Home of Mercy
Home of Mercy is a sonnet written by Gwen Harwood during modern era Australia. It depicts the lifestyle of a select few group of “ruined girls”, who have been impregnated and exiled to live with the nuns throughout the course of their pregnancy, in hope of exoneration. It deals with the confronting issue of the loss youthful innocence; is a wrong decision made in your teenage years really enough to have the rest of your social life destroyed?
Gwen Harwood’s poem raises the problem of teenage pregnancy. Pregnancy in juveniles was something that shamed an entire family. With very few options, the young women were forced to live with the Catholic nuns in hope that god will show mercy upon them. The text was clearly written with a clear understanding of the feelings of the exiled women and the obvious suppression undergone by these girls. To some extent, “Home of Mercy” loses some of its power in a modern context because of teenage pregnancies becoming more and more accepted. I think Gwen Harwood wrote her poem to not only outline the problem of unplanned pregnancy, but for the “onlooker” to have a different perception on this topic. Most people would look at them as “the ruined girls”, but I think Harwood is trying to make the reader feel compassion and sympathy for these underappreciated girls. She implies that they live very harsh lives, and touches on the notion that they aren’t mature physically (or mentally) when she refers to them as having “ripening bodies.” In my opinion, Gwen is blatantly telling the reader that they should see both sides of this argument and not to jump to conclusions about them. The mood of “Home of Mercy” is one of its fundamental tools in persuasion. It contains a very strong emotion of suppression and domination, with a strong influence of a lifeless and depressing overtone. A main emotion is the strict and forceful routine enforced by the Catholic Church. The opening sentence “By two and two...” already suggests that...
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Eucalyptus trees can be a particular pain for homeowners because of the chance that the trees will fall over. The eucalyptus tree can do some real damage to any structures -- or people -- it hits, despite its skinny, papery look. If your area is prone to high winds or flooding, or if the trees are very old, you must keep an eye on the trees and environmental conditions to help head off any pending disasters.
Roots not only provide a pathway for moisture and nutrients to reach the tree but also hold the tree in place in the soil. Roots can extend down as taproots or spread out around the tree. Eucalyptus trees are prone to falling because they have shallow spreading roots that don't do a good job of steadying the tree in loose soil or when something places pressure against the trunk and branches.
Eucalyptus trees can be a particular hazard in windy conditions. If the winds are strong enough, they can easily topple the trees onto houses, cars and those unfortunate enough to be in the way. It's not unusual to hear of downed trees after big storms or during Santa Ana wind conditions in places like Southern California. For example, the "San Diego Reader" reported that Santa Anas on Feb. 2, 2011, blew over three eucalyptus trees in Balboa Park in San Diego, and KPBS in San Diego noted the winds caused another tree to fall onto a freeway connector ramp. Santa Anas are strong, dry, warm winds that blow out of the desert into Southern California, raising the fire risk and creating gusty conditions.
Soaked Soil and Decayed Roots
Soil that becomes saturated from heavy rain or flooding isn't as strong as dry soil when it comes to holding in tree roots. Large eucalyptus trees can fall over because the flooded soil isn't strong enough to hold the roots of the top-heavy tree in place. Roots in older or diseased trees can also decay to the point where they can no longer keep the weight of the tree upright.
Inspections and Removal
If you have eucalyptus trees in your yard or if they are close to your home or business, get them inspected if they've grown large enough to do damage if they fall over. If the trees are on city, county or state land, contact the appropriate government office; if they are in your neighbour's yard, try to work something out with the neighbour, especially if an inspection reveals the tree is in danger of falling over. Laws governing the removal of eucalyptus trees vary from city to city. Some, like Lake Forest, California, require you to get a tree-cutting permit before undertaking any work on a eucalyptus tree, including pruning.
- KPBS; Strong Santa Ana Winds Wreak Havoc in SoCal; February 2011
- San Diego Reader; Winds Take Down Three Eucalyptus in Balboa Park; Shane Finneran; February 2011
- CBS News; Soggy L.A. Still Crumbling; Jaime Holguin; February 2005
- SDSU; Eucalyptus Tree Topples in Storm; Gina Jacobs; January 2010
- KGO-TV: Crews Clean Up After Powerful Weekend Storm; Terry McSweeney; December 2010
- City of Lake Forest: Frequently Asked Questions


As news of the fire at the National Musuem of Natural History broke out early in the morning today, along with it, came the news of damage caused to rare and extinct artefacts.
Century old artefacts are now permanently lost to the fire. Some of the rare objects lost are:
1. 160-million-year-old dinosaur fossil
2. Collection of birds' eggs
The fire also damaged the Discovery Room, situated on the second floor and the Activity Room.
In the Activity Room, children would examine specimens, explore discovery boxes and were sensitised to nature.
The National Museum of Natural History was famous for it's a massive life-size dinosaur model. This model-dinosaur, roaring at the entry of the building, was the high point for visitors.
It introduced visitors to natural history, ecology, environment and conservation. It also had a good collection of replica animals and birds.
The museum had the following three exhibits:
1. Introduction to Natural History (prehistorical facts, theory of evolution, universe)
2. Nature's network, environment and ecology
3. Conservation of forest, wildlife, land, water and air
The museum was established in 1972 by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Indian Independence. A popular destination for school children, the museum had a good footfall every day (about 1000 visitors).
The museum, located in the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) building in Mandi House, was currently under-renovation. The FICCI auditorium is reportedly safe.
The fire started from the top floor at 1:45AM and quickly spread to all six floors.
Six injured firemen were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital with two reportedly in a critical condition.
Reports added that the fire and safety mechanism were not functioning properly in the building.
Meanwhile, environment minister Prakash Javadekar has ordered an immediate audit of 34 other museums.


Report Shows Maple Production Up Nationally, Varies Regionally
The USDA Agricultural Statistics Service issued its report on maple syrup production this week. It shows that nationwide production this spring was up, with trees being tapped as early as January 1st.
Overall maple syrup production was up 2 percent in 2017, totaling 4.27 million gallons. The number of taps grew 6 percent, but the yield per tap was down 4 percent.
While Vermont maintained its status as the largest maple producer in the country, production was down slightly from 1,990,000 gallons to 1,980,000. That yield was better than expected, according to Vermont Department of Agriculture Maple Specialist and Consumer Protection Chief Henry Marckres. "It was down a little, about 10,000 gallons. But the thing that happened with the weather conditions we had, we were expecting maybe 50 to 75 percent of a crop. But with our added taps that people have put in and the new technology where they’re tapping earlier and high vacuum we really had a very good year for the weather conditions.”
In Vermont output per tap was down because of weather but more trees were tapped. Marckres adds that technology helped boost syrup production. “We did have about 600,000 more taps this year than we did the year before. So that was quite an increase. The other thing that happens with new technology where they’ve got the small spouts with high vacuum, tapping earlier. It used to be that we estimated a good production was about a quart of maple syrup per tap. Now people are looking for a half gallon of maple syrup per tap. So not only has the taps gone up significantly in numbers but the production with that new technology has gone up significantly also.”
With warmer than normal temperatures this season, producers tapped the trees early. The earliest sap flow was reported on January 1st in four states: New York, Vermont, Indiana and Ohio.
New York produced 760,000 gallons this year, 53,000 more than last year. New York State Maple Producers’ Association Executive Director Helen Thomas says she was tapping trees on January 15th. She says tubing and vacuum systems allow producers to get into the sugarbush earlier. “I wouldn’t tap my trees January 15th knowing that the season could go ‘til April if I didn’t know that we were using tubing and vacuum which keeps the outside air from getting into that hole so the run lasts longer. So that’s certainly part of it. The other part is that, especially for example this year, there was no snow cover in most of New York state in January. I mean I was tapping in sneakers and we usually have 4 feet of snow.”
Massachusetts produced 84,000 gallons of maple syrup this year, 7,000 more than in 2016. Connecticut’s production rose 1,000 gallons to 20,000.
The Agricultural Statistics Service did not publish an average price per gallon. Marckres reports retail prices are fairly steady, averaging between $47 and $55 a gallon.


Moon* ♑ Capricorn
Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset. It's part facing the Earth is completely in shadow.
Moon is passing about ∠25° of ♐ Sagittarius tropical zodiac sector.
Lunar disc is not visible from Earth. Moon and Sun apparent angular diameters are ∠1873" and ∠1951".
Next Full Moon is the Wolf Moon of January 2020 after 16 days on 10 January 2020 at 19:21.
There is high New Moon ocean tide on this date. Combined Sun and Moon gravitational tidal force working on Earth is strong, because of the Sun-Moon-Earth syzygy alignment.
At 15:06 on this date the Moon completes the old and enters a new synodic month with lunation 246 of Meeus index or 1199 from Brown series.
29 days, 14 hours and 8 minutes is the length of new lunation 246. It is 2 hours and 21 minutes shorter than next lunation 247 length.
Length of current synodic month is 1 hour and 23 minutes longer than the mean length of synodic month, but it is still 5 hours and 39 minutes shorter, compared to 21st century longest.
This New Moon true anomaly is ∠50.7°. At beginning of next synodic month true anomaly will be ∠82.6°. The length of upcoming synodic months will keep increasing since the true anomaly gets closer to the value of New Moon at point of apogee (∠180°).
6 days after point of perigee on 18 December 2019 at 20:30 in ♍ Virgo. The lunar orbit is getting wider, while the Moon is moving outward the Earth. It will keep this direction for the next 7 days, until it get to the point of next apogee on 2 January 2020 at 01:30 in ♓ Pisces.
Moon is 382 656 km (237 771 mi) away from Earth on this date. Moon moves farther next 7 days until apogee, when Earth-Moon distance will reach 404 580 km (251 394 mi).
11 days after its ascending node on 13 December 2019 at 14:15 in ♋ Cancer, the Moon is following the northern part of its orbit for the next day, until it will cross the ecliptic from North to South in descending node on 26 December 2019 at 13:01 in ♑ Capricorn.
11 days after beginning of current draconic month in ♋ Cancer, the Moon is moving from the beginning to the first part of it.
11 days after previous North standstill on 13 December 2019 at 20:57 in ♋ Cancer, when Moon has reached northern declination of ∠23.226°. Next day the lunar orbit moves southward to face South declination of ∠-23.227° in the next southern standstill on 26 December 2019 at 20:11 in ♑ Capricorn.
The Moon is in New Moon geocentric conjunction with the Sun on this date and this alignment forms Sun-Moon-Earth syzygy.


