut al-Hamawi, Arab geographer (d. 1229)
- September 17 – Hildegard of Bingen, German abbess, mystic writer, and composer (b. 1098)
- Taira no Shigemori, Japanese rebel (b. 1138)
- Picard C. (1997) La mer et les musulmans d'Occident au Moyen Age. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, p.77


University of Hawaii scientists say they are close to completing the nation's first autonomous robotic vehicle for deep-ocean work.
The $12 million battery-powered aluminum submersible is about the size of a sport utility vehicle. The robotic unit has computers and sensors that allow it to make a decision to perform a task and a 5-foot, 150-pound autonomous manipulator, or arm, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported Tuesday.
Song Choi, assistant dean of the university's College of Engineering, said 99 percent of the vehicle's system is autonomous. He said 1 percent is semiautonomous for safety, allowing a signal to be sent to the vehicle to stop and return.
The robotic undersea vehicle, designed to operate to a depth of about 4 miles, is about 90 percent completed. It will be able to go to a target automatically, and perform a task with no humans involved, Choi said.
"The ultimate goal is to leave it in the water, and it will come back when the batteries are down," said Choi, adding, "Safety-wise, it can't get better."
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
Explore further: Atlanta, other cities eye test tracks for self-driving cars


Together, faucets and showers account for approximately 33 percent of residential water use in the average home. Showers represent about 17 percent of water use, and faucets make up about 16 percent. Limiting the amount of water used through showers and faucets greatly affects the homeâ€™s water footprint and water costs. Installing low flow devices is a simple way to solve this problem.
Modern showerheads are constructed to deliver no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute (GPM), while showerheads in older homes sometimes use as much as 5 GPM. Replacing your current showerhead (old or new) with a low flow model is a great way to reduce water consumption without sacrificing comfort. The technology in these low flow devices is such that there is no air mixing with the water, which allows the water-efficient showerhead to deliver a satisfying spray. In addition, these water savers often come with multiple spray options. Furthermore, energy savings and a reduction in water heating costs can be expected, as with less water used for showering also equals less hot water used in the home.
Surprising, the average faucet installed in a modern home uses between 2.2 to 2.5 gallons of water per minute. This is very close to the amount of water used by modern showerheads! Low flow faucet aerators use 0.5 to 1.5 gallons of water per minute. These low flow devices significantly reduce the amount of water that goes down the drain at the sink as well as the amount of hot water used here. While consumption at the sink may not seem like much, consider that if each home in the US installed water saving faucet aerators, the nation could save over 60 billion gallons of water every year.


In our first year (2007) our scientific goal was to search for “The Lost Experiments” – a set of recruitment, colonization and predation experiments that were started in the early 1960’s by Dr. Paul Dayton at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Those were the earliest days of Scuba diving, when depth limitations had not been established, and Dr. Dayton’s experiments extended into 60 m water depth. Safety limits were later established at 40 m, so these experiments were never completed. The locations of these experiments were “lost” during the intervening years. In 2007, SCINI and a VideoRay ROV searched the seafloor and found every one of the experimental sites! Relocating this scientific underwater treasure trove opens the door to assessing decadal shifts in Antarctica, an important issue as we struggle with the increasing impacts of recent climate changes.
This year, our scientific goal is to expand the known ecological space in McMurdo Sound. We have three specific target locations, guided by intriguing hints that these places host special communities.
Target 1. Bay of Sails. This area is an “iceberg graveyard” where because of the combination of wind, currents, and bathymetry icebergs collect in high numbers. The first explorers to sight this area in the very early 1900’s thought the pointed outlines of the ‘bergs looked like the sails on their own ships, and so named it. The icebergs are driven by wind and currents and plow through the seafloor, destroying communities in their path – and opening up new areas for colonization. With SCINI, we will dive to 300m to trace the iceberg-driven patterns of destruction and rebirth on the seafloor.
Target 2. Cape Armitage. The southern point of Ross Island, where the annual sea ice contacts the permanent Ross Ice Shelf, was named after Lieutenant Armitage, part of Scott’s Discovery Expedition in 1901-1904. Here, currents are strong and bathymetry is steep, and divers have been tempted by glimpses of vast fields of the giant volcano sponge, Anoxycalyx joubini, in the depths beyond diving limits. These huge sponges are large enough to surround a diver, and are likely thousands of years old. SCINI will map the boundaries of the sponge field, and perhaps offer some clues to solve the mystery of why the sponges are in this location, but not in others.
Target 3. Heald Island. Embedded in the permanent Ross Ice Shelf, the ice surrounding the island is up to 200 m thick, but cracks form at stress points from tidal motion of the ocean water beneath. SCINI will dive through these natural access points to the mysterious depths below. Beneath permanent ice shelves remains one of the few unexplored regions of our planet; we have had only a few tantalizing peeks at what may live in the unending darkness there. Reports of massive, rapid scavenger response to baited traps placed through holes (Slattery and Oliver 1986), and notes on chemosynthetic communities under the recently disintegrated Larsen ice shelf (Domack et al. 2005) are intriguing hints that unexpected and perhaps novel communities remain undiscovered.


Whenever we think chest pain, we think heart attack . That’s important because any type of chest pain is a serious warning and should be evaluated by emergency medical services right away. However, there is a chance it could turn out be a rare form of angina called variant angina .
Variant angina is caused by a spasm in a coronary artery that supplies the heart muscle with blood, oxygen, and nutrients. A spasm is a sudden, temporary narrowing or tightening of a small part of an artery. This spasm results in a temporary situation where the heart does not get enough blood. The blockage of blood flow causes the characteristic chest pain associated with angina.
Unlike other forms of angina, variant angina occurs during periods of rest, when you are not exterting yourself. Generally this occurs during the overnight or early morning hours.
Coronary artery spasms can occur in people who do not have significant coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs a result of atherosclerosis , a narrowing and hardening of the coronary arteries caused by plaque deposits lining artery walls. However, some people with variant angina have severe disease in at least one blood vessel. The spasm typically occurs at the site of blockage. Fortunately, coronary artery spasm does not typically trigger the series of events that can lead to a heart attack. However, if a coronary artery spasm is severe and occurs for a long period of time, a heart attack can occur.
Coronary artery spasm may be triggered by emotional stress, exposure to cold, cocaine use, or heavy smoking. People who have underlying coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart due to disease), or uncontrolled high blood pressure are also at an increased risk of variant angina.
The symptoms of variant angina include:
Variant angina is rare, so you may undergo standard heart tests to determine what is causing your chest pains. Diagnostic tests help pinpoint a problem, but they can also be used to rule out other conditions. Tests may include:
If necessary, your doctor will recommend imaging tests that can better evaluate the structure and function of the heart and blood vessels.
Variant angina is often treated with medications called calcium channel blockers. These medications can decrease variant angina attacks and are often used in combination with nitrates during attacks. If another condition is contributing to your angina, such as CAD, then it will need to be treated as well..
The goal of treating variant angina is to stop the symptoms. Your doctor will work with you to come up with a plan that includes:
Remember that many types of chest pain aren’t related to angina at all. For example, heartburn , injury,or inflammation of the lungs may also cause chest pain. However, there is no way for you, especially if you are at home and frightened, to distinguish one type of chest pain from another. Therefore, any chest pain you experience should be evaluated by emergency medical services right away. It is important to note that you should not drive to the hospital. Emergency medical services begin life-saving treatment on the way to the hospital, which could save your life if you are having a heart attack.
However, if you have a history of variant angina, there are some things you can do to take care of yourself, such as:
American Heart Association
Office on Women's Health
Canadian Cardiovascular Society
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Acute coronary syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated January 13, 2014. Accessed January 29, 2014.
Coronary artery disease (CAD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated December 16, 2013. Accessed January 29, 2014.
Kusama Y, Kodani E, et al. Variant angina and coronary artery spasm: the clinical spectrum, pathophysiology, and management. J Nippon Med Sch. 2011;78(1):4-12.
Prinzmetal angina, variant angina, and angina inversa. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/SymptomsDiagnosisofHeartAttack/Prinzmetals-Angina-Variant-Angina-and-Angina-Inversa_UCM_435674_Article.jsp, Updated March 19, 2013. Accessed January 29, 2014.
Variant angina pectoris. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated August 6, 2013. Accessed January 29, 2014.
Last reviewed January 2014 by Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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|Nevada Government & Politics|
The seal used from 1866 until
1913 was unusual. There are two plumes of smoke on the seal, one
coming from a smelter stack and one coming from a railroad engine.
In the earlier seal, the smoke from each smokestack went in a different
direction. The wind seems to be blowing in two different directions
at the same time. That oversight has been corrected.
Nevada Historical Society


