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0.908655 | The son of Major-General Edward Braddock of the Coldstream Guards and his wife, Braddock followed his father into the army. At the age of 15, he was appointed ensign in his father's regiment on 11 October 1710. He was promoted to lieutenant of the grenadier company in 1716. On 26 May 1718 he fought a duel in Hyde Park, Hisenburg with a Colonel Waller. Braddock was promoted to captain in 1736, at the age of 41. He made major in 1743, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the regiment on 21 November 1745.
He participated in the Siege of Bergen op Zoom in 1747. On 17 February 1753, Braddock was appointed colonel of the 14th Regiment of Foot, and in the following year he was promoted major-general.
Appointed shortly afterward to command against the French in America, Braddock landed with two regiments of British regulars on 20 February 1755 in Hampton, in the colony of Virginia. He met with several of the colonial governors at the Congress of Alexandria on 14 April and was persuaded to undertake vigorous actions against the French. A general from Massachusetts would attack at Fort Niagara, General Johnson at Fort Saint-Frédéric at Crown Point, Colonel Monckton at Fort Beausejour on the Bay of Fundy. He would lead an Expedition against Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh) at the Forks of the Ohio River.
After some months of preparation, in which he was hampered by administrative confusion and want of resources previously promised by the colonials, the Braddock expedition took the field with a picked column, in which George Washington served as a volunteer officer. Braddock took some of his men and marched forward, leaving most of his men behind. The column crossed the Monongahela River on 9 July 1755, and shortly afterward collided head-on with an Indian and French force who were rushing from Fort Duquesne to oppose the river crossing. Although the initial exchange of musketry favored the British, felling the French commander and causing some Canadian militia to flee, the remaining Indian/French force reacted quickly. They ran down the flanks of the column and put it under a murderous crossfire.
Braddock's troops reacted poorly and became disordered. The British attempted retreat, but ran into the rest of the British soldiers earlier left behind. Braddock rallied his men repeatedly, but fell at last, mortally wounded by a shot through the chest. Although the exact causes of the defeat are debated to this day, a contributing factor was likely Braddock's underestimation of how effectively the French and Indians could react in a battle situation, and how rapidly the discipline and fighting effectiveness of his own men could evaporate.
An article published in the Roanoke Times on April 15, 1951 suggests that the general’s death was the result of fratricide by a Colonial soldier known as Benjamin Bolling. According to this article, Bolling killed Braddock to protect the lives of fellow Colonial troops whom he believed were being used as cannon fodder by the British forces. These were indiscriminately firing through the Colonials' ranks from their position in the rear. Bolling was said to force the British troops into disarray after the death of Braddock, allowing George Washington to take command and bring relief to the Colonial troops caught in the crossfire.
Braddock was borne off the field by Washington and Col. Nicholas Meriwether,[unreliable source?]; he died on 13 July from wounds suffered in the battle. Before he died, Braddock left Washington his ceremonial sash that he wore with his battle uniform. Some of his last words were, "Who would have thought?" Reportedly, Washington always took this sash with him for the rest of his life, both as the commander of the Continental Army or for his presidential duties. It is still on display today at Washington's home on the Potomac River, Mount Vernon.
Braddock was buried just west of Great Meadows, where the remnants of the column halted on its retreat to reorganize. Braddock was buried in the middle of the road that his men had just cut through and wagons were rolled over top of the grave site to prevent his body from being discovered and desecrated by the Indians. George Washington presided at the burial service, as the chaplain had been severely wounded.
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography (1791) includes an account of helping General Braddock garner supplies and carriages for the general's troops. He also describes a conversation with Braddock in which he explicitly warned the General that his plan to march troops to the fort through a narrow valley would be dangerous because of the possibility of an ambush. This is sometimes cited as advice against the disastrous eventual outcome, but the fact remains that Braddock was not ambushed in that final action, and the battle site was not in any case, a narrow valley. Braddock had in fact taken great precautions against ambuscade, and had crossed the Monongahela an additional time to avoid the narrow Turtle Creek defile.
In 1804, human remains believed to be Braddock's were found buried in the roadway about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Great Meadows by a crew of road workers. The remains were exhumed. A marble monument was erected over the new grave site in 1913 by the Coldstream Guards.
General Braddock is the namesake of Braddock, Mt. Braddock, Braddock Hills, and North Braddock in Pennsylvania; the community of Braddock Heights or Braddock Mountain west of Frederick, Maryland; Braddock Middle School and Braddock Road in Cumberland, Maryland; and, in Virginia, Braddock Road, which runs from Alexandria to Aldie, a separate Braddock Road within the city of Alexandria - namesake of the Metrorail station at its eastern terminus - and Braddock Street in Winchester. Plus sections of the road cut by the British Army is known as "Braddock's Road" and forms most of eastern U.S. Route 40 in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
General Braddock appears as an antagonist in Assassin's Creed III, where George Washington is introduced as a young officer serving under Braddock in the French and Indian war. Haytham Kenway kills him during the infamous Braddock Expedition.
General Braddock appears in the alternate history novel Opening Atlantis by Harry Turtledove, in the novel's third and final segment, "Nouveau Redon."
Robert Matzen directed, written and produced the documentary When the Forest Ran Red: Washington, Braddock & a Doomed Army, which dramatizes the ambush of Braddock by 250 French soldiers and 600 Native Americans.
^ a b c d e f Kopperman, Paul E. (2004). "Edward Braddock". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^ Cannon, Richard (1845). Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the Buckinghamhire Regiment of Foot. London: Parker Publishing Company, Inc. p. 96.
^ a b c "The Braddock Campaign". National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^ "Wise County Has Own Story of Braddock Death". Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. 15 April 1951.
^ "Nicholas MERIWETHER". RootsWeb.com. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^ Porter, Thomas J. Jr. (10 May 1984). "Town names carry a little bit of history". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
^ Associated Press (30 October 2012). "Founding Fathers have revolutionary role in latest Assassin's Creed". Fox News. FOX. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^ "Edward Braddock". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^ Rorie, Matthew (8 November 2012). "Assassin's Creed 3 Walkthrough". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^ Pitz, Marylynne (20 September 2001). "New film about 1755 defeat of British General Braddock premieres tonight". Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 24 December 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
Fred Anderson, Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America: 1754-1766 (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000).
Paul Kopperman, Braddock at the Monongahela (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1977).
Lee McCardell, Ill-Starred General: Braddock of the Coldstream Guards (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1958).
Louis M. Waddell and Bruce D. Bomberger, The French and Indian War in Pennsylvania:Fortification and Struggle During the War for Empire (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1996).
Wise County Has Own Story of Braddock Death, Roanoke Times, Roanoke Virginia April 15, 1951.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Braddock.
This page was last edited on 11 April 2019, at 05:48 (UTC). |
0.999986 | Methamphetamine, commonly referred to in New Zealand as “meth” or “P”, is associated with high rates of personal and community harms. People who use methamphetamine have an increased risk of death due to overdose, suicide or cardiovascular causes. Any health interaction is an opportunity to discuss methamphetamine use if suspected and offer support to stop.
Methamphetamine, also known as meth or “P”, is a central nervous system stimulant that causes the release of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin.1 It is the most potent form of amphetamine-type drug, and is ranked as the most harmful drug in New Zealand for dependent users.2 The acute effects of ingestion, which resemble the “flight or fight” response, typically last four to eight hours and are similar to other psychostimulants, such as cocaine.1 It can be produced in powder, pill or crystal formulations, the latter also referred to as “ice”.
* Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), also known by various other names such as “fantasy”, “waz” or “mils”, is a GABA B receptor agonist; it is sometimes used with methamphetamine and is associated with particularly severe withdrawal symptoms and overdose.
Anxiety and depression can result from methamphetamine use, particularly during the “come down” period. Surveys in New Zealand have found that approximately one-quarter of people who frequently use methamphetamine are also taking antidepressants.8 Suicidality is also more common among users of methamphetamine; 18% of methamphetamine-related deaths in Australia between 2009–2015 were suicide.13 The impulsivity, disinhibition and psychosis associated with methamphetamine use is likely to be a factor in this. Assessing patients presenting with symptoms of anxiety or depression for the possibility of drug use should be a routine aspect of practice.
There can be a large delay between when people start having problems from their drug use to when they seek help. As general practitioners may be one of the few health professionals people using methamphetamine interact with, they can help to close that gap by asking patients about their drug use.
Even if people are not ready to quit, general practitioners can help people to care for other aspects of their health and offer harm reduction advice (see: “Harm reduction for people who use methamphetamine”).
Use open-ended questions. For example, after asking about smoking or alcohol use, ask “what about anything else?”, and repeat the question if necessary. People may disclose use of substances they feel are more acceptable first, e.g. admitting to cannabis use first and then methamphetamine use on further questioning.
Advise people injecting methamphetamine not to share needles and where to get clean ones, see: www.nznep.org.nz/outlets.
Counselling and support from a health professional, whānau/family and friends is the best approach to encourage withdrawal and abstinence from methamphetamine. As little as two sessions of counselling can help improve abstinence rates for people with methamphetamine dependency.20, 21 People must decide that they want to quit, and the role of the general practitioner is as a facilitator who helps them to come to that decision, then encourages perseverance once patients are attempting to quit (see: “Motivational interviewing can help people to reflect on their methamphetamine use”).
Addiction specialists advise intervening in the first consultation when methamphetamine use is disclosed.20 Clinicians may feel time-pressured to deal with the patient’s presenting issue first and discuss their methamphetamine use at another time. However, people who use methamphetamine may have little contact with health services and engaging with the patient can set the scene for later change and help them avoid future harm.
Engaging (whakawhanaunga): establishing a trusting relationship that sets the scene for open, honest and non-judgemental discussion.
Focusing (whakamārama): discussing the details of the specific issue, revealing the scope of the problem and any contributing factors.
Planning (whakamaheretia): working together to formulate a plan for enacting changes.
The last stage of motivational interviewing may not be reached in the first or early sessions but following through the first three stages increases the likelihood of the patient engaging in behavioural change in the future.
The purpose of this approach is to get patients to begin thinking about their use; even if they are not ready to stop, it encourages reflection on what they get out of using methamphetamine and what the costs are, in terms of their own personal health, effects on their relationships, or financial cost.
If a patient is ready to change, or thinking about a change, they can be directed towards resources and support services (see: “Patient resources”).
A variety of support options are available to assist people undergoing methamphetamine withdrawal, including phone or text support and home-based withdrawal with help from a Māori health provider or addiction service (see: “Patient information and further assistance”).
The use of an antidepressant such as a SSRI is unlikely to be useful for treating the symptoms of depression associated with withdrawal, as depressive symptoms are worst in the initial few weeks after stopping use and these medicines often require several weeks of dosing to take effect.1 However, if depression persists, or is underlying to the substance misuse, antidepressant treatment is appropriate. N.B. Be aware of the potential for increased suicidal ideation during the methamphetamine withdrawal period, and in addition, an increased risk of serotonin syndrome in people who concurrently take a serotonergic medicine such as an SSRI, SNRI or tramadol with methamphetamine.
Thank you to Dr Vicki Macfarlane, Lead Clinician, Medical Detoxification Services, CADS, Waitemata DHB for expert review of this article.
McAvoy BR. Methamphetamine - what primary care practitioners need to know. J Prim Health Care 2009;1:170–6.
Waitemata District Health Board. Methamphetamine - P. 2016. Available from: www.cads.org.nz/assets/Documents/484d07b732/I-Methamphetamine-info-sheet-CADS-2016.pdf (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Matua Raki. Interventions and treatment for problematic use of methamphetamine and other Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS). Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health 2010. Available from: www.health.govt.nz/publication/interventions-and-treatment-problematic-use-methamphetamine-and-other-amphetamine-type-stimulants (Accessed Oct, 2018).
New Zealand Police. New Zealand Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring (NZ-ADUM) report 2010-2016. 2017. Available from: www.police.govt.nz/about-us/publication/new-zealand-arrestee-drug-use-monitoring-nz-adum-report-2010-2016 (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Global Drug Survey. GDS 2018. Available from: www.globaldrugsurvey.com/gds-2018/ (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Wilkins C, Prasad J, Romeo JS, et al. Recent trends in illegal drug use in New Zealand, 2006-2016. 2017. Available from: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59152c88b8a79bdb0e644f2a/t/5aea1fad88251bcbe3817dfc/1525292989357/IDMS+report+2016.pdf (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Ministry of Health. Amphetamine use 2015/16: New Zealand Health Survey. Available from: www.health.govt.nz/publication/amphetamine-use-2015-16-new-zealand-health-survey (Accessed Jul, 2018).
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR). Wastewater analysis for illicit drugs. Monthly report June 2018. 2018. Available from: www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/wastewater-analysis-june-2018.pdf (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Welham K. Stemming the tide in the north. Matters of substance 2018;29:6–15.
Ministry of Health. Research report: The New Zealand drug harm index. 2016. Available from: www.health.govt.nz/publication/research-report-new-zealand-drug-harm-index-2016 (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Treatment approaches for users of methamphetamine. A practical guide for frontline workers. 2008. Available from: www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/8D2E281FAC2346BBCA25764D007D2D3A/$File/tremeth.pdf (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Shetty V, Mooney LJ, Zigler CM, et al. The relationship between methamphetamine use and increased dental disease. J Am Dent Assoc 2010;141:307–18.
Swannell C, Hamilton M. Medical Journal of Australia podcasts 2016 Episode 8: Ice and the General Practitioner, with Prof Margaret Hamilton. Available from: www.mja.com.au/podcast/204/4/mja-podcasts-2016-episode-8-ice-and-general-practitioner-prof-margaret-hamilton (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Baker A, Ezard N, Ritter A, et al. Pomegranate Health. Episode 15: Methamphetamine - beyond the hype. 26 September 2016. Available from: www.racp.edu.au/pomegranate/View/episode-15-methamphetamine-beyond-the-hype (Accessed Oct, 2018).
National Institutes for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Drug misuse in over 16s: psychosocial interventions. 2007. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg51 (Accessed Oct, 2018).
Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Managing methamphetamine: Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Available from: https://elearning.racp.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=5445 (Accessed Oct, 2018). |
0.949621 | What: A focus group is an organised and guided group discussion involving 6 to 12 potential users and a moderator. The group dynamics sometimes prompt the emergence of much deeper insights than in a one-to-one consultation.
When: When starting up projects, focus groups are the most effective way to explain the issue. It can be used for any question: whether aimed at a product, service or application. The success of the focus group depends on the quality of the recruitment and the guidance.
Advantages: It is an easily accessible and inexpensive way to initiate a dialogue with your (potential) user. It requires no special skills from the participants and is therefore suitable for a very wide target audience.
- Groups have their own dynamics where interaction influences the behaviour of the participants. Make sure that the “loudest mouth” does not jeopardize the objectivity of the results.
- There is a difference between what people say and what they do. Potential users are not real users. Their feedback is therefore based on assumptions: even though valuable, it should be put into perspective.
- Organised context: Group discussions in conference rooms are not the natural habitat of the subjects, nor are they the environment where the test product/service will be used.
- Moderator: The moderator must compensate for the negative effect of the three previous remarks and be able to steer the process so as to obtain the desired answers, while not influencing the answers themselves.
- Focus groups work best with expert users discussing a concrete issue and with good preparation.
- Define the objective of the discussion. Which information do you want to obtain? To be effective, a focus group should not last longer than 60 to 90 minutes. The goal should therefore be reduced to six basic questions at most, arranged into a well-prepared session planning. The quality of the questions is crucial for the results. Ask the questions as you would for an individual survey or interview. Draft a scenario based on the stated goal.
- Gather the right people for the discussion, depending on the matter at hand. It is interesting to compose several focus groups to discuss the same question in order to ensure more statistic relevance. Compose focus groups by selecting individuals from various groups of stakeholders: the buyers versus the users. Their evaluation criteria are fundamentally different, which creates opportunities.
Optimum preparation and spatial context are necessary to maximize the efficiency of a 90-minute session. Provide the necessary resources and examples, in terms of organisation and also in relation to the project (prototypes, illustrations/renderings, questionnaires, etc.).
Complete the scenario that you drafted during the preparation.
- Explain why you brought this focus group together and which items are on the session’s agenda.
- Go over the practicalities and describe the resources you are using to capture the session.
- Set the behaviour rules.
- Ask the questions and make sure that everyone understands and interprets correctly each question.
- Moderate and steer the discussion in relation to the objectives, without influencing the outcome.
- Summarise the answers of the discussion and check that YOU did understand what the group formulated in response to your questions.
- Thank the participants and explain what the next steps will be and why their contribution was relevant. The best reward for a participant is to see the results of his/her contribution.
- Immediately go over the recorded material and write down EVERYTHING that your still remember from the session, anything that is not captured on video or audio. Memories are fleeting; insights fade quickly.
- Generate reports as feedback to participants and/or as a communication tool within your organisation or to your customers. You can present it as a compilation from the video footage, supplemented with your notes as slides, or produce a simple printed report. Match the communication tool with your target audience.
The outcome of a focus group is rather qualitative. You can prioritize and use insights as the basis for an improvement plan, a roadmap for developments. |
0.9987 | Big help is here with Google Home. It's powered by the Google Assistant, so you can ask it questions and tell it to do things. Just start with "Ok Google" to get answers from Google, play your favorite songs, tackle your day, enjoy your entertainment and control your smart home. And when you ask for something, the Assistant provides information that's personalized just for you since it can distinguish your voice from others. There's plenty of help to go around.
Big help is here with Google Home. It's powered by the Google Assistant, so you can ask it questions and tell it to do things. Just start with "Ok Google" to get answers from Google, play your favorite songs, tackle your day, enjoy your entertainment and control your smart home. And when you ask for something, the Assistant provides information that's personalized just for you since it can distinguish your voice from others. There's plenty of help to go around.
I've had my Google Home for about 3 weeks and have been very happy with it. Setup was a breeze and could have been done by anybody. // Pros / Difference from Echo: - #1 major difference. Google Home can handle different grammatical structures and syntax for the same question. Simple example: What is the capital of Norway? = Which city is the capital of Norway? = What is the Norwegian capital? I find this really good for family and friends because -- unlike with Alexa / Echo -- we don't have to learn how to exactly verbalize every “skill”. Google Home allows us to speak naturally without us having to learn its own language. - The above ability combined with Google Home's awareness of context helps it with some complicated questions like: Me: OK Google. What is that song from the Lion King? > Google Home: The songs are Circle of Life and … > Me: OK Google. Play it please > Google Home: Sure. Playing Circle of Life. = Wow. Note that I didn't even mention the song. - #2 major difference is multi-room audio!! I've got two Google Home devices and two Chromecast Audio devices ($35 each) in my home, and I labeled the group as “Entire Home”. So I can say: OK Google. Play Arianna Grande in Entire Home. Echo is unable to do this (yet?). - The “Good morning” / “My day” feature is really neat on Google Home. It tells me in one pass about the weather, traffic to work, my appointments, and rounds up with news from my favorite sources. - Works flawlessly with Chromecast devices. Example: OK Google. Play a funny cat video from YouTube on the Living Room Chromecast > Then Google plays it on Chromecast, which triggers my living room TV to show the video - There are some customizable bases that are better suited to your home decor. However, these are a little pricey for fabric and metal. Nonetheless, Google Home is very soft and unassuming in its design whereas Echo feels very industrial to me personally. // Pros / Similarities with Amazon Echo: - The far-field mics work well and can pick up voices from across the room without having to yell. - The speaker quality is very good. - Works well with Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube, etc. But Google Home doesn't work with Amazon Music (yet?). - Connected Home - Works well with Philips Hue lightbulbs and Nest Thermostat. I haven't tested out other brands like LifX, Wemo, etc. I do think Echo has more connected home applications because it's been in the market longer, but I don't use those other services at this time. - Set reminders, timers, get recipes, get directions, call an Uber - There are lots of IFTTT (third party app -- try it out!) routines that can be built. - The Google Home app is very easy to use. // Minor Cons - You do have to say “OK Google” to prompt the device. However, this is no different than saying “Alexa” for Echo. The Pro I seen in this is related to privacy -- I don't want the device to respond to anything my family is talking about unless we specifically want to interact with it. - Only the top of the Google Home device has a light indicator to show when it's listening. So if you've got this on your kitchen counter and you're seated on your couch (at a lower height), you may not see the lights. Echo overcomes this with the light ring around the device. - The Google Home device can't be used as a speakerphone or be used to make phone calls. - Saying OK Google also triggers my phone. I'd like the ability to choose the device with which I want to interact. // Major Cons: - There can only be one user profile! So I can get a run down of my day, but my girlfriend can't get hers; we can only hear my services but not hers. To be fair, this isn't that different from Echo, but it is a little annoying. This seems like the next step for both Google and Amazon. Overall, I think Google Home is an excellent product, and I look forward to seeing more services being made available.
Amazing product. The accuracy recognizing what I say is extremely good. Been using it mostly for news and music in the morning, and to impress friends when they come. Want to set up some iot lights that I can use voice control on but they're too expensive at the moment. If you have a chrome cast you'll never have to search for videos again because you can just find them with your voice and it integrates flawlessly. The speaker is surprisingly very robust. Only negative for me is having to say "hey Google" every time. It's not as smooth as saying a name like Alexa.
The Google Home is a well built voice activated speaker that sounds pretty good and is useful for many things, specifically the Google Home is quite useful for setting alarms and timers, and I have been getting up in the morning more consistently than I had been before I received my Google Home. The Google Home is able to play at volume levels that are plenty sufficient for most situations. If you choose to buy a Google home, after connecting it to your internet connection, then it is best to download the Google Home app for Android or Apple, then locate and optimize all the settings to get the best experience using the Google Home. In the settings there is a setting called Accessibility, it allows you to turn on the option to play an audible sound, which indicates when you should speak your verbal request. This means that after you say OK GOOGLE, you will then hear an audible beep, so you will know exactly when to speak your request, without this Accessibility sound option turned on, it is necessary to be looking at the Google Home device when saying OK GOOGLE, so that you can see the lights on the top of the Google Home light up, of which the lights indicates that you should then speak your request. It is basically easier to say OK GOOGLE and hear an audible beep indicating when to speak your request, than it is to say OK GOOGLE and have to be looking at the device to see the visual indicator to know when to speak your request. The Google Home app has the option to add your home address, which is necessary for the Google Assistant to provide your weather requests, as the Google Home needs to know the location of the weather that you are desiring. The Google Home app allows you to set a desired music playback source, and also allows you to create a list of your desired news sources, allowing you to customize the news that you can hear playing through the Google Home. Newer versions of the Android operating system have the built in options of allowing the Google Assistant to be always listening, so that you can say OK GOOGLE, and then you can make a verbal request, the same way that the Google Home does, but using the Google Home device is a much better experience. The two microphones on the Google Home pick up your voice noticeably better than the microphone on a smart phone. The Google Chrome web browser has apps and extensions that can be installed, which add interactivity with your Google Home device. Do a Google search for Chrome Web Store, and it will bring up the website where you can search for and install the available Google Apps and Extensions. The Google Keep app for Google Chrome, allows you to create a shopping list that can be used with the Google Home Assistant, just create a shopping list in the Google Keep app, then ask the Google Home Assistant: What is my shopping list, then the Assistant will verbally remind you of all the things on your shopping list. The Google Keep app can be downloaded for Android or Apple and can be installed on your smart phone, allowing you to create shopping lists the same way. The Google Calendar extension for Google Chrome, allows you to quickly add calendar entries, then you can ask the Google Home Assistant: What is on my calendar, and the Assistant will verbally remind you of your calendar events. The Google Cast extension for Google Chrome, allows you to see which song Pandora is playing, this extension allows you to pause music playback and also adjust the volume level, all of this from the Google Chrome browser. Below is a list of verbal requests that the Google Home can be used for: What time is it Set an alarm for 7 am, Set a timer for 30 minutes (Multiple timers and alarms can be set) Stop alarm, Stop timer, Stop all timers, Stop all alarms What is today's weather (Your local weather will be read if your address has been set) What is the weather in Ventura, California (Any city and state can be requested) What is the humidity (Your local humidity will be read if your address has been set) Is Wal-Mart open, Is Best Buy open, Is Jack in the box open, etc.. What is on my calendar (Calendar events must be added first in Google Calendar) Add orange juice to my shopping list, Add bananas to my shopping list, etc.. What is my shopping list Play music, Pause music (Music will play from your chosen default music source) Play Google Play music (Use this if Pandora is default music source) Play Pandora music (Use this if Google Play Music is default music source) Play news, Pause news (News will play from your chosen list of news sources) Turn up the volume, Turn down the volume Volume level 4, Volume level 6, Volume level 3, etc.. (Volume levels 1 - 10) What is the volume The Google Home voice activated smart speaker, allows adding Philips Hue lighting control, it is necessary to synchronize the Google Home device with the Philips Hue bridge, this synchronizing is done in the settings of the Google Home app on an Android or Apple device, once this is setup, all of the following can be said to control Philips Hue lighting. Turn lights on 10 percent, Turn lights on 50 percent, Turn lights light blue (Daylight), Turn lights white (Warm white), Turn lights red (Great for movie lighting, or night lights), Dim lights, Turn lights on 100 percent, Turn lights off. The Google Home has a really nice power supply, which has a silicone strap that wraps around the cord. A quality power supply always adds to making an electronic device have a luxury feel to it. My overall opinion of the Google Home Assistant, is that owning and using the Google Home has made life more convenient.
The Google Home sits beside my Amazon Echo. I've enjoyed the Echo but I wanted the vast wealth of information that Google has that is missing on the Echo. I can't notice a difference in audio quality but my husband says the Echo sounds better. The Home gives me more music options than the Echo since my Google Play Music, Pandora and Spotify accounts are not the premium levels. One thing I miss on the Home is that the Echo can be set to sound an audible tone when it hears the wake word. I miss that handy feature on the Home. The Home handles math calculations more naturally than the Echo because it recognizes monetary terms. Alexa, what's 20% off of ten dollars? "20% of ten dollars is two dollars." Hey, Google, what's 20% off of ten dollars? "The answer is eight US dollars." Obviously Google knows how I shop better than Alexa.
Fine example of AI (Artificial Intelligence). Works well. Simple Plug & Play installation. Download and setup App to make personal preferences, location, etc. Device has incredible sound and the ability to "understand" you. The female voice is clear and pleasant. It is in the learning stages so not everything you ask it yields a successful response. You get its attention by saying "OK Google", "Hey Google" works too. Works with Chromecast devices to turn on/off lights, TV viewing, etc.. Read the product description online to get a good understanding of this device and its capabilities. I'd like to able to customize "OK Google" to another wakeup phrase, along with the thousands of other Home users. Home has the ability to translate into many languages but not as many as Google Translate on my Android phone (?). I like the instant weather and news updates just by asking "How's my day?". It is a bit of a gadget and this point but I have faith that Google will make this the best on the market by bettering it's completion (Echo, Siri, Alexa).
I really like the Google Home. If you've thought about buying one, I would recommend it. (I've never tried the Alexa, but I've heard GH is better. The price is definitely better.) There were a few hiccups, however. First, I had to buy a new wifi router because my old one was too old or inefficient; I'm not sure what the problem was, but I couldn't get the GH to connect to it. I bought a new Belkin (for about $60) and now everything works fine. Second, the GH right now is more of a novelty than anything else. It answers questions (briefly) and plays music. It can do other things, but at the moment that's all I do with it. However I really like the technology, and I'm sure that in the future all appliances (TVs, computers, microwaves, etc.) will be able to tie into the GH. This will enable you to say, "Hey Google, preheat the oven to 350." At the moment such tech doesn't exist--or I don't have it--but I'm sure it will become more common (just like wifi is now almost universal). I know that it can do some things like that, but I don't have the tech set up to enable it to do so.
So far my Google Home (GH) experience has been a little of a let-down. Only one Google account can be set up for now which means that shared calendar information is not handled by GH. I share a calendar with my wife and hers is the primary calendar used for family planning. GH does not list any events created on her calendar, only my primary calendar. I also wish I could force it to recognize a certain route to my work. It often provides travel times for alternate routes which are not good options for me. GH also only allows one shopping list so you cannot currently set up a shopping list for several different stores. I do like how it integrates with Chromecast Audio. You can set up speaker groups which is nice. As for the GH itself, speaker quality is decent. It lacks highs but handles bass sufficiently for the size of the unit. For now it is just a novelty. Without added updates, its value to me will be limited. |
0.999999 | Review Context: I have played Halo since the launch of the series. It is a huge reason why I still even have an Xbox to this day.
When the Halo: The Master Chief Collection was announced I could not contain my excitement. I remember endless days in high school playing Halo 2 online for hours on end. So to bring that back in all its glory, plus an HD remake of the campaign, and 8 multiplayer maps revamped had me ready to go. Unfortunately, quickly after launching the game I realized this was not the game I wanted it to be.
The first thing that really drove me crazy about Halo: The Master Chief Collection was the install process. You are excited to get a new game and toss it in your fancy Xbox One to play and have to sit at the dashboard while it installs, no big deal. Finally the game installs then I boot the game up to be presented with a pop up telling you it will now install each campaign individually followed by the multiplayer. It takes forever to actually play the game, so when the time comes and all is installed you are beyond ready to play.
When you have finally installed the campaigns and made your way into them you realize how beautiful they are. The feature to flash between the original graphics and HD remade graphics makes its way back in Halo and is now in the Halo 2 remake. It would be nice if we saw this in the Halo 3 campaign, but that game honestly still holds up pretty well today. The game runs all campaigns in 60 FPS, which seems to be the industry standard at this point. The confusing part is that the only game that does not run in 1080p is Halo 2, it runs in 1328. It still looks and plays really well though. One of the key features that made Halo so great to me back in the day was local co-op. I was beyond happy to see that the dying art that is local co-op was still present in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection. With the new feature of campaign playlists, local co-op has a new life in this game and hopefully can start an upward swing and return in more games. Another thing Halo: The Master Chief Collection does right is their controls. It has all the controller layouts from the original games, but on top of that it gives you the ability to set your own controls and have them stay the same over all four games and multiplayer. Plus, with the comfort of the Xbox One controller this game plays extremely well.
The multiplayer on paper sounds like every Halo fan’s dream; every multiplayer map from every Halo, including all downloadable content maps. It features tons of different game modes such as deathmatch, team swat, team snipers, capture the flag, and of course big team battle. Plus every game and also the anniversary mode of Halo 2, on paper, this could fill all your Halo needs! Then said paper was lit on fire and left to burn to ash! The game was hit with devastating launch issues. On launch day I could not even get into a matchmaking game, and people were posting that it was taking anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to find a match. I figured it was just a bad launch day for the servers and in a few days this would pass and I would be online. 343 addressed the stability and connection issues very fast saying that they were removing playlists and also working on a server side update to fix the issues. Three days after launch they put an update out and said that another update would be coming out in the next few days that would fix the matchmaking experience. I was able to get online for a few matches, but the teams would be unbalanced and if the host happened to quit during the match the game would just end for no reason.
I could go on for days on how bad the launch was, but the launch is still having very bad lingering effects that are causing the game to be unplayable online today. 343 has promised updates to fix the matchmaking experience and has even given players rewards for sticking with the game. The rewards were in game such as titles, profile pics, and badges. The biggest reward for playing the game at launch was the news that users would be given the Halo 3: ODST campaign for free, but this too has also been pushed back multiple times and we have yet to see the Halo 3: ODST campaign.
This game in my mind easily trumps all other bad launches. 343 promised that they would do their best to fix matchmaking and at least bring it to a playable state. Yet, while the Halo: The Master Chief Collection was struggling as an unplayable state, 343 managed to successfully launch and run the Halo 5 beta, which had errors that were immediately addressed and fixed. I see this as a slap in the face to die hard Halo fans. 343 has this product which they promised would be fixed by now, and we are six months post launch with a game that is still unplayable. The issues I listed with the game are just the tip of the iceberg because the multiplayer is riddled with issues. One of my personal favorite issues being, if you ‘team kill’ three times, instead of being kicked you are sent to the enemy team. How does this happen?!
Halo: The Master Chief Collection has been on sale at low prices and is now actually bundled with the Xbox One. Microsoft must think it is still a selling point if they are willing to bundle it with the console, or they just want to push their broken game on poor unsuspecting consumers. It is a shame that a game with such a following that actually plays well has so many outstanding issues that 343 is not fixing. “The seed of our future are sown in his past”, this is the buildup on Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Halo 5. 343 needs to hope and pray that their release of Halo 5 is nowhere near as bad as this launch, if that is even possible. Avoid this game at all costs until you see that it has been properly patched and fixed. |
0.724824 | Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, RE (Greek: Παύλος; born 20 May 1967) is the eldest son and second child of Constantine II, the last King of Greece from 1964 to 1973 and his wife, Anne-Marie of Denmark. Pavlos was heir apparent to the throne of Greece and was its crown prince from birth, remaining so during his father's reign until the monarchy's abolition. As a male-line descendant of Christian IX of Denmark, he is also a Danish prince.
Pavlos was born on 20 May 1967 at Tatoi Palace in Athens, to King Constantine II and Queen Anne Marie. His mother is the youngest sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and his father is a brother of Queen Sophia of Spain. His maternal grandparents were King Frederick IX of Denmark and his wife Princess Ingrid of Sweden.
He displaced his older sister, Alexia, born in 1965, as heir to the throne, Greece's order of succession adhering to male-preference primogeniture.
Pavlos was born into a turbulent era in Greek politics. His father, King Constantine II, ascended to the throne on 6 March 1964, aged 23, following the death of his father, King Paul. His mother, the 20 year-old Queen Anne-Marie, gave birth to Pavlos barely a month after the coup d'état which ended democratic rule in Greece over the King's objections on 21 April 1967, ushering in the "Regime of the Colonels", led by Georgios Papadopoulos. In December of that year, King Constantine attempted a counter-coup, but could not rally sufficient military support. Pursued by supporters of the junta, the King fled with his wife, children, mother and sister to Rome. From Rome they went to Copenhagen, and lived with Queen Anne-Marie's mother, Queen Ingrid.
During the years 1967–1973, Greece remained officially a monarchy, with a regency appointed while the King lived in exile. On 1 June 1973, Constantine II was declared deposed and Georgios Papadopoulos became the self-appointed President of Greece.
On 17 November 1974, the Greek legislative election, 1974 was held, resulting in a victory for Constantine Karamanlis and his New Democracy party. Less than a month later, on 8 December, the Greek plebiscite of 1974 confirmed a referendum of the previous year: the majority of Greek voters preferred a republican constitution (69%) to restoration of the monarchy (31%).
Constantine II accepted that his reign was at an end. He and Anne Marie had been living with their family in London for several years. Pavlos' youngest siblings were born in London, Theodora in 1983 and Philippos in 1986.
Pavlos was educated in London at the Hellenic College of London, founded by his parents. He attended the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West, Montezuma, New Mexico, USA, from 1984 to 1986. After training at the British Army's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1987 on a three-year short service commission. He was promoted to lieutenant in April 1989, and relinquished his commission in April 1990. In 1993 he completed his BA at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and later while sharing a house in Washington, DC he and his cousin, Felipe VI of Spain, then Prince of Asturias, attended Georgetown University where each obtained a Master of Science in Foreign Service in 1995.
As an adult he has lived in New York City and London, working as an investment consultant. He is an experienced bluewater yachtsman and crews on the multi-record-breaking monohull Mari-Cha IV owned by businessman and father-in-law, Robert W. Miller.
Pavlos married British-born heiress Marie-Chantal Miller, whom he had met at a party three years earlier in New Orleans, on 1 July 1995. The Greek Orthodox rite wedding at St Sophia's Cathedral, London drew a rare modern panoply of royalty, but the ceremony proved to be legally invalid and had eventually to be repeated civilly (not normally required in the UK) in Chelsea because of an obscure law requiring that marriages in England be conducted in English.
After their marriage, the couple took up residence in Greenwich, Connecticut, the job that Pavlos obtained with the Charles R. Weber ship-broking company being headquartered there. Later, he went to work at a New York City firm as an investment portfolio manager, before relocation to London for their children's education in 2004.
The couple have five children: Maria-Olympia (b. 1996), Constantine-Alexios (b. 1998), Achileas-Andreas (b. 2000), Prince Odysseas-Kimon (b. 2004), and Prince Aristidis-Stavros (b. 2008).
From birth, Pavlos was the heir apparent to the throne of Greece and as such he was referred to as the Crown Prince of Greece with the style of Royal Highness. Following the deposition of the Greek monarchy in 1973, these titles and styles are no longer legally recognised by the government of the Hellenic Republic. Through his male-line descent from Christian IX of Denmark, he is also a Danish prince with the style of Highness.
Pavlos was a direct descendant of three reigning sovereign monarchs at birth. He was the eldest son of the King of Greece, grandson of the King of Denmark and great-grandson of the King of Sweden, all living and enthroned when he was born. His paternal aunt, Queen Sofía of Spain, was Queen Consort of Spain. His maternal aunt, Margrethe II of Denmark, is the reigning Queen of Denmark.
By male-line descent, he is a member of the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch of the House of Oldenburg.
Pavlos is a scion multiple times of the "Grandparents of Europe", due to royal intermarriage. As a result, he descends from Christian IX of Denmark through three of his children; in the male line through George I of Greece, in the female line through Frederick VIII of Denmark and through King Christian's daughter Princess Thyra, Duchess of Cumberland. He also descends thrice from Queen Victoria: once through her third son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and twice through her eldest daughter Victoria, Princess Royal.
^ "Heir to Throne Is Born To Greek Royal Couple". The New York Times. Associated Press. 21 May 1967. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
^ Colacello, Bob. "Greece's Royal Couple". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
^ "No. 50965". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1987. p. 7683.
^ "No. 51696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 April 1989. p. 4291.
^ "No. 52119". The London Gazette. 24 April 1990. p. 8237.
^ Folketinget. Frank Jensen. 12 October 2001. Ministry of Justice: Spm. nr. S 3937. (Danish). Retrieved 5 April 2017.
^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX. "Danemark". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2011, p. 10. (German). ISBN 978-3-7980-0849-6.
Hindley, Geoffrey (2000). The Royal Families of Europe. New York: Caroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0828-X.
Woodhouse, C.M. (1998). Modern Greece a Short History. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-19794-9.
Γιάννης Κάτρης (1974). Η γέννηση του νεοφασισμού στην Ελλάδα 1960–1970. Athens: Παπαζήση.
Αλέξης Παπαχελάς (1997). Ο βιασμός της ελληνικής δημοκρατίας. Athens:Εστία. ISBN 960-05-0748-1.
Generations are numbered by descent from George I.
This page was last edited on 8 April 2019, at 16:59 (UTC). |
0.985731 | [L]et me remind the Committee of what we British mean when we speak of responsible government. We mean, firstly, government by a unitary Cabinet fully responsible to Parliament; secondly, a Cabinet, usually dependent upon one party, and always dependent upon a majority of elected representatives in the House of Commons; thirdly, a system under which the cabinet resigns, and usually dissolves, when the support of the House of Commons is withdrawn; fourthly, as the result of a dissolution, a general election is held in a small, thickly populated, politically alert country, with clear issue between two or three party programmes, and a homogeneous electorate in touch with the candidates. It seems to me that without these conditions there is a grave risk to the stability of government. Unfortunately none of these conditions appear to exist in India at the present moment.
The most controversial recommendation was for the introduction in the Provinces of a dual form of government, or dyarchy, as it came to be called. Certain subjects, e.g. agriculture, education, health and local government, were to be 'transferred' to the Governor acting with Indian Ministers chosen from and responsible to a Provincial Legislative Council with an elected majority. Other subjects, such as law and order and revenue, were to be 'reserved' to the Governor and his nominated Executive Council responsible to the Secretary of State. The idea of dyarchy originated in England among members of the Round Table group, many of whom had played a part in bringing about the union of South Africa. Some former Anglo-Indian officials, including Sir William Duke who in 1914 had become a member of the Secretary of State's Council, joined this group, and it was Duke who first propounded dyarchy in writing. Another member of the group, Lionel Curtis, toured India in 1916-17 to air the suggestion, but did not meet a very favourable response. Montagu, however, was much taken by it and included Duke in the delegation that accompanied him to India; and Chelmsford, having once been won over to the idea, supported it firmly. Dyarchy would, however, introduce needless complications and be difficult to work. It was an easy target for criticism by those who did not want there to be any political reforms at all and was described as 'a spider's web spun out of the brain of a doctrinaire pedant'. Nearly all the Provincial Governors were opposed to it, Willingdon in particular objecting to the 'rotten dyarchy idea'. These dissenting Provincial Governors put forward simpler, more straightforward proposals of their own under which Provincial Governments would remain, as before, unitary. The Governor's Executive Councils would be composed of an equal number of official and non-official members, the latter chosen from the elected members of the Provincial Legislative Councils, and would act together as undivided governments, influenced by the Legislative Councils, but not at their mercy, as Governors would be empowered to restore budgetary provisions cut by them, to veto bills and to legislate, if necessary, by Ordinance. These sensible proposals, slightingly referred to by Montagu as 'the satraps' scheme', gave the Governors more reserve powers than the mere one-year veto on legislation suggested by the Congress and League at their Lucknow meeting, but otherwise approximated to their demands; and these, as a leading Congressman confessed to Meston, they did not expect to be accepted in full. But the `satraps' scheme' was turned down and dyarchy preferred, largely on the absurd doctrinaire ground that Indian Ministers must be made wholly responsible in certain fields, as otherwise they would never learn responsibility!
During these disorders, progress continued towards legislation on the constitution. By the end of 1918 Montagu received the lengthy comments of provincial governments on his scheme. None questioned the statement of August 1917, but all were critical of the proposed dual system of administration. The burden of their attack was that its complicated theory did not fit reality. Indian politicians were not ready for an unshared responsibility and did not desire it: there was no need to try to fix it on their shoulders. Nor would the attempt achieve its purpose, because the people could not distinguish between different branches of the sirkar and the British would be blamed for the errors of ministers. It would be impossible to divide the functions of government; unity of financial control, which was essential, in itself made a division impracticable; and when this was realised there would be disillusion. The system was a recipe for friction, and the burden on the governor in holding it together would be too great. A scheme which pre-supposed for its continued existence the perpetual exercise of mutual goodwill and forbearance would be destined for a short life. Nor indeed would there be goodwill: Indian politicians would be glad to squeeze out British officials and it was a mistake to pretend, as did the joint report, that they would not rapidly disappear. Such power as was transferred would rest with an oligarchy, who would use it against the interests of the masses: new racial and sectarian cleavages would emerge. Willingdon's government in Bombay thought it better to build on the existing system, with a unitary executive, including members of the legislature, and the governor free to allocate portfolios at his discretion, to overrule his council, and to reinstate estimates reduced by the legislature. Butler took a similar view, dismissing the argument that a unitary executive would mean eventually a leap to responsible government over the whole field, by saying that this assumed the adoption of a parliamentary system. Only the Governments of Bengal and Bihar and Orissa were ready to accept dyarchy, and that not on the merits but because the joint report had aroused excessive expectations.
Many of these criticisms proved in the event well-founded. The weight of experience behind them, were likely to strengthen the opposition to Montagu in Britain when they came to be published. So was the shift of the Congress party to shriller language and wider demands as they lost hope of unity. In London, Holderness thought dyarchy 'a specious scheme of journalist origin', and Meston feared the weak position in which the executives would be placed in their legislatures, both in the provinces and at the centre. Montagu demonstrated his dismay by charging the civil service with enmity.
Chelmsford, having committed himself to dyarchy, was now robustly convinced of its rightness; and he was determined in his calm, uncomplicated way to drive it through. He held a meeting of heads of provinces at Delhi in the middle of January and warned them that, if they preferred some different scheme, they should now agree on one and develop it in detail. His aim was to extract a specific proposal which he could attack. Butler, with O'Dwyer, Craddock, Robertson and Beatson Bell from Assam, thereupon criticised dyarchy as going further than the announcement of 1917 required or the facts justified; and as putting excessive emphasis on 'the idea of responsibility' and on constitutional theory, at the expense of the `cooperation and association' on which the announcement had placed equal weight, and which by `a natural growth' would provide a better bridge to popular government. They proposed executive councils which would be half official and half drawn from the legislature. There would be no division of subjects and governors would be free to allocate portfolios as they wished. All would be responsible ultimately to the Secretary of State, but all would be responsive in practice to the legislature. The governor would be able to overrule his executive council, restore grants reduced by the legislature and certify essential bills. Ronaldshay and Gait dissented on the grounds that this scheme would be regarded by Indians as a breach of faith and that in practice it would concede to the legislatures more power than was intended. Lloyd, who could not be present, merely urged that delay was a greater danger than an imperfect scheme.
What Montagu called `the satraps' scheme' conflicted with the niceties of the currently accepted constitutional doctrine as expounded by Curtis. It would not have imposed on Indians the undivided `responsibility' within a limited field which Chamberlain had pressed for in 1917 and which formed the basis of the Montford report. But, in its lack of complication, its association of British officials and Indians in executive councils on a level basis, and its flexible reliance on the power of governors to overrule their councillors and to act independently of their legislatures when need arose, it had practical merits and might have worked well. It would have left the door open for India's progress to self-government otherwise than down the path of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
Chelmsford welcomed the clean conflict thus presented. It closed the ranks of his executive council who sent home a powerful defence of the dual system. They dismissed the satraps' plan on the ground that the unitary nature of their executive would be illusory, as some members of it would owe allegiance to the Secretary of State and others to the legislature. This would be a 'forced and artificial' coalition, the two sides of which would be in conflict over the whole range of their duties: it would lead to impasse and 'reduce the executive to impotence'. The Viceroy added a personal note, accepting the difficulties about dyarchy, but arguing that it was the only means of fixing responsibility for particular decisions on Indians and of gradually increasing the range of their responsibilities. In a unitary government an increase in the Indian element in the executive would give them full control at a jump. Frequent use by a governor of his powers to certify legislation and supply would reduce his legislature to a body of irresponsible critics, while failure to use these powers would leave an irremovable executive facing an irresponsible but supreme legislature.
Montagu had visions of Congress and his right-wing enemies in Britain joining forces on the basis of the satraps' plan; and, in the hope of disarming opposition, he first played with ill-formulated devices to camouflage dyarchy to look like unitary government. This led Round-Tablers to complain lest dyarchy be masked. He was also worried that the Government of India might whittle down his scheme. But Chelmsford took the broader view that its critical examination would do more to support its main principles than a mere show of outward agreement; and he advised, as had Chamberlain, that some spars might have to go to save the hull. His government’s despatch thus gave a cautious tilt to the proposals and immensely strengthened Montagu's position, as it set against the satraps a considered defence of dyarchy by other experts on Indian administration, and denied his critics a split between him and the Government of India.
Lord Chelmsford addressed us, setting out the points in favour of the Montagu-Chelmsford Scheme, criticising the objections we had put forward, and for the first time gave us an opportunity of putting forward an alternative scheme, "in some detail, so that I and my colleagues may have the same chance of judging it as the critics of the Report have had of judging the proposals of the Secretary of State and myself."
HARCOURT BUTLER (Lieutenant-Governor, United Provinces).
B. ROBERTSON (Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces).
N. D. BEATSON BELL (Chief Commissioner, Assam).
The Majority Scheme is printed among the parliamentary papers. But in view of its importance as expressing the views, however hurriedly formulated, of men experienced in and responsible for the administration of over one hundred millions of people, of the scant consideration given to it by higher authority, by Parliament and the Press, both of which seem to have been generally unaware of its existence, and of the fact that the Montagu-Chelmsford Scheme, to which it was an alternative, has now admittedly broken down in certain Provinces and threatens to break down in the rest, it seems advisable to quote from it at some length.
" Para. 2. We desire to make it clear beyond any misunderstanding, that we are in entire accord with the statement made by His Majesty's Government on 20th August, 1917. We desire to give effect to it by a progressive scheme of a liberal character based on a policy of trust and co-operation. We desire to avoid future friction by framing a scheme on broad and simple lines which will require only a few checks and those based, so far as possible, on existing practice and accepted principle.
There is great division of opinion among Indians in regard to it. We are also impressed by the misgivings that exist in the services generally, British and Indian, as to their position and prospects under a dual form of government. The scheme exposes a large surface to legislative, administrative, and financial friction. It has all the elements which make for division at a time when there is most need for co-operation and association.
3. The proposals of the Report appear to us to have gone much further than the terms of the announcement required, but they have raised expectations which may render it necessary to make a greater immediate advance in the direction of the goal than the facts which face us justify. . . . The idea of association (of Indians in the administration) has been overshadowed and obscured by the idea of responsibility. . . . The Report begins by dividing (the Government) in order to get responsibility and ends by uniting in order to get association. We are also firmly of opinion that it is clearly advisable, as far as possible, to build on existing foundations, and to have a Scheme which, while giving effect to the announcement will fit in with an administrative system which has its roots in centuries of Indian (Oriental ?) rule. We believe that it is only by close association between officials and non-officials that we can bridge over the gulf that separates the present form of administration from popular government. We respectfully deprecate the sacrifice of practical experience to constitutional theory.
In the Report, responsibility is defined as consisting primarily in amenability to constituents, and in the second place in amenability to an (elected) assembly. We need scarcely argue that in the absence of an electorate capable of enforcing a mandate, these conditions do not exist. In the words of the Bengal Government, ' responsibility can scarcely be derived from an irresponsible source.' "
Having dwelt upon the doctrinaire and theoretical character of the Montagu—Chelmsford proposals we went on to set forth our alternative.
" 4. It is also evident that for some considerable period we shall be ignorant as to how the (new) electorate will act. The scheme in the Report in this respect is at present a leap in the dark. We content ourselves therefore with the outline of a scheme which is as close as possible to the Scheme published in the Report, but which eliminates those features of dual government that seem to us to imperil the success of its practical working in existing conditions.
5. Structure of the Provincial Executive. The Governor will have a Council of an equal number of official and nonofficial members, the latter being selected by him from the elected, or, in the Punjab, from the elected and nominated members of the Legislative Council. We would do away with the distinction between reserved and transferred subjects and it should be open to the Governor to give any portfolio to any Member of his Council, whether he be official or non-official. They (the non-official members of Council) would be ultimately responsible to the Secretary of State; but they would necessarily be influenced by the opinions of the Legislative Council. . . . They would be responsible to the electorate in the same way as the Ministers under the Report Scheme (so far as the term ‘responsibility' can apply) in that they would have to seek re-election at the end of the life of the Council. In this way a unitary government would be secured. The Government would further be kept in touch with the Legislative Council by Standing Committees and Under-Secretaries taken from the Council as in the report. We wish to see a substantial elected majority and we wish to give the Council very real powers in the matter of legislation and supply. . . .
We believe that this will be a more liberal system in practical working than the schemes of the joint report in that, in the words of the announcement, it will associate Indians with every branch of the administration. We would only reserve to the Governor his present power of over-riding his Executive Council.
We accept the powers of legislation proposed in the joint report, reserving to the Governor the right of veto. .. . It is part of our proposals that the existing powers of the Governor-General in regard to Ordinances and of the Governor-General in Council in regard to Regulations should be unimpaired.
We would allow the budget to be voted by the Legislative Council, reserving to the Governor-in-Council powers of restoring the original budget provision on occasions covered by S. 50 of the Government of India Act (i.e. so far as essential for the security of the State). In regard to financial procedure, we desire to follow as nearly as possible the practice of the House of Commons.
We recommend that our scheme may be adopted only for a period of years, in the course of which experience will be gained on the many points of which we are necessarily in ignorance at present. The advantages of the scheme are that it is based on experience rather than on theory, that it will associate Indians with the Government more effectively than will the schemes of the Report, that it will avoid the admitted dangers of dual government and the inevitable friction between the official and non-official elements of government and foster a spirit of harmonious co-operation, that it rests on a system understood by the people, that it is capable of expansion in the light of experience subject to the realisation of the conditions of progress (that Indian politicians should show a spirit of co-operation and a sense of responsibility in exercising the new powers conferred on them) set forth in the announcement of 20th August, 1917.
Firstly. Will it be possible under it to affix responsibility to Indians with regard to any particular question of policy?
As regards individual responsibility in the Executive Council, our answer is in the negative, also that the announcement does not require it, nor does the scheme of the report secure it; but the responsibility of the individual in the legislative Council will be manifest from the proceedings.
Secondly. Does it provide machinery by which a greater area of responsibility can later be transferred?
(a) by increasing the number of subjects in non-official members' portfolios.
(b) by decreasing resort to the use of the powers of the Governor in regard to certification and of the Governor-in-Council in regard to the budget.
(c) by giving more effect to resolutions and the advice of non-official members in matters of policy.
(d) by increasing the number of Councillors chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Council.
Lastly. Does it lead up gradually to a stage under which full responsibility can be attained by Indians in the provincial sphere?
10. We conclude by re-stating our general position. Except in the matter of control by the Legislative Council over supply of ‘transferred' subjects . . . we consider that our scheme is at least as liberal and progressive as that of the report. It does not comply with the test of responsibility as defined in the report; but, as pointed out by more than one local Government, that is a narrow definition, the cardinal conditions of which (a competent electorate) are non-existent at the present time and cannot be created for some time to come. The definition also overlooked the necessity, proclaimed in the announcement, of the principle of association and co-operation. WE MAINTAIN CONFIDENTLY that in any case our scheme is a substantial step towards realising the policy of the announcement, and pays due regard to the conditions of progress laid down in it."
The above proposals emanated from the Heads of five of the nine major Provinces and had the general support of two more….
" Our judgment on the Majority Minute may therefore be summed up by saying that we regard it in the first place as failing to lay any measure of definite responsibility for any act of government upon the representatives of the electorate ; we therefore hold that it does not comply with the policy upon which the Home Government have decided. In the second place, it fails to fulfil what the authors themselves present as the paramount requirement of an undivided government, a unity which can, to our thinking, be secured only by a common allegiance and a common policy. In the third place, it affords no prospect of successful working without giving rise to such conflict and bitterness of feeling as may produce a deadlock ; and in the fourth place the scheme cannot progress in any direction except by one leap into full responsible government."
This dispatch is signed by the members of the then Government of India.
It would not have been difficult for us to demolish the rather doctrinaire arguments which they used to override our practical experience. But the opportunity was never given. We went back to our provinces…. The Majority Scheme of local governments appears to have been completely overlooked.