Drying of non-fermented meat products
- How does it work?
- What can it be used for?
- What can it not be used for?
- Related Facilities
- Further Information
|Key words||Dry, meat product, non-fermented|
How does it work?
|Working principle|| The structure and texture of product changes by drying. Curing flavours appear due to the curing process.
Shelf life is extended by means of water activity decrease and salts content.
|Additional effects||Density changes, mass reduction, flavour and texture modification, microbiological changes (microbiological stabilization).|
|Important process parameters||temperature, humidity, weight loss|
|Important product parameters||pH, water activity, product composition (water, fat, protein, collagen…), salt|
What can it be used for?
|Products||Meat products (pork, beef, poultry...)|
|Operations||Mincing, mixing, drying|
|Solutions for short comings||
What can it NOT be used for?
|Operations||Thermal treatment (cooking, pasteurisation, sterilisation)|
|Risks or hazards||Microbial risk appears when the drying process is not completely achieved, due to an excess in water activity. Then, product could deteriorate or shelf life could be reduced.|
|Maturity|| This technology is widely described in the literature as this is a traditional process know for decades. Due to new technologies, new ingredients, introduction of artificial casings (improving microbiological stability and product stability) can be found.
New developments in the drying process have been implemented. For example, better control of the water mass transfer is developed (weight loss, water activity) by the use of weight scales and probes connected to PLCs.
|Modularity /Implementation||This technology can be implemented in the production line.|
|Consumer aspects|| Traditionally produced products are widely accepted by consumers.
New product developments need the acceptance of new flavours and textures by the consumer (5).
|Environmental aspects||New technology improvements are intended to reduce energy consumption during drying process (traditional chamber drying is high energy demanding).|
Facilities that might be interesting for you
|Institutes||IRTA, CSIC - IATA, UNEX, University of Zaragoza, SSICA, INRA|
|Companies||Vismara, Abraham, Fleury-Michon, Espuña|
|References|| 1. Arnau J., Serra X., Comaposada J., Gou P. & Garriga M. (2007). Technologies to shorten the drying period of dry-cured meat products. Meat Science 77, 81-89.
2. Advanced technologies for meat processing (2006). Edited by Leo M. L. Nollet, Fidel Toldrá; Boca Raton, CRC/Taylor & Francis.
3. Ruiz-Ramirez J., Arnau J., Serra X., and Gou P. (2005). Relationship between water content, nacl content, pH and texture parameters in dry-cured muscles. Meat Science 70, 579-587.
4. Research advances in the quality of meat and meat products (2002). Edited by Fidel Toldrá. Trivandrum, India; Research Signpost.
5. Guerrero, L., Gou P. & Arnau, J. (1999). The influence of meat ph on mechanical and sensory textural properties of dry-cured ham. Meat Science 52: 267-273.
6. Developments in meat science. 4 (1988). Edited by Ralston Lawrie. London, Elsevier Applied Science.
temperature, humidity, weight loss pH, water activity, product composition (water, fat, protein, collagen…), salt Dryers 2.2.3 physical stabilizing, structure forming, conversion not applicable Internal data base, WOK, Scopus Search terms: drying, non-fermented meat products WikiSysop :Template:Review document :Template:Review status


Flashcards in Exam 2 Deck (39):
what are two hair breeds of sheep?
Barbados blackbelly and Dorper
What sheep breed has the finest wool
what two breeds have a high % of triplets?
Romanov and Finnish Landrace
what is the most labor intensive system of producing lambs?
what is the best time of year to shear sheep in a temperate climate?
what are two dairy goat breeds?
La mancha and Alpine
what species would make the best use of woody plants during winter?
Bison breed in?
July-Aug and calve in spring
what is the correct order of fat content? (fat -> lean)
beef -> pork -> chicken -> bison
elk breed in?
when is velvet removed from elk and red deer?
what is the largest breed organization in the world?
American Quarter horse
what is not a genetic disorder associated with Arabians?
hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
what are the two racing gaits of Standardbred?
Pace and trot
what is the organization that requires live cover?
what does tylopodia mean?
what is the most important feature of alpaca and llama meat?
lower fat and cholesterol than beef
T/F alpaca and llamas are used as packing animals in SA
what is the gestation of a horse?
gestation of a bison?
gestation of a laying hen
gestation of a pig
gestation of new world camelids
gestation of old world camelids
taxonomy of red deer
taxonomy of elk
red deer and elk can crossbreed and produce fertile offspring
what are the names of male and female red deer and elk?
stag and hind
velvet antlers are collected in ______ and sawed off when it is about ____________ grown
Summer, 55% grown
taxonomy of llama
what are the two breeds of alpaca
huacaya and suri
taxonomy of guanacos
taxonomy of vicuna
baby vicunas are called
baby llama and alpacas are called
what country produces most of the worlds alpaca fibre?
baby guanacos are called
what is a zoonotic parasite of new world camelids


Is right money management one of your 2018 new year’s goals?
If yes, then read up on these 5 habits to start the year with wise financial moves. These habits will help you become more practical in your finances, including expenses and credit, and motivate you to save money as well.
START A SMART BUDGET TRACK
It’s time to stop spending too much on the things you just want. In terms of spending, make needs a priority over your wants.
Using spreadsheets can help you manage everything you spend and save. Before going to a store or the mall, list down your wants and needs and cut back on expensive or luxurious products you don’t need.
BE FINANCIALLY GUIDED
There are two ways to be properly guided when it comes to smart finances.
- Books – It is important to read books on how to save money and spend it wisely. Give time to help yourself improve and learn the basics of proper financial management.
- Smartphone Applications – Nowadays, there are various phone applications that help you track the money you spend and save. Busy people and young adults find it much more convenient and helpful to manage their expenses.
KEEP YOUR CREDIT CARDS UPDATED MONTHLY
Always keep this in mind. If you want to save and be practical, you should pay your credit cards every month. A good record of credit cards payments will also reflect on your credit score and eventually help you to establish a better record especially when you are starting a business.
If you can’t make it a habit, then you should cancel your credit cards right away. Credit cards can only tempt you to spend a lot more than is practical or smart.
SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!
Motivate yourself to save money for your future. Saving money is not only for emergencies; it is also a reward for yourself after your hard work. Little “self-rewards” may turn out to a new phone, gadgets, car, or even a house.
You may also use your savings in some investments you want to try. While at first your are saving for yourself, later on you will be saving for investments.
SET GOALS. FINISH STRONG
After planning, your next big move should be to stay motivated and accomplish the challenge of saving money. Setting goals will help keep you inspired.
For example, why not try labeling your savings in jars. You may label the jars with the things with to buy or plans you want fulfill using your savings (education, traveling, gadgets, donations, investments, etc.). The best part of saving money is when you finish it and start making your plans and dreams a reality.
There is no perfect time to start new beginnings in life. Quit telling yourself that “this might be an unlucky day to start saving money, try investments, and etc.” No one else will motivate you to start and finish what you plan–just you.