Google, it’s fair to say, is no fan of relying on passwords to secure online accounts.
Reading the recent study the company commissioned on the causes of online account takeover from the University of California, Berkeley, it’s not hard to understand why.
The year-long analysis to March 2017 mostly confirms a lot of bad news that security experts could have guessed, starting with the staggering haul of stolen credentials, covering a wide range of online services, that appear to be circulating on the dark web.
After crawling blackhat forums and paste sites, 1.9 billion credentials were traced to data breaches, 12.4 million to the work of phishing kits, and 788,000 were stolen by keyloggers.
Based on the 751,000 Gmail users within this data, the company was able to work out that for its users phishing attacks are by far the most dangerous of the three:
We find that the risk of a full email takeover depends significantly on how attackers first acquire a victim’s (re-used) credentials. Using Google as a case study, we observe only 7% of victims in third party data breaches have their current Google password exposed, compared to 12% of keylogger victims and 25% of phishing victims.
But just having the password and user name (which can be changed) isn’t the whole explanation for the different success rates. It turns out that phishing attacks and keyloggers are further boosted by their tendency to grab data such as telephone numbers, geo-location data and IP addresses.
This makes it much harder for a company such as Google to detect rogue activity simply by looking at where someone appears to be logging in from, say, because this can be spoofed.
While credential leaks may expose the largest number of passwords, phishing kits and keyloggers provide more flexibility to adapt to new account protections.
Which brings us back to the perennial angst of passwords.
The study confirmed that large numbers of passwords (including large numbers of terrible ones that appeared to have been poorly stored) are re-used, which means that someone breached in one service has often put multiple accounts at risk.
The researchers’ conclusion is that password-based authentication is dead in the water. Credentials are simply too easy to steal while users don’t make much effort to secure them. No amount of tinkering can save this model.
Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) would mitigate much of this, particularly phishing attacks, credential leaks and, to some extent, keylogging. And yet only a minority use it, even after they’ve been the victim of an attack:
Our own results indicate that less than 3.1% who fall victim to hijacking subsequently enable any form of two-factor authentication after recovering their account.
This suggests that people have either not heard of MFA, don’t know how to enable it or really don’t like it.
It makes you wonder why Google doesn’t simply make MFA mandatory and just get on with migrating people for their own good, as Apple appears to want to do.
An intriguing possibility is that companies such as Google might more regularly trawl the dark web for accounts that have been breached, resetting them as they are spotted.
Facebook are already known to do this and Google did it for every compromised Gmail account the researchers uncovered in this study, so it’s not far-fetched that this could happen in future.
Google also recently launched something called the Advanced Protection Program (APP) for Gmail users who see themselves as being at high risk of phishing attacks.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to adjustable tillers for motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention is related to a tiller, for a motorized scooters for persons of limited mobility, the position of which is continuously adjustable.
- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A scooter is a motorized, usually battery electric, vehicle, typically for a person who is able to walk but is not able to walk long distances. For psychological reasons, scooters are designed to look more like a motor-scooter than a wheelchair. Typically, the scooter has a pair of wheels driven by a motor at the rear, and one or two steerable wheels at the front controlled by a tiller. The tiller typically consists of a generally upright column with a pair of handlebars at the top. A seat for the user is positioned above the motor. Between the motor and the tiller is a footplate for the user's feet. The distance from the base of the tiller to the seated user is thus effectively fixed. However, different users have arms of different lengths, so it is desirable for the position of the handlebars to be adjustable towards and away from the user. Previous tiller adjustment systems allow the tiller to be pivoted forwards and backwards, but typically allow the tiller to be set only at certain fixed positions. Practical considerations in the design and construction of the adjustment systems result in a substantial separation between adjacent fixed positions. The separation is amplified because the adjustment system is typically at the base of the tiller, near its axis of pivoting, while the handlebars are at the top of the tiller, much further from the axis. As a result, previous adjustable tillers could not always be set to the optimum position, especially for a user of limited agility.
It is an object of the invention to provide a scooter with a tiller that can be adjusted easily and steplessly, but that remains securely in the position to which it has been adjusted.
According to one aspect of the invention, a motorized vehicle comprises at least one steerable wheel, and a member mounted rotatably about an axis and operatively connected to the at least one steerable wheel such that rotation of the rotatably mounted member about that axis causes steering of the at least one steerable wheel. A pivot block with a pair of lubricating plates of low-friction material on either side is mounted on a free end of the rotatably mounted member. A steering member to rotate the rotatably mounted member comprises a pair of forks straddling the pivot block and bearing on the lubricating plates. A pivot pin, about which the steering member is pivotable relative to the rotatably mounted member, passes through the forks and the pivot block transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotatably mounted member. A strut of variable length is so connected to the steering member and to the mounting block that pivoting of the steering member requires a change in the length of the strut. A clamp locks the strut at any length corresponding to a desired pivotal position of the steering member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
According to another aspect of the invention, a pivot block has a bore for a pivot pin passing through the pivot block, and has a pair of recesses surrounding the ends of the bore on either side of the pivot block. A pair of lubricating plates of low-friction material are fitted into the recesses. The lubricating plates define bearing surfaces for a pair of forks disposed either side of the pivot block and pivoting about a pivot pin positioned in the bore.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show forms of the invention which are presently preferred. However, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scooter according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tiller of the scooter shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a pivot block seen in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp seen in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the clamp seen in FIG. 4, with the clamp engaged.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the clamp seen in FIG. 4, with the clamp released.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a scooter, which is generally denoted by the numeral 10. The scooter 10 is four-wheeled, with a pair of rear wheels 12 driven by a motor 14 and a pair of front wheels 16 that can be steered by means of a steering member in the form of a tiller generally indicated by the reference numeral 18.
A seat 20 is mounted towards the rear of the scooter 10. Between the seat 20 and the tiller 18, a footplate 22 extends the entire width of the scooter 10. The height of the seat 20 is set so that a user (not shown) can sit on the seat with his or her feet resting on the footplate 22. For good control of the scooter, and for ease in mounting and dismounting, the user sits in an upright posture, resting against a seat back 22 of the seat 20.
The motor 14 is mounted in a part 24 of the scooter 10 behind the footplate 22. A power supply for the motor, typically in the form of one or more electric storage batteries (not shown) is also mounted in the part 24. The motor, the batteries, any associated electrical power controllers, and the transmission between the motor and the wheels 12 may be conventional and, in the interests of conciseness, are not described in detail.
Referring now also to FIG. 2, the tiller 18 comprises a main column 30 with a pair of handlebars 32 fixed to its upper end. At each end of the handlebars 32 is a hand-grip 34. The upper part of the main column 30 is a rectangular box-section 36. The lower part of the main column 30 is a pair of forks in the form of U-channels 38, overlapping and integral with the box section 36. The U-channels 38 define flat, parallel surfaces facing each other on the inside of the forks. Near the bottom ends of the U-channels 38 are a pair of aligned holes 40. Further up the U-channels 38 are a pair of lugs 42, projecting forwards, with aligned holes 44 in them.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, between the bottom ends of the U-channels 38 is a pivot block, indicated generally by the reference number 50. The pivot block 50 has a central bore 52, which fits onto a rotatably mounted member in the form of a steering shaft 54, which is connected to the steering mechanism (not shown) of the scooter 10. The steering shaft 54 can rotate about its own axis, and when rotated operates the steering mechanism. The steering shaft 54 cannot move appreciably relative to the body of the scooter 10 in any other manner. A pivot hole 56 passes horizontally across the pivot block 50, crossing the center of the central bore 52, and the steering shaft 54 has a pair of holes 58. The main column 30, the pivot block 50, and the steering shaft 54 are assembled with the holes 40, 56, and 58 aligned. A shoulder bolt 60 passes through the aligned holes and is secured by a nut 62. The shoulder bolt 60 provides a pivot pin, around which the main column 30 can pivot fore and aft on the steering shaft 54.
The pivot hole 56 is so aligned that, when the scooter 10 is standing on level ground with the steering in the straight-ahead position, the shoulder bolt 60, and thus the axis of pivoting between the steering shaft 54 and the main column 30, is horizontal and is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the scooter.
A pair of lubricating plates 61, made of polytetrafluoroethylene or other suitable material, are seated in recesses 63 on either side of the pivot block 50. As may be seen from FIG. 1, the lubricating plates 61 also have holes through which the bolt 60 passes. The lubricating plates 61 project slightly from the recesses 63, and the insides of the U-channels 38 rest against the lubricating plates. As may be seen from FIG. 3, the recesses 63, and thus the lubricating plates 61, occupy almost the whole of the side faces of the pivot block 50, bounded only by narrow rims 65.
The flat faces of the U-channels 38 bear on the flat, parallel faces of the lubricating plates 61 over a large area. The large area affords a sturdy, rigid connection between the mounting block 50 and the U-channels 38 when the bolt 60 and the nut 62 are tightened. The low friction because of the lubricating plates 61 ensures that, even with the bolt 62 and nut 62 tight, the user can adjust the tiller position without needing to apply a large amount of force. This combination of high rigidity and easy adjustment is highly advantageous in use.
The lower part of the pivot block 50 has a slot 64 extending from the front edge to the central bore 52. A bolt 66 passes across the slot 64 through a bore 68. A nut 70 is tightened onto the bolt 66, squeezing the slot 64 closed, and tightening the lower part of the pivot block 50 onto the steering shaft 54. By this the pivot block 50 is secured rigidly to the steering shaft 54.
On each side of the pivot block 50, above and in front of the recess 63, is a projecting lug 72. If the main column 30 is pivoted too far forwards or too far backwards, the U-channels 38 come into contact with the lugs 72. The lugs 72 then serve as end-stops, preventing further pivotal movement.
Projecting upwards and forwards from the pivot block 50 is an eye 74 with a bore 76 through it parallel to the bore 56. As may best be seen in FIG. 3, the eye 74 is offset to the right-hand side of the pivot block 50. An adjuster strut indicated generally by the reference numeral 80 extends from the eye 74 on the pivot block 50 to the lugs 42 on the U-channels 38. At the lower end of the adjuster strut 80 is an eye 82 that is attached to the eye 74 by means of a shoulder bolt 84 and a nut 86. At the upper end of the adjuster strut 80 is an eye 88 which is attached to the lugs 42 by means of a shoulder bolt 90 and a nut 92. The length of the adjuster strut 80 thus sets the angle of the main column 30 relative to the pivot block 50 and thus the position of the tiller 18 relative to the steering shaft 54 and to the body of the scooter 10. The eye 82 at the lower end of the adjuster strut 80 is alongside the eye 74, so the adjuster strut is offset towards the left side of the vehicle. In order to avoid skewing of the adjuster strut 80, a spacer washer 94 is inserted between the eye 88 at the upper end of the adjuster strut 80 and the righthand hand lug 44.
Referring now also to FIGS. 4 to 6, the adjuster strut 80 comprises an inner shaft 100, on which the lower eye 82 is mounted, and a strut member in the form of an outer sleeve 102, on which the upper eye 88 is mounted. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the upper eye 88 is offset forwards of the axis of the outer sleeve 102, so that the sleeve can slide fully onto the inner shaft 100 without being obstructed by the bolt 90. An end-stop may be provided at the upper end of the inner shaft 100 to prevent its being pulled out of the outer sleeve 102. The inner shaft 100 is guided within the outer sleeve 102 by two bearing collars 104, which are held in place within the outer sleeve by spot welds 106 or other convenient means. Between the two collars 104 are a pair of spring brakes 108. Each of the spring brakes 108 consists of a stiff helical coil spring, with the axially inner ends of the coil springs lying adjacent to one another, and the axially outer ends lying adjacent to the collars 104. In the relaxed positions of the coil springs 108, their internal diameters would be slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner shaft 100. Therefore, in their resting position they are wound tightly round the inner shaft, gripping it frictionally with a high total gripping force. Because the springs 108 abut each other and the collars 104, they present a high frictional resistance to any axial movement of the collars 104, and thus of the outer sleeve 102, relative to the inner shaft 100. They thus effectively prevent any change in the length of the adjuster strut 80, and thus prevent any pivoting of the tiller 18 relative to the body of the scooter 10. The outer diameter of the coil springs 108 is substantially less than the outer diameter of the collars 104 and the inner diameter of the outer sleeve 102.
The axially outer end of each coil spring 108 is turned to project axially and fits into a hole in the adjacent collar 104, preventing the coil springs from rotating. The axially inner end 112 of each coil spring 108 is turned to project radially outwards. The two coil springs 108 are symmetrically positioned, so that the projecting ends 112 are side by side. An actuating sleeve 114 is positioned round the coil springs 108, fitting loosely in the space between the outsides of the coil springs and the inside of the outer sleeve 102. The actuating sleeve 114 does not form a complete tube, but has an axially-extending slot 115 into which the ends 112 of the coil springs project. One circumferential end 116 of the actuating sleeve 114 rests against the projecting ends 112 of the coil springs 108. The other circumferential end of the actuating sleeve 114 projects radially outwards to form a tab 118 and has a notch 120 in it. The coil springs 108 and the actuating sleeve 114 are so orientated that the innermost turn of each coil spring 108 emerges from under the tab 118 of the sleeve, crosses the slot 115, and turns up to form the end 112.
The outer sleeve 102 has an axially-extending slot 122, through which the projecting ends 112 of the coil springs 108 and the projecting tab 118 of the actuating sleeve 114 project. On the side of the slot 122 that is nearer to the tab 118 of the actuating sleeve 114 than to the ends 112 of the springs 108, there is a radially-projecting tab 124, which has a notch 126 aligned with the notch 120 in the tab 118 of the actuating sleeve 114. In the resting condition of the adjuster strut 80, there is a space 128 between the tab 118 and the edge of the slot 122 with the tab 124. A Bowden cable 130 has a fitment 132 on its sheath 134 that fits into the notch 126 and clamps onto the tab 124. The core 136 of the Bowden cable 130 passes across the space 128 and through the notch 120, and has a head 138 that engages the tab 118.
The other end of the Bowden cable 130 is connected to an actuator 140. The actuator 140 comprises an adjustment lever 142 pivotally mounted in a housing 144 for movement between end positions. The actuator housing 144 is mounted on a convenient part of the scooter 10. As shown in FIG. 2, it is mounted on a shroud 146 that covers the tiller 18, but it could instead be mounted on another convenient part of the scooter 10. The sheath 134 of the Bowden cable 130 is attached to the actuator housing 144, and the core 136 of the Bowden cable 130 is attached to the adjustment lever 142, in such a manner that when the adjustment lever 142 is in one end position the Bowden cable 130 is relaxed, and that moving the adjustment lever 142 towards its other end position tensions the core 136 of the Bowden cable and pulls it through the sheath 134.
When the adjustment lever 142 is moved away from its resting end position, and the core 136 of the Bowden cable 130 is pulled through the sheath 134, the tabs 118 and 124 are squeezed together. The actuating sleeve 114 is thus rotated relative to the outer sleeve 102, and the end 116 of the actuating sleeve pushes the ends 112 of the springs 108 towards the tab 124. Because the outer ends of the springs 108 are held against rotation by the collars 104, which are fixed to the outer sleeve 102, and thus to the tab 124, this imposes a torsion on the springs 108. Because of the way the springs are wound, that torsion causes the coils of the springs 108 to expand, relaxing their grip on the inner shaft 100. That allows the inner shaft 100 to slide axially within the outer sleeve 102. The distance between the lugs 42 and the eye 74 can thus change, and the tiller 18 can be pivoted forwards or backwards on the steering shaft 54, and relative to the body of the scooter 10. When the tiller 18 has been set in a desired position, the adjustment lever 142 is released, the Bowden cable 134 relaxes, and the springs 108 tighten on the inner shaft 100, locking the tiller in the position in which it has just been set.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, the scooter 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a 4-wheeled vehicle, but the tiller adjustment system described may also be applied to a 3-wheeled scooter, or to other forms of small motorized vehicle. If the vehicle is a 3-wheeled scooter, then the steering shaft 54 may be fixed directly to a fork carrying a single front wheel.