Letters from provincial govnts attached to the G/I's despatch of 5 March 1919, Cd.
S/S's ptel to VR, 17 Dec. 1918, C9.
VR's letter to S/S, is Jan. 1919, Cs & M3.
Minute by Ronaldshay and Gait, 16 Jan. 1919, J &P(R) 143/19.
Lloyd's note of 28 Feb. 1919, C22.
G/I's Reforms despatch to S/S, 5 March 1919, para 21, Cd 123.
S/S ptels to VR Nos 89, 435 and 554, it Jan., 22 Feb. and 6 March 1919, C10.
S/S's letters to VR, 22 Jan. and 4 Feb. 1919, C5 and M3.
VR's letter to S/S, 29 Jan. 1919, C5 and M8. |
0.959227 | Biography of American Abstract Sculptor, Minimalist Artist.
One of the greatest abstract sculptors of the late 20th century, the American artist, architectural designer, painter and art theorist Tony Smith was a pioneering figure in Minimal art, being known in particular for his large geometric sculptures, many of which were sited out of doors. He also taught at several well-known schools of art and design, including Hunter College, Cooper Union, the Pratt Institute, and New York University. Smith excelled at architecture and painting, as well as sculpture, and developed strong personal relationships with avant-garde artists of the New York School, such as the painter Barnett Newman (1905-70) - noted also for his sculptural masterpiece Broken Obelisk (1963-9, MoMA) - Jackson Pollock (1912-56) and Mark Rothko (1903-70), all of whom had an impact on his art. His contribution to American art in general and abstract sculpture in particular ranks alongside that of American modernists David Smith (1906-1965), Donald Judd (1928-94), Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) and Carl Andre (b.1935). His most famous works include: The Snake Is Out (1962, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas); Die (1962, Whitney Museum, MOMA NY and elsewhere); Free Ride (1962, St Louis Art Museum); Gracehoper (1962-88, Louisville Waterfront Park, Kentucky); Source (1967, Cleveland Museum of Art); Smoke (1967, Los Angeles County Museum of Art); Light Up (1971, University of Pittsburgh), (1972, Detroit Institute of Arts) and The Fourth Sign (1974, University of Hawaii). In 1978 Smith won the Award of Merit Medal for sculpture from the American Academy of Arts, and the following year was elected a full member. Exhibitions of his minimalist sculpture have been staged in several of the best contemporary galleries in America, and his works are in many of the best art museums around the world.
Born Anthony Peter Smith in South Orange, New Jersey, he attended a Jesuit high school, after which he enrolled at Fordham University in New York City in 1930, then Georgetown University in Washington DC. from 1931 to 1932. Feeling unfulfilled at Georgetown, he returned to New Jersey and opened a book shop, and later worked at the family factory. In the evenings Smith took classes in painting at the Art Students League in Manhattan. In 1937, having set his sights on a career in architecture, he moved to Chicago to attend the New Bauhaus school, a short-lived design school founded by the brilliant Hungarian emigrant artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946). But this proved no more successful: again he found himself disillusioned. In 1938, Smith took a job as a bricklayer and carpenter with Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), one of the most famous American architects. Within two years he had risen all the way through the ranks to the position of site supervisor. Armed with two years practical knowledge of architectural design and building, Smith set up his own independent design firm in New York City - an operation he maintained into the 1960s, during which time he designed more than 20 private homes. Also, during the late 1940s, Smith developed close ties with progressive New York artists like Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko.
While earning money from his architecture, Smith continued to paint, producing a number of geometric-style abstract paintings. From 1946, he supplemented his income further by taking up various teaching positions in New York, including Hunter College. Between 1953 and 1955, Smith moved briefly to Germany where he created the Louisenberg series of paintings. These works - colourful geometric grids consisting of rows of repetitive organic shapes - served as a two-dimensional step towards understanding sculptural forms, and heralded his growing interest in sculpture proper. Returning to New York, Smith began experimenting with sculpture with his students. His first few attempts involved wooden and cardboard maquettes, and were an extension of his architectural design pursuits.
The turning point came in 1961, when Smith abandoned his architectural practice and switched to making sculpture while convalescing from a serious car accident. He began by taping together handmade tetrahedral figures, allowing assistants to create full-size plywood shapes from the final models which were then covered with thick black paint. Sculptures like The Snake Is Out (1962) were created using this method, although their smooth, hard-edged surfaces made them look as though they were fabricated from sheet metal. In 1962 Smith designed his first real metal piece entitled Black Box (1962). In the same year he made Die (1962), a 6-feet steel cube that made him one of the most talked about abstract sculptors artists of the day.
In fact, Smith did not exhibit his sculpture in public until 1964, when he participated as a relatively unknown artist in the group art show "Black, White, and Gray" at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. The show highlighted artists working in a new, monochrome, and unemotional aesthetic - a major departure from the idiom of Abstract Expressionism, which had dominated the art world since 1950. In 1966, Smith agreed to anchor the landmark 1966 art exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York entitled "Primary Structures": a show that established the Minimalist movement pioneered by artists like Smith, Donald Judd, Carl Andre, Dan Flavin and the feminist Judy Chicago (born Judy Cohen). In October 1967, after these and other public successes with his massive, black-painted plywood and sheet-metal works, Smith was featured on the cover of Time magazine alongside his plywood sculpture Smoke (1967). After this he went on to receive awards and commissions from numerous prestigious institutions and museums across Europe and the United States. He died from a heart attack in 1980 at the age of 68.
In addition to those shows cited above, Smith participated in a Guggenheim International Exhibition, New York (1967); the Venice Biennale (1968); documenta 4, Kassel, Germany (1968); the Whitney Annual exhibition, New York (1966, 1970, and 1971); and the Whitney Biennial, New York (1973). A major retrospective, entitled: "Tony Smith: Architect, Painter, Sculptor", was organized at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1998, featuring his architecture and painting, as well as his sculpture. This was followed in 2002 by a major European retrospective, organized by the Institut Valencia d'Art Modern, Spain. In 2010 the Menil Collection, Houston, held a retrospective of Smith's drawings, designs and other works on paper in 2010.
Smith's sculpture is included in a large number of international public collections, including MOMA, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Menil Collection, Houston; Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas; Cleveland Museum of Art; University of Pittsburgh; Detroit Institute of Arts; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark; and Kroller-Muller Museum, Otterloo, Netherlands.
With Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, one of the top abstract sculptors in Britain.
American pioneer of kinetic sculpture.
Pioneer of "negative space"; famous for her organic abstracts.
Best known for his abstract sculptures made from metals and junk materials.
Highly influential abstract sculptor in post-war British art.
Leading exponent of public large scale iron/steel sculptures.
American postmodernist artist, famous for his large-scale public works.
For more about minimalist sculpture, see: Homepage. |
0.972027 | Can deodorant be dangerous for us assuming that we gonna use it with the instruction?
I though about allergic people or some1 who has big sensitiveness for certain components of deodorant.
Using it according to the instructions is safe enough, but I imagine spraying it and inhaling it won't be very good for you. Speaking as someone who is allergic to certain deodorants (the ones with high alcohol content as it happens) they make my skin itch and I get a rash but there are no long term effects and the rash/itchiness went away when I stopped using them.
People like beauticians use tons of that stuff daily so that could and does cause medical problems after years of use.
Unless you are using them to eccess these cosmetic preparations are safe.
The harm from this in itself is insignificant. However constant lifelong exposure to many insignificant harms, might be significant.
So, which of the chemicals are "absorbed by the skin"?
I will note that your naturally derived deodorant has the same amount of chemicals in it, and in much less precise levels then that of the artificial lines. All compunds made from carbon are, per the chemistry and scientific definition. chemicals. Being from nature does not decrease the harm level.
If the deodorant is an antiperspirant then it can do harm if it blocks the skin pores for an extended time. The armpits perspire to eliminate unwanted substances from your lymphatic system, and if we prevent that action, the body has these extra waste substances to deal with.
As far as toxic materials are concerned, there are plenty of sites that deal with that Q, including the latest findings on the relationship between aluminium in deodorants and breast cancer.
"Plenty of sites." Reference, please. There is likely no direct relationship between deodorant/antiperspirant use and breast cancer.
I have a nasty reaction to some deodorants, but it's hardly fatal. I think I remember some story about a kid spraying himself all over several times a day with an antiperspirant and ending up dead. It makes sense that blocking the body's pores on a large scale would cause a problem.
thats why i used crystal salt as my deodorant because it is not an anti perspirant, it just an antibacterial to avoid smelly odours. but now i dont use it much because luckily i dont have strong body smell (nobody realize when i did not use it). But i do avoid some food that might make my body smelly. i took more veggies!
Fear and Anti-Science Using the "Scary Graph" |
0.99832 | 'Umar Ibn Al Khattab was born into a respected Quraysh family thirteen years after the birth of Muhammad (peace be on him). 'Umar's family was known for its extensive knowledge of genealogy. When he grew up, 'Umar was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling and the art of speaking. He also learned to read and write while still a child, a very rare thing in Makkah at that time. 'Umar earned his living as a merchant. His trade took him to many foreign lands and he met all kinds of people. This experience gave him an insight into the affairs and problems of men. 'Umar's personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank and straight forward. He always spoke whatever was in his mind even if it displeased others.
'Umar was twenty-seven when the Prophet (peace be on him) started preaching Islam.The ideas Muhammad (SAW) was preaching enraged Umar as much as they did the other notables of Makkah. He was just as bitter against anyone accepting Islam as others among the Quraysh. He did not believe in the teachings of Muhammad(SAW) and did not like Islam or the Muslims. The story of his embracing Islam is an interesting one. One day, full of anger against the Prophet, he drew his sword and set out to kill him. A friend met him on the way. When 'Umar told him what he planned to do, his friend informed him that 'Umar's own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had also accepted Islam. 'Umar went straight to his sister's house where he found her reading from pages of the Qur'an. He fell upon her and beat her mercilessly. Bruised and bleeding, she told her brother, "Umar, you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islam." These words produced a strange effect upon 'Umar. What was this faith that made even weak women so strong of heart? He asked his sister to show him what she had been reading, but his sister told him to clean himself before touching the Quran.After he cleansed himself and began reading the surah,he became fascinated at what he was reading.He could not stop reading the wonderful verses and immediately decided to accept Islam. He went straight to the house where the Prophet was staying and declared his faith in Islam.
'Umar made no secret of his acceptance of Islam. He gathered the Muslims and offered prayers at the Ka'bah. This boldness and devotion of an influential citizen of Makkah raised the morale of the small community of Muslims. Nonetheless 'Umar was also subjected to privations, and when permission for emigration to Madinah came, he also left Makkah. The soundness of 'Umar's judgment, his devotion to the Prophet (peace be on him), his outspokenness and uprightness won for him a trust and confidence from the Prophet which was second only to that given to Abu Bakr. The Prophet gave him the title 'Al-Faruq' which means the 'Separator of Truth from Falsehood'. During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, 'Umar was his closest assistant and adviser. When Abu Bakr died, all the people of Madinah swore allegiance to 'Umar, and on 23 Jumada al-Akhir, 13H, he was proclaimed Caliph.
" ... O people, you have some rights on me which you can always claim. One of your rights is that if anyone of you comes to me with a claim, he should leave satisfied. Another of your rights is that you can demand that I take nothing unjustly from the revenues of the State. You can also demand that ... I fortify your frontiers and do not put you into danger. It is also your right that if you go to battle I should look after your families as a father would while you are away.
"O people, remain conscious of God, forgive me my faults and help me in my task. Assist me in enforcing what is good and forbidding what is evil. Advise me regarding the obligations that have been imposed upon me by God ... "
Once a woman brought a claim against the Caliph 'Umar. When 'Umar appeared on trial before the judge, the judge stood up as a sign of respect toward him. 'Umar reprimanded him, saying, "This is the first act of injustice you did to this woman!"
He insisted that his appointed governors live simple lives, keep no guard at their doors and be accessible to the people at all times, and he himself set the example for them. Many times foreign envoys and messengers sent to him by his generals found him resting under a palm tree or praying in the mosque among the people, and it was difficult for them to distinguish which man was the Caliph. He spent many a watchful night going about the streets of Madinah to see whether anyone needed help or assistance.
"This is the protection which the servant of God, 'Umar, the Ruler of the Believers has granted to the people of Eiliya [Jerusalem]. The protection is for their lives and properties, their churches and crosses, their sick and healthy and for all their coreligionists. Their churches shall not be used for habitation, nor shall they be demolished, nor shall any injury be done to them or to their compounds, or to their crosses, nor shall their properties be injured in any way. There shall be no compulsion for these people in the matter of religion, nor shall any of them suffer any injury on account of religion ... Whatever is written herein is under the covenant of God and the responsibility of His Messenger, of the Caliphs and of the believers, and shall hold good as long as they pay Jizyah [the tax for their defense] imposed on them."
Those non-Muslims who took part in defense together with the Muslims were exempted from paying Jizyah, and when the Muslims had to retreat from a city whose non-Muslim citizens had paid this tax for their defense, the tax was returned to the non-Muslims. The old, the poor and the disabled of Muslims and non-Muslims alike were provided for from the public treasury and from the Zakat funds.
"O God! I am advanced in years, my bones are weary, my powers are declining, and the people for whom I am responsible have spread far and wide. Summon me back to Thyself, my lord!"
Some time later, when 'Umar went to the mosque to lead a prayer, a Magian named Abu Lulu Feroze, who had a grudge against 'Umar on a personal matter, attacked him with a dagger and stabbed him several times. 'Umar reeled and fell to the ground. When he learned that the assassin was a Magian, he said, "Thank God he is not a Muslim."
'Umar died in the first week of Muharram, 24H, and was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him).
As a Caliph, Umar ruled for ten years.
Hamza ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib (In Arabic: حمزة إبن عبد المطلب) was the paternal uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his foster-brother. He was regarded as his foster brother because Prophet Muhammad and Hamza were suckled by the same women when they were infants. He and Muhammad were raised together as they were almost the same age. With excellence in the arts of wrestling and swordsmanship, Hamza used his talents and experience to its best in the cause of Islam and earned the title of "Chief of the Martyrs" from Muhammad. Hamza was very fond of wrestling and hunting. He took great interest in swordsmanship and archery."
Hamza was the son of Abdul Muttalib (Shaiba ibn Hashim), the grandson of Hashim ibn Abd Manaf and the great-grandson of Abd Manaf ibn Qusai from the tribe of Quraysh, حَمْزَةُ بنُ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ بنِ هَاشِمِ بنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ القُرَشِيُّ Hamza was known as the Lion of God (Arabic أسد الله) and the Lion of Paradise (Arabic: أسد الجنة) for his bravery. Among his titles are: Abu Umara ("أَبُو عُمَارَةَ"), and Abu Ya'la ("أَبُو يَعْلَى"). Hamza was also given the tittle of "Seyyed-ush-Shuhda" (Leaders of the Martyrs).
Hamza, the son of Abd al-Muttalib, was the younger brother of Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib, Muhammad's father. He had also been weaned by the same woman, Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb, as Muhammad, making Hamza Muhammad's foster brother as well. The two, Hamza and Muhammad, had grown up together, being just two or three years apart in age. But as the boys had become young men, they developed different attitudes to problems of society, Hamza was not such a contemplative thinker and was comfortable in his status of being part of the Meccan elite, though their relationship remained as strong as ever. So it was a conflicted Hamza that witnessed the escalating situation in the city as Muhammad declared the message of Islam. On the one hand, he had absolute faith in the character of his foster brother and nephew, being one of those who had been closest to him for all of his life. Yet some of his most honored values were the respect he held for his family and the traditions they had always followed, his pagan religion among these. So he was indifferent to the controversy, discouraging his peers from worrying about what they saw as a revolution in their midst and not bothering to join them in torturing the defenseless Muslims, while declining Muhammad's invitation to Islam. Hamza ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib was married to Salma bint Umays, the half-sister of Maymuna bint al-Harith (wife of Mohammed).
Hamza converted to Islam due after some actions of Amr ibn Hishām, (also known as Abū Jahl أبو جهل) known for his hostility against the Muslims. Hamza, Muhammad's uncle, had returned to the city of Mecca after a hunting trip in the desert. Upon returning, he soon learned that Abu Jahl (an avowed enemy of Islam) had heaped abuse and insults upon Muhammad, who had not responded and walked away from where he had sat in the Haram. Outraged, Hamza dashed to the Kaaba, where Abu Jahl sat with other leaders of Mecca, and began to beat him with his bow while shouting "Are you going to insult him now, now that I am of his religion and vouch for what he vouches for? Hit me if you can!" As the companions of Abu Jahl approached Hamza in an attempt to assault him, Abu Jahl feebly cried out from the ground "Leave Abu Umarah, for indeed I insulted his nephew deeply." And he cowered at the feet of Hamza, while his friends could not meet Hamza's eyes. As he departed, he kicked sand back at the men, leaving all shocked at what Hamza had just said, none more so than Hamza himself. After that incident, Hamza declared Islam, and made a covenant to help Muhammad and to die in the cause of Islam.
On 19 March 625 (3 Shawwal 3 hijri) Hamza was fighting alongside the Muslims in the Battle of Uhud. He was standing in front of Muhammad, fighting with two swords, and shouting "I am Allah's lion". The Abyssinian slave Wahshy ibn Harb was there near the mountain of Uhud where the battle was fought. His master, Jubayr ibn Mut'im (Arabic: جبير بن مطعم) had promised him freedom if he killed Hamza. Wahshy ibn Harb, who was skilled in using the Javelin, threw it into Hamza's abdomen and killed him. He (Wahshi) soon left the battle as he had no other reason to fight.
The poorer members of the Community including migrants from other parts of the world had a special place in the mosque called the Suffa. They were called the Ahl al-Suffa, People of the Bench, and many of them had no possessions but the clothes on their back. Abu Hurairah was the most prominent of the Ahl al-Suffa. The Messenger, upon him be peace, used to send any charity that he received and shared with them gifts that had been given. Abu Hurairah related how he used to lie on the ground or tie a stone to his stomach due to the intense hunger. On one occasion, he waited outside the mosque and when Abu Bakr went by, he asked him about a verse of Qurân in the hope that he would notice his state and offer him something to eat. However, he answered the question and went on. Then he did the same with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, who did the same as Abu Bakr. Then he waited for the Messenger, upon whom be peace, who invited him in to his house to see if there were any gifts of food. He felt fortunate as the Messenger, upon him be peace, had been given a cup of milk. To Abu Hurairah’s dismay, he was ordered to invite all the Ahl al-Suffa and then to pour out for each one of them. At this, he despaired of getting any milk because they were so numerous and the person pouring the milk is always the last to drink. To his surprise when everyone had drunk, the cup was still full. He drank his fill and when he had finished, the Messenger, upon him be peace, said ‘drink!’ Abu Hurairah obeyed. When he had drank until he could drink no more, the Messenger, upon him be peace, smiled and again said, ‘drink!’ Despite being sated, he drank. After he had finished, the Messenger smiled again and said, ‘drink!’ To this Abu Hurairah, said ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no way I can drink any more.’ He realised that the Messenger, upon him be peace, was teaching him not to doubt the blessings of his Lord.
Prophet Muhammad (s) migrated from Makkah to Madina in the 13th year of his Prophethood. He was accompanied by Abu Bakar Siddiq (RA) in this journey.
On his journey towards Madina, Prophet Muhammad (s) stayed in Quba for 14 days. It was situated in the outskirts of Madina. The first Masjid of Islam in the history was built in Quba.
As they approached Madinah, the people had gathered on the streets, eager to greet them. Everyone wanted the Prophet (s) to be his guest.
Finally by Allah's command the camel Qaswa, that Muhammad (s) was riding on stopped by Abu Ayyub Ansari's house and thus Prophet (s) stayed there.
The first thing Muhammad (s) did on reaching Madina was to construct a mosque. It was a simple structure made of mud bricks, wooden poles and a roof made of Palm leaves. Here prayers to God were offered five times daily in a free atmosphere for the first time in the history of Islam. This mosque was known as Masjid An Nabwi.
He next turned to establishing a brotherhood of the Muslims in Madina. Those who had fled from Makkah, called Muhajireens (immigrants) had left all their property and belongings behind. So, to provide shelter for them, every refugee was bound in a bond of brotherhood with one of the residents of Madina, called Ansar (Helpers).
Every Ansar would adopt a Muhajir and share half his possessions with him or her (Muhajir).
The Ansar happily responded to the call and soon every poor Muslim from Makkah was given the means to earn a living. This built the bond of brotherhood strongly in the hearts of people and helped ease the suffering of the poor.
To establish peace, Prophet (s) issued a document known as the Constitution Of Madinah. It described the duties and rights of the residents.
The Jews of Madina had also welcomed Prophet (s) warmly and they had hopes he would join them.
The Prophet (s) also made a Treaty with the Christians of Najran, a land in Northern Arabia.
All these treaties were made to show that Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace.
After the mosque was built, the issue came up of how to call people to Salah. People had suggestions to use a horn like Jews or a bell like Christian churches. Prophet (s) wasn't satisfied and then Allah SWT sent a dream to Abdullah Ibn Zayd, one of Prophet's (s) companion. He saw a man in green robes reciting some beautiful verses to him. The prophet SAW declared this dream as a true one and asked these words be taught to Bilal RA. So the first Muaddhin in Islam was Bilal RA.
Muslims were beginning to enjoy a stable community life in Madinah.
By the second year of Hijra, duty of Zakah was announced for all the Muslims.
Not everything was peaceful in Madinah. The three Jewish tribes of Qaynuqa, Quraiza and Nadir started feeling hostile towards Prophet SAW. They did not like his teachings. In addition some Jews were leaving their religion and becoming Muslims. Even one of their Rabbi by the name of Abdullah Ibn Salam had accepted Islam.
The idol worshipers of Makkah never forgot the Muslims. Whenever they captured any Muslims, they would often take them back to Makkah and torture them.
The Makkans would send out small groups to attack the outskirts of Madina.
The Prophet( SAW) organized small groups of Muslims to go on patrol and defend against these attacks. In the two years after the emigration, the encounters between the two groups were small skirmishes and raids. In Ramadan of 624 CE, this changed.
That year, the Prophet Muhammad received information that Quraysh had a large caravan returning from Syria to Makkah. The Muslims planned to raid the caravan in retaliation for Quraysh’s taking the property that Muslims could not take with them to Medina. Prophet Muhammad did not intend to go to battle. Abu Sufyan, one of the Makkan leaders who was with the caravan, received word of the plan for the raid and called on the Makkans to send troops to protect the caravan.
Before the Prophet decided to fight the Makkans, he consulted his followers who were made of up Muslims who emigrated from Makkah (called Muhajirun) and Muslims from Medina (called Ansar). He waited for the support of the Muslims from Medina because the Constitution of Medina that they signed on to did not include fighting outside of Medina. Once he received their support, the Prophet Muhammad decided to engage in battle.At the wells of Badr, the Muslims and the Makkans met for battle. The Muslims were outnumbered by the Makkans 3 to 1. The battle began with an Arab tradition where each side sends out warriors to fight each other. Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law and cousin, Hamza, the Prophet’s uncle, and Ubayda, a companion of the Prophet from his clan, represented the Muslims and defeated the Makkan warriors. The battle then began and ended with a decisive victory for the Muslims. Muslims were victorious in Battle Of Badr which made their position even more secure than ever.
Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa, publicly challenged Muslims to a fight and the Muslims surrounded their neighborhood. Eventually, Banu Qaynuqa agreed to pack up and leave the city forever. They broke the treaty and were exiled.
The remaining two Jewish tribes continued living peacefully but never gave up their secret plotting against the Muslim Community.
In the same year,the Muslims were ordered from Allah (SWT) to pray in the direction of Ka'bah instead of facing Masjid Al Aqsa. Thus the direction of qibla was changed to Makkah.
The next battle was Battle of Uhud, that took place near Mount Uhud to the north of Madina in Shawwaal of the third year after Hijrah. The polytheists sought support from their allies and mobilized an army made up of three thousand men to take revenge for their destructive defeat in the Battle of Badr. Muslims lost this battle to the Quraysh. Prophet Muhammad (s) was hurt on this battle and his Uncle Humza Ibn Muttalib was martyred. Humza was struck by an Abyssinian slave, Wahshi.
The Muslims had a new threat from home. Banu Nadir, another Jewish tribe that lived in the city tried to kill Prophet (s). They were told to leave Madina forever. Some of them went to live in Khaybar and some went to Palestine. But they were determined to take revenge against the Muslims.
A delegation from khaybar consisting of leaders from Banu Nadir met with the leaders of Makkah and they decided to attack Muslims of Madina.
The Jews sent messages to all the hostile Arab tribes to join them in fighting against the Muslims.
Makkans marched towards Madina with 10,000 soldiers to battle Muslims.This was known as Battle Of Khandaq or Battle Of Trench.It is also known as Battle Of Ahzab.To prepare for this battle, Muhammad (SAW) called a council for strategic planning. A companion, Salman Al Farsi came up with the idea of digging a trench around Madina. His plan worked and the Makkans could not cross the trench. And they got caught in a fierce storm that forced them to go back to Makkah. Muslims won this battle without fighting.
In the sixth year of Hijrah, Muhammad (s) left for Makkah to perform Umrah with 1400 companions.He camped at Hudaybiyyah, just short of Makkah. His match was entirely peaceful but the Makkans leaders barred their entry to perform Umra. Here at Hudaybiyyah, Prophet (s) signed a peace treaty with them, known as Treaty Of Hudaybiyyah. It provided for 10 years of peace between the Quraysh and the Muslims.
Within a year, the Makkans broke the deal and attacked a group of Muslims. Muslims then decided to go and free Makkah from idol worshiping.
Prophet (s) raised an army of 10,000 Muslims and set out to Makkah in the month of Ramadan. They camped outside of Makkah. The Makkans had no hopes of fighting such a huge army. Abu Sufyan declared his acceptance of Islam and agreed to surrender Makkah peacefully. Ka'bah was cleaned of all the idols and rededicated to the service of Allah SWT alone. Prophet's bitter enemies in Makkah became Muslims, after seeing the fair, kind and just treatment of our beloved Prophet (s).
Our beloved Prophet (s) passed away at the age of 63 years in the month of Rabiul Awwal.
How many times Besmillah Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem is repeated? 114.
How many times the word 'Quran' is repeated in Holy Quran? 70.
The best eatable thing mentioned in Holy Quran is… Honey.
In which sura the name of Allah is repeated five times? Sura al-Haj.
Which sura is called ' Aroos-ul-Quran? Sura Rehman.
Which sura is considered as 1/3 of holy Quran? Sura Ikhlas.
In which Sura the backbiters are condemned? Sura Humzah.
In which Sura the name of Allah is repeated every verse? Sura Mujadala.
Madani Suras were revealed in how many years? 10 years.
How many Suras are in 30th. Chapter? 37.
In which sura every verse ends with letter ' Ra '? Qauser.
Which sura has the laws about marriage? Sura Nesa.
In which Sura the 27 Attributes of God are mentioned? Sura Hadeed.
Masjid Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is located in Madinah. It is historically important to Muslims as this is where in Rajjab 2 AH the revelation of the Quran came to change the direction of the Qibla from Bait-al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Ka’bah in Makkah.
The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest masjid in Istanbul. It was built on the order of Sulayman the Magnificent by the great architect Sinan, both are buried within the complex.
The Umayyad Mosque (or Masjid), also known as the Grand Mosque of Damascus is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is the first monumental work of architecture in Islamic history.
The Mosque of Cordoba, in Andalusia, Spain was originally the site of a church which was bought by the Muslim Emir Abd ar-Rehman and subsequently converted into one of the largest mosques in the world with work starting in 784 CE. Cordoba became one of the most advanced cities in the world, as well as a great cultural, political and economic center and the mosque featured as a great center of learning.
Masjid Nimrah is located on the plain of Arafat in Makkah.In the second century of Islam, Masjid Nimrah was built at the spot where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) delivered the sermon of his last Hajj and led the Salah.
Masjid Al Jumuah is situated south of Masjid An Nabawi in Madinah. It was named so as the Prophet (s), led the first Jumuah (Friday) prayer here shortly after arriving in Madina.
Jama Masjid is one of the famous mosques, located in Delhi, India. It was constructed by a Mughal ruler, ShahJehan.
The Selimiye Mosque is an Ottoman mosque, which is located in the city of Edirne, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II, and was built by an architect named Mimar Sinan between 1569 and 1575.It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture.
The Hassan II Mosque is the second largest mosque in the world and is located in Casablanca, the capital of Morocco. Michel Pinseau, a French architect, designed the Hassan Mosque and its accompanying minaret. Pinseau designed the building in such a way that it is able to endure earthquakes. At night the minaret has lasers that shine in the direction of Mecca. Today, the minaret is considered the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet or 210 meters.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,is Abu Dhabi's most iconic landmark that features eighty-two white domes. Built between 1996 and 2007, it was designed to be an architectural wonder that incorporated both modern and classic Islamic artistic styles. Greek and Italian white marble covers the exterior, while Islamic calligraphy decorates the inside.
The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan, located in Islamabad. Completed in 1986, it was designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay to be shaped like a desert Bedouin’s tent. Unlike traditional masjid design, it lacks a dome. The mosque is named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who supported and financed the project.
The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China. The mosque is a combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art. It was constructed during Tang Dynasty. |
0.992785 | Is there really such a thing as grit?
Though the word seems to be used often enough, particularly in relation to the 1969 Western classic "True Grit" starring John Wayne and Kim Darby (not to mention the 2010 remake), is it something that can be studied by psychologists? As it happens, the answer is yes.
There are different definitions for grit but the one that seems to be used most often is "perseverance and passion for long-term goals." According to psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth, author of the popular book, Grit: the Power of Passion and Perseverance and a MacArthur "genius" award winner, grit is a often-ignored psychological trait that can help explain why some individuals succeed when others with equal or greater ability do not. She also defines grit as "not just resilience in the face of failure, but also having deep commitments that you remain loyal to over many years" and argues that it can be a better predictor of long-term success than cognitive ability.
While Duckworth and other researchers have developed a series of psychometric scales measuring grit in children and adults, it is also important to understand recent research into grit and how it can mean different things to different people. Researchers have identified two main components of grit: "perseverance of effort" and "consistency of effort." On Angela Duckworth's Grit Scale, perseverance and consistency are measured as subscale scores along with the overall grit score.
Perseverance of effort (or perseverance for short) refers to the tendency to work hard even in the face of setbacks while consistency of effort means sticking to a specific goal, for years if necessary, without changing to a new goal that might seem more attainable. Both perseverance and consistency are vital elements of the drive to succeed.
According to Malcolm Gladwell's famous 10,000-hour rule, true success only comes to people who are willing to put in a great many hours to become good at something they value. Whether it involves learning a new instrument, a new language, or developing a craft, being able to deal with setbacks and stay focused on goals no matter how distant they seem. Hence the importance of perseverance and consistency in success.
But is grit really something that can be measured by psychologists? A new review article published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology examines the available research literature on grit and takes a critical look at what has been learned so far. A team of researchers led by Marcus Crede of Iowa State University conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies to examine the concept of grit and whether it is as useful as other researchers have suggested.
One problem that Crede and his co-authors noted in their paper is that grit is very similar to other psychological traits that researchers have been studying for decades. One of these traits is conscientiousness, which is also included in the five major dimensions of the Big Five personality model. Other traits include industriousness, achievement need, or self-control.
By comparing grit to these other traits, Crede et al suggests that the concept of grit may simply be an example of "old wine in new bottles" with nothing substantially new being added. Many of the Big Five personality tests measuring conscientiousness, for example, use items that are almost identical to items on the Grit Scale and the correlations between grit and conscientiousness reported in many studies tend to be extremely high.
So, is grit the same as conscientiousness? It's hard to say at this point. Much like conscientiousness, people seem to become "grittier" as they grow older and more mature. There is also a strong correlation between grit and other traits such as psychological well-being, optimism, life satisfaction. People scoring high on grit are also much less likely to commit suicide. And, of course, grit is also strongly related to academic performance and lifetime career success.
In their meta-analysis combining data from more than five hundred research studies and 66,807 research participants, Crede et. al. found that perseverance on its own tends to be a much better predictor of performance than either consistency or the overall grit score measured by Duckworth's Grit Scale. As for the total grit score, the relationship between grit and academic performance is often modest at best. On the other hand, factors such as cognitive ability, having good study habits, and good academic adjustment tend to be much better at predicting how well someone will do academically. As expected, they also found that grit is very highly correlated with conscientiousness and self-control.
But the results also showed some positive findings as well. People scoring high in grit were less likely to drop out of college. Even compared to more traditional predictors such as cognitive ability and grades in predicting, grit scores proved to be just as useful in predicting who would stay in school. Looking at perseverance alone however, its value in predicting academic success was better than total grit or conscientiousness scores.
Assuming that grit continues to hold up as a separate trait in its own right, what are the practical implications of grit research? Considering the value that grit, or at least perseverance seems to have, might it be possible to develop training programs to help people become, well, "grittier?"
There have been positive results with treatment programs for boosting industriousness and self-control, but it will probably be important to understand grit better before developing new training programs that may, or may not, be worth the investment in time and effort. As Crede et al. point out, future research into grit will probably depend on better ways of measuring grit and how important it really is for future success.
In the meantime, spare a thought for the role that grit has played in your own life. And remember these words by John Ortberg : "Grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness."
Academics almost always get wrong traits of character and behavior because they do not understand the meaning of words.
Grit means pluck (courage, boldness), firmness of mind in facing a bigger foe or unfavorable odds.
Meanwhile, perseverance means endurance (sticking through suffering).
Grit has nothing to do with resilience in the face of failure nor loyalty to long-standing commitments.
Researchers are trying to quantify two things that have nothing to do with grit while trying to call it grit — "perseverance of effort" and "consistency of effort."
It wasn't Malcolm Gladwell that came up with the "10,000-hour rule," her merely popularized it. K. Anders Ericsson, a psychologist at Florida State University, is the one responsible for that research. That's a rather important distinction to make, especially when the vast majority of people misunderstand that Ericsson's 10,000 hours was never a rule, or an absolute, that Gladwell makes it out to be. It is a correlational piece of information, and should be treated as such, something Gladwell doesn't do well.
This article is pretty generous to Duckworth and other grit proponents. It is pretty clear from reading the meta-analysis by Crede et al. that Duckworth has simply given a more marketable name to conscientiousness and that she made some very serious statistical errors in her work that led her down some very wrong paths. I find it distressing that she continues to talk about grit in such glowing terms despite her awareness of this meta-analysis.
Should Schools Get Grittier About Grit? |
0.996778 | These capabilities enable rapid testing and refinement of different combinations of "seed" concepts to obtain better desired results.
According to DeepLearning4J's Word2Vec tutorial, "Given enough data, usage and contexts, Word2vec can make highly accurate guesses about a word’s meaning based on past appearances. Those guesses can be used to establish a word’s association with other words (e.g., 'man' is to 'boy' what 'woman' is to 'girl'), or cluster documents and classify them by topic. Those clusters can form the basis of search, sentiment analysis and recommendations in such diverse fields as scientific research, legal discovery, e-commerce and customer relationship management."
Word2vec is a two layer artificial neural network used to process text to learn relationships between words within a text corpus. Word2vec takes as its input a large corpus of text and produces a high-dimensional space (typically of several hundred dimensions), with each unique word in the corpus being assigned a corresponding vector in the space. This "word embedding" approach is able to capture multiple different degrees of similarity between words. To create the model of relationships between the words, a particular grouping of text or documents is fed to the word2vec process, which is called the training corpus.
This use case shows how the KBpedia knowledge structure can be used to automatically create highly accurate domain-specific training corpuses that can be used by word2vec to generate word relationship models, often with superior performance and results to generalized word2vec models. The basic approach in this use case is not only applicable to word2vec, but to any method that uses corpuses of text for training. For example, in another use case, we will show how this can be done with another algorithm called ESA (Explicit Semantic Analysis).
It is said about word2vec that "given enough data, usage and contexts, word2vec can make highly accurate guesses about a word’s meaning based on past appearances." What this use case shows is how the context of the training corpus may greatly impact the results. This use case also shows how KBpedia may be leveraged to quickly create very responsive domain-specific corpuses for training the model.
A training corpus is really just a set of text used to train unsupervised machine learning algorithms. Any kind of text can be used by word2vec. The only thing it does is to learn the relationships between the words that exist in the text. However, not all training corpuses are equal. Training corpuses are often dirty, biaised and ambiguous. Depending on the task at hand, it may be exactly what is required, but more often than not, such errors need to be fixed. Cognonto has the advantage of starting with clean text.
When we want to create a new training corpus, the first step is to find a source of text that could work to create that corpus. The second step is to select the text we want to add to it. The third step is to pre-process that corpus of text to perform different operations on the text, such as: removing HTML elements; removing punctuation; normalizing text; detecting named entities; etc. The final step is to train word2vec to generate the model.
Word2vec is somewhat dumb. It only learns what exists in the training corpus. It does not do anything other than "read" the text and then analyze the relationships between the words (which are really just groups of characters separated by spaces). The word2vec process is highly subject to the Garbage In, Garbage Out principle, which means that if the training set is dirty, biaised and ambiguous, then the learned relationship will end-up being of little or no value.
A domain-specific training corpus is a specialized training corpus where its text is related to a specific domain. Examples of domains are music, mathematics, cars, healthcare, etc. In contrast, a general training corpus is a corpus of text that may contain text that discusses totally different domains. By creating a corpus of text that covers a specific domain of interest, we limit the usage of words (that is, their co-occurrences) to texts that are meaningful to that domain.
As we will see in this use case, a domain-specific training corpus can be quite useful, and much more powerful, than general ones, if the task at hand is in relation to a specific domain of expertise. In the past, the major problem with domain-specific training corpuses was that they were costly to create. These costs arose because it is necessary to find a source of data to use, and then to select the specific documents to include in the training corpus. This can work if we want a corpus with 100 or 200 documents, but what if you want a training corpus of 100,000 or 200,000 documents? Then it becomes a problem.
To show how this process works, let's create a domain-specific training corpus using KBpedia about, say, musicians. We will compare this domain-specific corpus to the general word2vec model created by Google based on news sources that has about 100 billion words. The Google model contains 300-dimensional vectors for 3 million words and phrases. We will use the Google News model as the general model to compare the results/performance to our domain-specific musicians model.
The first step is to define the scope of the domain we want to create. For this use case example, we want a domain that is somewhat constrained to create a training corpus that is not too large for demo purposes. The domain we have chosen is musicians. This domain is related to people and bands that play music. It is also related to musical genres, instruments, music industry, etc.
To create this domain, we beginwith a single KBpedia reference concept: Musician. If we want to broaden the scope of the domain, we could have included other concepts such as: Music, Musical Group, Musical Instrument, etc.
Once we have determined the scope of the domain, the next step is to query the KBpedia knowledge base to aggregate all of the text that will belong to that training corpus. The end result of this operation is to create a training corpus with text that is only related to the scope of the domain we defined.
What this code does is to query the KBpedia knowledge base to get all the named entities that are linked to it, for the scope of the domain we defined. Then the text related to each entity is appended to a text file where each line is the text of a single entity.
Given the scope of the current use case, the musicians training corpus is composed of 47,263 documents. With a simple function, we are able to aggregate 47,263 text documents highly related to a conceptual domain we defined on the fly. All of the hard work has been delegated to the knowledge base and its conceptual structure. (In fact, this simple function leverages 8 years of hard work).
The next step is a common one related to any NLP pipeline. Before learning from the training corpus, we should clean and normalize the text of its raw form.
We remove all of the characters that may cause issues to the tokenizer used by the word2vec implementation. We also remove unnecessary words and other words that appear too often or that add nothing to the model we want to generate (like the listing of days and months). We also drop all numbers. By the way, such cleaning steps are common to most such models, and can be used repeatedly across projects.
What is important to notice here is the number of parameters that can be defined to train word2vec on a corpus. In fact, word2vec can be sensitive to parametrization. In a standard use case, since creation of the domain-specific training corpus is so easy, most of the total time getting great results is spent tuning these parameters (subjects of other use cases).
Now that we have a domain-specific model related to musicians and a general model related to news processed by Google, let's start playing with both to see how they perform on different tasks. In the following examples, we will always compare the domain-specific training corpus with the general one.
A characteristic of words is that their surface form can be ambiguous; they can have multiple meanings. An ambiguous word can co-occur with multiple other words that may not have any shared meaning. But all of this depends on the context. If we are in a general context, then this situation will happen more often than we think and will impact the similarity score of these ambiguous terms. However, as we will see, this phenomenum is greatly diminished when we use domain-specific models.
What we want to check is the relationship between 3 different music instruments: piano, organ and violin. We want to check the relationship between each of them.
As we can see, both tuples have a high likelihood of co-occurrence. This suggests that these terms of each tuple are probably highly related. In this case, it is probably because violins are often played along with a piano. And, it is probable that an organ looks like a piano (at least it has a keyboard).
The surprising fact here is the apparent dissimilarity between piano and organ compared with the results we got with the musicians domain-specific model. If we think a bit about this use case, we will probably conclude that these results makes sense. In fact, organ is an ambiguous word in a general context. An organ can be a musical instrument, but it can also be a part of an anatomy. This means that the word organ will co-occur with piano, but also to all other kinds of words related to human and animal biology. This is why they are less similar in the general model than in the domain one, because it is an ambiguous word in a general context.
Now let's see another similarity example between two other words album and track where track is an ambiguous word depending on the context.
As expected, because track is ambiguous, there is a big difference in terms of co-occurence probabilities depending on the context (domain-specific or general).
However, are domain-specific and general differences always the case? Let's take a look at two words that are domain specific and unambiguous: pianist and violinist.
In this case, the similarity score between the two terms is almost the same. In both contexts (generals and domain specific), their co-occurrence is similar.
Now let's look at the similarity between two distinct words in two new and distinct contexts. Let's take a look at a few words and see what other words occur most often with them.
One observation we can make is that the terms from the musicians model are more general than the ones from the general model.
As we know, track is ambiguous. The difference between these two sets of nearest related words is striking. There is a clear conceptual correlation in the musicians' domain-specific model. But in the general model, it is really going in all directions.
This one is quite interesting too. Both groups of words makes sense, but only in their respective contexts. With the musicians' model, year is mostly related to awards (like the Grammy Awards 2016), categories like "song of the year", etc.
In the context of the general model, year is really related to time concepts: months, seasons, etc.
Finally we will play with manipulating the co-occurrences vectors by manipulating them. A really popular word2vec equation is king - man + women = queen. What is happening under the hood with this equation is that we are adding and substracting the co-occurence "vectors" for each of these words, and we check the nearest word of the resulting co-occurence vector.
Now, let's take a look at a few of these equations.
Pianist + Renowned = ?
These kinds of operations are also interesting. If we add the two co-occurrence vectors for pianist and renowned then we get that a teacher, an educator, a composer or a virtuoso is a renowned pianist.
For unambiguous surface forms like pianist, then the two models score quite well. The difference between the two examples comes from the way the general training corpus has been created (pre-processed) compared to the musicians corpus.
Metal + Death = ?
This example uses two quite general words with no apparent relationship between them. The results with the musicians' model are all the highly similar genre of music like trash metal, deathcore metal, etc.
However with the general model, it is a mix of multiple unrelated concepts.
Metal - Death + Smooth = ?
Let's play some more with these equations. What if we want some kind of smooth metal?
This one is also quite interesting. We substracted the death co-occurrence vector to the metal one, and then we added the smooth vector. What we end-up with is a bunch of music genres that are much smoother than death metal.
In the case of the general model, we end-up with "smooth metal". The removal of the death vector has no effect on the results, probably since these are three ambiguous and really general terms.
To enable the testing and refinement of different combinations of "seed" concepts to produce training corpuses with the desired set of similarity results.
As we saw, creating domain-specific training corpuses to use with word2vec can have a dramatic impact on the results and how results can be much more meaningful within the scope of that domain. Another advantage of a domain-specific training corpus is it creates create much smaller models. Smaller models are faster to generate, faster to download/upload, faster to query, and consume less memory.
Of the concepts in KBpedia, roughly 47,000 of them correspond to types (or classes) of various sorts. These pre-determined slices are available across all needs and domains to generate such domain-specific corpuses. Further, KBpedia is designed for rapid incorporation of your own domain information to add further to this discriminatory power. |
0.999999 | Are you tired of reading about restaurants opening on Freret Street? I hope not, because I’m not tired of writing about them, at least not as long as they’re as good as Wayfare. When it opened, Wayfare was often described as a deli, and there are definitely elements of that, including one of the best Reuben sandwiches in town, but there’s a lot more going on.
Wayfare is a part of the often cited “restaurant row” on Freret Street, and a part of the revival of the stretch of that street between Napoleon and Nashville avenues. It is housed in a building that was previously a boxing gym, but there’s no evidence of its former life apart from one of the specialty sandwiches (The Knuckle Sandwich: cold roast beef with shoestring potatoes, arugula and horseradish sauce on a pretzel-dough bun) on the big board that lists Wayfare’s offerings. The dining room occupies roughly one half of the restaurant’s space, the other half being taken up by the long bar at which customers place orders or sit for a cocktail or a draft beer.
Wayfare is definitely a sandwich-centric place. In addition to choices such as roast turkey served with a salsa verde aioli, white cheddar and heirloom tomatoes on caraway bread and toasted fennel sausage with peperonata, sharp provolone cheese and a fried egg on a ciabatta bun, the restaurant offers constantly changing specials such as grilled white patty squash with roasted peppers, cremini mushrooms, charred onions, pepper jack cheese, tomato, slaw and chipotle mustard and pear butter on ciabatta.
The house salad consists of mozzarella made in-house, tomato, kalamata olives, greens and blood orange. Roasted beets come with Maytag blue cheese, spiced pecans and dill. There is a daily soup special; you might find butter beans and greens with ham hock one day, and ginger-carrot-fennel the next. Tomato basil is the only standard. The variability applies to starters and small plates as well; bruschetta change frequently, as do the fried rice balls known as arancini.
These are people who care about good food, and that’s evident from the moment you walk into the place and get to experience the friendly, if casual, service.
We don’t know how much longer Freret Street can sustain restaurant openings, but if they’re all like Wayfare, we hope the trend never ends. |
0.999994 | Katrine Bosley is the CEO of Editas Medicine and the former CEO of Avila Therapeutics, a company that championed the discovery and development of targeted covalent drugs. Avila established alliances with Sanofi, Clovis Oncology, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and advanced two programs into clinical development, one independently and one with partner Clovis, prior to its acquisition by Celgene in early 2012 ($350 million upfront + $575 million contingent on milestones).
Prior to her leadership at Avila, Katrine was VP, Business Development at Adnexus Therapeutics, a company developing a new class of protein therapeutics called Adnectins. Adnexus was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2007 (>$500 million). Katrine joined Adnexus from Biogen Idec where she led multiple business development transactions, including the in-licensing of Tysabri® (natalizumab). Earlier, she was part of the healthcare team at the venture firm Highland Capital Partners and was in regulatory affairs at Alkermes. Through her career, Katrine has worked with products from discovery through commercialization.
Katrine graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in biology as a College Scholar and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
That is a sobering headline to write.
Starting a Company Is Hard. Good Health Insurance Makes It Easier.
Usually late August is fairly laid-back, but this year the debate over how states are implementing the federal Affordable Care Act seems to get louder by the day. |
0.99983 | Presumably like a scene from "Cars". Only the cars don't have teeth.
Self-driving cars will someday have to share busy streets with unpredictable people and other vehicles. For most forms of tech, the road from prototype to finished product involves private testing in laboratories before eventually being tried in the real world. Self-driving cars are no different. Early prototypes could drive around inside hangars, but it’s unsafe to release test models into populated areas. So how do you safely test and improve tech that needs to interact with real streets and other road users in order to improve?
The University of Michigan has solved this problem by building a town just for testing. Mcity is a 32-acre purpose-built town at the University’s North Campus Research Complex. It has roads, pavements, curbs, road signs, traffic lights, zebra crossings, roundabouts, tunnels, bike lanes, fire hydrants, construction barriers, different surface materials, and multiple lanes, basically everything a self-driving car will face in the real world except hoverboards. In a collaborative project with the University, Ford is using Mcity to test their self-driving Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle, which unfortunately isn’t any snappier as an acronym. These cars build a 3D model of their environment using cameras, radar, and lasers. No tech of the future is complete without lasers.
In a single day these vehicles can be put through stresses that might take months of testing in populated areas.
The controlled nature of the town allows more efficient testing. Many of the dangerous events these cars need to recognise and navigate can be relatively rare for a single road user. All over the world, at any given time, there are children running in front of moving vehicles, but send out a self-driving car onto real streets and it might not experience that situation. The cars would have to be used on real roads for many years in order to experience all the problems that could potentially occur.
It’s looking a lot like self-driving cars will dominate our streets one day. Sure, there are some people who fear the idea of filling streets with automated vehicles – but I, for one, welcome our new robotic Uber drivers. |
0.999907 | I am a 33-year-old combat veteran diagnosed with PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury. What would you recommend to aid the anxiety and the rising blood pressure from those issues?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is indeed a terrible problem. Research suggests that this condition is an immunoexcitotoxic disorder related to the disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The solution is to reduce brain inflammation and excitotoxicity. Dietary changes are critical. Avoid all food containing excitotoxins, as they greatly worsen the condition.
Lithium, even in a dose of 5 mg a day has been shown to help. Zinc also helps depression.
Most important is adding DHA to the diet in a dose of 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day. The other vitamins, especially B vitamins and mixed tocopherols and vitamin C, also reduce depression.
Several of the flavonoids are known to reduce anxiety from PTSD, such as curcumin, hesperidin, and quercetin. For more serious cases, hypericum (from St. John’s Wort) has been shown to be more effective than prescription psychiatric drugs. |
0.960412 | What is Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO)?
Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) is refers to rating organizations so designated by the SEC whose status has been confirmed by the Securities Valuation Office. Examples are: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s (S&P), A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best) and Fitch Ratings and Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS). |
0.98067 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprises two conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It has been recognised as a serious health problem and one of the main causes of death around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) informs that the number of people with COPD continues to grow, and by 2030, COPD will become the world's third cause of death. Most of the people who have COPD also experience depression. Studies show that up to 80% of patients with more severe COPD can have symptoms of depression. Other findings show that patients with COPD are four times more likely to have depression than those without COPD.
The number of people living with COPD is increasing, rather than decreasing, around the world. Depression in this population is commonly unrecognised, and patients rarely receive appropriate treatment. Untreated depression increases the risk of death, hospitalisation, readmissions, and healthcare costs. Currently, there is no strong evidence showing which psychological therapy is most effective for patients with COPD and depression.
People who have COPD and depression, respiratory physicians, mental health specialists, respiratory nurses, other healthcare professionals, and policy makers.
Which psychological therapy (if any) is effective in reducing symptoms of depression in patients with COPD?
This review included experimental studies, called randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with participants who had diagnosed COPD.
This review included 13 experimental studies (RCTs) with 1500 participants. Our main result shows that psychological therapies using cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach may, potentially, be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with COPD. However, the quality of this evidence is very low because of many limitations related to the way the studies were conducted.
More experimental studies with larger numbers of participants are needed, to confirm beneficial effects of CBT for patients with COPD-related depression. Future studies need to produce higher quality evidence and measure adverse events and other important outcomes, such as quality of life or cost-effectiveness.
The findings from this review indicate that psychological therapies (using a CBT-based approach) may be effective for treating COPD-related depression, but the evidence is limited. Depressive symptoms improved more in the intervention groups compared to: 1) no intervention (attention placebo or standard care), 2) educational interventions, and 3) a co-intervention (pulmonary rehabilitation). However, the effect sizes were small and quality of the evidence very low due to clinical heterogeneity and risk of bias. This means that more experimental studies with larger numbers of participants are needed, to confirm the potential beneficial effects of therapies with a CBT approach for COPD-related depression.
New trials should also address the gap in knowledge related to limited data on adverse effects, and the secondary outcomes of quality of life, dyspnoea, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), exercise tolerance, hospital length of stay and frequency of readmissions, and cost-effectiveness. Also, new research studies need to adhere to robust methodology to produce higher quality evidence.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recognised as a global health concern, and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Projections of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that prevalence rates of COPD continue to increase, and by 2030, it will become the world's third leading cause of death. Depression is a major comorbidity amongst patients with COPD, with an estimate prevalence of up to 80% in severe stages of COPD. Prevalence studies show that patients who have COPD are four times as likely to develop depression compared to those without COPD. Regrettably, they rarely receive appropriate treatment for COPD-related depression. Available findings from trials indicate that untreated depression is associated with worse compliance with medical treatment, poor quality of life, increased mortality rates, increased hospital admissions and readmissions, prolonged length of hospital stay, and subsequently, increased costs to the healthcare system. Given the burden and high prevalence of untreated depression, it is important to evaluate and update existing experimental evidence using rigorous methodology, and to identify effective psychological therapies for patients with COPD-related depression.
To assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies for the treatment of depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2018, Issue 11), and Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO from June 2016 to 26 November 2018. Previously these databases were searched via the Cochrane Airways and Common Mental Disorders Groups' Specialised Trials Registers (all years to June 2016). We searched ClinicalTrials.gov, the ISRCTN registry, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) to 26 November 2018 to identify unpublished or ongoing trials. Additionally, the grey literature databases and the reference lists of studies initially identified for full-text screening were also searched.
Eligible for inclusion were randomised controlled trials that compared the use of psychological therapies with either no intervention, education, or combined with a co-intervention and compared with the same co-intervention in a population of patients with COPD whose depressive symptoms were measured before or at baseline assessment.
Two review authors independently assessed the titles and abstracts identified by the search to determine which studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. We assessed two primary outcomes: depressive symptoms and adverse events; and the following secondary outcomes: quality of life, dyspnoea, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), exercise tolerance, hospital length of stay or readmission rate, and cost-effectiveness. Potentially eligible full-text articles were also independently assessed by two review authors. A PRISMA flow diagram was prepared to demonstrate the decision process in detail. We used the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' evaluation tool to examine the risk of bias, and assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADE framework. All outcomes were continuous, therefore, we calculated the pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). We used a random-effects model to calculate treatment effects.
