In a pair of Cape Town warehouses converted into a maze of airlocked sterile rooms, young scientists are assembling and calibrating the equipment needed to reverse engineer a coronavirus vaccine that has yet to reach South Africa and most of the world’s poorest people.
The energy in the gleaming labs matches the urgency of their mission to narrow vaccine disparities. By working to replicate Moderna’s COVID-19 shot, the scientists are effectively making an end run around an industry that has vastly prioritized rich countries over poor in both sales and manufacturing.
And they are doing it with unusual backing from the World Health Organization, which is coordinating a vaccine research, training and production hub in South Africa along with a related supply chain for critical raw materials. It’s a last-resort effort to make doses for people going without, and the intellectual property implications are still murky.


Two-fold extrusion reactions
Twofold extrusion reactions involve the loss of two small, typically inorganic fragments bridging two atoms with the formation of a double bond between the atoms (most commonly, an alkene or imine). These reactions are particularly useful for the introduction of hindered double bonds, as extrusion can often be initiated thermally without the need for added reagents.
Twofold extrusion reactions involve the loss of small, inorganic fragments from a heterocyclic ring system with the formation of a double bond between carbons in the ring (Eq. 1). This suite of reactions has been applied for the synthesis of hindered alkenes, for which other methods such as the Wittig reaction are not successful. Synthetic routes to molecular machines have also involved twofold extrusion reactions. The scopes of these reactions are limited primarily by the availability of precursors to the required cyclic starting materials. At high temperatures or in the presence of a reductant such as a phosphine, extrusion is commonly spontaneous.(1)
Precursors to the ring systems that undergo twofold extrusion include thiones, hydrogen sulfide, selones, diazo compounds, and azines. Although multiple mechanisms are known to access the required heterocycles, the extrusion process itself can be described using a single mechanistic paradigm.
Mechanism and Stereochemistry
Scope and Limitations
Comparison to Other Methods
Experimental Conditions and Procedure


If you are beginning to learn the flute then here is a list of some of the best beginner tutor books available to help you choose the most appropriate book for you. All of the listed music books contain brilliant systems to help you master the flute though each is slightly different with some suited to younger pupils, some more mature. Some contain more popular tunes and some are more technique based. I have tried to list the best attributes from each book to help you choose.
Have a browse and please feel free to leave any comments that you feel may be appropriate to help other beginner musicians on their journey !
This is my favourite tutor book at the moment. It has a good repertoire of well known music/tunes, is easy to understand and follow, is laid out in a very teacher friendly way with each new page containing good clear expirations. This book is probably not very well suited to younger pupils. I would suggest it is aimed at pupils aged about 10 and above.
The book now comes with a play-a-long CD which makes practice a lot more fun. There is also a lesson diary & practice chart at the front to help monitor pupil progress.
Each page includes a picture of the correct flute fingering and the position on the stave of each new note that you are about to learn. The book starts with some simple rhythm studies on the note of B and A then progresses page by page through the notes G, C, F, and Bb with some simple repertoire including merrily we roll along, Au clair de la lune and Acapulco Bay. From there you are introduced to 3/4 time before securing fingering with some more tunes concentrating on the notes you have just learned. The book then gently introduces you (a page at a time) to the full range of the flute using a lot of very well known tunes and some really nice duets. You are introduced to slurs, tied notes, quavers, scales and key signatures all the time introducing new notes as you go.
As you work through the book you move onto more complicated music and time signatures such as 6/8 time. At the back of the book is a full list of all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Repertoire in this book includes :
- Amazing grace
- Blowin’ in the wind
- Pink panther
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- Morning has broken
- Over the rainbow
The book contains many more really well known tunes and also has a good selection of Christmas tunes
In conclusion this is a very good series (a lot of the tunes work in conjunction with other TEAM books from different instrument groups). As I mentioned it is probably not suited to very young pupils but if you do choose this tutor book you are guaranteed to have a fun and comprehensive learning experience.
This is another of my favourite flute tutors especially for younger pupils. Whilst the material is suitable for all this book is aimed at beginners probably below the age of 10. As with most good flute tutor books it is laid out in a very clear systematic way that enables the pupil to grasp all concepts of flute playing with most pages having illustrations to make the visual impact a little more fun. The book also contains a good selection of well known songs/tunes. Highly recommended for younger pupils.
This is a good comprehensive tutor book. It is laid out in units with each unit incorporating a new note or technique. The only problem that I have with this book is that is does not have a selection of popular or well known tunes to play. I feel it is always nice, as a pupil, to play songs that you know ! Also this tutor book is not laid out in a way that is appealing to younger pupils. If you want a very good tutor book and are not that bothered about playing the more well known tunes then this is the book for you !
Another classic tutor book that has been revised and updated. Clear explanatory diagrams and photographs help guide you through the lessons. A good selection of well known tunes certainly helps ! I would suggest this book is perfect for the 10 to 16 year old age range (though should not necessarily be discarded for younger or older pupils). A great fun book that is worth exploring.
This is a brilliantly fun system for really young pupils. It introduces the notes slowly and clearly and is presented in a really fun and appealing way. It comes with a CD accompaniments (and also has a teacher book available). I can highly recommend this system for younger pupils.


Einstein's new general theory of relativity predicted
a remarkable effect: when a ray of light passes near a
massive body, the ray should be bent. For example, starlight
passing near the sun should be slightly deflected by gravity.
This deflection could be measured when the sun's own light
was blocked during an eclipse. Einstein
predicted a specific amount of deflection, and the
prediction spurred British astronomers to try to observe
a total eclipse in May 1919. Feverish preparations began
as the war ended. Two expeditions, one to an island off
West Africa and the other to Brazil, succeeded in photographing
stars near the eclipsed sun. The starlight had been deflected
just as Einstein had predicted.


Anyone who has lived more than a dozen years has seen the world change. Most of these changes can be directly or indirectly attributed to technology. This section deals with past current and future technologies and how we interact with them.
Would you download pirated music?
What technology do you wish you understood better?
Have you ever been in a car accident?
What piece of technology do you not own but would like to?
What would you sacrifice to be able to go into space?
If you where an alien and you could abduct anyone on earth, who would you abduct and why?
If you had a time machine and you could go back and change anything, what would it be?
How you are feeling today and phrase it in the in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance for showers, etc.)
Would you volunteer to be one of the first colonists on Mars if it meant you could never return to earth?
What is the most played song in your music library?
A tool for team building. In almost every corporate organization in North America there is at least a passing concern with team building. Corporate trainings begin with them. Executive off sites depend on them. There the benefits of corporate and organizational teamwork are self evident. The difficult part is building that connection. This can be done with a shared experience either in the present or in the past.


The major differences between time and money are as follows −
It is defined as hours spend on work.
It is measured in terms of seconds, minutes, hours.
It is more valuable than money.
Its value remains constant.
The value earned differ from person to person.
It is neither earned nor purchased.
It is not constant and can’t be saved.
It is limited
It plays an important role in earning.
It can’t make future contingency.
We can’t control time.
It is defined as an amount earned for work done.
It is measured in terms of value, exchange and payments.
It depends on time.
Its value decreases with time.
The value of money remains same for all.
It can be earned and is constant (can be save till earned/spent).
It is not limited.
It plays an important role in modern world.
It can make future contingency.


These pages are the place to come for resources which support you to teach climate science in the classroom.
THIN ICE TEACHERS' GUIDE & SUBTITLES
The Teachers' Guide provides a context for teaching and learning about climate science and related issues in the New Zealand science curriculum.
The Synopsis is a 4 page easy-to-read guide that follows the chapter structure of the film, and applies to both the 56 and 73 minute versions of Thin Ice.
The English subtitles are useful for checking just what was said and when without having to run through the whole film.
SCIENCE LEARNING HUB
We've now partnered up with Science Learning Hub to develop the following series of classroom activities: -
SECONDARY & TERTIARY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
These Classroom Resources were prepared for the 2016 NZ Association of Science Educators Annual Conference in Lower Hutt in July 2016 by teachers from Onslow College, Nelson College for Girls and the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. They include sample lessons, a Field Trip guide for Wellington, and slides explaining climate science in response to common questions from students.