In this book, the author skillfully lays down Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. The deeds of Odysseus and Heracles, the Trojan War, and many other stories are brought to life and described in details on its pages.
It might be hard to follow the timeline in some spots.
Edith Hamilton's Mythology is a bestseller with millions of copies sold worldwide that have become a piece of classics. This edition is a celebration of the book's 75th anniversary that has all chances to become a collector's item. And a hardcover version with Jim Tierny illustrations will make an excellent gift to any myth fan.
Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, Edith Hamilton
Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, MP3, CD
384 pages / 57267 KB
Black Dog & Leventhal; Deluxe, Illustrated, Anniversary Edition (19 Oct. 2017)
With the deities, heroes, and monsters skillfully and freshly described as if they are still alive, you'll fall in love with this book from the very first page. And detailed pictures literally interpret the text.
The sound quality of the audio leaves something to be desired.
In print for over 50 years, the Book of Greek Myths by D'Aulaires is a perfect introduction to Greek mythology for different generations. It will enthral younger readers and keep adults captivated while an essay about the authors' life and their family pictures add a personal touch to it.
Greek Myths, Ingri d'Aulaire
Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Audio, CD
192 pages / 279054 KB / 4 hours and 14 minutes
Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Div of Random House, Inc; Illustrated Edition (1 Mar. 1992)
Classic Grek myth plots are laid down in a comprehensible and easy-to-understand manner engaging little readers. Meanwhile, informative references to historical, geographical, and cultural facts bring an educational effect.
Some words are a bit too advanced for the age group.
The book is a compilation of most popular Greek myths from the National Geographic Kids series written in an engaging lyrical manner and accompanied by amazing illustrations on each broadside that will make stories even more fascinating. Bright, catchy, and filled with interesting details, the book makes a great gift for a school kid.
Treasury of Greek Mythology, Donna Jo Napoli
208 pages / 95651 KB
National Geographic Kids; Reinforced Library ed. Edition (15 Oct. 2011)
The book provides a comprehensive index of the names of Greek gods, demonic creatures, monsters, and heroes that are scrupulously analysed to show remote relations between characters, thus, turning this edition into a definitive guide.
The book paper could be of better quality.
Written by the British novelist and poet, The Greek Myths by Robert Graves smartly combines poetic and imaginative narration with cross-references, explanations, and author's interpretations that have high scientific value and give the reader precious insights into the ancient Greek world. It's a great choice for those who are real big on Greek myths.
The Greek Myths, Robert Graves
Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover
784 pages / 4690 KB / 19 hours and 55 minutes
Penguin (28 Sept. 2017)
Retold in a unique signature style of Stephen Fry, the greatest myths of ancient Greece are easy to understand. Laid down in a brilliant, witty, and enthralling manner, it's an extremely engaging read.
Multiple footnotes can be a bit distracting.
Sticking to original plots of classic tales and legends, in this book, Stephen Fry gives a smart modern twist on ancient Greek myths that still greatly impact many spheres of our life. Entertaining and educative, those stories will help you get into the origins of mythic characters and systematise them.
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Stephen Fry
Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Audio, CD
464 pages / 26527 KB / 15 hours and 25 minutes
Penguin; 01 Edition (26 July 2018)
Edith Hamilton Mythology:
An Immortal Greek Mythology Hit
There are books that become bestsellers straight away and carry their popularity through generations. Mythology by Edith Hamilton is one of such books. First published in 1942, it has sold millions of copies worldwide since then and become a piece of mythology classics. Having been favoured by readers for decades, today, this book is available in all most popular formats including CD, MP3, and Kindle edition as well as prestigious hardcover and mass-market paperback formats. So, whether you are an old-fashioned bookworm or a modern reading fan, it will get you covered.
Myths have long outlived their creators and are still a part of our lives. Edith Hamilton took it as a basis when making up her mythology compendium and brought to a modern reader a precious collection of Greek, Roman, and Norse myths that are considered the keystones of the whole Western culture. You’ll meet Greek deity pantheon of Olympus and Norse gods in Valhalla, read the legendary stories of Odysseus and Jason, and immerse in the drama of the Trojan war.
While making her myth research, the author drew inspiration from the timeless pieces of poetry from Homer, Sophocles, and Aeschylus. However, in retelling traditional myths, Hamilton not only throws dry facts at the reader but also provides context and her own outlay, with a lot of focus on heroes. As you read, you'll discover the origins of many names and constellations and come across references to modern works of art and literature. In the meantime, the prose is lucid and clear while the overall tone is poetic and evocative. Although some general understanding of the topic is needed, there is no need for deep or specific knowledge, making this book great for beginner adult readers.
A Thing of Beauty
The book version under this review is a deluxe hardcover copy printed to celebrate the book’s 75th anniversary and the publishers did their best to make it a thing of beauty. Under a gorgeous cover with ethnic images and the title in traditionally styled letters are 384 thick laminated pages with legible texts and vivid pictures that won’t fade over time. As compared to previous editions, this book is complete with wonderful coloured illustrations that appeal to your imagination.
Made up by full-format pages, the book is chunky and might seem rather heavy to hold. However, neatly bound and looking very professional, it’s well worth some extra weight. As such, it’s a real gem that will take a decent place on your bookshelf and make a perfect gift for collectors, mythographers, and anyone interested in myths.
To cut a long story short, Mythology by Edith Hamilton is a literary masterpiece and an immortal hit that can serve as a golden standard to evaluate other mythology books.
|Last updated price||£16.53|
Ingri d'Aulaire Illustrated
A Perfect Intro to Greek Myths
Created thousands of years ago by people living in a whole different era, myths will never lose their value. Despite huge technological progress, today, people don’t seem to change too much and face the same psychological and personal problems as their ancient predecessors. So, the moral these tales bring is still up-to-date. And if you are looking for a starting point to begin an exciting mythology journey, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths will suit you to a tee.
The book is deemed to be a piece of timeless classic for adults and kids alike, and deservedly so. Built around the most famous legends and tales of ancient Greece, the selection of myths in this edition is greatly systematised. It starts with Gaia and Uranus followed by Cronos, proceeds to Zeus with the rest of major Olympian gods, and then goes down to other minor mythic creatures and mortals. With all the inherent brutal weirdness of myths, D’Aulaires managed to retell them in a carefully worded and refined style with a slight touch of humour and present them in an enthralling and evocative manner. The language is not too simplified and relatively sophisticated, so it is still understandable for older kids above eight years old.
Yet, what makes this book really shine is skilful and incredibly detailed portraits of deities, heroes, and monsters giving an impression they are still alive and making the stories even more engaging. Those descriptions are further enhanced and supported by numerous vivid illustrations that literally interpret the text. They range from character images to drawings of ancient Greece maps to pictures of constellations and mythical events. Bright and lavish, some of those illustrations are page-size and work great to visualise the mythic scenes and let the reader plunge into the ancient atmosphere.
With a Personal Touch to It
Just like many other mythology books, D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has its signature style and is infused with the authors’ voice and passion for myths. Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire were a married couple and worked together for years, which might be the main reason why the text and illustrations are ideally synchronised and make up an entire work of art. Cherished by several generations of readers, the book has seen multiple publications and the present edition is one of the latest. It comes with an updated cover and has some personal touch to it giving us a sneak-peek into the authors’ life. In the afterword, the reader will find a brief essay about D’Aulaires work, some photos from their family archive, and their drawings that have never been published before.
In short, initially created for younger readers, the book is much loved by smaller kids and teens and is greatly appreciated by adults who seek some light and enthralling mythology read.
|Last updated price||£12.99|
Donna Jo Napoli Illustrated
One of the Best Greek Mythology Children's Books
Most kids like monsters, non-real beings, and fantastic creatures that dwell in a fascinating and wonderful fairytale world. And only a few of them know that many mythic characters of modern stories originate from Greek mythology characters that are larger than life. Hence, if you want to introduce your kids to Greek myths in an interesting and fun way, Treasury of Greek Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli is one of the best mythology books for children.
Part of the National Geographic Kid series, this book is the result of the fruitful and successful collaboration between award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, two people who did their best to make those timeless classic stories attractive and understandable for little readers. The language used is free from fancy and complicated words and is very poetic, making up the lucid and flowy narration. Meanwhile, a family tree and the characters’ profile help smaller readers trace the relationships between characters as well as their origins.
Kids are visual learners. Knowing this, the book abounds in bright, vivid, and catchy illustrations that will immediately draw the attention of young readers. Full-body images and detailed portraits of mythological figures, as well as pictures of associated symbols, are drawn in splendid Art Deco style mixing sharp lines with a rich and flashy colour palette.
For Fun and for Education
An eye-catching cover and magnificent illustrations will engage kids’ imagination straight away and induce them to read the stories. Speaking of which, the selection of tales targets to provide little readers with a broad grounding on classic Greek myths. The stories introduce kids to the creation of the universe out of Chaos, twelve Olympian gods and their heroic mortal offsprings, as well as the most popular mythology monsters and the devastation of the Trojan war. While keeping all sex aspects inexplicit, the author clearly lays out all family lines and personal relations and smartly highlights the nature of both the gods and the heroes.
Each story is adorned with sidebars depicting gods, heroes, and monsters that set links between the myth and astronomy, geography, history, and modern culture. Giving a generalised view on ancient Greek tales, the book will leave inquisitive minds intrigued and encourage them to learn more by connecting myths to real-life events and places or seeking additional information about certain historical facts.
To wrap it up, Treasury of Greek Mythology from National Geographic is a great stories book on Greek mythology specifically created for kids. An easy-to-read and engaging text coupled with vibrant illustrations will leave no little reader indifferent.
|Last updated price||£15.12|
Robert Graves The Greek Myths:
Comprehensive and Valuable Collection of Myths
If you are an aspiring mythographer or a mythology buff in search of a full compilation of Greek myths to dig deeper and detail your knowledge of Greek mythology, you’ll surely hit the spot with The Greek Myths by Robert Graves.
To start off, unlike many others, Robert Graves was both a writer and a scholar. Hence, on 784 pages, you’ll get one of the biggest and most complete myth collections that covers pretty much all Greek mythology and is based on extensive and thorough scholar research. With that, though, the book is not a dry compendium of quotes from ancient manuscripts leaving the reader to decipher the meaning but wonderfully organised and beautifully told mythography with valuable comments and analysis.
Presented with the novelist's skill, each myth can be read as a single narrative. Yet, the author did not turn it into an adventurous and heroic story with a happy end. He sticks to the original storyline and masterfully discloses the inherent timeless moral via comments, cross-references, interpretations, and explanations. To be more precise, each section consists of a retold myth followed by footnote explanations and Grave’s comments. Notably, some myths come in several versions providing a bit different interpretations.
As for the content, the book will lead you from the creation of myths through heroic stories to Trojan war drama and include even less popular myths and legends you won’t find in other mythology books.
... and a Definitive Mythology Guide
Apart from the most extensive collection of classic ancient stories, The Greek Myths has a learning value and makes up an informative mythology guide for those who want to find out more details on the myths of ancient Greece. The book abounds in additional materials meant to help you better understand the myths and look at them from a historical perspective.
As you can expect from a guide, the book boasts a perfect organization, Divided into seven big sections with each myth titled individually, it has a smart table of contents that will help you easily find the desired myth if you want to read about some specific god, hero, or monster. Other than that, a thought-out name index is included to trace the characters’ origins and relationships as well as study myths by subject categories.
Summing up, The Greek Myths by Robert Graves is not a short storybook but rather a complete reference guide on Greek mythology that will be an interesting read for those who are real big on this subject, study ancient Greece culture, or do some sort of mythology research.
|Last updated price||£11.47|
Stephen Fry Mythos:
A Smart Twist on Greek Mythology
If you had a chance to read translated ancient texts of Greek myths, those tales would hardly seem so fascinating. These are retold versions arising in prose of every generation that popularised myths and made them so appealing for the readers of all times. Mythos by Stephen Fry is yet another attempt from our coeval to interpret the myths of ancient Greece and, we must admit, quite a successful one.
The first distinctive feature of this book that sets it apart from classic editions is that the author steps aside from proverbial stories of Odysseus, Hercules, Jason, Argonauts, and other famous Greek heroes and sets a focus on the myths about the appearance of titans, creation of Greek gods, and less known mythic characters. Beginning with Chaos-to-order myths, the author moves on to titans, the establishment of Olympus, the rising of gods, and the creation of humans. An interesting fact is that the writer skillfully describes all the tiniest details making up a wonderful mythic world as well as showing relations between gods to introduce the reader into the ancient Greek deity hierarchy. Besides, he weaves multiple references and footnotes into the text to provide cultural and historical details to highlight the myth's meaning and reveal linguistic roots of some terms.
A superb entertainer and orator, Stephen Fry is also an excellent narrator and he has used his unique wit to the full in this book. Sticking to original storylines, he demonstrates how old-time tales translate into modern problems in an easy-to-read manner. Meanwhile, Fry uses his signature writing style, which is light, charming, intelligent, and informative. Though he does use some complicated words, his texts are straightforward and interesting nonetheless.
Legends Retold by Legendary Man
Stephen Fry is a living legend widely loved in Great Britain and far beyond its borders. He is a talented English actor, comedian, entertainer, and writer. Even if you’ve never read his books before, you surely saw him on TV many times, listened to him on the radio, and most likely enjoyed his expressly smart humour with a touch of subtle sarcasm in standup shows. He holds many awards and is recognised as one of the funniest comedians worldwide and one of the most influential on-screen performers.
On the other hand, as popular and media-related as he is, Stephen Fry is an educated, intelligent, and knowledgeable person. Chairing a BBC quiz on etymology, he has a big passion for Greek myths, so, it’s no wonder he wrote a book on Greek mythology. And he certainly did it his own way. He reworked classic myths, spiced them up with sharp humour, and put them down in a pretty simple language to make those ancient tales interesting, comprehensible, and appealing for a modern audience, while still keeping their originality and immortal vibe. Fry insists that dazzling Greek myths are not only for readers with classic education or some scholar background but for everyone.
Summing up, Mythos by Stephen Fry is a great entry point for beginners who want to get deeper into the fascinating world of Greek mythology.
|Last updated price||£7.99|
What Is a Greek Mythology Book?
Mythology is something that has kept people fascinated for centuries and still provokes us to think today. A myth is a kind of legend or story built around some hero or event. Being a part of ancient culture, myths reveal the secret of existence and universe through the mysterious forces of nature and the power of gods. In literature, myths refer to a folklore genre and, once told by ancient people, they were integrated into the works of famous ancient writers and have survived to this day mostly because our craving for the unknown and fabulous is as strong as it was centuries ago.
Myths are found in any culture, but Greek myths are the most famous. They are more than just wondrous tales about supernatural characters. Through gripping stories about titans and epic adventures of courageous heroes where people live and fight side by side with the gods, and the gods are not the only supreme power in the universe, Greek myths allow us to learn the history of entire civilizations, better understand their thoughts and beliefs, trace their views and apply them to our modern life.
Today, Greek mythology books are compilations of most popular Greek myths created both for avid readers who are deep into mythology reads and those who have only decided to immerse into a captivating world of ancient mythology. The most famous tales from Greek mythology are those about Odysseus, Jason, Theseus, Prometheus, Perseus, Amazons, Pandora, Sisters of Fate, Hercules, Oedipus, etc.
And if you are a fan of puzzling and mystic stories, we are sure mystery books will also come to your liking.
What Features to Compare
Mythology read is different from many other fiction books on your bookshelves. Hence, it is not enough to know that it’s a folklore genre (and do not let it confuse you). As such, the genre is a secondary aspect when choosing a mythology book. So, we’ve made a list of things to consider to ease and guide your choice.
Myths are the stories that have already been told and written down in the ancient Greek language. Thus, what we have in English are the versions translated and retold by contemporary authors. In other words, you’ll read the story through the eyes of the writer and perceive it through his or her point of view. That is why it is important to know who the book author is, look into their background and learn some of their biographies to see if you share the author’s vision and general approach. Many mythology books are often written by historians and scientists who dedicated their lives to studying Greek myths and searching for their gist.
Greek mythology books stand somewhere in between fiction and serious historical reads and fall into different groups categorised by complexity. There are classic bestsellers simply retelling the legendary myths in an unbiased manner that are good for all times and types of readers. Then, there's kind of scientific work focused on analysis and abounding in the author’s comments to provide some sort of subjective view that might be greatly appreciated by those who are real big on mythology and study it on a professional level. And finally, you will come across books created specifically for beginners who are new to this and are eager to learn more. Such stories are usually accompanied by footnotes with explanations of terms and notions a reader might be not familiar with.
The writing style is important in view of the fact that Greek mythology books are available for different age categories of readers including adults, teens, and even smaller kids. Ordinarily, legendary stories for the smallest are written in a plain and simple language, while books targeted at an adult audience will likely have an abundance of complex words and advanced terms.
Mythology books greatly depend on illustrations. Good pictures help the reader plunge into the ancient atmosphere and better visualise the scenery and people from that time. Bright, vivid, and interesting illustrations will light up your imagination, draw you in, and make the read even more fascinating.
Modern books are more than paperback and hardcover samples. They also come in a digital Kindle format and are available in Audiobooks and on CDs. The choice here fully depends on your preference and is a matter of personal convenience and habit. While hardcover samples are an excellent gift idea, digital versions will take no place in your bag and are more convenient for on the go read.
Did you know?
Roman vs Greek Mythology: Know the Difference
Both ancient Greeks and Romans had their myths that took origins many centuries ago. With that, though, Greek mythology is much older and has existed long before Roman myths even occurred. So, in a way, Roman myths and legends were adopted from Greek mythology with a projection of their own time- and culture-appropriate values. Many modern readers view those myths as similar, with the only difference being in the names and some minor changes in stories. However, descriptive, elaborate, and very close in storytelling, Greek and Roman myths have a number of major differences and distinctive features.
The biggest difference is in the overall concept. While Greek mythology focuses more on explaining the essence of existence, Roman myths are a source and basis of their religion. So, the tales approach the same events and actions from a bit different perspective.
Greek mythology personalised gods and often indued humans with divine powers while setting a clear line between life and death. Hence, in Greek myths, mortals participated in dangerous battles and adventures and performed deity deeds on earth. Roman mythology, on the other hand, believed in the afterlife and disregarded heroic deeds and feats of mortals.
Mortals in Greek and Roman mythology lived different lives. Greek gods had a supreme status the mortals couldn’t attain. People could only deserve the honour of gods by good works during their time on earth. Instead, in Roman culture, deities were kind of motivators for people to live the right way and become like gods or get a better life after death. In fact, this is what stands behind pretty much any contemporary religion.
The images of gods and goddesses in Greek and Roman myths are not the same. Thus, the Greeks view deities as beautiful and gorgeous beings with a human appearance. Gods were perfect creatures in everything, from their bodies to their deeds. Meanwhile, Romans had less do to with personification and more to do with some sort of formless divinity enabling the readers to imagine how those gods could look like.
The Core of Greek Mythology
Greek mythos come in numbers, yet by and large, there are two basic pillars the myth storylines stick to.
The Olympians. The centre of Greek mythology is a pantheon of gods living on Olympus mountain, which is the highest Greek peak, from where they rule the world. All in all, there are twelve Olympian gods who look like men and women. Headed by the king of gods Zeus, they refer to different natural forces or essential values.
Human Heroes and Monsters. The stories about deities interweave with tales about adventures and deeds of mortal heroes who fight monsters to save mankind. Those monsters are often hybrids of humans and animals like harpies, cyclopes, minotaurs, gorgons, etc.