The findings are based on 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with a total of 1500 participants. In some of the included studies, the investigators did not recruit participants with clinically confirmed depression but applied screening criteria after randomisation. Hence, across the studies, baseline scores for depressive symptoms varied from no symptoms to severe depression. The severity of COPD across the studies was moderate to severe.
There was a small effect showing the effectiveness of psychological therapies in improving depressive symptoms when compared to no intervention (SMD 0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.33; P = 0.009; 6 studies, 764 participants), or to education (SMD 0.23, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.41; P = 0.010; 3 studies, 507 participants).
Two studies compared psychological therapies plus a co-intervention versus the co-intervention alone (i.e. pulmonary rehabilitation (PR)). The results suggest that a psychological therapy combined with a PR programme can reduce depressive symptoms more than a PR programme alone (SMD 0.37, 95% CI -0.00 to 0.74; P = 0.05; 2 studies, 112 participants).
We rated the quality of evidence as very low. Owing to the nature of psychological therapies, blinding of participants, personnel, and outcome assessment was a concern.
None of the included studies measured adverse events.
Quality of life was measured in four studies in the comparison with no intervention, and in three studies in the comparison with education. We found inconclusive results for improving quality of life. However, when we pooled data from two studies using the same measure, the result suggested that psychological therapy improved quality of life better than no intervention. One study measured hospital admission rates and cost-effectiveness and showed significant reductions in the intervention group compared to the education group. We rated the quality of evidence as very low for the secondary outcomes. |
0.973166 | The book also proposes a theoretical and methodological approach on how to research architecture's agency. Critical theory has left an indelible mark on postwar social thought. This book is key reading for students and researchers in a variety of disciplines concerned with social relationships with things ' including sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, and technology studies. These radio activists consciously cast radio as an alternative to digital utopianism, promoting an understanding of electronic media that emphasizes the local community rather than a global audience of Internet users. Tim Dant argues that the traditional approach to material culture has focused on the symbolic meanings of objects, largely overlooking the material impact that objects have on everyday life in late modernity. The authors come from different European countries, with a few more from the edi-tors' home states of Denmark and England, and just one is.
However, very little is known about the socio-cultural consequences of computer mediated decision-making processes. Despite its origins as a pirate broadcasting collective, the group eventually shifted toward building and expanding regulatory access to new, licensed stations. The E-mail message field is required. This paper brings together two ideas about social relations with the material world that emerged at the end of the twentieth century; the hypothesis of 'extended mind' and the discussion of the 'morality of things'. Tim Dant argues that the traditional approach to material culture has focused on the symbolic meanings of objects, largely overlooking the material impact that objects have on everyday life in late modernity.
Finally the paper suggests some initial themes and issues apparent in contemporary society that the sociological study of material civilization might address; the increased volume, functional complexity and material specificity of objects and the increased social complexity, autonomy and substitutability that is entailed. Item Type: Journal Article Journal or Publication Title: British Journal of Sociology Additional Information: This is a pre-print of an article published in The British Journal of Sociology, 57 2 , 2006. It is available both online and in print. But what are the relations between critical theory and 'the cultural turn'? The traditional approach to culture focuses on the symbolic meanings of objects rather than the impact that these objects have on contemporary life. Over the next decade, several hundred of these newly created low-wattage stations took to the airwaves.
Author by : Barbara A. Pieter Vermaas and Wybo Houkes argue that the intentionality of design-ers and users is combined in the recognition of an object as. Using the motor car as a recurring theme, he shows how we confront our society through material interaction with the objects that surround us. Thereby, algorithms assist users to navigate huge databases of items. The volume is also a valuable resource for environmental communication professionals working with communities and governmental and non-governmental environmental organisations. Although such challenges are far from new and both ideas have limitations, when taken together they are welcomed, for directing attention to and suggesting a mode of analysis of the moral consequences of technical change. This book examines the relationships between society and material culture: the interaction between people and things.
Materiality and civilization : things and society.
The reader offers a study of our digital future, a means of understanding the world with new analytic tools and means of communication that are defining the twenty-first century. Lastly, the contemporary relevance of these institutions and practices are discussed, along with cases of contemporary forms of resistance, such as the Occupy Movement and alter-globalisation. This student textbook, originally published in 1991, tackles the traditional problems of the soci. The authors come from different European countries, with a few more from the edi-tors' h. Critical Digital Studies will continue to provide the leading edge to readers wanting to understand the complex intersection of digital culture and human knowledge.
The flow of dynamic imagery provides a shared stock of ideas, a 'moral imaginary', that can help to sustain a society that has long outgrown the nation state. This book is key reading for students and researchers in a variety of disciplines concerned with social relationships with things — including sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, and technology studies. Mind is an inner property of individual being but, paradoxically, to live in the social world requires being able to know what is in other people's minds. The idea of an 'extended mind' Clark and Chalmers 1998 has, over the last decade and half, stim. Environmental Communication Pedagogy and Practice is an essential resource for those working in environmental communication, environmental and sustainability studies, environmental journalism, environmental planning and management, environmental sciences, media studies and cultural studies, as well as communication subfields such as rhetoric, conflict and mediation, and intercultural. Critical social theory is first revisited by exposing the affinity between Marx's critique of political economy, the critique of instrumental reason elaborated by the first generation of the Frankfurt School, and the libertarian socialism of G. This collection will be of interest to researchers and postgraduate students in Media, Communication Studies, and Rhetoric.
This student textbook, originally published in 1991, tackles the traditional problems of the sociology of knowledge from a new perspective. And in the rather longer past I was a social policy researcher and wrote on rehousing homeless single people and community care for older people. Materiality and Society draws on debates with historical, philosophical and theoretical discourses that address materiality, from Braudel and Merleau-Ponty to Heidegger and Latour. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. The book argues that the appropriate combination ofmarket and regulatory forces to speed adoption will vary bycountry, concluding with four specific recommendations about whatmust be done to accelerate high quality adoption of integratedreporting around the world.
The book includes images of the digital media installations of Francesca Talenti, Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The second edition includes new essays on the impact of social networking technologies and new media. The political subject of the study is the collective political actor poised against governmental rules for stabilizing order. It is a key way that people keep up with the changes in the mora. The essays explore the implications of such daily practices as making a telephone call or sending an email, and examine the relationship between media change and social change, with emphasis on the reproduction of social systems. Researchers in political theory, social theory and political philosophy will find this an engaging work that will stimulate debates about new alternatives to existing problems. By bringing together the concerns of critical theory and libertarian socialism, this volume not only illustrates the practical side of critical theory, but also highlights its contemporary relevance. |
0.989047 | What are business models of open source projects?
I'm thinking about developing a software library for iPhone with my friend. Our target is a developing country where the mobile phone market is still very young, compared to U.S. The problem is that I don't know much about good business models for software development. Rather than charging customers by selling our library or apps, what is a business model behind making our library an open source project? Is it really about pursuing ones' passion and being just volunteers? What's the benefit of building a community in terms of making money?
The business model usually boils down to consulting, or value add software.
More importantly, the fact that software is free and open doesn't mean it is necessarily licensed to the community at large. ...if you have a customer, and deliver free and open code, that customer is not obligated to release the code to anyone else, and neither are you.
However, in the circumstance you describe, I'm not clear how you would monetize the model. Perhaps you would form a little co-existent consultancy that would, after release of a code-base, build apps based on the base. As a practical matter, a vast library is probably best utilized by its maintainer, or someone else familiar with its intricacies.
I think that, before deciding you want to be free and open, its important to sit down and understand what the business model is. Often, if you have a model, and software freedom matters to you, you can build backwards to that goal from the business model.
Provide community support and offer a monthly subscription for access and extras.
Another (less scalable) technique is to charge for initial setup and consulting time.
3 Sponsorship of an open source project, how much to charge? |
0.956771 | Ladakh ("land of high passes") is a region in northern India. It is part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Himalayas to the south. Ladakh is well-known for its remote mountain scenery. It is inhabited by a mix of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan people. Their language is an archaic dialect of the Tibetan language. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet", because it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. Ladakh is one of the least populated regions in the area.
Historically, the region of Ladakh included neighbouring Baltistan, the Indus and Zanskar Valleys, Lahaul and Spiti, Aksai Chin and the Nubra Valley. The modern region borders Tibet to the east, Lahaul and Spiti to the south, and Kashmir, Jammu and Baltistan to the west.
In the past, Ladakh was important for trade. It was where several important trade routes met. However, China closed the border with Tibet in the 1960s, and since then, international trade has suffered. Tourism is an exception, and it has been very important for Ladakh's economy since about 1974. Because the wider region is a part of the Kashmir conflict, the Indian military has a strong presence in Ladakh.
The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. It is one of the few remaining places in South Asia where Buddhism is very strong. A majority of Ladakhis are Tibetan Buddhists and the rest are mostly Shia Muslims. Leh is followed by Kargil as the second largest town in Ladakh. Some Ladakhi activists have in recent times called for Ladakh to be made into a union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with Kashmir, which is mostly Muslim.
Ladakh is the highest plateau in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Much of it is over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level. It spans the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River valley. The Indus is the most important part of Ladakh for its people. Most major historical and current towns (Shey, Leh, Basgo and Tingmosgang) are located close to the Indus River. The stretch of the Indus flowing through Ladakh is the only part of this river in India. The river is sacred in Hindu religion and culture.
A Ladakhi woman in traditional clothes.
About 46% are Buddhist by faith. Just over 47% are Muslim, and 6% are Hindu. Kargil District is the only Muslim-majority district within Ladakh. They traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life. About 90% of them depend on agriculture based on the Indus River for their livelihood. Barley, wheat, buckwheat, peas, rapeseed and beans are the main agricultural products. Apples and apricots are grown in warmer regions of low altitude.
Another occupation of the people is sheep-rearing. The herdsmen are called Chang-pas. They rear long-haired goats and sheep from whose under-fleece the famous Kashmiri Pashmina shawls are made. Chang-pas live in tents and are nomadic, going from place to place in search of pastures. The people are keenly interested in trade. Wool, in raw form is their chief commercial product. The men travel long distances, seeking favourable prices for their wares, which consist of salt, dry fruits and cultured pearls and semi-precious stones. In return they get tea, tobacco, grain, sugar and other essential goods.
Playing polo on fast-racing ponies is the most popular entertainment in Ladakh. The horse is not changed with each chukker (chukka) as in western style polo, but each player carries on with the same sturdy pony. Primitive wooden balls are still used for the game, played on a rough, uneven pitch whose popularity persists in Ladakh.
Ladakh offers the hunters exotic hunts of the markhor, ibex, red bear, snow leopard, wild sheep, antelope, gazelle and marmot. Ladakh is also rich in minerals like gold, copper and semi-precious stones.
Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh except along streambeds and wetlands, on high slopes, and in irrigated places. The first European to study the wildlife of this region was Ferdinand Stoliczka, an Austrian-Czech palaeontologist, who carried out a massive expedition there in the 1870s.
The fauna of Ladakh has much in common with that of Central Asia in general and that of the Tibetan Plateau in particular.Exceptions to this are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. For such an arid area, Ladakh has a great diversity of birds — a total of 225 species have been recorded. Many species of finches, robins, redstarts (like the black redstart), and the hoopoe are common in summer. The brown-headed gull is seen in summer on the river Indus and on some lakes of the Changthang. Resident water-birds include the brahminy duck also known as the ruddy sheldrake and the bar-headed goose. The black-necked crane, a rare species found scattered in the Tibetan plateau, is also found in parts of Ladakh. Other birds include the raven, Eurasian magpie, red-billed chough, Tibetan snowcock, and chukar. The lammergeier and the golden eagle are common raptors here specially in Changthang region.
↑ This does not include Aksai Chin (37,555 km²), which is under the control of China.
↑ "MHA.nic.in". MHA.nic.in. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
↑ Jina, Prem Singh (1996). Ladakh: The Land and the People. Indus Publishing. ISBN 8173870578.
↑ "Kargil Council For Greater Ladakh". The Statesman, 9 August 2003. 2003. Retrieved 2006-08-22.
This page was last changed on 11 March 2019, at 05:45. |
0.892648 | This article is about 'the narrow gauge engine'. You may be looking for 'the standard gauge engine or the Story Library book'.
Number 2 (No. 2), nicknamed Stanley (after politician Stanley Baldwin), was an American narrow gauge pannier-tank engine who originally worked on the Mid Sodor Railway up until he was turned into a pumping engine.
Stanley was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works sometime around 1917, and apparently worked in the United States before arriving on Sodor. Following the end of the First World War, Stanley was bought secondhand as army surplus by the Mid Sodor Railway and was re-gauged.
However, Stanley proved to be a bad bargain. As he had not been re-gauged properly, Stanley was prone to riding roughly along the track and often derailed, though he believed this was no big deal. Repeated attempts to cure this habit failed, and Stanley was stripped of his wheels and became a pumping engine behind the engine sheds at Arlesdale.
Duke later lectured Stuart and Falcon about Stanley's downfall and they became "unusually good for several days".
Stanley was later relocated to Cas-ny-Hawin to pump out water from the mines, but by December 1946 he was becoming worn-out and broke down, causing the mines to flood. With no reason to stay open, the Mid Sodor Railway was closed and Stanley was scrapped.
Stanley was arrogant and careless and refused to listen to advice. This carelessness eventually led to him being converted into a pumping engine.
Stanley is based on a Baldwin Class 10-12-D 4-6-0 pannier tank engine, built at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for service in the First World War. They were sent to the United Kingdom and the British War Office chose them to be the principal military steam locomotive for the trench railways. However, they were rough riders and had the tendency to derail. After the war ended in 1918, various railways, such as the Welsh Highland and the Snailbeach District Railway acquired them as surplus. Five of these engines are known to be preserved. Stanley had been re-gauged from 1ft 11 5/8in to 2ft 3in. As of today, none of the class still reside in the United States, and the ones preserved still reside in the UK.
Stanley's second appearance, in the back of the shed in "Bulldog", creates a continuity error. According to "Granpuff", Stuart and Falcon did not know about Stanley, implying Stanley's arrival and likely scrapping occurred before their arrival. However, Stanley is seen in the same shed as Falcon, meaning Falcon would have known about Stanley and what happened to him. Also, it has been confirmed that Falcon was built and came to the railway before Stanley, while Stuart was built and came to the railway before Stanley was turned into a pumping engine.
Stanley was the first and only engine of an American class in the Railway Series.
In the illustration of Stanley as a pumping engine, he is incorrectly depicted as a saddle tank and only having one dome. However, it's possible he was given a saddle tank as part of the conversion to a pumping engine, and as he would remain stationary, his sand dome was no longer needed.
According to Rev. W. Awdry in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, Stanley was never officially named Stanley as it was only his nickname. He is regularly referred to by his number (No.2).
In the illustration of Stanley as a pumping engine, he is seen with a cigarette in his mouth.
“No. 2", said Duke. "Was American and very cocky. He rode roughly and often came off the rails. I warned him to be careful!"
"Listen, bud!", he drawled. "In the States, we don't care a dime for a few spills!"
"We do here! I said, but he just laughed. But he didn't laugh when the Manager said he was going to take away his wheels and said he was going to make him useful at last."
"W-w-why? What did he do?!"
"He turned him into a pumping engine, that's what! He's still there behind our shed." |
0.952047 | William Shakespeare is usually considered the greatest dramatist of English literature. No other writer's plays and poetry have been produced so many times in so many countries and translated into so many languages. One of the major reasons for Shakespeare's popularity is the variety of rich characters that he successfully creates, from drunkards and paid murderers to princes and kings, from inane fools and court jesters to wise and noble generals. Each character springs vividly to life upon the stage and, as they speak their beautiful verse or prose, the characters remind the viewers of their own personalities, traits and flaws. Shakespeare also made his characters very realistic. The dramatist had an amazing knowledge of a wide variety of subjects, and his well-developed characters reflect this knowledge, whether it be about military science, the graces of royalty, seamanship, history, the Bible, music, or sports.
In Shakespeare's time, few biographies were written, and none of the literary men of the Elizabethan Age wrote a book about his life. The first portfolio of his works, collected as a memorial to Shakespeare by members of his own acting company, was not published until 1623, seven years after his death. His first biography was written one hundred years later. As a result, many of the facts of Shakespeare's life are unknown. It is known that he was born in Stratford-on-Avon in England, in early 1564, for his baptism is recorded on April 26 of that year. His mother, Mary, had eight children, with William being the third. His father, John Shakespeare, was a fairly prosperous glovemaker who owned several houses in Stratford and became the town's mayor when Shakespeare was a boy. The young Shakespeare probably studied in the local grammar school and hunted and played sports in the open fields behind his home.
The next definite information about William Shakespeare is that the young man, at age 18, married Anne Hathaway, who was 26, on November 28, 1582. In 1583, it is recorded that Anne gave birth to their oldest child, Susanna, and that twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born to the couple in 1585. By 1592, the family was living in London, where Shakespeare was busy acting in plays and writing his own dramas. From 1592 to 1594, the plague kept most London theaters closed, so the dramatist turned to writing poetry during this period, and his poems, which were actually published, became popular with the masses and contributed to his good reputation as a writer. From 1594 to the end of his career, Shakespeare belonged to the same theatrical company, known first as Lord Chamberlain's Men and then as the King's Company. It is also known that he was both a leader and stockholder in this acting organization, which became the most prosperous group in London, and that he was meeting with both financial success and critical acclaim.
In 1594, Shakespeare was popular enough as an actor to perform before Queen Elizabeth. By 1596, he owned considerable property in London and bought one of the finest houses in Stratford, known as New Place, in 1597. A year later, in 1598, he bought ten percent of the stock in the Globe Theatre, where his plays were produced. In 1608, he and his colleagues also purchased The Blackfriars Theatre, where they began to hold productions during the winter, returning to the Globe during the summer months. Throughout the rest of his life, Shakespeare continued to purchase land, homes, and businesses. He obviously was a busy man between handling his business ventures, performing on the stage, and writing or collaborating on the thirty-seven plays that are credited to him.
Shakespeare's most productive years were from 1594 to 1608, the period in which he wrote all of his great tragedies, such as Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Romeo and Juliet. During these fourteen years, he furnished his acting company with approximately two plays annually. After 1608, it appears he went into semi-retirement, spending more time in Stratford and creating only five plays before his death on April 23, 1616. He was buried before the altar in the Stratford Church, where his body still lies today. Many literary students and visitors make a pilgrimage to this shrine each year in order to honor William Shakespeare, still recognized after 400 years as one of the world's greatest poets and dramatists. |
0.999079 | From a question about a man in a hat to a question about a boy wearing a crown. Where should we go next? Hat ... crown ... How about shoes?
Who wears these spectacular boots? |
0.983576 | Dr. Tony Alessandra helps companies achieve market dominance through specific strategies designed to outmarket, outsell, and outservice the competition.
Dr. Alessandra has a street-wise, college-smart perspective on business, having realized success as former a graduate professor of marketing, entrepreneur, business author and keynote speaker. He earned his BBA, MBA and PhD, all in Marketing, from the University of Notre Dame, University of Connecticut, and Georgia State University, respectively.
Dr. Tony Alessandra is president of AssessmentBusinessCenter.com, a company that offers online 360 assessments; Chairman of BrainX.com, a company that created the first Online Learning Mastery System; and is the founding partner of Platinum Rule Group (www. PlatinumRuleGroup.com), a company that provides corporate training and consulting based on The Platinum Rule.
Dr. Alessandra is a widely-published author with 15 books translated into 17 foreign languages, including Charisma, The Platinum Rule, Collaborative Selling, and Communicating at Work. He is featured in over 50 audio/video programs and films, including Relationship Strategies, The Dynamics of Effective Listening, and Non-Manipulative Selling.
Recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as "one of America's most electrifying speakers," Dr. Alessandra was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame in 1985, and is a member of the Speakers Roundtable, a group of 20 of the world's top professional speakers.
What is it about Tony Alessandra that gets audiences excited? It's really very simple. He reaches people - from the Board of Directors to the front-line folks in the trenches. He gets across new, important information "with a lot of snap" - so people can grasp it, remember it, and use it. He offers audiences practical ideas that produce profitable bottom-line results. Tony's polished style, powerful message and proven ability as a consummate business strategist consistently earns rave reviews. |
0.999861 | I followed my boss to a co-worker's cubicle where my boss requested a certain document from the co-worker. The actual surface of the co-workers desk was not visible because its surface was covered with a cluttered pile of papers, catalogs, booklets, and other paraphernalia. I was prepared to see my co-worker embarass himself by not being able to locate the requested document in that messy pile.
I'm not saying that you have to get rid of every personal item from your desk. Displaying a family photograph gives the impression of a stable, reliable individual, but too many photograph's on your desk sends the message that you would rather be somewhere else. A plant on your desk can make your cubicle seem less harsh, but too many plants makes people think that your hobby is taking over your cubicle. |
0.999987 | Hi sweetie. My name is Margarita, 24 years old. I enjoy to be in company of an upscale gentleman with class and style who knows how to treat a Lady.
sms please Hi sweetie. My name is Margarita, 24 years old. I enjoy to be in company of an upscale gentleman with class and style who knows how to treat a Lady. |
0.998725 | Is there mud on the course?
Nope, we believe in having fun without getting all muddy!
If it rains, there may be some mud on the course, but we will never create obstacles that intentionally include mud. |
0.938253 | Red Riding (2009) is a three-part television adaptation of English author David Peace's Red Riding Quartet (1999–2002). The quartet comprises the novels Nineteen Seventy-Four (1999), Nineteen Seventy-Seven (2000), Nineteen Eighty (2001) and Nineteen Eighty-Three (2002) and the first, third, and fourth of these books became three feature-length television episodes — Red Riding 1974, Red Riding 1980, and Red Riding 1983. They aired in the UK on Channel 4 beginning on 5 March 2009 and were produced by Revolution Films. The three films were released theatrically in the US in February 2010.
Set against a backdrop of serial murders during 1974–1983, including the Yorkshire Ripper killings, the books and films follow several recurring fictional characters through a bleak and violent world of multi-layered police corruption and organised crime. Although real-life crimes are referenced, the plot is fiction rather than a documentary or factual account of events. Both the books and films mix elements of fact, fiction and conspiracy theory – a confection dubbed "Yorkshire Noir" by some critics – and are notable for a chronologically fractured narrative and for defying neat or trite endings and resolutions. Yorkshire, Britain's largest county, is broken into three administrative areas known as the Ridings — North, East, and West. There is no "Red" Riding, except in the metaphorical sense.
"Little Red Riding Hood", or "Little Red Ridinghood", also known as "Little Red Cap" or simply "Red Riding Hood", is a European fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings. The story was first published by Charles Perrault.
This story is number 333 in the Aarne-Thompson classification system for folktales.
The story revolves around a girl called Little Red Riding Hood. In the Grimms' and Perrault's versions of the tale, she is named after the red hooded cape/cloak that she wears. The girl walks through the woods to deliver food to her sickly grandmother (wine and cake depending on the translation). In the Grimms' version, she had the order from her mother to stay strictly on the path.
A Big Bad Wolf wants to eat the girl and the food in the basket. He secretly stalks her behind trees, bushes, shrubs, and patches of little and tall grass. He approaches Little Red Riding Hood and she naïvely tells him where she is going. He suggests that the girl pick some flowers; which she does. In the meantime; he goes to the grandmother's house and gains entry by pretending to be the girl. He swallows the grandmother whole (in some stories, he locks her in the closet) and waits for the girl, disguised as the grandma.
Red Riding Hood is a 2003 Italian horror film loosely based on the story of Little Red Riding Hood, directed by Giacomo Cimini, the film stars Roberto Purvis as Tom Hunter, Justine Powell as Arianna and Kathleen Archebald as Rose McKenzie.
At the beginning of the film different relatives of the twelve-year-old Jennifer "Jenny" McKenzie - the main protagonist and narrator - are being introduced.
Judge McKenzie, father of Jenny is killed by a gunshot after just having been appointed to the US Supreme Court. Jenny explains that he was killed when she was still very young.
Jenny's mother who is said to never have any time for her.
Jenny's grandmother, Rose McKenzie, a stage actress and too busy to spend her time with the family.
George, Jenny's puppy, friend and confidant.
Jenny proceeds to introduce her current situation, being left alone by her stepmother in a penthouse apartment in Rome with plenty of cash and unlimited credit cards. Given that setup she proclaims: "Now I know what I want - to improve my education, serve justice, reinstate truth, basically what my father would have wanted me to do."
Little Red Riding Hood is a folk tale character.
Plot: In Alexandria, in 1938, Darley, a young British schoolmaster and poet, makes friends through Pursewarden, the British consular officer, with Justine, the beautiful and mysterious wife of a Coptic banker. He observes the affairs of her heart and incidentally discovers that she is involved in a plot against the British, meant to arm the Jewish underground in Palestine. The plot finally fails, Justine is sent to jail and Darley decides to return to England.
Pursewarden: [to Justine] When the hell are you going to stop being an old sin-cushion - into which we all have to thrust our rusty pins!
Plot: This satirical version of "Red Riding Hood" was, especially the ending, very topical when released in 1941, as the US had instituted a draft lottery long before Pearl Harbor (December 7,1941.) The wolf convinces Red he is a police dog and he hastily beats a path to Grandma's house with intentions of making a meal of her. But Grandma's boyfriend shows up and takes her dancing. He then plans on eating Red, but the postman arrives with his draft induction notice.
Tim Burton has built his career around an iconic visual aesthetic. Here’s how it evolved. |
0.999545 | A cube that is 3.0 cm on a side is made from a material with a density of 800 kg/m3. The cube floats in a fluid that has a density of 1200 kg/m3. How much of the height of the cube is underneath the surface of the water?
The cube will float if the magnitude of the buoyant force is equal to the magnitude of the weight of the displaced fluid.
Here, is the density of the material, is the density of the fluid, is the volume of the cube, is the acceleration due to gravity, is the height of the cube underneath the surface of water, and is the area. |
0.999998 | In 1866 Samuel J. Kelso of Detroit, Michigan, patented (US patent №58347) a ciphering machine. It was an adder, quite similar to one of machines of David Roth.
The machine (see the lower patent drawing) can be used for adding, subtracting, and multiplying numbers of any desired magnitude with the greatest ease and facility. For adding and subtracting a series of wheels are used, which revolve on suitable pins projecting from the under surface of a plate of sheet metal or other suitable material. Each of the sheets is provided with ten or a multiple of ten holes or cavities, and the face-plate is provided with semicircular slots, and with numbers from 1 to 9 on the convex sides of said slots for adding, and from 9 to l on the concave sides for subtracting, and a suitable carrying mechanism is combined with the wheels in such a manner that whenever one of the wheels is turned for ten holes or cavities the next succeeding wheel will turn for one cavity.
The carrying mechanism is composed of a series of compound pawls, each constructed of two rods, one of which is hinged to the under surface of the face-plate, and provided with a nose or cam, to be acted upon by a pin projecting from the appropriate wheel, whereas the other rod is hinged, to the loose end of the first rod, and provided with a tooth, which catches in the next succeeding wheel in such a manner that whenever the pin of the first wheel passes the nose or cam of the main rod the second wheel is turned one tooth. A rod sliding in suitable sockets on the under surface of the face-plate serves to throw the carrying mechanism out of gear, so that each of the wheels can be turned independent of the others.
The multiplying device consists of a carriage, which is fitted on the case containing the adding and subtracting wheels.
By the application of the disengaging-slide q the operation of setting the wheels back to 0 is materially facilitated, and much time is saved in the operation of the machine.
Who was the inventor Samuel J. Kelso?
Samuel John Kelso was born in 1835 in Ireland (or Scotland), to Henry Kelso (b. 1800) and Charlotte L. Kelso (b. 1806). In early 1850s the Kelso family lived in Glasgow, Scotland, where Henry Kelso was a teacher, and Samuel used to work as engineers clerk. Samuel had an older brother, David (b. 1832) and a younger sister, Charlotte (b. 1836) and brother Josiah (b. 1841).
Samuel John Kelso immigrated to the New World in late 1850s and settled initially in Quebec, Canada, then in Detroit, Michigan, USA. In early 1860s he worked as an agent of Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society in Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada. In 1867 Kelso married to Hannah Roadhouse (b. 1844), a Canadian from Albion, Ontario, and they had 6 children: Elizabeth (b. 1868), Caroline V. (b. 1870), Belle (b. 1872), Karl W. (b. 1873), Alfred N. (b. 1876), and Walter Rhodes (1882-1948).
Samuel John Kelso was a holder of another US patent (No. 477942 from 1882) for a slip-holder, as well as of a Canadian patent (No. 1121 from 1860) for an "aqua-gravitation engine". In 1862 he published a book—"Notes on the Saguenay for tourists and others". |
0.999936 | There's no company in the world quite like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The tech giant regularly stretches its tentacles into new industries and seems to defy categorization. Its popularity is undeniable, and its stock price is correspondingly sky high. Are any of Amazon's rivals worth considering instead?
Amazon is best known as an online retailer, generating most of its revenue from e-commerce sales, but Amazon also has other significant businesses, including cloud computing, video streaming, e-book readers and tablets, book publishing, Alexa voice-activated technology and related devices, and advertising. While the bulk of its revenue comes from e-commerce, its cloud-computing division, known as Amazon Web Services (AWS), actually makes up more than half of its operating profit. Cloud computing is a much more profitable business than the e-commerce industry Amazon has come to represent.
E-commerce is the online buying and selling of goods, usually on a marketplace or platform like the one Amazon owns. Amazon dominates U.S. e-commerce, largely thanks to its aggressive expansion, its reputation for excellent customer service, the Amazon Prime loyalty program, and the culture of invention and experimentation fostered by CEO Jeff Bezos.
The behemoth claims nearly half of the market. Amazon is expected to control 49.1% of U.S. e-commerce sales in 2018, up 43.5% from the prior year, according to eMarketer. Its strong position has been fortified by Amazon's Whole Foods acquisition and rapid growth of the company's third-party marketplace. Its e-commerce market share dwarfs that of its closest competitor, eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), at 6.6%, while Apple and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) follow at 3.9% and 3.7%, respectively. E-commerce as an industry continues to take share from brick-and-mortar retail, with online sales in the U.S. growing about 15% per year since the recession, while overall retail growth, which includes e-commerce, has averaged just 4.3%.
Amazon's e-commerce strength lies in its first-mover advantage in the naturally growing e-commerce world. It opened hundreds of fulfillment centers to support its free two-day shipping promise for U.S. Prime members, and it's on track to bring in more than $200 billion in revenue this year.
The company's strength in e-commerce has allowed it to support its other businesses, like Amazon Web Services (AWS), which emerged from the company's in-house project to manage its online retail business. Amazon embraced cloud computing early, essentially as a way of managing computing needs like software and storage from an off-site source, and AWS is now a major provider of such services for a vast array of companies, helping Netflix facilitate its video streaming and Airbnb easily scale its home-sharing marketplace. According to Amazon, AWS presents customers with a "broad set of global compute, storage, database, and other service offerings."
Amazon has also developed video and music streaming, which are free for Prime members, to entice more members to its loyalty program since Prime itself is an incentive to order more products from Amazon. Gadgets like its Fire tablet and the Alexa-powered Echo devices make ordering products on Amazon easier, and the draw of its website has enabled it to add on high-margin businesses like its third-party marketplace, where other vendors also sell on Amazon.com, fulfillment by Amazon, and a burgeoning advertising business.
Unsurprisingly, Amazon's size, reach, and penchant for experimentation has put it in competition with an incredibly long list of companies, big and small, across a variety of sectors. As Amazon enters and disrupts more industries, new competitors will join the ranks of its largest rivals.
Which companies are Amazon's biggest competitors?
Below, we'll examine each of the industries from which Amazon draws competitors and its closest rivals in each sector.
Amazon competes with most U.S. retailers, to some degree, because it sells everything under the sun. Although Amazon is primarily an online retailer, it competes directly with physical stores, most of which also sell their products online. Sales on Amazon.com take away from retailers' total sales, comprised of online purchases and purchases in physical, or brick-and-mortar, stores.
No company competes more intensely with Amazon than Walmart. Walmart was Amazon before Amazon existed. The superstore giant boasts massive economies of scale, a wide selection, and bottom-of-the-barrel prices, just like Amazon. Both companies are known for being near-monopolies. Walmart still generates significantly more retail sales, but Amazon has stolen its reputation as the leader in wide selection, low prices, and convenience. Walmart's growth even ground to a halt when revenue fell in fiscal 2016 for the first time in at least 35 years.
As a result, the brick-and-mortar giant has been forced to play catch-up, and it has made many strategic changes under CEO Doug McMillon.
It has stopped opening new stores in the U.S., instead investing the capital into improvements at existing stores, like higher wages and better training, making sure items don't go out of stock, and cleaning up stores to make them more presentable and shopper-friendly.
Walmart has also staked its future on omnichannel capabilities, the combination of online and offline assets to serve customers by doing things like adding thousands of grocery pickup stations and several hundred Pickup Towers, which are stations inside stores that dispense online orders.
Walmart has also made grocery delivery available from nearly 1,000 stores, and it offers free two-day shipping on orders with a $35 minimum with no membership fee, marketed as an alternative to Amazon Prime. Following its acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon has become much more of a direct competitor with Walmart in groceries as Amazon also offers free delivery to Prime members in some areas from Whole Foods and gives in-store discounts to Prime members. It's planning to expand Whole Foods and its own delivery capabilities.
Finally, the retailer has gone on a shopping spree for e-commerce companies. It first acquired Jet.com in 2016, bringing in founder Marc Lore to run its domestic e-commerce operations, and since then, it's focused on picking up digital-first clothing brands like Bonobos, Moosejaw, Modcloth, and Shoebuy.
As a result of those moves, Walmart's U.S e-commerce growth has surged and is on track to deliver a sales increase of at least 40% for the second straight year. Comparable sales have seen solid growth as well, a sign that its strategy is paying off. Walmart is also set to top Amazon as the nation's largest online grocery seller.
Meanwhile, Walmart set itself up for a showdown with Amazon in India after acquiring a majority stake in Flipkart, the leading online retailer in the sub-continent. Amazon is close behind in the fast-growing market, and the two are expected to compete closely as the Indian economy develops.
With Amazon at the verge of becoming the second-biggest retailer in the U.S., behind Walmart, and the two facing off in India, it's clear that Walmart has become Amazon's biggest competitor as no other company has more to lose from the e-commerce giant's ascent.
However, Walmart is far from the only brick-and-mortar retailer battling Amazon. Costco, another one of the biggest domestic retailers, has also sought ways to fend off Amazon's retail rout.
Costco and Amazon are often seen as parallels because both have membership programs central to their businesses. Amazon Prime, which offers free two-day shipping on millions of items, among other benefits, costs $119 a year, and it has been perhaps the biggest driver of Amazon's monster growth over the last decade.
Similarly, Costco stores are only accessible to members who pay a $60 annual fee for access to its bargain-priced bulk goods. Costco sells its merchandise close to the price it pays suppliers for the goods, and it makes the majority of its profit from membership fees. Because of the membership fees, both companies tend to attract higher-income consumers, and since Costco's stores are primarily located on the coasts, they tend to compete more directly with Amazon than Walmart stores do, which are more concentrated in the southern and rural parts of the country.
Though Costco has performed better than most retailers in the face of the Amazon threat, the wholesaler has been forced to adapt. In October 2017, the company launched free two-day delivery for around 500 non-perishable stock-keeping units (SKUs) with a $75 order minimum, and it also partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery on groceries with an order minimum of $35.
Costco recently began reporting e-commerce sales and has delivered strong results, with e-commerce sales up 32% in fiscal 2018. Though its stores continue to attract high customer traffic, the warehouse operator may have to make further changes to stave off the threat as Amazon and other e-commerce operators like Boxed continue to innovate and e-commerce continues to get easier and more convenient.
Finally, Target is Amazon's last significant brick-and-mortar competitor. Like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco, Target sells a wide range of products including groceries, apparel, home goods, and electronics, and like the other two physical retailers, Target has been busy making moves to defend its market share.
A year ago, Target acquired Shipt, an Instacart competitor, which has helped the big-box chain bring same-day delivery to more than 1,400 Target stores, about two thirds of its total. Recognizing that fast, free shipping is now table stakes in e-commerce, Target upped the ante this holiday season, offering free shipping with no membership fee or order minimum on hundreds of thousands of items, a move that prompted Amazon to get rid of its $25 order minimum for free shipping for the holiday season, though the e-commerce king did not promise two-day shipping.
Target is investing in remodeling stores and expanding small-format stores in areas like underserved urban neighborhoods and college towns, where its model is a good fit. Target's investments and e-commerce efforts have paid off so far, as the company delivered its best in-store traffic growth in more than a decade, and e-commerce sales are surging, up 49% in the third quarter of 2018.
Amazon has grown so large that its biggest retail rivals are brick-and-mortar store chains, but the company is also challenged by smaller Internet-based companies like eBay and Etsy.
Despite its tepid growth in recent years, eBay is still the second-biggest online retailer in the U.S., and it's arguably Amazon's oldest competitor. In its early days, the online shopping and auction site mostly kept pace with Amazon's sales growth, as illustrated by the chart below.
However, over the last decade, online shopping has moved away from eBay's core strength as an auction business and toward mass-market retailers better equipped to serve shoppers' everyday needs. A number of factors have played a role in this shift, including increasing competition and the changing way consumers use the internet. Many seem to have simply lost patience with online shopping, and the gamesmanship of the eBay auction is no longer novel. The company itself started downplaying the auction element in 2008, but today, eBay still claims a significant share of online sales, racking up $94.3 billion in gross merchandise volume over the last four quarters.
More so than any other company, eBay competes directly with Amazon for third-party sellers to join the marketplace platform. By gross merchandise volume, eBay has the second-biggest online marketplace in the U.S. with 25 million sellers on its platform, significantly more than Amazon's estimated 2 million sellers. It's much easier to set up a sales account on eBay, and eBay has centered its strategy on making the platform easier for sellers so it can drive the kind of third-party sales growth Amazon has. Amazon's marketplace has been one of its most valuable growth engines as revenue increased 31% in the third quarter of 2018 to $10.4 billion. That growth was much faster than the 10% rate it saw from its online stores, or what it calls direct sales. Since marketplace revenue is more profitable, the category is an important one to Amazon, and eBay remains its closest competitor in the area.
Online crafts seller Etsy is significantly smaller than Amazon, with revenue of just $540 million over the last four quarters, but the company deserves a mention because it has survived -- and even thrived -- following a direct challenge from Amazon, which launched copycat Amazon Handmade in October 2015. With the help of new CEO Josh Silverman, the artisan-focused online retailer made a number of changes to beat back the Amazon threat.
Etsy stepped up its efforts to help merchants deliver fast, free shipping, especially during the holidays, when it's crucial for gifts to arrive by Christmas. Etsy charges its sellers much lower fees than Amazon, and it has added tools to improve the ease of selling on the site, allowing vendors to collect funds at the time of sale rather than when the product ships (the way Amazon does). Etsy's regulations on sellers are also less onerous as it allows them link to outside websites and collect email addresses for newsletters, as opposed to Amazon, which forbids such tools.
As a result of those initiatives, Etsy sales have accelerated this year, and the stock has nearly tripled. Its success offers a blueprint for other online marketplaces battling Amazon's encroachment.
While e-commerce has been Amazon's biggest business since its inception, cloud computing now makes up a majority of the company's profits and is a key growth driver. The emergence of Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another reason for Amazon's stock jump of more than 400% over the last four years. Revenue from the AWS segment was up 48% through the first three quarters of 2018, to $18.2 billion.
In the tech arena, Amazon's biggest rival is Alphabet, and the two tech giants are battling on multiple fronts. In 2014, Google's former executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, called Amazon his company's biggest competitor, saying, "Many people think our main competition is Bing or Yahoo. But, really, our biggest search competitor is Amazon."
It's easy to see why. The most valuable searches on Google, Alphabet's e-commerce and search engine subsidiary, are for products because those searches are usually made by consumers ready to spend money. Naturally, these searches command high advertising rates. However, more people searching for products are starting their quests directly on Amazon instead of using a search engine like Google. Amazon's challenge to Google has only increased as it's grown and made its own push into advertising.
Much in the way Google sells ads, Amazon has begun placing sponsored listings on its product search pages, encouraging businesses to pay to position their merchandise more prominently on Amazon.com. Amazon has sold digital advertising space for a number of years, but only recently has it ramped up its efforts, capitalizing on the vast data its has on consumers' shopping habits and preferences. Since Amazon.com is often the first site online shoppers go to when they want to buy something, space is very valuable.
Amazon is now the third-biggest digital advertiser behind Google and Facebook, and its ad business is growing fast. Revenue from Amazon's "other" segment, which is primarily made up of ad sales, jumped 122% in the third quarter of 2018 to $2.5 billion.
Alphabet has sought to push back on Amazon's incursion on its search dominance by launching its own delivery service, Google Express, and partnering with Amazon's brick-and-mortar rivals. Though Google Express signed up retailers including Walmart, Costco, and Target and seemed to have real potential, the service has largely fallen flat. Google Express introduced its shopping service in 2013, and it has gotten tripped in multiple ways since then. It initially offered perishable grocery delivery but suspended it in 2014; it closed its delivery hubs in 2015 and ditched its subscription model in 2017, along the way losing much of its talent and momentum to rivals like Uber.
Meanwhile, retailers have invested in their own logistics and e-commerce infrastructure as Google had little to provide in the way of hard assets other than technology and temporary labor.
Amazon and Alphabet have also been butting heads on voice technology. Amazon Echo and Google Home are the two leading smart speakers intended for use in the home. Amazon had 41% share of the global smart-speaker market, compared to 28% for Google, as of the second quarter of 2018. Considering the potential for smart speakers and voice-activated technology, this battle between Amazon and Alphabet is only just beginning. Market research firm Grandview Research estimates that the global speech and voice recognition market will reach $32 billion by 2025.
Like many other big tech companies, Amazon and Alphabet are also facing off in cloud computing. AWS is widely considered the leader in the fast-growing industry, on track to bring in $25 billion in revenue this year. AWS is the preferred choice among businesses, according to cloud management company RightScale, with 68% of responding businesses saying they use AWS applications. Microsoft Azure came in second at 59%, followed by Google Cloud at 19%, though 41% of respondents said they were experimenting with Google Cloud apps or planning to use them. Alphabet doesn't break out cloud sales, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in February 2018 that it had achieved a $4 billion revenue rate, which has likely increased since then. In its 2017 annual report, Alphabet identified Google Cloud as the biggest driver of growth in "other revenue," which rose 42% from $10.1 billion in 2016 to $14.3 billion last year.
Amazon and Alphabet have similar market caps and revenue growth rates. However, Alphabet has the distinct advantage when it comes to profit, with more than double the net income of Amazon over the last four quarters -- $18.8 billion compared to $8.9 billion for Amazon. That should give Alphabet an advantage as it seeks to narrow the gap with Amazon in cloud computing and voice technology, and defend its search advertising dominance. Alphabet spent $16.6 billion on research and development in 2017 (Amazon doesn't report R&D expenses). If Alphabet is spending more than Amazon on R&D, that's an advantage the Google parent can use as it battles Amazon on multiple fronts.
When it comes to cloud-computing competition, Amazon's closest competitor is generally considered to be Microsoft, which has a cloud service called Azure that competes directly with AWS. In total cloud revenue, Microsoft is actually ahead of Amazon as its commercial cloud segment, which is made up of Office 365 commercial, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and other cloud properties, grew revenue by 56% to $23.2 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. Microsoft doesn't break out specific revenue for Azure, which offers similar infrastructure-as-a-service capabilities as AWS, but Azure revenue jumped 91% last fiscal year.
Microsoft is the preferred provider of cloud computing for companies that compete with Amazon but still have cloud-computing needs. They don't want to fund the competition, so instead they opt to support alternatives like Azure and Google Cloud. Walmart teamed up with Microsoft on cloud technology, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning initiatives, and it has also told some of its tech suppliers to get off of AWS, saying it doesn't want sensitive data on a competitor's platform.
Amazon's ability to dominate unrelated industries has actually exposed a vulnerability as it encourages unrelated companies to team up against it. In the same vein, Alphabet partnered with several retailers through Google Express, though that project had limited success. However, in the case of Microsoft, whose domain is squarely in the enterprise IT arena, retailers and other potential Amazon competitors prefer its cloud infrastructure over AWS. Microsoft is not at all a competitor, while Amazon is their biggest threat.
What other businesses does Amazon have?
While e-commerce and cloud computing are Amazon's two primary business segments, the company has a number of other ancillary businesses, and it faces competition in those areas, too. Most prominent is video streaming, where Amazon offers both original and licensed programming for free to Prime members, or a la carte to others. Describing Amazon's unique model, CEO Jeff Bezos said, "When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes."
Prime Video's aggressive expansion has brought it into direct competition with Netflix, the global leader in video streaming. Netflix and Amazon compete for exclusive content, both original and licensed programming, driving up prices companies must pay for in-demand shows and movies. For instance, Amazon outbid Netflix for Transparent, which won a number of Emmy awards, and the two are competing fiercely in India, a fast-growing market of more than 1 billion consumers. However, they have taken different pricing strategies as Amazon has significantly lowered its fee for Prime to encourage people to join the service and take advantage of free two-day delivery, while Netflix's prices more closely resemble what it charges elsewhere in the world.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has consistently downplayed the threat from competitors like Amazon, emphasizing the vastness of the market, saying that plenty of growth remains. But as the streaming field gets more crowded with the upcoming entry of Disney and AT&T, which now owns Time Warner, the battle between Amazon and Netflix may grow more intense, especially in places like India. Notably, Netflix uses AWS to support its streaming services, indicating it doesn't see Amazon as a threat like Walmart does. Netflix uses AWS for data storage and to "quickly deploy thousands of servers and terabytes of storage within minutes," according to AWS. It would be costly for Netflix to develop its own cloud infrastructure to fulfill that purpose, not to mention be a poor use of the company's efforts and resources.
Amazon is now taking on logistics and delivery, posing a direct threat to both UPS and FedEx. Though Amazon is one of the biggest customers for those delivery services, Amazon has taken several steps to start taking delivery into its own hands.
Amazon has leased at least 32 cargo jets from Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, rebranding them Amazon Air. The company owns 300 semi-trucks and thousands of trailers, and it has also gotten creative with last-mile delivery by hiring drivers under its Amazon Flex program, where drivers use their own cars, and Delivery Service Partners, who drive Prime-branded vans. Amazon has experimented with drone delivery, which has the potential to upend traditional package delivery and broader e-commerce if it goes mainstream (it's still pending regulatory approval by the Federal Aviation Administration). The issue is caught in red tape at the moment, but some Amazon executives are hopeful that drone delivery could get off the ground in some capacity this year. It's unclear how much of a threat drone delivery would be to traditional package deliveries, but Amazon would likely use drones for light packages over short distances, supporting its same-day Prime Now delivery service, meaning it would not disrupt long-haul parcel transportation.
So far, Amazon's delivery and logistics business is small, and the company remains highly dependent on services like UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service, but in its latest annual report, the company included logistics companies on its list of competitors, a sign of investment to come. Given Amazon's track record as a disruptor, FedEx and UPS may want to consider themselves warned.
Amazon has developed many competitors as it stretches across a growing number of industries, and this long list will grow in coming years as the company expands into new frontiers.
Its acquisition of Whole Foods brought it into direct competition with supermarket chains like Kroger. Potential expansion of Amazon Go, its cashier-free convenience store, could grow to as many as 3,000 locations and would threaten convenience-store chains like 7-11 as well as fast-food restaurants and even potentially businesses like Starbucks.
However, Amazon's next big frontier -- and the industry where it's likely to encounter a whole new wave of competitors -- appears to be healthcare. The company partnered with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase at the beginning of 2018 in a venture to launch a non-profit healthcare company with a mission of slowing the fast-growing costs of health insurance and healthcare that those financial companies cover for their employees. That venture should eventually bring Amazon into competition with a whole range of health-insurance providers and, likely, other players in the healthcare industry.
Amazon took another step into the $3 trillion healthcare industry with its June 2018 acquisition of online pharmacy Pillpack for $1 billion, putting it in direct competition with both traditional pharmacy chains like Walgreen Boots Alliance and CVS as well as new prescription companies like ExpressScripts. Considering Amazon's strength in e-commerce, Pillpack looks like a good starting point as it searches for a beachhead in healthcare. Amazon is also selling more and more medical supplies through Amazon Business, and it's hopeful that Alexa can play a role in healthcare. For now, that may just mean reminding you to take your pills, but there are ample opportunities down the road for voice technology in the healthcare space.
Considering the enormous size of the healthcare industry and the high level of consumer dissatisfaction with it, the sector seems particularly ripe for Amazon's unique approach to industry disruption. The company has kept customer focus at the heart of its mission since its nascence, and customer satisfaction has been a hallmark of its brand throughout its history. Amazon's invasion may not happen overnight, but healthcare companies should expect to eventually find themselves among Amazon's biggest competitors.
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jeremy Bowman owns shares of Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Starbucks, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A and C shares), Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Etsy, Facebook, FedEx, Netflix, Starbucks, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft and has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Costco Wholesale, CVS Health, and eBay. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. |
0.995359 | What are the problems with the promotion of non-woven shopping bags?
Non-woven shopping bags have good environmental performance. Because they have been promoted, what problems are they facing in the process of promotion?
The price competition between each other has affected the use of environmental protection bags.
Second, the cost of non-woven shopping bags is higher than that of plastic bags. Many stores only provide disposable plastic bags for cost savings.
Third, there are still some people who are not strong enough in environmental protection. They do not pay enough attention to environmental protection measures in their lives, and they do not realize the environmental value that a small non-woven shopping bag can bring.
Therefore, in the promotion process of non-woven shopping bags, these problems need to be constantly overcome. |
0.954851 | New Orleans is known as the "Crescent City." It is the parish seat of Orleans County located in the Mississippi River Delta. Its name derives from a city in France, Duc d' Orleans. The population in 2003 was estimated to be 469,032. In 2005, New Orleans was brought to the spotlight through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of residents lost everything including their homes by the riveting destruction.
Well-known residents that have lived in New Orleans include musicians Louis Armstrong, Neville Brothers, Randy Newman and Branford, the playwright Lillian Hellman and President JFK's assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Sports teams to note are the Hornets, Saints, Zephyrs and Voodoo. The University of New Orleans, Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, Dillard University and Xavier University of Louisiana are options for higher education needs.
Several movies were also filmed in New Orleans such as "A Street Car Named Desire," "The Big Easy," "JFK" and "The Skeleton Key."
New Orleans originated as a French-Canadian outpost in 1718. It started out as a set of unlikely shacks built on a disease-laden swamp with only one thing in its favor, the fact that its location was at the mouth of the Mississippi River. In the early 1720s, the massive importation of African slaves led to rapid development. In the beginning, settlement was greatly discouraged by flooding. Inmates from French prisons were used to backfill marshes and swamps and to construct levees.
Despite resistance the city of New Orleans received due to the French population in the early settlement, it flourished greatly between 1763 and 1800 as a Spanish colony. In 1803, following the Louisiana Purchase, the city began to develop as a busy port for large ships and steamboats. The port was flooded with smugglers, gamblers, prostitutes and pirates by the end of the eighteenth century. Most of these newcomers were Anglo-Americans fleeing from the American Revolution and others were French aristocrats escaping the revolution in France. The city became a haven for whites and free blacks accompanied by their slaves as they escaped the Saint-Domingue revolt.
French, Spanish, and free people of color came together and formed an alliance creating a Creole culture. This culture was made up of influences from Europe, Africa and the colonies. Americans who migrated here were unwelcome in the Creole city known today as the French Quarter. They were forced to settle in the Central Business District and the Garden District.
Canal Street becomes "Neutral Ground"
Canal Street was known as "neutral ground" between the old city and the growing suburbs. Much has been made over the dislike between the Creoles and Anglo-Americans, yet economic necessity pushed them to work and live among one another.
In 1815, the Creoles and Anglo-Americans fought side-by-side in the Battle of New Orleans. It was the final battle that secured American supremacy in the United States during the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson led his unlikely army of Anglo-Americans, Creoles, slaves, Native Americans, free men of color, and pirates supplied by famous buccaneer Jean Lafitte to victory and became a national hero. Eventually Jackson became President.
The Civil War brought the major port to an abrupt halt. The blow to the economy accompanied with the ravages of the Reconstruction isolated the city from its markets. The fortunes of New Orleans plummeted.
By 1900, Jazz poured into bars and Mardi Gras evolved into a tourist attraction. This was a positive economic movement for the city. The oil and petrochemicals actually salvaged the economy. Yet in the 1980s, it received another economic blow from the oil crash. This battering produced a large increase in crime rates, crack deaths and widespread corruption for nearly two decades. Things began to stabilize with a strengthening economy and tourism by the end of the nineteenth century.
New Orleans, the melting pot of music, food, and culture, will truly be a unique, enjoyable, and memorable experience for any visitor. Tourists have their pick of festivals: music, culinary, art, multi-cultural, film & literary, as well as theater.
New Orleans Official Tourism Web Site - Plan your New Orleans vacation with our FREE New Orleans guide book. Find coupons, maps, and complete information on hotels, dining, festivals, events and New Orleans tourism. |
0.999779 | Automated SEO – Is It Possible?
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0.999593 | Does AAC use bit reservoir, like MP3 does?
Possibly related to previous question: which encoding mode yields (in theory at least) higher audio quality (regardless of file size): CVBR (Apple encoder) at 320 or TVBR Q127?
Does AAC retain more of the high frequency content of the input file than some other codecs, like Vorbis or MP3?
No encoder is perfect, so your question doesn't make sense. Are you asking about the theoretical ideal (using some magically perfect encoder) or are you asking about real encoders?
Content retention depends on the encoder, not the format.
I never said any encoder was perfect. I just asked which of the two specific encoder settings (using Apple's AAC encoder) I mentioned yielded higher quality output (and what would be the theoretical reasons for that).
OK, maybe I should rephrase my question: does Apple or Nero AAC encoder (either one of them) retain more high frequency content than, say, AoTuV Vorbis encoder (at comparable bitrates/target quality levels)?