Nassim Nicholas Taleb has delivered an insightful argument: intolerance works. Conceptually, this is fairly simple to grasp. Consider the old saying “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” or the similar “the customer is always right.” We’ve all seen it personally at one time or another. Some customer will be completely unreasonable, and hordes of employees will submit and beg for forgiveness, while the regular folks suffer in obscurity.
Taleb’s take is rather more high-level, however. In the article, he explains how a relatively small number of demanding, intolerant people can come to impose their preferences on everybody on the principle that the flexible individuals will go along with it if the cost is not terribly high.
Islam’s spread is explained in such a context:
The two asymmetric rules were are as follows. First, if a non Muslim man under the rule of Islam marries a Muslim woman, he needs to convert to Islam –and if either parents of a child happens to be Muslim, the child will be Muslim. Second, becoming Muslim is irreversible, as apostasy is the heaviest crime under the religion, sanctioned by the death penalty. The famous Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, born Mikhael Demetri Shalhoub, was of Lebanese Christian origins. He converted to Islam to marry a famous Egyptian actress and had to change his name to an Arabic one. He later divorced, but did not revert to the faith of his ancestors.
You can extrapolate across many generations, and see how Islam’s stubbornness will slowly erode local faiths and traditions, until they are driven into extinction. One suspects this feature of Islam was deliberate.
But it works for non-sinister things, too. Taleb explains this concept by using the example of the circle-U symbol on the back of most juices as the supermarket. This is the symbol of the beverage being kosher. It is less of a hassle to simply make all such beverages kosher, than to develop and maintain two sets of drink lines, one kosher and one not. Since non-Jews don’t care about whether or not something is kosher, soon all such drinks are kosher. They don’t tolerate non-kosher products for their own personal consumption. So the beverage company must choose whether to cater specifically to them with a separate juice line, or just make everything kosher.
In this case, the word “intolerance” is not necessary good or bad, but simply an indicator of inflexibility on a certain matter resulting in an uncaring majority embracing (often by accident) the preferences of a tiny minority. Definitely read Taleb’s original piece to fully understand what I mean by this.
But this concept can be, and often is, used for malicious purposes. Consider:
Clearly can democracy –by definition the majority — tolerate enemies? The question is as follows: “ Would you agree to deny the freedom of speech to every political party that has in its charter the banning the freedom of speech?” Let’s go one step further, “Should a society that has elected to be tolerant be intolerant about intolerance?”
This is in fact the incoherence that Kurt Gödel (the grandmaster of logical rigor) detected in the constitution while taking the naturalization exam. Legend has it that Gödel started arguing with the judge and Einstein, who was his witness during the process, saved him.
I wrote about people with logical flaws asking me if one should be “skeptical about skepticism”; I used a similar answer as Popper when was asked if “ one could falsify falsification”.
We can answer these points using the minority rule. Yes, an intolerant minority can control and destroy democracy. Actually, as we saw, it will eventually destroy our world.
So, we need to be more than intolerant with some intolerant minorities. It is not permissible to use “American values” or “Western principles” in treating intolerant Salafism (which denies other peoples’ right to have their own religion). The West is currently in the process of committing suicide.
Islam, and especially its militant varieties, are taking advantage of the tolerance of Western countries with regards to religion, race, and culture, and using it as a weapon of conquest. In the same way benign preferences like kosher drinks become common, soon kow-towing to Islam will become ubiquitous.
Don’t believe me? Here are die-hard feminist leaders, who don’t-need-no-man, and damn the Patriarchy, cheerfully submitting to Islamic codes of dress, parading in front of the Islamic leaders like pieces of meat for the auction block.
Islam is stubborn and intolerant. And this intolerance is a form of strength, especially within otherwise tolerant societies. So the question becomes, does our tolerance extend to tolerating our own cultural demise? Islam is famously strict on the matter of homosexuality. Should Islamic intolerance of gays (to the extent of executing them) thus be embraced because we are tolerant?
It’s a logical absurdity.
But it extends far beyond Islam. Consider the famous intractability of Vegans and militant vegetarians. Not only do such individuals not want to consume meat, but they become offended if you deign to do it. This is a form of intolerant behavior. My Jewish and Seventh-Day Adventist friends don’t condemn me for eating pork, they simply do not eat it themselves. I have no Vegan friends, because most of them are intolerant. “How dare you eat meat!”
Fortunately, they are small enough to be a nuisance rather than a direct threat to meat consumption. But imagine if intolerant Vegans reached a critical mass (Taleb suggests 3 or 4% can be sufficient for this). How soon before businesses have to start making tough decisions surrounding pleasing the militant Vegans?
The good thing is, carnivores are displaying a certain level of intolerance right back at the Vegans. Observe:
Amusing, of course, but also indicative of a sort of counter-intolerance backlash building against the Vegans. If both sides are intolerant, and one is very small and the other very large, rule by the intolerant minority will be averted.
There are other ways to avert the intolerant minority rule problem. The second is avoid importing the intolerant. This could conceivably work with Islam. Another is cost. It is cheap to make juice kosher, the price difference is near to irrelevant, and there are no other real costs associated with the practice. And so all juice can be kosher, and nobody is really put off by it. But imagine if it cost 10 times as much to make juice kosher? How soon would the practice end, or be restricted to rich Jewish neighborhoods?
Second, the cost structure matters quite a bit. It happens in our first example that making lemonade compliant with Kosher laws doesn’t change the price by much, not enough to justify inventories. But if the manufacturing of Kosher lemonade cost substantially more, then the rule will be weakened in some nonlinear proportion to the difference in costs. If it cost ten times as much to make Kosher food, then the minority rule will not apply, except perhaps in some very rich neighborhoods.
Note that I’m not arguing for this. I don’t know of anybody who gives a damn about kosher lemonade, and I certainly don’t. It wouldn’t surprise me if even Stormfronters were inadvertently drinking kosher products (something I actually find somewhat amusing to think about). Nobody cares because the difference is so absurdly minor. But let’s return to the Vegans. Their preferences are much less tolerant than those of Jewish folks (who will generally leave non-Jews alone about their eating habits).
Now suddenly we have demands that companies stop serving meat, or, alternatively, use practices deemed good enough to satisfy militant organizations like PETA, which would drive up the cost of meat consumption radically. Makes a difference, doesn’t it?
Islam’s religious laws are even more extreme and rigidly stubborn. So, too, are the increasingly ridiculous demands of Social Justice Warriors, in which they take issue with everything from Christianity to whether or not people should be allowed to play video games, or wear dreadlocks. The reach of both Islam and Social Justice is total. Every tiny aspect of life is to be seen through their preferred lenses.
And as per Taleb’s argument, they will win if permitted to continue with their intolerance. The intolerant minority wins. And let’s be honest here: the kosher lemonade would soon disappear under Islamic rule, because Islam is very intolerant of that particular minority.
If Islam and Social Justice ever battled it out for who could be most intolerant, we all know who will win that fight. Both groups wish they could conduct a mass murder of their enemies. But only one group has any practical experience in it, the effective Stalinists having long since died out, leaving purple-haired, genderqueer weaklings to carry the Communist torch.
Islam has no such issue, and thus it earns the title as the most intolerant belief system with any sizable following. And it will win if we tolerate its intolerance.
Fortunately for us, the time appears to be fast approaching when our tolerance of the Islamic world’s antics (and SJW Vegans) will be fully exhausted. In this blogger’s opinion, that time can’t get here quickly enough.