Egg Peeling Tricks:
Eggs that are really fresh, do not peel well. Most of the egg tears when attempting to remove the shell.
Eggs that are 6 to 8 weeks old, peel much easier because the inside of the egg shrinks as it ages.
When we plan an egg pickling day, we purchase our eggs 6 to 8 weeks earlier and store them in our garage fridge. Then we boil and peel them
on egg pickling day! This, along with the ice trick mentioned below
really helps speed up the peeling process and we have less eggs that are damaged.
When we have attempted to use the fresh eggs from our chickens, we simply cannot peel them without damage.
So we set these eggs in a refrigerator for 2 weeks before pickling them.
Ice Peeling Trick:
Put your eggs in water and bring to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, set your timer for 10 to 15 minutes.
When time is up, remove from heat and let cool.
Poor the water off and refill with cool water and add lots of ice and let sit for 15 minutes.
The inside of the egg will shrink away from the shell as it cools. The shells density keeps the shell from shrinking. This action helps the shell to pop off with ease.
Back to Pickled Egg Recipe


Nuclear power for a long time has been looked down upon. People fear it they think it’s dangerous or they associate it with nuclear weaponry and waste, and because of this plants are in danger of closing down or already have closed down sooner than they were intended too. But the not as often talked about fact is they nuclear power is a form of clean energy. Fear of these plants is dangerous. Say you close down Duane Arnold right here in Iowa, you lose around 4700 GWH (gigawatt hours) of energy and that gets replaced by coal or natural gas. Closing down these nuclear reactors can, and will if they are closed down, be a major emissions setback. Nuclear has a promising future, even Bill Gates’ company Terrapower, is working on developing reactors that use depleted uranium (a form of nuclear waste) along with a small bit of enriched uranium instead of the normal only enriched uranium that creates nuclear waste. Nuclear does not release carbon dioxide in the first place and the nuclear waste it does create isn’t actually very much, if you take all the nuclear waste produced by the united states combined in the whole nuclear age, it would cover one football and be around 20 feet high. This nuclear waste just sits around not polluting the environment or really doing much of anything. Nuclear power when compared to other fuel like coal is vastly safer, over the years coal has caused thousands of deaths maybe even hundreds of thousands where nuclear has killed far fewer, most of these deaths not related to radiation poisoning or cancer. I encourage you to learn about nuclear power yourself and think about some of the consequences and benefits of it, instead of only fearing the stigma it has.
Nick Brien, Ames


Macular degeneration is a disease of the macula, an area of the retina located at the back of the eye that is responsible for fine detail vision. This area of the eye controls our ability to read, drive a car, distinguish colors or faces, and perform close-up work. Generally, vision loss is gradual and affects both eyes at different rates. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of poor vision after age 60. Although the specific cause is unknown, AMD in part seems to be due to aging.
Nine out of ten people that have AMD have the dry form. This type of AMD occurs when tiny yellow spots called drusen form underneath the retina, and when the macula (center of the retina) deteriorates and thins. Dry AMD takes years to develop.
Normal Retina Photo
Early Dry AMD
This type of AMD is much less common than the dry form. However, it is more serious and usually results in a more severe decrease in vision. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina. These vessels leak fluid underneath and within the center of the retina.
The visual changes that occur with AMD involve loss of central vision. While peripheral vision is unaffected, one loses the sharp, straight-ahead vision necessary for driving, reading, recognizing faces, and looking at fine detail. Imagine being able to see a clock on the wall but not being able to make out the time. The early stages cause little, if any noticeable changes in vision. Gradually, reading becomes difficult without extra light and magnification. As AMD progresses, it becomes difficult to see details in the center of the field of vision. When wet AMD occurs, vision can rapidly become distorted (straight lines appear wavy) or blurred.
Approximately 10% of people 66 to 74 years of age have findings of macular degeneration. The prevalence increases to 30% in people between 75 and 85 years of age.
The only environmental exposure clearly linked with macular degeneration is tobacco smoking. Not only does smoking increase the risk of developing AMD, but smokers also cannot take vitamin supplements that have beta carotene because the risk of lung cancer increases if they do so.
Family History of Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is hereditary in some families, but not in others. The lifetime risk of developing late-stage AMD is 50% for people who have a relative with AMD.
Extended sun exposure
High Blood Pressure
This is a common test that is given to all AMD patients to perform daily at home. Basically, it is a grid of straight lines that may appear wavy or have missing spots if AMD is worsening.
Amsler Grid Example
OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography)
This provides a contour map of the retina, which may show fluid accumulation, scarring, or thinning of the retina. Lake Travis Eye and Laser Center has one of the most advanced OCT machines on the market- the speed and sensitivity of the machine provide patients with top-of-the-line eyecare!
Normal Retinal OCT
Dry AMD OCT- small drusen "bumps"
Wet AMD OCT- cystic retinal fluid
This test entails injecting fluorescein, an orange-red dye, into a vein in the arm. The dye then travels throughout the body, and into the blood vessels in the retina. Next, a specialized camera takes photographs of the retina. If new blood vessels are forming in AMD, certain dye leakage patterns are seen.
Routine eye exams, good nutrition, dietary supplements, and Amsler grid monitoring may be all that is recommended during the early stages of AMD. The results of the age-related eye disease study 1 and 2 (AREDS) conducted by the National Eye Institute suggest that patients with intermediate level AMD in both eyes or with advanced level AMD in one eye and without contraindications such as smoking should consider taking the following vitamin supplements:
There are several over-the-counter AREDS preparations available at most pharmacies. Please consult and eye doctor prior to taking these vitamins.
Low vision aids such as hand-held magnifying glasses or video cameras that enlarge print may help make it easier to live with the decreased vision caused by dry macular degeneration. Many lifestyle aids such as large print books, tape-recorded books or magazines, and talking clocks are also available. Several clinical studies, such as implantable telescopes, are also underway.
Anti-VEGF medicines (help block the growth of new blood vessels) such as Lucentis, Avastin, and Eyelea are now commonly injected in wet-AMD. Most patients need multiple injections in monthly intervals in order to stabilize the disease.
Lasers are less common treatments that are used to decrease or stop abnormal blood vessel growth. This type of treatment is possible only when the abnormal blood vessels are far enough away from the center of the retina that it will not damage it. Some cases of wet-AMD may also be treatable with PDT (photodynamic therapy) in order to slow the progression of vision loss.
Tired of reading glasses?
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-Susan G. in Round Rock, TX
Feb 09, 2016
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Dr Elsie Inglis and her staff who were interned in Austria.
Imperial War Museum, Department of Printed Documents: Women's
Work Collection. Ref: BRCS 24.6/25
Suffragist Dr Elsie Maud Inglis was the founder of The Scottish
Women's Hospitals. She was reputedly a tenacious woman, with
enlightened parents who supported her in her ambition to become
a doctor in a time when women were expected to be wives and mothers.
She set up a women's medical school in Edinburgh, qualified
as a surgeon, founded the Scottish Women's Suffrage Federation
and went on to tirelessly set up and work in hospital units on
the frontline during the First World War.
Her dedication to her cause lead to one biographer saying that
she "made Florence Nightingale look like a part-time care
assistant in comparison". She was also said to have been
a very strict disciplinanarian, often reducing her nursing sisters
to despair with her short temper and furious rages.
Elsie Inglis was born on 16th August 1864 at Nynee Tal in India.
Her baptism record is held at the British
Library, Oriental and India Office Collection, microfilm reference: N/1/110/75.
Unfortunately the British Library are unable to offer a scanned
copy as these records are not available on-line. Please see the
sources page for information on how to obtain these types of
|Baptism register N/1/110 held by the British Library, Oriental and India Office Collection.
Opens in a new window (100k)
Transcription of N/1/110/75
Solemnized at Nynee Tal
Baptised 1864 October 12th
Born 1864 August 16th
Eliza Maude, girl
Parents - John Forbes and Harriet Inglis.
Abode, Nynee Tal.
Trade/Profession - Coms (Commissioner)of Rohilcund.
Baptised by G.Davey Symonds, Chaplain.
Note from the British Library: There are transcription errors
in the records. The mispelling of Elsie's name could have
occurred during the transcription phase before the record was
the UK or she could have been baptised Eliza and used Elsie instead.
|Detail from 1891 census showing
Elsie Inglis living with her father and three servants.
This document was obtained from the General Register Office
St Giles) ED74 p6 schedule 14
Opens in a new window (113k)
Having studied medicine at the Edinburgh School of Medicine
for Women, Elsie Inglis qualified as a doctor in 1892. She initially
went to work as a house-surgeon at the "New Hospital for
Women" in London's Euston Road that had been founded by
the first English woman doctor, Mrs Garrett Anderson.
She returned to Edinburgh in 1894 to be near her now dying father,
and in 1901, along with Jessie MacGregor, helped set up a medical
practice, specifically for the care of poor women in Edinburgh
High Street. She often
waived her fees and financed seaside convalesence for patients
|Detail from the 1901 census showing Elsie
Inglis listed along with the other members of her household including Jessie
MacGregor. This document was obtained from the General Register Office
St George) ED1 p11 schedule 65
Opens in a new window (113k)
Through her experiences, Dr Inglis was particularly interested
in repealing a law that said a woman could not have an operation
without her husband's consent. She became increasingly aware
that without polictical action the medical care of women was
not going to be improved and in 1906 she founded the Scottish Women's
It was Dr Inglis' efforts during the First World War that brought
her to the knowledge of the public. When war broke out Inglis
suggested the creation of women's medical units on the Western
Front but the War Office were not interested and she was told
by an official “My good lady, go home and sit still”
Scottish Women's Hospital workstation. Imperial War Museum, Department of Printed
- Ref: BRCS 24.6/25
Dr Inglis was the wrong woman to be told such a thing and instead
she made her offer to the French Goverment, whose acceptance
led to the setting up of an Auxillary Hospital at Abbaye de
Royaumont in 1914 and at another hospital in Villers
Cotterets in 1917.
She was also active in arranging for the despatch of women's
units to other fighting areas besides the Western Front: to
Serbia, Salonika, Romania, Malta and Corsica in 1915 and to Russia
the following year.
Inglis herself served in Serbia from 1915 making efforts to
improve hygiene and reduce the disease epidemics raging there.
She, along with other members of her staff, were captured and
held prisoner until eventually released thanks to U.S. diplomatic
She returned home and immediately set about raising funds for
a hospital in Russia. Not surprisingly she was successful and
went there in 1916.
Through the long working hours and appalling conditions in Russia
she was taken ill in 1917. She returned to England where she
died the following day on 26 November, aged 53 at the Central
Station Hotel, Newcastle. The cause of death listed on her death
certificate is 1. Chronic gastro enteritis 2. Perforation of
the bowel. She is buried at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.
|Detail from Elsie Inglis' death certificate
showing the place and cause of death. Provided by the Family
Opens in a new window (52k)
After her death Winston Churchill was quoted as saying that
she and her medical staff would "shine forever
in history". However, even the memorial hospital in Edinburgh
opened to commemorate her work has now closed down.