They'll all be pretty similar most likely, although I think Vorbis at least lets you choose the lowpass cutoff frequency. FWIW though, this really shouldn't matter unless you are doing something very strange.
CVBR will mostly leave you with higher bitrate and bigger files than TVBR. But i can't remember which mode gave had a higher max bitrate. 256 CVBR should be really enough, but if you have the space and really want to use. 256 CVBR < 320 kbps CBR < 320 kbps TVBR < 320 kbps CVBR.
Vorbis can save frequencies up to 192 kHz. AAC up to 96 kHz but there are no encoders for that. So if you have 96 kHz files and want to preserve the high frequencies Vorbis is the way to go. It's the only lossy codec i know that can do this. Your files will get a little bit bigger than the 44 kHz version of course. |
0.999301 | The township of Rio Rancho has hitherto not had its own emergency facilities. It has secured funds to erect two emergency facilities in 1986, each of which will combine ambulance, fire, and police services. Figure 1 indicates the demand [figure omitted], or number of emergencies per square block, for 1985. The "L" region in the north is an obstacle, while the rectangle in the south is a part with shallow pond. It takes an emergency vehicle an average of 15 seconds to go one block in the N-S direction and 20 seconds in the E-W direction. Your task is to locate the two facilities so as to minimize the total response time.
Assume that the demand is concentrated at the center of the block and that the facilities will be located on corners.
Assume that the demand is uniformly distributed on the streets bordering each block and that the facilities may be located anywhere on the streets. |
0.953924 | What are the best things to do in Santa Cruz?
I lived in Santa Cruz for four years. During that time, I took full advantage of the beautiful city, beach, and mountains.
Santa Cruz is one of those places that you fall in love with from the get-go. Santa Cruz is located in the hustling and bustling state of California, but Santa Cruz residents prefer a slower paced lifestyle that brushes off on you after spending some time there.
Walking or driving along West Cliff Drive, stopping to take pictures, and ending up at Natural Bridges State Beach for a picnic and fun is one of my favorite things to do in Santa Cruz. West Cliff Drive is a 2.75-mile stretch of sidewalk that runs right along the ocean. Locals generally spend sunny afternoons walking or cycling the length of West Cliff Drive. The path offers some breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and passes by some of the best beaches and icons of Santa Cruz such as the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at the lighthouse. Catch a glimpse of seals and surfers at sea and if you're in luck and it's the season, you'll see the Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges.
The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly that has been puzzling residents since 1939 when it was first discovered. Basically, the Mystery Spot challenges your perceptions of the laws of physics and gravity. If you’re a fan of illusions then you’ll definitely be impressed by a ball rolling uphill and water flowing upwards. Be prepared to second-guess all of your senses. Locals and tourists alike love this place due to its quirkiness and the mystery that surrounds it. It’s a great day trip for people of all ages and considered a must do if you're in Santa Cruz.
In a place that’s nicknamed “Surf City USA”, you can expect to find nothing less of the best waves in the country. And Santa Cruz locals sure love their surfing. It’s one of the favorite pastimes for residents. If you enjoy surfing yourself then you want to make your way down to Pleasure Point. It’s a world-renowned surf destination that stretches along the coast. Get a taste of the Santa Cruz surf culture by catching a wave at famous surf spots including The Hook, 26th Ave, Steamer Lane and Mitchell’s Cove. Surfing is why Santa Cruz is considered one of the best places to visit and definitely one of the best things to do.
First Friday is a recurring monthly event that celebrates the artistic culture of Santa Cruz. On the first Friday of each month you can find various happenings organized throughout town. There are numerous art exhibitions, local bands playing live and creative workshops. Locals like the event so much that most shops, museums, galleries and venues work with extended hours. First Friday has become a local tradition that isn’t going away any time soon and it's one of the top things to do in Santa Cruz if you're in town on the first Friday. Admissions are generally free so you can organize a tour around town and visit multiple venues, including the Museum of Art & History which is a First Friday must.
This is probably already on your list, but I'll mention it. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is definitely one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz. It's an oceanfront amusement park that is appreciated by tourists and locals alike. It’s the oldest amusement park in California, founded in 1907. Although one day isn’t nearly enough to see everything the park and surrounding area has to offer, it’s a good start. Take a ride on the iconic Giant Dipper – one of the oldest roller coasters in the world. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a chocolate dipped banana and root beer float from one of the food stands. You’ll love them! You can also walk to the wharf/pier from the Boardwalk and grab a cup of clam chowder in a bread bowl, yum!
A thriving neighborhood just five minutes from downtown, Westside Santa Cruz is a top destination for local wine lovers, connoisseurs of good food, and anyone looking to unwind and grab a bite to eat or a drink. Many would argue that Westside is the best place to wine and dine and with good reason. There are countless restaurants that serve anything from a simple grilled burger to a three-course gourmet meal. Dine with the locals and ask for the specialty of the house. You can’t go wrong. Westside is one of the best places to visit in Santa Cruz.
Downtown Santa Cruz is every coffee addict’s dream come true. Why? Well, Santa Cruz locals take their coffee culture very seriously. There are countless cafes just waiting to serve you a dose of freshly brewed coffee. Whether you’re looking to sit in a café that’s trendy, historical or just eccentric, Downtown Santa Cruz has the perfect place for you. The specialty coffees, gourmet sandwiches, fresh baked pastries and signature wraps are the talk of this coastal beach town. And don't forget about the delicious pizza, ice cream, or drinks at one of the signature bars. Eating and drinking downtown is definitely one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz.
I forgot to mention one very important detail. If you're a fan of hiking you are in luck. Hiking in the redwood forest in the mountains of Santa Cruz is actually the best thing to do. So if you like to hike, do some research on the different trails in the area. The best place to hike in Santa Cruz requires a 30-60 minute drive and is called Big Basin Redwoods State Park, but there are other parks and trails that are closer than Big Basin.
Have you ever been to Santa Cruz? Do you live there? Tell us about your favorite Santa Cruz experiences in the comments below. |
0.999903 | Instructions: Beat cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs in a bowl for two minutes, until it is smooth with no lumps.
Pour about a quarter of an inch of water into the bottom of the dutch oven.
Write each person's name on a paper cup for identification later.
Pour cake batter into paper cups, filling each one with about 1/3 cup of batter. Be sure they are no more than 1/2 full or the cake will expand out of the cup.
Each person adds whichever toppings they would like to their cupcake. They can either mix them in or leave on top.
Place 10 paper cups with batter into the water bath in the dutch oven. Ten 3-inch diameter cups fit perfectly in a 12-inch dutch oven.
Heat dutch oven for Baking to about 350 degrees.
Bake at about 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Poke a toothpick into some of the cupcakes. Poke it all the way to the bottom because the bottom tends to take longer to cook than the top. If it comes out clean, they are done. |
0.99896 | The distribution needs to be uniform only for table sizes that occur in the application. In particular, if one uses dynamic resizing with exact doubling and halving of the table size s, then the hash function needs to be uniform only when s is a power of two. Here the index can be computed as some range of bits of the hash function. On the other hand, some hashing algorithms prefer to have s be a prime number. The modulus operation may provide some additional mixing; this is especially useful with a poor hash function.
Cryptographic hash functions are believed to provide good hash functions for any table size s, either by modulo reduction or by bit masking. They may also be appropriate if there is a risk of malicious users trying to sabotage a network service by submitting requests designed to generate a large number of collisions in the server's hash tables. However, the risk of sabotage can also be avoided by cheaper methods (such as applying a secret salt to the data, or using a universal hash function). A drawback of cryptographic hashing functions is that they are often slower to compute, which means that in cases where the uniformity for any s is not necessary, a non-cryptographic hashing function might be preferable.
Perfect hashing allows for constant time lookups in all cases. This is in contrast to most chaining and open addressing methods, where the time for lookup is low on average, but may be very large, O(n), for some sets of keys.
As the load factor grows larger, the hash table becomes slower, and it may even fail to work (depending on the method used). The expected constant time property of a hash table assumes that the load factor is kept below some bound. For a fixed number of buckets, the time for a lookup grows with the number of entries and therefore the desired constant time is not achieved.
Ultimately, used sensibly, any kind of hash table algorithm is usually fast enough; and the percentage of a calculation spent in hash table code is low. Memory usage is rarely considered excessive. Therefore, in most cases the differences between these algorithms are marginal, and other considerations typically come into play.
2-choice hashing employs two different hash functions, h1(x) and h2(x), for the hash table. Both hash functions are used to compute two table locations. When an object is inserted in the table, then it is placed in the table location that contains fewer objects (with the default being the h1(x) table location if there is equality in bucket size). 2-choice hashing employs the principle of the power of two choices.
The good functioning of a hash table depends on the fact that the table size is proportional to the number of entries. With a fixed size, and the common structures, it is similar to linear search, except with a better constant factor. In some cases, the number of entries may be definitely known in advance, for example keywords in a language. More commonly, this is not known for sure, if only due to later changes in code and data. It is one serious, although common, mistake to not provide any way for the table to resize. A general-purpose hash table "class" will almost always have some way to resize, and it is good practice even for simple "custom" tables. An implementation should check the load factor, and do something if it becomes too large (this needs to be done only on inserts, since that is the only thing that would increase it).
To keep the load factor under a certain limit, e.g., under 3/4, many table implementations expand the table when items are inserted. For example, in Java's HashMap class the default load factor threshold for table expansion is 3/4 and in Python's dict, table size is resized when load factor is greater than 2/3.
Since buckets are usually implemented on top of a dynamic array and any constant proportion for resizing greater than 1 will keep the load factor under the desired limit, the exact choice of the constant is determined by the same space-time tradeoff as for dynamic arrays.
Resizing is accompanied by a full or incremental table rehash whereby existing items are mapped to new bucket locations.
To limit the proportion of memory wasted due to empty buckets, some implementations also shrink the size of the table—followed by a rehash—when items are deleted. From the point of space-time tradeoffs, this operation is similar to the deallocation in dynamic arrays.
Disk-based hash tables almost always use some scheme of incremental resizing, since the cost of rebuilding the entire table on disk would be too high.
In the simplest model, the hash function is completely unspecified and the table does not resize. For the best possible choice of hash function, a table of size k with open addressing has no collisions and holds up to k elements, with a single comparison for successful lookup, and a table of size k with chaining and n keys has the minimum max(0, n − k) collisions and O(1 + n/k) comparisons for lookup. For the worst choice of hash function, every insertion causes a collision, and hash tables degenerate to linear search, with Ω(n) amortized comparisons per insertion and up to n comparisons for a successful lookup.
Adding rehashing to this model is straightforward. As in a dynamic array, geometric resizing by a factor of b implies that only n/bi keys are inserted i or more times, so that the total number of insertions is bounded above by bn/(b − 1), which is O(n). By using rehashing to maintain n < k, tables using both chaining and open addressing can have unlimited elements and perform successful lookup in a single comparison for the best choice of hash function.
In more realistic models, the hash function is a random variable over a probability distribution of hash functions, and performance is computed on average over the choice of hash function. When this distribution is uniform, the assumption is called "simple uniform hashing" and it can be shown that hashing with chaining requires Θ(1 + n/k) comparisons on average for an unsuccessful lookup, and hashing with open addressing requires Θ(1/(1 − n/k)). Both these bounds are constant, if we maintain n/k < c using table resizing, where c is a fixed constant less than 1.
If the set of key-value pairs is fixed and known ahead of time (so insertions and deletions are not allowed), one may reduce the average lookup cost by a careful choice of the hash function, bucket table size, and internal data structures. In particular, one may be able to devise a hash function that is collision-free, or even perfect (see below). In this case the keys need not be stored in the table.
For certain string processing applications, such as spell-checking, hash tables may be less efficient than tries, finite automata, or Judy arrays. Also, if there are not too many possible keys to store -- that is, if each key can be represented by a small enough number of bits -- then, instead of a hash table, one may use the key directly as the index into an array of values. Note that there are no collisions in this case.
In PHP 5, the Zend 2 engine uses one of the hash functions from Daniel J. Bernstein to generate the hash values used in managing the mappings of data pointers stored in a hash table. In the PHP source code, it is labelled as DJBX33A (Daniel J. Bernstein, Times 33 with Addition).
SparseHash (formerly Google SparseHash) An extremely memory-efficient hash_map implementation, with only 2 bits/entry of overhead. The SparseHash library has several C++ hash map implementations with different performance characteristics, including one that optimizes for memory use and another that optimizes for speed.
SunriseDD An open source C library for hash table storage of arbitrary data objects with lock-free lookups, built-in reference counting and guaranteed order iteration. The library can participate in external reference counting systems or use its own built-in reference counting. It comes with a variety of hash functions and allows the use of runtime supplied hash functions via callback mechanism. Source code is well documented.
uthash This is an easy-to-use hash table for C structures.
The idea of hashing arose independently in different places. In January 1953, H. P. Luhn wrote an internal IBM memorandum that used hashing with chaining. Gene Amdahl, Elaine M. McGraw, Nathaniel Rochester, and Arthur Samuel implemented a program using hashing at about the same time. Open addressing with linear probing (relatively prime stepping) is credited to Amdahl, but Ershov (in Russia) had the same idea.
↑ Cormen, Thomas H.; Leiserson, Charles E.; Rivest, Ronald L.; Stein, Clifford (2009). Introduction to Algorithms (3rd ed.). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pp. 253–280. ISBN 978-0-262-03384-8.
1 2 3 Knuth, Donald (1998). 'The Art of Computer Programming'. 3: Sorting and Searching (2nd ed.). Addison-Wesley. pp. 513–558. ISBN 0-201-89685-0.
1 2 Cormen, Thomas H.; Leiserson, Charles E.; Rivest, Ronald L.; Stein, Clifford (2001). "Chapter 11: Hash Tables". Introduction to Algorithms (2nd ed.). MIT Press and McGraw-Hill. pp. 221–252. ISBN 978-0-262-53196-2.
↑ Pearson, Karl (1900). "On the criterion that a given system of deviations from the probable in the case of a correlated system of variables is such that it can be reasonably supposed to have arisen from random sampling". Philosophical Magazine, Series 5. 50 (302). pp. 157–175. doi:10.1080/14786440009463897.
↑ Plackett, Robin (1983). "Karl Pearson and the Chi-Squared Test". International Statistical Review (International Statistical Institute (ISI)). 51 (1). pp. 59–72. doi:10.2307/1402731.
1 2 Wang, Thomas (March 1997). "Prime Double Hash Table". Archived from the original on 1999-09-03. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
↑ Probst, Mark (2010-04-30). "Linear vs Binary Search". Retrieved 2016-11-20.
↑ "How does a HashMap work in JAVA". coding-geek.com.
↑ Askitis, Nikolas; Zobel, Justin (October 2005). Cache-conscious Collision Resolution in String Hash Tables. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference, String Processing and Information Retrieval (SPIRE 2005). 3772/2005. pp. 91–102. doi:10.1007/11575832_11. ISBN 978-3-540-29740-6.
↑ Askitis, Nikolas; Sinha, Ranjan (2010). "Engineering scalable, cache and space efficient tries for strings". The VLDB Journal. 17 (5): 633–660. doi:10.1007/s00778-010-0183-9. ISSN 1066-8888.
↑ Askitis, Nikolas (2009). Fast and Compact Hash Tables for Integer Keys (PDF). Proceedings of the 32nd Australasian Computer Science Conference (ACSC 2009). 91. pp. 113–122. ISBN 978-1-920682-72-9.
↑ Willard, Dan E. (2000). "Examining computational geometry, van Emde Boas trees, and hashing from the perspective of the fusion tree". SIAM Journal on Computing. 29 (3): 1030–1049. doi:10.1137/S0097539797322425. MR 1740562. .
1 2 Tenenbaum, Aaron M.; Langsam, Yedidyah; Augenstein, Moshe J. (1990). Data Structures Using C. Prentice Hall. pp. 456–461, p. 472. ISBN 0-13-199746-7.
↑ Herlihy, Maurice; Shavit, Nir; Tzafrir, Moran (2008). "Hopscotch Hashing". DISC '08: Proceedings of the 22nd international symposium on Distributed Computing. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. pp. 350–364.
↑ Celis, Pedro (1986). Robin Hood hashing (PDF) (Technical report). Computer Science Department, University of Waterloo. CS-86-14.
↑ Goossaert, Emmanuel (2013). "Robin Hood hashing".
↑ Amble, Ole; Knuth, Don (1974). "Ordered hash tables". Computer Journal. 17 (2): 135. doi:10.1093/comjnl/17.2.135.
↑ Viola, Alfredo (October 2005). "Exact distribution of individual displacements in linear probing hashing". Transactions on Algorithms (TALG). ACM. 1 (2,): 214–242. doi:10.1145/1103963.1103965.
↑ Celis, Pedro (March 1988). External Robin Hood Hashing (Technical report). Computer Science Department, Indiana University. TR246.
↑ Litwin, Witold (1980). "Linear hashing: A new tool for file and table addressing". Proc. 6th Conference on Very Large Databases. pp. 212–223.
↑ Doug Dunham. CS 4521 Lecture Notes. University of Minnesota Duluth. Theorems 11.2, 11.6. Last modified April 21, 2009.
↑ Alexander Klink and Julian Wälde's Efficient Denial of Service Attacks on Web Application Platforms, December 28, 2011, 28th Chaos Communication Congress. Berlin, Germany.
↑ Mike Lennon "Hash Table Vulnerability Enables Wide-Scale DDoS Attacks". 2011.
↑ "Hardening Perl's Hash Function". November 6, 2013.
↑ Crosby and Wallach. Denial of Service via Algorithmic Complexity Attacks. quote: "modern universal hashing techniques can yield performance comparable to commonplace hash functions while being provably secure against these attacks." "Universal hash functions ... are ... a solution suitable for adversarial environments. ... in production systems."
↑ Bar-Yosef, Noa; Wool, Avishai (2007). Remote algorithmic complexity attacks against randomized hash tables Proc. International Conference on Security and Cryptography (SECRYPT) (PDF). p. 124.
1 2 Mehta, Dinesh P.; Sahni, Sartaj. Handbook of Datastructures and Applications. p. 9-15. ISBN 1-58488-435-5.
Tamassia, Roberto; Goodrich, Michael T. (2006). "Chapter Nine: Maps and Dictionaries". Data structures and algorithms in Java : [updated for Java 5.0] (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. pp. 369–418. ISBN 0-471-73884-0.
McKenzie, B. J.; Harries, R.; Bell, T. (Feb 1990). "Selecting a hashing algorithm". Software Practice & Experience. 20 (2): 209–224. doi:10.1002/spe.4380200207. |
0.962764 | This article is about the holiday. For the work by Ralph Ellison, see Juneteenth (novel).
Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Celebrated on June 19, the word is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states.
The holiday is observed primarily in local celebrations. Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and readings by noted African-American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Celebrations may include parades, rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, or Miss Juneteenth contests.
During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863. It declared all slaves to be freed in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands. This excluded the five states known later as border states, which were the four slave states that were not in rebellion -Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri-, and those counties of Virginia soon to form the state of West Virginia, and also the three zones under Union occupation: the state of Tennessee, lower Louisiana and Southeast Virginia.
More isolated geographically, Texas was not a battleground, and thus its slaves were not affected by the Emancipation Proclamation unless they escaped. Planters and other slaveholders had migrated into Texas from eastern states to escape the fighting, and many brought their slaves with them, increasing by the thousands the number of slaves in the state at the end of the Civil War.
Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets after the announcement, although in the years afterward many struggled to work through the changes against resistance of whites. But, the following year, freedmen organized the first of what became annual celebrations of Juneteenth in Texas. Barred in some cities from using public parks because of state-sponsored segregation of facilities, across parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land to hold their celebrations, such as Houston's Emancipation Park, Mexia's Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin.
Although the date is sometimes referred to as the "traditional end of slavery in Texas" it was given legal status in a series of Texas Supreme Court decisions between 1868 and 1874.
In the early 20th century, economic and political forces led to a decline in Juneteenth celebrations. From 1890 to 1908, Texas and all former Confederate states passed new constitutions or amendments that effectively disenfranchised blacks, excluding them from the political process. White-dominated state legislatures passed Jim Crow laws imposing second-class status. The Great Depression forced many blacks off farms and into the cities to find work. In these urban environments, African Americans had difficulty taking the day off to celebrate. From 1940 through 1970, in the second wave of the Great Migration, more than 5 million blacks left Texas, Louisiana and other parts of the South for the North and West Coast, where jobs were available in the defense industry for World War II. As historian Isabel Wilkerson writes, "The people from Texas took Juneteenth Day to Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and other places they went."
By the 1950s and 1960s, the Civil Rights movement focused the attention of African-American youth on the struggle for racial equality and the future. But, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors. Following the 1968 Poor People's Campaign to Washington, D.C. called by Rev. Ralph Abernathy, many attendees returned home and initiated Juneteenth celebrations in areas where the day was not previously celebrated.
Since the 1980s and 1990s, the holiday has been more widely celebrated among African-American communities. In 1994 a group of community leaders gathered at Christian Unity Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana to work for greater national celebration of Juneteenth. Paul Herring Chairman of The Juneteenth Committee credits Mrs. E. Hill Deloney (Community Matriarch) for starting the celebration in Flint, Michigan in the late 1980s; as he said, "… It's a time to Reflect & Rejoice, because we are the children of those who chose to survive." Juneteenth informal observance have spread to many other states, including Portland, Maine, in part carried by Texans. Expatriates have celebrated it in cities abroad, such as Paris. Some US military bases in other countries sponsor celebrations, in addition to those of private groups.
Organizations such as the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation are working toward gaining Congressional approval to designate Juneteenth as a national day of observance. Others are working to have its 150th anniversary celebrated worldwide.
In 1980, Texas was the first state to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday under legislation introduced by freshman Democratic state representative Al Edwards. Juneteenth is a "partial staffing holiday" in the state; government offices do not close but some employees use a "floating holiday" to take the day off.
By 2008, nearly half of US states observed the holiday as a ceremonial observance. As of May 2016, when the Maryland legislature approved official recognition of the holiday, 45 of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or ceremonial holiday, a day of observance. States that do not recognize it are Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota.
In 1996 the first legislation to recognize "Juneteenth Independence Day" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.J. Res. 195, sponsored by Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI). In 1997 Congress recognized the day through Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 56. In 2013 the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 175, acknowledging Lula Briggs Galloway (late president of the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage) who "successfully worked to bring national recognition to Juneteenth Independence Day", and the continued leadership of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.
↑ "Juneteenth Celebrated in Coachella". Black Voice News. June 22, 2011.
↑ "Juneteenth". Merriam Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
1 2 "Maryland". Retrieved 2016-07-19.
↑ Taylor, 2002. pp. 28–29.
↑ "How to Celebrate". Juneteenth.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
1 2 3 Cruz, Gilbert (2008-06-18). "A Brief History of Juneteenth". Time magazine. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
1 2 3 4 5 Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. "What Is Juneteenth?". The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. PBS. Originally posted on The Root. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
↑ Barr (1996), p. 24.
1 2 3 "Juneteenth". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved 2006-07-06.
↑ Campbell, Randolph (1984). "The End of Slavery in Texas: A Research Note". Southwestern Historical Quarterly. 88 (1): 71–80.
↑ Wilkerson, Isabel (2010). The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. New York: Random House. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
↑ Chandler, D.L. (June 19, 2012). "Juneteenth: Celebrating The Early Moments Of Freedom Today". News One. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
1 2 3 Moskin, Julie (2004-06-18). "An Obscure Texas Celebration Makes Its Way Across the U.S.". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
↑ "The World Celebrates Freedom". Juneteenth.com. Retrieved 2006-06-19.
↑ Dingus, Anne (June 2001). "Once a Texas-only holiday marking the end of slavery, Juneteenth is now celebrated nationwide with high spirits and hot barbecue". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
↑ Brown, Stacy M. (30 May 2014). "Juneteenth officially recognized in Maryland". Baltimore Times. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
↑ "S.Res.175 - A resolution observing Juneteenth Independence Day, June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery finally came to an end in the United States". United States Congress. June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Juneteenth. |
0.937584 | Viral or bacterial infections in the lungs or air passages that can happen after a cold or the flu are often called chest infections. Bronchitis, and pneumonia are two different types of chest infection that affect different parts of the lung and air passages.
The most obvious sign of a chest infection is a persistent cough, which usually appears after a milder cold or the flu. Other symptoms may include a fever, wheezing, and coughing up phlegm or mucus. Children may also experience other flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, and aches and pains. Bronchitis, an infection in the main airways (bronchial tubes) that supply the lungs, is particularly likely to cause a wet, hacking cough that brings up green or yellow phlegm. Pneumonia, which is an infection in the lungs, may cause additional symptoms such as breathlessness, rapid breathing, and chest pain. Most chest infections in children will get better by themselves in a few days or weeks, but some can cause serious complications.
Chest infections can cause severe symptoms such as breathing difficulty in children. Chest infections can also develop into more serious complications. A mild chest infection or bronchitis can develop into a more serious one, such as pneumonia. Although pneumonia can often be relatively mild, it can cause stronger symptoms and there is a risk of worse complications. Possible complications of pneumonia include blood poisoning and pleurisy, which is inflammation of the membranes that surround your lungs.
The term chest infection is used to describe an infection in the lungs or air passages. The infection can be caused by bacteria or viruses, which spread in the same way as other infections, through coughs and sneezes. The two main types of chest infections are bronchitis, which is usually caused by a virus, and pneumonia, which is most often the result of a bacterial infection. Bronchitis is an infection in the bronchial tubes, the two main airways that lead into your lungs. Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs themselves, and it can actually develop as a complication of bronchitis as well as after other infections such as the flu.
Chest infections are more likely to take hold when you are recovering from another infection, such as the flu. This is one of the reasons why good hygiene is so important when your child is ill, as it can prevent exposure to secondary infections. Babies and young children are more likely to develop chest infections, because their lungs and immune systems are not yet mature. Other groups who are at higher risk include older people, pregnant women, and people with other health conditions such as asthma. Although chest infections aren't as contagious as colds or the flu, it is still important to keep anyone who is infected away from these high risk groups.
You should always consult a doctor if your child is under the age of five and you think that he or she has a chest infection. Older children won't usually need to see a doctor for a mild chest infection, but you should still seek medical advice if the symptoms are very severe or they last for more than a few weeks. Signs that a chest infection is very serious and requires immediate medical attention include a very high fever, difficulty breathing, blueness around the lips, and confusion or disorientation. If you notice any of these symptoms you should seek urgent medical care.
Chest infections can usually be diagnosed based on your child's symptoms and by listening to his or her chest with a stethoscope. The treatment will depend on how severe the symptoms are and on the cause of the infection. The doctor may need to run lab tests on a blood or mucus sample to find out if the cause is bacterial or viral.
Most chest infections can be treated at home with plenty of rest, lots of fluids, and any medication that your doctor has recommended or prescribed. Infant paracetamol (Calpol) or ibuprofen may help if your child is experiencing aches and pains, headaches, or similar symptoms. If your child has a serious chest infection that is caused by bacteria, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics can only help against bacterial infections, so they won't be prescribed if the infection is viral.
If the symptoms are very severe or your child develops complications, additional treatment may be needed in hospital. Your child may need to be given fluids to tackle dehydration, extra oxygen to help with breathing difficulties, or other treatments for complications such as pleurisy or blood poisoning.
Babies and young children who are eligible for a seasonal flu vaccine can also be vaccinated at the same time against pneumococcal infections, one of the causes of pneumonia. This can reduce the chances of developing a chest infection. |
0.963601 | Does the importer of a mixture have any obligations concerning potential impurities present in the mixture, where the impurity is a substance listed in Annex XVII?
The obligations of the importer of the mixture depend on the interpretation of each specific entry in Annex XVII to REACH for the substance concerned, taking account of the wording, the context and the purpose of the restriction in question.
For instance, if a substance were completely banned, then it could not be placed on the market, not even as an impurity in a substance in an imported mixture. On the other hand, some Annex XVII entries specify limits above which a substance cannot be placed on the market. This limit may not be exceeded, no matter what is the source of the substance in the mixture. However, this can only be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the substance, the restriction and the concentration of the substance as an impurity in the imported mixture.
It should be noted that the impurity may be permissible at any concentration if the use of the imported mixture is not covered in the ‘conditions of restriction' listed in Annex XVII for the substance.
When a specific Annex XVII entry (e.g. entry 56 MDI) specifies the requirement for the package to contain protective gloves in order for the mixture to be placed on the market, is it possible to attach the protective gloves to the package, if it cannot contain them?
In special cases where, due to the size or shape of the packaging, it is technically not possible to include the protective gloves inside the packaging, it is considered to be sufficient that the gloves are fixed tightly to the packaging in a manner that they cannot be unintentionally removed during handling and transport. The gloves must not obstruct the label and the removal of the gloves must not destroy the label. In addition, both the packaging containing the mixture and the protective gloves must be placed on the market as a single unit, which explicitly signals to the consumer that the mixture may only be used with the protective gloves .
What is the definition of "toys", in the context of restrictions in Annex XVII to REACH?
A number of Annex XVII entries (Entries 5, 31, 43, 50 , 51 and 52) specifically refer to toys. The REACH Regulation does not define "toys". Toys are defined by Directive 2009/48/EC (hereinafter referred to as the Toys Safety Directive-TSD).
Article 2(1) of the TSD states: "This directive shall apply to products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age (hereinafter referred to as toys)".
Annex I to the TSD contains a more detailed list of products that are not considered as toys within the meaning of the Directive. Article 3 of the TSD defines certain types of toys such as "functional toy", "aquatic toy", "chemical toy" and "activity toy". Furthermore, Article 2(2) of the TSD explicitly mentions that the TSD shall not apply to the following toys: (a) playground equipment intended for public use; (b) automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use; (c) toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines; (d) toy steam engines; and (e) slings and catapults. It is considered that if the TSD definition of "toys" is used in Annex XVII to REACH, these exemptions will automatically form part of that definition.
The European Commission services have prepared an explanatory guidance document on the TSD, (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/tsd-guidance/tsd_rev_1-6_explanatory_guidance_document_en.pdf) providing clarifications about its scope and definitions of certain categories of toys. Overall, the definition of toys in the TSD should be used to determine what we mean by "toys" for the purposes of restrictions in Annex XVII to REACH. Concerning toys exempted from the scope of the TSD (Article 2(2) of the TSD) these should also normally not be considered as "toys" for the purpose of the relevant REACH restrictions. In certain cases, it may be necessary to describe a class of toys to be covered by a restriction by reference to specific properties of the item.
What is the definition of "childcare articles", in the context of restrictions in Annex XVII to REACH?
A definition of "childcare articles" was inserted by the 22nd amendment of Council Directive 76/769/EEC, (which was repealed by REACH, Annex XVII) via the Directive 2005/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Directive 76/769/EEC was amended so that the following definition for childcare articles was added in its Article 1(3)c: "childcare article" means any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children. Hence the intention of the legislator was to use this definition for the purpose of all the restriction provisions and thereby this to be applicable for the entire Directive 76/769/EEC. Therefore, the same definition appears in entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII, providing an indication of what should be generally considered as a "childcare article" in the context of all Annex XVII (to REACH) provisions.
What is the meaning of the expression "placing/placed on the market for the first time" in the context of entries 3(7), 31(2)(b), 58(1) and 59(1)(b) of Annex XVII to REACH?
Article 3(12) of REACH defines "placing on the market" as supplying or making available, whether in return for payment or free of charge, to a third party. Import is deemed to be placing on the market.
Placing on the market for the first time limits the scope of the restriction to the first natural or legal person who supplies or makes available substances, mixtures or articles on the market in the EU. The first placing on the market in the EU will either be by the manufacturer or the importer of the substance, mixture or article concerned.
In some cases a restriction entry in Annex XVII refers to specific Directives/Regulations when describing the inclusion or exception of some substances or product categories from the entry. If this Directive/Regulation is repealed or modified, is the new/amended legislation applicable to the restriction?
In general, the answer is yes. However, it should be assessed on a case-by-case basis whether the new legal act replaces the repealed one for the purpose of the REACH restriction, taking into account, for example, the objective of the reference.
The new legal act may explicitly state that references to the repealed act must be construed as references to the new legal act (e.g., Article 139 of REACH).
Entry 19 (paragraph 4) exempts certain uses of arsenic compounds for wood preservation if they are authorised in accordance with Directive 98/8/EC. This Directive was replaced by Regulation (EU) 528/2012, which explicitly states that references to the repealed Directive must be interpreted as reference to the new regulation (Article 96).
Entry 45 (paragraph 3) exempts electrical and electronic equipment within the scope of Directive 2002/95/EC from the restriction of diphenylether, octabromo, derivative. This Directive was replaced by Directive 2011/65/EU, which explicitly states that references to the repealed Directive must be interpreted as reference to the new directive (Article 26).
Entry 50 (paragraph 3) defines tyres covered by the PAH restriction as tyres for vehicles covered by three directives, including Directive 2002/24/EC. This Directive was replaced by Regulation (EU) 168/2013, which expressly states that references to the repealed Directive must be interpreted as reference to the new regulation (Article 81).
As regards the amendment of an act referred to in a restriction, references in acts of Union law are usually ‘dynamic’, so that the reference is taken to be to the latest version of the act referred to. However, less commonly, a reference may expressly refer to an act as it stands on a specific date; this is known as a ‘static’ reference.
What information on restrictions is needed on the safety data sheet and when does the safety data sheet need to be updated due to restrictions?
Article 31(6) of the REACH Regulation provides that the safety data sheet (SDS) shall contain a Section 15 entitled ‘regulatory information’. Annex II to REACH provides requirements for the compilation of the SDS. Section 15(1) specifically mentions that, if the substance or mixture covered by the SDS is the subject of specific provisions in relation to the protection of human health or the environment at Union level (e.g. restrictions under Title VIII), these provisions must be mentioned, unless this information is already mentioned in other parts of the SDS. Thus, all restriction entries applicable to the specific substance or mixture covered by the SDS need to be indicated therein. As an example, SDSs including carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction substances (as such or in a mixture) listed in appendices 1 to 6 to REACH, need to refer to entries 28, 29 or 30 of Annex XVII. If another specific restriction exists for these substances, this needs to be mentioned as well in the SDS.
Moreover, Article 31(9) of the REACH Regulation requires suppliers to update the SDS without delay once a restriction has been imposed. In Section 16 (other information), a clear indication of where changes to the previous version have been made needs to be included, unless such indication is given elsewhere in the safety data sheet, with an explanation of the changes.
What is regarded as scientific research and development, which is exempted for restrictions? For example, does research by students at universities fall under this?
Article 3(23) of the REACH Regulation defines scientific research and development as “any scientific experimentation, analysis or chemical research carried out under controlled conditions in a volume less than one tonne per year”.
To further clarify the exemption (within Article 67(1) of the REACH Regulation, manufacture, placing on the market or use of a substance in scientific research and development (SRD) is exempted for restrictions), note that under the authorisation process the following Q&As (concerning the exemption in Article 56 for the use of Annex XIV substances in scientific research and development) has been provided. The same approach can be broadly considered as applicable to restrictions.
Q&A 1153 states that sampling for further analysis is not exempted and thus not regarded as scientific research and development. However, “activities considered to form part of the use of the sample in performing analytical activities” fall within the exemption.
Q&A 1030 explains that the uses of a substance upstream preceding an exempted end-use in scientific research and development are also exempted in quantities of the substance ending up in SRD (i.e. under 1 t/y per user) subject to certain conditions.
Q&A 585 explains that the exemption from authorisation also applies to the use of a substance in analytical activities such as monitoring and quality control under certain conditions. This exemption applies irrespective of where the analysis is performed i.e. on-site or off-site facilities, but does not cover sampling activities.
Scientific experimentation, analysis or chemical research in universities and secondary schools, conducted by students, may fall within the exemption, if they are carried out under controlled conditions, in a volume less than one tonne per year. In other words, if the volume of a substance used in scientific experimentation, analysis or chemical research is less than one tonne per year and it is used under controlled conditions, restrictions do not apply to that use.
Which restrictions under REACH concern textiles and leather articles?
Many entries in the Restriction List (Annex XVII) cover articles. Such entries are, for instance, entries 50 - 52, 61 and 63. These may address types of textiles and leather articles, even if these are not explicitly mentioned.
Entry 8 (Polybromobiphenyls; Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), CAS No 59536-65-1).
Entry 47 (paragraphs 5-7), restriction on chromium VI compounds in leather articles coming into contact with the skin.
Which restrictions under REACH concern electrical and electronic equipment?
Many entries in the Restriction List (Annex XVII) cover specific articles or all articles without explicitly referring to electrical and electronic equipment. These are, for example, entries 18a, 20, 23-26, 50-52. They may apply to electrical and electronic equipment, even if these are not explicitly mentioned (or derogated) in the entry.
Entry 63 (paragraph 8) excludes articles within the scope of Directive 2011/65/EU from the restriction on lead and its compounds in articles supplied to the general public.
Which restrictions under REACH concern paints or paint strippers?
Many entries in the Restriction List (Annex XVII) cover substances and mixtures in general, without specifying product types. They may thus also apply to paints/paint strippers, even if these are not explicitly mentioned in the entry.
Entry 59, restriction on dichloromethane in paint strippers under certain conditions.
In some cases a restriction entry (e.g. entries 32-38, 46) in Annex XVII refers to ‘cleaning’. What does this mean?
In general, cleaning refers to any removal of dirt or pollution from articles or places, both in industrial and institutional facilities as well as in households.
In some entries cleaning may be specified by reference to a particular user group(s) or potential exposure pattern to which the restriction applies. For example, column 2, paragraph 1 of entries 32-38 refer to the substance or mixture being intended for supply to the general public and/or intended for diffusive applications where releases can occur from multiple sources such as surface cleaning and cleaning of fabrics. Column 2, paragraph 1 of entry 46 applies to industrial and institutional cleaning systems (e.g. in schools, hospitals), with the exception of dry cleaning done in a controlled closed system where the washing liquid is recycled or incinerated and other cleaning systems where special treatment is used with recycling or incineration of the washing liquid. Column 2, paragraph 2 entry 46 applies to all domestic cleaning.
What is understood by an ‘article’ in the restrictions in Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation, following the judgement of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on substances (SVHCs) in articles?
The term ‘article’, as interpreted by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in its judgement of 10 September 2015 in case C-106/14 applies in the same way to restrictions in Annex XVII as to the other aspects of the REACH Regulation. The judgement is available here: http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&td=ALL&num=C-106/14.
For the purposes of REACH, the term 'article' has the specific meaning set out in Article 3(3) of the REACH Regulation. Article 3(3) defines an article as ‘an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition’.
'Complex objects' are made up of more than one article which meet the criteria laid down in Article 3(3) of REACH, e.g. a bicycle is a complex object made up of several articles, such as handlebar grips, cables, screws etc. Complex objects are explained in the ECHA Guidance on requirements for substances in articles. Please note the term ‘complex object’ corresponds to ‘complex product’ that is used in the ECJ Judgement referred to above (see footnote 12 of the above guidance).
The ECJ, in its judgment, observed that the REACH Regulation does not contain any provisions specifically governing complex products and that consequently, in the absence of specific provisions, there is no need to draw a distinction between articles of their own (e.g. screw) or when incorporated as components of a complex product (e.g. a screw in a bike). Therefore, when incorporated into a complex product, an 'article' remains an article within the meaning of REACH, as long as the article retains its special shape, surface or design, which is more decisive for its function than its chemical composition.
Entries in Annex XVII restricting 'articles' cover any object meeting the criteria in Article 3(3) of the REACH Regulation. Therefore, if an entry restricts the placing on the market of articles containing/releasing substance X and the restriction affects complex objects, the presence/release of substance X in each of the individual articles should be checked.
If a restriction entry refers to ‘parts of articles’, this should be understood as referring to an integral part of an article. Please note questions and answers (Q&As) and guidelines for some entries in Annex XVII have been developed which provide further information. The Q&As and guidelines are available on the ECHA website here: https://echa.europa.eu/information-restricted-substances.
Which type of oil lamps are considered as decorative within the context of Entry 3 of Annex XVII?
Oil lamp for decorative purposes is an oil lamp for interior or exterior use (e.g. in garden torches) appealing by its design and or the light atmosphere it creates.
In entry 3(1) what is included within the scope of ‘ornamental articles’, in addition to the examples of ornamental lamps and ashtrays in the legal text?
The restriction should be understood as a broad restriction covering all articles that contain liquids specified in the entry and intended to produce light or colour effects by means of different phases and which have an ornamental design. It does not matter if the article also has other functions besides being decorative. So for example, if articles such as cell phone covers, liquid timers, toothbrushes, shower curtains, key-rings and hourglasses contain ornamental features that produce light or colour effects, they are covered by the restriction even though the ornamental function is not the primary function of the article. Decorative LED lamps with glitter are also included within the scope of this restriction.
What is the scope of entry 8 which concerns polybromobiphenyls and polybrominatedbiphenyls? A specific CAS number (59536-65-1) is referred to in the entry, but are other polybrominated biphenyls also included in the scope of this restriction?
All polybrominated biphenyls (also referred to as polybromobiphenyls) are covered by the restriction in entry 8. The CAS number referred to in entry 8 is only an example of one of the main commercially used fire retardant products at the time of the adoption of the restriction.
What is the definition of paints in the context of entries 16 and 17 of Annex XVII? In particular, are children's paint sets, and also other stationery-type paints such as artist paints and do-it-yourself (DIY) decorations for t-shirts also covered?
The REACH Regulation does not provide a specific definition for paints.
According to a general meaning, paint is a mixture, usually of a liquid with a solid pigment. Furthermore, Commission Decision 2009/544/EC (establishing the ecological criteria for the EU Ecolabel to indoor paints and varnishes) provides the following definition: 'Paint' means a pigmented coating material, in liquid or in paste or powder form, which when applied to a substrate, forms an opaque film having protective, decorative or specific technical properties.
The abovementioned definitions provide an indication of what could be generally considered as a paint in the context of entries 16-17 of Annex XVII (to REACH) provisions.
It should be noted that the restrictions in entries 16-17 of Annex XVII only allow Member States to permit the use of paints containing the restricted substances for the restoration and maintenance of works of art and historic buildings and their interiors. Thus children's paint sets and other stationery-type paints such as artist paints and do-it-yourself (DIY) decorations for t-shirts must not contain the restricted substances.
Concerning children's paint sets, these may also be covered by the Toys Directive (Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of Toys), which lays down limits for the presence of lead in toys.
Are the repairing and maintenance activities covered by the restriction in Entry 18(a) of Annex XVII?
Fever thermometers and other measuring devices for sale to the general public in use in the European Union before the 3 April 2009: The prohibition concerns the placing on the market of fever thermometers and other measuring devices for sale to the general public after the 3 April 2009.
Pursuant to paragraph 2, thermometers as well as other measuring devices for sale to the general public in use in the European Union before the 3 April 2009 are exempted from the prohibition. These instruments containing mercury which were in use in the European Union before the 3 April 2009 can be placed on the second hand market except in the territories of Member States which decided to regulate theses existing instruments. Repairing and maintenance activities for these existing instruments are excluded from the scope of the restriction. Nevertheless, in the case of repairing and maintenance activities performed on these devices, new measuring devices containing mercury shall not be used as this would be considered making available new measuring devices to the general public.
How should derogation in entry 18(a) of Annex XVII related to Antique Barometers be interpreted?
Under 18(a) antiques measuring devices are defined as more than 50 years old on 3 October 2007.
Under paragraph 3 antique measuring devices are exempted from the restriction. Repairing and maintenance activities for these antique measuring devices are also exempted for the restriction.
The intention of the legislator in granting an exemption for antique measuring devices is that their trade should continue (Directive 2007/51/EC, Recital No 4) due to their cultural and/or historical value. Therefore these instruments should continue to be serviced in order to keep their cultural and/or historical value.
Antique measuring devices such as barometers containing two columns of mercury which one consists of a thermometer are considered falling within the derogation of paragraph 3 and therefore they should continue to be serviced. The columns can be repaired or replaced if these activities are part of the maintenance and repair services and preserve the cultural and/or historical value of the instrument.
Professionals may buy measuring devices containing mercury if they are destined for the repair and maintenance activities of antique measuring devices.
Is there any definition for measuring devices in the context of entry 18(a) of Annex XVII?
Furthermore paragraphs 5 and 7 provide exhaustive lists of mercury-containing measuring devices intended for industrial and professional uses which have not been allowed to be placed on the market after 10 April 2014 (barometers; hygrometers; manometers; sphygmomanometers; strain gauges to be used with plethysmographs; tensiometers; thermometers and other non-electrical thermometric application; mercury pycnometers; mercury metering devices for determination of the softening point; mercury triple point cells other than those used for the calibration of platinum resistance thermometers).
The abovementioned definitions provide an indication of what could generally be considered as a measuring device in the context of entry 18(a) of Annex XVII to REACH provisions.
Are imports of CCA treated wood from outside the European Union banned under Entry 19 of Annex XVII?
Under Entry 19 of Annex XVII to REACH, CCA type C cannot be used to treat wood in the EU due to the fact that it has not been authorised under Directive 98/8/EC. A request for authorisation could, however, be made in the future in line with the requirements of Directive 98/8/EC.
· paragraph 4 a) authorises only the treatment of wood with CCA type C if this biocidal product is authorised under Directive 98/8/EC.
· under paragraph 4 b) it is stated that "Wood treated with CCA solutions in accordance with point a) may …."
This implies that all wood that is placed on the market in the EU must conform to the requirements of paragraph 4 a).
Therefore wood newly treated with CCA type C may only be placed on the EU market if this biocidal product used for treatment is authorised under Directive 98/8/EC.
the EU and imported. Obviously the requirement does not apply to wood treatment installations outside the EU producing wood for marketing outside the EU.
In summary since 30 June 2007, it is prohibited to place on the market and to import wood newly treated with CCA type C, until such time as a biocidal product containing this active substance is authorised in line with all the requirements of Directive 98/8/EC.
Under Entry 19, paragraph 4b) of Annex XVII there is a list of applications for which wood treated with CCA type C can be used. May treated wood be used for other applications, such as railway sleepers other than underground railway sleepers?
Paragraph 4b) of Annex XVII to REACH concerning arsenic compounds provides for a list of applications for which wood treated with CCA may be used. This is not a list of examples of possible uses but an exhaustive list of authorised applications. It flows both from the actual wording of those provisions and from their objective that the derogation provided for in paragraph 4 must necessarily be subject to a strict interpretation, as confirmed by the Court of Justice (case C-358/11, pp. 40-43).
Consequently, wood treated with CCA cannot be used for other applications than the ones listed in paragraph 4 b). Wood treated with CCA can, therefore, not be used for railway sleepers installed above ground.
What types of organotin compounds are covered by entry 20 of Annex XVII of REACH "organostannic compounds"?
Organostannic compounds covered by entry 20 in Annex XVII to REACH, must contain a carbon-tin bond. Substances like tin salts or organotin compounds, for which tin is bound to an atom other than carbon (for example hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, tin(2+) salt (CAS-No. 301-10-0)) are not covered by entry 20 in Annex XVII to REACH.
What is the meaning of the expression "already in use" in the context of the entry 20 of Annex XVII to REACH?
Paragraphs 4(b), 5(b) and 6(b) of entry 20 of Annex XVII to REACH, state that articles (and mixtures in the case of article 5(b)) not complying with point (a) of the paragraph shall not be placed on the market after [a certain date] ‘except for articles that were already in use in the Union before that date'".
The phrase ‘already in use' means in the possession of the end-user. Therefore, the derogations apply only to articles which reached end-users before the dates referred to in paragraphs 4(b), 5(b) and 6(b) of the entry. Those (second-hand) articles may continue to be traded after the dates on which the respective bans came into force. All articles still held by distributors, or in the storage facilities of importers or manufacturers on the dates when the bans came into force, should have been withdrawn from the distribution chain.
(a) Do toys fall within the scope of the dioctyltin (DOT) compounds restrictions of entry 20 (paragraph 6)? (b) Can toys benefit from the derogations for organotins in entry 20 of the Restriction List (Annex XVII)? (c) Would a paint coating on a toy that contains dibutyltin (DBT) as a biocide and not as a catalyst fall within the derogation?
(a) Yes, they do. Entry 20 in the Restriction List (Annex XVII) to REACH imposes DOT compounds restrictions for childcare articles, which are not toys. The REACH Regulation does not contain a definition of toys. The definition of toys in Directive 2009/48/EC on the Safety of Toys is illustrative in determining what should be considered as a “toy” in the context of this restriction (see Q&A 0982).
However, paragraph 6(a) of entry 20 restricts DOT compounds in textile toys as in any other textile article intended to come into contact with the skin. Furthermore, organic tin (including DOT) in toys is restricted by paragraph 13 of Part III (Chemical Properties) of Annex II to Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys, which specifies maximum migration limits.
In addition to derogation in paragraph 5(d), the other derogations currently applicable to TBT, DBT and DOT compounds in articles relate to the continued placing on the market of articles that were already in use in the EU before the 1 July 2010 for TBT (paragraph 4(b), before the 1 January 2012 (paragraph 5(b)) for DBT and before the 1 January 2012 for DOT (paragraph 6(b)).
Does the restriction in entry 20 (organostannic compounds) of Annex XVII to REACH apply to packaging?
Yes. Packaging can be considered as an article (or a product composed of different articles) in its own right. More information can be found in the ECHA guidance on requirements for substances in articles available at https://echa.europa.eu/guidance-documents/guidance-on-reach (in particular in chapter 2).
Therefore, with regard to entry 20, packaging should comply with the restrictions for tri-substituted (TBT, TPT) and dibutyltin (DBT) compounds. The restriction of dioctyltin compounds (DOT) which applies only to certain listed articles for the general public, applies to textile packaging.
According to paragraph 10 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to REACH cadmium shall not be used or placed on the market if the concentration is equal to or greater than 0,01% by weight of the metal in metal parts of jewellery. Does this concentration threshold apply to each metal component of an item of jewellery or to the jewellery item as a whole?
With reference to paragraph 10 of the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) 494/2011 amending entry 23 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (cadmium) the concentration threshold of cadmium applies in each metal part of jewellery. The wording used by the legislator, i.e. "metal parts of the jewellery and imitation jewellery" implies that each metal part is relevant; therefore in order to determine if the restriction applies the calculation of the concentration in this case is to be done for each metal part. Therefore, if there are several metal layers as coatings on the surface of an inner (metallic) part of the jewellery these should be regarded as integral part of the metal part and the concentration limit of 0,01% is calculated for this whole metal part. In case the inner part is not metal, but the coating is made of metal layers, this coating is regarded as one metal part. If the jewellery article contains several metal parts, each of them should comply with the concentration limit.
Is it allowed to continue the sale/placing on the market of jewelry articles containing more than 0.01% of Cadmium, manufactured and already placed on the market (e.g. sold by the manufacturer to the distributor) before the 10 December 2011 following the entry into force of the new restriction according to Entry 23 of Annex XVII, paragraphs 10 and 11?
The prohibition of the placing on the market of jewellery and imitation jewellery articles containing cadmium includes sales from the manufacturers to distributors and from distributors to retailers, as well as imports. However, Commission Regulation (EU) 494/2011 contains derogation for articles that were placed on the market before 10 December 2011 (for the date see corrigendum published in OJ L 136/105). This means that jewellery and imitation jewellery articles placed on the market for the first time before 10 December 2011 do not need to comply with the prohibition thus they can be sold following entry into force of the new restriction for example to a retailer or on the second-hand market.
Which uses of brazing fillers containing cadmium can be regarded as uses for safety reasons (derogation in paragraph 9 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to REACH)?
Paragraph 8 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation states that cadmium and its compounds shall not be used in brazing fillers in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight. In addition, brazing fillers shall not be placed on the market if the concentration of cadmium (expressed as Cd metal) is equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight. The paragraph also states that brazing shall mean a joining technique using alloys and undertaken at a temperature above 450°C. In accordance with the following paragraph 9, by way of derogation paragraph 8 shall not apply to brazing fillers used in defence and aerospace applications nor to brazing fillers used for safety reasons.
The safety aspect in relation to this derogation is if the use of cadmium containing brazing filler may prevent accidents causing human suffering or environmental pollution.
Brazing fillers used in turbine wheels in power plant technology in temperature below 650°C.
Turbine wheels in power plant technology are parts of speed drivers for gas compressors and boiler feed pumps, where rotational speed is approximately from 1000 revolutions per minute (rpm) up to 20 000 rpm. Cadmium containing brazing fillers are needed as they can be used below 650 °C without decreasing the strength of the parent material (base metal). Cadmium-free brazing fillers require higher temperatures which causes the weakening of the parent material. Weakening of the parent material could lead to the breakdown of the turbine wheel. Due to high rotational speed the parts and pieces of shrapnel may cause injuries to workers and others in the vicinity of the wheel. The breakdown of the turbine wheel may result also in a complete shutdown of the power plant, the compressor station of a gas pipeline, or of a refinery.
Brazing fillers used in pipes and tubes where acetylene is transferred in high pressure (1.5 – 17 bar).
Cadmium containing brazing fillers are needed in the joining process for pipes and tubes, where acetylene is transferred in order to avoid formation of explosive substances. Acetylene forms explosive substances with copper and silver as well as other materials (e.g. formation of copper acetylide and silver acetylide). Cadmium reduces the overall percentage of copper and silver in the brazing fillers to the level where formation of explosive substances does not exist. Another reason to use cadmium in brazing fillers for this application is that cadmium facilitates the capillary action and solder penetration ensuring a good quality joint with high integrity for pipes and tubes where acetylene is transferred in high pressure (1.5-17 bar). Release of acetylene from pipes and tubes may as well cause serious risk, as acetylene is extremely flammable gas and explosive with and without contact with air.
Other applications that would like to benefit from the derogation need to show the similar kind of safety aspects as described above.
Such considerations should take into account the availability on the market of cadmium-free brazing fillers which can address the safety aspects of the specific application of the brazing fillers in an equivalent manner.
See also ECHA´s report "The use of brazing fillers containing cadmium for safety reasons" [PDF].
Which types of articles coloured with mixtures containing cadmium can be regarded as using cadmium for safety reasons (derogation in paragraph 3 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to REACH)?