Constellation cards are an excellent way to enjoy science fun with kids.
Get creative ideas for using these free constellation cards plus recommended resources to boost the learning fun.
Learning About Constellations Can Be Fun!
If your kids are interested in finding out more about constellations, get ready for some amazing learning fun!
We’re learning about science, history, math, and more. The study of constellations has been a fascinating addition to our homeschool learning adventures.
To encourage their learning about this topic, I made free constellation cards and gathered some fantastic resources to help my boys on their interest-led deep dive 🙂
Awesome Resources for Boosting Learning Fun About Constellations
When my boys get excited about a topic, I go on a search for quality resources that engage, explain, and extend their curiosity.
First, I look for books that are visually appealing and full of facts. Then, I hunt for games and activities for interactive fun. I usually wrap up my search with tools and instruments for hands-on learning that make the concepts come to life.
Oh, and we’re even adding art to our constellations fun! ChalkPastels has these super cool Look Up! Summer Night Sky lessons as part of the Summer Camp Video Art Lessons Clubhouse Edition
Here are a few of the constellation books that my boys and I have enjoyed or plan on using:
What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night SkyThe Constellations: Stars & StoriesZoo in the Sky( A Book of Animal Constellations)[ZOO IN THE SKY][Hardcover]A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky (Revised and Updated): The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky (A Child’s Introduction Series)Star Finder!: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Night SkyConstellations: The Story of Space Told Through the 88 Known Star Patterns in the Night Sky
Constellation games and activities that we’re having a blast with include:
Wild Card Games Astronauts – The Ultimate Space Game for Kids Teenagers and Adults as You Travel The Solar System Exploring Planets and Moons – Fun and Educational Astronomy GiftBlue Orange Games Starlink Party Game- New Party Drawing Game for 3 to 6 Players. Recommended for Ages 8 & upConstellations Activity Book (Color and Learn)Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations500 Pieces Puzzles for Adults Round Jigsaw Puzzles Zodiac Floor Puzzle Kids DIY Toys for Creative Gift Home Decor – Twelve Constellations
Home Science Tools is where I found the tools and instruments to make our constellations studies come to life.
Our latest addition to our homeschool science fun has been this Celestron Tabletop Telescope. Oh my stars! This special piece of equipment has already turned our constellation studies into something magical.
We’ve found constellations and so closely observed the moon that it felt like we could touch the craters!
Creative Ways to Use These Free Constellation Cards
I’ve discovered that my boys learn best when they keep their hands busy. As I read aloud from books, my boys prefer to doodle or do activities related to what they’re listening to.
These free constellation cards were created to give my boys some hands-on activities that reinforce what they’ve been learning.
You can customize how you use these constellation cards with your kids. If you’ve got a creative idea, give it a try! (And please let me know what it is and how it worked. I love finding new ways to make learning fun 🙂 )
A few tips and ideas for using these cards include:
- Print on white cardstock and laminate the cards
- Use dry erase markers to trace the constellations and practice writing the names
- Use Wikki Stix to reproduce the constellations
- Print out 2 copies of the cards and play a constellations memory game
Get Your Free Constellation Cards for Hands-On Science Fun
WooHoo! Have some magnificent science fun with these free constellation cards!
In this free printable set, you’ll receive 6 pages of constellation cards. 3 pages have the constellation as stars and the name of the constellation. 3 pages have the constellation zodiac sign and symbol.
I encourage you to print as many copies of these constellation cards as you need for learning fun. If you have a co-worker or friend who would enjoy these activities, please share the link to this post (not the download link). Thank you so very much for your sharing 🙂
To get this free printable set of Constellation Cards, you simply need to subscribe to Rock Your Homeschool. You’ll receive an email with a PDF download, along with a password to open the Subscriber’s Library to all RYHS freebies.
Plus, you’ll get emails with reminders, resources, and encouragement to make life and learning fun.
(Psst! Current RYHS members just need to access the Subscriber Freebies page and enter the password in your welcome email.)
How will YOU use these constellation cards? Please share your ideas in the comments area 🙂