Toddler Play at the Park: Follow the Leader
Promotes: Cognitive and motor skill development
When you think about toddler play locations, your local park probably comes to mind. And it should! It’s a great place to head to for fun and games, but did you know it’s also a smart spot for encouraging motor development and helping your child reach other milestones? Swing by the park’s playground to play this fun game -- while helping your tot burn off some energy.
What to play
Use the playground’s landscape as a setting for an outdoor game of follow the leader. Children this age love to mirror the people around them, so your child should jump at the opportunity to be your copycat.
Step 1: Tell your toddler to follow you around the playground and copy everything you do.
Step 2: Start moving! You could run under the monkey bars, crawl around the slide, or climb over steps. Whatever you do, be sure to call out directions as you do it (“Now let’s hop like a bunny to the swing set!"). If your child is too young to follow your directions, you can hold her hand while you move around instead of having her follow after you.
Step 3: Once you’ve navigated the entire playground, give her a big hug and congratulate her on doing such a good job.
Tricks and tips
To ensure safety, stay close to your tot, and keep an eye on the other happenings in the playground. You don’t want your little one running by the slide as another child is coming down. To keep your toddler motivated, be enthusiastic. Cheer, clap -- even play some music using your phone’s speakers!
Learning and growing
At this age, kids are pushing their physical limits and discovering new ways their bodies can move, so climbing, crawling, jumping, and hopping around the playground will help encourage your child’s motor development. Following instructions while being active may also help your child learn new concepts such as up, down, over, and around.
What you’ll need
Just your local playground -- and a solid pair of sneakers.


Composition of Body Fluids
Water is the most abundant constituent in the body, accounting for ∼50% of body weight in women and 60% in men. Total body water is distributed in two major compartments: 55–75% is intracellular [intracellular fluid (ICF)], and 25–45% is extracellular [extracellular fluid (ECF)]. ECF is subdivided into intravascular (plasma water) and extravascular (interstitial) spaces in a ratio of 1:3. Fluid movement between the intravascular and interstitial spaces occurs across the capillary wall and is determined by Starling forces, i.e., capillary hydraulic pressure and colloid osmotic pressure. The transcapillary hydraulic pressure gradient exceeds the corresponding oncotic pressure gradient, thus favoring the movement of plasma ultrafiltrate into the extravascular space. The return of fluid into the intravascular compartment occurs via lymphatic flow.
The solute or particle concentration of a fluid is known as its osmolality and is expressed as milliosmoles per kilogram of water (mosmol/kg). Water easily diffuses across most cell membranes to achieve osmotic equilibrium (ECF osmolality = ICF osmolality). Notably, the extracellular and intracellular solute compositions differ considerably owing to the activity of various transporters, channels, and ATP-driven membrane pumps. The major ECF particles are Na+ and its accompanying anions Cl− and HCO3−, whereas K+ and organic phosphate esters (ATP, creatine phosphate, and phospholipids) are the predominant ICF osmoles. Solutes that are restricted to the ECF or the ICF determine the tonicity or effective osmolality of that compartment. Certain solutes, particularly urea, do not contribute to water shifts across most membranes and are thus known as ineffective osmoles.
Vasopressin secretion, water ingestion, and renal water transport collaborate to maintain human body fluid osmolality between 280 and 295 mosmol/kg. Vasopressin (AVP) is synthesized in magnocellular neurons within the hypothalamus; the distal axons of those neurons project to the posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis, from which AVP is released into the circulation. A network of central osmoreceptor neurons that includes the AVP-expressing magnocellular neurons themselves sense circulating osmolality via nonselective, stretch-activated cation channels. These osmoreceptor neurons are activated or inhibited by modest increases and decreases in circulating osmolality, respectively; activation leads to AVP release and thirst.
AVP secretion is stimulated as systemic osmolality increases above a threshold level of ∼285 mosmol/kg, above which there is a linear relationship between osmolality and circulating AVP (Fig. 45-1). Thirst and thus water ingestion also are activated at ∼285 mosmol/kg, beyond which there is an equivalent linear increase in the perceived intensity of thirst as a function of circulating osmolality. Changes in blood volume and blood pressure are also direct stimuli for AVP release and thirst, albeit with a less sensitive response profile. Of perhaps greater clinical relevance to the pathophysiology of water homeostasis, ECF volume strongly modulates the relationship between circulating osmolality and AVP release so that hypovolemia reduces the osmotic threshold and increases the slope of the response curve to ...


Monday, June 30, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, marks the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The title of this post comes from playwright Robert Schenkkan's op-ed in yesterday's LATimes examining the president's subsequent efforts to enforce the hard-won law. He writes:
Jim Crow began to die, in part because LBJ well understood that passing laws was one thing and enforcing them quite another. Just as he had been determined to muscle the bill through Congress, Johnson was determined to see the law carried out by every executive power at his command.
Title II (public accommodations) of the act overturned state and local segregation laws, and the Supreme Court helped by upholding its application to the private sector through the commerce clause.
There had been chilling resistance in some quarters. In Jonesboro, La., that summer, the public library and swimming pool remained off-limits to blacks, and when local youths protested, 40 of them, and some of their parents, were arrested. To drive the point home, the Ku Klux Klan paraded through the black neighborhood in full regalia, carrying guns, led by a sheriff's patrol car.
Both sides began to arm themselves, and a very real race war was only averted by a federal injunction and the personal intervention of administration officials, including Humphrey, who by then was vice president.
Title VII (workplace discrimination) created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Women had been given special protection under the new law, not out of any moral imperative but as a poison-pill amendment introduced by Virginia Rep. Howard W. "Judge" Smith, who hoped that Northern senators sensitive to union concerns would not support a bill that granted women equal rights. He was wrong. And to everyone's surprise, Title VII would profoundly alter the legal and cultural landscape for women as well as blacks.
Title VI (discrimination in government-funded activities) was even more immediately successful. Swift directives from the White House to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to cease giving federal dollars to segregated hospitals transformed facilities overnight. Where moral suasion had failed, the threat of defunding worked wonders.
President Johnson was determined to see the [Civil Rights Act] carried out by every executive power at his command.
Similarly, a quick ruling by U.S. Commissioner of Education Francis Keppel announced the withholding of federal funds ($4 billion) from school districts in 17 long-segregated states. In one year, there were more public school desegregation commitments than had been achieved over the previous decade. To ensure this was more than lip-service, the Office of Education developed objective, quantifiable measures to evaluate progress.
In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was the final nail in the coffin of Jim Crow. Six days later, Watts erupted in violence, the first in a series of urban riots as the long-simmering frustration of blacks trapped in city slums sought release. At the same time, the white backlash and subsequent political realignment that LBJ had predicted was already underway.
The South, once solidly Democratic, would become a Republican stronghold. And the civil rights movement would meet its Waterloo not in Southern cities but in Boston and Chicago, where Northerners would discover that the limits of their racial tolerance ended in their own neighborhoods. Politicians who could no longer get away with using the vilest excesses of racial language communicated in coded but comfortable phrases like "law and order" and the "intrusive federal government."
Today, even after the election of a black president, men and women of color still suffer disproportionally against almost every measure of American life. So how should we feel about the 1964 Civil Rights Act? We should feel proud of an achievement that brought us closer to the founding ideals of this country. We should feel humbled by the sacrifice of millions of people over decades of hard and painful work to bring that change about. And we should feel challenged because the work is not yet complete.