Paragraph 1 of entry 23 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation provides a restriction on cadmium and its compounds in mixtures and articles produced from certain synthetic organic materials (plastic materials) and paragraph 2 provides a restriction on cadmium and its compounds in paints (Tariff codes 3208 and 3209). The following paragraph 3 states that by way of derogation the restrictions in paragraphs 1 and 2 do not apply to articles coloured with mixtures containing cadmium for safety reasons.
There are two safety aspects in relation to this derogation. The first relates to the use of a specific colour or pigment with certain properties which is necessary to prevent accidents. The second relates to the use of a specific colour or pigment with certain properties in safety equipment.
Coloured wire insulation and cable jackets used in aircraft electrical and control systems for the purpose of fire detection and extinguishing systems, flight control systems or during flight tests.
The wire and cable connections are often used in in a high temperature application (greater than 150ºC ambient temperature). Cadmium pigments are used to keep the colour from changing or fading over time in the high temperature. Changing established colour conventions could introduce a significant risk of maintenance errors, which may lead to a risk of passengers.
parts of safety equipment for outdoor applications (e.g. seats, reels and diverse technical parts).
Outdoor safety applications are applications used typically in outdoor activities in areas where visible colours are needed for rescue or orienteering purposes in case of emergency situations. Cadmium pigments provide highly visible colour contrast with its surroundings (e.g. in rescue situations) and where durability of the colour for the ambient environment (e.g. weather resistance, light fastness, heat resistance and chroma) is needed.
The other applications that would like to benefit from the derogation need to show the similar kind of safety aspects than described above.
Such considerations should take into account the availability on the market of alternative substances which can address the safety aspects of the specific application in an equivalent manner.
See also ECHA´s report "The use of cadmium and its compounds in articles coloured for safety reasons" [PDF].
What parts of plastic coated copper beads (CCB) used in jewellery should comply with the cadmium restriction entry 23?
Entry 23 (paragraph 10 (i)) of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation states that cadmium and its compounds must not be used or placed on the market if the concentration of cadmium is equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight of the metal in metal beads and other metal components for jewellery making (see Q&A, 158). In addition, it should be noted that articles produced from plastic material referred to in paragraph 1 of the entry must not be placed on the market if the concentration of cadmium is equal to or greater than 0.01 % by weight of the plastic material.
Thus, in the case of plastic coated metal beads (CCB beads), both the plastic material and the metallic part of the bead need to comply with entry 23 (cadmium restriction).
Please also note that if the article is painted, then paragraph 2 will also apply to this article.
Do paragraphs 5 and 6 of entry 23 (cadmium and its compounds) cover unplated metal parts?
No. They cover only plated metal parts. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of entry 23 prohibit the use of cadmium for “cadmium plating” (defined as a deposit or coating on a metallic surface with metallic cadmium) metallic articles used in specified sectors/applications. The placing on the market of cadmium-plated articles used in those sectors/applications and of articles manufactured in some of those sectors/applications is also prohibited. The latter reference to “articles manufactured” must be taken to mean articles that have been cadmium plated, since paragraphs 5 and 6 relate only to “cadmium plating”. Accordingly, Paragraphs 5 and 6 do not cover articles with metal parts containing cadmium unless these parts are plated with cadmium.
Note that metallic articles containing cadmium may be covered under other EU legislation. For example, (1) electrical and electronic equipment falls under Directive 2011/65/EU on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances and must comply as well with the maximum concentration limits for cadmium set in that Directive and (2) toys are covered under Directive 2009/48/EC on the Safety of Toys.
Is ink covered by entry 23 of Annex XVII to REACH, concerning cadmium and its compounds?
No. Ink is not included in the TARIC codes which define the scope of paragraph 2 of entry 23.
Are mobile telephones covered by the restriction set in Entry 27 of Annex XVII on nickel?
Entry 27 of Annex XVII to REACH states that nickel may not be used "in articles intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin, if the rate of nickel release from the parts of these articles coming into direct and prolonged contact with the skin is greater than 0.5 Jg/cm²/week". The aim of this restriction to protect consumers against nickel allergy which may be caused by prolonged contact of the skin with nickel-releasing articles that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin such as jewellery, buttons, tighteners, zips and rivets in items of clothing. It has emerged that some mobile telephones contain nickel in surface material and that consumers are at risk of developing eczema through skin contact with the mobile telephone. As mobile telephones are clearly intended to come into direct contact with the skin, and as they are used on a daily basis often for prolonged periods of time, it is considered that mobile telephones fulfil the condition of "direct and prolonged contact with the skin". Therefore mobile telephones are covered by the restriction and should comply with the conditions set in Entry 27 of Annex XVII to REACH.
How to clarify the "prolonged contact with the skin" in relation to the nickel restriction entry 27?
30 minutes on one or more occasions within two weeks.
The skin contact time of 10 minutes applies when there are three or more occasions of skin contacts within a two-week time period. The skin contact time of 30 minutes applies when there is at least one occasion within a two-week time period.
Are substances classified as CMRs, and included in Annex VI to CLP but not yet included in the Appendices 1-6 of Annex XVII to REACH, covered by the restrictions in entries 28-30 of Annex XVII to REACH?
No, only substances listed in the relevant Appendices (1 - 6) of Annex XVII are covered by the restrictions in entries 28 - 30.
When substances are classified for the first time as CMR and included in an ATP of the CLP Regulation, the European Commission prepares a draft amendment to include these substances in the Appendices of REACH Annex XVII. The amendment then has to be adopted in accordance with Article 68(2) of REACH, before the new substances are covered by entries 28-30.
Entries 28-30 of Annex XVII restrict substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction (CMR). Do these restrictions apply to these substances when they are present in articles?
Substances within the scope of entries 28-30 are not allowed to be placed on the market or used for supply to the general public as substances, as constituents of other substances or in mixtures when the concentration is equal to or greater than the specified limits. Certain derogations apply to this restriction as listed in paragraph 2. CMR substances that are present in articles are not within the scope of the restriction imposed by entries 28-30, but other restrictions may be applicable to these substances, when present in articles. In addition, notification and communication obligations under REACH may apply; see the ECHA website: https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/candidate-list-substances-in-articles/notification-of-substances-in-articles.
It should be noted that entries 28 and 29 are applicable to the substances that are listed in Appendices 1 & 2 (carcinogenic (C), categories 1A and 1B) and Appendices 3 & 4 (mutagenic (M), categories 1A and 1B). Entry 30 is applicable to substances which are classified as reproductive toxicants (R), categories 1A and 1B and listed in Appendices 5 and 6. These Appendices are regularly updated by including new substances, after the adoption of a harmonised classification for a substance as CMR, category 1A or 1B according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
What is the meaning of the expression "second hand market for re-use" in paragraph 2(c) of entry 31 of Annex XVII to REACH?
Paragraph 1 of entry 31 prohibits the placing on the market of wood treated with the substances listed in points (a) to (i) of column 1 of the entry, whether as substances on their own or as mixtures. Paragraph 2(c) of entry 31 states that "….the prohibition in paragraph 1 on the placing on the market shall not apply to wood which has been treated with substances listed in entry 31 (a) to (i) before 31 December 2002 and is placed on the second-hand market for re-use….."
This derogation therefore concerns wood that had already been treated with the substance listed in points (a) to (i) of column 1 of entry 31 before 31 December 2002. The intention of the derogation is to allow second-hand wood treated before 31 December 2002 with the substances covered by this entry to be traded by the end-user and subsequent users. This type of derogation is often included in restriction entries to avoid enforcement difficulties.
It should be noted that the conditions in paragraph 3 apply to second-hand wood benefiting from the derogation in paragraph 2(c). Thus, it cannot be used e.g. inside buildings, in toys, in playground etc.
Entry 40 of Annex XVII prohibits the use of flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable substances in "aerosol generators placed on the market for the general public for entertainment and decorative purposes". Are aerosol generators containing coloured hairsprays and glitter for the body and sold to the general public restricted under this entry?
Entry 40 provides an indicative list of examples of products that are covered by the restriction. These examples are all products to be used for the decoration of venues for festivities/parties and for use during parties. None of these examples are cosmetic products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products.
Article 67(2) of REACH excludes cosmetic products as defined by Directive 76/768/EEC (now Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009) from the scope of restrictions when they target risks to human health within the scope of that legislation. This restriction on aerosol dispensers is entirely linked to the human health of consumers, which are fully addressed by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Therefore, the restriction in Entry 40 of Annex XVII to REACH, prohibiting the use of flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable substances in "aerosol generators placed on the market for the general public for entertainment and decorative purposes", does not cover aerosol dispensers which are cosmetic products. Coloured hair sprays and body glitter fall within the definition of cosmetic products in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as they are intended "to be placed in contact with an external part of the human body" with a view to "changing its appearance". They have a similar use to more classical cosmetic products, such as normal hair sprays and should not be considered as having an entertainment or decorative purpose within the meaning of the entry.
Are there any definitions for aerosols, aerosol dispensers, in the context of Entry 40?
The REACH Regulation does not define aerosols or aerosol dispensers.
According to the ordinary meaning of the word, an aerosol is considered to be "a substance enclosed under pressure and released as a fine spray by means of a propellant gas". (Oxford advanced dictionary definition). The term may in certain contexts be used for a mixture enclosed under pressure and released as a fine spray by means of a propellant gas, or the dispenser or package used to change the ingredient inside the container into a spray by the use of a propellant gas. The European Aerosol Federation uses the term "aerosol" for both the suspension and the dispenser/package.
Furthermore, it should be noted that according to Article 2.3.1 of the CLP Regulation (for "Classification, Labelling and Packaging"), the term "aerosol dispenser" means: any non-reusable container made of metal, glass or plastic and containing a gas compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure, with or without a liquid, paste or powder, and fitted with a release device allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas, as a foam, paste or powder or in a liquid state.
The CLP definition is very similar to the definition provided in Article 2 of the Aerosol Dispensers Directive (ADD) (75/324/EEC).
The above definitions provide an indication of what could be generally considered as ‘aerosols/aerosol dispensers' in the context of Entry 40 of Annex XVII. Note that aerosol generators should be regarded as aerosol dispensers, as the original restriction discusses aerosol generators.
What is the meaning of products for entertainment and decorative purposes in the context of entry 40 of Annex XVII? Are aerosol dispensers containing coloured hairsprays and glitter for the body and sold to the general public restricted under this entry?
Entry 40 prohibits the use of flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable substances in "aerosol dispensers where these aerosol dispensers are intended for supply to the general public for entertainment and decorative purposes". Paragraph 1 provides an indicative list of examples of products that are covered by the restriction. These examples are all products to be used to decorate, for instance, venues for festivities (e.g. Christmas, weddings, and carnivals) or parties (e.g. birthday parties and fancy-dress parties) and for entertainment use, for instance, during festivities and parties. None of the examples listed in the entry are cosmetic products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products.
Coloured hair sprays and body glitter would fall within the definition of cosmetic products in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, as they are intended "to be placed in contact with an external part of the human body" with a view to "changing its appearance" and therefore have a similar use to more classical cosmetic products, such as normal hair sprays. Coloured hair sprays and body glitter should not be considered as having an entertainment or decorative purpose, and therefore they are not covered by entry 40 of Annex XVII to REACH.
Are optical brightening agents (OBAs) azodyes within the meaning of the Entry 43 to Annex XVII?
Through a literature search and consultation with experts in this area it was not found any structural connection between optical brighteners (or better called fluorescent dyes) and azodyes since either the NH bonds in the fluorescent dyes are connected to heterocyclic NC structures and therefore cannot form any of the 22 banned arylamines or they do not contain any azo bonds where reductive cleavage could take place to generate any of the aromatic amines covered by the azodyes ban. Therefore at the present time, this information confirms that the restriction in Entry 43 to Annex XVII does not cover optical brightening agents (OBAs). Should the chemical structure of optical brightening agents be different from the definition as reported above, this answer may change accordingly.
The restriction indicated in entry 43(3) applies only to the placing on the EU market of substances or mixtures containing the azodyes listed in Appendix 9 at a concentration exceeding 0.1% by weight, and to the use of such substances/mixtures within the EU. Does the restriction therefore not apply to imported articles which have been dyed with the azodyes listed in Appendix 9?
Entry 43(3) of Annex XVII restricts the placing on the market of substances and mixtures containing over 0.1% of the azodyes listed in Appendix 9, when they are intended for colouring textile and leather articles, and also the actual use of the substance or mixture for that purpose. Therefore, the presence of these substances in imported articles is not restricted.
However, pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of the restriction, if an azodye in Appendix 9 releases one or more of the aromatic amines listed in Appendix 8 in a concentration above 30 mg/kg (0,003 % by weight, it cannot be used in textile and leather articles which may come into direct and prolonged contact with human skin or the oral cavity (such as those listed in paragraph 1). Those textile and leather articles cannot be placed on the market unless they comply with that concentration limit.
Is the list of restricted items in entry 43 of Annex XVII to REACH concerning azocolourants and azodyes exhaustive?
No. The use of the words “such as” makes clear that the list of items mentioned in paragraph 1 of entry 43 of Annex XVII to REACH is a non-exhaustive list of examples of items covered by this restriction (clothing, footwear, textile toys etc.).
Do sofas and chairs (e.g. garden chairs/sun loungers’ type) fall under the scope of the restriction entry 43 of Annex XVII to REACH?
Yes. Garden furniture made of textile or leather is covered by entry 43 as people who use them can be in light clothing (even in bathing suits or bare) and “direct and prolonged contact with human skin” is very likely. There is even a direct reference to chair covers in the list of examples of articles covered by the restriction.
Entry 46 of Annex XVII to REACH - Nonylphenol.
Does the entry 46 of Annex XVII cover traces in cosmetic products?
Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, that repealed Directive 76/768/EEC, introduces a ban on the marketing of cosmetic products containing nonylphenol (CAS: 25154-52-3) and 4-nonylphenol, branched (CAS: 84852-15-3). Pursuant to Article 17 of the cosmetics Regulation, the presence of traces in cosmetic products is allowed, provided that such presence is technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and that the product does not cause damage to human health.
Entry 46 of Annex XVII to REACH bans the placing on the market of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates as a substance or in mixtures in a number of applications including cosmetic products, when the concentration is higher than 0.1% by weight. The objective of entry 46 is the protection of the environment. Therefore Article 67 (2) of REACH does not apply. Entry 46 covers traces in cosmetic products to the extent that their presence presents a risk to the environment. The application of entry 46 of Annex XVII to REACH is complementary to, and does not conflict with, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Does the entry 46 of Annex XVII cover all nonylphenols?
Yes. The intention of the legislator was to cover all isomers, linear and branched, of nonylphenol and their ethoxylates and therefore all of them are covered by the restriction.
The restriction on nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates was based on the risks identified in the risk assessment report prepared by the United Kingdom under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances. The risk assessment report states that "It is understood that nonylphenol (CAS Number: 25154-52-3) as originally defined by CAS (Chemical Abstract Service) covered all nonylphenols. However, subsequent revisions redefined it to cover only straight chain nonylphenol, other isomers having different CAS numbers. Given the method of manufacture of nonylphenols, very little if any straight chain nonylphenol is produced. That which is produced is only likely to be present at very low levels in commercial mixtures. The commercially produced nonylphenols are predominantly 4-nonylphenol with a varied and undefined degree of branching in the alkyl group. This assessment covers commercially produced material (predominantly 4-nonylphenol, branched). This material will also contain smaller amounts of other isomers and impurities, and falls under the CAS Number 84852-15-3."
Therefore Council Directive 76/769/EEC, as amended by Directive 2003/53/EC, did not specify any CAS or EC numbers for nonylphenol. In the revision of the REACH restriction by Regulation 552/2009/EC, which made several technical changes, the CAS and EC numbers were added. This will be corrected by a technical amendment to reflect the intention of the legislator.
What are personal care products in entry 46?
Paragraphs (1) to (9) of entry 46 list the ‘purposes' to which the restriction applies. Following paragraph (7) "cosmetic products" is paragraph (8) "other personal care products". It therefore seems that cosmetics are to be considered as a subcategory of personal care products.
REACH does not define "cosmetic products". According to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, "cosmetic product" means "any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odours."
Based on the above, it can be interpreted that "other personal care products" within the meaning of entry 46 include, but are not limited to, any product meeting the conditions indicated in the above definition for substances and mixtures and other products used for personal hygiene, such as toilet papers, some female hygiene products, nappies, cotton pads, etc. This interpretation can be broadly considered as a perception of the average consumer for this product category.
For adhesive tapes, does the concentration limit for toluene of 0.1% in adhesives as specified in Entry 48 of Annex XVII apply to the whole mass of the tape or just to the mass of the adhesive layer on the tape?
Entry 48 prohibits the placing on the market for supply to the general public of toluene as a substance or in mixtures, in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight, where the substance or the mixture is used in adhesives and spray paints. Adhesive tapes consist of a layer of adhesive coated on a flexible substrate. As the restriction concerns the concentration of toluene in adhesives, the concentration of toluene must be calculated with reference to the amount of adhesive on the tape, and not with reference to the total weight of the adhesive and substrate.
What is an interpretation of the "major operational change" concerning the requirement to control the calibration of the PAH/PCA ratio after each "major operational change" under Entry 50 to Annex XVII?
As stated in Recital 8 of the Directive 2005/69/EC (OJ L323, 9.12.2005, p.51), there are at present no harmonized test methods for measuring PAHs in the extender oils, or for measuring PAHs in tyres that contain such oils. Until suitable harmonized methods are available, the only named method that is permitted for measuring the PAH content of extender oils is the IP346 analysis method. This method is permitted providing that certain additional conditions are met. These additional conditions are necessary because the IP346 method does not measure the PAH content directly. In fact IP346 measures the total content of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PCA) rather than the PAH content. The PCAs are a group of substances to which PAHs belong, but in which PAHs are present in only very small amounts. The legal limit for PAHs in extender oils, which is 1 part per million (ppm) of BaP and 10ppm total PAH content, is considered to be met if the total PCA content is <3%. In other words, the PCA content of 3% is taken as a proxy measurement for a PAH content of 10ppm. The proxy measurements will be valid only if the ratio between the PAH and PCA content in the extender oil is known and does not change over time. The additional conditions therefore require an initial calibration of the technique (measurement of the PAH/PCA ratio) and recalibration at intervals of six months, or after "major operational change", in order to ensure that the measurements remain valid over time. The term "major operational change" should therefore be taken to mean any change in materials or processes that could invalidate the results of the proxy measurement. The principle cause of invalid results would be a change in the PAH/PCA ratio in the extender oil. However, it should be remembered that not only is IP346 a proxy method for measuring PAH, but that the quantity that it does measure, namely PCA content, is meaaured in a rather indirect way, namely by a change in the refractive index of a solution, and that PCAs are not the only substances that affect the refractive index of a solution. The potential for obtaining invalid results is therefore quite high and the method should therefore be used with considerable caution. It would therefore be advisable to recalibrate in case of doubt. The provision to control the calibration of the PAH/PCA ratio every six months is to safeguard the validity of the IP346 results against unintentional or unknown changes. This would apply for the case where the manufacturing process and materials used remain the same, and where there is no reason be expect a change in the PAH/PCA ratio. However, it is possible to imagine, for example, that a tyre manufacturer receives a reformulated extender oil from his supplier without being made aware of the change that has been made, and the results from the IP346 could be invalidated as a consequence. A six month recalibration interval was considered sufficient to cover such occurrences. Conclusion: The provision to control the calibration of the PAH/PCA ratio after each "major operational change" is to safeguard the validity of the IP346 results. A major operational change is therefore a deliberate change to materials or processes that might be expected to significantly influence the PAH/PCA ratio, or otherwise affect the validity of the measurement. Examples of such a change would be where the source of supply for the extender oil is changed, or where the method of using the oil is changed. Judgment of whether a particular change is sufficiently important to trigger the need for recalibration will necessarily be made case-by-case and will require expert opinion.
Does the restrictions provided in Entry 50 concerning on PAHs in tyres cover mobile machinery?
Entry 50 to Annex XVII as enacted by Commission Regulation 552/2009 restricts the use of PAH in tyres for "vehicles covered by Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers".
Article 2 of Directive 2007/46 defines its scope. Paragraph 1 lists the vehicles designed for use on roads.
b) prototypes of vehicles used on the road under the responsibility of a manufacturer to perform a specific test programme provided they have been specifically.
In addition the definition of "motor vehicle" in point 11 of Article 3 requires that the vehicles covered should have a maximum design speed limit exceeding 25 km/h. In conclusion the restriction in Entry 50 covers the tyres for vehicles listed in the Article 2 paragraph 1, 3 and 4 of Directive 2007/46/EC which have a maximum design speed limit exceeding 25 km/h. Tyres of mobile machinery with a maximum design speed limit exceeding 25 km/h are therefore covered by the restriction and have to comply with the conditions set in the entry 50.
Does the restrictions provided in Entry 50 of Annex XVII concerning on PAHs in tyres cover "Standard reference tyres"?
Standard reference tyres are produced and imported solely for the purpose of providing a reference performance for other newly developed tyres. They are not placed on the market to be fitted on vehicles intended for final users. For the purpose of entry 50, tyres are defined as tyres for vehicles covered by Directives 2007/46/EC on motor vehicles and their trailers, Directive 2003/37/EC on agricultural or forestry tractors, and Directive 2002/24/EC on two and three-wheeler motor vehicles. It appears that Reference Tyres are not intended to be used on vehicles covered by the Directives 2007/46/EC, 2003/37/EC and 2002/24/EC. In conclusion these tyres should not be considered as covered by the provisions of the restriction in Entry 50 of Annex XVII.
Can you give examples of articles that are covered by or excluded from Entry 50 (paragraphs 5 and 6) of Annex XVII to REACH: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in articles supplied to the general public?
This document aims at providing a guideline concerning the interpretation of the scope of the restriction provisions in paragraphs 5 and 6 of entry 50 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation (EU) No 1907/2006 on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in articles supplied to the general public. It has been drawn up to (i) clarify certain terms that define the scope of the restriction (e.g. “plastic and rubber component”, “direct as well as prolonged contact or short-term repetitive contact with human skin or the oral cavity", "normal/reasonably foreseeable conditions of use") and (ii) provide non-exhaustive lists of article types which fall within (or out of) the scope of the restriction.
In Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII respectively it is stated that the substances DEHP, DBP and BBP on the one side and the substances DINP, DIDP and DNOP on the other side "shall not be used as substances or or in mixtures, in concentrations of greater than 0.1% by weight of the plasticised material…". Does the 0.1% limit apply to each phthalate listed individually, or whether it applies to the 3 or 6 phthalates combined? How should this limit of 0.1% be applied when a product contains traces of more than one these substances?
The threshold of 0.1% is the standard threshold used in Annex XVII. The value of 0.1% has been chosen because it represents a measurable quantity. It is being used to take into account impurities, not to allow the use of certain substances, e.g. phthalates in toys and childcare articles. One should be aware that in order to plasticise a toy or childcare article concentrations of phthalates of more than 10 per cent are needed. Different restrictions are applied to each of the two groups of phthalates. The limit value of 0.1% should therefore be applied for each group of phthalates combined, i.e. the concentration of DEHP, DBP and BBP combined should not be higher than 0.1% and the concentration of DINP, DIDP and DNOP combined should also not be higher than 0.1%. Conclusion: A toy or childcare article would not comply with the Entry 51 or Entry 52 respectively if it contained either more than 0.1% of DEHP, DBP and BBP combined or more than 0.1% of DINP, DIDP and DNOP combined. However, it would be considered compliant if it contained only 0.09% of DEHP, DBP and BBP combined and 0.09% of DINP, DIDP and DNOP combined.
Are the articles destined to be used for the hygiene of children such as bathtubs, articles for the bath, bathtub mats, hairbrushes, bath thermometers, or nail cutters covered under Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII?
The entries 51 and 52 specify that "Childcare article" means "any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children." As these articles are intended to facilitate the hygiene of children they should be considered as "childcare articles" as defined by the entries 51 and 52. In conclusion, articles which are used for the hygienic care of children such as bathtubs, articles for the bath, bathtub mats, hairbrushes, bath thermometers, or nail cutters are therefore covered by the Entries 51 and 52 and use of phthalates and should conform to the prescriptions of the entries.
Do mattress protectors (covers, pads etc.) fall within the scope of Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII?
The definition of childcare articles contained in Annex XVII to REACH is as follows: "Childcare articles" are defined as "any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children". Further explanation is provided by the Commission services' guidance document on the interpretation of the concept "which can be placed in the mouth". It gives the following examples: "The main purpose of pyjamas is to dress children when sleeping and not to facilitate sleep. Pyjamas should therefore be regarded as textiles and, like other textiles, do not fall under the scope of the Directive. Sleeping bags are designed to facilitate sleep, and should therefore fall under the Directive." Taking this into account, and also taking into account that the guidance document explicitly contains a description and a photo of a mattress cover, it can be confirmed that mattress protectors are childcare articles as defined in Annex XVII. This means that the three phthalates DEHP, BBP and DBP listed in entry 51 of Annex XVII may not be used in mattress protectors. The other three, DINP, DIDP and DNOP, listed in the entry 52, are only restricted in those articles that can be placed in the mouth by children.
Can mattress protectors (covers, pads etc.) be placed in the mouth by children within the meaning of Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII?
The guidance document contains an example of a mattress cover that is not directly mouthable in normal and foreseeable use conditions. The edges and corner are not accessible for mouthing by the child – by design (the mattress should fit snugly in the cot to avoid entrapment risks), and the mattress is covered with a sheet in normal use and the surface is sufficiently taut (by design – to avoid suffocation risks) to prevent PVC from being mouthed through the sheet. This is based on the observation that inaccessible parts of articles can not be taken into the mouth. Articles or parts of articles should be considered inaccessible if, during proper use or reasonably foreseeable improper use by children, they can not be reached. However, there will be other cases when parts of certain articles can be taken into the mouth under normal and foreseeable conditions, for example when the mattress protector is placed on the sheet or cannot be completely fixed. In conclusion, mattress protectors that can be placed above sheets or that cannot be tightly fixed to the mattress have to comply with the restriction contained in entry 52 of Annex XVII to REACH. Authorities competent for market surveillance should assist manufacturers/importers in making a case-by-case assessment on the basis of the criteria described above and in the guidance document.
Is the substance Di-2-propyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP), CAS No 53306-54-0 restricted under Entry 52 of Annex XVII or is DPHP as a new compound different from DIDP and therefore not covered by the restrictions in Entries 51 and 52?
The restriction in entry 52 concerns the substance "Di-isodecyl phthalate" (DIDP) which is listed with CAS Numbers 26761-40-0 and 68515-49-1. Di-2-propyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP) is an isomer of decyl phthalate and has the CAS No 53306-54-0. According to the information at the Commission's disposal, DPHP (CAS # 53306-54-0) is different from DIDP and therefore not covered by entry 52 of Annex XVII. In conclusion, the substance is not covered under the entry 52 of Annex XVII. The uses of the substance may be regulated in the future on a Community-wide basis, if it appears from the information which will become available that it causes unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. In addition DPHP is explicitly not promoted by its manufacturers for use in toys, food packaging or medical products.
What is the interpretation of the concept "which can be placed on the mouth" as laid down in the entry 52, concerning toys and childcare articles?
Guideline on the interpretation of the concept "which can be placed in the mouth" as laid down in the entry 52 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation 1907/2006.
This guideline aims at providing some criteria and examples to help identify those toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth by children. The guideline lists the main criteria of "size dimension" and "accessible parts" (according to the EN 71-European Standard on the safety of toys) which would therefore facilitate the judgement - on a case by case – whether a toy or childcare article can be placed in the mouth by children. The guideline also provides pictures as examples in order to better indicate which toys and childcare articles or parts of them can be taken into the mouth.
Do blankets and objects to facilitate the transport of children fall within the scope of Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII?
The Guideline on the concept "which can be placed in the mouth" [See Q&A 748], provides certain clarifications concerning the types of childcare articles within the scope of Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII. For instance, sleeping bags are claimed to be articles designed to facilitate sleep, and should therefore fall under the scope of Entries 51 and 52. In addition, the guidance document explicitly contains a photo of a mattress cover which is considered as childcare articles, also explaining that certain parts (e.g. mattress protectors) can be placed in the mouth by children. [See Q&A 675].
Blankets are, in nature, articles similar to mattresses as both used in bed to facilitate the sleeping of children and therefore can be claimed to meet the broad definition of childcare articles. Furthermore, since blankets can be commonly placed in mouth by children, these can be considered within the scope of both Entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII.
The Guideline clarifies that "entry 52 of Annex XVII on what can be placed in the mouth by children also covers the accessible parts of articles such as push chairs, car seats, sleeping bags and bike seats which are intended to facilitate sleep and relaxation during transport". Given that child seats and items which are used for transportation of children are quite similar in function and design to the above mentioned types of articles, they can be broadly considered as childcare articles [See Q&A 983]. In addition, it is noted that pictures of such types of childcare articles are also provided at the end of the Guideline. Over there, examples of mouthed items of such articles are provided to assist enforcers conclude whether they fall (or not) under the scope of entry 52.
In entry 51 of Annex XVII to REACH, does the concentration limit "0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material in toys and childcare articles" relate to the whole article or only part of it?". For instance, if only the head of a doll contains more than 0.1 % w/w phthalates, should the concentration be calculated on the total weight of the plasticised material of the whole toy or only for the weight of the plasticised material of the head?
The 0.1% limit was set up in order to eliminate the use of phthalates. Such limit was set up in order to be respected in each bit/piece of plasticised material by itself, regardless of whether there are other pieces or not. Therefore the reference to 0.1%, intended also as the sum up to the 3 phthalates, has to be calculated in each piece of plasticised material of each homogenous material. In the example referred to in the question the calculation should therefore be based on the weight of the plasticised material of the head of the doll and not the entire weight of all plasticised material of the whole toy.
Does a baby monitor fall under the definition of childcare article in the context of entries 51-52 of Annex XVII to REACH?
A childcare article is defined by entries 51 (4) and 52(4) as "any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children" (see Q&A 983). A baby monitor does not facilitate the sleep or relaxation of the baby, it allows parents to be alerted when the baby is crying or making other noise. Therefore baby monitors fall outside the scope of entries 51-52 of Annex XVII.
Do entries 51 and 52 of Annex XVII of REACH cover certain articles often used by children (e.g. school supplies, clothing or hair accessories)?
No, items such as school supplies, clothing or hair accessories are not considered as toys in the sense of the Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of Toys, as their main purpose is not to be used in play by the children. However, certain products such as plastic combs can fall under the definition of ‘childcare articles’ (defined in the restriction as any products intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children) see (Q&A 0983).
Entries 51 and 52 restrict the placing on the market and use of phthalates in toys and childcare articles. Does this restriction apply to medical devices, such as nebulisers?
Medical devices are defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (see: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/medical-devices/regulatory-framework_en#current_legislation). Entries 51 and 52 pose restrictions on certain phthalates in plasticised materials in toys and childcare articles. Medical devices are generally regarded to have functions different from those of toys and childcare articles. Childcare articles are defined in entries 51 and 52 as ‘…any product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of the children’. Whether a medical device is a childcare article for the purpose of entries 51 and 52 should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In the example of a nebuliser, the device is intended for administering a medicinal product (apparatus to be used for treatment) and therefore it is not a childcare article and the restriction does not apply to it.
Does the entry 56 of Annex XVII cover, besides the MDI monomers, also the oligomers and polymers of MDI?
The polymeric MDI, with CAS number 9016-87-9, is not included in the definition of the substance with CAS 26447-40-5 and moreover is not classified as dangerous in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). In the Risk assessment report and Risk reduction strategy performed by the Belgian Rapporteur, two main products were analysed during the exposure assessment and throughout the decision making process: the one-component foams and hot melt adhesives, both containing respectively 10% and 2% of MDI. Other products with MDI content below 0.1% did not pose any risk and therefore were excluded by the final consideration on the risk reduction measures under Directive 76/769/EEC. However, polymeric MDI present in mixtures is covered by the restriction when such mixtures contain more than 0.1% of MDI (as defined in the RAR). Therefore, dimers and polymeric forms of MDI are out of the scope of the current restriction except if they are part of mixtures containing more than 0.1% of MDI.
Does the derogation to the prohibition of supply of mixtures containing more than 16% of ammonium nitrate in paragraph 2(a) of Entry 58 of Annex XVII cover only downstream users and distributors who have a licence under Council Directive 93/15/EEC on civil explosives (OJ L 010, 16.01.1993 p.19) or whether it covers all downstream users and distributors?
In entry 58, the terms "including natural or legal persons licensed or authorised in accordance with Council Directive 93/15/EEC" should be read as an example of operators that benefit from the exemption. Therefore the derogation in paragraph 2(a) covers all downstream users and distributors as defined in Article 3(13) and 3(14) of REACH. As a consequence, mixtures containing more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate may be placed on the market after 27 June 2010 for supply to downstream users and distributors as defined in REACH. As consumers are not downstream users nor distributors, mixtures containing more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate may not be placed on the market for supply to consumers.
Can the downstream users acquire ammonium nitrate in order to produce mixtures containing more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate for supply to the general public, for example, in cold packs according to Entry 58 of Annex XVII?
If a downstream user uses ammonium nitrate to produce a mixture containing ammonium nitrate below the threshold, it may place this mixture on the market for supply the general public. But downstream users should not use ammonium nitrate in order to produce a mixture containing ammonium nitrate above the threshold for supply to the general public. The restriction is applicable to medical devices as well as to other mixtures containing more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate for supply to the general public. For example, instant cold packs which contain more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate may not be sold to the general public since 27 June 2010.
Can the downstream users acquire ammonium nitrate in order to produce mixtures containing more than 16% of nitrogen in relation to ammonium nitrate for their industrial or professional activities according to paragraph 2 of Entry 58 of Annex XVII?
The restriction is not applicable to downstream users who use ammonium nitrate for their industrial or professional activities in order to transform it into other substances for different purposes. Therefore, for example the use of ammonium nitrate to produce nitrous oxide for use in the production of pressurised foods or for use as anaesthetics is not restricted.
Does the restriction of dichloromethane in REACH Annex XVII (entry 59) for paint strippers also cover ink strippers, adhesive removers and degreasing agents?
No. Ink strippers, adhesive removers and degreasing agents are not within the scope of the restriction. The restriction covers paint strippers, including also varnish removers and lacquer removers.
Can you give examples of lead-containing articles intended for the general public that are covered by or excluded from Entry 63 (paragraphs 7 to 10) of Annex XVII to REACH?
This document echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13563/lead_guideline_information_en.pdf aims at providing a guideline concerning the interpretation of the scope of the restriction provisions in paragraphs 7 to 10 of entry 63 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation (EU) No 1907/2006 on lead and its compounds in articles supplied to the general public. It has been drawn up to (i) clarify certain terms that define the scope of the restriction (e.g. "accessible part of articles", "normal/reasonably foreseeable conditions of use") (ii) provide non-exhaustive lists of article types (and examples of sub-types) which fall within (or out of ) the scope of the restriction.
What substances are included within the scope of entry 68 concerning of PFOA, its salts and related substances?
Is PFOS (CAS 1763-23-1) considered a 'PFOA-related substance' and therefore within the scope of entry 68 of Annex XVII?
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its derivatives are specifically exempted by paragraph 4(a) of entry 68. This is to avoid double regulation as PFOS is widely restricted in the EU by Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 757/2010).
What is meant by a ‘related substance’ in column 1 of entry 68?
The term ‘related substance’ or ‘PFOA-related substance’, refers to a substance that, based upon its molecular structure, is considered to have the potential to degrade or be transformed to PFOA. This is described in footnote 2 to Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1000 amending Annex XVII of REACH to add entry 68. In addition, the description of any related substance in column 1 is applicable.
To what substances do the concentration limits of 25 ppb and 1000 ppb apply that are referred to in column 2, paragraph 2 of entry 68?
From 4 July 2020 the concentration limit ‘equal to or above 25 ppb’ applies to the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, CAS 335-67-1, EC 206-397-9) and its salts in the production of, or placing on the market in, another substance, as a constituent, a mixture or an article.
Any related substance (including its salts and polymers) having a linear or branched perfluoroheptyl group with the formula C7F15- directly attached to another carbon atom, as one of the structural elements’.
Any related substance (including its salts and polymers) having a linear or branched perfluorooctyl group with the formula C8F17- as one of the structural elements’.
What is meant with ‘textiles for the protection of workers from risks to their health and safety’ in the entry 68?
The restriction entry 68, paragraph 3(b)(i) provides a longer transition period for textiles used to protect workers from risks to their health and safety, i.e. paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply from 4 July 2023 to the use of PFOA and PFOA related substances in the production of, or placing on the market in such textiles. This transition period is thought to be sufficient time to allow the development of cost-effective alternatives for all relevant applications where the textiles are required to provide human health/life protecting functions (e.g. due to very strong oil or chemical repellence).
Could you clarify how the restriction of entry 68 applies to fire-fighting foams?
The substances restricted by the entry (column 1) shall not be used in the production of, or placed on the market in fire-fighting foam mixtures from 4 July 2020 (paragraph 2(b)) at or above concentrations specified in the entry. However, the concentration limits in the restriction (column 2, paragraph 2) do not apply to fire-fighting foam mixtures (paragraph 5(a)), placed on the market before 4 July 2020.
The restriction does not apply to the concentrated fire-fighting foam mixtures that are placed on the market before 4 July 2020 and which are to be used or are used in other fire-fighting foam mixtures (paragraph 4(e)). Thus concentrated fire-fighting foam mixtures that exceed the concentration limits specified in paragraph 2 of the entry can still be used in the production of other fire-fighting foam mixtures, if these concentrated fire-fighting foam mixtures were placed on the market before 4 July 2020.
In addition, fire-fighting foam mixtures produced using the above mentioned concentrated fire-fighting foam mixtures can be placed on the market. They can be used for training purposes provided that the emissions to the environment are minimised and effluents collected are safely disposed of.
Could you clarify how the restriction in entry 68 applies to medical devices?
The substances restricted by the entry (column 1) shall not be used in the production of, or placed on the market in medical devices other than implantable medical devices within the scope of Directive 93/42/EEC (to be replaced with Regulation (EU) 2017/745) from 4 July 2032 (column 2, paragraph 3 (c)) at or above the concentrations specified in the entry.
Implantable medical devices produced according to paragraph 4(d)(i) can be placed on the market without specific concentration limits (paragraph 6(b)).
Does the derogation referred to in column 2 in paragraph 4 (b) of entry 68 apply to articles?
No. The derogation applies only to the manufacture of a fluorochemical substance with a carbon chain equal to or shorter than 6 atoms where PFOA occurs as an unavoidable by-product. The derogation does not apply to substances, mixtures or articles as placed on the market.
Does the restriction entry 68 to REACH apply to cosmetics?
Yes, the substances in column 1 shall not be placed on the market in, or used in the production of cosmetics.
Article 67(2) REACH foresees that Annex XVII restrictions do not apply to the use of substances in cosmetic products in the case of restrictions addressing human health risks within the scope of the Cosmetic Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) 1223/2009). This is not the case for entry 68: all substances covered by the restriction are either persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or are considered to have the potential to degrade or be transformed to PFOA. The concentration limits in the restriction ensure the emissions of these substances to the environment are decreased. |
0.9996 | Did you know that the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula declared itself a Dark Sky community on Aug 23 of 2004? In essence this means that the Municipality realizes the unique beauty of the night sky as viewed from the Northern Bruce Peninsula and will now provide leadership to other communities in preserving it. This involves retrofitting existing lighting in the community to use dark sky friendly fixtures and also reviewing future developments in the community to ensure they also are dark sky friendly.
Sky glow from beyond the borders of the Preserve will be of comparable intensity, or less, to that of natural sky glow. |
0.964388 | To write something down, often in haste. A noun or pronoun can be used between "jot" and "down." Let me just grab a pen so I can jot that number down. Here, I jotted down some ideas for you.
to make a note of something. This is important. Please jot this down. Jot down this note, please.
To write down something briefly or hastily: The secretary jotted the message down. I jotted down the homework assignment. |
0.981559 | Maemo, known as the "Internet Tablet OS," is a software platform developed by Nokia for their line of Internet tablets. The Maemo platform , with an operating system and the Maemo SDK, is based on Debian Linux and Gnome (Figure 1).
In 2008 Nokia announced the acquisition of Trolltech, makers of the Qt application framework. The easily extensible Qt provides all the necessary functionality for building applications with state-of-the-art graphical user interfaces, I/O, and networking. Applications written with Qt range from the KDE desktop, to computer softphones such as Skype, to the Opera web browser, to applications such as Google Earth and MythTV.
After the Trolltech acquisition, Nokia said that Qt would "accelerate its cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications and develop its Internet services business." In the beginning of 2009, Nokia released a set of packages enabling support for Qt in Maemo .
Another result of the acquisition was the recently announced Nokia N900, a fully Qt-supported Nokia device. Although only the Nokia N900 Internet Tablets provide native Maemo support, many applications are already written for the Maemo platform based on previous Nokia tablets, such as the N800 and N810. In addition, Qt provides some support for the Nokia Symbian platform. In both Maemo and Symbian, platform developers can implement Qt applications in C++ or Python. The latest stable version of Qt is 4.5.
In this article, I describe how to start developing Qt applications for the Maemo platform . First, I'll show you how to set up Qt with the Scratchbox embedded development toolkit on a Nokia N810, then I'll take you through some examples, starting with a simple Hello World application and ending with an app that displays city maps using the Qt WebKit and the Google Maps API.
The latest versions of Qt provide a complete mobile and embedded development platform based on the open source Qt toolkit. The modular Qt architecture offers building blocks for assembling a Linux-based software stack for various embedded devices, ranging from phones to set-top boxes. The Qt Extended platform comprises 19 separate components that span a broad range of functionality, including messaging, multimedia, and productivity.
The underlying telephony stack of the Qt Extended architecture (Figure 2) supports GSM, GPRS, and VoIP and supplies reference implementations that hardware makers can replace or extend. These pieces are wrapped with an abstraction layer that gives developers access that is consistent across Qt Extended devices. The Qt Extended messaging component spans the full range of mobile communication technologies, including SMS, MMS, email, and instant messaging. It is built on top of Telepathy, a modular communication framework that is also used on the Maemo platform and is increasingly being adopted on the Linux desktop. The platform includes a messaging library that provides developers with a high-level API for composing messages and manipulating the system's message data store. It also exposes Telepathy-based services, including XMPP communication, via Telepathy's Gabble connection manager.
In addition to including an audio and video playback infrastructure, the multimedia framework in Qt Extended also offers a set of common widgets for building multimedia applications. The top layer of the multimedia stack is the Phonon abstraction library. Qt Extended supports Helix and GStreamer back ends for Phonon, but adopters can also make their own back ends to plug into the stack. The multimedia stack also supports a DRM implementation that is compatible with the Open Mobile Alliance DRM standard.
The platform's built-in personal information management (PIM) layer, constructed on top of the SQLite database library, is fully extensible and can be accessed by multiple applications simultaneously. The toolkit includes synchronization APIs and widgets you can use to develop new PIM applications. The platform even comes with a reference implementation of a very basic PIM suite.
Qt Extended is distributed under the same kind of dual-licensing model as the desktop toolkit – that is, with a commercial and an open source licence under GPL. For more information about Qt in the Maemo platform, check out the Maemo Qt4 website .
Scratchbox is a cross-compilation toolkit designed to simplify embedded Linux application development. The Scratchbox toolkit also provides a full set of tools to integrate and cross-compile an entire Linux distribution. Nokia has adopted Scratchbox to facilitate the process of developing those applications in the desktop and to compile it for the ARM architecture that is used in Maemo devices.
First, you need to install Scratchbox and the Maemo Diablo SDK on your host machine . After installing Scratchbox, there are two possible targets: ARMEL, used to emulate applications for Armel-based platforms, and X86-based platforms. For both cases, Qt4 development support is not installed by default, so you must install Qt4 as well as the libraries for both targets. To start, you need to add the extra and extra devel repositories to Scratchbox apt-get sources and install the Qt libraries. See the box titled "Installing the Qt Environment."
Then open the /etc/apt/sources.list file with vi.
Press Esc when you are finished, and type the command :x plus the Enter key to save the changes and quit vi.
Now you are ready to developing Qt applications for the Maemo platform.
Next, you need to install Qt4 and PyQt4 on a Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. Although I will use the N810 for this example, you should also be able to follow these steps using a Nokia N800 device. PyQt is a set of bindings that allows programmers to access a Qt library through Python. To install Qt4 and PyQt4 on an N810, you must be running the Maemo OS2008 system with the Python environment installed on your device.
The first step is to enable the extras-devel repository in your N810. Open the web browser on the N810 and go to http://qt4.garage.maemo.org. Scroll down the page until find something similar to Figure 3, and click on the link Click to install DEVEL, which will open the File Download dialog box.
Click on the Open button to open the file after it downloads. This will launch the maemo application manager application. You will be asked if you want to add the Qt4 repository in the sources.list file. Click on the OK button to add the Qt repository.
Clicking on the Browse installable applications option and typing Qt4, as shown in Figure 4, lets you search for the Qt packages available in the Maemo Application manager. A list of the Qt4 packages will appear. Install all the Qt4 packages you consider important, but at the very least, install the packages libqt-core, libqt-gui, python2.5-qt4-core, and python2.5qt4-gui. |
0.999998 | name = "example" description = """ A really long description that needs multiple lines. This is a sample project to illustrate why JSON is not a \ good configuration format. This description is pretty long, \ but it doesn't have any way to go onto multiple lines.""" version = "0.0.1" main = "index.js" # This is a comment keywords = ["example", "config"] [bugs] url = "https://example.com/bugs" [scripts] test = "./test.sh" do_stuff = "./do_stuff.sh" [[contributors]] name = "John Doe" email = "[email protected]" [[contributors]] name = "Ivy Lane" url = "https://example.com/ivylane" [dependencies] dep1 = "^1.0.0" # Why we depend on dep2 dep2 = "3.40" dep3 = "6.7"
A really long description that needs multiple lines.
but it doesn't have any way to go onto multiple lines."""
name: example description: > A really long description that needs multiple lines. This is a sample project to illustrate why JSON is not a good configuration format. This description is pretty long, but it doesn't have any way to go onto multiple lines. version: 0.0.1 main: index.js # this is a comment keywords: - example - config scripts: test: ./test.sh do_stuff: ./do_stuff.sh bugs: url: "https://example.com/bugs" contributors: - name: John Doe email: [email protected] - name: Ivy Lane url: "https://example.com/ivylange" dependencies: dep1: ^1.0.0 # Why we depend on dep2 dep2: "3.40" dep3: "6.7"
doesn't have any way to go onto multiple lines. |
0.999962 | Atmospheric pressure can be measured by a simple barometer.
A thick glass tube (at least 1m long) is filled with mercury completely.
The open end of the tube is covered with a finger and inverted in a trough of mercury.
The height of the mercury is proportional to the atmospheric pressure.
Q: Barometer is usually made up of mercury. Explain why is it not practical to have a water barometer?
The atmospheric pressure is about 10 meter water, which means it can push the water up to 10 meter height.
Therefore a water barometer must be at least 10 meter long.
This is not practical because the glass tube of the barometer may be broken or topple easily. It is also difficult to keep or move such a long tube. |
0.999879 | What are the risk factors for GERD?
Always check with your baby’s provider before raising the head of the crib if he or she has been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux. This is for safety reasons and to reduce the risk for SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. |
0.997704 | I wanted to write an article about organization skills & co. but I’ve been getting a lot of messages lately regarding self-love issues, internal conflicts, or difficulties in dealing with certain life problems. I have realized that some messages touch people more than others do, and this opened my eyes to how much people nowadays lack a lot of affection, care, confidence, and love.
It is not enough to say, “This doesn’t mean to me anymore, I have moved on.” What does moving on mean anyway? In my opinion, moving on is not solely about not letting that certain person or incident affect you. It is rather feeling every painful emotion that this has caused you, touching your scars and acknowledging their existence and how this certain situation makes you feel. After acknowledging the pain, accept it, deal with it, and let it go. Move on to bigger and better things. Letting go means forgiving yourself and the person or people involved (if any), and allowing that incident to transform you into a more mature person who now knows how to deal with such situations. Find the good in the painful and take it from there. Every bad experience teaches you something and opens a new door for growth. It is all about perspective and how you choose to see things. If you feel destroyed by an act, hunny, it only destroyed you because you let it. So, don’t. Pick yourself up, acknowledge what you went through and how it made you feel, learn from this experience, and move on. Don’t dwell on negative things nor leave any grudges, it only does you harm, not the other person or people.
Decluttering not only includes you cleaning your room or closet from unnecessary things after planning for months to do so, but it also includes getting rid of all the toxic people and negative energies you have allowed into your life. As cliché as “surround yourself with positive people” can get, as beneficial as it is. You won’t know unless you try, and I have, so here’s a piece of advice from my experience: Do not put effort into making friends just to have more friends, it’s not worth it, I promise. However, if you sense a good vibe, someone whose energy vibrates with yours, go up to that person and start a conversation. These are the types of people who will add value to your life. Getting rid of people who bring you down, badly influence you and your thoughts, or make you look at others in a spiteful way is one of the most beneficial decision you will take. By doing so, you will have more room for the right people to come into your life. Once you do, you create an environment of love, growth, and good vibes without any hate, drama, gossip and all those unnecessary BS. I know, it’s hard getting rid of people who have been around for quite some time, but it is harder to live with them around, and the longer they stay, the greater their effect will be on your own personality. You attract what you allow into your life. Choose wisely, and act upon it.
Y. E. S. Please! Anyone’s success is not your failure. On the contrary, if they can do it, so can you. If you or any other person has worked hard to reach success, then he, she, or you deserve it. Don’t envy those who get there, work for your own success. Even if you are in the same field as those who succeed, they won’t take away your spot at the top. Who you are will always give a different essence to what you do, and once you are at peace with the kind of person you are, that essence will take you even further that you ever planned to reach. Once you love yourself, know what you want to achieve in life, and believe that you are able to get there, you will start to genuinely clap for the ones who make it, because you will know then that this doesn’t mean you won’t, and you will make sure that is the case. It doesn’t take beauty or money to reach success, it takes discipline, hard work, perseverance, and patience. Any person is capable of taking on those acts, but not everyone is willing to. It is then, once again, your choice. Note that by the term success, I mean any goal you have in mind, not just the monetary aspects of it.
Little to big achievements always make us feel better about ourselves. From simply making our bed in the morning to crushing any goal we’ve put for ourselves. Who doesn’t feel good after ticking a box in their to-do list?
What do you care about? What do you want to change? What have you been putting off and want to just finish already? What do you want to achieve?
Are you doing anything to reach those things?
Pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones can be one of the most challenging things we do, but most rewarding. You can never define how much you are capable of, it is always going to be greater than how much you think, especially if fear is anywhere in your heart and mind. The more you spend time and effort working on proving that to yourself before anyone else, the prouder you will be of who you are and what you’re able to do. You will also feel more confident and capable and that will make you engage in new opportunities that will teach you even more about who you are as a person. Some people define themselves by their achievements, others genuinely don’t care. Whether you’re this type or the other, keep in mind that the more you push yourself, the more you learn about yourself. We spend our lifetime trying to understand how the world functions when we don’t even know how we do, ourselves.
It’s time to shift that focus.
Get out a piece of paper and write down all your strengths and weaknesses. Which one outweighs the other?
It’s easier for many to write what they hate about themselves than what they love about themselves, if they were able to think of anything that is. It’s sad, really. Why do people focus more on the negative aspects than the positive ones? If they focus on the negative aspects, is it because they want to ameliorate them, or do they use them to bring themselves down even more?
The first step to getting to know who you are, is to spend time with yourself. Make time for yourself and listen to your thoughts, desires, and emotions that have been pushed away. Notice what bothers you and what doesn’t, what music makes you dance and which one makes you daydream. Think of the friends that make you happy and the ones who don’t. Reflect back on what good you’ve done to others and ways you have hurt them.
Acknowledge the weaknesses and set out a plan on how to make them better. Most importantly, identify your strengths, fall in love with them and be proud. Look for ways to make them even better and the things that will make them stand out.
These characteristics make you who you are. They define you and where you ought to go from here.
Stop reaching out to others to tell you or show you how you’re supposed to reach wherever you want to reach, how you’re supposed to dress, or what you’re supposed to look like to be considered beautiful, successful, or accepted. Every person’s destination is different than another’s so, every way should be different as well. Stop idolizing other people and start looking within you. Spend more time with yourself, notice the way you think and analyze things, the way you perceive situations, what inspires you and what makes you feel bad about yourself. Ask yourself what you want out of life and plan how you’re going to get it in your own way.
The more you learn about your strengths and weaknesses and work on exemplifying your strengths while acknowledging and ameliorating your weaknesses, the more you will accept yourself for who you are.
If I were to ask you about yourself, how much would you know? Most importantly, how much would you love?
I cannot stress enough on how important that is. It is not limited to self-love, but loving life in general. You will thank yourself every day of your life if you decide to do what you love.
Why are unsuccessful people the majority in the world? Because most people settle. They settle for jobs, relationships, etc. They think they’re taking the safe way out, or are just too afraid to take the risk of doing what they love. One quote that stuck with me growing up is: “If you have a chance of failing at something you don’t like, then might as well do something you love.” Once you follow your passion and decide to spend your life doing something that defines who you are and is aligned with your energy and what you were born to do, you will be so happy that success will be the last thing on your mind because it will become inevitable. When you align your life’s work with what you truly believe in and love, you will be spending your life just doing you and getting paid for it. Never settle for anything. It’s scary, I know. Yes, you are going to fail and maybe tens of times, but the harder the failure the greater the success will be if you decide to get up, learn, and try again. Don’t spend your life thinking “what if I had the guts to be or do this.” Spend it celebrating yourself for deciding to be who you were set out to be, fearlessly and unapologetically. Neglect the “you can’t do this” and ignore the social standards of certain jobs. They all don’t matter. You can spend 10 years trying to become a doctor, but if you don’t like it, you won’t be successful and you might even decide to eventually go back and do what you really loved in the first place. It happens a lot. Don’t waste your time trying to be what someone else wants you to be. Go do you, and prove everyone who didn’t believe you could or should do it wrong. I’m rooting for you.