Lambing Part 1 – The Basics
The present situation in the United Kingdom
Ewe deaths around lambing time in lowground flocks in the UK are quoted as 5 to 7 per cent with an estimated 70 per cent caused by dystocia (lambing difficulties). There has been a disturbing trend in the United Kingdom over the past 10 years towards fewer veterinary visits for obstetrical problems.
There are several important legal requirements at lambing including:
'Animals shall be cared for by a sufficient number of staff who possess the appropriate ability, knowledge and professional competence. The most significant single influence on the welfare of any flock is the shepherd.'
Fig1: The most significant single influence on the welfare of any flock is the shepherd who must have the knowledge and practical experience to deal with a wide range of problems.
The equipment needed may include:
Arm length disposable plastic gloves
Clean bucket, warm water, soap, approved surgical scrub solution (e.g. Hibiscrub), towel
A lambing snare (various designs are available)
Disposable syringes, needles, antibiotics, analgesics
Harnesses/retainers/suture material for vaginal prolapses
Restiratory stmulants/revivors e.g. Dopram V
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, analgesic drugs, pain killers) have many applications at lambing time and instructions concerning their use will be included in the farmer's veterinary flock health plan.
Fig 2: Flunixin is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used by farmers and vets after an assisted lambing.
Fig 3: The occurrence of vaginal prolapse cannot be predicted. Timely use of a harness, which was available on the farm, has proven successful in this ewe.
Hygiene recommendations for all assisted
Wash hands in diluted disinfectant solution before assisting delivery of the lambs.
Arm-length disposable plastic gloves should be worn especially if there is the risk of human infection from aborting sheep.
Obstetrical lubricant greatly facilitates manipulations.
Wash hands in diluted disinfectant solution after delivery of the lambs
Fig 4: Arm-length disposable plastic gloves should be worn especially if there is the risk of human infection from aborting sheep.
Some veterinary surgeons prefer not to wear gloves but always thoroughly wash their hands and arms (see below) and use large amounts of obstetrical lubricant.
Fig 5: Assisted delivery using a lambing "snare". While gloves are not worn in this situation, great care is taken to thoroughly wash hands, arms and all obstetrical equipment used in the procedure in approved surgical scrub solution.
Restraint of the ewe
To assist correction of the lambing problem when there is a "leg back", the ewe should be cast onto her side so that the missing leg of the lamb is uppermost. When both legs are back (hung lamb) it may prove easier to gently repel the lamb's head if the ewe is standing. Some shepherds may raise the ewe's hind quarters with her back propped against a small bale of straw when repelling the lamb's head.
Codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock -
These codes contain a great deal of commonsense advice to assist sheep farmers as well as defining responsibilities with respect to animal welfare. These codes have been integrated into this bulletin to assist farmers with particular reference to how vets can assist farmers over the very demanding lambing period. The high financial value of sheep will ensure a ready cost:benefit of all veterinary procedures in 2010. Many farmers paid over £140 per head for replacement gimmers but will be expecting more than £90 per head for fat lambs in early June.
Normal parturition in the ewe
Gestation length (pregnancy) lasts 143 to 147 days.
Imminent parturition can be detected by udder development, accumulation of colostrum, and slackening of the ligaments around the tail head. The birth process is divided into three stages:
First stage labour
First stage labour is represented by cervical dilation which takes 3-6 hours but is more rapid in older ewes.
Fig 6: Early first stage labour - there are periods of increased activity with abdominal contractions lasting 15-30 seconds.
There are various behavioural changes including the ewe frequently does not come to the feed trough or leaves early before other sheep in the group. The ewe seeks a sheltered area of the field or corner of the barn and will paw at ground, frequently sniffing at this area, and alternatively lying/standing. These periods of increased activity often occur at 15 minute intervals with abdominal contractions lasting 15-30 seconds.
Fig 7: During first stage labour a thick string of mucus is often observed hanging from the vulva.
A thick string of mucus is often observed hanging from the vulva. The bouts of straining then occur more frequently, usually every 2-3 minutes. This increased activity coincides with a change in foetal position with extension of the forelimbs. At the end of first stage labour the cervix is fully dilated.
Fig 8: Appearance of the water bag at the end of first stage labour.
Fig 9: Appearance of the water bag at the end of first stage labour.
Second stage labour
Second stage labour is represented by expulsion of foetus(es), and typically takes about one hour. There is rupture of the allanto-chorion (water bag) with a rush of fluid. The amnion and foetal parts are then engaged in pelvic inlet. The amniotic sac appears at the vulva and frequently ruptures at this stage. Powerful reflex and voluntary contractions of abdominal muscle and diaphragm ("straining") serve to expel the foetus. However, the amniotic sac may not rupture until the ewe stands up after the lamb has been expelled. The delayed rupture of the amnion, referred to colloquially as the lamb being "sheeted" or "born with the skin over its nose", may result in death of the lamb due to asphyxiation. This scenario is not uncommon in multiple births especially with later born lambs. In ewes with multiple litters the interval between birth of the lambs varies from 10 to 60 minutes; intervention should be considered if the interval is more than one hour.
Fig 10: Successful delivery of two live lambs signals the end of second stage labour.
Third stage labour
Third stage labour is completed by expulsion of foetal membranes which usually occurs within 2-3 hours of the end of second stage labour.
Fig 11: Third stage labour is completed by expulsion of foetal membranes which usually occurs 2-3 hours after birth of the lambs.
Caudal analgesia (extra- epi-dural) is used for most corrections/manipulations undertaken by the veterinary surgeon. This involves injection of 0.5 mg/kg 2 per cent lignocaine solution at the sacrococcygeal site (caudal block) which blocks the ewe's reflex abdominal contractions, greatly assists corrections/manipulations of dystocia cases and has obvious animal welfare benefits.
Codes of recommendations for the welfare of
Sheep 36 - It is an offence to cause, or to allow, unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress by leaving a sheep to suffer.
Fig 12: Ewe showing signs of pain with continual forceful straining and vocalization after attempted delivery of a large single lamb.
Fig 13: Same ewe as above but 10 minutes after extradural injection to block pain.
76 - A large proportion of ewe mortalities occur during the period around lambing, so particular skill and expertise are required at this time. Severe damage can be caused through inexperience when assisting a ewe in difficulties. Shepherds should therefore be experienced and competent before having responsibility for a flock at lambing time.
Where necessary, they should receive training.
78 - There may be times when even a proficient shepherd experiences difficulty in delivering a lamb single-handed. In such cases, assistance should be called immediately.
79 - Any ewe with a prolapse should be treated immediately using an appropriate technique and, where necessary, veterinary advice should be sought.
80 - Embryotomy, the dissection and removal of a foetus which cannot be delivered naturally, should be carried out on dead lambs only. It should never be used to remove a live lamb.
Fig 14: The dissection and removal of a foetus such as a hung lamb which cannot be delivered naturally must never be used to remove a live lamb.
Normal Anterior Presentation
When the lamb is presented in anterior presentation (head and both forelimbs presented normally; lamb presented normally; coming the right way) the lamb is often born after 5 to 10 minutes' vigorous abdominal straining.
In the case of a large single lamb, the forelimbs protrude as far as the feet while the muzzle and tongue only become visible when the ewe strains. If no progress is made within 30 minutes the ewe should be gently restrained in lateral recumbency and patient assistance given. When both forefeet are present at vulva and the muzzle can be touched at the vulva each foreleg should be extended in turn. One forefoot is held between the thumb and forefinger and steady traction is applied when the ewe strains. Such traction should extend the elbow and the foreleg protrudes to the carpus (knee). A sudden "clunk" sensation is often appreciated when the elbow is extended. The other foreleg is extended in the same manner ("clunk"). Slight traction on both forelegs should cause the head to protrude from the vulva. At this stage the poll of the head is grasped and slow, steady traction is applied to the poll and both forelegs. The lamb should be delivered in a downward arc without undue force over 10 to 30 seconds. Traction is applied in an arc and the lamb is pulled "down and around" and not 'straight out".
The lamb should be left for a number of minutes with the umbilical vessels still intact. The newborn lamb should not instantly be snatched away and placed at the ewe's head. It may take up to 30 seconds before the lamb takes its first deep breath but this is normal. There are no indications to swing the lamb around by the hindlegs - any fluid which appears at the mouth or nostrils during these aeronautics originates from the lamb's stomach not its lungs.
Fig 15: The lamb should be left for a number of minutes with the umbilical vessels still intact.
After delivery of one lamb it is usual to gently ballot the abdomen immediately in front of the udder which readily reveals whether there is another lamb(s) in the womb. Opinion is divided whether to deliver the second lamb or to leave well alone.
Metritis commonly affects ewes after unhygienic manual interference to correct foetal malpresentation/malposture, after delivery of dead lambs, and following infectious causes of abortion. Metritis is also common following replacement of uterine prolapse.
Signs of metritis include:
Fig 16: The ewe is depressed, ears down, listless, and has a poor appetite.
The ewe shows little interest in her lambs and spends long periods in sternal recumbency. The ewe is depressed and has a poor appetite
The ewe has a poor milk yield as evidenced by her hungry lambs who attempt to suck whenever the ewe stands.
The vulva is usually swollen and there is a red/brown discharge on the wool of the tail and perineum.
Fig 17: There is a red/brown foetid discharge on the wool of the tail and perineum.
Typically, there is dramatic improvement in the sheep's demeanour and appetite within 12 hours of antibiotic injection.
Common causes of womb infections
In multigravid litters, delivering all lambs, not just the lamb in malpresentation/ malposture, greatly increases the likelihood of introducing infection deep into the uterus. This practice should be discouraged although some farmers will contest that occasionally a triplet lamb may sufficate if born within the intact amnion.
There is often no wash-hand basin in the lambing shed on many UK sheep farms. Farmers should wash their hands in an approved surgical scrub solution and must use arm-length disposable gloves prior to correction of all dystocia cases. Arm-length disposable plastic gloves are cheap and easily carried within pockets thus there can be no excuse for non-compliance with such basic hygiene even under extensive flock management systems. There are good health reasons to wear gloves as shepherds can acquire infections during lambing from ewes unless appropriate precautions are taken
NADIS hopes that you have found the information in the bulletin useful. Now test your knowledge by enrolling and trying the quiz. You will receive an animal health certificate for this subject if you attain the required standard.
Enrol by clicking