It pays to practice preventive care
Stay away from sugar. In addition to brushing and flossing daily, everyone should watch their diet. Stay away from sticky foods made with sucrose (table sugar), which continually contributes to the decay of teeth. Chewing gum made with the natural sweetener xylitol, in contrast, may actually help reduce the risk of cavities.
Don't suck on acidic foods. Bad habits can contribute to poor oral health. Sucking on foods high in citric acid for prolonged periods of time can wear away the enamel on your teeth, so stay away from prolonged exposure to these foods. Limit soda consumption as much as possible. While sugar-free soft drinks are a better choice, they still have a high acid content.
Your teeth aren't tools. Avoid subjecting your teeth to any tasks that they weren't designed to do, like tearing open difficult packages or chewing ice, pencils or any other non-food items.
Kick the tobacco habit. Finally, stay away from chewing tobacco and cigarettes—or if you already use them, quit. These products increase the risk of cavities, discolor teeth and are a leading cause of oral cancer.
Mind your Children's Oral Health
Care for baby teeth. Teaching children proper oral health early can help you save money in the long run as well. It is a common misconception that baby teeth do not require preventive care, as these are replaced within a few years. The truth is that neglecting baby teeth can cause premature tooth loss or infections, and can affect the development or alignment of the child's permanent teeth. If baby teeth are in poor shape and fall out early, space maintenance could become an issue as permanent teeth emerge.
Stop the thumb sucking. Thumb sucking past the eruption of the first couple of teeth can lead to serious alignment issues for young children. It can cause teeth to become crooked and create problems that will need correction. Parents who invest in interceptive orthodontics can save money on more extensive orthodontia later.
Flouridate. Children should drink fluoridated water regularly. You can check with your state or municipality to find out if the tap water in your area is fluoridated. If not, you can get a prescription for fluoride tablets from your dentist or pediatrician. Topical fluoride treatments, provided by your dentist, are crucial for a child's cavity prevention.
Regularly visit your Dentist
It is important to note that a dentist appointment should be sought before the first sign of any serious problem. Lack of prevention or putting off corrective visits will only compound dental issues and make them more difficult—and costly—to fix.
If your dentist advises, have sealants put on teeth that may be decay-prone, such as teeth that have weaker enamel or deep pits and crevices. The eventual benefits of sealants will outweigh the expense. In some cases, a one-surface sealant can cost only half or even a quarter as much as a filling. As a rule, the more surgical or restorative interventions (fillings, crowns, etc.) a patient undergoes, the greater the likelihood that these will require additional maintenance later. It is best to address oral care issues early and avoid more costly fixes later.
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Claims that e-cigarettes offer a viable and healthy way to quit conventional cigarettes and do not pose danger to nonsmokers are false, a new research has warned.
In a major scientific review of research on e-cigarettes, University of California, San Francisco scientists found that industry claims about the devices are unsupported by the evidence to date, including claims that e-cigarettes help smokers quit.
The devices, which are rapidly gaining a foothold in popular culture particularly among youth, are marketed as a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking, as an effective tool to stop smoking, and as a way to circumvent smoke-free laws by allowing users to “smoke anywhere.”
Researchers said the ads often stress that e-cigarettes produce only “harmless water vapour.” But in their analysis of the marketing, health and behavioural effects of the products, which are unregulated, the scientists found that e-cigarette use is associated with significantly lower odds of quitting cigarettes.
They also found that while the data is still limited, e-cigarette emissions “are not merely ‘harmless water vapour,’ as is frequently claimed, and can be a source of indoor air pollution. The long-term biological effects of use are still unknown, the research authors said. The authors analysed 84 research studies on e-cigarettes and other related scientific materials.
They concluded that e-cigarettes should be prohibited wherever tobacco cigarettes are prohibited and should be subject to the same marketing restrictions as conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes deliver a nicotine-containing aerosol popularly called “vapour” to users by heating a solution commonly consisting of glycerin, nicotine and flavouring agents. E-liquids are flavoured, including tobacco, menthol, coffee, candy, fruit and alcohol flavourings.
Despite many unanswered questions about e-cigarette safety, the impact on public health, and whether the products are effective at reducing tobacco smoking, e-cigarettes have swiftly penetrated the marketplace in the US and abroad in both awareness and use, researchers said.
“E-cigarettes do not burn or smolder the way conventional cigarettes do, so they do not emit side-stream smoke; however, bystanders are exposed to aerosol exhaled by the user,” said researchers. The study was published in the journal Circulation.


The concept of taxable capacity has been defined differently by different economists.
In the words of Sir Josiah Stamp:
“Taxable capacity is that maximum amount which the community is in a position to bear towards the expenses of public authorities without having a really unhappy and down-trodden existence and without dislocating the economic, organization too much”.
According to Findlay Shirras:
“It is the optimum tax ability of a nation, the maximum amount of taxation that can be raised and spent on the economic welfare in that community”.
Dalton calls it a dim and “contused conception”. He writes in his book “Principles of Public Finance”:
“Absolute taxable capacity is a myth and should be banished from all serious discussions of public finance”.
For the various definitions of taxable capacity given by eminent writers on Public Finance, we gather that by taxable capacity is meant the maximum amount which a nation can contribute towards the support of the government without inflicting damage on the power and will to produce.
The amount of tax burden which the citizens of a country are ready to bear is not rigidly fixed. It can increase or decrease with a change in the distribution of wealth, the size of population, method of taxation, etc.
In other words, we can say that the limit of taxable capacity is a relative and not an absolute quantity.
The main factors which determine the taxable capacity of a nation are:
(i) The size of population: Taxable capacity is very much affected by the increase in national income and by the rate of growth in population. If the increase in national income is greater than the growth in population, the par capita income goes up. The taxable capacity of the individuals rises. If the rate of growth of population is higher than the national income, the taxable capacity decreases.
(ii) The distribution of national income: Taxable capacity is also influenced by the distribution of national income within a country. If there is unequal distribution of wealth in the country, the taxable capacity of the nation will be high, but if the income is equally distributed, then the taxable capacity will be low. A man earning an income of $50,000 a month is able to pay more to the government than thirty persons earning $300 per month.
(iii) Character of taxation: If taxes are devised wisely, then they give less resentment from people and bring forth a large yield.
(iv) Purpose of taxation: Purpose of taxation has a direct bearing on taxable capacity of a nation. If citizens of country are satisfied with purpose of taxation i.e., the increase in welfare of people, then they show greater willingness to pay taxes to government. Whereas, if they find that revenue will be spent for unproductive purposes, they hesitate to pay taxes.
We conclude, therefore, that if state spends revenue for purposes such as education, sanitation, fighting for famine, diseases, etc., then taxable capacity of nation expands to its utmost and if revenue is spent for unproductive purpose like war, then taxable capacity shrinks.
(v) Psychological factor: Psychological factor, is a very important factor in determining taxable capacity of a nation. If people are satisfied that government is doing its utmost to raise standard of living of masses and in maintaining prestige of country, then they try to sacrifice their lives what to say of money for the government. A simple approach to patriotism brings forth tons of gold.
(vi) Standard of living of people: If standard of living of people is high, they work more efficiently so that they may enjoy a still better standard of living. When they work enthusiastically, they receive higher wages from their employers. Taxable capacity tends to increase then.
(vii) Effect of inflation: If country is in grip of inflation, purchasing power of people is reduced, taxable capacity of nation shrinks considerably. But if value of money is high and country is not faced with unemployment, then taxable capacity of people is quite high.
We have discussed above various factor on which taxable capacity of a nation depends. We cannot single out any factor and say that taxable capacity is determined solely by this factor alone. The fact is that various factors influence taxable capacity and we have to take them all into consideration while judging maximum amount which citizens of a country can pay. We cannot deny this fact that it is quite difficult to measure taxable capacity. But this does not mean we should not make an attempt because it is beset with many difficulties.
According to Findlay Shirras:
“A road leading to an important centre has often many crossings, signposts, danger signals, but this does not lessen its value to cautions sojourner”.


Duple Metric Structure
A duple metric structure has pulse streams related in 2:1 proportions, with each stream arranged in a strong-weak accent pattern. Sometimes, a 4:1 proportion is strongly communicated between two (visually) non-adjacent levels of pulse. Also, the accents that produce the strong-weak pattern may themselves vary in strength.
Listen to the last movement of Haydn’s Symphony #101. Example 25 represents the four easiest-to-hear pulse streams of this duple metric structure with dot notation:
Choosing a note value for one of the pulse streams will then determine the note values of the remaining three. In Example 26 below, the quarter note has been chosen to represent the level C; this fixes the note values for all the other levels. What would the note values of the other levels be if the quarter note was chosen to represent level B? or level D?
Choosing a Beat and its Note Value
Listen again to the beginning of the Haydn and decide which pulse stream you hear as the beat. Although we often think of the quarter note as representing the beat, it is not always so. Given the quarter note as level B, it is likely that you will NOT choose it as the beat. Let’s examine the options. Remember that the level and note value you choose to be the beat must allow for the other levels you hear to be represented. For instance, if you choose level D and the eighth note as beat:
there should be several slower pulse streams represented in the metric structure.
If you choose the quarter note,
you should be able to hear and tap two slower pulse streams and one faster.
If the half note is chosen,
two faster pulse streams and one slower stream should be easy to hear.
If you choose the whole note as beat, you must ask whether this level is itself grouped in two’s or three’s. This would require your adding a level above level A to show the strong-weak pattern:
This level may be relatively difficult to hear and tap; but its function, to show the pattern of the whole note stream as strong-weak, is essential. In this movement, the whole note is easily counted as the beat.
Choosing a time signature for duple metric structure
There are several possibilities for a choice of time signature using the notation in the above examples, since they contain note values represented by the common bottom numbers in time signatures: 2, 4, and 8. We know from experience that 2/4 and 4/4 are very common signatures, and
might also appear as the signature. 4/8 or 2/8 or even 4/1 are possible, though unlikely. It turns out that Haydn chose cut time (see the score in Burkhart, 5th ed., p.166). “4” or “8” could have served as the lower number in the signature; there is no way to tell specifically from the sound. It was conventional at the time to use cut time for very fast tempos, but other signatures representing this metric structure at the same tempo occur frequently as well.
Should we at least be able to decide whether the music is “in 2” or “in 4”? There may be clear evidence in the sound—a “boom-chick” accompaniment may suggest “2” as the top number for a signature and “boom-chick-chick-chick” may suggest “4” as the top number. But it is often difficult to discriminate between a duple and quadruple grouping, since a quadruple group is a double duple group; i.e., quadruple is a compound of duple. This can be seen in Ex. 31, where the beat pulse is indicated by the arrow:


TIGER Innovators enhance North-South collaboration
Five international partnerships have recently been awarded funding through ESA’s TIGER Innovators project to develop new ways of applying Earth Observation data as a tool for water resource management in Africa.
ESA launched the TIGER Initiative in 2002 following the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Focusing on the use of space technology in water resource management in Africa, the primary objective of TIGER is to help African countries overcome problems faced in the collection, analysis and dissemination of water related geo-information by exploiting the advantages of Earth Observation technology. More than 200 African water basin authorities, universities and other organisations have become involved in TIGER projects across the continent.
Existing activities have now been bolstered by a new type of project called TIGER Innovators. These are aimed at developing innovative, low-cost solutions to support African water authorities in the conservation and monitoring of scarce water resources.
Utilising the latest Earth Observation technology and Geographical Information Systems these North-South partnerships involving European/Canadian and African organisations are intended to tackle a range of different water-related issues across the African continent. The five TIGER Innovators projects have been funded by the Data User Element (DUE) of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme of ESA (EOEP-2 DUE) with an overall budget of 500 000 Euro.
SHARE (Soil Moisture for Hydrometeorological Applications in the SADC Region) will provide an effective soil moisture monitoring service for the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC). The project team combines expertise in soil moisture remote sensing from Vienna University of Technology with specialists in hydro-meteorological applications from University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.
Despite holding only a small percentage of the total global water budget, soil moisture plays an important role in the global water cycle. Data obtained from ESA’s ERS-2 Scatterometer and Envisat's ASAR sensors will form the basis of a new soil moisture information system.
The ERS-2 Scatterometer uses three antennas to illuminate the Earth's surface in three different directions and derive low-resolution active microwave data. The incidence angle of each signal bounced back to the instrument is dependent upon the relative moisture content of the soil and the vegetation, the vegetation type and surface roughness. An increase in angle signifies an increase in soil moisture content, surface roughness, and vegetation biomass. Whereas the Scatterometer provides coarse-resolution data, ASAR can achieve a higher resolution, thereby enhancing the overall accuracy of the data.
The improved resolution of the system will provide the team with quick and detailed information, accurate to within 1 km. "With this service, SHARE will address today’s most severe obstacle in water resource management which is the lack of availability of reliable soil moisture information on a dynamic basis at a frequency of a week and less," said Dr. Klaus Scipal of Vienna University of Technology.
A major benefit of the project will be the availability of soil moisture data for use and distribution amongst water authorities in the region.
"The long-term vision of SHARE is to supply soil moisture information for the entire African continent, run by African partners, posted on the web, freely accessible to all," Dr. Scipal said. The primary users of these products will be the South African Weather Service and the South African Agricultural Research Council.
This project is aimed at developing a basic information system for monitoring the Zambezi river catchment area. Geographic Information Management in Belgium will be working together with the University of Zambia, the Zambian water authorities and workers at the SADC Regional Remote Sensing Unit to alleviate water shortage problems in this area of Zambia.
Using data from ESA’s multispectral MERIS sensor on Envisat as well as Landsat imagery, IWAREMA (Integrated Water Resource management for Zambia) Zambia will provide local researchers and politicians with the necessary tools for effective water resource management. Satellite imagery will be used to generate a variety of maps depicting existing water resources, suitable dam locations and land cover as well as forming the basis of information bulletins for local policy-makers.
The local team consists of workers from the Ministry of Energy and Water Development through the Department of Water Affairs, the University of Zambia and specific departments of other responsible Ministries.
Lake Water Quality in Egypt
This project is aimed at designing, developing and implementing a system for monitoring the water quality of Lake Manzalah in Egypt. Leading the project will be members of the engineering company C-CORE, based in Canada, in collaboration with Egyptian water authorities and consultants from the Finnish Environment Institute and Canada.
An essential source of freshwater in the region, the demand on Lake Manzalah has been strained over recent years owing to increased competition from domestic, industrial and agricultural users. Accurate and reliable data on the condition of the lake will be extracted using satellite imagery to monitor key indicators of water quality such as turbidity, algal blooms and the presence of invasive plant species.
"Responding to urgent user requirements, the Earth Observation-based water quality products will represent an up-scaling in space and time of the conventional field measurements and will capture the spatiotemporal variability of critical lake water parameters more accurately then the current monitoring programme," reports Mr. Puestow, of C-CORE.
As well as determining how and where the pollution occurred, this data will be utilised by Egyptian water authorities in their efforts to prevent further pollution of this valuable resource.
WADE (Water resources Assessment using SAR in Desert and arid lands in West African Ecosystems) will map sub-surface, man-made water structures and surface water as a means of combating the effects of desertification. In collaboration with a consortium of desertification experts known as AGRHYMET, workers at Advanced Computer Systems (ACS spa) in Rome will use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to explore underground and superficial water resources.
The advantage of using SAR technology over other tools is that it is both relatively cheap and is capable of covering a wide surface area.
"The availability of an advanced technological tool for water resources detection and mapping can represent a significant improvement for sustainable water management," said Gaetano Pace, Project Manager at ACS Spa.
The team will be working closely with AGRHYMET to map buried water-related artefacts such as wells, foggaras (a type of ancient irrigation system) and channels in a selected area. Both the technology and the necessary skills will ultimately be transferred to local authorities.
Potentially covering an area of hundreds of square kilometres, this new technology will enable local workers to pinpoint human-made water features to within 20-30 metres. This information will help local water authorities and institutions to draw up effective plans to conserve resources in the region and understand seasonal natural water dynamics.
Bordering the countries of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, Lake Victoria is the largest source of fresh water in Africa. The economic value of the Lake is well established, as is the sensitive nature of its environmental condition. For these reasons, all three countries are committed to monitoring the threats and gaining an accurate inventory of the contents of this vast and essential resource.
In collaboration with Nairobi’s Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, workers at Vexcel in The Netherlands will use data derived from Earth Observation satellites to form an information system that monitors both the quality and quantity of water.
"Goals are to develop dedicated products and services and to build capacity at the three institutes to ensure that expertise is made available to implement these data structurally," reports Léon Schouten, Project Manager at Vexcel.
Beneficiaries of the scheme will include the Fisheries Resources Research Institute in Uganda, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute. Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and other water management authorities will also receive valuable information and training through this project.


STUDENTS from Long Sutton took a three-day voyage of discovery when they visited the scene of Nazi Germany’s most notorious crimes in Poland.
The Peele Community College humanities department took 23 GCSE history students on the trip which involved an extensive study of Krakow’s Jewish Quarter and Ghetto, the setting of Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, and guided tours of the concentration and death camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
History teacher Mark Twigge said: “It was a highly emotional experience that the students felt would stay with them for life.”
“For many the privilege of meeting 84-year-old Holocaust survivor, Pan Joseph, was the highlight.”
At 16 Joseph was involved in the Warsaw Uprising and was sent to Mauthausen concentration camp as punishment.
Starved, tortured, severely beaten and with his family all murdered, Joseph was only days away from death when American soldiers liberated the camp on May 5, 1945.
Student Miles Parsons said it had changed his views on his life, making him grateful for what he has while Emma Ketteringham said seeing what he went through made her life seem so much better.
Mr Twigge added: “Auschwitz-Birkenau evoked even more personal thoughts.
“Here were the rooms full of shoes and luggage left by those executed in cold blood, the cells where people starved to death, and the roll call yard with its gallows.
“Here were the tracks that saw the arrival of millions and the gas chambers where people were chillingly put to death.
“The students were deep in thought – there is little to say when faced with the unthinkable and all felt the weight of history on their shoulders.”
Year 11 student Chloe Chadwick said: “It feels like we are trespassing, but I also feel that it is everyone’s duty to come here and see what happened.”
Mr Twigge, himself a witness of genocide when he served as a soldier in Bosnia, said he thought this was the most difficult day of his life putting the scenes of 1995 into perspective.
Returning from the trip the students have made full use of their Facebook accounts.
For many of them the act of uploading their photos and being able to share their feelings with their friends has helped in coming to terms with the unspeakable horror of history.
They make a strong case that everyone should visit Auschwitz and understand what man is capable of.
Mr Twigge added: “The Peele Community College is immensely proud of the students that took part in this trip – both for their mature understanding and for their desire to face this type of learning.”