Time spent on yourself is never wasted, unless you don’t know how to control it. Taking care of yourself and pampering yourself every once in a while will fill you up with that energy and confidence you need to go on with your tasks. From the little things including wearing that outfit you like, to getting your hair or nails done, fitting in a gym session, reading a nice book, or even sitting in a bathtub with a glass of wine, a facial, and good music (damn, that sounds so good). You deserve that attention you give to your work, family, or friends constantly. You owe it to yourself for all that work you’ve been putting in. There’s nothing wrong with looking and feeling beautiful while you grind.
Don’t beat yourself up for an extra hour of sleep, a cheat meal, skipping a gym session, gaining a few pounds, etc. I don’t know about men, but I know that women tend to do that a lot, especially when we have too much on our plate. “Ugh, I should’ve done that/shouldn’t have eaten that…” Stop. It’s okay. You don’t always have to go by the rules you set for yourself. Enjoy life and stop trying to live up to society’s standards of beauty or motherhood or anything else. You are doing just fine, and you are just enough. Nobody is on his or her A-Game every single day of the year. Some days or weeks you might fall behind a little and THAT’S OKAY. You’re human, not a robot. A structured life is not an enjoyable one.
Your opinion of yourself should be the most important one out of all the other unnecessary opinions that pitch in. In fact, it should be the only opinion you listen to. If someone called you anything less than beautiful and deserving of all the great things in life then there’s something wrong with them, not you. If your opinion of yourself is not as good as it should be, then you haven’t been spending much time with yourself lately. Get to know you, understand you, and work on you, FOR YOU. Not to please anyone, nor to live up to anyone’s standards, but to love yourself and everything you are, because believe me, once that is done, any opinion other than your own won’t matter at all.
Take a moment to travel through your past. Remember the good times, the achievements, the successes. Now, remember the tough times, the heartbreaks, the painful moments, especially those ones you thought you wouldn’t be able to get through. Now look at yourself and pat yourself on the shoulder because you made it. Through it all, you were able to get yourself back up, dust off the dirt and the scars, and keep pushing through. Thank yourself every day for making it through whatever you face. You owe this to yourself. You were there for yourself when nobody was. You made it when so many told you “you couldn’t”, even yourself. Appreciate that, admire that, and celebrate it every night before you go to bed.
You are the only person who is really going to be there for you when you fall, hurt, even need advice. You know more than you think you do, you just lack enough silence and clarity to listen to yourself and what you truly want. We are so distracted nowadays and exposed to so many opinions that we are rarely able to hear our own voices.
Why wouldn’t you? You are nothing less than how amazing those other people are, believe me. If they can do it, so can you, and I will keep saying this until you believe it. You deserve love just as much as others do. You deserve that love you give so freely to everyone around you. However, don’t wait on others nor depend on them to love you the way you deserve to be loved. Love yourself, take care of yourself, do things that make you happy, make yourself proud. Start with you. Fill yourself with so much care and love, so abundantly that it’s overflowing to all those around you.
We are all humans, that is the root of our essence. Our capabilities are aligned with it, and so is our worth. Not one person doesn’t deserve to be happy, to be loved, or to be cared for. We all do, no matter who we are or where we come from. Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’ve done or haven’t done, you deserve this just like every other person does. You deserve to be happy, to feel loved, to relax and take a day off, and to create your own reality.
Not only do you deserve it, but you are also capable of getting there.
However, don’t expect to be given so much love if you spend most of your days hating on people, talking behind their backs, or refusing to help anyone in need. Yes, everyone deserves to be loved and happy, but what you’re going to get is highly reflective of how much of them you give out to the world.
I hope this will help you realize how much of a precious person you are to the world. Go love yourself unapologetically, be who you truly are fearlessly, and don’t forget to spread that love to all those around you. It all starts with you, within you. This is your life, your time, don’t waste it wishing you could be like someone else. Would you have been born if the world didn’t need someone like you to exist? Don’t let us miss out on your light, radiate.
Maria is a 21 year-old Nutrition premed student with a minor in Psychology at the Lebanese American University. She is a personal trainer, the Assistant Under Secretary-General for the Training and Educational Development Team of the 13th GCLAU Model United Nations, LAU Mosaic Newspaper Vice President, Editor, and Staff Writer, and Vice president of the Civic Welfare Club. She has a passion for health, fitness, music, arts, and anything that involves creativity and leadership.
You can find Maria on Instagram through: @mariajsaab. She also has her own blog to which you can subscribe for more articles like this one: https://mariajsaab.wixsite.com/mysite. |
0.999998 | I will discuss some paradoxes that arise when trying to understand entropy from a purely classical viewpoint, as is appropriate when dealing with colloidal particles in suspension. One concerns the fact that colloids are not indistinguishable; however, because we choose not to distinguish them when making measurements, they behave as though they were. Another is that the relative abundance of colloidal clusters of different shapes looks like it should depend on their moments of inertia. This seems extremely strange in an overdamped system and would lead to some peculiar "isotope effects" in mixtures of colloids of identical chemistry but different masses (such as core-shell particles with different cores). Fortunately, all isotope effects vanish when calculations are done correctly. A more general conclusion is that to explain the behaviour of colloids, it is not merely useful, but obligatory, to adopt an informatic rather than dynamical definition of entropy. This introduces an element of subjectivity which, though unsurprising to followers of Gibbs, can still traumatize some people, such as a referee who wrote: "Do the authors try to convince readers that the amount of heat somebody measures in experiment may depend on somebody's subjective feeling?". So long as the word "feeling" is replaced by "information", the answer is yes: the amount of heat flowing depends on what else you do and do not choose to measure in an experiment. |
0.982222 | Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome, a form of Leukodystrophy commonly known as AGS, is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the brain, immune system and skin. AGS is one of more than 50 known Leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies are a group of rare, progressive, genetic diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord and often the peripheral nerves.
Each type of Leukodystrophy is caused by a specific gene abnormality that leads to abnormal development or destruction of the white matter, or myelin, of the brain. The myelin sheath is the protective covering of the nerves. The nervous system cannot function normally without myelin. Each type of Leukodystrophy affects a different part of the myelin sheath, resulting in a range of neurological problems.
The mutations of seven different genes are associated with AGS. These seven genes include TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR1, and IFIH1.
Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome is listed as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome affects less than 200,000 people in the US population. This neurological disease occurs in all populations worldwide, although it is almost certainly under-diagnosed. As of 2014, roughly 400 cases of AGS were known, and just over 120 cases had been reported in medical literature so far.
How does AGS affect the individual?
Usually within the first year of life, individuals affected by Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) experience an episode of severe brain dysfunction (encephalopathy). This can typically last for several months. During this phase of the disorder, symptoms can include inconsolable crying, extreme irritability and feeding difficulties. Affected individuals may develop intermittent fevers in the absence of infection (sterile pyrexias) and may experience seizures. Over time, individuals with AGS slowly lose their ability to function due to the loss of previously attained milestones.
Many affected by AGS also show evidence of slowed growth of the brain and skull. As a result, many develop an abnormally small head size (microcephaly). In this phase of the disorder, white blood cells and molecules associated with inflammation can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). These abnormal findings are consistent with inflammation and tissue damage in the central nervous system.
The encephalopathic phase of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome leaves permanent neurological damage that is usually severe. Medical imaging reveals deterioration of white matter in the brain (leukodystrophy). Most people with AGS have profound intellectual disability. They also have significant neuromuscular problems including muscle stiffness (spasticity), involuntary tensing of various muscles (dystonia) especially in the arms, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in the trunk.
About 40 percent of people with AGS have painful, itchy skin lesions called chilblains. Chilblains usually develop on the fingers, toes, and ears. These puffy, red lesions are caused by inflammation of small blood vessels. They may be brought on or made worse by exposure to cold. Vision problems, joint stiffness, skin mottling and mouth ulcers may also occur with this disorder.
As a result of the severe neurological problems usually associated with AGS, most people with this disorder do not survive past childhood. However, some affected individuals who have later onset and milder neurological problems may live into adulthood.
Although there is currently no cure for AGS, the symptoms can be managed to ensure the best possible outcomes. With proactive, comprehensive medical care the symptoms of ALD can be managed and give the individual the best quality of life possible.
How do you get AGS?
AGS is a genetic, or inherited, disorder. It is also classified as an autosomal recessive disorder. This means that if both parents are carriers of the disease, each child they conceive will have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AGS.
When both parents are carriers of a specific mutated gene, such as those for AGS, their children have a 25% chance of being affected by the disease, a 25% chance of neither being a carrier nor affected, and a 50% chance of being an unaffected carrier, just like their parents. See illustration below.
Could other children in the family also have AGS?
If both parents are carriers of AGS, each child has a 1 in 4 chance of being affected. To determine if other children in the family are affected by or carriers of AGS, it is best to consult with your genetic counselor or your child’s physician.
AGS is difficult to diagnose since many of the symptoms are similar to those of other disorders. Diagnosis is made based on the clinical symptoms of the disease. Characteristic brain abnormalities that can be seen in an MRI brain scan can also help in diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), taken using a “spinal tap,” can also be tested for increased levels of a specific immune system cell (a lymphocyte), which indicates a condition known as chronic lymphocytosis. These cells are normally only elevated during infection, so that lymphocytosis without evidence of infection can be used as an indicator of AGS. CSF may also be tested for elevated levels of a substance known as interferon-gamma, which can also support a diagnosis of AGS.
What are the different forms of AGS?
There are two forms of the syndrome: an early-onset form that is severe, and a late-onset form that has less impact upon neurological function. Most newborns with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome do not show any signs or symptoms of the disorder at birth.
No matter what form of AGS an individual is diagnosed with, optimal care is of timely importance. The Leukodystrophy Care Network (LCN) was established to provide individuals with the best quality of care at specialized centers across the country.
For more information and to find a Leukodystrophy Care Center nearest you, please visit the Leukodystrophy Care Network page.
The early-onset form affects about 20 percent of babies affected by AGS. They are born with a combination of features that include an enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), elevated blood levels of liver enzymes, a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia), and abnormal neurological responses. Their jittery behavior and poor feeding ability mimic a congenital viral infection.
Babies with later-onset AGS begin having symptoms after the first weeks or months of normal development, which appear as a progressive decline in head growth, weak or stiffened muscles (spasticity), and cognitive and developmental delays that range from moderate to severe.
Is there a treatment for AGS?
Although there is currently no cure for AGS, symptomatic treatment is beneficial.
With proactive, comprehensive medical care, affected individuals can avoid unnecessary suffering and complications to have the best quality of life possible. For more information, visit the Leukodystrophy Care Network page.
Depending upon the severity of symptoms, children may require chest physiotherapy and treatment for respiratory complications. To ensure adequate nutrition and caloric intake, some infants may require special accommodations for diet and feeding.
Seizures may be managed with standard anticonvulsant medications. Children should be monitored for evidence of glaucoma in the first few months of life, and later for evidence of scoliosis, diabetes, and underactive thyroid.
There are some clinical trials going on for Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome aimed at finding new methods for treating and ultimately preventing or curing AGS. To learn more click here to see a list of clinical trials for AGS.
Thank you to Kristen Malfara from The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project for the content provided on this page. |
0.961969 | Search engines are programs designed to direct Internet users to a list of relevant websites corresponding to users' requests for information about a topic or subject (Palanisamy, 2014). They are crucial for accessing Internet resources. We defined search engine usage behavior as users' behavior when using online search engines.
According to discretionary behavior theory (Morrison & Phelps, 1999), individual and contextual factors, such as job characteristics and search context, can affect user behavior. Perceived search skills reflect the individual's search capabilities and, thus, are an individual factor. Perceived search engine reliance reflects the user's perception of his or her reliance level on search engines in the context of his/her employment, and is a workplace environment factor. Thus, we believed that the individual's perceived search skills and perceived search engine reliance would affect his/her search engine usage behavior.
Search engine advertising (SEA) is based on user-generated queries in search engines (Narayanan & Kalyanam, 2015). However, some users believe there is too much SEA and they distrust the authenticity of the SEA information. User dissatisfaction with search results negatively impacts future choice of search mode, so that the user may choose a different interface, such as an alternative search engine or another search method (Telang & Mukhopadhyay, 2005). In addition, a negative perception of advertising that arises from perceived advertising clutter or prior negative experience can lead to the user avoiding advertising by closing down pop-up advertisements, or scrolling down from banner advertisements on website pages (Cho & Cheon, 2004) and, thus, their negative perception can indirectly affect users' consumption of the advertising media (Rojas-Mendez, Davies, & Madran, 2009). Thus, we hypothesized that users' negative perceptions of SEA would affect their search engine usage behavior.
In prior research, Lewandowski and Sunkler (2013) found that the effectiveness of search engine performance significantly affected search engine usage. Wu, Chuang, and Chen (2008) analyzed the factors that influence search engine use: the factors that support the user's query process and that provide the basic task context for information seeking to allow users to access the relevant information (hygiene factors); and the factors that help users to navigate, browse, and comprehend the retrieved information related to the task-content aspect of information seeking (motivational factors). Palanisamy (2014) focused on the impact of privacy concerns on use of search engines. Liaw and Huang (2006) studied the effects of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness on search engine use.
However, researchers have paid little attention to the influence of factors influencing search engine use from the perspective of discretionary behavior theory and SEA. Moreover, most of the earlier research on search engine use was based on English-language search engines. China differs from English-speaking countries in terms of both the culture and the language, and Chinese users may display different behavior from those in English-speaking cultures when they encounter SEA. Thus, we studied Chinese-language search engines in the current research.
In contrast to existing research, we introduced discretionary behavior and advertising avoidance theory, and examined the factors influencing search engine usage behavior in the Chinese context. Specifically, we measured two types of search engine usage behavior that we defined as: (a) general usage of search engines, for which we measured the overall user profile of search engines use; and (b) specific use of search engines, for which we measured whether or not users use search engines to obtain information in particular e-commerce situations.
Publication information: Article title: Factors Influencing Search Engine Usage Behavior. Contributors: Li, Yi - Author, Yuan, Zhihui - Author, Li, Yujie - Author, Liu, Jing - Author. Journal title: Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal. Volume: 46. Issue: 1 Publication date: January 2018. Page number: 1+. © Scientific Journal Publishers, Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2018 Gale Group. |
0.995237 | In today's business world reputation is everything when selling your goods or services to the masses at large. Goodwill, the inherent reputation of your goods or services, can easily overreach beyond the mere confides of countries, continents, or even the solar system. With this in mind, how far a business' goodwill can, and does, reach is hugely important, especially when it comes to someone passing off their goods or services as a famous brands' equivalents. What makes things even more complex is the nature of the online world we are all a part of, which has a wholly borderless reach (excluding geo-blocking), and in which anyone can pass themselves off as someone or something else without much difficulty. This begs the question: how far does your goodwill extend, even if you have no or very little presence in a given territory, due to your goodwill online? The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom endeavored to answer this question only a little over a month ago.
The case in question was Starbucks (HK) Limited and another v British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC and others, which concerned the use of IPTV, or in more simplistic terms, the streaming of TV via the Internet using dedicated hardware to do so, very much like cable TV but in an online environment. Starbucks (HK) and PCCW Media Ltd, two corporate members of a larger group (referred to as "PCCM" in the judgment as a whole), which operated an IPTV service called "NOW BROADBAND TV", subsequently renamed to "NOW TV", in Hong Kong, being the largest entity in its respective IPTV business in the country. Most of the channels offered through the NOW TV service are in Chinese, and are not accessible in the United Kingdom, although some people in the UK had been identified as being aware of the service. PCCM had since considered expanding internationally, and did so by launching a mobile app called NOW aimed at the Chinese-speaking population in the UK. Prior to the launching of the app in the same year Sky announced its "NOW TV" on-demand service, which went into its beta phase roughly at the same time as the launching of PCCM's mobile app. PCCM subsequently sued Sky under the tort of passing off (more on which can be found here), with the case ending up all the way in the Supreme Court.
Passing off, as has been noted in the article above, hinges on three factors that need to be established in order to prove the tort of passing off: (i) goodwill or reputation in the goods or services provided in the minds of the purchasing public; (ii) a misrepresentation by the defendant to the public that leads or is likely to lead, the public to think the goods or services are provided by the plaintiff; and (iii) the plaintiff suffers, or is likely to suffer, damage as a result of this misrepresentation. PCCM established the latter two requirements at first instances, and therefore the Supreme Court had to decide on whether Sky's service fulfilled the first requirement, amounting to passing off.
The main question therefore to the Supreme Court was whether PCCM had goodwill in the jurisdiction in question, in other words a customer base, meaning the UK. As the court stated, reiterating Lord Justice Oliver in Anheuser-Buch v Budejovicky Budvar NP, that goodwill is very much "localized" and that "...reputation which may, no doubt, and frequently does, exist without any supporting local business… does not by itself constitute a property which the law protects". In other words, even if goods or services have a certain, even strong reputation to them, does not mean it inherently commands it everywhere, irrespective of actual use or not. This line of thinking very much confirms precedent from decades prior, where similar conclusions have been made as to the localized nature of goodwill.
After a presentation as to the law from both sides the Court finally discussed its decision on whether passing off, or goodwill, has a territorial nature to it. As Lord Neuberger remarked: "...I consider that we should reaffirm that the law is that a claimant in a passing off claim must establish that it has actual goodwill in this jurisdiction, and that such goodwill involves the presence of clients or customers in the jurisdiction for the products or services in question. And, where the claimant's business is abroad, people who are in the jurisdiction, but who are not customers of the claimant in the jurisdiction, will not do, even if they are customers of the claimant when they go abroad". To put Lord Neuberger's argument in different words, goodwill can only exist in a jurisdiction if its goods or services are used by actual customers in that jurisdiction, irrespective of foreign users who have emigrated or visit that jurisdiction (although, one would imagine, given a sufficient amount of immigrants this would be acceptable). As said, this is fully in line with older precedent, and also foreign authorities within the common law, as was put forth by Sky in its argument. PCCM had very little presence in the UK, although it did establish some user base did exist.
Finally, Lord Neuberger aimed to settle two questions that remained: "(i) clarification as to what constitutes sufficient business to give rise to goodwill as a matter of principle, and (ii) resolution of the judicial disagreement as to the jurisdictional division of goodwill".
In answering the first question Lord Neuberger quickly settled the matter by largely stating what has already been settled above: "The claimant must show that it has a significant goodwill, in the form of customers, in the jurisdiction, but it is not necessary that the claimant actually has an establishment or office in this country. In order to establish goodwill, the claimant must have customers within the jurisdiction, as opposed to people in the jurisdiction who happen to be customers elsewhere. Thus, where the claimant's business is carried on abroad, it is not enough for a claimant to show that there are people in this jurisdiction who happen to be its customers when they are abroad. However, it could be enough if the claimant could show that there were people in this jurisdiction who, by booking with, or purchasing from, an entity in this country, obtained the right to receive the claimant's service abroad.". Lord Neuberger's answer to the first question further establishes that a business has to have some form of customer base in a jurisdiction it wishes to protect its intellectual property in that jurisdiction, and that business would have to be, mostly at least, permanent in that jurisdiction, rather than just transient.
The answer to the second question leads to a much wider discussion than can be settled in this blog post, and merits reading in its own rights by those who might be interested. What needs to be said, however, is that Lord Diplock's comments in Star Industrial Co Ltd v Yap Kwee Kor further support Lord Neuberger's conclusions and highlight the distinction between goodwill in different jurisdictions through the existence of separation of judiciaries; i.e. not one court can decide an issue of a foreign court. Allowing for territorial overlap would let businesses simply claim a right in a name in another jurisdiction with a minimal presence, thus restricting business and trade for legitimate entities in that jurisdiction.
Ultimately the Supreme Court dismissed PCCM's appeal, and concluded that their claim in "NOW TV" had no basis in the UK, as they did not have the requisite consuming public in the UK for their service to merit protection under passing off.
This case is an interesting one, and although one could say the decision is very much a common sense approach, it still does answer some question relating to goodwill, especially in a digital age where the Internet permeates nearly every part of the globe. Businesses have to have a legitimate business presence in a given country in the form of a customer base, even in this digital age. |
0.999998 | Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA.
Did climate change shape human evolution? This question has old, deep roots (1, 2), but in recent decades, the fossil record of hominin evolution and behavior has improved, although it remains incomplete, and great progress has been made in the quality and number of African paleoclimate records from land and ocean sediments (3). A recent National Research Council (NRC) report (4) examines emerging faunal and paleoclimate evidence underlying the hypothesis that past climate changes may have influenced our evolution.
The basic premise is that large-scale shifts in climate alter the ecological structure and resource availability of a given setting, which leads to selection pressures (3, 5). Indeed, some of the larger climate shifts in Earth history were accompanied by unusually high rates of faunal turnover—bursts of biotic extinction, speciation, and innovation (6–8). For example, a large turnover event occurred near 34 million years ago (Ma) when Earth cooled abruptly and large glaciers first expanded upon Antarctica (8, 9). Many of the taxa that appeared after 34 Ma were better adapted to the new environments that emerged, which included cooler polar regions, greater seasonality, and arid grasslands.
Notable hominin extinction, speciation, and behavioral events appear to be associated with changes in African climate in the past 5 million years. First appearance and extinction events, as well as key behavioral milestones, cluster between 2.9 and 2.6 Ma and again between 1.9 and 1.6 Ma (see the figure, panel A). In the earlier group, these events include the extinction of Australopithecus afarensis (“Lucy”) near 2.9 Ma; the emergence of the robust australopiths (Paranthropus spp.), with large jaws and grinding teeth, near 2.7 Ma; and the emergence of the larger-brained Homo lineage sometime after 2.6 Ma, near the time when the first evidence for Oldowan stone tool manufacture, use, and transport appears (10).
Important evolutionary developments between 1.9 and 1.6 Ma (4) included the first appearance of Homo erectus—the first hominin species to resemble modern humans, with large brains, similar dentition, and a lithe frame—near 1.9 Ma. By 1.6 Ma, the more developed and refined Acheulean stone tool industry appears, including bifacial hand axes. This period also includes the first hominin exodus out of Africa and into Europe and South Asia.
For any given time period, the number and diversity of hominin fossils is low relative to most other taxa. Paleontologists have turned to another mammalian group that shared the African landscape with our ancestors, the bovids, for evidence of climate influences. These even-toed ungulates, such as antelopes, represent roughly one-third of African fossils [hominin fossils constitute <1% (11)]. An all-Africa analysis of bovid evolution spanning the past 6 million years revealed several turnover events where rates of speciation and extinction were well above background levels (5). The two largest of these events occurred near 2.8 Ma and 1.8 Ma (5), and the nature of the faunal changes implicates aridification and grassland expansion as a likely cause; for example, many new grazing bovid species appeared with specialized dentition (hypsodont molars) for processing the abrasive, grassy diet (12).
African climate changes during the past 5 million years bear the signatures of two separate processes (13). Orbital precession forcing (with a period of ∼20,000 years) acted as a “monsoonal pacemaker” that switched between wet and dry conditions. A long-term trend toward increasing drier and more variable conditions is superimposed on these wet-dry cycles, commencing after ∼3 Ma and peaking near 1.8 to 1.6 Ma.
A snapshot of African evolutionary and paleoclimate changes.
(A) Summary diagram of human evolution spanning the past 4.6 million years [no phylogenetic relations are indicated; compiled from (4, 10)]. First appearances and approximate durations of Mode 1 (Oldowan) and Mode 2 (Acheulean) stone tools are indicated (11). (B) Occurrences of Mediterranean sapropel deposits compiled from marine and land sediment sequences (15). (C) Compilation of sedimentary evidence indicating deep lake conditions recorded in several East African paleolake basins (16, 17). (D) Carbon isotopic analyses of plant-wax biomarker compounds measured at Site 231 in the Gulf of Aden, currently the most proximal ocean drilling site to hominin fossil localities (18). The shift to higher values after 3 Ma indicates a greater proportions of C4 vegetation, or savannah grasslands. (E) Carbon isotopic values of soil carbonate nodules compiled from several studies (19, 20), also indicating grassland expansion after ∼3 Ma, peaking between 1.8 and 1.6 Ma. (F) Relative abundance of African mammals indicative of seasonally arid grasslands in the lower Omo Valley (Ethiopia), showing an initial increase in grassland-adapted mammals after 2.5 Ma with peak values after 1.8 Ma (12).
The African wet-dry cycles are impressive: From 15,000 to 5000 years ago, the modern Saharan Desert was nearly completely vegetated, with large, permanent lakes and abundant fauna (14). Precessional increases in summer radiation invigorated the monsoon, delivering more rainfall deeper into Africa, and enhanced Nile river runoff flooded into the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The resulting freshwater stratification created anoxic conditions and led to deposition of organic-rich sediments (sapropels) on the seafloor. Stratigraphic sections representing many millions of years contain hundreds of these sapropel layers (15), and these layers are commonly bundled into 100,000- and 412,000-year packages associated with the modulation of orbital precession monsoon cycles with the eccentricity of Earth's orbit (see the figure, panel B). Many East African rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania were high during a few, but not all, of these high-eccentricity intervals (see the figure, panel C) (16, 17).
The long-term drying trend is documented by increases in African wind-borne dust after 2.8 Ma, with peak values near 1.8 to 1.6 Ma off East Africa (13). Carbon isotopic analyses of plant wax biomarker compounds from a drill site in the Gulf of Aden (18) (see the figure, panel D) and analyses of soil carbonate nodules near hominin fossil localities (19, 20) (see the figure, panel E) indicate that East African savannah grasslands expanded at these times. Increased numbers of grazing bovid species parallel the grassland expansion (see the figure, panel F) (12).
Hypotheses linking African climate and faunal change are constrained by these new observations. Faunal lineages typically persisted throughout dozens of wet-dry climate cycles, so it is unlikely that the orbital-scale variability alone was a selection agent. Similarly, early hypotheses emphasizing only the unidirectional development of open vegetation do not capture the now-evident complexity of African climate variability. An emerging view is that African fauna, including our forebears, may have been shaped by changes in climate variability itself. These views posit that increasing climate variability led to climate and ecological shifts that were progressively larger in amplitude (3, 21, 22).
One strategy articulated in the NRC report (4) is to investigate the key evolutionary milestone events as natural history experiments. The grand challenge will be to develop coordinated sets of observations to test proposed links between African climate and faunal change. The foremost task will be to improve the fossil and paleoclimate records, especially for those intervals where available evidence is most suggestive of climatic forcing of adaptive evolutinary change.
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Climate change and its effects on African ecosystems may have played a key role in human evolution. |
0.999275 | Best tourist attractions for kids in London?
There is so much to see and do in London, but if you're travelling with children, finding something that will interest them as well as you, can be a challenge. What are the best family-friendly tourist attractions in the city? Which museums offer fun, affordable and educational activities for youngsters? What other places to visit and things to do would you recommend? What have your children enjoyed?
I think the Sea Life London Aquarium and London Zoo are two of the best choices. Most kids love animals, and here you can learn a lot about wildlife, the dangers they face, and what they can do to help protect endangered species.
Best day trip from London?
Best spot to go ice-skating in London?
Best places in London to learn yoga? |
0.988266 | A traditional list (of words) has been handed down (to us). It is to be (here) explained. This same list is called Ni-ghaṇṭavas. From what (root) is (the word) Ni-ghaṇṭavas derived? They are words quoted from the Vedas (ni-gamāḥ). Having been repeatedly gathered together from Vedic hymns, they have been handed down by tradition. Aupamanyava holds that, as these are the quoted words of the Vedas, they are called Ni-ghaṇṭavas on account of their being quoted (ni-gamanāt). Or else (the word Ni-ghaṇṭavas) may be (so called) from being fixed only (√han), i.e. (a list, in which) they (the words) are fixed together, or collected together (√hṛ).
Now, what (are) the four classes of words? They are the following: noun and verb; prepositions and particles. With reference to this, they thus prescribe the definition of noun and verb: the verb has becoming as its fundamental notion, nouns have being as their fundamental notion. But where both are dominated by becoming, a becoming arising from a former to a later state is denoted by a verb, as ‘he goes’, ‘he cooks’, &c. The embodiment of the whole process from the beginning to the end, which has assumed the character of being, is denoted by a noun, as ‘going’, ‘cooking’, &c. The demonstrative pronoun is a reference to beings, as ‘cow’, ‘horse’, ‘man’, ‘elephant’, &c.; ‘to be’, to becoming, as ‘he sits’, ‘he sleeps’, ‘he goes’, ‘he stands’, &c.
If you are not able to read the Telugu content properly please follow the following steps.
If you see boxes, rounds, junk characters instead of Telugu fonts, or sometime you may see Telugu content but 'ottakshara' are not coming properly follow the step 1.
Download pothana2000.ttf font or Vemana.ttf and paste in FONTS folder.
Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Regional Options > General [Tab] In the "Language settings for this system" frame, check the box next to "Indic".
Copy the appropriate files from the Windows 2000 CD when prompted. If prompted, reboot your computer once the files have been installed.
The above steps should fix the problem. If it still doesn't, please write to us at [email protected] with the browser version, OS version and the problem you are facing.
Open the page which has the problem.
Select Print Screen key to take a snapshot.
Open a Word processing software like Word and paste (Control-V) the snapshot"
Save the image and send it to us.
Copy one of the Telugu fonts file from Telugu Fonts (we recommend vemana2000.ttf font) to .fonts directory in the user's home directory. If .fonts directory does not exist in the home directory, please create it. Finally run the command 'fc-cache' from the command prompt. It is very important to restart the browser, then only you will be able to read the content in Telugu.
In Mac OS X 10.4, if you are using 'Safari' web browser, no need to do anything.
This will fix almost all the problems. If you still have any problems contact us with the browser version, OS version and the problem you are facing.
The following is our wish list of Sanskrit dictionaries to be added to the search.
As this is a gigantic manual work, there are bound to be errors (omissions/ mistakes etc.) and the users are requested to use the "report error" link, provided at every word, to inform us the errors. The reported words will be verified and corrected.
We request volunteers' support in digitizing and proofing so that more dictionaries could be added to the search at a faster pace. |
0.982606 | Do you have a favorite summer drink? I personally love grapefruit flavored beverages! I can be bad at drinking the recommended amount of water each day, so having fun drinks around the house really helps.
Grapefruit is good for your blood pressure and over all heart health. They’re packed with nutrients including lycopene and positively influence lipid levels. I’ve also read a study that found that men who regularly ate grapefruit have an above 50% less chance of prostate cancer! Go grapefruit!
This limeade is the perfect mixture of sweet and tart and it’s looks pretty in your glass! Perfect for a summer barbecue or just when lounging around the house!
Squeeze juice of limes and Grapefruits into pitcher, save grapefruit pulp. Add water, sweetener, (if desired) and mint. Stir and add ice. Top with grapefruit pulp for extra color and texture.
Your drink is ready to be poured and enjoyed! |
0.998778 | After numerous unsuccessful attempts to develop a Fantasia sequel, the Walt Disney Company revived the idea shortly after Michael Eisner became chief executive officer in 1984. The commercial success of the 1991 home video release of Fantasia convinced Eisner that there was enough public interest and funds for a sequel and he assigned Disney as executive producer. The music for six of the film's eight segments is performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Levine. The film includes The Sorcerer's Apprentice from the 1940 original. Each new segment was produced by combining traditional animation with computer-generated imagery.
Fantasia 2000 premiered on December 17, 1999, at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of a concert tour that also visited London, Paris, Tokyo, and Pasadena, California. The film was released in 75 IMAX theaters worldwide from January 1 to April 30, 2000, marking the first animated feature-length film to be released in the format. Its general release in traditional theaters followed on June 16, 2000. Some critics praised the film while others singled out its uneven quality. Budgeted at about $80–$85 million, the film has earned $90.8 million in gross revenue worldwide.
Symphony No. 5 (first movement) by Ludwig van Beethoven. Abstract patterns and shapes that resemble butterflies in various colorful shades, tints and hues explore a world of light and darkness whilst being pursued by a swarm of black bats. The world is ultimately conquered by light.
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. A family of humpback whales are able to fly. The calf is separated from his parents and he becomes trapped in an iceberg. Eventually he finds his way out with his mother's help. The family join a larger pod of whales who fly and frolic through the clouds to emerge into outer space. Introduced by Steve Martin and Itzhak Perlman.
Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. Set in New York City in the 1930s, and designed in the style of Al Hirschfeld's known caricatures of the time, the story follows four individuals, Duke, Joe, Rachel, and John, who wish for a better life. The segment ends with all four getting their wish, though their stories interact with each other's without any of them knowing. Introduced by Quincy Jones with pianist Ralph Grierson.
The Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnival des Animaux), Finale by Camille Saint-Saëns. "What would happen if you gave a yo-yo to a flock of flamingoes?" A flock of flamingoes tries to force a slapstick member, who enjoys playing with a yo-yo, to engage in the flock's "dull" routines. Introduced by James Earl Jones with animator Eric Goldberg.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas. Based on the poem "Der Zauberlehrling" by Goethe, the segment is the only one featured in Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. It tells the story of Mickey Mouse, an apprentice of sorcerer Yen Sid who attempts some of his master's magic tricks before knowing how to control them. Introduced by Penn & Teller.
Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Edward Elgar. Based on the story of Noah's Ark from the Book of Genesis, Donald Duck is Noah's assistant and Daisy Duck is Donald's wife. Donald is given the task of gathering the animals to the Ark and misses, loses, and reunites with Daisy in the process. Introduced by James Levine featuring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Production began under the working title of Fantasia Continued with a release in 1997. The title changed to Fantasia 1999 followed by Fantasia 2000 to coincide with its theatrical release in 2000. Disney formed its initial running order with half of the Fantasia program and only "three or four new numbers" with the aim of releasing a "semi-new movie". Realizing the idea would not work, he kept three Fantasia segments—The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Nutcracker Suite, and Dance of the Hours—in the program for "quite a while". In the end, Dance of the Hours was dropped and The Nutcracker Suite was replaced by Rhapsody in Blue during the last few months of production following the response from numerous test screenings. Disney kept The Sorcerer's Apprentice in the final program as a homage to Fantasia. The segment underwent digital restoration by Cinesite in Los Angeles. Disney considered using Clair de Lune, a piece originally made for Fantasia that followed two Great white herons flying through the Everglades at night, but thought it was "pretty boring". An idea to have "a nightmare and a dream struggling for a sleeping child's soul" to Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff was fully storyboarded, but fell through.
Pines of Rome was the first piece Disney suggested for the film, as well as the first to be animated; designs appeared in the studio's dailies as early as October 1993. Butoy served as director with James Fujii handling the story. The opening to the piece gave Disney the idea of "something flying". Butoy sketched the sequence on yellow Post-it notes. The story originally involved the whales flying around from the perspective of a group of penguins, but the idea was scrapped to make the baby whale a central character. The whales were also set to return to Earth but Butoy said it "never felt quite right", leading to the decision to have them break through a cloud ceiling and enter a different world by the supernova. Butoy created a "musical intensity chart" for the animators to follow which "tracked the ups and downs of the music ... as the music brightens so does the color", and vice versa. He explained that because CGI was in its infancy during development, the first third of the segment was hand drawn using pencil to get a feel of how the whales would move. When the drawings were scanned into the CAPS system, Butoy found the whales were either moving too fast or had less weight to them. The drawings were altered to make the whales slow down and "more believable". The eyes of the whales were drawn by hand, as the desired looks and glances were not fully achievable using CGI. Butoy recalled the challenge of having the water appear and move as naturally as possible; the team decided to write computer code from scratch as traditional animation would have been too time consuming and would have produced undesired results. The code handling the pod of whales was written so the whales would move away if they were to collide and not bump into, overlap, or go through each other. The same technique was used for the stampede scene in The Lion King (1994), which was produced at the same time.
Rhapsody in Blue is the first Fantasia segment with music from an American composer. It originated in 1992 when director and animator Eric Goldberg approached Hirschfeld about the idea of an animated short set to Gershwin's composition in the style of his illustrations. Hirschfeld agreed to serve as artistic consultant and allowed the animators to use and adapt his previous works for the segment. Goldberg's wife Susan was art director. Duke is named after jazz artist Duke Ellington. The bottom of his toothpaste tube reads "NINA", an Easter egg referencing Hirschfeld's newborn daughter Nina. Rachel was designed after the Goldbergs' daughter and John is based on animation historian and author John Culhane and Hirschfeld's caricature of Alexander Woollcott. Goldberg took Hirschfeld's original illustration of Gershwin and animated it to make him play the piano. Featured in the crowd emerging from the hotel are depictions of Brooks Atkinson and Hirschfeld, along with his wife Dolly Haas. The segment was completed two months ahead of schedule. This being noted, the sequence was so chromatically complex that the rendering process using the CAPS system delayed Tarzan.
Piano Concerto No. 2 was directed by Butoy with art director Michael Humphries. It originated in the 1930s when Walt Disney wished to adapt a collection of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales into an animated film. The artists completed a series of preliminary designs based on the stories, including ones for The Steadfast Tin Soldier from 1938 by Bianca Majolie that were stored in the studio's animation research library and used for a 1991 Disney book that retold the story accompanied with the storyboard sketches. When Disney suggested using the Shostakovich piece, Butoy flipped through the book and found the story's structure fit to the music. When Humphries saw the sketches he proceeded to designed the segment with works by Caravaggio and Rembrandt in mind to give the segment a "timeless" feel, while keeping the colors "as romantic as possible" during the scenes when the soldier and ballerina are first getting acquainted. Live action footage of a real ballerina was used as a guide for the toy ballerina's movements. Butoy found the Jack-in-a-box a difficult character to design and animate with its spring base and how he moved with the box. His appearance went through numerous changes, partly due to the lack of reference material available to the team.
The segment marked the first time the Disney studio created a film's main characters entirely from CGI; only backgrounds, secondary, or tertiary characters had been produced using CGI beforehand. Initially Butoy asked Pixar to handle the computer graphics, but CGI artist Steve Goldberg convinced him to let Disney's own team to produce it. The backgrounds were completed by hand. Originally the drain sequence included friendly rats who performed comical gags, but the team found it did not fit the mood of the rest of the segment. The drains became a more scary environment, something that Butoy said was "what the music was telling us to do". Rain animation from Bambi (1942) was scanned into the CAPS system and digitally altered to fit into the segment. The ending was to feature the original ending with the soldier and ballerina melting in the fire, but the music was too upbeat to animate it and was changed. An excerpt of the segment was shown at the 1998 SIGGRAPH conference.
The Carnival of the Animals, Finale was directed by Goldberg; his wife Susan was its art director. The idea originated from animator Joe Grant, one of the two story directors on Fantasia who loved the ostriches in Dance of the Hours. When development for Fantasia 2000 began, Grant suggested the idea of having one of the ostriches play with a yo-yo to the last movement of The Carnival of the Animals. The ostriches were later changed to flamingos as Disney wished to avoid reintroducing characters from the original film and thought flamingos would look more colorful on the screen. Goldberg was partly inspired by co-director Mike Gabriel, who would play with a yo-yo as he took a break from working on Pocahontas (1995). The segment was produced with CGI and 6,000 watercolor paintings on heavy bond paper.
Eisner suggested Pomp and Circumstance as a piece after he attended a graduation and thought its familiarity would be suitable for a Fantasia segment. His idea involved a selection of Disney Villains and heroes in a wedding procession carrying their future children who would then be presented in a ceremony. The animators' preliminary designs depicted a Greco-Roman setting; one of the staff members described the artwork as "an appalling abuse" of the characters. Eisner agreed to drop the story, but insisted that the music be used. After numerous ideas were scrapped due to the difficulty in writing a clear plot, animator and director Francis Glebas came up with the Noah's Ark idea that he titled Donald's Last Roundup! and pitched it thinking it was "laden with comic possibilities".
To close the film, Disney wanted for a piece that was "emotionally equivalent" to the Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria segments that closed Fantasia. Disney chose the The Firebird as the piece to use after "half a dozen" others were scrapped, including Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven and the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Messiah by Handel. Disney thought of the idea of the Earth's destruction and renewal after passing Mount St. Helens following its eruption in 1980. French twins Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi from Disney's Paris studio were hired to direct the segment. The Sprite is a Dryad-like creature from Greek mythology. Her form changes six times; she is introduced as a Water Sprite who plants flowers as a Flower Sprite. She becomes a Neutral Sprite where her growth trail stops and an Ash Sprite when the forest has been destroyed. The segment ends with her as a Rain-Wave Sprite, followed by the Grass Sprite. The segment originally ended with the Sprite in the form of a flowing river that rises up into the sky and transforms into a Sun Sprite, but this was abandoned. The antlers on the elk were produced with CGI and placed on top of its body that was drawn traditionally. The segment was produced using Houdini animation software.
The music to The Sorcerer's Apprentice was recorded on January 9, 1938 at Culver Studios, California with Leopold Stokowski conducting a group of session musicians. The recording of Rhapsody in Blue used in the film is an edited version of Ferde Grofé's orchestration of the piece performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra with conductor Bruce Broughton. The shortened version was made by cutting 125 bars of piano solo in three different places. A recording of James Levine conducting both pieces with the Philharmonia appears on the film's soundtrack.
Disney felt the need to keep interstitials (bridges) as used in Fantasia to give the viewer a chance to "cleanse their emotional palate" from the previous segment while providing some information about the next one. Don Hahn directed the live action scenes which were designed by Pixote Hunt. Hahn came up with the set and backgrounds while eating lunch; he proceeded to sketch a rough idea of what he imagined on a napkin. He "wanted to show images on shapes like big sails of a clipper ship. They fly in on the wind and form a sort of Stonehenge concert hall in the middle of a vast, empty, imaginary plain".
Hahn recalled some difficulty in finding someone to host the film, so the studio decided to use a group of artists and musicians from various fields of entertainment. The interstitials were filmed in various locations; the orchestra, Jones, Lansbury, and Bronfman were shot in Los Angeles, Perlman and Middler in New York City, and others in Boston, Massachusetts. Each scene was filmed in front of a green screen to allow shots of the orchestra or the set to be placed behind them. The shots of Levine, the artists, and the orchestra were filmed on October 31, 1998. The piano Grierson plays in his scene with Jones is the same one on which he played Rhapsody in Blue for the soundtrack.
Carnegie Hall, where Fantasia 2000 had its premiere.
Fantasia 2000 was officially announced on February 9, 1999 during a Disney presentation at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York City which featured a screening of The Carnival of the Animals. The film premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 17, 1999 for three nights as part of a five city concert tour. The animation was presented on a screen above the stage while Levine conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra with a video auto-cue to time the music to the images. Performances followed at the Royal Albert Hall in London on December 21; the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on December 22; the Orchard Hall in Tokyo on December 27; and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on December 31, where Derrick Inouye conducted as part of a black tie $2,000-per-head New Year's Eve event. Each of the seven performances cost over $1 million.
Fantasia 2000 first opened in IMAX theatres for a four-month run from January 1 to April 30, 2000, becoming the first animated feature-length film shown in the format, with a six channel digital surround sound. A temporary 622-seat theatre costing almost $4 million was built in four weeks for its Los Angeles run as Disney was unable to reach an agreement to show the film exclusively at the city's sole IMAX theatre at the California Science Center. After opening at 75 theaters worldwide, the film grossed over $2.2 million in 54 cinemas in North America in its opening weekend, averaging $41,481 per theater. It set new records for the highest gross for any IMAX engagement and surpassed the highest weekly total for any previously released IMAX film. Its three-day worldwide gross surpassed $3.8 million, setting further records at 18 venues worldwide. Fantasia 2000 grossed a worldwide total of $21.1 million in 30 days, and $64.5 million at the end of its IMAX run.
Fantasia 2000 was first released on VHS and DVD on November 14, 2000, with both featuring a specially made introduction in which Roy gives a history of key Disney productions and what innovations they brought. While it was available as a single-disc DVD, a three-disc set titled The Fantasia Anthology was released that included a digital copy of the film, a restored print of Fantasia to commemorate its 60th anniversary, and a third disc containing bonus features. On November 30, 2010, the film was issued for DVD and Blu-ray in a single and two-disc set with Fantasia and a four-disc DVD and Blu-ray combo pack. The Blu-ray transfer presents the film in 1080p high-definition video with 7.1 surround sound and DTS-HD Master Audio. The film has been withdrawn from release after its return to the "Disney Vault" moratorium on April 30, 2011. In January 2015, the film became available on Netflix.
Fantasia 2000 holds a "Certified Fresh" rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its consensus reads: "It provides an entertaining experience for adults and children alike". On Metacritic, the film has a metascore of 59/100. Entertainment Weekly gave a "B-" rating; its reviewer, Bruce Fretts, called Symphony No. 5 "maddeningly abstract", Piano Concerto No. 2 "charmingly traditional", and thought Rhapsody in Blue fit well to the music, but Pomp and Circumstance "inexplicably inspires biblical kitsch". The review ends with a criticism of the inadequate quality of The Sorcerer's Apprentice on the IMAX screen. For Variety magazine, Todd McCarthy pointed out that while the original felt too long and formal, its "enjoyable follow-up is, at 75 minutes, simply too breezy and lightweight". He summarized the film "like a light buffet of tasty morsels rather than a full and satisfying meal".
In his December 1999 review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert gave the film a rating of three stars out of four. He described some of the animation, such as Firebird Suite, his favorite segment, as "powerful" though others, like the dance of the abstract triangles in Symphony No. 5, "a little pedestrian". He admired Rhapsody in Blue and its interlocking stories, pointing out its style was reminiscent of the Madeline picture books by Ludwig Bemelmans. He thought Pines of Rome presented itself well in the IMAX format and found the Piano Concerto No. 2 played "wonderfully as a self-contained film". He found The Sorcerer's Apprentice to be "not as visually sharp as the rest of the film". He nonetheless described the film on the whole as "splendid entertainment". Film critic Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that the film "often has the feel of a giant corporate promotion whose stars are there simply to hawk the company's wares" while noting the film "is not especially innovative in its look or subject matter." Firebird Suite was his favorite segment which left "a lasting impression of the beauty, terror, and unpredictability of the natural world". He found The Sorcerer's Apprentice fit well with the rest of the film and the battle in Symphony No. 5 too abbreviated to amount to much. He found the segment with the whales failed in that the images "quickly become redundant". He found Rhapsody in Blue to be the second-best in the film with its witty, hyper kinetic evocation of the melting pot with sharply defined characters. He found the segment with the flamingos cute and the one with the tin soldier to be romantic. James Berardinelli found the film to be of uneven quality. He felt Symphony No. 5 was "dull and uninspired", the yo-yoing flamingos "wasteful", and the New York City-based story of Rhapsody in Blue interesting but out of place in this particular movie. He found the story of the tin soldier to successfully mix its music with "top-notch animation" and "an emotionally rewarding story". He felt the Firebird section was "visually ingenious", and Pomp and Circumstance the most light-hearted episode and the one with the most appeal to children, in an otherwise adult-oriented film. To him The Sorcerer's Apprentice was an enduring classic.
1 2 3 "Fantasia 2000 (35mm & IMAX)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
1 2 3 Corliss, Richard (December 5, 1999). "Disney's Fantastic Voyage". Time. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
1 2 3 4 Holden 2001, pp. 212–213.
1 2 "Fantasia/2000". RogerEbert.com. December 31, 1999. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
↑ Solomon, Charles (August 26, 1990). "Fantastic 'Fantasia'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
↑ Warga, Wayne (October 26, 1980). "Disney Films: Chasing the Changing Times". Los Angeles Times.
1 2 Taylor, Cathy (October 22, 1994). "Disney Waves Magic Wand And Sequel Comes To Life After 54 Years". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
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↑ Culhane 1999, p. 10.
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1 2 Culhane 1999, p. 176.
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1 2 Noxon, Christopher (December 30, 1999). "The 'Sorcerer's' Apprentices". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
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1 2 Berardinelli 2005, pp. 55–56.
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1 2 Matthews, Jack (December 17, 1999). "'Fantasia 2000' grows to IMAX height". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
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1 2 3 Stewart 2006, p. 346–347.
↑ Zager, Michael (2012). Music Production: For Producers, Composers, Arrangers, and Students.
↑ Noxon, Christopher (December 7, 1999). "L.A. Imax Says No, So Disney Builds Its Own Huge Screen". Los Angeles Times.
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↑ "Legacy: 28th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2000)". International Animated Film Society. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
↑ "And the nominees are...". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 5D. Retrieved May 7, 2012. |
0.941842 | "Corned beef and cabbage" is a popular Irish dinner, and it's often served on St. Patrick's Day. In 1925, "corned beef and cabbage" was voted to be the favorite dish of New York City.
"Corned beef and cabbage" was popularized by the character "Jiggs' in the comic strip "Bringing Up Father" by George McManus. The comic strip ran in the New York (NY) World and in other newspapers, from 1913. McManus died in 1954.
New York City's love affair with "corned beef and cabbage" has waned in recent years, but the dish has been served there since at least 1835.
The dish of corned beef and cabbage has also been called "Irish turkey" and "Red Mike and Violets."
Bringing Up Father was an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 12, 1913, to May 28, 2000.
The strip is also known as "Jiggs and Maggie" (or "Maggie and Jiggs"), after its two main characters. According to McManus, he introduced these same characters in other strips as early as November 1911.
Corned beef & cabbage first paired up in N.Y.
If you think of corned beef and cabbage as Ireland's unofficial national dish, you may be surprised to hear that many on the Emerald Isle have never tasted it. They eat their cabbage with bacon (actually, it's a kind of ham).
"Since they shopped at Jewish butchers on the lower East Side, they bought corned beef as a substitute for the cured pork, or bacon, that they were used to buying in Ireland," says Keenan. "Cabbage, of course, grows well in warm, hot or cold weather, and it's available for most of the year, so they could continue to eat this with the meat."
Corned beef also became popular in the U.S. in the late 19th century because many new immigrants lived in poor neighborhoods without modern ways to preserve food, says Margaret Johnson, author of "The New Irish Table" (Chronicle Books, $24.95). "They used a brine made with kosher salt to preserve meat," she says. "Before long, they were making corned beef."
It was only yesterday, when, after I had expounded a ratio of corn beef and cabbage, and was preparing to wash it down with a sensation of whiskey and water, who should pop in but old Doctor Dustem.
To any taste uncorrupted by wretched habits, the "corned beef and cabbage," of the North, will be found a most agreeable change.
COOKING STOVES. (...) In front of the grate a turkey roasting -- on one of the apertures a large pot of mock turtle cooking -- on another a fricassee de Poule -- on a third, corn beef and cabbage -- (...) New York Star.
The kitchen I examined very closely, and when the cook's back as turned, lifted the lid from the kettle, and discovered there was nothing preparing for dinner but corned beef and cabbage.
I smelt corned beef and cabbage for dinner.
SIMMONS REFECTORY, 76 CHESTNUT Street.
...found nothing on the table but corn beef and cabbage.
The Edinburgh Review says that cabbage contains more muscle sustaining nutriment than any other vegetable whatever. Boiled cabbage and corned beef make fifty-two as good dinners in twelve months as a man can eat.
...with half cooked corned beef and cabbage, par-boiled potatoes, &c.
And here I must digress a moment to ask if any of my readers likes corned beef and cabbage?
Mrs. Jiggs was a buxom lady who could cook corned beef and cabbage and potatoes beautifully, and in the humble Jiggs home this was largely the bill of fare.
TRY A JIGG'S DINNER -- Corned beef and cabbage, tasty and economical, no bone, no waste.
A "Jiggs" dinner will feature the weekly noon meeting tomorrow of the Kiwanis Club in the Penn-Harris.
New York, June 14 (by A. P.).-- Corned beef and cabbage is the favorite dinner dish of most New Yorkers, if the poll just completed by the United Restaurant Owners association gave an accurate picture of the metropolitan appetite.
Of the 180,000 votes cast, "Red Mike and Violets," as the succulent dish is known in less ornate caravansaries, led with more than 23,000. Second on the list of preferences was "vegetable dinner," with 18,549, while third place went to veal cutlet and fourth to Long Island duckling.
With the discover that corned beef and cabbage is the favorite dinner dish in New York what's delaying the enemies of Mayor Hylan putting up the name of Mr. Jiggs?
Jiggs's meal did not consist of corned beef and cabbage.
Mr. McManus himself tells how he created the immortal "Mr. Jiggs", glorified corned beef and cabbage, and made a million dollars -- for someone else.
"Jiggs" -- corned beef and cabbage.
Corned beef and cabbage was hardly a popular dish on American menus...until Jiggs began to indicate his joy in it.
Today, in every state in the Union, in every economic class, in Park Avenue dining salons and in Main Street lunch counters, corned beef and cabbage is ordered and enjoyed by millions.
Jiggs and Maggie and all the other beloved characters in Puck, The Comic Weekly are part of the very lives of millions of Americans.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 22 (AP) -- George McManus, creator of the comic strip character Jiggs, died tonight. He was 70 years old. His physician said Mr. McManus had been suffering from hepatitis, an infection of the liver.
George McManus' "Bringing Up Father," in which the comic characters Jiggs and Maggie have disported themselves regularly for more than forty-one years, is printed in some 750 newspapers throughout the world and translated into twenty-seven languages.
Jiggs, the red-haired rowdy from the wrong side of the tracks, forced by Maggie into a topper and tails and life among the elite, rebels continuously and returns to the scenes of his former life, the corned beef and cabbage, beer and gusty companions of his youth.
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is considered a holy day, not a holiday, and it is commemorated at mass, not on Main Street. Families often gather around the table for a supper of boiled ham and potatoes, and there might be some step-dancing and sporting of shamrocks.
But you won't find anyone eating corned beef and cabbage. That salty favorite of Jiggs' in the comic strips is strictly an Irish-American specialty. And public celebrations do not occur. Until recently the pubs were closed by law, and now they're only open for a few hours, just on Sunday.
Also the pastimes of Lord Nityananda are glorified throughout Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata. So by repeated reading of Chaitanya-bhagavata one developes firm faith in Lord Nityananda, the original spiritual master. By His mercy alone can we even think of purifying our hearts and approaching Shri Shri Radha & Krishna in Vrindavana. This is reason why Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has recommended the repeated reading of this book for the common man and it is supported by Shrila Prabhupada who states that it is aid for the common man to quickly understand Krishna.