When you acquire a Hebrew servant… (Exodus 21:2)
This mitzvah is different from most of the ones we’ve seen so far. The Torah tells us, “when you get a Jewish slave, you must do this and this and this…” All the details are in subsequent verses, but they constitute a single mitzvah.
The use of the word “slave” is unfortunate, as the experience of the Hebrew slave is nothing at all like what the Jews encountered in Egypt or what the Africans and their descendants experienced in America. One who was forced to sell himself (or who was sold by the courts to work off a debt) was more like a hired laborer with room, board and job security. Not only could the Hebrew servant not be given degrading work, if there was only one pillow, the master had to give it to the servant. (See Talmud Kiddushin 20a, that “one who acquires a ‘slave’ actually acquires a master for himself” and the commentary of Tosfos there.) In fact, the position was such that some people chose to stay after their terms of service had expired.
Details of this mitzvah include that the Hebrew slave goes free in the seventh year (or sooner, if the Jubilee year intervenes). A slave who does not wish to go free at the end of his term of service has his ear pierced in the prescribed manner and serves until the Jubilee.
The reason for this mitzvah is that the Jews are God’s people and He desires us to treat one another with kindness and compassion. Circumstances such as financial hardship may sometimes require that a person sell himself (or that he be sold by Beis Din, the court), but that does not entitle the purchaser to abuse his fellow.
This mitzvah is incumbent upon men only, and only at a time when the Jubilee year is observed. It is discussed in the Talmudic tractate of Kiddushin starting on page 14b and in the Mishneh Torah in Hilchos Avadim chapter 1. It is #232 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos.