From the time they are born until they turn 8, children will develop the skills, values and self-esteem that will dictate their success later in life. Those early years are so important that the month of April has been proclaimed National Month of the Young Child a time when adults are educated on the importance of early childhood education and development.
In Moffat County, April is Celebrate Children Month and April 7-13 is Week of the Young Child.
The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
"We do this to educate the community about how important those early years are in the development of children," said Sarah Hepworth, director of the Moffat County School District Early Childhood Center. "We do this because we feel a lot of people are unaware of the efforts being made in Moffat County on behalf of children from birth to 8 years old. We've also discovered that age is where it really counts. If you don't have a really good foundation, you really don't have a good start in life."
The National Association for the Education of Young Children established the week in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life.
Moffat County has participated in the celebration for more than a decade, focusing on child abuse prevention. Four years ago, that focus was expanded to include child development, services and education.
"Each year we focus on what we think the needs are," Hepworth said.
This year education of parents and caregivers is the driving force behind the celebration, but child abuse prevention remains a topic. People are encouraged to wear blue ribbons this month in recognition of the devastating effects of child abuse and neglect.
The Moffat County Early Childhood Coalition has planned several events this month, including an ice cream social, health fair, lectures for parents and caregivers and a children's festival.
"We felt we needed to offer some fun, free things to do for really young kids," Hepworth said. "Everything that's free and fun in this community is offered to bigger kids. We also want to educate parents on what are appropriate activities for kids this age."
Sunrise Preschool and Childcare will also participate by hosting a week of activities for its students.
On April 8, students will take a field trip to the Museum of Northwest Colorado.
The next day, they will tour The Memorial Hospital in an effort to familiarize themselves with the facility and its equipment with the hope of alleviating any fear they might have if they are ever hospitalized.
On April 10, community members will visit the school to read to the children and play with them.
On April 11, the children can be found on the sidewalks in front of the Moffat County Courthouse with pieces of chalk doing sidewalk art. Friday, the school will sponsor a parent-and-child picnic to close its celebration of Week of the Young Child.
Sunrise Preschool and Childcare has participated in Week of the Young Child for several years.
"It's just as important for people of our community to know how important education and quality of care of our young children are," owner Judi Whilden.
"This week brings into focus early childhood education and people who are responsible for the care and education of children."
Research shows that young children in high-quality educational programs are more likely to develop the language, pre-mathematics and social skills they need to succeed once they enter school.
"The emphasis is just awareness of how moldable children are at that age and how that determines the success they have later in life," Hepworth said. "We really want people to celebrate their children and the blessings they bring to us as adults.


Celebrate the day milk was delivered in bottles for the first time in 1878 on January 11th. These days there are so many different kinds of milk: soy milk, cow’s milk, almond milk! One of our greatest sources of calcium. Here are some fun facts for you on Milk Day:
Milk contains: calcium, riboflavin, phosphorous, vitamins A, and B12, potassium, magnesium, zinc.
Milk and milk products are thought to protect against tooth decay.
Type 2 diabetes – a 10-year study of 3,000 overweight adults found that consuming milk and other milk products instead of refined sugars and carbohydrates may protect overweight young adults from developing type 2 diabetes.


When the Event Horizon Telescope capturedat the center of the Messier 87 galaxy around 53 million light-years from Earth, astronomers and scientists were delighted. The breakthrough snap had unlocked a powerful new way to study the behemoth cosmic beasts and .
The supermassive black hole at the center of Messer 87, dubbed M87*, hasas astrophysicists have combed through the huge amount of data generated by the EHT. On Wednesday, a few more secrets were unearthed as members of the EHT Collaboration reveal new images of the black hole in polarized light.
In a suite of new papers, the collaboration details new breakthrough images, which provide critical information about the magnetic fields immediately surrounding the black hole and those further from Messier 87’s chaotic center. It’s the first time a team has been able to measure polarization right up close to the edge of a black hole.
“The newly published polarized images are key to understanding how the magnetic field allows the black hole to ‘eat’ matter and launch powerful jets,” said Andrew Chael, an astrophysicist at the Princeton University Center for Theoretical Science and member of the EHT Collaboration.
But what exactly is polarization, and why does it matter?
Well, light is weird. It’s made up of electric and magnetic fields, vibrating in all sorts of directions. Polarized light is only vibrating in one direction. Most light is non-polarized when it leaves a star or the huge, bright disc of gas and debris around a black hole, but its interactions with dust and magnetic fields can cause it to polarize. Detecting polarization then provides a signature of the environment around a black hole like M87*.
The first black hole image provided a kind of blurry Eye of Sauron, a ring of orange and yellow light around a black spot. The light emanates from a disc of debris and material immediately surrounding the invisible black hole. Some of this matter slips into the black hole, never to be seen again, but other material is blasted out at right angles, deep into space in what is known as a “cosmic jet.”
M87’s jet of matter is ejected at nearly the speed of light and extends almost 5,000 light-years into space. But how it forms remains a mystery.
The new observations provide a potential explanation.
“The observations suggest that the magnetic fields at the black hole’s edge are strong enough to push back on the hot gas and help it resist gravity’s pull,” according to Jason Dexter, an astrophysicist at the University of Colorado Boulder and coordinator of the EHT Theory Working group. “Only the gas that slips through the field can spiral inwards to the event horizon.”
The magnetic fields closest to the black hole may be so extreme that they’re blasting matter away from the edge and focusing it into the huge jet observed emanating from Messier 87.
The Event Horizon Telescope is not a single telescope, but a series of eight Earth-based telescopes located across the globe. It’s a “virtual telescope,” as big as the Earth, that captures the light escaping from around M87*, providing the kind of resolution required to resolve these features, even though it lies millions of light-years away.
One particular telescope that forms part of the collaboration, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, also provided a stunning look at the black hole’s jet in polarized light, displaying the magnetic field lines (right).
It also observed Sgr A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and a dozen other supermassive black holes, finding that extremely bright beasts with jets pointing directly at the Earth (known as “blazars”) were very strongly polarized, which the researchers hypothesize is likely because of the direction they face.
The first image of a black hole wowed, but there are plenty more mysteries to be uncovered. The EHT will provide further opportunities to study the regions closest to M87* and Sgr A* as more observatories are added and the network is upgraded.
“We expect future EHT observations to reveal more accurately the magnetic field structure around the black hole and to tell us more about the physics of the hot gas in this region,” said Jongho Park, an astrophysicist at Taipei’s Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics and member of the EHT collaboration.


A Tratturo is a natural-ground pathway created by the moving herds. The Tratturo from L’Aquila to Foggia, 244-km long, is the most important of the five Regi (Royal) Tratturi: that’s why it’s also called Tratturo Magno. The section crossing Campomarino is the last one in Molise. The Regi Tratturi are a precious witness of routes created during the protohistoric period due to social and production systems based on pastoralism, which had lasted for centuries and were relaunched during the Norman-Swabian age and, later, under the Angevin and Aragonese domination. The Tratturi are a the most important monument of the social and economic history between the Abruzzese-Molisan Apennines and Tavoliere delle Puglie, preserved for seven centuries and enriched by further historic stratifications.
The Tratturo Magno is the Adriatic one. It brought enormous herds from the mountains of Gran Sasso, Sirente and Majella to the wide pastures of the Tavoliere, touching many times the Adriatic coast. This is the only tratturo where sheeps and shepherd got in touch with the sea. From the Tratturo Magno starts the Tratturo Centurelle-Montesecco, linked with the Tratturo Lanciano-Cupello. Its route between Abruzzo and Apulia goes through Molise: Montenero di Bisaccia, Petacciato, Termoli, San Giacomo degli Schiavoni, Guglionesi, Portocannone, San Martino in Pensilis, Campomarino. The route starts at the Church of S. Maria di Collemaggio in L’Aquila, enters Molise, goes to the Fortore River and reaches the Tavoliere, where it ends in Foggia meeting the tratturo from Celano.
Along the route, still today you can see several countryside churches or chiese tratturali for the rest and comfort of shepherds, like the church of San Paolo di Peltuinum and Santa Maria die Cintorelli, where the Tratturo Centurelle-Montesecco starts. The Tratturo L’Aquila-Foggia has been recently studied by the Abruzzese Association Tracturo 3000, which organizes since 1997 trekking routes divided into nine stages along the pathway.


Trecento Diagnostics is at the forefront of DNA extraction and the use of urine in testing. The company will greatly advance the use of molecular science in veterinary care and the research into zoonotic diseases. Our test development pipeline is focused on disease conditions that develop quickly, where early diagnosis can make a major difference and will be the most help to veterinarians.
Each year, around 1.4 million Lyme disease tests are carried out in the UK. Around 5.2 million tests are carried out in the US, with 300,000 people being diagnosed with the disease. Due to climate change, it is one of the world’s fastest-growing diseases.
In a recent study, seven large commercial laboratories in the US were surveyed to determine Lyme disease testing frequency, practices, and results. The survey showed that approximately 3.4 million tests were conducted in 2008 at an estimated cost of $492 million; 62% in accordance with recommendations. It was estimated that 288,000 infections occurred among the 2.4 million patients from whom samples were submitted.
Lyme Disease Testing by Large Commercial Laboratories in the United States
Alison F. Hinckley Neeta P. Connally James I. Meek Barbara J. Johnson Melissa M. Kemperman, Katherine A. Feldman, Jennifer L. White, and Paul S. Mead.
Canine parvovirus is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. CPV is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases it is therefore vitally important the virus is identified as quickly as possible.
Babesiosis is the diseased state caused by the protozoal (single celled) parasites of the genus Babesia. Infection in a dog may occur by tick transmission, direct transmission via blood transfer from dog bites, blood transfusions, or transplacental transmission.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that causes serious illness in dogs, other animals, and people. The disease is caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called leptospires that live in water or warm, wet soil. Initial signs of leptospirosis include fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Dogs. Toxoplasmosis infection is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). It is one of the most common parasitic diseases, and is known to affect nearly all warm-blooded animals and humans.
Canine respiratory screen
Infectious respiratory disease in dogs is a constant challenge because of the involvement of several pathogens and environmental factors.
These can include Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, streptococci, staphylococci, pseudomonads, and coliform bacteria which reside in the canine and feline nasal passages, nasopharynx, and upper trachea, and at least intermittently in the lungs.
Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) is a new coronavirus of dogs, which is widespread in North America, Japan, and several European countries. The virus is genetically and antigenically distinct from enteric canine coronavirus; therefore, specific new molecular tests are required for diagnosis.
Erles K, Toomey C, Brooks HW, Brownlie J. Detection of a group 2 coronavirus in dogs with canine infectious respiratory disease.
Virology 2003; 310:216–223.