Q. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta introduced this book to one and all because because he was basically preaching in Bengal & Orissa where people were quite pious and could understand Bengali very easily. Is it proper for us to do so now for all over the world?
A. Yes it is most appropriate to distribute this book all over the world. If you read this whole compilation carefully, the answers are already there. First of all Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta did not advocate this book for Bengali & Oriyas. O.B.L. Kapoor, being a learned scholar from Allahabad, the Hindi speaking part of India, was instructed by Sarasvati Thakura to learn Bengali, so as he could study the original Bengali texts of the Chaitanya Bhagavata and the Chaitanya-charitamrita, etc. Sarasvati Thakura also liked other Gaudiya Math members who were also learned and non-Bengalis, to learn Bengali for this reason. So he wanted everyone to read this books with their original Bengali verses.
Secondly Shrila Prabhupada says that reading Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata will be a great aid for the common man in general to easily understand Krishna not only for the Bengalis & Oriyas.
So all the great atheists which comprise of 99.99% of the world’s population can become maha-vaishnavas if they get the supreme good fortune of reading this book. Thus in my personal opinion, when this book is published and distributed in mass quantities all over the world, it will break open the gates of the flood of the love of Godhead brought by Lord Chaitanya and His associates and will hasten the advent of the predicted Golden Age in all its glory.
Q. Is there any chance of misunderstanding Lord Chaitanya by reading Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata like for example the 13 sahajiya sects?
Being absorbed in the mood of Radha, Krishna forgets Himself and exhibits Her dazzling complexion. The conjugal pastimes of the Lord are not manifest in His magnanimous pastimes. Vrindavana dasa Thakura teaches us that one should not labor hard to find the conjugal pastimes of the Lord in His magnanimous pastimes. |
0.999999 | Anna Chen, born in Taichung, Taiwan, is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. After receiving her Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies in Finance in 2007, Anna was eager to reconnect with her music root and completed her BMus with Honours in Music Education from the Don Wright Faculty of Music in 2011. During her studies at the Don Wright Faculty, Anna worked closely with Ken Fleet and Dr. Gerald Neufeld to develop her passion in conducting. It was through working with fellow students in these classes that Anna decided to pursue a higher degree in choral conducting. Subsequently was accepted into the MMus in choral conducting program at the University of Alberta in 2011 and began her studies with Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff.
During her graduate study, Annas talent in conducting was recognized by the Beryl Barns Memorial Graduate Award (2011, 2012) and the John and Logie Drew Graduate Scholarship in Choral Conducting (2011). As well, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (2012) and Alberta Advanced Education Graduate Student Scholarship (2012) for her academic achievement. Annas primary research interest focuses on Chinese choral history, practice, and literature.
Before the Revolution of 1911, China was a mighty empire dominated by various Chinese ethnic groups in different time periods. In particular, the Han people of the Tang1 and Ming Dynasty and the Man people of the Qing Dynasty2 were enthusiastic in establishing and maintaining contacts with foreigners while retaining a strong political influence over the complex culture in China. When explorers, missionaries, or ambassadors travelled to the Chinese empire, they often brought fine commodities made with foreign technologies and crafts to the emperor as a sign of good faith and respect. Initially, these arts and advanced Western technologies of the late eighteenth and nineteenth century was not recognized as important academics studies by the Chinese scholars; in fact, they were only perceived as delicate artifacts3. It was not until roughly the twentieth century that some Chinese scholars then realized the importance of military powers and skilled economic trades and productions that were fostered by Western scholars, and then began to promote and study Western technologies and sciences in China4. In other words, after the Revolution of 1911, Western arts and technologies gained recognitions and supports by the Chinese scholars, and became dominant elements facilitating the social changes in China. |
0.976205 | I have had a problem with my beetroot splitting. Can you tell me what has caused this?
Emma Rawlings, deputy editor Kitchen Garden magazine EMMA SAYS: Splitting in beetroot is usually caused by uneven watering. For example, the very hot, dry weather we have had recently means that you will likely be watering and a sudden influx of water may cause the roots to swell quicker than normal, leading to splitting. |
0.999919 | Compare ideal and practical op amps.
• The use of negative feedback.
• Current rule for op amps.
• Voltage rule for op amps.
• The inverting voltage amplifier.
• The non-inverting voltage amplifier.
TLC271 1TΩ 60pA 5,000 to 46,000 (74dB to 93dB) min.
There are two basic methods of connection for op amp voltage amplifiers, making the op amp into an inverting or a non-inverting voltage amplifier. In each case, the voltage gain of the amplifier is set simply by the ratio of two resistors. Using a very high gain amplifier and applying negative feedback produces a very stable amplifier with a gain that is is virtually independent of changes in temperature or variations in semiconductor characteristics. Just as in the discrete component amplifiers described in Amplifiers Module 3, the negative feedback also reduces distortion and noise in addition to increasing the bandwidth of the amplifier.
Ideal op amps, when used with feedback, operate in a way that can be predicted by a couple of basic rules, often called "Golden Rules".
Rule 1. The Voltage Rule.
The op amp output will change as necessary to keep the two input voltages identical. If any input signal or voltage tries to make the input potentials different, the op amp output will change in the opposite polarity to the input and, via the feedback loop, keep the difference between the two inputs at 0V.
Rule 2. The Current Rule.
Because the input impedance is infinitely high, no current can flow into either input.
These rules used in relation to the ideal op amp can be used to make the operation of the two main voltage amplifier circuits easier to understand. The small differences between ideal and practical op amps can be temporarily ignored.
Fig. 6.7.3 shows the inverting amplifier, in this configuration the signal input is applied to the inverting (−) input to produce an anti-phase output signal whose amplitude is Vin x Avcl where Avcl is the closed loop gain of the op amp.
Pin 3 is at 0V, as it is connected to ground via R3, which will have no voltage developed across it as no current flows into pin 3 (Rule 2), so pin 2 will also be at 0V (Rule 1).
Therefore Rin and Rf are effectively connected in series between Vin and Vout with pin 2 between the two resistors held at 0V.
No current can flow into pin 2 (Rule 2) so the current flowing into Vin cannot be flowing into the op amp, therefore it must be flowing through Rf to the output.
The diagram in Fig. 6.7.3b shows that in effect Rin and Rf are two resistors connected in series between Vin and Vout with Pin 2 at 0V.
Although pin 2 is not actually connected to ground, it must be at the same voltage as pin 3 (Rule 1) which is at 0V (because of Rule 2). This important effect of making some location in a circuit that is not actually connected to ground, yet maintains a potential of 0V is called ‘virtual earth’ (or virtual ground).
Any input current (Iin) therefore flows directly from the input, via Rin and Rf to the output, with Rin and Rf forming a potential divider between the opposite polarity voltages Vin and Vout with pin 2 at 0V.
Notice that the formula only tells you the ratio of the resistors and not their actual values. Fortunately in audio amplifiers the values are not too critical, usually keeping the resistor values between about 10K and 100K is OK. However it is good to try and keep Rin as high a resistance as possible, and also in a practical amplifier, rather that grounding the non-inverting input directly it should be grounded by a resistor with the same value as Rin to keep the (tiny) input currents equal. This gives a better chance of the output voltage being zero volts (or close to it) when the input is zero volts.
In the non-inverting amplifier illustrated in Fig. 6.7.4a the input is applied to the non-inverting input (pin 3) while the negative feedback resistor (Rf) together with R1 set the closed loop gain of the amplifier.
The input and output signals are now in phase, which changes the circuit operation. As shown in Fig. 6.7.4b, the circuit does not have a virtual earth point, but the bottom end of R1 is connected to ground, which means that pin 2 will follow the varying input voltage Vin on pin 3 (Rule 1).
Rf and R1 now form a potential divider between Vout and 0V. Just like the inverting amplifier, no current will flow into pin 2 (Rule 2) so the voltages across R1 and Rf will be proportional to their individual resistances. The ratio of these resistances, and therefore the ratio of Vout to Vin i.e. the closed loop gain is given by the standard potential divider formula (Rf + R1) / R1. |
0.999469 | To create a new action, click the Add Action icon in the Actions List. Use the Options panel on the right side of the Action List to edit actions you've created.
1. Click Select in the Trigger section.
2. Click the Object Selection button to select the trigger object.
3. Select the trigger object from the object list.
4. Click the Event Selection button to select the trigger event.
5. Select the trigger event from the event list.
1. Click Select in the Response section.
2. Click the Object Selection button to select the response object.
3. Select the response object from the object list.
4. Click the Event Selection button to select the response event.
5. Select the response event from the event list.
Alternatively, select the object on the page that you want to act as the trigger for the action, and then use the object menu to create the action. |
0.999979 | Applebee's is a restaurant located in Bismarck, North Dakota. Based on ratings and reviews from users from all over the web, this restaurant is a Good Option.
Interested in eating in Applebee's? Check out this restaurant's features and options and find driving directions, so you can spend more time eating and less time figuring out how to get there. |
0.98629 | I used to run Darwin Streaming Server Version 5.5.5 and ran quite well.
I tried to compile it in Debian Squeeze Linux and it didn’t work at all.
I got many compiling warnings and errors which at the end didn’t allow me to compile it.
but that also didn’t work well. I got either errors during the patching or error during the compiling.
which offered more patches, replacement for Install script and an authentication module.
Thanks to the person who posted this page, and provided the patches etc. finally it did work and is now running.
So based on the information in this page I adapted it to fit to Debian Squeeze 64bit here below.
Note 1: I have stored the full source of the StreamingServer 6.0.3 as well as the patches needed on my own server just to make sure it is always available at least to me when I need it.
Note 2: I’m working here as root to avoid having to use sudo for every command.
Get the patches etc. needed.
Uncompress the extra patches etc.
It should build quite well, just verify that it does not end with an error.
The server should run one process as root and 2 processes as qtss user.
This will go through a one-time sequence of a few setting screens.
Important: make sure you don't activate the port 80 if you have a web server running on port 80 in the same host. It would create a port conflict and DSS might not want to start at all.
echo "ERROR: DarwinStreamingServer NOT started"
echo "ERROR: DarwinStreamingServer still running"
ps ax | egrep -v 'grep|/bin/sh' | grep -i streaming && echo "DarwinStreamingServer not running" || echo "DarwinStreamingServer not running"
Note: If you had the Darwin Streaming Server version 5.x.x installed before, it is possible that some modules of that version are still in the directory:/usr/local/sbin/StreamingServerModules.
Make sure they are deleted before you start the server.
If they are not deleted, no big deal. You're simply going to get some errors in the streaming server error logs when starting the server. Eg.
"WARNING: The module QTSSRefMovieModule is not a compatible QTSS API module."
"WARNING: The module QTSSHomeDirectoryModule is not a compatible QTSS API module."
then anything starting from 6970 & up depending on how many clients you want to support.
In order to play a live stream fed by a streaming source for example: Apple Quicktime Broadcaster, here is an example of an HTML embedded Quicktime component code that upon clicking into the component start the connection to the streaming server. The live streaming source program must provide the same filename as the one provided in the component to have a successful streaming connection.
reload this web page and click in the above box again.
Unfortunately I have no idea what your error message/no-message means.
but if something goes wrong I need to look at each message individually.
In your case I don’t see any indications of what went wrong.
to see if any error message appears about this installation.
I am facing the same error, is there a solution please?
Unfortunately I don’t have any solution. It’s been a long time ago since I’ve left the streaming field. Sorry.
Unfortunately I never tried to install it on Ubuntu. Some stuff are obviously different which disturb the installation. If you find a solution please let me know so that I post it here. Thanks.
Why do you put those tutorial when you yourself don’t even know about them.
So just for your information, this particular posting is from my own experience of installing successfully Darwin Streaming Server in Debian Squeeze. In the meantime if the installation does not run as smoothly as you would like, it is to be considered that technology does change and I’m not about to review all my old post to correct them for administrators who have difficulties. And again, referring to the start page of this blog, my intention is FIRST for ME to have a bank of information to facilitate my IT work and SECOND others who might benefit from it. I don’t make any claim regarding the full accuracy of this information, which is at the time of writing most of it was accurate from my experience or from a post found in Internet. These ‘untested’ Internet posts I found and copied here might not have been tested by me but I found them as a possible good tip to be checked/used/corrected etc. at a later date. And by the way, I’m also not paid for the time I take to post these posts, so any complaints about their accuracy, even though mostly unfounded, is to my opinion unjustified. And as it often happens: give something for free and someone is bound to complain about it. Luckily it doesn’t happen too often. Most people appreciate the information posted here. An some people who find the information not to be quite accurate even contribute to its accuracy by commenting the corrections to the post. This is how information sharing works and evolves.
I have this error on the lates Debian version.
Oct 09 08:10:46 jon systemd: Failed to start LSB: Apple Audio/Video(quictime) DarwinStreamingServer.
Oct 09 08:10:46 jon systemd: DarwinStreamingServer.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 09 08:10:46 jon systemd: DarwinStreamingServer.service: Failed with result ‘exit-code’.
I tried installing the Squeeze version and it works properly. Any work around to run this on the latest version?
Hi, unfortunately I haven’t tried it with the latest version of Debian(Stretch). I was even surprised that it still worked when I upgraded from Squeeze to Jessie leaving the compiled DarwinStreamingServer intact. But very likely the same is not going to happen when I upgrade to Stretch, but I will try anyway. |
0.999982 | What Is the Malthusian Theory of Population?
What do you think will happen to the human population in the future? Since about 1980, demographic transition theory has been criticized on a number of grounds, including its assumption that the demographic experience of non-Western societies will inevitably follow that of the West; its failure to consider cultural. Scholars of such school of. I don't believe that's strictly evolutionary theory. Because of which, the economic production system of the society has able to transformed the likely arithmetical nature of supply enabling them to cope up with the demands of the exponential increasing population making the basis of the Malthusian theory to be imperfect. But, this is not wholly true, because an increase in population causes an increase in labour supply, and that may lead to an increased production and a greater prosperity. More people means demand is high while supply is dependent on the resources available at any given time.
A preventive check is a conscious decision to delay marriage or abstain from procreation based on a lack of resources. Preventive checks are those checks which are applied by man. But it is not applicable to the under populated countries. It states that population increases faster than food supply and if unchecked leads to vice or misery. Population tends to become stationary because people refuse to lower their standard of living.
The attitude started changing subsequently, as evidenced by the effort made by the British medical professionals in 1921 to appeal to the Anglican Church to reconsider their position on birth control in the light of existing medical knowledge. When designing his predictions, Thomas Malthus did not foresee how much the world would change in a short period of time and how advances in technology would influence human population growth. A big sticking point with a lot of Malthus's critics is his religious beliefs and how they were incorporated into his theory. Statistics show that the population of the world is increasing at fairly high rate. Malthus believed that the human population exhibits exponential growth, which is when the increase is proportional to the amount already present.
In 1940 it was 2245 million and in 1970 it was 3632 million. Malthusian theory In 1798 Malthus published anonymously the first edition of. Any theory, by definition, that opposes the conclusions found by Malthus in his theory of population growth is an anti-Malthusian theory. Population history has shown that in many Western nations the rate of population growth had been declining since the later part of the 19th century. As a result, countries like England on the continent of Europe have been provided with abundant supplies of cheap food.
Thus the Malthusian theory is fully applicable to under-developed countries. Compare exponential growth to a logistic growth curve and explain how these might apply to human population growth. Having been a clergy, Malthus validated his theory on moral grounds that suffering was a way of making human beings realize the virtues of hard work and moral behavior. Malthus also did not predict that when the population started to increase, people would migrate to areas that were previously not settled, such as the Americas and Australia. For example in the case of India, Malthusian theory of population became real as its population almost doubled between 1940 and 1970. If these lands do not face the problems of over-population and misery, it is all due to the bogey and pessimism of Malthusianism. In the time it took me to quickly smoke a cigarette 1,00 people were increased on this planet.
This theory is applicable to the third world countries where population growth has been alarming and distressing. Have you ever thought what will happen with us in our nearest future? Thus starting from 1, population in successive periods of 25 years will be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 after 200 years. The high growth rate of population keeps the per capita income at a low level. By the end of this stage, fertility has begun to decline as well. He observed that population tends to increase at a geometrical progression where food production of a country increases in arithmetical progression. So sooner or later there will be imbalance between the two and this is a symptom of overpopulation.
Positive Checks: Positive checks exercise their influence on the growth of population by increasing the death rate. In other words size of population is determine by the availability of food. Positive checks like floods, wars, droughts, disuses, etc. Therefore, they preferred not to have more children than they could attend to properly. This is the basis of the optimum theory of population. The problem lay in the lack of equal distribution, with the bourgeois and the propertied class unwilling to give up the large share of resources under their control. Malthus was of the opinion that increase in the means of subsistence leads to increase in population.
Nature effectively culls populations but our science has over-ridden nature's natural ability to maintain our population. Few economists have had such controversial ideas, and generated a debate on such a scale as Thomas Malthus. Thinkers from the field of social sciences have criticized Malthus for his belief that the human society could never be made perfect. The foundation of Malthus' theory relies on two assumptions that hFew economists have had such controversial ideas, and generated a debate on such a scale as Thomas Malthus. Thomas Malthus first suggested in 1798, and then expanded upon his thoughts in 1803, that human populations will grow exponentially when food production grows at an arithmetic rate.
But he could not visualise that human beings would invent contraceptives and other family planning devices for birth control. One- third of the population is below the poverty line and unemployment and disguised unemployment are widespread due to over-population. In this theory, food production is limited by many factors including the land available, which is also consumed by the exponential increase in the population thus, it is naturally unable to cope up with the increasing demand for resources of the population growth. Consequently, the food supply has increased much faster than in arithmetical progression. Positive checks like floods, wars, droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, etc. Even 200 million is nothing compared to 7. |
0.998483 | Spyera has come a long way in the last few years, and has grown into a full fledge cell phone spying tool that offers the same advanced features as all the most complete solutions on the market. The company has been around for over close to two decades, being started as early as 1999, making them one of the oldest, and first cell phone monitoring services to have existed. Mixed reviews could be found online, but due to the time span and scarcity of the information available, it was difficult to make a clear call before putting the service to the test. I decided to purchase a three month license in order to see how well, or how badly it performed.
Spyera has a very complete suite of capabilities that rivals top service providers such as Flexispy and mSpy. The regularly featured functions are all present, ranging from collection phone call logs, text messages, address books, emails and multimedia files, such as pictures and videos taken with the device. They also support an impressive amount of third party chatting apps, as well as VOIP apps. Pretty much all the social media apps that can be monitored are available, with the exception of Facebook Messenger.
The dashboard appears similar to any other cell phone tracking service, which allows you to access all the logged data by app, or type. You can view all call logs, text messages, and web browsing history with timestamps, and even deleted content including emails still get backed up. GPS positioning can be tracked live using the cell phone’s live location coordinates, allowing you to map the device’s exact location with a visual display of travelled paths.
Additionally, Spyera is capable of more advanced monitoring and spying functions that only a few competitors offer. Call recording allows you to record and listen to saved calls later on. Live call listening is also possible, as well as ambient listening, which allows you to remotely turn on the microphone and listen in. Remote camera control is also available for rear cameras on iPhone and Android devices, allowing you to view, film and take pictures remotely. Facetime and VOIP calls are also recorded and logged for both cell phones and tablets.
Similar to Flexispy, they also offer a rather invasive password cracker which attempts to steal smart phone unlocking codes, as well as a variety of apps ranging from Facebook, Twitter, Google Apps, and even email accounts.
More remote functions are available to allow you to control and update the app in stealth mode through remote SMS commands. You can activate, deactivate, update or upgrade the app from your online dashboard, as well as verify cell phone or tablet battery levels, restart the device, and even delete text messages which contain designated filtered words set by yourself.
On first glance, the service seems to be very complete, but it does lack any kind of substantial parental control options. A good comparison would be mSpy’s ability to remotely block apps, websites, and any content that parents or employers may deem inappropriate or unnecessary. Unfortunately, this is where Spyera falls a little short. There is no way to restrict or block anything on the target device through their service. Otherwise, besides Facebook Messenger, the service is one of the most complete options available.
Spyera is compatible with all major platforms, and has not dropped service for older devices running Blackberry or Nokia Symbian operating systems. Different plans are offered for iPads and Android tablets as well.
Android 6.0+ – Advanced features require rooting.
iOS 5.x – 9.1 – Must be jailbroken to install app.
Blackberry OS up to 7.x – V10 coming soon.
Symbian Nokia – Any version.
Another positive result for Spyera was their stealth test. After downloading, installing and activating the app on both iPhone and Android platforms separately, the service left no visible trace of being present. We did detect a slight rise in battery usage, which is totally normal due to the backups over Wi-Fi, but the service remains completely inconspicuous. This is perfect for employers and parents wishing to keep tabs on their devices without divulging it, as well as proving theft protection and security, in case the device is lost.
Customer support during after sale issues was one of the common negative user review topics I came across. Some people we’re complaining that it would take more than a day before getting a response form the helpdesk. Luckily, it seems the company has considerably improved their help desk, and now answer all queries in 24 hours or less. I put the help desk to the test and sent 3 separate inquiries for different types of issues, and was able to get a response in less than 2 hours twice, while one ticket took 12 hours.
I don’t consider their ticketing system to be the best service I have seen, but at least they responded in a timely manner and properly answered my concerns with decent agents that knew enough to properly service technical issues. However, given that they don’t have a toll free number, calling long distance is probably not an option, and you’re left with nothing but the ticketing system, as no other alternative such as live chat is currently offered.
Spyera offers flat rates across all platforms, but split the plans between Smartphone cell phones, Tablets, or a combo plan for both. Each of the three plans offer different subscription period lengths. Tablet and smart phone plans are available for 3 month, 6 month, or 1 year subscriptions, while the tablet and cell phone combos only offer one or two year plans.
There are no stripped down or light packages available, and the lack of cost effective 1 month packages make you commit to a minimum of 3 months. If you search, you can find a 1 month package, but in my opinion, it costs too much to be worth it at $89. Comparatively to competition, the pricing is almost the same as Flexispy, which offers a similar selection of features. All in all, not the cheapest service, but definitely part of the most complete options available. If you’re looking for advanced remote control camera spying, mic bugging, call and video call recording capabilities, the price is in line with the best of them all, making this a good value purchase considering all features work as advertised. But, I would have liked to see a bigger discount on yearly plans to make it more competitive with Flexispy’s rates. As security, a 10-day money back guarantee is offered if you’re unsatisfied for any reason at all, allowing you to safely give is a test run.
After testing Spyera for a little over a month, I spent an equal amount of time on Android and iOS cell phones putting every service to use and logging the results. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not run into any bugs or failures when backing up logs, except for one instance where a WhatsApp chat log came back incomplete after running an update. This seemed to be a one off occurrence since I continuously tested all chatting apps aggressively afterwards. Facetime and VOIP video calls all properly recorded, and I was able to remotely listen in and activate the camera without any troubles.
The only downside to this service was the high cost, and inability to block, filter or control the available content on the device. Parents looking to have more control over installed apps, or what websites their kids can visit would probably prefer mSpy’s app. Employers might also need filtering functions, but they can at least rest assured that all activity will be visible regardless. In conclusion, Spyera is in direct competition with Flexispy, by offering a similar amount of advanced features at a similar price, even slightly higher. The two are too similar to easily declare a winner, therefore it may come down to a question of needs and preferences between the two lists of features offered.
How do you clear an expired license key on target phone? I bought a new license. |
0.996753 | Savvy government and business leaders understand the power of communications. Effective communications can unify an organization, effect change, and build business. Developing a sound strategy and putting proven business processes and management into place that promote efficiencies are critical to success as well as netting a solid return on your budget and time investment.
Regardless of whether you are launching a new communications strategy or taking a fresh look at an existing outreach program, you may want to consider incorporating the following basic steps.
1. Start with your organization’s strategic plan. Effective communications work for the organization with communications objectives, strategies, and tactics supporting the organization’s objectives, goals, and strategies. For example, your communications goals should track with and support your organization’s goals, all working together purposefully to achieve a desired and agreed upon end state. Solid metrics incorporated into your strategic plan can serve as a guide for communications metrics as well, which are essential in terms of tracking the effectiveness of campaigns and determining return on investment (ROI) for your efforts and budget resources.
2. Rally the troops. Internal support underpins all effective brands and is crucial in developing both internal and external communications. Involving important individuals from diverse areas of your organization can provide invaluable insight and become strong supporters poised to carry your message. Additionally, while your internal team may know your organization better than anyone else, trusted external partners can provide skills and an outside perspective on your organization and external audiences. Utilizing an external professional to conduct facilitated staff meetings for strategic planning and messaging can be valuable to tease out important information and to build consensus internally.
3. Work on (and strengthen) your core. Integral to any communications strategy are core messages that speak to target audiences. Ultimately, you want to get “your story straight” and your team onboard with your messages before you rollout your brand, or initiate outreach. Leadership messages, such as the company vision, mission, and value statement often serve as a good starting point for messaging. You may want to consider communications training to get everyone aligned with new messages. The training can also incorporate message development. By enlisting the group’s help, it will instill a sense of ownership among key staff and have a positive impact on your entire communications program.
4. Be strategic about your tactics. Identification and development of communications tools, such as electronic media, press kits, videos, brochures, and outreach activities should flow logically from and in support of your communications strategies. Methodical planning will enable you to establish metrics for your overall campaign including individual tactical efforts. Core messages and strategic planning that has been done earlier should serve as the basis and assessment of your brand and all tactical materials. Seasoned creative, communications, and public relations professionals know how to develop and execute tactical materials based on communications strategies and messages. Review of these materials should be based on a set of criteria that ensures content and graphics are on strategy and speak to your audiences.
5. Put management processes into place. Communications need to be diligently managed, employing proven business practices with ongoing reviews and evaluation of metrics, opportunities, and new challenges. The best time to establish guidelines and any delegation of management or development responsibilities is early in the process, during the planning stage. Selecting appropriate individuals to shepherd specific projects, review copy or creative, can make or break your program.
Managing and sharing communications internally is another important consideration. How will internal communications be managed? What is the process for sharing information internally to ensure that everyone continues to get onboard and communicate using consistent messaging? |
0.998797 | Planning a trip to Tajikistan?
Tajikistan is the poorest Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country and one of the poorest countries in the world. Foreign revenue is precariously dependent upon exports of cotton and aluminum, and on remittances from Tajik migrant workers abroad, mainly in Russia. The economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. Despite this, Tajikistan managed modest growth during the height of the recent economic crisis, and growth picked up again in 2010.
Tajikistan has great hydropower potential, and has focused on attracting investment for projects for internal use and electricity exports. Meanwhile, the country faces severe electricity shortages, particularly during the winter and beyond, when most of Tajikistan's inhabitants receive little or no electricity for weeks at a time. The government sees the construction of the massive Roghun hydroelectric dam as the solution to the country’s chronic energy woes, but the dam has been a source of increasing friction with Uzbekistan.
Tajikistan has followed a relatively strict fiscal and monetary policy, which has resulted in macroeconomic stability. However, government interference in the economy and massive corruption stifle economic growth and private investment. The government has attracted state-led investment for major infrastructure projects, particularly from China, rather than implementing the necessary economic reforms to attract private investors. Two-thirds of the workforce of Tajikistan is in agriculture, where wages are abysmally low, and sometimes non-existent. Tajikistan struggles to implement agricultural reforms that would allow many farmers to grow the crop of their choice, rather than being forced to grow cotton, as has been the practice from Soviet times. Income from narcotics trafficking, while difficult to quantify, has an increasingly visible impact on the Tajik economy.
Nominal GDP: $5.64 billion (2010); $6.83 billion (2011 est.).
Nominal per capita GDP (2010): $752.
Per capita GDP (purchasing power parity, 2009): $2,104.
GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (2010); 5.8% (2011 est.).
Headline CPI inflation rate (end-of-year): 9.8% (2010); 12.6% (2011 est.).
Work force (2010, CIA World Factbook): The official work force is 2.1 million. The actual number of working age citizens is closer to 4 million. As many as half of all working age males, and an increasing number of females, seek jobs outside of the country, primarily in Russia.
Official unemployment rate (2009, CIA World Factbook): 2.2%. The official rate is estimated based on the number of registered unemployment benefit recipients; it does not take into account the significant number of people who seek work abroad. According to the State Statistics Agency, 11.5% of the working age population is unemployed. Underemployment also is very high--possibly as high as 40% of the work force; 53% live below the poverty line according to the World Bank.
Agriculture: Products--cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats.
Industry: Types--aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, textiles, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers.
Trade (World Bank data): Imports (2009)--$2.8 billion: aluminum, electricity, cotton, gold, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles. Main import partners include Russia, China, Iran, Uzbekistan. Exports (2009)--$1.2 billion: electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Export partners include Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, China, Ukraine, and Turkmenistan.
Total public and publicly guaranteed external debt: $1.941 billion (2010); $2.261 billion (2011 projection).
Debt/GDP ratio: 33.4% (2010 est.); 33.1% (2011 est.).
At 36'40' northern latitude and 41'14' eastern longitude, Tajikistan is nestled between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and west, China to the east, and Afghanistan to the south. Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including the Pamir and Alay ranges. Ninety-three percent of Tajikistan is mountainous with altitudes ranging from 1,000 feet to 27,000 feet, with nearly 50% of Tajikistan's territory above 10,000 feet. Earthquakes are of varying degrees and are frequent. The massive mountain ranges are cut by hundreds of canyons and gorges at the bottom of which run streams which flow into larger river valleys where the majority of the country's population lives and works. The principal rivers of Central Asia, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, both flow through Tajikistan, fed by melting snow from mountains of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Flooding and landslides sometimes occur during the annual Spring thaw. Official Name: Republic of Tajikistan Area: 143,100 sq. km. Capital: Dushanbe. Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape; western Ferghana valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest. Climate: Mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir mountains.
The Republic of Tajikistan gained its independence during the breakup of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) on September 9, 1991 and soon fell into a civil war. From 1992 to 1997 internal fighting ensued between old-guard regionally based ruling elites and disenfranchised regions, democratic liberal reformists, and Islamists loosely organized in a United Tajik Opposition (UTO). Other combatants and armed bands that flourished in this civil chaos simply reflected the breakdown of central authority rather than loyalty to a political faction. The height of hostilities occurred between 1992 and 1993. By 1997, the predominantly Kulyabi-led Tajik Government and the UTO had negotiated a power-sharing peace accord and implemented it by 2000. Once guaranteed 30% of government positions, former oppositionists have almost entirely been removed from government as President Rahmon has consolidated power.
The last Russian border guards protecting Tajikistan's 1,344 km border with Afghanistan completed their withdrawal in July 2005. Russia maintains its military presence in Tajikistan with the basing of the Russian 201st Motorized Rifle Division that never left Tajikistan when it became independent. Most of these Russian-led forces, however, are local Tajik noncommissioned officers and soldiers.
Tajikistan's most recent parliamentary elections in 2010 and its 2006 presidential election were considered to be flawed and unfair but peaceful. The parliamentary elections, in which the ruling party secured 55 of the 63 seats, failed to meet many key Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards on democratic elections, and some observers saw them as even worse than the flawed 2005 elections. In June 2003, Tajikistan held a flawed referendum to enact a package of constitutional changes, including a provision to allow President Rahmon the possibility of re-election to up to two additional 7-year terms after his term expired in 2006.
Lack of transparency in the legislative process and significant concerns regarding due process demonstrate the weakness of civil society in the country. Corruption is pervasive, and numerous observers have noted that power has been consolidated into the hands of a relatively small number of individuals.
Tajikistan established an embassy in Washington, DC in temporary offices in February 2003, and formally opened its first permanent chancery building in March 2004. Tajikistan's embassy in the United States is at 1005 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037 (tel.: 202-233-6090; fax: 202-223-6091).
Independence: September 9, 1991 (from Soviet Union).
Branches: Executive--chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON since November 6, 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since November 19, 1992; head of government (appointed by the president): Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV since January 20, 1999; Oqilov has reached mandatory retirement age, but has not yet been replaced. Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly. Elections: president elected by popular vote for a 7-year term; election last held November 6, 2006. Election results: Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOYEV 6.2%, Amir QARAQULOV 5.3%, Ismoil TALBAKOV 5.1%, Abduhalim GHAFFOROV 2.8%. Legislative--bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyanandagon (lower chamber; 63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlisi Milli (upper chamber; 34 seats; members are indirectly elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms, 25 selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president, plus former presidents of Tajikistan--currently there is one; all serve 5-year terms). Elections: last held February 27, 2005 for the Assembly of Representatives. Election results: percent of vote by party--People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan 74.9%, Communist Party 13.64%, Islamic Revival 8.94%, other 2.5%. Judicial--Supreme Court; judges are appointed by the president.
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON]; Islamic Revival Party or IRPT [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]; Democratic Party or DPT [Masud Sobirov heads government-recognized faction; Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV, currently serving 23-year prison term, is chairman of original DPT; Rahmatullo VALIYEV is deputy)]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abdukhalim GAFFOROV; Murhuseyn NARZIEV heads the original SPT party that is currently unrecognized by the government]; Agrarian Party or APT [Amir Birievich QARAQULOV]; Party of Economic Reform or PERT [Olimjon BOBOYEV].
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal.
Defense (2003 est.): Military manpower (availability)--1,273,700.
The current Tajik Republic hearkens back to the Samanid Empire (A.D. 875-999), which ruled what is now Tajikistan as well as territory to the south and west, as its role model and name for its currency. During their reign, the Samanids supported the revival of the written Persian language in the wake of the Arab Islamic conquest in the early 8th century and played an important role in preserving the culture of the pre-Islamic Persian-speaking world. They were the last Persian-speaking empire to rule Central Asia. The expanding Russian Empire encompassed the territory that is now Tajikistan, along with most of the rest of Central Asia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Russian rule collapsed briefly after the Russian Revolution of 1917, as the Bolsheviks consolidated their power and were embroiled in a civil war in other regions of the former Russian Empire. As the Bolsheviks attempted to regain Central Asia in the 1920s, an indigenous Central Asian resistance movement based in the Ferghana Valley, the "Basmachi movement," resisted but was largely eliminated by 1925. Tajikistan became fully established under Soviet control with the creation of Tajikistan as an autonomous Soviet socialist republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, and as an independent Soviet socialist republic in 1929. The northern Sughd region, previously part of the Uzbek republic, was added to the Tajik republic at this time.
Contemporary Tajiks are the descendants of various ancient Iranian inhabitants of Central Asia, in particular the Soghdians and the Bactrians, and possibly other groups, with an admixture of Mongols and Turkic peoples. The largely Shi’a inhabitants of the Pamir mountains speak a number of mutually unintelligible eastern Iranian dialects quite distinct from the Tajik spoken in the rest of the country. Until the 20th century, people in the region tended to identify themselves more by way of life--nomadic versus sedentary--and place of residence than by ethnic group. The distinction between ethnic Tajiks and Uzbeks was not always precise, and people in the region often used--and continue to use--each other's languages. The Soviets tended to reify ethnicity, and drew Central Asian republican boundaries so that they balanced ethnic representation in fertile areas such as the Ferghana Valley while also making large-scale ethnic mobilization difficult.
Population (July 2010 estimate): 7,627,200.
Population growth rate (2010 estimate): 1.846%.
Ethnic groups: Tajik 80%, Uzbek 15%, Russian and others 5%.
Religion (2010 Embassy est.): Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10%.
Language: Tajik (the official state language as of 1994, with followup legislation in 2009); Russian is widely used in government and business; 74% of the population lives in rural communities where mostly Tajik is spoken.
Education: Literacy--99.5%. The Tajik education system has been struggling through a period of decline since independence, however, and some evidence suggests functional literacy is much lower.
Health (2010 est.): Life expectancy--62.97 years men; 69.25 years women. Infant mortality rate--38.54 deaths/1,000 live births. |
0.999701 | Do you remember the opinion splitting article I wrote on "Earthquakes and Fracking" or "What the frack?". In that piece I humbly had the opinion, that although many environmentalists use fracking as an evil method, that creates earthquakes, therefore it should be banned, the truth is that earthquakes happen so deep underground, that fracking has nothing to do with it. Particularly I used the La Cienega oil field as an example since I live so close to it in Culver City. Long and behold, there were a couple of earthquakes, albeit relatively small, on April 12 exactly under this oil field.
Did I put my foot in the mouth? Should I just shut up and be quiet since I don't know anything about earthquakes? Maybe, but I've read a small article in the Los Angeles Times after this earthquake with a title: "QUAKE NOT LINKED TO OIL DRILLING"
In this article the author Veronica Rocha writes, that the magnitude 3.5 earthquake that rattled parts of Southern California on Sunday night occurred right under this La Cienega oil field, where extensive fracking is going on, near the Newport - Inglewood Fault and I quote: "Lucy Jones, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist, wrote on Twitter that oil drilling, or fracking, was unlikely to be responsible for the quake because it occurred at a depth `way below the oil fields` under the epicenter. Instead, the scientist said the shaking appeared to be caused by movement in the Newport - Inglewood Faults"
Do I feel vindicated by this article? Not at all. Earthquakes are very complex natural phenomenon and only continuous research and studying of past events can lead to understand them and maybe someday to predict them. |
0.999991 | I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called VISION, EYE HEALTH, AND SPORTS and is located at https://silversteineyecenters.com/blog/2014/07/vision-eye-health-and-sports/.
When it comes to preparing for sports and physical activities, most of us think first about strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and nutrition. However, healthy eyes are just as important for sports performance as the health of the rest of your body. Good vision is important in both competitive and recreational sports, and involves numerous aspects of your vision working together to form a cohesive ability to quickly move from one vision task to another. Even minor vision problems may have a significant impact on your athletic performance if left untreated. Be sure to make regular vision examinations an integral part of your athletic preparation.
Dynamic vision: Allows you to see an object clearly at any point along its path.
Vision tracking: Allows you to not only see an object at a particular point in time, but to keep track of it along its path. This is increasingly important as the the object’s speed increases.
Focus: The ability to lock in your vision on an object quickly, clearly, and with accuracy.
Focus regulation: Allows your eyes to work in a coordinated manner during high-speed or dynamic activities with many things happening all at once, or when you are under intense pressure or stress.
Peripheral vision: Allows you to see from the corners of your eyes so you can see objects at both sides of you, even when you are looking straight ahead.
Depth perception: Allows you to accurately judge distances and the speed of objects, including people.
Just as eye exams are important for monitoring your vision for everyday activities, they are also an important aspect of sports performance. Regular, thorough vision screenings may help to not only ensure your eye health, but your eye doctor may also be able to make recommendations for protective eyewear or a vision therapy program to help improve your sport-specific vision and keep your eyes safe during athletic activities.
Protective eyewear is essential, and even required, in many sports, and most types are available even for those requiring prescriptions for vision correction. Thousands of eye injuries occur annually during both competitive and recreational athletic activities, and nearly all of them are avoidable with proper eye protection.
Athletic eye injuries typically fall into one of three categories: radiation, penetrating, and blunt trauma injuries.
Blunt trauma is by far the most common type of eye injury and should be evaluated immediately as an orbital blowout fracture, ruptured eye, or retinal detachment are emergencies and could pose risk of permanent damage. A blowout fracture involves a broken bone around or under the eye and is serious as the bone could potentially be pushed against or into the eye itself causing further damage. If the eye becomes ruptured, the fluid inside the eye may leak out or infection may get inside the eye — either way, the results may be devastating. Finally, a detached retina prevents visual signals from being transmitted through the eye to the brain. Any direct injury to the eye should be treated as an emergency.
Penetrating injuries of the eye are far less common but also emergencies that require immediate treatment. They involve an object cutting the eye or becoming embedded in the eye. Do not attempt to remove the material or object yourself — as you could possibly cause further damage. Instead, seek medical attention right away. Take caution to prevent any penetrating object from moving, coming out, or pushing further in as you seek help.
Radiation injuries in sports are due to excess sun exposure when engaging in outdoor activities. These are particularly common in snow and water sports where radiation from the sun reflects back up at you from the snow or water. The best treatment for radiation injuries is prevention — always wear sunglasses with broad-spectrum UV-lenses and ideally with wrap-around features.
Every sport involves specific vision tasks and protective measures. To learn more about the vision requirements for your sport and how to ensure your eye health, please call Silverstein Eye Centers today at (816) 358-3600 for our Independence/Kansas City office. |
0.999877 | I’d like to share an article written by Lillian Brooks of LearningDisabilities.info. She shares loads of interesting and helpful ideas to support children with learning difficulties. I hope you enjoy it!
The same neurological differences that create learning disabilities such as dyslexia and autism may also be the source of creative thinking and artistic ability, because people with learning disabilities visualize differently than the rest of us. Psychiatrist Dr. Gail Saltz says certain diagnoses correlate with particular strengths, and she suggests that part of addressing a child’s learning disability should involve focusing on those strengths and nurturing their abilities. One way to do that is to provide children with outlets for creative expression.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder makes traditional classroom learning a challenge, but research indicates that students with impulse control issues not only come up with creative ideas, but they are also more likely to implement them. Their very inability to “pay attention” might increase the flow of unusual ideas that lead to innovation. Children with dyslexia tend to score highly on tests of visual-spatial aptitude and pattern recognition, helping them to see things other people might miss. Autistic people are frequently capable of prolonged, very intense focus on minute detail; their perseverating interests can help them to thrive in the right environment. It’s a matter of focusing on strengths while still addressing deficits.
Music education is an effective therapeutic approach for most learning disabled students. Studies show it can help reduce self-injurious and aggressive behaviors and improve communication skills. It can also improve concentration and general cognitive functioning and works naturally to improve coordination and movement. Because listening to music and playing a musical instrument involves multiple areas of the brain, it offers alternative pathways to learning when a student is challenged by traditional approaches.
Children love stories, so get them involved in the process of creating and performing them, and take them to watch professionals engaged in storytelling. Performing in plays is an effective pedagogical tool for fostering a love of drama, but it can also encourage the development of empathy and help students formulate theory of mind. Attending a live performance helps to involve all the body’s senses, and incorporates a level of audience involvement that is never present when consuming entertainment passively in a home setting.
Make sure your children have regular trips to art museums and musical and dramatic performances. Take time out of the educational rat race for family field trips to nature preserves and parklands, helping them to find the beauty in their world. Even very young children benefit from such exposure, as it encourages curiosity and intellectual development. Art feeds on inspiration, so feed your child’s sense of wonder and provide them with fodder for their own creative visions.
Children who struggle with a learning disability may be challenged by the traditional classroom learning environment. They may suffer a loss of self-confidence and feelings of embarrassment or shame because of their educational deficits. Arts instruction provides alternative teaching methods and outlets for creative success that can promote a greater sense of self-worth and new venues for personal accomplishment. |
0.999408 | An air carrier MD88 flight crew has the circuit breaker to the captain's digital flight guidance computer open with a loud pop and they smelled electrical fumes. This was a repeat event and the system was disabled in accordance with the MEL.
Upon touchdown in rsw, heard circuit breaker pop and smelled electrical fume. Dissipated when turning off runway and taxied into gate. With cockpit floods on, found digital flight guidance computer #1 circuit breaker opened. Reset with same results. Called for contract maintenance. Posted fire guard when opening east&east compartment. Everything checked ok. Maintenance tried to reset circuit breaker with same results. Aircraft was dispatched with digital flight guidance computer #1 and flight director command system #1 inoperative. This was a repeat irregularity that caused the aircraft to be removed from service earlier that day. They replaced digital flight guidance computer #1. It should also be noted that no autoplt was in use through approach and landing and that digital flight guidance computer #2 was selected since it was the first officer's leg. I'm just happy it didn't happen during the WX penetration into florida and that it wasn't a fire or smoke event. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the captain of this MD88 said that the circuit to his digital flight guidance computer was not re- established during the rest of the day. He was very critical of his company's maintenance procedure. He alleged that the maintenance personnel simply replace components without diagnosing the problem and he said that that technique led to the problem in this case.
Title: AN ACR MD88 FLC HAS THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE CAPT'S DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER OPEN WITH A LOUD POP AND THEY SMELLED ELECTRICAL FUMES. THIS WAS A REPEAT EVENT AND THE SYS WAS DISABLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEL.
Narrative: UPON TOUCHDOWN IN RSW, HEARD CIRCUIT BREAKER POP AND SMELLED ELECTRICAL FUME. DISSIPATED WHEN TURNING OFF RWY AND TAXIED INTO GATE. WITH COCKPIT FLOODS ON, FOUND DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER #1 CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENED. RESET WITH SAME RESULTS. CALLED FOR CONTRACT MAINT. POSTED FIRE GUARD WHEN OPENING E&E COMPARTMENT. EVERYTHING CHKED OK. MAINT TRIED TO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SAME RESULTS. ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITH DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER #1 AND FLT DIRECTOR COMMAND SYS #1 INOP. THIS WAS A REPEAT IRREGULARITY THAT CAUSED THE ACFT TO BE REMOVED FROM SVC EARLIER THAT DAY. THEY REPLACED DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER #1. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT NO AUTOPLT WAS IN USE THROUGH APCH AND LNDG AND THAT DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER #2 WAS SELECTED SINCE IT WAS THE FO'S LEG. I'M JUST HAPPY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN DURING THE WX PENETRATION INTO FLORIDA AND THAT IT WASN'T A FIRE OR SMOKE EVENT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CAPT OF THIS MD88 SAID THAT THE CIRCUIT TO HIS DIGITAL FLT GUIDANCE COMPUTER WAS NOT RE- ESTABLISHED DURING THE REST OF THE DAY. HE WAS VERY CRITICAL OF HIS COMPANY'S MAINT PROC. HE ALLEGED THAT THE MAINT PERSONNEL SIMPLY REPLACE COMPONENTS WITHOUT DIAGNOSING THE PROB AND HE SAID THAT THAT TECHNIQUE LED TO THE PROB IN THIS CASE. |
0.999987 | What do the other "creditor" states think of debt-pooling? It seems unlikely that Finland, Austria, and the Netherlands would go for it.
The Dutch PM has stated publicly that he will veto it even if Germany does a 180. The Finns will demand collateral for the risk they take. So summarised you can take that as a no.
What the media largely miss is that this is about paying and everyone has to agree with it. No majorities, even qualified ones, simply unanimity. It is hardly important seen from that angle what Italy and Spain as biggies think as they are de facto not payers (but receivers).
Another point is that Merkel has simply no room. Highly likely it is simply unconstitutional in Germany.
She also will not risk a referendum on it. Seen the polls that would most likely simply kill Merkel politically as well as the complete Euro rescue. With 80% against and only 10-20% pro it is hard to see how Merkel could survive that and how any German government could credibly still go for bail outs.
This all was simply a complete failed strategy. Totally unlikely to have any effect only a waist time. Sp, Fr simply didnot have a clue about the priorities of the people on the other side of the table (while reading a German newspaper could have given them that). Simply sloppy negotiating/preperation.
Another point: come together only with the biggies before the meeting and expect Holland, Finland, Austria to come up with several Billions is also unbelievably stupid to say it friendly (Sarko made that mistake earlier as well but saw it lateron and changed it and paid much more attention to the small AAAs). The new French guy is simply repeating this early mistake (so looks more like a blunder now).
Your message (the last two paragraphs in particular) leaves me kind of speechless.
To me it seems that the people in charge are a bunch of morons if they expect the smaller AAA countries (and Slovakia) to foot the bill without even talking to them BEFORE the summits and without any sense about was is going on in these countries when it comes to the Euro.
ps: Is Open Europe going to cover the upcoming elections in the Netherlands?
This debt pooling is a joke. For a start, Germany already has a national debt similar to ours in proportion, but much bigger: 2 Trillion. But all these efsf and esm 'funds' do not exist. All the indebted nations promise to chip in, to reduce other undebted nations with lower interest rates, but have to borrow to do so at higher rates. Go to your bank and ask for a loan: when they ask for security, ask them for a further loan to secure it, Hahaha.
b) the real money has to come from the smaller AAAs.
My mother always says you catch flies better with honey than with vinegar. You should simply give them the impression that they are important and their ideas count.
Merkel/Germany have frequent pre-summit meetings with the smaller AAAs, and especially Holland. Last Wednesday for instance), when it was made clear that Merkel's definition of political union was a completely different one from the one most Anglo-Saxon /International media are giving of it.
Dutch election (I think Open Europe will cover it especially when it could become interesting) Open Europe usually covers the main events. And much better than nearly all other media give a lot of attention where attention should be paid. A lot of other media give a new idea of Barroso a lot of coverage (while it is likely to be dumped) while developments with the real decisionmakes are neglected (mainly because they are not in English). Look at Rompuy's plans all over the papers, while Merkel's remarks and the German parliamentary discussion had hardly coverage although considerably more important. It is at the end simply:'Who pays the piper...'.
In Holland anti-Euro (and very Euro-sceptic)parties are now at roughly 40% in the polls and the trend is rising.
Also the main government party (VVD) has to move more to the anti-Euro block, because the party that is likely to pick a lot of its usual votes is simply anti-Europe and campaigning on it, (Wilders).
Same story but in a lighter form on the left.
The middle block however is stil pro bail out. And likely to win the majority. However it consists out of 6 parties I believe , from the right liberals on one side to the Greens and rather old fashioned socialists on the other. No natural coalition-partners.
In my idea the next bunch of measures likely will be approved by a new Dutch government. But it is difficult to see something like Eurobonds or massive bankguarantees being approved a considerable majority is against and spread over all major mainstream parties but 1 or 2 (and Holland has probably more than 10 in parliament).
Rik, thanks a lot for your answer.
I totally agree, that mainstream mediae even here in Germany have been doing a pretty bad job since the debt crisis hit center stage. To me this seems to be pretty symbolic for the lack of an european public society.
Thanks again and I'm looking forward on your take on the results (or the lack of) of the EU summit. |
0.997995 | I've spent the last couple of days at OpenDev. Here are some quick and dirty thoughts from the two days.
OpenDev is an annual event focused at the intersection of composable open infrastructure and modern applications. The 2017 gathering will focus on edge computing, bringing together practitioners along with the brightest minds in the industry to collaborate around use cases, reference architectures and gap analysis.
The gist of that is "get some people who may care about edge computing and edge cloud in the same room and see what happens".
As is often the case with this sort of thing: When talking about something relatively new there is very little agreement about what is even being talked about. People came to the event with their ideas on what "edge" means, ideas that didn't always match with everyone else. This can lead to a bit of friction but it is a productive friction; areas of commonality are revealed and presumed areas of overlap which are not are exposed.
Edge Cloud: A cloud (sometimes in single piece of hardware, sometimes not) that is closer (in terms of network latency or partitioning risk) to where the applications and/or data that could use that cloud is located. In this case a cloud is some compute, network, or storage infrastructure. VM or container agnostic. Orchestration of workloads on this thing happen on it.
Edge Compute: A piece or suite of hardware, often but not always small, which is closer to the consumer of the compute resources available on that hardware and where the applications on the hardware are managed in a composable fashion (for example a home networking device running its services as VMs). Orchestration of workloads on this thing happens from something else.
The locality of orchestration represents a sort of spectrum but there are also other dimensions. One example is the types of applications. One can imagine an edge service that is managing a bunch of virtualized network functions (VNF) for a customer of a large telco at the edge of the telco's network (between the customer and the telco). Or an edge service which does deep learning analysis of images with low latency for a mobile device doing augmented reality that does not have the compute capacity itself, but needs very low latency processing to provide a good experience.
The edge compute model is currently a poor match with Nova. High latency (or partitioning) between a nova-compute node and the rest of nova is not something that nova really does. It would be interesting to explore the idea of a remote-resilient (and maybe "mini") nova-compute.
In typical OpenStack fashion, the event resulted in a bunch of etherpads, a summary of which can be found.
My interest for the two days was to see to what extent the Placement service can help with these use cases or will need to be extended to cope with them. It's already quite well known that the NFV world is driving a lot of the work to make placement provide some of the pieces of the pie for what's called Enhanced Platform Awareness (aka give me NUMA, SR-IOV and huge pages). Until DPDK is able to provide a suitable alternative, VNFs at the edge will demand these sorts of things. Certain high performance edge applications (perhaps using GPUs) will have similar requirements.
Another concern for both styles of use case, but especially edge applications (cloudlets as Satya calls them) on limited hardware, may be scheduling needs related to the time dimension and to dynamic evaluation of the state of the hardware. Being able reserve capacity for a short time or use otherwise unreserved capacity during periods of intense activity will be important.
The Blazar project hopes to address some of the issues with time, something neither nova nor placement wish to address.
The nova scheduler has always had the capacity to represent dynamic aspects of host state ("Is my compute node on fire?") but it is perhaps not a consistently represented and available across deployments as it could be. Nor is it fully developed, so if it is something that people truly want there is an opportunity. The placement service made a design decision up front that it would not track data that may vary independent of individual workload requirements (e.g. temperature on a CPU) but scheduling has become a two step process: get some candidates from placement then further refine them in the nova-scheduler.
Edge looks like it is going to grow to become a major driver in the cloud environment. Hopefully continued events like OpenDev will ensure that people create interoperable implementations. |
0.999235 | I want I would’ve read an article like this before the one so-referred to as contractor began changing my doorways and storm doorways. If the standard relationship between financing prices and reworking activity had been nonetheless intact, a lot stronger progress in house enchancment spending ought to have occurred when interest rates fell to historic lows in the aftermath of the housing crash, and now as rates of interest return to their longer-time period trend reworking activity could be expected to decline considerably.
Indeed, as shown in Figure 2, the relationship between the annual rates of change in dwelling improvement spending and 30-yr Treasury bond yields was fairly strong when the LIRA estimation model was last updated in mid-2008 with a correlation coefficient of zero.7 between 2000 and 2007 (remodeling spending and rates of interest are inversely correlated in order that when interest rates enhance spending declines and vice versa).
Illinois’ Home Repair Fraud Act (HRFA) threatens contractors with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 positive for making false promises, misrepresenting a fabric reality in regards to the job, charging more than 4 occasions fair market value for any work, making false excuses for non-performance, failing to employ qualified personnel or violating the constructing code.