The Turkish language had its origins in central Asia, and the move of Turkish people to modern Turkey is a relatively recent historical phenomenon. Various Turkish cultures continue to exist in the region from Anatolia to Western China, and the fine classical tradition of Uzbekistan is Turkish. The present page concerns the music of modern Turkey, a country whose cultural roots include elements of Ancient Greece, Persia, Arabia, and Armenia, among others.
In this context, Turkish classical music refers quite specifically to the music cultivated by the Ottoman Empire. That empire included substantial territory which had been under Byzantine or Arabic control, and the substratum of traditional music in Turkey was conditioned by that history. Moreover, the music of the Arab Empires had already been strongly conditioned by Persian culture. The Ottoman Empire eventually became very cosmopolitan, so that classical compositions by Greek, Armenian, and other minority composers were featured at court. In addition, the Turkish people must have brought their own melodies with them to Anatolia. Consequently, Turkish music has a large & varied system of modes, overlapping the Arabic system of maqam, and spelled makam in Romanized Turkish.
The core classical repertory of the Ottoman Empire is currently undergoing a rebirth, and begins to appear on recording in volume. Much of this is orchestral music, tied to various functions, and not of the highest interest to me. Aside from that, however, Ottoman music is of definite historical interest, with developments paralleling many of those for European music. For instance, Ottoman court music underwent a distinct stylistic shift in the mid-1700s, and again in the very early 1900s, when it disappeared as a living entity. Besides the revival of this later Ottoman music, based upon direct remnants of c.1900 culture, there is the beginning of an "early music" movement in Turkey, concentrating on music from the 1600s and earlier. Structurally, together with the broader melodic framework of makam, Ottoman music is based on rhythmic cycles called usûl.
The Sufi influence has also been strong in Anatolia, especially in traditions which survived into the twentieth century. In the Sufi tradition, the reed flute ney is the most important instrument. The ney is used in one or more forms throughout the region, and whereas the Iranian technique features alternation between two positions (including the more shrill sound of holding the mouthpiece with the teeth), Turkish technique relies only on the airier sound achieved by positioning the instrument against the bottom of the lower lip. The ney is specifically connected to Ottoman court music through the ceremonies of the Mevlevis (whirling dervishes), which were supported by many Ottoman rulers. A superb recording illustrating the resulting solo repertory:
Kudsi Erguner is one of the most highly regarded Turkish musicians today. This disc is one of several of his recordings. It is a dreamy, mystical sort of rendition. The program consists of improvised preludes interspersed with compositions in various modes, selected to provide a pleasing development through the recital. This is representative of the direct Sufi-Ottoman solo tradition, to which Kudsi Erguner is connected by direct lineage.
Besides the Ottoman music, Anatolia provides a rich heritage of music in various styles. The raspy tanbur is the principal plucked-string instrument of the region, and is also prominent in Ottoman music. A solo recital, with more of a "folk" inspiration:
This is Talip Özkan's second recording for Ocora, and both combine tanbur playing with singing. The songs & modes are taken from throughout Anatolia, and have a closer resemblance to some traditions of Central Asia than does the Ottoman-derived music of Kudsi Erguner. The forms remain makam-derived, and improvisation is an important aspect of this style. The result is something of a folk anthology, but delivered with great sophistication.
There are many other similar recordings available, plus recordings in other styles. Despite others which have offered points of interest, the above two continue to be my main examples for Turkish music. Despite the limited selection, I hope the discussion proves useful. At some point, I would like to be able to recommend something more specific regarding the Ottoman "early music" movement.
To Near-Eastern menu.T. M. McComb Updated: 31 January 2002


Elementary students urge citizens to vote
From: Students in
the second grade
classes of Jill Glover
and Jill Major
at Lincoln CSA
Received: Oct. 26
It is important for every citizen to vote for our country’s leaders Nov. 6.
Leaders are good, kind and safe. To make a good leader, a person should create good rules so everyone will behave. Leaders listen very well and keep us safe. It is important to have a good leader to give us a vision to follow. If we don’t have a leader, we can’t follow the rules.
Leaders also have to help others. Leaders should treat others the way they want to be treated. We need a strong president to enforce the laws.
Citizens also need to choose good lawmakers. The lawmakers make the rules and make laws. If we don’t vote, then we might not get the leaders we need, and the law might seem crazy. When we vote, we know who is better for us, and if we don’t have a good leader, our country is not safe.
We hope our nation picks a good leader next week. The president cannot break the law.
It is important to have a good leader, because we do not want the good things about our country to change. If our country does not vote, we might not have the best president we can get.
Please vote Nov. 6 to help keep our country strong!
It is important for citizens to vote in the election Nov. 6.
It is important to vote for a president so we have good leaders.
A good leader makes our laws. A good leader is fair.
Please vote in the election Nov. 6.
Why are people dumping oil in the water? They could hurt nice animals in the sea. They should stop.
Citizens should do something about it. We should vote to elect the president.
It is important for citizens to vote Nov. 6.
The president and you are the leaders. That is why we should vote.
The president should do something about this dumping. I bet he will.
Please vote Nov. 6.


Known to some as jewels that grant all your wishes (Tibetan interpretation) the yaks pictured here live in the Himalayan region on the Nepal side and can trek as high as 20,000 feet; higher than almost any other animal on earth.
These large beasts, weighing up to 1,800 pounds (I've read even 2,200 but not sure that's true), are well adapted to high altitude because their red blood cells hold three times the oxygen of other like size animals. Most yak stay above 12,000 feet elevation their whole lives and do not usually survive below 10,500 feet. While there are 12 - 14 million domesticated yak in the world, there are only an estimated 2000 or fewer wild yak (aka Drongs) left on the planet. China has listed the wild yak as one their officially protected animals.
Males of the species are technically called Yak while the female is referred to as Nak or Dri. Whether female or male, however, to most non-locals the world over, Yak is the commonly used term encompassing both sexes. Most of what trekkers in the Himalayans come in contact with are Dzo, which is a crossbreed of a wild yak and a cow. Again,the term Dzo is technically the male of the species and females are known as Dzomoor or Zhom.
Below are pictures of the Himalayan terrain as we headed toward Mt. Everest. In this article, you'll also find pictures of yaks along the trails and pictures of Sherpas and locals with their back breaking loads. All photos are for sale directly through me or through my online art gallery.
Yaks are some of the most, if not the most, sure footed animals you'll ever see. They can carry up to 210 lbs while traversing over suspension bridges and up and down narrow, rocky paths. It was remarkable watching them negotiate the terrain, fully loaded down with heavy, bulky packs and not once seeing them slip or falter.
One of the rules of trekking was to always give yaks the right of way on the trails. Human trekkers were to step aside and always, always yield to the yaks. Sometimes that meant standing on the outside of the path's edge with nothing between you and a thousand foot drop off.
This is one of my favorite pictures I took on the trek. The elevation here was about 14,000 feet. The hardy woman was trekking between villages. Much of what is brought into the small villages is packed on the backs of humans or animals.
Below are pictures of Sherpas and locals -- common examples of what was typical to see along the trails.I was continually amazed at the strength and endurance of the locals ....
Here the yak herder is looking for more 'encouragement' to throw at her yaks.
Yaks often walked single file, but the rocks
flying at them riled this group and
caused some commotion.
One independent yak was not happy with this herder's flying rocks .....
Yaks can live up to the age of 25 and are the lifeblood of the Himalayan people. They provide food: meat, milk, butter and cheese. Their fur and hair generate a steady stream of income as its made into cashmere blankets and sweaters. It's also used for tent material, purses, bags and even made into rope. The undercoat and hump hair is made into cloth. Sometimes the tails are sold as fly swatters.
On my trek to the base camp of Mt. Everest in the fall of 2006, our group stayed at various tea houses along the trail. In the evenings, the wood stoves would get stoked up with piles of dried dung, burned much the way westerners use firewood. Once the stoves were roaring hot, pans of water were heated for showering. The hot water was poured into containers perched above our make shift outdoor shower stall. There was enough warm water to very quickly wash as long as you turned the water on and off while soaping up and rinsing off.
Dried yak dung is a large source of what locals in the Himalayas use for heating and cooking. It was common to see yak dung made into paddies and dried on the side of dwellings like you see in these photos. An estimated 7,000 of these paddies will heat one home for through the long, harsh winters.
This is how yak meat was packed up the trail to the various tea houses. It was out in the hot sun for hours. After seeing this, most trekkers were happy to order vegetarian only dishes.
These were the long haired yaks on the last day of the trek to the base camp. This photo was taken at over 17,000 feet elevation.
Yaks getting to rest between their trek to the next village on the Nepal side of the Himalayas.
Below are more yak pictures. The airplane photo was on the October morning we flew into Lukla, Nepal where we started our trek.
The first village we spent the night at was Namche Bazaare. It's an historic trading post where Nepalese and Tibetan traders exchange salt, dried meat, gold and textiles. The following morning, I was outside our tea house brushing my teeth alongside our porters (what many people call Sherpas). I felt something at my back and when I turned around I found myself face-to-face with a very large yak! The first thought that went through my mind was how my daughter would have loved that. She is an animal lover like I am, starting from the time she was a toddler. It was one of those extraordinary moments that only traveling to far away places can ever bring. I only wish someone would have caught the moment on film! I'm sure my expression was priceless!
To say yaks are the "lifeblood" of the Himalayan people also has a literal interpretation. Some Tibetans and Nepalis drink cups of yak blood in the belief that it will cure all kinds of diseases. It's also used as an aphrodisiac.
There's a controversial festival in Nepal where yaks are drained of their blood for human consumption. The article below from thehindu.com explains more:
STRAIGHT FROM THEHINDU.COM:
Men, women and even children have been heading for Myagdi, a remote district in western Nepal, to take part in the khun khane ritual, which literally means drinking blood. The festival sees the local yak herders making money by selling the blood of live yaks to people who queue up in hundreds to drink it, in the belief their illnesses will be cured.
While lactating female yaks are spared, other yaks above the age of two are chosen for the ritual. Pinned down by people who hold their tails and horns and their legs tied, the yaks are then bled by a professional bleeder, known as the aamji.
The aamji pierces the jugular vein of the hapless animal and the streaming blood is collected in cups that are then passed among the crowd, who drink the warm, frothy liquid unwaveringly. Each yak is bled to collect between 20 to 40 cups of blood.
The ritual is believed to be an old Tibetan one that originated in Mustang in northern Nepal, once part of an ancient Tibetan kingdom. The participants are mostly people suffering from chronic diseases who have given up hope of being cured by modern medicine. An American researcher, Zorina Curry, who studied the khun khane festival, correlates the ritual to the belief in witchcraft and the superstition that blood is effective as medicine as well as an aphrodisiac.
However, Curry also warned that since the yaks were not inoculated, some had TB and the blood—drinking could infect the human drinker.
The festival has been condemned by Nepal’s animal rights activists who last year urged the government to stop the slaughter of tens of thousands of animals and birds at the five—yearly Gadhimai Festival but to no avail.
The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) has termed the khun khane practice barbaric.
“Can you think how painful it must be for these innocent creatures to have their necks and bodies pierced and to be drained of blood?” AWNN had said in an earlier statement.
“Humanity as a whole must speak out against cruelty against living beings in the name of religion, culture or health.”
RAISING YAKS FOR FIBER
I found several yak ranches in Colorado where yaks are bred for meat, dairy, fiber, and as pack animals. I came across this interesting article on yak fiber too. Below is part of the article straight from the website of YAMPA VALLEY YAKS located near Steamboat Springs:
Yaks produce two types of hair. The outer coarse guard hair is good for braiding into ropes and halters or weaving into rugs, belts, and bags. The soft underhair is called "down" and has a diameter of 14-16 microns, comparable to cashmere. For maximum softness, it must be "dehaired" to remove any guard hair. It's very short staple make it a challenge to spin in pure form and it is often blended with fibers with a longer staple such as wool or silk. Yaks living in cold weather will put on a heavy coat and produce one to two pounds of fiber annually.
If you are considering a yak for fiber production, the first and most important thing is to have tame yaks, ones you can handle easily. Then it is a simple and enjoyable task to groom them in the spring to collect the fiber. Since we have royals, I try to comb out the fiber by color and keep one bag for white, one bag for black, and one bag for mixed. I wash each batch by soaking it in hot water and detergent in the automatic washer. DO NOT agitate it or you will have a washer full of felt.
After it is dried on a screen, I send the down off to Canada to be dehaired. Unfortunately, the dehairing process for cashmere will not work on yak, as yak has several intermediate lengths of guard hair. Minimills in Canada is the only place I have found to process so it adds considerable cost to the price of yak down. The down then needs to be carded very carefully (or not at all). I spin it "softly" and knit natural -colored sweaters and caps with it. For easier spinning, it can be blended with other fibers. Lambspun in Fort Collins, Colorado, blends a yarn of imported yak, wool, and silk to make a beautiful and prize-winning yarn. READ FULL ARTICLE
HERE ARE A FEW WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION ABOUT YAKS
(I cannot attest to the accuracy of the info found at these sites.)
"Ask not what an animal can do for you; ask what you can do for an animal." Jasper
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men." ~Alice Walker
The source of the quote is Walker's preface to Marjorie Spiegel's 1988 book, "The Dreaded Comparison" . Her next sentence was, "This is the gist of Ms. Spiegel's cogent, humane and astute argument, and it is sound."