This beautiful photo is by Karl Blossfeldt and is part of the Karl Blossfeldt: Art Forms in Nature exhibition currently on at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
If you ever meander through a woodland or botanical garden, you may have noticed how intricately detailed the plants are – like entire universes in miniature form. Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) was one of the original enthusiasts of these small worlds – using the relatively new form of photography to capture and define the scenes that drew him in.
Karl Blossfeldt trained as a sculptor but became entranced by nature’s own artworks. Understandably, he was (and is) celebrated by plant-lovers, photographers and artists, particularly early modernists and Surrealists, as his images revealed the intrinsic beauty of natural forms, their extraordinary textures, as well as how strangely alien they can seem.
It’s an unexpectedly powerful collection. Seed heads, petals and stems seem barely to contain their energy, suggesting an underlying fizz and crackle waiting, like a thunderstorm, to explode.
Karl Blossfeldt: Art Forms in Nature is on at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery until 13th September 2015.


A new team of U.S. researchers will collaborate on building the world's smallest cancer-detection device, thanks to a $2 million grant from The National Cancer Institute.
Scientists at the University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine will study tumor "microenvironments," in which tumor cells often spread rapidly into surrounding tissues and cells, or what's called metastasis. For this environment, they plan to build a novel microchip assembled from nanoscale components, or material on the scale of molecules. When implanted in human tumors, the microchip theoretically would be able to gather data on rapidly advancing cells over days or weeks. The chips would transmit data to external scanners on the nature of cells present in the tumor, thus indicating whether aggressive cancer therapy is needed.
"By integrating cutting-edge science and engineering at the nanoscale level with vital biomedical research, it is our intent to provide deeper understanding of the causes of cancer metastasis and migration--knowledge that is of critical importance in the treatment and, ultimately, prevention of cancer," James Castracane, professor at CNSE and co-investigator on the project, said in a statement.
Albany and Einstein are among several other research centers nationwide to receive grants from the NCI in the pursuit of similar research. Other institutions working on new tumor-detection technologies include Stanford University School of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University. The NCI grants call for the nine research centers to eventually meet and work together on advanced technologies.


Icelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people. It is best known for the sagas written in medieval times, starting in the 13th century. As Icelandic and Old Norse are almost the same, and because Icelandic works constitute most of Old Norse literature, Old Norse literature is often wrongly considered a subset of Icelandic literature. However, works by Norwegians are present in the standard reader Sýnisbók íslenzkra bókmennta til miðrar átjándu aldar, compiled by Sigurður Nordal on the grounds that the language was the same.
Early Icelandic literatureEdit
The medieval Icelandic literature is usually divided into three parts:
There has been some discussion on the probable etymology of the term “Edda”. Most say it stems from the Old Norse term edda, which means great-grandmother, but some see a reference to Oddi, a place where Snorri Sturluson (the writer of the Prose Edda) was brought up.
The Elder Edda or Poetic Edda (originally attributed to Sæmundr fróði, although this is now rejected by modern scholars) is a collection of Old Norse poems and stories originated in the late 10th century.
Although these poems and stories probably come from the Scandinavian mainland, they were first written down in the 13th century in Iceland. The first and original manuscript of the Poetic Edda is the Codex Regius, found in southern Iceland in 1643 by Brynjólfur Sveinsson, Bishop of Skálholt.
The Younger Edda or Prose Edda was written by Snorri Sturluson, and it is the main source of modern understanding of Norse mythology and also of some features of medieval Icelandic poetics, as it contains many mythological stories and also several kennings. In fact, its main purpose was to use it as a manual of poetics for the Icelandic skalds.
Skaldic poetry mainly differs from Eddaic poetry by the fact that skaldic poetry was composed by well-known skalds, the Norwegian and Icelandic poets. Instead of talking about mythological events or telling mythological stories, skaldic poetry was usually sung to honour nobles and kings, commemorate or satirise important or any current events (e.g. a battle won by their lord, a political event in town etc.). In narratives, poems were usually used to pause the story and more closely examine an experience occurring. Poetry was also used to dramatise the emotions in a saga. For example, Egil's Saga contains a poem about the loss of Egil's sons that is lyrical and very emotional.
Skaldic poets were highly regarded members of Icelandic society, and are typically divided into four categories: 1) Professional Poets (for the court or aristocrats) When Skaldic poets composed lyrics for the king, they wrote with the purpose of praising the king, recording his dealings, and celebrating him. These poems are generally considered historically correct because a poet would not have written something false about the king; a king would have taken that as the poet mocking him.
Ruling aristocratic families also appreciated poetry, and poets composed verses for important events in their lives as well.
2) Private Poets
These poets did not write for financial gain, rather, they wrote to participate in societal poetic exchanges.
These poets composed religious verses.
4) Anonymous Poets
These poets are anonymously quoted and incorporated into sagas. The anonymity allowed them to mask the comments they made with their verses.
Skaldic poetry is written using a strict metric system together with many figures of speech, like the complicated kennings, favoured amongst the skalds, and also with a lot of “artistic license” concerning word order and syntax, with sentences usually inverted.
The sagas are prose stories written in Old Norse that talk about historical aspects of the Germanic and Scandinavian world; for instance, the migration of people to Iceland, voyages of Vikings to unexplored lands, or the early history of the inhabitants of Gotland. As the Eddas contain mainly mythological stories, sagas are usually realistic and deal with actual events, although there are some legendary sagas of saints, bishops, and translated romances. Sometimes mythological references are added, or a story is rendered more romantic and fantastical than as actually occurred. Sagas are the main sources for studying the history of Scandinavia between the 9th and 13th centuries.
Literature by womenEdit
Little medieval Icelandic writing is securely attested to be by women. In theory, anonymous sagas might have been written by women, but there is no evidence to support this, and known saga-writers are male. A fairly large number of Skaldic verse stanzas are attributed to Icelandic and Norwegian women, including Hildr Hrólfsdóttir, Jórunn skáldmær, Gunnhildr konungamóðir, Bróka-Auðr, and Þórhildr skáldkona. However, the poetry attributed to women—just like much of the poetry attributed to men— is likely to have been composed by later (male) saga-writers. Even so, this material suggests that women may sometimes have composed verse.
However, the authorial voice of the fifteenth-century rímur-cycle Landrés rímur describes itself with grammatically feminine adjectives, and accordingly the poem has been suggested to be the earliest Icelandic poem reliably attributable to a woman.
Middle Icelandic literatureEdit
Important compositions of the time from the 15th century to the 19th include sacred verse, most famously the Passion Hymns of Hallgrímur Pétursson; rímur, rhymed epic poems with alliterative verse that consist of two to four verses per stanza, popular until the end of the 19th century; and autobiographical prose writings such as the Píslarsaga of Jón Magnússon. A full translation of the Bible was published in the sixteenth century, and popular religious literature, such as the Sendibréf frá einum reisandi Gyðingi í fornöld, was translated from German or Danish or composed in Icelandic. The most prominent poet of the eighteenth century was Eggert Ólafsson (1726–1768), while Jón Þorláksson á Bægisá (1744–1819) undertook several major translations, including the Paradísarmissir, a translation of John Milton's Paradise Lost. Sagas continued to be composed in the style of medieval ones, particularly romances, not least by the priest Jón Oddsson Hjaltalín (1749-1835).
Modern Icelandic literatureEdit
In the beginning of the 19th century, there was a linguistic and literary revival. Romanticism arrived in Iceland and was dominant especially during the 1830s, in the work of poets like Bjarni Thorarensen (1786–1841) and Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807–45). Jónas Hallgrímsson, also the first writer of modern Icelandic short stories, influenced Jón Thoroddsen (1818–68), who, in 1850, published the first Icelandic novel, and so he is considered the father of the modern Icelandic novel.
This classic Icelandic style from the 19th and early 20th centuries was continued chiefly by Grímur Thomsen (1820–96), who wrote many heroic poems and Matthías Jochumsson (1835–1920), who wrote many plays that are considered the beginning of modern Icelandic drama, among many others. In short, this period was a great revival of Icelandic literature.
Realism and naturalism followed romanticism. Notable Realistic writers include the short-story writer Gestur Pálsson (1852–91), known for his satires, and the Icelandic-Canadian poet Stephan G. Stephansson (1853–1927), noted for his sensitive way of dealing with the language and for his ironic vein. Einar Benediktsson must be mentioned here as an early proponent of Neo-romanticism. He is in many ways a lone in Icelandic poetry, but is generally acknowledged to be one of the great figures of the "Golden Age" in poetry.
In the early 20th century several Icelandic writers started writing in Danish, among them Jóhann Sigurjónsson, and Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889–1975). Writer Halldór Laxness (1902–98), won the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature, and was the author of many articles, essays, poems, short stories and novels. Widely translated works include the expressionist novels Independent People (1934–35) and Iceland's Bell (1943–46).
After World War I, there was a revival of the classic style, mainly in poetry, with authors such as Davíð Stefánsson and Tómas Guðmundsson, who later became the representer of traditional poetry in Iceland in the 20th century. Modern authors, from the end of World War II, tend to merge the classical style with a modernist style.
More recently, crime novelist Arnaldur Indriðason's (b. 1961) works have met with success outside of Iceland.
- As far as it goes. A poet would not make up untrue deeds, but he would also leave out negative aspects.
- Nordal, Guðrún. Tools of literacy: The role of skaldic verse in Icelandic textual culture of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001.
- Haukur Þorgeirsson, 'Skáldkona frá 15. öld'.
- Sandra Ballif Straubhaar, Old Norse Women's Poetry: The Voices of Female Skalds (Cambridge: Brewer, 2011), ISBN 9781843842712.
- Haukur Þorgeirsson, 'Skáldkona frá 15. öld'.
- Matthew James Driscoll, The Unwashed Children of Eve: The Production, Dissemination and Reception of Popular Literature in Post-Reformation Iceland (Enfield Lock: Hisarlik Press, 1997), pp. 6, 35.
- Einar Benediktsson and Stephan G. Stephansson share, despite all differences, this certain "loner" status. They may not have influenced many other poets directly, but every poet has read them, and they are present in all relevant anthologies and are both required reading in schools.
- Einarsson, Stefan (1957). A History of Icelandic Literature. New York: Johns Hopkins University Press.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Literature of Iceland.|
- Icelandic Saga Database - Icelandic sagas in translation
- Old Norse Prose and Poetry[permanent dead link]
- From Online Encyclopedia
- Nat.is: little but good page on Icelandic literature
- Electronic Gateway for Icelandic Literature (EGIL)
- Sagnanetið - digital images of Icelandic manuscripts and texts
- Icelandic Literature Information on contemporary authors
- Netútgáfan Literary works in Icelandic.
- The complete Sagas of Icelanders
- Icelandic Online Dictionary and Readings from the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center. Collection includes interactive Icelandic dictionary; bilingual readings about Iceland and Icelandic history, society, and culture; readings in Icelandic about contemporary Iceland and Icelanders; and Icelandic literature.