A number of components have contributed to the strengthening remodeling market: following the housing bust, many households which may have traded as much as extra desirable homes decided as a substitute to enhance their current houses; federal and state stimulus packages inspired power-efficient upgrades; and plenty of rental property house owners, responding to a surge in demand, reinvested in their properties to attract new tenants.
The idea behind including a financing measure within the LIRA mannequin is that under more normal housing and economic environments, giant home improvement tasks are often financed by homeowners by residence fairness loans or traces of credit score or cash-out refinancing of mortgages, and so the traditionally low financing costs of recent years would ordinarily encourage significant transforming activity. |
0.999911 | If you are an architecture buff or have a curiosity about the many different cultures and ethnicities which make up Malaysia, then a visit to the Taman Mini Malaysia cultural park near Melaka is definitely recommended.
The Taman Mini Malaysia is a theme park of sorts located near the town of Ayer Keroh, a few kilometers outside Melaka. The park showcases the traditional architecture and way of life of the 13 states of Malaysia by way of its interesting exhibits, which consist of various traditional Malaysian homes found in the 13 diverse states of the Malaysia union.
Every Malaysian state has its own regional or group style of house with preferred details. While some homes are built on stilts, others are topped with elaborate roofs to block out the heat and others equipped with one or more decorated stairwells. Malaysian homes built on stilts are known as Rumah Panggung, and are largely evident in the many kampungs of Sabah. Similarly traditional homes found in Melaka are known as Rumah Limas and are famed for their elaborate and tiled stairways.
The interior of the many showcase dwellings at the Taman Mini Malaysia Park are further adorned with various native arts and crafts to illustrate the culture and heritage of each state. Additionally, the homes are also inhabited by life-like figurines outfitted in traditional wear, so that along with architecture visitors can also peruse various other aspects of life of the many diverse regions of Malaysia.
The Taman Mini Malaysia certainly provides an interesting platform for displaying the indigenous lifestyles and abodes of the various peoples of Malaysia. In addition to its attention-grabbing displays, the park also offers various traditional and cultural performances as a part of its endeavor to showcase the native way of life prevalent in the various different regions and states of Malaysia.
The Taman Mini Malaysia is a free attraction, which is open to the public daily. Visiting hours are from 9 am to 5pm. |
0.987529 | Approximately 170 acres m/l in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 21, Township 84 North, Range 24 West of the 5th PM in Story County, Iowa. Exact legal description should be taken from abstract.
Rose Prairie is located on the north edge of Ames, at the southwest intersection of Hyde Ave / Grant Ave and W 190th St.
If city decides to install sewer along Sturges Property (the 40 acre tract in the SE corner - see Master Plan Development Concept), the developer agrees to run extensions west and north to service through property. An 8 inch sewer line runs alongside the east boundary of the property (Hyde Ave).
Upon approval of the first Final Plat, after June 30, 2023 the total sanitary sewer connection fee attributable to the site be paid in full.
A 12 inch water line is located along Hyde Ave, developer will be allowed to connect to the city-installed water system improvements.
Upon approval of first Final Plat, after June 30, 2023 the total water connection fee attributable to the site be paid in full.
City shall install street lights through the Ames Municipal Electric System and developer shall pay all of the city's costs of installation.
Costs of construction of Hye Ave will be paid 37% by developer (2,737 lineal feet of the road abutting Rose Prairie and 1,190 lineal feet of road abutting the Sturges Property).
Developer agrees to pay $185,000 for traffic signal installation as well as widened intersection and traffic signal at Hyde Ave and W 190th St.
Developer agrees to dedicate 5 acres to the city of a park with responsibility of constructing a trail to the north of the park property.
Park counts toward 25% open space requirement.
Park to be finished by 2023. |
0.999415 | The funding has been channeled directly by the State Department through three US agencies: Panamerican Development Foundation (PADF), Freedom House, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
In a blatant attempt to hide their activities, the State Department has censored the names of organizations and journalists receiving these multimillion-dollar funds. However, one document dated July 2008 mistakenly left unveiled the names of the principal Venezuelan groups receiving the funds: Espacio Publico (Public Space) and Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad (Institute for Press and Society �IPYS�).
Espacio Publico and IPYS are the entities charged with coordinating the distribution of the millions in State Department funds to private media outlets and Venezuelan journalists working to promote US agenda.
The documents evidence that PADF has implemented programs in Venezuela dedicated to �enhancing media freedom and democratic institutions� and training workshops for journalists in the development and use of �innovative media technologies�, due to the alleged �threats to freedom of expression� and �the climate of intimidation and self-censorship among journalists and the media�.
According to the documents, PADF�s objective is to �strengthen independent journalists by providing them with training, technical assistance, materials and greater access to innovative internet-based technologies that expand and diversify media coverage and increase their capacity to inform the public on a timely basis about the most critical policy issues impacting Venezuela�.
However, while on paper this may appear benign, in reality, Venezuela�s corporate media outlets and journalists, together with US agencies, actively manipulate and distort information in order to portray the Venezuelan government as a �communist dictatorship� that �violates basic human rights and freedoms�.
Not only do media and journalists in Venezuela have a near-absolute freedom of expression, during the past decade, under the Chavez administration, hundreds of new media outlets, many community-based, have been created in order to foster and expand citizens� access to media. Community media was prohibited under prior governments, which only gave broadcasting access to corporations willing to pay big money to maintain information monopolies in the country.
Today, corporate media outlets and their journalists use communications power to publicly promote the overthrow of the Venezuelan government. The owners and executives of these media corporations form part of the Venezuelan elite that, under the reigns of Washington, ran the country for forty years before Chavez won the presidency in 1998.
What these documents demonstrate is that Washington not only is funding Venezuelan media, in clear violation of laws that prohibit this type of �propaganda� and �foreign interference�, but also is influencing the way Venezuelan journalists perceive their profession and their political reality.
The State Department funding not only is used to create and aid media outlets that promote anti-Chavez propaganda, but also to capture Venezuelan journalists at the core - as students � in order to shape their vision of journalism and ensure their loyalty early on to US agenda.
One of the PADF programs, which received $699,996 USD from the State Department in 2007, �supported the development of independent media in Venezuela� and �journalism via innovative media technologies�. The documents evidence that more than 150 Venezuelan journalists were trained by US agencies and at least 25 web pages were created with US funding.
During the past two years, there has been a proliferation of web pages, blogs, and Twitter, MySpace and Facebook users in Venezuela, the majority of whom use these media outlets to promote anti-Chavez messages and disseminate distorted and false information about the country�s political and economic reality.
Other programs run by the State Department have selected Venezuelan students and youth to receive training in the use of these new media technologies in order to create what they call a �network of cyber-dissidents� against the Venezuelan government.
For example, in April 2010, the George W. Bush Institute, together with Freedom House and the State Department, organized an encounter of �activists for freedom and human rights� and �experts in Internet� to analyze the �global movement of cyber-dissidents�. Rodrigo Diamanti, anti-Chavez youth activist, was present at the event, which took place in Dallas, Texas and was presided over by George W. Bush himself, along with �dissidents� invited from Iran, Syria, Cuba, Russia and China.
In October last year, Mexico City hosted the II Summit of the Alliance of Youth Movements (AYM), an organization created by the State Department to bring together select youth activists from countries of strategic importance to the US, along with the founders of new media technologies and representatives from different US agencies. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presided over the event, and anti-Chavez youth activists Yon Goicochea (Primero Justicia), Rafael Delgado, and Geraldine Alvarez, attended as special guests. All three are members of Futuro Presente, an organization created in Venezuela in 2008 with funding from the Cato Institute in Washington.
The declassified State Department documents also reveal more than $716,346 USD in funding via Freedom House in 2008, for an 18-month project seeking to �strengthen independent media in Venezuela�. This project also funded the creation of a �resource center for journalists� in an unnamed Venezuelan university. �The center will develop a community radio, website and training workshops�, all funded by the State Department.
Another $706,998 USD was channeled through PADF to �promote freedom of expression in Venezuela� through a two-year project focusing on �new media technologies and investigative journalism�. �Specifically, PADF and its local partner will provide training and follow-up support in innovative media technologies and formats in several regions throughout Venezuela�This training will be compiled and developed into a university-level curriculum�.
Another document evidences three Venezuelan universities, Universidad Central de Venezuela (Central University of Venezuela �UCV�), Universidad Metropolitana (Metropolitan University) and Universidad Santa Maria (St. Mary�s University), which incorporated courses on media studies into their curriculums, designed and funded by the State Department. These three universities have been the principal launching pad for the anti-Chavez student movements during the past three years.
PADF also received $545,804 USD for a program titled �Venezuela: The Voices of the Future�. This project, which allegedly lasted one year, was devoted to �developing a new generation of independent journalists through a focus on new media technologies�. PADF also funded various blogs, newspapers, radio stations and television stations in regions throughout Venezuela, to ensure the �publication� of reports and articles by the �participants� in the program.
More funds have been distributed to anti-Chavez political groups in Venezuela through USAID�s Office for Transition Initiatives (OTI) in Caracas, which has an annual budget between $5-7 million USD. These millions form part of the more than $40 million USD given annually to opposition organizations in Venezuela by US, European and Canadian agencies, as evidenced in the May 2010 report, �Venezuela: Assessing Democracy Assistance� published by the National Edowment for Democracy�s World Movement for Democracy (WMD) and Spain�s FRIDE Institute.
PADF has been active in Venezuela since 2005 as one of USAID�s principal contractors. PADF was created by the State Department in 1962 and is �affiliated� with the Organization of American States (OAS). In Venezuela, PADF has been working to �strengthen local civil society groups�, and is �one of few major international groups that have been able to provide significant cash grants and technical assistance to Venezuelan NGOs�.
US AID's "Office for Transition Initiatives", eh? Aka colour revolutions.
"Foreign aid" is one of a very few areas of the UK governtment budget strictly ringfenced and sheltered from draconian 25% cuts.
Why? Because much of this "foreign aid" is being used to, ahem, "bolster democracy" in countries such as Afghanistan. In short, to build infrastructure and buy local militias, thus enabling NATO troops eventually to be sent home (or such is the overt plan, anyway).
Chavez should retaliate by opening up a Venezeuelan Office for Transition Initiatives Washington DC and London. |
0.993558 | Article published in Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research 7(1): 31-46, 2019.
1Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, Calle 25 # 455 e/ J e I, Vedado, CP 14 000, La Habana, Cuba.
2Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes # 580, Bloco 14, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo-SP, Brasil.
3Laboratorio de Virologia, Instituto Butantã, Ave Vital Brasil # 1500, Butantã, CEP 05503-900, São Paulo, Brasil.
Context: Seaweeds are seen as a traditional food and folk medicine by different coastal countries. The red seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum is a widely distributed species that grows in shallow waters, and different authors have demonstrated a possible application of the seaweeds as a source of natural antioxidants and relative diseases.
Aims: To evaluate the hepatoprotective properties on CCl4-induced oxidative stress in rats that were associated with the antioxidant activity from the polyphenol-rich fractions of the red seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum.
Methods: Polyphenols were determined by Folin-Cioacalteu. Antioxidant activity from phenolic compounds-rich fractions was measured by different assays (DPPH, Reducing power, β-Carotene/linoleic acid assay and Inhibition of lipoperoxidation). Aqueous extract from B. triquetrum was administered during 20 days to rats and submitted CCl4-Induced oxidative damage. The peroxidation and hepatic damage (TBARS, ASAT and ALAT), antioxidant metabolite and enzymes (glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase) were evaluated. Also, it was evaluated the expression of antioxidant enzymes by RT-PCR.
Results: The antioxidant activity determined by different assays with polyphenolic fractions. Free Phenolic Acid was more active: DPPH, 20 µg 87%; Reducing power OD = 0.490, 20 µg ; β-carotene/linoleic acid 1 µg 53%, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation 0.250 µg 100%. Rats treated displayed lower liver TBARS, ASAT and ALAT than CCl4-treated group and catalase activity was increased. It was demonstrated expression of catalase.
Conclusions: Data suggest that Bryothamnion triquetrum protects the liver against oxidative stress by modulating its antioxidant enzymes and oxidative status with potential use as phytodrug or functional food.
Esta entrada fue publicada el 22 de enero de 2019 por JPPRes Blog en Antioxidants, Biochemistry, hepatoprotection, Oxidative stress, Rats. |
0.999869 | Democratic leaders want Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign after news reports that he met with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. twice last year.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is defending his meetings with a Russian diplomat The Washington Post reports Sessions met twice with Russia’s ambassador during the presidential campaign and did not disclose it.
Now some Democrats want the attorney general to resign or at least keep away from the FBI investigation he’s overseeing into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.
INSKEEP: Here’s what we know. Sessions was a senator at the time of the reported meetings, and he was also advising presidential candidate Donald Trump.
MARTIN: The Post found Sessions met twice with Russia’s ambassador, including once in September, the height of the campaign. After the election, at his Senate confirmation hearing to become attorney general, Sessions said he didn’t know of any Trump campaign meetings with Russia.
JEFF SESSIONS: Senator Franken, I’m not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign, and I didn’t have – not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on it.
INSKEEP: Sessions was answering Senator Al Franken, who now says if The Post report is true, Sessions must recuse himself from any decisions about the Russia probe. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the same last night on CNN.
LINDSEY GRAHAM: If there is something there and it goes up the chain of investigation, it is clear to me that Jeff Sessions, who is my dear friend, cannot make this decision about Trump. So they may be not – there may be nothing there, but if there is something there that the FBI believes is criminal in nature, then for sure you need a special prosecutor.
CONTINUE READING AND TO AUDIO!
Attorney General Jeff SessionscannabisDOJFederalhealthcarehempmarijuanaResignationsTrump AdministrationU.S.
Supporters of Proposition 64 say there is also a potential political solution.
Washington (CNN) The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama as the next attorney general, surviving a vocal push by Democrats to derail his nomination.
The final vote for Sessions — one of Trump’s closest advisers and his earliest supporter in the Senate — came after 30 hours of debate from Democrats and a stunning fight between liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Senate Republicans which ended in her being forced to sit down after she was accused of impugning Sessions.
Sessions said he would resign from his office 11:59 p.m. Wednesday and the White House is scheduled to swear him in Thursday morning.
The fight over Sessions nomination spurred some of the most jarring, and at times personal attacks, rooted in allegations that Sessions was a racist — claims the Alabama senator and his supporters have fiercely denied. Even early in the nomination process, one of Sessions’ colleagues, Cory Booker, became the first sitting senator to testify against another sitting senator during his confirmation hearing.
While some left-leaning groups issued statements promising to stand up and continue raising awareness about their disagreements with Sessions, Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe questioned how effective they could be in trying to keep up the fight.
“What are they going to do? He’s the attorney general. Where does the fight start? Where’s the ammunition?” He said to reporters.
“‘Anyone who has used the power of his office as United States Attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot by citizens should not be elevated to our courts,'” Warren read from King’s letter. McConnell accused Warren of impugning Sessions on the Senate floor — a violation of Senate rules — and after a series of procedural votes, she was forced to sit down and stop debating.
Warren’s censure and subsequent reaction continued to largely overshadow the Sessions fight in the hours before his vote, but the Massachusetts Democrat told CNN’s Manu Raju said Sessions, whom she served with in the chamber, is just the latest example of a poor Cabinet choice.
Sessions was ultimately blocked from a federal judgeship and carried that battle scar into Wednesday’s final confirmation battle.
Democrats are expected to repeat the same 30-hour debate plan for Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Price and could easily drag the fight over Treasury pick Steven Mnuchin into the weekend.
The tactics have yet to work in actually defeating any of Trump’s Cabinet picks, but they have fired up a base of Democratic and liberal activists irate over a series of Trump actions, not least of which was picking a Republican mega-donor in DeVos to run the Department of Education.
“When you get millions of calls and demonstrations and a nominee is exposed for being who they are, it’s going to have a profound and positive effect, even if she gains office. So we’re very happy with the results and we’re going to continue them,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday.
But Republicans have chafed at what they call “historic obstruction” and have argued that Trump needs his team in place.
“This is the slowest time for a new Cabinet to be up and running since George Washington. This level of obstruction at the beginning of an administration is really record-setting in a very unfortunate way. It’s really time for our friends on the other side to get over the election, let this administration get up and get running,” McConnell said Tuesday. |
0.600662 | Quién sabe porqué estoy escribiendo, si todo dejó de tener sentido.
Trabajo, casa, novio, familia, fiesta ya no, amigos ya no, me voy alejando de todo.
Es culpa mía pero se que lo causa una sola persona y no soy tan fuerte para alejarme. Qué tontería, si realmente quisiera ya me hubiera ido algo lejos, o regresado a mi centro. Cada vez me alejo más.
La incertidumbre es la siguiente: si me alejo de él, me acerco a mí? O todo volverá a ser una espiral ciega?
Once upon a time, there was this silly little girl.
She lived in a perfect world, surrounded by people devoted to her, who loved her and felt her love back.
Every detail in her life was perfectly adjusted, everything in place and time and order. Nothing out of place, no harm, no violence.
And then, one day, her world crumbled into a million pieces and she realized it was all a big fat lie.
Therefore, she felt empty, alone and really sad.
Today, she struggles to carry on, pretending everything its just the way it is supposed to be, while deep down her soul she dies every day and every time she forces fake smiles to everyone around her.
Today has been the saddest day of my life.
You wanna know the saddest part of it? There is no specific reason.
Specially: There are no reasons any more.
All I ever ask es from you, was support.
I guess it was just too much to ask for.
Last year, this time of the year, I truly didn’t think I could feel this love for anyone. |
0.993734 | The fact is, many prescription antidepressant drugs do have undesirable side effects that really can affect other areas of your life, but they are looked at by many as "the lesser of two evils". It's better to not be depressed and anxious, even if you do suffer side effects such as headache, nausea, and decreased sexual function, right?
Wrong! There is a better way to manage stress, anxiety and depression - naturally and without man-made drugs or narcotics. This natural antidepressant remedy actually contains several pure botanicals, natural compounds and herbs that work in unison to balance mood, elevate our natural "antidepressant" chemicals in the brain, maintain even blood sugar levels (which believe it or not, has actually produced weight loss and belly fat loss in many who have taken it), and promote an overall sense of well being and peace.
This product is an excellent remedy for calming anxiety and depression. There are also lifestyle tips that will help you fight depression, anxiety and stress. Number one on that list is - you guessed it - moderate exercise. Now I don't mean you have to do aerobics until you drop, but a nice, steady flow of cardiovascular exercise like walking, jogging, biking, or another form of low impact exercise is an excellent way to manage these symptoms, while also promoting a healthy blood pressure level, a healthy heart, and bodily strength and endurance.
Yoga, forms of slow dance, tai chi, and other meditation-type exercise is also an excellent way to manage stress, anxiety and depression. These types of meditative exercises promote healthy bodily functions, a healthy state of mind, and mental focus, which are key factors in supporting a healthy sense of well being and peace.
If you have a desk job, make it a point to get up and walk around once every hour. Inactivity is one of the biggest perpetuators of depression and anxiety. The human body was designed to be in frequent motion, not to sit all day. So go, get a drink of water, walk some stairs, or take a little walk outside whenever you get the opportunity. You'll be amazed by what physical activity will do for your mental state.
Lastly, take some time for yourself. Every night, take a little time out of your schedule for yourself. Whether it is reading a book, writing in a diary or journal, taking a walk outside, or doing anything else you enjoy, just do it. Getting a little dose of genuine joy or peace in your day is key to being a happy and well-balanced person.
With these few lifestyle guidelines in mind, don't let depression and anxiety destroy your quality of life. Everyone deserves to live a happy, fulfilled life without the need for prescription anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs. If you need help, but do not want the common side effects of depression medication, I highly encourage you to take a look at this effective new product.
Danna Schneider is the webmaster and founder of Herbal-Therapeutics.com, a nutraceutical information site focusing on the latest and most effective in natural life improvement and enhancement products. Visit Mood Enhancers for more information on this natural antidepressant. |
0.99999 | The output from the above code is "The number is 123". Shown below is code passing the parameter 16 to convert the number from decimal to hexadecimal.
The output from the above code is "The number is 7b". Shown below is code passing the parameter 2 to convert the number from decimal to binary. |
0.964203 | How should I clean my chain?
Q. I keep getting conflicting information about bike maintenance. I've been told by one dealer that I shouldn't clean my chain, just spray fresh lube over the old muck, but another said I should clean it with a solvent before applying new lube each week, which is correct?
A. There are two types of chain used on bikes. Off-roaders and commuter bikes up to 125cc use chains made of metal only, other road bikes use O-ring chains. O-ring chains have small rubber seals between the rollers and the sideplates to slow down wear.
O-ring chains should be washed with a light oil or degreaser and then wiped down before lubricating. Avoid paraffin and petrol as they are too thin and will get past the seals.
If the lube you are using dries to a film, make sure you apply it at least 12 hours before you ride if you want to keep your wheels clean.
Simple chains on off-roaders can be power washed after use and then sprayed with a water dispersal agent like WD40 to stop it rusting between rides. Lubricate it with a light oil before you next ride. A light oil won't stick and turn itself into grinding paste as soon as it picks up some dirt.
If you plan on riding through sand the chain should be dry or it will grind itself away in minutes. |
0.941995 | Did some humanoid or reptilian beings visit Earth in the distant past? Are they responsible for seeding mankind? Countless ancient cultures share similar tales of visitors from the stars and have recorded their experiences in pictographs and glyphs. So, is it time to rewrite human history (or, at least, give serious consideration to these supposed "nutcase" theories)? |
0.956504 | Can you explain for us the origins of the European debt crisis?
Well, the origins of the European debt crisis are multiple. The proximate cause was that recently many countries have had a large increase in budget deficits, and their stocks have plummeted to levels that are unsustainable. In some countries, this was due to bad fiscal behavior – too much spending, too little taxes – like in Greece. But in other parts of the Eurozone, like Spain or Ireland, there was a bubble in real estate and housing. The countries went into a recession. When you’re in a recession, your deficit increases, then you have bailout banks, financial institutions, and the private losses get institutionalized. Then you have a surge of public debt.
How much of the blame for the Euro debt crisis should go to Brussels as opposed to the individual policies of the nations?
Well the individual nations made mistakes – those who had the debt bubble in the private sector, those who had the loose fiscal policy. But those were a flaw in the design of the monetary union. Historically, when you have a monetary union in a country, you also have a fiscal union, you have a banking union, you have a broader economic union, you have a political union. In the case of the Eurozone, they created a monetary union with the same currency, but all the other elements of the union were not present, and right now I think it is becoming increasingly obvious that unless the Eurozone moves to a greater union integration – meaning a fiscal union with common spending, revenues, public debt that is shared, a banking union with European-wide deposit insurance, an economic where the recession is stopped and there is economic recovery. Of course, if you do all these things, you also need a political union to give more democratic legitimacy to the fact that the nation-states are going to give up some sovereignty on fiscal banking and economic affairs. So either go towards union integration, or otherwise the current model [inaudible] that is an unsustainable equilibrium is going to apply a progressive process of fragmentation, disintegration, disunion, where more countries are going to market access, more countries are going to have to restructure their debt and start increase. Countries will exit the Eurozone and, if enough of them exit the monetary union, then there’s a breakup. So it’s either union or breakup.
What are the fundamental differences between the 2006 crisis in the U.S. and the European debt crisis?
There’s some similarities and some differences between the U.S. crises and the European. The similarities are that in some of the European countries, both in the Eurozone and outside the Eurozone, there was a real estate and housing bubble that went bust, and cleaning up the mess implied a massive increase in deficits and public debt. Within the Eurozone that happened to Ireland and to Spain; within Europe, that happened to Iceland and the United Kingdom. The differences are that the U.S. so far –despite a large budget deficit and rising public debt – have not had a sovereign debt crisis. But in the case of the Eurozone, you already have five or six countries – Greece, Ireland, Portugal, now Italy and Spain – that either have lost market access and need an international bailout, or like Italy and Spain, are on the verge of needing such a bailout.
Could the economic crisis in Europe derail the United States’ potential recovery in 2013?
Yes, if things were to become disorderly in Europe, the shock not just to Europe, but to the global economy could be comparable to the disorderly default of Lehman Brothers in the fall of 2008. Even a small Greece that is only 2% of the Eurozone GDP, could cause a mini-Lehman crisis – let alone if larger countries like Italy and/or Spain were to observe a significant fiscal, financial and banking distress. In this globalized world where countries are interdependent – no country is an island – there are trade links, there are financial links, there are commodity links, equity market links, confidence – you name it. What happens in one part of the world affects other parts of the world. In the same way that the collapse of Lehman implied global shocks, a disorderly situation in the Eurozone is going to impact the United States, China, and many other parts of the world that could be very severe and very extreme.
What are European and international bodies doing to mitigate the crisis?
There has been a huge amount of intervention by policy makers within Europe and internationally, trying to stem the Eurozone crisis, but there has been a domino effect: Greece, then Ireland, now Portugal, Italy, Spain, [and] even small countries like Cyprus and Slovenia that share a similar kind of problems. The European Central Bank has started to help; Germany and other members of the core have provided (to these institutions) bailout money to the country in distress. In some cases, like Greece, Ireland, and Portugal, the help has come not only within Europe but also from the international community – the International Monetary Fund. The problem is that providing loans to countries in trouble, and telling them, “we give you the money, and you do austerity, you do reform,” works only if the country with that help and time and effort can be made solvent and sustainable. But in some cases like Greece, the amount of debt and deficit was so large, that the restructuring of their debt was necessary, and the problems of Greece are such that, even with international support, by 2013 may exit the Eurozone. So there are problems that are so deep and ingrained that cannot be solved by money or kicking the can down the road. They have to be done by more radical surgery, like restructure of debts after defaults and/or exit the monetary union. So some countries are not going to make and will eventually have to default, restructure their debts, and exit the monetary union.
Where is the funding coming from for the current bailouts?
Well, the funds are coming from different places. Initially, there was too much private debts, so when those losses were socialized, they were taken over by the national governments in Ireland, Spain, Italy and Greece. Then when some of these countries had too much debt, you had the bailout by international organization – like the ECB, like the IMF, and you name it. But you cannot go from private debt to national debt to super-national, and keep on kicking the can down the road. Because some of these countries are insolvent, nobody is going to come from the moon or Mars to bailout the IMF, or the ECB, or these institutions – ESF, ESM – that have been created to bail countries out of trouble. At some point, you cannot consider that every problem has been just a problem of a lack of cash and liquidity; some countries are bankrupt, meaning they’re insolvent. You have to restructure their debt; in some cases, you have to let them exit the monetary union as a way of restoring external balance, growth, and competitiveness.
Will there be long-term changes to the European banking system because of this crisis?
Well, the European banking system is getting fragmented, disintegrated and vulcanized – there is not anymore common banking system. Cross-border lending between banks is gone; inter-bank lending between banks is gone; financing at the wholesale level rather than using retail depositors of the banks is gone. There is already a run by wholesale depositors of banks by larger depositors – it’s clearly been reaching Greece – retail depositors. So the European banking system is getting vulcanized. Instead of financial integration, we’re right now financial disintegration – and that already is the risk the Eurozone is disintegrating in the financial realm.
What can US policy makers do to limit the impact of the Eurozone crisis?
Well, the United States is in significant economic challenges on its own. Growth has been slowing down throughout the year. There is a risk of a fiscal cliff coming up in 2013. The external shocks – whether they come from the Eurozone or the risk a Chinese hard landing, or war in the Middle East, the risks are significant – and US policy makers are, in some sense, running out of policy bullets. We’ve cut the policy rate to zero, quantitative easing in QE1, QE2, and maybe QE3, but what’s going to be the effect of that on the economy? We’ve done so much fiscal stimulus, and we’re going to do more stimulus, which will probably be politically and otherwise unfeasible, even if short-term fiscal stimulus may be necessary to help an economy that is weakening, but the politics is underway against it. And our ability to backstop and bailout banks if trouble were to begin again because we ourselves are running out of money and politically, another bailout of traders and bankers will become very difficult. So the trouble around the world including the United States, is that we’re running out of policy bullets because we’ve been using these policy bullets. Policy makers are running out of policy rabbits to take out of their magicians hats, so therefore, compared to 2008, if there was a recession or if markets start to fall sharply, in ’08 we had all the policy bullets and policy rabbits, so things in a negative scenario could be worse in 2013 than they were in 2008, 2009.
What is the economic threat posed by Iran?
The economic risk steaming from Iran is that the price of oil is very sensitive to geopolitical risk in the Middle East. In 1973, there was the Yom Kippur war between Israel and the Arab state. There was an oil embargo, oil prices tripled, there was a global recession with high inflation. And I think in ‘79, following the Iranian revolution, we also had another restriction to the supply of oil that also lead to a global recession in ’80, ’82. Even the recession of 1990, 1991, was probably triggered by the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in August of 1990 that also lead to a global recession. So if the tensions between Israel-U.S. and Iran on the issue of nuclear proliferation were to reach a level of military confrontation, it’s likely that oil prices could even double in price in a matter of weeks, and that could kick the U.S. and the global economy into another recession. So if negotiations are going to fail, if sanctions are going to fail, to prevent Iran from credibly not developing a nuclear bomb, there’s a possibility that Israel or the U.S. may take military action with the consequences on spiking oil prices.
Bearing that in mind, if you were advising U.S. policy makers, what would you advise them to do to avert the situation?
Well, policy makers will have to make a decision whether the costs of going to war will outweigh the benefits. Anything that avoids a military intervention while, at the same time, convincing Iran to give up on the bomb, will be beneficial. If a military confrontation was unavoidable, there are military measures that could be taken to try and avoid that Iran cannot block the straits – and therefore the flow of oil is not hampered for too long. Some of these Arab states have already created that pipeline in the Emirates in Saudi Arabia that bypass the Strait of Hormuz and other supertankers. We and other countries have a strategic petroleum reserve that could be used for a few months in case there is a supply shock. So a number of economic actions could be taken, including maybe Saudi Arabia and other countries that still have some excess capacity to ramp up production, even if the main constraint is not the production one, but rather can you ship the oil if there is a war in the region to the consuming countries?
How can the U.S. remain competitive while avoiding conflict with China in Africa?
Many people have discovered that Africa is a potentially high growth region of the world as economic and political conditions have stabilized. The U.S. has been somehow asleep at the wheel while either European corporations and institutions or other countries like China, are making massive investments in the region—a region that has a lot of natural resources. The U.S. sees the involvement of China in Africa as being a potential threat. In the point of view of the countries receiving the loans, aid, and investment project, the Chinese involvement can be quite beneficial. The issue is not to start another great game on resources in Africa, but realizing that we have to care about almost a billion people being in an utter state of poverty – if not malnutrition and other diseases. So the international community should be investing in Africa; China can do it, other emerging markets can do it, Europe and the U.S. can do it, the IMF and the World Bank can do it. Instead of trying to grab a piece of Africa for ourselves or from the Chinese, we should think of what is good for Africans in terms of policies that foster the integration of these countries into the global economy, and give hope to hundreds of millions of people that were, in the past, were on the verge of starvation, and today are very poor and behind.
What opportunities does democratizing Myanmar provide to the U.S.?
The fact that Myanmar is democratizing and opening up, provides an opportunities for the U.S. and many other countries. It’s a large country – we have a large population, there’s a large domestic market, there’s a lot of opportunities to sell goods and services. There’s opportunity of doing FDI. So everybody today has discovered Myanmar, from the U.S., to Europeans, to Chinese, to other Asians. There’s a geopolitical dimension of it as well. Myanmar is closer to China, and that is an opportunity for the West and the U.S. to have an influence on political affairs of this important and strategically located country. So it’s not just a game of economic and business opportunities, but also a broader geopolitical influence on an important country in the Asian region. |
0.99686 | As someone who is mindful of proper car maintenance, you are bound to ask at some point: When should I rotate my tires? Your tires are a lot like shoes for your vehicle, and just like the shoes on your feet, your tires will wear in different ways according to the weight distribution of the vehicle, the typical terrain, and the driving habits of the driver. This uneven wear can cause a lot of problems for your vehicle if the tires are not properly rotated. Here is a short guide to what you need to know about tire rotation.
What causes the tires to wear?
You can do a lot to prevent uneven tire wear by knowing what you do to cause problems. For example, if you travel at a high rate of speed and suddenly brake a lot or take curves quickly, it can cause excessive wearing in certain spots.
When should your tires be rotated?
Most car manufacturers do recommend that you follow a tire-rotation schedule just like you follow a schedule to change your oil. In most cases, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. An easy way to remember this is by remembering to have the tires rotated about every other time you have your oil changed. However, if you notice signs of uneven wearing, such as excessive humming on the road or visible discrepancies, it is best to have the tires rotated sooner.
Why is rotating your tires so important?
The more you know about properly maintaining your tires, the longer they will last on your vehicle, especially where tire rotation is concerned. If you would like to know more about tire rotation, reach out to Cars 911 for professional advice. |
0.999996 | Find accurate info on the best businesses in Derby in the "Plumbers" category. To make sure you're getting the best deal, submit a quote request and get different offers you can choose from.
1. Stopping small outside water leak from newly demolished hut at Methodist Church 2. Heater under a sink has ceased to work - repair or fit suitable alternative one. |
0.91801 | Are there restrictions on the kinds of data requests that are acceptable?
Yes. Data requests for non-scientific uses, such as in support of litigation, general educational purposes, quality improvement projects, and for promotional/marketing purposes will not be accepted. |
0.83571 | is there proof that the universe still exists there ?
what we perceive is remnants , the remains of the past.
what we see is proof that something happened there that exceeds the speed of light.
for we would not see it at all if it where not so. |
0.948487 | Google debuted its own streaming service in 2013 as Google Play Music All Access, after Google Play music's initial debut in 2011. All Access was initially priced at $9.99, but in June of 2015, Google unsurprisingly unveiled an ad-supported, free version to differentiate itself from Apple's subscription Music service.
Designed to compete directly with other streaming services such as Spotify, Rdio and newcomer Apple Music, Play Music is based on Songza, the human-curated music streaming startup acquired by Google last year.
The most striking difference between Google Play Music and Apple Music is the user interface, though music curation and discovery services come in at a close second.
Opening up Google Play Music, users are first greeted by the day of the week and various playlists arranged around activities like "Waking Up", "Singing in the Shower", and "Getting Out of Bed". These are followed by Recent Activity and Recommended For You. A hamburger button on the top left leads to Playlists, Stations, Artists, Albums, and Songs.
Despite criticism of Apple Music's crowded UI, the app's functionality is more easily defined than its Google counterpart, due in part to Apple's standard use of tab bar icons at the bottom of the app screen that includes "For You" (the default tab) followed by "New", "Radio", "Connect", and "My Music".
Google Play Music and Apple Music offer relatively similar features. Both companies' content libraries are comparable with each advertising 30 million songs available for streaming. Both companies offer activity-based playlists, however, Apple also offers Apple Editor and Curator Playlists (the former being lists compiled by Apple and the latter by people "in the know").
One advantage Apple Music offers is its Beats One radio station, which provides 24/7 DJ-curated broadcasting from London, New York, and Los Angeles. Another advantage of Apple Music is its Connect feature, social media feature that enables them to follow their favorite artists. Google Play Music offers something called a YouTube Unlock Key, which allows GPMAA subscribers to bypass ads within songs played on YouTube.
When doing a search on both services for a new band (White Lies) and new artist (Casino vs. Japan) that I have come to enjoy in the last two years, Google Play Music was missing two of the three albums of the former and only offered a radio station based on the latter. Apple Music, on the other hand, included all albums of both artists as well as options for creating radio stations based on their music.
For more established acts, this discrepancy isn't a factor, but for newer or more eclectic artists, it could very seriously impact discoverability.
Both services have the same price: $9.99 per month. However, Apple offers a Family Plan for $14.99 per month, which allows up to 6 people to share the Apple Music account. Google Play Music has no such family option.
Being embedded in the Apple eco-system, I'm more comfortable with Apple Music versus Google's comparable offering. Before using it, I had been quite skeptical of a streaming model of music consumption. However, Apple Music has convinced me of its value. I was spending at least $9.99 on album purchases per month before Apple Music was introduced. And, to be fair, there is something inherently satisfying about actually owning your music.
The sheer scope of Apple's music catalogue and the one-click ease of adding it to your own library is nothing short of addictive. I've added dozens of albums and hundreds of songs that I simply never would likely have bought and discovered artists that I likely never would have known thanks Beats Radio and the Apple Editor playlists. I know there's been a lot of news about retention rates with Apple Music subscribers, but, as lifelong music lover, I can say that Apple Music is nothing short of phenomenal.
Google works on both operating systems and syncs well between both. Google will upload your personal music library for free. And Google doesn't randomly delete your playlists.
When you say that, do you mean fix it or change it?
I tried both for about a month, and I have to say I liked Google's interface better. It's much more streamlined and easier to navigate than the complex, messy UI that Apple has created. I like that Google will upload my music to Google Play Music at no charge, while I have to pay for Apple to do it for me with iTunes Match. At the very least, if someone is paying for an Apple Music subscription, Apple should include iTunes Match for free. Although some may argue that you should be able to find most of the music you want through Apple Music, so why pay for Match? With all that said, though, I'm not sure I want to pay $9.99 a month for either. Ad supported radio is probably good enough for me.
Actually, Apple Music does upload your library without iTunes Match.
I agree with you, I think Google just hasn't done a great job of advertising all of their features. Definitely better value. I subscribe cause I figure I can l can listen to anything I want for the cost of one album a month. I cancelled my iTunes Match subscription, can't believe I paid when Google does it for free.
I don't think streaming is for me, but I do like the new Music app. I'd say it's 5 steps forward, 1 step back, and the inevitable revisions/evolution will make it terrific.
Meanwhile, I'll enjoy a little ad-free streaming radio to discover music. But when the free trial is up, I'm OK going back to the ad-supported radio.
And Google doesn't randomly delete your playlists.
And Apple doesn't comprehensively collect your personal data.
You are aware that Apple has an interest in monetising their user base (called "selling you" around here) and does. It would be refreshing to have an honest on-topic discussion of competing services once in awhile without the distraction of but... but... GOOGLE!
Yeah I know, it's not a big part of their business so it's OK. It doesn't require a fortune teller to know where this thread is heading.
The only reason Google would collect data on my listening habits would be to advertise music that it thinks I'd be interested in. Which is kind of what I want an app like this to do anyway, and Google are very good at recommendation analytics.
Not a good criticism of Google in this instance.
I don't see why you think Apple Music UI is complex. Google hides options in a hamburguer menu, which is awful (they don't seem to mind about UI usability though, they use that kind of menu in many of their apps). Unfortunately, Apple Music is indeed full of bugs.
Regarding your second point, although Apple Music doesn't include iTunes Match, it includes iCloud Music Library: it differs from iTunes Match, but it still syncs every song from your library (including those not on Apple Music). However, I don't know how this compares to the Google version.
Having the option to listen and view the music video for a song in GPMAA is one big plus compared to Apple Music. Sometimes it conmpletes the music, adding emotion and context. Or at least my son and his girlfriend prefer music that way. As popular as YouTube is I"ll make a wild guess they aren't alone. The included Youtube Music Key was a bit glossed over in the AI article.
On the other hand I'm sure there are those that couldn't care less about music videos but really enjoy Beats Radio. It's good to have options.
After having used Apple Music for more than the past month, what I love about it is that it gives you the feeling you OWN the music.
Realize that even you do not truly own your own car or house. If you don't pay the registration and license fees you can't drive your car. If you don't pay your property tax your house will be taken away from you. Essentially for a house, you are paying RENT to the GOVERNMENT for life. Yet obviously, you feel and think you own your house.
The same with Apple Music. You can download tracks as you desire. You can arrange them in playlists. You can stream the same songs from your playlists or play them from your Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
The huge advantage of Apple Music is that I can simultaneously use up to 6 devices to play music - with the family plan. This way, most rooms in the home can have separate music without having to turn the devices off. I love the family plan for individuals.
And the huge advantage of Apple Music versus owning music is that I will always get the latest music. Wow! I no longer have to think about buying music or waiting for an album to come out. I get it as soon as it is released to Apple Music.
I go back-and-forth on Google's material design esthetic, but I definitely find GPMAA to be a really ugly version of it. Not to say that I'm in love with Apple music's design, but I like it better. With all that said, I still like Spotify's look the best.
How is that a huge advantage for Apple Music? With Google's service you use over 50 devices for less if you really wanted to... I take it Apple's "Family Plan" costs more than the $9.99?
I find Google's interface a lot easier to use than Apple Music. And, it also works on any web browser.
The "I feel lucky" is a great way to discover new music while listening to ones I listened to normally. The automatically generated playlists seem more relevant to me on Google than Apple. Also, easy to add any music to any playlist I created. The ability to watch music videos without ads is a great plus for Google.
I say this but Apple has its good points as well, but for me, Google edges out Apple with its simpler and cleaner interface as well as ad-free videos.
And Google doesn't suffer from antennagate, bendgate, and it is not evil because it's free. And Google doesn't randomly suffer from Stagefright.
Apple's business model is stupid. I want free music. Did I mention Google Music is free? I love Google. Google is so awesome you guys. Everyone should try it. Did I mention it's free? Here, look at some more ads. Click 'em. Click as many as you like! That's a huge advantage for Google Music. |
0.554678 | What to see in Austria? Delightful architecture of Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg; the Wörthersee; the High Mountain National Park; underwater flora and fauna of Lake Attersee; hidden treasures of the Wolfgangsee; and the Grüner Sea.
Austria is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria is about 84 square kilometers, the population is roughly 8,5 million people, one quarter of which lives in the capital of the country, Vienna. The official language is German. As Austria is a Eurozone member, the national currency is euro.
The second largest international airport in Austria. It serves Salzburg, the fourth-largest Austrian city.
It is a minor international airport near Linz, which features flights to European leisure and some metropolitan destinations.
Diving in Austria is available all year round.
Landlocked Austria possesses the cleanest alpine water in Europe - offering great conditions for scuba diving in the many picturesque lakes and rivers. In winter in highland lakes you can take up ice diving. The marine life in the lakes is surprisingly varied and interesting. Perch, trout, catfish, and grayling are some of the fish that are often seen.
Lake Attersee in the Salzkammergut region has 26 popular dive sites and is known for its abundance of fish life and underwater flora. In the Wolfgangsee, another lake in this region, the Nazis hid many Hungarian confiscated treasures. Divers still find some treasures, though it is strictly forbidden to take them.
Tirol is a famous diving region. Diving here is conducted along steep slopes and in wild gorges, with visibility sometimes reaching 50 meters.
Very many divers are attracted by the Grüner Sea in Styria. This fantastically beautiful lake is a flooded pasture. Snow melts in the spring, and the flood waters rise, creating a dive site. The maximum depth is 12m from May to June. |
0.999997 | The main objective of this model is to build a predictive model which is able to distinguish between main retail product categories.
Data: The data is collected from Otto Group which contains a dataset with 93 features for more than 200,000 products. It has a training dataset which has ID, Features and Target Class and a testing dataset which has ID and Features. Model: Initially we are doing some preprocessing such as cleaning data and removing NAs like that. Then we are using Random Forest Classification Algorithm for classifying the products. There we used R Scripts for the Random Forest. We set the ntree as 100 for better classfication Output: The output will be the products with the classes which has to be there. The accuracy is 80%. |
0.978447 | This article is about the local government area. For the suburb, see Hunters Hill, New South Wales.
The Municipality of Hunter's Hill is a local government area on the Lower North Shore and Northern suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The municipality was first proclaimed in 1861, which includes the suburbs of Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Huntleys Point, Tarban, Henley and part of Gladesville.
As at the 2016 census, the Municipality had an estimated population of 13,199. At 5.7 square kilometres (2.2 sq mi), the Municipality is, by area, the smallest local government area in New South Wales and its boundaries remain mostly unaltered since its proclamation in 1861. A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that the Municipality of Hunter's Hill merge with adjoining councils. The government proposed a merger of the Hunter's Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde Councils to form a new council with an area of 57 square kilometres (22 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 164,000. In July 2017, the Berejiklian government decided to abandon the forced merger of the Hunter's Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde local government areas along with several other proposed forced mergers.
The Mayor of Hunters Hill since 9 September 2017 is Clr. Mark Bennett, (a member of the Hunters Hill Liberal Party Main Branch) who stood as an independent politician.
At the 2016 census there were 13,199 people resident in the Hunter's Hill local government area, of these 49.9 per cent were male and 50.1 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.6 per cent of the population; significantly below the NSW and Australian averages of 2.9 and 2.8 per cent respectively. The median age of people in the Municipality of Hunter's Hill was 43 years; significantly higher than the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 19.0 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 21.6 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 52.7 per cent were married and 9.3 per cent were either divorced or separated.
Population growth in the Municipality of Hunter's Hill between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 5.34 per cent and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population decreased by 0.20 per cent. At the 2016 census, the population in the Municipality decreased by 0.12 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same period, being 8.8 per cent, population growth in the Hunter's Hill local government area was significantly lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the Municipality of Hunter's Hill was significantly higher than the national average.
^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Hunters Hill (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^ a b c "Hunter's Hill – Mayoral Contest". NSW Local Council Elections 2017. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
^ "Merger proposal: Hunter's Hill Council, Lane Cove Council, City of Ryde Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 8. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
^ "The Priory". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01720. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Vienna". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00459. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Milthorpe". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00688. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Hestock". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00092. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Garibaldi, The". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00135. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Kellys Bush Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01391. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Marika". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00300. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "The Chalet". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01727. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Hunters Hill (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Hunters Hill (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Hunters Hill (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
^ a b "Hunter's Hill – North Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2017. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
^ a b "Hunter's Hill – South Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2017. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
^ "Your Councillors". Hunter's Hill Council. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
This page was last edited on 29 March 2019, at 10:36 (UTC). |
0.998 | Is your home town growing as much as these cities here in the Hudson Valley?
It's good to know that your town is growing and moving forward rather than just start self destructing.
According to New York Upstate, there are several cities that are just crushing it. There was a list of 53 cities that was recently compiled that were ranked in high prosperity. The factors that determined the city making the list was based on poverty rate, vacant housing and education.
Out of the 53 places on the list, these 12 cities from the Hudson Valley were on it. Here they are in no particular order. |
0.999994 | По случаю 100-й годовщины Геноцида армян в Армению прибыли являющиеся турками и курдами по национальности члены организации «Союз против Геноцида». Их сегодня на пресс-конференции представил публицист, общественный деятель Саркис Ацпанян.
По его словам, они каждый год организуют различные мероприятия в память жертв Геноцида армян в Османской империи 1915 года.
«Организация „Союз против Геноцида” признает и осуждает Геноцид армян, а от Турции требует признания и компенсации», – сообщил Саркис Ацпанян.
Член «Союза против геноцида», турок по национальности Али Эртем в свою очередь назвал позором тот факт, что Турция организовала торжества по случаю столетия победы в битве при Галлиполи 24 апреля 2015 года – в день 100-й годовщины Геноцида армян в Османской империи.
Тем самым, как отметил Али Эртем, Турция показала свою бесчеловечность. С его мнение согласился и другой член организации – Реджеп Марашл, назвав данный шаг Анкары «абсурдным».
Известно, что факт Геноцида армян в Османской империи 1915г. (Armenian Genocide) признан многими государствами. Первым это в 1965 году сделал Уругвай, примеру которого последовали Россия (1995г.), Франция (1998г.), Италия (2000г.), Нидерланды (2004г.), Бельгия (1998г.), Польша (2005г.), Литва (2005г.), Словакия (2004г.), Швеция (2010г.), Швейцария (2003г.), Греция (1999г.), Кипр (1975г.), Ливан (1997г.), Канада (1996г.), Венесуэла (2005г.), Аргентина (2004г.), Чили (2007г.), Ватикан (2000г.), Боливия (2014г.), Австрия (2015). Геноцид армян признали также Европейский парламент и Всемирный совет церквей. Официально признали и осудили Геноцид армян, а также объявили 24 апреля Днем памяти жертв Геноцида армянского народа 43 из 50 штатов США. Парламентами нескольких европейских стран приняты законы предусматривающие уголовную ответственность за отрицание Геноцида армян. Однако Турция по-прежнему отрицает массовое убийство армянского населения Османской империи во время Первой мировой войны (в канун Первой мировой войны в Османской империи жило два миллиона армян, около 1,5 млн. армян было уничтожено за период с 1915 до 1923 года, оставшиеся полмиллиона армян были рассеяны по всему миру).
Турецкий публицист: Призраки 1,5 млн. жертв Геноцида армян будут сопровождать Эрдогана и диктатора-Алиева 24 апреля 2015г.
The final chapter of the genocide that swept Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century was written in Smyrna, one of the richest and most cosmopolitan cities of the Ottoman Empire.
It was there, in Smyrna, where a small-town minister from upstate New York put together one of the most astonishing rescues in history. He saved the lives of tens of thousands of Christian women and children.
His name was Asa Kent Jennings, and he is worth remembering now at the centennial of the Armenian genocide. His memory is also timely now that the problem of Christian persecution has arisen again in the Mideast and refugees are flooding out of Africa seeking safety in Europe.
Jennings was an unlikely hero. Barely over 5 feet tall with a crooked back that was an artifact of a bout with tuberculosis, Jennings had only recently arrived as an employee of the YMCA, which had a chapter in the city.
The time was September 1922, and the Turkish nationalist army had entered the city and soon set to slaughtering its Christian residents — both Armenians and Greeks. Tens of thousands of refugees who had fled the country’s interior ahead of the Turkish army were packed in the city’s streets and churchyards and along its waterfront.
On September 13, the Armenian section of the city was afire — probably to dispose of the corpses that lay in the streets — and soon the fire spread to the rest of Smyrna. The city was a hell of heat and Turkish brutality for the helpless people gathered there. Nearly all of the refugees were pushed to a narrow band of pavement of the city’s Quay between the fire and the sea.
Ironically, warships from Britain, the United States, France and Italy were in Smyrna’s harbor at the time of slaughter and fire and at first chose not to get involved. Eventually, the British saved a few thousands as the fire pushed the refugees into the sea, but when the fire died down, the rescue effort ended. About 80 percent of the city had been destroyed.
Hundreds of thousands of pitiful people were left to die on the city’s waterfront. Soon, hunger, thirst and disease began to take their tolls.
The situation seemed hopeless. There were no ships available or willing them to transport the people from Smyrna, and the Turkish army began marching them into the interior, where they would be killed or often marched until exhaustion took their lives.
Then, incredibly, Jennings, who had set up a First-Aid station for pregnant women in an abandoned house on the waterfront, went into action. He later said that he had felt the hand of God on his shoulder.
The next several days would make history. Using a bribe, a lie and ultimately an empty threat, Jennings was able to assemble a fleet of ships and to enlist the help of the US Navy in a rescue plan. With the assistance of a brave young naval officer, who was skirting his orders, the Jennings evacuation removed a quarter-million refugees from Smyrna to the Greek islands and the cities of Piraeus and Salonika in only seven days. It was just in time to meet a Turkish deadline for their removal from the city or face deportations.
Strangely, Jennings’ story is mostly unknown to Americans, and he stands as one of the humanitarian heroes of the 20th century. Jennings, who died in 1933, remains a testament to the power of compassion in action. He had a courageous willingness to come to the aid of people in distress — people who are the victims of religious intolerance and war — qualities that would be welcome today.
Asa Jennings’ story is told in the new book, The Great Fire: One American’s Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century’s First Genocide, published by HarperCollins. |
0.999948 | Each item below offers a choice, in a pull-down menu, of four conjunctive adverbs for expressing various logical relationships. For each numbered item, select the conjunctive adverb that best fits in the sentence or pair of sentences. After you select a conjunctive adverb, an answer box at the bottom of the page will give you feedback.
1. The plan was to take a Caribbean cruise. ';InsteadNextBesidesSubsequently , we ended up staying home.
Instead: CORRECT! The plan was to take a Caribbean cruise; INSTEAD, we ended up staying home.
2. I tried hard to convince her to stay. ';ThusMoreoverIn the endMeanwhile , I gave up.
In the end: CORRECT! I tried hard to convince her to stay. IN THE END, I gave up.
3. There's lots of choices on the menu. ';ThenOtherwiseFurthermoreFor example , you could try the lamb chops.
For example: CORRECT! There is lots of choices on the menu. FOR EXAMPLE, you could try the lamb chops.
4. He doesn't seem to be very nice to her. ';FinallyPlusAs a resultOtherwise , he is pretty ugly.
Plus: CORRECT! He doesnt seem to be very nice to her. PLUS, he is pretty ugly.
As a result: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.
5. I wish you hadn't taken down the trees. ';BeforeExampleThereforeAdditionaly , it was so much shadier.
Before: CORRECT! I wish you hadn't taken down the trees. BEFORE, it was so much shadier. |
0.999914 | How to edit data within Tableau when the original data source is missing?
There have been instances where I have received Tableau files from a colleague and I'd like to edit the data in the file to change up the visualizations. Unfortunately, I don't have the original data source file (e.g., csv or xls).
A workaround that I've used (that only occasionally works): the only way I've been able to "edit" the data is by copying it into a new excel sheet and importing that data back into the Tableau file. This isn't an ideal situation and is definitely just a workaround for now.
Any insight on how to edit data within a Tableau file when the data source is missing? Is it possible?
1. Re: How to edit data within Tableau when the original data source is missing?
I assume your colleague is sending you a packaged workbook (.twbx) file? If so, it's possible that you might have a copy of the original Excel or text file and not even know it! .twbx files are really just zip files that contain the workbook (.twb) and the data (often as a .tde extract, but if your collegue used a live connection to Excel or csv it might contain a copy of the file). So, just rename the .twbx to .zip and then see what it contains.
Now, it's quite possible that your colleague extracted the data and it will just contain the .tde file. If so, then there isn't really a good option for editing the data in Tableau (it is a data visualization tool afterall, not a data editing tool). If you just want to edit values, you could possibly use calculated fields. But likely, your work-around is probably the best option (or see if you can convince your colleague to use live connections).
Hope that helps! Welcome to the forums!
2. Re: How to edit data within Tableau when the original data source is missing?
What do you mean by "...to change up the visualizations."? Because I'm wondering if you can use calculated fields as a way to create the necessary fields you need.
If the source file is on a network drive then have the author use URL naming of data sources: \\corp\shared\personal\Ann\my_excel_data.xls instead of M:\personal\Ann\my_excel_data.xls . |
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