The Doctors discuss the recent story of a young boy who was rushed to the emergency room after a foot blister became infected, ultimately leading to a life-threatening condition known as sepsis. ER physician Dr. Travis Stork explains sepsis, and describes how a simple infection could develop into this dangerous diagnosis.
Sepsis is a potentially deadly complication of an infection, which occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight infection trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body. Without treatment, sepsis can lead to septic shock, in which blood pressure drops dramatically, possibly resulting in death. Sepsis can trigger a myriad of changes that can damage several important organ systems, causing them to fail.
Those at highest risk of sepsis include the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Common symptoms of Sepsis
Patients must exhibit two or more of the following symptoms to receive a diagnosis of sepsis:
- Body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or below 96.8 degrees.
- Heart rate higher than 90 beats per minute
- Respiratory rate higher than 20 breaths per minute
- Probably or confirmed infection
The diagnosis is upgraded to severe if the patient exhibits at least one of the following symptoms:
- Significantly decreased urine output
- Sharp change in mental status
- Decreased platelet count
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal heart-pumping function
Early treatment is crucial in improving the chances of survival for a patient with sepsis. A course of antibiotics and large amounts of IV fluids may be used. Patients with severe sepsis will require close monitoring, as well as lifesaving measures to stabilize breathing and heart function, particularly if the condition worsens to septic shock.
Source: The Mayo Clinic


Welcome to CurcuminHealth.info!
All round Spice for general well-being. Curcumin, is the main biologically active part of Turmeric. Over 500 references to articles on Turmeric and Curcumin have been published in peer reviewed professional journals.
It has been identified in pharmacology as:
Antibacterial • Anti-inflammatory • Antivral • Diuretic • Anti-oxidant • Anti fungal • Anti yeast • Carminative Antiallergenic • Anti-spasmodic • Anti-tumour
Turmeric and Curcumin traditionally been used to support those suffering from pain and inflammation:
Acne • Digestive Disorders • Allergies • Gallbladder Problems • Ascites • Liver Damage • Auto-immune Disorders • Liver Disorders • Burns • Skin Rashes • Chicken Pox • Tumours • Diabetes • Ulcers and Eye Problems such as Cataracts
If that is not enough, Turmeric has been used for thousands of years by Indian Women to make their skin beautiful and blemish free.
No side effects have been found taking high doses of Curcumin; rare cases of stomach upset or diarrhoea may be resolved by temporally, reducing the dosage and taking with food.
There are plenty of New Studies which show benefits with:
Alzheimer’s • Anti-Arthritic • Kidney-Disease • Anti-Coagulant • Liver-Disease • Lowering-LDL-and-Raising HDL-Cholesterols • Anti-Carcinogenic and Anti-Cancer • Anti-Viral
Inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients is characterized by increased cytokines and activated microglia. Epidemiological studies suggest reduced AD risk associates with long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Whereas chronic ibuprofen suppressed inflammation and plaque-related pathology in an Alzheimer transgenic APPSw mouse model (Tg2576), excessive use of NSAIDs targeting cyclooxygenase I can cause gastrointestinal, liver, and renal toxicity. One alternative NSAID is curcumin, derived from the curry spice turmeric. Curcumin has an extensive history as a food additive and herbal medicine in India and is also a potent polyphenolic antioxidant. To evaluate whether it could affect Alzheimer-like pathology in the APPSw mice, we tested a low (160 ppm) and a high dose of dietary curcumin (5000 ppm) on inflammation, oxidative damage, and plaque pathology. Low and high doses of curcumin significantly lowered oxidized proteins and interleukin-1, a proinflammatory cytokine elevated in the brains of these mice. With low-dose but not high-dose curcumin treatment, the astrocytic marker GFAP was reduced, and insoluble -amyloid (A), soluble A, and plaque burden were significantly decreased by 43-50%. However, levels of amyloid precursor (APP) in the membrane fraction were not reduced. Microgliosis was also suppressed in neuronal layers but not adjacent to plaques. In view of its efficacy and apparent low toxicity, this Indian spice component shows promise for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Read more


Application: Promoting Positive Health Behaviors
One strategy that has proven effective for improving population health outcomes is screening. Screening programs for breast, cervical, prostate, and colon cancer allow for early detection and treatment, thereby improving health outcomes. Advocates of early screening programs have sought to inform populations at risk of the value of participating in early screening.
Consider the following examples: In Florida, mobile mammography units have reached out to uninsured women and provided free mammograms. In Maryland, Wellmobiles go out into the community to provide primary and preventive health care services to geographically underserved communities and uninsured individuals across the state. Many such programs are available for individuals to participate in screening, regardless of ability to pay.
In this Assignment, you will evaluate the characteristics of preventive health programs that lead to successful outcomes.
Write a 3- to 5-page paper that includes the following:


How long has it been?
Here we are again celebrating another national holiday, the birth of one of the greatest nations in the entire world, if not the greatest nation in the entire world. Yes, I know that is just my opinion. I am very thankful that I was born in a country where we can (or could) express our own personal opinion without being marked as a narrow-minded bigot! Well, I was reminded this past week by a very close friend of the importance of our individual freedom in this nation. I believe that, unfortunately, it is one of those things that we (I) have maybe taken for granted?
In 1776 on July 2, some very brave and dedicated individuals put together one of the most important documents ever written, the Declaration of Independence. Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. Two days later — July 4th — the early draft was signed by two individuals, John Hancock, president of Congress, and Charles Thompson, secretary of Congress. Four days later on July 8, members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell was rung. The inscription around the top of that bell, Leviticus 25:10, was most appropriate for the occasion: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.”
What was the basis of American Independence?
John Adams said, “The general principles on which the Fathers achieved were the general principles of Christianity.” It is amazing that on the very day they approved the declaration, Adams was already foreseeing that their actions would be celebrated by future generations. Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, "It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
John Adams believed that the Fourth of July should become a religious holiday — a day when we remembered God’s hand in deliverance and a day of religious activities when we committed ourselves to Him in “solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God.” Such was the spirit of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of those who led it.
Have you ever considered what it meant for those 56 men — an eclectic group of ministers, businessmen, teachers, university professors, sailors, captains, farmers — to sign the Declaration of Independence?
The spiritual emphasis manifested so often by the Americans during the Revolution caused one Crown-appointed British governor to write to Great Britain complaining that, “If you ask an American who is his master, he’ll tell you he has none. And he has no governor but Jesus Christ.” This was boldly declared with not one but 16 Congressional proclamations for national days of prayer and fasting throughout the Revolution.