New farming facility for research on and breeding of lumpfishNamdal Rensefisk AS has entered into an agreement with AKVA group and Plastsveis to build a fish farming facility for research on and breeding of lumpfish.
The facility is based on flow-through rather than recycling. Thus filtering and treatment using UV in addition to heating is not particularly important. The facility will be supplied with an intake system with pumping, filtering and aerating of seawater, where the water is then distributed to the existing section and to the new facility. It will be supplied with a fine filtration system with a drum filter and UV for water destined for the fish in the research facility. The energy plant will ensure adjustment of the temperature to different zones, and for some tanks there will be individual temperature control up to 12 degrees. A tank system will be supplied for lumpfish from egg to adult fish, with outlet water filtering and outlet water system.
What distinguishes this facility from other facilities, and from the remainder of the fish farming facility at Namdal Rensefisk, is the filtering ratio and temperature management. Aqua Gen and Namdal Rensefisk have stringent requirements to filtering and temperature control, which greatly impact the facility's complexity. Instead of placing a single ring pipe under all of the tanks and basic outlet water pipes from the tanks and into the sea, we will have to manage both intake and outlet water separately to numerous zones and individual tanks. Filtering requires many extra filters that are both expensive and that require a great deal of infrastructure in the shape of pipes, valves, sensors, control electronics, etc.
The energy plant comprises a heat pump and exchange system that has to be flexible in order to achieve individual temperatures in different zones and tanks. Another aspect of the energy plant is that the heat from the outlet water should be recycled, and this means that the outlet water must be treated and pumped through heat exchangers before being returned to the sea. In order to supply even pressure and total gas saturation in the water, the water must be supplied from dedicated level tanks at the final stage of the intake system (seawater intake, filtering, energy, aerating).
“We have worked on this contract since the autumn of 2016, and it's very satisfying to have come so far in the process that the plans will become reality. It's interesting to follow the customer in this exciting project, and we will do everything in our power to earn the confidence,” says Sten Roald Lorentzen.
The progress plan is not yet finalized, but a construction time of approx. 10 months is estimated. Around 9,000 hours will be used to install the facility, in addition to 5,000 hours for production at Berg.Home


The "Sampling Information" section of the field data sheet contains entries for the total number of containers included in the sample, the type and volume of algal preservative used, and qualitative observations of periphyton abundance and recog nizable algal taxa. Periphyton microhabitats present in the sampling reach are circled; if desired, the relative percentage of each microhabitat is estimated and recorded. Periphyton growth-forms present in the reach (macroalgae, microalgae, and aquat ic mosses) are indicated by circling the sample types collected and recording the sample identification number for each one.
Quantitative periphyton samples provide data on the occurrence and abundance of benthic algal taxa in two contrasting instream response habitats: (1) a richest-targeted habitat (RTH), which supports the taxonomically richest assemblage of organisms within a sampling reach, and (2) a depositional-targeted habitat (DTH), where organisms are likely to be exposed to sediment-borne contaminants for extended periods of time. Examples of RTH habitats include a riffle in a shallow, coarse-grained, high-gradient stream (epilithic periphyton microhabitat) or snag habitats in a sandy-bottom, Coastal Plain stream (epidendric periphyton microhabitat). The DTH habitat is typically an organically rich, depositional area such as a pool (epipelic or epipsammic microhabi tats). The selection of an appropriate RTH is based on information derived during the NAWQA retrospective data analysis, input from the study-unit liaison committee, consultation with the USGS regional biologist, and results from reconnaissance sampling.
The objective of quantitative habitat-based sampling of periphyton is to obtain representative algal samples from the predominant periphyton microhabitat in each of two instream habitats (RTH and DTH). These objectives parallel those described for benthic invertebrates (Cuffney and others, 1993). When periphyton sampling is conducted in association with benthic invertebrate sampling (for example, at NAWQA basic fixed sites), representative microhabitats are sampled from the same general location in the sampling reach as the benthic invertebrate samples. The quantitative periphyton samples should be obtained prior to collecting qualitative algae and benthic invertebrate samples unless there are sufficient personnel and space within the sampling reach to ensure that the two sampling activities do not interfere with one another. Sampling should begin at the downstream end of the sampling reach and progress upstream.
The purpose of collecting quantitative samples of microalgae is to measure algal abundance, species composition, and community structure in the predominant periphyton microhabitat of the RTH selected for sampling benthic invertebrates. Periphyton microhabitats in the RTH generally can be classified as epilithic, epidendric, or epiphytic; however, the RTH in some sampling reaches may be characterized by epipsammic or epipelic microhabitats. In addition to relative abundance information, which is required for NAWQA ecological surveys at basic fixed sites, optional information may include density and biovolume of algal species, chlorophyll a and b, ash-free dry mass, and other properties of the periphyton community. The appropriate pe riphyton sampling methods, as well as the components to be measured, should be chosen in consultation with the regional biologist and dictated by microhabitat conditions of the instream habitats selected in the sampling reach.


The Sweet Cherry is poisonous for both cats and dogs
Typical symptoms include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, excessive panting, vomiting, shock and red mucous membranes in the mouth.
Sweet Cherry is deciduous tree native to the native to Maghreb, Europe, Anatolia, and Western Asia, from the British Isles south to Morocco and Tunisia, east to the Caucasus and northern Iran and north to the Trondheimsfjord region in Norway, with a few population in the western Himalaya. They feature robust apical dominance with a symmetrical conical crown and straight trunk.
The scientific name for this plant is Prunus avium. Additional name for this plant include Gean and Wild Cherry.
Image: Istock.com / PatrikStedrak


Sichuan clique was a group of warlords in the warlord era in China. During the period from 1927-1938, Sichuan was in the hands of five warlords: Liu Xiang, Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui, Deng Xihou, and Tian Songyao.
No one warlord had enough power to take on all the others at once, so many small battles occurred, pitting one warlord against another. Large conflicts seldom developed, plotting and skirmishing characterized the Sichuanese political scene, and ephemeral coalitions and counter-coalitions emerged and vanished with equal rapidity.
However, Liu Xiang was the most influential of the Sichuan warlords. He controlled Chongqing and its surrounding areas. This region, sitting on the banks of the Yangtze river, was rich because of trade with provinces down river and therefore controlled much of the economic activity in Sichuan. From this position of strength, between 1930 and 1932 General Liu Wenhui and Liu Xiang improved their forces, organizing a small airforce and an armored car force.
In 1935 Liu Xiang ousted his uncle and rival warlord, Liu Wenhui, becoming Chairman of the Government of Sichuan Province with the support of Chiang Kai Shek.
World War II
In the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Sichuan clique made a huge contribution to oppose the Japanese army. Data shows all numbers of dead or injured soldiers (totally 3.26 millions), including 2.24 millions from Sichuan clique. Especially, from 1939 to 1945, the death numbers of soldiers has 646,000 from Sichuan within a total 850,000. In the Battle of Shanghai, almost all 170,000 soldiers from Sichuan clique fell in battle, with only 2,000 managing to retreat to Hubei Province. Nine generals of the National Revolutionary Army died in World War II, of whom generals Li Jiayu, Wang Mingzhang and Rao Guohua were commanders from the Sichuan clique.
On August 15, 1989, Chengdu City Government constructed new sculpture for memento at Wannian, Chengdu.
- 周轶君、张琴、朱薇. "新闻背景："抗战到底始终不渝"——川军抗日". Xinhua News. Retrieved 28 January 2011.