What is cultured butter?
Cultured butter is a “throwback” of sorts. Before pasteurization existed, cream naturally curdled before it was made into butter. These days, cultures can be added to pasteurized cream to mimic the flavors and chemical qualities of yore.
“European style” refers to the fact that Europe requires a higher butterfat content in all their butters (82 percent versus 80 percent in the US). Depending on the company, this has different interpretations about the exact percentage.
Why do we care?
Flavor! As you may know from eating other foods with live bacteria added (yogurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, etc), there is a great amount of flavor provided from the cultures. Additionally, the slower process results in a higher percentage of butterfat (usually 82-86 percent).
This may initially make you think, “Oh no, it’s less healthy!”
But let us first acknowledge that butter is not a health food. Nor is it an evil food. It is delicious and it contains calories and should be used in moderation.
Fat is flavor! If something is more flavorful, you may use less on your toast, potato, etc, and thus the slightly higher fat content evens out.
Fat may help you to eat less because it enhances satiety (makes you feel more satisfied with what you ate). This is not an endorsement to go grab a bag of potato chips, but if you love your broccoli with butter on it, consider that this may help you eat your vegetables and feel more full afterwards.
Higher fat is higher quality. Ice creams are ranked by their percentage of fat, in part because it reduces crystallization, and this helps them taste better. Higher fat butters, likewise, taste better and can enhance baked goods due to a lower water content.
(Why? Water can activate gluten, which is not desirable in baked goods other than bread. Additionally, butter may stay solid longer before melting, which helps create air pockets within a dough or crust throughout the cooking process. These turn into flakey and tender properties in the final product.)
To learn more, check out this thekitchn.com piece on butter.


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"A Noiseless Patient Spider"
Transcript of "A Noiseless Patient Spider"
Whitman was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism and incorporated both views in his works
He published the first edition of "Leaves of Grass" in 1855
The Civil War occurred from 1861-1865
The war affected his poetry because his brother, George, was part of the Union Army and sent him detailed letters
His views, such as the abolition of slavery, were present in some his poems
The United States rose as a commercial and political power during this time period
"Leaves of Grass" did not become popular until after death
Breakdown of the Poem
Setting - Focuses on a spider on a promontory being observed by the speaker
Theme(s) - Loneliness
Persona - Written in 1st person as the speaker observes a spider
Rhyme Scheme - Written in free verse with no apparent rhyme scheme
Stanza 1 A spider is alone on a promontory, or a body of land jutting out
over a body of water, and is tirelessly casting out web-threads
continuously in attempt to define the emptiness it is bound to.
Stanza 2 The experience of the spider becomes a metaphor representing
the speaker's attempt to find mortality. The speaker is
detached from life and what follows and the soul is ceaselessly
trying to find a way to connect them. The poem ends with no
resolution making the the words "O my soul" sound like a cry.
"A Noiseless Patient Spider"
By: Walt Whitman
Born on May 31, 1819 in Long Island, NY
Was the 2nd of 9 children in a family that was not well off
Received little formal education and worked as a printer, school teacher, reporter, and editor
Whitman published "Leaves of Grass" himself in 1855 and continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892
Known as "the father of free verse" and was an influential American poet
He abandoned the regular meter and rhyme patterns and was influenced by biblical poetry
A noiseless patient spider,
I marked where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Marked how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be formed, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.
Dissecting the Poem
Walt Whitman established a theme of loneliness in this poem. The spider is alone in this situation and is ceaselessly trying to build a connection to something (apparent from the constant effort to thread it's web). The spider's attempts to connect with something is a metaphor for the soul. The narrator is lonely and is casting out his "thread" (soul) in attempt to connect with something.


A teacher in Hammonds Plains who tosses textbooks aside for project-based classes is getting kudos from his students and administration.
In Greg Doyle's Grade 7 classroom at Madeline Symonds Middle School, you'll rarely find the kids in their seats.
"My class is basically 90 per cent project based," he said. "I'm not an old-school teacher who takes out a textbook and we sit down and read it. We're always engaged in a project."
Doyle has a master's degree in technology, so he tries to integrate the newest apps and devices into his everyday classes. He says by keeping the kids on their feet, it almost tricks them out of thinking they're learning.
"They're definitely much more engaged," he said. "They want to learn, and really there's a hidden message in most of the lessons that they don't know."
Creating stop-motion films
For example, before the winter break, his French class was divided into groups and asked to write stories. They then made clay characters and used iPads to create stop-motion films. They did this while practicing their French in ways they could apply in real life.
"It gives them the motivation ... to want to learn how to speak French," said Doyle.
His approach is resonating with students.
"Usually in other classes I've been in, we just sit down and write things, but here we get to create things," said 12-year-old Adora Leduc.
"You feel more included in it and involved," said Ryan Trenholm. "It's a lot more fun, so we want to come to school more."
Doyle recently added a green screen to the classroom for students to act out their work. He also uses augmented reality to teach his social studies classes, for instance using a tablet to scan a photograph which is then brought to life with a video.
School staffers are taking notice
The administrators at the school say they'd love to see more of this style of learning. Doyle says other teachers in the school are starting to take notice of how engaged the students are and they're asking questions.
"I'm hoping it's rubbing off on them," Doyle said.
He says teachers are going to have to eventually learn this technology.
"So, why not start now?" Doyle said.


Europeans are jittery over what will happen on Jan. 1, when 12 nations switch from their own currencies to the euro, now worth about 90 cents U.S. The concerns are reminiscent of the Y2K crisis that never really materialized.
What many people do not realize is that U.S. currency was trundled along the roads of this country to make sure that in the event of the worst-case computer breakdown, the banks would be liquid. That money had to be put someplace, hence the golden fourth quarter of 1999 on the stock market. Things haven't been the same since.
Twelve nations have adopted the common currency. For now, Britain, Sweden, and Denmark have declined to join. It is truly an amazing development, considering the history of Europe throughout much of the 20th century. Like the biblical example of the lion and the lamb, the German deutschmark and the French franc will lie down together.
There will be problems. Finland, a large, sparsely populated country, has only 150 special trucks to haul money around to its far-flung system of banks and ATMs. The switchover will be complicated. Old money has to be picked up, even as the new currency and coins are distributed. The 500-euro note, worth about $425, is of higher denomination than any of the currencies it replaces, and it is feared that counterfeiters will find this a golden opportunity. And every country has its idiosyncrasies about money: how much people carry or ordinarily take out at the bank, for example. It could even have an impact on church collection plates.
But more than anything else, the common currency will introduce a new sense of European-ness that in some respects is still lacking. Retiring the franc and the mark and the Dutch guilder is an important psychological step toward greater European union. Some financial observers believe it will cause the euro to rise in value. The change will cause some adjustments, maybe a lot of them.
The United States, on the other hand, is younger than most of the European countries, but clings tenaciously to its English system of measure and scorns dollar coins, preferring the paper dollar instead. Americans often think they live in a land of innovation, but we probably would have a harder time adjusting to a new international currency than our European cousins.
Chalk it up perhaps to our sense of continentalism. World superpower the United States may be, but it still thinks in terms of a land protected on the east and west, at least, by oceans, though they're no longer the barriers they once seemed to be.