Established in 1922, Harding Township was named for then-President Warren G. Harding. Its location 45 minutes from New York City belies the pastoral scenery; where horses, sheep, and cows graze in meadows and open fields. There are about 50 miles of bridle trails winding throughout Harding Township, which are maintained by the Harding Township/Green Village Bridle Path Association. This atmosphere is ensured for future generations since 40% of the township is protected open space.
New Vernon and Green Village are two sections of Harding, in southeastern Morris County. Forbes magazine ranked New Vernon as "one of the 25 most expensive zip codes" in the country in 2006.
Green Village is an unincorporated area within both Harding Township and Chatham Township. Located just north of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Green Village has its own post office and fire station.
Beginning in the 17th century, Dutch and English settlers created open acreage out of the wilderness to form pastures for cattle as well as orchards and fields. They later built mills along the area's streams. The absence of major roadways, railroads or canals kept the area agricultural from the 1600s through the early 1900s. Even the Great Swamp and the slopes near Jockey Hollow were used by hardworking local farmers for wood supply. During the Depression era of the 1920's many families lost their farms.
During that time period, six wealthy Morristown businessmen formed the New Vernon Land Company. They purchased large parcels of land, built manors, enlarged old farmhouses, and added landscaping to the grounds in order to retain the area's rural flavor. An unusual private land preservation effort began with the New Vernon Neighborhood Restrictive Agreement, formed by several estate owners who convinced their neighbors to place restrictions on their land. This voluntary effort to limit development and save over 1,000 acres across Harding Township influenced zoning codes for decades.
Harding's attempts to maintain its natural environment included a grassroots effort to keep the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge from becoming an airport in the 1960s. A group of residents purchased the land to keep the New York Port Authority from building a jetport on the site. Half of the 7,000-acre wildlife refuge is in the southeastern corner of Harding Township and is home to deer, wood ducks, red foxes, the endangered bobolink, and other birds and animals. The refuge sponsors nature programs, field walks, and educational events throughout the year.
In the opposite corner of the township is the bulk of Jockey Hollow, a 1,200-acre National Park. During 1779-1780, over 10,000 of George Washington's soldiers endured the Revolutionary War's most severe winter at Jockey Hollow. Today it offers interactive programs, lectures, history, and approximately 27 miles of walking trails.
Protecting its native terrain is integral to residents, since Harding is situated within the 55-square-mile environmentally-sensitive Great Swamp Basin which acts as a drainage area. While there are a few businesses and townhouse developments, the township has managed through zoning to keep out large-scale corporate campuses and apartment buildings.
Today Harding and New Vernon are surrounded by suburban towns, shopping centers, and major highways. Yet its peaceful quality continues, thanks to the foresight and commitment of past citizens.
There is a small retail area known as The Country Mile along Mt. Kemble Avenue/Route 202 with several shops, services, and businesses. The past is preserved in an L-shaped state and national historic district of New Vernon along Village and Lee's Hill Roads; many of the businesses there operate in character-filled antique buildings. More extensive shopping needs are available minutes away in Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Summit, and Bernardsville.
There are many opportunities to get involved in the community, ranging from the volunteer fire department and first aid squad to the recreation association, civic association, garden club, library, and the Harding Land Trust; a citizen group dedicated to protecting open space.
The Harding Township Civic Association is a private volunteer organization fostering public interest in government and promoting mutual understanding between citizens and public officials. For over 50 years, the Civic Association has been staffed by volunteers who attend township meetings and report on them in their Thumbnail publication, which is mailed to every home in Harding Township.
Every year the Association also sponsors the Township's Memorial Day Parade where a distinguished citizen of the community is honored, and winning essays from the annual student essay contest are heard.
The Recreation Association sponsors sports leagues and activities for children. There are four community parks and fields, and two tennis courts.
The newly constructed, 3-story Kemmerer Library is a community-based Association Library with approximately 7,000 volumes.
Among the biggest annual events are the New Vernon Volunteer Fire Department's Country Auction held in early autumn under a big tent. Unique finds range from white elephant items to antiques, cars, musical instruments, and lawn tractors.
The Harding Township School on Lee's Hill Road serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2001, a $7 million addition was built to house a new gym, stage, and band room. Although local residents are drawn to the small class sizes here, about 50% of local families send their children to private schools in the area.
Public high school students attend Madison High School in Madison. Upper grades can attend Morristown's Villa Walsh Academy, the Delbarton School, the Morristown-Beard School, or a variety of other private high schools in neighboring towns.
Commuting to Manhattan by car takes about an hour and 15 minutes, mainly along Route 24. Rail commuters drive five to ten minutes to train stations in Madison, Convent Station, Morristown or Basking Ridge and ride New Jersey Transit's Midtown Direct line to Penn Station, a trip of about 50 minutes.
The rush-hour commute to midtown Manhattan takes about 70 minutes on Lakeland Bus Lines from Madison to Port Authority Bus Terminal.
A network of local highways includes Routes 512 and 24, Interstates 78 and 287.
New Vernon has been home to considerable estates, farmsteads and equestrian properties set on large parcels for over 200 years. There are also a number of more modest Capes, Colonials, custom homes, townhouses, ranch style homes, and historic properties in the area. Prices range from entry-level housing below $500,000 to multi-million dollar listings. Zoning for new construction specifies that lots can be no less than three acres in most parts of Harding Township.
Many homes were built in the 18th century and the occupants often are descendants of the original owners, a testament to the area's strong roots. With all that history, there are always ghost stories. Reports of disembodied boots ascending the staircase of an old Colonial on Mount Kemble Avenue where Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne once slept are alternately believed and dismissed.
A fine example of historic land preservation is found at Hartley Farms in Harding. This planned residential community contains traditional homes set amid 171 acres of woods, meadows and hayfields near the village of New Vernon. Listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places, it is the former estate of Marcellus Hartley Dodge, owner and chairman of the Remington Arms Company, and his wife, Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. The Dodges moved to Hartley Farms the same year they were married, 1907. Presidents Wilson, Hoover, and Eisenhower were all visitors to the estate, although not during their presidencies. The Hartley Farms estate has the distinction of being the largest individually-owned historic district in Morris County, and is third in size in New Jersey.
In the Mount Kemble Lake section, a Summer resort community developed in 1928, seasonal cottages on smaller lots have been converted to year ‘round homes. Amenities include a sandy beach for swimming, row boating, and monthly social events at the community clubhouse. There's also a community garden, tennis court, and playground.
Tunis-Ellicks Farmhouse: The Harding Township Historical Society is preserving the 1790 Tunis-Ellicks farmhouse and gardens, located across from the New Vernon Post Office at the corner of Millbrook and Village Roads. Partially decorated with period furniture the house is open to the public several times a year. A 19th century "tramp house" is also on the property.
Two gardens on the property contain 125 types of herbs and perennials; the "parlor garden" of raised beds grows plants that would have been used during the 1800s by a family for food, decoration, and medicine. The Sarah D. Ortman Park adjacent to parlor garden showcases native New Jersey plantings.
Glen Alpin: The circa 1840 Glen Alpin mansion is described by the National Register as "one of New Jersey's great Gothic Revival Houses." The estate's handsome sixteen-room stone mansion includes nine baths, a guest cottage, a six-car garage, eight fireplaces, hand painted murals, a library, a music room, and a glass conservatory. In October 2004, the 9.5-acre property was purchased by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program, Morris County Preservation Trust Fund, Harding Township, Harding Land Trust, and Morris County Park Commission. Harding Township owns and manages the property, while the Harding Land Trust retains a six-acre conservation easement.
Fun Fact: Glen Alpin is also known as "The Princess House," but it's not because of the whimsical fairy tale architecture. In 1940, the former Doris Mercer moved in after a life that included work as a chorus girl in New York, marrying and later divorcing retail millionaire Sebastian Kresge, and briefly being wed to a Persian prince. She lived there until her death in 1963 at the age of 74. Against the prince's wishes, she retained her royal title throughout her life: Princess Farid-es-Sultaneh.
Size: 20 square miles
2000 Census Population: 3,180 (Harding Township)
Location: Morris County
Distance from New York City: About 27 miles
Distance from Newark: About 20 miles
Distance from Philadelphia: About 78 miles
Parks: Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Jockey Hollow National Park.
Local Historic Sites: Tunis-Ellicks Farmhouse, Glen Alpin Gothic Revival mansion.
Mass Transportation: Train stations in nearby Madison, Convent Station, Morristown or Basking Ridge provide service via New Jersey Transit's Midtown Direct Line to Penn Station in about 50 minutes. Local bus service offers a 70-minute trip from Madison to Port Authority in midtown Manhattan. Local roadways include Routes 512 and 24 and Interstates 78 and 287.
Housing: Antique farmhouses, antique Colonials, luxury real estate, estate properties, horse farms, townhomes, Cape Cods, modern, contemporary and a variety of other architectural styles.
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We humans have been obsessed with romance and love for as long as we can remember. Ancient Greece had a specific god and goddess for love: Eros and Aphrodite. In the 1600’s Shakespeare wrote about the tragedies and comedies of love. There are countless romantic comedies in the world and even more love songs. Basically, we humans love love. Love is usually associated with the heart through terms such as “You stole my heart” or “You’re breaking my heart” However, should all the credit of falling in love go to the heart? What about the organ that is responsible for creating an identity, storing memories, interacting with the outside world. What is the brain’s role in falling in love?
What exactly happens in the brain after cupid strikes? The answer lies in brain scans. A few years ago, Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University, and her group recorded the brain scans of college students who proclaimed to be in love. Half of the students were rejected from their object of affection while the other half were with the person they loved. All of the people were put into an MRI with a picture of their beloved. The scans basically showed a brain in love. There was high activity in the right ventral caudate nucleus, an area associated with the pleasure neurotransmitter: dopamine (5). So it’s plausible to assume that the “feel good” sensations that a person experiences when being with or even looking at their partner is the result of chemicals in the brain that trigger pleasure. Yet the story does not stop there. Love is complicated and the brain fully acknowledges the complexities of love. Before delving into the science love, it is important to look at its perquisite: attraction.
So what causes attraction? The first possible cause is pheromones. Pheromones are odorless chemical signals that are given off to other members of the same species (4). Some pheromones can be given off in response to sexual stimulation or romantic love (1). They are picked up by the olfactory system and sent to the brain to be processed. If the brain likes the pheromones it receives, it will elicit attraction. Of course, pheromones are not the sole factor of attraction. People have individual preferences of their own influenced by both genetic, environmental factors, and life experiences. Once attraction has been established, the brain can advance toward love, or should I say loves?
According to Fisher, love exists in the brain as three different forms where each form involves different components of the nervous system (5). The first form serves the purpose to purely satisfy sexual desires: lust. Lust is fueled by hormones such as estrogen and androgen (5). Lust emerges in the teenage years and continues on through adulthood. Even though lust is sometimes deemed as negative (think of the seven deadly sins), it is responsible for the motivation of reproduction. After all if we don’t want to have sex, how are we going to reproduce?
The second form of love is romantic love/attraction. It’s the kind of love that poets usually write about and singers sing about. It’s the kind of love that was represented from the brain scans of Fisher’s studies. Key traits of this form of love are intense passion and emotions. In romantic love, people are obsessed with their partners and long for them when they are not around. Their significant other is all that they seem to be focused on. What is the cause for all of these extreme characteristics? The answer was in the brain scans: high levels of dopamine. Dopamine is a pleasure neurotransmitter that is connected with feelings of euphoria, craving and addiction (2). High levels of dopamine, when paired with a related neurotransmitter: norepinephrine (known for triggering infatuation ), can cause “heightened attention and short-term memory, hyperactivity, sleeplessness and goal-oriented behavior” (2). The combination of neural chemicals in your head that trigger infatuation and pleasure explains why people who find a new love experience sleepless nights and constant thoughts about their “flawless” beloved.
If passionate romantic love can be seen as an over the top state and in your face sort of love (an overindulgence of passion and emotions), then turn to the neurotransmitter, oxytocin. Oxytocin plays a major role in trust (3) which is essential in the third form of love: intimate attachment. Intimate Attachment is a much subtle and tranquil kind of love compared to romantic love. Two partners feel a sense of a calm and deep bond with each other. This is the kind of love that many people may see in older couples such as one’s grandparents: they see each other in realistic ways. They acknowledge each other’s flaws and don’t necessarily idolize each other but they share a unique appreciation for one another. Oxytocin helps people deal with relationship problems, because high levels of this neurotransmitter helps facilitate a “forgive and forget” behavior when things turn sour (3). Oxytocin is not only linked with attachments derived from social interactions but other deep bonds such as maternal love. The chemical is known to be present in mothers during delivery and lactation so that the mother can form a strong connection and nurture her child to the best of her abilities. (6). Oxytocin may be the chemical of true love, both romantic, motherly, and everything in between.
Some of the lovestruck brain’s chemicals were measured by a pictogram, which is about a trillionth of a gram (7)! Love may be associated with the heart or with the soul, but it’s amazing to think that a few extra shots of chemicals in the nervous system can have such profound effects on our selves and our lives. It makes me think about the question raised in the beginning of the semester: Does brain equal behavior? A woman who may have never liked children can fall in love with her newborn thanks to an oxytocin explosion in her body. An independent person may feel incomplete and delve into withdrawal and depression after a break up, because of dopamine’s addiction like side effects. With what’s been discovered about the neuroscience of love, it seems to me, that brain does equal behavior in this sense.
However, with the knowledge we have now, can we consciously control the aspects of unconscious romantic behavior? Can we create love potions full of dopamine and oxytocin and make people fall in and out of love? Or can we create an anti-love potion where people can get over a break up quicker? The scientific world has gained some very interesting knowledge about the brain’s contributions towards love; it will be interesting to see what can be done with it.
1) Barclay, Laurie. "Love Is
All in Your Head -- Or Is It in Your Genes?" WebMD - Better
information. Better health. 14
Feb. 2001. 12 May 2009 <http://www.webmd.com/news/20010214/love-is-all-in-your-head----is-in-your-genes >.
2) Carey, Benedict. "The Brain in Love." LA Times 16 Dec. 2002. 12 May 2009 <http://www.sensualism.com/love/ >.
3) Delgado, Mauricio. "To Trust or Not To Trust: Ask Oxytocin." Scientific American 15 July 2008. 12 May 2009 <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=to-trust-or-not-to-trust >.
4) "Evidence Found Of Human Brain Detection Of Pheromones." All Science News In One Place - UniSci. 12 May 2009 <http://www.unisci.com/stories/20013/0827014.htm >.
5) Manamy, John. "The Brain in Love and Lust." McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web. 12 May 2009 <http://www.mcmanweb.com/love_lust.html >.
6) "Oxytocin." Arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu . 12 May 2009 <http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/oxytocin.html >.
7) Tucker, Neely. "An Affair of the Head." Wasthington Post 13 Feb. 2007. 12 May 2009 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021201657.html >.