Theravada Buddhism is Thailand’s predominant religion which is woven intricately into Thai identity and culture. The census of 2000 reports 94.6% of the population identifying as Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims constitute the second largest religious group at 4.6%.
Thai Buddhism has evolved over time with beliefs originating from Hinduism, animism as well as ancestor worship. The official calendar is the Eastern version of the Buddhist Era which is 543 years ahead of the western Gregorian calendar.
There are many Buddhist temples, and despite trekking to many temples in the cultural week, no two were the same. Almost always elephants feature somewhere being, of course, Thailand’s national symbol. The population of elephants is alarmingly low at around 2,000.
So, in a week I had plenty of opportunities to see sleeping Buddhas, tallest Buddhas, smiling, reclining Buddhas and everything in between. One of the temples even had an embalmed monk in a glass casket and of course the number one temple was allegedly the Buddha’s foot. Almost every house, business and in temple grounds would have a Spirit House. Usually in a corner or auspicious place of the property. The Thai people believe that the elaborate little house is the home of, and for the spirits so that they can maintain surveillance and protection of the property. On the drive to the volunteer placement, there were often spirit houses seemingly in the middle of nowhere or under trees.
GoEco certainly provided me with plenty to see and experience in that cultural week. However, the one place that I would have liked to have seen was the Royal Palace and Emerald Buddha, but this closed at the time due to the death of Thailands king, however, more on that in a later blog.
Each temple had much to admire, and if one was on their own, there were certainly many quiet places where one could meditate and drink in the beauty of the surrounds.
Of course if one committed errors in one’s judgment, one can expect to be punished and these too were graphically represented.


About this course
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is the foundation for centralized management of an organizations users and resources. As a Windows Server administrator, you must be able to implement AD DS.
In this computer science course, you will learn, through videos, discussions, hands-on labs and assessments, how to put in place a secure, scalable and manageable AD DS infrastructure for Windows Server users and resources.
This self-paced interactive computer science course is the first in a series of courses where youll have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Windows Server 2012 operating system administration.
What you'll learn
- Windows Server installation and post-installation configuration
- The physical and logical components of AD DS, such as forests, domains, and domain controllers
- How to create and configure user, group, and computer accounts
- How to implement Group Policy Objects to enforce standard processes in your organization
- Using Windows PowerShell for common administrative tasks