The polar and cold regions comprise the Arctic, Antarctica, high altitude areas, as well as the global permafrost regions. Even though they are only sparsely populated, the polar and cold regions play a significant role in the context of climate change, sea level rise, and water availability. In the “Polar and Cold Regions” team, the processes leading to changes in the Earth’s cryosphere are being analyzed and quantified relying on remote sensing data. Long time series of different sensors (multispectral, Radar, passive microwave) often constitute the basis for this research. We want to find answers to the question how climate change is affecting the polar and cold regions and which consequences these processes might entail for both nature and society.
One research focus of the team is the global snow cover and its dynamics. Up to 50% of the Northern Hemisphere is snow covered during winter, but short term weather anomalies as well as long term effects of climate change influence snow cover distribution, duration, and amount. This results in alterations of water availability, the global radiation balance, and affects tourism, flora and fauna. To better understand these processes, the “Global SnowPack” has been developed, which is based on daily satellite observations and provides information such as snow cover duration, snow cover onset/melt, deviations from long-term mean conditions, as well as other products. The “Global SnowPack” product is processed and analyzed on a monthly and yearly basis. The influence of climate change on glaciers and snow cover in mountain regions is of particular importance. Therefore, long-term processes such as the global retreat of glaciers, shorter snow cover seasons and snow line elevation shift to higher altitudes are being researched in our team as well.
An additional field of our research is the investigation of the dynamic changes of glaciers and ice shelves as a consequence of climate change in Antarctica. We utilize remote sensing data originating from Radar sensors and a combination with additional satellite-based and airborne observations to quantify the ongoing processes. This results in time series of high resolution glaciological parameters such as glacier extent, glacier velocity, ice shelf extent, change of altitude and mass balance of glaciers. The analysis of these time series allows for detailed conclusions about glacier and ice shelf development during the last decades as well as an assessment of potential future developments.


An Orographic Conduit for Atlantic Forcing of Pacific Decadal Climate Variability
OCCI Funded Project: 2009
AbstractThe tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins exhibit variability across a wide range of time scales. It is often theorized that modes of variability in one basin can influence the climate of adjacent ocean basins. Mechanisms for inter–basin connections on timescales distinct from the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have yet to be firmly established. The question of what mechanisms are responsible for decadal variability in the Pacific Ocean has come into focus, yet the potential role of inter–basin influences has yet to be considered. This project is based on the hypothesis that decadal variability in the North Atlantic can directly force decadal–scale variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean by way of modulating the strength of the wind jets flowing through the mountain gaps at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico (“gap winds”). In essence, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec provides a direct orographic conduit for Atlantic forcing of Pacific decadal variability. In addition to the physical climate system, the resultant Atlantic–forced climate variability in the Pacific extends to the ocean ecosystem since the ocean dynamics invoked by the gap winds provide the vertical mixing and overturning necessary to maintain high productivity as seen in surface chlorophyll concentration. This project synthesizes existing observational data and three–dimensional coupled climate model experiments to test the above hypothesis and explore a potentially exciting new inter–basin mechanism and contribute to the growing interest in understanding and predicting decadal climate variability.
Kristopher Karnauskas, Geology & Geophysics