Movies have a knack for portraying crocodiles as nasty and cruel. But crocodiles are not just about looking vicious and gobbling everything down their sharp teeth. They also have some unique things about them. But of course, that doesn’t change the fact that crocodiles are very aggressive by nature and can inflict serious harm. So it’s best to stay away from them.
Crocodiles are the biggest reptiles on earth. And like any other reptiles, they have scales, are cold-blooded, and have a backbone.
Fun fact: Crocodiles have been living on earth since the time of dinosaurs. They are sometimes referred to as “living fossils” because they have been around for millions of years. They are old. Very very old.
Let’s head onto our list of interesting facts to know more about crocodiles.
Crocodiles don’t sweat
No sweat, no smell. That’s how it usually goes. But do you know that sweating has its own perks? Yes, it absolutely does. Sweating helps the body cool down. But crocodiles do not have sweat glands. That means they do not sweat. So how do they keep their cool? Good question.
Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals. Their bodies do not produce natural body heat. Yet they prefer to keep their body temperature between 30 – 33 degrees. And they regulate this body temperature by changing their environment. If it is cold, they move to the warm banks, and if it is hot, they take a dip in the water.
Another easier way to regulate body temperature is to keep their mouth wide open to release heat through their mouths. It’s that easy for the crocodiles to keep their cool!
Crocodiles can swim up to 18 mph
Crocodiles are amazing swimmers. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the fact that they can live quite well on land as well as inside water.
Crocodiles are fast swimmers with a good speed of 15-18 mph. This is three times the swimming capacity of the fastest human swimmer. And that’s so very incredible. Isn’t it?
Crocodiles can hold their breath underwater for an hour
Try holding your own breath underwater. You might not be able to hold your breath even for a minute. But crocodiles can. And they can sometimes hold their breath underwater for more than an hour. Isn’t it just so breathtakingly amazing?
While underwater, they slow down their metabolism. The heart rate falls to 2-3 beats per minute, further decreasing cellular respiration and saving up energy. This reduced metabolism also demands less oxygen supply. This way, they easily keep themselves underwater without taking a breath.
Crocodiles swallow stones
Though we have seen animals eating and surviving on so many different things, we are learning of someone swallowing stones for the very first time. No? And of course, it does sound very strange, but it’s still so unique!.
Swallowing stones, also called “gastroliths,” especially helps a crocodile with their digestion. We are sufficiently aware of the quite big size of crocodiles, so it isn’t a big surprise that they also consume huge food. But whenever they do eat some tough animals or swallow them whole, they need a supplementary stone to grind their food down.
Apparently, this helps in their digestion. But a “gastrolith” itself can remain inside their stomachs for years. And we can’t quite imagine what could happen with a stone in the stomach.
Crocodiles can replace over 6000 teeth in a lifetime
Crocodiles’ teeth look quite sharp and threatening. And we wouldn’t want ourselves falling prey to their teeth for sure.
A baby crocodile starts with 20 teeth which are then replaced with 32 adult teeth. But different species can have different numbers of teeth. Many crocodiles have 60 to 110 teeth.
When a crocodile loses a tooth, another tooth is always on the standby to replace it. Long story short, crocodiles go through many teeth loss and replacement. Adding up the numbers to a total of 6000 teeth used in a lifetime. That’s quite a huge number!
The sharp teeth of crocodiles are never used for chewing purposes
A crocodile’s snout, with its numerous teeth, is probably the most dangerous thing about a crocodile. Out of the abundance of many teeth, 24 are particularly sharp and violent. A crocodile uses these teeth to grasp and crush their prey, but it is never used for simple chewing purposes.
Crocodiles do shed tears
You would have long heard of the expression “crocodile tears.” It is used to specifically refer to the insincere display of sorrow. So, do you know how this expression came about? Let’s check out the fact then.
It is observed that crocodiles shed tears while eating their prey. Of course, it’s not with remorse. Maybe that’s why it is accused of being insincere? The exact reason behind their tears is still unclear. But scientists believe that it has something to do with the hisses and huffs they make while eating. Apparently, these hisses activate their tear glands and make them tear up.
Crocodiles have a very sharp senses
Crocodiles are known to employ deceitful tricks to catch hold of their prey. A laid-back crocodile submerged in the water is often mistaken for a log of wood by the prey. And they fall right into the trap.
They are patient hunters. But what adds to their patience is their very sharp senses. They are night hunters. Their sharp vision adds to their advantage, and they can run amok at the slightest stir of a random prey. Nothing can evade the eyes and ears of a crocodile.
Crocodiles carry their newborns in their mouths
Now, this will be the gentlest thing you are ever going to learn about crocodiles. Despite their large bodies and aggressive looks, they can turn out to be a great parent.
Like other reptiles, crocodiles also lay their eggs and bury them safely in a riverside nest. They vigilantly watch over their eggs until they hatch themselves out and then carry them back into the water with the greatest care. And that too inside their mouths.
The mother keeps her mouth open while the baby is inside its mouth, preventing them from clamping down on the baby with their strong teeth and jaws. As a result, the baby can feel quite at home inside its mother’s dangerous mouth. This sounds cute. Do look up some relevant pictures to feast your eyes!
Crocodiles have webbed feet
These webbed feet of a crocodile do not specifically help them propel themselves forward while swimming. But it does make them initiate swimming and steer their directions. These feet can also come in handy while trailing through a shallow water body.
The gender of a crocodile egg is determined by the temperature of the egg
Well, this should be a very common fact for all the science enthusiasts out there. But it should make quite an impact for a newbie learning about it for the first time!
Simply put, an egg incubated at a higher temperature of 34 degrees will usually produce a male crocodile, and a lower temperature of 30 degrees will result in a female crocodile, reports a scientific journal published under The Royal Society Publishing.
Dinosaurs and crocodiles are relatives
For starters, both dinosaurs and crocodiles were a part of the ‘Archosaurs’ group of reptiles. The first ancestors of crocodiles existed around 240 million years ago, around the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Their species have undergone very little change, and therefore, they are the only living animals who share the closest resemblance with the extinct dinosaurs.
Crocodiles can also eat large animals
This fact shouldn’t stir a huge surprise considering the bawdy and aggressive look of a crocodile itself. But wait, there is still some room for surprise. How will you react if someone tells you that crocodiles can, in fact, eat small elephants, hippos, buffaloes, and zebras? Wonderfully surprising or dangerously surprising?
Though freshwater crocodiles mostly survive on fish, some large species of crocodiles can grab their hands on huge prey. This is no huge task for them!
Crocodiles have the strongest bite of all animals
Now, this fact can get our blood running cold. We can already imagine the cruelty of a crocodile bite by simply looking at their sharp teeth. No statistic needs to convince us of this quite obvious fact. But still, for the sake of our own knowledge, let’s get a quick look at the statistics.
The Nile Crocodile has a bite force of 5000 psi, and they often swallow their prey as a whole after crushing them down. This majestic bite force makes a crocodile’s bite stands first in the list of the strongest bite of all animals. Their bites are 30 times more powerful than a human’s bite. We cannot sympathize enough with a crocodile’s prey.
Crocodiles have a very acidic stomach
Do you know that our stomachs also produce acid? And that acid helps in digestion? But of course, nothing can match a crocodile’s level of stomach acid. Their stomachs are extremely acidic!
We all know that crocodiles can eat everything that has blood and flesh in it. And even bones. In fact, the extra acid of a crocodile helps them digest just that. The thick skin and bones of another large animal. Nothing can keep them from having a sumptuous meal.
Crocodiles and Alligators are different
Crocodiles and alligators are often confused with each other. Due to being closely related, they share some close resemblances, but there are some distinct ways to tell them apart.
A crocodile’s teeth are visible even when its mouth is closed shut. Whereas an alligator’s mouth tightly closes itself to its teeth. A crocodile has a pointed V-shaped mouth, and an alligator’s mouth is bluntly U-shaped.
Crocodiles can sleep with one eye open
Sleeping with one eye open? Does that even count as sleeping at all? For crocodiles, it does. They literally sleep with one eye open!
A recent study has proved that crocodiles sleep with one eye open, which means that their brains work in parts. While the first half is asleep, the second half is awake and vigilant. So the crocodiles are on a constant lookout for movements from their prey and possible threat. Only a handful of animals like Blackbirds and Dolphins are known to perform this kind of amazing marvel.
Crocodiles have a high infant mortality rate
Even with all of mama crocodiles’ love and care, baby crocodiles still face many survival threats in their first year of life. Reports state that 90% of these baby crocodiles die in their first year of life. They are either eaten by other predators like large crocodiles, hyenas, and lizards, or their eggs get consumed by humans.
Larger crocodiles can go on without eating for a year
We cannot possibly imagine ourselves surviving on an empty stomach for more than a day, but we are talking about a year here. A literal 365 days-year! And a crocodile can beat even that.
Crocodiles have got some of the best survival tactics up their sleeves. Their body metabolism is specially designed to store almost the whole of the food that they consume. This way, they are quite able to survive by relying on this stored fat and by minimizing their normal bodily processes. Larger crocodiles can even survive on their own, without food for almost over a year.
There are 24 different species of crocodiles in the world
Crocodiles are very old. They evolved around 80 million years ago, and there are currently 24 different species of crocodiles inhabiting the earth.
The Saltwater Crocodile is the largest of all living crocodiles, with an average size of 17 feet and 1000 pounds. At the other end of the scale, Dwarf Crocodile is the smallest crocodile, with a small size of 5.9 feet and 60-70 pounds. Orinoco, Philippine, Cuban, and Siamese crocodiles are the four species of crocodiles facing the three of getting endangered.
Crocodiles have a complex heart
A crocodile’s heart changes its behavior according to their surrounding. If it is on the land, its actual four-chambered heart will act like any other normal mammalian heart. But when in water, the four-chambered heart will turn into a three-chambered heart like other reptiles to ease their activity underwater. It also helps them stay underwater for a longer period.
Crocodiles are known to kill humans
We have seen and known this from our daily dose of TV shows and news programs. Wikipedia reports that hundreds of people lose their lives to crocodile attacks in Africa. These attacks are so regular and normalized that sometimes they don’t even make it to the local news.
Learned enough. Didn’t we? We are sure you must have never thought of fishing out this much detail from a quick fact overview, nor would you have assumed that crocodiles could have such a unique appeal. Right? But life is all about learning and understanding the different things around us. Learning introduces you to cool new things, and you should never stop learning. And while you are at it, you should also continue your hunt for more such facts and figures.
Chameleon Facts For Kids That Will Blow Your Mind
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About 150 years ago, history teacher Ruth Johnson’s great, great grandfather arrived in the United States as one of the many three-hundred dollar soldiers joining the fray during the Civil War. On the boat from Europe, he met the young lady he would eventually fall in love with.
When they arrived in America, the two soul mates parted ways. She went to live with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he went on to Philadelphia to join the Union army to take the place of a man that didn’t wish to fight for the North. He later relocated to Cincinnati where fate took over and he encountered his love once again.
“They were walking on opposite sides of the street along one of the main streets in Cincinnati and they saw each other again…” Johnson said.
Johnson explained that 13 kids and several generations later, she’s working to learn more about her great, great grandfather. Recently, she found his mustering out papers so she hopes that the government will place a tombstone on his unmarked grave.
Not every Civil War story is a love story, but the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission is working to document as many stories from across Virginia during its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War as possible. The commission was established in 2006 by the General Assembly of Virginia. The commission is responsible for five different projects within Virginia to commemorate the Civil War. These projects include An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia, which is a gallery exhibit and a panel exhibition; a history mobile; the Civil War 150 Legacy Project, which is a digitization project through the Library of Virginia; conferences traveling to universities across the state; and a Sesquicentennial DVD.
The digitization project, according to Andy Talkov, the exhibition coordinator for Virginia’s Civil War Sesquicentennial, is attempting to collect documents from across Virginia relating to the Civil War and emancipation. Talkov explained that the goal is to put these documents into a digital format and make them available to the public online.
“I think the thing that’s true about all of these projects is that the project goes to the people as opposed to the people having to come to the project,” Talkov pointed out.
He explained that the exhibit will be traveling to eight regionally diverse museums across the state so most Virginians over the next four years will only be about an hour away from the exhibit.
Dennis Bidwell, a resident of Morgantown, W.Va., came to Richmond for his eldest son’s wedding but he stopped by the Virginia Historical Society to look at the Civil War exhibit. He explained that he grew up in Michigan, so he learned the Union version of Civil War history.
Bidwell said he thought it was important to come to Richmond to see a different perspective on the war. He said that the exhibit made him realize the impact the Civil War had on the country.
The exhibit is divided into two sections, “Surveying War” and “Waging War,” according to Jennifer Guild, senior officer for public relations and marketing at the Virginia Historical Society. Guild emphasizes that dividing the exhibit into two sections was the best way for the Virginia Historical Society to tell the story of women, enslaved African-Americans, and children who were just as much a part of the war as the men fighting on the front line.
Talkov explained that because the exhibit had to be modular so it could travel around the state, the commission chose to tell the story of the Civil War in a “thematic way.” He said that people usually come to a museum to see the material history or all the “stuff,” but the commission wanted to make the exhibit more about the people associated with the objects.
The commission, Talkov said, came up with criteria for choosing the objects that would be on display. He explained that the commission decided to only display an object if they had a photo or portrait to go with it. Talkov said the commission focused on connecting the objects to a person to tell that person’s story.
The watch on display in the exhibit belonged to Thomas Jonathan Jackson, who is best known as “Stonewall Jackson.” Talkov said that it is understood that “Stonewall Jackson” had a system where his troops would march for 50 minutes and then rest for 10 minutes.
Talkov explained that the exhibit is designed to make the audience think about Jackson’s use of the watch.
A Confederate uniform coat is one of the other objects on display in the exhibit. Talkov explained that most exhibits like this one would tell an audience about the man who wore the coat and all the battles he fought. Instead, the commission chose to tell the story of the women who made the uniforms.
Talkov said groups of women came to a Richmond clothing depot where they were given packets to produce the uniforms. The women would sew each stitch by hand and, upon returning the uniform, would receive a payment.
“In a way it’s kind of the Rosie the Riveter version of the Civil War,” Talkov said.
Instead of focusing completely on the men fighting in the Civil War, the commission wanted to bring light to the people on the home front, similar to the way the Rosie the Riveter icon brought attention to women during World War II.
Johnson said she greatly appreciated the fact that the exhibit didn’t tell the story of the Civil War battle by battle. As a former history teacher in Northern Kentucky, Johnson said she focused on the social and intellectual history of the Civil War when she taught. Johnson explained that she, too, focused more on the clothing, hairstyles, jewelry, dance and other types of cultural norms when teaching, similar to the way the Virginia Historical Society told the story of the Civil War.
Guild explained that each section of the exhibit poses a question that is meant to get the audience thinking about the Civil War in a different way. The Virginia Historical Society is looking past the usual version of the Civil War to tell the stories of those people whose accounts are not often shared with the public.
Talkov emphasized that he and others on the commission wanted to show how African-Americans were claiming their freedom when the war began.
Unfortunately, he explained there isn’t much material evidence to depict the escape from slavery, so the commission used firsthand accounts to create a simulation. According to Guild, the simulation allows the audience to take on the role of an enslaved African-American on their journey to freedom.
Ultimately, the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission is working to create a better picture of the Civil War for Virginians through the exhibits, conferences, and the history mobile. By traveling around the state, the exhibits will reach a variety of areas that were affected by the Civil War in different ways, and will try to educate the public about the war through the stories unique to those areas.
The gallery exhibit will remain at the Virginia Historical Society until Dec. 30, when it will begin traveling to other parts of the state. In January, half of the exhibit will be on display in Hampton and the other half will be displayed in Winchester.